getting inflamed attract the humors running into the parts, whence the
blood being vitiated, and the airs collected there not being able to
find their natural passages, coldness comes on in consequence of
this stasis, with vertigo, loss of speech, heaviness of the head,
and convulsion, if the disease fix on the liver, the heart, or the
great vein (vena cava?); whence they are seized with epilepsy or
apoplexy, if the defluxions fall upon the containing parts, and if
they are dried up by airs which cannot make their escape; such persons
having been first tormented are to be immediately bled at the
commencement, while all the peccant vapors and humors are buoyant, for
then the cases more easily admit of a cure; and then supporting the
strength and attending to the crisis, we may give emetics, unless
the disease be alleviated; or if the bowels be not moved, we may
administer a clyster and give the boiled milk of asses, to the
amount of not less than twelve heminae, or if the strength permit,
to more than sixteen.
6. Quinsy takes place when a copious and viscid defluxion from the
head, in the season of winter or spring, flows into the jugular veins,
and when from their large size they attract a greater defluxion; and
when owing to the defluxion being of a cold and viscid nature it
becomes enfarcted, obstructing the passages of the respiration and
of the blood, coagulates the surrounding blood, and renders it
motionless and stationary, it being naturally cold and disposed to
obstructions. Hence they are seized with convulsive suffocation, the
tongue turning livid, assuming a rounded shape, and being vent owing
to the veins which are seated below the tongue (for when an enlarged
uvula, which is called uva, is cut, a large vein may be observed on
each side). These veins, then, becoming filled, and their roots
extending into the tongue, which is of a loose and spongy texture, it,
owing to its dryness receiving forcibly the juice from the veins,
changes from broad and becomes round, its natural color turns to
livid, from a soft consistence it grows hard, instead of being
flexible it becomes inflexible, so that the patient would soon be
suffocated unless speedily relieved. Bleeding, then, in the arm, and
opening the sublingual veins, and purging with the electuaries, and
giving warm gargles, and shaving the head, we must apply to it and the
neck a cerate, and wrap them round with wool, and foment with soft
sponges squeezed out of hot water; give to drink water and hydromel,
not cold; and administer the juice of ptisan when, having passed the
crisis, the patient is out of danger. When, in the season of summer or
autumn, there is a hot and nitrous defluxion from the head (it is
rendered hot and acrid by the season), being of such a nature it
corrodes and ulcerates, and fills with air, and orthopnoea attended
with great dryness supervenes; the fauces, when examined, do not
seem swollen; the tendons on the back part of the neck are contracted,
and have the appearance as if it were tetanus; the voice is lost,
the breathing is small, and 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.
7. When fever seizes a person who has lately taken food, and whose
bowels are loaded with faces 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