The skilful physician containing directions for the preservation of a healthful condition, and approved remedies for all diseases and infirmities (outward or inward) incident to the body of man ... whereunto is added experimented instructions for the compounding of perfumes, also for the chusing and ordering of all kinds of wines, both in preserving the sound, and rectifying those that are prick'd : never before imparted to publick view.

Of Sleep and Watching.

Life cannot continue without food, and Health cannot be preser∣ved, without moderate sleep; for this refresheth the wearied spirits, and re∣paireth the decayed spirits, it fur∣thereth concoction, and is a present help for Crudities; but if it be im∣moderately used, it is hurtful, it causeth defluxions, heaviness of the head, dulness of wit; cold phlegmatick Diseases, &c. there∣fore that you may use sleep comfor∣tably and profitably, have a care, that your sleep be seasonable, for as you should not watch when you should fleep, so you should

not sleep when you should be a∣w••ke; and therefore es••hue noon∣sleeps, and too long morning-sleeps, as great enemies to health; for whatsoever is not according to the course of Nature, is contrary to Nature, and so will by little and little weaken Nature, and in the end overthrow it. Now we see it natural to all living and sensitive creatures to observe this rule, To sleep in the night time, and in the day to be provident to supply their wants; and therefore they who do contrary to this rule, are contrary to the course of nature, and wrong themselves, howbeit they are not at present sensible of it. And with∣out doubt these two (which are both contrary to Natures rule) viz. unseasonable sleeping or watch∣ing, and unreasonable eating and drinking are the great causes which deprive us of Health, and shorten

our lives, as those especially who are rich find it by experience, who stay out of bed very late, and lye long in the morning, a bad custom: but as you tender health, sleep not in the mornings too long, unlesse honest occasions, or an ill disposition of body causeth much watching in the beginning of the night; then it is needful that you make a∣mends by sleeping so much the lon∣ger in the morning: neither should you sleep at noone, for sleeping after dinner (if it is constantly used) causeth superfluous moisture of the braine, and causeth cold Diseases of the braine, as Palsies, &c. puffeth up the Spleene with wind, prepareth the body for Agues, Impost∣humes, &c.

Yet in some extraordinary cases sleeping after dinner may and ought to be used;

1. If you have not slept

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well in the night nor in the morn∣ing.

2. If you be faint with excessive heat of the Season.

3. Old people, because of their weaknesse, may sleep after dinner, or any other time when they can.

4. Those who have slender and dry bodies, receive great benefit by sleeping after dinner; for it moist∣neth their bodies, and refresheth their spirits. But those who have full gross bodies, or who are of a san∣guine or phlegmatick complexi∣on, let them beware of sleeping after dinner.

Now those who would sleep at noon must observe these things fol∣lowing.

1. That they sleep not imme∣diately after Dinner, but an hour after, or half an hour at least.

2. That they sleep not lying, but

rather sitting with the body up∣right.

3. That they-sleep not over long, not above half an hour, or an hour at most.

4. That they sleep not in a place too hot (especially in the Summer time) but rather enclining to cold: the most convenient place for any to sleep in at any time, is that which is not too hot nor too cold, not too close nor too open; and above all, it must not be dampish, for that is very hurtful to the body, especial∣ly to the head: you must have a care to keep your head and neck wel from the cold when you sleep.

When you sleep, lye upon your right side; and not upon your left side, unlesse it be to ease your bo∣dy, when you are wearied with ly∣ing upon your right side: lye upon your left side as little as you can; for to lye upon the left side, hin∣dreth

concoction, encreaseth the Diseases of the Spleene, causeth troublesome Dreames, &c. So likewise to lye upon your back when you sleep, is very unwholsome; it causeth troublesome sleeps, it cau∣seth the Night-mare, it occasioneth the Lethargy, Palsies, Cramp, it heateth the Raines; it is very bad for those who are troubled with the Stone, or are inclined to it.

Now if you would know how long you ought to sleep, observe this rule, That you should sleep, until you find the concoction of the stomack and liver be finished, the spirits well refreshed, and you find a lightsomnesse in the whole body, especially in the stomack and head. But if you find heavinesse in the bo∣dy, head, and eyes, or stomack, or if you have ill savoured belchings, or &c. they signifie that you have not yet slept enough.

Again, the time of your sleep must be determined according to your strength and constitution; as those who are weak and sickly, or aged and children, must take longer time of rest, then those who are strong, or young, for whom seven or eight hours sleep is enough. And those who have dry, cholerick or melancholick bodies, need longer sleep then the phlegmatick or san∣guine, or those who have grosse fat bodies; for it very much refresh∣eth and moistneth dry bodies, to whom there is nothing more hurt∣ful then too much watchfulness. But too long sleep to phlegmatick, grosse bodies is very hurtful.

It is a custome to warme the bed before we go to bed, which should not be used by those who are healthful and strong (unlesse fresh sheets be layed upon the bed) for it weakneth their bodies, and ma∣keth

them tender. But it is good for them who are aged, or are weak by Nature, or lead a tender course of life, for such cannot well en∣dure a cold bed, it may wrong them much: weak or tender Na∣tures, are by very small occasi∣ons overcome and put out of their right courses.

I conclude concerning sleeping and watching with this, That im∣moderate and unseasonable Sleep∣ing weakeneth the natural heat, fil∣leth the body with bad humours, and enclineth the body to cold, phlegma∣tick Diseases, dulleth the spirits and wit.

And immoderate Watching dry∣eth the body too much, it turneth a sanguine constitution to be cho∣lerick; and it turneth a phlegma∣tick constitution to be melancho∣lick, it overdryeth the braine; it wasteth the spirits, it weakneth the

digestive faculty, enclineth the body to consumptions, &c.