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400 BC
APHORISMS
by Hippocrates
translated by Francis Adams
APHORISMS
SECTION I
Life is short； and Art long； the crisis fleeting； experience
perilous； and decision difficult。 The physician must not only be
prepared to do what is right himself； but also to make the patient；
the attendants； and externals cooperate。
2。 In disorders of the bowels and vomitings； occurring
spontaneously； if the matters purged be such as ought to be purged；
they do good； and are well borne； but if not； the contrary。 And so
artificial evacuations； if they consist of such matters as should be
evacuated； do good； and are well borne； but if not； the contrary。 One；
then； ought to look to the country； the season； the age； and the
diseases in which they are proper or not。
3。 In the athletae； embonpoint； if carried to its utmost limit； is
dangerous； for they cannot remain in the same state nor be stationary；
and since； then； they can neither remain stationary nor improve； it
only remains for them to get worse； for these reasons the embonpoint
should be reduced without delay； that the body may again have a
commencement of reparation。 Neither should the evacuations； in their
case； be carried to an extreme； for this also is dangerous； but only
to such a point as the person's constitution can endure。 In like
manner； medicinal evacuations； if carried to an extreme； are
dangerous； and again； a restorative course； if in the extreme； is
dangerous。
4。 A slender restricted diet is always dangerous in chronic
diseases； and also in acute diseases； where it is not requisite。 And
again； a diet brought to the extreme point of attenuation is
dangerous； and repletion； when in the extreme； is also dangerous。
5。 In a restricted diet； patients who transgress are thereby more
hurt （than in any other？）； for every such transgression； whatever it
may be； is followed by greater consequences than in a diet somewhat
more generous。 On this account； a very slender； regulated； and
restricted diet is dangerous to persons in health； because they bear
transgressions of it more difficultly。 For this reason； a slender
and restricted diet is generally more dangerous than one a little more
liberal。
6。 For extreme diseases； extreme methods of cure； as to
restriction； are most suitable。
7。 When the disease is very acute； it is attended with extremely
severe symptoms in its first stage； and therefore an extremely
attenuating diet must be used。 When this is not the case； but it is
allowable to give a more generous diet； we may depart as far from
the severity of regimen as the disease； by its mildness； is removed
from the extreme。
8。 When the disease is at its height； it will then be necessary to
use the most slender diet。
9。 We must form a particular judgment of the patient； whether he
will support the diet until the acme of the disease； and whether he
will sink previously and not support the diet； or the disease will
give way previously； and become less acute。
10。 In those cases； then； which attain their acme speedily； a
restricted diet should be enjoined at first； but in those cases
which reach their acme later； we must retrench at that period or a
little before it； but previously we must allow a more generous diet to
support the patient。
11。 We must retrench during paroxysms； for to exhibit food would
be injurious。 And in all diseases having periodical paroxysms； we must
restrict during the paroxysms。
12。 The exacerbations and remissions will be indicated by the
diseases； the seasons of the year； the reciprocation of the periods；
whether they occur every day； every alternate day； or after a longer
period； and by the supervening symptoms； as； for example； in pleuritic
cases； expectoration； if it occur at the commencement； shortens the
attack； but if it appear later； it prolongs the same； and in the
same manner the urine； and alvine discharges； and sweats； according as
they appear along with favorable or unfavorable symptoms； indicate
diseases of a short or long duration。
13。 Old persons endure fasting most easily； next； adults； young
persons not nearly so well； and most especially infants； and of them
such as are of a particularly lively spirit。
14。 Growing bodies have the most innate heat； they therefore require
the most food； for otherwise their bodies are wasted。 In old persons
the heat is feeble； and therefore they require little fuel； as it
were； to the flame； for it would be extinguished by much。 On this
account； also； fevers in old persons are not equally acute； because
their bodies are cold。
15。 In winter and spring the bowels are naturally the hottest； and
the sleep most prolonged； at these seasons； then； the most
sustenance is to be administered； for as the belly has then most
innate heat； it stands in need of most food。 The well…known facts with
regard to young persons and the athletae prove this。
16。 A humid regimen is befitting in all febrile diseases； and
particularly in children； and others accustomed to live on such a
diet。
17。 We must consider； also； in which cases food is to be given
once or twice a day； and in greater or smaller quantities； and at
intervals。 Something must be conceded to habit； to season； to country；
and to age。
18。 Invalids bear food worst during summer and autumn； most easily
in winter； and next in spring。
19。 Neither give nor enjoin anything to persons during periodical
paroxysms； but abstract from the accustomed allowance before the
crisis。
20。 When things are at the crisis； or when they have just passed it；
neither move the bowels； nor make any innovation in the treatment；
either as regards purgatives or any other such stimulants； but let
things alone。
21。 Those things which require to be evacuated should be
evacuated； wherever they most tend； by the proper outlets。
22。 We must purge and move such humors as are concocted； not such as
are unconcocted； unless they are struggling to get out； which is
mostly not the case。
23。 The evacuations are to be judged of not by their quantity； but
whether they be such as they should be； and how they are borne。 And
when proper to carry the evacuation to deliquium animi； this also
should be done； provided the patient can support it。
24。 Use purgative medicines sparingly in acute diseases； and at
the commencement； and not without proper circumspection。
25。 If the matters which are purged be such as should be purged； the
evacuation is beneficial； and easily borne； but； not withstanding；
if otherwise； with difficulty。
SECTION II。
1。 In whatever disease sleep is laborious； it is a deadly symptom；
but if sleep does good； it is not deadly。
2。 When sleep puts an end to delirium； it is a good symptom。
3。 Both sleep and insomnolency； when immoderate； are bad。
4。 Neither