The first four books of Aur. Corn. Celsus, De re medica, with an Ordo verborum and literal translation / by John Steggall, M.D.

  • Celsus, Aulus Cornelius.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The first four books of Aur. Corn. Celsus, De re medica, with an Ordo verborum and literal translation / by John Steggall, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

    28/392 (page 20)
    contmtionihus licet depre- heiidere, scrulaniihus verum sine ambitione; ill in hdc ipsa re. Nam, demum rjitce causce, vel jnYPStent secundam vale- tudinem vel excilent morl/os; quomodo spirihis, aut cilms, vel tra/ialur, vel digeratur ne quideniprqfessores sapientia comjirehendunt scientia sed persequiintur conjecturd. Au- tem opinio ejus rei cujus non est certa notitia, 7ion potest reperire cerium remedium. Que est verum, niliil conferre jjlus ad rationem ipsam cu- randi, quam experientiam. Jgiturquamqnam sint multa, non pi-oprie pertinentia ad, artes ipsas, tamen adjuvant eas excitando inyenium arti- ficis. Itaque ista contemjjla- tio tialurar rerum quoqiie, quamvis nonfaciat medicum,, tamen reddit aptiorem medi- cines. Que est verisimile, et Hipjwcratem, et Erasistra- tum, et quicumque alii non contenti agitarefehres et ul- cera, quoquescrutati sunt na- depreliendere licet, sine ambitione verum scrutantibus ; ut in hac ipsa re. Nam qiiee denium causse, vel secundam valetudinem prsesteut, vel morbos exciteut; quomodo spi- ritus, aut cibus, vel trabatur, vel digeratur, ne sapientise quidem professores scientia comprebeu- dunt, sed conjectura persequuntur. Cujus autem rei non est certa no- titia, ejus opinio certum reperire remedium non potest. Verumque est, ad ipsam curandi rationem nibil plus conferre, quam experi- entiam. Quamquam igitur multa sint, ad ipsas artes, proprie nou pertinentia, tamen eas adjuvant, excitando artificis ingeniura. Ita- que ista quoque naturcE rerum contemplatio, quamvis non faciat medicum, aptiorem tamen medi- cinse reddit. Verique simile est, et Hippocratem, et Erasistratum, et quicumque alii, non contenti febres et ulcera agitare, rerum rous disputes, it is proper to select for persons inquiring into the truth, witliout partiality, as in this very suhject itself; for finally what causes either produce good health or excite diseases ; how the breath or food is either inspired or digested, not even the professors of philosophy under- stand with their knowledge, but pursue by conjecture ; for an opinion of a thing, of which there is no certain knowledge, cannot discover a sure re- medy : and it is true, that nothing contributes to a rational mode of cure, more than experience. Therefore, although there are many things not absolutely appertaining to the arts theniselvcs, yet they assist by quickening the understanding of the artist; therefore, this contem- plation of the nature of bodies, although it may not make a phy- sician, yet it renders him more fitted for the practice of medicine. And it is pi-obable that lIipi)ocratcs and Erasistratus, and others, not content to treat fevers and ulcers, also inquired into the nature of things