... Theses de pleuritide

the fluxion has declined, and the pleurisy afflicts the lower part of the thorax, no vein is offered in the elbow so near to these, from which blood could be evacuated as quickly and safely as the former. Therefore, more accomplished physicians, with Hippocrates, move the bowels instead and evacuate the body with purgative medicines.

XL.
But what Galen says, that in pleurisy the vein is to be cut not only when pain is ascending but also when it is descending, he looked undoubtedly to the things prohibiting phlebotomy, which are first the affections of the intestines; on account of these, if humor flows toward the intestines, purgation through those paths seems dangerous. Secondly, a vehement and acute fever, in which medicines were going to do more harm by increasing the fever than they were going to do good by evacuating the humors prone to the bowels; while phlebotomy, although it does not bring such great and rapid assistance at that time, nevertheless contributes in some part, and as long as it does not increase the fever, it causes less detriment.

XLI.
When some pondered this more accurately, they persuaded that in the beginning of the disease, with the body being full, when the pain tends toward the hypochondria, blood should be let from the saphenous vein of the foot on the same side, because by such a section the fullness is evacuated, a revulsion is made through remote parts, and the straightness according to length is preserved, so that we also, with usage demanding it, may seem able to take refuge safely in this type of remedy.

XLII.
But when an acute and vehement fever and affection of the intestines are absent, and neither fullness nor an extreme abundance of blood presses, following the counsel of Hippocrates, we rightly exhibit a purgative medicine. This is all the more appropriate the more benign the medicines we have at hand through the grace of God, and the less hot and dry they are, and not so apt to kindle and exacerbate fevers as those of the ancient physicians, so much so that we can turn to purging bodies in this pleurisy more frequently than they.

XLIII.
The other thing which is almost the greatest in the reasoning of phlebotomy, and has been controversial for a long time, was: Which vein should seem to be cut with this or that side affected. The impetus and course of the flowing blood reveals this above all.

Indeed