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
XCIX CANONS OR RULES Learnedly describing an excellent Method for Practitioners in PHYSICK Written By Dr. J. MACALLO Physitian in Ordinary First to Rodolphus late Emperour of Germany and after his death Physitian in like manner to K. James Seipsum interimit qui Praecepta Medici observare nâ—gat S. Aug. LONDON Printed by J. Grismond 1659. The Epistle to the READER AMongst the riches of Fortune and blessings of Nature there is none more acceptable and advantageous to man-kind then the fruition of Health let abundance of Wealth hosts of Armies libraries of Counsellors obedience of Subjects be all put into the ballance and though each of them be a great and heavenly endowment yet without Health to enjoy them they wil prove light the most mighty of Princes wil be found a troublesome creature to himself It is one of the chief Punishments miseries incident to humane condition to be so variable in Health as oft-times to be well and sick in a minute even when himself knows no cause or reason for his so being therefore both Sexes do in what measure they can study Health and deliberate upon Meats and Drinks and Habitations and Exercises the accomplishment whereof is their daily Meditation to whose furtherance and help Almighty God intending the preservation of Man his Noblest creature hath ordained the Physitian Nor is Man alwayes to rest upon his own judgement in the election of his Food or pleasing his Appetite seeing the infirmities of Age do often summon the excesses of Youth and find them the chief Authors of an early Death avoid not therefore the Physitian in Health saith the Wise-man but rather bless God who hath let you fall into his learned and skilfull Hands and not into a sudden Grave This Compendium is digested into an excellent Method the division into Canons not unworthily imitating that Prince of Physitians Hypocrates in his learned Aphorisms the Author also was famous in his time who having spent many years in the most famous Universities Courts of Princes for information of his Judgement and Experience in the fulnesse of his knowledge returned to his Native Soveraigne King James whom he knew best able to censure and esteem men of Learning For the more ease and profit of the Reader or Student he hath drawn the 99. Canons herein contained under three Discourses In the first 20. he declareth the Knowledge of the Disease together with the Antecedents Symptomes and Causes In the second consisting of 30 Canons is fore-shewed the Issues of the Infirmity In the last 49. he delivers the Method for Cure all learnedly and exactly set forth The Scottish Dialect wherein he wrote these Rules being neither acceptable to the English Reader nor in many words intelligible hath cost some paines to present him in currant English Language his terms of Art also though they be Ornaments to the Subject being derived from Greek and Latine roots do carry their respective interpretations together with each word or phrase of Art insomuch as those who can onely read may reap profit according to their talent of Ingenuity and become hereby enabled to do neighbourly offices The Publisher desires onely to change prayers with and for all such as are willing to value and enjoy a Gift of this common Complacency and Compassion Your Servant W. S. CANONS OF PHYSICK PART I. CANON I. THe Methodick practizing in Physick hath First a knowledge of the Disease next foretelleth the event of it and last goeth about to cure the same For that part of Physick which is called Therapentick or Contemplative followeth still the Diagnostick or knowing and the Prognostick or foreknowing parts For whosoever will use perfect able remedies must first remark the things present next forewarn the future because it is necessary to understand the present estate of the disease to the end the proper remedies may be applied then to foresee that which is to come for the more bold attempting the Cure if there be hope of health else to foretell the danger if there be fear of death but totally to abstain from the enterprise upon inevitable fear of death for he ought never to engage the cure of desperate diseases much less promise health but least of all to take the business in hand after a due praemonition of the danger in it Canon 2. Now to come to the perfect knowledge of the disease he must first search the place then the kind and afterward the cause If the place be manifest of it self it rests to find out the Espece or kind of the disease and then the Cause Canon 3. The Place is known by the Action hurt or hindred by the sort and seat of the pain by the Excrements and Accidents or proper Symptomes Although all these signes do not at all times appear all together yet some of them fail not to shew themselves Canon 4. The Action offended sheweth the part from whence it proceeds to be indisposed for a function Animal Vital or Natural being troubled declareth some of those parts to be affected So the hurt or stistemper of the Reason Imagination or Memory sheweth the Brain to be sick the loss of sense and motion manifests the Nerves or else their origine to be grieved difficulty of breathing declareth the Lungs or some instrument of the respiration to be intercepted the Pulse commoved tells the heart to be troubled the stop of the descent of the meat sheweth the stomach to be hurt the digestion hindred when the body is not nourished the Livor is distempered The Espece or sort of sickness points forth also the place to a pain with a pulsation and is from the nerve hurt or offended which punction from the Membrane distended with convulsion is from the drawing of the Nerves or Tendons with violence and dolor which tension shews the repletion of the veins out of measure when it is profound it declares the Membrane or thin skin covering the bone called Periostium to be disseated when soft and gentle without great pain it is in the flesh when heavy and blunt it points forth some of the Entrails to be grieved The scituation of the paine makes known the seat of the disease also So if it be in the right Hypocondre or under the short ribbs on the right side it declares the Livor to be hurt if under the left side the Spleen For wheresoever is the paine there is the sickness wherefore he must not omit to enquire of the sick person on which side he lies with greatest ease for if it be without he lies best on the whole side but if within best on the sore side That which issueth forth of the body indicates likewise the part affected So if by Cough there is thrown forth any part of a Gristle there is no doubt but the Lungs are to be cured if in the water there be found any piece of flesh it betokens the Kidneys to be hurt if in the draught there be found any piece of skin it
disposition of the Arire the form of Life with the diseased and the sickness wherewith he useth to be molested for one is soonest overtaken with a disease wherewith their nature hath greatest familiarity so hot diseases are most frequently incident to hot bilious or cholerick people and cold sicknesses to cold lumpish natures and that as well to those who are such by Nature Habitude and Age as to those who are so by reason of the Region the season and the constitution of the Aire and albeit that all sorts of sickness may befall to all sorts of Persons of all Ages in all Places and Times yet they fall most frequently on the Temperament Age Place and time with the which they have some affinity an Epidemick or universall sickness is known incontinently by the running of it among the people seizing on many at one time All hereditary diseases as the Epilepsy or Falling-sickness the Gravell the Gout are suspected to be incident to Persons descended from Parents afflicted with such infirmities Moreover the kind of the disease is often found by using such things as hurt or help it for the hot intemperature doth encrease by the use of hot things but is mitigated by the use of cooling things the cold intemperature is contrary Canon 10. After the acquired knowledg of the disease search next for the Cause of it which is either externe or interne inward or outward The interne is twofold antecedent or conjoyned First then seek out the Cause conjoyned because it immediately produceth a disease it is therefore needfull to search whether it be wind or any other superabounding humour as Blood Choler Melancholly or Phlegme or any other thing contrary to nature as Stone lump of blood wormes or any other sort of Excrement the colour and nature of the Place the kind of the dolour and the sort of the Excrement these with the predominant humour in the body will serve for Marks Canon 11. For when the part inflamed is red it is full of Blood when yellow full of Choller that which is cold and white is replenished with Phlegme when blackish with melancholy for the colour of the skin doth commonly point forth the humour that is within divers parts are appointed for the engendring of divers humours excrementitious as the Liver for breeding of yellow Choler the Spleen of black Choler the Stomach the Lungs the Braine of Phlegme the Kidnies and Bladder of Gravell and the Stone the Guts of Wormes The pain pricks sore when it is caused of choler more moderate when it proceeds of blood blunt when it comes of Melancholy Phlegme or Wind except when they make great distention through their abundance If that which issueth forth by the Excrement be a portion of that which is continued within it shews either by the substance or colour what it is we shall speak hereafter of the predominant humour Canon 12. After the knowledge of the Cause conjoyned it followeth to know whether it be alone or if it be fostered and furnished by any other Cause antecedent that which gathers is by way of congestion through the fault of the part offended and is reputed to be alone but when all the body or any part of it doth exonerate it self on the member affected of any superabounding humour which overburdeneth there is thâ—n the Cause antecedent which doth accompany the conjoyned so there be two sorts of Causes interne to which Remedies must be used Canon 13. The Cause antecedent of the sickness is double the one is named Plethor or Plenitude the other is named Cacochymie or evil digestion Plethor is a repletion of all the humours equally augmented or of blood onely Cacochymie is a repletion of Choler Melancholy or Phlegme the signs both of the one and the other are taken both from the causes antecedent which do gather the humours that is to say from the temperature of the whole body and of the principal parts from the age season constitution of the Air from the Region Manner of living and of the evacuation ordinarily suppressed As also from the accidents that befall all the qualities of the body such as be the color the habitude the functions animal vital and natural as from the sleep dreams pulse concoction excrements of the diseases ensuing and of the things that hurt or profit Canon 14. There be two sorts of Plenitude the one called Plenitudo ad vires in which the blood though it be not excessive neither in quantity nor quality doth nevertheless overcharge the weak forces of Nature The other is Plenitudo ad vasa the which in quantity surpasseth the natural limits or bounds and this either light or gentle that is when it filleth onely the cavity of the vein not far exceeding mediocrity or it is excessive when it extends so that it almost rends the veins through the fulness of it by too great abundance and although it be very excessive yet it may be so that Nature be not choaked by it for commonly the force grows with the blood but if it fall out that the forces are abated then it is Plenitudo super vires When then in a Plethor the body is no way by a too great weight lazy or heavy and the force or strength remains still in one state it is onely a Plenitudo ad vasa but when the body becomes heavy lazy and doiled the sleep troubled and profound seeming to carry as it were something whilst he sleeps it is then Plenitudo super vires Canon 15. The causes that engender blood in abundance are signs antecedent of a Plenitude as the Complexion temperate of all the whole body but chiefly of the Livor and the Heart or else moderately hot and humid The Age growing is another for children and young folke have much blood because they are not far from their principes or beginning of their natural generation The Spring also is a cause for in it the Blood abounds for then the cold ceaseth and the waters descend Also good fare a pleasant passed life without care with moderate exercise and sleep The naturall evacuation of Blood suppressed or the artificiall for long time intermitted The Accidents which shew the domination of Blood in the body are the signes consequent of Blood such be the colour of the face and all the body red by the ordinary custome or mixed of red and white the swelling of the Veines equally appearing through all a manifest bending of the Vessels being full of Blood by measure a laziness or weariness coming of it self without any labour under the which the joynts by reason of their weight with great difficulty do move themselves for it is when the great Veines over-full of blood do exonerate themselves into the little and they again into the Muscles that they are thus filled and bended The Habitude of the body fleshy because it doth proceed of abundance of blood yea the Mediocre fleshy accompanied with a heat benigne and vaporous this is a signe of
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
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