On the Preservation of Health

On Complications and the Relief of Pain

And we have said this much concerning such matters: one must either protect that which is approaching a state of dissolution before it becomes ulcerated, or heal those who have already fallen into such a condition. In specific cases, regarding practical utility, one must no less improvise during complications as the occasion suggests. Most things turn out to be easily managed when we apply dressings usefully at the very beginning; it seems that the mystical The "mystical" here likely refers to hidden or secondary causes that are not immediately apparent to the physician. also contributes somewhat to this. Since those things which provide comfort mostly cease the pains, great foresight must be applied to them, especially since they are requested after this. One must stop the pains; for the desire In this context, "desire" (epithymia) may refer to the body's internal cravings or the intensity of the localized inflammation. will cease and be released. Most cases turn out easily if one looks at the differences and especially at the timing; for this timing would most likely appear to bring about excesses from movement, as is usually the case. Hence, the matter of cleansing purging: the medical practice of clearing the body of excess humors, such as bile or phlegm results in a homecoming for those who introduce such things. From this, the condition regarding the ears is not ignored, nor the fact that the complexion is discovered to be like the former or the latter state. For if the things within it appear bad—like a judgment or an insult to such matters—the majority of things turn toward the more bitter, and for these reasons, they should be cleansed as much as possible.

In this, the conditions regarding the ears fall very much under observation and are not ignored; for the affections of the sides Likely referring to pleurisy or pains in the ribs. are resolved in the sufferings by blood, bile, and purgatives. For example, because of these things, these men discuss matters that are not small; however, they have obtained a portion that is not bad. This is how the matter stands: the very frequent application first releases the flesh and then proves it to be strong. There is also a creeping complication; thus, one should bring these things about with an occasion and with bile. To those beforehand, there is something for which he does not apply treatment toward the affections and the upper parts; and because of this, when it occurs or suffers, bad things are introduced along with it. But one must say those things previously mentioned; for these men hope the most. The migrations Original: "metastaseis" — the movement of a disease or humor from one part of the body to another. occur according to their every root; some are turning, some are carried downward, and some move toward the upper parts. Because of these things, the condition increases as it is judged.

Since we reckon that the leading authorities would be swifter to censure, first from the things before, the amen Original: "amēn." This is highly unusual in a medical text; it may be a scribal error for "umēn" (membrane) or a theological intrusion by the copyist. commands; it seemed to me to flow toward it. By nature, most things do not happen just by themselves, nor would this be the same; for I wrote these things so that the Empiricists The Empiricists were a famous medical sect in antiquity that rejected the search for "hidden causes" and relied solely on clinical observation and experience. might know them, and then trust in their experiences regarding what is encountered, and the things concerning suffering which occurred? to those being nourished. Since labors—both swifter and in accordance with nature—or violent ones must be balanced, one must boil the bile during the day in such a state. Let it be, unless it is toward the sides of the right, or coiled, so that the sides are outside of one, for these too are found; for when the things from above occur, they move from those toward the bottom. These things, then, we have said; in all these matters, those seeking to have? them are honored?. If it is necessary to prescribe underlying things through sensation, or to swim? at all with them... according to the benefit... for the benefit?.

It changes the state of the layperson, even if they have suggested none of these things to us, yet it was most beautiful. From this, the things concerning the eyes are also spoken of; and those toward the things led aside... ...? ...? and the discharges of the affections and the applications. For if reasonably... ...? for just as... ...?
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Those which come as bitter, occurring around the described or recorded parts, provide a sufficient starting point for the suffering. And if inflammations follow, or some other changes of the parts of the body, one must not underestimate anything; I say in many ways that those who see them are themselves negligent in all things.