Much } { Hard.
Much } and { Soft.
Much } { Moderate.
Little } { Hard.
Little } and { Soft.
Little } { Moderate.
Moderate } { Hard.
Moderate } and { Soft.
Moderate } { Moderate.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The brief but comprehensive rules of Hippocrates for the
application of friction, are thus given in the language of Celsus:
“Hippocrates dixit, frictione, si vehemens sit, durari corpus; si lenis,
molliri; si multa, minui; si modica, impleri.” Celsus adds, that,
according to circumstances, the body may be braced by it, if relaxed; may
be softened, if indurated; may have its superfluities expelled, if loaded
with plethora; and have nourishment attracted to it, if emaciated. He
remarks, that it is mostly applicable in the decline of a disease. His
other directions for the application of it are very apposite, (ii, 14.)
Pliny delivers the rules of Hippocrates in nearly the same words as
Celsus. (Hist. Nat. xxviii, 14.)
Our author’s account of friction is taken from Oribasius (Med. Collect.
vi), or from Aëtius (iii.) All, however, are indebted to Galen, who
handles the subject most scientifically. (Hyg. ii.)
Similar directions are given by Avicenna (i, 3, 2), and by Haly Abbas
(Theor. v, 12.) Averrhoes gives the sum of the directions laid down by
Galen and the other authorities. Strong friction, he says, braces and
hardens the body; weak, rarifies and softens; moderate, operates in an
intermediate degree. Besides, he adds, hard friction diminishes obesity;
moderate, on the other hand, tends to remove emaciation. (Collect. ii, 3.)
It was a general practice of the ancients to have recourse to friction
in the morning and evening. Oribasius has many excellent observations on
this practice. (l. c.)