Classical Literary Perspectives on Health and Society

Medical and Social Malady in Plautine Comedy

  • The character Cappadox exhibits a wide range of systemic ailments involving the spleen, kidneys, lungs, liver, heart, and intestines.

  • Palinurus diagnoses these symptoms as liver disease and mockingly suggests that Cappadox's value is lower than that of his own rotting intestines.

Sensory Breakdown and the Dangers of Idleness

  • Exposure to a desired person, such as Lesbia, results in immediate physiological collapse: the voice fails, the tongue becomes thick, an internal "thin flame" sensation occurs, and the ears experience ringing (tinnitustinnitus).

  • Vision is described as being obscured by a "twin night."

  • The state of idleness (otiumotium) is identified as a destructive force that has historically ruined both kings and blessed cities.

Divine Policy and Surgical Intervention

  • Jove addresses the gods in a marble council chamber, asserting that the human race must be destroyed globally, from where Nereus sounds to the subterranean Stygian groves.

  • A medical metaphor is used for divine governance: "the incurable flesh must be excised by the knife" to prevent the infection of healthy parts of the world, such as the lands of nymphs and fauns.

  • The savagery of Lycaon is cited as a primary justification for this catastrophic action.

Rhetorical Criticism and Physical Comedy

  • Rhetoric schools are criticized for transforming students into "total fools" by focusing on unrealistic topics like pirates in chains and tyrants ordering the decapitation of their sons.

  • Trimalchio's dinner features Plocamus, who laments his loss of singing and dancing ability due to gout and age.

  • Physical comedy includes a young boy named Croesus attempting to overfeed a fat puppy until it vomits, and Giton being discovered hiding under a mattress after sneezing 33 times in rapid succession.

  • Impotence or weakness is attributed to being "bewitched by a poison" or the presence of ghosts.

Veterinary Diagnosis and Hydrophobia Tests

  • A rabid bitch attacks various staff members, including Myrtilus the mule-driver, Hephaestio the cook, Hypnophilus the chamberlain, and Apollonius the doctor.

  • Diagnostic techniques from "old books" are used to determine if a subject has contracted rabies: the subject is offered a basin of crystal-clear water.

  • If the subject avoids the liquid or shudders, the rabies is confirmed; drinking fearlessly and thirstily proves the subject is healthy and gentle.