The York-shire spaw, or, A treatise of foure famous medicinal wells viz. the spaw, or vitrioline-well, the stinking, or sulphur-well, the dropping, or petrifying-well, and S. Mugnus-well, near Knare borow in York-shire : together with the causes, vertues and use thereof : for farther information read the contents / composed by J. French, Dr. of Physick.

CHAP. XIII. Of the Dyet to be observed by Spaw∣drinkers.

THe greatest reason why many receive but little benefit, and some none by the Spaw, is▪ because of their intemperancy in respect of dyet. This water for the most part begetteth a very great appetite, by reason whereof ma∣ny forget themselves at Table, putting in more than nature can dispose of, and hence are crudities, the nursery of all diseases; And it is true what Galen saith, affirming, that no man shall be vexed with sicknes that is not oppressed with crudities. And whence cru∣dities, saith Hippocrates, but from fulnes, af∣firming also, that to eat without fulnes is the rule of health? He also saith, that what di∣seases so ever are cured by evacuation, are caused by repletion: and do not we see that all diseases are cured by evacuation, viz. vo∣miting, purging, bleeding, sweat, and urine? When the Chylus is ill concocted, or rather corrupted (for Aristotle calls it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 corruption, not concoction) it passeth crude through the whole body, for the se∣cond concoction doth not amend the first, nor the third the second, so that hence of necessity great obstructions, the occasion of tensions, gripings, all manner of hypochon∣driacal

distempers, stone, gravel, distemper of the head, heart, liver, stomack, bowels, limbs, and indeed of all parts. There is an Italian Proverb, that he that will eat much, must eat little, that is, by eating little he shall live long and so eat much. A sober dyet, as it prevents, so also cures many infirmities, and distempers by diminishing crudities already bred, and reducing all the humours of the body to the government of nature.

Let such dyet be used, as may not hinder the effects of the Spaw, being of a good laudable nourishment, of easie digestion, and may freely pass through the vessels, serving for the distribution thereof. Let not the meat be dressed, or sauced deliciously, so as to prolong appetite, beyond the satisfaction of natural hunger, and thirst, thereby causing a greater quantity to be taken in, than other∣wise would, or nature requires, or can di∣gest. For the most part meat offends more by its quantity than quality.

In more particular manner I forbid all flesh that is very salt, and fat, Bacon, Pork, Neats∣feet, Tripes, tame Ducks, Geese, gizards of Poultry, all salt Fish, Eels, and all things that come from milk (except Butter, Whey, Milk, Pottage, Chees-curds) also Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Cabbage, Muskmillions, Cucumbers.

Helmont forbids nothing, onely excess, say∣ing, that Nature hates curiosities.

I could reckon up divers other things that I should forbid, but because they are never

used at the Spaw, it will be needles to men∣tion them.

I disapprove not of Beef, if it hath been salted but a week, especially for those that love it.

I allow for those whose bloud, and Livers are hot, Pears, Apples, Plums, Cherries, Rasp-berries, ripe Goose-berries and raw Sallets, but with this caution, that they be eaten a little before supper, and also sparingly, and one glass of white wine drank after them, for they do temper the bloud, and pro∣mote the curing of the distemper there∣of.

I forbid much variety of meats, because of the unequalness of their concoction, and be∣cause nature is (although the pallate be not) best satisfied with simplicity of dyet. And ex∣cellently doth Macrobius discuss this point.

As for drinks▪ I commend beer, or ale, that is neither too small, or too new. They, whose stomacks are very cold▪ may drink Beer, or Ale as strong as can be made, and also a glass, or two of Sack with a rost put into it, which they may eat; and these do much fur∣ther, and help concoction.

I approve of the drinking of pure, thin, well refined white and Rhenish wine, but not at meals▪ unless in a very little quantity, be∣cause they are very diuretical, and penetra∣tive, carrying down with them to the Liver, and through the narrow vessels, the crude juyce of the meat, before it be concocted,

thereby endangering obstructions; but let them be drunk a little before supper.

The time of eating must be considered ac∣cording to the passing of the water through the body, for when the Urine begins to change its colour, passing from white to a higher colour, then is it a sign that the wa∣ter is passed through, and then something may be eaten and not before, unless when good part of the water, although not all, hath passed through freely, and then ceased for an hour, or two, and then also it is time to eat something, for it may be that nature hath di∣sposed of the residue that is left behind, & re∣tained, for some other uses, as to moisten some dry parts of the body, or the like.

They that are first ready to eat, may stay their stomacks as we call it, with a mess of broth, which commonly is there made very good, and then have so much good fellow∣ship and civility to wait for their dinners till all the good company of the house be ready for the same.

Let the supper be larger, than the dinner, because in the evening the stomack is less laxated, and languid, than at noon, and can therefore concoct a greater quantity of meat. Yet the supper must not be very large, nei∣ther greater than what the stomack can be well able perfectly to concoct before the next morning. Let it be ready at six at least, if not seven hours after dinner.

I advise that all, whether it be at dinner, or

supper, that they lerve with an appetite, & eat not half so much as the Spaw drinkers usual∣ly do, indulging their pallates, and gratifying their stomacks according to the measure of their appetites, which many times is rather adventious, or preternatural, then natural.

I utterly disapprove of mixing of the Spaw water, with either Wine, or Beer, but yet I al∣low of the drinking of a glass of it self at bed time, for the corroborating and closing of the mouth of the stomack, and suppressing of vapours, which would otherwise disturb the brain from quiet sleep.