The castell of health, corrected, and in some places augmented by the first author thereof, Sir Thomas Elyot Knight

Of gestation, that is to say, where one is carried, and is of an other thing moued, and not of himselfe. CAP. 34.

THere is also an other kind of exercise, which is called Gestation, and is mixt with mouing and rest. For as much as the body sitting or lying séemeth to rest, and not∣withstanding it is moued by that which beareth it, as ly∣ing in a bed, hanging by cordes or chaines, or in a cradle, sitting in a chayre which is caryed on mens shoulders with staues, as was the vse of the ancient Romains, or sitting in a boate or barge, which is rowed, ryding on a horse which aumbleth very easily, or goeth a very softe pace. The bed, cradle, and chayre caryed, serueth for thē that are in long and continuall sicknes, or be lately reco∣uered of a feuer. Also them which haue the frensie or li∣••harge, or haue a light tertiane feuer, or a quotidiane. This exercise swéetely asswageth troubles of the minde, and prouoketh sléepe, as it appeareth in children, which are rocked. Also it is conuenient for them, which haue the palsey, the stone, or the gout. Gestation in a chariot or wagon, hath in it a shaking of the body, but some ve∣hement, and some more sost, the softe serueth in diseases of the head, and where any matter runneth downe into the stomacke and intrailes. But the vehement shaking is to be vsed in the griefes of the breast and the stomacke.

Also in swelling of the body and legges, in dropsies, palsies, migrimes, and scoto〈…〉〈…〉ies, which is an imagina∣tion

of darkenes: being returned at the ende of his iour∣ney, he must sit vp, and be easily moued. I haue known saith Aetius, many persons in such wise cured, w^e out anie other helpe. Nauigation or rowing nigh to the land in a calm water, is expedient for them that haue dropsies, le∣pries, palsies, called of the vulgar people takings & fran∣sies: to be caried on a rough water it is a violent exercise, & induceth sundry affections of the mind, somtime feare, sometime hope, now cowarde heart, now hardines, one while pleasure, an other while displeasure. These exerci∣ses, if they be wel tēpered, they may put out of y^e the body al long during sicknesses: for y^t which is mixt with rest & moouing, if any thing els may, it most excellently causeth the body to be well nourished. Celsus doth prohibite Ge∣station, where the body féeleth paine, & in the beginning of feuers, but whē they cease, he alloweth it. Riding mo∣deratly and without griefe, doth corroborate the spirit & body aboue other exercises, specially the stomack, it clen∣seth the senses and maketh them more quicke. Albeit to the breast it is very noyful, it ought to be remēbred, that as wel this, as all other kinds of exercise, would bee vsed in a whole countrie, and where the ayre is pure and vn∣corrupted. Foreséen that he that will exercise, do go first to the stoole, for the causes rehearsed in the last chapter.

Notes

• Celsus. 2.