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. How many sorts there are of Dyet, and which agrees to which diseases.

BUt Dyet is threefold, * 1.1 thick, thin, indifferent, or be∣twixt both, thick or full Dyet is that which can pre∣serve not only the strength which is present, but also can increase it, indifferent is that which preserves the strength as it finds it, the thin is that which preserves the strength yet somewhat abated. Of thick and full Dyet again some is simple, which agrees to those that are sick, and is made by a ptisan, with the Barley whole; another is fuller and thicker, which is made with fish and Eggs; another which is the fullest of all, which gives way to flesh of creatures that are gelded. Simply thin is threefold, simply such and is made by the juice of ptisan, the thick juice or creame of ptisan, or ptisan strained; the thinner is that wherein water and Honey is mixt; the thinnest Dyet was that of Hippo. wherein nothing was put; the middle sort was made with bread dipt in broath, or also with the fl••sh of fowles.

But regard is to be had of custome, places and Countries, since in some Countries, full Dyet is more in use, in others more sparing, and according to that, the matter of thin Dyet is to be moderated.

But what kind of Dyet agrees to what diseases, the com∣paring of the strength which Indicates food and the morbi∣fique causes, * 1.2 which hinder the same, do shew; for by how much the more nature is busied, in opposing the morbifique cause, by so much the more sparing Dyet is convenient; but by how much the lesse it is busied, by so much the more plen∣tifull Dyet may be given; but by so much the lesse it is op∣pressed, by so much the state of a disease is nigher, and therefore also, by how much the disease is more acute, by so much the Dyet is to be more sparing, so that the strength can endure with it, untill the state, but tis known when the strength can endure and subsist untill the height, but when

it cannot, the nature of the sick is to be considered: for if the body is made bitter with choler, hot and dry, aboun∣ding with choler, especially about the stomach, he cannot endure thin Dyet, or fasting; for such bodyes motion is easily hinderd, regard also is to be had of age, for as it is in Hippo. 1. Apho. 13. old men easily endure fasting as also those of middle age, young men lesse, boyes least of all, and a∣mongst them, especially those which have sharper, and quicker wits.

But as for the nature of a difease, * 1.3 in long diseases there is need of an indifferent or full Dyet, and so much the more plentifull, by how much the diseases are slower, but in acute dises, thinner is requisite, least if we should give too much meat, we should cherish the discase; but since there are de∣grees of acute diseales, so much the thinner is to be given, by how much the discase is the more acute.

Yet it is allwayes safer, to give thicker Dyet then is fit, * 1.4 rather then thinner; as for the quantity you ought rather to studdy substraction according to Hippo. 1. Apho. 5. In thin food the sick doe faint; whence it comes to passe that they are hurt the more, for as much as every fault here, is greater then it useth to be in a little more plentifull Dy••••.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dyet three∣fold, Thick. Indifferent. Thin
• * 1.2

  What food is fit for what dis∣eases.
• * 1.3

  Dyet in long dis∣eases.
• * 1.4

  Whether more error is commit∣ted in full or spare Dyet.