De torminibus. Aquae bene frigidae potio ulcera adstringit, et initium secundae valetudinis facit.

Cels. IV., 15, pag. 224, 225.

De levitate intestinorum, prosunt frigidae alvi perfusiones. Cels. IV., 18, pag. 226.

De tenesmo intestinorum morbo. Alternis diebus aqua, alternis vinum bibendum-potio esse de bat egelida et frigidae propior.

Cels. IV., 18, p. 228.

De ventris fluxu. Frigida assidue potio esse debet, et quidem quam frigidissima.

Cels. IV., 19, pag. 229, 230..

Curatio erysipelatum. Lenteolum frigida aqua madens

super imponendum.

Curatio adversus rabiosi canis morsum.

Unicum reme

dium est, necopinantem in piscinam projicere, ut invitus aqua satietur. Sic sitis et aquae metus tollitur.

V. 27, pag. 307, 308.

Lippitudine laborabat Horatius Poeta Venusinus, cui cum diu frustra Thermas Bajanas adhibuisset Antonius Musa, Imperatoris Augusti Medicus, Balneis Clusii Gabi. orumque frigidas media hieme adhibenda commendavit, quod poeta ipse his verbis narrat:

nam mihi Bajas

Musa super vacuas Antonius et tamen illis
Me facit invisum, gelida quum perluor unda
Per medium frigus. Sane myrtela relinqui
Dictaque cessantem nervis elidere morbum

Sulphura contemni, vivus gemit, invidus aegris
Qui caput et stomachum supponere fontibus audent
Clusinis Gabiosque petunt et frigida rura.

Antonius Musa aegritudine Augusti artem suam ilustravit. Nam quum dolore arthritico laboraret* et ad summam maciem perductus esset, curante (auctoro) Camelis medico, qui cum adeo calidis ut tectum cubiculi ejus velleribus muniret (!) hic (Ant. Musa) postea in contrarium, versis omnibus, non solum perfusionibus frigidis sed etiam gargarismis cerninae aquae, quae est atellae in domo Caesaris, et potionibus usus est, ita ut intra breve tempus eum curaret.

Ob quam causam, ab Augusto usque ad sertertium quadrigenties (20,000 florentes) ex senatus consulte accepit. Imperator Maxilimianus I. febre ardenti correptus excruciatusque calidis remediis, quam gravitder decumberet, inciis medicis quorum opera nihil profecerat famulum ad fontem abire jussit ut arceam plenum aqua frigida adferret. Inde quum bibisset sensim recreatus convaluit.

Pomponius Atticus, the friend of Cicero, to whom so many works and letters of the latter are addressed, whilst laboring under that uncomfortable state of the mind produced by disease of the stomach, became disgusted with life, and resolved to destroy himself. He called together his relations and friends, to communicate to them his design, and to consult with them upon the species of

*Ex Swetonii quidem sententia erat hepatitis, secundum alios erat febris ardens et inflammatio intestinorum. Fabricii Bibl. Gr. XIII., 66.

L

death he should make choice of. Agrippa, his son-in-law, not daring openly to oppose his resolution, persuaded him to destroy himself by famine, advising him, however, to make use of a little water to alleviate the suffering which would at first result from entire abstinence. Atticus commenced this regimen, whilst he conversed with his family, philosophised with his intimate friends, and passed many days in thus preparing himself for death. This, however, did not occur. On the contrary, by restricting himself solely to water as his only nourishment, the pains of the stomach and bowels, by which he had been previously tormented, ceased; and he speedily felt himself improved in health, and more tranquil in mind. Agrippa now attempted to convince him, as the disease under which he had labored was happily removed, he ought to renounce his design of putting a period to his existence. Atticus confessed, at length, the justness of his son-in-law's argument, and accordingly followed his advice, and lived until advanced age.

a very

We would advise those who intend to go (what they call) through a course of medicne, to pass first through a course of cold water. They will then, perhaps, like Atticus, make the same confession.

Those who have been for years accustomed to wine, elderly people especially, cannot sometimes, without inconvenience, entirely relinquish it. Such people therefore, may be indulged with a small quantity of good wine, largely diluted with water-as in the proportion of one-fifth to one

tenth of wine. But it is only to those to whom wine has become an habitual drink, that it is thus to be permitted. Wine, however, may also be prescribed, to prevent certain diseases, and to assist in remedying certain bodily states: thus, when a man has to endure great and unusual exercise, as a forced and fatiguing march, when he is heated with severe bodily labour. The use of wine will always, at some cost of another kind, dispel his weariness, because the excitement of the vascular system, produced by exercise, will be opposed by the vascular excitement of wine. If, in such circumstances, the same person were to take a glass of cold water, he would obtain a contrary result, by virtue of the law which I have already explained. This law is, consequently, of great importance, even in regimen, and should be well known, in order that no wrong employment of it may occur.

Tea is less prejudicial than coffee, and for that reason, when not too strong, it may be permitted in a moderate quantity to those accustomed to its use; but the immoderate use so common with many, should not be sanctioned.

The ingenious Professor Tourtelle says:* The English and Hollanders make a very great use of it. Perhaps it is advantageous to them, in consequence of the great quantity of viands they eat half cooked, however, although the power

*The Principles of Health, or Elements of Health, or a Treatise on the influence of Physical and Moral Causes on Man, by Prof. Etienne Tourtelle, trans lated from the French, with addition of notes, by G. Williamson, L. M. C. F. M., published in 1819: a most excellent work, which onght to be in the library of every well educated man.

of habit be capable of rendering null the action of the most energetic stimulus, they are very subject to diseases of the nerves. Tea is only suitable in cases of indiges tion.(?) It also produces gaiety, (palpitation of the heart) as all the other narcotics do; but its immoderate or habitnal use weakens the organs of digestion, irritates the nervous system, and occasions a tremor of the nerves. The tea called bohea is more narcotic, and consequantly more in-jurious than green.

Dr. Williamson remarks, that Professor Rush used to recommend those of his class who were designed for country practice, and likely to be fatigued, to substitute tea for spirits. While I practised in the country, I followed the advice of this worthy man, and derived much benefit from his prescripiton. Indeed, there is no stimulus that I can take has so happy an effect on my system (even the best wine,) as tea. I always prefer it to any other, when about to perform a surgical operation, or on any other occasion when I think a stimulus requisite.*

If Coffee be allowed during homeopathic treament, it must be in great moderation, and its toleration should be in favour only of those who have long been used to it. In most cases, coffee is prohibited during homœopathic

*In the Netherlands, the country practitioner being constantly exposed to the dampness of the climate, is often tempted by the Dutch peasantry, to accept a (glaasje jenever met suiker) Dutch gin with sugar, a very favorite liquor amongst them. And I have known many, who had not the moral courage to resist the offer, to become, after a little time, regular drunkards.