Instructions on where to start treatment

When several diseases are combined, it is necessary to start with the one that has one of three features. The first of them is that the second disease cannot be cured without curing the first. These are, for example, tumors and ulcers. If they exist simultaneously, then we first treat the tumor so that the accompanying disorder of nature, in which it is impossible to heal the ulcer, disappears. After this we treat the ulcer.

Another feature is that one of the diseases is the cause of the second. For example, if there is a blockage and a fever, then we treat the blockage first, and then the fever, and do not pay attention to the fever if we need to open the blockage with a remedy that has something warming in it. We treat consumption with drying agents and do not worry about fever, because it is impossible for a fever to go away while its cause is present. The cause of fever is treated by drying, although it is harmful during fever.

The third feature is that one of the diseases is more important. Thus, when debilitating fever and paralysis exist at the same time, we treat the debilitating fever by extinguishing the fever and bloodletting and do not pay attention to the paralysis.

When the disease and its manifestation coincide, we begin with treatment of the disease, unless its manifestation turns out to be stronger; in this case, we direct our efforts to manifestation, without paying attention to the disease itself. So, in case of a very painful kulanj, we give medicines that cause numbness, although it is not the pain that causes harm, but the very cause of the kulanj. Also, we sometimes postpone the necessary bloodletting because of a weak stomach or because of previous use of laxatives, or because of nausea during bloodletting, and sometimes we do not postpone bloodletting, but let the blood flow, but do not completely stop the cause of the disease. Thus, when suffering from spasms, we do not strive to remove all the harmful juice, but leave part of it, which is dissolved by convulsive movements, so that the innate moisture does not dissolve along with the juice.

Let this volume of discussion about the general foundations of the art of medicine be sufficient. Let us now begin to compile our Book of Simple Medicines.