§1.52ὅτι οὐ δεῖ πυκνοῦν τὴν σάρκα πρὸς ὑγείαν, ἀλλ’ ἀραιοῦν·
That for health one must not make the flesh dense, but rather porous.
ὥσπερ γὰρ πόλις ὑγιεινὴ καὶ τόπος εὔπνους (διὸ καὶ ἡ θάλασσα ὑγιεινή), οὕτω καὶ σῶμα τὸ εὔπνουν μᾶλλον ὑγιεινόν.
For just as a healthy city and a well-ventilated place are healthy (wherefore also the sea is healthy), so too a well-ventilated body is healthier.
δεῖ γὰρ ἢ μὴ ὑπάρχειν μηθὲν περίττωμα, ἢ τούτου ὡς τάχιστα ἀπαλλάττεσθαι, καὶ ἀεὶ οὕτως ἔχειν τὸ σῶμα ὥστε λαμβάνον εὐθὺς ἐκκρίνειν τὴν περίττωσιν, καὶ εἶναι ἐν κινήσει καὶ μὴ ἠρεμεῖν.
For there must either be no residue present, or it must be got rid of as quickly as possible, and the body must always be in such a condition that, upon receiving something, it immediately excretes the residue, and is in motion and not at rest.
τὸ μὲν γὰρ μένον σήπεται ὥσπερ ὕδωρ τὸ μὴ κινούμενον, σηπόμενον δὲ νοσοποιεῖ· τὸ δὲ ἐκκρινόμενον πρὸ τοῦ διαφθαρῆναι χωρίζεται.
For that which remains putrefies like water that is not in motion, and by putrefying causes disease; but that which is excreted is separated before it is corrupted.
τοῦτο οὖν πυκνουμένης μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς οὐ γίνεται (ὡσπερεὶ γὰρ ἐμφράττονται οἱ πόροι), ἀραιουμένης δὲ συμβαίνει.
This, then, does not happen when the flesh is dense (for the pores are, as it were, blocked up), but it occurs when it is porous.
διὸ καὶ οὐ δεῖ ἐν τῷ ἡλίῳ γυμνὸν βαδίζειν· συνίσταται γὰρ ἡ σὰρξ καὶ κομιδῇ ἀποσαρκοῦται, καὶ ὑγρότερον τὸ σῶμα γίνεται· τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐντὸς διαμένει, τὸ δ’ ἐπιπολῆς ἀπαλλάττεται, ὥσπερ καὶ τὰ κρέα τὰ ὀπτὰ τῶν ἑφθῶν μᾶλλον.
Wherefore also one must not walk naked in the sun; for the flesh is condensed and completely loses flesh, and the body becomes moister; for that which is within remains, while that which is on the surface is removed, just as roasted meat is more so than boiled meat.
οὐδὲ τὰ στήθη γυμνὰ ἔχοντα βαδίζειν· ἀπὸ γὰρ τῶν ἄριστα ᾠκοδομημένων τοῦ σώματος ὁ ἥλιος ἀφαιρεῖ, ἃ ἥκιστα δεῖται ἀφαιρέσεως, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον τὰ ἐντός.
Nor should one walk with the chest bare; for the sun removes from the best-built parts of the body, which least need removal, whereas it is rather the internal parts that need it.
ἐκεῖθεν μὲν οὖν διὰ τὸ πόρρω εἶναι, ἐὰν μὴ μετὰ πόνου, οὐκ ἔστιν ἱδρῶτα ἀγαγεῖν, ἀπὸ τούτου δὲ διὰ τὸ πρόχειρον ῥᾴδιον.
From the former, indeed, because it is far away, unless with labor, it is not possible to draw out sweat, but from the latter, because it is close at hand, it is easy.
§1.53Διὰ τί ποτε τοῖς χιμέτλοις καὶ τὸ ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ συμφέρει καὶ τὸ θερμόν;
Why on earth is both cold water and hot water beneficial for chilblains?
ἢ ὅτι τὰ χίμετλα δι’ ὑπερβολὴν γίνεται ὑγροῦ;
Is it because chilblains occur through an excess of moisture?
τὸ μὲν οὖν ψυχρὸν συνίστησι καὶ τραχύνει τὸ ὑγρόν, τὸ δὲ θερμὸν ἐκπνευματοῖ καὶ ἔξοδον ποιεῖ τῷ πνεύματι, ἀραιοῦν τὴν σάρκα.
Now cold condenses and hardens the moisture, while warmth vaporizes it and makes an exit for the vapor, making the flesh porous.
§1.54Διὰ τί τὸ ψυχρὸν καὶ ποιεῖ καὶ παύει τὰ χίμετλα, καὶ τὸ θερμὸν τὰ πυρίκαυστα;
Why does cold both cause and cure chilblains, and warmth burns?
ἢ διὰ τὸ αὐτό;
Or is it for the same reason?
ποιεῖ μὲν συντήκοντα, παύει δὲ μᾶλλον ξηραίνοντα.
They cause them by melting, but cure them rather by drying.
§1.55Ἐν τοῖς πυρετοῖς διδόναι δεῖ τὸ ποτὸν πολλάκις καὶ κατ’ ὀλίγον.
In fevers, one must give drink frequently and in small quantities.
τὸ μὲν γὰρ πολὺ παραρρεῖ, τὸ δὲ ὀλίγον μέν, πολλάκις δὲ διαβρέχει καὶ εἰς τὰς σάρκας χωρεῖ.
For a large quantity flows past, but a small quantity, given often, moistens thoroughly and passes into the flesh.
οἷα γὰρ τὰ ἐν τῇ γῇ, ἐὰν μὲν κατὰ πολὺ ἔλθῃ τὸ ὕδωρ, παραρρεῖ, ἐὰν δὲ κατ’ ὀλίγον, βρέχει μόνον τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἐν τοῖς πυρετοῖς.
For just as with things in the earth, if the water comes in a large quantity, it flows past, but if in a small quantity, it only moistens; the very same thing happens also in fevers.
τὰ γὰρ ῥέοντα ὕδατα ἐάν τις κατ’ ὀλίγον ἄγῃ, ὁ ὀχετὸς ἐκπίνει· ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἴσον ἀθρόον ἄγῃ, ὅπου ἂν ἄγῃ, χωρεῖ.
For if one conducts flowing waters in small quantities, the channel drinks them up; but if one conducts the same amount all at once, it goes wherever one conducts it.
ἔπειτα κατακείσθω ἀκίνητος ὡς μάλιστα, ἀκίνητος μέν, ὅτι καὶ τὸ πῦρ φανερῶς, ἐάν τις μὴ κινῇ, καταμαραίνεται.
Next, let him lie as motionless as possible; motionless, because even fire visibly dies down if one does not move it.
πρὸς πνεῦμα δὲ μὴ κατακείσθω, διότι ὁ ἄνεμος τὸ πῦρ ἐξεγείρει καὶ ῥιπτιζόμενον τὸ πῦρ ἐξ ὀλίγου πολὺ γίνεται.
But let him not lie exposed to a draft, because wind rouses fire, and when fanned, fire from a small thing becomes great.
περιστέλλεσθαι δὲ τούτου ἕνεκεν, ὅτι πυρὶ ἐὰν ἀναπνοὴν μὴ διδῷς, σβέννυται.
And he must be covered up for this reason, that if you do not give fire breathing-space, it is extinguished.
καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια μὴ ἀπογυμνούσθω, ἕως ἂν νοτὶς ἐγγένηται· τὸ φανερὸν γὰρ πῦρ τὸ ὑγρὸν σβέννυσιν.
And indeed, let him not be stripped of his garments, until moisture arises; for visible fire is extinguished by moisture.
κατὰ ταῦτα δὲ καὶ ἐν τῇ φύσει.
And it is the same in nature.
ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν διαλειπόντων πυρετῶν προπαρασκευάζειν δεῖ καὶ ἐκλύοντα, καὶ πυριάματα πρὸς τοὺς πόδας παρατιθέντα, καὶ περιεσταλμένον ἀναπαύεσθαι, ὅπως ὅτι θερμότατος ᾖ πρὸ τοῦ τὴν λῆψιν εἶναι.
But in intermittent fevers, one must prepare beforehand, both relaxing the patient, and applying heat-baths to his feet, and letting him rest wrapped up, so that he may be as warm as possible before the onset occurs.
καὶ γὰρ ὅπου πολὺ πῦρ, λύχνος οὐ δυνήσεται καίεσθαι· τὸ γὰρ πῦρ τὸ πολὺ τὸ ὀλίγον ἄγει πρὸς ἑαυτό.
For indeed where there is much fire, a lamp will not be able to burn; for the great fire draws the small one to itself.
τούτου ἕνεκεν πολὺ πῦρ ἐν τῷ σώματι παρασκευάζειν δεῖ, ὅτι ὀλίγον ὁ πυρετὸς πῦρ ἔχει, ὥστε τὸ πολὺ πῦρ τὸ ὀλίγον πρὸς ἑαυτὸ ἄγει.
For this reason, one must prepare much fire in the body, because the fever has little fire, so that the great fire draws the small to itself.
§1.56Τεταρταίοις πυρετοῖς δεῖ μὴ λεπτύνειν, ἀλλὰ πῦρ ἐν τοῖς σώμασιν ἐμποιεῖν εἰσάγοντα.
In quartan fevers, one must not make the patient thin, but produce fire in their bodies by introducing it.
δεῖ δὲ καὶ τοῖς γυμνασίοις χρῆσθαι.
And one must also employ exercises.
ᾗ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ ἡ λῆψις, λουσάμενον ὕπνον μὴ ζητεῖν.
And on the day of the onset, having bathed, one must not seek sleep.
διὰ δὲ τοῦτο καὶ συμφέρει θερμαίνουσα δίαιτα, ὅτι ἀσθενὴς ὁ τεταρταῖος πυρετός· εἰ γὰρ μὴ ἦν ἀσθενής, οὐκ ἂν τεταρταῖος ἐγένετο.
And for this reason a warming regimen is also beneficial, because quartan fever is weak; for if it were not weak, it would not have become quartan.
ὁρᾷς;
Do you see?
ὅπου πῦρ πολύ, λύχνος οὐ δύναται καίεσθαι· τὸ γὰρ πολὺ τὸ ὀλίγον πρὸς ἑαυτὸ ἁρπάζει.
Where there is much fire, a lamp cannot burn; for the great fire snatches the small to itself.
τούτου δ’ ἕνεκεν πολὺ πῦρ ἐν τῷ σώματι ἐμποιεῖν, ὅτι ὀλίγον ὁ πυρετὸς πῦρ ἔχει.
And for this reason one must produce much fire in the body, because the fever has little fire.
ἔστι δὲ τὸ καθ’ ἡμέραν διαίτημα τὸ μὲν πῦρ τὸ δὲ νοτίδα εἰς τὸ σῶμα εἰσάγοντα.
And the daily regimen consists of introducing, on the one hand, fire, and on the other hand, moisture, into the body.
εἰσὶ δὲ νόσοι αἱ μὲν ἀπὸ πυρός, αἱ δὲ ἀπὸ νοτίδος.
And some diseases arise from fire, and others from moisture.
ἰατρεύονται δὲ αἱ μὲν ἀπὸ πυρὸς νόσοι νοτίδι, αἱ δὲ ἀπὸ νοτίδος πυρί· νοτίδα γὰρ ξηραίνει.
And diseases from fire are cured by moisture, while those from moisture are cured by fire; for fire dries up moisture.