[p. 23]disease
counteract. The inhabitants have clear voices, and in temper and intellect
are superior to those which are exposed to the north, and all the
productions of the country in like manner are better. A city so situated
resembles the spring as to moderation between heat and cold, and the
diseases are few in number, and of a feeble kind, and bear a resemblance
to the diseases which prevail in regions exposed to hot winds. The
women there are very prolific, and have easy deliveries. Thus it is
with regard to them.
PART 6
But such cities as lie to the west, and which are sheltered from winds
blowing from the east, and which the hot winds and the cold winds
of the north scarcely touch, must necessarily be in a very unhealthy
situation: in the first place the waters are not clear, the cause
of which is, because the mist prevails commonly in the morning, and
it is mixed up with the water and destroys its clearness, for the
sun does not shine upon the water until he be considerably raised
above the horizon. And in summer, cold breezes from the east blow
and dews fall; and in the latter part of the day the setting sun particularly
scorches the inhabitants, and therefore they are pale and enfeebled,
and are partly subject to all the aforesaid diseases, but no one is
peculiar to them. Their voices are rough and hoarse owing to the state
of the air, which in such a situation is generally impure and unwholesome,
for they have not the northern winds to purify it; and these winds
they have are of a very humid character, such being the nature of
the evening breezes. Such a situation of a city bears a great resemblance
to autumn as regards the changes of the day, inasmuch as the difference
between morning and evening is great. So it is with regard to the
winds that are conducive to health, or the contrary.
PART 7
And I wish to give an account of the other kinds of waters, namely,
of such as are wholesome and such as are unwholesome, and what bad
and what good effects may be derived from water; for water contributes
much towards health. Such waters then as are marshy, stagnant, and
belong to lakes, are necessarily hot in summer, thick, and have a
strong smell, since they have no current; but being constantly supplied
by rain-water, and the
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