Photios' "Bibliotheca"

211

Read Dionysius of Aegeae. It has the title “Dictyaca”. It’s a little book made up of 100 chapters, each of these is a hypothesis itself being argued (there were 50 of these), the other 50 consisting of seriously arguing against them—each against each, frankly comparing each of them by a means of practice and according to a sequence of refutation.

The mode of expression is neither embellished nor laid down beautifully, and is not otherwise flashy but instead aims to be an effort of exercise in writing, taking care to be spare in style and consistent. But this little book is useful to those practicing the dialectical arts.

And the hypotheses he says are these, that the origin of sperm and zoogenesis comes from both parents, and on the contrary that they do not come from both parents. Second, that sperm is secreted from the whole body, and on the contrary that it’s secreted from the testicles alone. 3rd that digestion (pepsis) happens by heat and that it does not do so. 4th that digestion happens by friction, and not by friction. 5th that digestion happens by rejecting non-nutritious parts of food, and that it does not happen by rejecting non-nutritious parts of food. 6th that digestion happens by a specific kind of breathing, and that it does not do so. 7th that digestion happens out of humours, and that it does not do so. 8th that digestion happens by a specific kind of heat, and that it does not do so. 9th that the distribution of nutrients (anadosis) happens by heat, and that it does not do so. 10th that the distribution of nutrients draws upon its own heat, and that it does not do so.

11th that the distribution of nutrients happens by breathing, and that it does not do so. 12th that the distribution of nutrients happens by the arteries, and that it does not do so. 13th that the distribution of nutrients happens by an empty absence, and that the distribution of nutrients does not happen by an invisible absence. 14th that glaucoma happens through the atrophy of the pathway of sight, and that it does not do so. 15th that glaucoma happens according to transfusion of blood into the pathway of sight, and that it does not do so. 16th that glaucoma happens according to an abundance of fluids and the passageway, and that it does not do so. 17th that brain inflammation (phrenitis) happens according to a separation of the membrane and deterioration of the blood, and that it does not do so. 18th that brain inflammation happens according to an abundance of heat, and that it does not do so. 19th that brain inflammation (phrenitis) happens through inflammation, and that it does not do so.

20th that lethargy happens through inflammation, and that it does not do so. 21st that lethargies occur through exertion and deterioration, and that they do not do so. 22nd that the desire to eat and drink comes from the body, and that it comes from the stomach alone. 23rd that the desire to eat and drink comes from thinking. 24th that thirst comes from a lack of liquids, and that does is not do so. 25th that some sort of double action is seen concerning the stomach, and that it is not so. 26th that the beginning of nerves is from the inside of the membrane of the brain (which is in a cavity), and that they do not do so but start from the outside. 27th that those being given drugs are cleansed, and that it is not thus, but instead according to the application of pressure. 28th that it’s not necessary to use things fit for cleansing, and that it is necessary. 29th that it’s necessary to give wine to those suffering from fevers, and on the contrary that it is absurd. 30th that it’s necessary to wash those suffering from fevers, and that it is absurd. 31st that it is necessary to wash those with illness increasing in intensity, and that it is not proper. 32nd that it is not necessary to annoint those in the beginning of illnesses, and that it is useful. 33rd that it is necessary to bandage the head, and that it is not necessary, but to instead use smelling salts alone. 34th that it is not proper to use emetics, and that it is proper. 35th that the does not pump blood, and that it pumps blood. 36th that it is not the heart which pumps breath, but the arteries that bring it in, and vice versa. 37th that the heart sets itself in motion, and that it does not set itself in motion. 38th that blood exists in arteries according to its nature, and that the arteries are not a vessel for blood. 39th that all vessels are in a single mass, and that they are complexly intertwined. 40th that the sense and movement of anything living happens through the nerves, and that it is not thus. 41st that the heart is the source of blood, and that it is not the source. 42nd that the liver is the source of blood, and that it is not the source. 43rd that the stomach is the source of blood, and that it is not the source. 44th that the membrane is the source of all vessels, and that it is not the source. 45th that the lungs are the source of arteries, and that they are not the source. 46th that an artery along the spine is the source of arteries, and that it is not the source. 47th that the heart is the source of arteries, and that it is not the source. 48th that the heart is not the source of nerves, but the membrane surrounding the brain, and on the contrary that this is not the source. 49th that the heart is not the source of thinking but the head, and the opposite. 50th that the source of thinking is the middle of the head cavity, and that it is not thus. And these are the hypotheses which contended with themselves.