CANON I.

THe Methodick practizing in Physick hath, First, a know­ledge of the Disease: next, foretelleth the event of it: and last, goeth about to cure the same. For that part of Physick which is called Therapentick or [Page 2]Contemplative, followeth still the Diagnostick or knowing, and the Prognostick or fore­knowing parts: For whosoever will use perfect able remedies, must first remark the things pre­sent, next forewarn the future, because it is necessary to under­stand the present estate of the disease, to the end the proper remedies may be applied; then to foresee that which is to come, for the more bold at­tempting the Cure, if there be hope of health, else to foretell the danger if there be fear of death, but totally to abstain from the enterprise upon inevi­table fear of death; for he ought never to engage the cure of des­perate diseases, much less pro­mise health, but least of all to take the business in hand after a due praemonition of the dan­ger in it.

Canon 2.

Now to come to the perfect knowledge of the disease, he must first search the place, then the kind, and afterward the cause. If the place be manifest of it self, it rests to find out the Espece or kind of the disease, and then the Cause.

Canon 3.

The Place is known by the Action hurt or hindred, by the sort and seat of the pain, by the Excrements and Accidents or proper Symptomes. Although all these signes do not at all times appear all together, yet some of them fail not to shew themselves.

Canon 4.

The Action offended shew­eth the part from whence it pro­ceeds to be indisposed; for a function Animal, Vital or Na­tural, being troubled, declareth [Page 4]some of those parts to be affe­cted. So the hurt or stistemper of the Reason, Imagination or Memory sheweth the Brain to be sick; the loss of sense and motion manifests the Nerves, or else their origine to be grie­ved; difficulty of breathing de­clareth the Lungs, or some in­strument of the respiration to be intercepted; the Pulse commo­ved tells the heart to be trou­bled; the stop of the descent of the meat sheweth the stomach to be hurt; the digestion hin­dred, when the body is not nou­rished, the Livor is distemper­ed.

The Espece or sort of sick­ness points forth also the place to a pain with a pulsation, and is from the nerve hurt or offen­ded; which punction from the Membrane distended, with con­vulsion, is from the drawing of [Page 5]the Nerves or Tendons with vi­olence and dolor, which tension shews the repletion of the veins out of measure; when it is pro­found it declares the Membrane or thin skin covering the bone, called Periostium, to be disseat­ed; when soft and gentle with­out great pain, it is in the flesh; when heavy and blunt, it points forth some of the Entrails to be grieved.

The scituation of the paine makes known the seat of the dis­ease also. So if it be in the right Hypocondre, or under the short ribbs on the right side, it de­clares the Livor to be hurt; if under the left side, the Spleen: For wheresoever is the paine, there is the sickness: wherefore he must not omit to enquire of the sick person, on which side he lies with greatest ease; for, if it be without, he lies best on the [Page 6]whole side; but if within, best on the sore side.

That which issueth forth of the body indicates likewise the part affected. So if by Cough, there is thrown forth any part of a Gristle, there is no doubt but the Lungs are to be cured; if in the water there be found any piece of flesh, it betokens the Kidneys to be hurt; if in the draught there be found any piece of skin, it signifies the Guts to be ulcerate. The sto­mach is known to be hurt, when the chyle or meat doth issue forth at the wound; and if the foecal matter come forth, it shews the Guts to be wounded; so the water issuing shews the Bladder to be wounded; and when the Plura or thin skin which covers the ribs within is pierced, then the wind doth blow forth at the hole.

Moreover the form of issuing forth is remarkable, for the bet­ter understanding of the part that is troubled. So the blood that proceeds out of the Arte­ries, because of the abundance of spirits, doth issue with force in a leaping manner; but if flow­ing and deadly from the vein: also if any piece of the parts troubled do come forth alone, it signifies the place or seat to be near by; but if it be mixed with the Excrements, it declares it to be higher and further remo­ved.

The Accidents point also at the place. So the Pearl declares the Eye to be molested, the swelling of the right Groin shews the Livor, and that of the left, the Spleen to be disorder­ed.

The Symptomes or Acci­dents following the sickness [Page 8]manifest the place, so Raving or Ravery designes the braine to be distempered; the Cheeks very red shew the Lungs to be inflamed; the losse of appetite speaks the indisposition of the stomach; and the Excrement issuing like to the washing of raw flesh, declares the debelity of the Livor.

Canon 5.

Thus having found out the part that is troubled, the next is to search whether it be by I­diopathy, that is from the first proper passion; or by Sympathy, that is from a naturall passion as­sisting the other, because it is requisite, first to help the part that is troubled by its own pro­per desert; so Idiopathy, is a proper indisposition of the part, as is the Pearle of the eye; Sym­pathy is an indisposition which befalleth any part by the fault of [Page 9]another; and that either be­cause of the defluxion of an hu­mour falling from one part to another, or by reason of the de­fect of the natural faculty requi­red for the action of that part; sometimes it falls out that a part of a long trouble by a Sympathy, in the end turnes to be troubled by an Idiopathy; Idiopathy is either primative or consecutive, it is therefore expedient to ob­serve whether the disease be privative, that is, first, or conse­cutive, that is, when it doth flow from another.

An Idiopathy is discerned from a Sympathy, when the sore or grief is alone continual­ly without intermission, and re­ceiveth neither encrease nor di­minution, by the augmentation or declination of any disease, that is in any other part, but re­maines still in one state and [Page 10]condition, the Remedies ap­plyed serving for the good of the same, by these signes the indisposition is Idiopathetick; but when it followeth another disease, and groweth according to the growth of the same, and also is mitigate by the same Re­medies, and when the Reme­dies applyed to it self do not help, it is then by Sympathy; so the pain of the head arising from the stomach, is distin­guished from the dolor that comes of the proper fault of the braine, in that it succeeds to a beltching and desire to Vo­mit, to an evil smell or taste in the mouth, with a falling away or Li [...]chamy, that is, a swoun­ing; and when it growes with an indisposition of the stomach, not receiving help from the to­picks applyed to the head.

Canon 6.

Having found out the part of the body offended, the next in­quisition must be of the indispo­sition.

The indisposition that hin­ders the Action is called Mor­bus or sickness, that which fol­loweth is tearmed Symptome, and that which engendreth is named Cause, so all the indispo­sition against nature, is either Morbus, Symptoma, or Causa.

The Symptome is known of it self without other signes, be­cause it is objected still to some of the senses, but the disease and the Causes are for the most part removed from the senses; but they are known by the Symptomes, which are the signes, namely by the Actions hurt, by the Excrements and by the Accidents of the body.

Canon 7.

Malady or Sickness is an in­disposition against nature, that hurts immediately the Action of the part affected: whensoever then the Action is found to be hindred or hurt, then it is a di­sease.

Sickness or Malady is triple, Similare; Instrumentall and common, the first hurts the Action of the part Similary, the second troubles the use of the organick, the third hinders both; wherefore if the Action of the part, insomuch as it is Simi­lary be hurt, the disease shall be Similare; if it be so far as an In­strument, it shall be instrumen­tall; and if they both fall toge­ther it shall be common.

The action of the part Simila­re, is hindered by a simple in­temperature, as heat, cold, moistness and drowth; or by one [Page 13]composed, as hot and dry, hot and humid, cold and dry, cold and humid, and that either with or without matter, the use of the Organ is perverted by the fault of the greatness, number, scituation, but oftenest by con­firmation and obstruction, both the one and the other is trou­bled by the breach or solution of continuity in the parts, as by Phlegmon, or Inflamation, Scirrh or hard swelling, or by any other tumour contrary to nature, as also by Ulcer, Wound, Fracture or Luxation; so In­temperature is a sickness Simi­lare, obstruction a disease Or­ganick, and solution of the Con­tinuity is a sickness common.

The diversity of Especes or Kinds, are known by the variety of the Actions hindered; so the continuall desire of sleep, signifies an indisposition cold [Page 14]and moist of the braine; a con­tinuall watching shewes a hot and dry Pulse; frequent, quick and unequall, a Fever: likewise the kind of the paine points forth the disease, as a dolour in­flamative; a hot distemper, a dolour stupefactive, a cold di­stemper.

The Excrement serves also to find out the Kind of the sick­ness, as sand in the water shews gravell; the meat sent forth be­low without change, declares a Lientery or imperfect digestion, as also the Accidents of the bo­dy: So the colour green shews an opilation or stopping in the Liver, brown colour an obstru­ction in the Spleen, a black Tongue, a burning or Fever, the nailes crooked, a Consumption Prisie or Cough of the Lungs, the Cheeks red, a Peripneumonie or inflamation of the Lungs; [Page 15]amongst these Accidents, such as are proper and inseparable, are holden for the most certain; because they have a great de­monstrative faculty.

Canon 8.

The nature and scituation of the place, serves much to the knowledge of the kind of the sickness, for every part hath its own proper sickness; so the eyes onely are subject to a Pearle, the Kidnies and Blad­der to the Stone, the Guts to Worms and not the Stomach; the heart can never suffer an Ul­cer profound, nor the Lung any dolour.

Canon 9.

For the better taking the di­sease, let diligent consideration be had to the things antece­dent, such as are the Nature, the Habitude, the Age, the Coun­try, the Season, the disposition [Page 16]of the Arire, the form of Life with the diseased; and the sick­ness wherewith he useth to be molested, for one is soonest o­vertaken with a disease where­with their nature hath greatest familiarity; so hot diseases are most frequently incident to hot, bilious or cholerick people, and cold sicknesses, to cold lumpish natures, and that as well to those who are such by Nature, Habitude and Age, as to those who are so by reason of the Re­gion, the season and the consti­tution of the Aire; and albeit that all sorts of sickness may be­fall to all sorts of Persons, of all Ages, in all Places and Times; yet they fall most frequently on the Temperament, Age, Place and time, with the which they have some affinity; an Epide­mick or universall sickness, is known incontinently by the [Page 17]running of it among the people, seizing on many at one time: All hereditary diseases, as the Epilepsy, or Falling-sickness, the Gravell, the Gout, are su­spected to be incident to Per­sons descended from Parents af­flicted with such infirmities. Moreover the kind of the di­sease, is often found by using such things as hurt or help it, for the hot intemperature doth encrease by the use of hot things; but is mitigated by the use of cooling things, the cold intemperature is contrary.

Canon 10.

After the acquired knowledg of the disease, search next for the Cause of it; which is either ex­terne, or interne, inward or out­ward. The interne is twofold, antecedent or conjoyned. First then seek out the Cause con­joyned, because it immediate­ly [Page 18]produceth a disease; it is therefore needfull to search, whether it be wind or any other superabounding humour, as Blood, Choler, Melancholly, or Phlegme; or any other thing contrary to nature, as Stone, lump of blood, wormes, or any other sort of Excrement, the co­lour and nature of the Place, the kind of the dolour, and the sort of the Excrement; these with the predominant humour in the body will serve for Marks.

Canon 11.

For when the part inflamed is red, it is full of Blood; when yellow full of Choller; that which is cold and white is re­plenished with Phlegme; when blackish with melancholy, for the colour of the skin doth commonly point forth the hu­mour that is within; divers parts are appointed for the en­gendring [Page 19]of divers humours ex­crementitious, as the Liver for breeding of yellow Choler, the Spleen of black Choler, the Stomach, the Lungs, the Braine of Phlegme, the Kidnies and Bladder, of Gravell and the Stone, the Guts of Wormes.

The pain pricks sore when it is caused of choler, & more mode­rate when it proceeds of blood; blunt when it comes of Melan­choly, Phlegme or Wind, except when they make great disten­tion through their abundance.

If that which issueth forth by the Excrement, be a portion of that which is continued within, it shews either by the substance or colour what it is, we shall speak hereafter of the predominant humour.

Canon 12.

After the knowledge of the Cause conjoyned, it followeth [Page 20]to know whether it be alone, or if it be fostered and furnished by any other Cause antecedent; that which gathers is by way of congestion through the fault of the part offended, and is reputed to be alone, but when all the body or any part of it doth exo­nerate it self, on the member af­fected of any superabounding humour which overburdeneth, there is th [...]n the Cause antece­dent, which doth accompany the conjoyned; so there be two sorts of Causes interne, to which Remedies must be used.

Canon 13.

The Cause antecedent of the sickness is double, the one is named Plethor or Plenitude, the other is named Cacochymie or evil digestion. Plethor is a repletion of all the humours e­qually augmented, or of blood onely. Cacochymie is a repletion [Page 21]of Choler, Melancholy or Phlegme, the signs both of the one and the other, are taken both from the causes antecedent which do gather the humours, that is to say, from the tempera­ture of the whole body and of the principal parts, from the age, season, constitution of the Air, from the Region, Manner of living, and of the evacuation ordinarily suppressed: As also from the accidents that befall all the qualities of the body; such as be the color, the habi­tude, the functions animal, vital and natural, as from the sleep, dreams, pulse, concoction, ex­crements of the diseases ensu­ing, and of the things that hurt or profit.

Canon 14.

There be two sorts of Pleni­tude, the one called Plenitudo ad vires, in which the blood, [Page 22]though it be not excessive nei­ther in quantity nor quality, doth nevertheless overcharge the weak forces of Nature: The other is Plenitudo ad vasa, the which in quantity surpasseth the natural limits or bounds; and this either light or gentle, that is, when it filleth onely the ca­vity of the vein, not far exceed­ing mediocrity; or it is exces­sive, when it extends so that it almost rends the veins through the fulness of it by too great a­bundance; and although it be very excessive, yet it may be, so that Nature be not choaked by it, for commonly the force grows with the blood: but if it fall out that the forces are aba­ted, then it is Plenitudo super vires.

When then in a Plethor the body is no way, by a too great weight, lazy or heavy, and the [Page 23]force or strength remains still in one state, it is onely a Plenitudo ad vasa; but when the body be­comes heavy, lazy and doiled, the sleep troubled and pro­found, seeming to carry, as it were, something whilst he sleeps, it is then Plenitudo super vires.

Canon 15.

The causes that engender blood in abundance are signs antecedent of a Plenitude, as the Complexion temperate of all the whole body, but chiefly of the Livor and the Heart, or else moderately hot and hu­mid.

The Age growing is another, for children and young folke have much blood, because they are not far from their principes or beginning of their natural ge­neration.

The Spring also is a cause, for [Page 24]in it the Blood abounds, for then the cold ceaseth and the waters descend.

Also good fare, a pleasant pas­sed life, without care, with moderate exercise and sleep. The naturall evacuation of Blood suppressed, or the artifi­ciall for long time intermitted.

The Accidents which shew the domination of Blood in the body, are the signes consequent of Blood, such be the colour of the face and all the body, red by the ordinary custome or mixed of red and white; the swelling of the Veines equally appearing through all; a mani­fest bending of the Vessels, be­ing full of Blood by measure, a laziness or weariness coming of it self without any labour, under the which the joynts, by reason of their weight, with great difficulty do move them­selves; [Page 25]for it is when the great Veines over-full of blood, do exonerate themselves into the little, and they again into the Muscles, that they are thus fil­led and bended.

The Habitude of the body fleshy, because it doth proceed of abundance of blood, yea the Mediocre fleshy accompanied with a heat benigne and vapo­rous; this is a signe of a nature temperate which ingenders a­bundance of blood: The fashi­ons and carriage merry, joviall, peaceable and gentle, are good signes, because they are marks of a body well-disposed: The heaviness of the head proceed­ing from the abundance of va­pours, ascending upwards in­creaseth blood; so doth the sleep profound and pleasant, with dreames of things pleasant; the pulse also strong, great and full, [Page 26]for in it the veines are so full, that they do infuse a part in the neighbour-Arteries, by an Ana­stomasie or transfusion of the blood through the veines, which being filled, causeth such a pulse, and that not onely in the Wrists, but also in the Temples, the Fingers, and over all the bo­dy.

The respiration or breathing more difficile and frequent, chiefly after exercise, is another signe of encrease of blood, be­cause the Muscles of the breast are made lazy through the abun­dance of blood. Hence it is that the respiration is made more fre­quent by reason of the use, but shortened, because the capaci­ty interiour of the breast is made more strict.

The promptitude of rendring blood by the Stooles, the Em­rods, the monthly Courses, the [Page 27]Water, the Nose, and the Spit­tle; And finally by a continuall sweating, during the time of the disease, are tokens of much ple­nitude.

Canon 16.

Cacochimy, or evill digestion, is three-fold, Cholerick, Melan­colick and Phlegmatick; the Causes that gather abundance of Choler are signes preceding the same, and such are, 1. The Complexion hot and dry, for commonly there engenders much Choler in men of a hot and dry Complexion, by reason of the conformity of this hu­mour with that temperament. 2. The manly age which is be­tween twenty five, and thirty five; for in that age Choler doth abound, because the natu­rall heat is much more dry and active then before, in which also a great part of inbred moisture or [Page 28]sap is consumed. 3. The Sum­mer, for the Choler is more a­bundant then, by reason of the circumsisting Aire, which ma­keth the blood more hot and dry. 4. The Climate hot and dry, the precedent dyet of the same qualities. 5. Great exer­cise, Travell, Anger, Care, Watching, Fasting and Absti­nence, do all gather Choler. 6. The suppression of the ordi­nary evacuation of Choler by Vomit, by the Stool, by Urine, and by Sweat.

The consequent marks of aboun­ding Choler are 1. The whole colour of the body pale, yellow, or blackish, drawing near to that of the Jaundies or brown; for when the temperament is ex­cessive in heat, the Choler is black. 2. The state of the body dry, leane and small, for such proportions are commonly [Page 29]Cholerick; as also such as be hairy, with the haire red, for that is the Excrement of Cho­ler, but more the black, for black haire is when the exhalation, burnt by the force of the heat, is changed into black, but the red is when it is not so burnt. 3. The greatness of the veines ex­tended by the heat, for they who have great veines are of Complexion hot, but such as have straite and narrow veines are of cold constitution, for it is heat that doth enlarge. 4. The heat sharp and biting to the touch. 5. Promptitude to courage, and a disposition to an­ger and revenge. 6. The sense lively, light and suddaine. 7. The spirit subtile and of great invention, for the subtilty and industry of the judgement comes of the humour Bilous or Cholerick. 8. The sleep little [Page 30]and light accompanied with in­quietudes, great watching, te­stifying the great dryness of the braine, or from abundance of an humour bilious or Cholerick with them. 9. Dreames of War, Fire and things furious. 10. The pulse vehement, hasty and hardy. 11. Bitterness of the mouth, losse of Appetite, great Thirst, venting of Choler up­ward and downward, with the belly often constipate or bound. 12. The Urine yellow, biting, inflamed, and with little grounds. 13. The diseases cho­lerick frequent, as Fevers fierce and ardent, Raving, Jaundies, Herps or Ring-wormes, Erisiple or S. Anthonies fire, Pustules, Cholericks dispersed through the whole body.

Canon 17.

The Melancholick distemper is known, First, by the causes [Page 31]productive of Melancholy, such are, 1. The temperature cold and dry, with a debility in the Spleen; or hot from the begin­ning, but becoming cold by change; for if any hot and dry before, by an adus [...]ion of the blood shall ingender much black Choler, he becomes cold and dry, and in the end Melan­choly. 2. The declining Age, which is between thirty five and forty five, for melancholy doth abound in that age, because it succeeding to the youth, which is the most Cholerick of all, it receives the Choler burnt. 3. The Harvest, for in it also melancholy abounds, because succeeding from the Summer, it receives the burnt Choler from it. 4. Gross food and viscous increase melancholy, as brown-Bread, Hogs-flesh, Beef, Hares-flesh, Harts-flesh, and chiefly [Page 32]any of these salted, thick, black-Wine, Beer and old Cheese. 5. The life sad, occupied in great affairs, in contemplation, Studying without Recreation or exercise of the body, for by it the naturall heat diminisheth, and the humours become grosse and thick. 6. The suppression of melancholy which used to be by the Emrods, monthly Cour­ses, Seeges, Scabs or by Medi­cine.

As also by the signes of me­lancholy predominant in the body, such are, 1. The colour brown or blackish of the Face or all the body, the skin full of Scabs, Hardness, Swelling and pain of the Spleen, the habitude of the body dry and leane, the visage sad and heavy, Feare, Si­lence, Solitariness, Urine, Ima­gination, Conceits, for the con­stancy of the spirit comes of an [Page 33]humour melancholick. 2. The mind slow to wrath, but being, incensed hard to be appeased. 3. The sleep troubled with hor­rible Dreames, as with sights of evill Spirits, Tortures of Death, Sepulchres and other things fearfull. 4. The pulse light, slow and hard. 5. The appetite depraved, sometimes disordered by reason of a sower matter adhering to the orifice of the Stomach. 6. The water clear and white, where there is no melancholy mixed, but thick and black, where there is melan­choly mixed with it. 7. Where the diseases melancholy are fre­quently arriving.

Canon 18.

The knowledge of Pituitous or phlegmatick distemper, is ta­ken from the causes antecedent procreating it, and the signs as­sequent following it: The ante­cedent [Page 34]are, 1. The Complexion of the body cold and humid; the old age, which is from For­ty nine to the term of Life, for in that age, by reason of the weakness of the natural heat, much phlegme is engendred. 2. The Winter, because that season (as Hipocrates reports) replenisheth the body with phlegm, both by the length of nights, as also by reason of the abundance of rain, for in the rai­ny season, the watry air which doth environ the body, gathers quantities of pituitous humours and watery superfluities. 3. The great uses of humid and moist meat, the frequent drinking of water, and any kind of excess either in meat or drink. 4. Idle­ness or want of exercise, with a sedentary or sitting life, long sleepe, and especially after meat.

The assequent or following marks of phlegm are, 1. The co­lor of the face and all the body somewhat whitish, grayish or livid, being withall swell'd, the whole body grown and fat; for fat folk are commonly cold and phlegmatick, grease being in­gendred by the coldness of the habitude of the body, the veins and Arteries being little and strait, as coming of little blood and few spirits. 3. The skin white and soft without hair, be­cause the complexion cold and humid is no wayes hairy, the hair is white because it is crea­ted of phlegm. 4. All the senses of the body heavy and lazy, the spirit stupid, the sleep profound, the pulse small and soft. 5. Slow digestion, of belching, with a sower tast, a desire to vomit, the water whitish, crude, and some­time troubled with a thick [Page 36]ground. 6. Pituitous and phleg­matick diseases frequently oc­curring, or old Cattarhs and the like.

Canon 19.

The antecedent Causes de­claring a windy Cacochymie or Digestion are, 1. The stomach cold and humid, with a debility of natural heat, proceeding of a simple intemperature, or with humours indigested. 2. The Spleen swell'd and bound up with melancholy, hindring, by a Sympathy, the digestion of the stomach, 3. Meats windy, as raw Fruits, Beans, Pease, Ches­nuts and the like, over-much drink, too much boyled meat, Drunkennesse and Gluttony. 4. Lack of Exercise, great sleep, the Age, the Country, season of the Year, Cold doth cause abundance of Ventosities. 5. When wind is gathered in [Page 37]the body by reason of the for­mer causes, there is found a di­stention of the Venticle, of the Collick, Gout, chiefly on the left side with a noise. 6. The wandering discenting pains run­ning here and there through the whole body. 7. There is wind heard to issue at all occasions both upward and downward, from whence cometh some ease; there is also often to be obser­ved a singing in the ear. 8. The Chollick, with other diseases a­rising of wind, do often trouble.

Canon 20.

The external causes of sick­ness, called by the Greeks Pro­catarticks or primitive causes, ought diligently to be searched, for they lead us to the know­ledge of the cause intern; as of the disease, for aire, meat and drink to warm, watching, great and violent motion, anger and [Page 38]the suppression of the Excre­ments, these engender hot hu­mours and hot diseases: On the contrary, cold food with a cool­ing air, sleep, idleness, fear, and all evacuation and immoderate causes beget cold humours and cold diseases. Dry diseases com­monly accompany hot causes, and humid diseases arise from cold causes, for hot do ordinari­ly bring with them drowth, and cold produceth humidity, be­cause it is the parent of crudities.

To find out therefore exactly the cause and effect of a Mala­dy which is hid, it is needful, by a diligent inquisition and in­terrogation of all things, which commonly are not natural cau­ses, to learn of the sick, if he hath exposed himself to any in­temperate or impure air, if he hath committed any excess in meat or drink, in watching or [Page 39]labouring, or if he hath been too fierce in Venery; if the spirit have not been troubled by pas­sions, or if some ordinary eva­cuation be not suppressed, as the monthly courses to women, and the flux of Emrods to men: and so much the rather, because he ought to enquire carefully of the things past, because igno­rance of the causes is not without great danger; for if a fe­ver should happen upon a long watching, fasting, or too much Venery, then without considera­tion of the cause of the disease, should they presently draw blood and purge, they should hazard the life of the Patient, seeing the disease came from e­vacuation; but on the contrary, he ought rather to repair the spirits by Analecticks or Resto­ratives, and to augment the dis­ease by drawing blood and Ca­tharticks or Purgos.

CANON I.

THe fundamental Laws of Prognosticks or Fore­knowledge, are taken from the things Natu­ral, not Natural, and contrary to to Nature. As of the Spring, for the sickness may be foreseen and foretold to be salutiferous or mortal, short or long, by the spi­rits, by the constitution of the body, by the age of the Patient, [Page 42]by the season, by the form of life, by the cause, by the Espece or kind, and by the siege of the evil, with the symptomes which are remarkable in the change or diminution of the actions, the excrements, and in the quality of the body.

Canon 2.

If the body be strong to ob­tain the victory over the dis­ease, without doubt the sick shall escape, if not he shall die, for none die so long as their spi­rit remains, but so soon as the spirits begin to yield to the bur­den of the sickness, then fol­lows death. Now to foretell the day of death good observa­tion must be made, how far the sickness surpasseth the spirits, and well to mark the most vio­lent access; for it is observable, that when the sickness doth transcend the spirits, so as they [Page 43]can no longer resist, death must necessarily follow; but if it appear otherwise, death shall not so soon approach. So that the ori­ginal of Prognosticks doth con­sist in conferring the spirits with the sickness; for if Nature be strong enough to overcome the sickness, then the Patient shall escape; but if she be so weak that she cannot obtain the vi­ctory, death then of necessity must follow; and the Physitian must wait on the one or the o­ther sooner or later, according as the spirits are stronger or weaker; hence it appears that all other signs, salutiferous or mortal, are no otherwise fore­signs of life or death, but as they point forth the strength or weak­ness of Nature in the combat with the sickness.

Canon 3.

It is a great help to health to [Page 44]be of a moderate constitution of body, that is, neither too fat nor too lean, for such a body hath great strength to resist any dis­ease which doth present it self; but where this moderation is not, a gross body is in a worse case than a lean, for they who are fat die sooner than such as are otherwise, because the veins and arteries of grown fat people are narrow and strait, and have but little blood and spirit; so that the age concurring upon a light occasion, the natural heat is choaked or extinguished; but such as are of a lean and thin constitution, because they have the veins and arteries larger, and therefore contain more blood and spirits within them, do not so soon incur the danger of death: yet so it is, that they are sooner troubled by external cau­ses, and that for want of flesh [Page 45]and fat: so then the gross are more obnoxious to intern infir­mities, and the leane to ex­tern.

Canon 4.

Youth hath great strength to withstand a disease, because he hath store of natural heat, requi­site to the concoction and ex­cretion of the evil humours: contrarily, old age is not able to resist, because of the defect of strength, not having much natu­ral heat; hence it is that sick­ness stayes longer upon old peo­ple than young, because they a­bound in cold humours, the di­gestion whereof cannot be but in a long space, by reason of the weakness of their natural heat, yea, the greatest part of sick­ness that doth arrive to old people, conveys them to their graves.

Canon 5.

The Spring is very wholsome and no wayes mortal when it keeps temperature, but in Har­vest diseases are very strong and deadly for the most part; First, because cold and dry are dia­metrically opposite to life, which consisteth in heat and moisture, for those humors hin­der the generation of blood, whereof the body is made and nourished. Secondly, because it receives from the Summer pro­ceedings from the body lan­guishing and weary. Thirdly, because it suppresseth within the body the superfluous humours, melted by the heat of the Sum­mer, which come forth to the skin, to the end they may go forth. Fourthly, because about the twelfth hour it openeth the pores of the body by the heat, & incontinently after becoming [Page 47]cold, it ariseth within the body as an enemy to extinguish, by its malign quality, the natural heat already feeble and lan­guishing; moreover it gathers store of crudities within the bo­dy, which do choak the natural heat, and that especially by the use of fruits which it produceth. The Summer hastens sicknesses, but the Winter doth retard them, because in the Summer, the pores being open, the evil humours of the body being mel­ted by the heat of the air, are suddenly dissipated; but in win­ter, they being closed by the cold, are retained within.

Canon 6.

Amongst constitutions of the Seasons the dry is most whol­som, and not deadly, as the rai­ny, for it gathers no Excre­ments, and better resists to pu­trefaction. The humid, on the [Page 48]contrary, causeth many super­fluities, from whence are the ge­neration of diseases. When the seasons are constant, keeping the temperature ordinary, so that all things do naturally fall out in them, the diseases are likewise constant, and easie to be understood: but when the season is inconstant, so are the sicknesses variable, and hard to be understood, for the Crisis or conflict is accompanied with dangerous Symptomes, where they suddenly cause death, or else leave a matter to a new sickness.

Canon 7.

When the sick proves a good second to the Physitian fighting against the sickness, it is then easie to obtain the victory; now when he believeth the Physiti­an, and puts his Ordnances in practise, he serves him for a se­cond, [Page 49]and declares himself an enemy to the disease. On the contrary, if acquitting the Phy­sitian he takes part with the dis­ease, by accomplishing that which himself desires, he ha­zards his life two wayes, one in leaving the Physitian alone in the combat; the other, in ser­ving as a second to the sickness, which was before alone; for it is certain that two are stronger than one.

Canon 8.

The greatness of the sickness followeth the greatness of the cause; for as a light cause pro­duceth a light evil, so a great cause rendreth a great effect. Hence a vehement cause, con­trary to Nature, is a most cer­tain Indice of a great and dan­gerous sickness.

Canon 9.

Choler doth ever cause quick [Page 50]diseases, which determine and end within a few dayes, because it is easily resolved by its sub­tility. But Melancholy is the most viscous of all the humours, and makes longest accesses, be­cause it is dry, cold and thick, being the life of the blood. Next to Melancholy is Phlegm in difficulty of digestion and ex­pulsion, by reason of its visco­sity.

Canon 10.

The diseases which have some resemblance with the nature, bodily constitution, and age of the Patient, are less dangerous than those that have no confor­mity: for all sicknesses, hot, cold, dry or moist, being con­form to the complexion, age, and bodily constitution of the sick, as also to the season, hath so much less danger as it is less removed from the natural con­stitution, [Page 51]and so may more easily return, as proceeding from a lighter and slighter cause: as on the contrary, the disease which hath no affinity neither with the temper, likeness, nor age of the Patient, or with the season, is much more dangerous than the former, being further removed from the natural com­plexion, and therefore worse to cure, as proceeding from a greater and stronger cause; so that of two burning Fevers, e­quall in grandeur, that which falls out in Summer to a young man, lean of body and hot of temper, shall not be so dange­rous, as that which falls out in Winter to an old man, of a fat body and cold complexion.

Canon 11.

Meek and gentle relenting di­seases are commonly long, but the sharp, fiery and fierce are [Page 52]ended within fourteen dayes, and the extreme hot in seaven dayes.

There can be no certain pre­diction made of hot sharp di­seases, either for health or death, for because they are quickly ended they become sud­denly great, so that both for the greatness of the disease, with the sudden change which befalleth in the Crise or conflict, as also because the humour is often transported from one place to another, the issue is uncertain: wherefore whilst the humour is in its motion, it is best to sus­pend judgment, for it is not cer­tain whether it will rush on a noble or ignoble part, within or without, by passages convenient or inconvenient; and though the humour were stayed in one place, yet the Physitian ought not resolutely to affirm that the [Page 53]sick shall escape, but with this provision, That no new change befall, and that he follow the advice, and keep the regiment prescribed.

When a woman with child is overtaken by any fiery hot dis­ease, she is in danger of her life, for a hot fiery Fever requires a strict diet, which she cannot admit, lest the child being rob­bed of the food, she be deliver­ed before her time: and again, if sometimes to save the child the mother should often eat, the Fever thereby encreasing, the mother shall be precipitate in manifest hazard of her life: and if it be any other strong sickness without Fever, as Epi­lepsie, Apoplexy or Convulsi­on, she shall never be able to support the vehemencie of it.

Canon 12.

To foresee the event of the disease, diligence must be used in considering the part that is offended, whether it be noble or ignoble, publick or private; for the condition, dignity and necessity of the part that suffer­eth, are of great importance for the pronouncing of the sentence to the profit or prejudice of the Patient.

Canon 13.

In all diseases the constancy of the reason not troubled, to­gether with the bounty of the Appetite, still ready for whatso­ever shall be offered unto it, it is a good sign, and the contrary is an evil sign. The setledness of the Reason and sharpness of the appetite are numbred amongst the good marks, because the former bears witness of the temperate disposition of the [Page 55]brain, the tyes and ligaments of the brains, of the marrow of the back, of the Midriff, and of all the nervous parts; and the later shews the integrity of the Stomach and Livor.

On the contrary, the aliena­tion and troubling of the Rea­son, and the loss of Appe­tite, are evil signs, because the one betokens the animal parts to be affected, the other the na­tural.

All they that are troubled with pain or dolour in any part of the body whatsoever, and are not sensible of it, have the rea­son troubled, because the appre­hension doth not in any mea­sure perceive the evil.

Canon 14.

It is good to sleep in the night to make reparation of the spirits animal, and a digestion of the humours, by the means of [Page 56]the heat that enter; within the center of the body, and to watch in the day for clearing of the same spirits, to give motion to the humours, and to make expulsion of the Excrements; but it is a very pernicious sign not to sleep night nor day, for continual watching cometh ei­ther of dolour, pain and torment suffered, or of the dryness of the brain, which, in the end will cause an alienation of the mind.

Sleep likewise surpassing the bounds of mediocrity, is in like manner evil, because it is a mark of extreme coldness in the brain, which causeth a Lethargy or Obliviousness, if it be mixed with humidity, or else a Cata­lepsy, which is a kind of the Fal­ling-sickness, if it be acompani­ed with dryness. When in a sickness sleep is noysome and [Page 57]hurts, there is danger of death; for if the sleep doth hurt in that time that it hath been accusto­med to help much, as in the de­clination of any sickness, it is not without cause that it fore­telleth death, and that because the heat, retired within the bo­dy in the time of the sleep, doth by this means encrease; and be­ing not able, either by reason of its weakness, or the malicious­ness of the humours, to over­come the causes of the disease, it shews that Nature (no way strengthened or comforted by this means, but rather hurt) is ready to sink under the burden, the disease being stronger.

Canon 15.

The Pulse is the faithful mes­senger of the heart, bringing certain news of death or life. The Pulse great and strong is a token of strength, on which is [Page 58]builded the hope of the healths recovery; but the Pulse little, weak and languishing, sheweth the weakness of the vital facul­ty, from whence is the fear of death. The inequality of the Pulse is also evil; when it con­tinues an intermission in young men it is most dangerous, for it threatneth present death; if it be not from an obstruction and oppression of the Arteries, it is less dangerous in children, and least of all in old men.

Canon 16.

The respiration free without stop or let is very wholsom in all sharp and quick diseases, be­cause it denotes the tempera­ture of the breast, and of the parts therein contained. So al­so the respiration remaining whole, declares the natural heat yet to be strong to fight valiant­ly against the disease: On the [Page 59]contrary, the difficulty of brea­thing shews the indisposition of the vital parts, and the suffoca­tion of the spirits.

For the respiration frequent and great, is a sign of some in­flammation of the parts within the breast, but the great and sel­dom breathings do foreshow a future alienation of the spirit, as the respiration little and rare betokens death, because it bears witness of the extinction of the natural heat, which is clearly perceived by the coldness of the breath issuing at the nostrils and the mouth.

Canon 17.

It is a good sign to have con­stantly a whole heart, for they who fall often into Lipothamy or swounings, without a mani­fest cause, do die in the end sud­denly, because of the debility of the vital faculty.

Canon 18.

The coction of the humour appearing in the Excrement of the Patient, signifies the Crisis or conflict to be speedily in as­surance of health; but the cru­dity denotes, that either there shall be no Crisis, or that the Patient is mightily troubled, or that the disease shall be longer, or that afterward it shall return, or finally, that death shall fol­low upon it. For as when the coction is made, Nature is vi­ctorious over the causes of the disease, so the contraty comes to pass when she is overcome by them: for instance, the foe­cal matter being soft, equal and yellow, not having any evil smell, is judged to be good be­cause it is well digested; in like manner the water being of a middle consistence, of colour somewhat yellow, having [Page 61]grounds white, united and e­qual, is reputed to be singular good, because it bears witness that the vitious humours are di­gested, and consequently that Nature hath gotten the victory over them. On the contrary, the digestion liquid and watery, white and pale, is reputed evil because it is crude and raw; so also the Urine watery and smal, white and exceedingly shining, is not good, because it is raw and without digestion.

Canon 19.

When the Excrements of the sick are not very different from the Excrements of the whole, it shews the disease to be light; but if there be a very great diffe­rence, the disease must be ap­prehended to be deadly; for the Excrements differing shew Na­ture to be overcome by the greatness of the disease.

Therefore the foecal matter black, livid, green and stinking, are mortal, because they are wholly alienated from the natu­ral constitution; and the water that is black, and thick, and troubled, like that of Oxen, is most evil, because extremely re­moved from the natural.

The same mixed in colour foreshews a long disease, for they denote diverse indispositi­ons caused of divers humours, and therefore it is necessary that Nature employ her self a long time to the concoction, having so many Enemies to com­bate.

The Urine, in which grease is seen to swimme like spiders webs, is evil, because it declares a melting of the body by an ex­traordinary heat.

Canon 20.

Sweats are good in all sharp [Page 63]and fiery diseases, when they fall on critical dayes, and they cause the Fever wholly to cease. They are good also when they make the disease more easy to the Patient, provided they be universal; but the sweats which bring no ease, nor serve to any use, as also those that are cold, and appeare onely about the head, face and neck, are most evil; for in a hot, fiery and quick Fever they prognostick death, and in a gentle Fever they shew the longness of the disease. A cold sweat, running without ceasing and in great abundance, is a mark of a long disease, be­cause it comes by reason of a great quantity of gross and cold matter, which cannot easily be dissipated or tamed by the natu­ral heat. A hot sweat, on the other side, shews a short dis­ease, which being caused of a [Page 64]subtile matter, will in a short space be dissolved.

Canon 21.

If the visage of the sick be like to the countenance of whole persons, it is a very excellent sign, chiefly if it look like it self being whole. On the contrary, it is a very evil sign when it is different from the natural, and when it is hideous to behold, as it is when the nose is sharp, the eyes hollow, the temples aba­ted, the ears cold and drawn in, the lap of the ear turned, the skin of the face hard, extended and dry, the colour of the face pale or black, livid or lead-co­loured; for if this deformity do not proceed of a manifest cause, as of lack of sleep, or of meat, or by reason of a Flux of the bel­ly, without doubt it presageth death to be near, for this great extenuation is made by the ma­lignity of the disease.

Canon 22.

Where a change is perceived through the whole body, so that it is now cold, then hot, some­times of one colour, then of an­other, it foretelleth a long dis­ease; for the indispositions di­versly mixed are still longer than those that are of a fast form or fashion, for Nature cannot tame or overcome more at once. Now the changing of qualities and humours demonstrate the disease to be caused of divers humours, in the coction where­of Nature hath need to employ much time, for according to the variety of the humours within, there appears a variety of colors without.

Canon 23.

It is a good sign to have the Hypoconders, that is, the space under the short ribs on either side, soft, equal and without do­lour, [Page 66]but very evil to have them hard, bended, unequal and pain­ful; for as the former shews the good temperature of the Epiga­sticks or skins covering the Mus­cles, of the Mesentery, the Li­vor, the Spleen and the Sto­mach; so the later declares an intemperature, that is, an in­flammation, a skirrh or wind to be in those parts.

In all diseases it is good that the parts above the Navel, and the inferiour part of the belly be gross, fat and in good case; for the Hypoconders gross and fle­shy are marks of strength, but the small and extenuate are e­vil both as signs and as causes, for as much as they are signs of the debility of the parts extenu­ate, and causes that the digesti­on is not well elaborate in the stomach, nor the sanguification in the Livor, for the grosness [Page 67]or fatness of the Epigastre or lower parts of the belly do aug­ment the natural heat, by the parts within, being warmed they better digest the meat, and so make better blood.

Canon 24.

As to the consideration of the things that fall out in the body, every good sign is not an assu­rance that the sick shall escape; neither on the other side, though evil signs appear, are they to be taken for warrants that he shall die, for a good sign may be o­ver-weighed by an Evil being great; and on the contrary an evil sign may be overcome, a good being stronger.

Canon 25.

The disease quits the sick ei­ther wholly at once, by way of Crise, or by little & little, by way of Resolution; Crise is a sudden change of the Disease into [Page 68]Health, or else into Death, which is then, when Nature se­parates the vicious humours from the good in order to expell them; of it there be two sorts, one is by Excretion, and the o­ther is by Absesse; that comes by a flux of Blood, or Sweat, or by a flux of the Belly or Vomit, or flux of the Urine.

Canon 26.

The good Crise arrives on the 7, 14, or on the 20 day, wherefore these dayes are called Critical, the future Crise was fore-seen by the signs of digestion appea­ring on the 4, 11, and the 17 day; hence these dayes are cal­led by the Greeks [...], that is, Indicatives, Contemplatives, for according to the doctrine of Hypocrates the 4 day is the indicative of the 7. the 8 is the beginning of the next moneth, the 11 is also re­markable, [Page 69]because it is the 4 of the second week, and the 17 is also to be observed, because it is the 4 after the 14, and the 7 from the 11.

Canon 27.

When the Crise is to be on the 7 day, there is to be percei­ved on the 4 day preceding a red cloud in the water, and o­ther signs correspondent, for because the 4 day points out the 7, if there appear any sign of concoction that day, it forewarns the Crise to be on the 7 day; where then there appears a cloud in the water, not onely red but white, and yet rather a white Hypostasis or ground uni­ted and equall: if it so happen that the motion of the sickness be sudden, it is a presage of the future Crise.

When the Crise draws near, the night preceding is very [Page 70]troublesome, but that which fol­lows is ordinarily more easie to be endured; for whilest Nature is making a separation between the good and evil humours which disagree, in this exercise of nature, the disease is much troubled; but so it is that this great work appears the night be­fore the Crise, because the sleep is interrupted, but the night which follows the Crise being perfect, the humours are much more at their own ease, because nature is disburthened of super­fluous humours.

Canon 28.

The universal signs by which one discovers the espece or kind of the Crise to come, are taken from the kind of the Disease from the part that is diseased, & from the nature of the Patient, for hot and quick diseases are ordi­narily judged by excretion, but [Page 71]the cold and long by Absesse. If there be an inflammation in the gibbous or rising part of the Livor, then must be expected a Crise by a flux of Blood, at the right Nostrill, or by a flux of Urine; if the inflamation be in the hollow part of it, then expect the Crise by a flux of the Belly, or by Vo­mit, or by Sweat. The infla­mations of the Brain and of all the Head, are commonly judged by an Hemorragie or bleeding at the Nose, but that of the Sto­mach and Mesentery are judged by Vomit or Flux downward.

Moreover a flux of Blood falls oftenest to young men chole­rick, overtaken with a hot Fe­ver, and a flux of the Belly to old men phlegmatick, there the common, and now here the proper Prognosticks of every Crise.

Redness of the Face and ex­treme dolour of the Head and Neck, a beating of the Arteries in the Temples, the distention of the Hypochonders with diffi­culty of breathing, a dimnesse and watering of the Eyes, sing­ing of the Ears, and itching of the Nostrils, prognosticks the Crise to be a flux of Blood by the Nose.

A heat and heaviness of the Loynes, with a pain and extension of the Hypogastre foreshews a Crise to be by a flux menstruall.

A suppression of the Water with a pricking and shivering through the whole Body, with the Pulse soft and watry, and the exteriour parts of the body hot and vaporous, betokens that it will be a Sweat.

Belching Ventosities, or Winds, a bending of the Belly, and pain [Page 73]of the Kidneys, by a flux of the Belly, loss of Appetite, or loa­thing of Meat, with a throw­ing of the Heart, soreness of the Head, giddiness, great spit­ting, bitterness in the Mouth, and a trembling of the under-Lip, these are prognosticks that a future Crise will be by Vomit.

When the signs of Concocti­on have gone before, and when the motions of a Crise have been perceived, then it may be expected by a flux of Urine; if there do not appear any mark of a Crise by a flux of Blood, nor by Sweat, flux of the belly, or Vomit, & especially when the Patient feels a heaviness in the Hypogastre, and heat about the end of the privy Member, having also made his water thick and gross during his Disease, or if he be aged and sick in the winter, [Page 74]it foretelleth it the rather.

A heavinesse and pain of the Head, with profound sleeping and deafness, succeeding im­mediately to a difficulty of breathing, suddenly arriving without any manifest cause to one sick with a long Disease, do intimate an Absesse to be behind the ear.

But if there be no sign of a Paritude, and that the sick hath had his urine of a long time clear and indigested, and when he finds a heaviness, a paine, a bending, or tension, a heat in the Hypochondres, he must then expect an Absesse in the lower parts; if any part of the body hath been hurt before, there shall the Aposteme or Ab­sesse be; an Absesse falls out most frequently in winter, and after an imperfect Crise.

Canon 29.

Moreover, a good Crise ought to be signified before in the day of indication, and should fall out in a criticall day with a ma­nifest Excretion, or notable Ab­sesse, without dangerous acci­dents; it ought also to be per­fect; a perfect Crise is that which evacuates all the vicious matter, and an imperfect Crise is that which evacuates but some part of it; the former is sure, but the latter is not to be trusted, for the evil humours re­maining after a Crise, are wont to make one recidive or relap­sing; moreover a Crise is judged to be good by reason of the convenable quality and reasona­ble quantity with the former a­greeable, and the time opor­time.

A Crise is known to be perfect and assured, by the re-establi­shing [Page 76]of the Functions Natural, Vital, and Animal, by the co­ction of the Excrements, or by the quality or form of the Body, reduced and made conform to the natural.

Canon 30.

There is no trusting to any ease or allegations which hap­pen without cause, nor fear evil Symptoms arising against Rea­son, for the most part of those are inconstant, and do not last any long time; for when any vehement Disease ceaseth of it self without any evacuation ei­ther by Sweat, Vomit, Flux downward or upward by He­morrage, or without any sign of concoction, that ease is not to be taken for granted, neither must it be believed, seeing it doth threaten that something of greater evil will follow there­on; neither need affrightment be [Page 77]upon the evils which befall without, or rather contrary to Reason, as difficulty of Brea­thing, Ravery, Shivering, Redu­plication of the Fever, seeing they are not constant, nor of long continuance, and so far they are from signifying any thing that is evil that on the contrary they often presage a good Crise, which shall arrive to the great ease of the Patient.

CANON I.

WHosoever will exactly keep the Method of right proceeding in the Cure, ought to begin at the first Indications, then to come to those that follow, afterwards to the next, and never to leave off till he shall come to the end pretended. Indication is here to be taken for that which ser­veth [Page 80]to teach the way in the cure of the Disease, to attain to Health.

Canon 2.

The Forces, Strength, or Spi­rits ought before all things to be preserved and encouraged in those who are diseased; After the indication of the Forces follows the consideration of the Indisposition which is proposed to be cured; the Force or Spi­rit intends alwayes the Conser­vation, and the Indisposition its Ablation: now as the Forces are kept and conserved by the like, so the Indisposition is ta­ken away by the contrary.

Canon 3.

In all diseases where the effi­cient cause is yet present, the cure must begin at the same, for it is impossible to cure any Dis­ease perfectly while the cause that ingenders it doth continue; so the Maladies never cease till [Page 81]the evil humours ingendring them be banished; which evil humours do lurk within the bo­dy.

Canon 4.

After the taking away of the Cause, the judgement is to be directed to the Disease ingen­dred of that Cause, keeping for a generall rule first the ablation or removing of the Cause effi­cient, and next of the Ma­lady.

Canon 5.

The cure of the Symptome is first intended, but alway that of the Malady which causeth the Symptome, yet when the Sym­ptome menaceth with Death, or greater or suddener danger then the Disease it self, the cure of it may be first attempted.

Canon 6.

Whilest the Disease is grow­ing, the growth of it must be hindred, and that part taken a­way that is already ingendred; [Page 82]the generation of that which is to come is hindred by taking a­way the Cause antecedent, and the Malady already ingendred is banished by taking away the cause conjoyned.

Canon 7.

In all Diseases caused or Flu­xion, that is first to be stopped which is flowing, and next that which is already flowed is to be drawn forth; therefore the cure of a Phlegmon or fluxion of Blood, a Catarrh, or defluxion of Rheum, and of all other Di­seases which are caused by a Fluxion, look all to two ends; the one is, that the humour which is running be stay'd, the other, that that of it which is al­ready in the part be evacua­ted.

Canon 8.

In all Diseases complicate, where one cannot be cured [Page 83]without the other, there must be respect had to Order; now Me­thod or Order ever requireth the cure of the first which hin­dreth the cure of the other, as if a Phlegmon be accompanied with an Ulcer, the first is first to be taken away, and then the o­ther is to be cicatriced.

Canon 9.

When two Indications are directly opposite one to the o­ther, the one is not to be so re­garded as that the other be neg­lected, but rather having as good care of this as of that, a mixture must be contrived as equall as may be: As for ex­ample, if one be troubled by two so contrary Diseases, that one desires a hot, the other a cold remedy, in this case the re­medy used must be temperate, to the end it do no harm to one or the other Disease, but be ra­ther [Page 84]ther helpfull to both; so when the Stomack is cold, and the Liver over-hot, things tempe­rate mixed of hot and cold in­gredients are most convenient and agreeable, or else an alter­native use sometimes of the one and sometimes of the other: hence it is that when a Pleg­mon is in its growth, there mix­ed Repercussives with Dige­stives.

Canon 10.

When a Repugnancy is ob­served to be amongst the Indi­cations, after mature conside­ration had of the decay of the Spirits, as also upon the Indica­tion of the cause of the Disease, it is best to follow that which is most important, withall by no means neglecting the other.

Canon 11.

That maxime is most necessa­ry to be followed which com­mands [Page 85]first to cure the most im­portant danger; (for the Indi­sposition that is the first and principall cause of precipitating the Disease in any danger ought first to be helped) wherefore ex­cessive watching, cruell pain, all evacuations out of measure, chiefly of Blood, the suppression of superfluities & other the like symptomes, which weaken the Spirits and augment the Disease in sort that some danger do sud­denly appear, doth often con­strain the Physitian to delay the cure of the Sickness, and to deal with those symptomes.

Canon 12.

The generall method of cu­ring Diseases is accomplished by the convenient quantity and quality of the remedies, with the manner and time of using them.

Canon. 13.

It is requisite that all the Re­medies [Page 86]be contrary in quality to the Disease, for contra contrariis curantur: for if all that which is immoderate be contrary to na­ture, and that which is mode­rate be agreeable to nature, of necessity it will follow, that that which is out of measure must be brought to measure by its contrary degree of measure: hence it is that all Diseases in­gendered of Repletion are cu­red by Evacuation, and those that proceed of Evacuation are cured by Repletion, and so like­wise of others.

Canon 14.

The temper of the body di­seased with the Disease it self, shews the measure of the con­trariety, forasmuch as it is not enough to apply cold Remedies to a hot Disease, if it be not done with a measure reasona­ble, for being not equal in mea­sure, [Page 87]it is to be feared that some portion of the Disease will re­main, or else being excessive the contrary Diseases will be occasioned to encounter; it is therefore most requisite to know the nature of the body that is to be concerned, that so under­standing how far the disease ex­ceeds mediocrity, the proporti­on of the frigidative or cooling Remedy may exactly be mea­sured; therefore the quantity of every Remedy ought to be measur'd according to the com­plexion of the Patient, and greatness of his sickness.

Canon 15.

The contrary Remedies must be put in use by little and little, now and then making intermis­sion, for it is dangerous to eva­cuate all at once, or else to fill, to hear, or cool, or to change the body suddenly in any other [Page 88]manner; for all that which is excessive is an enemy to nature, but that which is done by de­grees is without danger, wherby it wil become surer to make mo­derate use of contrary remedies, then to use them excessively and suddenly, because Nature doth not suffer sudden changes without hazard.

Canon 16.

When Diseases are in the be­ginning, then move that which seems good to be moved, but when they are in their vigour it is better to let them alone in rest, for it is more expedient to use remedies in the beginning then in the height of the Dis­ease, for two reasons; one be­cause the accidents are weaker at the entring and at the end then in the height; the other because Nature wholly employ­ed at that time about the conco­ction [Page 89]and excretion of the noy­some humour, ought not to be diverted or hindred by any re­medy; for seeing the digestion is then, it is better in the begin­ning to evacuate a part of the vicious humour, that Nature may the more easily overcome the rest; but when the Malady is in its vigour, Nature busied already about the concoction, it is no proper time to use eva­cuation.

Canon 17.

If the espece or kind of the Sickness be so obscure that it cannot be taken up at the first, there needs no hast in using re­medies, rather suffer Nature to work it out her self; for being helpt by a good diet, in the end she will drive the sickness forth where she pleaseth to manifest it, for a remedy uncertain and doubtfull cannot be ordained [Page 90]without prejudice; if perhaps there be necessity to use any, let it, at the least, be light, to the end that if it be not profitable, it may not yet be hurtfull.

Canon 18.

A simple Cure is sufficient for a simple Disease, but when it is compounded with another, then it requires a composed Re­medy.

Canon 19.

For the accomplishing of the Cure, it is not enough that the Physitian do his duty, but that both the Patient and such as at­tend do theirs also, that there be nothing wanting of that which is required; for it is requisite that the diseased strive to fight with the disease by means of the Me­dicine, and so to obey the Phy­sitian, and not to give license to his own desires; he ought also to have people about fitting for [Page 91]his service, being well lodged, and furnished with commodi­ties needful, and not have them to seek.

Canon 20.

The Physitian, who doth all things according to reason, ought not to change his end proposed in his method propo­sed from the beginning, though all things succeed not according to expectation; for it is but small wisdome lightly to acquit that which one seemed expedi­ent, though the success have failed; for as the mark of a drop of water falling on a stone doth not appear sensible, but after a long space it falls; even so it is in raw and indigested diseases, which receive no coction but with difficulty; unto which, when Reason hath found that which is convenient according to all Indications considered [Page 92]one after another, one must not leave off the course intended, although there hath no manifest utility been found from it, if so it be that some other accident do not happen which doth con­strain to acquit the first purpose, for there is no reason to use the remedies which indicatious did lead unto.

Canon 21.

There be three sorts of Re­medies by which all indispositi­ons are cured that be curable, that is to say, by Diet, by Chy­rurgy or mutuall Operation, and by Pharmacy or Medicines, out­ward and inward: it is requisite that the diet be repugnant to the Sickness and familiar to Na­ture, for wholsom food is that which is contrary to that which is contrary to nature, and like to that which is according to nature; so hot meats are con­venient for cold diseases, moist [Page 93]and humid meats for the dry, and drying food for the weak and moist; wherefore it is ex­pedient to prescribe a strict diet to fat and fleshy people, for such diet drieth.

Canon 22.

Meat and drink more plea­sant to the tast, but less profita­ble is to be preferred before that which is more profitable and pleasant, for meats are to be permitted which are not best, not onely to gratifie the sick, but also for his further good, because the stomack embraceth the meat more strictly, and keeps better that which is taken willingly, and with great con­tentment digests it better; on the contrary, it rejects and disdains such foods as are disa­greeable to the tast, because they move a desire of vomiting, or cause some fluctuating or in­flation [Page 94]in the stomach, therefore the Patient must be humoured in such things as are indifferent, and not very hurtfull.

Canon 23.

In the ordaining of the Diet there must be care had of former customes, for things of a long time accustomed, although worse, do commonly hurt less then those which are not in cu­stome.

Canon 24.

When the disease is in its vi­gour, it is then necessary to use a very slender diet, as well for the greatness of the Symptomes, as for the coction of the hu­mours, for nature must not be hindred in the coction of the humours by the coction of the meat.

Canon 25.

When the Disease is violent and quick, it immediately cau­seth [Page 95]extream pain and dolour, wherefore a most sharp & weak diet is then most requisite, be­cause such a disease is in the vi­gour the first dayes, as the grie­vous Symptomes which do in­continently accompany from the beginning do bear witness; for a sharp sickness is that which attains to its height in the first four dayes or little after.

Canon 26.

So soon as the sickness by its violence doth shew that it is drawing near the height, then a strict diet must be enjoyned; but when the height is long in continuing, as it falls out in long diseases, then a larger di­et would be used till the appro­ching to the height, or a little before, and then it must be re­strained; strict and small diets are dangerous in long diseases, because they abate the spirits [Page 96]which ought to be preserved in their integtity, to the end they may resist the height of the dis­ease.

Canon 27.

When the body is not clear, the more it is nourish'd the more it is hurt, for seeing that the body full of vicious humors hath more need of evacuation then nutrition, it appears that they should not be too much nourished, because these evil humours gather'd a long time in the body do spoyl the food new­ly received, so that thereby the Chacochymie or evil digestion is augmented to the double, which falls out chiefly when the stomach is foul; for even as mi­xing clear water with muddy, it becometh all muddy and trou­bled, so the meat, although pure and clear of it self, yet ta­ken by a great quantity into [Page 97]a foul body, becomes wholly corrupt.

Canon 28.

A larger diet must be granted to children then to old folks, and a mediocre to those of a middle age, because old men endure hunger easily, and next to them such as are entring into the declining age, young men worse, and worst of all boyes, for such as are growing have much of the naturall heat, and therefore have much need of nourishment, otherwise the bo­dy would consume, but there is little heat in old bodies, therefore they need not much nourishment, for too much would choak them.

Canon 29.

The great Cavities in the bo­dy, in Winter and in the Spring are naturally hotter then at any other time, and the sleep longer, [Page 98]wherefore in these the diet may be larger (by the Cavities the stomack is understood, the whole belly containing the guts and the rest of the natural parts which are appointed for digestion.) If any one desire to know why the naturall heat is augmented in Winter, Ari­stotle attributes the cause to the circumsisting air which is then colder, by which means it dri­veth the natural heat inward, whereas in Summer it extends itself ordinarily through the whole body; towards the heat which is without, as familiar to it. Hence it is that in the Sum­mer the substance is dissipated and exhales, but in the Winter it is holden in and keeps there, and therefore all the coction is the better made.

Canon 30.

As to the form and manner [Page 99]of diet, one should eat less in the Somer, and in the Harvest, and more often, but in the Win­ter and Spring more seldome, but more abundantly, because in the Somer and the Harvest one doth hardly digest meat, but in Winter very easily, and in the Spring moderately well.

Canon 31.

Such bodies as have been ex­tenuated by long sickness must be nourished gently, and repai­red by little and little; and those bodies that have been sud­denly brought down must be speedily restored.

Canon 32.

When the sickness gives in­termission and leisure, then it is time to give meat to the Pati­ent, but during the access and increase of the disease he must abstain, for meat is then hurtful, because it withdraws nature [Page 100]from the digestion of the hu­mour to the concoction of the nouriture, and because by it the disease is augmented.

Canon 33.

Amongst the operations of Chyrurgery, Phlebotomy, or drawing of blood, keeps the first rank, because it is the common remedy of diseases which pro­ceed of plenitude or fulness, for by it an evacuation is made of the humours equally, that course being for such infirmi­ties the most exquisite of all o­ther.

Canon 34.

Phlebotomy is not onely a re­medy evacuative, but also re­vulsive and derivative, for it is profitable to turn the course of the Flux to the opposite part, or desire to turn it aside to the neighbour part.

Canon 35.

In hot Fevers blood must be drawn, even to the fainting of the spirits and heart, if strength will bear it; which course must be used in great inflammations and extreme pains; for if blood be drawn in hot Fevers till the heart faint, the whole body is immediately cooled, and the vehement heat extinguished; after which there followeth a flux of the belly, and a Sweat; by this means some are wholly cured of a Fever, and others re­ceive great ease; when the ve­hemency of that sickness is past, this sort of bleeding is likewise good in great inflamations, both for the former reasons, and be­cause it stops the flux causing the inflamation, as also it hin­ders the growth of the Phleg­mon, by which likewise it ap­peaseth the great dolours caused [Page 102]by the heat of the Fever, and of its inflamations; wherefore there is not found a remedy more so­veraign for insupportable do­lours then this of Phlebotomy or bleeding.

Canon 36.

If the sickness do require it, much blood must be drawn, al­wayes provided the spirits do permit it; but if they fail, then take it by little and little, and at divers times, for all extreme e­vacuations are dangerous, and chiefly bleeding all at once.

Canon 37.

They to whom purging and bleeding are profitable, ought to be purged & bled in the Spring, for that season is most proper to make evacuation by Phleboto­my or Pharmacy, because at that time there is no extraordi­nary heat to weaken the body by exhalation, nor great cold to [Page 103]make it stiff by congealing the humours in it, nor yet unequall to disturb the spirits, but rather a moderate temper.

Canon 38.

There is great cause of delibe­ration to be had in opening a veyn upon a woman with child, because a woman with child be­ing let blood may thereby be brought to be delivered before her time, if the child be great, because thereby the child is robbed of its food, and shall fa­mish in the womb of the mo­ther, which will cause it to break the bounds and seek elsewhere for nourishment, and all before the maturity of time, except the mother abound in blood; for then the fear is so needless, as in case that administration be not used, both the mother and the child are in danger, as hath been observed upon some of the most [Page 104]eminent Ladies in the Court of France, where this course hath been preferred to prevent the child from be choked with the too great abundance of blood.

Canon 39.

Purgative Medicines ought to be ordained to Cacochymick Diseases, that is to say, to purge Choler in cholerick people, Phlegmon in phlegmaticks, and so of the rest, for the cure of a Chacochymy or evil digestion is made by a Purgation, which is particularly appropriate to the humour that abounds, and a­mongst the alterative Potions, cold are ordained for the hot, and hot for the cold distempers, dry for the humid, and humid for the dry, for the cold & moist would be made hot and dry.

Canon 40.

Strong Potions may be given [Page 105]to strong Diseases, and gentle Medicines to the more mild, for extreme remedies are requisite in extremities; so the Roman Orator endeavouring to shew how a couragious man should enterprize hazards, saith, That in the presenting himself to dan­gers he must imitate the cu­stomes of Physitians, who do handle gently such as are but slightly troubled, but in greater diseases are constrained to make use of remedies more dangerous and doubtfull.

Canon 41.

Such humours as require ex­pulsion must be expelled by the wayes most proper, whereunto Nature inclineth, and they must be diverted, if they make not their course by the way they ought; the Physitian therefore ought carefully to observe the motion of Nature, and the in­clination [Page 106]of the humour aboun­ding, for if it intend to any place fitting then to help it, otherwise to divert and draw it into the right course; so if phlegmatick and melancholick humours take their course downward, and nature have assay'd already to subdue the fever by retract, the Physitian ought to prescribe a Clister, or some other proper re­medy to stir up nature; and if a cholerick humour bend up­ward, and nature strive to expel it at the mouth; a Vomit is ex­pedient to be prescribed to draw the humour thither where Nature chiefly aimes; he that doth otherwise shall change the order and course of Nature, he shal over-strain the spirits, and put the Patient in hazard.

Canon 42.

In very sharp sicknesses pur­ging is necessary the very same [Page 107]day, if the humour be moved, for it is not good to drive over time then, as saith Hypocrates, for fear that the evil growing, the spirits become weaker, and the wandring humours seize on some noble part; if therefore in most sharp and violent disea­ses Nature appear to be touched with a great and ardent desire to discharge her self of superfluous humours, purging must be im­mediately made; and because Desire doth not often overtake Nature, to disburthen her self of vicious humours in the begin­ning of such diseases, good ad­vice must be taken to purge pur­gations in time of such sicknes­ses.

Canon 43.

Before the body be purged, it must be prepared, and the hu­mours must be made fluxile, o­therwise the purgation will not be without great pain and diffi­culty, [Page 108]grinding of the belly, in­quietude, fainting, debility of the pulse, and dissolution of the spi­rits; wherefore to make the body fluxile, all the passages of it are to be opened, and the gross hu­mours within are to be made li­quid.

Canon 44.

The humours must be digested and prepared, and ought not to be purged, raw and unprepared, and not in the beginning of any disease, except they be moved, and have no fixed place; for as Nature is by no means moved to the evacuating of any hu­mour, except she have first pre­pared the matter; so the Physiti­an ought to purge the matter that is digested, not that which is indigested, because indigested humours are slow to be moved, by reason of their viscosity and grosness; insomuch as they stop the passages that go from the [Page 109]extremities of the body to the belly, from which the Medicine doth draw them, and so they come to move troublesome Symptomes by not going forth.

Canon 45.

Women with child may be purged, if the matter be moved between the 4 and 7 moneth, but sooner or later is to be fea­red, for the infant is fastned to the body of the mother, after the same manner that fruits are fast­ned to trees; Fruits newly bud­ded have stalks so tender, that being beaten by any violent wind they fall easily to the ground, but with time being more firmly fixed, they fall not so ea­sily untill they be come to their maturity, and then they fall of themselves without violence; even so fares it with women af­ter their conception, if they fall into any slippery part, or move [Page 110]by any means either the spirit or the body, the new conception will easily fall forth; so also fares it with them when the children are great, but in the middle term of the time they go with child, they cleave faster to the body, and are not so subject to be expelled, or to miscarry; wherefore women with child may in their middle time suffer stronger motions without hur­ting their fruit, and therefore may in that time be better pur­ged.

Canon 46.

When the Crise is, or when it hath already been, and the hu­mours are finally expelled, then nothing ought to be moved, no­thing changed, neither by Phy­sick nor any other thing that may irritate or stir Nature, but rather suffer Nature to work it out her self; for seeing the Crise is a work of Nature, and not of [Page 111]the Physitian, when she is about it, or hath already absolved it, the Physitian ought to move no­thing, but rather suffer her for fear of troubling her action, a­bout which she being wholly employed, it is her business.

But if the Crise have been im­perfect, it is the duty of the Phy­sitian to purge that which rests of the vicious humours, fearing lest by process of time, putrify­ing within the body, they renew the sickness.

Canon 47.

During the Canicular dayes, laxative Medicines are not good, for all strong purgations are hardly supported at that time, for these reasons; First, be­cause all purgative Medicines being naturally hot, do inflame the body already warmed by the heat of the aire; secondly, be­cause they dissipate the spirits already weakned by the vehe­mency [Page 112]of the heat; thirdly, be­cause the action of a purging Medicine, and that of the envi­roning aire are contrary, that drawing from without inward, and this from within outward.

Canon 48.

The lower part of the body or Epigastre being far extenuate, cannot suffer purgations by the stoole without danger.

Canon 49.

When a Defluxion is on any part that is troubled, it must be repelled; wherefore Repercus­sives that have vertu to bind, are proper in the beginning of any Defluxion, for two respects; one because they so fortifie the part, that it receiveth not the super­fluities that abound so quickly; the other because they presse forth the most subtile portion of that which is already placed there.