194 Epidemics. 



" It is said to have first begun in the part of ^Ethiopia 

 above Egypt, and then to have come down into Egypt, and 

 Libya, and the greatest part of the king's territory. On the 

 city of Athens it fell suddenly, and first attacked the men in 

 the Piraeus ; so that it was even reported by them that the 

 Peloponnesians had thrown poison into the cisterns ; for as 

 yet there were no fountains there. Afterwards it reached 

 the upper city also ; and then they died much more generally. 

 Now let every one, whether physician or unprofessional man, 

 speak on the subject according to his views ; from what 

 source it was likely to have arisen, and the causes which he 

 thinks were sufficient to have produced so great a change 

 [from health to universal sickness]. I, however, shall only 

 describe what was its character ; and explain those symptoms 

 by reference to which one might best be enabled to recognise 

 it through this previous acquaintance, if it should ever break 

 out again ; for I was both attacked by it myself, and had 

 personal observation of others who were suffering with it. 



"That year then, as was generally allowed, happened to 

 be of all years the most free from disease, so far as regards 

 other disorders ; and if any one had any previous sickness, 

 all terminated in this. Others, without any ostensible 

 cause, but suddenly, while in the enjoyment of health, were 

 seized at first with violent heats in the head, and redness 

 and inflammation of the eyes ; and the internal parts, both 

 the throat and the tongue, immediately assumed a bloody 

 tinge, and emitted an unnatural and fetid breath. Next 

 after these symptoms, sneezing and hoarseness came on ; 

 and in a short time the pain descended to the chest, with a 

 violent cough. When it settled in the stomach, it caused 

 vomiting ; and all the discharges of bile that have been 

 mentioned by physicians succeeded, and those accompanied 

 with great suffering. An ineffectual retching also followed 

 in most cases, producing a violent spasm, which in some 

 cases ceased soon afterwards, in others much later. Ex- 

 ternally the body was not very hot to the touch, nor was it 

 pale ; but reddish, livid, and broken out in small pimples 

 and sores. But the internal parts were burnt to such a 

 degree that they could not bear clothing or linen of the very 

 lightest kind to be laid upon them, nor to be anything else 

 but stark naked ; but would most gladly have thrown them- 

 selves into cold water if they could. Indeed, many of those 

 who were not taken care of did so, plunging into cisterns in 

 the agony of their unquenchable thirst ; and it was all the 



