Tag: Celsus

Proprie quaedam tamen de costa dicenda sunt; quia iuxta viscera est, gravioribusque periculis is locus expositus est. haec quoque igitur interdum sic finditur, ut ne summum quidem os sed interior pars eius, quae rara est, laedatur, interdum sic, ut eam totam is casus perruperit. si tota fracta non est, nec sanguis exspuitur nec febricula sequitur, nec quicquam suppurat, nisi admodum raro, nec dolor magnus est: tactu tamen is locus leniter indolescit. sed abunde est eadem, quae supra scripta sunt, facere, et a media fascea incipere deligare, ne in alterutram partem haec cutem inclinet. ab uno vero et vicensimo die, quo utique os esse debet glutinatum, id agendum cibis uberioribus est, ut corpus quam plenissimum fiat, quo melius os vestiat, quod illo loco tenerum adhuc iniuriae sub tenui cute expositum est. per omne autem tempus curationis vitandus clamor, strictior quoque <vox>, tumultus, ira, motus vehementior corporis, fumus, pulvis, et quicquid vel tussim vel sternumentum movet; ne spiritum quidem magnopere continere expedit. at si tota costa perfracta est, casus asperior est: nam et graves inflammationes et febris et suppuratio et saepe vitae periculum sequitur: et sanguis spuitur.
(Celsus, De Medicina 8.9.1a-b)

There is, however, something special to be said of the rib, because it is near the viscera, and that region is exposed to greater danger. A rib then is sometimes split so as not to injure the upper bone, but only the thin structure on its inner side; sometimes it is completely broken across. If the fracture is incomplete, blood is not expectorated, and fever does not follow, nor is there suppuration except very rarely, nor great pain; nevertheless there is some tenderness to touch, but it is quite enough to do what has been described above, and to begin the bandaging from the middle of the bandage that it may not displace the skin to either side. Then after twenty-one days, by which time the bone ought to have formed a firm union, a fuller diet is to be administered in order to fatten the body as much as possible, so as to cover the bone better, for the bone there whilst still tender is liable to injury owing to the thinness of the skin. But during the whole course of recovery the patient must avoid shouting or even straining the voice, noise, anger, violent bodily movements, smoke, dust, and anything that causes a cough or sneeze; it is not even advisable to hold the breath for long. But if a rib has been broken right across the case is more severe; for grave inflammations follow and fever and suppuration and often danger to life: and blood is expectorated. (tr. Walter George Spencer)

In ore quoque quaedam manu curantur. ubi in primis dentes nonnumquam moventur, modo propter radicum inbecillitatem, modo propter gingivarum arescentium vitium. – oportet in utrolibet candens ferramentum gingivis admoveri, ut attingat leviter, non insidat. adustae gingivae melle illinendae et mulso eluendae sunt. ut pura ulcera esse coeperunt, arida medicamenta infrianda sunt ex is, quae reprimunt. si vero dens dolores movet eximique eum, quia medicamenta nihil adiuvant, placuerit, circumradi debet, ut gingivae ab eo resolvantur; tum is concutiendus est. eaque facienda, donec bene moveatur: nam dens haerens cum summo periculo evellitur, ac nonnumquam maxilla loco movetur; idque etiam maiore periculo in superioribus dentibus fit, quia potest tempora oculosve concutere. tum, si fieri potest, manu; si minus, forfice, dens excipiendus est.
(Celsus, De Medicina 7.12.1a-b)

In the mouth too some conditions are treated by surgery. In the first place, teeth sometimes become loose, either from weakness of the roots, or from disease drying up the gums. In either case the cautery should be applied so as to touch the gums lightly without pressure. The gums so cauterized are smeared with honey, and swilled with honey wine. When the ulcerations have begun to clean, dry medicaments, acting as repressants, are dusted on. But if a tooth gives pain and it is decided to extract it because medicaments afford no relief, the tooth should be scraped round in order that the gum may become separated from it; then the tooth is to be shaken. And this is to be done until it is quite moveable: for it is very dangerous to extract a tooth that is tight, and sometimes the jaw is dislocated. With the upper teeth there is even greater danger, for the temples or eyes may be concussed. Then the tooth is to be extracted, by hand, if possible, failing that with the forceps. (tr. Walter George Spencer)

Sanus homo, qui et bene valet et suae spontis est, nullis obligare se legibus debet, ac neque medico neque iatroalipta egere. hunc oportet varium habere vitae genus: modo ruri esse, modo in urbe, saepiusque in agro; navigare, venari, quiescere interdum, sed frequentius se exercere; siquidem ignavia corpus hebetat, labor firmat, illa maturam senectutem, hic longam adulescentiam reddit.
(Celsus, De Medicina 1.1)

A man in health, who is both vigorous and his own master, should be under no obligatory rules, and have no need, either for a medical attendant, or for a rubber and anointer. His kind of life should afford him variety; he should be now in the country, now in town, and more often about the farm; he should sail, hunt, rest sometimes, but more often take exercise; for whilst inaction weakens the body, work strengthens it; the former brings on premature old age, the latter prolongs youth. (tr. Walter George Spencer)