[p. 75]ration better than the other. The good and bad effects of a
white, strong wine, have been already frequently and fully stated
in the disquisition on sweet wine; it is determined to the bladder
more than the other, is diuretic and laxative, and should be very
useful in such complaints; for if in other respects it be less suitable
than the other, the clearing out of the bladder effected by it is
beneficial to the patient, if properly administered. There are excellent
examples of the beneficial and injurious effects of wine, all which
were left undetermined by my predecessors. In these diseases you may
use a yellow wine, and a dark austere wine for the following purposes:
if there be no heaviness of the head, nor delirium, nor stoppage of
the expectoration, nor retention of the urine, and if the alvine discharges
be more loose and like scrapings than usual, in such cases a change
from a white wine to such as I have mentioned, might be very proper.
It deserves further to be known, that it will prove less injurious
to all the parts above, and to the bladder, if it be of a more watery
nature, but that the stronger it is, it will be the more beneficial
to the bowels.
PART 15
Hydromel, when drunk in any stage of acute disease, is less suitable
to persons of a bilious temperament, and to those who have enlarged
viscera, than to those of a different character; it increases thirst
less than sweet wine; it softens the lungs, is moderately expectorant,
and alleviates a cough; for it has some detergent quality in it, whence
it lubricates the sputum. Hydromel is also moderately diuretic, unless
prevented by the state of any of the viscera. And it also occasions
bilious discharges downwards, sometimes of a proper character, and
sometimes more intense and frothy than is suitable; but such rather
occurs in persons who are bilious, and have enlarged viscera. Hydromel
rather produces expectoration, and softening of the lungs, when given
diluted with water. But unmixed hydromel, rather than the diluted,
produces frothy evacuations, such as are unseasonably and intensely
bilious, and too hot; but such an evacuation occasions other great
mischiefs, for it neither extinguishes the heat in the hypochondria,
but rouses it, induces inquietude, and jactitation of the limbs, and
ulcerates the intestines and anus. The remedies for all these will
be described afterwards.
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