ABSTRACT
Now we come to [the consideration of] another form of difficulty of breathing, and also of those who have the "strangles", when there is difficulty in breathing, not in those chests that take in breath, but in those that expel it. Now to those who have an· abscess, and pus, and excessive fluid, either in the empty places of the chest or in the lungs, neither their throat nor their oesophagus being obstructed, for it is well known that difficulty of breathing ariseth in those breasts that receive the air which is drawn in, there must necessarily cling the great expansion of the chest in an outward direction, although very little air is drawn in, and for this reason the afflicted man respireth quickly and abundantly. Now, I wish you to remember before everything the distinguishing characteristic of the great breathing, which is of two kinds; for at one time it taketh place with great movement outwardly, and at another it consisteth of a great quantity of air drawn into the chest. And ye must understand that the things of which I here remind you it is absolutely necessary for you to know [in connection with] this treatise. All those who, apart from an
Fol. 92 a. abscess, or some unnatural swelling, or some difficulty I in the organs of respiration, [suffer from] shortness of breath in fevers accompanied by inflammation, in these [I say,] the greatness of the air-essence that is drawn into (the chest] is much [or little] in proportion to the greatness of the inflation of the chest. In those in whom the air-essence that is drawn into the chest is great, and in those who have some kind of abscess, or difficulty in the organs of respiration, besides a burning
air that is drawn in doth not become less through the measure of the inflation of the chest, but is reduced in no small degree by the natural drawing of the breath.
