SEeing you are desirous to bee admitted to the practise of physicke ; let mee heare how you know your selfe fitte and able to practice in so noble an Arte ; for euerie man is not sitte to be a Physition , according to the prouerbe , Ex quolibet ligno non fit Mercurius : therefore tell me first , what manner of man a Physition must be .

A Physition must be learned , Medici Dores . iudiciall , sober , of honest conuersation , not full of wordes , but secret , chaste , truely Religious , not couetous , or giuen to wine ; and finally , hee must be a Philosopher , according to the saying , vbi desinit Philosophus , incipit Medicus .

It is most true , and that is it which Hippocrates crieth out on , when hee did perceiue how hard a matter it was to bee a perfect , Physition : vitae breuis , ars longa , occasio praeceps , experimentum periculosum , iudicium difficile . As if he should haue said , the whole life of man will not suffice to attaine vnto a full knowledge of the Arte of Physick ; for it spreadeth it selfe so large , that if it bee compared with the course of mans life , the life is so short , that it is not sufficient to attaine to a full knowledge of the whole Arte. And Galen himselfe affirmeth , in Libro De pulsibus , that hee had spent many yeares in the practise thereof , and yet could not attaine to a perfect knowledge of the same . If then this happened vnto the Prince of Physitions ( Hippocrates excepted ) what may we thinke our selues able to attaine vnto ? If , I say , hee spent so much time and labour in one part of physicke , how much time and labour may bee required to attaine to a fulll knowledge of the whole art ? And therfore it is a great error in such men , that doe dreame that the art of physicke may be easily attined vnto : so that if they haue gotten two or three Chimical medicines , without any other grounds ; they professe themselues to be great Doctors and cunning Physitions . But to let that passe ; let me heare your definition of physicke : tell me , what is physicke ?

Physicke is an arte that doth preserue the body of man in health ; and being sicke , cureth the diseases of the same .

Or physicke , according to Hippocrates , is adiection , and subtraction : or according to Galen in his Arte paerua ; It is the knowledge of things healthfull , of things vnhealthfull , and of neither .

Shew me how that may be .

It may bee three waies , as the body , the cause , and the signe : as that is a healthful body which enioyeth health ; a healthful cause which worketh or conserueth health : that is an healthful signe which doth demonstrate health to bee present : and that is said to bee an vnhealthfull body which is sickely : and vnhealthfull cause , which worketh the disease : an vnhealthful signe , which sheweth the kind and greatnesse of the disease , or doeth premonstrate the euent thereof . We call that a neuter , that neither enioyeth health nor sickenes , which is not perfectly sound , nor yet sicke .

Or physick is the study of things natural , of things not natural , and of things against nature .

Into how many parts is physick diuided ?

There ●re in generall fine parts of physicke : the 1. is Physiologia , and searcheth out the whole nature and constitution of man : th● 2 is Hugiena , and doth study in the preseruation of the health of man : the 3. is Pathologia , and is exerc●●ed in searching out the sickn●●● & the cause : the 4 is Semcou●●e , and is exercised in hewing the signe either o●●ife or death : the 5. is Therapeutica , and that teacheth the order of curing , affects besides nature : and vnder this last part is comprehended three other parts , Dieta , compositio medicamentorum , and Chirurgia .

I see you are reasonably wel acquainted with the definition , and diuision of the art . But you told me but now that physick was the study of things natural , of things not natural , and of things against nature : tell mee , what are those things that you terme naturall ?

Those things that are termed Res naturales . naturall are seuen : Elements , temperaments , humours , spirits , parts , faculties , and functions : in the knowledge of which Physiologia , or the knowledge of naturall things is exercised .

Tel me then , what is an Element ?

Element is a body most pure , and simple , & the least part of the same wherin Elementum quid . it is : which c●● not be diuided into any other kind , and of it all things natural haue their originall beginning . This definition is taken out of Galen and Aristotle , and therefore cannot be denied .

How many Elements are there ?

There are are foure Elements : viz. the fire , which is extreame hotte and moderately drie : the aire extreame moist and moderately hot : the water extream cold and moderately moist : the earth extream drie & moderately cold . In heat the fire with the aire , and in drines with the earth , in moisture the aire , with the water , and in heat with the fire ; in coldnesse the water with the earth , and in moisture with the aire ; the earth in drines with the fire , and in coldnesse with the water , doe all consent and agree . And as the water to the fire is extreame contrary , so is the aire to the earth : of the mixture of these Elements all naturall bodies haue their composition . And yet it is nothing necessary that they be equally mingled in the body , but according to that that hath dominion , the body is named cholerick , sanguin , phlegmatick , or melancholick ; and haue their denomination of the foure naturall humors : viz. choler , blood , flegme , and melancholy , which take their qualities of the Elements : for choler is hot & drie according to the nature of the fire , and blood is hot and moist according to the nature of the aire , flegme is cold & moist according to the water , & melancholy in no point doth disagree from the earth .

You haue well declared how naturall bodies are framed by the mixture of the Elements : let me heare how briefly you can shew me the differences of temperatures .

Temperatures are in number Temperamentum . nine , whereof there are eight do exceed ; and therefore they may be better called distemperatures , then temperatures : the ninth is temperate , for it doeth exceed in no quality . Of distemperatures there be foure simple , and foure compound : the simple are heat , cold , drines , & moisture , of the which ioyned together distemperatures are made . The ninth is neither hot , cold , dry , nor moist , & it is framed of them all : and that is it which the Grecians do call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that is , Bene temperatum , or according to the Arithmeticians , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Temperamentum ad pondus , a complexion measured by weight ; because there are as many degrees of heat as there are of cold , of drines as there are of moisture : the other which be distemperatures , be not measured by weight , but by dignity ; as in the heart wel tempered , heat doth exceed ; in the braine well tempered , moisture doth exceed ; in the fatte wel tempered , cold ; in Temperamentum secund. iustitiam distributiuam . the bones wel tempered , drines : and this is called temperamentum secundùm iustitiam distributiuam , a temperature rightly measured or disposed with equality .

But is it possible to find a body so complexioned that we may say , here is a body framed of the foure Elements , ad pondus , that is , to a iust & equal proportion ?

I am perswaded that it is altogether impossible for any man to find such a body , that the soure Elements may be said to be equally proportioned in him : for either heat or moisture hath still the predomination , or coldnes and drines . And yet I thinke it not to be impossible , but that there may be such a body . but hard to be found , as hard to come by as Quintilians Orator , or the wise man which the Stoicks defined : a man harder to come by then the rich Iewell , the Philosophers stone , which although diuers brag that it may be framed , yet it can neuer be attained vnto : so we may imagine such a man to bee , as by the consent of nature was neuer framed , nor is euer like to be . But if there be any that can find a man that is neither too grosse nor Definition of a temperate man . too slender nor very ful of haire , nor yet smoth & without haire , nor soft , nor yet hard , blacke nor white , hot nor cold , drie nor moist : and to be brief , such a one that keepeth a meane without al excesse , if , I say , we can find such a one , then are we sure we haue a body complexioned ad pondus , and to just proportion .

Then you conclude there can be found no body so framed , that it may be termed Corpus temperatum an pondus

It is very true . Read fernel . L●onar . Tuc. & Iohn Rolanus .

Then shew me the iudgement and signes of Temperaments .

That was I minded to performe if you had not spoken thereof : for it is to no end to know the differences of temperatures if we know not the signes of the same also . First then we know by the touching , heate from cold , moysture from drithe : and those that are of a soft disposition of body , the flesh being laxe and thinne , them wee iudge to bee moyst : those that haue a thicke and a hard skinne , them wee iudge to be drie . Then wee proceed as well to physicall actions , as to morall , neither doe wee account physicall onely naturall , but vitall , and the animall also . Morall actions are assects of a body concupiscible , angry , and rationall : for Galen in one booke doth teach that Animimores sequuntur temperamentum corporis : that the disposition of the mind doth follow the temperature of the bodie . In men that by nature are hot , the heart , and the Artiers beate vehemently : but in men of a cold disposition , the heart and pulse beate remisly and slowly : men of an hot disposition , are very much inclined to lust and venerie ; the cold disposition is for the most part very flow or vnable : notwithstanding it sometimes doth happen , that the hot complexion proueth vnfit for Venus , because the members of generation are ouer cold .

The hot complexion is prone vnto anger , they are of a proud and hautie stomack , but the cold are feareful , sober , and of an abiect mind : the hot complexion is crafty , subtill , and ingenious , but the cold is dull , slowe and obtuse in vnderstanding : the hot complexion hath swift motions of the mind , but the cold is of a slow and dull spirit : In like manner in hot complexions , the teeth doe soner grow and increase , then in the cold .

We must also consider the forme and shape of the body , whether it bee fat or leane , because that leauenes doth argue an hot body , and the fatnes a cold bodie : which is to bee vnderstood by nature , not by disease , or by custome , as in extraordinarie cares , immoderate vse of Venus , too vehement and often exercise , and long fasting , all these cause a leane and a thin body : so in like manner idlenes , much banquetting , and delicious liuing , doth sometimes cause , that a body naturally giuen to bee leane , may grow fat : And so also a cold disposition may grow leane , by greefe , by cares , by hunger , & such like , for the body may be so macerated , that it may waxe leane contrary to nature .

Besides , the cold complexion is not so hairy as the hot , as may be perceiued by Eunuchs and women which are of a glaber and smooth skinne . The signe that is taken from the colour of the haire is deceitful , because that the colour of the haire is changed with the age by the dominion of a red , yellow , black , or white humor : for in the first age the haires that Calidi sunt vilosi et birsuti . are yellow , heate increasing through age , they waxe black at the length , the same heare vanishing , and much slegme increasing , they waxe white . In like manner , by things receiued into the body , the constitution is discerned : for the hot complexion is offended with hot things , as wine not delayed , vehement exercise , meates with hot spices , and they fall quickly into hot diseases , as into Feuers , and other cholerick diseases ; but those hot things are beneficiall vnto cold complexions . Moreouer the temperatures of the principall parts , as of the heart , the liuer , the braine , and the testicles , and of those necessarie parts of life , as the stomach , and the lungs are knowne by their proper signes , as Galen teacheth in his Arteparua , of which , for the most part Oribasius , and Paulus , haue written and set forth in their Synopses .

Well , I would haue you as Def. hum . Humor esl succus naturalis guo corpus totum nutritur , souetur et conseruatur . briesly discourse of humors , to the intent wee may not stand ouer long about this first part , which is called Physiologia .

I haue already sayd that there are foure principall humors , bloud , choler , slegme , and melancholy , & these are called Primogeniti filij quatuor elemētoruin : for choler is of the nature of the fire , Omne liquidum & fluxile corpus humidum . flegme of the water , the melancholick humor of the earth , bloud of the aire , for bloud is hot and moist , as is the aire .

Wee will not stand long to discourse of humors , because I am perswaded that you are sufficiently studied therein : but tell me your opinion , is bloud the onely nourishment of the body or no ?

It is the opinion of Aristotle , that Sanguiaem solum my●●ire . bloud is the only nourishment of the body , & preseruer therof . Although some are of opinion , that because some parts are spermatick , and other fleshie , that therefore the fleshie parts are nourished with the blond , & the spermarick parts with the seed , and the bones with the marrow , & the stomach with that which is called Chilus , that therefore blood is not the only nourisher . To which I answere , that al those parts are nourished with the bloud , some immediatly , as the sleshie parts , some mediatly , as the solid parts : for the seminal liquor is nothing but bloud , made white by the coction alteratiue of the solid parts . The marrow also is framed of the bloud , and therefore according to the Logicians , Causa causae sit causa causati : for the bloud is the materiall cause both of Causa causae sit causae causati . the marrow and the seed , and therefore it is not to bee doubted but that all the parts are nourished with the bloud ; but the stomach to be nourished with Chilus , is affirmed by Galen tertīo de naturalibus facultatibus : But there it is abused by the name of Nutrition : for it satisfieth the animall appetite by his quality , that is to say by his sweetnes : but not the natural quality by his substance . And it may very well be perceiued by the infant in the mothers wombe , whose stomack is nourished and doth grow , not by Chilus , because hee receiueth no such nourishment by the mouth , but materno sanguine , which the liuer draweth by the veines of the nauell : and therefore the stomach is nourished with that bloud , which it doth containe in his veines , and not by Chilus .

I am also of your opinion , but I pray you go forwards , and declare vnto mee the differences of humours .

I will in no wise omit the differences of humours , which be in number eight , foure naturall , and foure vnnaturall : I haue alreadie shewed that the naturall is bloud , flegme , choler , and melancholy , the vnnatural is the same , turned by putrefaction , or else some otherwise from their natural qualities ; but as for the generation of them , it is by the vertue of the liuer , working vpon the matter and substance of food receiued into the stomack for the nourishment of Generatio humorum . the body : And euen as there is perceiued in new wine , foure differences of humours , viz. the flower or boyling of the wine , secondly the watry substance of the wine , thirdly the feces or dregges thereof , and lastly the pure and sincere wine : so of Chilus in the liuer part is made bloud , part watrish flegme , part yellow choler , and part grosse or blacke choler .

What is bloud ?

Bloud is a temperate humor , hot , and moist , sweet , the apt and conuenient nourishment of the body .

What is flegme ?

Flegme is a cold humour , moist and without sauour , as it were bloud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . crude , somwhat white , which is carried about with the bloud , to the end to mitigate the heate of the same , and that it may bee conuerted into bloud , by the last digesture it helpeth the distribution of the humors , and doth nourish those parts that are agreeable or like vnto it selfe .

What is choler ?

Choler is an humour hot , dry , and bitter , which as it were the froth of the bloud , is carried together with the same , that it may nourish the like members vnto the same : it openeth the Meatus , and penetrateth : it is prositable to the nourishment of those parts , that haue the like temperament .

What is melancholy , or black choler ?

Melancholy or blacke choler is a naturall humor , cold , and dry , thick , Melancholy . grosse , blacke , and sharpe part of which is carried with the bloud , to the end to make the same the thicker , and to nourish the bones and the spleene , and it is as it were the dregs and sediment of the bloud . All these foure humours , as I haue said , being made vnnaturall , they turne to the hurt of the body , as when melancholy is burned , it becommeth vitious , and causeth madnes : when it is mingled with too much flegme , it causeth a doltish disposition , and worketh cold diseases . When blood becommeth vnnaturall , it is made wheyish and watrish , and is very hurtfull , as in the hydropsic : when red choler is burned , it becommeth vitious and biting : when flegme is made vnnaturall through a weake digesture , it is made a watrish humor , and so hurtfull to the body .

There is also another natural humor , and is Primogenius , the first and chiefe humor , called Humidum radicale , which is Humidum radicale . ingendred in the similer parts or insited in nature : for from the first beginning the members of the whole body are filled with a certaine dewie humor , or only moistnesse : truely the first thing that is ingendred , hauing its beginning from the blood monstruall . This humor yeeldeth nourishment to the naturall heate ; and therfore by the same it is consumed , and needeth restauration ; which is performed by the accession of nourishment . Galen termeth this humor the solid substance of the similer parts .

Now it resteth that you shew me the seat or place of euery one of these humours .

These 4. humors which are ingendred in our bodies , being mixed , they are contained in unamassa sanguinis : that is , in the fountaine of blood which is said to be the better part of it selfe ; and being exactly confused , they rest in the veines ; which the Physitions doe consider as it were the chiefe Elements of the bodie : but those humors which are by nature deriued without the veines , whether it be yellow choler in the gaule , or melancholy which the splene draweth , or flegme which is ingendred in the stomacke through crudities , or the matter which distilleth from the braine to the nostrils , and such like , they are in no wise to be accounted elements of our body , and therfore they be not humors but excrements , and so they are called : which nature , whiles it is in strength doth expell as vnprofitable vnto places conuenient and the excramentall seat of yellow choler is the gaule , from whence it is purged by vrine and the stoole : the receptacle of the melancholick humor is the splene , by which being drawne , it is spartly cōncertd into the nature therof , & partly it is deiected to the stomacke .

Proceed now to spirits , and let me know what a spirit is . Despiritibus . Spiritus definitio .

A spirit is a subtile flame , or rather an airy substance , giuing strength and power to exercise proper actions in euery member .

Spirits be two fold , the one vitall , the other animall ; the vitall spirit is a subtill flame engendred from the blood , and is dispersed by vertue of the heart into all the body , to giue vnto the same liuely heat , and a power of motion and action . The efficient cause is a naturall power in the heart ; the matter from whence it proceedeth is blood , for it is ingendred of the blood , which is in the left ventricle of the heart : the forme is the flame it selfe , flying through all the Artiers .

The finall causes are two : the first is that it might giue liuely heate vnto the body : the second is , that it may be the instrument of action and motion in the whole body .

The animal spirit is as it were a starrebeame which is sent from the braine by the Nerues into all the body , to giue motion , and sense , and all other animal actions vnto the same .

From whence is the Animall spirit ingendred ?

It is ingendred of the vitall spirits , by the vertue of the braine elaborating and concocting the same . There are some that adioyne a third kind of spirit : that is Spiritus naturalis , in gendred in the liuer ; which is the thin substance of the blood , and is like vnto a vapour : this spirit is carried by the hollow veine , together with the blood into the heart ; where it is wrought by the naturall strength of the heart , and so is made a vitall spirit ; and so the naturall spirit is as it were the matter of the vitall spirit , and the vitall spirit is the matter of the animall spirit .