GALEN ON THE COMPOSITION OF MEDICINES

...and other such ingredients. Between the middle type and each of the two extremes, there are many medicines. Some are closer to the middle, while others are further away from it. I will define these in order. I will praise those authors who have added specific distinctions to their descriptions, but I will not accept those who have simply written them down without detail.

Between these two groups are the writers who provided distinctions, but incomplete ones. For example, some have written: "An arteriac for a lost voice," original: ἀρτηριακὴ ἡ πρὸς ἀποκεκομμένας φωνὰς / Arteriace ad interceptam vocem. An arteriac is a medicine for the windpipe. A "lost voice" refers to a complete inability to speak. or again, "An arteriac for those who speak hoarsely."

The loss of voice, which is the inability to speak, follows many different causes. In some cases, it results from long-lasting catarrh original: κατάῤῥοις / destillationes. This refers to the downward flow of fluids or rheum from the head into the throat. from the head. In others, it occurs in those with internal abscesses empyema: a collection of pus in the cavity between the lungs and the chest wall, those with wasting diseases original: φθισικοῖς / tabidos. This refers to patients with tuberculosis or similar respiratory consumption., or those who have suffered injury from loud and frequent shouting. These injuries may not have been properly treated, or the underlying condition may still be developing.

In the same way, the voice becomes hoarse (256) due to these same causes, and additionally because of the inhalation of cold air. The underlying condition of both voice loss and hoarseness is of the same kind. However, these ailments differ from one another in their severity. These problems become more intense and difficult to resolve when the vocal organs are soaked with excessive moisture...