CHAP. I. Of the Weakness of Motion.
VVE call that a Weakness of Motion, when they exercise sluggishly, or slowly, or hard∣and with some trouble, the Voluntary motions of the body, and amongst these especially the stronger which have need of strength that they may be accomplished, for if upon another account a defect befall them that they are not sufficiently performed, seeing they happen from the same cause also, from whence we shal shew an Immobility doth proceed, they shall be explained there. But this of which we here treat, either is an ac∣customary Sloath, or a Weariness supervenient after la∣bour, or a Spontaneous Weariness foregoing Dis∣eases.
Sluggishness, Sloath, Slowness, Idle∣ness, loathness to do any thing, is accu∣stomary to the weaker sort either by Na∣ture all their life time; or to Infants, and old Folks by reason of their age, or those recovering after a Disease, for some time or alwaies after, and other while it is fa∣miliar to the stronger sort also by reason of Laziness with which they are more delighted, and do accustome themselves to Sloath, all which can hardly endure hea∣vy labour, nor persevere long in undertaking it, being rather intent on Rest and Sleep.
A Weariness or Defatigation after Labour, makes that they are not only unfit for the same labours which they have formerly undergone, and for undertaking of others, but they feel also a troublesomness stil remain∣ing for a while, not only when they do somwhat, but when they rest also, to wit, that sense of stupidity in their Limbs too much agitated, which they call Formi∣cation, Tingling, and a certain Distension as if they were dry or bound up, and therefore they are hardly and with trouble, bent or extended, whence Galen hath elsewere called it, a Squallid Weariness. Or if they be Cacochymical they perceive that painful sense of which we shal speak by and by in a Spontaneous Wea∣riness; this doth more or less show it self, according as the whol body or its parts have been strongly exer∣cised, seeing the whol body is somtimes so cast down by weariness, that even in rest or lying down the wea∣riness doth not wholly cease, seeing in that too there is some attraction or extension of the Members by the Muscles; whence they are forced by night variously to toss their body, that they may find a fit situation for their body, in which they may commodiously rest and sleep: but sometimes certain parts which endure the labour do only feel it, as the Feet after a long Journey, the Arms after long continued blows, the Hands not only after Stronger motions, but also as I have often experienced, by long and much writing, as also I have observed that the Mandible may be wearied by much speaking; and that the weaker motions also, of the Eyelids, Lips, Eyes may be tired, even this doth ma∣nifest, because those that are Weary can scarce lift up their Eyelids, a sure sign of Sleepiness and Weariness.
A Spontaneous Weariness, that is, not proceeding from Labor, but hapning of its own accord, such as Hippocrates teacheth doth threaten or forego Diseases, doth manifect it self in the Limbs, with a certain sense of pain, which either offering it self in the superficies of the Skin, and the Flesh under it grows worse by tou∣ching, expressing some sense in the parts, and that is, either of an Ulcer, and it is called an Ulcerous, Elcodis weariness, or of an Inflammation, and it is called an Inflamatory Phlegmonodis weariness; others feel that pain∣ful sense deeper, and that either about the Joynts as if they were retcht, because they are hardly moved, and it is called a Tensive, Tonodis weariness. Or about the bones themselves, as if they were bruised, and tis a contunding weariness which Galen hath named Ostocopum. And also more Species of these troublesome senses meeting toge∣ther, are joyned with this weariness.
The Cause of every weakness of Moving is, either feebleness of Strength, or too much intermission of Motion or Exercise, or Idleness; or exercise or La∣bour, or plenty of Humors.
In Feebleness, as all Functions are weakend, so especially voluntary Mo∣tion, because a greater strength is re∣quired to exercise that; but this hap∣pens by reason of the defect of Native heat, either suc∣ceeding in old folkes by reason of Age, who are there∣fore sluggish and presently tired, or proceeding from a Morbifick cause, as after too great Evacuations; or issuing from the Disease by reason of the continuance of it, or Acuteness, or Malignity, overthrowing the strength, that weakness still remaining for some time even in those recover'd of the Disease, or alwaies, when they have contracted, as they call it, old Age by the Disease.
Those that Indulge too much to Idleness, either from a perverse Cu∣stome, or being hindred by the bulk or fulness of Body, are less exercised, are Sluggish to undergo even the lightest labors and are quickly wearied.
By Labor or exercise both of longer continuance, and stronger then is con∣convenient for every Nature, the Body becomes Sluggish and Weary. For, be∣cause nothing can last long that wants its rest by course, it comes to pass, that those who are exercised longer then tis fitting, or who take a long journey, and Labor all day, become wearied: so also they are tired, if they be long about a strong and vehement work in doing of which, there is need of strength or quickness. And that because the Muscles Nerves and Tendons are retcht when the Limbs are bent, the joynts extended and brought about, and then also when they rest, the like sense and disposition remaines, as was wont to be in the Motion, and there is felt a Tensve or Stretching wea∣riness. And then because the Members grow hot by Motion, they become weary, for so there is a certain Consumption of the viscid Humor, with which the Joynts are besmeared to exercise their Motion the ea∣sier, not a Colliquation of fat, as some would have it, (of which the joynts are wholly destitute) which Hu∣mor being wasted, the Members as being made dry do bend more hardly, and they seem as it were to be retcht. Also by reason of that heat raised in the Mem∣bers by Motion, the blood provoked to the outward