spleen。 The defluxion and melting down take place most especially in
the case of children in whom the head is heated either by the sun or
by fire； or if the brain suddenly contract a rigor； and then the
phlegm is excreted。 For it is melted down by the heat and diffusion of
the but it is excreted by the congealing and contracting of it； and
thus a defluxion takes place。 And in some this is the cause of the
disease； and in others； when the south wind quickly succeeds to
northern breezes； it suddenly unbinds and relaxes the brain； which
is contracted and weak； so that there is an inundation of phlegm；
and thus the defluxion takes place。 The defluxion also takes place
in consequence of fear； from any hidden cause； if we are the at any
person's calling aloud； or while crying； when one cannot quickly
recover one's breath； such as often happens to children。 When any of
these things occur； the body immediately shivers； the person
becoming speechless cannot draw his breath； but the breath （pneuma）
stops； the brain is contracted； the blood stands still； and thus the
excretion and defluxion of the phlegm take place。 In children； these
are the causes of the attack at first。 But to old persons winter is
most inimical。 For when the head and brain have been heated at a great
fire； and then the person is brought into cold and has a rigor； or
when from cold he comes into warmth； and sits at the fire； he is apt
to suffer in the same way； and thus he is seized in the manner
described above。 And there is much danger of the same thing occurring；
if his head be exposed to the sun； but less so in summer； as the
changes are not sudden。 When a person has passed the twentieth year of
his life； this disease is not apt to seize him； unless it has become
habitual from childhood； or at least this is rarely or never the case。
For the veins are filled with blood； and the brain consistent and
firm； so that it does not run down into the veins； or if it do； it
does not master the blood； which is copious and hot。
But when it has gained strength from one's childhood； and become
habitual； such a person usually suffers attacks； and is seized with
them in changes of the winds； especially in south winds； and it is
difficult of removal。 For the brain becomes more humid than natural；
and is inundated with phlegm； so that the defluxions become more
frequent； and the phlegm can no longer be the nor the brain be dried
up； but it becomes wet and humid。 This you may ascertain in
particular； from beasts of the flock which are seized with this
disease； and more especially goats； for they are most frequently
attacked with it。 If you will cut open the head； you will find the
brain humid； full of sweat； and having a bad smell。 And in this way
truly you may see that it is not a god that injures the body； but
disease。 And so it is with man。 For when the disease has prevailed for
a length of time； it is no longer curable； as the brain is corroded by
the phlegm； and melted； and what is melted down becomes water； and
surrounds the brain externally； and overflows it； wherefore they are
more frequently and readily seized with the disease。 And therefore the
disease is protracted； because the influx is thin； owing to its
quantity； and is immediately overpowered by the blood and heated all
through。
But such persons as are habituated to the disease know beforehand
when they are about to be seized and flee from men； if their own house
be at hand； they run home； but if not； to a deserted place； where as
few persons as possible will see them falling； and they immediately
cover themselves up。 This they do from shame of the affection； and not
from fear of the divinity； as many suppose。 And little children at
first fall down wherever they may happen to be； from inexperience。 But
when they have been often seized； and feel its approach beforehand；
they flee to their mothers； or to any other person they are acquainted
with； from terror and dread of the affection； for being still
infants they do not know yet what it is to be ashamed。
Therefore； they are attacked during changes of the winds； and
especially south winds； then also with north winds； and afterwards
also with the others。 These are the strongest winds； and the most
opposed to one another； both as to direction and power。 For； the north
wind condenses the air； and separates from it whatever is muddy and
nebulous； and renders it clearer and brighter； and so in like manner
also； all the winds which arise from the sea and other waters； for
they extract the humidity and nebulosity from all objects； and from
men themselves； and therefore it （the north wind） is the most
wholesome of the winds。 But the effects of the south are the very
reverse。 For in the first place it begins by melting and diffusing the
condensed air； and therefore it does not blow strong at first； but
is gentle at the commencement； because it is not able at once to
overcome the and compacted air； which yet in a while it dissolves。
It produces the same effects upon the land； the sea； the fountains；
the wells； and on every production which contains humidity； and
this； there is in all things； some more； some less。 For all these feel
the effects of this wind； and from clear they become cloudy； from
cold； hot； from dry； moist； and whatever ear then vessels are placed
upon the ground； filled with wine or any other fluid； are affected
with the south wind； and undergo a change。 And the a change。 And the
sun； and the moon； it renders blunter appearance than they naturally
are。 When； then； it possesses such powers over things so great and
strong； and the body is made to feel and undergo changes in the
changes of the winds； it necessarily follows that the brain should
be disolved and overpowered with moisture； and that the veins should
become more relaxed by the south winds； and that by the north the
healthiest portion of the brain should become contracted； while the
most morbid and humid is secreted； and overflows externally； and
that catarrhs should thus take place in the changes of these winds。
Thus is this disease formed and prevails from those things which enter
into and go out of the body； and it is not more difficult to
understand or to cure than the others； neither is it more divine
than other diseases。
Men ought to know that from nothing else but the brain come joys；
delights； laughter and sports； and sorrows； griefs； despondency； and
lamentations。 And by this； in an especial manner； we acquire wisdom
and knowledge； and see and hear； and know what are foul and what are
fair； what are bad and what are good； what are sweet； and what
unsavory； some we discriminate by habit； and some we perceive by their
utility。 By this we distinguish objects of relish and disrelish；
according to the seasons； and the same things do not always please us。
And by the same organ we become mad and delirious； and fears and
terrors assail us； some by night； and some by day； and dreams and
untimely wanderings； and cares that are not suitable； and ignorance of
present circumstances； desuetude； and unskilfulness。 All these
things we endure from the brain； when it is not healthy； but is more
hot； more cold； more moist； or more dry than natural； or when it
suffers any other preternatural and unusual affection。 And we become
mad from its humidity。 For when it is more moist than natural； it is
necessarily put into motion； and the affection being moved； neither
the sight nor hearing can be at rest； and the tongue speaks in
accordance with the sight and hearing。
As long as the brain is at rest； the man enjoys his reason； but
the depravement of the brain arises from phlegm and bile； either of
which you may recognize in this manner： Those who are mad from
phlegm are quiet； and do not cry out nor make a noise； but those
from bile are vociferous； malignant； and will not be quiet； but are
always doing something improper。 If the madness be constant； these are
the causes thereof。 But if terrors and fears assail； they are
connected with derangement of the brain； and derangement is owing to
its being heated。 And it is heated by bile when it is determined to
the brain along the bloodvessels running from the trunk； and fear is
present until it returns again to the veins and trunk； when it ceases。
He is grieved and troubled when the brain is unseasonably cooled and
contracted beyond its wont。 This it suffers from phlegm； and from
the same affection the patient becomes oblivious。 He calls out and
screams at night when the brain is suddenly heated。 The bilious endure
this。 But the phlegmatic are not heated； except when much blood goes
to the brain； and creates an ebullition。 Much blood passes along the
aforesaid veins。 But when the man happens to see a frightful dream and
is in fear as if awake； then his face is in a greater glow； and the
eyes are red when the patient is in fear。 And the understanding
meditates doing some mischief； and thus it is affected in sleep。 But
if； when awakened； he returns to himself； and the blood is again
distributed along the veins； it ceases。
In these ways I am of the opinion that the brain exercises the
greatest power in the man。 This is the interpreter to us of those
things which emanate from the air； when the brain happens to be in a
sound state。 But the air supplies sense to it。 And the eyes； the ears；
the tongue and the feet； administer such things as the brain
cogitates。 For in as much as it is supplied with air； does it impart
sense to the body。 It is the brain which is the messenger to the
understanding。 For when the man draws the breath into himself； it
passes first to the brain； and thus the air is distributed to the rest
of the body； leaving in the brain its acme； and whatever has sense and
understanding。 For if it passed first to the body and last to the
brain； then having left in the flesh and veins the judgment； when it
reached the brain it would be hot； and not at all pure； but mixed with
the humidity from flesh and blood； so as to be no longer pure。
Wherefore； I say； th