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. III. Of Health.

FIrst, as for the Physiological part, indeed very many dispose of it, and place it otherwise, * 1.1 and in that comprehend things called Natu∣rals, without which our bodies cannot subsist whole, and they ac∣compt them seven, Elements, Temperaments, Humours, Spi∣rits, Parts, Faculties, Actions; but since the handling of them as they are such, is properly the work of a Physitian; they are considered by a Physitian in this place, as they conduce to the know∣ledge of the subject, which is mans body; to the explication of the end, which is health: to which also we are willing to order the hand∣ling of them. And indeed, to it belongs, principally the description and knowledge of all the parts of mans body; which since it is more copious then to be contained in a Compendium, that is to be sought in Anatomical books; but especially by seeing bodies dissected: after∣wards followeth the explication of the end of Physick which is health.

But since that all men do then think themselves wel••, * 1.2 when they can rightly perform the natural and necessary actions of life, Health is defined fitly to be a power of mans body to perform those actions which are according to nature, depending on the natural constituti∣on

of all the parts: for health doth not consist in the action it self, since that those who sleep, or are quiet in what manner whatsoever, and cease from certain actions, are sound, and as Galen hath it in the 2 cap. of the differences of diseases; not to operate, is to be well, but to be able to operate: nor is he onely well who performs his na∣tural actions; but also he that doth them not, so that he be able to do them: And so the formal reason of health is, a potency of body to perform natural actions; but because Galen in the place above-mentioned, makes health to be a natural constitution of all the parts of the body, and in the first Chapter of the Differences of Symptomes, a framing made according to nature fit for operation, or a natural constitution of all the parts of the body, having power to undergo those things which are according to nature; therefore it comes to passe, that that position or constitution is rather subject to the acti∣ons of a Physitian, then to the power of acting.

The subject of health is a living body, * 1.3 or the parts of a living bo∣dy, as to that, to which alone the power of acting belongs; but those which live not, and have no power to perform natural actions, those are neither said to be sick nor well.

But the cause of health, * 1.4 or that whereby a body and its parts are said to be sound, is a natural constitution of them: But seeing there is a twofold constitution of a body, and of all its parts, the one Essential, which consists of matter, and substantial form; the other accidental, which follows the former, and is such a dispo∣sation of qualities and other accidents in the several parts of the body, by which the essential form may exercise all its acti∣ons, and according to its diversity, it acteth variously: Health doth not consist in the essential but accidental consti∣tution; for the mind cannot be hindred or hurt, but remains alwaies the same and unchanged; so that it have instruments constituted in the same manner. The Essential constitution also, so long as a man lives, is immutable, and at length is changed by death; but the accidental constitution of the body is subject to many altera∣tions, whence the same soul in the same body acts one way and ano∣ther way.

And because the parts of the body are several, the natural consti∣tution of them also is not the same. * 1.5 The parts of the body are two-fold, similar, and dissimilar. Similar parts are such whose par∣ticles have the same form, and are alike to the whole, and to one another; and indeed, some are truely and exactly such, wherein no difference can be found, neither by accurate sense, nor by reason: such are a Bone, a. Gristle, simple flesh, a very small vein, Fat: Others are so onely to the sense, which although at the first sight they

seem such; yet if they are viewed more diligently, they are percei∣ved to be composed of more, as flesh of muscles, substance of Veins, Nerves, Arteries.

Dissimilar, are such as are compounded of more, * 1.6 which are also called for the most part organick. For although, if we may speak properly, an Organick is not opposite to similar, but a dissimilar or compound, and similar may be organick also, as you may see in bones, which have their organick constitution: Yet because singular parts, for the most part, do not perform a whole and en∣tire action, which Galen requires in an organick part strictly so taken, hence it comes to passe the Physitians, for the most part, op∣pose an organick to a similar.

But the constitution of similar parts, * 1.7 even as of those which con∣sist of Elements, and other mixed bodies, consists in the lawful mix∣ture of the four primary qualities.

But besides that temperature of primary qualities, * 1.8 other quali∣ties also are in them which are more occult, arising from their forms, which parts all of them possesse, as is manifest by their sympathy and antipathy with other natural bodies, and by seve∣ral actions, and kinds and manners of actions, which are beyond the force of Elements.

The natural constitution of organick parts, * 1.9 consists in a com∣position fit to perform actions; namely in number, magnitude, conformation, composition or scituation.

There is a common unity in them both, as well similar as dissi∣milar and organick: for not onely the whole body, but every part thereof, whether similar or organick, ought to be whole and entire. And if our bodies obtain these three things, it is sound, if either be wanting, it becomes sick.

Yet, there is a certain latitude of health, * 1.10 nor do all men acquire the same perfection of performing actions; but in regard of age, sex, and other circumstances, some do perform all or certain actions better then others, yet all of them neverthelesse are sound; but Physitians call all those that deviate from perfect health, * 1.11 and yet are not sick, Neuters; and place a neutral constitution, as it were, in the middle betwixt the sick and well. For although, if we rightly weigh the matter, there is no such thing as middle disposition, differing from health and a disease, and every man is either sick or well; yet Physitians consider Neuters, not as the mean betwixt sick and wel; but as differing from perfect health peculiarly, and distinguish Neu∣ters from those that are sound, not as differing in kind, but in re∣spect of more or lesse.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What Phy∣siologie handles. Of things called Na∣turals.
• * 1.2

  The defin••∣tion of health.
• * 1.3

  The Subject of health.
• * 1.4

  The effici∣ent cause of health.
• * 1.5

  The defini∣tion of simi∣lar and dis∣similar parts.
• * 1.6

  Of a Dissi∣milar. Whether a similar part be opposite to an orga∣nick.
• * 1.7

  The consti∣tution of si∣milar parts milar parts
• * 1.8

  Occult qualities.
• * 1.9

  The consti∣tution of dissimilar parts.
• * 1.10

  The lati∣tude of health.
• * 1.11

  Whether there be a Neutral disposition.