in generall But it is likely that it was not the Rhinoceros for this beast may rather be said to have two horns than but one and is not nimble but slow having a very short horn but the hornes of the Unicorne which are brought unto us are for the most part very long and taken from that creature which the Scripture saith is very nimble and therefore Scaliger blames Cardanus for describing the Unicorne under the name of Rhinoceros whose picture the same Scaliger saith hee saw namely of that Whose dead carkasse was cast upon the coast of Tuscanie with the head of a Bore a scaly back two hornes the one very little in the forehead the other very strong in the snout wherewith he sights adventurously and overcomes the Elephant And this seems to be the very same beast of which Amatus the Portugall made mention which Emmanuel King of Portugall sent to Rome but the ship being cast away neare unto Marseille the wild beast perished in the sea the skinne whereof the adjoyning borderers brought unto Francis King of France But whether by the name of Unicorne the Indian Asse ought to be understood it might perhaps be a doubt but that Aelian hath distinguished them Therefore I doe not say that the Unicorne is a fained creature but it is very rare and not yet certainly known But furthermore Caesar in his sixth book of the French Warre makes mention of an Oxe that hath but one horne and there are also such in India as Historians report And not only the earth There are Sea unicornes but the water also hath its unicorne Monsters which perhaps live both in the water and on the land as Garcias ab Horto reports of a certaine Monster that lives both in sea and land about the Cape of good hope which hath but one horne in the forehead wherewith he boldly fights against the Elephant Two Vnicornes hornes found in the sand in Greenland were brought to Hull so likewise out of the Northern countries as out of Island and Greeneland are brought hornes which are thought to bee the hornes of Sea-Unicorns Not many years agoe there were brought into this towne of Hull where I write these things out of Greenland two heads of Sea-Unicornes that were found upon the shore with large horns in the foreheads some pieces of which I have seen From whence it is evident that there are many creatures which have but one horne as well in the sea as on the land But besides all this Daniel Sennertus a very late writer in the fifth booke of his naturall Philosophy makes mention of a certain horn that is digged out of the earth Horns digged out of the earth which is found in Thuringin Bohemia and other places of Germanie which is taken for the Unicornes horn to which they ascribe a vertue against the Epilepsie and malignant diseases and he teaches to distinguish it from the naturall in that the true horne is very hard but that which is digged up out of the earth is not hard but is easily bruised and broken and being applied to the tongue cleaves to it like unto terra sigillata or some kind of Marle Also Gesner Fallopius Agricola and others that have written of Minebills have made mention thereof There are therefore divers forts of Unicornes but yet they have not all vertue against poyson And Aelian who describes the Unicorne doth not attribute any Antidotary facultie thereunto but onely to the Indian Asse for hee writes that the wealthier sort among the Indians are wont to drinke out of these homes and that whosoever drinkes out of them is healed of incurable diseases nor is hee taken with convulsions say they nor the Falling-sicknesse nor hurt with poyson Moreover if hee hath drunke any deadly thing he vomits it up and returnes to his health againe Lib. 3. And the same doth Philostratus write in the life of Appollonius Thyaneus But the horne of the Indian Asse is very rare the upper part of it is reddish the lower white and the middle black but the Unicornes horne is all black as saith the same Aelian Ambrosius Pareus and other most famous Physicians have found no effect at all of this horne and he doth not approve of that custome of touching the Kings meat with the Unicornes horne which custome I heare he hath abolished who is the chiefe Physician in ordinary to the King of France In like manner Aelian attributes to the horne of the Indian Horse a vertue against poyson and Garcias ab Horto relates the same of the horne of the Rhinoceros it is but short very strong black some say that it is within of dark yellow colour and being wet with the tongue it yeelds the smell of some burnt matter Garcius also reports of his Monster at the Cape of good hope that lives both in the sea and on the land which resembles a Horse in shape that the horn thereof is very much commended for a counter-poyson an experiment thereof being made on two Dogs the one of which that had drunk a double quantitie of poyson taking the powder of this horne was well againe but the other which had none given him dyed presently although he had a lesse quantitie of poyson given him So likewise the hornes which are brought out of the North countries and which are digged out of the earth are reported to have no small vertue against poyson although some deny it Those that are digeed out of the earth are the best and these are the hornes for the most part which many shew for the Unicornes horne although the colour corresponds not which is black in the true Unicorne But all that have written of them do preferre those that bee digged out of the earth as Gesner Cesalpinus and others for they have an antidotary and preservative facultie and do mightily provoke sweat like Terra Lemnia Therefore that I may conclude this Chapter seeing the vertue of these Medicaments can be found out no other way but by experience onely it will bee easie for any one that hath a piece of such hornes or desireth to make triall of them How to make a triall of the vertue of our Vnicorns hornea to give some poyson to a Dog or a Chicken and if it be preserved by taking some of the powder thereof hee may keep it as an excellent Antidote For though it be not knowne from what creatures they are taken yet their vertue is not to bee denyed seeing the originall of Exoticks hath not yet been fully known If we allow of Harts horn why shall not other hornes have the same vertue yea there are some that will have a certain wholsome qualitie to bee in all hornes even of Oxen and therefore the Ancients did drink out of hornes hence are those words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad potum miscere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poculum a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cornu to mingle
curing this or any other disease but only to shew to the people their Errours that they may have alwayes recourse to a Physician if they be sick Although oftentimes greater danger is like to happen by the physician then by the disease and men presently give credit to every one that professes himself to be a Physician I who write these things for my owne part reckon not neither who nor how many they be that practise physick whether learned or unlearned even as it is with them that be sick if they doe but consult with some Physician in name only they care not what he be if he can but stammer out a little Latine and they falsly stile him Doctour of Physick though he be ignorant of the very principles of physick and never read Galen or Hippocrates POPVLAR ERROVRS The Second BOOK Of the Errours about some diseases and the knowledge of them CHAP. I. Of the deceitfull judgment of Vrines NOw is the most common Errour to bee refuted which first gave occasion to this Treatise for hee is scarce thought worthy to be a Physician who cannot by Urines judge of diseases and their circumstances which Errour even Physicians doe too patiently foster It was of old very ordinary with the Arabian sect and it was a common custome also in France in the times of Valescus and Gordonius Plantius in the life of Fernel relates that that most excellent physician was wont to look into urines that were brought from abroad unto him which abuse not withstanding he approves not but reprehends them which like Southsayers doe prophesie many things of the absent sick party Pisse-prophets by only looking upon the urine That there was very great fraud therein the bookes which Gordonius and others have set forth concerning the cautions of urines doe plainly shew wherein a Physician is taught how he may deceive the people as also take heed to himself of their subtilties Yea to this day among the Germanes this custome is in force even whether the Physicians will or no of whom many doe speak sharply against it Heurnius Foresins Sennertus and others but most excellently Fuchsius in the beginning of his chapter of urines he calls Physicians that peep into urines asses cheaters pisse-drinkers unworthy with whom good men should contend seeing they more esteeme of the gain they get by urine then of truth it selfe But now a dayes in France and Italy the Physicians have quite abandoned this foolish custome of divining by urine First urine is the whey of those humours which are in the veines Now the humours are causes of very many diseases and therefore urine will shew what humours are there But diseases are not in the veines they are all in the substance of the parts Vrine shews not diseases but their causes They will not therefore indicate the diseases but the causes of them only But from the same cause there are many diseases The burning fever frenzie jaundice every sort of erysipelas and herpes proceeds from choler If a very cholerick urine be brought can the pisse-prophet tell which of these diseases doth trouble the patient perhaps he will conjecture that choler is predominant Secondly as in diverse diseases Vrine varies every day and sick parties as we have already said the same urine may appeare so in one and the same sick man it is various and changes every day that if to day a sick mans urine bee brought to a physician and againe to morrow unlesse by some other way he know the disease he shall scarce judg it to be the urine of the same disease Yea the water is of one sort in the beginning of the paroxisme of another in the increase and of another in the height Thirdly the same water may appear in contrary diseases The same urine â—n contrâ—ry diseases even though they depend on contrary and altogether different causes As for example let the pisse-prophet resolve me If a white and clear water be brought is he well or sick that made the water A man in health having drunk much wine or beer and ale may make such urine as is dayly seen A sick man may labour of a very violent burning fever with the frensie Diabetes is when whatsoever is drunke is pissed out again even as it was drunk choller being carried up to his head he may be troubled with the Diabetes or the obstruction of the bowels or liver or with the weakness of the stomack or the stone or some other diseases but which of these diseases will he suppose it to be Will he judge the frenzie to be of a cold distemper Moreover a bilious urine may be made in phlegmatick diseases through the obstruction of the passage by which choler is carried to the intestines Fourthly diseases whose cause is not contained in the veines cannot be knowne by the urine for many diseases do not so much as alter the urine Such are externall diseases luxations roughnesse or smoothnesse of the parts yea the quartane ague it self which is an inward disease although it be an effect of the melancholy humour yet it holds forth no signes of it in urine neither in the fit nor out of the fitt Gilbertus an English man in his praxis in the chapter of the quartane ague and Richardus a very learned man as Arculanus reports in his Commentaries upon the first section of the fourth cannon of Avicenne the second tractate chap. 65. did ingenuously professe that by urines they could never know the quartane feaver not the epilepsie nor a woman to be with child O that in our times Physicians were so ingenuous and free These are the words of Arculanus that learned Physician in whose time this custome of divining by waters was very rife I doe not believe saith he that a quartane fever can be knowne by the water alone because of the great agreement of the quartan with the quotidian in urine and especially in the beginning Of which opinion chiefly was Gilbertus an English man in the first booke of his praxis in the chapter of the quartane reproving some ignorant habbling fellowes that professe themselves to know all sicknesses by urine as many Physicians in Lombardie even at this day mockers of men who as they say by urine know all diseases even the putrid feaver who neverthelesse when they are present and consider all the signes yet know but very little For as master Richard the most learned and experienced of all the learned saith looking upon these pratlers and boasters of their judgment in urine that in their much speaking are eloquent but in reason slender and mute in his most excellent treatise of urines whose singular learning to be compared with none in many things he saith he followed he blames them in these words Some prating saith he and arrogant fellowes doe exceede beyond all due bounds and interlace learning with rules invented by their owne authoritie But I call God to witnesse that neither by care nor art
I could finde by urine alone a certaine knowledge of a womans conception nor of the epilepsie nor of a quartane feaver for it is but a deceitfull and equivocall messenger Which things indeed doe very much agree with our times I have often seene that opinion which by the urine the Physician had declared to have beene changed when he saw the sicke partie and which is more many simple fellowes that impudently meddle with Physick being called to the patient by whose urine they had before fully explained the disease not onely to have changed their opinion but to become lesse able to judge at al of the disease although they had both the Patient and his urine before their faces Fiftly the urine is altered by meates drinks exercises aire sleepe washing and divers other causes and so makes the judgment to be but conjecturall therefore Avicenne after six houres others after two houres would not have an urine looked into How grosly then doe they erre that rashly judge of urines that be brought to them many miles Hence it comes to passe that many that are noe Physicians but meerly made to cheat the people doe promise more then good Physicians are able to performe Nor can I except even ministers that practise Physick who of all men should be most holy Sixthly * Galen sayes well that in urine there are noe signes that doe certainly portend the frenzy 2. proch text 2. or the affects of the head for it onely signifyes saith he the distempers of the liver kidneys and bladder but there be other signes and symptomes of the diseases of the braine Yet Actuarius saith that the diseases of the liver braine necke breast yea and of his joynts also may be discerned by urine and Hippocrates writes that when a mans urine is like to the urine of a beast it shewes a paine in the head In like manner the excrements of the whole body have recourse as Physicians say to the belly and the urine by which it may be changed thus thinne fleame falling from the head makes a frothy urine 4 aphot 73. and Hippocrates thinkes that the grievous frettings and gripings of the gutts and hypochondres may be resolved by urine But this belongs onely to prognostickes for the very gripings themselves cannot be knowne by the urine much lesse their solution But the most witty Argenterius did deservedly laugh at Actuarius for endeavouring to point out in urine the signes of diseases in the braine the breast and the joynts For though the excrements of the whole body may be evacuated by the urine yet that happens not alwaies for many parts although grievously affected doe not alter the urine at all Moreover the excrements are but the causes of diseases and not diseases themselves As for that which may be said of the headach and the frenzy Galen answers it Text 4 Sect 1. proch * where he saith that the signes of the frenzy are either those that are alwayes in the phreneticke and in them onely or which are alwaies in them but not in them onely or which are neither alwaies in them nor in them onely but sometimes are apparent and sometimes not and happen from other causes From whence it is manifest saith hee that neither in urine nor in dejections of the belly nor in spittle nor in vomits are there any signes of the Frenzy Neither doe troubled Urines nor such as have any elevation aloft nor frothy Urines alwaies betoken the aforesaid affects but doe likewise proceed from other causes and if at any time they declare any of these they doe it with other signes for the aforesaid affects may bee without such Urines From whence it may bee concluded that those signes which doe not alwaies accompany a disease nor yet folely cannot indicate any disease but such are urines For Galen teaches that they by chance may betoken a frensie because they iddicate a windy blood but not by themselves and properly Therefore saith he in the afore cited place what hath been said of Urines makes nothing to a judgement of the Frensie yet they doe conduce to the discerning whether the sick bee in any great danger or no. And therefore in all diseases it is not amisse to consider the Urine that the danger may be discerned Galen teaches in many places that the excrements are signes of the parts affected and of the disease as that the dejections are signs of the belly the spirtle of the breast snot of the brain and the urine of the liver and veines to wit that they are signes of the concoction which is made in those parts but seldome of the diseases themselves Therefore Urine cannot shew forth all diseases as for example the Plurisie is known by a paine of the side a Feaver a hard Pulse difficultie of breathing and cough without the urine and spittle for if these come likewise they shew the cause and prognosticks of the disease already known by other signes For though the Plurisie and Frensie cannot be knowne by urine yet if the urine appear very much changed it is an ill signe for it hetokens a distemperature not onely of the vitall and animall but of the naturall parts also And when many parts are out of frame the sick lies in so much the more danger Moreover sometimes the Urine shewes whether the disease be joyned with a Feaver or no for Galen teaches that in the affects of the belly 2. De Cris cap. 7. if they be without a Feaver only the excrements of the belly are to be looked into but if with a Feaver then the urine likewise not that wee may know the disease it selfe but that we may the better judge what will be the issue of the disease already known CHAP. II. That the sexe and being with childe cannot be discerned by Vrine whereof a certaine story THey that bring Urines to Physicians doe often aske them whether it be a mans or womans water and whether the woman be with childe or no. It is admirable to see how cunningly some in this case deale with the people But that neither the sex nor graviditie can bee discerned I will demonstrate For although the Urine of a young man and an old man of a man and a woman be different each from other yet that is onely in colour and consistence which seeing they may bee changed by divers other causes it will not properly shew whether it be a mans or a womans for a cholerick woman after exercise and the use of hot meats will make higher coloured urine than a flegmatick man Moreover she which hath a Feaver or some other disease without doubt changes her urine according to the nature of the disease How shall he therefore that lookes into an urine discerne the Sex when he knowes not the temperature of them that made the urine Therefore if a healthfull man be compared with a healthfull woman a cholerick man with a cholerick woman and a sick man with a sick woman
and no externall thing happen which may change the urine perhaps the womans urine may be in some respect discerned from the mans but otherwhiles not at all when oftentimes it is unknown from whence the urine is brought to the Physician And so it is to be understood which some Physicians write concerning the difference betwixt a mans water and a womans for because men are said to be hotter and are given to exercises they make thinner urine and higher coloured with fewer contents but women because colder make whiter urine with a larger sediment A whitish colour saith Fernel is a signe not onely of cruditie but of the Sex likewise But even the hottest man may make such urine by reason of the causes that change urine Therefore in this there is no certainty and it is too much rashnesse to pronounce any such thing by urine Concerning women with childe A woman cannot be known to be with child by urine it is a greater doubt and it is ordinary with women for this cause alone to send their waters to a Physician Avicenne teaches to know it by a sediment like unto carded cotten and by some other markes But seeing experience shewes the contrary he is deservedly to be rejected It is not necessary for every urine of a woman to have a sediment but that only which is well concocted First Hippocrates who hath exactly searched out all the signes of conception never made mention of urines Secondly the urine is not changed by the graviditie it selfe but onely by the suppression of the flowers which as cannot be denied may alter the urine by the reflux of blood and excrements into the veines But that same change of urine may appeare as well in Maids by the stopping of their flowers yea in all diseases that arise from the like suppression as also in the obstructions of other internall parts Thus urine will manifest here no proper or peculiar thing Wee see urines sometimes of a low colour as happens frequently in obstructions sometimes very high coloured sometimes like to the healthfull when the woman with childe is in health sometimes thinne sometimes thick such as may likewise be seen in other affects But if the woman bee sick the urine is so changed by the violence of the disease that all the signes of being with childe if there bee any are obliterate Thirdly that the knowledge of graviditie is not so easie Hippocrates himself shewes who after he had reckoned up many probable signes of it as if those were not certaine he betakes himselfe to some Empyricall signes Aphor. 41. lib. 5. If you would know saith he whether a woman hath conceived or no give her some water mixed with honey to drinke when shee goes to sleep if shee feeleth gripings of her belly shee hath conceived if not she hath not And in his booke of the Barren he saith Stampe Honey and Anise well together dissolve it in water give it her let her sleep if she feele gripings about her navell shee is with childe but if not she is not So that hence it may appeare how hard a thing it is to know if a woman be with childe before the stirring of the infant when besides many other signes Hippocrates hath recourse to such Empyricall signes How foolish then are they that professe themselves to be able so easily to divine that by urines Avenzoar a Physician of principall note among the Arabians reports that he was deceived in his own wife although hee had seen her urine and had other signs whereby he could know a woman to be with childe if the knowledg thereof were so easie Saxonia relates that he was judged by Physicians to be a * mole Or false conception and that his mother did take many medicines to destroy the conception which yet did not prevail And to this opinion do all the modern Physicians assent who have written of the diseases of women Hither is to be added a certain fable A merry story which hath been related to me as a story by men of good note and this is it A certain maid did carry her Mistresses urine to a Physician and having by chance spilled it not knowing now what to doe she catched the urine of a Cow which at that time by good hap staled and carryed it to the Physician he gave answer that the patient did eat too many sallets Indeed the Physician was worthy to be commended for his skill who could divine that I say this is a fable because I have heard the same in divers places of sundry Physicians as also because it is alwayes ascribed to some Physician that is dead the like to whom is no man living And its true indeed no man this day is living or ever was that could certainly know a beasts urine from a mans If the urine be like to that of beasts that are accustomed to the yoke Aphor. 70. lâ—b 4. paine of the head is either present or will ensue saith Hippocrates noting that a man may make urine like in colour and consistence to that of beasts Therefore hitherto it hath been doubted in what respects a mans urine might be discerned from other liquors I know there are some rules and marks prescribed by Avicenne and others whereby they may be discerned from each other but they are all false and uncertain And nothing is more easie then to deceive a Physician though wary by shewing him him other liquours and urines But if a man may make urine like to that of beasts how can a Physician not knowing from whence it comes discerne one from the other CHAP. III. The Solution of the arguments that seeme to favour looking into Vrines SOme that too much approve Ouroscopie or looking into Urines do use the authority and arguments of Hercules Saxonia a very learned Physician heretofore among the Italians who desired to patronize a little Ouroscopie For he would have not only the causes of diseases but also their Idea's magnitude and states to be known by urine not in generall only but also in particular whose opinion we will briefly lay down First saith he urines shew diseases in distemperature without matter and with matter A hot distemper without matter is either universall or of a determinate part and this is sometimes without a fever sometimes with a fever An hot universall distemper doe these urines shew to wit reddish saffron colour greene black fatty atomous branny or scaly sediments and sharp urines Neverthelesse these doe not shew a distemper without matter but with matter for urine hath not these colours but by the mixture of humours hence in a diary fever Galen writes that the urine is made somewhat reddish through the mixture of choler Moreover 1. ad Glauc cap. 2. 3. method cap. 2. 10. de crisib cap 12. these doe only betoken a hot distemper in generall not any particular sort of it for a hot distemper may be Synochus a burning fever or a tertian it
the Earth manifest which in the height of Summer are exceeding cold But if the Sunne bee not the cause of this much lesse can the parts of the world which are hot onely because of the propinquity or remotenesse of the Sunne Therefore others doe more rightly blame the cold or heat of the earth it self for if the heat of the earth be moderate the water is well concocted but if there be burnings in the earth it breaks out either hot or warmed so as all sorts of water may spring forth in any part of the world which is especially to be understood if they be drawn out of the fountaine it selfe before they bee altered by the cold aire To this adde the manner of transcolation for that is the purest What water is the best not which lyes open towards the Sunne or runnes Eastward but that which is best strained For in its own nature it is a simple body which unlesse it be tinctured with some other mixture will alwaies in every place be of equall goodnesse Therefore that which is well strained and so purged from dregs is the best in as much as it comes nearer to the integritie of its owne nature and is free from the mixture of another matter Therefore seeing this is done by the transcolation and thorough-straining there is no doubt but every where good and evill waters may spring forth as the straining through is made better or worse Now this depends upon the nature of the earth On this Errour hangs another An Errour in not boyling beere well that they do but lightly boyle thinne beere made of water oft-times impure enough for by a light boyling it cannot be amended nor the cruditie taken away and hence doe happen the evills which Authours attribute to crude waters that they are thick heavy to the belly stick long in the bowels cause swimmings are easily corrupted and doe not distribute well the nourishment for drinke should be very light and passible They doe worse who drinke it very new as many are wont especially in the North parts of England for so it doth neither please the palate nor is wholesome to the body for it is heavy in the hypochondres by reason of the abundance of dregs and it causeth obstructions the meane thereof is the best being well boyled and throughly purified CHAP. II. That the linnen of the sick ought often to be changed IT seems to the common people to be a hainous offence often to change the linnen used about the sick For they think that the sick are enfeebled and weakened thereby This Errour Hollerius in his chapter of the burning Feaver and Rondeletius in his chapter of the Feaver Synochus have noted among their countrymen and reproved but they give no reason for it yet they bid that the linnen about the sick bee often changed For by long keeping of them three inconveniences doe happen to the sick To wit 3. Inconveniences by foule linnen the transpiration of the body is hindred sweat and filth are hept in their shirts which doe putrifie and contract an ill favour the sweat and filth doe obstruct the body and so double the heat Which three things what great hurt they bring to the sick and the healthfull also all Physicians know Hippocrates bids that all things be kept clean about the sick and Galen studies by all meanes to preserve transpiration free that the cold aire may be attracted and filthy vapours excluded especially in continuall Feavers in which for the most part the Feaver comes by the obstruction of the pores of the skinne Therefore these being obstructed both by the filth and the sweat there followes a retention of the fuliginous vapours and thereby the Feaver which was before is encreased or is kindled afresh On the contrary it can scarce be that he whose body doth transpire well and so is free and open should fall into grievous and dangerous diseases The Ancients that did not use linnen did keep a frequent use of baths and frictions whereby the body was opened and cleansed Adde to this that the excrements being retained doe putrifie and the sweat stinks from whence succeeds an encrease of the feaverish heat nor doth that evacuation by the pores of the skin commodiously ensue Therefore it is very good often to change the linnen about the sick and when they sweat diligently to wipe or cleanse their body CHAP. III. Of Lessius his Diet-booke LEssius the Jesuite a most learned man in his Eloquent Diet-booke hath so endeavoured to mote out every mans course of Diet that he would have twelve ounces to be a sufficient quantitie of meat for any man and fourteene of drinste which he that will observe ought to refuse no kinde of meat which the people uses nor shall he easily fall into diseases through fulnesse or ill humours but shall alwaies be furnished with a lively body and cheerfull mind All which is true of sobriety in the generall 6. Epid. Sect. 4. aph 20. For the study of health is not to eat too much-meat and to be quick to labour But that quantity of meat seems to me not to be agreeable with the opinion of Physicians for the same quantitie of meat cannot be sufficient for all men but it must be diverse in respect of times and places kindes of meat exercises labours and nature of him that takes it He seems to have accommodated that course of diet principally to religious men In Summer a lesse in Winter a greater quantity of meat is convenient because th◠* belly is hotter 1 Aph. 19 and sleep longer as saith Hippocrates Because therefore one body differs from another one nature from another and countries differs times of the year ages and the nature of meats are diverse a certain measure cannot be prescribed Some meats are very nourishing of which a small quantity doth suffice some nourishing but little which ought to be given in a greater quantitie Therefore Hippocrates in his book de veteri Medicinâ said well that neither the measure nor waight nor quantity can be known nor any other certainty be found then by the sense of the body So Galen teaches 2 Aph. 27. that such a quantity is to be administred as may not burden the stomach 1 Aph. 5. And Hippocrates is plaine that a slender diet is more dangerous for those that are in health than a full diet To whom Celsus doth assent who perswades to meat twice a day Capa lib. 1. rather than but once and alwaies to eate liberally so that it may be well concocted The same Celsus writes that a man in health and that is at his own libertie ought to tie himself to no lawes yea that sometimes he should eat and drinke liberally Diet is indicated by the strength now the strength indicates a preservation of it selfe but such a diet doth not preserve but diminish strength Diet is threefold and exhaust naturall heat Physicians make a threefold
use to drinke strong wines before they have eaten any meat There is the same reason for strong Beere or Ale which may bring the same yea greater evils Therefore as I doe not dislike the drinking of small beere though indeed it is not fit for all so I thinke men should abstaine from strong drink for fear of very many diseases CHAP. XIII That strong waters are ill taken after grosse meates to help concoction THis likewise is the custome of many that if at any time they eate meats of hard digestion as are Venison Beefe Salt-fish or that soon corrupt as Summer-fruits they presently drink after them strong distilled waters as Aqua vitae Cinnamon water Rosa solis and other such like namely to help concoction But that is not done without hazard of health for seeing that the forenamed meats are not wont to bee concocted but by a long stay in the stomach The evill effects of strong waters these waters being of a penetrating and piercing quality draw the meats downe into the veines not yet fully concocted from whence proceed cudities and obstructions Thus Physicians doe well forbid to use diureticks with meat or presently after meat lest they carry the cruditie of the stomach to the passages of the urine and make the evill worse So likewise they forbid to use them when there is abundance of vitious humours or when some corrupt humour is lodged in the first passages before that purging be premised otherwise there is feare lest obstructions in the passages of the urine or in the bowels be either made or increased There is the same reason of waters which they take to further concoction for that great vertue of opening with which they are endued And this have many Physick authors observed Rondeletius in his Chapter of the Palsie prescribes a water for the Palsie which he will have taken into an empty belly Those things saith he which are very hot and attenuating ought to be taken with an empty and first purged Stomach and are not to be mixed with meats for they would force the meats not yet concocted to goe down with them and so would breed obstructions And in the 31. Chapter hee tels a story of two Physicians whereof the first when hee would have provoked the flowers with the use of opening and attenuating syrupes hee brought the woman to a palsie by reason that the crude and glutinous humours which were in the passages by force of the Medicaments were drawne down to the parts and lying upon the finews caused the Palsie The other while hee went about to cure the * pale colours Or Green-sickness by the same way brought the Maide to a palsie of the legges But most excellently in his Chapter de Palpitat Let those things be taken inwardly saith he which heat the stomach and discusse wind To which thing speciall heed is to be taken for three or four houres before meat we may give those things which do strongly heate and dispell winde so that the Liver bee not very hot such as are Diatrion pip Diacim Dianis Aromat Rosat Diagaianga and such like These ought not to be given immediately after nor before meat because by their heat and raritie they would presently carry along with them the halfecrude meat to the first passages Hence it appeares that they erre that minister very hot powders after meat which ought to be but moderately hot Which counsell is also approved by others to wit that those things which help concoction must goe before not follow meat as saith Riolanus Gordonius in his praxis and Fuchsius in his Chapter de Cruditate The aforesaid waters doe seem at the first to heat very much but afterwards especially if there be a familiar use of them they doe very much harme Savanarola a famous Physician in his time tels a story of Franciscus Gonzaga Marquesse of Mantua who when for the curing of the weaknesse of his stomach by the advise of Physicians he used Aqua-vitae he fell into so great feeblenesse that all his meat turned into winde and but that he used a very good diet in the six things called Non naturales hee had soone perished And Rubeus observes well that they doe very ill who when they feele their stomack much surcharged with yesterdayes gulletting do drink strong waters for hence do palsies tremulations and other evils arise for in that they are of thinne substance and doe soone penetrate they carry up presently to the head the lighter parts of the humours and wind themselves into the beginning of the nerves from whence come palsies tremulations and sometimes apoplexies therefore he adviseth that they be not taken when the stomack is repleat with crudity and that they be drunk at least 3 or 4 hours before meat which may be a rule also in other remedies that are prescribed to help concoction Of the same opinion is Aetius describing remedies for crudity Lib. 3. Serm. 1. cap. 24. After meat saith he never let this nor any other remedy be taken which doth vehemently penetrate for some of the crude meats is distributed and carried along with it and it causeth stopping It is good to use it after morning friction two houres before exercise and the bath Thus Aetius What we have said of meats hard to be concocted may be likewise said of those which are easily corrupted as are Summer fruits for those things that are hot and opening should not bee taken after them as the learned Valleriola doth well observe Lib. 2. locor com cap. 7. Neither after the eating of fruits or bad meats is drink to be poured in especially much and of strong wine for it makes that by too swift a course the vitious humour passeth into the vessels and so being unconcocted it doth contract putrifaction and an ill condition Then hee addes Wine after 〈◊〉 not good If after evill meats especially fruits a man must needs drink I think it more wholsome to use water than wine lest by the drinking of wine heat and ebullition do ensue and a too quick passage of the meat into the bowels and so putrifaction obstruction crudity and corruption doe follow thereon which are the usuall effects of wine In like manner they erre who when they feele wind and crudities in their stomack doe use to drinke these strong waters to heat and strenghen the stomack These men doe seeme indeed to feele some benefit thereby as long as these waters doe heat the orifice of the stomack but by reason of the rarity of their substance they doe soon penetrate into the bowels and increase their distemper whereby afterwards the pain growes greater and the more they drink these waters the more their their bellyes seem to bee refrigerated and enfeebled For those things which doe heat too much are so far from heating and strengthning the stomack as that they rather coole by rarefying or by driving the inward heat from within to the circumference as Rondeletius saith in
thyme brimstone or cloves is more efficacious and powerfull than the simples out of which it hath been extracted Againe it makes many things to become more pleasant and familiar to Nature and contracts many vertues into a small lumpe as in extracts waters distilled oyles sundry kindes of salt and such like Now seeing that it is the duty of a Physician to cure quickly safely and pleasantly without doubt hee shall be able to doe it more compleatly being well skilled in chymicall remedies whose efficacy being greater doth sooner work whose small dose and neatnesse of preparation help unto pleasantnesse Object But some perhaps will object the whole age of the Ancients wanted Chymicall remedies who notwithstanding cured better than we doe and it happens yet daily that without them Physicians do perform many wonderfull cures Sol. That no man denies so men in old time did feed on Acornes and lived long yet having found out the use of Corn we reject Acornes and leave them for Hogs But if the Ancients themselves the ancientest of whom was in his time a new Physician had added nothing to the inventions of their Ancestours we should have all the Arts to be onely begun Again if they did performe such cures yet they did them but slowly and unpleasantly Therefore Chymicall operations were added for the solace of the sick honour and ornament of Art not that Physicians might cure absolutely but better and more commodiously But there are some things which doe terrifie the sick from the use of those remedies The first is because they think that all the remedies of the Chymists are very strong and violent doe presently either kill or cure and are as they call them desperate Medicines that they do operate quickly and pleasantly but not safely and that they leave behinde them a stain in the bowels which can seldome or never afterwards be washed out Now they think it better to bee cured slowly so that they bee safely and surely cured Soon enough saith the Proverbe if well enough Sat citò si bene sat But these things have their originall from their ignorance of that art and the audacitie of some knaves who use onely the most violent and such as are prepared by a preposterous operation for every chymicall preparation is not convenient for every remedy we use Mercurius Dulcis with good success but Mercury sublimate or precipitate not without hazard of life For the Chymists have many Medicines which are very gentle and not at all violent And indeed the Chymicall Apothecary and common likewise have the very same matter of Physick out of vegetables animals minerals and all other things as well gentle as violent which are used in Physick But the chymicall preparation doth amend or quite take away what is hurtfull in the violent and makes them more safe and pleasant for mans use Besides the Chymists have very many cordiall and strengthning remedies oftentimes much better than the vulgar But many times diseases doe require verystrong remedies resisting the force of the weaker Medicines Yea Hippocrates Galen Malo nodo malus cuneus Aph. 6. lib. 1.5 Meth. Cap. 15. Aetius and other of the Ancients did use stronger remedies than many Chymists doe For unto desperate diseases themost forcible remedyes are to be applyed was Hippocrates his counsell And Galen himself blames Erisistratus for using only milde and gentle remedies which he wil have to bee hurtful in great and dangerous diseases in which if opportunity which is very speedy be pretermitted either the patient dies or the disease becomes incurable It is therefore more ordinary with the Galenists to wit those Physicians that follow the old way to use violent Medicines which Chymists doe either better make use of or at least better prepared Nor is it true that the Chymists doe prepare all their remedies with the most violent heat of fire for most commonly a gentle heate is used Yet Galen affirmes that by a violent heat of fire many Druggs doe lay aside all their acrimony and sharpnesse And it is certaine that by this spagiricall art the most unruly medicaments are made serviceable and many that are otherwise poysonous their deadly qualities being corrected do become cordiall CHAP. II. That the use of Mineralls is not to be rejected ANother cause why many are so fearfull of these Chymicall remedies is because the Chymists are thought to use Mineralls And indeed it is certain enough that many that cloake their knaveries with the title of Chymists doe often use Mineralls both ill prepared and wronge applyed But as wee have said before the matter and subject of operation is the same of both the Apothecaries as well Chymicall as vulgar nor doth the Chymist lesse use vegetables than the Galenist and it is an easie thing for him to administer vegetables alone to his patients if they doe much impugne Mineralls Neverthelesse the use of Mineralls was more familiar among the ancient Physicians before the invention of the chymicall art than now it is For I know many Chymists that seldome use them but rather make choice of vegetables alone But the writings of the Ancients doe testifie that they were wont to use steele burnt brasse the flower of brass and such like either not at all prepared or but very sleightly The flower of brasse whole doth purge vehemently Some give it saith Dioscorides Lib. 5. kneaded in dough and made up in a pill Burnt Brasse saith he being drunke with honey and water doth provoke vomit the flower of Brasse given in the weight of two scruples drams out grosse humours Very many use the Armenian stone not prepared at all Is not that art highly to be commended which if at any time it use these things doth exhibit them diversly and elegantly prepared not whole Dioscorides writes that Silver is good against the poyson of Wolves-bane and Avicenne will have it to bee excellent against the trembling of the heart If therefore the authority of the Ancients be of any moment with us it must not be imputed to Chymists as a fault that sometimes they make use of Mineralls seeing they whom they call Galenists are guilty of the same errour if it be one but herein they are excelled by the Chymists in that they prepare them better insomuch as they may bee administred with lesse harme Matthiolus in his fore named epistle saies well that great and chronicall diseases can scarce be overcome without Mineralls but those Mineralls are not to be administred without the knowledge of the Chymicall art And the use of Bathes is ordinary all which doe partake of the vertue of some Minerall Object But perhaps some will object that Mineralls are altogether poysonous and hurtfull to nature and cannot be brought into action Sol. Which although it be after a sort true of many Mineralls yet that hinders not but they may be made good remedies in stubborne diseases that stand in need of strong Medicines and it is the nature of all Medicaments that
Drugges as also to restrain the violence of it if it hath purged too vehemently and there is the same reason for the possets spoken of Yet it is not alwaies necessary to forbid them cold drinks Cold drinks good in some cases during purgation for without harm yea with very much profit they may be sometimes drunk But some Physicians command cold water if the stomach be hot that the acrimony of the drugge may be taken away So saith Aetius Terrab prim serm 3. cap. 133. If they be easily purged after they have drunk the medicine wee will give them cold water to drink John de Vega Viceroy of Sicilie being sick took a purge which wrought but slowly His Physician offered to the Viceroy the broth of a chicken without salt but Philip Ingrassias that learned Physician comming to visit him gave him a pint of cold water with a little sugar presently his disposition to vomit and the gnawing of his stomach was stayed and the purge wrought very well then together with great thanks to Ingrassias he gave him the silver bowle worth fifty Crownes wherein he had drunk the cold water as he himself relates in his book concerning the drinking of cold water after Physick And Sanctorius hath the fame story in his comment upon the Art of Galen We need not therefore so much fear cold drinks as Beer or Ale in them that are purged especially at meales for seeing it is permitted to take a little meat 4. or 5. hours after the Physick why should coole drink be denyed especially if he that is purged be not actually sick but took Physick only to prevent diseases But let us hear what Mesue a most excellent Writer saith He in his third Theoreme treating of the causes that hinder the working of a purge saith that if it happen through the weaknesse and debility of nature the working of it may be furthered by the drinking of a little cold water If the expulsive facultie be feeble or the operation and working of the medicament bee remisse and weake give the sick a little water moderately cold and an hower after some astringent thing and thereby the Medicine will worke effectually And in the same Chapter If the Physick doe not worke but cause grievous symptomes in the body besides the forenamed helps saith he the drinking of very cold water as Rusus saith takes away the malignity and acrimonie of the Drugges And in another place he blames them that drinke fat broths too soon after they have taken Physick Theor. 4. cap. 5. canone 1. because they do loose soften and fill the stomach and so beget loathing of meat and nauseousnesse although he confesses that there is a time to use them and therefore he commands rather to use strengthning drinks among which he reckons thinne wine of a pleasant smell and quick allayed with water warmed a little with the sun or the fire Then he addes but let him beware of sweet wine thick and troubled as also of water both exceeding hot and extream cold for the hot water looses the stomach and dissipates the strength thereof and the cold extinguishes the feeble and gentle heat of it From whence it is evident and clear that after one hath taken Physick it may be sometimes lawfull to use cold drinks and not to limit themselves alwaies to the use of their hot possets CHAP. XVI Of them that will never be purged but in the beginning of the Spring MAny that are wont to be sick of an anniversary disease to whom therfore some remedies are made familiar by custome do neverthelesse only use them in the beginning of the Spring fearing greatly the end of the Spring as being too near the Summer but herein they erre exceedingly For these remedies are prescribed to preserve from diseases them that are yet in health but would be sick if it were not prevented with the use of Physick Now this ought to be done especially during the Spring because at that time of the year the body is in its vigour and strength and it is the most temperate season and the humours which are as it were asleep in Winter are stirred up by the heat of the Spring whereby they do more easily yeeld to Nature and Physick also But the same humour is not predominant in all but divers in divers men either in respect of their peculiar manner of living or in regard of the particular natures of men for some are Cholerick and others Flegmatick hence it is manifest that neither the same evacuation nor the same time of evacuation is convenient for all Secondly the Spring time in some places begin sooner in others later in respect of the diverse scituation of the countries For Physicians do not limit the times of the year by the space of three Moneths as Astrologers count them but esteem them according to the temperature of the aire Thus many times Winter is very cold and sharp in England when the Sun enters into Aries in the beginning of March at which time Astrologers make the beginning of the Spring Wherefore they that stand in need of the forenamed evacuations let them take care that they be prescribed not according to the computation of Moneths but according to the temperature of the aire yea though it were the end of May May the best month for taking physick which I account to be the safest and fittest Moneth for that businesse because then the weather is most seasonable and temperate most like unto naturall heat and the strength of the body is most vigorous like as in Countries that are much hotter than England Physicians do preferre this Moneth But Galen according to the diverse constitution of mens bodies would have some to bee purged in the beginning others in the end of the Spring Best to purge the flegmatick in the be ginning of the Spring They in whom Fleame is predominant must be purged in the beginning of the Spring for the humours that are gathered together in Winter are melted by the temperature of the Spring so that except they be purged out they are easily diffused throughout the whole body and cause grievous diseases But as for them that are cholerick And the cholerick in the end it is best to purge them in the end of the Spring lest the hot humours be inflamed by the heat of the ensuing Summer and so putrifie and beget Feavers Ad chap. 47. lib. 6. So saith Galen in his Commentaries One that was wont every Spring to be sick of a Tertian hath not been troubled with it these many years I having purged him from choler in the end of the spring for at that time it is best to purge such but as for Epilepticks Apoplecticks Arthriticks Melancholicks and as many as are sick through the grossenesse of the humours are most fitly purged in the beginning of the spring CHAP. XVII That purging ought not to bee rejected although the sick doe eat no meate IT
for drinke and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a cuppe Seeing therefore the hornes which are carried about for the Unicornes horne are diverse in colour magnitude and figure it is probable that they come from diverse creatures Therefore whether it be the horn of the Indian Asse which Aelian commends or of the Rhinoceros or of some water creature it is all one so there be experience of the vertue of it Wherefore I would not curiously enquire whether it be an Unicornes horn or some other creatures so it be good and efficacious yea and it is no matter whether the creature hath two hornes or but one Yet it is most certaine as we have said before that Elephants teeth and Whale-bones and Sea-horse teeth and common hornes burnt and those which are digged out of the earth which we have spoken of and other counterfeit and artificiall hornes Elephants and Sea horse teeth commonly sold for Vnicornes hornes are commonly sold for the true Unicornes horne Cardanus saith that Elephants teeth may bee made so pliable by art that they may be made streight like hornes and so set out for the Unicornes horn Neither give eare to them saith Amatus the Portugall who when they goe about to try an Vnicornes horn do infuse the scrapings and powder thereof in water which they say forthwith is troubled and bubbles up for you may perceive the same to happen from the scrapings of any bone infused in water as you may make triall in Ivory So likewise we must take heed that wee doe not give credit to other such experiments which some use to prove the goodnesse of the Unicornes horne for they say that if poyson or some venomous creature be neare unto it it sweats as if it did suffer and were affected with the poyson as also they bid make a circle of the powder of it into the middle of which or into an hollow horn they put a spider which if she passe over they will have it to bee a counterfeit horn but if she burst and die it is naturall all which are false but enough of this CHAP. XXXIX Of certain distilled waters ordained amisse for to drive away feavers BEcause it is such an usuall thing here in England both for men and women to hoard up remedies for divers diseases and to communicate them to one another for secrets we will speak somewhat of certain feaver curing waters which many use especially for agues the which although sometimes they may do good yet many times they are hurtful and pernicious In some Physick-Authors also such waters are found described Quercetanus in his Pharmacopoeâ restitutâ as he calls it names two which he saith are speciall waters for all sorts of feavers especially agues but principally for bastard and exquisite tertians so confidently doe these Chymists make promises of health 1 ad Glauc 3 de simp med Galen himselfe prescribes worm-wood a very hot plant for Tertians and in another place he commends cammomile for the same There are some that will provoke sweat with such hot things And in generall all those waters that I have seen were distilled out of hot simples which adventurously they will use in any intermitting feaver many times to the great hurt of the sick First therefore it is to be noted that intermitting feavers are caused by divers humours both hot and cold unto which one and the same remedy cannot fitly be applyed Secondly seeing that every disease is cured by its contrary it is certain that cholerick humours are inflamed more and increased by the use of these hot remedies and so of an intermitting feaver it may become a continuall Thirdly the cause of an intermitting feaver most commonly lies in the mesentery veines the panereas and other the first passages which dregge it is too dangerous to bring into the habit of the body by such remedies lest the bloud of the veines be polluted especially in cholerick feavers whose cause is for the most part thin and very moveable Fourthly Galen forbids to use vehement and hot remedies in the beginning of a quartane ague which is caused by a cold and dry melancholick humour and he tels a story of Eudemus a Philosopher who in that he did unseasonably use triacle for a quartane ague of a simple it became a double quartane whom neverthelesse Galen cured with the very same remedy seasonably and rightly administred Therfore these hot things are good in those feavers only which are procreated by cold humours or in a bastard Tertian in which there is a great quantity of flegmatick humours mixed with the cholerick Aguish waters not to be used till the humour be concocted or when there are very gross and stubborne obstructions and the bowels very feeble and weakened but not before the concoction of the humour thus Galen for a quartane prescribes a medicine of succus cyrenaicus but not untill the humor is concocted So hee commends wormewood in a Tertian but utterly dislikes it before concoction In like manner and by the same reason these hot waters are to be rejected but after the concoction of the morbous humour in a stubborne disease they may be profitable Therfore these hot things are not to be rashly administred in feavers for one that had adventurously used them in a quartane feaver of a simple made it a double quartane as we said before And there is the same cause of feare likewise lest the same happen by the use of these waters The advise of a learned physician ever requisite Therefore let the advice and counsell of a skilfull learned and faithfull Physician bee alwayes taken who may appoint convenient times for all remedies Nor let the people rashly trust to their Receits as they call them for they are even the hand of God when they are administred by a skilfull Physician but as it were a sword in the hand of a mad man when one meddles with them who doth not well understand the rules of Physick CHAP. XL. That Iuleps and other cooling Potions are to bee administred in a large dose I Have often observed when Physicians prescribe Apozemes Juleps and other cooling potions for them that bee sick of feavers that the by-standers doe usually administer them in a very little dose as but 2 or 3 spoonfuls But here is to be noted that those remedies that are prescribed to prepare the humours are not of the nature of them that contain much strength in a very little quantity but contrary wise seeing they work by the first and second qualities unlesse there be a proportion in quantity betwixt the humour that is to be altered and the Physick it is but in vaine prescribed for if they doe notovercome the humour they are overcome by it and corrupted In a very hot feaver if the aforesaid Juleps be either altogether denied The necessity of cooling and altering juleps in feavers or but sparingly administred the body is dried by the heat of the feaver and decaies so as