Of cold intemperaments there are three varieties, the worst of which
is the dry; for such persons are from the first in that state which
time brings upon old men. They ought, therefore, to use whatever is
diluting and warming, such as moderate exercise, humid and warm food, the
heating wines, and much sleep. Care should be taken by us, that all the
excrementitious matters collected in the body be evacuated every day.
Venery hurts all those who are affected with dryness, and more especially
if joined to coldness, and is innocuous to the hot and humid alone. The
cold and humid temperaments are bad, and are very subject to rheumatic
affections. They are relieved by abstinence from the bath, by frequent
and light exercises, and the use of moderately heating unguents. Those
that are naturally colder, but are well regulated as to dryness and
humidity of temperament, ought to stimulate and increase their heat, but
to choose the medium between a humid and dry diet.
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COMMENTARY. See the authorities referred to in the preceding Section.
All, in a word, copy from Galen. (l. c.)
SECT. LXXII.—THE CURE OF THE DRY INTEMPERAMENTS, OF THE STOMACH FOR
EXAMPLE; THEN OF THE OTHER INTEMPERAMENTS.
A dry intemperament may either be occasioned by the parts of uniform
texture being drier than natural, in their solid parts, which is
incurable; or by the natural moisture from which these parts derive their
nourishment being lost. It is contained in all parts of an animal, being
diffused through them in the form of dew, and can only be supplied by
means of the food. The former variety is utterly incurable; and even
the latter is of all states of the body the most intractable. But when
the dryness is seated in the small veins and arteries, the cure may be
attempted by filling each of the parts of uniform texture with their
proper juices by a humid diet. A tepid bath is therefore beneficial, and
the patient ought to remain long in the water. Immediately after the
bath, let him take the milk of an ass newly drawn, to which a little
warm honey has been added. Afterwards he ought to rest until he take
a second bath. He ought then to be moderately rubbed with oil, if the
milk appears to be digested, which may be judged of from his eructations
and the distension of his belly. The proper interval between the first
and second bath may be four or five hours at the equinox, if he be to
bathe a third time, but, if not, it may be greater. And he ought to be
rubbed with oil before putting on his clothes after every bathing. If,
therefore, the milk agreed with him, we may give it to him after the
second time, or, if not, we may give, instead, a ptisan properly boiled,
or alica made into a ptisan; he is then to rest until the third bathing,
or otherwise until supper. His bread ought to be carefully prepared,
baked in an oven, and of a fine quality; and as a seasoner, he may eat
those fishes which are caught among rocks, or the hake in a white soup.
In a word, his food ought to be of easy digestion and nutritious, not
oily and excrementitious. His drink should be wine that is weak, white,
clear, bearing little water, and having some astringency. Such is the
mode of cure for the greatest degree of dryness; but the moderate does
not require the same restriction as to diet, which may therefore be
more generous. Let us suppose a dryness like the former, but mixed
with a moderate coldness; and in this case, we must substitute certain
calefacient articles; and, with regard to those mentioned above, we must
add more honey to the milk, and give wine that is not so watery. We must
also not only use things which are naturally heating, but which are so
from their acquired qualities. And the body is to be rubbed frequently
with the ointment of nard and mastich. When much coldness is joined to
the dryness, know in the first place, that the complaint is difficult
and intractable, but use the same remedies, and also by itself honey
that has been boiled and scummed, along with very old wine. The best
possible remedy in such cases is that which is much used by pitchers; and
we must likewise rub the belly with it, and tear it away while it is yet
warm. Such persons are also relieved by having a child of a full habit
sleeping with them, so as to touch their belly. Let us next suppose that
a moderate heat is joined to dryness. In this case, our first care ought
to be, not to taste honey, and to use wine which is not aged, food which
is tepid and milky, and to rub the belly with the oil of unripe olives,
or with that of apples. But to cool such persons much is not devoid of
danger, as their state is feverish when the heat prevails. Let us next
suppose that a hot intemperament prevails, and that humidity is joined
to it. Such an intemperament is to be cured by drinking cold water.
The use of astringent food is also proper; namely, such things as are
austere, without being heating. But when the humid intemperament alone
prevails, such articles of food as are desiccant, without heating or
cooling much are beneficial, and also abstinence from the common drinks.
When the humid intemperament is joined with the cold, the best remedies
are all acrid things, and they ought to be mixed with such things as are
astringent, without being decidedly refrigerant. The drink should be
in small quantity, and consist of some of the strongly heating wines.
These are the modes of curing intemperaments proceeding from qualities.
But since a humour contained within the cavity of the stomach, or being
absorbed within its coats, often occasions intemperaments, it will be
proper to treat also of these affections. If the former state occur at
once, it may be easily removed by emetics; but if it be a defluxion, the
parts it comes from will require very attentive consideration, and the
cure will follow, of course; for it is to be applied entirely to the
affected part; and of the other parts, we need only take care that they
be not thereby affected. The cure is to be performed by astringents, and
such things as will bring the whole body to its proper habit. Depraved
humours in the coats of the stomach are to be evacuated by moderately
cathartic medicines, such as aloes, and the powder prepared from it,
called Picra. When a viscid phlegm is contained in the stomach, such
persons ought first to take those things which will cut it, and then
it may be purged off, or evacuated by vomiting with radishes. When the
humour is neither viscid nor thick, a vomit from ptisan, or that from
honied water, may be sufficient. The juice of wormwood with honied water
may also be drunk. In like manner, intemperaments in other parts may be
cured, by finding out the evacuation suited to the humours; or, if the
part has no sensible discharge, the prevailing matters and humours may be
evacuated in the form of vapour; and in like manner, if it proceed from
flatulence.
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