5. When
pains precede, and there are influxes of black bile and of acrid humors, and
when by their pungency the internal parts are pained, and the veins being
pinched and dried become distended, and getting inflamed attract the humors
running into the parts, whence the blood being vitiated, and the airs collected
there not being able to find their natural passages, coldness comes on in
consequence of this stasis, with vertigo, loss of speech, heaviness of the
head, and convulsion, if the disease fix on the liver, the heart, or the great
vein (vena cava?); whence they are seized with epilepsy or apoplexy, if the
defluxions fall upon the containing parts, and if they are dried up by airs
which cannot make their escape; such persons having been first tormented are to
be immediately bled at the commencement, while all the peccant vapors and
humors are buoyant, for then the cases more easily admit of a cure; and then
supporting the strength and attending to the crisis, we may give emetics,
unless the disease be alleviated; or if the bowels be not moved, we may
administer a clyster and give the boiled milk of asses, to the amount of not
less than twelve heminae, or if the strength permit, to more than sixteen.
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