we beleeue Galen is an accident of the third kinde that is to say That the rheume is an accident an error in the excrements this accident ordinarilie followeth another and that is the weakning of some action the action in this case weakened or hurt is concoction For the braine not being able to disgest his nourishment well ingendreth greater store of superfluities then it ought This disease that causeth this accident The concoction offended being an accident doth immediatly depend vpon some disease I thinke that this is for the most parta colde and moist distemperature a drie distemperature may by accident sometimes bee cause hereof as in detayning the vapours and hindring them from passing any further a hote distemperature also may be the cause in resoluing the humours present and too much drawing of the vapours absent but this happeneth but seldome The braine then is the part that is principally diseased in the case of rheumes The disease is a distemperature which immediatly hurteth the digestion of the member distempered and of this hurt of disgestion commeth that which is amisse in the excrement The definition of rheume But to vnderstand the nature of a rheume it is needefull to play the Philosopher in this sort A rheume or distillation is no other thing then the mouing of humours from one place to another which the Philosophers call locall But in euery locall motion Fiue things to be noted in a rheume Aristotle hath obserued fiue things in his Phisicke The moueable that is to say the thing which is moued the mouing that is to say the thing which doth make the motion and three tearmes or limits as the place from whence the motion began the place by which the motion was made and the place where such motion staied and ended In rheumes the moued is a humour of what condition soeuer it bee as whether hot or colde gentle sharpe salte thin 1. The moued thicke simple or compound The mouer of this humour 2. The motiue or mouer and causer of it to change his place which is called in one word the motiue is twofold the one inward and the other outward Againe the inward is twofold the forme of the humour and the foule The inward mouer that is to say the power expulsiue the humour if it follow his nature and clementarie forme must euermore of necessitie fall downeward because it is heauie and weightie But it often falleth out that the humour being no longer within the power and iurisdiction of the soule as when the retentiue facultie is altogether weakened falleth downe of it selfe hauing no other motiue of such motion but onely his owne forme or weightines So we see the most part of them which die to be smothered with a rheume the braine hauing altogether lost his force and being as it were resolued The other originall that moueth the humours being inward is the soule for nature hath giuen vnto euery liuing part a vertue expulsiue to expell whatsoeuer may annoy it The braine then being stirred vp either by the aboundance of the humour which oppresseth it or by the qualitie which stingeth and biteth it straineth it selfe to expell it The outward mouer and to thrust it from it as far as euer it can The outward motiue is all that which from without may pinch and presse together relaxe or loosen or shake the braine the colde ayre presseth the braine together and causeth the humours to fall downe the ayre and bathes that are hote doe loosen and resolue the humours strokes fals and violent passions of the minde may shake the humour which is within the braine and make it change his place And thus much for the mouing or motiue It remaineth that we finde out the three tearmes or boundes within which euery locall motion is bounded The place from whence the humour beginneth to moue The end wheras the motion beginneth is within and without the braine The humour oftentimes keepeth within the ventricles and the whole substance of the braine and beginneth to departe from thence sometimes it keepeth without the braine betwixt the bone and his membrane and causeth outward distillations The places by orthrough The bounds through which which the humour falleth which is the second bound are the ordinarie and extraordinarie passages of the braine the ordinarie are the nose and the Palate the extraordinarie are the eyes eares sinewes marrow veines arteries and space which is betwixt the bones and the membranes or the spaces of the muscles The bounds where it endeth The tearme and limit where the humour endeth his course may bee any part of the bodie prouided that it bee in an inferiour region or place that is lower then the head and therewithall weake for you shall neuer finde a rheume to rise from a lower part vpward And thus much for the vnfolding of the definition of a Rheume let vs now come vnto his differences CHAP. III. The differences of a Rheume Differences of rheumes according to the matter that makes them THe principall differences of rheume are taken from the matter that falleth downe from the parts receiuing or sending from the accidents accompanying the same and from the maner of their generation The matter of al rheumes is a humour I call a humour all that which is actuallie liquid and swimmeth But in the humour we may obserue many things the substance temperature qualitie taste and mixture and from euery one of these wee shall draw some differences of rheumes The substance or consistence of the humour for so Phisitions are accustomed to speake is either thin and subtile The first difference drawne from the substance of the humour The second difference from the temperature or grosse and thicke or indifferent and betwixt both There are then some rheumes that are subtile thin and sharpe and there are others more thicke The temperature of the humour is hote or colde so then there are hot and there are cold rheumes but colde rheumes are more common and are begotten of a colde and moist distem perature of the braine the colde distemperarure weakeneth the concocting facultie and causeth the braine to gather moe excrements then it needeth and that it cannot disgest the remainder of his colde nourishment The moist distemperature weakeneth the retentiue facultie and suffereth the humours to fall downe although they bee not superfluous Signes of a colde rheume Men may discerne this colde rheume by many signes for the humour that falleth downe is nothing sharpe or pricking the braine is drowsely inclined the eyes daseled the hearing heauie the nostrils stopt all the sences dull the face pale the bodie slowe heauie and lumpish because that the strength of the armes and legges commeth of the stiffenes of the muscles and sinewes but in this case the sinewes are softned and as it were relaxed because the braine which is their common originall and fountaine doth swim all in water The Phisition shall
arise of the corruption of the ayre and of the manner of life The ayre may alter and change vs three maner of waies by his qualities by his substance and by his sudden alteration and chaunge that which is too cold too hot and too moyst is apt to beget rheumes the hot ayre doth it by resoluing and melting such humours as are contained in the braine for thus it maketh them the more apt to fall downe the colde ayre is the cause of distillations because it presseth the braine together and euen as a spunge full of water being pressed wee may behold the water to run out like a riuer on euery side euen so the braine being shrunke together by colde letteth all her humours glide and slip away the same cold ayre may also bee the cause of rheumes by repelling and causing to retire the naturall heate from the vtter parts to the inner The Southerne and Northerne windes are mightie causes to moue and make rheumes for those doe fill the braine and make it heauie but these doe cause it to shrinke together Long tariance inthe Sun or open ayre doth effect as much The sudden change of the ayre and alteration of seasons are of the number of those causes which inforce the rheume As also if the seasons doe keepe their naturall temper as Hippocrates hath very well obserued in his third booke of Aphorismes the yeare will greatly incline vnto rheumatikenes If together with this partie alteration or vtter ouerthrow of the temperature there bee any particular defect in the substance of the ayre as some secret and hidden corruption or infection then it will ingender a popular and pestilent rheume The maner of liuing may likewise bee put in the scrole of outward causes which doe ingender and beget the rheume much eating and drinking doe likewise fill the braine and this is the cause why drunkards and gluttonous feeders are ordinarily subiect vnto the Wrangling rheume .. Great abstinence may likewise cause rheumes in attenuating and making thin the humours as also for that the stomacke being emptie and not prouided of any thing to fill it selfe withall is constrained to make attraction of such moysture as is in the parts neere about Long watching continuall studie extreame violent passions of the minde in as much as they spend and waste the naturall heate and coole the brainer doe ingender rheumes to liue all idle doth keepe the excrements vnconsumed Great euacuations but especiallie oft letting of blood and in great quantitie do cast headlong the body into old age and make it altogether rheumatike Much sleepe puffeth vp the bodie and maketh it moyst especially that which is taken at noonetide And thus much for the outward causes which may cause and mooue the rheume let vs now come vnto the inward The inward causes are either remote or else conioyned the remote which it pleaseth some better to call Antecedents haue relation to the euill disposition of the braine head liuer stomacke and sometimes of the whole bodie The distemperature of the braine causeth rheumes The cold moyst and hot distemperature of the braine doe oftentimes cause rheumes the cold and moyst of their owne nature the hot by way of accident the cold distemperature weakeneth naturall heate doth not make good disgestion of nourishment neither yet spend and waste vnnecessary superfluities whereupon it followeth that it must needs store vp abundance of excrements The hot distemperature attracteth more nourishment then it can well disgest and moe vapours then it can dispatch and make away withall There are some which haue very wittily obserued that the closenes of the substance of the braine is oftentimes the cause of rheumes because it retaineth the vapours and suffereth them not to spend by breathing out and euaporation The euil shape of the head The bad forme or shape of the head is likewise very forcible to procure rheumes for such as haue thc seames of their head very close set together or which haue not any at all as wee haue seene very many are subiect to distillations because the vapours retained doe turne into water and in deede the seames were chiefly made to serue for a vent and as it were a chimney vnto the braine The distemperapture of the lower parts The distemperature of the lower parts and especially of the liuer and stomacke is one of the most ordinarie causes of the rheume if wee beleeue Auicen the prince of the Arabians For from the liner being excessiuely hot doe come as it were from a great burning cole many hot exhalations which by the cold temperature of the braine doe congeale and turne into water I say further that they which haue a very hot liuer haue also their veines very hot in such sort as that there rise continually very hot vapours from them The cold distemperature of the stomacke ingendring many crudities my also be a cause of rheumes for thereby al the bodie is cooled the second disgestion not being able to correct the errour of the first But if it should so bee as that all the causes should concur and iumpe together that is to say that the braine should bee cold and moyst the lieu hot the stomacke cold there were no doubt but that thereupon would follow a perpetuall generation of excrements in the braine and this is that which the Arabians would haue sayd when they wrote that an vnequall distemperature of the principall parts is the greatest occasion of distillations And thus much concerning the remote causes The more neere or antecedent causes not onely of rheumes but of all other fluxes of humours are three The causes more necrely procuring rheumes are three The partsending the part sending the part receiuing and the nature of the humour In the part sending wee obserue his high situation and his strength if it bee indued with these two qualities it will easily cast his burthen vpon all the inferiour-parts which are as it were vassals vnto it Hippocrates hath well obserued it in the booke of the wounds of the head when he sayth that amongst all the parts of the head the brow is most subiect vnto inflammation because the brow is contained but euery fluxe is from the part containing vnto the part contained the brow is contained both in respect of the low situation thereof as also in respect of the production of vessels The part receiueth the humour either because it is inferiour or because it is weake The part receiuing or because it draweth it vnto it Euery inferiour part is subiect to receiue the burthen of that which commanded it but and if the part be weake it will yet be the more apt This weakenes commeth either of it selfe and from the proper nature of the part or else by some accident The weake part the rare and spungie parts are naturallie weake such as are all the glandules and it seemeth that nature of set purpose hath made them such to the end that they should receiue
and that the soule can doe nothing without heate But I answere The cause why the braine feeleth not that the braine hath not any particuler feeling for that it being the seate of common sence must iudge of all such obiects as about which sence is occupied But a good iudge ought to bee free from all passions and euery organe sayth Aristotle must bee without qualitie according whereunto agreeth that that the christalline humour hath no colour the care hath no particuler sound nor the tongue any taste But and if it come to passe that any organicall part decline from his nature as if the christalline become yellow all whatsoeuer presenteth it selfe to the sight of that eye will seeme to bee of the same colour As then the braine neither seeth nor heareth nor smelleth nor tasteth any thing and yet notwithstanding iudgeth very rightly of colours sounds smels and tasts so neither was it any reason that it should haue any particuler sence of feeling which should cause it to feele the excesse of those qualities which are tearmed the obiects of feeling and handling it is sufficient for it to haue the knowledge and discerning thereof As touching the other poynt I affirme that the braine is in very deede hot and that it cannot be called cold but as it is compared with the heart It behoued it of necessitie to bee of this temperature that so it might temper the spirits which were of a fierie nature The causes why the braine is of such temperature thereby the better to continue the kindes of liuing creatures and to preserue them long aliue For and if the braine were as hot as the heart there would day by day arise trouble and sedition amidst the noblest powers of the soule all the sences would be straying and wandring all the motions would bee out of square all our discourses mixed with rash headines and our memories very flote and fugitiue euen as betideth vnto franticke ones Let nothing then hinder vs from acknowledging the braine to bee the most noble part of the whole body This is that magnificent and stately turret of the soule this is that goodly royall palace the consecrated house of Pallas this is the impregnable sort enuironed with bones as with strong walles wherein is lodged the soueraigne power of the soule I meane reason which comprehendeth and compasseth as with imbracing armes the whole vniuersall world in a moment without touching of the same which flieth through the ayre soundeth the depths of the sea and surmounteth at the same instant the pauements of the heauens and which walking vpon their stages measuring their distances and communicating with the Angels pearceth in euen vnto the throne of God and at such time as the body is asleepe suffereth it self by a holy flight or delectable and sweete rauishment to be carried euen to the beholding of God according to whose image it was first framed To be short it is all in all as sayth Aristotle for that by the power it hath it possesseth all as being the place wherein I say this great princesse would rest her self as within her castle from thence to commaund the two inferiour regiments to hold in subiection the two lower forces I meane the Irascible and concupiscible which would euery day be ready to fall away and reuolt And yet I dare be bold to adde further and in stead of hauing named it among the chiefe and principall to say that there is not any other part of the body besides the braine which can truly be called noble and soueraigne and that because all the other parts are made for the braine and pay tribute thereunto as to their king Behold here the strength of my argument Most cleere and euident proofe of the excellencie of the braine which in my iudgement is as cleere as the Sunne in his brightest shine Mankinde differeth not from beasts in any thing but reason and the seate of reason is in the braine It is requisite the more commendably to reason and discourse that the imaginatiue part of the minde should set before the vnderstanding part of the same the obiects whereabout they be occupied altogether simple without mixture without matter and freed from all corporall qualities The Imaginatiue part can not conceiue them of it selfe if the outward sences which are his trustie spyes and faithfull reportsmen make not certificate of the same Hence then rise the necessitie of framing the instruments of the sences the eyes the eares the nose tongue and membranes as well inward as outward The sences the better to take acknowledgement of their obiects haue need of a local motion For man if he should not stirre from one place but abide immoueable like an image should not be able to conuey any store of varietie vnto the imagination It is necessary then for the benefit and perfecting of the sences to haue certaine instruments of motion these instruments are two the sinewes and the muscles the sinewes by reason of their continued coniunction and adherence vnto their originall being like vnto that of the Sunne beames with the Sun doe conuey from the braine that mouing power seated in a most subtile bodie namely the animall spirit the muscles after the maner of good subiects obey vnto their commandement and incontinently moue the member either by stretching it forth or bowing it in as the appetite or imagination shall wish and desire The braine then as is manifest commandeth the sinewes carrie the embassage and the muscles obeying thereunto expresse the intent of the minde And euen in like sort as the skilfull horserider manageth the horse with the bridle causing him to turne on the right hand or on the left as best pleaseth him euen so the braine by the sinewes boweth or stretcheth the muscles These two instruments of voluntarie motion should not know either how to be or vndergoe these their offices if they were not fixed vnto some solide and immoueable body Therefore it was behouefull to raise vp pillers such as are the bones and cartilages from whence the muscles doe rise and into which they do insert themselues againe and for that the bones could not bee ioyned or fastned together without ligaments it must needes follow that they should haue their membranouse coates to couer them withall And all these parts for their preseruation stoode in neede of naturall heate and nourishment this heate and nourishment being deriued from elsewhere must needes haue their passages prepared by certaine pipes and those are the veines and arteries the arteries draw their spirits from the hart the fountaine of the same the veines receiue their blood from the common storehouse of the same which is the liuer And thus returning by the same steps by which wee came hither wee shall well perceiue The conclusion that the heart and liuer were not made for any other thing but to nourish the heate of all the parts the bones and cartilages for rests and props vnto the
the excrements and superfluities of the principall parts Hippocrates hath debated this matter so well in his booke of Glandules as that a man cannot tel how to adde any thing therevnto The skin was by nature made weak to the end it might containe al the superfluities that are frō within whereupon some call it the vniuersall emunctorie Parts may also be weak by some accident as by a fall or blow or some distēperature in what maner soeuer they bee weake it maketh them apt to receiue the refuse of their neighbour parts How the part attracteth the humour to it selfe The last cause is the part his attraction of the humour The Arabians haue acknowledged three causes of this attraction heate paine and the auoyding of vacuitie Heate attracteth of it owne nature because it rarifieth the parts neere about attenuateth and maketh thin the humours and enlargeth the waies and passages for the humour to runne through How paine attracteth Paine doth not attract of his owne nature because it is an affect of feeling but feeling is a patient and no agent and euery one of the sences is executed by taking in of some thing but the humours flow to the pained part by reason of the weakenes of the same as also because the naturall heat thereof is weakened by the paine and cannot well concoct the humour it must needes bee that it should stay in that place They who affirme that the humour floweth vnto the part which feeleth the paine because nature sendeth thither both spirits and blood that she may comfort the same doe deceiue themselues in my judgement and offer great wrong vnto nature for if she knew that such a part stood in need of spirits and blood she would know therewithal that in sending this blood she should profit the part nothing at all but rather hurt it so that paine doth not properly attract and draw The last cause of distillations is imputed to the humour For if it bee thin in substance hot in temperature sharpe and pricking in qualitie it will be a great deale the more apt to flow CHAP. V. A generall order of diet to be obserued for the preuenting and curing of Rheumes and distillations I Will follow the same order and course in the laying downe of this regiment which I haue taken in the other two going before Wee must therefore so dispose of all the sixe things which are called not naturall as that they may not only hinder the engendring of rheumes but also consume and cure the same being alreadie begotten Let euery man therefore make choise for himselfe of such an ayre as is temperate in his actiue qualities and as for the passiue that it bee altogether drie I say that it must be temperate in heate and cold because that a hot ayre resoluing the humours of the braine and a cold pressing them out causeth them to fall downe aboundantly If the ayre bee too cold it may bee corrected with good fires made of Iuniper Rosemarie Bay-tree Oke and Fig-tree if it be exceeding hote it may be cooled with hearbs and flowers that are indued with such propertie There must care be had to auoide the Northerne and Southerne windes because the one filleth the head full and the other presseth it out You must not abide much in the Sunne-beames nor yet in the open ayre The windes which pearce through chinkes and rifts are extreamely dangerous for the rheume The inequalitie of the ayre as Celsus obserueth very well doth mightily further the begetting of rheumes it is called an vnequal aire when it is now hot now cold As concerning the passiue qualities the ayre-must in all maner of distillation incline vnto drines and for that cause it is good to dwell vpon mounted places and such as are farre from riuers In meates three things are to be obserued the quantitie qualitie and manner of vsing them As concerning the quantitie In meats three things are to be obserued all repletion and full gorging is enemie to such complexions as are subiect vnto rheumes we may not at any time eate to the full it is better to rise from the table hungrie and hee cannot but fare the better which cutteth of one meale in a weeke As concerning the qualitie it must bee contrary vnto the disease or the cause thereof the cause of rheumes is a superfluous humour so that it will bee fittest to vse such meates as may dry vp the same All vaporous meates in generall must bee abstained as also meates that are grosse windie full of excrements and hard to disgest In the maner of vsing of these meates there must many rules bee obserued as there must no new meate bee taken into the stomacke before the former bee throughly disgested You must content your selfe to feede vpon one onely dish and that such as is good for varietie filleth all full of cruditie and it mingleth it selfe with the blood in the veines and ministreth rheumatike matter vnto the braine You must vse to eate more at dinner then at supper in as much as sleepe which succeedeth supper within a short time doth send great store of vapours vnto the braine which are afterwards turned into water The bread must bee of good wheate and throughly baked Bread not cleane purged from his branne but retaining a little branne and mixt with some salt it must neuer be eaten hot at the latter end of meate you may eate bisket wherein some Anise and Fennell seede haue been put Rosted meates are much better then boyled Flesh and of them such as doe not abound with humours we allow the vse of Capon Pigeon Partridge young Hare Kid Hart Feasant Quailes Turtle doues and all birds of the mountaines all which maybe interlarded with Sage and Hissope of the mountaines The vse of water-fowles Porke Lambe Mutton and young Veale is forbidden broths and pottage are very ill Fish is exceedingly contrary Fish All sort of milk-meates is an enemie in rheumatike diseases as also all maner of pulse As concerning hearbes Hearbes the Arabians recommend vnto vs Sage Hissope Mints wilde Time Margerome Rosemary Burnet Cheruill Fennell and Costmarie Aetius tolerateth Coleworts and Leekes but he forbiddeth in expresse tearmes Garlick Onions because they send vp many vapours and all cold moyst hearbes as Lettuse Purcelane Sorrell and such like All fruites that abound in moysture Fruites as Apples Plums Melons Cucumbers and Mulberies are forbidden But as for such as haue propertie to drie as Pine apples small nuts Pistaces Almonds Peares Quinces Figs drie Raisines Medlers Ceruisses they may be vsed after meate And thus much concerning meate As concerning drinke Drinke cold water and all maner of licour that is actually cold it is enemie to al such as are subiect to the rheume if so bee that such rheume be not extreame hot pricking and accompanied with an ague Barley water with a little Sugar and Cinamome is very good and fit or a Ptisane or
first Discourse wherein is handled the excellencie of the sight and the meanes to preserue it That the braine is the principall seate of the soule and that in consideration hereof all the instruments of the sences are placed round about it Chap. 1. How that the outward sences being the trustie messengers of the minde are only fiâ—e and all of them placed without the braine Chap. 2 That the sight is the most excellent of all the sences Chap. 3 Of the excellencie of the eye the proper instrument of sight Chap. 4 Of the composition of the eye in generall Chap. 5 A particular description of all the parts of the eye and first of the sixe muscles thereof Chap. 6 Of the sixe coates of the eye Chap. 7 Of the three humours of the eye of the beautie and excellencie of the christalline Chap. 8 Of the sinewes veines arteries and other parts of the eye Chap. 9 How we see as whether it be by receiuing in or sending forth something Chap. 10 How many waies the sight may be hurt Chap. 11 A briefe rehearsall of all the diseases of the eye Chap. 12 A generall and most exquisite order of Diet for the preseruation of the sight in which is shewed very particularly all that may hurt or doe good vnto the eyes Chap. 13 Choise remedies for the preseruation of the sight and the order to be obserued in applying of them Chap. 14 The second Discourse wherein is intreated of Melancholie diseases and of the meanes to cure them That man is a diuine and politique creature hauing three speciall principall powers Imagination Reason and Memorie Chap. 1. That this creature full of excellencie is now and then so abased and altered by an infinit number of diseases as that he becommeth like a beast Chap. 2 Who those should be that are called melancholike and how we ought to put difference betwixt melancholike men that are sicke and those that are sound Chap. 3 The definition of melancholie and all his differences Chap. 4 Of melancholie which is seated in the braine and of all the accidents that follow it and whence ariseth feare sadnes watchings terrible dreames and other accidents Chap. 5 Whereof it commeth that melancholike persons haue particular obiects quite differing whereupon they dote Chap. 6 Histories of certaine melancholike persons which haue had strange imaginations Chap. 7 An order of diet for melancholike men that haue their braine sicke Chap. 8 How to cure such melancholike men as haue the disease setled in their braine Chap. 9 Of another sort of melancholie which riseth of outragious loue Chap. 10 Chap. 11 The meanes to cure those which are follish and melancholie by reason of loue Chap. 12 Of the third sort of melancholie called windie melancholie and the differences thereof Chap. 13 Of the signes of windie melancholie and from whence the accidents which follow it arise Chap. 14 Histories worthie the obseruation of two parties troubled with the windie melancholie Chap. 15 Of the curing of the windie melancholie The third Discourse wherein is intreated of the generation of Rheumes and how they are to be cured Chap. 1. That the braine is the seate of cold and moysture and by consequent the welspring of Rheumes Chap. 2 What this word rheume doth signifie what disease it is and wherein his nature consisteth Chap. 3 The differences of Rheume Chap. 4 The causes of Rheume Chap. 5 A generall order of diet to be obserued in Rheumes Chap. 6 A generall methode to cure Rheumes Chap. 7 The meanes to preserue the teeth The fourth Discourse wherein is intreated of Old-age and how we must succour it Chap. 1. That man cannot continue in one state and that of necessitie he must waxe old Chap. 2 A very notable description of old age Chap. 3 An order of Diet to preserue the life long Chap. 4 What ayre is to be chosen for the lengthening of life and which is most fit for old folke Chap. 5 Generall rules to be obserued in eating and drinking therby to lengthen the life Chap. 6 How we must in particular nourish old folkes and with what victuals Chap. 7 What drinke is most fit for old folke Chap. 8 Of the exercises of old folke Chap. 9 What rules are to be kept in sleeping Chap. 10 How we must cheere vp and make merrie old men putting them out of all violent passions of the minde Chap. 11 What medicines are fittest for old folke and by what skilfull meanes we may helpe to amend the infirmities of old age THE FIRST DISCOVRSE WHEREIN IS INTREATED OF THE excellencie of the sight and the meanes to perserue it That the braine is the true seate of the Soule and that for this occasion all the instruments of the sences are lodged round about it CHAP. 1. THe Soule of man that most noble and perfect forme that is vnder the face of heauen bearing for a signe and token of his excellencie the liuely and true image of the Creator although it bee in all poynts like vnto it selfe not consisting of matter or subiect to any diuision and by consequent whole in all the bodie and wholie in euery part of the same yet the case so standeth that in respect of the diuersitie of his actions of the difference of his instruments wherewith it serueth it selfe and of the varietie of obiects set before it that it may seeme and appeare to the common people after a certaine maner to consist of diuers parts The Philosophers themselues seeing the noblest powers thereof to shine more in one place then in another haue gone about to lodge and as it were to bound the limits thereof within the compasse of one onely member in like maner as the Diuines carried away by the wonderfull things which more cleerely manifest themselues in the heauens then in any other part of the world doe say that the heauens are the throne of God although his essence bee infinite incomprehensible and stretching it selfe through euery thing that is Diuers opinioÌ„s of the seate of the soule For Herophilus beleeued that the Soule was lodged onely in the lowed part of the braine and Zenocrates on the contrary in the vppermost part therof Erasistratus in the two membranes couering the braine called of the Arabians Mothers Strato betwixt the browes Empedocles suborned by the Epicures and Egyptians in the breast Moschion in the whole bodie Diogenes in the arteries Heraclitus onely in the circumference of the bodie Herodotus in the eares Blemor an Arabian and Syreneus a Phisition of Cypers in the eyes because that men in them as in a glasse doe behold all the passions of the soule but all these in my iudgement are nothing els but fantasies and meere fooleries Aristotle his opinion There is a great deale more likelihood in the opinion of Aristotle that great expounder of nature who thought that the soule had his proper seate in the heart because that naturall heate the principall instrument of the soule is found in
be laid vpon a written paper it causeth the letters to shew twice so great as they are The substance thereof is waterish The substance thereof but it runneth not abroad as the others doe it is faster and more solide to the end that the formes of obiects may settle themselues therein it is also through-cleere and full of light to the end it may haue some correspondencie with his obiect which is lightsome it is of no colour that so it may receiue all maner of colours the more indifferently for if the christalline humour should be tainted either with greene or red or yellow all the obiects thereof would appeare and seeme to be of the same colour Why the christalline humor is not nourished with blood Here we cannot but wonder at the prouidentnes of nature which would not haue this christalline to be nourished with blood as all the other parts of the bodie are for feare that the blood should make it red but for the better assurance hath dedicated vnto it the vitreous humour to turne his nutriment into a white colour and play the part of a cooke according as the neede thereof should require His shape The shape is round and yet not altogether and exactly sphericall but some what flat on the two sides as is a fetch or the end of a pestell and this is the reason why the Grecians haue called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I conceiue that it was thus shaped that so it might abide more firme and not to be thrust out of his place vpon euery violent motion of the eye For such things as be exquisitelyround doe moue as it were of themselues and haue no stay resting themselues but vpon a poynt His situation It is placed in the middest of the eye as in his center to the end it may equally and indifferently intertaine and admit of both the lights On the hinder part it is vnderlaid with the vitreous humour and feemoth as it were to swimme vpon the top of the same on the forepart it hath the waterish humour and round about it is wrapped in his proper coate called Aranoides The glassie humour The third and last humour is called glassie because it resembleth in colour and consistence the moulten glasse The chiefe vse thereof is to prepare nourishment for the christalline humour not that the christalline humour should feede vpon it owne substance as Auicen hath thought For one part is neuer nourished or fed of the substance of another but this doth blanch or turne white the blood and serue for cooke to the christalline It presserueth also the christalline from all annoyance that might happen by the hardnes of the membranes and keepeth in the spirits The quantitie thereof is in greater abundance then any of the rest it is clothed with his owne coate which is more then the ancient learned in this profession did euer attaine vnto to know CHAP. IX Of the sinewes veines arteries and other parts of the eye The sinew of sight THere are as yet remaining vntouched though necessarie sarie helpes to the sight two paire of nerues and certaine other small arteries The first paire is called opticke From whence it springeth and it bringeth the animall spirit and inward light vnto the christalline humour This paire springeth not from the first ventricle of the braine as the Arabians would haue it neither yet from out of the midst of the lowest part of the braine as the Grecians haue perswaded themselues and as all Anatomists of our time doe as yet beleeue but from the hinder part of the braine where the great and little braine doe ioyne together This obseruation is new but most true and I receiue it because I haue often seene it Why the sinewes of sight doe grow into one The opticke therefore comming from the hinder part and hauing finished more then halfe his course in corporateth it selfe the one with the other and so becommeth one not growing one vnto another only as the cōmon sort doth thinke much lesse onely touching one another as the mullet doth the milstone but as hath been sayd before they doe in such sort incorporate themselues the one with the other as that no man is able by any cunning skill to separate them The first reason This incorporation was needfull for that they being very soft and hauing such a large peece of ground to trauerse might haue bended and becomming crooked could neuer haue carried directly forward their spirit if they had not by this their combination one strengthened the other It was meete and conuenient that these two nerues should The second applie themselues wholly to the seruice of the christalline and that they should bee drawne along as in the same leuell or directline with the eyes otherwise the sight would haue bin continually false for euery simple obiect would haue appeared double But in very deede it had not been possible for them to haue continued their leuell being so long and so tender if they had not been thus vnited in the middest The third I will yet adde vnto these fomer a third benefit by this vnion and it is to shew that by this meanes the perfection of the sight is greatly furthered and aduanced for by this meanes euen in a moment the spirit may passe from one eye to the other and then the one eye being stopt the other will become fuller of spirit and so more strong and able to see a farre off for so are wee accustomed to doe namely to shut the one of our eyes if westriue to behold anything a farre off The insertion of the sinewes of sight The opticke nerues after this their vnion doe againe diuide themselues and march on forward either of them grafting himselfe into his proper eye the inward part of the sinew being marrowish doth in large it selfe and maketh the netlike tunicle the outward part doth make the mēbranes called Cornea and Vuea Herophilus Galen and almost al other Anathomists haue supposed this sinew to bee hollow but it is only spungie for it is not possible for any man to finde any cauitie in the same The sinewes of the eye seruing for motion The other couple of sinewes march on vnto the muscles of the eyes and serue to help their motion their diuiding of themselues is pretie full of kindnes for they send to euery muscle as it were a little fine thred The veines and arteries There are in the eye many pretiesmall veines and arteries which bring life and nourishment to the same they all spring from the branches of the veines and arteries called Iugulares and Carotides The fat The fat that lieth about the eye doth keepe it moyst thereby keeping it from withering it keepeth it also from the iniurie of the cold preseruing his naturall heate which is the cause that the eye is neuer tainted with a shiuering or quaking cold The glandules There are belonging
doe sufficiently witnesse the same Why they be suspicious The accident of suspition followeth the two former hard and close at the heeles the melancholike party is euermore suspicious if he see three or foure talking together he thinketh that it is of him The cause of such suspition riseth of the former feare and of a corrupt kinde of reasoning for being alwaies in feare he thinketh verely that one or other doeth lie in wait for him and that some doe purpose to slay him Melancholike men sayth Aristotle doe deceiue themselues commonly in matters which depend vpon choice for that they oftentimes forget the generall propositions wherein honestie consisteth and chuse rather to follow the motions of their foolish imaginations The cause of their restlesnes They are neuer at rest either in their bodies or in their spirits they can make no answere to such questions as are propounded them they oftentimes change from one kinde to another This disquieting and distracting of themselues ariseth of the diuersitie of matters which they propound and set before themselues for receiuing all maner of formes and stamping them with the print of dislike they are constrained oftentimes to change and to find out new things which being no more acceptable to them then the first doe still continue them in these restles distractions The cause of their sighing Melancholike folke are commonly giuen to sigh because the minde being possessed with great varietie and store of foolish apparitions doth not remember or suffer the partie to bee at leisure to breathe according to the necessitie of nature whereupon she is constrained at once to sup vp as much ayre as otherwise would serue for two or three times and this great draught of breath is called by the name of sighing which is as it were a reduplicating of the ordinary manner of breathing In this order it falleth out with louers and all those which are very busily occupied in some deepe contemplation Sillie fooles likewise which fall into a wonder at the sight of any beautifull and goodly picture are constrained to giue a great sight their will which is the efficient cause of breathing being altogether distracted and wholly possessed with the sight of the image Why they watch and can not sleepe There is yet another accident which is very tedious and euen consumeth these poore melancholike men euen continuall watchings I haue seene some that haue abode three whole moneths without sleepe The causes of sleepe Now the causes of such watchings are easie enough to vnderstand if wee know what it is which causeth vs to sleepe Men are giuen to obserue in sleepe the materiall formall finall and instrumentall cause The materiall is a pleasant vapour which is cast vp from the first and second concoction which whē it commeth to slacken and stop all the sinewes by his moysture it causeth all sence and motion for to cease The finall cause is the repayre of spirits and the rest of all the animall powers which hauing been wearied by continuall labour doe craue a little reliefe and recreation this end cannot be obtained if so bee the minde which setteth all the powers of the bodie on worke be not vouchsafed some maner of peaceable rest in this sort the sillie Dido all ouer whelmed with musing pensiuenes could not espie the approach of night to the shutting vp of her mournfull eyes or easing of her oppressed heart The formall cause of sleepe consisteth in the withdrawing of the spirits and naturall heate from the outward parts to the inward and from all the circumference vnto the center The instrumentall cause is the braine which must be of good temperature for if it be too hot as in frenticke folkes or drie as in old folkes the sleepe will neuer be with peace and quietnes The causes of all that watchfulnes which is in melancholike persons In melancholike persons the materiall is wanting the minde is not at rest the braine is distempered the matter is a melancholike humour drie as ashes from whence cannot arise any pleasant and delightsome vapour the braine is distempered and greatly ouerdried the minde is in continuall restlesnes for the feare that is in them doth continually set before them tedious grieuous things which so gnaw and pinch them as that they hinder them from sleeping But if at one time or other it fall out that they be ouertaken with a little slumber it is then but a troublesome sleepe accompanied with a thousand of false and fearefull apparitions and dreames so dreadfull as that it were better for them to be awake The causes of all these dreames are to bee referred to the propertie of the humour The causes of all their fearefull dreames for as the phlegmatike partre dreameth commonly of riuers of water and the cholerike of flaming fire so the melancholike person dreameth of nothing but dead men graues and all other such mournfull and vnpleasant things because he exerciseth his imaginations with formes altogether like vnto the humour which beareth sway in him vpon which occasion the memorie beginneth to stirre and rouse vp her selfe or else because that the spirits being growne as it were wilde and altogether blacke ranging the braine throughout and bending themselues to the eye doe set before the iamgination all manner of darke and obscure things The cause why they loue darknes Melancholike men are also enemies to the Sunne and shunne the light because that their spirits and humours are altogether contrary to the light The Sunne is bright and warme the melancholike humour is blacke and colde They desire solitarines because they vsing to bee busie and earnestly following their imagination doe feare to bee drawne away by others their presence and therefore doe auoide it but the cause of such their vncessant perseuerance in their imaginations is because their spirits are grosse and as it were immoueable They haue their eyes fixed and as it were set fast by reason of the cold and drines of the instrument they haue a hissing in their cares and oftentimes are troubled with swimmering or giddinesse Why they loue to be silent and as Galen obserueth they loue silence out of measure and oftentimen cannot speake not for any defect of the tongue but rather because of I cannot tell what maner of conceitednes finally they inuent continually some one or other strange imagination and haue in a maner all of them one speciall obiect from which they cannot be weined till time haue worne it out CHAP. VI. Whence it commeth that melancholike persons haue all of them their particular and altogether diuers obiects whereupon they dote THe imagination of melancholike men bringeth forth such diuersitie of effects according to the difference of the matters where about it is occupied as that a man shall searse finde fiue of sixe among then thousand which dote after one and the same maner Whereupon ancient writers haue compared this humour to wine for as wine according
I am of minde that as concerning mad men and them which haue much heate about the inward parts or bowels and in the braine wine is very contrarie but in melancholike persons that are colde and drie as those of whome wee intreate in this place a little white or claret wine which is neither sweete nor thicke but indifferently delaied is very good Zeno said oftentimes that wine doth mitigate the sharpenes of mens manners as water taketh away the bitternes of Lupines And Auerrhoes writteth that wine reioyceth the minde and spirits Artificial wine One may make in the vintage time an artificiall wine with Borage and Buglosse which is most singular in all melancholike diseases and drinke his first draught thereof either at dinner or at supper If a man doubt the sweete sent hee may cast a bunch of the flowres of Borage onely or of the hearbe it selfe also into the wine which he ordinarilie drinketh Watching is altogether enemie to those that are troubled with this disease for we must with all the skill and cunning we can procure sleepe the meanes to doe it follow in the next chapter Moderate exercise may serue to very good purpose but it must be done in pleasant and delightsome places as gardens medowes greene-plots in places where there are many water springs or some riuers a man must not tyre himselfe in these exercises he must rest himselfe oft Melancholike persons should neuer be alone they should alway haue some such companie left with them as might best like and please them sometimes they must bee flattered and yeelded vnto in some part of that which they desire for feare least this humour which is rebellious by nature and giuen to selfe wilfulnes should grow raging and furious some whiles they must be chid for their foolish imaginations as also reproched and made ashamed of their cow-hardinesse they must be imboldned to the vttermost that we can and praised in their actions and if they haue in some cases done something worthie of praise wee must put them oft in minde thereof vphold them with merrie tales wee may not call to their minde any thing that might cause them to feare not yet bring them any vnpleasant tidings To be short wee must turne backe and driue away as much as wee can from their vnderstanding al maner of passions ouerthrowing the mind especially choler feare and sadnes for as Plato saith in his Dialogue called Charmides the greatest part of the mischiefes that fall vpon the bodie doe come from the minde Musicke very meete for melancholike persons The old writers doe commend Musicke in all melancholike diseases whether they bee hot or cold The Arcadians did reclaime the maners of such as were sauadge and vnnurtured by Musicke Empedocles Agrigentinus did mitigate and appease the furiousnes of a certaine young man with the melodiousnes of his song Clinius the Musition as soone as he perceiued his melancholike fit to come vpon him would betake him to his harpe and keepe backe by this meanes the motions of the humour Dauid also when the euill spirit came vpon Saul made him merrie with his harpe and he found ease thereby The belly must be kept soluble The belly must bee kept alwaies soluble in all melancholike diseases and therefore if it neede wee must stirre it vp by all the meanes we can CHAP. IX How we must cure such melancholike persons as haue the disease growing in the braine All melancholike diseases are rebellious and very hard to be cured DAily experience plainly teacheth vs that all melancholike diseases are rebellious long and very hard to cure and the reason thereof is as cleere for the melancholike humour is earthie and grosse enemie to the light contrarie to the two principles of our life heate and moysture resisting the meanes and remedies neither giuing eare to good aduise nor yet obeying the holesome precepts of Phisicke And to be short it is the very scourge and torment of Phisitions Aristotle in his seuenth booke of Ethikes sayth that melancholike folk haue alwaies something which doth gnaw and feede vpon them and this is the cause why they are alwaies running after the Phisition and yet we ought not to leaue them helplesse I will set downe in this chapter the most speciall remedies that I haue been able to obserue together with the order how such melancholike persons must be handled Three sorts of remedies requisite in melancholike diseases It seemeth vnto me that for the cure of melancholie wee had neede of three kindes of remedies that is to say diminutiues alteratiues and comfortatiues The diminutiues are either letting of blood or purgation As concerning the letting of blood which is vniuersall Blood-letting respecting the whole body Galen appointeth it to be ministred in that melancholy which is within the veines and throughout the whole habite of the bodie and willeth that if the blood issuing shew fayre and thinne that it bee stayed by and by but in that melancholie which hath his seate in the braine and which commeth of a colde and drie distemperature he hath forbidden it most expressely The Arabians commend in the cure of this kinde of melancholie Blood-letting respecting some particular parts the letting of blood called particular to the taking away of the conioyned cause they open the veines of the forehead of the nose and of the eares they set cupping-glasses vpon the shoulders hauing first scarified the place they apply horseleaches vpon the head and in all melancholike diseases whether essentiall or accidentall they cause the hemorrhoides to be opened hauing the eleuenth Aphorisme of the sixt booke for their ground and warrant which saith that in melancholike and mad men the varicous tumour or hemorrhoides appearing doe heale the same but all these particular openings of a veine haue no place in the beginning of this disease Purging Wee must begin with that other kinde of euacuation which is purgation It may bee performed by the often vsing of Clister Decoctions Syrupes and Opiates the forme of an ordinary Clister for melancholike persons shall be such as followeth Take of the rootes of Holihocke one ounce of the leaues of Mallowes Mercurie 〈◊〉 Clister Violets and Hops of each a great handfull of Anise and Linseede of each two drammes of Damaske prunes one dozen of the flowers of Borage and Violets and of Barlie a handfull boyle all together in cleere water and straine them adde thereto afterward of Cassia an ounce of Catholicon halfe an ounce of oyle of Violets two ounces and as much of honie of Roses make thereof an ordinary Clister A potion minoratiue The Arabians vse in the disease of melancholie pilles of Aloes of Hiera and of Lapis lazulus but I doe not so well like of this forme as of the liquide it were better therefore to vse decoctions This potion may serue in the beginning for a minoratiue Take of Licotice halfe an ounce of Polypodie of the oke three
these accidents depend vpon the generall cause which I haue set downe but wee must therewithall search and finde out the speciall The heate and burning which they feele on the spleene side on the liuer side and about Mesenterium commeth of the burning of this grosse humour whether it bee flegme or blacke choler which in this his heate comming as it were to boyle is puffed vp and sendeth his vapours into all the parts neere thereabout The noyse which they heare in euery part of their bellie The cause of windines commeth of the winde which doth runne to and fro in euery place and doth so much accompanie this melancholike disease as that for this cause old writers haue intituled it the windie melancholie wee will obserue in the begetting of this windines the materiall and efficient cause The materiall is a grosse blacke cholerike or flegmatike humour The materiall cause These two humours are almost alwaies mixt in this disease because that the liuer being ouerheated as it is ordinarily in Hypochondriake persons attracteth and snatcheth from the stomacke which is his very neere neighbour such meates as are no better then halfe concocted so that there is heaped together a world of crudities within the veines by such attraction of the liuer as also there is made a broode of hot and burnt humours by the distemperature of this noble part in such maner as that thereby is caused to bee continually in the veines some humours that are raw and not sufficiently concocted and other some that are ouer much concocted the crude and scarse disgested was attracted too speedily the ouer much concocted and burnt was begotten in the member it selfe The weakenes of naturall heate is the efficient cause of windines The efficient cause for in mouing and stirring of the matter it is not able to ouercome it throughly and although the agent or naturall heat should be strong enough yet not being like vnto the matter in proportion it may be called weake The cause of heauines The heauines which they feele in their breast commeth either of winde or grosse vapours which beare downe the muscle called Diaphragma the principal muscle of respitatiō or else they pitch themselues vpon the muscles running betwixt rib and rib or lastly within the coates of the ribs either inward or outward and hence come those great tormenting paines which rise vp to the shoulders and goe downe againe oftentimes vnto the armes by the continued proceeding of the membranes and sympathie of the muscles The cause of the water and swilling which they haue within them The water which melancholike persons doe ordinarily auoide at their mouth is one of the most infallible tokens of the Hypochondriake disease if wee will beleeue Diocles the cause thereof must be imputed vnto the coldnes of the stomack which filleth all full of crudities This coldnes commeth of the excessiue heate of the liuer which draweth the chylous matter out of the stomacke altogether vnprepared wasteth and consumeth all the fat of the stomacke and seedeth rauenously like a gulligut vpon the heate of all the parts neere about it I adde further that oftentimes while the humour is neere vnto boyling the crudest parts thereof are cast backe againe into the stomacke and cooleth it in such sort as that wee may obserue therein the two kindes of cold that is to say the priuatiue and the positiue as the Philosophers are wont to speake The cause of the beating of the heart The inordinate motion of the heart and all the arteries is caused of the vapour of this matter so stirred which setting vpon the heart with great force and seeking the ouerthrow thereof as commonly happeneth in euery conflict and fight causeth it to bestirre it selfe with a double diligence but so as that therein it looseth oftentimes his iust and well proportioned stroke and thereby the pulses also faile sometimes in that iust measure and time which they ought to keepe The causes of the rednes and flushes appearing in their face The cause of their colde sweates The rednes which appeareth in the face the vniuersall beatings ouer all the bodie and the tickling stingings which they feele in euery place as it were little Pissemires ariseth either of a sharpe and subtile winde or else of vapours sent from the lower parts Colde sweates happen when the vapours rising from the places called Hypochondria as from a fournace doe pitch themselues vpon the skin which is a great deale more colde and therefore doth congeale and turne them into a thicker substance The cause of their lassitude The lassitude or wearisome feeblenes which they feele in all their parts commeth partlie of vapours which running amongst the emptie spaces of the muscles and mingling themselues with the substance of the sinewes doe make them more loose and lanke and make as it were a sencelesnes and partlie of crudities and waterish parts which are in the blood The cause of their leanenes Leanenes happeneth because there is defect and want of sufficient store of good and laudable blood The bellie is hard and giuen to costiuenes by reason of the excessiue heate of the liuer which wasteth all the moisture of the excrements CHAP. XIIII Very worthie and not able histories of two persons grieued with the Hypochondriake disease THere are found sometimes diseases so straunge in their kinde as that euen the best able and most sufficient Phisitions know not what to iudge of them I haue feene two Hypochondriake persons so raging mad as that the former ages neuer saw the like and it may be the ages to come shall not see such other two of a long time The first historie There was at Mompelier an honest Citizen of a melancholike disposition and by constitution most subiect to blacke choler who hauing been grieued by the space of two or three yeares with a milder and lighter kinde of windie melancholie suffered the disease to growe so farre as that at length he saw himselfe brought to this extremitie He felt twise or thrise euery day a light kinde of mouing all ouer his bellie but chiefely on the side whereupon the spleene lieth there was also so great a noyse made in his bellie as that not onely the sicke partie but also all those that stoode by heard the same This rumbling would last about halfe a quarter of an houre and afterward vpon the suddaine a vapour or winde seazing vpon the midriffe and the breast did lye so wonderfullie heauie vpon him and so accompanied with a drie cough as that all men would haue thought him to haue beene short breathed This accident being somewhat lesned all the rest of the bodie was in such sorte shaken that you would haue iudged it like vnto a ship tossed with a most raging storme he heaued and set and his two armes were seene to moue as if they had indured some conuulsion In the end these windes hauing coursed through his whole body
ransackt euery part therof brake forth with so great violence at the mouth as that all those that stoode by were afraide and then the fit ceasing the sicke partie felt himselfe relieued And yet this is not all for two or three moneths before he died he had euery day two or three little and light soundes his heart fainted and fayled him by reason of an extreame great desire that he had to pisse and when he had pissed became to himselfe againe but the fiercenes of the sickenesse was so great that the Soule in the ende was constrained to forgoe her lodging I was called to the opening of the bodie because that ordinarilie I had counselled him in his sickenes together with one of my fellow Phisitions Mounser Hucher Chancellour of our Vniuersitie whom I am willing for honour sake to name and as knowing him to be one of the most learned and best practised Phisitions of our times I found his breast halfe full of blacke and stinking water therewith the left ventricle of the heart was all filled and in the trunke of the great arterie a man might see the same colour At which time I calling to minde a notable place in Galen in his sixth booke of diseased parts I shewed vnto the companie that the cause of these faintings and of his earnest desire to pisse came of this cursed humour which hauing pained the heart passed from thence by the arteries vnto the reynes A worthie obseruation for the defence of Galen and from thence vnto the bladder It was my intent to stand vpon this by the waie that so I may take occasion to defend Galen against the false accusations of young Phisitions which thinke that putrified and purulent matter gathered in the breasts of those which are troubled with the disease Empyema and Pleurisies cannot purge and conuay it selfe away by the heart or arteries I haue handled this matter more largelie in the third booke of my Anatomicall workes The second historie The other historie is also very strange I obserued it this winter at Towers and was called to counsaile about the same with Mounser Anselmeau Valeseau and Vertunian very learned Phisitions and of great experience A young Lord euer since he was eight or nine yeares olde was troubled with this Hypochondriake disease he heard euery day about nine of the clocke in the morning a little noyse on his spleene side afterward he perceiued avapour to rise which made all his breast and face red and seazed the top of his head the veines of his temples did beate very forciblie the veines of his face were puffed vp and at the corners of his browes where the veines doe end he felt an extreame paine which passed not the breadth of a shilling the rednes ran all along his left arme euen vnto the fingers ends and was like a Saint Anthonies fire or cholerike tumour called Erisipelas the right side went altogether scorfree All the time of the fit he was so cast downe as that he was not able to speake a word teares trickeled downe his cheekes aboundantlie and out of his mouth ran an incredible quantitie of water without he burned and within he was colde asyce his left legge was all full of swolne veines and that which I finde most strange on the left side of the head where the hard and rockie bone groweth there was a peece of a bone carried and sunke somewhat inward and that without any apparant cause as blow or fall going before neither could he suller one to touch him in that place the disease hath hitherto been so rebellious as that all the remedies which the best learned Phisitions haue appointed for him could neuer finde the way to asswage and cure it It was agreed vpon by all our consents Or new remedies deuised of our owne braines that it should be impugned by extraordinarie remedies and by inward cordials whereof wee haue not as yet heard what is the successe See how these grosse burnt and melancholike humours continuing in the veines of the liuer spleene and Mesenterium may cause an infiuite number of strange accidents and are the occasion of a very great iarre and strife to the disturbing of all that good order and gouernement which should be in the whole bodie CHAP. XV. The cure of the Hypochondriake disease THere are necessarie for the curing of the Hypochondriake disease two sorts of remedies The one to be appoynted and vsed when the fit is not and they are called preseruatiues the other are to be vsed in the time of the fit euen then when the partie is haunted of all these accidents but I will begin with the former The preseruing of a man from this disease To preserue a man from the Hypochondriake diseease Euacuating medecines Blood letting is attempted by three kindes of remedies namely Diminutiues Alteratiues and Corroboratiues The Diminutiues are letting of blood and purging vniuersall Phlebotomie may serue to correct the hote distemperature of the liuer and to emptie away some part of melancholike blood it must be done vpon the Basilike veine which the Arabians call the blacke veine The opening of particular veines as the Hamorrhoids is counted amongst the number of the most famous and sure remedies for the cure of the Hypochondriake in as much as they emptie the spleene and all the Meseraicke membrane There are some which praise the opening of that veine which goeth to the little finger of the left hand which is called Saluatella Furging The other diminutiue is performed by purgation which must not be strong least this humour should growe more fierce You must purge therefore very gentlie and at seuerall times The purgations must be such as purge fleagme and melancholie because these are the two humours which doe most offend Sene and Agaricke haue the chiefe and principall place I haue described in the chapter of the first melancholie the receipts of many purgations which may serue heere in this place but for as much as the humour causing the windie melancholie is compound pound we must beforced to set downe some other fort A magistrall Syrupe I like and approue of magistrall syrupes and Opiates greatly and they may be framed after this fashion Take the rootes of Buglosse and Asperagus the rindes of the rootes of Capers-tree and Tamariske of each an ounce the rootes and leaues of Succorie Borage Buglosse Hops Fumitorie Ceterach Maidens haire of each a Handfull of Sea wormewood and Balme a pugill of Licorise and Corans washt in warme water of each an ounce of the seedes of Citrons blessed Thistle and Endiue of each two drammes of the three cordiall flowres of the flowers of Succorie of the crops of Tyme and Epythymum of each a pugill boyle them all in a sufficient quantitie of cleere water and hauing strained it well take two pintes thereof and adde thereto of the infusion of orientall Sene made in the former decoction with a dramme of Cloues an ounce
of the conserue of the flowers of Borage of Roses and a Balme of each two ounces of the confection of Alkermes and of the Iacinth of each two drammes of the powder of precious stones and of Mirth of each halfe a dramme make thereof a solide Epitheme in forme of a cataplasme with the water of Balme or of the flowers of Oranges and this you shall spread vpon a peece of scarlet Oyles and apply it to the heart Take the oyle of lesamin and of Costus one ounce of Amber grise three graines chafe therewith the region of the heart or else prouide you some naturall Balme An oyntment Take of the flowers of Camomile Rosemarie and Orange tree of each two drams of Ziloaloe of sweete Saunders of each one dram of the oyle of lesamin and naturall Balme of each one ounce of Amber and Muske sixe or seuen graines make hereof an oyntment with a little white waxe and annoynt therewith the region of the heart Bags Take of the leaues of Balme of the flowers of Borage and Buglosse of each halfe a handfull of the rindes and seede of Citrons two drams of the seede of Balme Basill and Cloues of each a dram of the powder of Pearle Emerauld and lacynth of each halfe a dram of the bone of a Harts heart one dram of red and yellow Saunders one dram of good Amber foure or fiue graines pound them all and make a stomacher of red taffata well quilted and weare it ordinarily vpon the hart Thus much concerning the proper remedies as well inward as outward for the strengthening of the heart and taking away of such weaknes as commonly happeneth to them that haue the windie melancholie Meanes for the strengthening of the stomack The other part to bee strengthened is the stomacke and to preuent that it may not beget such great store of crudities you shall vse powders helping disgestion and certaine oyles properly vsed in such cases for the annoynting thereof The digestiue powder must not be too hot A digestiue powder Take of Anise and Fennell confected of each three drams of the rindes of Citrons confected one dram of prepared Pearle and red Corall of each one halfe a dram of fine Cinamome two scruples of rosed Sugar foure ounces make them in powder and take thereof a spooneful alwaies after your meate Outwardly you may strengthen the stomacke Meanes to be applied outwardly to the stomacke by annoynting it with the oyle of Nutmeg Spikenard Wormewood or with some bag made of Wormewood Balme Cloues Macis Cinamome red Roses and such like powders it is meete that diligent care be had that they bee not applied vpon the place of the liuer because the hote distemperature of this part is commonly the originall of all Hypochondriake diseases And for this cause you may annoint the liuer with the oyntment of Roses and Saunders well washed in Succorie water or else you shall apply thereupon Epithemes of the waters of Succorie Endiue Sorrell the seedes of Endiue cordiall flowers and red Saunders As concerning the braine which is weake to the end it may not be subiect to so great quantitie of vapours you may strengthen it with powders appropriate for the head and sleight parfumes And thus much as concerning preseruatiues which are to be vsed when the fit is not and which without all doubt will keepe the fit from comming for taking a way the cause of accidents it must needes fall out that the effects cease Remedies to be vsed in the accesse of the disease But when the fit of the windie melancholie shall put the sicke partie in paines you must vse other meanes which the Phisition shall alter and varie according to the accident which is most strong and vrgent As if it be feeblenes Remedies and helpes against feeblenes you shall leaue to doe all other things and only strengthen the heart and that by vsing the remedies before described As you may take of the confection of Alkermes of bread dipped in wine of Lozenges cordiall Opiates and the rindes of Citrons You shall also apply vnto the heart liquide and drie Epithemes oyles baulmes oyntments and bagges Remedies against oppression through windines If heauines which is the most common accident in the windie melancholic as that which is caused of the grosse vapours or of the winde which waigheth downe the midriffe and membranes doe lye grieuously vpon the partie it will be good to chafe and rub the thighes and legs lightly to minister a Clister to breake windines to apply great cupping glasses vpon the region of the spleene vpon the nauell and all ouer the bellie and if the griefe of these windes be very great you may take a spoonefull of Ros Solis or Cinamome water distilled or Aquacoelestis or else two or three drops of the essence of Anise seede in a little broth very hote or a little Treacle and Mithridate if the winde doe continue vnremoued and will not stirre out of the breast you shall remoue them with some bags applied very hote and these shal be made of the flowers of Camomile and Melilot of the crops of Dill of Millet and fried Oates You may in like manner apply vpon the region of the spleene fomentations which will resolue and waste some part of these grosse vapours These are the three sortes of melancholie which ancient writers haue deliuered vnto vs that is to say that which hath his seat in the braine that which commeth of the sympathie of the whole bodie and that which ariseth ordinarily from the places about the short ribbes which is more common then either of the other and which is so often happening in these miserable times as that there are not many people which feele not some smatch thereof I come to the third disease of Madame Dutchesse of Vzez which is the Rheume THE THIRD DISCOVRSE WHEREIN IS HANDLED THE breeding of Rheumes and how they are to be cured CHAP. I. That the braine is the seate to cold and moysture and by consequent the fountaine of rheumes and distillations IT is not without cause that Hippocrates that great oracle of Greece that written in diuers places That the brain is the mansion of colde and moysture that the braine is the principall seate of cold and moysture for if we looke vnto his marrowie substance his cold temperature his round forme hollow and somewhat long like to the fashion of a cupping glasse and his high situation receiuing al the vapours of the inferiour parts we shall finde that all these dispose it and make it apt to beget and containe great quantitie of water The substance of the braine was of necessitie to be soft and marrowie that so it might the more easily take the stampe of formes and to the end that sinewes which must spring and rise from thence might with least annoyance and paine bend or bow themselues But indeed this marrowie substance is not so called for any resemblance
the heart and this saith he liueth first and dyeth last the onely storehouse of spirit the originall of veines arteries and sinewes the principal author of respiration the fountaine and welspring of all heate containing within the ventricles thereof a subtile and refined blood which serueth as a burning cole to kindle and set on fire all the other inferiour and smaller sorts of heate and to bee briefe the onely Sunne of this little world And euen in like sort The heauens and the heart finely compared together as the heauens are the principals whereon depend and rest all other elemental generations and alterations so the hart is the first and principall originall of all the actions and motions of the bodie The heauens bring forth their wonderfull effects by their motions heate and influence the heart by his continuall mouing which ought no lesse to rauish vs then the flowing and ebbing of Euripus and influence of his spirits doth put life into all the other parts endoweth them with this beautiful and vermillionlike colour and maintaineth their naturall heate The mouing and light which are in the superiour bodies are the instruments of the intelligences and of the heauens of the intelligences as being the first cause of mouing in others being themselues immoueable of the heauens as first mouing the other and being themselues moued The mouing of the heart and vitall spirit which distributeth it selfe like vnto light throughout and that as it were in the twinkling of an eye are the instruments of the mind and heart of the minde which is a chiefe and principall mouer and yet not moued of the heart as of a chiefe and principall mouer which is moued of the minde It is therefore the heart according to the doctrine of the Peripatetikes which is the true mansion of the soule the onely prince and gouernour in this so excellent and admirable disposing of all things in the gouernment of the bodie Chrysippus and all the Stoikes haue followed the same opinion and doe beleeue that all that region which containeth the parts which wee call vitall is named of the Grecians and Latines Thorax because it keepeth within it as it were vnder lock this heauenly vnderstanding so called of Anaxagoras this burning heate so called of Zeno replenished with a million of sciences this admirable fire which Prometheus stole out of heauen to put soule and life into mankinde this altering spirit whereof Theocritus made so great account Behold how these Philosophers haue diuersly spoken of the seate of the soule It is not my minde to bestow any time in the particuler examination of all these opinions either is it mine intent in this place to enter into any dispute intending to content my selfe with the simple deliuerie of the trueth That the brain is the principall seate of the soule For I assure my selfe that it shall be strong enough to ouerthrow all these false foundations I say then that the principall seate of the soule is in the braine because the goodliest powers thereof doe lodge and lye there and the most worthie actions of the same doe there most plainly appeare All the instruments of motion sence imagination discourse and memorie are found within the braine or immediatly depending therevpon Anatomie manifesteth vnto our eyes The reasons to proue the same The first how that there issue out from the lower part of the braine seuen great paire of sinewes which serue at a trice to conuey the animall spirit vnto the instrument of the sences and doe not any of them passe out of the head except the sixt paire which stretch out themselues to the mouth of the stomacke We see also that from the hindermost part of the braine where the great and little braine doe meete together doth proceede the admirable taile the beautifull and white spinall marow which the Wiseman in his booke of the Preacher calleth the siluer threed how it is carefully preserued within a sacred chanell as Lactantius calleth it From the same men see that there rise a million of little sinewes which conuey the powers of mouing and feeling vnto all such members as are capable of the same Men doe also perceiue the outward sences placed round about the braine The second which are as the light horsemen and messengers of the vnderstanding the principall part of the soule Philo saith that when men come within the view of a princes guard they thinke himselfe not to bee farre off we see all the guard and seruants of reason as the eyes the eares the nose the tongue to bee situated in the head whereupon by consequent we ought to iudge that this princesse is not farre off Experience also giueth vs to vnderstand that if the braine haue his temperature altered The third as for example if it be too hot as it falleth out in such as are franticke or ouer cold as it falleth out in melancholick men it corrupteth presently the imaginatiue facultie troubleth the iudgement weakeneth the memorie which is not incident in the diseases of the heart as namely either in a hectick feuer or when a man is poysoned The soule saith that diuine Philosopher Plato doth not please and content it selfe with that braine which is too soft The fourth too close and compact or too hard it requireth a good temperature If the proportion of the head be but a little out of square so that it be either too great or too little or too coppeld as that which men reade of Thersites in Homer or altogether round and not flat on the sides as naturally it ought to be men may perceiue all the actions of the soule to be depraued and thereupon doe call such heads foolish without iudgement without wisedome all which ought to make vs as well to beleeue that the braine is as much the organe and instrument of all these actions as the eye is the instrument of sight Furthermore this kind of round shape which is peculiar vnto mankinde The fift this head thus lifted vp to heauen this great quantitie of braine which is almost incredible doth shew very well that man hath something in his head more then other liuing creatures The wise Sages of Egypt haue very well acknowledged the same for they did not sweare by any other thing but by their head they ratified all their couenants by the head and forbad the eating of the braines of liuing creatures for the honour and reuerence sake which they bare to this part I thinke also that the falling sicknes was not for any other reason called sacred of the ancients but because it did assaile the soueraigne and sacred part of the body Let vs then acknowledge the braine to be the principall seate of the soule the originall of mouing and feeling and of all the other most noble functions of the same I know well that some curious spirits will aske me how it can bee the author of so many goodly actions seeing it is cold