3. but when the moyst part is exhausted then cometh dryness and consequently the necessity of drinking for as we grow dryer so we grow hotter which are the causes of thirst Galen 1. de Symptom caus c. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that heat and dryness is the cause of thirst for which drink is the best remedy and among drinks that which is cold and moyst for thirst being a disposition as I said before hot and dry or a natural disease for so Galen calleth it hot and dry it must of necessity challenge cold and moyst drink which is contrary for contraries are cured by contraries Therefore Galen saith that water is the remedy of thirst 1. Simp. med fac c. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And if thirst cometh of heat as all Philosophers and Physitians consent thē cold quencheth thirst best so Plato 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So also Hippocrates de diat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whosoever are thirsty very much they must drink waterish wine and that very cold or extream cold what now will our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Warm-drinker say to Hippocrates that affronts so plainly and manifestly Besides if Aristotle should understand only moysture excluding cold to be the remedy of thirst he should be laught at and exploded in his own Peripatetick Schooles For cold cannot be seperated in our natural drink which is as cold as t is moyst Therefore Aristotle according to Philosophers and Physitians that is according to the dictates of reason saith admirably well and without contradiction and literally 2. de anim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thirst is an appetite of that which is moyst and cold And although in some places he mentioneth only moysture yet coldness is necessary included as it is also in Hippocrates Aphor. 1.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That moist diet profitable in agues who will find fault or cavil at Hippocrates for this certain none but some phlegmatike temperature And Hugo Senensis saith that Hippocrates made mention in this aphoris only of moysture not of cold quoniam de frigido dubitaver at nemo atque frigidi alimenti in febribus indicatio clarissima est for no man ever doubted of cold for the indication is cleer that a hot sickness requires cold nourishment Thus Galen Method 8. c. 9. Where he quotes this very Aphorisme saith that an ague is hot and dry and therefore requireth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cold and moyst diet that is water in hot Countries or warerish wine such as have the vertue and weakness of water and that very cold for nothing can be more ridiculous then to give warm drink in hot dispositions such as thirst and agues are for thirst requires the same proportionably that an ague doth Yet our Author will have all men in all conditions for he never so much as distinguisheth or excludeth any from his warm drink This is his Panacea that cures all men in all diseases or dispositions this is his calopodium a Coblers last that fits every mans foot and so much for the first objection The second objection is out of Galon in his Book of inequal tempers where he doth prove the occasion of thirst to be drought or dryness which is remedied per humidum not per frigidum that is by moysture not by cold for althoug it cannot be but that heat doth procure thirst yet look into the reason and you shall find it is propter inopiam humiditatis because it hath not his just proportion of moysture I reply first that this Author hath shewn his ignorance in Aristotle sufficiently but now he will shew as much in Galen Let us therefore take a view of this objection although it be the same with the former next set down Galens words and see whether they bear the same sence which our Author would have them The text which our Author cites out of Galen is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is In hunger the solid and dry substance is deficient in thirst the moist substance is wanting upon which place Vallesius thus comments Galen saith he signifies nothing else per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a moyst substance then drink for he calleth moystness drink which is water And in his Method lib. 1. c. 10. he affirmeth that vere potus ac nihil aliud quampotus est sola aqua That which is truely drink and nothing else but drink is water Thus Vallesius therefore Galen in this place doth not exclude cold but rather include it for drink properly and naturally which is understood by moysture is water and nothing that is simple cooleth and quencheth thirst better then water therefore this is the natural drink of all Creatures and satisfies every living Creatures thirst At this aimes Oppian when he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Vallesius further saith that gelidus potus magis attemperat proinde siti excrementorum acrimoniae melius occurrit That is water as cold as ice tempers the heat quencheth thirst better and blunts sharpness of excrements where we may note that cold drink quench thirst better then hot but to go and follow our Author But saith he to enter into further consideration of the matter Let us examine the reasons why cold should be necessary in allaying of thirst It appeares to me that it is either to extinguish or to mitigate it but extinguish it cannot for let any man that is exceeding dry eat any that is never so cold not having any thing moisture joyned with it and he shall find by experience that it may well choke him but in no sort allay his drought Thus far our Author who if he had purged his braines with Hellebore as Carneades did when he was to dispute with Zeno he could not discourse so madly for entring into further consideration of the matter he never comes near it The controversy being of drinking beer wine water and whether t is best to drink them hot or cold his mind is of gut-timber for he talks of eating saying if any man eat any thing never so cold it will not allay thirst not having any moysture joyned with it This is true but heavenly wide from the matter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And although cold meat cannot allay thirst yet cold drink cannot only allay it but extinguish it Cold and dry cannot cure thirst but cold and moyst can The true cure of thirst naturally is cold water As I said before out of Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore how sweet and pleasant is cold water to those that are thirsty the Poet expresseth in these verses Tale tuum carmen nobis divine Poeta Quale sopor fessis in gramine quale per aestum Dulcis aquae Saliente sitim restinguere rivo And Theocritus whom the Poet imiated thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oppian also commends water to the thirsty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus the Philosophers Physitians and Poets and if these testimonies will not
of the great Fabrick of the world and called it blasphemously 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a confusion or confused mixture what mercy then shall I expect to find at their unmerciful censures Let them slight my Method to atomes or annihilate it I shall esteem as little of their censures And for my translation of the Greek or Latine although there may be faults yet not considerable I confess I turn most texts not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word for word but Purposely keep the plaine sense and mind of the Author And so Plato understood Homer not as poor verbal Criticks do in these dayes non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not according to the words but according to the mind of the Author And if any mislike the translation let them translate it better if they can so long as men be of several tempers and fancies and words have divers interpretations t is impossible to please all men in translations Lastly t is a hard matter so long as we be men not to erre in many things some we are altogether ignorant of some we judge sinisterly some we write negligently As Galen saith whose words to close all are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore curteous Reader humane errors judge charitably THE DEDICATION TO THE Right worthy and his much honoured Friends MAURICE BARROW AND JAMES COLTHORPE Esquires GEntlemen the noble expressions of courtesie which I have received from your hands beyond all merit and expectation of mine have ingaged me to be so bold as to prefix your names in the frontispice of this little Book And although truth need no Patron and falsitie deserves none for an Army cannot defend falsity when truth of it self is murus aheneus a brasen Wall Yet I humbly crave that you will be pleased to give it protection Gentlemen I assure you upon my credit that I maintain ne treason against Philosophy or any heretical opinion against Physick but the ancient verity which Hippocrates and Galen have delivered unto us Therefore in this your protection you may deserve the henour of patronizing those antique worthies whom the universal world for many centuries of years have had in sublime estimation And if you expect any of Demosthenes his Rhetorique or Ciceronian Eloquence I crave pardon and make this apologie for my self That truth may be apparelled in plaine garments and need not curiosity Philosophy and Physick are as civil matrons which neglict rich attire and splendid ornaments Sophistry is many times in rich vestments It hath bin observed many years ago that the greatest Heretiques were the Eloquentest men And garments that are perfumed with must civet and amber many times hreed a suspicion Non bene olet qui bene semper olet And as Scaliger saith non in foro versamur aut Romano comitio sed in communi Theatro sapientum sub oculis veritatis cujus supellectilem atque apparatum non tam nitidum quam opulentum esse decet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Learning hath a plaine coat without welt or guard as they say Accept therefore I pray you these plaine lines drest in a homspun English sute And if this Tractate cannot deserve your worthy acceptance Yet may it be as a monument and Testimony of my affection Thus wishing you both not only a perpetual health that you need no Physitian but also eternal happiness I subscribe Your humble Servant R. SHORTE Doctor VENNERS OPINION OF DRINKING of WATER REader since I wrote this following Treatise I found my opinion seconded and confirmed by Thomas Venner Doctor of Physick in his Book intitled Viarecta ad vitam longam which I will here transcribe to give you my Reader more satisfaction then my self His question is whether it be not wholsome for Northern people that inhabite cold Countries to drink water at their meales instead of beer His answere is That although water be the most ancient drink and to those that inhabite hot Countries profitable and familiar by reason of the parching heat of the ambient aire which doth exceedingly heat and inflame and dry the body Yet to such as inhabite cold Countries and especially not accustomed thereunto nor the constitution intensively hot requiring and forcing the same it is by the contrary in no wise agreeable for it very greatly dejects the appetite destroys the natural heat and overthrows the strength of the stomack and consequently confounding the concoction is the cause of Crudities fluctuations and windiness in the body This is the Doctors opinion and is the same with others in cold Countries where they drink strongest wines and beers by the advise of their Physitians this is not without Hippocratical authority whose counsel is to drink 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in winter and there is the same proportion with winter and cold Countries And to conclude this Doctors opinions are almost the words of Galen 1. ad Glauconem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And thus much for Doctor Venners his opinion Authors cited in this BOOK A. ADrianus Junius Aetius Alexander Trallian Alexander Aphrodis Alexander Massaria Andernacus Antonius Fumanellus Apollonius Apulcjus Argenterius Aristoteles Arnoldus de Villa Arethas Episcopus Athenaeus Avicenna B. Beroaldus Bodin D. Dioscorides Dodonaeus E. Erasistratus Eswide Etymologicum Magnum F. Fonseca Fuchsius G. Galen Garzias a Horto Gentilis Glossarium Gr. Oxoniensis Graeca Epigram Guastivinius H. Herodotus Hen. Stephanus Hieronymus Mer-curialis Hippocrates Hollerius Homerus Horatius Horatius Augenius Hugo Senensis I. Isidorus Joubert Joannis Colle Juvenal Julius Pollux Julius Alexandrinus Julius Pacius L. Lambinus Latinus Tancredus Langius Lobel M. Macrobius Manardus Mathiolus Mercatus N. Nonnus Nunnius O. Oppianus Oribasius Ovidius P. Paparella Paulus Aegineta Paulus Iurisconsult Petrus Abanus Petrus Monavius Petrus Bellonius Persiu◠Pindar Plautus Plinius Plutarch Q. Quintus Serenus R. Riverius Rhasis Roger Bacon Rondelet S. Sanctorius Scaliger Scholiast Aristophanis Seneca Simon Simonius Simonides Stephanus de Urbibus Strabo V. Vallesius Valleriola Varro Virgilius Ulpianus Iurisconsultus THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS Following I. THe four considerations of water II. Good nourishment and good Medicines may be imployed sinisterly or to a bad use III. Of indication IV. The nature of our bodies V. What is not good in cold Countries etc. VI. England is a cold Countrey etc. VII We may use stupefying things as opium and poppy as well as water VIII Whether we may not eat acornes as well as drink water IX There is no necessity or convenience of drinking of water in cold Countries X. Whether we may drink water after dinner XI Old age and children may not drink water XII Of custom that it hath a principal power in diet XIII This argument is powerful We have no custom to drinkwater XIV That wine is absolutely better then water XV. That our English beer is better then water XVI The vertues of our English beer XVII Of experience that beer is healthful XVIII Of the ill qualities of water XIX
we may not exhibite opium becase t is stupefying or narcotick by the same reason we must not give water because t is narcoticall or stupefying as appears 5. Aphoris 25. cold water cures the the Gout and takes away the paine because 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moderate stupidnesse or stupefying dissoves paine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is benumming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to benum Galen upon this Aphorisme noteth that cold water benums and stupefies the parts So Christophorus a Vega soe Fonseca Aqua frigida stuporem iuducit cold water brings stupidnesse and generally all cold medicines beâ—â—m and stupefie the senses Galen 3. de temperament c. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cold things coole and stupefie And water is cold as well as poppy Galen 3. de temp 3. speaking of those things which are cold as juice of poppy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the nature of poppy is cold as also is water But our Novelists object that opium is an narcoticall and narcoticks be hot If this proposition be true then it may be given in cold Countries better then water And if there be any accurate Criticks that can make it out that opium and narcoticks be hot then I promise upon my fidelity to eat as much opium as any Janisary or Spaniard and if they cannot prove it their punishment shall be to eat 10 or 5. graines But for the present Galens authority is greater then any Pigmie or Colos-critick can contradict although some of these Novelists report that Galen was not a competent judge which is as indiscrete as the former proposition Galen saith that the juice of poppy that is opium is cold in the forth degree for Galen esteems opium among poysons and nominates castorium which is hot to be its correcter Neither is the bitternesse any any certaine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or note of heat as the novelists imagine for then Endive Succory and Roses are hot for all these are bitter But suppose for granted opium or juice of poppy to be hot then I would faine learn how it came to be a narcotick Here I expect 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some strange arguments that is more then humane for no hot medicine can stupefie as a hot medicine Give me leave good Reader to make a digression I had an occasion given me to be with a Gentleman that was taken with a melancholy madnesse and because he could not sleep for many nights together but raved I would have administred syrup of poppies or a decoction of a poppy head but presently I was runne down by a Doctor of divinity that had a smattering in Physick who by noe meanes would admit of my judgement but affirmed confidently see how new lights can prevaile in this age those things which I advised were narcoticall or stupesying and would fix the humor or vapour in the braine causing the disease to be incurable Good God! to see the ratiocination of this new light for it narcoticks or stupefying medicines be hot as he and others have strongly defended against me how can they fix the vapour or humor The Philosopher can easily consute this unheard paradox Aristotle 5. de generatione 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 heat makes thinner and subtiler And Galen is very frequent in this dâ—scourse 20. de simp Med. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so in his book de tremore palpit cap. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is in a word heate makes thinne dilates and rarifies nor only thick and grosse spirits but bodies but on the contrary t is cold that fix congeale's and makes Ice as every mechanick that is rationall know although he hath but a twilight of reason Secondly If opium be hot it cannot cause sleep for all sleep cometh of a cold cause 20. de locis affect 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cold causeth sleep not only naturall but praeternaturall Thirdly A hot naâ—cotick is as great non-sence as can be imagined t is a black Swan a cold fire or hot Ice Fourthly If all narcoticks be hot then water is hot for water stupefies as I proved before out of Hippocrates and Galen Now if out Neoterick be so wise and cautelous to forbid us the use of stupefying medicines Why will they have us drink water unlesse it be to stupefie our understandings and make us like beasts But to return to our Divine-Doctor in Physick was he not well read in Galens Method or did he ever read one jot of his Theory I imagine he never sounded that depth yet he dare Catechise us and give us Laws and Maximes nay he dare undertake to fathome the vast limits of two great faculties in the narrow compasse of his own understanding Let not Divines intermedle with Physick lest they prove bad divines and worse Physitians quod medicorum est promittant medici Let Physitians handle physick And that we may give stupifying and sleepy medicines which be narcoticall all practitioners approve of in phrensies madness and generaly in all diseases where the patient cannot sleep besides Galen is worth a thousand testimonies 13. Meth 21. speaking of those that cannot sleep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we must make the principal part stupefied and sleepy In another place he saith that opium cures phreneticall madnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of those that cannot sleep 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that opium causeth sleepe marvelously and further if it be well corrected 't is a soveraigne and healthfull remedy Now see what a learned age we have that contradict so great a light to whom the world for above a thousand years together have subscribed but now without reading of Galen t is enough to sleep on Parnassus top one night and early in the morning rise new dubd Physitians by Oeron King of Faries like upstart mushrums guided and directed by the light of a glow-worm CHAP. VIII Whether we may not eat Acorns as well as drink water I Marvaile that some new light of this doting age doe not bring upon the stage the eating of Acorns as well as drinking of water for in the infancy of the world men and beasts had their meat and drinke in common They both eat acorns and both drank water Cardan de san tuend water saith he is the natural drink of all living Creatures Lucretius Ac sedare sitim fluvios fontesque vocabant for without doubt all the world drank water in the beginning of the world and that they cat acorns t is no lesse manifest Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tasting and eating of acornes they danced for joy about the oake and beech Galen de aliment facult 2.34 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in old time men lived of acorns alone and the Arcadians a long time after Hence the Ancient Oracles in Herodotus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men in Arcadia eat Acornes for that 's their meat But if men did eat acornes in the infancy of the world why may they not cat them again in the
they have extenuated bodies besides Hectick bodies are weak 2. Aphoris 28. Therefore cannot bear cold water nor alter their custom Fiftly water is not to be exhibited where any principal part is weak or have any tumor or swelling as inflammation oedema Scirrhus or any inward part distempered as weazand stomack liver the gut colon lungs midrife reines bladder for many by the unseasonable and much drinking of water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are presently taken with shortness of breath convulsious and tremblings as Galen notes There be other inconveniencies conveniencies but these are enough to make a man fearful 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to give water CHAP. XXIII A recapitulation of the former Chapter out of Riverius IN this Chapter I will adde a recapitulation out of Riverius a later Author in his Book of Agues For as much saith he as belongs to cold water Galen commands to give so much as the patient may look pale and be cold all over the body and by that meanes the fiery heat of an ague may be extinguished the solid parts corroborated the unprofitable humors evacuated by sweats urin and stooles but concerning the exhibition of water Galen gives many cautions that is to say that in the vigour of an ague the signes of concoction appearing the patient be accustomed all the inward parts firme the body full of good juyce a temper quadrate and have strength there must be no gross and slimy humors or any tumor in the internal parts neither in the stomack weazon nor the nerves weak Other-wise if these conditions faile they that drink water are in danger to incur difficulty of breathing the dropsy lethargy and some other grevous disease But obsolevit hoc remedit genus this kind of remedy in this our age to observe is difficult and out of the praeposterous use much danger may ensue therefore 't is abolished Thus far Riverius who although he doth not cite Galens words punctually Yet any that have the eye of reason may plainly and evidently understand that this old course of drinking of water in agues is vanished into smoak and grown out of date as an old Almanack CHAP. XXIV Whether water be good in the palpitation of the heart gout or dropsy THe novelists are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they will do wonders with water and cure many diseases with it I know at this present a worthy Gentle man having the palpitation of the heart drinks water I know others that drink water in the gout and some have drank it in dropsies Therefore I will handle of these 3. diseases in order as they be propounded First Hierony nius Mercurialis monet ab aquae potu abstinendum esse in coâ—dis paltatione water is not good in the palpitation or beating of the heart For this disease is cold therefore requires rather hot then cold Medicines contraries are cured by contraries a cold sickness requires hot Medicines but the palpitation of the hart is a cold sickness Galen de tremore cap. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The cause of palpitation that is the substantial cause is a Spirit or wind the quality of this substance is waterish and thick Therefore t is cold but water cannot cure could and waterish nor the substance or essence of this Spirit which is cold For Galen in the same place 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The cause of the palpitation is a gross clowdy dark and flatulent spirit Therefore colder ages are subject to this palpitation a cold temper cold region winter an idle life men given to repretion and much drinking meats cold and flatulent to conclude all in a word whatsoever cooles the body And Galen addes presently after that the ancient Physitians found out remedies for the palpation which do heat and extenuate and 4. de locis affectis he teacheth the very same handling of the palpitation of the heart But water hath not a heating and extenuating faculty Therefore it cannot be a good Medicine for this Symptome Secondly water is no good Medicine for the gout As for a cold gout I think no rational man will grant cold water a convenient remedy Then for an hot gout which is a kind of inflammation 't is probable that water may do well but all is not gold that glisters nor every argument that is apparently true is true For as I said before they that aime at a few circumstances are easily deceined There be many to be considered in the gout as Cardan teacheth 1. The weakness of the joynts 2. The latitude of the veines 3. A crude matter 4. An impulsive power But if in all gouts there be crudities water cannot be a good remedy Galen forbids water in crudities least it cause more crudities Wherefore Galen commends 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 treacle which coÌ„sumes the superfluous moysture and cruditie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et statim 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Besides although it be an hot gout the joynts are of a cold temper which are much damnified by water Last of all the gout happens for the most part to them that have a cold stomack and to men in yeares to both these water is no small adversary Thirdly in dropsies water is worst of all for all dropsies are of a cold distemper of the liver whence spring flegme water wind which are the brats of a distempered liver Alexander Massar aquae potio si quid aliud aqua inter cutem laborantibus est adversissima adeo ut Avicenna illius quoqu visionem prohibeat The drinking of water is most contrary to dropsies in so much that Avicen forbad to look upon water Massari had this from Galen as all rivolets have from the Ocean for he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Water is most adverse to hydropical men both as drink and bath CHAP. XXV Three objections Answered NOw I will answear to two or three objections and so make an end The first is that custom is not necessary in the exhibition of water in sickness and Alexander Massaria a famous Physitian of Padua is of opinion that custom is not to be esteemed among necessary conditions and if other conditions agree we may give cold water to those that are not accustomed This assertion is proved out of Galen 9. Meth. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scribendum where some that were not accustomed were compelled to drink cold water in a burning feaver they received no hurt at all I will adde another text 9. Meth. 16. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We have often seen many that were in burning feavers when the humors are indifferently concoct freed from their feaver with drinking of cold water although they were not accustomed to drink it But to end this controversy and answere Massaria I distinguish that hot distempers are either moderate as Hecticks diaries and indifferent agues or they are such distempers as Hippocrates and Galen call fire absolutely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and such are 〈◊〉
be more septentrionall then the French Plutarch out of Asclepiades reports the Egyptians grow old at thirty yeares because they are burnt with the Sunne But the Brittains live 120. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the coldnesse of the place which conserves the natural heat The Aethiopian bodies are more spungious and rare but English men which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 under the North for so Galen who hath the same story expounds it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have bodies more compact and thick and therefore live longer Scaliger in his exercitations calls English men gluttons or great eaters Anglos voroces which Epithere proves England to be cold for cold Countries eat more then other Nations We may read in the Aphorisms 1.15 and 17. that in winter we eat most This much eating or gluttony cometh from the coldnesse of the Country Wherefore Argenterius doth not relish in my palate when he asserts voracity to proceed from a hot distemper of the liver Qui per nives incednÌ„t multnÌ„ commedunt Plut. 6. Sympos 8. for cold both externall and internall provoke the appetite Plutarch informes us that the ayre at Delphis a City in Boetia is sharp and biting which argue the concoction of meat his words are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so doth water inwardly cause hunger therefore great Hippocrates Sexto Epidem as the oracle of Apollo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 water is ravenous and very hungry because it maketh men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 voratores for I think the latine hath his originall from the greek gredy-gâ—ts because t is cold for cold water and cold meat contract the tunicles of the stomack and in them the bloud which increase the appetite as Galen doth signifie 1o. de Symp. caus in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In the same place he shewes that heat asswages and blunts hunger Therefore Argenterius his ratiocination is not well biassed in this matter Valesius also saith that water is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hungry hungry because it doth not nourish and coole the stomack But I will not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cut to the quick othermens errors At the present t is enough that externall cold causeth much eating If English eat much they must drink bâ—â—r or wine to help coâ—â—â—ction therefore English men have a good stomack therefore the Country is cold Cardan in his book of subtilities saith England hath no Serpents ob frigus immensum by reason of the extreme cold And saith further that sheep in England doe not drink water rore caeli sitim sedant ab omni alio potu arcentur quiaibâ—aquae sunt exitiales flocks of sheep quench their thirst with the dew of Heaven But sheep drink water in a hot and dry Summer because water in England is very evill and dangerous In other Countries Shepheards drive their Sheep to the water for t is their only drink as Aristotle Varro Plutarch c. and Virgil to boot Ad puteos aut alta greges ad stagna jubeto Nostra regio saith Cardan aquas bonas ob frigiditatem non admittit neque in Thaseo neque in Abderi nec Larissa quae omnes sunt urbes partim in Thessalia partimin Thracia aut Arcadia bonae erant aquae quoniam loca montosa haec Our Countrey affords us no good water because of the coldnesse and a all ther Countries that are mountanous have no good water because they are cold so is England cold both by reason that t is septentrioual northern and by reason of mountaines as Ludovicus Mercatus saying omnes regiones ad septentrionem vergentes montotosae sunt frigidae as England therefore called Albian ab altis alb is rupibus quas mare pluit from high and white Rocks which the sea washeth Now if some upstart Critick object Scaliger in his exercitations that Angliae coelum is temperatum that England's ayre is temperate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I answer that this opion of Scaliger does not favour the Novelists of this age for if England be temperate then it requires a temperate diet as Galen lib. de Meth. and libro de dieta text 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that if the Countrey be temperate as the spring Hippocrates commends a temperate diet and giveth a sufficient reason following 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it behoveth to keep a temperate temper and to change a distemperate temper but water is not temperate in our Countrey but t is cold of its own nature and colder in cold Countries Secondly I answer that England is temperate in respect of Grontland an Island which comes neerer the pole and such as inhabite extremas Oceani glacialis terras the furthest parts neer the frozen sea But t is cold in respect of South Countries Now out of this chapter I deduce these following conclusions First if England be cold t is not good drinking of water in it because cold distempered Countries require hot drink Secondly The water in England is not wel concocted and will be hardly concocted of us for t is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thirdly If water be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hungry which make men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are all one that is devourers and eatalls especially in winter we may become hungerstarved on the contrary good ale or strong beer is meat drink and cloth as the old saying and soon satisfie hunger so doth wine which is more proper in cold Countries then water and an excellent remedy against hunger which water increaseth for so the sonne of Aesculapius great Hippocrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Aph. 21. t is wine that cures hunger although it were from a doglike appetite Fifthly if Shepheards will not let their sheep drink in our Countrey because the water is pernicious I conclude that Shephards in England are more carefull of their sheep then the Novelists of their patients in this behalf for surely they intend to make them Arcadicum pecus beasts of Arcadia whose dulnesse Aesculapius and Apollo shall never cure CHAP. VII We may use stupifiing things to eat as well as drink water I See no reason but that we may as well give Narcoticks that is stupefying things as ppopy and opium as wel as water in our Countrey many Countries drink water without harme Soe the Mauritanians and Persians are so accustomed to eat opium that when they abstaine they are in fear of their lives As Garcius ab Horto and Christophorus a Costa testifie The Turks eat opium dayly Petrus Bellonius saw a Janisary eat a dram without hurt Rondeletius a prime Physition saw a Spaniard eat halfe an ounce without any prejudice of his health Beside opium in strong and hot bodies cannot hurt unlesse it be immoderately taken and out of season The same I say of water It cannot hurt strong and hot bodies in hot Countries where they be accustomed Opium in children and women in cold Countries where they be not accustomed is dangerous soe is water And if
any face could have so much brass as to tell so bold a lye to the University For Homer speaks no more of Method then he doth de facie in orbe lunae or of the man in the Moon And if we believe the divine Plato this golden chaine is the Sun Plato hâ—s words declaring the golden chaine are these in his Theaeteto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the light of this Sun we may see the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sparkes of our Authors understanding Who I easily believe did understand Greek no more then a Beast yet forsooth he must quote Homer's Greek words to no purpose at all Now I will come to his discourse which I think is as brutish and illiterate as the former of Method and will have as bad success for where as t is a manifest and firme conclusion never contradicted for these thousand years together by the Learn'dest all ages That cold drink is better to quench thirst then warm because thirst is a disposition hot and dry and therefore requires a cold and moist remedy to give it satisfaction so Aristoteles 2. de anima 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thirst is an appetite of moysture and coldness Therefore it must have drink cold and moyst This is an invincible argument I shall not need to put this argument into a Syllogistical forme Every proposition in Arist virtually is a syllogisme The Learned may know that the argument is grownded upon the great whoele of Physick which is that contraries are cured by contraries and that the conclusion must follow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of necessity Yet our incomparable Author brings this argument with great dexterity of wit as he said before of Homer to prove warm drink better to quench thirst then cold Thus he bringeth the greatest ratiocination against himself that can be possible as he himself in a manner confesseth so that he is urged to prove one of these results Either that drink actually hot doth better coole and moysten the body then cold drink Or else Aristotle his meaning is not directly as his words seem literally to pretend The first result is such an evident contradict on in it self that t is madness to confute and our Author passeth it over in silence as ridiculous The second result is so opposite to Aristotle that he saith t is no small impudence to oppose so great a Philosopher Therefore at last he begins to slubber over the matter and would make a nose of wax of Aristotle his text that his meaning is not directly as his words seem bringing neither reason or authority for his opinion but rather an objection or two to prove that thirst is only an appetite of moistness which he proveth out of the tenth section of the problems where the Philosopher inquiring saith he what the cause should be why other Creatures do sooner prey of and eat dry meat then moyst but man more often takes moyst things then dry which causeth him to desire to be cooled whereby t is to be noted that he only maketh mention of moysture to coole But to answere this frivolous objection and clear the Philosopher we will lay down his own words which are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is why other living Creatures take dry nowrishment but man takes drink or moyst nowrishment Is it because man by nature is hottest and desire more cooling By this discourse of Aristotle you may see if you have any poreblind eye of the understanding that the Philosopher teacheth how man because he is hot drinks more then he eats And indeed man is hotter calido innato with an imbred heat then other Creatures therefore he must defire more cooling from drink 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moyst nonrishment is nothing else but drink 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Plato and as Aristotle saith in his problemes man requires moysture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Galen in 5. Aphoris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so 2. Aphoris 11. And because our Author did not understand Aristotle's 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he built the whole fabrick of his opinion upon his own ignorance therefore I must tell him that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 drink and moysture is all one Besides Aristotle in this very place cited by our Author seems to understand moysture to to coole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which can be nothing else but drink that is actually and potentially cold and so Gâ—â—stavinius upon this probleme interprets and if our Author had been in his wits he could not have understood this place of Aristotle otherwaies but I fear he hath too moyst and Phlegmatique a brain to understand the Philosopher Anima sicca anima sapiens sed est in udo Maenas Attin as saith Persius Again drink is simple and merely drink as water which is only our natural drink or as wine and ale are meat and drink so run our old English verses Ale was his meat his drink his cloth ale did the old man revive And if he could have drank his ale still he had been still alive So is wine meat as Galen de caus morb Vinum modice sumptum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he reckoneth wine for the best and the most nowrishing meat if it be moderately taken but properly drink which is water nourish little or very weakly and all weak nowrishment is cooling Hippocrates 6. Epidem 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So that drink 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is water cooleth because t is of little and weak nourishment Therefore Aristotle in the fore-mentioned place of the problemes by moysture understands drink by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and primarily water secundarily other drinks which are cold and moyst for simply water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is drink 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and drink simply is water This is especially the moysture which Aristotle speaks of to quency thirst because man is hot and thirsty therefore he naturally requires such drink to coole Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 moysture is twofold either aereal moysture or waterish moysture humidum aqueum est quod actu potestate frigidum a waterish moysture is actually and potentially cold and so saith Scaliger lib. 2. de Plautis Humidisatis aqueae natur a est frigida The very nature of waterish moysture is cold and so also Horatius Augenius disputes and such moysture is required in thirst for drink and moysture is all one for whereas Aristotle 3. sect problem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The loving of drink is a desire of some moysture there Plato makes mention of drink 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thirst is an appetite or desire of drink wherefore potus est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est potus drink is moysture and moysture is drink For seeing there is a perpetual flux of our bodyes the dryer solider part is refreshed with meat the moyster part with drink And this is the chief use of drink to make good that which is exhausted 1. San. tuend
satisfie our Author I will quote him andeniable authority out of the Sacred Scripture Proverb 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As cold water is pleasant to a thirsty soule so is a good message from a far Countrey And if the Old Testament will not serve the turn we will produce the now for Joan 4. Our Blessed Saviour when he was thirsty what did he ask of the Samaritan nothing else but cold water to drink which admirable Nonnus express thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For this he did to coole as also Theophylact saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it was the heat of the day and let not our Author be so absurd to think of cold meat to quench thirst The Apostle will otherwise teach and better manners Rom. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If your Enemy be hungry feed him if he be thirsty give him drink Lastly saith our Author if it be alledged that drought having heat joyned with it requireth cold in respect of his heat as dryness doth moysture and so cold joyned with moysture doth best remedy both because contraria contrariis curantur contraries are cured by their contraries Yet it seemeth to me a matter far unfit for two causes The one although that be Galen's ground yet it is not so to be taken literally but it stands with that ground likewise which is that Omne repentinum natura inimicissimum All sudden alteraâ—ions are contrary to nature T is â—rue that thirst having heat requires drink that is cooling and is grounded upon this maxim Contraries are tured by contraries which is not only Galen's ground but Hippocrates also and all rational men and may appear to common sense But let us go to the great tribunal of Physick whose edict is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 6. Epidem And again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And yet again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Every one of these texts prove that contraries are cured by contraries and three of them prove that cold water cureth not natures and hot dispositions neither is there any rule or canon that can possibly contradict them yet our Author like a true critick of this later age of new lights averreth that Galen's ground is not to be understood literally It seems when any authority cross our Author then this not to be understood literally sure enough all authorities are to be understood literally or mystically The mystical sense is either allegorical or anagogical ormoral And if Galen be not understood literally then he must be understood mystically But how ridiculous t is to run to a mystical sense in Physitians and Philosophers who are as clear as the Sun beames to the Learned let any man that hath but a dragme of reason judg such is that text 2. de anima 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thirst is a desire of cold and moyst I say this text is clear to the light of reason and yet our Author will not have it understood literally but mystically But it may be he may find some apocalyptical mysteries in Philosophy and Physick which a world of Learned men never so much as dreamt on before And for this rule contraries cure contraries may very well stand with that ground sudden mutations or changes are contrary to nature Hippocrates 2. Aphoris 51. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and too much and suddenly to evacuate to fill to heat to coole and is dangerous This Authority is as much against warm drink as cold But indeed touch neither of them in a direct line we see Beasts drink water with ice in it and so have men done Sâ—nâ—ca Necnive quidem contenti sunt sed glaciem velut certior illi ex solido rigor sit exquirunt ac saepe repetitis aquis diluunt Neither are they content with snow but they find out ice and dissolve it often in renewed water to coole the more But est modus in rebus there is a mean in all things The second reason is because saith our Author t is not possible that every man woman child who being hot and desire drink can upon every motion so proportion the cold that it shall just fit the degree of heat And then if it be too small by its anteperistasis it hurts where it should help if greater then the heat require instead of allaying the heat it utterly killeth it What an admirable ridiculous objection is this and nothing to the purpose to imagine that every man woman and child should give a due proportion of cold and who can give a due of warm drink Neither is it requisite for every one to apply contrariis contraria aequalia but he may apply contraries either greater or less or aequal as Vallesius witness in his controversies But saith our Author if it be too small by his antiperistasis it hurteth where it should help To see how men are bewitched to error and as I may say bedevild in their ratiocination when they forsake antiquity and follow their own own interpretation for then errour begets errour to the end of the Chapter for if he had read Theophrastus he would have told me another tale for he saith quite contrary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of potable waters cold is the best for it helpeth concoction best of all by an antiperistasis And if the cold saith our Author be greater then the heat requires instead of allaying the heat it utterly killeth it Here is no consequence for we may take drink very cold in summer in hot Countries and where custom is predominant without any hurt besides we need not take our drink too cold nor very little cold for there is degree between these two colds Again I may confess his consequence true That it should quench the heat that is kill it and so Hippocrates punctually speaks 6. Epidem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cold killeth those things which are of heat for nothing is more contrary to fire then water because fire is hot and dry water is cold and moyst The very same reason is of thirst which is hot and dry and is quenched or killed by water which is cold and moyst These are our Authors foundations upon which he hath builded his new fabrick which being taken away all falls to the ground In ruinam prona sunt quae sine fundamentis crevere Seneca Now let us come to his authorities which are in his last Chapter for I handle only but two Chapters The first wherein he layes the foundation and the last where are his authorities Authorities out of the ancients for to prove the use of warm drink OUr Author in his last Chapter proves that the Gretians and the Romanes did use warm drink And first among the Grecians Phylostinus that excellent Physitian wrote unto his Countrey-men and Counselled them in the spring and all Winter to drink their liquor calidissimum most hot and in Summer time sukewarm so that at all times he shews that cold drink was not to be used 1. I answere that I