§10.7Ἔστι δ’ ἐνστῆναι εἰ ἀληθῆ λέγουσι φάσκουσαι, ὅταν ἐξονειρώττωσι, ξηραὶ ἀνίστασθαι.
But it is possible to raise an objection to whether women speak the truth when they claim to get up dry when they have wet dreams.
Δῆλον γὰρ ὅτι ἕλκει ἡ ὑστέρα ἄνωθεν, ὥστε διὰ τί οὐ γεννᾷ αὐτὰ καθ’ αὐτὰ τὰ θήλεα, ἐπείπερ καὶ μιχθὲν ἕλκει τὸ τοῦ ἄρρενος;
For it is clear that the uterus draws from above; so why does the female not generate by herself, since she draws that of the male even when mixed?
Διὰ τί οὐχὶ καὶ αἱ αἶγες τὸ αὑτῆς ἕλκει, ὅπερ εἰς τὸ ἔξω διατείνει;
Why do goats also not draw their own, which extends to the outside?
αἷς γίνεται τοῦτο τὸ πάθος κυούσαις ἔτη πολλά.
To whom this experience occurs while they are pregnant for many years.
Τίκτουσι γὰρ ὃ καλοῦσι μύλην, οἷον συνέβη τινὶ γυναικί.
For they bring forth what they call a "mole," just as happened to a certain woman.
Συγγενομένης τῷ ἀνδρὶ καὶ δοξάσης συλλαβεῖν ὅ τ’ ὄγκος ηὐξάνετο τῆς ὑστέρας καὶ τἆλλα ἐγίγνετο τὸ πρῶτον κατὰ λόγον.
When she associated with her husband and thought she had conceived, the swelling of the uterus increased, and other things happened at first in due proportion.
Ἐπεὶ δ’ ὁ χρόνος ἦν τοῦ τόκου, οὔτε ἔτικτεν οὔτε ὁ ὄγκος ἐλάττων ἐγίγνετο, ἀλλ’ ἔτη τρία ἢ τέτταρα οὕτω διετέλεσεν, ἕως δυσεντερίας γενομένης καὶ κινδυνευσάσης αὐτῆς ἔτεκε σάρκα εὐμεγέθη, ἣν καλοῦσι μύλην. Ἐνίαις δὲ καὶ συγκαταγηράσκει τὸ πάθος καὶ συναποθνήσκει.
But when it was the time for birth, she neither brought forth nor did the swelling become less, but she continued thus for three or four years, until dysentery occurred and she was in danger, and she brought forth a large piece of flesh, which they call a "mole." And in some, the disease grows old with them and dies with them.
Πότερον δὲ διὰ θερμότητα γίνεται τὸ πάθος τοῦτο, ὅταν τύχῃ ἡ ὑστέρα θερμὴ καὶ ξηρὰ οὖσα καὶ διὰ ταῦτα σπαστικὴ πρὸς αὑτήν, καὶ οὕτως ὥστ’ ἔστιν ἀνελέσθαι καὶ φυλάξαι πρὸς αὑτήν;
Does this disease occur because of heat, when the uterus happens to be hot and dry and for these reasons spasmodic toward itself, and in such a way that it can take up and keep it within itself?
Οὕτω γὰρ ἐχούσαις, ἐὰν μὴ μεμιγμένον ἐστὶ τὸ ἀπ’ ἀμφοῖν, ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ τὸ ὑπηνέμιον ἐνδέξαιτο ἀπὸ θατέρου, τότε γίνεται ἡ καλουμένη μύλη, οὔτε ζῷον, διὰ τὸ μὴ παρ’ ἀμφοῖν, οὔτε ἄψυχον, διὰ τὸ ἔμψυχον ληφθὲν εἶναι, ὥσπερ τὰ ὑπηνέμια.
For in those who are in this state, if that which comes from both is not mixed, but it should receive it from one of the two just like a wind-egg, then the so-called "mole" is produced, being neither an animal, because it is not from both, nor inanimate, because it was received as animate, like wind-eggs.
Πολὺν δὲ χρόνον ἐμμένει διά τε τὴν τῆς ὑστέρας διάθεσιν, καὶ διότι ἡ μὲν ὄρνις πολλὰ εἰς αὑτὴν τίκτουσα, ὑπὸ τούτων γινομένης τῆς ὑστέρας, προσάγει καὶ τίκτει· καὶ ὅταν ἅπαξ οἰχθῇ, καὶ τὸ τελευταῖον ἐξέρχεται.
And it remains for a long time both because of the disposition of the uterus, and because the bird, laying many eggs into herself, the uterus being affected by these, brings them near and lays them; and when it is once opened, the last also comes out.
Οὐ γάρ ἐστι τὸ εἶργον, ἀλλὰ κατὰ σῶμα προετικὸν γενόμενον, ὅτε ἐπληροῦτο οὐκέτι τὴν ὑστέραν ποιεῖ ἀντισπαστικήν.
For there is nothing that debars it, but the body having become prone to emission, when it was filled, it no longer makes the uterus spasmodic in the opposite direction.
Ὅσα δὲ ζῳοφορεῖ, διὰ τὸ μεταβάλλειν τὴν δύναμιν αὐξανομένου καὶ ἄλλοτε ἀλλοίας δεῖσθαι τροφῆς, ἐπιφλεγμαίνουσά τι ἡ ὑστέρα ποιεῖ ταὐτὸν τόκον.
But in those that are viviparous, because the power changes as it grows and requires different food at different times, the uterus, becoming somewhat inflamed, causes the same birth.
Ἡ δὲ σάρξ, διὰ τὸ μὴ ζῷον εἶναι, ἀεὶ τῶν ὁμαλῶν.
But the flesh, because it is not an animal, is always uniform.
Δεῖ γὰρ ὃ βαρύνει τὴν ὑστέραν οὐδὲν οἴει φλεγμαίνειν.
For one must suppose that that which weighs down the uterus does not cause any inflammation.
Ὡς ἐνίαις γε καὶ συναποθνήσκει τὸ πάθος, ἐὰν μὴ δι’ εὐτύχημα ἀσθενήματος συμβῇ, οἷον τῇ ληφθείσῃ ὑπὸ τῆς δυσεντερίας.
Wherefore, in some indeed, the disease dies with them, unless it happens through the good fortune of an illness, as to the woman who was seized by dysentery.
Πότερον δ’ ὥσπερ εἴρηται, διὰ θερμότητα γίνεται τὸ πάθος ἢ μᾶλλον δι’ ὑγρότητα, ὅτι καὶ ἔστι τὸ πλήρωμα οἷον μύει, ἢ ὅταν μὴ οὕτως ᾖ ψυχρὰ ἡ ὑστέρα ὥστε ἀφεῖναι, μηδ’ οὕτω θερμὴ ὥστε πέψαι;
Does the disease occur, as has been said, because of heat or rather because of moisture, because the filling is also like a muscle, or when the uterus is not so cold as to let go, nor so hot as to concoct?
Διὸ καὶ χρόνιον τὸ πάθος, ὥσπερ καὶ τὰ ἐν ἑψήσει πολὺν χρόνον διαμένει.
Wherefore also the disease is chronic, just as things in boiling remain for a long time.
Τὰ δ’ ἑψόμενα πέρας ἔχει καὶ ταχυτῆτα.
But things that are being boiled have a limit and speed.
Αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται ὑστέραι ἀκρόταται οὖσαι τὸν χρόνον ποιοῦσι πολύν.
But such uteri, being at the extreme, make the time long.
Ἔτι δὲ τὸ μὴ ζῷον εἶναι μὴ κινούμενον οὐ ποιεῖ τὴν ὠδῖνα· ἡ γὰρ κίνησις τῶν συνδέσμων ὠδίς ἐστιν, ἣν διὰ τὸ ζῆν προΐεσθαι τὸ ἔμβρυον.
Furthermore, its not being an animal, and not moving, does not cause labor-pains; for the motion of the ligaments is the labor-pain, which the embryo causes to be emitted because of its living.
Καὶ ἡ σκληρότης δ’ ἡ γιγνομένη τοῦ πράγματος κωλύσεως ἔργον ἐστίν.
And the hardness that occurs in the object is the result of obstruction.
Οὕτω γὰρ γίνεται σκληρὸν ὥστε πελέκει οὐ δύνανται διακόπτειν.
For it becomes so hard that they cannot cut it through with an axe.
Τὰ μὲν οὖν ἑφθὰ καὶ πάντα τὰ πεπεμμένα μαλακὰ γίγνεται, τὰ δ’ ἀπολελυμένα ἄπεπτα καὶ σκληρά.
Therefore, boiled and all concocted things become soft, but those that are released unconcocted and hard.
Ὅτι πολλοὶ ἰατροὶ ἀγνοοῦντες δι’ ὁμοιότητα μύλας εἶναι τὸ πάθος λέγουσιν, ἂν μόνον ἴδωσι τάς τε κοιλίας ἐπαιρομένας ἄνευ ὕδρωπος καὶ τῶν ἐπιμηνίων σχέσιν, ὅταν χρονίζῃ τοῦτο τὸ πάθος.
Now many physicians, being ignorant, say because of the similarity that the disease is a mole, if only they see the bellies swollen without dropsy and the retention of the menses, when this disease is chronic.
Τὸ δ’ οὐκ ἔστιν, ἀλλ’ ὀλιγάκις γίνονται αἱ γιγνόμεναι μύλαι.
But this is not so, but the moles that occur are rare.
Ἄλλοτε μὲν σύρρους γίνεται ψυχρῶν καὶ ὑγρῶν περιττωμάτων καὶ ὑδαρῶν, ἄλλοτε δὲ παχυτέρων, εἰς τὸν περὶ τὴν κοιλίαν τόπον, ἐὰν τὴν φύσιν τοιαῦτα ᾖ ἢ τὴν ἕξιν.
At one time an influx of cold and moist and watery superfluities occurs, and at another time of thicker ones, into the place about the belly, if their nature or habit is of this kind.
Ταῦτα γὰρ οὔτε ὀδυνηρὰν παρέχει οὔτε θερμότητα διὰ ψυχρότητα.
For these provide neither pain nor heat because of coldness.
Αὔξησιν δὲ λαβόντα τὰ μὲν μείζω τὰ δ’ ἐλάττω, οὐδεμίαν ἄλλην ἐπισπῶνται νόσον παρ’ ἑαυτά, ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ πήρωμά τι ἡσυχάζει.
And having received increase, some greater and some smaller, they draw no other disease to themselves, but rest like some deformity.
Ἡ δ’ ἀπόλειψις τῶν καταμηνίων γίνεται διὰ τὸ δεῦρο καταναλίσκεσθαι τὰ περιττώματα, ὥσπερ καὶ ὅταν θηλάζωνται· καὶ γὰρ ταύταις ἢ οὐ γίνεται ἢ ὀλίγα.
And the cessation of the menses occurs because the superfluities are consumed here, just as also when they are breast-feeding; for to these also it either does not occur or is little.
Ἔστι δ’ ὅτε καὶ εἰς τὸν μεταξὺ τόπον τῆς ὑστέρας καὶ τῆς κοιλίας συρρέον ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς δοκεῖ μύλη εἶναι, οὐκ οὖσα.
And sometimes that which flows together from the flesh into the place between the uterus and the belly seems to be a mole, though it is not.
Ἔστι δ’ οὐ χαλεπὸν γνῶναι, ἂν μύλη θιγγάνουσα ᾖ τῆς ὑστέρας.
But it is not difficult to know, if a mole is touching the uterus.
Ἐὰν γὰρ ᾖ εὐσταλὴς καὶ μὴ ἔχουσα αὔξησιν, δῆλον ὅτι οὐκ ἐν ἐκείνῃ τὸ πάθος.
For if it is compact and not having increase, it is clear that the disease is not in it.
Ἐὰν δὲ τοιαύτη ᾖ οἷον ὅτε παιδίον ἔχει μύλην, θερμή τε καὶ ψυχρὰ καὶ ξηρὰ ἔσται διὰ τὸ εἴσω τετράφθαι τὰ ὑγρά, καὶ τὸ στόμα τοιαύτη οἷον ὅταν κύωσιν.
But if it is such as when she has a mole instead of a child, it will be hot and cold and dry because the fluids are turned inward, and the mouth of such a kind as when they are pregnant.
Ἐὰν δέ τι ἄλλο ᾖ ὁ ὄγκος, ἔσται ψυχρὰ θιγγανομένη καὶ οὐ ξηρά, καὶ ἀεὶ τὸ στόμα ὅμοιον.
But if the swelling is something else, it will be cold to the touch and not dry, and the mouth always the same.