[p. 84] inspiration
becomes frequent and laborious. In such persons the trachea becomes
ulcerated, and the lungs engorged, from the patient's not being able
to draw in the external air. In such cases, unless there be a spontaneous
determination to the external parts of the neck, the symptoms become
still more dreadful, and the danger more imminent, partly owing to
the season, and the hot and acrid humors which cause the disease.
PART 7
When fever seizes a person who has lately taken food, and whose bowels
are loaded with faeces which have been long retained, whether it be
attended with pain of the side or not, he ought to lie quiet until
the food descend to the lower region of the bowels, and use oxymel
for drink; but when the load descends to the loins, a clyster should
be administered, or he should be purged by medicine; and when purged,
he should take ptisan for food and hydromel for drink; then he may
take the cerealia, and boiled fishes, and a watery wine in small quantity,
at night, but during the day, a watery hydromel. When the flatus is
offensive, either a suppository or clyster is to be administered;
but otherwise the oxymel is to be discontinued, until the matters
descend to the lower part of the bowels, and then they are to be evacuated
by a clyster. But if the ardent fever (causus) supervene when the
bowels are empty, should you still judge it proper to administer purgative
medicine, it ought not be done during the first three days, nor earlier
than the fourth. When you give the medicine, use the ptisan, observing
the paroxysms of the fevers, so as not to give it when the fever is
setting in, but when it is ceasing, or on the decline, and as far
as possible from the commencement. When the feet are cold, give neither
drink nor ptisan, nor anything else of the kind, but reckon it an
important rule to refrain until they become warm, and then you may
administer them with advantage. For the most part, coldness of the
feet is a symptom of a paroxysm of the fever coming on; and if at
such a season you apply those things, you will commit the greatest
possible mistake, for you will augment the disease in no small degree.
But when the fever ceases, the feet, on the contrary, become hotter
than the rest of the body; for when the heat leaves the feet, it is
kindled up in the breast, and sends its flame up to the head. And
when
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