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
A brain of the proper temperament has its vital energies and excretions
moderate, and is not liable to be affected by any externals. Such
persons, when infants, have the hair of their head somewhat tawny—when
boys, yellowish—and when adults, a bright yellow; being also intermediate
between the curly and the straight, and they do not readily fall out.
When the temperament is hotter than moderate, all the parts about the
head are hotter and redder, the veins in their eyes are perceptible,
their hair is grown at birth; and if much hotter, it is black, strong,
and curly; but if not much, it is yellowish at first, and then grows
black, and in more advanced life such persons become bald; their
excretions are small when they enjoy good health; their head becomes
filled and oppressed by heating food, drink, and odours, or by any
external casualties. Such temperaments are satisfied with little sleep,
and even that is generally not profound. The following are the marks of
a brain which is colder than proper: The excretions are excessive; the
hairs are straight, yellow, and durable; and it is hurt readily by cold
things. Such persons are constantly seized with catarrhs and defluxions,
the veins of their eyes are not visible, and they are much given to
drowsiness. The following are the marks of a brain which is drier than
natural: In the excretions nothing redundant, the senses acute, not being
given to drowsiness, the hair strong and soon formed, rather curly, and
soon falling out. In the more humid temperament, the hairs are straight,
do not readily drop out; the senses are muddy, and the excretions
redundant, sleep long and profound. In the compound of the hot and dry,
the excretions of the head are small, the senses acute, there is a
disposition to watchfulness, and baldness. Their hair at first is formed
quickly and abundantly, is of a black colour, hot to the touch, and they
are ruddy until manhood. But if moisture be joined to heat, and they are
not immoderate, the colour and heat are good, and the veins of the eyes
large. The excretions are plenteous and moderately concocted. The hair
is straight and yellowish, and does not readily drop out. The head is
easily filled and oppressed by heating and moistening things. But should
an increase of humidity and heat take place, the head becomes diseased,
and easily affected by heating and diluent things. Such persons cannot
endure long watchfulness, but their sleep is disturbed by fantastical
dreams, their sight is dim, and their senses not distinct. The cold and
dry temperaments of the brain conjoined together render the head cold and
pale, the veins of their eyes do not appear, and they are readily hurt
by cold things: wherefore, their health is precarious. Their senses in
youth are distinct and faultless, but as they advance in life soon decay.
In a word, as far as regards the head, they experience a premature old
age; their hair after birth is of slow growth, stunted, and tawny. The
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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