A TREASURE OF HEALTH BY Castor Durante Da Gualdo Physician and Citizen of ROME WHEREIN Is shewn how to preserve Health and prolong Life ALSO The Nature of all sorts of Meats and Drinks with the way to prevent all Hurt that attends the Use of either of them Translated out of Italian into English By John Chamberlayne Gent. Imprimatur April 5. 1686. Rob. Midgley London Printed for William Crook at the Green Dragon without Temple-Bar 1686. To the Worshipful THOMAS CHAMBERLAYNE of Oddington in the County of Gloucester Esq is Humbly Dedicated this little Book Entituled The Treasure of Health SIR HAving received much dun-e served Kindness from you I cannot let slip the first occasion to publish my Gratitude and Respect to you who not only by your Wisdom and Prudence in difficillimis temporibus in the worst of Times preserved unspotted and untainted your Religion and Loyalty but also by your Temperance Moderation and Sobriety preserved your Health and have prolonged your Life almost twenty Years beyond the usual Age of Man and had happily practised the best Rules and Precepts in this small Treatise long before it was extant in any Language Now that God would please to continue your Health and as you were Born before the beginning of this Century so to lengthen your Life at least to the beginning of the next to the Comfort of your numerous Issue and Relations the Benefit of your Neighbours and Relief of the Poor shall be the constant cordial Prayer of Dear Vncle Your most Affectionate and Humble Servant John Chamberlayne From Trinity-Colledge in Oxford 24 of June 1686. TO THE READER HAving accidentally met with a small Treatise written in Italian wherein is briefly discovered the Quality Choice Benefit Hurt and Remedy of all sorts of Edible Flesh Fish Fruits Herbs Grains and Roots of several sorts of Drinks Sawces c. Moreover of Air Exercise Rest Sleep Watching Repletion and Inanition Bathing Rubbing Venery Passions Affections and Perturbations of the Mind I judged that it might be acceptable and useful to my Compatriots or Country-men to make the said Treatise speak English to the end that every one might know what Rule and Measure he ought to observe in his Diet and manner of Living For although Health is at our Births proposed to us from Heaven yet there is also need of our constant Care and Diligence both tâ— procure and preserve it by our Diet as well as to recover it by Physick when it is lost whereof our Author hath largely treated in another Book which perhaps hereafter may likewise be made English I know well that there have been divers Books of this kind heretofore publish'd but the Method hereof being different from all those and some remarkable things here not found else-where also this Book being of a small price the Reader will take in good part the honest Intentions of the Publisher hereof A TREASURE OF HEALTH CHAP. I. Of Air. THE Air above all things is necessary for the preservation of Health and for the prolonging of our Life for all Animals live and stand in need of a continual refreshment of the â—eart the which is performed by the perpetual â—rawing in the Air whereby the Lungs are in a â—ontinual motion from the hour of our Birth to â—e hour of Death All things else may be avoided â—r some time except the Air which no man can want one hour Now Air compaâ—â—es us about on every side and changes our Bodies more than any thing besides because we dwell continually in it and feed upon this dish every moment And it may justly be affirmed that the Air may be more beneficial and more hurtful than eating and drinking The chiefest way of preserving the Health consisting therefore in the election of a good Air we ought to choose that which is most clear anâ— serene towards the East not subject to darâ— Clouds nor corrupted with the stinking Vapour of Lakes standing Pools Marshes Dunghils Privies Caverns Quagmires or where much Dust is for by reason of the dusty Air about the Garamantes now called Guanguara a Countrey in Africa the Men can scarce arrive to the Age of forty yearâ— And where the Air is naught it consequently happens that the Water is not good the which nexâ— to the Air helps to corrupt our Bodies togetheâ— with the Food which in a thick and gross Aâ— ought to be thin and subtil as in a thin Air ought to be gross That Air therefore is requisitâ— in the conservation of Health which renders thâ— Days light and serene pure and temperateâ— whereas on the contrary the gross thick turbâ—lent and infected does destroy the Health Thâ— naughty and unwholsom Air is the cold and Northern as also the Southern likewise the noctuâ—nal Air especially under the Rays of the Mooâ— and in the open Air And no less pernicious is thâ— windy and tempestuous corrupted with unwhoâ—som Vapours such as is the stinking Putrefactioâ— of dead Animals and other nasty Smells fâ—â— such Air hurts the Head and offends the vital Spâ—rits and with its overmuch moisture and humidâ—ty it loosens the Joynts and disposes them very much to receive all sort of Superfluities as does the Air which fetches a Vapour out of the Dust and is infectious Against which there is great need that we carefully defend our selves for that entring into the Body and obstructing the Passages hinders the circulating of the animal Spirits Choose therefore the temperate Air which is the lucid clear and purest for that does not only cause Health but which is more preserves it a long while by purifying all the Spirits and the Blood chearing the Heart and the Mind strengthens all the Actions easeth Digestion preserves â—he Temperament prolongs Life retarding and â—eeping off old Age. And on the contrary the â—ark and thick Air clouds the Heart troubles the Mind renders the Body heavy and unactive hinâ—ers the Concoction and hastens old Age. The â—emperate Air is easily known if presently after â—un-set it grows cool and if at Sun-rising it soon â—rows hot This Air agrees with all Ages all Comâ—lexions with all times and all seasons and not â—nly the turbulent and windy Air is unwholsom â—ut that likewise which is always still and quiet â—herefore when the Air exceeds in any quality it â—ught to be allayed and corrected with its contraâ—y And if that cannot be done by natural ways â—ought to be prepared artificially so that if the â—ir should be too hot and sultry as it is in Sumâ—er you should sprinkle the House with fresh â—ater or Vinegar for the Vinegar with its coldâ—ess and dryness qualifies the unwholsom Vapours 〈◊〉 the Air and hinders Putrefaction And if they â—row the Floor with Flowers and odoriferous â—erbs which have a moist and humid quality as Violets Roses tops of young Oaâ—s leaves of thâ— Vine of Lettices or Willows Nenufars or Water-Lillies boughs of the Mastick tree and otheâ— cool Leaves and in the mean time you shoulâ— take
care that none come into the Chambers thâ— strewed for if there be a great many with theâ— Breath they re-heat the Room Besides this lâ— the Chamber be full of odoriferous Fruits as sweâ—â— smelling Apples Pears Quinces Citrons and Liâ—mons But if the Air should be too cold yoâ— must avoid the Wind chiefly the Northern aâ— not go out of the House before Sun-rising aâ— strew your Chamber with hot Herbs as Mint Peniroyal Sage Hysop Laurel Rosemary Marjoraâ—â— or else make a decoction of these Herbs with Cloveâ— Cinamon Mace and such like and sprinkle tâ— Chamber therewith and perfume it also wiâ—â— some aromatical Smells as Incense Mastick â—â—namon Ladanum a Gum made of the fat Dâ—â— that is gathered from the Leaves of Lada Nâ—â—megs rine of Citrons Myrrh Amber Lignum â—loes Musk and the sweet smelling Gum call'd Stâ—rax putting these things on lighted Charcoal 〈◊〉 else mix these Perfumes with liquid Storax settiâ—â— it a little while over the Coals These aromatiâ—â— Odours have the vertue to open the Pores whâ—â— they are stopt attenuate the gross Humours aâ—â— is good against the cold and moist Vapours of tâ—â— Body This Perfume may be made another wâ—â— if you take of all these things to wit Half ounce or six drams of Roses one dram of Aâ—ber of Musk half a scruple of Behen Album Sparling Poppy or red Behen ana two scruplâ— of the Flowers of Nymphea or River-Lillies thrâ— drams of Ladanum one dram of Mastick Incenâ—â— ana two Drams pound these not too small and set them over tâ—â— Coals Besides this to correct the bad quality of the Air and to attenuate and dissolve the gross and slimy Humours of the Body let there be always burning in the Chamber a good Fire of some Odoriferous Wood as Lawrel Rosemary Cypress Juniper Oak Pine Firr the Latrix or Larch-Tree Turpentine and Tamarisk Moreover Night and Day smell to a Ball of Pomander composed of these following several Ingredients Take of Saffron one Dram and a half of the Oriental Amber half a Scruple of Musk half a Dram of Storax Calamita the Gum which proceeds from a sweet Cane in the Indies and of Lawrel ana one Scruple these are altogether dissolved in Malmsey and thereof is made a round Ball. One thing is worthy your Observation and Remembrance that is that the Air in hot and moist Countries as for Example in Rome c. is very destructive to the Health the Air of the Vineyards is also little wholesom unless when the Northern or Western Wind blows Of Seasons those are the best which keeping their proper temperature are equally either cold or hot but the changeable and incertain Weather is the worst of all I must not likewise omit to tell you that in the Summer when the South Wind blows as in those places which stand towards the North are the least wholsome as in the Winter the Northern Wind blowing those which look towards the South If you desire to know the quality of the Air and disposition of the Weather at Night in the open Air put a dry Sponge and if in the Morning you find it dry you may assure your self the Air is dry if wet then conclude the Air is moist and damp The like Experiment may be tryed â—ith new Bread which being exposed to the Nocturnal Air as the former if in the Morning you find it mouldy the Air is corrupted and putrefied but if the Air be hot and dry the Bread will remain withouâ— any change The malignity of the Cold may bâ— corrected by artificially causing a good and sweeâ— Breath viz. by keeping in your Mouth Treacle Mithridate also the Confection called Alcarmes a term of the Arabian Physicians whereby they meant a Cordial made of certain little Scarleâ— Worms of which also is Crimson made rubbing the Teeth with this Antidote which yet becomes better by the addition of Zedoary a Rooâ— like Ginger growing in the East-Indies anâ— chewing therewith Angelica and this Dentifrice or Medicine to cleanse the Teeth may be made if you take of Rosemary one Dram of Myrrh Mastick Bole-armoniack Dragons-Blood Burnt-Allom ana half a Dram of Cinnamon one Dram and a half Rose Vinegar Mastick-water ana three Ounces half a pound of Rain-water of Honey three Ounces boyl these together over a gentle fire to the end that they may be well scummed afterwards add thereto Bezoar a kind of Precious Stone very Cordial being an excellent Antidote to expel Poyson by the Arabick Doctors it is called Badzahar i. e. Alexipharmacon a Remedy for Poison and as aâ— Unguent keep it in a glass Bottle Of this take a spoonful every Morning fasting holding it in your Mouth and rubbing your Gums therewith the which must bâ— afterwards wâ—ll washed and cleansed with Waâ—â—â— distilled in a hot Bath of white Salt and Roch-Allom ana three Ounces and thereto may be added a little â—â—stick-water With this wash the Teeth for these things cleanse the Mouth cause good Breath fâ—sten loose Teeth flesh the Gums heal the putrefied Flesh and make the Teeth white Besides all this there is great heed to be taken in the choice of a House see whether the Place and the Air be good or bad wholesom or unwholsom to dwell in The House therefore which you take let it be seated in the highest place of the City therein chuse your Apartment at least one pair of stairs high and let it be very light and so placed that it may always receive the Wind in the Summer and the Sun in the Winter and have Windows on all sides that is East West North and South if it may be to the end that no one Air may remain there long which otherwise would putrefie and corrupt and furthermore you ought to avoid not only lying in a Ground-Chamber but also tarrying there long for the highest are the most wholsom where you breath the thinnest and purest Air then you receive this benefit that dwelling in the highest and most open place of the House preserves and repairs the radical Moisture of the Body and hinders Old Age but to be in a dark lower Room or under the Ground is very naught for Life is maintained by the open Air and by Light but in the shade a Man grows mouldy and corrupted I must furthermore advertise you that of Animals Herbs Fruit Corn and Wine those are to be chosen that grow in high Ground free from ill smells putrefied by the Wind and receive a temperate and sufficient warmâ—h of the Sun where there be no stinking Lakes and Dung-hills to molest them for there the Fruits remain a long while uncorrupted and this is â—he only place whereon a man may securely fix to dwell in 'T is also commodious to have a Country House whereto you may sometimes repair for as the Country provides Food and Victuals for the City and the City consumes it so humane Life by sometimes dwelling in the Country is prolonged but by the Idleness of the
City it is shortned Likewise change of Air is sometimes very requisite and necessary though that change should not be made suddenly but deliberately and by little and little And because to the rectifying the Air the Clothes do in some measure contribute defending the Body from it for this purpose wear those Clothes that be warm and dry in the Winter get a Suit of Lamb-skin Fox-skin of a Marten or Ermin and for a good warm pair of Shoes take the skin of an Hare which is very good against the weakness and infirmness of the Hams or else that of a Fox which strengthens all the Members Some make their Clothes of Wool Cotton or Silk for those that are made of Linnen are least of all warm Cover well the Body by Night especially the Head which is the Cell or Domicile of the rational Soul from which are derived many indispositions wherefore one must take great care that the Head be neither too hot nor too cold and there be many that in the Night-time cover their Head close with warm Clothes for whilest a Man sleeps the natural heat retires to the inward parts and the outward parts are deprived of their heat whence they are easily offended by the external Cold aâ—d likewise whilest a Man is awake much heat and many Spirits by the Operation of the interiour and exteriour Faculties ascend into thâ— Head and by that means render it more hot Therefore there is most need in the Day to keep it cool but in the Night warm One must also beware of being too much in the Sun or near the Fire and not to wash the Head too often for these hot things open dilate and rarifie the parts of the Head and more readily dispose it to receive a superfluous humidity In the Winter 't will not be unuseful to sprinkle your Clothes with this sort of Water Take of Iris Florentina or Flower-de-luce Zedoary Spikenard ana one Ounce Storax Mastick Cinnamon Nutmegs Cloves ana half an Ounce Juniper-berries three Drams Behen Amber Musk ana one Scruple Distill all these things with Wine In the Summer take of Rose-water four pounds of the best Vinegar one pound of Red Roses one handful and a half Camphire half a Dram Musk seven Grains Spice of Diambra Flower-de-luce ana one Ounce pound all these except the Spice the Musk and the Camphire and dissolve them all in Rose-water which being put into a Limbeck cover it nine days under Horse-dung You may also make use of this Powder to sprinkle on your Clothes adding Rose-water Take Red Roses Violets ana one Ounce Peel or Rind of Citron Solanum or Night-shade of Myrtle Lignum-Aloes ana one Ounce Camphire Amber ana half a Scruple Musk Behen ana five Grains and make of this a thin Powder 'T is also good to carry Odoriferous things in your Hand in the Summer-time a Sponge dipt in Rose-water or Rose-vinegar and smell to it often or carry with you this Odoriferous Ball Take of Roses one Dram Red Coral four Scruples Water-Lillies one Dram and a half Bole-armoniack one Dram â—â—orax Calamita one Dram and a half Lignum-Aloes two Scruples Mastick one Dram Lâ—danum two Drams Amber Musk ana two Grains these are pounded and so made into a Ball. In the Winter carry a Sponge infusâ—d into Vinegar wherâ—in steep Cloves and Zedoary Or else carry in your Hand this Ball of Amber Take of Ladanum half an Ounce Storax Calamita two Drams Bezoar Mastick ana one Dram Cloves Nutmegs Crocus Dyers-Grains white Wax Lignum-Aloes ana one Scruple Amber half a Scruple Musk dissolved in Malmsey five Grains make it into a Ball. Besides this there is need of defending the Breast and Stomâ—â—k with Lamb-skin or Hares or with a Pillow of Feathers seeing that the Stomack indisposed is the Mother of the Distemper Besides the Clothes which are used for the Head and Stomack make an Odour of Saffron Lignum-Aloes anâ— Amber for these things strengthen the Brain buâ— the Musk is to be left out by reason of its toâ— great Evaporation the hands are to be often covered with Gloves in the Winter made of Fox-skin in the Summer of Hares-skin Kids oâ— Lambs The last thing though not the least to bâ— observed is That with the greatest diligence anâ— care you avoid coldness of Hands or Feet since that infinite Distempers are wont to proceed and flow from thence CHAP. II. Of Motion BEcause Motion is not only requisite to the preservation of the Health but also very needful towards a good habit of the Body therefore after the Air it remains to treat of Exercise the which is a most powerful and prevalent thing to keep us in health being that which purges and drives away the superfluous Humours of the Body which are in such sort dissipated and dissolved that there is no longer need of Physick where this is not wanting There be many sorts of Motion and that is the best which is not violent as Walking but is a regular motion of the Body as being most kindly and most agreeable to the Members but that Motion which is caused in a Coach in a Ship on Horse-back or the like is the least wholsom Some Exercises are strong and wearisom and others moderate light and weak The temperate Exercise is that which contributes much to the Health for it corroborates the natural Health wasts the Superfluities enlivens Youth chears old Age and hinders Fulness fortifies the Senses renders the Body light and agile strengthens the Nerves and all the Joynts for the exercised Parts become more robust This also consolidates the Members aids Digestion keeps the Passages of the Body clear and open so that the smoaky Vapours of the Spirits may find a better and more free issue the which are the chiefest instruments in the conservation of humâ—ne Life being the reason that the Food finds an eaâ—â—â— concoction digestion and assimulation of Parts and finally a cause of the evacuation and expurgation of all the Superfluities The light Exercises are Fishing Fowling and such like Divertisements which chear the Mind and as moderate and temperate Exercise does wonderfully contribute to the Health so overmuch Idleness is very pernicious Rubbings are also exceeding useful for they hinder the Humours from falling into the Joynts and doing it in the right time that is when the Superfluities shall be evaporated from the inward Parts it helps Digestion recreates the Body and opens the Pores whereby the moist Humours and Vapours of the Body obtain an easier passage It also swiftly draws the Blood to the outward Parts it thickens the subtil Bodies and attenuates the gross hardens the soft and mollifies the hard and fiâ—ally confirms the natural heat The quantity of the Exercise reaches so far as the Body can bear without growing too weary that is till you wax hot having a fresh colour and begin to sweat which so soon as you perceive change your Cloaths and dry well all the Members and put on other Cloaths
and if there be any need lye a little in Bed and rest your self till you shall be refreshed and recover new strength Now the time for Exercise is before Meals having first evacuated the Excrements of the Belly and of the Bladder for it is usually very bad and destructive to those who being but just risen from Table with their Stomach charged venture on any Exercise And as Motion and Exercise performed before Meals is a great preserver of Health so if presently after Meals 't is the source and original 〈◊〉 divers Infirmities Therefore let all Exercise be afore Meat to which there ought at least for some small time to succeed a profound and quiet rest and remisness of the Body though from this Rule are excepted the Rusticks and Husbandmen who by a continual custom go to their Exercise and that without any hurt as soon as the meat is out of their mouths and herein is verified the saying That it is better to exercise the Body full than empty After a violent Exercise one ought to beware of catching cold for the Motion and Exercise having opened the Pores of the Body the cold easily enters therein bringing along with it Catarrhs and divers other Infirmities Then in the morning having first gone to stool the Friction or Rubbing is to follow which must be performed on the extreamest or farthest Parts of the Body beginning at the Knees and proceed down to the ends of the Feet then from the Thighs bending at the Knees then from the upper Ribs to the lower then from the Shoulders down the Back and lastly from the Arms to the Hands And this to be done with a Napkin or Towel lightly rubbing your Body till the skin wax something red In old Men the motion of their superiour Members as the Arms and the Shoulders is most necessary because it diverts and prohibits the Humours from falling into the lower Parts And on the contrary the rubbing Exercise of the Feet or the washing them with Water alone does accelerate and hasten the Gout in old Men When it being requisite that they should sometimes wash their Feet let them take weak Lye wherein let there be boyled red Roses and a little Salt in this let them wash their Feet at such time as the Fits of the Gâ—â—t be not upon them Likewise it would be good for them to pull off their Shoos and Stockings themselves without the help of their Servants which things moderately exercise the Body and stir up the Heat and Spirits And by the way I cannot but disapprove of the binding the Stockings with the Garters 't is rather far more commodious and wholsom to wear Drawers and Stockings of one entire piece for binding the Legs hard causes several pains and hinders the Heat Blood and Spirits from circulating and descending into the Joynts whence they are weakned and apt to receive divers Distempers Furthermore it is very profitable in Coughing to spit and cast out the Excrements of the Body Besides this before any Exercise in the Morning as soon as you are up rub well your Head and comb it with an ivory Comb from the Forehead upwards to the Crown giving it at least forty Combs then with a rough Cloath or a Sponge rubbing your Head it dispels all the Superfluities which are there lodged for thereby the Spirits are rarified and the passages of the Head opened and the smoaky Vapours are more freely evacuated Which thing corroborates all the interior Faculties that is the thinking the imaginative Vertues and the Memory and the use of a Comb does wonderfully restore the Sight especially in the mean time looking in a Glass the which excites all the animal Vertues chiefly the Sight and the combing the Head oftentimes a day draws the Vapours to the upper Parts and easily removes them from the Eyes but in combing do not keep the Head too open Then with another Comb comb the Beard the which cut often because 〈◊〉 chears and causes a readiness of Mind It is expedient likewise to sneeze after this universal Evacuation snuffing up into the Nose a little powder of Pepper or other Snuff Lastly 't is a necessary thing to wash the Face and Hands according to this rhiming or Leonine Verse Si fore vis sanus ablue saepe manus The washing the Face refreshes a Man and makes the Heat to retire by Antiparistasin and then uniting it self it becomes more strong In the Winter wash with the decoction of Sage or Rosemary sometime steeped in Wine in the Summer fresh Water is most agreeable whereto add a little Rose water with a little Soap or rather a perfumed Wash-ball The Hands ought to be often washed for they are the Instruments which keep clean the Organs whereby the Superfluities of the Brain issue forth as are the Ears the Eyes and the Nostrils and therefore is said Lotio post mensam tibi confert munera bina Mundificat palmas lumina reddit acuta But after Meals you should not wash the Hands with hot Water for it breeds Worms in the Belly and the reason is this because the hot Water does extract and draw forth the natural Heat whence it happens that digestion and concoction of the Food becomes imperfect the which is a powerful occasion of the Worms The Eyes also are to be washed with fresh Water which cleanses them from all Gum and Filth and putting the Eyes into cool fresh Water open does wonderfully clear and purifie the Eye-â—â—â—ht afterwards drying them with a very clean and perfum'd Towel Take care also that your Teeth be very clean which for want of well rubbing and cleansing cause a naughty and stinking Breath and the superfluities of the Teeth being mixed with the Food does breed corruption and renders it putrified Besides which the rotten Teeth do send to the Brain an infectious Vapour and nothing is better to keep the Teeth white and clean than to wash them twice a Month with Wine wherein let there be boyled a Root of Tithymalus or Spurge And now to wash the Head sometimes we ought not to take that old Italian Proverb or Sentence for our Guide viz. Si lavano spesso le mani raro i piedi et non mai il capo That is we must often wash our Hands seldom our Feet and never our Head But that Maxim is not good for washing the Head sometimes does greatly strengthen the Brain especially if in the Winter-time you wash it with sweet Lye wherein let there be boyled some Sage Bettony Staechas or French-Lavender Camomil Myrrh and a little odoriferous Wine and use also Wash-balls made of the Soap of Venice or Damascus about two ounces of the Larch-tree or Agaricon a kind of Mushroom growing upon high Teees of a white colour very good for the Head one ounce of Ladanum three drams of Cloves and Spikenard ana two scruples with oyl of Myrtles and with these Ingredients make a little Ball for your use In the Summer boyl with your
Lye dry Roses and instead of the Soap take the yelk of an Egg fresh and lukewarm Having washed the Head your next care must be to dry it as soon as you can with warm Cloaths so that there remain 〈◊〉 wetness or moisture for the Brain is naturally most humid and therefore Nature has given it so many vents and passages whereby it may evacuate all the moist superfluities Moreover when you have washed your Head you should beware of exposing it too soon to the open Air and therefore 't is better to wash it in the Evening before Supper but first of all you ought to seek God's assistance by Prayer who is the most skilful Physician both of Body and Soul and without his gracious and benign influence all Medicines are vain and useless Then going abroad begin some easie pleasant Exercise till you perceive a moderate sweat spread it self over all your Body the most robust Exercise is rather to be performed in the Morning than After-noon And here it is worth your Observation that as a temperate use of Exercise does mightily aid and contribute to the preservation of the Health so over-much is very destructive to the Health and so as Motion before Meals is very necessary and wholsom so if done immediately after Meals draws the Humours through all the parts of the Body and the juice which remains as yet raw in the Stomack whence proceed divers and sundry Infirmities After Dinner therefore no Exercise is convenient but a quiet composure and stilness of the Body is most requisite especially for one hour after Dinner after which a little walking is not amiss for the better digesting and jogging down the Victuals to the bottom of the Stomack Lastly those Exercises are best which are performed in the open Air rather than in Houses in the Sun than in the Shade and in the shade either of a Wall or of sweet smelling Arbâ—â—rs are more beneficial than under any roofed place Those that by some Accident or other cannot walk let them ride in a Horse-Litter in a Coach or Sedan so that they may in some manner have exercised themselves before Meals for by Idleness the Stomack is dulled and blunted but by Motion it is enlivened and receives a better Appetite to its Victuals Therefore the Body being sufficiently exercised repose your self to the end that the perturbation ceasing the Heat and the Blood are recreated then you may venture to eat which whilest they are in revolution draw the crude Humours to the Bowels which do thereby remain very much obstructed Besides this we ought not to neglect the Exercise of the Mind for aâ— the Body with Exercise is rendred strong and robust so the Mind is nourished by Studies and acquires fresh vigour and many by a continual Exercise of the Mind have freed their Bodies from the greatest Distempers The Exercises of the Mind are Speculation Singing with Musical Instruments applying your self to some Study as History Theology c. for these things delighting the Mind feed it in such sort that all the Virtues become more strong and better enabled to resist and overcome Infirmities And these Exercises performed at due times that is after a perfecâ— Concoction of your Victuals both nourish and corroborate the Mind and render the Memory quick and lasting and hence proceeds that the Learned Men are most fit and apt to Govern in the Common-wealth But if out of Season it hinderâ— Digestion heaping up and contracting many Superfluities occasioning various Opilations and oftentimes begâ—â—ting putrid Fevers And furthermore if Olâ— Men should be continually-idle without any Exercise Old Age being it self a putrefaction by adding putrefaction thereto they become so much the more putrefied withered and dry but by Exercise they may live a long time whence it happens that we hear this grave Sentence in every ones mouth That the study of Health consists in these things chiefly viz. in not satiating or cloying ones self with Food and in not being averse from Labour and that Exercise Food Drink Sleep c. ought all to be moderate CHAP. III. Of Rest AS an immoderate Exetcise does very much endamage the Health so on the other side does Idleness and over-much Rest which does not only offend the Body but also weakens the Understanding for whilest the Body is in Idleness and without Action it collects many superfluities whence afterwards infinite Distempers arise by Crudities Obstructions c. Idleness consumes and corrupts the Strength extinguishes the Natural Heat and increases the Flegm in the Veins fattens the Body and weakens it Also as by Exercise the Natural heat is increased and the Concoction of the Food is facilitated so by Idleness 't is hindred and extinguished and for this reason Idleness is numbred amongst the chief causes of cold Diseases and the Poet knowing how hurtful to the Health is Idleness says Cernis ut ignavum corrumpunt otia corpus Vt capiunt vitium ni moveantur aquae And Idleness not only corrupts the Body but is also a great cause of pernicious Thoughts as the same Poet says Queritur Aegestus quare sit factus adulter In promptu causa est desidiosus erat However by moderate seasonable Repose the Body and Mind are recreated and refreshed for Quod caret alterna requie durabile non est Haec reparat vires fessaque membra levat And Rest not only to the Body but also to the Mind is sometimes absolutely necessary when they are tyred with Studies Thoughts or Actions according to another Poet Otia Corpus alunt animus quoque pascitur illis In brief without Rest the strength and vigour of the Mind cannot long endure whereas on the contrary Rest and Repose does in a great measure aid and contribute to the Speculation and the profound Invention of Occult things Rest is good after Meals because the Victuals reside in the bottom of the Stomack well united and coagulated â—â—ich always happens after a good Digestion And as to the Flegmatick and those of a cold and moist Complexion Motion is profitable so to the hot and cholerick Rest is most necessary Though it is true that too much Rest called Idleness as is said before is exceedingly destructive both to the Body and Mind but especially to the Mind for it makes Men negligent slothful ignorant oblivious and forgetful and renders them unfit for any Counsel Office or Charge in the Republick Then the Idleness also of the Body makes Men fat lazy sluggards weak and of a pale Complexion cools and extinguishes their Natural Heat increases Phlegm and fills the Body with superfluities begetting cold Infirmities as the Gout both in the Hands and Feet Catarrhs Obstructions of the Bowels Epilepsie or Falling-Sickness and pains of the Arteries therefore when at any time you are necessitated to be in Idleness and by some business or incumbrance you are forced to abstain from all manner of Exercise you must instead thereof observe a slender Diet and that Food which is
than a superfluous and overmuch Waking whereby the Brain is weakned whence many flegmatick Superfluities arise And the Signs of a sufficient Sleep is a Lightness and Agility which spreads it self over all the Body and chiefly in the Brain and the descent of the Food from the Stomach and a desire to ease Nature both of it and of the Urine and a cessation of the weariness caused by the fore-past waking whereas the contrary Signs that is a heaviness of the Body and Belches which savour of the Victuals signifie that more Sleep is required the other not being sufficient And you must know in brief that a moderate Sleep restores the animal Faculties helps the concoction of the Victuals and of the crude Humours causes a forgetfulness of Labour and all sorrowful Thoughts mitigates the grief of the Mind moistens all the Members of the Body restores all the wasted Faculties augments the natural Heat increases the radical Moisture clarifies and strengthens the Sight takes away Weariness refreshing the tired Bodies and keeps back Fluxes and Rheums But if took immoderately it makes the Head heavy troubles the Mind weakens the Memory and all the animal Faculties makes the Body cold multiplies Flegm extinguishes the natural Heat inâ—â—ces a Nauseating makes the Face pale and is hurtful to all flegmatick Distempers Now when a man has taken but small Rest and cannot sleep let him at least take some repose with his Eyes shut which may supply the place of Sleep and is almost as effectual 'T is observable besides That in old Men whose Stomach is cold and Liver hot 't is necessary to begin their Sleep on the left side for so the Stomach is heated and the Food better concocted the Stomach being fomented by the Liver and on the contrary the Liver being cooled CHAP. V. Of Waking WAking is an intension or rather an extension of the Soul and the faculties thereof to all the Parts of the Body which when it is moderate stirs up and excites all the Senses disposes and orders the vital Faculties to their operation expelling and driving forth all the superfluous Humours from the Body but if immoderate and excessive it begets Distempers in the Head corrupts the temperature of the Brain causes Madness kindles the Humours excites sharp and acrimonious Infirmities makes men look lean and hunger-starved of a pale and thin Complexion weakens the concoctive Faculties dissolves the Spirits fills the Head with Vapours makes the Eyes hollow increases Heat and inflamâ—â— the Choler hinders Digestion and causes Crudities in the Stomach because the natural Heat betakes it self to the outward Parts And therefore let this be your Rule that both Sleep and Waking be always moderate CHAP. VI. Of Fulness FRom the eating of Food are collected many Superfluities of which a great part is spent and consumed as we have shewed in its place by Exercise it is necessary therefore by some artifice to drive the remnant out of the Body Now these Superfluities be divers according to the different Places whence they proceed as Spittle Snot Sweat Urine dregs of the Belly and other sordities or filthiness of the Body which if not driven out are wont to beget many Infirmities as Obstructions Feavers Pains and Impostumes for which reason we ought with all diligence to procure their Evacuation for all those Distempers which proceed from Fulness are cured by Evacuation as on the contrary those which are derived from Emptiness are cured by Fulness However superfluous Evacuation is to be forbidden for by it the natural Heat and the Spirits are dissolved for then their vertues are not powerful enough in their operations and the emptiness of the Stomach câ—â—ses the Epilepsie or Falling-sickness We must therefore chiefly advertise you that the Superfluities and Excrements of the Belly and the Urine every day morning and evening or at least once a day be evacuated for it is very necessary for ones health to keep the Body loose and this is most profitable in the pains of the Gout Stone or Gravel in the Kidneys This is done either by Art or Nature with common Glysters or with Oyl alone or with a Suppository of Honey or Salt of Butter or of Soap and you must not suffer these Superfluities to remain too long in the Belly for they are very destructive both to the Head and to all the Body Every time therefore that a man shall perceive any heaviness in his Entrails or in the Bladder or in any other Place where the Superfluities are gathered together and every time that he thinks there is a necessity thereof let him suddenly excite Nature and stir up a desire of sending it forth for we see in many that having for some time retained their Urine they could not afterwards make Water and have caused the Stone Ruptures c. as likewise the keeping back of the Excrements or the Wind have occasioned Cholick pains And therefore the Schola Salerni thus speaks thereof Nec mictum retine nec comprime fortiter anum Et Quatuor ex vento veniunt in ventre retenta Spasmus Hydrops Colica Vertigo hoc res probat ipsa We ought with all our might to avoid the superfluous repletion of Victuals and Drink because they beget and foment many Evils for from the overmuch Fulness the natural faculties in the Stomach are weakned and oppressed as on the contrary being empty it causes the Falling-sickness The Vessels when they are too full of Meats and Drinks are in great danger either that they burst or at least the natural heat is thereby suffocated and in fat and big Bodies a moderate abstinence is very necessary and therefore the Gluttons do not grow at all because their Meat does not digest it self whence the Body is not nourished And therefore the Philosopher being asked Why he did eat so little answered Vt vivam edo non ut edam vivo Or according to the Italian Proverb which is Mangiar e ber per viver far mistiere Ma non gia viver per mangiare e bere That is We do not live to eat but eat to live For how many men be there who being superfluously full are in the end choaked and killed thereby and nothing is worse than overmuch stuffing or cramming ones self in such time when things are all plentiful and it is often seen that many who in a dearth or scarcity wanting Victuals when things grow cheap and abound do presently kill themselves by too greedily eating If therefore at any time by a disordinate and irregular Appetite you should chance to over-eat your self and that you perceive a nauseating and heaviness in the Stomach which is occasioned either by the quality or quantity of the Food then presently endeavour to vomit it forth the which cleanses the Stoâ—ach and takes away the heaviness of the Head â—o less ought we to avoid too much abstinence from our Food for as too much fulness suffocates the natural heaâ— so emptiness dissolves it whence afterwards
Instruments because without it neither healthy nor unhealthy distempered nor indistempered are able to live therefore there is no question but that the use of Food is absolutely necessary for our Bodies being in a continual Flux which every hour and every moment of time does consume and dissolve the Spirits of the Body and likewise the Humours and the solid parts if another like substance instead of that which is dissolved is not introduced Death will in a short while follow thereupon to supply which defect the Almighty Creator of all things by his great Benevolence has provided for Men Meats and Drinks and to the end that by Food may be restored all that which was wasted from the more dry substance and with Drinks all that was diminished from the Humid substance In Food therefore it is considered the goodness the quantity the custom the choice the order the time the nature the place and the Age. First therefore the Goodness and therefore that is good Food which is light and of subtil Digestion easily concocted and in a short time descends from the Stomack and is of good Juice that Food is of good Juice which begets good Blood and good Blood is that which is temperate in the first Degree not too thin nor too thick not sharp nor biting not bitter not salt nor sour The good Food is that which is easily digested and such are those that have a tender substance and are easily dissolved as Eggs flesh of small Birds to wit of Pheasants Hens c. but those Foods are of a difficult digestion which have a contrary substance such as are Foods made of Paste or Dough unleavened or hard Bread Coleworts Old Cheese Beans Lupins Garlick Onions and the Entrails of Birds or Beasts such things are to be avoided Choose therefore those Foods which with their wholsom and laudable Juice restore the radical Moisture or else let them not be gross and excrementious For the Natural Heat if weak especially of Old Men cannot digest Meats of an heavy and gross substance and on the other side let not the Meat be weak that is of small Nourishment for such cause a shortness and diminution of our Lives The Quantity of Foods is corrupted by the abundance of it for so much Food ought to be taken as the strength can conveniently bear that is whereby it may be restored and not over-loaden or prest down and that may be easily digested for the Natural heat being weak and infirm it cannot be concocted and thereupon follow many Distempers and therefore 't is said those that eat large Meals ought not to be merry and jocond for though they do not find the punishment thereof at present yet they can never long escape the danger Let therefore the use of Foods be moderate for as Gluttony is destructive so an extraordinary abstinence is no less hurtful He therefore that studies the preservation of his Health let him never eat to satiety but so that after Dinner he may perceive some relicts of an Appetite remaining for he that does otherwise shall suffer all Acids cholerick Fluxes above and below a loathing of your Food a loss of the Appetite heaviness of the Head pain of the Stomach Obstructions of the Liver and the Milt Dissentery or Bloody-flux and finally Malignant Fevers And therefore it is better always to leave something to Nature for those which fill themselves too much do greatly endanger their Lives and thereby either the Natural heat is suffocated or some Vein is broken for from too much Food proceed several Infirmities and from those Infirmities Death Observe therefore in every thing but especially in your Diet this good and laudable Proverb viz. Nequid nimis Too much of one thing is good for nothing which ought to be a Maxim not only for the Sick but also for those that are in Health and the former ought always to observe a strict Rule and Measure of their Diet for different Infirmities require different measures of Food for in long and Chronical Distempers there is need of a more hearty and large Diet whereas a more slender is requisite in sharp and acute Distempers or when the Disease shall be in its height and prime it is good to use an harmless and least nourishing Food but we ought always to observe how much the strength can bear and how long it is able to subsist with this sort of Food The Quality of the Food as well in Healthy as in Sick Persons is known by the Complexion the which in the former is to be preserved by Food of a like temperament but in the latter that is in distempered People Food of a contrary quality is requisite so that with a moist Complexion dry Meats do agree and on the contrary moist Foods with a dry temperament and therefore moist Foods are convenient for those that are of a moist Constitution as Children or for those that are troubled with some dry Distemper to wit Fevers or Agues Such Foods therefore are to be chosen which according to the variety of each Complexion is convenient Let those of a Sanguine Complexion avoid hot and moist Meats and such as beget much Blood let Cholerick Persons shun such Food as produces Choler and so likewise the Phlegmatick and Melancholy Men let them defend themselves from those things which beget the like Humours and therefore the Sanguine and Cholerick Men are to abstain from all sweet things as Honey Sugar Butter Oyl Nuts and the like and rather to make use of Vinegar Verjuice the sour Juice of Limons Citrons and Pomegranats Moreover the Food ought not to exceed in any quality for those which exceed in heat dry up the Blood as Sage Pepper Garlick Nasturtium or Water-cresses and the like and if that heat shall happen to be watry as in Melons it causes putrefaction and if poisonous as in the Mushromes it often kills a Man if moist it putrefies and opilates and if the heat shall be dry it consumes and weakens the Body But if the Food is too cold it mortifies and congeals as Lettices Purslain and Cucumbers The fat and oily Meats loosen the Belly moisten and increase Flegm makes over-much sleep and hinders Digestion Sweet Foods cause Obstructions the bitter do not nourish at all but dry the Blood the salt heat and dry opilate and are hurtful to the Stomach the sharp by their heat fill the Head and disturb the Mind as Leeks Garlick and salted Meats The rough and astringent bind and obstruct and beget melancholy Blood the sharp causes Melancholy hurt sinewy Members and therefore do hasten Old Age. The Use and Custom in our Diet is of great moment whence the Ancients affirmed that Vsus est altera Natura Custom is a second Nature Wherefore as in the Food it is good to have respect to the Temper so it is no less necessary to observe the Custom the which is one of the principal Roots and Foundations in the preservation of the Health
'T is cold in the first degree and dry in the second Commodity 'T is excellent good in Summer to temperate and qualifie the heat of Blood to quench the burning Choler to stir up the Appetite whence it does wonderfully contribute to young and cholerick Men and to all hot Infirmities Hurt It strongly binds the Breast begets Coughs causes Convulsions of the Nerves and is bad for Cholick-pains Remedy The Malignity thereof is removed by using it together with flesh especially with Pidgeons and other hot sweet and fat Meats but if you eat it with Fish you must also use hot Spices 'T is bad for Old and Flegmatick Men. You must not use it with Salt for then it dries too much and kindles Fevers CHAP. CL. Of Cloves Name IN Latine Cariophyllon in English Cloves Choice The best are the fresh of a pleasant smell and sweet taste Qualities They are hot and dry in the third degree Commodity They comfort all the principal Members the Heart the Brain the Liver and the Stomach they render the Food very sweet and pleasant cause good Breath provoke Urine help Digestion contribute much to the cold Distempers of the Body stop Vomiting cure nauseating and the Falling-sickness Cramp stupid Diseases and stop Rheums and Fluxes Hurt They offend the Bowels excite Lust bind the Body and are hurtful to Cholerick Men in Summer and using them too much they make the Food bitter Remedy You must use them in a moderate quantity in cold Weather in moist Food and Flegmatick Complexions CHAP. CLI Of Cinnamon Name IN Latine Cinamomum Cinamum in English Cinnamon Choice The best is such as is not old but fresh odoriferous of a sharp taste and red colour Qualities 'T is hot and dry in the third degree Commodity Using it often in Food it is excellent good for the Stomach and the cold Distempers thereof dissolving the moistness and wind it clears the sight hurt by Rheums removes Obstructions of the Liver provokes Urine causes Sleep expels the windiness from the Body lessens the pains in the Kidneys is good against Coughs and Catarrhs cleanses the Breast dries up the moistness of the Head makes sweet Breath excites Venereal desires comforts the Heart It has the property of Treacle and it resists putrefaction Hurt It is naught for Cholerick Men in Summer and in hot Countries for it inflames the Bowels and the Blood it hurts Gouty folks for being hot and opening it prepares an easie passage for the Humours to penetrate the Feet and Joints Remedy It must be used in cold Weather moderately by old and flegmatick Men and such as have a weak Stomach CHAP. CLII. Of Saffron Name IN Latine Crocus in English Saffron Choice The best is the fresh and well coloured the strings whereof are whitish long not brittle which being washed dies the Water and has a pleasant smell Qualities 'T is hot in the second degree and dry in the first Commodity It comforts the Stomach and Bowels opens the Obstructions of the Liver is good for the Milt makes a good Colour hinders Putrefaction induces Sleep excites Venery glads the Heart provokes the Courses and the Urine and facilitates Child-birth but you must not take more than two Drams thereof at the farthest Hurt It gets into the Head causing pains and drowsiness and obfuscates the Senses causes Nauseating takes away the Appetite and taken in too great a quantity that is three Drams it becomes Poison for it causes sudden Death by Laughter and its smell hurts the Head Remedy It may be taken a little at once by Old Melancholick and Flegmatick Men in Winter CHAP. CLIII Of Ginger Name IN Latine Gingiber in English Ginger Choice You must take care that it be fresh of a good smell and of a sharp brisk taste let it not be rotten but sound so that when you cut it it may not fall to powder Qualities When it is fresh 't is hot in the first degree and moist in the third but when dryed 't is dry in the second degree It contains within it a certain moisture whereby 't is easily corrupted Ginger moreover is resolving and cutting Commodity It heats the Stomach and the whole Body consumes the Superfluities dissolves Windiness helps Digestion is good for the Memory wipes away Flegm clears the Sight and dries up the Humidities of the Head and Throat Preserved with Honey 't is good for Old Men. Hurt It inflames the Liver wherefore 't is not good in hot Countries in Summer for hot Complexions Remedy Use it moderately or else candyed CHAP. CLIV. Of Honey Name IN Latine Mel in English Honey Choice The best is that of the Spring and Summer though Aristotle praises the Autumnal Honey That of the Winter is the worst it ought to be white and clear Qualities It is hot and dry in the second degree Commodity Honey is abstersive and opening provokes Urine and cleanses its passages is good for old and flegmatick Men of a cold Complexion it is a Pectoral Medicine and is very convenient to preserve things it is of a small but very commendable nourishment Democritus being asked how a Man might keep himself in Health Answered by Oyl without and Honey within It heats the Stomach moves the Body resists Corruption and converts it self into good Blood Hurt It breeds windiness in the Guts is turned into Choler obstructs the Liver and Milt excites Fevers and causes Cholick-pains and eaten raw makes Coughs Although it be a Pectoral Medicine yet it hurts the Head and eaten immoderately it obfuscates the Intellect and increases Choler Remedy In boyling you must always take away the scum thereof or else eat it with Fruit and other sharp Food It must not be used but in cold Weather and by old and flegmatick Men. CHAP. CLV Of Oyl Name IN Latine Oleum in English Oyl Choice The Oyl of Olives is very sweet and commendable and agreeable with Nature but let it be sweet and two years old at least but not too old let it be of ripe Olives Oyl of sweet Almonds does challenge the second place Qualities 'T is hot and moist in the second degree Commodity Drank once a day it kills Worms and sends them out mollifies the Body fattens and increases the substance of the Liver and drinking a good quantity thereof is an excellent thing to make one vomit out any Poyson Hurt If you eat too much thereof it takes away the Appetite Remedy You must eat it moderately and seldom and such as are healthy and nice Persons may use Oyl of sweet Almonds but let it be fresh CHAP. CLVI Of Sugar Name IN Latine Saccharum in English Sugar Choice The best is that they call Loaf-Sugar the whitest most heavy and solid Qualities Sugar is temperate though something inclining to hot and is good in all sort of Food except in Tripes for being put thereon it makes them stink like the Dung of an Ox newly made Commodity It nourishes more than Honey maintains the Body clean and
for Copulation because it dryes up the Seed disturbs the Understanding offends the little skins of the Brain and hinders Sleep whence 't is to be used for Physick and not for Drink unless you use it very moderately and mixt with much Water 'T is naught for young and cholerick persons but good for old men especially in Winter Of Rough Wine THE Wines which are properly Rough have so small a heat that they scarce arrive to the first degree and are dry in the second They are good for the great Heat in quotidian Fevers Inflammations of the Liver and dryness of the Stomach they refresh take away Thirst cure Fluxes stop Vomiting but let them not be too sharp or sowr but moderately binding subtil and not of too high a colour they are good for young men of an hot Stomach and are naught for flegmatick and old men because they bind the Breast beget Coughs do neither nourish well nor breed good Blood and hinder Sweat Of Red Wine THE Red Wine is hot in the first degree and as to the rest temperate The best is of a subtil substance clear and shining it breeds very good Blood nourishes well takes away the Syncope and makes Sleep pleasant the gross burdens the Stomach hurts the Liver and Milt causing Obstructions and is slowly digested the dark red is more nourishing and more obstructing Of White Wine THE Wine of a Citron or Limmon colour is called White-wine It is odoriferous and strong hot in the beginning of the second degree and dry in the first it must not be kept longer than a year for it will be too hot let this Wine be clear made of ripe Grapes growing on Hills It resists Poyson and all Putrefaction purges the Veins of corrupt Humours gives a â—ood Colour increases the Strength chears the Heart corroborates natural Heat provokes Urine and Sweat causes Sleep is good against the quartan and quotidian Ague it comforts the Stomach and being well tempered with Water is good at all times for all Ages and Complexions provided it be not too old Vinorum Finis CHAP. CLX Of Ale and Beer Name IN Latin Cervisia in English Ale and Beer Choice You must choose the clear thin and pure Ale Quality Ale is hot and moist Beer is cold and moist Commodity Beer and Ale is the common and familiar Drink in England and no doubt but profitable and wholesom it is as Experience shews but the different Preparations or brewing thereof make no small difference in the Drinks The difference of Waters of which it is made is greatly to be considered therefore according to their Natures you must judge of the Drink Also the different Corn or Grain is to be considered As Drinks made of Wheat Malt nourish more some people mix Wheat and Barley together others mix some Oats with Barley for Malt generally in Ale are used no Hops or less Hops than in Beer therefore Ale is more nourishing and loosens the Belly Hurt All new Drink is very unwholesom especially if it be troubled or thick for it obstructs the Bowels and breeds the Stone Remedy If it be not too strong but clear and thin all hurt thereof is remedied whereas the thick and muddy Ale is very unwholesom for if Ale goes in thick and comes out thiâ— Then needs must leave some Dregs within Divers Ways to loosen the Body FRom eating dâ— proceed many Superfluities in our Bodies part whereof are consumed by Exercise and part râ—main behind which are to be expelled by Art The Superfluities are different according to the diversity of places whence they proceed such is Spittle Snot Sweat Urine the Excrements of the Belly and other Filth and Dregs of the Body which if not driven forth â—occasion many Evils as Obstructions Fevers Aches and Imposthumes and therefore with all diligence one ought to evacuate them either by Nature or by Art By Nature using moist and liquid Foods By Art taking some Clyster in Summer made with oyl of Violets and Roses in Winter with common Oyl or of sweet Almonds or else making a Suppository of Butter filling a leaden Pipe with Butter and a little Salt The other way is To take half an ounce of flower of Cassia a little before Meals or else an ounce and a half of honey of Roses loosning or else syrup of Roses three hours before Dinner once or twice a week To this purpose it will not be amiss before Dinner to eat half an ounce of Calabrian Manna or to drink it in a little Broth Or else and it is a soveraign Medicine likewise dissolve Manna in Burrage-water afterwards distil it iâ— a hot Bath in a great Limbeck whence proceeds a most clear and pure Water whereof take one or two ounces at night before Supper or in the morning six hours before Dinner FINIS