but even little food will be injurious to him。 But all the causes of
the sufferance refer themselves to this rule； that the strongest
things most especially and decidedly hurt man； whether in health or in
disease。
7。 What other object； then； had he in view who is called a
physician； and is admitted to be a practitioner of the art； who
found out the regimen and diet befitting the sick； than he who
originally found out and prepared for all mankind that kind of food
which we all now use； in place of the former savage and brutish mode
of living？ To me it appears that the mode is the same； and the
discovery of a similar nature。 The one sought to abstract those things
which the constitution of man cannot digest； because of their wildness
and intemperature； and the other those things which are beyond the
powers of the affection in which any one may happen to be laid up。
Now； how does the one differ from the other； except that the latter
admits of greater variety； and requires more application； whereas
the former was the commencement of the process？
8。 And if one would compare the diet of sick persons with that of
persons in health； he will find it not more injurious than that of
healthy persons in comparison with that of wild beasts and of other
animals。 For； suppose a man laboring under one of those diseases which
are neither serious and unsupportable； nor yet altogether mild； but
such as that； upon making any mistake in diet； it will become
apparent； as if he should eat bread and flesh； or any other of those
articles which prove beneficial to healthy persons； and that； too； not
in great quantity； but much less than he could have taken when in good
health； and that another man in good health； having a constitution
neither very feeble； nor yet strong； eats of those things which are
wholesome and strengthening to an ox or a horse； such as vetches；
barley； and the like； and that； too； not in great quantity； but much
less than he could take； the healthy person who did so would be
subjected to no less disturbance and danger than the sick person who
took bread or cake unseasonably。 All these things are proofs that
Medicine is to be prosecuted and discovered by the same method as
the other。
9。 And if it were simply； as is laid down； that such things as are
stronger prove injurious； but such as are weaker prove beneficial
and nourishing； both to sick and healthy persons； it were an easy
matter； for then the safest rule would be to circumscribe the diet
to the lowest point。 But then it is no less mistake； nor one that
injuries a man less； provided a deficient diet； or one consisting of
weaker things than what mare proper； be administered。 For； in the
constitution of man； abstinence may enervate； weaken； and kill。 And
there are many other ills； different from those of repletion； but no
less dreadful； arising from deficiency of food； wherefore the practice
in those cases is more varied； and requires greater accuracy。 For
one must aim at attaining a certain measure； and yet this measure
admits neither weight nor calculation of any kind； by which it may
be accurately determined； unless it be the sensation of the body；
wherefore it is a task to learn this accurately； so as not to commit
small blunders either on the one side or the other； and in fact I
would give great praise to the physician whose mistakes are small； for
perfect accuracy is seldom to be seen； since many physicians seem to
me to be in the same plight as bad pilots； who； if they commit
mistakes while conducting the ship in a calm do not expose themselves；
but when a storm and violent hurricane overtake them； they then；
from their ignorance and mistakes； are discovered to be what they are；
by all men； namely； in losing their ship。 And thus bad and commonplace
physicians； when they treat men who have no serious illness； in
which case one may commit great mistakes without producing any
formidable mischief （and such complaints occur much more frequently to
men than dangerous ones）： under these circumstances； when they
commit mistakes； they do not expose themselves to ordinary men； but
when they fall in with a great； a strong； and a dangerous disease；
then their mistakes and want of skill are made apparent to all。
Their punishment is not far off； but is swift in overtaking both the
one and the other。
10。 And that no less mischief happens to a man from unseasonable
depletion than from repletion； may be clearly seen upon reverting to
the consideration of persons in health。 For； to some； with whom it
agrees to take only one meal in the day； and they have arranged it
so accordingly； whilst others； for the same reason； also take
dinner； and this they do because they find it good for them； and not
like those persons who； for pleasure or from any casual
circumstance； adopt the one or the other custom and to the bulk of
mankind it is of little consequence which of these rules they observe；
that is to say； whether they make it a practice to take one or two
meals。 But there are certain persons who cannot readily change their
diet with impunity； and if they make any alteration in it for one day；
or even for a part of a day； are greatly injured thereby。 Such
persons； provided they take dinner when it is not their wont；
immediately become heavy and inactive； both in body and mind； and
are weighed down with yawning； slumbering； and thirst； and if they
take supper in addition； they are seized with flatulence； tormina； and
diarrhea； and to many this has been the commencement of a serious
disease； when they have merely taken twice in a day the same food
which they have been in the custom of taking once。 And thus； also；
if one who has been accustomed to dine； and this rule agrees with him；
should not dine at the accustomed hour； he will straightway feel great
loss of strength； trembling； and want of spirits； the eyes of such a
person will become more pallid； his urine thick and hot； his mouth
bitter； his bowels will seem； as it were； to hang loose； he will
suffer from vertigo； lowness of spirit； and inactivity；… such are
the effects； and if he should attempt to take at supper the same
food which he was wont to partake of at dinner； it will appear
insipid； and he will not be able to take it off； and these things；
passing downwards with tormina and rumbling； burn up his bowels； he
experiences insomnolency or troubled and disturbed dreams； and to many
of them these symptoms are the commencement of some disease。
11。 But let us inquire what are the causes of these things which
happened to them。 To him； then； who was accustomed to take only one
meal in the day； they happened because he did not wait the proper
time； until his bowels had completely derived benefit from and had
digested the articles taken at the preceding meal； and until his belly
had become soft； and got into a state of rest； but he gave it a new
supply while in a state of heat and fermentation； for such bellies
digest much more slowly； and require more rest and ease。 And as to him
who had been accustomed to dinner； since； as soon as the body required
food； and when the former meal was consumed； and he wanted
refreshment； no new supply was furnished to it； he wastes and is
consumed from want of food。 For all the symptoms which I describe as
befalling to this man I refer to want of food。 And I also say that all
men who； when in a state of health； remain for two or three days
without food； experience the same unpleasant symptoms as those which I
described in the case of him who had omitted to take dinner。
12。 Wherefore； I say； that such constitutions as suffer quickly
and strongly from errors in diet； are weaker than others that do
not； and that a weak person is in a state very nearly approaching to
one in disease； but a person in disease is the weaker； and it is；
therefore； more likely that he should suffer if he encounters anything
that is unseasonable。 It is difficult； seeing that there is no such
accuracy in the Art； to hit always upon what is most expedient； and
yet many cases occur in medicine which would require this accuracy； as
we shall explain。 But on that account； I say； we ought not to reject
the ancient Art； as if it were not； and had not been properly founded；
because it did not attain accuracy in all things； but rather； since it
is capable of reaching to the greatest exactitude by reasoning； to
receive it and admire its discoveries； made from a state of great
ignorance； and as having been well and properly made； and not from
chance。
13。 But I wish the discourse to revert to the new method of those
who prosecute their inquiries in the Art by hypothesis。 For if hot； or
cold； or moist； or dry； be that which proves injurious to man； and
if the person who would treat him properly must apply cold to the hot；
hot to the cold； moist to the dry； and dry to the moist… let me be
presented with a man； not indeed one of a strong constitution； but one
of the weaker； and let him eat wheat； such as it is supplied from
the thrashing…floor； raw and unprepared； with raw meat； and let him
drink water。 By using such a diet I know that he will suffer much
and severely； for he will experience pains； his body will bec