in abundance Therefore the Wise Antients did account it a Crime for Women to drink strong Drink or Wine tho' their Countries did afford Wine in abundance and good reason they had for the whole preservation of Mankind resides chiefly in the Temperance and Government of the Women if they are Intemperate the Radix of Men is corrupted are we not like to have very Fine Hopeful Healthy Children when the Mother by excessive Pampering her unweildy Carcass has contracted more Diseases than an Hospital Or when they are put out to some Drunken Nurse that instead of affording them wholsome Natural Milk Suckles them up with the unconcocted Dregs of that Brandy with which she daily overcharges her filthy Stomach The Nature of Women will not bear Excess in Meats and Drinks as Mens will without manifest danger to their Healths and also to the Health of their Children most Windy Diseases both in Women and Children being caused by their Intemperance both in quantity and quality They overcharging their Nature with Food containing too much Nourishment and Drinks that are too strong This is chiefly observable amongst Wanton Citizens and the Richer sort of People who pay dearly for the Lickerishness of their Palats by the Diseases that thence arise they being much more Distempered than the Ordinary pains-taking People I confess their are hardly any Women in the World so Intemperate and such great Lovers of there Bellies as the English nor is there any Nation more subject to Variety of Diseases and therefore they are afflicted with divers Distempers which Women in other Countries know nothing of And as our Children are generally weak Peuling Rickety and Sickly so the occasion thereof is too evident since they are almost made Gluttons from the very Cradle their Mothers gorging and feeding them till they loath their Victuals and often cast it up again and when they have been Cramming all day the good Woman entertains her Gossips with Stories what a little Stomach her Child has and that she can get it to eat nothing and She wonders how it lives and indeed so she may but for a quite contrary reason for this oppressing Nature with Excess in Youth is not only the cause of the Death of many but in others it sows such Seeds and lays foundations for Distempers that they can scarce out-grow them also many Women out of the like foolish fondness give their Children strong Drink which is very destructive to their Health Nor is it become unfrequent for Women not only to drink Brandy but also to smoak Tobacco which two things have a great affinity Tobacco being an Herb of Mars and its Poysonous fulsome attractive Nature from Saturn the common use of it in Pipes is very injurious to all sorts of People but more especially to the Female bex except it be taken very sparingly in a Physical way for some watery and windy Diseases but the usual taking of it destroys the Physical Vertues and Operation thereof only the daily Smoaking it may be profitable to Gluttons and those that Eat and Drink to Superfluity of Rich Food and strong Drink and live idle lives for such want Evacuations but Exercise and Temperance were much better for their Health Tobacco and Brandy are certainly utter Enemies to Women and also to their Children for their Spirits and Balsamick Body whence their true Life shines is more volatile and tender than Mens and their Natural Heat is not so strong for this cause Women cannot bear or endure any extreams either in Meats Drinks or Exercises without manifest danger to their Healths they being generally more sanguine than Men and their Central Heat weaker therefare all kind of inequality makes deeper Impression on them and they are sooner moved to all kinds of Passions for Women in their Radix are compounded more of the sweet Friendly Sanguine Nature their Dignificaâ—ion being chiefly from the Element of Water but the Root of Mens Nature is from the strong might of the Fire And for the same cause Women are more Chaste than Men and of colder Natures tho' many Men do believe the contrary but they are greatly mistaken in this particular having no true understanding of Nature they have judged thus hardly of Women because many of them are so easily drawn into inconveniencies by the pretended Friendship of Men but I do affirm that their being so easily overcome is not from their unchaste desires but chiefly from their Friendly Courteous Efleminate Natures being of a yielding Temper which is essentially in the Root of their Lives and when a Man has once awakened in them the Love-string which is quickly done he may command them as he pleases now finding them comply they imagine that of them which they find in themselves Not but that some Women are as unchaste as Men but then such through the Power of their depraved Free-Wills and Wanton Imaginations have forced Nature out of her simple Innocent ways compelling her often to do that which she perfectly loaths The wise Antients understanding this Nature and Constitution of Women and considering that the whole welfare and health of Mankind depended chiefly on their Temperance and Discreet Conduct did therefore direct them to an higher degree of Temperance and thought it requisite and so absolutely necessary that both the drink alotted for Women in most Countries was and is to this day pure Water and their Food as Innocent and Natural they eat Flesh sparingly living much on raw and boiled Herbs Fruits and Greens which is a most sublime Diet. And by this means their Women and Children are not afflicted with such a number of cruel Diseases There is no Country in the World where their Children and young People are so generally subject to the Small Pox Kings-Evil Joynt-Aches and many Leperous and languishing Diseases how many of them yearly die with Convulsions and Windy Distempers which generally they receive from their Mothers How many Miseries and aking Hearts do Women endure with their sickly Children And what Women are free from Vapors and Windy Diseases Fainting Fits weak Joynts and Backs their Blood corrupted breaking out in small spots in the Flesh of several colours their Stomach cold and their Natural heat not able to digest their Food without a Dram c For all which Evils there is no Remedy so long as our Women do continue the frequent Eating of fat gross Flesh without Herbs and other sweet high prepared Food and drinking strong Liquors as Brandy c. and taking Tobacco for these things do continually heat the whole Body thereby awakening the Central heat which is very injurious to Women for it presently sends Fumes and Vapours into the Head and the fierce Fires with venemous Particles do penetrate the whole Body drying up and consuming the pleasant moist cool airy Vapours suffocating the pure Spirits which otherwise would replenish the whole Body and sharpen the Appetite it also dulls the Senses and possesses the Blood with a sharp fretting humour and hinders
Poyson in the Body it does so powerfully strengthen and awaken it that in a moment it over comes the pure Oyl of Life and the pure Spirits become suffocated and then the Natural Life is at an end for every Property in Nature both in the evil and also in the good does with highest diligence seck out its likeness and wheresoever it findeth its Simile there it joyns forces and mightily stirreth up its own Quality which when it happens in the Evil Nature as it does in Brandy Rumm Rack and other Distilled Liquors then it endangers the Health and Wellfare of the Body Nor is it otherwise in all sorts of Food and other Drinks if the pure Vertue thereof be separated or any way destroyed for then forth with the darâ— Brimstony Spirit is set at lâ—berty which before the Separation the Balsamick Body and pure Spirits did qualifie and hold Captive that it could not manifest its self in its own Nature but being separated from the good Properties and Friendly Principle this dark fiery sulphurous Spirit becomes of a furious Nature and Operation endeavouring to bring all in Subjection to it self therefore such Liquors or Spirits frequently taken burn up the Radical Moisture and Natural Heat and are grreedy devourers of the sweet Oyl in the Body whence proceeds General Obstructions Crude Windy Humours Consumptions unnatural Heats and Flushings loss of Appetite Reachings to Vomit and many other Disorders and if those of the Female Sex take to drink such Spirits as of late years they do too frequently the Evils are doubled unto them 2. In all the before-mentioned Spirits that have passed through those cruel harsh Fires where the Air hath not its free Egress and Regress the pure Spirit and sweet Body is totally destroyed which is the Root of Motion and Fermentation therefore such Spirits will not Work or Ferment as all other Drinks and Liquors will even water it self but you may put what quantity of Sugar you will to Brandy Ramm or any other Distilled Spirits they will continue a strong Fire void of Moâ—ion or Fermentation this doth further declare that all the good Principles and Vertues are destroyed by the Preparation and that there remains only a strong fixed Fire which has its Uses in Physick as is mentioned before but not otherwise 3. Such Spirits being frequently drunk do generate various Diseases according to each Mans Nature and Constitution and the Climate whether hot or cold for they do powerfully Prey upon the Natural Heat consuming the sweet Oyl and pure Spirits for the Balsamick Body and pure Spirits of all such Liquors being destroyed in the Preparation they become an Extream which Nature in her simplicity hates and for this Cause such Liquors cannot Administer any Proper or Agreeable Nourishment to the Body or to the pure Spirits it cannot give what it hath not it hath only Power to awaken the Central Heat or Fire which ought not to have been kindled and this it doth by a Sympathetical Operation for all Meats and Drinks have power in the Body to awaken and strengthen their likeness for this reason all Wise Men Skilled in the Mysteries of Nature have commended simple Meats and Drinks because most such things are as it were equal in their Parts having no manifest Quality that does predominate violently over the other but yet contains a sufficient Noarishment for the Body and also for the Spirit for Meats and Drinks ought to be equal in their parts the Spirit ought not to be separated from the Body nor the Body from the Spirit but both ought to be Administred together for the Body without the Spirit is of a gross heavy dull or dead Nature and the Spirit without the Body is too violent and fiery but the Health of Mans Body and Mind doth chiefly consist in the equality of both do not all Meats and Drinks wherein any Quality or Property of Nature is â—xtream whether it be in Vertue or Harmfulness if not sparingly taken certainly discompose the Harmony both of the Body and Mind For every Quality begets its likeness and so on the contrary Concord and Harmony are tain'd by their likenesses if there be not a Sympathetical agreement between the Stomach and the Meats and Drinks both in Quality and Quantity the Unity and Concord of the Properties of Nature are immediately broken whence proceeds various Diseases according to the degrees of the Disorder This every one ought to understand or else they may unadvisedly lay heavier Burdens than Nature can bear for most Diseases are generated through surplusage of Nourishment For unto weak Heats there ought to be Administred a proportionable Food but stronger Heats will admit of stronger Foods and greater quantity which all Persons might know if they would but observe the Operation of their own Natures for no Health nor Harmony can be continued where the parts do disagree aniong themselves What Harmony can the most skilful Master of Musick make if the strings of his Instruments be some too sharp and others too flat even so it is in the Elements of the Body and also in the Mind 4. For Man is the most Beautiful and Perfectest of all God's Creation and â—is Image called by the Antients the lesser World for in him is contained the true Nature and Properties of all Elements Numbers Weights and Measures therefore Man is both capable of and and â—lable to receive all all Impressions and to be influenced by all things he communicates with or joyns himself unto as all sorts of Meats Drinks Imployments Communications and whatever else he suffers his Will or Desires to enter into the same things have power respectively to awaken their Similes therefore all extreams are perilous to the Health If Men and women were but sensible of the danger and terrible Diseases that are contracted by the frequent eating and drinking of those things that are unequal in themselves as Brandy Rumm and other Spirituous Drinks and high prepared Foods they would not so eagerly desire them Do not all or most that do accustome themselves to such things quickly spoil their their Healths Nature is Simple and Innocent and the Simplicity thereof cannot be continued but by Sobriety and Temperance in Meats and Drinks that are simple and harmless which will not only gratifie Nature but contribute both due and moist Nourishment for beyond all lushious fat compounded Dishes of the Richest Food and Spirituous Drinks as it appears by many hundreds of poor People who are constrained by pure necessity not by Wisdom to live for the most part on simple Food and mean Drinks their Labour hard Cloathing thin open Air cold Houses small Fires hard Beds standing on Earthen Floors by all which means they are not only preserv'd in better Health but also enabled to endure Labour with more ease and pleasure than the Intemperately Supet flâ—ous can lie a Bed or sit by the Fire O then how excellent are the ways of Temperance and Sobriety They free the
have the Preheminence of Foods Neither are they indued with so much nor so good Nourishment as Corn Foods But here we must give way to the prevailing Tyrant Custom which is the Champion I am to make War against and as the Foods of Beasts are better or worseâ— clean or substantial their Health Strength and Ability are according The like is to be understood of the Food Men live on for it is not as is said before the gross Juices that affords the true Nourishment but the fine light volatile Spirituous Vertues for this cause most are greatly mistaken that attribute so great and good Nourishment to Flesh and Fish Indeed they are full of gross Matters and Juices which do serve chiefly to cloud the finer Vertues and true Life which do also add Weight and not Spirit so that the great Eaters thereof become dull and heavy loading Nature with too great quantities of Phlegmatick Juices and Humours which do not only oppress Nature in all her Operations but is the Root of many Diseases both of the Body and Mind Green Corn and Grass are endued with more Substance and Juices than either Hay or Corn but it is Earthly and Gross and affords a Nourishment of a like Nature The more any thing is loaded or endued with Gross or Corrupt Matter the sooner it falls into Putrifaction But on the contrary the dryer firmer and more Spirituous any thing is the longer it will endure and be preserved from Corruption But of all things Men eat Flesh and Fish do sâ—oner decay because of the abundance of gross Matter it does contain which does as it were in a moments time cloud and suffocate the fine Sal-nitral Vertues I am sure that a Man may make a better Meal with half a Penny-worth of Wheat-Flower made into Pap and half a Penny-worth of Bread to eat with it and a little Salt and be as strong brisk and able to perform any Labour as he that makes the best Meal he can with either Flesh or Fish So great is the Ignorance Folly Blindness false Opinion and Custom of those that call themselves the Learned Pray tell me what kind of Ignorance and Madness does possess the Poor Labouring Man that hath but Six Pence or One Shilling to buy Food for his whole Family and to lay it out in a Sheeps Head and Gethers or an Oxes Liver which is his whole Stock and the best Food that can be expected from it is a little Corrupt Broth or Putrified Pottage when with five times less charge in Flower he might have procured a far better Meal being made into Pap or Gruel with a little Bread and Salt It is also to be noted that those that live on Corn Food have not occasion to drink Strong or Cordial Drinks as those that eat Flesh and Fish the first being more spiriâ—uous and warming the last Cold Phlegmatick and Gross and harder of Concoction 'T is likewise observable that half the quantity of Wine or strong Drink will exhillerate a Man that lives on CornFood to as high a degree as double the quantity will those that feed on Flesh c. which is a good Argument that Corn Food affords the cleanest and finest Nourishment and breeds the best Blood and Humours the Spirits being as it were always upon the Wing and consequently apter to be moved The Complexion of Fish and Flesh is Cold and Phlegmatick but whilst living they are for the most part of a hot lively-brisk Temperament each according to its Nature and the Food they live on But when the great Powers of Life are destroyed by the baneful stroak of the Butcher all the airy brisk Vertues bid the Corpâ— adue and the whole Mass becomes a lump of a sad Melancholick Nature and Operation what Notions soever some have to the contrary The True and most Natural Method of Preparing the forementioned Pottage Gruels and Paps made of Flower Pease c. TAke one Ounce of Wheatâ— flower which is a small Spoonful make a Point of Water near boyling hot temper your Flower with 3 or 4 Spoonfuls of cold Water then stir it into your hot Water keep it stirring on your Fire till it boyls up then it is at the thickest and is compleatly prepared add some Salt and a few crums of Bread letting it stand till it be almost cold this makes an excellent Meal for any Child from five or six years of Age to ten or twelve Or you may make it thus Take an Onion cut it 〈◊〉 boyl it in your Water a few minutes then add your temper'd Flower as before seasoning it with Salt and some Crums of Bread this eats very pleasant and is very satisfactory to the Stomach Onions are very wholsom in Pottages and Gruels they naturally warm and open the Obstructions of the Brest and Ureters and are not prejudicial to the Head nor Eyes when temperately used Another TAke two Ounces of Flower beaten or mixed with cold Water stir this into one Pint and a half of hot Water till it boyls up adding Salt and a little Bread and those that have no Bread may boyl an Onion in the Water before the Flower is put in this eaten makes a brave noble Exhillerating Meal for a Man which costs little more than one Farthing notwithstanding Corn is at such a high Price after this manner you may make what quantity you please thicker or thinner as it agrees best with you thick is best for strong Healthy People and for such as Labour thin is more advantagious for sick People or such as are troubled with foul Stomachs and obstructed Ureters a mean or middle sort is most proper for those that are of a soft Imployment or live a Sedentary Life Oatmeal Pottage TAke a Quart of Water make it boyling hot then take a large Spoonful of small or ground Oatmeal or somewhat better than a Spoonful temper it with cold Water then set it on your Fire till it begins to boyl up then brew it again and it is done add Salt and a little Bread letting of it stand till it be almost cold with this alone a Man may make as good a Meal as with all the Varities the four Elements afford for it renders the common Eater thereof strong lively and healthful Or you make it thus if it be for a Meal without other things make your Water boyling hot then take an Onion and some Pot-Herbs let your Herbs and Onions boyl a little time in your Water before you brew or stir the tempered Oatmeal after which you must stir your Oatmeal in till it boyl up or begins to boyl then it is done adding Salt and Bread this a most pleasant and wholsome Pottage and very nourishing but such as loves it plain may have it so and others that will have it with Pot-Herbs without an Onion may please themselves it 's a brave Food whether with or without Herbs But give me leave to tell you that for such as live only on such Flowered or
Miscellania OR A Collection OF Necessary Useful and Profitable TRACTS ON Variety of Subjects Which for their Excellency and Benefit of Mankind are Compiled in one Volume By THOMAS TRYON Physiologus London Printed and Sold by T. Sowle in White-Hart-Court in Grace-Church-street 1696. THE CONTENTS THe true and Natural Methods how to Cure all sorts of Cuts Bruises Pricks of Thorns Weapons or any kind of Wounds also Old Vlcers and to prevent Gangreens and other Evils whatsoever p. 3. How to Cure Pricks in any Member of the Body p. 4. To Cure Old Vlcers 5. To Cure Gauls or the skin being rubbed off by any accident 5. 61. An Excellent Poultis to Cure sore Breasts 6. A rare Poultis to â—llay all Swellings or Contusions in any part of the Body 6. Another Excellent Poulâ—is to dissolve ripen and Cure any Rising Swelling or Boyls in the Flesh 7. The best Spirit of Scurvy-grass is made thus 8. How you may make this plain Spirit of Scurvy-grass into a Purging Spirit 8. An Excellent Drink against the Stone Gravel and other Obstructions 9. How to Purgo by Herbs and Foods 10. Another Way to Purgâ— by Foods and Drinks 11. An Excellent Poultis against the Headach pain in the side also a rare Remedy against the Disease called St. Anthony's Fire 11. An Excellent remedy against any Wound Stab Prick or Cut with a Sword or other Weapon 12. Pythagoras's method and advice to his Disciples 13. An Excellent remedy against all Old 〈…〉 and Sores Occasion'd by the Disease called thâ— Kings Evil p. 14 An Vniversal Fâ—mentation for all Tumors Bruises ' Hard-Swelled Members or parts of the Body 15 A famous Poultis against Sprains 16 A good method to Cure Sprains if you can't have the forementioned Poultis viz. 16 An excellent Wash against all Old Aches and Sciatica's in any part or member of the Body 17. An excellent Method to Cure the Sores occasion'd by the Kings Evil 17. A rare Poultis against all Inflamations Rhumes and other Sores in the Eyes 18. A rare Poultis against the Headach 19. An excellent Poultis against all sorts of Sprains 20. A brave Noble Poultis against all hot Tumors Bruises or Swellings or the like 20. A method how any Person may sâ—â—ply the place of Hopâ— with Wormwood to all extents and purposes and please the pallats of the Drinkers for Wormwood is an excellent Herb and of far greater Strength Power and Vertue than Hops provided it be gathered in its prâ—â—er season and dried in the Sun and bagg'd up 〈◊〉 Hops are so keep them for use according to the Directions in our Way to Health Long Life and Happiness viz. 21. Of Brandy Rum and Rack from Page 1. to the 12. What Powers Meats and Drinks have in the Body from p. 12. to 20. What Inconveniences and Evils the Drinking Brandy and other Spirits bring upon Women and their Children from p. 20. to 28. Of Eating of Flesh and its Operation on the Body and Senses from p. 29. to 53. Of Herbs Fruits and Grains and their inward Operation on the Body and Mind from p. 53. to 60. Of Cleanness in Houses and Beds and the great Evils of stale Feather-Beds from p. 60. to 66. How Buggs breed from 60. to 70. Other Inconveniences arising from the same Cause to p. 73 How to prevent the Generation of Vermin and preserve Health from p. 73. to 79. How the preservation of Mens Health resides in the Wisdom and Temperance of Women from p. 79. to 87. Of the pain in the Teeth also from what cause and how to prevent it from p. 87. to 97. Observations on the great Frost 1683. from p. 97. to 111. Some Considerations on the keeping Christmas with remarks on the many Irregularities committed therein from p. 111. to p. 137. Good News for the Poor and better for the Rich wherein is shown how 20 or 15000. l. might be Weekly raised for support of the Poor and no Body the worse from p. 137. to p. 151. A true and Natural Method of preparing Gruels and Paps made of Flower and Pease wherein is shown the great advantage and benefit the Poor may receive thereby from p. 151. to 156. A Proposal to Sr. T. Lane Lord-Mayor and the Court of Alderman and other Citizens of London for the Erection of 20 free Schools for poor Children from p. 156. to 164. An excellent way to make Water-gruel or any other Pottages from 164. to the End THE PREFACE OBserving the tedious methods of some unskilful Chyrurgeons together with their improper Compositions and unatural Applycations which do not only Ruin and Undo many poor necessitous People but to the losing of their Limbs and sometimes their Lives too therefore I think it no worthless Service to recommend unto the World especially to the Poor the use of the following Remedies which are not only cheap and easily Come-at-able but certain in their Operation far beyond any things hitherto known or published These are noble Poultices and all the Ingredients do cast a friendly aspect to each other being of a cleansing mild Balsamick Nature and Operation and therefore they do by their active penetrating Power strengthen and raise up the dismayed Oyl or wounded Spirits by meliorating and asswaging the irritated or awakened fierce poysonous Humors by which this doth as far exceed the common and usual methods and practices of Chyrurgeons and other Practitioners as that Light doth Darkness But here I shall meet with a swingeing Objection viz. Why do you leave out of your Poultices the great Ingredient viz. The fulsom Grease of Swine and other Fat 's Which all skilled in the Art of Curing have for the most part advised and for 〈◊〉 other reason as I know then that their Poultices should not offend the patient by sticking to the Sore or wounded part for their long lying on the grieved parâ— if there were not some Fat 's or Oyles the Poultices would occasion them to become hard and stiff and so stick to the Sore which we prevent by our often repetition for the Spitituous Vertues and Qualities of Fat 's are so hid and lookt up in the oyly Body that Nature cannot separate noâ— draw forth their fine sweet Spirituous Vertues to that degree as she can from Vegetations as all men skilled in Nature and Chymistry do know they being of a heavy dull flat Nature and Operation very offensive to the tender Spirits and Blood by which they imâ—ede and hinder the Cure therefore those Poultices wherein Fat 's are mixed the fine Spirits and Vertues thereof do not so easily nor powerfully penetrate the Wound as rich Vegetations whose Spirit and lively Vertues are as it were on the Wing and therefore Poultices aptly compounded thereof their Vertues do in a moments time penetrate to the Center and incorporate with their similes by which they strengthen and raise up the wounded Spirits and at the same time do qualify the fierce raging Poysons more especially if our method be
and in the Blood and Spirits lie hid all the Dispositions and Inclinations the Creature was endued withal and therefore all sorts of Flesh that were permitted to be eaten were to be well purged from the Blood And also this same Blood was either to be consumed by Fire or an hole made in the Earth and the Blood cast into it and covered that the wrathful Spirits and Vapours thereof might not defile the Air which is continually breathed into our Bodies for when any Creature is killed the great pain and agony they endure does so powerfully awaken the Center of the wrathful Fire and also the internal Poysons which are the Root of every Life that the said fierce Poysonous Spirits seize the Blood on their right Fountain of Preservation so that the Blood does not only contain all the Natural Dispositions Passions and Inclinations but also the awakened Poysons and irritated Spirits which were violently stirred up by Death's stroke For when the Natural Life is in danger the continuation of which is so sweet unto all Creatures and they do so unwillingly part with it especially when the Creature is in perfect health and strength what a strange fear and dread must needs attend the Creature in this condition And how strongly and violently are all the Centers and Powers of Nature stirred up And then are awakened the revengful Spirits which do contain the Blood for that is their Habitation which in this Agonous condition does often spread it self through the whole Body and makes the Flesh look red but this is generally drawn back again by the drawing away of the Blood where the wound is made Now if this Blood be exposed to the open Air these fiery dark wrathful Spirits do by degrees evaporate and incorporate themselves with the Air and so defiles it and renders it pernicious The very same is to be understood in all other Uncleannesses and these are the chief Reasons why the Prophet Moses commanded the Blood either to be burnt on the Altar or buried in the Earth tho' there doth remain somewhat more to be said why he commanded the Blood to be consumed on the Altar by Fire which I shall forbear and speak of it in its proper place for those fiery wrathful Spirits that do evaporate themselves into the Air being continually breathed into the Body by such People as do communicate near such places as Slaughter-Houses and the like and more especially those that are of killing Imployments those awakened wrathful Spirits do enter them and powerfully incorporate themselves with their Similies for this cause all Butchers and others that do use such Trades are more fierce and cruel sooner moved to Wrath than others killing is as easie and familar to them as Plowing the Land is to the Husbandman and in a word they are far more inclined to violence than Men of other Imployments are The same is to be understood in all other Trades and also in Communications as those that are brought up and have their Conversasions amongst Horses are not most of them Robustick Proud Bold and Surly like the Creatures they Communicate with the same is likewise to be understood in many other hard working rough Trades and Imployments are not most of them rash head-strong scarce endued with common Humanity There is nothing so good or so bad but Man is capable of being captivated to it from this ground it is that weak Inclinations that a Man in himself is hardly sensible of may either by Imployments or Communications be made strong which is one Reason why Mens Inclinations and their Love and Hate alters and changes according to time place business and communication as some Men have declared that they did not fear being overcome with Drink Women or the like Evils becaue at that time they found no Inclinations to such things nevertheless Time Opportunity Communications and other Circumstances concurring many of them have been overcome by those Vices they so little stood in fear of though also Astrologick Configurations and Influences have a share in altering and changing Mens Inclinations and more especially when other causes concur For this cause the most prudent in all Ages have advised all Men to avoid evil occasions and the Apostle Paul saith That Evil Communication corrupts good Manners the truth of which no Man will or can deny Now if Imployments Communications Labours Words and all kind of outward business have so great power of changing and altering Dispositions and Inclinations increasing them and the contrary how can we imagine but Meats and Drinks received into the Body will have the same or greater Power and Operation as those that feed much on unclean Elesh as on Swine and that have their Conversation amongst Animals are not many of them much like those Creatures of sottish dull heavy sordid Dispositions yet subtle and cunning in a Bestial way And on the contrary those that drink Wine and feed on the highest Food have not they Spirits accordingly Also those whose Conversation is amongst Men as Citizens and Merchants have they not higher and greater Spirits being more tractable and humane fair and ingenious in all their Dealings and Conversations For all things have sympatheticil Operation whether it be Imployments Meats Drinks or Communications every thing does secretly awaken its like property which do often captivate the Spirit of a Man before he is sensible of it being ignorant of the Nature and sympathetical Operation all things have with his own Nature 'T is true most Men believe that evil Company corrupts Manner and will acknowledge that some sorts of Imployments do by degrees dispose People to Inhumanity Violence and Cruelty but if you tell them there is the same possibility and greater in Meats to vary not only Mens Bodies but also their Inclinations and Minds they shall laugh at it as a ridiculous Dream though in Truth it is a most certain Truth and daily Experience if we would but â—ear her Voice bears Witness unto it Why did Moses prohibit his People the eating of Swines Flesh seeing Swine are not serviceable unto Mankind any other way but by being killed and eaten and besides a Swine is a Creature that being well ordered becomes as wholesome Nourishment as some other Animals that are counted clean though there is somewhat to be said against the grossness of that sort of Flesh but the chief thing the Spirit of God in that great Prophet regarded was no doubt the Spirit of that Creature whose original and predominant quality stands in the dark wrath of Nature which is manisested by their shapes criâ—s and tones which Spirit the humane Nature ought not to joyn it self unto lest it partakes of its Nature Every thing having power to joyn its self with its likeness and to strengthen its own property Doth not Wine and strong Drink precipitate Men into Fury and Madness by Simile That is the Spirits in Wine do incorporate themselves with the natural Spirits and violently awaken them making
them burn too fierce which sets Nature into a Rage awakening the Central Spirits till all parts of the Body burn like Fire till the Oyl be consumed and Nature begins to languish becoming dull heavy and stupid The very same Operation have all Food in the Body and on the Spirits and Senses but more slowly and hidden for great meals of Food makes dull when first eaten for all the time Nature is a digesting and making separation which is four five or six hours a doing and then Nature begins to be brisk and lightsome for what the Stomach and Natural Heat do perform as to Fermentation and Separation with the Food is done to Natures Hand by Art in all sorts of strong Drinks therefore all such fermented strong Drinks have a present Operation but let Drink be ever so strong if it have not passed through Fermentation and Separation it will lie heavy on the Stomach and send dark and dulling fumes into the Head if a quantity be drunk Therefore great Meals of strong rich Food do endanger the Health more than proportionable drinking of strong Drinks especially in hot Countries and in Summer time in colder Climates That Dispositions and Inclinations are chang'd and alter'd by Food may further appear in all or most unclean Creatures are they not made much fiercer if raw flesh and blood be given them their wrathful unclean Nature being thereby enraged and made stronger And is not the very flesh of those Creatures Men feed on altered either for the better or worse according to the nature of their Food what a vast difference shall there be as to the goodness or badness wholesomness or unwholesomeness of the Milk of the very same Cow when she feeds upon fresh delicate Grass Herbs and Flowers and when she is kept on course Brewers Grains or the like The Elements of Man's Body and natural Spirits are compounded of the same matter as other Creatures are and in respects subject to the same or like alterations only the Holy Light and Grace of God which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World if obeyed is sufficient to subdue most natural Inclinations and to keep them within the bounds of Temperance indeed this Gift is the only power by which a Man may overcome the Evil and deny himself 2. Flesh is not so clean a Food as Herbs Seeds and Fruits for all forts of Animals are subject to various Passions but on the contrary all or most Vegetables have a more simple and innocent Original therefore their Operation on the Body and Senses is as simple having no power to awaken any property in the Body but what is like themselves Furthermore we see that no Creatures that are clean will eat Flesh except they be taught it and brought to it by degrees on the other side all such Animals as naturally will eat Flesh are by all means counted unclean as Dogs Cats Bears Wolves Foxes and many others both in the Sea and Land and most Men will avoid the eating of such Creatures as being unclean in the Root of their Natures Therefore they desire such Food as hath affinity with them for every Creature rejoyceth in its likeness The Prophet Moses well understood this when he commanded that unclean Creatures and Blood should not be eaten because the Blood as is mentioned before doth not only contain the Spirits but the very Humour Dispositions and Inclinations of the Creature therefore it was to be killed and dressed after such a manner by which the Blood and superfluous matter was extinguished and if Flesh should now be prepared after their way we should not account it to have half the Vertue as it hath in our way of preparation Indeed the way of killing and preparing of Flesh and Fish that the Law-giver prescribed to his People was to cleanse the Flesh from all Blood in which stand the Spirits and all the Dispositions and Inclinations of the Creature lie hid By this means the Uniting of the Bestial Nature with the Human was in a great measure prevented and for no other reason all unclean Beasts Fowls and Fishes were so severely forbidden All Created things have but one only Ground and Original Every particular Creature contains the true Nature and Properties of the whole only the qualities are in several degrees one having one quality strong and another the Center For in every Creature one of the forms or properties do carry the upward Dominion and other qualities lye as it were hid but some times do manifest themselves but that property which is weakest may be awakened and made strong by its Simile as often comes to pass From this very ground proceeds all Sympathy and Antipathy Concord and Discord in this World For all those whose predominate qualities stand nearest and have affinity to each other such are friendly one to another but those whose predominate Properties have Antipathy each to other such slight one another and if the Grace and Holy Light of God do not restrain them they are very apt to speak Evil and Backbite one another The same is to be understood in the Divine Principle of God's Love those that through the Blessing and Favour of the Lord have obtained the Holy Gifts of the Spirit be it more or less all such People have affinity and bear good will each to other except the false Prophet's Opinion get in amongst them which is a Ravening Wolf Every thing rejoyceth in its likeness and the contrary in its death therefore it is highly convenient for every man to consider the Variety and the Possibility of its own Nature and that in himself is contained the true Nature of every thing in the visible and invisible World and that he bears a Simile with all things and is both capable and liable to be drawn either to Vice or Vertue by every thing he joyns himself to whether Meats Drinks Communications or whatever else a Man suffers his Will or Desires to run out after or enter into the same thing hath power to awaken its likeness and for this cause all the Wise Men and Prophets have advised to Cleanness and Sobriety and to the reading of Good Mens Books which do stir up the good Faculties in the Soul for all Books do bear the Image and Spirits of him that wrote them and so by Simile do awaken the like Spirit and Desire and so on the contrary if young or old give themselves to the reading of Plays or Books of Romances they will powerfully awaken by Simile the vain wanton Nature which before lay as it were hid Therefore it was said in the Revelations Come out from amongst them and be ye separated lest you partake of their Evils 3. The Reason why most People love and so much desire Flesh more than either Herbs Fruits or Grains is not because it doth afford either better Nourishment or is pleasanter to the Pallate or Stomach but it chiefly is because Man is departed in his Mind and desires from the
such Places contract where the Air hath not its free egress and regress In these shady dull Places Beds are continued for many Years and hardly see the Sun or Elements Besides Beds suck in and receive all sorts of pernicious Excâ—ements that are breathed forth by the Sweating of various sorts of People which have Leprous and Languishing Diseases which lie and die on them The Beds I say receive all these several Vapours and Spirits and the same Beds are often continued for several Generations without changing the Feathers until the Ticks be rotten Besides we have many Feathers that are Imported from several Countries which are the Drivings of old Beds the Uncleanness whereof is not considered As to the Nature of Feathers they are of a strong hot fulsom Quality For Fowls of all Creatures are for the most part the hottest and their Feathers contain the fame Nature Therefore the constant lying on soft Feather-beds does not only over-heat the Back and Reins weakning the Joints and Nerves but they have power also not only to receive but retain all evil Vapours and Excrements that proceed from and are breathed forth by various Diseased People Hence it comes to pass that sundry Distempers are transferred from one to another by lying upon or in such Beds which Distempers do secretly steal on a Man by Degrees so that he cannot imagine whence the disorder proceeds or what the Cause thereof should be But I would not have the Reader mistake me all People are not subject to get Diseases this way There are some whose Constitutions are strong and their Natural Heat and Spirits are vigorous and lively by the Power and Vertue whereof they withstand and repel all such evil Vapours and Scents as do proceed from such Beds when a Man is hot and sweats in them that they have no power to seize the Spirit But on the contrary when such People shall lie on such Beds whose Natural Heat is weak their Spirits few and whose Central Heat is not able to withstand or repel those Vapours and Scents which such Beds send forth when a Man is hot in them this last sort of People are subject to receive Injuries and contract Diseases For those evil Vapours do powerfully penetrate the whole Body and if they are not withstood by the Central Heat and Power of the Spirits then these evil Vapours do seize the Spirits and incorporate themselves with their Likenesses For every particular thing does sensibly and powerfully seek out its Likeness and wheresoever it find its Simile it hath power to incorporate and become essential These are the chief Reasons why one Man gets Diseases by lying with Diseased Persons and in unclean Beds and others not It is a general Custom when Men go abroad or travel to desire clean Sheets imagining them to be a sufficient Bulwark to defend them from the pernicious Fumes and Vapours of old stale Beds but it is too short For it is certain that most or all Beds do perfectly stink not only those in Inns and Houses of Entertainment but others Not but that every ones Bed does smell indifferent well to himself but when he lies in a strange Bed let a Man but put his Nose into the Bed when he is thoroughly hot and hardly any Common Vault is like it Now this sort of Uncleanness which does proceed from old Beds is not only the greatest but also the most injurious to the Health and Preservation of Mankind and the least Care is taken to prevent it Every one that can will have plentiful Changes both of Linneâ— and Woollen Garments for if they have not Experience does shaw that the Excrements and Breathings of the Body will generate Vermin Also do not most People take Care that their Furnitures are daily brâ—shed and rubbed and their very Floors washed as though they were to eat their Food on them But all this while they lie on Beds that have not been changed or hardly aired in several Years Let any indifferent Person judge which is most pleasuâ—able and healthful to have a clean Floor to tread on which câ—sts many hard days Labour to keep so and is dirtied in a Moments time or to have a clean sweet Bed to lie on There is no Comparison to be made the difference is so great the one being essential either to Health or Sickness the other an indifferent thing If there was but the tenth part of the Care taken to keep Beds clean and sweet as there is of Cloathing and Furniture then there would be no matter for the getting of Diseases nor for the Generation of Bugs I would have all Housewifes and others consider the Reasons of these things Are not Lice that troublesome Vermin bred from the breathings of the Body for want of often Change both of Linnen and Woolen and will not Fleas breed from the very Dust of Chambers where People lie Also any Woollen that hath been used about Beds although the cold Winter hath destroyed them yet if these Clothes lie in any close place where the Air hath not its free egress and regress these very Garments will generate Fleas the Summer following But if these Clothes had been used about Men and Women they would never have bred Fleas for there is no matter of Element in Wooll or Cloth for the Generation of such Creatures but Wooll Cloth Furs and Hair are chiefly the Element of Moths and sometimes of small Worms that is if such things are kept in places where the refreshing Influences of the Air have not their free egress For all such places do contract great store of Moisture which when hot Weather comes causeth Putrifaction whence all such Vermin do proceed But if those things be in daily use and exposed to the open Element they never breed any Vermin So that the Generation of those things are generally caused by Accidenâ—s not but that there is matter in the Radixes of such things for the Generation of such Vermin 3. From the pernicous Smells and putrified Vapours that do proceed from old Beds are generated the Vermin called Bugs of which neither the Ancients nor the Modern Writers of this Age have taken any Notice according to the Degrees of Uncleanness Nature of the Excrements and the Closeness of places where Beds stand for some Peoples Excrements are not so unclean as others Also in all close places especially in Cities and great Towns the Spirits and thin Vapours of the Air are suffocated which makes the same Air Sulphurous and Humid whence does proâ—â—ed Putrifaction Therefore it is not to be thought a general Rule That all old Beds should breed Bugs as some who are ignorant of the Operations of Nature will be apt to say If one Bed do breed them why not all No it is according to the Nature of the Uncleanness and other Accidents that do happen for where as is said before the thin pure Air with the refreshing Influences of the Sun and Elements have their free egress
observe the necessary Rules of Temperance how careful then ought Mothers and Nurses to be in ordering their Children A great part of the Children that die especially in Towns and Cities is occasioned either by the Intemperance of their Mothers during the time they go with Child or afterwards by their unnatural and badly prepared Food and suffering them to eat to excess also by their keeping of them too warm and too close from the Air and lapping of them up in several Double Clothes and Swathes so tight that a Man may write on them and then puting them into warm Beds and covering them up close If a strong Man was so bound up he could not endure it without great injury unto his Health Besides the Window-Curtains are drawn and also the Curtains about the Bed by which means the Air becomes so hot and sulphurous that it causes great Disorders to attend both the Mothers and the Children This ill Kind of Management does also cause such a Tenderness both in the Mother and the Child that on every small occasion they are liable and apt to get Colds and divers other Distempers Also Women have the entire Management of all things that concern our Healths during the whole time of our Lives they prepare and dress our Food and order all things in our Houses both for Bed and Board There is not one Man of a hundred that understands or takes any notice whether his Food be well prepared or not and if his Bed stinks he is used to it and so counts it all well Mens Time and Study is chiefly taken up about getting a Livelihood and providing things necessary for themselves and Families so that there is not one among a thousand that understands any thing what belongs to the Preservation of his Health Whatever the Women do and say touching the Preparation of Food and other ordering of Families for Health most Men believe not making the least scruple or question of the truth thereof And well they may For the chiefest Doctors of our Times do bow before them and are altogether as subject to the Rules and Directions of Women as other Men. Where are your Doctors that teach Men Sobriety in their Lives or the proper and natural way of preparing Meats fit for the Stomach Which of them adviseth against the evil Custom of keeping their Chambers so over hot when People are sick and in the time of Womens lying in Child-bed Why do they not advise them not to have their Curtains so close drawn both before their Windows anâ— Beds insomuch that they are often times in a manner suffocated for want of the fresh Air For I affirm That all sorts of People that do keep their Beds let the occasion be what it will have ten-fold more need of the refreshing Influences of the Air than others that are up For the Bed being much hotter than a Man's Garments are when he is up the thin refreshing moist Vapâ—urs that do penetrate the whole Body more powerfully when a Man is up are thereby hindered This is one chief Reason why a Man cannot digest a Supper so well in Bed as if he sits up All Men know that the Bed destroys Appâ—tice If a Man go to Bed aâ— Eight a Clock and lies till Eight in the Morning he shall not be hungry but it he goes to Bed at the same time and rises at Four in the Morning though he sâ—s still without Action yet by Eight he shall have a good Stomach to eat and drink so great is the power of the Air For when a Man is up his Body is cool and the pure Spirâ—s and thin moist Vapours of the Air have power to penetrate the Body which Element the Body sucks in like a Spunge thorow the Pores and this doe not only cool and refresh â—he Spirits and the whole Body but also powerfully strengthens the Action of the Stomach But I pity the young Children most who are so tender and of so delicate a Nature both in their Body and Spirits that every Disorder does wound them to the very Heart Nothing is more grateful and refreshing to them than the pleasant Air It comforts their Spirits and cauâ—eth a free Circulation of the Blood and Radical Moisture begets Appetite and makes them grow in Strength But on the contrary hot sulphurous Airs with great Fires and warm Clothing do not only hinder the Circulation of the Blood but suffocate the Spirits and destroy the Appetite causing an unnatural Heat to possess the whole Body whence does proceed various Disorders and Diseases making them to cry and be very froward Also close Bindings and over-warm Clothings and thick hot Airs do oft in weak-spirited Children cause Convulsions Vapours and Fumes to fly into the Head sometimes occasioning Vomitting which People call Windy Diseases Again the Food of most Children of late years is so enriched with West and East-India Ingredients that is with Sugar and Spices that thereby their Food becomes so hot in Operation that it does not only breed too much Nourishment which generates Obstructions and Stoppages but it heats the Body drying up and consuming the Radical Moisture and infecting the Blood with a sharp fretting Humour which in some Complexions and Constitutions causeth languishing Diseases contracting the Breast and Vessels of the Stomach and hindering the Passages of the Spirits so that the Joynts and Nerves become weak and feeble In others with the help of bad Diet and other Uncleanliness does cause Botches Boils and various sorts of Leprous Diseases Also many that have wherewithal will frequently give their Children Sack strong Drinks and fat Meats as long as they will eat which is abominable and absolutely contrary to the Nature of Children There are a hundred other Disorders and Intemperances that many Mothers and ignorant Nurses affect their Children with which I have no room in this place to discourse of Therefore I commend unto the Women Milk that is raw only made so hot as the Mothers or Nurses Milk is when the Child socks it and sometimes Milk and Flower boyled together giving it the Châ—ld about tâ—e warmness of Breast-milk and indeed neither Children nor others others ought to eat any Food hotter Also no Children ought to drink any kind of strong Drink I could commend Water as the most wholesom but it being contrary to our Custom ordinary Beer may do well or rather small Ale If Women did understand but the hundredth part of the Evils and Diseases those indulging and intemperate Ways do bring both to themselves and Children they would quickly be of my mind which I never expect They are too wise CHAP. III. A short Discourse of thâ— Pain in the TEETH Shewing from what Cause it does chiefly proceed and also how to prâ—vâ—nt it THE terrible Pains and Diseases of the Teeth do chiefly proceed from two Causes The first is from certain filthy Phlegmy Matter which the Stomach and Vessels do continually breathe and send forth which does lodge