cannot be but in a long space by reason of the weakness of their natural heat yea the greatest part of sickness that doth arrive to old people conveys them to their graves Canon 5. The Spring is very wholsome and no wayes mortal when it keeps temperature but in Harvest diseases are very strong and deadly for the most part First because cold and dry are diametrically opposite to life which consisteth in heat and moisture for those humors hinder the generation of blood whereof the body is made and nourished Secondly because it receives from the Summer proceedings from the body languishing and weary Thirdly because it suppresseth within the body the superfluous humours melted by the heat of the Summer which come forth to the skin to the end they may go forth Fourthly because about the twelfth hour it openeth the pores of the body by the heat incontinently after becoming cold it ariseth within the body as an enemy to extinguish by its malign quality the natural heat already feeble and languishing moreover it gathers store of crudities within the body which do choak the natural heat and that especially by the use of fruits which it produceth The Summer hastens sicknesses but the Winter doth retard them because in the Summer the pores being open the evil humours of the body being melted by the heat of the air are suddenly dissipated but in winter they being closed by the cold are retained within Canon 6. Amongst constitutions of the Seasons the dry is most wholsom and not deadly as the rainy for it gathers no Excrements and better resists to putrefaction The humid on the contrary causeth many superfluities from whence are the generation of diseases When the seasons are constant keeping the temperature ordinary so that all things do naturally fall out in them the diseases are likewise constant and easie to be understood but when the season is inconstant so are the sicknesses variable and hard to be understood for the Crisis or conflict is accompanied with dangerous Symptomes where they suddenly cause death or else leave a matter to a new sickness Canon 7. When the sick proves a good second to the Physitian fighting against the sickness it is then easie to obtain the victory now when he believeth the Physitian and puts his Ordnances in practise he serves him for a second and declares himself an enemy to the disease On the contrary if acquitting the Physitian he takes part with the disease by accomplishing that which himself desires he hazards his life two wayes one in leaving the Physitian alone in the combat the other in serving as a second to the sickness which was before alone for it is certain that two are stronger than one Canon 8. The greatness of the sickness followeth the greatness of the cause for as a light cause produceth a light evil so a great cause rendreth a great effect Hence a vehement cause contrary to Nature is a most certain Indice of a great and dangerous sickness Canon 9. Choler doth ever cause quick diseases which determine and end within a few dayes because it is easily resolved by its subtility But Melancholy is the most viscous of all the humours and makes longest accesses because it is dry cold and thick being the life of the blood Next to Melancholy is Phlegm in difficulty of digestion and expulsion by reason of its viscosity Canon 10. The diseases which have some resemblance with the nature bodily constitution and age of the Patient are less dangerous than those that have no conformity for all sicknesses hot cold dry or moist being conform to the complexion age and bodily constitution of the sick as also to the season hath so much less danger as it is less removed from the natural constitution and so may more easily return as proceeding from a lighter and slighter cause as on the contrary the disease which hath no affinity neither with the temper likeness nor age of the Patient or with the season is much more dangerous than the former being further removed from the natural complexion and therefore worse to cure as proceeding from a greater and stronger cause so that of two burning Fevers equall in grandeur that which falls out in Summer to a young man lean of body and hot of temper shall not be so dangerous as that which falls out in Winter to an old man of a fat body and cold complexion Canon 11. Meek and gentle relenting diseases are commonly long but the sharp fiery and fierce are ended within fourteen dayes and the extreme hot in seaven dayes There can be no certain prediction made of hot sharp diseases either for health or death for because they are quickly ended they become suddenly great so that both for the greatness of the disease with the sudden change which befalleth in the Crise or conflict as also because the humour is often transported from one place to another the issue is uncertain wherefore whilst the humour is in its motion it is best to suspend judgment for it is not certain whether it will rush on a noble or ignoble part within or without by passages convenient or inconvenient and though the humour were stayed in one place yet the Physitian ought not resolutely to affirm that the sick shall escape but with this provision That no new change befall and that he follow the advice and keep the regiment prescribed When a woman with child is overtaken by any fiery hot disease she is in danger of her life for a hot fiery Fever requires a strict diet which she cannot admit lest the child being robbed of the food she be delivered before her time and again if sometimes to save the child the mother should often eat the Fever thereby encreasing the mother shall be precipitate in manifest hazard of her life and if it be any other strong sickness without Fever as Epilepsie Apoplexy or Convulsion she shall never be able to support the vehemencie of it Canon 12. To foresee the event of the disease diligence must be used in considering the part that is offended whether it be noble or ignoble publick or private for the condition dignity and necessity of the part that suffereth are of great importance for the pronouncing of the sentence to the profit or prejudice of the Patient Canon 13. In all diseases the constancy of the reason not troubled together with the bounty of the Appetite still ready for whatsoever shall be offered unto it it is a good sign and the contrary is an evil sign The setledness of the Reason and sharpness of the appetite are numbred amongst the good marks because the former bears witness of the temperate disposition of the brain the tyes and ligaments of the brains of the marrow of the back of the Midriff and of all the nervous parts and the later shews the integrity of the Stomach and Livor On the contrary the alienation and troubling of the Reason and the loss of Appetite are evil signs
are 1. The color of the face and all the body somewhat whitish grayish or livid being withall swell'd the whole body grown and fat for fat folk are commonly cold and phlegmatick grease being ingendred by the coldness of the habitude of the body the veins and Arteries being little and strait as coming of little blood and few spirits 3. The skin white and soft without hair because the complexion cold and humid is no wayes hairy the hair is white because it is created of phlegm 4. All the senses of the body heavy and lazy the spirit stupid the sleep profound the pulse small and soft 5. Slow digestion of belching with a sower tast a desire to vomit the water whitish crude and sometime troubled with a thick ground 6. Pituitous and phlegmatick diseases frequently occurring or old Cattarhs and the like Canon 19. The antecedent Causes declaring a windy Cacochymie or Digestion are 1. The stomach cold and humid with a debility of natural heat proceeding of a simple intemperature or with humours indigested 2. The Spleen swell'd and bound up with melancholy hindring by a Sympathy the digestion of the stomach 3. Meats windy as raw Fruits Beans Pease Chesnuts and the like over-much drink too much boyled meat Drunkennesse and Gluttony 4. Lack of Exercise great sleep the Age the Country season of the Year Cold doth cause abundance of Ventosities 5. When wind is gathered in the body by reason of the former causes there is found a distention of the Venticle of the Collick Gout chiefly on the left side with a noise 6. The wandering discenting pains running here and there through the whole body 7. There is wind heard to issue at all occasions both upward and downward from whence cometh some ease there is also often to be observed a singing in the ear 8. The Chollick with other diseases arising of wind do often trouble Canon 20. The external causes of sickness called by the Greeks Procatarticks or primitive causes ought diligently to be searched for they lead us to the knowledge of the cause intern as of the disease for aire meat and drink to warm watching great and violent motion anger and the suppression of the Excrements these engender hot humours and hot diseases On the contrary cold food with a cooling air sleep idleness fear and all evacuation and immoderate causes beget cold humours and cold diseases Dry diseases commonly accompany hot causes and humid diseases arise from cold causes for hot do ordinarily bring with them drowth and cold produceth humidity because it is the parent of crudities To find out therefore exactly the cause and effect of a Malady which is hid it is needful by a diligent inquisition and interrogation of all things which commonly are not natural causes to learn of the sick if he hath exposed himself to any intemperate or impure air if he hath committed any excess in meat or drink in watching or labouring or if he hath been too fierce in Venery if the spirit have not been troubled by passions or if some ordinary evacuation be not suppressed as the monthly courses to women and the flux of Emrods to men and so much the rather because he ought to enquire carefully of the things past because ignorance of the causes is not without great danger for if a fever should happen upon a long watching fasting or too much Venery then without consideration of the cause of the disease should they presently draw blood and purge they should hazard the life of the Patient seeing the disease came from evacuation but on the contrary he ought rather to repair the spirits by Analecticks or Restoratives and to augment the disease by drawing blood and Catharticks or Purgos PART II. To foresee the issue of the Disease CANON I. THe fundamental Laws of Prognosticks or Foreknowledge are taken from the things Natural not Natural and contrary to to Nature As of the Spring for the sickness may be foreseen and foretold to be salutiferous or mortal short or long by the spirits by the constitution of the body by the age of the Patient by the season by the form of life by the cause by the Espece or kind and by the siege of the evil with the symptomes which are remarkable in the change or diminution of the actions the excrements and in the quality of the body Canon 2. If the body be strong to obtain the victory over the disease without doubt the sick shall escape if not he shall die for none die so long as their spirit remains but so soon as the spirits begin to yield to the burden of the sickness then follows death Now to foretell the day of death good observation must be made how far the sickness surpasseth the spirits and well to mark the most violent access for it is observable that when the sickness doth transcend the spirits so as they can no longer resist death must necessarily follow but if it appear otherwise death shall not so soon approach So that the original of Prognosticks doth consist in conferring the spirits with the sickness for if Nature be strong enough to overcome the sickness then the Patient shall escape but if she be so weak that she cannot obtain the victory death then of necessity must follow and the Physitian must wait on the one or the other sooner or later according as the spirits are stronger or weaker hence it appears that all other signs salutiferous or mortal are no otherwise foresigns of life or death but as they point forth the strength or weakness of Nature in the combat with the sickness Canon 3. It is a great help to health to be of a moderate constitution of body that is neither too fat nor too lean for such a body hath great strength to resist any disease which doth present it self but where this moderation is not a gross body is in a worse case than a lean for they who are fat die sooner than such as are otherwise because the veins and arteries of grown fat people are narrow and strait and have but little blood and spirit so that the age concurring upon a light occasion the natural heat is choaked or extinguished but such as are of a lean and thin constitution because they have the veins and arteries larger and therefore contain more blood and spirits within them do not so soon incur the danger of death yet so it is that they are sooner troubled by external causes and that for want of flesh and fat so then the gross are more obnoxious to intern infirmities and the leane to extern Canon 4. Youth hath great strength to withstand a disease because he hath store of natural heat requisite to the concoction and excretion of the evil humours contrarily old age is not able to resist because of the defect of strength not having much natural heat hence it is that sickness stayes longer upon old people than young because they abound in cold humours the digestion whereof
because the one betokens the animal parts to be affected the other the natural All they that are troubled with pain or dolour in any part of the body whatsoever and are not sensible of it have the reason troubled because the apprehension doth not in any measure perceive the evil Canon 14. It is good to sleep in the night to make reparation of the spirits animal and a digestion of the humours by the means of the heat that enter within the center of the body and to watch in the day for clearing of the same spirits to give motion to the humours and to make expulsion of the Excrements but it is a very pernicious sign not to sleep night nor day for continual watching cometh either of dolour pain and torment suffered or of the dryness of the brain which in the end will cause an alienation of the mind Sleep likewise surpassing the bounds of mediocrity is in like manner evil because it is a mark of extreme coldness in the brain which causeth a Lethargy or Obliviousness if it be mixed with humidity or else a Catalepsy which is a kind of the Falling-sickness if it be acompanied with dryness When in a sickness sleep is noysome and hurts there is danger of death for if the sleep doth hurt in that time that it hath been accustomed to help much as in the declination of any sickness it is not without cause that it foretelleth death and that because the heat retired within the body in the time of the sleep doth by this means encrease and being not able either by reason of its weakness or the maliciousness of the humours to overcome the causes of the disease it shews that Nature no way strengthened or comforted by this means but rather hurt is ready to sink under the burden the disease being stronger Canon 15. The Pulse is the faithful messenger of the heart bringing certain news of death or life The Pulse great and strong is a token of strength on which is builded the hope of the healths recovery but the Pulse little weak and languishing sheweth the weakness of the vital faculty from whence is the fear of death The inequality of the Pulse is also evil when it continues an intermission in young men it is most dangerous for it threatneth present death if it be not from an obstruction and oppression of the Arteries it is less dangerous in children and least of all in old men Canon 16. The respiration free without stop or let is very wholsom in all sharp and quick diseases because it denotes the temperature of the breast and of the parts therein contained So also the respiration remaining whole declares the natural heat yet to be strong to fight valiantly against the disease On the contrary the difficulty of breathing shews the indisposition of the vital parts and the suffocation of the spirits For the respiration frequent and great is a sign of some inflammation of the parts within the breast but the great and seldom breathings do foreshow a future alienation of the spirit as the respiration little and rare betokens death because it bears witness of the extinction of the natural heat which is clearly perceived by the coldness of the breath issuing at the nostrils and the mouth Canon 17. It is a good sign to have constantly a whole heart for they who fall often into Lipothamy or swounings without a manifest cause do die in the end suddenly because of the debility of the vital faculty Canon 18. The coction of the humour appearing in the Excrement of the Patient signifies the Crisis or conflict to be speedily in assurance of health but the crudity denotes that either there shall be no Crisis or that the Patient is mightily troubled or that the disease shall be longer or that afterward it shall return or finally that death shall follow upon it For as when the coction is made Nature is victorious over the causes of the disease so the contraty comes to pass when she is overcome by them for instance the foecal matter being soft equal and yellow not having any evil smell is judged to be good because it is well digested in like manner the water being of a middle consistence of colour somewhat yellow having grounds white united and equal is reputed to be singular good because it bears witness that the vitious humours are digested and consequently that Nature hath gotten the victory over them On the contrary the digestion liquid and watery white and pale is reputed evil because it is crude and raw so also the Urine watery and smal white and exceedingly shining is not good because it is raw and without digestion Canon 19. When the Excrements of the sick are not very different from the Excrements of the whole it shews the disease to be light but if there be a very great difference the disease must be apprehended to be deadly for the Excrements differing shew Nature to be overcome by the greatness of the disease Therefore the foecal matter black livid green and stinking are mortal because they are wholly alienated from the natural constitution and the water that is black and thick and troubled like that of Oxen is most evil because extremely removed from the natural The same mixed in colour foreshews a long disease for they denote diverse indispositions caused of divers humours and therefore it is necessary that Nature employ her self a long time to the concoction having so many Enemies to combate The Urine in which grease is seen to swimme like spiders webs is evil because it declares a melting of the body by an extraordinary heat Canon 20. Sweats are good in all sharp and fiery diseases when they fall on critical dayes and they cause the Fever wholly to cease They are good also when they make the disease more easy to the Patient provided they be universal but the sweats which bring no ease nor serve to any use as also those that are cold and appeare onely about the head face and neck are most evil for in a hot fiery and quick Fever they prognostick death and in a gentle Fever they shew the longness of the disease A cold sweat running without ceasing and in great abundance is a mark of a long disease because it comes by reason of a great quantity of gross and cold matter which cannot easily be dissipated or tamed by the natural heat A hot sweat on the other side shews a short disease which being caused of a subtile matter will in a short space be dissolved Canon 21. If the visage of the sick be like to the countenance of whole persons it is a very excellent sign chiefly if it look like it self being whole On the contrary it is a very evil sign when it is different from the natural and when it is hideous to behold as it is when the nose is sharp the eyes hollow the temples abated the ears cold and drawn in the lap of the ear turned the skin
XCIX CANONS OR RULES Learnedly describing an excellent Method for Practitioners in PHYSICK Written By Dr. J. MACALLO Physitian in Ordinary First to Rodolphus late Emperour of Germany and after his death Physitian in like manner to K. James Seipsum interimit qui Praecepta Medici observare nâ—gat S. Aug. LONDON Printed by J. Grismond 1659. The Epistle to the READER AMongst the riches of Fortune and blessings of Nature there is none more acceptable and advantageous to man-kind then the fruition of Health let abundance of Wealth hosts of Armies libraries of Counsellors obedience of Subjects be all put into the ballance and though each of them be a great and heavenly endowment yet without Health to enjoy them they wil prove light the most mighty of Princes wil be found a troublesome creature to himself It is one of the chief Punishments miseries incident to humane condition to be so variable in Health as oft-times to be well and sick in a minute even when himself knows no cause or reason for his so being therefore both Sexes do in what measure they can study Health and deliberate upon Meats and Drinks and Habitations and Exercises the accomplishment whereof is their daily Meditation to whose furtherance and help Almighty God intending the preservation of Man his Noblest creature hath ordained the Physitian Nor is Man alwayes to rest upon his own judgement in the election of his Food or pleasing his Appetite seeing the infirmities of Age do often summon the excesses of Youth and find them the chief Authors of an early Death avoid not therefore the Physitian in Health saith the Wise-man but rather bless God who hath let you fall into his learned and skilfull Hands and not into a sudden Grave This Compendium is digested into an excellent Method the division into Canons not unworthily imitating that Prince of Physitians Hypocrates in his learned Aphorisms the Author also was famous in his time who having spent many years in the most famous Universities Courts of Princes for information of his Judgement and Experience in the fulnesse of his knowledge returned to his Native Soveraigne King James whom he knew best able to censure and esteem men of Learning For the more ease and profit of the Reader or Student he hath drawn the 99. Canons herein contained under three Discourses In the first 20. he declareth the Knowledge of the Disease together with the Antecedents Symptomes and Causes In the second consisting of 30 Canons is fore-shewed the Issues of the Infirmity In the last 49. he delivers the Method for Cure all learnedly and exactly set forth The Scottish Dialect wherein he wrote these Rules being neither acceptable to the English Reader nor in many words intelligible hath cost some paines to present him in currant English Language his terms of Art also though they be Ornaments to the Subject being derived from Greek and Latine roots do carry their respective interpretations together with each word or phrase of Art insomuch as those who can onely read may reap profit according to their talent of Ingenuity and become hereby enabled to do neighbourly offices The Publisher desires onely to change prayers with and for all such as are willing to value and enjoy a Gift of this common Complacency and Compassion Your Servant W. S. CANONS OF PHYSICK PART I. CANON I. THe Methodick practizing in Physick hath First a knowledge of the Disease next foretelleth the event of it and last goeth about to cure the same For that part of Physick which is called Therapentick or Contemplative followeth still the Diagnostick or knowing and the Prognostick or foreknowing parts For whosoever will use perfect able remedies must first remark the things present next forewarn the future because it is necessary to understand the present estate of the disease to the end the proper remedies may be applied then to foresee that which is to come for the more bold attempting the Cure if there be hope of health else to foretell the danger if there be fear of death but totally to abstain from the enterprise upon inevitable fear of death for he ought never to engage the cure of desperate diseases much less promise health but least of all to take the business in hand after a due praemonition of the danger in it Canon 2. Now to come to the perfect knowledge of the disease he must first search the place then the kind and afterward the cause If the place be manifest of it self it rests to find out the Espece or kind of the disease and then the Cause Canon 3. The Place is known by the Action hurt or hindred by the sort and seat of the pain by the Excrements and Accidents or proper Symptomes Although all these signes do not at all times appear all together yet some of them fail not to shew themselves Canon 4. The Action offended sheweth the part from whence it proceeds to be indisposed for a function Animal Vital or Natural being troubled declareth some of those parts to be affected So the hurt or stistemper of the Reason Imagination or Memory sheweth the Brain to be sick the loss of sense and motion manifests the Nerves or else their origine to be grieved difficulty of breathing declareth the Lungs or some instrument of the respiration to be intercepted the Pulse commoved tells the heart to be troubled the stop of the descent of the meat sheweth the stomach to be hurt the digestion hindred when the body is not nourished the Livor is distempered The Espece or sort of sickness points forth also the place to a pain with a pulsation and is from the nerve hurt or offended which punction from the Membrane distended with convulsion is from the drawing of the Nerves or Tendons with violence and dolor which tension shews the repletion of the veins out of measure when it is profound it declares the Membrane or thin skin covering the bone called Periostium to be disseated when soft and gentle without great pain it is in the flesh when heavy and blunt it points forth some of the Entrails to be grieved The scituation of the paine makes known the seat of the disease also So if it be in the right Hypocondre or under the short ribbs on the right side it declares the Livor to be hurt if under the left side the Spleen For wheresoever is the paine there is the sickness wherefore he must not omit to enquire of the sick person on which side he lies with greatest ease for if it be without he lies best on the whole side but if within best on the sore side That which issueth forth of the body indicates likewise the part affected So if by Cough there is thrown forth any part of a Gristle there is no doubt but the Lungs are to be cured if in the water there be found any piece of flesh it betokens the Kidneys to be hurt if in the draught there be found any piece of skin it
a nature temperate which ingenders abundance of blood The fashions and carriage merry joviall peaceable and gentle are good signes because they are marks of a body well-disposed The heaviness of the head proceeding from the abundance of vapours ascending upwards increaseth blood so doth the sleep profound and pleasant with dreames of things pleasant the pulse also strong great and full for in it the veines are so full that they do infuse a part in the neighbour-Arteries by an Anastomasie or transfusion of the blood through the veines which being filled causeth such a pulse and that not onely in the Wrists but also in the Temples the Fingers and over all the body The respiration or breathing more difficile and frequent chiefly after exercise is another signe of encrease of blood because the Muscles of the breast are made lazy through the abundance of blood Hence it is that the respiration is made more frequent by reason of the use but shortened because the capacity interiour of the breast is made more strict The promptitude of rendring blood by the Stooles the Emrods the monthly Courses the Water the Nose and the Spittle And finally by a continuall sweating during the time of the disease are tokens of much plenitude Canon 16. Cacochimy or evill digestion is three-fold Cholerick Melancolick and Phlegmatick the Causes that gather abundance of Choler are signes preceding the same and such are 1. The Complexion hot and dry for commonly there engenders much Choler in men of a hot and dry Complexion by reason of the conformity of this humour with that temperament 2. The manly age which is between twenty five and thirty five for in that age Choler doth abound because the naturall heat is much more dry and active then before in which also a great part of inbred moisture or sap is consumed 3. The Summer for the Choler is more abundant then by reason of the circumsisting Aire which maketh the blood more hot and dry 4. The Climate hot and dry the precedent dyet of the same qualities 5. Great exercise Travell Anger Care Watching Fasting and Abstinence do all gather Choler 6. The suppression of the ordinary evacuation of Choler by Vomit by the Stool by Urine and by Sweat The consequent marks of abounding Choler are 1. The whole colour of the body pale yellow or blackish drawing near to that of the Jaundies or brown for when the temperament is excessive in heat the Choler is black 2. The state of the body dry leane and small for such proportions are commonly Cholerick as also such as be hairy with the haire red for that is the Excrement of Choler but more the black for black haire is when the exhalation burnt by the force of the heat is changed into black but the red is when it is not so burnt 3. The greatness of the veines extended by the heat for they who have great veines are of Complexion hot but such as have straite and narrow veines are of cold constitution for it is heat that doth enlarge 4. The heat sharp and biting to the touch 5. Promptitude to courage and a disposition to anger and revenge 6. The sense lively light and suddaine 7. The spirit subtile and of great invention for the subtilty and industry of the judgement comes of the humour Bilous or Cholerick 8. The sleep little and light accompanied with inquietudes great watching testifying the great dryness of the braine or from abundance of an humour bilious or Cholerick with them 9. Dreames of War Fire and things furious 10. The pulse vehement hasty and hardy 11. Bitterness of the mouth losse of Appetite great Thirst venting of Choler upward and downward with the belly often constipate or bound 12. The Urine yellow biting inflamed and with little grounds 13. The diseases cholerick frequent as Fevers fierce and ardent Raving Jaundies Herps or Ring-wormes Erisiple or S. Anthonies fire Pustules Cholericks dispersed through the whole body Canon 17. The Melancholick distemper is known First by the causes productive of Melancholy such are 1. The temperature cold and dry with a debility in the Spleen or hot from the beginning but becoming cold by change for if any hot and dry before by an adusâ—ion of the blood shall ingender much black Choler he becomes cold and dry and in the end Melancholy 2. The declining Age which is between thirty five and forty five for melancholy doth abound in that age because it succeeding to the youth which is the most Cholerick of all it receives the Choler burnt 3. The Harvest for in it also melancholy abounds because succeeding from the Summer it receives the burnt Choler from it 4. Gross food and viscous increase melancholy as brown-Bread Hogs-flesh Beef Hares-flesh Harts-flesh and chiefly any of these salted thick black-Wine Beer and old Cheese 5. The life sad occupied in great affairs in contemplation Studying without Recreation or exercise of the body for by it the naturall heat diminisheth and the humours become grosse and thick 6. The suppression of melancholy which used to be by the Emrods monthly Courses Seeges Scabs or by Medicine As also by the signes of melancholy predominant in the body such are 1. The colour brown or blackish of the Face or all the body the skin full of Scabs Hardness Swelling and pain of the Spleen the habitude of the body dry and leane the visage sad and heavy Feare Silence Solitariness Urine Imagination Conceits for the constancy of the spirit comes of an humour melancholick 2. The mind slow to wrath but being incensed hard to be appeased 3. The sleep troubled with horrible Dreames as with sights of evill Spirits Tortures of Death Sepulchres and other things fearfull 4. The pulse light slow and hard 5. The appetite depraved sometimes disordered by reason of a sower matter adhering to the orifice of the Stomach 6. The water clear and white where there is no melancholy mixed but thick and black where there is melancholy mixed with it 7. Where the diseases melancholy are frequently arriving Canon 18. The knowledge of Pituitous or phlegmatick distemper is taken from the causes antecedent procreating it and the signs assequent following it The antecedent are 1. The Complexion of the body cold and humid the old age which is from Forty nine to the term of Life for in that age by reason of the weakness of the natural heat much phlegme is engendred 2. The Winter because that season as Hipocrates reports replenisheth the body with phlegm both by the length of nights as also by reason of the abundance of rain for in the rainy season the watry air which doth environ the body gathers quantities of pituitous humours and watery superfluities 3. The great uses of humid and moist meat the frequent drinking of water and any kind of excess either in meat or drink 4. Idleness or want of exercise with a sedentary or sitting life long sleepe and especially after meat The assequent or following marks of phlegm
of the face hard extended and dry the colour of the face pale or black livid or lead-coloured for if this deformity do not proceed of a manifest cause as of lack of sleep or of meat or by reason of a Flux of the belly without doubt it presageth death to be near for this great extenuation is made by the malignity of the disease Canon 22. Where a change is perceived through the whole body so that it is now cold then hot sometimes of one colour then of another it foretelleth a long disease for the indispositions diversly mixed are still longer than those that are of a fast form or fashion for Nature cannot tame or overcome more at once Now the changing of qualities and humours demonstrate the disease to be caused of divers humours in the coction whereof Nature hath need to employ much time for according to the variety of the humours within there appears a variety of colors without Canon 23. It is a good sign to have the Hypoconders that is the space under the short ribs on either side soft equal and without dolour but very evil to have them hard bended unequal and painful for as the former shews the good temperature of the Epigasticks or skins covering the Muscles of the Mesentery the Livor the Spleen and the Stomach so the later declares an intemperature that is an inflammation a skirrh or wind to be in those parts In all diseases it is good that the parts above the Navel and the inferiour part of the belly be gross fat and in good case for the Hypoconders gross and fleshy are marks of strength but the small and extenuate are evil both as signs and as causes for as much as they are signs of the debility of the parts extenuate and causes that the digestion is not well elaborate in the stomach nor the sanguification in the Livor for the grosness or fatness of the Epigastre or lower parts of the belly do augment the natural heat by the parts within being warmed they better digest the meat and so make better blood Canon 24. As to the consideration of the things that fall out in the body every good sign is not an assurance that the sick shall escape neither on the other side though evil signs appear are they to be taken for warrants that he shall die for a good sign may be over-weighed by an Evil being great and on the contrary an evil sign may be overcome a good being stronger Canon 25. The disease quits the sick either wholly at once by way of Crise or by little little by way of Resolution Crise is a sudden change of the Disease into Health or else into Death which is then when Nature separates the vicious humours from the good in order to expell them of it there be two sorts one is by Excretion and the other is by Absesse that comes by a flux of Blood or Sweat or by a flux of the Belly or Vomit or flux of the Urine Canon 26. The good Crise arrives on the 7 14 or on the 20 day wherefore these dayes are called Critical the future Crise was fore-seen by the signs of digestion appearing on the 4 11 and the 17 day hence these dayes are called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Indicatives Contemplatives for according to the doctrine of Hypocrates the 4 day is the indicative of the 7. the 8 is the beginning of the next moneth the 11 is also remarkable because it is the 4 of the second week and the 17 is also to be observed because it is the 4 after the 14 and the 7 from the 11. Canon 27. When the Crise is to be on the 7 day there is to be perceived on the 4 day preceding a red cloud in the water and other signs correspondent for because the 4 day points out the 7 if there appear any sign of concoction that day it forewarns the Crise to be on the 7 day where then there appears a cloud in the water not onely red but white and yet rather a white Hypostasis or ground united and equall if it so happen that the motion of the sickness be sudden it is a presage of the future Crise When the Crise draws near the night preceding is very troublesome but that which follows is ordinarily more easie to be endured for whilest Nature is making a separation between the good and evil humours which disagree in this exercise of nature the disease is much troubled but so it is that this great work appears the night before the Crise because the sleep is interrupted but the night which follows the Crise being perfect the humours are much more at their own ease because nature is disburthened of superfluous humours Canon 28. The universal signs by which one discovers the espece or kind of the Crise to come are taken from the kind of the Disease from the part that is diseased from the nature of the Patient for hot and quick diseases are ordinarily judged by excretion but the cold and long by Absesse If there be an inflammation in the gibbous or rising part of the Livor then must be expected a Crise by a flux of Blood at the right Nostrill or by a flux of Urine if the inflamation be in the hollow part of it then expect the Crise by a flux of the Belly or by Vomit or by Sweat The inflamations of the Brain and of all the Head are commonly judged by an Hemorragie or bleeding at the Nose but that of the Stomach and Mesentery are judged by Vomit or Flux downward Moreover a flux of Blood falls oftenest to young men cholerick overtaken with a hot Fever and a flux of the Belly to old men phlegmatick there the common and now here the proper Prognosticks of every Crise Redness of the Face and extreme dolour of the Head and Neck a beating of the Arteries in the Temples the distention of the Hypochonders with difficulty of breathing a dimnesse and watering of the Eyes singing of the Ears and itching of the Nostrils prognosticks the Crise to be a flux of Blood by the Nose A heat and heaviness of the Loynes with a pain and extension of the Hypogastre foreshews a Crise to be by a flux menstruall A suppression of the Water with a pricking and shivering through the whole Body with the Pulse soft and watry and the exteriour parts of the body hot and vaporous betokens that it will be a Sweat Belching Ventosities or Winds a bending of the Belly and pain of the Kidneys by a flux of the Belly loss of Appetite or loathing of Meat with a throwing of the Heart soreness of the Head giddiness great spitting bitterness in the Mouth and a trembling of the under-Lip these are prognosticks that a future Crise will be by Vomit When the signs of Concoction have gone before and when the motions of a Crise have been perceived then it may be expected by a flux of Urine if there
do not appear any mark of a Crise by a flux of Blood nor by Sweat flux of the belly or Vomit especially when the Patient feels a heaviness in the Hypogastre and heat about the end of the privy Member having also made his water thick and gross during his Disease or if he be aged and sick in the winter it foretelleth it the rather A heavinesse and pain of the Head with profound sleeping and deafness succeeding immediately to a difficulty of breathing suddenly arriving without any manifest cause to one sick with a long Disease do intimate an Absesse to be behind the ear But if there be no sign of a Paritude and that the sick hath had his urine of a long time clear and indigested and when he finds a heaviness a paine a bending or tension a heat in the Hypochondres he must then expect an Absesse in the lower parts if any part of the body hath been hurt before there shall the Aposteme or Absesse be an Absesse falls out most frequently in winter and after an imperfect Crise Canon 29. Moreover a good Crise ought to be signified before in the day of indication and should fall out in a criticall day with a manifest Excretion or notable Absesse without dangerous accidents it ought also to be perfect a perfect Crise is that which evacuates all the vicious matter and an imperfect Crise is that which evacuates but some part of it the former is sure but the latter is not to be trusted for the evil humours remaining after a Crise are wont to make one recidive or relapsing moreover a Crise is judged to be good by reason of the convenable quality and reasonable quantity with the former agreeable and the time oportime A Crise is known to be perfect and assured by the re-establishing of the Functions Natural Vital and Animal by the coction of the Excrements or by the quality or form of the Body reduced and made conform to the natural Canon 30. There is no trusting to any ease or allegations which happen without cause nor fear evil Symptoms arising against Reason for the most part of those are inconstant and do not last any long time for when any vehement Disease ceaseth of it self without any evacuation either by Sweat Vomit Flux downward or upward by Hemorrage or without any sign of concoction that ease is not to be taken for granted neither must it be believed seeing it doth threaten that something of greater evil will follow thereon neither need affrightment be upon the evils which befall without or rather contrary to Reason as difficulty of Breathing Ravery Shivering Reduplication of the Fever seeing they are not constant nor of long continuance and so far they are from signifying any thing that is evil that on the contrary they often presage a good Crise which shall arrive to the great ease of the Patient PART III. The right Method of curing the Disease CANON I. WHosoever will exactly keep the Method of right proceeding in the Cure ought to begin at the first Indications then to come to those that follow afterwards to the next and never to leave off till he shall come to the end pretended Indication is here to be taken for that which serveth to teach the way in the cure of the Disease to attain to Health Canon 2. The Forces Strength or Spirits ought before all things to be preserved and encouraged in those who are diseased After the indication of the Forces follows the consideration of the Indisposition which is proposed to be cured the Force or Spirit intends alwayes the Conservation and the Indisposition its Ablation now as the Forces are kept and conserved by the like so the Indisposition is taken away by the contrary Canon 3. In all diseases where the efficient cause is yet present the cure must begin at the same for it is impossible to cure any Disease perfectly while the cause that ingenders it doth continue so the Maladies never cease till the evil humours ingendring them be banished which evil humours do lurk within the body Canon 4. After the taking away of the Cause the judgement is to be directed to the Disease ingendred of that Cause keeping for a generall rule first the ablation or removing of the Cause efficient and next of the Malady Canon 5. The cure of the Symptome is first intended but alway that of the Malady which causeth the Symptome yet when the Symptome menaceth with Death or greater or suddener danger then the Disease it self the cure of it may be first attempted Canon 6. Whilest the Disease is growing the growth of it must be hindred and that part taken away that is already ingendred the generation of that which is to come is hindred by taking away the Cause antecedent and the Malady already ingendred is banished by taking away the cause conjoyned Canon 7. In all Diseases caused or Fluxion that is first to be stopped which is flowing and next that which is already flowed is to be drawn forth therefore the cure of a Phlegmon or fluxion of Blood a Catarrh or defluxion of Rheum and of all other Diseases which are caused by a Fluxion look all to two ends the one is that the humour which is running be stay'd the other that that of it which is already in the part be evacuated Canon 8. In all Diseases complicate where one cannot be cured without the other there must be respect had to Order now Method or Order ever requireth the cure of the first which hindreth the cure of the other as if a Phlegmon be accompanied with an Ulcer the first is first to be taken away and then the other is to be cicatriced Canon 9. When two Indications are directly opposite one to the other the one is not to be so regarded as that the other be neglected but rather having as good care of this as of that a mixture must be contrived as equall as may be As for example if one be troubled by two so contrary Diseases that one desires a hot the other a cold remedy in this case the remedy used must be temperate to the end it do no harm to one or the other Disease but be rather ther helpfull to both so when the Stomack is cold and the Liver over-hot things temperate mixed of hot and cold ingredients are most convenient and agreeable or else an alternative use sometimes of the one and sometimes of the other hence it is that when a Plegmon is in its growth there mixed Repercussives with Digestives Canon 10. When a Repugnancy is observed to be amongst the Indications after mature consideration had of the decay of the Spirits as also upon the Indication of the cause of the Disease it is best to follow that which is most important withall by no means neglecting the other Canon 11. That maxime is most necessary to be followed which commands first to cure the most important danger for the Indisposition that is the first and