§2.1Διὰ τί οὔτε συντείνουσιν οὔτε κατέχουσι τὸ πνεῦμα γίνεται ἱδρώς, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον ἀνιεῖσιν;
Why does sweat not arise for those who are tensing [their muscles] or holding their breath, but rather for those who are relaxing?
ἢ ὅτι τὸ πνεῦμα κατεχόμενον πληροῖ τὰς φλέβας, ὥστε κωλύει ἐξιέναι, ὥσπερ τὸ ὕδωρ τὸ ἐκ τῶν κλεψυδρῶν, ὅταν πλήρεις οὔσας ἐπιλάβῃ τις.
Is it because the breath, when held, fills the vessels so that it prevents [the sweat] from coming out, just like the water from clepsydras when someone blocks them when they are full?
ὅταν δὲ ἐξέλθῃ, πολὺς γίνεται διὰ τὸ ἐν αὐτῇ ἐπιληψίᾳ ἀθροισθῆναι κατὰ μικρόν.
But when it comes out, the sweat becomes abundant because of its having been accumulated little by little during that very breath-holding.
§2.2Διὰ τί οὐχ ἱδροῦσι τὰ ἐν θερμῷ ὕδατι μέρη, οὐδ’ ἂν θερμὰ ᾖ;
Why do parts in hot water not sweat, even if they are warm?
ἢ διότι κωλύει τὸ ὕδωρ τήκεσθαι, ὁ δὲ ἱδρὼς τὸ κακῶς προσῳκοδομημένον ἐστὶν ἐν τῇ σαρκί, ὃ κωλύει τήκεσθαι, ὅταν ἐκκρίνηται διὰ θερμότητα.
Is it because the water prevents them from melting; for sweat is that which is poorly built into the flesh, the melting of which [the surrounding water] prevents when it is being excreted through heat?
§2.3Διὰ τί ὁ ἱδρὼς ἁλμυρόν;
Why is sweat salty?
ἢ διότι γίνεται ὑπὸ κινήσεως καὶ θερμότητος, ἀποκρινούσης ὅσον ἀλλότριον ἔνεστιν ἐν τῇ προσφύσει τῆς τροφῆς πρὸς αἷμα καὶ τὰς σάρκας;
Is it because it is produced by motion and heat, which separate whatever alien matter is present in the attachment of nourishment to the blood and the flesh?
τοῦτο γὰρ τάχιστα ἀφίσταται διὰ τὸ μὴ οἰκεῖον εἶναι καὶ ἔξω ἐξικμάζει.
For this matter, because it is not congenial, is separated most quickly and oozes out.
ἁλμυρὸς δ’ ἐστὶ διὰ τὸ τὸ γλυκύτατον καὶ κουφότατον εἰς τὸ σῶμα ἀνηλῶσθαι, τὸ δὲ ἀλλοτριώτατον καὶ ἀπεπτότατον ἀπολύεσθαι.
And it is salty because the sweetest and lightest matter is consumed by the body, while the most alien and undigested matter is released.
τὸ τοιοῦτον δὲ ἐν μὲν τῇ κάτω ὑποστάσει οὖρον καλεῖται, ἐν δὲ σαρκὶ ἱδρώς· ἄμφω δὲ ἁλμυρὰ διὰ τὴν αὐτὴν αἰτίαν.
Such matter, in the lower sediment, is called urine, but in the flesh, sweat; and both are salty for the same reason.
§2.4Διὰ τί τὰ ἄνω ἱδροῦσι μᾶλλον τῶν κάτω;
Why do the upper parts sweat more than the lower parts?
πότερον τὸ θερμὸν ἄνω καὶ ἀνέρχεται καὶ ἔστιν ἄνω, τοῦτο δὲ ἄνω φέρει τὸ ὑγρόν;
Is it because heat rises and exists in the upper parts, and this carries the moisture upward?
ἢ ὅτι πνεῦμα ποιεῖ τὸν ἱδρῶτα, τοῦτο δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἄνω;
Or is it because breath produces sweat, and this is in the upper parts?
ἢ διότι ἄπεπτον ὑγρὸν ὁ ἱδρώς ἐστι, τοιοῦτο δὲ ἐν τοῖς ἄνω;
Or is it because sweat is undigested moisture, and such matter is in the upper parts?
ἡ γὰρ κρᾶσις ἄνω.
For the mixture of temperament is in the upper parts.
§2.5Διὰ τί τὰς χεῖρας γυμναζομένοις μάλιστα ἱδρὼς γίνεται, ἐὰν τὰ ἄλλα ὁμοιοσχημονῶμεν;
Why, when we keep the rest of our body in the same posture, does sweat arise most of all for those who are exercising their hands?
ἢ διότι ἰσχύομεν μάλιστα τούτῳ τῷ τόπῳ;
Is it because we exert strength most of all with this part?
τούτῳ γὰρ τὸ πνεῦμα κατέχομεν τῷ ἔγγιστα τοῦ ἰσχύοντος· πονοῦντες δὲ μᾶλλον ἰσχύομεν· οὕτω δὲ ἔχοντες τὸ πνεῦμα μᾶλλον κατέχομεν.
For in this part we hold our breath closest to the source of strength; and when we labor, we exert more strength, and when we are in this condition, we hold our breath more.
εἶτα καὶ τῇ τριβομένῃ συμπονοῦμεν μᾶλλον ἢ ὅταν ἄλλο μέρος τριβώμεθα·
Furthermore, is it also because we labor along with the [hand] that is being rubbed more than when we have another part rubbed?
τῇ γὰρ καθέξει τοῦ πνεύματος καὶ τριβόμενοι γυμναζόμεθα καὶ τρίβοντες.
For by the holding of breath we are exercised both when being rubbed and when rubbing.
§2.6Διὰ τί ὁ ἱδρὼς ἐκ τῆς κεφαλῆς ἢ οὐκ ὄζει ἢ ἦττον τοῦ ἐκ τοῦ σώματος;
Why does sweat from the head either not smell at all, or smell less than that from the body?
ἢ ὅτι εὔπνους ὁ τῆς κεφαλῆς τόπος;
Is it because the region of the head is well-ventilated?
δηλοῖ δὲ μανὸς ὢν τῇ τῶν τριχῶν ἐκφύσει.
This is shown by its being porous due to the growth of hair.
δυσώδεις δὲ οἱ τόποι καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς γίνεται ὅσα μὴ εὔπνοα.
And those regions, and the things in them, which are not well-ventilated, become foul-smelling.
§2.7Διὰ τί οἱ γυμναζόμενοι ἐὰν διαναπαυσάμενοι παλαίωσι, μᾶλλον ἱδροῦσιν ἢ ἐὰν συνεχῶς;
Why do those who exercise sweat more if they wrestle after taking an interval of rest than if they do so continuously?
ἢ διὰ τὸ ἀθροίζεσθαι διαναπαυομένων· ἔπειτα τοῦτον τὸν ἱδρῶτα ἐξάγει ὕστερον ἡ πάλη.
Is it because [sweat] accumulates while they are resting, and then the wrestling afterward draws this sweat out?
ἡ δὲ συνεχὴς ἀναξηραίνει ὥσπερ ὁ ἥλιος.
But continuous exercise dries them up like the sun.
§2.8Διὰ τί μᾶλλον ἱδροῦσιν, ὅταν μὴ διὰ πολλοῦ χρόνου χρῶνται ταῖς ἀφιδρώσεσιν;
Why do they sweat more when they use sweatings at short intervals?
ἢ διότι οἱ ἱδρῶτες γίνονται οὐ μόνον δι’ ὑγρότητα, ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὸ τοὺς πόρους ἀνεῷχθαι μᾶλλον καὶ ἀραιὰ τὰ σώματα εἶναι;
Is it because sweat arises not only on account of moisture, but also because the pores are opened more and the bodies are porous?
τοῖς μὲν οὖν μὴ χρωμένοις συμμεμύκασιν οἱ πόροι, τοῖς χρωμένοις δ’ ἀναστομοῦνται.
Therefore, for those who do not use them, the pores are closed, but for those who use them, they are opened.
§2.9Διὰ τί τοῦ ἡλίου μᾶλλον θερμαίνοντος τοὺς γυμνοὺς ἢ τοὺς ἀμπεχομένους, ἱδροῦσι μᾶλλον οἱ ἀμπεχόμενοι;
Why, although the sun warms naked people more than those who are covered, do those who are covered sweat more?
πότερον ὅτι τοὺς πόρους συμμύειν ποιεῖ ἐκκαίων ὁ ἥλιος;
Is it because the sun, by burning, causes the pores to close?
ἢ διότι τὰς ἀτμίδας ξηραίνει;
Or is it because it dries up the vapors?
ἀμπεχομένοις δὲ ταῦτα ἧττον συμβαίνει.
But for those who are covered, these things happen less.
§2.10Διὰ τί ἱδροῦσι μάλιστα τὰ πρόσωπα;
Why does the face sweat most of all?
ἢ ὅσα ἀραιὰ καὶ ὑγρὰ μάλιστα, διὰ δὲ τούτων ὁ ἱδρὼς διαπορεύεται.
Is it because sweat passes through parts that are most porous and moist?
δοκεῖ δὲ πηγὴ εἶναι ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ ὑγροῦ· διὸ καὶ αἱ τρίχες, διὰ τὸ πολὺ ὑγρόν.
And the head seems to be the source of moisture; wherefore also the hair grows, because of the abundance of moisture.
ὁ δὲ τόπος ἀραιὸς καὶ ἰσχνός δίεισιν ἄρα κατὰ φύσιν.
And since the place is porous and thin, it passes through in accordance with nature.