then on the following day bring it into a warm situation where the ice
will thaw； if you will measure the water again when dissolved you will
find it much less in quantity。 This is a proof that the lightest and
thinnest part is dissipated and dried up by the congelation； and not
the heaviest and thickest； for that is impossible： wherefore I hold
that waters from snow and ice； and those allied to them； are the worst
of any for all purposes whatever。 Such are the characters of
rain…water； and those from ice and snow。
9。 Men become affected with the stone； and are seized with
diseases of the kidneys； strangury； sciatica； and become ruptured；
when they drink all sorts of waters； and those from great rivers
into which other rivulets run； or from a lake into which many
streams of all sorts flow； and such as are brought from a considerable
distance。 For it is impossible that such waters can resemble one
another； but one kind is sweet； another saltish and aluminous； and
some flow from thermal springs； and these being all mixed up
together disagree； and the strongest part always prevails； but the
same kind is not always the strongest； but sometimes one and sometimes
another； according to the winds； for the north wind imparts strength
to this water； and the south to that； and so also with regard to the
others。 There must be deposits of mud and sand in the vessels from
such waters； and the aforesaid diseases must be engendered by them
when drunk； but why not to all I will now explain。 When the bowels are
loose and in a healthy state； and when the bladder is not hot； nor the
neck of the bladder very contracted； all such persons pass water
freely； and no concretion forms in the bladder； but those in whom
the belly is hot； the bladder must be in the same condition； and
when preternaturally heated； its neck becomes inflamed； and when these
things happen； the bladder does not expel the urine； but raises its
heat excessively。 And the thinnest part of it is secreted； and the
purest part is passed off in the form of urine； but the thickest and
most turbid part is condensed and concreted； at first in small
quantity； but afterwards in greater； for being rolled about in the
urine； whatever is of a thick consistence it assimilates to itself；
and thus it increases and becomes indurated。 And when such persons
make water； the stone forced down by the urine falls into the neck
of the bladder and stops the urine； and occasions intense pain； so
that calculous children rub their privy parts and tear at them； as
supposing that the obstruction to the urine is situated there。 As a
proof that it is as I say； persons affected with calculus have very
limpid urine； because the thickest and foulest part remains and is
concreted。 Thus it generally is in cases of calculus。 It forms also in
children from milk； when it is not wholesome； but very hot and
bilious； for it heats the bowels and bladder； so that the urine
being also heated undergoes the same change。 And I hold that it is
better to give children only the most diluted wine； for such will
least burn up and dry the veins。 Calculi do not form so readily in
women； for in them the urethra is short and wide； so that in them
the urine is easily expelled； neither do they rub the pudendum with
their hands； nor handle the passage like males； for the urethra in
women opens direct into the pudendum； which is not the case with
men； neither in them is the urethra so wide； and they drink more
than children do。 Thus； or nearly so； is it with regard to them。
10。 And respecting the seasons； one may judge whether the year
will prove sickly or healthy from the following observations：… If
the appearances connected with the rising and setting stars be as they
should be； if there be rains in autumn； if the winter be mild； neither
very tepid nor unseasonably cold； and if in spring the rains be
seasonable； and so also in summer； the year is likely to prove
healthy。 But if the winter be dry and northerly； and the spring
showery and southerly； the summer will necessarily be of a febrile
character； and give rise to ophthalmies and dysenteries。 For when
suffocating heat sets in all of a sudden； while the earth is moistened
by the vernal showers； and by the south wind； the heat is
necessarily doubled from the earth； which is thus soaked by rain and
heated by a burning sun； while； at the same time； men's bellies are
not in an orderly state； nor the brain properly dried； for it is
impossible； after such a spring； but that the body and its flesh
must be loaded with humors； so that very acute fevers will attack all；
but especially those of a phlegmatic constitution。 Dysenteries are
also likely to occur to women and those of a very humid temperament。
And if at the rising of the Dogstar rain and wintery storms supervene；
and if the etesian winds blow； there is reason to hope that these
diseases will cease； and that the autumn will be healthy； but if
not； it is likely to be a fatal season to children and women； but
least of all to old men； and that convalescents will pass into
quartans； and from quartans into dropsies； but if the winter be
southerly； showery and mild； but the spring northerly； dry； and of a
wintry character； in the first place women who happen to be with
child； and whose accouchement should take place in spring； are apt
to miscarry； and such as bring forth； have feeble and sickly children；
so that they either die presently or are tender； feeble； and sickly；
if they live。 Such is the case with the women。 The others are
subject to dysenteries and dry ophthalmies； and some have catarrhs
beginning in the head and descending to the lungs。 Men of a phlegmatic
temperament are likely to have dysenteries； and women； also； from
the humidity of their nature； the phlegm descending downwards from the
brain； those who are bilious； too； have dry ophthalmies from the
heat and dryness of their flesh； the aged； too； have catarrhs from
their flabbiness and melting of the veins； so that some of them die
suddenly and some become paralytic on the right side or the left。
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