An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. VI. The Virtue and Nature of Aliments remain in the Bodies that are Fed and Nourish∣ed by them.

I. The whole Aliment is not chang∣ed into the substance of the thing nourished. THO' Aliment or Food in Living Bodies be digested by the Natural Heat, and by that means becomes changed into their nature, yet it is not so entirely assimilated to them, as not to re∣tain some of its former Nature and Virtue. This appears from our Excrements, which tho' by the heat of our Stomachs they have been separated from the thinner parts of our meat, and as it were changed into a quite different substance, yet re∣tain something of the virtues and qualities of those Bodies whence they have been separated, and of∣ten preserve something of their colour and smell. Thus they who eat any quantity of Black Cherries or Myrtle Berries, will find their Excrements ting'd of a Black Colour. And Sparagus and Turpentine after having passed through the Stomach and other Organs of Nutrition communicate their Odour to the Urine.

II. Some part of the Ali∣ment is kept or re∣mains with the Body that is fed. If therefore so great virtue of the Food do still remain in the Excrements, with much more reason may we conclude, that the same much more abides in the Bodies that are nourisht by, and receive their encrease from them; forasmuch as the more pure and Juicy part of the Food abides with them, which doth most abound in virtue. And tho' Ani∣mals void many particles of their Aliment by Siege, by Urine, by Sweat and by insensible Transpiration; yet cannot this hinder us from con∣cluding that many Particles of Aliment must re∣main in the Bodies of those Animals that are nou∣risht and grow by it. Hence it is that Country People that feed upon Beef, Bacon, Cheese, and such like strong Food, which nourish much, but are somewhat hard of Digestion, are much more strong in Body than those who feed upon Dain∣ties, who generally are weak and unfit to endure labour. Who doth not find in himself a different state of Body when he drinks Wine, than when his ordinary drink is Beer, Ale or Water? And do not those that that fare deliciously and feed high, find themselves more ungoverned in their Passions and Lusts, than those who live abstemiously, and con∣tent themselves with necessary Food?

III. Milk is dif∣ferently qualified according to the dif∣ference of the Pasture the Cows graze in. The virtue of Aliment is more particularly dis∣cernible in the fruits and products of Plants and Animals, which differ, according to the diversity of the matter whereof they are formed. Thus Milk is not always qualified alike, but accord∣ing as the matter of it is drawn from such or such Plants, its virtues and qualities vary. Cows that feed upon Grass yield a very different Milk and Butter from those that eat Straw. It is a matter also of common Experience, that Cows that in their feeding light upon wild Garlick, communicate a strong tast of Garlick to their Milk; and that the flesh of Sheep, which feed upon wild Thyme hath a much more grateful tast than that of others. GALEN makes mention of a certain Me∣dicinal Milk which is very prevalent in the cure of the Schirrus or hard swelling of the Liver; the Cow that yields it being made to feed on some pe∣culiar Herbs conducing to that end. The story also of that Young Woman is well known, who having used herself to the eating of Wolfs-bane (which is a most poisonous Herb) tho' she found no hurt by it herself, yet was the death of those men that lay with her.

IV. Herbs after they are turned to Blood re∣tain their purging virtue. Physicians likewise do observe, that if the Milk of a Goat, that hath fed upon some purging Plant, be eaten by a Nurse that suckles a Child, it will communicate its purging virtue to the Nurses Milk, and purge the Child that sucks it. It is known also that the Milk of Cows, and the But∣ter made of it is far better in the Spring, when Cows feed upon tender Herbs and Flowers, than at other times. So likewise it is observed that the Honey which the Bees gather from Thyme, Sage, Savory and Tree Trefoile, being the Herbs they most of all delight in is the best of all other. For this rea∣son the Honey of Sardinia hath a bitter tast, be∣cause it is mostly gathered from Wormwood. And Historians tell us, that the Honey made about the City Heraclea in Pontus, had a venemous quality, because it was gathered from the poisonous Aco∣nite.

V. The Ground or Soil in which the Vines grow, communi∣cates to the Wine some of its vir∣tue. The same may be also experienc'd in Wine, which being adulterated with Quick Lime, Plaister of Paris, Rocket, Wild Myrtle or Butchers Broom, Jews Lime, Clary and the like, becomes pernicious to the Body of Man. There are also some sorts of VVine which do particularly affect our Disposi∣tions.

It is an Observation of LEMNIUS, that the Common People in Holland, by their much drinking of Poitou Wine, which sends sharp Fumes up to the Brain, are thereby inclined to be very peevish and quarrelsom; whereas those of them that drink Rhenish Wine, are not so. And it is observed, that the Fruits and Plants which are the product of dung'd Grounds are not so good and wholsom, as those that grow, where no such Art hath been used: As likewise, that the Grain or Pulse that grows on such ground, cannot be so long kept from becoming musty, or being eaten by Worms; and that the Beer brewed of such Grain doth sooner turn Sower.

VI. Living Creatures retain the Qualities of their Aliment. The Virtue of Food is also perceiv'd and distin∣guish'd in Animals. For in some parts of Holland, which is a Watry Country, and abounding with fish, they fatten their Hogs with them; which tho' they soon fat them, yet it is observed that the Flesh of these Swine is more flaggy and less firm, neither is it so wholsom; and differs much in Taste from the flesh of those Swine, which have been fed with more convenient Aliment: Because Fish, as GALEN observes, generates a thinner Blood, and more Excrementitious, than the flesh of Terrestrial Animals.

VII. Many Dis∣eases arise from the Qualities of Food. So likewise from the Qualities of Aliments, remaining in the Body of Man, many Diseases are generated; as the Scurvy, the Goat, &c. Thus we find that the Scurvy is an Epidemical Disease in those Countries, where they eat Meat much salted, and dried in the Smoak, and brew their Beer of Brackish Water. And those are commonly troubled with the Goat, who live intemperately and luxuriously, especially if they feed much up∣on salt Meats, and drink much Wine. For as the Learned Dr. WILLIS observes in his Pathologia Morborum, by this means a raw and indigested Chyle is prepared; and then, by the intemperate drinking of Wine, those Saline Dregs, which otherwise would go to the Excrement, and be carried forth with them, being too much exalted, are conveyed into the Blood: To which Enormi∣ties of Diet, if a Sedentary Lifes, Idleness, and Sleeping after Dinner do concur, whereby those Superfluities are hindred from exhaling, or being discust by Labour and Exercise, they will the more certainly produce the Goat, and that in the worst manner.