If you should meet with a person who loathes any wholesome food which is
offered him, who abstains from food, or, if compelled to take it, becomes
sick, who longs after only such things as are acrid, and has no pleasure
even in them, but has his belly swelled up with flatulence, is seized
with nausea, and enjoys only a short respite by eructations, and on whose
stomach everything spoils and becomes acid,—know for certain that the
remedies which will afford him relief are such as will clear the stomach
of phlegm. I have known one of those so affected, after taking an emetic,
consisting of radishes out of oxymel, bring up an incredible quantity of
very thick phlegm, by which he has been straightway completely restored
to health.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This chapter is taken from Oribasius, who, in his turn, is
indebted to Galen.
A similar account is given by Rhases. (Contin. xi, 1.) He recommends
emetics. (Ad Mansor. iv, 16.)