Book 2
4
But if these symptoms increase, we must apply epithemes over the stomach and chest; and these are to be similar to those for syncope—dates soaked in wine, acacia, hypocistis, mixed up with rose cerate, and spread upon a linen cloth, are to be applied over the stomach; and to the chest we are to apply mastich, aloe, the pulverised hair of wormwood, with the cerate of nard, or of wild vine, as a cataplasm to the whole chest; but if the feet and muscles be spasmodically distended, rub into them Sicyonian oil, that of must, or old oil with a little wax; and also add in powder some castor. And if the feet also be cold, we are to rub them with the ointment containing lemnestis and euphorbium, wrap them in wool, and rectify by rubbing with the hands. The spine also, the tendons, and muscles of the jaws are to be anointed with the same.
4
If, therefore, by these means the sweat and discharges from the bowels are stopped, and the stomach receives the food without vomiting it again, the pulse becomes large and strong, and the straining ceases; if the heat prevails everywhere, and reaches the extremities, and sleep concocts all matters, on the second or third day the patient is to be bathed, and remitted to his usual course of living. But if he vomit up everything, if the sweat flow incessant, if the patient become cold and livid, if his pulse be almost stopped and his strength exhausted, it will be well in these circumstances to try to make one’s escape with credit.
