§10.1#1## Κ.
Προϊούσης δὲ τῆς ἡλικίας ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικί, τοῦ μὴ γεννᾶν ἀλλήλοις συνόντας τὸ αἴτιον ὁτὲ μὲν ἐν ἀμφοῖν ἐστίν, ὁτὲ δ’ ἐν θατέρῳ μόνον.
Book 10 As age advances for a man and a woman, the cause of their not generating when cohabiting with one another is sometimes in both, and sometimes in only one of them.
Πρῶτον μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ τοῦ θήλεος δεῖ θεωρεῖν τὰ περὶ τὰς ὑστέρας ὅπως ἔχει, ἵν’ εἰ μὲν ἐν ταύταις τὸ αἴτιον, αὗται τυγχάνωσι θεραπείας, εἰ δὲ μὴ ἐν ταύταις, περὶ ἕτερόν τι τῶν αἰτίων ποιῶνται τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν.
First, then, in the case of the female, one must examine the state of the uterus, so that if the cause is in this, it may receive treatment; but if not in this, they may direct their attention to some other of the causes.
Ἔστι δ’, ὥσπερ καὶ περὶ ἄλλο μέρος, φανερὸν εἰ ὑγιαίνει, ὅταν τὸ ἔργον τὸ αὑτοῦ ἱκανῶς ἀποτελῇ καὶ ἄλυπόν τε ᾖ καὶ μετὰ τὰς ἐργασίας ἄκοπον, οἷον ὀφθαλμὸς ὅταν λήμην τε μηδεμίαν ποιῇ καὶ ὁρᾷ καὶ μετὰ τὴν ὅρασιν μὴ ταράττηται μηδ’ ἀδυνατῇ ὁρᾶν πάλιν.
And it is, just as with any other part, manifest whether it is healthy when it performs its own function sufficiently, and is without pain, and without fatigue after its operations, as, for example, the eye, when it produces no rheum, and sees, and after seeing is not troubled nor unable to see again.
Οὕτω καὶ ὑστέρα ἡ πόνον τε μὴ παρέχουσα, καὶ ὃ ἐκείνης ἐστί, τοῦθ’ ἱκανῶς ἀπεργαζομένη, καὶ μετὰ τὰ ἔργα μὴ ἀδύνατος ἀλλ’ ἄκοπος.
So also is a uterus which causes no pain, and performs its own function sufficiently, and after its operations is not disabled but free from fatigue.
Λέγεται δὲ καὶ μὴ καλῶς ἔχουσαν τὴν ὑστέραν ὅμως πρὸς τὸ ἔργον τὸ αὑτῆς ἔχειν καλῶς καὶ ἀλύπως, ἂν μὴ ταύτης χεῖρον τὸ ἔργον ἐστὶν αὐτῆς ἔχειν, ὥσπερ ὄμμα οὐδὲν κωλύει αὐτὸ ὁρᾶν ἀκριβῶς, μὴ ἔχοντος τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ καλῶς πάντα τὰ μόρια, ἢ εἰ φῦμά τι ὄν.
But it is also said that even a uterus which is not in a healthy state may nevertheless be in a good and painless condition with respect to its own function, unless its function is worse than its own condition, just as nothing prevents an eye itself from seeing accurately, even if the eye does not have all its parts in good condition, or if there is some growth on it.
Ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὑστέρα, εἰ εὖ ἔχει τοῦ ἐπικαίρου τόπου, οὐθὲν ἂν πρὸς τοῦτο βλάπτοι.
Likewise also the uterus, if it is in a good condition in the critical spot, would be in no way harmed with respect to this.
Δεῖ δὴ τὴν ἔχουσαν καλῶς ὑστέραν πρῶτον μὲν τῷ τόπῳ μὴ ἐν ἄλλῳ καὶ ἄλλῳ εἶναι, ἀλλ’ ὁμοίως τῇ θέσει· πλὴν γίγνεσθαι τὸ πορρώτερον ἄνευ πάθους καὶ λύπης, καὶ μηδὲν ἀναισθητοτέρας εἶναι θιγγανομένας.
Indeed, the uterus which is in good condition must, first of all, not be in different places at different times, but consistently in its position, except that it may go further back without suffering and pain, and be no less sensitive when touched.
Τοῦτο δὲ κρίνειν οὐ χαλεπόν.
And it is not difficult to judge this.
Ὅτι δὲ δεῖ τοιαύτας εἶναι, ἐκ τῶνδε φανερόν.
That they must be such, is clear from the following.
Εἴτε γὰρ μὴ πλησίον προσίασιν, οὐκ ἔσονται ἅμα σπαστικαί· πόρρω γὰρ αὐταῖς ἔσται ὁ τόπος ὅθεν δεῖ ἀναλαβεῖν.
For if they do not approach near, they will not be attractive at the same time; for the place from which they must draw will be too far from them.
Εἰ δὲ μὴ πλησίον μένουσι καὶ μὴ οἷαι ἐπανιέναι πορρωτέρω, κωφότεραι ἔσονται.
And if they do not remain near, and are not able to return further back, they will be more sluggish.
Διαθιγγάνεσθαι δ’ ἀεί, ὥστε μὴ ταχὺ ἀνοίγεσθαι, δεῖ τοῦτο σφόδρα ποιεῖν καὶ εὐηκόους εἶναι.
And they must always be touched through, so as not to open quickly, and they must do this intensely and be responsive.
Ταῦτά τε οὖν χρὴ ὑπάρχειν, ὅσαις τε μὴ ὑπάρχει, αὗται θεραπείας δέονται τινός· καὶ τὰ καταμήνια γίνεσθαι καλῶς, τοῦτο δ’ ἐστὶ δι’ ἴσων χρόνων καὶ μὴ πεπλανημένως, ὑγιαίνοντος τοῦ σώματος.
These things, then, must be present, and those in whom they are not present require some treatment; and the menses must occur properly, that is, at regular intervals and not erratically, while the body is healthy.
Σημαίνει γὰρ οὕτω γινόμενα καλῶς ἔχειν ἀνοίγεσθαι καὶ δέχεσθαι τὴν ἐκ τοῦ σώματος ὑγρότητα, ὅταν τὸ σῶμα διδῷ.
For occurring in this way indicates that they are in a good condition to open and receive the moisture from the body, when the body offers it.
Ὅταν δὲ πλεονάκις ἢ ἐλαττονάκις ἢ πεπλανημένως ἀφιῶσι, τοῦ ἄλλου σώματος μὴ συναιτίου ὄντος ἀλλ’ ὑγιαίνοντος, ἀνάγκη τοῦτο συμβαίνειν δι’ αὐτάς.
But when they discharge too frequently or too rarely or erratically, while the rest of the body is not a contributing cause but is healthy, this must necessarily happen on account of the uterus itself.
Καὶ διὰ κωφότητα οὐκ ἀνοίγονται δ’ ἐν τοῖς καιροῖς, ὥστ’ ὀλίγα δέχονται, ἢ μᾶλλον ἐπισπῶνται τὸ ὑγρὸν διά τινα φλεγμασίαν αὐτῶν, ὥστε θεραπείας σημαίνουσι δεόμεναι, ὥσπερ καὶ ὀφθαλμοὶ καὶ κύστις καὶ κοιλία καὶ τἆλλα· πάντες γὰρ οἱ τόποι φλεγμαίνοντες ἕλκουσιν ὑγρότητα τοιαύτην, ἣ πέφυκεν ἐκκρίνεσθαι εἰς ἕκαστον τόπον, ἀλλ’ οὐ τοιαύτη ἢ τοσαύτη.
And because of sluggishness they do not open at the proper times, so that they receive little, or they draw in the moisture excessively because of some inflammation in them, so that they show they need treatment, just as eyes, bladder, stomach, and the rest do; for all parts, when inflamed, draw such moisture as is naturally secreted into each part, but not of such a quality or quantity.