If want of appetite should pass into the opposite state, I mean an
excessive atrophy, called bulimos, we must resuscitate such persons with
roasted pork, or kids, and other savoury things; and, in a word, with
every strong-scented thing, if the acute stage of the fever be past. We
must bind the extremities, and rouse, by pinching the cheeks, and pulling
the hair and ears. When recovered, we must give bread that has been
dipped in diluted wine, or any other diffusible thing.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. According to Galen, bulimos is occasioned by a want
connected with atony, and coldness of the stomach. (De Caus. Sympt. i,
7.) Alexander, on the other hand, says, that it arises from inordinate
heat and weakness of the stomach. He informs us that the vulgar practice
consisted in giving fragrant things, binding the extremities, rousing
by pinching, giving bread soaked in wine, and, in short, administering
every thing calculated to cool and strengthen the body. Others, he says,
give opium in cold water, in order to extinguish the heat of the stomach.
However, he disapproves of all these things, and recommends food of
difficult digestion. He relates the case of a woman affected with bulimia
who was cured by having a purgative powder given to her, which occasioned
the discharge of a worm more than twelve cubits long. (vii, 6.)
Aëtius and Oribasius adopt the theory of Galen, and recommend nearly the
same treatment as our author. Aëtius also directs us to apply over the
stomach cooling cataplasms made of dates, quinces, or polenta, boiled in
diluted wine.
Serapion remarks that bulimos is distinguished from the canine appetite,
by the desire in the former complaint being for proper articles of
food, whereas, in the latter, it is for depraved or improper food. His
treatment in most respects is like our author’s. He also recommends a
mixture of old odoriferous wine, camphor, and lignum aloes. (ii, 11.)
Avicenna and Haly Abbas agree with Galen in stating that bulimos
is connected with a cold intemperament of the stomach, whereby the
sensibility and attractive power of the stomach are diminished. Their
treatment in principle is quite similar to our author’s. In extreme
cases they agree with Galen in recommending the theriac. One of Rhases’
authorities recommends cardamom, cubebs, and the like. (Cont. xi.)
The classical reader is referred to Callimachus for a grand poetical
description of Bulimia. (Hymnus in Cererem.)