4 «• READINGS IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE 



South winds cause deafness, dimness of vision, headaches, heaviness, 

 and are relaxing. A north wind causes coughs, sore throats, constipation, 

 difficult micturition accompanied by shivering, pains in the side and chest. 

 Droughts accompany both south winds and north winds. 



It is changes that are chiefly responsible for diseases, especially the 

 greatest changes, the violent alterations both in the seasons and in other 

 things. But seasons which come on gradually are the safest, as are gradual 

 changes of regimen and temperature and gradual changes from one period 

 of life to another. 



Sufferers from hemorrhoids are attacked neither by pleurisy, nor by 

 pneumonia, nor by spreading ulcer, nor by boils, nor by swellings, nor per- 

 haps by skin-eruptions and skin-diseases. Blood-spitting may be caused 

 by the season, by pleurisy, or by bile. When swellings by the ear do not 

 suppurate at a crisis, a relapse occurs when the swelling softens; when the 

 relapse follows the normal course of relapses, the swelling rises again and 

 remains, following the same periods as occur when fevers relapse. 



APHORISMS 



Old men endure fasting most easily, then men of middle age, youths 

 very badly, and worst of all children, especially those of a liveliness greater 

 than the ordinary. 



In summer and in autumn food is most difficult to assimilate, easiest in 

 winter, next easiest in spring. 



Do not disturb a patient either during or just after a crisis, and try no 

 experiments, neither with purges nor with other irritants, but leave him 

 alone. 



In acute disease use purgatives sparingly and at the onset, and then only 

 after a thorough examination. 



When sleep puts an end to delirium, it is a good sign. 



Spontaneous weariness indicates disease. 



It is easier to replenish with drink than with food. 



When on a starvation diet, a patient should not be fatigued. 



In the case of acute diseases to predict either death or recovery is not 

 quite safe. 



Strong drink dispels hunger. 



At the beginning of diseases, if strong medicines seem called for, use 

 them; when they are at their height it is better to let the patient rest. 



In every disease it is a good sign when the patient's intellect is sound and 

 he enjoys his food; the opposite is a bad sign. 



Those who are constitutionally very fat are more apt to die quickly 

 than those who are thin. 



Size of body in youth is noble and not unpleasing; in old age it is in- 

 convenient and less desirable than a smaller stature. 



Autumn is bad for consumptives. 



