Platerus golden practice of physick: fully and plainly discovering, I. All the kinds. II. The several causes of every disease. III. Their most proper cures, in respect to the kinds, and several causes, from whence they come. After a new, easie, and plain method; of knowing, foretelling, preventing, and curing, all diseases incident to the body of man. Full of proper observations and remedies: both of ancient and modern physitians. In three books, and five tomes, or parts. Being the fruits of one and thirty years travel: and fifty years practice of physick. By Felix Plater, chief physitian and professor in ordinary at Basil. Abdiah Cole, doctor of physick, and the liberal arts. Nich. Culpeper, gent. student in physick, and astrology.

CHAP. IV. Of a Defatigation of the mind.

The Kinds.

VVE call that a Defatigation of the mind when the internal senses are exercised more, or longer than 'tis convenient; or when they rest not at the time prescribed them, by sleep, which is the rest of the mind, or not sufficiently as it comes to pass when they sleep not, in too much Watchings, or when they sleep but unquietly, by reason of grievous dreams: the which both in the sound and sick do somtimes cause weakness, create trouble, and in∣crease diseases.

Too much and preternatural Watchings are, when they sleep not at all for some daies, months, or not sufficiently fill up the term of seven or eight hours or more according to the custom of natures, seeing Children sleep more than they wake. These whether they be symptoms of Diseases or happen without them, do at last bring hurt, seeing they heat the spirits by their too much use and exagitation, whence it happens that the humors also are set on fire, especially the hot ones, and the same are at length con∣sumed.

And hence must needs follow at last, a weakness of some functions of the body, as the animal spirits being wasted, there is some defect of the internal senses, and by conse∣quence of the external also, chiefly of the sight, seeing for the exercise of that there is need of so great a quantity of spirits; and then by a certain consecution there be∣ing a dissipation made of the vital spirits also, there fol∣lows a languishing of the whol body, and the natural spi∣rits being offended too, the natural actions are hurt, and chiefly concoction, not because sleep as they think doth digest, but because concoction that it may be rightly per∣formed, wanting more plentiful spirits and heat, for want of them is for the most part offended sooner then the other actions.

And also immoderate watchings do bring troubles and pains to certain parts; and that because not only ••he spirits are heated, but the humors also by infection from them, whence the spirits and blood by too much watching grow∣ing hot first of all in the Head, a pain of the Head, redness of the Eyes, and hot tears flowing thither, an itching doth befall the watchful that they are often forced to rub their Eyes; and if they last long and the mass of blood be in∣flamed, diary Feavers are caused; and if this Symptom urge in other Feavers the heat being increased, the symp∣toms of the Feavers grow stronger Choler. Also in the cholerick growing hot for this reason through too much watching and poured into the Stomach and boyling there, breeds gnawings of the Stomach, and other accidents of it, and by consent with that, pains of the Head, and Me∣grims.

Preternatural Dreams are, when in sleep the external senses only do seem to rest, but the internal do not only lightly exercise themselves, as is in natural Dreams, but immoderatly and with vehemency and labor as if they were waking, although exercise themselves depravedly, and do also exagitate and diffi∣pate the spirits, that being rouzed up they seem to be ra∣ther wearied than refreshed.

Immoderate Dreams that make the body weary and weak, are those which besides the custom do last longer, al∣most all night; but this happens to some naturally that Dreams do then begin first, when the vapors which caused a sound sleep, are now discust, after the first sleep as they call it, but on others as labouring men tired with labor, and sleping presently after meat, sleep so steals on them by reason of the plenty of vapors that they have no dreams at all, or if they have some wandring, they no waies remember them; the which also though it be natural too, yet that Country fellow not thinking it con∣venient, that he could rehearse no Dreams to his Com∣panions amidst their Cups, for this reason takes coun∣sel of the Physitian, and receiving from him a strong purging medicine sleeping upon it dreamt that he shit a bed, afterwards awaking he found in very deed, that he had dreamed, and that a true and fatal one.

Grievous dreams are which do not only lightly ex∣ercise the mind, as natural ones (which therefore see∣ing they are not very much imprinted on the Brain) they do easily slip out of the memory either wholly or

in part, that being wakend they can recite little of them) but do very much exagitate it, and do no less affect the senses then if those things did truely fal out, which ap∣pear to them in their sleep, in so much that oftentimes being strucken with fear they suddainly start up, or if nevertheless they continve in their sleep, they are alto∣gether unquiet, and toss their Body variously in their sleep, Sweat, and somtimes Talk, Prate much, Cry, Laugh, call out, Nay and sleeping still, nevertheless rise out of their Bed, and as Galen writes it hath befallen himself, they walk and survey many places, concer∣ning which the common people perswade themselves many superstitious and old wives tales, how they can climbe without danger, if they be not hindred, nor wakend being called by their own name, those difficult places, otherwise impossible for the wakening to do: many grievous dreams of which nature, tis well known to all, are dayly objected, both to the sick and other∣wise sound.

But they are such, if horrible things are presented to their minds whiles they are a sleep, with which they are either vehemently frighted, as when they dream that they are in danger by some violence offered, a fal from on high, of Fire, Water, or by reason of some great offence, or for the loss of some grateful thing represented to them, they are Angry, Sad, and Greive.

Also Portentous Prognosticating Dreams, especially those that portend any evil do very much astonish, and though they presage some good, nevertheless they move a little, the which so many sacred and prophane Histories do testefie, are sent to men, from a good and evil Spirit,

The Causes.

The Cause both of watchings and dreams, one is supernatural depending on God or the Devil, another natural, from custome, which is a second nature, or it lies in the Head and it is a too great Commotion or Perturbation of the Animal Spirits, or a hot distemper of the Brain.

The great and good God as he makes known his wil to us watching, and puts it into our minds, so also he will somtimes admonish us by Dreams of things to come or things present or past; somtimes by sending of visions unknown by themselves. Yet the interpretation of which he graunted to some, as to Joseph, Daniel: but at o∣ther times he hath set before our Eyes as it were in Dreams the thing it self as it is, as to Pharaoh the Dearness of provision to come, to Daniel the Monarchies to come, Julius Caesars present danger to his Wife, the past Death of Ceyres the Husband, to his Wife Alcyone.

And the Devil also by Gods permission as he doth often didude the sleeping with false Images and Apparitions of things, so also he troubles men in their Dreams with true ones sometimes, that signifies some∣thing certain, if he can hurt them, seeing otherwise he is a lyar.

Custome oftentimes makes men to be raised at a certain hour of the Night and to watch a long while, as we have oftentimes already taught that Nature being accustomed, doth observe her times in excretions also, and others of her Natural Operations; which is very familiar with old folks in watchings, who though they be Prone to Sleep, and presently betake themselves to Bed; yet being roused either about midnight or sooner or later, can Sleep no more. And after this is wont to be accu∣stomary to them, care and thought in the interim joy∣ning themselves, by which whiles they search into, and dispose of divers things, they are awakend more. Also some dreams come to a habit from a certain Custome that afterwards for a long time they dream dreams of the same kind, and do not only conceive them in their minde, but by words and deeds express them in their sleep.

The too much commotion or pertur∣bation of the Animal Spirits, are the cause of preternatural watchings and dreams, which come to pass the in∣ternal senses being too much affect∣ed, for then the Spirits being stirred, because they can not rest, they can no waies sleep but watch, or if they do sleep, either they are vexed neverthelels with too much Dreams or those more grievous; which impul∣sion of the internal senses either befals them by acci∣dent by reason of the external senses, or by it self. For the external senses being very much moved by their proper objects, do move also the internal and suffer them not to be quiet, or if they be quiet, nevertheless they disturb and force them: as the sight moved by too much light, the hearing by a great noise turnes a∣way sleep, and makes the sleepers unquiet, or rouzeth them up, because silence and darkness are rather requi∣red to sleep: the touch especially affected with pain and trouble doth cause watchings. Upon which account in Diseases that torment with pain they are also troub∣led with watchings, and in dreams they represent the pain to them asleep; and those that are troubled with a pain at the Heart the stomach being to ful, they sleep unquietly; the which happens also to them who suffer any other trouble in Diseases, as to those that are very thirsty, who watch by reason of the thirst, or if these kind of people do sleep, they are tormented also in their dreams with a desire to drink; as it betides them also who are vext with a difficulty of breathing, in di∣vers Diseases of the Breast, and in a Dropsie, that they cannot sleep, or if they do sleep being straitend with danger of suffocation, they have also such Dreams.

The senses also being too much moved by them∣selves, by a vehement intention of the minde upon some things, the spirits being stirred, at it comes to pass in vehement and lasting passions of the Minde, viz. in Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness, Love, they are afflicted with too much watchings, or if they do sleep, never∣theless they are exagitated in Dreams with their affecti∣ons; and also so many Species and Images of things, arising from the studies of divers Sciences, Arts, and human actions, being apprehended and imprinted on the Brain, do not only exercise the Memory of the wa∣king so that they sleep less, but being obsersant to them sleeping and moving the Spirits, they spring forth a∣gain in their dreams. And those things which we met withal either the same day, or the precedent daies or a long while before, do represent themselves either in the same form that they were in or from a mixture of them diverse forms springing up wonderful apparitions ofter themselves to us, which either have not happend, or are not to be found in Nature. And hence it comes to pass that oftentimes such Dreams by reason of their enormity, are thought portentous, the Cause of which notwithstanding is Natural, viz, this commixture of formes (as if one hath seen in the day time a fine Horse, and a Man, he may Dream that he fees a Centaure) and the common People by Reason of the diversity of dreams, which tis no wonder that they vary so accor∣ding

to so many conceptions of the Mind, do perswade themselves by a great error that every one doth por∣tend somthing.

Also the manner of lying by which the Animal spirits being moved, are less quiet in their seats, but do easier change their place, make much for the causing of more Turbulent Dreams, (as we see this may be done in Members retained a long while in a non natural Scitu∣ation, that suffer a numness by reason of the Spirits hindred, and in a Vertigo from a wheeling of the Body by reason of the Spirits running up and down,) as we see it happens by lying one the Back especially the Head bending downwards, the Spirits then from the Head penetrating more the Spinal Marrow, and so causing motion and sense, that though they be not wakend, yet nevertheless they are more exagitated in their Dreams.

Also a Perturbation of the Spirits of the Brain, from Impure, Filthy, Melancho∣lick Vapors or Humors, causeth Grievous and Turbulent Dreams, and the like appa∣ritions appearing in Sleep; and as pleasant and merry Dreams do shew forth a health∣ful Constitution, so these sad and borrid Dreams for the most part shew a Melancholick Constitution and often∣times Diseases to come; and in Diseases of this Nature, generated of Melancholly, and a Malignat matter, to∣gether with other accidents of the Brain and Dotages they do vehemently Exagitate a man, and also cause watchings, but Dioscorides also writes that terrible Dreams are caused from certain things taken, as if Beans, Lentils, Fitches be eaten, and also if the seeds of Bind weed, and Venemous Tree Trefoile be taken, doubtless the Spirits being wont to be troubled by their strength, they are cause Dreams.

A hot Distemper of the Brain, also heating the Spirits because it makes them unquiet, may be the Cause both of Watchings and Preternatural Dreams, which somtimes happens from hot Vapors proceeding from things taken, as hot Meats and especially Wine which though it cause sleep by its Narcotickness, yet it breeds unquiet Dreams; a hot Evaporation from Humors or Excrements, or the Bloody Humor it self inflaming the Brain as they do produce a pain of the Head, so also Raving, Watchings, and Grievous Turbulent Dreams, and such as resemble the Nature of the Humor, oftentimes in Feavers, in a Phrensie, and other hot Diseases.

The Cure.

In the Cure we must respect the Cause and the Symptome, but we have said the Cause of watchings and Dreams was from God, the Devil, Custome, an Agitation and Perturbation of the Spirits and heat of the Brain.

The Dreams sent by God because they are good, and nothing proceeds from God but what is good, or tends to a good end, we cannot, nor onght not to change; the tricks of the Devil are turnd away by Pra∣yers, Fasting, amendment of life and a stedfast Faith. Custome as a second Nature is not easily changed, but by a contrary Custome; wherefore they that are wont to be raised at a certain hour of night; let them go to bed later or some other way let them change this Custome, and in time of sleep, as much as they can let them abstain from deep thoughts, also if Dreams do so accustomarily vex men, that they are unquiet, Skip, Talk, Walk, then they are somtimes to be wakened by frighting, for hence it comes to pass, that that fear repeated, at length of∣fering it self to them in their Dreams, doth rouse them up of their own accord, and by degrees turnes them from this evil Custome. As one that was wont to walk in the night, being somtimes beaten with rods at length left off this Custome; and that Cobler who be∣cause he thought in his Dreams that he was sowing, and with opening his Arms, as they are wont to do drawing their thred, he smote his companion by him, being oftentimes soundly kickt again by the same man feigning himself to Dream that he was riding, at last he was freed from this Error.

But if they be compeld to watch, or grieved with Dreams from the too great plenty of Spirits, the Causes which exagitate them, must first be turned away as if sleep be hindered by too much light or noise, or they sleep unquietly, these things must be declined, by in∣ducing of darkness and rest: if affects of the Minde do cause it, as hath been said in that Species of Alienation of Minde, they must be corrected, and those things be given, which can bring gladness, and also procure rest, as Wine; but especially if too great an intention upon some thing and Ratiocination made on it, do hinder sleep, and the minde cannot be drawn from it to take rest, sleep is the easier procured after this man∣ner. The minde being called away from the former by the Meditation of another thing, as we do observe those that watch a nights, if they be devoutly very in∣tent on their Prayers to God, forgetting other cares, they do sooner fall a sleep: but if some trouble make men watchful or disturbe them in their sleep, as thirst, then salt things which do cause that, must be omitted especially at Supper, and Sleep must be expected, which supervenient is wont to quench thirst, if it per∣severe, it must be amended as shall be said in its place so also if they sleep unquietly by reason of fulness, a spa∣ring and sober Supper is wont to correct this fault, and that chiefly if they sleep not presently after the taking of meat; if a difficulty of breathing contracted by their lying down do so vex them that they cannot sleep, they must be so placed upright that they may breath free. And yet the Body may rest, at shall be ex∣plained in a Dyspnaea as also if by lying on the Back they are troubled with grievous Dreams if they sleep on their side with their Head more lift up, they shall be less oppressed. If also a great pain in some Disease do hinder sleep, as this is most frequent, and that cannot be mitigated by any other means, by soporiferous me∣dicines we shall with the same labor procure sleep and mitigate pain, because they induce a Stupidity: rather giving them inwardly, if great necessity do urge, be∣cause so they do work more powerfully; as with Wine, or if we must use stronger, Syrup of Poppy and other Opi∣ates, or we must use Vnguents applied to the Temples and Forehead such as Populeum, and Lotions of the Feet which for the procuring of sleep also can do much, as in Hypnoticks divers of that sort shall be explained. If watchings or Dreams proceed from a perturbation of the Spirits, the Cause also must be taken away, which if it pro∣ceed from Meat or Medicine, we must have a care of making use of any Pulse, and other things that Evaporate up∣wards; if this happen from Vapors or Humors by diligently searching out, what Excrement

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sends forth its vapors upwards, what humor offends, and being intent upon the emptying of these, if there be a plenitude, by Bleeding, if a Cacochymie Purging, by giving those things also which do repress vapors, espe∣cially after supper, and chiefly by the Diet at Supper being moderate, taking care that the like be not ingen∣dred, nor ascend, we shall compleat the scope of Cu∣ring.

If a distemper of the brain cause Watchings and Dreams, and there is a certain hot evaporation from meat or chief∣ly from Wine as we have said, cold things being taken at the end of meals as was said of Vinegar and other things which do actually refrigerate, will correct it, upon which account, some if they drink cold Water when they go to sleep, their rest is the sweeter: but if this happen in diseases, then those things which are convenient for cu∣ring the disease, seeing they are cold wil also do good here, especially if soporiferous and narcotick be mixt with those things which are applied inwardly and out∣wardly as hath been explained in Ravings and hot Head∣aches.

Notes

• Watchings.
• Dreams.
• The preter∣natural cause of Dreams.
• Custome is the cause of wat∣chings and Dreams.
• A commotion of the Animal Spirits is the cause of wat∣chings.
• A Perturbation of the Animal Spirits, a Cause of Dreams.
• A hot Distemper of the Brain is the cause of watchings and Dreams.
• The Cure of Dreams from a preterna∣tural Cause.
• The Cure of wat∣chings and Dreams from Custome.
• The Cure of Dreams from a Perturboti∣on of the Spi∣rits.