he includes two principall offices of a Physitian for a disease proceeds either from too much emptinesse or from too much fulnesse The first whereof is cured by adding what is wanting end the latter by taking away that which exceedes Galen calls physicke a science of the healthfull unhealthfull and neuters which are neither well nor can properly be said to be sicke and this is made good three waies as the body as the cause and as the signe that body is counted healthfull that enjoyes his perfect health that cause is healthfull that procures health and is the meanes of preserving it The healthfull signe doth show or indicate the present health the unhealthfull body is affected with a disease which is generated by an unhealthfull cause and the manner and greatnesse of the griefe is showne by the unhealthfull signe a body is said to be neither healthfull nor sicke when it is as it were declining and cannot be said to be perfectly well nor altogether sicke But the more vulgar and common definition of physicke is this Physicke is an art which preserves health in the sound and restores it to the sicke and preserves the neuters that are neither well nor sicke and from hence it is said to be an art of things naturall not naturall and against nature the former were according to the theory these are according to the practique Things naturall doe agree with our nature and are those things whereof our body is compacted and made and are in number seven viz. Elements Temperaments Humours Members Faculties Operations and Spirits Things not naturall are those meane and indifferent things whereby the body is preserved in health and are six in number Aire Meate and Drinke Sleepe and Watching Labour and Rest Fulnesse and Emptinesse or repletion and inanition and perturbations of the minde Things against nature are those that doe destroy our health and are of three sorts A Disease the cause of a Disease and a Symptome Hereby you may understand the two parts of Physicke Theoricke and Practique and by the Theoricke know every disease and the quality thereof and by the Practique to preserve health and cure a disease by the due administration of things not naturall and by removing of those that are against nature Things naturall and which properly belong to the constitution of our body are as I said before in number seven Elements Temperaments Humours Members Faculties Actions Spirits whereto are annexed Sex Colour Composure Time or season Region Vocation of life CHAPTER I. Of Elements An Element what it is AN Element is the most least and simple portion whereof any thing is made and in the destruction thereof is lastly resolved which to say plainely the foure first and simple bodies which accommodate and subject themselves to the generation of all manner of things be the mixture perfect or imperfect Thus Aristotle called the Heaven an Element counting five parts of the world Heaven Fire Aire Water and Earth Of Elements we reckon foure whereof two are grosse and heavy and move downewards as Earth and Water and two are light and strive upwards as Fire and Aire Earth is a simple body whose naturall place is the center of the universe in which it naturally remaines solid and still round as an apple in the middle whereof as the antient Philosopher writes is the pit of hell like as the blacke kernels lyeth in the midst of the apple and at the day of doome when all things shal be renewed then shall this Element be made a thousand fold more transparent and brighter then the Christall or any pretious Stone that they that are in the bitter paines of hell to their encrease of torment shall through it behold the blisfull joyes of heaven which will be more paine to them then all the torments of hell Earth is of nature cold and dry Water is also a simple body whose naturall place is to compas the earth it is light in respect of the earth but heavie in respect of the fire and aire therefore Reolanus saith that the earth holds the lowest part because of it's heavinesse and the fire because it is absolutly light hath the highest place the aire and water because they are as it were equally heavie or light have the middle place water being heavier then the ayre lighter then the earth the nature of water is cold and moist Aire is a simple body whose naturall place is above the Water and under the Fire and is by nature hot and moist Fire is also a simple body whose naturall place is above all the elementary parts because it is a hollow superficies of the Heavens and by its absolute lightnesse striveth upward even to Heaven its nature is hot dry these are so contrary in nature that they cannot be joined without a meane which is a temperament which fals out next to be treated of CHAP. II. Of Temperaments What is a Temperament A Temperament therefore is a concord or mixture of the former disagreeing elements or a mixture of hot cold moist and drie Of these temperaments which are in number nine eight are called distemperate and one temperate The temperate is also devided either to temperature of weight or temperature of justice but we call it not a temperature to weight wherein the elements are mingled by a like heape or weight but where it is exquisitely made temperate by the equall mixture of the foure first qualities wherein no quality exceeds but wherein all equality is included and that as if it were put in a ballance it drawes downe neither to this nor that parte Secundum justitiam A temperament to justice is that which is conveniently temperate to the vse that nature hath appointed and destinated it therefore all those things that have taken from nature a mixture of the elements though unequall yet agreeable to motion and use are called temperaments secundum justitiam as if wee see any living creature that performes the functions of nature aptly and as is ought to doe we say he hath a temperament secundum justitiam according to justice The distemperate temperament is double simple and compound the simple wherin one only quality exceeds the other two contemperate as hot cold moist dry hot in which the heate hath the dominion over the cold the moist and drie being temperate cold in which the cold excels the heate the other two being temperate The compound in which two qualities exceed and this is hot and moist or hot and drie cold and moist or cold and drie for the first qualities may be joyned within themselves six manner of waies but heate cannot be joyned with cold nor moisture with drinesse because they are in themselves contrary neither can they remaine together in one subject Heere may be added the temperatures of the seasons of the yeere which are four Spring Summer Autumn and Winter and are in nature hot cold moist and drie Spring The Spring is the most temperate as being neither too cold and moist
naturall heate encreased expels phlegme Age is also to be considered for young men that are in their flourishing age suffer more hurt then old men that are cold and drie The immoderate and overmuch use of venery procures divers discomodities as the faintnesse of the spirits forgetfulnesse losse of sight stinking of the mouth diseases of the joynts as trembling palsey gowtes of all kindes both in feet hands and fingers crampes runing of the reines pissing of bloud shedding of urine unvoluntary and divers times the French pox with exulceration of the privities Menstruous fluxe The monthly purgation evacuates not onely the humours and ill juice of the belly but also it cleanseth the body and whole masse of bloud it diminisheth not the bloud at all but only taketh away the impurity thereof for the crudest thinnest and the most faeculent bloud is purged by the wombe which if it stayed would generate many dangerous diseases by its putrefaction for bloud restrained putrifies therefore in such that often misse their naturall purgations it is very fit and necessary that they take decoctions sirrups or pilles such as are to provoke them Now for the evacuation of tumours I have seene divers that have dyed by the unskilfulnesse of such as had them in cure or else by their carelesnesse by letting the matter flow forth altogether at one time and not by little and little and at severall times as it should wherby not a little quantity of the spirits and heat hath flowed out therwith and so consequently a dissolution of all the powers CHAP. XIV Of passions and perturbations of the mind which are commonly called the accidents of the mind Accidents of the mind PErturbations or passions of the mind are the suffering of the mind either by joy hope love hatred anger and the like which bring great mutations in the body most necessary to be remarked because of the great chances that ensue thereupon for by these motions the heate and spirits are sometimes gently sometimes violently diffused over all the body for enjoying of the present or future good or by receiving any affront whereby many have so exceedingly been moved that they have died What joy is Ioy is an affection of the minde of a thing good and pleasant which recreates and quickens all the faculties and stirres up the spirits for it proceeds from the heart mooved by the facultie at the thing causing mirth and the heart thus mooved is dilated and ready to receive the exhilarating object and by the force of the dilatation it sends forth much heat and spirits together with the bloud into all the body insomuch that oftentimes death ensues because the heart is altogether destitute of bloud What anger is Anger is a suddaine revocation or calling back the spirits to the externall parts with a desire of revenge it causeth the same effusion of heate in us as joy doth but farre speedier it inflameth the whole habitude of the body spirits and humours and also the braines and nerves Griefe Sorrow dries and wastes the body by a lingring consumption because by it the heart is straitned the heat extinct and the spirits cannot be generated nor if any be yet they cannot freely passe into the members with the bloud Feare Feare is a motion which calles back and drawes in the spirits to the heart by the arteries and not by little and little as sorrow but suddenly and violently which suffocateth the naturall heate causeth trembling maketh the face pale and the extreame parts cold with an universall shaking and pulsation of the heart Shame Shame is a motion of our body mixed of anger and feare anger for being suspected or knowne in a fault and fearing the judgement of others if feare prevaile over anger the face wâ—xeth pale the bloud running back to the heart but if anger get the dominion then on the contrary the bloud runnes to the face and the eies look red but there is another kind of shame which we call shamefastnes shamefastnes in which the bloud goes and comes forward and backward but it is a gentle motion not hurting the heart and is familiar to yong maids who often blush by being taken with a fault unawares These things ought to be considered by every practitioner in the curing of any disease for if any accident happen that shall procure any one or more of these perturbations and passions you shall easily perceive a suddaine alteration in the patient Next I shall shew you the things against nature which are such as are apt to weaken and corrupt the state of our body CHAP. XV. Of things against nature which is the third part of Physicke and first of a disease What are things against nature THings against nature are three a disease the cause of a disease and a symptom Distemperature A Disease is an affect against nature which manifestly hurteth the operations of the body health is an effect according to nature perfecting the actions of our body A disease is threefold distemperature evill conformation and solution of continuity distemperature is a disease of the similar parts of it selfe hurtfull diseases of the similar parts are as many as there are distemperatures and so many distemperatures as there were at the first kindes of temperaments whereof foure are simple as hot cold moist and dry as many are compound as hot and moist cold and dry cold and moist hot and dry the distemperature is called hot when the naturall heat is augmented and encreased so much either in all or in part that it hurts the operations and so of the rest Evill conformity Evill conformity is a fault of the organick parts and ind is called a disease in number as when some thing abounds or somewhat wants that is needfull towards the undergoing of the function of the organick part as if a hand have foure or six fingers it cannot so well take hold on any thing if a man have but one testicle or more then two he is not so fit for generation Also such things as grow against naure and adhere to some pâ—rt as a polypus in the nose a caruncle in the conduit of the yard and the like these are diseases in number but if a member be cut off either in part or in all it is a disease of defect and of this sort are all such things as are contrary to nature as the stone wormes and the like likewise if an arme or a legge be too long or too short or if any part be either bigger or lesser then is necessâ—ry it is called a disease of greatnes for nature hath given to every part a certaine kind of species and bignes which if it exceed or be lesse then it is not right if the testicles pappes or the belly wax so big that the actions are therby hindred it is called a disease of encreased greatnesse in one part as when the tongue is longer or shorter then it should be it hinders the speech But besides the number of the
parts and the just number of the parts and the â—quall proportion it is required that they have a right scituation and that they joyne all together as nature hath appointed in a well composed body from hence it is that if any member be out of joint if the intestines fal down into the flanck or cod if the right gut come out it is called a disease in scituation wherto pertains the growing together of the lips fingers and secret parts of women eyther from the birth or by an ulcer Bâ—sides number magnitude and scituation is also required a conformation of the instrument which consists of foure things 1 the figure 2 the cavity 3 the smoothnesse 4 the roughnesse some have their nostrils either by nature or accident depressed and closed some their nose either turning too much up or pressed too much downe which we call a disease in figure also crooked legges are called a disease in figure if the pores of the skin the veines arteries nerves or uceters are too big and wide or too narrow and small or crushed by som neighbouring part it is called a disease in the passage or hollownes the like if the guttes are stopped when the part made by nature light becomes heavy as the aspera arteria whose inner coat ought to be light if it be made heavier or sharper by some acride distillation or if the part which ought to be rough as the ventricle wombe and guttes the better to containe if they be made light or smoth as it happens to the guttes affected with a fluxe and to women with child who miscarry by reason of the slipperinesse of the wombe it is called a disease of roughnes or smoothnes A solution of continuity A distemperature only hurts the actions of the similar parts an organicall disease hurts the instrument but a solution of continuity as an ulcer a wound a fracture a luxation and tumors against nature doe hurt both the operations of the similar parts trouble and hinder the use of the instruments and therfore are called common diseases a fracture in a bone is called a solution of continuity in a nerve a convulsion in a ligament a divulsion in the skin the excoriation in the flesh a wound ulcer rupture contusion a rupture of the fleshy part as of a muscle and sometimes of a veine or artery is a solution without a wound a wound is a solution of continuity in the fleshy part from an outward cause an ulcer from an inward cause as a sharp corroding humour CHAP. XVI Of the causes of diseases The causes of diseases THE cause of a disease is an affect against nature which causes the disease which is either externall or internal the externall is that which is outwardly and evidently upon our bodies as strokes falles shot woundes c. the internall have their seat in the body and are divided into an antecedent and a conjunct the conjuâ—ct is it which neerest and immediately causes the disease as the bloud which causeth a phlegme the antecedent doth not actually cause a disease but procures matter and stirs it up almost to the making of a disease but between it and the disease are some causes placed as aboundance of humours and ill digestion and these things must chiefely be considered before we think of expelling the disease because How to remove a disease diseases are first cured by removing the cause antecedent and then the causes conjunct The externall ought to be knowne because they breed diseases internall and wonderfully change the body therefore to be sought with all diligence that they bring us to the knowledge of the hidden internall diseases The externall are either not to be avoided and amended but necessarily enter into our bodies as aire meat and drinke labour and rest sleepe and watching repletion and evacuation and perturbations of the minde or to be avoided and unnecessary as warre wounds by swords or stones and the like The cause of a disease commeth sometimes from the corrupt matter whereof they are generated as when either the father or mother is not sound then needs must the seminall matter be infected and thus the disease is called hereditary some are ingendrd after our birth as by the evill regiment of life by strokes falls c. as you have heard CHAP. XVII Of a simptome What a Simptome is THere is as I have shewed you before three affects contrary to nature the cause of a disease the disease and a simptome the cause goeth before the disease a simptome accompanies it just as the shadow goeth with the body in the generall signification it is called any thing whatsoever that chanceth to man contrary to nature for whether it be cause or a disease yet if they come in a disease and are over and above nature they are properly called simptomes There be three kinds of a simptome first when the action is hurt which may be done three waies they mâ—y be abolished diminished and weakned or depraved as when an eie is blind the action of seeing is depraved or abolished dulnesse of sight is a diminution or weakning thereof and a suffusion which hapneth in the beginning of a cataract is a deprivation of the sight The second is the immoderate evacuation or retention of excrements as by retaining such as should be evacuated and expelling those as should be retained as bleeding in a sound heathfull body that is not plethoricke and retention of the courses in women urine and stone in the bladder The third is a simple affect of the body or a mutation of some qualities contrary to nature as the scabbe of the flesh to a leprosie Thus I have shewed you the briefe introduction to the art of physick wherof I have only gathered together the chiefe and principall heads because it is so largely discoursed on by others yet out of such a magazine I thought it not amisse to extract a small proportion briefely to instruct the practitioner in the chiefest things belonging and necessarily to be considered in the administration of medicaments for the chiefest thing that belongs to a Physition is to know the causes of thinges which the antient Philosophers got by admiration of the fabrique next I shall shew you the exposition of some wordes difficult to bee understood and so as breifely as I can proceed to the medicaments CHAP. XVIII Ill dayes CRiticall daies be such daies on which there is or may be perceived some manifest alteration in a sick body either to health death or continuance of sicknes and are very necessary to be observed the critick day doth often happen after the beginning of the sicknes the 3. 5. 7. 9. 11. 14. 17. 21. 28. day in which daies neither medicines nor bloudings should be used neither any naturall or voluntary evacuation be stopt as flux of the belly bleeding at the nose urine sweate vomiting flux of the hemorrhoids or courses in women some follow the Egptians rule in observing certaine daies wherin if any fal
drammes thereof given to a dying man will recover him againe like as quintessence of Wine will doe and certainly it is a divine Liquor because it falleth like the dew from heaven upon the hearbes then which nothing is sweeter Oyle of Cinamon 39 Is very hot and dry and pierceth through flesh and bones it recovereth lost Speech in sicknesse it helpeth all Diseases that come through cold and flegmaticke matter it procureth womens naturall sicknesse and easeth them in travell if you give the Patient a little of this Oyle with a little Oyle of Myrrhe in Wine to drinke and anoint the parts therewith the face and hands being anointed therewith it freeth from Measels and Spots it warmeth the breast and cureth the old Cough and causes sleepe and if a man take never so little of this Oyle he shall feele the heate thereof in every member of his Body Oyle of Mace 40 Is good to be taken three or foure drops fasting in a spoonfull of Broth against the Collick and Strangury which come of cold causes it comforts the Heart the stomack and the womb and helpes all cold diseases Oyle of Cloves 41 One or two drops hereof taken in a morning with Wine helpes a stinking breath it makes the heart merry and strengthens the brain and head being outwardly applyed it heales wounds and may be used in stead of Balme being put into the eyes it cleares the sight it causeth good digestion and purgeth Melancholy it is good to make Manus Christi with this Oyle which have as much vertue as the Oyle it selfe Oyle of Nutmegs 42 This Oyle drunke with Wine provokes womens Visits and driveth out the dead fruit therefore women with childe ought to beware of this Oyle untill their time of deliverance come then it causeth them to bee fairely and easily delivered it is excellent against fainting and swouning and beating of the heart if you drink thereof and anoint the region of the heart therewith it expelleth flegmatick and grosse humours and causeth alacrity if any by a fall catch a wound bruise or broken Rib let him only drinke of this Oyle with some vulnerary drinke and it helpes him it is good against uncurable Vlcers and for all cold diseases of the joynts and sinewes anoint the left side therewith and it asswages the swelling of the Spleene it helps all affects of the Bladder and Reines Oyle of Pepper 43 Is very good against the Cholick and other weake places filled with phlegme it is very hot and piercing Oyle of Saffron 44 If you anoint the head with this Oyle it provokes sleepe mixed with womens Milke it stayes the fluxions of the eyes being anointed on S. Anthonies fire it destroyeth it and preserveth the place being drunke with Wine it maketh the heart merry and if you anoint the Temples of a drunken man therewith it makes him sober Oyle of Quince seed made by expression 45 R. The seed of Quinces stampe them and put them into a frying pan with a little Wine and stir them well together untill they be so hot as you cannot suffer your hand therein then put it into a Canvasse bagge and presse it out in a presse and there will be both Oyle and Water which you must separate This Oyle is excellent against all paines in the Stomack and helpeth digestion much and dissolveth Wind it inciteth to Venery and is good against the Emerroids and Fistulaes Oyle of Rosemary flowers 46 Take Rosemary flowers and stampe them and put them into a glasse with strong Wine and stop it close and sunne it five or sixe dayes then distill it with a soft fire and there will be both Water and Oyle to be separated keepe the Oyle close in a glasse This Oyle helpeth against all inveterate Headache though of seven yeares standing it comforteth the memory and preserveth the eyes if you drinke now and then a drop or two and put one into the Eyes being put into the Ears it helpeth those that are deafe it availeth in the Dropsie and yellow Iaundise it helpeth the Cholick and rising of the Mother it is excellent for those that have drunke Poyson or are infected with the Pestilence if you drinke thereof a little and lay you downe to sweat it comforteth the Heart cleanseth the Blood and maketh a man merry and causeth a good Colour and is very good for those that have the Itch or any other Scabs in fine it helpeth all diseases that come of Cold and Moist humours Oyle of Time 47 Is made as aforesaid It provoketh Vrine and expelleth the Secondine and dead Child it procures the Visits in women and dissolveth clotted Blood in the body if you take it with Oximell and a little Salt it purgeth tough and clammy Flegme and mundifieth the Blood Oyle of sweet Margerome 48 Being drunke with Wine it is good against those that are falling into a Dropsie and for those that pisse with much difficulty drop after drop it is good for those that have paines and gripings in the Belly and provokes womens naturall sicknesse Oyle of Mint 49 It is most profitable for the Stomack and being drunke with Vinegar it stayeth the Vomiting of blood and killeth the round Wormes and causeth good digestion being drunke with some convenient potion it availeth much against the griping paines of the Colick and stoppeth the overmuch Flux in Women being drunke with Wine it easeth women in Travell and is singular good against the gravell in the Kidnies and against the Strangury Oyle of Peneroyall 50 Being drunk with Wine it bringeth the Monthly issue sendeth forth the Secundine and expelleth the dead Fruit or false Conception it provoketh the Vrine and breaketh the Stone in the Kidnies being taken with purified Honey being drunke with Water and Vinegar it stayeth the desire of Vomiting the fume or smoak of this Oyle being taken into the Wombe with a Funnell is good against Windinesse and stopping of the Mother Oyle of Sage 51 It is good for Wounds and Bruises and provoketh Vrine breaketh the Stone it is also good for Women with childe to use it now and then for it closeth the Matrice and comforteth the Fruit Being drunke it helpeth Conception drunke with Wormewood Wine it stayeth the bloody Fluxe Oyle of Isop 52 Eaten with Honey it helpeth the Cough shortnesse of Breath and stoppings of the Breast being drunk with Sirrup of Vinegar it purgeth downeward tough Phlegme and killeth Wormes Oyle of Ivy. 53 Is excellent against the Pestilence and all manner of Poison it stoppeth the bloody Fluxe and helpeth all diseases either of the Bladder or Reines and drunke with Wine it restraines womens Fluxe with this Oyle anoint the Belly of a woman from her Navell to the Reines of her back and downe to the Matrice and it will strengthen the Mother and dry up the Moisture therein and prepare it for Conception if those that cannot make water doe drinke foure or five drops of this Oyle and anoint the region of the Bladder