Articella

are separated and do not conglutinate. But the separation of an adhering member generally occurs either in similar meaning homogeneous tissues like bone, nerve, or flesh or official members. In similar members, such as bones and nerves, flesh, veins, muscles, and skin. If it happens to a bone, it is called a fracture. If to flesh from a recent time, it is called a wound. If, however, from an old time, it is called not only a wound but a putrid wound. If to veins, nerves, and arteries, it is called by a high and lofty name referring to specialized medical terminology for vascular or neurological injury. If it happens to the middle of the muscles, it is called a contusion or crushing. If, however, in the skin, it is called excoriation. If that becomes inveterate chronic, it is called a putrid wound. In official members, however, the separation is perpetual, such as the amputation of a hand or foot.

¶ On the qualities of bodies.

The qualities of the body are three, namely: health, disease, and neutrality. ¶ Health is a temperament completing and keeping natural things according to the course of nature. ¶ Infirmity is an intemperance outside the course of nature harming nature, whence the effect of the lesion becomes sensible. ¶ Neutrality is that which is said to be neither healthy nor infirm. ¶ But a neutral quality consists in three modes. As if in one body health and infirmity convene simultaneously. In different members, such as in the body of a blind and lame person, or in the body of an old person, to whom not one member remains that does not become evil and suffer. And if the body of a person is healthy at some hours, but infirm at others, such as those who are infirm in summer and healthy in winter. Those, however, who are of a colder nature are infirm in winter and healthy in summer. And those who have a moist nature are infirm in childhood, and are healed in youth and old age. Those who have a dry nature are healthy in childhood, but are infirm in youth or old age. ¶ In three things are found health, infirmity, and the neutral. Either in the body in which each one of the three qualities is found. Or in the cause making, regulating, and preserving them. Or in the signs signifying them.

¶ On the modes of occasions.

There are two genera of occasion: one is natural, and the other is outside the course of nature. Natural occasions either make health or preserve it. Preserving occasions pertain to health, while those that make it pertain to expelling infirmity. Non-natural occasions, or those that proceed beyond nature, some pertain to infirmity, others to neutrality. But sick occasions make infirmity, and they are the same things that preserve infirmities. Those, however, that pertain neither to health nor to infirmity constitute the neutral and preserve it.

¶ On the occasions of health and disease or infirmity.

There are six modes of all occasions having society with health and infirmity. One of which is air, which surrounds the human body. Food and drink. And motion and rest. Sleep and wakefulness. Inanition emptiness/fasting and repletion. And the accidents of the soul. All of which, if they are with decent moderation, and in quantity, quality, time, work, and order, preserve health from accidents. But if there is something contrary to this, infirmities occur and remain.