Syntactical Constructions in the Beginning of the Clinical Histories of "Epidemics" I, IV and VI

Abstract

In this essay we examine the different syntactical constructions used in the beginning of the clinical histories of Epidemics II, IV and VI to refer to the patient and to determine his identity: the case in which he is mentioned, the use of article in his designation, the employment of participle and relative, that are sometimes the only way of reference to the patient, and, on the other hand, the diverse syntactical constructions, more or less complex, which are used in his designation. The results in all these questions point in the same direction: a stronger connection between the books II and VI of Epidemics, in contrast to Epid. IV, which is shown in remarkable divergence.