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. 59. Signs of a cold and dry Tempe∣rature.

IF cold together with driness be equally encreased, the Body is hard, thin, without Hairs; If they have a∣ny fat 'tis dispersed amongst the Flesh, both the Hair and colour follow the proportion of the coldness; but when in process of time a hot and dry Temperature turns into a cold and dry, such are slender, hard, rough, hairy and black, and subject to Diseases of Addust Choller; if coldness exceed driness, or the contrary, repair to what you were directed to in the last Chap∣ter.

In whatsoever we have spoken before or shall speak hereafter, take these common Indications.

• 1. If the Member easily wax cold, it is a sign of cold∣ness or rariety, if it wax not easily cold, it is a sign of heat or thickness.
• 2. If a Member be not easily moved, and be offended by drying Medicines, it is a Sign of driness, but if it be offended by moistning Remedies, 'tis a sign of moist∣ness.
• ...

• 3. Alwaies consider the bigness of the Bones, for ••••mtimes a Member may seem slender when 'tis not so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 respect of the Muscles, but only the Bones are smal, ••nd somtimes a Member seems great, not because the ••o••es are so, but by reason of the multitude of Flesh.
• 4. The sollid parts of the Body, can by no means be ••ade moister than they should, 'tis well if you can keep them from overdrying, but those parts which are in∣••••••cepted between these may possibly be filled with moisture.
• 5. That is the proper nourishment of the Similary ••arts which is done by opposition, not by attraction by the Vessels, and this shall suffice; we pass now to ••hat remains.

Culpeper.

Although I love Brevity with all my heart, yet me∣••••inks Galen is a little too concise in this, I shall there∣••ore give my Supplement, but before I give it, take a Caution or two.

1. Complexion, or Temperature of Body is better judged by an Argument à priore, than by an Argument ••posteriore, from the Nativity than from Effects of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, for Forraign Climates and Sickness alter the co∣lour.

2. The Conditions may be altered from bad to good.

• 1. By Nature.
• ...

  2. By the God of Nature.

  By Nature when a Fortune is Lord of the Nativity.

  By the God of Nature when Grace works above Na∣ture.

• ...

  3. Dreams may be altered diverse waies.

  • 1. By inordinate studying after, or thinking of a thing, for then the Apprehension follows the same tract even in sleep.
  • ...

• ...
  • 2. By a corrupt Humor in the Stomach, for be the Complexion Chollerick, yet if a Melancholly Humor afflict the Stomach, the Dreams will rather be of Frighting than of Fighting.
  • 3. False Dreams may happen by the Illusions of evil Spirits.
  • 4. True Dreams may be caused by the Revelation of good Angels.
  • 5. Variety of Food somtimes varieth the colour of the Excrements of the Belly.

These be the Cautions, and according to these Cau∣tions, so understand these following Rules, which you shall find Martialled in this order;

• 1. Of the Complexions Simple.
• 2. Of the Complexions Commixed.

In each, what Diet and Exercise is fittest for them.

Sanguine Complexion.

Description.

A Man or Woman in whose Body heat and moi∣sture abounds, is said to be Sanguine of Com∣plexion, such are usually of a middle Stature, strong composed Bodies, Fleshy but not Fat, great Veins, smooth Skins, hot and moist in feeling, their Body is Hairy, if they be Men they have soon Beards, if they be Women it were rediculous to expect it; there is a redness intermingled with white in their Cheeks, their Hair is usually of a blackish brown, yet somtimes flax∣ed, their Appetite is good, their Digestion quick, their Urine yellowish and thick, the Excrements of their Bo∣wels reddish and firm, their Pulse great and full, they dream usually of red things and merry conceits.

Conditions.

As for their Conditions they are merry cheerful Crea∣tures, bounteful, pitiful, merciful, courteous, bold, tru∣sty, given much to the games of Venus, as though they had been an Apprentice seven yeers to the Trade, a lit∣tle thing will make them weep, but so soon as 'tis over, no further grief sticks to their Hearts.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

They need not be very scrupulous in the quality of their Diet, provided they exceed not in quantity, be∣cause the Digestive Vertue is so strong.

Excess in small Beer engendreth clammy and sweet Flegm in such Complexions, which by stopping the pores of the Body, engenders Quotidian Agues, the Chollick and Stone, and pains in the Back.

Inordinate drinking of strong Beer, Ale, and Wine, breeds hot Rhewms Scabs and Itch, St. Anthonies fire, Q••insies, Pleuresies, Inflamations, Feavers, and red Pimples.

Violent Exercise is to be avoided because it inflames the Blood, and breeds one-day Feavers.

Chollerick Complexion.

Description.

VVE call that Man Chollerick in whose Body heat and driness abounds or is predomi∣nate, such persons are usually short of Stature, and not fat, it may be because the heat and driness of their Bo∣dies consumes radical moisture, their Skin rough and hot in feeling, and their Bodies very hairy, the Hair of their Heads is yellowish, red or flaxen for the most part, and curls much, the colour of their face is tawny

or Sunburnt, they have some Beards, they have little hollow hazel Eyes, their Concoction is very strong in∣somuch that they are able to digest more than they ap∣petite, their Pulse is swift and strong, their Urine yellow and thin, they are usually costive, they dream of fighting, quarrelling, fire, and burning.

Conditions.

As for Conditions they are naturally quick witted, bold, no way shame-fac'd, furious, hasty, quarrelsom, fraudulent, eloqent, corragious, stout-hearted Creatures, not given to sleep much, but much given to jesting, mocking, and lying.

Diet and Exercise fit.

A Chollerick man is oftner hurt by much fasting and much drinking than by much eating, for much fa∣sting weakens Nature in such people, and fills the Bo∣dy full of Chollerick Humors, and breedeth adust Hu∣mors, let such eat meats hard of Digestion, as Beef, Pork, &c. and leave Danties for weaker Stomachs.

Moderate drinking of small Beer doth him good, for it cools the fiery heat of his Nature, moistneth the Bo∣dy which is dryed by the heat of his Complexion, and relieves radical moisture, but let a man of such a Com∣plexion fly from Wine and strong Beer as fast as he would fly from a Dragon, for they inflame the Liver, and breed burning and hectick Feavers, Choller and hot Dropsies, and bring a man to his Grave in the prime of his Age.

Much Exercise is likewise bad for Chollerick People and b••eeds Inslamation and adustion of Blood, the yel∣low Jaundice, Consumptions, Feavers, Costiveness and Agues.

Melancholly Complexion.

Description.

A Melancholly person is one whose Body cold and driness is predominate, and not such a one as is sad somtimes as the vulgar dream, they are usually slen∣der and not very tall, of swa••thy duskish colour, rough Skin, cold and hard in feeling, they have very little Hair on their Bodies and are long without Beards, and somtimes they are Beardless in age, the Hair of their Heads is dusky brown usually, and somtimes duskie flaxen their appetite is far better than their concocti∣on usually, by reason appetite is caused of a sowr vapor sent up by the Spleen which is the Seat of Melancholly, to the Stomach, their Urine is pale, their dung of a clayish colour and broken, their Pulse slow, they dream of frightful things, black, darkness, and terrible busi∣nesses.

Conditions.

They are naturally Covetous, Self-lovers, Cowards, afraid of their own Shadows, fearful, careful, solitary, lumpish, unsociable, delighting to be alone, st••bborn, ambitious, Envious, of a deep cogitation, obstinate in Opinion, mistrustful, suspicious, spiteful, sq••emish, and yet slovenly, they retain Anger long, and aim at no smal things.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

By all means let Melancholly Men avoid excess both in eating and drinking, let them avoid all meats hard of digestion, especially such as are Students or lead a Se∣dentary life; let them use meats that are light of dige∣stion, and drink often at meat. Excess either in meat

or strong liquor, causeth crudities and rawness at the Stomach, Idle and strange imaginatious and fancies, a stinking Breath, Headach, Toothach, forgetfulness, shortness of breath, Consumptions, Phtisicks, third day Agues, the Chollick and Illiack passions, and Dropsies.

Much Exercise is very profitable for such, not only because it helpeth digestion, but also, because it destri∣buteth the Vital Spirit throughout the Body, and con∣sumeth those superfluous Vapors by insensible Transpi∣ration, which causeth those idle fancies and imaginati∣ons in men.

Flegmatick Complexion.

Description.

SUch People in whom coldness with moisture a∣bounds are called Flegmatick, yet are usually not very tall, but very fat; some you shall find almost as thick as they are long, their Veins and Arteries are small, their Bodies without Hair, and they have but ••••ttle Beards, their hair is usually flaxen or light brown, their face white and pale, their Skin smooth, cold and moist in touching; both Appetite and Digestion is ve∣ry weak in them, their Pulse little and low, their U∣rine pale and thick, but the excrements of their bowels usually thin, they dream of great rains, water, and drowning.

Conditions.

As for Conditions, they are very dull, heavy and slothful, like the Scholler that was a great while a lear∣ning a Lesson, but when Once he had it— he had quickly forgotten it: They are drowsie, sleepy, cow∣ardly

forgetful Creatures, as swift in motion as a Snail, they travail (and that's but seldom) as though they intended to go 15. miles in 14. daies, yet are they shame fac'd and sober.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

People of this Complexion of all other ought to use a very slender Diet, for fasting clenseth the Body of those gross and unconcocted Humors which Flegmatick People are usually as full of as an Egg is of Meat: What they do eat, let it be of light digestion, a Cup of strong Beer, and now and then a cup of Wine is no waies unwholsom for them of this Complexion that are minded to keep their Bodies in health.

Much Meat and Drink fills their Bodies full of Indi∣gestion, Wind, and Stitches, Quotidian Agues and Dropsies, Falling sickness and Gouts, Rhewms and Catharres.

Much Exercise is very healthful for them unless they love their laziness better than their health, for by that means gross Humors are made thin and expelled by sweat, the Memory is quickned and the Skin clarified.

Thus much for Complexions taken Simply by them∣selves without commixture one with another; as for Medicinal Remedies for their superabounding, I omit∣ted it, considering it may be found by what hath gone before, unless by such dolts that forget one line as fast as they reade another.

I come now to their Commixture, which as far as I can find within the compass of my Pia Mater, are these that follow.

• 1. Chollerick-Melancholly.
• 2. Melancholly-Chollerick.
• 3. Melancholly-Sanguine.
• 4. Sanguine-Melancholly.
• 5. Sanguine-Flegmatick.
• 6. Flegmatick-Sanguine.
• 7. Flegmatick-Chollerick.
• 8. Chollerick-Flegmatick.

Let none object to me, that there may be more com∣mixtures than these, as Chollerick-Sanguine Flegmatick-Melancholly and the like, for I can scarce believe it, and if you do but heed how and in what order the Signs of the Zodiack arise, you may happily be of my Opinion, and therfore of these, and these only in order.

Of a Chollerick-Melancholly Complexion.

IT is a thing very difficult if not impossible to find a man in whom two Complexions are equally predo∣minant, but one will more or less excel, therefore where Choller exceeds in chief, and next that Melan∣cholly, that man I call Chollerick-Melancholly.

Description.

They are higher of Stature than such as are Simply Chollerick, by reason their radical moisture is more prevalent, yet have they little lean Bodies, rough and hard Skin, meanly hairy, and but meanly neither, pret∣ty temperate in feeling in respect of Heat, swarthy co∣lour, their Hair of their Head is of a Chestnut colour or light brown, their digestion is meanly strong, their Pulse meanly strong, yet somthing slow, their Urine of a pale yellow and thin, their Excrements yellow and hard, they dream of falling from high places, Robbe∣ries, Murders, Hurts proceeding from fire, fighting or anger.

Conditions.

Such people by natural inclination are very quick Witted, excellent Students, yet will they begin many businesses ere they finish one, they are bold, furious, quarrelsom, somthing fraudulent, prodigal and eloquent, they are not so unconstant and scornful as Chollerick men are, but more suspitious, and fretful, more solita∣ry and studious after Curiosities, and retain their an∣ger longer than Chollerick men do.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

Let them observe great moderation in Meat and Drink, for Meats hard of digestion engenders tough Flegm in such Bodies, and will bring their Bodies to an Asthma ere they are aware of it. Above all let such people avoid excess in drinking, for much small drink breeds Fligm in them, and much strong spoils the Brain, causeth Scabs and Itch and breaking out of heat about the Body.

Moderate Exercise is not only convenient but also very profitable for such persons.

Melancholly-Chollerick Complexion.

Description.

SUch are usually tall of stature, yet are their Bodies somwhat slender and dry, their Skin rough, hard, and cold in feeling, they have but very little Hair on their Bodies, and are long without Beards, they have also much superfluities at the Nose, the Face of a dark pale colour, their Hair usually of a blackish brown co∣lour, their digestion weak and somthing less than their Appetite, their Pulse slow, their Urine subcitrine and thin, their egestion sallow colour'd and somthing thin; dreamings are of falling down from high places, vain idle and fearful things.

Conditions.

As for Conditions they are very gentle and sober, wil∣ling to do good, admirable students, delighting to be alone, very shamefac'd and bashful, somwhat fretful, con••tant to their Friends, and true in all their actions.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

Excess of eating, drinking, and sleeping, are as great Enemies to the Nature of such a man as R••ts-bane, for they fill the Bodie full of tough and congealed Humors, from whence proceed Morphew and other Infirmities of the Skin, and other Infirmities that are more than Skin deep, as stoppings of the Liver, corruptions of the Lungues, Asthma, Phtisick, Wind, Belly-ach, Chollick. If such will be ruled by me (if they will not I cannot help it) let them eat and drink moderately, let their care be to suffice Nature and not to stuff their

Guts with Meat, nor make a Hog-wash-tub of their Bellies with drink, I will not deny them, but advise them now and then to drink a cup of strong Beer or Wine, especially after meat, for excess of small Beer cools the Liver, hinders their digestion, and bids them beware of a Dropsie, it spoils both Apprehension and Memory, and fills the Head full of superfluites, but—

The immoderate use of strong Beer fills that Brain full of Fancies which should be imployed about better matters.

Moderate Exercise is very good for them, and helps much to destribute vital heat, which in this Complexi∣on seems to be but weak; above all things let them have a care of catching wet at their feet.

Melancholly-Sanguine Com∣plexion.

Description.

THey are tall of stature, and have big, fleshy, ••••••m, strong bodies, the colour of their Face of a dar∣kish red, their Skin neither hard nor rough, and as lit∣tle cold, but temperate in respect of softness and warm∣ness, their Bodies are not usually very hairy, yet have they soon Beards, their digestion is good and laudable, their Urine of a light Saffron colour, mean in substance, neither too thick nor too thin, the egestion or Excre∣ments of the Belly reddish and soft, their dreams are pleasant, and many times happen truly to come to pass

Conditions.

They are more liberal, bolder, and merrier than Me∣lancholly persons are, as also less cowardly, not so pen∣sive nor solitary, neither are they troubled with such fearful conceits, but are gentle, sober, patient, trusty, affable, courteous, studious to do others good.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

For as much as digestion in these is good, they need not be so penurious in Diet as the former, much fa∣sting fill their Bodie full of wind, and much strong Beer and Wine, inflames the Blood.

Moderate Exercise purifies their Blood, strengthens their Bodies, and makes their Skin cleer.

Sanguine-Melancholly Com∣plexion.

Description.

THey are mean of Stature, but strong well compact Bodies, fleshy but not fat, big Veins and Arte∣ries, smooth warm Skin, somthing hairy but not so hairy as Sanguine people have: Their Hair is either black or a very black brown, their Cheeks red, som∣thing clouded with duskiness, their Pulses great and full, the Urine yellow and mean in respect of thickness and thinness, their digestion good, the Excrements of their Bellies reddish and somthing thin, they usually dream of deep Pits and Wells and somtimes of flying in the Air.

Conditions.

Their Conditions are much like to the Conditions of a Sanguine Man, but that they are not altogether so

merry nor so liberal, a spice of a Melancholly temper being inherent in them.

As for Diet and Exercise, that which we described under Melancholly-Sanguine will suffice for these also, only take notice that strong Liquor and violent. Exer∣cise is more subject to inflame the Blood.

Sanguine-Flegmatick Com∣plexion.

Description.

THey are higher of Stature than Sanguine, with strong well set Bodies, not very fat, their Hair is flaxen or very light brown, their Face is of a paler red, than Sanguine peoples is, neither are their Bodies so hairy, their Pulse is Moderate, their Appetite good, their Digestion indifferent; their Urine subcitrine and mean in substance, their egestion white in some places and red in others, they dream of flying in the Air, Rain and Waters.

Conditions.

As for Conditions they are less liberal and not so much addicted to the Sports of Venus as Sanguine are, neither are their Spirits so bold, nor their Bodies so hairy.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

Seing the Digestion of such People is but meanly strong, let them not eat as much in one day as they can digest in two, let their Diet be such as is not too hard of digestion, for their Stomachs are nothing neer so hot as an Estriches; If they love their appetite bet∣ter than their health, and will take in more food than

is fitting for them, let them expect the Chollick, smal Pox, Meazles, &c.

Let not their Drink be too smal, for that makes but thin and watry Blood in such Constitutions, it dulls their Brain, and causeth Dropsies and Gouts.

Moderate Exercise is very profitable to consume their Superfluities.

Flegmatick-Sanguine Com∣plexion.

Description.

FLegmatick-Sanguine people are but mean of stature, somwhat gross and fat of Body, smooth soft Skin, and somwhat cold in touching, they have but few hairs upon their Bodies and are long without Beards, their hair is light yellow, light brown or flaxen, no waies curling, their colour whitely, with some very smal red∣ness, if any; their digestion is somwhat weak and less than their Appetites, their Pulse smal and low, their Urine somwhat thick and palish, they somtimes dream of falling down from some high place into the water.

Conditions.

Their Conditions are so-so, between Flegmatick and Sanguine, neither very liberal nor very covetous, neither very idle nor much imployed, neither very mer∣ry nor very sad; rather fearful of the two than valiant.

Diet and Exercise fit.

Let them beware of overfilling themselves with meat, if they love their health but half so well as they love their ••ase so they will; much eating and drinking fills the Stomachs of such people full of raw humors, and

sowr Flegm, engenders the small Pox and Meazles, and dulls their wit, which naturally is none of the quic∣kest.

Strong Beer and Wine taken in Mediocrity is not h••rtful for them, and let them take this from me, and say I told them the truth, the more they accustom their Bodies to exercise, the better 'tis for them.

Flegmatick-Chollerick Complexion.

Description.

SUch are tall of stature but not so big nor yet so fat as Flegmatick, their Bodies are somthing hairy and they pretty soon have Beards, they have usually Hair of a Chestnut colour, not curling, and soft, their Fa∣ces of a tauny red, full of Freckles, their Appetite and Digestion is indifferent, as being pretty well met; a moderate and pretty full Pulse, their Urine subcitrine and mean in respect of thickness, the Excrements of their Belly of a pale yellow and thick, they usually dream of swimming in the Water, Snow, and Rain.

Conditions.

They are not such drowsie, lazy, ••leepy Creatures as Flegmatick folks are, but are nimbler, bolder, and kin∣der, merrier, and quicker witted.

Diet and Exercise convenient.

Although they may be a little bolder with their food than Flegmatick may, yet is digestion in them none of the strongest, and excess in meat fills their Bodies with Choller, and punisheth their Carcasses with Chollerick Diseases.

Excess of Drink spoils their Digestion, and weakens Nature, but moderate Exercise refresheth it.

Chollerick-Flegmatick Complexion.

Description.

SUch are but mean of stature, but stout lusty strong Bodies, strong Bones, well set Creatures, neither fat nor lean, but in that respect they keep the Golden Mean, they have lusty great Bones, their Skin is hai∣ry and moderate to feeling in respect of heat and moi∣sture, their Hair is yellowish or sandy flaxen, and their Face of a tawnyish yellow colour, their Digesti∣on is good, their Pulse swift, their Urine thin and of the colour of Saffron, their egestion yellow and hard, they dream of fighting, Lightning and Rain, hot Baths and hot Waters,

Conditions.

Their Conditions are not much different from those of Chollerick men, only the Vices of Choller is mo∣derated by Flegm, therefore a Chollerick-Flegmatick man is nothing so vicious as one purely Chollerick; neither doth any Humor set a stop to the unbridled pas∣sions of Choller, so as Flegm doth, because 'tis so con∣trary to it, judg the like by the rest.

Diet and Exercise fitting.

A slender Diet works the same evil effects in quality though not in quantity that it doth in Chollerick.

Much excess in strong Drink inflames the Blood, and out of such Inflamation proceeds Putrefaction, which begets a Generation of rotten Feavers, Pestilences, small Pox &c. Pleuresies, and Apostumes.

Let their Exerc••••e be neither violent nor ex••essive.

Thus I have done what I promised you, if any think some other mixtures may be, which here be not set down (by reason of a Planet of a contrary nature, be∣ing in the Ascendent at the Birth; as for example, If Mars should ascend in Gemines, you may say the Na∣ture would be Chollerick-Sanguine) he may by these Rules find out the Description, Condition, and requi∣site Diet; If he think he cannot, let him reade this over till he can, and now and then between whiles learn to scratch his Head with a pair of wiser Nails.

Lastly, Such as have any wit in their Heads, may hereby come to all the judgment of Urine that I as yet know of, or where it grows.

But after a long degression I return to my Author whom I left at.