§13.6Διὰ τί, ἐάν τις σκόροδα φάγῃ, τὸ οὖρον ὄζει, ἄλλων δὲ ἐχόντων ἰσχυρὰν ὀσμὴν οὐκ ὄζει ἐδεσθέντων;
Why is it that, if one eats garlic, the urine smells, whereas when other things having a strong odor are eaten, it does not smell?
πότερον, ὥσπερ τινὲς τῶν ἡρακλειτιζόντων φασίν, ὅτι ἀναθυμιᾶται, ὥσπερ ἐν τῷ ὅλῳ, καὶ ἐν τῷ σώματι, εἶτα πάλιν ψυχθὲν συνίσταται ἐκεῖ μὲν ὑγρόν, ἐνταῦθα δὲ οὖρον, ἡ ἐκ τῆς τροφῆς ἀναθυμίασις, ἐξ οὗ ἐγένετο αὕτη συμμιγνυμένη, ποιεῖ τὴν ὀσμήν;
Is it because, as some of the Heracliteans say, vaporization takes place in the body just as in the universe, and then, being cooled, condenses there into water but here into urine, and this vaporization from the food, being mixed with the urine from which it was produced, causes the odor?
αὕτη γάρ ἐστιν, ὅταν μεταβάλλῃ.
For it is this vaporization which, when it changes, causes the smell.
ἢ ἔδει καὶ τὰ ἄλλα τοῦτο ποιεῖν, ὅσα ἰσχυρὰς ὀσμὰς ἔχει· νῦν δὲ οὐ ποιεῖ.
Or should all other things that have strong odors also do this, whereas they actually do not?
ἔτι συγκρινόμενα ἐκ τῆς ἀτμίδος οὐκ εἰς τὸ ἀρχαῖον ἔρχεται, οἷον οἶνος ἐξ οἴνου, ἀλλ’ οὐχ ὕδωρ, ὥστε καὶ τοῦτο ψεῦδος.
Furthermore, things condensed from vapor do not return to their original state (for example, wine from wine-vapor does not become wine, but water), so that this theory also is false.
ἀλλ’ ὅτι μόνον φυσητικὸν τῆς κάτω κοιλίας τῶν ὀσμὴν ἐχόντων ἰσχυρὰν ἅμα καὶ οὐρητικήν, τὰ δὲ ἄλλα ἄνω ποιεῖ, οἷον ἡ ῥάφανος, καὶ τὰ πνεύματα. ἢ οὐκ οὐρητικά.
Rather, is it because, of those things that have a strong odor, garlic alone produces wind in the lower belly and at the same time is diuretic, whereas other things, such as the radish, produce it above, or else are not diuretic?
κάτω δὲ τρία ὑπάρχει ταῦτα· καὶ γὰρ οὐρητικόν, καὶ πνεῦμα ποιεῖ, καὶ τοῦτο κάτω.
In the lower region these three conditions exist: it is diuretic, it produces wind, and this occurs below.
ὁ δὲ τόπος ὁ πέριξ τὰ αἰδοῖα καὶ τὴν κύστιν τῶν τοιούτων ἀπολαύει διὰ τὴν γειτνίασιν, καὶ ὅτι πνευματικός ἐστιν· δηλοῖ δὲ ἡ συντονία τοῦ αἰδοίου.
The region around the genitals and the bladder gets the benefit of such things because of its proximity and because it is flatulent, as is shown by the tension of the genitals.
δῆλον οὖν ὅτι ἀφικνεῖται τὸ περίττωμα εἰς τὴν κύστιν αὐτοῦ μάλιστα τῶν τοιούτων ἅμα τῷ πνεύματι, ὃ μιγνύμενον ποιεῖ τοῦ οὔρου τὴν ὀσμήν.
It is clear, therefore, that the residue of such things arrives at the bladder especially, along with the wind, which when mixed causes the odor of the urine.
§13.7Διὰ τί τὰ στόματα μηδὲν ἐδηδοκότων, ἀλλὰ νηστευσάντων ὄζει μᾶλλον (ὃ καλεῖται νηστείας ὄζει), φαγόντων δὲ οὔ, ὅτε ἔδει μᾶλλον;
Why do the mouths of those who have eaten nothing, but have fasted, smell more (which is called the smell of fasting), whereas those of people who have eaten do not, when they ought to do so more?
ἢ ὅτι κενουμένης τῆς κοιλίας θερμότερος ὁ ἀὴρ γινόμενος διὰ τὴν ἀκινησίαν σήπει τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ τὰ φλεγματώδη περιττώματα;
Is it because, when the belly is emptied, the air becoming hotter owing to inactivity putrefies the breath and the phlegmatic residues?
ὅτι δὲ θερμότερος γίνεται, σημεῖον ὅτι καὶ δίψαν ποιεῖ ἡ νηστεία μᾶλλον.
That it becomes hotter is indicated by the fact that fasting causes greater thirst.
φαγόντων δὲ διὰ τὸ ἐλάττων εἶναι ἡ ὀσμὴ τῆς τῶν σιτίων παύεται· κρατεῖ γὰρ τῆς θερμότητος ἡ τῶν σιτίων θερμότης, ὥστε μηθὲν πάσχειν.
But in those who have eaten, the odor ceases because it is less than that of the food; for the heat of the food overcomes the heat of the belly, so that it suffers no change.
§13.8Διὰ τί ἡ μασχάλη δυσωδέστατος τῶν τόπων;
Why is the armpit the most foul-smelling of places?
πότερον ὅτι ἀπνούστατός ἐστιν;
Is it because it is the least ventilated?
ἔστι δὲ ἡ δυσωδία ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις μάλιστα, διὰ τὸ σῆψιν γίνεσθαι ὑπὸ τῆς ἡσυχίας τῆς πιότητος·
Foul smell occurs especially in such places because putrefaction is caused by the stillness of the fat.
ἢ διότι ἀκίνητος καὶ ἀγύμναστος.
Or is it because it is unmoved and unexercised?
§13.9Διὰ τί οἱ τοῦ γράσου ὄζοντες, ὅταν ἀλείφωνται μύρῳ, δυσωδέστεροι γίνονται;
Why do those who smell of rank sweat become more foul-smelling when they are anointed with perfume?
ἢ διότι τοῦτο ἐπὶ πολλῶν γίνεται, οἷον ὀξὺ καὶ γλυκὺ συμμιχθὲν τὸ ὅλον γλυκύτερον ἐγένετο.
Is it because this happens in many cases, just as when acid and sweet are mixed, the whole becomes more unpleasant?
εἶτα πάντες ἱδρώσαντες δυσωδέστεροί εἰσι, τὸ δὲ μύρον θερμαντικόν ἐστιν· ἱδρῶτας οὖν παρασκευάζει.
Furthermore, everyone is more foul-smelling when they sweat, and perfume is heating; therefore, it produces sweat.
§13.10Διὰ τί τῶν ἐγκύρτων καὶ κυφοτέρων δυσοσμοτέρα καὶ βαρυτέρα ἡ ὀσμὴ τοῦ πνεύματος;
Why is the smell of the breath of those who are bent and humpbacked more offensive and heavy?
ἢ διότι συγκέκλεισται ὁ τόπος ὁ περὶ τὸν πνεύμονα καὶ ἀνέσπασται ἐκ τῆς εὐθυωρίας, ὥστε οὐκ εὔπνους, ἀλλὰ σήπεται ἡ ἱκμὰς καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα μᾶλλον εἴσω ἐγκατακλειόμενον;
Is it because the region around the lungs is confined and drawn up out of its straight course, so that it is not well-ventilated, but the moisture and the breath are rather putrefied, being shut up inside?
§13.11Διὰ τί τὰ πολλὰ τῶν μύρων συνεξιδρῶσαι δυσώδη, ἔνια δὲ ἡδίω ἢ οὐ χείρω;
Why do most perfumes become foul-smelling when they flow out with sweat, while some become sweeter or no worse?
ἢ ὅσα μὲν τῇ κινήσει ἢ τρίψει μεταβάλλοντα, χείρω τοιαῦτα, ὅσα δὲ μή, τοὐναντίον;
Is it because those that change by movement or friction become worse, while those that do not do the opposite?
ἔστι δὲ ἔνια τοιαῦτα, ὥσπερ καὶ τῶν ἀνθῶν, ἐξ ὧν γίνονται αἱ εὐωδίαι, τὰ μὲν τριβόμενα ἢ θερμαινόμενα ἢ ξηραινόμενα φαῦλα, οἷον τὰ λευκόϊα, τὰ δὲ ὅμοια, οἷον τὰ ῥόδα.
For indeed some of the flowers from which fragrances are made are of such a nature that they become bad when rubbed, heated, or dried, such as white violets, while others are of the opposite kind, such as roses.
καὶ τῶν μύρων δὴ ὅσα ἐκ τοιούτων ἐστί, μεταβάλλει, τὰ δὲ οὔ· διὸ τὸ ῥόδινον ἥκιστα.
And indeed of perfumes, those that are made from such flowers change, while the others do not; therefore, rose-perfume changes least of all.
καὶ δυσώδη δὲ φαίνεται μᾶλλον ὅσων οἱ ἱδρῶτες δυσώδεις, καὶ διὰ τὸ μίγνυσθαι τῷ ἐναντίῳ, ὥσπερ τὸ μέλι μετὰ τοῦ ἁλὸς οὐ μᾶλλον γλυκύ, ἀλλ’ ἧττον.
And they appear more foul-smelling in those whose sweat is foul-smelling, and also due to being mixed with the opposite, just as honey with salt is not sweeter, but less so.
§13.12Διὰ τί πάντα μᾶλλον ὄζει κινούμενα;
Why do all things smell more when they are moved?
ἢ διότι ἀναπίμπλησι τὸν ἀέρα;
Is it because they fill the air?
διαπέμπεται οὖν θᾶττον ἡ ὀσμὴ πρὸς τὴν αἴσθησιν.
Therefore, the odor is transmitted more quickly to the sense.