GALEN ON THE COMPOSITION OF MEDICINES

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Edition of Chartier XIII. [528.] Edition of Basel II. (257.)

...the writings which they left to us, through which they increased the pharmaceutical part of the art. They did this partly by composing medicines themselves and partly by transcribing the compositions of others. As time progressed, these works and those that came before were refined. They provided long experience for the men who selected and gathered them. I have frequently mentioned these men in this treatise. They are the circles of Asclepiades, Musa, Andromachus, Heras, Crito, and Menecrates These were influential physicians and pharmacologists from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE. For example, Antonius Musa was the personal physician to Emperor Augustus.. Archigenes and Philippus also wrote about many other medicines. Consequently, we no longer have any need for the older authors. These later writers, as I said, have recorded everything discovered by the ancients in the best possible way.

Chapter 2. [On the windpipe medicines described by Andromachus.]

Andromachus wrote down a great many powers of windpipe medicines arteriacas original: "arteriakas." These were medicines specifically designed for the "arteria," which in ancient medicine referred to the windpipe or trachea, not just blood vessels.. He did this so that a person capable of recognizing their differences could proceed gradually from the weakest ones to the strongest ones through those in the middle. However, Andromachus himself described them in a somewhat indefinite manner. I will add the necessary distinctions original: "diorismous." These are precise classifications or rules that tell a doctor when and how to apply a specific remedy., while reminding you of what I said just before. It is necessary for anyone who intends to follow these instructions to have already practiced with simple medicines...

...the books which they left to us and in which they increased the pharmaceutical part of the art, partly by composing them themselves and partly by transcribing compositions from others. In the progress of time, both these and earlier works were proven by exact and long experience. They were selected and collected by men whom I have often mentioned in this work. These are Asclepiades, Musa, Andromachus, Heras, Crito, and Menecrates. Furthermore, Archigenes and Philippus wrote many other medicines, so that we have no further need of the ancients. These men, as I have said, handed down all the discoveries of the earlier authors in the best manner.

Chapter 2. [On the windpipe medicines described by Andromachus.]

Andromachus described many windpipe preparations original: "arteriacas confectiones.". This makes it easy to progress gradually from the weakest to the strongest through the middle ones, provided that one knows the difference between them. Andromachus himself presented them in a rather indefinite way. But I will add the distinctions, having called to mind those things which I said a little while ago. For concerning simple medicines...