The formation of flatus in the stomach arises from the juices or food
being dissolved into vapours by a gentle heat. For cold, as it is not
of an attenuating and dissolving nature, does not engender flatulence;
whilst a violent heat not only attenuates, but likewise dissipates,
and thus prevents the formation of flatulence. But a lesser degree of
heat dissolves and changes the food, but not sufficiently, and hence
flatus is gendered. Wherefore we must attenuate them by calefacient
medicines—boiling in oil the seed of cumin, of parsley, of cow-parsnip,
and of carrot. When the affection partakes of cold, you may boil
rue, bay-berries, gith, and fennel in the oil, and mix bitumen and
oil of bays. But if the pain be attended with inflammation, instead
of calefacients, you may use relaxants, making a decoction of dill,
and mixing with it the fat of a cock and of a goose. Those who have
flatulence may be relieved by the decoction of a fasciculus of poley,
or a decoction of calamint, having a small quantity of honey and a
drachm of pepper mixed with it. These remedies must be applied when the
pain is violent; but if it is moderate, fomentations from millet will
be sufficient. But a large cupping-instrument that will comprehend the
navel often removes the symptom at once. Castor also is of use to them,
when taken in a draught with oxycrate, and when applied externally with
Sicyonian oil; and it also cures flatulence when attended with tormina.
But the ankles of a swine burnt, and taken in a draught, cure tormina
and flatulence; and the round birthwort does the same. Pains from
obstructions of the bowels, or flatulence arising from thickness of the
humours, or from cold, are relieved by drinking undiluted wine after
food; and, if sleep follow, it completely removes these complaints.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. See all the authors referred to in the preceding Section.
Our author’s treatment, which consists of dry cupping, dry fomentations,
and the internal use of calefacients and wine, is what Celsus also
recommends. He likewise speaks favorably of exercising the upper parts
of the body, of friction, and of using purgatives occasionally, and
sometimes, though rarely, the bath. Serapion, Rhases, and Avicenna,
recommend similar treatment, namely, purgatives and aromatics, such as
aloes, anise, calamint, cumin, and the like. Haly Abbas forbids all
flatulent food, such as pulse, milk, and grapes; recommends the bath
after much exercise, and before dinner, and the stomach to be rubbed,
and a cataplasm of salt and cumin applied to it. He also prescribes
many calefacient and carminative articles, such as anise, rue, castor
with old wine, also the peppers, theriac, mithridate, hiera picra, &c.
Alsaharavius recommends aromatics and carminatives, and afterwards that
the pit of the stomach should be rubbed with calefacient oils. Averrhoes
directs us to give all solid food, as flesh, puddings, &c. quite cold;
but spoon-meats may be eaten as warm as the blood or somewhat warmer.
This method, he adds, will clear the head and stomach of wind, beget
finer blood, brisker spirits, and cause a lively circulation of all the
humours.
Rhases and Avicenna describe _ulceration_ of the stomach very accurately,
and also thickening of its coats.
Avicenna mentions _rupture_ of the stomach, but does not say whether he
alludes to spontaneous rupture or rupture from accident.
Actuarius has given a more distinct account of _hæmatemesis_ than any
other of the ancient authorities. He says the blood may be brought
up either pure or of a dark colour, and it may be occasioned either
by external injuries or proceed from constitutional causes. The
constitutional causes are commonly either general plethora or atony of
the liver. In certain cases, he says, it proceeds from rupture of the
vessels, and in others from relaxation of them, in others again from
corrosion. In _melæna_, he says, the skin is pale. (De Diagnos. i, 39.)