Medicine and philosophy - Classical Homeopathy Online

314 Late antiquity(18) antecedens autem causa passionis [sc. hydrophobiae] est canis rabidi morsusuel, ut quidam memorant, ceterorum quoque animalium . . . est praeterea possibilesine manifesta causa hanc passionem corporibus innasci, cum talis fuerit strictiosponte generata, quali a ueneno. (Acut. 3.9.99)The preceding cause of this disease [i.e. hydrophobia] is the bite of a mad dogor, as some people record, of other animals . . . It is also possible that this diseaseoriginates in the body without a visible cause, when a constricted state similar tothat produced by a poison occurs spontaneously.(19) Nos autem iuxta Sorani iudicium hac quaestione nullis commodis curationesadiuuari probamus, sed dicimus tres esse differentias fluoris sanguinis, hoc esteruptionis, uulnerationis et putredinis siue lacerationis ex tussicula uenientis, sicutoperantium manus iugi fricatione lacessiti uulnerantur; item sudationis sineuulnere siue ex raritate uiarum effectus fluor osculationis differentiam tenet siueexpressionis uel cuiuslibet alterius causae. (Chron. 2.10.125)We, however, in accordance with Soranus’ judgement, believe that the treatmentis in no way advanced by this dispute [sc. about various kinds of haemorrhage];instead, we say that there are three different kinds of haemorrhage, namely eruption,wound and decomposition or abrasion caused by coughing, just as the handsof workmen are injured by constant rubbing; and a flow which involves a sweatingwithout a wound or which is caused by a narrowness of channels can be distinguishedas [flow caused by] anastomosis, or diffusion, or another cause.How are these seemingly conflicting attitudes to be explained? Once again,it seems that the relevance of causal explanations to diagnosis and treatmentvaries from one disease to another. In the majority of cases, Caelius believes,the causal explanation of a disease, whether by reference to hidden or toobservable causes, is not necessary: in many cases it is irrelevant and thusto be avoided, as it may even lead to errors in treatment. 62 It is irrelevantbecause it does not affect the present nature of the disease and thus doesnot affect the way the disease is treated, as was stated in passage (14) quotedabove. 63 The present nature of the disease is different from the causes whichbrought it about; 64 causes may differ from case to case, but the nature of62 E.g. Acut. 3.4.45: ‘Furthermore, it is ridiculous that he says that those who have got the affectionsynanche as a result of a cold should not be venesected; [in doing so], he does not pay attentionto present things but inquires after the causes of things that are past’ (denique ridendum est etiamquod eos qui ex prefrictione synanchici fuerint effecti phlebotomandos negat [sc. Heraclides] non aduertenspraesentia et inquirens factorum causas) and Acut. 3.17.154: ‘[Hippocrates is led here] by a suspicion ofthe causes: for he thinks, or rather it is his firm belief, that the affection is caused by a burning heatof the upper parts and a chilling of the lower parts’ (suspicione causarum sollicitatus [sc. Hippocrates]:existimat enim uel constituit fieri passionem incendio superiorum et frigore inferiorum).63 See also Soranus, Gyn. 1.52.64 Acut. 3.6.64–5: ‘But against all these one common answer should be given: the cause of an affection isvery different from the affection itself. One therefore has to state not what the cause of tetanus is, but