Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
A Treatise on Fevers (Author: [unknown])
Section 21
{TCD 1302 fol col and line fol 7a1line8} Let it be asked here whether the coming of rigor and bleeding from the nose are a good symptom in causon. It seems the coming of rigor at first is a good symptom, for Hippocrates says in the fourth section of Aphorisms this canon: ‘Quabsone ...’ i.e. that causon is cured when rigor ensues.7 Nose-bleeding coming in it is a good symptom according to Avicenna, who says if vomiting, or delirium (?),
p.84
or nose-bleeding, or perspiration come in causon, the causon is cured by them, so the coming of rigor and nose-bleeding is a good symptom in causon. Isaac opposes this in the fourth chapter of the book of fevers, saying that the coming of rigor in causon is a bad symptom. And causon is a fever caused by choleric blood in the veins adjoining the principal members. Then Isaac says causon is a continuous fever created by reddish bile or salt phlegm in the veins of the whole body, and especially in the veins adjoining the heart and stomach and liver. And rigor according to Avicenna is a bad disposition of the whole body together with inordinate movement and trembling. We answer these questions and say that, if rigor comes in causon, without the coming of nose-bleeding, the sign of digestion is evident and its coming on the day of crisis announces recovery according to Avicenna in the chapter of rigor. Then Isaac says in the book De febribus, if nose-bleeding come in causon on the day of crisis it announces recovery without doubt. And Galenus says, if rigor come contrary to those conditions we have mentioned, it announces death.