The directions given by Avicenna are so like our author’s that we must suppose them copied from him. He directs us first to try the effect of fatiguing the patient by talking loud to him, placing many candles in his chamber, and applying ligatures to his extremities. When this method does not succeed, he recommends the soporific applications mentioned by our author. When there is nothing to forbid the use of it, he permits the syrup of poppies. (iv, i, 2, 20.) Haly Abbas likewise recommends poppies externally and internally. (Pract. iii, 23.) Averrhoes briefly directs food and applications of a soporific nature. (Collig. vii, 2.) Rhases mentions our author’s plan of treatment, and further seems to approve of liniments made of mandrogora, opium, henbane, and the juice of lettuces. (Cont. xxxi.)
Cælius Aurelianus remarks that the indiscreet use of soporifics may bring on lethargy. According to Prosper Alpinus, the Methodists approved of fomentations, consisting of soporific medicines, such as lettuces, opium, and the like. (Med. Meth. vi, 8.)
The earlier of the modern writers on medicine approve of applying to the nose a sponge soaked in a soporific liniment prepared from opium, henbane, mandrake, cicuta, lettuce, and the like. (See Theodoricus, iii, 8.)
SECT. XLIII.—THE CURE OF CATAPHORA OR SOMNOLENCY.
Sponge the forehead with oxycrate of the temperature of new milk; put tight ligatures round the extremities; and apply to the nose strong-smelling things of an incisive quality. In the remissions, apply cupping instruments between the shoulders along the spine. When the disease is protracted, errhines must be tried during the remission. Let the food consist of things having incisive and dividing properties, as recommended by us in our general directions regarding the health.
Commentary. The treatment mentioned by our author is recommended by almost all the other authorities both before and after his time. See, in particular, Oribasius (Synops. vi, 33); Aëtius (v, 117); Nonnus (Epitome, 146); Avicenna (iv, 1, 2, 18); Haly Abbas (Pract. iii, 23.)
Prosper Alpinus gives an excellent account of the practice of the Methodists. It consisted of painful friction, tight ligatures, rubefacients applied to the extremities or head, sternutatories, and, in short, everything calculated to rouse. (Med. Meth. vi, 7.)
SECT. XLIV.—THE CURE OF HEADACH IN FEVERS.
When headach proves troublesome in fevers, after the accustomed evacuations, in the decline of the paroxyms, the head ought to be anointed, first with the common oil from unripe olives, or with rose oil, to which a very small quantity of vinegar has been added; which, if it be the summer season, and the fever of the ardent type, may be used cold; but, in winter, if the fever be not ardent, it must be hot or tepid. In the oil may be boiled the juice of wild thyme and knot-grass (polygonum); and in summer, the heads of the poppy, or the poppy itself may be added, as in winter, a moderate quantity of the hogs-fennel may be substituted in place of it. When the pain continues in the forehead, if the open of the head be bare, a poultice may be applied to it, made of old barley-meal and knot-grass; or, in like manner, of bread and roses, or of some myrtle or wild thyme. Some are rather benefited by an admixture of pennyroyal, and others, when the affection was of a hot nature, have rather been remedied, by having flea-wort (psyllium) added to the barley-flour, or even by this substance alone, when boiled to the consistence of bird-lime. It must be frequently changed. Coriander with barley-meal may be used in like manner. Aloes with vinegar are also to be rubbed in, or myrrh and ammoniac in like manner, and crocomagma. Pulsatory pains are dispelled by rue and mint, with bread, to which a little rose oil has been added. When the pain does not yield to the afore-mentioned remedies, we must first cut the hair close by the skin, and then rub some of the oily embrocations over it all; after which cupping-instruments are to be applied to the hind-head, and the extremities to be bound with ligatures, and chafed. Leeches also are a proper application. But if a catarrh or defluxion raise the pain in the head, we must apply the remedies which will afterwards be described in the proper place. But if exhalations from the stomach have been carried upwards, and hurt the head, we must attend to them, as is stated below.