The Complete Works of Galen, Vol. 13

ON THE COMPOSITION OF MEDICINES ACCORDING TO PLACES, BOOK 8

Edition of Chartier XIII. [526. 527.]

Edition of Basel II. (256.)

...decoction, and there is a dispute among them as to which of these should be called siraeum original Greek: "siraion." This is a concentrated grape juice or syrup, similar to what was called "hepsema.". Indeed, this very siraeum is also produced when fatty dried figs are boiled in water. It possesses a medium power, which we have named "cleansing and non-stinging" original Greek: "adektos," meaning it does not bite or irritate the tissue. While boiled must unfermented grape juice is a very strong coating agent emplastic and the least stinging, the decoction of dried figs is more dispersive tending to break up and scatter congestion and more cleansing.

As I said previously, it is necessary for anyone intending to create a compound medicine to precisely understand the powers of all simple medicines. This same person will also correctly use compounds made by others, especially when they are written without specific instructions, as most "artery-medicines" arteriacae medicines intended for the "rough artery" or trachea are. It is clear that this same person will also better use those medicines that are written with specific instructions.

For according to exact reasoning, as much as the condition of the ailments changes, so too must the useful medicine be altered. Only the person who accurately knows the power of each simple medicine will correctly manage this, by adding to the first medicine a little of the next quality...