Abstract

In ancient Latin medical texts, water was considered a corporeal fluid: for instance, according to Scribonius Largus it is namely an aquae multitudo, which causes hydrops (133). At times water collects in some parts of the body, sometimes it moves and its movements can be observed, and sometimes aquae mutationes can be a symptom of another condition that is not necessarily connected with the dropsy. Moreover, a derivative of aqua can sometimes be used to indicate the grade of density of other bodily fluids: e.g., semen aquosum. This article comments on the choice of expressions used by Q. Serenus in chapter 26 (Hydropi depellendae) of his Liber medicinalis: while describing cures for hydrops, alongside aquosus languor (512) Q. Serenus also mentions lymphaticus error (506).