Imposthumes are bred in one âart or other within the Capacity of âhe head It is well worth our observation âo take notice that all those who ây any accident do weaken their Brain are the most of all subject to Consumptions Whether the Brain âe weakned by Fumes and Vapours âom Strong Beer and Wine or by Cuts or Blowes upon the Head âr else by much Study 't is all the âme CHAP. XX. How all manner of Agues may be effectually cured by the use of Steel FEavers are usually distinguish'd into putrid and Pestilential and putrid Feavers into continual and intermitting An intermitting putrid Feaver is that which we call in English an Ague To say nothing of the several kindes of Agues passing under several denominations as Quotidian Tertian Quartain Double Tertian c. it will be sufficient to shew the Quiddity or nature of an Ague in general from its cause and symptomes by which means also the particularities and differences may be easily discerned Besides sometimes illness at the Stomack and Vomiting Thirstiness pain in the Head and in the Back and other parts the common symtomes of an Ague are first Cold âen afterwards Burning which are âused by some Particles of the mass ãâã bloud at that time actually puâefying What Fermentation is I have already described in the Eighth Chapâer Now we must know that Puââefaction I mean the Act of Putreâing is to be conceiv'd in some sort âontrary unto the Act of Fermenâng It is Fermentation revers'd ââz a resolution of some Homogeâeous matter into particles of a âifferent nature Even as when a âell-governed Commonwealth doth âissolve and break into an Anarchy Whereas Fermentation and Putreâction do agree in one common âenus viz. Motion they produce ââe common effect viz. Heat âhich is a natural product of all and very kinde of Motion But as the âotion of either is very much âfferent and distinct from each other so is the Heat also resulting from either divers The result oâ Fermentation is a Natural but oâ Putrefaction a Preternatural Heaâ Now whereas the Act of Putrefying is a contrary Motion unto that oâ Fermenting it cannot be that theâ both can subsist together in the masâ of bloud after an intense manneâ at the same time According to that common Maxime Duo contraria non possunt simul esse in eodem subjectio Hence it is that before there can be an intense Act of Putrefying there must needs be a cessatioâ of the Act of Fermenting So thaâ as the motion of Putrefying doth beget a Preternatural Heat in the body which is called the Burning or Hot Fit even so the cessatioâ of the Motion of Fermenting must needs before that produce anotheâ Fit as Gold as that is Hot. The cause of this distemper iâ commonly both inward and outward the inward cause is either some putrid matter gradually collected or else a disposition of some particles in the mass of bloud to purefie The outward cause is commonly cold preventing Transpiraâion and so by consequence hinderâng or at least retarding Fermentaâion For by one individual act of âermentation we are to suppose âhat all the Offices of Nature are performed amongst the which this âs not the least viz. That there is âroduc'd continually either a sensible âr insensible Transpiration Now âs in the motion of a Clock or Enââin where several Wheels move from âne and the same Original cause the ârresistible stopping of one Wheel doth hinder the first cause from acting So is it with the Clock-work âf Nature in all humane bodies The cessation of any one Office of Nature which although it have its âependance upon Fermentation yet âay it be a means to hinder or at âeast retard it According as either the putââ matter collected is more or less ãâã the disposition of some Particles ãâã the mass of bloud to putrefie ãâã greater or less a stronger or weakâ outward cause may give an occaâon to this distemper An inwarâ cause without some outward doâ seldom produce this disease bâ oftentimes a strong outward causâ when there is no inward cause at alâ doth produce it As many persoâ who have no putrid matter nor anâ disposition in the humours of theâ bodies to putrefaction onely thaâ which they call Potentia Naturaliâ a Natural power which all men havâ by some strong outward cause a cold baths or such-like do get Agueâ And such Agues so contracted ãâã they continue long are altogether ãâã dangerous as others For such is the nature of an Aguâ that it doth of it self produce Moâbisick matter for other diseases ãâã though perhaps when it is first begââ ãâã may have no Morbifick matter of âs own An Ague is an habit and âach fit thereof an act of putrefyâg so that putrefaction or putrid âatter in the mass of bloud is the âroduct of all Agues which if afâer every fit it be not vented by âweat and Urine must continue in âhe body as Morbifick matter for âome other distempers whether that âgue was at the first chiefly produc'd ây an Internal or External cause The way and means to cure this âisease is to strengthen the habit of âermenting and to weaken the haâit of putrefying in the body of the âatient both which may be effeâtually perform'd by the use of âteel Give the Patient twenty grains of âugar of Steel in a draught of Spring-water every morning fasting ând as much at four in the afternoon âxercising very well after it for ten âr twelve dayes together and if in âhat time his Ague be not gone endeavour to prevent in him thâ cessation of Fermentation by giâving him two drams of Sugar oâ Steel at once in a draught of possetâ drink two or three hours before hââ cold fit this perhaps may make hiâ vomit once or twice however iâ doth usually continue the habit ãâã Fermentation and by consequencâ prevent the cold fit which is causeâ by the cessation of Fermentation and so cure his Ague for experience teacheth that whensoever thâ cold fit is prevented the Ague iâ cured Because as I said before there cannot be a suddain and violenâ or intense act of putrefying excepâ there be first a cessation of the act oâ Fermenting so that to continue ãâã habit of Fermentation is the way and means to cure an Ague And this is the reason why Strong water and Peper and other hoâ things of several kinds both Actual and Potential being given somâtime before the cold fit do ofteâ times cure an Ague And the reason why those things which do someâimes cure do also sometimes fail ãâã this viz. Because the habits of âermenting and Putrefying are in âome bodies more Intense or Remiss âhan in othersome Now that there âay be no uncertainty in the cure of âhis disease which is called Opproârium Medicorum the Physitians âame It is best by the use of Steel âradually to strengthen the habit of âermenting and to weaken the haâit of Putrefying first before any ândeavour be done to cure
propounded âgar of Steel to be drank in the âmmer-time in Water and in the âinter in White-wine in the Spring âd Autumn in Water mix'd with âine yet for prevention of the âout those persons who suspect or âr it must drink it any time of the âar in water I counsel them also ãâã drink Wine very seldome or neâr and to use as much exercise as âay be CHAP. XIX Of the use of Steel in the Cure of Consumption A Consumption is truly and prâperly an Ulcer in the Lungâ which by putrifying and spreadiâ doth waste and consume the Lungs although generally it is taken for aâ kind of Languishing and Consumiââ of the Body It is of all disease considering the time that the Phyâtian hath to turn himself in the mâ difficult to be cured therefore thâ greater care is to be taken in thâ cure of this disease that nothing ãâã omitted which may in any sort coâtribute to the benefit of the Pâtient It is bred of a putrid and also oâ sharp humour in the Mass of blouâ which humours continue such ãâã want of Fermentation therefoââ âl things that do add either to Acriâony or Putrefaction must needs be âurtful Et vice versâ For the cure of this disease there ãâã first a regard to be had unto those âhings which are called not natural ãâã Air Diet Sleep the Passions of âhe Mind Exercise As for Air âlthough considered in it self in reâect of the Climate it is not easily âo be distinguished whether it be âetter or worse for the preservation âf health seeing that many of all âonstitutions are very healthful in âny manner of Air yet certain it is âhat the Air may be better'd by Art ând corrupted by accident witness âhat sad accident which many years ânce happened unto one Mr. Smith ând his Family Mr. Smith the âown-clerk of Grantham together âith his Wife Maid-servant and âwo Children were all in one night âereaved of life by reason of the âr vitiated through vapours arising âom Charcoal removing unto a new house to dwell having its walâ new limed and not throughly dried to correct the dampness of the aiâ they placed a Pan of Charcoal ãâã the Room and having close shut thâ Doors they went all to bed and iâ the morning were found all dead Now seeing that the Air may bâ accident be so corrupted as in ãâã short a time to make so great aâ alteration as from health to death much more may it be so vitiated aâ in continuance of time in Chronical and Languishing diseases in somâ measure to increase the disease Thaâ which either in the Air or ought else is most apt to increase that diseasâ which is truly and properly called Consumption is either Acrimony or else Putrefaction Acrimoââ cannot subsist in the Air being ãâã thing much different from its Elâmentary form For we are to understand by Acrimony matter consisting of Angular Atoms but ãâã Air matter consisting of Sphericâ Atoms It remaines then that whatsoever ãâã the Air may be hurtful unto this âsease must needs be Putrefaction ând indeed the Air is as much Obâoxious unto Putrefaction as any âther thing whatsoever Now âhereas Air may be either more or âess putrid it must be either better âr worse for this disease We are therefore to enquire into âhe quality of the Air in this reâpect and consider what Air is more âr less putrid And this experience âath taught that in populous places ân great Cities which are continually âequented with a great multitude âf people the Air is most of all âutrid 't is probable it becomes so ây reason of the breaths of many âeople putrifying or else from that âutrid matter which is continually âhrown out of their bodies by Transpiration either sensible or insensible That the Air is most putrid in populous places it can be Demonstrated by no better an experiment than by the corruption of any kinde of flesh The Butchers all know by experience that any kinde of flesh-meat is sooner putrified and corrupted in the City than in theâ Countrey which must needs be through the putrefaction of the Air. It is therefore expedient for all Consumptive persons who dwell in the City or any close place amongst many people to remove into a more open Air that the cure of their disease be not hindered by reason of the Air. The next thing to be regarded is Diet which is subject not onely to putrefaction but also unto Acrimony or sharpness whereby such a Juice may be conveyed into the mass of bloud as may by fretting and corroding exulcerate the Lungs Wherefore Salt although it resist putrefaction yet because it is apt to corrode is hurtful and so are all things sharp or sowre So is Stale-Beer and Ale if it lye long in the âomack because by that means it is âftentimes made sowre But if Ale âhich hath as yet contracted no âwreness be drank very Warm so âat it may immediately be conveyâd into the Veins and Arteries by âeason of its lenifying quality it must âeeds be profitable The much use âf Bread is also very wholesome by âeason not onely of its lenifying quaâty but also in that it is apt to reâst putrefaction Flesh-meat is âurtful especially in the City beâause there it doth soonest putrefie âdence it is that the City-Air is to be âvoided not onely in respect of it âelf but also in regard of the Diet which it is too apt to corrupt As for Sleep it is also in this disease moderately to be procured Not onely because it doth recruit the spirits but also in that it doth âetund the sharpness of humours and stop the motion of the Catarrhe âor descent of Rheume upon the Lungs Hence it is that experience also teacheth that those things whicâ procure sleep if discreetly used anâ in this disease beneficial as Diacodium and Opium in Pil. è Styracâ and in Pil. de Cynoglosso And so for the Passions of thâ minde the Patient is in this diseasâ to be pleased as much as may be because by inward discontent the putrid matter is lock'd up in the breast which Nature alwaies intends to expel as much as she is able by transpiration For this end is Exercise also if possibly it may moderately to beâ used Exercise is in it self the best Diaphoretick or incentive to transpiration and certain it is that Nature alwaies intends by transpiration to clear the mass of bloud of its putrefaction Hence it is that the matter breath'd out from many bodies by sensible sweat is so Fetid or stinking Having premised thus much I âm now to shew the efficacy of Steel âor the cure of this Disease Herein â shall consider those two cause of âhis Disease viz. Acrimony and puârefaction of the mass of bloud part or severally and first of Acrimony That sharpness of humours fretâing and corroding the Lungs is âome cause of this distemper it may sufficiently appear by those things which do cure or at least palliate the
which providence hath cast almost upon all men enforcing them to the contrary As for example Suppose that such particular Air or Diet should be absolutely necessary for the preservation of health for all persons of a sanguine or phlegmatick complexion in this City how many would there be who would have no convenience for the use of either If a certain particular air should be absolutely necessary for the preservation of the health of some particular persons even Kings themselves might be pitied in this respect who by keeping the same air must either lose their health or by changing it endanger the loss of their Kingdom When a certain King demanded of a Philosopher in what part of his Kingdom it would be most convenient for him to live The Philosopher call'd for a Bulls Hide and throwing it down desir'd the Kiââ to tread upon it who treading upoâ the sides found by experience thâ the contrary sides by reason of thâ stiffness of the Leather would fly ãâã in his face but when he trode in thâ midst the whole Hide was couchaââ and still Now if Kings themselves atâ oftentimes necessitated to retain tââ same air much more may we coâceive Subjects and inferiour persoâ to be Insomuch that if it were sâ that a certain particular Air anââ Diet c. were absolutely necessarâ for all persons according to the several constitutions for the preseâvation of their health Providencâ might in some measure be complain'd of for enforcing the greateâ part of mankinde unto so hard choice as the loss either of theâ health or estate But as in reason is not probable that Divine Providence hath dealt so hardly with uâ so experience will evince the contrary For 't is well known by exâârience that but one of those six âângs not natural which is Exercise ãâã much concern'd in the preservation of health or prevention of diseases of which afterwards in its proper place CHAP. II. How air can be appropriated to particular constitutions for preservation of health IT is a very hard thing in the general to distinguish of air under the same climate whether it be better or worse for the preservation of the health of humane bodies For we know that here in England in those places which are reputed to have the worst air as in Fenny and Marshy places the inhabitants are as strong in constitution and generally do live as long as others who breath that air which is accounâ most pure and healthful And ãâã those persons that are so healthfuâ and live so long in that suppose unwholsom air are of different complexions some sanguine somâ cholerick some phlegmatick anâ others melancholick or else miââ of these yet different from eacâ other according to that infinite vâriety of proportion of the foresaiâ humours which is easilier conceivââ than expressed Insomuch that in the same aiâ which is supposed to be the worââ persons of all kindes of temperaments or complexions injoy theiâ health whilst in the mean time others altogether as different in theiâ complexions in the very purest aiâ are either soon cut off with death oâ else most part of their life-time dâ groan under the heavy burden oâ sickness and diseases Now although it may be here objected that many who have a general Cachexy upon them who cannot perfectly and throughly injoy their health do finde in themselves an alteration to the better by the change of air yet we are not to ascribe this to the quality of the air but to the difference to the alternation vicissitude or change which procureth a fermentation of the mass of blood the next and immediate cause of health For certain it is that change of air doth ferment the mass of blood of what quality soever the changed air be and it is known by common experience that the change of air although from the better to the worse doth oftentimes remove Cachectical distempers Who would not think but that a clear and dry air should be far better for persons that are inclined unto Aguish distempers than to live in a Ship at Sea especially in these Northern Climates where the air is more cold and watry Yet is it known by experience that even Quartain Agues have been cured bâ going to Sea by changing a betteâ for a reputed worse air The one reason without all peradventure this viz. A just fermentation the mass of blood caused by the change of air But here it may also be objecteâ that some bodies that are healthfuâ do find an alteration to the worse bâ the change of air To this I answer That those aâ bodies of a more delicate and fiâ habit who being in perfect healtâ cannot but be somewhat altered bâ the change of their accustomed Aâ For if the change of aire can maâ an alteration to the better in bodiâ that are distempered it may as weâ make an alteration to the worse ãâã other bodies that are in perfeâ health especially in such bodies ãâã are of a more tender constitutioâ seeing also that health doth depenâ upon a just not an under nor over fermentation of the mass of blood By this it may appear how vain a thing it is for prevention of Diseases to prescribe a particular air to some particular constitutions whereas that alteration which happeneth unto some bodies is caused not by the quality but by change of the air CHAP. III. Whether a strict observation of Diet may conduce to the prevention of Diseases IN the next place let us inquire into the nature of Diet how that can be appropriated unto particular complexions for prevention of Diseases And this I finde impossible to be done The way and means to effect this should be first to inquire into the Nature and Constitution of the Person to be Dieted then to prescribe such a Diet as may rectifie what is conceiv'd to be amiss in him ãâã for example to prescribe such diet as may lenifie sharp Humourâ such a diet as may incrassate serâ and thin humours and attemâ those that are viscous and thiâ c. But how is it possible for the wisâ Physitian to know the particulââ Constitution of any person living 'T is confess'd it is a matter of ãâã great difficulty to make a very prâbable Conjecture of the Teâperament whether it be Phlematick or Cholerick c. but touching the diet this is not suffiâent There is that in Nature whiââ the Greeks call ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã a propâ and particular temperament unâ each Individuum which by a secââ instinct inclines many persons ãâã desire and enables them to digeâ such diet as many Physitians woulâ think upon the account of thâ Temperament which appears untâ them as hurtful as poyson unto them And on the contrary many there are who would be sick even ânto death if they should make use of some such diet as Physitians would prescribe them How many are there of Phlegmatick Constitutions who do nauseate and loath Hony the great Attenuatour of Phlegm and
viscous humors and that which by almost all Physitians is commonly prescribed for the same purpose And again there are many whose bodies seem to abound with viscous and gross humours yet by a secret instinct of Nature resulting from that ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã or proper temperament they do not only desire but do also very easily digest Cheese and Fish and other such things which most Physitians would strictly forbid them You shall have two persons of the same Temperament as near as any Physitian is able to judge the one shall desire Cheese and very easily digest it the other shall be sick even at the very sight of it The oââ shall abhor Wine and strong Drinâ who perhaps never drank any thinâ beside water in all his life-time anâ the other shall be unsatisfied and siââ at his stomach if he drink not eithââ wine or strong drink at all his mealâ The one shall abhor Flesh-meat anâ preserve his health by refusing it and the other though of the samâ Temperament as far as any Physitian can judge shall much desire it and be very healthful all his life-time by reason of the use of it So that to prescribe a diet is noâ so much the way and means to prevent as to produce diseases seeing that Nature the wisest of Physitians hath provided for every particular person a different and distinct palate which if not vitiated and corrupted by some accident doth truly distinguish of meats relishing or disgusting them according as they are wholsome or unwholsome for the body 'T is well known in Martial Disciââine that he who stands Sentinel âath and ought to have full power to examine all particular persons beâore he admit them entrance into the Garison Now suppose that some Deputy-Governour in the Governour 's absence should so far question the discretion of him that stands Sentinel as to take away all his power of Examining and in stead thereof give him in charge to admit without Examination all persons that have black hair and to exclude others This might be a means to exclude some Friends and to admit of some Enemies and so to destroy the Garison Every Physitian is Natures Lieutenant or Deputy Governour the Palate is that Sentinel which stands to examine every thing that is ingested into the body Now if the Physitian Natures Lieutenant should take away the Palates power of examination and in stead thereof give onely some general precepts whââ and what not is to be ingested ãâã this means he shall by excludiââ friends and admitting enemies râther destroy than preserve ãâã bodies health and welfare CHAP. IIII. Whether Excretion by siege or stoâ besides that by sweat and urine necessary to preserve health ANother way and means in uâ amongst Physicians to preserâ health and to prevent diseases to provide and take care that the be due excretion that the body ãâã kept Laxative or Soluble wherebâ all that excrementitious matteâ that shall by any accident be coâlected in the mass of bloud maâ conveniently by siege or stool bâ separated excerned and purged that so the mass of bloud may ãâã reserv'd sincere and pure in all reâââts fit for the use of nature This I confess seems to be someââat pregnant with reason yet notââthstanding experience doth clearly âonfute it 'T is known by experience that âany who are most careful by Art âo preserve their bodies Soluble and âaxative are seldom throughly and âârfectly healthful yet many others ââo are continually Costive who go âot to stool every day and perhaps ââmetimes not above once in three âr four dayes do enjoy their perfect âealth for many years together âlthough it cannot be denyed but ââat most persons who are naturally âaxative are also very healthful âet is it much to be suspected âhether that Solubility of body âhich some have beyond others do âot proceed rather from a deficienây than perfection of Nature seeâng also that most men are Costive ââd they that are Laxative are of the weakest constitutions Through the viscosity of hâmours obstructing the urinatoâ passages through the coldness of tâ body thickness of the skin ãâã closeness of the pores whereâ transpiration is hindred industrioâ nature being put to her shifts is âcessitated to vent a great part of thâ serous humidity by siege or stooâ which she had rather throw out sweat and urine So that this Sâlubility of body may at the best stil'd nothing else than a good effâ of a bad cause Although it be wâ to be lik'd that Nature hath length found out a new chanel âvent her superfluous humidity yâ had it been much better if she hâ never been so far put to her shifts to seek it Yet is it the common and geneâ receiv'd opinion that Solubility body doth proceed from the peâfection of Nature and that in ãâã bodies she doth primarily intend ãâã how can this be any other than a âgar errour Whereas those that ãâã commonly Costive are such as ãâã eat drink sleep digest exâise and perform all other offices ãâã Nature perfectly and exactly ãâã on the other side those that âon every small occasion are subâât unto Solubility or looseness ãâã either aged persons sickly and âakly young Children Women in âilde-bed consumptive persons ãâã else others that are known by exârience to be of the weakest conâtutions And besides that it is âe intent and scope of Nature to âparate any excrementitious matââr that may be collected in the âass of bloud by throwing it off toââther with the serous part and conâying it through the Ureters and âres by urine and sweat it may clearly appear by that large quantity of Hypostasis or Sediment that iâ in the urine of those persons that are âecovering from sickness and by their great inclination at that tâ unto sweating So that whereas solubility of bâ was never primarily intended ãâã Nature but onely made use of ãâã accident to purge the blood ãâã make such provision that the boâ be kept soluble must needs be far from preserving health and pâventing diseases that it may veâ well be thought to be a means ãâã disturbing Nature to destroy healâ and to cause distempers CHAP. V. Whether it be Necessary for the Presâvation of Health to observe Ruâ concerning sleep ANother means to preserâ health in use amongst Phyâtians is to prescribe rules concerâing sleep that it be not excessiâ nor deficient but moderate agreâable to the Constitution Now wâ must know that sleep is nothing else us a cessation of the exercise of the âmal Faculties caused by a deâency of spirits which spirits ãâã the onely promoters or setters ãâã work of the exercise of those âmal Faculties The spirits are nothing else but a âre Halitus or thin matter breath'd ân the Mass of blood which as ây are in a continual production âayes arising from the Mass of âod so are they also in perpetual âence drawn out by External âjects and continually losing themâves in the air Now by the exercise of the animal
ââlties as motion of the body âing c. or by the senses Hearâ Seeing c. entertained by âternal objects the expence is greater than the procreation or âduction of the spirits But by âcessation of the exercise of those âmal Faculties the spirits are again âuited and restored for by that means the production becomes greater than the expence Here is also to be noted that how much the exercise of the aniâ faculties shall be more intense remiss so much the more or ãâã sleep will be required for the restiâtion of the lost spirits From hence it may appear ãâã sleep is by no means to be approâated unto the constitution buâ necessarily required by Nature pâportionably to the expense of spiâ caused by the exercise of the aniâ Faculties Now although there be sâ Lethargical and sleepy diseases we are not in the least to concââ that sleep is the cause but the âduct and effect or at least the adjâ or concomitant of such diseases The restitution of decayed spiâ cannot possibly be the cause of disease whatsoever but rathâ preservative against diseases whâfore to prescribe rules for the âation of sleep is in some sort to âulate the strength of Nature and âestrain the body from being too âate and lively âf sleep be it never so much can any cause of disease How comes âo pass that young Children who ând the greatest part of the first ârter in continual sleep become âre lively and thriving than others âo sleep less Or how happens it ât some aged persons spin out the âed of their lives to a great exât by much sleeping CHAP. VI. âether the Regulation of the Passions of the Mind be a Legitimate means to prevent Diseases ANother means in use amongst Physitians for the preservaân of health is the Regulation of âe affections or passions of the mind Now although it cannot be deniâ but that the Irregular passions of ãâã minde may do much hurt to the âdy and that there is somewhat ãâã to be attributed to the discreââ of every person as to the regulatâ of his passions Yet must we hâ presuppose that health of body is âcessarily required for the regulatâ of all humane affections Insomâ that the regulation of our affectiââ is rather to be conceiv'd an effââ product and result than any caâ of health As to the affections ãâã passions as anger joy fear grââ c. there can scarce be mens saâ except it be in corpore sano For know by experience that sick agâ and consumptive persons are ãâã more peevish and fretful than otheâ Although when the body is dissed the minde or soul it self ãâã be in perfect health yet the affeâons which are the souls attendaââ must needs be disturb'd and disqâeted whensoever the body shall ââemper'd because their very esâce or being doth depend upon ãâã crasis or temperament of the âdy And so on the contrary they âst needs be altogether as much in ãâã souls reach to be regulated and âmmanded by her when the body healthful It is in some sense a ââst certain and infallible Axiome Mores sequuntur humores viz. that ãâã manners i. e. the affections of ãâã minde have dependance upon ãâã humours of the body From hence it cannot but be âought more rational that proviâon be made first for the body that be preserv'd in health that so the actions of the minde may be reâated than to prescribe the reguâion of the affections as a cause and ãâã server of health CHAP. VII That the chief preserver of health Exercise because it doth fermâ the mass of bloud and that whâsoever else doth cause fermentatiââ may be used as a fit Succedaneââ for Exercise NOw am I arriv'd unto the siâ and last which is a true a legitimate means prescribed by Physicians for the preservation ãâã health and prevention of diseasâ and this is bodily Exercise ãâã thing so well known by experieââ to preserve health that they ãâã do moderately use it stand in neâ of no other preventing Physiââ This is that which makes the laboââing man's sleep pleasant and swââ unto him This is that which sheâ the Justice and equality of Diviââ Providence distributing the hapâness of this world in some good âasure alike unto the Sons of men âor they who are necessitated and âânstrain'd to work hard for a liveââod are recompensed with the ââition of health than which noââng is more comfortable and deâââble in this world And certainly ââe the virtue and efficacy of Exââcise for the prevention of diseases âtter known or more seriously ââsidered many Millions in this âârld might be happy in the injoyânt of their health who are now âiserable by reason of the want of it ãâã many there are who by reason ââameness or debilitation through âhe accident are rendred incaâââle of exercising and many more âo are prevented by their professiââ whose imployment is Writing ââving Studying or some such like âhich enforceth them unto a still ãâã sedenary life and as many who though they do sometimes Exerâââe yet not so often nor unto that degree and measure which Natuââ requires Besides that innumerâââ multitude of others who havâ contracted a depraved habit of Eâminacy and softness of living ãâã think it a thing burthensom ãâã troublesom to Nature although the preservation of their health Exercise and cannot by any aââments be perswaded unto it but ãâã apt to think such remedy as bâ or worse than any disease it ãâã prevent So that although Exercise maâ of it self sufficient to prevent ãâã eases yet seeing that there are many Accidents which may possââ hinder Exercise it cannot butââ conceiv'd a thing profitable uâ many persons for prevention of ãâã eases to propound some other ãâã and means which may serve in stâââ thereof Not that I am willing by ãâã means to entice any unto a sedâtary life but am rather desirous gratifie all those with a fit and meet Succedaneum who cannot either by ââson of their employment or some ââher accident use Exercise Here we are first to suppose that âodily Exercise is an adequate cause âo produce the effect of continuance âf health And this I should first âove by reason were it not suffiâently known unto all men by exâerience which is the very basis and ââundation of reason It being then âanted that moderate Exercise is ââay and means to preserve health ãâã us enquire into the manner how ãâã produceth that effect And this ãâã âinde to be done by fermenting of âe mass of bloud Now this ferâentation of the mass of bloud is ââanted by all Physicians to be the ââxt and immediate cause of health ãâã that whatsoever hath a power in ãâã self to put a just fermentation ââon the mass of bloud may be a ãâã Succedaneum to be used in the âtad of Exercise and by consequence must needs be a proper a fit Medicament to be given for tâ prevention of Diseases or preserâtion of Health But before I propound those paâticular Medicaments whose
disease things which are Naturally apt to retund lenifie or asswage Acrimony Such are mild Ale New-Milk sweetned with Sugar the Liquor of Snailes made into a Syrup with White-Sugar-Candy and Snailes boyled in Milke Now that Steel is also endued with a faculty of lenifying sharp humours it may appear by this following experiment Put an Ounce or two of the filings of Steel into a Glass-Bottle unto which put a Pint of very sharp Vinegar or Juice of Lemmons let them be together two dayes and now and then shak'd up and in that time the Vinegar oâ Juice of Lemmons shall have put of all its sowreness and shall become in a manner insipid That some putrid matter in the mass of bloud is a cause of this distemper may also appear by other things resisting putrefaction which palliate the disease as the Powder of Red-Rose Leaves and the Juice of Turneps bak'd c. And that Steel doth resist putrefaction may appear by this in that the Water wherein Sugar of Steel is put will not putrefie To say nothing of the Sanative or healing faculty of Steel as also of its Fermenting power by reason of both which reason will also admit that Steel may be a legitimate Medicament for this disease I appeal unto the experience of those persons that shall rightly use it A Case A Minister in the City of about âhirty five years of age was thus âured He had first an Issue made in âis lest Arm then went into the Country and for the first ten dayes drank ten grains of Sugar of Steel ân a draught of Spring-water every morning fasting and as much at âour in the afternoon exercising very well after it his exercise was onely walking yet by that he heated himself very well being very well cloath'd and put himself into a breathing sweat the place where âhe walked was upon plow'd ground newly broken up After the first âen dayes leaving his Steel he applied himself to the drinking of new Milk and Sugar morning and evenâng which he continued for the space of a fortnight then he repeated his taking of Steel as before and after that Milk very warm from the Cow as formerly In the meanâ time he comb'd his head very well every morning with a small tooth'd comb and once in two or three dayes had the ends of his hair cut and provoked himself to neeze every other day with a little white Hellebore grated and snuffed up into his nostrils As for his Diet he would eat good store of Bread with whatsoever else he did eat and oftentimes Bread alone and besides his taking now and then some of the Juice of bak'd Turneps with Sugar he would oftentimes make a meal of butter'd Turneps His drink was small Ale which he alwayes drank very warm both at his meals and other times after all his meals he sat still about half an hour then walk'd at the least an hour upon plow'd ground newly broken up the Chamber where he lay had its Casements open all the day and in the evening before he went into it ãâã was well warmed with a good fire ând perfum'd with Benjamin Storax ând Frankincense every night so âoon as he was in his bed he took âom a kises point the quantity of a Nutmeg of Conserve of Red Roses By this means he was not onely cuâed of his Consumption but afterwards became more Corpulent and Fat than ever he was before In this case is represented onely the Practical part I shall now by Commenting upon the several particulars shew the Rationality of this Practice And first to say something of the person the Patient was a Minister We must know that of all men in the City Ministers are most Obnoxious unto Consumptions in that their Lungs are most of all strain'd and their bodies least exercised besides the weakning of their Brain by continual study Of which afterwards Orenge and Oyster-women and such-like which cry about the streets although they strain their Lungs yet they have this advantage that they are necessitated to exercise whereby they receive the greater benefit of Transpiration Doubtless the reason why Consumptive persons if they pass the midst of May do commonly scape for that year is onely because they have then the greater benefit of Transpiration For this reason the Patient used exercise and kept himself very warm with cloaths The reason why after ten dayes he left his Steel and drank Milk is this viz. Because although Steel doth both Lenifie sharp humours resist Putrefaction Ferment and Heal yet is it not Nutritive and the reason why after a fortnights use of Milk he left that also to return unto his Steel is this viz. Because although Milk doth both Lenifie sharp humours and also nourish yet doth it in continuance of time Obstruct and so by accident produce Acrimony or sharpness of humours For âhensoever the Pylorus or lower Orifice of the Stomach is obstructed âo that the liquid matter contained âo the Stomach cannot in some conâenient time pass away it must âeeds by the heat of the Ambient âarts contract an Acidity or sowreâess even as if the mildest Ale be âlose stop'd in any Vessel and be set ân some warm place it will in a âhort time be converted into Aleâgar The reason why he smoak'd his Room with Benjamin Storax and Frankincense is upon the same account that he chang'd the City for the Country-air Some skilful Chirurgeons there are who by suming âint with Benjamin Storax Oâibaâum Frankincense Mastick c. can dry up old Ulcers of long continuance It is therefore very rational to impregnate the Air with the sume of such things as are healing and drying for an Ulcer in the Lungs seeing also that Air hath so great an Affinity with the Lungs that Experience hath taught how much it doth conduce to the recovery of Consumptive persons to change the Air. Nor is it without reason thââ when he walked he made choice oâ ground newly broken up because one cause of his disease was Putrefaction Now Experience teacheth that the Earth doth very much resist Putrefaction or rather prey upon putrid matter especially those foilâ that are hungry and barren The reason why he had so much regard to the combing of his Head Neezing and cuting off his Hair was for the strengthening of hiâ Brain For this we must know thaâ the humours of the Body which are inclin'd to Putrefaction passing through the Brain which they are forc'd to do by the Circulation oâ the bloud do there soonest putrifie when the Brain through weaknesâ hath already contracted some Putrefaction It is the nature of all purid matter by corrupting and purefying to convert all it toucheth ânto its own nature And the Brain âf all the parts in the body is the âost subject unto putrefaction âdence it is that Nature hath prepaâed for it a fit Emunctory viz. the Nose for the purging of its Excreâents which if stopped so that the âxcrements of the Brain cannot âass