Articella

¶ On the modes of diseases.

Modes of diseases running down to infirm places with some humor and unnatural malice are four. ¶ The first is the power of the pushing member and the weakness of the sustaining member. ¶ The second is the multitude of humor. ¶ The third is the weakness of the nourishing power. ¶ The fourth is the width of the way of the pores.

¶ On the malice of disease.

Malice of disease enters and supervenes in a natural similar member in five ways. Either it reaches it in the maternal womb. Or at the time of birth. Or when it is tightened by a bandage. Or from bad nourishment: or from some infirmity arriving in the aforementioned times or afterwards. If at the time of conception in the womb some similar member is weakened, it happens from the abundance of the seed, or from the smallness and indigence of the quality of the arriving seed: as if it should be gross and fatty, or watery and thin. ¶ When, however, an infant is born and some member in him is weakened, if the exit was not equal but an evil exit, such as supine or bent over the knees. ¶ When therefore a bandage is tightened in a convenient tightening, the weakness is doubled. ¶ When, however, it is nourished badly and inconveniently by sucking milk or receiving [it], weakness [follows]. ¶ At these times or afterwards, if an infirmity occurs, the malice of the disease supervenes in a similar member from the incision of any nerve. And if it has suffered from some accident: whether weakness, or a wound, or an apostema abscess/swelling.

¶ On the diseases of similar members.

Disease enters a natural similar member in seven ways. Either from the midwife if she has had a fault when she holds the infant. Or if she has permitted walking before the due or fitting time. Or from the physician: if he has ignorantly constituted and tightened countered or collided members. From the infirm person if he has removed them from the physician [while] composed before they are solidified and firm. From a fracture: as if on the muscle of the vertebra which is in the thigh the hip is twisted. Or from a concussion: as if the nose is compressed and it happens that chimus humor/fluid is made. Or from bad humor that happens to lepers: or from the smallness of the humor occurring in those who are ptisicis consumptive/suffering from phthisis.

¶ On the modes of constriction, and width of pores, smoothness, and roughness.

Constriction of the pores is made in three ways or occasions. Either from attenuating constriction. Or from fleshiness. Or from coarctation narrowing/crowding. ¶ Constriction, however, is made: either from the excess of the retaining power. Or from the weakness of the expelling power. Or from the abundance of cold. Or from abundant constriction compressing some part of the place: as often happens from a tight bandage. Or from the abundance of dryness. ¶ From fleshiness, however, pores are constricted: as if some abscess happens and fleshiness is made: or if a wound has occurred before. ¶ From coarctation, however, when something has fallen into the pores: such as humor, or stone, or coagulated blood: or something lurking in them: such as superfluous flesh and scabies. ¶ Width [of pores]...