Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Rosa Anglica (Author: [unknown])

section 38

38

Let us speak now of the prognosis of this disease of imposthumes. Hippocrates says, the pain is stronger when ripening, than when they are matured; Galen says this is true, especially if the pus be expelled.422 Note, some imposthumes are terminated by the end of twenty days, others by the end of twice twenty, and others by the end of three times twenty days. If the matter be hot and the member hot, it is finished by the end of twenty days: if the matter be hot and the member cold, or the matter cold and the member hot, it is finished by the end of twice twenty days; and if the matter and the member be both cold, that finishes by the end of three times twenty days. Let that be counted from the day on which these accidents appear, and become stronger or more serious than they were at first; i.e. shivering,423 and horripilation, and sharp fever. Expect that the imposthume will break by the end of twenty days or twice twenty days from then, or by the end of three times twenty.