the bitter principle is dissolved in it and turned to phlegm； by being
suspended in it； whereas black bile is fermented； swells up； and is
multiplied thereby： for vinegar is a melanogogue。 Vinegar is more
prejudicial to women than to men； for it creates pains in the uterus。
17。 I have nothing further to add as to the effects of water when
used as a drink in acute diseases； for it neither soothes the cough in
pneumonia； nor promotes expectoration； but does less than the others
in this respect； if used alone through the whole complaint。 But if
taken intermediate between oxymel and hydromel； in small quantity；
it promotes expectoration from the change which it occasions in the
qualities of these drinks； for it produces； as it were； a certain
overflow。 Otherwise it does not quench the thirst； for it creates bile
in a bilious temperament； and is injurious to the hypochondrium； and
it does the most harm； engenders most bile； and does the least good
when the bowels are empty； and it increases the swelling of the spleen
and liver when they are in an inflamed state； it produces a gurgling
noise in the intestines and swims on the stomach； for it passes slowly
downwards； as being of a coldish and indigestible nature； and
neither proves laxative nor diuretic； and in this respect； too； it
proves prejudicial； that it does not naturally form does in the
intestines： and； if it be drunk while the feet are cold； its injurious
effects will be greatly aggravated； in all those parts to which it may
be determined。 When you suspect in these diseases either strong
heaviness of the head； or mental alienation； you must abstain entirely
from wine； and in this case use water； or give weak； straw…colored
wine； entirely devoid of bouquet； after which a little water is to
be given in addition； for thus the strength of the will less affect
the head and the understanding： but in which cases water is mostly
to be given for drink； when in large quantity； when in moderate；
when cold； and when hot； all these things have either been discussed
already or will be treated of at the proper time。 In like manner； with
respect to all the others； such as barley…water； the drinks made
from green shoots； those from raisins； and the skins of grapes and
wheat； and bastard saffron； and myrtles； pomegranates； and the others；
when the proper time for using them is come； they will be treated of
along with the disease in question； in like manner as the other
compound medicines。
18。 The bath is useful in many diseases； in some of them when used
steadily； and in others when not so。 Sometimes it must be less used
than it would be otherwise； from the want of accommodation； for in few
families are all the conveniences prepared； and persons who can manage
them as they ought to be。 And if the patient be not bathed properly；
he maybe thereby hurt in no inconsiderable degree； for there is
required a place to cover him that is free of smoke； abundance of
water； materials for frequent baths； but not very large； unless this
should be required。 It is better that no friction should be applied；
but if so； a hot soap （smegma） must be used in greater abundance
than is common； and an affusion of a considerable quantity of water is
to be made at the same time and afterwards repeated。 There must also
be a short passage to the basin； and it should be of easy ingress
and egress。 But the person who takes the bath should be orderly and
reserved in his manner； should do nothing for himself； but others
should pour the water upon him and rub him； and plenty of waters； of
various temperatures； should be in readiness for the douche； and the
affusions quickly made； and sponges should be used instead of the comb
（strigil）； and the body should be anointed when not quite dry。 But the
head should be rubbed by the sponge until it is quite dry； the
extremities should be protected from cold； as also the head and the
rest of the body； and a man should not be washed immediately after
he has taken a draught of ptisan or a drink； neither should he take
ptisan as a drink immediately after the bath。 Much will depend upon
whether the patient； when in good health； was very fond of the bath；
and in the custom of taking it： for such persons； especially； feel the
want of it； and are benefited if they are bathed； and injured if
they are not。 In general it suits better with cases of pneumonia
than in ardent fevers； for the bath soothes the pain in the side；
chest； and back； concocts the sputa； promotes expectoration；
improves the respiration； and allays lassitude； for it soothes the
joints and outer skin； and is diuretic； removes heaviness of the head；
and moistens the nose。 Such are the benefits to be derived from the
bath； if all the proper requisites be present； but if one or more of
these be wanting； the bath； instead of doing good； may rather prove
injurious； for every one of them may do harm if not prepared not
prepared by the attendants in the proper manner。 It is by no means a
suitable thing in these diseases to persons whose bowels are too
loose； or when they are unusually confined； and there has been no
previous evacuation； neither must we bathe those who are
debilitated； nor such as have nausea or vomiting； or bilious
eructations； nor such as have hemorrhage from the nose； unless it be
less than required at that stage of the disease （with those stages you
are acquainted）； but if the discharge be less than proper； one
should use the bath； whether in order to benefit the whole body or the
head alone。 If then the proper requisites be at hand； and the
patient be well disposed to the bath； it may be administered once
every day； or if the patient be fond of the bath there will be no
harm； though he should take it twice in the day。 The use of the bath
is much more appropriate to those who take unstrained ptisan； than
to those who take only the juice of it； although even in their case it
may be proper； but least of all does it suit with those who use only
plain drink； although； in their case too it may be suitable； but one
must form a judgment from the rules laid down before； in which of
these modes of regimen the bath will be beneficial； and in which
not。 Such as want some of the requisites for a proper bath； but have
those symptoms which would be benefited by it； should be bathed；
whereas those who want none of the proper requisites； but have certain
symptoms which contraindicate the bath； are not to be bathed。
APPENDIX
APPENDIX
Ardent fever （causus） takes place when the veins； being dried up
in the summer season； attract acrid and bilious humors to
themselves； and strong fever seizes the whole body； which
experiences aches of the bones； and is in a state of lassitude and
pain。 It takes place most commonly from a long walk and protracted
thirst； when the veins being dried up attract acrid and hot defluxions
to themselves。 The tongue becomes rough； dry； and very black； there
are gnawing pains about the bowels； the alvine discharges are watery
and yellow； there is intense thirst； insomnolency； and sometimes
wandering of the mind。 To a person in such a state give to drink water
and as much boiled hydromel of a watery consistence as he will take；
and if the mouth be bitter； it may be advantageous to administer an
emetic and clyster； and if these things do not loosen the bowels；
purge with the boiled milk of asses。 Give nothing saltish nor acrid；
for they will not be borne； and give no draughts of ptisan until the
crisis be past。 And the affection is resolved if there be an
epistaxis； or if true critical sweats supervene with urine having
white； thick； and smooth sediments； or if a deposit take place
anywhere； but if it be resolved without these； there will be a relapse
of the complaint； or pain in the hips and legs will ensue； with
thick sputa； provided the patient be convalescent。 Another species
of ardent fever： belly loose； much thirst； tongue rough； dry； and
saltish； retention of urine； insomnolency； extremities cold。 In such a
case； unless there be a flow of blood from the nose； or an abscess
form about the neck； or pain in the limbs； or the patient
expectorate thick sputa （these occur when the belly is constipated）；
or pain of the hips； or lividity of the genital organs； there is no
crisis； tension of the testicle is also a critical symptom。 Give
attractive draughts。
2。 Bleed in the acute affections； if the disease appear strong；
and the patients be in the vigor of life； and if they have strength。
If it be quinsy or any other of the pleuritic affections； purge with
electuaries； but if the patient be weaker； or if you abstract more
blood； you may administer a clyster every third day； until he be out
of danger； and enjoin total abstinence if necessary。
3。 Hypochondria inflamed not from retention of flatus； tension of
the diaphragm； checked respiration； with dry orthopnoea； when no pus
is formed； but when these complaints are connected with obstructed
respiration； but more especially strong pains of the liver；
heaviness of the spleen； and other phlegmasiae and intense pains above
the diaphragm； diseases connected with collections of humors；… all
these diseases do not admit of resolution； if treated at first by
medicine； but venesection holds the first place in conducting the
treatment； then we may have recourse to a clyster； unless the
disease be great and strong； but if so； purging also may be necessary；
but bleeding and purging together require caution and moderation。
Those who attempt to resolve inflammatory diseases at the commencement
by the administration of purgative medicines； remove none of the
morbific humors which produce the inflammation and tension； for the
diseases while unconcocted could not yield； but they melt down those
parts which are healthy and resist the disease； so when the body is
debilitated the malady obtains the mastery； and when the disease has
the upper hand of the body； it does not admit of a cure。
4。 When a person suddenly loses his speech； in connection with
obstruction of the veins；… if this happen without warning or any other
strong cause； one ought to open the internal vein of the right arm；
and abstract blood more or