The English mans doctor. Or the schoole of Salerne. Or [ph]ysicall obserua[ti]ons for the perfect preseruing of the bodie of man in continuall health. [Wh]ereunto [is] adioyned precepts for the pr[e]seruation of health. Written by [Hen]ricus Ronsouius for [the p]riuate vse of his sons. And now published for all those that desire to [preser]ue their bodies in [perfect] health.

CHAP. IIII. Of the ayre.

THe ayre by it selfe is hot and moyst, and the attraction thereof is so neces∣sary vnto all liuing creatures, that if the wayes of respiration bee intercepted, and

occluded, they presently die, and all of vs haue experience, that the constitution of the bodie is often changed, eyther by the temperature or distemperature of the ayre: therefore we must prouide with all our study, to chuse the best ayre, as much as may be.

For that is the best ayre which to euerie one is natiue, for as the Philosopher saith, Vniuscuius{que} locus naturalis sui est locati con∣seruantius: besides, a temperate ayre, pure, cleare, and thinne, which lyeth open, and is free from stinkes, infection, or putrifacti∣on; is to be chosen. And on the contrary, that ayre is most bad and hurtfull, which is troublesome, cloudie, impure, stinking, showrie, putride, close, which neither wind nor Sunne doth penetrate, nor purge: in like manner, that is good ayre, which ta∣keth neither venenosity, nor other malign•• qualitie, through the standing waters which in the Summer time are corrupte•• with a pestilent ayre, or with the vapour o•• exhalations, or infected with foeculent ex¦cretions: so that ayre is most maliciou•• which springeth from dunghills, sincke•…•… and other pestiferous places, which dot•• oppresse the heart, and make a difficultie 〈◊〉〈◊〉

breathing, which is ouer hot, or ouer cold, for an hot ayre dissolueth the spirits, it ge∣nerateth thirst, it diminisheth the vitall fa∣culties, and hindereth digestion. A cold ayre doth ingender the Asthma and Ca∣tarrhes: and as this impure ayre doth vitiat the vitall spirits, so must wee be carefull by all meanes to beware of it; so then we must draw an ayre that is pure and temperate, for except a good ayre be drawne in daily, whereby our naturall heat may be ventila∣ted, tempered and cooled, our health must needes bee troubled and endangered, of which it appeareth, where it is said:

Satius esse sub dio versari, quam Cubiculis vndi{que} clausis immorari.

It behooueth also for vs to obserue this thing, that in cold seasons it shall be fit to vse an hotte ayre, or fire for hot things in a cold time: moyst in a drie, and drie in a moist aire, is chiefely fitting and agreeing: also in daily diseases, we see it is sometimes very profitable to change the ayre, for sometimes change of ayre and place doth recouer health that is lost. But whereas the ayre oftentimes is mooued and changed with the windes, and odors, for the winde is no other thing then the aire moued with

the stirring and prouoking of vapours, of which, and of sweete smells, it shall not be amisse somewhat to speake of.

Of windes, and sweete smelling sauours.

THe North-wind of al other is accoun∣ted the best and wholesomest, and the East doth challenge to it selfe the next place, and what winde soeuer doth mode∣rately coole, doth drie and make cleere our habitations: therefore it must be towards the North and East, for the temperature of the ayre and the wind; for too much wind is hurtfull very much to the sence, both of the lungs, the eyes and eares: but that which attaineth to odoraments, and sweet smells: it is manifest, as it were, the ayre to bee nourished by the spirits, but most quickly by odors the braine and heart is strengthened, and the minde refreshed; which refreshment the body also doth feele the pleasure and recreation.

A naughtie stinking ayre, is corrected and amended by odoraments and suffumi∣gations; but there is a very great diffe∣rence: for look what ayre we draw in, such and the like spirits goe out from vs.

Odors and smells that are oner-hot, are not by me approued, because it filleth the head, and ingendreth the catarrh, for the temperature it selfe of the braine, being a meane betweene hot and cold, doth chief∣ly reioyce in things that are temperate: and on the other side it is much offended and hurt by the contrary: therefore sometimes those odors are to be mixed and changed, as if cold doth raigne, let the odors decline to heat; and if heat doth beare sway, then frame that they may be of cold operation.

Of Roses therefore, Violets and Myr∣tels, Campher, Sanders and Rose-water, which are cold things: on the other side, of Cinamon, Citron rynds, Orenge peeles, A∣loes, Amber, Muske, which are hot; of which you may vse at your pleasure. Odors are not only drawne by the nostrills, but there must bee application to the brest and stomacke, Treacle, Mithridate, Frankin∣cence, Amber, Angelica, and such like, which are thought to haue vertue against venome: no lesse comfort to recreate your spirits, ariseth out of gardens, where-hence ariseth sweete smells and sauours: also to vse sweete smelling hearbes, flowers and rushes at the time of the yeere, conuenient

to the constitution and state of the bodie, and to cast about the court, and in the chambers, the leaues of Withies, of Roses, Violets, Vine-leaues, Origanum, wilde Time, Time, Lauender, Myrtils, Quinces, Peares, the flowers of Orenges, Pomegra∣nates, and other such like: and also to sprinkle the chamber with Rose-water, or the water of the flowres of Orenges, and other like: also to euaporate the place with vineger, and sometimes also in your cham∣bers to burne perfumes, fragrant and sweet smelling.

What sweete smells, fumes or torches I am wont to vse; I will heere set downe, that hauing a care to the temperature and state of the body, you may vse also.

A description of an odoriferous water.

TAke an equall weight of Rose-water, with the best white wine, Rose-vini∣ger the fourth part, Suger-candie, a third part; dissolue it in those things; some adde a little Saffron: with this water wash the hands and face, the ioynts and eyes, and therewith cleanse the teeth, and besprinkle the rest of the clothes.