Source edition
Galen. Claudii Galeni Opera Omnia, Volume 7. Kühn, Karl Gottlob, editor. Leipzig: Knobloch, 1824.
Source data
A Digital Corpus for Graeco-Arabic Studies · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This medical treatise by the ancient Roman physician Galen discusses how to correctly classify and identify the various "opportune moments" or stages in the course of diseases, particularly fevers. Galen argues that a precise understanding of each pathological phase is essential for administering the appropriate treatment, sharply criticizing the flawed classifications of rival physicians like Archigenes. Using tertian fever as a primary model, he meticulously divides the progression of an attack—from its onset to its peak, decline, and the fever-free interval—into six systematic stages based on changes in pulse and temperature. He further analyzes more complex fever patterns, including continuous fevers and the semitertian fevers prevalent in Rome. Ultimately, the work demonstrates that this detailed temporal division is the practical key to identifying the critical moments for applying specific therapeutic interventions.