§3#1Ἐχόμενον δὲ τῶν εἰρημένων ἐστὶν ἐπελθεῖν τίνων γινομένων καὶ πόθεν ἡ ἀρχὴ τοῦ πάθους γίγνεται, τοῦ τ’ ἐγρηγορέναι καὶ τοῦ καθεύδειν.
It follows upon what has been said to discuss what occurrences take place and from what source the origin of this affection arises, both of waking and of sleeping.
Φανερὸν δὴ ὅτι ἐπεὶ ἀναγκαῖον τῷ ζῴῳ, ὅταν αἴσθησιν ἔχῃ, τότε πρῶτον τροφήν τε λαμβάνειν καὶ αὔξησιν, τροφὴ δ’ ἐστὶ πᾶσιν ἡ ἐσχάτη τοῖς μὲν ἐναίμοις ἡ τοῦ αἵματος φύσις τοῖς δ’ ἀναίμοις τὸ ἀνάλογον, τόπος δὲ τοῦ αἵματος αἱ φλέβες, τούτων δ’ ἀρχὴ ἡ καρδία· φανερὸν δὲ τὸ λεχθὲν ἐκ τῶν ἀνατομῶν.
Now it is clear that since it is necessary for an animal, when it has perception, first to take food and to grow, and the ultimate food for all red-blooded animals is the nature of blood, and for bloodless animals the analogue, and the region of blood is the veins, and the source of these is the heart; and what has been said is clear from dissections.
Τῆς μὲν οὖν θύραθεν τροφῆς εἰσιούσης εἰς τοὺς δεκτικοὺς τόπους γίνεται ἡ ἀναθυμίασις εἰς τὰς φλέβας, ἐκεῖ δὲ μεταβάλλουσα ἐξαιματοῦται καὶ πορεύεται ἐπὶ τὴν ἀρχήν.
Now, when the external food enters into the receiving regions, the exhalation into the veins occurs, and changing there it becomes blood and proceeds to the source.
Εἴρηται δὲ περὶ τούτων ἐν τοῖς περὶ τροφῆς· νῦν δ’ ἀναληπτέον ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν τούτου χάριν, ὅπως τὰς ἀρχὰς τῆς κινήσεως θεωρήσωμεν, καὶ τί πάσχοντος τοῦ μορίου τοῦ αἰσθητικοῦ συμβαίνει ἡ ἐγρήγορσις καὶ ὁ ὕπνος.
These things have been discussed in the treatise on nourishment; but now we must take them up again for the sake of this, in order that we may contemplate the sources of motion, and what affection of the sensory part causes waking and sleep to occur.
Οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ὕπνος ἡτισοῦν ἀδυναμία τοῦ αἰσθητικοῦ, καθάπερ εἴρηται· καὶ γὰρ ἔκνοια καὶ πνιγμός τις καὶ λιποψυχία ποιεῖ τὴν τοιαύτην ἀδυναμίαν.
For sleep is not just any inability of the sensory part, as has been said; for unconsciousness, a kind of choking, and fainting also produce such inability.
Ἤδη δὲ γεγένηταί τισι καὶ φαντασίᾳ λιποψυχήσασιν ἰσχυρῶς.
Indeed, it has already happened to some to experience an image while fainting severely.
Τοῦτο μὲν οὖν ἔχει τινὰ ἀπορίαν· εἰ γὰρ ἐνδέχεται καταδαρθεῖν τὸν λιποψυχήσαντα, ἐνδέχοιτ’ ἂν ἐνύπνιον εἶναι καὶ τὸ φάντασμα.
This indeed presents some difficulty; for if it is possible for a person who has fainted to fall asleep, the image might also be a dream.
Πολλὰ δ’ ἐστὶν ἃ λέγουσιν οἱ σφόδρα λιποψυχήσαντες καὶ δόξαντες τεθνάναι· περὶ ὧν τὸν αὐτὸν λόγον ὑποληπτέον εἶναι πάντων.
And there are many things which those who have fainted severely and seemed to have died relate; about all of which we must assume the same explanation applies.
Ἀλλὰ γὰρ ὥσπερ εἴπομεν, οὐκ ἔστιν ὁ ὕπνος ἀδυναμία πᾶσα τοῦ αἰσθητικοῦ, ἀλλ’ ἐκ τῆς περὶ τὴν τροφὴν ἀναθυμιάσεως γίνεται τὸ πάθος τοῦτο· ἀναγκαῖον γὰρ τὸ ἀναθυμιώμενον μέχρι του ὠθεῖσθαι, εἶτ’ ἀντιστρέφειν καὶ μεταβάλλειν καθάπερ εὔριπον.
But, as we said, sleep is not just any inability of the sensory part, but this affection arises from the exhalation concerning food; for it is necessary that what is exhaled is pushed to some point, and then turns back and changes like the Euripus.
Τὸ δὲ θερμὸν ἑκάστου τῶν ζῴων πρὸς τὸ ἄνω πέφυκε φέρεσθαι· ὅταν δ’ ἐν τοῖς ἄνω τόποις γένηται, ἀθρόον πάλιν ἀντιστρέφει καὶ καταφέρεται.
And the heat of each of the animals naturally tends to be carried upwards; but when it is in the upper regions, it turns back all at once and is carried down.
Διὸ μάλιστα γίνονται ὕπνοι ἀπὸ τῆς τροφῆς· ἀθρόον γὰρ πολὺ τότε ὑγρὸν καὶ τὸ σωματῶδες ἀναφέρεται.
Wherefore sleep occurs especially from food; for at that time much moisture and bodily matter are carried up all at once.
Ἱστάμενον μὲν οὖν βαρύνει καὶ ποιεῖ νυστάζειν· ὅταν δὲ ῥέψῃ κάτω καὶ ἀντιστρέψαν ἀπώσῃ τὸ θερμόν, τότε γίνεται ὁ ὕπνος καὶ τὸ ζῷον καθεύδει.
Standing, then, it weighs down and makes one drowse; but when it inclines downwards and, turning back, pushes away the heat, then sleep occurs and the animal sleeps.
Σημεῖον δὲ τούτων καὶ τὰ ὑπνωτικά· πάντα γὰρ καρηβαρίαν ποιεῖ, καὶ τὰ ποτὰ καὶ τὰ βρωτά, μήκων, μανδραγόρας, οἶνος, αἶραι.
A sign of this is also soporific agents; for all produce heaviness of the head, both drinks and foods: poppy, mandragora, wine, darnel.
Καὶ καταφερόμενοι καὶ νυστάζοντες τοῦτο δοκοῦσι πάσχειν, καὶ ἀδυνατοῦσιν αἴρειν τὴν κεφαλὴν καὶ τὰ βλέφαρα.
And those who are carried down and drowsing seem to suffer this, and are unable to raise their head and eyelids.
Καὶ μετὰ τὰ σῖτα μάλιστα τοιοῦτος ὁ ὕπνος· πολλὴ γὰρ ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν σιτίων ἀναθυμίασις.
And after food such sleep is especially characteristic; for the exhalation from food is great.
Ἔτι δ’ ἐκ κόπων ἐνίων· ὁ μὲν γὰρ κόπος συντηκτικόν, τὸ δὲ σύντηγμα γίνεται ὥσπερ τροφὴ ἄπεπτος, ἂν μὴ ψυχρὸν ᾖ.
Furthermore, from certain fatigues; for fatigue is a wasting, and the waste product becomes like undigested food, unless it is cold.
Καὶ νόσοι δέ τινες ταὐτὸ τοῦτο ποιοῦσιν, ὅσαι ἀπὸ περιττώματος ὑγροῦ καὶ θερμοῦ, οἷον συμβαίνει τοῖς πυρέττουσι καὶ ἐν τοῖς ληθάργοις.
And certain diseases also produce this same effect, namely those arising from a moist and hot residue, such as occurs to those in fevers and in lethargies.
Ἔτι δ’ ἡ πρώτη ἡλικία· τὰ γὰρ παιδία καθεύδει σφόδρα διὰ τὸ τὴν τροφὴν ἄνω φέρεσθαι πᾶσαν.
Further, the first age; for infants sleep heavily because all food is carried upwards.
Σημεῖον δὲ τὸ ὑπερβάλλειν τὸ μέγεθος τῶν ἄνω πρὸς τὰ κάτω κατὰ τὴν πρώτην ἡλικίαν, διὰ τὸ ἐπὶ ταῦτα γίνεσθαι τὴν αὔξησιν.
A sign is that the size of the upper parts exceeds that of the lower parts during the first age, because growth occurs towards these parts.
Διὰ ταύτην δὲ τὴν αἰτίαν καὶ ἐπιληπτικὰ γίνεται· ὅμοιον γὰρ ὁ ὕπνος ἐπιλήψει, καὶ ἔστι τρόπον τινὰ ὁ ὕπνος ἐπίληψις.
And for this reason epilepsy also occurs; for sleep is like epilepsy, and sleep is in a way epilepsy.
Διὸ καὶ συμβαίνει πολλοῖς ἡ ἀρχὴ τούτου τοῦ πάθους καθεύδουσιν, καὶ καθεύδοντες μὲν ἁλίσκονται, ἐγρηγορότες δ’ οὔ· ὅταν γὰρ πολὺ φέρηται τὸ πνεῦμα ἄνω, καταβαῖνον πάλιν τὰς φλέβας ὀγκοῖ, καὶ συνθλίβει τὸν πόρον δι’ οὗ ἡ ἀναπνοὴ γίνεται.
Wherefore also the beginning of this affection happens to many while sleeping, and they are seized while sleeping, but not while awake; for when much breath is carried upwards, descending again it swells the veins, and compresses the passage through which breathing occurs.
Διὸ τοῖς παιδίοις οὐ συμφέρουσιν οἱ οἶνοι, οὐδὲ ταῖς τίτθαις (διαφέρει γὰρ ἴσως οὐδὲν αὐτὰ πίνειν ἢ τὰς τίτθας), ἀλλὰ δεῖ πίνειν ὑδαρῆ καὶ ὀλίγον· πνευματῶδες γὰρ ὁ οἶνος, καὶ τούτου μᾶλλον ὁ μέλας.
Wherefore wine is not beneficial to children, nor to wet-nurses (for it makes no difference, perhaps, whether they drink it themselves or their wet-nurses do), but they must drink it diluted and in small quantities; for wine is filled with breath, and black wine is more so.
Οὕτω δὲ τὰ ἄνω πλήρη τῆς τροφῆς τοῖς παιδίοις, ὥστε πέντε μηνῶν οὐδὲ στρέφουσι τὸν αὐχένα· ὥσπερ γὰρ τοῖς σφόδρα μεθύουσιν, ὑγρότης ἀναφέρεται πολλή.
And the upper parts of children are so full of food that at five months they do not even turn their neck; for just as with those who are heavily drunk, much moisture is carried upwards.
Εὔλογον δὲ τοῦτ’ εἶναι τὸ πάθος αἴτιον καὶ τοῦ ἠρεμεῖν ἐν ταῖς μήτραις τὰ ἔμβρυα τὸ πρῶτον.
And it is reasonable that this affection is also the cause of embryos remaining at rest in the womb at first.
Καὶ τὸ ὅλον δὲ φίλυπνοι οἱ ἀδηλόφλεβοι καὶ οἱ νανώδεις καὶ οἱ μεγαλοκέφαλοι· τῶν μὲν γὰρ αἱ φλέβες στεναί, ὥστ’ οὐ ῥᾴδιον διαρρεῖν κατιὸν τὸ ὑγρόν, τοῖς δὲ νανώδεσι καὶ μεγαλοκεφάλοις ἡ ἄνω ὁρμὴ πολλὴ καὶ ἀναθυμίασις.
And on the whole, those with inconspicuous veins, dwarfs, and large-headed people are fond of sleep; for the veins of some are narrow, so that it is not easy for the descending moisture to flow through, and for dwarfs and large-headed people the upward impulse and exhalation is great.
Οἱ δὲ φλεβώδεις οὐχ ὑπνωτικοὶ δι’ εὔροιαν τῶν φλεβῶν, ἂν μή τι ἄλλο πάθος ἔχωσιν ὑπεναντίον.
But those with conspicuous veins are not inclined to sleep because of the free flow of their veins, unless they have some other opposite affection.
Οὐδ’ οἱ μελαγχολικοί· κατέψυκται γὰρ ὁ εἴσω τόπος, ὥστ’ οὐ γίνεται πλῆθος αὐτοῖς ἀναθυμιάσεως.
Nor are melancholic people; for their internal region is cooled, so that a large quantity of exhalation does not occur to them.