The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. XV. Of Motion and Rest.

HEre Physitians admonish us, that by the name of Motion, we must under∣stand * 1.1 all sorts of exercises, as walking, leaping, running, riding, playing at tennis, carrying a burden, and the like. Friction or rubbing is of this kinde, which in times past was in great use and esteeme, neither at this day is it altogether neglected by Physitians. They mention many kinds of it, but they may be all reduced to three, as one gentle, another hard, a third indifferent; and that of the whole bo∣dy, * 1.2 or onely of some part thereof. The friction is called hard, which is made by the * 1.3 rough, or strong pressure of the hands, spunges, or a course and new linnen cloth: it drawes together, condensates, bindes and hardens the flesh, yet if it bee often and long used, at length it rarifies, dissolves, attenuates and diminishes the flesh, and any o∣ther substance of the body; and also it causeth revulsion, and drawes the defluxion of humors from one part to another. The gentle friction which is performed by the light rubbing of the hand, and such like, doth the contrarie, as softens, relaxes, and * 1.4 makes the skinne smooth and unwrinckled, yet unlesse it be long continued it doth none of these, worthy to be spoken of. The indifferent kinds consisting in the meane betwixt the other two, increaseth the flesh, swells or puffes up the habite of the body, * 1.5 because it retaines the bloud and spirits which it drawes and suffers them not to be dissipated.

The benefit of exercise is great, for it increases naturall heate, whereby better di∣gestion * 1.6 followes, and by that meanes nourishment, and the expulsion of the excre∣ments, and lastly, a quicker motion of the spirits, to performe their offices in the bo∣die, all the wayes and passages being cleansed. Besides, it strengthens the respirati∣on, and the other actions of the body, confirmes the habite, and all the limbes of the body, by the mutuall attrition of the one with the other; whereby it comes to passe they are not so quickly wearied with labour. Hence we see that Country people are not to be tired with labour.

If any will reape these benefits by exercise, it is necessary that he take opportunity * 1.7 to beginne his exercise, and that he seasonably desist from it, not exercising himselfe violently and without discretion; but at certaine times according to reason.

Wherefore the best time for exercise will be before meate (that the appetite may be encreased by augmenting the naturall heate) all the excrements being evacuated, lest nature being hungry and empty, doe draw and infuse the ill humors contained in the guts, and other parts of the body, into the whole habite, the liver, and other

noble parts. Neither is it fit presently, after meate, to runne into exercise, left the crude humors and meats not well concocted be carried into the veines. The measure and bounds of exercise must be, when the body appeares more full, the face lookes red, sweat beginnes to breake forth, we breathe more strongly and quicke, and begin to grow weary; if any continue exercise longer, stifnesse, and wearinesse assayles his joints, and the body flowing with sweate suffers a losse of the spirituous and humid substance which is not easily repaired; by which it becomes more cold, and leane e∣ven to deformitie.

The qualitie of exercise which we require, is in the midst of exercise, so that the ex∣ercise * 1.8 must be nether too slow and idle, neither too strong, nor too weake, neither too hasty, nor remisse, but which may move all the members alike. Such exercise is very fit for sound bodies. But if they be distempered, that sort of exercise is to be made choise of, which by the qualitie of its excesse, may correct the distemper of the body, and re∣duce it to a certaine mediocritie. Wherefore such men as are stuffed with cold, * 1.9 grosse, and viscous humors, shall hold that kinde of exercise most fit for them, which is more laborious, vehement, strong, and longer continued. Yet so, that they doe not enter into it before the first and second concoction, which they may know by the yellownesse of their urine. But let such as abound with thinne and cholericke hu∣mors chuse gentle exercises, and such as are free from contention, not expecting the finishing of the second concoction, for the more acride heate of the solid parts de∣lights in such halfe concocted juices, which otherwise it would so burne up, all the glutinous substance thereof being wasted, that they could not be adjoyned, or faste∣ned to the parts. For the repeating, or renewing of exercise, the body should bee so often exercised, as there is a desire to eate. For exercise stirres up and revives the heate which lies-buried and hid in the body: For digestion cannot be well performed by a sluggish heate; neither have we any benefit by the meate we eate, unlesse wee use exercise before.

The last part of exercise begun and performed according to reason, is named * 1.10 the ordering of the body, which is performed by an indifferent rubbing, and drying of the members; that so the sweat breaking forth, the filth of the body, and such excrements lying under the skinne, may be allured and drawne out; and also that the members may be freed from stifnesse and wearinesse. At this time it is commonly used by such as play at tennis.

But, as many and great commodities arise from exercise conveniently begunne * 1.11 and performed, so great harme proceeds of idlenesse; for grosse and vicious juyces heaped up in the body commonly produce crudities, obstructions, stones both in the reines and bladder, the Goute, Apoplexie, and a thousand other di∣seases.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What motion signifies.
• * 1.2

  Three kinds of frictions.
• * 1.3

  Hard.
• * 1.4

  Gentle.
• * 1.5

  Indifferent.
• * 1.6

  The use of exercises.
• * 1.7

  What the fit∣test time for exercise.
• * 1.8

  The qualitie of ex••••cise.
• * 1.9

  For whom strong exer∣cises are con∣venient.
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.11

  What discom∣modities pro∣ceed from idle∣nesse.