Klinike, or The diet of the diseased· Divided into three bookes. VVherein is set downe at length the whole matter and nature of diet for those in health, but especially for the sicke; the aire, and other elements; meat and drinke, with divers other things; various controversies concerning this subject are discussed: besides many pleasant practicall and historicall relations, both of the authours owne and other mens, &c. as by the argument of each booke, the contents of the chapters, and a large table, may easily appeare. Colellected [sic] as well out of the writings of ancient philosophers, Greeke, Latine, and Arabian, and other moderne writers; as out of divers other authours. Newly published by Iames Hart, Doctor in Physicke.

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 i∣maginary visions and apparitions, which we call insomnium or somnium from somnus sleepe, and wee call in English dreames, and by the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.1 answerable to the Latine som∣nium. Dreaming then is a middle disposition with∣out any disease, betwixt sleeping and waking, in the which neither as waking doe the outward senses per∣forme 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;* 1.2 which although the body bee asleep, yet is that together with the cogitation and memory, often set a worke; and be∣cause in an ordinary or meane sleep, the Fancy is often free, the discer∣ning faculty confused; therefore if severall objects or species, either re∣maining 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:* 1.3 and thus we read that in the old Testament, God did often reveale his Will by dreames and visions. With this supernatu∣rall dreame my purpose is not here to meddle at all. Some againe are naturall,* 1.4 arguing and declaring unto us often the state and dispositi∣on of the body in sicknesse and in health, and are by the Physitian onely to be considered, and to this onely end and purpose. Concer∣ning dreames a 1.5 Hippocrates among the rest of this works hath written one little Tractate, where he setteth downe divers things concerning sick∣nesse

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.* 1.6 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 strong¦ly and securely without any feare, to runne apace, and to see the earth plaine and smooth, well manured, planted with pleasant and fruit•• 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 propor∣tion. If these things seeme otherwise, saith the same Author,* 1.7 there is a deviation from that former soundnesse of body, and some inward distemper thereby argued. If the sight then or hearing in thy dream•• seeme to be endamaged, there is some disease in the head portended A rough and uneven earth argueth some corruption in the flesh. Tr•••••• 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 hur•• from heat and drouth. Rivers running with greater abundance of wa¦ter than ordinary,* 1.8 signifie greater abundance of blood in the body then is usefull; the contrary argueth some deficiency in this n••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 ca∣rying any thing out of the house, portendeth no good. Many other things are there set downe by the same Author concerning this sub∣ject, with briefe remedies for the preventing and curing such infirmi∣ties. And there it may plainely appeare,* 1.9 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 signi∣fieth 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 hu¦midity. 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.* 1.10 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. Be∣sides,

all such troublesome, fearefull dreames often argue melancho∣ly 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,* 1.11 that by the dreames may often be discerned or presa∣ged some present or future infirmity. Besides, we finde many times that even in our best health, oppression of the stomacke at night with too great a quantity of food will both procure unquiet rest and trouble∣some dreames. And severall constitutions of body produce often dreames answerable thereunto: as the sanguine dreameth often of all pleasant things, greene medowes and gardens, &c. The cholericke of fire,* 1.12 and the like. Such as are much subject to wind, of much flying aloft and the like: and so of the rest, as may from the premisses easily be collected. And now concerning dreames, so faire as they are obser∣vable in sicknesse and in health, this shall suffice. Now to give some satisfaction to the curious Reader, I will say something concerning a point depending upon the former: and that is concerning such as du∣ring their naturall sleepe, yet performe such actions as are commonly performed by such as are awake, to the no small astonishment and a∣mazement of the beholders, and are called therefore Noctambuli, or night-walkers.

* 1.13Of these actions then thus performed our Writers assigne this cause; When as by the mediocrity of causes procuring sleepe, wee fall into sweet and comfortable rest, the discerning faculty, notwithstanding, being over-clouded with thicke, misty vapors; the efficient cause of Fancies and dreames, without any let or disturbance enjoying its full freedome and liberty; then of such things as the party being awake either felt, thought, or by practice put in execution, this fancying faculty composeth many sorts of visions or dreames, the which by the sleeping party are taken for truths: and hence commeth it often to passe, that at length the bonds of the senses, passages of the spirits, and impediments of motion being removed, they performe workes proper to those that are awake; as to climbe up to the tops of houses, to walke upon narrow beames and bridges, and many other such acti∣ons without any feare or danger, which if they were awake they durst never doe: and all this by reason this discerning facultie of the common sense is yet at rest, not acknowledging nor discerning any danger, unlesse by loud houping and crying the party be awaked out of sleep. If they be suddenly awaked, then are they in danger of sud∣den precipitation, or falling downe head long, all the spirits and powers of the body then leaving the extreme parts hands and feet, and flying

to succour the feeble heart now assaulted with no small feare. A late Writer averreth, that this commeth to passe by reason of hot and vapo∣rous spirits, arising from a commotion and heat of the blood, which being carried aloft into the seat of the minde, doth incite and stirre up that faculty of the soule by which it performeth its actions, and by which it doth impell the instrumentary parts to their actions, to pro∣duce such motion and stupendious effects, as are often by such per∣sons performed: Hence also commeth it to passe, that if these vaporous and flatuous fumes be not strong and violent enough to produce the former effects, then the parties doe but stirre, or start up in their sleepe, uttering some lowd cries, and turbulent speeches, yet still conteining themselves within the bed. The same author addeth, that such per∣sons are most commonly of a thinne and leane constitution of body, and of a low stature: and such as have hot braine (as for the most part cholericke persons have) saith Hippocrates, are most apt to cry out in their sleepe, and are much subject to motion and agitation therein: especially, if in the day time their braines be much encumbred and bu∣sied with many matters. Such especially be our busie bodies, who will needs have an oare in every mans boat, and oftentimes more imploied about other mens affaires, than carefull to looke home to their owne businesse. But of this now sufficient.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dreames what.
• * 1.2

  Cause of dreames.
• * 1.3

  Supernaturall or di∣vine dreames.
• * 1.4

  Naturall dreames.
• a 1.5

  Hippo••••atis liber de 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  D••eame•• 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.7

  D••eame•• 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.8

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.9

  One and the same ••reame may have •• divers g••••••i••ation in sickne•••••• and hea••••••
• * 1.10

  Dreame•• many times dem••nstrate the hu¦mour•• abounding ••n the body.
• * 1.11

  Oppression of the stomack will produce both unquiet sleepe and troublesome dreames.
• * 1.12

  Dreames often fol∣low the constitution of the body.
• * 1.13

  Caterum quando ex causaram somni medio∣eritate placidus obrepic somnus, discernendi ta∣men facultas adhuc va∣porum ••ulegine obfusce∣tur •• effectrix tamen visorum facultas libera nullis irretita vmculis si•••• constat: cum ex rebus quas vigilans sensit, gessi, cogitavit & operata est, plurima somniorum spectra es∣fingit, quae tanquam vera dormientes ample∣ctantur, unde tandem solutis a calore acci∣dentario sensuum, spi∣rituum{que} meatuum vin∣culu & motus compedi∣bus, vigilantium opera exercent, tecta in subti∣me conscendunt, per trabes & lacunaria in adibus oberrant, lectos allorum adeunt, omnia intrepide audent, nec quicquam fi••i timent: quoniam vis illa discernendi sensus communis adhuc vaporum caligine consopita sacet, nec pericula nisi lamore experrecta agnoscit. Casus enim eu abrupto, scribit Albertus, ijs qui excelsa conscendnat, tunc maxime accidere solet, qaum pericula agnoverint, & for∣midare coeperint: eo{que} virtutes raboris ad cor formidolosum confluunt: lacertos, nervos, musculos{que} virtutis motivae organa destituunt. Dormienies igitur secur••ores so••t: acclamationibus experrecti, saepe praecipites cadunt. Iohan. Lang. Epist. medicin. lib. 1. epist. 45 ex Christophoro Marcello 4. de anima cap. 11. & Alberto magno lib. 2. & 3. de anima. Quae ab ijs (noctambulis) fieri persuasum habeo ex sanguine turgido ••ospumanti, tum estuoso fervido{que} spiritu, quae in mentis sedem delata, animae vim at{que} facul∣tatem, qua functiones suas perfi••it, partes{que} instrumentarias ad actiones impellit, agitant, at{que} ad huiusmodi motu•• effectus{que} concirant. Quo fit ut corpus spiritus animalis impulsu, qui nervorum ac musculorum robur, h••e sentie••di movendi{que} mu••us in cerebro continet ac tuctur, in sublime feratur, eius{que} v••etiem per som••um ad tales actiones incitetur. Sunt autem istiusmodi constitutionis homines raro laxo{que} corporis contextu, &c. Lovin. Lemnius de occultis naturae miraculis, lib. 2. cap. 3.