[p. 127]
abdomen is cold and soft. These are the causes
which make the Scythian race unfertile. A clear
proof is afforded by their slave-girls. These, because
of their activity and leanness of body, no sooner go
to a man than they are with child.
PART 22
XXII. Moreover, the great majority among the
Scythians become impotent, do women's work, live
like women and converse accordingly. Such men
they call Anaries. Now the natives put the blame
on to Heaven, and respect and worship these creatures,
each fearing for himself. I too think that these
diseases are divine, and so are all others, no one
being more divine or more human than any other ;
all are alike, and all divine. Each of them has a
nature of its own, and none arises without its natural
cause. How, in my opinion, this disease arises I will
explain. The habit of riding causes swellings at the
joints,
| For this difficult word see Littré V. 320 and VIII. xxxix
foll. |
because they are always astride their horses ;
in severe cases follow lameness and sores on the
hips. They cure themselves in the following way.
At the beginning of the disease they cut the vein
behind each ear. When the blood has ceased to
flow faintness comes over them and they sleep.
Afterwards they get up, some cured and some not.
Now, in my opinion, by this treatment the seed is
destroyed. For by the side of the ear are veins, to
