cured after fifty years of age APH. 7. Dolours and pains of the besly being aloft and in the upper part are more light easie those which are not aloft are more vehement We must understand this word aloft not according to the length and height of the body but according to its depth and thickness so be those which are not aloft he means those which are next to the back APH. 8. Ulcers or sores in the body of those which are diseased with the dropsie are not easily cured For an ulcer cannot be cured until it be exactly dryed which cannot easily be done in those who have the dropsie by reason of their superabundant humidity APH. 9. Broad wheals are not very full of itching For they are not bred by such hot humors as those which are narrow and high APH. 10. Corrupt matter water or blood issuing out by the nostrils mouth or ears dissolveth and cureth a vehement and grievous head-ach If that the pain proceed from inflammation or abundance of crude humors gathered in the head for if it proceed from other causes there must be other cures APH. 11 The Haemorroides happening to those which are troubled with melancholly and pain of the Kidneys are good Both by reason of the evacuation and because they evacuate such humors as ought to be evacuated APH. 12. Unless in the cures of Haemorroides which have long continued there be one vein kept open it is to be feared that a Dropsie or Convulsion will shortly follow That nature may by that means purge out those evil humors which remain APH. 13. The Hickâ—â— troubling us is put away by sneezing If the said Hicket was caused by fulness For by sneezing not only the brain but the stomack also by reason of the nerves derived unto it is vehemently shaken whereby the humors exciting the Hicket are evacuated APH 14. If in him who hath a Dropsie if the water flow from the veins into the belly the disease is dissolved If Nature or Physick make evacuation of it from thence APH. 15. Vomiting coming by the meer benefit of nature dissolveth and riddeth away a long flux or loosness of the belly By reason of the retraction and drawing back of the humors which 〈◊〉 downward APH. 16. A looseness of the belly to one afflicted with a Plurisie or inflammation of the Lungs is an evil thing Because it signifies the liver to be so affected by the consent of those parts which serve for respiration that through weakness it is not able to draw the aliment to it self and convert it into blood APH. 17. It is good for him who hath a waterish dropping and running of the eys if he be taken with a flux and loosness of the belly Whereby Hippocrates shews us a convenient way how to cure such eys namely by drawing the humors which cause the disease downwards APH. 18. It is a deadly thing when the bladder is wounded or the brain or the heart the midriff any small gut the Stomack or Liver The Greek word for wounded is here {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} which signifies deep wounded for otherwise some of those parts have been wounded and cured as Galen saith APH. 19. A bone perished or cut off a cartilage gristle or sinew or any little parcel of the eye-lid or of the foreskin being diminished do not grow or joyn together Yet they may be knit together by some other kind of substance as we see in bones APH. 20. If blood flow contrary to nature into any concavity it corrupteth and is putrified of necessity That is into any other concavity besides the veins and arteries APH. 21. If the swellings of veins in the legs called varices or the Haemorroides shall happen to them which are mad their madness is dissolved Because nature drives those humors which cause madness into the more ignoble parts APH. 22. Breaches or fluxes of humors which descend from the back to the elbow are dissolved by opening of a vein By reason that those humors are thereby evacuated APH. 23. If fear and sadness continue long it is a sign of melancholly Namely without any outward cause for those who are sad or fearful for any outward cause their sadness and fear do not commonly last long but if they do they will turn to melancholly if not to madness APH. 24 If any small or slender gut be pierced it doth not grow together again This was spoken Aphorism 18. wherefore Galen and Heurnius would have it expunged APH. 25. If the cholerick tumor Erysipulas being outward be returned inwards it is evil but if being inwards it is turned outward it is a good thing By this example Hippocrates shews that it is good to have all sores and diseases of the body to come from the noble and inward parts to the ignoble and outward ones APH. 26. Those burning feavers are dissolved with dotage or raving in which are trembling shakings They are indeed dissolved but that dissolution at last brings a general dissolution of the body by death APH. 27 If the corruption matter or water do flow out altogether at once from them which are burnt or cauterized or cut by the Chirurgion for the cure of the inward aposthumation between the lungs and the breast or of the Dropsie then the diseased shall questionless die By these examples Hippocrates shews that all total evacuations made at once are noxious and deadly APH. 28. Eunuchs or gelded men are neither troubled with the Gout nor with baldness Because in Hippocrates time they used a very good diet and lived very temperately they were not troubled with the gout though now adays they be and their not being bald comes from their native moisture which makes them have a very thick skin APH. 29. A woman is not troubled with the Gout unless her monthly terms fail her The same reasons may be alleadged for women as were set down in the former for Eunuchs But if her terms fail her then the superfluous humors being driven to the outward parts may cause it APH. 30. A boy is not troubled with the Gout till he hath used Venery Vnless it come through their seed or if the parents have had the French pox APH. 31. Drinking of strong wine a baâ—â— a fomentation phlebotomy or a purgation doth cure the pain of the eyes According as the cause of the disease is so must the manner of the taking of it away be various APH. 32. Those which stammer are for the most part taken with a long flux of the belly Because stammering shews an extraordinary humidity of the tongue whereof the ventricle of necessity participates APH. 33. Those which have sour belchings are not much subject to a Plurisie Because sour belching is a sign of much phlegm and the Plurisie for the most part invades those who are troubled with much choller APH. 34. Great swelling veins in the legs called varices are not incident to them who lose their hair and if they happen to have
in a Feaver being thick clotted and little in quantity do profit them that make them if afterwards thin urine and much in quantity be avoided by them But those urines most commonly become such in which the hypostasis or sediment shal appear presently after they are made or not long after Because the gross humors causing the Feaver are expelled in the humor which makes the urine which comes afterwards to be thin in respect of that APH 70. Those who have their water troubled or unclean in Agues such as are the waters of Cattel have or shall have head-aches Because the windy or flatuous spirit is easily drawn up into the head together with heat APH. 71. Those which shall have their Crysis or alteration of the disease the seventh day have a little red cloud in the urine the fourth day and other things thereunto belonging accordingly These red clouds are seldom seen though the white be frequent and are both of them signs of concoction APH. 72. Urines very cleer and white are bad especially in those who are afflicted with phrensies Because such urines are signs of an extreme crudity And Galen saith he never knew any one who was afflicted with a phrensie and made such water saved APH. 73. Those which have an inflation of the Hypocoâ—dria and a rumbling pain of the loyns succeeding have their bellies moistned loosened except the wind break forth downwards or store of urine do issue forth And these things happen in Feavers Namely in essential not symptomatical Feavers and such as are diseases of themselves APH. 74. Those that have hope of Aposthumations to come about the joynts much urine thick and white doth deliver from the Aposthume such as is wont to be avoided in painful Feavers the fourth day when also blood shall be voided out of the nostrils there shall be a dissolution deliverance speedily For those urines purge out the humors which would cause the aposthumations and especially if there be a bleeding at the nostrils joyned for then the causes issue out two ways APH. 75. If any piss blood or filthy matter it signifies an exulceration of the Kidneys or bladder That is if he do it for a continuance for otherwise it may proceed from some other cause APH. 76. Those which have small pieces of flesh or as it were hairs issuing forth together with thick urine do avoid those excrements from the Kidneys Those small pieces of flesh are part of the reins or kidneys and are a manifest sign of their being ulcerated but the hairs are onely bred there but are no part of them APH. 77. Those which avoid thick urine with certain things like bran have their bladder infected with scabbedness If the defect be not in the veins for such stuff comes sometime from them APH. 78. If any piss blood on a suddain it is a sign there is some vein of the Kidneys broken Namely meer and pure blood and without any external cause APH. 79. They in whose urine appeareth an hypostasis or sediment full of sand have their bladder troubled with the stone This Aphorism is mutilated and defective for the sand may come as well from the kidneys as from the bladder APH. 80. If any one piss blood or clots of blood and make his water by drops having pain in that part of the belly which is between the Navel and the secret parts named hypogastrion or at the seame line of the skin of the Cods called perinaeum and at the place called pecten where the hair about the privy members groweth then the places about the bladder are diseased Namely all the parts belonging to the bladder and not the bladder onely APH. 81. If any one piss blood or filthy matter or little scales and there be also a stinking or strong smell it betokens an exulceration of the bladder The two first accidents may happen upon the exulceration of any of the instruments serving to make water but the scales and stink are proper signs of the bladder being ill-affected APH. 82. Those which have an Aposthume bred in the urinary passage are delivered from it the same being brought to suppuration and broken Which suppuration and breaking gives the urine free passage APH. 83. Voiding of much urine in the night doth signifie small evacuation of excrements by the Fundament He makes particular mention of the night because at that time by reason of the sleep Nature is most busie about her concoction and distribution SECT V. The Argument This fift Book or Section is variable yet it doth almost wholly intreat of the diseases of women and of the good and bad dispositions of the womb APHORISM 1. A Convulsion after taking Hellebore is deadly Namely after white Hellebore and that for five causes First by reason of the agreement which is â—etween the nerves and the mouth of the Stomack Secondly by reason of the biting humors which it draws to the mouth of the stomack Thirdly by reason of the abundant evacuation the Hellebore causeth Fourthly by reason of the attractive faculty by which it draws the moistness from the nerves And fiftly because it vehemently dryes up the substance of the nerves APH. 2. A Convulsion caused by a wound is deadly Not always but for the most part APH. 3. The Hicket or a Convulsion after a copious flux of blood is evil Because of the great emptiness caused by the copious flux of blood and because the Hicket is caused by a depraved motion of the ventricle APH. 4. After an immoderate purgation a Convulsion or Hicket is evil For the same reason that they are evil after taking of Hellebore Aph. 1. APH. 5. If one that is drunk suddainly fall dumb he shall die with a Convulsion unless he be taken with a Feaver or presently recover his speech as soon as his surfet is dissolved Obj. How can wine being hot cause a Convulsion which is a cold disease A. Wine is hot moderately taken over abundantly cold as a little oil powred upon a fire will increase it but an over abonnding quantity thrown upon a little will put it out APH. 6. Those who are taken with a Cramp or distention called Tetanus die within four days or if they overpass them they recover Because it is a sign that nature hath overcome the disease APH. 7. The falling sickness which is before ripeness of years may be cured but that which comes after five and twenty yeers of age for the most part accompanies us to death By ripeness of yeers he means 25 yeers of age yet they are not all curable before that age unless they take a care in dieting themselves APH. 8. Those which have a plurisie unless they be purged upwards within fourteen days shall have their disease turned into an imposthume Namely spitting and purging such matter upward APH. 9. A Consumption likely happeneth in that age which is from the 18 to the 35. Namely that Consumption which comes by an exulceration of the Lungs APH. 10. Those who have
THE APHORISMES OF HIPPOCRATES PRINCE OF PHYSITIANS WITH A short COMMENT on Them taken out of those larger Notes Of GALEN HEURNIUS FUCHSIUS c. With an exact Table shewing the substance of every APHORISME LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Princes Arms in St. Pauls Church yard 1655. Hippocrates his life out of Soranus HIppocrates was born in an Island in the Aegean sea called Cos or Ccos and was the son of Heraclides and Praxithea the daughter of Phenaretes He reckoned his Pedigree from Hercules and Esculapius and counted himself nineteen generations or descents from the one and twenty from the other Of his Genealogy Eratâ—sthenes makes mention and Pherecides and Apollodâ—rus and Arius Tarsensis He was his Father Heraclides disciple then to one Herâ—dicus and as some relate he heard Leontinus the Rhetorician and Democritus the Philosopher of Abdera He flourished in Pelops his time and was born as Isthomachus relates in his first book of Hippocrates Sect. in the first yeer of the eightieth Olimpiad But Sâ—ranus a Coan having searched the Library of Cos goes further and saith he was born during Abriada his Monarchy the seven and twentieth day of the month Agrian at which time the Coans do to this day offer Sacrifices to Hippocrates Another Author saith he lived in the times of Eliachim Malachi Pereno and Socrates He being exceeding skilful in Physick and the whole course of learning after his parents died forsook his native Country as one Andreas falsly imputes to him in a book which he hath written of the Origine of Physick for having fired the Cuidians Library Others say he left his Country through a desire he had to see the effects and success of Physick in several effects Climates and places But Soranus saith the Lord appeared to him in a dream and wished him go to live in Thessalia Howsoever he was famous all Greece over and admired for his skill in Physick so far that he was by Ambassadours sent for to Perdiâ—cas King of Macedonia when he was thought to lye sick of a Consumption and came to him together with one Euryphon who was elder then he and by some signes and tokens found that the Kings disease was a trouble of the mind for after the death of his Father Alexander he fell in love with one of his Concubines called Phila Which Hippocrates discovered by his pulse in which he felt an alteration at her coming into the room and acquainting Phila therewith cured the King He was also called to Abdera to recover Democritus from his madness and expel the Plague out of the whole City And the Plague being at a time gotten in amongst the Pahnonians and Illyrians they sent Ambassadors for him who having enquired of them what winds ordinarily blew there sent them away unsatisfied and when by prudent Arguments he foresaw the Plague would prevail upon the Atticans dominions he foretold it and took great care both of those Cities and of his Disciples And he so truely loved Greece that the renown of his learning spreading it self as far as Persia and Artaxerxes sending for him by means of Hystanides Governor of Hellespont upon proffer of exceeding great rewards preferring honesty before lucre of mony he absolutely denyed him as by his letter written to him it plainly appears He freed his own Country when the Athenians intended to war against it and had called the Thessalians to aid them whereupon he had great honors decreed him by the Coans Yea and by the Thessalians Argives and Athenians who entered him into the Eleusinian Sacrifices or mysteries next to Hercules and admitted him into their franchize and allowed both him and all his posterity maintenance of Corn out of their common Granaries He taught all as were studious of this Art freely and without envy He died amongst the Larisseans about that time as Democritus also died some say at ninety some at eighty five some at one hundred and four some at a hundred and nine yeers of age And was buried between Gyrtone and Larissa where his Monument is to this day to be seen in which for a long time there was a swarm of Bees with whose hony the nurses coming to the Monument would anoint the Ulcers of infants mouths and cure them In many of his pictures and Images he is painted with his head covered some say with a hat it being a sign of Nobility for so was Vlisses painted Some say his head was covered with his Cloak which some affirm was for comeliness because he was bald and some by reason of the weakness of his head But some will have it done so by him significatively to shew that it iâ— fitting to have the chief â—eat of the soul well guarded and covered Others say it is the dress of one who loves travel some again say it was to demonstrate the obscurity of his writings And finally some that it was to testifie that we ought in our health time beware of such things as may be hurtful to us Though some affirm it was because his cloak should not hinder him hanging about his hands when he was about to give Physick and that therefore he wrapped it up and cast it behind his head There is great controversie about his writings so that theâ—e being several opinions it is not easie to assert any thing certainly concerning them for many causes which may obcure a mans judgement As first his sirname Secondly because it is not possible to observe his phrase Thirdly because that according to his age he alters it besides many other reasons I could if I pleased alleadge He always contemned mony was pious and a lover of the Greeks Wonderful well-affected to his own Countrymen so that he freed them all from the Pestilence as I said before wherby he was much honored both by them and the Argives and Athenians He left two sons after his decease Thessalus and Draca and a great number of Disciples but his sons were the most famous Hippocrates his Oath I Swear by Apollo the Physician Aesculapius Hygiea Panacea and call all the Gods and Goddesses to witness that I will observe and keep this underwritten oath to the uttermost of my power judgement I wil reverence my Master who taught me this Art equally with my Parents will allow him things necessary for his life and will esteem his children as brothers and do they desire it will teach them this my Art without any salary or Covenant I will participate all my instructions and Lectures and whatsoever I know else to all mine own and my Masters children yea and to all my schollers who shall in writing be bound to me and tyed by a Physical oath and to none else And as what concerns curing of the sick I will to the uttermost of my power and judgement prescribe them their diet and will secure them from all detriment and injury I will not by any mans intreaties be moved to minister poyson to any man nor give any advice to
22. Diseases which are bred of satiety and surfeting are cured by evacuation and those which proceed from emptiness are cured by fulness and so in the rest contraries are the remedies of contraries Neither must these contraries be used in an extreme degree for neither too much repletion nor too much evacuation can conveniently be endured APH. 23. Acute and sharp diseases are judged within fourteen days Though some may be judged before yet fourteen days is the uttermost day that can be expected for the judgement or Crysis of such diseases APH. 24 The fourth day is the Index of the seventh the eighth the begining of the week following Also the eleventh day is to be considered for that is the fourth day of the second week And again the seventeenth day is to be considered being the fourth from the fourteenth and the seventh from the eleventh He hath taught us that acute diseases run out to a Crysis within fourteen days which he here explains and shews which are the Critical days for three weeks together APH. 25. Summer Quartan Feavers are for the most part short but the Autumnal long especially those which remain till Winter Because in Summer the superfluous humors being driven into the outward parts of the body are quickly expelled through the pores but they last longer in Autumn for they are some way peculiar to that season because by the forerunning Summer the faculties of the body are weakened and in Winter by reason that then the humors are thickened and the pores shut up by the ambient cold And this is but for the most part for sometimes it may prove otherways APH. 26. It is better that a Feaver should succeed a Convulsion then Convulsion a Feaver For if a Convulsion precede a Feaver it proceeds from fulness which is easily cured by evacuation but if it succeeds it proceeds from emptiness and is very dangerous for the Patient APH. 27. We ought not to be too confident if a sharp disease slacken without any reason Neither much fear those diseases which happen without any reason For most of them are uncertain and do not usually last long For if it slacken without reason it threatens a relapse and if it come without reason it is not much to be feared for it will fall having no good foundation APH. 28. If the body of those which have a sharp Feaver abide all at one stay and is nothing abated or else is melted and wasted away beyond reason it is a very evil signe for the first doth signifie a continuance of the disease and the latter a great imbecility of Nature For the first is caused by a density or thickness of the skin and thickness and gluttinousness of humors and the latter by a thinness or tenuity of the skin and extenuation of humors which commonly is followed by imbecility of Nature APH. 29. In the beginning of diseases if there appears cause for moving of any thing move it But when they are in their state it is far better to let it alone The reason of this Aphorism is laid down in the next APH. 30. Aboâ—â— the beginnings and ends of disâ—â—seâ— all things 〈…〉 calm and remisâ— in 〈…〉 d state more vehement This Aphorism is but the reason of the precedent and explains the formers and its own meaning APH. 31. If the body thrive not with him who after a disease feedeth well it is an evil sign For it signifies one of these two things namely that he takes more food then Nature yet weakened by sickness can digest Or that there is yet such abundance of evil humors left in the ventricle and other parts of the body that whatsoever is put into it presently corrupts with them APH. 32. Those which in the beginning of sickness feed much and do not thrive therewith for the most part do at last fall into a loathing of meat On the contrary those who in the beginning do vehemently abhor food and afterwards desire much meat are more easily freed from their sickness Because feeding hard whilst there be yet reliques of evil humors remaining in the body increases the quantity of those evil humors and so hinders their convalescencie Whereas those who feed sparingly in the beginning oppress not the powers of Nature which increasing do at last expel those remainders of evil humors APH. 33. In any disease if reason be not weakened nor hurt but that it is willing to embrace such meats as are proffered it it is good but if it be otherwise it is evil Because to have ones good understanding sound signifies that the brain and all the nervous parts with the Liver Heart and Ventricles are also well affected whereas if the Reason be hurt it signifies that both the Brain and Ventricle are out of frame APH. 34. They are not so dangerously sick to whose nature age habit or season the disease is familiar and agreeable as they to whom the disease is not agreeable to any of those things By Nature here is meant the temperament of the body by habit whether a body be composed of a soft and tender flesh or of a thick and solid Age and season are easie to be known what they mean howsoever for examples sake acute Feavers are not common to old age the body being then cold and likely are deadly in old men And what diseases have most affinity with each season of the year is shewn in the third Section the Aphorisms 20 21 22 23. APH. 35. It is better in any disease that the parts adjoyning to the Navel and nethermost belly be somewhat thick and gross for the extenuation and consumption of them is evil and then it is not safe to minister purgations working downward Because the thickness and grosseness of those parts signifie that the native heat is more valid and the concoction better APH. 36. Those which are endued with health of body do quickly faint drinking a purging potion and so do those which use bad and corrupt nourishment For in healthful men the purging potion finding no vicious nor redundant humor to draw out and evacuate doth first dissipate the spirits then dissolves those parts which are humid and moist and finally corrupts those which are solid And those which use bad food have sharp and biting humors which being by the medicament driven through the sensible parts of the body do cause fainting APH. 37. Those which are of sound and perfect health of body do painfully and grievously endure purging medicines This Aphorism is more general then the former which expressed but one symptome which befals sound men when they are purged But this includes all the rest APH. 38. Those meats and drinks which are worse yet pleasant are to be preferred before those which are better but yet unpleasant and distasting Because they please the Patient best and because the Ventricle doth more greedily embrace and speedilier concoct those meats and drinks which are pleasant APH. 39. For the most part old men are not so
cannot in a short time concoct and subdue several defects or diseases APH. 41. Much sweating caused through sleep without any manifest outward cause signifies that the body is fed with store of food But if this happen to one that feeds sparingly it shews that the body wants evacuation By reason of the evil humors and excrements which are the causes of that sweating APH. 42. When there is much sweat cold or hot always issuing forth the cold signifies a longer the hot a shorter disease Because it shews the matter to be thin which nature can easily concoct and shake off APH. 43. Continual Feavers which afflict every third day more vehemently and do not cease are the more dangerous but if they cease and pause in any manner they signifie that there is no present danger For it sheweth the Phlegm doth not trouble any noble part and that no venemous force hath laid siege to any principal part And natural strength doth recollect it self during the intermission of the Feaver APH. 44. Swellings and pains about the joynts are caused to them who are afflicted with long Agues By the humors setâ—â—ng in those places unless they be carried away by a thick white urine making APH. 45. Those which have swellings and pains of the joynts after long Ague feed over liberally For the disease being gone no other reason can be given for this redundancy of humors APH. 46. If a cold shivering fit the Feaver being without intermission do assail the sick man being already weak it is a deadly sign For it shews nature to be so far spent that it is able onely to stir but not to thrust out the excrement or if it doth the sick man fainteth therewith APH. 47. Excrements avoided in Feavers not intermittent by vomit or spitting if they be of a leaden colour bloody stinking or cholerick they are all evil but if they come forth conveniently they are good Leaden colour because they signifie a mortification of those parts from whence they come bloody because they signifie an opening of some vessels Stinking because they signifie putrifaction Châ—lerick because they testifie abundance of choller APH. 48. In continual Feavers if the exterior parts be cold and the inward burn and the Patient be thirsty it is a deadly sign Because the â—eat of that inward part draws all the blood to it whereby the heart is oppressed APH. 49 In continual Feavers if the lip eye brows or nose be turned aawry if the sick man do not see nor hear which soever of these shall happen the body being weak death is neer at hand For all these are signs that the moving animal faculty suffereth APH. 50. If there happeneth in a continual Feaver defficulty and hardniss of breathing with delirium and doting these signs are deadly Because it signifies that both the brain and the instruments of breathing do suffer APH. 51. Aposthumes in Feavers which are not dissolved in the first Crysis or judgement signifie length of the disease Because they shew that there is a multitude of noxious humors which nature could not expel at one Crysis APH. 52. It is not absurd to weep and shed tears in Feavers and other diseases voluntarily but to weep against the will is very absurd and inconvenient Because that weeping against the will shews a weakness and imbecility in the retentive faculty APH. 53. They have fierce and vehement Feavers who have a tough and clammy moisture about their teeth in those Feavers For those clammy moistures cannot grow there so abundantly without excessive heat which dries up the pituitous humor APH. 54. Those who have long lasting dry coughs in burning Feavers which do not provoke much are not wont to be very thirsty For by that motion which is made in coughing there is some humidity drawn from those places which are adjoyning to the rough artery APH. 55. All Feavers proceeding from tumors in the groyn and other adenous parts are evil except diary Feavers which last but one day For those Feavers come when those tumors are caused by some outward thing as some blow or the like and not by any inward inflammation APH. 56. Sweat coming often upon one sick of an Ague not ceasing is evil for the disease is prolonged and it signifieth that there is much moisture Which abundance of moisture asketh nature much time to concoct and disperse APH 57. If oâ—e have Convulsions or Cramps a Feaver coming dissolveth them Because the Feaver doth heat extenuate and shake off those cold humors which filled up the nervous parts APH 58. If a cold shaking fit doth come upon him which hath a burning Feaver it dissolveth it For a burning Feaver being caused by choller putrifying in the veins and a cold shaking by the cholers being swiftly carryed about the sensible parts of the body it shews that the choler is come out of the veins to the skin APH. 59. An exquisite and perfect Tertian Feaver cometh to his Crysis or state in seven circuits or fits at the utmost An exquisite Tertian is that which is caused by yellow choler carried up and down the sensible parts of the body keeping its nature pure and sincere APH. 60. Those that wax deaf and thick of hearing through Feavers are delivered from it by flux of blood at the nose or by the belly It is no marvel if diseases cease when the noxious humors are translated or carried away APH. 61. Unless the Feaver leave the patient in the odd days it is accustomed to return again If this Aphorism should speak of all Feavers it were false if of acute and continual Feavers it is true APH. 62. Those which have the yellow Jaundise upon Agues before the seventh day have an evil sign Because the yellow Jaundies proceeds from the inflammation of the Liver APH. 63. Those Feavers which have their shaking fits every day are every day dissolved Yet there remains some fire wherby the paroxism is renewed APH. 64. It is a good thing for them which have the yellow-Jaundies coming on them in Feavers on the 7 day ninth eleventh or fourteenth unless the right Hypocondrium be hard for then it is evil For the Hypocondrium being hard signifies there is an inflammation of the Liver APH. 65. In Feavers a vehement heat about the Stomach and a gnawing about the heart is bad Because it signifies an ebullition of choler in the tunicles of the ventricle or stomach APH. 66 Convulsions and vehement pains about the bowels in sharp Feavers are evil For vehement Feavers dry and stretch the nerves like fire and by the same vehemence of heat and drought the bowels are pained APH 67. In feavers great fears or Convulsions after sleep do prognosticate evil For fears signifie the repletion of the head with melancholy humors and Convulsions abundance of phlegmatick humors APH. 68. The breath not keeping its due course is evil for it doth signifie convulsion Caused by the over-drying of the muscles and nerves which move the stomack APH. 69. Urines
often sick as young are But being once taken with long diseases they commonly dye Old men are presumed to be more discreet and temperate in their feeding which is the cause of this assertion for those which are not so are more subject to sickness then young men being weaker then they APH. 40. Rheums descending down to the mouth and falling down to the throat do not come to concoction in those which are very old This is as it were an example of the latter assertion of the precedent Aphorism namely that old men once taken with long disease commonly dye APH. 41. They dye suddenly which do often and vehemently swoun and faint without any manifest cause Because it argueth an imbecility of the vital faculty APH. 42. It is impossible to cure a vehement Apoplexie and very hard to cure a weak one For all Apoplexies are caused by a stopping of the animal Faculties from descending any lower into the body then the head APH. 43. Strangled suffocated folk being not as yet dead do not return to themselves if there appear any foam about their mouth Because it is a sign that the Lights are violently wronged APH. 44. Those which are very gross by Nature do enjoy shorter life then those which are lean Because fat mens native heat is weaker then lean mens APH. 45. Change and alteration of place and diet and especially of age free children from the falling evil For when they come to their youthful age they are cured by their hot and dry temperament APH. 46. Of two pains at one time not possessing the self-same place that which is the most vehement doth dull the pain of the other It doth neither cure nor expel the other but onely dull and obscure it APH. 47. Whiles filthy and corrupt matter is digesting pains and Agues do rather happen then when it is come to maturation For when it is maturated the inflammation and burning ceaseth APH. 48. In every exercise of the body when it beginneth to be wearied rest doth presently mitigate the weariness For as he said in the two and twentieth Aphorism of this Section one contrary is the cure of the other APH. 49 Thoke who are accustomed to daily labours although they be weak or old men do more easily endure accustomed exercises then those who are not accustomed to them although they be strong and young Because custom is a second nature APH. 50. Things accustomed a long time although they be worse are wont to be less grievous then those which are unaccustomed wherefore also a change is not to be made to unaccustomed things Because the bodies are subject to changes therefore upon such changes we must also fall upon some unaccustomed diet APH. 51. It is danderous at one time much and suddainly either to empty fill heat or cool or by any other means to move or stir the body For any thing passing the bonnds of mediocrity is an enemy to Nature and that is safe which is done by little and little and especially when an alteration and change is to be made from one thing to another Namely from accustomed to unaccustomed APH. 52. He must not pass forthwith from one medicine to another when all things fall not out so well as they should to him who doth proceed by good reason so that remain still and continue which seemed to him to be so from the Beginning For it is no point of wisdom lightly to recede from that which once you have approved of though it doth not presentely work as you would have it APH. 53. Those which have a moist belly pass their youthful age more easily then those which have the same dry but they pass their old age more hardly and with more difficulty for when they wax old for the most part it is dryed This Aphorism is of it self plain enough and compared with the 20 Aphorism of this Section they expound one another APH. 54. Greatness and tallness of body is comely to the state of young age but to old age it is improfitable and worse then a short stature For it burdeneth old men and makes them go stooping and crook-backed SECT III. The Argument This third book is almost reduced to the discourse of ages or times expressing unto us two common places that is to say the strength and force of ages and the diversity of diseases throughout those ages and times APHORISM 1. ALteration and variableness of the seasons do most especially bring forth diseases and likewise great alterations of cold and heat in those seasons and of other things answering to them in proportion Because they alter the air which we draw in continually with our breaths APH. 2. Some natures are well or ill affected in Summer and some in Winter By natures he means the temperatures and of them the cold and moist temperatures fare best in Summer and the hot and dry worst APH. 3. Some diseases are well or ill affected some more to one time and some to another and some ages more to some one time place and kind of dyet then they are to another He now affirms that to be true in diseases and ages which he had in the precedent Aphorism asserted in temperatures of the body APH. 4. Autumnal diseases are to be expected in those seasons when on the self-same day it is sometimes hot and sometimes cold For not the names but the temperatures of the seasons are the causes of diseases APH. 5. The South wind dulleth the hearing obscureth and darkneth the sight offendeth the head with aches and rheumes procureth and causeth heaviness and faintness in the members When therefore it is frequent and bloweth often such things are incident to the weak and sickly Contrariwise the North wind causeth coughs exasperateth and excoriateth the jaws hardens the belly suppresseth Urine stirs up cold shiverings and shakings ingendereth the pains of the sides and breast Therefore when this wind bears sway those that are weak and feeble must look for such accidents The South wind by reason of its hot and moist Nature and the north wind because of its cold and dryness do work these effects in weak bodies APH. 6. When the Summer is like the Spring time we must expect much sweating in Agues Because by its temperate and moderate heat it draws the humidities of the body to the skin but cannot dissolve them into vapors APH. 7. Sharp Agues are ingendred by great drought and dryness and if the year prove to be for the most part such as the state of the season is such kinds of diseases for the most part must be so expected Sharp Agues are those which quickly end but have heavy and troublesome symptomes APH. 8. In certain moderate times observing their seasonablenes certain and seasonable diseases having a happy determination are ingendred But in uncertain and immoderate times uncertain diseases are ingendred and evil to be judged For diseases follow the nature of the efficient causes and the efficient causes are
likely such as the temperature of the year is APH. 9. In Autumn universally there are most sharp and deadly diseases but the spring time is most wholesom and free from deadly diseases The reasons whereof are first by reason of its ineqnality the mornings and evenings being cold and the midday hot Secondly because the preceding Summer hath made the humors adust Thirdly because the said Summer hath weakened the forces Fourthly because the morning and evenings ambient coldness drives the vicious humors into the body And fiftly because there is abundance of fruits eaten in that season the eating of which breeds store of evil humors APH. 10. Autumn is hurtful to such as are in a consumption By reason of its dryness coldness and inequality APH. 11. Amongst the parts of the year if the Winter be extraordinary dry and the Spring very rainy and subject to southerly winds It must of necessity fall out that in Summer sharp Agues Rheums in the Eys and Bloody-fluxes do happen especially to women and men who are of a moist nature By reason of the abundance of humors which are subject to putrefaction APH. 12. Contrarily if Winter be Southernly full of rain and warm and the Spring dry and northernly women whose child-birth and deliverance happeneth neer the Spring do upon the least occasion suffer abortment and untimely birth or if they be delivered at their due time they bring forth such weak and diseased children that either they die quickly or live but weakly and sickly To others there happen bloody-fluxes and hot inflammations of the eys and to old men rheums which shortly kill them This Aphorisms meaning is plain enough now the particular causes why these several diseases happen are set down at large in GalensComments to which we refer the Reader APH. 13. Summer being dry and the wind northernly Autumn full of rain and the wind southernly vehement pains of the head are to be expected in the Winter following Also coughs hoarsnesses rheums distillings at the nostrils and to some pining Consumptions Having in the preceding Aphorisms spoken of the Winter and Spring he now speaks of the other two seasons namely Summer and Autumn APH. 14. A northernly and dry Autumn is profitable and good to men which are of a moist temperature and also to women to others it causeth hot inflammations in the eys and Feavers partly sharp and partly long and some also are troubled with Melancholly This Aphorism ought to be annexed to the former as part of it APH. 15. Of all the seasons throughout the whole yeer dryness and droughts are more wholsom and less dangerous to mans life then daily showers of rain and moisture This Aphorism by right should have been placed after the 17th of this Section and the 17 after the 5 as Galen shews in his Comment upon this present Aphorism APH. 16. When there is much rain these diseases for the most part are ingendred namely long contlnuing Agues Fluxes of the belly corruption of humors Falling-sickness Apoplexies Squinancies But when there is much drought there happen Consumptions Rheumes in the eys pains of the joynts difficulty in making Urine and passions of the intestines or inward parts This Aphorism is as it were an explication of the former by which some ignorant men might infer that in a dry year there would be no diseases at all ingendred APH. 17. Daily seasons of weather being northernly do close and strengthen the body and make it nimble well coloured and quick of hearing They dry and harden the belly but bite and offend the eys and if any pain have possest the breast they make it more grievous Contrariwise southernly seasons loose and moisten the body and weakens it dull the hearing cause heaviness and giddiness of the head mistiness and dimness of the eys dulness and laziness of the body and make the belly loose and laxative For the northern wind is cold and dry and the southern hot and moist APH. 18. As touching seasons of the year in the Spring and beginning of Summer children and those which are neerest to them in age live in very good health in Summer and some part of Autumn old men live best but in the rest of Autumn and Winter they of a middle age Summer is good for old men by reason of the frigidity of their nature Winter for men in the strength of their age because it abates and is contrary to their bilious temper APH. 19. Any diseases are ingendred in any times of the year yet many are rather caused and stirred in some one more then in another Intending in the following Aphorisms to set down what diseases are peculiar to several times of the year he promises this as a general one APH. 20. In the Spring there happeneth madness melancholly falling-evil fluxes of blood the squinancy rheumes distillations of humors coughs leprosies dry scabs morphues and many ulcerous wheals pushes and pains of the joynts Which diseases for the most part being not dangerous but rather conducing to health by driving out noxious humors out of the inward to the outward parts of the body this Aphorism rather confirms then opposes the latter part of the ninth Aphorism APH. 21 In Summer there are some of those diseases before spoken of in the Spring also continual Feavers and burning Agues and many Tertians and Quartans Vomitings Fluxes of the belly inflammations of the eys pains of the ears ulcerations of the mouth putrefactions of the genitals and sweatings Namely in the beginning of Summer are incident some of those diseases which were also towards the latter end of the Spring for it being of the same temperature they must ingender the same diseases APH. 22. Also many Summer diseases are in Autumn both Quartans and uncertain wandring Agues swellings of the Spleen Hydropsie Consumptions Strangury Looseness excoriations of the bowels aches of hucle-bone Squinancies shortnesses of breath streight pressings or drawing together of the bowels in some part of them the Falling-sickness madness and melancholly The beginning of Autumn and end of Summer have the same affinity as the beginning of Summer and end of the Spring APH. 23. In Winter are ingendred Plurisies inflammations of Lungs Lethargie Rheums in the nostrils hoarsness coughs pains of the breasts sides and loyns head-aches swimmings and giddinesses of the head causing dimness to the eys and Apoplexies This and the precedent Aphorisms concerning seasons are to be understood when seasons do hold their own order and temperature APH. 24 But as concerning ages these diseases do happen to little children and lately born Ulcers in the mouth Vomiting Coughs want of sleep great fears inflammations of the Navil moist runings at the ears Having spoken of the seasons of diseases he now sets down in what ages such and such diseases use to happen beginning with infants newly born APH. 25. The time of Teeth-breeding coming there happen itching of the gums Feavers Convulsions Fluxes of the belly especially when they bring forth