Note 721 — BOOK III.—OF THE EPIDEMICS.

I shall not enter into a discussion of the different readings of this interesting passage. I may mention that our great pathological authority on phthisis, Dr. Louis, agrees with Hippocrates in deciding that the lymphatic temperament constitutes a more or less marked predisposition to the development of phthisis. (p. 483.) Galen describes the phlegmatic temperament as being attended with a soft and slightly tumid skin. He attributes the disease in their case to a cacochymy, that is to say, to cachexia. I need scarcely remark that this opinion is strongly advocated by one of the highest authorities of the day, I mean Sir James Clark. See his treatise on Tubercular Phthisis. Galen gives a discussion on the color of the eyes, about which there is some difficulty, as the ancient terms which relate to colors are not very well defined. The term here used (χαροπὸς) may signify either blue or gray. Galen considers this color of the eyes as a symptom of a cold and humid temperament.