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IF the Vessels be emptied as they should be, it doth good; and the Patient likes it wel, if otherwise not. Therefore con∣sider the Climate, Time and Age, and Diseases, whether you ought to bleed or no.
All diseases by repletion, are cured by Evacuation or Blood-letting, if large and
violent, or much at the nose.
If any be dumb on the sudden, open the vein in the right arm. A Woman with child will miscarry upon bleeding, and the sooner as her child is older.
In acute diseases open a vein, when the disease is vehement, and the patient in his youth, and strong.
The veins behind the Ears being ope∣ned, cause barrenness.
If you will let blood, by reason there is blood gathered together, to turn it from the place, do it at a great distance from the part afflicted. The opening of the veins beneath in the Groyns, Thighs, Legs and Ankles, maketh men unfruitful. It is good for a man to bleed somtimes: the time of bleeding begins at February, and again at September.
THere are three Considerations in Blood-letting, the vehemency of the disease, the youth of the Patient, and the strength of the Faculty.
Nor too yong, nor too old are to be let blood.
They need no blood-letting that have any natural evacuation.
Many need bleeding after long Diseases by the three considerations mentioned.
We bleed when there is no fulness, when there is great pain, or in a Fracture or dislocation, or any contraction in a Joynt.
Bleeding requires strength agreeable to the evacuation.
It is not good to bleed often in one year.
When you let blood, keep off far from the Artery.
Bleeding and Water-drinking are chief remedies of conteining Feavers.
When you wil cure obstructions first open a Vein though there be no fulness.
Necessity allows and commands blood-letting at any time or hour.
It is a good Remedy in continual Fea∣vers to let blood til they faint, if the Pa∣tient be strong.
Two hours after bleeding the Patient may eat.
In bleeding in continual Feavers con∣sider not the number of the daies, but on∣ly the strength.
If at the time of bleeding the Terms chance to flow, or the Haemorrhoids, ob∣serve it, and if the quantity voided be sufficient, leave the whole business to Na∣ture and that flux, but otherwise bleed a little.
These are the inconveiencies that fol∣low, loss of too much blood, Faintness, worse habit of body, a colder temper, discoloring of the whole body, and fal∣ling into long deadly Diseases.
In all Feavers bleed at the first if the Patient be strong.
It is lawful by bleeding to evacuate su∣perfluities in a Feaver.
In a Phlegmon of the Liver, the blood that flows thicker must be let out by o∣pening the internal vein in the right Arm.
In a Phrenzy and Lethargy, bleed at first coming of it.
In a Carbuncle bleed til they faint.
In great Diseases, alwaies bleed, but with respect to the age and the strength.
You must bleed plentifully in a Lassi∣tude with a Phlegmon, somtimes til they faint.
After bleeding you must not present∣ly refresh the Patient.
Abstain from bleeding when the blood is good and little, and other humors are abundant; but when it is contrary let blood.
If you forbear bleeding by reason of the age or for fear, let the Patient purge the more.
To open the Haemorrhoids, or pro∣voke Terms, or open the Ankle-vein, and then purge is good with bleeding in the Arm.
When blood abounds, it must not pre∣sently be let out: for fasting, slender di∣et, loosness of belly, or purging, or bath∣ing often, or exercise alone, or much rub∣bing wil abate it.
After the opportunity of bleeding is passed, other evacuations are dangerous▪ when there are excrements either in the Brain or the Instruments of the Spirits.
Bleeding must be at the beginning of Diseases, and somtimes purging.
Bleeding is a common way to cure dis∣eases by repletion.
Bleeding whatsoever, or wheresove•• or howsoever done, equally evacuateth the whole body.
THere is scarce a Disease in which bleeding is not allowed.
It is an old custom to let blood yong men and women not with Child.
But not Children and old folks, and Women with Child, for the Ancients thought the first and last age could not endure this kind of help, and were per∣swaded that if a Woman with Child ••ould be let blood, she would abort: but after this, Custom hath shewed that it is otherwise; for it is not matterial what age the party is of, or what is in the body, but what strength the Patient is of.
••herefore if a Youth be weak, or if the woman be not with Child, and be al∣so weak; it is not good to let blood, for so the strength that remains wil be taken away: but a strong Boy or old
Man, and a hearty strong Woman with Child may be cured by bleeding accord∣ing to Celsus.
But the Physitian may be deceived if unskilful, because in those ages there is less strength.
A Woman with Child hath need of strength after her cure, not only for her self but to sustain the Child.
The chief art is to consider the strength of a Child, old Man, or Woman with Child.
There is difference to be observed be∣tween a fat and a lean body, a strong and a weak.
The thin bodies have more blood, the full bodies have more flesh.
They endure the loss of blood bet∣ter, and a fat man is sooner disturbed with it if it be too much.
Therefore the strength of the body is better to be found by the Veins than the Form.
Nor are these only to be considered; but the Disease, what kind it is, whether abundance or want of matter hurteth, whether the body be corrupt or sound.
For if the matter be wanting, or be sound, that is another thing: but if it
offend in plenty or be corrupt, it can no way be better helped than by bleeding.
Therefore in a vehement Feaver when the body is red, and the veins are swol∣len bleeding is required.
But if the Feaver be vehement, and you let blood in the height of it, you kill the Patient.
Therefore expect a remission: if it de∣creaseth not, but hath ceased to decrease and you hope for no remission, then though it be worse bleeding then before, avoid not the opportunity.
Somtimes make two daies work of it, if there be necessity, for it is better first to refresh the Patient, and then to do it throughly, then to spend all the strength at once.
If you bleed for the whole body, open the arm, if for a part, bleed in that part, or near it. But this cannot be done eve∣ry where, but in the Temples, Arms, or about the Ankles.
Some say that blood must be drawn far off from the part affected. For that will divert the course of the matter, and take away that which offendeth.
But that is false. For it emptieth the nearest part first, and blood flows thither
from the remote while it bleeds: when it is stopt it will not be drawn. And ex∣perience shews, that if the Head be bro∣ken, that it is best to bleed in the Arm.
If there be a fault in the shoulder, the contrary Arm is to be blooded, because if there be any evil, the part that is affe∣cted will sooner receive it. Somtimes blood is diverted when it breaks out in one part, and you let blood in an other. And it ceaseth to flow by applying things that stop to the part, first bleeding, and giving it another vent.
Though bleeding be easie to an Artist, yet is it hard to an ignorant person. For the vein is joyned to the Arteries and the Nerves to them. Therefore if the Lan∣cet touch the Nerve, there is stretching of the Nerve, which his grievous.
But an Artery cut, neither grows toge∣ther, nor wil be healed, but somtimes causeth a violent flux, but if a Vein be cut, the heads or orifices being pressed down the blood stoppeth.
If the Lancet be fearfully applied, it only cuts the Skin and not the Vein.
The Vein must be cut in the middle out of which when blood flows you must ob∣serve the color and habit of body; for if
blood be thick and black, it is bad and fit to be lost.
If it be red and shining, it is sound, and the loss of it (instead of profit) hurteth, therefore it must be stopt.
But these things cannot happen to a Physitian that knows what Body ought to loose Blood.
If it be all black, let it often out, and bleed not again, if you have enough be∣fore fainting.
Tie up the Arm with a Pledget dipt in cold water, and open the vein with your nail the next day, for the new Escar will easily come off, and it will bleed again.
But whether it be in the first or second day, that blood which first was thick and black, begins to wax red and clear, there is enough taken; therefore let the Vein be presently bound up, and kept so till there be a strong Eschar which will quickly be in a Vein. This Celsus.
AFter Bathing, or Venery, or great
Exercise, bleed not by any means.
And also after a long sickness.
They which serve in hot houses, and take great pains in their calling to re∣solve the Body, must not be let blood.
Bl••ed not in very hot nor very cold Weather.
The Spring and Autumn are best times to let blood in.
Bleed not in a pestilent Air, cloudy, or stormy Weather, or when the South-wind blows.
In Summer bleed at eight in the mor∣ning, in Winter at noon.
Let young men bleed in the first quar∣ter of the Moon, and old in the last.
Sanguine men must bleed in the first quarter, Cholerick in the second, Phleg∣matick in the third, and Melancholick in the fourth.
If the Moon be in a sign with a evil as∣pect, or to any member, bleed not in that member
In Aries, bleed the Head, in Gemini, the Arms, in Cancer, the Median, in Sagit∣tarius, the Thigh, in Aquarius, the Legs and Thighs, and in Pisces, the Feet. The other parts are safe at any time.
If the Moon be in Taurus, Virgo, Capri∣corn,
it is bad to let blood, if in Cancer, Scorpio, Piscis, indifferent, if in Aries, Libra, Sagittarius or Aquarius it is good.
Let Drunkards and Gluttons, and those that are filled to loathing, abstain from Bleeding.
If any want Blood-letting, and neg∣lect it there wil be Imposthumes inward and outward, the great and small Scab, the Ring-worm, Synochus, Meazles, A∣poplexy and Palsie, small Pox and spit∣ting of Blood, Quinzy, Plague, sudden Death and Leprosie, and generally all sickness of much Blood or corruption of Blood: and they that are inclinable to such Diseases, let them not neglect phle∣botomy.
There are many evils by bleeding un∣reasonably. From often bleeding come Obstructions, Dropsies, Age hastneth on, the Appetite decaies and Stomach, weak∣ness of Heart and Liver, Trembling and Palsie, and weakness of all virtues both Natural and Animal.
He that is very musculous and fleshy, by accident, and he that is extenuated, and they which use to diet that breeds much blood, and live in idleness and pleasure, and dwell in Countries where
there is little resolution; and that eat much flesh roasted, and drink sweet Wines, and use Baths, and no copulati∣on, and exercise little, are more to bleed than others, and they who fast and eat melancholick meats are to bleed less.
When Phlebotomy is used to evacuate and in a place near the Disease or the part where it is, then the first blood ought to be worse than the second, and the second then the third, and if the con∣trary happen, there is stil need of bleed∣ing and Physick. But in some bodies that need little bleeding, it often hap∣pens that the first is better than the se∣cond, and then you may bleed again presently.
Before bleeding it is good to exercise, move and watch to make it move better. The Member to bleed is to be rub'd and heated, and washed with warm Water, to make the Vein plainer and the blood freer.
The Chirurgeon must be yong, expert, and of quick sight, not trembling or drunk.
If a weak-hearted Patient, or one ve∣ry faint is to bleed, let him first eat Bread and drink astringent Wine.
They whose Blood is thick, immova∣ble, and the Veins hidden, must be bath∣ed some daies before, except the body be very plethorick.
Before bleeding let the Belly and Blad∣der be free.
In those that have an Imposthume bleed while the colour of it changeth: but when there is a simple plenitude without an Imposthume, expect not the change of blood, for the blood may be all a like, or good.
If the Blood be whitish and thin, lose but little.
In Summer and Spring bleed in the right side in Autumn and Winter in the left.
In a venemous matter, bleed on the same side.
When there is great necessity open the same Vein twice in a day, or when you have not taken enough.
If after the Vein is opened the blood wil not flow, then it is good to cough and hawk, and clap the Patient upon the Shoulders.
Touch the Blood as it comes forth, if it be cold, stop it presently, and also if it be very hot and thin, for in both cases, you may fear swounding.
Take a drop of blood upon the Nail, if it flow off, and stand not firm, it is waterish, and must be presently stop∣ped
Or drop it into water, if it sink, it is too thick, and if it disperse and swim, it is too watery, if it be in a mean, it is good.
After bleeding, Exercise not that day, but rejoyce at home, nor Bath that day, & use no Venery till the fourth day, nor sleep in the day.
Consider also the substance of the Blood, it is either melancholick, phlegma∣tick, sanguine, pure, cholerick, or wa∣tery.
Melancholy is the dregs of blood, it is black, and in the bottom of the Poringer, and when there is too much of this, it is no good sign, then we may judge that the Patient is sad, envious, and curi∣ous, covetous, fearful and poor-spirited, such must use things to clense and in∣crease blood.
Flegm is white, slimy, unsavory, like whites of Egs, and it is in the blood next above the Melancholy, this must not be too much, and if there be much of it, we judge him to be flegmatick, naturally,
sleepy, rude, and dull to action, and to spit much, but there ought to be more of this than of Melancholy.
Then follows pure blood, it ought to be of a purple colour, reddish or ruddy, of this there ought to be more, if there be much of it the Patient is sanguine, and and free, amiable and cheerful, laughing and of a red colour, bold and bounti∣ful.
Then follows Choler which is the froath of Blood, of a Saffron-colour, with glittering red, there ought to be less of this than of blood or flegm, and more than of melancholy.
If therefore there be a great quantity of this, we may judg the party cholerick, and by consequence crafty, deceitful, wrathful, bold and prodigal, apt for a∣ction, watchful and subtile.
Moreover you must consider the wate∣ry substance that swims at top when the blood is congealed, as whey when milk is curdled, and it is like Urine, if it be put into a Glass, and when this water is like the Urine of a sound man whose blood it is, it is good, otherwise not.
And when this water is separated more perfectly from the blood, the better it is,
and the better is the digestion and de∣coction in the Liver. And the contrary.
This water must be in the blood to make it thin, that it may pass more free through the great Veins and small, and so come to the members.
Therefore it is not good that blood should be without this water.
For it wanted shew, driness and thick∣ness of blood, this is in such us fast much, and watch, and eat dry and hot meats, and that study and exercise much, and in some that are wel.
Moreover it is not good that too much water be in the blood, for it would shew defect of digestion, either in respect of meat or drink, or in respect of the parts that cannot convert the meat into blood, and it shews also too much coldness and moistness of blood, and weakness of body.
Hence it is that they who have cold Stomachs, and Livers, and Veins, and eat cold and moist Meats, and much, and es∣pecially drink much, and exercise little, and fast not, nor watch, have such blood.
Also in Blood there is a fleshy Sub∣stance declining to white, for the Blood beginning to whiten in the Veins, because
the farther digestion to convert it into Members proceeds in whitning. This dige∣stion begins in the great veins, and end in the small with the Members of the third digestion, namely at the outward solid Members of the whole Body.
This Substance is flesh-like, and ap∣pears manifestly in Blood after it is wa∣shed, and the fatter, moister, or more wa∣tery the Blood is, the less there is in it of this substance, and the thicker (except it exceed the temper) and less far, and with∣out water, the more of this fleshy sub∣stance is to be seen.
Therefore from a great quantity of this white substance, is signified the good di∣gestion in the Veins, and the pliableness of the Blood to turn into Members, espe∣cially when you feel it with your hands. And when there are no great things con∣tained in it, that are not hard, but will crumble with the fingers. For by such there is signified an inclination to a Le∣prosie.
Moreover if thou wouldst know the substance of the whole blood, cut it when it is congealed with a knife or thin stick, and if it resist not but cut easily, it signi∣fies the subtility of the blood; but if it
divide with difficulty, then it signifies sliminess and grossness of Blood.
And if Blood wil not be cut, though it be easily divided as it is in Oyl, and wa∣ter and other moist things which are easi∣ly divided, though not cut, that blood is too thin, and that thinness argues want of digestion.
And when blood is easily pricked but not cut then it is slimie, and that blood is commonly flegmatick.
And when it is cut but with resistance, then the blood is gross, but not viscous or clammy.
You must consider also of the colour of blood for if in one part of the Porin∣ger it appear of one colour, and in ano∣ther of another colour, as in a Pigeons neck, it signifies diversities of evil hu∣mors.
Therefore we must consider the true fixed colour of the blood; it is red and purple, not dark red, and that argues good blood.
If it be a glittering red, it argues pre∣dominant choler, and also if it be like Saffron. If it be froathy, it shews wind. If it be white or livid, or blew, it signifies cold and predominant flegm, and especi∣ally
if the blood be slimie, and there are other signs of flegm.
These colours may come from burn∣ing, as appears in consumptive and le∣prous persons.
Green signifies burning, and specially of choler.
Black and Blew, signifies natural me∣lancholy, or that which is burnt.
You must also consider the tast, for it ought to be sweet, if it be unsavory, it signifies flegm predominant, if bitter, choler, if sower or brackish, melancholy and sour flegm, if it be salt, it signifies salt flegm and adustion of humors.
The scent is also to be considered, if it be sweet and pleasant, it is good if it stink, it shews great putrefaction in the humors.
Moreover if blood drawn do quickly coagulate or congeal, it is too gross, if it be long and slow to congeal, it is too thin and undigested.
If it be in a mean, the blood is indiffe∣rent.
THey that use much Blood-letting in Youth, are cured after sixty sooner than others, and their natural heat is choaked, especially if they are of a cold complexion.
They who dwel in the fourth or sixt cli∣mate, may lose more blood than they that live in the seventh, first, second or third.
They who have weak Stomachs, and cold weak Hearts and Livers, and Cold, and have cold Diseases, must not be let blood, nor melancholick persons, except their veins be swollen. Nor pale, lean, starved, or such as eat melancholick food, nor such as use too much Venery, nor such as have a Dysentery or Iliack, or are much bound in Belly, nor such as have not bodies prepared, nor such as are seventy, except they be strong, and have broadful veins, and used it, and when there is necessity.
At sixty open not the Cephalick.
At fifty open not the Median.
At seventy take heed of opening the black vein.
It is good for phlegmatick persons to open a Vein when the Moon is in Aries or Sagittarius
For Melancholick, when she is in Libra or Aquarius.
For Cholerick, when she is in Cancer or Pisces.
In the New and Full, abstain from Phlebotomy.
Let Youths from fourteen to twenty five bleed in the first quarter.
From twenty five to thirty five, in the second.
From thirty five to sixty five, in the third quarter of the Moon.
Bleed in the morning when the Sun is risen after an hour, two or more of sleep.
After noon, open the Head, Hand, and Feet veins, and the Arms in the morning.
Let old and sick people eat Broath and drink Wine an hour or two before.
They who sweat easily and often want Blood-letting.
Usual accustomed Bleeding is not to be omitted without danger.
After Bleeding, drink thin and good Wine: avoid Mead, Ale, Fish, and what breeds bad blood.
Bleeding when there is no necessity doth more hurt than good.
After Bleeding, avoid bad Air, eat white Bread, wel baked Veal, Hens, Chickens, Lamb, rear Eggs, and that which breeds good humors and blood, drink pure Wine cleer and thin, abstain from Cheese, Milk, Herbs, Fish, Ale, and Meath, Anaer, Sadness and Copulation.