Rhases recommends lettuces, the tepid bath, the affusion of tepid water on the head, and diluted wine. He also recommends mandragora and opium, which, he says, Galen states will produce soporific effects, not only when taken internally, but when rubbed on the forehead, and applied to the nostrils. He particularly approves of the following liniment: Pound the bark of mandragora, the seed of black henbane, and opium, with the juice of lettuce, and rub into the temples. He further mentions, that having fallen into a state of insomnolency from too much application to study, he cured himself by eating lettuces and using the oil of the water lily externally. (Aph. u. s.)
SECT. XCIX.—ON SOMNOLENCY.
If, on the other hand, the sleep be profound and heavy, we must abstain from frequent baths and cooling unguents; we must use masticatories, and upon the whole change the regimen for one of a hotter, drier, and less nutritive character, because the affection is occasioned by a cold and humid matter irrigating the brain.
Commentary. See the Commentary on the Sections on [Lethargy] and [Carus] in Book Third.
SECT. C.—THE EPISTLE OF DIOCLES ON THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH.—DIOCLES TO KING ANTIGONUS.
Since of all kings you are the most skilled in the arts, and have lived very long, and are skilled in all philosophy, and have attained the highest rank in mathematics, I, supposing that the science which treats of all things that relate to health is a branch of philosophy becoming a king and befitting to you, have written you this account of the origin of diseases, of the symptoms which precede them, and of the modes by which they may be alleviated. For neither does a storm gather in the heavens but it is preceded by certain signs which seamen and men of much skill attend to, nor does any disease attack the human frame without having some precursory symptom. If, then, you will only be persuaded by what we say regarding them, you may attain a correct acquaintance with these things. We divide the human body into four parts: the head, the chest, the belly, and the bladder.—When a disease is about to fix in the head, it is usually announced beforehand by vertigo, pain in the head, heaviness in the eyebrows, noise in the ears, and throbbing of the temples; the eyes water in the morning, attended with dimness of sight; the sense of smell is lost, and the gums become swelled. When any such symptoms occur, the head ought to be purged, not indeed with any strong medicine, but taking the tops of hyssop and sweet marjoram, pound them and boil them in a pot with half a hemina of must or rob, rinse the mouth with this in the morning before eating, and evacuate the humours by gargling. There is no gentler remedy than this for affections of the head. Mustard in warm honied water also answers the purpose very well. Take a mouthful of this in the morning before eating, gargle and evacuate the humours. The head also should be warmed by covering it in such a manner as that the phlegm may be readily discharged. Those who neglect these symptoms are apt to be seized with the following disorders: Inflammations of the eyes, cataracts, pain of the ears as if from a fracture, strumous affections of the neck, sphacelus of the brain, catarrh, quinsy, running ulcers called achores, caries, enlargement of the uvula, defluxion of the hairs, ulceration of the head, pain in the teeth.—When some disease is about to fall upon the chest, it is usually announced by some of the following symptoms: There are profuse sweats over the whole body, and particularly about the chest, the tongue is rough, expectoration saltish, bitter, or bilious, pains suddenly seizing the sides or shoulder-blades, frequent yawning, watchfulness, oppressed respiration, thirst after sleep, despondency of mind, coldness of the breast and arms, trembling of the hands. These symptoms may be relieved in the following manner: Procure vomiting after a moderate meal without medicine. Vomiting also when the stomach is empty will answer well; to produce which first swallow some small radishes, cresses, rocket, mustard, and purslain, and then by drinking warm water procure vomiting. Upon those who neglect these symptoms the following diseases are apt to supervene: Pleurisy, peripneumony, melancholy, acute fevers, frensy, lethargy, ardent fever attended with hiccough.—When any disease is about to attack the bowels, some of the following symptoms announce its approach: In the first place, the belly is griped and disordered, the food and drink seem bitter, heaviness of the knees, inability to bend the loins, pains over the whole body unexpectedly occurring, numbness of the legs, slight fever; when any of these occur, it will be proper to loosen the belly by a suitable diet without medicine. There are many articles of this description which one may use with safety, such as beets boiled in honied water, boiled garlic, mallows, dock, the herb mercury, honied cakes; for all these things are laxative of the bowels. Or, if any of these symptoms increase, mix bastard saffron with all these decoctions, for thereby they will be rendered sweeter and less dangerous. The smooth cabbage boiled in a large quantity of water is also beneficial; this decoction with honey and salt may be drank to the amount of about four heminæ, or the water of chick-peas or tares boiled may be drank in the same manner. Those who neglect the afore-mentioned symptoms are apt to be seized with the following affections: Diarrhœa, dysentery, lientery, ileus, ischiatic disease, tertian fever, gout, apoplexy, hemorrhoids, rheumatism.—When any disease is about to seize the bladder, the following symptoms are its usual precursors: A sense of repletion after taking even a small quantity of food, flatulence, eructation, paleness of the whole body, deep sleep, urine pale and passed with difficulty, swellings about the privy parts. When any of these symptoms appear, their safest cure will be by aromatic diuretics. Thus the roots of fennel and parsley may be infused in white fragrant wine, and drunk every day when the stomach is empty in the morning to the amount of two cyathi, with water in which carrot, myrtle, or elecampane has been macerated (you may use any of these you please, for all are useful); and the infusion of chick-peas in water may be drank in like manner. On those who neglect these symptoms the following diseases are apt to supervene: Dropsy, enlargement of the spleen, pain of the liver, calculus, inflammation of the kidneys, strangury, distension of the belly. Regarding all these symptoms it may be remarked that children ought to be treated with gentler remedies, and adults with more active.—I have now to give you an account of the seasons of the year in which each of these complaints occur, and what things ought to be taken and avoided. I begin with the winter solstice.—Of the winter solstice: This season disposes men to catarrhs and defluxions, until the vernal equinox. It will be proper then to take such things as are of a heating nature, drink wine little diluted, or drink pure wine, or of the decoction of marjoram, and indulge in venery. From the winter solstice to the vernal equinox are ninety days.—Of the vernal equinox: This season increases phlegm in men, and the sweetish humours in the blood until the rising of the pleiades. Use therefore juicy and acrid things, take labour, and indulge in venery. To the rising of the pleiades are forty-six days.—Of the rising of the pleiades: This season increases the bitter bile, and bitter humours in men, until the summer solstice. Use therefore all sweet things, laxatives of the belly, and indulge but sparingly in venery. To the summer solstice are forty-five days.—Of the summer solstice: This season increases the formation of black bile in men, until the autumnal equinox. Use therefore cold water, and everything that is fragrant; and do not indulge in venery, or do so more sparingly than is generally directed regarding these matters. To the autumnal equinox are ninety-three days.—Of the autumnal equinox: This season increases phlegm and thin rheums in men until the setting of the pleiades. Use therefore remedies for removing rheums, have recourse to acrid and succulent things, take no vomits, and abstain from labour and venery. To the setting of the pleiades are forty-five days.—Of the setting of the pleiades: This season increases phlegm in men until the winter solstice. Take therefore all sour things, drink as much as is agreeable of a weak wine, use fat things, and labour strenuously. To the winter solstice are forty-five days.
Commentary. This Diocles was an ancient physician of great eminence. Galen often mentions him along with his idol, Hippocrates, as the greatest of medical authorities. Cælius Aurelianus frequently quotes his opinions in respectful terms, although belonging to a different sect from his own. Pliny says that he was next to Hippocrates in fame as in time. Octavius Horatianus calls him the younger Hippocrates. Athenæus mentions a work of his on Poisons, and another on Cookery.
Le Clerc questions the authenticity of this epistle, but seems to have had no other grounds for his scepticism than the general suspicion which has attached to all the Epistolæ Græcanicæ since the memorable controversy between the Honorable Mr. Boyle and Dr. Bentley on the authenticity of the Epistles of Phalaris. It is published in the ‘Bibliotheca Græca’ of Albertus Fabricius, who appears to have been satisfied as to its genuineness. Mr. Moir, the author of ‘Outlines of the Ancient History of Medicine,’ condemns it as apocryphal, upon the authority of Schulze. (p. 76.) All we shall say on this point is, that the evidence against the authority of this Epistle appears to us to be very inconclusive.