Breaths (Littré 6). This is a treatise of unusual content, affirming that all diseases are
caused by “winds” or “breaths” (phusai), affecting the body or the atmosphere. This view
resembles that apparently attributed to the historical Hippokrate ̄s by a pupil of Aristotle
(M, on the evidence of the L ): accordingly, the work has some
claim to be considered truly Hippokratic. ( J.L. Heiberg, CMG 1.1 [1927] pp. 91–101; J.
Jouanna, Hippocrate v. 5.1 [CUF 1988].)
Places in Man (Littré 6). This long work deals with a large number of subjects in anatomy,
physiology and pathology, as well as enunciating various medical precepts and doctrines.
Throughout, there is much stress on bodily balance as a factor in health, and on flux of
excess or noxious matter from the head to other parts of the body (eyes, chest etc.) as a
causative agent in disease; in therapy cauterization is favored. There is an excursus on
gynecology. The work seems to be early and may have a west Greek origin (Craik 1998).
Glands (Littré 8). This work deals with the function of glands, believed to be situated in
parts of the body where moisture gathers, usually associated with places where hair grows.
Among these the brain has an important place, as it is the starting point for flux of disease-
inducing fluids; the theory of seven fluxes resembles that of Places in Man.
Flesh(es) (Littré 8). This treatise gives an elegant scientific account of the formation of the
kosmos, and of the body and its parts. It is envisaged that two types of matter (cold and
gluey or viscous on the one hand; hot and fatty or slippery on the other) underlie the
process. The formation of the body, including eyes and other sense organs, is described. The
work ends with an excursus on the importance of the number seven in both embryology
and nosology.
Bones (Littré 9). Despite the title, probably drawn from the first words, this treatise deals
with the (blood) vessels, bones being the subject only of the first section. Various views of the
vascular system, with similarities and differences alike apparent, are presented. Although the
accounts are confused and fanciful in details, a salient common supposition is that the vessels
originate in the head. Different parts of Bones can be traced to different sources: to a work
described by G as “Appendix to Mokhlikon” (Gale ̄n 19.128 K.), to the obscure S-
C, and to similar passages in Nature of Man and in Epidemics 2 (C.R.S. Harris,
The Heart and the Vascular System in Ancient Greek Medicine [1973]; Duminil 1998).
Anatomy (Littré 8). This very short piece, comprising a single page in the modern printed
text, is an account, with some reference to comparative anatomy, of the internal configur-
ation of the human trunk. It seems to be a late pastiche, incorporating material both from
Hippokratic sources and from the work of D. (Duminil 1998; ed.: Elizabeth
Craik, “The Hippocratic Treatise On anatomy,” CQ 48 [1998] 135–167.)
Vision (Littré 9). This is a short surgical manual prescribing treatment, most commonly
purging and cautery, for various diseases affecting the eyesight and the eyelids; these can be
plausibly identified as cataract, trachoma and other common conditions (Elizabeth Craik,
Two Hippocratic treatises on sight and on anatomy = SAM 33 [2006]).
Jones v. 2 (1923); Jones (1931); R. Joly, Hippocrate v. 13 (CUF 1978); Potter (1995); Elizabeth Craik,
Hippocrates: Places in Man (1998); M.-P. Duminil, Hippocrate v. 8 (CUF 1998).
Elizabeth Craik
Hippokratic Corpus, On Ancient Medicine (430 – 380 BCE)
On Ancient Medicine denies the value of assumptions (hupotheseis) as the foundation of medi-
cine, or of any discipline, claiming that their appeal to invisible or non-existent substances
HIPPOKRATIC CORPUS, ON ANCIENT MEDICINE