Problemata Aristotelis

they take. Those who work with wheat paste are much more colored than those who work with barley. They also add that barley is more moist. But that which is more moist requires more complete concoction digestion/cooking. Yet nothing prevents barley, although it is harder to digest, from being more useful for lightness. For it is not only more moist than wheat, but also colder. Such is certainly the decoction and food suited to a feverish person, to nourish little and cool sufficiently, which barley-water can do. For that which is more moist or corpulent provides nourishment from this, and that which is somewhat cooler.

Why can purslane herb or salt remove the numbness of teeth? Is it because purslane has a smooth humor that opens either to the chewer or to one pressing it with their hand for a while? For the lentor viscosity clings and is drawn out. Therefore, it entering from the body draws out the acidity, since it is able to be joined by a certain affinity as an argument of taste, which makes it somewhat sour. Salt, however, macerates and liquefies, and thus it also expels the acidity.

But why can lye or nitre not do this? Is it because these, by their own bitterness, astringe and do not liquefy?

Why is it fitting to treat summer weariness with a bath, and winter weariness with anointing? Is it because in winter, anointing provides for the urgent shudders and changes? For it must be relaxed through heat, which makes the limbs warm, and oil is warm. But in summer, it is considered that the body should be moistened, since the time is dry and no fear of shuddering compels us, given that the state of the season naturally leans toward warmth. Hence, little food and liberal drink are admitted in summer, the former more, the latter entirely. For we must indulge in drink in summer due to the dryness of the seasons; but frugality of food is common to all times, though it is more suited to summer, so that the body does not overheat further from excessive food due to the scorching weather.