Book 3
16
The power, too, to study correctly what has been written I consider to be an important part of the art of medicine. The man who has learnt these things and uses them will not, I think, make great mistakes in the art. And it is necessary to learn accurately each constitution of the seasons as well as the disease; what common element in the constitution or in the disease is good, and what common element in the constitution or in the disease is bad; what malady is protracted and fatal, what is protracted and likely to end in recovery; what acute illness is fatal, what acute illness is likely to end in recovery. With this knowledge it is easy to examine the order of the critical days, and to prognosticate therefrom. One who has knowledge of these matters can know whom he ought to treat, as well as the time and method of treatment.This chapter does not fit in with the context, and occurs again at the beginning of the book περὶ κρισίμων. Ermerins brackets it.
SIXTEEN CASES
CASE I
1
In Thasos the Parian who lay sick beyond the temple of Artemis was seized with acute fever, which at the beginning was continuous and ardent. Thirst. At the beginning coma followed by sleeplessness. Bowels disordered at the beginning; urine thin.
1
Sixth day. Oily urine; delirium.
1
Seventh day. General exacerbation; no sleep; urine similar and mind disordered; stools bilious and fatty.
1
Eighth day. Slight epistaxis; vomited scanty matters of the colour of verdigris; snatches of sleep.
1
Ninth day. Same symptoms.
1
Tenth day. General improvement.
1
Eleventh day. Sweated all over; grew chilly, but quickly recovered heat.
1
Fourteenth day. Acute fever; stools bilious, thin, copious; substance floating in urine; delirium.
1
Seventeenth day. In pain; no sleep, while the fever grew worse.
1
Twentieth day. Sweated all over; no fever; stools bilious; aversion to food; coma.
1
Twenty-fourth day. Relapse.
1
Thirty-fourth day. No fever; no constipation; recovered heat.
