De epilepsia disputatio

LVI.
Therefore, when a paroxysm is present, the sick person must be placed in a bright, moderately warm place, and indeed in such a position that the head is held high. Vomiting must be induced, if allowed, by inserting a finger deeper, or a feather smeared especially with oil of iris. A suppository or enema must be injected; the sick person must be called with a loud voice; the body must be rubbed downward, according to the state of the body; ligatures must be applied to the extreme parts (provided the patient is not an infant). For all these things both evacuate and repel.

LVII.
Hence, those things which derive meaning draw away must be used, such as sternutatories sneezing agents, likewise cauteries. Likewise those which have the power of discussing meaning dispersing, such as theriac or mithridatum with a little castor dissolved in the juice of rue or pennyroyal, and smeared on the tongue and palate. Likewise oil of rosemary, or rue, or castor, distilled many times by the force of fire, and introduced into the nostrils and ears with a cotton swab. Water of swallows given into the mouth provides the same effect, or even a few drops of white juice referring to a prepared medicinal extract in the best sublimated wine of Gesner. A fomentation of the crown of the head with a sponge, or wool, or a doubled linen cloth soaked in water of rue, or nutmeg distilled six or seven times, is likewise beneficial.

LVIII.
Prophylaxis consists in this, that we apply effort so that the paroxysm does not return, that we surely prohibit the generation of humors or vapors, and do not allow such matter to be produced in the body; or if we cannot obtain this, that we at least remove and intercept what is generated at every moment before it makes an assault due to its abundance; and we must amend and strengthen the part by whose vice the peccant harmful matter exists in the body, and the brain which receives it.