Epidemics 2 and 4–7

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The medical treatises collected under Hippocrates’ name are essential sources of information about the practice of medicine in antiquity and about Greek theories concerning the human body. In this seventh volume of the ongoing Loeb Classical Library edition of the Hippocratic Collection, Wesley D. Smith presents the first modern English translation of Books 2 and 4–7 of the Epidemics. (Books 1 and 3 are available in Volume I).

In the casebooks and notes that make up the seven books called Epidemics—the title originally meant “visits”—we can watch ancient physicians observing patients, noting and pondering symptoms, evaluating treatments, and developing theories about the body. They appear to be physicians’ notebooks from several areas of the Aegean basin. Smith supplements his clear translation with explanatory notes.

The works available in the Loeb edition of Hippocrates are:

• Volume I: Ancient Medicine. Airs, Waters, Places. Epidemics 1 and 3. The Oath. Precepts. Nutriment.
• Volume II: Prognostic. Regimen in Acute Diseases. The Sacred Disease. The Art. Breaths. Law. Decorum. Physician (Ch. 1). Dentition.
• Volume III: On Wounds in the Head. In the Surgery. On Fractures. On Joints. Mochlicon.
• Volume IV: Nature of Man. Regimen in Health. Humours. Aphorisms. Regimen 1–3. Dreams.
• Volume V: Affections. Diseases 1–2.
• Volume VI: Diseases 3. Internal Affections. Regimen in Acute Diseases (Appendix).
• Volume VII: Epidemics 2 and 4–7.
• Volume VIII: Places in Man. Glands. Fleshes. Prorrhetic 1–2. Physician. Use of Liquids. Ulcers. Haemorrhoids and Fistulas.
• Volume IX: Anatomy. Nature of Bones. Heart. Eight Months’ Child. Coan Prenotions. Crises. Critical Days. Superfetation. Girls. Excision of the Fetus. Sight.
• Volume X: Generation. Nature of the Child. Diseases 4. Nature of Women. Barrenness.
• Volume XI: Diseases of Women 1–2.

(Volume IV also contains the fragments of Heracleitus’ On the Universe.)