Every man his own doctor in two parts, shewing I. how every one may know his own constitution by certain signs, also the nature and faculties of all food as well as meats as drinks ... : the second part shews the full knowledge and cure of the pox, running of the reins, gout, dropsie, scurvy, consumptions and obstructions, agues ... / written by John Archer.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Passions of the Mind, and exercise and rest of the body.

THe next thing conducible to health, having now sufficiently spoken of wholesome Air, Meat and Drink, &c. Is passions of the mind, and exercise of body, the perturbations of the mind do much hurt to the body, as no Physitian will deny, and an Euthumy or well setled mind, and such as is at quiet, doth very much tend to the preservation of health, for although every man that is diseased in body, is troubled also in mind by the peccant humours which makes men angry and peevish, so

that it makes true the saying, there can hardly be found mens sana, but in corpore sano, yet there are some men in perfect health, that wilfully take upon them such a habit or custome of anger that not only disturbs their own house and Relations, but thereby bring into their own bodies Sick∣ness and Death, but contrarywise, mode∣rate joy and a chearful spirit doth preserve the body in health, and sound constitution, for it recreates and refreshes the heart and spirits, and whole body; but if joy be excessive, it dissipates and consumes the spirits.

Exercise of Body.

Motion and Exercise is of it self, suffi∣cient to keep the body from Diseases, be∣cause it brings a solidity and hardness to the parts of the body, that they that use exercise moderately, need little other Phy∣sick, this makes the labouring mans sleep sweet, and pleasant, this shews the Justice of divine providence distributing the hap∣piness of this matrocosm in proportion to

all Ranks of men, for they that are poor and forced to labour, are recompensed with the rich Jewel of health, better then which nothing can here be found. Exercise doth increase health, and strength, also it moves and agitates the spirits, from whence the heart is made strong, and can resist external injuries, and is fit to undergo all actions, and good nourishment is made, and vitious excrementitious vapours are discussed, on the contrary, those bodies that live idly, are soft and tender, and unfit to perform labors of every kind, as Dancing, Running, Play∣ing at Ball, Gesture of Body, Riding, Swimming, Walking and all others, but divers exercise have different force, and some exercise, some parts more then others, in walking the Legs are most exercised, in handling of Weapons the Arms, in singing speaking loud, and clear Reading, with a loud voice the Lungs, Breast and Face, but the playing with a Ball, Gallen that great Physitian, hath writ a peculiar book in commendations of that exercise above any other, by reason it exercises the whole body, also there is a great difference according to strength used, or magnitude in motion, for example, swift motions attenuates the bo∣dy,

thickens it, slow motions Ratifies and increaseth Flesh, vehement motions exte∣nuates the body, and makes it lean, but with hard flourishing, and firm flesh, too much exercise exhausteth and dissipates the spirits and the substance of the solid parts, and cools the whole body, and dissolves the strength of the Nerves and Ligaments, and sometimes breaks the lesser Veins, and di∣stendeth the membrances.

Of Sleep and Watching▪

Watchings that are moderate is a help to distribute Aliment and promotes the emis∣sion of excrements, it stirs up the spirits and renders them more flourishing, but if watchings are immoderate, they consume and dissipate the animal Spirits, and dry the whole body, especially the brain, they in∣crease Choller, they inflame, and the heat being dissipated, they stir up cold Disea∣ses.

Sleep being moderate doth refresh and kindle again the decayed strength, and spi∣rits

that are wasted by diurnal labours are by it restored, the heat is called back to the internal parts, from whence a concocti∣on of Aliment and crude humours is hap∣pily performed in the whole body, espe∣cially the Bowels are sweetly moistned the heat increased, and the whole body become stronger, cares are taken away. Anger is allayed, and the mind enjoys more tran∣quillity, in moderate evacuations, besides sweat are hindred as the Diarhea or Flux of the Belly, Sleep is especially beneficial to old men. On the contrary, moderate Sleep, obscures the Spirits, and renders them dull and causeth an amazedness in the understanding and memory, it sends out the heat, being hindred with crude and super∣flous humours, accumulated Sleep also, that seizeth on our bodies, after what man∣ner soever, when they are empty, dryes and extenuates.

Of Excretions, and Retentions.

The severral concoctions have their se∣veral excrements, but the body may be easily kept in its natural State, if those things which are profitable for its nourishment, be retained, and those things which are un∣profitable be cast out, but if those things which ought to be retained in the body be cast out, and those things which ought to be ejected be retained, the health will soon decay the excrements of the belly, if they are not evacuated in due season, hinder con∣coction, whilst putrid vapours exhale from thence to the Stomach and neighbouring parts, and so offend the head, and stir up griping pains, and many evils, too sudden cleansing of the belly doth little hurt, save that it defrauds the body of nourishment, and if it be frequent and of continuance the strength is weakned, and the Bowels de∣billitated.

Urine, if it be unseasonably made either

too often or too seldome shews a Distem∣per present, or will soon procure one if Urine be frequently made sooner then it ought or is need for, it brings no small da∣mage, for the frequent stimulation of the expulsive faculty of the Neck of the Bladder when there is not a sufficient quantity to di∣late and extend, the Vesica doth make a con∣traction of the Bladder, in a lesser compass, then its due limit, and if Urine be retained longer then it should, it brings great da∣mage by oppressing the Bladder, and some∣times so fills it that Urine cannot be expel∣led, which causes Inflamation, and a vio∣lent Feaver, great pain and speedy death.

Of venery

Man cannot live for ever although he be nourished, therefore the generative power is granted to him and given by the Crea∣tor of all things for the begetting of his like that Mankind might be preserved, which is the proper use of Venery. Now seed untimely retained, causeth heaviness or dulness of the body, and if it be cor∣rupted

stirs up grievous accidents, all which may be avoided by Venery, but let it be timely and lawful, for there is no need of the unlawful use of means to preserve health, which is contrary to Gods Law, for the Creator of man is so indulgent to him in this thing as it is necessary for him that is to have on VVoman, more might hinder his health, as I am sure it doth to too many, for too much Venery dissipates the natural heat, cools and dibillitates the whole body accumulates crudities, hurts the Nerves, generates the Gout, and causes the Palfie, and debility of the senses and understand∣ing, and by the commission of uncleanness a rottenness in the Loins, and if neglected will penetrate the very bones▪ therefore I advise all to chastity, but if infected to read the ensuing part and follow the Directions, and doubt not of Cure.

But that I may prevent the occasion of Disease by Venery; Consider there is many a Woman, very desireable to look on, yet if you enjoy them, you will less

prize them, and you can find no more plea∣sure in them, but the evacuation of your own heat and vigor, therefore it is downright folly and madness, to run such great hazard of Soul, body, Estate, and good Name, for a Toy of no value.