[2.] Digested.) See note lib. i. p. 6.
[3.] From the inguen.) Almeloveen would rather read ingluvie, or sanguine, than inguine. But these cannot be reckoned among the external causes. There is no reason to question the authority of the text, if we remember what Hippocrates has said, aph. 55. sect. 4. ‘All fevers proceeding from buboes are bad, except a diary.’
[4.] For these reasons others defer it.) The translation is agreeable to the reading of Linden and Almeloveen. But Morgagni[ IV ] informs us, that all the editions in his possession, and the MS. too, read thus: Ob hæc ad mediam noctem decurro, id est, finito jam gravissimo tempore, eodemque longissime distante, secuturis vero antelucanis horis, quibus onmes fere maxime dormiunt, deinde matutino tempore, quod sua natura levissima est. That is, ‘for these reasons I defer it till midnight, that is, when the most severe time is over, and the return of it is at the greatest distance, this being succeeded by the hours before day-light, when every body generally sleeps most quietly, and these followed by the morning, which is naturally the easiest period of all.’—He adds, beside the impropriety of the prescription, as it now stands in Almeloveen, when Celsus meant quite otherwise; the place is the more worthy of notice, that it shews Celsus, although not for common, yet to have practised medicine.
[5.] Apply his hand to his wrist, ejus carpo manum admovere.) The word carpus appears suspicious, as it no where else occurs in Celsus. On the contrary, in describing this part he says, In manu vero, prima palmæ[ IW ] pars, &c. and Morgagni[ IX ] observes the old reading was corpori, and carpo only Constantine’s explication.
[6.] Intrita.) We have no particular description of this food in any of the ancients, as far as I remember. By comparing their several applications of this word, I take it to be a general term for several species of compositions, the ingredients of which were rubbed small in a mortar, or softer materials macerated in liquids, as bread in wine, mentioned by Pliny, Intrita panis e vino, lib. ix. cap. 8.—By our author’s use of it here, it plainly appears to be something light, soft, and simple, probably very like, if not the same with our panada.
[7.] But if one in such a fever coughs gently, &c.) Siquis autem in hujus modi febre leniter tussit, is neque vehmenti siti conflictari, neque bibere aquam frigidam debet; sed eo modo curandus est, quo in cæteris febribus præcipitur.—All this is omitted in Morgagni’s MS.—Ronsseus suspected it to be interpolated, and it is not to be found in the Pinzian edition, nor the Juntine, nor Florentine.—Ronsseus’s suspicion arose from considering aph. 54. sect. 4.—‘Those that are troubled with dry and gentle coughs in ardent fevers, are not very thirsty.’ Morgagni, Ep. 5. p. 140.—But perhaps this objection might be removed by only reading conflictatur, instead of conflictari.
[8.] To twenty-four hours.) Linden and after him Almeloveen have followed Constantine in rejecting the preposition inter. But the old reading seems preferable, which was this,—Inter horas viginti quatuor et triginta sex: that is, The fit takes up between twenty-four hours and thirty-six.
[9.] Cleanse his belly, vomendo ventrem purgaret.) It is probable by venter here our author means the stomach.
[10.] And apply that, et id ingerere.) I cannot help agreeing with Scaliger, that these words are interpolated. For supposing them to mean the application of the medicine here mentioned, yet that is particularly directed a few lines after. Besides I do not remember any instance of ingero bearing a sense that would answer in this place.