§1Ὁ ἱδρὼς πότερον ἐξ ὑγρότητος εὐθὺς ἐκκρινομένης γίνεται ἢ πνεύματος συμφύτου διιόντος διὰ τῆς σαρκὸς εἴ γʼ ἔξω πήγνυται καὶ συνίσταται καταψυχόμενος, ἕτερος ἔστω ἐν ἄλλοις λόγος.
Whether sweat comes from moisture immediately secreted or from connate pneuma passing through the flesh—if indeed it solidifies and forms outside as it is cooled—let this be a different discussion elsewhere.
Διότι δὲ ἁλμυρὸς ἢ ὀξὺς ἢ κακώδης ἢ τὰς ἄλλας ἔχων διαφορὰς νῦν πειρατέον θεωρεῖν.
But why it is salty, or acid, or foul-smelling, or possesses other differences, we must now try to consider.
§2Ἁλμυρὸς μὲν οὖν γίνεται διότι τὸ ἀλλότριον ἐκκρίνεται, πρὸς φύσιν τῆς σαρκὸς ἐξανηλωμένου τοῦ γλυκυτάτου καὶ κουφοτάτου· τὸ γὰρ τοιοῦτον ἐν μὲν τῇ ὑποστάσει τῇ κατὰ τὴν κύστιν οὖρον, ἐν δὲ τῇ σαρκὶ ἱδρὼς καλεῖται· πλὴν ὅτι συμβαίνει τὸ μὲν αὐωτομάτως καὶ οἷον αὐτῆς τῆς φύεως ἐργαζομένης ὑφίστασθαι, τὸν ἱδρῶτα δʼ ἐκκρίνεσθαι διὰ τὴν κίνησιν ἢ πόνον ἢ ἁπλῶς τὴν τοῦ θερμοῦ καὶ πνεύματος δύναμιν, διὸ καὶ τὸ μὲν ἀεὶ τὸ δʼ οὐκ ἀεί.
Now, it becomes salty because the foreign matter is secreted, after the sweetest and lightest part has been consumed relative to the nature of the flesh; for such a substance is called urine in the sediment in the bladder, but sweat in the flesh; except that the former happens to settle spontaneously and as if nature itself were working, whereas sweat is secreted due to movement or exertion, or simply the power of heat and pneuma, which is why the former is always present and the latter not always.
Συνεχὴς δʼ οὐχ ἧττον ἡ τοῦ πνεύματος ἔκκρισις, ἄφαντος δὲ τῇ αἰσθήσει καθάπερ ἀτμίζοντος ἀεὶ τοῦ σώματος.
But the secretion of pneuma is no less continuous, though imperceptible to sense, as the body is always steaming.
§3Ἁλμυρὸς δὲ ὅτι ἄπεπτος, τὸ δὲ πεπεμμένον γλυκὺ, τὸ δʼ ἐπιπολῆς ὑδατῶδες ὥσπερ τὸ φλέγμα καὶ δάκρυον.
And it is salty because it is undigested, whereas what is digested is sweet, and what is on the surface is watery, like phlegm and tears.
Τάχα δὲ ταῦτα μὲν εὐλόγως, τὸ μὲν ὅτι ἀπὸ τῆς τροφῆς, τὸ δʼ ὅτι ἀπὸ τῶν περὶ τὸν ἐγκέφαλον.
Perhaps these are reasonable, the former because it is from nourishment, and the latter because it is from the parts around the brain.
Ὁ δʼ ἱδρὼς κἁθάπερ ἐκ σαρκὸς καὶ φλεβὸς ἐν οἶς ἤδη μεταβολὴ τῆς τροφῆς, καὶ τύπῳ τοιαύτη καὶ οὕτως ὥσπερ κατὰ τὸν ἐγκέφαλον.
But sweat is as if from flesh and vein, in which there is already a change of nourishment, and in form is such and in the same way as in the brain.
Ἐπεὶ καὶ ἐνταῦθʼ ὅταν ἐκ συντήξεως ἢ ἄλλου τινὸς πάθους γένηται ἁλμυρὸν τὸ πτύελον καὶ τὸ δάκρυον.
For there too, whenever it occurs from wasting or some other affection, saliva and tears become salty.
§4Ἢ τούτῳ μὲν μαρτυρεῖ τῷ λόγῳ τὸ πρότερον ὅτι ἱδρὼς πᾶς ἁλμυρός.
Or does the former point support this argument, namely that all sweat is salty?
Εἰ δὲ πορρωτέρωθεν ἁλυκώτερος * οὗτος δὲ μᾶλλον τῇ προσφύσει δόξειεν, οὐκ ἂν τοῦ ἀλυσιτελοῦς ἡ ἔκκρισις εἴη.
But if what comes from deeper within is saltier, * and this seems to be more because of assimilation, then the secretion would not be of the useless.
Τὸ δὲ ἁλμυρὸν πᾶν ἀλλότριον.
But everything salty is foreign.
Ὑπὲρ μὲν οὖν τούτων σκεπτέον· ἔοικε γὰρ ὁ μέν τις τοιοῦτος, ὁ δʼ οὐ τοιοῦτος εἶναι τῶν ἱδρώτων.
Therefore, we must consider these things; for one kind of sweat seems to be of this sort, and another not of this sort.
§5Ἢ τό γε μᾶλλον καὶ ἧττον φανερῶς.
Or rather, this is clearly a matter of degree.
Ἀκόλουθον δέ πως τούτοις ἐστὶ καὶ αἰτίας σχεδὸν τῆς αὐτῆς ὅτι ὁ μὲν κακώδης ὁ δʼ ἄοσμος ἐνίοις δʼ ὀξὺς τῇ ὀσμῇ, καὶ ἄλλοι δὲ τρόποι τῆς κακωδίας· ἅπτονται γὰρ ταῦτα ὡς γένει λαβεῖν ἀπεψίας.
And it follows somehow upon these, and from almost the same cause, that one sweat is foul-smelling, another odorless, and in some sour in smell, and there are other ways of foul odor; for these concern indigestion, to speak generally.
Τῆς δʼ ἀπεψίας ὁτὲ μὲν ἀκαθαρσίᾳ τῆς κοιλίας, ὁτὲ δὲ ὅλως καχεξία τις αἰτία.
And the cause of indigestion is sometimes the impurity of the stomach, sometimes a general bad condition.
Πολλάκις δὲ καὶ βρωμάτων τινὲς προσφοραί· καὶ γὰρ ταῦτα ποιεῖ τινὰ δυσωδίαν ὥσπερ καὶ τὸ πήγανόν φασι.
Often also the consumption of certain foods; for these too produce a certain bad odor, just as they say rue does.
§6Τάχα δὴ ταῦτα μὲν ὡς συμβαλλόμενα θετέον, τὴν δʼ αἰτίαν τοῖς πρότερον ἀποδοτέον καί τι ἂν τῇ ὅλῃ τοῦ σώματος κράσει· πολλοὶ γὰρ τῶν γυμναζομένων καὶ δοκούντων εὖ ἔχειν βαρεῖς καὶ κακώδεις τοῖς ἱδρῶσιν· ἐπεὶ ὅτι γε τῇ καχεξία πολλαχόθεν φανερὸν, ἔκ τε τῶν καμνόντων καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἀφροδισιαζόντων πλείω ἕξιν ἐχόντων ἤδη καὶ τῶν θεραπευτῶν ἤδη ὅλως.
Perhaps indeed these should be set down as contributing factors, and the cause should be assigned to the former factors, and to some extent to the whole mixture of the body; for many of those who exercise and seem to be in good condition have heavy and foul-smelling sweat; since that it is due to a bad condition is clear from many cases, both from those who are sick and from those who indulge more in sexual activities and already have such a habit, and generally from those under treatment.
§7Ἄτοπον δʼ ἂν δόξειε τοῦτο εἶναι καὶ ἐναντίωσίν τινʼ ἔχον πρὸς ταῦτα καὶ πρὸς τὸ καθόλου λεχθὲν, ὅτι οἱ περὶ ἥβην μάλιστα κακώδεις τοῖς ἱδρῶσι, προϊούσης δὲ τῆς ἡλικίας ἧττον, καὶ οἱ γέροντες οὐδαμῶς· * ἀλλʼ ἡ βαρύτης τοῦ χρώματος.
And this would seem strange and to contain some contradiction to these things and to what has been said in general, namely that those around puberty are most foul-smelling in their sweat, and as age progresses less so, and old men not at all; * but there is only the heaviness of the skin.
Καίτοι πεπτικωτάτη ἡ ἡλικία τῶν ἐν ἥβῃ· σημεῖον δὲ τὸ τῆς αὐξήσεως· ἡ δὲ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἧττον· τῶν δʼ ἤδη γερόντων παντελῶς.
And yet, the age of those in puberty is most digestive; the sign of this is growth; but that of older people is less so, and that of those who are already old men is completely gone.