Commentary. Nearly the same account of deliquium animi in fevers is given by Aëtius (v, 101 et seq.), and by Oribasius (de Morb. Curat. iii, 7.) But all these authors are, in fact, indebted to Galen. (Therap. ad Glauc. i.) Aëtius thus states the distinction between syncope and deliquium: “Deliquium makes its attack suddenly, depriving the person of sense and motion, but is not necessarily accompanied with sweats; but syncope seizes upon persons both when asleep and when awake, and is necessarily attended with sweats, called syncoptic.”
Alexander delivers a full account of the subject; but his principles of treatment scarcely differ in any respect from those of Galen. (xii, 13.)
Haly Abbas directs us, when the deliquium proceeds from a defluxion of humours upon the stomach, to apply ligatures to the extremities, to dash water on the face, to fan it, and to give vinegar and pepper. He recommends us to prevent sleep, which has a tendency to extinguish the powers of the primary viscera, by occasioning a determination inwardly. When it proceeds from dryness, he directs us to give wine, the decoction of quinces, of apples, and the like. If it happen at the commencement, he recommends a piece of bread soaked in wine to be given. (Pract. iii, 25.)
The Arabians in general do not acknowledge the distinction between syncope and deliquium. See Averrhoes (Colliget. vii, 16); Serapion (vi, 19); Rhases (ad Mansor. x, 13.)
Avicenna seems to point at the distinction, but it is not perceived by his translator. Rhases recommends the same treatment as Haly Abbas. He approves of hot wine, food of easy digestion, sprinkling of the face with cold water, and the application of ligatures to the extremities. (Contin. xxxi.)
SECT. LXI.—ON THE TREATMENT OF ULCERATION UPON THE OS SACRUM.
This affection occurs most frequently in protracted fevers, owing to the patients having been long confined to bed. When, therefore, the part begins to appear red, we make a circular piece of wool, of the proper magnitude, and lay it below the part, and afterwards prepare a rose or myrtle cerate, containing litharge or ceruse, and apply it. When there is inflammation, we may use a cataplasm of bread, with nightshade, or knot-grass, or plantain, or tender cabbage. But if the ulceration be spreading, we are to use a cataplasm of dried lentils, along with the inner rind of the pomegranate.
Commentary. This Section is taken from Oribasius (Synops. vi, 44.)
Aëtius remarks that, in prolonged fevers, the fleshy parts of the body being wasted, ulceration takes place in those parts upon which the patient lies. These sores, he adds, spread deep, and have hard thick edges. When the back becomes red and painful, he directs us to surround the adjoining parts with a circle of wool, so as to relieve the affected part from the effects of pressure; and then a cerate of rose or myrtle oil, containing litharge, ceruse, and burnt barley is to be applied. He particularly commends a composition consisting of litharge, oil, wax, and honey, mixed with rose-oil. In short, his plan of treatment, like our author’s, is borrowed from Oribasius. He concludes with directing the use of milder applications when the ulceration has stopped spreading. (v, 127.)
Alsaharavius directs us to treat the redness of the back occasioned by lying long in bed with the flower of millet, barley, or lentils. When pustules form and break, he recommends an ointment containing ceruse to be applied. (Pract. xxix, 1, 26.)