their examples, not obstinately and wilfully to eschue and shunne these
two remedies in hot seasons, and in the time of the Dog-dayes, (much
lesse all other manner of physicall helpes) not once knowing so much as
why, or wherefore, and without any reason at all, following blind and
superstitious tradition, and error, haply first broched by some unworthy
and ignorant Physitian, not rightly understanding _Hippocrates_ his
saving in all likelyhood, or at least wise misapplying it. Which hath
so prevailed in these times, that it hath not onely worne out the use of
purging, but also of all other physicke for that season, because most
people by the name of physicke understanding purging onely, and nothing
else. As though the art and science of Physicke was nothing else, but to
give a potion or purge. Then we rightly and truly might say, _Filia
devor avit matrem_.
But for as much as most people are altogether ignorant of the true
ground or reason, from whence this so dangerous an error concerning the
Dog-dayes did first spring and arise, give me leave a little to goe on
with this my digression, for their better instruction, and satisfaction:
and I will briefly, and in a few lines shew the case, and the mistake
somewhat more plainly.
_Hippocrates_ in his fourth booke of Aphorismes, the fift, hath these
words: _Sub canicula, & ante caniculam difficiles sunt purgationes._
That is, under the canicular, or dog-star, and before the dog-star,
purgations are painfull and difficill. This is all that is there said of
them, or brought against them for that season, or time of the yeare. A
great stumbling-blocke against which many have dashed their feet, and
knockt their shinnes, and a fearfull scar-crow, whereat too many have
nicely boggled. Here you doe not find or see purging medicines to bee
then prohibited, or forbidden to be given at all (much lesse all other
physicke) but onely said to be difficill in their working: partly
because (as all expositors agree) nature is then somewhat enfeebled by
the great heat of the weather; partly because the humours being then, as
it were, accended are more chaffed by the heat of the purging medicines;
partly, and lastly, because two contrary motions seeme then to be at one
and the same time, which may offend nature; as the great heat of the
weather leading the humours of the body outwardly to the circumference
thereof, and the medicine drawing them inwardly to the center. All which
circumstances in our cold region are little, or nothing at all (as
formerly hath beene mentioned) to be regarded. For as _Jacobus
Hollerius_, a French Physitian, much honoured for his great learning and
judgement, hath very well observed in his Comment upon this Aphorisme;
_Hippocrates_ speaketh here onely of those purging medicines, which are
strong, and vehement, or hot and fiery; and that this precept is to take
place in most hot Regions, but not in these cold Countries, as _France_,
_England_, and the like.
Over and beside all this, those churlish hot purging medicines, which
were then in frequent use in _Hippocrates_ his time, and some hundred of
yeares after, are now for most part obsolete, and quite growne out of
use, seldom brought in practice by Physitians in these dayes; because we
have within these last six hundred yeares great choice and variety of
more mild, benigne, and gentle purgatives found out by the Arabian
Physitians, which were altogether unknowne unto the ancients, to wit,
_Hippocrates, Dioscorides, Galen, &c._ which have little heat, and
acrimony, many whereof are temperate, and divers cooling, which may most
safely be given either in the hottest times and seasons of the yeare, or
in the hottest diseases. Let us adde to these the like familiar and
gentle purging medicines more lately, yea, almost daily newly found out
since the better discoveries of the East and West Indies. So that
henceforth let no man feare to take either easie purgatives, or other
inward Physicke, in the time of the canicular, or dog-dayes.
The same _Hollerius_ goeth on in the exposition and interpretation of
the said Aphorisme, and confidently saith: _Over & besides that we have
benigne medicines which we may then use, as Cassia, &c._ Wee know and
finde by experience no time here with us more wholsome and more
temperat (especially when the Etesian, or Easterly, winds do blow) then
the Canicular dayes: so that, wee finde by observation, that those
diseases which are bred in the moneths of June and July, doe end in
August, and in the Canicular dayes. Wherefore, if a disease happen in
those dayes, we feare not to open a veyne divers times, and often, as
also to prescribe more strong purging medicines.
Wherefore away henceforth with the scrupulous conceit, and too nice
feare of the Dogge-dayes, and let their supposed danger be had no more
in remembrance among us. And if any will yet remaine obstinate, and
still refuse to have their beames pulled out of their eyes, let them
still be blinde in the middest of the cleare Sun-shine, and groape on
after darkness; and let all learned Physitians rather pitty their
follies, then envy their wits.
_CHAP_. 13.
_=At what time of the yeare, and at what houre of the day it is most fit
and meet to drinke this water.=_
To speake in generall tearmes, it is a fit time to drinke it, when the
ayre is pure, cleare, hot and dry: for then the water is more tart, and
more easily digested, then at other times. On the contrary, it is best
to forbeare, when the ayre is cold, moist, darke, dull and misty: for
then it is more feeble, and harder to be concocted.
But more specially, the most proper season to undertake this our English
Spaw dyet, will be from the middest or latter end of June to the middle
of September, or longer, according as the season of the yeare shall fall
out to be hot and dry, or otherwise.
Not that in the Spring-time, and in Winter it is not also good, but for
that the ayre being more pure in Sommer, the water also must needs be of
greater force and power. Notwithstanding it may sometime so happen in
Sommer, that by reason of some extraordinary falling of raine, there may
be a cessation from it for a day or two. Or if it chance to have rained
over night, it will then be fit and necessary to refraine from drinking
of it, untill the raine bee passed away againe: or else (which I like
better) the fountaine laded dry, and filled againe, which may well be
done in an hower, or two at most.
Touching the time of the day, when it is best to drinke this water,
questionlesse the most convenient hower will be in the morning, when the
party is empty, and fasting, about seaven aclocke: Nature having first
discharged her selfe of daily excrements both by stoole and urine, and
the concoctions perfected. This time is likewise fittest for exercise,
which is a great good help, and furtherance for the better distribution
of the water, whereby it doth produce its effects more speedily.
_CHAP_. 14.
_=Of the manner of drinking this water, and the quantitie thereof.=_
Those who desire the benefit of this Fountaine, ought to goe to it
somewhat early in the morning, &, if they be able and strong of body,
they may doe very well to walke to it on foot, or at least wise some
part of the way. Such, as have weake and feeble leggs may ride on
horsebacke, or be caryed in coaches, or borne in chaires. As for those,
whose infirmities cause them to keepe their beds, or chambers, they may
drinke the water in their lodgings, it being speedily brought to them in
a vessell or glasse well stopt.
It is not my meaning or purpose to describe here particularly, what
quantitie of it is fit and meet for every one to drinke; for this is
part of the taske and office, which belongeth to the Physitian, who
shall be of counsell with the Patient in preparing and well ordering of
him; who is to consider all the severall circumstances, as well of the
maladie or disease it selfe, as of his habite and constitution, &c.
Neverthelesse I may advise, that at the first it be moderately taken,
increasing the quantitie daily by degrees, untill they shall come at
last to the full height of the proportion appointed, and thought to be
meet and necessary. There they are then to stay, and so to continue at
that quantitie, so long as it shall be needfull. For example, the first
morning may happely be 16 or 18 ounces, and so on by degrees to 20. 30.
40. 50. 60. or moe, in people, who are of good and strong constitutions.
Towards the ending, the abatement ought likewise to be made by degrees,
as the increment was formerly made by little and little.
Here by the way every one must be admonished to take notice, that it is
not alwayes best to drinke most, lest they chance to oppresse and
overcharge Nature, that would rather be content with lesse. It will
therefore be more safe, to take it rather somewhat sparingly, though for
a longer time, then liberally and for a short time. But, indeed the
truest and justest proportion of it, is ever to be made and esteemed, by
the good and laudable concoction of it, and by the due and orderly
voiding of it againe.
It will not be here amisse to adde this one observation further; That it
is better to drinke this water once a day, then twice, and that in the
mornings, after that the Sunne hath dryed up & consumed the vapors
retained through the coldnesse of the night, &c. as is formerly
declared. After drinking it, it will be needfull to abstaine from meat &
other drinke for the space of three or foure dayes. [hours?]
But if any one, who hath a good stomacke, shall be desirous to take it
twice a day; or if any shall bee necessarily compelled so to doe for
some urgent cause, by the approbation of his Physitian, let him dine
somewhat sparingly, and drinke it not againe, untill five houres after
dinner be past, or not untill the concoction of meat and drinke in the
stomacke be perfected: Observing likewise, that hee content himselfe in
the afternoones with almost halfe the quantity he useth to take in the
mornings.
_CHAP_. 15.
_=Of the manner of dyet to be observed by those who shall use this
water.=_
The regiment of life in meats and drinks, ought chiefly to consist in
the right and moderate use of those, which are of light and easie
digestion, and of good and wholesome nourishment, breeding laudable
juice. Therefore all those are to be avoyded, which beget crude and ill
humours. There ought furthermore speciall notice to be taken, that great
diversity of meats and dishes at one meale is very hurtfull, as also
much condiments, sauces, spice, fat, &c. in their dressing and cookery.
I commend hens, capons, pullets, chickens, partridge, phesants, turkies,
and generally all such small birds, as live in woods, hedges, and
mountaines. Likewise I doe approve of veale, mutton, kid, lambe,
rabbets, young hare or leverits, &c. All which (for the most part) are
rather to be roasted then boyled. Neverthelesse those, who are affected
with any dry distemper, or those, who otherwise are so accustomed to
feed, may have their meats sodden; but the plainer dressing, the better.
I discommend all salt meats, beefe, bacon, porke, larde, and larded
meats, hare, venison, tripes, and the entrailes of beasts, puddings made
with blood, pig, goose, swan, teale, mallard, and such like; and in
generall all water-fowle, as being of hard digestion and ill nutriment.
Amongst the severall kinds of fishes, trouts, pearches, loaches, and for
most part, all scaly fish of brookes, and fresh rivers may well bee
permitted. Moreover smelts, soales, dabs, whitings, sturbuts, gurnets,
and all such other, as are well knowne not to be ill, or unwholesome to
feed on. All which may be altered with mint, hyssope, anise, &c. Also
cre-fishes, crab-fish, lobsters, and the like, may bee permitted.
Cunger, salmon, eeles, lampries, herrings, salt-ling, all salt-fish,
sturgion, anchovies, oysters, cockles, muscles, and the like shell-fish
are to be disallowed.
White-meats, as milke, cruds, creame, old cheese, custards, white-pots,
pudding-pyes, and other like milke-meats, (except sweet butter and new
creame cheese) are to be forbidden. Soft and reer egges we doe not
prohibit.
Raisons with almonds, bisket-bread, marchpane-stuffe, suckets, and the
like, are not here forbidden to be eaten.
Let their bread be made of wheat, very well wrought, fermented or
leavened; and let their drinke be beere well boyled and brewed: and let
it bee stale, or old enough, but in no wise tart, sharp, or sower: And
above all let them forbeare to mixe the water of the fountaine with
their drinke at meales: for that may cause many inconveniences to
follow, and ensue.
Let me advise them to eschew apples, peares, plumbs, codlings,
gooseberries, and all such like sommer fruits, either raw, in tarts, or
other wise: Also pease, and all other pulse; all cold sallets, and raw
hearbs; onions, leekes, chives, cabbage or coleworts, pompons,
cucumbers, and the like.
In stead of cheese at the end of meales, it will not bee amisse to eate
citron, or lemon pils condited, or else fenell, anise, coriander
comfits, or biskets and carawayes, as well for to discusse and expell
wind, as to shut and close the stomacke, for the better furthering the
digestion of meats and drinkes. And for that purpose, it would bee much
better, if the Physitian, who is of counsell, should appoint and ordaine
some fit and proper Tragea in grosse powder mixed with sugar, or else
made into little cakes or morsels. Likewise marmalade of quinces, either
simple or compound, (such as the Physitians do often prescribe to their
patients) may be used very commodiously.
After dinner they ought to use no violent exercise, neither ought they
to sit still, sadly, heavy, and musing, nor to slumber, and sleepe; but
rather to stirre a little, and to raise up the spirits for an houre or
two, by some fit recreation. After supper they may take a walke into the
fields, or Castle yard.
_CHAP_. 16.
_=Of the Symtomes or accidents, which may now and then chance to happen
to some one or other in the use of this water.=_
Although those who are of good and strong constitutions, observing the
aforenamed direction, doe seldome or never receive any harme, or
detriment by drinking this water: notwithstanding it may sometime so
fall forth, that some of the weaker sort may perhaps observe some
little, or small inconvenience thereby, as retention of it in the body:
inflation of the bellie: costivenesse, and the like. Wherefore to
gratifie those, a word [or] two of every one shall suffice.
First then, for to cause a more ready and speedy passage of it by urine,
it will not be amisse to counsell the partie after his returne to his
lodging to goe to his naked bed for an houre or two, that thereby
warmnesse, and naturall heat may be brought into each part of the body,
the passages more opened, and nature by that meanes made more fit and
apt for the expulsion of it. During which time it will be very requisite
to apply hot cloathes to the stomack: but not so as to provoke sweat. Or
else, to cause it to voyd and evacuate either by urine, stoole, or
sweat, exercise will be a good helpe and furtherance: if the party be
fit for it. But if neither of these will prevaile, then a sharp glyster
ought to be administered.
The inflation or swelling of the belly hapneth principally to those, who
have feeble and weake stomacks; who may do very wel to eate anise,
fenell, or coriander comfits at the fountaine betweene every draught,
and to walke a little after; or else some carminative Lozenges, made
with grosse powders, spices and seeds for breaking of wind: or what
other thing the learned Physitian shall deeme to be most fit and proper
in his wisdome, and judgment. But if the inflation chance to be very
great, then a carminative glyster must be ordained.
Such as shall be very costive may doe well to eat moistning meats, and
to use mollifying hearbes, raisons stoned, corants, damascene prunes,
butter, or the yolkes of egges, and the like in their broths, or
pottage. If these will not be sufficient, then let a day be spared from
drinking the water, and let the party take some lenitive medicine, as
laxative corants, or some such like thing: whereof the Physitian hath
ever great choice and variety, wherewith he can fit directly every one
his case; to whom present recourse ever ought to be had, when any of
these, or the like accidents doe happen, as likewise in all other cases
of waight and moment.
FINIS.