If the stomach be weak, we must apply strengthening cataplasms to it,
such as those made of dates and wine, and of barley-meal and saffron,
and of mastich and aloes; and use embrocations from wormwood, the oil of
apples, and of mastich, nard, and wine; and if hot, we must add cooling
things, such as the juices of gourd, lettuce, purslain, nightshade,
endive, and unripe grapes. But if the bowels appear to be inflamed, it
will be proper to add to the embrocations some of the relaxing medicines,
such as oil of chamomile and of privet, the grease of a cock or goose
and bdellium, ammoniac, or the like; and to the cataplasms, the seed of
parsley and fenugreek, the flowers of the marshmallows and chamomile;
and, in a word, let the application be a compound of relaxing, attenuant,
bitter, and astringent properties.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Celsus notices these affections. When there is pain and
inflammation about the præcordia, he recommends us to use at first
repellent cataplasms, and, when the inflammation abates, to exchange
these for hot fomentations, whereby the remains of the complaint will be
removed. Pain without inflammation requires no application, as it will be
carried off by the fever itself. (iii, 10.)
Galen treats of all sorts of applications for affections of the stomach
in his work, ‘De Med. sec. Locos’ (viii.) Our author follows Aëtius. (v,
95.)
For atony of the stomach, Alexander recommends the applications mentioned
by our author. When there is ardor of the stomach, a seasonable draught
of cold water, he says, may do much good, whereas, if unseasonably
given, it will prove highly dangerous. For atony of the stomach, he
also recommends hot wine, if not contra-indicated; and most especially
friction of the extremities. When it can be borne, the bath, he says,
proves beneficial in cases of atony. When there is a sense of cold,
he recommends poppies and wormwood. When the stomach is loaded with
offensive humours, he directs an emetic of oil and water to be given.
This remedy, he adds, sometimes operates downwards with the best
effects, and he directs its purgative operation to be promoted by
giving suppositories. He concludes, with recommending the stomach to be
strengthened by giving a decoction of wormwood with wine, but forbids
this medicine until the fever be abated. (xii, 3.)
Of the Arabian authors, Serapion’s account is the fullest, but it is
taken almost word for word from Alexander. (vi, 19.) Rhases states that
he had often seen bad consequences arise from evacuation having been
practised before attending to the stomach. (Contin. xxv.)