The directions given by Haly Abbas are to the same effect as those of Rhases, that is to say, he recommends fat persons to take hard exercise, to remain long in the bath, to use friction with oil of dill and the like, to live upon articles of food not too nutritious, not to indulge in protracted sleep, and to have frequent recourse to laxative and purgative medicines. (Pract. i, 16.)
Some remarkable cases of obesity are related by Athenæus. (Deipnos, xii, 12.)
The practice of the Methodists is described in a very circumstantial manner by Cælius Aurelianus. (Tard. Pass. v, 9.) They very properly condemned bleeding and purging, and depended principally upon strong exercise, hot baths, insolation, the sand-bath, hard friction, and a restricted diet.
SECT. LVIII.—HOW TO RECRUIT THOSE WHO ARE EMACIATED.
When we wish to recruit those who are reduced in flesh, we must give them thick wine and food containing thick juices, and prescribe slow exercise and moderate friction,—in a word, every thing contrary to the method we have been just describing. It may also be of use to be pitched for three or four days. If a person go into the bath with an empty stomach, he ought beforehand to get his body rubbed with linen cloths until it become ruddy, and afterwards, by hard but not frequent friction, the skin may be rendered thick and hard. Those who are pale, and not properly nourished, ought to be roused to anger and mental emotions.
Commentary. This is either copied from Oribasius (Synops. v, 41), or from Aëtius (iv, 58.) The process of pitching the body is thus described by Aëtius: “Dried pitch is melted in a moderate quantity of oil, and, while still warm, is to be rubbed into the skin (the part having been previously shaved), and before it cools completely it is to be torn away. The plaster is to be again heated at the fire, and spread upon the skin; and before it becomes cold it is to be torn away. This process is to be frequently repeated.” (iii, 180.) See Celsus (i, 3.)
Galen, in his Commentary on the second Aphorism of Hippocrates, expresses himself strongly on the danger of using precipitation in recruiting a person that has been emaciated. He evidently writes from ample experience, acquired in training the Athletæ. Hippocrates and his commentator repeat this rule the “ne quid nimis” in another place. See Galen (Op. t. v, 251, ed. Basil.)
Haly Abbas recommends moderate exercise, a short continuance in the bath, friction with emollient oils, much sleep, two or three meals every day, food consisting of fat meat, bread, almonds, &c. He also approves of pitching. (Pract. i, 16.)
Avicenna recommends pitching, the bath soon after taking food, soft friction, and the rest of the treatment recommended by Paulus. (i, 3, 4.)