Aphorisms of Hippocrates

the causes, but the causes are made known through signs, which are divided into a triple genus: those declaring a future disease, of which Hippocrates [writes] in the books On Diet; those showing what the present disease is, as in the Book on the Manner of Living in Acute Diseases, in the books On Diseases, On Women's Diseases, On Epidemics, and in the book of Aphorisms; and those predicting what end the disease may finally have, as in the book On Prognostics and elsewhere. Physicians call the causes which we have recited, four: non-natural, natural, preternatural, and circumstances; and that is the intention of Hippocrates. Therefore, it is necessary not only for the physician to do those things which are suitable for the curing of the disease, but the sick person, the attendants, and exterior things ought to do those which are opportune for curing the health, and not impede them. But the sick person should do what is opportune: because as Hippocrates says in Book 1 of Epidemics, Section 2, "The art consists of three things: the disease, the sick person, and the physician, the minister of the art." The sick person ought to struggle against the disease together with the physician. But let the sick person do what is commanded by the physician: for, as he writes in the Book on Art, the sick, neither knowing in what part they labor, nor for what cause, nor what of the present will follow, nor what will come to be from things similar to these, are subject to the physician's command, grieving indeed for the present things, but fearing the future: and full of disease, and empty of foods, they prefer to assume those things which are pleasant to the disease, rather than those which make for health. Not loving to die, but yet not being able to endure. But the attendants should obey the commands, and remove exterior things if they are harmful; but if they are helpful, let them be applied.

APHORISM II.

In disturbances of the belly, and spontaneous vomitings, if such things are purged as ought to be purged, it is beneficial, and they bear it lightly; but if otherwise, the contrary. So also the emptying of the vessels, if it be done such as it ought to be done, is beneficial, and they bear it well; but if otherwise,