so that we may write, speak, and do nothing except what is true, glorious to His divine Name, and useful to us and to our neighbor!

CHAPTER ONE.

On the

NAME OF HEMORRHOIDS.

THES. I.

About to begin the treatment of the name itself from ancient custom, we shall declare in a few words its etymology, homonymy, and synonymy.

The word αἱμορροΐς hemorrhoid is derived in origin from Greek from αἷμα blood, and ῥέω to flow, i.e., a flow of blood, Aët. Aëtius of Amida tetrab. 4. serm. 2. cap. 5. They are often expressed in the plural number αἱμορροΐδες hemorrhoids, i.e., Φλεβαὶ veins, that is, blood-flowing veins, by the name of Veins, according to the manner of the ancients, sometimes also implying Arteries, which it may suffice to have pointed out once.

II. Although all Veins in general, since their cavity is visible, contain blood, and could be called Hemorrhoids, i.e., blood-flowing; yet usage has prevailed, so that in particular the veins of the seat, or of the uterus, are expressed by this name. Whence not only the name αἱμορροΐδ. hemorrhoids (transferred from the affected part to the affection itself, according to Galen) denotes in general, and properly, any flow of blood, as is evident from Hippocr. 2. prorrhet. and Cels. Aulus Cornelius Celsus lib. 2. cap. 8. to which add Trincavell. Vettore Trincavelli lib. 9. on curing humors, particular parts of the human body, ch. 14.; but also in the species, Blood flowing out from the vessels of the anus, or of the uterus: concerning which latter meaning, one should consult Galen. l. on theriac to Piso, c. 6. Celsus, l. 6. c. 18. and Paulus Aegineta, l. 3. c. 59. where he at the same time bids to be noted Hieron. Fabric. Girolamo Fabrici of Aquapendente, on Surgical Operations, ch. on hemorrhoids, that those Authors in the cited places rather call the Orifices of the veins hemorrhoids, than the Veins themselves, since blood is poured out especially from the orifices; but those are so called, because the orifices of these veins pouring out blood exist especially in the anus and uterus. Most specifically it is taken for that lasting or impeded flow of blood, which occurs from the vessels of the Anus; where it must again be distinguished, as advised by Avicenna, lib. 3. fen. 17. cap. 2. from that which occurs from the virulence and pus of a certain ulcer in the rectum, or the surrounding parts. Finally, improperly, the same word αἱμορροΐς hemorrhoid denotes a certain kind of Serpent, which makes blood drip from all parts of the body of the one struck by its bite, concerning which see Galen l. c., Dioscor. l. 6. c. 50., Pliny l. 20. c. 21., Solinus, polyhist. cap. 40., Lucan. 9. on the civil war, Paræus Ambroise Paré, surgery l. 2. c. 17., Sennert. l. 6. medical practice, and others. But leaving these different meanings aside, we only accept here that by which Hemorrhoids denote a flow of blood from the opening of the veins or arteries of the anus, and a tumor arisen in them: and so we shall institute a treatment concerning two as it were species of them, while they are commonly divided into Blind and Open.