ONTHESACREDDISEASE
ItisthuswithregardtothediseasecalledSacred:itappearstometobenowisemoredivinenormoresacredthanotherdiseases，buthasanaturalcausefromtheoriginateslikeotheraffections。Menregarditsnatureandcauseasdivinefromignoranceandwonder，becauseitisnotatallliketootherdiseases。Andthisnotionofitsdivinityiskeptupbytheirinabilitytocomprehendit，andthesimplicityofthemodebywhichitiscured，formenarefreedfromitbypurificationsandincantations。Butifitisreckoneddivinebecauseitiswonderful，insteadofonetherearemanydiseaseswhichwouldbesacred;for，asIwillshow，thereareothersnolesswonderfulandprodigious，whichnobodyimaginestobesacred。Thequotidian，tertian，andquartanfevers，seemtomenolesssacredanddivineintheiroriginthanthisdisease，althoughtheyarenotreckonedsowonderful。AndIseemenbecomemadanddementedfromnomanifestcause，andatthesametimedoingmanythingsoutofplace;
andIhaveknownmanypersonsinsleepgroaningandcryingout，someinastateofsuffocation，somejumpingupandfleeingoutofdoors，anddeprivedoftheirreasonuntiltheyawaken，andafterwardbecomingwellandrationalasbefore，althoughtheybepaleandweak;andthiswillhappennotoncebutfrequently。Andtherearemanyandvariousthingsofthelikekind，whichitwouldbetedioustostateparticularly。
Theywhofirstreferredthismaladytothegodsappeartometohavebeenjustsuchpersonsastheconjurors，purificators，mountebanks，andcharlatansnoware，whogivethemselvesoutforbeingexcessivelyreligious，andasknowingmorethanotherpeople。Suchpersons，then，usingthedivinityasapretextandscreenoftheirowninabilitytooftheirowninabilitytoaffordanyassistance，havegivenoutthatthediseaseissacred，addingsuitablereasonsforthisopinion，theyhaveinstitutedamodeoftreatmentwhichissafeforthemselves，namely，byapplyingpurificationsandincantations，andenforcingabstinencefrombathsandmanyarticlesoffoodwhichareunwholesometomenindiseases。Ofseasubstances，thesurmullet，theblacktail，themullet，andtheeel;forthesearethefishesmosttobeguardedagainst。Andoffleshes，thoseofthegoat，thestag，thesow，andthedog:forthesearethekindsoffleshwhichareaptesttodisorderthebowels。Offowls，thecock，theturtle，andthebustard，andsuchothersasarereckonedtobeparticularlystrong。
Andofpotherbs，mint，garlic，andonions;forwhatisacriddoesnotagreewithaweakperson。Andtheyforbidtohaveablackrobe，becauseblackisexpressiveofdeath;andtosleeponagoat’sskin，ortowearit，andtoputonefootuponanother，oronehanduponanother;forallthesethingsareheldtobehindrancestothecure。
Allthesetheyenjoinwithreferencetoitsdivinity，asifpossessedofmoreknowledge，andannouncingbeforehandothercausessothatifthepersonshouldrecover，theirswouldbethehonorandcredit;andifheshoulddie，theywouldhaveacertaindefense，asifthegods，andnotthey，weretoblame，seeingtheyhadadministerednothingeithertoeatordrinkasmedicines，norhadoverheatedhimwithbaths，soastoprovethecauseofwhathadhappened。ButIamofopinionthat（ifthisweretrue）noneoftheLibyans，wholiveintheinterior，wouldbefreefromthisdisease，sincetheyallsleepongoats’skins，andliveupongoats’flesh;neitherhavetheycouch，robe，norshoethatisnotmadeofgoat’sskin，fortheyhavenootherherdsbutgoatsandoxen。Butifthesethings，whenadministeredinfood，aggravatethedisease，andifitbecuredbyabstinencefromthem，godheadisnotthecauseatall;norwillpurificationsbeofanyavail，butitisthefoodwhichisbeneficialandprejudicial，andtheinfluenceofthedivinityvanishes。
Thus，theywhotrytocurethesemaladiesinthisway，appeartomeneithertoreckonthemsacrednordivine。Forwhentheyareremovedbysuchpurifications，andthismethodofcure，whatistopreventthemfrombeingbroughtuponmenandinducedbyotherdevicessimilartothese？Sothatthecauseisnolongerdivine，buthuman。
Forwhoeverisable，bypurificationsconjurations，todriveawaysuchanaffection，willbeable，byotherpractices，toexciteit;and，accordingtothisview，itsdivinenatureisentirelydoneawaywith。Bysuchsayingsanddoings，theyprofesstobepossessedofsuperiorknowledge，anddeceivemankindbyenjoininglustrationsandpurificationsuponthem，whiletheirdiscourseturnsuponthedivinityandthegodhead。Andyetitwouldappeartomethattheirdiscoursesavorsnotofpiety，astheysuppose，butratherofimpiety，andasiftherewerenogods，andthatwhattheyholdtobeholyanddivine，wereimpiousandunholy。ThisIwillnowexplain。
For，iftheyprofesstoknowhowtobringdownthemoon，darkenthesun，inducestormsandfineweather，andrainsanddroughts，andmaketheseaandlandunproductive，andsoforth，whethertheyarrogatethispowerasbeingderivedfrommysteriesoranyotherknowledgeorconsideration，theyappeartometopracticeimpiety，andeithertofancythattherearenogods，or，ifthereare，thattheyhavenoabilitytowardoffanyofthegreatestevils。How，then，aretheynotenemiestothegods？Forifamanbymagicalartsandsacrificeswillbringdownthemoon，anddarkenthesun，andinducestorms，orfineweather，Ishouldnotbelievethattherewasanythingdivine，buthuman，inthesethings，providedthepowerofthedivinewereoverpoweredbyhumanknowledgeandsubjectedtoit。Butperhapsitwillbesaid，thesethingsarenotso，but，notwithstanding，menbeinginwantofthemeansoflife，inventmanyandvariousthings，anddevisemanycontrivancesforallotherthings，andforthisdisease，ineveryphaseofthedisease，assigningthecausetoagod。Nordotheyrememberthesamethingsonce，butfrequently。For，iftheyimitateagoat，orgrindtheirteeth，oriftheirrightsidebeconvulsed，theysaythatthemotherofthegodsisthecause。Butiftheyspeakinasharperandmoreintensetone，theyresemblethisstatetoahorse，andsaythatPoseidonisthecause。Orifanyexcrementbepassed，whichisoftenthecase，owingtotheviolenceofthedisease，theappellationofEnodiaisadhibited;or，ifitbepassedinsmalleranddensermasses，likebird’s，itissaidtobefromApolloNomius。Butiffoambeemittedbythemouth，andthepatientkickwithhisfeet，Aresthengetstheblame。Butterrorswhichhappenduringthenight，andfevers，anddelirium，andjumpingsoutofbed，andfrightfulapparitions，andfleeingaway，—allthesetheyholdtobetheplotsofHecate，andtheinvasionstheandusepurificationsandincantations，and，asappearstome，makethedivinitytobemostwickedandmostimpious。
Fortheypurifythoselaboringunderthisdisease，withthesamesortsofbloodandtheothermeansthatareusedinthecaseofthosewhoarestainedwithcrimes，andofmalefactors，orwhohavebeenenchantedbymen，orwhohavedoneanywickedact;whooughttodotheveryreverse，namely，sacrificeandpray，and，bringinggiftstothetemples，supplicatethegods。Butnowtheydononeofthesethings，butpurify;andsomeofthepurificationstheyconcealintheearth，andsometheythrowintothesea，andsometheycarrytothemountainswherenoonecantouchortreaduponthem。Butthesetheyoughttotaketothetemplesandpresenttothegod，ifagodbethecauseofthedisease。NeithertrulydoIcountitaworthyopiniontoholdthatthebodyofmanispollutedbygod，themostimpurebythemostholy;forwereitdefiled，ordiditsufferfromanyotherthing，itwouldbeliketobepurifiedandsanctifiedratherthanpollutedbygod。Foritisthedivinitywhichpurifiesandsanctifiesthegreatestofoffensesandthemostwicked，andwhichprovesourprotectionfromthem。Andwemarkouttheboundariesofthetemplesandthegrovesofthegods，sothatnoonemaypassthemunlesshebepure，andwhenweenterthemwearesprinkledwithholywater，notasbeingpolluted，butaslayingasideanyotherpollutionwhichweformerlyhad。Andthusitappearstometohold，withregardtopurifications。
Butthisdiseaseseemstometobenomoredivinethanothers;butithasitsnaturesuchasotherdiseaseshave，andacausewhenceitoriginates，anditsnatureandcausearedivineonlyjustasmuchasallothersare，anditiscurablenolessthantheothers，unlesswhen，thefromoftime，itisconfirmed，andhasbecamestrongerthantheremediesapplied。Itsoriginishereditary，likethatofotherdiseases。Forifaphlegmaticpersonbebornofaphlegmatic，andabiliousofabilious，andaphthisicalofaphthisical，andonehavingspleendisease，ofanotherhavingdiseaseofthespleen，whatistohinderitfromhappeningthatwherethefatherandmotherweresubjecttothisdisease，certainoftheiroffspringshouldbesoaffectedalso？Asthesemencomesfromallpartsofthebody，healthyparticleswillcomefromhealthyparts，andunhealthyfromunhealthyparts。Andanothergreatproofthatitisinnothingmoredivinethanotherdiseasesis，thatitoccursinthosewhoareofaphlegmaticconstitution，butdoesnotattackthebilious。Yet，ifitweremoredivinethantheothers，thisdiseaseoughttobefallallalike，andmakenodistinctionbetweenthebiliousandphlegmatic。
Butthebrainisthecauseofthisaffection，asitisofotherverygreatdiseases，andinwhatmannerandfromwhatcauseitisformed，I
willnowplainlydeclare。Thebrainofman，asinallotheranimals，isdouble，andathinmembranedividesitthroughthemiddle，andthereforethepainisnotalwaysinthesamepartofthehead;forsometimesitissituatedoneitherside，andsometimesthewholeisaffected;andveinsruntowarditfromallpartsofthebody，manyofwhicharesmall，buttwoarethick，theonefromtheliver，andtheotherfromthespleen。Anditisthuswithregardtotheonefromtheliver:aportionofitrunsdownwardthroughthepartsontheside，nearthekidneysandthepsoasmuscles，totheinnerpartofthethigh，andextendstothefoot。Itiscalledvenacava。Theotherrunsupwardbytherightveinsandthelungs，anddividesintobranchesfortheheartandtherightarm。Theremainingpartofitrisesupwardacrosstheclavicletotherightsideoftheneck，andissuperficialsoastobeseen;neartheearitisconcealed，andthereitdivides;itsthickest，largest，andmosthollowpartendsinthebrain;anothersmallveingoestotherightear，anothertotherighteye，andanothertothenostril。Sucharethedistributionsofthehepaticvein。Andaveinfromthespleenisdistributedontheleftside，upwardanddownward，likethatfromtheliver，butmoreslenderandfeeble。
Bytheseveinswedrawinmuchbreath，sincetheyarethespiraclesofourbodiesinhalingairtothemselvesanddistributingittotherestofthebody，andtothesmallerveins，andtheyandafterwardsexhaleit。Forthebreathcannotbestationary，butitpassesupwardanddownward，forifstoppedandintercepted，thepartwhereitisstoppedbecomespowerless。Inproofofthis，when，insittingorlying，thesmallveinsarecompressed，sothatthebreathfromthelargerveindoesnotpassintothem，thepartisimmediatelyseizedwithnumbness;anditissolikewisewithregardtotheotherveins。
Thismalady，then，affectsphlegmaticpeople，butnotbilious。Itbeginstobeformedwhilethefoetusisstillinutero。Forthebrain，liketheotherorgans，isdepuratedandgrowsbeforebirth。If，then，inthispurgationitbeproperlyandmoderatelydepurated，andneithermorenorlessthanwhatisproperbesecretedfromit，theheadisthusinthemosthealthycondition。Ifthesecretion（melting）
thefromthebrainbegreaterthannatural，theperson，whenhegrowsup，willhavehisheaddiseased，andfullofnoises，andwillneitherbeabletoendurethesunnorcold。Or，ifthemeltingtakeplacefromanyonepart，eitherfromtheeyeorear，orifaveinhasbecomeslender，thatpartwillbederangedinproportiontothemelting。Or，shoulddepurationnottakeplace，butcongestionaccumulateinthebrain，itnecessarilybecomesphlegmatic。Andsuchchildrenashaveaneruptionofulcersonthehead，ontheears，andalongtherestofthebody，withcopiousdischargesofsalivaandmucus，—these，inafterlife，enjoybesthealth;forinthiswaythephlegmwhichoughttohavebeenpurgedoffinthewomb，isdischargedandclearedaway，andpersonssopurged，forthemostpart，arenotsubjecttoattacksofthisdisease。Butsuchashavehadtheirskinfreefromeruptions，andhavehadnodischargeofsalivaormucus，norhaveundergonetheproperpurgationinthewomb，thesepersonsruntheriskofbeingseizedwiththisdisease。
Butshouldthedefluxionmakeitswaytotheheart，thepersonisseizedwithpalpitationandasthma，thechestbecomesdiseased，andsomealsohavecurvatureofthespine。Forwhenadefluxionofcoldphlegmtakesplaceonthelungsandheart，thebloodischilled，andtheveins，beingviolentlychilled，palpitateinthelungsandheart，andtheheartpalpitates，sothatfromthisnecessityasthmaandorthopnoeasupervene。Foritdoesnotreceivethespiritsasmuchbreathasheneedsuntilthedefluxionofphlegmbemastered，andbeingheatedisdistributedtotheveins，thenitceasesfromitspalpitationanddifficultyofbreathing，andthistakesplaceassoonasitobtainsanabundantsupply;andthiswillbemoreslowly，providedthedefluxionbemoreabundant，orifitbeless，morequickly。Andifthedefluxionsbemorecondensed，theepilepticattackswillbemorefrequent，butotherwiseifitberarer。Sucharethesymptomswhenthedefluxionisuponthelungsandheart;butifitbeuponthebowels，thepersonisattackedwithdiarrhoea。
Andif，beingshutoutfromalltheseoutlets，itsdefluxionbedeterminedtotheveinsIhaveformerlymentioned，thepatientloseshisspeech，andchokes，andfoamissuesbythemouth，theteetharefixed，thehandsarecontracted，theeyesdistorted，hebecomesinsensible，andinsomecasesthebowelsareevacuated。Andthesesymptomsoccursometimesontheleftside，sometimesontheright，andsometimesinboth。ThecauseofeveryoneofthesesymptomsIwillnowexplain。Themanbecomesspeechlesswhenthephlegm，suddenlydescendingintotheveins，shutsouttheair，anddoesnotadmititeithertothebrainortothevenacava，ortotheventricles，butinterruptstheinspiration。Forwhenapersondrawsinairbythemouthandnostrils，thebreathgoesfirsttothebrain，thenthegreaterpartofittotheinternalcavity，andparttothelungs，andparttotheveins，andfromthemitisdistributedtotheotherpartsofthebodyalongtheveins;andwhateverpassestothestomachcools，anddoesnothingmore;andsoalsowithregardtothelungs。Buttheairwhichenterstheveinsisofuse（tothebody）byenteringthebrainanditsventricles，andthusitimpartssensibilityandmotiontoallthemembers，sothatwhentheveinsareexcludedfromtheairbythephlegmanddonotreceiveit，themanloseshisspeechandintellect，andthehandsbecomepowerless，andarecontracted，thebloodstoppingandnotbeingdiffused，asitwaswont;
andtheeyesaredistortedowingtotheveinsbeingexcludedfromtheair;andtheypalpitate;andfrothfromthelungsissuesbythemouth。Forwhenthebreathdoesnotfindentrancetohim，hefoamsandsputterslikeadyingperson。Andthebowelsareevacuatedinconsequenceoftheviolentsuffocation;andthesuffocationisproducedwhentheliverandstomachascendtothediaphragm，andthemouthofthestomachisshutup;thistakesplacewhenthebreathdoesnotenterbythemouth，asitiswont。Thepatientkickswithhisfeetwhentheairisshutupinthelungsandcannotfindanoutlet，owingtothephlegm;andrushingbythebloodupwardanddownward，itoccasionsconvulsionsandpain，andthereforehekickswithhisfeet。Allthesesymptomsheendureswhenthecoldphlegmpassesintothewarmblood，foritcongealsandstopstheblood。Andifthedeflexionbecopiousandthick，itimmediatelyprovesfataltohim，forbyitscolditprevailsoverthebloodandcongealsit;or，ifitbeless，itinthefirstplaceobtainsthemastery，andstopstherespiration;andtheninthecourseoftime，whenitisdiffusedalongtheveinsandmixedwithmuchwarmblood，itisthusoverpowered，theveinsreceivetheair，andthepatientrecovershissenses。