The disease of London, or, A new discovery of the scorvey [sic] comprising the nature, manifold differences, various causes, signs, prognostics, chronology, and several methods of curing the said disease by remedies, galenical and chymical : together with anatomical observations, and discourses on convulsions, palsies, apoplexies, rheumatisms, gouts, malignant fevors, and small pox, with their methods of cure and remedies : likewise, particular observations on most of the fore-mentioned diseases / by Gideon Harvey ...

CHAP. XX. Of Praeservatives against the Scorvey.

1. Praecepts relating to the Air. 2. Rules of Diaet. 3. Praecepts refer∣ring to the rest of the Non-natu∣rals.

§. 1. IT is not in a bare Speculati∣on of the Nature, Causes, and Signs of Diseases, the Art of Medicines doth Acquiess, but like o∣ther practical Sciences and Arts, de∣signs its Theorems for Practice; where∣fore since I have sufficiently laid down whatever appertaineth to the Theo∣ry of Scorbutique Infirmities, it's re∣quisite I should now declare the Pra∣ctique, which comprehends the Pro∣phylactique and Therapeutique. The former being otherwise called the Con∣servative, in this case directs the means whereby to praeserve a Healthy Body from the Scorvey, which consist chief∣ly

in Rules, and praecepts of making use of the six Non-naturals.

§. 1. Make choice of a thin serene perflated In-Land Air, and therefore shun the Sea-coasts, Bogs, Waterish, Stincking, and Close places.

§. 2. Let your Diaet be chiefly up∣on fresh Meats, that are Nutritive, of easie digesture, and not very Excre∣mentitious; so that you must avoid all Victuals that are stale, stincking, salt, gross, obstructive, Excrementitious, and of hard digestion. Within the Verge of this Rule are meats, that have been kept too long, until they had acquired a French Haugou; like∣wise Pork, Brawn, and all sorts of Hog-meat, as Black-puddens, Sau∣siges, Beef, Ducks, Geese, Tripe, Flower-Puddens; most sorts of fried Victuals, as Pancakes, Stakes, Eggs fried, Collops of Bacon, &c. Most sorts of Fish, Salats, all Souced, and Pickled Meats, &c. Which are all Scorbutique. Let your Drink be clear, well fermented, fresh, sweet, and temperate; not stale, or sour, ill

tasted, thick and muddy, heating, or cooling. Thus much for the quality; for quantity you must be moderate, in respect both of Eating and Drink∣ing. Let your times of Meals be sea∣sonable, seven in the morning, twelve at Noon, and seven at Night in the Summer, and in the Winter one Hour later. Your Breakfast and Supper ought to be light, and moderate, but your Dinner somewhat more solid and plentiful. Particularly avoid Cof∣fee, new raw Cider, Brandy, and To∣bacco.

§. 3. Sleep moderately, use Exer∣cise, but not violently, keep your Body in order; that is between Loose and Bound; shift your Linnen once or twice a Week, to praevent the stop∣page of your Pores by the Condensa∣tion of Sweat, and sooty steems, that stick to your Shirt. What concerns the passions of the Mind, I will only recommend to you the Old praecept Bene age & laetare, Do well and be chearful; and so here let us end this Chapter.