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CHAP. I. Of the Griefs of the Sight, Hearing, Smelling and Tasting.
ALthough that Irksome sense which the Touching feeleth be properly cal∣led Dolor, yet we may call them mo∣lestations or Troubles, which the o∣ther Senses endure, by that name, when the Function is not lost but of∣fended. This comes diversly to the Sight, Hearing, Smelling and Tasting, from whence there are divers kinds, which are easie to be perceived, but not to be described or nam∣ed. * 1.1 The Dolor of the Sight or Hearing we call The offence of them, and and the Dolor of the Smelling or Tasting we call in∣suavity or want of Rellish.
These four mentioned dolors of the Senses comes from the violent quality of their objects which doth strike upon, or disturb them: from the object of the sight, by Brightness: of the Hearing, by Grating; of the Smelling by Stink; from the object of the Tast by its unsavoriness.
A Splendor or great Light if it be vehement, * 1.2 as of the Sun, or Flame, or come suddenly to the Eye, as of Lightening, molesteth it. Hence it is that men shut their Eyes at the sight of them. And the sense of Feeling perceiving the molestation in the Eyes and Nose caus∣sneesing to shake them off, as we shewed in Sternutati∣on. Also Light when it is discolored, and shines much and long, and strikes much upon the Sight is an enemy unto it.
A great Noyse by Crying, Ringing of Bels, * 1.3 Trumpeting or Drumming, or otherwise coming suddenly, especially neer the Ears, as of a Musket or Can∣non, hurts the Hearing.
A strong Stink or Smel, as of Soot, or things burnt, * 1.4 or from Excrements molesteth the sense of Smelling: And somtimes by twiching of the Nostrils, and provoking their sense of Feeling, they cause neez∣ing, and by offending the Neighbor Pallate and Tast, they cause Loathing and Vomiting.
An unpleasant and ungrateful savor, as bitterness, or extream saltness, or sourness, or the like, coming ex∣ternally from things taken in, or from external humors or exhalations, * 1.5 sent to the sense of Tasting, causeth mole∣station, and also offendeth its sense of Feeling.
Take away the Cause and the Effect ceaseth. If it be external which useth to offend all the four Senses, it either quickly ceaseth or may be allayed. If internal which only hurteth the Tast, it is amended by purging of evil humors and repressing of stinking vapors. If offence remaineth by an impression upon the senses, it is to be cured by evacuations and things that alter and change the impression, as too much Light, by Dark∣ness, offensive Colors, by such as please the Eye, Stinks, by Sweets, evil Relishes, by savory meats, as we shewed in the depravation of the senses.