Hippocrates’ Epidemics, Book 1

Commentary I

Ed. Chart. IX. [5. 6.]

Many general principles seem to be discovered through reason. However, their truth is judged by experience, which confirms and supports them. We can see this in the study of the sizes and distances of the sun and moon. Even if we see proofs for these measurements, we do not fully trust them until they are confirmed by many sensory observations. For instance, we gain stronger confidence when these geometric calculations match actual eclipses Ancient astronomers used the timing and shadows of eclipses to calculate the distance between the Earth, Moon, and Sun..

In geometry, proofs become more reliable when they are supported by specific events. Therefore, it is even more important for medical principles to be confirmed. The truths of medicine are discovered through general rules, but they must be validated by observing specific cases. I will demonstrate this process in these books on the epidemic diseases. original: "epidemion bibliois"

The following section is the Latin translation of the Greek text above, provided in the original volume for scholars.

Many principles seem to exist, yet their truth is judged when they are both established and given credibility by experiments. We see this in those things demonstrated regarding the size and distance of the sun and moon. We do not grant them full trust until we have a more certain faith through many sensory observations. These observations are found through geometric reasoning and are established by specific eclipses.

In cases where things demonstrated through geometry receive greater trust from specific occurrences, they are rendered more credible and hold a more certain truth. Therefore, it is even more necessary that the universal claims made in the medical discipline medical discipline: the theoretical and practical study of healing should have more certain credibility if they are established by particular examples. We shall show that these things occur in the books of the epidemics.