On Medical Matters

original Greek text continues from the previous page, detailing the physical signs of poisoning and the utility of emetics in revealing the substance consumed.

...being in a state of softness? original: "μυτήτων" 29; and it is possible to grasp this clearly; for if anyone, choosing to cause ulceration by means of lime, or dregs, or cantharides, or some other acrid thing, should smear the body with oil beforehand, it will not be ulcerated by this. Moreover, even if someone should wish to astringe or cool powerfully, he is unable to do so if he has previously anointed it with fat. Furthermore, vomiting is beneficial not only because it empties and excretes 30 the harmful thing, but also because it sometimes reveals the thing ingested, whether from its odor, or clots, or some color 31. For from the odor and bitterness, it reveals poppy juice original: "μηκώνειον"; from the color, white lead or gypsum; from the clots, milk or fresh-slaughtered blood; and from the smell and quality of what is vomited, sea hare and toad. Therefore, it is possible for some 32 to be helped more by this than by another thing, as we come to the remedies appropriate for each. Mixed into the oil is a decoction of mallow, or glaucium a plant with blue-grey leaves 33, or goose fat, or broth from...

29. Paullus adds: "and especially oil."
30. Thus codex X; the common reading is "secretes."
31. Codex X: "or clot or some other thing."
32. I follow Saracenus, thus correcting the common reading "so that through this or another thing some..." Paullus: "so that through these one might arrive at the medicines appropriate for each."
33. Cornarius and Saracenus thought glaucium was redundant here.

...as they possess the power of blunting acrimony. This can, in fact, be clearly proven. For if anyone intends to cause ulceration of the body with quicklime, wine dregs, cantharides, or any other acrid substance, if the body has been first lightly smeared with oil, an ulcer cannot be excited therein. Indeed, if anyone should wish to forcefully astringe or cool the poisons, this also is hindered by the pre-application of fat. Furthermore, vomiting is useful not only for the reason that it evacuates and excretes the harmful virus, but also because it sometimes reveals the swallowed poison by its odor, by coagulated clots, or by color. For it reveals poppy juice by its odor and bitterness, white lead or gypsum by its color, and milk or the blood of a freshly slaughtered animal by its clots. Thus, it is easy to detect the poisons of the sea hare and the toad from the quality and odor of the matter ejected by vomiting, so that we may be ready to bring aid to some in this way rather than any other, proceeding to the remedies appropriate for each individual poison. Mixed with the oil is a decoction of mallow...