第 4 节
作者:旅游巴士      更新:2022-05-01 22:41      字数:9322
  that acid; and the other saltish; and many other varieties; and
  again there is cold combined with other qualities。 These are what
  proves injurious; heat; it is true; is present also; possessed of
  strength as being that which conducts; is exacerbated and increased
  along with the other; but has no power greater than what is peculiar
  to itself。
  18。 With regard to these symptoms; in the first place those are most
  obvious of which we have all often had experience。 Thus; then; in such
  of us as have a coryza and defluxion from the nostrils; this discharge
  is much more acrid than that which formerly was formed in and ran from
  them daily; and it occasions swelling of the nose; and it inflames;
  being of a hot and extremely ardent nature; as you may know; if you
  apply your hand to the place; and; if the disease remains long; the
  part becomes ulcerated although destitute of flesh and hard; and the
  heat in the nose ceases; not when the defluxion takes place and the
  inflammation is present; but when the running becomes thicker and less
  acrid; and more mixed with the former secretion; then it is that the
  heat ceases。 But in all those cases in which this decidedly proceeds
  from cold alone; without the concourse of any other quality; there
  is a change from cold to hot; and from hot to cold; and these
  quickly supervene; and require no coction。 But all the others being
  connected; as I have said; with acrimony and intemperance of humors;
  pass off in this way by being mixed and concocted。
  19。 But such defluxions as are determined to the eyes being
  possessed of strong and varied acrimonies; ulcerate the eyelids; and
  in some cases corrode the and parts below the eyes upon which they
  flow; and even occasion rupture and erosion of the tunic which
  surrounds the eyeball。 But pain; heat; and extreme burning prevail
  until the defluxions are concocted and become thicker; and concretions
  form about the eyes; and the coction takes place from the fluids being
  mixed up; diluted; and digested together。 And in defluxions upon the
  throat; from which are formed hoarseness; cynanche; crysipelas; and
  pneumonia; all these have at first saltish; watery; and acrid
  discharges; and with these the diseases gain strength。 But when the
  discharges become thicker; more concocted; and are freed from all
  acrimony; then; indeed; the fevers pass away; and the other symptoms
  which annoyed the patient; for we must account those things the
  cause of each complaint; which; being present in a certain fashion;
  the complaint exists; but it ceases when they change to another
  combination。 But those which originate from pure heat or cold; and
  do not participate in any other quality; will then cease when they
  undergo a change from cold to hot; and from hot to cold; and they
  change in the manner I have described before。 Wherefore; all the other
  complaints to which man is subject arise from powers (qualities?)。
  Thus; when there is an overflow of the bitter principle; which we call
  yellow bile; what anxiety; burning heat; and loss of strength prevail!
  but if relieved from it; either by being purged spontaneously; or by
  means of a medicine seasonably administered; the patient is
  decidedly relieved of the pains and heat; but while these things float
  on the stomach; unconcocted and undigested; no contrivance could
  make the pains and fever cease; and when there are acidities of an
  acrid and aeruginous character; what varieties of frenzy; gnawing
  pains in the bowels and chest; and inquietude; prevail! and these do
  not cease until the acidities be purged away; or are calmed down and
  mixed with other fluids。 The coction; change; attenuation; and
  thickening into the form of humors; take place through many and
  various forms; therefore the crises and calculations of time are of
  great importance in such matters; but to all such changes hot and cold
  are but little exposed; for these are neither liable to putrefaction
  nor thickening。 What then shall we say of the change? that it is a
  combination (crasis) of these humors having different powers toward
  one another。 But the hot does not loose its heat when mixed with any
  other thing except the cold; nor again; the cold; except when mixed
  with the hot。 But all other things connected with man become the
  more mild and better in proportion as they are mixed with the more
  things besides。 But a man is in the best possible state when they
  are concocted and at rest; exhibiting no one peculiar quality; but I
  think I have said enough in explanation of them。
  20。 Certain sophists and physicians say that it is not possible
  for any one to know medicine who does not know what man is 'and how he
  was made and how constructed'; and that whoever would cure men
  properly; must learn this in the first place。 But this saying rather
  appertains to philosophy; as Empedocles and certain others have
  described what man in his origin is; and how he first was made and
  constructed。 But I think whatever such has been said or written by
  sophist or physician concerning nature has less connection with the
  art of medicine than with the art of painting。 And I think that one
  cannot know anything certain respecting nature from any other
  quarter than from medicine; and that this knowledge is to be
  attained when one comprehends the whole subject of medicine
  properly; but not until then; and I say that this history shows what
  man is; by what causes he was made; and other things accurately。
  Wherefore it appears to me necessary to every physician to be
  skilled in nature; and strive to know; if he would wish to perform his
  duties; what man is in relation to the articles of food and drink; and
  to his other occupations; and what are the effects of each of them
  to every one。 And it is not enough to know simply that cheese is a bad
  article of food; as disagreeing with whoever eats of it to satiety;
  but what sort of disturbance it creates; and wherefore; and with
  what principle in man it disagrees; for there are many other
  articles of food and drink naturally bad which affect man in a
  different manner。 Thus; to illustrate my meaning by an example;
  undiluted wine drunk in large quantity renders a man feeble; and
  everybody seeing this knows that such is the power of wine; and the
  cause thereof; and we know; moreover; on what parts of a man's body it
  principally exerts its action; and I wish the same certainty to appear
  in other cases。 For cheese (since we used it as an example) does not
  prove equally injurious to all men; for there are some who can take it
  to satiety without being hurt by it in the least; but; on the
  contrary; it is wonderful what strength it imparts to those it
  agrees with; but there are some who do not bear it well; their
  constitutions are different; and they differ in this respect; that
  what in their body is incompatible with cheese; is roused and put in
  commotion by such a thing; and those in whose bodies such a humor
  happens to prevail in greater quantity and intensity; are likely to
  suffer the more from it。 But if the thing had been pernicious to of
  man; it would have hurt all。 Whoever knows these things will not
  suffer from it。
  21。 During convalescence from diseases; and also in protracted
  diseases; many disorders occur; some spontaneously; and some from
  certain things accidentally administered。 I know that the common
  herd of physicians; like the vulgar; if there happen to have been
  any innovation made about that day; such as the bath being used; a
  walk taken; or any unusual food eaten; all which were better done than
  otherwise; attribute notwithstanding the cause of these disorders;
  to some of these things; being ignorant of the true cause but
  proscribing what may have been very proper。 Now this ought not to be
  so; but one should know the effects of a bath or a walk unseasonably
  applied; for thus there will never be any mischief from these
  things; nor from any other thing; nor from repletion; nor from such
  and such an article of food。 Whoever does not know what effect these
  things produce upon a man; cannot know the consequences which result
  from them; nor how to apply them。
  22。 And it appears to me that one ought also to know what diseases
  arise in man from the powers; and what from the structures。 What do
  I mean by this? By powers; I mean intense and strong juices; and by
  structures; whatever conformations there are in man。 For some are
  hollow; and from broad contracted into narrow; some expanded; some
  hard and round; some broad and suspended; some stretched; some long;
  some dense; some rare and succulent; some spongy and of loose texture。
  Now; then; which of these figures is the best calculated to suck to
  itself and attract humidity from another body? Whether what is
  hollow and expanded; or what is solid and round; or what is hollow;
  and from broad; gradually turning narrow? I think such as from
  hollow and broad are contracted into narrow: this may be ascertained
  otherwise from obvious facts: thus; if you gape wide with the mouth
  you cannot draw in any liquid; but by protruding; contracting; and
  compressing the lips; and still more by using a tube; you can
  readily draw in whatever you wish。 And thus; too; the instruments
  which are used for cupping ar