The Signs and Causes of Catarrh

Abstract

When the phlegm leads to unhealthy fluid catarrh, cold invades the head, makes the face pale and the voice raucous, there is drowsiness and the urine is foul. The mind is stupid and the senses dulled and the body enthralled by torpor: if the cause lies in the blood, the eyes are reddened and the inside of the mouth is roughened and there is severe headache. There is a foul odour in the nose and the urine is yellow. Sometimes the catarrh affects the shoulders or loins, or may spread to the limbs and inflict countless ills upon the wretched body. The abundant humour in the head provokes the catarrh, which in its turn afflicts the brain and liver, spleen and stomach with air and winds both hot and cold: and the last of these oppresses and the first relaxes. And the same is caused by a damp place, and by food and drink, sadness and roaring rage, anxiety and baneful voluptuousness, until emotion is such as to scorch the very spirit.