Book 2
3
The other treatment is also to be applied energetically for restraining the sweats, and for resuscitating the spark of life. Let, therefore, an epitheme be applied to the chest on the left mamma,—dates triturated in wine along with aloes and mastich,—and let these things be mixed up with a cerate composed of nard.No doubt the Indian nard, namely, Patrinia Jatamansi, Don. And if this become disagreeable, we may apply another epitheme, made by taking the seed, and whatever is hard out of the apples, and having bruised them down, mix up with some fragrant meal; then we are to mix together some of the hair of wormwood, and of myrtle, and of acacia, and of the manna of frankincense, all sifted; which being all rubbed up together, are to be added to the cerate of wild vine. But if the sweat be not thereby restrained, the juice of the wild grape is to be added to the mixture, and acacia, and gum, and the edible part of sumach, and alum, and dates, and the scented juice of roses. All these things along with nard and oil of wild vine are to be applied to the chest; for this at the same time cools and is astringent. Let him lie in cool air, and in a house having a northern exposure; and if the cool breeze of Boreas breathe upon him, it will refresh his soul sadly gasping for breath. The prospect should be to-wards meadows, fountains, and babbling streams, for the sweet exhalations from them, and the delightful view, warm the soul and refresh nature. And, moreover, it is also an incentive to eat and to drink. But if from want one is not fortunate enough to possess these things, we must make an imitation of the cool breeze, by fanning with the branches of fragrant boughs, and, if the season of spring, by strewing the ground with such leaves and flowers as are at hand. The coverlet should be light and old, so as to admit the air, and permit the exhalation of the heat of the chest; the best kind is an old linen sheet. We are to sprinkle the neck, the region of the clavicle and chest with flour, so that it may nourish by its fragrance, and restrain by its dryness; and the spongy parts of the body are to be dusted with meal, but the face with the Samian earth, which is to be passed through a sieve; and having been bound into a spongy cloth, it is to be dusted on the part, so that the finer particles may pass through the pores to the forehead and cheeks. And slaked lime and roasted gypsum, sifted in a small sieve, are to be applied to the moist parts. A sponge out of cold water applied to the face has sometimes stopped the sweats, by occasioning congelation of the running fluids, and by condensation of the pores. The anus is to be anointed, so that the flatus arising from the cold and food may be discharged. And we are to recall the heat of the extremities by gleucinum,A fragrant oil prepared from must. See Paulus Ægineta, t.iii. p. 596. or Sicyonian oil, along with pepper, castor, natron, and cachry,The fruit of the Cachrys libanotis, L. See Dioscorides, iii. 79. melting into them a little wax, so that the liniment may stick. And we are to resuscitate the heat by means of the ointment of lemnestis, and of euphorbium, and of the fruit of the bay. The small red onions raw, along with pepper, and the powdered lees of vinegar, make an excellent cataplasm to the feet; but it is to be constantly raised from the place every hour, for there is danger of ulceration and blisters. From these things there is hope that the patient may thus escape.
