Chapter XXI: Book I: I (4)

[90] On the [Greek: technê] (artistic or creative skill)
shown by the living organism ([Greek: physis]) _v._ pp.
25, 45, 47; Introduction, p. xxix.

[91] Direct denial of Aristotle's dictum that "Nature
does nothing in vain." We are reminded of the view of
certain modern laboratory physicians and surgeons that
the _colon_ is a "useless" organ, _cf._ Erasistratus, p.
143.

[92] The _vasa deferentia_.

[93] "De l'habileté et de la prévoyance de la nature à
l'égard des animaux" (Daremberg). _cf._ p. 56, note 1
(90).

[94] _cf._ p. 36, note 2 (61).

[95] The morbid material passed successively through the
stages of "crudity," "coction" (_pepsis_), and
"elimination" (_crisis_). For "critical days" _cf._ p.
74, note 1 (121).

[96] This was the process by which nutriment was taken
up from the alimentary canal; "absorption," "dispersal;"
_cf._ p. 13, note 5 (26). The subject is dealt with more
fully in chap. xvi.

[97] Lit. _catharsis_.

[98] _i.e._ urine.

[99] On use of [Greek: kenoô] _v._ p. 67, note 9 (110).

[100] _i.e._ bile and phlegm had no existence as such
before the drugs were given; they are the products of
dissolved tissue. Asclepiades did not believe that
diseases were due to a _materia peccans_, but to
disturbances in the movements of the molecules ([Greek:
onkoi]) which constitute the body; thus, in opposition
to the humoralists such as Galen, he had no use for
drugs. _cf._ p. 49, note 5 (82).

[101] About 4 oz., or one-third of a pint.

[102] The Empiricists, _cf._ Introduction, p. xiii.

[103] His [Greek: onkoi] or molecules.

[104] He does not say "organized" or "living" body;
inanimate things were also thought to possess "natures";
_cf._ p. 2, note 1 (5).

[105] Carthamus tinctorius.

[106] Daphne Gnidium.

[107] Euphorbia acanthothamnos.

[108] Teucrium chamaedrys.

[109] Atractylis gummifera.

[110] On use of [Greek: kenoô] _cf._ p. 98, note 1 (148).

[111] Empiricist physicians.

[112] Note that drugs also have "natures"; _cf._ p. 66,
note 3 (104), and pp. 83-84.

[113] Pun here.

[114] Lit. _physiology_, _i.e._ _nature-lore_, almost
our "Natural Philosophy"; _cf._ Introduction, p. xxvi.

[115] The ultimate particle of Epicurus was the [Greek:
atomos] or atom (lit. "non-divisible"), of Asclepiades,
the [Greek: onkos] or molecule. Asclepiades took his
atomic theory from Epicurus, and he again from
Democritus; _cf._ p. 49, note 5 (82).

[116] Lit. _Herculean stone_.

[117] Lit. _aetiology_.

[118] _Anadosis_; _cf._ p. 62, note 1 (96).

[119] _cf._ p. 45.

[120] The _vis conservatrix et medicatrix Naturae_.

[121] _cf._ p. 61, note 3 (95). The _crisis_ or resolution in
fevers was observed to take place with a certain
regularity; hence arose the doctrine of "critical days."

[122] These were hypothetical spaces or channels between
the atoms; _cf._ Introduction, p. xiv.

[123] He means the specific drawing power or faculty of
the lodestone.

[124] _cf._ our modern "radium-emanations."

[125] _cf._ Ehrlich's hypothesis of "receptors" in
explanation of the "affinities" of animal cells.

[126] _i.e._ from the point of view of the theory.

[127] _cf._ p. 69, note 2 (112).

[128] That is to say, the two properties should go
together in all cases--which they do not.

[129] _Trygon pastinaca_.

[130] _cf._ p. 66, note 3 (104).

[131] The way that corn can attract moisture.

[132] Specific attraction of the "proper" quality; _cf._
p. 85, note 3 (130).

[133] Theory of evaporation insufficient to account for
it. _cf._ p. 104, note 1 (156).

[134] Playful suggestion of free-will in the urine.

[135] Specific attraction, _cf._ p. 87, note 2 (233).

[136] _i.e._ there would be no selective action.

[137] Nasal mucus was supposed to be the non-utilizable
part of the nutriment conveyed to the brain, _cf._ p.
214, note 3 (297).

[138] He means from its origin in the liver (_i.e._ in
the three hepatic veins). His idea was that the upper
division took nutriment to heart, lungs, head, etc., and
the lower division to lower part of body. On the
relation of right auricle to vena cava and right
ventricle, _cf._ p. 321, notes 4 (398) and 5 (399).

[139] We arrive at our belief by excluding other
possibilities.

[140] _i.e._ the mechanistic physicists. _cf._ pp.
45-47.

[141] _cf._ p. 85, note 3 (130).

[142] The subject of _anadosis_ is taken up in the next
chapter. _cf._ also p. 62, note 1 (96).

[143] On Erasistratus _v._ Introd. p. xii. His view that the
stomach exerts no _holké_, or attraction, is dealt with
more fully in Book III., chap. viii.

[144] _i.e._ the tissues.

[145] _cf._ p. 291.

[146] _Peristalsis_ may be used here to translate Gk.
_peristolé_, meaning the contraction and dilation of
muscle-fibres _circularly_ round a lumen, _cf._ p. 263,
note 2 (341).

[147] For a demonstration that this phenomenon is a
conclusive proof neither of _peristolé_ nor of real
vital _attraction_, but is found even in dead bodies
_v._ p. 267.

[148] This was Erasistratus's favourite principle, known
in Latin as the "horror vacui" and in English as
"Nature's abhorrence of a vacuum," although these terms
are not an exact translation of the Greek. [Greek: to
kenoumenon] probably means _the vacuum_, not the _matter
evacuated_, although Galen elsewhere uses [Greek: kenoô]
in the latter (non-classical) sense, _e.g._ pp. 67, 215.
Akolouthia is a _following-up_, a _sequence_, almost a
_consequence_.

[149] _v._ p. 123.

[150] _cf._ Book II., chap. i.

[151] Vital factor necessary over and above the
mechanical.

[152] _cf._ p. 119, note 2 (173).

[153] pp. 91, 93.

[154] _i.e._ the part below the liver; _cf._ p. 91, note
2 (138).

[155] Renal veins.

[156] _cf._ p. 87, note 3 (133).

[157] [Greek: koilên]: the usual reading is [Greek:
koilian], which would make it "from the region of the
alimentary canal." _cf._ p. 118, note 1 (171).

[158] Not at an earlier stage, when it is still on its
way from the alimentary canal to the liver.

[159] _i.e._ a renal vein.

[160] In a toast, the third cup was drunk to Zeus Sôtêr
(the Saviour).

[161] An anatomist of the Alexandrian school.

[162] _cf._ nasal mucus, p. 90, note 1 (137).

[163] "Sur l'Ensemble des Choses" (Daremberg).

[164] About twelve quarts. This is about five times as
much as the average daily excretion, and could only be
passed if a very large amount of wine were drunk.

[165] _cf._ p. 51.

[166] Horror vacui. Note analogical reasoning; _cf._ p.
289, note 1 (360).