Hypocrisy and the Four Humor Theory

The humors are already starting to be associated with specific diseasest best example is melancholy. The meanings of the english words sanguine and phlegmatic also refer to humors recognized by ancient and mediaeval thinkers. Hypocritic doctors did practise blood letting as well as cupping, which is where you make a small incision and place a heated glass over it. But the hypocratic authors caution us to use such techniques sparingly. In general, they show an admirable reluctance to engage in what we would now call invasive procedures. They knew that their art had serious limits.