Book III ' OF LENTICULAR FEVER—TVPHUS 229

then watch and wait. However, when it happens that you
have in hand a full—blooded patient, especially if the blood be
of fibrous quality, then you may venture to draw blood, unless
nature has herself endeavored to bring about some form of expul—
sion. For the rest, when the contagion is very widely dis—
persed in the body, avoid venesection, but employ cuppings,
provided there is no abnormal plethora. For when that is the
case it will be removed more effectively by means of drugs, or
by opening the hemorrhoidal veins, or by incision of the saphe—
nous vein.

As regards purgative drugs, the same precautions must be
observed. For they, too, attraet the germs inwards from the
periphery and greatly disturb the blood, but do not expel many
of the germs. However, when there is observed to be an excess
of the humors, and if they are not of the sort which resist evacua—
tions, then, if you can do it in the initial stage, employ evacua—
tion. But otherwise do not cause any disturbance, or only
just so much as may suffice to eliminate the substance that has
already been corrupted. 'The following should be used as
solvents: Aloes, or cassia pods, or manna,57 or resolvent rose
syrup. It has been found that a very valuable medicine is a&
mixture of agarics* and resolvent rose syrup.  But I do not ap—
prove of more violent purgatives.

As regards sweating, in my opinion those doctors are much
mistaken who claim that they can terminate these fevers indis—
criminately by means of sweating. For in cases where the
fever is accompanied by obstruction, plethora or crudity, you
will not only do no good by remedies that induce sweat, but
you will do great harm.  Moreover, it makes & very great differ—
ence what sort of means you employ to induce sweat. For
among the sublimates many are very heating, especially those
that are chemical, and they raise the fever to the highest pitch
and exhaust the vital energy. However, I should not disap—
prove of inducing sweat when the spots, though they do appear,
are driven to the surface with difficulty by nature, provided
that the other symptoms do not forbid it. Hence I should
approve those who employ a decoction of fennel, and lacca,5?
and figs. It will be better to add ingredients that at the same
time oppose the contagion, for example the herb scordium,
scented clover, and what is called alleluia,**? which is probably
what Pliny calls oxys,*' and the so—called 'French herb', and