The haven of health Chiefly gathered for the comfort of students, and consequently of all those that have a care of their health, amplified upon five words of Hippocrates, written Epid. 6. Labour, cibus, potio, somnus, Venus. Hereunto is added a preservation from the pestilence, with a short censure of the late sicknes at Oxford. By Thomas Coghan Master of Arts, and Batcheler of Physicke.

CHAP: 10. Of Plummes.

PLummes are cold and moist in the second degree. Though there be diverse sorts of Plummes both of the garden and field, and of sundry colours, yet the Damasins are counted most wholesome: and beeing eaten before meats they coole a hot stomacke and sof∣ten the belly,* 1.1 as it is in Schola Sal.

Frigida sunt, laxant, multum prosunt tibi pruna.

* 1.2The Damasin Plummes are woont to be dried and preserved as figges, and are called in English, Prunes. Howbeit the Latine word Prunum signifieth any kind of plumme: yea Sloes and Bullase which grow wild. Our Damasins in England be so small,* 1.3 and so soure, that they will make no good Prunes. But our Prunes are brought from beyond the sea. The best are called Damaske Prunes, because they grow in a citie of Sy∣ria called Damascus, as Galen noteth, and are brought out of Syria to Venice, and from thence to other parts of Europe. The next in vertue to Damaske prunes, be Spanish prunes. They are used divers waies in Phy∣sicke, as in Syrrups, electuaries, Conserves to loose the belly, and to avoid choler. But for meats, though they nourish little, they be chiefely used in Tarts, or stew∣ed

in water or in wine, and so if they be eaten before meales, they dispose a man to the stoole. I say before meals, because we are wont to eat them after meales. And some (as I have knowne) being costive and using them after meales, purposely to make them soluble, have missed of their purpose. Which errour may bee holpen by eating them before meat. For so saith Math. speaking of Prunes stewed. Primis mensis devorata prae∣ter id quod esui placent, commodissimè aluum citant.* 1.4 Whose judgement I my self following having a cholerick sto∣macke, and a costive belly, was woont sometime to breake my fast with a dish of prunes stewed, contrary to the use of other men who commonly eat them last. I have written the more of Prunes, because it is so cō∣mon a dish at Oxford. As for Sloes and Bullase, they are more meet for swine, than men.* 1.5

Notes

• * 1.1

  cap. 41▪
• * 1.2

  Damasins
• * 1.3

  What Prunes are best. Lib. 2. de ali. fa. cap. 31
• * 1.4

  Stewed Prunes should be eaten before meat to loose the belly.
• * 1.5

  Sloes and Bul∣lase.