It is one of the aphorisms of Hippocrates that those who require
bloodletting or medicine, should be bled or take medicine in the spring.
(Aphor. sect. vi.) Galen, Rhases, Haly Abbas, and in short all the
ancient authorities agree with him respecting this rule of practice.
According to Alsaharavius, the pulse is stronger and fuller in spring
than at any other season. (Theor. vii, 2.)
Hippocrates and Galen lay it down as a general rule that the fullest diet
is most proper in winter, and the sparest in summer. (Aphor. i, 18.)
Rhases lays down very suitable directions for the regimen that is
most proper during every season of the year, but they are scarcely at
all different from our author’s. As we have mentioned, he recommends
depletion in spring before the heat set in. In summer, he approves of
cooling acid fruits with cold water for drink. In autumn he directs
abstaining from cold baths, and the use of a restricted regimen. In
winter, he recommends a full proportion of calefacients, such as pepper,
cumin, mustard, and rocket. (Ad Mansor. iv, 26.) Winter, he says in
another work, favours the formation of flesh and blood, braces the body,
and strengthens the powers. Spring fills the system with humours. Summer
dissolves the humours, and weakens the internal powers. Autumn engenders
bad humours, bile, and blood. (Contin. xxxiv.)
Haly Abbas recommends purging or bleeding in spring, to evacuate the
superfluities formed and shut up in the system during winter. In summer,
the regimen is to be cooling and diluent; little exercise is to be taken;
the cold bath is to be used, swimming in cold water is to be practised:
for food, chickens, fish caught among rocks, grapes, apples, and the
summer fruits will be proper; but wine is either not to be drunk at
all, or much diluted with water and cooled in snow; and venery is to be
avoided. In autumn, the regimen is to be cooling and desiccative, the
exercise moderate, the cold bath is to be avoided, but the tepid is to be
taken, and much fruit is to be avoided. In winter, the regimen is to be
heating and desiccative, and wine is to be taken moderately. The wine, he
adds, ought to be strong and heating, to counteract the cold of winter;
but much must not be taken, because it will dilute and humectate the body
which stands in need of desiccation. Wine, too, he says, possesses little
nourishment, whereas the system requires much support in winter. He
recommends the flesh of quadrupeds and fowls for food. (Pract. i.) See,
in like manner, Avicenna (i, 3, 5); Alsaharavius (Theor. ix, 2.)