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delirium； and jumpings out of bed； and frightful apparitions； and
fleeing away；…all these they hold to be the plots of Hecate； and the
invasions the and use purifications and incantations； and； as
appears to me； make the divinity to be most wicked and most impious。
For they purify those laboring under this disease； with the same sorts
of blood and the other means that are used in the case of those who
are stained with crimes； and of malefactors； or who have been
enchanted by men； or who have done any wicked act； who ought to do the
very reverse； namely； sacrifice and pray； and； bringing gifts to the
temples； supplicate the gods。 But now they do none of these things；
but purify； and some of the purifications they conceal in the earth；
and some they throw into the sea； and some they carry to the mountains
where no one can touch or tread upon them。 But these they ought to
take to the temples and present to the god； if a god be the cause of
the disease。 Neither truly do I count it a worthy opinion to hold that
the body of man is polluted by god； the most impure by the most
holy； for were it defiled； or did it suffer from any other thing； it
would be like to be purified and sanctified rather than polluted by
god。 For it is the divinity which purifies and sanctifies the greatest
of offenses and the most wicked； and which proves our protection
from them。 And we mark out the boundaries of the temples and the
groves of the gods； so that no one may pass them unless he be pure；
and when we enter them we are sprinkled with holy water； not as
being polluted； but as laying aside any other pollution which we
formerly had。 And thus it appears to me to hold； with regard to
purifications。
But this disease seems to me to be no more divine than others； but
it has its nature such as other diseases have； and a cause whence it
originates； and its nature and cause are divine only just as much as
all others are； and it is curable no less than the others； unless
when； the from of time； it is confirmed； and has became stronger
than the remedies applied。 Its origin is hereditary； like that of
other diseases。 For if a phlegmatic person be born of a phlegmatic；
and a bilious of a bilious； and a phthisical of a phthisical； and
one having spleen disease； of another having disease of the spleen；
what is to hinder it from happening that where the father and mother
were subject to this disease； certain of their offspring should be
so affected also？ As the semen comes from all parts of the body；
healthy particles will come from healthy parts； and unhealthy from
unhealthy parts。 And another great proof that it is in nothing more
divine than other diseases is； that it occurs in those who are of a
phlegmatic constitution； but does not attack the bilious。 Yet； if it
were more divine than the others； this disease ought to befall all
alike； and make no distinction between the bilious and phlegmatic。
But the brain is the cause of this affection； as it is of other very
great diseases； and in what manner and from what cause it is formed； I
will now plainly declare。 The brain of man； as in all other animals；
is double； and a thin membrane divides it through the middle； and
therefore the pain is not always in the same part of the head； for
sometimes it is situated on either side； and sometimes the whole is
affected； and veins run toward it from all parts of the body； many
of which are small； but two are thick； the one from the liver； and the
other from the spleen。 And it is thus with regard to the one from
the liver： a portion of it runs downward through the parts on the
side； near the kidneys and the psoas muscles； to the inner part of the
thigh； and extends to the foot。 It is called vena cava。 The other runs
upward by the right veins and the lungs； and divides into branches for
the heart and the right arm。 The remaining part of it rises upward
across the clavicle to the right side of the neck； and is
superficial so as to be seen； near the ear it is concealed； and
there it divides； its thickest； largest； and most hollow part ends
in the brain； another small vein goes to the right ear； another to the
right eye； and another to the nostril。 Such are the distributions of
the hepatic vein。 And a vein from the spleen is distributed on the
left side； upward and downward； like that from the liver； but more
slender and feeble。
By these veins we draw in much breath； since they are the
spiracles of our bodies inhaling air to themselves and distributing it
to the rest of the body； and to the smaller veins； and they and
afterwards exhale it。 For the breath cannot be stationary； but it
passes upward and downward； for if stopped and intercepted； the part
where it is stopped becomes powerless。 In proof of this； when； in
sitting or lying； the small veins are compressed； so that the breath
from the larger vein does not pass into them； the part is
immediately seized with numbness； and it is so likewise with regard to
the other veins。
This malady； then； affects phlegmatic people； but not bilious。 It
begins to be formed while the foetus is still in utero。 For the brain；
like the other organs； is depurated and grows before birth。 If；
then； in this purgation it be properly and moderately depurated； and
neither more nor less than what is proper be secreted from it； the
head is thus in the most healthy condition。 If the secretion （melting）
the from the brain be greater than natural； the person； when he
grows up； will have his head diseased； and full of noises； and will
neither be able to endure the sun nor cold。 Or； if the melting take
place from any one part； either from the eye or ear； or if a vein
has become slender； that part will be deranged in proportion to the
melting。 Or； should depuration not take place； but congestion
accumulate in the brain； it necessarily becomes phlegmatic。 And such
children as have an eruption of ulcers on the head； on the ears； and
along the rest of the body； with copious discharges of saliva and
mucus；…these； in after life； enjoy best health； for in this way the
phlegm which ought to have been purged off in the womb； is
discharged and cleared away； and persons so purged； for the most part；
are not subject to attacks of this disease。 But such as have had their
skin free from eruptions； and have had no discharge of saliva or
mucus； nor have undergone the proper purgation in the womb； these
persons run the risk of being seized with this disease。
But should the defluxion make its way to the heart； the person is
seized with palpitation and asthma； the chest becomes diseased； and
some also have curvature of the spine。 For when a defluxion of cold
phlegm takes place on the lungs and heart； the blood is chilled； and
the veins； being violently chilled； palpitate in the lungs and
heart； and the heart palpitates； so that from this necessity asthma
and orthopnoea supervene。 For it does not receive the spirits as
much breath as he needs until the defluxion of phlegm be mastered； and
being heated is distributed to the veins； then it ceases from its