Περὶ Φύσεως Ἀνθρώπου (
De Natura Hominis)
Nemesius' work has sometimes been attributed to St. Gregory of Nyssa, an error which has
probably arisen from confounding this treatise with that entitled
Περι Κατασκυῆς Ἀνθρώπου,
De Hominis Opificio, written
by St. Gregory to complete the Henaemeron of his brother St. Basil. The treatise by Nemesius
is an interesting philosophical little work, which has generally been highly praised by all
who have mentioned it. The author has indeed been accused of holding some of Origen's
erroneous opinions, but has been defended by his editor, bishop Fell, who, however,
confesses that, with respect to the pre-existence of souls, Nemesius differed from the
commonly received opinion of the Church. (
Annot. p. 20.) Probably the
principal source of the celebrity obtained by Nemesius is his having been brought forward as
a person who was aware of the functions of the bile, and also of the circulation of the
blood; and the passages which have been supposed to contain these doctrines are certainly
sufficiently striking to deserve to be given here at full length. The former is as follows
(100.24, p. 242, ed. Matth.):--" The motion of the pulse (called also the vital power) takes
its rise from the heart, and chiefly from the left ventricle ........ The artery is, with
great vehemence, dilated and contracted, by a sort of constant harmony and order, the motion
commencing at the heart. While it is dilated, it draws with force the thinner part of the
blood from the neighbouring veins, the exhalation or vapour of which blood becomes the
aliment for the vital spirit. But while it is contracted, it exhales whatever fumes it has
through the whole body and by secret passages, as the heart throws out whatever is
fuliginous through the mouth and nose by expiration." The other passage is almost equally
curious (100.28. p. 260):--"The yellow bile," he says, "is constituted both for itself and
also for other purposes; for it contributes to digestion and promotes the expulsion of the
excrements; and therefore it is in a manner one of the nutritive organs, besides imparting a
sort of heat to the body, like the vital power. For these reasons, therefore, it seems to be
made for itself; but, inasmuch as it purges the blood, it seems to be made in a manner for
this also."
It is hardly necessary to say, that these passages are far enough from
proving that Nemesius had anticipated the discoveries of Harvey and Sylvius; but at the same
time they show that the ancients had advanced much farther in the path of science than is
commonly supposed.
Editions
The work is included in several of the collections of Patristic Theology.
Latin Edition
It appeared for the first time in a separate form in a Latin translation by George
Valla, Lugd. 8vo. 1538.
Greek Editions
The first Greek edition was published at Antwerp, 8vo. 1565, edited by Nicasius
Ellebodius, with a Latin translation; the next was by Dr. (afterwards bishop) Fell, Oxon.
8vo. 1671; the last and best is by C. F. Matthaei, Halae, 8vo.
1802.
Translations
It was translated into Italian by Domin. Pizzimenti, 8vo. (s. l. et
a.); into English by George Wither, London, 12mo. 1636;
into German by Osterhammer, Saltzburg, 8vo. 1819; and into French by J.
B. Thibault, Paris, 8vo. 1844.