TO THOSE WHO FEIGN ILLNESS

Ed. Chartier Vol. VIII [916. 917.] Ed. Basel Vol. III (369.)

...he did not urgently beg for help, even though he had previously been quite fearful about even the smallest matters. A few days earlier, he had known a man suffering from [917] colic pain who was quickly freed from his pain by drinking a medicine called philonium original: "philoniou". An ancient sedative electuary containing opium and various spices. It was named after Philo of Tarsus.. He would have certainly asked me for this if he had truly been in pain.

The outcome also made this clear. As soon as the assembly original: "ekklesias" in Greek, "concione" in Latin. This refers to a public meeting of citizens for political or legal purposes. was dismissed, he immediately stopped complaining, as if he were suddenly free from all pain. Furthermore, his previous lifestyle and diet were of such a kind that a colic condition could not have developed in him. Such ailments usually arise from indigestion or from becoming chilled. Neither of these had occurred in his case.

To recognize that the illness did not follow logically from his previous diet was a task for medical experience. However, to suspect that he was faking it because of the assembly was not specific to medicine. Instead, it was the work of what is called common reason original: "koinou logou". This refers to general logic, social intuition, and the ability to connect circumstances to motives.. Although this reason is common to all people, few possess it in such an exact and perfect way that they can discover the truth in every matter.