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. VI. Of the Dyet of such as are out of temper and of neu∣ters.

AS for what belongs to the Dyet of bodyes, * 1.1 that are neu∣trals, there art two kinds of bodies deviating from per∣fect health, for some are more remote from a sickly constitu∣tion, others are neerer to it, and these are twofold as before is spoken lib. the first Chap. the third, neuters falling away, which governing part of the Method of the defence of health is called Prophylactick; in neuters tending to health and waxing strong, the governing part of the Method of restora∣tion of health is called Analyptick.

But those former neuters which are as yet far from difeased, yet decline from the best health, whether from their birth, or whether they have contracted such a habit from custome and dyet, it is hard to change, neither can it be done sudden∣ly, but by degrees, and with long diligence; but if lea∣sure doth not permit, tis neither commodious, nor possible, for as Galen 2. of the defence of health Chap. the third those who are busied in civill affaires, and distracted with many businesses tis safer for such a one not to indeavour to change his temperament.

Such bodyes therefore, * 1.2 if either leasure will not permit, and their minds are not bent to reduce them into a better state, they ought to be preserved so by their likes, but if you in∣tend to reduce them to a better condition, you must use con∣traries by degrees; yet a hot and moist distemper, since that tis more agreeable to our nature, is by no meanes to be changed, because it introduceth no disease, but bodyes which are become too dry, are alwayes to be moistned as much as may be, during the whole terme of life.

Hot bodyes therefore should avoid hot Aire, * 1.3 hot and sharpe meates, their drink ought to be more plentifull, but smaler, and strong drink rather then wine, their exercise ought to be moderate, the use of bathes, of fresh waters warme, frequent; they must shun anger, too tedious meditations, and their sleepe ought to be longer.

If drynesse be joyned to the heate, let them avoid the use of hot and drying things, and therefore let them beware

of a hot and dry constitution of Aire, and vehement exer∣cises, if humidity be joyned and that be moderate, fince that temperament is most agreeable to man, and conduceth to the prolongation of life, tis to be preserved as much as may be, and only to be fore-warned that no more of the heat and humours may be added, and cause diseases, and stir up putri∣faction, wherefore let these avoid Aire that is too hot and moist, let meat be given which hath attenuating force, and let them endeavour that it may be well concocted, let their exercises be such, as may discusse excrements, yet not dry the solid parts; let all other things be moderate, and prin∣cipally let them endeavour, that the excrements of the belly and the urine may freely passe from them.

Those which are cold are to be nourished with hot meates, let them use exercises, which may stir up heate, * 1.4 let them evacuate timely the pituitous excrements.

Dry constitutions should use moist meates, * 1.5 and moistning drink, and bathes of fresh water, but the most unhappy con∣stitution is cold and dry, which represents old age from the beginning, and hastens to it and therefore such are to use heating and moistning things, and to be nourished with hot and moist food, their exercises should be moderate, such as only stir up the naturall heate, their sleepe longer and the use of bathes of fresh water frequent; Venery is very hurtfull: cold and moist, if the constitution of the body be so, * 1.6 the frigi∣dity is to be corrected, and the humidity preserved, to which purpose moderate exercise conduceth, and excrements if they are timely and duly evacuated.

Neuters declining; which now incline to sicknesse, * 1.7 dis∣eases are imminent to them, especially for two reasons, Ple∣thory, and Cacochymie, both of them therefore are to be taken away; if the falling away from health be but little, it may be done with rest and abstinence; but if it be grea∣ter, opening of a veine, and purging is to be used, which is spoken of in the following book, for this Prophylactick part is placed in the end of a cure.

Only we here admonish two things, first that the Spring-time is best for preservation; as Hippocrates 6. Apho. 47. teacheth, he sayes, to those that the brea∣thing of a veine or purging are profitable, to them the opening of a veine, and a purgation is to be com∣manded,

in the Spring; it is also profitable, to purge black and Melancholy humours, before Autumne.

Moreover the use of aloes doth much conduce to the pre∣servation of health, * 1.8 since it gently purgeth the excrements which stick in the first passages, which are oftentimes the causes of many diseases, it resists putrifaction and corruption, and seldome reacheth the Liver, but because aloes, if it comes to the Liver offends it, it is not to be used too often, and in too great plenty, least it should penetrate to the Liver, but it purgeth onely the first passages, which is performed pro∣fitably, if it be taken in a small quantity, a little before Sup∣per.

Lastly, * 1.9 for what belongs to the dyet of those newters that are inclinable to health, two things in the first place are to be obserued in their dyet, first that they fall not againe into the disease; secondly that they may suddenly recover their former health: first when, as it is 2. Apho. 12. those things which are left in diseases after a crisis are wont to cause re∣lapses, if ought of the peccant matter be yet remaining, that is to be taken away by degrees, and by helping, and the prin∣cipall parts are to be strengthned, but if nothing of the vitious matter be present, the body is carefully to be refresh∣ed with moist aliment, and that which is easie to be con∣cocted, namely the yolkes of eggs, broathes with Bread, Chickens, Hens, Capons, Fish; lastly Goates flesh, Mutton, Veale; sleepe helps concoction, unctions strengthen the stomach, before meate are appointed frications also, mode∣rate walking, Baths of fresh warme wa••••r, lastly strengthen∣ing things are to be used, and such as may resist the reliques of the causes of imbecility, and of sickly disposition, but those things which may call back the distemper, which trouble sick, these are to be avoided.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bodies that are neuters how many∣fold.
• * 1.2

  Dyet of un∣temperate men.
• * 1.3

  Of such as are hot.
• * 1.4

  Oscold.
• * 1.5

  Of dry.
• * 1.6

  Moist.
• * 1.7

  Dyet of neuters de∣clining.
• * 1.8

  Ʋse of the aloes.
• * 1.9

  Dyet of neuters growing better.