Aphorisms of Hippocrates

be led to the extreme: for it is dangerous. But of what sort the nature shall be of him who ought to bear it, it is convenient to lead to this. Thus also evacuations which are led to the extreme are dangerous. And again, refections, when they have been extreme, are dangerous.

Since the preceding discourse has been about the inanition of the vessels, which if it be made such as it ought to be made, is beneficial; but of what sort it ought to be, Hippocrates narrates in this aphorism, first in general, then according to modes. In general, he says that the inanition of the vessels, if it is to be beneficial, must necessarily be moderate. In what follows, he afterward gives the modes, which are disease, age, and the time of year. By comparison, therefore, Hippocrates explains such a sentiment. Just as the habit of athletes, which has stood at the extreme of goodness, is dangerous: because in that state it cannot remain, nor ascend to a higher one than it is; whence it is necessary that it fall into a worse one: so extreme and immoderate compressions are dangerous: because they do not lead to such as the nature shall be of him who ought to bear it. Thus evacuations, for the same cause, or inanitions, which lead to the extreme and do not have measure, are dangerous: so also refections, and any whatsoever repletions which are extreme, turn out dangerous. This seems to be the purpose of Hippocrates in this aphorism, confirmed by comparison. From which we have accepted that we ought to make such an inanition of the vessels as ought to be made, if it be moderate. But immoderation, while it tends higher, causes redundancy, and that which descends causes defect, and both these excesses change the temperies of the body, which consists in the equality of human nature proportioned. From a changed temperies or from intemperies, disease arises. Indeed, says Aristotle in Partitions, Prob. 2, health is a certain mediocrity. This is in substantial qualities,