Greek Medicine 99 



6 The woman with quinsy, who lodged with Aristion : her 

 complaint began in the tongue ; voice inarticulate ; tongue 

 red and parched. First day, shivered, then became heated. 

 Third day, rigor, acute fever ; reddish and hard swelling on 

 both sides of neck and chest ; extremities cold and livid ; 

 respiration elevated ; drink returned by the nose ; she could 

 not swallow ; alvine and urinary discharges suppressed. Fourth 

 day, all symptoms exacerbated. Fifth day, she died.' 



We probably have here to do with a case of diphtheria. 

 The quinsy, the paralysis of the palate leading to return 

 of the food through the nose, and the difficulty with speech 

 and swallowing are typical results of this affection which 

 was here complicated by a spread of the septic processes into 

 the neck and chest, a not uncommon sequela of the disease. 

 The rapid onset of the conditions is rather unusual, but may be 

 explained if we regard the case as a mild and unnoticed diph- 

 theria, subsequently complicated by paralysis and by secondary 

 septic infection, for which reasons she came under observation. 



' In Thasos, the wife of Delearces who lodged on the plain, 

 through sorrow was seized with an acute and shivering fever. 

 From first to last she always wrapped herself up in her bedclothes ; 

 kept silent, fumbled, picked, bored and gathered hairs [from 

 the clothes] ; tears, and again laughter ; no sleep ; bowels 

 irritable, but passed nothing ; when urged drank a little ; urine 

 thin and scanty ; to the touch the fever was slight ; coldness 

 of the extremities. Ninth day, talked much incoherently, 

 and again sank into silence. Fourteenth day, breathing rare, 

 large, and spaced, and again hurried. Seventeenth day, after 

 stimulation of the bowels she passed even drinks, nor 

 could retain anything ; totally insensible ; skin parched and 

 tense. Twentieth day, much talk, and again became com- 

 posed, then voiceless ; respiration hurried. Twenty-first day, 

 died. Her respiration throughout was rare and large ; she was 

 totally insensible ; always wrapped up in her bedclothes ; 

 throughout either much talk, or complete silence.' 



This second case is in part a description of low muttering 



G 2 



