On Regimen In Acute Diseases   

strength of the patient, and if there be any hope, then one may give
it, but if given at all in such cases it should be quite tepid, and in
by no means large doses. But if slightly acrid it moistens the mouth
and throat, promotes expectoration, and quenches thirst; agrees with
the viscera seated in the hypochondrium, and obviates the bad
effects of the honey; for the bilious quality of the honey is
thereby corrected. It also promotes flatulent discharges from the
bowels, and is diuretic, but it occasions watery discharges and
those resembling scrapings, from the lower part of the intestine,
which is sometimes a bad thing in acute diseases, more especially when
the flatulence cannot be passed, but rolls backwards; and otherwise it
diminishes the strength and makes the extremities cold, this is the
only bad effect worth mentioning which I have known to arise from
the oxymel. It may suit well to drink a little of this at night before
the draught of ptisan, and when a considerable interval of time has
passed after the draught there will be nothing to prevent its being
taken. But to those who are restricted entirely to drinks without
draughts of ptisan, it will therefore not be proper at all times to
give it, more especially from the fretting and irritation of the
intestine which it occasions, (and these bad effects it will be the
more apt to produce provided there be no faeces in the intestines
and the patient is laboring under inanition,) and then it will
weaken the powers of the hydromel. But if it appears advantageous to
use a great deal of this drink during the whole course of the disease,
one should add to it merely as much vinegar as can just be perceived
by the taste, for thus what is prejudicial in it will do the least
possible harm, and what is beneficial will do the more good. In a
word, the acidity of vinegar agrees rather with those who are troubled
with bitter bile, than with those patients whose bile is black; for
the bitter principle is dissolved in it and turned to phlegm, by being
suspended in it; whereas black bile is fermented, swells up, and is
multiplied thereby: for vinegar is a melanogogue. Vinegar is more
prejudicial to women than to men, for it creates pains in the uterus.
17. I have nothing further to add as to the effects of water when
used as a drink in acute diseases; for it neither soothes the cough in
pneumonia, nor promotes expectoration, but does less than the others
in this respect, if used alone through the whole complaint. But if
taken intermediate between oxymel and hydromel, in small quantity,
it promotes expectoration from the change which it occasions in the
qualities of these drinks, for it produces, as it were, a certain
overflow. Otherwise it does not quench the thirst, for it creates bile
in a bilious temperament, and is injurious to the hypochondrium; and
it does the most harm, engenders most bile, and does the least good
when the bowels are empty; and it increases the swelling of the spleen
and liver when they are in an inflamed state; it produces a gurgling
noise in the intestines and swims on the stomach; for it passes slowly
downwards, as being of a coldish and indigestible nature, and
neither proves laxative nor diuretic; and in this respect, too, it
proves prejudicial, that it does not naturally form does in the
intestines: and, if it be drunk while the feet are cold, its injurious
effects will be greatly aggravated, in all those parts to which it may
be determined. When you suspect in these diseases either strong
heaviness of the head, or mental alienation, you must abstain entirely
from wine, and in this case use water, or give weak, straw-colored
wine, entirely devoid of bouquet, after which a little water is to
be given in addition; for thus the strength of the will less affect
the head and the understanding: but in which cases water is mostly
to be given for drink, when in large quantity, when in moderate,
when cold, and when hot; all these things have either been discussed
already or will be treated of at the proper time. In like manner, with
respect to all the others, such as barley-water, the drinks made
from green shoots, those from raisins, and the skins of grapes and
wheat, and bastard saffron, and myrtles, pomegranates, and the others,
when the proper time for using them is come, they will be treated of