[549] A species of asafœtida, probably the Laserpetium derias. Paulus Ægineta, Vol. III., p. 339.
[550] It is worthy of remark, that our author directs aromatics to be mixed with the purgatives. The reason for prescribing them, as Galen states, was to counteract the bad effects of the purgatives upon the stomach. The ancients, in my opinion, acted much more wisely in this respect than the moderns generally do, for the latter are constantly administering the most nauseous cathartics to their patients without taking any pains to obviate their bad effects upon the stomach. On the ancient modes of administering purgatives, see Paulus Ægineta, B. VII., 4.
[551] Galen, in his Commentary, remarks that the common herd of physicians followed the very opposite rule to that here laid down by Hippocrates, that is to say, they administered food copiously after evacuations. According to Galen, the object of Hippocrates in proscribing food of all descriptions at that season is, because the powers of the system, being then weakened, are unable either to bear food or to digest it.
[552] See Celsus, I., 3.
[553] The cyceon was a mixture of various articles of food, but generally contained cheese, honey, and wine. See Athenæus (Deipnos, ii.). It is described by Homer as the potion which Circe administered to the followers of Ulysses. (Odyss. x., 235). There is frequent mention of it in the Hippocratic treatises, as at De Diæta, ii.; de Muliebribus, ii.; and in the works of the other medical authors.
[554] The meaning here is somewhat obscure, but appears to be this: that if a patient fast for the first two or three days, and take food of a heavy nature on the fourth or fifth, he will be much injured, but that the mistake will be still more fatal if the fast be continued for the first four or five days, and if he then indulge freely in food at the end of these.
[555] There is considerable difficulty as to the text at this place. See Foës in his Annotations and Œconomica, and a very lengthy note by Littré.
[556] The preternatural mode of respiration here described is several times adverted to by Galen, as at De Dyspnœa, iii.; Comment. in Aphor., iv., 68; and Comment. in h. 1. Galen seems to understand the meaning to be, that the breathing is intercepted in the inspiration. I should have rather been disposed to think that it is the expiration which is said to be interrupted. But I suppose we must bow to so great an authority as Galen! I may mention, by the way, that his Commentary on this and the collateral passages of our author is most interesting; but, as usual, too diffuse for my narrow limits. It relates to a most important point in medical practice, on which great ignorance and uncertainty prevail among us, even at the present day.
[557] Galen finds the language in this last sentence so confused, that he does not hesitate to declare that he is convinced the work must have been left by Hippocrates in an unfinished state, and not published until after his death. He decides that ἐφθότης signifies a heated state connected with humors, and not with dryness; that is to say, a condition analogous to boiling, and not to roasting.
[558] Galen, in his elaborate Commentary on this section, complains that our author’s account of wines is imperfect, inasmuch as several varieties are omitted; at the same time it must be admitted that his observations on this head are very much to the purpose, and highly judicious. For the other ancient authorities on this subject, see Paulus Ægineta, Book I., 95, Syd. Soc. edit.