§1.35Διὰ τί, ἐὰν χαλκῷ τις τμηθῇ, ῥᾷον ὑγιάζεται ἢ σιδήρῳ;
Why, if someone is cut with bronze, does it heal more easily than with iron?
πότερον ὅτι λειότερον, ὥσθ’ ἧττον σπαράττει καὶ ποιεῖ πληγήν;
Is it because bronze is smoother, so that it tears less and makes less of a wound?
ἢ εἴπερ ἀκμὴν μᾶλλον ὁ σίδηρος λαμβάνει, ῥᾴων καὶ ἀπαθεστέρα ἡ διαίρεσις;
Or, if indeed iron takes a sharper edge, is the incision easier and less painful?
ἀλλὰ μὴν φαρμακῶδες ὁ χαλκός, ἡ δὲ ἀρχὴ ἰσχυρόν.
But indeed, bronze has a medicinal property, and its principle is strong.
τὸ οὖν εὐθὺς ἅμα τῇ τομῇ θᾶττον τὸ φάρμακον ποιεῖ τὴν σύμφυσιν.
Therefore, immediately at the same time as the incision, the medicine more quickly produces healing.
§1.36Διὰ τί δὲ καὶ τὰ διὰ χαλκοῦ καύματα θᾶττον ὑγιάζεται;
And why do burns caused by bronze also heal more quickly?
ἢ ὅτι μανότερον καὶ ἧττον σωματικόν, ἐν δὲ τοῖς στερεωτέροις πλείων ἡ θερμότης.
Or is it because bronze is more porous and less material, whereas in more solid substances there is more heat?
§1.37Πότερον ἡ πτισάνη κουφοτέρα ἡ κριθίνη καὶ βελτίων πρὸς τὰ ἀρρωστήματα ἢ ἡ πυρίνη;
Is barley-gruel lighter and better for illnesses than wheat-gruel?
δοκεῖ γάρ τισιν αὕτη σημεῖον ποιουμένοις τοὺς μεταχειριζομένους, ὅτι πολὺ εὐχρούστεροι οἱ περὶ τὴν τῶν ἀλεύρων ἐργασίαν ἢ τὴν τῶν ἀλφίτων.
For it seems so to some, who take as proof those who handle them, because those occupied with the preparation of wheat flour have a much better complexion than those occupied with barley meal.
εἶθ’ὅτι ὑγρότερον ἡ κριθὴ, τὸ δὲ ὑγρότερον πλέονος〈οὔσης〉 πέψεως.
And further, because barley is moister, and what is moister requires more digestion.
ἢ οὐθὲν κωλύει ἔνια ἔχειν δυσπεπτότερα καὶ ἔνα πρὸς κουφότητα χρησιμώτερα;
Or does nothing prevent some things from being harder to digest, and others more useful for lightness?
οὐ γὰρ μόνον ὑγροτέρα ἐστὶν ἡ κριθὴ τοῦ πυροῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ψυχροτέρα.
For barley is not only moister than wheat, but also colder.
δεῖ δὲ τὸ ῥόφημα καὶ τὸ προσφερόμενον τοιοῦτον εἶναι τῷ πυρέττοντι, ὃ τροφήν τε βραχεῖαν ποιήσει καὶ καταψύξει.
And the drink and food offered to a feverish patient must be of such a kind as will produce little nourishment and cool them.
ἡ δὲ πτισάνη τοῦτο ἔχει ἡ κριθίνη· διὰ γὰρ τὸ ὑγρότερον ἢ σωματωδέστερον εἶναι ὀλίγον δίδωσι, καὶ τοῦτο ψυκτικόν.
And barley-gruel has this property; for because it is moister than what is material, it gives little nourishment, and this is cooling.
§1.38Διὰ τί τὴν αἱμωδίαν παύει ἡ ἀνδράχνη καὶ ἅλες;
Why does purslane and salt cure the setting of teeth on edge?
ἢ ὅτι ἡ μὲν ὑγρότητά τινα ἔχει;
Or is it because the former has a certain moisture?
φανερὰ δὲ αὕτη μασωμένοις τε, καὶ ἐὰν συνθλασθῇ χρόνον τινά· ἕλκεται γὰρ ἡ ὑγρότης.
And this is clear both when it is chewed, and if it is crushed for some time; for the moisture is drawn out.
τὸ δὴ γλίσχρον εἰσδυόμενον ἐξάγει τὸ ὀξύ.
Thus, the viscous substance entering in extracts the acid.
καὶ γὰρ ὅτι συγγενής, ἡ ὀξύτης σημαίνει· ἔχει γάρ τινα ὀξύτητα ὁ χυμός.
Indeed, that it is related is indicated by the acidity; for the juice has a certain acidity.
ὁ δὲ ἃλς συντήκων ἐξάγει καὶ τὴν ὀξύτητα.
But salt, by dissolving, also extracts the acidity.
διὰ τί οὖν ἡ κονία καὶ τὸ νίτρον οὔ;
Why then do ashes and soda not do so?
ἢ ὅτι στύφει καὶ οὐ τήκει;
Or is it because they are astringent and do not dissolve?
§1.39Διὰ τί τοὺς μὲν θερινοὺς κόπους λουτρῷ ἰᾶσθαι δεῖ, τοὺς δὲ χειμερινοὺς ἀλείμμασιν, ἢ τοὺς μὲν ἀλείμματι διὰ τὰς φρίκας καὶ τὰς γενομένας μεταβολάς;
Why should summer fatigues be cured by baths, and winter fatigues by anointings, or should winter fatigues be treated by anointing because of the shiverings and the changes that have occurred?
θέρμῃ γὰρ λύειν δεῖ, ἣ ποιήσει ἀλεάζειν· τὸ δ’ ἔλαιον θερμόν.
For one must dissolve them by heat, which will make one warm; and oil is warm.
ἐν δὲ τῷ θέρει καθυγραίνειν· ἡ γὰρ ὥρα ξηρά, καὶ οὐ φοβεραὶ αἱ φρῖκαι διὰ τὴν εἰς ἀλέαν ἔκκλισιν.
But in summer one must moisten; for the season is dry, and shiverings are not to be feared because of the inclination toward warmth.
ὀλιγοσιτία δὲ καὶ κωθωνισμὸς θέρους, τὸ μὲν ὅλως, τὸ δὲ μᾶλλον, ὁ μὲν πότος θέρους ὅλως διὰ τὴν ξηρότητα, ἡ δὲ ὀλιγοσιτία κοινὸν μέν, μᾶλλον δὲ θέρους· ἐκθερμαίνεται γὰρ διὰ τὴν ὥραν ὑπὸ τῶν σιτίων.
And small eating and drinking are practiced in summer, the latter altogether, the former more; for drinking is altogether practiced in summer because of the dryness, and small eating is common indeed, but more so in summer; for due to the season, one is overheated by food.
§1.40Διὰ τί τῶν φαρμάκων τὰ μὲν τὴν κοιλίαν λύει, τὴν δὲ κύστιν οὔ, τὰ δὲ τὴν μὲν κύστιν λύει, τὴν κοιλίαν δὲ οὔ;
Why do some drugs purge the bowels but not the bladder, and others purge the bladder but not the bowels?
ἢ ὅσα μέν ἐστιν ὑγρὰ τὴν φύσιν καὶ ὕδατος μεστά, ταῦτα ἂν ᾖ φαρμακώδη, λύει τὴν κύστιν;
Or is it that those which are moist by nature and full of water, if they are medicinal, purge the bladder?
ἐκεῖ γὰρ ὑφίσταται τὰ ἄπεπτα τῶν ὑγρῶν· ὑποδοχὴ γάρ ἐστιν ἡ κύστις τοῦ μὴ πεττομένου ὑγροῦ ἐν τῇ κοιλίᾳ, ὃ οὐ μένει, ἀλλὰ πρὶν ποιῆσαί τι ἢ παθεῖν ὑποχωρεῖ.
For there the undigested parts of the liquids settle; for the bladder is a receptacle of the liquid that is not digested in the bowels, which does not remain, but departs before producing or suffering anything.
ὅσα δὲ ἐκ γῆς τὴν φύσιν ἐστίν, ἂν ᾖ φαρμακώδη, ταῦτα δὲ τὴν κοιλίαν λύει· εἰς ταύτην γὰρ ἡ φορὰ τῶν γεωδῶν.
But those which are of an earthy nature, if they are medicinal, purge the bowels; for the movement of earthy things is into the bowels.
ὥστε ἂν ᾖ κινητικόν, ταράττει.
So, if it is capable of causing movement, it disturbs it.