The ancient Greek physicians believed that there were four humors, or primary fluids, which governed the body, the blood, or sanguis; the yellow bile, or chole; the black bile, or melas chole (giving our word melancholy); and the phlegm, or phlegma.
A superabundance of chole in one’s system was supposed to cause that individual to become hot tempered, highly irascible, ready to fly off the handle; choleric, in fact.
