Christo praeside et auspice: Theses hasce de Dolore Colico

LXXIV.
We remedy the pain, however, by a triple genus of aids: insofar as we either manifestly withdraw its cause; which we will achieve by a legitimate cure, if the evil grants a respite: or we soften the part with lightly relaxing and moderately warm things: or we blunt its sensation, which we will be able to achieve by truly called anodynes: the latter by narcotic medicines.

LXXV.
Anodynes can be safely used in any species of colic pain, such as: inunctions from oil of sweet almonds, oil of chamomile, fresh butter, human fat, chicken fat, goose fat: fomentations from emollient herbs, flowers of chamomile and dill, linseed, fenugreek, decocted in water: baths or half-baths prepared from the same. These, however, will be suspect for those who have weak joints: and therefore some evacuation must be placed before them.

LXXVI.
Narcotics are used more safely in a hot cause: in cold ones one should not rashly approach them: because, even if they perhaps mitigate the pain; yet they render its cause more stubborn. In extreme necessity, however, if those grave symptoms of which I spoke threaten the patient, their use is not to be utterly spurned: since it is better to cast the patient into a long-lasting, but yet curable, affection; than to leave him to immediate destruction.

LXXVII.
In the genus of Narcotics are, syrup of poppies, the use of which is somewhat safer than the rest: confection of diacodion, theriacareces, Philonium Romanum, tryphera magna and Persica, pills of cynoglossum, opium likewise by itself with castoreum. In all of which a convenient quantity is to be determined by sharp judgment and the imitation of celebrated Physicians.

LXXVIII.
Things which are said to confer benefit to those with colic by an occult property, have been noted by many, both by the common people and by practitioners. But because the outcome very rarely responds in them, unless those things are added which oppose the disease by manifest powers: as much credit should be added to them as each person has found for himself of efficacy in them. We shall more willingly and safely insist at this time on that method which we have deduced thus far from its own causes, as was proposed.

F I N I S.