Problemata (Problems)

When we are thirsty, then, and we bring ourselves cold water, we feel great pleasure; and this occurs as the underlying density of it is ceasing of it? through the mixing with the cold. And just as we do not say that coldness is a relaxant original: "χαλαστικόν" (chalastikon); something that loosens or relaxes the body's pores simply because it produces pleasure in our bodies, so too, we should not consider sleep to be a relaxant just because it happens to provide pleasure.

Pleasure occurs, as we have stated, for the reason already mentioned. Consider also the practice of swinging in a boat aiōra: a therapeutic technique in ancient medicine where a patient was swung in a suspended hammock or boat-shaped cradle to balance the body's humors through gentle motion. This practice is able to disperse the coarser parts original: "παχυμερῶν" (pachymerōn) of the body, yet it compresses the sensory spirit aisthētikōn pneuma: in ancient physiology, this was the "vital breath" or refined substance that traveled through the nerves to facilitate sensation and movement, clouding it and holding it together due to the lack of movement in the other limbs. When this spirit is contracted, it follows that sleep occurs.

And it is not at all surprising if the body is dispersed according to the seasons original: "ὥραις" (hōrais); can refer to hours of the day or seasons of the year; but as we said, the sensory spirit is affected by the cold. For just as hot water, through its mixing m with our bodies, [affects us], while fire poured over something quenches this; so too is the time of mortals—