When nausea comes on without being produced artificially, it is a clear
inference that noxious humours are vexing the stomach. Some feel uneasy,
but vomit nothing, the humour being retained in the coats. When the
humours are pituitous, we must get them concocted by rest, spare diet,
and sleep. But the thinner may be ejected by vomiting, produced either
with the juice of ptisan, or with honied water. But those which are
viscid and thick, stand in need of attenuant remedies, such as oxymel,
and the like. But, when a noxious fluid is detained in the coats, the
powder from aloes, called picra, is beneficial, but astringents are
pernicious; whereas, if there be much fluid, but not of a noxious kind,
astringents will be beneficial, but the aloetic medicine will bring on
marasmus. When cold is joined to humidity, we must mix calefacients with
astringents. The symptom of the affection being of a cold nature is that
there is no thirst, nor sensation of heat.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Oribasius recommends the same treatment. (Synops. vi, 40.)
Our author appears to have condensed the lengthy account given by Galen
and Aëtius. (ix, v.)
Alexander also treats of the subject at great length, but we can only
afford room for a few extracts. When the nausea arises from plethora,
he directs bleeding; and when the plethora is connected with vitiated
humours, he recommends both bleeding and purging. When bilious or
melancholic humours occasion the nausea, he recommends dilution at
first by giving tepid water or the like, and then evacuations of them
by purging or emetics. When the humour is an acrid or sweet phlegm, he
recommends oxymel, radishes, and the like. When a serous and thin humour
is impacted in the stomach, he evacuates it by procuring vomiting with
tepid water or ptisan. (vii, 13.)
Serapion appears to have copied from our author. (iii, 5.) See Avicenna
(iii, xiii, 5, 8.) Rhases applies over the stomach a cold plaster with
snow. When the nausea is oppressive, he promotes vomiting with tepid
water. (Cont. xi.)