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.

THE FIFTH BOOK, PART II. SECT. III. Of the vitall Indication.

CHAP. I. What doth Indicate Dyet in those that are sick.

SIth hence, it is spoken by what means things preter∣naturall are to be taken away, now it remains that we speake, how that which remains in a sick man, ac∣cording to nature may be kept, or preserved: but those things which are according to nature commonly come un∣der the name of strength, or force, and Indication which is taken from thence, is called vitall, and Conservatory, because it preserves those things which are hitherto in the sick, according to nature, and those things which can pre∣serve the strength of our body by themselves, and are ac∣cording to nature, are called vitall and Preservatory Indi∣cates.

But since as above in the 4. Booke, part 2. Chap. 1. it is said there are three vitall, or Preservatory Indicants, health, the cause of health, and sound actions, as we are to endea∣vour, that in a sound condition all these may be preserved, so it is to be aimed that as much as it is possible they may be

kept in such as are sick, and this is to preserve strength; namely to preserve the native heat, in the whole, and in all the parts, and the right use and observation of things called non-naturalls.

Namely the strength shews the Aliment, * 1.1 in this respect because 'tis placed in spirituous, solid, and fleshy parts, having a just quantity, and doth use them as an Instru∣ment; and the vitall Indication is busied only about keep∣ing the substance of the spirituous, solld and fleshy parts.

But although the strength only Indicate Aliment, * 1.2 yet it may be prohibited from others, for oftentimes the giving of meate increaseth the morbifique constitution, and also to regard this, that 'tis not to Indicate Aliment, but to prohi∣bit it, for when meate is given nature is called away from concoction, and evacuation of morbifique matter, and there∣fore when the powers Indicate their preservation, which is performed by exhibiting nourishment in that quantity which the substance to be preserved wanteth, but the mor∣bifique cause indicates its Evacuation, and therefore com∣mands nature to be at leasure for it selfe alone, and so pro∣hibits Aliment, whereby nature would be called away, and hindred from its worke, you must be carefull, what urgeth more.

In breife: strength only Indicates Aliment; the mor∣bifique cause permits, or probibits; the rest, as age, custome, Time of the year, the state of Heaven, and such like are the signes of firme strength, or of weaknesse, or such as may shew the force, and greatnesse of the morbifique cause.

CHAP. II. What things belongs to Dyet.

ALthough Dyet consists principally of meate and drink, * 1.3 yet other things also called non-naturalls, as Aire, sleep and watchings, exercise and rest, and accidents of the mind, belong thereunto: but amongst these there are some things out of which primarily, and by themselves Aliment is generated; such is Aire, meate and drink, but others, are accounted amongst the matter of food, in this respect, not because really out of those as the matter, Aliment of the bo∣dy is generated, but as they are the causes of Aliment by

accident, and helpe that those things which are the true materialls of Aliments, may be more commodiously turned into Aliment: such are sleep, and watchings, exercises, and rest, Repletion and Inanition, and passions of the mind, of which is spoken above in the 4. Book.

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

BUt Dyet is threefold, * 1.4 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, * 1.5 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, * 1.6 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, * 1.7 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••••.

CHAP. IV. Of the right Administration of the Dyet of sick per∣sons.

IN the same manner as in medicines, so in vitalls, * 1.8 a three∣fold these may be observed; namely the highest, middle, and lowest, which may be administred in all Dy••t, whe∣ther thick, indifferent, or thin. But which dose is to be given, and when, is collected, by comparing of the strength, and morbifique cause one with another; for since the morbifique matter sometimes urgeth more, sometimes lesse, and some∣times the helpe of nature is more required in resisting the cause of a disease, the same forme of Dyet may be observed, sometimes a greater, sometimes a lesser is to be given, ac∣cording as nature is sometimes busied more, sometimes lesse in the combat with a disease.

Namely in the beginning of a disease, nature contends not much as yet with the morbifique cause, neither whilst it is yet imployed in concoction, and Evacuation; wherefore

you may exhibit victualls, which are convenient for the disease, then the highest dose.

But in the Augmentation because nature begins to con∣tend with the disease, * 1.9 and is more busied about the morbi∣fique matter then in the beginning, then some of the quan∣tity is to be abated, and Dyet is to be given in a middle dose.

But in the state when the combat of nature, * 1.10 and the dis∣ease is most violent, and nature is most busied in concoction and evacuation of matter, the victualls are to be administ∣red in the smalest quantity, and nature not to be called away from its purpose.

The time, * 1.11 and when meate is to be given, as for that in continued diseases, and such as have no differences of fits, Dyet is to be administred according to custome, principal∣ly at that time when the sick use to eat before; But in dis∣eases which have fits, when meate is to be given Hippo. shews 1. Apho. 11. It behoveth to take away meat in the sits themselves, for to give it is hurtfull, and when by circuit diseases returne, in the Paroxismes themselves you must abstaine, which neverthelesse is not simply to be taken, but if a feaver be from a sharpe and biting humour kindled by the Sun, anger, fasting, labours, and the sick be thin, and leane in body and in Temperament, and especially in Summer time if he be hot and dry, either a little before the fit, or in the fit it selfe meate is to be taken, otherwise he easily falls into a burning feaver or Hectick, swooning, or convulsion, or such like, and indangers the losse of his strength.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The strength what it shews.
• * 1.2

  Things prohibi∣ting.
• * 1.3

  Things pro∣hibiting to Dyet.
• * 1.4

  Dyet three∣fold, Thick. Indifferent. Thin
• * 1.5

  What food is fit for what dis∣eases.
• * 1.6

  Dyet in long dis∣eases.
• * 1.7

  Whether more error is commit∣ted in full or spare Dyet.
• * 1.8

  Quantity of meate.
• * 1.9

  In the Augmenta∣tion.
• * 1.10

  In the state.
• * 1.11

  The time of giving food to the sick.