The Black Bile

At the beginnings of science, Roman and Greek physicians didn't know about/understand cells or microorganisms therefore they could not explain the origin of sickness. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, described that the diseases were caused by an excess or deficiency of any of the four bodily fluids, known as humors. The four humors were blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. 

On the one hand the blood deficiency, for instance, caused anemia, the yellow bile excess caused jaundice or the phlegm excess caused rheumatism. On the other hand, the most extrange/extreme? humor, blanck bile. The black bile excess only caused two horrible sicknesses; depression and cancer, however Hippocrates never found this kind of humor.

In fact, depression in Ancient Greek was named melacholy. That word derives from the Greek "melas cholé" meaning black bile. For this reason ancient physicians never tried/cured? cancer patients, because they never identified the black bile.

At last science improves/is improving every other day. Therefore, humans are living longer.

Thanks, have a nice day.