Via recta ad vitam longam, or A plaine philosophical discourse of the nature, faculties, and effects, of all such things, as by way of nourishments, and dieteticall obseruations, make for the preseruation of health with their iust applications vnto euery age, constitution of bodie, and time of yeare. Wherein also, by way of introduction, the nature and choice of habitable places, with the true vse of our famous bathes of Bathe is perspicuously demonstrated. By To: Venner, Doctor of Physicke, at Bathe in the spring, and fall, and at other times in the burrough of North-Petherton neere to the ancient hauen-towne of Bridgewater in Somerset-shire.

How many things ought those that are studious of their health, to obserue in the vse of drinke?

THe necessitie and vse of drinke is first to preserue na∣turall moysture: secondly, to make a good mixture, concoction, and distribution of the meats: all which, that they may be effected without inconueniences, three things must be regarded and obserued in the vse of drinke. The first is, that it be taken moderately at meales, and that not at two or three great draughts, but by sundry litle draughts: * 1.1 for abundance of drinke at meales, marreth the concocti∣on, both by causing the meats to fluctuate in the stomack, and also by weakning and relaxing the same: whereupon crude and phlegmaticke humors are abundantly increa∣sed, and consequently rheumes, fluxes, and many other in∣conueniences to the bodie and members. And the drinke must be mixt with the meats, not by great, but by sundry litle draughts: for great draughts, doe weaken the sto∣macke, infringe the naturall heat, which then is in conco∣ction, driue downe the meat too hastily, and corrupt the whole bodie with ouer much moysture and cruditie. Wherefore my counsaile to them is, that are respectiue of their health, that they drinke at their meales often and li•…•…le at a time, and also that they swallow downe the drinke not hastily, but leasurely: for the drinke being mixt with the meats, by diuers litle draughts leasurely taken, well tempe∣reth

them without anoyance, both for concoction, and also for distribution. For examples sake: with vs to whom Beere is more agreable for an ordinarie drinke, then * 1.2 Wine, let this be a generall rule for taking of drinke at meales. Let the first draught be of an ordinarie Beere for thirst sake: the second also of Beere for mixture of the meats: the third and fourth of wine, or in want there∣of, of stronger Beere, for the better mixture, concoction, and distribution of the meats; and if it be a geniall meale, or much larger then ordinarie, another draught of wine is also allowable. Afterwards vpon meats taken a∣gaine, let there be assumed a draught of ordinarie Beere, and therewith, or a litle meat superassumed, according to the nature of the stomacke, as is demonstrated in the pre∣cedent question, let the meale be concluded. But to this rule euery one may not exactly betake himselfe; for of drinking at meales, no certaine prescript can be constitu∣ted, because the drinke is to be increased, and diminished, according to the temperature and disposition of the sto∣mack in heat, & coldnes, drinesse, & moysture, loosenes, or stipticknes; and also according to the temperature and substance of the meats. Wherefore you must consider whether the meat be correspondent to the stomacke, or not: As whether a drie meat be taken into a drie sto∣macke, or a moyst: for if a drie meat be receiued into a drie stomacke, then the drinke is to be increased; but if it be receiued into a moyst stomacke, then the drinke is to be taken in the same measure, as if both stomack and meat were of an indifferent temperature. In like manner the substance of the meat ought to be considered, whether it be grosse, or thin: if grosse, then a larger quantitie of drinke for the concocting and distributing of it is necessa∣rie: if thin, then a lesse portion will susfice. The like Indication may be taken from the disposition of the sto∣macke, which if it be subiect to laxitie, then a lesse por∣tion of drinke; if to stypticitie, then a greater is to be assumed.

The second thing that is to bee obserued in the vse of drinke is, that the drinke be attempered to the temperature of the aire, of the season, of the countrey, of the meats, and of the person receiuing it: for by this meanes, the natiue heat will bee the better moderated, and the body conse∣quently preserued in a sound and healthy temperature.

The third thing which, concerning the vse of drinke, those that are studious of their health ought to obserue, is that they wholly betwixt dinner and supper, abstaine from drinke, excepting onely a Dilutiue draught, whereof I will heereafter speake, because it breedeth crudities, ex∣cept necessity, as sometime in them that bee cholericke, or custome shall require it: the later of which, notwithstan∣ding is vicious, and therefore by little and little to bee re∣linquished.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To drinke litle and often at meales, is better, then to drinke much at once.
• * 1.2

  A generall rule for drink∣ing at meales.