Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
An Irish Version of Gualterus de Dosibus (Author: Walter de Agilon/Galterius Agilinus)
paragraph 94
Note particularly that just as it is proper to observe four conditions when administering the simples, i.e. strength (i.e. virtue), age, season, and habit, so in the same way it is proper to observe the same conditions when administering the composite medicines together with the four conditions which it is proper
to observe when purging the evil humors. First of these conditions: the time of the paroxysm, i.e. the access. Second condition: the time of digestion.
p.109
Third condition: the season of the year. Fourth condition: the quantity of the humor
which is to be evacuated. It is always proper to purge the humor at the time of the access since Haly says that should the force be strong and the matter small and light let it be purged with a gentle medicine such as cassia fistola, and manna. For that reason the ancients were accustomed on the day of the paroxysm, as is evident in quartan fever, to give a laxative powder one hour before the paroxysm, and by this means a great many were healed.