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Theophrastus · On Paralysis §1

Causes of Paralysis and Blockage of Pneuma

Passage 1 of 1 · Greek

Summary

Explains the causes of paralysis and numbness in relation to cooling and abnormalities of the pneuma (cooling or deficiency), detailing the mechanism where physical compression blocks the pneuma and blood flow.

§1Ὅτι ὑπὸ καταψύξεώς φησιν, ὡς κοινῷ λόγῳ φάναι τὴν παράλυσιν γίνεσθαι· καὶ ταύτην οἱ μὲν ὑπὸ πνεύματος (καταψυχομένου), — πνευματικὸν γὰρ τὸ πάθος, — οἱ δὲ ἐκλείψει καὶ στερήσει τοῦ πνεύματος.
That he says, to speak in general terms, that paralysis occurs due to cooling; and that some say this occurs due to (cooled) pneuma — for the affection is pneumatic — while others say it is due to the failure and deprivation of pneuma.
Τοῦτο γὰρ εἶναι τὸ τὴν θερμότητα καὶ τὴν κίηησιν ὅλως ποιοῦν· ἀκινησίας δὲ γινομένης κατάψυξις γίνεται τοῦ αἵματος ἢ ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν τῆς ὑγρότητος.
For this is what entirely produces heat and movement; and when immobility occurs, cooling of the blood, or simply speaking, of the moisture, takes place.
Διὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ἡ νάρκη γίνεται ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν ἢ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἄνω μέρεσιν ὅταν ἀποπιεσθῶσιν ἀπὸ καθέδρας ἢ ἄλλῳ τινὶ τρόπῳ.
For this is also why numbness occurs in the feet or even in the upper parts when they are compressed from sitting or in some other way.
Τότε γὰρ διαλαμβάνει τῇ πιέσει τὸ πνεῦμα καὶ οὐ δυνάμενον τὴν οἰκείαν κίνησιν κινεῖσθαι ἵστησι καὶ ἀποψύχει τὸ αἷμα.
For then [the compression] intercepts the pneuma by the pressure, and [the pneuma], being unable to move its proper movement, stops and cools the blood.

Notes

  1. 409Ὅτι — The introductory Ὅτι is characteristic of epitomes or summaries, introducing an indirect statement with the main verb φησιν ("he says") or serving to outline the topic.
  2. 409ὡς κοινῷ λόγῳ φάναι — An absolute use of the infinitive expressing limitation: "to speak in general terms" or "so to speak, in general terms."
  3. 409ταύτην — The accusative demonstrative pronoun refers back to τὴν παράλυσιν (paralysis) in the preceding clause, serving as the subject accusative of the omitted infinitive γίνεσθαι.
  4. 409Τοῦτο γὰρ εἶναι — The infinitive εἶναι is part of the accusative-and-infinitive (AcI) construction in indirect speech continuing from the previous φησιν, reporting the author's explanation with the demonstrative Τοῦτο (referring to the pneuma) as its subject.
  5. 409διαλαμβάνει — The subject of this active verb is the implied "compression" or "pressure" from the preceding clause ὅταν ἀποπιεσθῶσιν ("when they are compressed"). The verb διαλαμβάνω here means "to intercept" or "to cut off," taking the accusative τὸ πνεῦμα (pneuma) as its object.
  6. 409ἵστησι — The third-person singular present active of ἵστημι, which here functions transitively ("stops" or "makes to stand"). Its subject is τὸ πνεῦμα (pneuma, clear from the nominative participle δυνάμενον), and it shares the direct object τὸ αἷμα (the blood) with the following verb ἀποψύχει.

Cite this passage

Theophrastus, On Paralysis §1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0093.tlg010x08.humanitext-grc1:1

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