§1.26Διὰ τί μετὰ τὰς τροπὰς ἀμφοτέρας μέχρι ἑκατὸν ἡμερῶν ἀποθνήσκουσι μάλιστα;
Why, after both solstices, do people die most of all for up to a hundred days?
ἢ ὅτι ἄχρι τοσούτου ἑκατέρα ἡ ὑπερβολὴ διέχει, ἣ τε τοῦ θερμοῦ καὶ τοῦ ψυχροῦ;
Or is it because each excess, both that of heat and that of cold, lasts up to this long?
ἡ δὲ ὑπερβολὴ τοῖς ἀσθενέσι ποιεῖ τὰς νόσους καὶ τὰς φθοράς.
And excess produces diseases and deaths in the weak.
§1.27Διὰ τί τὸ ἔαρ καὶ τὸ φθινόπωρον νοσώδη;
Why are spring and autumn unhealthy?
ἢ ὅτι αἱ μεταβολαὶ νοσώδεις;
Or is it because changes are unhealthy?
τὸ δὲ μετόπωρον τοῦ ἔαρος νοσωδέστερον, ὅτι μᾶλλον τοῦ θερμοῦ ψυχομένου ἢ τοῦ ψυχροῦ θερμαινομένου νοσοῦμεν.
And autumn is unhealthier than spring, because we fall ill more when what is warm is cooled than when what is cold is warmed.
ἐν μὲν οὖν τῷ ἔαρι τὸ ψυχρὸν θερμαίνεται, ἐν δὲ τῷ μετοπώρῳ τὸ θερμὸν ψύχεται.
For indeed, in spring what is cold is warmed, but in autumn what is warm is cooled.
§1.28Διὰ τί ἐν τῷ χειμῶνι ἐλάττω μὲν τὰ ἀρρωστήματα ἢ ἐν τῷ θέρει, θανάσιμα δὲ μᾶλλον;
Why are illnesses fewer in winter than in summer, but more fatal?
ἢ ὅτι ἐν μὲν τῷ θέρει ἀπὸ μικρᾶς προφάσεως τὰ ἀρρωστήματα, ἐν δὲ τῷ χειμῶνι οὔ;
Or is it because in summer illnesses arise from a slight cause, but in winter they do not?
πεπτικώτεροι γὰρ καὶ ὑγιεινότεροι ἡμῶν αὐτῶν, ὥστε εἰκότως τὰ ἀπὸ μείζονος προφάσεως γινόμενα μείζω καὶ ἀναιρετικώτερα.
For we are more capable of digestion and healthier than our usual selves, so that naturally those illnesses which arise from a greater cause are greater and more destructive.
ταὐτὸ δὲ τοῦτο καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀθλητῶν καὶ ὅλως ἐπὶ τῶν ὑγιεινῶς διακειμένων ὁρῶμεν· ἢ γὰρ οὐ λαμβάνονται νόσῳ, ἢ ταχὺ συναπίασιν· μεγάλης γὰρ αἰτίας δέονται.
And we see this very same thing in the case of athletes and in general of those who are in a healthy state; for either they do not fall ill, or they quickly pass away; for they require a great cause.
§1.29Διὰ τί τοῦ μὲν φθινοπώρου καὶ τοῦ χειμῶνος οἱ καῦσοι μᾶλλον γίνονται ἐν ταῖς ψυχραῖς ὥραις, τοῦ δὲ θέρους τὰ ῥίγη ἐνοχλεῖ καυμάτων ὄντων;
Why is it that in autumn and winter, burning fevers arise more in cold seasons, but in summer shiverings trouble people despite the heat?
ἢ ὅτι τῶν κατὰ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἡ χολὴ μέν ἐστι θερμόν, τὸ δὲ φλέγμα ψυχρόν;
Or is it because among the things in man, bile is warm, but phlegm is cold?
ἐν μὲν οὖν τῷ θέρει τὸ ψυχρὸν ἀναλύεται, καὶ διαχυθὲν ῥίγη καὶ τρόμους παρασκευάζει· ἐν δὲ τῷ χειμῶνι τὸ θερμὸν ὑπὸ τῆς ὥρας κρατεῖται κατεψυγμένον.
Thus, in summer, the cold substance is dissolved, and being dispersed, it produces shiverings and trembling; but in winter, the warm substance is kept in check, being cooled by the season.
οἱ δὲ καῦσοι μᾶλλον ἐνοχλοῦσι τοῦ χειμῶνος καὶ τοῦ φθινοπώρου, ὅτι διὰ τὸ ψῦχος τὸ θερμὸν εἴσω συστέλλεται, ὁ δὲ καῦσος ἔσωθέν ἐστι καὶ οὐκ ἐπιπολῆς· εἰκότως οὖν οἱ καῦσοι ταύτην τὴν ὥραν γίνονται.
But burning fevers trouble people more in winter and autumn, because due to the cold, the heat is contracted inside, and burning fever is internal and not on the surface; naturally, therefore, burning fevers occur at this season.
καταμάθοι δ’ ἄν τις τοῦτο ἀκριβέστερον ἐπὶ τῶν ψυχρολουτρούντων τοῦ χειμῶνος καὶ τῶν τοῦ χειμῶνος λουομένων τῷ θερμῷ, ὅτι οἱ μὲν τῷ ψυχρῷ λουόμενοι, ἀπορριγώσαντες ὀλίγον χρόνον ἕως λούονται, τὴν λοιπὴν ἡμέραν οὐδὲν πάσχουσιν ὑπὸ τοῦ ψυχροῦ, οἱ δὲ τῷ θερμῷ ὕδατι χρησάμενοι δυσριγοτέρως διάγουσι.
And one might learn this more accurately from those who take cold baths in winter and those who bathe in warm water in winter, namely, that those who bathe in cold water, having shivered for a short time while they are bathing, for the rest of the day suffer nothing from the cold, whereas those who have used warm water pass their time more sensitive to cold.
τῶν μὲν γὰρ τῷ ψυχρῷ λουομένων πυκνοῦται ἡ σὰρξ καὶ συστέλλεται εἴσω τὸ θερμόν, τῶν δὲ θερμολουτρούντων ἡ σὰρξ ἀραιοῦται καὶ τὸ θερμὸν ἕως τοῦ ἔξω τόπου περισπᾶται.
For in those who bathe in cold water, the flesh is compacted and the heat is contracted inside, but in those who take warm baths, the flesh becomes porous and the heat is drawn out to the outer part.
§1.30Τίς καταπλάσματος ἀρετή;
What is the virtue of a poultice?
ἢ διὰ τὸ χυτικὸν εἶναι κἂν ἱδρῶτα ποιοῖ καὶ ἀποπνοήν;
Or is it because it has a dissolving property, and so produces sweat and evaporation?
§1.31Τῷ δῆλον ὅταν ἔμπυον;
By what is it clear when there is matter?
ἢ ἐὰν καταχεομένου τοῦ θερμοῦ ἀλλαγῇ, ἔμπυον, εἰ δὲ μή, οὔ;
Or is it that if, when warm water is poured over it, there is a change, there is matter, but if not, there is not?
§1.32Ποῖα δεῖ καίειν ἢ ποῖα δεῖ τέμνειν;
Which kinds of wounds should be cauterized and which should be excised?
ἢ ὅσα μὲν ἔχει στόμα μέγα καὶ οὐ ταχὺ συμφύεται, ταῦτα καίειν δεῖ, ὅπως ἡ ἐσχάρα ἐκεῖ πέσῃ;
Or is it that those which have a wide opening and do not quickly heal together should be cauterized, so that a scab may form and fall there?
οὕτως γὰρ οὐκ ἔσται ὕπουλα.
For in this way they will not become ulcerated underneath the scar.
§1.33Τίς ἐναίμου ἀρετή;
What is the virtue of a wound-dressing?
ἢ τὸ ξηραντικὸν εἶναι καὶ τῆς ἐπιούσης περιττώσεως σταλτικὸν ἐσχαρώσεως καὶ σήψεως τῆς σαρκός;
Or is it because it has a drying property, and restrains the oncoming residue, and prevents the scarring and putrefaction of the flesh?
οὕτω γὰρ ἂν ἀφλέγμαντον εἴη καὶ συμφυτικόν.
For in this way it would be free from inflammation and promotive of healing.
μὴ ἐπιρρέοντος μὲν γὰρ ἀφλέγμαντον ἔσται, ξηρὸν δὲ ὂν συμφύσεται· ἕως δ’ ἂν ὑγρορροῇ, οὐ συμφύσεται.
For indeed, if there is no influx, it will be free from inflammation, and being dry, it will heal together; but as long as it discharges moisture, it will not heal.
διὰ τοῦτο οὖν δριμέα τὰ πλεῖστα, ὥστε ἀποστύφειν.
It is for this reason, therefore, that most of them are pungent, so as to be astringent.
§1.34Ποῖα τέμνειν δεῖ καὶ ποῖα καίειν, καὶ ποῖα οὔ, ἀλλὰ φαρμάκοις;
Which kinds of swelling should be excised, and which cauterized, and which neither, but treated with drugs?
ἢ τὰ μὲν ἐπὶ ταῖς μασχάλαις καὶ βουβῶσι φαρμάκῳ;
Or should those on the armpits and groins be treated with drugs?
μετὰ γὰρ διαίρεσιν τὰ μὲν ἐπίπονα, τὰ δὲ ἐπικίνδυνα.
For after incision, some are painful and others dangerous.
καίειν δὲ τὰ πλατέα τῶν φυμάτων καὶ πολὺ πρόβλημα ἔχοντα, καὶ ἐν φλεβώδεσι καὶ μὴ εὐσάρκοις.
And should one cauterize flat tumors and those that project much, and those in vascular and not fleshy parts?
τέμνειν δὲ τὰ εἰς ὀξὺ συνηγμένα καὶ τὰ μὴ ἐν στερεοῖς.
And should one excise those that come to a sharp point, and those not in solid parts?