A way to health, long life and happiness, or, A discourse of temperance and the particular nature of all things requisite for the life of man as all sorts of meats, drinks, air, exercise &c., with special directions how to use each of them to the best advantage of the body and mind : shewing from the true ground of nature whence most diseases proceed and how to prevent them : to which is added a treatise of most sorts of English herbs ... the whole treatise displaying the most hidden secrets of philosophy ... / communicated to the world for the general good by Thomas Tryon.

Of Tobacco.

Tobacco is an Herb of Mars and Saturn; from the first it derives its hot tart Quality, and owes its strong fulsom poysonous Nature to the latter. It makes a most excellent Oyntment, and is much safer being applied outwardly, than inwardly taken. 'Tis one of Nature's Extreams, and there is no way known or Preparation found out that can destroy its poyson∣ous Qualities, or reconcile and make it friendly to mans Nature, but only the continual use and custom of taking it; for this cause, at the first taking, it disagrees with all sorts of Complexions, with some more, and others less, according to the degree of An∣tipathy it bears to each mans peculiar Nature, having a nearer affinity to some than others.

It being extream hot in Operation, 'tis therefore good taken in Pipes, against all cold windy and phleg∣matick Humours, but the constant and common whif∣fling

it, does not only destroy and render invalid all its Physical Vertues, but heats and drys up Nature, and powerfully consumes the Radical Moisture, causing most that use it to spit up the moist matter, which ought not to be drawn out of the Stomach by such forcible Attractions; it being a general mistake for People to think that the more thin phlegmy matter they spit up, the better 'tis for them, when in truth 'tis altogether the contrary; for if the healthiest and soundest of men take Tobacco, it will cause as great Evacuations and spittings in them, as in the most un∣healthy; for this cause the much taking of it dulls the Stomach, and takes away the edge of the Appe∣tite; whatever matter is superfluous in the Stomach, Nature will expel by vertue and power of the inward Heat, if Temperance be observed; but the constant taking of Tobacco is nothing else but the constuat taking of Physick, though through Custom and Use the same (as likewise the highest Poysons) may be made familiar to Nature. For Man (as we have al∣ready told you) is a little World, and in him are con∣tained all the Properties and Qualities of the great World, as well of Poysons as of Vertues. The nature of Man hath Affinity more or less with all things, else Custom could never cause such poysonous things to become agreeable; yet ought not any to imagin the common use of such extreams to be the more proper or profitable unto their Health, because by violence to Nature at first, and continual practice afterwards, they can better endure them, and they seem more a∣greeable than they did at first.

I doubt not but some may find benefit by taking Tobacco in Pipes, but then there must not be a con∣stant taking of it; for then the Physical Vertue will not continue; for by habit and use such things be∣come like common Food in the Stomach. Most Peo∣ple that smoke Tobacco, in the beginning forced Nature,

and made her bow to their Inclinations, not for any Distemper, but of a vain wanton Humour, because of late 'tis grown the fashion, and many Thousands have strained and hurt their Health, and brought many Inconveniences upon themselves, meerly to follow this bruitish Mode. Some others there are, who first learnt to take it for some manifest Distemper, which have so far been excusable (tho yet not one of an hun∣dred of this sort have found it a Remedy;) for tho Tobacco hath been of so universal an use, yet 'tis no Universal Medicine. Indeed it hath and is indued with its particular Physical Vertues, as all other Herbs are, and when 'tis properly apply'd, and meets with such Diseases, then it proves effectual, otherwise not: there is as much reason that any other Physical Herb should be made universal as this, but few men hearken to Reason; for most (like Brutes) are carried away by Custom, and look on the Multitude, and make their uncircumcised ways their Rules, childishly saying, Sure if there were not many excellent Vertues and Benefits to be found in the use of such things, as the common taking of Tobacco, (viz. five, six, ten or twenty Pipes a day, and as much strong Drink in one day as might well sustain five or six men a week) such abundance of Wise and Learned Men would never practise the same; for (say they) we see our Physitians and Apothecaries, and the best of our Gentry, such as have been bred in the Univer∣sities and Inns of Court. [But it had been much better they had been of that most excellent. Imployment Ia∣cob's Sons wereof, tho now despised.] Nay, some of our Reverend Divines themseves will smoke as intempe∣rately as any of the Vulgar. But all this is still but a fools Argument, to do a thing because he sees others to do it tho Reason and Experience tells him 'tis prejudicial.

It is not above sixty or seventy years ago since that only Gentlemen, and but a few of those took Tobacco, and then so moderately, that one Pipe would serve

four or five, for they handed it from one to another (and it seems were then so honest as not to fear infect∣ing one another with any French Contagion) but now every Plow-man has his Pipe to himself. In former days Canary was chiefly sold by the Apothecaries, and perhaps then when Adulteration was not so much in fashion, might be the best Cordial in their Shop. The name and use of Brandy was not known till of late; but now the excess of all these things is become almost general amongst all sorts of People, even amongst those that count themselves most sober and Religious, and who should set Examples of Temperance to others it not being esteemed any sin to smoke two, three or four Pipes of Tobacco at a sitting, and Carrouze strong Drink, Brandy, Wine, and the like, in perfect Health, and when need or nature doth not require such things; and yet think all's well, if they can but follow their outward Occasions, and keep themselves from being Drunk, they never regard it, tho one of them do de∣stroy of Gods good Creatures as much in one day, both in Value, Quantity and Quality as would suffice five or six. Still, I say, all this is not reconed any sin a∣mongst many thousands of those counted sober Peo∣ple; the common custom and frequent use of these Intemperances hides the Evil of them, which few con∣sider, or if they do, yet they are ashamed to follow the pure dictates of Wisdom, for fear of displeasing or being hooted at by the frantick Rabble, who gaze, laugh and rail at all that will not run with them to the same Excess of Riot. There is scarce any thing in the World that has so much depraved and deprived man of his understanding, and led him aside from the simple innocent ways of God and Nature, since his original fall, as Custom and the Example of the Crowd. As in the government and ordering of Families, if the good man of the House say to his Wife, It will be best to order the Affairs of our House so and so—Yes (pre∣sently

she answers) it is true; but then what will People say of us? How strangely will they talk? And what a base Report we shall give occasion to be raised of us? If we do only those things that are proper and necessary to preserve the Health of our Bodies and Minds, How many stingy sneak∣ing Names will they call us, &c? And by this learned Lecture the silly man is over-perswaded to continue on his old rode of Excess and Superfluity, to the Displea∣sure of God, Injury of Nature, Prejudice of his Fami∣lies Health, bad Example to his Children, and impa∣ring of his Estate; and all this meerly to a∣void the Chat and censorious Tattle of a few Gossips, the wagging of whose tongues is no more to be valued by any Wise Man, than the Chattering of Mag-pies, or the buz of Flies in Autumn.

Nothing is more manifest than that there is not one of many Thousands that is guided by his own Mind, Wisdom or Reason, but the common Custom carries the day; few ever stand to dispute whether it be good or bad, Is it a Custom, the Fashion, all the Mode? If it be, there is no scruple to be made. The unlawful use of Tobacco, Brandy, Wine, &c. and the Intemperance therein is cloaked over by the wicked Custom of the Multitude. Would not any indifferent body wote it a sin and a high shame for a Man or a Woman to sit sotting and smoaking ten or twenty Pipes of Tobacco in a day, making the whole House stink an hundred fold worse than the Saturnine Smoke of Chimnies, and spitting & spawling as though he had taken a fluxing Potion, and continually spitting it up again, as if his Chaps had found the perpetual Motion; Would not, I say, all this seem most Abominable, and be counted a very great Evil and Intemperance, if it were not a Custom? The very same is to be understood in many other things. Which evil Customs and Habits all so∣ber well-minded People ought to refrain and cast from them, and look upon them no otherwise than as In∣ventions

and Snares laid by evil Angels to inthrall and insnare mankind, that he may keep them in Dark∣ness, and that by such their following those evil Cust∣oms, they may be always rendred uncapable of un∣derstanding God or his own Nature.

How much precious time do Men spend in smoak∣ing Tobacco, dosing and stupifying their Senses? And how many through such neglect of time, and the Ex∣pences, which this smoaking generally draws with it, have half starved their poor Families, and involved themselves in many Mischiefs and Inconveniences? But to proceed to particulars.

Tobacco does generally disagree most with the Cho∣lerick and Sanguine Complexion'd People, being an utter Enemy to their Nature; the taking of it in Pipes doth over-heat their Bodies, the Fumes and Smoke thereof do too violently penetrate and awa∣ken the Center, which always sets Nature into an un∣equal motion; for the sulpherous Fumes penetrate too furiously, which does powerfully stir up and a∣waken the Element of Water, the attractive and poy∣sonous hot Qualities of Saturn and Mars being so strong in Tobacco, that rarely any can take it without much Spitting, which is Injurious to most sorts of People, except some cold Melancholy or gross Phleg∣matick Complexions, who through cold windy Di∣stempers and watry gross Humours want Evacuations; to such it oft-times proves profitable, if not taken too frequently, but as it were in a Physical way. But for others that are in perfect Health, and especi∣ally for the Sanguine or Cholerick Complexions it very rarely (if ever) proves beneficial; for it dries up and exhales that most pleasant moist Liquor, and forci∣bly draws it from all parts of the Body, and casts it forth by its poysonous Fumes; and so the Body being deprived of what should keep it in Temperature, and cool all the inward parts and Vessels, and sharpen the Appetite, becomes all over hot and dry, the Appetite

dull, the Stomach out of tone, and great drought or desire to drink follows; and hence it is that the Pot and the Pipe are inseparable Companions, and still the strongest Drinks are desired by all Smoakers, for Small will not make Nature restitntion for her losses; for every Extream begets its Likeness, and after too great Evacuations there must be Supplies.

I dare from Reason and the Testimony of Expe∣rience affirm, that 'tis absurd and against Nature, for either young People, or any others that are in perfect Health, to practise the common smoaking of Tobacco, it being an Herb endued with extream Qua∣lities; and all such things ought to be cautiously ta∣ken into the Body. I would have every one consider the possibility of Nature in all such unequal things, especially those whose predominant Quality stands in the high Poysons, and to observe the Nature and O∣peration of each thing, and then they will certainly find the truth of what is mentioned before.

Let us take an Example in strong Drinks and Wine: The predominant Quality there is a certain Spiritual Heat, and as soon as a Man hath drunk them, he pre∣sently feels his Internal Heat or Spirits to be raised or awakened above and beyond its proper degree, if any quantity be drunk, during the time of its opera∣tion, but afterwards it leaves Nature with fewer Spi∣rits than it found in her; for all Meats and Drinks, and whatsoever else goes into the Body, that is une∣qual in its parts, does too violently awaken or kindle the Central Heats, and raise them from their several Centers, and brings Nature into an unequal Operati∣on, consumes the Radical Moisture, and as it were burns up the sweet Oyl, and evaporates the pure Spirits; for this cause, after the operation of such unequal things, most People are possest with an heavy Dulness and Indisposition, Fumes and Vapours besieging the Crown, the Senses stupified or disorder'd, the Sto∣mach and Appetite furr'd and dull'd. By which ef∣fects

all Men may be sensible that Nature does perfectly hate all Extreams and Inequality: But on the contrary, if Meats or Drinks be of a simple or middle Nature, and there be in them no manifest Quality predomi∣nant, then they gently insinuate their Vertues into all parts of the Body, administring both dry and moist Nourishment, and with silence and concord support the Body in Health.

The Vertue of Tobacco taken in Pipes, is extracted from the Smoke thereof; now Smoke is unusual to Nature, and a fulsom Steem or Vapour full of dark Sulpherous Saturnal Excrements, which the Fire and Light casts forth as an abomination, being void of all real Vertue; it contains a gross Humidity, and a fierce keen Quality, very pernicious to the pure Spirits: For Smoke proceeds from the poysonous Juices and Liquor, which the Fire and Air separates and casts forth, it being a thing that all People endeavour to a∣void; and how inimical it is to Nature, is further manifested by that black sutty Substance which it leaves behind it, and by its destroying Vegetation; for it contains two poysonous Qualities, a strong Bitter one from Mars, and a fulsom Astringent one from Saturn; its black Colour shews that its predominant Quality is from the venomous Center of Saturn, and hence when Tobacco is burned, it sends forth a strong fulsom scent or smell; offensive to most that are not used to it; nay, do not the very Breaths of those that take Tobac∣co perfectly stink? And does not the smoking of it so defile the common Air, that a Man may know where one hath been that takes Tobacco, they leave such a fe∣tid Vapour behind them? Do not all or most of our English Herbs when burned, send forth a far better Scent or Fume than Tobacco does? And I am sure many of them would not only be less offensive, but produce better effects, as to the Cure of Diseases.

When any Herb, Wood or other thing is set on fire, you may presently perceive by the scent what

Quality was therein predominant, for the Fire pow∣erfully awakens all the hidden Qualities, which could not be perceived whilst the thing remained intire. If the chief quality of the Herb or thing burnt, stand in the friendly Nature, then it sends forth, and is mani∣fested by two Qualities, viz. a most pleasant sweet Smell or Vapour, chearing and delightful to the Senses, and also it sends forth a burthensom Fume or Vapour, which incorporates it self with the Air, and flies away in a Smoke or Steem, which is from the poysonous Root, the Original of every Life: But on the contrary, if you burn any Herb or other thing, the predominant Quality whereof stands in the Martial or Saturnine Poysons, then all such things send forth also two Qua∣lities, viz. a very unpleasant Scent or Fume, offensive and burthensom to Nature, dulling the pure Spirits, and as it were suffocating the pleasant thin Vapours of the Air; and also it sends forth a gross humid poyson∣ous matter, that incorporates it self with the thickest part of the Air, and evaporates in a Saturnine Smoke; for if there lie hid any Verrue or Vice in any thing, Fire will unlock all the Gates and discover it; and if there be any Aromatick or Balsamick Vertue in the Herbs of Vegetables so burnt, it will appear by sending forth odoriferous and pleasant Smells: As on the contrary, ill Smells are an evident Testimony of Saturnine and Martial Poysons being predominant, which is the very Nature of Tobacco, and therefore not to be so wanton∣ly used as commonly it is.

Lastly, I would not have People imagin that there is the more Vertue in Tobacco, because the Fumes and Smoke of it will open the Body, and loosen the Belly, for it is the nature of all Smoke to open, being of a fierce keen penetrating quality that arises from the Original Poysons in Nature, whence it has also a sharp fierce humid quality that is exceeding offensive to the Eyes, like the Fumes that Onions send forth when cut. And we must likewise note, that when Tobacco was first

brought into England, it was ten-fold more offensive to the Takers thereof than it is now, because their Fore-Fathers were not acquainted with the use of it, so that they could not entail any desire of it on their Posterity: For the Children that are begot by Persons, that have accustomed themselves to the common use of these unnatural things, contract a kind of unsensi∣ble Affinity with such things, as proceeding from the like matter and Essences, so that thereby there are Foundations laid for Inclinations towards the use of them: The same is to be understood in other things, as those whose Parents live much on Flesh or Fish, do lay such Foundations for an Inclination thereunto in the very Radix of their Children, that it would prove a very difficult thing for them to refrain there-from.

So that every succeeding Age doth more easily and familiarly, and with the less difficulty receive these evil Customs and Habits, till in time they become al∣most Natural, and thence humane Nature in general becomes weaker and decayed, and Diseases come into the World with Children as part of their Essence, and Scurveys and other Diseases grow almost Universal, and all this for want of Temperance and Discretion in their Progenitors: A sad Inheritance to leave our Off∣spring, when we bequeath them our Follies, and intail upon them Miseries that are but the just Punishments and natural Consequences of them!