Theses peri tēs haimoptoēs

around it, nor is the cough as strong as in the previous cases.

If to these signs one adds those causes that preceded the bloody sputum, one will be able to distinguish the three mentioned afflictions of the vessels without difficulty.

For in a general sense, a copious amount of blood follows a rupture of the vessels once and suddenly; but it follows an opening and an erosion to a lesser degree, unless in these cases the injury has become great with the passage of time.

But the previously mentioned external causes generally precede an opening and a rupture; whereas erosion slowly accompanies a cacochymic regimen and the distillation of acrid humors.

Therefore, from the stated signs, the remaining species of bloody expectoration are distinguished from these of ours without much effort; for which reason we deem it superfluous to treat them at greater length.

Hemoptysis that flows from the trachea is the least pernicious of all; that which comes from the thorax is more so; that which comes from the lungs is the most so.

Again, that species which follows an opening of the vessels is less dangerous; but that which follows a rupture or an erosion is most dangerous.

As regards the cure of hemoptysis, its indications are taken from the cause, the disease, and the symptom.

Therefore, by reason of the more urgent cause, it is common to almost all species that, if nothing else prevents it, the blood should be immediately diverted by a convenient venesection, or by cupping glasses, frictions, and the like.