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CHAP. XVI. Of Sleep and Watching.
THat this our speech of Sleep and Watching, which we now intend, may be more plain, we will briefly declare, what commodity or discommodity they bring; what time and what hour is convenient for both; what the manner of lying must be, and the choice thereof; what the dreams in sleeping; and what, pains or heaviness and chearfulness after sleep, may portend.
* 1.1Sleep is nothing else than the rest of the whole body, and the cessation of the Animal faculty from sense and motion. Sleep is caused, when the substance of the brain is possessed, and after some sort over-come and dulled by a certain vaporous, sweet, and delightsome humidity; or when the spirits, almost exhaust by performance of some labour, cannot any longer sustain the weight of the body, but cause rest by a necessary consequence; by which means, nature may produce other, from the meat by concoction turned into blood.
* 1.2Sleep fitly taken much helps the digestion of the parts, because in the time of rest, the heat be∣ing the worker of all concoction, is carryed back to them, together with the spirits. Neither doth sleep only give ease to the wearyed members, but also lessens our cares, and makes us to forget our labors.
* 1.3The night is a fit time to sleep and to take our rest in, as inviting sleep by its moisture, silence, and darkness. For the heat and Spirits, in the thick obscurity of night, are driven in and retained in the center of the body; as on the contrary by the daily, and as it were, friendly and familiar light of the Sun, they are allured and drawn forth into the superficies, and outward part of the body;* 1.4 from whence they leave sleeping, and begin to wake. Besides also, which makes not a lit∣tle to that opportunity and benefit which we look for from sleep, the night season suffices for the work of just and perfect concoction. Which is one reason amongst many that sleep on the day time may be hurtful. For we are wakened from our sleep by the heat and spirits, called forth to the skin either by the light, or noise on the day time, before that the concoction which was be∣gun be finished. But, that sleep cannot but be light which comes without necessity of sleeping. Wherefore the concoction being attempted, but not perfected, the stomach is filled with crudi∣ties, distended with acid or four belchings, and the brain troubled with gross vapors and excre∣mentitious humidities.* 1.5 From whence proceed pain and heaviness of the head, and store of cold diseases. But although sleep on the night time be wholsome, yet it is fit, that it be restrained within the limits of an indifferent time. For that which exceeds, hinders the evacuation of excrements both upwards and downwards: but in the mean time the heat which is never idle, draws from them some portion or vapor into the veins, principal parts and habit of the body, to become mat∣ter for some disease. We must measure this time, not by the space of hours, but by the finishing the work of concoction, which is performed in some sooner than in other some. Yet that which is longest is perfected and done in seven or eight hours.* 1.6 The ventricle subsiding and falling into its self and its proper coats, and the urine tinctured yellow, gives perfect judgment thereof. For on the contrary the extension of the stomach, acide belching, pain of the head, and heaviness of the whole body, shew that the concoction is unperfect.
* 1.7In sleeping we must have special care of our lying down; for first we must lye on our right side, that so the meat may fall into the bottom of our stomach, which being fleshy, and less mem∣branous, is the hotter, and more powerful to assimilate. Then a little after we must turn upon our left side, that so the Liver with its Lobes, as with hands may on every side embrace the ventricle, and as fire put under a kettle, hasten the concoction. Lastly, towards morning it will not be unpro∣fitable to turn again upon our right side, that by this situation the mouth of the stomach being open∣ed, the vapors which arise from the elixation of the Chylus have freer passage.* 1.8 Lying upon the back is wholly to be avoided; for from hence the Reins are inflamed, the Stone is bred, Palsies, Convulsion, and all the diseases which have their original from the defluxion into the spinal mar∣row, and to the Nerves taking beginning from thence.* 1.9 To lye upon the belly is not unprofitable for such as have used to lye so, if they be not troubled with defluxions into the eys; for so the hu∣mor will more easily flow into the part affected. But thus the work of concoction is not a little furthered, because by that form of lying, not only the inward heat is contained and gathered about the Ventricle, but the encompassing warmness of the soft feathers of the bed aids and as∣sists it.
* 1.10Neither are the Dreams which we have in our sleep to be neglected, for by the diligent consi∣deration of these, the affections and superfluous Humors which have chief power in the body are marvailously known. For those who have raging choler running up and down their bodies while they sleep, all things to them appear bright, shining, fiery, burning, full of noise and contention. Those who abound with Phlegm, dream of floods, snows, showers, and inundations and falling from high places. Those who are Melancholy dream of gapings and gulphs in the earth, thick and obscure darkness, smoaks, caves, and all black and dismal things. But those whose bodies abound in blood, dream of marriages, dances, embraces of women, feasts, jests, laughter, of or∣chards and gardens; and to conclude, of all things pleasant and splendent.
Also we must observe how the Patient doth after sleep, whether more lively and chearful, or more heavie: for, by the opinion of Hippocrates,