Humanitext Reader

Galen · Causes of Diseases §11

Causes of Solutions of Continuity and Conclusion

Passage 12 of 12 · Greek

Summary

The author analyzes the causes, characteristics, and terminology of the "solution of continuity" (such as fractures, caries, contusions, indentations, ruptures, and tears) which is a disease class common to both simple and composite parts, concluding the discussion on the causes of diseases and announcing the next topic on the differences of symptoms.

§11Ἑνὸς δ’ ἔτι γένους νοσήματος κοινοῦ πάντων τῶν μορίων, εἴτ’ οὖν ὁμοιομερῆ τε καὶ ἁπλᾶ τελέως, εἴτε καὶ σύνθετα εἴη, τὰς αἰτίας τῆς γενέσεως εἰπεῖν χρή.
But we must still state the causes of the generation of one remaining class of disease, which is common to all parts, whether they be homeomerous and completely simple, or composite.
καλεῖν μὲν οὖν εἴωθα τὸ γένος τοῦτο σύμπαν ἑνώσεως λύσιν, ἢ διαφθορὰν ἑνώσεως, ἢ συνεχείας λύσιν, ἢ ὅπως ἂν ἄλλως ἐλπίσω τὸν λόγον σαφῆ ἔσεσθαι τοῖς ἀκούουσιν.
Now, I am accustomed to call this entire class "solution of unity," or "destruction of unity," or "solution of continuity," or by whatever other way I hope to make the explanation clear to the listeners.
οὐδὲν γὰρ ὄνομα κατ’ αὐτοῦ κείμενον ὑπὸ τῶν ἔμπροσθεν παρελάβομεν, ὥσπερ ἐπί τινων εἰδῶν αὐτοῦ κάταγμα μὲν καὶ τερηδόνα τῆς ἐν ὀστῷ συνεχείας διαιρουμένης, ἕλκος δὲ καὶ τραῦμα τῆς ἐν σαρκί.
For we have received no name established for it as a whole from our predecessors, as we have for some of its species, such as "fracture" and "caries" when the continuity in a bone is divided, and "ulcer" and "wound" of that in the flesh.
κατὰ μέν γε τὰ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὀστᾶ καὶ πλείω τὰ ὀνόματα.
At least in the case of the bones of the head, the names are even more numerous.
τὸ μὲν γὰρ, οἷόν περ ἐν τοῖς ἄλλοις ὀστοῖς κάταγμα, ῥωγμή τε καὶ ῥῆξις προσαγορεύεται, τὸ δ’ ὑπό τινος ὀξέος ἐμπεσόντος αὐτοῖς καὶ διακόψαντος ἐγκοπή τε καὶ διακοπὴ καὶ ἕδρα. τὸ δὲ τῆς τερηδόνος ὄνομα πλεονάζειν δοκεῖ τῳ ε στοιχείῳ· παρὰ γὰρ τὸ τρῆμα συγκεῖσθαι πεπίστευται, καθάπερ τερηδών τις οὖσα.
For the one, which is like a fracture in other bones, is called "fissure" and "rupture," while the other, caused by some sharp object falling upon them and cutting through, is called "incision," "cut," and "notch." And the name "caries" seems to be redundant by the letter epsilon; for it is believed to be derived from "hole," as if being a kind of boring worm.
καὶ γίνεται μὲν ὑπὸ δριμέων χυμῶν διαβιβρωσκόντων, ὑποπίπτει δὲ κατ’ ἀρχὰς μὲν ἑτέρῳ γένει νοσήματος.
And while it arises under the influence of acrid humors eroding the bone, at the beginning it falls under another class of disease.
ὀστοῦ γοῦν τραχύτης μᾶλλον ἢ τερηδὼν ὀνομάζεται. μείζονος δὲ τοῦ τρήματος γενομένου καὶ οἷον ὀπῆς τινος ἤδη φαινομένης, τερηδὼν ὀνομάζεται. καὶ μὴν καὶ τὸ θλάσμα τούτου τοῦ γένους ἐστὶν, ἐν μὲν τοῖς σαρκώδεσιν ὡς τὰ πολλὰ μέρεσι γιγνόμενον, ἔστιν ὅτε δὲ κᾀν τοῖς τῆς κεφαλῆς ὀστοῖς, ἐπὶ παίδων μάλιστα.
At least, it is called "roughness of bone" rather than "caries." But when the hole becomes larger and something like an aperture is already visible, it is named "caries." Furthermore, "contusion" also belongs to this class, occurring for the most part in fleshy parts, but sometimes also in the bones of the head, especially in children.
δεῖ μὲν γὰρ εἴκειν εἰς ἑαυτὸ πάντως τὸ θλασθησόμενον, δεῖ δὲ αὐτὸ τοῦτο μαλακὸν εἶναι καὶ μὴ τελέως σκληρόν.
For that which is to be contused must absolutely yield into itself, and this very thing must be soft and not completely hard.
ὥστε τῶν σαρκωδῶν ἔσται μορίων καὶ τῶν ἁπαλῶν ὀστῶν ὑπό τινος ἐμπεσόντος ἔξωθεν αὐτοῖς ἰσχυροῦ τε καὶ σκληροῦ σάματος.
Consequently, it will belong to fleshy parts and soft bones, caused by some strong and hard body falling upon them from without.
ὅταν οὖν τῆς ἔξωθεν ἐπιφανείας τοῦ παθόντος οὕτω μορίου συνεχοῦς ἔτι φυλαττομένης, ἐν τῷ βάθει γεννηθῶσι πολλαὶ καὶ σμικραὶ διαιρέσεις, θλάσμα τε καὶ θλάσις ὀνομάζεται τὸ νόσημα· κοιλότητος δέ τινος ἐμφαινομένης, ἣν τὸ πλῆξαν ἐναπειργάσατο τῷ θλασθέντι, καλεῖται τὸ πάθος ἔνθλασις. ἀνάγκη μὲν οὖν ἅπασα κατ’ αὐτὴν τὴν πληγὴν εἰς ἑαυτὸ συνωθεῖσθαι καὶ κοῖλον γίγνεσθαι τὸ θλώμενον, ἢ οὐκ ἂν ἐνθλασθείη.
So, when the external surface of the part thus affected is still preserved continuous, but in the depth many small divisions are generated, the disease is called "contusion" or "bruise"; whereas if some cavity appears, which the striking agent has produced in the contused part, the condition is called "indentation." Thus, there is every necessity that during the blow itself the part being bruised is pushed into itself and becomes hollow, or else it would not be indented.
διασώζεσθαι δὲ τὴν κοιλότητα τοῦ δρῶντος ἀπελθόντος οὐκ ἔτ’ ἀναγκαῖον.
However, it is no longer necessary that the cavity is preserved once the active agent has departed.
ἐπανέρχεται μὲν ὡς τὸ πολὺ τὰ μαλακὰ σύμπαντα, χωρισθέντος τοῦ πλήξαντος, εἰς τὴν ἀρχαίαν κατάστασιν.
For the most part, all soft things, when the striking agent is separated, return to their ancient condition.
εἰ δὲ μὴ μόνον εἴσω χωρήσειε τὸ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὀστοῦν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ῥῆξίς τις αὐτῷ προσγένοιτο κατὰ τὴν ἐκτὸς ἐπιφάνειαν, σύνθετον ἤδη τὸ τοιοῦτον, καὶ οὐδὲν ὄνομα κατ’ αὐτοῦ κείμενον ἔχομεν εἰπεῖν παλαιόν.
But if the bone of the head should not only recede inward, but some rupture should also be added to it along the outer surface, such a condition is already composite, and we have no ancient name established for it to declare.
ἀλλὰ χρὴ λόγῳ δηλοῦν αὐτὸ μᾶλλον ἤπερ ὀνόμασιν ἐσχάτως χρῆσθαι βαρβάροις, οἷα πολλὰ τοῖς νεωτέροις ἰατροῖς ἐξεύρηται.
Rather, one must clarify it by description rather than use extremely barbarian names, many of which have been invented by more recent physicians.
συνεχείας δ’ ἐστὶ λύσις καὶ τὸ ῥῆγμα καὶ τὸ σπάσμα, τὸ μὲν ἐν σαρκώδει μορίῳ, τὸ δ’ ἐν νευρώδει συνιστάμενον.
Both rupture and tear are also solutions of continuity, the former occurring in a fleshy part, the latter in a sinewy one.
αἰτία δὲ καὶ τούτων τῆς γενέσεως ἐξαιφνίδιός τις, ἢ ἀνώμαλος, καὶ ἡ σφοδρὰ κίνησις, καὶ μάλισθ’ ὅταν ἄτριπτά τε καὶ ἀνώμαλα καὶ ἀθέρμαντα καὶ ἀμάλακτα πρὸς τὰς κινήσεις ἄγηται τὰ σώματα.
The cause of their generation too is some sudden or irregular and violent movement, especially when bodies that are unexercised, uneven, unheated, and unsoftened are led into movements.
διασπᾶται γὰρ ἐν ταῖς τοιαύταις διαθέσεσι πολλὰ τῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς μορίων.
For in such states, many of the parts in them are torn asunder.
συνελόντι δὲ φάναι, πάντα τὰ τοιούτου γένους τῶν νοσημάτων αἴτια τὰ μὲν ἔξωθεν ὁρμᾶται, τὰ δὲ ἐξ αὐτοῦ τοῦ σώματος· ἔξωθεν μὲν ὅσα τιτρώσκειν ἢ θλᾶν πέφυκεν, ἐξ αὐτοῦ δὲ τοῦ σώματος ἄμετροί τε καὶ ἄτακτοι κινήσεις τοῦ ζώου, καί τινες ὑγρῶν μοχθηρίαι διαβιβρώσκειν πεφυκυῖαι.
To put it briefly, all the causes of this class of diseases are set in motion either from without, or from the body itself; from without, as many as are of a nature to wound or bruise; from the body itself, immoderate and irregular movements of the animal, and certain bad qualities of humors capable of eroding.
τοιαῦται γάρ τινες αἰτίαι καὶ αἱ τοῦ κοινοῦ νοσήματος ἁπάντων τῶν μορίων, τῶν θ’ ἁπλῶν καὶ πρώτων, ἃ δὴ καὶ ὁμοιομερῆ καλεῖται, καὶ τῶν ἐξ ἐκείνων συντιθεμένων, ἃ δὴ ὄργανά τε καὶ ὀργανικὰ προσαγορεύεται.
For such are the causes also of the common disease of all parts, both of the simple and primary parts, which indeed are also called homeomerous, and of those composed of them, which indeed are addressed as organs and organic.
τὰς δὲ τῶν συνθέτων νοσημάτων αἰτίας οὐδὲν ἔτι χαλεπὸν ἐξευρίσκειν ἐκ τῶν εἰρημένων συντιθεμένας.
And it is no longer difficult to discover the causes of composite diseases, as they are composed of the mentioned causes.
ὥστ’ ἐπειδὴ τοῦτο βουληθεὶς ἕκαστος ἑαυτῷ δυνατός ἐστιν ἐκπορίζεσθαι, καιρὸς ἂν εἴη μοι καὶ τοῦτον τὸν λόγον ἐνταυθοῖ καταπαύσαντι περὶ τῆς τῶν συμπτωμάτων διαφορᾶς ἐφεξῆς διελθεῖν.
Consequently, since anyone who wishes is able to provide this for themselves, it would be time for me to conclude this discourse here and next discuss the difference of symptoms in order.

Notes

  1. 11Ἑνὸς δ’ ἔτι γένους νοσήματος — This genitive is interpreted either as an independent genitive of topic ("with respect to...") or as a prolepsis (anticipation) depending on the noun phrase τὰς αἰτίας later in the sentence.
  2. 11πλεονάζειν δοκεῖ τῳ ε στοιχείῳ — According to the author, the term τερηδών (caries) is derived from τρῆμα (hole), and it is considered redundant by the addition of the letter epsilon (ε). This reflects ancient etymological theories.
  3. p.39σάματος — The form σάματος appearing in the manuscripts is a variant or dialectal form (such as Doric) of the standard Attic σώματος (body, object), meaning here an "external body." The genitives τῶν σαρκωδῶν... μορίων at the beginning function as genitives of possession or domain with the verb ἔσται ("it will belong to...").
  4. p.40συνελόντι δὲ φάναι — An idiomatic expression using a dative participle with an infinitive, meaning "to speak briefly" or "to sum up." The dative συνελόντι functions as a dative of reference or judgment ("for one who sums up").

Cite this passage

Galen, Causes of Diseases §11. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0057.tlg042.humanitext-grc1:11

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