Articella (The Little Art of Medicine)

The text begins by distinguishing between indigested and digested substances.
or rather, it is undigested, because digestion does not occur on all days: but sometimes the sediment is digested, and at other times it is undigested. Therefore, let us return again to the continuous [state], so that those two [conditions] are transverse, namely, that the hypostasis sediment is neither continuous nor equal.

What a non-continuous and equal hypostasis signifies.

These are less digested, as if failing in strength by two [measures]: not only has it lost [the quality of being] equal, but also [the quality of being] smooth, so that it is not continuous but discrete. However, a continuous sediment occurs, which is thick and does not allow it to be equal. Therefore, for these reasons, the remaining sediment is less digested than these two: but let us return again to the premise that was granted.

What a non-continuous and unequal hypostasis signifies.

Let the sediment be not smooth but disjointed: however, [it is] considered bad, for the reason that much spirit is generated, and nature cannot have diaphoresis transpiration/excretion so that it becomes digested.

What a non-continuous and unequal hypostasis signifies.

But let the urine be non-continuous and unequal: this is better than the former: for it does not dissipate every day, as the equal [sediment] does; however, sometimes it dissipates, and sometimes it does not. And for this reason, it declares that there is less spirit breaking the continuity; but let us demonstrate this with the example of a failing pulse. For if a failing pulse remains the same for many days, it is a greater evil than changing daily. For this is unequal: therefore, it is better to be a disjointed, unequal [sediment] than a disjointed, equal one: and this is a cause of amazement to those who hear it. And regarding this complexion, let these things suffice.

What a continuous enozima signifies.

If, therefore, the sediment of the urine is transformed from its place, so that it occurs in the middle, which is called enozima suspended sediment, from the Greek yenozmiē to hang: let it be both continuous and equal, this is moderately undigested: for nature was not able to exert itself to take a lower place. For this is digested, having in its possession some spirit that, occurring, elevates it toward the middle region.

What a continuous and equal cloud nubes signifies.

But if there is much spirit, it drives the sediment above the middle region, occupying the upper surface: and it is called nubes cloud, from the metaphor of clouds. That cloud which occupies the upper place, if it exists in acute fevers, signifies foamy, choleric yellow bile humors: and otherwise, if it is in a continuous fever, it signifies that the urine has foamy clouds, which is very bad: for it signifies pain in the right hypochondria upper abdominal region. If, in a causon burning fever, it has black clouds, it signifies a transformation into artanarium a severe state of illness. If, however, there is no spirit at all, it takes a lower place and demonstrates perfect digestion, which is the hypostasis according to nature. Therefore, whatever things are noted regarding the hypostasis, one must judge the same for the enozima and the cloud: for all these are in the same urine. Therefore, it is manifest that we will say nothing more regarding place, and the mixture of signs and significations: let the choleric urine change from the hypostasis and become black.

What a non-continuous and equal hypostasis signifies: this teaches the knowledge of a bad hypostasis, more or less.

Regarding such an evil: if this occurs in black clouds, it is a lesser evil: if, however, in the enozima, it is a greater evil: if, however, in the hypostasis, it is perfectly evil.

What a non-continuous and unequal cloud nubes signifies.

Similarly also in the urine: for if the hypostasis is continuous and equal, it is good: if, however, it is a cloud, it is better: if, however, it is an enozima, it is manifest and better still. And regarding the three, it has been sufficiently said.

Notification of the hypostasis by part of color.

Since we have spoken of time, substance, and place, we shall add the remainder regarding color. But the color of the sediment was by nature white; therefore, the urine does not become white, but either black, or livid, or pale, or reddish, or red, or green.

What a red or reddish sediment signifies.

Reddish is generally made from watery blood, as was said above: and it signifies indigestion but not death. Red [sediment], however, made from pure blood, signifies digestion. And if it is moderate, having neither abundance nor lack,

it is at no great risk. Since, therefore, it does not lead to danger, it is familiar to the material; it is proper to the material of watery blood. Being prior to the blood, as a friend to the body, it does not bring danger; because it signifies indigestion, for this reason, one must await the time. From this it is manifest that the following times are good: some are made from blood, as phlegm and fluids: others [are made] for health, as choleric, red, and many humors; pure blood is in the middle of both. Because, therefore, it appears reddish in the urine, it signifies that it has color from watery blood. But watery blood is inferior to pure blood, and for this reason, it signifies indigestion: for nature has not placed the color of watery blood [as a sign of] perfection. It is manifest, therefore, that it is by no means digested; therefore, it needs time, for the digestion of watery blood. Red sediment, however, signifies a crisis to come on the seventh day. For if on the fourth day the urine has a cloud above and other signs of strength, [and] on the seventh day [it persists], it is manifest that the disease will be judged. What, therefore, reddish and red signify has been stated.

What a livid sediment signifies.

It manifests rigidity and the mortification of the vital powers. But it is also possible to speak otherwise: for in acute fevers, urine having a livid hypostasis on the following day is not without danger.

What a green sediment signifies.

Green, however, signifies a great deal of heat, and the cacoethes malignant nature of the disease.

What a sub-black sediment signifies.

Sub-black urine falls short of perfect black. In causon fevers, urine having sub-black enozimata signifies high insanity: and all flows of blood follow more or less, and a crisis with shivering and sweat.

What a black sediment signifies.

Black sometimes indicates coldness, sometimes, however, heat. Let us determine it thus: if a livid [sediment] has preceded, and then it is made black, it signifies cold. If, however, green has preceded, and black has followed, it is manifest that it was made from heat.

Here the physician is taught a certain caution.

Since, however, the color of a good hypostasis is believed to be a sign, one must know that the color of the urine often deceives the practitioner when a good hypostasis is not made when it should be: but a white [sediment] of raw humors also appears in the sediment: and through the white, it deceives the practitioner when the hypostasis is good: but this is distinguished by odor, for it is fetid. But also if the loins are ulcerated and pus is emitted through the urine by the bladder or liver or any [other] part, as Hippocrates says: If blood and what is like pus passes, it signifies ulceration of the loins or kidneys or bladder. And again, in whomever pustules are born in the urinary tract, when these become sanies thin, watery pus and erupt, a solution of the disease occurs.

Concerning the sediment of raw humor.

It is manifest that sanies evacuated by the same way, and raw humors, are determined by the unequal substance of the sediment. For the sediment of raw humor is not continuous, but as if scattered in the urine like sand. These things are [said] so that the physician is not deceived by the color, but distinguishes the hypostasis from sanies and from raw humors. For if blood and pus and flakes pass, and the odor is heavy, it signifies ulceration of either the loins or the bladder: we speak of these things so that the practitioner is not deceived, but also sandy sediments in the urine, if they are lasting, signify that the bladder or loins have lithiasis stone formation. And otherwise, if blood passes, it signifies ulceration of the loins and bladder. This we have said so that it does not deceive the practitioner in the inspection of the sediment made [by] sanies and raw humors. And we have exposed the four origins of the sediment: and color, and place, and substance, and time: it remains that we demonstrate this according to four parts in a description thus.

[Table headings]

Urine hypostasis continuous equal: Urine hypostasis continuous unequal: Urine hypostasis not continuous equal: Urine hypostasis not continuous unequal.

These are the four [types] of the description of the sediment. Since, however, we have stated that the sediment has three places: and we have said their meanings: and in the description of it, just as the appearing reason manifests: for it either has a lower place and is named hypostasis, or [a] middle [place] and is called enozima, or [an] upper [place] and will be called nephile cloud: and we have said the causes of all [the places] for which they take those places and the signs or their significations; and in the description of the one that takes the lower place, we have explained the hypostasis.