Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. II. Of the Division of Physick.

SEEing that the end of Physick, * 1.1 is to preserve present health, and to restore it when it is lost; it is properly divided into the Preserving and Curing part; yet there are also higher things pertaining to these parts which are necessary to be known by the Physitian, and they are to be added. For sithence a Physitian cannot heal unlesse he know the Subject whereon he ought to work, and since all Arts begin from the knowledge of their end: first he should acquire the knowledge of mans body, wherein he ought to work, and wherein health doth consist, 'tis necessary he should understand; and since that a disease is repugnant to health, he ought to know the nature, differences, causes and effects of a disease; and by what rules to find these in every individual. And so Physick is con∣veniently

divided into five parts, the Physiological, Pathologi∣cal, Semeiotical, Hygieinal, and Therapeutical.

Physiologie handles the subject and end of Physick; * 1.2 and so treats of mans body, and shews the constitution thereof, and all its parts, their uses and actions, and the faculties of the mind.

Pathologie teacheth the nature of diseases and Symptomes, * 1.3 their differences and causes, and explains all things whatsoever, by which mans body recedes from a natural constitution.

The Semeiotick part shews the Signs, * 1.4 whereby we may know whether a man be sick or well, and by which we may discover disea∣ses and causes that lie hid in mans body, and the events of diseases.

The Hygieinal part shews, by what rules present health may be preserved, * 1.5 and how a man may beware before-hand (as much as is possible) lest he should fall into a disease.

The Therapeutical part teacheth, by what means health is to be recovered; and how diseases with their causes and symptomes may be repelled and taken away. * 1.6

If there be any other besides these which are counted parts of Phy∣sick, they are not principal, but lesser, into which these are sub-di∣vided, such are the Diatetical, Chirurgical, and Pharmaceutical parts, and such like.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The divisi∣on and parts of Physick.
• * 1.2

  Physiologie
• * 1.3

  Pathologie
• * 1.4

  Of signs of sickness and health.
• * 1.5

  Of pre∣servation of health.
• * 1.6

  Of curing diseases.