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OF ARETÆUS, THE CAPPADOCIAN, ON THE CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF CHRONIC DISEASE
BOOK I.
CHAPTER IX.
[p. 347]
vitality, which makes us to be men, hot, well braced in limbs,
hairy, well voiced, spirited, strong to think and to act, as the
characteristics of men prove. For when the semen is not possessed
of its vitality, persons become shrivelled, have a sharp
tone of voice, lose their hair and their beard, and become
effeminate, as the characteristics of eunuchs prove. But if any
man be continent in the emission of semen, he is bold, daring,
and strong as wild beasts, as is proved from such of the athletæ
as are continent. For such as are naturally superior in strength
to certain persons, by incontinency become inferior to their
inferiors; while those by nature much their inferiors by continency
become superior to their superiors: but an animal
becomes strong from nothing else than from semen. Vital
semen, then, contributes much to health, strength, courage,
and generation. From satyriasis a transition takes place to an
attack of gonorrhœa.
CHAPTER VI.
ON THE STOMACHIC AFFECTIONS.
THE stomach is the president of pleasure and disgust, being
an important neighbour to the heart for imparting tone, good
or bad spirits, from the sympathy of the soul. This is the
primary power of the stomach. These things have been
described by me in another place. The offspring of pleasure
are, good digestion, good condition, and good colour of the
body; of disgust, their contraries, and also sometimes depression
of spirits, when proper nutrition is wanting; and in
melancholic patients, loathing of food. If, then, this organ be
diseased, there is dislike and abomination of articles of food,
not only if administered, but even if the food is not seen;
