---
title: "On the Therapeutics of Chronic Diseases · Χρονίων νούσων θεραπευτικών"
author: "Aretaeus"
translator: "Francis Adams"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/
cite: "Aretaeus, tr. Francis Adams, On the Therapeutics of Chronic Diseases · Χρονίων νούσων θεραπευτικών. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/"
---

# On the Therapeutics of Chronic Diseases · Χρονίων νούσων θεραπευτικών

*Aretaeus, tr. Francis Adams*

How to treat the chronic diseases.

> Greek: ed. Francis Adams, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0719.tlg004, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Francis Adams, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0719.tlg004.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## Contents

1. [Book I · chapters 1–4](https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/1.md)
2. [Book I · chapters 4–8](https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/2.md)
3. [Book II](https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/3.md)

## 1. Book I · chapters 1–4

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/1/#p-N

[¶0] 1. IN chronic diseases, the postponement of medical treatment is a bad thing; for, by procrastination, they pass into incurable affections, being of such a nature that they do not readily go off if they once attack; and if protracted by time, they will become strong, and end only in death. Small diseases also are succeeded by greater, so that although devoid of danger at first, their progeny proves deadly. Wherefore neither should the patient conceal his complaint, from the shame of exposure, nor shrink from fear of the treatment; nor should the physician be inactive, for thus both would conspire to render the disease incurable. Some patients, from ignorance of the present and what will come at last, are content to live on with the disease. For since in most cases they do not die, so neither do they fear death, nor, for this reason, do they entrust themselves to the physician. Cephalæa, of which I am about to treat in the first place, is a proof of these statements.

> Greek: 1. ἐν τῇσι χρονίῃσι νούσοισι ἡ ἀμβολὴ τῆς ἰητρείης κακόν. ὑπʼ ἀμβλακίης γὰρ ὀκέλλει ἐς ἀνήκεστα πάθεα. φύσι γὰρ ὡδὶ ἴσχει, ὡς μὴ Ῥηϊδίως ἀποφοιτῆσαι, ἢν ἐσβάλλῃ ἅπαξ. ἢν δὲ καὶ ἐκδηθύνῃ, χρόνῳ καρτερὰ ἔσται καὶ ξυναποθνήσκειν γίγνεταί κοτε· καὶ τὰ σμικρὰ μεζόνων ποιέεται διαδέξιας· κἢν τὸ πρόσθεν ἐς κίνδυνον ἀσινὲς ᾖ, ὁ τόκος τῶνδε γίγνεται ὀλέθριος. χρὴ ὦν μήτε τὸν νοσέοντα σιγῆν αἰδοῖ τοῦ ἐλέγχου τῆς νούσου, μηδὲ ὑποδιδρήσκειν δέει τῆς ἰητρείης, μήτε τὸν ἰητρὸν καταμβλακεύειν. ἄμφω γὰρ ἐς τὸ ἀνήκεστον ξυνᾴδοι. μετεξέτεροι δὲ τῶν καμνόντων, ὑπʼ ἀγνωσίης τε τῶν παρεόντων καὶ τῶν αὖθις ἐσομένων ἐς τέλος ξυνδιαιτέονται τῇ νούσῳ. ἐπὶ γὰρ τοῖσι πλείστοισι οὔτε ὄλλυνται, οὔτε ὀρρωδέουσι θάνατον. διὰ τάδε ὦν ἰητρῷ σφεας αὐτοὺς οὐδʼ ἐπιτρέπουσι. πίστις δὲ τουτέων κεφαλαίη, ἧς ἄμφι πρότερον φράσω.

[¶1] 2. THE head, inasmuch as it is necessary towards life, so is it also very dangerous in disease. And the onset of diseases about it is quite tolerable, being attended with slight pain, noises in the ears, and heaviness; but if they acquire increase, they become fatal at last. Wherefore even slight pains should not be overlooked, and, in certain cases, they have been cured by slight remedies. But if prolonged for a longer space, as greater sufferings supervene, we must open the vein at the elbow. But, for two days previous, the patient must get wine to drink, and the quantity of blood abstracted must be regulated by the strength; and it is best not to make the whole evacuation at once, so that the strength may bear the amount thereof; and the disease is rather removed by the repetition of the means. The same rule applies to all chronic diseases. During an interval of three or four days, a fuller diet is to be given, and then the purgative hiera is to be taken in a draught; for it, in an especial manner, draws the pabulum of the disease from the head. The quantity of the medicine given is to be to the amount of four or five drams. And if well purged, we are to administer the bath, give wine, and improve the strength. Then again we are to open the straight vein (temporal?) on the forehead, for abstraction by it is most efficacious; the amount, about a hemina (half-pint?) or a little more. But we must not evacuate further, for we must avoid emptying the vessels. Then, having removed the hair with a razor, we are first to apply one cupping-instrument to the vertex, and another between the scapulæ, without drawing blood; but along with the instrument applied to the vertex, we are to scarify unsparingly, for the purpose of attracting the redundant fluid and of making an incision in the deep-seated parts. For remedial means applied even to the bones are beneficial in cephalæa. When the wounds are cicatrised, we are to excise a portion of the arteries; (of these there are two, one behind the ears, at a little distance from them, being obvious from their pulsations;

> Greek: 2. κεφαλὴ δὲ, ὁκόσον ἐς ζωὴν ἀναγκαῖον, τοσόνδε νούσῳ χαλεπωτάτη· καὶ τῶν ἀμφὶ τήνδε νούσων ἡ μὲν ἐσβολὴ εὐπαθὴς, ἐπὶ σμικρῷ ἄλγεϊ καὶ ἤχοισι ὤτων καὶ βάρεϊ. εἰ δὲ αὔξησιν προσλάβοι, καὶ τὰ τέλη ὀλέθρια. μὴ ὦν μηδὲ τὰ σμικρὰ ὑπερορῆν ἄλγεα· σμικροῖσι γὰρ καὶ τοῖσι ἄκεσι μετεξετέροισι ἰήθη. ἢν δὲ πρόσω μὲν ἥκῃ χρόνου, μέζω γὰρ προσεπιγίγνεται ἄχθεα, τάμνειν τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι φλέβα· πρόσθεν δὲ δυοῖν ἡμέραιν οἶνον πιπίσκειν. ξυντεκμαιρόμενον δὲ τὴν δύναμιν τὸ πλῆθος ἀφαιρέειν. ἄριστον δὲ μὴ ἐσάπαξ, ὡς ἡ δύναμίς τε ἀνέχηται τὴν πληθὺν τῆς ἀφαιρέσιος, ξυνεχές τε τοῖσι αὐτέοισι μοχλεύηται ἡ νοῦσος. ὧδε μέντοι πάσῃσι τῇσι χρονίῃσι νούσοισι ξυνῳδόν· μεσηγὺ δὲ τριῶν ἢ τεσσάρων ἡμερῶν ἁδροτέρως διαιτᾶν, ἔπειτα τὴν ἱερὴν, τὸ καθαρτήριον, ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν. ἀπάγει γὰρ μάλιστα ἥδε ἀπὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς τῆς νούσου τὴν τροφήν. πλῆθος δὲ τοῦ φαρμάκου, ὁκόσον τέσσαρες ἢ πέντε ὁλκῆς δραχμαί· κἢν εὖ καθαίρηται, λούειν τε καὶ οἶνον διδόναι καὶ τὴν δύναμιν αὔξειν· ἔπειτα αὖθις τάμνειν φλέβα τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ μετώπῳ τὴν ὀρθήν. κυριωτάτη γὰρ ἥδε ἡ ἀφαίρεσις· τὸ δὲ πλῆθος ὅσον κοτύλης ἢ σμικρῷ πλεῖον. λύειν τε μὴ περαιτέρω, κενεαγγ έειν γὰρ οὐ χρή· ἔπειτα τὰς κόμας ξυρῷ ἀφαιρέοντα σικύην τῇ κορυφῇ προσβάλλειν προτέρην. τὴν δὲ ἑτέρην τὴν μεσηγὺ τῶν ὠμοπλατέων ἐρείδειν ἀναίμακτον, σχάζειν τε τὴν ἐπὶ τῆς κορυφῆς ἀφειδέως ἔς τε πλήθεος ὁλκὴν καὶ ἐς τὴν τοῦ βάθεος ἐντομήν· κεφαλαίην γὰρ τὰ μέχρις ὀστέων ὀνίνησι ἰήματα. ἢν δὲ ἐς ὠτειλὴν ἥκῃ τὰ τρώματα, τὰς ἀρτηρίας ἐκτάμνειν διπλαῖ δέ· αἱ μὲν κατόπιν εἰσὶ ὤτων σμικρόντι προσωτέρω, δῆλαι δὲ ταῖς διασφύξεσι· αἱ δὲ τοῦ ὠτὸς ἐς τοὔμπρος θεν, αὐτῶν πλησίον. παράγεται γὰρ τῷ ἀντιτράγῳ,

[¶2] the others in front of the ear, and close to it, for they lie close to the antitragus; and these also are discovered by their pulsations); we are to incise the larger ones at the bones, for they afford relief. Adjacent to them are others, very slender, which there is no benefit from excising. The mode of operating has been described under operative surgery. This is the great remedy in cephalæa, epilepsy, vertigo, and, in fine, in all the diseases of the head.

> Greek: ἀτὰρ καὶ αἵδε δῆλαι διασφύξεσι. τάμνειν δὲ πρὸς τοῖς ὀστέοις τὰς μέζονας· αἵδε γὰρ ὀνηϊσταί. ἐπικέαται καὶ ἕτεραι ἑκάστῃσι, κάρτα λεπταὶ, ἃς οὐδʼ ὄφελος ἐκτάμνειν. ὁ δὲ τρόπος ἐν τῇσι χειρουργίῃσι λέλεκται. μέγα δὲ τὸ ἄκος κεφαλαίῃσι καὶ ἐπιληψίῃ, καὶ σκοτώμασι, καὶ ξυμβλήδην ἁπάσῃσι τῇσι τῆς κεφαλῆς νούσοισι.

[¶3] In all cases we are to bring off phlegm, first evacuating the bowels, either by a purgative draught, or by a clyster; and sometimes from the nostrils by sternutatories; and sometimes from the mouth by sialogogues. Among the kinds of sternutatories are pepper, the root of soapwort, and the testicle of the beaver; these may all be used together; having levigated and sifted them, we are to blow the powder in, either with a reed or the thick stalk of a goose quill. Euphorbium is more active and stronger than these when mixed with any of them. It is also mixed up with the oils, such as gleucinum, the Sicyonian, or the ointment from storax. It is made into a liquid form as an injection, and it is injected by means of a nasal pipe; the instrument consists of two pipes united together by one outlet, so that we can inject by both at the same time. For to dilate each nostril separately is a thing which could not be borne, as the head gets quickly filled, and thus contracts a sharp pain. The medicines which evacuate phlegm from the mouth are, mustard, the granum cnidium, pepper, stavesacre, these either together or separately; and one may masticate these substances and spit out constantly; and give them mixed up with water or honeyed-water, rinse the mouth, and press them back to the tonsils with stretching of the neck, thus wash out along with the breath in expiration; and when you have evacuated phlegm as much as you think proper, you must bathe and foment the head with a very large quantity of hot water to promote perspiration, for the obstructions become strong.

> Greek: ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ φλέγμα ἄγειν χρὴ προκενώσαν τα τὴν γαστέρα ἢ καταπότῳ ὑπηλάτῳ, ἢ κλυσμῷ· ἄλλοτε μὲν ἐκ Ῥινῶν πταρμικοῖσι, ἄλλοτε δὲ διὰ στόματος τοῖσι ἄγουσι φλέγμα. εἴδη δὲ πταρμικῶν μὲν πέπερι, στρουθίου ἡ Ῥίζα, κάστορος ὄρχις· τάδε καὶ ξυνῆ· ἐς λεπτὰ δὲ κόψαντα καὶ σήσαντα καλάμῳ ἐμφυσῆν ἢ καυλῷ πτεροῦχηνὸς παχέϊ. ἀγωγότερον δὲ τῶνδε καὶ βιαιότερον εὐφόρβιον ξύν τινι τῶνδε μιχθέν· ἀτὰρ καὶ ἐλαίοισι δὲ μίσγεται γλευκίνῳ, σικυωνίῳ, ἢ τῷ ἀπὸ στύρακος μύρῳ. ὑγρὸν δὲ γίγνεται κάρτα ὡς ἔκχυτον· ἐγχεῖται δὲ διὰ τοῦ Ῥινός γ αὐλοῦ. δίδυμοι δὲ οἵδε ξυμφυέες ἀπὸ μιῆς ἐκροῆς, ὡς ἐσάπαξ ἀμφοτέροισι ἐγχέειν. οὐ γὰρ ἀνασχετὸν ἡ διάστασις ἑκατέρου μυκτῆρος ἰδίῃ καὶ ἰδίῃ. πίμπραται γὰρ ἡ κεφαλὴ αὐτίκα καὶ δριμὺ ἄλγος αἱρέει· τὰ δὲ διὰ τοῦ στόματος ἄγοντα φλέγμα, σίνηπι, κόκκος ὁ τῆς κνίδης, πέπερι, σταφὶς ἀγρίη· τάδε ξὺν ἀλλήλοισι, καὶ ἰδίῃ· ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ τῷ μασήσασθαι μὲν αὐτὰ καὶ τὸ πτύειν ξυνεχές ἐστι· καὶ ὕδατι ἢ μελικρήτῳ μίξαντα διδόναι, κλύζειν τε τὸ στόμα καὶ ἐς τὰ παρίσθμια παρώσαντα ἀνατάσι τοῦ αὐχένος, τῷ τῆς ἐκπνοῆς πνεύματι κλύζειν· ἐπὴν δὲ, ἐς ὅσον θέλῃς, τὸ φλέγμα ἀγάγῃς, λούειν καὶ καταιονεῖν τὴν κεφαλὴν κάρτα πολλῷ θερμῷ ὕδατι ἐς διαπνοήν. ἰσχυραὶ γὰρ γίγνονται σφηνώσιες.

[¶4] Supper should be spare; but wine also is to be given, to restore the tone of the stomach, for it also suffers in this complaint. When, in the meantime, you have re-established the strength, you will require to give a common clyster having sprinkled upon it much natron, or dissolving it in two drams of the resin of the turpentine tree. On the next day we are to abstract blood from the inside of the nostrils, and for this purpose push into them the long instrument named Katidion, or the one named Toryne, or, in want of these, we must take the thick quill of a goose, and having scooped the nervous part of it into teeth like a saw, we are to push it down the nostrils as far as the ethmoid cells, then shake it with both hands so that the part may be scarified by its teeth. Thus we shall have a ready and copious flow of blood; for slender veins terminate there, and the parts are soft and easily cut. The common people have many modes of scarification, by rough herbs, and the dried leaves of the bay, which they introduce with the fingers and move strongly. Having evacuated to a sufficient amount—say to the amount of half a hemina—we are to wipe the parts with sponges and oxycrate, or blow in some styptic powder, gall, fissil alum, or the flower of the wild pomegranate. Whether the pain remain, or cease after these things, we must go on to the conclusion of the system of treatment;

> Greek: δεῖπνον εὐτελές· ἔστω δὲ καὶ οἶνος ἐς ἀνάκλησιν τοῦ στομάχου· μάλα γάρ τοι καὶ ὅδε πονέει. ἐπὴν δὲ μεσηγὺ τὴν δύναμιν ἑδράσῃς, κλυσμῷ χρέω τῷ ξυνήθεϊ, λίτρου πολλὸν ἐμπάσσων, ἢ Ῥητίνης τῆς ἀπὸ τῆς τερμίνθου τοῦ δένδρεος ἐντήκων ὁλκῆς δραχμὰς δύο· ἐς δὲ τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ἡμέρην αἷμα τῆς Ῥινὸς ἔνδον ἀφαιρέειν, ὡς εἴσω παρωθεῖς θαι τὸ ὄργανον κατειάδιον εὔμηκες, ἢ τὸ καλεόμενον τορύνην. ἢ εἴ τις ἐλλειπῶς πρὸς τάδε ἔχει, χηνὸς χρὴ πτεροῦ τοῦ καυλοῦ τοῦ παχέος ἀπογλύψαντα τάμνειν τὰ νεῦρα ἐς ὀδόντας ὅκως πριστῆρα· καὶ τόδε ἐς Ῥῖνα κατιέναι, μέσφι τῶν ἠθμοειδῶν· ἔπειτα ἀμφοτέραισι χερσὶ κινέειν, ὡς ξυγχαράσσοιτο ὑπὸ τῶν ὀδόντων ὁ χῶρος. Ῥηϊδίη δὲ καὶ πολλὴ τοῦ αἵματος ἡ φορή· φλέβες γὰρ ἰσχναὶ τῇδε κραίνουσι καὶ τὰ σώματα μαλακὰ καὶ εὔτμητα. ἔασι δὲ καὶ τοῖσι δημότῃσι πολλοὶ τῆς ἐγχαράξιος οἱ τρόποι καὶ βοτάνῃσι τρηχείῃσι καὶ φύλλοισι δάφνης ξηροῖσι, ἐνθέντες τάδε τοῖσι δακτύλοισι κινέειν εὐτόνως. κενώσαν τα δὲ ὁκόσον χρή· (ἔστω δὲ πλῆθος ἐς κοτύλης τὸ ἥμισυ)· μάσσειν σπόγγοισι καὶ ὀξυκρήτῳ, ἢ ξηρόν τι ἴσχαιμον ἐμφυσῆν, κηκῖδα, ἢ σχιστὴν στυπτηρίην, ἢ βαλαύστιον.

[¶5] for the mischief is apt to return, and frequently lurks in the seat of the disease. Wherefore, having removed the hair with a razor (and this also is beneficial to the head), we are to burn with heated cauteries, superficially, down to the muscles; or if you wish to carry the burning to the bone, you must avoid the muscles, for the muscles when burnt occasion convulsions. And if you burn superficially you must foment the part with plenty of fragrant sweet wine, along with rose-oil; a linen cloth wetted with this is to be spread over the eschars until the third day. But, if the eschars be deep, having pounded the hairy leaves of leeks with salt, and spread upon a linen rag, we are to apply it. On the third day, we are to put the cerate from rose-oil upon the superficial eschars, and lentil with honey upon the deeper. The medicinal applications to be made to the wound will be described in another place. Some have made an incision in the skin above the forehead, at the coronal suture, down to the bone, and having scraped it, or cut out a portion down to the diploe, have afterwards brought the part to incarnation. Some have perforated the bone, even to the meningx. These are bold remedies, but are to be used, if, after all, the cephalæa continue, and the patient be courageous, and the tone of the body good. But, if they progress gradually, they are to take exercises in the erect state of the body for the benefit of the chest and shoulders;

> Greek: ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ τουτέοισι ἡ κεφαλαλγίη μίμνῃ, κἤν ποτε ἀποπαύηται, αὐτὸ χρὴ ἐς τέλος ἥκειν τῆς ἰητρείης. φιλυπόστροφον γὰρ κακὸν, καὶ ἐν ἕδρῃἷζον τὰ πολλὰ φωλεύει. χρὴ ὦν ἀφαιρέοντα τὰς κόμας ξυρῷ, (καὶ γὰρ τόδε κεφαλῇ ὀνηϊστὸν) καίειν πυρίῃσι καυτήρων, ἐπιπολῆς μὲν ἐς μύας· ἢν δὲ μέσφι ὀστέου ἐθέλῃς, ἀπάνευθεν καὶ τῶν μυῶν· μύες γὰρ καυθέντες ἔασι σπασμῶν προκλήσιες. κἢν μὲν ἐπιπολῆς καύσῃς, οἶνον εὐώδη λευκὸν ξὺν Ῥοδίνῳ καταιονεῖν ἅλις. ὀθόνην δὲ χρὴ τέγξαντα ἐπιπεταννύναι τῇσι ἐσχάρῃσι μέσφι ἡμέρης τρίτης· ἢν δὲ βαθεῖαι ἔωσι αἱ ἐσχάραι, πράσου χρὴ κόμην ξὺν ἁλὶτρίψαντα ἠδὲ ἐς ὀθόνην ἐγχρίσαντα τιθέναι· τῇ δὲ τρίτῃ κηρωτὴν ἐκ Ῥοδίνου ἐπὶ τοῖσι ἐπιπολαίοισι, ἢ φᾳκὸν ξὺν μέλιτι ἐπὶ τῇσι βυθίοισι ἐσχάρῃσι τιθέναι. ὁκόσα δὲ ἐπὶ ὠτειλῇ φάρμακα ἄλλῃ πη γεγράψεται. ἔταμόν τινες ὑπὲρ μέτωπον κατὰ τὴν στεφάνην τὸ δέρμα ἄχρις ὀστέου· καὶ τόδε ἐπιξέσαντες ἢ ἐπικόψαντες μέσφι διπλόης ἐς σάρκωσιν ἤγαγον. οἱ δὲ καὶ ἐσέτρωσαν τῷ οστέῳ, μέσφι μήνιγγος. εὔτολμα δὲ τὰ ἄκεα· ἀλλὰ χρῆσθαι, κἢν ἐπὶ πᾶσι μὲν ἡ κεφαλαί η ἐπιμίμνῃ, ὁ δὲ νοσέων εὔθυμος, καὶ ὁ τόνος τοῦ σώματος ἀγαθός.

[¶6] the chironomy, the throwing of the halteres; leaping, and the well-regulated contortions of the body accompanying it; friction, first and last of the limbs, of the head in the middle of the process.

> Greek: ἢν ἐκ προσαγωγῆς ἔωσι, γυμνάσια ὀρθὰ ἐς στέρνα καὶ ὤμους, χειρονομίη, ἁλτήρων βολὴ, ἔξαλσις, καὶ ἡ ξυνευπαί δευτος ἐν τούτοις ἀνείλησις· τρῖψις τὰ πρῶτα καὶ τὰ ὕστατα σκελῶν, κεφαλῆς δὲ ἐς μέσον.

[¶7] The process of pitching is to be frequently applied to the head; and also rubefacients, sometimes rubbing in mustard with double quantity of bread, so that the heat may not be intolerable; and sometimes other medicines are to be so used, like the compound from lemnestis, euphorbium, and pellitory. The juice of thapsia, and the medicines made with it which produce swelling of the skin, and an eruption resembling vari, are beneficial both for allaying present pain and contributing to eradicate the evil. The diet in both kinds of the complaint should be light;

> Greek: Πιττοκοπίητῷ ἐμπάττειν ξυνεχής· φοινίσσειν δὲ καὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν, ἄλλοτε μὲν σίνηπι ξὺν ἄρτῳ διπλόῳ ἐγχρίοντα, ὡς μὴ ἀφόρητον εἴη τὸ πῦρ· ἄλλοτε δὲ φάρμακα ξυναλείφοντα, ὡς τὸ ξύνθετον τὸ διὰ τῆς λιμνήστιδος καὶ εὐφορβίου καὶ πυρέθρου· ἔχει δὲ καὶ ἀνώδυνον περί τε τὸν ἐν καιρῷ πόνον καὶ ἐς μόχλευσιν τῆς Ῥίζης τοῦ κακοῦ, θαψίης ὁ ὀπὸς, καὶ τὰ ξὺν τῇδε φάρμακα, ὁκόσα ἐσοιδαίνει τὸ δέρμα, καὶ ἰόνθοισι ἴκελα ἐκφύει βλαστήματα.

[¶8] little drink, water for drink, especially before giving any medicine; complete abstinence from acrid things, such as onions, garlic, the juice of silphium, but not altogether from mustard, for its acrimony, in addition to its being stomachic, is not unpleasant to the head, dissolving phlegm, and exhaling or discharging downwards. Of pulse, the worst is the common bean and its species, the common peas, and the species called ochrys, and the common kidney-beans; next to them are the lentils, which have indeed certain good properties for promoting digestion and secretion, but induce fulness of the head and occasion pain; only when boiled with pepper they are not to be rejected. Granulated spelt (alica) when washed, is pleasant along with wine and honey, so as to sweeten, and, in like manner, their soups, and with plain broths. The seeds of carui, coriander, anise, and parsley, in the Lydian sauce are excellent. But, of these articles, the best are the herbs mint and penny-royal, with the fragrant things which have some diuretic and carminative properties. Of fleshes, all such as are old are bad; of the recently killed, that of the hen is good; of birds, the wood pigeon, the common pigeon, and such others as are not very fat; the extremities of the swine; the roasted hare; that of the ox and of the sheep is incrassant and fills the head; the kid is not altogether bad. Milk and cheese occasion headache. Of fishes, those found among rocks, and those things that are best in each particular country. Of potherbs, such as promote the urinary and alvine discharges, the mallow, the blite, the beet, and asparagus; but the kale is also acrid. Among raw articles, the lettuce is the best of all. Roots are bad, even when boiled, such as radishes, navews, and parsnips, which are diuretic, but occasion repletion; the garden parsnip indeed is flatulent and swells up the stomach. Wine which is white, thin, and sweet, is to be admitted, if it have some astringency, so as not to bind the bowels. All articles of the dessert occasion headache, except dates of every species. In autumn the fig and grape are wholesome, and whatever other fruit is very good at any particular season. Repletion of all things, even of such as are proper, is bad; and so, also, indigestion is bad. Lassitude is less injurious than indigestion, but still it is hurtful. The morning walk after evacuation of the bowels, but so as not to affect the breathing nor induce weariness; and it is also very good after supper. Prolonged gestation, not exposed to wind or sun, is good for the head; but the dog-star is bad for it. Sexual intercourse is a self-inflicted evil to the head and nerves. A journey from a cold to a warmer climate, or from a humid to a drier, is proper; also a sea-voyage, and passing one’s life at sea;

> Greek: δίαιτα δὲ ἡ μὲν ἐφʼ ἑκάστῳ τῶν ἀλγέων λεπτὴ, ὀλιγοποτίη καὶ ὑδροποτίη, ἐπίπροσθεν μάλιστα ἄκεός τινος. ξύμπαν δὲ, δριμέων μὲν ἄφεξις, κρομμύων καὶ σκορόδων καὶ ὀποῦ τοῦ σιλφίου, σινήπιος δὲ μὴ πάγχυ, καὶ γὰρ τὸ δριμὺ αὐτέου πρὸς τῇ τοῦ στομάχου ἀρετῇ καὶ ἐς κεφαλὴν οὐκ ἄχαρι, φλέγμα χύον, καὶ διαπνέον, ἢ διελαῦνον κάτω. ὀσπρίων κάκιστον κύαμος καὶ τὰ τοῦδε εἴδεα, πισσοὶ, καὶ ὠχροὶ, καὶ δολιχοί· δεύτερον φακοὶ, οἵ γε ἔχουσι μέν τινας ἀρετὰς πέψιός τε καὶ ἐκκρίσιος, κεφαλῆς δὲ πλήσμιοι καὶ πόνου ποιητικοί· πλὴν ἑψηθέντες ξὺν πεπέρι οὐκ ἀποξενωτέοι· χόνδροι δὲ οἵ τε πλυτοὶ χαρίεντες ξὺν οἴνῳ, καὶ μέλιτι ὅσον ἡδῦναι· καὶ τὸ ἐκ τουτέων Ῥόφημα καὶ οἱ ξὺν ἁπλοῖσι ζωμοῖσι. καλοὶ γὰρ καὶ οἱ ἐν τῇ καρυκείᾳ καρποὶ, κάρου, κοριάνου, ἀνίσου, σελίνου· τουτέων δὲ κρέσσων ἡ ἡδύοσμος ἡ βοτάνη, καὶ γλήχων πρὸς τοῖσι εὐώδεσι, ἴσχουσί τι καὶ οὔρων ἀγωγὸν καὶ φυσῶν ἔξοδον. κρεῶν δὲ πονηρὰ μὲν τὰ παλαιὰ πάντα· νεοσφαγῆ δὲ ἀλέκτορος, πτηνῶν ἡ φάσσα, ἡ πελειὰς, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ὁκόσα μὴ μάλιστα πίονα. συῶν τὰ ἄκρεα, λαγωὸς ὀπτός· βοὸς δὲ καὶ ὄϊος παχῦνόν τε καὶ κεφαλῆς πλήσμιον· ἔριφος δὲ οὐ πάντη κακός· γάλα καὶ τυροὶ κεφαλαλγέες. ἰχθύων οἱ πετραῖοι, ἠδὲ ὁκόσοι κατὰ χώρην ἄριστοι. λαχάνων δὲ ἑφθῶν μὲν ὁκόσα οὔρων καὶ κοιλίας ὑπαγωγὰ, μαλάχη, βλίτον, τεῦτλον, ἀσπάραγοι· δριμὺ δὲ καὶ κράμβη· ὠμὰ δὲ, θριδακίνη πάντων ἄριστον· ῥίζαι δὲ πονηραὶ καὶ ἑφθαὶ, Ῥαφανῖδες, γογγυλίδες, σταφυλῖνοι· οὐρητικὰ μὲν, πλήσμια δέ· σίσαρονφυῶδες μὲν καὶ στομάχου ἐπαρτικόν. οἶνος λευκὸς, λεπτὸς, γλυκὺς μὲν ἐγγεγράφθω, στύψιος ἔχων, ὡς μὴ ἴσχειν τὴν γαστέρα· τράγημα πᾶν κεφαλαλγὲς, πλὴν φοίνικες πάσης ἰδέης· σῦκον δὲ ὀπώρῃ καὶ σταφυλὴ προσηνὲς, καὶ ὅ τι ἂν ἐπὶ τῆς ὥρης ἄριστον· πλησμονὴ πάντων καὶ τῶν ὠφελούν των κακόν. κάκιον δὲ ἀπεψίη· κόποι ἀπεψίης μὲν ἀσινέστεροι, ἐπιβλαβέες δὲ καὶ οἵδε. περίπατοι ἕωθεν, ἐπὶ τῆς κοιλίης ἐκκρίσι· εὔπνοοι δὲ καὶ εὔφοροι· ἄριστοι δὲ καὶ οἱ ἐπὶ τῷ δείπνῳ· αἰώρη μακρὰ, νήνεμος, ἀνήλιος τῇ κεφαλῇ· κακὸς γὰρ αὐτέῃ ὁ σείριος. ὁμιλίη γυναικὸς κεφαλῇ, νεύροις, κακὸν ἐπίσπαστον. ἀποδημίη ἐς θερμότερον ἀπὸ ψυχρῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ ὑγρῶν ἐς ξηρότερον. ξύμφορος δὲ πλοῦς καὶ ἐν θαλάσσῃ διεξαγωγὴ τοῦ βίου· κἢν παράλιός τις ᾖ, ἀγαθὸν λούεσθαίτε τῇ ἅλμῃ ψυχρῇ,

[¶9] and if one lives by the sea-side it is a good thing to bathe in the sea-water, to tumble on the sands, and to reside close by the sea.

> Greek: καὶ νήχεσθαι τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τῇσι ψάμμοισι ἐγκαλινδέεσθαι, καὶ βιοτεύειν ἐς θάλασσαν.

[¶10] The remedies for heterocrania are the same; for it is well to apply to a portion of the head the same remedies as are proper for the whole of it. In all cases in which the disease is not removed by these means, we are to use hellebore, as being the last and most potent of all methods of treatment.

> Greek: Ἑτεροκρανίης ταὐτὰ ἄκεα. ὁκοῖα γὰρ τῇ κεφαλῇ ὅλῃ ἄκεα πρόσφορα, τοῖσδε πρὸς ἅπαν τῆς κεφαλῆς μέρος χρέεσθαι καλόν. ὁκόσοισι δὲ ἐκ τῶνδε ἄφυκτος ἡ νοῦσος, ἐλλεβόρῳ χρέεσθαι, τῇ ἐσχάτῃ καὶ δυνατωτάτῃ πάντων ἀγωγῇ.

[¶11] 3. VERTIGO arises as the successor of cephalæa; but also springs up as a primary affection from certain causes, as the suppression of the hemorrhoidal flux; and if blood which used to flow from the nose has ceased to flow; or if the body has not perspired properly, either by sweating, or labour, when it had been used to labour. If then it arise as the consequence of cephalæa, we must do for its cure those things which have been described under cephalæa; and I will afterwards state certain other more powerful means which must be tried ultimately. But if the disease happen from the suppression of any of the humours, we must excite the customary secretion; for the recurrence of nature promotes recovery. If it be delayed, and the disease increases, in the other suppressions, those by the nose or sweats, we are to open the vein at the elbow; but in plethora of the liver, spleen, or any of the viscera in the middle of the body, cupping affords relief, but as much blood as is taken from a vein, so much is to be thus abstracted from them; for it is the nutriment of the exciting cause, in like manner as the belly. After this the remedies of the head are to be applied, opening the straight vein on the forehead, or those at the canthi on either side of the nose; a cupping-instrument is to be fastened to the vertex, the (temporal?) arteries are to be excised, the head shaven, rubefacients applied to it, phlegm evacuated from the nostrils by sternutatories, or from the mouth as I have stated—all these things are to be done in the order described under cephalæa, except that the juice of sow-bread or of pimpernel is to be used as an injection into the nose. But when you have exhausted all the remedies for cephalæa, the more violent means which are applicable for vertigo are to be used;

> Greek: 3. καὶ ἐκ διαδέξιος μὲν κεφαλαίης γίγνεται σκοτοδινίη· ἀτὰρ καὶ αὐτὴ πρώτη ἐπʼ αἰτίῃσι φύεται, αἱμορρο ΐδων Ῥόου ἐπισχέσι· κἢν ἀπὸ Ῥινὸς αἷμα μὴ Ῥέῃ, πρόσθεν Ῥέον, ἢ μὴ διαπνέηται τὸ σκῆνος, ἢ ἱδρῶτι, ἢ πόνῳ, πρόσθεν πονεύμενον. ἢν μὲν ὦν ἐπὶ τῇ κεφαλαί ῃ ξυστῇ, τάδε χρὴ πρήσσειν ἐς ἴησιν, ὁκόσα ἐπὶ τῇσι κεφαλαίῃσι λέλεκται· τίσι δὲ καὶ βιαιότερον ἰῆσθαι χρὴ ἐς τέλος τῶν ἀκέων, ὕστερον φράσω· ἢν δὲ ἀπό τευ ἐπισχέσιος ὑγρῶν ἡ νοῦσος ἀποβῇ, τὴν ξυνήθη ἔκκρισιν κινέειν. ὑγιεινὸν γὰρ τῆς φύσιος ἡ παλινδρομίη. ἢν δὲ ἡ μὲν μέλλῃ, τὸ δὲ πάθος αὔξῃ, ἐπὶ μὲν τῇσι ἄλλῃσι ἐπισχέσεσι, τῇσι διὰ Ῥινὸς, ἢ ἱδρώτων, φλέβα τάμνειν τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι· ἢν δʼ ἐπὶ ἥπατι πλημμύροντι, ἢ σπληνὶ, ἤ τινι τῶν ἐν τοῖσι μέσοισι σπλάγχνων, ἀρῆγον ἡ σικύη. χρὴ δὲ ὁκόσον ἂν ἐκ φλεβὸς πολλὸν ἐκρέῃ, τοσόνδε ἐκ τῶνδε ἀφαιρέειν αἷμα. τόδε γὰρ τῆς προφάσιος ἡ τροφὴ, ὥσπερ δὴ καὶ γαστήρ· ἐπὶ δὲ τῷδε τὰ τῆς κεφαλῆς ἄκεα ξυνάπτειν, φλέβα τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ μετώπῳ ὀρθὴν τάμνοντα, ἢ τὰς ἑκατέρωθεν τῆς Ῥινὸς πρὸς τοῖσι κανθοῖσι, σικύην τῇ κορυφῇ προσβάλλειν, ἐκκόπτειν τὰς ἀρτηρίας· ξυρεῖν τὴν κεφαλὴν, φοινίσσειν, φλέγμα ἄγειν διὰ Ῥινῶν πταρμικοῖσι, ἢ διὰ στόματος, ὅκως ἔλεξα· ἅπαντα πρήσσειν ἐν κόσμῳ τῷ ἐπὶ τῇ κεφαλαίῃ εἰρημένῳ, πλὴν ὁκόσον κυκλαμίνου χυλὸς, ἢ ἀναγαλλίδος, ἐγχυτὸς εἰς τὴν Ῥῖνα, ἔχει τὴν πρόσθεσιν.

[¶12] we must use the emetics after supper, and those from radishes, which is also required as a preparation for the hellebore; for the stomach is to be trained beforehand to the more violent emetics. But the phlegm now becomes thinner, and fit for solution in the hellebore. There are several modes of giving the hellebore; to the stronger sort of patients it is to be given to the size of a sesame, or a little larger; or, in slices, with washed chondrus or lentil, the dose, about two drams. In the case of feebler and more slender persons, the decoction with honey, to the amount of two or three spoonfuls, is to be given. The manner of preparing it will be described else-where. In the interval between each remedy, the patient is to be supported, in order that he may be able to endure what is to be given in the intermediate periods. The patient is to be assisted during the paroxysms thus:—The legs are to be bound above the ankles and knees; and the wrists, and the arms below the shoulders at the elbows.

> Greek: ἐπὴν δὲ τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀκέων ἵκγῃ ἐς τέλος, ὁκοσα βιαιότερα ἐς τοὺς σκοτώδεας, τάδε χρὴ πρήσσειν· ἐμέτοισι τοῖσι ἀπὸ δείπνου, ἠδὲ τοῖσι ἀπὸ Ῥαφανίδων χρέεσθαι, τὸ ἐκ τοῦδε δέον ἐστὶ, ἀτὰρ ἠδὲ ἐς ἐλλεβόρου παρασκευήν· μελέτῃσι γὰρ χρὴ τοῦ στομάχου ἐμέειν, ἐπὶ τοῖσι δεινοτέροισι ἐμετηρίοισι· ἀτὰρ καὶ τὸ φλέγμα λεπτότερον νῦν γίγνεται, καὶ ἐς τὸν ἐλλέβορον εὔχυτον· ἐλλεβόρου δὲ δόσιες πλεῦνες, τοῖσι μὲν ἰσχυροτέροισι ὀρέξαι ἐς μέγεθος σησάμου, ἢ ὀλίγον ἁδρότερον τετμημένον· ξὺν χόνδρῳ τε πλυτῷ ἢ φακῷ ἡ δόσις· σταθμὸς δὲ ὁλκῆς δραχμαὶ δύο. ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν ἀσθενεστέρων καὶ ἰσχνοτέρων τὸ ἕψημα ξὺν μέλιτι· μέτρον μυστίλαι δύο ἢ τρεῖς· τῆσδε ποιήσιος ὁ τρόπος ἄλλῃ πη λελέξεται. μεσηγὺ δὲ ἑκάστου ἄκεος, ὑπανατρέφειν τὸν νοσέοντα, ἐς τὴν τῶν μέσων ὑπομονήν.

[¶13] The head is to be bathed with rose-oil and vinegar; but in the oil we must boil wild-thyme, cow-parsnip, ivy, or something such. Friction of the extremities and face. Smelling to vinegar, penny-royal, and mint, and these things with vinegar. Separation of the jaws, for sometimes the jaws are locked together; the tonsils to be tickled to provoke vomiting; for by the discharge of phlegm they are sometimes roused from their gloom. These things, then, are to be done, in order to alleviate the paroxysm and dispel the gloomy condition. With regard to the regimen during the whole period of the treatment and afterwards, I hold as follows:—Much sleep is bad, and likewise insomnolency; for truly much sleep stupefies the senses of the head. From a redundance of vapours there is disinclination to every exertion;

> Greek: ἀρήγειν δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖσι παροξυσμοῖσι ὧδε· διαδέειν μὲν τὰ σκέλεα ὑπὲρ σφυρὰ καὶ γούνατα, καὶ χειρὸς καρπούς τε καὶ βραχίονας ἔνερθε τῶν ὤμων πρὸς τοῖσι ἀγκῶσι. τέγξιες κεφαλῆς· Ῥόδινον μύρον ξὺν ὄξεϊ· ἐνεψῆσαι δὲ χρὴ τῷ ἐλαίῳ ἑρπύλλιον, ἢ σπονδύλιον, ἢ κισσοὺς, ἤ τι τοιόνδε. ἀνάτριψις ἄκρων καὶ προσώπου· ὄσφρησις ὄξεος, γλήχωνος, ἡδυόσμου, καὶ τάδε ξὺν ὄξεϊ. διάστασις τῆς γένυος· ἔσθʼ ὅπη γὰρ ἐρείδουσι τὰς γνάθους· γαργαλισμὸς παρισθμίων, ἐμετοῦ πρόκλησις. ἐπὶ γὰρ ἐγχύσι κοτὲ φλέγματος ἀνέγροντο ἐκ τοῦ ζόφου. τάδε μὲν ὦν ἐς τὴν τοῦ παροξυσμοῦ παρηγορίην, καὶ σκέδασιν τοῦ ζοφώδεος.

[¶14] and these are also the cause of the weight in the head, the noises, and the flashes of light, which are the marks of the disease. Insomnolency induces dyspepsia, atrophy, and wearies out the body; the spirits flag, and the understanding is unsettled; and for these reasons such patients readily pass into mania and melancholy. Moderate sleep is suitable for the proper digestion of the food and refreshment from the labours of the day; care and perseverance in these respects; and particular attention is to be paid to the evacuation of the bowels, for the belly is the greater source of the bodily perspiration. Next, friction of the limbs, by means of rough towels, so as to produce rubefaction; then, of the back and sides; last, of the head. Afterwards, exercise in walking, gentle at first and in the end; carried to running in the middle; rest and tranquillity of the breathing (pneuma) after the walking. They are to practise vociferation, using grave tones, for sharp occasion distension of the head, palpitation of the temples, pulsatory movements of the brain, fulness of the eyes, and noises in the ears. Sounds of medium intensity are beneficial to the head. Then the season of gestation should be regulated so as to promote the expulsion of the weight in the head; it should be prolonged, yet not so as to induce fatigue; neither should gestation be made in tortuous places, nor where there are frequent bendings of the road, for these are provocative of vertigo. But let the walks be straight, long, and smooth. If then the patients have been in the habit of taking lunch, we must only allow of a little bread, so as to be no impediment to the exercises; for digestion should take place previously. The head and the hands, and the frictions thereof, are to be attended to; in the latter it is to be gently performed for the restoration of the heat, for plumpness, and strength. Then the head is to be rubbed while the patient stands erect below a person of higher stature than himself. Gymnastics skilfully performed which tend to distension of the neck, and strong exercise of the hands. It is proper, also, by raising the head, to exercise the eyes at chironomy, or at throwing the quoit, or contending at boxing. The exercise both with the large and the small ball is bad, for the rolling of the head and eyes, and the intense fixing of them, occasion vertigo. Leaping and running are very excellent; for everything that is keen is beneficial to the limbs, and gives tone to the general system. The cold bath is better than no bath at all; no bath at all is better than the hot bath: the cold bath is very powerful as an astringent, incrassant, and desiccant of the head, which is the condition of health;

> Greek: διαίτης δὲ περὶ ἁπάσης τῆς ἐν τῇ θεραπείῃ καὶ τῆς ἐς αὖθις τάδε γιγνώσκω. ὕπνος πουλὺς κακὸν, καὶ ἀϋπνίη. πουλὺς μὲν γὰρ ναρκᾷ τὰς αἰσθήσιας τῆς κεφαλῆς. ἀτμῶν πλημμύρᾳ, ὄκνος ἁπάσης πρήξιος. τάδε μέντοι βάρεος καὶ ἤχων καὶ μαρμαρυγῶν ἐστι αἴτια, τῆς νούσου τὰ ξύμβολα· ἀγρυπνίη δὲ ἄπεπτον, ἄτροφον, καματηρὸν τῷ σκήνεϊ, ἄθυμον, εὐπαράγωγος ἡ γνώμη· διὰ τάδε Ῥηϊδίως μαίνονται καὶ μελαγχολέουσι οἵδε· ξύμφορος δὲ ὁ μέτριος, ἐς τὴν τῆς τροφῆς οἰκονομίην, καὶ ἐς ἀνάπαυλαν τῶν διʼ ἡμέρας καμάτων. πρόνοια καὶ ἐπιμονή προεδρίη τῆς κοιλίης ἐς ἀπόκρισιν· διαπνοῆς γὰρ ἡ μέζων αἰτίη, κοιλίη. ἀνάτριψις αὖθις σκελῶν διʼ ἡμιτυμβίων τρηχέων μέσφι φοινίξιος, ἔπειτα νώτου καὶ πλευρέων, ὕστατα κεφαλῆς· ἀπὸ τουτέων περίπατοι, προσηνέες μὲν ἀρχῆθεν καὶ ἐς ἀπόπαυσιν, ἐπίτροχοι δὲ οἱ μέσοι, ἠρεμίη, κατάστασις τοῦ πνεύματος ἐπὶ τοῖσι περιπάτοισι ἔστω. ἀναφωνέειν χρὴ, τοῖσι βαρέσι φθόγγοισι μᾶλλον χρεόμενον ἠχέειν. ὀξέες γὰρ, κεφαλῆς διαστάσιες, κροτάφων παλμοὶ, ἐγκεφάλου διασφύξιες, ὀφθαλμῶν πρήσιες, ἤχων ἀκοή· μετρίη ὀξυφωνίη κεφαλῇ ὀνήϊστον· ἔπειτα δὲ καιρὸς αἰώρης, ἐς διαπνοὴν τοῦ παντὸς κεφαλῆς βάρεος, πλῆθος δὲ ἔσται πολλὸν, πλὴν ὁκόσον ἀκάματον ᾖ· μηδὲ ἐπὶ ἐλιγμοῖσι τοῖσι τοῦ χωρίου, μηδὲ ξυνεχέσι καμπῇσι, αἰώρη γιγνέσθω. ἰλίγγων γὰρ τάδε προκλήσιες. εὐθέες δὲ καὶ μακροὶ καὶ λεῖοι ἔστων καὶ οἱ περίπατοι. ἢν μὲν ὦν ἐν ἔθει ἔωσι ἀρίστου, ἄρτου μόνου ὀρέγειν, ὁκόσον μηδὲν ἐμποδὼν τοῖσι γυμνασίοισι ἔμμεναι, προπεπέφθαι γὰρ χρή· κεφαλὴ καὶ χεῖρες, καὶ αἱ τῶνδε τρίψιες· ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖσι οἷον πρηέως ἐς ἀνάκλησιν θέρμης, καὶ εὐσαρκίης, καὶ τόνου· ἔπειτα κεφαλὴν τρίβεσθαι ὄρθιον ἑωυτέου μέζονι ὑπέχοντα· ἀτὰρ καὶ τὰ γυμνάσια ἐς τραχήλου πρήσιας, καὶ ἐς δίωσμον χειρῶν συντείνει, εὐπαιδεύτως· ὑπεραιωρεῦντα δὲ χρὴ τὴν κεφαλὴν, καὶ τὰς ὄψιας γυμνάζειν χειρονομίῃ, ἢ δίσκων βολῇ, ἢ φιλονεικεῦντα πυγμῇ· κακὸν δὲ σφαῖρα, μικρή τε καὶ μεγάλη· τῆς γὰρ κεφαλῆς καὶ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αἱ δινήσιές τε καὶ ἐνστάσιες σκοτώματα ποιέουσν.

[¶15] while the warm bath is most powerful to humectate, relax, and create mistiness; for these are the causes of disease of the head, and such also are south winds, which occasion dulness of hearing. There should be rest after exercises, to allay the perturbation. Pinching of the head, even to the extent of producing excoriation of the skin. Whetters made of water, or of wine diluted with water, should be given before a meal. Lunch should be slight: laxatives from the capillary leaves of pot-herbs,—of mallow, of beet, and of blite.

> Greek: ἄριστον ἀφάλσεις καὶ δρόμοι. τὸ ὀξὺ μὲν πᾶν ἐς τὰ σκέλεα πάντων τονώσιες· ψυχρολουσίη ἀλουσίης κρέσσων· ἀλουσίη δὲ θερμολουσίης· στῦψαι, πυκνῶσαι, ξηρῆναι κεφαλὴν ψυχρολουσίη δυνατωτάτη, ὑγείης ἡ κατάστασις· ὑγρῆναι, λῦσαι, ἀχλυῶσαι, θερμολουσίη δυνατωτάτη. κεφαλῆς γὰρ νούσου αἱ προφάσιες· τοιοίδε καὶ οἱ νότοι, βαρυήκοοι. ἡσυχίη ἐπὶ τοῖσι γυμνασίοισι, ἐς κατάστασιν τοῦ ταράχου. πίεσις τῆς κεφαλῆς ἐς τὴν τοῦ δέρματος ξῦσιν.

[¶16] A condiment of a stomachic nature, which is pleasant to the mouth, laxative of the bowels, and not calculated to induce heaviness of the head, is made of thyme, or of savory, or of mustard. Eggs, hot in winter, and cold in summer, stripped of their shell, not roasted; olives, dates, pickled meat in season. Granulated spelt washed, with some of the sweet things, so as to give it a relish, is to be chosen; and, with these, salts. Solitude, rest as regards hearing and speaking. Promenades in a well-ventilated place, rendered agreeable by trees or herbs. But if it be come to supper-time, they are again especially to take the cold bath, having been slightly anointed with oil; or, otherwise, the limbs only. The supper should be of frumentaceous articles, such as pastry, or a soup from chondrus (granulated spelt), or a carminative ptisan, rendered easy of digestion by boiling. The medicines used for seasoning of the ptisan, pepper, penny-royal, mint, a small proportion of onions or of leeks, not so much as to float on the stomach; the acrid part of vinegar is suitable; of fleshes, the parts of fat animals which are not fat; of swine, the feet and head; all winged animals—you must select from the great variety of them what is suitable; the hare and the other kinds of venison are proper; the hen is easily procured, and suitable. All articles of the dessert create headaches, except the date, or figs in the summer season, or the grape if the patient be free from flatulence; and of sweetmeats, such as are well seasoned, without fat, and light. Walking, exhilaration; in solitude, resignation to sleep.

> Greek: Προπόσιες ὕδατος, ἢ οἴνου ὑδαρέος· ἄριστον εὐτελές· λαχάνων κόμης τὰ μαλθακτήρια, μαλάχης, τεύτλου, βλίτου. ἔμβαμμα εὐστόμαχον, εὔστομον, κοιλίης μαλθακτικὸν, ἀβαρὲς δὲ κεφαλῇ, διὰ θύμου, ἢ θύμβρης, ἢ σινήπιος. ὠῶν τὰ θερμὰ χειμῶνος· θέρεος δὲ τὰ ψυχρὰ, γυμνὰ τοῦ ὀστρακώδεος, μὴ ὀπτά· ἐλαῖαι, φοίνικες, τάριχος ὡραῖον, χόνδρος πλυτὸς, ξύν τινι τῶν γλυκέων, ὁκόσον ἡδῦναι, αἱρετόν. ἐπὶ τοῖσδε ἅλες. ἠρεμίη, ἡσυχίη καὶ ἀκοῆς καὶ λαλιῆς. περίπατοι, ἔνθα ἂν εὔπνοον καὶ εὔχαρι, δένδρεσι, ἢ βοτάνῃσι· ἢν δὲ ἐς δεῖπνον ἥκῃ, μάλιστα μὲν αὖθις ψυχρολουτέειν, σμικρὸν ὑποχρισάμενον λίπαϊ· εἰ δὲ μὴ, σκέλεα μοῦνον. τὸ δεῖπνον σιτῶδες, οἷον ἰτρίον, ἢ Ῥόφημα χόνδρου, ἢ πτισάνη ἄφυσος, ἑψήσι εὔπεπτος· φάρμακα δὲ τὰ ἐς ἡδονὴν τῆς πτισάνης, πέπερι, γλήχων, ἡδύοσμον, κρομμύων ἢ πράσων σμικρὸν, μηδὲ ὁκόσον ἐμπλεῦσαι· ὄξεος δὲ τὸ δριμὺ ξύμφορον· κρεῶν τὰ ἐκ πιόνων μὴ πίονα· συῶν πόδες καὶ κεφαλή· πτηνὰ πάντα· τῷ πλήθεϊ δὲ τεκμαίρεσθαι· λαγώς καὶ τὰ θηρευτὰ δέ· ἀλεκτορὶς εὔπορος καὶ ξύμφορος. τράγημα πᾶν κεφαλαλγὲς, πλὴν φοίνικος, ἢ τῶν ὡραίων σύκων, ἢ σταφυλῆς, ἢν ἄφυσος ὥνθρωπος ἔῃ· ἠδὲ πεμμάτων εὔπεπτα, καὶ ἄκνισα, καὶ κοῦφα. περίπατοι· θυμηδία· ἐν ἡσυχίῃ ἐς ὕπνον ἄφεσις.

[¶17] 4. OF remedies, whatever is great and most powerful is needed for epilepsy, so as to find an escape not only from a painful affection, and one dangerous at each attack, but from the disgust and opprobrium of this calamity. For it appears to me, that if the patients who endure such sufferings were to look at one another in the paroxysms, they would no longer submit to live. But the want of sensibility and of seeing conceals from every one what is dreadful and disgusting in his own case. It is best that the method of cure should follow the alleviation of nature, when, with the changes of age, she changes greatly the man. For if the diet akin to the ailment, and on which the disease subsisted, be changed, the disease no longer seizes the man, but takes its departure along with that in which it delighted.

> Greek: 4. ἀκέων ὅτι περ μέγα καὶ δυνατώτατον ἐς ἐπιληψίην χρέεσθαι. φυγὴ γὰρ οὐ μοῦνον ἐπιπόνου πάθεος καὶ κινδυνώ δεος ἐφʼ ἑκάστης ὑπομνήσιος, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἰδέης αἴσχεος, καὶ ὀνείδεος τῆς συμφορῆς. καί μοι δοκέω, εἴπερ εἰς ἀλλήλους ἐν τοῖσι παροξυσμοῖσι ἐνέβλεπο, ὁκόσα πάσχουσι οἱ νοσεῦντες, οὐκ ἂν ἔτι ζώειν τλαῖεν ἄν. ἀλλὰ γὰρ τὰ δεινὰ ἑκάστῳ καὶ τὰ αἰσχρὰ ἀναισθησίη καὶ ἀθεησίη κρύπτει· ξυνομαρτεῖν δὲ τὴν ἰητρείην τῇ Ῥαστώνῃ τῆς φύσιος ἄριστον, εὖτε τῇσι μεταβολῇσι τῆς ἡλικίης ἐς μέγα ἀμείβει τὸν ἄνθρωπον. ἢν γὰρ ἡ ξυνήθης τῷ κακῷ δίαιτα, ἐν ᾗ ἐμβιοτεύει ἡ νοῦσος, οἴχετο, οὐκέτι ἐπιφοιτέει ἐς τὸν ἄνθρωπον·

[¶18] If, then, it seize on the head, it settles there; to it, therefore, we are to do those things which have been described by me under cephalæa, regarding the abstraction of blood (and also the purgings) from the veins at the elbow, the straight vein at the forehead, and by cupping; but the abstraction is not to be carried the length of deliquium animi; for deliquium has a tendency to induce the disease; we are to open all the ordinary arteries before and behind the ears, and we are also to practise purgings, which are more potent than all these things, by the purgative hiera and those medicines which draw off phlegm from the head; but the medicines should be particularly powerful, for the habit of such persons renders them tolerant of pains, and their goodness of spirits and good hopes render them strong in endurance. It is necessary, also, to apply heat to the head, for it is effectual. In the first place, we must perforate the bone as far as the diploe, and then use cerates and cataplasms until the meninx separate from the bone. The exposed bones are to be perforated with the trepan if still any small portion prevent its spontaneous removal, when the meninx there is found black and thickened; and when, having gone through the process of putrefaction and cleansing under the bold treatment of the physician, the wound comes to complete cicatrization, the patients escape from the disease. In all cases we are to use rubefacient applications to the head; namely, the common ones, as described by me formerly; and a still more powerful one is that from cantharides, but for three days before using it the patient must drink milk as a protection of the bladder, for cantharides are very injurious to the bladder. These are the remedies when the head is the part affected.

> Greek: ξυναποίχεται γὰρ τῷ πρόσθεν ἡδέϊ. ἢν ὦν τῆς κεφαλῆς λάβηται, ἐνοικέει· τῇδε ἅπαντα χρὴ πρήσσειν, ὁκόσα μοι ἀμφὶ κεφαλαίης λέλεκται, ἀμφί τε τὰς τοῦ αἵματος ἀφαιρέσιας, — ἠδʼ ἀμφὶ τὰς καθάρσιας, — φλεβῶν τῶν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνος, μετώπου τῆς ὀρθίας, σικύης· τὰς δὲ ἀφαιρέσιας μὴ μέσφι λειποθυμίης ποιέεσθαι, πρόκλησις γὰρ τοῦ πάθεος λειποθυμίη· ἀρτηρίας τάμνειν ἁπάσας, τάς τε ὤτων πρόσω τε καὶ ὀπίσω· καθάρσιας δὲ ποιέεσθαι ἐξοχέας τουτέων πάντων, τῇ ἱερῇ τῷ καθαρτηρίῳ καὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς τοῖσι ἄγουσι φλέγμα· πολλῷ δὲ δυνατώτερα ἔστω φάρμακα· φέρει γὰρ ἡ ἕξις τῶνδε τοὺς πόνους· εὐθυμίη δὲ καὶ εὐελπιστίη τίθησι τοὺς νοσέοντας τλήμονας. χρεὼν καὶ πῦρ φέρειν ἐς τὴν κεφαλήν· ἀνύει γάρ. τετρῆναι δὲ χρὴ πρῶτα τὸ ὀστέον μέχρι διπλόης, ἔπειτα κηρωτῇσι καὶ ἐπιπλάσμασι χρέεσθαι. ἔς τʼ ἂν ἡ μῆνιγξ τῶν ὀστέων ἀποστῇ, τερέτρῳ χρὴ περικόπτειν τὰ γυμνὰ ἢν ἔτι σμικρὰ ἀντέχῃ μέχρι αὐτομάτου ἀποσπάσιος, ὅτε μέλαινά κοτε τουτέων καὶ παχείη εὑρεθῇ ἡ μῆνιγξ· καὶ ἐπὴν ἐς μύδησιν, ἢ καὶ κάθαρσιν, τοῦ ἰητροῦ εὐτόλμως ἀκεομένου, ἐς ὠτειλὴν ξυμβῇ τὸ τρῶμα, ὥνθρωπος ἐξῆλθε τῆς νούσου. ἐπὶ πᾶσι, φοινίξιες κεφαλῆς, ξυνήθεες μὲν, ὁκόσαι μοι ἐν τοῖσι πρόσθεν εἰρέαται· δυνατωτέρη δὲ ἡ διὰ τῶν κανθαρίδων· χρὴ δὲ ἐπίπροσθεν τῆς χρήσιος, τριῶν ἡμερῶν πίνειν γάλα ἐς τὴν τῆς κύστιος φυλακήν. κανθαρί δες γὰρ κάρτα σίνονται κύστιν. τάδε μὲν ὦν ἢν κεφαλὴ πεπόνθῃ.

## 2. Book I · chapters 4–8

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/2/#p-N

[¶0] But if the cause be seated in the middle parts, and if these induce the disease (this, however, very rarely happens, for, as in a mighty ailment, the middle parts of the body rather sympathise with the head, which is the origin of the disease), but however it may be, we must open the vein at the elbow in these cases also; for the flow by it is from the viscera. But such patients, more than the others, are to be purged with the hiera, cneoron, and the granum cnidium, for these are phlegmagogues. But the most suitable remedy in these cases is cupping. Of epithemes and cataplasms the components are well known, and it would be superfluous to describe them on all occasions, except in so far as to know the powers of them; namely, that by such means we must attenuate, promote exhalation, and render the secretions and perspirations healthy. We are also to use digestive, heating, desiccant, and diuretic articles, both in food and in medicine. But the best of all things is castor, taken frequently during the month in honeyed-water, and the compound medicines which possess the same powers, as the compound medicine from vipers, and the still more complex one of Mithridates, and also that of Vestinus; for these things promote digestion, form healthy juices, and are diuretic; for whatever simple medicines you could describe are contained in these powerful compositions — cinnamon. cassia, the leaves of melabathrum, pepper, and all the varieties of seseli; and which of the most potent medicines will you not find in them? It is told, that the brain of a vulture, and the heart of a raw cormorant, and the domestic weasel, when eaten, remove the disease; but I have never tried these things. However, I have seen persons holding a cup below the wound of a man recently slaughtered, and drinking a draught of the blood! O the present, the mighty necessity, which compels one to remedy the evil by such a wicked abomination! And whether even they recovered by this means no one could tell me for certain. There is another story of the liver of a man having been eaten. However, I leave these things to be described by those who would bear to try such means.

> Greek: ἢν δὲ τὰ μέσα εἰσάγῃ τὴν αἰτίην καὶ τάδε ἐπάγει τὴν νοῦσον, — ἥκιστα δὲ τάδε γίγνεται· ξυμπαθέει γὰρ κεφαλῇ τὰ μέσα μᾶλλον, ὡς ἐπὶ μεγάλῳ κακῷ, ἥπερ ἀρχὴ τῆς νούσου, — ὅκως δʼ οὖν ἴσχῃ, φλέβα τάμνειν τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι καὶ ἐπὶ τῶνδε· ἀπὸ σπλάγχνων γὰρ ἡ Ῥοή· ἀτὰρ καὶ καθαίρειν τούσδε μᾶλλον τῶν ἄλλων, καὶ τῇ ἱερῇ, καὶ κνεώρῳ, καὶ κόκκῳ κνίδης· τάδε γὰρ φλεγμάτων ἀγωγά. τὸ δὲ καίριον αὐτέων ἡ σικύη· ἐπιθημάτων δὲ, καὶ ἐπιπλασμάτων, ὁ φόρτος εὔδηλος, καὶ πάντη γράφειν περιττὸν, εἰ μὴ ὁκόσον δύναμιν αὐτέων γινώσκειν, ὅτι χρὴ τοῖσδε λεπτῦναι, διαπνεῦσαι, εὔροα καὶ εὔπνοα ποιέειν· καὶ πεπτηρίοισι φαρμάκοισι, θερμοῖσι, ξηροῖσι, καὶ οὔρων ἀγωγοῖσι χρεόμενον, καὶ ἐν τροφῇ καὶ ἐν φαρμακίῃ· κρέσσον δὲ πάντων κάστορος ὄρχις, πινόμενος ἐν μελικρή τῳ πολλάκις τοῦ μηνὸς, ὁκόσα τε ποικίλα φάρμακα τωὐτὸν πρήσσει, ἡ διὰ τῶν θηρίων ποικίλη, καὶ ἡ τοῦ Μιθριδάτεω ἐπιποικιλωτέρη· πίνειν δὲ καὶ τὴν Βηστίνου· εὔπεπτα γὰρ καὶ εὔχυμα ταῦτα καὶ οὔρων ἀγωγά. ὁκόσα γὰρ χρὴ γράφειν τῶν ἁπλῶν φαρμάκων, αἵδε ἔχουσι αἱ δυνάμιες, κιννάμωμον καὶ κασίην, φύλλα τὰ μαλαβάθρου, καὶ πεπέριος καὶ σεσέλιος πάσας ἰδέας. καὶ τί γὰρ οὐκ ἂν εὕροις ἐν τοῖσδε τῶν δυνατωτάτων; λόγος, ὅτι καὶ γυπὸς ἐγκέφαλος καὶ αἰθυίης ὠμῆς κραδίη, καὶ αἱ κατοικίδιοι γαλέαι βρωθέντες λύουσι τὴν νοῦσον· ἐγὼ δὲ τῶνδε μὲν οὐκ ἐπειρήθην· ἐθεασάμην δὲ ἀνθρώπου γε νεοσφαγέος ὑποθέντας φιάλην τῷ τρώματι καὶ ἀρυσαμένους τοῦ αἵματος πίνοντας. ὢ τῆς παρεούσης μεγάλης ἀνάγκης, τλῆναι κακὸν ἀκέσασθαι μιάσματι κακῷ· εἰ δὲ καὶ ὑγιέες ἐκ τούτου ἐγένοντο, ἀτρεκὲς οὐδεὶς ἔχει μοι λέγειν· ἄλλη δέ τις γραφὴ ἔφραζεν, ἧπαρ ἀνθρώπου φαγεῖν. ἀλλὰ τάδε μὲν γεγράφθω τοῖσι μέχρι τῶνδε τλήμοσι.

[¶1] It is necessary to regulate the diet, in respect to everything that is to be done either by others or by the patient himself. Now nothing must be omitted, nor anything unnecessarily done; and more especially we must administer everything which will do the slightest good, or even that will do no harm; for many unseemly sights, sounds, and tastes, and multitudes of smells, are tests of the disease. Everything, therefore, is to be particularly attended to. Much sleep induces fatness, torpor, and mistiness of the senses, but moderate sleep is good. An evacuation of the bowels, especially of flatulence and phlegm, is very good after sleep. Promenades long, straight, without tortuosities, in a well ventilated place, under trees of myrtle and laurel, or among acrid and fragrant herbs, such as calamint, penny-royal, thyme, and mint; so much the better if wild and indigenous, but if not, among cultivated; in these places, prolonged gestation, which also should be straight. It is a good thing to take journeys, but not by a river side, so that he may not gaze upon the stream (for the current of a river occasions vertigo), nor where he may see anything turned round, such as a rolling-top, for he is too weak to preserve the animal spirits (pneuma) steady, which are, therefore, whirled about in a circle, and this circular motion is provocative of vertigo and of epilepsy. After the gestation, a gentle walk, then rest so as to induce tranquillity of the agitation created by the gestation. After these, the exercises of the arms, their extremities being rubbed with a towel made of raw flax. Not much oil to be used in the inunction. The friction to be protracted, and harder than usual for condensation, since most of them are bloated and fat: the head to be rubbed in the middle of the process, while the patient stands erect. The exercises of the neck and shoulders, chironomy, and the others mentioned by me under the treatment of Vertigo, with sufficient fulness of detail; only the exercises should be sharper, so as to induce sweat and heat, for all these attenuate. During the whole of his life he should cultivate a keen temper without irascibility.

> Greek: Προσαρήγειν δὲ καὶ τῇ διαίτῃ, καὶ ἑκάστοισι τῶν γινομένων, ἢ διʼ ἄλλων, ἢ διʼ αὐτοῦ. νῦν δὲ χρὴ οὐδὲν ὑπερορῆν, μηδὲ πρήσσειν τι εἰκῆ, μάλιστα μὲν ἐφʼ ἑκάστοισι σμικροῖσι πάντως ὠφελεῦν τα· ἢν δὲ μὴ, βλάπτοντα μηδέν. καὶ γὰρ ὁρήματα ὁκόσα μὴ θηητὰ, καὶ ἀκούσματα, καὶ γεύματα, καὶ θυητὰ μυρία ἐλέγχει τὴν νοῦσον. φράζεσθαι ὦν περὶ πάντων μάλα. ὕπνος πολλὸς, παχυτὴς, ἀργίη, ὀμίχλη τῆς αἰσθήσιος· ἀγαθὸν δὲ ξυμμετρίη· κοιλίης ἔκκρισις ἐπὶ τοῖσι ὕπνοισι ἄριστον, μάλιστα πνευμάτων καὶ φλεγμάτων. περίπατοι μακροὶ, εὐθέες, ἀνέλικτοι, εὔπνοοι, ὑπὸ δένδρεσι μὲν μυρσίνης, ἢ δάφνης, ἢ τοῖσι δριμέσι, καὶ εὐώδεσι βοτάνῃσι δὲ, καλαμίνθῃ, γλήχωνι, θύμῳ, ἡδυόσμῳ· μάλιστα μὲν τοῖσι ἀγρίοισι, αὐτομάτοισι· ἢν δὲ μὴ, κἀν ποιητοῖσι· ἐν τοῖσι καὶ αἰῶραι μακραὶ καὶ αἵδε εὐθέες· ὁδοιπορίῃσι καλὸν χρέεσθαι, μὴ παρὰ ποταμὸν εἰς τὸ Ῥεῦμα ἐνορῆν,(ἰλίγγων γὰρ ποιητικὸν Ῥόος) μηδὲ ἐς κύκλον στρωφώμενον, μηδὲ βέμβικα δινεύμενον. ἀσθενέστερος γὰρ ἑδραῖον ἱστάναι τὸ πνεῦμα· ξυνελίσσεται γὰρ τῷ κύκλῳ. δίνησις δὲ σκοτώματος καὶ τῆς ἐπιληψίης πρόκλησις· ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς αἰώρης, περίπατος ἠρεμαῖος· ἔπειτα ἡ ἡσυχίη, ἐς ἀποκατάστασιν τοῦ ἐν τῇ αἰώρῃ ταράχου· γυμνάσια δὲ ἐπὶ τούτοισι πρὸς χεῖρας, τριβέντων τῶν ἄκρων ἀφʼ ἡμιτυμβίου λινοῖσι ὠμοῖσι· ἄλειμμα μὴ κάρτα λιπαρόν· τρῖψις ἐν μελλήσει μὲν οὖσα, σκληροτέρη δʼ ἐς πύκνωσιν· οἰδαλέοι γὰρ καὶ παχέες οἱ πλεῖστοι. μεσηγὺ δὲ ὅλης τῆς τρίψιος κεφαλὴ ὀρθίη τετρίφθω. γυμνάσια τὰ εἰς τὸν αὐχένα καὶ ὤμους· χειρονομίη· πάντα ὁκόσα μοι ἐπὶ σκοτωματικῶν λέλεκται. ἅλις δὲ ἐνθάδε τοῦ ἐκεῖ φόρτου. πλὴν ὁκόσα ὀξύτερα χρὴ τὰ τῶνδε γυμνάσια ἔμμεναι ἐς ἱδρῶτα καὶ θέρμην. τάδε γὰρ πάντα λεπτύνει.

[¶2] All kinds of food derived from gross pulse are bad; but we are to give frumentaceous things, the drier sorts of bread, washed alica, and the drinks prepared from them. The medicines added for relish the same as before; but there should be more of acrid things, such as pepper, ginger, and lovage. Sauces of vinegar and cumin are both pleasant and useful. From fleshes in particular the patient is to be entirely restricted, or at least during the cure; for the restoration, those things are to be allowed which are naturally light, such as all sorts of winged animals, with the exception of the duck, and such as are light in digestion, such as hares, swines’ feet, and pickled fish, after which thirst is good. A white, thin, fragrant, and diuretic wine is to be drunk in small quantity. Of boiled pot-herbs, such as are possessed of acrid powers, attenuate and prove diuretic, as the cabbage, asparagus, and nettle; of raw, the lettuce in the season of summer. The cucumber and ripe melon are unsuitable to a strong man; but certain persons may have just a tasting of them. But being of a cold and humid nature, much of them is bad. The seasonable use may be granted of the green fig and the grape. Promenades; after these, recreation to dispel grief.

> Greek: ἀτὰρ καὶ ἐν τῷ παντὶ βίῳ χρὴ ὀξυθυμίην ἀόργητον ἐμποιέειν. τροφαὶ πᾶσαι παχέεσι ὀσπρίοισι, κακόν· σιτώδεις δὲ, ἄρτοι ξηρότεροι, χόνδροι πλυτοὶ, καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶνδε Ῥοφήματα· τὰ δὲ ἐς ἡδονὴν φάρμακα ταὐτὰ τοῖς πρόσθεν. τῶν δριμέων δὲ νῦν ἔστω πλεῦνα, πεπέριος, ζιγγιβέριος, λιγυστικοῦ. ἐμβάμμα τα δὲ, διʼ ὄξεος καὶ κυμίνου, καὶ ἡδέα καὶ χρήσιμα. κρεῶν μάλιστα μὲν ἀπείρχθω πάμπαν· εἰ δὲ μή γε, ἐν τῇ θεραπείῃ· ἐς δὲ τὴν ἀνάληψιν ἔστω ὁκόσα κοῦφα ᾖ φύσι, οἷόν τι τὰ πτηνὰ, πλὴν νήσσης· καὶ τῇ πέψι, ὅκως λαγωοὶ, ὑῶν πόδες, τάριχος· καὶ ἐπὶ τοῖσι, δίψος ἀγαθόν. οἴνου ὀλιγοποσίη, λευκοῦ, λεπτοῦ, εὐώδεος, οὐρεομένου· λαχάνων ἑφθῶν, ὁκόσα ἐς δύναμιν δριμέα λεπτῦναι, οὖρα κινῆσαι, ὁκοῖόν τι κράμβη, ἀσπάραγος, κνίδη· ὠμῶν δὲ θριδακίνη ἐφʼ ὥρᾳ· σίκυος δὲ καὶ πέπων ἀνδρὶ μὲν κρατερῷ περιττὰ, τισὶ δὲ δοτέον μέσφι γεύσιος. κακὸν γὰρ τῶνδε ἡ πληθὺς, ψυχρῶν ἐόντων καὶ ὑγρῶν. σύκου χλωροῦ καὶ σταφυλῆς ἡ χρῆσις ὡραῖος· περίπατοι· ἐπὶ τοῖσι δὲ θυμηδίη ἄλυπος.

[¶3] Passion is bad, as also sexual enjoyment; for the act itself bears the symptoms of the disease. Certain physicians have fallen into a mistake respecting coition; for seeing that the physical change to manhood produces a beneficial effect, they have done violence to the nature of children by unseasonable coition, as if thus to bring them sooner to manhood. Such persons are ignorant of the spontaneous law of nature by which all cures are accomplished; for along with every age she produces that which is proper for it in due seasons. At a given time there is the maturity of semen, of the beard, of hoary hairs; for on the one hand what physician could alter Nature’s original change in regard to the semen, and, on the other, the appointed time for each? But they also offend against the nature of the disease; for being previously injured by the unseasonableness of the act, they are not possessed of seasonable powers at the proper commencement of the age for coition.

> Greek: ὀργὴ δὲ καὶ λαγνείη, κακόν· καὶ γὰρ τὸ πρῆγμα τῆς νούσου φέρει τὰ σύμβολα. ἀπάτη δέ τις ἔς τε μετεξετέρους ἰατροὺς συνουσίης. ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἡ τῆς φύσιος εἰς ἄνδρα μεταβολὴ ἀγαθόν τι πρήσσει, μετεβιάσαν το τὴν παίδων φύσιν ἀώρῳ ξυνουσίῃ, ὡς θᾶσσον ἀναρρώς οντ ες· ἀγνοέου σι δὲ τῆς φύσιος τὴν αὐτομάτην προθεσμίην, ἐφʼ ᾗ πάντα γίγνεται τὰ ἄκεα· ἥδε γὰρ ἑκάστῃ ἡλικίῃ συντίκτει τὰ οἰκεῖα ἐν χρόνοις ὡραίοισι. ἐν χρόνῳ γὰρ οἱ πεπασμοὶ σπέρματος, γενείου, πολιῆς. τίς ὦν ἰητρὸς προσαλλάξαι τῆς φύσιος τοῦτο μὲν τὴν ἀρχῆθεν τῶν σπερμάτων μεταβολὴν, τοῦτο δὲ τὴν ἐς ἑκάστου προθεσμίην; ἀλλὰ καὶ προσέκοψαν ἐς τὴν φύσιν τοῦ νοσήματος. οὐκέτι γὰρ ἔγκαιροί τινες ἔασι τῇ ἀρχῇ τῆς ξυνουσίης, προσινόμενο ἀωρίῃ τοῦ πρήγματος.

[¶4] The patients ought to reside in hot and dry places, for the disease is of a cold and humid nature.

> Greek: βιοτεύειν δὲ χρὴ ἐν χώρῃσι θερμῇσι, ξηρῇσι. ψυχρὸν γὰρ, καὶ ὑγρὸν, ἡ νοῦσος.

[¶5] 5. IN cases of melancholy, there is need of consideration in regard to the abstraction of blood, from which the disease arises, but it also springs from cacochymy in no small amount thereof. When, therefore, the disease seizes a person in early life, and during the season of spring we are to open the median vein at the right elbow, so that there may be a seasonable flow from the liver; for this viscus is the fountain of the blood, and the source of the formation of the bile, both which are the pabulum of melancholy. We must open a vein even if the patients be spare and have deficient blood, but abstract little, so that the strength may feel the evacuation but may not be shaken thereby; for even though the blood be thick, bilious, coagulated, and black as the lees of oil, yet still it is the seat and the pabulum of Nature. If, then, you abstract more than enough, Nature, by the loss of nourishment, is ejected from her seat. But if the patient has much blood, for the most part in such cases it is not much vitiated, but still we must open a vein, and not abstract all the blood required the same day, but after an interval, or, if the whole is taken the same day, the strength will indicate the amount. During the interval, the patient is to be allowed a fuller diet than usual, in order to prepare him for enduring the evacuation; for we must assist the stomach, it being in a state of disease, and distress from the black bile lodging there. Wherefore, having kept the patient on a restricted diet for one day previously, we must give black hellebore to the amount of two drams with honeyed-water, for it evacuates black bile. And likewise the capillary leaves of Attic thyme, for it also evacuates black bile. But it is best to mix them together, and give a part of each, to the amount of two drams altogether. After the purging we are to administer the bath, and give a little wine and any other seasoner in the food; for purging fatigues the powers of the stomach. We are, then, to come down to the middle parts, and having first relaxed by cataplasms and bathing, we are to apply a cupping-instrument over the liver and stomach, or the mouth of it; for this evacuation is much more seasonable than venesection. We are also to apply it to the back between the scapulæ, for to this place the stomach is adjacent. Then again we are to recruit; and if the strength be restored by the regimen, we are to shave the head, and afterwards apply the cupping-instrument to it, for the primary and greatest cause of the disease is in the nerves. But neither are the senses free from injury, for hence are their departure and commencement. Wherefore these also are changed, by participating in the affection. Some, likewise, from alienation of the senses have perverted feelings. It is necessary, then, especially to cure the stomach as being disordered of itself, and from black bile being lodged in it. Wherefore we must give to drink continuously of the juice of wormwood from a small amount to a cupful (cyathus), for it prevents the formation of bile. Aloe also is a good thing, for it brings down the bile into the lower gut. If, then, the disease be of recent origin, and the patient be not much changed, he will require no other treatment in these circumstances. There is a necessity, however, for the remaining part of the regimen to the restoration of the habits, and the complete purification of the affection, and the strengthening of the powers, so that the diseases may not relapse. I will explain afterwards the course of life during convalescence.

> Greek: 5. χρεὼ βουλῆς ἀμφὶ αἵματος ἀφαιρέσιος ἐν τοῖσι μελαγχολικοῖσι, ἀφʼ οὗ γίγνεται ἡ νοῦσος, ἀλλὰ καὶ κακοχυμίης, οὐδʼ ἐπὶ σμικρῷ τῷ πλήθεϊ· ἢν μὲν ὦν ἡλικίης νέης λάβηται καὶ ὥρης ἐαρινῆς, τάμνειν φλέβα τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι τῷ δεξιῷ μέσην, ὅκως ἀπὸ τοῦ ἥπατος εἴη ἐπίκαιρος ἡ Ῥοή. τόδε γὰρ τὸ σπλάγχνον αἵματος αἱ πηγαὶ, χολῆς δὲ ἡ γένεσις, ἄμφω μελαγχολίης ἡ τροφή· τάμνειν δὲ κἢν ἰσχνοὶ ἔωσι, καὶ λείφαιμοι· σμικρὸν δὲ ἀφαιρέειν, ὁκόσον αἴσθοιτο τομῆς ἡ δύναμις· οὐκ ἐλεγχθείη δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ τόνῳ. καὶ γὰρ εἰ παχὺ, καὶ χολῶδες, καὶ πεπηγὸς εἴη τὸ αἷμα, καὶ μέλαν ὅκως ἀμόργη, ἀλλὰ τόδε ἐστὶ τῆς φύσιος ὁ χῶρος καὶ ἡ τροφή. ἢν ὦν τοῦ δέοντος πολλὸν ἀφέλῃς, ἀτροφίῃ ἡ φύσις ἐξίσταται τῆς ἕδρης· ἢν δὲ πολύαιμος ᾖ, τὰ πολλὰ μὲν οὐ κάρτα γίγνεται πονηρόν· τάμνειν δὲ τὴν φλέβα· καὶ μὴ αὐτῆμαρ ὁκόσον χρὴ ἀφαιρέειν, ἀλλʼ ἐκ διαστάσιος· καὶ αὐτῆμαρ δέ· τὸ δὲ πλῆθος δηλώσουσιν αἱ δυνάμιες. μεσηγὺ δὲ, ἁδροτέρως διαιτᾶν ἐς ἄλλης κενώσιος ὑπομονήν. χρὴ γὰρ καὶ τῷ στομάχῳ ἀρήγειν, καὶ τῷ νοσέοντι καὶ κάμνοντι, τῷδε τῆς μελαίνης χολῆς ἐγκεομένης. ἐπίπροσθεν μιῆς ἡμέρης λεπτῶς διατηθέντι, μέλανος ἐλλεβόρου δοτέον ξὺν μελικρήτῳ, σταθμοῦ ὁκόσον ὁλκὰς δύο. ὑπάγει γὰρ ὅδε μέλαιναν χολήν· ἀτὰρ καὶ τοῦ θύμου τοῦ Ἀττικοῦ ἡ κόμη, καὶ ἥδε ἄγει μέλαιναν χολήν· ἄριστον δὲ ξυμμίσγοντα διδόναι ἑκάστου μέρος ἓν ἐς ὁλκὴνδύο ἀμφοῖν. λούειν τε ἀπὸ τῆς καθάρσιος, καὶ οἴνου βραχὺ διδόναι, καὶ τῆς ἄλλης τῆς ἐν τῇ τροφῇ χάριτος. στομάχου γὰρ τῇ δυνάμει καματηρὸν ἡ κάθαρσις. μεταβαίνειν αὖθις ἐπὶ τὰ μέσα· ἄχρι δὲ προχαλάσαντα ἐπιπλάσματι καὶ τέγξι, σικύην πρὸς τὸ ἧπαρ καὶ τὴν κοιλίην, ἢ τὸ στόμα ταύτης, προσβάλλειν. ἥδε γὰρ ἡ ἀφαίρεσις πολλόντι ἐπικαιροτέρη τῆς φλεβοτομίης· προσβάλλειν δὲ καὶ τοῖσι μεταφρένοισι μεσηγὺ τῶν ὠμοπλατέων· ἐνταῦθα τοῦ στομάχου ἐστὶ ἡ πρόσφυσις. εἶτʼ αὖθις ἐπανατρέφειν, καὶ ἢν τῇ διαίτῃ βλαστηθῇ ἡ δύναμις, τὴν κεφαλὴν ξυρέειν· ἔπειτα σικύην τῇ κεφαλῇ προσβάλλειν, καὶ γὰρ ἡ πρώτη καὶ μεγίστη τῆς νούσου ἐν τοῖσι νεύροισι αἰτίη. ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ αἱ αἰσθήσιες ἔασι ἀσινέες, ἐκεῖθεν γάρ σφεων ἡ ἀπόστασις καὶ ἡ ἀρχή. ξυντρέπονται ὦν καὶ αἵδε, κοινωναὶ οὖσαι τῆς πάθης· μετεξέτεροι δὲ καὶ παραισθάνονται, παραφορῇ τῆς αἰσθήσιος· χρὴ δὲ μάλιστα τῷ στομάχῳ ἀρήγειν, καὶ τοῦδε νοσέοντος, καὶ ἐν τῷδε τῆς μελαίνης χολῆς ἐγκεομένης. πιπίσκειν ὦν χρὴ τοῦ χυλοῦ τοῦ ἀψινθίου ξυνεχῶς, ἀπὸ σμικροῦ τοῦ μεγέθεος ἄχρι κυάθου. κώλυμα γὰρ τόδε χολῆς γενέσιος. ἀγαθὸν δὲ καὶ ἀλόη, ἥδε γὰρ ὑπάγει εἰς τὸ κάτω ἔντερον τὴν χολήν. ἢν μὲν ὦν νεότοκον τὸ πάθος ᾖ, καὶ μὴ πολλὸν ὥνθρωπος ἐκτραπῇ, οὐκ ἄλλης μὲν ἐπὶ τοῖσι ἰήσιος, τῆς δὲ λοιπῆς διαίτης χρέος, ἔς τε ἀνάληψιν τῆς ἕξιος, καὶ ἐς κάθαρσιν ἀκριβέα τοῦ πάθεος, καὶ ἰσχὺν τῆς δυνάμιος, ὡς μὴ παλινδρομέωσι αἱ νοῦσοι·

[¶6] But if the disease, having yielded a little to these means, should be seen relapsing, there will be need of greater remedies. Let there, then, be no procrastination of time, but if the disease appear after suppression of the catamenial discharge in women, or the hemorrhoidal flux in men, we must stimulate the parts to throw off their accustomed evacuation. But if it is delayed and does not come, the blood having taken another direction, and if the disease progress rapidly, we must make evacuations, beginning from the ankles. And if you cannot get away from this place so much blood as you require, you must also open the vein at the elbow. And after pursuing the restorative process for three or four days, we are to give the purgative medicine, the hiera. Then we are to apply the cupping-instrument to the middle parts of the body, bringing it near to the liver, and do those things which speedily prove effectual; for melancholy does not yield to small remedies, and, if long continued, it remains fixed in a spot. And if the disease lodge in all parts of the body,—in the senses, the understanding, the blood, and the bile,—and if it seize on the nerves, and turn to an incurable condition, it engenders in the system a progeny of other diseases,—spasms, mania, paralysis. And if they arise from melancholy, the newly-formed diseases are incurable. Wherefore we are to use hellebore for the cure of the ailment. But before the administration of the hellebore, we must train the stomach to vomiting, attenuate the humours, and render the whole system freely perspirable; emetics will accomplish these things sometimes those which are given with an empty stomach, and sometimes those which consist of radishes. I will describe the mode and materials of it; and I will also describe the species of hellebore and the modes of using it; and how we ought to judge of everything beforehand, and how to render assistance during the operation of the emetics. It cannot be doubted that by these means the disease has either been entirely removed or had intervals of several years. For generally melancholy is again engendered. But if it be firmly established, we are no longer to hesitate, but must have recourse to everything relating to the hellebore. It is impossible, indeed, to make all the sick well, for a physician would thus be superior to a god; but the physician can produce respite from pain, intervals in diseases, and render them latent. In such cases, the physician can either decline and deny his assistance, alleging as an excuse the incurable nature of the disease, or continue to the last to render his services. The hiera from aloe is to be given again and again; for this is the important medicine in melancholy, being the remedy for the stomach, the liver, and the purging of bile. But experience has proved, that the seed of mallow, to the amount of a dram, when taken in a drink with water answers excellently. But there are many other simple medicines which are useful, some in one case, and some in another.

> Greek: φράσω δὲ αὖθις τὴν ἐν τῇ ἀναλήψι βιοτήν. ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖσδε σμικρόν τι ὑποπτώξασα ἡ νοῦσος παλίνορσος ὀφθῇ, μεζόνων ἀκέων χρέος. μὴ ὦν ἀμβολὴ χρόνου γιγνέσθω· ἀλλʼ ἢν ἐπὶ σχέσι γυναικὸς καταμηνίων, ἢ ἀνδρὸς αἱμορροΐδων Ῥόου, ἡ νοῦσος παρῇ, ἐρεθίζειν τὰ χωρία, προχέειν τι τοῦ ξυνήθεος· ἢν δὲ μέλλῃ καὶ μὴ ἥκῃ, ἄλλῃ πη τοῦ αἵματος μεταρρυέντος, ἐπισπέρχῃ δὲ ἡ νοῦσος, κενώσιας ποιέεσθαι αὐτῷ, ἡγεόμενον ἀπὸ τῶν σφυρῶν. κἢν μὴ ἐς ὅσον χρὴ ἐντεῦθεν ἀφέλῃς, καὶ τὴν ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι τάμνειν φλέβα. μεσηγὺ δὲ τριῶν ἢ τεσσάρων ἡμερῶν ἀναθρέψ ιος τὴν ἱερὴν τὸ καθαρτήριον φάρμακον πιπίσκειν· ἔπειτα σικύην τοῖσι μέσοισι προσβάλλειν, τῷ ἥπατι ἐγχρίμπτοντα, πρήσσειν τε τὰ ἔργα ᾗ τάχος ἀνύοντα. σμικροῖσι μὲν γὰρ ἄκεσι οὐ πείθεται. κἢν ἐς τὰ μεγάλα δηθύνῃ, ἐν ἕδρῃ ἵζει ἡ μελαγχολίη· καὶ ἢν πάντη τοῦ σώματος ἐνοικήσῃ, αἰσθήσεσι, γνώμῃ, αἵματι, χολῇ, λάβηται δὲ καὶ νεύρων, αὐτή τε ἐς ἀνήκεστον τρέπεται, ἐντίκτει τε τῷ σκήνεϊ ἑτέρων νοσημάτων τόκους, σπασμοῦ, μανίης, παραλύσιος· κἢν ἐκ μελαγχολίης τάδε γίγνηται, τὰ ἐπιγιγνόμενα ἀνήκεστα. ἐλλεβόρῳ ὦν χρέεσθαι ἐς ἴησιν τοῦ κακοῦ. ἐπίπροσθεν δὲ τοῦ ἐλλεβόρου χρὴ τόν τε στόμαχον μελετῆσαι ἐξεμέειν, καὶ τὰ ὑγρὰ λεπτῦναι, καὶ τὸ σκῆνος εὔροον ποιέειν· ἔμετοι δὲ τάδε πρήσσουσι, ἄλλοτε μὲν οἱ νήστιες, ἄλλοτε δὲ Ῥαφανῖδες. φράσω δὲ τόν τε τρόπον καὶ τὴν ὕλην· φράσω δὲ καὶ τοῦ ἐλλεβόρου τὰ εἴδεα, καὶ τῆς χρήσιος τοῦς τρόπους, καὶ ὅκως προευκρινῆσαι ἕκαστον χρὴ, καὶ ὅκως ἐν τοῖσι ἐμέτοισι ἀρήγειν. ἄπιστον, ἐπὶ τοῖσδε εἰ μὴ ἐλύθη ἐς τὸ πάμπαν ἡ νοῦσος, ἢ πολλῶν ἐτέων ἔσχε διαλείψιας. τὰ πολλὰ γὰρ τοῦδε ἀπότοκοι μελαγχολίαι· ἢν δὲ ἔμπεδος δε, μὴ ἤδη περιμένειν. χρὴ ὦν τὰ ἐς τὸν ἐλλέβορον ἅπαντα πρήσσειν. ὑγιέας μὲν ὦν ἅπαντας ποιέειν ἀδύνατον τοὺς νοσέοντας· ᾖ γὰρ ἂν ἰητρὸς κρέσσων θεοῦ. ἀπονίην δὲ καὶ διαλείψιας καὶ νούσων ἐπικρύψιας, δρῆν θέμις ἰητρόν. ἢ ὦν ἀπαυδῆν ἐπὶ τοῖσδε καὶ ἀπαρνεῖσθαι, προϊσχομένους τὸ ἄναλθες, ἢ καὶ ἐς τέλος τοῖσι ἔργοισι ὁμιλέειν· διδόναι δὲ καὶ τῆς ἱερῆς τῆς διʼ ἀλόης ἄλλοτε καὶ ἄλλοτε· καίριον γὰρ φάρμακον τῆς μελαγχολίης τόδε, στομάχου, καὶ ἥπατος, καὶ χολῆς καθάρσιος ἄκος ἐόν· ἀτὰρ καὶ μαλάχης σπέρματος, ὁκόσον ὁλκῆς δραχμὴν, πιπίσκειν ξὺν ὕδατι, ἄριστον πείρῃ τις ἐπιστώσατο. μυρία δὲ τῶν ἁπλῶν φαρμάκων ἄλλα ἄλλοισι ἔῃ χρηστά. ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖσι πόνοισι τοῖσδε ἐς ἀνάληψιν ἄγειν.

[¶7] After these sufferings, the patient is to be recruited. For, in certain cases, during the time of this treatment, the disease has been removed; but if the patient come to a renewal of his flesh and of his strength, all traces of the disease become eradicated. For the strength of nature produces health, but her weakness, disease. Let the patient, then, proceed to the process of restoration by frequenting the natural hot baths; for the medicinal substances in them are beneficial, such as bitumen, or sulphur, or alum, and many others besides these which are possessed of remedial powers. For, after the parching heat of the disease, and the annoyance of the treatment, dilution is a good thing. Moreover, rare and soft flesh most readily throws off the disease; but in melancholy the flesh is dry and dense. An oily liniment, by gentle friction, with much oil containing............ washed bread, with something sweet, as the Cretan must, and the Scybelitic from Pamphylia, or wine and honey which have been mixed up together for some time. Eggs, both cold and hot, which have been stripped of their shells. Of fleshes, such as are not fatty, and are detergent. Of swine, the feet and the parts about the head. Of fowls, the wings, which are not fatty. Of wild animals, hares, goats, and deer. Of autumnal fruits, whatever is excellent in its kind. When the stomach rejects the food, we must consider beforehand that what is taken be not vomited up. Wherefore, before giving food, we are to administer honeyed-water to the amount of half a cyathus, which, being drunk, is vomited up again for cleansing the stomach. For, in this way, the food remains in the stomach. Medicines which are purgative of the necessary discharges are—the fruit of the pine, of the nettle, and seeds of the coccalus, and pepper; bitter almonds; and let honey give it consistence. But if you wish to dry, the best thing is myrrh, or the root of iris, the medicine from vipers, and that of Vestinus, of Mithridates, and many others. For the epithemes, the materiel of cataplasms, melilot and poppies, and the tear (gum?) of turpentine, and hyssop, and the oil of roses, or of vine-flowers; wax should give consistence to all these. Liniments of oil; gestation, promenades, and whatever promotes the reproduction of flesh, and the strength of the powers, and the restoration of nature to its pristine state of * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .....

> Greek: μετεξετέροισι γὰρ ἐς μὲν τὸν τῆς ἰητρείης καιρὸν ἡ νοῦσος ἐξ ἕδρης δὲ ἐκινήθη· ἢν δὲ ἐς ἀνάπλασιν σαρκῶν καὶ δυνάμιος ὥνθρωπος ἥκῃ, ξυναπηλάθη πάντα τῆς νούσου τὰ ἴχνια. δύναμις μὲν γὰρ φύσιος ὑγείαν τίκτει, ἀσθένεια δὲ νοῦσον. ἀπίτω ὦν ἐς ἀνάληψιν ὁ νοσέων, πεφυκόσι θερμοῖσι ὕδασι ἐνδιαιτώμενος. καὶ γὰρ τὰ ἐν τοῖσδε φάρμακα ὀνηϊστὰ, ἄσφαλτος, ἢ θεῖον, ἢ στυπτηρίη, πολλὸν πλεῦνες τουτέων ἄλλαι δυνάμιες. ἀγαθὸν μὲν γὰρ ὑγρασίη ἐξ αὐχμοῦ τῆς νούσου καὶ ταλαιπωρίῃ τῆς ἰήσιος· ἀραιαὶ δὲ καὶ μαλθακαὶ σάρκες Ῥηϊσταὶ πρὸς ἄφεσιν τοῦ νοσήματος· ξηραὶ δὲ καὶ πυκναὶ τοῖς μελαγχολῶσι αἱ σάρκες. ἄλειμμα λιπαρὸν ἅμα τρίψιος εὐαφοῦς, πολλῷ τῷ λίπαϊ δέχοντα … ἄρτοι πλυτοὶ, ξύν τινι γλυκεῖ, σιραίῳ τῷ Κρητικῷ καὶ σκυβελιτῇ τῷ Παμφύλῳ. ἢ οἶνος καὶ μέλιμίξιος παλαιῆς· ὠῶν, καὶ ψυχροτέρων καὶ θερμῶν, τῶν γυμνῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀστρακώ δεος· κρεῶν, τὰ μὴ πίονα καὶ σμηγματώδεα· συῶν μὲν πόδες, καὶ τὰ τῆς κεφαλῆς, πτηνῶν τὰ πτερὰ ἀπίονα· θηρίων, λαγωῶν, δορκάδων, πτωκός· ὀπώρης, ὁκοῖόν τι ἄριστον ᾖ, ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ στομάχου ἀναφορῇ προμηθέεσθαι πρὸ τῆς τροφῆς, ὅκως μὴ καταποθεὶς ἀνεμῆται. διδόναι ὦν πρὸ πάντων σιτίων μελίκρητον, κυάθου ἥμισυ, καὶ πιόντα ἐξεμέειν ἐς τὴν τοῦ στομάχου κάθαρσιν. ὧδε γάρ σοι ἡ τροφὴ ἑδραίη μένει· φάρμακα δὲ τῶν ἀναγκαίων καθαρτήρια, πίτυος καρπὸς καὶ κνίδης, τῶν σπερμάτων τοῦ κοκκάλου, καὶ πεπέριος, ἀμυγδάλων αἱ πικραὶ, καὶ μέλι ᾖ τῷδε ἡ ξύστασις· ἢν δὲ ξηρῆναι θέλῃς, ἄριστον σμύρνα, καὶ ἴρεως ἡ Ῥίζα, καὶ τὸ διὰ τῶν θηρίων φάρμακον, καὶ ἡ τοῦ Βηστίνου, καὶ Μιθριδάτου, καὶ ἄλλαι μυρίαι· ἐπιθήματα δὲ, ἡ τῶν ἐπιπλασμά των ὕλη, μελίλωτον, καὶ μήκωνες, καὶ τερμίνθου δάκρυον, καὶ ὕσσωπον, καὶ λίπας τὸ ἀπὸ Ῥόδων, ἢ τῆς οἰνάνθης. κηρὸς δὲ τουτέων πάντων πάγος. ἄλειμμα λιπαρόν· αἰῶραι· περίπατοι· ἄλλʼ ὅσα σαρκῶν τε ἀνάπλασιν ποιέεται καὶ δυνάμιος ἰσχὺν, καὶ τῆς φύσιος ἐς τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἀποκατάστασιν. … … … ὅκως ἐν νηϊ καὶ γαλήνῃ.

[¶8] 6. as in a ship and in a calm. And if the patient have it fortunately at his command, gestation and living on the sea will be beneficial. For the sea-water contributes something desiccant to the ulcers. After the gestation, having rested, the patient is now to be anointed with fat oil. After the frictions........... from a small dose gradually up to five or six heminæ, or even much more; or if not, as much as one can, for often this alone sufficeth in place of all food. For milk is pleasant to take, is easy to drink, gives solid nourishment, and is more familiar than any other food to one from a child. In colour it is pleasant to see: as a medicine it seems to lubricate the windpipe, to clean, as if with a feather, the bronchi, and to bring off phlegm, improve the breathing, and facilitate the discharges downwards. To ulcers it is a sweet medicine, and milder than anything else. If one, then, will only drink plenty of this, he will not stand in need of anything else. For it is a good thing that, in a disease, milk should prove both food and medicine. And, indeed, the races of men called Galactophagi use no food from grain. But yet it is a very good thing to use porridge, pastry, washed groats of spelt (alica), and the other edibles prepared with milk. And if other food is required, let it be of the same nature, as the juice of ptisan, well-concocted and plain; but it is to be so seasoned as that it may become easy to swallow; or if anything be added as a seasoner, let it be something medicinal, as the hair (capillary leaves?) of lovage, penny-royal, mint, and a little of salts, vinegar, or honey. If the stomach suffer from dyspepsia, this is to be given; but if there be no such necessity, ptisan is of all things the best. One may also change the ptisan for alica, for this is less flatulent, and of easier digestion, and becomes detergent if, when used in the ptisan, the grain be bruised. When the sputa are unusually fluid, the bean cleanses the ulcers, but is flatulent. The pea and the pisum ochrys, in so far as they are less flatulent, are in the same degree inferior as cleansers of the ulcers. Forming a judgment, then, from present symptoms, select accordingly. Their condiments are to be such as described respecting the ptisan. Eggs from the fire, in a liquid state, but hot; they are best when newly laid, before the * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...

> Greek: 6. καὶ γὰρ, εἰ εὐτυχοίη ὁ νοσέων, ἐν θαλάσσῃ γίγνοιτʼ ἂν αἰώρη καὶ βιοτή. καὶ γάρ τι ξηρὸν ἐς τὰ ἕλκεα ξυνδίδωσι ἅλμη· ἀπὸ δὲ τῆς αἰώρης ἐφησυχάσαν τα χρίεσθαι νῦν λιπαρῷλίπαϊ, ἐπὶ τῇσι τρίψεσι ἐξεχὲς καταιον ούμ ενον … ἀπʼ ὀλίγου ἐκ προσαγωγῆς, ἐς κοτύλας πέντε, ἢ ἓξ, ἢ πολλόν τι πλεῖον· ἢν δὲ μὴ, ὁκόσον τις δύνηται· πολλάκι γὰρ τόδε μοῦνον ἀντὶ πάσης τροφῆς ἤρκεσε· γάλα δὲ ἡδὺ μὲν προσάρασθαι· πιεῖν δὲ Ῥήϊστον, στερεὸν θρέψαι, καὶ τροφῆς ἁπάσης ἐκ παιδὸς ξυνηθέστερον· ἰδεῖν δὲ τερπνὸν τῇ χροιῇ· φάρμακον δὲ ἀρτηρίῃ ἄκερχνον, διαπτερῶσαι βρόγχον, ἄγειν φλέγμα, εὔπνοον, ὀλισθηρὸν δὲ τὴν κάτω διέξοδον· ἕλκεσι δὲ φάρμακον γλυκὺ καὶ ἄλλου παντὸς εὐμενές τερον. ἢν μὲν ὦν τις πολλὸν τοῦδε πίνῃ, οὐδεμίης τροφῆς ἄλλης χρέος. ἀγαθὸν γὰρ ἐν νούσῳ ἔνι φάρμακον γάλα τωὐτὸν γίγνεσθαι καὶ τροφήν. καὶ γὰρ ἀνθρώπων τῶν γαλακτο φάγων τὰ ἔθνεα σῖτον οὐκ ἔδει· ἄριστον δὲ ξὺν γάλακτι, καὶ πολτοὶ, καὶ ἰτρία, καὶ χόνδροι πλυτοὶ, καὶ ὁκόσα ἐδεστὰ ἐκ γάλακτος γίγνεται. καὶ τροφῆς ἢν ἑτέρης δέῃ, ἔστω ὁμοίη, πτισάνης ὁ χυλὸς, εὔπεπτος, λιτή· χρὴ δὲ τοσόνδε ἡδύνθαι, ὁκόσον Ῥυμφάνεσθαί ἐστι Ῥηΐστη· ἢν καὶ τῶν ἐς ἡδονήν τι λαμβάνῃ, καὶ τόδε ἔστω φάρμακον, λιγυστι κοῦ κόμην, γλήχωνα, ἡδύοσμον, ἁλῶν βραχὺ, ὄξος, ἢ μέλι. ἢν μὲν στόμαχος ἀπεπτέῃ, τόδε παρέχειν· ἢν δὲ μηδὲν ὅδε προσαναγκάζῃ, πάντων ἐστὶ πτισάνη κρέσσων· ἔξεστι δὲ τὴν πτισάνην ἐς χόνδρον ἀλλάξαι· ἀφυσότερος γὰρ, καὶ εὐπεπτότερος καὶ σμηγματώδης ἢν ὡς πτισάνη πτίσθῃ. ἐν τῇσι ὑγροτέρῃσι ἀναγωγῇσι κύαμος καθαίρει ἕλκεα, ἀλλʼ ἔστι φυσώδης. πισὸς καὶ ὦχρος, ὁκόσον ἀφυσότερα, τοσόνδε ἑλκέων ἀκαθαρτότερα. ξυντεκμαιρόμενον ὦν πρὸς τὰ παρέοντα, τοῖσδε χρῆσθαι· ὄψα δὲ αὐτέων, ἅσσα καὶ ἐπὶ πτισάνῃ λέλεκται· ὠὰ δὲ ἐκ πυρὸς μὲν ὑδαρέα, θερμά· ἄριστον δὲ ἐκ ζῴων ἀρτίτοκα, πρὶν τὴν … … ἥπατι ἕλκος ἔοι ὀλέθριον.

[¶9] 7. in the liver the ulcer may be dangerous. But the most troublesome is a defluxion of pus on the stomach, when it makes the stomach its route in the course of being distributed upwards. For the food is the cause of life, but the stomach is the leader in the process of nutrition, and it also sometimes conveys medicines to the internal parts. If, then, in addition to all the other evils, a difficulty of deglutition come on, the patient must speedily die of disease and famine. But the indications by which it is discovered in what direction the pus will be diverted are diversified. If it pass by the intestines, there are tormina, watery discharges from the bowels, phlegm, and bile; then clots of blood floating in a fluid, or a thin discharge like the washings of raw flesh. But, if it pass by the bladder, there is a weight in the kidneys and loins; at first, therefore, the evacuations are copious, and tinged with bile; then turbid, which do not deposit their sediment, nor get settled. In all cases the sediment should become white. But if it be determined upwards to the stomach, nausea, loss of appetite, vomitings of phlegm or of bile, deliquium, and vertigo supervene, until it burst. This, then, is to be especially avoided, as being a bad course. But if the defluxion of pus be more violent, we must take every means, assisting the stomach by food, and medicines, and regimen, all in a mild way. We must administer the medicines for bursting the abscess; give to drink of the herb hyssop with honeyed-water, and the juice of the hair of horehound, and this with honeyed-water and the juice of the wormwood. These things must be given before food to dilute the fluids, to lubricate the parts, and facilitate the rupture of the abscesses. We are also to give the milk of an ass, which is soft, not bilious, nutritious, does not admit of being made into cheese, which is the perfection of milk. We should gratify the patient in regard to food and drink. And we are even to give things inferior to other more beneficial articles (for we thereby afford a passage to the fluid which occasions nausea and loathing of food, and many are hurt by the transit of the pus), lest they should come to loathe their food. And if they should take anything, they readily vomit. It is necessary, also, in the other defluxions, to have especial care of the stomach, for it is the passage to all sorts of medicine. It is necessary to keep in mind the liver, which is the root of the ulcerations. But if the defluxion be to the bladder, we are to promote it by diuretics, as the root of asarabacca, valerian, maiden-hair, spignel, in drinks; for these things are to be given to drink in honeyed-water. The compound medicine of Vestinus is also very good, and that from alkekengi, and such others as from trial have acquired reputation. But if you determine to draw off the discharge by the bowels, you can do this with milk, especially that of the ass, or otherwise of the goat or sheep. Give, also, juices of a lubricating nature and detergent, as the juice of ptisan; condiments, as pepper, ginger, and lovage. In a word, with regard to every method of diet in any case of abscess tending to rupture, the food should consist of things having wholesome juices, of savoury things, things of easy digestion, either juices, or the gruels with milk, starch, pastry with milk * * * * * * * * * * * RESOLUTION of scirrhus of the spleen is not easy to accomplish.

> Greek: 7. ἡ χαλεπωτάτη δὲ ἐς τὴν γαστέρα ξύρροια τοῦ πύου, ἢν τὸν στόμαχον ἴσχῃ ὁδὸν ἐς τὴν ἄνω φορήν. τροφὴ γὰρ αἰτίη τοῦ ζῆν· τροφῆς δὲ ἡγεμὼν ὁ στόμαχος· ποτὶ καὶ τὰ φάρμακα ὅδε τοῖσι εἴσω διαφέρει. ἢν ὦν πρὸς ἅπαντα μὲν ὄκνος καταπόσιος ἔλθῃ, θᾶσσον ἐκθανεῖν ἀνάγκη νόσῳ τε καὶ λιμῷ. γνώματα δὲ ἑκάστου χώρου, ὅπη τὸ πῦον τρέψεται, ἕτερα καὶ ἕτερα. ἤν τε διʼ ἐντέρων ἥκῃ, στρόφοι, γαστὴρ ὑγρὴ, φλέγματα καὶ χολὴ, ἔπειτα ξὺν περιρροῇ αἱμάλωψ, ἢ περίπλυσις ὁκοίη κρεῶν ὠμῶν· ἢν δὲ ἐς κύστιν ἔῃ, βάρος ἐν νεφροῖσι καὶ ὀσφύϊ. τὰ μὲν ὦν πρῶτα πολλὰ καὶ χολοβαφέα· ἔπειτα θολερὰ, ἀνυπόστατα καὶ ἀκατάστατα· ἐπὶ πᾶσι δὲ καὶ ἡ ὑπόστασις λευκὴ παρείη. ἢν δὲ ἐς στόμαχον ἄνω Ῥέπῃ, ναυτίη, ἀποσιτίη, ἔμετοι φλέγματος, ἢ χολῆς, λειποθυμίη, σκοτοδινίη, μέσφι ξυρραγῇ. μάλιστα μὲν ὦν ἀποτρέπειν τήνδε· πονηρὴ γὰρ ἡ ὁδός. ἢν δὲ τὸ πῦον βιαιότερον Ῥεύσῃ, χρὴ πάντα ποιέειν καὶ τῷ στομάχῳ ἀρήγειν καὶ τροφῇσι, καὶ φαρμάκοισι, καὶ διαίταις, πάντα μειλίχως. φαρμάκοισι ἐς τὴν τοῦ κόλπου Ῥαγήν· βοτάνης τῆς ὑσσώπου ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν, καὶ πρασίου τῆς κόμης, καὶ τῆσδε ξὺν μελικρή τῳ καὶ χυλῷ τῆς ἀψίνθου. τάδε μέντοι πρὸ τῶν σιτίων πίνειν χρεὼν, ὡς λεπτὰ μὲν τὰ ὑγρὰ γίγνηται, εὔροα δὲ τὰ χωρία, εὔρηκτα δὲ τὰ ἔμπυα σώματα. διδόναι καὶ ὄνου γάλα, λεῖον, ἄχολον, εὔτροφον, ἐς τυρὸν ἀσύστατον, ἥπερ ἐστὶ γάλακτος ἀρετή. προστίθει δὲ καὶ χάριτας πόματος καὶ σίτου. κἢν μικρῷ χείρω τῶν ὠφελεύντων ἔωσι, διδόναι, — ἔσται γὰρ διέξοδος ναυτιώδεϊ καὶ ἀτέρπεϊ ὑγρῷ· — μετεξετέρους γὰρ ἡ τοῦ πύου δίοδος βλάψαι. μήπω τι καὶ ἀπόσιτοι ἔσονται· κἤν τι λάβωσι εὐημέες. χρὴ δὲ καὶ ἐπὶ τῇσι ἄλλῃσι ἐκροῇσι παντοίην μελέτην τοῦ στομάχου ποιέεσθαι· ὅδε γὰρ ἡ πάντων φαρμάκων ὁδός· μεμνῆσθαι δὲ καὶ τοῦ ἥπατος χρεὼν, ἔνθα τῶν ἐλκέων ἐστὶ ἡ Ῥίζα. ἢν δὲ ἐς κύστιν ὁρμᾷ, οὐρητικοῖσι ἐξάγειν, ἀσάρου τῆς Ῥίζης, καὶ φοῦ, καὶ ἀδιάντου, καὶ μήου, τῶν ἐμπότων. τάδε μέντοι ξὺν μελικρή τῳ πιπίσκειν· ποικίλον μὲν τὸ Βηστίνου φάρμακον, καὶ τὸ διὰ τῶν φυσαλίδων ἄριστον, ἠδʼ ὁκόσα διὰ πείρης τισὶ ἐπαινέεται. ἢν δὲ διʼ ἐντέρων ἄγῃς, τὸ ἀγωγὸν ἔχεις γάλα, μάλιστα μὲν ὄνου, ἢν δὲ μὴ, αἰγὸς, ἢ μήλων. χυλοὶ δὲ ὀλισθηροὶ καὶ σμηγματώδεες, ὁ τῆς πτισάνης· ὄψα, πέπερι, ζιγγίβερι, λιγυστικόν. ἀθρόον δὲ εἰρῆσθαι ἀμφὶ πάσης διαίτης, ἐπὶ πάσῃ συρρήξι, τροφαὶ μὲν εὔχυμοι, εὐστόμαχοι, εὔπεπτοι· ἢ χυλοὶ, ἢ οἱ διὰ γάλακτος πόλτοι, ἄμυλος, ἰτρία ξὺν γάλακτι. … Σκίρρου τοῦ ἐπὶ σπληνὶ λύσεις οὐ Ῥήϊσται.

[¶10] 8. But if the diseases engendered by it come on, as dropsy and cachexia, the ailment tends to an incurable condition....... the physician to cure the scirrhus; we must try then to avert it when it is coming on, and to remove it when just commencing; and attend to the inflammations, and if the scirrhus be the substitute........ are brought by suppuration..... the abscess. For these, if the inflammation..... we are to use the remedies described by me among the acute diseases. But if, while you are doing everything, the scirrhus remain in an inflammatory state, you must use also the means resembling fire to soften the hardness; lotions of vinegar, oil, and honey; but, instead of wool, use compresses of linen; add to them, in powder, nut-ben sifted; and to the most emollient cataplasms * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * THE affection of diabetes is a species of dropsy, both in cause and in condition, differing only in the place by which the humour runs.

> Greek: 8. ἢν δὲ καὶ ἀπότοκοι τῶνδε νοῦσοι γένωνται, ὕδρωψ ἢ καχεξίη, ὀκέλλει τὸ κακὸν ἐς ἀνήκεστον, … τὸν ἰητρὸν τὸν σκίρρον ἰῆσθαι. χρὴ ὦν ἀποτρέπειν γιγνομένους, καὶ λύειν ἄρτι ἀρχομένους· ἐνίστασθαι δὲ τῇσι φλεγμονῇσι, ἤνπερ οἱ σκίρροι διάδοχον … ἐς διαπνοὴν ἄγωνται … τὴν ἀπόστασιν. τάδε γὰρ φλεγμασίης· ἰητηρίοισι δὲ χρέεσθαι ὁκόσα μοι ἐν τῇσι ὀξείῃσι λέλεκται. ἢν δὲ πάντα σοι πρήσσοντι ἐν φλεγμασίῃ ὁ σκίρρος ἐμμένῃ καὶ πυρὶ ἰκέλοισι χρέο ἐς μάλθαξιν τῆς σκληρίας, τέγξεσι διʼ ὀξέος καὶ ἐλαίου, καὶ μέλιτος· ἀντὶ δὲ εἰρίων πτύγματα ἔστω ἀπὸ λίνου. ἐμπάσσειν ὧδε τῆς μυροβαλάνου σεσησμένης, ἐπιπλάσμασί τε τοῖσι μαλθακωτάτοισι. … ὕδρωπος ἰδέη τὸ διαβήτεω πάθος αἰτίῃ καὶ διαθέσι, χώρῃ δὲ μούνῃ διάφορον, ἔνθα τὸ ὑγρὸν ἐκρέει.

## 3. Book II

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/aretaeus-therapeutics-of-chronic-diseases/3/#p-N

[¶0] 1. For, indeed, in ascites the receptacle is the peritonæum, and it has no outlet, but remains there and accumulates. But in diabetes, the flow of the humour from the affected part and the melting are the same, but the defluxion is determined to the kidneys and bladder; and in dropsical cases this is the outlet when the disease takes a favourable turn; and it is good when it proves a solution of the cause, and not merely a lightening of the burden. In the latter disease the thirst is greater; for the fluid running off dries the body. But the remedies for the stoppage of the melting are the same as those for dropsy. For the thirst there is need of a powerful remedy, for in kind it is the greatest of all sufferings; and when a fluid is drunk, it stimulates the discharge of urine; and sometimes as it flows off it melts and carries away with it the particles of the body. Medicines, then, which cure thirst are required, for the thirst is great with an insatiable desire of drink, so that no amount of fluid would be sufficient to cure the thirst. We must, therefore, by all means strengthen the stomach, which is the fountain of the thirst. When, therefore, you have purged with the hiera, use as epithemes the nard, mastich, dates, and raw quinces; the juice of these with nard and rose-oil is very good for lotions; their pulp, with mastich and dates, form a cataplasm. And the mixture of these with wax and the nard ointment is good; or the juice of acacia and of hypocistis, both for lotions and cataplasms. But the water used as drink is to be boiled with autumn fruit. The food is to be milk, and with it the cereals, starch, groats of spelt (alica), gruels. Astringent wines to give tone to the stomach, and these but little diluted, in order to dissipate and clear away the other humours; for thirst is engendered by saltish things. But wine, which is at the same time astringent and cooling, proves beneficial by inducing a change and good temperament; for to impart strength, sweet wine is like blood, which also it forms. The compound medicines are the same, as that from vipers, the Mithridate, that from autumn fruit, and the others which are useful in dropsy. But the whole regimen and course of life is the same.

> Greek: 1. ἀσκίτῃ μὲν γὰρ δοχεῖον, τὸ περιτόναιον, οὐδʼ ἐκροὴν ἴσχει, ἀλλὰ μίμνον τῇδε πλημμυρεῖ. διαβήτεω δὲ φορὴ μὲν ὑγροῦ ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ πάσχοντος ἡ ωὐτὴ, καὶ σύντηξις· ἐς δὲ νεφροὺς καὶ κύστιν ἡ ξύνδοσις τὰ περὶ ἔξοδον φέρει. ἥδε τοῖσι ὑδεριῶσι ἡ ὁδὸς ἐπιγίγνεται, ἢν ἐς ἀγαθὸν ἡ νοῦσος τρέπηται. ἀγαθὸν δὲ ἡ λύσις τῆς αἰτίης, καὶ μὴ τοῦ ἄχθεος ἐλαφρίη μοῦνον· δίψος δὲ τουτέοισι μέζον, ἐκρέον γὰρ τὸ ὑγρὸν αὐαίνει. ἔστι δὲ τὰ ἄκεα ἐς τὴν ἐπίσχεσιν τῆς ξυντήξιος, τὰ ωὐτὰ τοῖσι ὕδρωψι· ἐς δὲ τὸ δίψος μεγάλης ἰητρείης χρέος, τόδε γὰρ ἐν τῷ εἴδεϊ ἀλγέων πάντων μέζον. καὶ ἢν πίωσί τι ὑγρὸν, πρόκλησις οὐρήσιος. ποτὶ καὶ ἐκθέον τόδε ξυναπάγει τῆκον τὰ ἐν τῷ σκήνεϊ. φαρμάκων ὦν ἀδίψων χρέος· δίψος γὰρ μέγα, ἀκορίῃ ποτοῦ. ποτὸν γὰρ οὐδʼ ὅσον γίγνηται δίψεος ἄκος. πάντη δεῖ τῷ στομάχῳ ἀρήγειν ἔνθα τοῦ δίψεος αἱ πηγαί. ἢν ὦν τῇ ἱερῇ καθαίρῃς, ἐπιθήμασι χρέο, νάρδῳ, μαστίχῃ, φοίνιξι, μήλοισι κυδωνίοισι ὠμοῖσι· τῶνδε ὁ χυλὸς μὲν ξὺν νάρδῳ καὶ Ῥοδίνῳ, ἄριστον ἐς τέγξιν· ἐπίπλασμα δὲ ἡ σάρξ αὐτέων ξὺν μαστίχῃσι καὶ φοίνιξι· ἐν κηρῷ δὲ καὶ νάρδῳ τῷ μύρῳ ἡ τουτέων μῖξις ἀγαθὴ, ἢ οἱ χυλοὶ ἀκακίης τε καὶ ὑποκιστίδος ἔς τε τὰς τέγξιας καὶ ἐς τὰ ἐπιπλάσματα. ἀτὰρ καὶ ὕδωρ τὸ ποτὸν ξὺν τῇσι ὀπώρῃσι ἑψείσθω. τροφαὶ δὲ, καὶ γάλα, καὶ ξὺν τῷδε σιτία, ἄμυλοι, χόνδροι, Ῥοφήματα. οἶνοι στύφοντες ἐς τὸν τοῦ στομάχου τόνον, ἀκρητέστεροι μᾶλλον, ἐς τὴν τῶν ἄλλων χυμῶν ἐξηέρωσίν τε καὶ διάνιψιν· ἁλμώδεσι γὰρ δίψος· οἶνος δὲ, στύφων θʼ ἅμα καὶ ψύχων, μεταβολῇ τε καὶ εὐκρασίῃ χρήσιμος· ἐς δύναμιν δὲ κἢν οἶνος γλυκὺς, ὁκοῖον αἷμα ἔῃ, ἐς τὴν αὐτοῦ γένναν. φάρμακα ποικίλα τὰ ωὐτὰ, ἡ διὰ τῶν θηρίων, ἡ τοῦ Μιθριδάτεω, ἡ διὰ τῶν ὀπωρέων, τά τε ἄλλα ὁκόσα ὕδρωπος ὀνηϊστά. ἀτὰρ καὶ ἡ ξύμπασα δίαιτα καὶ ὁ βίος ωὐτός.

[¶1] 2. WHATEVER relates to inflammation, hemorrhage, and such other affections about the kidneys as quickly prove fatal, has been treated of under the Acute Diseases. But regarding ulceration thereof, and the formation of stones, and the many other affections which accompany old persons until death, I am now especially to treat, mostly in order to effect their cure; but, if not, to show how they may be alleviated. Wherefore, then, it is impossible to eradicate the disposition to form stones. It were easier to render the uterus unfruitful, than to destroy the tendency to engender stones in kidneys wherein it is already formed. We must strive, then, to facilitate the passage of them. If, therefore, the calculi be fixed in a place, I will tell what the remedies are which facilitate their passage; for they are attended with great pain, and sometimes patients die with tormina, volvulus of the colon, and retention of urine; for the kidneys and colon are adjacent to one another. Wherefore if there be a stoppage of the stones, and, along with it, retention of urine and tormina, we are to open the vein at the ankle, on the same side as the kidney affected; for the flow of blood from the kidneys relieves the constriction of the calculi, for inflammation detains them by binding all the parts; and an evacuation of the vessels produces resolution of the inflammation. We are also to bathe the loins where the region of the kidneys is placed. Let the oil which is used either be old, or if recent, let rue be boiled in it. The hair of dill is also diuretic, and rosemary, and marjoram. With these you are to bathe the parts as if with plain water; for mere inunction is a small affair. But you are also to foment with these things, by means of the bladders of cattle filled with the oil of camomile. The materials of the cataplasms along with meal are to be the same. Dry-cupping also has sometimes removed the stoppage of the stones; but in the case of inflammation, it is best to have recourse to scarifications. If, when you have done these things, the calculi still remain fixed, you must place the patient in a bath of oil: for this at once fulfils every indication, it relaxes by its heat, in so far lubricates; while its acrimony stimulates to a desire of making water. These are the means which contribute to the expulsion of calculi. The patient is to take drinks prepared from the roots of certain simple medicines, as valerian, spignel, and asarabacca; and herbs, the prionitis, parsley, and water-parsnip: and of compounds such ointments as contain nard, cassia, myrrh, cinnamon * * * * * * * * * for the cicatrization mustard, and eschars produced by fire, and epithemes as formerly described by me. A regulated diet, unction with oil, sailing and living on the sea,—all these things are remedies for affections of the kidneys. * * * * * * * * FROM the unseemly nature of the affection, and from the danger attending the colliquative wasting, and in consideration of the want of it for the propagation of the species, we must not be slow to stop a flow of semen, as being the cause of all sorts of evil.

> Greek: 2. ἀμφὶ μὲν φλεγμασίης, καὶ αἱμορραγίης, καὶ ὁκόσα ὀξέως ἀπὸ νεφρῶν κτείνει, ἐν τοῖσι ὀξέσι γεγράφαται· ἀμφὶ δὲ ἑλκώσιο ς, ἠδὲ λίθων γενέσιος, ὁκόσα τὰ πολλὰ ξυναποθνήσκει πρεσβύτῃσι, μάλιστα νῦν γράφω· ἄγχιστα μὲν ἐς ἄκεσιν· εἰ δὲ μὴ, οἷσι ὅγε παρηγορήσεται. λίθων μὲν ὦν εὐφυῆ γένναν ἐς ἄγονον τρέψαι, ἀδύνατον. Ῥηΐτερον μὲν γὰρ μήτρην ἄτοκον θέμεναι, ἢ νεφροὺς λιθιῶντας ἀλίθους. ἐς διέξοδον ὅκως ἀρηγειν χρή· ἢν ὦν ἐν ἕδρῃ ἵζωσι οἱ λίθοι, τὰ ἄκεα φράσω. κάρτα γὰρ ὀδυνέονται, ποτὶ καὶ ἐξέθανον στρόφοισι καὶ εἰλέῳ κώλου καὶ ἰσχουρίῃ. ξυναφέα γὰρ ἀλλήλοισι νεφροί τε καὶ κῶλον. ἢν γὰρ λίθων ἐντάσιες ἔωσι, ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖσι ἰσχουρίη τε καὶ στρόφοι, τὴν ἐπὶ τῷ σφυρῷ τάμνειν φλέβα τῷ κατʼ ἴξιν τοῦ νεφροῦ. αἱ γὰρ τοῦ αἵματος ἀπὸ νεφρῶν ἔκροιαι ἀνιᾶσι τῶν λίθων τὰς σφίγξιας. φλεγμονὴ γὰρ δήσασα ἴσχει τὰ πάντα· φλεγμον ῆς δὲ κενεαγγείη λύσις· τέγγειν τε τὰς ψύας ἔνθα τῶν νεφρῶν ἡ χώρη· λίπας δὲ παλαιὸν, ἢ τὸ νέον, Ῥύτην ἰσχέτω· οὐρητικὸν δὲ καὶ ἀνήθου ἡ κόμη καὶ λιβανωτὶς, ἢ σάμψυχον. τοῖσδε χρὴ, ὅκως ὕδατι, καταιον εῖν· σμικρὸν γὰρ αἱ χρίσιες. ἀτὰρ καὶ τοῖσδε πυριῆν, βοείῃσι κύστεσι ἐγχέοντα ἔλαιον ἀνθέμιδος. ἐπιπλασμάτων νῦν ὕλη ξὺν τοῖσι ἀλήτοισι ἡ ωὐτή. ἔλυσε καὶ σικύη κούφη κοτὲ τῶν λίθων τὴν ἔνστασιν· ἄριστον δὲ κἢν ἐπὶ φλεγμασίης σχάσῃς. ἢν δὲ τάδε σοι ποιέοντι ἔτι μίμνωσι οἱ λίθοι, ἐς ἔλαιον τὸν ἄνθρωπον καθιέναι. τόδε γάρ τοι ἅμα πάντα ποιέει· ἀλέῃ μὲν χαλᾷ, πῆ δὲ ἐκγλισχραίνει· τὸ δριμὺ δὲ ἐς προθυμίην δάκνει. τάδε μέντοι ἔξοδα λίθων καὶ σφῶν προκλήσιες· πίνειν δὲ φαρμάκων τῶν ἁπλῶν μὲν Ῥίζας, φοῦ, μῆον, ἄσαρον· βοτάνας δὲ, τὴν πριονίτην, ἢ πετρόσελινον, ἢ σίον· ποικίλων δὲ, μύρα μὲν ὁκόσα ἴσχει νάρδον, κασίην, σμύρναν, κιννάμωμον. ἀπουλώσε ι σίνηπι, καὶ ἐκ πυρὸς ἐσχάραι, καὶ ἐπιθήματα ἃ πρόσθεν μοι λέλεκται· δίαιτα δὲ καὶ ἄλειψις, καὶ πλοῦς, καὶ ἡ ἐν θαλάσσῃ βιοτὴ, ἅπαντα τοῖσι ἐπὶ νεφρῶν ἐστι ἄκεα.

[¶2] 3. In the first place, therefore, we are to treat it like a common defluxion, by astringents applied to the parts about the bladder and the seat of the flux, and with refrigerants to the loins, groin, genital parts, and testicles, so that the semen may not flow copiously; and then again, apply calefacients to the whole system, so as to dry up the passages; this is to be done by styptics and lotions; wool then from the sheep with its sordes, and for oil, the rose ointment, or that from vine flowers, with a light-coloured and fragrant wine; but, gradually warming, by means of common oil, and melilot boiled with it, and marjoram, and rosemary or flea-bane; and a very excellent thing is the hair of dill, and still more, the rue. Use these for the cataplasms, with the meal of barley and vetches, and of hedge-mustard seed, and natron; but honey is to be added, so as to make all combine and mix together. Such also are the cataplasms which redden, and raise pustules, and thereby produce derivation of the flux, and warm the parts. Such is the Green plaster, and that from the fruit of the bay. Frequent draughts too are to be given, prepared from castor and winter cherry, to the amount of one dram, and the decoction of mint; of compounds, that from the two peppers, that of Symphon, that of Philo, the liquid medicine from the wild creature the skink, that of Vestinus, that from the reptiles the vipers. Every attention is to be paid to diet, and he is to be permitted and encouraged to take gymnastics, promenades, and gestation; for these things impart warmth to the constitution, which is needed in this affection. And if the patient be temperate as to venereal matters, and take the cold bath, it may be hoped that he will quickly acquire his virility.

> Greek: 3. καὶ τοῦ ἀτερπέος τοῦ πάθεος εἵνεκεν, καὶ τοῦ κατὰ σύντηξιν κινδυνώδεος, καὶ τῆς ἐς διάδεξιν γένεος χρείης, λύειν χρὴ μὴ βραδέως τὴν γονόρροιαν, πάντων κακῶν οὖσαν αἰτίην. πρώτιστα μὲν ὦν ὅκως Ῥεῦμα κοινὸν ἰῆσθαι· στύψεσι τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν κύστιν καὶ τὴν Ῥοὴν χωρίων· καὶ ἐμψύξεσι ψυῶν, λαγόνος, αἰδοίων, διδύμων, ὅκως μὴ Ῥέῃ ἐς πολλὸν ἡ γονή· εἶτα αὖθις ἀλεῇναι τὸ πᾶν, ἐς τὸ τὰς ἀφόδους ξηραίνειν. στύψεσι μὲν ὦν καὶ τέγξεσι· ἔριον μὲν τὸ ἀπὸ τῆς ὄϊος ξὺν τοῖς λύμασι. λίπας δὲ τὸ Ῥόδινον μύρον, ἢ τὸ διὰ τῆς οἰνάνθης, ξὺν οἴνῳ λευκῷ, εὐώδεϊ. ἐκ προσαγωγ ῆς δε ἀλεαίνοντα λίπας τὸ καινὸν, καὶ μελίλωτ ον ἐκζεσθὲν σὺν αὐτῷ, καὶ σάμψυχον, καὶ λιβανωτὶς, ἢ κόνυζα. ἄριστον καὶ ἀνήθου κόμη, καὶ ἔτι μᾶλλον ἡ Ῥυτή. τοῖσδε ἐς τὰ ἐπιπλάσματα χρέο, κριθῶν καὶ ὀρόβων ἀλήτοισι, καὶ ἐρυσίμου τοῦ σπέρματος καὶ νίτρῳ· μέλι δὲ ἐς τὴν ἁπάντων ξύμπνοιαν καὶ ξυνάφειαν. τοιάδε καὶ ἐπιπλάσμα τα ὁκόσα φοινίσσει, καὶ ἰόνθους ἐγείρει καὶ τὸ Ῥεῦμα παροχετεύει, καὶ ἀλεαίνει τὰ χωρία· τοιόνδε τὸ χλωρὸν ἐπίπλασμα, καὶ τὸ διὰ τοῦ καρποῦ τῆς δάφνης. πιπίσκειν δὲ καὶ τοῦ κάστορος συχνὸν, καὶ τῆς Ῥίζης τοῦ ἁλικακκ άβου ὁκόσον δραχμὴν ὁλκῆς, καὶ τῆς ἡδυόσμου τὸ ἕψημα· ποικίλων δὲ, τὸ διὰ τῶν δύο πεπερέων, ἡ Σύμφωνος, ἡ Φίλωνος· ἄριστον καὶ τὸ διὰ τοῦ σκίγκου τοῦ θηρίου φάρμακον ποτὸν, καὶ ἡ τοῦ Βηστίνου, καὶ ἡ διὰ τῶν ἐχιδνῶν τῶν ἑρπετῶν. τὸ ξύμπαν δὲ διαίτῃ διδόναι· ἐπιτρέπειν τε καὶ πιστεύειν χρὴ καὶ γυμνασίοις, καὶ περιπάτοισι καὶ αἰώρῃσι. τάδε γὰρ τὴν ἕξιν ἐς θερμασίην τρέπει, ὅπερ ἐστὶ τῷ πάθεϊ χρέος· εἰ δὲ καὶ σώφρων ἔοι ἐπὶ τοῖσι ἀφροδισίοισι, καὶ λούοιτο ψυχρῷ, ἐλπὶς ὡς ὤκιστα ἀνδρωθῆναι τὸν ἄνθρωπον.

[¶3] 4. IN the other affections, after the treatment, the diet contributes to the strength and force of the body, by good digestion; but in stomachics alone it is at fault. How it should be, I will now declare. For gestation, promenades, gymnastics, the exercise of the voice, and food of easy digestion, are sufficient to counteract the vitiated appetite of the stomach; but it is impossible that these things could remove protracted indigestion, and convert the emaciated condition of the body to embonpoint. But in these cases, much more than usual, the patients should be indulged, and everything done towards them liberally, the physician gratifying their appetites whenever the objects of them are not very prejudicial; for this is the best course, provided they have no desire of those things which would do them much good. Medicines are to be given in the liquid form—decoctions, as of wormwood; and nard ointment and the Theriac, and the fruit of stone-parsley, and of ginger, and of pepper, and of hartwort; these things are of a digestive nature. And an epitheme is to be applied to the breast for the purpose of astringency, containing nard, mastich, aloe, the acacias, and the juice of quinces, and the pulps of the apples bruised with dates, so as to form an astringent epitheme. Also such other things as have been enumerated by me under diabetes, for the cure of the thirst. For the same causes produce thirst in them, and yet in stomachics the tone of the stomach is not inclined to thirst.

> Greek: 4. Ἡ ἐν τοῖσι ἄλλοισι πάθεσι μετὰ τὴν θεραπείην δίαιτα ἐς ἰσχὺν καὶ κράτος τοῦ σώματος εὐπεψίῃ ἀγαθή· στομαχικοῖσι δὲ μούνοις ἥδε γίγνεται πλημμελής. ὅκως ὦν αὕτη γίγνοιτο, φράσω. ἱκανὴ γὰρ αἰώρη, περίπατοι, γυμνασίη, φωνασκίη, τροφαὶ ἐς πέψιν ἀγαθαὶ, ἀναμαχέσασθαι τὴν τοῦ στομάχου κακοσιτίην· ἀδύνατον δὲ τάδε καὶ ἀπεψίην λῦσαι μακρὴν, καὶ τὴν σκελετίην τοῦ σκήνεος εὔογκον σάρκα ποιῆσαι· πολλὸν δὲ μέζον ἐπὶ τουτέων ἔστων αἱ τοῖσι κάμνουσι χάριτες, καὶ τὸ καθαρῶς ἅπαν δρᾶν, καὶ τῇσι ἐπιθυμίῃσι ἕπεσθαι τὸν ἰητρὸν, μὴ μεγάλα βλάπτοντα· ἄριστον γὰρ τόδε, ἢν μὴ κάρτα ὠφελεύντων ὄρεξις ἥκῃ. φάρμακα δὲ ποτὰ, χυλοὶ, ἀψίνθιον, καὶ νάρδος τὸ μύρον, καὶ ἡ διὰ τῶν θηρίων, καὶ τοῦ ἐν πέτραις ὁ καρπὸς, καὶ ζιγγιβέριος, καὶ πεπέριος, καὶ σεσέλιος. τάδε πεπτήρια· καὶ κατὰ τοῦ στέρνου ἐς στῦψιν ἐπίθημα, νάρδοι, μαστίχαι, ἀλόαι, ἀκακίαι, καὶ μήλων κυδωνίων ὁ χυλὸς, καὶ αὐταὶ δὲ τῶν μήλων αἱ σάρκες ἀμφιθλασθεῖσαι ξὺν φοίνιξι ἐπίθημα στῦφον. ἀτὰρ καὶ τἄλλα ὁκόσα μοι ἐς διαβήτεω γεγράφαται, ἐς δίψεος ἄκος. τὰ ωὐτὰ γὰρ καὶ τοῖσι δίψος γίγνεται· ὁ δὲ τόνος τοῦ στομάχου ἄδιψον στομαχι κοῖσι.

[¶4] 5. IF the stomach be irretentive of the food, and if it pass through undigested, unchanged and crude, so that nothing ascends into the body, we call such persons cœliacs; being connected with refrigeration of the innate heat which performs digestion, along with atony of the faculty of distribution. In the first place then, the stomach is to be relieved from its sufferings by rest and abstinence from food, for in this way the natural powers are restored. And if there also be a feeling of fulness in the stomach, we are to administer emetics, in the fasting state, with water or honeyed-water; and the abdomen is to be enveloped and bathed, for the purpose of astringency, with unwashed wool from the sheep, with oily things, as the unguentum rosaceum, œnanthemum, and melinum, or what is best, with that from the lentisk, with hypocistis and the unripe grape. But, along with these, cataplasms, hot to the touch, but astringent in powers. And if there be distension or inflammation anywhere about the liver or mouth of the stomach, we are to apply the cupping-instrument, and scarify; and there are cases in which this alone is sufficient. But when, by means of cerates, the wounds have cicatrised and ended in hardness, we are to apply leeches to it, then digestive epithemes, such as that from seeds, if you possess the root of the chamæleon. The best thing here is the fruit of the bay, and the Malagma by name the Green, and mine—the Mystery. For these soften, irritate, rouse heat, discuss flatulence of the bowels, of which there is need for the sake of astringency. But likewise mustard, lemnestis, euphorbium, and all such prevent refrigeration indeed, and procure resuscitation of the heat. Such medicines also the patient must drink for astringency. In the first place, there is need.......... the juice of plaintain with water made astringent by myrtles or quinces. The stone of an unripe grape is also a very good thing, and wines of a very astringent character. Then the medicines which warm the bowels, namely such potions as are made with ginger, and pepper, and the fruit of the wild parsley which is found among rocks, and the very digestive medicine made from the reptiles the vipers. But if it does not yield at all or slightly to these means, use emetics from radishes; and if you will put into them the root of the white hellebore, for a single night, the purging will thus become very strong, for purging away and removing the cold humours and for kindling up the heat. And likewise the diet and manner of life should be moderate. Sleep by night, by day walks, vociferation, gestation among myrtles, bays, or thyme; for the exhalation and respiration of such things prove a digestive remedy. Gymnastics, friction, chironomy, exercises of the chest and abdomen by throwing the halteres. Propomata; for bread alone contributes little towards strength. After these, rubefacients, walking * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ......

> Greek: 5. ἢν τῶν σιτίων ἀκρατὴς ἡ κοιλίη ἔῃ, διαρρέῃ δὲ ἡ τροφὴ ἄπεπτος, ἄθρεπτος, ὠμὴ, καὶ μηδὲν εἰς τὸν ὄγκον ἀνίῃ, κοιλιακοὺς τούσδε κικλήσκομεν. ψύχεϊ μὲν ἐμφύτου τῆς ἐς πέψιν θερμασίης, ἀτονίῃ δὲ τῆς ἐς ἀνάδοσιν δυνάμιος. χρὴ ὦν τὴν κοιλίην πρώτιστα μὲν πόνων ἀνιέναι ἠρεμίῃ καὶ ἀποσιτίῃ· ὧδε γὰρ παλινδρομέουσι αἱ δυνάμιες. ἢν δὲ καὶ πλήθεος τῶν ἐν τῷ στομάχῳ φαντασίη ἔῃ, νήστεσι ἐμέτοισι χρέεσθαι ἀφʼ ὕδατος, ἢ μελικρή του· τὴν κοιλίην δὲ σκέπειν καὶ τέγγειν ἐς στῦψιν, ἐρίοισι μὲν τοῖς ἐξ ὄϊος πιναροῖσι· λίπαϊ δὲ, Ῥοδίνῳ μύρῳ, ἢ τῷ διὰ τῆς οἰνάνθης, ἢ μηλίνῳ· ἄριστον, κἢν ἀπὸ τοῦ σχίνου, καὶ ὑποκιστίδι, ἢ ὀμφακίῳ· ξὺν τοῖσδε δὲ ἐπιπλάσματα, θερμὰ μὲν ἐς θίξιν, ἐς δύναμιν δὲ στρυφνά· καὶ ἤν πη τοῦ ἥπατος, ἢ τῆς κοιλίης κατὰ στόμα ἐντάσιες, ἢ φλεγμασίαι ἔωσι, σικύην προσβάλλοντα ἐντάμνειν· καὶ ἔστι οἷσι τόδε μοῦνον ἤρκεσε· ἐπὴν δὲ κηρωτῇσι ἐς ὠτειλὴν ἥκῃ τὰ τρώματα, ἠδὲ ἐπὶ σκληρίῃ κραίνῃ, τῇδε βδέλλας τὰ θηρία προσβάλλειν· ἔπειτα ἐπιθήματα πεπτικὰ τιθέναι, ὁκοῖον τὸ διὰ τῶν σπερμάτων, ἢν ἴσχῃ χαμαιλέοντος Ῥίζαν· ἄριστον καὶ ἔνθα οἱ τῆς δάφνης ἔασι καρποὶ, καὶ τὸ μάλαγμα ἐπίκλησιν τὸ χλωρὸν, καὶ τοὐμὸν τὸ μυστήριον. τάδε γὰρ μαλάσσειτε καὶ ἀμύσσει, καὶ θερμασίην ἐγείρει, καὶ ἄφυσα τὰ σπλάγχνα ποιέει, ὧν περ ἐς στῦψιν χρέος. ἀτὰρ καὶ σίνηπι, καὶ λίμνηστις, καὶ εὐφόρβιον, καὶ ὁκόσα τοιάδε πάντα τὴν μὲν ψῦξιν κωλύει, ἀνάκλησιν δὲ θέρμης ποιέεται. τοιάδε χρὴ καὶ πιπίσκειν φάρμακα ἐς στῦψιν. χρέος μὲν πρώτιστα … ὁ τοῦ ἀρνογλώσσου χυλὸς ξὺν ὕδατι ἐστυμμένῳ μύρτοισι, ἢ κυδωνίοισι μήλοισι· ἄριστον καὶ γίγαρτον σταφυλῆς ὀμφακιτίδος· οἶνοι τῶν κάρτα στυφόντων. ἔπειτα δὲ τὰ ἀλθαίνοντα τὴν γαστέρα φάρμακα ποτὰ, ὁκόσα διὰ ζιγγιβέριος καὶ πεπέριος, καὶ σελίνου τοῦ καρποῦ τοῦ ἀγρίου τοῦ ἐν πέτραις, τὸ διὰ τῶν θηρίων τῶν ἐχιδνῶν πεπτικώτατον· ἢν δὲ ἐπὶ τοῖσι μηδὲν, ἢ σμικρὸν ἐνδιδῷ, τοῖσι ἀπὸ Ῥαφανίδων ἐμέτοισι χρέο· ἢν δὲ καὶ ἐγκρύψῃς ταῖσδε ἐλλεβόρου τοῦ λευκοῦ Ῥίζαν ἐς μίην νύκτα, εὐτονωτάτη ἄν σοι γένοιτο ἡ κάθαρσις, ἔς τε τὴν τῶν ὑγρῶν τῶν ψυχρῶν κάθαρσίν τε καὶ ἔκκρισιν, καὶ ἐς τὴν ἔξαψιν τοῦ θερμοῦ. ἀτὰρ καὶ ἡ δίαιτα, καὶ ὁ βίος, τοῖσδε ἔστω ξύμμετρα. οἱ ὕπνοι νύκτωρ μὲν, διʼ ἡμέρης δὲ περίπατοι, ἀναφωνήσιες, αἰώρη, ἥ τε ἐν δάφνῃσι, ἢ μυρρίναισι, ἢ θύμῳ. ἔχει γάρ τι ἡ διαπνοὴ καὶ ἡ ἀναπνοὴ τοιῶνδε φάρμακον πεπτήριον· γυμνάσια, τρίψιες, χειρονοσμίη, ἁλτήρων βολαῖσι τοῦ θώρηκος, καὶ τῆς κοιλίης κόποι· προπόσιες· σμικρότατα γὰρ εἰς τόνον εὐσταλὲς ἄρτος. ἐπὶ τῶνδε φοίνιξις, περίπατοι Ῥαθυ — … … … … σιτίων καὶ Ῥαφανίδων πολλάκις.

[¶5] 6. from food and radishes frequently. Then to have recourse to the hellebore. The diet after these the same as in the other affections, and after the diet, anointing with oil and the cold sea-bath. These in an especial manner are the common remedies in all arthritic diseases, for in gouty cases hellebore is the great remedy, yet only in the first attacks of the affection. But if it has subsisted for a long time already, and also if it appear to have been transmitted from the patient’s forefathers, the disease sticks to him until death. But for the paroxysms in the joints, we are to do this: let unscoured wool from the sheep be applied; bathe with rose-oil and wine; and in certain case sponging with oxycrate has done good. Then as a cataplasm, bread with the cooling parts of gourd and pompion, and simple cucumber, and the herb plantain and rose leaves. And the sideritis mitigates pain, along with bread, also lichen, and the root of comfrey, and the herb cinque-foil, and the species of horehound having narrow leaves: of this the decoction makes a fomentation which allays pain, and it forms a cataplasm with crumbs of bread or barley-meal. And the part of citrons which is not fit for food, is excellent with toasted barley-meal. Dried figs and almonds with some of the flours. These form the materiel for refrigeration; and, indeed, this is sometimes beneficial to one, and sometimes to another. In certain cases calefacients are beneficial, and the same is sometimes useful to another. It is said that the following application is powerfully anodyne; let a goat feed on the herb iris, and when it is filled therewith, having waited until the food it has taken be digested in the stomach, let the goat be slaughtered, and bury the feet in fæces within the belly. The medicines for the disease are innumerable; for the calamity renders the patients themselves expert druggists. But the medicines of the physicians will be described in works devoted to these things.

> Greek: 6. ἔπειτα ἐς τὸν ἐλλέβορον ἄγειν. δίαιτα δὲ ἡ ἐπὶ τοῖσδε ξυνὴ τοῖσι ἄλλοισι πάθεσι· καὶ ἐπὶ τῇ διαίτῃ ἄλειψις, ψυχρολουσίη θαλασσίη· μάλιστα μὲν ὦν ἅπασι ἀρθριτι κοῖσι ξυνὰ ἄκεα· καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοῖσι ποδαγρικοῖσι ἐλλέβορος τὸ μέγα ἄκος, ἀλλὰ ἐν τῇσι πρώτῃσι προσβολῇσι τοῦ πάθεος. ἢν δὲ ἐκ πολλῶν μὲν ἤδη χρόνων ἔῃ, ἀτὰρ καὶ ἐκ διαδέξιος πατέρων φανῇ, ξυναποθνήσκει ἡ νοῦσος. ἐς δὲ τοὺς παροξυσμοὺς τῶν ἄρθρων τάδε χρὴ πρήσσειν. εἰρία μὲν ἔστω ἐξ ὄϊος τὰ οἰσυπώδεα· τέγξιες δὲ διὰ Ῥοδίνου καὶ οἴνου· μετεξετέροισι δὲ καὶ σπογγίη ξὺν ὀξυκρήτῳ ὤνησεν. ἔπειτα ἐπίπλασμα, ἄρτος ξὺν τοῖσι ψύχουσι κολοκύν της, καὶ πέπονος· καὶ σικύη λιτὴ, καὶ ἀρνόγλωσσον ἡ βοτάνη, καὶ Ῥόδων τὰ φύλλα. ἀτὰρ καὶ ἡ σιδηρῖτις ἄπονος ξὺν ἄρτῳ, καὶ βρύον, καὶ συμφύτου Ῥίζα, καὶ πεντάφυλλος ἡ βοτάνη, καὶ πράσιος ἡ τοῖσι φύλλοισι λεπτή. τῆσδε μέντοι τὸ μὲν ἀφέψημα ἐξάντλημα ἄπονον· αὐτὴ δὲ, ἐπίπλασμα, ξὺν ψιξὶ, ἢ κριθῶν ἀλήτῳ· μήλων τε τῶν κιτρίων τὸ ἄβρωτον ξὺν ἀλφίτοισι ἄριστον· σῦκα ξηρὰ, καὶ θάσια ξύν τινι τῶν ἀλήτων. ἥδε μέντοι ψύξιος ἡ ὕλη· καὶ τόδε μέντοι ἄλλοτε ἄλλον ὤνησε καὶ τωὐτὸν ἄλλοτε ἄλλῳ. μετεξετέροισι δὲ τὰ ἀλεαίνοντα ξυμφέρει, καὶ τωὐτὸν ἄλλοτε ἄλλῳ ὠφελέει. λόγος δὲ καὶ τόδε κάρτα ἄπονον ἔμμεναι· αἶγα χρὴ βοτάνης τῆς ἴριδος ἐμφαγεῖν· ἐπὴν δὲ πλησθῇ, διαλείποντα ὁκόσον ἡ νομὴ ἐν τῇ γαστρὶ μαχθείη, καταθῦσαι τὴν αἶγα, ἠδὲ ἐντὸς τῆς γαστρὸς ἐς τὴν κόπρον ἐγκρύψαι τὼ πόδε. φάρμακα δὲ μυρία. καὶ γὰρ τοὺς νοσέοντας ἑωυτῶν φαρμακέας εὐπόρους τίθησι ἡ ξυμφορή· τῶν δὲ ἰητρῶν τὰ φάρμακα ἐν τῇσι γραφῇσι λελέξεται.

[¶6] 7. THE remedies ought to be greater than the diseases, for the relief of them. But what method of cure could be able to overcome such a malady as elephas? For the illness does not attack one part or viscus, nor prevail only internally or externally, but inwardly it possesses the whole person, and outwardly, covers the whole surface—a spectacle unseemly and dreadful to behold! for it is the semblance of the wild animal. And, moreover, there is a danger in living or associating with it no less than with the plague, for the infection is thereby communicated by the respiration. Wherefore what sufficient remedy for it shall we find in medicine? But yet it is proper to apply every medicine and method of diet, — even iron and fire, — and these, indeed, if you apply to a recent disease there is hope of a cure. But if fully developed, and if it has firmly established itself in the inward parts, and, moreover, has attacked the face, the patient is in a hopeless condition. Wherefore we are to open the veins at the elbow, and on both sides; and also those at the ankles, but not the same day, for an interval is better both in order to procure a greater flow of blood, and for the resuscitation of the strength; for it is necessary to evacuate the blood frequently and copiously, as being the nutriment of the disease, but the good portion of it which is the natural nourishment is small. Wherefore while abstracting the vitiated portion, consisting of melted matters, we must form an estimate of the suitable part mixed up with it, until the disease has given way from want of pabulum; for the new part being incorporated with the body, in the course of a long time, obliterates the old. Then we are to give the hiera in a potion not once only, but let everything be done several times after recovery and recurrence. And let the other medicinal purgation by the food be practised; and let the treatment be that which I have described under Ischiatic disease, and let the patient drink undivided milk—and that in great quantity—for opening the bowels. Let it receive the fifth part of water, so that the whole of the milk may pass through. They are quickly to be treated with emetics, at first those given when fasting, next, those after food, then those by radishes. Let all things be done frequently and continuously; administering the hellebore at all seasons, but especially in spring and autumn, giving it every alternate day, and again next year. And if the disease has acquired strength, we must give whatever liquid medicines any one has had experience of; for it is a good thing to administer medicines frequently as a remedy. And I will now describe those with which I am acquainted. Mix one cyathus of cedria and two of brassica, and give. Another: Of the juice of sideritis, of trefoil one cyathus, of wine and honey two cyathi. Another: Of the shavings of an elephant’s tooth one dram with wine, to the amount of two cyathi. But likewise the flesh of the wild reptiles, the vipers, formed into pastils, are taken in a draught. From their heads and tail we must cut off to the extent of four fingers’ breadth, and boil the remainder to the separation of the back-bones; and having formed the flesh into pastils, they are to be cooled in the shade; and these are to be given in a draught in like manner as the squill. The vipers, too, are to be used as a seasoner of food at supper, and are to be prepared as fishes. But if the compound medicine from vipers be at hand, it is to be drunk in preference to all others, for it contains together the virtues of all the others, so to cleanse the body and smooth down its asperities. There are many other medicines...... of the Celts, which are men called Gauls, those alkaline substances made into balls, with which they cleanse their clothes, called soap, with which it is a very excellent thing to cleanse the body in the bath. And purslain and houseleek with vinegar, and also the decoction of the roots of dock with the sulphur vivum proves an excellent detergent. The compound medicine from levigated alcyonium, natron, the burnt lees of wine, alum, sulphur vivum, costus, iris, and pepper, these things are all to be mixed together in each case according to the power, but in proportionate quantities, and this compound is to be sprinkled on the body and rubbed in. For the callous protuberances of the face, we are to rub in the ashes of vine branches, mixed up with the suet of some wild animal, as the lion, the panther, the bear; or if these are not at hand, of the barnacle goose; for like in the unlike, as the ape to man, is most excellent. Also the ammoniac perfume with vinegar and the juice of plantain, or of knot-grass, and hypocistis and lycium. But if the flesh be in a livid state, scarifications are to be previously made for the evacuation of the humours. But if you wish to soothe the parts excoriated by the acrid defluxions, the decoction of fenugreek, or the juice of ptisan, will form an excellent detergent application; also the oil of roses or of lentisk. Continued baths are appropriate for humectating the body, and for dispelling the depraved humours. The food should be pure, wholesome, of easy digestion, and plain; and the regimen every way well adjusted, as regards sleeping, walking, and places of residence. As to exercises, running, tumbling, and the exercise with the leather-bag; all these with well-regulated intensity, but not so as to induce lassitude. Let vociferation also be produced, as being a seasonable exercise of the breath (pneuma). The clothing should be clean, not only to gratify the sight, but because filthy things irritate the skin. While fasting, the patients are to drink the wine of wormwood. Barley-bread is a very excellent thing, and a sausage in due season, and a little of mallows or cabbage half-boiled, with soup of cumin. For supper, the root of parsnip and granulated spelt (alica), with wine and old honey adapted for the mixing; and such marine articles as loosen the bowels—the soups of limpets, oysters, sea-urchins, and such fishes as inhabit rocky places. And of land animals, such as are wild, as the hare and the boar. Of winged animals, all sorts of partridges, wood-pigeons, domestic-pigeons, and the best which every district produces. Of fruits, those of summer; sweet wines are preferable to such as are strong. The natural hot-baths of a sulphureous nature, a protracted residence in the waters, and a sea-voyage. Courses of Hellebore:—White hellebore is purgative of the upper intestines, but the black of the lower; and the white is not only emetic, but of all purgatives the most powerful, not from the quantity and variety of the excretion—for this cholera can accomplish—nor from the retching and violence attending the vomitings, for in this respect sea-sickness is preferable; but from a power and quality of no mean description, by which it restores the sick to health, even with little purging and small retching. But also of all chronic diseases when firmly rooted, if all other remedies fail, this is the only cure. For in power the white hellebore resembles fire; and whatever fire accomplishes by burning, still more does hellebore effect by penetrating internally—out of dyspnœa inducing freedom of breathing; out of paleness, good colour; and out of emaciation, plumpness of flesh.

> Greek: 7. τῶν νούσων μέζονα χρὴ τὰ ἄκεα ἐς λύσιν αὐτέων ἔμμεναι. ἐλέφαντος δὲ τηλίκου κακοῦ τίς ἀξιόνικος γίγνοιτʼ ἂν ἰητρείη; οὐ γὰρ μέρεϊ, ἢ σπλάγχνῳ ἑνὶ, ἢ ἔνδον ἐνσκήπτει μοῦνον, ἢ ἔξω τὸ κακὸν ἕρπει, ἀλλὰ ἔνδοθί τε ὅλῳ τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ ἐνοικέει, καὶ ὅλον ἔξωθεν ἀμπέχει. ἀτερπὲς μὲν καὶ φοβερὸν ἰδεῖν· θηρίου γὰρ ἰδέη· δέος δὲ ξυμβιοῦν τε καὶ ξυνδιαιτᾶσθαι, οὐ μεῖον ἢ λοιμῷ. ἀναπνοῆς γὰρ ἐς μετάδοσιν Ῥηϊδίη βαφή. τί ἂν ὦν εὕροι τις ἐν ἰητρικῇ τοῦδε ἄξιον ἔχον ἄκος; ἀλλὰ γὰρ πάντα χρὴ ξυμφέρειν φάρμακα, καὶ διαίτην, καὶ σίδηρα, καὶ πῦρ· καὶ τάδε κἢν μὲν ἔτι νεοτόκῳ τῷ πάθεϊ προσβάλῃς, ἐλπὶς ἰήσιος· ἢν δὲ ἐς ἀκμὴν ἥκῃ γενέσιος, καὶ ἐν τοῖσι σπλάγχνοισι ἑδραῖον ἵζῃ, ποτὶ καὶ ἐς τὰ πρόσωπα προσβάλλῃ, ἀνέλπιστος ὁ νοσέων. τάμνειν ὦν τὰς ἐπʼ ἀγκῶνι φλέβας· ἄμφω δέ· τάμνειν δὲ καὶ τὰς ἐπὶ σφυροῖσι μὴ αὐτῆμαρ· κρέσσον γὰρ ἡ διάστασις ἔς τε πολλὴν τὴν τοῦ αἵματος Ῥοὴν, καὶ ἐς ἀνάκλησιν τῆς δυνάμιος. χρεὼν γὰρ αἷμα πολλάκις καὶ πολλὸν ἐκχέαι, τοῦ πάθεος τὴν τροφήν. σμικρὸν δὲ ἐν αὐτέῳ τὸ χρηστὸν, τῆς φύσιος ἡ τροφή. ξυντεκμ αίρεσθαι ὦν, ἀφαιρέοντα τὸ πονηρὸν, καὶ ἔντηκτον μεσηγὺ τὸ οἰκεῖον, μέσφι ἂν προαπαυδήσῃ ἀτροφίῃ ἡ νοῦσος. ἡ γὰρ νεαρὴ, ξυμπλακεῖσα τῷ σώματι, χρόνῳ μακρῷ ἠμαύρωσε τὴν παλαιήν· ἔπειτα τὴν ἱερὴν πιπίσκειν μὴ ἐσάπαξ· ἀλλὰ γιγνέσθω πάντα πολλάκις ἐξ ἀναλήψιος καὶ παλινδρομίης. ἔστω καὶ ἡ ἄλλη κάθαρσις φαρμακώδης ἐν σιτίῳ· ἡ ἐπὶ τῷ ἰσχίῳ, ἥν ἔλεξα, ἔστω. ἠδὲ γάλα ἀδιάκρτον — πολλὸν δὲ ἔστω τόδε — ἐς διαχώρησιν πιεῖν. ἐχέτω δὲ μοίρην τὴν πέμπτην ὕδωρ, ὡς πᾶν τὸ γάλα διεκθέειν. ἐς ἐμέτους δὲ θᾶσσον ἄγειν, νήστιας τὸ πρῶτον, ἀπὸ σίτων δʼ αὖθις, ἔπειτα ἀπὸ Ῥαφανίδων· πολλάκις δὲ καὶ ξυνεχέως πάντα γιγνέσθω. ἐς ἐλλέβορον ἄγοντα καιρῷ παντὶ, μᾶλλον δὲ ἔαρος καὶ φθινοπώρου διδόναι, ἡμέραν ἀφʼ ἡμέρας, καὶ αὖθις ἐς νέωτα· κἢν ἡ νοῦσος κρατυνθῇ, φαρμάκων ποτῶν ὁκόσα τις γιγνώσκει πιπίσκειν· ἀγαθὸν γὰρ φαρμακεύειν πολλὸν ἐς ὄνησιν. κἀγὼ δὲ ὁκόσα γιγνώσκω γράφω· κεδρίης κύαθον ἕνα, κράμβης δύο μίσγοντα, διδόναι. ἄλλο· σιδηρίτιδος τοῦ χυλοῦ κύαθος εἶς, τριφυλλίου εἷς, οἴνου καὶ μέλιτος κύαθοι δύο. ἄλλο· ἐλέφαντος τοῦ ὀδόντος Ῥινήματος ὁλκῆς δραχμὴ, ξὺν οἴνῳ Κρητὶ ἐς κυάθους δύο· ἀτὰρ καὶ τῶν ἔχεων τῶν ἑρπετῶν θηρίων αἱ σάρκες, καὶ αἵδε ἐς ἀρτίσκους πεπλασμέναι πίνονται· ἀποτάμνοντα δὲ χρὴ τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ τῆς οὐραίης ἑκάστου, ὁκόσον δακτύλους τέσσαρας, τὸ λοιπὸν ἑψεῖν ἐς διάκρισιν τῶν ἀκανθῶν. τὰς δὲ σάρκας, ἀρτίσκους διαπλάσαντας, ψύχειν ἐν σκιῇ· πιπίσκειν δὲ τούσδε, ὅκως καὶ τὴν σκίλλην· καὶ αὐτοὶ δὲ οἱ ἔχιες ὄψον ἐν δείπνῳ· ὡς ἰχθύας δὲ χρὴ τούτους σκευάσαι· ἢν δὲ τὸ διʼ ἐχιδνῶν, τὸ ποικίλον, παρέῃ φάρμακον, ἀντὶ πάντων πίνειν τόδε· ἴσχει γὰρ πάντα ὁμοῦ· Ῥύπτειν δὲ καὶ τὸ σκῆνος, καὶ τοὺς ὄχθους λεαίνειν. φάρμακα δὲ ἄλλα μυρία … τῶν Κελτέων, οἳ νῦν καλέονται Γάλλοι, τὰς λιτρώδεις τὰς ποιητὰς σφαίρας, ᾗσι Ῥύπτουσι τὰς ὀθόνας, σάπων ἐπίκλην, τῇσι Ῥύπτειν τὸ σκῆνος ἐν λουτρῷ ἄριστον· καὶ ἀνδράχνη καὶ ἀείζωον ξὺν ὄξεϊ, ἀτὰρ καὶ λαπάθου Ῥιζέων ἀφέψημα ξὺν ἀπύρῳ θείῳ Ῥύπτει καλῶς. ποικίλον δὲ, ἁλκυονίου τοῦ λείου, καὶ νίτρου, καὶ τρυγὸς ὄξεος κεκαυμένης, καὶ στυπτηρίης σχιστῆς, καὶ θείου τοῦ ἀπύρου, καὶ κόστου, καὶ ἴριδος, καὶ πεπέριος· τάδε χρὴ πάντα μίσγειν, ἑκάστῳ τὸ πρὸς δύναμιν, ἄλλο δὲ ἄλλῳ ἶσον· καὶ τόδε καταπάσσοντα ἀνατρίβειν. ἐς δὲ τοὺς ὄχθους τοῦ προσώπου, κλημάτων τὴν σποδιὴν ξύν τινι θηρίων στέατι μίσγοντα χρίειν, λέοντος, ἢ παρδάλιος, ἢ ἄρκτου, ἢν δὲ μὴ, χηναλώπεκος. ὅμοιον γὰρ ἐν ἀνομοίῳ, ὅκως πίθηκος ἀνθρώπῳ, ἄριστον· καὶ ἀμμωνιακὸν τὸ θυμίημα ξὺν ὄξεϊ, καὶ ἀρνογλώσσου χυλῷ, ἢ πολυγόνου, καὶ ὑποκιστὶς καὶ λύκιον· ἢν δὲ πελιδναὶ ἔωσι αἱ σάρκες, προεγχαράσσειν ἐκχυλώσιος εἵνεκεν· ἢν δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι δριμέσι Ῥεύμασι ἀναδαρέντα πρηο̈́νειν τὰ μέρεα ἐθέλῃς, τήλιος ἀφέψημα, ἢ πτισάνης χυλὸς, Ῥύμμα μαλθακόν· λιπας δὲ Ῥόδινον, ἢ σχίνινον. λουτρὰ δὲ ξυνεχέα ξύμφορα ἐς ὑγρασμὸν καὶ ἐς διαπνοὴν τῶν κακῶν χυμῶν. τροφὴ δὲ καθαρὴ, εὔχυμος, εὔπεπτος, ἁπλῆ· καὶ δίαιτα εὐκρινὴς πάντη, καὶ ἐν ὕπνοισι, καὶ περιπάτοισι, καὶ χώρῃσι· γυμνάσια, δρόμοι, καὶ ἀνειλήσιες, καὶ κωρυκοβολίαι· ἅπαντα ἀκάματα ξὺν ἐμμελεῖ ἐπιτάσι· ἔστω δὲ καὶ ἀναφώνησις, τοῦ πνεύματος γυμνάσιον τὸ καίριον. ἐσθὴς ἔστω καθαρὴ, οὐχ ὡς ὁρῆσθαι μοῦνον ἥδε, ἀλλʼ ὅτι καὶ τὰ πινόεντα ὀδαξώδεα τῷ δέρματι. πιπίσκειν ἀψινθίου τοῦ οἴνου νήστιας. ἄριστον δὲ ἄρτος ἐκ κριθῶν, καὶ τάριχος ὡραῖος, καὶ σμικρόν τι μαλάχης ἢ κράμβης ἡμίεφθον, ξὺν κυμίνου ἐμβάμματι· ἐς δὲ δεῖπνον, σταφυλίνου ἡ Ῥίζα, καὶ χόνδροι, ξὺν τῷ οἴνῳ καὶ τῷ μέλιτι παλαίῳ τὴν μῖξιν, καὶ τὰ θαλάσσια, ὁκόσα τὴν γαστέρα ὑπολύει, τελλίνων ζωμοὶ, ὄστρεα, ἐχῖνοι καὶ τῶν ἰχθύων οἱ πετραῖοι· χερσαίων δὲ, τὰ θηρία, λαγώς, ἢ σῦς. πετεινῶν, πέρδικες πᾶσαι, φάσσαι, πελειάδες, καὶ ὁκόσα ἡ χώρη ἄριστα ἴσχει. ἀκροδρύων τὰ ὡραῖα· οἶνοι γλυκεῖς οἰνωδέων κρείσσονες. λουτρὰ φύσι θερμὰ, θειώδη· καὶ βίος ἐν ὕδασι μακρὸς, ἠδὲ καὶ θάλασσα, καὶ πλοῦς. Ἐλλεβορισμοί· ἐλλέβορος λευκὸς μὲν τῆς ἄνω κοιλίης κάθαρσις· μέλας δὲ τῆς κάτω· καὶ ἔστιν ὁ λευκὸς οὐκ ἐμετήριον μοῦνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ξυμπάντων ὁμοῦ καθαρτηρίων ὁ δυνατώτατος, οὐ τῷ πλήθεϊ καὶ τῇ ποικιλίῃ τῆς ἐκκρίσιος· τόδε γὰρ καὶ χολέρη πρήσσει· — οὐδʼ ἐντάσεσι καὶ βίῃ τῇσι ἐπὶ τοῖσι ἐμέτοισὶ, — ἐς τόδε γὰρ ναυτίη καὶ θάλασσα κρέσσον· ἀλλὰ δυνάμι καὶ ποιότητι οὔτι φαύλῃ, τῇπερ καὶ ὑγιέας τοὺς κάμνοντας ποιέει, καὶ ἐπʼ ὀλίγῃ τῇ καθάρσι, καὶ ἐπὶ σμικρῇ τῇ ἐντάσι· ἀτὰρ καὶ πάντων τῶν χρονίων νοσημάτων ἐς Ῥίξαν ἱδρυμέν ων, ἢν ἀπαυδήσῃ τὰ λοιπὰ ἄκεα, τόδε μοῦνον ἰητήριο ν. πυρὶ ἴκελον γὰρ ἐς δύναμιν λευκὸς ἐλλέβορος· καὶ ὅ τί περ πῦρ ἐργάζεται ἐκκαῖον, τοῦδε πλέον ἐλλέβορος εἴσω παρεκθέων πρήσσει, εὔπνοιαν μὲν ἐκ δυσπνοίης, ἐξ ἀχροίης δὲ εὐχροίην, καὶ ἀπὸ σκελετίης εὐσαρκίην.