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. IV. Of Temperaments.

BUT that the nature of health may be the more manifest, some∣thing shall be spoken particularly of this three-fold constitution of a body which is necessary to health; * 1.1 and first, for what belongs to the constitution of similar parts, as they are such, that is a Tem∣perament, which is a quality arisen from the mutual action and passion of primary qualities, and resulting out of them separa∣ted and joyned together. But not the form it self of a mixt sub∣stance; sithence it is subject to the senses, acquired by change (or motion) subject to alteration, and hath its rise from the primary qualities; Nor is it onely a harmony (although there be a certain proportion of qualities in a Temperament) since it is the imme∣diate instrument of actions, which doth not belong to a bare pro∣portion which is an accident.

But from the Temperament, * 1.2 things are said to be temperate or intemperate; and indeed, any thing is said to be temperate two wayes, either simply and absolutely, and in its own kind, or in relation to some other; for if there be that proportion of qualities, that they wholly concur in equal strength, such a Temperament is said to be simply and absolutely such, and such a Temperament is commonly called a Temperament ad pondus, * 1.3 or according to weight, (as if it were weighed in a ballance) and is of an Arithmetical pro∣portion; But if there be a certain inequality of qualities in relation to their strength, * 1.4 it is called a Temperament to Justice, and this is called a Geometrical proportion; although, if you strictly regard the proportion of the qualities amongst themselves, it is then an In∣temperament, not a Temperament.

Now this Temperament (as we call it) wherein there is not an equality of primary qualities, takes its denomination from that quality, which doth exceed the rest, whether it be one or two. And the action which proceeds from the Temperament, is ascribed to the qua∣lity that doth predominate; although the rest are no wayes to be ex∣cluded from having a share in the action.

Of these Temperaments some are simple, * 1.5 others compound; Simple, is when one quality onely exceeds its contrary, and therest are equal, whereof there are four kinds, according to the number of the primary qualities; Hot, wherein heat doth rule over cold the moisture and drowth being equal; Cold, where cold overcom∣meth the heat, but the moisture and driness are equal; Moist, wherein moisture exceeds drinesse, the heat and cold being equal; Drinesse,

wherein drowth dryes up moisture, the heat and cold as before being equal.

But when two qualities exceed their contraries there ariseth a compound Temperament: * 1.6 whereof there are likewise four kinds ac∣cording to the combinations, (as far as possibly they may com∣bine) of the four primary qualities: to wit, Hot and Moist, Hot and Dry, Cold and Moist, Cold and Dry. In every one of these there is a great latitude, and in the simple Temperament some have more, some lesse of heat or cold by much then other. In compound Temperaments some one, sometimes both qualities, exceed the rest in an extraordinary, yet different manner.

Any thing is said to be Hot, Cold, Moist, or Dry, * 1.7 not only sim∣ply regard being had to the universal nature of mixt bodies, where∣in if you consider a middle sort of body exceeding in neither, and in respect of this you accompt all others that differ from it Intem∣perate, and from the quality excelling is called, Hot, Cold, Moist or Dry; but besides this, there is made a comparison to three: First, the comparison is made to the next Genus, or kind in nature, as if in the whole sort of living Creatures, you appoint one living Creature to be temperate, all others in respect of that, are called intemperate; Secondly, a comparison is made with a middle sort of the same kind, so a Boy is said to be hot, an old man cold; Thirdly, respect is had to every individual, that so this compa∣red to that as being Hotter, is Cold, but compared to a colder is hot.

Man, for whose sake these things of Temperaments are spoken, * 1.8 since his body is not simply mixed but organick and living, there is required in him a double Temperament, one of the body, as it is absolutely and simply mixt; The other as it is living. This is lost by death, and is often changed by old age; but that remaineth sometimes in the dead carcass after death; yet at length by putre∣faction and corruption of that which is mixed tis dissolved. In that also, according to Heat, Cold, Drowth and Moisture, there is a great diversity of parts. But the matter which is proper to living Creatures in all, is Heat and Moisture.

Again the Temperament of a living man is twofold, * 1.9 the one Innate, the other Influent. Innate, is that which is imbibed in the living parts of man, & by reason of the Innate heat is inherent in him from his first being. Influent, is that which floweth from the principal parts, and is communicated to the whole body. And that it is not the same with Innate, is manifest from those that fall into a Swoun; when the body becomes extreme cold, and yet the Innate Temperament is not changed. These three Temperaments though

they may be considered severally: Yet they concur to constitute one Temperament of a sound man. And, therefore although with∣out all doubt, amongst all other living Creatures man is of the most temperate, so that other living Creatures, as also me∣dicines compared to him, are said to be Hotter, Colder, Moister, or Dryer;

Yet simply and absolutely he is not temperate; * 1.10 for common∣sense tels us, that Heat in man is predominate over the other qua∣lities; for the Temperature of a man to perform his actions best is Hot and Moist, and our lives consist of Heat and Moisture: on the contrary, coldness and driness lead us to death, and by how much sooner a man is cooled and dryed, by so much sooner he grows old and dyes.

Yet, * 1.11 that heat and that moisture have their degrees. For if the heat exceed the cold and the moisture the drowth moderately, that Temper is best and is accompted Temperate. All others differing from this are called either Hot and Moist, Hot and Dry, Cold and Moist, or Cold and Dry; although all in general are Hot and Moist.

These differences of Temperaments are commonly explained by the names of Sanguine, * 1.12 Cholerick, Phlegmatick and Melancholy Temperaments. These differences and appellations may be admit∣ted of, if they are not taken from the diversity of excrementitious humours, in various bodies; but from the variety of blood, which is the nutriment of the body.

For those whose Blood is temperate, * 1.13 or moderately hot and moist, are called Sanguines: Those who have hotter and dryer blood, and their bodies from thence become hotter and dryer, are called Cholerick Persons: Those who have colder and moister, and their bodies from thence grows colder and moister, are called Phlegmaticks: Those who have cold and dry blood, and their bodies from thence become cold and dry, are Melancholians.

But we must not rest at the Primary qualities; for there are others more noble and more abstruse, the causes of many actions, and of Sympathy, and Antipathy, with other alterations that must be granted; although in this humane imbecillity, for the most part, they are unknown to us.

The Astrologers, * 1.14 that they may some way expresse the various Constitutions of Bodies, according to the occult diversities of Stars, call some Solar bodies, born under the influence of the Sun; so Jo∣vial under Jupiter; others Martial, Venereal, Mercurial, Saturni∣nal, as being born under one of those; and also admit of mixt con∣stitutions born under several Planets; nor indeed absurdly altoge∣ther,

since there is a great agreement and consent betwixt Superior and Inferior bodies.

But since there are divers parts of a body, and each part hath its peculiar Temperature, not onely proceeding from the mixture of Elements; but some are hotter, some have lesse heat in them; neverthelesse they agree together, to make the Temperament of the whole, which is hot and moist; and so heat with cold, moisture with dry things are equal'd. So that from thence there proceedeth a certain Harmony, and the Temperament of the whole, is mode∣rately hot and moist.

But to constitute that Temperament of the whole, * 1.15 the noble parts of the body perform more then the rest, and most especially the Heart, the Fountain and Treasury of the native heat, and vital spirits. From whence all the parts of the body receive the influent spirits and heat. Next to it the Liver, which furnisheth the whole body with aliment, namely bloud; afterwards the Stones; then the Brain, the shop of Animal spirits; last the Stomack, the place for the first Concoction.

Concerning the Temperament of several parts, * 1.16 the most Tem∣perate is the skin; especially that in the Palm of the hand, to which as to the mean, the other parts being compared, tend to heat, cold, drowth or moisture.

The Hot parts are the Heart, of all the parts the hottest, the Foun∣tain of native heat, and Closet of vital spirits. Also the Liver, flesh of the Muscles, Spleen, Reins, Lungs, Veins and Arteries, Fat also and fatness.

The Cold, are Bones, Gristles, Ligaments, Tendons, Nerves, * 1.17 Membranes, Spinal Marrow, the Brain.

The Moist parts are Fat, the marrow of the bones, the Brain, * 1.18 the marrow of the back, the Duggs, the Stones, the Lungs, the Spleen, Reins, flesh of Muscles, the Tongue, Heart and softer Nerves.

The Dry, are Bones, Gristles, Ligaments, Tendons, Membranes, * 1.19 Arteries, Veins, hard Nerves.

There is a certain difference of Temperaments in mans body by reason of Sex and Age: As for what belongeth to Sex, * 1.20 Females are colder then Males, as having contracted a colder nature from their principles of generation, lest that the blood necessary for future ge∣neration by a stronger heat should be consumed.

The Temperament is also changed according to age; to wit, * 1.21 the age which is principally ordained for certain internal changes by heat and moisture. Authors for the most part divide mans life into three ages, Child-hood, Manly-age, and Old-age; or Youthful,

Age of perfection, Declination; or if you please, into the first, middle, and last age; to which differences other ages, spoken of by Authors, may be referred.

The first age therefore is our Infancy, which remaineth till the seventh year; the second our Child-hood, which for the most part continueth to the fourteenth year of our age: then our youth∣full age from the fourteenth to the five and twentieth, when our growth for the most part in stature ceaseth. And sometime Hip∣pocrates in his first Book of Aphorisms and fourteenth chap. ac∣compts these ages before mentioned, ages of growth. From thence to the five and thirtieth is our manly of flourishing age; from thence to the forty eighth year is our prime or most principal age, then begins old age; which hath its degrees also, for each age hath its Temperament, Infants and Boys are hot and moist; youthful age is most Temperate, and obtains the most convenient temper for humane actions; the flourishing manly age, or prime Viril age is hot and dry; lastly old age by reason of the wasting of the Ra∣dical moisture, and defect of the promigenial Innate heat is cold and dry; and by how much the older, by so much the colder and dryer.

Notes

• * 1.1

  What a Tempera∣ment is.
• * 1.2

  A Tempe∣rament of a mixt body two-fold.
• * 1.3

  To weight.
• * 1.4

  To Justice.
• * 1.5

  Temper te to Justice two-sold. Simple.
• * 1.6

  Compound. The latitu∣de of Tem∣perament.
• * 1.7

  How many wayes any thing is said to be hot, moist cold, and dry.
• * 1.8

  In man there is a twofold Tempera∣ment.
• * 1.9

  Tempe∣rament, In∣nate, In∣fluent.
• * 1.10

  The Tem∣perament of a man, of what sort it is.
• * 1.11

  The diffe∣rences of the Tempe∣raments of man.
• * 1.12

  Sanguine, Cholerick, Phlegma∣tick, Me∣lancholy.
• * 1.13

  Occult qualities.
• * 1.14

  The opi∣nions of the Astro∣logers.
• * 1.15

  The Tem∣perament of the whole wherein it depends.
• * 1.16

  The Tem∣perament of the parts of the body. The Hot Parts.
• * 1.17

  Cold.
• * 1.18

  Moist.
• * 1.19

  Dry.
• * 1.20

  The Tem∣perament of Sex.
• * 1.21

  The Tem∣perament of ages.