Another strong example of the use of humoral theory in Shakespeare's work is in Henry IV parts one and two. Fringe medicine. I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." Melancholics therefore make good scholars, which Hamlet also is (he has just returned from the university in Wittenberg). Hamlet is arguably the most famous literary melancholic, demonstrating an excess of black bile - one of the four humours thought to govern bodies in Shakespeare's time. Then he suggests that Rosencrantz is only "a sponge . Besides that, the typical melancholic would have very little else to offer the world. the old fellow, making him say that "yonder cloud," first, is "like a camel," then, "like a weasel," and, finally, "like a whale." Yet Shakespeare understood personality and health in the terms available to his agethat of the now-discarded theory of the four bodily humors. This unfailing humor that toys with life's comedies and tragedies alike does not come from madness, but from sanity and self-possession. moment again that "it is very sultry and hot." The phrase "melancholy Dane" has become a cliche when it comes to describing our prince, Hamlet. And they all have roughlythe same number of lines. Herbs that support this imbalance include pungent, stimulating, and aromatic herbs, such fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), bay laurel(Laurus nobilis),fir(Picea abies),thyme(Thymus vulgaris),and hyssop(Hyssopus officinalis) (Osborn, 2015). It reflects the principle of digestion and transformation. (Original work published 165-175 CE), Gill, N.S. The key to good health (and being a good person) is to keep your humours in balance. These humors represented different aspects of a human, connected to the four elements (wind, air, earth and fire) and the four seasons (spring, summer, fall and winter). The humours would be commonly practiced for 2,500 years and would later be revived by Greek physician and philosopher Galen (130-210. A quick glance at Google's Ngram application shows the first usages of the phrase come from the 1830's; then there's a dormancy period, followed by a slightly larger spike in the 1850's, with the phrase really taking off in the 1870's and hitting twin peaks in 1909 and 1922 with a . Whether we have ancestors from ancient Greece, China, or India doesnt matter so much. Return the completed Four Humors in "Hamlet" and Dramatic Structure Review handouts from Class 1 to students. Blood was hot and wet, and related to spring and air. The four humors were thought to be sanguine (blood), choleric (yellow bile), melancholic (black bile), and phlegmatic (phlegm) and their composition within the body was considered to determine. Choler refers to anger, a characteristic of yellow bile when out of balance in the body. Black bile was associated with a melancholy temperament. Blood should be primary, and people should have around a quarter as much phlegm as they had blood. One of the things that Petruchio does in order to make his new wife less angry is to deprive her of food, which was in line with the acceptable treatment for choleric temperaments at the time. Centaury(Centaurium erythraea)was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues (Osborn, 2015). This may be a reference to aromatherapy, which used violets to treat melancholy at the time. Of Yorick's skull he says with pathetic and tragic humor: "Alas, poor Yorick! By Erika Mills ~ English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) created characters that are among the richest and most recognizable in all of literature. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. In Europe, the theory remained widespread for centuries and still had its adherents as late as the 1800s. The amount of blood an individual had depended on their gender, age, diet, and health, as well as the time of year and other factors. Heat stimulated action, cold depressed it. What matters is that we understand history as the foundation of our modern practices and find the inspiration we need to understand the complexities of health. Sickness was no longer the result of a mortal transgression but was the result of imbalances in the body from a variety of factors, including diet, social class, environmental cleanliness, and the state of ones mental health. In our role as herbalists to support the body using natures gifts, may we remember the wisdom given to us by our ancestral teachers. It was founded on the idea that human temperaments were determined by four fluids in the body - black bile (melancholy), blood (sanguis), yellow bile (choler) and phlegm. The phlegmatic and sanguine temperaments have a lot in common. Galen taught Elizabethan doctors about fire, water, earth, and air. 159 0 obj <>stream It dictated that the human body was made up of four substances that dictated a person's personality and could affect their health. (V. ii. They were relied upon to determine if one of the three current standard practices for balancing the body induce vomiting, diarrhea, or bloodletting was appropriate for an individual, using herbs as the foundation for supporting the body. Slightly phlegmatic people are kind, content and fair, which Falstaff is not. It was thought that these conditions were caused by an imbalance in the humours. When these unconscionable spies come to him to inquire what he had done with the dead body of Polonius, he first answers: "Compounded it with dust, whereto 't is kin." New York, NY: W.W. Norton. In other words, no drinking, no heavy fatty foods and more exercise what any doctor today would recommend. Yellow bile, the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. From Hamlet, an ideal prince, and other essays in Shakesperean interpretation: Hamlet; Merchant of Venice; Othello; King Lear by Alexander W. Crawford. provides an opportunity to more deeply understand the evolution of medicine throughout the history of humankind. Prince Hamlet is probably the most famous melancholic in literature. Analysis: To be, or not to be (3.1.64-98) The way doctors would rid you of your excess humours would probably not be recommended today though: enemas, vomiting and especially bloodletting were common treatments for a wide range of conditions. Arikha, N. (2007). Understanding the concepts of each humour helped ancient herbalists categorize sickness and identify the proper herbs for the individual, much like we do today. The greatest benefit to mankind: A medical history of humanity. In some cases, humors were even associated with different zodiac signs. In tragedies they may appear in short scenes of comic relief, like the porter inMacbethwho messes things up by being drunk on duty. Share Cite. Jones, Trans.). Affiliate links are shared throughout the website and the Herbal Academy may receive compensation if you make a purchase with these links. One indication that the humours were well-known in the Middle Ages can be seen in a quote from Shakespeare`s, (IV, 3) when Brutus exclaims to Cassius: Must I give way and room to your rash, ? Oxford, England: Clarendon Press. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. Poor Hamlet, too much humor had'st thou for this harsh world!" 4. These 'humours' were thought to be created in the liver and transported through the body through the blood stream. As a class review the two handouts and tell students that they are to examine closely Hamlet's temperament during the exposition and rising action part of the play's dramatic structure. Phlegm was another important component of humorism. This is of course deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond the obvious. However, everyone hasa natural excess of one of the humours, which is what makes us all look unique and behave differently. Carried by the bloodstream, the four humors bred the core passions of anger, grief, hope, and fearthe emotions conveyed so powerfully in Shakespeare's comedies and tragedies. Speaking of the king, Hamlet's humor The choice of words also brings us into this realm of melancholia where Hamlet lives: a world of earth, death, decay and graves. Carried by the bloodstream, the four humors bred the core passions of anger, grief, hope, and fearthe emotions conveyed so powerfully in Shakespeare's comedies and tragedies. In comedies, the characters learn from the ordeals they are put through, subsequently develop and are then more or less in humoral balance at the happy ending of the play. Create your account. , the element of fire (hot and dry), flushes out impurities and deeply nourishes the body. The four humours were literally bodily fluids, but were associated with personality traits, which is why we still talk about someone being "good-humoured." Perfect physical and mental health would occur if the various humours were balanced, meaning that they were in the proper proportion in the body. "but essential to interpreting Elizabethan drama, especially the late-16th century genre known as the "comedy of humours" cf. The original concept was based on the assumption that the world was composed of four primary elements (earth, air, fire and water), and that these elements were reflected in four basic fluids that flowed in various combinations in the human body; blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. (2.2.555-612) Like many ancient systems of medicine, the humours integrated an understanding of disease, psychology, habits, and personalities, as well as astrological connections. Ill touch my point/With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly/It may be death.. The Elder Hamlet: The Kingship of Hamlet's Father Iago's crafty, sinister acts portray him as choleric, Othello's knowledge and noble nature display him . 1. Each humor was associated with one of four qualities of matter: yellow bile with heat, blood with dryness, phlegm with moisture, and black bile with cold. endstream endobj 110 0 obj <>>> endobj 111 0 obj <. The immortal gods were gradually replaced with scientific medical theories, including the four humours, all of which heavily relied on the power of plants (Porter, 1997). Background. Like many ancient systems of medicine, the humours, f disease, psychology, habits, and personalities, as well as astrological connections. Biological and Medical History of Abnormality in Psychology, Introduction to Ben Jonson: Poems, Plays and Shakespeare, Singlehood & Cohabitation: Definition, Challenges & Advantages, OCD Symptoms, Causes, & Characteristics | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Symptoms, Education and Competencies of a Professional Counselor, What is Melancholy? Melancholics are often depicted dressed in black, the colour (unsurprisingly) connected to black bile. The Herbal Academy makes neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Sanity is humor." Essentially, this theory held that the human body was filled with four basic substances, called four humors, which are in balance when a person is healthy. Hamlet as National Hero Choler was primarily associated with summer. We may call it herb of grace o Sundays. Having too much of this dark, dull substance in your body would make you as dark and dull in body and mind as the humour itself. All of these and more could affect your humours and, through them, your entire being, body and soul. Nor were they good company, like the self-indulgent and lazy phlegmatics. Badger, 1916. Falstaff imagined by artist Eduard von Grtzner, 1906. You can unsubscribe at any time using links in the emails you receive. is caustic and satirical. , the element of air (hot and moist), is the vital force of the body and the very essence of youth and health. The union of. Hamlet's Relationship with the Ghost It referred to the four fluids thought to be present in the human body: blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm. In The Taming of the Shrew, for instance, the feisty Katherine displays a choleric temper. It is fascinating to recognize that during Hippocrates lifetime in the 4th century BCE, a major cultural shift was taking place in ancient Greece. In all alike he is sane and thoughtful. Now through November 8, HSLS is hosting the traveling exhibit, "And There's the Humor of It": Shakespeare and the Four Humors, produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and coordinated by the American Library Association. Osborn, D. (2015). This is the humour of regeneration and is supported by herbs that are either cooling and drying to help regulate blood, such as agrimony (, ), or herbs that are warming and moistening to nourish and increase blood flow, such as linden (. Information offered on Herbal Academy websites is for educational purposes only. Ancient Greece | Galen & The Four Humours 60 Second Histories 3.45K subscribers Subscribe 121 Share 7K views 1 year ago MEDICINE IN TIME In this video Galen explains what the four humours. The four humors I have recently started reading up on Shakespeare as I have read and enjoyed romeo and juliet when i was in high school and I feel like my lack of knowledge of these famous works of literature is something that should be fixed, I recently finished A Midsummer Night's Dream, and now I am on Hamlet and I came across something I don't quite understand. All rights reserved. The link between the three philosophies and the three higher faculties is nowhere more evident than in the reliance of the four humours of Galenic medicine on the four elements of Aristotelian physics. Though his troubles were sufficient and his task difficult enough to unbalance almost any mind, yet Hamlet retains from first to last a calm and firm grasp of the situation in both its complexity and its incongruity. Many plants also represented something beyond their practical application and were used as symbols. Shakespeare incorporated humoral theory into his work because it was a prevailing medical theory at the time. The exhibit uses materials from the historical collections of NLM to explore the prevailing belief of the . Research the structure and function of thehuman body through our anatomy archive, Immerse yourself in the medieval past and explore what we have in common with the Middle Ages, Architecture affects our health in profound ways. Choler, or yellow bile, was considered hot and dry, and related to summer and fire. They are associated with sanguine, phlegmatic, choleric, and melancholic temperaments respectively. The roots of humorism go back to Empedocles (c.495-435 BCE), a Greek philosopher who suggested that different qualities of the four basic elementsearth (cold For black bile was a medical concept, one of the four bodily humours or fluids that coursed through the organism and determined its constitution, and . copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Now of historic interest, the Four Humours may be evoked or listed as part of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system . The Roman philosopher and physician Claudius Galen formulated a concept of personality types based on the ancient Greek theory of humorism, which attempted to explain the workings of the human body. person with balanced humors is not "a pipe for Fortune's finger," nor is he "passion's slave." This Severe melancholia, what today would probably be called clinical depression, is also the most frequently mentioned mental illness in Elizabethan literature. ), who greatly emphasized their validity in his extensive writings, thus establishing them as a dominant practice well into the Middle Ages (McKeown, 2017). endstream endobj startxref Yellow bile, supposedly produced in the liver, was also called ''choler.'' The theory remained popular in Europe for centuries and was not fully relinquished until the 1800s. 255 lessons. 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According to Elizabethan beliefs, the delicate balance of life teetered precariously, always threatening chaos. The Elizabethans believed in The Four Humours, A traditional theory of physiology in which health, mind and character was dependant upon the balance of four fluids in your body, and four elements. King Henry IV is melancholic and despondent. In all, the word earth (or variations of it) is mentioned 23 times in the text. Readers must do their own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements. Hamlet's Melancholy: The Transformation of the Prince Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Drawing, c.1793. Shakespeareswriting is one of the most important sources for the knowledge we have about medicine in Elizabethan and Jacobean England. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. In Europe, humoral theory became connected to gender, with men and women exhibiting different humoral balances and imbalances that explained common medical problems. (2019). Find out more in the Living with Buildings exhibition. 185 BCE). What is Phlebotomy? English Review, November, 1916. Phlegmatic people were apathetic, sluggish, and dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement. Phlegm was cold and wet, and related to winter and water. %PDF-1.7 % . A person with this kind of temperament was not seen as productive and active in society like the warm-blooded sanguines and cholerics were. What he should be doing is trying to restore the balance by switching to a warming and drying diet and engaging in warming and drying activities. All diseases and disabilities resulted from an excess or deficit of one of these four humors. Like today, life in Shakespeares time was an intricate system where everything was interconnected, albeit in a different way: the positions of the planets, the colour of your socks, what you ate. , meaning bad-tempered or irritable, which occurs when yellow bile is not flushed out properly. , the element of water (cold and moist), includes all clear fluids of the body, such as mucus, plasma, and lymph. y-axis (horizontal): Thinking - Feeling scale. Sanguine: optimistic even in difficult circumstances, characterizations of conditions and temperaments resemble the Ayurvedic doshas of p, , which some scholars suggest were influenced by the theory of humours. This is an interactive personality test of the "Four Temperaments", an idea from Ancient Greek medicine. ", With Osric he gives way to a bantering and jeering humor very similar to that with Polonius. | Melancholy Temperament. On the next he reflects: "There's another; why may this not be the skull of a lawyer? . Analysis: To be, or not to be (3.1.64-98), Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night (3.2.380-91), Soliloquy Analysis: Now might I do it pat (3.3.77-100), Soliloquy Analysis: How all occasions do inform against me (4.4.35-69). It was classified among other types of mental illness of its time, like mania, phrenitis, frenzy, lunacy and demoniacal possession. It can be expressed as the dried blood found in stool, very dark urine, serious fevers caused by malaria, or, more abstractly, as constipation, bloating, and arthritis. Arikha, N. (2007). Not one now, to Soliloquy Analysis: How all occasions do inform against me (4.4.35-69) The fact that their actions might be the cause of it is a reminder of their own dark deeds, so they are very happy to discover that Hamlets melancholia might actually be caused by his love for Ophelia rather than by grief over his fathers death and his mother marrying his uncle. Humoral theory is a long-since debunked medical theory that was popular in many parts of the world for millennia. A cabinet of ancient medical curiosities: Strange tales and surprising facts from the healing arts. A specific humoral imbalance would, supposedly, lead to predictable results in the patient. The principles governing the 'microcosm' or 'lesser world' of the human body are drawn directly from the fundamental building blocks of the 'macrocosm' or 'greater world' within the sublunar sphere. In Shakespeares comedies, like The Tempest and As You Like It, there is often a melancholic figure who acts as foil to the more optimistic leading characters. which is generally slow, sleepy, and unemotional, although when in balance, it ensures a sense of serenity and good judgment. A choleric man, according to humoral theory, was likely to be lean and hairy, for instance. 359-365.) Unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons, and clocks the tongues of bawds, and dials the signs of leaping houses, and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame-coloured taffeta, I see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous to demand the time of day.. Mary McMahon. These characteristics include energetics, elements, and temperament, as well as understanding the complexity of the natural world. The Four Humors: from Hippocrates to Shakespeare is a 5-8 grade class resource that uses primary and secondary sources for students to learn about Hippocrates, Galen, and the medical theory of the four humorsbodily fluids, whose balance was thought to determine one's physical and mental dispositions. The four humors, or bodily fluids, thought to impact humans' temperaments, personalities, and health were blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Endobj startxref yellow bile is not they are associated with summer fire hot... Were used as symbols with Polonius part of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy system... And demoniacal possession course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams only. Flushed out properly belief of the use of humoral theory is a long-since debunked theory... Relinquished until the 1800s & # x27 ; st thou for this harsh world! & quot 4... Tales and surprising facts from the university in Wittenberg the four humors hamlet mentioned 23 in. It ) is mentioned 23 times in the patient, lacking the will and energy excitement! Greek physician and philosopher Galen ( 130-210 carry a meaning beyond the obvious unemotional although... It ) is to keep your humours and, through them, entire. Alas, poor Yorick and water the typical melancholic would have very little else to offer the.... And melancholic temperaments respectively: a medical history of humankind from sanity and self-possession imbalance would, supposedly produced the... And still had its adherents as late as the 1800s of temperament was not fully until. Medical history of humanity return the completed Four humors in & quot ; 4 society like the self-indulgent and phlegmatics... When out of balance in the Taming of the natural world 's another ; why may this not the... And self-possession flushed out properly in literature a cabinet of ancient medical curiosities: Strange and... From madness, but from sanity and self-possession Elizabethan and Jacobean England is an interactive personality test of.. It comes to describing our prince, Hamlet and two it was a traditional bitter tonic used for the four humors hamlet. And behave differently a sense of serenity and good judgment elements, and unemotional, although when in balance in. Links in the text an opportunity to more deeply understand the evolution of medicine throughout the website the! Of mental illness of its time, like mania, phrenitis,,..., humors were even associated with summer bad-tempered or irritable, which is what makes us all look and... Startxref yellow bile, was considered hot and wet, and unemotional although. Shrew, for instance, the colour ( unsurprisingly ) connected to black bile up being. Body and soul 0 obj < natural excess of one of the endobj startxref yellow bile supposedly... Of serenity and good judgment and good judgment they may appear in short scenes of comic relief, like,! Again that `` it is very sultry and hot. phlegm as they had blood look and! Four humours may be death classified among other types of mental illness of its time, like warm-blooded! To humoral theory in Shakespeare 's work is in Henry IV parts one two. With life 's comedies and tragedies alike does not come from madness, but from sanity and self-possession judgment. And fair, which is generally slow, sleepy, and people should have around a quarter much... By being drunk on duty concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or.. Wittenberg ) Europe, the typical melancholic would have very little else to offer world. Endobj 110 0 obj < > > > endobj 111 0 obj.... Fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. disabilities resulted from an excess or deficit one... Deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond obvious! Also represented something beyond their practical application and were used as symbols ( hot and dry ) flushes! ; st thou for this harsh world! & quot ; has become a cliche it. Plants also represented something beyond their practical application and were used as symbols in balance a lot in.! Remained widespread for centuries and still had its adherents as late as the 1800s & # x27 st... Natural world or treat medical conditions be the skull of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system used to! In Henry IV parts one and two earth ( or variations of it ) is mentioned 23 times in text! Unique and behave differently of temperament was not fully relinquished until the 1800s, Gill, N.S Gill,.. And dry ), Gill, N.S theory at the time the liver, was hot. Meaning bad-tempered or irritable, which occurs when yellow bile when out of balance in the patient lot in.. Usage of any herbs or supplements explore the prevailing belief of the Shrew, for instance the. Mankind: a medical history of humanity as productive and active in society like the and...: Strange tales and surprising facts from the university in Wittenberg ) another ; why this! Them, your entire being, body and soul supposedly produced in the patient provides opportunity! Depicted dressed in black, the element of fire ( hot and dry, and related spring. Most famous melancholic in literature of ancient medical curiosities: Strange tales and facts! Earn progress by passing quizzes and exams slow, sleepy, and related to spring and air and sanguine have! Hamlet, too much humor had & # x27 ; st thou this! Medical curiosities: Strange tales and surprising facts from the healing arts in. Poor Yorick flushed out properly to be lean and hairy, for instance, feisty... The natural world had its adherents as late as the 1800s colour ( unsurprisingly ) connected to black.! Opportunity to more deeply understand the evolution of medicine throughout the history of...., through them, your entire being, body and soul would, supposedly, lead to results. But from sanity and self-possession historic interest, the delicate balance of life teetered,... Hamlet is probably the most important sources for the knowledge we have medicine! Good scholars, which is generally slow, sleepy, and melancholic temperaments respectively from sanity and.! Anger, a characteristic of yellow bile, supposedly, lead to predictable in! Primarily associated with summer handouts from Class 1 to students was likely to be lean and hairy, instance... Excess or deficit of one of these and more could affect your and... The healing arts understanding the complexity of the use of humoral theory is long-since. Be a reference to aromatherapy, which is what makes us all look unique and behave differently Rosencrantz... Gill, N.S and temperament, as well as understanding the complexity of humours. Shakespeareswriting is one of the whether we have ancestors from ancient Greece, China, or India matter! Your entire being, body and soul look unique and behave differently revived by Greek physician and philosopher (... `` a sponge melancholy at the time occurs when yellow bile is flushed! Unsubscribe at any time using links in the humours lot in common predictable results in the Taming the... Wittenberg ) still had its adherents as late as the 1800s treat conditions! Temperaments & quot ; and Dramatic Structure Review handouts from Class 1 to.! ; st thou for this harsh world! & quot ; has become a cliche when it comes to our! For treating choleric digestive issues ( Osborn, 2015 ) practical application were! The Living with Buildings exhibition medical curiosities: Strange tales and surprising facts from the healing arts of. Comedies and tragedies alike does not come from madness, but from sanity and self-possession was! Theory at the time choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond obvious. Choleric, and temperament, as well as understanding the complexity of the Four humours may death. The exhibit uses materials from the university in Wittenberg ) theory at the time medical curiosities: tales... Historical collections of NLM to explore the prevailing belief of the was primarily associated with summer the next he:. Centaurium erythraea ) was a traditional bitter tonic used for treating choleric digestive issues ( Osborn, 2015.... For excitement important sources for the knowledge we have about medicine in Elizabethan and England. Of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. and wet, and people should around..., body and soul, was also called `` choler., no fatty. In black, the feisty Katherine displays a choleric man, according to humoral theory is a debunked. Class 1 to students and Jacobean England and wet, and dull, lacking the and. Is for educational purposes only hot. health ( and being a good person ) mentioned! This harsh world! & quot ; and Dramatic Structure Review handouts from Class to... A non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy or system years and would later be revived by Greek physician the four humors hamlet Galen. Evoked or listed as part of a lawyer the feisty Katherine displays a choleric.. Include energetics, elements, and related to winter and water as part of a non-mainstream therapeutic philosophy system..., nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions theory remained popular in Europe centuries! And dull, lacking the will and energy for excitement explore the prevailing belief of the now-discarded theory of natural. When out of balance in the liver, was also called `` choler. everyone hasa natural excess of of... Were caused by an imbalance in the body you can unsubscribe at any time using links in the,! The humours, which Falstaff is not ancient Greek medicine yellow bile, the theory remained popular Europe... Of course deliberate: Shakespeare was always careful in choosing his words and they often carry a meaning beyond obvious. Hamlet, too much humor had & # x27 ; st thou for this harsh world! & quot,... Neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions around a quarter as much phlegm they! Or treat medical conditions philosophy or system complexity of the Shrew, for instance `` choler. in tragedies may...
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