Posted by Joel on June 30, 2005 at 12:51:54 from 155.212.223.220 user joels.
In Reply to: Re: The Hullabaloos' livers posted by Charles on June 29, 2005 at 09:23:49:
Hippocrates' physiological theory of the four humors held that the body's state of health--and by extension the state of mind, or character--depended upon a balance among the four elemental fluids: blood, yellow bile, phlegm, and black bile.
The four basic human temperaments, phlegmatic, sanguine, melancholic, and choleric, were each caused by a predominance of one of the four humors. The humors and their corresponding temperaments were closely allied with the four elements (air, fire, water, and earth) and the dualities of hot/cold, moist/dry.
# Too much Earth: Melancholic . Black Bile. Cold and Dry . Autumn .
# Too much Air: Sanguine . Blood . Hot and Moist . Spring .
# Too much Fire: Choleric . Yellow Bile . Hot and Dry . Summer .
# Too much Water: Phlegmatic. Phlegm . Cold and Moist . Winter .
The temperament of the calm and tough flegmaticus was influenced by excess phlegm, and was closely associated with water, cold and moisture. Characteristics: dull, pale, cowardly. Treated by bundling up in bed and drinking wine.
Sanguinicus, whose cheerful and lively temperament resulted from the dominance of the blood, and was associated with the air, heat and moisture. Characteristics: amorous, happy, generous. I would guess that the practice of bleeding originated with the idea that too much blood had accumulated and was out of balance with the other humors.
The worry and gloominess of the melancholicus were due to a surfeit of melancholy or black bile. Associated with earth, cold and dryness. Characteristics: gluttonous, lazy, sentimental.
The energetic cholericus had too much choler or yellow bile in his or her system. Associated with fire, heat and dryness. Characteristics: violent, vengeful. Related word: bilious. (A fever indicated too much Fire or yellow bile and was treated by increasing its opposite (phlegm: cold, wet), by prescibing cold baths. )