Aretaeus, The Extant Works of Aretaeus, The Cappadocian.
Francis Adams LL.D., Ed.

1 i follow Wigan and Ermerins in adopting this reading in place of αἰσχρὸν ὄν.

2 i must say, I have never been able to satisfy myself with any interpretation of this passage which I have seen. Ermerins, indeed, very properly remarks, that in this sentence there is an indirect reference to a celebrated verse in the Oedipus Tyrannus of Sophocles; namely — σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματ᾽ εὐνάζει Ρ῾οπή — that is, “A slight inclination of the scale sets old persons asleep in death.” But then ἀπόφρικτοι ἁλόντες create difficulty, inasmuch as the adjective never occurs elsewhere, as far as I am aware; and, moreover, I do not see how a shivering fit should necessarily occasion death. Instead of it, I would prefer ἀπόφρακτοι; that is to say, with the meaning, “being seized with obstructed respiration.” Still, however, there is a difficulty, inasmuch as it would not be easy to find any authority for this participle, although the verb be not uncommon. See Liddel and Scott. One might think of ἀπόπληκτοι, which would be a very suitable term, as this is a very natural cause of sudden death in asthma.