The Canon of Medicine (Canon Medicinae), Vol. II

b B. which is made from deficiency with strength, and putrefaction.

...at the time when assistance is necessary in opening the pores and rarefying the body, and it is not present, inflammation occurs in the humors retained in the body, an inflammation from that which heats with the strength of that which rots.

Chap. 1.
Chap. 1.

That daily fevers febres diariae ephemeral fevers most easily migrate into another type of fever is attested by Galen in Method of Medicine, Book 9, and On the Differences of Fevers, Book 1, and often elsewhere. The cause of this may be the error of the physician, the patient, or the attendants, as Galen attests in Method of Medicine, Book 9; however, the passive potential of the body of the sick person, as they call it, prepares it for one or another type of disease. Therefore, our author is not wrong in saying that those who are drier and hotter are apt to pass from an ephemeral fever into a hectic habitual, wasting fever; but those who are fleshy, that is, those in whom blood overflows in greater abundance, are prepared for a continued fever, either putrid or not putrid. Regarding this matter, consult Galen, Method of Medicine, Book 8.

Chap. 2.

Signs of the permutation of ephemeral fever to other savory fevers. Chap. 8.

a B. Another reading: to the sanguineous, and another reading to the hectic, and

The significance of that is that it declines without sweat or humors, or with sweat without purification through sweat, and the decline is long, difficult, and without the purification of the pulse; indeed, something remains in the pulse, and the headache remains if it was present, and all this signifies a permutation to a fever of humor putrefaction or hectic: for if the causes are vehement or its delay is prolonged, it will be changed into a hectic fever. But if it is changed into a hectic fever, you will see the touch of the arteries very hot, and you will see a fever that is similar or fixed, and in all members heating is added beyond repletion, and at the time of taking food; or you will see the pulse maintain equality with hardness and smallness. And you will see the remaining signs that we mentioned regarding the signs of a hectic fever, and when it is changed to the genus of sanguineous fevers, which is called synocha a continuous fever without putrefaction, you will see the addition and repletion of heat and inflammation of the face, and when it is changed to fevers of putrefaction, horripilation goosebumps and diversity of the pulse appear, along with smallness and constriction, and there is a biting, dry heat and the vehemence of the accidents. In the urine, digestion perhaps remains from the substance, and in most cases, digestion does not appear in it.

b B. substance. Another reading: of the preceding thing.

Chap. 7. Chap. 2.

In daily fevers, just as Galen explained in On the Differences of Fevers, Book 1, and To Glaucon, Book 1, and as Avicenna mentioned above when he was discussing their signs, a decline with sweat, mostly or with dew or an optimal vapor, is easy, and it is accustomed to be with the pulse returning to a natural state and without any trace of disease at all. Therefore, where such a decline does not appear, it is to be judged that the daily fever has converted into another type of fever. You will recognize into which fevers it turns, whether putrid or hectic, from the signs of these fevers, of which more later.

Cures for ephemeral fever according to the universal method. Chap. 9.

In all species of ephemeral fever, it is necessary that they be supported upon the bodies of the patients...

a † B. Another reading: and the injured person does not digest, or digests slowly.

...those things which nourish them with good nourishment with the speed of digestion, since the feverish person is sick, and the sick person is injured. Is it permitted for some of them to be declined? Yes: just as for one suffering from labor, anxiety, and hunger, and those in whose bodies there is much cholera bile. And he who complains that he suffers horripilation in the beginning should swallow food infused in water and wine so that it is more penetrating; and these are fed even in the beginning of the fever. And for some, the eating of delicacies is prohibited, and it is hinted to them that thinning should be done, just as in a patient with fever from obstruction, solidity, or an abscess. And it is better that feeding be postponed until the decline, unless in those whom we have excepted. And indeed, cold water should not be prohibited in the beginning of the matter, since the strength is robust; therefore, its weakness is not feared, and it is the better cure for cooling. This is true if there is weakness in the viscera and the fever is already extending, or if it is vehement, then it is better that not much of it be taken. And a bath is granted to them when their paroxysm is consumed in ephemeral fevers because of the accidents, of which there is moistening, of which there is sweating, and the rarefaction of the pores, and of them is cooling in a quiet disposition, and it is prohibited where the fall of putrefaction is feared. And it is not necessary that he avoid the bath unless he is suffering from obstruction, because the bath generates putrid sickness, and similarly one suffering from it from nauseating satiety, unless at the end of the matter, and when the pores are dilated and the nauseating satiety descends; there it is necessary that he bathe. And one having a catarrh excessive discharge should not bathe unless it is caustic. And it is necessary that all who have ephemeral fevers do not prolong their stay in the air of the bath, but rather in the water as much as they want, unless those having it from solidity and thickness: for it is suitable for them that they prolong their stay in the air of the bath until they sweat. Embrocation, however, whether by pouring or smearing alone, blocks the pores, and in the cure of every ephemeral fever which is from external or internal obstruction, friction opens the pores of the person having it; then if it meets much humidity, it resolves it, and if it does not meet little humidity, it dries it.] However, no one of them needs evacuation, unless one having a repletional obstruction and having a nauseating satiety, and those who have an ephemeral fever from solidity whose body is replete.

b † B. spirit.
c B. fever from obstruction.
d B. intentions.
e B. second.
f B. sometimes, for.
g B. anointing.
h B. body.

Chap. 2. & 3.
Chap. 3.

Galen described the cure of daily fevers more fully in Method of Medicine, Book 8, and To Glaucon, Book 1. You also have it from Paul, Book 2, Chapter 16. However, this place seems to be of controversy. Avicenna, while dealing with the bath in these words [And it is not necessary that one avoid the bath unless he is having, etc.], although he previously recommended the bath to all suffering from daily fevers, here he excepts those who suffer from obstruction. But Galen, To Glaucon, Book 1, attests that baths are beneficial to all generally caught by an ephemeral fever. And the same, Method of Medicine, Book 8, writes that the daily fever suffering from constriction of the skin was cured by frequent baths. Averroes also, in Colliget, Book 7, while he says that baths are a universal cure for all these, also warns that those to whom...

Chap. 3.
Chap. 2.
Chap. 6.