Lucretius, it will be remarked, understands the historian to mean that the mortified parts were amputated; and this opinion, although rejected by most of our non-professional editors of Thucydides, is confirmed by what Galen says in his Commentary on this passage, namely, that in erysipelas of the genital organs “we (meaning the physicians of his own time) are often obliged to excise the putrid parts, and apply the cautery to them.” I would here further point out a singular mistake into which Dr. Bloomfield falls in his note on this passage of Thucydides; he says that the words of the original (ἄκρας χεῑρας καὶ πόδας) “can only signify the ends of or lower joints of the fingers and toes.” No one who is acquainted with the language of our author will require to be told that this is an entire misconception. In the works of Hippocrates χεῖρες is often put for the arms, and χεῖρες ἄκραι are always applied to the hands.
[708] Upon reference to the Glossary of Erotian, the Commentary of Galen, and the Annotations of Foës and Littré, the reader will see that there is great difficulty in determining the text in this place. After examining all that has been written on the subject, one cannot come to any satisfactory conclusion as to the true reading. I have adopted the meaning which seems to suit best with the passage. The professional reader will scarcely require to be reminded that in cases of phthisis there is often a notable impairment of the voice.
[709] Galen makes the important remark on this word, that, in febrile diseases, epistaxis is always a bad symptom.
[710] This obliviousness is a feature of the plague, as described by Thucydides: “And some, when they first left their beds, were seized with an utter forgetfulness of all things, and knew not themselves nor their relatives.” (l. c.)
[711] Our author alludes to the affection called coma vigil by the later authorities. In this affection, as Galen remarks, the patient lies with his eyes shut, but can get no sound sleep. This, of course, is so much more the case provided pain be present, as it necessarily will prevent the occurrence of sleep. See Galen’s tract On Coma.
[712] The low muttering delirium of typhoid fevers is here evidently alluded to. Galen, in his Commentary, guards the reader against supposing that the fever passed into lethargus.
[713] This description apparently can refer to nothing but pestilential buboes.
[714] It is impossible not to recognize this as a description of purulent ophthalmia. Celsus thus describes the ficus: “Est etiam ulcus quod a fici similitudine σύκωσις Græcis nominatur, ubi caro excrescit; et id quidem generale est. Sub eo vero duæ species aunt. Alterum ulcus durum et rotundum est: alterum humidum et inæquale. Ex duro exiguum quoddam et glutinosum exit: ex humido plus, et mali odoris.” See the Lexicons of Hesychius and Phavorinus, and also Paulus Ægineta, Book III., 3. It will be remarked that Hippocrates also makes mention of fungous excrescences about the pudenda. Were they syphilitic? In other words, did they derive their origin from elephantiasis? See the Annotations on Paulus Ægineta, Book IV., 1, Sydenham Society’s edition.
[715] The meaning of this term is not precisely determined. Galen’s account of it may apply both to exanthemata, and pustulæ. The description of the eruption in the Plague of Athens is likewise vague and indeterminate. (Thucyd, ii., 49.)
[716] These intestinal complaints are all mentioned in the description of the Plague at Athens. (l. c.) Upon reference to the Commentary of Galen, the reader will remark that there is a question here respecting the reading.