The art of memory a treatise useful for such as are to speak in publick / by Marius D'Assigny ...

CHAP. III. The Temper or Disposition of the Body best and worst for Memory, with the Natural Causes and Rea∣sons of both. (Book 3)

MEmory is named, or rather descri∣bed, by Plato, that great and fa∣mous Philosopher of his Age, the Sound∣ness of the Senses, because the Soul ma∣king use of the Senses of the Body to receive the Impressions of Things, the Memory is either larger or narrower, greater or less, according to the good or ill Qualities of the Senses, and the Ideas are more or less lasting in Man. However, 'tis most certain that in gene∣ral it is requisite for a good Memory, that the Body be in a perfect Health; for if either the whole be distemper'd, or any part be diseased, the Sufferings are communicated to every Member, and

all are sensible in some respect of the Pain with the disaffected Part; and the Disease, whatever it be, disorders the Functions more or less, according to the nearness of Communication. Some Diseases have that evil Influence that they totally de∣prive us of our Memory for a time, as those that seize upon the Head and Brain, and such as distemper the Nerves and Veins that are uppermost, and corrupt the Blood and Spirits which are used for the Exercise of Memory. Besides, when any part of the Body is diseased, the Mind is distracted, and cannot so readily per∣form that Office, as when it enjoys a per∣fect Tranquillity free from the Avocati∣ons of Maladies and Pain. Likewise, if the Spirit be disturbed by the violent Passi∣ons of Anger, Fear, Despair, &c. the Exercise of Memory can never be so free, because it requires a sedate and quiet Temper of Mind as well as a Soundness in the Body. All the Alarms and Troubles of the Soul blot out the Ideas that are already entertain'd, and hinder others from coming in. They obstruct all the Passages; and the Crowd of Thoughts that in such Cases arise is a great hindrance to Memory.

But the Learned observe, that two Tempers of the Body or Brain are Ene∣mies to a good Memory, and that such can never expect any great Advantage from this Ability that in those cases is naturally disinabled. The first is a Tem∣per extraordinary Cold, for thereby the necessary Motions are stopt, and the Passa∣ges for a speedy Conveyance frozen, and the Imagination as it were benumm'd. So that as a convenient Heat of the Body is a notable Help to an active Memory, a cold Temper can never be so quick in Apprehension, nor receive the Impressi∣ons that are offered. Therefore a noted Physician names Cold the Mother of For∣getfulness, and declares that there can be nothing more pernicious to Memory, either to the admittance of the Ideas, or to the making use of them, than an inward or a too violent and ambient Cold.

The second Temper unfit for Memory is Moist, when a too great Humidity seizes upon the Brain, as in Drunkenness, Intemperance, and Defluxions; Memo∣ry in such a case may quickly receive an Impression, but it will as speedily lose it: As a Ship at Sea running swiftly through

the Waves, leaves behind a Track, which is almost assoon lost as made, so that no sign can be found of its Passage through that fluid Element. So the Moisture of the Brain may be susceptible of an Idea for the present, but 'tis not lasting, nor is there any sign a little after of any such matter. Those Persons may re∣member the things near at hand, but they seldom call to mind that which hath been long ago done.

I might add a third Temper very much unfit for Memory, that is, an extraor∣dinary dry Brain, or a corrupt Disposi∣tion of Body, proceeding from too much Heat and Driness: for tho these two Qualities are necessary Assistants of a good Memory, both for Reception and Retention, yet when they exceed the Pre∣script of Nature, they must needs be offen∣sive to Health, and consequently to the Practice of Memory. It is therefore needful for this purpose that the four Qualities of the Body be in an Equilibrium, in an equal Ballance; because this Equality serves very much for a more ready For∣mation of the Ideas, and inables the Organ the better to receive and retain them. But of the four Qualities it is

observed, that Cold and Moist are the most destructive to Memory; an excessive Cold being the greatest Enemy of Na∣ture, and of its Preservation. For Humi∣dity, it cannot be expected that when the Brain is drowned in Liquor, or over∣flows with Humours, that in such an In∣undation Memory can act and perform its Duty with that Exactness, and in that Perfection that it can at other times, and in a better Temper. Now 'tis not diffi∣cult to understand what Quality is pre∣dominant by these following Experi∣ments: First, by our Sleep; for if we are more inclinable to it than ordinary, it is a sign of a wet and moist Brain, that makes us heavy and drowsy; but if we cannot take our usual Rest, it is an evi∣dent Token of a dry Temper. Besides, this Humidity falls down into the Palate by an extraordinary Spittle, breaks out of the corner of the Eyes, and evacuates it self through the Nose and other Con∣veyances from the Brain, in a greater abundance than is usual. But if the Brain be too dry, you will not be able to close your Eyes as formerly, you will find a Lightness in the Head, there will be seldom any natural Evacuations, and the

Eyes will appear sunk into the Head, and the Excrements of the Ears will encrease. This is the Case of such as grow in Years, which causeth old Age to be less sus∣ceptible of new Impressions in their Me∣mory, but to be more retentive of those that are there already: So that all the Passages of their youthful days they can quickly call to mind.

But if an inward Cold predominates, it will appear by these Signs: The Face will seem very white, the Eyes languish∣ing, the Veins will scarce be seen; a Cold may be felt about the Parts next to the Head, and a Dulness and Stupidity seizeth in such a case upon the Spirits and Brain; so that by this means Men are rendered less fit for Action. Now it is observed by Physicians, that the Brain is naturally hotter in Summer than in Winter, unless it be when some Di∣stemper increaseth the internal Heat, and augments it the more by reason of the ambient Cold.

If too much Heat be in the Brain, it may be perceived by these infallible Signs. All the Parts about the Head will be hotter and more red than or∣dinary, the Eyes will be rolling and

fiery, the Temples burning, and the Per∣son cannot be inclinable to sleep, because all the Vapours that cause Drowsiness are consumed by that internal Heat, and dried up as soon as they enter the Closets of the Brain. From what hath been said it is most certain, that a moderate Temper, where all the four Qualities cor∣respond and agree in an Equality, is the most fit for the Practice of a good Memo∣ry; and when any of these exceed the natural Proportion, both the Health and Memory also are impaired in that Body, and rendered more unfit for Exercise. In such cases therefore the Physicians Art may be very useful to restore Health, to rectify the Brain, to remedy the Temper, and remove the superfluous and perni∣cious Quality, and consequently it may preserve, increase, inlarge and help Me∣mory. For as it is most certain that di∣vers Diseases destroy this Ability, or disinable it; so it is unquestionable that several Remedies may assist, comfort and corroborate this excellent Faculty, which requires a good Disposition of Body, a careful Government of our selves, and an Abstinence from the Extravagancies and Debaucheries of the Age.

Now in some Cases 'tis impossible to remedy a decay'd Memory, as when Na∣ture fails through some violent Disease; when an extraordinary Heat and internal Driness hath corrupted the vital Parts, or the Closet of Memory, and filled it with infected Spirits; or when old Age brings a Diminution to our Strength, Vi∣gor, Abilities, and all our Natural Parts decay with our Body. 'Tis then in vain to attempt by Physick to help or remedy that which is naturally lost and perished. However in such Cases we may preserve what remains of Memory by a regular manner of living, and by such Food as may expel the inward Driness and Cold, and comfort the Brain with a Recruit of wholsome Spirits, proceeding from the Easiness and Quickness of Digestion.