24. Use purgative medicines sparingly in acute diseases, and at
the commencement, and not without proper circumspection.

25. If the matters which are purged be such as should be purged, the
evacuation is beneficial, and easily borne; but, not withstanding,
if otherwise, with difficulty.


SECTION II.

1. In whatever disease sleep is laborious, it is a deadly symptom;
but if sleep does good, it is not deadly.

2. When sleep puts an end to delirium, it is a good symptom.

3. Both sleep and insomnolency, when immoderate, are bad.

4. Neither repletion, nor fasting, nor anything else, is good when
more than natural.

5. Spontaneous lassitude indicates disease.

6. Persons who have a painful affection in any part of the body, and
are in a great measure sensible of the pain, are disordered in
intellect.

7. Those bodies which have been slowly emaciated should be slowly
recruited; and those which have been quickly emaciated should be
quickly recruited.

8. When a person after a disease takes food, but does not improve in
strength, it indicates that the body uses more food than is proper;
but if this happen when he does not take food, it is to be
understood evacuation is required.

9. When one wishes to purge, he should put the body into a fluent
state.

10. Bodies not properly cleansed, the more you nourish the more
you injure.

11. It is easier to fill up with drink than with food.

12. What remains in diseases after the crisis is apt to produce
relapses.

13. Persons in whom a crisis takes place pass the night preceding
the paroxysm uncomfortably, but the succeeding night generally more
comfortably.

14. In fluxes of the bowels, a change of the dejections does good,
unless the change be of a bad character.

15. When the throat is diseased, or tubercles (phymata) form on
the body, attention must paid to the secretions; for if they be
bilious, the disease affects the general system; but if they
resemble those of a healthy person, it is safe to give nourishing
food.

16. When in a state of hunger, one ought not to undertake labor.

17. When more food than is proper has been taken, it occasions
disease; this is shown by the treatment.