The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgeryPaulus, Aegineta
History
The seven books of Paulus Ægineta, volume 1 (of 3) : $b translated from the Greek: with a commentary embracing a complete view of the knowledge possessed by the Greeks, Romans, and Arabians on all subjects connected with medicine and surgery
Paulus, Aegineta
Medicine; Medicine, Arab; Medicine, Greek and Roman
Galen remarks that the fleshy parts of quadrupeds form the best blood.
When boiled, he says, it supplies the body with more juicy, and when
roasted, with drier food. The temperament of domesticated animals, he
adds, is more humid or juicy than that of wild, owing to the dampness of
the atmosphere in which they live, and their inactivity. For wild animals
among the mountains being exposed to privations and fatigue, their flesh
is drier, contains no fat, and is less disposed to putrefaction than the
flesh of domesticated animals. He states that of all animals, whether
fowls or beasts, the flesh of such as are growing is better than those
which are past their utmost growth; that such as are at their growth hold
an intermediate character; but that the flesh of such as are very young
or old is bad, because, in the latter case, it is hard, dry, and fibrous,
whence it is difficult to digest, and not nutritious; while, on the other
hand, the bodies of very young animals, being mucous (gelatinous?),
watery, and therefore excrementitious, readily pass through the bowels
undigested.
Actuarius states that animals which lead an indolent life are more humid
and excrementitious; whereas such as are much exercised are drier and
lighter. Upon the whole, he adds, the more the colour of flesh declines
from white, the farther is it removed from wholesomeness; it is also to
be known that wild animals are hotter and drier than domesticated.
Haly Abbas says that the flesh of all animals is heating and humid, forms
much blood, and is nutritious. Avicenna remarks that flesh strengthens
the body, and is readily converted into blood. According to Rhases, flesh
is the most nutritious of all aliments, and disposes most to plethora;
hence, those who live much upon it require frequent venesection,
especially if at the same time given to drinking wine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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