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 Exercise.

The stirring of the body by walk∣ing, riding, some pastime, &c. If it be moderate and in fit time; it encreaseth natural heat, refresheth and quickneth the spirits, maketh the body lightsome and nimble, helpeth concoction, furthereth the expulsion of the Excrements and bad humours, &c. In any stirring industri∣ous course of life, for the most part they live longer and healthier then those who use a sitting restful life.

But you must have a care, that you use not too much stirring or motion of the body to weary your selfe too much; for this will con∣sume the natural moisture, and waste

the spirits, encline the body to a Con∣sumption, &c.

Those who would use any kind of Exercise only for their Healths sake, let them not do it upon a full sto∣mack, or immediately after eating, for the most part of Physicians do agree in this, that wee should not go about any exercise of the Bo∣dy until the first and second digesti∣on is compleated, when the stomack is light and almost empty.

It will be good also to dis∣burden your selves of the excre∣ments of the belly, and of urine, before you begin your Exercise, lest the Excrements by the violence of the heat of the Exercise, be drawn into the veines, or &c. whereby the blood may be corrupted, Ob∣structions caused, &c. And if you use any exercise or violent motion of the body immediately after meales, or while there is meat in

the stomack not digested, it marreth digestion, and causeth crudities and bad humours; whereupon will follow Scabs, Ulcers, Imposthumes. This is to be understood chiefly of those who use a restful life, and live tenderly. But those who live in continual exercise of their body, as labouring men, they need not be so cautious for the time or man∣ner of their Exercise (for that to which our Natures are constant∣ly accustomed, will not do us harme,) if men keep themselves to one constant course of Exer∣cise, and not at any time to ex∣ceed their ordinary custome: but if they do things rashly and im∣moderately, otherwise then they use to do; as if they fall upon any work upon a full stomack; or if after violent hot working they are carelesse of them∣selves, and keep not themselves

warme, &c. Thereupon certain∣ly will follow alterations of the bo∣dy and Diseases. For that to which we are not accustomed, if it be violent and oppresserh Na∣ture, it must of necessity work dan∣gerous alterations in us. You must be very cautious in the doing of any thing to which you are not ac∣customed, until by tonstant use it becometh familiar to our Na∣ture, and then it may be used safe∣ly, howbeit at first perhaps it was dangerous, if not used with great caution.

A constant custome in any thing prevaileth much with Nature, so that a man may safely do that to which he hath been accustomed, which would be very dangerous to another. And therefore violent stir••ing of the body to those who have a restful life, or untimely ex∣ercise immediately after meales, is

hurtful; but to rise up after meal, to stand or to walk softly is good: and if it be in cold seasons of the year, let the place be temperate, not too hot nor too cold; if it be in the hot seasons of the year, walk in the o∣pen fields, nigh to some pleasant rivers after supper; but after din∣ner in some shadowed place, or some cool Arbour, &c. Observe this general rule concerning the place, after meals to stand or walk in, That it incline more to cold then to heat. For as the heat of Exercise immediately after meals, so the heat of a hot place by drawing our na∣tural heat from the inward parts of the body to the outward, it mar∣reth digestion, and filleth the bo∣dy with crude humours, therefore after meals let your place be pleasant and moderately cool, your exercise gentle walking and pleasant discourse with merry companie; spend an

houre so, and thereby you shall find digestion furthered, your body much refreshed, natural heat and strength cherished and encreased. But when you use great motion of the body, as in travel, pa∣stime, &c. do it moderately, so as you do not weary your selves too much, and oppresse the strength of nature: and in this mo∣derate beneficial stirring of the body there may be several degrees ob∣served, according to the consti∣tution of the body, and season of the year.

1. Those who have a grosse or phlegmatick body, should use much exercise, and should exercise themselves so, as thereby to provoke sweat; but they must have a care that they provoke not sweat im∣moderately, nor proceed to ex∣treme wearinesse, for thereby the spirits and good humors of the body

will be too much wasted, and the fat of the rain••s melted.

2. Those who have dry slender bo∣dies, must use e••si exercise: They must stirre their bodies no longer then the colour and flesh is somewhat ruddy, and the sweat be∣gins to come out; too much mo∣tion of their bodies will bring them to a Consumption.

Again, your Exercise must bee according to the season of the yeare; for as the season is colder, so you may use stronger and more laborious exercises, and oftner: and as the season incli∣neth more to heat, so the ex∣ercise or motions of your bo∣dy must be more moderate and calme.

One thing I will add here, viz. Rubbing of the Body, which is much commended to us by all Physicians, and is found by the ex∣perience

of all who have used it, to be a thing very beneficial to the body, and it may well stand in stead of all other Exercises or mo∣tions of the body, to those who can∣not have such Exercises, either be∣cause of their weaknesse, or &c. It stirreth up and encreaseth natural heat, it quickneth the blood, it strengthneth the parts, it drawes humours from the higher parts of the body to the lower parts, it concocteth crude humours, it strengthneth digestion, it draweth bad humours from the principal parts of the body; there is not any one thing which may be more com∣mended then this, for the preservati∣on of the strength of Nature. But as all other Exercises of the body, so rubbing of the body must be used with caution, viz. That those who have gross or phlegmatick bodies must rub over their bodies until

they provoke sweat; but those who have hot bodies, or dry slender bo∣dies, they must rub their bodies until the flesh beginneth to swell, and groweth ruddish, and no longer. So likewise according to the Sea∣son, we must use rubbing more or lesse; as the season is colder, so must we use rubbing more, and less in hot seasons.

The manner how it is to be done, is thus. Rub with your hands, or rather with a warme linnen cloth your shoulders, armes, breast, sides, thighes, Legs and feet; but the belly, stomack and back, espe∣cially neer to the reines must not be rubbed. If you can your selves do it, and not to have another to do it, it will be so a great deal better. You must do it when you lye downe at night, but then more gently; but in the morning before you rise do it more strongly; and when you

rise, have a care to keep your selves well from the cold. Begin your rub∣bing easily and softly, afterwards faster and harder; and while you are rubbing, lay a double cloth warm∣ed to your stomack and belly. After you are risen, and have combed your head well backward, then rub your head and your neck with a warm linnen cloth, and (if it be a cold season) before the fire, remembring the Cautions concer∣ning rubbing before mentioned. This rubbing of the Head and Neck, is especially to be com∣mended to those who have moist heads, Students, and such as are troubled with Rhumes, Palsies, &c.