Galen's Commentaries on the Aphorisms of Hippocrates

...should have judgment along with those things which are said by him, we ought to consider that this also was said implicitly: for he mentions both age and habit. But you, not without reason, shall remember both the natural temperament, and the time of year, and the region, which Hippocrates himself also adds at times. Sometimes, however, having mentioned one or two, he omits the rest which are of the same nature and order. Moreover, indications are also derived from these, just as we said above they were derived from age and from the disease.

Ornamental drop cap E with floral/foliage motifs.
AND it must be considered for whom it is appropriate to bring [food] once or twice, and for whom more or fewer [meals] in small portions. But some allowance must be made for the season, the age, and the habit.

while we preserve whatever things produce a like temperament through a similar diet; but correcting through contraries whatever things are to be disapproved. We have spoken more fully, however, of all indications in the books in which the curative art is taught. xvii.

Ornamental drop cap Q with floral/foliage motifs.
SINCE he held a discourse concerning the quantity and quality of those things which are offered, he soon proposes to teach the manner of the same. For it is not sufficient to know this alone, that more or less should be offered to this person, or that a drying or moistening diet should be used, but it is necessary to consider whether one ought to offer food once or more often during any night or day; and for these very things, to take the indication from the time, from the age, and from habit, just as they were taken in quality and quantity. For the primary intentions were directed toward these: both the diseases themselves and the strength of the sick person, and therefore the age, the time, and the habit, and whatever things are proportional to these; and for that reason Hippocrates himself added that: "But some allowance must be made for the season, the age, and the habit," clearly showing by the word "allowance" [condonandum] that he takes neither the whole nor the greatest part from such things.

For whether one ought to nourish frequently or rarely, or at all, is first and foremost taken from the sickness and the strength; after these, however, also from the time of year, and from the age, and such like. For if the strength of the sufferer should be weak, and the disposition which is in the body arises from a corruption of humors or a deficiency from a lack of nourishment, we shall bring food more often to such persons. A little indeed, because the weakness of the strength cannot sustain a multitude of nourishment at once; but more often, since the disposition requires many things. For deficiency requires addition, but corruption requires a tempering. If, however, with the weakness of strength, neither any deficiency is present nor corruption, but the natural humors are in a moderate state or even superabundant, to these we shall bring little and rarely; and we shall do this much more if the humors superabound along with a robustness of nature.

But if, with a deficiency or corruption of humors, the strength is robust, then we shall give much food and frequently to those who suffer in this way, inasmuch as the disposition requires much and the robust nature is able to concoct it. If, however, the paroxysms do not permit it, nor provide many opportunities for offering nourishment, we shall rarely exhibit more. But if the strength is robust with a plethoric disposition, we shall bring a little rarely. For even if we have that which ought to concoct the food as robust, nevertheless, because the disposition does not require much, it is reasonable that we bring little; thus indeed it is necessary to take indications from the disease and from the strength of the sick person for those things we have proposed. From the time, however, and age, and habit, and others which are proportional to these, in this manner: in the summer time, as far as the reason of the season is concerned, little should be given more often, since they both require more addition (as those who are weakened) and have weak strength. In the winter time, however, many things which...