Aphorism I.

IF the addition of those things that are deficient, and the substraction of those that are exuberant, be daily made, as to quantity and quali­ty, [Page 2]such as it ought to be, lost health would be recover'd, and the present always preserv'd.

II.

If the Physician, who has the oversight of other mens Health, be capable of judging only of the sensible addition, and evacu­ation, and knows not the quan­tity of their daily insensible per­spiration, he does not cure, but deceive them.

III.

He only who knows, to what quantity, and when, the secret perspiration of a man's body a­mounts to more or less, shall find out how much, and when, any thing ought to be added, or sub­stracted, in order to the preserva­tion, or recovery of his Health.

IV.

Insensible perspiration alone is commonly wont to exceed all [Page 3]the sensible perspirations put to­gether.

V.

Insensible perspiration is made either by the pores of the body, which is transpirable in all its parts, and is enclos'd in the Skin as it were in a net; or by respira­tion, perform'd by the Mouth, which in one day commonly a­mounts to about half a pound: for that may be discover'd by the dewey drops upon a Look­ing-glass, if it be set close to the Mouth.

VI.

If the meat and drink taken in one day amount to the weight of eight pounds, the insensible transpiration ordinarily amounts to five pounds, or thereabouts.

VII.

The quantity of insensible transpiration admits of some [Page 4]variety according to the diver­sity of Nature, Climate, Seasons, Age, Diseases, Aliment, and o­ther things that are non-natu­ral.

VIII.

It may be easily computed what was the quantity of the nocturnal perspiration, and that of the sensible excrements, by weighing the body in the morn­ing, before and after sensible excretion.

IX.

If the weight of the body be­gin to be augmented more than it is wont, without any greater addition of meat and drink, or a retention of the sensible excre­ments, there ensues a difficulty of breathing.

X.

The Body is preserv'd in the same state of Health, when it re­turns [Page 5]to the same weight, with­out any unusual sensible evacu­ation: But if it be reduc'd to the same weight, by a more than or­dinary evacuation, by Urine, or Stoole, it begins to receed from its former Health.

XI.

If it be perceiv'd by pondera­tion, that there hath been any obstruction of the perspiration, there will succeed in the subse­quent days, either a more plen­tiful perspiration, or some more abundant sensible evacuation, or some symptom of an evil habit of the body, or a Feaver.

XII.

Much perspiration, and a plen­tiful and more than usual sensible evacuation are not consistent to­gether.

XIII.

If any one does sensibly eva­cuate [Page 6]more than is requisite, his perspiration is less than is requi­site.

XIV.

It is an ill sign, when a man goes to Stool, Urines, or Sweats, more than is requisite, and per­spires less than he should do.

XV.

If the body be dayly reduc'd to the same weight, without a­ny alteration in the evacuation of those things that are perspira­ble, it will need no crisis, and will be continu'd in a sound posture.

XVI.

When the body is one day of one weight, and another day of another, it argues an introducti­on of evil qualities into it.

XVII.

That weight, which to any one is such, as that, when he goes [Page 7]up some steepy place, he feels himself lighter than he is wont, is the exact standard of good Health.

XVIII.

Evil qualities are the pro­ductions of excess, but we must not affirm the contrary, to wit, that good qualities are the pro­ductions of defect.

XIX.

Not only the weight, but the excess also is diminish'd, either by the evacuation of the sensi­ble or insensible crude matter, or by that of the sensible or in­sensible concocted matter. The latter conduces to health, the former takes away the excess, but leaves the ill quality behind.

XX.

There are two kinds of insen­sible transpiration; the one is immediately made after sleep­ing, [Page 8]upon the compleating of the concoction, and after this there is an augmentation of a man's strength; the other, in the time of vigilance; and this la­ter is occasion'd by crude hu­mours, and by reason thereof the strength is impair'd. For it is performed with more or less vio­lence, answerably to the greater or less motion of the vigilance.

XXI.

That perspiration which eases the body of a great and that an unprofitale burthen, is not that which is attended with Sweating, but that invisible ex­piration or breathing, such as is that, which in the space of Four and Twenty hours, in the winter time, may exhale Fifty Ounces, or more.

XXII.

Invisible perspiration becomes [Page 9]visible, either when there is an excess of nutriment, or when there is a remission of Heat, or by reason of violent motion.

XXIII.

Insensible perspiration attend­ed by Sweating is not good; because sweating abates the strength of the fibres. Yet some­times it is accounted good, be­cause it occasions a diversion from a greater evil.

XXIV.

The more subtile and free from moisture the invisible per­spiration is; the more Healthy it is.

XXV.

All the liquid excrements are the more weighty, and fall down to the bottom: the thick are lighter, and keep up on the top, such as are hard and thick Dregs, Spittles, and others of that kind.

XXVI.

Liquid excrements, allowing an equality as to quantity, take off a greater burthen from the body, than the hard and con­sistent.

XXVII.

Liquid meats are also the more weighty, and the solid the more light; Bread and Flesh are light; Wine and Broaths are heavy. A Cup of Wine is of equivalent weight to a piece of Bread though above thrice as big as it in bulk.

XXVIII.

When the Body seems to be more burthensome to a man, when it is not really so, he is in a worse condition, than if it seem and is felt to be such, when it is really such.

XXIX.

The weight of an Animal may [Page 11]be consider'd two ways; for these two things are consistent, to wit, that the body may be more weighty than usual, and yet the person fancie himself lighter; and on the contrary, that the body may be lighter than usual, yet the party feel himself heavier.

XXX.

If these two things concurre, to wit, that a man feel himself lighter than he is, and yet is not really so, it is an argument of a most healthful constitution.

XXXI.

That body which is reduc'd to a less weight, than is proporti­onable to the just computation of its healthful state, is in a worse condition, than that, which acquires a greater weight than is proportionable to its Healthfulness.

XXXII.

When the body, by reason of any exercise of it self, or of the mind, becomes of less weight, there immediately ensues a dimi­nution of its vigour; which does not happen, if it becomes of less weight after sleep, when there is a perfect concoction.

XXXIII.

If without any precedent vio­lence there be a diminution of the weight, and an impairing of the vigour; the reason is, be­cause there is not so much re­stor'd, as had been lost.

XXXIV.

There are but three ways, whereby an Animal is weakned, either while the weight of the body is augmented, without a­ny impairing of its vigour; when the vigour is diminish'd, the same weight of the body still remain­ing; [Page 13]or lastly, when both vi­gour, and weight admit of di­minution.

XXXV.

That weariness which ensues upon the Body's becoming less strong, and of less weight, is more dangerous than any other: for ponderosity is a kind of strength.

XXXVI.

The weight of the body com­municates strength to us, when we either draw any thing down­wards, or carry, turn, or thrust it.

XXXVII.

The strength of an old man does many times depend more on the weight, than the vigour of his body: an old Animal of little weight may live a long time, but cannot be strong.

XXXVIII.

If after sleeping the body be reduc'd to its usual weight, with­out feeling any trouble, 'tis well; for it argu [...] perfect concoction; but if with trouble, 'tis ill.

XXXIX.

The body does not fall into any disease upon external mis­carriages, unless it have some of the entrails prepar'd for it: that preparation is discover'd by the more or less than usual weight, occasion'd not without some precedent disturbance.

XL.

If nature be obstructed while she is employ'd in the office of perspiration, she becomes pre­sently defective in divers others.

XLI.

When the head akes, the body receives a sudden check in per­spiration, and becomes more ponderous.

XLII.

The first seeds of diseases are more certainly discover'd by the alteration of the unusual perspi­ration, than by the obstruction of the offices.

XLIII.

If by ponderation thou shalt find that the matter of usual per­spiration is retain'd in the body, and that the party does neither sweat nor urine for some days after, infer thence that the re­tain'd matter prognosticates fu­ture corruption.

XLIV.

But if by ponderation thou shalt find, that, upon some vio­lent cause, the perspirable mat­ter is more than usually emitted out of the body, be assur'd, that the place where the perspirable matters had been lodg'd, and whence they were violently eva­cuated, [Page 16]is fill'd with crudities, which are crowded into the smallest passages.

XLV.

Yet if those crudities which so force their way in, could, as to all parts, be rendred fluid and perspirable, 'twere well; but if not, the part wherein they are contain'd first becomes hard, like Leather, and at last schirrous.

XLVI.

If that which is perspirable should not be dissipated either by nature, or some feaverish heat, the body would be im­mediately prepar'd for a malig­nant Feaver.

XLVII.

Such as are in Feavers are as likely to grow worse and worse, if their perspiration be diverted by the excessive applications of Medicines from an unskilful [Page 17]Physician, as it might be if di­verted by the miscarriages of the patients themselves.

XLVIII.

A small quantity of Cassia does not divert perspiration, does not impair the strength, but only eases the body of a su­perfluous weight: but other Medicines contribute more to evacuation, are diffus'd to the more remote parts, and render the body lighter; and yet the Meat and Drink, which is re­ceiv'd afterwards, fill up the eva­cuated passages, thence the bel­ly and bladder are exsicatted, and soon after the body com­monly becomes more ponder­ous.

XLIX.

Any Pain, or Grief of the bo­dy, obstructs the passage of that perspirable matter which is concocted.

L.

Any cold, even the least, that we feel in the night while we are asleep, obstructs perspiration.

LI.

One of the most frequent causes that hinder perspiration, in the Summer time, is the often turning of our bodies in bed.

LII.

There are three internal causes of the obstruction of perspira­tion, Nature's being otherwise employ'd, diversion, and want of strength.

LIII.

Hence it appears by a stati­cal ponderation, that on the day a man takes Physick, and dur­ing the space of three hours af­ter refection, there is little per­spiration: for on such day of taking Physick Nature is busied about sensible evacuation; and [Page 19]after meat she is intent on the first concoction.

LIV.

In Fluxes, and Vomiting, per­spiration is obstructed, because it is diverted.

LV.

A burthensome weight of Garments is a hindrance to per­spiration, because they abate a man's strength.

LVI.

The body does not perspire every hour after the same rate, in regard that after refection, in the space of five hours, it is commonly wont to exhale a pound or thereabouts; from the fifth hour to the twelfth, about three Pound; from the twelfth to the sixteenth (at which time we are to take refection, or Phy­sick) hardly half a pound.

LVII.

He who takes his refection, or is evacuated by Physick, dur­ing the hours of greatest perspi­ration; such as are, for the most part, those of the morning, is highly injur'd; because present­ly after meat, as also after Phy­sick, perspiration is extreamly diverted.

LVIII.

The secret and insensible per­spiration eases us more than all the sensible ones put together: for, after sleep, before there be any evacuation of the sensible excrements, every one feels him­self lighter, because he is really become lighter, by three pound or thereabouts.

LIX.

In the space of one night, there are commonly evacuated, of Urine, sixteen Ounces, more [Page 21]or less; of concocted excre­ments, by stool, four Ounces; and by occult perspiration, forty and above.

LX.

There are many who in the space of four and twenty hours evacuate as much by insensible perspiration as they do by stool in the space of fifteen daies.

LXI.

How comes it then, that most of our Country-men, in all dis­cases, mind only the evacuation by Stool or Urine, and hardly ever think of insensible perspi­ration?

LXII.

If in the night thou hast per­spir'd more than usually, but without Sweating or any distur­bance, be assur'd of thy being in perfect Health.

LXIII.

Then are we at the greatest distance from any disease, when we are come to the mean propor­tion of the latitude of healthy ponderation, not through spon­taneous sensible evacuation, or that prescrib'd by the Physician, or yet by fasting, but by the insensible perspiration, which comes by sleep, after perfect con­coction.

LXIV.

What quantity of perspirati­on is convenient for every one, in order to his continuance in a most healthful constitution of body, you will thus find out. Observe in the morning, after a somewhat-plentiful Supper o­ver night, that sort of greater per­spiration, which may be com­pleated in thy self in the space of Twelve Hours: grant it to have [Page 23]amounted to Fifty Ounces: some other morning, after fast­ing over-night, yet with this proviso, that thou didst not ex­ceed at thy Dinner the day be­fore, make the same observati­on; let us admit the perspiration to have amounted to Twenty Ounces: This fore-known, pitch upon that moderate pro­portion of Meat and other non-natural causes, which will be likely to reduce thee daily to the mean between Fifty and Twenty Ounces; and that mean will be Thirty Five Ounces. Thus maist thou live a long and healthful life, nay haply arrive to that of a hundred years.

LXV.

The healthful bodies of men, and such as are most moderate in their diet, become every month more than usually ponderous, to [Page 24]wit, by one pound or two, and are reduc'd to the usual weight about the month's end, as it hap­pens to Women, but after a cri­sis made by a more plentiful or more muddy emission of Urne,

LXVI.

Before the said menstrual cri­sis made soon after sleep, either there is felt a drowsiness of the head, or weariness of the body; and afterwards, by a more plen­tiful Evacuation of Urine, all things are quieted.

LXVII.

The external causes which ordinarily obstruct perspiration are a cold, troubled, and moist air; swimming in cold water, gross, and viscous meats; the intermission of Corporeal exer­cise, or that of the mind, and, in robust persons, over much absti­nence from venery.

LXVIII.

External cold obstructs Per­spiration in a weak body, be­cause its heat is dissipated; but in a robust person, it augments it: for the heat is forc'd to the bottom, and reduplicated, and thereupon nature is corrobora­ted, and upon that the weight of the perspirable matter that is re­tain'd being by her consum'd, the body becomes, and is felt lighter.

LXIX.

The health of that body is more firm and of longer continuance, whose weight in the process of many years is neither augment­ed nor diminish'd, than that of a body whose weight is alter'd e­very year.

LXX.

For a body to be reduc'd to its usual ponderosity, by the acces­sion [Page 26]of crude humours, is ill; but if it be by the addition of such as are concocted, it is most wholsome.

LXXI.

It is an ill sign, when a healthy person becomes of less weight than usual, it being suppos'd his course of life be the same as be­fore: for there is not any refusion of that wholsome matter which had been lost.

LXXII.

The concocted excrements of the belly are of great bulk, but little weight; they swim on the surface, by reason of the air con­tain'd in them, and whatever may be evacuated, at one and the same time, never exceeds the third part of a pound.

LXXIII.

If it happen that in one dayes space, through some miscarri­age [Page 27]or other, there be so great a retention of perspiration as may amount to a pound, nature is commonly three days employ'd in the insensible expurgation of that which had been retain'd.

LXXIV.

Then does nature make a great insensible evacuation, when she endeavours to voyd perspirable matter retain'd, by yawnings and extensions of the joynts.

LXXV.

The perspirable matter con­sists of two parts, to wit, a light, and a ponderous.

LXXVI.

The ponderous part is so ex­uberant that living creatures are generated of it, as Punaizes, lice, and the like.

LXXVII.

From the more ponderous part of perspiration do proceed the [Page 28]contagious Infections of such as lye together: for the light part vanishes, but the more ponder­ous, being adhesive, does infect.

LXXVIII.

They who in the scorching Heats of Summer are obstructed in the exhalation of the perspi­rable matter, are incommoda­ted by Heat; but to those who have an absolute freedom of re­spiration, the Heat is not trou­blesome.

LXXIX.

A greater weight differs from a lesser equal healthful, because the greater does the more acce­lerate old Age. Be it suppos'd, that some person hath his Health as well when he weighs two hun­dred weight, as at two hundred and five pound: we have ob­serv'd that the excess of those five pounds did more accelerate old Age.

LXXX.

Why does Animated Flesh live, and not putrify, as a carcase does? Because it is daily re­new'd. Why are Children in a capacity of living longer than old men? Because they may be more often renew'd, since they begin from the lowest weight of the whole latitude, and so proceed to the highest: for they are capable of most of the Healthful weights. Why is there a necessity that old men should die? Because they are capable only of the last propor­tions of weight. But why only of those? because their fibres are hard, and, as such, cannot be any more renew'd; whence death ensues.

LXXXI.

Why are they cur'd are who surpriz'd by some dangerous Dis­ease? [Page 30]because they are capa­ble of several sorts of Healthy weights: for such Diseases take away thirty pounds from mens bodies, more or less, as the bodies are more or less repleat, and as the Disease is more or less hot, and according to its continuance.

LXXXII.

Old men prolong their lives by frequent Spittings; for these being retain'd within the body, as being uncapable of coction or digestion, hinder perspiration; the consequences whereof are suffocation and death.

LXXXIII.

Old Age is indeed a Disease, but may last a long time, if the body be made easily perspirable.

LXXXIV.

Venery, actual frigidity of the body, over-plentiful drinking, supping as young men do, to be angry more than needs, and much exercise; all these shorten the lives of old men.

LXXXV.

Old men reach not decrepit Age by reason of the weakness of their expulsive faculties. Thence it comes to pass; that when they drink more than it was requisite they should, they urine less, and perspire less than they are wont. The remedy is, that the substraction be equiva­lent to the addition.

LXXXVI.

Insensible perspiration being [Page 32]quite obstructed, does not only deprive the chiefest parts of life, but also one ignoble part. It deprives the chiefest, when there is an Apoplexy in the Brain; pal­pitation in the Heart, an ex­cess of Blood in the Liver; and a suffocation in the Matrix; it de­prives the ignoble part by Gan­grene.

LXXXVII.

That Women are troubled with the suffocation does not proceed from the Womb's com­pressing the midriff, but from the frigidity of the corrupted seed, which does not want per­spiration.

LXXXVIII.

The humours of persons trou­bled with the Gout, though they are most gross, are dissol­ved only by way of vapour.

LXXXIX.

Vomiting diverts Urine and perspiration.

XC.

The frequent turning of the body in bed, since the doing of it requires the assistance of all the muscles, does weaken, and obstruct concoction and perspiration. The remedy is, for one to be obstinately resolv▪d to lye in one and the same po­sture.

XCI.

While the knees are kept actually warm the feet are not chil'd; such persons sleep well, they perspire more, and urine less.

XCII.

Looseness of the belly is ta­ken away by those things which augment perspiration, of which kind Bathing is one.

XCIII.

As the Loadstone is better preserv'd where there is much iron; and wine, better kept in a great vessel, than a litle one: So such bodies as are more ponderous, yet healthy withal, do better pre­serve strength, than such as abate in their weight, through want of aliment.

XCIV.

They who urine more than they drink, do perspire little, or nothing at all.

XCV.

Why is there an obstruction of insensible perspiration in in­termittent Feavers? because the peccant humour is in the cir­cumference of the body.

XCVI.

In the Dropsy, the water in the lower part of the belly is not dis­solved, because its drought and hardness hinder perspiration.

XCVII.

Hot humours being got toge­ther into any part are to be en­tertain'd with hot digestives, in order to their dissolution by in­sensible perspiration.

XCVIII.

Why is fainting or swouning beneficial in high Feavers? be­cause it causes sweating and a strong perspiration.

XCIX.

If the pricking of a nerve be clos'd up with Milk, Meal, or any such thing, the retain'd ichor becomes so sharp and cor­roding, that the Patients die of Convulsions, if the wound be not opened with Oyl.

C.

Perspiration is beneficial in tumours, if it be procur'd by things actually and potentially moist; otherwise they turn to a [Page 36]scirrhus, by dissolving the te­nuious humour, and leaving the gross.

CI.

If any part of the body be full of blood, or some other humour, as it is observ'd in tu­mours, and in the pleurisy it self, it is not to be refrigerated; be­cause, the matter being evacu­ated, it is refrigerated of it self.

CII.

Hypochondriacal persons are recover'd of their Distemper, if their bodies be made perspira­ble by frequent Bathings, and be kept to moist diet.

CIII.

Insensible perspiration pro­cur'd by fomentations, in an un­purged body, attracts more hu­mours than it dissolves; as ap­pear'd in Simon's case.

CIV.

Those bodies which insensi­bly perspire much are neither purg'd nor blooded, as it is manifest in Children.

CV.

How come Lice to be gene­rated? Because the perspiration of the malignant ichor, or thin matter, is obstructed.

CVI.

A Gangrene is prevented by those things that promote per­spiration; by those that pro­mote suppuration, it becomes a sphacelus, that is, when any part is mortify'd by inflammation.

CVII.

Why does the part affected with a Gangrene die? Because the little arteries, by reason of the redundancy of blood, are not rais'd up. 'Tis remedied by sensible and insensible perspi­ration.

CVIII.

The most clammy humours in robust bodies make their way out through the narrowest pas­sages, as it is manifest by the Fatness voided by Urine, as also by a mixture of Water and Hony injected into a wounded breast; and consequently they must make their way through the insensible passages.

CIX.

By difflation, as well the be­neficial as the superfluous matter is evacuated; but if after sleep strength and vigour be acquir'd, the superfluous matter only is for the most part evacuated.

CX.

That difflation which is not sensibly perceiv'd is natural, and is an argument of strength; but sweating argues the contrary.

CXI.

If in the winter time any part of the body be very cold, the whole does so far sympathize with it, that the concoction and perspiration of the whole is thereby lessen'd.

CXII.

Swimming is more safe to­wards the evening: in the morn­ing, the pores are stopped by the coldness of the water, whence there is some danger of a Fea­ver.

CXIII.

If in the Summer time the bo­dy ly uncover'd, the perspirati­on is obstructed; whereupon en­sue a drowsiness and heaviness of the Head, and a bruised un­weildiness of the body.

CXIV.

If the weight of the body be augmented in the space of five [Page 40]or six daies, it is not to be tak­en off of a sudden, but by de­grees: for abstinence from food, if it be extraordinary, hurts the Stomach, the Brain, and the Heart, and after a while, the whole body.

CXV.

In Autumn, the weight of the body is augmented; which if it exceed the standard of the Healthy latitude, Tertians, and other putrid Feavers, are apt to be the consequences there­of.

CXVI.

Things that are extream cold in a violent Feaver, if they be not heated, prove mortal, by reason of the difficulty of tran­spiration.

CXVII.

Nothing is more hurtful to malignant Ulcers, than those [Page 41]things that hinder perspiration, as fatness, oyl, wax.

CXVIII.

Of all the intermittent Fea­vers, the Quotidian only is not without danger; for Flegm is one of the chiefest things that obstruct perspiration.

CXIX.

If the perspiration be stop'd in the neck, the sense of the pericranium is stupify'd, as may be observ'd in persons walking in the wind and rain.

CXX.

Nothing is more apt to take away putrefaction, than for one to use much Ventilation, not only that which is procur'd by what is drawn in, but also by what is evacuated through the insensible passages.

CXXI.

Refrigerations in acute dis­eases [Page 42]are symptoms of death, as in Hermocrates: for they take away perspiration.

CXXII.

After bathing, the pores of the skin ar [...] condens'd with oyl, to the end that, the alimental moisture being [...]ttracted may not be dissolved. In dangerous cases therefore, use oyl to close and not to open the pores.

CXXIII.

And yet that course of diet, which we least regard, brings us to an old age great as that of Philip.

CXXIV.

The Diaphragma, or Midriff by contracting it self to its prin­ciple, dilates the breast; by that dilatation, is inspiration wrought. And by dilating it self, it contracts the breast, and by that contraction expiration is wrought.

CXXV.

But the Spincter, or the Muscle that shuts the bladder, by con­tracting it self to its principle closes the bladder, and keeps in the Urine; by spreading it self, it dilates the bladder, and emits the urine.

CXXVI.

THings infected with the plague, communicate the infection, as long as the next and remote causes remain; but any one of those failing, the poi­son ceases, like the motion of a clock, when, upon the break­ing of a Tooth in any one Wheel, it is at a stand.

CXXVII.

We are not infected with the Plague by contact, but by drawing in the pestiferous Air, or the vapours arising from in­fected goods. It happens thus: the vital spirit is infected by the Air, by such infection of the spirit the blood is congeal'd, which last being fore'd outwards raises carbuncles, black spots, and Buboes: if it remain within, it causes death; if it be quite expell'd, we are past all dan­ger.

CXXVIII.

If the whole infection be fore'd out into Carbuncles and Buboes, 'tis a good sign; if not, 'tis mortal.

CXXIX.

We are not of our selves in­fected with the Plague, but it is brought to us by others. This [Page 45]is manifest by the experiment of such as are shut up in Nun­neries.

CXXX.

Not all, but much about the third part of mankind dies of the Pestilence. That it is so, may be seen by the experiment of those whose office it is to view the dead.

CXXXI.

They who conceive the blackness of the spots to be a sign of adustion, are mistaken; for many times aged men, be­ing internally and externally cold, without any feaver, de­part this life in two days time, with the same blackness, but proceeding from a Thrombus, or clots of blood.

CXXXII.

If a small quantity of blood, by reason of the vital spirit's [Page 46]being infected, becomes a clot of blood, and this last be wholly thrust out by buboes and car­buncles, they are cur'd; if it be not wholly forc'd out, they die, as in the black spots.

CXXXIII.

Consequent to this is it, that they, who have their ulcers and buboes open'd, if the in­ternal infection be wholly come out, recover; if not, they die.

CXXXIV.

There are two ways to put a stop to the plague; to wit, that the sound be separated, and that the infected may have place enough to air themselves. There are two ways to do the latter; to wit, that they be not sent to places they abhor to come into; and that their hous­hold stuff be not burnt.

CXXXV.

They whose lungs are thin, are easily infected with the Plague; the contrary is to be affirm'd of those whose Lungs are thick. It argues the thinness of the Lungs, when any one drawing in his breath, as much as he can, that single stroak of the Pulse is somewhat weak­er, or more gentle.

CXXXVI.

The Plague is not to be com­par'd to fire, which increases upon the addition of fuel; but the former decreases, though the fuel of it remain in the same posture.

CXXXVII.

The raies of the Plague are remov'd from one place to ano­ther by the wind; but not by any violence of a lucid body.

CXXXVIII.

They who prescribe any other remedy for the shunning of the Plague, besides that of flying from it, are either ignorant men, or cheating Quacks.

CXXXIX.

Hence it comes to pass, that persons of Quality none al­most are cur'd by remedies; but very many of the meaner sort of people, without them.

CXL.

Why does the Plague con­tinue long? Because, while it rages, they air things that are infected; which, while they are cleaning, Thieves steal and scatter up and down; after the Plague is at a stand, they do not infect, otherwise the Plague would be perpetual.

Because some among the in­fected [Page 49]persons, when they are forc'd out of the City, do not air themselves as they should do; by which means the in­fection increases.

Because they do not prohibit the peoples assembling in Churches. Divine service at such times should be perform'd in the open air.

Because men make use of Chirurgeons that are strangers, or forreigners, who are the better pleased, the greater the Plague is.

Because they do not separate the sound into other houses from the infected.

Because they use internal re­medies against the Plague, when none can be administred, but what are hurtful.

Because they permit poultry [Page 50]to be brought to the market, which the sound coming to handle, after they had been handled by the infected, are afterwards thereby infected.

Aphorism I.

A Cold Air, and cold ba­things put strong bodies into a heat, and, by taking a­way what is superfluous, make them lighter; but they refrige­rate weak bodies, and, by ma­stering the heat, make them more ponderous.

II.

Warm air, and bushes actual­ly warm, if crudities do not [Page 52]obstruct, do also promote per­spiration, refresh the inward parts, and render mens bodies lighter.

III.

An external air, penetrating into the innermost parts of the body, through the trunks of the arteries, may make the body more or less ponderous; less, if it be subtile, and warm; more, if it be thick, and moist.

IV.

How great the ponderous­ness of the air is, may in the first place, be gather'd from the greater or lesser weight of the dregs of alom dried before in the Sun, and afterwards expos'd to the air in the night time. Secondly, from our feeling a greater cold than what is ob­servable in the weather-glass. For the moisture or ponde­rousness [Page 53]of the air is to us the measure of its coldness. Third­ly, from the greater or lesser bending of a very thin board, especially if it be of Pear-tree. Fourthly, from the contraction of the strings of a Lute, or from Hemp.

V.

How great the ponderousness of water is, may easily be un­derstood, if some heavy thing be suppos'd appendent in the water. For that water is lighter, and consequently the more wholsome, wherein the heavy thing does the more gravitate; but that wherein it does less gra­vitate, is the more ponderous and the more unwholsome.

VI.

That water which is more hea­vy, and the Air that is more muddy, and more ponderous, [Page 54]convert the invisible perspiration into an ichor (or thin Matter) which being pent in, and after­wards not dissolv'd, does for the most part cause a cachexy, or evil disposition of the body.

VII.

In a cold healthful Air perspi­ration is also obstructed, the pores are condensated; but the fibres are corroborated, and the weight of that perspirable Mat­ter which is retain'd neither hurts, nor is felt.

VIII.

In a thick foggy air perspira­tion is obstructed, the passages are fill'd, but not condens'd, the fibres are loosned, not strength­en'd, and the weight of the per­spirable Matter unevacuated hurts, and is felt.

XI.

If cold weather succeed a [Page 55]warm Air, such as that in Sum­mer time, it shall that day, it being suppos'd that a man takes the same liberty of drinking, hinder about a third part of the perspiration, which, if it be not made sensible, is apt to dispose the body to putrefaction, or some evil habit.

X.

The hindrance of perspiration occasion'd by unexpected cold is more hurtful to work bodies, than that which is hindred by degrees.

XI.

He who is surpriz'd uncloath'd at such time as a cool Air suc­ceeds a precedent heat, is wont to perspire less by about two pounds in one days space, yet without any sensible inconveni­ence to him.

XII.

A pleasant and somewhat cool breeze is more prejudicial to bo­dies well warmed, than the cold of Air and Water in an excessive degree: For the former does not render the body lighter, but obstructs and loosens it; but the latter obstructs and corrobo­rates it, and thence it comes that the bodies are less ponderous.

XIII.

When the unwholsome qua­lities of the Air and Water dis­pose bodies to a malignant pu­trefaction, their weight for the most part is but little heeded; as if this should be the reason of it, that by their corruption the nerves become stronger, as it is observ'd in distracted per­sons.

XIV.

To Swim in cold water after [Page 57]violent exercise is extreamly pleasant, but mortal: for there is nothing more pernicious than opposite motions.

XV.

That which treacherously disposes the entrails to indispo­sition, does not many times seem to be either heavy, or unpleasant.

XVI.

A pleasant gale of wind from the south surprizing a man at a violent exercise, is many times mortal; for the gale occasions a difficulty of breathing, and from the exercise proceeds acri­mony.

XVII.

It happens to those, who af­ter supper, are desirous of hav­ing a cooler gale of wind than is requisite, that the perspirati­on of that part which is not well cloath'd is obstructed: but [Page 58]that night or the next day, most of them are subject to a great aking of the head.

XVIII.

If bodies be suddenly shift­ed out of a warm air into a cool, they are injur'd; because they are rendred of greater weight than is requisite. If re­mov'd out of a cold air into a warm, they are also endam­mag'd, because they become less strong.

XIX.

Persons of weak constitutions make a greater conversion of the perspirable matter retain'd, into Urine, in the winter time; robust persons do the same in the summer.

XX.

Fanning obstructs perspirati­on, and makes the head more ponderous, and more hot.

XXI.

The wind, as it is colder than the skin, so is it ever obstructive and hurtful to it, but more than any part to the head, because it is most expos'd.

XXII.

In all seasons of the year ge­nerally, dry weather is more healthy than continual rains, for it renders mens bodies lighter.

XXIII.

In the summer time, tempe­rate bodies are less ponderous, than they are in winter, by a­bout three pounds.

XXIV.

In the summer time men are subject to weariness; not be­cause the body is more ponde­rous, but because it is less strong.

XXV.

In a warm air, the body is of less strength, as well by rea­son [Page 60]that with the perspiration there is somewhat of the better spirits exhal'd, as because the warmth is not concentrated.

XXVI.

There is alwayes by a warm air somewhat dispersed through the whole skin, which carries away with it somewhat of the internal good humour.

XXVII.

In the summer time we are troubled with heat, not prin­cipally proceeding from the warmth of the air, for every part of the body is warmer than the summer-air, but because there is not so much coldness in the summer-air, as that the natural heat may be sufficient­ly concentrated. Whence it comes to pass, that, being so dif­fus'd it cannot insensibly eva­cuate that perspirable matter [Page 61]which is of its own nature hot: which matter being kept in be­comes sharp, and is the cause of our being troubled with much heat.

XXVIII.

When mens bodies in the hot­test seasons, upon sleeping in the night or day time perspire abundantly, or sweat, they be­come lighter, and are not that day troubled with any heat.

XXIX.

If a cold Air immediately suc­ceed the Summer-heat, there will be occasion'd, for the most part, that day, the retention of about a pound of the insensible excrements.

XXX.

If the Summer prove like the Spring, so as that mens bodies may be reduc'd to the weight answerable to the Summer, it [Page 62]must be the effect of Sweat­ing.

XXXI.

At the beginning of Summer, if intense heat come of a sudden, weariness and faintness ensue, which do not continue long though the sultriness be en­creas'd for some daies after, be­cause the weight of the perspi­rable body is abated.

XXXII.

The same vigour is not so much concern'd in strugling with a lesser, as it is with a great­er weight of the body.

XXXIII.

Perspiration procur'd by the force of warm air or water, is hurtful, unless the malignancy of it be not ballanc'd by some greater benefit.

XXXIV.

Robust bodies perspire more [Page 63]in the Summer time, by day, in the Winter, by night.

XXXV.

That impediment of respira­tion which in the Summer-time is apt to be introductory to a malignant Feaver, does hardly in the winter-time cause the least alternation: for, in the summer, mens bodies are fill'd with a perspirable matter of a sharper nature, than they are in win­ter.

XXXVI.

To sleep in the Summer-time with the body uncover'd, or abroad in the open Air, does for the most part dispose it to putrefaction, by hindring the perspiration.

XXXVII.

The difficulty of respiration does not heat the entrails, un­less the perspirable matter be­come [Page 64]sharp by reason of its re­tention, or upon the account of external heat, or violent mo­tion.

XXXVIII.

In the Summer-time when cold does of a sudden succeed heat, the inconvenience of ex­cessive Venery is hardly per­ceiv'd: but if the Air reassume its former warmth, men are very sensible of the injury they have receiv'd by the precedent miscarriage.

XXXIX.

The injury men receive by the not-immoderate exercise of Venery is commonly ballanc'd by an equal benefit, if the heat be concentrated by the cool Air.

XL.

In the Summer-nights mens bodies are most dispos'd to Fea­vers, [Page 65]by reason of the vicissitude of the Air; for at the beginning of the night, the Air is enflam'd, but about midnight it is more temperate, and in the morning cool; whence it comes to pass, that the usual perspirable mat­ter is not evacuated in such as sleep with the Bed-cloaths off, and their bodies are more pon­derous; which happens not in winter.

XLI.

From the Autumnal Equi­nox to the Winter Solstice, we perspire every day much about a pound: from thence to the Spring-Equinox we begin to perspire more freely.

XLII.

Autumn is an unhealthy sea­son, as well by reason that the perspiration is obstructed by the cold then coming in, as for that [Page 66]what is not perspir'd becomes sharp, and corroding.

XLIII.

Autumnal indispositions are avoided, if the body be not of greater weight in Autumn than it had been in Summer.

XLIV.

That weight which is aug­mented by degrees, is to be a­bated by degrees.

XLV.

The more than usual weight of the body is not to be taken off in the Spring, but in Au­tumn; for the cold air then coming in is a greater enemy to the weight.

XLVI.

Thou wilt not be troubled with any disease in Autumn, if the cold weather then coming in find thee well furnish'd with cloaths, if thou use diureticks, [Page 67]and wilt be kept in the same weight as before.

XLVII.

He who is well cloath'd per­spires the better for it, and is rendered of less weight.

XLVIII.

They who in the Winter-time are commonly troubled with diseases proceeding from the a­bundance of humours, are to be purg'd in Autumn, and not in the Spring, and ought to be reduc'd to the weight they were of at the beginning of Summer.

XLIX.

But if the diseases proceed from some malignant quality, the bodies are to be purg'd in the Spring, and not in Autumn; for the malignancy of the quali­ty is more augmented in Sum­mer, than in Winter.

L.

They who at the beginning of the Spring devest themselves too soon, and in Autumn are backward in putting on their winter-garments, are, in Sum­mer, apt to fall into Feavers, and in Winter, to be troubled with distillations.

LI.

The retention of the perspi­rable matter, as it has a sharp quality, causes Feavers, and Erysipelas's; as to its redundan­cy, it causes Apostems, Distilla­tions, or an evil habit of the body.

LII.

External cold, by concentra­ting the heat, makes nature so much the stronger, by how much it is the more able to bear about two pounds of per­spirable matter unevacuated [Page 69]over and above its ordinary weight.

LIII.

At the beginning of winter, mens bodies are easily reduc'd to their usual weight; but in the beginning of Summer, it is with much ado that they are reduc'd to the Summer-weight.

LIV.

There would be an uninter­rupted healthfulness even to the extremity of age, if mens bodies were kept in an equal weight during the four seasons of the year.

LV.

Those bodies whose weights are much augmented and dimi­nished in the space of a year, are in great danger.

LVI.

The greater variety there is of the weight of any body in [Page 70]the space of a year; and the greater the augmentation or diminution of the blood is, so much the worse is the condition of that body.

LVII.

The augmentation of the weight happens at the begin­ning of Autumn, the diminution at the beginning of Summer.

LVIII.

Those bodies, whose weight is augmented, are in a more dangerous condition, than those whose weight is diminish'd.

LIX.

THose parts of the body which are cover'd do health­fully perspite; but if they be found uncover'd after sleep, their pores are condensated by even the warmest air.

LX.

That air, which is over cool, moist, or windy, obstructs per­spiration: whence it happens, that such as keep within doors, as for example Women, are not troubled with Co [...]hs, Ca­tarrhes, or inflammations of the lungs.

LXI.

The City air is worse than that of the Country; because it is more thick, and, not rari­fi'd by the wind, takes away the appetite.

Aphorism I.

IF the Stomach fill'd with meat does, while the body sleeps, compleat the first con­coction, the perspiration of that night does commonly amount to forty ounces; if it does not compleat it, it comes to but a­bout eighteen.

II.

If the Stomach be quite empty and fasting, though the [Page 74]party sleep, he does not per­spire above eighteen ounces.

III.

A full body, that does not concoct, perspires much about the same rate as one in a manner fasting, that has not any thing to concoct.

IV.

Meats that are very nourish­ing, mutton only excepted, from supper over night to din­ner the next day, do not usu­ally perspire above eighteen ounces.

V.

Many who feed plentifully on meats of little nourishment, may, in the space of one night, perspire above forty ounces.

VI.

Those aliments which con­tinue bodies in their usual weight are either those of very [Page 75]much nourishment, or such as cause obstinate crudities.

VII.

Those which continue them in their usual lightness are such as they are accustomed to, and easily evaporated.

VIII.

Mutton is easily concocted, and vaporous; for in a night's space it perspires one third part of a pound more than other meats, and such as a man is ac­customed to.

IX.

The meats which are made of leavened paste do not make bo­dies more ponderous, for they perspire more easily, than tur­neps.

X.

A healthy person does insen­sibly exhale as much in the space of one day, as he does by [Page 76]stool in a fortnight; nay though he once every day evacuate the concocted and consistent faeces.

XI.

The full Stomach, and the em­pty, diminish the perspiration; the full stomach diverts it, by the corruption of meats; the empty attracts it, that it may be fill'd.

XII.

When the full Stomach does not compleat the concoction, is discover'd by the weight; for then the body perspires less; but the empty stomach is fill'd with wind.

XIII.

Windiness is nothing else but an imperfect kind of perspirable matter.

XIV.

The robust person consumes his plentiful feeding by insensi­ble perspiration; one less robust, [Page 77]by urine; a weak person, for the most part, by the corrupti­on of the chyle.

XV.

When a man forbears supping, the stomach being empty, and no paroxysm pressing upon a man, there is a retention of the perspirable matter, and that be­ing retain'd becomes sharp, and thereupon the body is pre­par'd for hot distempers.

XVI.

That abstinence from meat which reduces mens bodies to a lesser weight, but withal such as is unusual to them, is hurtful.

XVII.

Why are there some that die of Hunger, if there be never any defect of blood in the liv­ing creature? Because the blood, making to the empty part of the belly, forsakes the heart.

XVIII.

Undigested meat, not only as to its quantity, but also as to its quality, makes the body more ponderous, inasmuch as it hinders Perspiration.

XIX.

When any one seems to him­self lighter than he is, and yet is not so, 'tis a very good sign; for this proceeds from the Juices of the three Concoctions exactly digested.

XX.

When there is a lightness and agility of the body felt for a whole day together, it argues there preceeded a concocti­on of the chyle and blood, and that the Dregs, as it were, of the third concoction are almost evacuated.

XXI.

Undigested meat, the more [Page 79]full of nourishment it is, is so much the worse, either because it causes a greater weight or a worse corruption.

XXII.

The body is rendred most light by the corruption of meat; for all the liquid excrements are of great weight.

XXIII.

The use of Swines-flesh, and Mushrooms is hurtful, as well because these do not perspire, as because they suffer not o­ther meats eaten with them to perspire.

XXIV.

Upon the eating of Swines-flesh and Mushrooms the body commonly perspires less than it is wont by a third part of a pound.

XXV.

Melons perspire so little, that [Page 80]they abate about a fourth part of the usual perspiration.

XXVI.

That retention of the perspi­ration caused by Melons is eva­cuated by Urine, or Sweating.

XXVII.

Grapes and green Figs per­spire but little, and somewhat hinder the perspiration of other meats; haply because they are sensibly evacuated.

XXVIII.

That kind of food does per­spire best of all, and convenient­ly nourishes, whose weight is not felt in the belly.

XXIX.

Plentiful feeding is more hurt­ful in a sedentary and idle per­son, than in one that is employ'd; for the entrails are made heavy by rest, but are eas'd of their weight by exercise.

XXX.

The body perspires best after that meat, whose faeces are emit­ted in a certain consistency.

XXXI.

Chickens-flesh shall be of less nourishment than a Lettice, if a man eat so plentifully thereof, as that it cannot be evacuated otherwise than by the way of liquid faeces.

XXXII.

By ponderation you will find out when fasting conduces to your Health, and when it does not: it will be healthful, if there be any thing of the precedent day's refection left to be per­spir'd, if there be not, it will be unhealthful.

XXXIII.

When the body is reduc'd by diet to a weight below the lesser standard of its healthy weight, [Page 82]what it loses of its strength is irrecoverable. But that there is a lesser and greater weight in reference to Health, you will find by the LXIV. Aphorism of the first Section, and by the XL. of this third.

XXXIV.

If thou canst but find out eve­ry day what quantity of meat is convenient for thee, thou wilt know how to preserve thy vi­gour and life a long time, and that thou wilt discover by the same Aphorism.

XXXV.

The strength of nature is not a little impair'd, when a man's supper amounts sometimes to four pound, sometimes to six.

XXXVI.

That is the most healthful proportion of meat, when after eating, the body performs what­ever [Page 83]it has to do with the same agility, as if it were fasting.

XXXVII.

The body also is much more burthen'd by eight pounds of meat eaten in a day at one meal, than by ten pounds taken in the same space of time at three se­veral meals.

XXXVIII.

That quantity of meat is the most wholsom for every man, which may without any trouble be overcome by the concoctive faculty; and that is done, if so much be consum'd as is re­ceiv'd into the body; for these things will be discover'd by ponderation.

XXXIX.

That quantity of meat is to be receiv'd into the body, which nature is able to concoct, digest, and perspire.

XL.

If nature could digest a hundred pound weight of meat, and there be given but ninety nine pounds, the animal would upon that account be destroy'd in process of time.

XLI.

Then will meats of good nu­triment and juice promise thee a long continuance of health, when the quantity of perspira­tion is in the mean, between excess and defect: The excess, after a plentiful supper of meats of easy perspiration commonly amounts, in the space of one night, to forty ounces or there­abouts, the defect but to four­teen. That proportion there­fore of meat, which will bring thee to two and twenty ounces, which is the mean between the other two, will promise thee [Page 85]infallible health and long life.

XLII.

The opinion of Celsus is not safe for all persons, to wit, that in the use of the six not natural things, men ought sometimes to be sparing, and sometimes to exceed.

XLIII.

Bodies are with less trouble reduc'd to their usual weight, if men take four pounds of meat at dinner, and four at supper, observing a convenient interval, than if they take six at dinner and two at supper.

XLIV.

That person destroyes himself by degrees, who eats once a day besides his ordinary meals, whether he eat little or much.

XLV.

The body is made more pon­lerous by four ounces of meat [Page 86]that is of much nutriment, such as Pork, Eeles, and all fat things, than by six ounces of meat that is of little nourishment, such as are small Fishes, Chickens, small Birds; and the like.

XLVI.

If there be any difficulty in the concoction of meat which is of littl [...] nourishment, it will happen only in the first concocti­on; but if there be a difficulty in the concoction of meat of much nutriment, it will happen in all the concoctions.

XLVII.

Meat of little nutriment moi­stens and loosens the belly, is soon digested, and readily pro­motes the perspiration of men whether sleeping or waking.

XLVIII.

Meat of much nutriment binds the belly, if it be no [...] [Page 87]corrupted, is of difficult con­coction, and perspires little.

XLIX.

Where there is a difficulty of concoction, there is but a slow perspiration.

L.

Not that meat which is fluid, but that which is of better juice ought to be eaten first; for the Pylorus, or Stomach-gut, is not at the bottom, in men, as it is in Dogs

LI.

Three inconveniences are con­sequent to mens feeding on va­riety of meats; there is an ex­cess of eating, the concoction is less, and the perspiration less.

LII.

The time of least perspira­tion is, when the stomach is full, especially with variety so meats.

LIII.

They who vomit up their sup­per do immediately remove the pain of their stomach, but the next morning, they feel their bodies more ponderous: for vomiting diverts perspiration, by attracting the perspirable matter to the inward parts; which matter, upon the score of its being sharp causes lassitude and heat, upon that of its re­dundancy, it causes heaviness.

LIV.

That person, who eats more than is requisite, is nourish'd less than is requisite.

LV.

They who in their youth are immoderate in their diet, make the Stomach larger than it should be, whence it comes to pass, that it proves a hard mat­ter to reduce them afterwards to a moderate diet.

LVI.

If any one be desirous to be reduc'd to a moderate diet, let him use food of little nutriment, and so the Stomach soon disbur­thening it self of it, will be con­tracted, and reduc'd to a less capacity.

LVII.

You will find what quantity of meat you should eat, if for several daies together you ob­serve that the body after sleep is without any trouble, reduc'd to the same weight.

LVIII.

If after a plentiful supper the body be of less weight the next day, it happens either by rea­son of the corruption of the meat, or because nature is stir'd up to expel that which is be­neficial, which is extreamly hurtfull: for the body is pre­par'd [Page 90]for diseases when those things which are beneficial are evacuated, and crudities kept within the body.

LIX.

If a man's supper amount to eight pounds, and what he has eaten be corrupted in the stomach, the next day the body will be of less weight, than if the supper had been of three pounds, and the meat had not been corrupted.

LX.

Those meats that are most con­ducive to perspiration are not corrupted, nay after watching whole nights, they keep a man from weariness and heaviness.

LXI.

Meats not apt to perspire are wont to cause obstructions, cor­ruptions, lassitude, pensiveness, and ponderosity.

LXII.

Then is a living creature in the worst condition, when after the concoction is compleated, the body seems to be more bur­thensome than ordinary, while yet it is of less weight.

LXIII.

If any one has been excessive in eating or drinking, and there ensue thereupon such sensible evacuations as are greater than usual, the body is, next day, lighter than usual.

LXIV.

Liquid meats, supposing an equality as to quantity, are more ponderous than the solid: the liquids go to the bottom, the solid keep on the top: a cup of wine, or mess of Broath is of more weight, than a whole loaf.

LXV.

If excess in drinking make the Eies as't were full of tears, it is a sign the body has not per­pir'd as much as it should have done.

LXVI.

If after much drinking, you sweat, or urine much, it is an ar­gument of either great strength or great weakness.

LXVII.

The drinking of cold water obstructs insensible perspiration, but augments the sensible.

LXVIII.

In these our daies, Drinking, even in temperate persons, is dis­proportionate: for men eat com­monly after the rate of twelve Ounces, but drink, after that of forty, and above.

LXIX.

In a man of moderate diet, [Page 93]the nocturnal perspiration some­times amounts to three pound; in a person who feeds plentiful­ly, the stomach being empty be­fore, and strong, it may amount to five pounds.

LXX.

If a body be in its standard of greater weight, fasting is be­neficial to it, if in its mean, it is hurtful, if in its lesser weight, it is much more hurtful.

LXXI.

If after long fasting the body be plentifully fed, the perspira­tion amounts to a pound more than it usually does.

LXXII.

To eat immediately after im­moderate exercise of body or mind, is hurtful; for the wea­ried body perspires with some difficulty.

LXXIII.

When sober persons and such as are moderate in their diet die betimes, their friends wonder at the strangeness of it, because they know nothing of insensible perspiration.

LXXIV.

Excess of meat and drink does not only keep the acrimony of the perspirable matter which is retain'd lurking in the body, but also the deprav'd affections of the parts, especially of those that are not the principal, and that for a long time; which af­fections, when the bodies are purg'd, or brought low by much fasting, break forth of a sudden, and turn into violent distempers.

LXXV.

That Physician who is to re­gulate the diet of Princes, if he [Page 95]be ignorant, how much, and when they daily perspire, de­ludes, and does not cure them, and if he do them any good, it is by chance.

LXXVI.

For about the space of four hours after meat, most people do hardly perspire a pound, thence to the ninth hour, two pound, from the ninth to the sixteenth, hardly a pound.

LXXVII.

Then is it the proper time to take refection, when the body shall be reduc'd to that weight, yet healthful, which it was of a little before the party had eaten the day before. And this only Apollo himself shall find out without the Ballance.

LXXVIII.

But if the unusual weight of the over-night's drinking be not [Page 96]taken off, either by the strength of the concoctive faculty, or by corruption the next day, take the advice of these two verses.

LXXIX.

If the healthful weight of the body, after supper, amount to two hundred pound weight, the body being rendred less healthful by immoderate vene­ry shall weigh about a hundred [Page 97]ninety eight pounds, because that remission of vigour is the hindrance, why two pounds of the aliments cannot, at least without some trouble or an­guish, be converted into the healthful weight.

LXXX.

Meat of easy perspiration does more easily, and with much less trouble recruit the wasted strength of those who use vene­ry, than does that of difficult perspiration, or of much nu­triment.

LXXXI.

New Wine, though some­what muddy, if it be concocted in the Stomach, does not only perspire it self, but very much promotes the perspiration of other meats. This quality also have those hot things that are flatulent.

LXXXII.

Onions, Garlick, Mutton, Pheasants, but above all the Cy­renaick juice promote the per­spiration of meats not easily per­spirable.

LXXXIII.

A Very small quantity of food is not imbrac'd by the Stomach. Thence comes it, that it is not concocted, it does not nourish, it does not perspire.

LXXXIV.

Insensible perspiration is an excrement of the third con­coction; [Page 99]if therefore the first concoction be not performed, neither will the third.

LXXXV.

If that quantity of food which amounts to about four pound be hurtful, taken all at once in a day, the same quan­tity divided into two or three meals may be healthful: the repletion of the belly diverts insensible evacuation.

LXXXVI.

The inconveniencies attend­ing extraordinary fasting are these, the Head is fill'd with humours, the Temples beat, the Hypochondries are dilated, and a weariness of the arms & thighs.

LXXXVII.

That emptiness of the Sto­mach which is occasion'd by the scantiness of meat, is greater than that which is occasion'd by [Page 100]Physick; which Latter does indeed excite sensible evacuati­on, but diverts the insensible.

LXXXVIII.

In Phlegmatick constitutions, if the Stomach be empty in the morning, by reason of their not having supp'd the night before, dry food is very beneficial, such as bisket.

LXXXIX.

No man will fall into any disease, if he carefully provide that he be not troubled with crudities.

XC.

It is safer for aged persons to take their refection thrice in a day, as Antiochus did, than twice, or to eat much at once; for it much obstructs perspi­ration.

XCI.

Why did not Antiochus eat [Page 101]Fish at supper? Because they hinder perspiration: After sleep perspiration is very good, which not performed, there is a remis­sion of strength and vigour.

XCII.

The coldness and clamminess of the juice of cucumbers is kept in the veins, nay other unwholsome juices though of easy concoction, by obstructing the perspiration, cause malig­nant Feavers.

XCIII.

Why does the corruption of meat cause weariness? Because it diverts perspiration. But how? Because it causes the coeliack disease. But why does the coeliack disease cause wea­riness? Because there comes out along with the excrements some­what of the former well con­cocted meat.

XCIV.

If any one goes with a tyr'd body to supper, or to wash himself, there ensues, immediat­ly after sleep, a certain chilness over the body, and weariness; yet about twelve hours after supper, all is well again; be­cause then the concoction and perspiration is good.

XCV.

Meat after violent exercise is hurtful, as well by reason it is not embrac'd, as that it diverts Perspiration.

XCVI.

He who goes to supper with a disturbed mind, digests much less than another, who is undi­sturb'd and cheerful.

XCVII.

Drinking between dinner and supper is hurtful: but if we drink so much the less at [Page 103]supper, the hurtfulness is taken off.

XCVIII.

Vomiting after supper weak­ens a man, not only upon this score, that it voids the aliment, but also because it diverts per­spiration.

XCIX.

If a man exceed in meat and drink once or twice in a month, though he does not sensibly eva­cuate the next day, yet he weighs less than usual.

C.

He who confines himself to a regular diet, wants the conve­niences of those persons, who exceed once or twice a month: for the expulsive faculty being stirr'd up by redundancy excites so great a perspiration, as with­out Staticks no body would be­lieve.

CI.

In a cold body, hony is good, because it nourishes and per­spires; in a hot, it is hurtful, because it turns into choler.

CII.

Nothing more obstructs per­spiration, than for a man to drink while the chyle is prepar­ing.

CIII.

The Liver does not attract the chyle, by reason of its cool­ness, much less does it expel the perspirable matter.

CIV.

In a healthy man, if the belly be loose, it either happens through some defect in the con­coction, or the distribution of the chyle, by reason of the ob­struction of perspiration.

CV.

There are two things ex­treamly [Page 105]prejudicial to good health, viz. to give up the bo­dy wholly to a slothful repose, and to eat, before the concoction of what had been eaten before.

Aphorism I.

UNdisturbed sleep is so great a promoter of Per­spiration, that, in the space of seven hours, fifty ounces of the concocted perspirable matter do commonly exhale out of strong bodies.

II.

A man sleeping the space of seven hours is wont, insensibly, healthfully, and without any vi­olence, to perspire twice as much as one awake.

III.

That perspiration of a sleep­ing person, which is attended with much sweating, is not more plentiful, than any kind of in­sensible Perspiration, without sweating.

IV.

After a good night's rest, the body is felt of less weight, as well by reason of the augmen­tation of strength, as by that of the exhalation of at the least about three pounds of excre­ments.

V.

Disturbed sleep does com­monly obstruct one third part [Page 108]of a pound of the usual Perspi­ration.

VI.

In undisturbed rest, the Per­spiration is sometimes greater, allowing the same proportion of time, than in violent exer­cise.

VII.

In the morning-sleep, but af­ter the compleating of the first concoction, a pound of the per­spirable Excrements do com­monly exhale in the space of one hour, but if it be not com­pleated, there is not a fourth part exhal'd.

VIII.

Those things which hinder sleeping do also obstruct the Perspiration of the concocted perspirable matter.

IX.

Short sleeping proceeds from [Page 109]the acrimony of the perspirable matter, which is not evacuat­ed; but the retention of the perspirable matter is common­ly occasion'd, by Nature's be­ing more than usually employ'd about some other internal functi­ons.

X.

The acrimony of the perspir­able matter which is retain'd, very often ascends up to the head, disturbs sleep, and di­verts the perspiration of the su­periour parts.

XI.

If any one, after sleep, feels a kind of pain in his armes, or imagines them more than usual­ly wearied, it is an argument that the body is of greater weight, than nature can long endure.

XII.

They who sleep with their [Page 110]feet and legs uncover'd, are depriv'd of as much perspirati­on as may amount to a pound in the space of one night.

XIII.

A continual agitation of the body in bed is more disturbant than swift running; for in the motion of a person running, the muscles only of the inferiour parts are mov'd, in that of a person lying along, the muscles of the whole body in a manner are in motion.

XIV.

Perspiration is more obstruct­ed in persons sleeping, by a cool southerly gale of wind, than it is in persons awake by a great cold.

XV.

If the night's rest be less than usual, there is a diminution in the exhalation of the conco­cted [Page 111]perspirable matter, but the perspiration of crudities is augmented.

XVI.

After meats of easy perspi­ration mens bodies are rendred rather weak than weighty; but after those of difficult per­spiration, they become both weak and weighty.

XVII.

The perspiration occasion'd by sleep differs in species from that which comes by vigilance; the former implies the evacua­tion of concocted perspirables without acrimony, and with a recruiting of the strength; the latter, that of crudities, and is sharp, violent, and with some dif­ficulty.

XVIII.

A person sleeping perspires twice as much as one waking. [Page 112]Thence came that remarkable saying, Two hours of rest in a person awake are but equiva­sent to one of sleep.

XIX.

I have found by experience, that in the space of seven hours, the insensible perspirati­on, in a person sleeping, as to many, amounted to about forty ounces; in one awake, but to twenty.

XX.

He who goes to bed with an empty Stomach perspires that night about a third part less than he is wont to do.

XXI.

Persons of a cholerick con­stitution who go to bed with a stomach quite empty, have these inconveniencies; the belly and head are fill'd with crudities, their temples beat their flesh [Page 113]wastes away, they are troubled with vehement stretchings a­bout the armes and hands, sometimes a heart-burning, or corrosion of the mouth of the Stomach, vertigo's and epile­psies; as it happen'd to Diodo­rus.

XXII.

After a perspiration greater than we are wont to have, a more plentiful supper promises a longer and founder sleep.

XXIII.

A less than the usual perspira­tion is the foreteller of disturb­ed sleep, and a troublesom night.

XXIV.

If after a short and unquiet sleep, the flesh be found cold, and that thereupon a feverish fit succeeds, in weak persons it commonly presignifies death, [Page 114]in strong, a long continuance of sickness.

XXV.

By change of lodging sleep is disturbed, and the perspi­ration is less. For unwonted things, though better, are pre­judicial to body and mind.

XXVI.

Men dream more in a bed they are not accustom'd to, than in that they constantly ly in.

XXVII.

They who sleep and do not dream perspire well, and so on the contrary.

XXVIII.

Sleep about four hours after meat is best; for then nature is least employ'd about the first concoction, it better recruits what was lost, and more pro­motes perspiration.

XXIX.

If about five hours after sup­per you weigh a person just a­wak'd out of his sleep, you will find that he hardly perspir'd a pound; if it be done eight hours after sleep, you will find that he has perspir'd three pound.

XXX.

If a mans sleep be shorter than it is wont to be, there is some­what of the perspiration ob­structed, which if it be not re­pair'd in the subsequent daies by a more plentiful perspiration, there is some danger of a Feaver.

XXXI.

If there be a retention of any part of the usual perspiration, the next day, or after dinner, we are overcome with sleep, and in an hours space perspire a­bout a pound: or the night fol­lowing, [Page 116]lowing, our sleep is so much the longer, the more expedient it was that we should perspire more than usually; otherwise we fall into a sensible crisis, or into a disease.

XXXII.

Oscitation, and the stretch­ing of the joints after sleep de­note that the body has perspir'd very well, as it is related of Cocks, smiting themselves with their wings before they crow.

XXXIII.

The oscitations and extensi­ons of the joints and limbs, which happen immediately af­ter sleep, are rais'd out of the plenty of perspirables excel­lently well prepar'd for eva­cuation.

XXXIV.

Mens bodies perspire more in half an hours space, by yawn­ing, [Page 117]gaping, and stretching out of the body, than in three hours of any other time.

XXXV.

They who administer syrups, or other medicines to sick per­sons during the time of their best perspiration, which is com­monly for the space of two hours after sleep, injure them; but in the subsequent hours they do them good.

XXXVI.

In Paroxysmes, or any great fits of sickness, gaping and stretching of the body signify the concentration of the heat, but the evacuation of a great quantity of acrimonious perspi­ble matter that had been re­tain'd.

XXXVII.

In an hours sleep at noon, after meat, mens bodies com­monly [Page 118]evacuate sometimes a pound, sometimes half a pound of excrements insensibly perspi­rable; a pound, if there be ought retain'd of the precedent day's perspiration; half a pound, if nothing.

XXXVIII.

If ought of the precedent day's Perspiration be retain'd, and that it be not evacuated by sleeping at noon, immediate­ly after Sleep, there is felt a great heaviness of the head, and a very afflictive pain.

XXXIX.

If within four hours after sleep the meat a man has eat­en be corrupted, immediately these two inconveniences mu­tually consequent one to the o­ther will follow, to wit, an ob­struction of Perspiration, and Watching.

XL.

There is no cause does more frequently interrupt sleep, than the corruption of a man's meat. This is caus'd by the Sympathy there is between the Stomach, and the Brain.

XLI.

Sleep is better in Winter, than in Summer, not because men's bellies are hotter, or their sleep longer, but because before day-light their bodieis are a­ctually hotter, and as such are apt to perspire very much, whereas in Summer they are more cold.

XLII.

Purity of discourse, and agi­lity of body after sleep are in­dications, that the body has perspir'd that night commonly at least three pound.

XLIII.

Lightness of the head after sleep at noon, denotes that there had not been any thing re­tain'd of the precedent day's Perspiration.

XLIV.

Sleep moistens all the exter­nal, and internal parts, because it attenuates the perspirable matter, and being so attenuat­ed it disperses it into all the members.

XLV.

Vigilance stirs from the cen­tre to the circumference that blood which is less prepar'd for Perspiration than it is in such as are asleep.

XLVI.

By Sleep the humours are concentrated, the influent heat is united to the innate, thirst is taken away, unless Choler be [Page 121]predominant, there is a conver­sion made of the blood into the second moistures, and the bodies become lighter.

XLVII.

By Sleep the animal spirits languish; by Vigilance, the vi­tal and natural spirits lan­guish.

XLVIII.

By Vigilance the animal spi­rits are corroborated, but the vital and natural languish.

XLIX.

By Sleep the internal parts are more heated, and are also made more light. By Vigilance the external parts are made more hot, and also more light.

L.

By too much sleep the inter­nal and external parts grow cold, the humours are forcibly crowded in, and made imper­spirable, [Page 122]and the bodies are ren­dred more ponderous.

LI.

Cholerick bodies are ex­treamly prejudiced by excessive sleeping, not because the excre­ments of the third concoction are made imperspirable, but because they become extream sharp, and are afterwards noxious to the head and other entrails.

LII.

In persons sleeping with the bed cloaths cast off, perspirati­on is more obstructed than it is in persons awake who have no cloaths on; as well by reason of the quiet posture of such as are asleep, as also for that the heat of the external parts re­treats inward.

LIII.

A more than usual watching [...]enders men's bodies, during [Page 123]the first subsequent days after it, more ponderous, and more weak. They are more ponde­rous, because after the evacua­tion of the perspirable excre­ments there is left behind a cer­tain juice, which, of it self, is crude, and, by accident, ponde­rous; they are weaker, be­cause where there is any cru­dity, there is no conversion made, and consequently the strength is impair'd.

LIV.

If after immoderate watch­ing a man sleep seven hours, the Perspiration will be more than usual, by about a pound.

LV.

Continued watching renders mens bodies more ponderous, not by reason of the greater Perspiration, or sensible evacu­ation, but because the recruit [Page 124]of fat and flesh is not answera­ble to what had been wasted.

LVI.

In the morning the body both is, and is felt less ponde­rous; it is so, because by the precedent sleep three pound of perspirable excrements were e­vacuated; it is so felt, not on­ly because it is lighter, but also in regard that by the concocti­on of the meats that were easily perspirable, there is an augmen­tation of strength.

LVII.

A man's body may become more ponderous by unusual watching, if the meat, where­with it is fed, be unfit for perspi­ration.

LVIII.

There is so plentiful an exha­lation of the body in persons steeping, that not only the sick [Page 125]lying with the sound, but also the sound among themselves do mutually communicate their good or evil dispositions.

LIX.

AFter meat sleep; after sleep concoction; after concocti­on, transpiration is best.

LX.

Diacydonium, or Marmalet, not taken immediately after supper but after the first sleep, excites sleep, provided there be nothing drunk after it.

LXI.

Diacydonium, or Marmalet, taken with a little Cinnamon [Page 126]strengtheneth the stomach; and that being strengthened, sleep alwaies follows.

LXII.

A small quantity of Generous Wine and Garlick cause sleep and perspiration, but if a man take more than is requisite, they obstruct both; however they convert the perspirable matter into sweating.

LXIII.

That man will doubtless come to a great age, who does daily concoct and digest well; con­coction is caus'd by sleep and rest; digestion by vigilance and exercise.

LXIV.

If the weariness ensuing after sleep be taken off by usual ex­ercise, the defect was in the di­gestion, and not in the concocti­on,

LXV.

When we rise from sleep with our usual weight, but with great­er unweildiness, if it be not taken off by our accustomed exercise, it signisies an accumulation of crudities, corruption of meat, or immoderate coition.

LXVI.

Unusual sleeping at noon is hurtful to all the entrails, and checks perspiration.

LXVII.

Weariness or unweildiness af­ter sleep is taken off by those things which facilitate perspi­ration: These are abstinence, exercise, vigilance, and anger.

LXVIII.

If the body lie loose and flat, sleep is hurtful; if it be con­tracted, it is good: the entrails lying close and compacted toge­ther havean easy concoction, but [Page 128]when they are loose by one's ly­ing at length, they have a dif­ficult concoction.

LXIX.

If in sound persons, a cold sweat ensue after sleep, it argues they perspire less than they should do, and in process of time, if the same thing happens, they are troubled with the Gout.

LXX.

By immoderate sleep, and ex­cessive drinking of Wine the strength is suffocated; by ex­cessive vigilance and exercise, it is dissolved: all these dimi­mishconcoction, and that dimi­nish'd, there is a stoppage of re­quisite perspiration.

Aphorism I.

THE occult perspiration of a mans body is less, in violent motion, than it is in the morning, nine or ten hours from the time he had supp'd.

II.

That which is evacuated in [Page 130]violent motion by the pores is sweat, and an occult perspira­ble matter: but, as it is vio­lent, it is rais'd for the most part out of unconcocted juices: for it seldom happens that there should be so great a collection of concocted perspirable matter in the body, as is evacuated by violence.

III.

Sweating alwaies proceeds from a violent cause, and as such (as statical experiments make it appear) it obstructs the occult evacuation of concocted per­spirable matter.

IV.

The body perspires much more lying quietly in bed, than turning from one side to ano­ther by frequent agitation.

V.

Chearful and angry persons [Page 131]are less wearied by long travel­ling, than the fearful and pen­sive: for the former perspire more healthfully, but the other, less.

VI.

Those bodies which are ad­mitted to refection after immo­derate exercise, receive much prejudice; because, as they are wearied and burthen'd with meat, they perspire less.

VII.

Exercise from the seventh hour to the twelfth after re­fection, does insensibly dissolve more in the space of one hour, than it does in three hours at any other time.

VIII.

Insensible evacuation after violent exercise obstructs the successive recruiting of that which is wasted: nay if the [Page 132]same violence should continue, the body will be rendred so light, that in many there would be some danger of a future con­sumption.

IX.

By exercise mens bodies are made lighter: for all the parts, especially the muscles and li­gaments are cleans'd from excre­ments by motion, the perspira­ble matter is prepar'd for exha­lation, and the spirits are made more tenuious, or subtil.

X.

Motion prepares bodies for the evacuation of sensible and insensible excrements; rest does it rather for that of the insen­sible only.

XI.

If the body lye quietly in the bed after supper for the space of ten hours, it shall perspire [Page 133]excellently well: if it rest there yet somewhat longer, there follows immediately a diminu­tion of both sensible and insen­sible evacuation.

XII.

Long rest renders indispos'd bodies more weighty, as well in regard the perspirable excre­ments are prepar'd for evacua­tion by motion, as also for that the meat and drink, if such as the patient is not accustom'd to, or more in quantity than is requi­site, are not digested; and thence proceed all inconveniences, and many times death.

XIII.

If a person who has kept his bed long be troubled with pain in the feet, the remedy is walk­ing; if one that is upon a jour­ney be so troubled, the remedy is rest.

XIV.

There are two kinds of ex­ercises, one of the body, the other of the mind: that of the body evacuates the sensible ex­crements; that of the mind the insensible rather, and espe­cially those of the heart and brain, where the mind is seated.

XV.

An excessive rest of the mind does more obstruct perspiration, than that of the body.

XVI.

The exercises of the mind which most conduce to the cheering up of the spirits, are anger, sudden joy, fear, and sorrow.

XVII.

Mens bodies resting in bed, and agitated with a vehement motion of the mind, for the most part become more faint, [Page 135]and less ponderous, than if there be a tranquillity of mind, with a violent motion of the body, as it happens at Tennice, or any game at Ball.

XVIII.

By immoderate exercise the excrements of the first and se­cond concoction are for the most part dispers'd through the compass of the whole body, and therefore the belly is hard­ned: yet are the bodies made lighter, because the insensible evacuation is much greater than the excretion of the sen­sible excrements made by the belly.

XIX.

Violent exercise of mind and body renders bodies of lighter weight, hastens old age, and threatens untimely death: for, according to the Philosopher, [Page 136]those persons that are exercis'd dye sooner than such as are not.

XX.

Violent exercise takes off from a body fill'd with meat or crude humours a less than usual weight of the sensible excre­ments; of the insensible, almost nothing at all.

XXI.

By exercise the body per­spires less, by sleep, more, and the belly is more loosned.

XXII.

Frictions and cupping-glasses, in bodies full of crudities, ob­struct perspiration.

XXIII.

Then is exercise most whol­some; when, after the com­pleating of the first and second concoction, the body is reduc'd twice in a day, before meat, to its usual weight.

XXIV.

Swimming immediately after violent exercise, is hurtful; for it very much obstructs perspi­ration.

XXV.

Violent exercise in a place where the wind blows is hurt­ful.

XXVI.

From the wind proceeds a dif­ficulty of respiration, from the motion, acrimony.

XXVII.

Riding relates more to the perspirable matter of the parts of the Body from the waste up­wards, than downwards: but in riding the amble is the most wholsom, the trot the most unwholsom pace.

XXVIII.

Waftage in Sedan or Horse-litter, as also going by water, [Page 138]does not so much dispose bo­dies to due perspiration, as walking.

XXIX.

The motion of a Boat and Litter, if it be continu'd long, is most wholsom; for then on­ly it does wonderfully dispose the body to due perspiration.

XXX.

Riding in a Coach or Cha­riot is the most violent of any way: for it does not only cause the unconcocted perspirable matter to exhale out of the body, but also offends the so­lid parts of the body, and par­ticularly the Reins.

XXXI.

Leaping does at first attract the strength inwards, then im­petuously forces it to the exter­nal parts, and with a certain violence expells the concocted [Page 139]matter, together with the un­concocted

XXXII.

The exercise of the Top, consisting of moderate and vio­lent motion, to wit walking and the agitation of the Arms, pro­motes perspiration.

XXXIII.

Moderate dancing, without any capering or jumping, comes near the commendation of mo­derate walking; for it moderate­ly expels the concocted perspi­rable matter.

XXXIV.

WHen there is a defect of perspiration in sound bodies, it is remedy'd by exercise.

XXXV.

By immoderate exercise the Fibres are hardned, whence fol­lowes old age, which is an uni­versal hardness of the Fibers: this hardness, by condensating the passages obstructs the heat; softness, by keeping them open, causes length of life.

XXXVI.

He who would have a youthful face long, let him a­void sweating, or perspiring too much through heat.

Aphorism I.

TOO great abstinence from Venery, and the im­moderate use of it obstruct per­spiration; but the immoderate use of it does more obstruct it.

II.

After immoderate coition, the fourth part of the usual per­spiration is commonly obstruct­ed in most persons.

III.

The mischiefs occasion'd by immoderate Coition do medi­ately depend on the hindrance of Perspiration, immediately on the hurt done to the concoctive faculties.

IV.

We find that Coition hath done good, if after the subse­quent sleep, there be no weari­ness felt, nor any alteration be made of the body, as to Gravity or Levity.

V.

The continual thoughts of venereous persons do sometimes make their bodies heavier, sometimes lighter; heavier, if they give way to them upon a full Stomach; lighter, if upon an empty one.

VI.

After immoderate Coition [Page 143]with a woman whom a man had long desir'd to enjoy, weariness is not presently felt: for the satisfaction of the mind does then promote the Perspiration of the heart, and augments its strength; whence it comes, that, in such a person, what is lost is the sooner recruited.

VII.

If those persons who have a great inclination to Venery, do forbear the exercise of it, there presently follows an agility of body, because such perspire so much the better.

VIII.

Immoderate coition oce si­ons the Perspiration of Crudi­ties, which afterwards causes a Chilness over the whole body.

IX.

These are the signs that coi­tion hath not been hurtful; [Page 144]Urine equally concocted as be­fore; Agility of body; a more easy Respiration, and the same weight of the body still conti­nuing; yet with an observance of the same diet, as to quanti­ty and quality.

X.

The present inconvenience of immoderate Coition is the Refrigeration of the Stomach; the consequent to that obstruct­ed Perspiration; whence pro­ceed Palpitations in the eye­brows, and Joints, and after­wards in the principal mem­bers.

XI.

Coition in the Summer is more hurtful than at other times, not by reason of the greater Perspiration of the bo­dy, but because the concoction being less, that which is lost [Page 145]is with greater difficulty recruit­ed.

XII.

In the act of Venery there is much crude matter perspir'd, and if it continue long, the cru­dities are transfer'd from the centre, to the Circumference of the body, obstructions ensue, and thereupon the belly be­comes costive

XIII.

The greater Propension a man has to the act of Venery, the less hurtful is the immode­rate exercise of it to him.

XIV.

The detriment of immode­rate Coition is particularly dis­cover'd after the subsequent sleep: for then it is found, by statical Experiments, that the Perspiration was obstructed, and the meat ill-digested, as [Page 146]also that the Stomach was much prejudic'd.

XV.

Coition is commonly hurtful to the first concoction, first by repressing the forwardness of Perspiration, afterwards by con­verting the meat into a crude quality.

XVI.

He who uses Coition, with­out any Emission of seed, is so much the less weakened. But if he again use the same exer­cise the next day, and emit what had been prepar'd the day before, he is so much the less weakened.

XVII.

They, who, in the time of Coition, purposely forbear the Emission of seed, are apt to be troubled with a swelling of the testicles: for the seed is imper­spirable.

XVIII.

Immoderate Coition, next to the Stomach, is prejudicial to the eyes.

XIX.

Immoderate Coition is hurtful to the sight, because it with­draws a very great plenty of spirits from the eyes, thence comes it that the Tunicles of the eyes become very hard and wrinkled, and the passages less pervious.

XX.

The Fibres of the Tunicles of the Eyes become more opake upon the diminution of perspi­ration; thence the sight is made through very small spaces, such as are those in lattices. Spe­ctacles unite the objects into a point, that they may be distinct­ly seen through one single space.

XXI.

By immoderate Coition, the natural heat is diminish'd, by the diminution of the heat, there comes a diminution of the Perspiration; from the di­minution of the Perspiration proceed Flatulency and Palpi­tation.

XXII.

Immoderate Coition requires little meat, and that of good nutriment.

XXIII.

Coition heats the liver and reins, because the excited heat exhales not: but it cools the stomach, the brain, and the heart, because it is wholly excited through the more open passages, and the innate heat is thereupon in some part dissolved.

XXIV.

Hence it comes, that immo­derate [Page 149]coition causes choler in the Liver; a painful aking in the Reins; a crude humour in the stomach; a catarrhe in the Brain; and palpitation and a syncope in the heart.

XXV.

If the meat a man eats after immoderate coition beget flatu­lency, as Oysters, and new wine, they are pernicious; for they hinder the body from being re­duc'd to its usual weight.

XXVI.

Coition is more hurtful to lean persons, because they are the more heated, and the more refrigerated.

XXVII.

Immoderate coition does im­mediately make the body more light, though it afterwards ob­struct perspiration; for it is a vehement motion of the body [Page 150]and mind; of the body, be­cause there is a concussion of all the members; of the mind, because that which makes a con­junction between the body and the mind is loosned, to wit, the vital spirit.

XXVIII.

If a disturbance in sleeping succeeds coition, the substracti­on made by coition is greater, than the addition of the vital spirit made by sleep.

XXIX.

After the immoderate use of Venery, sleep attracts crudities to the heart; the consequences whereof are a languishing faint­ness, an obstruction of perspi­ration, and augmentation of weight.

XXX.

Old men by the use of mo­derate coition become more [Page 151]ponderous and more cold; but young men more light, and more hot.

XXXI.

Coition, in young men, cor­roborates the Animal, vital, and natural heat; it drives out the Animal heat by motion, and ex­cites the sluggish natural heat by the evacuation of that which is superfluous, and the vital, by alacrity.

XXXII.

More plentiful feeding than is usual to a man, after immode­derate coition would destroy him, if there ensu'd not some corruption of the meat.

XXXIII.

When a man is to use coition, he should eat little or nothing; when he is to eat, he should be very moderate in coition, or quite forbear it.

XXXIV.

If after excessive coition there be no weariness felt, it is an ill sign. The case is the same as happens in distracted persons by the inflamed spirits, which by drying in a short space corro­borate the nerves and tendons, but a while after the generation of the spirits is abated, and the strength is immediately remit­ted.

XXXV.

COition excited by nature is good; excited by the mind is hurtful to the mind and memory.

XXXVI.

In weak persons the weight of the body is augmented by coition; because they perspire the less.

XXXVII.

Insatiable coition obstructs perspiration, because it abates the strength; whence the body becomes more ponderous, un­less a loosness of the belly en­sue.

XXXVIII.

Immoderate coition occasi­ons a great detriment, by calefaction and exsiccation: but if the heat be recruited by in­sensible perspiration, and the drought by aliment, none at all.

XXXIX.

The agitation of the body in coition, like that of Dogs, does, more hurt than the emission of [Page 154]the seed; for the latter wearies only the internal parts; the o­ther tires all the nerves and en­trails.

XL.

The use of coition after meat, and standing, is hurtful; after meat, it diverts the office of the entrails; standing, it diverts the muscles, and di­minishes their beneficial perspi­ration.

XLI.

After motion, coition is un­wholesome; after meat, not so much; after sleep, it is most wholesome of all.

XLII.

Coition heats the liver, and cools the stomach; from the stomach proceeds a crude moi­sture; from the liver, choler; whence proceeds that kind of choler which is called Porracea, [Page 155]being of a colour resembling that of a Leek. The remedy is, a slender diet, and a free per­spiration.

Aphorism I.

AMongst the affections of the mind, Anger and alacrity render mens bodies lighter; Fear and Sadness, more ponde­rous; And the rest of the affecti­ons operate answerably to their participation of these.

II.

In Grief and Fear that which is lighter perspires, but what is more ponderous is left behind; in Gladness and Anger there is a perspiration of both.

III.

Hence it comes to pass that such as are subject to Fear and Grief are apt to be troubled with obstructions, hardness of the parts, and hypochondriacal affections.

IV.

Such as are angry or joyful feel no weariness in travelling; for their bodies easily perspire the gross matter; which hap­pens not, when they are trou­bled with grief, or fear.

V.

The ponderous part of per­spirable matter, being more than usually retain'd in the bo­dy, [Page 158]disposes a man to sadness and fear; but the light part disposes him to gladness and an­ger.

VI.

Nothing contributes more to freedom of respiration, than sa­tisfaction and consolation of mind.

VII.

By sadness and fear the mem­bers most full of moisture are easily indurated.

VIII.

Grief and fear obstruct the perspiration of the gross perspi­rable excrements; and the ob­struction of perspiration, from what cause soever it proceeds, causes grief and fear.

IX.

Grief, if it continue long, brings a coldness on the flesh; for it hinders the exhalation of [Page 159]the gross portion of the perspi­rable matter.

X.

Hence it comes, that that feaver which a man falls into after much grief discovers it self in cold sweats, and those many times mortal.

XI.

The acrimony of the perspi­rable matter which is retain'd by the means of grief, is con­veniently taken off by alacrity: for pleasant humours are there­by diffus'd through the body, and thereupon ponderosity and acrimony are taken off from it.

XII.

Anger and hope take away fear, and joy taketh away sad­ness: for a passion of the mind is overcome, not by Medicines, but by some contrary passion: for contraries are under the same genus.

XIII.

It does not imply any con­tradiction, to affirm, that the retention of the perspirable matter in melancholy persons, is cold and acrimonious, or hot: such are the Livers of Hy­dropical persons who are in Feavers; to wit, they are cold in respect of the natural heat, and hot, in respect of the adven­titious.

XIV.

Diseases proceeding from me­lancholy and a close muddy air, agree in this, that they are immediately occasion'd by the grossness of the perspirable matter which is retain'd: For grief does intrinsecally obstruct the excretion of the gross mat­ter, and the muddy air does it extrinsecally.

XV.

They who carry grief along with them to their beds, per­spire so much the less that night; and the next day their bodies continue more than usually ponderous.

XVI.

In venereous meditations, the gross part of the perspirable excrements, is, with grief re­tain'd; which part, upon the evaporation of the subtile, be­comes yet more gross and more cold: If this be pent up to­gether, it causes an almost in­vincible coldness in the head, and a hardly curable palpitation in the heart, or other members.

XVII.

Melancholy is two ways o­vercome, either by a free per­spiration, or some continual sa­tisfaction of the mind.

XVIII.

If mens bodies become lighter after grief than after joy, it must of necessity happen either by reason of a less quantity of meat, or by that of their more transpirable quality.

XIX.

The consolation of the mind, from whatsoever cause it pro­ceeds, opens the passages, and very much promotes perspira­tion.

XX.

'f after anger there immedi­atey ensue some consolation of the mind; or the contrary hap­pen, mens bodies, allowing an equal proportion of aliment, are lighter the next day, than they would be if only anger or joy had continu'd.

XXI.

As there is a sudden period [Page 163]put to some great pleasure by a small evacuation of seed: so all other immoderate affections of the mind may be abated and taken off, by some evacuation of the perspirable matter.

XXII.

Fear and grief, as we find by statical experiments, are taken off by the evacuation of the gross perspirable excrements; anger and alacrity, by that of the tenuious.

XXIII.

If any one find himself in a merry jocund humour, without any cause, it proceeds from a greater freedom of perspiration, and his body will be found [...]he next day of less weight.

XXIV.

Moderate joy insensibly eva­cuates what is superfluous; im­moderate joy, both what is su­perfluous, [Page 164]and what is bene­ficial.

XXV.

Moderate joy assists the con­coctive faculties; for nature, not being burthen'd with that which is superfluous, does much better perform her functions.

XXVI.

Unexpected joy is more hurt­ful than that which is look'd for: For it does not only excite the evacuation of the excre­ments of the third concoction, but also the exhalation of the vital spirits; but the expected joy promotes only that of the excrements.

XXVII.

Joy and anger take off from the body what makes it more ponderous, and what renders it more light: Grief and fear take away only what makes it [Page 165]more light, but what makes it more ponderous is left behind.

XXVIII.

A continual gladness for ma­ny daies together hinders sleep, and renders a man weaker.

XXIX.

If any one, after moderate joy finds himself lighter, it does not proceed principally from the evacuation of the whole body, but from that of the heart and brain, whence what is evacuated is least of all, as to quantity, and greatest, as to vertue.

XXX.

Those aliments, which open and facilitate perspiration, pro­duce joy, those that obstruct it, grief.

XXXI.

Parsley, and other aliments that are opening, induce joy; [Page 166]Pulse, fat meat, and other things which incrassate, and presently fill the cavities of the passages, cause grief.

XXXII.

If the cavities of the pas­sages be evacuated, and after­wards presently fill'd, it was rightly said of Hippocrates, that evil passions of the mind are generated.

XXXIII.

To those who are subject to anger, immoderate exercise is very hurtful; for their passages are immediately empty'd, and with much violence are fill'd up again. Whence it came that Hippocrates forbad Cholerick persons to use frictions, and wrastling.

XXXIV.

In a person who uses no ex­ercise of body or mind, the [Page 167]passages are not empty'd, nor are there any evil passions of the mind contracted.

XXXV.

A body lying all along does perspire more, and becomes of less weight, if the mind be ve­hemently active, than if the bo­dy were in a very swift motion, and the mind were idle.

XXXVI.

The shifting of the body from one place to another makes a longer alteration of the body, than of the mind it self.

XXXVII.

The passions of the mind are concern'd about the internal subject, which rather moves, than is moved: inasmuch as it is least, as to quantity, and great­est, as to Vertue, like the sperm of man, and by the disposal there­of, [Page 168]in several manners is the o­rigine of Perspiration, or Pon­derosity, and Lightness.

XXXVIII

Those bodies which perspire more than usually, not occasi­on'd by any motion of the bo­dy, but through some vehement agitation of the mind, are with greater difficulty reduc'd to their usual and healthy Perspi­ration.

XXXIX.

An immoderate affection of the mind is more hurtful, than an immoderate motion of the body.

XL.

The body would pine away, and be destroy'd through idle­ness, were it not for the moti­on of the mind; but the con­trary cannot be affirm'd.

XLI.

A vehement motion of the [Page 169]mind differs from a vehement motion of the body; the latter is taken off by rest and sleep; the former by neither rest nor sleep.

XLII.

Let those forbear gaming whose thoughts are altogether upon winning; because if they always have good fortune, out of excessive joy, they will hard­ly sleep in the night, and, in time, will find the want of the exhalation of the concocted perspirable matter.

XLIII.

A moderate victory is more wholsome than a glorious one.

XLIV.

Study is longer endur'd in a vicissitude of the affections of the mind, than if it be without affection, or without any change of affections; for Perspiration [Page 170]becomes more moderate, and more wholsome.

XLV.

Study, without any affection, hardly endures an hour; with a­ny one affection, hardly four hours; with vicissitude of affe­ctions, as at Dice, at which kind of gaming men feel, one while, the joy for winning, another, sadness for losing, it may con­tinue night and day.

XLVI.

In all Study continual sad­ness disturbs the good consti­tution of the heart, and excess of gladness hinders sleep; for every excess is destructive to na­ture.

XLVII.

They who are sometimes merry, sometimes sad, some­times angry, sometimes timo­rous, have a more healthful [Page 171]perspiration, than they who continue in one and the same, though that a constantly-good affection.

XLVIII.

Gladness makes the Diastole and the Systole more easy; grief and sadness render them more difficult.

Aphorism I.

THE Staticomastix, while he attributes the cure of diseases to the position of the Heavens, Paralogizes, by as­signing a more common cause than he needed to have done.

II.

The fool first denies, yet af­terwards admits Staticks or Ponderation, affirming, that there is a diversity of weight [Page 173]in a guilty person, and an inno­cent. In like manner, he first denies that the spirits of Swine are light; and afterwards he would have their getting up to any place to proceed from the lightness of their spirits.

III.

He who is experienc'd in Sta­ticks, knows the weight of the excrements, though he neither see them, nor weigh them. He weighs the body before, and a­gain, after all evacuation; what is deficient is their weight: And so 'tis no unseemly thing to weigh the excrements, as the Trifler affirms.

IV.

No Student in Physick, be­sides the fool himself, but knows, that the vital faculty is diffus'd into the Arteries, and the animal into the nerves, [Page 174]by raies, and not by spirits; as he imagines.

V.

The fool thinks that light­ness, as to the ballance, in li­ving bodies, proceeds from the plenty of spirits; it seems he never knew, that dead bodies are lighter than the living, and that living bodies, after coition, weigh less.

VI.

He belies the Author, affirm­ing that the faculty of moving bodies upwards is no other than the spirits themselves; whereas the Author affirms, that the spirits are inanimate, and that they gravitate more than air.

VII.

He is out again, when he af­firms that mens bodies are cold­er in the night time; therefore [Page 175]they perspire little, or nothing. Nor did he ever observe, that the pulse and nocturnal perspi­ration are signs of a more hot body.

VIII.

The fool thinks that living bodies are lighter than the dead; never having taken no­tice, that Butchers, Fish-mon­gers, and such as deal in Swine, when they sell the living, make a deduction of ten pounds in the hundred weight.

IX.

The extravagant man never thinks of the difference there is between ones being light, if weigh'd in the ballance, and the same person's feeling himself lighter. A man may be sensi­ble of his being very ponderous, and yet be lighter in the bal­lance.

X.

We know the weight of the body by measure, not by imagi­nation, as our inconsiderate fool does, who imagines that flegm is more ponderous than blood, yet never observ'd, that the former does swim on the top; and that by reason of flegm the body is not really, but is felt of greater weight. But why? because it obstructs per­spiration.

XI.

He charges the Author with a falsity in making him affirm that insensible perspiration is a dif­flation of the flesh, when he affirms no such thing. In the winter-time, there are about sixty ounces perspir'd in the space of one day with ease; if that perspiration were of flesh, a man's body would be de­stroy'd.

XII.

Galen made no mention of Statick Medicine, therefore 'tis a vain science. He is doubly mistaken; first, because he ne­ver read his six Books De Tuenda, &c. Secondly, it does not follow, Galen said nothing of it, therefore it is vain: we have found out many instru­ments, and those not contempti­ble, which were not known be­fore our times.

XIII.

The famous Author of the Commentary on the XII. of the first Section of Aphorisms, af­firms, that the meat is propor­tionated to the difflation, and Com. XV. that there is a great­er difflation in the winter-time, therefore it is requisite there should be more meat eaten: it is therefore requisite the weight [Page 178]should be known; all which the trifling Staticomastix de­nies.

XIV.

The fool, making no experi­ments himself, denies those things, that others have found true by experience. He boldly adds this assertion; If thirty six ounces be perspir'd in the space of one night, there will be thirty two of flesh, and four of excrements.

XV.

The trifling Answerer puts the lie on all Authors, affirming that the spirits are more tenui­ous than the Air. Are they not made of the blood and Air? Does not the Air pass through the whole body? but the spirits remain inclos'd in Vessels.

XVI.

He affirms that a plentiful perspiration does not take a­way, from the body, one ounce of its weight. There's no temerity deserves greater pu­nishment, than such a man's, as makes no account of experi­ence, yet opposes experience. We have found it certainly true, that in the space of a night, the body weighs less by three pound, and that af­ter coition, mens bodies are lighter, as to the Ballance. Therefore the fool is charge­ble with a lie.

XVII.

He affirms, that, after an immoderate purgation of the termes, bodies are more pon­derous, after an extraordinary retention of them, more light. A fatal errour to the incon­siderate [Page 180]man, who does not di­stinguish, between being hea­vy, in reference to the Bal­lance, and one's feeling him­self heavy.

What literal faults there may be, the intelligent Reader will easily find, and Correct.