Book 3
13
The severest and most troublesome disease, as well as the most fatal, was the consumption. Many cases began in the winter, and of these several took to their bed, though some went about ailing without doing so. Early in the spring most of those who had gone to bed died, while none of the others lost their cough, though it became easier in the summer. During autumn all took to bed and many died. Most of these were ill for a long time. Now most of these began suddenly to grow worse, showing the following symptoms:—-frequent shivering; often continuous and acute fever; unseasonable, copious,I am often doubtful as to the meaning of πολλοὶ in instances like these; does it refer to quantity or frequency? In these two examples either meaning would give excellent sense. See General Introduction, p. lxi. cold sweats throughout; great chill with difficult recovery of heat; bowels variously constipated, then quickly relaxing, and violently relaxing in all cases near the end ; the humours about the lungs spread downwards; abundance of unfavourable urine; malignant wasting. The coughs throughout were frequent, bringing up copious,I am often doubtful as to the meaning of πολλοὶ in instances like these; does it refer to quantity or frequency? In these two examples either meaning would give excellent sense. See General Introduction, p. lxi. concocted and liquid sputa, but without much pain; but even if there was pain, in all cases the purging from the lungs took place very mildly. The throat did not smart very much, nor did salt humours cause any distress at all. The fluxes, however, viscid, white, moist, frothy, which came from the head, were abundant. But by far the worst symptom that attended both these cases and the others was the distaste for food, as has been mentioned. They had no relish either for drink with nourishment, but they remained entirely without thirst. Heaviness in the body. Coma. In most of them there was swelling, which developed into dropsy. Shivering fits and delirium near death.
