NOTE: - 9 -

...the abdomen is swollen and livid spots break out upon the belly, [and] foul water or blood issues from the mouth, the nose, [or] the fundament, and there is the smell of a corpse, then they must bury [it] promptly. 27. If one physician is treating a sick person, they must not secretly have another physician administer medicine; from this great harm will arise.* Most commendable of all, when one physician is unable to help, is to invite two or three physicians and have medicine administered by their joint counsel. 28. The medicine of one sick person must not be given to another sick person without a physician's counsel, even though he be afflicted with that same disease; from this harm very often arises.** 29. Even as the physician has directed, so must the medicine be employed, neither more nor less than the prescribed dose.*** 30. If any wish to keep medicines in the house, it is very commendable and profitable, only they must keep them in suitable vessels, in a dry place, and with their names plainly written upon them. 31. The doses and administration of the medicines of this dispensatory are designated for adults; but the user, having regard unto the age of the patient, must adjust the prescribed dose to him with great caution. 32. At whatsoever time the sick person is asleep, they must not awaken [him] to take medicine; when he awakes, then they may administer [it]. But there is also such a malady that awakening [the patient] for medicine is necessary, as for example, for the giving of quinine against a perilous fever. 33. Before or after the midday meal and the evening meal they must not...

NOTE: *) Many in our parts have this habit: not only do they administer the medicine of one physician secretly from the other, but they also use old wives' root-remedies, which is quite contrary to the order of medicine. **) There is an example [where] one sick person gave his leftover medicine to another sick person, and instead of relief, he suffered great harm. Neither medicines for drinking nor for rubbing ought one to give to another without understanding the matter. ***) I myself am an eyewitness that a sick person drank two days' worth of medicine in four hours, or forty drops instead of ten. From this carelessness, many fall from a slight illness into a grave one. 2