Treatment similar to our author’s is recommended by Alexander (vii, 7), and by Oribasius (Synops. vi, 35.)
Avicenna evidently takes his plan of treatment from our author, for he recommends emetics, and afterwards fragrant things, with a plaster composed of fruits laid over the stomach, and wormwood, aloes, &c., internally. (iv, 1, 2, 26.) Among the causes of loss of appetite mentioned by him in another place are general disorder of the constitution in fevers, severe thirst, repletion with depraved humours, and insensibility of the mouth of the stomach, so that it does not perceive the suction of the veins. (iii, 13, 2, 7.)
Haly’s treatment is nearly the same. He recommends fragrant food and fragrant wine after the acme of the fever, gentle laxatives, and such modes of exercise as he can bear. (Pract. iii, 21.)
SECT. LI.—ON BULIMOS OR INORDINATE HUNGER.
If want of appetite should pass into the opposite state, I mean an excessive atrophy, called bulimos, we must resuscitate such persons with roasted pork, or kids, and other savoury things; and, in a word, with every strong-scented thing, if the acute stage of the fever be past. We must bind the extremities, and rouse, by pinching the cheeks, and pulling the hair and ears. When recovered, we must give bread that has been dipped in diluted wine, or any other diffusible thing.
Commentary. According to Galen, bulimos is occasioned by a want connected with atony, and coldness of the stomach. (De Caus. Sympt. i, 7.) Alexander, on the other hand, says, that it arises from inordinate heat and weakness of the stomach. He informs us that the vulgar practice consisted in giving fragrant things, binding the extremities, rousing by pinching, giving bread soaked in wine, and, in short, administering every thing calculated to cool and strengthen the body. Others, he says, give opium in cold water, in order to extinguish the heat of the stomach. However, he disapproves of all these things, and recommends food of difficult digestion. He relates the case of a woman affected with bulimia who was cured by having a purgative powder given to her, which occasioned the discharge of a worm more than twelve cubits long. (vii, 6.)
Aëtius and Oribasius adopt the theory of Galen, and recommend nearly the same treatment as our author. Aëtius also directs us to apply over the stomach cooling cataplasms made of dates, quinces, or polenta, boiled in diluted wine.
Serapion remarks that bulimos is distinguished from the canine appetite, by the desire in the former complaint being for proper articles of food, whereas, in the latter, it is for depraved or improper food. His treatment in most respects is like our author’s. He also recommends a mixture of old odoriferous wine, camphor, and lignum aloes. (ii, 11.)
Avicenna and Haly Abbas agree with Galen in stating that bulimos is connected with a cold intemperament of the stomach, whereby the sensibility and attractive power of the stomach are diminished. Their treatment in principle is quite similar to our author’s. In extreme cases they agree with Galen in recommending the theriac. One of Rhases’ authorities recommends cardamom, cubebs, and the like. (Cont. xi.)