... Theses de pleuritide

LV.
With the pain mitigated, its cause must be weighed, which is either intemperance or matter. When it is the same quality and the matter itself is also affected, it is removed by those same medicines by which this is removed. But because matter comes to be considered in two ways, both as it subsists outside the affected place and as it is found in the aching part, it has need of different medicines according to the diversity of the place.

LVI.
What subsists outside the affected place is an excrement waste product of metabolism, either of the first, second, or third concoction.

LVII.
As it is an excrement of the first concoction, it indicates a soothing medicine, suitable for purging the first ways, that is, the stomach and intestines.

LVIII.
An excrement of the second concoction, whether it exceeds in primary or secondary qualities, has need of preparations. But the essence of the matter itself requires purgatives, and as that is various, so must various purgatives be used.

LIX.
However, these are not to be exhibited at any time: not during the beginnings when pain is ascending, for the crudity of the matter and a vehement fever suggest otherwise. But when the disease is declining and the fever is remitting, they are permitted, not when descending, if an acute fever or a corruption of the intestines stands in the way, but if the fever is more remiss and the matter, though crude, is not yet entirely furious and has a pull downward, they are allowed even at the beginning of the disease.

LX.
An excrement of the third concoction distilling from the head, since it can be bilious, pituitous, or melancholic—although the latter two are not generated in the head—can be easily disturbed by sensible evacuation and led out through natural and customary ducts. This is done by attraction, either through hot medicines or those which, by some peculiar property, are friendly to particular excrements. Afterward, the head must be strengthened.

LXI.
Matter adhering in the affected place is either flatus gas or humor. Flatus does not cause a true pleurisy; it can be elicited by discutients dispersing agents both exhibited and applied.