Theses de dolore

XLIX.
Differences derived from efficient causes are evident from the above.
For some pains arise from external causes, such as air, fire, a blow, a fall, various applied agents, etc., while others arise from internal causes, such as humors offending in both quantity and quality, vapors, etc.

L.
Accidental differences are taken either from time, thus some pains are long-lasting while others are brief; or from place, thus some are deep while others are superficial; or from position, some are on the right, others on the left.

LI.
As a physician is cruel if he allows a patient to be overcome by pains, so if he indulges his whims too much and is moved by the slightest pains, he must be considered a flatterer.

LII.
Descending therefore to practice, we say that the physician should direct his eye to the pain, either for the sake of cognition or for the sake of cure.

LIII.
For the sake of cognition, insofar as it pertains to Semeiotice the study of signs/symptoms, it exists as a sign of disease.

LIV.
Now, since some signs manifest the affected location and others the species of the disease, the known form of the pain contributes greatly to the knowledge of both.

LV.
As it pertains to the affected location, a heavy and obtuse pain indicates that some viscus or some less sensitive part is suffering; a pulsating pain indicates an artery or a part near it; a piercing pain indicates a membrane; a wrenching pain indicates nerves or tendons; a deep pain indicates the membranes of the bones; a turgid or distended pain indicates the veins; a loose and soft pain indicates the flesh.

LVI.
The species of disease and its cause are similarly detected from the form of the pain: for an inflammatory pain argues for a hot intemperance; a numbing pain, a cold one; a piercing, ulcerating, or itching pain argues for an acrid or salty humor; a distending pain teaches that either flatus or thin water is contained in the tumor.