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BOOK TWO
PART 6
[p. 163]other the principle of the refilling of a vacuum
The horror vacui.
can give them no help- both by reason of the
difficulties previously mentioned and the actual thinness, as I shall show- we must then seek another cause for nutrition.
How is it, then, that the tendency of a vacuum to become refilled is unable to afford nourishment to one in such a condition? Because its rule is that only so much of the contiguous matter should succeed as has flowed away. Now this is sufficient for nourishment in the case of those who are in good condition, for, in them, what is presented
Prosthesis of nutriment; cf. p. 39, note 6.
must be equal to what has flowed away. But in the case of those who are very emaciated and who need a great restoration of nutrition, unless what was presented were many times greater than what has been emptied out, they would never be able to regain their original habit. It is clear, therefore, that these parts will have to exert a greater amount of attraction, in so far as their requirements are greater. And I fail to understand how Erasistratus does not perceive that here again he is putting the cart before the horse. Because, in the case of the sick, there must be a large amount of presentation
Prosthesis of nutriment; cf. p. 39, note 6.
in order to feed them up, he argues that the
factor of "refilling" must play an equally large part. And how could much presentation take place if it were not preceded by an abundant delivery of nutriment? And if he calls the conveyance of food through the veins delivery
Anadosis, "absorption"; cf. p. 13, note 5.
, and its assumption by each of these simple and visible nerves and arteries not delivery but distribution
Lit. diadosis, as some people have thought fit to name it, and then ascribes conveyance
