ws out of the fibres to which they are akin, and the flesh out
of the clots which are formed when the fibres are separated. And the
glutinous and rich matter which comes away from the sinews and the
flesh, not only glues the flesh to the bones, but nourishes and imparts
growth to the bone which surrounds the marrow; and by reason of the
solidity of the bones, that which filters through consists of the purest
and smoothest and oiliest sort of triangles, dropping like dew from the
bones and watering the marrow. Now when each process takes place in this
order, health commonly results; when in the opposite order, disease. For
when the flesh becomes decomposed and sends back the wasting substance
into the veins, then an over-supply of blood of diverse kinds, mingling
with air in the veins, having variegated colours and bitter properties,
as well as acid and saline qualities, contains all sorts of bile and
serum and phlegm. For all things go the wrong way, and having become
corrupted, first they taint the blood itself, and then ceasing to
give nourishment to the body they are carried along the veins in all
directions, no longer preserving the order of their natural courses, but
at war with themselves, because they receive no good from one another,
and are hostile to the abiding constitution of the body, which they
corrupt and dissolve. The oldest part of the flesh which is corrupted,
being hard to decompose, from long burning grows black, and from being
everywhere corroded becomes bitter, and is injurious to every part of
the body which is still uncorrupted. Sometimes, when the bitter element
is refined away, the black part assumes an acidity which takes the place
of the bitterness; at other times the bitterness being tinged with blood
has a redder colour; and this, when mixed with black, takes the hue of
grass; and again, an auburn colour mingles with the bitter matter
when new flesh is decomposed by the fire which surrounds the internal
flame;--to all which symptoms some physician perhaps, or rather some
philosopher, who had the power of seeing in many dissimilar things one
nature deserving of a name, has assigned the common name of bile. But
the other kinds of bile are variously distinguished by their colours. As
for serum, that sort which is the watery part of blood is innocent,
but that which is a secretion of black and acid bile is malignant when
mingled by the power of heat with any salt substance, and is then called
aci