But the account of the disease given by Galen and Aëtius is the fullest. They derive the name either from the bird, as mentioned above, or from ivy (κίττος), because, as ivy entwines itself about various plants, so does this appetite in pregnant women fasten upon a variety of improper articles of food. It is attended with languor of the stomach, nausea, and loathing of food, bringing on vomiting of bile or phlegm, anxiety, and pains in the stomach. All these symptoms arise, they say, from a sanguineous plethora, brought on by a suppression of the menstrual discharge. They, therefore, recommend a restricted diet, and moderate exercise when the woman was accustomed to it. When the humour which infests the stomach is of an acid, acrid, or saltish nature, they direct draughts of tepid water, to encourage vomiting; they forbid all sweet things; and recommend an old sub-astringent wine. When there is a loathing of food, they advise us to tempt the appetite with a variety of savory things. To those who have a desire for eating earth, they particularly recommend starch. When the fluid which is vomited is of a thick and viscid nature, they recommend pickles, radishes, and oxymel, for an emetic. They also particularly direct astringent cataplasms and plasters to be applied to the præcordia.
As the practice of the other authorities is conducted upon similar principles, we shall mention them very succinctly. For the depraved appetite which longs for earth, Serapion recommends aromatic spices, such as cardamon, cubebs, and the like. For the continued vomiting, Alsaharavius directs plasters, containing the oil of spikenard, mastich, quinces, wormwood, and the like, or a vessel filled with hot water, to be applied over the stomach, pomegranate seeds to be held in the mouth; and that the patient should take gentle exercise, and abstain from all sweet things.
Alexander Aphrodisiensis accounts for the disease in much the same way as Galen and Aëtius. He says that, when the menstrual fluid is suppressed, a determination of it takes place to the stomach, until the fœtus becomes as large as to consume it.
Pliny strongly commends citrons for the cure of the disease.
For the œdematous swellings of the feet and legs, most of the other authorities concur with our author in recommending astringent applications. The anthyllis, mentioned by him, is supposed by Sprengel to have been the cressa cretica. (R. H. Hist. p. 164.)
We shall conclude our commentary on this Section with an outline of the directions given by Aspasia for the management of pregnant women. Women who have conceived are to be guarded from frights, sorrow, and all violent mental perturbation. They are to avoid gestation in carriages, severe exercise, inordinate breathing and blows about the loins; also the lifting of heavy loads, dancing, and sitting on hard seats. Likewise all acrid and flatulent food, strong clysters, and too much or too little food and drink are to be avoided. All discharges of blood, whether from the nose or hemorrhoids, are dangerous in the pregnant state. Moderate and wholesome food, gestation in a sedan, gentle walking, soft friction, and the exercise of spinning are proper. About the eighth month, which is the most critical period of pregnancy, the diet is to be more contracted, and the exercise increased. If the bowels are constipated owing to compression of the rectum, by the enlarged uterus, laxative food is to be given, such as ptisan and mallows. In the ninth month the regimen is to be of a relaxing nature, and for this purpose the tepid bath is to be frequently taken, for it has a great effect in rendering parturition easy. (Apud Aëtium, xvi, 12.)
Our author borrows part of this chapter from Oribasius, and abridges the rest from Galen and Aëtius.
SECT. II.—ON THE NURSE.
A nurse is to be chosen who is free from every complaint, and is neither very old nor very young. She ought not to be less than twenty-five nor more than thirty-five. Her chest should be large, as also her breasts, and her nipples neither contracted nor turned aside. The rest of her body should be neither very fat nor very spare. It is of great consequence to the child that his nurse should have brought forth but a short time before, and that her child had been a male rather than otherwise. She ought to avoid everything of a very desiccative nature, and likewise such as are saltish, acrid, sour, acid, bitter, very heating, or of an offensive smell: also, such as are strongly fragrant, condiments, and such like acrid substances. Let the nurse also abstain from venery. Let her work with her hands and shoulders, let her labour at the mill and the loom, and carry about the child in her arms. This may be done for three or four months.
Commentary. This Section is taken from Oribasius. (Synops. v, 2.)