If, on the other hand, the sleep be profound and heavy, we must abstain
from frequent baths and cooling unguents; we must use masticatories, and
upon the whole change the regimen for one of a hotter, drier, and less
nutritive character, because the affection is occasioned by a cold and
humid matter irrigating the brain.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See the Commentary on the Sections on Lethargy and Carus in
Book Third.
SECT. C.—THE EPISTLE OF DIOCLES ON THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH.—DIOCLES TO
KING ANTIGONUS.
Since of all kings you are the most skilled in the arts, and have lived
very long, and are skilled in all philosophy, and have attained the
highest rank in mathematics, I, supposing that the science which treats
of all things that relate to health is a branch of philosophy becoming a
king and befitting to you, have written you this account of the origin
of diseases, of the symptoms which precede them, and of the modes by
which they may be alleviated. For neither does a storm gather in the
heavens but it is preceded by certain signs which seamen and men of much
skill attend to, nor does any disease attack the human frame without
having some precursory symptom. If, then, you will only be persuaded by
what we say regarding them, you may attain a correct acquaintance with
these things. We divide the human body into four parts: the head, the
chest, the belly, and the bladder.—When a disease is about to fix in
the head, it is usually announced beforehand by vertigo, pain in the
head, heaviness in the eyebrows, noise in the ears, and throbbing of
the temples; the eyes water in the morning, attended with dimness of
sight; the sense of smell is lost, and the gums become swelled. When
any such symptoms occur, the head ought to be purged, not indeed with
any strong medicine, but taking the tops of hyssop and sweet marjoram,
pound them and boil them in a pot with half a hemina of must or rob,
rinse the mouth with this in the morning before eating, and evacuate the
humours by gargling. There is no gentler remedy than this for affections
of the head. Mustard in warm honied water also answers the purpose very
well. Take a mouthful of this in the morning before eating, gargle and
evacuate the humours. The head also should be warmed by covering it in
such a manner as that the phlegm may be readily discharged. Those who
neglect these symptoms are apt to be seized with the following disorders:
Inflammations of the eyes, cataracts, pain of the ears as if from a
fracture, strumous affections of the neck, sphacelus of the brain,
catarrh, quinsy, running ulcers called achores, caries, enlargement of
the uvula, defluxion of the hairs, ulceration of the head, pain in the
teeth.—When some disease is about to fall upon the chest, it is usually
announced by some of the following symptoms: There are profuse sweats
over the whole body, and particularly about the chest, the tongue is
rough, expectoration saltish, bitter, or bilious, pains suddenly seizing
the sides or shoulder-blades, frequent yawning, watchfulness, oppressed
respiration, thirst after sleep, despondency of mind, coldness of the
breast and arms, trembling of the hands. These symptoms may be relieved
in the following manner: Procure vomiting after a moderate meal without
medicine. Vomiting also when the stomach is empty will answer well;
to produce which first swallow some small radishes, cresses, rocket,
mustard, and purslain, and then by drinking warm water procure vomiting.
Upon those who neglect these symptoms the following diseases are apt to
supervene: Pleurisy, peripneumony, melancholy, acute fevers, frensy,
lethargy, ardent fever attended with hiccough.—When any disease is
about to attack the bowels, some of the following symptoms announce its
approach: In the first place, the belly is griped and disordered, the
food and drink seem bitter, heaviness of the knees, inability to bend the
loins, pains over the whole body unexpectedly occurring, numbness of the
legs, slight fever; when any of these occur, it will be proper to loosen
the belly by a suitable diet without medicine. There are many articles
of this description which one may use with safety, such as beets boiled
in honied water, boiled garlic, mallows, dock, the herb mercury, honied
cakes; for all these things are laxative of the bowels. Or, if any of
these symptoms increase, mix bastard saffron with all these decoctions,
for thereby they will be rendered sweeter and less dangerous. The smooth
cabbage boiled in a large quantity of water is also beneficial; this
decoction with honey and salt may be drank to the amount of about four
heminæ, or the water of chick-peas or tares boiled may be drank in the
same manner. Those who neglect the afore-mentioned symptoms are apt to
be seized with the following affections: Diarrhœa, dysentery, lientery,
ileus, ischiatic disease, tertian fever, gout, apoplexy, hemorrhoids,
rheumatism.—When any disease is about to seize the bladder, the following
symptoms are its usual precursors: A sense of repletion after taking even
a small quantity of food, flatulence, eructation, paleness of the whole
body, deep sleep, urine pale and passed with difficulty, swellings about
the privy parts. When any of these symptoms appear, their safest cure
will be by aromatic diuretics. Thus the roots of fennel and parsley may
be infused in white fragrant wine, and drunk every day when the stomach
is empty in the morning to the amount of two cyathi, with water in which
carrot, myrtle, or elecampane has been macerated (you may use any of
these you please, for all are useful); and the infusion of chick-peas in
water may be drank in like manner. On those who neglect these symptoms
the following diseases are apt to supervene: Dropsy, enlargement of
the spleen, pain of the liver, calculus, inflammation of the kidneys,
strangury, distension of the belly. Regarding all these symptoms it may
be remarked that children ought to be treated with gentler remedies, and
adults with more active.—I have now to give you an account of the seasons
of the year in which each of these complaints occur, and what things
ought to be taken and avoided. I begin with the winter solstice.—_Of the
winter solstice_: This season disposes men to catarrhs and defluxions,
until the vernal equinox. It will be proper then to take such things
as are of a heating nature, drink wine little diluted, or drink pure
wine, or of the decoction of marjoram, and indulge in venery. From the
winter solstice to the vernal equinox are ninety days.—_Of the vernal
equinox_: This season increases phlegm in men, and the sweetish humours
in the blood until the rising of the pleiades. Use therefore juicy and
acrid things, take labour, and indulge in venery. To the rising of the
pleiades are forty-six days.—_Of the rising of the pleiades_: This season
increases the bitter bile, and bitter humours in men, until the summer
solstice. Use therefore all sweet things, laxatives of the belly, and
indulge but sparingly in venery. To the summer solstice are forty-five
days.—_Of the summer solstice_: This season increases the formation of
black bile in men, until the autumnal equinox. Use therefore cold water,
and everything that is fragrant; and do not indulge in venery, or do so
more sparingly than is generally directed regarding these matters. To
the autumnal equinox are ninety-three days.—_Of the autumnal equinox_:
This season increases phlegm and thin rheums in men until the setting of
the pleiades. Use therefore remedies for removing rheums, have recourse
to acrid and succulent things, take no vomits, and abstain from labour
and venery. To the setting of the pleiades are forty-five days.—_Of the
setting of the pleiades_: This season increases phlegm in men until the
winter solstice. Take therefore all sour things, drink as much as is
agreeable of a weak wine, use fat things, and labour strenuously. To the
winter solstice are forty-five days.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. This Diocles was an ancient physician of great eminence.
Galen often mentions him along with his idol, Hippocrates, as the
greatest of medical authorities. Cælius Aurelianus frequently quotes his
opinions in respectful terms, although belonging to a different sect from
his own. Pliny says that he was next to Hippocrates in fame as in time.
Octavius Horatianus calls him the younger Hippocrates. Athenæus mentions
a work of his on Poisons, and another on Cookery.
Le Clerc questions the authenticity of this epistle, but seems to have
had no other grounds for his scepticism than the general suspicion
which has attached to all the Epistolæ Græcanicæ since the memorable
controversy between the Honorable Mr. Boyle and Dr. Bentley on the
authenticity of the Epistles of Phalaris. It is published in the
‘Bibliotheca Græca’ of Albertus Fabricius, who appears to have been
satisfied as to its genuineness. Mr. Moir, the author of ‘Outlines of
the Ancient History of Medicine,’ condemns it as apocryphal, upon the
authority of Schulze. (p. 76.) All we shall say on this point is, that
the evidence against the authority of this Epistle appears to us to be
very inconclusive.