Rhases treats of the same at great length. He approves of protracted sleep; of food consisting of fat meat, wheat, and pulse; after food, of the bath, friction with oil, and the affusion of tepid water over the body; and also of red, thick, and sweet wines. (Ad Mansor. v, 60.) In another work he delivers the opinions of preceding authorities, accompanied with his own remarks. He agrees with Galen, that emaciation generally depends upon the state of the liver. They recommend nutritive articles of food, such as boiled and roasted flesh, and the bath, without friction, after a meal. Both speak favorably of pitching. They also approve particularly of sulphureous and bituminous baths. With regard to the bath, they explain, in another place, that it is proper in these cases only after the food is digested; for, if taken too soon after, it loads the body with unconcocted chyle; and that, if had recourse to at other times, it rather induces emaciation. Rhases again repeats that many of the legumina are very nutritive. He states that the wine should be particularly thick. (Contin. xiv.) Galen further says, that emaciated persons are to be recruited by thick wines, food consisting of thick juices, short exercises, and moderate friction. (Meth. Med. xiv, 16.) In another place he gives a very striking description of the bad effects of inanition. (De Venesect. adv. Erasistrat.) We would further direct attention to the description given by Hippocrates of a febrile state of the system, attended with delirium, which is sometimes brought on by too restricted a regimen in disease. (De Diæta morb. acut. § 11.)
On the treatment of convalescents, consult Celsus (iv, 25); Galen (Hyg.); and particularly Rhases (Contin. xxxiv). We shall give Celsus’ directions in his own words: “Ex quocunque autem morbo quis convalescit, si tarde confirmatur, vigilare primâ luce debet; nihilominus in lecto conquiescere: circa tertiam horam leniter unctis manibus corpus permulcere: deinde delectationis causa, quantum juvat, ambulare, circumcisa omni negotiosa actione: tum gestari diu: multa frictione uti: loca, cœlum, cibos sæpe mutare: ubi triduo quatriduove vinum bibit, uno aut etiam altero die interponere aquam. Per hæc enim fiet, ne in vitia tabem inferentia incidat, et ut mature vires suas recipiat. Cum vero ex toto convaluerit, periculosè vitæ genus subito mutabit, et inordinatè aget. Paulatim ergo debebit, omissis his legibus, eo transire, ut arbitrio suo vivat.” Galen and Rhases particularly recommend to convalescents to drink white astringent wines diluted with water. Both enjoin a restricted diet at first, gentle exercise, and the bath in moderation. Haly Abbas cautions against premature friction and exercise, but recommends the tepid bath, and gentle unction with oils. (Pract. i, 25.) Syrasis recommends the warm bath, moderate friction with rough towels, and unction with a little oil. (Auctores de Balneis, p. 334.)
SECT. LIX.—HOW TO REMEDY EMACIATED PARTS OF THE BODY.
When emaciation takes place in any part of the body, it is commonly occasioned by long-protracted rest, or by bandaging for fractures. We must, therefore, stimulate their vital powers, and attract the blood to them, by using moderate friction, suitable exercise, and by the affusion of warm water upon them in moderate quantity. This must be done until the part becomes red and swells, and we must desist before it subsides. We must also use pitching, as formerly described. When there is a sense of cold in the part, it ought to be rubbed with linen cloths, or some calefacient medicine. For this purpose, I have sometimes used the thapsia, rubbing it in either with honey or cerate.
Commentary. This is taken from Oribasius (Synops. v, 42), or Aëtius (iv, 34). See also Galen (de Sanit. tuendâ, v); Rhases (Contin. xiii); Haly Abbas (Pract. i, 16); Avicenna (i, 3, 4.) All recommend water to be poured on the part, and then it is to be rubbed with towels and hot stimulant oils, so as to produce a redness and glow in it. Most of them also approve of the pitch plaster.
SECT. LX.—THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE BEST TEMPERAMENT.
That man is in the best temperament of body when it is in a medium between all extremes, of leanness and obesity, of softness and hardness, of heat and cold, of moisture and dryness; and, in a word, who has all the natural and vital energies in a faultless state. His hair, also, should be neither thick nor thin, and in colour neither black nor white. When a boy, his locks should be rather tawny than black, but, when an adult, the contrariwise.
Commentary. This Section is copied from Oribasius (Synops. v, 43), or Aëtius (iv, 53). See also Galen (de Temperam., de Opt. Corp. Constit., de Sanit. tuendâ, v, and Ars Med.) In the last mentioned, which was long the most celebrated of all his admired works, he has treated of the temperaments very systematically. Whatever Oribasius, Paulus, or any subsequent author, whether Greek or Arabian, have delivered on this subject is altogether derived from the works of Galen.
None of the Arabians has treated of the temperaments so learnedly as Haly Abbas. (Theor. i.) See also Averrhoes (Collig. vi); Alsaharavius (Theor. vi); Avicenna (Cant.)