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THis first Section of A∣phorismes dooth handle for the most part the Die∣tarie part of Physicke; prescri∣bing not onely the measure & obseruation in meates and drinks for soūd bodies, but also for those bodies that are sicke and diseased, with a modera∣tion also of labour and exer∣cise.
THe life of man is short, the Arte of Physicke long, occasion suddaine, experiēce vncertain, iudge∣ment difficult. Neither is it sufficient that the Physici∣on do his office, vnlesse al∣so the Patient, and those which are attēdants about him doe their dutie, and that outward things bee as well ordered as those that are giuen inwardly.
In distempratures, loos∣nesse, flux of the bellie, and vomitings, which do come of their owne accorde; if those things bee purged which ought to be purged, they are easily suffered, &
are profitable: but if it bee otherwise it falleth out con∣trarie. In like sort if such an emptying of vessells be done as should be, it is well suffered: but otherwise it is hurtfull. Wherefore, dis∣creet consideration is to be had, both of the region & the time, as also of the age and the qualitie of the dis∣ease for which such things ought to be euacuated, or else not.
The full habit and state of the bodies of wrestlers and Champions if it come to the highest degree of fulnesse is dangerous, for it cannot continue or remain in the same state: and when it cannot so remaine, nor
growe into a better habit, it remayneth that it must needs decline into a worse. Wherefore that ouer-full plight of body must be spee∣dily dissolued, to the end it may take a beginning of new nourishment: Neither must we proceed so far that the vessells be quite empty & voyd (for that is dange∣rous) but we must proceed so farre as Nature wil beare & tolerate. So, extream e∣uacuations are perilous, & so again extream repletions are likewise dangerous.
A small & slender diet, in long & lingering disea∣ses is alwaies dangerous: & so in sharp sicknesse when it is not conuenient. And
againe diet reduced to ex∣tream slēderness is as ful of peril as extream repletiō & fulness is laborious & pain∣full.
The sick may offend in a slender diet: for thereby it hapneth that they growe worse; for euery error in this case is wont to prooue more daungerous, then should be. Wherfore a ve∣ry slender diet and too pre∣cise is somwhat dangerous to a sound & healthfull bo∣die, because they endure the errors therof with more difficultie. Wherefore a thin & exact maner of diet for the most part is more dangerous then that which is a little more full and plentifull then should be.
To extream diseases ex∣tream and exquisite reme∣dies are the best.
Whē therfore the disease is sharpe, & hath forthwith most extreame paines and passions, we must vse a most exceeding slender dyet when it is so: but in the cō∣trarie wee may minister a fuller, and giue more nou∣rishment: and as the dis∣ease shall decline wee may remit the manner of thinne dyet, by little and little, & giue the patiēt more meat.
When the force of the disease is greatest, then a most sparing diet is to bee kept and obserued.
But we must coniecture by the sicke-man, whether he be able to hold out, and persist with the prescribed diet, euen to the state and vttermost extreamitie of the disease, or may faint or faile, and being too weake with such diet may yeelde the victorie to the disease, before it retire & be quay∣led.
In diseases which shall come instantly to their state, we must instantlie ad∣minister slender diet, but in the which shal not come so soone to state, wee must a little diminish dyet: both in the time of the vigor, & extremitie, and also a little
about the time of the fit: but before wee may allow more liberall diet, that the sicke man may bee able to holde out.
In fits and their fierce in∣uasions, we must take away meat; for then to giue it, it is hurtfull: and when dis∣eases do returne by circuit, or course, in the recourse of those fits wee must vse ab∣stinence.
The diseases themselues, & the seasons of the yeer, & the obseruation of the pro∣portion of the periods be∣ween themselues, whether they bee made daily or by certaine daies returning by course, as the second or e∣uery
other day, or by grea∣ter distāce of time, wil shew the sharp inuasions & state of the diseases. Likewise, signes & tokens are taken frō those things which doe appeare afterwards. As for example, in a Plurisy, if the corrupt matter auoided by spitting doe presently ap∣peare in the beginning, it declareth the disease shall be but short; but if it bee longer before it do appeare it declareth to continewe longer. Moreouer vrines, the excremēts of the belly and sweats doe declare and shew the diseases to proue either easie or difficult, short, or long.
Verie olde men do most easilie in dure fasting, and next to thē those of middle age, young men not so wel, children worst of all; and amongst thē chiefly those which are of the more chearefull, quicke and liue∣ly nature then the rest.
They which growe and increase haue great store of naturall heate: therfore be∣cause they neede plentifull and copious nourishment, we must aboundantly sup∣ply the same: otherwise the bodie is consumed. But in olde men there remaineth but little heate: therfore, they need not so much no∣rishmēt to kindle the same,
for a small fire is extingui∣shed with aboundance of fewel: for that cause feuers which happen to olde folk are not so sharpe because their bodies are not so hoat.
The venters by nature are most hoat in winter and the spring time & the slee∣ping most long: wherfore at those seasons wee ought to afford most meat, be∣cause they haue most natu∣rall heate: wherby it com∣meth to pass that they need more aboundant and plen∣tifull food. Of which thing the differences of ages and the bodies of Champions and wrestlers are manifest arguments.
A moist diet is profitable to all perplexed with a∣gues; but especially to chil∣dren & others which haue accustomed to vse such di∣et.
We must consider whom it may bee conuenient to feede once or twise, more, or lesse, and by little & lit∣tle: we must attribute some∣thing to the season, region, ages and custome.
Sickely folke doe most hardly brook store of meat in sommer, in winter most easily, in the spring time not so easily.
Nothing must be giuen
to them, neither must they bee constrayned to take meat which haue fits retur∣ning at certaine determi∣ned courses: but we ought to diminish foode before manifest tokens appeare to iudge of the disease.
We ought not to moue, alter, or change those things which are, or haue beene iustly determined by na∣ture, either with medicines or other procurements, but to let them alone.
Carry those things which are to be drawne out, thi∣ther whither they shall seeme to incline, and bend, by such wayes and places fittest for cōueiance & ex∣pulsion.
We must moue with me∣dicine those things which are concocted & digested; and not those things which are rawe and vndigested: Neither in the beginning of diseases vnlesse they be prouoked by their owne force and violence, which verie seldome commeth to passe.
Things euacuated and purged are not to be esti∣mated by the multitude, but aduisedly to be consi∣dered if those things be a∣uoided & sent forth which should & ought to be, and if also the Patient doe easi∣ly indure it. Also when it is needfull we must euacu∣ate
euen to souning & fain∣ting of life, if the Patient be * 1.1able to indure it.
In sharpe diseases, and in their beginning we ought seldome to vse a purging medicine: Neither must it be done without great ad∣uise & iudgement.
If those things be auoi∣ded and purged vvhich should be, it doth good & the sick can easily suffer it: but if the contrarie be eua∣cuated, they do painefully indure it.
THIS second Section, of which the vniuersal and ful scope, or intention cannot well be assigned and set downe, hath many things appertay∣ning to the Doctrine of Ages, Signes, Nature & purgation.
IF sleepe bring paine and labour in the disease, it is a mortall signe: but if it bring ease and mitigation of paine the signe is not deadly.
When a Delirium & ra∣uing, is appeased by sleep it is a good signe.
Sleepe and watching, if they be immoderat & shal exceed a mean, are euill.
Neither satietie, neither hunger, neither anie other thing which shall exceede the measure of nature, can be good or healthfull.
Wearinesse and dulness proceeding of their owne accord do signifie diseases to come.
They which suffer pain of any part of the bodie, and doe not almost feele
the paine haue their vnder∣standing distempered and diseased.
Bodies extenuated and wasted with long sickness are to bee restored and re∣freshed by little and little: but those which haue been brought lowe quickly and in short time are sooner to be restored.
If any man eating meate after a sicknesse, doth not recouer strength; it argu∣eth his bodie is burdened and oppressed with too much store of food: But if the same happē to one fee∣ding meanely, we must vn∣derstand that he hath need of euacuation.
By how much the more thou shalt nourish & che∣rish impure & corrupt bo∣dies, by so much the more thou shalt harme and hurt them.
He which will purge bo∣dies must make them fluxi∣ble and apt to flovve be∣fore.
It is more easie to be re∣stored with drink thē with meate.
Those things which are left behind after the Crysis in the bodie after sickness, they are wont to bring forth back-sliding diseases againe.
The night which goeth before the fitte and inuasi∣on is wont to bee tedious and grieuous to them to whom the Crysis is caused, but the night following is wont to be more easie and light.
The alteration of the excrementes not made to the worse part, in the fluxes of the bellie is good.
When the vpper parts of the throate or gullet are sore, or a breaking out of wheales do arise in the bo∣die, it behooueth vs to look vpon the excrements: for if they shall be cholericke
the bodie is also sick: but if they shall be like the ex¦crements of sound persons the bodie may bee cheri∣shed without danger.
When hunger beareth swaie, wee must rest from much stirring or labour.
When ouermuch meate is receiued against nature, it causeth sicknesse: as the manner of curing diseases, proceeding from repletion doth declare.
The excretions and a∣uoydings of excrements are wont to bee quick, if they come of those things which doe nourish speedi∣ly and plentifully.
Praedictions and foretel∣lings of death or health in sharp diseases are not alto∣gether certaine.
They which in young age haue their bellie moist and loose, in old age haue it drie and hard: and con∣trariwise they which bee∣ing young men haue their wombe or bellie drie and costyue, being aged haue the same moyst and laxe.
Drinking of strong wine putteth away hunger.
Diseases which are bred of sacietie and surfeting are cured by euacuation: and those which proceed from
emptiness are cured by fulness: and in other things, contra∣ries are the remedies of cō∣traries.
Acute and sharpe disea∣ses are iudged and determi∣ned within fourteen daies (and haue their Crysis.)
The fourth daie is the Index of the seuenth: the eightth daie the beginning of the week following. Al∣so the eleuenth daie is to be considered, for that is the fourth day of the second week. And againe, the se∣uenteenth day is to be con∣sidered, for that is the iiij▪ from the fowrteenth, and the seuenth from the ele∣uenth.
The Quartan feuers of the summer are for the most part short: but the Autumnal long; especially those which remaine vnto the winter: which are most long.
It is better that a feuer should succeed a conuulsi∣on, then that a conuulsion should succeed a feuer.
We ought not to be too confident, if anie thing more easie & light do hap∣pen in sharp diseases with∣out any great reason: nei∣ther to be troubled if anie thing more greeuous doe suddenlie fall out. For, ma∣nie such things are vncer∣taine,
neyther are they wont to persist▪ and conti∣new long.
If the body of them which haue a sharpe feuer▪ doe abide all at one stay, & nothing abated, or else is melted and wasted awaie beyond reason, it is a very euil signe: for the first doth signifie a continuance of the disease, and the latter a great weaknesse and imbe∣cillitie of nature.
In the beginnings of dis∣eases, if any thing seeme good to be moued for eua∣cuation, moue it: but being in their state it is far better to let it alone.
About the beginnings and ende of diseases, all things are more calme and remisse: in the vigour and state more vehement.
If the body thriue not to him that after a disease fee∣deth well, it is euill.
Those which in the be∣ginning of sicknesse doe feede much, and doe not prosper therewith, all such for the most part do at last fall into a loathing of meat. On the contrary, those which in the beginning do vehemently abhorre food, & afterwards desire much meat, are more easily freed
from their sickenesse.
In any disease (similar, instrumental, or common) if reason be not weakened nor hurt, but that they are desirous of those things which are offered, it is good: but if it be otherwise it is an euill thing.
They are not so dange∣rously sicke, to whose na∣ture, age, habit, or season, the disease in familiar and a∣greeable, as they to whom the disease is not agreeable in any of those proporti∣ons.
It is better in any disease that the partes adioyning to the Nauell and nether∣most bellie bee somewhat
thicke and grosse: for the extenuation and consump∣tion of them is euill: and then it is not safe to minister purgatiōs working down∣wards.
Those which are indued with health of bodie, doe quickely faint, drinking a purging potion: and so in like maner those are impai∣red which do vse naughtie and corrupt nourishment.
Those which are of sound and perfect health of body doe painefully and grie∣uously indure purging me∣dicines.
Those meats and drinks which are worse yet plea∣sant,
are to bee preferred before those which are bet∣ter, but yet vnpleasant and distasting.
For the most part olde men are not so often sicke as the young are. But bee∣ing once taken with long diseases they most com∣monly die of them.
Rheums descēding down to the mouth, and falling downe to the throat, doe not come to concoction in those which are very olde.
They die suddenly, which doe often and exceedingly sowne and faint without anie manifest cause.
Thou shalt neuer cure a strong apoplexie▪ and also a weake one very hardly.
Strangled and suffocated folk, being not as yet dead, doe not returne to them∣selues, if about their mouth there shall appeare spume or fome collected and ga∣thered togither.
Those that are very gross by nature, doe inioy shor∣ter life then those which are leane.
Change and alteration of place and diet, then al∣so most especiallie of age, doth deliuer children from
the Epilepsia & Falling euil.
Of two paines at one time not possessing the self same place, that which is the more vehement, doth dull the sense and feeling of the other which is not so vehe∣ment.
Whiles the filthy and corrupt matter is digest∣ing, paines, and agues doe rather happen, then when it is digested and brought to maturation.
In euerie exercise of the body, when it beginneth to bee wearied, straightwaies rest doth mitigate the wea∣risomnesse.
Those which are accusto∣med to dayly labours, al∣though they bee vveake or olde men, doe more easilie indure accustomed exerci∣ses: then those which are not accustomed to them al∣though they be strong and young men.
Things accustomed a long time, although they be worse, are wont to bee lesse grieuous then those thinges vnaccustomed: wherefore also a change is to bee made to vnaccusto∣med things.
It is dangerous, at one time much and suddenlie either to emptie, fill, heare,
or to coole, or by any other meanes to mooue or stirre the bodie: for any thing passing the bounds of me∣diocrity is an enemie to na∣ture: for that is safe which is done by little and little, both at other times and al∣so most especially when an alteration and change is to be made from one thing to an other.
He must not passe forth∣with from one medicin to an other, when all things, fall not out so well as they should to him which doth proceed by good reason, so that remaine still which seemed to him to bee so from the beginning.
Those which haue a moist wombe or belly, doe passe their youthfull age more easily then those which haue the same drie: but they passe their olde age more hardly & with more difficultie; for when they waxe old for the most part it is dried.
As greatnes & talness of of body is comelie to the state of young age, so it is more vnprofitable than littlenesse, & lowe stature, in old age.
THis third book is almost reduced to the discourse of ages or times, expressing vnto vs two Common places, that is to say the strength and the forces of ages, and the di∣uersity of diseases through∣out those ages and times.
Alteration and variable∣ness of the seasons do most especiallie bring foorth diseases, and likewise great alterations of colde
and heate in those seasons, and of other things answe∣ring to them in proporti∣on.
Some natures are well, or ill in the summer season, and others are well or ill in the winter.
Some diseases are well or ill affected, some more to one time, and some to an other; & some ages more to some one time, place, & kind of dyet, then they are to an other.
Autumnall diseases are to bee expected in these sea∣sons, when on the selfe same day, it is some times hot, and some times colde.
The South wind dulleth the hearing, obscureth and darkneth the sight, offen∣deth the head with aches and rhumes, procureth & causeth heauinesse & faint∣nesse in the members. Whē therefore it is frequent and bloweth often, such things happen and are incident to the weak and sicklie. Con∣trariwise▪ the North wind causeth coughs, exaspera∣teth and excoriateth the iawes, hardneth the bellie, suppresseth vrine, stirreth vp colde shiuerings, and shakings, ingendreth pains of the side and breast. Ther∣fore when this wind bea∣reth swaie, those that are weake and feeble, must ex∣pect
and looke for such ac∣cidents.
When sommer is like the spring time, we must expect much sweating in agues.
Sharpe Agues are ingen∣dred with great droughts and dryness: and if the yeer proceed to bee such as the state of the season is, which it hath affected, wee must expect such kindes of dis∣eases.
In certaine and moderat times, obseruing their sea∣sonablenesse, certaine and seasonable diseases hauing a happy determination, are ingendred: But in vncer∣taine, wauering, and vn∣seasonable
times, vncer∣tain diseases are ingendred (whose Crysis is accompa∣nyed with grieuous acci∣dents.
In Autumne vniuersally there are most sharpe and pernicious diseases: but the spring time is most whole∣some and not dangerous.
Autumne is hurtfull to such as are in a consumpti∣on.
Amongst the parts of the yeere, if the winter shall bee dryer and the winde northernly, and the spring much raining and the wind southernly it must of neces∣sitie
fall out, that in som∣mer sharpe agues, rhtums in the eyes, bloudy fluxes doe happen, especiallie to women and to men being moist by nature.
Contrarilie, if winter shalbe southernly, full of raine, and warme, and the spring drie & northernly, women whose childebirth and deliuerance hapneth neere the spring doe vpon the least occasion suffer a∣borsment and vntimely birth: or if they be deliue∣ned at their due time, they bring forth such weak and diseased children, so that ei∣ther they die quicklie, or liue but leanly and sicklie. To others there hapneth
bloudy fluxes and hoat in∣flāmations of the eyes, and to old men rhumes which do quicklie bring destruc∣tion.
Sommer being drie and the wind northernly, Au∣tumne full of raine and the winde southernlie, vehe∣ment paines of the head are to be expected in the win∣ter following. Also, coughs hoarsnesse, and rhumes, di∣stillings at the nostrills, & to some pining consump∣tions.
A northernly and drie Autumne is profitable and good to men which are moist by nature, and also to women: to others, it causeth
hot inflammations in the eies, and feuers partly sharp and partly long, and some also are troubled with me∣lancholy by 〈◊〉〈◊〉
Of all the seasons tho∣rough-out the whole yeer, drynesse and droughts are more wholsome and lesse dangerous to mans life, then daily showers of raine and moisture.
When much raine show∣reth downe, these diseases for the most part are ingē∣dred, that is to saie, long continuing agues, fluxes of the belly, corruption of the humors, falling sicknesse, apoplexies, or the dead palsies, the squinances in
the throat: but when there is much drynesse and drought there happeneth consumptions, rhumes in the eyes ••••••ines of the ioints, difficultie in making vrin, and the passion of the Intestins.
Daily seasons of weather being northernly doe close and strengthen the bodies, they make them more mo∣uable and nimble, better coloured, and more strong and able in hearing: they dry & harden the belly, but they bite & offend the eies: and if any paine haue be∣fore possest the brest, they make it more fierce and grieuous. Contrarily, sou∣thernely constitutions doe
loose and moysten those bodies, they dull the hea∣ring, they bring giddinesse of the head, they bring mi∣stinesse, and dimness of the eyes, dulnesse and laziness to the body, they make the bellie loose and laxatiue.
As touching Seasons of the yeere, in the spring and prime of sommer, children and those which are neerest to them in age, do liue best in health. But in sommer & in some part of Autumn olde men liue best: but in the rest of Autumne and winter they which leade a middle age.
Any diseases are ingen∣dred in anie times of the
yeer: yet many are rather caused and stirred, in some∣one more then in an other.
In the spring there hap∣neth madnesse, Melancho∣ly, the falling euill, fluxes of bloud, the Squinancie, rhumes, distillations of hu∣mors, coughs, leprosies, dry scabs, Morphues and ma∣ny vlcerous wheales, pu∣shes, and paines of the ioints.
In sommer there are some of those specified be∣fore in the spring: also cō∣tinuall feuers and burning agues, and manie Tertians also and Quartan agues, & vomitings, fluxes of the belly, inflāmations of the
eyes, paines of the eares, vlcerations of the mouth, rotting and putrifying of the priuie members, and sweatings.
Also many summer dis∣eases are in Autumn, both Quartans & also vncertain and wandring agues, swel∣lings of the splene, hy∣dropsie, consumptions, strangurie, loosnesse and excoriation of the bowels, aches of the huckle bone, the squinancie, shortness of breath, a streight pres∣sing or drawing together of the bowels in some part of them, the falling sicke∣nes, madnes & melancho∣ly.
In winter are ingendred
plurisies, inflammation of lungs, lethargie, rheume in the nostrels, hoarsnesse coughs, pains of the breast sides, and loynes, heada∣ches, swymming and gyd∣dinesse of the head, (cau∣sing dimnesse to the eyes) Apoplexies (or suddaine depriuation of the senses.)
But as concerning ages, these diseases do happen to little children, and lately borne; vlcers in the mouth, vomiting, coughs, want of sleepe, great feares, inflam∣mations of the nauill, moist running at the eares.
The time of teeth-bree∣ding comming, there hap∣neth
itching of the gums, feuers, convulsions, fluxes of the bellie; especially when they bring forth their teeth, and most prin∣cipallie to those children which are most fatte and grosse and haue their belly hard and bound.
To those children which are a little bigger there doth happen inflāmations of the almondes of the mouth, disioynting & dis∣location of the turning ioynts in the nape of the neck inwardly, shortnes of wind, breeding of the stone round worms, gut worms, long hanging warts, vnna∣tural erection of the Yard, difficultie▪ in making of
water, Scrophulus in the necke, and other risings, es∣pecially those before de∣clared.
Moreouer, to those which are greater and comming to ripe age, there happen many of those former dis∣eases▪ but more often, long continuing agues, and flux of bloud issuing out of the nostrells.
The diseases of children for the most part, some of them do attaine to the Cry∣sis, or alteration within 40. daies: some within seauen moneths: some within sea∣uen yeeres, others when they come to ripe age. But those which shal continew
longer, and shal neither be dissolued, to men children when they come to ripe age, nor to may den chil∣dren when their monthly tearmes breake forth, Hi consenescere consueuerunt.
To young men▪ there dooth happen spytting of bloud, consumptions, sharpe feuers, falling sick∣nesse, and other diseases, but chiefely these now re∣hearsed.
To those which haue passed beyond this young age, there dooth happeu shortnesse of breath, impo∣stumes of the lungs, lethar∣gies, phrensies, burning fe∣uers,
long fluxes of the bel∣lie, cholericke passions, or flowing of the gall, bloudy fluxes, fluxes of the sto∣mach and belly of meates indigested, the Haemorrho∣ides and such like.
To olde men doth hap∣pen difficultie & hardness of breathing, Rhumes, with the cough, strangurie or auoyding of vrin by drop∣meale, Disuria & difficul∣tie of making vrin, aches of the ioints, the stone in the kidnies, gyddinesse of the braine, Apoplexies, or dead palsies, an euill habit or disposition of the body called Cachexia, itching of the whole bodie, watchful∣nes & want of sleep, moist∣nesse
and humidities of the bellie, eyes, and nostrills, dimnesse of the sight, Glaucoma, and dulnesse of hearing.
THis fourth Section is va∣riable; but for the most part is reduced to euacuation and prognostick signes of fu∣ture euents.
Thou shalt purge child∣bearing women if it bee needfull, at the fowrth mo∣neth after conception, and so vnto the seauenth, but those more sparingly: but the cōception being yong or elder thou shalt abstain.
Such things are to bee drawn out of the body, by the vse of purging medi∣cines, as they are which is∣suing forth of their own ac∣cord do helpe the same: but those which issue forth in a contrarie manner are to be stopped.
If such things be purged as should be, it doth good, and the patient doth easily indure it: but if otherwise it be done, the patient doth indure it painfully.
In sommer it is more cō∣uenient to purge the vp∣per venters, in the winter the inferior by stoole.
Vnder the Canicular or or dog-star, and before the dog-starre, purgations are painfull anp difficil.
Leane and slender men are easie to vomit, & there∣fore must be purged by vo∣mit, vnlesse it be in winter.
7▪ Purge those which do not vomit easilie, and being in good plight, downwards by stoole, so it be not som∣mer.
Do not purge them vp∣wards which are subiect to the phtisick or a consump∣tion.
Thou shalt purge melan∣cholicke folke strongly by stoole. In like manner be∣ginning the contrarie waie
of purging. (For, light matter bending vpwards must be drawne out by the vpper parts: But the heaui∣er and grosser matter by the lower parts.)
We must purge in verie sharpe sicknesses, if the matter do moue to the pur∣ging of it; and that the very same daie wherein the sick∣nesse doth begin: for delaie in such diseases is very hurt∣full and dangerous.
Those which haue gri∣pings & wringings in the belly, and horrible paine a∣bout the Nauell and the loynes, and cannot be ea∣sed and dissolued by medi∣cin or otherwise, they shall
fall into a drie dropsie cal∣led, aqua inter cutem sicca (which is a Timpanie.)
Those are not to be pur∣ged in winter by vomite without hurt, whose sto∣mach and belly cannot re∣taine meate vntil it be dige∣sted.
Their bodies are to bee made moyst before hand with abundance and plen∣ty of foode and also with ease and rest, which taking a potiō of veratrum or hel∣lebor, do hardly and pain∣fully vomit.
Elleborus being drunke, the bodie ought rather to be moued, then to be yeel∣ded
to sleepe, or rest: for the sayling in a ship, doth ma∣nifest that our bodies are stirred and prouoked by motion.
When you wil haue Elle∣borus or veratrum to work more forcibly, mooue and stirre the bodie: but when you will staie it, procure sleepe, and doe not moue.
Elleborus is very dange∣rous to them which haue sound flesh, for it ingen∣dreth convulsion.
When hee which is not sicke of an ague doth loath his meate, hath a gnawing of the mouth of the sto∣mache, a darksome gyddi∣nesse
of the braine, and bit∣ternesse of the mouth, hit signifieth that he had need to be purged vpwards.
Whosoeuer hauing need of purging hath paines a∣bout the myddryffe, it is a signe that hee must be pur∣ged vpwards: but the pains which are vnder the same doe note a purging down∣wards to be needfull.
Those which doe not thirst whiles they are pur∣ged with a medicinall poti∣on, shall not leaue purging vntill they shall thirst.
If there be wringings and gripings of the guttes without a feuer, heauinesse
of the knees, and paine of the loynes, they: signifie that there is neede of pur∣ging downward.
Blacke excrements of the bellie like vnto blacke bloud, comming forth of their owne accord, either with a feuer or without a feuer are most euill: and by how much the more those euill colours shalbe, by so much the more those ex∣cremēts shall be the worse: But such things to bee ex∣pelled out by a medicin, is farre better, and that by how much the more co∣lours there shalbe of them.
In the beginning of anie disease if blacke▪ choler
come forth either aboue, or beneath, it is dangerous & pernicious.
Those which are pyned and brought low by sharp or long diseases, or by woundes, or anie other meanes, and doe auoyde blacke choler, or as it were blacke bloud: doe die the next daie following.
A bloudy flux if it pro∣ceed from blacke choler is mortall.
For bloud to be caried vp¦ward of what kinde soeuer it be, is an euill signe: but if blacke bloud be egested & auoided downwards, it is good.
If any man being afflic∣ted with a blouddie fluxe doe auoide as it were little peeces of flesh, it is a mor∣tall signe.
To those which haue store of bloud flowing, frō what part soeuer in feuers: their bellies become moist, after they haue beene re∣freshed.
Those which auoid cho∣lericke excrements down∣wardes, if deafeness come vpon the same they do then cease frō auoiding of them: and on the other side, those which are affected with deafnes are deliuered from the same, by the auoiding
of cholerick excrements.
If cold shakings happē to them which are sicke of an ague the sixt daie, they haue a difficult Crysis, and we cannot wel iudge of the disease.
In them which are afflic∣ted with fits of Agues, how∣soeuer the ague shall leaue them; if it returne againe the same hower the next day, it is wont to haue a dif∣ficult Crysis and determina∣tion.
Apostumes are caused neare the ioints, and espe∣cially nigh the iawe bones, or mādible, to them which feele wearinesse, and lassi∣tude in feuers.
Those which recouering and amending from a dis∣ease, and haue some place grieued with payne, shall haue apostums, or botches in the same place.
But if anie part shall be pained before the disease, the seate and abiding of the disease is there.
If a suffocation or stop∣ping of the breath do hap∣pen vpon a sodaine to one afflicted with a feuer, no swelling appearing in the iawes, or gullet, it is dead∣ly.
If to one afflicted with a feuer the necke be sudden∣ly
turned awrie, and he can scant swallowe, and there be no swelling, it is deadly.
Sweats are good to those sicke of an ague, which be∣gin to issue forth the third day, fift, seuenth, ninth, e∣leuenth, fowreteenth, seuē∣teenth, one and twentith, seuen and twentith, thirtie one, and thirty fower: for those sweats worke the dis∣solution of the disease: those which happen otherwise, signifie paine, and length of the disease, or a returne of the same.
Cold sweats with a sharp feuer, doe verily betoken death: but with a more
mild & gentle ague, length of the disease.
In what part of the bo∣die the sweat is, there is the disease.
And also in what part of the bodie there is heate, or colde, there the disease is setled.
And when alterations do happen in the whole bodie so that the bodie bee coo∣led, and heated againe by turns, or one colour arise af∣ter an other, they signifie continuance of the disease.
Much sweating▪ caused thorough sleep, doth signi∣fie that the body is sed with
store of meate: but if this happē to one feeding spa∣ringly, we must know that there is neede of euacuati∣on.
VVhen there is much sweat, colde, or hot, alwaie issuing forth, the cold doth signifie the disease to bee more grieuous: and the hot sweat doth note the disease to be lesse grieuous.
Feuers continuall which afflict euerie third daie more vehemently and doe not cease, are the more dā∣gerous: but by what man∣ner soeuer they shall cease, and pause, they signifie that ther is no present dan∣ger.
Swellings and paines
about the ioints are caused to them which are afflicted with long agues.
Those which haue swel∣lings and paines of the ioints after agues, do feede ouer liberally.
If a colde shiuering fit, the feuer being without in∣termission, doe assaile the sicke man beeing alreadie weake, it is a deadly signe.
Excrements auoided in feuers not intermittent, by vomit or spitting, if they be of a leaden colour, blo∣die, cholericke, or stinking, are all euill: but if they come forth conueniently, and easilie, they are good.
Also, the same considerati∣on is to bee had of those things auoided by the bel∣lie, and vrins. But if anie thing be auoided by those places, which dooth not helpe, it is euill.
In continuall feuers, if the outward parts are cold, the inward do burne, and the patient be thirstie, it is a deadly signe.
In continuall feuers, if the lippe, eye, browes, or nose, bee peruerted or tur∣ned awrie, if the sickeman do not see, nor hear, which-so-euer of these shall hap∣pen the bodie being weak, death is neare at hand.
If there happeneth in a continual feuer, difficulty and hardnes of breathing, with delirium, and doting, the signes are deadly.
Apostumes in feuers which are not dissolued in the first Crysis, or iudge∣ments, they signifie length of the disease.
It is not absurde to weep and shedde teares in feuers and other diseases, volunta∣rilie: but to weepe against the will is verie absurde, & inconuenient.
They haue fierce & ve∣hemēt feuers, which haue a tough & clammy moisture
about their teeth in those feuers.
Those which haue drie coughs prouoking little, are not wont to bee verie thirstie, in burning fe∣uers.
All feuers proceeding from the tumors in inguine and other adenosus parts, are euil, except those feuers which are called Ephemerae, and last but one daie.
Sweate comming▪ vpon one sicke of an ague, the ague not ceasing, is euill: for the disease is prolon∣ged, and it signifieth that there is much moysture.
If a feuer happen to the crampe, Spasmus, or Teta∣nus: then it dissolueth the crampe.
If a colde shaking fit do com vpon him which hath a burning feuer, then a de∣liuerance from the disease is procured by it.
An exquisit, and perfect Tertian feuer, commeth to his Crysis or state in seauen circuits or fits, at the vt∣most.
Those that waxe deafe and thicke of hearing tho∣rough feuers▪ are deliuered from that disease by fluxe of bloud at the nose, or by
flux of the wombe.
Vnlesse the feuer shall leaue the patiēt in the odde daies, it is accustomed to returne againe.
Those which haue the yellow Iaundis happening vnto them vpon agues, be∣fore the seauenth day, haue an euill signe.
Those feuers which haue their colde shaking fits re∣turning at a certaine daie, are dissolued the same daie.
It is a good thing for them which haue the yel∣low iaundes comming on them in feuers on the se∣uenth day, ninth, eleuenth,
or fourteenth day: vnlesse the right hypocondrium bee hard: for then it is not good but euill.
In feuers, a vehement heat about the stomach, & a gnawing about the heart, is an euill thing.
Convulsions in sharpe feuers, and vehement pains about the bowels, are euil.
In feuers, great feares through sleep, or convulsi∣on, doe prognosticate euil.
The breath not keeping due course is euil: for it doth signifie convulsion.
Vrins with a feuer being thicke, clotted, and little in quantity, do profit them which make them, if after∣wards thin vrins, and much in quantitie be auoided of them: but those vrins most commonly become such in which the Hypostasis or se∣diment, shal appear straight after they are made, or not long after.
Those which haue their water troubled or vnclean in agues, such as are the waters of Cattell, haue or shall haue headache.
Those which shall haue their Crysis or alteration of the disease the sea∣uenth
day, haue a little red Cloude in the vrine the 4. daie, and other things ther∣unto belōging according∣ly.
Vrins verie cleare and white are verie euill, espe∣cially if they appeare in those which are afflicted with phrensie.
Those which haue an in∣flation of the Hypocondria, and a rumbling pain of the loynes succeeding, haue their belly moystned and loosned, except the windes breake forth downwards, or store of vrine doe issue forth: and these things happen in feuers.
To those that doubt of apostumations to come a∣bout the ioints, much vrin thick, and white, doth deli∣uer from the apostum, such as is wont to be auoided in painfull feuers, the fowrth daie: when also bloud shal issue forth of the nostrels there shall be a dissolution and a deliuerance speedily.
If anie pisse bloud or filthy matter, it signifieth an exulceration of the kid∣nies or bladder.
Those which haue small pieces of flesh, and as it were haires, issuing forth togither with thick vrine, do auoid those excrements
from the kidneies.
Those which auoid with thicke vrin certain branny contents, haue their blad∣der infected with an vlcer, or scabbednesse.
It is signified to them which piss bloud vpon the sodaine, that there is some veine of the kidnies bro∣ken.
They in whose vrin ther appeareth an Hypostasis or sediment full of sand, haue their bladder or kidneies diseased with the stone; but especially the bladder, be∣cause it hath a verie spati∣ous hollownesse or caui∣ty.
If anie one pisse bloud or clotts of bloud & make his water by drops, hauing paine in that part of the belly (which is betweene the nauell and the secret parts) named hypogastrion, or at the seame-line of the skinnne of the coddes, cal∣led perinaeum, and at the place called pecten▪ (where the haire about the priuie members groweth) then the places about the blad∣der are diseased.
If any one pisse bloud or filthy matter, or little scales, and there bee also a stinking or strong smell, it doth betoken an exulcera∣tion of the bladder.
Those which haue an a∣postume bred in the vrina∣rie passage, or conduit of the water, they are deliue∣red from it, the same being brought to suppuration & broken.
Voiding of much vrin in the night, doth signifie finall euacuation of excre∣ments by the fundament.
THe fift Book or Section is variable yet almost it doth wholly intreat of the dis∣eases of women, & of the good and badde dispositions of the wombe.
A Conuulsion by taking Elleborus is deadlie.
A Convulsion after a wound, is pernicious and deadly.
The hicket or a convulsi∣on, after a copious flux of bloud, is euill.
After an immoderat pur∣gation (which the Greeks call Hypercatharsis) a con∣vulsion or hicket is euill.
If any drunken man do suddainly waxe dumbe, he shall die with convulsion, vnlesse hee be taken with a feuer, or presently recouer his speech at that hower in which the surfet is dissol∣ued.
Those which are taken with the cramp or distenti∣on, named Tetanus, do die
within fowre daies: but if they shall ouerpasse them, they recouer their health.
The falling sicknesse which is before ripenesse of age, is remoued awaie: but that which hapneth after the 25. yeer of the age doth for the most part accom∣pany vs vnto death.
Those which are sick of a plurisie, vnlesse they bee purged vpwardes, within fowrteene daies shall haue the disease turned into an impostume.
A consumption most e∣specially hapneth in those ages which are fro the 18▪
yeere to the thirty and fift yeere▪
Those which haue the e∣uill cause of the squinancie conuerted into the lungs, do drie within seuen daies: but if they escape them, they are affected with cor∣rupt and filthy matter (cal∣led empiema)▪
If the spittle which they auoid by coughing that are affected with a consumpti∣on, doe stinke strongly be∣ing cast vpon the coles, and the haires of the head doe fall off, it is a pernicious & deadly signe.
If a flux of the belly hap∣pen to them which haue
their haire falling awaie by a consumption, death is neare at hand.
Those which cough forth frothy bloud, do ••etch and drawe the same out of the lungs.
If a fluxe of the bellie come vpō him which is in a consumption it is a perni∣cious signe.
Those which are infected with an impostume by a plurisie, if they be purged from the corrupt matter within fortie daies after the breaking of the apostume, are cured, or otherwise they passe into a consump∣tion.
Hot water too often v∣sed bringeth these discom∣modities; tendernesse of the flesh, distemperature of the sinewes, heauinesse & drowsinesse of the minde, fluxes of blod, swounings, & faintings of life to which death is incident.
But the vse of colde wa∣ter bringeth convulsions, the crampes called Tetani, blackness & cold shakings vsuall in some feuers.
Colde water is hurtfull to the bones, teeth, sinews, braine, and marrow of the backe: but that which is hot is good and profitable.
Wee must heate those things which are ouercold; except those which powre forth bloud, or are inclined to powre forth bloud, in short time▪
Colde water biteth and nippeth vlcers, hardneth the skinne, hindreth the sorenesse from maturation of the corrupt matter, cau∣seth, blacknesse, bringeth forth colde shiuering fittes of▪ agues, convulsions, crampes, and distention of the sinewes.
Notwithstanding, ther is some time, when in the crampe without an vlcer in a well flesht young man
in the middest of sommer, plentifull powring out of colde water doth call back the heate, and so the heate doth dissolue the crampe.
Hot water yeeldeth vn∣to vs a great token of secu∣rity, and safety in that vlcer and sore in which it causeth ripe and wel digested mat∣ter: it softneth and molli∣fieth the skinne, it maketh it thinne, it dooth appease paine, it mitigateth and as∣swageth colde shakings, convulsions, & the cramps (named Tetani) it dissol∣ueth heauinesse and paine of the head, it profiteth broken bones very much, especially if they bee bare without flesh; and princi∣pally
in the head: also it profiteth those things which are mortified & ex∣ulcerated through colde. Lastly, it is profitable to ea∣ting vlcers in the sūdamēt, priuie members, wombe, bladder: to all those, hot water is a friend and com∣forter, but cold water is an enemie and a destroyer.
We must vse cold water to those sores from whence bloud dooth issue, or is a∣bout to issue, and not to be applyed in the same place by which it issueth but to those places from whence it floweth. And if anie in∣flammation or burning of the parts, do incline to a red and bloudie colour with
fresh cleare bloud, apply colde things, or cold water vnto them: but if the inflā∣mations bee inueterate and old, it maketh them black. Also it helpeth the fiery in∣flammation, named Erysi∣pelas, if it be not vlcerated. For, being vlcerated it hur∣teth.
Things that are verie colde, as snowe, and yee, are hurtfull to the breast, they procure coughs, they cause ruptures of the veins, and also rhumes.
Cold water powred forth aboundantly, doth ease and diminish the tumours and paines of the ioints, which are without vlceration, & also gowty swellings and
pains and convulsions for the most part, & dissolueth dolour and pain: for a smal benumming hath the force of dissoluing and putting awaie of paine.
Water that is quickely made hot, & quickly cold, is most light.
It is good for them which haue great desire to drinke in the night to fall a sleepe, being verie thirstie.
A fumigation, or per∣fume, of odoriferous spy∣ces dooth bring forth the terms. It would also be pro∣fitable for manie other things if it did not breede heauinesse and pain of the head.
Thou shalt purge a wo∣man with childe if it bee needful, the fowrth month after conception, and so forwards vntill the begin∣ning of the seuenth month: but those that come neere the seauenth, month not so much: but the foetus▪ be∣ing yonger or elder thou shalt abstaine.
A woman with child, a veine being opened, abor∣teth & is deliuered before due time: and so much the rather, if the foetus bee of any bignesse.
It is pernicious & dead∣lie if a woman great with childe bee taken with anie sharp disease.
A woman is cured from vomiting bloud, her mōth∣ly tearms issuing forth.
A flux of bloud at the nose is good and healthfull to a womā, her flowers fai∣ling contrarie to the due course of nature.
If the wombe bee verie laxatiue and loose to a wo∣man with childe, there is danger of aborcement.
Sneesing hapning to a woman grieued with suffo∣cation of the wombe, or hauing a painfull and diffi∣cult deliuerance is good.
The monthly courses be∣ing
discoloured, neyther comming forth alwaies in the same maner, and time, do declare that a purgation is necessarie for the wo∣man.
If the paps be suddenlie extenuated and become lanke to a woman with childe, aborcement dooth follow.
If one of the dugs be ex∣tenuated and become lank to a woman cōceiued with child with twins, she brin∣geth forth one of them be∣fore due time: And if the right dug becom slēder she bringeth forth the male childe before due time, but if the left dug becom lank she maketh aborcement of the female.
If any woman neither with child nor hauing bin deliuered of childe, haue milke in her breasts, her monthly courses haue fai∣led her.
Madnesse is signified to happen to those women in whose dugs or paps there is bloud collected and hea∣ped together.
If you will know whe∣ther any woman haue con∣ceiued or no: giue her a po∣tion of hony & water mix∣ed togither going to sleep: & if she feele gripings and wringings of the belly she hath conceiued; if she doe not, shee hath not concei∣ued.
If a woman conceiued with childe doe beare a manchilde shee is well and fresh coloured: if she beare a maide childe, she is ill co∣loured.
If the inflammation cal∣led Erysipelas be bred in the womb or mother, it is a per∣niuous and deadly thing.
Those women which are verie leane contrarie to nature and doe beare children; do suffer vntime∣lie deliuerance; vntill they come to better plight and be fatter.
Those women which being reasonable fat & ma∣king
abortion the second, or third month, without a∣nie manifest cause, haue a∣cetabula vteri plena mucoris, neither are they able to cō∣taine the foetus because of his heauy weight (but those Cotylidons being broken) it falleth downe.
Those which are fatter then Nature requireth and doe not conceiue childe, haue os vteri compressed, & closed togither by the o∣mentum and cal of the guts, and therefore they cannot conceiue vntill they waxe leaner.
If the wombe shall apo∣stumate in that part where it lieth neer the hip, or huc∣kle
bone, it is necessary to cure it with tents lipped in liquid medicines such as the Greekes do call Emmo∣ta.)
Men children doe lie & are carryed on the right side of the womb, and wo∣men children rather on the left side.
A medicine procuring sneesing, put into the no∣strills, doth driue and force out the secūdine▪ so that you stop the nostrils & mouth close with the hand.
If it please a woman to restraine her accustomed courses, apply a very great cupping glasse to her brests.
Those women which are conceiued with child, haue the mouth or gate of the mother shut and closed vp.
If milke flowe plentiful∣ly out of the dugs of a wo∣man bearing a child in her wombe, it signifieth that the childe is weake: but if the paps be hard and stiffe, they declare a stronger cō∣ception.
The dugges and pappes becom slender and limber to those women which shal loose their foetus. But contrarilie, if the pappes become hard, paine shall eyther molest the pappes,
hips, eies, or the knees, but they shal not suffer aborce∣ment.
Those women haue the mouth or gate of the womb closed or shut vp▪ which haue the same hard.
Childe-bearing women which are takē with feuers, or are brought to a lowe state without a manifest cause, doe bring forth the birth painfully, and with danger, or are in hazard of life by vntimely & vnsea∣sonable deliuerance.
If a Convulsion or swou∣ning happen to a flux of a womans flowers, it is an e∣uill thing.
Womens terms flowing immoderately, diseases are ingendred: & being sup∣prest, & stopt of their due course, diseases do likewise happen from the wombe.
The strangurie or drop∣ping out of the vrin dooth happen by the inflamma∣tion of the straight gut, & likewise of the wombe or mother, to the reins that be exulcerated: also if the li∣uer be inflamed, the hicket or yexing doth happen in the meane while.
If a woman doe not cō∣ceiue, and thou wouldest know if she shall conceiue at all, let her be wrapt and
lapped round about with clothes, and make a sume vnder the lower parts: and if the sent bee perceiued to passe through her bodie, to her nostrills, & her mouth; knowe that shee is not bar∣raine, by any default in hir selfe.
If the monthly purgati∣ons doe keepe their course to a woman with child, it is impossible that the foetus should be in health.
If a womans monthly courses stop, and she haue neither shiuering cold, nor ague comming vpon her, and shee loath her meate, make account that shee is conceiued.
Those women which haue their wombe cold & drie, doe not conceiue: and such as haue them ouer moyst▪ cannot bee concei∣ued, for the seede is extin∣guisht & perished in them. Also, those women cannot conceiue, which haue those places ouer drie, and hot; for the seed becōmeth cor∣rupted for want of due n••••∣rishment. But those wo∣men which haue obtained a moderate temperature of the places in respecte of both the oppositions and contrarieties, doe excell in fruitfulnesse.
The same consideration and reason is likewise to be respected in men: for either
through the spoungy and poery substance of the bo∣dy the spirits are dissipated and scattered abroade, so that they cannot cast forth seede, or else the moisture dooth not issue forth be∣cause of his grossenesse & thicknesse, or else because of coldnesse it doth not cō∣ceiue any heat, that it may be collected in his proper place: or the verie same thing doth & may happen through heate.
It is not good to giue milke to them which are troubled with headach, or with agues, nor to those which are troubled with the disease called status Hy∣pochondriacus, nor to those
which are troubled with thirst. It is also nought for them which auoide chole∣ricke excrements downe∣wards, or to those which haue sharpe feuers, or haue had some copious euacua∣tion of bloud. But it is good for those which are in a consumption, so they be not troubled with any vehement feuer. It is also good for long lingring and milde agues, so that none of the signes before spo∣ken be present. It is good also for them which are brought lowe without any apparant reason or occasi∣on.
They are not much tro∣bled with convulsions or
with madnesse, which haue apparant and euident tu∣mors with their vlcers or sores: But convulsions, and the crampes (na∣med Tetani) doe happen to them to whome the tu∣mors shall suddenly vanish awaie, if it shall happen on the hinder part of the bodie: but if they happen in the forehead, or forepart, there hapneth madness, ve∣hement paine of the side, Empiema and spitting of matter, Dysenteria, if the tu∣mors or swellings shall be red.
If no tumour nor swel∣ling appeare in great and badde wounds, it is a great euell.
Soft tumore aregoods but those which are hard and vndigested are euill.
To one which hath pain in the hinder part of the head, the venarecta in the forehead beeing opened doth profit.
Colde shakings and shi∣uerings for the most part doe begin to women from the loines, and through the back do come to the head: But to men they doe rather beginne in the backe part then in the forepart; as from the hinder parte of the thighes and from the elbowes: the raritie and
thinnesse of the skinne is a token ther of▪ which thing the hayre there growing dooth declare and mani∣fest.
These which are taken with a Quartane ague, are not much assaulted with convulsions: but if before they haue bin assayled, vp∣on the comming of the Quartan they are deliue∣red and freed.
Those which haue their skinnearid, withered, and drie, doe dye without sweate: but those who haue their skinne loose, and open, do end their life with sweate.
Those that are diseased with the Iaundis, are not much molested with win∣dinesse.
THIS sixt Section dooth almost altogether con∣cerne that part of the Art, which foretelleth good and e∣uill things to happen in disea∣ses.
In a long lubricitie, and
slipperinesse of the guts, if a sowrish belching do hap∣pen, which was not before, it is a good signe.
Those which haue their nostrils more moist then o∣thers by nature, and their seede also, doe inioy their health but badly: but those which haue the contrarie properties, doe leade their life more healthfully.
In long difficulties, pains or fluxes of the bowelles a loathing of meate is euill: and with a feuer it is more euill.
Vlcers or soares which are smooth and glaber, are maligne, and euill.
In the paine of the sides, and of the breast, and of the other parts, wee must learne if the sicke do differ much, or keepe at a staie.
The diseases and infir∣mities of the kidneies and bladder, are of hard & dif∣ficult curation in old men.
Dolours and paines of the bellie being aloft & in the vpper part, are more light and easie; not being aloft are more tedious and forcible.
Vlcers or sores arising in the body of those which
are diseased with the drop∣sie, are not easily cured.
Wheales being broade, are not very full of itching.
Corrupt matter, water, or bloud issuing out by the nostrils, mouth, or eares, dissolueth and cureth a ve∣hement & grieuous head∣ache.
The Haemorrhoids hap∣pening to those which are troubled with melancholy and paine of the kidneies, are good and profitable.
Vnless in the cure of the Haemorrhoids which haue long continued, there be one veine kept open, it is
to bee feared that a dropsie or consumption will short∣ly follow.
The hicket or yexing tro∣bling or vexing vs, is put a∣way by sneesing.
If water flowe, from the veines of him which is dis∣eased with the dropsie, to the bellie, the disease is dis∣solued (if nature it selfe make euacuation.)
Vomiting comming by the benefit of nature, dis∣solueth and riddeth away a long flux or loosenesse of the bellie (by reason of the retraction & drawing back of the humours which did bend downwards.)
A loosenesse of the belly happening to one afflicted with a pleurisie, or the dis∣ease of the lunges named peripneumonia, is an euill thing.
It is a good thing for him which is troubled with a watrish running of the eies called lippitudo, to be taken with a flux and loosenesse of the bellie.
It is a deadly thing when the bladder is wounded, or the braine, or the heart, the midriffe, anie small gut, the stomach, or the liuer.
A bone perished or cut off, or a cartilag, gristle or
sinew, or any little parcell of the eye lid, or the prae∣putium beeing diminished, doe not growe or ioine to∣gether.
If bloud flowe into the belly contrarie to nature, it corrupteth and is putrified of necessitie.
If the swelling of veins in the legs, named varices, or the Haemorrhoids, shall happen to them which are madde and frantick, then the disease of madnesse is dissolued.
Breaches or fluxes of hu∣mors which do descend frō the backe to the elbow, are dissolued by opening of a veine.
If feare and sadnesse doe continéw long, it is a signe of melancholie.
If anie small or slender gut bee wounded or pear∣ced, it dooth not close or grow togither againe.
If the cholericke tumor Erysipelas, being outwarde be returned inwards, it is euill: but if being inward it be turned outwards it is a good thing.
Those burning feuers are dissolued with dotage, or rauing, in which there are trembling shakings.
If the corruption, mat∣ter,
or water, do flowe out altogether at once, from them which are burnt, by catire, or cut, by the Chirur∣gion for the cure of the in∣warde apostumation be∣tweene the lungs and the breast, or of the dropsie, thē the diseased shall die with∣out all doubt.
Eunuches or gelded men are not diseased with the gout, neither do wax bald.
A woman is not troubled with the gout, vnlesse her monthly termes doe faile her.
A young stripling is not troubled with the gout, be∣fore he hath vsed venerie.
Drinking of strong wine, or a bath, a fomentation, phlebothomy (or letting of bloud) or a purgation doth cure paines of the eies.
Those which slammer, are taken most commonly with a long flux of the bel∣lie.
Those which haue sower belchings, are not much subiect to a plurisie.
Great swelling veins, na∣med varices, are not inci∣dent to them which are balde: but yet they haue their haire growing againe on their head, to whom the swellings & veins do hap∣pen being balde.
If a cough come vpon them which are diseased with a dropsie, it is an euill thing.
Phlobotomie, or bloud∣letting, cureth the difficul∣tie of making vrine, but we must opē the inward veins.
If a tumour appeare in the neck to him that is dis∣eased with angina, it is a good thing.
Those which haue hid∣den or deepe Cancers, are not to bee healed or cured of them: for they which are healed die sooner; and those which are not cured of them liue the longer.
A convulsion is caused either by repletion, or by e∣uacuation: so is also the hicket or yexing.
Those which haue paine at the Hypocondrium with∣out an inflammation, are cured by a feuer hapning to them.
If corrupt matter giue forth no signification, nor signe of it self in the bodies of the diseased, the cause that it dooth not disclose it selfe nor appeare, is either for the grossenesse and thicknesse of it selfe, or of the place.
If the liuer vvaxe hard
to them which are affected with the yellow iaundis, it is an euill thing.
The spleneticke, which are taken with a bloody fluxe of the bowels, do die of a dropsie, or a slipperi∣nesse of the bowells, called a lientery, following a long fluxe.
They die within seauen daies, to whom the disease named Ileos, or pain in the small guts, shall happen af∣ter a strangurie, vnlesse a feuer comming vpon them, store of vrine shall issue forth.
If vlcers continew a yeer or longer, the bone of ne∣cessitie must growe fowle,
and bee corrupted, and so hollow cicatrizes are cau∣sed.
Those vvhich become crookt backt by shortness of wind, or a cough▪ before they attaine to ripenesse of age, doe die quickly.
Those are to be let bloud or purged in the spring time to whome opening of a veine or purging may do good.
The difficulty of the in∣testins, and guts, comming vpon them which are dis∣eased with the splene (viz. with hardnesse) is good.
Goutie diseases, the in∣flammation
beeing asswa∣ged, within fortie daies do cease.
It must needs bee that a feuer, vomiting, and per∣braking of choler must come vpon them which haue their braine diuided, or wounded.
Those which are in health being sodainly taken with headache and thereupon presently become dumbe, and snort, doe die within seauen daies, vnlesse a fe∣uer come vpon them in the meane while.
But we ought to behold in their sleepes also, if anie part of the eies do appeare
vnderneath the liddes: for if anie thing appeare of the white of them, the eye lids not being fast closed, if it doe not happen by a fluxe of the belly or by som me∣dicinall potion, it is an euil and a verie deadly signe.
That doting which is done with laughter, is not so daungerous: but that which is done with ear∣nest sadnesse is more daun∣gerous.
Painefull breathings in sharp diseases with a feuer, as it were, of such as sigh, & mourne, are euill.
Paines of the gowt doe most commonly afflict &
are prouoked in the spring and autumn.
The falling down of hu∣mors are very dangerous in melancholicke diseases, at these seasons, and do de∣clare an apoplexie, or a cō∣vulsion, madness, or blind∣nesse.
Also apoplexies are cau∣sed most especially from the fortith to the three∣score yeers.
If the Call Omentum shal hang forth of the bodie it putrifieth of necessitie.
Those that are afflcted with long pain of the hips, hauing the huckle bone cōming forth & returning
in again into his place, haue clammy flegme collected and gathered together in the hollownesse of that part.
Those which haue the huckle bone (being the hed or vpper part of the thigh) comming out, and tormen∣ted with the ache called sci∣atica, shal haue the thigh of feeblished and consumed: and they doe halt and are lame, vnlesse they are bur∣ned (with hot iron instru∣ments.)
THIS seauenth booke is altogether prognosticall and foretelling things to come in which he intreateth of the presagements and foretokens of health and death.
Coldness of the extream parts in sharpe diseases is euill.
Flesh black, and blew, because of a fowle diseased bone, is an euill thing.
The hicket after vomi∣ting, and also rednesse of the eyes, are euill.
After sweate, colde shi∣uerings, and shakings, are not good.
After madnes which the Greekes call mania, a blo∣die fluxe, the dropsie, or an extasie or traunce is good.
Abhorring of meate in a long disease, and the excre∣mēts auoided downwards without mixture of hu∣mors, are euill.
Cold shakings, and fond doting, after much drink∣ing, is euill.
After the eruption of an impostume inwardly, faint∣nesse, and loosenesse of the parts of the bodie, vomi∣ting & swouning doth en∣sue.
After a fluxe of bloud, Delirium, or a convulsion is euill.
After the Iliack passion, vomiting, the hicket, do∣ting and convulsion, are e∣uill.
An impostume of the lungs, named peripneumo∣nia, after a pleurisie is euill.
A phrensie with a peri∣pneumonia, is euill.
A convulsion or the crampe (Tetanus) because of hot burnings, is euill.
Astonishment, and do∣ting called Delirium, tho∣rough some blowe of the head, is an euill signe.
The spitting out of cor∣rupt matter after the spit∣ting of bloud, is euill.
A consumption, or pthi∣sis, and a flux of the bellie, comming after spitting of corrupt matter, are euill signs: for when the spitting is stopped the diseased doe die.
The hicket, or singult
comming through an in∣flammatiō of the liuer, is e∣uill.
A convulsion or deliri∣um caused through wat∣ching, is an euill thing.
After the laying bare of a bone, the inflammation and hot tumor Erisipelas is euill.
Putrefaction, or impostu∣mation from the inflamma∣tion Erisipelas, is euill.
A fluxe of bloud after a strong pulse, in vlcers is e∣uill.
After a long paine of the parts belonging to the bel∣ly,
an impostumation is e∣uill.
After auoyding of vn∣mixed excrements downe∣wards, a bloody fluxe is e∣uill.
Delirium, or foolishness doth insue after the wound of a bone, if it shall pene∣trate into the hollowe or voide space.
A convulsion after the taking of a purging potiō bringeth death.
A great coldnesse of the extreame and vtmost parts through vehement pain of of the parts, pertaining to the belly, is euill.
If the disease, called te∣nasmus, shall happen to a woman with childe, it is the cause of aborcement.
If either a bone, cartilag or sinew shall be cut in the bodie, it doth neither in∣crease nor growe togither againe.
If a strong flux or loose∣nesse of the bellie shall come vpon him that is dis∣eased with the dropsie na∣med leucophlegmatia, it dis∣solueth and cureth the dis∣ease.
They haue a falling downe of flegmaticke hu∣mors from the head, which
doe auoide frothie and fo∣mie excrements out of the belly in their laxnesse and loosenesse of the same.
Sediments in vrins made in the time of agues, like vnto course wheate meale, do signifie that the sickness shall continuew long.
Cholericke Sediments appearing in vrins, but be∣ing before thinne, and wa∣terish, do signifie a sharpe disease.
Those which make di∣uers vrins, haue a vehement disturbance, and vnquiet∣nesse in the bodie.
The vrins, in which bub∣bles
doe swimme aloft, do signifie the disease of the reines, and that the infirmi∣tie and weakenesse shall in∣dure long.
It is a signe that the dis∣ease is of the reines, and a sharp disease to be present, to them in whose vrin a fat∣tie and thicke superficies appeareth.
If also paines be caused to those which are diseased with the griefe of the kid∣nies about the muscles of the backe bone, and haue the signes abouesaid; if they be felt towardes the out∣ward parts, looke and ex∣pect that the Apostume shall also bee outwardly:
but if the paines bend and incline rather to the in∣warde parts, wee must then feare that the apostume shal be inwardly.
Vomiting of bloud is wholsome to them which doe it without a feuer: but if it be with a feuer it is an euill thing; and the cure and remedie of the same is to bee performed vvith things that haue a cooling and a binding qualitie and virtue.
Distillations vpon the vpper bellie, doe come to suppuration and ripenesse within twentie daies.
If anie one pisse bloud,
or clots of bloud, and bee diseased with the disease named the stranguria, the paine attaining to the part of the bellie, called Abdo∣men or Hypogastrion, & the place named pecten (and al∣so to perinaeum) the places and partes aboue the blad∣der are diseased.
If the tong be sodainely become feeble, or anie part of the bodie being astoni∣shed, be benūmed without feeling, it is a sign of melan∣cholie.
If the hicket do happen to olde men purged aboue measure, it is not good.
If the feuer be not cau∣sed of choler, store of
warme water powred vp∣pon the head doth dissolue the feuer.
A woman hath not the vse of both hands alike.
If cleare and white mat∣ter doe issue out from them which are affected with corrupt matter betweene the breast and the lunges whē they suffer cauterising or incision, they do escapes but if bloodie, stinking, & filthy matter do issue forth, they die and cannot es∣cape.
If cleare and white mat∣ter doe issue from them whose liuer is corrupted or apostumated with filthy
matter, and burnt, they re∣couer health and become sound: for the corrupt mat∣ter is contained in the coat: but if that which commeth forth bee like the lees and dregs of oyle, they die.
Cure and heale pains of the eyes which proceede from drinking of strong wine, and bathing in hot water, by opening of a veine.
If a cough come vpon one diseased with the drop∣sie, he is without hope of re∣couerie.
Drinking of nete strong wine, and the opening of a veine, dooth dissolue the
diseases stranguria, & disu∣ria: but the inward veines must be opened.
A swelling and rednesse arising on the breast of him which is grieued with an∣gina, it is good: for the dis∣ease bendeth and inclineth outwardlie.
They die within three daies whose braine is cor∣rupted & benummeds but if they ouerpass them they shall recouer their health.
Sternutation or sneesing is prouoked out of the hed, the braine being much hea∣ted, or the voide and wide space of the head beeing much moistned; for the air
inclosed within doth break forth: but it maketh a noise because it passeth through a narrow place.
Those that are grieued with vehement pain of the liuer, are deliuered from the paine, if an ague come vpon them.
Those which haue occa∣sion to haue bloud taken frō them, must be let bloud in the spring.
Those which haue fleagm inclosed between the ven∣tricle and the midriffe, and the same also painefull vn∣to them, hauing no passage into either of the bellies, are deliuerd frō the disease, the
fleagme being turned and cōuaied through the veins into the bladder.
Those haue their bellie filled with water, and doe die, whose liuer repleni∣shed with water, shal make a breach, and eruption of the same into the belly na∣med, Omentum.
Wine being drunk with an equal proportion of wa∣ter, doth put awaie sorrow, yawning, and colde sha∣king.
For this, looke in the 4. Section, and 82. Aphorism, where it is expounded.
They must of necessitie
become dumbe forthwith, which haue their braine vehemently shaken, and troubled by some outward occasion.
Hunger and fasting is to be endured of bodies con∣sisting of moist flesh: for fasting dryeth the bodie.
Where there is an altera∣tion in the whole bodie, & the body becommeth cold and hot againe, and chan∣geth from one colour to an other, the cōtinuance of the disease is signified.
Much sweate, hotte, or cold, alwaies issuing forth, doth declare, that the moi∣sture in a strong bodie is to
bee euacuated, and purged vpwards: but in a weak bo∣dy, downwards.
If agues become more fierce and vehement euerie third daie without anie in∣termission, they are dange∣rous. But in what manner soeuer they shall cease, it signifieth that they want danger.
Those which are afflic∣ted with long feuers, haue little swellings or aches in the ioynts.
Those which haue long swellings or paines in the ioints after a feuer, doe vse too plentifull a dyet.
If anie giue the meate to one sick of a feuer, which hee giueth to a sound and healthfull person, he shall strengthen the whole per∣son, and increase the mala∣die of the sicke partie.
Wee must looke vpon those things which passe through the bladder, whe∣ther they bee such as issue forth in prosperous health. For those which are vnlike thē, are vnhealthful signes: but those which are like thē are healthfull signes.
Also whē the sediments if thou shalt suffer them to rest, & shalt not moue thē, doe sinke downe into the
bottome like shauings, or parings of guttes: or such like matter: which if they shal befew, do signifie that the disease is little: but if they shall be many doe sig∣nify that the disease is great; then it is necessarie that e∣uacuation & purgation be made downewards: other∣wise if the belly being not purged, thou shalt giue broaths and nourishment, the more thou shalt giue, the more thou shalt hurt.
Crude, rawe and vndi∣gested excrements, voided downwards, doe proceed from blacke choler: if they be manie they proceed frō a more copious quantity, if they be few they proceede
from a lesse quantitie.
Spittings in feuers not intermitting, ash coloured, bloodish, cholerick, stink∣ing, are all euil. Yet if they come forth conuenientlie and easilie, they are good. Also if any thing issue out through the bellie, & blad∣der, or from any other part of the bodie whatsoeuer, which shall not restore him to health which is purged, then it is euill.
When any one goeth a∣bout to purge vnclean bo∣dies, he must make the bo∣dies soluble and fluxible; and if hee will purge vp∣wards, the belly must be cō∣stipated & hardned: but if
he wil purge downewards, it must be softned and loo∣sed.
Sleepe and watch fulness if they exceede a measure, are a disease.
In feuers not intermit∣ting, if the exterior partes bee colde and the inwarde be burning, and the pati∣ent verie thirstie, it is a deadly signe.
In a feuer not intermit∣ting, but continuall, if the lip, nose, eye, or eye-brow, bee peruerted & turned a∣wrie, if the sicke man doth not see, nor heare, whatso∣euer of these things shall happē to a weak sick man, death is neare at hand.
A dropsie is ingendred by white fleagme.
From a laxness & loose∣nesse of the bellie named diarrhoea, doth proceed the bloudy flux dysenteria.
The flux named Liente∣ria, dooth come vpon the bloody flux, named dysen∣teria.
After the corruption or putrefaction of the bone (called in greeke Sphacelis∣mus) ther followeth an im∣postumation of the bone.
After vomiting of bloud, a cōsumption, & an euacu∣ation of purulent & filthie matter doth follow and in∣sue.
Wee ought to beholde what things they be which passe out by vrines, by the belly, or womb, and what things issue out thorough the flesh: And we must al∣so consider and beholde if the bodie do decline or de∣generat in any other thing from nature. For if little be auoided, the disease is little, if much be auoided the dis∣ease is great, and if verie much then it is a deadlie thing.
THE intention and scope of this eight book which is the▪ last, cannot be assigned: because the Aphorisms be va∣riable & different; yet almost all are reduced to that part of physicke, which foretelleth things to come.
Men aboue 40. yeeres of age, being troubled with a phrensie, are not cured at all: for they are in lesse pe∣rill and daunger whose
disease is agreeable to their nature and age.
It is a good thing in what disease soeuer, when the eyes doe shed teares for some cause or occasion: but when they weep with∣out a cause, it is an euill thing in anie diseases what∣soeuer they be.
In what Quartan feuers so euer blood shall issue forth of the nostrils, it is an euill thing.
If sweats be caused in the iudiciall daies they are dan∣gerous, especially such as issue forth from the fore∣head like drops of water, and bubling water pipes,
beeing verie colde and a∣boundant: for it must needs bee that such sweate com∣meth forth with much force long labour and strayning.
Depression of the bel∣lie after a long disease is e∣uill.
Incision doth cure those vlcers which are not cured by medicines: and those which are not cured by in∣cision, are cured by caute∣rizing: but those which are not cured by the cautier, are iudged incurable.
Consumptions are in∣gendred, from the, 18. yeer of the age, vnto the thirtie and fift yeere.
The tongue blacke and bloudish, when anie of these signes are absent, then the euill and maladie is not forcible, and signi∣fieth lesse paine.
The right testicle being cold and hauing a convul∣sion, is a messenger of death.
The nailes blacke, the toes of the feet colde, han∣ging downe, or stooping forwards, doe declare that death is verie neere.
Also the extreame parts of the fingers being colde, are a signification of death drawing neare.
Also, the lips ashe colou∣red, resolued, and effeebli∣shed, disordered and per∣uerted, are deadly signes.
If the eyes bee darkned or cannot abide the light, also he which is oppressed with much sleepe, & great heat, is without hope.
If anie one become ra∣ging by little & little, with furious madnesse, if anie one doe not knowe them with whom he hath beene familiar, if he doe not hear nor vnderstand, it is a dead∣lie signe.
Those are more euident signes to them which shall
die a little while after, if the ventricles, or cauities bee lifted and heaued vp, swel, and bee puffed vp with winde.
Meaning bloud-let∣ting.