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debility proceeds from inanition。 It is also disgraceful not to
recognize a patient whose debility is connected with inanition； and to
pinch him in his diet； this mistake； indeed； is attended with some
danger； but much less than the other； and yet it is likely to expose
one to much greater derision； for if another physician； or a private
person； coming in and knowing what has happened； should give to eat or
drink those things which the other had forbidden； the benefit thus
done to the patient would be manifest。 Such mistakes of
practitioners are particularly ridiculed by mankind； for the physician
or nonprofessional man thus coming in； seems as it were to resuscitate
the dead。 On this subject I will describe elsewhere the symptoms by
which each of them may be recognized。
12。 And the following observations are similar to those now made
respecting the bowels。 If the whole body rest long； contrary to usage；
it does not immediately recover its strength； but if； after a
protracted repose； it proceed to labor； it will clearly expose its
weakness。 So it is with every one part of the body； for the feet
will make a similar display； and any other of the joints； if； being
unaccustomed to labor； they be suddenly brought into action； after a
time。 The teeth and the eyes will suffer in like manner； and also
every other part whatever。 A couch； also； that is either softer or
harder than one has been accustomed to will create uneasiness； and
sleeping in the open air； contrary to usage； hardens the body。 But
it is sufficient merely to state examples of all these cases。 If a
person having received a wound in the leg； neither very serious nor
very trifling； and he being neither in a condition very favorable to
its healing nor the contrary； at first betakes himself to bed； in
order to promote the cure； and never raises his leg； it will thus be
much less disposed to inflammation； and be much sooner well； than it
would have been if he had strolled about during the process of
healing； but if upon the fifth or sixth day； or even earlier； he
should get up and attempt to walk； he will suffer much more then
than if he had walked about from the commencement of the cure； and
if he should suddenly make many laborious exertions； he will suffer
much more than if； when the treatment was conducted otherwise； he
had made the same exertions on the same days。 In fine； all these
things concur in proving that all great changes； either one way or
another； are hurtful。 Wherefore much mischief takes place in the
bowels； if from a state of great inanition more food than is
moderate be administered （and also in the rest of the body； if from
a state of great rest it be hastily brought to greater exertion； it
will be much more injured）； or if from the use of much food it be
changed to complete abstinence； and therefore the body in such cases
requires protracted repose； and if； from a state of laborious
exertion； the body suddenly falls into a state of ease and
indolence； in these cases also the bowels would require continued
repose from abundance of food； for otherwise it will induce pain and
heaviness in the whole body。
13。 The greater part of my discourse has related to changes； this
way or that。 For all purposes it is profitable to know these things；
and more especially respecting the subject under consideration；…
that in acute diseases； in which a change is made to ptisans from a
state of inanition； it should be made as I direct； and then that
ptisans should not be used until the disease be concocted； or some
other symptom； whether of evacuation or of irritation； appear in the
intestines； or in the hypochondria； such as will be described。
Obstinate insomnolency impairs the digestion of the food and drink；
and in other respects changes and relaxes the body； and occasions a
heated state； and heaviness of the head。
14。 One must determine by such marks as these； when sweet； strong；
and dark wine； hydromel； water and oxymel； should be given in acute
diseases。 Wherefore the sweet affects the head less than the strong；
attacks the brain less； evacuates the bowels more than the other；
but induces swelling of the spleen and liver； it does not agree with
bilious persons； for it causes them to thirst； it creates flatulence
in the upper part of the intestinal canal； but does not disagree
with the lower part； as far as regards flatulence； and yet
flatulence engendered by sweet wine is not of a transient nature；
but rests for a long time in the hypochondria。 And therefore it in
general is less diuretic than wine which is strong and thin； but sweet
wine is more expectorant than the other。 But when it creates thirst；
it is less expectorant in such cases than the other wine； but if it do
not create thirst； it promotes expectoration better than the other。
The good and bad effects of a white； strong wine； have been already
frequently and fully stated in the disquisition on sweet wine； it is
determined to the bladder more than the other； is diuretic and
laxative； and should be very useful in such complaints； for if in
other respects it be less suitable than the other； the clearing out of
the bladder effected by it is beneficial to the patient； if properly
administered。 There are excellent examples of the beneficial and
injurious effects of wine； all which were left undetermined by my
predecessors。 In these diseases you may use a yellow wine； and a
dark austere wine for the following purposes： if there be no heaviness
of the head； nor delirium； nor stoppage of the expectoration； nor
retention of the urine； and if the alvine discharges be more loose and
like scrapings than usual； in such cases a change from a white wine to
such as I have mentioned； might be very proper。 It deserves further to
be known； that it will prove less injurious to all the parts above；
and to the bladder； if it be of a more watery nature； but that the
stronger it is； it will be the more beneficial to the bowels。
15。 Hydromel； when drunk in any stage of acute disease； is less
suitable to persons of a bilious temperament； and to those who have
enlarged viscera； than to those of a different character； it increases
thirst less than sweet wine； character；the lungs； is moderately
expectorant； and alleviates a cough； for it has some detergent quality
in it； whence it lubricates the sputum。 Hydromel is also moderately
diuretic； unless prevented by the state of any of the viscera。 And
it also occasions bilious discharges downwards； sometimes of a
proper character； and sometimes more intense and frothy than is
suitable； but such rather occurs in persons who are bilious； and
have enlarged viscera。 Hydromel rather produces expectoration； and
softening of the lungs； when given diluted with water。 But unmixed
hydromel； rather than the diluted； produces frothy evacuations； such
as are unseasonably and intensely bilious； and too hot； but such an
evacuation occasions other great mischiefs； for it neither
extinguishes the heat in the hypochondria； but rouses it； induces
inquietude； and jactitation of the limbs； and ulcerates the intestines
and anus。 The remedies for all these will be described afterwards。
By using hydromel w