[p. 90]an abscess: give pine-fruit and myrrh in a linctus, and further
give a very little oxymel to drink; but if they are very thirsty,
some barley-water.
PART 11
Peripneumonia, and pleuritic affections, are to be thus observed:
If the fever be acute, and if there be pains on either side, or in
both, and if expiration be if cough be present, and the sputa expectorated
be of a blond or livid color, or likewise thin, frothy, and florid,
or having any other character different from the common, in such a
case, the physician should proceed thus: if the pain pass upward to
the clavicle, or the breast, or the arm, the inner vein in the arm
should be opened on the side affected, and blood abstracted according
to the habit, age, and color of the patient, and the season of the
year, and that largely and boldly, if the pain be acute, so as to
bring on deliquium animi, and afterwards a clyster is to be given.
But if the pain be below the chest, and if very intense, purge the
bowels gently in such an attack of pleurisy, and during the act of
purging give nothing; but after the purging give oxymel. The medicine
is to be administered on the fourth day; on the first three days after
the commencement, a clyster should be given, and if it does not relieve
the patient, he should then be gently purged, but he is to be watched
until the fever goes off, and till the seventh day; then if he appear
to be free from danger, give him some unstrained ptisan, in small
quantity, and thin at first, mixing it with honey. If the expectoration
be easy, and the breathing free, if his sides be free of pain, and
if the fever be gone, he may take the ptisan thicker, and in larger
quantity, twice a day. But if he do not progress favorably, he must
get less of the drink, and of the draught, which should be thin, and
only given once a day, at whatever is judged to be the most favorable
hour; this you will ascertain from the urine. The draught is not to
be given to persons after fever, until you see that the urine and
sputa are concocted (if, indeed, after the administration of the medicine
he be purged frequently, it may be necessary to give it, but it should
be given in smaller quantities and thinner than usual, for from inanition
he will be unable to sleep, or digest properly, or wait the crisis);
but when the melting down of crude matters has
|
