按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
For when； the winter being southerly and the body hot； the blood and
veins are not properly constringed； a spring that is northerly； dry；
and cold； having come on； the brain when it should have been
expanded and purged； by the coryza and hoarseness is then
constringed and contracted； so that the summer and the heat
occurring suddenly； and a change supervening； these diseases fall out。
And such cities as lie well to the sun and winds； and use good waters；
feel these changes less； but such as use marshy and pooly waters；
and lie well both as regards the winds and the sun； these all feel
it more。 And if the summer be dry； those diseases soon cease； but if
rainy； they are protracted； and there is danger of any sore that there
is becoming phagedenic from any cause； and lienteries and dropsies
supervene at the conclusion of diseases； for the bowels are not
readily dried up。 And if the summer be rainy and southerly； and next
the autumn； the winter must； of necessity； be sickly； and ardent
fevers are likely to attack those that are phlegmatic； and more
elderly than forty years； and pleurisies and peripneumonies those that
are bilious。 But if the summer is parched and northerly； but the
autumn rainy and southerly； headache and sphacelus of the brain are
likely to occur； and in addition hoarseness； coryza； coughs； and in
some cases； consumption。 But if the season is northerly and without
water； there being no rain； neither after the Dogstar nor Arcturus；
this state agrees best with those who are naturally phlegmatic； with
those who are of a humid temperament； and with women； but it is most
inimical to the bilious； for they become much parched up； and
ophthalmies of a dry nature supervene； fevers both acute and
chronic； and in some cases melancholy； for the most humid and watery
part of the bile being consumed； the thickest and most acrid portion
is left； and of the blood likewise； when these diseases came upon
them。 But all these are beneficial to the phlegmatic； for they are
thereby dried up； and reach winter not oppressed with humors； but with
them dried up。
11。 Whoever studies and observes these things may be able to foresee
most of the effects which will result from the changes of the seasons；
and one ought to be particularly guarded during the greatest changes
of the seasons； and neither willingly give medicines； nor apply the
cautery to the belly； nor make incisions there until ten or more
days be past。 Now； the greatest and most dangerous are the two
solstices； and especially the summer； and also the two equinoxes；
but especially the autumnal。 One ought also to be guarded about the
rising of the stars； especially of the Dogstar； then of Arcturus；
and then the setting of the Pleiades； for diseases are especially
apt to prove critical in those days； and some prove fatal； some pass
off； and all others change to another form and another constitution。
So it is with regard to them。
12。 I wish to show； respecting Asia and Europe； how； in all
respects； they differ from one another； and concerning the figure of
the inhabitants； for they are different； and do not at all resemble
one another。 To treat of all would be a long story； but I will tell
you how I think it is with regard to the greatest and most marked
differences。 I say； then； that Asia differs very much from Europe as
to the nature of all things； both With regard to the productions of
the earth and the inhabitants； for everything is produced much more
beautiful and large in Asia； the country is milder； and the
dispositions of the inhabitants also are more gentle and affectionate。
The cause of this is the temperature of the seasons； because it lies
in the middle of the risings of the sun towards the east； and
removed from the cold （and heat）； for nothing tends to growth and
mildness so much as when the climate has no predominant quality； but a
general equality of temperature prevails。 It is not everywhere the
same with regard to Asia； but such parts of the country as lie
intermediate between the heat and the cold； are the best supplied with
fruits and trees； and have the most genial climate； and enjoy the
purest waters； both celestial and terrestrial。 For neither are they
much burnt up by the heat； nor dried up by the drought and want of
rain； nor do they suffer from the cold； since they are well watered
from abundant showers and snow； and the fruits of the season； as might
be supposed； grow in abundance； both such as are raised from seed that
has been sown； and such plants as the earth produces of its own
accord； the fruits of which the inhabitants make use of； training them
from their wild state and transplanting them to a suitable soil； the
cattle also which are reared there are vigorous； particularly
prolific； and bring up young of the fairest description； the
inhabitants too； are well fed； most beautiful in shape； of large
stature； and differ little from one another either as to figure or
size； and the country itself； both as regards its constitution and
mildness of the seasons； may be said to bear a close resemblance to
the spring。 Manly courage； endurance of suffering； laborious
enterprise； and high spirit； could not be produced in such a state
of things either among the native inhabitants or those of a
different country； for there pleasure necessarily reigns。 For this
reason； also； the forms of wild beasts there are much varied。 Thus
it is； as I think； with the Egyptians and Libyans。
13。 But concerning those on the right hand of the summer risings
of the sun as far as the Palus Maeotis （for this is the boundary of
Europe and Asia）； it is with them as follows： the inhabitants there
differ far more from one another than those I have treated of above；
owing to the differences of the seasons and the nature of the soil。
But with regard to the country itself； matters are the same there as
among all other men； for where the seasons undergo the greatest and
most rapid changes； there the country is the wildest and most unequal；
and you will find the greatest variety of mountains； forests；
plains； and meadows； but where the seasons do not change much there
the country is the most even； and； if one will consider it； so is it
also with regard to the inhabitants； for the nature of some is like to
a country covered with trees and well watered； of some； to a thin soil
deficient in water； of others； to fenny and marshy places； and of some
again； to a plain of bare and parched land。 For the seasons which
modify their natural frame of body are varied； and the greater the
varieties of them the greater also will be the differences of their
shapes。
14。 I will pass over the smaller differences among the nations；
but will now treat of such as are great either from nature； or custom；
and； first； concerning the Macrocephali。 There is no other race of men
which have heads in the least resembling theirs。 At first； usage was
the principal cause of the length of their head； but now nature
cooperates with usage。 They think those the most noble who have the
longest heads。 It is thus with regard to the usage： immediately
after the child is born； and while its head is still tender； they
fashion it with their hands； and constrain it to assume a lengthened
shape by applying bandages and other suitable contrivances whereby the
spherical form of the head is destroyed； and it is made to increase in
length。 Thus； at first； usage operated； so that this constitution
was the result of force： but； in the course of time； it was formed
naturally； so that usage had nothing to do with it； for the semen
comes from all parts of the body； sound from the sound parts； and
unhealthy from the unhealthy parts。 If； then； children with bald heads
are born to parents with bald heads； and children with blue eves to
parents who have blue eyes； and if the children of parents having
distorted eyes squint also for the most part； and if the same may be
said of other forms of the body； what is to prevent it from
happening that a child with a long head should be produced by a parent
having a long head？ But now these things do not happen as they did
formerly； for the custom no longer prevails owing to their intercours