The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3)

by Aegineta Paulus

SECT. XXXVII.—ON THE TREATMENT OF THOSE WHO ARE SEIZED WITH SYNCOPE FROM CRUDE HUMOURS.

Some are seized with fever while having a great collection of crude humours, and while the mouth of the stomach is at the same time disordered. In them the hypochondrium is distended with flatulence, the orifice of the stomach is more swelled than natural; in some the complexion is turned to a more white and watery, and in others to a blacker. None of these can bear the abstraction of blood without the most imminent danger; but they require evacuation, although they cannot endure phlebotomy nor purging, for even without them they are disposed to fall suddenly into a state of syncope. They are to be cured, then, by friction. It will be proper, at the commencement of the disease, to begin with rubbing the limbs from above, downwards, with moderately rough linen cloths, and afterwards, the whole arms from above, downwards. But when the limbs have been sufficiently warmed, and there is danger of a sense of lassitude, we must use a relaxing oil, and avoid all astringents. When it is winter, we must also use a sudorific one, such as the Sicyonian oil, or that of chamomile. After rubbing the limbs freely, we must next rub off the oil, and proceed to the spine, which we must rub in like manner, and then immediately return to the legs, and from them to the arms again, and afterwards to the spine again, continuing this practice for a whole day. Honied water, in which hyssop has been boiled, is most beneficial in these cases. And they must neither get farinaceous food, nor soup, nor water, nor be permitted at all to drink freely; but they ought to be contented with honied water alone for the first three days, and be rubbed in succession. If the strength be moderately good, and the contents of the stomach do not pass properly downwards, you may venture with a clyster. But if there is a greater overflow of the superfluities than proper upon the stomach, you must first boil the honied water well, for thus it will be less laxative; but when the belly is looser than proper, you must not thus stop it, but, instead of the honied water, give the juice of ptisan. But if the discharge still continue, we must support with a gruel made from chondrus. But if we ascertain from the weakness of the pulse that the powers of the system are prostrated, it will be proper to give bread out of diluted wine, provided there be no inflammation of the stomach or liver. But should they be inflamed at the same time that the body is loaded with crude humours, the state of the patient is hopeless. If you perceive that the humours are thick, give oxymel always instead of honied water; if it is summer, the patient hot, and fond of cold drink, give him cold oxymel; but when in winter, it must be hot. Baths are most prejudicial to such persons. If, when you are called, syncope has already come on, and the parts which I have mentioned are free from inflammation, give a small bit of bread out of wine, and proceed straightway to the friction in the manner I have described. In those cases in which the syncope is occasioned by yellow bile infesting the mouth of the stomach, we must give cold drink, and administer wine that is thin, of a bright yellow colour, and old.

Commentary. This Section is taken either from Oribasius (Synops. vi, 27), or Aëtius (v, 97.) These authors, however, merely abridge the account of this subject which is given by Galen. (Meth. Med. xii, 5, and Therap. ad Glauc. i.) Syncope, according to the explanation of Galen, is a sudden prostration of the vital powers, without suspension of the respiration, as in deliquium animi. Our author has given a very correct account of Galen’s treatment. He states that, the system labouring under a load, the great indication is evacuation, but that venesection cannot be borne in such cases. In short, he insists that our great dependence must be placed on friction, for the application of which he gives very minute directions. When the pulse suddenly sinks and becomes irregular, he administers wine, unless there be inflammation of the stomach or liver. In cases complicated with crude humours, he pronounces the bath to be most prejudicial, and also disapproves of very cold or very warm air. He is most particular in his directions for the selection of the most proper wine to be used, and gives some interesting observations on the principal Greek and Roman wines used in his time. He concludes his remarks with stating that thick wines ought to be avoided as injurious, and such as are watery and thin as ineffectual, whereas those of a middling kind are to be selected. He particularly praises the Ariusian and the Lesbian. The Falernian he condemns, as being too fragrant and austere, which qualities render it injurious to the head.

Alexander disagrees with Galen as to several of the points of treatment laid down by him. He insists that Galen’s rigid rules for applying strong friction, at the same time that abstinence is enjoined, are such as no ordinary powers of constitution could bear up under; and, therefore, he recommends to rub first, and then to give some light nourishment, such as thin ptisan, oxymel, and bread soaked in wine, when the strength is greatly overpowered. Nay, when the powers of the constitution are in danger of sinking under the weight of the load, he suggests the propriety of having recourse to venesection; and accounts for the benefit derived from this evacuation upon the same principle that a fire which is like to be extinguished by an excessive load of green fuel burns brighter when part is taken off. This is an ingenious explanation of the manner in which bleeding proves useful in cases of congestive fevers. Respecting the use of wine and the bath, his views are similar to those of Galen. He approves very much of administering a light-coloured diffusible wine when the powers of the system are much sunk.

Avicenna adheres closely to the principles of treatment laid down by Galen; and, therefore, says nothing of venesection. (iv, 1, 2, 58.) Rhases treats this complication of fever in like manner. He calls it “Febris syncoptica, ex humorum copiâ et cruditate nata.” (Ad Mansor. x, 14.) He mentions emetics, but approves most particularly of friction. (Contin. xxx.)

Averrhoes contends that, in such a case, it is lawful for a Mussulman to drink wine, although forbidden by the Prophet. He approves also of friction. (Collig. vii, 16.)

Prosper Alpinus informs us that the Methodists, in such cases, gave wine and aromatics, and used every means to rouse the system. (Med. Method, vi, 9.)