Sponge the forehead with oxycrate of the temperature of new milk;
put tight ligatures round the extremities; and apply to the nose
strong-smelling things of an incisive quality. In the remissions, apply
cupping instruments between the shoulders along the spine. When the
disease is protracted, errhines must be tried during the remission. Let
the food consist of things having incisive and dividing properties, as
recommended by us in our general directions regarding the health.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. The treatment mentioned by our author is recommended by
almost all the other authorities both before and after his time. See, in
particular, Oribasius (Synops. vi, 33); Aëtius (v, 117); Nonnus (Epitome,
146); Avicenna (iv, 1, 2, 18); Haly Abbas (Pract. iii, 23.)
Prosper Alpinus gives an excellent account of the practice of the
Methodists. It consisted of painful friction, tight ligatures,
rubefacients applied to the extremities or head, sternutatories, and, in
short, everything calculated to rouse. (Med. Meth. vi, 7.)