Galen's art of physick ... translated into English, and largely commented on : together with convenient medicines for all particular distempers of the parts, a description of the complexions, their conditions, and what diet and exercise is fittest for them / by Nich. Culpeper, Gent. ...

Chap. 51. Signs of a Moderate Tempera∣ture.

THe Indications of a Moderate Temperature accor∣ding to the whol Habit of the Body are, a mixed colour in the Face of red and white, as though the Lilly and the Rose strove for Superiority, the Hair yellow, and moderately curling; the Carnosity or Fleshiness of the Body mean in respect both of quantity and quality, all the Parts of the Body keep the Golden Mean, and avoid excess on either hand; excess to this are, grossness, thinness, fleshiness, leanness, fatness, hardness, softness, roughness, smoothness, all these swerve from meanness, but a man of a moderate or mean temper is such a one (according to the Rule of Polydetus) that if you feel his flesh, it is neither too hard nor too soft, too hot nor too cold; If you look upon his Body, 'tis neither too gross nor too thin, too rough nor too smooth, neither hath it any excess or de∣fect.

Culpeper.

As for the colour of Hair I told you before, it is to be considered according to the Country the man lives in, for although happily in Greece where Galen lived, good constitutions might have yellow Hair, yet we find it not so in England, but usually brown.