The Complete Works of Claudius Galen, Vol. 18 Pt. 2

Ed. Chart. VIII. [589.] Ed. Bas. V. (120.)

...[critical] days have been demonstrated by us. Therefore, as I said before, one must not record in these commentaries everything that has been said perversely, but only those things which possess some degree of plausibility. For this reason, I postponed examining those things poorly written by Herophilus regarding the prognostications of Hippocrates; this I shall do now and throughout the entire subsequent discourse, and I shall ask those who encounter these writings to do the same, so that they might not blame me for omitting many of the things said perversely by the commentators. If they read what has been said by us diligently, they will be able to judge those things for themselves. Leaving aside, then, those who have talked nonsense about the "divine," let us strive ourselves to discover what is being said according to the opinion of Hippocrates. That this "divine" element must be one of the things belonging to the medical art, and that the knowledge of it was not only praised by Hippocrates but also demonstrated, is evident to everyone. For a writer would be indeed nonsensical if he were to praise the knowledge of a thing which he had not taught at all; thus, the [prognosis] of the divine is one of the things written by Hippocrates.

[critical] days, has been demonstrated. Furthermore, because I said before that not everything which has been stated wrongly should be included in these commentaries, but only those things which have some likeness to the truth—for which reason I was led to refuse to discuss at present those things which Herophilus falsely objected against the Prognostic of Hippocrates—I shall perform this same task now and throughout this entire book, and I shall ask others who happen upon these works to do the same, so that they do not become angry with me because I omit many things said wrongly by the interpreters. But if they read our writings diligently, they will be able to determine and judge those matters for themselves. Wherefore, having omitted those who talk nonsense about the divine, let us endeavor to find what Hippocrates meant. That, therefore, this "divine" element pertains entirely to the medical art, and that knowledge of it was not only approved by Hippocrates, but also revealed, is manifest to all. For that author must be completely inept who commends the knowledge of some matter which he has not taught at all. And so, that the [prognosis] of the divine itself was written by Hippocrates...