great diseases； and in what manner and from what cause it is formed； I
will now plainly declare。 The brain of man； as in all other animals；
is double； and a thin membrane divides it through the middle； and
therefore the pain is not always in the same part of the head； for
sometimes it is situated on either side； and sometimes the whole is
affected； and veins run toward it from all parts of the body； many
of which are small； but two are thick； the one from the liver； and the
other from the spleen。 And it is thus with regard to the one from
the liver： a portion of it runs downward through the parts on the
side； near the kidneys and the psoas muscles； to the inner part of the
thigh； and extends to the foot。 It is called vena cava。 The other runs
upward by the right veins and the lungs； and divides into branches for
the heart and the right arm。 The remaining part of it rises upward
across the clavicle to the right side of the neck； and is
superficial so as to be seen； near the ear it is concealed； and
there it divides； its thickest； largest； and most hollow part ends
in the brain； another small vein goes to the right ear； another to the
right eye； and another to the nostril。 Such are the distributions of
the hepatic vein。 And a vein from the spleen is distributed on the
left side； upward and downward； like that from the liver； but more
slender and feeble。
By these veins we draw in much breath； since they are the
spiracles of our bodies inhaling air to themselves and distributing it
to the rest of the body； and to the smaller veins； and they and
afterwards exhale it。 For the breath cannot be stationary； but it
passes upward and downward； for if stopped and intercepted； the part
where it is stopped becomes powerless。 In proof of this； when； in
sitting or lying； the small veins are compressed； so that the breath
from the larger vein does not pass into them； the part is
immediately seized with numbness； and it is so likewise with regard to
the other veins。
This malady； then； affects phlegmatic people； but not bilious。 It
begins to be formed while the foetus is still in utero。 For the brain；
like the other organs； is depurated and grows before birth。 If；
then； in this purgation it be properly and moderately depurated； and
neither more nor less than what is proper be secreted from it； the
head is thus in the most healthy condition。 If the secretion （melting）
the from the brain be greater than natural； the person； when he
grows up； will have his head diseased； and full of noises； and will
neither be able to endure the sun nor cold。 Or； if the melting take
place from any one part； either from the eye or ear； or if a vein
has become slender； that part will be deranged in proportion to the
melting。 Or； should depuration not take place； but congestion
accumulate in the brain； it necessarily becomes phlegmatic。 And such
children as have an eruption of ulcers on the head； on the ears； and
along the rest of the body； with copious discharges of saliva and
mucus；…these； in after life； enjoy best health； for in this way the
phlegm which ought to have been purged off in the womb； is
discharged and cleared away； and persons so purged； for the most part；
are not subject to attacks of this disease。 But such as have had their
skin free from eruptions； and have had no discharge of saliva or
mucus； nor have undergone the proper purgation in the womb； these
persons run the risk of being seized with this disease。
But should the defluxion make its way to the heart； the person is
seized with palpitation and asthma； the chest becomes diseased； and
some also have curvature of the spine。 For when a defluxion of cold
phlegm takes place on the lungs and heart； the blood is chilled； and
the veins； being violently chilled； palpitate in the lungs and
heart； and the heart palpitates； so that from this necessity asthma
and orthopnoea supervene。 For it does not receive the spirits as
much breath as he needs until the defluxion of phlegm be mastered； and
being heated is distributed to the veins； then it ceases from its
palpitation and difficulty of breathing； and this takes place as
soon as it obtains an abundant supply； and this will be more slowly；
provided the defluxion be more abundant； or if it be less； more
quickly。 And if the defluxions be more condensed； the epileptic
attacks will be more frequent； but otherwise if it be rarer。 Such
are the symptoms when the defluxion is upon the lungs and heart； but
if it be upon the bowels； the person is attacked with diarrhoea。
And if； being shut out from all these outlets； its defluxion be
determined to the veins I have formerly mentioned； the patient loses
his speech； and chokes； and foam issues by the mouth； the teeth are
fixed； the hands are contracted； the eyes distorted； he becomes
insensible； and in some cases the bowels are evacuated。 And these
symptoms occur sometimes on the left side； sometimes on the right； and
sometimes in both。 The cause of everyone of these symptoms I will
now explain。 The man becomes speechless when the phlegm； suddenly
descending into the veins； shuts out the air； and does not admit it
either to the brain or to the vena cava； or to the ventricles； but
interrupts the inspiration。 For when a person draws in air by the
mouth and nostrils； the breath goes first to the brain； then the
greater part of it to the internal cavity； and part to the lungs；
and part to the veins； and from them it is distributed to the other
parts of the body along the veins； and whatever passes to the
stomach cools； and does nothing more； and so also with regard to the
lungs。 But the air which enters the veins is of use （to the body） by
entering the brain and its ventricles； and thus it imparts sensibility
and motion to all the members； so that when the veins are excluded
from the air by the phlegm and do not receive it； the man loses his
speech and intellect； and the hands become powerless； and are
contracted； the blood stopping and not being diffused； as it was wont；
and the eyes are distorted owing to the veins being excluded from
the air； and they palpitate； and froth from the lungs issues by the
mouth。 For when the breath does not find entrance to him； he foams and
sputters like a dying person。 And the bowels are evacuated in
consequence of the violent suffocation； and the suffocation is
produced when the liver and stomach ascend to the diaphragm； and the
mouth of the stomach is shut up； this takes place when the breath does
not enter by the mouth； as it is wont。 The patient kicks with his feet
when the air is shut up in the lungs and cannot find an outlet；
owing to the phlegm； and rushing by the blood upward and downward；
it occasions convulsions and pain； and therefore he kicks with his
feet。 All these symptoms he endures when the cold phlegm passes into
the warm blood； for it congeals and stops the blood。 And if the
deflexion be copious and thick； it immediately proves fatal to him；
for by its cold it prevails over the blood and congeals it； or； if
it be less； it in the first place obtains the mastery； and stops the
respiration； and then in the course of time； when it is diffused along
the veins and mixed with much warm blood； it is thus overpowered；
the veins receive the air； and the patient recovers his senses。
Of little children who are seized with this disease； the greater
part die； provided the defluxion be copious and humid； for the veins
being slender cannot admit the phlegm； owing to its thickness and
abundance； but the blood is cooled and congealed； and the child
immediately dies。 But if the phlegm be in small quantity； and make a
defluxion into both the veins； or to those on either side； the
children survive； but exhibit notable marks of the disorder； for
either the mouth is drawn aside； or an eye； the neck； or a hand；
wherever a vein being filled with phlegm loses its tone； and is
attenuated； and the part of the body connected with this vein is
necessarily rendered weaker and defective。 But for the most it affords
relief for a longer interval； for the child is no longer seized with
these attacks； if once it has contracted this impress of the
disease； in consequence of which the other veins are necessarily
affected； and to a certain degree attenuated； so as just to admit
the air； but no longer to permit the influx of phlegm。 However； the
parts are proportionally enfeebled whenever the veins are in an
unhealthy state。 When in striplings the defluxion is small and to
the right side； they recover without leaving any marks of the disease；
but there is danger of its becoming habitual； and even increasing if
not treated by suitable remedies。 Thus； or very nearly so； is the case
when it attacks children。
To persons of a more advanced age； it neither proves fatal； nor
produces distortions。 For their veins are capacious and are filled
with hot blood； and therefore the phlegm can neither prevail nor
cool the blood； so as to coagulate it； but it is quickly overpowered
and mixed with the blood； and thus the veins receive the air； and
sensibility remains； and； owing to their strength； the aforesaid
symptoms are less likely to seize them。 But when this disease
attacks very old people； it therefore proves fatal； or induces
paraplegia； because the veins are empty； and the blood scanty； thin；
and watery。 When； therefore； the defluxion is copious； and the
season winter； it proves fatal； for it chokes up the exhalents； and
coagulates the blood if the defluxion be to both sides； but if to
either； it merely induces paraplegia。 For the blood being thin；
cold； and scanty； cannot prevail over the but being itself
overpowered； it is coagulated； so that those parts in which the
blood is corrupted； lose their strength。
The flux is to the right rather than to the left because the veins
there are more capacious and numerous than on the left side； for on
the one side they spring from the liver； and on the other from the
spleen。 The defluxion and melting down take place most especially in
the case of children in whom t