Rhases agrees with Hippocrates in stating, that pestilential fevers are distinguished by great heat internally, while the surface of the body is cool. The symptoms, as detailed by him, are vomiting and diarrhœa, pain and distension of the belly, coldness of the extremities, urine showing a tendency to putrefaction, discharge of blood from the nose, heat about the breast, singultus tendinum, blackness of the tongue, bulimia, &c. He particularly states that a black discharge from the bowels is a most fatal symptom. Like Avicenna, he gives directions to perform fumigations with camphor, musk, myrrh, bdellium, frankincense, and the like. He mentions that, during the prevalence of a certain pestilence, it was found that hunters escaped the contagion. Like Avicenna, he approves of bloodletting. See Continens (xxx.) He also recommends cold drink and the cold bath. Calefacients and wine, unless diluted with much cold water, he disapproves of. He, like the other Arabian authorities, joins Galen in speaking favorably of Armenian bole and the theriac. (Ad Mansor. iv, 25.)
The belief that the plague is preceded by extraordinary phenomena in the earth and sky is very ancient. Thucydides concludes his brief account of the last attack of the plague on Athens with the remark, that at that time there were many earthquakes at Athens and other places. (iii, 87.) Manilius says such plagues as that of Athens are commonly prognosticated by comets and other celestial fires. Diodorus Siculus mentions that the Athenian plague was preceded by earthquakes of extraordinary severity. (xii, 59.)
While explaining the symptoms and treatment of the plague, as detailed in the works of the ancient authors, we have purposely omitted to notice its contagious nature, as we wished to give one connected view of the ancient opinions regarding Contagion. Before entering upon this disquisition, we think it proper to acknowledge the assistance which we have derived from the writings of Fracastorius, Paulinus, Mead, Marx, Omodei, and Winterbottom, leaving it to the reader to determine, after comparing our humble attempt with their learned labours, whether or not our industry and research have contributed in anywise to throw additional light upon this important subject.
The earlier ancient authors appear to have entertained no suspicions of contagion as a cause of febrile or of other complaints. Homer, as formerly stated, evidently refers the origin of the plague which prevailed in the Grecian army during the siege of Troy to the heat of the sun. The works of the fathers of History and of Medicine have likewise been ransacked in vain, for any traces of the doctrine of contagion. Thucydides, therefore, appears to be the first author (if we except the Mosaic description of leprosy) who makes any positive allusion to the contagious nature of diseases. From his description of the plague of Athens, there can be no doubt that he wishes it to be understood, that the disease was transmitted from one person to another; for he mentions that physicians were more attacked by it than any others, as having most intercourse with the sick; and he afterwards describes the terror which the citizens felt to approach those labouring under the disease, and intimates that it was often contracted by such intercourse. The language of Lucretius, who copies his description, and gives it a poetical form, is still more precise:—
“——nullo cessabant tempore apisci
Ex aliis alios avidi contagia morbi.”
(L. 1235.)
And afterwards,