[384] Hist. of Greece, pluries.
[385] The part in parenthesis is rather obscure. In the old French translation it is rendered thus: “Elles sont très différentes entre elles par leur nature, et il arrive d’ailleurs une infinité de changemens qui sont tous divers.” On these changes, see Aphor. iii., 2–15.
[386] I have translated this passage agreeably to the reading suggested by Coray, that is to say, ὀυκ ἐδωδὸς, which appears to be a great improvement, although it is not adopted by Littré. Without the negation (ὀυκ) the contrast between the first and the last clause of the sentence is entirely lost. It will be remarked that I have translated ἀριστητάι, eating to excess. The ἄριστον, or dinner, was a meal which persons of regular habits seldom partook of, and hence Suetonius mentions it as an instance of Domitian’s gormandising propensities, that he was in the habit of taking dinner.—See Vita Domitiani; also Paulus Ægineta, B. I., 109.
[387] It will be remarked that our author uses meteorology and astronomy almost as synonymous terms. In his time meteorology was looked upon by practical men as a visionary subject of investigation, which had a tendency to make those who engaged in it atheists, and the enemies of Socrates took advantage of the prejudices then prevailing against it to represent him as a meteorologist. See Aristophanes (Nub. 225.) Aristophanes, who would appear to have been always too ready to pander to the popular prejudices of the day, also represents the physicians as being “meteorological impostors,”—μετεωροφένακας. (Ibid. 330.) The enlightened mind of Aristotle, however, regarded meteorology in a very different light, and accordingly he wrote a work on the subject replete with all the astronomical and geological knowledge of his time. In it he professes to treat of the heavenly bodies and atmospherical phenomena, including winds, earthquakes and the like; also of minerals, fossils, etc. See the introduction to his Meteorologica.
[388] Upon reference to the editions of Coray, Clifton, and Littré, it will be seen that the text here is in a doubtful state. I shall not weary the reader by stating my reasons for adhering to the meaning which I have adopted.
[389] In place of the common reading, παιδίον, Coray adopts θεῖον which certainly, at first sight, appears to be an improvement. But I admit, with Littré, that the authority of Galen (tom. v., p. 447, ed. Basil), is quite decisive in favour of παιδίον. It is also to be taken into account in this place that the author of the treatise on Dentition brings prominently into view the connection between infancy and convulsions, which adds probability to the supposition that in those days convulsions may have been called “the disease of infancy.”
[390] The Hepialus is a species of intermittent fever, very common in warm climates. It would appear to be a variety of the quotidian. See Paulus Ægineta, Vol. I., 252, Syd. Soc. edition.
[391] Frequent mention of this disease of the skin occurs in the works of the ancient writers on medicine. See Paulus Ægineta, Vol. II., 40. We have there stated that it would appear to have been some species of Eczema, with which we are now unacquainted. Coray has a very lengthy note on it, but arrives at no satisfactory conclusions on the subject. He brings into review three cutaneous diseases, namely, the bouton d’Alep.. (described, Mémoir. de la Société Royale de Médic., année 1777, 1778, t. i., p. 313;) the pelagre, (described, Toaldo, Essai Méteorolog., pp. 19, 20; Comment. de Rebus in Scient. Nat. et Médec. Gestis., tom. xxxi., p. 553; and Journ. de Médec. tom. lxxx., p. 272;) and the lepre des Asturies or mal de la rosa, (described by Thieri, Journ. de Médec., tom. ii., p. 337.)
[392] Coups de soleil, or strokes of the sun, are often mentioned incidentally in the works of the ancient authors, but no one has treated of them in any very systematic manner, as far as I recollect. On the effects of exposure to cold and heat, see, however, Paulus Ægineta, Vol. I., 49–51, Syd. Soc. edition.
[393] Ῥηγματα καὶ σπάσματα. There has been much difference of opinion as to the exact import of these two terms. It would appear to me that they were intended to apply to a rupture or straining of the fibres, occasioned by external violence. M. Littré has a very interesting note on this subject, tom. v., p. 579. On these strainings see further Coacæ Prænotiones, 376, 418. M. Littré, l. c., relates a case of empyema brought on by lifting a heavy piece of wood. On these terms see further the Annotations on Demosthenes, Olynth. ii., 8, ed. Dobson; and Foës, Œc. Hippocr.