Source edition
Hippocrates. Oeuvres complètes d'Hippocrate, Vol. 8. Littré, Émile, editor. Paris: Baillière, 1853
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 addresses the causes and treatment of a specific physical and mental affliction unique to adolescent girls, known as the "disease of virgins." The author explains that the fundamental cause of this pathology is the retention and blockage of menstrual blood. The text details the somatic mechanism whereby this trapped blood refluxes toward the heart and diaphragm, triggering severe symptoms such as mental confusion, hallucinations, and suicidal impulses. Rejecting superstitious purifications, the author analyzes these conditions from a physiological perspective. Ultimately, the work concludes that the most effective and fundamental cure for this distress is early marriage and pregnancy, which facilitates the proper flow of bodily fluids and restores health.
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