Fever

Abstract

These humors were derived from the digestion of food. In the Corpus Hippocraticum, disease was discussed as an imbalance of these four humors. Each humor was associated with a season, temperament, and personality. Blood was hot and moist and associated with a sanguine, cheerful, and warm personality. Phlegm (the white matter mixed with blood) was cold and moist and associated with a phlegmatic, sluggish, apathetic personality. Yellow bile was hot and dry and associated with a choleric, quick tempered personality. Black bile was cold and dry and associated with a melancholic, gloomy personality. Fever was due to an excess of yellow bile, which was associated with fire, which was hot and dry.