because the one betokens the animal parts to be affected the other the natural All they that are troubled with pain or dolour in any part of the body whatsoever and are not sensible of it have the reason troubled because the apprehension doth not in any measure perceive the evil Canon 14. It is good to sleep in the night to make reparation of the spirits animal and a digestion of the humours by the means of the heat that enter within the center of the body and to watch in the day for clearing of the same spirits to give motion to the humours and to make expulsion of the Excrements but it is a very pernicious sign not to sleep night nor day for continual watching cometh either of dolour pain and torment suffered or of the dryness of the brain which in the end will cause an alienation of the mind Sleep likewise surpassing the bounds of mediocrity is in like manner evil because it is a mark of extreme coldness in the brain which causeth a Lethargy or Obliviousness if it be mixed with humidity or else a Catalepsy which is a kind of the Falling-sickness if it be acompanied with dryness When in a sickness sleep is noysome and hurts there is danger of death for if the sleep doth hurt in that time that it hath been accustomed to help much as in the declination of any sickness it is not without cause that it foretelleth death and that because the heat retired within the body in the time of the sleep doth by this means encrease and being not able either by reason of its weakness or the maliciousness of the humours to overcome the causes of the disease it shews that Nature no way strengthened or comforted by this means but rather hurt is ready to sink under the burden the disease being stronger Canon 15. The Pulse is the faithful messenger of the heart bringing certain news of death or life The Pulse great and strong is a token of strength on which is builded the hope of the healths recovery but the Pulse little weak and languishing sheweth the weakness of the vital faculty from whence is the fear of death The inequality of the Pulse is also evil when it continues an intermission in young men it is most dangerous for it threatneth present death if it be not from an obstruction and oppression of the Arteries it is less dangerous in children and least of all in old men Canon 16. The respiration free without stop or let is very wholsom in all sharp and quick diseases because it denotes the temperature of the breast and of the parts therein contained So also the respiration remaining whole declares the natural heat yet to be strong to fight valiantly against the disease On the contrary the difficulty of breathing shews the indisposition of the vital parts and the suffocation of the spirits For the respiration frequent and great is a sign of some inflammation of the parts within the breast but the great and seldom breathings do foreshow a future alienation of the spirit as the respiration little and rare betokens death because it bears witness of the extinction of the natural heat which is clearly perceived by the coldness of the breath issuing at the nostrils and the mouth Canon 17. It is a good sign to have constantly a whole heart for they who fall often into Lipothamy or swounings without a manifest cause do die in the end suddenly because of the debility of the vital faculty Canon 18. The coction of the humour appearing in the Excrement of the Patient signifies the Crisis or conflict to be speedily in assurance of health but the crudity denotes that either there shall be no Crisis or that the Patient is mightily troubled or that the disease shall be longer or that afterward it shall return or finally that death shall follow upon it For as when the coction is made Nature is victorious over the causes of the disease so the contraty comes to pass when she is overcome by them for instance the foecal matter being soft equal and yellow not having any evil smell is judged to be good because it is well digested in like manner the water being of a middle consistence of colour somewhat yellow having grounds white united and equal is reputed to be singular good because it bears witness that the vitious humours are digested and consequently that Nature hath gotten the victory over them On the contrary the digestion liquid and watery white and pale is reputed evil because it is crude and raw so also the Urine watery and smal white and exceedingly shining is not good because it is raw and without digestion Canon 19. When the Excrements of the sick are not very different from the Excrements of the whole it shews the disease to be light but if there be a very great difference the disease must be apprehended to be deadly for the Excrements differing shew Nature to be overcome by the greatness of the disease Therefore the foecal matter black livid green and stinking are mortal because they are wholly alienated from the natural constitution and the water that is black and thick and troubled like that of Oxen is most evil because extremely removed from the natural The same mixed in colour foreshews a long disease for they denote diverse indispositions caused of divers humours and therefore it is necessary that Nature employ her self a long time to the concoction having so many Enemies to combate The Urine in which grease is seen to swimme like spiders webs is evil because it declares a melting of the body by an extraordinary heat Canon 20. Sweats are good in all sharp and fiery diseases when they fall on critical dayes and they cause the Fever wholly to cease They are good also when they make the disease more easy to the Patient provided they be universal but the sweats which bring no ease nor serve to any use as also those that are cold and appeare onely about the head face and neck are most evil for in a hot fiery and quick Fever they prognostick death and in a gentle Fever they shew the longness of the disease A cold sweat running without ceasing and in great abundance is a mark of a long disease because it comes by reason of a great quantity of gross and cold matter which cannot easily be dissipated or tamed by the natural heat A hot sweat on the other side shews a short disease which being caused of a subtile matter will in a short space be dissolved Canon 21. If the visage of the sick be like to the countenance of whole persons it is a very excellent sign chiefly if it look like it self being whole On the contrary it is a very evil sign when it is different from the natural and when it is hideous to behold as it is when the nose is sharp the eyes hollow the temples abated the ears cold and drawn in the lap of the ear turned the skin
are 1. The color of the face and all the body somewhat whitish grayish or livid being withall swell'd the whole body grown and fat for fat folk are commonly cold and phlegmatick grease being ingendred by the coldness of the habitude of the body the veins and Arteries being little and strait as coming of little blood and few spirits 3. The skin white and soft without hair because the complexion cold and humid is no wayes hairy the hair is white because it is created of phlegm 4. All the senses of the body heavy and lazy the spirit stupid the sleep profound the pulse small and soft 5. Slow digestion of belching with a sower tast a desire to vomit the water whitish crude and sometime troubled with a thick ground 6. Pituitous and phlegmatick diseases frequently occurring or old Cattarhs and the like Canon 19. The antecedent Causes declaring a windy Cacochymie or Digestion are 1. The stomach cold and humid with a debility of natural heat proceeding of a simple intemperature or with humours indigested 2. The Spleen swell'd and bound up with melancholy hindring by a Sympathy the digestion of the stomach 3. Meats windy as raw Fruits Beans Pease Chesnuts and the like over-much drink too much boyled meat Drunkennesse and Gluttony 4. Lack of Exercise great sleep the Age the Country season of the Year Cold doth cause abundance of Ventosities 5. When wind is gathered in the body by reason of the former causes there is found a distention of the Venticle of the Collick Gout chiefly on the left side with a noise 6. The wandering discenting pains running here and there through the whole body 7. There is wind heard to issue at all occasions both upward and downward from whence cometh some ease there is also often to be observed a singing in the ear 8. The Chollick with other diseases arising of wind do often trouble Canon 20. The external causes of sickness called by the Greeks Procatarticks or primitive causes ought diligently to be searched for they lead us to the knowledge of the cause intern as of the disease for aire meat and drink to warm watching great and violent motion anger and the suppression of the Excrements these engender hot humours and hot diseases On the contrary cold food with a cooling air sleep idleness fear and all evacuation and immoderate causes beget cold humours and cold diseases Dry diseases commonly accompany hot causes and humid diseases arise from cold causes for hot do ordinarily bring with them drowth and cold produceth humidity because it is the parent of crudities To find out therefore exactly the cause and effect of a Malady which is hid it is needful by a diligent inquisition and interrogation of all things which commonly are not natural causes to learn of the sick if he hath exposed himself to any intemperate or impure air if he hath committed any excess in meat or drink in watching or labouring or if he hath been too fierce in Venery if the spirit have not been troubled by passions or if some ordinary evacuation be not suppressed as the monthly courses to women and the flux of Emrods to men and so much the rather because he ought to enquire carefully of the things past because ignorance of the causes is not without great danger for if a fever should happen upon a long watching fasting or too much Venery then without consideration of the cause of the disease should they presently draw blood and purge they should hazard the life of the Patient seeing the disease came from evacuation but on the contrary he ought rather to repair the spirits by Analecticks or Restoratives and to augment the disease by drawing blood and Catharticks or Purgos PART II. To foresee the issue of the Disease CANON I. THe fundamental Laws of Prognosticks or Foreknowledge are taken from the things Natural not Natural and contrary to to Nature As of the Spring for the sickness may be foreseen and foretold to be salutiferous or mortal short or long by the spirits by the constitution of the body by the age of the Patient by the season by the form of life by the cause by the Espece or kind and by the siege of the evil with the symptomes which are remarkable in the change or diminution of the actions the excrements and in the quality of the body Canon 2. If the body be strong to obtain the victory over the disease without doubt the sick shall escape if not he shall die for none die so long as their spirit remains but so soon as the spirits begin to yield to the burden of the sickness then follows death Now to foretell the day of death good observation must be made how far the sickness surpasseth the spirits and well to mark the most violent access for it is observable that when the sickness doth transcend the spirits so as they can no longer resist death must necessarily follow but if it appear otherwise death shall not so soon approach So that the original of Prognosticks doth consist in conferring the spirits with the sickness for if Nature be strong enough to overcome the sickness then the Patient shall escape but if she be so weak that she cannot obtain the victory death then of necessity must follow and the Physitian must wait on the one or the other sooner or later according as the spirits are stronger or weaker hence it appears that all other signs salutiferous or mortal are no otherwise foresigns of life or death but as they point forth the strength or weakness of Nature in the combat with the sickness Canon 3. It is a great help to health to be of a moderate constitution of body that is neither too fat nor too lean for such a body hath great strength to resist any disease which doth present it self but where this moderation is not a gross body is in a worse case than a lean for they who are fat die sooner than such as are otherwise because the veins and arteries of grown fat people are narrow and strait and have but little blood and spirit so that the age concurring upon a light occasion the natural heat is choaked or extinguished but such as are of a lean and thin constitution because they have the veins and arteries larger and therefore contain more blood and spirits within them do not so soon incur the danger of death yet so it is that they are sooner troubled by external causes and that for want of flesh and fat so then the gross are more obnoxious to intern infirmities and the leane to extern Canon 4. Youth hath great strength to withstand a disease because he hath store of natural heat requisite to the concoction and excretion of the evil humours contrarily old age is not able to resist because of the defect of strength not having much natural heat hence it is that sickness stayes longer upon old people than young because they abound in cold humours the digestion whereof
of the face hard extended and dry the colour of the face pale or black livid or lead-coloured for if this deformity do not proceed of a manifest cause as of lack of sleep or of meat or by reason of a Flux of the belly without doubt it presageth death to be near for this great extenuation is made by the malignity of the disease Canon 22. Where a change is perceived through the whole body so that it is now cold then hot sometimes of one colour then of another it foretelleth a long disease for the indispositions diversly mixed are still longer than those that are of a fast form or fashion for Nature cannot tame or overcome more at once Now the changing of qualities and humours demonstrate the disease to be caused of divers humours in the coction whereof Nature hath need to employ much time for according to the variety of the humours within there appears a variety of colors without Canon 23. It is a good sign to have the Hypoconders that is the space under the short ribs on either side soft equal and without dolour but very evil to have them hard bended unequal and painful for as the former shews the good temperature of the Epigasticks or skins covering the Muscles of the Mesentery the Livor the Spleen and the Stomach so the later declares an intemperature that is an inflammation a skirrh or wind to be in those parts In all diseases it is good that the parts above the Navel and the inferiour part of the belly be gross fat and in good case for the Hypoconders gross and fleshy are marks of strength but the small and extenuate are evil both as signs and as causes for as much as they are signs of the debility of the parts extenuate and causes that the digestion is not well elaborate in the stomach nor the sanguification in the Livor for the grosness or fatness of the Epigastre or lower parts of the belly do augment the natural heat by the parts within being warmed they better digest the meat and so make better blood Canon 24. As to the consideration of the things that fall out in the body every good sign is not an assurance that the sick shall escape neither on the other side though evil signs appear are they to be taken for warrants that he shall die for a good sign may be over-weighed by an Evil being great and on the contrary an evil sign may be overcome a good being stronger Canon 25. The disease quits the sick either wholly at once by way of Crise or by little little by way of Resolution Crise is a sudden change of the Disease into Health or else into Death which is then when Nature separates the vicious humours from the good in order to expell them of it there be two sorts one is by Excretion and the other is by Absesse that comes by a flux of Blood or Sweat or by a flux of the Belly or Vomit or flux of the Urine Canon 26. The good Crise arrives on the 7 14 or on the 20 day wherefore these dayes are called Critical the future Crise was fore-seen by the signs of digestion appearing on the 4 11 and the 17 day hence these dayes are called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Indicatives Contemplatives for according to the doctrine of Hypocrates the 4 day is the indicative of the 7. the 8 is the beginning of the next moneth the 11 is also remarkable because it is the 4 of the second week and the 17 is also to be observed because it is the 4 after the 14 and the 7 from the 11. Canon 27. When the Crise is to be on the 7 day there is to be perceived on the 4 day preceding a red cloud in the water and other signs correspondent for because the 4 day points out the 7 if there appear any sign of concoction that day it forewarns the Crise to be on the 7 day where then there appears a cloud in the water not onely red but white and yet rather a white Hypostasis or ground united and equall if it so happen that the motion of the sickness be sudden it is a presage of the future Crise When the Crise draws near the night preceding is very troublesome but that which follows is ordinarily more easie to be endured for whilest Nature is making a separation between the good and evil humours which disagree in this exercise of nature the disease is much troubled but so it is that this great work appears the night before the Crise because the sleep is interrupted but the night which follows the Crise being perfect the humours are much more at their own ease because nature is disburthened of superfluous humours Canon 28. The universal signs by which one discovers the espece or kind of the Crise to come are taken from the kind of the Disease from the part that is diseased from the nature of the Patient for hot and quick diseases are ordinarily judged by excretion but the cold and long by Absesse If there be an inflammation in the gibbous or rising part of the Livor then must be expected a Crise by a flux of Blood at the right Nostrill or by a flux of Urine if the inflamation be in the hollow part of it then expect the Crise by a flux of the Belly or by Vomit or by Sweat The inflamations of the Brain and of all the Head are commonly judged by an Hemorragie or bleeding at the Nose but that of the Stomach and Mesentery are judged by Vomit or Flux downward Moreover a flux of Blood falls oftenest to young men cholerick overtaken with a hot Fever and a flux of the Belly to old men phlegmatick there the common and now here the proper Prognosticks of every Crise Redness of the Face and extreme dolour of the Head and Neck a beating of the Arteries in the Temples the distention of the Hypochonders with difficulty of breathing a dimnesse and watering of the Eyes singing of the Ears and itching of the Nostrils prognosticks the Crise to be a flux of Blood by the Nose A heat and heaviness of the Loynes with a pain and extension of the Hypogastre foreshews a Crise to be by a flux menstruall A suppression of the Water with a pricking and shivering through the whole Body with the Pulse soft and watry and the exteriour parts of the body hot and vaporous betokens that it will be a Sweat Belching Ventosities or Winds a bending of the Belly and pain of the Kidneys by a flux of the Belly loss of Appetite or loathing of Meat with a throwing of the Heart soreness of the Head giddiness great spitting bitterness in the Mouth and a trembling of the under-Lip these are prognosticks that a future Crise will be by Vomit When the signs of Concoction have gone before and when the motions of a Crise have been perceived then it may be expected by a flux of Urine if there
do not appear any mark of a Crise by a flux of Blood nor by Sweat flux of the belly or Vomit especially when the Patient feels a heaviness in the Hypogastre and heat about the end of the privy Member having also made his water thick and gross during his Disease or if he be aged and sick in the winter it foretelleth it the rather A heavinesse and pain of the Head with profound sleeping and deafness succeeding immediately to a difficulty of breathing suddenly arriving without any manifest cause to one sick with a long Disease do intimate an Absesse to be behind the ear But if there be no sign of a Paritude and that the sick hath had his urine of a long time clear and indigested and when he finds a heaviness a paine a bending or tension a heat in the Hypochondres he must then expect an Absesse in the lower parts if any part of the body hath been hurt before there shall the Aposteme or Absesse be an Absesse falls out most frequently in winter and after an imperfect Crise Canon 29. Moreover a good Crise ought to be signified before in the day of indication and should fall out in a criticall day with a manifest Excretion or notable Absesse without dangerous accidents it ought also to be perfect a perfect Crise is that which evacuates all the vicious matter and an imperfect Crise is that which evacuates but some part of it the former is sure but the latter is not to be trusted for the evil humours remaining after a Crise are wont to make one recidive or relapsing moreover a Crise is judged to be good by reason of the convenable quality and reasonable quantity with the former agreeable and the time oportime A Crise is known to be perfect and assured by the re-establishing of the Functions Natural Vital and Animal by the coction of the Excrements or by the quality or form of the Body reduced and made conform to the natural Canon 30. There is no trusting to any ease or allegations which happen without cause nor fear evil Symptoms arising against Reason for the most part of those are inconstant and do not last any long time for when any vehement Disease ceaseth of it self without any evacuation either by Sweat Vomit Flux downward or upward by Hemorrage or without any sign of concoction that ease is not to be taken for granted neither must it be believed seeing it doth threaten that something of greater evil will follow thereon neither need affrightment be upon the evils which befall without or rather contrary to Reason as difficulty of Breathing Ravery Shivering Reduplication of the Fever seeing they are not constant nor of long continuance and so far they are from signifying any thing that is evil that on the contrary they often presage a good Crise which shall arrive to the great ease of the Patient PART III. The right Method of curing the Disease CANON I. WHosoever will exactly keep the Method of right proceeding in the Cure ought to begin at the first Indications then to come to those that follow afterwards to the next and never to leave off till he shall come to the end pretended Indication is here to be taken for that which serveth to teach the way in the cure of the Disease to attain to Health Canon 2. The Forces Strength or Spirits ought before all things to be preserved and encouraged in those who are diseased After the indication of the Forces follows the consideration of the Indisposition which is proposed to be cured the Force or Spirit intends alwayes the Conservation and the Indisposition its Ablation now as the Forces are kept and conserved by the like so the Indisposition is taken away by the contrary Canon 3. In all diseases where the efficient cause is yet present the cure must begin at the same for it is impossible to cure any Disease perfectly while the cause that ingenders it doth continue so the Maladies never cease till the evil humours ingendring them be banished which evil humours do lurk within the body Canon 4. After the taking away of the Cause the judgement is to be directed to the Disease ingendred of that Cause keeping for a generall rule first the ablation or removing of the Cause efficient and next of the Malady Canon 5. The cure of the Symptome is first intended but alway that of the Malady which causeth the Symptome yet when the Symptome menaceth with Death or greater or suddener danger then the Disease it self the cure of it may be first attempted Canon 6. Whilest the Disease is growing the growth of it must be hindred and that part taken away that is already ingendred the generation of that which is to come is hindred by taking away the Cause antecedent and the Malady already ingendred is banished by taking away the cause conjoyned Canon 7. In all Diseases caused or Fluxion that is first to be stopped which is flowing and next that which is already flowed is to be drawn forth therefore the cure of a Phlegmon or fluxion of Blood a Catarrh or defluxion of Rheum and of all other Diseases which are caused by a Fluxion look all to two ends the one is that the humour which is running be stay'd the other that that of it which is already in the part be evacuated Canon 8. In all Diseases complicate where one cannot be cured without the other there must be respect had to Order now Method or Order ever requireth the cure of the first which hindreth the cure of the other as if a Phlegmon be accompanied with an Ulcer the first is first to be taken away and then the other is to be cicatriced Canon 9. When two Indications are directly opposite one to the other the one is not to be so regarded as that the other be neglected but rather having as good care of this as of that a mixture must be contrived as equall as may be As for example if one be troubled by two so contrary Diseases that one desires a hot the other a cold remedy in this case the remedy used must be temperate to the end it do no harm to one or the other Disease but be rather ther helpfull to both so when the Stomack is cold and the Liver over-hot things temperate mixed of hot and cold ingredients are most convenient and agreeable or else an alternative use sometimes of the one and sometimes of the other hence it is that when a Plegmon is in its growth there mixed Repercussives with Digestives Canon 10. When a Repugnancy is observed to be amongst the Indications after mature consideration had of the decay of the Spirits as also upon the Indication of the cause of the Disease it is best to follow that which is most important withall by no means neglecting the other Canon 11. That maxime is most necessary to be followed which commands first to cure the most important danger for the Indisposition that is the first and
cannot be but in a long space by reason of the weakness of their natural heat yea the greatest part of sickness that doth arrive to old people conveys them to their graves Canon 5. The Spring is very wholsome and no wayes mortal when it keeps temperature but in Harvest diseases are very strong and deadly for the most part First because cold and dry are diametrically opposite to life which consisteth in heat and moisture for those humors hinder the generation of blood whereof the body is made and nourished Secondly because it receives from the Summer proceedings from the body languishing and weary Thirdly because it suppresseth within the body the superfluous humours melted by the heat of the Summer which come forth to the skin to the end they may go forth Fourthly because about the twelfth hour it openeth the pores of the body by the heat incontinently after becoming cold it ariseth within the body as an enemy to extinguish by its malign quality the natural heat already feeble and languishing moreover it gathers store of crudities within the body which do choak the natural heat and that especially by the use of fruits which it produceth The Summer hastens sicknesses but the Winter doth retard them because in the Summer the pores being open the evil humours of the body being melted by the heat of the air are suddenly dissipated but in winter they being closed by the cold are retained within Canon 6. Amongst constitutions of the Seasons the dry is most wholsom and not deadly as the rainy for it gathers no Excrements and better resists to putrefaction The humid on the contrary causeth many superfluities from whence are the generation of diseases When the seasons are constant keeping the temperature ordinary so that all things do naturally fall out in them the diseases are likewise constant and easie to be understood but when the season is inconstant so are the sicknesses variable and hard to be understood for the Crisis or conflict is accompanied with dangerous Symptomes where they suddenly cause death or else leave a matter to a new sickness Canon 7. When the sick proves a good second to the Physitian fighting against the sickness it is then easie to obtain the victory now when he believeth the Physitian and puts his Ordnances in practise he serves him for a second and declares himself an enemy to the disease On the contrary if acquitting the Physitian he takes part with the disease by accomplishing that which himself desires he hazards his life two wayes one in leaving the Physitian alone in the combat the other in serving as a second to the sickness which was before alone for it is certain that two are stronger than one Canon 8. The greatness of the sickness followeth the greatness of the cause for as a light cause produceth a light evil so a great cause rendreth a great effect Hence a vehement cause contrary to Nature is a most certain Indice of a great and dangerous sickness Canon 9. Choler doth ever cause quick diseases which determine and end within a few dayes because it is easily resolved by its subtility But Melancholy is the most viscous of all the humours and makes longest accesses because it is dry cold and thick being the life of the blood Next to Melancholy is Phlegm in difficulty of digestion and expulsion by reason of its viscosity Canon 10. The diseases which have some resemblance with the nature bodily constitution and age of the Patient are less dangerous than those that have no conformity for all sicknesses hot cold dry or moist being conform to the complexion age and bodily constitution of the sick as also to the season hath so much less danger as it is less removed from the natural constitution and so may more easily return as proceeding from a lighter and slighter cause as on the contrary the disease which hath no affinity neither with the temper likeness nor age of the Patient or with the season is much more dangerous than the former being further removed from the natural complexion and therefore worse to cure as proceeding from a greater and stronger cause so that of two burning Fevers equall in grandeur that which falls out in Summer to a young man lean of body and hot of temper shall not be so dangerous as that which falls out in Winter to an old man of a fat body and cold complexion Canon 11. Meek and gentle relenting diseases are commonly long but the sharp fiery and fierce are ended within fourteen dayes and the extreme hot in seaven dayes There can be no certain prediction made of hot sharp diseases either for health or death for because they are quickly ended they become suddenly great so that both for the greatness of the disease with the sudden change which befalleth in the Crise or conflict as also because the humour is often transported from one place to another the issue is uncertain wherefore whilst the humour is in its motion it is best to suspend judgment for it is not certain whether it will rush on a noble or ignoble part within or without by passages convenient or inconvenient and though the humour were stayed in one place yet the Physitian ought not resolutely to affirm that the sick shall escape but with this provision That no new change befall and that he follow the advice and keep the regiment prescribed When a woman with child is overtaken by any fiery hot disease she is in danger of her life for a hot fiery Fever requires a strict diet which she cannot admit lest the child being robbed of the food she be delivered before her time and again if sometimes to save the child the mother should often eat the Fever thereby encreasing the mother shall be precipitate in manifest hazard of her life and if it be any other strong sickness without Fever as Epilepsie Apoplexy or Convulsion she shall never be able to support the vehemencie of it Canon 12. To foresee the event of the disease diligence must be used in considering the part that is offended whether it be noble or ignoble publick or private for the condition dignity and necessity of the part that suffereth are of great importance for the pronouncing of the sentence to the profit or prejudice of the Patient Canon 13. In all diseases the constancy of the reason not troubled together with the bounty of the Appetite still ready for whatsoever shall be offered unto it it is a good sign and the contrary is an evil sign The setledness of the Reason and sharpness of the appetite are numbred amongst the good marks because the former bears witness of the temperate disposition of the brain the tyes and ligaments of the brains of the marrow of the back of the Midriff and of all the nervous parts and the later shews the integrity of the Stomach and Livor On the contrary the alienation and troubling of the Reason and the loss of Appetite are evil signs
24. When the disease is in its vigour it is then necessary to use a very slender diet as well for the greatness of the Symptomes as for the coction of the humours for nature must not be hindred in the coction of the humours by the coction of the meat Canon 25. When the Disease is violent and quick it immediately causeth extream pain and dolour wherefore a most sharp weak diet is then most requisite because such a disease is in the vigour the first dayes as the grievous Symptomes which do incontinently accompany from the beginning do bear witness for a sharp sickness is that which attains to its height in the first four dayes or little after Canon 26. So soon as the sickness by its violence doth shew that it is drawing near the height then a strict diet must be enjoyned but when the height is long in continuing as it falls out in long diseases then a larger diet would be used till the approching to the height or a little before and then it must be restrained strict and small diets are dangerous in long diseases because they abate the spirits which ought to be preserved in their integtity to the end they may resist the height of the disease Canon 27. When the body is not clear the more it is nourish'd the more it is hurt for seeing that the body full of vicious humors hath more need of evacuation then nutrition it appears that they should not be too much nourished because these evil humours gather'd a long time in the body do spoyl the food newly received so that thereby the Chacochymie or evil digestion is augmented to the double which falls out chiefly when the stomach is foul for even as mixing clear water with muddy it becometh all muddy and troubled so the meat although pure and clear of it self yet taken by a great quantity into a foul body becomes wholly corrupt Canon 28. A larger diet must be granted to children then to old folks and a mediocre to those of a middle age because old men endure hunger easily and next to them such as are entring into the declining age young men worse and worst of all boyes for such as are growing have much of the naturall heat and therefore have much need of nourishment otherwise the body would consume but there is little heat in old bodies therefore they need not much nourishment for too much would choak them Canon 29. The great Cavities in the body in Winter and in the Spring are naturally hotter then at any other time and the sleep longer wherefore in these the diet may be larger by the Cavities the stomack is understood the whole belly containing the guts and the rest of the natural parts which are appointed for digestion If any one desire to know why the naturall heat is augmented in Winter Aristotle attributes the cause to the circumsisting air which is then colder by which means it driveth the natural heat inward whereas in Summer it extends itself ordinarily through the whole body towards the heat which is without as familiar to it Hence it is that in the Summer the substance is dissipated and exhales but in the Winter it is holden in and keeps there and therefore all the coction is the better made Canon 30. As to the form and manner of diet one should eat less in the Somer and in the Harvest and more often but in the Winter and Spring more seldome but more abundantly because in the Somer and the Harvest one doth hardly digest meat but in Winter very easily and in the Spring moderately well Canon 31. Such bodies as have been extenuated by long sickness must be nourished gently and repaired by little and little and those bodies that have been suddenly brought down must be speedily restored Canon 32. When the sickness gives intermission and leisure then it is time to give meat to the Patient but during the access and increase of the disease he must abstain for meat is then hurtful because it withdraws nature from the digestion of the humour to the concoction of the nouriture and because by it the disease is augmented Canon 33. Amongst the operations of Chyrurgery Phlebotomy or drawing of blood keeps the first rank because it is the common remedy of diseases which proceed of plenitude or fulness for by it an evacuation is made of the humours equally that course being for such infirmities the most exquisite of all other Canon 34. Phlebotomy is not onely a remedy evacuative but also revulsive and derivative for it is profitable to turn the course of the Flux to the opposite part or desire to turn it aside to the neighbour part Canon 35. In hot Fevers blood must be drawn even to the fainting of the spirits and heart if strength will bear it which course must be used in great inflammations and extreme pains for if blood be drawn in hot Fevers till the heart faint the whole body is immediately cooled and the vehement heat extinguished after which there followeth a flux of the belly and a Sweat by this means some are wholly cured of a Fever and others receive great ease when the vehemency of that sickness is past this sort of bleeding is likewise good in great inflamations both for the former reasons and because it stops the flux causing the inflamation as also it hinders the growth of the Phlegmon by which likewise it appeaseth the great dolours caused by the heat of the Fever and of its inflamations wherefore there is not found a remedy more soveraign for insupportable dolours then this of Phlebotomy or bleeding Canon 36. If the sickness do require it much blood must be drawn alwayes provided the spirits do permit it but if they fail then take it by little and little and at divers times for all extreme evacuations are dangerous and chiefly bleeding all at once Canon 37. They to whom purging and bleeding are profitable ought to be purged bled in the Spring for that season is most proper to make evacuation by Phlebotomy or Pharmacy because at that time there is no extraordinary heat to weaken the body by exhalation nor great cold to make it stiff by congealing the humours in it nor yet unequall to disturb the spirits but rather a moderate temper Canon 38. There is great cause of deliberation to be had in opening a veyn upon a woman with child because a woman with child being let blood may thereby be brought to be delivered before her time if the child be great because thereby the child is robbed of its food and shall famish in the womb of the mother which will cause it to break the bounds and seek elsewhere for nourishment and all before the maturity of time except the mother abound in blood for then the fear is so needless as in case that administration be not used both the mother and the child are in danger as hath been observed upon some of the most eminent Ladies in