alleaged Author in that by Chymicall art and industrie this slimy substance may with small paines be converted into a stone This might therefore in my opinion deterre any from the use of such an aliment especially such as are of a weake stomacke are troubled with the stone in the bladder or kidnies arthritical infirmities as gout sâ—hiâ—cira c. As also any obstructions of the inward parts liver spleen c. I have somewhat the longer of set purpose insisted upon this kinde of food because it is growne an ordinray custome here in the countrie as I have said in any consumption nay in any supposed and but surmised weakenesse or frivolous feare thereof indifferently to exhibit this dish in manner as I have said Besides this is done without any consideration of circumstances either of age strength time of the disease c. And therefore I leave it to the understanding and judicious Reader to judge whether this be a legall and laudable course or no. And withall let the judicious and ingenious Reader judge of the necessity and utility of handling the diet of the diseased Besides all the former sorts of diet there hath a barbarous and inhumane custome of killing and eating mans flesh not of late onely but even many yeeres agoe crept into the world insomuch that wee know for a truth that now there are divers of those Anthropophagi or men-eaters in divers places of the world And truely I thinke there is scare any among vs that would easily have beleeved that any that bare ingraven the stamp and image of his Maker could ever have harboured so barbarous a thought within his breast farre lesse to have acted so tragicall and inhumane a crueltie unlesse it had been by divers true histories testified unto us and related by word of mouth by those who to their great griefe have been spectators of so barbarous and inhumane a cruell custome The late histories of such as have travelled of late yeeres into those parts of the Westerne world doe evidently witnesse the truth thereof And it is yet further recorded that in some of those places they keepe ordinarily shambles of mens flesh as we doe of beefe and mutton and other flesh and besides if they thinke their Slaves will yeeld them more mony cut out by the joint than sold alive if there were but a halfe penny saved they will bee sure to send him to the shambles I doubt not but that the very reading of these things will strike a certaine horror and amazement in the minds of many men with an horresco legens when they consider of the customes of these cruellest Caniballs of all others and iustly so they may But have we no such devouring Caniballs here at home among our selves The law would take hold of so barbarous a fact But if there be not as bad if not worse Caniballs among our selves let the world judge I could instance in many several sorts of extortioners and daily grinders of the faces of the poore if this were a theme befitting my person profession But there is one particular kind which not in my private opinion alone but of many both of the most judicious and honest hath beene alwayes accounted and reputed as horrible and cruell an oppression as any other whatsoever if not far crueller My meaning is of depopulating inclosure wherby many wealthy townes who before maintained a number of able people and fit in time of need to doe their country good service have now for the most part left only a sheepherd and his dog But the judgements of God upon their Persons or at least upon their posterity most of them I meane are yet so recent in the memories of most now living that I need say no more but wish that others may take warning CHAP. XXI Of severall sorts of Fishes both of the Sea and fresh waters and the various and divers nourishment they breed in the body AS in the land we may not without wonder and admiration behold the great bounty our gracious God so in that liquid element of water is no lesse to bee seene the rich liberality of our great Lord and Maker in affording us for food so great variety of severall sorts of fishes All fishes are of a cold and moist temperature but some exceeding others in bounty according to the nature of the water and places wherin they live Now all fishes live either in the salt-salt-water which we call the Sea or in fresh-fresh-waters as Rivers Lakes Pools or Ponds The Sea-fish are accounted the best as being of a firmer substance hotter and drier and not so clammy and slimy as the fresh-water Fish they are also more savory and nourish better Among sea-sea-fishes againe such as have scales and firme substances are the best and such as are inclosed within shells divers of them as Lobsters afford the body good and solid nourishment Others of a softer and slimier and cartilaginous substance are not so good That fish that liveth in a pure water tossed to and fro with waves is better than that which hath lesse agitation and motion and liveth in a more muddy water And such as live most neare a rocky or sandy shore are better than where there is much slime and mudde and therefore were Pisces saxatiles or rockie fish for this cause so called in so high an esteeme among antient Physitians And so among fresh-water-fresh-water-fish such as live most commonly in cleere rockie or gravelly Rivers and which are of a swift course are the best an of best nourishment Such fish againe as live in slimy and muddy waters in the fens marshes Ponds Pools and motes are nothing so good nor yeeld any good and laudable nourishment to the body And howsoever Fish have beene in use and great esteeme among the ancients especially the Romans and sold at a very high rate yet if wee compare their nourishment with that of flesh it is in many respects farre inferior to it as not yeelding so wholesome and laudable a nourishment to the body And it is to bee also observed that fish are greatest enemies to cold the moist phlegmaticke bodies and old age especially the moistest and slimiest Now something of some sorts of fish And first wee will beginne with the Sturgeon called of the antient Romans as is supposed Acipenser and by some the sea-peacock which was in so great request among the antient Romans that not onely was it served in to the table with musicall Pomp but even they also who carried it in were to weare garlands on their heads The Sturgeon is of a reasonable good nourishing substance if it be not too fat which will easily cloy the stomacke and then take heed of surfetting with this dish which hath indangered some and cost some their life for want of good take heed We have it commonly brought to us barrelled up from the Easterne countries being commonly used at great feasts and then by reason of the salt
fresh-waters In generall Shell-fish for the most part ingender crude viscous and phlegmaticke humors howbeit some more some lesse Of these some are of a farre softer substance and others of a firmer Oisters Mushells Cockles and the like are of a soft substance Lobsters Crevices c are of a firmer and solider substance And in nourishment and concoction they differ also accordingly Oisters among all others are in greatest request and for the softnesse of their substance and easinesse to be concocted they are commonly eaten raw and before meales by which meanes they are good to loosen the belly And although they better befit some constitutions of body than others as namely hot dry cholericke bodie yet are they indifferently used by all constitutions sexes and ages But they helpe themselves with the correction of pepper vineger and onions and a cup of good claret wine for the most part But I wish a moderation in the use of this Sea-excremēt for it is nothing else hath bin shewed already is in divers others so especially in this others of this nature and kind Cockles Mushells and such others not much unlike them are far inferior unto Oisters as being harder of concoction and yeelding worse nourishment to the body especially Mushells All are enemies to obstructions Pranes and Shrimps to an indifferent good stomacke prove good and wholesome nourishment exceeding any of the former and being indifferent easy of concoction Crabs and their kinds Lobsters and the like Shell-fish are of a farre more solid and firme substance nourish much but are hard of concoction The Crab is the colder and worst for cold and old complexions The Lobster is better than the former and may better bee used of colder complexions provided the stomacke be strong it being also hard of concoction The Tortoise as living most in the water deserveth well to bee ranked among fish It is of a firme and solid substance being in forren nations often used as an ordinary food The wood Tortoises are accounted of all others the best Tortoises have not an evill taste and yeeld to the body abundance of strong nourishment howbeit hard of digestion used liberally they are esteemed to loosen the belly They ingender tough and clammy humors and therefore unfit for the wind-collicke obstructions stone c. They use to prepare them with great art and industrie against Consumptions and Hecticke-fevers And for this purpose the Wood Tortoises are the best Among all our fresh-water-fish the Salmon in all ages hath borne the bell away even in the dayes of Pliny It is very sweet and pleasant to the Palat easy of concoction and yeelding a good and wholesome nourishment to the body howbeit it quickly filleth the stomacke and taken in any quantity will not so easily be concocted The Salmon-trout young Salmon or Salmon-peale are yet better and easilier concocted than the great and older Salmon Eaten with vineger they are not so burdensome to a weak stomacke Many use to keep this Fish sometime in such sowre liquor although it then nourish lesse They are taken in great abundance in many places both of this Iland and Ireland Salt salmon looseth much of its former bounty as nourishing lesse becomming harder to be concocted and ingendring worse humors in the body as is the nature of salt-fish The little River-trout among river-River-fish challengeth the second place and unto it by some is assigned the first place The best are such as are bred in cleere and rockie Rivers The others that live in great Lakes and more muddy waters although in greatnesse they may exceed yet in good wholesome nourishment they are farre inferior to the others The Trout yeeldeth a dainty moist and cooling nourishment especially to hot and dry complexions The Perch that liveth in pure Rivers I ever held for as good a Fish as the fresh-water bringeth forth It is of good taste pleasing the palat of an indifferent firme substance and may safely bee used of the sicke The Pike is of a firme and solid substance yeelding to none in good wholesome nourishment that especially I meane which liveth in pure Rivers and not in muddie ponds and pooles The Pickrell or yong Pike is easiest of concoction Those of middle age are best for ordinary use for most people in sickenesse and in health It may as well be allowed the sicke as any other fish And the Gudgeon is as good as the best River-fish both for sicke and healthfull people and will easily be concocted with a weak stomacke affording the body a good laudable and wholesome nourishment and may be called the River Smelt The Roch is an indifferent good fish and affordeth the body no bad nourishment howbeit it be farre inferiour to the Gudgeon The Allowes yeeldeth good store of nourishment to the body although it be hard of digestion Take time and leisure to the eating of it and take heed of bones The Barbell is easily concocted yeelding but small nourishment and that not very excellent and somewhat muddie in taste the greater are the best It is to be observed in the use of this fish saith a late Writer that the spawne thereof worketh as violent effects in the bodie both upwards and downewards as either Antimonie or Sneesing powder or the like and therefore wisheth every one to take good heed that they eat none of this stuffe This fish was in so high esteeme among the antient Romans that one cost sometimes neere threescore pounds Sterline And Cicero himselfe maketh it plainly appeare in what high esteeme it was then among great ones at Rome But me thinkes I heare the Carpe complaine that hath beene all this while neglected being neverthelesse so highly esteemed and reckoned one of the chiefest fish that furnisheth our fish meales The Carpe then howsoever in so high an account yet scarce deserveth so high a praise and commendation It yeeldeth to the body a viscous and clammie nourishment apt to ingender obstructions wind-colicke stone c. and therefore I wish the use thereof to be but sparing The Brame is better and of easier digestion than the Carpe howbeit inferiour to the Perch and some others The Tench delighteth commonly in slimie and muddy waters in which it ordinarily liveth and although it yeeld abundance of nourishment yet it is naught ingendring obstructions and many dangerous diseases being especially much used by such as use little exercise and are used to feede daintily Strong robust labouring people are better able to overcome the harmes from thence ensuing The Lamprey not onely among the antient Romans was in no small esteeme and account but is even at this day accounted an extraordinary daintie fish but especially among the greater sort the poore not being able to reach to so costly a sauce And I may well say of it that the sauce is farre better than it selfe The Lamprey although pleasant to
with another manner of juice and therefore whereas flesh is forbidden in Lent yet Fish are permitted It may by many places both of Hippocrates Galen evidently appeare that the antient Physitians fed their patients more with fish than flesh Besides when as the sicke loathed their hony water and ptisan Galen allowed them rockie fish boiled in water prepared with leekes dill salt and a little oile Cardan in the Diet of the Diseased preferreth fish before flesh and that because they are of a cooler quality moisten more and nourish lesse And that the Arabian Physitians allowed to their patients the frequent use of fish it may by Averroes appeare Their manner was to fry them in oile by which manner of food their opinion was that the liver was much strengthened A late Writer is of opinion that most of the antient Physitians used to feed their patients with fish rather of custome than that they esteemed them better than flesh And this may yet the better appeare to be true in that the Easterne people and the Greekes especially used and doe yet at this day very frequently use fish as is by a learned Physitian who of late yeeres travelled into those countries well observed But if wee shall in even scales weigh both flesh and fish we shall finde that flesh doth farre surpasse fish in good and wholesome nourishment and that even by the testimony of Hippocrates himself Fish indeed saith he in the same place are a light meat both boiled and broiled both by themselves and with other meat And yet they differ thus among themselves fish of ponds and pooles the fattest especially as river fish also are harder of digestion but Sea fish living neere the shore are lighter and easier of digestion and among them againe fish boiled are easier of digestion than rosted or broiled And therefore in case of restoring strength feed the sick with the former but if thou wilt either keepe the sicke at a low ebbe or yet abate some of his strength feed him with the latter which are lighter and nourish lesse Flesh therefore beeing wholesomer than fish yeelding a more laudable nourishment to the body they are rather by way of permission to satisfie their languishing appetites then otherwise allowed sicke people and that even in Fevers where we affect a moistening diet But then if may in the next place bee demanded what fish are best for the use of the sicke All fish are either bred in fresh waters or in the Sea Sea-fish againe are either such as frequent the shore called littorales or else live most among rockes called Pisces saxatiles or else they live in the depth of the maine Ocean callen therefore Pelagici Galen preferreth sea-fish before fresh-water fish and againe among sea-fish those who live among rockes as the sole sea-perch and the like he accounteth best Neither yet are such as live in the maine Ocean and neare the shore to bee misliked That kinde of fish saith Celsus is lighter that liveth among the rockes than among sand and againe that which liveth among the sand is lighter than that which liveth among mud and slime And therefore fishes living in lakes ponds pooles or rivers must needes bee inferior to the former And yet notwithstanding fishes living in cleere and rocky rivers and which have a quicke current are not to bee misliked such as are the Pyke and pickerell the Perch and carpe The Gonion especially called the river smelt may as safely as any fish be allowed the sicke Galen would have all his fish prepared with his white broth as he termeth it being made as wee mentioned before with faire water dill leekes and a little salt But since Galens time the case is much altered and our European palats have since that time well improved their sense of tasting In acute diseases especially a tart sowre taste gives our patients best content And for this purpose we use not without good reason the juice of a Lemmon as also of a sowre Orange a soveraine good sauce in all Fevers infections and contagions especially both unknowne in Galens time And for a corrective in all fish sauces pepper and salt are with us in most frequent use and request the former not then so much by him used In France I remember there was a frequent use of a broth made of mushels with the yolke of an egge made tart with verjuice of sowre grapes which pleaseth the palat well and is not impertinent for a weake stomacke whereof in my fever I made now and then a triall CHAP. XII Of the Drinke of the diseased and first of Water with the frequent use therof in antient times whether and how now to be exhibited and how before to be prepared and how to supply the defect thereof where it is not to be admitted WHat cruelty it were after so many and various sorts of meat it may be scorched with sealding heat in the heighth of a Fever without a comfortable refreshing with that so much desired drinke those who have beene scorched in this purgatory can best tell and therefore with the assistance of the Almighty I purpose to dwell a little upon this so usefull and profitable a point And how usefull and profitable the handling of this point is may from hence easily appeare that many times the stomacke refuseth all manner of sustenance whatsoever especially in great weaknesse and acute diseases and yet drinke is seldome out of season And in this same particular we see by experience it is a hard matter to make the sicke keepe within compasse But because all times are not alike fit for drinke therefore must we be a little more circumspect in the choice of the time when it is fittest for the sicke to drinke And therefore when the time is not fitting wee must acquaint the sicke saith Celsus that when the fit is over hee shall drinke and that as abstinence from food will shorten the fit so when the fit is over past the lesse he now drinke the lesse desire shall he have after to drinke But because often times little or no food serveth the sickes turne therefore must wee be the more carefull to gratifie them in their drinke Now as for the time if election may have place wee are to make choice of that time when he goeth to rest Celsus in another place would have the sicke in the night time to rest and neither to eat nor drinke if it be possible and drouth be not too urgent in which case hee would not have the sicke too much tormented with thirst But because sometimes the mouth and the throat are drie and crave drinke when as the internall and inferiour parts are plentifully supplied with moisture which is that we call sitim mendosam or a false thirst as there is also a false appetite therefore it wil not be amisse sometimes to wash the mouth throat with a
this rule notwithstanding wee must alwaies except soporiferous diseases of the braine as lethargie Carus c. Againe it may perhaps here be demanded whether it be good to sleepe with the mouth open or shut I answer that to sleepe with open mouth doth farre better breath out such fuliginous vapours as arise from the concoction of the stomacke than with the mouth shut howbeit it drieth somewhat the mouth and the throat but after the party is awakened this is againe easily amended Sometimes againe there be some that sleepe with open eyes like hares and some with their eye-lids close shut now then may be demanded which is the best I answere that in perfect health some are accustomed to sleepe thus with open eyes without any hurt or danger whatsoever and the same party falling sicke may so continue this custome without any hurt or detriment but if this should befall another sicke person in former times unaccustomed thereunto it is then more dangerous especially if accompanied with other dangerous signes CHAP. XXVI Of Dreames and that of them there may be made good use in sicknesse and in health Of night-walkers or such as walke in their sleepe in the night-season and the cause thereof NOw in our sleep there appeare unto us often imaginary visions and apparitions which we call insomnium or somnium from somnus sleepe and wee call in English dreames and by the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answerable to the Latine somnium Dreaming then is a middle disposition without any disease betwixt sleeping and waking in the which neither as waking doe the outward senses performe their whole perfect actions neither yet as wholly asleep are they altogether idle howbeit this properly is an affection or function belonging to the principall faculty especially the Fancy which although the body bee asleep yet is that together with the cogitation and memory often set a worke and because in an ordinary or meane sleep the Fancy is often free the discerning faculty confused therefore if severall objects or species either remaining still in the senses or which the body being yet awake hath done or felt it composeth together in many vaine visions and as we commonly for hence call them Fancies the which being asleepe we seeme to see and because reason is then weake we give thereunto our assent But if it shall so come to passe as we often find when we are as it were in a light slumber that reason is at som more liberty and giveth no assent to such Fancies exposed to our imagination then such are not so properly called dreames Of Dreames there have beene some supernaturall and thus we read that in the old Testament God did often reveale his Will by dreames and visions With this supernaturall dreame my purpose is not here to meddle at all Some againe are naturall arguing and declaring unto us often the state and disposition of the body in sicknesse and in health and are by the Physitian onely to be considered and to this onely end and purpose Concerning dreames Hippocrates among the rest of this works hath written one little Tractate where he setteth downe divers things concerning sicknesse and health signified and pointed out unto us by dreames and the meanes to remedy the same And there he sheweth that if such things whereabout we were in the day time busied bee after the same manner represented unto us it signifieth that all is well within if otherwise the coutrary is signified The same author there setteth downe that to see with a cleere and sharpe sight such things as are done upon earth and likewise to have the sense of hearing answerable in dreaming portendeth health as likewise to seeme to travaile strongly and securely without any feare to runne apace and to see the earth plaine and smooth well manured planted with pleasant and fruitâ— full trees and bearing good store of fruit as also to see rivers and fountaines running their accustomed course and the accustomed quantity of water this doth also signifie sound health and that both meat and drinke and all excretions keepe a due symmetry and proportion If these things seeme otherwise saith the same Author there is a deviation from that former soundnesse of body and some inward distemper thereby argued If the sight then or hearing in thy dreamâ— seeme to be endamaged there is some disease in the head portended A rough and uneven earth argueth some corruption in the flesh Trâ—â—â— seeming barren argue corruption of seed of generation If leaves fall from the trees it argueth hurt from humiditie and moisture but if the same trees seeme full of leaves without any fruit it presageth some hurâ— from heat and drouth Rivers running with greater abundance of water than ordinary signifie greater abundance of blood in the body then is usefull the contrary argueth some deficiency in this nâ—ble humor Wels springs signifie wind about the bladder If the sea seeme to be troubled it portendeth some disease in the belly It is also according to the same Author good to see by dreame people apparelled in white and comely clothes But againe to see any naked or apparelled with base blacke sordid and sloven-like apparell receiving any thing or carying any thing out of the house portendeth no good Many other things are there set downe by the same Author concerning this subject with briefe remedies for the preventing and curing such infirmities And there it may plainely appeare that one and the same dreame may have a diverse signification in sicknesse and in health as if the earth or house seeme to move in a healthfull person it signifieth imbecillity and weaknesse but to a sicke person presageth health and a change and alteration from his former estate In like manner if any person seeme to swimme in a river or pond in health it portendeth too great abundance of moisture but in a burning Fever it portendeth good and that this extreme siccity is overcome by the contrary humidity It is moreover in that place apparent that many times dreams do accompany such humors as abound in the body and may often from thence be collected As much dreaming of rivers and ponds and often swimming therein abundance of moist phlegmaticke humors in the body To see blacke and burnt earth argueth a great exsiccation of the body by choler adust Strange and terrible shapes and affrighting monstrous formes signifieth that the body is filled with divers sorts of uncouth foods which make a great perturbation in the body Besides all such troublesome fearefull dreames often argue melancholy in the body Passing over rivers saith the same Author armed men often appearing and many strange and monstrous apparitions doe portend either some great disease or madnesse And thus wee see it is apparent that by the dreames may often be discerned or presaged some present or future infirmity Besides we finde many times that even in our best health oppression
in your other actions also And therefore it is no lesse true than triviall Vivimus exemplis non regulis men are commonly more moved by practice than by precept Neither herein hath your labour beene lost having now atteined to that number of yeeres with such a freedome from infirmities as very few of your age and eminency have attened unto Accept therefore Right Honourable this my rude labour and take these my paines in good part as a gratefull acknowledgement of that respect and dutifull observance I owe unto your honourable person and noble family and although conscious to my selfe both of the weaknesse of my parts and the hard censures I am like to undergoe from the which notwithstanding my betters have not beene freed yet I shall more willingly undergoe this burthen under the protection of so noble judicious wise and pious a Patron Protect therefore and still countenance the learned and honest Artist and discountenance ignorant Empiricall Physitians and such especially as erring out of their owne orbes without due consideration of the weightinesse of their owne calling too too pragmatically thrust their sickle into another mans harvest But because many things concerning this same particular point are handled in this subsequent discourse therefore to avoid tediousnesse with hearty wishes to Almighty God for your Honour the continuance of many happy daies for the good both of Church and Commonwealth and countrie wherein you live with the increase of choicest blessings upon your selfe and noble family I rest Your Honours in all dutifull observance JAMES HART The Licence from the Colledge HAving read some part of this Booke and in a generall view looked over more wee thinke it learnedly contrived and worthy the reading IOHN ARGENT WILLIAM CLEMENT THEODORE GVLSTON THE CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS OF THIS VVHOLE TRACTATE Of the First BOOKE CHAP. I. DIuers acceptations of this word Diet. What health is and whether Diet be a thing necessary for healthfull and sicke persons CHAP. IJ. Whether by means of Diet the life of man may before may yeeres prolonged CHAP. IIJ. Of Climactericall yeeres with their reasons assigned by antiquity numericall astrologicall and Physicall CHAP. IV. Of things called not naturall and first of the aire CHAP. V. Of severall sorts of wines and their various effects CHAP. VJ. Of the foure seasons of the yeere and how they affect the body of man CHAP. VIJ. Of water in generall of terrestriall water of water passing thorow or issuing out of the earth as springs rivers wells and ponds CHAP. VIIJ. Whether any pure Element bee able to nourish a mixt body and whether any such compound be able to live by the sole use of the same CHAP. IX Whether the life of man without food bee sustained for any long continuance of time CHAP. X. Of nourishment and what therein is to be considered CHAP. XJ. Of the times of repast and how often we ought to eat in a day and when to feed freeliest at dinner or at supper Something concerning breakefasts CHAP. XIJ. Of the matter of nourishment and first of corne and bread made thereof CHAP. XIIJ. Of roots usually eaten and in most account for food CHAP. XIV Of herbs in most ordinary use for diet and first of such as coole most CHAP. XV. Of Herbs hot in operation and in most ordinary use Of Artichocks Gourds Cucumbers and muske melons CHAP. XVJ. Of the fruits of trees especially of shrubs and lesser trees ordinarily used for food and often for physicke and first of Strawberries Raspes mulberries Gooseberries Currants by the vulgar so called red and blacke of Barberries and whorts or whortle-berries Of Cherries Plums Abricocks and peaches CHAP. XVIJ. Of Grapes Raisins Currants properly so called figs and dates and of Apples Peares Quinces Oranges Citrons Lemons Pomegranates Services Medlars and Corneillions Of wallnuts Haselnuts fitbirds almonds bitter and sweet Chestnut and Fisticke-nut CHAP. XVIIJ Of severall sorts of flesh especially of foure footed beasts with their appurtenances and parts CHAP. XIX Of fowle both tame and wild and their severall sorts as also of parts of fowles and of Egges CHAP. XX. Of strange and uncouth diet which some people have in ordinary use as of dogs cats horses mules asses rats locusts frogs snailes and mans flesh CHAP. XXJ. Of severall sorts of fishes both of the Sea and fresh-fresh-waters together with the various and divers nourishment they breed in the body CHAP. XXIJ. Of seasoning meate Of salt and of sauces of severall sorts Of spices used in diet both in sicknesse and in health CHAP. XXIIJ Of Gluttony and excesse in the use of food CHAP. XXIV Of Drinke and what things in the use thereof to be observed Of morning draughts drinking betwixt meales beginning or ending the meale with a draught and drinking to bedward CHAP. XXV Of water as it is used for drinke and of severall wayes of cooling the same and correcting bad waters CHAP. XXVJ Of Wine the severall sorts thereof with the right use and for whom most fitting CHAP. XXVIJ Of Beere Ale Perry and Cidar serving us in stead of wine CHAP. XXVIIJ Of drunkennesse and the mischiefes thence insuing to the soule body and goods Questions discussed and handled in this First BOOKE with relation to the Chapters wherein they are contained 1. WHether by meanes of Diet the life of man may be prolonged cap. 2. 2. Whether mans age doth not now decline and the world wax old Cap. 3. 3. Whether any compound or mixt body can live by the use of one Element onely Cap. 8. 4. Whether water conveied thorow pipes of lead be wholesome for ordinary use Cap. 7. 5. Whether man or woman may live many daies moneths or yeeres without the use of any sustenance whatsoever Cap. 9. 6. Whether it be best to feed freelist at dinner or at supper Cap. 11. 7. Whether breake-fasts are to be used Cap. 11. 8. Whether snailes be good against a Consumption Cap. 20. 9. Whether morning draughts fasting be allowable Cap. 24. 10. Whether good to drinke betwixt meales and to bedward Cap. 24. 11. Whether it be good to begin or yet to end our meale with a draught ib. 12. Whether old may be allowed the use of wine Cap. 26. 13. Whether it be fit sometimes to be drunke to make one cast in an ague or no Cap. 28. Contents of the Chapters of the Second BOOKE CHAP. I. OF the Diet of the Diseased in generall the utility and profit thereof Of the aire in particular and how to be corrected in time of need and what fewell for this purpose is best Something concerning the aire of Churches and Church-yards CHAP. IJ. Of the particular aire wherein sicke liveth to wit his habitation and the best situation thereof As also whether a country-aire or that of Townes or Cities bee better Where something concerning the situation of the ancient Towne of Northampton CHAP. IIJ. Of the clothing and covering of the sicke as also concerning their shifting and of the error of the
vulgar practising the contrary Something also concerning the bed wherein the sicke lieth and whether the sicke ought to have his haire cut CHAP. IV. Of abstinence either from some or all sorts of food for a short or a longer time and of severall sorts of abstinence CHAP. V. Of aliment or diet of the diseased in generall Whether a thinne and spare diet or a full and liberall be better CHAP. VJ. Certaine rules and lawes from whence the Diet of the Diseased is desumed CHAP. VIJ. What things in prescribing Diet for the Diseased are to be observed CHAP. VIIJ Of fit Diet for the Diseased and that of severall sorts and first of that which vegetables afford as bread herbs and fruits CHAP. IX Of flesh and what sorts of flesh are fittest for the sicke and how to bee exhibited CHAP. X. Of Egges and their use and whether they may be allowed the sicke Of divers liquid substances made of flesh as broth Colice Gelee restorative distillations c. CHAP. XJ. Of Fish and whether they may be allowed the sicke CHAP. XIJ. Of the drinke of the diseased and first of water with the frequent use thereof in antient times Whether and how now to be exhibited and how before to be prepared and where it is not admitted how to supply the defect thereof CHAP. XIIJ. Of warme drinke and whether it be usefull or no CHAP. XIV Of wine and whether it may safely be administred to sicke folkes Of artificiall wines aqua vitae usquebagh and other strong waters CHAP. XV. Of divers drinkes made of honey mulsum mulsa or hydromel oxymel with the various wayes of their composition and of their excellent vertues CHAP. XVJ. Of divers drinkes made of Barly very usefull for the sicke and in frequent request as Ptisan Barly-water Creame of barly and wherein ours differ from those of antient times Something concerning Emulsions both almond-milke and others CHAP. XVIJ. Of milke of divers sorts and whether fit to be used of the diseased CHAP. XVIIJ Of exercise which terminateth in rest the necessity and utility thereof together with divers and various sorts of exercise aswell generall as particular with severall circumstances therein to be considered CHAP. XIX Of the exercise of the mind Whether at our meales wee may discourse and deliberate of serious and waighty affaires And what was the custome and practice among the antients Accommodation of Exercises to the sicke how safe it is for them to use Exercise and what fittest and in what diseases Questions discussed and handled in this second BOOKE 1. VVHether a Country-aire or that of townes or cities be better cap. 2. 2. Whether it be better to shift the sicke or to let them lye still in foule clothes according to the vulgar custome Cap. 3. 3. Whether the bed is to be warmed Cap. 3. 4. Whether it be good to cut the haire of the sicke Cap. 3. 5. Whether a thinne and spare or a full and liberall diet be better Cap. 5. 6. Whether Egges may safely be used of the sicke Cap. 10. 7. Whether fish may be allowed the sicke Cap. 11. 8. Whether warme drinke be usefull Cap. 13. 6. Whether wine may safely be exhibited to sicke folkes Cap. 14. 10. Whether milke may safely be used of the sicke Cap. 17. Contents of the Chapters of the Third BOOKE CHAP. I. OF Repletion and Inanition in generall what they are and the variety of particular circumstances therein to be considered CHAP. IJ. Of Phlebotomy what it is the severall sorts and sundry things therein to be considered CHAP. IIJ. Whether in contagious maligne and pestilentiall Fevers and in the small Pox and Measels as likewise in the Jaundize Phlebotomy may safely be administred CHAP. IV. Of the veines to be opened in the body of man and the manner CHAP. V. To what persons this remedy may safely be administred Whether a woman with child may safely be let blood where something concerning the age fit to be phlebotomized CHAP. VJ. Of the quantity how long the Patient is to bleed as also concerning reiteration of this remedy in the time of need with a confutation of some erroneous opinions concerning this point CHAP. VIJ. Of the fittest time for evacuation by Phlebotomy both generall and particular both of election and coaction as also whether we may let blood during the dog dayes CHAP. VIIJ. Whether in Phlebotomy we are to observe the signe and severall other things pointed out to us by our Ephemerides-masters CHAP. IX Preparation before Phlebotomy during bleeding what to bee done and how to be ordered after Of particular Phlebotomy by leaches Of scarification and cupping Of searing setum vesicatories c. CHAP. X. Of Purgation or evacuation of corrupted humors in generall CHAP. XJ. Whether we ought to purge or no what persons are fit to bee purged and able to indure purgations Whether women with child may safely bee purged CHAP. XIJ. Of humours to be purged of their preparation as also of the body to be purged Of the quantity or reiteration or often exhibition in time of need CHAP. XIIJ. Of vomits Glisters Suppositories and with which we are to beginne when divers are requried CHAP. XIV Of the opportune time of purgation both generall and particular with divers other things concerning this subiect CHAP. XV. Of the waies and passages by which we are to purge of the formes in which we exhibit Physicke together with the manner of governing the sicke during purgation and meanes to keepe Physicke in the stomacke that it cast it not up againe CHAP. XVJ. Of sweating and meanes to provoke the same divers sorts of hydrotickes or medicines provoking sweat both externall and internall CHAP. XVIJ. Of Bathing among the antients as also certaine ablutions of head hands and feet Of artificiall Bathes generall and particular the right use the time preparation and divers other considerable circumstances and how farre we observe the customes CHAP. XVIIJ Of naturall Bathes or minerall waters Whether Leap yeare called also Bissextile causeth any alteration in these minerall waters or infringeth the force thereof and of the originiall and first beginning of this time CHAP. XIX Of preparation before the use of minerall waters the right use and vertues of them their various kindes both in this Iland and other countries CHAP. XX. of the excretion by urine the retention of urine together with the nature of diureticke remedies the right use and abuse thereof CHAP. XXJ. Of ordure â—â—rfecall excrements and divers things in them considerable this excretion being sometimes too lavish and sometimes deficient CHAP. XXIJ. Of Spittle spitting or salivation Of Tobacco and the great abuse thereof in this Kingdome to the great prejudice of the health of the body CHAP. XXIIJ Of Snot or Snevell Of rheume falling downe upon the lungs and other pectorall parts Of expuition or expectoration the great abuse committed in the use of expectorating medicines and the right use thereof CHAP. XXIV Of carnall copulation the right use
parts of Libya and Egypt in Sommer are farre cooler than places more remote from thence Plutarch seemeth likewise to favour this opinion who affirmeth that it is not necessary to prescribe any remedies for the preservation of the teeth of such as dwell neere the sea and that in regard of the dry quality of that aire and wind strengthening and corroborating their heads Againe that the sea-aire is hot appeareth in that Pliny writeth that no snow falleth in the maine Ocean but what may then be the reason that in may places of Italy the sea aire is so bad The reason many be in the first place because perhaps this wind bloweth sometimes too violently and so in too great abundance drawne in by the inhabitants or else by reason that by the sea aire divers marshes or stincking standing pooles and ponds or yet salt water mingled with fresh or any the like occasion which causing the water to putrifie sendeth forth such ill vapours and exhalations as are altogether hurtfull to the health of man And by reason this is ordinarie in most places of Italy hence have we this evill report and slander raised upon the sea aire and wind which notwithstanding is onely accidentall being in it selfe most healthfull and without any hurt at all Hence is it also that the Philosopher affirmeth that the sea creatures are farre more vigorous and of a greater stature and Averroes affirmeth that they are longer lived As concerning that which was before alleged out of Aristotle seeming to maintaine the contrary opinion was spoken of creatures living in the water the word Water taken in a generall sense but is not meant of the sea in particular Hence also commeth it to passe that the Venetians hemm'd in on every side with the sea breathing in no aire which doth not partake of the qualities of their so neere bordering neighbour are so lively and vigorous that many of that republique attaine very nigh the hundred yeere of their age and this was verified in that noble and renowned Champion and sea Captaine Andrew Dore Admirall of the fleet of Charles the fift Emperor and who spent in a manner his whole life upon the Sea as the aforesaid Author averreth And this opinion seemeth yet more probable in that both the snow which falleth neere the sea-coasts yea even in the most Northerne parts of this Iland both falleth often in a small quantitie and lieth a shorter while than in the places further remote from the same and the corne is also sooner ripe caeteris paribus and no other let or rub come in the way and yet further to confirme this truth we see most commonly that sea-faring men seldome need any sauce to provoke their languishing appetites I have a little the longer insisted of set purpose upon these winds blowing from the sea by reason of our new colonies now planted and planting in these remote regions that they may neither be afraid to settle themselves neere the sea coast if all other things be answerable nor yet any such as are there already seated be by any needlesse future fears discouraged by reason of this aire And now being arrived into these remote regions ere we return a word or two of the nature and property of som of these winds blowing in those far distant contries Acosta the Iesuit relateth that upon all the coast of Peru it bloweth continually with one only wind which is South and South west contrary to that which doth usually blow under the burning Zone being by nature the most violent tempestuous unhealthfullest of all other yet in this region it is marvellous pleasing healthfull agreeable insomuch that we may truly attribute the habitation of that place thereunto Now the Northerne wind is not usually cold and cleare in Peru and beyond the line as here In some parts of Peru at Lima and on the plaines they find the Northern winds troublesome and unwholesome and all along the coast which runnes above 300 leagues they hold the Southerne winds for healthfull and coole and which is yet more most cleare and pleasant yea with it it never raines contrary to that we see in Europe on this side the line The Solanus or Easterly wind is commonly hot and troublesome in Spaine and in Murtia it is the healthfullest and coolest that is for that it passeth thorow that large champian and sweet pleasant orchards In Carthagena which is not farre from thence the same wind is troublesome and unwholesome The Meridionall is commonly rainie and boisterous and yet in the same Citie whereof I speake it is wholesome and pleasant In a region containing fiftie leagues in circuit I put it thus for example the wind which bloweth on the one part is hot and moist and that which bloweth on the other is cold and drie And Pliny reports that in Africke it raines with a Northerly wind and that the Southerne wind is cleare And Acosta tells us yet more that there is a certaine wind of such a quality that when it bloweth in some countrie it causeth it to raine fleas and that in so great abundance that they trouble and darken the aire and cover all the sea-shore and in other places it raineth frogs There are winds which naturally trouble the sea and make the water thereof looke greene and blacke others make it looke as cleare as chrystall some comfort and make glad others trouble and breed heavinesse Such as nourish silke-wormes have great care to shut their windowes when as the South-westwinds doe blow and to open them to that opposite to it having found by certaine experience that their wormes die and languish with the one fatten and become better-like by the other The same Authour reporteth that in some parts of the Indies he hath seene grates of yron rusted and consumed that passing it betwixt your fingers it dissolved into powder as if it had beene hay or parched straw the which onely proceeded from the wind corrupting it and it having no power to withstand the same But before we conclude this chapter we must take notice that without the Tropicks from the twentie seventh to the thirtie seventh degrees the winds are said to be for the most part Easterly as some thinke by a repercussion of the aire even as we see waters being incountred with more force returne with an eddie in a manner backe This which is said of the Easterly wind is to be understood of the sea for at the land though winds be as hath beene said certaine and set yet that which is the generall wind of one countrie is not generall to all yea in the same countrie they have a set wind for the day and another quite contrary bloweth for the night also neere the coast they are more subiect to calmes in this burning Zone than further off in the sea the grosse vapours which arise out of the earth and the divers
to speake of such waters as be beneficiall for the life of all living Creatures In the first place then let us examine the qualities of the best water The goodnesse thereof is principally discerned by the lightnesse and thinnesse the which according to Hippocrates is soone warme and soone cold againe if it bee free from any smell or taste if any kind of pulse bee quickly tender that is boyled therein if put in a silver vessell it cause it no to rust and leave no slime at bottome It is also accounted a good signe of wholesome water if a handfull of sage being throwne therein it be presently dispersed if it nourish good fish and good and wholesome plants grow in it we thinke well of it but if it nourish toads snakes or other such vermine it is utterly to be rejected The weighing of water is not to be trusted to for a venomous water may be as light as that which is of a more laudable quality and besides one and the same water may be heavy in winter and light in sommer as for any other experiments either by a linnen cloth or round piece of wood as idle and impertinent I passe by and come to the differences and severall sorts of water Water that is in request for the ordinary use as well of man as beast as for Physicall waters we referre them to their proper place and venomous waters we will not meddle with wee will divide into Celestiall and Terrestriall Celestiall are either snow or raine-waters Terrestriall is either spring or river-water well-water or of a pond and standing lake Raine-water is engendred in the middle region of the aire of certaine vapors which the Sunne by his heat in the day-time draweth up Aristotle is of opinion that some hot and dry vapors are therewith mingled which causeth the saltnesse in the sea In raine-water againe we are to observe both the time and the manner of falling Hippocrateâ— rejecteth that which falleth in the winter-time as being heavier and harder than in the Sommer The best in his opinion is that which falleth in Sommer and in the most temperate part of the same not in the extreme heat of the canicular dayes it being then farre worse Some notwithstanding hold that the winter and spring raine water are the best and to be preferred before that which falleth in Sommer and Harvest and that by reason it is not so soone putrified But the opinion of Hippocrates is to be preferred who measureth the water by the lightnesse and thinnesse thereof Of the parts of the day that which falleth in the morning is accounted best The manner of the falling is likewise of some moment whether it fall with force or violence or mildly and softly with greater or smaller drops That which falleth with smaller drops and with violence Hippocrates esteemeth better than that which falleth more leisurely and with greater drops and that which falleth with great stormes of wind is accounted worst The substance of raine-water is most subtile and sweet by reason that the most subtile and thinnest parts are exhaled and drawne up by force of the Sunne-beames Snow-water is either of snow alone or of snow mingled with haile or yee or else snow and yee are mingled with other water Both these sorts are to be rejected by reason that the thinnest and subtilest parts by congealing doe exhale and vanish away the thicker and more terrestrious part still remaining behind Of this a triall may be made by letting some water freeze in the night-time and the next morning being dissolved by the heat the quantity shall easily bee discerned to bee diminished Now what harme insueth by drinking of these snow-waters is by the testimony of Hippocrates apparent and such as doe inhabite the Alpes and Pyrenean hills and Auvergne in France are sensible of this hurt being much molested with great throats whom for this cause their neighbours call Goitreux Cisterne waters are of a very neare affinity with raine-water as being nothing else but raine-water conveighed into a cisterne as a fit and convenient receptacle Pliny approves not of raine-waters because by reason of their standing they putrifie and ingender noisome creatures harden the belly and are hurtfull to the throat But since raine-water is so usefull and soveraine I see no reason why cisterne-water should be blamed And since of raine-water there be some better and some worse we must choose the fittest and convenientest time to wit that which falleth in the Sommer As for the slime filth which often accompanieth rainewa-ter being strained thorow gravel and sand they easily leave al that behind the as for the feare of putrefaction it may easily be avoided by casting in some small fishes which will keepe it in continuall motion As concerning the quality of such water it is by some Physitians beleeved that it bindes but that which is reserved in the middest of Sommer rather looseneth then bindeth the belly And by the same reason boiled water rather looseneth than bindeth the belly contrary to the vulgar opinion and that by reason that being boiled it is more easily againe expelled out of the body Now as for terrestriall waters among then Fountaines or Springs challenge vnto themselves the prerogative of the first place above any others In fountaines or springs wee are to consider three things their originall situation and places through which they passe The best springs in the judgement of Hippocrates are such as spring out of high places and earthy hills Such as spring out of rockes he mis-liketh as also such as runne neere any hot bath or thorow mineralls It may be objected that springs issuing out of rockes are by some of the antients accounted wholesomest and best It may bee Hippocrates in regard of their excessive cold and that they are not so passible thorow the body rejected them In the situation of springs wee are to consider the soile where it is seated and next the aspect of the Heaven As for the soile the best spring out of high hilly places but worse that spring out of champian and plaine grounds for such water in Winter is hot and in Sommer cold In regard of the Heaven such are commended that runne towards the Sunne rising and have their aspect that way Such as runne towards the West or other parts c are not of that high esteeme although not unwholesome to drinke Now the ground through which waters runne is not to bee neglected The best ground is a good firme clay unto the which the filth and corruption of the water sticketh fast Againe it must runne a swift course by which meanes it is freed from all smell and putrefaction But heere ariseth a question whether water carried through pipes especially of lead may safely be used The reason may bee both in regard of Galen and others antient Authors and famous in their generations Now
of food in a deare yeere as was this last 1630. Some relate strange things tending to this purpose as namely of a man living only upon the Sun and aire Fides sit penes Authorem I never yet could see any such good husbands Pliny maketh mention of a certaine man living without any thing else save the attraction of the aire being destitute of any mouth and for this cause called Astomi And the inhabitants of the new world they say will live 16 or 18 daies with the smoake of Tabacco only Our Tabacconists here in England are commonly as briefe with the pot as the pipe and besides many say it procures them an appetite And thus Tabacco like aurum potabile or that noble Elixir is able to doe any thing Democritus wee read being ready to give up the ghost for a certaine time susteined his life with the only smell of hony to the end he might be partaker of the Thesmophorian solemnity and that not only the spirits but even the solid parts also are fed by meats Plinies Astomes if it be true confirme unto us and Manardus seems to second it The Chameleon also said to feed upon the aire only and there is a certaine bird in the Indies call'd Rhintax Manucodiata or avis Paradisi which being deprived of feet is said to flie in the aire continually feed on the same only But to answer the former objections in the first place it is one thing to speake of the aire as a simple Element and another thing to speak of smels Aristotle against the Pythagoreans tells us that neither the aire nor the water can nourish by reason of the simplicity of their elementary bodies As concerning Plinies Astomes they are meere fictions fancies never any such people having bin discovered by any traveller whatsoever no more than many other monstrous and prodigious narrations by too credulous antiquity received for uncontrolled truthes and so for legacies left to posterity which here to confute would spend me more time than I can now well spare As for the Chameleon it hath bin observed to catch flies which sticking to its slimie tongue it did afterwards feed upon As for that Manucodiata it hath bin hitherto constantly and confidently beleeved that it lived alwayes balanced in the aire living upon no other nourishment but the aire onely howbeit now in our late navigations it hath bin observed to feed upon cloves and moreover that the inhabitants so artificially cut off their feet that no print or marke of them can ever be discerned Now as I deny that any creature can live upon the aire only so againe I will not deny but by good and pleasant smells the exhaust and spent spirits may againe be repaired a smell being nothing else save a certaine vaporous exhalation or corporeall effluxe or sliding out But that the solid substance of the earth should nourish would seeme to savour more of truth in that God himselfe seemeth to give the earth to the Serpent for food and it is reported that the Mole liveth on the earth only Besides we see many women with child troubled with the disease Pica to eat earth coals chalk c. And we see birds to swallow peeble-stones the Ostrich to eat iron But to answer these instances the Serpents and Moles live not on the simple element of earth which with us being 〈◊〉 farre from the center is mixed and not a simple element and therefore maketh nothing for the purpose It is true also that women often make use of such trash as wee have mentioned but that they have no great cause to brag of this food by their ill-favored colour and the evill accidents accompanying them may easily appeare the which doth argue the evill nourishment that such food doth affoord Besides they feed not onely on this food and it may be now and then they will afford themselves a cup of good liquour as a lavative to wash downe this rubbish As for fowle which either devoured peeble-stones or metalls they deliver them back againe such as they received them their appetites being to such things as for physick rather than food and therefore it is but an idle tale Paracelsus telleth us of one that lived fifteen daies only with a turse applied to his stomack Galen mocks and scoffes at them who thinke that one might sustaine life with wine applied outwardly since whatsoever nourisheth must first be attracted by and concocted in the instruments of concoction It is therefore a mere dotage of our Paracelsists that tell us that metalls will nourish our bodies Let some of these gallants I pray you be fed but for a weeke or lesse with their best aurum potabile lapis Philosophicus or what else you can devise and I warrant you at or e'r the weeks end if he be alive he will snatch at a crust of browne bread Now concerning water there is no lesse controversie amongst our Authours and seemeth to be back'd with better reasons Homer thought it nourished by his epithete 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Iewes at this day in their solemne feasts abstaine from water being of the minde of the old Egyptians who thought the river Nilus nourished because Moses turned the water thereof into blood Albertus Magnus reporteth that he saw a melancholicke person who lived not only many moneths but yeeres also with the only use of this element Cardan mainteineth this opinon and seemeth by many reasons to corroborate the same Galen notwithstanding is of a far other mind and proveth that water nourisheth not at all And Aristotle is also of the same minde who tells us that water cannot at all thicken and therefore cannot nourish To decide the controversie true it is that pure elementary water cannot at all nourish which neverthelesse thicke muddy and slimy water may sometimes effect and so some fishes may live on the same and yet it is well knowne that many fishes either prey upon others or live upon herbs and weeds howsoever they live not on mere and simple water I conclude therefore this point that pure elements as they are in their owne sphere especially neer the center do not nourish but the elements that are next unto us being mixed and confused may in some sort nourish CHAP. IX Whether mans life may be susteined without the use of food or no. THis may perhaps to some seeme but a needlesse and superfluous question and that I might herein have spared my paines It is true the matter may seem somewhat strange and many will be of opinion I doubt not that never was there any man so foolish as to mainteine any such erronious and false opinions But because this hath not been mainteined by vulgar wits only but men of transcendent understandings and eminent parts both Physitians and others have not only left us multiplicity of instances in this kind but even affirmed and
Africans And this is both by Pliny and many other Authors witnessed How the Aethiopians catch them with smoake and salt them up may be seene in Authours this being their chiefe food whereon in these countries they most ordinarily feed They use either to boile them or else to dry them in the Sunne and beat them to powder and make meale of them And that they were used of the inhabitants of Arabia Foelix whereunto Iudea adjoined or was not at least farre distant from it is apparent by Iohn Baptist his diet Now by the way by occasion of mentioning Iohn Bapttist it is to be observed that Iohn did indeed feed upon such beasts and not upon the buds of certaine herbs as some would have him drawing the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to their owne interpretation which notwithstanding in any antient Author is not found in such a signification as they would have it And it is againe reported by Epâ—phanius that some Iewes desirous to be lye the truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying thereby certaine junkets made of hony or oile whereof mention is made Exod. 16. and Num. 11. But these and many others which for brevity I passe by are but frivolous and farre fetcht and therefore let us rest upon this that Iohn Baptist did indeed feed upon such a food contenting himselfe with this austere kind of diet Locusts and wild hony Now this same late alleged author tells us that this need not seeme so strange untous since that even of late yeeres some Germane souldiors even in so great an abundance of all manner of provision yet used ordinarily to fry Silke-wormes and eate them with no small delight and that not without good reason for such things as are indued with no noisome smell or taste depend onely upon opinion which is a good rule to be observed in the use of uncouth food And the Italians eat another worme differing from the other but in colour to outward appearance it being black and the former of a reddish colour and yet are such with them esteemed as greatest dainties although ingendred of putrefaction and not of Egges as both the Locusts and Silke-wormes are Now that the Locust was a food and used to be eaten even among the Iewes themselves at least some sorts may by the 11. chap. of Levit. appeare where foure sorts of Locusts were allowed to be eaten and therefore called cleane and other three sorts forbidden and called uncleane Of these creatures I could make a long and large discourse relating their severall names and natures together with divers histories of their hurt done in severall Countries at several times with many other things to them belonging which I willingly passe by Whoso desireth to know more concerning these creatures Let him read Pliny and others even our late alleged Author But besides all the sorts of creatures usefull for mankind as though this were not yet sufficient and that our bountifull God had abridged us of necessary provision for the sustentation of this fraile life mans boldnesse hath yet extended it selfe to strange and prodigious dishes So that now we are not contented to feed on Sheep and Cattell Hens and Capons and other such creatures usefull for the maintaining of the life of man and fit them for our tables but prodigious gluttony hath now devised to feed upon the excrements of the earth the slime and scum of the water the superfluity of the woods and putrefaction of the sea to wit to feed on frogs snailes mushroms and oisters And that this custome hath beene very antient may by Pliny appeare who writeth that they used to feed snailes in warrens as they did other creatures And it seemeth that such creatures were at the first used either as Physicke or in the defect and want of better food And it seemeth that some antient Physitians used frogs in Consumptions and wasting away of the bodie as also in that oppilation of the pipes of the lungs called isthma But this was never their meaning that they should be either of them or any other as an ordinary food but rather Physicke or at least physicall food alimentum medicamentosum But to speake the very truth both frogs and snailes are now adaies rather used for wantonnesse and to please our curious palats than for any necessity or defect of other food And thus are they ordinarily used in France and some other countries although yet not in frequent use with us howbeit one of these daies these dishes may become as common as our new French fashions of apparell To enter upon a large discourse of the nature properties and preparation of frogs and the manner of using them is not here my purpose and therefore leave it to them that have more leisure and purpose to feed upon them If any have a purpose to use them let them beware of those that are venomous And my advice shall bee rather to abstaine from such things wherein there may be either danger or doubt and to make choice of that which is free from either where there is such choice and variety And this I would have also understood concerning mushroms whereof some thing hath been said already and the like As concerning Snailes they are used for food both in France and other neighbouring countries and for this purpose as the antient Romans fed them in their warrens so doe some even at this day feed them in their gardens Now some are of opinion that Snailes are of a very nourishing faculty and for this cause our women doe often ordinarily indifferently exhibit them in Consumptions of any kind whatsoever sometimes in milke and sometimes in broth even as their owne fancie leadeth them But by the way if Snailes be so nourishing I wonder why our Papists use them so ordinarily in the time of Lent when as they will not allow so much as a bit of Porke or powdered beefe They may well answer they may as well be allowed as wine and I thinke so too and farre better and nourish farre lesse and with lesse speed I am sure than wine and divers other things they use The reason why they are esteemed of so alimentall or nourishing a nature is by reason say som that in Winter they are able to sustaine themselves with their owne substance and that for this same cause Galen appointeth them in Hecticke Fevers and consumptions But the truth is that these creatures by reason of their viscidity and glutinous tough substance and the imbecillity and want of naturall hear loose little or nothing of this their tough and glutinous substance and by consequent need no reparation of the same And as for the exhibition of them in Hecticke Fevers it is rather by way of humectation and refrigeration than for any strong alimentall quality hee acknowledgeth in them And that they participate of such a slimie glutitinous substance may from hence also evidently appeare saith the late
that wheras they are often so punctual in their points of precedency and such other things as they suppose concernes their credit that they wil sometimes rather than come short an inch of their owne due take an ell of another mans right yet by such carriage make themselves base and contemptible in the face of their countrie howsoeuer some of their flattering claw-backe parasites and some others for some sinister respects may with cap and knee seeme to honour and worship their worthlesse greatnesse Howsoever my wish is that such as are betrusted with matters of justice and have the oversight of Alehouses may be free from this fault or else what reformation can wee looke for at their hands As for his Majestie he hath alwaies expressed himselfe and his good affection for the suppressing of this and such other enormities it remaineth therefore that such as he hath therewith betrusted this businesse be careful Now in many great cities corporations of this Kingdome there is often too much neglect even in this fame particular and that often by reason of a meere relation unto and dependance one upon another every mans private so overswaying him quite contray to the Apostles golden rule Seeke not every man his owne but seeke yee one anothers good that it is a hard matter to have justice executed as it ought And in such societies there is a certaine triumivrat combination betwixt the Master and the Baker and Brewer Innes and Alehouses especially I meane having neere relation one to another and indeede a mutuall dependencie one upon another Some trades-men againe for feare of losing some custome are contented to sit still and keeping the formality of the place and what credit may thereby unto themselves accrue goe on still the old pack-horse pace lest they should be thought too stirring and pragmaticall And by the way I cannot but highly commend one laudable constitution of late yeeres made by this corporation That no Victualler or Innekeeper should be elected Governor or Major of this corporation which hath also beene above these twenty yeeres by-past inviolably observed But my speech is not here against the lawfull use of these so necessary places for the reliefe and comfort of travellers my speech is onely directed against blinde and unnecessary Ale-houses which might well be spared and others made to keepe the statutes made to that end and purpose I therefore earnestly exhort all those with whom God hath betrusted authority and the sword of Justice that as they would avoid and turn away Gods heavy judgements from themselves from the whole land and as they will give a good account of their stewardship at that last and dreadfull day they would be carefull to draw the sword of justice against both these active and passive offenders the Drunkard I meane and the disorderly Ale-house And whereas by a laudable late law there is a pecuniary mulct inflicted upon the Drunkard I pray you robbe not the poore but let the offender be punished and the poore have his due And as concerning Gods heavie Judgements inflicted upon great Princes whole kingdomes and common-wealthes and many private persons by reason of this same it were easie for me to compile a whole volume But this I can say of mine owne knowledge that for the space of about twenty yeeres at least since my first comming into this place I have observed few of those who kept such tipling houses and died since that time I mentioned ever attaine to the period of old age and died for the most part of dropsies consumptions palsies or the like diseases My purpose is not here to enter upon a large discourse against drunkennesse the multiplicity of dehortatory arguments against it being so various so many and handled by so many both prophane and divine Writers what I have said is but by the way being an abuse of that good creature wherof I have at great length set downe the right use and therefore shortly and briefely have touched upon it and how hurtfull it is to the body that being most prevalent with most men with a little touch of some other hurts As for that forced kinde of drinking by measure commonly called drinking of health I thinke it a Satanicall invention to rob men both of health and heaven The multitude of strong unanswerable arguments both against this and all maner of drunkennesse as also the authorities both divine and humane Christian heathen lawes and constitutions both civill and ecclesiasticall as they are many so are they learnedly and at great length set downe by a learned religious Gentleman whose booke I wish those who desire to be satisfied in this particular to peruse and there no question they may receive full satisfaction Now since by some it hath beene prescribed to be drunke to drive away an ague and some have deemed it good physicke to be drunke once a moneth it may be demanded whether this practice be allowable I answer it may as well be demanded whether wee may not sinne that some future good may thereon ensue and I doubt not but all sound Divines will answer with a negative voice And besides there is no benefit can this way be proved but we may farre safelier both for soule and body effect it by other meanes But this assertion is so absurd that it needeth no further confutation The Diet of the Diseased THE SECOND BOOKE THE ARGVMENT IN the second Booke wee descend to the handling of the Diet of the Diseased and in what manner all the premisses are to be used by the sicke and first of the aire fit for sicke and diseased persons and in excesse how to bee corrected where also something concerning fire and what fewell is the best and something also concerning the situatian of the house where the sicke lieth the chamber and bed the sickes apparell on his body and bed next we proceed to some generall directions and rules of the diet of the diseased concerning abstinence a thinne and spare a liberall or full and a meane diet betwixt both Afterwards we proceed to the particular preparation of the diet of the diseased and first of that afforded by vegetables bread especially and what is the best with some preparations therof for the use of the sick Then followeth flesh of several sorts the various and divers preparations together with divers liquid substances thereof prepared as broths coâ—lices conserves gellies c. And next concerning fish fowle and egges and whether fish may bee and what best used by the sicke and with what cautions After is discussed the drinke of the diseased both naturall and artificiall alimentall Physicall Of water whether and how it may be safely used of the sicke Of severall sorts of Physicall drinkes as aqua vitae usquebath and divers sorts of strong waters together with their right use and abuse as also of divers drinkes made of honey oximel hydromel mulsum or mulsa divers drinkes made of
eating of fish And the same father affirmeth that the Montanists lived on bread salt and pulse and dranke onely water they abstained at certaine times from flesh and wine The Maniches of one Manes a Persian hereticke so called about the yeere of our Lord 247. among many other and destestable errors brought in this also of abstaining from certaine meats as all manner of flesh egges milke and all things made of the same the reasons see in S. Augustine They forbad also the use of wine were it never so new and yet permitted the use of grapes The same hereticks forbad also the use of marriage It is also to be observed that all this abstinence was only forbidden their elect ones and such as they tearmed perfect and initiated into their sacred mysteries but to their hearers who were but novices and beginners such meats were permitted The same heresie was againe about the yeere of our Lord 300. by one Priscillianus in France and Spaine renewed from whom it received also a new name And this same heresie as by many fathers it was spoken against so was it by many councels condemned Among the Russians or Muscovites the Metropolitans the Arch bishops and Bishops alwaies abstaine from flesh and yet when they invite any lay-men or other priests to their table they set flesh before them and yet may neither an Abbot nor Prior eat any Besides the Russians never eat of any thing killed by the hand of a woman esteeming it altogether uncleane and therefore in the absence of all mankind out of the house if they have any pullaine or other creature to kill the women stand in the house-doore holding a knife in their hands intreating any that passeth by to performe this kindnesse for them Now besides these afore-mentioned severall sorts of abstinence there is yet another voluntary abstinence which is miraculous as that of Christ Moses and Elias which is beyond the reach of any ordinary person although we read of many strange stories of such as fasted not onely many daies weekes and moneths but even many yeeres also as hath been declared already The last kind of abstinence is involuntary when as any one is forced against his will to fast and is divers waies procured whereon I will not now insist The excellency then of a right abstinence may evidently appeare which is not properly an abstinence from any one particular kind of food either totall or for a time but a sober and moderate use of all the creatures at all times especially in sickenesse as it is sometimes necessary for a time to abstaine from all and sometimes from some sorts of food In health moderation and temperance are never out of season and totall abstinence at sometimes required and that both for preventing infirmities and sometimes a religious abstinence is to be observed as hath been said already As for religious abstinence from certaine kinds of meats not I but the holy oracle it selfe which cannot erre doth plainely evince to be a doctrine of devils And here by the way if there were no other marke it may easily appeare that the Church of Rome is an apostaticall and hereticall church and jumpeth just with the Hereticks of antient times whom the Fathers of the Church have confuted They would beare the world in hand they abstaine from flesh in Lent and some other daies A great matter indeed when they are fed with the best fish they can come by dressed with the most curious sauces and afterwards well washt downe with the best wine or other strong drinke Besides the variety of banqueting stuffe march-panes and varieties of other junkets all which notwithstanding this must needs be accounted a strict abstinence and fast especially if these things come but in the name of a drinking Now would I willingly aske one of their wisest prophets whether a peice of powdered beefe or other meat such as wee ordinarily use or a dish or two of dainty fish well dressed it may be with wine sauce and divers good spices and afterwards made to swimme in the belly with good wine be more inciting to lust It is well knowne that wine yeeldeth a more speedy nourishment and is farre sooner distributed through the body a little quantity therof more cheereth and cherisheth the drooping spirits and with lesse oppression and withal inciteth more to lust than a great quantity of flesh which must lye a long time heavy in an ordinary stomacke before it bee concocted and thorow the body distributed and then by assimilation and agglutination converted into aliment And this is the judgement of all our both antient and later learned Physitians yea doth not even ordinary experience instruct us in this truth And yet here is no small quarrell because we will not assent to their Pharisaicall superstition and will not in every thing jumpe with them in their erroneous judgement And I pray you is not this a meere mockage that a little before Lent especially on Shrovetuesday by the French called Mardy-gras or fat tuesday and by some here in former times gut-tide they let the reines loose to all manner of lasciviousnesse and all excesse of riot pampering their bellies with the best cheere the most exquisite wines and strong drink is to be had assuming to themselves liberty of doing what they list addicting themselves to dancing dicing drabbing and all manner of other insolencies insomuch that one would thinke all the divells in hell and all these foule fiends were then set at full libertie in this equalling if not exceeding the heathenish Bacchanalia And which is yet more their Romish god the Pope must that day depart the citie of Rome and then all manner of insolencies and outrages greater than which if as great were scarce ever by any heathens committed of all sorts without any controll there committed And in this is verified the saying of that Florentine Secretary to bee true that if the court of the Pope with his Cardinalls were translated from Rome and placed among the Switzers a people in those times most ingenuous and freest from all manner of exoticke vices they would in a short space become the most wicked factious people in the whole world in so great credit was then this court of Rome even in the esteeme of those who made profession of the same religion But these and a thousand more of their pranks are better knowne to the Christian world than I can relate them My purpose is onely here to let the world know how senslesse and absurd is this superstitious kind of abstinence from flesh onely whereof like proud Pharisees they make so great an ostentation and would put out the eyes of the world that they should see nothing in the cleere Sun-shine And yet what is all this but a renuing of the antient heresies lately mentioned and renuing heathenish superstition Nay it doth plainely and evidently appeare
casting of it up Pills how to be taken Electuaries Potions how to be taken and how to keep them downe How long at least we are to keepe the medicine Whether wee may sleepe after physicke Answere b Ioubert des erreurs populaires partic 2. chap. 17. In vomits what to be done â—rative what time â— bee given 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 When pills are taken over night Keeping of the chamber cum custodia and the reason The ambient aire how to be ordered Sine custodia what and when it may be used Signes of compleat purgation c Aph. 10. lib. 4. Defective purgation Causes of defective purgation History If physick worke not If too violently Gripings in the belly Three concoctions in the body Sweat an excrement of the third concoction What sweat is a Sudoris materiam ab internis visceribus succo naturali madentiâ—us emanare contendis Fernel lib. de feb 〈◊〉 cap. desudere Sweating in acute diseases Sweat naturall or artificiall Naturall againe criticall or symptomaticall Symptomatical what Diaphoreticall sweat Sweat how to be provoked Hydrotick simples or provokers of sweat Strong hydrotickes Hydroticke minerals Compounded sudorifickes Cautions in the use of hydrotickes Preparation When to be neglected Frictions Fomentations Sudorifickes in chronicall diseases How to use these sudorificke medicines The continuance oâ— time of endurance In what cases hurtful Of teares b Mercur. de excrem lib. 3. cap. 2. de lachrymis Differences of teareâ— Vse of this moisture c Lib. 1. de cris cap. 7 Why some can so easily weepe and some not at all Naturall involuntary teares what they signifie Accidentall teares Involuntary teares in acute diseases Voluntary teares Cold and hot teares Thick and thin tears Divers sorts of ablutions or washings in use among the antients Bathing and anointing the body before meales a Epist 87. lib. 13. Bathing in Germany very frequent Vsed there promiâ—â—â—ously without any previous preparation With cupping and scatification Preposterous custom of washing the body in rivers with a full stomacke b Mundificat palmas lumina reddit acuta Schola Salern Arnald villa nov in com Whether the head ought to be washt or noâ— Answere How and when it it to be washed Embrocations Washing of the feet Of artificiall baths The matter Their use threefold c 14. method d Qui ex tennibus crassiores voluÌ„t evadere lavabunt bis c. Id. lib. 3. de sympto cap. 1. lib. de salub diaeta comment 14. Vertues of a temperate bathe Of a hot bath e Andernacus de veteri nov medic comment 2. dial 8. circa finem The use in divers diseases In what cases hurtfull Bathing in cold water For whom hurtfull in sicknesse in health Latonicum and what it is Of two sorts â—â—micapium cinsessus The time both generall and particular The time of the day Preparation of the 〈◊〉 In bathing how to be ordered The continuance in the bath How to be used in hecticke fevers After bathing Dangers arising from the inordinate use of bathing Minerall waters usefull for the health of man Thermae seu aqua therâ—ales a Homerum Câ—lidorum fenâ—iâ—m mentionem non fecisse miror cum aelioqui lavari cali sa frequenter indicarit videlicet quia medicina tanc haec non erat quae a â—uarum perfugio utatur Plin. lib. 31. cap 6. b Lib. de aere aquâ—â— locis The later Physitians made 〈◊〉 these minerall waters How their vertues are to be discerned Sulphuâ—oâ—us and â—itumâ—nous waters Waters participating oâ— divers metalls and mâ—neralls Whether leap-yeere doth alter or annihiâ—â—â— the vertues of â—inerall waters Originall of leap-yeere Iulian or Sosigenian yeere Alteration of the yeeâ— by Pope Gregory 13. Amputation of tenne daies from the former yeeres Gregorian yeere and account beyond the seas * There wants yet about 2 daies in all we want 3 of that wee should have Answer c Ovid fastor lib. ¶ Trojan c See Calvins treatise of reliques where he proves many bodies of their Saints to be monsters No alteration in the leap-yeere more than any other e Claudius Deodatus panth hygiast libr. 2 cap. 7. Minerall waters used after a double manner The time Preparation of the body before the use of minerall waters The time of the day for use The manner No cetaaine nor precise time for the continuance of the use of these waters can bee determined Hot baths and where they most abound English baths Divers minerall waters in Germany Gold and silver communicate no vertue to such waters a Doctor Venner in his treatise of baths of Bathe and since the collecting of this tractat I saw a learned tractat of baths published by Dr. Iorden residing there Acid or sowre waters They abound in high Germany Their vertues In what infirmities helpfull In what hurtfull The time for use § And yet they are ordinarily brought to Francksort mart in March and September Continuance or duration in drinking them They lose much vertue by carriage Observation in the use of these waters Of the Well of Spa. For what infirmities most beneficiall Water of S. Vincentâ— rocke by Bristoll b D. Venner in the aforenamed treatise A neere and antient towne in Yorke-shire called by the name of Knareâ—brough Wellenborow Wel in Northampton shire Observation in the use of such waters to be carefull of the stomacke History Tunbridge water Water in Maubornâ— hils in Worcestershire Newname Wells in Warwick-shire The Spa by Aberdene in Scotland Saint Catherins Well called now the oâ—ly Well neer Edenburgh in Scotland This Iland abounds in minerall waters De urinarum praesagiis iâ— aegretis agit Hippocrat in locis praenâ—t in prorihet libr. de indication * See our arraignement and anatomy of urines Vncertaine and generall iudgement for the most part afforded us by urine Best urine Best colour Red coloured urines Blacke urines Cleare transparent urin without coÌ„tents In diseases various Quantity of urine in excesse Criticall excretion of urine In the defect Difficulyy of divers causes Suppression of urine from divers causes a De his omibus fusius Mercatus de intern morb curat tom 3. lib. 4. cap. 12. b Incoacis aph 25. prorrbet 155. All these infirmities to bee cuâ—ed according to their severall causes Diureticke remedies and their right use Preparation Diureticks properly so called Another kind of diureticks Of two sorts Diureticks improperly so called Erroneous opinion concerning the breaking of the stone by Diureticks Safest diureticke simples and best for use Medicines accidentally good By occult quality Many medicines used against the stone but few answere expectation Dangers in the use of hot diureticke medicines Advertisment The presence of the Physitian is able to discover more in the disease than a many water a Mercur. de facibut alvi The fecall excrements diligently to be considered b Vide Hippoc. in prognost prochet coac motionib Aphoc etiaem 12. lib. 1. c Lib. 26. cap. â— What this fecall ordure is Best excrements