Healths improvement: or, Rules comprizing and discovering the nature, method, and manner of preparing all sorts of food used in this nation. Written by that ever famous Thomas Muffett, Doctor in Physick: corrected and enlarged by Christopher Bennet, Doctor in Physick, and fellow of the Colledg of Physitians in London.

Of the use of Bread.

Last of all, Concerning the use of Bread, it consisteth

in the quality, quantity, and timely taking of it. The inmost crumbs of bread are most nourishing, and fittest for hot and cholerick persons; contrariwise the crumbs next the crust are fittest for phlegmatick dispositions, unto whom sometimes we allow the crust it self, or else the crumbs tosted at the fire. Leavened Bread is also most convenient for weak stomachs, because it is soon∣est digested; but if it be too much Leavened, it anoieth them as much in gripings of the belly and spleen-swel∣lings.

It is questioned by some, Whether Children should eat much Bread without Meat, aut contra.

Now Bread (so it be not newer then one day) is most nourshing, but old Bread (as I said before) is most dry∣ing.

Concerning the quantity of Bread, we are to un∣derstand: that as Drink is necessary to hasten meat out of the stomach when it is concocted, so Bread is as need∣full to hang it up, and stay it in the stomach till it be concocted. For if we eat flesh, fish or fruit without Bread, it will either return upward (as it fareth in Dogs) or beget crudities and worms (as it hapneth to greedy Children) or turn to most cruel fluxes, as it falleth out in the Time of Vintage, and at the gathering of Fruit, when many Grapes, or Apples, or Plums be eaten with∣out Bread.

Nevertheless over-much Bread is as hurtful, yea the surfeiting of it is more dangerous then of any meat. For flesh▪ fruit or fish, being immoderately taken, are quickly corrupted into a thin substance, which nature may easi∣ly avoid; but the surfet of Bread is incorrigible, remain∣ing so dry, hard, and tough in the stomach, that it will neither be voided upward, nor downward without great difficulty, resisting the operation of any medicine, stop∣ping

the veins, and dawbing as it were the bowels (o∣therwise sensible enough, and ready to be stirred with the least Physick) with a slimy and viscous morter. Eat therefore no more then to make a convenient mixture of meat and drink; for as there must be a sufficient quan∣tity of sand to combine lime and water together; not too little (lest the morter be too liquid) nor too much (lest it be tough) but a certain proportion to be aimed at by the Plaisterer: so a due quantity of Bread maketh a perfect mass of nourishment, which else being too liquid would turn to crudities by passing over-timely into the guts, or being too thick would either putrifie at length, or at the least wax burdensom to the stomach and choke the veins. Note also this, that the more liquid and moist your meats are, so much the more Bread is requi∣red: but the more dry and solid they are, the more Drink is to be taken and the less Bread.

Last of all, to speak somewhat of the time, and order to be observed in the eating of Bread: Howsoever An∣toninus that holy Emperour of Rome, did make his breakfast onely of dry Bread, and then presented him∣self to all suiters till dinner time: we must conceive, first that he was Rhumatick through his night watch∣ings and great studying. Secondly, that he was old and subject to the Dropsie: otherwise he was foolish to prescribe himself that Diet, or his Physicians mad that perswaded him to it. For as first lime, and then sand are mingled with water, so first Meat, then Bread should be eaten together, and afterward drink should be poured on like water to mingle them both. Socrates said truly, that some fools do use Bread as Meat, and some use Meat as Bread. For some will break their fast with Bread, which commonly is dangerous: others will eat at Dinner a little Meat and too much Bread, which is

almost as unwholesome: others will end their Meals with drink and meat, when reason and experience shew∣eth, that the upper mouth of our stomach is best closed up with Bread and dryness; in the sealing and closing up whereof perfectness of concoction doth greatly con∣sist.

Cyrus the greater, being asked dayly by his Stuard, what he should provide for his Supper, never gave him other answer then this, Onely Bread: shewing us there∣by, that as our breakfast must be of the moistest meats, and our Dinners moderately mingled with driness and moisture; so our Suppers should be either onely of of Bread, or at the most of meats as dry as Bread; es∣pecially in these Islands and moist Countries, so subject to rhumes and superfluous moistures.

Notes

• How and when Bread is to be eaten.
• Sueton. in Vita Anton. Pli.
• Cael l 27 c. 2••. antiq. lect.
• Cael. lib. 9 cap. 13. A. L.