Book III OF PESTILENT FEVERS 219

it makes the substance more erude and increases the obstruc—
tion. Therefore in most of these fevers it is better to abstain
from drinking water. However, in certain cases there is no
reason why it should not be of service, I mean when there is
high fever and the bile so to speak, rages, that is, if the other
symptoms permit it.  For in these cases the cold may do more
good than the moisture can do harm.

8Since then, the germs of these contagious, pestilent fevers
can only very seldom be extinguished, we must consider whether
they can at least be expelled, but this too is certainly very hard
to achieve. For the germs per se are very widely scattered,
and if it be possible to expel them, this can only be done by expel—
ling the substance to which they adhere. A little later, when I
deal with the evacuation of the substance, I shall show how
this may be done, and what means are relatively easy or, again,
less easy.

It seems, then, that the only resource left is to endeavor as
far as possible to subdue them and remove them by means of
what is antipathetic to them. All the remedies that subdue
the germs are dry in potency. But some are hot, some cold,
and again, some only dry; while others are styptic as well, and
of dense substance.  Hence it is hard to say whether one ought
to employ hot remedies in these fevers, and whether styptics
should be employed. For the former seem to augment the
fever and the acuteness (invasiveness) of the germs; while the
styptics seem to obstruct, to prevent transpiration, and to make
the substance denser. In regard to this, one can only saythat
the varying characteristics and analogies (selective properties)
of contagions must be carefully considered.  For some are anal—
ogous with the thicker and oilier humors, others with the more
volatile and sharper humors, others again are analogous with
the spirits also. Moreover, in certain contagions there are
many obstructions, and in others, fewer.  Hence when the con—
tagion is analogous with the thick and colder humors, especially
when there are also many obstructions, it will be well to employ
dry remedies, but they should be hot. Cold remedies are
less suitable, especially when they are styptic and of a dense
substance. But when the contagion is analogous with the
more volatile and sharper humors or with the spirits themselves,
and there are moreover few obstructions, then it is proper to
employ dry remedies, provided they are cold; and if these are