There are two varieties of lientery: the one arising from superficial
ulceration of the intestines, and (according to some) from a cicatrix
occasioned most frequently by dysentery or other defluxions; and the
other from an atony of the retentive faculty of the bowels: the second
variety being in our opinion connected with the cæliac affection; for
in it the stomach being unable to concoct and distribute the food, it
is discharged downwards in a smooth, undigested, and liquid state, the
stomach in all cases labouring under a defluxion. But in lientery the
passage of the food is quick, and the indigestion more intense; so that
the appearance of the food which has been taken is preserved, and by
these circumstances it is more especially distinguished from cæliac
affection. Wherefore we must apply cataplasms of linseed with dates. And
lentisk and bramble boiled with oxymel is a very effectual remedy; but,
when there is flatulence of the bowels, we must mix some cumin, dill, and
rue. If the defluxion increase, we may add quinces, moist alum, acacia,
hypocistis, galls, some or all of these. Cerates also made of myrtle-oil
with some astringent wine are useful, and the caleficient epithemes
from the bay-berries, or from seeds. But that from the flowers of wild
vine, that from grape-stones, and that ascribed to Antyllus are more
astringent. But the one called Erythrian is wonderfully efficacious.
When the disease is protracted, we must have recourse to a dropax
(calefacient plaster) along the abdomen, and the cerate from mustard, or
mustard itself. The drinks which are taken should be simple, containing
plantain-seed, or the seed of dock, or the rind of pomegranate, or dried
services, or dried unripe grapes from the Aminæan vine, to the amount of
three oboli; which things, when there is no fever, are to be taken in six
cupfuls of an austere wine, but when there is fever in rain water. It
will injure the stomach less if the dried crop of hens be sprinkled upon
the drink. But diuretics, such as parsley, maiden-hair, and the like,
occasion a metastasis of the fluid; and, in like manner, the compound
ones, as that of Polyides (it is the sigillum), the trochisk from amber,
that from Egyptian thorn, the one called clidium, and that from seeds.
The following one is most excellent: Of the seed of the wild dock, oz.
iss; of plantain-seed, oz. j; of the juice of the hypocistis, dr. vj; of
gum or acacia, dr. iij; add to a decoction of the juice of quinces boiled
to a third part.—_Another_: Of cumin, of pepper, of Syriac sumach, of the
flowers of the wild pomegranate, of each, oz. iss; of pomegranate-rind,
oz. j; of laserwort, oz. ss; either sprinkle a drachm of it dried upon
the drink, or mix with oxymel, and give morning and evening.—_Another_:
Of black myrtle, a spoonful and a half; of anise, of dried roses, of the
flower of wild vine, of each, half a spoonful; of dates, xx in number;
make trochisks, and give a drachm with water or diluted wine. And the
theriac from vipers is also an excellent remedy for them. When the
discharge is acrid and bilious, the food should be from chondrus, rice,
alica, and the like; but some of the astringents should be boiled along
with them, such as pears, apples, quinces, medlars, and such like. Boiled
milk is also proper. The drink should be either a light watery wine, or
some of the sweet potions. If the discharges consist more of phlegm, we
may change the diet to the opposite kind, mixing the seeds of some of the
stomachic vegetables, anise, cumin, or the seed of parsley. The dried
lentil twice boiled is often of use to them, when eaten with a little
vinegar or oxymel, and cabbages likewise twice boiled; but it is better
to make the second boiling in oxycrate. They should drink some of the
older and more heating wines.
* * * * *
COMMENTARY. Hippocrates (Aphor., de Affect.); Galen (in Hipp. Aphor.
Comment. vi, 1; de Med. sec. loc. vii); Aretæus (Morb. Chron. ii, 10);
Celsus (iv, 16); Nonnus (166); Theophilus (de Alvi Retrim. 2); Actuarius
(Meth. Med. i, 42); Aëtius (ix, 37); Oribasius (Morb. Curat. iv, 88);
Leo (v, 5); Psellus (Opus Medicum); Scribonius Largus (xi); Marcellus
(de Medicam. 27); Avicenna (iii, 16, 1); Serapion (iii, 18); Haly Abbas
(Theor. ix, 25, Pract. vii, 16); Alsaharavius (Pract. xvii, 1); Rhases
(ad Mansor. ix, 72; Contin. xiii.)
In lientery, says Hippocrates, the food passes through the bowels in a
liquid state and without change. Galen remarks that the affection may be
defined to be a loss of digestion, the food having undergone no change in
consistence, smell, or quality, while in the bowels. The intestines, he
says, are either in a state of ulceration and great tenderness, or they
have lost their retentive faculty.
Aretæus calls it a disease arising from broad ulcers of the intestines
when the food passes through the bowels not at all altered. With respect
to the treatment, he merely says that an emetic after food will remove it.
Celsus recommends astringent food, stimulant and rubefacient applications
externally; and afterwards exercise, friction, insolation, and vomiting,
which, he says, Hippocrates directed to be produced with white hellebore
when other things fail.
Dioscorides states that when the inner membrane of a cock’s stomach has
been dried and reduced to powder, it may be given triturated in wine with
great advantage in stomach complaints. Our author, it will be remarked,
makes mention of this medicinal article.
Archigenes and Aëtius describe cæliac affection as an atony of the
intestines, so that the food is not retained until it is digested. They
treat of it at great length, their principal remedial measures being
purging, vomiting, and astringent applications. According to Psellus it
arises from superficial ulceration of the intestines. Psellus defines
lientery to be a loss of the retentive faculty of the bowels, so that the
food passes undigested in a liquid state.
Serapion for lientery directs us to give astringent decoctions, and to
apply to the belly an astringent epitheme containing galls, roses,
pomegranate-flowers, &c. the food to consist principally of millet and
the like. He also recommends a mixture of goat’s milk and water boiled
until the water evaporate. When the stomach is loaded he prescribes an
emetic. In cæliac affection he directs us to strengthen the intestines by
astringents internally and externally. Haly Abbas defines lientery to be
a quick discharge of the food in an unchanged state. It arises, he adds,
from immoderate debility of the retentive faculty of the intestines, or
from excess of the expulsive. It is said to be generally caused by ulcers
which, being irritated by the food, stimulate the intestines to expel it.
He recommends a variety of remedies, most of which are either astringents
or acids, such as balaustine, rind of acorns, mastich, sumach, galls,
roses, &c.