Decorative initial letter V with floral/foliate motifs.

THESIS I.

Since this Symptoma symptom is frequent, and sometimes so violent that it overturns the legitimate method of healing, dissolves the strengths of the body, and induces death: it has seemed right to speak briefly about its nature and treatment.

II.

But indeed, lest any error arise from the ambiguity of the word: it must be understood that, in general, it is sometimes taken for any affliction of the senses, as Galen testifies in On the Causes of Symptoms 1.6; but specifically, it is taken here as a painful offense to the sense of touch.

III.

Furthermore, it is taken for the disposition preceding the pain, as in Aphorisms 2.6 and Epidemics 6.1, and not for the effect following that disposition.

IV.

Therefore, pain, which will be dealt with in this Disputation, is a corrupted or depraved action of the organ of touch, depending on a solution of continuity meaning a break in the integrity of the tissue.

V.

It is an action, if we consider the ἐνέργειαν actuality or activity and judgment of the sensitive faculty; it is a passion meaning a state of being acted upon, if we consider the organ that receives a disproportionate sensible object; it is depraved, if we look at the form and proportion of the reception.

CAUSES.

VI.

Of this solution the break in continuity, which we bring forward as the proximate and immediate cause of this symptom, other causes are posited, both internal and external. They call the former συναρχικάς initiating or primary causes, the latter συνεργούσας contributing or auxiliary causes.

VII.

The internal ones are intemperies imbalance of bodily qualities, or matter.