Theses de sudore

LXVIII.

Critical sweats are always praiseworthy. For they indicate that nature is acting robustly, as much as it should, and as much as it is able to bear well.

LXIX.

The signs of a future critical sweat, from Galen, book 3, On Crises, chapter 11, and Hippocrates, Coacae Praedictiones 1, are: I. Suppression of urine and bowel movement, with constant strength. II. παρακωμή a lull or easing, with increasing fever. III. Warm vapor and redness of the body, which was not perceived before. IV. A κυματώδης wavelike pulse. V. Urine becoming thick and dense from being thin, especially if something foamy also settles in it. VI. Increased fever and rigor, which is soon followed by sweat.

LXX.

Symptomatic sweats, because of the contrary cause, are either lethal or difficult. For if they do not show death, they certainly show the length of the disease, suppuration, or some abscess. Hence Hippocrates, book 5, Coacae Praedictiones, commentary 2, sentence 32, says: "Headache," he says, "with unquenchable thirst or sweat that does not resolve the fever, if it be present, signifies an abscess in the gums or at the ears, unless the bowels are loosened."

But we have sweated enough.

The rest (if anything seems lacking) we leave to the judgment of the candid and kind Reader, who, we are certain, will not reject these as mere ἐμφανισμάτω fantasies/appearances. Since dogmas are uncertain, and arguments of reason seem probable to some and absurd to others, just as it is not to be endured if someone defends their opinions as true, so we ought to concede that others may contradict us. But to carp bitingly and to mock as if something were foolish, that which has come into controversy dogmatically, is the act of a brazen and petulant man. Let us be permitted, indeed, with this golden sentence of Galen, book 8, On the Doctrines of Hippocrates and Plato, final chapter, to place a final hand upon our assertions.