not flow readily by urine; when filled up with such a drink, he should
not attempt any violent exertion, requiring either strength or
swiftness, but should rest as much as possible until the drink has
been digested along with the food; but such drinks as are stronger
or more austere, occasion palpitation in the body and throbbing in the
head, and in this case the person affected will do well to sleep,
and take some hot draught for which he feels disposed; for
abstinence is bad in headache and the effects of a surfeit. Those who,
contrary to usage, restrict themselves to one meal, feel empty and
feeble, and pass hot urine in consequence of the emptiness of their
vessels; they have a salt and bitter taste in the mouth; they
tremble at any work they attempt; their temples throb; and they cannot
digest their supper so well as if they had previously taken their
dinner. Such persons should take less supper than they are wont, and a
pudding of barley-meal more moist than usual instead of bread, and
of potherbs the dock, or mallow, and ptisan, or beets, and along
with the food they should take wine in moderation, and diluted with
water; after supper they should take a short walk, until the urine
descend and be passed; and they may use boiled fish.
Articles of food have generally such effects as the following:
Garlic occasions flatulence and heat about the chest, heaviness of the
head, and nausea, and any other habitual pain is apt to be exasperated
by it; it is diuretic, which, in so far, is a good property which it
possesses; but to eat it when one means to drink to excess, or when
intoxicated. Cheese produces flatulence and constipation, and heats
the other articles of food; and it gives rise to crudities and
indigestion, but it is worst of all to eat it along with drink after a
full meal. Pulse of all kinds are flatulent, whether raw, boiled, or
fried; least so when macerated in water, or in a green state; they
should not be used except along with food prepared from the
cerealia. Each of these articles, articles, however, has bad effects
peculiar to itself. The vetch, whether raw or boiled, creates
flatulence and pain. The lentil is astringent, and disorders the
stomach if taken with its hull. The lupine has the fewest bad
effects of all these things. The stalk and the juice of silphium
(asafoetida), pass through some people's bowels very readily, but in
others, not accustomed to them, they engender what is called dry
cholera; this complaint is more especially produced by it if mixed
with much cheese, or eaten along with beef. Melancholic diseases are
most particularly exacerbated by beef, for it is of an unmanageable
nature, and requires no ordinary powers of stomach to digest it; it
will agree best with those who use it well boiled and pretty long
kept. Goat's flesh has all the bad properties of beef; it is an
indigestible, more flatulent and engenders acid eructations and
cholera; such as has a fragrant smell, is firm, and sweet to the
taste, is the best, when well baked and cooled; but those kinds
which are disagreeable to the taste, have a bad smell, and are hard,
such are particularly bad, and especially if very fresh; it is best in
summer and worst in autumn. The flesh of young pigs is bad, either
when it is too raw or when it is over-roasted, for it engenders bile
and disorders the bowels. Of all kinds of flesh, pork is the best;
it is best when neither very fat, nor, on the other hand, very lean,
and the animal had not attained the age of what is reckoned an old
victim; it should be eaten without the skin, and in a coldish state.
19. In dry cholera the belly is distended with wind, there is
rumbling in the bowels, pain in the sides and loins, no dejections,
but, on the contrary, the bowels are constipated. In such a case you
should guard against vomiting, but endeavor to get the bowels
opened. As quickly as possible give a clyster of hot water with plenty
of oil in it, and having rubbed the patient freely with unguents;
put him into hot water, laying him down in the basin, and pouring
the hot water upon him by degrees; and if, when heated in the bath,
the bowels be moved, he will be freed from the complaint. To a
person in such a complaint it will do good if he sleep, and drink a