Book III OF PESTILENT FEVERS 221

tioned above as valuable in dealing with the substance which
is beginning to be corrupted, especially those which dry it.
Those of them which are also warm by nature should be admin—
istered when the humors are thicker and more sluggish, and the
cold remedies when the humors are thinner and sharper.  Then
again, you must not neglect those medicaments which, being
themselves incapable of putrefaction, may, when interspersed,
prevent putrefaction.  Many of these have a spiritual antipathy
also, and in part repel, in part fortify, like pleasant smells.

Vou must not leave within the body the substance that has
already been corrupted, you must separate and expel it as much
as you can. Nature herself often accomplishes this, now by
means of certain spots, now by pustules, now by abscesses, but
especially by evacuation of the bowels. But when nature is
sluggish, do you undertake her task and bring about evacua—
tion, sometimes by eclysters, sometimes by lenitive (soothing)
drugs, and sometimes by purgative drugs.  But beware of over—
stimulation, since the corrupted substances do not demand a
strong irritant, because they are by nature lubricated and also
very irritating. Some doctors give a light purgative, either
every day or on alternate days, using aloes, and others use other
drugs. In this matter there can be no one sure method; what
is needed is a doctor with discernment.