Medical Aphorism

That we are not much sicker and much madder than we are is due exclusively to that most blessed and blessing of all natural graces, sleep. -

You know, my dentist thinks of railways to relax. Ah yes, trains-and-dental meditation.

(Whiskey) …kills one-third of our citizens and ruins their families.

Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man.

Old Doctors never die, they just lose their patience. Old lawyers never die, they just threaten their doctor with malpractice. 17

A cold is both positive and negative; sometimes the eyes have it, sometimes the nose.

If the matters which are purged be such as should be purged, the evacuation is beneficial, and easily borne; but, not withstanding, if otherwise, with difficulty

Use purgative medicines sparingly in acute diseases, and at the commencement, and not without proper circumspection.

The evacuations are to be judged of not by their quantity, but whether they be such as they should be, and how they are borne. And when proper to carry the evacuation to deliquium animi, this also should be done, provided the patient can support it.

We must purge and move such humors as are concocted, not such as are unconcocted, unless they are struggling to get out, which is mostly not the case.

Those things which require to be evacuated should be evacuated, wherever they most tend, by the proper outlets.

When things are at the crisis, or when they have just passed it, neither move the bowels, nor make any innovation in the treatment, either as regards purgatives or any other such stimulants, but let things alone.

Neither gives nor enjoin anything to persons during periodical paroxysms, but abstract from the accustomed allowance before the crisis.

Invalids bear food worst during summer and autumn, most easily in winter, and next in spring.

We must consider also, in which cases food is to be given once or twice a day, and in greater or smaller quantities, and at intervals. Something must be conceded to habit, to season, to country, and to age.

A humid regimen is befitting in all febrile diseases, and particularly in children, and others accustomed to live on such a diet.

In winter and spring the bowels are naturally the hottest, and the sleep most prolonged; at these seasons, then, the most sustenance is to be administered; for as the belly has then most innate heat, it stands in need of most food. The well-known facts with regard to young persons and the athlete prove this.

Growing bodies have the most innate heat; they therefore require the most food, for otherwise their bodies are wasted. In old persons the heat is feeble, and therefore they require little fuel, as it were, to the flame, for it would be extinguished by much. On this account, also, fevers in old persons are not equally acute, because their bodies are cold.

Old persons endure fasting most easily; next, adults; young persons not nearly so well; and most especially infants, and of them such as are of a particularly lively spirit.

We must purge and move such humors as are concocted, not such as are unconcocted, unless they are struggling to get out, which is mostly not the case.

Those things which require to be evacuated should be evacuated, wherever they most tend, by the proper outlets.

When things are at the crisis, or when they have just passed it, neither move the bowels, nor make any innovation in the treatment, either as regards purgatives or any other such stimulants, but let things alone.

Neither gives nor enjoin anything to persons during periodical paroxysms, but abstract from the accustomed allowance before the crisis.

Invalids bear food worst during summer and autumn, most easily in winter, and next in spring.

We must consider also, in which cases food is to be given once or twice a day, and in greater or smaller quantities, and at intervals. Something must be conceded to habit, to season, to country, and to age.

A humid regimen is befitting in all febrile diseases, and particularly in children, and others accustomed to live on such a diet.

In winter and spring the bowels are naturally the hottest, and the sleep most prolonged; at these seasons, then, the most sustenance is to be administered; for as the belly has then most innate heat, it stands in need of most food. The well-known facts with regard to young persons and the athlete prove this.

Growing bodies have the most innate heat; they therefore require the most food, for otherwise their bodies are wasted. In old persons the heat is feeble, and therefore they require little fuel, as it were, to the flame, for it would be extinguished by much. On this account, also, fevers in old persons are not equally acute, because their bodies are cold.

Old persons endure fasting most easily; next, adults; young persons not nearly so well; and most especially infants, and of them such as are of a particularly lively spirit.