XIIII. Of Meat and Drink
XV. Of Motion and Rest.
XVI. Of Sleepe and Watching.
XVII. Of Repletion, and Imanition, or Emptiness.
XVIII. Of the Perturbations, or Passions of the mind
XIX. Of things against Nature, and first of the Cause of a Disease
XX. Of a Disease
XXI. Of a Symptome.
XXII. Of Indications.
XXIII. Of Certaine wonderfull and extravagant wayes of Curing diseases.
XXIIII. Of Certaine jugling and deceiptfull wayes of Curing.
Sexe is no other thing than the distinction of Male and Female, in which this is most observable, that for the parts of the body, and the site of these parts, there is little difference between them, but the female is colder than the male. Wherefore their spermaticall parts are more cold, soft and moist, and all there natural actions lesse vigorous, and more depraved.
The nature of Eunuches is to be referred to that of women, as who may seem to have degenerated into a womanish nature, by deficiency of heate; their smooth body and soft and shrill voice do very much assimulate women. Nothwithstanding you must consider that there be some manly women, which their manly voice and chinne covered with a little hairinesse doe argue: and on the contrary, there are some womanizing, or womanish men, which therefore we terme dainty and effeminate.
The Hermaphrodite as of a doubtfull nature and in the middle of both sexes seemes to participate of both male and female.
The colour which is predominate in the habit and superficies of the body and lies next under the skin, shows the temperament of what kind soever it be; for as Galen notes in Comment ad Aphor 2. sect.1. Such a color appeares in us, as the contained humor hath. Wherefore if a rosie hew color the cheeks, it is a sign the body abounds with blood, and that it is carried abroad by the plenty of spirits. But if the skin by dyed with a yellow color, it argues choler is predominate; if with a whitish and pallid hew, Phlegme; with a sable and dusky, Meloncholy.
So the color of the excrements which are according to nature is not of the least consideration. For thus, if an ulcer being broken send forth white matter, it argues the soundness of the part from whence it flows; but if sanious or bloody, green, blackish, or of divers colors, it shewes the weakness of the solid part, which could not assimulate by concoction the color of the excrementitious humor. The like reason is of unnatural tumors; for as the colour, so the dominion of the humor causing or accompanying the swelling commonly is.
The conformity, and integrity of the organical parts is considered by their figure, greatness, number, situation and mutual connection. We consider the figure, when we say almost all the external parts of the body are naturally round, not only for show, but for necessity, that being smooth, and no way cornered, they should be less obnoxious to external injuries; we speak of greatness, when we say, some are large and thick, some lanke and leane. But we consider their number, when we observe some parts to abound, some to want, or nothing to be defective or wanting. We insinuate site and connexion when we search, whether every thing be in its proper place, and whether they be decently fitted, and well joined together.
We have handled the varyeties of the four seasons of the yeare, when we treated of temperaments. But the consideration of region (because it hath the same judgment that the air) shall be referred to that disquisition, or enquiry which we entend to make of the air, amongst the things not natural.
The manner of life and order of diet are to be diligently observed by us, because they have great power either to alter, or preserve the temperament. But because they are of almost infinite variety, therefore they scarse seeme possible to fall into Arte, which may prosequute all the differences of Diet and vocations of Life. Wherefore if the Calling of Life be laborious, as that of husbandmen, Marriners, and other such trades, it strengthens and dryes the parts of the body. Although those which labour much about waters, are most commonly troubled with cold and moyst diseases although they almost kill themselves with labor.
Againe, those which deale with Mettalls, as all sorts of Smithes, and those which cast and worke brasse, are more troubled with hotte diseases, as feavers. But if their calling be such as they sit much, and worke all day long sitting at home, as shoemakers; it makes the body tender, the flesh effeminate and causeth great quantity of excrements. A life as well idle and negligent in body, as quiet in mind, in all riotousnes and excesses of dyet, doth the same. For from hence the body is made subject to the stone, gravell, and gout.
That calling of life which is performed with moderate labor, clothing and dyet, seemes very fit and convenient to preserve the natural temper of the body. The Ingenious Surgeon may frame more of himselfe that may more particularly conduce to the examination of these things. Therefore, the things natural, and those which are neere or neighboring to them being thus briefly declared, the order seems to require that we make enquiry of things not natural.