Complete Works of Hippocrates (1665) - Page 21

20 ...to recognize. original: "γινώσκειν" 20 Or while cutting or cauterizing to fail, either in depth or in length. 21 Or to cauterize and cut what one ought not. 22 And these things, indeed, are not 40 right. 23 Rightly, however, is to recognize the diseases, what they are and from what source; 24 and which of them are long and which are short; 25 and which are fatal and which are not fatal; 26 and those that change, and those that increase, and those that wither away; 27 the large ones and the small ones; 28 while treating, to cure what can be cured, and to know what cannot be, and why they are not; 29 and while treating those who have such things, to assist as much as possible through treatment. 30 What is offered to the sick must be observed in this way, both what is done correctly and what is not correctly. 31 If one moistens what ought to be dried; 32 or if there is a need to thicken, and one does not offer that from which one should thicken; 33 or if one does not attenuate what ought to be attenuated; 34 or if one does not cool what ought to be cooled; 35 or does not warm what ought to be warmed; 36 or does not rot what ought to be rotted note: perhaps referring to inducing necessary suppuration. 37 And the remaining things are ordered according to the same reasoning.

VI.

Such things happen to men in diseases by chance, original: "ἀπὸ ταὐτομάτου" whether they be evil or good. 2 For a person with a fever and bile, the bile being scattered outward at the right time is a good thing. 3 But being poured and scattered under the skin, it is lighter to endure for the one who has it, and easier for the one healing to cure. 4 But if it is poured and scattered and falls upon some part of the body, it is a bad thing. 5 23 If the belly is disturbed while suffering from pleurisy, or peripneumonia, or if one has empyema, it is a bad thing. 6 But for one with a fever, or one suffering from a wound, if the belly becomes dried out, it is a bad thing. 7

not to recognize. 20 Or while cutting or cauterizing to fail, either in depth or in length. 21 Or to cauterize and cut what one ought not. 22 And these things, indeed, are not done rightly. 23 But rightly these things are done: to recognize diseases, what they are and from what source; 119 24 and which of them are long and which are short; 25 and which are fatal and which are not fatal; 26 and those that change, and those that increase, and those that are diminished; 27 the large ones and the small ones; 28 while treating, to cure those which are possible, but to know why the impossible ones cannot be cured; 29 and while treating those who have such things, to assist through treatment as much as possible. 30 What is offered to the 115 sick, one must observe whether it is done rightly or otherwise: 31 for example, if one should moisten what ought to be dried; 32 or if one should thicken, but does not exhibit those things from which thickness is induced; 33 or if one does not attenuate what ought to be attenuated; 34 or does not cool what ought to be cooled; 35 or does not warm what ought to be warmed; 36 or does not rot what ought to be rotted; 37 and the rest are ordered according to the same reasoning.

VI.

Such things occur to men in diseases of their own accord and by chance, 120 both good things and bad. 2 For a feverish and bilious person, the bile being dispersed outward in time is a good thing; 3 but being diffused and dispersed under the skin, it is lighter to endure for the one who has it, and easier to cure for the one who is healing. 4 But when it is diffused and dispersed and has fallen upon some one part of the body, it is an evil. 5 If the belly is disturbed in one with pleurisy, or peripneumonia, or in one who is suppurated, it is an evil. 6 If the belly is dried out in one who is feverish or wounded, it is an evil. 7 In one who is water-logged original: "Subaquoso" — likely referring to dropsy/edema or spleen-affected and held by white phlegm, 125 the belly being strongly disturbed is a good thing.