to the bodily hete But comparynge hit to ruddye blud and coler hit is colde Fleme is naturally whyte and this is called swete fleme extendynge this name swete to all the talages delitynge the taste for other wise this natural fleme is nat swete but vnsauery and watrishe and very nere the talage of water And to this fleme nature hath nat gyuen a êpre mansion as she hath done to coler and melancoly but nature maketh it ronne with the bloud for it hath a very nere similitude to bloud And of this fleme there be .ij. necessites and one vtilite The fyrste necessite is that hit be nere the membres so that theyr vertue maye digeste and turne hit in to bloudde and that the membres by hit may be nourished whan they haue loste theyr naturall foode that is for to saye good bloudde throughe restrynte of material bloud whiche restreynt is caused of the stomake lyuer through some causes accidentall The .ij. necessite is that hit myngle with the bloud and make hit apte to nourishe the meÌbres of flematike complexion as the brayne and nuche for that that must noryshe these meÌbres must be well myngled with fleme The vtilite of fleme is that hit moyst the ioyntes and membres that moue moche leste they waxe drie through the heate that cometh of theyr mouynge and rubbynge Vnnaturall fleme may be deuided Fyrste in hit substance so some therof is muscillaginosuÌ and that is fleme to ones semynge diuerse for in some parte it is subtile and thynne and in some other grosse and thycke it is called muscilaginosuÌ bicause hit is lyke muscilages draweÌ out of sedes There is an other fleme that appereth egall in substance that is in subtilite grossenes to ones demynge but for a trouth hit is diuers in euery parte this is named rawe fleme And this encreasethe in the stomake and entrayles And to auoyde hit out of the stomake Hippocrates byddethe vs spue twyse a monethe and to voide hit out of the guttis nature hath ordeyned coler to runne from the chest of the gall to the entrayle ieiuniuÌ so forthe to the other lower guttis to scoure away that fleme from the brymmes of the entrayles and to cause hit to discende downe with the other dregges and fylthe Some tyme this fleme is encreased in the veynes specially of olde folkes by minishyng of theyr digestioÌ and there remaynynge is by lyttell littell augmented and engrossed hurtynge nature whiche can nat by the veynes therto ordeyned voyde hit out yet it doth that is possible to kepe it from the harte and other inwarde membres and driueth it to the outwarde membres and specially to the legges for by hit heuynes hit naturally draweth to the lower partis of man And this is the cause why olde folkes legges are swollen that if one presse downe his fynger therin there taryethe a hole specially towarde night and in fatte folkes suche as were wonte to be nourished with moyst meates There is an other spice of fleme verye subtile wattrishe lyke vnto water some what thicke This fleme is verye often myngled with theyr spittyll that haue yll digestion and of those that be great drinkers it runneth from the brayne to the nose as hit is wonte in the begynnynge of the pose and whan by decoction and boylynge in man hit cometh grosse hit is turned in to fleme grosse white and muscillage There is an other fleme grosse and white called gipseum the subtile partis of this fleme is dissolued through it longe bydynge in the iointis and the grossenes therof remaineth in the ioyntis as harde as stones This fleme engeÌdrethe a goute vncurable There is an other fleme thycke and grosse lyke to molt glasse in colour claÌmynes and weight Secondly vnnaturall fleme differethe in talage for there is certayne fleme that is swete whiche is by mynglynge of bludde with fleme And vnder this is conteyned the vnctuous fleme whiche is engendred by mynglynge of vnctuous bloud and fleme There is an other maner of vnsauerye fleme caused of rawnes as certeyne glassy fleme There is an other salte fleme caused by mynglynge of coler And this is more bytynge drier and lyghter thaÌ any other fleme through the coler mingled therwith whiche is drie lyght and sharpe And this fleme is ofte founde in theyr stomakes that be flematike that drinke moche stronge wyne and that vse salte and sharpe meates and cleuynge to the stomakes causeth other whyle thyrst intollerable and runnyng by the guttis hit some tyme fleeth them and causethe the bluddy mensyn in the fundemeÌt ofte tymes induceth stronge âo stiuenes There is an other fleme that is sharpe by mynglynge of sharpe melancolye therwith and some tyme throughe boylynge of fleme as hit chanceth in the swete ieuses of frutes that fyrste boyle and after waxe ripe And this fleme appereth oftner in theyr stomakes that digest yll than in other partis For naturally coler floweth to the mouthe of the stomake to stere vp thappetite whiche desceÌdyng downewarde some tyme myngled with fleme maketh it sower and this is êceyued by sower belchynges And other whyle this fleme is engendred in the stomake by boylyÌg with a weake heate There is an other fleme called pontike whiche is some tyme caused by mynglyng of poÌtike melancoly But this is seldome by reason that pontike melancolye is very scarse Hit is some tyme caused throughe vehement coldnes therof wherby the moystnes therof is coÌieyled and some what altered to erthynes and thervpon cometh no weake heate whiche causynge it to boyle shulde conuerte it in to sharpenes nor no stronge heate whiche digestyng hit shulde turne it in to blud There be .ij. kyndes of coler natural and vnnaturall Vnnaturall coler is the fome of blud whose coler is ruddy clere that is citrine in the laste degree of citrines as saffron heedes and hit is lyghte and sharpe and the hotter the more redde it is And after this coler is engeÌdred in the heed hit deuideth in two partis one parte gothe with the bloud in to the veynes the other gothe in to the purse of the galle The parte that gothe with the bloud entreth therwith bothe for necessite and profite Hit is nedefull that hit myngle with the bloud to nourishe the colerike meÌbres Hit is behoueful that hit make the bloud subtile and cause hit to entre in to the veynes The parte that gothe to the purse of the galle gothe eke thether for necessite and profite The necessite is double The one is nedefull for all the bodye to mundifie hit from colerike superfluites The other necessite is in respecte of the galles purse The profite also is double The one is to washe the entrayles from dregges and claÌmy fleme cleuynge to them The other is to pricke the guttis musculs that they may fele the thynge that hurteth them and voyde all other fylthynes The profe of this is that colike chanceth oftetymes by stoppynge of the hole
veynes may haue som respiracion and some yll fumes voyde out The .ij. is to dryÌke and specially wyne whiche is good in blud lettyng if one hap to swouÌde and also hit is very holsome after blud lettyng to reuiue the spirites engendre newe blud whiche thyng in practyse all phisitians obserue The .iij. is baynyng whiche is holsome .iij. dayes before and .iij. dayes after blud lettyng nat the same day Hit is good before if one thynke he haue grosse humors within hym for baynyng leuseth moueth humors for the said cause hit is holsome to take a sharpe syrope before to moue dissolue and make subtile the humours And therfore whan ye wyll let one blud ye must rubbe the arme that the humours in the veynes about may be made subtile prepared to issue out more esily Hit is holsom after blud lettynge that the residue of humours vapours left behynd may be leused Hit is nat holsome the same day for baynyng maketh the skyn lynnowe whiche made lynnowe wyl nat abyde the stroke gyuen in blud lettyng that is daÌgerous The .iiij. is byndynge with lynnen clothes whiche is very holsome to stop the blud after euacuation therof before bledyng to drawe the humours to the veynes and to cause them to swel better to appere The .v. is moderate walkyng before blud lettyng to dissolue make subtile the humors afterward to leuse the residue of the humours lefte behynde Here note that some vse to be let blud fastyng but some other say hit were better to eate a rererosted egge fyrst and therto drynke a draught of wyne about the houre of .ix. or .x. before dyner and forth with to be let blud The cause is whaÌ the stomake is empty nature reteyneth styl the blud more stroÌgly lest she shuld lacke norishement but whan one hath eate a lyttel norishyng meate as wyne egges is than nature suffreth the blud better to issue Exhiâaraâ tristes iratos placat amantes Ne sint amentes fleubothomia facit Here be declared .iii. effectis of blud lettyng First it maketh a sad êsone mery Secondly it appeseth angry folkes The reason is this moche melaÌcoly myngled with the blud causeth heuynes and moche coler causeth aÌger whiche .ij. humors as they be myngled with the blud are draweÌ out by blud lettyng Thirdly hit kepeth louers from furious rauyng for it remoueth the blud froÌ the heed auoydyng it by the other exterior partis Farther note that there be .v. causes of blud lettyng The first is that the abundance whether it be in qualite or quantite or bothe shuld be voyded For as Auicen sayth two maner folkes must be let blud One is they that be disposed to be sicke that haue abundaÌce of blud in quantite The other is they that are sicke alredy through the malice of humors or blud But there is difference in these .ii. blud lettynges For blud lettyng for the abuÌdance of blud ought to be moche but whaÌ it is done to auoyde yll blud it must be moderate as Galen saythe .ix. metategni And therfore they do very yll that let them selfe blede tyll they êceyue the good blud issue for êauenture all theyr blud shall ruÌne out er they se any good blud appere Therfore they shuld voyde a lyttel at ones and after the mynde of Galen in this case before they let one blud they shuld gyue hym good meates to engeÌder good blud to fulfyl the place of the yl blud auoyded and after within a lyttell space to let hym blud a lyttel and a lyttel This is called directe lettyÌg of blud for it is done to auoyde abundaÌce of blud and of suche humors as shulde be auoyded The fyrst indirecte cause is the greatnes of the disease and greatnes of the apparent vehement inflaÌmacion for as GaleÌ saith ther is no better medicine for an iÌpostume of vehement inflaÌmacion feuers great ache Gal. in coÌmen illiuâ apho quâ egerunt thaÌ blud lettyng The .ii. indirect cause is that the mattier whiche must be auoyded be drawen to yâ place froÌ whens it must be auoyded And therfore in retencion of the menstruous flixe emeraudis the great veyne in the âote called sophena must be opend as Galen saith to draw downe the mattier of the blud The .iij. indirect cause is to drawe the humours to the place contrary to that place that they flow to to diuert the mattier froÌ that place Therfore for to moche abuÌdance of meÌstruosite the veyne basilica must be let blud to turne the mattier to the coÌtrary part and so to voyde hit froÌ hit propre course And therfore he that hath a pluresie on his lyft syde must be let blud on the right side to diuert drawe the mattier to the place coÌtrarie to that place that it inclineth to And like wise if it be on the right side to let blud on the lyft The .iiij. indirect cause is that bi lettyng of blud one portion of the mattier may be auoyded that nature may be the stronger vpon the residue and so lettyng of blud is holsome whan the body is ful lest impostumes growe for the regimeÌt of nature is feble iÌ regard of these humors wherfore a portion of the mattier is voyded lest through vnablenes of nature in gouernyng the mattier the mattier shuld flowe to som weake place and brede an impostume Faâ plagam largam mediocriter vt cito fumus Exâat vberius liberiusque cruoâ Here thauctor sayth that the gashe made in lettyng oâ blud ought to be of a mean largenes that the same grosse blud may esily issue out for whan the gashe is straite the pure blud onely goth out and the grosse abith styl in And note that somtyme the gashe must be great somtyme small The gashe must be great for .iii. causes Fyrst bicause the humours be grosse and grosse blud must be voyded as in them that be melaÌcoly Secondly in wynter the gashe muste be great for colde engrosseth the humours Thyrdly for thabuÌdaÌce of humours for they auoyde better by a great gashe than a small But the gashe must be small whan the êsone is of weake strengthe that the spiritis naturall hete auoyde nat to moche and lyke wise in a hotte season and whan the blud is pure Sanguine subtracto sex horis est vigilandum Ne somni fumus ledat sensibile corpus Ne neruum ledat non sit tibi plaga profunda Sanguine purgatus non carpas protinus escas Thre thynges must be consydred whaÌ one is let blud Fyrst that he slepe nat within .vi. houres after âest the fumes engeÌdred by slepe asceÌde to the heed hurt the brayne There be other causes Fyrst lest he in slepe turne hym on the arme that is let blud and therby hurt hym The .ii. is lest the humours by slepe flowe to the peynful meÌbre by reason of the incision so brede an impostume For GaleÌ saith that if
impostumes brede in the body or in a meÌbre hurt the humours flowe thervnto But Auicen assigneth an other cause that by suche slepe may chance coÌfraction of the meÌbres The cause may be as Galen sayth that slepe is vnholsome in the ague fyt for natural hete goth inward Gal. ii apho suê illo In quo c. and the out ward êtis waxe colde the fumes remayne vnconsumed wherby the rigour is augmented and the feuer fyt êlonged Also by mouyng of the humours iÌ lettyÌg of blud fumes are reised vp to the senowes and braunes of the armes whiche remaynyng vnconsumed waxe colde in slepe and ingrosse in the vtter partes And therfore if one slepe iÌmediately after lettyng of blud they cause confraction of the senowes and braunes of tharmes Secondly he sayth that one in lettyng blud must beware that he make nat the gashe to depe lest he hurt a senowe or an arterie strynge vnder the veyne for hurtyng of a senowe causeth a mortal crampe or losse of a meÌbre as an arme or a fynger and hurt of an arteri strynge causeth bledyng vncurable The .iiij. is one ought nat to eate iÌmediatly aft he is let blud but he must tary tyll the humors in hym be in qete lest the meate er hit be digested be drawen together with the blud to succour the hurt membre Omnia de lacte vitabis rite minute Et vitet potum fleubothomatus homo Frigida vitabit quia sunt inimica minutis Interdictus erit minutis nubilus aer Spiritus exultat minutis luce per auras subtile to ruÌne through out al the body outcept the matter be furious The .ii. is abuÌdance of the mattâer for GaleÌ sayth on the aphorisme Inchoantilus morbis c. that it is than behoueful to be let blud or take a medicine laxatiue to alleuiate nature loded with abuÌdance of mattier The .iii. is greatnes sharpenes of the sickenes as whan there is a great an acheful impostume though the mattier be lyttel Gal. xiii ãâ¦ã For GaleÌ sayth if the impostume be great ye must let blud at the begynnyng though there be but lyttel mattier lest it breke or open er it be rype therfore to eschewe many incoÌuenieÌces blud lettyng must be done ãâã is so ãâ¦ã eyther to ãâã or deth ãâã The .ii. rule is that blud lettyÌg may nat be done on the day of mocioÌ of the sickenes as in crisis nor no other vacuacion nor diuertyng of mattier froÌ the place that nature sendeth it to Nor like wise in the ague fyt For Galen sayth .i. aph that whaÌ the sickenes is in hit estate neyther blud lettyng nor laxatiue shulde be done for than the matter rypeth whiche rypeth better by quietnes thaâârryng The .iii. rule is that lettyng of blud shuld nat be done in begyÌnyng of the sickenes whan crisis is remoued for Isaac saith in his boke of vrins that though the hart be the engeÌdrer of the blud spiritis yet the blud is fundacioÌ of natural hete susteyneth hit for hete is naturally therof engendred and therfore one voydyng blud voydeth hete whiche shulde digest the mattier of the sickenes and so coÌsequently the sickenes is proloÌged strengthe weaked And therfore hit is to drede lest through lengthynge of the sickenes and weakyng of the streÌgthe nature shuld fayle The .iiii. rule is that the body hauyng dregges or filth iÌ the guttis shuld nat be let blud The cause is there be .iii. thyÌges that draw to them hete emptynes all the shap nowe the veynes eÌpted by lettyng of blud dawe to them froÌ the next meÌbres as the guttis stomake wherby that bealy is indurated the mattier in the veynes more infected the miseraike draweth the humidites of the ordeurs the ordeurs are dried the more therfor ye must fyrst mollifie the bealy with clisters or suppositories except it waxe laxatiue alone The .v. rule is That lettyng of blud shulde nat be moche vsed for by oft vsyng therof one waxyng olde falleth in to dyuers diseases as epilencie apoplexie and palsey for by remouyng of the blud hete many flematike suêfluites are engendred that cause these diseases The .vi. rule is that a woman meÌstruate or with childe shuld nat be let blud A womaÌ with childe shuld nat for therby the hete that digesteth meate is diminâ and the foode of that that she goth with taken away specially whan it that she goth with waxeth great for thaÌ it nedeth more foode This sayth Hippocrates .v. aph whaÌ the menstruosite kepeth due curse voydeth naturally inough lettyÌg of blud shuld nat be done but whan it voydeth to moche than to diuert the mattier it must be done for nature wolde nat be let of her operacion The .vii. rule is that after the colerike passion one shuld nat be let blud for bi reason that lettyng of blud sturreth vp the humors a colerike on the right side of the body staÌdeth the meÌbre that engendreth blud that is the lyuer and the receptacle of coler the galle AutuÌne engeÌdreth melancoly whiche is gethered to gether nat resolued by wenter therfore in verÌ and wynter those veynes shuld be let blud in whiche melaÌcoly hath dominion whiche be the lyft side veynes for the splen is on the lyft syde of the body whiche is the receptacle of melaÌcoly Secondly he sayth that these .iiii. meÌbres the heed the hart the fote and the lyuer after the .iiii. seasons of the yere must be empted the hart in verÌ the lyuer in somer the heed iÌ wynter and the fote in autumne Dat saluatella tibi plurima dona minuta Purgat epar splenem pectus precordia vocem Innaturalem tollit de corde dolorem Here he toucheth .vi. coÌmodites that come by lettyng blud of the veyâe called saluatella hit is the veyne on the backe of the haÌde betwene the myddyll fynger rynge fynger Fyrst it purgeth the lyuer SecoÌdly it cleÌsetââene Thyrdly it muÌdifieth the breast Fourthly hit preserueth the stomakes mouthe froÌ hurt Fyftly hit doth away hurt of the voyce Sixtly hit doth away vnnaturall ache of the hart The reason of all these coÌmodites is bicause the forsayd veyne auoydeth blud froÌ al these places as after it shall appere For a more ample declaracion hit is to witte that in lettyng of blud other while the veynes be opend and somtyme the arteries The openyÌg of the arterie is daÌgerous the chiefe cause hereof is the ouermoche bledyng whiche is caused .ii. ways One is through ferueÌt hete of the arterie blud for a hotte thyng is soone mouable delateth openeth the arterie and therfore hit helpeth moche to voyde the blud in lettyng blud the arterie The .ii. cause is mobilite of the arterie and therfore the wouÌde or gashe in it is slowlier healed for wouÌdes without rest can nat heale Yet this lettyÌg of blud is holsome .iii. maner wise Fyrst whan there is abuÌdaÌce of subtile blud iÌ the body SecoÌdly
to anger The laste .ij. verses recite some of the forsayde tokens and also some other Fyrste a sanguine êsone is free nat couetous but liberall Secondly he is amorous Thyrdly he hath a mery countenance Fourthly he is moste parte smylynge of whiche all the benignite of the bloud is cause and prouoker Fyftlye he hath a ruddye colour For Auicen saythe that ruddy colour of the skynne signifieth abundance of bloud And this must be vnderstande of brighte ruddy colour nat darke suche as is wonte to be in theyr facis that drynke stronge wynes abundantlye and that vse sauces and sharpe spices for suche colour signifieth lepre to come Syxtly he gladlye singethe and herethe syngâge by reason of his mery mynde SeueÌthlye he is fleshye throughe the cause afore sayde The .viij. is he is hardy through the hete of the bloud whiche is cause of boldnes The .ix. is the sanguine persone is benigne and gentyl through the bounte of the sanguine humour Est humor colere qui competit impetuosis Hoc genus est hominum cupiens precellere cunctos Hi leuiter discunt multum comedunt cito crescunt Inde magnanimi sunt largi summa petentes Hirsutus fallax irascens prodigus audax Astutus gracilis siccus groceique coloris Here the auctour teacheth vs to knowe a persone of colerike complexion Fyrst he is hasty by reason of superfluous heate that mouethe hym to hastynes AuiceÌ ii.i doct iii. cap. iii. And therfore Auicen sayth that dedes of excessiue motion signifie heate Secondly the colerike persone is desirous of honour and coueteth to be vppermoste and to excelle all other by reason that suêfluous heate maketh maÌs mynde prone to arrogaÌce and foole hardynes Thyrdly they lerne lyghtlye by reason of the subtilnes of the colerike humour And therfore Auicen saithe that the vnderstandynge promptnes and quicke agilite to intelligence betokenethe heate of complexion Fourthlye they eate moche for in them the heate digestiue is stronger more resolutiue than in other bodies Fyftly they encresse soone through strength of naturall heate in them whiche is cause of augmentation The .vj. is they be stoute stomaked that is they can suffre no iniuries by reason of the heate in them And therfore Auicen sayth secunda .i. doctrina .iii. cap. tertio that to take euery thynge impaâiently signifieth heate The .vij. is they be liberall to those that honour them The .viij. is they desire highe dignites officis The .ix. is a colerike persone is hearye by heate openynge the pores mouyng the mattier of heares to the skynne And therfore hit is a coÌmon sayenge the colerike man is as heary as a gotte The .x. is he is disceyuable The .xj. is he is soone angry through his hotte nature And therfore Auicen sayth ofte angry and for a smalâ cause betoketh heate through easy motion of coler and boylynge of the bloud aboute the harte The .xij. is he is a waster in spendyng largely to optayne honours The .xiij. is he is bolde for boldnes cometh of great heate specially about the harte The .xiiij. is he is wylye The .xv. is he is skleÌder membred and nat fleshie The .xvj. is he is leane and drie The .xvij. is he is saffâon colored And therfore Auicen saythe that coler signifiethe dominion Restat et adhuc tristis colere substancie nigre Qui reddit prauos per tristes paâa loquentes Hi vigilant studiis nec mens est dedita somno Seruant propositum sibi nit reputant fore tutunt Inuidus et tristis cupidus dextreque tenacis Non ex perâ fraudis timidus luteique coloris Here he declareth some tokens of a melancoly êsone Fyrst melaÌcoly maketh folkes shrewde and yll manered as they that kyll them selfe The .ij. is great heuines for melancolye folkes are moste parte sad through theyr melancoly spiritis troublous darke lyke as clere spiritis make folkes gladde The .iij. is they talke lyttell by reason of theyr coldnes The .iiij. is they be studious for they couet alway to be alone The .v. is they are no slepers nor slepe nat well by reason of the ouer moche drines of the brayne and through melancoly fumes they haue horrible dreames that wake them out of theyr slepe The .vj. is they be stedfaste in theyr purpose and of good memorie and harde to please and this comethe throughe theyr drines The .vij. is they thynke nothynge sure they alway drede through darkenes of theyr spiritis In the .ij. laste verses he recitethe some of the forsayde signes and other Fyrste the melancolye persone is enuious The .ij. he is sadde The .iij. he is couetous Fourthly he holdeth fast and is an yll payer Fyftly he is simple yet disceitfull and therfore melancoly folkes are deuoute great reders fasters and kepers of abstinence Syxtlye he is fearfull Seuenthly he hath an erth ye browne colour whiche colour if hit be any thinge grene signifiethe the dominion of melancolye as Rasis sayth .ij. Alman Hi sunt humores qui prestat cuique colores Omnibus in rebus ex flegmate fit color albus Sanguine fit rubeus colera âubea quâque ruffus Si peccet sanguis facies âubet extat acellus Inflantur gene corpus nimiumque grauatur Est plusquam frequens plenus mollis dolor ingens Maxime fit stontis et constipatio ventris Bâcaque lingua sitis et somnia plena ruboâ Dustior adest spâti sunt actâa duicta queque Here the auctour puttethe the colours that folowe the complexions A flematike persone is whitely coloured the colerike is browne and tawnye the sanguine is ruddy the melancoly is pale colered lyke erthe Afterwarde the texte declareth .xij. colours signifienge superfluite of bloud The fyrst is whan the face is redde by ascendyng of bloud to the heed and face The secoÌd is whan the eies bolle out farther than they were wonte The .iij. is whan the eies are swollen The .iiij. is whan the bodye is all heuye for nature can nat susteyne nor gouerne so great quaÌtite of bloud The .v. is whan the pulce beateth thycke The .vj. is whaÌ the pulce is full by reasoÌ of the multitude of hotte and moyst vapours The .vij. is whan the pulce is softe throughe to moche humidite mollifienge the mattier The .viij. is ache of the forheed The ix is whaÌ the bealy is costife throughe great hete that drieth vp the fylthy mattier The .x. is whaÌ the tonge is drie and rough for like cause The .xj. is great thyrste through drines of the stomakes mouth engeÌdred of great hete The .xij. is whan one dreameth of redde thynges AuiceÌ ii.i doct iii. cap. vii This Auicen affirmeth sayenge Slepe that signifieth abuÌdance of bloud is whan a man dreameth he seeth redde thynges orels that he shedeth moche of his bloud ⪠orels that he swymmeth in bloud and suche lyke The .xiij. is the swetenes of spyttell throughe swetenes of bloud Here is to be noted that lyke as there be tokens of
fragiâis vel subtilis sensus stomachi sit Et fastiditi tibi sunt fleubothomandi Here thauctor putteth .xij. thynges that let blud lettyng The fyrst is coldnes of complexion for as Galen saith bloud lettyng cooleth augmenteth coldnes bicause as Isaac sayth bloud is the fouÌdacion of natural hete and in that bloud lettyng voydeth bloud hit voydeth hete so consequeÌtly cooleth The .ij. is a feruent colde contrey vnder whiche a cold season shulde be coÌpreheÌded whiche also letteth bloud lettyng for in a couÌtrey season very cold the blud is closed in the depest partis of the body and the bloud that taryeth in the vtter partis the colde maketh thycke whiche to voyde is no wisedome The .iij. is ferueÌt ache vnder whiche eke may be coÌprehended great inflaÌmation of the body for if one in suche accideÌtis be let bloud there foloweth motion agitatiue contrarie to nature and greatter inflaÌmation whiche weaketh nature more The cause of this motion agitatiue is attractioÌ to diuers partis for by bloud lettyng attraction is caused to the place that is let blud by great ache attractioÌ is caused to the place of ache The cause of greatter inflaÌmacioÌ is that by blud lettyng the humors be moued wherby they be more inflamed And this is trouthe whan blud lettyng is lyttell artificial Yet if it be done tyl one swouÌd hit is holsome in the forsaide cases for this bloud lettyng whan it ouercometh the attraction of the ache it causeth nat motion agitatiue like wise it taketh awaye inflaÌmation whan there be no humors that shuld moue hete and cause more inflaÌmacion This is Galens mynde sayeng Gal. in coÌmen illius apho que egerunt there is no better medicine for an iÌpostume of ferueÌt inflaÌmation feuers a great ache than blud lettyng The .iiij. is baynyng specially resolutiue for that letteth bloud lettyng for that were vacuatioÌ vpoÌ vacuatioÌ whiche nature can nat esily beare The v. is carnall copulacion for iÌmediately ther after one shuld nat be letteÌ bloud bicause of double weakyng of nature The .vi. is to olde or to yonge as it is before touched Of this Auicen sayth Take hede howe thou lettest one bloud in any of the forsaid cases outcept thou trust in the figure in solidite of the musculs largenes of the veynes the fulnes of them and ruddy colour The .vii. is longe sicknes for by suche lettyÌg of blud nature is doubly febled both by the loÌge sickenes diminishioÌ This is of trouthe sayth Auicen outcept there be corrupt bloud for than bloud lettyng is holsome The .viij. is great replecion of drynke The .ix. is to eate to moche meate and vnder this is coÌprised meate vndigested The cause hereof as Auicen sayth is this there be .iij. thynges that drawe to them that is voydnes hete and secrete vertue or proprete Than if the veynes be empty through voydyng of bloud they drawe to them froÌ the stomake or lyuer vndigested or suêfluous meate or drynke whiche vndigested meate coÌmen to the meÌbres can nat be amended that is digested for the third digestion can nat amende the faute of the .ij. nor the secoÌde of the fyrst if the faute be so great that hit can nat conuert into the meÌbres hit there remaynyÌg may cause some disease The .x. is feblenes Gal ii ãâ¦ã for bloud lettyng is a stronge voyder as Galen sayth therfore a feble persone may nat endure great diminishyng of blud The .xi. is subtile sensiblenes of the stomakes mouthe whiche is called the hart strynge for of suche bloud lettyng swouÌâyng foloweth easily And vnder this weakenes of the stomake is eke coÌprised and easy flowynge of coler to the mouthe therof endusyng vometyng Wherfore they that haue the forsaid accidentes shuld nat be let bloud for by bloud lettyng the humors moued be enduced to the stomakes mouthe as to a place accustomed and bicause hit is a weake an impotent membre to resiste that flixe therfore by suche lettynge of bloud many inconueniences chaÌce This is one cause why many swouÌd whaÌ they be let bloud by reason the coler floweth to the stomake whiche bytynge the stomake pyneth the hart stomake so that hit causeth one to swouÌde The .xij. is lothyng for if in this lothynge one be let bloud whan the veynes be empty they drawe to them yll mattier causyng lothesomnes Auicen toucheth many of these .vi. last accidentis And besides the forsaid accidentis there be other that let bloud lettyng First voydyng of menstruous flixe or the emeraudes for one diseased with eyther of these shulde nat be let bloud yet it may be done to diuert the flixe or matter The .ii. is rarenes of coÌposition for in rare bodies is moche dissolucion therfore this resolution suffiseth them without euacuation as Galen sayth .ix. teigni The .iii. is rawnes and claÌmynes of humours for than beware of bloud lettyng bicause it encreaseth rawenes of humours and therfore in loÌge sickenes ye shuld nat let bloud for rawnes of humours encreseth strength febleth and the sickenes proloÌgeth And therfore Auicen sayth that in longe sickenes before one is let bloub he shuld take a laxatiue although he nede bothe Rawnes of humors is caused .ii. wayes One is throughe abundance of humours chokyng naturall hete whiche chokynge bredeth rawe humours and than bloud lettynge is holsome Wherfore Alexander sayth Lettyng of bloud in the begynnyng of the dropsy is holsome Alex. ii.ii. ca. de hydroppist whan it cometh by abuÌdance of meÌstruous blud that through some cause is prohibited to issue or by abuÌdance of the emeraudis For lyke as a lyttel fire is queÌched vnder a great heape of wodde lyke wise natural hete is suffocate with abundaÌce of humours The .ij. cause of rawe humors is feblenes of natural hete as in folkes of feble coÌplexion or that haue ben longe sycke or be very aged for than the said blud lettyng is vnholsome bicause hit augmenteth rawenes for the blud that obserueth hete is drawen out and so the body is made colde and the humours more rawe Therfore the bloud must be left to digest these rawe humours The .iiij. is vndue disposicion of the aire eyther to hotte or to colde for moche hete causethe stronge resolucion and great colde maketh the blud thicke and vnapte to issue or auoyde Quid debes facere quando vis fleubothomarâ Vel quando minuis fueris vel quando minutus Vnctio sine potus lauachrum vel fascia motus Debent non fragili tibi singula mente teneri v. thynges in bloud lettyng This text declareth .v. thynges that ought to be done about bloud lettyng some before som at the tyme some after The first is anoyntyng whiche other while is vsed in the bloud lettyng as to anoynte the place or veyne that is opened to aswage the peyne somtyme hit is vsed after blud lettyng to kepe the gashe that it close nat vp to soone that the humours left in the
that comethe from the purse of the galle to the guttis Vnnatural coler is double For one is vnnaturall throughe outwarde cause myngled there with The other is vnnaturall throughe a cause in it selfe for the substance therof is nat naturall Coler vnnaturall throughe an outwarde cause is an other knowen and famous And hit is that that fleme is myngled with And it is called famous or notable by reason hit is ofte engeÌdred And of this kynde of coler cometh the thyrde wel knowen There is an other that is lesse famous and that is hit wherwith melancoly is myngled Famous coler is either citrine and engendred by mynglynge of subtile fleme with naturall coler orels hit is yolkye lyke to yolkes of egges and is engeÌdred by mynglynge of grosse fleme with natural coler Coler of lesse fame is caused .ij. ways One is whan the coler is burned in hit selfe and turned to ashes from whiche the subtile parte of the coler is nat seperated but myngled therwith And this coler is the worste An other is whan melancoly cometh from without and mynglethe hit with the coler And this coler is better than other and is ruddye in colour hit is nat clere nor flowynge but more lyke to veyne bludde This vnnaturall coler hauynge his owne propre substaÌce without mynglynge of any other humour is ofte engendred in the lyuer by reason that the subtilnes of the bloud burneth hit selfe and tourneth in to coler and grossely in to melancoly An other coler there is engendred in the stomake of yll meatis nat digested but corrupted orels it is engendred in the veynes by other humours And of this coler be .ij. kyndes For one is called coler prassiue lyke the colour of the herbe called prassion whiche is engendred of the yolkynes whan hit is burned for the burnyÌg causeth a yolky blackenes iÌ the coler whiche myngled with coler citrine engeÌdreth a grene coler The other is called rusty coler lyke to rusty iron it is engendred of passiue whaÌ prassiue is burned only tyl the humidite ther of be dried away and through hit drines begynneth to waxe white And these .ij. last colers be yll and venomous and yet rusty is the worse Lyke wyse there be .ij. kyndes of melancolye naturall and vnnaturall The naturall is the dreggis and suêfluite of good bloud whose talage is betwene swete and pontike And this melancoly whan hit is engendred in the lyuer is parted in .ij. partis Of whiche one entreth with the bloud and there with remayneth in the veynes The other is conueyed to the splene The fyrste parte entreth with the bloud for necessite and profite Hit is nedefull that it myngle with the bloud to norishe the melancoly colde and drie membres as the bones The vtilite is to make thycke the thynne bloud to stynte the suêfluous runnynge therof to make it stronge and to strengthe these membres in to whiche hit muste be conuerted The other parte that nedeth no bloud gothe to the splene both for necessite and profite The necessite is double one vniuersall throughe out the bodye to purge hit of melaÌcolious superfluite The other is but êticular only to gouerne the splene This melaÌcoly is also profitable for mans body for hit runnethe to the mouthe of the stomake straynynge out the humidites that hit fyndeth there as a woman straynynge a cowes dugges drawethe out the mylke This vtilite is double Fyrst hit constrayneth thycketh and comforteth the stomake Secondly by reason it moueth the mouthe of the stomake through hit egernes hit maketh one haue an appetite and lust to meate Vnnaturall melaÌcoly is as a thynge burned or ashes in respecte of other humours Of this there are .iiij. famous kyndes though there be many nat famous The fyrst is ashes of coler and this is bytter The .ij. is ashes of fleme and if the fleme that is burned were very subtile and wattrishe than the melancoly therof engendred wyll be salte in talage But if the fleme be grosse that is burned than the ashes therof or the melancoly of hit engendred enclyneth to sowernes or pontiâite The .iij. is ashes of bloud and this melancolye is laste a lyttell drawynge to swetenes The .iiij. is ashes of naturall melaÌcoly And if natural melancoly wherof so it be be subtile thaÌ it will be very sower And whaÌ hit is caste out vpon the grounde hit boyleth and sauoureth of the aire and causeth both flies and beastis to voide the place But if the naturall melancoly be grosse the vnnaturall therof ingeÌdred shall nat be so sower Natuta pingues isti sunt atque locantes Semper rumores cupiunt audiâe frequentes Hos venus et Bacchus delectant fercula risus Et facit hos hytares et dulcia verba loquentes Omnibus hi studiis abiles sunt et magis apti Qualibet ex causa nec hos leuiter mouet ira Largus amans hylaris ridens rubeique coloris Cantans carnosus satis audax atque benignus Sanguine folkes This texte techeth vs to knowe sanguine folkes Fyrst a sanguine persone is naturally fatte But we may nat vnderstande that sanguine folkes be proprely fatte for that is a token of a colde complexion AuiceÌ ii.i doct iii. cap. iii. as saythe Auicen But they be fatte and fleshye with all for fatte in sanguine persones is taken for fleshye Auicen saythe that abundance of ruddy fleshe and styffe signifieth a hotte and a moyst coÌplexioÌ as a sanguine êson is For thabuÌdance of ruddy fleshe wytnesseth fortitude of vertue assimilatiue and multitude of bloud the worke and waxe by heate and moysture as witnessethe Galen sayenge Thabundance of fleshe is engeÌdred by abundance of bloud For heate perfectlye digestynge and the lyke vertue to fleshe makethe the fleshe faste styffe Also Auicen saythe euery fleshye body without abundance of fat grece is sanguine Galen ii âegni Wherto Galen asseÌteth Secondly the sanguine person is mery and iocunde that is to say with mery wordes he moueth other to laugh orels he is gladde throughe benignite of the sanguine humour êuokynge a man to gladnes and iocuÌdite through clere perfect spirites engeÌdred of bloud Thyrdly he gladly hereth fables mery sportis for the same cause Fourthlye he is enclyned to lecherie through heate and moystnes prouokynge to carnall copulation Fyftly he gladlye drinketh good wyne Sixtlye he delyteth to fede on good meate by reason the sanguine êsone desyrethe the mooste lyke to his complexion that is good wynes and good meates Seuenthlye he laugheth lyghtly for bloud êuoketh to laughyÌg The .viij. is the sanguine persone hath a gladsome an amiable countenance through lyuelynes of colour and fairenes of coÌplexion The .ix. is he speaketh swetelye throughe amiablenes of sanguine nature The .x. is he is apt to lerne any maner of science throughe lyuelynes and perspicuite of his wytte The .xj. is he is nat lyghtlye angry and this cometh through moystnes abatynge the feruour of coler prouokynge
abundance of bloud so there be signes of the abundance of other humours as in these verses folowynge Accusat coleram dextre dolor asper alingua Tinnitus vomitusque frequens vigilantia multa Multasitis pingrâs egestio torsioventris Naulâ a fit morsus cordis languescit oreâis Pulsus ãâã est grocilis dâus veloâque calescens Aret amarescit incendi asomniâ fingit The tokens of abundance of fleme are coÌteyned in these verses folowynge Flegma supergrediens proprias in corpore leges Os facit incipidum fastidia cerebra âilâas Costarum stomachi simul occipitisque dolores Pulsus adestrarus ettardus molâs inanis Precedit fallax fantasâata somnus aquosa The signes of abundance of melancoly are conteyned in these verses folowynge Humorum pleno dum fex in corpore regnat Nigra cutis durus pulsus tenuis et ârina Solicitudo timor et tristicia somnia tempus Accrescet rugitus sapor et sputaminis idem Leuâque precipue tinnit et sibilat auris Denus septenus vix fleubothomiaâ petil annus Spiritus vbeâior erit per fleubothomiam Spiritus ex potu vini mox multiplicatur Humorumque cibo damnum lente reparatur Lumina clarificat sincerat fleubothomia Mentes et cerebrum calidas facit esse medullas Viscera purgabit stomachum ventremqueâoerceâ Puros dat sensus dat somnum tedia tollit Auditus vocem vires producit et auget Here thauctour speaketh of bloud letting Fyrst he sheweth what age is required to be bloud letteÌ sayenge At .xvij. yere of age one may be let bloud And touchynge this Galen saythe GaleÌ .xl. âe iugenio that children shulde nat be let bloud oneles they be .xiiij. yere olde at lest bicause childreÌ bodies be sone resolued from outwarde heate and therfore by voydynge of bloud they shulde be greatlye weaked Also for that they nede to nouryshe theyr bodies and augment them they shulde nat diminishe theyr blud And eke for that they be soone dissolued from outwarde heate hit suffiseth wherfore they nede nat to be let bloud And wittethe well that as bloud lettynge is nat conuenient for children so it is vnholsome for olde folkes as Galen saythe Gal. lx tegni For the good bloud is littell and the yll moche and bloud lettyng draweth away the good bloud leaueth the yll as Auicen saythe and therfore bloud lettynge is vncoÌuenient for suche persones Aui iiii i cap. x. SecoÌdlye he puttethe the hurte of bloud lettynge Of necessite with voidynge of bloud done by bloudde lettynge mans spiritis beynge in the bloud do grealye auoyde Thyrdlye he sheweth howe the spiritis shulde be cherished and restored and that is by drinkynge of wyne after the bloud lettyng For of all thynge to norishe quickely wyne is best as is before sayde The spiritis also be cheryshed and restored by meatis but that is nat so quickely as by wyne And the meate after bloud lettynge must be lyght of digestion and a great engendrer of bloud as rere egges and suche lyke And all thoughe meate restore the spiritis after bloud lettynge yet let the pacientes beware of moche meate the fyrste and .ij. day For Isaac saythe in dietis that they muste drynke more than eate and yet they must drynke lesse than they dyd before bloud lettynge for digestion is weaker Fourthlye the auctour putteth .xj. conueniences of bloud lettyÌge duly done Fyrste temperate bloud lettynge comforteth the syghte for diminishynge of humours doth eke diminishe fumynge to the heed and the repletion therof darkynge the syght Secondelye hit clerethe and maketh pure the mynde and brayne through the same cause Thyrdly it heateth the mary for it minishethe the superfluites that therto come and cole it Fourthly it purgeth the entrayles for nature vncharged of bloud digesteth better rawe humours that be lefte Fyftly bloud lettynge restreyneth vometyng and the laske for hit diuerteth the humours from the interior partis to the outwarde specially lettyÌge bloud of the armes as Auicen saith For lettyng bloud of the feet stoppeth nat so well yet êchance the bloud lettynge shall augmente the laske and that .ij. wayes Fyrste by bloud lettynge nature is discharged of her burden and thaÌ comforted hit prouoketh other vacuations Secondly if the laske be caused by great weakenes of vertue contentiue For than for that by bloud lettynge vertue is weaked the laske is augmented The .vj. is that blud lettyng clereth the wyttis For it minisheth vaporation that gothe to the heed troublethe the wyttis The .vij. is hit helpethe one to slepe for therby many humours be voyded by whiche sharpe vapours and diuers are lyfted vp lettynge one to slepe The .viij. is hit takethe awaye tediousnes and ouer great grefe for therby vertue is vnlodeÌ of grefe and eke with the bloud melaÌcoly the dregges of bloud whiche induceth tediousnes and grefe is drawen out The .ix. is hit coÌforteth the herynge for therby the vapours and humours ascendinge to the heed and lettyÌge the herynge are diminished The .x. is hit comforteth the voyce for therby the superfluites and humidites that may come to the breaste or pype of the lyghtis and let the voyce are diminished The .xj. is hit augmentethe the strengthes for therby the body is vnladen of hit grefe wherfore vertue is augmented Tres insunt istis Maius september aprilis Et sunt lunares sunt velut ydra dies Prima dies primi postremaque posteriorum Nec sanguis minui nec carnibus anseris vti In sene vel iuuene si vene sanguine plene Omni mense bene confert incisio vene Hi sunt tres menses Maius september aprilis In quibus eminuas vt longo tempore viuas Here thauctour sayth that these .iij. Maye september aprile are the monethes of the moone and in them are dayes forbidden to let bloud that is the fyrste of Maye and laste of september and aprile Thoughe this be a coÌmon rule yet hit is false For the forsayde dayes maye be as good and worthy to be choseÌ as the other after the diuersite of constellation in them Farther the auctour saith that in those days none shuld eate goose fleshe whiche also is false erronious and very witchecraft I thynke thauctour had this sayeng of the iewes whiche obserue suche maner SecoÌdly he saith that men of myddell age yonge folkes whose veynes be ful of bloud may be let bloud euery moneth for those may well resist resolutioÌ in them is great quaÌtite of good bloud Thyrdly he saith that blud lettyng for mans helth must be done in one of these .iij. monthes maie septeÌber aprile but yet with difference for in aprile maie the lyuer veyne muste be let bloud bicause than in vere tyme the bloud encreaseth and in septeÌber in the splene veyne bicause of melancoly whiche than in autumpne encreaseth Frigida natura frigens regio dolor ingens Post lauachrum coitum minor etas atque seniles Morbâs prolixus repletio potus et esce Si
in anno Tempore vernali calidus fit aer humidusque Et nullum tempus melius sit fleubothomie Vsus tunc homini veneris coâert moderatus Corporis et motus ventrisque ãâã ⪠sudor Balnea purgantur tunc corpora medicinis Estas more cale siccat nascatur ãâã Tunc quoque precipue coleram ãâã dominari Humida frigida fercula dentur sit Venus extra Balnea non prosunt sit rare fleubothomie Vtilis est requies sit cum moderamine potus Here thauctor noteth dyuers thynges Fyrste that moche fastynge in sommer drieth the body for in that that somer of hit nature is hotte and drye it âesolueth the humours the whiche also be resolued by oft sweatyÌg in somer so fastyng thervpoÌ drieth the body moche more for whaÌ the humidite of meate is gone the hete of the body worketh on hit owne humidites drieng them vp Wherfore Hippocrates sayth HuÌger is expedieÌt for those that are very moyst for huÌger drieth the body The .ii. is that vometyng ones a moneth is holsom for therby hurtfull humours conteyned in all the circute of the stomake are voyded To this agreeth AuiceÌ Hip. â êt ãâã sayeng Hippocrates byddeth one vomete eche moneth twyse .ii. dayes one after an other that the ii day may auoyde it that the fyrst day coÌude nat this conserueth helth scouryng the stomake from fleme coler The stomake hath nothyÌg to purge it as the guttis haue red coler Auicen putteth other profites of vometyng well done Fyrste hit is good for heed ache caused by moyst vaporoê° mattier ascendyng froÌ the stomake to the heed but if heed ache come of hit owne hurt of the brayne thaÌ vometyng doth ãâã hurt thaÌ êfite SecoÌdly it clereth the syght ârkeâ by vaporous mattier of the stamake orels nat The .iii. is hit doth away wamblyng cauâ ãâã âmake in auoydyng the humour that ãâ¦ã The .iiii. is hit comforteth the stomake in to the whiche coler is descended the whiche corrupteth the meate The .v. is hit doth away lothyng or aborryng of meate The .vi. is hit doth away the cause that maketh one haue a luste to sharpe ponticke and sower thynges the whiche cause of these disposicions remoued putteth awaye the effecte therof The .vii. is vometynge is holsome for the laske that cometh before the dropsy for hit auoydeth the mattier of the sayd laske and purgeth the stomake The .viii. is hit is holsome for the grefes in the raynes and bladder for the mattier flowynge to these partes hit diuerteth an other way The .ix. is if vometyng be done by constraynt of elborie hit auoydeth the mattier wherof lepre groweth hit amendeth the fyrst digestion that the other digestions may the better be done The .x. is hit maketh one to haue a good colour The .xi. is hit purgeth the stomake of a humour that causeth epilencie The .xii. is by stronge constraynt hit remoueth a stoppynge mattier the whiche causeth ictericie And like wise hit auoydeth a flematike mattier whiche comonly is cause of this stoppyng The .xiii. is hit auoydeth the mattier that causeth asma the whiche is a disese causyÌg one to draw his breath peynfully and eke hit comforteth the spiritall membres by whose hete the superfluâ causynge asma are consumed The .xiiii. is hit ãâã âlsome agaynste shakyng and palsey for hit auoyâh the mattier that is cause therof The .xv is âs holsom for one that hath great blacke soreâ his lower partes for hit turneth the humours away froÌ theÌce Al though vometyng duely wel done be cause of these coÌmodites yet whan it is vnduely done hit induceth many hurtes for it febleth the stomake and maketh it apte for mattiers to flowe into hit hurteth the breast the syght the tethe olde heed ache c. as Auicen sayth iiii.i cap. xiiii The .iii. thynge that is noted in the texte is that there be foure seasons of the yere verÌ somer autumpne wynter VerÌ in respect of other seasons is hotte and moyste though hit be temperate in it selfe as Galen sayth in his boke of complexions wherof hit foloweth that this season is more apte to let blud in than the other for hit dothe more encreace humours And therfore in this season moderate vse of carnal copulacion teÌperate mocioÌ laske flixe and swette is conuenient and like wise teÌperate bathyng to diminishe replecioÌ This season is eke good to take purgacioÌs in The .iiii. is somer heteth and drieth and therfore hit encreaseth redde coler hotte and drye And for this cause in somer we must fede on colde moyst meates to diminishe the feruentnes of hete and drought and than we must absteyn â from carnal copulacion whiche also drieth and froÌ oft bathyng and be let blud seldome for like cause We must vse quietnes and lyttell mocion for ãâã âs doth moyste and moche mocion dryeth ãâã âis season in speciall we must vse moderate â ãâã drynke for suêfluous drynkyng of coldâânke by reason that the pores be open doth maââe body sodaynly a colde or causethe the palsey or laxite of the membres orels sodayne dethe From the whiche he defende vs that lyueth and reigneth eternally Amen Finis Thus endeth the regimeÌt of helthe Imprinted at London in Fletestrete in the house of Thomas Berthelet nere to the cuÌdite at the signe of Lucrece Anno domini 1528. mense Augusto· Cum priuilegio a rege indulto