Epitome of the Complete Works of Galen

for veins carry the most abundant blood throughout the entire constitution of the body like certain porters, arteries carry vital spirit, and in short, nerves carry the animal spirit, which is the author of motion and sensation. Therefore, the harmony of our body refers to the best constitution of a city; indeed, all republics and cities are founded on the example of the human body, since Nature herself excels art in time and dignity. Therefore, just as in any city the prince rules as is proper, and all citizens and soldiers obey his decrees, and each craftsman performs his duty correctly, the health of the Republic is maintained; but it is undermined if the opposite happens. So too, as long as Reason itself holds the reins of command in our little body, and all affections and desires have obeyed, and individual particles have exercised their functions according to their dignity, and meanwhile no depraved foods are ingested, for that long we certainly enjoy the total health of body and mind. If, however, Reason itself admits desires into its counsel, or the irascible faculty conspires in one with these against Reason, or if one, several, or all of the organs that serve common use perform their functions depravedly, or finally, if the materials from which the particles are nourished are cachochymic ill-humored/diseased in substance, then due to the concurrence of these causes, it is necessary that we contract a disease of the mind, or of the body, or of both. And so, truly, various types of diseases arise in the body, namely through the dissolution and alteration in various ways of that temperament which all members mutually maintained while they responded to the natural order.