DCLP

Introduction

Therapeutic catechism with doxographical notes (P.Mil.Vogl. 1.15 + P.Oxy. 80.3235). Three fragments of papyrus codex (side A written along horizontal fibres, side B written against vertical fibres) preserving sections of a question-and-answer catechism (ἐρωταπόκρισις) devoted to acute and chronic diseases (sciatica, elephantiasis, apoplexy in the extant parts). The text is similar to the other examples of such catechisms (on which see Medicalia Online s.v.) in its arrangement and layout: each disease is discussed (as to its definition, causes, signs, differences from similar diseases, treatment) under a number of distinct sub-headings in question format, the sequences of which are closely paralleled by Methodist Caelius Aurelianus' treatises On Acute Diseases and On Chronic Diseases (5th cent. AD). A striking feature of the text on the papyrus is that, unlikely other catechisms, it includes doxographical sections: for each disease, the section dealing with its causes comprises a list of the differing opinions of earlier medical authors. This feature is paralleled by the treatise On Acute and Chronic Diseases authored by the so-called Anonymus Parisinus (ca. 2nd cent. AD; cf. Anonymi Medici De Morbis Acutis et Chroniis, ed. I. Garofalo, Leiden - New York - Köln 1997; for a detailed study of its doxographical sections cf. P.J. van der Eijk, Ancient Histories of Medicine, Leiden - Boston - Köln 1999, pp. 295-331), while Caelius Aurelianus' doxographical notes are not limited to the aetiological sections and provide personal criticism (cf. van der Eijk 1999 cit., pp. 414-47). The handwriting has been dated to the early decades of the 4th cent. AD on palaeographical grounds (Andorlini 1992412-3).

(This papyrus has been digitally edited by Nicola Reggiani as part of the Project "DIGMEDTEXT - Online Humanities Scholarship: A Digital Medical Library based on Ancient Texts" (ERC-AdG-2013, Grant Agreement no. 339828) funded by the European Research Council at the University of Parma (Principal Investigator: Prof. Isabella Andorlini). The digital edition is mostly based on the previous editions (ed.pr. = K. Deichgräber, P.Mil.Vogl. I 15 + D. Leith, P.Oxy. LXXX 5235; corr. I. Andorlini, ANRW 2.37.1, 1993, pp. 458-562: p. 516 n. 68; A. Moretti, AnPap 7, 1995, pp. 19-30: p. 22; D. Leith, ZPE 189, 2014, pp. 225-32).)

Apparatus

Notes

• 1-17.

  Final part of the section dealing with elephantiasis: the causes (αἰτίαν, l. 5) also according to the Methodists' opinions (κατὰ δὲ τοὺς Μεθοδικοὺς, l. 7), the treatment (ll. 9ff.).

• 7-8.

  The mention of the Methodists in the aetiological section (see also ll. 14-15 of the reverse side) is striking, since they were well known for considering causes therapeutically irrelevant (cf. P.J. van der Eijk, Medicine and Philosophy in Classical Antiquity, Cambridge 2005, pp. 311-5). This reference might show some affinities with a definition of "affection" (πάθος) attributed by Galen (MM 1.7 = 10.54 K) to Methodist physician Olympicus (fl. ca. 100 AD), containing the sequence κατὰ φύσιν εἰς τὸ: "the affection is a change from the natural to the unnatural, which is persistent".

• 18.

  Here starts the section dealing with apoplexia, with the question about its definition. The section goes through the remaining part of the page (causes) and the first 6 lines of the back side (therapy). The supplements up to l. 25 are provided exempli gratia by Leith 2014 also on the basis of Caelius Aurelianus' passages.

• 21.

  On the cause of apoplexy, the view of the physician Asclepiades of Bithynia (late 2nd - early 1st cent. BC) is reported. According to him, health and disease depended on the movement of invisible particles (ὄγκοι) that obstruct different parts of the body. The papyrus text states that the cause of apoplexy is a blockage of the imperceptible corpuscles in the imperceptible pores of certain nerves.

• 7.

  Here starts the section dealing with sciatica, with the question about its definition.

• 9-15.

  Aetiology of sciatica with doxographical notes: the view of the "ancients" ("phlegmatic and acrid humours in the muscles around the loins": ll. 9-12, cf. Anon.Paris. Morb.Ac. et Chr. 49,1 = p. 246,7-8 Garofalo) is followed by Asclepiades' theory ("the cohesive cause is obstruction of the corpuscles intelligible to reason in the psoas muscles": ll. 12-14). The Methodists are reported (ll. 14-15) probably only to state that they considered causes irrelevant, in consideration of the short space on the papyrus.