[p. 63]
ribs broad or narrow, and there are very many other
things, the differences between which must all be
known, so that knowledge of the causes of each thing
may ensure that the proper precautions are taken.
PART 24
XXIV. As I have said before, we must examine the
powers of humours, and what the effect of each is
upon man, and how they are related to one another.
Let me give an example. If a humour that is sweet
assumes another form, not by admixture, but by a
self-caused change, what will it first become, bitter,
or salt, or astringent, or acid? I think acid. Therefore
where sweet humour is the least suitable of all,
acid humour is the next least suitable to be administered. Because :--
(1) Health is a crasis of all the humours, none being in
excess ;
(2) Sweet humour passes readily into acid ;
(3) Therefore, when sweet is the least suitable as a remedy
(there being an excess of it already), acid (which is likely to
be reinforced from the sweet) is the next least suitable.
Kéhlewein's text makes sense only if we transpose ὀξύς2 and
γλυκύς2. If you want ὀξὺς χυμός1 for crasis you can get it best
by adding ὀξύς2, next best by adding γλυκύς, which naturally
turns into ὀξύς2.
| If a man can in this way conduct with
success inquiries outside the human body, he will
always be able to select the very best treatment.
And the best is always that which is farthest removed
from the unsuitable.
|