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Read a little book by Dionysius of Aegeae, the “Dictyaca”, in which there are 100 chapters. The 1st is that the origin of sperm and zoogenesis come from both parents, the 2nd that they do not come from both parents. The 3rd that sperm is secreted from the whole body, the 4th that not out of the whole body but from the testicles. The 5th that digestion (pepsis) happens by heat, the 6th that digestion doesn’t happen by heat. The 7th that digestion happens by friction, and the 8th that digestion does not happen by friction. The 9th that digestion happens by a property of breathing, and the 10th that digestion does not happen by a property of breathing. The 11th that digestion takes place by rejecting non-nutritious parts of food, the 12th that digestion does not take place by rejecting non-nutritious parts of food. The 13th that digestion happens out of a property of heat, and the 14th that digestion does not happen out of a property of humours. The 15th that the heat differs by quality, the 16th that the heat does not differ by quality. The 17th that the distribution of nutrients (anadosis) happens by heat, the 18th that it doesn’t happen by heat. The 19th that the distribution of nutrients draws upon its own heat, and the 20th that it doesn’t draw upon heat. The 21st that the distribution of nutrients happens by breathing, the 22nd that the distribution of nutrients does not happen by breathing. The 23rd that the distribution of nutrients happens by the juxtaposition of arteries, the 24th that the distribution of nutrients does not happen by the juxtaposition of arteries. The 25th that the distribution of nutrients happens by an empty absence, the 26th that the distribution of nutrients does not happen by an invisible absence. The 27th that glaucoma happens through the atrophy of the pathway of sight, the 28th that glaucoma does not happen through the atrophy of the pathway of sight. The 29th that glaucoma happens according to transfusion of blood into the pathway of sight, the 30th that glaucoma does not happen according to transfusion of blood into the pathway of sight. The 31st that glaucoma happens according to an abundance of fluids and the passageway, the 32nd that glaucoma does not happen according to an abundance of fluids and the passageway. The 33rd that brain inflammation (phrenitis) happens according to a separation of the membrane and deterioration of the blood, and the 34th that brain inflammation does not happen through these things. The 35th that brain inflammation happens according to an abundance of heat, and the 36th that it doesn’t through this. The 37th that brain inflammation happens through inflammation, and the 38th that it doesn’t happen through inflammation. The 39th that lethargy happens through inflammation, and the 40th that lethargy doesn’t happen through inflammation. The 41st that lethargies occur according to exertion and deterioration, the 42nd that lethargies are brought about not by the number but quality of breaths. The 43rd that the desire to eat and drink comes from the whole body, the 44th that not from the whole, but from the stomache, the 45th that the desire to eat and drink comes from thought. The 46th that thirst happens from a lack of fluids, the 47th that thirst doesn’t happen from a lack of fluids. The 48th that some sort of double force concerns the stomache, the 49th that there is not some sort of double force concerning the stomache. The 50th that the outside membrane of the brain, which is in a cavity, is the start of the nerves, the 51st that the outside membrane of the brain is not the start of the nerves. The 52nd that those being given drugs are cleansed, the 53rd that people are cleansed not being given drugs, but by being bandaged. The 54th that one must use those things fit for cleansing, the 55th that it is not necessary. The 56th that it is necessary to use blood-letting, and the 57th that it is not necessary. The 58th that giving wine is not useful for fevers, and the 59th that one must give wine to those with fevers. The 60th that one must bathe those with fevers, and the 61st that one must not. The 62nd that it is necessary to wash those with illnesses increasing in intensity, and the 63rd that it is not necessary. The 64th that it is necessary to use an annointment for those in the beginnings of illness, and the 65th that it is not necessary. The 66th that it is not necessary apply a poultice to the head, but to use scents alone, and the 67th that that it is not necessary to use a poultice upon the head. The 68th that emetics are useful, and the 69th that emetics are not useful. The 70th that the heart doesn’t pump blood, the 71st that it does. The 72nd that the heart does not pump air, but the arteries draw it in, and the 73rd that the heart pumps air and not the arteries. The 74th that the heart sets itself in motion, and the 75th that the heart does not set itself in motion. The 76th that blood exists in arteries according to its nature, the 77th that the arteries are not a vessel for blood. The 78th that all vessels are in a single mass, and the 79th that the vessels are complexly intertwined. The 80th that sense and movement happen through nerves, and the 81st that sense and movement do not happen through nerves. The 82nd that the heart is the source of veins, and the 83rd that the heart is not the source of veins. The 84th that that the liver is the source of veins, and the 85th that the liver is not the source of veins. The 86th that belly is the source of veins, and the 87th that the belly is not the source of veins. The 88th that a membrane is the source of all blood vessels, and the 89th that the membrane is not the source of all blood vessels. The 90th that the lungs are the source of arteries, and the 91st that the lungs are not the source of arteries. The 92nd that an artery along the spine is the source of arteries, and the 93rd that an artery along the spine is not the source of arteries. The 94th that the heart is the source of arteries, and the 95th that the heart is not the source of arteries. The 96th that the heart is not the source of nerves, but a membrane surrounding the brain is instead, and the 97th that a membrane surrounding the brain is not the source of nerves. The 98th that thinking comes not from the heart but the head, and the 99th that thinking comes not from the head but the heart, the 100th that thinking is from the belly of the brain.

So these are the things the little “Dictyaca” of Dionysius said. Not altogether useless for practicing dialectical arts and the knowledge of medical opinions and theory. He also seems to judge these opinions, not completely pulling it off firmly and irreproachaby.