Medical Compendium: Galen and Hippocrates

Page 19

If that matter is long and bitter, it contains the greatest degree of the irrational original: "παράλογον" (paralogon). In a medical context, this refers to symptoms or conditions that do not follow the expected or "rational" course of a disease.. However, from what occurs there, a connection arises toward the causes within the blood, as they say; it stems from ecstasy original: "ἐκστάσεως" (ekstaseos). Not necessarily a mystical state, but a "displacement" or "being out of one's mind" caused by physiological disturbance. and from the turmoil in the body, becoming even more evident through the vice that has manifested. The melancholic original: "μελαγχολικὸς" (melancholikos). One whose temperament is dominated by "black bile," associated with introspection, sadness, or erratic behavior. person is thus inclined toward the shameful, and it happens that the body is the shameful and body-like part; for the heart—either becoming colder or in whatever state it may be—is seized by the soul along with its form. For the heart itself is properly the fountain of the passions original: "πηγὴ τῶν παθῶν." A central concept in ancient physiology where the heart, rather than the brain, was the seat of emotion and desire. and the source of wasting away. Such movement in righteous men follows the passions of the soul by the power of judgment original: "γνώμης" (gnōmēs). Can refer to the mind, will, or the faculty of forming an opinion.. For indeed, there are extended flows and effusions, and humors and spirits original: "πνεύματα" (pneumata). The vital "breaths" or "gases" that ancient doctors believed circulated through the arteries to sustain life and thought.—all of which, following that power, are the very things considered to be within the sufferings. The passive parts of the soul also bear witness to this. Regarding this, one might say that the states of ecstasy are like certain larger portions of these passions. For those who are insurrectionists and haters of the good use a kind of "blindness" resulting from such a state. One might think, then, that if these things are not even half-dead, they are at least preparing certain plans. For the movement of the blood and the soul is especially present in living things, as these constitute existence. Since the discussion regarding the external wild mass and that which is excessive is more relevant to us, we must not trust that a condition is harmless—certainly not entirely. But if someone should be moved toward us by certain

private

disturbances that are harmless, it is not because of vice or anything much worse. For the composition of the humors original: "χυμῶν σύστασις." The specific balance or mixture of the four bodily fluids—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. consists of melancholic humors and by nature, of which there are certain principles, including outrages as if in their causes; such a complexion is moist and glaucous original: "χαροπός" (charopos). A blue-grey or amber eye color that ancient physiognomists often associated with specific character traits, such as bravery or ferocity.. For these very humors are either putrefied or the spirits are in a state of corruption; such a condition is like a wash and is foul-smelling, which they say comes from the "machine" original: "ἐκ τῆς μηχανῆς." Likely a reference to the internal "workings" or "apparatus" of the body., and from opinions brought in from the outside, but also from the states of the atmosphere; yet one must use the "covering," or use more of the humor underlying the surface. One must therefore pay attention to these things, especially when such a reconstruction is most ridiculous in its mental perceptions, and when strong improvements through experience occur in times of power. For under the alteration of judgment, the lowest distortion occurs, as in those who are nearly strangers to the earth. The pulses original: "σφυγμοί" (sphygmoi). of these people are small and faint. Just now the body and the bellies appear either compressed of blood, or as if the movement has leaped back toward the extremities. These are the

concerning the
passions?

forms of blood and spirit: some are livid and purplish in color, while the abundances are those produced from the humor itself; for fire acts in place of the cause, like a thirst. Those seized by such passions and flows are affected by the variety of the blood or the spirit—but rather by the spirit. For melancholic things are like fire, or like the forms of bile original: "χολῆς" (cholēs). in their uniqueness. Such a person is especially melancholic in color, as the wise also believe; and the "outrage" is a peculiar color, like something that has roared within the body or has been colored; for the heat of each person carves this into the soul.

The leaping flows, along with this movement of the soul, resemble the flows of the blood. The pulses in these cases are indistinct, but the "wandering" is that which concerns the soul; this becomes manifest along with the movement of the body toward the causes, which is the very limb itself. For the "cutting off" within the blood tends toward the movement of the soul; and this is also capable of a transformation of the body, the intellect, and the blood. This is, in a way, according to nature, and the temperament original: "κράσει" (krasei). The "mixture" of qualities—hot, cold, wet, dry—that defines a person's health., or the power. While it is not shameful, it is not due to the other destruction of nature. For the

Note:
the
intellect

cardiac original: "καρδιακός" (kardiakos). Referring to a patient suffering from "cardiacus," a specific ancient syndrome of extreme sweating, weak pulse, and collapse. person—all those who are contrary to nature—is an impediment to power for most. And the diseases: especially those caused by the blood as if the "opinion" original: "δόξα" (doxa). Here used perhaps to mean the physical appearance or the 'seeming' state of the humor. were in them, as they say, or those caused by the spirit, or the paroxysms that exist with them; for one always judges in this way. One attributes the cause to the humor by the slowness of the pulse. The movement of the soul constitutes the passions; the whole melancholic person seems to be characterized by vice. Tyranny and vice and the disposition of the blood and the temperament of the body are linked; for those in whom this tends toward the bodily or the wretched, even in its hardness, such a person is nonetheless so because of their judgment. For the things in the passions are either preparations or things that cause pain. But indeed, they also make judgment the cause. Oaths and attention are not merely innate to nature. These movements and causes are found in the dispositions original: "διαθέσεσι." The temporary or habitual state of the body or mind. rather than in the blood or the spirits. Furthermore, they are not prior to the cause, but rather similar to or even an ancient nature. For to rush in such a way through anger is not prior to the cause, but tends toward something dull, as if mostly hidden by a great deal of filth and by the cause of his sleepiness. Indeed, though one might say the "miscalculation" and perception is the whole movement of the soul, this is either the myth of the disturbance itself. What then follows this? For it is also related to the soul's own movement. That which is resistant and the need stand where we wish, even for the soul itself. Then

Note:
how colors
are
produced

shivering follows, and his limbs tremble; such bodies are called toward a certain color original: "χρῶμα" (chrōma). Complexion or skin tint, used in ancient medicine as a diagnostic marker for internal humor balance.. For just as the sights and the complexion are, the cause of each of the humors lies in the condition of the blood, for this reason. All these things have a choice in the opinion of the judgment—some destroying the body. From the blood, which arises in the judgment; for these things are entirely caused by the bile being displaced or by itself. The rush of bile and of melancholy, and their intensities, are like causes for recognition and movement; from this, the bloody humors arise when the sensory organ of this perception becomes "opinion" or "anger." Become someone who brings these things more, even those acting melancholic in the most vivid life, which is perceived alongside this. Those things related to the more heating passions: these constitute a "ecstasy of error"; and the internal organs original: "σπλάνχνα" (splanchma). The major internal organs (heart, liver, lungs, etc.). which tremble in agony original: "ἀγωνίᾳ" (agōnia). In a medical context, the "struggle" of the body against death or disease. become manifest; and this is true for most bodies. Toward the divine and certain private actions, it is possible...