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On Hemorrhoids Hippocrates by Francis Adams————————————————
——————————————————-1disease of the hemorrhoids is formed in
this way: if bile orbe determined to the veins in the rectum, it heats the bloodthe veins; and
these veins becoming heated attract blood from theveins, and being gorged the inside of
the gut swells outwardly,the heads of the veins are raised up, and being at the same timeby
the faeces passing out, and injured by the blood collectedthem, they squirt out blood, most
frequently along with the faeces,sometimes without faeces. It is to be cured thus: ———
———————————————————————————————-2the first
place it should be known in what sort of a place theyformed. For cutting, excising, sewing,
binding, applying putrefacientto the anus,-all these appear to be very formidable things,yet,
after all, they are not attended with mischief. I recommendor eight small pieces of iron to
be prepared, a fathom in size,thickness like a thick specillum, and bent at the extremity,
andbroad piece should be on the extremity, like a small obolus. Havingthe preceding day
first purged the man with medicine, on the daythe operation apply the cautery. Having laid
him on his back, anda pillow below the breech, force out the anus as much as possiblethe
fingers, and make the irons red-hot, and burn the pile untilbe dried up, and so as that no
part may be left behind. And burnas to leave none of the hemorrhoids unburnt, for you
should burnall up. You will recognize the hemorrhoids without difficulty,they project on
the inside of the gut like dark-colored grapes,when the anus is forced out they spurt blood.
When the cauteryapplied the patient's head and hands should be held so that henot stir, but
he himself should cry out, for this will make theproject the more. When you have
performed the burning, boiland tares, finely triturated in water, and apply as a
cataplasmfive or six days. But on the seventh, cut a soft sponge into aslender slice, its
width should be about six inches square. Thenthin smooth piece of cloth, of the same size
as the sponge, is tosmeared with honey and applied; and with the index finger of thehand
the middle of the sponge is to be pushed as far up as possible;afterward wool is to be
placed upon the sponge so that it mayin the anus. And having girded the patient about the
loinsfastened a shawl to the girdle, bring up this band from behindthe legs and attach it to
the girdle at the navel. Then letmedicine which I formerly said is calculated to render the
skinand strong, be bound on. These things should be kept on forless than twenty days. The
patient should once a day take a draughtflour or millet, or bran, and drink water. When the
patient goesstool the part should be washed with hot water. Every third dayshould take
the bath. ————————————————————————————————
——-3method of cure:-Having got the anus to protrude as much as, foment with hot
water, and then cut off the extremitiesthe hemorrhoids. But this medicine should be
prepared beforehand,an application to the wound:-Having put urine into a bronze
vessel,upon the urine the flower of bronze calcined and finely triturated;, when it is
moistened, shake the vessel and dry in the sun. Whenbecomes dry, let it be scraped down
and levigated, and apply withfinger to the part, and having oiled compresses, apply them,
anda sponge above. ———————————————————————————
———————-4method:-There grows upon the bleeding condyloma, a
protuberancethe fruit of the mulberry, and if the condyloma be far without,envelope of
flesh is adherent to it. Having placed the man overround stones upon his knees, examine,
for you will find the partsthe anus between the buttocks inflated, and blood
proceedingwithin. If, then, the condyloma below the cover be of a soft, bring it away with