[The general practise of medecine By Philiatreus.] Philiatreus, fl. 1630. 1634 Approx. 88 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 42 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A06682 STC 17139 ESTC S102714 99838484 99838484 2865 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A06682) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 2865) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 811:02) [The general practise of medecine By Philiatreus.] Philiatreus, fl. 1630. Makluire, John, attributed author. [78] p. J. Wreittoun, [Edinburgh : 1634] Signatures: [par.]⁴ A-D E⁴. "Philiatreus" is in Greek characters. "Possibly by J. Makluire".--STC. Running titles read: The practise of physick. Title page illegible; title and imprint from STC. Print faded and show-through, and pages marked and stained, with some loss of print. Reproduction of the original in the British Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Medicine -- Early works to 1800. 2004-10 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-11 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-01 Jonathan Blaney Sampled and proofread 2005-01 Jonathan Blaney Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion THE GENERALL PRACTISE OF MEDECINE . Comprehending the most remarkable maxims appertaining to the Diagnosis , where , by everie disease is knowne , the Prognosis , whereby the issue is foreshowne , and Therapia , which poynteth out the methodick , proceeding in the cure . Collected out of the most famous , both Ancient and Moderne wryters , for the use of such as be ignorant of the Greeke and Latine tongues . By 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . EDINBVRGH , Printed by Iohn Wreittoun . 1634. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE Sir THOMAS HOPE of Craighall Knight Baronet , Advocat generall to his Majestie of great Britaine , in his Kingdome of Scotland , Wisheth all health and happinesse , &c. IT is reported of Caesar ( Right Honourable ) that oft times he praised his Souldiours good-will , although they wanted skill : And Cicero aswell commended stammering Lentulus for his painful industry , as learned Laelius for his passing eloquence : Which considered ( although wisedome did will mee not to straine further than my sleive would stretch ) I thought good to present this small Treatise to your H. protection , hoping your H. will out of your accustomed clemencie , accept it , and take my well meaning for an excuse of my boldnesse , in that my poore will is not in the wane , whatsoever this imperfect worke doth want . The Emperour Trajan was never without suters , because so courteously hee would heare everie complaint . The Lapidaries continually frequented the Court of Adobrandinus , because it was his chiefe study to search out the nature of stones . All that courted Atlanta were hunters , and none sued to Sapho but Poëts : Wheresoever Mecaenas lodgeth , thither no doubt will Schollers flocke . And your H. beeing a worthie favourer and fosterer of learning , hath forced many through your exquisit vertue , to offer the first fruits of their study at the shrine of your Courtesie . But though they have waded farre and found mynes , and I gadded abroad to get nothing but mytes : yet this I assure my selfe , that they never presented you their treasure with a more willing mind , ●hen I doe this simple trash , which I hope your H. will so accept . Resting ●herefore upon your wonted clemen●ie , I commit you to the Almigh●ie . I. M. To the Gentlemen Readers , Health . PAN blowing upon an oaten Pipe a litle homely musick , and hearing no man dispraise his simple cunning , began both to play so lowd and so long , that they were more wearie in hearing his Musick , then hee in shewing his skill , till at last to claw him and excuse themselves , they said , his Pype was out of tune . So Gentlemen , because I have before tyme rashly reacht above my pitch , and yet your courtesie was such as none accused mee , I have once againe adventured upon your patience , but ( I doubt ) so farre as to be read of my folly , you will at the last say , as Augustus said to the Graecian that gave him oft times many rude verses : Thou hast need ( quoth hee ) reward mee well , for I take more paines to read thy workes , then thou to write them . But yet willing to abide this quip , because I may countervaile it with your former courtesie , I put my selfe to your patience , and commits you to the Almighty . Farewell . I. M. THE PRACTISE OF PHYSICKE . CANON I. THE methodick practising in Physick hath first a knowledge of the disease , next fortelleth the event of it , and last goeth about to cure the same . For that part of Physick which is called Therapeutick , followeth still the diagnostick & prognostick : for whosoever wil vse profitable remedies , shuld first remark the things present , next forwarn the future , because it is necessare to vnderstand the present estate of the disease , to that end that the remedies proper may be vsed , then to foresee that which is to come , for the more boldly attempting of the cure , if there bee hope of health : or else to foretell the danger , if one doe feare death , otherwise to abstaine wholly from the interprise : if one doth feare inevitable death : for wee should never interprise the cure of desperat diseases : much lesse promise health , or at the least take the busines in hand after a due premonition of the danger of it . Canon II. Now to come to the perfect knowledg of the disease , ye must first search the place , next the kind , and then the cause , if the place bee manifest of the selfe , it resteth to find out the espece of disease , and then the cause . Canon III. The place is knowne by the action hurt or hindered , by the sort and seat of the paine , by the excrements , and accidents , or proper symptomes : although that all these signes doe not at all tymes appeare all together , yet still some of them doth kyth . Canon . IV. The action offended showes the part from whence it proccedes to be indisposed for a functioun animall , vitall , or naturall beeing troubled declares some of those parts to be affected , so the hurt of the reason , imagination , and memorie showes the braine to be sicke , the losse of sense and motion manifests the nerves or else there origine to be grieved : difficultie of breathing , wills the lights or some of the instruments of respiration to bee interessed , the pulse commoved shows the heart to be troubled . The stop of the discent of the meat , shewes the vizorne to bee hurt , the digestion hindred , the stomack , when the body is not nourished , the lever is mistempered . The espece or sort of sicknesse points foorth also the place , so a paine with a pulsation is from the nerve hurt or offended , with punction from the membrane distended , with convulsion , from the drawing of the nerves or tendons with violence , dolour with tension shewes the veines repletion out of measure : when it is profound it declares the membran covering the bone called Periostium to bee diseased , when soft and gentle without great paine it is in the flesh : when heavie and blunt , it points foorth some of the intrels to bee grieved . The situation of the paine makes known the seat of the disease also , so if it bee in the right hypochondre or vnder the short ribs on the right side , it declares the lever to be hurt , if vnder the left side , the melt : for wheresoever is the paine there is the sicknesse : wherefore wee must not omit to inquyre of the sick person on which side hee lyes with greatest ease : for if it be without he lyes best on the whole side , but if within , best on the sore . That which issueth foorth of the body indicats also the part affected , so if by cough there is thrown foorth any part of a girstle , there is no doubt the light pypes are torne : if in the water there is found any peece of flesh , it betokens the neers to bee hurt : if in the draught , there is found any peece of skin , it signifies the puddings to be vlcerat . The stomack is known to bee hurt when the meat or chile doth issue foorth at the wound , and if the fecall mater come foorth it shews the puddings to be wounded , so the water issuing wills the bladder to bee wounded , and when the Pleura that covers the ribs within is pierced , then the wind doth blow forth at the hole . Moreover the forme of issuing foorth is remarked , for the better vnderstanding of the part that is troubled : so the blood that proceedes of the arteries , because of the abundance of the spirits doth issue with force in a leaping manner : but if flowing and deadly from the veine : also if any peece of the part troubled doe come forth alone , it signifieth the place or seat to be neere by , but if it bee mixed with the excrements , it declares to bee higher and further removed . The accidents points also at the place , so the pearle declares the eye to bee molested , the swelling of the right lisk , the lever , and that of the left , the melt . The symptomes manifests the place , for ravery designes the braine to bee distempered , the cheeks verie red , the lights to be inflammed , the losse of appetit , the indisposition of the stomack , the excrements like to the washing of raw flesh , the debility of the lever . Canon . V. Thus having found out the part that is troubled , next yee must search whether it is by Idiopathie or by Sympathie : because it is requisit first to help the part that is troubled by the owne proper desert , ( so Idiopathie is a proper indisposition of the part as is the pearle of the eye . ) Sympathie is an indisposition which befalls any part by the fault of another . And that either because of the defluxion of an humour falling from one part to another , or by reason of the defect of the naturall facultie requyred for the action of the part : sometimes it fals out that a part of a long trouble by a sympathie , in end turnes to bee troubled by an Idiopathie . Idiopathie is either privatiue or consecutiue , so it is expedient to remark whether the disease bee privatiue , that is , bee first , or consecutive , that is , doth flow from another . An Idiopathie is by this discerned from a Sympathie , when the sore is alone , continuall , and without intermission , and receaves neither increase nor diminution , by the augmentation or declination of any disease that is in any other part , but remaines still in one state and condition , the remeds applyed , serving for the good of the same , it is a signe that the indisposition is Idiopathetick : But when it followeth another disease , & growes according to the growth of the same , and also is mitigat by the same remeades , and when the remeades applyed to it selfe doth not help , it is then by Sympathie , so the paine of the head arising from the stomack ▪ is distinguished from the dolour that comes of the proper fault of the braine , in that it succeeds to a desire to vomite , a heavie rifting , evill smell or taste in the mouth , with a falling away or lypothomie , and when it growes with the indisposition of the stomack , not receiving help from the topicks applyed to the head . Canon VI. Having found out the part of the body offended , next yee must make inquisition of the indisposition . The indisposition that hindreth action is called morbus or sicknesse , that which followeth it is termed Symptome , and that which ingenders is named cause : so that all indisposition against natur is either morbus , symptoma , or causa . The Symptome is knowne of the selfe without other signes , because it is objected still to some of our senses : but the disease and the cause for the most part are removed from our senses , but they are known by the Symptomes which are the signes , to wit , by the actions hurt , by the excrements , and by the accidents of the bodie . Canon VII . Maladie or sicknesse is an indisposition against nature , that hurts immediatly the action of the part affected , whensoever then thou perceives the action to be hindred or hurt , then is it a disease . Sicknesse or maladie is triple , similare , instrumentall , and common : the first hurts the action of the part similare , the second troubles the vse of the organick , the third hinders both : wherefore if the action of the part , in so farre as it is similare be hurt , the disease shall bee similare , if in so farre as an instrument , it shall bee instrumentall , and if they both befall together it shall bee common . The action of the part similary is hindred by a simple intemperature , as heat , cold , moistnesse , and drouth , or by one composed , as hot and dry , hot and humid , cold and dry , cold and humid , & that either with or without mater . The vse of the organe is preverted by the fault of the greatnesse , nombre , situation , oftest by conformation , and obstruction : both the one and the other , is troubled by the breach or solution of continuitie in the parts , as by phlegmon , scirrh , or any other tumour contrare nature , as also by vlcere , wound , fracture , or luxation , so in temperature is a sicknesse , similare : obstruction , a disease organick , and solution of the continuitie sicknesse , common . The diversitie of especes are known by the varietie of the actions hindered , so the continuall desyre of sleepe signifieth an indisposition , cold and moist of the braine , a continuall waking shewes a hote and dry pulse frequent , quick , and vnaequall , a fever : suchlike the kind of the paine points foorth the disease , as a dolour inflammative a hot distemper , a stupefactive , a cold . The excrements serveth also to find out the espece of the sicknesse , as sand in the water shews a gravell , the meat sent foorth below without change , declares a lienterie : suchlike the accidents of the bodie , so the colour greene shewes an oppilation in the liver , browne colour an obstruction in the melt , a blak tougne , a burning or fever , the nailes crooked a consumption ptisie : the cheekes red , a peripneumonie . Among those accidents they that are proper and inseparable , are holden for most certaine , because they haue a great demonstrative facultie . Canon VIII . The nature and situation of the place serves much to the knowledge of the kind of the sickenesse for everie part hath the owne prope sicknesse , so the eyes onely are subject to a pearle , the neires and bladder to the stone , the puddings to wormes and not the stomacke , the heart can never suffer a vlcer profound nor the lights any dolour . Canon IX . The better taking of the disease , you must diligently consider the things antecedent such are the nature , the habitude , the age , the countrie , the season , the disposition of the aire , the forme of lyfe of him who is diseased and the sickenesse wherewith hee vses to be molested : for one is soonest overtaken with the disease with the which there nature hath greatest familiaritie . So hote diseases are most frequentlie incident to hot bilious persons as cold sickenes to cold lumpish nature and that alswell to those who are such by nature , habitude and age as to those who are so by reason of the region , the season and the constitution of the aire . And albeit that all sort of sickenesse may befall to all sort of persons , all ages in all place & time , yet they fal on most frequētly the temperament age , place & time with the which they have some affinitie . An Epidemik sicknesse is knowne incontinent by the running of it among the people , seazing on many at one tyme : al hereditar disease as the epilepsie , the gravell , the gowt is suspect to be incident to those who are procreat of parents , sicke of such infirmities . Moreover often men finds the kind of the disease by the usage of the things which hurts or helps , for the hote intemperature doth increase by the vse of hote things but is mitigate by the vse of cooling things , the cold intemperature of the contraire . Canon X. After the acquyred knowledg of the disease make search thereafter for the cause of it , the which is either extern or intern , the intern is two fold , antecedent or conjoyned . First then seeke out the cause conjoyned , because it produceth immediatly the disease . It is therefore needefull to search whither it be winde or any other superabundant humor as blood , bile , melancholie or phlegme , or any other thing contrare natur , as stone , lump of blood , worms or any other sort of excrement . The colour & natur of the place , the kind of the dolour and the sort of the excrement with the praedominant humor in the bodie will serve for markes . Canon XI . For when the part in flāmed is red , it is full of blood : when yellow , full of byle : but that which is cold and whyt is replenished with phlegme , when blackish , with melancholy , for the colour of the skin doth commonly point forth the humor is within . Divers parts are appointed for the ingendring of diverse humors excrementitious , as the lever for breeding of yellow byle : the melt , of black byle , the stomack , the tryps , and the braine of phlegme , the neers and the bladder , of the gravell and stone , the tryps of wormes . The paine pricks sore when it is caused of choler , it is moderat when it proceeds of blood , blunt when of melancholy , phlegme , or wind , except it bee when they mak great distention through their aboundance . If that which issueth forth by the excrements of the part affected , bee a portion of that which is continued , within it , it shews either by the colour or substance what it is : wee shall speak heereafter of the predominant humour . Canon XII . After the knowledg of the cause conjoynt it follows , know whether it bee alone or if it bee fostered or furnished by any other cause antecedent . That which gathered , is by way of congestion through the fault of the part offended , is reput to bee alone : but when all the bodie , or any part of it , doth exoner the selfe on the member affected of any superabundant humor , the which overburthened , there is then a cause antecedent , which doth accompany the conjoynt , so there be two sort of causes interne , to the which remead must be vsed . Canon XIII . The cause antecedent of the sicknesse , is double , the one is named Plethor or plenitud , the other is called Cacochymi , Plethor is a repletion of all the humours aequallie augmented , or of blood only . Cacochymie is a repletion of Choler , melancholy or phlegme : the signes both of the one and the other , are taken both from the causes antecedent , which doth gather the humor as from the temperature of the whole body , and of the principall parts , from the age , season , constitution of the aire , region , maner of living , and of the evacuation ordinar suppressed , as also from the accidents that befall all the qualities of the body : such as bee the colour , the habitud , the fashions , the functions animall , vitall , and naturall , as from the sleep , dreams , pulse , concoction , excrements , of the diseases ensuing , and of the things that hurts and profites . Canon XIV . There bee two sorts of plenitud , the one called plenitudo ad vires , in the which the blood , although it be not excessive , neither in quantity nor qualitie , overcharges never the lesse the weake forces of nature : the other is , plenitudo ad vasa , the which in quantity surpasses the naturall limits or bounds : and this either light or gentle , when it fills only the cavity of the veines not farre exceeding mediocritie : or it is excessive when it extends , so that it almost rives the veines through the fulnesse of it by too great aboundance : and althogh it bee verie excessive , it may bee so that nature bee not chooked by it , for commonlie the force growes with the blood , but if it fall out that the forces bee abaited , then it is plenitudo supra vires . When then in a plethor , the bodie is on no wayes by a too great weight , lasie or heavie , and the force remaines stil in a state , it is onely a plentitud ad vasa . But when the bodie becomes heavie , lasie , doyled ▪ the fleepe troubled and profond , seeming to carie as it were some thing , while hee sleepes , it is then plenitudo , supra vires . Canan XV. The causes that ingenders blood in aboundance , are signes antecedents , of a plenitud as the complection temperat of all the whole bodie , but chiefly of the lever , and the heart , or else moderatly hot and humid . The age growing for the bairnes and young men hath much blood , because they are not farre from there principes of naturall generation . The spring also for in it the blood abounds for then the cold ceaseth and there falls out waters . Also good fare : a plesant past lyfe , without care , moderat excersise , and sleepe . The naturall evacuation , of blood suppressed : or the artificiall of long intermitted . The accidents which showes the domination of blood in the bodie , are the signes consequent of blood , such bee , The colour of the face and all the bodie red , by the ordinare custome or mixed of red and whyt . The swelling of the veines aequalie appearing through all . A manifest bending of the vessels , being full of blood by measure . A lazines or wearying comming of it self without any labour , vnder the which the joynters by reason of their weight with great difficultie doe move the selfe , for it is when the great veines over full of blood doe exoner themselves in the litle , and they againe in the muscels , so that they are filled and bended . The habitude of the bodie fleshie , because it doeth proceed of an aboundance of blood , yea the mediocer fleshy acompanied of a heat benigne , and vaporous , for that is a signe of nature temperat which ingenders aboundance of blood . The fashions and cariag merrie , joviall , peaceable , gentle , because they are marks of a body well disposed . The heavinesse of the head proceeding from the aboundance of vapours ascending vpwards . The sleepe profound and pleasant , with dreames of things pleasant . The pulse strong , great , and full , for in it the veines are so full , that they doe infuse a part in the neighbors arters by an anastomosie , the which being filled , causes such a pulse and that not onelie in the shakle bones , but also in the temples , the fingers , and over all the body . The respiration more difficill and frequēt , chiefly after exercise , because the muscells of the breast are made lazie throgh the aboundance of blood , hence it is that the respiration is made more frequent by reason of the vse , but shortned because the capacity interior of the breast is made more strait . The promptitud of rendring blood by the seages , aemerodes , monethly courses , water , nose , and spitle . Moreover a continuall sweating during the time of the disease , is a token of plenitud . Canon XVI . Cacothymie is three fold , cholerick , melancholick , and phlegmatick : the causes that gathers aboundance of choler , are signes preceeding the same , such are , The complexion hot and dry , for commonly there ingenders much choler in men of a hot and dry complexion , by reason of the conformity of this humour with that temperament . The manlie age which is betwixt 25 and 35. for in that , choler doth abound , because the naturall heat is much more dry and active then , than before a great part of the inbred moist or sap being consumed by it . The Summer , for the byle is more abundant than by reason of the circumsisting air , which makes the blood more hote and dry . The climat hot and dry , the precedent dyet of these same qualities . Such like great exercise , travell , anger , care , watching , fasting ; and abstinence doth all gather byle . Moreover the ordinar evacuation of bile by vomit , by the stoole , the water , the sweat , suppressed . The consequent markes of abounding Choler , are , The whole colour of the body , pale , yellow or blackish , drawing neere to that of Iandise or browne : for when the temperament is excessive in heat , the colour is black The state of the body , dry , leane , small , for such proportions are commonly bylous , as also hairie with the haire red , for it is the excrement of byle . But more the black , for black haire is when the exhalation burnt by the force of the heat is changed in black , but the red is when it is not so burnt . The greatnesse of the veines extended by the heat , for they who hath great veines are of complexion hote , but who hath strait and narrow veines , are of cold , for it is heat that doth inlarge . The heat , sharp , and byting to the toucth . Promptitud of courage , and a disposition to anger and revenge . The sense lively , light and suddaine . The spirit subtile , and of good invention , for the subtilitie and industrie of the judgment comes of the humor bylous . The sleepe little and light , accompanied with inquyetud , great watching , testifying the great drynes of the braine frō the which they flow , or else from aboundance of a humor , bilious with them . The dreames of fire , warre , and things furious . The pulse vehement , hastie and hardie . Bitternesse of the mouth , losse of appetit , great thirst , venting of choler vpward and downward , with the bellie often constipat . The water yellow , byting , inflammed , with little grounds . The diseases bilious frequent , as fevers fierce and ardent , raverie , jandies , herpes , or ring-worme , erysiple , pustuls , cholericks dispersed through the whole body . Canon XVII . The melancholick distemper is knowne first by the causes productives of melancholie , as are : The temperature cold and dry , with a debility of the melt , or hote from the beginning , but become cold by change , for if any hote and dry before , by an adustion of the blood ingenders much black bile , hee becomes cold and dry , and in end melancholick . The declining age which is betwixt 35 : and 45. for melancholie doth abound in that age , for succeeding to the youth , which is the most bilious of all , it receives the bile burnt . The harvest , in it also melancholie abounds , for succeeding to the Summer , it receaves the brunt bile from it . Grosse food and viscuous , as browne bread , porcks flesh , beif , haires flesh , Harts flesh , chiefly salted , thick black wine , beir , and old cheife . The life sad occupied in great affaires in contemplation , studying without recreation or exercise of the body , for by it the natural heat diminisheth , and the humors becomes grosse and thick . The suppression of melancholy that vsed to bee by the aemrodes , monethly courses , seages , with scabs or by medecine . As also by the signes of melancholy , predominant in the body , as are : the colour browne or blackish , of the face and all the body , the skinne full of scabs , hardnesse , swelling and paine of the melt : The habitud of the body dry and lean , the visage sad and heavie : feare , silence , solitarinesse , vrine , imagination , conceits : for the constancie of the spirit comes of an humour melancholick . The mind slow to wrath , but being incensed , hard to bee appeased . The sleep troubled with horrible dreams as with sightes of evill spirits , tortoures of death , sepulchres , and other things feareful . The pulse litle , slow , hard . The appetit depravat sometime disordinat by reason of a sowre mater adhearing to the orifice of the stomacke . The water clear and whyt , where there is no melancholy mixed , but thick and black where there is some mixed . The diseases melancholicks frequently arriving . Canon XVIII . The knowledg of a pituitous distemper is taken from the causes antecedēt , procreating it , and the signes assequent following it , the antecedent are , the complexion of the body , cold and humid : the old age which is from 49. to the tearme of life : for in that age , by reason of the weaknes of the natural heat , much flegme is ingendred . The Winter , because that season as reporteth Hip : replenishes the body with flegme , both because of the length of the nights , and also by reason of the abundance of raine . The rainie reason , for the watrie aire which doth inviron the body : gathers quantity of pituitous humors , and of watrie superfluities . The great vses of humid and moist meat , the frequent drinking of water and any kynd of excesse , either in meat or drinke : idlenesse and want of exercise , with a sedentarie or sitting life : long sleep , but especially after meat . The following markes of flegme are , the colour of the face and all the body somewhat whitish , grayish , or livid , beeing withall swelled : the whole body growne , and fat , for fat folke are commonly cold and phlegmatick , grease being ingendred by the coldnesse of the habitude of the body : the veines and arteries little and strait , as comming of little blood and few spirits , the skin whit and soft without hair , because the complexion cold and humid is no wayes hairie . The haire is whit , because procreat of flegme : all the senses of the body heavie and lazie : the spirit stupid , the sleep profound , the pulse little , small , & soft . Slow digestion , oft belshing with a sowr taste , a desire to vomit , the water whitish , crud , and troubled sometimes with a thick ground . Pituitous and flegmatick diseases frequently occurring , or cold catarrhes , and the like . Canon XIX . The antecedent causes pointing a windy Cacochymie , are , the stomack cold and humid , with the debility of naturall heat , proceeding of a simple intemperature or with humors indigested . The melt swelled and bouden vp with melancholy , hindering by a sympathie , the digestion of the stomack . Meats windy , as raw fruits , beanes , pease , chesnuts , and the like . Overmuch drinke , too much vse of boyled meat , drunkennesse , and gluttonie . Lacke of exercise , great sleepe , the age , the countrie , the season of the yeare cold , doth cause aboundance of ventosites . And when winde is gathered in the body by reason of the former causes , there is found a distention of the ventricle , of the colick gowt , chiefly on the left side , with a noyse . The wandring distenting paines running heere and there through the whole body . There is heard wind issuing at all occasions both vp and down , from whence commeth some ease : there is remarked often a singing in the eares . The colik with other diseases arysing of wind , troubleth often . Canon XX. The externall causes of sicknesse , called of the Greekes procatartik commonly named primitives , should be diligently searched , for they lead vs as well to the knowledg of the cause intern , as of the disease , for , aire , meat , and drink to warme , watching , great and violent motion , anger , and the suppression of the excrements , ingenders hote humours , and hote diseases . In the contrare , cold food with a cooling aire , sleepe , Idleset , feare , and all evacuation immoderat causes cold humors , and cold diseases . Dry diseases ordinarly accompanies the hote causes , and the humide , the cold . For hote doth ordinarly bring with it drouth , and cold , humiditie , because it is the mother of crudities . For to find out then exactlie the cause and effect of the maladie which is hid , it is needefull by a diligent inquisition , and interrogation of all things , which commonlie are called , not naturall causes , to learne of the sick if he hath exposed himselfe to an intemperat or impure aire , if he hath committed any excesse in meat and drinke , or in watching and labouring , or if he hath bene too fierce in Venus service , or if the spirit hath not beene troubled by passions , or if any ordinare evacuation bee not suppressed , as the monethly courses to women , and the flux of the aemrodes to men , and so much the rather wee ought to inquyre carefully of the things past , because the ignorance of the causes is not without great danger : for if a fever should fall into long watching , fasting , or over great dallying with Venus , then without consideration of the cause of the disease , presently they would draw blood and purge , should they not thinke you hazard his life , seeing the disease to haue come from evacuation : For in the contrare wee ought rather to repare the forces by analeptiks or restoring things , and not augment it by Phlebotomie and cathartiks . For to foresee the issue of the Disease . Canon I. THe fundamentall laws of the Prognosticks , are taken from things naturall , not naturall , and conter nature , as of the springs : for we foresee and foretell the sicknesse to be salutare or mortall , short or long , by the force , the constitution of the body and age of the Patient , the season , & the forme of life , by the cause , the espece and seige of the evill , with the symptomes , which wee remarke in the change or diminution of the actions , the excrements and the qualities of the body . Canon II. If the forces bee strong to obtaine the victorie over the disease , without doubt the sick shall escape , if not shall die . For none dies so long as their force remaines : but so soone as the forces beginnes to yeeld to the burden of the sicknesse , then followeth death . Now to foretell the day of death yee must remarke how farre the sicknesse surpasseth the forces , and remarke the most violent accesse , for if one doth perceive the sicknesse so to outrepasse the forces , that they cannot bee able any longer to resist , death shall follow presently : but if it appear otherwise it shall be longer : so that the origine of Prognosticks consists in the conferring of the forces with the sicknesse . For if nature bee strong enough to overcome the sicknesse , then the person shall escape : but if it bee so weake that it cannot obtaine the victorie , death of necessity will follow , and yee must wait on the one or the other sooner or later , according as the forces are stronger or weaker : hence it appeares that all the other signes salubres or mortals are no otherwise , foresignes of death or life , but because they point foorth the forces or weaknesse of nature in the combat with the sicknesse . Canon . III. It is a great helpe to health to bee of a mediocre constitution of body , that is , neither too fat nor too leane ; for such a bodie hath great forces to resist vnto any disease that doth present the selfe : but where this mediocrisie is not , a grosse bodie is in a worse case then a small : for who are of that taillie , dies sooner then they that are of the other : because the veines and arteres of growne fat people are narrow and strait & therefore hath both litle blood and spirits , so that the age concurring , vpon a light occasion , the naturall heat is choaked or extinguished : But they that are of a leane and thin constitution , because they haue the veines & arters larger , and also more blood & spirits , which in them doth not so shortly incurre the danger of death : yet so it is that they are sooner troubled by externall causes , and that for lacke of flesh and greise , so the grosse are more obnoxius to interne injuries , the leane to extern . Canon IV. Youth hath great force to withstand the disease , because it hath store of naturall heat requisit to the concoction and excretion of the evill humors . Contrare , old age is not able to resist , because of the defect of force , not having much naturall heat . Hence it is that sicknesse are longer in old people then young , because they abound in cold humors , the digestion whereof cannot be but in a long space , by reason of the weaknesse of their naturall heat : yea the greatest part of sicknesse that arrives to old people doth convoy them to their grave . Canon V. The Spring is verie wholesome and no wayes mortall , when it keeps the temperature : but in Harvest the diseases are very strong and deadly for the most part . First because being cold and dry is diametrically opposed to our life , which consists in heat and moisture , and so hinders the generation of blood whereof our bodie is made and nourished . Secondly , because it receives from the Summer preceeding the body languishing and wearie . Thirdly , because it beat back within the body the superfluous humors melted by the heat of Summer , and come foorth to the skin , to the end they may goe foorth . The fourth because about the twelfth hour it opens the pores of the body by the heat , and incontinent thereafter becomes cold : it ryses within the bodie as an enemy to extinguish by its qualitie maligne the naturall heat already feeble and languishing . Moreover it gathers store of crudities within the body , the which doth choak the naturall heat , and that by the vse of fruits which it furninisheth . The Summer hastenes sicknes , but the Winter doth retarde them , because in the Summer the pores being open , the evill humors of the body being melted , by the heat of the aire are suddainly dissipat , but in Winter they being closed by the cold they are retained within . Canon VI. Among the constititions of the seasons the dry is more wholesome and not so deadly as the rain , for it gathereth no excrements and resists better to the putrefaction , the humid in the contrar causes many superfluities from whence are the generation of diseases , when the seasons are constant keeping there temperature ordinar , so that all things doth naturally fall out in them , the diseases are lykewayes constant and facily to be vnderstood , but when the season is inconstant , so are the sicknes variable and hard to be vnderstood , for there crise is accompanied with dangerous symptomes where they suddenly cause death or ells leaves a matter to a new sickenesse . When the sicke proves a good second to the physitian fighting againes the sicknes , it is easie to obtaine the victorie . Now when he beleues the physition and puts in practise his ordinances hee serves him for a second and declares himselfe enemie of the disease : in the contrar if quyting the physition he takes part with the disease accomplishing that which hee desyres , he hazards his life two wayes the one in leaving the physition aboue in combat , the other in serving as a second to the sickenesse which was before alone , for it is certaine two is stronger nor one . Canon VIII . The greatnes of the sickenesse followes the greatnes of the cause , for as a light cause produces a light evill , even so a great causeth a great . Hence a vehement cause contrar nature is a most certaine indice of a great and dangerous sicknes . Canon IX . Byle causes still , quicke diseases , which are termined or ended within few dayes because it is easilie resolved by its subtilitie , but melancholie is the most viscuous of all the humors , and makes longest accesses , because it is dry cold and thicke , being the lyfe of the blood . Next to melancholy is phlegme in difficulty of digestion and expulsion by reason of its viscositie Canon X. The diseases that hath some resemblance with the nature , bodily constitution , and age of the diseased , are lesse dangerous then these that hath no conformity , for all sicknesse , hot , cold , dry , moist , being conforme to the complexion , age , and bodily constitution of the sicke , and also to the season hath so much lesse danger , as it is lesse removed from the naturall constitution , and so may more easily returne , as proceeding frō a lighter , yea a slighter cause . As in the contrare , the disease that hath no affinity , neither with the temper , taillie , nor age of the Patient , or with the season , is much more dangerous then the former , being further removed from the naturall complexion , and therefore worse to cure : as proceeding of a greater and stronger cause . So that of two burnt fevers equall in grandure that which fals out in the Summer to a young man leane of body , of temper hot , shall not be so dangerous as that which fals out in the Winter to an old man of a fat body and cold complexion . Canon XI . Meeke and gentle relenting diseases are commonly long , but the sharpe , fyrie , and fierce are ended within fourteene dayes , and the extreame hot in seven dayes . There can no certain prediction be made of hot , sharp diseases , either for health nor death , for by that they are quickly ended , they become on a suddaintie great : so that both for the greatnesse of the disease , with the suddaine change which befals in the crise , as also because the humor is often transported from one place to another , the issue is vncertaine , wherefore while the humor is in its motion , we must suspend our judgement , for it is not certain whether it will rush on a noble or ignoble part , within or without by passages conveniable or not conveniable : & thogh the humor were staied in one place , yet the Physician ought not resolutly affirme that the sick shall escape , but with this provision , that no new change befall , and that hee follow the advise and keep the regiment prescribed . When a woman with child is overtaken by any firie hot disease , shee is in danger of her life , for a hot fyrie fever requyres a strait dyet , which shee cannot admit , least the child being frustrat of his food shee be broght to bed before the time : and if oft to save the child , yee give the mother often to eat , the fever thereby growing yee shall precipitat the mother in a manifest hazard of her life , and if it be any other strong sicknesse without fever , as a epilepsie , apoplexy , convulsion , shee shall never be able to support the vehemencie of it . Canon XII . To foretell the event of the disease , yee must consider diligently the part that is offended , whether it bee noble or ignoble , publick or privat , for the condition , dignitie , and necessitie of the part that suffereth , are of great importance , for the pronouncing of a sentence to the profit or prejudice of the sick . Canon XIII . In all diseases the constancie of the reason not troubled : with the bounty of the appetit still readie for taking of whatsomeever shall bee offered to it , is a good signe , and the contrare is an evill : the satlednesse of the reason , and sharpnesse of the appetit are numbred among the good markes , because the former beares witnesse of the temperat disposition of the braine , the menings or tayes of the harnes , and of the marrow of the backe , the medrife and all the nervous parts , and the latter shews the integritie of the stomack and lever : In the contrare , the alienation and troubling of the reason , and the losse of appetit , are evill signes , because the one betokens the animal parts to be affected , the other the naturall . All they that are troubled with paine or dolour in any part of the body whatsomeever , and are not sensible of it , hath the reason troubled , because the apprehension doth not perceiue in any measure the evill . Canon XIV . It is good to sleep in the night to make reparation of the spirits animals and digestion of the humors , by the meanes of the heat that enters within the center of the body , and to watch in the day , for the clearing of the same spirits , to give motion to the humors , and to make expulsion of the excremēts : but it is a verie pernicious signe not to sleepe night nor day , for continuall watching commeth either of the dolour , paine , and torment that they suffer , or of the drynesse of the braine , which in end will cause an alienation of the mind . Sleepe likewise surpassing the borders of mediocrite , is in like maner evill , because it is a marke of extreame coldnesse of the braine , which causeth a lethargie if it bee mixed with humidity or catalepsie , if with drynesse . When in a sicknesse sleepe is noysome and hurteth , there is danger of death : for if the sleep hurts , that time , that hath bene accustomed to helpe much , as in the decline of any sicknesse , it is not without cause that it foretelleth death : and that because the heat reteared within the body the time of the sleep , and by this meanes increase . Notable neverthelesse either by reason of its weaknesse or the maliciousnesse of humors overcome the cause of the disease , shews that nature no wayes strengthned or comforted by this meanes but rather hurt , is ready to succumbe vnder the burden of the disease being stronger . Canon XV. The pulse is the faithful messenger of the heart , bringing certaine news of death and life : The pulse great and strong is a token of force , on the which is builded the hope of recoverie of the health , but the pulse litle , weake and languishing , shews the weaknes of the vitall facultie , from whence is the feare of death : the inequality of the pulse is alwayes evill when it perseveres , the intermission of it in young men is most dangerous , for it threatneth with present death , if it bee not from an obstruction and oppression of the arters , it is lesse dangerous in bairnes , and least of all in old men . Canon XVI . Yee must know that the respiration and breathing , free without stoppe is very wholesome , in all sharpe or quicke diseases : Because it denotes the temperature of the breast , and of the parts therein contained . As also the respiration remainting whole , declares the naturall heat yet to be strong for to fight valiantly with the disease in the contrar , the difficultie of breathing showes the indisposition of the vitall parts , and the suffocation of the forces . For the respiration frequent and great , is a signe of some inflamation of the parts within the breast : but the great and rare , foreshow a future alienation of the Spirit , as the respiration , little and rare , betokens as death , because it beares witnes of the exstinction of the naturall heat , which one perceives clearly by the coldnes of the breath ishuing at the nostrells and the mouth . Canon XVII . It is a good signe to have still a whole heart , for they that falls often in lypothimy or swowning without a manifest cause , dies in end suddenly , because of the debilitie of the vital faculty . Canon XVIII . The coction of the humor appearing in the excrements of the sicke , signifies the crise to be shortly with an assurance of health . But the crudity denotes either that there shall be no crise , or that the patient is mightily troubled or that the disease shall be longer , or afterward it shall returne , or that death shall follow on it . For as when the coction is made , when nature is victorious , of the causes of the disease , so the contrar befalls when shee is overcome by them . So the foecall mater beeing soft , aequall , and yellow , and not having an evill smell is judged to be good , because it is well digested . Suchlyke the water of a mediocer consistence of colour some what yellow , having grounds whyt , vnited and aequall is reput singulare good , because it beares witnes of the digestion , of the humour vitious and consequently of the victorie of nature over it , in the contrar the dejection liquid and waterie whyt and pale , is reput evill , because it is crude or raw , as also the vrine waterie , and small whyt and shyning out of measure is not good , because it is raw , and without digestion . Canon XIX . When the excrements of the sicke are not verie different from the excrements of the whole , it showes the disease to be light , but if there be a verie great difference yee must apprehend the disease to be deadly . For the excrements much different , showes nature to be overcome by the greatnes of the disease . Therefore the foecall mater black , livid , green & stinking are mortall , because they are whole alienat from there naturall constitution and the water that is blacke and thicke and troubled as that of oxen are most evill , because extreamly removed from the naturall . The same mixed in colour foreshowes a long disease , for they denote diverse indispositions caused of diverse humors , and therefore it is necessar that nature imploy a long tyme to the coction having so many enemies to combat with . The vrine in the which yee see grease swiming like Spider webs , are thought evill , because they declare a melting of the body by an extraordinar heat : Canon XX. Sweats are good in all sharp or fierie diseases when they fal out on the critick days , and causeth the fever wholly to cease : they are good also when they make the disease more easie to the Patient providing they be vniversall . But this which brings no ease and serves to no vse , also these that are cold and appeares only about the head , the face , and neck are most evill : for in a hot fyrie and quick fever they prognostick death , and in a gentle the longnes of the disease : a cold sweat rūning without ceasing in great aboundance , is a marke of long disease , because it comes of a great quantity of a grosse and cold mater , which cannot easily bee dissipat , neither dantoned by the naturall heat : as a hote sweat wils a short disease , being caused of a subtile mater , which matter in short space will bee dissolved . Canon XXI . If the visage of the sick bee like to the countenance of whole persons , it is a very excellent signe , chiefly if it looke like it self being whole . In the contrare , it is a verie evill signe when it is different from the naturall , and when it is hideous to behold , as it is then when the nose is sharpe , the eyes hollow , the temples abaited , the eares cold and drawne in , the lap of the eare turned , the skin of the face hard extended and dry , the colour of the face pale or blacke , livid or lead coloured . For if this deformity do not proceed of a manifest cause , as of lack of sleepe or meat , or of a flux of the bellie , without doubt it presages death to be near , seing this great extenuation is made by the malignity of the disease . Canon XXII . Where there is perceived a change through the whole body , so that it is now cold , then hot , sometime of one colour then of another , it foretels a long disease . For the indisposition diversly mixed , are still longer then these that are of a fast forme or fashion , for nature cannot danton moe at once . Now the changing of qualities and humors , demonstrats the disease to bee caused of diverse humors , in the coction whereof , nature hath need to imploy much time : for according to the varietie of humors within , there appeares varietie of colours without . Canon XXIII . It is a good signe to have the hypochondres ( that is , the space vnder the short ribs ) on either side soft , equall , and without dolour : but verie evill to haue them hard , bended , inequall and painefull , for as the former shews the good temperature of the epigastrick muscells , of the mesentary , the liver , the melt , and the stomacke : so the latter declares an intemperature , to wit , an inflammation , a skirrh or wind to bee in these parts . In all diseases it is good that the parts about the navell , and the inferior part of the bellie bee grosse , fat , and in good case , but evill when they are extenuat and leane , for the hypocondres grosse and fleshie are markes of force : but the small and extenuat are evill , both as signes and as causes : forasmuch as they are signes of the debilitie of the parts extenuat , and causes that the digestion is not well elaborat in the stomack , nor the sanguification in the lever , for the grossenesse or fatnesse of the epigastre or low parts of the belly augments the natural heat , by the which the parts within being warmed they digest better the meat , and so makes better blood . Canon XXIV . As to the consideration of these things that fals out in the body , if yee remarke any good signe , yee must not thinke for that , that assuredly the sick shall escape , neither although there do appeare any evill signes that hee shall die , for a good signe may bee over weighted by an evill , being great : And on the contrare , an evill may be overcome , a good being stronger . Canon XXV . The disease quyts the sick either wholly at once by way of crise , or by litle and litle by way of resolution . Crise is a suddaine change of the disease into health , or else into death , which is then when nature separats the vitious humours from the good , and that for to expell them , Of it there bee two sorts , the one is by excretion , and the other by absesse , that comes by a flux of blood or sweat , or a flux of the bellie , or vomit , or flux of the vrine . Canon XXVI . The good crise arives on the 7.14 . or 20 day , wherefore these dayes are called Criticks . The future crise was foreseene by the signes of digestion , appearing the 4.11 . and 17. day : hence these dayes are called of of the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is in dicatives , contemplatives : for according to the doctrine of Hip. the 4. day is the indicative of the 7. the 8. is the beginning of the next moneth , the 11. is also remarkable , because the fourth of the second weik , the 17. is also to bee observed , because the 4. after the 14. and the 7. from the 11. Canon XXVII . When the crise is to bee on the 7. day , there is perceived on the fourth day preceding a red cloud in the water , and other signes correspondent : for because the 4. day is the pointer out of the 7. if there appeare any signe of concoction that day , it forwarnes the crise to bee on the 7. day . Where then there appeares a clowd in the water not only red but whyt , and yet rather a whyt hypostasies or ground , vnited and equall , if so bee the motion of the sicknesse bee suddaine , it is a presage of the future crise . When the crise draws neare , the night preceeding is verie troublesome , but that which follows is ordinarly more easie to indure . For while nature is making a separation betwixt the good and evill humors that fals out , that in this exercise of nature the disease is much troubled . But so it is that this great worke appeares , the night before the crise , because the sleepe is interrupted : but the night that follows the crise perfyte , they are much more at their owne ease , because nature is disburdened of superfluous humors , Canon XXVIII . The vniversall signes by the which one discernes the espece of the crise to come , are taken from the kind of the disease , from the part that is diseased , and from the nature of the Patient : For hot and quicke diseases , are ordinarly judged by excretion , but the cold and long by abscesse . If there bee an inflammation in the gibbous part of the lever , yee must expect a crise by a flux of blood at the right nostrile , or by a flux of the vrine , if the inflammation bee in the hollow part of it , then yee must expect it by a flux of the belly , or vomishment , or sweat . The inflammations of the braine and of all the head , are commonly judged by an haemorragie at the nose , but that of the stomack and mesenterie by vomishment , or a flux downeward . Moreover a flux of blood fals oftenest to young men cholericks , overtaken with a hot fever , and a flux of the bellie to old men phlegmaticks . There the common , and now heere the proper prognosticks of everie crise . Rednes of the face , extreame dolour of the head and the necke , a beating of the arters in the temples , the distention of hypochondres with dificultie of breathing a dimnes tnd watering of the eys , singing of the eares , and itching of the nostrell● prognosticks the crise to be a flux of blood by the nose . A heat and heavines of the loynes with a paine and extention of the hypograster , foreshowes a crise to be by a flux menstruall . A suppression of the water , with a pricking & shivering through the whole bodie , with the pulse soft and waterie and the exteriour parts of the bodie hote and vaporous , betokens that it will be by sweat . Rifts , ventosites , or winds , a bending of the belly , and paine of the neires by a flux of the belly : losse of appetit or lothing of meat with a thrawing of the heart and sorenes of the head , with a dissinesse , great spitting , bitternesse in the mouth , and a trembling of the vnder lip prognosticks a future crise by vomit . When the signes of concoction hath gone before , and when the motions of a crise , hath beene perceived : then it may be exspected by a flux of the vrine , if there doeth not appeare any marke of a crise by a flux of blood , not by sweat , flux of the belly , vomit , and specialy when the patient feels an heavines in the hypograster , and an heat about the end of the privie member , having also made much water thicke and grosse during his disease , or if he be aged , and sick in the Winter , it foretells it the rather . A heavines and paine of the head , with a profoundity of sleepe and deafnesse , succeeding immediatly to a difficultie of breathing suddenly ariving without any manifest cause , to one sick with a long disease , points foorth an absesse to be behind the eare . But if there be no signe of a paritude , and that the sicke hath had his vrine of a long tyme cleare and vndigested , and when he finds a heavinesse , a paine , a bending or tension , a heat in the hypochondres , ye must exspect an absesse in the lower pairts . If any part of the bodie hath beene hurt before , there shall the aposteme or absesse be . An absesse falls out most frequently in winter and after on imperfyt crise . Canon XXIX . Moreover , a good crise ought to be signified before in the day of indication and should fall out in a critike day , with a manifest excretion , or notable absesse : without dangerous accidents . It ought also to be perfyt . I call a perfyt crise , that which evacuats all the vitious mater . And on imperfyt , that which evacuats but one part for the former is sure , but you must not beleeve the latter , for the evill humors remaining after a crise , are wont to make one recidiwe . Moreover a crise is iudged to be good by reason of the convenable qualitie and reasonable quantity , with the forme agreable , and the time opportune . A crise is knowne to be perfyt and assured by the restablishing of the functions naturalls , vitals and animalls , by the coction of the excrements , or by qualitie or forme of the body reduced and made conforme to the naturall . Canon XXX . Yee must not trust to any ease , or aleagment which falls without cause , nor feare evill symptomes ariving against reason , for the most part of those are inconstant and doth not last a long time : for when any vehement diseases ceaseth of the selfe without any evacuation , either by sweat , vomit , flux downward , or hemorrage vpward , or without any signe of concoction one must not take that ease to be assured , neither must one beleeve to it seing it doth threaten with something of greater evill which follow thereon . As also one must not be affraighted of the evills that befalls without , or rather contrare reason , as difficultie of breathing , raverie , shiviring reduplication of the fever , seing they are not constant nor of long last , and so farre from signifying any thing evill , that on the contrar they presage often a good crise which shall arive to the great ease of the patient . The right methode of curing the disease . Canon I. WHosever will exactly keepe the method of right proceeding in the cure , ought to begin at the first indications , then come to those that followes them . Afterward to the next and never leave off , till they haue come to the end pretended . Wee take heere indication for that which serves to teach vs the way in the cure of the disease , to attaine to health . Canon II. The forces before all things ought to be keeped in those who are diseased : after the indication of the forces , followes the consideration of the indisposition which is proposed to be cured . The forces wills allways their conservation , and the indisposition its ablation . Now as the forces are keeped or conserved by their like so the indisposition is taken away by the contrary . Canon III. In all diseases where the efficient cause is yet present , you must begin your cure at the same for it is impossible to cure perfytly any disease , whileas the cause that doth ingender it , is present : so the maladies ceaseth never till the evill humors ingendring them bee banished , which doth lurke within the body . Canon IV. After the taking away of the cause , you must next turne you to the disease ingendred of the cause , keeping for a generall rule , first the ablation of the cause efficient , and next of the maladie . Canon V. The cure of the symptome is never first intended , but alwayes that of the maladie which causeth the symptome . Yet when the symptome minaceth with death , or greater and suddainer danger then the disease it selfe , the cure of it may bee first attempted . Canon VI. While as the disease is growing , wee must hinder the growth of it , and take away that part that is already ingēdred . The generation of that which is to come , is hindred by taking away the cause antecedent , and the maladie alreadie ingendred is banished by taking away the cause conjoynt . Canon VII . In all diseases caused of fluxion , yee must first stoppe that which floweth yet : next draw foorth that which already is flowed . Therefore the cure of a phlegmon , catarrhe , and of all other diseases that are caused by a fluxion , lookes all to two buts , the first is , that the humour which runneth yet bee stayed , the other , that that part of it which is already in the part bee evacuat . Canon VIII . In all diseases complicate , the one whereof cannot be cured without the other , there must respect bee holden to order : now method or order requyres still the cure of that first , which hindreth the cure of the other : as if a phlegmon were accompanied with a vlcer , yee must first take away that , then cicatrize this . Canon IX . When two indications are directly opposit one to another , yee must not regard so the one , that yee misregard the other , but rather having as good mind of this as of that , make a mixture as equall as ye can . As for example , if one be troubled by two so contrarie diseases , that the one desires a hot , the other a cold remead , yee must then make vse of one temperat , to that end it do harme neither to the one nor to the other , but rather help both . So when the stomack is cold , and the lever over hot , things temperat are convenable , and all that is mixtioned of hot and cold things : or the alternative vse of the one and the other . Hence is it that when a phlegmon is in its grouth , there is mixed repercussives with digestives . Canon X. When there is remarked a repugnance among the indications , after you haue well considred that which is taken from the forces , and also the indication of the cause , the disease , thou shall follow the most important of all , not neglecting howsoever the other . Canon XI . It is a maxime most necessarie , that commands to cure first the most importunat danger , ( For the indisposition , that is the first & principall cause of precipitating the diseased in any danger , ought first to bee helped . ) Wherefore excessive watching , cruell paine , all evacuation out of measure , chiefly of blood , the suppression of superfluities , and other like symptomes , which weakens the forces , and augments the disease , in such sort , that there may arrive quickly some danger , constraines often the Physitian to quyt the cure of the sicknesse to occur to these symptomes . Canon XII . The generall method of curing diseases is accomplished by the convenable quantity and quality of the remedies , with the maner and time of vsing of them . Canon XIII . It is requyred that all the remedies bee contrare in quality to the disease , for contraria , contrariis curantur . For if all that which is immoderat be contrare to nature , and that which is moderat agreeable to nature : of necessitie it will follow that that which is out of measure must bee brought to measure by its contrare in like degree out of measure . Hence is it that all diseases ingendred of repletion , are cured by evacuation : and these that proceed of evacuation by repletion , and such like of the rest . Canon XIV . The temper of the body diseased with the disease it selfe , shews the measure of the contrarietie : forasmuch as it is not enough to apply cold remedies to a hot disease : if that be not done with a measure reasonable , otherwise not equall in measure , it is to bee feared that there remaine some portion of the disease , or being excessive that one disease contrar to the other bee moved : For to occur to this wee must know the nature of the body , that is to be handled to that end that vnderstanding how farre the disease exceeds mediocritie , one may exactly measure the proportion of the refrigeratiue remedie . Therefore the quantity of everie remead ought to be measured according to the complexion of the sick , and the greatnesse of the sicknesse . Canon XV. The contrare remedies must be put in vse litle by litle , and now and then make intermission , for it is dangerous to evacuat all at once , or yet to fill , to heat , or coole , or to chang the bodie suddenly in any other maner , for all that which is excessive is enemie to nature , but that which is done by litle and litle , is without danger , for it is therefore surer to serve your selfe moderatly of contrarie remedies , then to vse excessively and suddainly , for as much as nature doeth not suffer sudden changes without hazarde . Canon XVI : When diseases are in the beginning , then move that which seemes good to be moved , but when they are in their vigour , it is better to let them alone in rest , for it is more expedient to vse remedies in the begining , then in hight of the disease , for two reasons , the one because the accidents are weaker at the entres and at the end , then in the hight : the other , because nature whollie imployed at that time about the coction and excretion of the humor noysome , ought not to be diverted or hindered by any remeed , for seing the digestion is then , it is better in the beginning to evacuat a part of the humour vitious , that nature may the more easily overcome the rest : but when the maladie is in its vigour , nature occupied alreadie about the concoction , it is no more tyme to vse evacuation . Canon XVII . If the espece of the sicknes be so obscure that thou can not take it vp at the first , make no hast in vsing remedies , rather suffer nature to worke it out her selfe , for being helped by a good dyat , in end shee shall banish the sickenesse foorth . Where she shal make it manifest . For a remead vncertaine and doubtfull cannot be ordained , without prejudice . If perhaps thou be constrained to vse one at the least , let it be light , to that end , that if it be not profitable , at the least it be not hurtfull . Canon XVIII . A simple cure is sufficient for a simple disease , but when it is composed with an other , then it requyres a composed remeed . Canon XIX . For the accomplishing of the cure it is not enough that the physition doe his duetie but that the sick also & they that are about him , that there be nothing wanting of that which is required , for it is requisit that the diseased strive to fight with the disease , with the medicine , and so obey him , and not give way to his pleasures , hauing about him people sitting for his service , being wel lodged , and furnished with commodities needfull . Canon XX. The medicine that doth all things according to reason , although that things succeed not according to expectatiō , ought not to change his bute , or end proposed in his method purposed from the beginning . For that is but small wisdome to quyt lightly that which seemde expedient although the successe hath not bene according to exspectation , for as the marke of a drop of water falling on a stone , doth not appeare sensiblie , but after a long space it falls , even so in raw or vndigested diseases which receives no coction , but with difficultie , vnto the which when reason hath found that which is conveniable , according to all indications considered one after other : one must not leave off the course intended , although there hath no manifest vtilitie bene found from it , if that some other accident doe not fall out , which doeth constraine to quyt the first purpose , for wee haue reason to vse the remedies which those indications did furnish . Canon XXI . There be three sorts of remedies , by the which all indispositions are cured that be curable , to wit by dyat , by chirurgie or manuall operation , and pharmacie or remeeds outward and inward , it is needfull that the diat be repugnant to the sicknesse and familiar to nature , for wholesome food is that which is contrare to that , which is contrare to nature , and like to that which is according to nature , so hot meates are conveneable to cold diseases , and cold meats in hot diseases , moist or humid meates , for the dry , and drying , for the weake and moist , wherefore it is expedient to prescribe a strait dyat to fat fleshie peoeple for such a dyat dryeth . Canon XXII . Meat and drinke more pleasant to the taste , but lesse profitable is to be preferred to that which is more profitable and pleasant , for one must sometime permit meats which are not best , not onely to gratifie the sicke but also for his further good , because the stomacke imbraces more straitly and keepes better the meat that wee take willingly , and with great contentment , yea disgests it better . In the contrare , it rejects with disdaine these things that are disagreeable to the taste because they moue a prease of vomiting , or cause some fluctuating , or inflation in the stomack , therefore wee must pleasure the sicke in things that are not verie hurtfull . Canon XXIII . In the ordaining of the dyat , there must respect bee had of the custome , for things of a long time accustomed , although worse , commonly hurts lesse then these which are not in custome . Canon XXIV . When the disease is in its vigour , it is necessar then to vse a verie slender or weake dyat , as well for the greatnesse of the symptomes , as for the coction of the humor , for wee must not hinder natures coction of the humors by the coction of the meat . Canon XXV . When the disease is violent and quick , it causes incontinent extreame paine and dolour , wherefore wee must vse a most sharpe and weake dyat , because such a disease is in the vigour the first dayes , as the grievous symptomes which doe incontinently accompanie it from the beginning beares witnesse . For a most sharpe sicknes is that which attaines to its hight , that is , in the first foure dayes or little after . Canon XXVI . So soone as the sicknesse by its violence doth show that it is drawing near the hight then a strait dyat must be injoyned : but when the hight is long in comming as it fals out in long diseases , then a more large dyat would bee vsed , till the approaching of the hight , or a little before , and then yee must restraine it . Strait and small dyats are stil dangerous in long diseases , because they abait the forces which ought to be conserved in their integrity , to that end it may resist to the length of the disease . Canon XXVII . When the bodie is not cleane , the more you nourish it , the more yee hurt it : for seeing the body full of vicious humors , hath more need of evacuation then nutrition : it appeares that they should not be too much nourished , because these evill humors gathered a long time in the body , spoyles the food newly received : so that thereby the cacochymie is augmented to the double , which fals out chiefly then when the stomack is foule : for even as mixing of cleare water with muddy , it becomes al muddy and troubled : even so the meat , although pure and cleane of it selfe , yet taken in to great quantity in a foule body , becomes wholly corrupt . Canon XXVIII . A larger dyat must be granted to bairnes then old folke , and a mediocre , to these of a middle age : because that old men indures easily hunger , next to them that are at the entry of the declining age , worse then these young men , worst of all boyes : for they that are growing hath much of the natural heat , and therefore hath much need of nourishment , otherwise their body should consume , but there is but little heat in old bodies : wherefore they need not much nourishment , because that too much should choake it . Canon XXIX . The great cavities in the body , in Winter and in the Spring , are naturallie hoter then at any other time , and the sleep longer : wherefore in these the dyat may bee larger , ( heere by the cavities wee must vnderstand the stomacke , the whole bellie containing the puddings , and the rest of the naturall parts that are appointed for digestion . ) But if yee desire to know why the natural heat is augmented in Winter , Arist. attributs the cause to the circumsisting air , that is colder chasing by this meanes the naturall heat inward , while as in the Summer it extends the selfe ordinarly through the whole body towards the heat that is without as familiar to it . Hence is it that in the Summer its substance is dissipat and exhals , but in Winter it is holden in and keeped there , and therefore all the coctions are the better made . Canon XXX . As to the forme and maner of dyat , one should eat lesse in the Summer & the Harvest & ofter , but in the Winter and Spring more seldome , but more aboundantly : because in the Summer and the Harvest hardly doth one digest meat , in Winter verie easily , but in the Spring some way well . Canon XXXI . Yee must nourish gentlie , and repare by little and little the bodies that hath beene extenuat of long time , and restore quickly these that hath quickly beene taken down . Canon XXXII . You must give meat to the sick when as the sicknesse gives intermission or release , & during the accesse abstaine from giving ▪ for meat then is hurtfull , because that it withdraws nature from the digestion of the humor to the concoction of the nouritour , as also because by it the cause of the disease is augmented . Canon XXXIII . Among the operations of chirurgerie , phlebotomie , or drawing of blood , keepes the first rank : because it is the common remead of diseases which proceeds of plenitud or fulnesse , for by it an evacuation is made of the humors equally , being for this the most exquisit of all other meanes . Canon XXXIV . Phlebotomie is not only a remead evacuative , but also revulsive and derivative : for it is profitable when wee turne the course of the flux to the opposit part , or desires to turne it asid to the neighbour part . Canon XXXV . Wee must draw blood in hot fevers 'till the spirits faile and heart saint , if so bee the forces bee strong , also in great inflammations and extreame paines : for if one draw blood in hot fevers till the heart faint , all the body is incontinent cooled , and the vehement heat extinguished , to diverse after it , there followeth a flux of the bellie and a sweat . By this meanes some are wholly freed of the fever , others receives great ease , the vehemencie of their sicknesse having passed . This sort of bleeding is likewise good in great inflammations , both for the former reasons , and for that it stops the flux causing the inflammation , and so hinders the growth of the phlegmon : by this same it appeaseth the great dolours caused of the heat of the fever , and of the inflamtions : wherefore there is not found a remead more soveraine for insupportable dolours , than it . Canon XLV . You must draw much blood , if the sicknesse doeth vrge and the forces doe permit , if not by litle and litle , and at diverse tymes , for all extreame evacuations are dangerous and cheifly bleeding being al at once . Canon XXXVII . They to whom purging and blood drawing is profitable , ought to be purged and bled in the spring . For that season is very proper to make evacuation by phlebotomie or pharmacie , because that at that time there is no extraordinar heat for to weaken the body , by exhalation , nor great cold to make it stiffe , by congealing the humors in it , nor yet inaequall to disturbe the forces but rather a mediocre temper . Canon XXXVIII . You must not without great cause or deliberation open a veine to a woman with child , because that a woman with child bled , is broght to bed before the time , if the chyld be great , because having drawne blood of a woman with chyld : the chyld thereby frustrat of his food , famishing in the matrix of the mother , breaketh his bonds , and seeketh foorth for nourishment , and that before the time , except the mother abound in blood : for then yee may be so farre from fearing it , that in the contrar if it be not administrat , both the mother & the child are in danger as hath beene remarked in the persons of the most illustrious dames in the court of France : least the child should be choaked by the too great aboundance of blood . Canon XXXIX . Purgative medicines should be ordained to cacochymike diseases , these that purges the bile to bilious , they that phlegme , to phlegmaticks , and so of the rest , for the cure of one cacochymie is made by a purgation which is particularly appropriat to the humor tha● exceedes , and among the alterative potions the cold are appointed for the hot , the hot for the cold , the dry for the humids , and the humid to the dry , for the hot mistemper would be made cold , and the cold made hot , and such like of the rest . Canon XL. Strong potions would be given to strong diseases , and gentle medicins to more meik and gentle , for extreame remedies are fitest for strong diseases : hence the Romane oratour desyrous to show how a curagious man should interprise hazards , sayes , in the presenting of himselfe to dangers , he must imitat the custome of the medicins , that handles gently those that are but lightly troubled , but in greater diseases are constrained to make vse of remedies more dangerous and doubtsome . Canon XLI . Wee must expell those things that requyres to be expelled , by the wayes most proper whither nature chiefly tends : and divert them if they make not there course by the way they ought : the physition then ought curiously to mark the motion of nature , and the inclination of the humor , redounding : to that end , that if it tend to any place fitting , to help it , & in the contrar , if it seek for one vnfitting , to hinder it and to draw it off that course . So if phlegmatick or melancholick humors take the course downeward and nature haue essayed already to banish by the retract the fever , the physition ought to prescribe a clister or some other proper remead for to stir vp nature , and if a bilious humor bend vpward , and nature strive to expell it at the mouth , a vomit is expedient to be taken , for that is to draw thither the humor whither nature aimes cheifly , and if yee doe otherwise , you shall change the order and course of nature , constraine the forces , and put the sicke in hazard . Canon XLII . In very sharpe sicknesse yee must purge the same day , if the humor be moved . For it is not good to dryve over time , then , as sayes Hip. for feare least the evill grow , the forces become weaker , and the wandring humors cease on some noble part . When then in most sharpe or violent diseases , wee perceive nature to bee touched with a great and ardent desire to discharge the selfe of the superfluous humors , wee must purge incontinent . And because that that desire doth not often overtake nature to disburden the selfe of vitious humors , in the beginning of such diseases wee must advise well to vse purgations at such a time of such a sicknesse . Canon XLIII . When you are to purge the bodie , you must prepare the body before & make the humors fluxile : other wayes the purgation wil not be without great paine & difficultie , grinding of the bellie , inquyetud , fainting , debilitie of the pulse , and dissolution of the forces : Now for to make the body fluxile , you must open all the passages of it , and make the grosse humors liquid that are within . Canon XLIV . You must purge the humors digested and prepared , not the raw and vnprepared , neither in the beginning of any disease , except they be moved and haue no fixed place . For as nature is by no meanes moved to the evacuating of any humor : except it have first prepared the mater , so the physitian ought to purge the mater that is digested , not that which is vndigested , because vndigested humors are slow to be moved , by reason of their viscositie and grossenesse , so that they stop the passages that goes from the extremities of the body to the belly , from the which the medicine doeth draw them , and by this meanes moves troublesome symptomes by their not going foorth . Canon XLV . You must purge women with child , if the mater be moved betwixt the fourth , and seventh moneth , but sooner or later , is to be feared , for the infant is fastned to the matrix of the mother , after the same maner that the fruits are to the trees , fruites newlie budded hath there stalk so tender , that being beaten by any violent wind , they fall easily to the ground : but with tyme being more firmely fixed , they fall not so easily , vntill the time they become vnto there maturitie , and then they fall off themselues without violence . Even so fares it with women incōtinent after their conception , if they leape or fall in any sliprie part , or yet move by any meanes either the spirit or the body , their new conception easily falleth foorth , So fares it , with them , when the children are great . But in the mid terme of their time they are with chylde , they adheare faster to the matrix , & are not so subject to be expelled : wherefore women with child , may suffer stronger motions at that time without hurting their fruite , and so may be better purged . Canon XLVI . When the crise is , or when it hath already bene and the humors are finally expelled , we must move nothing , nor chang nothing , neither by physicke nor any other thing that may irritat nature , but rather suffer nature to worke it out her selfe : for seing the crise is a worke of nature , and not of the physitian , when shee is about it , or hath already obsolved it , the physitian ought to move nothing , but rather suffer her for feare of troubling her action , which she is whollie imployed about the bussines . But if the crise hath bene vnperfyt , it is the duetie of the medicine to purge that which rests of the vitious humors fearing least by processe of time , putrifying within the body , they renew the sicknesse . Canon XLVII . During the caniculare dayes , laxative medicines are not good , for all strong purgations are hardly supported that time , for three reasons . The first because all purgatives being naturally hot , inflammes the body already warme by the heat of the aire . The second is because they dissipat the forces already weakned by the vehemency of the heat . The third because the action of a purging medicine , & that of the invironing aire are contrare , for asmuch as that doth draw from without , inward , and this from within , outward . Canon XLVIII . The lower part of the bellie or epigastre , being farre extenuat , cannot suffer without danger , purgations by the stoole . Canon XLIX . When a defluxion on any part that is troubled , you must repell it : wherfore repercussives that haue vertue to bind are proper in the beginning of any defluxion , for two respects : the one because they fortifie so the part , that it receives not so quickly the super fluities that doth abord : the other because they presse foorth the most subtile portion of that which is already placed there . FINIS .