§1## ΠΕΡΙ ΥΓΡΩΝ ΧΡΗΣΙΟΣ.
1.
## On the Use of Liquids 1.
Ὕδωρ ποτὸν, ἁλμυρὸν, θάλασσα.
Drinking water, salty water, sea water.
Ποτὸν μὲν, κατ’ ἰητρεῖον κράτιστον· καὶ γὰρ σιδηρίοισι καὶ χαλκείοισι κράτιστον, καὶ φαρμάκοισι τοῖσι πλείστοισι παλαιουμένοισι κοινότατον.
Drinking water is the best in the clinic; for it is the best both for iron and copper instruments, and the most common ingredient for the majority of medicines that are kept to age.
Ἐς δὲ χρῶτα γνῶναι δεῖ, ὅτι τοῦτο ἢ τέγξει ἢ ψύξει ἢ θέρμῃ, ἄλλῳ δὲ οὐδενὶ ὠφελέει ἢ βλάπτει ποτόν.
Regarding the skin, one must know that this drinking water benefits or harms either by moistening, cooling, or heating, and by nothing else does it benefit or harm.
Ὅπου ὀλίγου ποτοῦ, σπόγγῳ· χρῆσις, ἄριστον ὀφθαλμοῖσι, [εἰ] αὐτὸ τὸ δέρμα ἐφήλκωται.
Where a small amount of drinking water is needed, use a sponge; this use is best for the eyes, if the skin itself is ulcerated.
Θερμῷ, αἰόνησις, πυρίη τοῦ σώματος ἅπαντος ἢ μέρεος, δέρματος σκληροῦ μάλθαξις, συντεταμένου χάλασις, νεύρων συστελλομένων πάρεσις, σαρκῶν πλαδαρῶν ἐκχύμωσις, ἱδρῶτος ἄφοδος· ὑγρῆναι, προσκλύσαι οἷον ῥῖνας, κύστιν, φύσας, σαρκῶσαι, ἁπαλῦναι, τῆξαι, μινυθίσαι, χροιὴν ἀνακαλέσαι, χροιὴν ἀνασκεδάσαι.
With warm water, there is drenching, steaming of the whole body or a part, softening of hard skin, relaxation of what is stretched, loosening of contracted tendons, effusion of flaccid flesh, and discharge of sweat; to moisten, to wash out, for example, the nostrils, the bladder, or flatulence, to generate flesh, to soften, to melt, to diminish, to restore natural color, and to disperse discoloration.
Ὑπνικὸν καὶ κατὰ κεφαλῆς καὶ ἄλλων· σπασμῶν, τετάνων παρηγορικόν· ὀδύνας κωφοῖ ὠτὸς, ὀφθαλμῶν, ὅσα τοιαῦτα.
It induces sleep when poured over the head and other parts; it is soothing for spasms and tetanus; it dulls pain in the ears, the eyes, and such like.
Τὰ ψυχρὰ θερμῆναι, οἷον πίσσα ἐν ἕλκεσι, πλὴν τοῖσιν αἱμοῤῥαγεῦσιν ἢ μέλλουσι, κατήγμασιν, ἐκπτώμασι, τοῖσιν ἄλλοισι, οἷσιν ἂν ὀθόνια ἰητρός· καρηβαρίῃ.
Cold applications warm, like pitch on wounds, except for those who are hemorrhaging or about to hemorrhage, fractures, dislocations, and other cases where a doctor uses bandages; and for headache.
Τὸ μέτριον ἑκάστῳ, μὴ πρόσω, οἴδαμεν βασανίζειν, οἷον τὸ θερμὸν τῷ χρωτὶ, ἐξ ὑπερβολῆς ἐφ’ ἑκάτερα, ὡς ἀμφοῖν μὴ ἁμαρτάνῃ, σημαινόμενος ταῖς βλάβαις ἢ οὐκ ὠφελείαις, οἷον χλιαροῦ· δεῖ γὰρ τῇσι βλάβῃσιν ἢ τῇσιν ὠφελείῃσιν, κἂν ὦσι, χρῆσθαι μέχρι τοῦ ὠφελέοντος ἢ μέχρι τοῦ βλάπτοντος.
We know how to test what is moderate for each, not going too far, such as heat for the skin, in excess on either side, so that one does not err in both, taking signs from the harms or the lack of benefits, as with lukewarm water; for one must use the harms or benefits, if they are present, as indicators up to the point of what benefits or what harms.
Τέγξις μὲν οὖν, ἀσθενές· ψύξις δὲ καὶ θάλψις, ἰσχυρὸν, ὡς ἐξ ἡλίου· τὸ δὲ ψυχρὸν, θερμὸν ἐὸν ὡς ποτὸν, ἀσθενέον τι.
Therefore, moistening is weak; cooling and heating are strong, like that from the sun; but cold water, when it warms as a drink, has a somewhat weak effect.
Ἀλλὰ τὸ μὲν θερμὸν, μὴ πρόσω καίειν, κρίνει δ’ αὐτὸς, πλὴν τοῖσιν ἀφώνοισιν, ἢ παραπληγικοῖσιν, ἢ νεναρκωμένοισιν, ἢ οἷα ἐπὶ τρώμασι κατεψυγμένοισιν ἢ ὑπερωδύνοισι, τούτοισι δὲ ἀναίσθητα· λάθοις γὰρ ἂν κατακαύσας·
But as for warm water, do not burn excessively; the patient himself judges this, except for those who are speechless, or paralyzed, or numbed, or those chilled from wounds, or in extreme pain; for in these cases there is no sensation, and you might burn them without realizing it.
καὶ τὰ ἐκπτώματα δὲ τὰ βαθέα καὶ τὰ μεγάλα· ἤδη καὶ πόδες ἀπέπεσον, καταψυχθέντες, ἐκ καταχύσιος θερμοῦ· ἀλλὰ τούτοισιν ὁ τοῦ καταχέοντος χρὼς, κριτής.
This is also the case with deep and large dislocations; indeed, feet have already fallen off, having been chilled, as a result of pouring warm water; but in these cases, the skin of the person pouring is the judge.
Καὶ ψυχροῦ δὲ ὡσαύτως.
And likewise for cold water.
Τούτων δ’ αὐτῶν τὸ ὀλίγον ἑκατέρου, ἀσθενές· τὸ δὲ πολὺ, ἰσχυρόν· ἀλλὰ μὴν ἐᾷν, μέχρι γένηται οὗ ἕνεκα ποιέεται· τὸ ἔσχατον προπαύειν πρὶν γενέσθαι· τούτων δὲ ἑκάτερον βλάπτει.
Of these very things, a small amount of either is weak, but a large amount is strong; nevertheless, one must let it be until the purpose for which it is done is achieved, but stop beforehand before the extreme occurs; for either of these harms.
Βλάπτει δὲ ταῦτα τὸ θερμὸν πλέον χρεομένοισι, σαρκῶν ἐκθήλυνσιν, νεύρων ἀκράτειαν, γνώμης νάρκωσιν, αἱμοῤῥαγίας, λειποθυμίας, ταῦτα ἐς θάνατον·
Warm water harms those who use it too much, causing softening of the flesh, lack of control of the tendons, numbing of the mind, hemorrhages, and fainting, and these lead to death.
τὸ δὲ ψυχρὸν, σπασμοὺς, τετάνους, μελασμοὺς, ῥίγεα πυρετώδεα.
Cold water causes spasms, tetanus, gangrene, and feverish chills.
Αἱ μὲν μετριότητες ἐκ τούτων.
Moderation arises from these.
Τὰ δ’ ἄλλα βλάπτει καὶ ὠφελέει τὰ εἰρημένα ἡδονῇσι καὶ εὐφορίῃσι καὶ ἀχθηδόσι καὶ δυσφορίῃσιν, αἳ καθ’ ἓν ἕκαστον αὐτῶν ὁμολογοῦσαι φαίνονται.
In other respects, the aforementioned things harm and benefit by pleasures, comforts, pains, and discomforts, which appear to agree in each individual case.