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and a multitude of other things having all sorts of powers both as
regards quantity and strength。 These； when all mixed and mingled up
with one another； are not apparent； neither do they hurt a man； but
when any of them is separate； and stands by itself； then it becomes
perceptible； and hurts a man。 And thus； of articles of food； those
which are unsuitable and hurtful to man when administered； every one
is either bitter； or intensely so； or saltish or acid； or something
else intense and strong； and therefore we are disordered by them in
like manner as we are by the secretions in the body。 But all those
things which a man eats and drinks are devoid of any such intense
and well…marked quality； such as bread； cake； and many other things of
a similar nature which man is accustomed to use for food； with the
exception of condiments and confectioneries； which are made to gratify
the palate and for luxury。 And from those things； when received into
the body abundantly； there is no disorder nor dissolution of the
powers belonging to the body； but strength； growth； and nourishment
result from them； and this for no other reason than because they are
well mixed； have nothing in them of an immoderate character； nor
anything strong； but the whole forms one simple and not strong
substance。
15。 I cannot think in what manner they who advance this doctrine；
and transfer Art from the cause I have described to hypothesis； will
cure men according to the principle which they have laid down。 For； as
far as I know； neither the hot nor the cold； nor the dry； nor the
moist； has ever been found unmixed with any other quality； but I
suppose they use the same articles of meat and drink as all we other
men do。 But to this substance they give the attribute of being hot； to
that cold； to that dry； and to that moist。 Since it would be absurd to
advise the patient to take something hot； for he would straightway ask
what it is？ so that he must either play the fool； or have recourse
to some one of the well known substances； and if this hot thing happen
to be sour； and that hot thing insipid； and this hot thing has the
power of raising a disturbance in the body （and there are many other
kinds of heat； possessing many opposite powers）； he will be obliged to
administer some one of them； either the hot and the sour； or the hot
and the insipid； or that which； at the same time； is cold and sour
（for there is such a substance）； or the cold and the insipid。 For；
as I think； the very opposite effects will result from either of
these； not only in man； but also in a bladder； a vessel of wood； and
in many other things possessed of far less sensibility than man； for
it is not the heat which is possessed of great efficacy； but the
sour and the insipid； and other qualities as described by me； both
in man and out of man； and that whether eaten or drunk； rubbed in
externally； and otherwise applied。
16。 But I think that of all the qualities heat and cold exercise the
least operation in the body； for these reasons： as long time as hot
and cold are mixed up with one another they do not give trouble； for
the cold is attempered and rendered more moderate by the hot； and
the hot by the cold； but when the one is wholly separate from the
other； then it gives pain； and at that season when cold is applied
it creates some pain to a man； but quickly； for that very reason； heat
spontaneously arises in him without requiring any aid or
preparation。 And these things operate thus both upon men in health and
in disease。 For example； if a person in health wishes to cool his body
during winter； and bathes either in cold water or in any other way；
the more he does this； unless his body be fairly congealed； when he
resumes his clothes and comes into a place of shelter； his body
becomes more heated than before。 And thus； too； if a person wish to be
warmed thoroughly either by means of a hot bath or strong fire； and
straightway having the same clothing on； takes up his abode again in
the place he was in when he became congealed； he will appear much
colder； and more disposed to chills than before。 And if a person fan
himself on account of a suffocating heat； and having procured
refrigeration for himself in this manner； cease doing so； the heat and
suffocation will be ten times greater in his case than in that of a
person who does nothing of the kind。 And； to give a more striking
example； persons travelling in the snow； or otherwise in rigorous
weather； and contracting great cold in their feet； their hands； or
their head； what do they not suffer from inflammation and tingling
when they put on warm clothing and get into a hot place？ In some
instances； blisters arise as if from burning with fire； and they do
not suffer from any of those unpleasant symptoms until they become
heated。 So readily does either of these pass into the other； and I
could mention many other examples。 And with regard to the sick； is
it not in those who experience a rigor that the most acute fever is
apt to break out？ And yet not so strongly neither； but that it
ceases in a short time； and； for the most part； without having
occasioned much mischief； and while it remains； it is hot； and passing
over the whole body； ends for the most part in the feet； where the
chills and cold were most intense and lasted longest； and； when
sweat supervenes； and the fever passes off； the patient is much colder
than if he had not taken the fever at all。 Why then should that
which so quickly passes into the opposite extreme； and loses its own
powers spontaneously； be reckoned a mighty and serious affair？ And
what necessity is there for any great remedy for it？
17。 One might here say… but persons in ardent fevers； pneumonia； and
other formidable diseases； do not quickly get rid of the heat； nor
experience these rapid alterations of heat and cold。 And I reckon this
very circumstance the strongest proof that it is not from heat
simply that men get into the febrile state； neither is it the sole
cause of the mischief； but that this species of heat is bitter； and
that acid； and the other saltish； and many other varieties； and
again there is cold combined with other qualities。 These are what
proves injurious； heat； it is true； is present also； possessed of
strength as being that which conducts； is exacerbated and increased
along with the other； but has no power greater than what is peculiar
to itself。
18。 With regard to these symptoms； in the first place those are most
obvious of which we have all often had experience。 Thus； then； in such
of us as have a coryza and defluxion from the nostrils； this discharge
is much more acrid than that which formerly was formed in and ran from
them daily； and it occasions swelling of the nose； and it inflames；
being of a hot and extremely ardent nature； as you may know； if you
apply your hand to the place； and； if the disease remains long； the
part becomes ulcerated although destitute of flesh and hard； and the
heat in the nose ceases； not when the defluxion takes place and the
inflammation is present； but when the running becomes thicker and less
acrid； and more mixed with the former secretion； then it is that the
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