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

...those for whom the skin has thickened should be treated with the same. But in a few words, by a fever from obstruction, in our judgment, is not to be understood that which follows from the constriction of the skin, but that which follows gluttony and internal obstruction. "Embrocation, however, if it shall be, etc." Concerning the embrocation which he names, whether he understands the affusion of cold or hot water, it is ambiguous. Yet it seems both can be understood. Indeed, if someone pours hot water over the body of a feverish person instead of a bath, when it is immediately cooled, it is necessary that the external meatus passages of the skin be closed. Thus also if you have used cold water, so that because of this both the affusion of cold and hot water is harmful, because it obstructs. But on the contrary, if you understand it of cold, our author will seem to oppose Galen, who, both elsewhere and in Method of Medicine, Book 8, orders cold water to be poured after a bath. Indeed, regarding what pertains to this matter, cap. 2. cap. 6. Averroes, in Colliget, Book 7, accuses Galen on two counts: as much because he frequently recommends baths to those caught by a daily fever, which however are not suitable except to those accustomed to them; as because he pours cold water over them after the baths, which affusion, as Averroes says, causes the occlusion of the pores, and is therefore not opportune unless the meatus of the skin are more open or the body is too heated. However, we are not debating the discord between Galen and Averroes right now. But for the sentiment of this place, the reading of Bellunensis pleases more, who reads not embrocation, but inunction. For since Avicenna was previously about baths, it seems fit to be subjoined about the inunction of the body, which Galen commends in To Glaucon, Book 1. But if cap. 3. you again object that this likewise opposes Galen, since he does not approve of inunction because it obstructs, we do not think it opposes him. For if the injection and affusion of oil is accustomed to obstruct the meatus of the skin, yet through friction you will have added much to Galen's examples, you will scatter whatever is impacted into the thicker meatus of the skin, and you will rarefy them.

Species of ephemeral fever. Chap. 10.

OF ephemeral fevers, there are those which are compared to animal dispositions mental or emotional states. And of them there are those which are compared to bodily dispositions. And of them there are those which are proportioned to things which happen from the outside. And of those compared to animal dispositions is that which is made from anxiety, and that which is made from sadness, and that which is made from estimation and thought, and anger, and vigils, and sleep, and tranquility, and fear, and joy. And of those proportioned to bodily dispositions are those which are compared to things which are actions and movements, and of them are those which are compared to non-actions and movements and their contraries; and those compared to things a † B. & their contraries. which are movements ... -? ... is that which is made from labor, and that which from tranquility, and that which is made from evacuation; and of them is ephemeral fever from pain, and of them is ephemeral fever which is with syncope fainting, and of them is that which is made from hunger, and of them is that which is made from thirst; and of those compared to things which are not actions, is that which is made from obstruction, and of them is that which is made from nauseating satiety, and of them is that which is made from an abscess, and of them is that which is made from b [solidity.] Those compared to things which happen from outside are like that which is made from burning, c [whatever burning it may be,] and like that which is made from d [cold, and solidity, and from washing.] I shall therefore speak of each one of them with its cure. b B. dryness of the skin. c B. of the sun. d B. condensation of the skin made from cold and from washing with styptic waters.

On ephemeral fever from anxiety, and its signs. Chap. 11.

SOMETIMES it happens from the movement of the spirit to the interior parts, and its a [occultation] a B. compression. from them, because of the superfluity of the anxiety of the spiritual fever. Whose signs are the fiery nature of the urine and its acuteness, so that the one having it feels its acuteness because of the dominion of dryness in it, and the movement of the eye is inclined toward closing, and the eye is submerged because of resolution with rest b [and subclosure,] and the face is tending toward citrinity yellowishness because of the depth of heat. And the pulse is inclined toward weakness and smallness, and it strongly declines toward hardness. b B. warmth. Another reading: and with warmth.

On the cure. Chap. 12.

IT is necessary that the one having it multiply the entry into the bath. And he should put much of his intention into bathing with bath water, without its air. And he should multiply that inunction with a [friction] after that: for oil b [some] is more helpful to him than the bath, and he should use softening and cold odoriferous things. And he should place cooling epithems external poultices/compresses upon his chest made from mucilages, juices, and c [good] waters, and he should take in his drink wine of much mixture: for it is a good medicine for him. a B. oil. b — B. c B. of good odor.

On ephemeral fever from sadness. Chap. 13.

SOMETIMES it happens from a multitude of sadness because of a requested thing, a laborious movement, heating the spirit, causing it to fall into a fever. Whose signs are similar to the signs of that which is from anxiety, except that the movement of the eye, with its depth because of resolution, is toward the external part, and the pulse is not lowered or depressed; rather, there is in it a [ ... -? ] with weakness, b [but it is with a leap.] And its cure is like the cure of that which is from anxiety. a † B. some elevation. b B. if that weakness should be with it.

On ephemeral fever from thought. Chap. 14.

SOMETIMES it happens from a multitude of thought about things, a fever similar to that which is from a [ ... -? ] sadness, except that the movement of the eye is equal, not inclined toward closing, nor toward exit; and it is inclined toward depth, and the pulse is diverse in b [dilation and constriction,] and for the most part it is equal, and the face is inclined toward citrinity. And its cure is the cure of that which is from sadness. a † B. anxiety and . b B. elevation and depression.

On ephemeral fever from anger. Chap. 15.

SOMETIMES it happens because of the superfluity of the movement of the spirit to the exterior in a disposition of anger. The heating is superfluous, a [burning the spirit,] and fever. Whose signs are redness of the face, unless fear is mixed with it, for it becomes yellowish, and inflation of the face similar to that which is inflated in b [dormition.] And the eyes are red, tending outward because of the vehemence of the movement of the spirit to the exterior, and sometimes tremor happens to some of them because of the movement of the humor or because of the weakness of the natures. And the water is red, of acute touch because of its acuteness, and sometimes it is with a little clarity. And the pulse is large, full, c [pulsating,] frequent. a B. kindled in the spirit. b B. fever caused by vigils. c B. elevated.