The castel of helthe gathered, and made by Syr Thomas Elyot knight, out of the chief authors of phisyke ; whereby euery man may knowe the state of his owne body, the preseruation of helthe, and how to instruct well his phisition in sicknes, that he be not deceyued.

❧ THE FOVRTHE BOKE (Book 4)

¶ What cruditie is, and remedies ther∣fore. Capitulo primo.

CONCERNYNGE syknes, and thinges accident thervnto, I wil not treate of in this warke, sa∣uing onely that I wyll somwhat write of two discrasies of the bo∣dy, whiche do happen by the ex∣cesse or lacke of thinges callid not natural, wher∣of I haue spoken before. The one is callyd cru∣ditie, the other lassitude, whiche althoughe they be wordes made of latine, hauyng none apte en∣glyshe worde therfore, yet by the definitions and more ample declaration of them, they shal be vn∣derstande sufficiently, and from hensforthe vsed for englysshe. But fyrs••e it shall be necessarye, to consyder, that concoction is an alteration in the stomacke of meates and drynkes, accordynge to their qualities, wherby they are made lyke to the substance of the body. Cruditie is a vycious con∣coction of thynges receyued, they not being hol∣ly or perfitely altered. The cause therof is, some∣tyme the distemperature of the stomak, somtime inflammations, somtime matter congeled, or im∣postumes in the stomake, otherwhile ingurgita∣tion of meate and drinke: or for the vicious qua∣litie of the same meates or drinkes, or the ••ecey∣uyng therof out of order, or lacke of exercise, or

of conuenient euacuation. The meane to escape cruditie, is to be diligente in obseruation of the councels before wrytten, concerning the thinges called not natural, not moche vsyng meates that be very harde to concoct, also fat meate and mea∣tes longe kept, also corrupted or stynkyng, swete fruites, and bankettynge dyshes, hasty fedynge without good chewynge, also moche or very ofte drynkynge at meales, very moche heate, or very moche colde after meate. This affecte of cruditie, perceyued by somme yll sauoure, rysynge out of the stomacke, the moste spedy remedy is vomyte, if that it maye be done without great difficultie: but if it be greuouse vnto the pacient, thā let him rest & absteyn al that day or more, if that nede be: Afterwarde, with suppositories or other light re∣medies, prouoke hym selfe to the stoole. A••tius wolde, that he shulde drynke a draughte of colde * 1.1 water, affyrmynge, that therby the stomacke be∣inge corroborate, dryueth out of hym downe into the belye, that whiche cleaueth faste to it. I my selfe vsynge to drynke fastynge, very small biere or ale, whan I haue ben in that case, haue found ease by it. Paulus Aeg••eta wylleth, that at the begynnynge, the legges and armes shoulde be * 1.2 rubbed with a course lynnen clothe, the legges downewarde to the fete, the armes to the toppes of the fingers, and whan they be wel chaufed, thā to rubbe them agayne with some oyle, that dothe open the poores, and dyscusse the vapou••s, as oyle of cam••myll, oyle of anete, and other lyke.

he prayseth moche Mulse, or the water of hony, specially yf some I sope be boyled in it. Galene, & all other, do agre, that in this case, Pepper bruy∣sed and eaten with meat, is very expedient: And where there is moche wynde in the stomacke, thā to eate all tymes of the day of the medycine made of the three kyndes of pepper, tyme, anyse sede, & hony clarified, which is called Diatrion pipere∣on, or that which is called Diaspoliticon, or Di∣apiganon, which is made of cummyne, stieped * 1.3 one daye and a nyght, or lenger in tarte vyneger, and after feyed or layde on a burning hote stone, and made in powlder, also pepper, & rewe dryed somewhat, and made into powlder, all in equall porcions, and myxt with clarified hony. Galene addeth therto salte peter, called in latyn Nitrum. The confection made with the iuyce of quynces, and is called Diacytoniten, is very excellent, but it is to be diligently noted, that where eruditie is in a cholerike personne, there wolde the sayde medi∣cines be temperatly vsed, and the sayde Diacytoni∣ten, to haue lytell or no spices in it. And for my part, beynge the space of foure yeres continual∣ly in this cruditie, I neuer founde any thinge to be compared to fyne Reubarbe, chewed with ray∣sons of corens, which I toke by the counsayle of the worshypfull and well lerned phisition, master Doctour Augustine, who in his maners decla∣reth the auncient gentylnesse of his bloud, which medicine I do not leaue to vse dayely fastinge, whan I fele suche cruditie to begynne. Also sy∣rope

acetose, that is to saye, sugar sodden in pure vyneger, and lytell water, vntyll it be thicke as a syrope, is sometyme conuenient, and that as well to colerike personnes, as vnto fleumatike: and yf fleume be abundant, than with rootes and se∣des of fenelle and persely sodden with it. Also in that case Oxymel, that is to say, hony and water sodden togither, with the sayde rootes and sedes, and a quantitie of vyneger put therto in the boy∣lynge, is very commendable, yf the pacient be ve¦ry costiue, than the medicine of Galene, called Hierapicra, frome halfe an ounce to an ounce, ta¦ken in water of hony or ale, or taken in pylles the weyght of a grote and a h〈…〉〈…〉 two grotes, yf the stuffe be good, will pourge the body sufficiēt∣ly, without makynge the body weaker. Also that medicine by clensynge the stomake and body, de∣lyuereth a man and woman, frome many peryl∣lous syckenesses. If the humours in the stomake be not putrified, but that it is greued with aboun¦dance of salte fleume, I haue founde that mylke newe mylked, wherin is put a quantitie of good honye or suger, and three leaues of good speare myntes, and a lytell boyled, so beynge drunke warme fastinge, the quantitie of a pynte, and re∣stinge on it, without eating or drinking any other thinge the space of thre houres after, haue abun∣dauntly pourged and comforted the stomake, but where there is no fleume, but onely choler, it is not so holsome, but rather hurteth, makynge fu∣mosities in the heed, wherof commeth heed ache.

¶ Of Lassuude. Capitulo. ii.

LAssicude is a disposition towarde sycknesse, wherin a man feleth a soorenesse, a swellynge or an inflammation. Sorenesse hapneth of hu∣mours sharpe and gnawing, as after great exer∣cise and labours, whyche lassitude hapneth to them, whose bodies are full of yl iuyce and excre∣mentes. Also after cruditie in them, whiche ar not exercised, or doo abyde longe in the heate of the * 1.4 sonne. It may also be in the body, wherin is good iuyce, if he be fatigate with immoderate exercise. In them, whiche do fele this lassitude, the skinne * 1.5 appereth thicke and rough, & there is felt a grefe somtyme in the skynne onely, somtyme also in the fleshe, as it were of a soore. The cure therof, is by moche and pleasant rubbyng, with swete oy∣les, whyche haue not the vertue to restrayne or close, and that with many handes, and afterward to exercise moderately, and to be bayned in water swete and temperate in heate. also than muste be gyuen meates of good iuyce, potage but selde, wyne is not to be forboden. for vnto wyne, vneth any thynge may be compared, that so well dyge∣steth crude humours. it also prouoketh sweatte & vrine, and maketh one to slepe soūdly. but if this lassitude do abyde the nyght and day folowyng, or waxeth more and more, than if the paciente be of good strength and yong, and hath abundance of bloude, let hym be let bloud, or prouoke the he∣moroides or piles to blede, if they do appere. But

yf it procede of the malyce of any humour, with∣out abundance of bloud, than resort to purgatiōs apte for the humour that greeueth. The tokens wherof, shall appere as well by the colour of the skynne and die••e precedyng, as by vrine, ordure, sweate, thirste, and appetite, as it is rehersed be∣fore in the complexions. If the yll bloudde be ly∣tell in quantitie, and the crude humours aboun∣dant, than shal he not be let bloud, nor vehemēt∣ly pourged, neyther shall exercyse or moue hym self, nor be bayned, for all exercise carieth humors throughout al the body, and stoppith the powers. Wherfore these maner of persons, shuld be kept in rest, and suche meates drynkes and medicines shuld be gyuen to them, whiche shulde attenuate or dissolue the grossenes of the humors, without notable heate, as oxymell, barley water, & muise, if the pacient abhorre not hony. And for as moch as in the sayde personnes, commonly there is a∣bundance of wynde about their stomackes, ther∣fore pepper, speciallye longe pepper, or whyte, is very conuenient to be vsed, and the medicine be∣fore writen, callid Diaspoliticum. Whan the humors are dissolued, thā is it good to drinke white wine, or small clarette wyne moderately.

¶ Lassitude extensiue. Capit. iii.

VVhan one thinketh that he doth fele a swel∣lyng or bollyng of the bodye, where in dede there doth not appere in syght or touchynge any

swellyng, that is callyd Lassitude extensiue, if it hapneth without exercise or vehement mouynge. This doth happen of excessiue multitude of hu∣mors, which do extende the muscules or fyllettes. In this no sorenes is felt, but onely an heuynesse with extension or thrustyng out of the body. And bycause that there is abundance of bloude in the body, best remedy is to be letten bloude about the the elbow or ancle, after to be purged, than to vse softe fricasyes with oyles afore rehersed, after∣ward moche rest and temperate bathes, and mea∣tes lackyng sharpnes, and beinge abstersiue.

¶ Lassitude with the feelynge of inflam∣mation. Capitulo. iiii.

IF withoute any mouynge, the muscules and fleshe ryse vp in the bodye, as it swelled with great peynes and excedyng heate, than sone after foloweth most hottest feuers, except it be preuen∣ted by letting of blud, and that in abundance, and almost to sowning, but it were more sure to be let * 1.6 bloud twyse in one daye, the firste tyme withoute sownyng, at the next tyme sownynge is not to be fered. If the grefe be in the neck or hed, the bloud must be lette of the vayne called Cephalea, or the shulder vayne. If it be in the bulke or vppermost part of the body, than must the vaine be cut, whi∣che is callyd Basilica, or the innermost vayne. If all the body be greued, thā cut the veyn, which is named Mediana. or the myddel vayn. If a feuer

remayne after bloud letting, than order him with the diete of them that haue feuers, which ye shall fynde written hereafter. If noo feuer remayne, than vse moderate fricasies, and lyttell eatyng, & that of meates hauyng good iuyce, increacynge by lyttell and lyttell to the naturall diete.

¶ Diete of them that are redy to falle into syckenesse. Capitulo v.

NOwe retourne eftesones to speake of diete, it is to be remembred, that they, whiche are redy to fall into diseases, they are prepared ther∣vnto, either by replecion of superfluous humors, orels by cruditie or malice of humours, which ar in them. As touchyng the fyrst, the generall diete must be suche, as therby the humours may be at∣tenuate, and by conuenient euacuation, brought to a moderate quantitie. As for the seconde muste be corrected with meates and drinkes of contra∣ry qualities, hauyng alway respecte to the age of the person, tyme of the yere, place of habitation, and most specially the vniuersall complexion, for choler offendynge in an olde manne, in wynter tyme, in a colde countreye, or the persone beinge of his natural complexion fleumatike or melan∣coly, wolde not be so habūdantly expulsed or sub∣dewed, as if it be in one yong and lusty, in the hot sommer, in the coūtreys, where the sonne feruent∣ly burneth, or the persone of his proper nature is verye colerike. And in lykewise contrarye. Wher∣fore euery manne, knowynge his owne naturall

complexion, with the qualitie of the humour that offendeth, lette hym make temperance his chiefe coke, and remembrynge that whiche I haue be∣fore declared, ordeyne to hym selfe suche diete, as may refourme the offence with none or lyttel an∣noyaunce, to his vniuersall complexion. And yf he can so do, he shall happily escape, not only dy∣uers syckenesses, but also the mooste pernicious dāger, proceding of corrupted drowges or spices, wherof som couetous poticaries do make medy∣cynes, maugre the hedes of good and wel lerned phisytions.

¶ Sickenes moste commune to particular tymes of the yere and ages. Cap. vi.

ALthoughe I do not intende to wryte of the cure of egritudes or syckenesses confyrmed, as well bycause it moughte be reputed in me a great presumption, as also forasmoche as it were very peryllous, to dyuulgate that noble scyence, to commune people, not lerned in lyberall scien∣ces and philosophy, whych be required to be suffi ciently in a phisition. And moreouer, many bokes of Hipocrates and Galene ought to be radde, be∣fore that one do take vpon hym the generall cure of mennes bodies: yet not withstandyng, I trust I maye without any note of arrogaunce wryte, what diseases do most commonly happen in son∣dry tymes of the yere and ages of men and wo∣men, with some significations, wherby the dys∣crasy

or distemperature of the body is perceyued, to the intēt that the phisition being farre of, may be truly informed, consyderyng that vrines farre caried, do often deceyue them, and lykewyse lack of the syght of the paciēt, and inquisition of thin∣ges, which do precede or folowe the sycknes. And with this I trust none honest and charitable phi∣sition wylle be offended, but rather gyue to me thankes for my dilygence, in the aduauncyng of their estimation, whiche by lacke of perfytte in∣struction hath ben appaired.

¶ Syckenesses of Sprynge tyme.

Diseases procedynge of melancolye, as mad∣nesse, fallynge syckenesse, bleedynges, quynses, poses, hoorsenes, coughes, lepries, scabbes, ache in the ioyntes.

¶ Syckenesses of Sommer.

¶ Many of the sayde diseases also feuers con∣tinual, hot feuers, feuers terciane, quartayns, do mytes, flyxes, watryng of eies, peynes of the ea∣res, blysters & sores of the mouth & sweattynges.

¶ Syckenesses of Autumne.

Dyuers of somer sycknesses, also oppilations of the splene, dropsies, consumptions, stranguly∣ons, costyuenesse, ache in the huckle bones, short∣nesse of wynde, frettyng of the bowelles, falling sycknes, and melancolyke dyseases.

¶ Sycknesses of wynter.

Stytches and grefes in the sydes, inflamation

of the lunges, reumes, coughes, paynes in the brest, sydes, and loynes, heed ache, and palseyes.

Spekenesses happenynge to children.

¶ Whan they be newe borne, there do happen to them sores of the mouth called Aphte, vomiting, coughes, watchinge, fearefulnesse, inflamatiōs of the nauell, moysture of the eares.

Whan they brede tethe, ytchinge of the gum∣mes, feuers, crampes, and laskes.

Whan they waxe elder, than be they greued with kernelles, opennesse of the mould of y^• heed, shortnesse of wynde, the stone of the bladder, wor mes of the bealy, wartes, swellynges vnder the chynne, and in Englande cōmonly purpyls, mea sels, and small pockes.

Syckenesse happening to yong men frome .xiiii. yeres of age.

¶ Feuers cotidiane, tercyane, quarteyne, hotte feuers, spittinge or vomytinge of bloude, pleure∣sies, diseases of the sydes, inflammation of the lunges, lethargies, fransy, hote syckenesses, cho∣lerik passions, costiuenes or vehement laskes.

¶ Syckenesses of age.

¶ Difficultie of breath, reumes with coughes, strangulyon, and difficultie in pissinge, ache in the ioyntes, diseases of the raynes, swymmynges in the heed, palseyes, ytchinge of all the bodye, lacke of slepe, moysture in the eyes and eares, dul∣nesse

of sight, hardnesse of hearynge, tisiknesse or shortnesse of breth.

Although many of the sayd sycknesses do hap¦pen in euery tyme and age: yet because they be most frequent in the sayde tymes & ages, I haue writtē thē, to thintēt, y^• in the ages & ••ymes most inclyned vnto thē, such thīges mought be thā es∣chewed, which are apt to ingēdre y^• sayd dyseases.

The generall significations and tokens of syckenes. Cap. vii.

YF the body be hoter, colder, moyster, dryer, leaner, fuller, the colour more pale, or swart, the eyes more holowe, than is accustomed to be, it signifieth that the body is disposed to sicknes, or alredy sycke.

The brayne sicke.

• Rauynge.
• Forgetfulnesse.
• Fantasye.
• Humours commynge from y^• roufe of the mouthe, the eyes, the nose, or the eares.
• Watche.
• Slepe.

The harte sycke.

• Difficultie of breathe.
• Tremblynge of the hert.
• Beatynge of the pulse.
• Feuers.
• Colde.
• Diuersitie of colours.
• Griefe about the hart.

The lyuer sycke.

• Lacke or aboundaunce of hu¦mours.
• The forme of y^• body altered.
• Palenesse.
• Concoction.
• Digestion.
• Alteration of excrementes ac¦customed.
• Peyne in the place of y^• lyuer.
• Swellinge.
• Difficultie of breth.

The stomake sick.

• Concoction, slowe or quicke.
• Appetite of moyst or drye, dul or quycke.
• Separacion of excrementes moyst or herde with their co∣lours.
• Yexynge.
• Belkynge.
• Vometynge with peyne and difficultie of breth.
• Vrine moch or lytell with the colour and substaunce, to red or to pale, to thicke or to thyn.

The brest.

• Difficultie of breath.
• Cowghe.
• Spyttinge.
• Peyne in the brest.

¶ This haue I written, not to gyue iudgement

therby, but onely for the pacient to haue in a re∣dynesse, to thintent that what so euer he feleth or perceyueth in euery of the sayde thinges, therof to instructe his phisition, whervnto he maye ad∣apt his counsayle and remedies.

¶ Of urynes. Cap. viii.

FOrasmoch as now a dayes the most common iudgement in syckenesse is by vrynes, whiche beynge farre caryed or moche meued, or standing longe after that it is made, the fourme therof is so altered, that the phisition shall not perfytly per¦ceyue the natural colour, nor contentes, although it be neuer so well chaufed at the fyre, as Actua∣rius and other great lerned men do affirme. I wil therfore somewhat speake of vrines not so moch as a phisition knoweth, but as moche as is ne∣cessary to euery man, for to perceyue the place and cause of his griefe, wherby he maye the better in∣structe the Phisition.

¶ First in vrine, foure thinges are to be consy∣dered, that is to saye, the substance, the colour, the regions or partes of the vryne, and the contē¦tes or thinges therin conteyned.

Also forasmoch as in the body of man be foure qualities, heate, colde, moysture, and dryth, two of them, heate and cold, are causes of the colour, dryth and moysture are causes of the substance.

Moreouer in vrine, beynge in a vessell apt ther vnto to be sene, are thre regiōs. The lowest regiō

in the bottome of the vrynall, conteynynge the space of two fyngers or lytell more. The myddel region, from whens the lowest ended vnto the cerkle. The hyghest region is the cerkle.

The hyghnesse of the colour sygnifyeth heate, the pale, blacke, or grene, sygnifieth colde.

Also the grossenes or thyckenesse of the vryne sygnyfyeth moysture, the clerenes or thynnes, si∣gnyfieth drithe.

¶ The colours of Vrynes.

• ¶ Colour of bryght golde.
• Colour of gylte.

Perfyte di∣gestyon.

• Red as a red apple or che••y.
• Base redde, lyke to bole ar∣menake, or saffron dry
• Redde glowynge lyke fyre.

Ercesse of dygestion.

• Colour of a beastes lyuer.
• Colour of darke red wine.
• Grene lyke to colewortes.

Adustion of humours.

• Leaddy colour.
• Blacke as ynke.
• Blacke as horne.

Feblenes or mortification of nature, excepte it be in purging of melancoly.

• Whyte clere as water.
• Gray as a horne.
• Whyte as whay.
• Colour of a camels heare.

Lacke of di∣gestion.

Pale lyke to brothe of fleshe sodden.

The begynnynge of digestion.

• Citrine colour or yelowe,
• Subcitrine or paler.

The myddell of dygestion.

Whyte and thynne

betokeneth melancolye to haue dominyon.

Whyte and thycke,

sygnifieth fleume.

Redde and thycke

betokeneth sanguine.

Redde and thynne

betokenethe choler to haue the souerayntie.

¶ The substance of the vrine. Cap. ix.

AT the first pissyng, all vrines well nigh do appere thyn, as longe as they abide warme. for natural heate, duryng the tyme that it preuai∣leth, suffreth not that the lycour, which is the sub∣stance of the vrine, to congele or be thycke for any occasion: but after that heate is gone, some vri∣nes shortly, some a longer time after, waxe thick, lyke wise somtime, some at pissed thicker, and af∣ter waxe clere, some remayne stylle as they were made, some be metely thycke, as they were trou∣bled, some very thick and grosse. They that waxe clere, sone do gather that, which is thicke into the bottome of the vrinal, some remayn troubled, the grossenes not withstandyng gathered in the bot∣tome. Semblably the diuersitie of thyn or subtyl vrines, must be perceiued, that is to say, that som are very subtyll as water. some lasse subtyl, some in a meane betwene thycke and thynne.

¶ Of thynges conteyned in the vrine, some doo discende downe to the bottome, and be callyd in a greke worde Hypostasis, in englysshe some calle it the groundes, some the resydence, whiche yf it be whyte, lyght, risynge vp from the bottome of the vrinall, lyke a peare, it sygnifieth helth, if it be of any other fygure or colour, it betokeneth some a∣noyance. If lyke thynges be sene in the myddell of the vrynall, they be called sublations, if they approche vnto the hyghest region of the vryne, they be named cloudes, in latin Nebulae. The groū∣des or residences not perfite, some is lyke lyttelle redde vetches, and is callyd in latyn Orobea, some is lyke to branne of wheat grounde, and seuered from the meale, and is callid branny residence, in latyn Furfurea, some be lyke vnto plates, hauynge bredth and length without thicknes, and may be named platy residence, in latyne Laminea. some is lyke to meale, wheate, or barley, and may be na∣med mealy residence, in latyn Similacea.

¶ There is also seene in the vrine lyke to whyte heares, some lengar, some shorter. somtime like to ragges somwhat red. there is also sene in the vp∣permoste parte of the vrine, sometyme a fome or froth, somtime belles or bobles. sometyme there swymmeth in the vrine a thing lyke a copwebbe, otherwhile ther is about the cerkle, as it were the rentynge of clothe, somtyme there is in the vrine lyke motes of the sonne, somtyme lyke the matter of a sore, otherwhyle lyke the sede of a man. also grauelle or sande. And in these thynges maye be

dyuers colours, some whyte, some red, some be∣twene bothe, some yelow, some graye, and some blacke. All this muste be diligently marked, and therof separatly to aduertise the Phisition, vnto whome I referre the iudgement of the syckenes, for the cause afore rehersed, and for as moche as the iudgement of them is very subtyll.

Semblably of ordure, whyther it be very thyn or very thicke: what other matter yssueth out with it, what colour it is of, the sauour very great, ly∣tell or none, yf it were easyly expulsed, or peyne∣fully, how oft or how seldom.

Moreouer of sweat, what colour it is of, and of what sauour, yf in tastinge it be salt, sowre, bit∣ter, or vnsauery.

Also the vomyte, yf it be of one colour or ma∣ny, yf it do smell horribly, of what humoure it had most habundaunce, yf it were fasting, or af∣ter meales, yf it were peynefull or easy.

Lykewyse spettyl, whether it be thicke or thin, or mixt with bloude or matter corrupt, accordin∣gly of the humour issuynge out at the nose, and if that be bloude, than whyther it be red, watrye or blacke.

Moreouer, it maye not be forgotten, to aduer¦tyse the Phisition of the dyet vsed by the pacient, aswell afore the syckenesse, as in the tyme of the syckenesse, his age, the strength of his body, his exercyse, and place, where he lengest abod•• in his youth, whether it were hye or lowe, watry or dry, hotte or colde.

This I trust shall be sufficient, to instruct a phisicion, he that desyreth to knowe more particu¦larly hereof, let him rede the bokes of Hipocrates Galene, Cornelius Celsus, Actuarius, Paulus, and dyuers other late wryters, for this lytell trea¦tyse maye not receyue it.

The preceptes of the auncient phisition Diocles vnto kynge Antigonus. Cap. x.

VVe will nowe diuide the bodye of man into foure partes, the heed, the boulke, called in latyn thorax, which conteyneth the brest, the sydes, the stomake, and entrayles. The bely, called in la¦tyn venter, conteyneth the panche and the bowels. Also the bladder, called in latyn vesica, in the whi∣che name is also conteyned the cundytes, by the which brine passeth. Whan any dysease appro∣cheth to the heed, these tokens do commonly pre∣cede, swymmynge in the heed, heed ache, heuynes of the browes, soundynge in the eares, pryckyn∣ges in the temples, the eyes in the mornynge do water, or waxe dynime, the smellynge is dulle, y^• gummes do swelle. Whan thou felest suche to∣kens, forthwith pourge the heed with somwhat, not with vehemēt medecines, but takynge Isope or Organum, and the croppes of them boyle with whyte or claret wyne halfe a pynte, and therwith gargarise your mouth fastinge, vntyl the fleume be purged oute of poure heed, this is the easyest

medicine in discrasies of the heed. It is also very holsome to gargarise the mouthe and brest with hony water, wherinto mustarde is put and myn∣gled, but firste the heed must be rubbed with a warme clothe, that the fleume maye easyly come out of the heed. And yf these tokens be neglected, these maner of syckenesses do folowe sone after, bleared eyes, & humour lettinge y^• sight, cleftes in the eares, swellynges in the necke full of matter, called the kynges euyll, corruption of the brayne, poses, or reumes, heuynesse of the hed, and tooth ache.

Whā the boulke is lyke to suffer any sickenes it is perceyued by these tokens, all the body is in a sweatte, the bulke most specially, the tunge wa¦xeth thicke, the spettyll is eyther salt or bitter, or cholerike, the sydes and shoulders do ake with∣out any occasion, the pacient gapeth often, also there dothe happen moche wakynge, suffocati∣ons or lacke of breth, thirst after slepe, the mynd is vexed with heuynesse, also the brest and armes are verye colde, and the handes do tremble. Against these thinges this remedy may be prouy ded. After a moderate soupper, assaye to vo∣mite withoute any medycine, vomyte is also pro∣fytable, whiche meate dothe folowe: He that in suche wyse will vomite, let him eate hastyly small radysshe rootes, townketsis, rokat, synuy, or purslane, and drynke after it a greate quantitie of warme water, and prouoke him selfe to vo∣myte. He that setteth lyttell by the sayde to∣kens,

let hym feare these sycknesses folowing, the pleuresie, the sickenes of the lunges, melancolye or madnes, sharpe feuers, the fransye, the letar∣gie, inflamation with yexinge.

If any syckenesse be towarde the bealye, they maye be espied by these tokens, the bealy is fyrste wrapped together, and in it selfe is troubled, all meates and drinkes do seeme bytter in tast, he fe∣leth heuynesse in his knees, a styffenes in his loy∣nes, a wearynesse in all his body without any oc∣casion, a slepynesse in his legges, with a lyttel fe∣uer, whan thou feleste these tokens, mollyfie the bealy, not with medicyne, but with good order of diete, for it is best and most sure, to vse those thin¦ges, wherof lyghtly may ensue none annoyance, in the number of them are betes boyled in water of hony, garlike sodden, malowes, sorel, mercury, and al thinges condite in hony. All these do expell the ordute of the bely: but if any of the said signes dothe more & more increase, the lyquour, wherein the sede of Carthamus, callyd also Cnicus, is boyled, is a plesant & sure medicine. smal colewortes boi∣led in a good quantitie of water, the licour therof in measure .ii. pintes, sauyng the thirde parte of a pint, with hony & salt being drunken, shal profite moch. Cicer, & the pulse callid in latin eruum, in en∣glishe I suppose chittes) in water drunk fasting, hath the same effect. To them, which set lyttell by the said tokens, these diseases do sodenly happen, Fluxe of the bealy, bluddy fluxe, slyppernes of the bowels, peines in the guttes, ach in huckle bones

the feuer tercyane, the gowte, the apoplexie or pal sey in the lymmes, hemoroides, aking of ioyntes.

Whan the bladder is towarde any sickenes, it is perceyued by these tokens, fulnesse felt after ly tell meat, brekyng wynde downewarde and vp∣warde, palenesse of colour in all the body, heuy or troublous sleapes, the vrine pale, and passinge forth peynefully, swellynges about the coddes & priuy members. Whan these tokens appeare, thā is it expediēt to haue remedy of odoriferous thin¦ges, which do expell vrine, whiche shall be done without any peryll with the rotes of fenell & per∣sely stieped one or two dayes in good whyte wyne and to drinke therof fastinge euery mornyng thre ounces and two drāmes, with the water of wilde carettes, or elycampane, which of these is next at hande, euery of them haue lyke effect. Also water, wherin the peasyn called in latyne Ciceres, are stie¦ped, beynge drunke with wyne, is lyke commodi¦ouse: he that neglecteth the sayde tokens, let him loke for these syckenesses folowynge, the dropsy, the greatnes of the splene, griefe in the lyuer, the stone, ache of the backe, or peynes in the raynes, the difficultie of vrine, fulnesse of the bely. In all these thinges that we haue spokē of, we shal gyue to childrē most easy medicines, to men those, whi∣che be stronger in workynge.

This diete of Diocles, although at this tyme it semeth not moste pleasaunt, nor accordinge to the practise nowe vsed, yet beynge tempred with that, which I haue before remembred, some thing

maye be founde in it, which beynge experienced, maye be as commodious for the helth of mās bo∣dy, as that diete, which is morecuryous or plea∣saunt.

Of them in whose stomakes meat is cor∣rupted. Cap. xi.

THey in whome customably meat is corrup∣ted, let them afore that they eate any meate, assay to vomyte, drynkyng swete wyne, absteyne frome meat, that ingender botches, inflammati∣ons, fumous ructuations or vapours, and take suche as nourysh good iuyce, and chose them out, which do mollify the bely, & at sondry tymes take them. It is also good to take temperatly y^• which lowseth the bely, as the medicine called picra, and to absteyne from suche thinges, wherby yll iuyce is gathered, and do ingender syckenesses, harde to be cured or neuer, as goutes, boneache, pey∣nes of the raynes &c.

Of the vertue of meates. Cap. xii.

HE that is studyous aboute the conseruati∣on of healthe, he nedeth to knowe the ver∣tue of meates. The meate whiche hath vertue to * 1.7 extenuate, or make humours subtylle, it openeth the poores, and bryngeth forthe that whych is faste in the flesshe, it maketh that whyche is clammye, subtylle, and doeth extenuate, or

relent that whiche is fatte, it bringeth forthe that whiche abideth longe in the bealy, but that which is eaten, is a superfluitie watry and colerike, and at length maketh melancolyke bloud. Wherfore moche vsyng of them is prohibited, speciallye to them; that are colerike, and only serueth for them that are replete with fleume, crude or vndigested humours, clammy or fatte. The diete of fattinge thinges, dothe nourishe abundantly, soo that the stomake and lyuer do digest well: meate of good iuyce, maketh good bloude, but yet it stoppeth the lyuer and splene. These do they, whiche make fat humours onely, as the poulse callyd Lenticula, and they that are slymy lyke malowes, some do make fat humours, & be also slymy, as fishes with hard shelles. Fynally the diete, whiche doth extenuate and make leane, is more sure for kepyng of helth, than that, whiche fatteth moch. Norishyng mea∣tes wold be therfore moderately vsed, whan a mā perceyueth hym selfe to haue nede therof, it may be most surely vsed of them that be exercised tem∣perately, and can slepe whan they lyst. They that can not slepe by reason of exercise, lette theym es∣chewe fattynge meates, lette none ydelle persone attempte to vse theym. In the preseruation of helth, sluggardy is the greattest mischiefe. Like as the temperate mouing is good, so is the meate whiche betwene thycke and thynne, is to mannes helth most conuenient, which ingendreth bloude, according to the competent constitution of mans body, & therfore is it to be chiefly vsed. Meate of

yll iuyce is alway noyfull, wherfore it ought to be eschewed. Lykewise the varietie of meates is to be obserued diligently, for it is a great thynge to couple wel togither thinges of contrary vertues. for if they be not well digested, that whiche is re∣ceyued, may bring displeasure.

¶ A diete preseruatiue in the tyme of pe∣stilence. Capitulo. xiii.

THe bodies most apte to be infected, are speci∣ally sanguine, next colerike, than fleumatike laste melancolyke, for in them the humour being colde and drie, is most vnapt to receyue putrifa∣ction, hauyng also strayte passages, by the which venim must passe. The diete cōuenient for y^• tyme is to abstein frō metes, inflamig & openig y^• pores * 1.8 also from the heat of the sonne, frō to moch heate of fire, or garmentis, from very hot herbes, & mo∣che vse of tart thinges, except onions and cikory, or radishe with vineger. for they do resist ageinst venim, from wine very fumishe, exercise inconti∣nent after meales, from swetting, from al thingis that wyll cause oppilations & putrifaction, from thinges hot & moist, where moisture hath the do∣minion in degree, specially being not sufficiently boiled: also from milke, except it be in a littel quā∣tite, & that with a litel sugar. Frutis & herbes cold & dry, & therwith soure or somwhat bitter, are not prohibited. If ye eate figges, grapes, or swete che¦ries, eate after them of an orenge with salt. If ye eate thinges cold & moyst, as cucūbers, melones,

fyshe soft and fresshe, or damsyns, eate by and by after some fenell, and orenge with salt, drinkinge therwith a draughte of good wyne. Beware of musherons, moch purslane, gourdis, and al other thinges, whiche wyll sone putrifie: not withstan∣ding, I wyll not forbyd eatyng of lettyse, with a fewe myntes, or myxt with cynamom. Al thinges sowre ar cōmended, as wel in diete conseruatiue, as in that whiche is curatiue or healeth, excepte where there is straytnesse of the breste, or weake∣nes of the stomak, than ought they to be tempred with sugar, salt, almond milke, cinamom, pepper, fenell, saffron, egges, and some thing that is fatte or vnctuous. Capers ar good to be vsed with vi∣neger. Chese very fatte and salt, is not cōmended, no more is colewortes, or any kynde of pulse, ex∣cept chittes: great peason, rapes, nor spynache is good. Also there be forboden rokat and mustard, moche wyne and egges, except they be eaten with sorell sauce, vyneger, or iuyce of orenges: persely and also parsnepes be good. newe wynes be noy∣full, let the meate be somewhat more than drinke. but yet susteyn not to moch hunger nor ••hyrst. be∣ware of lechery, of a clowdy wether and close, es∣chewe moche resorte or thronge of people, wyn∣des commynge from fennes or mores, from slepe at none: vse with your meate this poulder, san∣ders redde, halfe an ounce, cynamom thre dram∣mes and a halfe, saffron halfe a dramme. After your meate, eate a lyttell of coriander sede, welle prepared. In the mornynge, at a temperate fyre

kembe your heed backward, clense your body and heed of all superfluities: vse also moderate fri∣casies, with swete perfumes, and odouts, washe oftentymes your face and handes with pure vy∣neger myxt with rosewater. In colde wether mixt it with myntes, baulme, rue, or myrtes, and some tyme cloues. In hotte sommer with roses or vio∣lettes. Aboue all thynges vse to take white wine good, white vyneger rosette, water of roses, in e∣quall porcions, put ther vnto a littell setuale, or of the rynde of a citton, and drynke therof a lyttell, and oftentimes washe ther with your handis and vysage. Medicines preseruatiue ageinst the pe∣stilēce, which be alway most redy, at these, a figge with rue, and a wal nutte eaten fastynge, also tri∣akle, or mithridate, to old men a dramme weight, to yonge men halfe a dramme, or a scruple dissol∣ued in vineger and rose water, or in water of tor∣mentill, scabiose, or balme, if the plage be in som∣mer: if it be in wynter, putte to the waters some white wine. Also the pilles callyd comonly Pillul•• Rasis, but in dede they were inuented by Rufus) are very excellent, specially if the aloe, whiche is it, be washed, and there vnto added a lyttell Bolus armenus, & terra sigillata, And if the person be of hot complexion, a quantitie of sorell sede, and red co∣tall, this confectioned with syrope of cittons, in cold complexions or to old men with white wine, vse them euery thyrd day one pille at a time, three houres or foure afore dinet or supper. If ye take triakle or Mithridate, absteyne from meate at the

least syx houres after. A pece of the rote of setual, borne in the mouth, preseruith from infectiō. In likewise doth sorell chewed fasting, and the iuyce sucked downe. To poore menne, Marsilius was wont to gyue a toste of breade steped in vineger, with a piece of an onyon or rewe. Al thinges whi¦che be cordiall, that is to say, which do in any wis•• comfort the hart, do resist pestilēce, vehement an∣ger, or heuynesse, be very pernicious. other more exquisite and costly preseruatiues, I pourposely passe ouer, which Marsilius, & other phisitions, do write of abundantly, forasmoch as I desyre to be in this warke compendious. One thing I had almost forgotten, that there is no better preserua∣tiue, than to fle from the place corrupted, betyme and farre of, and to let none approche you, that hath made their abode, where the plage is feruēt. More ouer receiue not into your hous any stuffe, that commeth out of a house, wherin any persone hath ben infected. For it hath bene sene, that su∣che stuffe lyeng in a cofer fast shutte by the space of two yeres, after that the coffer hath bē opened, they which haue stande nigh to it, haue ben infec∣ted, & sone after haue died. But here I alway ex∣cept the power of god, which is wonderful, & also mercyful, aboue mās reson or coūsell, p̄seruing or strikig whom, whā, & where it shal like his maie∣stie, to whom be glory & praise euerlasting. Amen.

¶ THVS make I an ende of this treatise, de∣syryng them that shall take profite therby, to de∣fende it ageynst enuyouse dysdayne, on whom I

haue set the aduenture, for the loue that I beare to my countrey: requiringe all honest phisitions to remember, that the intent of my labour was, y^e men and women redinge this warke, and obser∣uinge the counsayles therin, shulde adapte ther∣by their bodyes, to receyue more sure remedy by the medicines prepared by good phisitions in dā∣gerous syckenesses, they kepinge good dyet, and infourminge diligently the same phisitions, of y^e maner of their affectes, passions, and sensible to∣kens. And so shall the noble and most necessarye science of phisike, with the ministers therof, es∣cape the sclaunder, which they haue of long tyme susteyned, and accordynge to the precepte of the wyse man, be worthely honoured, for asmoche as the hyghest god dyd create the phisition, for mās necessitie. And of the earth created medicine, and y^• wyse man shal not abhorre it. Thus fare ye wel gentyll reders, and forget me not with your good reporte, and praye to God that I be neuer wars occupyed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A••ti' ser∣mone. 9
• * 1.2

  Paul. Egi. lib. 2.
• * 1.3

  Galen' de menda sa ni. lib. 5.
• * 1.4

  Acti^• li. 3.
• * 1.5

  Galen' de menda sa ni. lib. 5.
• * 1.6

  Aetius.
• * 1.7

  Oribasius de medici na simpli.
• * 1.8

  Marfilius ••••inus.