INTRODUCTION 



confused if I translate opislhotonus by " opisthotonic 

 tetanus," and any of the breathing complaints 

 " asthma." 



It is curious that Pliny makes so few references to 

 the common cold. Gravedo, according to Jan's 

 Index, occurs 4 times, and destillatio 17 times. 

 Of these some, e.g. XX. 122, refer to catarrh, 

 not of the throat and nose, but of the stomach. It 

 may be that in ancient times catarrhs were less 

 troublesome than to-day, if not absoUitely at least 

 in comparison with other minor ailments. 



The medical historian feels more confident when 

 discussing the meaning oi febris. This is sometimes 

 just the symptom, high temperature, as we often 

 call it, that accompanies so many serious illnesses. 

 It can also denote, not a mere symptom, but a disease, 

 and then it is almost always malaria that is meant. 

 As has been said, the common infectious fevers of 

 modern times cannot be identified with any described 

 by tlie ancient medical writers, but malai'ia can be 

 diagnosed with ease and certainty, owing to its 

 periodicity, its hahitat, its seasonal epidemics, and its 

 effect upon the spleen. 



Qnartana fehris, quartan ague, with attacks after 



intervals of two days ; 

 tertiana fehris, tei-tian ague, with attacks every 



other day ; 

 cottidiana febris , quotidian ague, with attacks every 



day. 



There were also, besides these intermittent fevers, 

 remittent or subcontinuous forms, which were much 

 more serious. PUny does not mention the KavGos 

 and 7j(xiTpLTalos which Hippocrates and Galen deal 



