previous next   Ptisan, then, appears to me to be justly
preferred before all the other preparations from grain in these
diseases, and I commend those who made this choice,1 for the
mucilage of it is smooth, consistent, pleasant, lubricant,
moderately diluent, quenches thirst if this be required, and has
no astringency; gives no trouble nor swells up in the bowels,
for in the boiling it swells up as much as it naturally can.
Those, then, who make use of ptisan in such diseases, should
never for a day allow their vessels to be empty of it, if I may
say so, but should use it and not intermit, unless it be
necessary to stop for a time, in order to administer medicine or
a clyster. And to those who are accustomed to take two meals in
the day it is to be given twice, and to those accustomed to live
upon a single meal it is to be given once at first, and then, if
the case permit, it is to be increased and given twice to them,
if they appear to stand in need of it. At first it will be
proper not to give a large quan