The castel of helth gathered and made by Syr Thomas Elyot knyghte, out of the chiefe authors of physyke, wherby euery manne may knowe the state of his owne body, the preseruatio[n] of helthe, and how to instructe welle his physytion in syckenes that he be not deceyued

☞ Of Gestation, that is to say, where one is caried, and is of an other thynge meued, and not of hym selfe. Cap. 34.

THere is also an other kynde of exercyse, which is called Gestation, and is myxte with mouynge and rest. For as moch as * 1.1 the body, syttyng or lyeng, semeth to rest, and not withstandyng it is meued by that, whi∣che beareth it, as lyenge in a bedde, hauynge by cordes or chaynes, or in a cradell, syttinge in a chaire, which is caried on mens shulders with staues, as was the vse of the aūcient Romayns or syttynge in a boote or barge, which is rowed, rydynge on a horse, whiche aumbleth very easi∣lye, or goth a very softe pace. The bedde, cradel, and chayre caried, serueth for theym, that are in longe and continuall syckenesse, or be lately re∣couered of a feuer Also them, whiche haue the frenesye or letarge, or haue a lyghte terciane fe∣uer,

or a cotidiane. This exercise swetely asswa∣geth troubles of the mynd, and prouoketh slepe, as it appereth in chylderne, whiche are rocked. Also it is conuenient for them, whiche haue the palsey, the stoone, or the goute. Gestation in a charyotte or wagon hath in it a shakynge of the body, but some vehement, and some more softe, the softe serueth in dyseases of the heade, and where any matter runneth downe into the sto∣make and entrayles. But the vehement shaking is to be vsed in the griefes of the breste and sto∣macke. Also in swellyng of the body and legges in dropsies, palseys, mygrimes, and scotomies, whiche is an imagination of darkenesse, beynge retōutned, at the ende of his iourneye, he muste sytte vp, and be easily moued. I haue knowen, sayth Aetius, many persons in suche wyse cu∣red without any other helpe. Nauigation or ro∣wynge nigh to the lande, in a clame water, is ex¦pediēt for them that haue dropsies, lepries, pal∣sepes, called of the vulgar people, takynges, and fransies. To be caried on a rough water, it is a vyolent exercise, & induceth sondry affections of the mynde, somtyme feare, somtyme hope, nowe coward harte, nowe hardinesse, one whyle plea¦sure, an nother whyle dyspleasure. These exerci∣ses, yf they be well tempered, they maye put out of the body, all longe durynge syckenesses. For that whiche is myxte with reste and menynge, yf any thynge elles maye, it moste excellently causeth the body to be well nourysshed. Celsus, * 1.2 doth prohybite gestation, where the body feleth peyne, & in the begynnyng of feuers, but whan they ceasse, he aloweth it.

Rydynge moderately, and without gryefe, it dothe corroborate the spyrite and bodye aboue other exercyses, specyally the stomake, it clenseth the sences, and maketh theym more quycke: all be it to the breste it is very noyfull. It oughte to be remembred, that as well this, as all other kyndes of exercyse, wold be vsed in a hole coun∣treye, and where the ayre is pure and vncorrup∣ted. Foresene, that he that woll exercyse, do go fyrste to the stoole, for the causes rehersed in the laste chapiter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Paul. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Actius.
• * 1.2

  Celsus. 2.