Book III OF CONTAGIOUS PHTHISIS 259

tions of this, you will find it very helpful in fighting this serious
contagion. Nou will also do well to use the root of arum or of
the other of the two dracunculi''! administered in an eclegma'"?
or in some kind of decoction. Iris too, scordium, and Cretan
dictamon will do good, and my diascordium, theriac, and
similar remedies. But when the disease has passed beyond
the initial stage or has started catarrh, or collected substance
in some locality, then you can attend at the same time to both.
the germs and the substance involved. Master the catarrh
by every possible resource taught by doctors, divert it, check
it, dry it out, evacuate it. If the substance that has gathered
is thick and viscous, it ought to be resolved and prepared to be
expelled by the appropriate paths. But always keep in view
that you must check the contagion and putrefaction and resist
the germs.  In this case I much prefer the use of resins, because
they best serve all purposes; above all, turpentine, then the
resin of the larch and pine, but also myrrh and styrax, etc.
They may be given alone or mixed with one of the above—men—
tioned powders, for example Armenian bole, or sphragis, or
secordium. But avoid harsh and styptic remedies which hinder
the sputum. It will therefore be well always to mix with them
some lenitive such as honey or sugar. Decoctions, also, I
strongly approve of, because they penetrate most deeply.  The
best are made with scordium, aristolochia, dictamon, penny—
royal and gum. Let them boil with sugar and a little vinegar
in pure water. Five ounces of this decoction will be enough.
Some doctors use China root for every kind of phthisis, because
it is very drying and induces sweat, and I, too, approve of this.

But if the substance is rather acute (irritated), you ought to
apply remedies which, though drying, are less heating. An
excellent and pleasant sort is the following: Rose sugar 2 oz.;
Armenian bole 1 drachm; syrup of apples q. s. Mix, and
give every hour.  But if you see that the substance has already
become corrupt, which you will recognise from the sputum,
if it is yellowish or livid, and has an offensive smell, then you
will do well to produce evacuation, not only by the paths of the
sputum, but also by means of solvent drugs which should be
selected according to the conditions of the case. But if the
malady has already passed into the lungs, and they have be—
come ulcerated or arrived at the stage of flaccidity, then be
sure that the patient is in great danger. Announce this to the