Of Medicines Cold in the First Degree.
THose Medicines which are least cold of all, ob∣tain the First Degree of Coldness, and I beseech you take notice of this, That seeing our Bodies are nourished by heat, and we live by heat, therefore no cold Medicines are Naturally, and Per se (as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 call it) friendly to the Body, but what good they do our Bodies, they do it per accedens, viz. by re∣moving an unnatural heat, or the Body heated above its Natural temper.
The giving then of cold Medicines, to a Man in his Natural temper, the season of the year also being but moderately hot, extinguisheth Natural heat in the Body of Man.
Yet have these a necessary Use in them too, though not so frequent as Hot Medicines have; and that may be the reason why an All-wise God hath furnish∣ed us with far more Hot Herbs and Plants &c. than Cold.
Their Use is first, In Nourishments, that so the* 1.1 heat of Food may be qualified, and made fit for a weak Stomach to digest, and therefore are Sallets u∣sed in Summer.
Secondly, To restrain and asswage the heat of the* 1.2 Bowels, and to cool the Blood in Feavers.
Therefore if the distemper of heat be but gentle, Medicines cold in the first degree will Suffice; also Children, and such people whose Stomachs are weak, are easily hurt by cold Medicines.