the yeare cold doth cause aboundance of ventosites And when winde is gathered in the body by reason of the former causes there is found a distention of the ventricle of the colick gowt chiefly on the left side with a noyse The wandring distenting paines running heere and there through the whole body There is heard wind issuing at all occasions both vp and down from whence commeth some ease there is remarked often a singing in the eares The colik with other diseases arysing of wind troubleth often Canon XX. The externall causes of sicknesse called of the Greekes procatartik commonly named primitives should be diligently searched for they lead vs as well to the knowledg of the cause intern as of the disease for aire meat and drink to warme watching great and violent motion anger and the suppression of the excrements ingenders hote humours and hote diseases In the contrare cold food with a cooling aire sleepe Idleset feare and all evacuation immoderat causes cold humors and cold diseases Dry diseases ordinarly accompanies the hote causes and the humide the cold For hote doth ordinarly bring with it drouth and cold humiditie because it is the mother of crudities For to find out then exactlie the cause and effect of the maladie which is hid it is needefull by a diligent inquisition and interrogation of all things which commonlie are called not naturall causes to learne of the sick if he hath exposed himselfe to an intemperat or impure aire if he hath committed any excesse in meat and drinke or in watching and labouring or if he hath bene too fierce in Venus service or if the spirit hath not beene troubled by passions or if any ordinare evacuation bee not suppressed as the monethly courses to women and the flux of the aemrodes to men and so much the rather wee ought to inquyre carefully of the things past because the ignorance of the causes is not without great danger for if a fever should fall into long watching fasting or over great dallying with Venus then without consideration of the cause of the disease presently they would draw blood and purge should they not thinke you hazard his life seeing the disease to haue come from evacuation For in the contrare wee ought rather to repare the forces by analeptiks or restoring things and not augment it by Phlebotomie and cathartiks For to foresee the issue of the Disease Canon I. THe fundamentall laws of the Prognosticks are taken from things naturall not naturall and conter nature as of the springs for we foresee and foretell the sicknesse to be salutare or mortall short or long by the force the constitution of the body and age of the Patient the season the forme of life by the cause the espece and seige of the evill with the symptomes which wee remarke in the change or diminution of the actions the excrements and the qualities of the body Canon II. If the forces bee strong to obtaine the victorie over the disease without doubt the sick shall escape if not shall die For none dies so long as their force remaines but so soone as the forces beginnes to yeeld to the burden of the sicknesse then followeth death Now to foretell the day of death yee must remarke how farre the sicknesse surpasseth the forces and remarke the most violent accesse for if one doth perceive the sicknesse so to outrepasse the forces that they cannot bee able any longer to resist death shall follow presently but if it appear otherwise it shall be longer so that the origine of Prognosticks consists in the conferring of the forces with the sicknesse For if nature bee strong enough to overcome the sicknesse then the person shall escape but if it bee so weake that it cannot obtaine the victorie death of necessity will follow and yee must wait on the one or the other sooner or later according as the forces are stronger or weaker hence it appeares that all the other signes salubres or mortals are no otherwise foresignes of death or life but because they point foorth the forces or weaknesse of nature in the combat with the sicknesse Canon III. It is a great helpe to health to bee of a mediocre constitution of body that is neither too fat nor too leane for such a bodie hath great forces to resist vnto any disease that doth present the selfe but where this mediocrisie is not a grosse bodie is in a worse case then a small for who are of that taillie dies sooner then they that are of the other because the veines and arteres of growne fat people are narrow and strait therefore hath both litle blood and spirits so that the age concurring vpon a light occasion the naturall heat is choaked or extinguished But they that are of a leane and thin constitution because they haue the veines arters larger and also more blood spirits which in them doth not so shortly incurre the danger of death yet so it is that they are sooner troubled by externall causes and that for lacke of flesh and greise so the grosse are more obnoxius to interne injuries the leane to extern Canon IV. Youth hath great force to withstand the disease because it hath store of naturall heat requisit to the concoction and excretion of the evill humors Contrare old age is not able to resist because of the defect of force not having much naturall heat Hence it is that sicknesse are longer in old people then young because they abound in cold humors the digestion whereof cannot be but in a long space by reason of the weaknesse of their naturall heat yea the greatest part of sicknesse that arrives to old people doth convoy them to their grave Canon V. The Spring is verie wholesome and no wayes mortall when it keeps the temperature but in Harvest the diseases are very strong and deadly for the most part First because being cold and dry is diametrically opposed to our life which consists in heat and moisture and so hinders the generation of blood whereof our bodie is made and nourished Secondly because it receives from the Summer preceeding the body languishing and wearie Thirdly because it beat back within the body the superfluous humors melted by the heat of Summer and come foorth to the skin to the end they may goe foorth The fourth because about the twelfth hour it opens the pores of the body by the heat and incontinent thereafter becomes cold it ryses within the bodie as an enemy to extinguish by its qualitie maligne the naturall heat already feeble and languishing Moreover it gathers store of crudities within the body the which doth choak the naturall heat and that by the vse of fruits which it furninisheth The Summer hastenes sicknes but the Winter doth retarde them because in the Summer the pores being open the evill humors of the body being melted by the heat of the aire are suddainly dissipat but in Winter they being closed by the cold they are retained within
either by reason of its weaknesse or the maliciousnesse of humors overcome the cause of the disease shews that nature no wayes strengthned or comforted by this meanes but rather hurt is ready to succumbe vnder the burden of the disease being stronger Canon XV. The pulse is the faithful messenger of the heart bringing certaine news of death and life The pulse great and strong is a token of force on the which is builded the hope of recoverie of the health but the pulse litle weake and languishing shews the weaknes of the vitall facultie from whence is the feare of death the inequality of the pulse is alwayes evill when it perseveres the intermission of it in young men is most dangerous for it threatneth with present death if it bee not from an obstruction and oppression of the arters it is lesse dangerous in bairnes and least of all in old men Canon XVI Yee must know that the respiration and breathing free without stoppe is very wholesome in all sharpe or quicke diseases Because it denotes the temperature of the breast and of the parts therein contained As also the respiration remainting whole declares the naturall heat yet to be strong for to fight valiantly with the disease in the contrar the difficultie of breathing showes the indisposition of the vitall parts and the suffocation of the forces For the respiration frequent and great is a signe of some inflamation of the parts within the breast but the great and rare foreshow a future alienation of the Spirit as the respiration little and rare betokens as death because it beares witnes of the exstinction of the naturall heat which one perceives clearly by the coldnes of the breath ishuing at the nostrells and the mouth Canon XVII It is a good signe to have still a whole heart for they that falls often in lypothimy or swowning without a manifest cause dies in end suddenly because of the debilitie of the vital faculty Canon XVIII The coction of the humor appearing in the excrements of the sicke signifies the crise to be shortly with an assurance of health But the crudity denotes either that there shall be no crise or that the patient is mightily troubled or that the disease shall be longer or afterward it shall returne or that death shall follow on it For as when the coction is made when nature is victorious of the causes of the disease so the contrar befalls when shee is overcome by them So the foecall mater beeing soft aequall and yellow and not having an evill smell is judged to be good because it is well digested Suchlyke the water of a mediocer consistence of colour some what yellow having grounds whyt vnited and aequall is reput singulare good because it beares witnes of the digestion of the humour vitious and consequently of the victorie of nature over it in the contrar the dejection liquid and waterie whyt and pale is reput evill because it is crude or raw as also the vrine waterie and small whyt and shyning out of measure is not good because it is raw and without digestion Canon XIX When the excrements of the sicke are not verie different from the excrements of the whole it showes the disease to be light but if there be a verie great difference yee must apprehend the disease to be deadly For the excrements much different showes nature to be overcome by the greatnes of the disease Therefore the foecall mater black livid green stinking are mortall because they are whole alienat from there naturall constitution and the water that is blacke and thicke and troubled as that of oxen are most evill because extreamly removed from the naturall The same mixed in colour foreshowes a long disease for they denote diverse indispositions caused of diverse humors and therefore it is necessar that nature imploy a long tyme to the coction having so many enemies to combat with The vrine in the which yee see grease swiming like Spider webs are thought evill because they declare a melting of the body by an extraordinar heat Canon XX. Sweats are good in all sharp or fierie diseases when they fal out on the critick days and causeth the fever wholly to cease they are good also when they make the disease more easie to the Patient providing they be vniversall But this which brings no ease and serves to no vse also these that are cold and appeares only about the head the face and neck are most evill for in a hot fyrie and quick fever they prognostick death and in a gentle the longnes of the disease a cold sweat rūning without ceasing in great aboundance is a marke of long disease because it comes of a great quantity of a grosse and cold mater which cannot easily bee dissipat neither dantoned by the naturall heat as a hote sweat wils a short disease being caused of a subtile mater which matter in short space will bee dissolved Canon XXI If the visage of the sick bee like to the countenance of whole persons it is a very excellent signe chiefly if it looke like it self being whole In the contrare it is a verie evill signe when it is different from the naturall and when it is hideous to behold as it is then when the nose is sharpe the eyes hollow the temples abaited the eares cold and drawne in the lap of the eare turned the skin of the face hard extended and dry the colour of the face pale or blacke livid or lead coloured For if this deformity do not proceed of a manifest cause as of lack of sleepe or meat or of a flux of the bellie without doubt it presages death to be near seing this great extenuation is made by the malignity of the disease Canon XXII Where there is perceived a change through the whole body so that it is now cold then hot sometime of one colour then of another it foretels a long disease For the indisposition diversly mixed are still longer then these that are of a fast forme or fashion for nature cannot danton moe at once Now the changing of qualities and humors demonstrats the disease to bee caused of diverse humors in the coction whereof nature hath need to imploy much time for according to the varietie of humors within there appeares varietie of colours without Canon XXIII It is a good signe to have the hypochondres that is the space vnder the short ribs on either side soft equall and without dolour but verie evill to haue them hard bended inequall and painefull for as the former shews the good temperature of the epigastrick muscells of the mesentary the liver the melt and the stomacke so the latter declares an intemperature to wit an inflammation a skirrh or wind to bee in these parts In all diseases it is good that the parts about the navell and the inferior part of the bellie bee grosse fat and in good case but evill when they are extenuat and leane for the hypocondres grosse and fleshie
Canon VI. Among the constititions of the seasons the dry is more wholesome and not so deadly as the rain for it gathereth no excrements and resists better to the putrefaction the humid in the contrar causes many superfluities from whence are the generation of diseases when the seasons are constant keeping there temperature ordinar so that all things doth naturally fall out in them the diseases are lykewayes constant and facily to be vnderstood but when the season is inconstant so are the sicknes variable and hard to be vnderstood for there crise is accompanied with dangerous symptomes where they suddenly cause death or ells leaves a matter to a new sickenesse When the sicke proves a good second to the physitian fighting againes the sicknes it is easie to obtaine the victorie Now when he beleues the physition and puts in practise his ordinances hee serves him for a second and declares himselfe enemie of the disease in the contrar if quyting the physition he takes part with the disease accomplishing that which hee desyres he hazards his life two wayes the one in leaving the physition aboue in combat the other in serving as a second to the sickenesse which was before alone for it is certaine two is stronger nor one Canon VIII The greatnes of the sickenesse followes the greatnes of the cause for as a light cause produces a light evill even so a great causeth a great Hence a vehement cause contrar nature is a most certaine indice of a great and dangerous sicknes Canon IX Byle causes still quicke diseases which are termined or ended within few dayes because it is easilie resolved by its subtilitie but melancholie is the most viscuous of all the humors and makes longest accesses because it is dry cold and thicke being the lyfe of the blood Next to melancholy is phlegme in difficulty of digestion and expulsion by reason of its viscositie Canon X. The diseases that hath some resemblance with the nature bodily constitution and age of the diseased are lesse dangerous then these that hath no conformity for all sicknesse hot cold dry moist being conforme to the complexion age and bodily constitution of the sicke and also to the season hath so much lesse danger as it is lesse removed from the naturall constitution and so may more easily returne as proceeding frō a lighter yea a slighter cause As in the contrare the disease that hath no affinity neither with the temper taillie nor age of the Patient or with the season is much more dangerous then the former being further removed from the naturall complexion and therefore worse to cure as proceeding of a greater and stronger cause So that of two burnt fevers equall in grandure that which fals out in the Summer to a young man leane of body of temper hot shall not be so dangerous as that which fals out in the Winter to an old man of a fat body and cold complexion Canon XI Meeke and gentle relenting diseases are commonly long but the sharpe fyrie and fierce are ended within fourteene dayes and the extreame hot in seven dayes There can no certain prediction be made of hot sharp diseases either for health nor death for by that they are quickly ended they become on a suddaintie great so that both for the greatnesse of the disease with the suddaine change which befals in the crise as also because the humor is often transported from one place to another the issue is vncertaine wherefore while the humor is in its motion we must suspend our judgement for it is not certain whether it will rush on a noble or ignoble part within or without by passages conveniable or not conveniable thogh the humor were staied in one place yet the Physician ought not resolutly affirme that the sick shall escape but with this provision that no new change befall and that hee follow the advise and keep the regiment prescribed When a woman with child is overtaken by any firie hot disease shee is in danger of her life for a hot fyrie fever requyres a strait dyet which shee cannot admit least the child being frustrat of his food shee be broght to bed before the time and if oft to save the child yee give the mother often to eat the fever thereby growing yee shall precipitat the mother in a manifest hazard of her life and if it be any other strong sicknesse without fever as a epilepsie apoplexy convulsion shee shall never be able to support the vehemencie of it Canon XII To foretell the event of the disease yee must consider diligently the part that is offended whether it bee noble or ignoble publick or privat for the condition dignitie and necessitie of the part that suffereth are of great importance for the pronouncing of a sentence to the profit or prejudice of the sick Canon XIII In all diseases the constancie of the reason not troubled with the bounty of the appetit still readie for taking of whatsomeever shall bee offered to it is a good signe and the contrare is an evill the satlednesse of the reason and sharpnesse of the appetit are numbred among the good markes because the former beares witnesse of the temperat disposition of the braine the menings or tayes of the harnes and of the marrow of the backe the medrife and all the nervous parts and the latter shews the integritie of the stomack and lever In the contrare the alienation and troubling of the reason and the losse of appetit are evill signes because the one betokens the animal parts to be affected the other the naturall All they that are troubled with paine or dolour in any part of the body whatsomeever and are not sensible of it hath the reason troubled because the apprehension doth not perceiue in any measure the evill Canon XIV It is good to sleep in the night to make reparation of the spirits animals and digestion of the humors by the meanes of the heat that enters within the center of the body and to watch in the day for the clearing of the same spirits to give motion to the humors and to make expulsion of the excremēts but it is a verie pernicious signe not to sleepe night nor day for continuall watching commeth either of the dolour paine and torment that they suffer or of the drynesse of the braine which in end will cause an alienation of the mind Sleepe likewise surpassing the borders of mediocrite is in like maner evill because it is a marke of extreame coldnesse of the braine which causeth a lethargie if it bee mixed with humidity or catalepsie if with drynesse When in a sicknesse sleepe is noysome and hurteth there is danger of death for if the sleep hurts that time that hath bene accustomed to helpe much as in the decline of any sicknesse it is not without cause that it foretelleth death and that because the heat reteared within the body the time of the sleep and by this meanes increase Notable neverthelesse