Kitap 1
9
The humour is sometimes inert, weak, and rests on something else; sometimes bitingly acrid, and occasioning putrefactions even unto death. And there are many other varieties, as I shall presently declare. It is a wonder how from a thin, slender membrane, having no depth, like that which lines the chest, so much pus should flow; for in many cases there is a great collection. The cause is an inflammation from redundancy of blood, by which the membrane is thickened; but from much blood much pus is formed intermediately. But if it be determined inwards, the ribs being the bones in this region. . . . . . . I have said above, that another species of phthisis would naturally occur. But if it point outwards, the bones are separated, for the top of the abscess is raised in one of the intercostal spaces, when the ribs are pushed to this side or to that.
9
There are certain symptoms common to all, and certain ones peculiar to each. A heaviness rather than pain is a common symptom (for the lungs are insensible), weak fevers, rigor towards evening, sweats in the remission, insomnolency, swellings in the extremities of the feet, and fingers of the hands, which at one time abate and at another increase; uncomfortable feeling; loss of appetite; wasting of the whole body; and if the change be prolonged, the phthisical habit is formed; for Nature can no longer perform her office, for the digestion is not as before, nor is there the plump habit of body; the colour dark; respiration in all cases bad, but worse in those affecting the upper cavity; but also cough at first as long as the inflammation is urgent, when the pains also are greater, and rigor, and heat, and watchfulness, and dyspnœa still more; pulse small, sluggish, feeble; they are disordered in the intellect; distension of the thorax.
