Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 2.49

[1] This year, by confession of all men, was of all other, for other diseases, most free and healthful. If any man were sick before, his disease turned to this;

[2] if not, yet suddenly, without any apparent cause preceding and being in perfect health, they were taken first with an extreme ache in their heads, redness and inflammation of the eyes; and then inwardly, their throats and tongues grew presently bloody and their breath noisome and unsavoury.

[3] Upon this followed a sneezing and hoarseness, and not long after the pain, together with a mighty cough, came down into the breast. And when once it was settled in the stomach, it caused vomit; and with great torment came up all manner of bilious purgation that physicians ever named.

[4] Most of them had also the hickyexe which brought with it a strong convulsion, and in some ceased quickly but in others was long before it gave over.

[5] Their bodies outwardly to the touch were neither very hot nor pale but reddish, livid, and beflowered with little pimples and whelks, but so burned inwardly as not to endure any the lightest clothes or linen garment to be upon them nor anything but mere nakedness, but rather most willingly to have cast themselves into the cold water. And many of them that were not looked to, possessed with insatiate thirst, ran unto the wells, and to drink much or little was indifferent, being still from ease and power to sleep as far as ever.

[6] As long as the disease was at its height, their bodies wasted not but resisted the torment beyond all expectation; insomuch as the most of them either died of their inward burning in nine or seven days whilst they had yet strength, or, if they escaped that, then the disease falling down into their bellies and causing there great exulcerations and immoderate looseness, they died many of them afterwards through weakness. For the disease, which took first the head, began above and came down and passed through the whole body;

[7] and he that overcame the worst of it was yet marked with the loss of his extreme parts;

[8] for breaking out both at their privy members and at their fingers and toes, many with the loss of these escaped; there were also some that lost their eyes. And many that presently upon their recovery were taken with such an oblivion of all things whatsoever, as they neither knew themselves nor their acquaintance.

[1] That year then is admitted to have been otherwise unprecedentedly free from sickness; and such few cases as occurred, all determined in this.

[2] As a rule, however, there was no ostensible cause; but people in good health were all of a sudden attacked by violent heats in the head, and redness and inflammation in the eyes, the inward parts, such as the throat or tongue, becoming bloody and emitting an unnatural and fetid breath.

[3] These symptoms were followed by sneezing and hoarseness, after which the pain soon reached the chest, and produced a hard cough. When it fixed in the stomach, it upset it; and discharges of bile of every kind named by physicians ensued, accompanied by very great distress.

[4] In most cases also an ineffectual retching followed, producing violent spasms, which in some cases ceased soon after, in others much later.

[5] Externally the body was not very hot to the touch, nor pale in its appearance, but reddish, livid, and breaking out into small pustules and ulcers. But internally it burned so that the patient could not bear to have on him clothing or linen even of the very lightest description; or indeed to be otherwise than stark naked. What they would have liked best would have been to throw themselves into cold water; as indeed was done by some of the neglected sick, who plunged into the rain-tanks in their agonies of unquenchable thirst; though it made no difference whether they drank little or much.

[6] Besides this, the miserable feeling of not being able to rest or sleep never ceased to torment them. The body meanwhile did not waste away so long as the distemper was at its height, but held out to a marvel against its ravages; so that when they succumbed, as in most cases, on the seventh or eighth day to the internal inflammation, they had still some strength in them. But if they passed this stage, and the disease descended further into the bowels, inducing a violent ulceration there accompanied by severe diarrhea, this brought on a weakness which was generally fatal.

[7] For the disorder first settled in the head, ran its course from thence through the whole of the body, and even where it did not prove mortal, it still left its mark on the extremities;

[8] for it settled in the privy parts, the fingers and the toes, and many escaped with the loss of these, some too with that of their eyes. Others again were seized with an entire loss of memory on their first recovery, and did not know either themselves or their friends.

Wie einstimmig anerkannt wurde, war das Jahr in Bezug
auf sonstige Krankheiten ein vorzüglich gesundes, und wenn Einer an
sonst etwas litt, so schlugen alle Uebel in dies Eine um. Die Andern
aber ergriff ohne irgend welche Veranlassung, sondern ganz plötzlich
und in voller Gesundheit, zuerst eine starke Hitze im Kopfe und Nöthe
und Entzündung der Augen. Die innern Theile, Schlund und Zunge,
unterliefen dann sogleich mit Blut, und der Athem wurde schlecht und
übelriechend; dann folgten Niesen und Heiserkeit, und binnen Kurzem
stieg das Uebel in die Brust hinab, unter starkem Husten, und wenn
es sich aus den Magen gesetzt hatte, kehrte es diesen um, und es
erfolgten nach einander alle die Entleerungen der Galle, wie sie von den
Aerzten mit Namen ausgezählt werden , und zwar unter großen
Schmerzen. Die Meisten befiel ein leeres Schluchzen und dics verursachte
einen heftigen Krampf, der bei den Einen bald, bei den Andern aber
erst nach langer Zeit nachließ. Aeußerlich war der Körper nicht sehr
heiß zum Anfühlen nnd auch nicht blaß, sondern geröthet und in's
Blcisarbige spielend, uud in kleine Blasen und Geschwüre aufgefahren.
Innerlich aber litt man solchen Brand, daß man nicht einmal die
Bedeckung ganz leichter Gewänder oder der feinsten Leinwand ertragen
und nur völlige Nacktheit leiden mochte; am liebsten hätte man sicb in
kaltes Wasser gestürzt, und das thaten auch Viele von denen, deren
Niemand Acht hatte, indem sie in die Brunnen sprangen, von unauf- ¹
hörlichem Durste gequält. Und es war ganz gleichgültig, ob Einer viel
trank oder wenig. Ruhelosigkeit und Mangel an Schlaf quälten
unaufhörlich. Der Körper selbst, wie lange auch die Krankheit schon
währte, welkte nicht, sondern leistete über Erwarten dem Verderben
Widerstand, so daß die Meisten erst am neunten oder siebenten Tag an
innerem Brande starben, obgeich sie sonst noch bei Kräften waren, oder
— wenn sie hier entrannen, so stieg die Krankheit in den Unterleib
hinab, und dann bildeten sich große Geschwüre, und nichtzustillender
Durchsall trat ein, in dessen Folge die Meisten später aus Entkräftung
zu Grunde gingen. Denn den ganzenKörper durchlief das Uebel,
anfangend beim Kopfe, wo es sich zuerst festsetzte; und wenn Einer über
das Schlimmste hinausgekommen war, so zeigte sich dies an, indem
das Uebel die äußersten Körpertheile befiel; denn es ergriff die Scham-
theile und die Finger und die Zehen, und Viele kamen mit dem
Verluste dieser Gliedmaßen davon, Manche aber verloren auch die Augen.
Einige ergriff, nachdem sie Alles überstanden, augenblicklich Vergessen»
heit aller Dinge, und sie kannten sich selbst und ihre nächsten
Angehörigen nicht mehr.

So viel steht fest, daß in dem Jahre andere Krankheiten
so gut wie gar nicht vorkamen, und daß, wenn einem was
fehlte, immer diese Krankheit daraus wurde. Bei anderen,
bis dahin völlig Gesunden, stellte sich ohne jede äußere Ver­
anlassung plötzlich große Hitze im Kopfe ein mit Röte und
Entzündung der Augen. Inwendig wurden Schlund und Zunge
gleich blutrot, der Atem widerlich und übelriechend, dazu kam
Niesen und Heiserkeit, und nach kurzer Zeit drang die Krank­
heit in die Brust bei starkem Husten. Wenn sie sich auf den
Magen warf, kehrte sie ihn um, und es erfolgten alle Ent­
leerungen der Galle, für welche die Ärzte einen Namen haben,
und zwar unter großen Schmerzen. Meist kam es dabei zu
einem leeren Würgen, verbunden mit heftigem Krampf, was
bei einigen bald vorüberging, bei anderen aber erst nach
längerer Zeit aufhörte. Äußerlich fühlte sich der Körper nicht
übermäßig warm an; er war nicht blaß, sondern etwas gerötet,
wie mit Blut unterlaufen, und überall mit kleinen Pusteln und
Geschwüren bedeckt. Inwendig aber war die Hitze so groß,
daß die Menschen es selbst in den leichtesten Kleidern und
unter dem feinsten Leinen nicht aushalten konnten, sondern sich
alles vom Leibe rissen und sich am liebsten in kaltes Wasser
gestürzt hätten, und viele, die sich selbst überlassen waren, taten
das auch und sprangen in die Brunnen, weil sie von unauf­
hörlichem Durst gequält wurden, sie mochten trinken, so viel sie
wollten. Dazu litt der Kranke beständig an Unruhe und
Schlaflosigkeit. Auch wenn die Krankheit länger anhielt, ver­
fiel der Körper dabei nicht, sondern zeigte sich unerwartet
widerstandsfähig, so daß die Kranken meist noch ziemlich bei
Kräften am neunten oder ; siebenten Tage an innerer Hitze
tsarben. Überstanden sie das aber, so warf sich die Krankheit
auf den Unterleib, es stellten sich Geschwüre und tsarker Durch­
fall ein, und dann starben sie meist an Entkräftung. Denn
das Übel, das im Kopfe anfing, durchzog den ganzen Körper
von oben bis unten. Hatte einer das Schlimmste überstanden,
so zeigte sich das daran, daß die Krankheit die Extremitäten
ergriff; sie warf sich dann auf die Scham teile, auf Finger und
Zehen, so daß viele, die mit dem Leben davonkamen, diese
Körperteile, manche auch die Augen einbüßten. Einige hatten,
wenn sie die Krankheit überstanden, auch das Gedächtnis verloren
und kannten sich selbst und ihre Angehörigen nicht mehr.

On s’acoordait à reconnaître que cette année avaitété particulièrement exempte des maladies ordinaires ; celles qui venaient à se produire finissaient toutes par celle-ci. En général on était frappé sans aucun signe précurseur, mais à l’im-proviste et en pleine santé. D’abord on ressentait de vives chaleurs de tête ; les yeux devenaient rouges et enflammés ; à l’intérieur, le pharynx et la langue paraissaient couleur de sang; la respiration était irrégulière, l’haleine fétide. Venaient ensuite l’éternument et l’enrouement. Bientôt le mal descendait dans la poitrine, accompagné d’une toux violente ; lorsqu’il atteignait l’estomac, il le soulevait avec des douleurs aiguës et déterminait toutes les évacuations bilieuses qui ont été spécifiées par les médecins. La plupart des malades étaient saisis d’un hoquet sans vomissements et de fortes convulsions, qui chez lès uns ne tardaient pas à se calmer et qui se prolongeaient chez d’autres. A l’extérieur le corps n’était ni brûlant au toucher ni blême; il était rougeâtre, livide, couvert de petites phlyctènes et d’ulcères; mais la chaleur interne était telle qu’on ne supportait pas même les vêtements les plus légers, les couvertures les plus fines. Les malades réstaient nus et se seraient volontiers plongés dans l’eau froide, comme le firent quelques malheureux qui, abandonnés à eux-mêmes et dévorés d’une soif ardente, se précipitèrent dans des puits. Cette soif était toujours la même, qu’on bût peu ou beaucoup. Le malaise, résultant de l’agitation et de l’insomnie, ne laissait point de relâche.

Tant que le mal était dans sa période d’intensité, le corps, loin de dépérir, opposait à ses atteintes une résistance inatten-’ due ; en sorte que la plupart des malades conservaient encore quelque vigueur lorsque, au bout de sept ou de neuf jours, ils étaient emportés par l’inflammation intérieure; ou bien, s’ils franchissaient ce terme, le mal descendait dans les intestins", et y déterminait de fortes ulcérations, suivies d’une diarrhée opiniâtre et d’une atonie à laquelle la plupart finissaient par succomber. Ainsi la maladie, qui d’abord avait son siège dans la tête, parcourait graduellement tout le corps du haut en bas. Si l’on échappait aux accidents les plus graves, le mal frappait les extrémités, qui, dans ce cas, gardaient les traces de son passage; il attaquait les organes sexuels, les doigts des mains et des pieds. Plusieurs en furent quittes pour la perte de ces membres, d’autres pour celle des yeux; d’autres enfin étaient totalement privés de mémoire et, en se relevant, ne reconnaissaient ni leurs proches ni eux-mêmes.

[1] That year, as was agreed by all, happened to be unusually free from disease so far as regards the other maladies; but if anyone was already ill of any disease all terminated in this.

[2] In other cases from no obvious cause, but suddenly and while in good health, men were seized first with intense heat of the head, and redness and inflammation of the eyes, and the parts inside the mouth, both the throat and the tongue, immediately became blood-red and exhaled an unnatural and fetid breath.

[3] In the next stage sneezing and hoarseness came on, and in a short time the disorder descended to the chest, attended by severe coughing. And when it settled in the stomach, that was upset, and vomits of bile of every kind named by physicians ensued, these also attended by great distress; and in most cases ineffectual retching followed producing violent convulsions, which sometimes abated directly, sometimes not until long afterwards.

[4] Externally, the body was not so very warm to the touch;

[5] it was not pale, but reddish, livid, and breaking out in small blisters and ulcers. But internally it was consumed by such a heat that the patients could not bear to have on them the lightest coverings or linen sheets, but wanted to be quite uncovered and would have liked best to throw themselves into cold water—indeed many of those who were not looked after did throw themselves into cisterns—so tormented were they by thirst which could not be quenched; and it was all the same whether they drank much or little. They were also beset by restlessness and sleeplessness which never abated.

[6] And the body was not wasted while the disease was at its height, but resisted surprisingly the ravages of the disease, so that when the patients died, as most of them did on the seventh or ninth day from the internal heat, they still had some strength left; or, if they passed the crisis, the disease went down into the bowels, producing there a violent ulceration, and at the same time an acute diarrhoea set in, so that in this later stage most of them perished through weakness caused by it.

[7] For the malady, starting from the head where it was first seated, passed down until it spread through the whole body, and if one got over the worst, it seized upon the extremities at least and left its marks there;

[8] for it attacked the privates and fingers and toes, and many escaped with the loss of these, though some lost their eyes also. In some cases the sufferer was attacked immediately after recovery by loss of memory, which extended to every object alike, so that they failed to recognize either themselves or their friends.

[1] That year then, as was generally allowed, happened to be of all years the most free from disease, so far as regards other disorders; and if any one had any previous sickness, all terminated in this.

[2] Others, without any ostensible cause, but suddenly, while in the enjoyment of health, were seized at first with violent heats in the head, and redness and inflammation of the eyes; and the internal parts, both the throat and the tongue, immediately assumed a bloody tinge, and emitted an unnatural and fetid breath.

[3] Next after these symptoms sneezing and hoarseness came on; and in a short time the pain descended to the chest, with a violent cough. When it settled in the stomach, it caused vomiting and all the discharges of bile that have been mentioned by physicians succeeded, and those accompanied with great suffering.

[4] An ineffectual retching also followed in most cases, producing a violent spasm, which in some cases ceased soon afterwards, in others much later. Externally the body was not very hot to the touch, nor was it pale;

[5] but reddish, livid, and broken out in small pimples and sores. But the internal parts were burnt to such a degree that they could not bear clothing or linen of the very lightest kind to be laid upon them, nor to be any thing else but stark naked; but would most gladly have thrown themselves into cold water if they could. Indeed many of those who were not taken care of did so, plunging into cisterns in the agony of their unquenchable thirst : and it was all the same whether they drank much or little.

[6] Moreover, the misery of restlessness and wakefulness continually oppressed them: The body did not waste away so long as the disease was at its height, but resisted it beyond all expectation: so that they either died in most cases on the ninth or the seventh day, through the internal burning, while they had still some degree of strength; or if they escaped [that stage of the disorder], then, after it had further descended into the bowels, and violent ulceration was produced in them, and intense diarrhaea had come on, the greater part were afterwards carried off through the weakness occasioned by it.

[7] For the disease, which was originally seated in the head, beginning from above, passed throughout the whole body; and if any one survived its most fatal consequences, yet it marked him by laying hold of his extremities;

[8] for it settled on the pudenda and fingers, and toes, and many escaped with the loss of these, while some also lost theirs eyes. Others, again, were seized on their first recovery with forgetfulness of every thing alike, and did not know either themselves or their friends.

[1] Nam annus quidem ille, ut vel omnium confessione constabat, ex omnibus maxime fuit immunis ab aliis morbis; quod si quis et ante aliquo morbo laborabat, omnes hi morbi in istum convertebantur.

[2] Ceteros vero ex nulla manifesta causa, sed ex improviso, quum sani forent, primum quidem acres capitis fervores et oculorum rubores et inflammatio corripiebat, et interiora, guttur et lingua, continuo cruenta erant, et halitum tetrum et grave olentem emittebant.

[3] Deinde vero ex his sternutatio et raucitas sequebatur; nec multo post in pectus descendebat hoc malum cum vehementi tussi. Ubi vero in corde hpsisset, et hoc ipsum subvertebat, et omnes bilis ejectiones, quotquot a medis nominato sunt, sequebantur, et ipsae cum ingenti crucia.

[4] Singultusque plerisque incidebat inanis, vehemente afferens convulsionem, in aliis quidem statim cessantes, in nonnullis multo serius.

[5] Et corpus quidem exteri i tangenti non erat admodum calidum, neque pallidum, ar subrubrum, Uvidum, parvis pustuUs et ulceribus efficiscens; intenora vero ita flagrabant, ut neque teouissiisr rum vestimentorum aut linteorum injectiones sustinerent neque aliud quippiam praeter nuditatem, et libentissime in aquas gelidas se conjicerent. Et multi eorum, qui neglegerant, hoc ipsum etiam fecerant, et in puteos se dejecenul: siti insedabili subacti; et largior potus perinde erat ac parcios.

[6] Et corporis vexatio, quae quiescendi facultatem adimt bat, et insomnia eos urgebant. Corpus etiam, quamdiu mos bus vigebat, non languebat, sed praeter opinionem cruciata resistebat, ut plerique intra nonum aut etiam septimun diem propter internum ardorem interirent, aliquid virius adhuc retinentes, aut, si mortem effugissent, tamen, quii morbus in ventrem inferiorem descendebat, et exulcerati! vehemens in ipso nascebatur, simul etiam, quia immodera» tum alvi profluvium invadebat, plerique postea propter hoe debilitate perirent.

[7] Pervadebat enim malum quum primas in capite sedes collocasset, per totum corpus , initio a summis partibus ducto, et si quis ex maximis illis periculis evasisset, extremas tamen corporis partes mali vis apprehendens se prodebat;

[8] nam in ipsa quoque pudenda, et in summas manus summosque pedes prorumpebat, multique his membris capti mortem effugiebant, nonnullv etiam oculis privati. Alios etiam, simul atque ex morbo; convaluerant, statim omnium rerum oblivio pariter cepit, ita ut neque se ipsos, neque necessarios agnoscerent.

[1] Und nun, da ich als Festredner nach bestem Wissen dem Gesetze genügt, und die Veranstaltungen zur Ehre der Bestatteten theils schon beendigt, theils die alsbaldige Uebemahme der Erziehung ihrer Söhne bis zum Mannesalter vom Staate freigebig beschlossen ist — und solche Aufopferung jetzt und in Zukunft nicht ungelohnt zu lassen, ist er sich schuldig; denn je grösser der Ehrenpreis, der den Tapfern erwartet, desto mehr zuverlässige Männer hat der Staat —

Correva quell’ anno, a confessione Universale » immune sovra tutti da malattie ; o se qualcuno era di prima da qualche morbo afflitto, tutti si risolvevano in questo. Gli altri poi senza alcuna precedente cagione, ma interamente sani, erano all’ improvviso compresi da veementi caldure al capo , da rossezza e infiammazione d’occhi, e nell’interno la gola e la lingua diventavano tostamente sanguigne, e mandavano alito puzzolente fuor dell’usato. Dopo di che sopravveniva starnutazione e raucedine , ed m breve il male calava al petto con tosse gagliarda : e qualora si fosse fitto sulla bocca dello stomaco lo sovvertiva, e conseguitavano tutte quelle secrezioni di bile, che da’ medici hanno il loro nome, con grandissimo travaglio. Moltissimi ancora erano attaccati da un singhiozzo vuoto che dava forti convulsioni, le quali, a cui subito , a cui molto più tardi cessavano. L’esterno del corpo non era a toccare molto caldo, nè pallido ; ma rossastro , livido e gremito di pustulette ed ulceri ; mentre le parti interne erano in tal bruciore che i malati non potevano sopportare d’avere indosso nè i vestiti nè le biancherie più fini ; ma solo di star nudi. Recavansi a gran diletto tuffarsi nell’acqua fredda ; di che molti de’meno guardati, tormentati da sete incontentabile, si gettarono nei pozzi : ed erano ridotti a tale che profittava egualmente il molto e il poco bere, travagliati incessantemente da smania inquieta e da vegghia continua. Ciò nonostante finché la malattia era nel suo colmo, il corpo non languiva, ma contro ogni credere durava gl’ incomodi, talché i più , o erano da interno calor consumati nel nono o settimo giorno, avendo ancora qualche residuo di forza, o se pur scampavano , scendendo il morbo nel ventre, si faceva grande esulcerazione con sopravvenimento di diarrea immoderata, intantochè poi la maggior parte morivano di debolezza. Perocché il male , fisso prima nel capo, incominciando di .sopra discorreva per tutto il corpo ; e se vi era chi superasse cotesti più fieri malanni; almeno le estreme parti indicavano d’ essere state comprese dal morbo, il quale prorompeva sino nelle vergogne e nel sommo delle mani e dei piedi ; e molti guarivano perdendo affatto queste parti ed anche gli occhi. In altri la convalescenza era immediatamente seguita da smemoraggine di ogni cosa egualmente, a segno che non riconoscevano nè sé stessi, nè gli amici.