第4章
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  Butourcreators,consideringwhethertheyshouldmakea

  longer—livedracewhichwasworse,orashorter—livedracewhichwas

  better,cametotheconclusionthateveryoneoughttoprefera

  shorterspanoflife,whichwasbetter,toalongerone,whichwas

  worse;andthereforetheycoveredtheheadwiththinbone,butnot

  withfleshandsinews,sinceithadnojoints;andthustheheadwas

  added,havingmorewisdomandsensationthantherestofthebody,but

  alsobeingineverymanfarweaker。Forthesereasonsandafterthis

  mannerGodplacedthesinewsattheextremityofthehead,inacircle

  roundtheneck,andgluedthemtogetherbytheprincipleoflikeness

  andfastenedtheextremitiesofthejawbonestothembelowtheface,

  andtheothersinewshedispersedthroughoutthebody,fastening

  limbtolimb。Theframersofusframedthemouth,asnowarranged,

  havingteethandtongueandlips,withaviewtothenecessaryandthe

  good,contrivingthewayinfornecessarypurposes,thewayoutfor

  thebestpurposes;forthatisnecessarywhichentersinandgives

  foodtothebody;buttheriverofspeech,whichflowsoutofaman

  andministerstotheintelligence,isthefairestandnoblestofall

  streams。Stilltheheadcouldneitherbeleftabareframeofbones,

  onaccountoftheextremesofheatandcoldinthedifferent

  seasons,noryetbeallowedtobewhollycovered,andsobecomedull

  andsenselessbyreasonofanovergrowthofflesh。Thefleshynature

  wasnotthereforewhollydriedup,butalargesortofpeelwasparted

  offandremainedover,whichisnowcalledtheskin。Thismetandgrew

  bythehelpofthecerebralmoisture,andbecamethecircular

  envelopmentofthehead。Andthemoisture,risingupunderthe

  sutures,wateredandclosedintheskinuponthecrown,formingasort

  ofknot。Thediversityofthesutureswascausedbythepowerofthe

  coursesofthesoulandofthefood,andthemorethesestruggled

  againstoneanotherthemorenumeroustheybecame,andfewerifthe

  strugglewerelessviolent。Thisskinthedivinepowerpiercedall

  roundwithfire,andoutofthepunctureswhichwerethusmadethe

  moistureissuedforth,andtheliquidandheatwhichwaspurecame

  away,andamixedpartwhichwascomposedofthesamematerialas

  theskin,andhadafinenessequaltothepunctures,wasborneupby

  itsownimpulseandextendedfaroutsidethehead,butbeingtoo

  slowtoescape,wasthrustbackbytheexternalair,androlledup

  underneaththeskin,whereittookroot。Thusthehairsprangupin

  theskin,beingakintoitbecauseitislikethreadsofleather,

  butrenderedharderandcloserthroughthepressureofthecold,by

  whicheachhair,whileinprocessofseparationfromtheskin,is

  compressedandcooled。Whereforethecreatorformedtheheadhairy,

  makinguseofthecauseswhichIhavementioned,andreflectingalso

  thatinsteadoffleshthebrainneededthehairtobealightcovering

  orguard,whichwouldgiveshadeinsummerandshelterinwinter,

  andatthesametimewouldnotimpedeourquicknessofperception。

  Fromthecombinationofsinew,skin,andbone,inthestructureofthe

  finger,therearisesatriplecompound,which,whendriedup,takes

  theformofonehardskinpartakingofallthreenatures,andwas

  fabricatedbythesesecondcauses,butdesignedbymindwhichisthe

  principalcausewithaneyetothefuture。Forourcreatorswell

  knewthatwomenandotheranimalswouldsomedaybeframedoutofmen,

  andtheyfurtherknewthatmanyanimalswouldrequiretheuseofnails

  formanypurposes;whereforetheyfashionedinmenattheirfirst

  creationtherudimentsofnails。Forthispurposeandforthese

  reasonstheycausedskin,hair,andnailstogrowattheextremities

  ofthelimbs。Andnowthatallthepartsandmembersofthemortal

  animalhadcometogether,sinceitslifeofnecessityconsistedof

  fireandbreath,anditthereforewastedawaybydissolutionand

  depletion,thegodscontrivedthefollowingremedy:Theymingleda

  natureakintothatofmanwithotherformsandperceptions,and

  thuscreatedanotherkindofanimal。Thesearethetreesandplants

  andseedswhichhavebeenimprovedbycultivationandarenow

  domesticatedamongus;ancientlytherewereonlythewillkinds,which

  areolderthanthecultivated。Foreverythingthatpartakesoflife

  maybetrulycalledalivingbeing,andtheanimalofwhichwearenow

  speakingpartakesofthethirdkindofsoul,whichissaidtobe

  seatedbetweenthemidriffandthenavel,havingnopartinopinionor

  reasonormind,butonlyinfeelingsofpleasureandpainandthe

  desireswhichaccompanythem。Forthisnatureisalwaysinapassive

  state,revolvinginandaboutitself,repellingthemotionfrom

  withoutandusingitsown,andaccordinglyisnotendowedbynature

  withthepowerofobservingorreflectingonitsownconcerns。

  Whereforeitlivesanddoesnotdifferfromalivingbeing,butis

  fixedandrootedinthesamespot,havingnopowerofself—motion。

  Nowafterthesuperiorpowershadcreatedallthesenaturestobe

  foodforuswhoareoftheinferiornature,theycutvarious

  channelsthroughthebodyasthroughagarden,thatitmightbe

  wateredasfromarunningstream。Inthefirstplace,theycuttwo

  hiddenchannelsorveinsdownthebackwheretheskinandtheflesh

  join,whichansweredseverallytotherightandleftsideofthebody。

  Thesetheyletdownalongthebackbone,soastohavethemarrowof

  generationbetweenthem,whereitwasmostlikelytoflourish,and

  inorderthatthestreamcomingdownfromabovemightflowfreelyto

  theotherparts,andequalisetheirrigation。Inthenextplace,

  theydividedtheveinsaboutthehead,andinterlacingthem,theysent

  theminoppositedirections;thosecomingfromtherightsidethey

  senttotheleftofthebody,andthosefromthelefttheydiverted

  towardstheright,sothattheyandtheskinmighttogetherforma

  bondwhichshouldfastentheheadtothebody,sincethecrownof

  theheadwasnotencircledbysinews;andalsoinorderthatthe

  sensationsfrombothsidesmightbedistributedoverthewholebody。

  Andnext,theyorderedthewater—coursesofthebodyinamannerwhich

  Iwilldescribe,andwhichwillbemoreeasilyunderstoodifwe

  beginbyadmittingthatallthingswhichhavelesserpartsretain

  thegreater,butthegreatercannotretainthelesser。Nowofall

  naturesfirehasthesmallestparts,andthereforepenetrates

  throughearthandwaterandairandtheircompounds,norcan

  anythingholdit。Andasimilarprincipleappliestothehuman

  belly;forwhenmeatsanddrinksenterit,itholdsthem,butit

  cannotholdairandfire,becausetheparticlesofwhichthey

  consistaresmallerthanitsownstructure。

  Theseelements,therefore,Godemployedforthesakeofdistributing

  moisturefromthebellyintotheveins,weavingtogethernetworkof

  fireandairlikeaweel,havingattheentrancetwolesserweels;

  furtherheconstructedoneofthesewithtwoopenings,andfromthe

  lesserweelsheextendedcordsreachingallroundtotheextremities

  ofthenetwork。Alltheinteriorofthenethemadeoffire,butthe

  lesserweelsandtheircavity,ofair。Thenetworkhetookand

  spreadoverthenewly—formedanimalinthefollowingmanner:—Helet

  thelesserweelspassintothemouth;thereweretwoofthem,and

  oneheletdownbytheair—pipesintothelungs,theotherbytheside

  oftheair—pipesintothebelly。Theformerhedividedintotwo

  branches,bothofwhichhemadetomeetatthechannelsofthenose,

  sothatwhenthewaythroughthemouthdidnotact,thestreamsofthe

  mouthaswellwerereplenishedthroughthenose。Withtheothercavity

  (i。e。ofthegreaterweel)heenvelopedthehollowpartsofthe

  body,andatonetimehemadeallthistoflowintothelesser

  weels,quitegently,fortheyarecomposedofair,andatanothertime

  hecausedthelesserweelstoflowbackagain;andthenethemade

  tofindawayinandoutthroughtheporesofthebody,andtherays

  offirewhichareboundfastwithinfollowedthepassageoftheair

  eitherway,neveratanytimeceasingsolongasthemortalbeing

  holdstogether。Thisprocess,asweaffirm,thename—givernamed

  inspirationandexpiration。Andallthismovement,activeaswellas

  passive,takesplaceinorderthatthebody,beingwateredandcooled,

  mayreceivenourishmentandlife;forwhentherespirationisgoingin

  andout,andthefire,whichisfastboundwithin,followsit,and

  everandanonmovingtoandfro,entersthroughthebellyand

  reachesthemeatanddrink,itdissolvesthem,anddividingthem

  intosmallportionsandguidingthemthroughthepassageswhereit

  goes,pumpsthemasfromafountainintothechannelsoftheveins,

  andmakesthestreamoftheveinsflowthroughthebodyasthrougha

  conduit。

  Letusoncemoreconsiderthephenomenaofrespiration,and

  enquireintothecauseswhichhavemadeitwhatitis。Theyareas

  follows:—Seeingthatthereisnosuchthingasavacuumintowhichany

  ofthosethingswhicharemovedcanenter,andthebreathiscarried

  fromusintotheexternalair,thenextpointis,aswillbedearto

  everyone,thatitdoesnotgointoavacantspace,butpushesits

  neighbouroutofitsplace,andthatwhichisthrustoutinturn

  drivesoutitsneighbour;andinthiseverythingofnecessityat

  lastcomesroundtothatplacefromwhencethebreathcameforth,

  andentersinthere,andfollowingthebreath,fillsupthevacant

  space;andthisgoesonliketherotationofawheel,becausethere

  canbenosuchthingasavacuum。Whereforealsothebreastandthe

  lungs,whentheyemitthebreath,arereplenishedbytheairwhich

  surroundsthebodyandwhichentersinthroughtheporesofthe

  fleshandisdrivenroundinacircle;andagain,theairwhichis

  sentawayandpassesoutthroughthebodyforcesthebreathinwards

  throughthepassageofthemouthandthenostrils。Nowtheoriginof

  thismovementmaybesupposedtobeasfollows。Intheinteriorof

  everyanimalthehottestpartisthatwhichisaroundthebloodand

  veins;itisinamanneroninternalfountainoffire,whichwe

  comparetothenetworkofacreel,beingwovenalloffireand

  extendedthroughthecentreofthebody,whilethe—outerpartsare

  composedofair。Nowwemustadmitthatheatnaturallyproceeds

  outwardtoitsownplaceandtoitskindredelement;andasthere

  aretwoexitsfortheheat,theoutthroughthebody,andtheother

  throughthemouthandnostrils,whenitmovestowardstheone,it

  drivesroundtheairattheother,andthatwhichisdrivenround

  fallsintothefireandbecomeswarm,andthatwhichgoesforthis

  cooled。Butwhentheheatchangesitsplace,andtheparticlesat

  theotherexitgrowwarmer,thehotterairinclininginthatdirection

  andcarriedtowardsitsnativeelement,fire,pushesroundtheair

  attheother;andthisbeingaffectedinthesamewayand

  communicatingthesameimpulse,acircularmotionswayingtoand

  fromisproducedbythedoubleprocess,whichwecallinspiration

  andexpiration。

  Thephenomenaofmedicalcupping—glassesandoftheswallowingof

  drinkandoftheprojectionofbodies,whetherdischargedintheair

  orbowledalongtheground,aretobeinvestigatedonasimilar

  principle;andswiftandslowsounds,whichappeartobehighandlow,

  andaresometimesdiscordantonaccountoftheirinequality,and

  thenagainharmonicalonaccountoftheequalityofthemotionwhich

  theyexciteinus。Forwhenthemotionsoftheantecedentswifter

  soundsbegintopauseandthetwoareequalised,theslowersounds

  overtaketheswifterandthenpropelthem。Whentheyovertakethem

  theydonotintrudeanewanddiscordantmotion,butintroducethe

  beginningsofaslower,whichanswerstotheswifterasitdies

  away,thusproducingasinglemixedexpressionoutofhighandlow,

  whencearisesapleasurewhicheventheunwisefeel,andwhichto

  thewisebecomesahighersortofdelight,beinganimitationof

  divineharmonyinmortalmotions。Moreover,astotheflowingof

  water,thefallofthethunderbolt,andthemarvelsthatare

  observedabouttheattractionofamberandtheHeracleanstones,—in

  noneofthesecasesisthereanyattraction;buthewhoinvestigates

  rightly,willfindthatsuchwonderfulphenomenaareattributableto

  thecombinationofcertainconditions—thenon—existenceofavacuum,

  thefactthatobjectspushoneanotherround,andthattheychange

  places,passingseverallyintotheirproperpositionsastheyare

  dividedorcombined

  Suchaswehaveseen,isthenatureandsucharethecausesof

  respiration—thesubjectinwhichthisdiscussionoriginated。Forthe

  firecutsthefoodandfollowingthebreathsurgesupwithin,fireand

  breathrisingtogetherandfillingtheveinsbydrawingupoutof

  thebellyandpouringintothemthecutportionsofthefood;andso

  thestreamsoffoodarekeptflowingthroughthewholebodyinall

  animals。Andfreshcuttingsfromkindredsubstances,whetherthe

  fruitsoftheearthorherbofthefield,whichGodplantedtobe

  ourdailyfood,acquireallsortsofcoloursbytheirinter—mixture;

  butredisthemostpervadingofthem,beingcreatedbythecutting

  actionoffireandbytheimpressionwhichitmakesonamoist

  substance;andhencetheliquidwhichcirculatesinthebodyhasa

  coloursuchaswehavedescribed。Theliquiditselfwecallblood,

  whichnourishesthefleshandthewholebody,whenceallpartsare

  wateredandemptyplacesfilled。

  Nowtheprocessofrepletionandevacuationiseffectedafterthe

  manneroftheuniversalmotionbywhichallkindredsubstancesare

  drawntowardsoneanother。Fortheexternalelementswhichsurroundus

  arealwayscausingustoconsumeaway,anddistributingandsending

  offliketolike;theparticlesofblood,too,whicharedividedand

  containedwithintheframeoftheanimalasinasortofheaven,are

  compelledtoimitatethemotionoftheuniverse。Each,therefore,of

  thedividedpartswithinus,beingcarriedtoitskindrednature,

  replenishesthevoid。Whenmoreistakenawaythanflowsin,thenwe

  decay,andwhenless,wegrowandincrease。

  Theframeoftheentirecreaturewhenyounghasthetrianglesof

  eachkindnew,andmaybecomparedtothekeelofavesselwhichis

  justoffthestocks;theyarelockedfirmlytogetherandyetthewhole

  massissoftanddelicate,beingfreshlyformedofmarrowandnurtured

  onmilk。Nowwhenthetrianglesoutofwhichmeatsanddrinksare

  composedcomeinfromwithout,andarecomprehendedinthebody,being

  olderandweakerthanthetrianglesalreadythere,theframeofthe

  bodygetsthebetterofthemanditsnewertrianglescutthemup,

  andsotheanimalgrowsgreat,beingnourishedbyamultitudeof

  similarparticles。Butwhentherootsofthetrianglesareloosenedby

  havingundergonemanyconflictswithmanythingsinthecourseof

  time,theyarenolongerabletocutorassimilatethefoodwhich

  enters,butarethemselveseasilydividedbythebodieswhichcome

  infromwithout。Inthiswayeveryanimalisovercomeanddecays,

  andthisaffectioniscalledoldage。Andatlast,whenthebondsby

  whichthetrianglesofthemarrowareunitednolongerhold,andare

  partedbythestrainofexistence,theyinturnloosenthebondsof

  thesoul,andshe,obtaininganaturalrelease,fliesawaywithjoy。

  Forthatwhichtakesplaceaccordingtonatureispleasant,butthat

  whichiscontrarytonatureispainful。Andthusdeath,ifcausedby

  diseaseorproducedbywounds,ispainfulandviolent;butthatsort

  ofdeathwhichcomeswitholdageandfulfilsthedebtofnatureis

  theeasiestofdeaths,andisaccompaniedwithpleasureratherthan

  withpain。

  Noweveryonecanseewhencediseasesarise。Therearefour

  naturesoutofwhichthebodyiscompacted,earthandfireandwater

  andair,andtheunnaturalexcessordefectofthese,orthechangeof

  anyofthemfromitsownnaturalplaceintoanother,or—sincethere

  aremorekindsthanoneoffireandoftheotherelements—the

  assumptionbyanyoftheseofawrongkind,oranysimilar

  irregularity,producesdisordersanddiseases;forwhenanyofthemis

  producedorchangedinamannercontrarytonature,thepartswhich

  werepreviouslycoolgrowwarm,andthosewhichweredrybecomemoist,

  andthelightbecomeheavy,andtheheavylight;allsortsof

  changesoccur。For,asweaffirm,athingcanonlyremainthesame

  withitself,wholeandsound,whenthesameisaddedtoit,or

  subtractedfromit,inthesamerespectandinthesamemannerand

  indueproportion;andwhatevercomesorgoesawayinviolationof

  theselawscausesallmannerofchangesandinfinitediseasesand

  corruptions。Nowthereisasecondclassofstructureswhichare

  alsonatural,andthisaffordsasecondopportunityofobserving

  diseasestohimwhowouldunderstandthem。Forwhereasmarrowandbone

  andfleshandsinewsarecomposedofthefourelements,andtheblood,

  thoughafteranothermanner,islikewiseformedoutofthem,most

  diseasesoriginateinthewaywhichIhavedescribed;buttheworstof

  allowetheirseveritytothefactthatthegenerationofthese

  substancesstancesinawrongorder;theyarethendestroyed。For

  thenaturalorderisthatthefleshandsinewsshouldbemadeof

  blood,thesinewsoutofthefibrestowhichtheyareakin,andthe

  fleshoutofthedotswhichareformedwhenthefibresare

  separated。Andtheglutinousandrichmatterwhichcomesawayfromthe

  sinewsandtheflesh,notonlygluesthefleshtothebones,but

  nourishesandimpartsgrowthtothebonewhichsurroundsthemarrow;

  andbyreasonofthesolidityofthebones,thatwhichfiltersthrough

  consistsofthepurestandsmoothestandoiliestsortoftriangles,

  droppinglikedewfromthebonesandwateringthemarrow。

  Nowwheneachprocesstakesplaceinthisorder,healthcommonly

  results;whenintheoppositeorder,disease。Forwhentheflesh

  becomesdecomposedandsendsbackthewastingsubstanceintothe

  veins,thenanover—supplyofbloodofdiversekinds,minglingwith

  airintheveins,havingvariegatedcoloursandbitterproperties,

  aswellasacidandsalinequalities,containsallsortsofbileand

  serumandphlegm。Forallthingsgothewrongway,andhavingbecome

  corrupted,firsttheytainttheblooditself,andthenceasingtogive

  nourishmentthebodytheyarecarriedalongtheveinsinall

  directions,nolongerpreservingtheorderoftheirnaturalcourses,

  butatwarwiththemselves,becausetheyreceivenogoodfromone

  another,andarehostiletotheabidingconstitutionofthebody,

  whichtheycorruptanddissolve。Theoldestpartofthefleshwhichis

  corrupted,beinghardtodecompose,fromlongburninggrowsblack,and

  frombeingeverywherecorrodedbecomesbitter,andisinjuriousto

  everypartofthebodywhichisstilluncorrupted。Sometimes,whenthe

  bitterelementisrefinedaway,theblackpartassumesanacidity

  whichtakestheplaceofthebitterness;atothertimesthebitterness

  beingtingedwithbloodhasareddercolour;andthis,whenmixedwith

  black,takesthehueofgrass;andagain,anauburncolourmingles

  withthebittermatterwhennewfleshisdecomposedbythefire

  whichsurroundstheinternalflame—toallwhichsymptomssome

  physicianperhaps,orrathersomephilosopher,whohadthepowerof

  seeinginmanydissimilarthingsonenaturedeservingofaname,has

  assignedthecommonnameofbile。Buttheotherkindsofbileare

  variouslydistinguishedbytheircolours。Asforserum,thatsort

  whichisthewaterypartofbloodisinnocent,butthatwhichisa

  secretionofblackandacidbileismalignantwhenmingledbythe

  powerofheatwithanysaltsubstance,andisthencalledacidphlegm。

  Again,thesubstancewhichisformedbytheliquefactionofnewand

  tenderfleshwhenairispresent,ifinflatedandencasedinliquidso

  astoformbubbles,whichseparatelyareinvisibleowingtotheir

  smallsize,butwhencollectedareofabulkwhichisvisible,and

  haveawhitecolourarisingoutofthegenerationoffoam—allthis

  decompositionoftenderfleshwheninter—mingledwithairistermedby

  uswhitephlegm。Andthewheyorsedimentofnewly—formedphlegmis

  sweatandtears,andincludesthevariousdailydischargesbywhich

  thebodyispurified。Nowallthesebecomecausesofdiseasewhen

  thebloodisnotreplenishedinanaturalmannerbyfoodanddrinkbut

  gainsbulkfromoppositesourcesinviolationofthelawsofnature。

  Whentheseveralpartsofthefleshareseparatedbydisease,ifthe

  foundationremains,thepowerofthedisorderisonlyhalfasgreat,

  andthereisstillaprospectofaneasyrecovery;butwhenthatwhich

  bindsthefleshtothebonesisdiseased,andnolongerbeing

  separatedfromthemusclesandsinews,ceasestogivenourishmentto

  theboneandtounitefleshandbone,andfrombeingoilyandsmooth

  andglutinousbecomesroughandsaltanddry,owingtobadregimen,

  thenallthesubstancethuscorruptedcrumblesawayundertheflesh

  andthesinews,andseparatesfromthebone,andthefleshypartsfall

  awayfromtheirfoundationandleavethesinewsbareandfullof

  brine,andthefleshagaingetsintothecirculationoftheblood

  andmakesthepreviously—mentioneddisordersstillgreater。Andif

  thesebodilyaffectionsbesevere,stillworsearetheprior

  disorders;aswhentheboneitself,byreasonofthedensityofthe

  flesh,doesnotobtainsufficientair,butbecomesmouldyandhot

  andgangrenedandreceivesnonutriment,andthenaturalprocessis

  inverted,andthebonecrumblingpassesintothefood,andthefood

  intotheflesh,andthefleshagainfallingintothebloodmakesall

  maladiesthatmayoccurmorevirulentthanthosealreadymentioned。

  Buttheworstcaseofalliswhenthemarrowisdiseased,either

  fromexcessordefect;andthisisthecauseoftheverygreatest

  andmostfataldisorders,inwhichthewholecourseofthebodyis

  reversed。

  Thereisathirdclassofdiseaseswhichmaybeconceivedofas

  arisinginthreeways;fortheyareproducedsometimesbywind,and

  sometimesbyphlegm,andsometimesbybile。Whenthelung,whichis

  thedispenseroftheairtothebody,isobstructedbyrheumsand

  itspassagesarenotfree,someofthemnotacting,whilethrough

  otherstoomuchairenters,thenthepartswhichareunrefreshedby

  aircorrode,whileinotherpartstheexcessofairforcingitsway

  throughtheveinsdistortsthemanddecomposingthebodyisenclosed

  inthemidstofitandoccupiesthemidriffthusnumberlesspainful

  diseasesareproduced,accompaniedbycopioussweats。Andoftentimes

  whenthefleshisdissolvedinthebody,wind,generatedwithinand

  unabletoescape,isthesourceofquiteasmuchpainastheair

  cominginfromwithout;butthegreatestpainisfeltwhenthewind

  getsaboutthesinewsandtheveinsoftheshoulders,andswells

  themup,sotwistsbackthegreattendonsandthesinewswhichare

  connectedwiththem。Thesedisordersarecalledtetanusand

  opisthotonus,byreasonofthetensionwhichaccompaniesthem。The

  cureofthemisdifficult;reliefisinmostcasesgivenbyfever

  supervening。Thewhitephlegm,thoughdangerouswhendetainedwithin

  byreasonoftheair—bubbles,yetifitcancommunicatewiththe

  outsideair,islesssevere,andonlydiscoloursthebody,

  generatingleprouseruptionsandsimilardiseases。Whenitis

  mingledwithblackbileanddispersedaboutthecoursesofthehead,

  whicharethedivinestpartofus,theattackifcomingoninsleep,

  isnotsosevere;butwhenassailingthosewhoareawakeitishardto

  begotridof,andbeinganaffectionofasacredpart,ismostjustly

  calledsacred。Anacidandsaltphlegm,again,isthesourceofall

  thosediseaseswhichtaketheformofcatarrh,buttheyhavemany

  namesbecausetheplacesintowhichtheyflowaremanifold。

  Inflammationsofthebodycomefromburningsandinflamings,andall

  ofthemoriginateinbile。Whenbilefindsameansofdischarge,it

  boilsupandsendsforthallsortsoftumours;butwhenimprisoned

  within,itgeneratesmanyinflammatorydiseases,aboveallwhen

  mingledwithpureblood;sinceitthendisplacesthefibreswhich

  arescatteredaboutinthebloodandaredesignedtomaintainthe

  balanceofrareanddense,inorderthatthebloodmaynotbeso

  liquefiedbyheatastoexudefromtheporesofthebody,noragain

  becometoodenseandthusfindadifficultyincirculatingthroughthe

  veins。Thefibresaresoconstitutedastomaintainthisbalance;

  andifanyonebringsthemalltogetherwhenthebloodisdeadand

  inprocessofcooling,thenthebloodwhichremainsbecomesfluid,but

  iftheyareleftalone,theysooncongealbyreasonofthesurrounding

  cold。Thefibreshavingthispowerovertheblood,bile,whichisonly

  staleblood,andwhichfrombeingfleshisdissolvedagainintoblood,

  atthefirstinfluxcominginlittlebylittle,hotandliquid,is

  congealedbythepowerofthefibres;andsocongealingandmadeto

  cool,itproducesinternalcoldandshuddering。Whenitenterswith

  moreofafloodandovercomesthefibresbyitsheat,andboilingup

  throwsthemintodisorder,ifithavepowerenoughtomaintainits

  supremacy,itpenetratesthemarrowandburnsupwhatmaybetermed

  thecablesofthesoul,andsetsherfree;butwhenthereisnotso

  muchofit,andthebodythoughwastedstillholdsout,thebileis

  itselfmastered,andiseitherutterlybanished,oristhrust

  throughtheveinsintothelowerorupper—belly,andisdrivenout

  ofthebodylikeanexilefromastateinwhichtherehasbeencivil

  war;whencearisediarrhoeasanddysenteries,andallsuch

  disorders。Whentheconstitutionisdisorderedbyexcessoffire,

  continuousheatandfeveraretheresult;whenexcessofairisthe

  cause,thenthefeverisquotidian;whenofwater,whichisamore

  sluggishelementthaneitherfireorair,thenthefeverisatertian;

  whenofearth,whichisthemostsluggishofthefour,andisonly

  purgedawayinafour—foldperiod,theresultisaquartanfever,

  whichcanwithdifficultybeshakenoff。

  Suchisthemannerinwhichdiseasesofthebodyarise;the

  disordersofthesoul,whichdependuponthebody,originateas

  follows。Wemustacknowledgediseaseofthemindtobeawantof

  intelligence;andofthistherearetwokinds;towit,madnessand

  ignorance。Inwhateverstateamanexperienceseitherofthem,that

  statemaybecalleddisease;andexcessivepainsandpleasuresare

  justlytoberegardedasthegreatestdiseasestowhichthesoulis

  liable。Foramanwhoisingreatjoyoringreatpain,inhis

  unseasonableeagernesstoattaintheoneandtoavoidtheother,is

  notabletoseeortohearanythingrightly;butheismad,andis

  atthetimeutterlyincapableofanyparticipationinreason。Hewho

  hastheseedaboutthespinalmarrowtooplentifulandoverflowing,

  likeatreeoverladenwithfruit,hasmanythroes,andalsoobtains

  manypleasuresinhisdesiresandtheiroffspring,andisforthemost

  partofhislifederanged,becausehispleasuresandpainsaresovery

  great;hissoulisrenderedfoolishanddisorderedbyhisbody;yethe

  isregardednotasonediseased,butasonewhoisvoluntarilybad,

  whichisamistake。Thetruthisthattheintemperanceofloveisa

  diseaseofthesoulduechieflytothemoistureandfluiditywhich

  isproducedinoneoftheelementsbythelooseconsistencyofthe

  bones。Andingeneral,allthatwhichistermedtheincontinenceof

  pleasureandisdeemedareproachundertheideathatthewicked

  voluntarilydowrongisnotjustlyamatterforreproach。Fornoman

  isvoluntarilybad;butthebadbecomebadbyreasonofanill

  dispositionofthebodyandbadeducation,thingswhicharehatefulto

  everymanandhappentohimagainsthiswill。Andinthecaseof

  paintooinlikemannerthesoulsuffersmuchevilfromthebody。

  Forwheretheacidandbrinyphlegmandotherbitterandbilious

  humourswanderaboutinthebody,andfindnoexitorescape,but

  arepentupwithinandmingletheirownvapourswiththemotionsof

  thesoul,andareblended,withthem,theyproduceallsortsof

  diseases,moreorfewer,andineverydegreeofintensity;andbeing

  carriedtothethreeplacesofthesoul,whichevertheymay

  severallyassail,theycreateinfinitevarietiesofill—temperand

  melancholy,ofrashnessandcowardice,andalsoofforgetfulnessand

  stupidity。Further,whentothisevilconstitutionofbodyevil

  formsofgovernmentareaddedandevildiscoursesareutteredin

  privateaswellasinpublic,andnosortofinstructionisgivenin

  youthtocuretheseevils,thenallofuswhoarebadbecomebad

  fromtwocauseswhichareentirelybeyondourcontrol。Insuchcases

  theplantersaretoblameratherthantheplants,theeducatorsrather

  thantheeducated。Buthoweverthatmaybe,weshouldendeavourasfar

  aswecanbyeducation,andstudies,andlearning,toavoidviceand

  attainvirtue;this,however,ispartofanothersubject。

  Thereisacorrespondingenquiryconcerningthemodeoftreatmentby

  whichthemindandthebodyaretobepreserved,aboutwhichitis

  meetandrightthatIshouldsayawordinturn;foritismoreour

  dutytospeakofthegoodthanoftheevil。Everythingthatisgoodis

  fair,andtheanimalfairisnotwithoutproportion,andtheanimal

  whichistobefairmusthavedueproportion。Nowweperceivelesser

  symmetriesorproportionsandreasonaboutthem,butofthehighest

  andgreatestwetakenoheed;forthereisnoproportionor

  disproportionmoreproductiveofhealthanddisease,andvirtueand

  vice,thanthatbetweensoulandbody。Thishoweverwedonot

  perceive,nordowereflectthatwhenaweakorsmallframeisthe

  vehicleofagreatandmightysoul,orconversely,whenalittle

  soulisencasedinalargebody,thenthewholeanimalisnotfair,

  foritlacksthemostimportantofallsymmetries;butthedue

  proportionofmindandbodyisthefairestandloveliestofallsights

  tohimwhohastheseeingeye。Justasabodywhichhasalegtoo

  long,orwhichisunsymmetricalinsomeotherrespect,isan

  unpleasantsight,andalso,whendoingitsshareofwork,ismuch

  distressedandmakesconvulsiveefforts,andoftenstumblesthrough

  awkwardness,andisthecauseofinfiniteeviltoitsownself—inlike

  mannerweshouldconceiveofthedoublenaturewhichwecallthe

  livingbeing;andwheninthiscompoundthereisanimpassionedsoul

  morepowerfulthanthebody,thatsoul,Isay,convulsesandfills

  withdisordersthewholeinnernatureofman;andwheneagerinthe

  pursuitofsomesortoflearningorstudy,causeswasting;oragain,

  whenteachingordisputinginprivateorinpublic,andstrifesand

  controversiesarise,inflamesanddissolvesthecompositeframeofman

  andintroducesrheums;andthenatureofthisphenomenonisnot

  understoodbymostprofessorsofmedicine,whoascribeittothe

  oppositeoftherealcause。Andoncemore,whenbodylargeandtoo

  strongforthesoulisunitedtoasmallandweakintelligence,then

  inasmuchastherearetwodesiresnaturaltoman,—oneoffoodfor

  thesakeofthebody,andoneofwisdomforthesakeofthediviner

  partofus—then,Isay,themotionsofthestronger,gettingthe

  betterandincreasingtheirownpower,butmakingthesouldull,and

  stupid,andforgetful,engenderignorance,whichisthegreatestof

  diseases。Thereisoneprotectionagainstbothkindsof

  disproportion:—thatweshouldnotmovethebodywithoutthesoulor

  thesoulwithoutthebody,andthustheywillbeontheirguard

  againsteachother,andbehealthyandwellbalanced。Andtherefore

  themathematicianoranyoneelsewhosethoughtsaremuchabsorbed

  insomeintellectualpursuit,mustallowhisbodyalsotohavedue

  exercise,andpractisegymnastic;andhewhoiscarefultofashionthe

  body,shouldinturnimparttothesoulitspropermotions,andshould

  cultivatemusicandallphilosophy,ifhewoulddeservetobecalled

  trulyfairandtrulygood。Andtheseparatepartsshouldbetreatedin

  thesamemanner,inimitationofthepatternoftheuniverse;foras

  thebodyisheatedandalsocooledwithinbytheelementswhich

  enterintoit,andisagaindriedupandmoistenedbyexternalthings,

  andexperiencestheseandthelikeaffectionsfrombothkindsof

  motions,theresultisthatthebodyifgivenuptomotionwhenina

  stateofquiescenceisovermasteredandperishes;butifanyone,in

  imitationofthatwhichwecallthefoster—motherandnurseofthe

  universe,willnotallowthebodyevertobeinactive,butisalways

  producingmotionsandagitationsthroughitswholeextent,which

  formthenaturaldefenceagainstothermotionsbothinternaland

  external,andbymoderateexercisereducestoorderaccordingtotheir

  affinitiestheparticlesandaffectionswhicharewanderingabout

  thebody,aswehavealreadysaidwhenspeakingoftheuniverse,he

  willnotallowenemyplacedbythesideofenemytostirupwarsand

  disordersinthebody,buthewillplacefriendbythesideoffriend,

  soastocreatehealth。

  Nowofallmotionsthatisthebestwhichisproducedinathing

  byitself,foritismostakintothemotionofthoughtandofthe

  universe;butthatmotionwhichiscausedbyothersisnotsogood,

  andworstofallisthatwhichmovesthebody,whenatrest,in

  partsonlyandbysomeexternalagency。Whereforeofallmodesof

  purifyingandreunitingthebodythebestisgymnastic;thenext

  bestisasurgingmotion,asinsailingoranyothermodeof

  conveyancewhichisnotfatiguing;thethirdsortofmotionmaybe

  ofuseinacaseofextremenecessity,butinanyotherwillbe

  adoptedbynomanofsense:Imeanthepurgativetreatmentof

  physicians;fordiseasesunlesstheyareverydangerousshouldnot

  beirritatedbymedicines,sinceeveryformofdiseaseisina

  mannerakintothelivingbeing,whosecomplexframehasan

  appointedtermoflife。Fornotthewholeraceonly,buteach

  individual—barringinevitableaccidents—comesintotheworldhaving

  afixedspan,andthetrianglesinusareoriginallyframedwithpower

  tolastforacertaintime,beyondwhichnomanprolonghislife。

  Andthisholdsalsooftheconstitutionofdiseases;ifanyone

  regardlessoftheappointedtimetriestosubduethembymedicine,

  heonlyaggravatesandmultipliesthem。Whereforeweoughtalwaysto

  managethembyregimen,asfarasamancansparethetime,andnot

  provokeadisagreeableenemybymedicines。

  Enoughofthecompositeanimal,andofthebodywhichisapartof

  him,andofthemannerinwhichamanmaytrainandbetrainedby

  himselfsoastolivemostaccordingtoreason:andwemustabove

  andbeforeallprovidethattheelementwhichistotrainhimshallbe

  thefairestandbestadaptedtothatpurpose。Aminutediscussionof

  thissubjectwouldbeaserioustask;butif,asbefore,Iamto

  giveonlyanoutline,thesubjectmaynotunfitlybesummedupas

  follows。

  Ihaveoftenremarkedthattherearethreekindsofsoullocated

  withinus,havingeachofthemmotions,andImustnowrepeatinthe

  fewestwordspossible,thatonepart,ifremaininginactiveand

  ceasingfromitsnaturalmotion,mustnecessarilybecomeveryweak,

  butthatwhichistrainedandexercised,verystrong。Whereforewe

  shouldtakecarethatthemovementsofthedifferentpartsofthesoul

  shouldbeindueproportion。

  AndweshouldconsiderthatGodgavethesovereignpartofthehuman

  soultobethedivinityofeachone,beingthatpartwhich,aswesay,

  dwellsatthetopofthebody,inasmuchasweareaplantnotofan

  earthlybutofaheavenlygrowth,raisesusfromearthtoour

  kindredwhoareinheaven。Andinthiswesaytruly;forthedivine

  powersuspendedtheheadandrootofusfromthatplacewherethe

  generationofthesoulfirstbegan,andthusmadethewholebody

  upright。Whenamanisalwaysoccupiedwiththecravingsofdesireand

  ambition,andiseagerlystrivingtosatisfythem,allhisthoughts

  mustbemortal,and,asfarasitispossiblealtogethertobecome

  such,hemustbemortaleverywhit,becausehehascherishedhis

  mortalpart。Buthewhohasbeenearnestintheloveofknowledge

  andoftruewisdom,andhasexercisedhisintellectmorethanany

  otherpartofhim,musthavethoughtsimmortalanddivine,ifhe

  attaintruth,andinsofarashumannatureiscapableofsharingin

  immortality,hemustaltogetherbeimmortal;andsinceheisever

  cherishingthedivinepower,andhasthedivinitywithinhimin

  perfectorder,hewillbeperfectlyhappy。Nowthereisonlyoneway

  oftakingcareofthings,andthisistogivetoeachthefoodand

  motionwhicharenaturaltoit。Andthemotionswhicharenaturally

  akintothedivineprinciplewithinusarethethoughtsand

  revolutionsoftheuniverse。Theseeachmanshouldfollow,andcorrect

  thecoursesoftheheadwhichwerecorruptedatourbirth,andby

  learningtheharmoniesandrevolutionsoftheuniverse,should

  assimilatethethinkingbeingtothethought,renewinghisoriginal

  nature,andhavingassimilatedthemshouldattaintothatperfectlife

  whichthegodshavesetbeforemankind,bothforthepresentandthe

  future。

  Thusouroriginaldesignofdiscoursingabouttheuniversedownto

  thecreationofmanisnearlycompleted。Abriefmentionmaybemade

  ofthegenerationofotheranimals,sofarasthesubjectadmitsof

  brevity;inthismannerourargumentwillbestattainadue

  proportion。Onthesubjectofanimals,then,thefollowingremarksmay

  beoffered。Ofthemenwhocameintotheworld,thosewhowerecowards

  orledunrighteouslivesmaywithreasonbesupposedtohavechanged

  intothenatureofwomeninthesecondgeneration。Andthiswasthe

  reasonwhyatthattimethegodscreatedinusthedesireofsexual

  intercourse,contrivinginmanoneanimatedsubstance,andinwoman

  another,whichtheyformedrespectivelyinthefollowingmanner。The

  outletfordrinkbywhichliquidspassthroughthelungunderthe

  kidneysandintothebladder,whichreceivesthenbythepressureof

  theairemitsthem,wassofashionedbythemastopenetratealsointo

  thebodyofthemarrow,whichpassesfromtheheadalongtheneck

  andthroughtheback,andwhichintheprecedingdiscoursewehave

  namedtheseed。Andtheseedhavinglife,andbecomingendowedwith

  respiration,producesinthatpartinwhichitrespiresalively

  desireofemission,andthuscreatesinustheloveofprocreation。

  Whereforealsoinmentheorganofgenerationbecomingrebellious

  andmasterful,likeananimaldisobedienttoreason,andmaddenedwith

  thestingoflust,seekstogainabsolutesway;andthesameisthe

  casewiththeso—calledwombormatrixofwomen;theanimalwithin

  themisdesirousofprocreatingchildren,andwhenremaining

  unfruitfullongbeyonditspropertime,getsdiscontentedandangry,

  andwanderingineverydirectionthroughthebody,closesupthe

  passagesofthebreath,and,byobstructingrespiration,drivesthem

  toextremity,causingallvarietiesofdisease,untilatlengththe

  desireandloveofthemanandthewoman,bringingthemtogetherand

  asitwerepluckingthefruitfromthetree,sowinthewomb,asin

  afield,animalsunseenbyreasonoftheirsmallnessandwithoutform;

  theseagainareseparatedandmaturedwithin;theyarethenfinally

  broughtoutintothelight,andthusthegenerationofanimalsis

  completed。

  Thuswerecreatedwomenandthefemalesexingeneral。Butthe

  raceofbirdswascreatedoutofinnocentlight—mindedmen,who,

  althoughtheirmindsweredirectedtowardheaven,imagined,intheir

  simplicity,thattheclearestdemonstrationofthethingsabovewasto

  beobtainedbysight;thesewereremodelledandtransformedinto

  birds,andtheygrewfeathersinsteadofhair。Theraceofwild

  pedestriananimals,again,camefromthosewhohadnophilosophyin

  anyoftheirthoughts,andneverconsideredatallaboutthenatureof

  theheavens,becausetheyhadceasedtousethecoursesofthehead,

  butfollowedtheguidanceofthosepartsofthesoulwhicharein

  thebreast。Inconsequenceofthesehabitsoftheirstheyhadtheir

  front—legsandtheirheadsrestingupontheearthtowhichtheywere

  drawnbynaturalaffinity;andthecrownsoftheirheadswere

  elongatedandofallsortsofshapes,intowhichthecoursesofthe

  soulwerecrushedbyreasonofdisuse。Andthiswasthereasonwhy

  theywerecreatedquadrupedsandpolypods:Godgavethemoresenseless

  ofthemthemoresupportthattheymightbemoreattractedtothe

  earth。Andthemostfoolishofthem,whotrailtheirbodiesentirely

  uponthegroundandhavenolongeranyneedoffeet,hemadewithout

  feettocrawlupontheearth。Thefourthclassweretheinhabitantsof

  thewater:theseweremadeoutofthemostentirelysenselessand

  ignorantofall,whomthetransformersdidnotthinkanylongerworthy

  ofpurerespiration,becausetheypossessedasoulwhichwasmade

  impurebyallsortsoftransgression;andinsteadofthesubtleand

  puremediumofair,theygavethemthedeepandmuddyseatobe

  theirelementofrespiration;andhencearosetheraceoffishesand

  oysters,andotheraquaticanimals,whichhavereceivedthemost

  remotehabitationsasapunishmentoftheiroutlandishignorance。

  Thesearethelawsbywhichanimalspassintooneanother,now,as

  ever,changingastheyloseorgainwisdomandfolly。

  Wemaynowsaythatourdiscourseaboutthenatureoftheuniverse

  hasanend。Theworldhasreceivedanimals,mortalandimmortal,and

  isfulfilledwiththem,andhasbecomeavisibleanimalcontainingthe

  visible—thesensibleGodwhoistheimageoftheintellectual,the

  greatest,best,fairest,mostperfect—theoneonlybegottenheaven。

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