TO THOSE WHO PRETEND TO BE ILL. 5

Ed. Chart. VIII. [917.]

Ed. Basel III. (369.)

...appeared to have been produced by thapsia thapsia: a plant, Thapsia garganica, which causes skin irritation and swelling when applied topically; it was often used by beggars or slaves to fake injuries. This realization was the work of medical experience. It did not come from external clues alone. It came from the same experience that knew no prior events had occurred that could cause such a sudden swelling. The man had not run more than was necessary. He had not been struck by anyone. He had not suffered an injury while leaping or jumping across a ditch. There was no sign of plethora plethora: an excess of bodily fluids, particularly blood, thought to cause internal pressure and disease in him. Furthermore, he had not previously lived an idle or over-indulgent lifestyle. When we asked him what kind of pain he felt, he did not answer immediately or easily. His answers were also inconsistent. Therefore, after his master had departed, I applied a medicine. This medicine contained no pain-relieving properties. It was only able to cool the irritation caused by the thapsia. After one hour, I found him admitting that he was completely free of pain. If the pain had truly been caused by inflammation original: "phlegmonēn", referring to a hot, internal swelling, it would not have ceased because of a cooling medicine. Instead, the pain would have become more intense. It is now clear how medical experience, when mixed with...

...appeared to be excited by thapsia. This knowledge was specific to medicine. it did not come from external observations. It was also part of the same experience to know that nothing preceding the event could have caused such a swelling so suddenly. For he had not run more than was fitting. He had not been beaten by anyone. He had not jumped or leaped over a ditch and suffered this inconvenience. Also, there was no indication of redundant humors. He had not previously lived a luxurious or abundant life. In addition to these things, when I questioned him about the type of pain and what it was like, he did not respond immediately, promptly, or consistently. Therefore, once the master had left, I applied a medication. This medicine did not soothe the pain at all. It could only cool the quality of the thapsia. After one hour, I had him confessing that he felt no more pain. If that pain had been born from inflammation, it would not only have failed to subside through that cooling agent, but it would have been rendered more vehement. I believe it is now clear that if medical experience is combined with these external rea-