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 Signs of Bodies differing from the best con∣stitution.

BUt Bodies which differ from the best constitutions, either are sick, which are d••scerned from sound Bo∣dies, by the hurting of the actions; and the sign which distinguishes betwixt a sound and sick body, is sensible hurt of the actions; Or they are hitherto sound, which have not their actions hitherto sensibly hurt, whereof there is a great latitude, and some in the tempe∣rature of the simular parts, some in the composition of the organick parts,, some of them both deviating from the best constitution.

And first those bodies which are too hot, * 1.1 yet mode∣rate in drinesse and humidity, such discover themselves to the touch, hair abounds in the whole body, and is yellow and thick. They are thinner, as to matter of fat: they are swift and strong for motion, prone to an∣ger, the colour of the face is redder then of a temperate body, they are easily hurt by hot causes.

If drynesse be joined to the heat, * 1.2 which they call chol∣le••ick, the body shall be hot, hard, thin, and lean, hairy, and the hairs are black, cu••led, the Puise of the Arteries are great, and the Veins great, they are angry persons, which are endued with such a temperature, obstinate le∣vers of brawlings, they desire few things, they are fit for the generation of Males.

If moisture be joyned to the heat, * 1.3 which temperament they call Sanguine, the bodies shall be hot, and soft, a∣bounding with much blood, fleshy, endued with large Veins, and those which are so in their youth, often have the Hemorrhoides of the Nose; and if the humidity somewhat abound, they are apt from their youth to dis∣cases of putrifaction.

If the body be too cold, * 1.4 such a body is perceived by the touch, 'tis white, at, slow, soft and baid, 'tis easily hurt by cold things, it hath a narrow brest, and without hair, and narrow veins scarcely appearing, the hairs are thin

and of small increase for the most part, they are fearfull that are of that temperament.

If moisture be joined to the cold, * 1.5 not much, nor that coldnesse great, the body shall be white in colour, fat, thick, soft, red hair, inclining to palenesse; but if the fri∣gidity with the humidity be more intense, the body shall be thick, coloured yellow, exceeding bald, the hair smooth, the veins lying hid, such temperaments are dull and slow of apprehension, and for the most part altogether idle, no wayes ready, simple, and not prone to anger.

If frigidity is joined to drinesse, * 1.6 such a body is discer∣ned by the touch, those shall be lean, bald, pale, which are of such a constitution they are slow in going on, de∣jected in countenance with their eyes fixed.

And for what belongs to Melancholians in particular, * 1.7 not onely whom the vulgar, but whom Aristotle in the thirtieth Section, and first Probleme accounts ingenious; wherein the said Aristotle writes that much and cold choller is black; these are foolish, and idle, wherein there is much and hot choller, those are quick-sighted, and ingenious, apt to love, propense to anger and lust, and some greater bablers: but those whose heat is more remiss, more temperate, and as it were reduced to mediocrity, those are much more prudent, and although they less exceed in some matters; yet in others they are far better then the others, some in the study of Literature, others in Arts, others in Common-wealths; namely, those Melancholians are ingenious, who by nature abound with good and plenty of blood, wherewith some part thicker and dryer is mingled, which adds, as it were, strength to the blood, and when attenuated, and, as it were, poured, it is spiritual.

And whereas the differences of bodies are constituted according to Astrologers, * 1.8 and according to the num∣ber of Planets. Those that are born under Saturn have a dry skin, black hair, and are delighted with those black things; they have little eyes, small pulse, a slow and dull gate, they are fearful, sad, love solitude, they are busie∣bodies, covetous, slow of endeavouring, silent, laborious, they have terrible and obscure dreams.

Those under Jupiter are fair, * 1.9 and have rosie counte∣nances, with a pleasant and venerable aspect, they have

black eyes, are of a fit stature, and handsome composure of all the parts, their habit of body is good, flesh, blood and spirits, pure and in great plenty; hence they are milde, joyful, ingenious, bountiful, moderate lovers of friends, just, and all their manners composed with come∣liness, and their gate is moderate.

Those under Mars abound with choller, * 1.10 have a lean body, rather then a fat, have red faces and shadowed, bur∣ning and threatning eyes, a broad brest, an upright neck, they are propense to anger, contentious, bold, and often precipitate, contemners of danger, seditious,

Those under Sol are of a yellowish, * 1.11 or a Saffron colour tending to red, they have yellow hair, golden, and cur∣led, black eyes, swelling, full faces, moderate garbs, and have hotter blood and spirits; hence they are courteous, wise, open hearted, honest, strong, magnificent, and aspi∣ring to high things, and sometimes proud.

Those under Venus are faire, * 1.12 coming nigh to the fe∣minine beauty, and softness, delicate colour is red, or of white, inclining to red, their eyes shining, sparkling, and casting lacivious looks, the brows and lips thin, they are quiet, joyful, pleasant in conversation, delighted with jests, company, singing, delighted with Musick, lacivious and principally love neatness, and ornaments of the body,

Those under Mercury are rather little in body then great, in face somewhat pale, they have little eyes, * 1.13 and those buried within their orbs, thin lips and nose, and youthful face in manly years, very thin beard, quick voice, light spirits, whence they are wise, subtile, studi∣ous of sects, and subtile things; prevalent in memory, eloquent, but unconstant, and sometimes also crafty, de∣ceitful, witty lyars.

Those under the Moon are great in body, fat, thick, * 1.14 white, unstable, and sometimes delighted with one thing, and sometimes with another.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Signs of a hot body.
• * 1.2

  Of a ho•• and dry.
• * 1.3

  Of hot and moist.
• * 1.4

  Of a cold.
• * 1.5

  Of a cold and moist.
• * 1.6

  Of a cold dry.
• * 1.7

  Of Melan∣cholians.
• * 1.8

  Saturnines
• * 1.9

  Jovials.
• * 1.10

  Martial.
• * 1.11

  Solares.
• * 1.12

  Venereus.
• * 1.13

  Mercuri∣ans.
• * 1.14

  Lunar.