of certaine profitable humors abounding onely in quantity and ought at certaine time for the benefit and better being of the body to be expelled as the seed of generation in both sexes and the menstruous fluxe in women and sometimes more excrements as sweat urine ordure c. are deteined within the body All these in their due seasons are by fit and convenient meanes by the counsell of a judicious Artist prescribed by their emunctories and proper passages to be expelled And sometimes these evacuations either naturall or procured by art by their too great abundance threaten danger and then wee are to use our best art and skill for the speedie and safe suppressing of any such evacuation Of all these in order by the helpe of the Almighty I purpose to say something after some generall rules permitted which concerne all sorts of evacuation for the which purpose it shall not be amisse to beginne with the definition of evacuation Evacuation is an expulsion either naturall or procured by arts industry of such humours as abound in the body of man and that by fit and convenient passages whether it be universall whereby the whole body is evacuated or particular whereby some part is purged Now that this may be safely and profitable undestaken divers things are first to be considered as namely the fulnesse of the bodie the strength temperature the plight or state of body occurring accidents the age the time of the yeere the former custome and the part itselfe to be evacuated and the place by which we are to evacuate together with the quantity Among all these the fulnesse of the body together with the strength of the party have the pre-eminence Now this fulnesse exceeding measure and mediocrity alwaies indicateth evacuation whether it come by the abundance of blood or other humours and that both in sicknesse and in health howbeit some particular individuall bodies there be for whom either abstinence a slender diet or frictions may suffice The strength is here likewise diligently to be considered to wit the animall faculties in the braine the vitall in the heart the naturall in the liver and among all these the strength of the vitall faculties doe chiefely indicate evacuation as on the contrary the imbecillity of the same inhibiteth evacuation Againe wee are to consider the temperature and plight of the body to be purged for thinne cholericke bodies indure more easily evacuation by vomit and sweat but melancholicke and phlegmaticke constitutions having hard and thicke bodies are more easily evacuated downeward Custome doth also often indicate the manner of evacuation nature it selfe often inclining that way to which it was wont and accustomed in former times Againe the quantitie of evacuation is not to be neglected which may by a skilfull and wise Physitian easily be atteined unto In great repletion of what sort soever great evacuation must be answerable and in the lesser small evacuation and a meane repletion requireth an evacuation in the same proportion of all the which more hereafter when we shall come to discourse of each evacuation apart The time fit for evacuation is when that which doth indicate is swollen up and increased forceth us to evacuation The time of the yeere day and other things thereunto belonging shall in their proper places hereafter be discussed Besides the premises wee are yet diligently to consider the waies and passages most convenient for our evacuation and that is performed if we have one eye intent upon the pronenesse and forwardnesse of nature and the other upon the part by the which the evacuation is to be conveied Now since all and every one of the humours may be conveied by severall passages and waies as choler by vomit sweat or urine wee are therefore to looke into the inclination and propensenesse of nature and so if we perceive it incline upward manifested by a nauseous inclination to cast it is then to be purged by vomit upwards but if it take the course downewards and we perceive any propensenesse that way then wee are likewise to follow natures direction according to the golden precept of Hippocrates And hence it commeth to passe that wee often cure excessive casting by the same meanes and fluxes of the belly by glisters or some gentle abstersive purges howbeit the vulgar often wonder at such proceeding and out of their stupid ignorance often traduce this so laudable and warranted way The convenient places or passages by which humours are evacuated are such as receive these noisome humours without any hurt to themselves in the which neverthelesse wee are to consider as well the nature of the part whereunto wee expell the humour as the consent and affinity it hath with the other parts To this end wee must consider that it be no principall part by which we can never purge without prejudice to the party purged and besides that it be a place for this same end and purpose of nature for apart as the guts bladder wombe the pores of the skinne c. Now although nature sometimes attempt some such evacuation as in criticall excretion of blood by the nose the blood passing by the braine an impostume of the lungs by the urinarie passages the guts and the hollow passages of the heart yet the Physitian is not to take this course unlesse when of two evills we are to chuse the lesser By the consent and sympathy of the parts the way of evacuation is also found out and hence is it that the hollow part of the liver by reason of the sympathy it hath with the stomacke and guts is purged by those waies but the backe and bossed part of the liver for the connexion it hath with the kidnies and bladder is by them for the most part evacuated And sometimes when great store of grosse humours conveied thither from the mesentary and hollow parts of the liver are there seated then the skilfull Physitian is carefull lest by their abundance and thicknesse they stop up the narrow passages of the kidnies and bladder with faâ—re greater conveniency to convey them to the large passages of the guts The passages by which the humours are to be purged must not likewise be of too exquisite feeling lest by this meanes insue swounding fainting gnawing of the stomacke and a sudden overthrow of strength We must likewise beware lest the matter to be purged be conveied by the part already surprized with the disease But if nature of it selfe should attempt any evacuation a wrong way then this were suddenly to be suppressed and the matter to be drawne backe againe another way except some other rub come in the way And Hippocrates testifieth that many thicke grosse and tough glutonous humors are easilier evacuated downewards by the guts but thinne sharpe serous humors more easily by urine and sweat And againe elsewhere he testifieth that cholericke humours are easilier purged upwards and melancholicke
of man together with the manner IT followeth now in order that wee say something concerning the veines to be opened in the body of man Vnder this name veine wee understand besides the ordinary veines the arteries also which by antient Physitians were often opened for divers infirmities the arteries have their originall from the great artery planted in the heart and sending branches thorow the whole body filled with a pure thin subtile and more refined blood than that of the veines and full of the vitall spirits These arteries are not with us usually opened as they were in antient times and that both in regard they are not so easily found also for the difficultie in the solidation there being danger of gangrene or at least of a dangerous tumour called ancurysma which are hard to be cured of these therefore I will say no more The liver is the fountain and wel-spring of blood from whence by the veines as it were so many pipes it is conveied thorow the whole body The two principall or master-veins taking both their being and beginning are the great hollow veine called by our Anatomists vena cava and the other vena porta or the porter-veine From these two especially vena cava are many great branches ful of blood distributed thorow the whole body Of these branches aâ— need requireth either by way of prevention or curation we open sometimes one sometimes another as well for generall evacuation as in great repletions and prevention of diseases as also sometimes to evacuate blood abounding either in quantity in quality or both in some great and dangerous diseases It is againe sometimes used for revulsion and sometimes for derivation as hath beene said already Sometimes also we use more particular evacuation of the veines as by leaches scarification with cupping as afterwards shall appeare The veines usually opened in the arme are sixe Cephalica Basilica Mediana Axillaris and besides these yet two other the one running downe the arme like a cord passing betwixt the thumbe and the formost finger and another runneth out betwixt the ring-finger and the little finger Among all these veines of the arme none more safe to be opened than the Cephalica or humeraria as having neither nerve nor artery under it as the others have These three first mentioned are most usually opened in the arme and sometimes the smaller veines upon some occasions to wit either when the great veins are not conspicuous or perhaps when we feare the strength of the party in which case the salvatella running betwixt the ring finger and the little finger is opened For these great master-veines send downe small branches which are distributed among the fingers All these veines are branches of the great ascendent truncke of the great hollow veine The Cephalica we open to evacuat and pull backe from the head and parts above the necke The Basilica or liver veine to evacuat and pull backe from the liver and all parts beneath the necke The mediana or middle veine drawes as well from the parts above as beneath the necke The Salvatella as well right as left are used to be opened in infirmities of the liver and spleen That which runneth out betwixt the formest finger and the thumb is not so often opened In the head there be divers veines which vpon occasion may bee opened howbeit not all in use there being few Surgeons so skillfull as to open them well There is one in the forehead usually opened for a paine in the hinder part of the head as also for the numnesse and heavinesse of the head and for the inflammation of the eyes called Ophthalmia The veines of the temples and in the corners of the eyes helpe the megrim old inflammations of the eyes scabs and inflammations of the eie lids But wee proceed now to veines usually opened in the foot howbeit there be divers more veines in and about the head which might upon occasion by a skillfull Artist be opened howbeit there is in frequent request phlebotomy of the veines called ravinae in a Squinancy and internall inflammations of the almonds Tensills and Tongue In the foot then there are two veines usually opened the one called Ischiadica or vena poplitis in the out-side of the foot usually opened in inflammations beneath the kidnies especially after the Basilica of the arme hath been once opened Saphena in the inside of the foot we open especially in infirmities of the womb as in retention of the menstruous fluxe c. And these veines are branches of the great truncke descendent of the great hollow veine Many ignorant Surgeons doe indifferently oftentimes open the wrong veine in the foot in women that in the outside for the other in the inside and so doe them wrong In phlebotomy we are likewise to observe a rectitude or answering of the place affected to the place by which we evacuat and this in revulsion is the best way and giveth speediest ease as in a Pleurisie to open a veine in the arme of the same side as if in the right side the right arme if in the left the left arme And Galen himselfe witnesseth that the parts of the body which have this relative situation have likewise a great communion or sympathy one with another as likewise eruptions of blood proceeding from any part of the side affected bring no small profit whereas that which proceedeth from the contrary side bringeth but small benefit or if otherwise it is after a long time But upon many other particulars concerning this point and many other alterations concerning the veines to be opened I thinke it not pertinent now to insist The manner of opening of the veine and the orifice are not to bee passed over Now as for the manner of the section it is of three sorts oblique or slopwise when as wee reiterate this operation the same day transverse or overthwart when as wee purpose no reiteration downe-right when we intend reiteration the next day Sometimes also we make a larger orifice and sometimes againe a narrower A large orifice we use when the blood is cold thicke clammie and melancholicke in Harvest and Winter and in strong and able constitutions And therefore in all diseases proceeding from melancholicke or phlegmaticke blood as in the Fever quartane quotidian madnesse proceeding from melancholy in the braine Apoplexie suppression of menstruous fluxes in women we are to use a large and ample orifice as likewise when we are to make use of a plentifull evacuation Sometimes againe we are to make a smaller orifice and that both to prevent weaknesse to evacuat the thinnest blood and to avoid the dangers which might insue upon immoderate evacuation If the party likewise prove unruly as in Delirations or Phrenesies or yet fall out in the night time the same course is to be taken and the sicke to bee watched lest the opening againe of the orifice should procure a dangerous if not deadly
lose a farre greater quantity of blood than the former No more is the changing of the colour of the blood especially in inflammations and many more cases besides any certaine signe of the true quantity Now this change of colour is either to be observed in the fluxe or after in the fluxe it is hardly discerned and after it is to small purpose and we see oftentimes that after a double or triple reiteration the blood is still bad and yet were it not safe to goe on still untill the blood appeare better for so sometimes we might exhaust all the blood of the body And this is diligently to be observed of covetous or ignorant surgeons either in the City or the country many being often too ready to exceede the limits of reason as little certainty is there to be found in the changing of the face eyes And in the streame or impetuosity of the fluxe of blood there is yet as litle certainty as in the former the which many waies faile before a ful evacuation howbeit none of these are to be slighted neglected We are then to judge of the competent quantity principally by the ease ensuing and the patients easie enduring of the same Now although sudden alieniation doe not alwaies ensue yet were it better againe and againe to reiterate the same than proceed too farre at first as we have said already although the antients proceeded to an excessive quantity as 6. or 7. pounds at a time and a late Writer relateth strange stories of prodigious and stupendious evacuations in this kind which I had rather beleeve than make triall of the like Our Brittaine bodies I am sure would never endure such vast evacuations But I hold the rule of the learned Celsus far better that it is good to be sparing in the use of those remedies which evacuat strength the preserver and gardian of our lives and in stead of credit purchase often disgrace to the Physitian Now when as wee cannot at once evacuat a due quantity then as said is we come to reiteration And this both in evacuation revulsion and derivation is a very effectuall remedy and the oftner this reiteration be used the more effectuall is the revulsion saith Galen Now in reiteration if necessitie urge us not much and we not so well as yet acquainted with the patients strength it is better to beginne with the lesser quantity but if necessity constraine us and we assured of the patients strength it is better at first to beginne with a greater quantity and more the second time than the third If we are to let blood in any inflammation wee are to reiterate it the same or the next day and out of the arme Reiteration by way of preservation may bee deferred untill the third or fourth day Now before we proceed we must say something of a point whereof some ignorants make a scruple for oftentimes it commeth to passe when the physitian not without great need prescribeth this so lawfull and use full a remedy that some are afraid to venture on it not out of any present feare or faint-heartednesse but for feare say they lest our bodies looke for it againe every yeere To this the answere is easy that if there be the like occasion the yeere after I see not why thou maiest not with as good reason as before yeeld to the use thereof If there be no need I warrant thee from incurring any danger for this omission Some againe use to bleed twice a yeere and feare some great danger if this be neglected and it may be demanded whether this be well done or no blood being the treasure of life and the fountaine and originall of all the spirits I answere I would wish thee to bee well advised how thou partest from such a Jewell yet because some may have more need than others as namely sanguine complexions with large and ample veines living in ease and idlenesse may with good counsell be bolder than others Some doe this meerely out of custome as many of our country people will without any occasion or good counsell bleed in the Spring many covetous country-surgeons and I wish there were none in the City also will sooth them up in this erroneous opinion and bleed them without any necessity at all yea although it prove oftentimes the cause of many after-ensuing dangerous diseases But such as have without any need for a long time inured themselves to so base acustome I advise them by degrees to change this custome into a better and if they be such as have been accustomed to live in ease and idlenesse and to feed liberally I wish them to bee more frequent in their exercises and more sparing in their Diet so shall they both live longer and injoy better health No certaine perpetuall rule can here be prescribed to all bodies yet will it prove alwayes the safest especially in a businesse of so great a weight and moment to establish thy thoughts by good counsell for feare of a too late repentance There is yet another erroneous opinion for want of the knowledge of naturall philosophy and ignorance of anatomy hatched in the braines of some ignorant people to wit that when as they perceive any palpitation by reason of some inclosed aire either in the muscles of the temples jawes or any other place they are of opinion that the life is then in that place and by consequent if the blood should at that same instant be let out of that place that the party would instantly be deprived of life And a learned Germane Physitian relateth that some ignorant Surgeons after the falling of the blood out of the vein into the vessell perceiving it sometimes by reason of some flatuous matter mingled therewith a little to move or tremble made the party presently to drinke up this warme blood affirming that this was the very life whose sottish ignorant and erroneous opinion the same author doth there learnedly confute on the which I cannot now insist having now yet many other things to handle both concerning Phlebotomy and other matters But I hope our people will be wiser and leave many of their foolish idle ignorant and superstitious opinions both concerning Phlebotomy and other points of Physicke As for this flatulent windy matter the letting of it out if there be not therewith too great an abundance of blood will rather doe thee good than hurt and as for the life it is not confined to any particular part but diffused thorow the whole parts of the body although it be more principally or as we may say radicativè in the more noble and principall parts the Braine Heart and Liver according to the seats of the three principall powers or faculties animall vitall and naturall CHAP. VIJ. Of the fittest time for evacuation by Phlebotomy both generall and particular both of election and coaction as also whether wee may safely let blood
so that notwithstanding there may easily be seene such causes as increase blood together with some conspicuous tumor or arising in the veines there following in the body as it were some acrimony and sharpenesse to the sense To draw therefore this Chapter to a conclusion phlebotomy is a most soveraine and excellent remedy not onely in the aforenamed infirmities but also in many other as in all Fevers proceeding of blood as well without as with putrefaction and of any other humor putrified and that both in continuall and intermitting even of Quartanes and head-aches proceeding of blood in the Dropsie proceeding of suppression of blood in Strangury retention or difficulty of urine proceeding of a hot cause and in the Palpitation of heart in health comming without any manifest cause and in divers sorts of obstructions as the Jaundize c. Where these are wanting the strength weake and in the presence of any great evacuation as fluxe of the belly vomits much sweating in young children women with child unlesse in great extremity we are not to use this noble and generous remedy And withall let this rule alwayes be observed that it is alwaies better to use this remedy by way of prevention in the approaching rather than in the presence of the disease Let every one therefore beware how they trust ignorant Empirickes and desperate bold Barber-surgeons to rely I meane upon their judgements in so weighty a matter when there is question of losing this noble elixir of life CHAP. IIJ. Whether in contagious maligne and pestilentiall Fevers and in the small Pox and Measels as likewise in the Iaundize phlebotomy may safely be administred BY that which hath been said already concerning Phlebotomy it is apparent that Phlebotomie in Fevers is a soveraigne and approved good remedy which is confirmed by the common consent of all our judicious and learned Physitians And Galen himselfe is of the same opinion where hee alloweth of this remedy as well in continuall as in intermitting Fevers provided alwaies the strength hold out and the age be answerable But then here ariseth no small doubt whether in contagious maligne and pestilentiall diseases so noble and generous a remedy may be used And it would seeme that the negative is to be holden in that in such diseases commonly the heart the fountà ine of life is assaulted the spirits also infirme and for this cause it would seeme wee should rather use alexipharmaks and cordiall remedies in this case most proper to strengthen and corroborate the vitall spirits and to expell if it be possible this poison from the heart whereas any great evacuation especially of this so usefull for mainteining of life may by the evacuation of spirits rather hinder then helpe forward the cure of such diseases The answere to this question must be by distinction for we must consider that the Pestilence it selfe for I will beginne with the most dangerous setteth upon the body of man after divers manners as sometimes striking suddenly without any shew or at least it is scarce discernible in which case it were a desperate course to attempt any such evacuation but then the onely cure is with antidots to oppugne the disease and by all meanes possible to underprop and uphold the decaying spirits of the patient Againe often and many times and more frequently especially in these our Northerne and cold countries this infection is accompanied with a Fever and often meeteth with plethoricall bodies as living in ease and idlenesse and then I see no reason why phlebotomie should or ought be denied unto such bodies if especially administred in the beginning strength age and other circumstances then concurring And that this hath alwaies been the b practice of the learned both antient and latter Physitians I could make it easily appeare if I were not afraid to spend too much time which by reason of divers matters yet to handle I must husband Now if this hath place in the pestilentiall Fever of all others most dangerous then much more hath it place in other Fevers participating indeed of a certaine malignity howbeit not pestilentiall Of this nature is that Fever which hath now divers times especially of late yeeres swept away many lusty people out of this Iland This Fever is of the nature of putrid continuall Fevers and yet not tied to any one particular kind It is called by reason of the evill quality Febris maligna approaching neare the confines of the pestilentiall Fever howbeit commeth farre short of it in malignity this disease being indeed contagious per contactum onely when as such as are yet free are infected by touching the body that is sicke especially in their sweat and sometimes also by being too neare their breath and therefore wee see it often come to passe that a whole family is one after another infected with the same when as others who come to the sicke by way of visitation goe free provided they be not too busie about them But the pestilentiall fveer infecteth often by inspiration of the ambient aire although they have no commerce with the sicke of the same disease This fever is also called febris petechialis from the little blacke or blew spots like unto flea bits which notwithstanding differ from those of the pestilentiall fever It is also called morbus hungaricus or the hungarian disease by reason it hath been and is very frequent among the people of that nation It is now become a free denison in these our countries the smart whereof hath been of late yeeres experimentally felt here among us Now it may here be demanded whether Phlebotomy may be of any use in this maligne fever The reason why I take upon me to discusse this question is because of the ignorance and error of many people who have conceived so hard an opinion of this so noble and generous remedy in this disease that if the patient die after the use thereof they impute this successe to the use of this remedy and the vulgar often are affrighted at the very mentioning of it and as they are commonly jealous of the best actions of the Physitians and apt to interpret every thing in the worst sense so commeth it to passe in this particular It is true indeed that many after the use of the best meanes doe many times miscary the Almighty who first made man having set downe a period of time for every one which no man can passe and because the skillfull Physitian not being able to dive into the secret counsell of his Maker as being a man and no God useth the likeliest meanes which by reason and his owne and other mens experiences he thinketh fittest to grapple with this strong champion in the which combat the violence of the disease being so great that it will not yeeld to any meanes is it reason that the Physitian for all his care and diligence should be so sharply censured I doe not deny but that
assigned to him two ravenous vultures to eat vp his ever new renewing liver But that which yet surpasseth all other authorities the Wise man in the Proverbs alluding to this maketh mention of a dart striking thorow the liver of a libidinous young man punishing that part where was the root of his sinne The like butchery doth this cruell tyrant love exercise upon many who can scarce ever be satiat although many times injoying that they have long desired neither can yet the rule of reason so over-rule this brutish and sensuall apetite but that it still burneth the very inward marrow of the bones as the Poet well expresseth it Fecit amor maciem longa internodia crurum Love makes the body pale and leane it marres the members quite and cleane Now the infirmities which follow this disorderly passion are not a few as namely decay of strength fainting and swounding hollow eyes a body pale and destitute of blood languishing crudities continuall watchings palpitation of the heart trembling of the joints sometimes madnesse deepe melancholy consumptions and the like These and many more like effects are the attendants of this lustfull and disorderly passion How dangerous a thing then it is to give way to this so disorderly affection if there were nothing else but what hath beene said already may easily appeare How many by this meanes have anticipated the ordinary period appointed for man to live And whereas it is naturall for all creatures to seeke their owne preservation yet have many so farre infringed this sacred law of nature that they have put violent hands into themselves so becomming their owne executioners and that sometimes by way of desperation being affraid to be deprived of that booty they so eagerly pursued after And of this that famous Physitian Plater maketh mention of a scholler and student in physicke who being farre in love with a Doctor of the same professions daughter and for some disparity despairing of ever obteining that hee aimed at with sublimat poysoned himselfe having first set downe in a paper the cause thereof But with such examples and many tragicall stories many bookes are stuffed full and many of our young Gentlemen and Gentlewomen I doubt are better versed in such legends than in the sacred historie of the Bible And many have bin by this disorderly passion so farre transported that at the command of a base strumpet a prodigious thing ever to enter into the thought of a reasonable man they have cast away that life which the Lord of life had allotted them to doe him service To omit antient histories a late Writer maketh mention of one Galeacius Duke of Mantua living then at Padua A Mistresse of his wished him if hee loved her to throw himselfe into the river Brenta the which being then on horse-backe setting spurres to his horse hee presently accomplished I wish by the talion law shee had her selfe beene served after the same manner But it may perhaps then be demanded what is the remedy to prevent so dangerous a passion The heathens themselves set downe divers good directions in this case which would to God Christians would imitate whereof one principall is to avoid idlenesse the mother of all mischiefe That amorous Poet setteth downe this idlenesse as a principall incentive to this unlawfull lust Quaeritur Aegistus quare sit factus adulter In promptu causa est desidiosus erat Men aske the cause why Aeâ—isthus adultery did commit The reason 's plaine he sloth â—ill was sloth lov'd and liv'd in it The same Poet willeth us to shunne the fight of the object beloved and whatsoever may nourish or cherish the secret flame of the which we are also warned by another although himselfe and Epicure Sed fugitare decet siumulachra pabula amoris absterrere sibi alio convertere mentem All wanton pictures feeding love avoid shunne and decline And turne thou still another way thine eye thine heart and minde I have a little before in another chapter touched upon a principall remedy concerning the care parents ought to have in the education of their children and therefore as likewise being a theme proper for the Divine I will not here meddle any more with it nor repeat any thing that hath beene said already But it will perhaps be demanded what is then the remedy for such as are already intangled with this love passion I answer that here I have not undertaken to set downe a particular cure of this or any other particular infirmity but only to set downe some generall directions to remedy this passion There must therefore a due consideration be had of the individuall partie considering the sexe age temperature and constitution of body and the object whereunto this furious passion is fixed If there may be a yeelding to the parties desire without the breach of the lawes of God and man although perhaps some disparity betwixt the parties in regard of wealth birth or both yet if there be danger in the deniall my opinion is rather to yeeld to an inconvenience than to a mischiefe especially where the disparity is not so great But when as this cannot be atteined unto without breach of Gods commandement wee must never doe evill that good may come of it nor commit one sinne to prevent another but use all other lawfull meanes and commit the successe to him that can bring light out of darknesse and is able to bring his owne purpose to passe without any mans sinne Let them use such meanes as wee have already set downe in that place already mentioned It is true wee read of Erasistratus the Physitian that hee found Antiochus sonne to King Seleucus to be now almost consumed and pined away with the love or rather lust of Stratonice his mother in law insomuch that to his seeming there was now no other way but the inioying of his lust to save his life this too indulgent parent gave way to his unlawfull lust But wee are to remember this was but a heathen and such actions not to be drawne into imitation But among us in this age there is many times a great oversight in parents who stand often so punctually upon some points as of wealth especially and some others that vertue and true worth the true feare of God especially is set in the last place and scarce indeed regarded in any place Hence commeth if often to passe that many of our young prodigalls so gallop out of their goodly estates and are throwne off their horse before ever they were well setled in the saddle and their wealth many times quite vanished away before they atteine to a dragme of wit I speake not here against some sutable proportion betwixt parties to be matched in marriage and some competent meanes according to their places and callings but my meaning is that many times true worth and vertue is so by worthlesse people undervalued that this proverbiall speech is
the place of the weapon that made the wound which oftentimes he confessed was done by guesse he did aswell performe the cure as if the blood had stucke upon it out of which revelation or detection saith our Defendant for they are his owne words I gather that all the mystery of this cure consisteth in the secret and invisible spirit that is within the blood aswell remaining still and operating in the wounded body as that which hath penetrated invisibly into the weapon or else without the presence of the visible blood it could not operate Out of which I againe likewise collect that if all this mystery consist in the secret and invisible spirit of the blood then no part of this mystery consisteth in the salve and so by consequence the variety of ingredients blood fat mummy mosse and bones the observation of the starres and position of the heavens in the collection and composition are of no efficacy and not to be regarded and consequently it will follow that this is a meere gull and tricke put upon the world to cozen them and by this meanes the cure will answere the name by some imposed to wit impostorious Againe whereas it is said that the cure was aswell performed without any blood to be seene upon the weapon as with it that the same Noble man ingeniously confessed that he was often forced to anoint the weapon by guesse I againe gather this conclusion that the former tenent of the emanation of the spirits of the blood in the wound to that of the weapon and the sympathy betwixt both is frivolous and idle The weapon is sometimes anointed by guesse there being no blood sticking on the same whereby to discerne it and yet this stout Champion where both sense and reason faile loath to have the foile will needes have the spirits of the blood to bee there by secret penetration I thought strange before to heare of so subtile penetrant spirits of blood separated from the body and now I confesse I am more amazed to heart as much of the emanation of spirits of blood where no blood at al is to be seene In a peice of wood perhaps there might be more appearance of this penetrating spirit but in yron or steele it is farre more unlikely This as a tricke transcending that which hath hitherto been published Now to prove the operation of the Weapon-salve and confirme his former tenent although already by himselfe overthrowne besides that which hath been said already hee mustereth up a number of other examples both homebred and forren One is of a Noble knight now resting in peace who often staied any fluxe of blood at a pretty distance if he might but get a handkercher of the parties with some of the same parties blood sticking thereon the which manner of cure because built on the same foundation with that which hath beene said already concerning the sympathy betwixt blood and blood what hath been said already shall now suffice howbeit the argument used is but impertinent that if this knight had thought this cure unlawful would hee have persisted in the use thereof And the Defendant himselfe sayes Bernardus non videt omnia this knight might likewise bee perswaded of the lawfulnesse of this cure and yet doe not milions of people often commit enormious crimes which their consciences doe witnesse to be sinnes And this I am sure none will deny I deny not notwithstanding that many who both use this weapon-salve and many other unwarrantable are perswaded of the lawfulnesse of the same neither yet doe I thinke so uncharitably of all such persons as have through ignorance used either this or some other cures of the like kind which is the cause I take this paines to acquaint them with the truth and to reclaime them from their erroneous opinions Other sympatheticall and magneticall cures as they are called are likewise in the same chapter produced some of them in my opinion and I doubt not but I shall have many both of judicious learned and religious on my side as like cacomagicall cures as an egge is like another and therefore if this may passe for current coine I warrant we shall not bee unfurnished of such commodities The first is concerning the cure of withered members by taking some of the nailes haire and skinne of this member stopping them in a hole of a willow or hazell tree bored with an auger or wimble fastened with a peg of the same wood and close stopt up and to give the better glosse to the matter it is added that the motion of the heavenly bodies the Moone to bee increasing and the good Planets in such a multiplying signe as is Gemini c. This cure is by him also called magneticall concerning which manner of cures because I have already said something I shall not now need to speake much We have had already much adoe about the spirits of the blood moving to and fro for the which were pretended many faire shewes of reason howbeit to small purpose as hath been already proved and now behold wee have as great yea greater matters performed without this loud-crying blood and the spirits of the same Now the very excrementitious parts by most of our Physitians denied the very name of parts haire nailes and skinne seeme to be as efficacious as the blood it selfe Nay any old wife can cure warts by rubbing the same with a piece of raw beefe and after burying the same in the ground the which as it rotteth and wasteth away so doth the wart Well then according to the Defendants owne assertion this is performed without any observation of the heavens which have here no energy and indeed the starres are made but a stalking horse to hide a great deale of cosenage in the like cures as may by that which hath been already said easily appeare But now I would aske mine Author whether there be as great and efficacious spirits in those dry excrementitious parts as was in the blood from whence was fetched the sanative or healing vertue In the first place then it is said these parts were withered and dried up and these excrementitious parts especially now amputated from the part wherunto they pertained I thinke not so well furnished with balsamicke spirits as that they might impart some to this member from whence they were fetcht there being no bond to tye them to communicate that to others which they have not themselves From whence then proceedeth this sanative vertue If it be answered from the starres I have already confuted that yea he himselfe hath made it void But if it be answered from the tree I demand againe what so great a sympathy betwixt the tree willow or hazell and the parts of a mans body What is there such a sympathy betwixt a vegetable and an animall are trees and plants furnished with such spirits as may supply the defects in man As for the event that so it commeth
a looking-glasse and when as they should see their countenance looke so furiously in every respect like one in a phrensie it would be a meanes for ever after to make them refraine from this so fierce and furious passion The same Philosopher being angry with his servant and preparing himselfe to punish him it fell out that in the meane time Xenocrates came in whom Plato intreated to punish his servant for him alleaging that now bee was angry This wise Philosopher by reason of the commotion of his minde mistrusted himselfe And yet is this the ordinary custome among men then to punish and correct when they are most transported with this passion It was the saying of Aristotle that Prince of Philosophers that as smoak so troubleth and dazleth the eye-sight that wee are scarce able to discerne such things as are right before us even so doth anger so farre blinde the eyes of the understanding that a man cannot for the present discerne hee doth amisse according to that vulgar verse Impedit ira animum ne possit cernere verum The same Aristotle being acquainted with Alexanders hasty and angrie disposition wrote to him after this manner Anger and wrath is not commonly exercised against our equalls but against our betters and now there is no man on earth to be compared with thee Bias the Prienean was wont to say that there were two things contrary to good counsell hast and anger for an angrie man being besides himselfe is void of all counsell Chilon taught that it was good to overcome anger with reason the which affection is stronger than any other the which to overcome is more excellent and requireth more strength than to over-come an enemy neither receive wee lesse hurt from anger than from an enemie Diogenes upon a time seriously disputing against this passionate anger in comes a young rake-hell and to try his patience and whether hee could practise that himselfe hee taught others spate in his face But the Philosopher replyed I am not angrie howbeit I doubt whether I ought not to be angrie Democrates seeing a Lacedemonian in great anger beating his servant wished that hee himselfe should cease to be of his servants servile condition for he is a servant that cannot command his owne affections Architaes having found some of his seruants in some fault and finding himselfe somewhat incensed against them yet did nothing to them at that time but departing added these words Happy are you that I am now angry at you One Demonax being asked of one to whom a great Emperor had committed an army by what meanes hee might best discharge his duty in this so weighty a businesse answered if thou beest free from anger The same Wise-man advised people not easily to be angrie with any but rather to use all meanes to amend their faults imitating in this Physicians who are not angry with their patients but labour to cure their infirmities By that which hath been said may then easily appeare what is the duty of Christians and how farre wee come short of these heathens destitue of any other guide but the light of nature the which comparing these two cases and paralleling the one with the other may more perspicuously yet appeare But this I leave to the learned Divine at great length to prosecute But before I leave this point I cannot passe over in silence that worthy and memorable example of that famous Emperour Theodosius and his constitution worthy to be ingraven in letters of gold on pillars of brasse for a perpetuall memoriall to posteritie to shun and avoid rash anger This great Emperor by reason of a sudden sedition raised in the towne of Thessalonica sent thither his troupes who slew of the citizens about 7000 men This good Emperor although hee had no small provocation to incite him to this revenge yet because this remedy was somewhat sharpe for the disease hee not onely repented him of the fact being by Saint Ambrose for the space of eight moneths first therefore excommunicate but made such a decree as I wish Princes and great ones well to consider of it that no decree made by any Prince should be put in execution before the full space of thirty daies were accomplished that in the meantime that might be fulfill'd Give place to wrath and lest the like accident should againe befall any that had befallen those of Thessalonica And yet as a late Writer well observeth there were three great and notorious offences which incited this pious Emperour to this severe revenge lest it may be imagined that like a Tyrant hee raged thus against his subjects without any seeming reason for a small or no cause at all For in the first place the people would not suffer a villaine to be punished who had ravished a youth to abuse him against nature againe when as hee was by this good governour committed to prison they raised a tumult about so infamous a businesse and when as this governour did labour to suppresse this their sedition they killed both him and divers others of worth assisting him But it is now more than time wee come to the hurt it procureth to the bodie both in sicknesse and in health And first in health it often altereth the naturall comlinesse and decency thereof changeth the colour of the face dazleth the eyes maketh the tongue clamorous armeth all the parts of the body as hands feet teeth c. And as for diseases thereby procured to the body they are not a few and no passion more prejudiciall to the life of man and which more accelerateth or hasteneth on old age And this to be consonant and agreeable to right reason may easily appeare for anger being nothing else but a heat or ebullition of the blood and a violent motion of the same in the heart which at length with violence is diffused and dispersed over the whole body as Galen himselfe defineth it it must needes over-heat and dry up the bodie by which meanes it sometimes exciteth Fevers in such bodies especially as are apt for a long time to reteine this impression of heat And although oftentimes the violent motion of the heart be setled and staid there remaineth notwithstanding in the body an unnaturall heat from whence often proceed Fevers Many also overtaken with this passion have beene suddenly surprized with Apoplexies Epilepsies Convulsions Palsies trembling of the joints and gouts of all sorts Some also have fallen into Pleuresies laundizes many sorts of laskes proceeding of choler c. But such especially are most offended with this passion that are of a hotter constitution of bodie than ordinary either naturall or adventitious by meanes of any infirmitie but such especially as have the head and heart hot naturally or accidentally are most obnoxious to hurt by the same In all hot and acute diseases therefore as also in hot cholericke constitutions we are by all meanes possible to prevent this passion the
and lastly of a more solid substance flesh and bone Now these three from the very first beginning to the end of our daies are continually decaying and therefore must daily be repaired if life be continued The losse then of the first is repaired by meanes of this aire of the two later by meanes of meate and drinke Now since the use of this element is so great that it not onely cooles and refreshes the excessive heat of the heart but also repaires our decaied spirits wee will say something thereof The proper quality then of the aire is reputed to be warme joined with moisture I meane in a temperate and not in any excessive degree howbeit according to the severall and manifold alterations it is subject unto it often altereth not the body onely but the minde of man also A good laudable and temperate aire is a great meanes to uphold the health on the contrary being corrupted it proveth often the cause of many diseases and that the aire doth not a little affect the mind may from hence be evinced that such aire as we most commonly breath in such spirits are there ingendred Of a thicke and cloudy aire thicke and grosse spirits are most commonly produced For this cause the Athenians were accounted wiser than the Thebans by reason they lived in a purer and more refined aire And all Scythia brought forth but one famous Philosopher Anacharsis and this they impute to the thicknesse of the aire of that countrey Plato made choice of a moist and moorish place in the suburbs of the City of Athens to teach in and that of set purpose to blunt the sharpe edge of his pregnant wit And Plato himselfe affirmeth that Minerva being to build the City of Athens did well before consider the nature and quality of that countrey as promising no lesse then such famous worthy wits as in antient histories are recorded Now the healthfulnesse and goodnesse of the aire according to Galen is determined by the purity and good temper thereof A pure aire is called a subtill aire infected with no corrupted vapours nor noisome smells A temperate aire is such a one wherein we neither quiver for cold nor yet sweat for heat Now if the aire of any countrey whatsoever of it selfe naturally unhealthfull no art of man ever can amend it and then the best remedy I know is with all possible speed to make choice of a better If the aire be but accidentally bad then there may be use of Art and so it may according to the excesse in any quality be corrected as wee read that Hippocrates corrected the malignity of a pestilentiall aire by making of great fires of sweete smelling wood as concerning that alteration of the aire occasioned by meanes of the times and seasons of the yeere we are alwaies carefully to preserve the laudable temperature thereof by contrary remedies as farre as in us lieth as the sharpnesse of winter is to be helpt by good fires and warme clothes In the parching heat of summer we are to coole and refresh our bodies by correcting the aire with contrarie coolers especially within doores as also by the use of thinner clothing Now that aire which any one hath suck'd in from his infancie suteth farre better with that constitution than another howsoever perhaps in it selfe of a more laudable quality It behooveth therefore every one as far as in them lieth to make choice of a good and laudable aire But because most men must be contented with that aire they first breathed in therefore this would chiefly be diligently carefully considered of our new colonies who transplant themselves into remote regions that they first make choice of a country whose naturall temper differeth not much from their owne but with this proviso that it be rather warmer than colder than their owne In the next place let the place of thy particular habitation be setled in a good place of the countrey and that both in regard of the aire and water as also all other necessarie commodities Our Virginian colonies therefore were at the first in this very farre over-seene not being so carefull to build their townes in a good and laudable aire and likewise my Lord of Baltomore was too confident in setling himselfe in so tempestuous and cold a place of New-found-land which forced him at length quite to relinquish that land And I wish all other undertakers may take warning by other mens harmes Now it is to be observed that the aire is much altered in quality according to the high or low situation of the place and hence commeth it to passe that there is a great difference betwixt the aire of the high hills and that of the vallies the aire being commonly exceeding cold on the top of those hills yea even when it is indifferent warme in the lower regions and this travellers that passe the Alps and Pyrenean hills doe often finde true where the snow covereth their high tops when there is none to be found in the lower regions A Spanish Iesuit to this purpose relateth a strange story of such a high mountaine in the West Indies There is saith he in Peru a high mountaine whereupon hee ascended as well provided as he could being fore-warned by men expert But in the ascent both he and all his company were surprized with so sudden pangs of straining and casting and some also of scowring that the sea-sicknesse is not comparable thereunto He cast up phlegme choler and blood and thought he should have cast vp his heart also Some thinking presently there to die demanded confession and some are said to have lost their life by this accident The best is it lasteth but for a time and leaveth no great harme behinde it and thus it fareth in all the ridge of that mountaine which runneth above 1530. miles although not in all places alike In some different passages thereof he found the like difference and distemper but not so grievous as at Pariacaca He ascribeth it to the subtilty of the aire in those hills which he thinketh are the highest in the world the Alps and Pyrenees being in respect thereof as ordinary houses compared to high towers In other places of Peru men sometimes are found dead by reason of this sharpe aire and yet their bodies putrifie not which argueth an extreme pure cold penetrating aire Now this maketh it to seeme the stranger Peru being of it selfe situate within the Tropickes Now in the aire this is likewise to be considered that some aire better befitteth some bodies than others a moist foggy body agreeth better with a good dry aire and a dry constitution with a moderate moist aire and so of other complexions simple or compounded We are yet further in considering the aire to take notice of it according to the severall times of the day and therefore although the aire admitteth of many alterations and changes upon divers occasions yet that aire is
helpeth concoction and expelleth urine But still let the same cautions be observed which have beene mentioned in the use of other spices There is out of this likewise distilled a noble water and in great request for the aforesaid purposes in the use whereof notwithstanding I wish everyone especially women to be wise and circumspect Saffron although it be a simple growing with us here at home and in our owne soile yet is it nothing inferior to any of the former in regard of the excellency thereof for use It is hot in the second and dry in the first degree and much comforteth and cheereth the heart and reviveth the vitall spirits It is exceeding good against all obstructions both in man and woman against all obstructions of the liver against the Jaundize and stuffing of the pipes of the lungs good also to further the menstruall courses and facilitate the birth and therefore let women with child beware of the use thereof And I advise all to a moderate use of it by reason that taken in too great abundance it much offendeth the head and braine and oftentimes procureth the head-ach And this shall suffice to have said in briefe concerning the matter of diet in generall both for the whole and sicke as also of some sauces and spices in most frequent and ordinary use and concerning divers other things as yet here omitted in the diet of the diseased shall hereafter bee somewhat said at greater length And as concerning our spices although now we be well supplied from forraine parts yet are we not here at home unfurnished of many excellent and wholesome aromaticall plants very wholesome both in the use of physicke and food and whereof we have frequent and often use such as are Rosemary Lavander Time Savorie Sage Mints Penniroyal Basil sweet Cervill Avens Angelica and many others And a Germane Physitian much wondreth at his owne nation that being so well supplied at home with so many excellent aromaticall simples his country men are so eager of out-landish spices which both by reason of the remotenesse of those regions the difficulty of transportation the carelessenesse of the merchant and divers frauds and impostures are often brought unto us rotten worme-eaten or at least that have lost a great deale of their vertues CHAP. XXIII Of Gluttony and excesse in the use of food HAving now discoursed of severall sorts of Aliments and the right use of them I thinke it not amisse to say something of the abuse of these creatures and the great damage and danger doth from thence insue and this excesse we commonly call Gluttony and such as doe thus exceed we call Gluttons and Belli-gods Now if ever this saying Plures gula quam gladio perire More perish by intemperance than by the sword I thinke it is verified in this age wherein wee live Plato in his time esteemed that citie intemperate which mainteined many Physitians and used alwaies to exhort his followers to sobriety And remember saith Epictetus the Philosopher that at thy meales thou alwaies interteinest two guests the soule and body and that both these are by gluttony and intemperance oppressed and not refreshed The wise man wisheth thee to consider diligently what is be before thee and put a knife to thy throat saith he if thou be a man given to thy appetite Be not desirous of his dainties for they are deceitfull meat And since the life of man is since the first age of the world so much abbreviated why wilt thou by intemperanee abbreviate that small portion of time allotted thee here to live And if it be forbidden to kill another what barbarous inhumane cruelty is it for thee to lay violent hands upon thy selfe Now Gluttonie and intemperance weakeneth the naturall vigor and strength of the whole body together with all the senses and hindreth the right operation of the soule maketh the body crasy the life short and uncomfortable Whosoever therefore loveth his life and is desirous to injoy the benefit of health let him use a moderation in his meat and drinke and so let him use these good creatures to comfort and strengthen nature and not to give the full swinge to his disorderly appetite To reckon up all the diseases procured by this Gluttony were too tedious but let it suffice that in a word few diseases there are which are not by this belly-god sin of Gluttony procured to the body as Apoplexie Epilepsie Incubus called Night-mare all manner of distillations or rheumes oppression of the stomacke Crudities Vomits Lasks of severall kindes putrid Fevers of severall sorts disquietnesse and watching together with a multitude of other more And some who have been for a long time tormented with that mercilesse tyrant the Gout which contemned most generous remedies by means of abstinence and spare diet have at length recovered their perfect health The mind also and that reasonable soule which maketh a man differ from unreasonable creatures is not a little also by this odious sinne of Gluttony interessed and damnified Is it not apparent that it blunts the edge of the understanding Dulls and deads the intellectuall and reasonable part of the soule and breeds a sluggishnesse drowzinesse and stupiditie in the whole man and doth it not by this meanes make a man altogether unfit for any noble or excellent imploiment Let no man then esteeme this a small sinne which is also so antient that it had its originall in Paradice and joined with pride was the first originall and beginning of all the misery that ever befell mortall man Besides this Gluttony proveth fatall to a mans fortunes and in a few yeeres moneths or weekes wasteth that which might have mainteined many a multitude of yeeres And therefore we see daily by woefull experienee that many young gallants having in a very short space galloped out of great estates as having never well learned that golden lesson Non minor est virtus quam quaerere parta tueri It 's no lesse courage to mainteine than things at first to get and gaine Fall at length into penury and poverty and then being brought up in idlenesse and ease in affluence and abundance and without any lawfull calling the bane and breake-necke of many a young Gentleman before they will wrong their backe and bellie will rather betake themselves to some such unlawfull courses that will at length bring them to a tragicall and shamefull end Now because by reason of sinne the nature of man is so apt to exceed in the too too liberall use of the creatures therefore as well the sacred Oracles as prophane writers have shewed their dislike of this odious sinne and exhorted us to sobrietie And if the wise man commend sobriety in Princes whose prerogative royall might seeme to beare them out in excesse far beyond ordinary people what shall wee say of others Blessed art thou O Land when thy King is the sonne of Nobles and thy Princes eat in due
firme ground sandy rather than any other the house it selfe being of an indifferent and competent height and looking towards the south principally from Sommets heat well shaded yet not deprived of cooling winds and in Summer receiving the benefit of the Sun-beames in abundance the which ought also to bee accommodated with divers roomes differing in bignesse and situation where the sicke may solace himselfe according to times and seasons It is also here to bee understood that there bee no fennes marshes or any such noisome and stinking places neare to the sickes habitation Now next to this situation is that which is towards the Sun-rising but worst of al towards Sun-setting in Sommer especially for in such places the morning light is more unpleasant in which time notwithstanding the sicke should finde most solace And the morning Sunne doth purge and rectifie the ambient aire provided it be not admitted within the house untill it hath first a little cleansed the aire and dissipated and driven away the thicke vaporous night exhalations in moist times especially And it were to bee wished also there were some pleasant springs or some little cleere brooke or swift running little river not farre from this habitation Many great houses are now a daies so built both in cities and townes and in the countrie that there may be choice of roomes which way one will Low roomes especially vaults or caves under the earth are the fittest for Fevers spitting of blood and faintnesse of heart by reason of the coolenesse of the aire which better upholdeth and mainteineth strength than higher roomes Great and spatious roomes are fitter for fat and full bodies by reason they draw ever in fresh aire which discusseth and resolveth collected humors In narrow roomes the aire is suffocate and stiffled up And therefore we read that that great and memorable plague of the Athenians in the time of Thucidides did first of all set upon the poore mens cottages And common experience doth even so farre testifie unto us that in any Epidemicall contagious or pestilentiall diseases the meaner sort which live in little close roomes are sooner and in greater number than those who live in more spatious houses therewith surprized as I my selfe could instance And I beleeve many are able to say something to this purpose the alleies and other close places of the city of London at this last great and memorable plague But in cold frosty weather I confesse especially where is no feare of any such infection a close roome is not to bee refused provided it bee not made too hot and too many people be not suffered to be in it at once And by the way with Ranzovius I cannot but reject the use of the aire of stones or hot-houses as they are ordinarily used throughout all the Germane countries which are ordinarily made so hot that in the coldest frost of Winter one is not able to sit in them without sweating as I have often howbeit sore against my will experimentally tried And by this meanes the Pores of the body are so relaxed and dilated that they easily receive the impression of the first occurrent cold aire Now to this discourse of the aire habitation belongeth also to say something of the light wherwith the patient is often not a little affected If the sick be weake then the light often offendeth and is therefore to bee kept darke especially if the eies be weake If the sicke love the light let him enjoy it if no apparent danger be thereby procured if both be troublesome keepe a meane betwixt both Where the sicke is not offended with the light if the time and place concurre especially in Winter the beames of the glorious Planet Phoebus will not a little correct the ambient and comfort the patients weake spirits The colour of the walls come also here within our consideration which if whited with lime or chaulke are likewise offensive but especially if the roome be of it selfe full of light Hangings also of severall colours doe much trouble the eye-sight of the sicke especially if they be mad To this place may we also reduce that which writeth Hippocrates That it is not sufficient for the Physitian to play his part but the sicke and the assistants tending upon the sicke and besides all outward things must be accordingly accommodated Such as are about the sicke ought to bee gentle and couteous not peevish and froward observing the sickes humor and disposition and in reasonable and lawfull things ready to fulfill his just desires to cheere up and cherish the sicke and to give them good words but especially carefully and diligently to observe the Physitians prescriptions The Physitians saith Aristotle cannot alwaies cure the sicke because it is in the hand of another man that he cure according to art and not in the power of art it selfe Besides in the roome where the sicke lieth there should be heard no noise nor ought the sicke be troubled with much talking and therefore much company is to be avoided especially in hot diseases and the like seasons and narrow roomes which are thereby over heated And Pâ—â—nie writeth that it hath been observed that wounds have beene the worse by much trampling and stirring with peoples feet But concerning the aire there remaineth yet a question to be discussed whether the aire of townes and cities or that of the countrey be better Now this hath been an antient question among Physitians and it seemeth it was by the antients decided on the countries side in that the Temple of Aesculapius was built without the city of Rome intimating thereby the prerogative of the country-aire above that of cities and townes as witnesseth Plutarch and not for the gaine of Physitians as Pliny prateth It is true indeed that in the generall and for the most part the countrie aire is more open and free than that of cities and townes which oftentimes by reason of multitudes of people nearenesse of buildings narrownesse of streets especially if they be not kept sweet and cleane must needs bee farre inferior to the other And yet are there herein divers particular cautions and limitations to be observed Some country-aire is farre inferior to that of many townes witnesse the hundreths in Essex and the fennes in Lincolneshire by which it plainely appeareth there is great diversity in the qualities of the country-aires There is againe some country-aire in its qualities simply considered especially for the naturall inhabitants healthfull and yet for some constitutions very dangerous as many places of the North parts of this kingdome and Iland where the aire is very sharpe and penetrant and therefore might easily offend thinne and weake constitutions and consequently procure distillations from whence arise many dangerous diseases There is againe a great difference to be found in divers cities and townes for some are very great and populous as Paris and London c
Ghost and comfort unspeakable Worldly sorrow causeth death saith the Apostle but godly sorrow causeth repentance not to be repented of But many are the volumes written by our learned Devines concerning this subject among others a learned late Divine hath handled this point very punctually in his learned and elaborate Treatise of comforting afflicted consciences But this not being my proper element therefore I proceed There is yet a doubt concerning this point which resteth to bee discussed whether of griefe or sorrow any may dye To this question Galen himselfe maketh answer that one may dye of these passions and to this doe all Physitians assent and experience maketh it so appeare And this same Author seconds his authority with sound reason for in such passions the blood and spirits having a speedy and sudden recourse to the heart to succour the same in so great a need where aboarding it with too great violence and in too great a quantity they leave the outward parts of the body quite destitute of this blood and spirits We see what a strange effect this griefe wrought on good old Heli alas how small is our griefe for matters of this nature when he heard the arke of God was taken And that worthy woman his daughter in law although her husband were a prophane and wicked man yet at the hearing of the taking of the arke she was so much therewith affected that nothing no not the newes of a sonne borne of her womb could give her any comfort or hinder her from following the footsteps of her father in law in giving up the ghost And histories relate that Antiochus Epiphanes or rather as some well call him Epimanes that tyrant being chased out of Persia and hearing also that his generall Lysias was defeated and chased away by the Jewes by reason of greife and sorrow fell into grievous diseases although there was yet in him divine punition to be observed and yet not excluding naturall causes A famous Physitian and now and then mentioned in this discourse relateth a story to this same purpose A preacher of this City Basil he meaneth accompanied with his wife onely in the moneth of November returning from a village not farre from the towne hearing them call to shut up the gates hee ranne before to cause them keepe open the gate untill his wife came in and so entring himselfe supposed his wife had been entred after him the gate was shut and she excluded the keyes being as is the custome immediatly carried to the Burgermaster no entry is of any to be expected for that night as I found once too true by mine owne experience and neither could he get forth to her nor shee suffered to come in to him the night very darke this poore desolate woman all the night filling the aire with her complaints there being no house nor town within a great way of this city passed a part of the night and in the morning of this feare and griefe was found dead at the gate The same Author relateth yet two other stories making to us appeare the truth of this point A company of young wenches in the Spring of the yeere walking abroad in a faire morning they came to the place of publike execution where was still hanging upon the gallowes one who had been lately put to death These wild wenches beganne to throw stones at this dead corps at length one throwing a greater stone than the rest this corps turned round at the which motion this maid apprehended such feare and terror that strongly apprehending this dead corps to be alive with all possible speed shee ranne home still supposing this dead body followed her Being come home she fell into strong and violent convulsive fits and so died suddenly Another young maid about 16. yeeres of age went downe into a grave new digged where had beene layed heretofore some matron of the City of Basil and not as yet consumed this dead carkasse this young maid essayed to lift up by the armes but was presently striken with such a feare and terror that she went home and was seized with so violent Convulsions that her eyes were like to leape out of her head and so presently died and was the next day buried in a grave hard by the other as though this dead corps had called for her company as shee cryed out a little before her death In the late yeare 1630. in the beginning of January my presence and paines was craved for a yong Gentleman living within some few miles of Northhampton then sicke of a Fever Within some two or three dayes this gentleman still continuing very sicke the gentlewoman his wife being now quicke with child terrified with some accidents she saw in her husband and withall fearefull of some future event fell suddenly one morning into strong and violent fits of Convulsions being at other times also subiect thereunto the agitation of her head and armes being so violent sometimes drawne one and sometime another way that much trouble it was to hold her but withall the blood and spirits flying all upwards the nether parts were left so feeble that she was presently deprived of the use of her legs insomuch that she was in a chaire carried into another roome But yet the gentleman her husband recovering shee was in a few dayes freed from all her former fits and feares and at her full appointed time was safely delivered of her burden without any hurt or danger either of herselfe or infant I have the more willingly instanced in these particulars to make every one more carefully and circumspect in avoiding and shunning these passions and whatsoever may provoke or incite us thereunto The remedies shall appeare in the next Chapter where wee purpose to speake of the last passion CHAP. XXXIIIJ Of Ioy and Gladnesse and of the excesse thereof which may also hurt the body and whether any may die of excessive ioy THat the former passions are prejudiciall and often very hurtfull to mankinde especially if they exceed may easily obteine credit perhaps with an ordinary understanding but that joy and mirth so agreeable to our nature and so acceptable to our senses should ever produce any such effect will hardlierreceive entertainment And this may seeme yet so much the more strange in regard this is that we all principally aime at as being a soveraigne and excellent meanes not onely to preserve and mainteine our health but likewise to recover the same being already lost And good reason there is for this Joy being a motion of the minde to the outward parts with a certaine gratefull and delighting desire to lay hold on that which may give us content And yet there is withal such a violent motion and agitation of the blood and spirits that weake and pusillanimous people may bee much thereby endangered And the wise man intimates unto us such a moderation in every thing where hee warnes us to
Lord are incamped in the open fields shall I then goe into mine house to eate and drinke and lie with my wife as thou livest and thy soule liveth I will not do this thing There is yet a pregnant place for this same purpose That lie upon beds of yvory and stretch themselves upon their couch and eat the lambs out of the flocke and the calves out of the midst of the stall that chaunt to the sound of the viol and invent to themselves instruments of musick like David That drink wine out of bowles and anoint themselues with the chiefe ointments but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that goe captive and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed Let our Preachers apply these places I will not thrust my sickle into another mans harvest But now as concerning mirth and cheerefulnesse in diseased and sicke persons I thinke it is to them by all meanes to be procured and as I said already all manner of discontents are to be avoided But of all other sicke people to such especially as are otherwise of a melancholy constitution of bodie or sicke of any disease tending that way although but accidentally as likewise such as are of themselves fearefull and pusillanimous and easily dismaied at a small matter And herein is required great wisdome and circumspection and that the Physitian doe accommodate himselfe to the severall dispositions of his patients and to many particular circumstances concerning them which cannot punctually be set downe And howbeit this passion as well as others may sometimes exceed the bounds of mediocritie yet are not the sicke for the most part so much hereby indangered as by other passions Resteth now to discusse one question before we conclude Since joy and mirth is so agreeable to mankinde and lesse offensive than any of the rest it may then not without good reason be demanded whether any may die of this passion I answer that even Galen himselfe who was ignorant that any could die of anger yet did confesse that some might die of too great joy And there is some reason for it for the blood and spirits flying all from the center or heart to the circumference or outward parts the party must needs die the heart now being left destitute of such necessary provision and Pliny makes mention of some as of one Chile Sophocles Denis the Tyrant and of her who after that dismall battel of Canes contrary to a false rumor received her sonne alive whom she supposed to have bin dead And Purchas maketh mention of the like accidents even in this our age Abraham Kendall saith he put into the I le of S. Helena about the yeere 1592. and left on shore a sicke man whom Edmund Barker 18 moneths after found in good plight but their unexpected comming as it seemeth so ravished his weake spirits with ioy that it distracted him and being otherwise of constitution very well he died 8 daies after The like hee saith of a Portugall in the same place I wish therefore thou use moderate mirth and cheerefulnesse and such as be too much subject to sorrow and griefe to refraine therefrom and not to give way to any anxious cares which are the causes of many mischiefes both to the body and the minde Take therefore this counsell with thee Omnia curarum somenta relinque nec ullis Corpus habe pressum sollicitudinibus Anxia mens non ipsa sibi non rebus agendis constat ab hac vitium corpora saepe trahunt Hince variae pestes morborum mille figurae crede animam nostri corporis esse ducem Saepe graves ista veniunt ex arce labores sicut ab aercis pestilens aura plagis All things that may thy cares increase avoid and lay aside Keepe still thy heart from heavinesse let joy there still abide A pensive minde even to it selfe inconstant is alway And in all things it undertakes it keepes no constant stay From thence the body often drawes corruption and vice Hence plagues and of sore maladies a thousand sorts arise This know that of each man the soule is of his body guide From whence as from corrupted aire great pains in him reside And thus much shall suffice to have said of joy and mirth the true antidot against sorrow griefe and feare And this likewise shall suffice concerning all the passions and perturbations whereof I undertooke to speake and as I said at first I am not ignorant but that there are yet a many more affections which in time worke a deepe impression both on the body and minde of man yet worke they but leisurely and by degrees and worke no such sudden impression and therefore I passe them by The Conclusion of this whole Discourse BY that which hath beene said already may plainly appeare how excellent and how usefull is this Diet of the Diseased and how necessary it is to be carefull in the prescription thereof and from hence may evidently be evinced into what danger they precipitate themselves who fall into the hands of such unskilfull persons who are not able to advise them what Diet is best and what is worst And yet as by this precedent discourse hath plainely appeared Diet is that which principally and above all other meanes is narrowly to be looked into And that this is not a matter of so small a moment as by the vulgar it is accounted hath at great length by the authority of the learned in all ages beene plainely proved In the first particular then wee see wee must consider the nature of the aliment whether it be a vegetable as all sorts of plants fit for the use of man the variety whereof together with their severall vertues wee have at length set downe Againe there being such varietie of other creatures foure-footed beasts fowle and fishes which afford food for susteining of mans life their natures must be well knowne and what food they afford the sicke and how safe it is to administer the same Besides all this the right preparation is duely and carefully to be observed some sickenesses requiring one and some another kinde of food and a different preparation And besides the quantitie must carefully be observed and that according to severall individuall bodies and the order when more than one dish is allowed Now all this is yet nothing if the state of the individuall bodie thou dealest with be not without great care and diligence looked into And principally and above all other things wee must have a watchfull and carefull eye over the strength of the sicke and not onely narrowly observe the difference of severall and individuall parties one from another according to their severall complexions but even one and the same individuall partie how it differeth from it selfe according to the severall seasons not onely of the sicknesse but even of the time of the yeere also All the which