Note 395 — FIRST SECTION. (continued 3)

The word κέδματα, which probably is used in several senses, can scarcely in this case betoken anything else than varicose veins, and is according synonymous with ἰξίαι, with which it also occurs in connection. It is interesting to find Aristotle also pronouncing those suffering from varicose veins incapable of generation; he writes in Problemata, Bk. IV. 20., Διὰ τί αἱ ἰξίαι τοὺς ἔχοντας κωλύουσι γεννᾶν, καὶ ἀνθρώπους καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ζώων ὅ, τι ἂν ἔχη; ἢ ὅτι ἡ ἰξία γίνεται, μεταστάντος; διὸ καὶ ὠφελεῖ πρὸς τὰ μελαγχολικά. Ἔστι δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀφροδισιασμὸς μετὰ πνεύματος ἐξόδου. Εἰ οὖν ὁδοποιεῖται ἡ ὁρμὴ γινομένου αὐτοῦ, οὐ ποιεῖ ὁρμᾶν τὸ σπέρμα, ἀλλὰ καταψύχεται· μαραίνει οὖν τὴν συντονίαν τοῦ αἰδοίου. (Why varicosities hinder those that have them from begetting, both men and of other animals all that are subject to them? is it because the varicosity arises, through a transference of spirit; for which reason also it is of use in case of melancholia. But the act of love also occurs in conjunction with an outburst of spirit. If therefore the impulse is made at the time the varicosity is forming, it suffers not the seed to make a vigorous impulse, but it is quickly cooled; and so it wastes and destroys the tension of the private part). On the contrary according to Problemata, 31., the lame are lecherous: διὰ τ’ αὐτὸ δὲ καὶ οἱ ὄρνιθες λάγνοι και οἱ χωλοί· ἡ γὰρ τροφὴ ἀμφοτέροις. κάτω μὲν ὀλίγη, διὰ τὴν ἀναπηρίαν τῶν σκελῶν. (And for the same reason birds are lecherous and lame men; because in both cases the nourishment downwards is slight, on account of the deficiency in the legs). In connection with κέδματα we must refer to Foesius, Œconomia Hippocratis, Coray, loco citato p. 339 sqq., and Stark, loco citato Note 20., and observe that like the Latin ruptura and the English rupture it appears to specially signify swellings due to distension and subsequent bursting. That swellings of the groin are a result of long-continued riding, we see also from Livy, Hist. bk. XLV. ch. 39., where M. Servilius says: tumorem hunc inguinum in equo dies noctesque persedendo habeo (this swelling of the groin I have owing to sitting my horse nights and days on end). Comp. Plutarch, In Aemil., Vol. II. p. 308.