difference and varietie the ordinance of meat and medicine are two speciall meanes thorow the which euery Phisitian altogether preuaileth in furthering of all sicknesses to health yet sometimes moste notable danger and hurt ariseth thereby for medicine in the tedious and wearâ—some waies of sicknes may at some one time bend down to a hurtfull and intricate purpose which was to the Patient before an effectuaâ—l remedie Neyther is there any lesse then great offence committed if meate be geuen to a sicke patient whereas it ought to bee taken away although it bee good wholsome and perfect or that meat be taken away when and where it ought to be geuen wherefore wisedome ought to be had in high consideration that all thinges in this life depend vpon opportunities times and seasons For Galen saith nothing can neither bee well spoken or done by the vse and benefite of one reasonable creature to an other if the difference of times and seasons bee not rightlie vnderstood And the writers of this latter age most iustly are reprooued for that not aâ—re one of them haue drawne the times and seasons of yeâ—â—â— in a right methodâ—call obseruation For Galen and 〈…〉 rates haue euermore conioyned that all diseases stay vpâ—â— accidentes and concoction in the diseased patient And accidentes onely appertaâ—â—e to the infection corruption of times and seasons vncertainâ—y and swiftly breaketh out eyther in their owne vniuersall rottennesse or els by the contagion of mans bodie which moste easily lyeth open vnto them so all diseases 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desire to 〈◊〉 their poysoned strength 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 exions as are soonest by them vanqui 〈…〉 And coâ—coction is the most easiest comfortablest signes 〈…〉 knesse which especially consist vpon these markes and sig 〈…〉 tions as followeth That is if nature be in full power and strength the materiall substance of the ingendered humours di 〈…〉 h and vanishe by little and little quite away or els concocteth setleth and possesseth some one place or propertie in the bodie otherwise if nature be weake feeble and the disease inforcible malignitie insulteth ouer the bodie hastening swiftly towardes the borders of the diaphragm or els vanquisheth the diaphragm and entereth vpon the spirituall partes whereas forthwith nature is deadly medicine vnperfect and the disease vnable to retire backe death presently inuadeth thereupon for medicine is best entertained when the vertue thereof gathereth the disease together whilest nature is fauourable the disease vn 〈…〉 or the body vnuenomed with corruption and able to be deâ—uered from the power of the disease by expulsion Here may be set forth a more playner declaration of such feuers which ingeader vpon the body of man for as some there be depending vpon vnnaturall inflamations congested by an euill humor or some vehement hote bloud possessed in some one part of the body as of the loonges or side so there is another kind of feuer which vnnaturally is kindled at the heart deducted from thence by the vaynes and arteâ—â—es and by the meane of the spirit and vaynes into all the bodyes sensible hurting the naturall ope 〈…〉 Furthermore if some special cause of sicknesse were not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vrine or some other alteration of the excrementes it were a hard thing to finde out the difference of simple feuers from those feuers which hold vpon inflamation for single feuers are known eyther by the corruption of the aire or by distemperance of heate or colde dangerously crept in disquieting the naturall disposition of such bodies which are thereunto subiect or by the vnnaturalnesse of the bodie it selfe in excessiue â—askes by surfetting sweates by ouer great fasting by incontinent opening the pooâ—es by troubled trauels in thirstinesse by inordinate sleepings 〈◊〉 ouer great watchings So other feuers which hâ—ld vpon 〈◊〉 dentall inflamation as their propertie is euermore regarded by speedinesse of their accidentes towardes the vitall partes alwayes flaming out vnder some proposterous Châ—ysis These inflamatiue feuers must eyther haue a chryticall expulsion or els doe they alter from one degree to another after the greatnesse and insatiablenesse of their accidentes There is a chiefe and principall cause mouing vs herein to speake of some humorall inflamations which are cowched vnder a hard and thicke couering of straunge congested vaporous humour vppon the side or by impostumation of the loonges whose substance once perfectly growne is not remoued or extenuated except by little and little or els by present immission of bloud in the basilicke vaine as all and euerie of these seuers happening to haue egresse eyther vpon the animall and The coÌ„suâ—ption is â—n nature 〈◊〉 hect â—2 vitall partes of man so the other onely desire a long and tedious consumption nourishing themselues vppon the morall partes by continuall fretting labouring foming wasting and deuouring the outward flesh doe by a super 〈…〉 s trauerse inuade nature and the more the bodie wasteth and vanisheth away the more redolent the strength and power of these feuers abound But for the better vnderstanding of these raging diseases it were a most necessarie discretion so to marke them in their degrees as that they may be better knowne and more easier prouided for heereafter for chiefly there spittle is claâ—nâ—e tough stimte and sometimes full of bloudie and matterie corruption their breath is almost stopped doe reache and dâ—â—w farre and slowly for the same The cough is hard hollowe and short cannot without greeuing other partes of the bodie deliuer it selfe Their vrine is fearce furious and of most high complexion and of ruddie blacke colour Touching these and such like sicknesses infestered with inflamations happening vnder distemperance of times are chiefly regarded helped and cured in their concoction but not in their accidentes As they are neuer aduaunced together at one time so the greater place is giuen in concoction the accidence becommeth more peaceable and quiet Yet there is great disagreement among the latter writers that if the disease be vnualurable inestat or fashion how can the accidents of the disease be valurable or sharpe and if putrifaction or corruption be most great and forcible in estat how can concoction be most perfect for concoction is contrarie to putrifaction Howsoeuer it doth heere fall out by controuersie the surest stay vppon the sicke patient is when the disease is setled the infection is peaceable for then the medicine more certainly expelleth the cause And therefore beholde that all diseasses breake forth their malice by depending vpon speciall seasons of the yeare So that there is a double kind of offensiue matter in all feuers one which can neuer be corrected and the other which by little and little setleth and at length thereby expelled And yet there be some moste dangerous feuers so alienated and estranged in their natures as neyther will rypen of themselues to be vtterly deuoyded nor yet be altered by any medicine to become certaine These and such like feuers in their strong operations are chiefly domâ—â—â—ed by
why is Galen moued so to thinke First for that children hath multitude of bloud Secondly they haue greedinesse in appetite And lastly they haue a substantiall valour in concoction As these reasons shewe a great ground why there should be more aboundant heate in children so he denieth their heate to be intentiue For Dyoscorides verily affirmeth that adolescencie hath more aboundance thereof not according to the proportion of the body For the body of a child although in the small quantitie thereof hath not more intentiue heate yet hath more coyious and intentiue bloud then adolescencie Surely children in their proportion obserued and considered haue a greedie and quicke desire to sustenance and are of redie digestion therunto Therefore I thinke it extreame madnesse in Theophrastus Peracelsus who absolutely granteth a larger sustenance to children then adolescencie seeing naturall operation refuseth to be more stronger in children and yet there heate is most plentifull and their digestion most redie Yet I doe not mislike his difference made betweene children and infantes For infantes in their first natiuitie are colde and therefore whollie giuen to sleepe but growing vp to children are euery day more sanguine and therfore more hote and moyst for as heate prouoketh appetite so moystaesse is the cause efficient aswell to nourish great sleepe in the body as to aduaunce therewith the office of good nourishment And truely Dyoscorides affirmeth that children are vnder diuers inclinements both of weakenesse and strength And the same is well discerned vnder a double operation of their excrementes as that the one being ouersoft and the other vtterlie voyd of moystnesse The first argueth moyst coldnesse which stirreth vp a naturall desire and disposition to sleepe in children the other prouoketh and increaseth bloud releeueth and comforteth the vitall partes The Philosopher is woonted to declare that moystnesse is the first cause of sleepe and coldnesse is the second cause And therefore when the humours of the body be deâ—ected eyther by nature or art both moystnesse and coldnesse both in the first and second degree are possest in the body Yet these colde humid deâ—ections vpward manie times infeebleth the stomackes of children with cold distemperance and doe egerly scower wast and extenuate their bodyes downeward as that thereby all their naturall vertues are quite weakened and their facultie of appetite quite ouerthrowne Then surely we haue iust cause to make further search inquierie as touching the difference betweene adolescencie and In respect of naturall châ—ller adoleseencie exceedeth children in â—eate or els not children in their heate which is chalenged that adolescencie exceedeth children in larger aboundance of heat in respect of naturall choller which more sharpely inflameth and pursueth the body And except the same be preuented oftentimes in gluttonous und glassie corruption excessiuely draweth the body to inflaming diseases therby In this respect adolescencie surpasseth children in heate or els not For the better vnderstanding hereof let vs vse this comparison following and agreeable hereunto that if two cuppes being of vnlike quaÌ„titie filled with hot pure water without slime or corruption put thereunto the qualitie of the lesser may exceed the quantitie of the greater in heat and yet their equall quantity according to proportion is nothing diminished Euen so blood may according to proportion be matched in children and adolescencie alike yet their heate may exceed one aboue another This is onely spoken for that heate is established by bloud for as in some dispositions nature is earthly and colde from their conception so heate of bloud aduaunceth and promoteth the same to become vegetable and wholesome in the vniuersall partes of the body by nutrimentall meanes For which respect if the qualitie be vnlike yet the quantitie according to prportion may equally agree together This proueth heat in children and young men ought to haue seuerall proportions in substance and yet in qualitie they doe exceede vnlike for as heate in yoong menne may be more sharper so in children more sweeter and tastefull And whereas bloud is in Children more intentiue so heat is in yong men more intentiue as is aforesaid For which cause medicines prepared for yoong men are of more higher degree both in nature and operation Otherwise vnforceable to reach the constitution of adolescencie onely and because of their high courage and strength which is in the substance of thetr intentiue heate for which cause the greatest skill that belongeth to the heedefull and wise phisitian is euermore to consider aswell of the cause as the constitution that temperance may thereby be perfected into good estate and condition by qualitie and that medicine and the body doe not exceede one another For heate ought to be more sharper comprehended therein not by a variable substance in it selfe but by artificiall helpe aduaunced thereunto so that sometimes bodies of cold and raw constitutions doe swiftly hasten towardes many dangerous diseases except onely translated into some other more perfect nature or otherwise reuiued both in substance of bloud and strength of heate As if a hote stone being dipped in a cold bath or a colde stone in a hote bath of water doth forthwith alter both the water and the ayre to be of a like qualitie with the stone So these distempered bodies are reformed by artfull knowledge to become in equall temperance alike and yet not in operation for want of bloud so that heate may be restored or the excesse thereof diminished For like as difference is interposed betweene a cleere and grosse ayre as hauing like qualitie of heate yet not like neyther in substance nor naturall operaion so diuers constitutions by this meanes may be lâ—ke in qualitie and the variable estate thereof may become also of one temperance and operation There is a difference to be set downe in the outward estate of two temperat bodies together As first to regard their differences by touching and feeling the substance according to proportion of euery seuerall part by it selfe for many times by the proportion of outward thinges the good and euill estate of inward thinges are knowne beleeued as onely by a supposed Hypothesis For if the heate of adolescencie and childhood may be found equall by teeling then would it fall out that the comparison of ages betweene adolescencie and children were of necessitie equall vnto which there must be adioyned both discretion consideration and constant stay For Cornelius Celsus saith that yong men which are perfect in conceit vnderstanding are of hote dispositions haue verie little desire to sleepe the which thing somewhat bendeth towardes drinesse Hote braines are apt and inuentiue and small desire to sleepe And yet nothing is in the obscure workes of nature to be discerned in them either by feeling or touching Galen in his booke de sanitate tuenda rehearseth manie high and variable dispositions both in adolescencie and children and putteth forth moste excellent preseruations in eyther their defences Theophrastus Paracelsus saith that heate
saith further that single medicines cannot be changed beyond their owne nature The which wrongfull opinion and iudgement hee seemeth to consent with Paracelsus who affirmeth that euerie thing is borne and brought foorth into this world to aduouch his owne propertie in the actuall accomplishing of some effectuall vertue for the helpe or hinderance of an other thing And yet this nothing proueth why any qualitie either of heate or bloud should be aduaunced beyond his own nature except by some inforced extremitie or except only because the maner of dyet is more stronger in one body then another or except some bodies are disposed to feede vpon grosser sustenance then another for that body doth inioy and obtaine greatest health which feedeth vppon the purest cleerest and most choyse sustenance Surely as the body begetteth his portion of heate after the greatnesse maner and meetnesse of sustenance so warmenesse of bloud equallie either by tenuitie indifferencie or fulnesse is matched and aduaunced with the bodie but the office of the liuer is not herewith compared hauing no naturall indowment of heate from the affluence of heate and bloud in the body There is a constitution of variable humours by the same temperance of the liuer vnder which one is more colder then the liuer it selfe and the other more hotter after the condition of some materiall cause from whence the heate of the liuer is deriued especially for that nothing is so single in nature but that it is variably altered by the heate of the sunne so that some bodies in the variable disposition of man are like vnto waxe molified or clay hardned by the vertue and strength of the sunne Dyoscorides reporteth that the complexion of euerie man draweth vpon the sunne and the grace of the sunne hath a differing action vpon all seuerall thinges variable being comprehended in it selfe and that euerie man is disposed alter the foure orders of the elementes So that some men are white some men blacke some men red some of one colour some of another thereby Galen saith that herein may be perceiued that all heates feede vpon the sunne And furthermore doth say that like as fire is stroke from the hardnesse and secret vaynes of the flint so the liuer is fed and nourished by an intentiue hote humour inforced from the sunne For which cause and after this maner nourishment subtilly and moste secretly passeth into the naturall heate of mans body chiefly when nature ioyneth in propertie therewith So nourishment nothing disagreeth from wood ioyned vnto fire which first standeth at a state then presently altereth into the nature of fire and becommeth into one perfect substance therewith And as heate is more weake in one body then another so heate according to the copiousnesse of sustenance increaseth throoughout the whole body And heat also more speedily flameth out after the constitution of a hot high and strong sustenance then by a cold thinne and weake dyet And therfore foode ought with care and diligence to be wayed and regarded both for the preseruation of mans life as also for that some bodies are thorow euill regiment easier corrupted and ouertaken then others Then haue we iust cause to thinke that heate is not properly nourished of anie propertie in it selfe but either violently drawn from some other inferiour and naturall causes of fire or els from the supernaturall comfort of the sunne which is the onely restauration of all inferiour causes to become with them of one parmanent and firme operation Surely then nourishment is receiued into the body by three maner of meanes as first when an excesse quantitie of dyet is receiued into the body bringeth forth some monsirous or vnnaturall disposition in it selfe And such strange dispositions will not consent euer after to follow the right direction of perfect nourishment As wine although it be of excellent qualitie and most easily retayned and digested downe into the body yet being receiued by excesse quantitie oftentimes doth benumme and ouercoole naturall temperance and doth of it selfe conuert into cold humours by some strange alteration for that not onely the aboundance therof confoundeth heat and the verdour being ouer charged by a surfetting distemperance oppresseth both the power of heate and nourishment and altogether therewithall surpriseth bodily constitution There may be also wayed a consideration in the second degree how nourishment altereth and transferreth it selfe For while it continueth the stomacke hath the onely effect of foode but being digested from the stomacke passeth from one office to another vntill the substance strength and power thereof be distilled conuerted and altered to become of one vnion in mans body and when the body is vnapt to intertaine perfect nourishment both sheweth a degeneration of nature and the distemperance of the body reclined to some forraine contagion There is an absolute comprehension in the third degree which is moste perfect both to health long life and the naturall substance of man that is when meate most sufficiently brooketh mans body and the body taketh good liking and relishe of the meate are foorthwith resembled into one similitude together And yet there are foure degrees which are called second humidities besides foure humours which participate vpon the liuer The first cause is contained vnder the subtile vaines and arteries and therefore because heate is not onely degenerated but setled and concocted in a corrupt bloud there is a plaine digression of nature and all moystnesse doe waxe thinne thereby The second degree of these Humidities is when a dispersed due interfloweth from sustenance into all the partes of the bodie the which if by alteration of strange humours it falleth into corruption is the onely efficient cause of a third humiditie and no nourishment is fauourable vnto the body and all gluttonous Exanguit that is without bloud causes are quite separated from the body by meanes it is exanguit consumpted and quite deuoyded from heat yet it cannot be denied but that there is some clammie matter impendent vpon the loonges which gnaweth vpon the desire of sustenance alwayes belonging to such humid diseases The fourth humidity representeth a hungrie nourishment Galen in his sixt booke in the causes of Symptomatickes doth say that although they haue diuers names yet are they of one sharpe hurtfull operation in nourishment except that which maketh some delay either in the stomach or in the maw that the vaines may extract a mouing comfort therefrom And also we must vnderstand that this nourishment extendeth to the extreame partes Otherwise truelie in my opinion other parts need not to contract nor trauell with the stomach and lyuer for moysture to their better nourishment Al which perfectly sheweth that nature draweth a potentiall substance for the strength of nourishment and the more nearer there is a communion of substance in all the partes of the bodie the more easier is there a returne of nourishment except it otherwise happereth by meanes of any forraine accidence For sowes flesh although it hath great
vomites in the superiour partes of the stomacke or els by fauourable glisters not onely shall search many ingendred humours and corruptions but cleareth cleanseth and searcheth all the principal parts of nature so that the troubled sences after many paynes shall hereby be drawne to quietnesse and rest Therefore Galen most sapiently distinguisheth aswell vpon single as inflammatiue feuers as of the plurisie and such like Manie moste excellent writers verie much haue complayned of tymes and seasons of the yeare as not sufficiently elucydat or set forth to the knowledge of men after the needful maner of ages for that seuerall nations and countries of the world doe follow their seasons and times by the due course of the elementes and after the propertie of the sunne in vprising and downe seâ—ting who giueth refreshing growing naturall moystnesse and ripening to all liuing thinges according to the soyle and situation of all such groundes and places vppon whome it giueth a shining comfort be it either early or late short or long I finde by all good writers that Autum is the moste dangerous and poisoned season of the yeare vnder Europe and moste complayned of both for the indirect temperature thereof as that especially the effectuall cause of all pestilence then breaketh out as also in that the strong heate of sommer is weakened and transumpted vntill another yeare and also because variable distemperaunce of warmth and colde then aboundeth in libertie of all corruption and rottennesse for the cleare sunne hauing consumed his naturall strength and mightie force vpon all liuing earthly things is vtterly weakened not able to indure so strong a course anie longer vntill a fresh direction be renued from one degree to an other Whereas coldnesse and drinesse are in that season of the yeare coniunct so rottennesse and corruption before intricated in anie part of man presently breaketh forth for as colde hath ouershadowed heate so drinesse vanquisheth moysture for which cause both morning noone and euening haue their sundrie operations in that season of the yeare Auycen sayth it must needes fall out that eyther sorts of feuers in those seasons moste readily shewe their furie For colde and heate gelied together in one substaunce of drinesse maketh demonstration of elimentall corruption and therefore doe vnperfectly rypen And grosse humours also before setled doe openly instat within the poores of man so that corruptions may not aâ—â—e more bee couched but breake foorth in open rage Hypocrates in his first booke of Aphorismes sayth the approâ—hing assentings and constitutions of diseases doe shewe both the passing away of the yeare and a successiue increase of diseases by interchangeable courses of times as whether it be euery day or euery other day or by a more larger compasse and space For in the iudgement of Rasis moste dangerous diseases fall out in these wauering seasons of the yeare as when the body and the elementes are both corrupted together presently without stay are bewrayed in their own natures For doe we not behold these winter diseases are searched in the bottome of their corruptions by colde frostie weather which were before infected with moyst seasons and heereby breake forth into quartan and tertian feuers so that it is further to be considered that these coniested diseases of winter immoderately in the spring time assayle the body especially in those natures whose bodies are euermore incombred with fumaticke grossenesse their passage in their vaynes is interdicted their bloud cannot with easte dissolution ascend and descend doe by infection apprehend cold consuming feuers so also these and such like vaporous diseases their bloud being thorow a contagious spring time discoloured tainted and vnperfected draweth and ingendreth a venomous nature vpon the liuer and whose fortitude and vertue assimilatiue thereby diminished becommeth prassiue in it selfe all which is most venomous to the vitall partes Herein may be perceiued that all contrarie interchanges of the yeare doe approue and trie their inclinations of one season The vapours of the spring or winter season are exhausted into the elements are scowred and cleared by a hote sommer from the elements into the body of man vnder the corruption of the bodie for one corruption entertaineâ—â— another by another and the rather for that all vnnaturall diseases grow and ingender by meanes eyther of stincking and vnseasonable groundes or corrupt vapours in the ayre infecting and weakening those bodies which are emptie and voyd of substance or els difflorisheth the laudable generation of bloud in grosse bodies or els vniuersally infeeble and excoriat the bowels of all men either by a periâ—â—ons fluxe called Dissenteia and such like in the approching of summer or els by a secret Chrysis in the dog dayes vpon the liuer stomacke loonges and giddinesse of the head And surely vpon the accidentes of these diseases the patient is infected with venomous humours as aforesayd as grossenes of bloud impostumated in the liuer the face disfigured the arteries discoloured with yellow blacke humours and the rather for that the gall speweth and stayneth all the superiour partes of man Wherefore as these and such like diseases fall out by interchanges of seasons aswell from some accidentall influence in the distemperance of the elementes as also in the corruption of the body it selfe So such dangerous and fluxible diseases after the iudgement of Dyoscorides are best comforted scowred and restored by potatiue vnguentes inwardly taken Touching those singular feuers are in their first beginning very remotiue and giue easie place to medicine so if those feuers be not in their first onset oppressed will waxe sturdie and verie forcible ouer nature for which cause the counsell of Hypocrates principally is herein to be followed Cum morbi inchoant si quid mouendum moue cum consistunt vigent melius est quietem habere When sicknesses and diseases doe begin remoue them before they take roote but if the disease stand at a stay for some good propertie in it selfe it is farre better the patient take rest And yet no suche prescription is of necessitie here set downe but if the disease hasten to concoction may the better be curable and operatiue both in medicine and nature although oportunitie was omitted in the first beginning of the sicknesse Furthermore manie writers of this latter age approue this place of Hypocrates by the comparison of a botch or some other preposterous outward sore which doe congest and gather vpon the flesh vnder some vile and inordinat substance is not to be cleared and cured from corruption before it come to perfect estate both of ripenesse and rottennesse So these single diseases are not to be remoued in the first beginning of their infection but in the beginning of their increase to concoction so Hypocrates meaning is receiued of the best sort And yet the best meanes is not denyed but that euerie skilfull wise man may in the excellencie of his knowledge at the first entrance of the infection ministeâ— medicine not onely for
all by touching therfore the ayre is more moyst yet because water is of more rounder and compact substance then of an intentiue qualitie some philosophers report water is more moist then ayre otherwise how should yse more coole then water and yet not more colder Galen affirmeth water to be most moist for that it is cleare and no drinesse is contained within the substance thereof By this reason no simple medicine can shewe in his vttermost nature to be either hot colde moist or drie in the highest degree in respect of equalite 〈…〉 ature from contrary plaâ—ing therefore this reason most proâ—pereth and prooueth in â—urt bodies and although the ayre were clearely hot yet not in the highest degree So likewise if water were clearlie moist yet not in the highest degree for it â—s repugnaâ—t in the reasonable onâ—e standing of elements that there should be two qualities or els noâ— at all obtained in the highest degree for if ayre hath not maystnesse it shoulde then vnnaturally exceede in the vttermost place which is against the nature and order of the elements And furthermore it is greatly to be marueyled that certain new Philosophers with some counterfeit weake reasons blaste abroad in the world that water is more moyst then ayre which cannot holde for then the elements shoulde fall out in contrarie order which otherwise haue an equall constitution in the rest of the bodies one after an other although they bee of disframed conditions and qualities or els we may iudge of mans bodie to haue more earth and water litle ayre and lesse fire whereas it is in holie writing farre otherwise declared that man was not fashioned neither of ayre water nor fire but of the earth shewing that earth water are imperious ruling elements This element as a heauie substance doth beare great sway in the constitution of man for that heat and drinesse are of more lighter matter Then doeth it stande by naturall reason that heat among other qualities is actiue and as the qualitie therof is most plaine so the least portion thereof as in man for which cause these two outward bodies colde and heat may bee perceyued and that coldnes is tempered by heat and heat delaâ—ed by cold drines by moystnesse and moystnesse by drenesse that one of them should haue equall seruice by an other so there is also a motiue cause of coldnesse and drinesse thorow the sinewes so also there is coldnes and moystnes in the braine where the conceit and sence beginneth their place The hart is the instrument of life the liuer the instrument of blood the which of necessity are hot and moist and so from thencefoorth there are certaine instruments of necessitie some cold some hot some moyst and some drie if any one of them at any time do bend or writh aside from these iust temperature their actiue qualitie must be disured and fall away therewith for that the instrument which leadeth the same is decaied Therefore the bodye of necessitie is to possesse and inioy a perfect estate in his members in seruice of all the offices appertaining thereunto And the rather because all bodies haue a coniunction of the foure elementes otherwise choller which is hot drie and colde cannot serue the body in perfect nature and operation for that vnnaturall choller corrupteth the whole body And furthermore as the foure humours are seperated one from another in seueral estates and constitutions so such members which are insigned vnder any one of these humors are commoderated one by an other vntill there be a iudicial temperance raigning ouer all the wholl members for although any such instrument were of necessitie cold yet it is not conuenient so to be in the highest degree for that certaine immixt elementes doo want the temperance of the second qualitie Now if successiuely these instruments were by this means most righteous and equall they ought not to be tempered on some one behalfe but on euery behalfe for no instrument can bee meete whereas if any part thereof be vnmeete And for this cause it is not onely a seemely sight that these elements after their greatest portions should be grosly mingled in a myxt body but that in the whole they become perfectly vnited and that there be no want in any part thereof Therefore as diuers elements are so mixed in one body as that there is a ful seruice of al the members one to another So was it righteous that there should be a whole perfect coniunction in the iust commoderation of all other instrumentes for if all and euery part were not equally moderated one part would decay and fall away from another For is not the body conserued and satisfied by the said elements from hunger and thirst which otherwise would in al the partes thereof languish and fal Wine is a bountiâ—ull element ordained to me perfect properties away therefore man is nourished of the foure elemâ—ts in that the heat of the sunne is commixed with the earth and the water and ayre commixed are of generable nature producing sustenance agreeing with all natures indumentes And furthermore consider that whosoeuer drinketh wâ—â—e for coldnesse of stomach dooth not poure or infuse fire into his body although the moistnesse of water is tempered with a fiery element to frame a perfect body not in outward action but by the pure power of heat This verily proueth that one element is fashioned with another so that all the elementes are of equall power and propertie one with another Otherwise if man were framed of one element he were impassible and without suffering Or if there were such a dissimilitude in the elementes as that not one of them could be drawne in agreement with the other but still continue a contrarietie then all passiue actions were dispropriated and vnperfectly disequalled Euen as there is manifestly shewed forth all necessarie causes to the construction of euery one body So these elementes all in all are commixed without separation following vpon the immixion of humours in mans body vnto which euerie liuing man is subiect and bound vnto by natures ordinance And there are some which wallowing in their owne wils doe affirme that bloud is nothing els but a certaine confounded humour extracted out of three humours although the same is vtterly false Yet may it manifestly proue a great varietie in the permixioÌ„ of elements Therefore if it be possible that foure humours are confounded Maners doe follow the humour of bloud within themselues and yet their formes kept together vndiffacioned or that one forme or fashion appeareth for them all then surely these elementes are aswell commixed in these humours as wholly perfected thorow the body it selfe that although their formes were eyther disfigured or in some part abstracted yet there qualities are vndefaced Otherwise the reason and measure of mixture should perishe together both in forme and qualtie touching corporall formes as they are neuer taken from their substance So not the forme but the qualitâ—e hath
Galen affirmeth that no greater perâ—l happeneth vnto man then when euill custome ouerruleth ouerrunneth and ouerreacheth both disposition and temperance which ought to vnderset and prolong the body with great fe 〈…〉 e and health Therefore let vs herein following set downe 〈…〉 two kindes of temperance The first is obserued and referred to waight or heaule burthen in respect of the elementes as that no qualitie doe therein exceede another both for that all bodyes are of equall wayght in the qualities of the elements called temperate for it is impossible that temperance should be setled eyther vnder excesse or defect For as it seemeth the foure elementes are commixed within the comprehension of the same waight And as fire hath his naturall qualitie and actiue motion with the other elementes so if there be a greater portion of fire then earth surely heate with a preheminent dominion surpasseth coldnesse Hipocrates is missensed or mistooke There are many which despise Hypocrates in his Aphorisines altogether missensing his doctrine of heate not vnderstanding simply heate but a hot body that is to say the breath and bloud of the body And doctor Measues sayth that children haue more breath and bloud according to the proportion of their body then others of higher age that euen as a fire of greene woode burneth moste strongly and vehemently so the heate of the children according to naturall measure and temperance ouerpasse higher ages Leoncenus sayth neyther the one nor the other stand with trueth because both sortes are of one and the same degree according to proportion But Galen by the way plainely admitteth children to haue more heate not because heate is in them more intentiue but more aboundant the which is most certain and true For seeing breath and bloud are of necessitie more aboundant in children it cannot otherwise be but that naturall colour ought more aboundantly to possesse them Galen putteth downe next hereunto a second maner of temperance to righteousnesse as a positiue lawe to be obserued of all men the which righteousnesse consisteth to pay euery man his right as well in due deserts as to him that receiueth it as in discouering the glorious workes of naturall duetie in the payer for herein not onely consisteth a simple temperance for that it is a principall thing agreeable with equitie but also because it is begotten and brought foorth as a fructifieng tree from natures perfect inclination Wherefore wee are to thinke of and inquire whether nature hath fauoured one place and countrey more then an other in the fauourable behalfe of temperaunce not onely for dutie in righteousnesse but for the perfourmance of all honest actions In perfourming which purpose Greece is magnified and highly regarded as a temperate countrie both because famous and excellent wits haue sprong vp therein as that experience hath tried them a famous people in ordinance of manners and the workes of wisedome haue discouered them by their wholsome lawes both for martiall polliticke and ciuil gouernment And the inclination of nature hath polished them to walk most temperately in their conditions during the course of this life Demosthenes in his orations against Philip of Macedonia perswadeth them to liue according to the temperate soyle of their countrie And yet if we behold all liuing men in their order there is not one so to be found which attaineth that excelcellencie of wisedome and vnderstanding as hee ought to the vttermost of natures indowmentes except some few persons presigned thereunto And yet euery liuing creature redily perfourmeth some temperate worke of nature as some men in running swiftly some men in resisting stronglie and some men in agilitie and some men in policie but fewe men in learning wisedome grauity and the naturall facultie of eloquent speaking and the fewest of all in the confession of their creation And yet euery one hath a seuerall worke of perfect temperance in the best behalfe So certainely all other vnreasonable creatures are framed out of this naturall mould to some temperate propertie or purpose or other as the horse for swifenes the Cow for fruitfulfulnes the sheepe for profitablenesse and many other pretious workes temperatly doo herein excell There is an other temperate creation in the plantes and hearbes of the fleld although their vertue is quicke and vegetable Vnequal qualities of diuers hearbes are made of one proper operation by the art of man yet cannot skilfully vse their owne propertie but their properties are knowen vsed and searched out by the art of man and as many qualties exceeding one another are so made and compoâ—nded one by an other into one quality of medicine as that they doo not swarne or exceede one aboue an other in operation For as hot water and cold snowe commixed together are made one perfect temperance of warmnesse so all bodies or naturall qualities appereinent thereunto are contayned or compaged vnder one burâ—hen stoope downe and take holde of seasonablenesse in euery kinde of coniugation or knitting together Therefore the Phisitian not onely croppeth all these hearbes of the field but taketh his best delight and ioy in the propertie and vertue thereof for recoueryng helping and comforting his sicke patient by some confected medicine aptly and wholsomely framed to the bodyly constitution for which cause surely this man in all the partes and practises of honest duetie is a moste perfect temperate man But let vs returne to our purpose and insert vnder this volume a most high and secrete workmanship touching the forming of mankind in his creation which most sufficiently shall be prooued both by reason argument demonstration and that mans proportion had a begunning by the insight of a deuine creature first formed vnder an inuisible substance and afterwardes visible possessed vnder an anathomie of flesh and blood yeeldeth to a naturall inclinement in euery one to some seuerall property or other so that one of them from thencefoorth hath from time to time increased in the flesh and blood of an other and chiefly vnder the protection of the deuine prouidence as wel as by the continuance both of the earth and elements in one due progresse and course of all things Hereby may be perceyued that mans generation hath growen vp from age to age vnder temperance and distemperance of the foure elementes not onely vntill euery seuer all office of the same he perfourmed in quality and quantity of a proportion able body as also to be perfected in fashion that â—aâ—ure beginneth competently to pertake her wonderful admyrable works therewith vnder cause and effect Then herein is to be required a commoderate difference of these bodies whether the substance as the inâ—â—â—â—ents appertaining hereunto be naturall or artificiall if naturall then their forme is vnder wholsome or vnwholsome temperance The disagreements shall be herein most largely declared for the first beginning of artificiall forme was comprehended vnder the handes of man as eyther by etuming caruing or skilfull payating The chiefe maisters of that facultie was Policletus or
Apelles their workmanshâ—p was without natural temperance actiue motion or sensible feeling And for that the foure elemeÌ„s had not tempered or vnited a motiue life or breath in them theâ—r worke is not passiue nor subiect either to temperance or distemperance health nor sicknesse they fâ—eâ—e neyther friendship nor hatred good nor harme when they are in tired they cannot reuenge nor yet requite any good benefit bestowed vppon them they are ignorant of the alterations and chaunges of seasons They neyther feele the pleasure of life nor the paine of death Their complexion is without disposition or inclination to any good or euill thinges where as naturall forme hath a most high place in the worke of a visible substance So that Lyonicenus hereunder placeth Physiognomy to bee conioyned and annexed vnder naturall forme and therewithal the partes and gestures of the body are framed accordyng to the manners of the minde Aristotle in like sort dooth reckon the actions of the body to be agreeable with most men after the manners of the mind Fuchsyus saith a temperate body is not considered or measured in the waight of the elements but in the perfect action of euery seueral meÌ„ber If which reason be true then those bodies cannot be temperate which are not fashionable then also those actions which are done without forme are neyther perfect nor effectual No credite is assumed hereunto eyther of learning wisedome or experience for otherwise the head cannot conceiue any good purpose if the ioyntes be peruerted from nature Surely the highest and happiest temperance appertaining hereunto is when the mind in naturall propertie is prouided to all good deedes and perfect workes and that nothing may hinder or entercept the honest intent thereof this is perfect temperance For otherwise if there wanted handes to doo a good seruice in distributing if the composition of the body were vytiate eyther in the mothers wombe or by the vnskilfulnesse of the Mydwife in some one ioynt shall this prooue the childe to bee disabled from all temperance and vnperfect in all actions and therefore in him all neighbourly beneuolence were to bee quite taken away if in any such respect temperaunce did consist This standeth far both from reason and iudgement therefore seeing a temperate worke frameth a temperate man to be equall and measurable we are to vnderstand that formitie and fashion is an instrumentall cause not effectual without the qualitâ—e of the minde so that an elementall bodie measurably commixed in disposition may be temperate although the same bee not fashionable Vlisses may be adioyned an example hereunto who was far wyser then Achilles notwithstaÌ„ding he wanted outward induments comely forme which both Achylles Nereus possessed I wil possith foorth a liuely picture in the perfect discription of this matter of one Acsop a Philosopher of all men that liued in his age was in all the partes of his body most deformed as being goor-bellied bowe-legged crooked-backed a mishapen head with a crooked necke the carootes thereof were both short and slender hauing also flat nostrels and hanging lips ouerreaching their sights in all mishapen deformities notwithstanding nature indued him with a temperate brame hee was most wittie pregnant fruitfull and in setting foorth of fayned fantasies and sodaine deuises among al men then liuing most happy Therefore it followeth that the best fashion in body doth not attaine the best and wholsommest temperance in the ornament of the mind Manardus is deceiued affyrning that outward forme is better then inward temperance which if it should so fall out forme is the principall and efficient cause and inward temperance is a cause coniunctiue following For Aiax was of a fashionable strong and mighty body yet was he mad raging and furious so that it is to be prooued that the outward frame and forme although it be neuer so faire and beautifull cannot be well directed and gouerned where inward temperance wanteth And Hypocrates affyrmeth that forme and fashion with reasonable creatures ought to be possessed vnder a proportion or measure of the inward qualities and that temperance is a seasonable gift from that heauenly workman infused in man contriuing all inward qualities to become most splendant and vertuous in all metaphisicaâ— causes farre beyond mans conceit The Philosopher sayth Homo hominem generat sol Man and the sunne doe generat and bring forth man Therefore inferiour causes doe not inforce the superiour causes from aboue And Galen sayth that the deuine cause hath fashioned the proportion of the body after the maners of the minde and doe many times oen of them agree with an other which if it doe so fall out then corporall actions and naturall conditions depend within themselues one vpon another by a mutuall consent in temperance Arnoldus de noua villa sayth that euery member in a seruiceable body obtaineth perfect temperance from the inward minde and yet he doth further report that bloud and humours are more thicker in an vntemperate body and therefore degenerate in conditions Auycen concludeth that the foure elementes are congested into euery seuerall body predominating euery man in some speciall disposition of good or euill touching the qualities of the minde of what fashion or disfashion soeuer the body is but the power of heauen ouerruleth all Dyoscorides sayth innocencie hath begotten man in a perfect Mans innocencie compared to a paynters tinsell minde in the beginning of his dayes and was stayned afterwardes by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or larger corruption like a paynters tinsell from white to red in the carnation of mans bloud but the celestiall power by a regular order reformeth all thinges Thus endeth the first booke of temperaments The Lord made heauen and earth and all things therein Blessed be the workes of his hands HERE FOLLOWETH THE SECOND Booke of Temperamentes SEing in this first booke wee haue spoken of the nature number and order of elementes aswell of their proportion and substance in body as their propertie in qualitie haue found out not two but foure compounded temperamentes So also by delatiue circumstance haue we distinguished in the temperatures of times and seasons of the yeare the one by vniuersall substance the other by vniuersall nature the one in temperature or distemperature of heate drinesse moysture and coldnesse and the other touching purenesse in health as corruptions in sickenesse happening vnder the good or euill regiment thereof We are further now to proceede vntill by rule and order we finde out by an vttermost indeuour the plenary parts of mans estate and condition in this life the comprehension thereof is in one behalfe naturall and the other animall So that a temperat man is by rule and 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 kindo of worke by good manuring and ciuill framing of his outward members made inwardly perfect for that voluntary motion hath before performed many seuerall duties in the most excellent sences of a vertuous man And yet it is a necessarie thing to discerne vnder these sences a common sence so
fatnesse concreated vpon drie bodies thorow which the dyaphragma is thereby safest preserued from contagion as the reason and vnderstanding vnuanquished so that a large and liberall life with sondrie excellent indowmentes are appertayning to those bodyes But corpulencie declareth the aboundance of fleshe which ingrosseth and vapoureth vpon moistnesse bringeth forth manie noysome and filthy diseases in the body Whereas thinnesse and smalenesse of flesh sheweth perfect drinesse so corpulencie doth shew coldnesse and moystnesse Cornelius Celsus doth affirme that a thinne body sheweth frugall fatnesse nourished in the warmenesse of a thinne bloud So these grosse bodies nurse vp thicke bloud and venomed humours These men are in a most dangerous case if there be a colde congealement in the vaines and other members which belongeth to surfetting dronkardes and such like disordered persons Galen affirmeth verie muche good appertaineth to those men which are perfected vnder a measurable comprehension First if their bloud be hote thinne and clearely recourseth in the vaynes if their breath be sharpe sweete and thinne if their bloud be warme sharpe and sweete all which maketh indication of a perfect substance except these natures be poysoned otherwise by some cold vaporous accidentes for colde things doe easily concreate vppon a warme substance or except also this vnnaturall distemperat coldnesse falleth out in melancholious complexions whose bloud is thicke slimie and sower And yet there are some sanguine complexions of inclineable fat as they doe greatly fauour daintie meates so doe they yeld good liking to euery seuerall office and portion in the body And nature euermore fauoureth comforteth nourisheth and purgeth these complexions in her owne propertie These complexions doe neuer concord with anie earthlie exhalations but speedily decay and perish therewith Galen sayth in his booke of simples that the naturall fat in these men is both hote and tastfull And the waterie fat which is congested into substance vpon these men is sower bitter and exposed to innumerable perils Also when thinne portions of this earthly bloud thorow cold vapours is made thicke and thorow slender vaynes falling downe best liketh and desireth to possesse the coldest partes of the body forthwith congealeth into cold fatnesse not onely thereby pearceth the thinne substance of the body but also hurteth the naturall actions in the senses especially by the diseases of the crampe stitches feauers rewnis crickes lamenesse numnesse painefull gripinges and such like whereas otherwise good nourishment warmenesse comfortable sweates bathinges opening the poores electuaries purginges omission of bloud choyse of meates might be sufficient meanes to chase away the intollerable hurtes and perilles that may insue heereof as also by preseruing and nourishing of a more hotter and sweeter bloud Next followeth that whatsoeuer hath bin spoken heretofore touching drinesse in the oment of the belly which is a couerture aboue and beyond the filme vnder which all the guttes are lapped so there is another oment in the head which is moyst called the skinne or rim of the brayne and commonly called of the chyrurgians pia mater It is coarcted in the middle partes of the head with many offices and appurtenances thereto belonging Therefore aswell such men as women whose bodyes are inuested with corpulent and fattie flesh are molested in the substance thereof with an interflowing inundation so that their complexion is commonly moyst and there oment in the head moyster Yet surely there are some natures so equally compacted in the order of the foure elementes whose temperance is vnder the gretlie word EVCRATON which is neuer changed or molested with any malignitie but stand mightilie against all distemperances And as their temperatures are indifferent in all measures so are they neuer deprehended by any impropertie or euill accidence if the bloud be thicke then the vaines be straight and narrowe and the blood slowlie interfloweth The which sort of men are troubled with giddines and swimming in the head are vnable to indure any paines or vndertake fasting or honger Whereas the other temperatures vnder this word EVCRATON vndertake strongly are swift in digestion do wholsomly nourish al sustenance into perfect substance their blood floweth and comfortablie interfloweth in the course of the whole bodie Their sleep is sweete chearable and restfull they liue in health Their yoong daies are ioyfull and their old daies peaceable to their graue And seeing we are farther to pursue the bodie of man in hys whole and substantiall essence wee are next to consider the temperatures of the ayre And although Auycen reporteth that the bones of man hath more drinesse then the hayres yet I cannot otherwise reade but that hayres haue encrease of an earthlie vapour and the bones are vnder a sharpe thinne vegetation of blood and the stronger nature is there the increase is made more valourable thicke and styffe and as nature is insigned out in the worke hereof most perfect to the eies of all men so doo they valiantly sustaine the trauels and miseries which appertaine to this life Here might be a gathered coniunction in the temperatures of the gristles or the gristely lygumens the tendons which are the great sinewes or the cordes of the body as also the arterick vaines where the spirit of life recourseth and the hard and soft sinewes sensitiue with the spinall marrowe For the more softer these portions doo appeare the rather doo they obtaine and generate an indifferent nature both of moistnesse and drinesse aswell of heat as of colde so that the good temperature of all these portions in the body doo yeeld a perfect increase and nourishment to the hayr of the head except they be distempered thorow any superfluous accidence otherwise Therefore Rasis sayth that the haire is a materiall cause deriued from the humours of the inward partes of the body as of the vaines Ruellius saith that strong is the officient and perfect cause of thicke haire which somewat consisteth and â—ayeth vnder the estate and condition of the skinne and is not generated of euery supersiuitie ercept onely of that superaboundant temperature which is gathered in the extreame partes of man and those excrements are variable As first the excrementes in the bleather are of two sortes the one cleare and the other thick the one is called Hypostasis which by a perfect digestion The excrement of moisture is of two sortes is aduanced in the substance of the brine and either is in the blather or seroot or strained and extenuated from the bodie is passed ouer into vapours for the increase of hayres or els in styrring and chafing the body is deliuered foorth by sweates or els groweth into flegmatike inundations Galen auoucheth that there is one part thereof ascending vp and peacing the braines deliuered and absumed away by a dry rewmatike spyttell an other part is deliuered away by common course of excrementes at the nostrels and an other part is deliuered away by sweaâ—es an other part is deliuered away by sorrow of the eyes in weeping an other part is
the same as they doe become bare and bald so are they men of verie euill and dangerous maners Yet Auycen greatly commendeth bald men of sanguine complexion and flaxen hayre to be trustie honest and verie precise and deuout and yet manie of them haue reaching wittes in high causes Hypocrates sayth there can be no direct temperance in baldnesse for that in the first place those thinges which be hearie onely are hote and moyst In the second place bald men are drie and in the third place bald men are in their extreames so of sickenesse and discases doe swiftly approoue in the nature of cold and drie therefore we are verely to coniecture that all ages of men denunciat their natures after the temperance of the regions and countries vnder which they are borne aswell as their owne priuate complexion and age for as the ages of youth are hote drie and hayrie so infancie is smooth colde and moyst and without hayre Then seeing there must altogether fall out a perfect sympathie or equall combination vnder the temperatures of countries and that hayrie men natiuely appertaine vnder regions hote and drie so then there must be a temperat cause in contrarietie hereof for that Theophrastus Paracelsus holdeth in opinion that hote and drie countries absinne and quite take away all the humours which intentiuely nourish hayres Auycen sayth that heate and drinesse in those bodyes are not so easily nourished and therefore heate and drinesse of those countries are nothing profitable in the generation of hayres after the naturall simpathie and mutuall combination in temperance of the bodies themselues Galen speaketh of young men of the Ethiopians who of their owne complexion and naturall inclination are hote and drie in respect of other countries the which propertie furnisheth their bodies with an excesse strength of hayres And although curled yet not diuersty coloured like other countries which signifieth the superaboundant heate vnder which they liue Surely I am perswaded it is a moste direct poynt not to compare nature with age but to compare countries with ages which in all the conditions of hayres may be best accompted of For the Ethiopian yoong men in temperance of hayres both in multitude and strength exceedes the yoong men of these our countries in the highest degree Let somewhat more in this our treatise be attended vpon and diligently coÌ„sidered in the temperance of women touching hayre for that there are some who thinke the same farre disagreeing froÌ„ this our purpose that is a woman of cold moyst teÌ„perance is indewed with a vecie thick hayre who for the materiall substance of moystnesse following vpon her hath not onely many hayres but most long hayres for which cause women of moist complexions can neuer be bald And a flegmatike woman following the temperance of the whole body cannot in any respect want hayres and sometimes exceedes therein farre otherwise then common course Except a woman of moderate and due temperance which cannot ouer passe the boundes and limites of nature in the ornature of the body for those women are of pure feminine complexion and are not bearded like men for two causes the one because the vapours of the matrix are ranckly deuoyded by naturall profitmitie as also for that the ascending moysture thereof is subtilly occupied in the braines for the plentifull generation of haires so that the â—hin partes are vtterly barrained thereby Then touching those hayres which haue comely treases vpon the eye-lids bankes of the browes doe shewe the excellent ornature and seemely grace of nature by a certaine liberall benefite in beautifiâ—ng the womans proportion tarre aboue all other creatures for as these hayres are outwardly planted so are they regarded as increasing and springing vp in their due disposition by an outward view for if they did follow the temperature of men they should grow confusedly and without order Then how greatly doe those women scandelize both nature and affection which by colouring crisping platting or striking forth of their haires doe deforme and disguise their fauour and countenance in the open shame of the world notwithstanding all which are not able to alter the seemely shewes of nature whose power both in the head banckes of the browes and eye-lids is both absolutely and artificially expressed And I would haue it further knowne and marked that the difference of moystnesse and drinesse in natures goodly works is vnlike as if graine or seedes were planted or sowed in earth of two natures so that the one should be in temperance more fruitfull then another so doth the haire followe the temperance of the skinne both in substance complexion and colour In like sort as the hayres in the heads of women be moyst or drie after their temperance so vniuersallie both the hayres in the bankes of the browes and eye-lids are drie because the continuall humectation of the eyes purgeth the same But twise and once is either man or woman happie who safegard their head vnder a drie temperance for that moyst corruptions within do speedilie and dangerously alter the outward hayre to become gray and grisly and the rather if the body be vnequally distempered by any colde and vaporous disease Therefore two sortes of gray hayres are to be considered vpon herein The first sort thorow the rage of surfetting youth in the vntimely age of man especially when the temperance is altered by cold venerian vapours the extreame malice whereof suggesteth these colde and perfect diseases of feuers bloudy eyes flegmatike spittle impostumations short breathinges head aches as also the whirling and giddinesse of the braines There are also gray hayres which naturally fall vpon the pure olde age of man signifyeng temperance chastitie soundnesse of body as pleasure and health to the graue As these graye hayres were attained and gotten by wisdome and good aduise so are they preserued and continued as an ornament of great and inestimable honour to olde age Likewise after the temperance of hayre the nayles of the hands and feete are preserued or decayed in good or euill condicion and estate and yet they doe not so speedily alter by the interchange of the inward humours as the hayre doth Dyoscorides sayth that the increment of nayles proceedeth of pure bloud his reason is for that if the nayles decline and putrifie a freshe nourishment springeth thereof againe Cornelius Celsus sayth because the vaines beginne and end in the fingers and toes therefore nature sheweth an outward worke like a comely pentise to couer the same Ruellius sayth the flegmaticke and moyst man hathe a moste prolixe increment in the nayles for that there is a continuall moyste interflowing vapour from the sinewes feeding and nourishing the same So the hot and chollericke man hath sharpe thin and little nailes because large moisture from the sinewes wanteth thereto Theophrastus Paracelsus saith a moyst woman hath thinne short nailes if shee bee aptlye menstruous or els not Galen saith if the plat chest or bulke of the bodie be wide and broadeâ— so that
of all thinges in winter and waxeth more outward and stronger with the increase of the yeare vntill by the temperature of the sunne it bee powerfull and mightie Arnoldus de noua villa affyrmeth that the complexion of man ariseth and falleth with the temperature or distemperature of the yeare so may we gather hereby that choller rageth and super aboundeth more in sommer then winter only by an intentiue qualitie Then fieam doth not argue no ful quantitie of heat in winter but rather sheweth some remissiuenesse therein for which we haue some opportunitie offered to discouer these liuing creatures of the water as the crab-fish and other shel-fishes whose outward vesiure is alwaies hard and drie yet there inward temperance is moyst and soft especiallie in winter The Phisitians doe minister these and suche like fishes to patients which are wasted and consumed vppon the loonges and liuer and other affected partes of the body as a speciall nourishment and restoratiue They are much deceiued herein for the egredience thereof proffereth litle moysture is of saltish taste and stubborne digestion And those which are indangered and vexed with that disease doe take best liking of easie and light meates which speedily doe digest There is another kinde of shell fishe called an Oyster is in operation easily conuerted to choller the constitution therof is most wholesome in winter vnder qualification of strong and eger feâ—stes they haue perfect digestion in the body of man by the bountifulnesse of pure good wine especially if the same It is an errour that rackt wines may be perfected by obseruing seasons of the yeare wine be vertuous in odour colour sapour and feruour then doth it putrifie corrupt bloud vnsetleth euill humours refresheth the senses But rackt wines are most vnwholesome for the body of man although the seasons of the yeare be obserued for perfecting them in their degree And furthermore wee must make coniecture of the inward temperance of fishes by their outward proportion and propertie of which there is foure sortes as chrustie shellie scalie soft and sleeke skinned fish Their inward causes doe most easily conuert into dangerous diseases if that circumspectly they be not remedied and preuented in their strange operation For whereas some kinde of fish are in their naturall propertie cold so are they flegmatike nourishing variable and grosse substance Whereas some kinde of fishe are hote so are they chollericke and of most churlish operation in the body of man Also there is some kinde of fish drie vnnourishable and returneth to slender excrementes But Auycen affirmeth that chollericke fish is best brooked and digested in winter and flegmaticke fishe in sommer And Ruellius with many other excellent writers doe commend the Sammon king of fishes which of verie nature ministreth If the Sâ—mon be moderately eaten is easily digested great safetie to the body of man both in sickenesse and health and hath a very perfect constitution to be resolued into pure bloud especiallie being dronke with wine as Cornelius Celsus sayth is an approued medicine for costiuenesse in the loonges and perfecteth the opilation of the liuer So also a most high and singular commendation belongeth to the constitutioÌ„ of the Gurnet And although fish is a lenitiue foode being of an extenuatethinne slimie substance yet are they of diuers temperatures and orders and hardly coniectured vpon in their seuerall operations for flegmaticke and vaporous fish nourisheth hollow belching immoderat thirst sower sharp fleame and as manie haue a moste greedie desire thereunto so their stomackes are mordicated and ouercharged vnder vilde monstrous and vaporous humours and not by the vnmeasurable meanes of anie distemperance otherwise And surely the stomacke indureth these vaporous humectations rather by euill nourishmentes then anie distemperance of the bodie or putrified corruptions in the ayre And yet there are very great considerations to be herein vnderstood whether these belchinges or coughinges proceede of euill nourishments or of naturall humours in the body or from accidentall corruptions in the ayre For if grosse feeding and euill nourishments be cause heereof then the vniuersall body is infected with fuliginous vapours of disposition yeelding to be pituitous and flegmaticke And if it proceede of naturall humours and the body inclined thereunto then the fleshe absâ—meth and by litle and litle mynorateth not onely in substance but digestion waxeth weake the guttes clung the liuer and loonges waste the sinewes and vaines in their naturall and iust course of bloud stoope And also if it proceede of the corruption and interchange of the ayre the euidence thereof is regarded in the alteration and deflowring of the excrementes by a pituitous disposition of rewins in all partes of the body There is also another moste hote and contrary excrement called choller as it is deciued from the liuer so doth it outrage and superabound in the bodies of those men ouer whom it beareth rule If the strength thereof grow great and troublesome it is best remedied by euacuation downeward so that the humours be before vnsetled by some preparatiue medicine But if the stomacke be therewith ouercharged it were not amisse by moyst vomites to be aduaunced vpward And yet there be manie which cannot be so helped both for that they be naturallie disframed as also for that their passage from the gall to the bowels is ouer-little and more larger about the stomacke comprehending excessiue excrementes which impureth vitall bloud ouer grosly For vnto whome such choller is generated in the stomacke cannot otherwise be withdrawne except by naturall euacuation downeward therefore it is both vnnaturall and without arte to purge them vpward except there cannot be deuoydance otherwise especially and the rather because of a greene rotten prassiue substaunce congested in the stomacke There is a further and a more higher waight to be heere in respected as not onely in putting a difference in knowing the diuers natures of this choller but an artfull experience in purging and putting away the same For if it proceede from the liuer it is yellow and pale if it ingender vppon the stomack it is greene like to the colour of a Leeke if it breede thorow a malicious corruption it is ouerprassiue and an enemie to all the naturall and sensible members of the body deflowreth discoloureth and defaceth mans natiue and perfect complexion and in it selfe fauoureth a venomous propertie Galens opinion is that if a cold liuer be warmed vnder anie accidentall heate it increaseth and ingendreth a profluous choller exceedeth all the heates of stomacke and all other partes of the body although they be neuer so full of feruour and heate And greene choller hath for his condition and qualitie an exceeding heate which thorowe any accidentall dislike it be chased from the stomacke doth forthwith recourse to the liuer and desireth a perfection therein Although appetite delighteth to gnawe and whet vpon grose and fulsome meates and to infarce and ingorge the stomacke therewith so doe they contagiously breede nourish and
coorses of most noble personages which doo cendensate into substance with the flesh by long continuance as is afterwardes taken vp for perfect Mumy Ther is an other sort of Mumy which commeth by means of men trauelling ouer the high mountaines of Arabia are oftentimes swallowed vp in the dangerous deepnesse of the sandes their flesh by large continuance of times concreat therwith growing to be of one perfect substance nature together the Arabian writers do much commend this kind of Mumy Now to returne to our purpose in the naturall causes of cold and heate for that there was neuer anie able to shewe the action of colde and heate in one like qualitie of the same And who was euer able to draw the strength of hote causes to take effect from mans naturall heate Or who was euer able or yet would bring to passe that cold thinges should take their action of colde and heate in one like degree from mans naturall heate Except in suffocating the sences vtterly thereby For cold medicines do in their owne propertie and nature follow their owne strength and qualitie in the bodie Galen proueth by the example of cold water which if it be inuested with an accidentall heate will by potentiall essence in it selfe returne to a naturall propertie of coldnesse For as water hath a secret interflowing from the vaines of the earth which although it hath some secret heate by vapours or the influent exhalations of the elementes ascending and discending yet is it in propertie altogether cold without alteration and therefore it is to be regarded that hote fire is extinguished and put out with scalding water so medicines many times haue an action of heate yet of their potentiall power they doe ouercoole and infrefe the body So likewise there is another degree of medicines of cold actions which although they be altered by art to become of a more hote power yet doe they returne to the former first frigiditie yet altogether without excellencie in it selfe So water doth returne alwaies to a peculiar and naturall coldnesse Therefore if medicines be ministred in anie degree to the body and therewithall doe congeale and extreame with coldnesse it is done in the propertie and nature of medicine not because they are preferred beyond their accustomed action Now it is further to be inquired whether medicines in the fourth degree dronke vnder euident coldnesse may in anie sort be quite translated from the naturall heate of man For that it doth not much appertaine to our question wee will not much here dispute with Galen neither is it a matter of anie importance or waight It cannot be denied but if these cold medicines be in small quantitie proffered vpon anie distemperance of the body cannot escape altogether the worke of nature but therewithall profiteth the bodie For like as medicines framed and composed of fumitorie much preuaile in helpe of the dropsie so the disease called Hydros that is when the skinne is filled with water is presently cured with blacke popie And Galen somewhat touched in conscience practiseth to wash away his former obiection against the preparation of popie seemeth to admit the vse thereof against those hote vlcerations so it be both artificially tempered and naturally composed with the complexion Then such medicines are not in same quantitie alwaies so deepelie foreset with cold but that they may haue some naturall instinct of heate especially such hearbes which are in the second and third degree colde and may not altogether reiect and dispossesse themselues from the strength of heate So doe they easily conuert themselues to become in vnion with bodily heate and their wholesome kindly temperance quietly secretly and sodainly subdueth and appeaseth all extreame distemperances of heate in the bodie But Theophrastus Paracelsus on the contrarie affirmeth that Galen is herein greatly deceiued For he further sayth that cold medicines haue a priuate and effectuall nature of cooling and intertained into the body as possibly to be indured vntill it be regenerat with bodily heate Paracelsus reason herein is for that heate and cold may in both their properties obtaine a double distinction as either are they to do some effect in their own properties or els by accidentall meanes the which hath bene sufficiently handled in the former books of these temperaments especially in the qualities of dry and moyst thinges We may finde out sufficient similitudes and testimonies of cold and hote things as popie being of cold nature so Henbane is of hoâ—e nature although they be hotly tempered in their single natures together without artfull confection into the body are not of equall operation so are their actions vnequall and discrepant one from another and their accidentall heate hath supreame intendment in the one and disgraceth the other So likewise if Celledin be dronke in naturall kindnesse of it selfe much profiteth the body but being receiued into the body by an accidentall heate doe greatly hurt and distemper the vital parts of man not so much in respect of action as of operation And certainly as there may be a translation of all thinges beyond nature So oyle is not simply called hote because it is turned into a flame of fire but because it hath a natural and powerfull heate in it selfe For surely hote nourishmentes although they be put into the bodie in the nature of fire yet are they no fire for such kinde of nourishmentes are oftentimes to profite the body in place of medicines and yet the same trasferred beyond the common course of temperance disprofiteth and distempereth the body I would haue it to be heere vnderstoode that whatsoeuer altereth the disease is a medicine except onely that meate and sustenance which aduaunceth it selfe beyond common temperance otherwise all foode ministred vnto the bodie should be medicinable sheweth some naturall effect eyther of liking or disliking propertie For some are of equall power to comfort and nourish the body some doe alter the body to some vnkindly distemperance some doe purge the bodie some do surfet the body and some doe poyson the body We may not therefore coniecture that all sortes of meates suffered in the body are medicines but we must certainly perswade our selues that all purgations ministred vnto the body are poyson some for present operation although not deadly for purgatiue medicines are of three natures In their first nature lenitiuely doe approue and molifie the body In their second propertie vehemently doe search and strongly feede vpon the body They doe in their third propertie insume nature vtterly oppresse the bodie by a sharpe adust fluxing of bloud or cls a deadly benumming of the vitall partes As all naturall sustenance agreeing with the body is conuerted to the substance of flesh and bloud so all poysons of what condition soeuer they be after they be chastised from their poisonsome malice are most curable antidotes and remedies against all venims and stenchfull corruptions which eyther offend or ouercharge the wholesome estate of mans life Yet Galen
The Flower of Phisicke VVherein is perfectlie comprehended a true introduction and method for mans assured health with three bookes of Philosophie for the due temperature of mans life In which easily may be perceiued the high wonderfull workes of God in the gouernance of all thinges Written by W. C. as a glasse of true knowledge for the better direction of al willing vertuous practitioners Non est viuere sed valere vita Printed at London by Roger Ward 1590. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR Iohn Rooper knight of Lynstead parke in Kent pencioner to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie and one of the Prothonotaries to her Maiesties highnesse honourable court of the Bench at Westminster W. C. wisheth long life increase of worship and continual health I Haue vvell regarded manie outward testimonies right worshipfull from your invvarde desire freely addressed tovvardes learning and vertue And for the continuall exercise of those indovvements in you am mooued the rather to iudge that God blesseth you in Iacob and the vvorld loueth you vvith Solon For as you haue attained high preheminences in this life you do not possesse nor inioy theÌ„ vvith Crates the Philosopher otherwaies then gods vvill and pleasure hath allotted you preferring a conteÌ„platiue care beyond the transitorie reach thereof Therefore I might the more boldly vtter your Heroycall life to be matched and performed vvith the good indeuours of that noble knight Scipio Affricanus for vvhose behalfe Lelius in the best degree dischargeth his dutie and in three respectes aduanceth before the senat the chiualrie of his noble knighthoode As chiefly his loue to the senat with deare fauour and manie hard aduentures for his countrey and firme heart to the oppressed so likewise you are nothing inferiour to Scipio in faithfull heart towardes your prince and countrey haue purchased an endlesse solace to your inward soule thereby And therewithall doe extend your readie benignity and familiar friendship for incoraging of the better sorte so your good aduise neuer faileth to admonishe the worser sorte And as the tree of vertue hath sprong vp vvith you and your house so there is a most desired hope amongst all good men that it may floorish and bring forth fruits for the benefite of the Common wealth to the end of the worlde Then lastly touching the true simpathie of my heart which in double duetie I and mine doe owe vnto you and your house may not vvithout some due knovvledge and sincere seruice pretermit to expresse in the course of this my life by executing some thankfull action for the same Hauing therefore at this present presented and preferred vnto your worshipfull discretion all the whole counsels and high iudgementes of Phisicke written by those monarche Phisitions of the world Galen Hypocrates Auycen and Dyoscorides with three bookes of Philosophie comprehending the admirable workes of nature in the frame of all liuing things In reading hereof you shall find most rich treasures discouered from a fruitfull soile A pure vvater running from a cleare fountaine And most sweet flowers from the pleasant garden of humaine and liberall arts The condignitie thereof hath had a right vse and free permission for many hundred yeares before although I haue at this present broke the yee and smoothed the path from the greeke and Latine so that euerie reasonable practicioner may make safe enteraunce into the bodilie health of man thereby Beseeching your worshippe to make acceptation thereof and pardon my boldnesse committing your health long life and prosperitie to bee continued and blessed by him that gouerneth all thinges by the instinct order of diuine power Your Worships in all humble duetie William Cleuer TO THE READER FOr that in this our age sundry strange alterations in the elements distraming the bodily health of man vppon earth with manie vnusuall corruptions and also for that man hath a proper inclination to grosse libertie contagiously nourishing manie vncleane diseases in him selfe as a venemous serpent in his own bosome for remedy whereof as for the diligence and carefull furtherance of manie vnskilfull practicioners with whome the world is ouercharged I haue put forth this generall worke for the benefite of the common-wealth and what profite may ensue heereof time approueth the same Remembring the olde prouerbe Vino vendibili non est opus suspensa hedera Fare you well In Cleueri Medicinam Artis Appollineae multum studiosa inuentus Hippocrati debet plura Galene tibi Plurima Cleuero quia libro claudit in vno Hippocrates quicquid siue Galenus habet Iohannes Downe A generall Diet both for sicknes AND HEALTH IN all former ages to this present time in which we now liue the opinion of writers was neuer doubted of whether abstinence or fulnesse did ouercharge or moste offend bodily health And neuer yet found out to the contrarie but that euery degree of the world haue both felt and confessed eyther of them in their excesse were sharpe and expresse enemies both to the lawe of nature and bodilie temperance of this life Yet seeing both the learned as the vnlearned although with difference had rather offend both the sound as the sicke with the immoderate saturitie then with sparing abstinence for which cause in ministring of medicines it were needefull to shewe their inconuenience on eyther side A full and satisfied bodie is chiefly preserued fortified and continued with strength and flourishing liuelihood by wholesome Iulepes and such like clarified potions according to the property of the sicknesse And a pennurious bodie is weakened punished exhausted and oftentimes perisheth in most sharpe agonies except it be comforted preserued and renewed by some restible electuaries and such like And surely such bodies which are perfect vnder temperance and strength if at anie time they be distempered with griefe or sicknes may forthwith be tempered seasoned salued by medicinable help for medicine most of al reioyceth to shew forth power work high effects in a strong nature Certainly Auycen hath a very secret and metaphisicall iudgement heerem who commandeth that nature and medicine whether in strength or weakenesse be alwayes vnited and neyther in health nor sicknesse do dissociat but solutiue medicines especially ought to be of diuers natures conuenient and agreeable for their propertie in euery seuerall age and naturall complexion with their iust and comprehensible maner of dyet to be in like sorte obserued therin although most commonly neglected and that not without decaie both to body and health onely and because equall measure of medecine with equall dyet and equall disposition is not added neyther with consideration of what cause the sicknesse ruâ—â—eâ—h whether there be a likelihood therein to continue for any long time or shortly to be perfected or whether it be gentle or sharpe and whether it consisteth and slayeth in one course or in hereticall nature confirmeth All which as before sayd is vtterly vnrespected Some ancient writers holde at speciall veritie aswell in great reading as in principall experience that headdie
and stately diseases happening in the constitution of strong bobies 〈◊〉 dyet shal minister best remedie for their mittigation so when long and langushing sicknesses distemper and vexe the bodie thinne dyet is verie daungerous For consider that fulnesse of bodie in sharpe and sodaine sicknesses is moste difficult putting this difference in either of them that as continuall fulnesse pestreth and inageth the disease in a fleshie bodie to become more stronger so on the contrarie if a patient bee incombred and infeebled with the feuer Ephimcras or anie such like sicknesse surely thinne dyet is not then meete for such a thinne body seeing strength thereby is decayed and thorowe variable tormentes all the members venomed the vitall bloud corrupted and benu 〈…〉 ed as the spirituall partes of man distructioned the remedie heereof aswell to the first as to the last is to obserue the constitution of the body that like as hote fires are sonest quenched with cleere and pure water before it exceede so these fleshly rages are subdued if the extreame thirstinesse of the body thorow colde remedies bee quieted and mittigated before it 〈…〉 tch to the farthest boundes and becommeth contumatious and without remedie Also a bodie almost deuoured with emptinesse and where both nature vigour and bloud are quite ouerthrowne cannot easily be recouered except by artificiall remedie and thorow due oportunitie be nursed vp therefore it is a most singular skill commended by the learned writers of all ages in sicknesse to preserue and continue nature in her full power and strength And to comfort nourishe and increase strength and 〈…〉 re in a body fallen away For oftentimes a strong bodie in sickenesse fauoureth himselfe is both similiar and defensible against sicknesse resisting the assaults of many diseases interchancing in mans life Wheras a thinne and leaue bodie easily is vanquished when both sicknesse and penurye dangerously attempt the ruin and decay therof As the desperate estate of man in sicknesse is eyther furthered or hindered by fulnesse or emptinesse so will not I confirme those bodies who haue ingrossed their garbages with excesse fatnesse and stuffed all their members with superfluous humors as hauing fed vpon sundrie inordinate varieties of meates or infected with varietie of diseases As they liue without order so I purpose not to prescribe an order where fatal confusion hath ouerrun them Furthermore set not the blind ignorance of many vnskilfull practitioners be herein pertermitted who should with moderate cherishing help nature doe with immoderate chasing hinder and inflame those hote bodies which were before infected by the most hot seasons of the yeare In steade of thin nutriment doe ingurge their stomackes with thicke spices or drudges of hygh hot and subtill operation whereas in those sicknesses regard and view must be taken vppon sundrie and seuerall casualties which strangely fall out in sicknesse that neyther appetite be cloyed or clunged with ouermuche or ouer little resection nor yet that nature be ouerdried eyther by great sweates or ouermuch resisting or wrastlinges with the force of sicknesse These strong diseases moste commonlie happen vnder a swift chrysis whose mightie predomination ouerruleth difframeth and disseperateth those bodies from due temperance which shoulde be thereto subiect and framed These diseases The strength of nature furthereth all medicines by a right constitution in sicknesse most violently and swiftly settle in the roote of the heart except preuented and aleuiated by present medicine aswell that nature may weaken the force as displace and expell the poyson of the disease And for as much then as it doth ingender vppon the liuer from which place the bloud is soonest corrupted and therewithall draweth and staineth all the inward partes of man In the end becommeth pestilentiall and therewithall the sences thorow the same so farre ouercharged as that manie times colâ—quation or destruction inuaâ—eth the mind in the losse of life Therfore whosoeueâ— desireth to cure these or such like infectious diseases must chiefly prepare and season the body with waters of cold and naturall hearbes in the first and second degree before The pestilâ—ncâ— ought to be preuented before â—oâ— the taken at the heart and thâ— medicine must be stronger thâ—n the disease the disease be possessed then foorthwith flux the body by some gentle and potatiue electuarie in equall and artificialâ— degree fauourably casting out the infected humours Forthwith after these painefull defatigations let naturall sweate and quiet sleepe consolidat and refresh the body to become more vâ—gent and the stomacke more sharpe Then next thereunto it were not good that emptinesse or abstinence were vsed but to haue sustinance in continuall practise not of the grosest but of the chosen sortes of meates for if the poores thorow emptinesse be left open and vnshut for want of nourishment to increse naturall bloud and strength are not onely in danger againe to be corrupted but doe stain foyzen and infect others Then howe grieuous a thing is it in beholding some busie medlers repayring vnto sicke pacientes doe not in anie perfect skill distinguish vpon the disease whether there be any crud and rawe matter or concockt setled in some part of the body or whether the disease consist and stand at a stay or increase or whether nature be of any forcible power in the body or no but without searching the cause or vnderstanding the matter of the sicknesse doe preferre their owne hazard and exasperating the disease eyther with fulsome medicine or grosse nourishment stuffing their sicke bodies eyther by entisement or force And whereas before they had some abilitie appetite forthwith waxeth wearie and lothesome in them Galen affirmeth that the perfectest rule to The patient might bee nourished and measured vnder appetite health is to represse a cold sicknesse by nourishing foode so that nourishment and appetite agree He giueth no such large libertie to the hote diseases notwithstanding manie haue aduentured in the greatest heate and trauell of diseases not onely to purge the bodie to cut vaines and let bloud but also haue stifeled their bodyes rather with inchaunted meates then wholsome medicines and for that nature canot disgest such grosse imperfections stand in so hard a stay of recouerie as commonly in the end become immedicable and mortall Cornelius Celsus a most excellent writer affirmeth that a satictie and fulnesse of meate in sicknesse is neuer profitable aâ—â— therefore to auoyd eyther mischiefe doth appertaine to singular skill The safest and directest passage for the vnskilfull phisition herein is that the patient rather be continued with a thinne diet then vnordered fulnesse so that he be not ouermuch extenuated Galen and Hypocrates both consenting together affirme that fasting and thinne diet doe surely and secretly mortifie such diseases which happen vnder surfet or anie other vnordered and glottonous meates and a staying of manie sharpe diseases that followe thereupon And some high clarkes holde opinion that abstinence ought in time of sicknesse to be guided with discretion and
all medicines to be congruent and martched vnder perfect constitution and of double operation which is aswell to comforte nature as to expell the disease for if the substance of strength be diminished and the malice of the disease increased appetite and nature are estranged and variable within themselues For nature manie times desireth those thinges which appetite abhorreth the reason is for that appetite is ouercloyed with diuersitie of meates and interchaunge of medicines that both the stomacke and all the lustes of the body incessantly are pursued fatigated and improuidently throwne vpon many dangerous extremities Therefore vnder these meane constitutions whereas tranquilitie and appetite flourish and beare sway there is a good and happie expectation as if the vitall partes be not wearied the disease may be cured and the decayed strength by little and little restored Surely when the heart thorow ouer great abstinence is languished the stomacke cloyed and the liuer viduated and forsaken of the wholsome bloud All thinges thereby haue lost their naturall and proper course that forthwith opiâ—ations and ventosites in the guttes worke all contrarie indirections to health and the rather because the miseriake vaynes which are the conduit pipes of all good bloud from the liuer are obstructed and stayed it were not immethodicall so to distinguish these cold and hote diseases as that one of them in their qualitie and originall may be knowne from the other and the better vnderstood and furthered thereby to health For these cold diseases proceede of earthly 〈…〉 ses are subiect and bound to watery elementes whereupon cold and humid vapours of congealed thicknesse ingender into grosse substance so that all naturall heate is excluded from comforeâ—ig mans bloud thorow which melancholike heauâ—nesse is generated which moste principally oftendeth And the malicious operation that resteth in this humour maketh the bodie leaue and colde stirâ—eth vp the passion of the hart intâ—icateth the wit and vnderstanding to all duâ—nesse and blunteth memory These bodyes are much incumbred with putrisied seuers which proceede of vndigested humâ—dities and augmented with â—uming venâ—osites putrified about the muskels vaynes and ioyntes Furthermore all maner of ruines are hereby drawne to all the partes of the body which vapours after that coldnesse hath ingrossed them to the lowe partes of man called Caâ—arrizans the passages and proper wayes of nature from the spâ—eane to the mouth of the stomacke are intercluded Be it further knowen that these colde rewines thereby issue from one member to an other and infect the bodie with manye cold diseases and are called by three names Catarri Branchus Corizan for so Arnoldus de noua villa setteth them foorth Catarri infect the lightes Branchus infecteth the heade and cheekes Corizam stuffeth and infarâ—eth the nostrels with most humid fluxes and sometimes concockt into verie hard substance by meanes of continuance These bodies are best conserued by a naturall perfect coniunction of drie meates inwardly digested by artificiall means reuiuing the principall members before decayed for lacke of naturall heate In these and such like bodies I doe greatly commend a greedy appetite and a plenary dyet especially in regard that many such complections are fâ—â—xible and ouermuch spend nature of their owne inclinement Therefore plenarie fresh variety of sustenance helpeth many of these sortes of men to naturall heare euen as the hard stone is molified and findered to nothing by manye droppes of raine or as the strong and slately oake thorow moyst issues becommeth putrified so these cold and moyst complections in their natures wash and vanish to nothing The moyst â—raâ—p the shaking palsie the dangerous dropsie the collicke in sundry degrees are the generable 〈◊〉 her 〈…〉 benâ—â—mning the members to become 〈◊〉 one to another for vpon these diseases the vaines become conugated and appetite disfranchised for that corrupt humours may not haue perfect resolution besides all which the whole body is instated with colde influences producing these venâ—meâ—◠〈…〉 rpions Asclides Iposarca and Timpana the one is the materâ—â—l cause in offence of nature the second is an actiue cause inflatâ—ng al the members to become swelling and monstrous the small cause is delatiue conuerting all good and perfect nourishmentes to windie and waterie substance so when these extrâ—mities grow vppon the guttes called Colon and Ylyon are shut vp and thereby both the Dropsie Tympany the wind and stone Collicke preposterously creepe in besides which the raynes of the backe by a grauesly congested substance heereby bendeth and beâ—â—mmeth crooked All which are not to be deueyded without pure and regular dyet of increasing wholesome bloud to become vigent in nature Therfore the disease hauing a scowring vertue is principally comforted and cherished with sweete meates tarsed with vineger to worke a sharpe disposition contrarie to euaâ—uation least that the bodie grow subtile incisiue and euer resolutiue And yet Galen plainly affirmeth that sweete meates are aptly conuerted to choller but â—aâ—t viniger commixed therewith doth greatly fortifie the subtle pearâ—ing and â—â—tring vertue causing the grosse humours to become pure and easily to issue Galen sayth Non quosuis sed rudes duntaxat videor taxare morbos atque potissimum non incerta diuinatione quam probabili conuclâ—ra egrorum indagatione conditionem which is I doe not prescribe and limit euerie disease but the grosse and most dangerous diseases and chiefly doe I sâ—arch out their natures not by vncertaine gâ—sse as by probable coniecture then let not occasion be omitted of more larger speech in such bodâ—â—s subiect to these moyst sicknesses before spoken and of another sort of men which oftentimes passe from this world by vntimely death in strength of youth being grosse and corpulert in their stature which men difficultie indure any adicction to alter nature when sicknesse languisheth vpon them And although they are of measurable abilitie in naturall vigour yet vnable to beare the burthen of sicknesse or subiect their bodies to any stronge accidence but foorthwith their gathered grosnesse is conuerted to a thinne and weake debilitie for that in the first degree of sicknes the vertue digestiue is taken away so that most commonly meat becommeth loathsome to their sight whereas in health the vertue digestiue beeing most stronge did eat much and made few meales Whosoeuer therefore will eyther counsell or comfort any sicke patient must obserue the naturall complection with diet thereunto and that supplement of medicene both in qualitie and quantity be framed aswel in preseruation as restauration of nature and therewithall by contrarie effectes alter the disease as may best serue to the opportunity of health Galen playnly affyrmeth that hot complections are altered with cold sicknesses and cured with moderate medicines And Auycene agreeth hereunto that if the complection of man may haue alteration either by medicine or disease and once recouered to health is euer after most perfect and of longer continuance in this world and lesse subiect to sicknesse for that nature taketh such
poure downe super aboundaunce of moisting showers disseasoning the earthlie fruites of mans mortall estate so at sundry times great famins and mortalities ouerspread mighty kingdomes and nations of the world thereby the naturall order of all thinges are discomforted and the temperance of naturall heat quite taken away for surely there can be no motion of attraction where ther is no motion of expulsion Therefore in those miserable seasons of the world where famine and hunger increaseth the mortal pestilence shortly after rageth as the instrument of wrath for the sin of fulnes The reason hereof is because emptines of mans body draweth in st 〈…〉 ing coÌ„mixed vapours of the ayre which corrupt smuge the naturall spirits that al the parts of man therby looseth his natural generation of blood therefore Hypocrates most aptly sayth Nisi pecoribus simus rudiores non aliter componamus famâ—m quae ex infami antionae caritate contingit quam nimiâ— saturitatis satietatis antea vindicta ruina which is except we be more rude then bruit beastes and ouer grosse in our owne conceites may not otherwise compare reckon or account hunger and famme which thorow a notable dearnes of victuals happeneth then a very reuenge ruine of ouer great fulnesse and satiety before And in another place saith Viâ—tum tenuem exquisitum si antea paulo plentor fuerit magis periculosum esse agnoscamus Let vs confesse a thin and exquisue diet is more dangerous if it were before a full diet Then is it to be marueiled why the creator denieth not to giue hys creatures food in due season coÌ„sidering how much how greatly and wickedly they are abused and dishonoured in the sensual libertie of mans nature Surelye such is the disposition of man who had rather lead appetite to a desperate ryot of all thinges then to the custome of a satisfied and contented measure the first doth nothing varie froÌ„ the desire of bruit beasts the other commeth more nearer naturall appetite Galen therefore reprooueth mans fauour towardes inexpleble libertie with these wordes Natura tantum appetat quantum ferri potest quantum facillime concoqui potest Let nature only desire asmuch as can be borne and as much as easily may be digested but the cold stomach vouchsafeth not to indure this 〈◊〉 of liuing for that appetite ouerreacheth dig 〈…〉 〈◊〉 warme 〈◊〉 misliketh where appetite is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their digestion yet there cannot bee at all times an â—qâ—all prescription obserued For an ordinarie diet to a â—ound boâ—y hatâ— the quâ—ckest meanes to health if the body bee 〈◊〉 prepared that the disease more easier may bee expâ—â—â—d And those diets are most directest to all sicke patientes â—hose properties are both curatiue as restoratiue Manardus in his second booke of diseases counselleth to find the apt constitution of the bodie both in sicknes health In sicknes because the disease may be outwardly 〈◊〉 and inwardly corrected to amendment In health 〈◊〉 be haâ— because euery man may vnderstand what is 〈◊〉 vn 〈…〉 t. it for his disposition that he neither exceede â—o 〈◊〉 for the dangers before expressed Nor decline to 〈◊〉 〈…〉 s because ventosire motions are easily ingendâ—ed thorow moouing vapours For nature immediatly 〈◊〉 vpon some labouous and superfluous matter sinding no 〈…〉 nance otherwise to feede vpon And yet I find that 〈◊〉 in old diseases is a present remedy for therby the matter is â—â—miniâ—hed dried ripened consumed for when nature findeâ—â— no matter or substance to work vpoÌ„ altereth it self vpon the disease quite chaseth disperseth the same Yet let heed be taken that the subtil humidities be not so much resolued dried wherin nature is vtterly repressed let heed be taken that no maling humor being possest of one part of the body foorthwith possesse an other part settle in the root o the heart Take heed the sinewy members be not ouerweakned especially the stomach which is a sinewy meÌ„ber take heed the poores be not ouermuch opened or stopped for the one may extract variable vapors of corruption the other stop the fulsome matter vnder the skin breaking out to outward fluxes blaines which may most ragingly ouerspread mans bodie for that the inward cause was not before perfectly corrected Indeed this abstinence very well beseemeth old and moiste diseases otherwise in fadoming the bottome of mans nature such deepe abstinence is not permitted â—et in these saâ—ter ages and among some new practitioners this kind of abstinence is drawen to vse in cuâ—ing the most fulsome and filthy diseases of the world thorow which mans body is infectuously stained by the slimy ryotous course of his life so that hereby euery 〈…〉 full man that can bring to knowledge the names of some certâ—â—â— simples although without propertie composition prop 〈…〉 n or degree foorthwith among the ignorant sort 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without learning knowledge method or estimation 〈◊〉 names of Phisitians Surely they which row at an vncertaine marke shal nothing preuaile especially for that being ignoraunt of the complection as also the medicine being repugnant more harmeth then profiteth wherefore many are secretely and sodainly ouertaken with death vnder the vsurped regiment of a painted diet aswell when they thinke to mortifie the inward corruptions doo ouermuch excieâ—ate the bodie as also stop vp the entercourses of blood in ouerstirring nature to a fresh increase so that intemperance euer after pursueth these men to their graue Many times these diets are ioyned to vnskilfull practitioners as high iust plagues for wicked offences both for that by them naturall heate is extinguished appetite destroyed and the complection discoloured These diets ought to be tempered to this good effect as that drines and humiditie are to be vnited of one subtill coniunction and propertie And therefore Cornelius Celsus saith that drie subtil and hungrie airs are most best for these diets if their complections be thicke and grosse But low and vaporous ayres are most preseruing of thin pearcing bodies and open diets And further saith that interchanges of diets and ayres for winter and sommer by seuerall habitations produce health and long life But Manardus affyrmeth that commixed bodies continue long liued vpon high grounds open ayres and full diets Therefore it is a most excellent contemplation for euerie man to cast vp his sences and perfectly find vnder what temperance hee liueth for the wholsome regiment of health and therewithall to way his bodily complection alwaies directing his diet habitation and course of lyuing according to the same And lastlie let euery man beware of varietie and grosnesse of meates and varietie and grosnes of diets which ingender and bring foorth varietie and grosnes of diseases Howe times and seasons ought to bee obscrued vvhen diseases doo most abound OPportunitie of very propertye and naturall disposition euerie where perfourmeth great occasion in the accomplishment of all thinges And trulie in healing and curing of diseases most greatest of all for not without great
in the accidence of euerie disease there be a true obseruation to consider whether the disease be ghostly or bodily moist or drie and whether the bodie be of good or euill complexion whether the stomach and the liuer bee cold or hot whether the humours be quick or dead and whether the operations be heauie or sharp Whether choller hath a burning preheminence in the lunges or mouth of the stomach or whether a dust choller haue kindeled an vnproper heat vpon the spleen The second obseruation is when the disease consisteth staieth in a propertie whether the humours haue passage and due course by the straight conduites of the bodye or no or whether there be a quicke springing bloud in the vaines or whether the disease relinquisheth or retaineth nature The third obseruation in concoction is to consider the pulses whether they be hard or soft hot or colde moist or drie and whether the humours haue perfect resolution or no. Surely without perfect regard of all these causes to be eyther direct or indirect in sicknesse there is no intermedling with purgation before cuncoction be pefectly comprehended for if in sicknes there be no alteration why should nature be vehemently vexed As purging when the accidentes are most strong doth nothing els but styrre and chafe the disease to wax more powefull and cruell And to purge when the disease consisteth disquieteth both the disease and the patient also being at rest besides which not onely disperseth but venometh the disease to be in all the parts of the body vnperfect so that neyther in the beginning or the â—state medicine auaileth in the disease but the surest passage for health life in al sicke patients is that in the vttermost course of sicknesse purgation be placed that is when al putrified infections be gathered to a certaintie by coÌ„coction notwithstanding there is an vniuersal iudgement pronounced of the best sort that all such medicines which extenuâ—te and diminish eyther the extremity of the disease or vnsettle other congeled humours therwith are to practised a lowed and vsed both in the beginning and estate so that the disease thereby may more swyftly bee hastened and ripâ—ned to concoction yet it is not herein so spoken that so large a libertie is graunted as to vse any purgation at all except mollefaction or extenuation which only is permitted in strong accidenâ—s for styrring vp congested humours or prouoking bodies insoluble And so long as the beginning of euery disease continueth so long these weake medicines may be perfectlie permitted it cannot hold together that the sicknesse of one moneth hath equall beginning with the disease that hath continued but one weeke and yet who dare be so bolde as to purge within the compasse thereof before the signes of manifest concoction appeare Certainly if the beginning of the disease continue in one accidence sixe monethes or a whole yeare before concoction be gathered yet there ought to be no troubling or molesting the body with purgatiue medicine both because the disease is thereby vnperfected and the course to concoction quite stopped vp It is to be wished and counselled for all such to take heed and be hereby aduertised which run at hasard with present purgation vpon all diseases for the learned Phisitian which in iudiciall reading is before made to vnderstand the same is neither to bee warned counselled nor taught Lastlie no practioner is abridged either by medicine or diet or any or all good indeauours to drawe such diseases to concoction as a ready preparatiue for purgation which is a singular and perfect way to health agreeable to all the rules of Phisicke These thinges so highly considered who dooth not maruell to behold some carelesse rude persons who vnder the counterfeit shewe of Phisitians doo in the first beginning of diseases profer three or foure draughtes of desperate phisicke with purgations inchaunt the bodie of the sicke patient not onely to innumerable inconueniences but most commonly to dâ—ath it selfe These rather desire to behold the number of phisicke cuppes standing vpon tables round about them then the motion of nature in the diseased patient Heare may rightlie be vnderstood and perceiued that concoction ought to haue a most high superioritie in gathering preferring the vniuersal corruption of the body on a heape before purgation take place But there is a consociety of very daungerous persons in this our age whose custome and maner is the very same instant and day when they approch and drawe neere the sick patient doo first prescribe minoration doo the second day expect concoction the third day eradication the fourth day a potion consortatiue the custome hereof is doubtfull to be allowed both because the disease is caried by so large a compasse without stay into many afflictions â—ooseth his stomach grace lieth dead in the body vnmoueable and euerie seuerall confection may haue hereby a seuerall operatiue nature to doo harme in some fresh and contrarie propertie Auycen vtterly disaloweth their practise herein Howe much the preparing and seasoning of the body auaileth for the perfect altering of the disease to concoction whereby purgation may more naturallie and effectually doo the duetie of a trustie messenger in perfourming the intent of the Phisition the sicke patient shal euidentlie find the ease thereof being released from such and so great continual dolours Galen Hypocrates Auycen Dyoscorides doo confound and consent with this vertuous and medicable indeuor whereas these rude and corrupt practitioners in the firste instant and beginning of the infection minister a strong purgation in offence of the whole constitution is like as if a rotten fulsome channell were raked or stirred to the bottome corrupteth the sences and infecteth the ayre in more poysoned putrifaction so that many daungerous effectes insue thereby The skilfull phisitian dooth farre otherwise that as the sweete fountaine water or the pure celestiall showers of raine by litle and litle purge and purifie the fulsome sauours and contagions of the earth doo not onely keepe them vnder whereby their fulsome smelles breake not out but also by litle and litle vtterly taketh away both their intollerable foyzing the ayre as the corrupt stopping vp and poysoning the comfortable and essentiall estate of mans health Here followeth an other diligent obseruation that all bodies ouertaken with any vniuersall malefaction are not beesides the which clear free from other corruptions as hauing ingenderment with black fleamie yellowe choller so that one of them are verie offensiue to an other and therefore ought they to be mundified and diminished as two offensiue causes inconuenientlie conioined in one disease For if they â—ee not concocted and gathered to a mutuall certaintie their grosse and thicke matter being discouered and estraunged thinlie and vncertainlie breaketh into all the partes of the bodie For Auycen sayth thicke thinges are easily comprehended and swiftly excluded as euidently is perceiued in those diseases which happen in the breast as whether their spytcle bee thicke or thin is
scarslie reached vp because the shortnes of breathing from the lungs preuenting must of necessitie retire back Therfore when these partes cannot bee scowred by naturall action in the qualitie of the breath must in these seasons of infection be concocted seasoned together by medicine so that the one with the other may be confluxed out of the body There is an other obseruatioÌ„ that choller of what nature soeuer it be is not in his owne propertie to be more styfned but drawne more thin and open iâ— the humour of the sicknesse bee thicke but if the humour of the disease bee thinne then both choller and fleame must into due concoction bee thickly gathered and yet those bodies which be naturally fluxible are the easier emptied of those exâ—rements against the difficult bruntes of such infections And my further desire is that herewith bee set downe an other obseruation of naturall and vnnaturall choller which most vehemently aggrauateth the cause in sicknesse as being mingled with grosse and thick â—leame burneth in it selfe and inflameth the disease for that the propertie thereof cannnot bee seperated therefrom Also ther is choller which hath no issue is of a red bloody condition it is ingendred vpon the liuer redilie conioined with those diseases which happen vnder some preposterous chrysis Furthermore ther is a choller ingendred of euil meats which not perfectlie digested grosly gathereth into yâ— vaines do lie open to all infectious sicknesses altereth with the disease it selfe and tergiuer sateth from his owne propertie There is an other choller which resteth in the gall or els conuerteth to wholsom blood euerie disease by this choller is made more perfect and excellent doeth comfort the body in health and doeth of his owne propertie comfort the disease to concoction in all generall infections Furthermore in the beginning of euerie sicknesse you shall vnderstande whether there be any grosse choller adioyned therewith by two speciall notes the one if the vrine haue a verie thicke substance and the other if most vehement heate arise in the complection Surely surely let this be an vniuersall doctrine that all infections doo search and seeke after some excrementall superfluitie to become of more higher corruption in their supreame dignitie and estate As by hot choller the infection more vehemeÌ„tly rageth as by melancholike thoughts the disease becommeth more grosse and heauie by fleame the disease becommeth moâ—e cankered and yet naturall fleame conuerteth to nutrimentall substance and many times of verie propertie is a perfect medicine to withstand the assaultes of all hard and extreame infections Thus to conclude euen as the learned Phisitian neuer aduentureth his Patient at hasard so let all Practitioners by degrees regard euery disease from the beginning then by wisedome health is vniuersallie maintained not by hazard as in the same artfull knowledge many grieuous diseases are recouered from euill and venomous corruptions Next followeth to shewe what is to be done in the time of the increase estate decrease and falling away of euerie sickenesse IT now may be lawfull somewhat to take in hand a practise for purgation and yet no otherwise to purge then as concoction hath yeelded giueth leaue vnto For it is reason that nature be somewhat ruled and reformed whereby the tediousnesse of her burthen may be measurablie performed and shaken off most lightly The antient fathers although they haue layed open all the counsels of Phisicke verie largely yet none of them doe consent that it should be a lawfull action at the same instant to purge when the increase of the disease is powerfull for then is it doubtfull whether nature hath resigned her motiue course And therefore medicine ought to be stayed vntill nature returne againe in her owne propertie to the vttermost Some are in contrarie opinion doubtfull and vncertaine whether nature haue an actiue motion in the increase of euery sicknesse for if the chrysis be perfect and certaine there is then disease languishing and laborious if not then the disease is in some part discouered so that the remnaunt more easily is perfourmed By which meanes it so commeth to passe that there is a sodaine alteration and change of nature to a more better excellenter hope for in all such like diseases nature is approoued in her highest substance whether she be able to indure or no. And when there is a substantiall dissolution of the disease in the behoofe of nature the same is easily known and perceiued either by vrine or ordour or the temperature of the body And yet in all sharpe sicknesses the same is no consequent discouerture But it cannot be denied in those sicknesses which haue length and continuance that if nature perfectly be descryed is be strong powerfull and replenished with liuelâ—hood then the sicknesse hath free passage and euident approchment to full increase and therewithall manie times the bodie purgeth and fluxeth off her owne free propertie so that the motion of nature is greatly therein reuealed and surely the phisitian is cleared from any excesse daunger that may insue thereof so neyther is hee partaker of any good perfection that commeth thereby For in all diseases there are good and euill workes in the propertie of nature and withall there ought to be most high consideration in the studie and indeuour of the phisitian for the restauration both of nature and health together Whereas in sharpe diseases the phisitian doth euacuate the principall partes of the disease by medicine so nature ought to be fauoured and maintained in perfect substance for if she be not in potentiall estate shee presently decayeth and falleth away aswell thorowe the sharpenesse of the medicine as the painefulnesse of the disease For where nature performeth her strength there she not onely preheminently vanquisheth the disease but expelleth and chaseth the infection thereof quite away so that these operations of nature are accustomed aboundantly to poure forth their gracious fruites in the conseruation and consolation of bodily strength and are most certainly tried when the disease consisteth or stayeth as if it were in the tyme of health if the phisitian doe at anie time feare the decay of nature he ought by artificiall skill practise not onely to fortifie the naturall course of the bodie but there withall searche the nature of the disease Notwithstanding the phisitian is forbidden to intermeddle with the works of nature when she of her owne propertie hath anie mouing towardes health but surely in dangerous sicknesse if nature sometimes ouerexquisitely purgeth of her owne propertie then take heede that neyther the flure exceede nor yet concoction ouerrun the perfect course and wayfare to health Remembring the olde saying Quum fluor excedat mors intrat vita recedit The phisitian ought to surpasse the disease both in wisedome experience and high counsell with naturall causes both in releasing the languishing compunction of infection as to gather all crud and raw causes together whilest the disease hath a time of increase and to profer a practise
seasons to be hote moyst and soultrie And after the dissolution of this ouerraging heate the north groweth to a most extreame vapour of colde about the noone season This may easily be gathered hereof that the opposite poyntes of the north and the south hauing strangely and diuersly altered both their properties and courses the inferiour causes are so poysoned in a corrupt degree as that ouerraging pestilences are inkindled in such like seasons and there shal be perceiued great lightes and furious flames of heate arise in those partes of the north all which foresheweth excessiue gluttes in the vnseasonable aboundance of raine the winter following Some new writers perswade the worlde that mans body is ouerweakened by those seasons aswell because of the vnnatuturall distemperance as also for that the vygent heate of bloud not onely descendeth but eyther thereby decayeth waxeth thin or corrupteth in vnordered bodies It is a most high contemplation in the hearbes and plantes of the earth whose fortitude and power is in the coldnesse and drinesse of this Autume greatly diminished and fallen away so also subiect to putrifaction and corruption therewith For the generation of humours which were cleerely nourished by the purenesse of the spring season are nowe vtterly surprised eyther by euacuation corruption or putrifaction Auycen sayth that Autume is like a woman which when the time is come cannot conceale her trauell so Autume cannot be couered or hid which tryeth and approueth mans body whether that it be with diseases infected or no which may be also After threscore and tenne yeares this fleame knitteth in the ioyntes sâ—oppeth the vaines ingrosseth nature decayeth digestion And in the canicular dayes this fleame becummeth ponderous and by an excessiue and inordinate heate odiously stencheth in the lower partes especially vpon the legs and that vntill putrifaction be perfected therein There is another watrish fleame thicke and subtle most hard to be digested gluttonous and dronken persons are much herewith infected and this fleame about the fal of the leafe is white thicke hard and corme it offendeth the brames and nosteels verie much except it be addressed with warmenesse this fleame most of all offendeth in winter season and by reason of outragious coldnesse and distemperance of weather altereth at the same season more than anie other time for that the cold and hot humours disagree one with another There is a most dangerous fleame called by Cornelius Celsus Rallium of others Gibseum this fleame setleth in the ioyntes and sometimes in the arteries drieth into hard kernels not onely ingendreth putrifaction but remedilesse gowtes and as all maling distemperatures haue conspired herewith so doth it crase and breake forth in open libertie by all distemperate seasons of the yeare There is an other heauie and clammie fleame proceeding from the lightes and sheweth it selfe moste principally in the Autume season like to yse because the bloud discending is ouertaken with coldnesse There is a fleame which manie times is incident to verie blacke and chollericke persons and sheweth a dangerous nature in the finishing vp of Autume it proceedeth chiefly by inordinate and euill customes of youth as excessiue lecherie and such like bloudie vnctious and greasie contagions This fleame is ingendered vppon the heart kidneys and raynes of the backe There is a chollericke fleame shewing moste of all in Autume ingendred of salt meates This fleame moueth a belching hicket in the mouth of the stomacke causeth great pensiuenesse and sorrow of minde proceeding of greedie eating of rawe fruites before the naturall heat of the sun be perfectly coagulated therein and yet if there be pefect digestion hereof it is conuerted to blood There is also an other humor annexed hereunto called choller the which is either naturall or vnnaturall Choller vnnaturall is an outward cause knowen thorow the whole body and melancholiously mingled it is cytrin or like the collour of gold Cytrin is the collour of an Oâ—renge it is intermixed with subtle fleame and sometimes of smaller substance and in similitude of the yolkes of egges and enterioyned with grosse fleame and naturall choller There is a choller burnâ—ng in itselfe and conuerted to ashes there is also adioyned herewith a melancholious choller which is of a reddy collour ingendred vpon the liuer There is a choller ingendred vpon euill digestion of meates it is ingendred in the vaines by other euill humours this is prassiue choller like to the hearb Prassion it burneth vntill there be no moisture left therein and the drinesse thereof waxeth white Furthermore as all these temperatures of the body coneur with the temperatures of the yeare and as yet no temperature certainly is found out at any time which sheweth some great reproch to nature both because she hath ordayned nothing certainly to continue neither hath she perfourmed all things alike as many accideÌ„ts of vnnatural influences do on some variable behalfe corrupt and distemper the vniuersal earth so by greate murrayne in cattell by excesse pestilence in mankind and by putrifaction of earthly fruites shew foorth a variable alteration of the foure elementes in all other liuing creatures Therefore Hypocrates saith it were more then reasonable in nature if all seasons of the yeare were tempered or distempered alike for therin the gouernment of mans complection oftentimes falleth out by the naturall or vnnaturall course of times for the worke of nature cannot bee shewed or tempered in any thinge more glorious or a greeable then that temperance or distemperance are framed to serue equally in their places as the foure seasons of the yeare fall out vnder which mans complexion is best ordered or worst disordered according to the proportions of the sayd times Galen calleth the estate of man in the spring time of the greeke word EVCRATON which is that nothing can bee chaunged from his temperature The new writers haue indeauoured their wits to prooue the most wholsommest and sittest estate for the health of mans body is that season which is most best tempered vnder moysture and heat and that the flemmatike man is beste delighted therewith yet if we doo both approoue by experience and also for our further doctrine vnderstand what Hypocrates saith hereunto that no seasons of the yeare are more corrupted then those which happen vnder the estate of moyst and heat And chiefly if the saide estate be either long or superfluous vnder which said times often falleth out great changeablenesse in nature for that not onely simple corruptions are then easily taken hold of but all generall infections of pestilences are ouerspread in swalowing vp the life of men for which cause moystnesse and heat and of most excelling quicknesse and full of life and yet distemperance therewith hath full and large coniunction and corruption to doo harme herein For Galen himselfe confesseth Humidissimam naturam esse vinacissimam cum intemperatis non autem temperata confert The moist nature is most quickest in the state of intemperate thinges but it nothing preuaileth in
left for the increase of haires so that whatsoeuer remaineth is congested into the moist partes of the body For although humours doo sometimes abide within those thin breathinges yet haue they no due ordinance from nature and therefore for that nature hath no power nor force in those degenerate humours doo retire backe and in respect of excesse moystnesse cannot continue themselues within their poores or breathing places vntil there be a sufficient generation gathered together arising vp into a fulnesse of hayres in the head beard or priuie partes in which Nature wolde not disornate the beautie of the face with hâ—iree but place them in a seemlye ordeâ— places the humours doo longest abide and settle And nature hath prepared a way and passage for those excrementes to inflowe by the banke and brinkes of the cheekes to the chinne whereby there should be a comely grace in the haires vpon the fauaur of the face There remaineth a probable coniecture for vs to thinke that haires doe onely increase of excrementes thicklie congested and the rather are we so to thinke and iudge herein for that some part of those excrements sensiblie passe away by weaknesse as also for that they are vniuersal throughout the body For when the body is disturbed by any fuliginous or smokie vapours then the outward forme of the bodie altereth and changeth therewith besides which the haires doo eyther alter in their outward forme and fall away as leaues decay from the moysture of the tree And surely it is a high Philosophie to consider that when the body is loose and purgatiue of nature such excrementes foorthwith doo yeelde and deuoyd that the poores therewithall open waxe weake and loose so that many times those open exhalations doo not onelie disturbe the bodie but as ingrosers of pure bloude discouer themselues yet in stay of their malice become subiect both to naturall and artificiall purgation Therefore Dioscorides saith that excrementall exhalations are no cause of growth in the hayre but good blood and that as blood flourisheth and decayeth so hayres both in youth and age discouer and open themselues and also for that sicknesse extenuateth blood dooth also decay haires in the bodie being extenuated from blood Also as health increaseth blood and good liking in the body so the haires therewithall prosper flourish and growe foorth at large Auycen discourseth and trauelleth most highlie heerein that blood is no cause of hayre but rather a vaporous exhalation from blood And as blood changeth so exhalations doo herein alter so that Avycen agreeth not with Dyoscorides Yet Galen flatlie concludeth that moistnesse is the cause of hayres and although the bodie bee strooke asunder from the head yet there is an increase of hayres so long as there is moystnesse in the heade and therefore deade men haue increase of hayres vntill all moystnesse be absumed by putrifaction Let vs also in this treatise somewhat discouer the growth of hayres which after the straightnesse or crokenednesse of the poores be either curled or straight These curled haires fall out of diuers causes not because the skinne is soft of it selfe neyther because the exhalation is weake but because the passage of the exhalation is crosse and the poors crooked otherwise haires are inlarged in a right course aswell by strong vapours by temperate moistnes and soundnes of the body Theophrastus Paracelsus reproteth an other cause of curled haires as both because the rootes of the haires are wrinkled in the right passage thorow excesse drinesse as also because exhalations are in their natures ouer drie fuliginous and stretched And as Rasis saith for that moystnes is deuoured and swallowed vp by a contrarie effect of drinesse Wherefore haires both in collour and curlednes and playnnesse do differ according to these courses And yet Rasis sayth all hayres follow their natural complexion in collour vntil old age conuneth on and altereth all thinges Let vs take better examples hereof in the difference between the haires of a man and a beast for that the moystest skin is allowed by naturall course to haue the thickest and shortest haire the rather for that hot moisture floteth and swimmeth between the skin and the flesh is of like quality in all the parts aswel of clouen hofed as claw-footed beasts so that the growth of haire in a beast is like a flashie fresh medowe ouer floten with a shalow water in the rootes and the grasse therewithall ouer florisheth but cold frostes and alteration of weather decayeth and perisheth the roots thereof Euen so intemperate calamities of times and seasons ouerturneth the naturall temperance of haire in all vnreasunable creatures So likewise in these humain complexions whose hayre although it be of most high qualitie in plentifull growing yet thorow excesse benerie falling into cold diseases their haire decayeth waxeth thin and vtterly looseth in the roots especially when the poores in a mans body are ouer traueiled by a moyst exhalation Thophrastus Paracelsus putteth foorth these reasons that footsteps in moist groundes are easilie with euery storme washed away but footsteps in drie groundes doo longest indure abide So that as these moist exhalations in the flesh do nourish and greatly comfort the haires so also if those exhalations bee altered either by malign vapours or corrupt blood or distempered by the contagion of colde diseases the haires decline and vanish therewithall Now furthermore there are some bodies whose drinesse exceedeth on the contrary and yet vnder some moysture produce a competent number of hayres but when their drinesse becommeth combust are like to starched earth which without some moysture cannot bring forth grasse This drinesse vnder the diuers ages of men happeneth in the braines So also there is another sorte of men who are like vnto moyst tempered clay in spring season or beginning of sommer yet partched vp and ouerdried in the latter end of the yeare bring forth nothing but barrennesse and dust So there is a most vnhappie sort of men who by exâ—esse drinesse in their adolescencie become bald bare and barrainous in their braines towardes their latter age It is to be marked that hayres in al ages follow the course and temperance of nature and leaue off to shew themselues vnder those properties vnto whome they doe appertaine Cornelius Celsus sayth that a bald-headed man is destitute of moystnesse in the braine pan the rather because the vaynes of the necke beeing called the guides are obstructed doe not perfectly recourse except vpon the hinder part of the head Ieremias Thriuerius sayth that it is as vnpossible a thing for lobsters or crab-fishes to beare feathers or oysters wooll as a bald-headed man to produce naturall hayre not onely because there is both an opilation in bloud but also because there is an extreame drinesse and shrinking of the sinewes in those materiall partes of the braine Surely all drie complexions of black chollericke inclination are hearie in the highest degree but falling into contagion and hote diseases thorowe
Paracelsus geueth counsell and therewithall assureth that no good scarchâ—r of mans disposition after fourtie and sixe yeares of age inderdealeth with the excrementes Arnoldus de noua villa geueth more larger libertie in perfect bodies vntill fyftie and fiue yeares bee accomplished For as many old men haue a hot drie bodies so manye others haue yearthly and waterie bodies vnder which seuerall dispositions in old age falleth out Last of all it is a doubtfull and vncertaine thing to discerne the temperature of euerie olde man in age and sicnesse Rasis holdeth in opinion that in age nothing is to be gathered neither from excrementes neither from fourme nor shape nor scarse from operation for operation of some part by occasion of variable disposition may be confounded in an other part I doo let passe the opionins and iudgmentes of manye Writers how the signes of diuers ages differ in sicknesse neither thorow out the whole ages of man doo they obtaine or continue any one perfect significatiue agreement Therefore whosoeuer traueileth in the variable temperances of man let his best direction bee taken from the pulses as feeling euery office of the bodie in his proper worke Yet surelye whatsoeuer is spoken against the view of excrementes in the sicknes of old men Ruellius saith that excrementes are not altogether to be reiected or dispised but according to the straungenesse of the sicknesse and accidentes of the disease duely to bee considered vpon To conclude euerie practitioner hath a large field to trauell in in the time of sickenesse As first to vnderstand the disease by feeling the pulses Nexte to consider whether euerie office of the bodie laboureth alike or no. And thirdlie whether the Accidentes doo stay in any one parte of the body more then an other And last of all whether the duetie of the excrementes be perfourmed in a naturall course or no. Thus endeth the second booke of the Temperamentes The Lord made heauen and earth and all thinges therein blessed bee the wâ—orkes of his handes HERE BEGINNETH THE THIRD booke of the Temperaments IN these former bookes there is set open the differences significations and accidentes of cold hote moyst and drie thinges in their actiue natures and to finde out the reason not only why they should be approued in action as also why they should obtaine their equall qualities to be comprehended and easily perceiued by touching I will not much herein trauell For as one of them hath no powerfull nor perfect constitution without the equall trauell and furtherance of one another So one constitution doth still appeale vnto another vntill the occasion which before was obscure and vnperfect be drawne vnto manifestation power strength and agreement which as Galen sayth doth confirme all medicinable confections And there must be hereunto also annexed not onely the sensible vnderstanding of these naturall causes but a iust coÌ„senting of their forcible power and vertue to haue one successe Also there must be a very high regard had that medicines do nothing in nature digresse from the assenting inclination of suche bodyes vnto which they owe their defence helpe and succour For contrary medicines dangerously doe imprint their malice power inforcing the griefe to become more outragious inflammatiue and vnsetled Experience may instruct heerein that a powerfull medicine in the fourth degree hote cannot escape or be driuen backe from Causticke iâ— burning some verie dangerous action For these putrifactiue or corosiue playsters which in their causticke nature doe worke vpon outward sores although they be sodainly taken away from that place ouer which they did worke power and effect yet their impression or action of heate cannot sodainly or vnawares be taken away for the deepenesse of the sore hath comprehended the power thereof And therefore these inflammatiue actions without more larger libertie and skill cannot bee extinguished The same thing by colde medicines is more clearely perceiued and vnderstoode For blacke popy cannot in the fourth degree vnawares be intertained into the body but that by the same meanes doth oftentimes forthwith alter the body and the actiue mouinges sensible hindered in the vnnaturall course and action thereof It is otherwise with hote medicines which although they exceede from vs in common course of heat yet the power thereof many either be mitigated or vtterly put out As touching cold medicines the reason and vnderstanding is not heereunto alike because coldnesse not onely deepely lurketh in the vaines but stoppeth the vegetation and quickenesse of nature hauing once ouercome the sensible partes of man that although warme thinges be proffered for restoring quickning and lifting vp of that sleepie and deadly inuasion either shal it nothing at all preuaile or els the sensible and naturall partes cannot be recouered to a perfect and due estate and disposition as before For if colde water by a secret potentiall estate be intertained into a warme body and the body by a variable disposition therof altereth into a more higher degree of coldnesse doth extenuate nature and decayeth the power of bloud although the strength of the body exhausteth the sensible coldnesse thereof yet there remaineth a sharpe impression for many discases to insue Furthermore warme water being receiued into a hote bodie although it be possessed with the body for a whole dayes space as it hath nourished vnder some naturall warmth by the strength of the body so can it not be otherwise knowne or perceiued but that the body is made more colder thereby although vnder naturall warmnesse it passeth from the bleather againe So doe we beholde the power of a cataplasma which although it hath a naturall power of coldnesse yet if it be remoued and the place touched all inflammations shall sensibly appeare more subdued moderated and seasoned for inducement of a more higher and excellenter practise in the worke thereof which as some holde in opinion is contrarie in powdred medicines whose power is onely to purge drie and excoriat Yet no doubt there are some powdred medicines which in reuealing an imagination of drinesse in substance are in propertie altogether moyst And except the body be of a drie chollericke disposition shall nothing preuaile to accomplishe any drie action to become perfect and sound Some will maruell why the qualitie of elementes shoulde minister health ease and safegard to one And shewe no potentiall act but rather offence in another Certainely as all inferiour causes are subiect to the alteration of celestiall dispositions so celestiall bodies are stable firme and perfect and in their properties are voyd from alterations Then no scruple herein neede to arise whether this potentiall estate be ingendered or giuen to medicineable hearbs from nature or from celestiall bodies I doe thinke not onely power but all indicible properties inioy a metaphisicall effect And surely forme or bodily shape which heerewith is adioyned hath an indifferent participation from the complexion of elementes and the condition of celestial thinges Yet the iudgement of olde writers is that the propertie of
these naturall causes to be no other thing theÌ„ an indicible All indicible thinges haue a indicible temperance temperature hauing some indicible propertie and forme is no other thing then a temperance in his owne nature or the immediate and extraordinarie reason from the celestiall influence therefore the naturall philosophers haue not spoken in vaine that Man and the sonne did beget man Then surely the starres are nothing at all occupied in the generation of mixt things rather doe they claime a most great part to themselues of that which appertaineth to these immixt properties and powers And it is no maruell but that these vertues powers and strength are so opposite and manifest to our feeling and perceiuing that heate and colde should also haue a singular prehemmence in the stars Theophrastus Paracelsus sayth that all these medicineable hearbes are not elementarily ingendred But brought forth of some deuine power from the pure celestiall estate aboue But yet these elementall qualities so highly doe beare their force in the countenance of all inferiour thinges and their powers are so full and large in all medicineable effectes that no furtherance or meanes preuayleth eyther to confirme them or els bring them backe to any other strange act or vnusuall alteration Dyoscorides sayth that the deuine power moueth the elementes to become eyther naturall or vnnaturall to the earth And the earth withall the bountifull creatures therein do take their essence increase or decrease from the due course or alteration of the said elementes The chiefe Philosophers doe say that the high fruitfull scituation of the sunne worketh vpon all liuing creatures that all naturall causes greatly preuayle thereby Then it is no maruell that single medicines haue an appropriat inclination in themselues but artificially qualified from their owne nature haue a more clearer and peaceable effect And although the sunne doth in euery place east her seasonable power and strength yet not with one indifferent qualitie of warmenesse and heate to be intertained into all thinges alike not for that there is any defect in the primarie propertie of the sunne but because there is a seuerall propertie from the complexion of elements For as no phisitian can frame one medicine to be indifferently receiued and intertained into euerie seuerall constitution So the sunne is shewed forth in one force and potentiall estate alike although the action vpon all inferiour causes vnlike for that euery thing followeth the propertie of nature from the complexion of elements in generation and the propertie of the sunne in augmentation The vnseasonable elementes doe oftentimes darken the sun and thereby distemper and disseason the inferiour causes of the earth So also the confused courses and running together of the flâ—â—s 〈…〉 oursing by an vnsingled and variable power within themselues is the onely cause why all the hearbes and fruits of the stelde are of medicionable and saluing condition ouer one and nothing at all profiting but rather hurting vnto another Therefore the power of all these thinges are distinguished three maner of waies As firste their possibilitie hath one ordinarie power in themselues Secondlie that a supreame naturall substance coagulateth in the power of all inferiour causes Thirdlie dooth in the same power obtaine and accomplish some effectuall propertie in it selfe which by any forraine accidents can neither be interuented nor altered except inforced from one propertte to an other to some supreame excesse within their owne naturall essence Therefore these medicines whose vertues are determined hot in the second degree are most easily made hot in their action and also most easily are they conuerted to fire in open extremitie exceeding their natures as vnflaken lune rosenne or gumme which yssueth from the excesse vapours of trees But the greatest danger happeneth in colde medicines especially if nature hath determined their operation hotte and their action colde as the Hemlock which of Dyoscorides is called Cicuta a most poisonsome practise in the fourth degree hath not onely a hot propertie and troublesome effect but an impressiue action of a colde benumming the sences which cannot bee afterwards rased out And yet many times some strong forcible complections will rather alter and subdue such strong medicines to become inclinable to the body then indure themselues to be altered or subdued af the body Theophrastus Paracelsus saith it is no perfect opinion neither of the olde nor new writers that medicines ought to bee first drawen into actuall preheminence before the corruption bee styrred and prepared by some preparatiue or gentle mollefaceion the easier the power of of purgation is extended to mortifie and slay the disease Alwaies prouided that medicines be matched with the nature of the bodie aswel in sicknesse as in health Like as clear water contemperated with pure wine doth much profite and season a hot and inflammatiue bodie to become ttmperate After the same manner weake medicines gentely are framed to doo their effect then those medicines which are of high and grosse operation For the more weaker medicines are composed for slender bodies the easier their strength is euidently knowne their limits and bounds discouered and therby lesse feared Whereas grosse hot and strong medicines are subtill fierce easily doo insinuate and winde themselues into all the partes of man and although they be most charily regarded yet will they many times exceed art wherefore medicine ought to be framed and drawen after the measure of bodyly heate otherwise it is no equall instrument of nature neither can nature be vsed in her potentiall measure for the speedy ouerthrowe of the disease For as medicine ought to be framed most like vnto nature so the disease from time to time is directed by nature Therefore medicine ought to bee receiued into the body vnder the warmnesse of newe milke or mans blood although Galen counselleth that medicines in sommer season bee proffered vnto some bodilie constitutions vnder the coldnesse of fountaine water But touching medicines outwardly applyed some high and singular practise must be attained for healing and curing such outwarde sores First by rubbing and searching the grieued place of the patient whereupon sometimes the inflammatiue infection of the furious and hot humour increaseth and far surpasseth the boundes both of medicine and nature except peraduenture it be corrected by some drieng drinke or purgatiue potion inwardlye taken or that the outwarde medicine bee of some very colde and slender power in operation which sensibly is perceiued For and if medicines be vnapt they will contrarile wrastle both against nature and the afflicted sore as swiftlie vncertainlie and groslie winde in their power and strength But if colde medicines be slowe they may be remedied and preferred after the skill of the Chirurgian to a more fuller and larger estate and degree Yet hot searching and inflammatiue medicines are necessarilie required in fulsome putrified and corâ—siue sores eyther for searching searing scowring and fadoming the deepenesse thereof as for the staying and stopping of some further
impendent danger And as some medicines are changed in their own qualities so there are also some medicines which thorow their lenetiue nature passe ouer into the substance of the body Ther is also an other cause in the vniuersall participation of ioyning superiour causes together into one perfect substance is so duly regarded in them as that their qualitie in action hath no domination in it selfe but their properties are rather deducted and brought downe from the starres into the power of hearbes Otherwise this wandring desert hearbe Scanmionyum which vnperfectly purgeth choller and leaueth the constitution of the body in more worse estate then before should be as familiar to the body as Succorie Endiffe Buglosse and such like hearbes of saluing and curing nature And yet Dyoscorides saith that Succory is of diuers kindes one is cherished in Gardens as a pretious treasure preserued for bodilie health so the other is wilde and of more resisting vertue Yet because they doo both alike drawe a naturall power from the starres in one perfect kind and substance doo equally agree in one manner of operation for they are so indicible and euident as that their propertie is not knowne onely by reasonâ— as by experience as also highlie occupied in the gouernment of mans health although they haue a right and due propertie of euident vertue which mans art cannot seperat or put away therefore action and passion are due vnto their qualities aswel for that they haue a whole and perfect substance of moouing power as also for that there is an easie transmutation of their nature into the naturall substance of mans body There is also an hearbe called Molios which draweth a power from the high gouernour of Spirites called Amy and hath sixteene legions vnder his dominion as Dyoscorides reporteth in his third booke and the fiftie two chapters in the Commentes of Barbarus and Virgilius that this hearbe is of an outward vertue most excellent it hath great power against witchcraft south saieng and coniuration it is not inwardly to be taken but outwardly to bee caried about it is of a propertie by it selfe and wil not inwardly be changed into the substance of mans nature neither doeth it preuaile in remedy of any disease except the falling sicknesse And surely all other hearbs haue some naturall or vnnatuturall portion with our bodie Yet it is vnpossibly that they should be of one power and effect together neither is there a like alteration one with an other For if their properties were of equall agreement then one substance could not haue equall operation into an other Euen as these prrperties doo verie much disagree within themselues so can they not foorthwith passe ouer into mutuall substance of mans bodie without artful knowledge aptly composing them thereto As fire sodainly without art can not bee trasformed into water nor ayre into earth So by the same difference medicines are distinguished and and knowen from nourishments For as nourishmentys agree with the natural comfortes of men so medicines haue their properties differing from the properties of men And as medicines are repugnant to the disease so both the body and the disease not onely become subiect but refourmed to medicine for health and safetie thereby And although Art domifieth them to become gentle kinde and naturall yet art neuer depriueth them from their free propertie For how much the rather they are of contrarie substance so doo they shew themselues the rather in the similitude of a more greater action and yet for that one substance is passed ouer into an other they are qualified also in power therefore let vs once againe distinguish the estate and condition of medicines within themselues Although there is an artificiall forme in the constitution of all medicines framed to some speciall appointed purpose yet as Galen saith there are some hearbes colde which take a verye litle portion of change in the heate of mans blood And many times not onely because they are of colde nature but venomed in some degree of poison very notably do they corrupt mans body As the mandragoron and such like There are also some other poisoned hearbes in a most hot degree of strong venym as the Daphnaydes the Colociâ—tidaâ—â—the Iâ—ios As they do exceed the heat of mans body so do they reach most highly beyond mans nature do forthwith oppresse life and entertaine death if their strength be not artificially remedied There are also medicines neither of hurting nor saluing power neither of hote nor cold operation neither doe they nourish nor yet destroy but very indifferent to the body of man There are also composed medicines of honnie butter sweet oyle as they are not of no pure nor cleere verdoue so are they verie nourishable and restauratiue to nature And as nourishmentes are easily changed into nature so the power of all other medicines doe comprehend a worke in their owne properties and therefore it is impossible their power should be both kept and changed Galen doth make further report that so long as medicines doe continue their nature and degree vnder the equall condition of the body are not onely gentle and fauourably incertayned but changed into bloud with the nature of the body are no more vnder the compasse of medicines but rather followe the due course of vegetation preseruation and simpathie with natuturall operation both in qualitie and power of the body Whether Galen hath extended his reasons to hote medicines I know not but I feare not to speake that oftentimes both hote and cold medicines are vnder one propertie turned into bloud when as the body meanely is subdued with coldnesse from the extremitie of heat and aduaunced to heat from the extremitie of coldnesse for then is it impossible that any impropertie should at all remaine where many properties are duely changed And also it is a most hard and difficult estate if substance in the nature of euerie one thing should whollie be taken away or diminished so neyther then is any suche bloud left alone to doe good in absolute power for humours doe nourish themselues where good bloud wanteth And euery naturall thing hath no naturall operation nor measure where any such defect is For Where no naturall operatiâ—is there is no measure surely there is no doubt but whosoeuer ouer-largely feedeth vpon honnie cannot escape but that at length his complexion is discoloured defiled stayned with a hott flegmaticke bloud So likewise in sommer season some bodies by eating of cold Lattice are drawne to ouer great comminution and heate nature and bloud are many times extenuated weakened and altered in their due course Let euery one therefore most highly call to memorie that measure and moderation are much preferred vnder the constitution of mans health Thrusianus an old fatherly writer as one falfly perswaded doth say that nothing is caryed or conueyed beyond the heate of mans body and that bodily heat congruently consenteth to all forraine heates being of neuer so strong and high valour and