[p. 286]
altogether erratic. It delights, also, in fragrant smells, and
advances towards them; and it has an aversion to fetid smells,
and flees from them; and, on the whole, the womb is like an
animal within an animal.
When, therefore, it is suddenly carried upwards, and
remains above for a considerable time, and violently compresses
the intestines, the woman experiences a choking, after the
form of epilepsy, but without convulsions. For the liver, diaphragm,
lungs and heart, are quickly squeezed within a narrow
space; and therefore loss of breathing and of speech seems
to be present. And, moreover, the carotids are compressed
from sympathy with the heart, and hence there is heaviness of
head, loss of sensibility, and deep sleep.
And in women there also arises another affection resembling
this form, with sense of choking and loss of speech, but not
proceeding from the womb; for it also happens to men, in the
manner of catochus. But those from the uterus are remedied
by fetid smells, and the application of fragrant things to the
female parts; but in the others these things do no good; and
the limbs are moved about in the affection from the womb,
but in the other affection not at all. Moreover, voluntary and
involuntary tremblings . . . . . . . . . . . but from the application
of a pessary to induce abortion, powerful congelation
of the womb, the stoppage of a copious hemorrhage, and such
like.
If, therefore, upon the womb's being moved upwards, she
begin to suffer, there is sluggishness in the performance of her
offices, prostration of strength, atony, loss of the faculties of
her knees, vertigo, and the limbs sink under her; headache,
heaviness of the head, and the woman is pained in the veins
on each side of the nose.
But if they fall down they have heartburn . . . . . in the
hypochondriac regions; flanks empty, where is the seat of the
womb; pulse intermittent, irregular, and failing; strong sense
