PROP. I.

MASTICATION is a very neceſſary Preparation of ſolid Aliment, without which there can be no good Digeſtion. By chewing, ſolid Aliment is divided into ſmall [2] Parts; in a human Body, there is no other Inſtrument to perform this Action, but the Teeth. By the Action of chewing, the Spittle and Mucus is ſqueez'd from the Glands, and mix'd with the Aliment, which Action if it be long continued, will turn the Aliment into a ſort of Chyle. The Spittle is an active Liquor, immedi⯑ately deriv'd from the arterial Blood. It is ſaponaceous, as appears by its froathing, and likewiſe by diſtilla⯑tion, and conſequently is attenuating, reſolving, penetrating, and deter⯑ging. After long Abſtinence, it is ex⯑tremely acrid, and copious, it fer⯑ments with the juices of Vegetables, and conſequently diſpoſeth them to be chang'd into inflamable Spirits, it diſcovereth its Virtues in ſeveral Chirurgical uſes. Beſides, in the action of chewing, the Mucus (which is an Humour different from the Spittle, and by its Viſcidity collects Air) mix⯑eth with the Aliment, and helps to [3] attenuate it. The neceſſity of Saliva or Spittle to diſſolve the Aliment, ap⯑pears from the contrivance of Na⯑ture in making the ſalivary Ducts of Animals, which ruminate or chew the Cud, extremely open. Such Animals as ſwallow their Aliment without chewing, want ſalivary Glands; and Birds have them placed in their Maw. There are inſtances of Men who ſwallow'd their Meat whole, but Ruminated or chew'd the Cud after⯑wards. (Rumination is given to A⯑nimals to enable them at once to lay up a great ſtore of Food and after⯑wards to chew it.) And Animals ru⯑minate more upon Hay than Graſs, the Food being harder. From all which Obſervations it appears, that the Solution of the Aliment by Ma⯑ſtication is very neceſſary; and that without it the Aliment could not be duly diſpoſed; for the other changes which it receives as it paſſeth through the Alimentary duct.

[4] Firſt, A great loſs of Spittle cauſeth a decay of Appetite. This has been confirm'd by Experience in ſeveral, who have made it their conſtant cu⯑ſtom to chew Maſtick; chewing and ſmoaking of Tobacco is only good in phlegmatick People.

Secondly, The humour of Saliva⯑tion is not properly Spittle, but pu⯑trified Blood.

Thirdly, The depravation of the Inſtruments of Maſtication, by a paralytical diſpoſition, or by the want of Teeth, as in old Men and Infants, is a natural Indication of a liquid Dyet, as of Milk and Broaths, and even ſuch of them as take Solids ought to chew in order to make an expreſſion of the Spittle.

PROP. II.

The Change which is made of the Aliment in the Stomach, is effected by Attrition of the ſolid Parts, or inward Coat of the Stomach, and [5] the action of a diſſolvent Liquor aſſiſted with Heat.

The Liquor in the Stomach con⯑ſiſts of that which is ſeparated from its inward Coat; of the Spittle, which is almoſt continually ſwal⯑low'd, and the Liquor which diſtills from the Gullet. By the help of this Liquor, and the conſtant Attrition of the ſolid Parts, the Aliment is diſſolv'd by an Operation reſembling that of making an Emulſion, in which Operation the Oyly parts of Nutts and Seeds being gently ground in a Marble Mortar, and gradually mix'd with ſome watery Liquor, are diſſolv'd into a ſweet, thick, turbid milky Liquor, reſembling the Chyle in an Animal Body. That the Sto⯑mach in Animals levigates the Sub⯑ſtances, which it receives, is evident from the Diſſection of ſome Animals which have ſwallow'd Metals, which have been found poliſh'd on the ſide next the Stomach. Birds being [6] without Teeth to make the firſt preparation of their Aliment, have ſtrong and nervous Stomachs, to make this Attrition the ſtronger; and this motion in them hath been both ſeen and heard. The Rugae or Plyes of the inward Coat of the Stomach contribute to the detain⯑ing the Aliment in the Stomach. The Heat in Land Animals helps likewiſe to the Solution of the Ali⯑ment, but not much, for Fiſhes have a ſtrong digeſtion without it, tho' by the tryal of the Thermo⯑ſcope, they have more heat than the Element which they ſwim in. It has been ſhow'd before that the Spittle is a great Diſſolvent, and there is a great quantity of it in the Stomach, being ſwallow'd conſtantly, at leaſt in Sleep. He who eats a Pound of Bread ſwallows at leaſt as much Spit⯑tle as Bread. This Liquor of the Stomach in a ſound ſtate is not Acid, for it has been found by Experiments, [7] that Pearls have paſs'd through Cocks and Hens undiſſolv'd.

1. The Liquor of the Stomach, which with faſting grows extremely Acrid, and the quick ſenſation of the inward villous Coat of the Stomach, ſeem to be the cauſe of the Senſe of Hunger.

2. Such as have, by the uſe of ſpirituous Liquors, weaken'd and de⯑ſtroy'd ſome of the ſolid parts of the Stomach, cannot recover a right Digeſtion, for this inward villous Coat when deſtroy'd cannot be reſtor'd.

3. This Liquor of the Stomach may (by reaſon of ſome ſaline Acri⯑mony) be made of ſome determined quality, and affect human Creatures with Appetites of other Animals, which in that caſe they can take without hurt; or it may likewiſe occaſion an exorbitant Appetite of uſual things, which they will take in ſuch quantities till they vomit it up like Dogs, from whence it is call'd [8] Canine; in the firſt caſe the Organs of Taſte are vitiated; both Diſeaſes are cur'd by Dyet, oppoſite to this Acrimony, whether Alkaline, Acid or Muriatick.

4. Thirſt and Hunger denote the ſtate of the Spittle, and Liquor of the Stomach. Thirſt is the ſign of an Acrimony commonly Alkaleſ⯑cent or Muriatick.

5. A Paralytical diſpoſition of the Nerves of the Stomach, a deprav'd condition of the Liquor of the Sto⯑mach, ſomething viſcous, fat and oyly remaining there, deſtroys the Senſation of Hunger.

6. The Action of the Stomach is totally ſtop'd by too great Repleti⯑on, in which caſe both the Orifices of the Stomach by a neceſſary Me⯑chaniſm cloſe, and neither will ad⯑mit nor expel any thing. In which caſe relaxing, as by warm Water, is the only proper Expedient.

[9] The Signs of the Functions of the Stomach being deprav'd, are Pains in the Stomach many Hours after Repaſt; Eructations either with the Taſte of the Aliment Acid, Nido⯑roſe, or Foetid, reſembling the Taſte of rotten Eggs; Inflations, or the Sen⯑ſation of Fulneſs; Sickneſs, Hickup, Vomiting, a Fluſhing in the Coun⯑tenance, Foulneſs of the Tongue. In general, whatever be the State of the Tongue, the ſame is that of the in⯑ward Coat of the Stomach. When the Taſte of the Mouth is bitter, it is a Sign of a Redundance of a bi⯑lious Alkali, and demands a quite different Dyet from the caſe of Aci⯑dity or Sowerneſs.

PROP. III.

By Digeſtion in the Alimentary Duct the ſpecifick Difference of all Subſtances is aboliſh'd, and the whole Action reſembles Putrefaction.

[10] Digeſtion is a Fermentation be⯑gun, becauſe there is all the Requi⯑ſites of ſuch a Fermentation, Heat, Air and Motion, but it is not a compleat Fermentation, becauſe that requires a greater Time than the Con⯑tinuance of the Aliment in the Sto⯑mach. Vegetable Putrefaction reſem⯑bles very much Animal Digeſtion. Vegetable Putrefaction is produced by throwing Green ſucculent Vege⯑tables in a Heap in open warm Air, and preſſing them together, by which all Vegetables acquire, Firſt, A Heat equal to that of a Human Body. Secondly, A putrid ſtercoraceous Taſte and Odour, in Taſte reſembling pu⯑trid Fleſh, and in Smell Human Foe⯑ces. This putrid Matter being di⯑ſtill'd, affords, Firſt, A Water im⯑pregnated with an urinous Spirit, like that obtainable from Animal Subſtances, which Water is ſeperable into Elementary Water, and a vola⯑tile Animal Salt. Secondly, A vola⯑tile [11] oyly Alkaline Salt. Thirdly, A volatile thick Oyl. Fourthly, The remainder being calcin'd affords no fixt Salt; in ſhort, every thing hap⯑pens as if the Subject had not been Vegetable, but Animal. Putrefaction utterly deſtroys the ſpecifick Diffe⯑rence of one Vegetable from ano⯑ther, converting them into a pulpy Subſtance of an Animal Nature: Making the ſame Alteration very near as if the Vegetable had gone through the Body of a ſound Ani⯑mal, for tho' ſuch an Animal ſhould entirely live upon Acids, no Part of its Body affords any acid fix'd Salt. ^* This is ſo far true, that even the Herbs taken out of the Omaſus of ruminating Animals afford the ſame Contents as putrefied Vegetables. But tho' this Action of Putrefaction comes the neareſt to Animal Digeſtion, it ſo far differs from it, that the Salts [12] and Oyls are only detain'd in the Animal Body ſo long as they remain benign and friendly to it; but as ſoon as they putrefy entirely, are ei⯑ther thrown off, or muſt produce mortal Diſtempers.

PROP. IV.

The Gall is the principal Diſſol⯑vent of the Aliment, and when it is peccant or deficient, there can be no right Digeſtion.

The Bile is of two Sorts, the Cy⯑ſtick or that contain'd in the Gall⯑Bladder, which is a ſort of Repoſitory for the Gall, and the Hepatick or what flows immediately from the Liver. The Cyſtick Gall is thick and intenſly bit⯑ter, ſo that one Drop of it will make a whole Pint of Water bitter. The He⯑patick Gall is more fluid and not ſo bitter. There is no other bitter Hu⯑mour in a Human Body, beſides Gall, except the Wax of the Ear. [13] The Gall is not a perfect Alkali, for it does not ferment with an Acid, but it is Alkaleſcent, entirely oppo⯑ſite to Aceſcents, and ſoon corrupti⯑ble, and convertible into a Corroſive Alkali. It is a ſaponaceous Sub⯑ſtance, being compos'd of an Alka⯑line Salt, Oyl and Water, all which can be extracted from it. The Bile, like Soap, takes out Spots from Wool or Silk, and the Painters uſe it to mix their Colours; by this ſapona⯑ceous Quality, it mixeth the oyly and watery Parts of the Aliment to⯑gether. But tho' the Bile be an Oyl, it is not combuſtible till dry. Theſe Qualities make it a moſt powerful and proper Diſſolvent, which ap⯑pears by Experience. The Milk in the Stomach of Calves, which is co⯑agulated by the Runnet, is again diſ⯑ſolv'd, and rendered fluid by the Gall in the Duodenum. Voracious Ani⯑mals, and ſuch as do not chew, have a great Quantity of Gall, and ſome [14] of them have the Biliary Duct in⯑ſerted into the Pylorus. It is like⯑wiſe the chief Inſtrument (by its Ir⯑ritation) of the periſtaltick Motion of the Guts. Such as have the Bile peccant or deficient are reliev'd by Bitters, which are a ſort of ſubſidia⯑ry Gall. The learned Boorhaave has found the Gall of an Eel, which is moſt intenſely bitter, a moſt effectual Remedy in ſuch Caſes. The com⯑mon Symptoms of the Excretion of the Bile being vitiated, are a yel⯑lowiſh Colour of the Skin, white hard Foeces, a Loſs of Appetite, a lixivial Urine.

PROP. V.

The Bile is ſo acrid, that of itſelf it could not be admitted into the Lacteal Veſſels. Therefore Nature has furniſh'd another Humour, viz. the pancreatick Juice to temper its Bitterneſs and Acrimony, after it has done its Office.

[15] The Pancreas is a large ſalivary Gland ſeparating about a Pound of an Humour like Spittle, in twelve Hours. The Bile mix'd with Spit⯑tle loſeth its Bitterneſs in time, and even Wormwood eat with Bread will do ſo, becauſe it is mix'd with a great quantity of Spittle. The pan⯑creatick Juice likewiſe mixeth the Parts of the Aliment rendring the Chyle Homogeneous. When the Bile is not ſeparated in the Liver the Foe⯑ces are white, but this is not occa⯑ſion'd by the Mixture of the pan⯑creatick Juice.

PROP. VI.

Acrimony and Tenacity are the two Qualities in what we take in⯑wardly moſt to be avoided.

The papillous inward Coat of the Inteſtines is extremely ſenſible, and when the Acrimony is ſo great as to affect the ſolid Parts, the Senſation of [16] Pain is intolerable. The periſtaltick Motion of the Guts, and the conti⯑nual Expreſſion of the Fluids, will not ſuffer the leaſt Matter to be ap⯑ply'd to one Point the leaſt inſtant of Time; for the ſmalleſt quantity of Turpentine or Pitch will ſtick to the Fingers, but not to the Guts. But this Motion in ſome Human Creatures may be weak in reſpect to the Viſcidity of what is taken ſo as not to be able to propell it, the conſequence of which is dangerous, and perhaps fatal to the Life of the Creature. Subſtances hard, cannot be diſſolv'd, but they will paſs; but ſuch whoſe Tenacity exceeds the Powers of Digeſtion will neither paſs nor be converted into Aliment. Be⯑ſides, the Mouths of the Lacteals may permit Aliment too acrimoni⯑ous, or not ſufficiently attenuated, to enter in People of Lax Conſtitutions, whereas their Sphincters will ſhut a⯑gainſt them in ſuch as have ſtrong [17] Fibres. The Mouths of the Lacteals may be ſhut up by a viſcid Mucus, in which caſe the Chyle paſſeth by Stool, and the Perſon falleth into an Atrophy.

1. Fat or Oyl is neceſſary, as for Animal Motion, ſo likewiſe for this periſtaltick Motion, of the Inteſtines, and lean People often ſuffer for want of it, as fat People may by Obſtru⯑ction of the Veſſels. The Omentum will melt by ſtrong Motion, as has been found in Horſes by hard run⯑ning.

2. This periſtaltick Motion, or re⯑peated Changes of Contraction and Dilatation, is not the Lower Guts, elſe one would have a continual need⯑ing to go to ſtool. Wind and Di⯑ſtention of the Bowels are Signs of a bad Digeſtion in the Inteſtines, (for in dead Animals when there is no Digeſtion at all, the Diſtention is in the greateſt Extremity) and Diarhaeas which proceed from Acrimony, La⯑xity [18] of the Bowels or Obſtruction of the Lacteals.

PROP. VII.

The Mechaniſm of Nature in con⯑verting our Aliment; into Animal Subſtances conſiſts chiefly in two Things. Firſt, By mixing conſtant⯑ly with it Animal, Juices already pre⯑par'd. Secondly, By the Action of the ſolid Parts as it were churning them together. This is evident, if we conſider firſt the vaſt quantity of Saliva mix'd with the Aliment in chewing. He that eats a Pound of Bread mixeth it very near with as much Spittle, and this ſeparated from Glands that weigh only about four Ounces. Afterwards, the ſame Ali⯑ment is mix'd with the Liquor of the Stomach, the Bile and pancrea⯑tick Juice, and if we compute the quantity of Bile and Pancreatick, from the Weight of theſe Viſcera in [19] reſpect of the ſalivary Glands, we ſhall find ſtill a vaſtly greater quantity of theſe Animal Juices mix'd with the Aliment; this is not all, for when the Chyle paſſeth through the Me⯑ſentery, it is mix'd with the Lymph (which is the moſt ſpirituous and e⯑laborated Part of the Blood) from the Glands of the Meſentery: So that the Juices of an Animal Body are as it were^* cohobated, being excreted and admitted again into the Blood with the freſh Aliment; all the while the ſolid Parts act upon the Mixture of Aliment and Animal Juices ſo as to make the Mixture more perfect; beſides, none of theſe Juices, except the Liquor of the Inte⯑ſtines, are mix'd with the Foeces of an Animal, which in a ſound State are hard. So that one may com⯑pute that a Pound of Bread before it enters the Blood, is mix'd perhaps [20] with four times the quantity of Ani⯑mal Juices. The ſame Oeconomy is obſerv'd in the Circulation of the Chyle with the Blood, by mixing it intimately with the Parts of the Fluid to which it is to be aſſimilated.

1. From whence it follows, that an Animal whoſe Juices are unſound or ſolid Parts weak can never be duly nouriſh'd, for unſound Juices can never duly repair the Fluids and Solids of an Animal Body, and without a due Action of the ſolid Parts, they never can be well mix'd. The Stomach, the Inteſtines, the Muſcles of the lower Belly, all act upon the Ali⯑ment; beſides, the Chyle is not ſuck'd but ſqueez'd into the Mouths of the Lacteals by the Action of the Fibres of the Guts: The Mouths of the Lacteals are open'd by the inteſtinal Tube, affecting a ſtreight inſtead of a ſpiral Cylinder. Thus it is plain, that the Chyle muſt be peccant in Quantity or Quality when theſe Acti⯑ons [21] and Organs are too weak, and whatever ſtrengthens the ſolid Parts muſt help the Digeſtion.

2. Diarhaeas and ſtrong Purgati⯑ons muſt ſpoil the firſt Digeſtion, becauſe of the great Quantities of Animal Liquids which they expel out of the Body; a vaſt Quantity and Variety of Animal Liquors are car⯑ried off by Purging, Air, Spittle, Mucus, all the Liquors that are ſepa⯑rated in the Glands of the Alimenta⯑ry Duct, both Sorts of Bile, the pan⯑creatick Juice, Lymph, and ſometimes Blood; computing the Quantity of theſe Secretions, makes it plain that the whole Juices may be carried off by purging, and when thoſe Liquors are expell'd out of the Body, which by their Mixture convert the Ali⯑ment into an Animal Liquid, this cannot ſo well be perform'd.

3. The periſtaltick Motion of the Inteſtines is the laſt that ceaſeth in an Animal Body, for it remains af⯑ter [22] the Motion of the Heart is ceas'd. By the Entry of the Chyle and Air into the Blood, by the Lacteals, the Animal may again revive.

The Obſtruction of the Glands of the Meſentery, is a great Impediment to Nutrition, for the Lymph in thoſe Glands is a neceſſary Conſtituent of the Aliment before it mixeth with the Blood, and for the ſame Reaſon young Animals are moſt and beſt nouriſh'd, for the meſenterick Glands are largeſt in the Vigour of Youth; in old Age they vaniſh, and are ly⯑able to Obſtructions. Therefore ſcrophulous Perſons can never be duely nouriſh'd, for ſuch as have Tu⯑mors in the Parotids often have them in the Pancreas and Meſentery.

4. In tabid Perſons Milk is the beſt Reſtorative, for it is Chyle al⯑ready prepar'd; if a Nurſe after be⯑ing ſuck'd dry eats Broath, the In⯑fant will ſuck the Broath almoſt un⯑alter'd.

[23] 5. The Chyle by Reaſon of the Smoothneſs of its Particles is white, it grows more grey in the thoracick Duct where it ſtill retains the Fla⯑vour of the Aliment.

6. Animals which take a large quantity of Aliment by the Mouth may be leſs nouriſh'd, than thoſe that take a ſmaller, for according to the Force of the^* chylopooetick Or⯑gans, a larger or leſs quantity of Chyle may be extracted from the ſame quantity of Food.

Aſtriction of the Belly is com⯑monly a Sign of ſtrong chylopooe⯑tick Organs.

PROP. VIII.

The moſt ſubtile Part of the Chyle paſſeth immediately into the Blood by the abſorbent Veſſels of the Guts, which diſcharge themſelves into the [24] meſeraick Veins; their Largeneſs and Number demonſtrate this, for they are numerous and vaſtly larger than their correſpondent Arteries; beſides, wherever there are Emiſſaries, there are abſorbent Veſſels, ex. gr. in the Skin, by the abſorbent Veſſels of which Mercury will paſs into the Blood.

Birds which have ſtrong and large Breaſts, ſmall Bellies, and their Ribs upon their Backs have no Lacteals nor thoracick Duct, and their Ali⯑ment paſſeth immediately into the meſeraick Veins. If one conſiders the Capacity of the Thoracick Duct, and the Slowneſs of the Paſſage of the Aliment by the Lacteals through it, and at the ſame time the great quantity of ſome Liquors, as of cha⯑lybeat Water, which in ſome paſs in a ſmall Time by Urine; by an eaſy Calculation he will be able to de⯑monſtrate that ſuch a Quantity could not paſs into the Blood by the Tho⯑racick Duct in ſo ſhort a time.

[25] Therefore when the Intention is to give an immediate Refreſhment to the Spirits, as after great Abſtinence and Fatigue, Thin or liquid Aliment is the propereſt, and for the ſame Reaſon Chalybeat Waters ſeem to be a proper Remedy in Hypochon⯑drical caſes; their ſubtle and divided Particles are taken immediately into the Miſeraick Veſſels, and carried ſtreight into the Liver and Spleen.

PROP. I.

THE Chyle of it ſelf cannot paſs through the ſmalleſt Veſſels (for it neither will paſs by Urine nor Sweat) therefore it cannot nouriſh the Animal, till it is converted into [26] Blood; and it is converted into Blood by the Mechaniſm of Nature above deſcrib'd, viz. by intimately mixing it with the Particles of the Liquor, to which it is to be aſſimi⯑lated, as will appear by what fol⯑lows.

PROP. II.

The Lungs are the firſt and chief Inſtrument of Sanguification.

The Chyle firſt mixeth with the Blood, in the Subclavian Veins, and enters with it into the Heart, where it is very imperfectly mix'd, there being no Mechaniſm nor Fermentation by extraordinary Heat, &c. to convert it immediately into Blood, which is firſt effected by the Lungs. The Wind⯑pipe divides it ſelf into a great num⯑ber of Branches call'd Bronchia, theſe end in ſmall Air-Bladders dila⯑table and contractible, capable to be inflated by the admiſſion of Air, and [27] to ſubſide at the Expulſion of it. The Pulmonary Artery and Vein paſs along the ſurfaces of theſe Air-Blad⯑ders in an infinite number of Rami⯑fications. A great number of thoſe Air-Bladders form what we call Lo⯑buli, which hang upon the Bronchia, like bunches of Grapes upon a Stalk. Theſe Lobuli conſtitute the Lobes, and the Lobes the Lungs. Let us ſee what effect an Engine ſo contriv'd will have upon the crude mixture of Blood and Chyle; firſt, as the Blood and Chyle paſs through the Ramifi⯑cations of the Pulmonary Artery, they will be ſtill more perfectly mix'd, a red Liquor, and a white Liquor paſſing through only one Tube, will both retain their Original Colours; but if this Pipe is divided into Branches, and theſe again ſubdivided, the red and white Liquors, as they paſs through the Ramifications, will be more intimately mix'd, and both Colours will be blended together; [28] the more Ramifications, the mixture will be the more perfect; but this is not all, for as this mixture of Blood and Chyle paſſeth through the Arterial Tube, it is preſs'd by two contrary forces, that of the Heart driving it forward againſt the ſides of the Tube, and the elaſtick force of the Air preſſing it on the oppoſite ſide of thoſe Air-Bladders, along the ſurface of which (as was ſaid before) this Arterial Tube creeps. By thoſe two oppoſite forces, the parts of the Liquor are compreſs'd together, and as it were churn'd, and more inti⯑mately mix'd. Moreover by the al⯑ternate motion of thoſe Air-Bladders, whoſe ſurfaces are by turns freed from mutual contact, and by a ſud⯑den Subſidence meet again by the ingreſs and egreſs of the Air; the Liquor is ſtill further attenuated, diſſolv'd, and chang'd into a homo⯑geneous Fluid.

[29] 1. The force of the Air upon the Pulmonary Artery is but ſmall, in reſpect of that of the Heart, but it is ſtill ſomething, and whatever the effect of it be, it encreaſeth, and di⯑miniſheth with the Gravity of the Air, to which the Elaſticity is pro⯑portional.

As to the admittance of the weighty and elaſtick parts of the Air into the Blood, through the Coats of the Veſſels, it ſeems contrary to Experience. The ſpumous and florid ſtate which the Blood acquires in paſſing through the Lungs, is eaſily accounted for, from its own Elaſti⯑city, and the violent motion before deſcrib'd: The Aerial Particles in the Blood and Chyle expanding them⯑ſelves. That the air in the Blood Veſſels has a communication with the outward Air, I think ſeems plain from the Experiments of Human Creatures being able to bear Air of much greater Denſity in diving, and of [30] much leſs upon the tops of Moun⯑tains, provided the Changes be made gradually; otherwiſe the Air within the Veſſels being of a leſs Denſity, the outward Air would preſs their ſides together, and being of a greater Denſity, would expand them ſo as to endanger the Life of the Ani⯑mal.

1. As much Blood paſſeth through the Lungs, as through all the reſt of the Body. The Circulation is quicker and Heat greater, and their Texture is extremely delicate; upon all which Accounts they are extremely ſenſible of any Force either from the too vio⯑lent Motion or Acrimony of the Blood.

2. Since the Lungs are the firſt and chief Inſtrument of Sanguifica⯑tion, the Animal that has that Or⯑gan faulty, can never be duly nou⯑riſh'd, nor have the Vital Juices, (which are all deriv'd from the Blood) in a good State; and this is true, un⯑derſtanding [31] the Lungs only as an Inſtrument of Digeſtion, and ab⯑ſtracting from an Acrid and Purulent Matter, that mixeth with the Blood in ſuch as have their Lungs ulce⯑rated; therefore ſuch as have a faulty Circulation through the Lungs, ought to eat very little at a time, becauſe the encreaſe of the quantity of freſh Chyle muſt make that Circulation ſtill more uneaſy, which indeed is the caſe of Conſumptive, and ſome Aſthmatick Perſons, and accounts for the Symptoms they are troubled with after eating. The great Rule of Dyet for Conſumptive People, and upon which the whole Cure depends, is taking their Aliment in ſmall Quantities. It happens very often unfortunately for Aſthmatick Perſons that they have Voracious Appetites, and conſequently for want of a right Sanguification are often Leucophleg⯑matick.

[32] 3. The Choice as well as Quan⯑tity of Dyet, is of great Importance to ſuch as have weak Lungs, for it was obſerv'd^* that the Chyle in the Thoracick Duct retain'd the Origi⯑nal Taſte of the Aliment, which not being yet converted into Blood, and intirely ſubdued by Circulation, muſt operate upon the Lungs into which it enters in this Condition, according to its original qualities. The Lungs being the chief Inſtru⯑ment of Sanguification, and acting ſtrongly upon the Chyle to bring it to an Animal Fluid, muſt be reacted upon as ſtrongly.

4. Good Air aſſiſts the Digeſtion, as it is an Inſtrument of Sanguifica⯑tion in the Lungs.

PROP. III.

The Chyle is not perfectly aſſi⯑milated into Blood by its Circulation [33] through the Lungs, for it is known by Experiments of Blood-letting, that ſeveral Parts of it remain un⯑mix'd with the Blood, ſwimming a top like an oily Subſtance, even eight Hours after repaſt, and no doubt this Digeſtion, as well as that through the Alimentary Duct, is different in different Subjects.

PROP. IV.

After the Chyle has paſs'd through the Lungs, Nature continues her uſual Mechaniſm to convert it into Animal Subſtances, during its Cir⯑culation with the Blood, viz. by in⯑timately mixing the Parts of the Aliment; with theſe of the Animal Juices, by the action of the ſolid Parts.

The mixture of Blood and Chyle after its Circulation through the Lungs, being brought back into the left Ventricle of the Heart is drove again by the Heart into the Aorta, [34] through the whole Arterial Syſtem, every Particle of the Body receives ſome Branch from the Aorta, except ſome of the ſolid Parts of the Liver. The Arteries are Elaſtick Tubes, en⯑dued with a Contractile Force, by which they ſqueeze, and drive the Blood ſtill forward, it being hin⯑der'd from going backward by the Valves of the Heart. The Arteries are Conical Veſſels, with their Ba⯑ſes towards the Heart, and as they paſs on, their Diameters grow ſtill leſs and leſs. The Celerity of the Motion diminiſheth by the encreaſe of the Friction of the Fluid, againſt the ſides of the Tubes. Without this Motion, both the Blood and the Chyle, would be converted into one ſolid Maſs, but on the contrary by the continuance of it, the Fluid be⯑ing compreſs'd by the ſides, of the Tube; eſpecially in the ſmall Veſ⯑ſels, where the Points of Contact are more; the Blood and Chyle are [35] ſtill more intimately mix'd, and by Attrition or Friction attenuated, by which the mixture acquires a greater Degree of Fluidity, and Similarity or Homogenerety of Parts. Therefore,

1. Good Blood and a due Pro⯑jectile Motion or Circulation, are ne⯑ceſſary to convert the Aliment into laudible Animal Juices.

2. The Strength of the Aliment (by which I underſtand its Reſiſtance to the ſolid Parts) ought to be pro⯑portion'd to the Strength of the ſolid parts, and as Animals that uſe a great deal of Labour or Exerciſe, have their ſolid Parts more elaſtick and ſtrong, they can bear and ought to have ſtronger Food, too thin Nou⯑riſhment being quickly diſſipated by the vigorous Action of the ſolid Parts.

3. The Defects of the firſt Con⯑coction are not to be mended by the ſecond; for if the Chyle paſſeth into the Blood in a bad State, as the force of Fibres, which contribute to [36] the ſecond Digeſtion is limited, it is not ſufficient to convert a Peccant Liquor, into laudable Animal Juices.

PROP. V.

The Aliment as it circulates through an Animal Body, is reduc'd almoſt to an imperceptible tenuity, be⯑fore it can ſerve the Animal Purpoſes.

The Blood in live Animals, con⯑ſiſts of red Globules, ſwimming in a Serum or watery Liquor. The ſmalleſt Veſſels which carry the Blood, or red Fluid by Lateral Branches ſeparate the next thinner Fluid or Serum, the Diameters of which Lateral Branches are leſs than the Diameters of the Blood Veſſels, and will not in a healthy State ad⯑mit the red Fluid. Such may be call'd Serous Arteries. Thoſe Serous Arteries emit Lateral Branches which carry Lymph, a Liquor ſtill more Limpid than Serum, and from the [37] Liquor which they carry may be call'd Lymphatick Arteries, tranſ⯑mitting their Liquor into the Lym⯑phatick Veins, thoſe Lymphatick Arteries will not admit Serum. How far this progreſſion goes is not cer⯑tain; ten capillary Arteries in ſome parts of the Body as in the Brain, are not equal to one Hair, and the ſmalleſt Lymphatick Veſſels are a hundred times ſmaller than the ſmal⯑leſt Capillary Artery. What Mecha⯑niſm is that which can attenuate a Fluid compounded of the Ingredients of Human Aliment, as Oil, Salts, Earth, Water, ſo as to make it flow freely through ſuch Tubes?

1. Hence one can eaſily perceive the inconveniency of Viſcidity which obſtructs, and Acrimony that deſtroys the Capillary Veſſels.

2. Obſtructions muſt be moſt incident to ſuch parts of the Body, where the Circulation and the E⯑laſtick force of the Fibres are both [38] ſmalleſt, and thoſe are the Glands which are the extremities of Arte⯑ries form'd into Cylindrical Canals.

3. Hence too ſolid or viſcous Aliment is hurtful to ſcrophulous Perſons.

PROP. VI.

The Fluids and Solids of an Animal Body demand a conſtant Reparation.

An Animal in order to be moveable muſt be flexible, and there⯑fore is fitly made of ſeparate and ſmall ſolid Parts replete with proper Fluids. The whole Body is nothing but a Syſtem of ſuch Canals, which all communicate with one another, mediately or immediately (for a Lym⯑phatick Veſſel communicates with the Artery, by the intermediate Gland.) In this moveable Body the fluid and ſolid Parts, muſt be con⯑ſum'd by the Muſcular Motion, and the perpetual Flux of the Liquids; [39] a great part of which are thrown out of the Body by proper Emiſſa⯑ries, and the ſmaller Solids are like⯑wiſe rubb'd off, mix'd with the Fluids, and in that form exhal'd. Therefore both Fluids and Solids de⯑mand a conſtant Reparation.

1. The Quantity of Solids not Morbid in an Animal Body is very ſmall, as appears by Atrophies, or Decays; and likewiſe by Microſcopes, thoſe Solids are entirely Nervous and proceed from the Brain, and Spinal Marrow, which by their bulk appear ſufficient to furniſh all the Stamina or Threads of the ſolid Parts. The Solids are originally form'd of a Fluid, from a ſmall Point, as appears by the gradual Formation of a Foetus. The Solids and Fluids differ, only in the degree of Cohe⯑ſion, which being a little encreas'd turns a Fluid into a Solid. How the Fluids are repair'd has been already explain'd. The Nutrition [40] of the Solids is ſomewhat more ob⯑ſcure.

PROP. VII.

Nutrition of the Solids is per⯑form'd by the circulating Liquid in a due degree of tenuity in the ſmalleſt Vaſcular Solids.

The Fluids and Solids of an Ani⯑mal Body, are eaſily tranſmutable into one another. The white of an Egg (a Fluid reſembling the Serum of the Blood, and of which a whole Animal is made) will coagulate and turn Solid by a moderate Heat, and the hardeſt of Animal Solids are re⯑ſolvable again into Gellys.

As the white of an Egg by Incu⯑bation, ſo can the Serum by the action of the Fibres be ſtill more and more attenuated. A Fluid moving through a flexible Canal, when the Canal grows extremely ſmall and ſlender, by its Friction, [41] will naturally lengthen, and as it were Wire-draw, the Sides of the Canal, according to the Direction of its Axis, and as the Canal is leng⯑then'd or Wire-drawn, it grows ſtill ſmaller and ſlenderer ſo as that the evaneſcent ſolid and fluid ſcarce dif⯑fering, the Extremities of theſe ſmall Canals will by Propulſion be carried off with the Fluid continually, and likewiſe continually repair'd and new ones made in their room. The Force of the Fluid will likewiſe ſeparate the ſmalleſt Particles which compoſe the Fibres ſo as to leave vacant Interſti⯑ces in thoſe Places where they co⯑her'd before, which vacant Places will be again fill'd up by Particles carried on by the ſucceeding Fluid (as a Bank by the Mud of the Cur⯑rent) and which of courſe muſt be reduced to that Figure which gives the leaſt Reſiſtance to the Current, and conſequently muſt apply them⯑ſelves to the inward Surface of the [42] Canal ſo as to preſerve the Tube, the Syſtem of Tubes that is the Animal entire.

1. Thoſe Tubes that are moſt re⯑cently made of Fluids are moſt fle⯑xible and moſt eaſily lengthen'd, ſuch Tubes as have often ſuffer'd this Force grow rigid, and hardly more extendi⯑ble therefore.

2. An Animal the nearer to its Original, the more it grows.

3. To this Motion of Elongation of the Fibres is owing the Union or Conglutination of the Parts of the Body, when they are ſeparated by a Wound.

4. From the foregoing Doctrine it is eaſy to explain the Formation of the moſt ſolid Parts of the Body, for when the Fluid moves in ſeveral ſmall Veſſels, which by the Contact of their Sides ſtop the Current of the Fluid thoſe Canals by degrees are aboliſh'd and grow ſolid, ſeveral of them united grow a Membrane, [43] theſe Membranes further conſolidated become Cartilages, and Cartilages, Bones; conſequently, an Animal the nearer it is to its Original, the more Pipes it hath, and as it advanceth in Age ſtill the fewer. Many of our Veſſels degenerate into Ligaments the very Sutures of the Skull are aboliſh'd in old Age.

5. Many practical Rules may be drawn from the foregoing Doctrine, for the Diet of Human Creatures according to their different States of Life, and the Condition of the So⯑lids, it is evident that the Diet of Infants ought to be extremely thin, ſuch as lengthens the Fibres without Rupture; but in a young Animal, when the Solids are too Lax (the Caſe of rickety Children) the Diet ought to be gently Aſtringent.

The Aliment likewiſe ought to be different according to the State of the Solids, in Animals full grown: tho' an Animal arrives at its full [44] Growth at a certain Age, perhaps it never comes to its full Bulk, till the laſt Period of Life. The Membra⯑na adipoſa inveſts almoſt every Part of the Body, ſo that there is hard⯑ly any Fibre, but is ſheath'd with a Part of it. This Membrane ſepa⯑rates an oily Liquor call'd Fat, ne⯑ceſſary for many Purpoſes of Life; when the Fibres are Lax, and the Aliment too redundant, great part of it is converted into this oily Li⯑quor, all the ſuperfluous Weight of an Animal beyond the Veſſels, Bones and Muſcles is nothing but Fat; but the Converſion of the Aliment into Fat is not properly Nutrition, which is a Reparation of the Solids and Fluids, and Fat properly ſpeaking is neither. But I ſhall treat more par⯑ticularly of theſe Subjects in their proper Place.

7. The Matter of Nutrition is moſt ſubtile, and Nutrition the laſt and moſt perfect Animal Action, to [45] perform it by the foregoing Propo⯑ſitions, there muſt be a due Degree of projectile Motion, or Celerity of Circulation to which Attrition and Heat is proportional. The Heat e⯑qual to Incubation, is only nutri⯑tious; any thing leſs or more is in⯑ſufficient, and the nutritious Juice it⯑ſelf reſembles the White of an Egg, in all its Qualities. By too weak a Circulation the Aliment approacheth to theſe Qualities which it would ac⯑quire by a ſmall Degree of Heat without Motion, is viſcous imper⯑fectly mix'd, and the Perſon in this Condition is ſubject to all the Acci⯑dents of a Plethora, by too ſtrong a projectile Motion the Aliment tends to Putrefaction is diſſipated; and the ſolid Parts inſtead of being re⯑pair'd are deſtroy'd. Hence may be deduc'd the Force of Exerciſe in help⯑ing Digeſtion, and likewiſe the Rules for regulating the Times and Degrees of it. But thoſe are foreign to my Subject.

PROP. VIII.

The frequent Repetition of Ali⯑ment is not only neceſſary for re⯑pairing the Fluids and Solids of an Animal Body, but likewiſe to keep the Fluids from the putreſcent alka⯑line State, which they would ac⯑quire, by conſtant Motion, and At⯑trition, without being diluted, by a freſh Emulſion of new Chyle.

An Animal that ſtarves of Hunger dies feveriſh, and delirious as appears by Experiments upon Cats and Dogs, for the moſt fluid Parts are diſſipat⯑ed, what remains turns alkaline and corroſive affecting the tender Fibres of the Brain. The moſt ſevere Or⯑ders of the Church of Rome who practiſe Abſtinence, feel after it fe⯑tid hot Eructations and Head-Aches. Long Abſtinence does not kill by want of Blood, for twenty Days faſt⯑ing will not diminiſh its quantity ſo [47] much as one great Hoemorage. An Animal can never dye for want of Blood, while there is a quantity ſuf⯑ficient for the continuity of the Preſ⯑ſure, it makes, ſo apply'd to the Brain, as to produce Animal Spirits. Beſides the Diminution both of the Fluids and Solids in an Atrophy, is much greater than what can happen by being ſtarv'd. Therefore faſting kills by the bad State, not by the inſufficient quantity of Fluids.

Any watery Liquor will keep an Animal from ſtarving very long by diluting the Fluids, and conſequent⯑ly keeping them from this alkaline State; which is confirm'd by Expe⯑rience, for People have liv'd twenty four Days upon nothing^† but Wa⯑ter, and the Stories of long Abſti⯑nence where Water has been allow'd are not incredible.

[48] 1. Long Abſtinence in hot bi⯑lious Conſtitutions may be the Pa⯑rent of great Diſeaſes, yet it is more troubleſome to acid Conſtitutions by the Uneaſineſs it creates in the Sto⯑mach.

PROP. I.

ALL Animals are made imme⯑diately or mediately of Vegeta⯑bles that is by feeding on Vegetables, or on Animals that are fed on Ve⯑getables, there being no Proceſs in infinitum.

PROP. II.

Vegetables are proper enough to repair Animals as being near the [49] ſame ſpecifick Gravity, with the Ani⯑mal Juices, and as conſiſting of the ſame Parts with Animal Subſtances, Spirit-Water, Salt, Oil, Earth; all which are contain'd in the Sap, they derive from the Earth, which con⯑ſiſts of Rain-Water, Air, putrified juices of Plants, and Animals; and even Minerals for the Aſhes of Plants yield ſomething which the Loadſtone attracts. Plants are either eat raw, or prepar'd by the Arts of Cookery.

PROP. III.

The Sap is diverſify'd, and ſtill more and more elaborated and ex⯑alted as it circulates through the Veſ⯑ſels of the Plant.

The Sap when it firſt enters the Root, and is not ſubdued by the Ac⯑tion of the Plant retains much of its own Nature, and has not much of the Vegetable; being earthy, watery, poor, and ſcarce oleaginous. The Sap after it has enter'd the Root is more and [50] more elaborated as it paſſeth into the Stem, Branches, Leaves, Flowers, Fruit and Seeds. The Juice of the Stem is like the Chyle in an Animal Body, not ſufficiently concocted by Circu⯑lation, and is commonly ſubacid in all Plants. This Juice is yielded in great Plenty by Inciſion in ſome Plants. The Juices of the Leaves are, Firſt, That obtain'd by Expreſſion which is the nutritious Juice ren⯑der'd ſomewhat more oleaginous; from this Juice proceeds the diffe⯑rence of the Taſte of the Leaves of Plants. Secondly, Wax which is ſcrap'd off by the Bees and is a ve⯑getable Subſtance. Thirdly, Manna which is an eſſential Sacharine Salt ſweating from the Leaves of moſt Plants.

The Juices of the Flowers are, Firſt, The expreſs'd Juice a little more elaborated. Secondly, A vola⯑tile Oil and Spirit wherein the par⯑ticular Smell of the Plant reſides. [51] Thirdly, Honey exuding from all Flowers the Bitter not excepted, this is gather'd by the Bees, and ſuck'd in by their Trunks into their Sto⯑machs. The Juice of the Fruit is ſtill the Juice of the Plant more ela⯑borated. The Juice of the Seed is an eſſential Oil or Balm deſign'd by Nature to preſerve the Seed from Corruption. The Bark contains be⯑ſides the common Juice, an oily Juice which ſweats out of divers Plants, when this Juice is in greater Plenty than can be exhal'd by the Sun, it renders the Plant ever Green. This Oil farther inſpiſſated by Evaporati⯑on turns by degrees into Balm, Pitch, Roſin, &c. Beſides all theſe there is a peculiar Juice in each Species not reduceable to Water, Oils, Bal⯑ſam, which may be call'd the Blood of the Plant. Thus ſome Plants up⯑on breaking their Veſſels yield a milky Juice; others a Yellow of pe⯑culiar Taſtes and Qualities.

[52] 1. Hence it follows, that he who eats a whole raw Plant, or the ex⯑preſs'd Juice of it, takes in a greater Variety of Subſtances, than he who feeds on the ſame Plant prepar'd or on ſome of the Parts of it, for all Plants have the moſt of the fore⯑mention'd Ingredients, at leaſt in ſmall Quantities.

2. Vegetables differ from Foſſils, and Animals in that being burnt to Aſhes they yield a fix'd Alkaline Salt which in thoſe of a ſharp Scent, as Muſtard, Onions, &c. is in a very ſmall Quantity.

3. The Effects of vegetable Sub⯑ſtances upon Human Bodies are more Various than theſe of Animal Sub⯑ſtances; and the Mechaniſm of Plants ſeems to be more various than that of Animals, for the, ſame Plant produceth as great a variety of Juices as there is in the ſame Animal, and the different Plants a greater Varie⯑ty, and yet the Aliment of Plants is [53] one uniform Juice; for from the ſame Soil may be produc'd a great variety of Plants, whereas different Species of Animals live upon very different ſorts of Subſtances; both Mechaniſms are equally curious, from one uniform Juice to extract all the variety of vegetable Juices, or from ſuch variety of Food to make a Fluid very near uniform, the Blood of an Animal.

4. The ſpecifick Qualities of Plants reſide in their native Spirit, Oil and eſſential Salt; for the Water, fix'd Salt and Earth appear to be the ſame in all Plants.

The Effects of the foremention'd Ingredients of Plants are as follows, Vegetable Salts are capable of reſolv⯑ing the coagulated Humours of a Human Body, and of attenuating, by ſtimulating the Solids and diſ⯑ſolving the Fluids: Salts likewiſe pro⯑mote Secretions, Oils relax the Fibres, are Lenient, Balſamick, and abate [54] Acrimony in the Blood. It is by Virtue of this Oil, that Vegetables are nutrimental, for this Oil is ex⯑tracted by Animal Digeſtion as an Emulſion, and abounds moſt in Plants of full Growth, and when the Salts and Water are in leaſt abun⯑dance. Aromatick Plants tho' they abound with Oil, yet it is not ſoft and nutritious, but as it is mix'd with a Spirit, is too heating.

The Volatile Salt and Spirit of Vegetables is penetrating, heating and active, contrary to the Proper⯑ties of Acids. The Balſams of Plants contain a Volatile Salt, ſuch Balſams when depriv'd of their Acids change into Oils. Wax conſiſts of an acid Spirit of a nauſeous Taſte, and an Oil or Butter which appears white. This Oil is Emollient, Laxative and Anodyne.

Honey is the moſt elaborate Pro⯑duction of the Vegetable Kind, be⯑ing a moſt exquiſite vegetable Soap, [55] reſolvent of the Bile, Balſamick and Pectoral. Honey contains no in⯑flammable Spirit before it has felt the Force of Fermentation, for the Diſtillation of it affords nothing that will burn in the Fire.

The Fruits of moſt Vegetables are likewiſe Soaps, all Soaps (which are a Mixture of Salt and Oil) are at⯑tenuating and deobſtruent reſolving viſcid Subſtances; for meer Water diſſolves nothing but Salts: but as the Subſtance of Coagulations is not merely Saline, nothing diſſolves them but what penetrates and relaxes at the ſame time, that is a Soap or a Mixture of Oil and Salt.

6. Taſtes are the Indexes of the different Qualities of Plants as well as of all ſorts of Aliment: Different Taſtes proceed from different Mix⯑tures of Water, Earth, Oil and Salt, but chiefly from the Oil and Spirit mix'd with ſome Salt of a peculiar Nature. A Muriatick or Briny Taſte [56] ſeems to be produced by a Mixture of an acid and alkaline Salt, for Spi⯑rit of Salt and Salt Tartar mix'd, pro⯑duce a Salt like Sea Salt. Bitter and acrid differ only by the ſharp Parti⯑cles of the firſt, being involv'd in a greater quantity of Oil than thoſe of the laſt. Acid or ſowr proceeds from a Salt of the ſame Nature With⯑out a Mixture of Oil; in auſtere Taſtes the oily Parts have not diſen⯑tangled themſelves from the Salts, and earthy Parts, ſuch is the Taſte of un⯑ripe Fruits. In ſweet Taſtes, the a⯑cid Particles ſeem to be ſo atte⯑nuated, and diſſolv'd in the Oil, as to produce only a ſmall and grate⯑ful Titillation. In oily Taſtes, the Salts ſeem to be intirely diſentan⯑gled.

Vegetables have very different Ef⯑fects on Human Bodies as they con⯑tain acid or alkaline Salts, and are to be us'd according to the different Conſtitution of the Body at that [57] time, as will appear by what will be ſaid afterwards. All the Tetrapeta⯑lous ſiliquoſe Plants are Alkaleſcent.

PROP. IV.

Mankind take as Aliment all the parts of Vegetables, but their proper⯑eſt Food of the Vegetable King⯑dom is taken from the Farinaceous, or mealy Seeds of ſome Culmiferous Plants, as Oats, Barley, Wheat, Rice, Rye, Maes, Panick Millet; or of ſome of the ſiliquoſe legumi⯑nous, as Peaſe, Beans, &c. Thoſe as they are Seeds (by what was ſaid, Prop. III.) contain the moſt elabo⯑rate part of the Plant, are oily, and therefore proper to make the Ani⯑mal Emulſion of Chyle, and their Oil is not highly exalted, and hot as that of Acrid and Aromatical Plants, but mild and benign to hu⯑man Bodies.

[58] Barley is Emollient, moiſtning and expectorating. Oats have ſome of the ſame qualities. Barley was choſen by Hippocrates as proper Food in inflammatory Diſtempers. Rice is the Food of perhaps two thirds of Mankind, it is moſt kindly and be⯑nign to human Conſtitutions, pro⯑per for the Conſumptive, and ſuch as are ſubject to Haemorages, next to Rice is Wheat, the Bran of which is highly Aceſcent and Stimulating. Therefore the Bread that is not too much purged from it is more whole⯑ſome for ſome Conſtitutions; Rye is more Acid, Laxative and leſs nouriſhing than Wheat; Millet is diraetick, deterging and uſeful in Diſeaſes of the Kidneys. Panick af⯑fords a ſoft Demulcent Nouriſhment both for Granivorous Birds, and Man⯑kind. Mays affords a very ſtrong Nouriſhment, but more viſcous than Wheat. Peaſe being depriv'd of any Aromatick parts are mild, and de⯑mulcent [59] in the higheſt degree; but being full of Aerial Particles are fla⯑tulent, when diſſolv'd by Digeſtion. Beans reſemble them in moſt of their qualities. All the foremention'd Plants are highly aceſcent except Peaſe and Beans.

The mealy parts of the foremen⯑tion'd Plants diſſolv'd in Water, make too viſcid an Aliment to be conſtantly us'd, and juſtly condemn'd by Hippocrates. Therefore Mankind have found the means to make them more eaſy of Digeſtion by ferment⯑ing, and making ſome of them into Bread, which is the lighteſt and pro⯑pereſt Aliment for human Bodies, Leaven by its Acid Salt, dividing the Mucous and oily parts of the Meal.

The next ſort of Subſtances which Mankind feed on, are Fruits of Trees, and Shrubs, theſe all contain Water or Flegm, a great Quantity of Oil, much elaborated, and an eſſential Salt, upon the different mixtures of [60] theſe Ingredients, depend their diffe⯑rent Qualities, by which they are ſharp, ſweet, ſow'r or Styptick. Of Fruits ſome are Pulpy, others contain'd within a hard Shell, which laſt are indeed the Seeds of the Plants, to which they belong, and contain a great deal of Oil, entangled with Earthly Parts and Salts, which often⯑times make them hard of Digeſtion, and paſs the Alimentary Duct un⯑diſſolv'd. There are other Fruits which contain a great deal of cooling viſcid Juice, combin'd with a Ni⯑trous Salt, which ſometimes makes them offenſive to the Stomach; ſuch are many of the low Pomiferous kind, as Cucumbers, Pompions, tho' a⯑mongſt thoſe, Melons when good, have a rich Juice, and ſomewhat A⯑romatick; they are Diuretick, and there are inſtances of their having thrown People into bloody Urine.

Of Alimentary Leaves, the O⯑lera or Pot Herbs afford an excel⯑lent [61] Nouriſhment, amongſt thoſe are the Cole or Cabbage kind, Emol⯑lient, Laxative, and reſolvent Alka⯑leſcent, and therefore proper in caſes of Acidity. Red Cabbage is reckon'd a Medicine in Conſumptions and ſpittings of Blood. Amongſt the Pot Herbs are ſome Lacteſcent Pa⯑peſcent Plants, as Lettuce, and En⯑dive, which contain a moſt whole⯑ſome Juice, reſolvent of the Bile, Anodyne and Cooling, extremely uſeful in all Diſeaſes of the Liver. Artichokes contain a rich Nutritious Stimulating Juice.

Of the Stems of Plants, ſome contain a ſine Aperient Salt, and are Diaretick and Saponaceous, as Aſparagus which affects the Urine with a Fetid Smell (eſpecially if cut when they are White) and therefore have been ſuſpected by ſome Phyſi⯑cians as not friendly to the Kidneys, when they are older and begin to ramify they loſe this quality.

[62] Of Alimentary Roots, ſome are Pulpy, and very Nutritious, as Tur⯑neps, Carrots, theſe have a fattening Quality, which they manifeſt in feed⯑ing of Cattle. There are other Roots which contain an Acrid Volatile Salt, as Onions, Garlick, Leeks, Ra⯑diſhes, the mildeſt of theſe is Selery. Thoſe ſorts of Roots are Alkaleſcent and heating; and therefore proper in caſes of Acidity. The Fungus kind, as Muſhrooms, Truffles afford an Alkaline Salt, and much Oil, ſome of them being poiſonous make the others ſuſpicious if taken in too great Quantities.

There are many Vegetable Sub⯑ſtances us'd by Mankind, as ſeaſon⯑ings, which abound with a highly exalted Aromatick Oil, as Thyme, Savoury, and all Spices. Thoſe are heating and the moſt of them hard of Digeſtion. The moſt friendly to the Stomach, is Fennel: Muſtard, which is us'd in Seaſoning [63] abounds with a moſt Pungent Salt and Oil, extremely active, and heat⯑ing. Sugar is an eſſential Salt of a Plant combin'd with an Oil, which renders it Inflammable.

PROP. V.

To give an Account of the In⯑gredients into which Vegetables re⯑ſolve themſelves by the moſt ſimple O⯑perations of Cookery and Chymiſtry.

The Operations of Cookery and Chymiſtry fall much ſhort of the, vital force of an Animal. Body, no Chymiſt can make Milk or Blood of Graſs, yet it gives ſome light to this Subject, to ſhow into what Parts Vegetables reſolve themſelves by ſuch Simple Operations, as barely ſepa⯑rate their Parts without confounding or deſtroying them.

The two Operations already men⯑tion'd, viz. making an Emulſion and Vegetable Putrefaction reſemble Animal Digeſtion the moſt.

[64] 1. In making an Emulſion, the oily Parts of Vegetables diſſolve in⯑to a white Liquor, reſembling Chyle. Our Vegetable Food conſiſts of mealy Seeds, Fruits, Bread, &c. Upon which the Teeth and Jaws act as the Peſtle and Mortar, the Spittle, Bile, Pancrea⯑tick Juice, &c. art the Men⯑ſtruum inſtead of the Water, which the Chymiſt employs, the Stomach and Inteſtines are the Preſs, and the Lacteal Veſſels the Strainers, to ſe⯑parate the pure Emulſion from its Foeces. The Chyle is white, as con⯑ſiſting of Salt, Oil, and Water of our Food, much levigated or ſmooth. This likewiſe conſtitutes the white⯑neſs of Emulſions.

2. Vegetable Putrefaction (by what has been mention'd before) turns Vegetable Subſtances into an Animal Nature.

3. Amongſt the Ingredients of Vegetables that which conſtitutes the moſt ſpiritous and fragrant part of [65] the Plant, is what paſſeth by Per⯑ſpiration, and exhales by the action of the Sun. This is as it were the preſiding Spirit of the Plant, from which it draws its peculiar flavour, and is the moſt active Principle in the Vegetable. Thus every Plant has its Atmoſphere, which have very various effects on theſe who ſtay near them, producing Head Achs, Sleep, Fainting, Vapours; and o⯑thers, a great refreſhment of the Spi⯑rits. It is reported, that in Brazil there are Trees which kill thoſe that ſit under their ſhade in a few Hours. This fragrant Spirit is obtain'd from all Plants which are in the leaſt Aro⯑matick, by a cold Still, with a heat not exceeding that of Summer.

4. If to a Plant you pour hot Wa⯑ter, and let it ſtand a ſufficient time, the Liquor ſtrain'd is call'd the infu⯑ſion of the Plant, if the Plant be boil'd in the ſame Water, the ſtrain'd Li⯑quor is call'd the Decoction of the [66] Plant. The Infuſions and Decoctions of Plants contain the moſt ſeparable parts of the Plants, and convey not only their Nutritious but Medicinal Qualities into the Blood. This is plain by many Experiments. The Infuſion of Caſſia Fiſtularis makes the Urine Green. The Infuſions and De⯑coctions of Rhubarb, and Saffron will in a quarter of an Hour tinge the Urine with a high Yellow.

5. The moſt oily parts are not ſeparated by a ſlight Decoction, till they are diſentangl'd from the Salts, for if what remains of the Subject after the Infuſion and Decoction, be continu'd to be boil'd down with the addition of freſh Water, a fat ſapid odorous viſcous inflammable frothy Water will conſtantly be found floating a top of the boiling Liquor, which being ſcumm'd off and gently dry'd, will flame away in the Fire. This Liquor is a kind of Soap conſi⯑ſting of the Oil and Salt of the Plant.

[67] 6. Infuſions and ſlight De⯑coctions contain more of the Speci⯑fick Qualities of the Plant than theſe which are more violent, for by a ſtrong Decoction ſome part of the Taſte and Smell fly off every Mo⯑ment.

7. The Infuſion and Decocti⯑on prepar'd as before being evapo⯑rated to a thicker Conſiſtence, ac⯑cording to the ſeveral Degrees of Thickneſs paſſeth into a Jelly, Defru⯑tum, ſapa Rob extract which contain all the virtues of the Infuſion or De⯑coction freed only from ſome of the watery parts.

8. The utmoſt force of boiling Water is not able to deſtroy the ſtructure of the tendereſt Plant. The Lineaments of a White Lily will re⯑main after the ſtrongeſt Decoction.

9. The Extract obtain'd by the former Operation burnt to Aſhes, and thoſe Aſhes boil'd in Water, and filtrated, yield a fiery Salt.

[68] 10. The greater Quantity of vo⯑latile Salt any Plant contains, which is the caſe of the more pungent in Taſte, and Odour, the leſs it affords of this fixt Alkali: Thoſe fix'd Al⯑kaline Salts do not preexiſt in the ſame form in the Plant, for Acid Plants as Sorel will afford by this O⯑peration, an Alkaline Salt. Thoſe Salts grow ſtill more fiery and Alkaline by a greater degree of Heat. Of all the Eſſential Salts of Plants, that which is in moſt common uſe in Aliment, is Sugar, which rather diſſolves Flegm, than increaſeth it; fot it grows tenacious only by long boiling, it is a Sal Oleoſum, for it is both ſoluble in Water, and fu⯑ſible in Fire.

11. Another manner of preparing Vegetables is by expreſſing their Juices. Thoſe expreſs'd Juices, con⯑tain the true Eſſential Salt of the Plant, for if they be boil'd into the conſiſtence of a Syrup, and fet in a [69] cool place; the Eſſential Salt of the Plant will ſhoot upon the ſides of the Veſſels. Thoſe Eſſential Salts of Plants differ according to the Plant unto which they belong, but are re⯑duc'd into three Claſſes. Firſt, Thoſe of Acid Aſtringent, Auſtere Vege⯑tables as of unripe Fruits which re⯑ſemble the Tartar. Secondly, Thoſe of ſucculent watery Plants, as En⯑dive, Cichory which afford a fine nitrous kind of Salt ſoluble in Wa⯑ter, and very cooling. Thirdly, Thoſe from oily Aromatick and odorife⯑rous Vegetables, which will hardly afford any till their Oils be extract⯑ed from them: feom hence it ap⯑pears that the expreſs'd Juices of Ve⯑getables not filtrated very clear con⯑tain their whole Specifick Virtues.

12. In the preparations of Coo⯑kery the moſt volatile parts of Ve⯑getables are deſtroy'd; if any of them are retain'd it is in Decoctions which are made in Balneo.

[70] Decoctions, when we take the Li⯑quor, contain the Specifick Virtues of the Plants, when we feed upon the Plant it makes their ſolid parts more tender, and deprives them of a great deal of their more ſubtile Oils.

13. The vaſcular and ſolid parts of Plants are incapable of any change in the Animal Body, for the remain⯑der of a ſtrong Decoction held over a clear Fire will burn to Aſhes, which is true Elementary Earth. The fibrous and ſolid parts of Plants, paſs unalter'd through the Inteſtines, and ſometimes by ſticking there oc⯑caſion great diſorders. Grains and Nuts paſs often through Animals unalter'd. The Excrements of Horſes are nothing but Hay, and as ſuch combuſtible.

14. Vegetable Subſtances contain a great deal of Air, which as they are diſſolv'd in the Alimentary Duct expands itſelf, producing all the diſ⯑orders of Flatulency.

[71] 15. There are other Preparations of Vegetables by Fermentation, whereby they are wrought up into ſpirituous Liquors, which may be call'd by the general name of Wines. Such fermented Liquors have quite diffe⯑rent qualities from the Plant itſelf, for no Fruit taken Crude has the intoxicating Quality of Wine.

PROP. I.

To give a ſhort account of the con⯑ſtituent Parts of Animal Subſtances.

An Animal conſiſts of ſolid and fluid Parts, unleſs one ſhould reckon ſome [73] of an intermediate nature as Fat and Flegm.

1. The ſolids ſèem to be Earth bound together with ſome Oil, for if a Bone be calcin'd ſo, as the leaſt force will crumble it, being im⯑mers'd in Oil it will grow firm again.

The laſt Animal Solids are Earth in its greateſt Simplicity, for the Chymiſts make Veſſels of Animal Subſtances calcin'd, which will not vitrify in the Fire; for all Earth which hath any Salt or Oil in it, will turn to Glaſs.

2. The Fluids of Animals are more crude, and reſemble thoſe of Vegetables, as they are nearer the Root of the Animal. Thus Chyle may be ſaid to be a, vegetable Juice in the Stomach and Inteſtines, and pour'd upon Blood it ſeems like Oil; as it paſſeth into the Lacteals it grows ſtill more Animal, and when it has circulated often with the Blood, it is entirely ſo.

[74] 3. Blood is the moſt univerſal Juice in an Animal Body, and from which all the reſt are deriv'd, the red part of it differs from the Serum, the Serum from the Lymph, the Lymph from the nervous Juice, and that from the ſeveral other Humours that are ſeparated in the Glands.

4. Animal Subſtances differ from Vegetable in two Things. Firſt, In that being reduc'd to Aſhes they are perfectly inſipid, all Animal Salts being volatile, flying off with great Heat. Secondly, In that there is no ſincere Acid in any Animal Juice.

5. And yet the Parts of the one are tranſmutable into the nutritious Juice of the other. An Animal can nouriſh a Plant, and a Plant an Ani⯑mal, by which it ſeems probable that Vegetables have the Power of con⯑verting the alkaline Juices of Ani⯑mals into Acids. From the two foremention'd Differences of Vegeta⯑ble and Animal Subſtances follows, [75] Firſt, That all Animal Diet is alka⯑leſcent, or anti-acid. Secondly, That Animal Subſtances containing no fixt Salt, want the aſſiſtance of thoſe for Digeſtion, which preſerve them both within and without the Body from Putrefaction.

6. The conſtituent Parts of Ani⯑mals are, Firſt, Earth. Secondly, A peculiar Spirit analogous to that of Plants. Thirdly, Water. Fourthly, Salts. Fifthly, Oil.

7. The Earth as was before ob⯑ſerv'd is ſincere, and immutable.

8. The Spirit is an oily Subſtance ſo attenuated as to become volatile. This Spirit ſeems to be diſtinguiſh'd in every Species, and Individual; a Blood-Hound will follow the Tract of the Perſon he purſues, and all Hounds the particular Game they have in Chaſe, and the Faculty by which they diſtinguiſh particular Men ſeems to be analogous to ours of diſ⯑tinguiſhing the different Species of Vegetables by their Scent.

[76] 9. Therefore, ſince the Animals of the wild kind have their Scent, and conſequently this preſiding Spi⯑rit more high, it is probable that their Juices are more exalted in Pro⯑portion.

10. Water is the chief Ingredient in all the Animal Fluids and Solids; for a dry Bone diſtill'd affords a great quantity of inſipid Water. There⯑fore Water ſeems to be proper Drink for every ſort of Animal.

11. The Juices of Animals con⯑ſiſt of Water impregnated with Salts of a peculiar Nature (excepting Chyle which as was ſaid before may be reputed a vegetable Juice, and often contain Acids) Theſe Salts are neither acid, nor perfectly volatile; for in the Evaporation of Human Blood by a gentle Fire the Salt will not riſe, but only the Spirit, and Water, not perfectly fix'd; for Hu⯑man Blood calcin'd yields no fix'd Salt, nor is it a Sal Ammoniac; for [77] that remains immutable after repeat⯑ed Diſtillations; and Diſtillation de⯑ſtroys the ammoniacal Quality of Animal Salts, and turns them alka⯑line, ſo that it is a Salt neither quite fix'd, nor quite volatile, nor quite acid, nor quite alkaline, nor quite ammoniacal, but ſoft and benign, approaching neareſt to the Nature of a Sal Ammoniac. The elementary Salts of Animals are not the ſame, as they appear by Diſtillation; theſe Alterations being made by Fire. Thoſe Salts are of a peculiar benign mild Nature in healthy Perſons who have a vital Force to ſubdue all the ſapid Subſtances which they feed upon, but in ſuch who have not that vital Force, or commit ſome Error in their Diet, theſe Salts are not ſufficiently atte⯑nuated, and retain their original Qua⯑lities, which they diſcover in Cahe⯑xies, Scurvies of ſeveral kinds and other Diſtempers. The Cure of which chiefly lies in the choice of Aliment [78] with Qualities oppoſite to the Na⯑ture of theſe Salts.

12. Animal Oil is various accord⯑ing to Principles inherent in it, but being freed from the Earth, Salts, &c. it is a ſimple unactive principle, and the ſame in all Animals.

13. Animal Subſtances are more eaſily aſſimulated into Animal Sub⯑ſtances, and therefore it ſeems pro⯑bable that they are more nouriſhing to Human Bodies than Vegetable.

The Nature of Animal Food muſt depend upon the Nature, Age, Diet, and other Circumſtances of the Ani⯑mal we feed upon.

Animal Juices as well as Vegetable are in their greateſt Perfection when the Animal is full grown; young A⯑nimals participate of the Nature of their tender Aliment, as Sucklings of Milk.

Animal Nouriſhment differs con⯑ſiderably as the Animal is terreſtrial, amphibious, or aquatick. Fiſhes con⯑tain [79] more of Animal Salts and Oil, for they corrupt ſooner than terreſ⯑trial Animals, ſome Fiſhes as the Thornback when dry'd, taſte of Sal Ammoniac.

The muſcular Fibres of Fiſhes are generally more ſmall and tender than thoſe of terreſtrial Animals, and their whole Subſtance more watery. Some Fiſhes as Whitings, can be almoſt entirely diſſolv'd into Water.

From which Qualities a Diet of Fiſh is more rich and alkaleſccnt than that of Fleſh, and therefore very im⯑proper for ſuch as practiſe Mortifi⯑cation. The Inhabitants of Sea-Port Towns are generally prolifick.

The Oils with which Fiſhes a⯑bound often turn rancid, and lie hea⯑vy on the Stomach, and effect the very Sweat with a rancid Smell, which is found to be true in ſome Places where the Inhabitants live entirely upon Fiſh.

[80] Notwithſtanding the redundant Oil in Fiſhes they do not increaſe Fat ſo much as Fleſh, by reaſon of their watery Quality.

Water-Fowl abound with the ſame rancid Oil as Fiſh.

Fiſh being highly alkaleſcent, wants to be qualified by Salt and Vinegar.

14. Another Difference of the Fleſh of Animals depends upon the diffe⯑rence of their Food, from which it is not hard to determine their Qua⯑lities conſider'd as Aliment. Thoſe Animals that live upon other Ani⯑mals have their Fleſh and Juices more alkaleſcent, than thoſe that live upon Vegetables.

15. The difference of the Quali⯑ties of the Fleſh of the ſame Species, depends upon the manner of living of the Animal.

Abſtracting from other Conſide⯑rations, the moſt healthy Animal affords the beſt Aliment, and the caſtrated; than thoſe that are not ſo.

[81] An Animal that feeds itſelf takes the moſt proper Food, in the pro⯑pereſt Quantities (if it has plenty enough) has better Air, and more Exerciſe, all which contribute to make the Animal more healthy; for theſe Reaſons Hippocrates commends the Fleſh of the wild Sow above the tame. The wild Kinds of Animals having more Exerciſe, have their Jui⯑ces more elaborated and exalted; but for the ſame Reaſon the Fibres are harder, eſpecially when old. For this Reaſon perhaps the Roe-Buck is the fineſt of the Veniſon Kind. This Rule in ſome meaſure holds true with Fiſhes; Sea-Fiſh living in an Ele⯑ment more agitated, and River-Fiſh are better than thoſe in Ponds.

Eels for want of Exerciſe are fat and ſlimy, for this Reaſon perhaps Fiſh without Fins and Scales were for⯑bid the Iſraelites.

As the Fibres of fat Animals are often more tender and moiſt than [82] thoſe of lean, they are more coveted by Mankind, and tame Fowls of⯑fering themſelves as it were to Man⯑kind, ſeem to be their natural Food.

16. The Juices of the ſame Ani⯑mal in Decoctions are often more nouriſhing, when the ſolid Parts are not ſo good, and the Broth made of grown Animals more nouriſhing than that of young; for of the Parts of the ſame Animal the muſcular Fleſh with the nervous Parts, afford the beſt Nouriſhment as containing the moſt ſpirituous Parts. The dif⯑ference of the muſcular Fleſh taken in Subſtance depends upon the Hard⯑neſs, Tenderneſs, Moiſture or Dry⯑neſs of the Fibres. The Glands dif⯑fer according to the particular Juices which they ſeparate from the Blood. Of all the Glands the Livers are the moſt corruptible. Stall-fed Oxen and cramm'd Fowls are often diſeas'd in their Livers.

PROP. II.

To give an Account of the Na⯑ture and moſt ſimple Analyſis of A⯑nimal Fluids and Solids.

The propereſt Subjects for ſuch an Enquiry are, Firſt, The Fluid which begins to receive an Animal Nature without having perfectly attain'd to it, and approaches neareſt to the Nature of Chyle, viz. Milk. Se⯑condly, That which having attain'd an Animal Nature by Circulation is noxious if retain'd in the Animal; U⯑rine. Thirdly, An Animal Fluid no ways excrementitious, mild, elabo⯑rated and nutritious, and from which every part of a perfect Animal can be form'd; the White of an Egg. Fourthly, The nutritious Juice of a healthy Human Body which reſem⯑bles the White of an Egg in moſt of its Qualities. Fifthly, The Bones.

[84] 1. None of the Animal Fluids a⯑bove mention'd, in a ſound State is either acid or alkaline. Firſt, If to any quantity of warm new Milk you pour Oil of Tartar per deliquium, or any other Alkali, no Efferveſcence will follow, but the whole Body of the Liquor will remain at reſt, though it appear ſomewhat thinner. To another Quantity of warm Milk pour Spirit of Nitre, or any ſtrong Acid, and again no Motion nor Ebullition will appear, only the Milk preſently after will become thicker than it was; mix together the two Parcels of Milk, upon which the Experiments were made, and a great Efferveſcence will immediately ariſe; from whence the Propoſition is evident, that Milk is neither an Acid nor Alkali, but when there is an Acid and Alkali mix'd in it, they manifeſt themſelves by their Conflict: Milk doth not diſcover it⯑ſelf to be Acid or Alkaline by Trials with the Syrup of Violets.

[85] The ſame Experiments hold in two Parcels of the Urine of a heal⯑thy Perſon before it has ſtood twelve Hours.

The ſame Experiments ſucceed on two Parcels of a White of an Egg, only it grows ſomewhat thicker up⯑on mixing with an acid. The Serum of the Blood ſtands the ſame Trials of Acids and Alkalis.

2. The Milks of ſeveral Animals differ but very little as to their ſenſi⯑ble Qualities; Womens Milk is the ſweeteſt, as to their nutritious Quali⯑ties they ſeem to ſtand in the fol⯑lowing Order. That of Women, Aſſes, Mares, Goats, Sheeps, Cows. The Milk of Animals which make hard Dung is moſt nouriſhing.

3. Milk ſtanding ſome time, na⯑turally ſeparates into an oily Liquor, call'd Cream, and a thinner, blue and more ponderous Liquor, call'd skimm'd Milk, neither of which Parts is naturally acid or alkaline (but may [86] turn ſo by ſtanding for ſome time) nor in the leaſt acrimonious, for be⯑ing let fall into the Eye they cauſe no Pain or Senſation of Sharpneſs. Milk is a kind of Emulſion, or white Animal Liquor reſembling Chyle pre⯑pared chiefly from Vegetables, and after it has been mix'd with the Ani⯑mal Juices of the Saliva, Bile, pan⯑creatick Juice, &c. is eaſily ſeparated from them again in the Breaſts.

4. It differs from a vegetable E⯑mulſion by coagulating into a curdy Maſs with Acids, which Chyle and vegetable Emulſions will not: Acids mix'd with them precipitate a to⯑phaceous chalky Matter, but not a chyly Subſtance; for as was before obſerv'd, if you pour Spirit of Nitre into any Quantity of boiling new Milk, and no Conflict or Efferveſ⯑cence will follow, but the Liquor di⯑vides itſelf into Curd and Whey, which Whey turns ſpontaneouſly a⯑cid, and the Curd will turn into [87] Cheeſe as hard as a Stone; which ſhows that the moſt ſolid Parts of Animals may be made of Milk. The ſame Effect of turning Milk into a hard Curd, may happen in a Human Body that abounds with Acids.

5. Milk drawn from a ſound Ani⯑mal fed on Vegetables, ſtanding in a Heat equal to that of a Man in Health, will ſoon ſeparate itſelf into a Cream, and a more ſerous and ponderous Liquor, which after twelve Days attains to the higheſt Degree of Acidity. But if the Milk be drawn from ſome Animals that feed only upon Fleſh, that have faſt'd long, are feveriſh, or have under⯑gone hard Labour, it will be more apt to turn rancid and putrify than turn acid, acquiring firſt a ſaline Taſte which is a Sign of Putrefacti⯑on, and then it will turn into an Ichor.

6. If to a quantity of boiling new Milk you add by Degrees any [88] fix'd Alkali, as Salt of Tartar, or Oil of Tartar per deliquium, there will be a lighter Coagulum form'd than by an acid. The Milk by boiling will change into a yellow Colour, and run through all the intermediate Degrees, till it ſtops in an intenſe red. The ſame thing happens by the alkaline Powers of the Body; for when an Animal that gives Suck turns feveriſh, that is, its Juices more alkaline, the Milk turns from its na⯑tive genuine Whiteneſs to Yellow; to which the Suckling has an Aver⯑ſion: This was the Caſe (as the learned Boerhaave tells us) of the Cows of Holland.

7. If a Nurſe ſhould abſtain from all acid Vegetables, from Wine, Malt-Drink, and feed only on Fleſh, and drink Water, her Milk inſtead of turning ſour will turn putrid, and ſmell like Urine. An alkaleſcent Diet except that of Water is often the Caſe of Nurſes in great Fami⯑lies. [89] Their Milk ſubjects the Child to Fevers; on the other Hand the Milk of poor People that feed upon an Aceſcent Vegetable Diet, ſubjects the Child to Diſeaſes, that depend upon Acidity in the Bowels, as Cholick: The Symptoms of ſuch a Conſtitution are a ſour Smell in the Faces, ſour Belchings, 'Diſten⯑ſions of the Bowels, and Paleneſs of the Fleſh. The Cure of both Diſ⯑eaſes is effected by a change of Diet in the Nurſe from Alkaleſcent to Aceſcent or contrary ways as the caſe requires. The beſt Diet for Nurſes is a Mixture of both.

It follows likewiſe from the forego⯑ing Obſervations, that no Nurſe ſhould give Suck after twelve Hours faſting, and that a tendency to Yellow, is an early Sign of a Fever in the Nurſe.

8. Recent Urine as it is neither Acid, nor Alkaline, diſtill'd yields a Limpid Water, neither Acid nor Al⯑kaline, Saline nor Inflammable, and [90] what remains at the Bottom of the Retort is neither Acid nor Alkaline; but being exhal'd by the Conſiſtence of a Syrup, paſſeth through all the degrees of Colours, Yellow, Red, Brown and Black; and this ſoapy Water being calcin'd affords ſome Quantity of Sea Salt, but only in the caſe of the Animal's taking Sea Salt with its Food.

9. Hence Sea Salt paſſeth unal⯑ter'd through all the Strainers of a human Body, the moderate uſe of it is very proper to preſerve Bodies through which it paſſeth from Cor⯑ruption, it detergeth the Veſſels, and keeps the Fluids from Putrefaction. The Ancients gave the Sal Gemmoe in putrid Fevers.

All human Urine diſtill'd affords a Water of a fetid Odour which that of Animals fed on Vegetables does not. The Urine of hard Drinkers and feveriſh Perſons affords a Liquor extremely fetid, but no [91] Inflammable Spirit, what is Inflam⯑mable ſtays in the Blood, and affects the Brain. Great Drinkers commonly die Apoplectick.

10. The Urine is a Lixivium of the Salts that are in a human Body, and the proper Mark of the State and Quantity of ſuch Salts, and therefore very certain Indications for the choice of Diet may be taken from the ſtate of Urine. Though the Salts of human Urine be neither Acid nor Alkaline, theſe Salts may by the violent Motion of the Blood be turn'd Alkaline, and even Corro⯑ſive, and when they begin to turn ſo, they affect the ſmall and tender Fibres of the Brain more ſenſibly than other Parts.

11. Recent Urine diſtill'd with a great Heat, and dry Sand will afford a Volatile Alkaline Salt, and after the ſame manner the Heat of a hu⯑man Body as it grows more intenſe makes the Urine ſmell ſtill more [92] ſtrong, and of a deeper Colour. But as long as thoſe Alkaline Salts are carried off by Urine, the Brain and Nerves are leſs affected, but on the contrary, when in a Fever theſe Salts are left behind, that is when the Urine turns pale, the Patient is in danger.

12. Recent Urine diſtill'd with a fix'd Alkali is turn'd into an Alka⯑line Nature, whence it ſeems proba⯑ble that Alkaline Salts taken into a human Body, have the power of turning its benign Salts into fiery and volatile, on which account they ſeem improper in inflammatory Di⯑ſtempers, where the Salts are already too much attenuated. Hippocrates who found out this by Experience order'd in ſuch a caſe Things of an Acid Nature. In general a high co⯑lour'd Urine indicates an Acid cool⯑ing Diet, for it is certain an Acid or Alkaleſcent Diet makes a great difference in the Salts of a human Body.

[93] 13. The Rob or Sapa of Urine diſtill'd with quick Lime affords a ſiery, but not an Alkaline Spirit, and Lime Water given inwardly in the Caſe of a Diabetes, will bring the Urine from Limpid Pale to be of a higher Colour, which ſhows the Power of a Lixivium of quick Lime to unlock the Salts that are entangled in the viſcid Juices of ſome ſcorbutic Perſons.

14. Recent Urine will likewiſe cryſtalize by Inſpiſſation and afford a Salt neither Acid nor Alkaline, but of an active Nature, which may be properly call'd the eſſential Salt of a human Body. Urine becomes Alkaline by Digeſtion in a heat not greater than that of a human Body, and throws off a ſtony Matter to the Sides of the Veſſel.

15. The Urine long detain'd in the Bladder as well as a Glaſs will grow red, fetid, cadaverous and alka⯑line. The Caſe is the ſame with the [94] ſtagnant Water of Hydropical Per⯑ſons, which at laſt produce a Drought and feveriſh Heat.

16. From hence very good Rules may be drawn for the Diet of Ne⯑phritick and Dropſical Perſons, that it ought to be ſuch as is oppoſite to and ſubdueth the Alkaleſcent Nature of the Salts in the Serum of their Blood; thoſe manifeſt themſelves in the Urine, which as was ſaid before is the Lixivium of the whole Body. Sal Ammoniac may likewiſe be ob⯑tain'd from Urine, which is neareſt to the Nature of an Animal Salt.

17. The White of an Egg reſem⯑bles the Nutritious Juice of an Ani⯑mal Body, from the White of an Egg every part of a perfect Animal is form'd, for during the Incubation of the Hen, there is nothing of the Egg conſum'd but the White.

18. The White of an Egg is a viſcous, unactive, inſipid, inodorous Liquor capable of mixing with Wa⯑ter, [95] and ſo mild that appply'd to the moſt ſenſible part, the Eye, it cauſeth no Pain.

19. It is neither Acid nor Alka⯑line, for if the Juices of an Animal Body were either, ſo as by the mix⯑ture of the oppoſites, to cauſe an Ebullition, they would burſt the Veſſels.

20. The White of an Egg gra⯑dually diſſolves by Heat, exceeding a little the Heat of a human Body, a greater degree of Heat will thicken it into a white, opaque, dry, viſcous Maſs, and this is the Caſe of the Se⯑rum of the Blood, upon which dif⯑ferent Degrees of Heat produce con⯑trary Effects.

Attention ought to be had to this Maxim in the Management of Diet, Exerciſe and all outward and inward Application to human Bodies and warm Cataplaſms diſcuſs, but ſcalding hot may confirm the Tumor. Heat in general doth not reſolve and attenuate [96] the Juices of a human Body, for too great Heat will produce Concre⯑tions.

21. Spirit of Wine mix'd cold with the White of an Egg, coagu⯑lates it as much as boil'd Water, which ſhows that Spirit of Wine is an immediate Styptick; ſo that in⯑jected into the Veins it is ſudden Death, and taken by the Mouth in great Quantities is ſometimes ſudden, but always certain Death. Spirituous Liquors are ſo far from attenuating, volatilizing and rendring perſpirable the Animal Fluids, that it rather condenſeth them and hardneth the Solids, and therefore properly us'd to hinder the growth of young Ani⯑mals, and this it will do by mere external Friction; thereby coagulating the Juices in the Extremities of the Veſſels, hardening and aboliſhing the Canals, and ſo increaſing their Re⯑ſiſtance againſt the Force of the in⯑fluent Liquid, which would other⯑wiſe [97] ſtretch them. This plainly de⯑monſtrates the bad Effects of inflam⯑mable Spirits on human Bodies.

22. The Water gain'd from the White of an Egg by a gentle Diſtil⯑lation, is neither Acid nor Alkaline; but by a ſtrong Diſtillation it affords an Alkaline Spirit, Salt, two kinds of Oil, and an Earth, which is another inſtance of the Alterations great de⯑grees of Heat cauſe in Animal Sub⯑jects; and hence we may conclude that Volatile Salts never exiſt in their own form, in an Animal Bo⯑dy, that the Heat requir'd to make them Volatile endangers the life of the Animal; hence a highly Alkaſ⯑cent Diet in hot Conſtitutions muſt be hurtful,

23. The White of an Egg will putrify and turn Alkaline by Di⯑geſtion, a ſingle Grain of this pu⯑trify'd Subſtance has operated like a Poiſon, cauſing Vomiting and a Looſe⯑neſs, the Antidote of this Poiſon is ſome [98] Acid Liquor, and ſuch are indeed in⯑dicated when the Juices of a human Body verge to Putrefaction. The White of an Egg during Incubation is diſſolv'd, but not properly ſpeak⯑ing putrify'd, for in ſuch a State it would be unfit for Nutrition.

24. It ſeems probable that the Bile in a human Body by ſtagnating putrifies, cauſing a Cholera Morbus in the firſt Paſſages, and a Peſtilen⯑tial Diſtemper when it mixeth with the Blood. In ſuch a ſtate of the Bile, the Aliment ought to be thin to dilute, demulcent to temper, or acid to ſubdue and deſtroy an Alka⯑line Acrimony.

The Nutritious Juice of a healthy Animal reſembles the White of an Egg in moſt of its Qualities, but this nutritious Juice being a ſubtile Liquor, ſcarce obtainable from a human Body, the Serum of the Blood is fairly ſubſtituted in its place.

[99] 25. The Serum of the Blood ſtands the foremention'd Trials, and diſcovers itſelf to be neither Acid nor Alkaline, only Oil of Vitriol thickens and the Oil of Tartar thins it a little.

26. The Serum of the Blood di⯑geſted in a Heat not greater than that of a human Body in health, will gradually become thinner, be⯑gin to ſmell Cadaverous and putrify, and at laſt, like the White of an Egg, turn to an Alkaline Ichor, that fer⯑ments with Acids, and committed to Diſtillation affords like the White of an Egg, an Alkaline Salt. This ſhows the Effect of gentle Heat in diſ⯑ſolving Coagulations, for even the Viſcous Matter which lies like Leather upon the extravaſated Blood of Pleu⯑ritick People may be diſſolv'd by a due Degree of Heat.

27. When the Blood ſtagnates in any part of the Body, it firſt coa⯑gulates [100] then reſolves, turns Alkaline, Putrid and Corroſive.

28. As the Serum of the Blood is reſolvable by a ſmall Heat, a greater Heat coagulates it ſo as to turn it horny like Parchment, but when it is throughly putrified it will no longer concrete. The Blood of ſome Perſons who have dy'd of the Plague could not be made to con⯑crete, by reaſon of the Putrefaction already begun.

29. The Serum of Blood coa⯑gulates like the White of an Egg with cold Spirit of Wine.

30. The Serum of the Blood is more Saline than the White of an Egg, perhaps by the Salts taken in Nouriſhment, and has ſomething of a more fetid urinous Scent.

31. The Serum of the Blood af⯑fords by Diſtillation an exceeding limpid Water, neither Acid nor Al⯑kaline, which ſhows that the moſt [101] ſubtile part of the Blood approacheth nearer to Water than any other Li⯑quor, and that the Blood naturally contains no volatile Salt.

32. Theſe Experiments are to be made on the Blood of healthy Ani⯑mals: It is poſſible in a lax and weak habit of Body, where the Chyle is not throughly aſſimilated by Cir⯑culation, but floats on the Blood like Oil, that ſuch a Serum might af⯑ford quite other Contents, and per⯑haps even an inflammable Spirit, by reaſon of the Vegetable Nature of the Chyle.

33. The Serum of the Blood by a ſtrong Diſtillation affords a Spirit, or Volatile Alkaline Salt, and two kinds of Oil, and an Earth which ſtill proves the Effect of Heat in hu⯑man Bodies, in changing the benign Salts into Alkaline.

34. The Serum of the Blood is attenuated by Circulation, ſo as to paſs into the minuteſt Channels of an [102] Animal Body, and become fit Nutri⯑ment for it, but by the continual At⯑trition, and Heat of ſome of its Particles becomes ſharp and offenſive to the Body: Nature has provided the Kid⯑neys to diſcharge them. Hence ap⯑pears as by Prop. VIII. Chap. II. the continual Neceſſity of a freſh Re⯑cruit of Chyle, which like an Emul⯑ſion dilutes the Serum, the Miſchiefs ariſing from the Retention of Salts, that ought to paſs by Urine, and likewiſe the proper Indications for cooling and diluting, in ſuch an Al⯑kaleſcent State of the Fluids.

35. It appears by Experiments made upon Bones, and other Ani⯑mal Solids, that they conſiſt of the ſame Principles with the Fluids, a dry Bone diſtill'd affords a great Quantity of inſipid Water, after the Bones have undergone the Violence of the Fire, the Aſhes afford no fixt Salt, only ſometimes in Animals that take Sea Salt, there will be a [103] very ſmall Proportion of that in the Aſhes.

36. The Animal Fluids and So⯑lids are reſolvable into the ſame Principles, and this is true not only of the Fluids and Solids themſelves, but likewiſe of all Preparations of them. The Gellies made of the Decoction of lean Fleſh, and Bones in clear Water are reſolvable into the ſame Principles as the Fleſh and Bones themſelves, and if theſe De⯑coctions be repeated till the Water comes off clear, the Remainder yields no Salt by Diſtillation and little Oil; therefore it is poſſible to extract the whole Virtues of Animal Subſtances by Decoctions, but the gentleſt, ex⯑tract the moſt volatile and fineſt Parts after the Oil or Fat is ſepa⯑rated.

37. Preparations by Cookery of Fiſh or Fleſh ought to be made with regard to rectifying their moſt noxi⯑ous and ſlimy Subſtances, and to re⯑tain [104] thoſe that are moſt Nutritious; ſuch Preparations as retain the Oil or Fat are moſt heavy to the Sto⯑mach, which makes bak'd Meat hard of Digeſtion.

38. By Experiments of the Mix⯑ture of different Subſtances with the Serum of the Blood, it appears that all Volatile Alkalis thin it, and Acids coagulate it. I ſaid Volatile Alkalis for the Serum being mix'd with an equal Quantity of Oil of Tartar per deliquium, will grow ſomewhat thicker, and an Alkaline Vapour ariſeth from the Mixture; but the fame Propor⯑tion of Spirit of Sal Ammoniac makes the Serum thinner without cauſing any Alteration in the Scent or Colour.

39. Spirit of Vitriol pour'd to pure unmix'd Serum coagulates it as if it had been boil'd. Spirit of Sea Salt makes a perfect Coagu⯑lation of the Serum likewiſe, but with ſome different Phenomena from [105] the former. The Spirit of Nitre pro⯑duceth the ſame Effect.

The Serum which is mix'd with an Alkali being pour'd to that which is mix'd with an Acid raiſeth an Ef⯑ferveſcence, at the Ceſſation of which the Salts, of which the Acid was com⯑pos'd, will be regenerated.

40. Vinegar is an Acid of a very peculiar Nature cooling and yet not coagulating; for Spirit of Vinegar gently dilutes the Serum of the Blood, and even the Oil of Tartar being pour'd to this Mixture cauſeth no Efferveſcence; tho' Honiberg ſays, that Spirit of Vinegar concentrated, and reduc'd to its greateſt ſtrength will coagulate the Serum.

41. The Mixture of the Solutions of Sea-Salt, Sal Gemmae, Borax Ni⯑tre, and Sal Ammoniac, cauſe no change of Colour in the Serum; but diſſolve its Texture a little, all except that of the Borax. Glaubers Salt maketh a ſtrong Coagulation of the [106] Serum by reaſon of the Oil of Vi⯑triol it contains.

42. All ſaponaceous Subſtances, which are a Mixture of Oil and al⯑kaline Salt, thin the Blood without cauſing any Efferveſcence; Spirit of Harts-Horn given in great Quanti⯑ties will produce Hemorrhages, which I have known by Experience, and therefore is very improper in ma⯑ny Caſes. Boerhaave in his Chymiſ⯑try, ſays, That Sal volatile oleoſum will coagulate the Serum on Ac⯑count of the Alcahol or rectify'd Spi⯑rit it contains.

43. The Tincture of Salt of Tar⯑tar, viz. a Preparation of the high⯑eſt rectify'd Spirit of Wine, and the ſtrongeſt fix'd Alkali, preſerves the Serum in a neutral State; for the Spi⯑rit of Wine tends to coagulate, and the Alkali on the contrary to diſſolve it, whence it becomes neither thicker nor thinner.

[107] 44. What we take in common Aliment is endued with the above mention'd Qualities in ſome degree. Therefore from theſe Experiments ve⯑ry uſeful Indications for Diet may be taken according to the different State of the Blood, as will appear by what follows.

PROP. I.

Different Sorts of Aliments are not ſubdu'd or aſſimilated by the vital Force of a Human Body ſo in⯑tirely, as to be diveſted of their ori⯑ginal Qualities; but while they re⯑pair the Fluids and Solids, act va⯑riouſly upon them, according to [108] their different Natures. There⯑fore,

1. The proper Way of treating the Subject of Aliment is to conſider the Actions of the ſeveral Sorts of it upon the Fluids and Solids of Hu⯑man Bodies, and to ſeparate at leaſt in Idea their Alimentary from their Medicinal Qualities.

PROP. II.

The Diſeaſes of Human Bodies often require Subſtances of more active Principles, than what are found in common Aliment, in or⯑der to produce ſudden Alterations: But where ſuch Alterations are not neceſſary, the ſame Effect may be obtained by the repeated Force of Diet, with more Safety to the Bo⯑dy, where the leſs ſudden Chan⯑ges are leſs dangerous. The ſmal⯑ler Activity of Aliment is compen⯑ſated by its Quantity, for accord⯑ing [109] to the Laws of Motion, if the Bulk and Activity of Aliment and Medicines are in reciprocal Propor⯑tion, the Effect will be the ſame.

1. All Bodies which by the Ani⯑mal Faculties can be changed into the Fluids and Solids of our Bodies are call'd Aliment. But to take it in the largeſt Senſe, by Aliment I underſtand every thing which a Hu⯑man Creature takes in common Diet, as Meat, Drink, and Seaſoning, as Salt, Spice, Vinegar, &c.

2. It has been explain'd Prop. VII. Chap. II. how the Aliment in moving through the capillary Tubes at laſt, as it were ſtagnates and unites itſelf to the Veſſel or Tube through which it flows. But in this Motion it will act differently, both upon the Fluid and Solid, according to its different Nature. Every thing that acts up⯑on the Fluids muſt at the ſame time act upon the Solids, and contrary⯑wiſe, yet one may ſeparate theſe two Actions in Idea.

PROP. III.

To enumerate the different Acti⯑ons upon the Fluids and Solids of a Human Body.

There is a multitude of Words to expreſs the various Alterations which are produc'd in a Human Body by Diet and Medicines, but as far as relates to our preſent Subject, they may be reduc'd to the following ge⯑neral Heads.

1. The Actions upon the Solids are, Firſt, Stimulating or increaſing their Vibrations or oſcillatory Mo⯑tions. Secondly, Contracting, that is diminiſhing their Length, and in⯑creaſing their Thickneſs. Thirdly, Re⯑laxing or making them more flexible in their leſs coherent Parts. And Laſtly, Conſtipating or ſhutting up the Cavity of the capillary Tubes.

2. The Actions upon the Fluids are either changing their Qualities or their Quantity.

[111] 3. Their Qualities are chang'd by, Firſt, Attenuating and condenſing, that is diminiſhing or increaſing the Bulk of their Particles. Secondly, By rend⯑ring them acrimonious or mild. Thirdly, By coagulating and diluting, that is, making their Parts more or leſs coherent. Fourthly, By increaſing or diminiſhing their Motion through the Veſſels.

4. The Quantity of the Fluids is increas'd or diminiſh'd by the Increaſe or Diminution of the Quantity of A⯑liment; or by the ſuppreſſing or pro⯑moting Animal Secretions.

5. That all theſe Actions can be perform'd by Aliment as well as Me⯑dicines, is plain from Reaſon, Ex⯑perience and in ſome Caſes by ocu⯑lar Demonſtration, by obſerving the Effects of different Subſtances upon the Fluids and Solids of a Human Body when the Veſſels are open, and gape by a Wound or Sore. The Ef⯑fects of tepid Water and farmaceous [112] Subſtances in relaxing; of Spirits, in ſtopping Hemorrages, and conſolidat⯑ing the Fibres; the Power of al⯑kaline Abſorbents in ſubduing Acri⯑mony, and of Oil in ſtopping Per⯑ſpiration is well known to Chirur⯑geons, who are likewiſe well ac⯑quainted with the Influence of Diet upon the Wounds and Sores of their Patients, and from the Condition of the one, can gueſs at the Errors or Regularity of the other. Acrid Sub⯑ſtances will break the Veſſels, and produce an Ichor inſtead of laudable Pus. The chief Intention of Chi⯑rurgery as well as Medicine, is keep⯑ing a juſt Equilibrium between the in⯑fluent Fluids, and vaſcular Solids, when the Veſſels are too lax, and don't ſufficiently reſiſt the Influx of the Liquid, it begets a Fungus or proud Fleſh; when the Balance is on the other ſide, it produceth a Cica⯑trice. Were it not criminal to try Experiments upon Patients, which [113] they too often try upon themſelves, I could anſwer that the Doctrine of this Chapter would be verify'd by Experience in Wounds and Sores, as it is often perceptible even in an Iſſue.

PROP. IV.

To explain the Effects of diffe⯑rent alimentary Subſtances upon the Fluids and Solids of a Human Body.

1. The firſt ſort of Alimentary Subſtances are ſuch as are of ſo mild a Nature, that they act with ſmall Force upon the Solids, and as the Action and Re-action are equal, the ſmalleſt Degree of Force in the Solids digeſts and aſſimilates them; of ſuch ſort is Milk and Broths made of the muſcular Parts of Animals, which are as it were already prepar'd, and eaſi⯑ly converted into Animal Subſtances; theſe are proper. Nouriſhment for weak Bodies, and agree perfectly [114] well with them, unleſs there be ſome particular Acrimony in the Stomach, which ſometimes makes them offen⯑ſive, and which Cuſtom at laſt will overcome.

2. Thoſe Things which ſtimulate the Solids, produce the greateſt Al⯑terations in an Animal Body. This is ſeen in many Inſtances. Violent Sneezing produceth Convulſions in all the Muſcles of Reſpiration, and an univerſal Secretion of all the Hu⯑mours, Tears, Spittle, Sweat, U⯑rine, &c. So great an Alteration can be produc'd only by the Tickling of a Feather, and if the Action of Sneezing ſhould be continu'd by ſome very acrid Subſtance, it will at laſt produce Head-ach, Vomiting, uni⯑verſal Convulſions, Fever and Death, Therefore ſuch active Subſtances as taken inwardly in ſmall Quantities make great Alterations in the Fluids, muſt produce this Effect by their ſti⯑mulating Quality.

[115] 3. Acrid Subſtances, which are ſmall enough to paſs into the capil⯑lary Tubes, muſt ſtimulate the ſmall Fibres, and irritate them into greater Contraction, and ſtronger Vibrati⯑ons.

4. Many things which we take as Aliment, or with our Aliment have this Quality in ſome degree: As the Juices of acid Vegetables, fermented Liquors, eſpecially ſharp Wines, fermented Spirits, aromatical Vegetables as Fennel, Savory, Thyme, Garlick, Onions, Leeks, Muſtard, which abound with a volatile pun⯑gent Salt, all Spices, in general all Vegetables, which being corrupted eaſily reſolve themſelves into a fetid oily Alkali. Onions, Garlick, Pep⯑per, Salt, and Vinegar taken in great Quantities by their Stimulus, excite a momentary Heat and Fever, and therefore in ſome Caſes to be men⯑tion'd afterwards are very proper.

[116] 5. The ſolid Parts may be con⯑tracted various Ways. Firſt, By diſ⯑ſolving their Continuity, for when a Fibre is cut through, it contracts itſelf at both Ends; therefore all Things which are ſo acrimonious as to deſtroy the ſmall Fibres muſt contract them. Secondly, Whatever makes a Depletion of the Veſſels gives room to the Fibres to contract; therefore Abſtinence produceth this Effect in the beſt Manner. What⯑ever ſhortens the Fibres, by inſinuat⯑ing itſelf into their Parts, as Water in a Rope, contracts; fermented Spirits poſſeſs their Quality in a great Degree.

6. The more oily any Spirit is, the more pernicious, becauſe it is harder to be eluted by the Blood. Brandy is more eaſy to be ſo, than Spirit of Juniper, and that than Spi⯑rit of Aniſeſeed. Compound aro⯑matical Spirits deſtroy, Firſt, By their fermentative Heat. Secondly, By [117] their oily Tenacity. Thirdly, By a cauſtick Quality reſiding in Spices apt to deſtroy the ſolid Parts, but theſe Qualities render them proper in ſome Caſes taken in ſmall Quan⯑tities.

7. Fermented Spirits contract, harden and conſolidate many Fibres together, aboliſhing many Canals, eſ⯑pecially where the Fibres are the ten⯑dereſt as in the Brain, by which Qua⯑lity they deſtroy the Memory and intellectual Faculties.

8. Acid auſtere Vegetables have this Faculty of Contracting and ſtrengthning the Fibres without ſome of the bad Effects of fermented Spi⯑rits, as all Kinds of Sorrel (the Vir⯑tues of which lie in an acid aſtrin⯑gent Salt, a ſovereign Antidote a⯑gainſt the putreſcent bilious Alkali) ſeveral Kinds of Fruits, as Quinces, ſome ſorts of Pears with the Marma⯑lades made of them, Medlars, Ca⯑pers, Barberries, Pomegranates, Purſ⯑lain, [118] ſuch are eaſily diſtinguiſh'd by a rough ſtyptick Taſte. Amongſt Drinks Auſtere Wines, unripe Fruits likewiſe have the ſame Quality, but are apt to obſtruct the Nerves, and occaſion Palſies.

9. Relaxing the Fibres is making them flexible, or eaſy to be leng⯑then'd without Rupture, which is done only in the capillary vaſcular Solids. Amongſt Liquids endued with this Quality of relaxing, warm Water ſtands firſt, next watery Decoctions of farinaceous Vegetables, or Grains, as Oats, Barley, &c. All ſweet and mild Garden-fruits, almoſt all Pot⯑Herbs, Spinage, Betes, Cabbage, Cole⯑worts, and all that Tribe. Red Cab⯑bage beſides is reckon'd a good Pec⯑toral; ſome of the lacteſcent and papeſcent Plants, as Lettuce, Cicho⯑ry, whoſe Milk is anodyne and re⯑ſolvent, therefore good in Diſeaſes of the Liver; but all ſuch Vegeta⯑bles muſt be unfermented, for Fer⯑mentation [119] changes their Nature. Oils expreſs'd from mild Plants, Animal Oils, Cream, Butter, Marrow, which laſt is of all oily Subſtances the moſt penetrating.

10. It is not probable that any thing which Human Creatures take as Aliment, ſhould have the Quality of entirely conſtipating or ſhutting up the capillary Veſſels, becauſe ſuch Subſtances could hardly enter the Lacteals, and if they did, would ſtop the Circulation in the Lungs, but all viſcid Aliment ſuch as is made of farinaceous Subſtances unſermented, neither paſs the Lacteals, nor circu⯑late ſo eaſily as the ſame Subſtances fermented. Some of the Fungus Kind gather'd by miſtake for edible Muſh⯑rooms, have produced a Difficulty of Breathing.

11. The Qualities of the Fluids can be likewiſe chang'd by Diet, as Firſt, By attenuating or diminiſhing the Coheſion of the Parts of the [120] Fluid. The Coheſion of the Parts depends upon the Weight and Quan⯑tity, therefore Abſtinence and a ſlen⯑der Diet attenuates, becauſe Deple⯑tion of the Veſſels gives room to the Fluid to expand itſelf.

12. Whatever penetrates and di⯑lutes at the ſame time; therefore Water impregnated with ſome pene⯑trating Salt, attenuates moſt ſtrongly; Water with Sal Ammoniac will paſs through a Human Skin. To this Quality may be juſtly aſcrib'd the great Effects of medicated Waters, all ſtimulating Subſtances by increaſ⯑ing the Motion of the Blood atte⯑nuate, unleſs they increaſe the Mo⯑tion ſo much, as at laſt to produce Coagulation.

13. Thickening the Blood is moſt eaſily brought about by exhaling the moſt liquid Parts by ſudoriſick or watery Evaporations; but this brings it into a morbid State. Acid auſtere Vegetables before mention'd, have [121] this Quality of condenſing the Fluids, as well as ſtrengthning the Solids.

14. The Blood of labouring Peo⯑ple is more denſe and heavy than of thoſe who live a ſedentary life, and the Diſeaſes which People imagine proceed from the Thickneſs of Blood, come often from the contrary Cauſe; too thin Blood ſtrays into the im⯑mediately ſubordinate Veſſels which are deſtin'd to carry Humours ſecre⯑ted from the Blood, according to what was ſaid Prop. V. Chap. II. This cauſes an Obſtruction falſly aſcrib'd to the Thickneſs of the Blood.

The Qualities of Blood in a healthy State are to be florid when let out of the Veſſel, the red Part congeal⯑ing ſtrongly and ſoon together in a Maſs moderately tenaceous,ſwimming in the Serum, which ought to be with⯑out any very yellow or greeniſh caſt. The Gravity of Blood to Sea-Water is as 26 is to 25, that of the Serum to [122] the ſame Water, as 300 to 353, it's an eaſy matter to examine extrava⯑ſated Blood by theſe Marks.

15. Acrimony is not Natural, but induc'd into the Fluids of an Ani⯑mal Body. Acrimony may be intro⯑duc'd by Diet, that is either Muria⯑tick, (Briny) or Acid, which likewiſe is of two ſorts, of things naturally Acid; or (made ſo by Fermentation) Aromatick, conſiſting of Salts, and highly exalted Oils, intimately uni⯑ted. Or Secondly, by increaſing the Velocity of the Blood, and conſe⯑quently the Attrition of the Parts.

16. Acrimony in the Blood it ſelf is commonly of three Sorts accord⯑ing to the Nature of the Salts in which it reſides. Acid, Alkaline or Muriatick as in the Sea Scurvy, but the laſt approaches more towards the Alkaline, and admits of the ſame Cure: Acid Acrimony reſides chiefly in the firſt Paſſages, proceeding often from the Weakneſs of Digeſtion, and [123] the too long Duration of Vegetables, and Milk in the Stomach. Animal Subſtanccs are all Alkaleſcent, of Vegetable Subſtances ſome are Acid, others Alkaleſcent, and each Sort is to be uſed according to the two dif⯑ferent Intentions.

17. Antiacid Vegetables are, Firſt, All kinds of Garlick, Onions, Leeks, and Selery, the Actiſcorbutick Plants, Carrots, Turnips, Eringo Roots, Aſparagus, Horſe-radiſh, Mu⯑ſtard, Cabbage. Secondly, All Ani⯑mal Subſtances eſpecially of ſuch as live on other Animals; the Juices of which are more Alkaleſcent than of the Animals which live upon Vegetables, ſuch are moſt Fiſhes, eſ⯑pecially ſome of the Teſtaceous kind. Thirdly, Water as it dilutes and ſubdues Acidity. Fourthly, Oils are Antia⯑cids ſo far as they blunt Acri⯑mony, but as ſome times they are hard of Digeſtion they produce Acrimony of another Sort.

[124] 18. On the other Hand when the Acrimony is Alkaline, which is more frequently the Caſe in the circulating Juices. The proper Diet is Decocti⯑ons of Farinaceous Vegetables which ſeem appointed by Nature, for the Vegetable Diet of human Creatures. This Alkaline Acrimony indicates the copious uſe of Vinegar, and Acid Fruits, as Oranges, which con⯑tain a Juice moſt effectual in the Cure of the Muriatick Scurvy of Ma⯑riners; the Juice of Lemons is like⯑wiſe more proper and more cooling and aſtringent than that of Oranges. In this caſe all the mild Antiſcorbu⯑ticks are indicated as Sorrel, Cichory, Lettuce, Apples, and of Liquids Whey: On the contrary all the A⯑crid Antiſcorbuticks, as Scurvygraſs, Horſeradiſhes, Muſtard, &c. are hurt⯑ful in this hot Scurvy.

19. There is a third ſort of Antiſcorbuticks proper in this Alka⯑leſcent State of the Fluids, which [125] is call'd Aſtringent, ſuch as Pome⯑granates, Capers, and moſt of the common Pickles prepar'd with Vine⯑gar. The Extremity of Alkali is Putrefaction. All Acid Subſtances, and Sea Salt reſiſt Putrefaction, but as it is a ſharp ſolid Body unalterable in an Animal Body, when it is taken in too great Quantities in a conſtant Diet of Salt Meat, it breaks the Veſſels, produceth Eroſions of the ſolid Parts, and all the Symptoms of the Sea-Scurvy, which is to be cured by Acid Vegetables, and not by hot Antiſcorbutick; all Spices likewiſe induce this Acrimony, as was hinted before.

20. There are other Subſtances which are oppoſite to both Sorts of Acrimony which are call'd demul⯑cent or mild, becauſe they blunt or ſheath theſe ſharp Salts, as Farinaceous Legumes, ſuch as Peaſe, Beans, Len⯑tils. Native Oils of Animals, as Cream, Butter, Marrow, which laſt [126] is a Specifick in that Scurvy which occaſions a Crackling of the Bones, in which caſe Marrow performs its natural Function of moiſtening them. All Plants which are without Smell or pungent Taſte are demulcent, as likewiſe all the Alimentary Parts of ſound Animals, for none of their Juices will hurt the Eye or a freſh Wound. Acrimony which is not viſcid may be cur'd by Diet, but Viſ⯑cidity requires more active Subſtances to diſſolve it.

21. Whatever renders the motion of the Blood more languid than na⯑tural diſpoſeth to an Acid Acrimo⯑ny: What accelerates the Motion of the Blood beyond what is natural diſpoſeth to an Alkaline Acrimony.

22. The next Alteration which is made in the Fluids is rendering it more thin, which is perform'd by Diluting, there is no real Diluent but Water, every Fluid is diluent as it contains Water in it. Water dilutes, [127] but at the ſame time relaxeth, this laſt Quality is taken off by mixing ſome Acid Juice with it: Water mix'd with Acids reſiſts the Heat and Alkaleſcent State of the Fluids, as long as there is Thirſt, a quick Pulſe, Dryneſs, with a free Paſſage by Urine, and Stricture of the Veſſels, ſo long is Water ſafely taken.

23. Oppoſite to Dilution is Co⯑agulation or Thickening, which is perform'd by diſſipating the moſt liquid Parts by Heat, or by inſi⯑nuating ſome Subſtances which make the Parts of the Fluid cohere more ſtrongly. All Vegetables which make a black Tincture with the Vitriol of Steel have this Quality, they have commonly a rough ſtyptick Taſte: Vinegar as was ſaid before is an A⯑cid very particular, for it doth not coagulate: Inflammable Spirits co⯑agulate the Fluids, and harden the Solids in a ſtrong Degree.

[128] 24. Reſolving what is congeal'd is turning it into a Fluid again; this can be perform'd by watery Liquors, impregnated with ſome penetrating Salt, but more effectually by ſapa⯑naceous Subſtances compos'd of Oil and Salt, ſuch are Honey, and the Robs and Gellies of moſt Fruits. Vinegar and Honey mix'd is a ſtrong reſolvent. Spiſſitude is ſubdu'd by Acrid things, and Acrimony by in⯑ſpiſſitating.

25. The ſecond Manner of Ope⯑rating upon the Fluids is by in⯑creaſing or diminiſhing their Quan⯑tity, the firſt is perform'd by a plen⯑tiful Diet, and the Suppreſſion of E⯑vacuations, the ſecond either by a ſpare Diet or promoting the Animal Secretions, that is expelling the Fluids out of the Body. Tho' Secre⯑tions of the laudable Juices are beſt accompliſh'd by increaſing the Fluids.

26. Whatever generates a Quan⯑tity of good Chyle, muſt likewiſe [129] generate Milk, ſuch is new Milk ſeaſon'd with Sugar or Salt. This will increaſe the Milk when it is di⯑miniſh'd by the too great uſe of Fleſh Meat: Gruels made of Grains, Broths, Malt Drink not much hopp'd, Poſſet Drinks, and in gene⯑ral whatever relaxeth, have the ſame Effect.

27. There are as many good Pectorals of the Alimentary, as of the Medicinal kind, as all Prepara⯑tions of Barley, Oats, Honey, all Saponaceous Subſtances before-men⯑tion'd which attenuate Flegm.

28. There is Aliment lenitive ex⯑pelling the faeces without ſtimulating the Bowels, ſuch are Anim al Oils quite freſh (for by ſtanding they grow Acrid) as Cream, Butter, Mar⯑row, Broths made of the Parts of Animals about the Meſentery, Oils expreſs'd from ripe Fruits (from un⯑ripe they are auſtere and aſtringent) the Juices of mild and ripe Fruits, [130] Decoctions of farinaceous Vegeta⯑bles, natural Soaps as Honey, Sugar, ſuch Diet is proper for the hot Con⯑ſtitutions of warm Countries, where ſtrong Perſpiration exhales the Moiſ⯑ture. Water, Milk, Whey, taken in the open Air without much exerciſe ſo as to make them perſpire, relax the Belly.

29. There are Aliments which beſides this lubricating Quality, ſti⯑mulate in a ſmall Degree. Gellies made of the ſolid parts of Animals, as of their Horns, ſtimulate by the Salts that are in them. Salted Fleſh which often throws Ships-crews into Fluxes, Shell Fiſhes which have a Sa⯑line Taſte, Garden Fruits which have any Acrimony, moſt ſorts of Berries, ſome of which will produce Diarrhoeas, warm Water mix'd with Honey, and Honey mix'd with Acids diſſolve Flegm in the Bowels. There are o⯑thers which promote the Secretion of Bile, ſuch as all natural Soaps, the [131] Juices of Fruits ſharp, and ſweet, eſ⯑pecially Grapes, the immoderate uſe of which will produce a Cholera Mor⯑bus.

30. Diureticks are Decoctions, Emulſions and Oils of Emollient Vegetables, in ſo far as they relax the Urinary Paſſages: Such as relax ought to be try'd before ſuch as force and ſtimulate. Thoſe Emollients ought to be taken in open Air to hinder them from perſpiring, and on empty Stomachs. Vegetables which abound with eſſential Salt, are Diu⯑retick by ſtimulating, as Sorrel, Chervil, Parſly, Eringo, &c. and likewiſe all ſuch as contain an Aro⯑matical Balſam as Aſparagus, Fen⯑nel, &c.

31. As to Sudorificks, it ought to be conſider'd that the Liquid which goes off by Sweat, is often the moſt ſubtile part of the Blood, and ought not to be forc'd away without ma⯑nifect neceſſity. The Matter of in⯑ſenſible [132] Perſpiration is mild, that of Sweat reſembles Urine, and yields a Volatile Salt, oily and fetid. When Sweat is vehement it will grow Bloody. The Matter of Sweat is the watery part of our Drink impregnated with this Salt, ſometimes in weak and conſumptive People, Crude, Chyle, and ſometimes (as was ſaid before) the moſt elaborate ſubtile part of our Blood, as in fat People who have a ſmall inſenſible Perſpiration.

32. Sweat is produc'd by chang⯑ing the balance between the Fluids and Solids (in which it muſt be confeſt that true Health conſiſts) ſo as the projectile Motion of the Fluids overcome the Reſiſtance of the Solids; therefore it is produc'd by relaxing the Paſſages of the Skin. Secondly, By diluting. Thirdly, By diſſolving the Blood. Fourthly, By accelerating its Motion. Water dilutes and relaxes at the ſame time, therefore the beſt and ſafeſt Sudorifick, watery [133] and Acid things mix'd prove ſtrong Sudorificks; Spices by Heating, and diſſolving the Blood are not ſo pro⯑per and ſafe Sudorificks.

33. Inſenſible Perſpiration is the laſt and mod perfect Action of A⯑nimal Digeſtion; the keeping it up in due meaſure, is the cauſe as well as ſign of Health, and the leaſt Deviation from that due Quantity, the certain forerunner of a Diſeaſe, therefore the beſt Indications for Diet are taken from the Meaſure of Per⯑ſpiration.

The Food which is moſt Vapo⯑riſh and Perſpirable is certainly the moſt eaſily digeſted, but ſuch may be proper or improper, for the A⯑nimal according to its Circumſtances, eſpecially the Quantity of its Muſ⯑cular Motion. By Prop. IV. Chap. II. The ſtrength of the Aliment muſt be proportion'd to the action of the Solids upon it, which in an Animal under a courſe of exerciſe or hard [134] labour is much ſtronger; therefore Aliment too Vaporoſe or Perſpira⯑ble, will ſubject it to the inconve⯑niences of too ſtrong a Perſpiration, which are Debility, Faintings, and ſometimes ſudden Death. What di⯑miniſheth Sweating, or the ſenſible Perſpiration increaſeth the inſenſible, for that reaſon a Strengthning and Aſtringent Diet often conduceth to this purpoſe. According to the Ex⯑periments of Sanctorius the moſt nouriſhing Aliment is the leaſt per⯑ſpirable except Mutton, which of all others is moſt ſo, and Hog's Fleſh the leaſt; and for the ſame rea⯑ſon Eels, and all very fat and oily Subſtances: copious Food of ſmall Nouriſhment perſpires much.

A Stomach too void or too full ſtops Perſpiration. The Fruits of the low Pomiferous Plants as Cucum⯑bers, Melons, &c. ſtop Perſpira⯑tion, therefore they are wiſely provi⯑ded by Nature in a Seaſon when the [135] Perſpiration is too great. Variety of Meats diminiſh Perſpiration, Honey in cold Conſtitutions increaſeth Per⯑ſpiration, except when it promotes too great a Secretion of the Bile, and then it diminiſheth it: Drinking exceſſively during the time of Chy⯑lification, ſtops Perſpiration. Let thoſe who ſit long at their Bottle af⯑ter Meals conſider this.

The moſt ſure ſign of a deficient Perſpiration is Flatulency or Wind.

34. The Menſes are promoted. Firſt, By every thing which occaſi⯑ons a Plethora, ſuch are all Aliments of eaſy Digeſtion, taken in ſufficient Quantity. Secondly, By all Sapona⯑ceous Subſtances, which incide the Mucus in the firſt Paſſages. Thirdly, By Spices and warm Vegetables which abound with a Volatile oily Salt. Of theſe we have ſpoken be⯑fore.

35. Heat in Animal Bodies is produc'd by the Attrition of the Fluids [136] and Solids, for when that ceaſeth as in Death, there is extremity of Cold, The ſolid parts of Animals rubbing againſt one another would in time produce a Heat capable to deſtroy the Parts, had not Nature provided an oily Subſtance to lubricate and moiſten them; when that fails as happens ſometimes in the Scurvy, Gout, and Rheumatiſm, an Inflam⯑matory Heat is often produc'd.

36. Stimulating Subſtances taken in Diet increaſe Heat, becauſe they increaſe the Oſcillatory Motion of the Solids, but moſt of all In⯑flammatory Spirits. Whatever in⯑creaſeth the Denſity of the Blood, even without increaſing its Celerity, heats, becauſe a denſer Body is hot⯑ter than a rarer. Extreme Cold at laſt heats. Cold in Animal Bodies is produc'd by Cauſes contrary to thoſe productive of Heat, as Firſt, by di⯑miniſhing the force of any Stimulus, as by Whey, Milk, Water, &c. [137] Secondly, By all Things which relax. Thirdly, Alkaline Subſtances in re⯑ſpect of Acid, and Acid in reſpect of Alkaline are cooling.

37. Cephalick are all ſuch Things as attenuate the Blood ſo as to make it circulate eaſily through the capil⯑lary Veſſels of the Brain. A Cor⯑dial properly ſpeaking is not always what increaſeth the Force of the Heart; for by increaſing that the Animal may be weaken'd as in in⯑flammatory Diſeaſes. Whatever in⯑creaſeth the Natural or Animal Strength, the Force of moving the Fluids and the Muſcles is a Cordial, ſuch are ſuch Subſtances, as bring the Serum of the Blood into the propereſt Condition for Circulation and Nutrition, as Broths made of Animal Subſtances, Milk, ripe Fruits, and whatever is endued with a wholeſome but not pungent Taſte. Whatever relaxes the too ſtrict, or ſtrengthens the too lax Fibres, what [138] in ſome Caſes diſpels Wind, what excites and takes off the ſluggiſh Mo⯑tion of the Animal Spirits, as Spi⯑ces, Wine, and ſpirituous Liquors.

38. Carminative are ſuch Things as dilute and relax at the ſame time, becauſe Wind occaſions a Spaſm or Convulſion in ſome Part; whatever promotes inſenſible Perſpiration is Carminative, for Wind is perſpirable Matter retain'd in the Body.

39. All emollient relaxing Diet, and all things which deſtroy Acrimo⯑ny, abate Pain.

40. There are ſeveral Things ta⯑ken in Diet which kill Worms, as Oil, and Honey.

Whoever attends to the Particu⯑lars barely hinted at in this Chapter, will eaſily perceive that all the In⯑tentions purſued by Medicines, may be obtain'd and inforc'd by Diet.

It may be expected that I ſhould ſay ſomething in this Chapter of the Qualities of three exotick Plants, [139] whoſe Infuſions and Decoctions are now much us'd in common Aliment, Tea, Coffee and Chocolate: There are many Treatiſes wrote about them, which aſcribe to them both good and bad Qualities, which they have not. There is lately publiſhed a ve⯑ry learned and elaborate Diſſertation upon Tea, by Doctor Thomas Short, in which the Author with great Knowledge, Induſtry, and Skill, has not only given us the natural Hiſto⯑ry of the Plant, but likewiſe its A⯑nalyſis.

But as the Infuſions and Decocti⯑ons of the foremention'd Vegetables in common Water, are the only Pre⯑parations of them in Uſe, there is no neceſſity in this Place of conſidering any of their Contents, but ſuch as are extracted by thoſe ſimple Opera⯑tions of Cookery.

The green Leaves of Tea contain a narcotick Juice, which exudes by Roaſting. This is perform'd with [140] great Care before it is expos'd to ſale. The ſeveral Methods of diſcovering the Adulterations of Tea by Coppe⯑ras, Galls, Spirit of Harts-horn, one may ſee in the foremention'd Trea⯑tiſe. Tea by its manner of affecting the Organs of Taſte and Smell, con⯑tains very little of a volatile Spirit; its Roſin or fix'd Oil which is bit⯑ter and aſtringent, cannot be ex⯑tracted by Water, but demands recti⯑fy'd Spirit. The active Principles of it extracted by Infuſion, are the moſt ſeparable Parts of its Oil or Gum, and its Salt.

Its Salt and Gum are aſtringent; chalybeat Water draws from it a Tincture of the ſame Colour as that from Oak-leaves. It is aceſcent as appears by its Effects upon Stomachs troubled with Acidity. So that Tea is an Infuſion of a Plant aceſcent, and moderately aſtringent in warm Water.

[141] As a watery Liquor, it is diluting and ſtimulating by its Salt: By its aſtringent Quality it moderates the relaxing Quality of warm Water. By what has been ſaid before in this Chapter, Water endu'd with any ſa⯑line ſtimulating Subſtance is very pe⯑netrating, and goes into the moſt inward Receſſes of the circulating Juices by its Quality, and re⯑freſheth the Brain and Animal Spi⯑rits; but by its ſtyptick and ſtimu⯑lating Quality it affects the Nerves, very often occaſioning Tremors, by its Heat it promotes Perſpiration, by its watery Quality it diſſolves what is viſcid in the Stomach, and ſo ay help Digeſtion; but a ſtrong Decoction of it is emetick, and drinking too great Quantities may relax and weaken the Tone of the Stomach.

As ſtimulating and diluting it is diuretick, but as it is aſtringent, it is not quite ſo proper where relax⯑ing [142] the urinary Paſſages is neceſ⯑ſary.

Milk abates ſome of the foremen⯑tion'd Qualities, making it more ſoft and nutritious, and Sugar as a Salt increaſeth its Stimulus. From thoſe Hints it follows, Firſt, That Tea is proper only for ſuch whoſe Bodies are in ſuch a State as demands ſome of the foremention'd Alterations. Who theſe are, will be ſhown more plainly in the following Chapter. Se⯑condly, That the immoderate Strength and Quantity of this Liquor may be hurtful in many Caſes, and to moſt People.

Coffee has in common with all Nuts an Oil ſtrongly combin'd, and entangled with earthy Particles.

The moſt noxious Part of its Oil exhales in roaſting to the Abatement of near 1/4 of its Weight.

^† One Pound of Coffee by Diſ⯑tillations afforded of volatile Spirit, [143] ſix Ounces ſix Drachms: of Oil, two Ounces, two Drachms, two Scruples: of Caput mortuum five Ounces three Drachms. Tho' the Chymiſt did not, or could not calcine the Caput mortuum ſo as to obtain its fix'd Salt, to be ſure it muſt have ſome.

What is extracted by Water from Coffee, is the moſt ſeparable Parts of Oil which often ſwims a-top of the Decoction. This Oil is Volatile, and conſequently very little Nutri⯑tious.

Volatile Oils refreſh the Animal Spirits, but likewiſe are endued with all the bad Qualities of ſuch Sub⯑ſtances, producing all the Effects of an oily and aromatical Acrimony mention'd in the following Chapter, as Dryneſs, Heat, Stimulation, Tre⯑mors of the Nerves, from whence it has been accus'd of cauſing Palſies, Leanneſs, Watchfulneſs, and deſtroy⯑ing maſculine Vigour.

[144] From theſe Qualities it is eaſy to imagine that it muſt be hurtful to hot, dry, bilious Conſtitutions, and perhaps beneficial to Phlegmatick, and that drank in too great a Degree of Strength or Quantity hurtful to every Body.

Chocolate is certainly much the beſt of thoſe three exotick Liquors, its Oil ſeems to be both rich, ali⯑mentary, and anodyne; for an Oil as ſoft as that of ſweet Almonds can be extracted from the Nut, and the Indians made Bread of it. This Oil combin'd with its own Salt and Su⯑gar, makes it ſaponaceous and de⯑tergent, by which Quality it often helps Digeſtion and excites Appetite, when it is mix'd with Vanillios or Spices; it acquires likewiſe the good and bad Qualities of aromatick Oils, which are proper in ſome Caſes and Conſtitutions, and very improper in others.

PROP. I.

To enumerate the moſt common Diverſities of the Conſtitutions of Human Bodies.

The moſt common Diverſities of Human Conſtitutions ariſe either from the ſolid Parts as to their dif⯑ferent Degrees of Strength and Ten⯑ſion; in ſome being too lax and weak, in others too elaſtick and ſtrong; or from the different State of the Fluids, which, as they conſiſt of Spirit, Water, Salts, Oil and ter⯑reſtrial Parts, differ according to the Redundance of the whole, or of a⯑ny of theſe Ingredients, and there⯑fore are plethorick, phlegmatick, oily or fat, ſaline, earthy or dry by the Diſſipation of the moſt fluid Parts, which laſt Conſtitution is call'd, by the Antients, Atrabilarian or Melan⯑cholick. A plethorick Conſtitution in which true Blood abounds, is [147] call'd Sanguineous. A ſaline Conſtitu⯑tion is either Acid, Alkaline, or Mu⯑riatick, according to the Difference of the Salts which occaſion it.

2. In ſome of theſe Senſes, tho' every Human Conſtitution is mor⯑bid, yet are their Diſeaſes conſiſtent with the common Functions of Life, and leave them under their own Conduct as to their Manner of liv⯑ing, and therefore are a proper Sub⯑ject for this Diſcourſe in which I am far from pretending to inſtruct the Brethren of the Profeſſion, or antici⯑pating their Directions to ſuch as are under their Government.

3. I think it proper to advertiſe the Reader of two Things. Firſt, That I endeavour to give the moſt ſimple Idea of the Diſtemper of the Conſtitution, and the proper Diet, abſtracting from the Complications of the Firſt, or the Contra-indicati⯑ons to the Second. Secondly, That in a Diſcourſe of this Nature, the [148] Reaſonings muſt be preciſe, tho' the Practice may admit of great Lati⯑tude.

PROP. II.

To explain the Cauſes, Symptoms and proper Diet of ſuch as have weak and lax Fibres.

1. In all the Fibres of an Animal Body, and in the Sides of all the Canals, there is a contractile Power whereby the Fibres endeavour to ſhorten themſelves. This is evident; for if a Fibre be cut tranſverſly, both the Ends ſhrink, and make the Wound gape; the Force oppos'd to this contractile Power of the Fibres, is the influent Liquid. Health con⯑ſiſts in the Equilibrium between thoſe two Powers, when the Fluids move ſo equally, that they don't preſs up⯑on the Solids with a greater Force than they can bear, and no more in one Part than in another; and on [149] the other hand when the Solids re⯑ſiſt, and act upon the Fluids ſo e⯑qually that there is no uneaſy Senſa⯑tion, the Animal is in Health; on the contrary when ever this Equili⯑brium between the influent Fluids and Solids is taken away the Animal is in a morbid State; and whatever deſtroys it in any Point, deſtroys it in ſome meaſure through the whole Body.

2. The firſt and moſt ſimple So⯑lids of our Body are perhaps merely terreſtrial, incapable of any Change or Diſeaſe; of theſe Elements are conſtituted the ſmalleſt Fibres, of thoſe Fibres the Veſſels, of thoſe Veſ⯑ſels the Viſcera or Organs of the Bo⯑dy; therefore the Weakneſs and La⯑xity of the Fibres, Veſſels, Viſcera, and all Parts of the Body may be conſidered as one Diſeaſe, tho' it muſt be own'd that the Diſeaſe is not always univerſal, and there will be ſometimes a Weakneſs in ſome [150] Organ with a great Degree of muſ⯑cular Strength.

3. A Fibre is ſaid to be weak when the Coheſion of its Parts is ſo ſmall that it may be broken, or re⯑ſolved by a Force not much greater than what happens commonly in the Body of a healthy Perſon: Debility of the Veſſels or Organs is ſo ſmall a Coheſion of the conſtituent Parts as makes them unable to diſcharge the common Functions of Life, con⯑ſider'd in a State of Health. Tho' there is a Debility of Fibres in In⯑fants abſolutely ſpeaking, yet it is no Diſeaſe, becauſe their Fibres be⯑ing lax, lengthen by the Influx of the Liquids which is the Cauſe of their Growth; but in adult Perſons, when the Fibres cannot any more yield, they muſt either break or loſe their Spring.

4. Laxity of a Fibre is ſuch a ſmall Coheſion of its Parts, as ſuf⯑fers it to be lengthen'd by a ſmall [151] Force: Laxity is a Species of Debi⯑lity.

5. The moſt common Cauſes of Debility of Fibres are, Firſt, A De⯑fect or great Loſs of the vital nutri⯑tious Juices: If there is not Blood enough the Chyle cannot be eaſily aſſimilated. A Perſon who loſeth daily great Quantities of Blood turns Dropſical and Leucophlegmatick. An elaſtick Fibre like a Bow, the more it is extended, reſtores itſelf with the greater Force; if the Spring be deſtroy'd, it is like a Bag only paſſive as to the Influx of the Li⯑quid. Secondly, Nouriſhment too viſcid and glutinous to be ſubdu'd by the vital Force; of this Sort Hip⯑pocrates reckoned unfermented Bread. Thirdly, A ſedentary Life, for Mo⯑tion increaſeth the Circulation of the Juices, and conſequently the Appli⯑cation of the ſolid Parts to one an⯑other. Fourthly, Too great an Ex⯑tention of the Fibres by Plenitude; [152] a Lute-ſtring will bear a hundred Weight without Rupture; but at the ſame time cannot exert its Elaſti⯑city, take away fifty, and imme⯑diately it raiſeth the Weight. Fifth⯑ly, A moiſt Atmoſphere. The At⯑moſphere is what keeps the Fibres of an Animal Body together, we feel our Fibres grow ſtrict or lax ac⯑cording to the State of the Air; ma⯑ny who live healthy in a dry Air, fall into all the Diſeaſes that depend up⯑on Relaxation in a moiſt one. Laſt⯑ly, A natural Weakneſs from the Frame and Conſtitution of the Body.

6. The common Signs and Ef⯑fects of weak Fibres are Paleneſs, Smoothneſs, Coldneſs of the Skin, Colour of the Blood not Florid (for what maketh that is a ſtrong action of the Solids) a weak Pulſe, Tume⯑factions in the whole Body or Parts, Stagnation of Humours, and its conſequence Putrefactions; for when the force of the Veſſels and Preſſure [153] of the Air is taken off, all the Hu⯑mours expand themſelves, and what ſtagnates muſt putrify; if a Perſon of a firm Conſtitution begins to bloat, and from being warm grows cold, his Fibres grow weak. Anxiety and Palpitations of the Heart are a ſign of weak Fibres: Acid Eructati⯑ons upon taking Vegetable Food, or Nidoroſe upon taking Animal is a ſign of weak Organs of Digeſtion. Depravation of the Humours from a ſound State, to what the Phyſicians call by the general Name of a Caco⯑chymy, Spots and Diſcolorations of the Skin are ſigns of weak Fibres; for the lateral Veſſels which lie out of the Road of Circulation, let groſs Humours paſs, which could not if the Veſſels had their due Degree of ſtricture. Atrophy as denoting a De⯑ſtruction or Obſtruction of the Veſ⯑ſels, which carry the Nouriſhment, and Dropſies proceed from a Laxity of the Fibres being too weak to re⯑turn the Fluid.

[154] 7. It is evident that the Aliment of Perſons with weak Fibres, ought to be ſuch as requires but a ſmall force to convert it into Animal Sub⯑ſtances, ſuch is that mention'd Chap. V. Prop. IV. V. Milk is the Chylous part of an Animal already prepar'd, the Cheeſy part is ſepara⯑ted and diſſolv'd by the Bile, and the more Serous and Spiritous Part en⯑ters into the Blood, meer Whey is too relaxing, Eggs taken warm from the Hen; for the moſt elaborate and ſpiritous Part is loſt in the dreſſing Broths made of Fleſh, which are the Nutritious Animal Juices ſeparated from the ſolid Parts. The Alkaleſ⯑cent Quality of them may be corre⯑cted, if neceſſary, by mixing them with ſome Acid. Decoctions, and Creams, or Jellies of well fermented Bread, (for Fermentation as was hinted Chap. III. Prop. IV. deſtroys the glutinous oily Viſcidity with which mealy Sub⯑ſtances abound) auſtere Wines di⯑luted [155] with Water, which cool more than Water alone, and at the ſame time do not relax, Vegetables with an acid auſtere Juice mention'd Chap V. Prop. IV. VIII. are all pro⯑per in this Caſe. Relaxation from Ple⯑nitude is cur'd by ſpare Diet, and from any Cauſe by that which is contrary to it. Care muſt be taken in contracting the Fibres, not to obſtruct the Veſſels.

PROP. III.

To explain the Symptoms, Cauſes, and proper Diet of ſuch as have too ſtrong and too elaſtick Fibres.

1. A State oppoſite to the former is too great Rigidity and Elaſticity of the Fibres, which is ſuch a Degree of Coheſion as makes them inflexible to the Cauſes, to which they ought to yield, ſo as to preſerve the Ani⯑mal in Health: Too great Elaſticity is that Quality by which they not only reſiſt againſt Elongation, but [156] reſtore themſelves with too great Preſſure and Force upon the moving Fluid.

Rigidity of the Organs is ſuch a State as makes them reſiſt that Ex⯑panſion, which is neceſſary to carry on the Vital Functions. Rigidity of the Veſſels and Organs muſt neceſ⯑ſarily follow from Rigidity of the Fibres, both as the Fibres are their conſtituent Parts, and likewiſe be⯑cauſe by the ſtrong Force of the Heart and Motion of the Fluids, many of the Solids are compacted into one, and the Canals, through which they flow'd, aboliſh'd as by Prop. VII. Chap. II.

2. True Health conſiſts in ſuch a Flexibility of Fibres as yield to the Force of the Heart, ſo as to admit the influent Fluid, and then ſuch a due Spring to reſtore themſelves ſo as to drive it forward; for if the Ca⯑nals were entirely rigid, or the Force of the Fibres in reſtoring themſelves [157] were either in Equilibrium with, or exceeding that of the Heart, there could be no Circulation, even if the Veſſels drive back the Blood with too great a Force upon the Heart, it will produce Polypoſe Concreti⯑ons in the Ventricles of the Heart, eſpecially when the Valves of the Heart are apt themſelves to grow too rigid, if but one Drop of Blood re⯑main in the Heart at every Pulſe; thoſe in many Pulſes will grow to a conſiderable Maſs.

3. It is eaſy by the Laws of Hy⯑draulicks to determine the natural Effects of ſuch a Conſtitution, which is the Parent of acute Diſeaſes, as Laxity of Chronical.

4. The Cauſe of ſuch a Diſeaſe beſides the Natural Conſtitution and Frame of the Body is too long a Continuance of ſuch Diet as ſtrengthens the Fibres, hard Exerciſe or Labour, ſuch as uſe it, according to Hippocrates are not eaſily cur'd of [158] Pleuriſies; ſuch a Conſtitution is eaſily known by the outward ap⯑pearances of the Body being lean, warm, hairy, ſcraggy, dry without a Diſeaſe, with hard and firm Muſcles, for the great Force by which the ſmall Veſſels reſtore themſelves, makes them grow narrow, expelling the Liquor they contain, and ſcarce ad⯑mitting what is influent by which the Veſſels grow hard and contract⯑ed; laſtly by the Strength of the Pulſe, and the Force of the vital Actions.

5. The Rules of Diet for ſuch a Conſtitution may be drawn from Prop. IV. of the foregoing Chapter. Firſt, Abſtinence from things us'd in the contrary State of too great Laxity. Milk is too nouriſhing, but Whey proper as an Emollient. Au⯑ſtere and ſtrong Wines are improper but much more ſo are inflammable Spirits which harden the Fibres; Wa⯑ter is the proper Drink being ſtrongly [159] relaxing, there is no better way of ſuppling a Carcaſs then by drenching it in Water. All Emollient Nouriſh⯑ment, ſuch as Fruits which contain a Mucilage, and may be boil'd into Jel⯑lies. Pot Herbs of the Emollient kind, ſuch things as reſolve and cleanſe, that is take away any tenacious So⯑lid which adheres to the Fibres, ſuch are Vegetable Soaps, the chief of which is Honey. The Animal Food ſhould be prepar'd in Broths rather than in any other form, all things which increaſe Fat, all oily Subſtan⯑ces. The Animal Oils, Cream, But⯑ter, Marrow, farinaceous Subſtances unfermented, as little Salt in the A⯑liment as poſſible, for Salt hardens.

6. From thoſe two Cauſes of the Laxity and Rigidity of the Fibres, the Methodiſts an ancient Set of Phyſicians deriv'd all Diſeaſes of hu⯑man Bodies with a great deal of Reaſon, for the Fluids derive their Qualities from the Solids. There [160] ſeems hardly any other Account to be given of the different Animal Se⯑cretions, than the different Configu⯑ration, and Action of the ſolid Parts, which from one Homogene⯑ous Liquor ſeparate ſo many various Fluids in an Animal Body, and I am of Opinion, that in moſt caſes where the Juices are in a morbid State, if one could ſuppoſe all the unſound Juices taken away, and ſound Juices immediately transfus'd, the Quality of the ſolid Parts re⯑maining the ſame, after many Circulations the ſound Juices would grow morbid. The Methodiſts err'd in ſo far as they conſider'd the Diſ⯑eaſe inhering only in the Vaſcular Solids, and applied their Remedies chiefly to them, not reflecting that the Solids themſelves can be changed by working upon the Fluids.

PROP. IV.

To explain the Cauſes and proper Diet of Plethorick Conſtitutions.

The Diſeaſes of the Fluids are firſt a Plethora, or too great abundance of laudable Juices, the Cauſes of which are ſtrong Chylopoetick Organs, plenty of wholeſome Diet, a middle Age, ſanguineous Temperament (of which afterwards) Lazineſs or want of muſcular Motion, moiſt Air, Sup⯑preſſion of uſual Evacuations. The Effects are Impatience of Heat or La⯑bour, Extenſion of the greater Veſ⯑ſels, Compreſſion of the leſſer, Lace⯑rations upon ſmall Cauſes, a Stoppage of Circulation by too great a weight upon the Heart, Suffocation, &c. the Remedies for this Conſtitution are oppoſite to the Cauſes of it, ſpare Diet, Exerciſe and proper Evacutions, only it muſt be obſerv'd that Pletho⯑rick Bodies are not to be cur'd by [162] long Abſtinence; becauſe in that caſe the moſt liquid parts fly off, and the groſſer remain: Blood-letting re⯑moves a Symptom, but often in⯑creaſes the force of the Chylopoe⯑tick Organs, and conſequently the Diſeaſe.

PROP. V.

To explain the Symptoms and proper Diet of ſanguineous Conſti⯑tutions.

1. A ſanguineous Conſtitution (in the common Acceptation of the word) that is of a Perſon who abounds with Blood is different from a Ple⯑thorick; the common outward Sign of ſuch a Conſtitution is a florid Appearance in the Countenance, a Blueneſs and Fullneſs of the Veins, Softneſs of the Fleſh, a particular vivid, fair, but not pale Colour of the Skin, ſuch a Conſtitution with a great Appearance of Health is ſub⯑ject to many Diſeaſes.

[163] 2. The Blood as was obſerved, Prop. V. Chap. II. conſiſts of red Globules ſwimming in a thin Li⯑quor call'd Serum, the red part is ſmalleſt in quantity. The red Glo⯑bules are Elaſtick, and will break, one red Globule into ſix ſmall, and then they will turn yellow, thoſe yellow Globules break into o⯑thers ſtill ſmaller, and then they grow more white and tranſparent; the Veſſels, which admit the ſmaller Glo⯑bules, cannot admit the greater with⯑out a Diſeaſe. Therefore as the Blood paſſeth through narrower Channels, the Redneſs diſappears more and more. All the Chyle is white, and acquires this red Colour by Circulation. A free and ſtrong Projectile Motion of the Blood muſt occaſion a florid Ap⯑pearance upon the Skin in ſuch Conſtitutions, becauſe a ſtronger Motion forceth the red part into more capillary Veſſels. To which likewiſe there is commonly another [164] Cauſe that concurs, the greater Tranſ⯑parency of the Veſſels occaſioned by the Thinneſs and Delicacy of their Coats. That this is the Caſe of ſan⯑guineous Perſons is plain, from their great Veins appearing blue and tranſ⯑parent by the Colour of the Blood in them.

3. Therefore ſuch Perſons ſeem to be ſuſceptible of Diſeaſes, that de⯑pend upon a ſtrong projectile Mo⯑tion of the Blood, and too great Thinneſs and Delicacy of the Veſſels; by the firſt they are ſubject to In⯑flammatory Diſtempers, for the greater Action or Reaction of the Fluids and Solids produceth a greater Attrition, to which Heat is proportional: This great Attrition muſt produce a great Propenſity to the putreſcent alkaline Condition of the Fluids, and conſe⯑quently to Suppuration: a ſtronger projectile Motion of the Blood, muſt likewiſe occaſion greater Secretions, and loſs of liquid Parts; and from [165] thence perhaps Spiſſitude and corea⯑ceous Concretions, which are always found in Animals that die of too ſtrong a Circulation.

If the Veſſels are in a ſtate of too great Rigidity ſo as not to yield, a ſtrong projectile Motion occaſions their Rupture and Haemorragies; eſ⯑pecially in the Lungs, where the Blood is abundant; if the Veſſels in⯑ſtead of breaking yield, it ſubjects the Perſon to all the Inconveniences of an erroneous Circulation, (that is, when the Blood ſtrays into the Veſſels deſtin'd to carry Serum or Lymph, according to Prop. V. Chap. II.) From whence will follow Obſtructions and Inflammations, and as the Thin⯑neſs and Delicacy of the Veſſels pro⯑bably reigns through the whole Syſ⯑tem, it muſt affect the Glands and Lymphatick, as well as the Blood Veſſels; and ſuch Conſtitutions muſt be ſubject to glandulous Tumours, and Ruptures of the Lymphatick, [166] and all the Diſeaſes thereon depen⯑dent.

4. The natural Helps from Diet are firſt Moderation in the quantity, and all things which relax the Veins; for what does ſo, prevents too vigo⯑rous a Motion through the Arteries: Therefore relaxing and cooling are proper Intentions in the Diet, only where there are ſigns of too great a Thinneſs in the Fluids. Subacid Sub⯑ſtances are proper, tho' they are a little Aſtringent; for Perſons who take a great deal of Vinegar, abate their florid Colour, which is the Diſeaſe of ſuch a Conſtitution.

For ſuch a Diet the Reader is re⯑fer'd to the foregoing Chapter.

A Saline Conſtitution of the Fluids is either Acid, Alkaline, or Muria⯑tick, as in the Sea-Scurvy: Of theſe in their turns.

PROP. VI.

To explain the Symptoms, Cau⯑ſes, and proper Diet of Acid Con⯑ſtitutions.

1. It has been demonſtrated b⯑fore, that the Juices of a ſound Ani⯑mal, are neither Acid nor Alkaline, by the Experiments mention'd Chapter IV. All the Subſtances Fluid, and Solid, of an Animal fed, even with aceſcent Subſtances, yield by fire, nothing but Alkaline Salts. Thoſe Experiments which endeavour to ſhew the contrary, have been made upon Animals, which had taken much Sea-Salt, which is never totally changed in an Animal Body. The ingenious and learned Boerhaave fed a Sparrow with Bread four Days, in which time it eat more than its own weight, and yet there was no Acid found in its Body or Excrements. The reaſon of this is, that the vital [168] Force of a ſound Animal is capable to tranſmute the Acid Subſtances it takes in Aliment, into ſoft nutritious animal Liquids by its vital Force (by which is underſtood the ſumm of all thoſe Powers in an Animal Body, which converts its Aliment into Fluids of its own Nature) a Cow fed with Trefoil, Daiſies, Sorrel, gives Milk, in which there is not the leaſt Acidity; but if this vital Force is weak, it is inſufficient to ſub⯑due the Acidity of the Subſtances taken by the Mouth. The Liquors, which are made of fermented Plants, as Wine and Malt Liquors ſtanding in a Heat not greater than that of a human Body, turn ſour; and ſo they will in a human Body that has not ſufficient vital Force to change them, which makes no more Alteration in ſuch Subſtances, than a Veſſel with the ſame degree of Heat and Moiſture. Thus weak Stomachs vo⯑mit up the Wine that they drink in [169] too great Quantities to be digeſted, in me form of Vinegar. Put Bread into the Stomach of a dying Man, and it will follow its own Nature, and undergo the Alteration that is merely the Effect of Heat. A weak Stomach will turn Rye-Bread into Vinegar, and a Plough-Man will digeſt it. Mealy Subſtances ferment⯑ed turn ſour, and unfermented be⯑ing mix'd with a ſmall Quantity of Water they turn viſcid, and then hard like Stones: accordingly given to a weak Child they ſtill retain their Nature; for Bread will give him the Cholick, and unfermented farinaceous Subſtances will fill his Belly with a viſcous Humour.

2. As no Acid is naturally in an Animal Body, but muſt be taken in by the Mouth; ſo if it is not ſub⯑du'd in the Paſſages of the Chyle, it may get into the Blood; and if there is not a ſufficient Quantity of Blood, and Strength of Circulation [170] to ſubdue it, it may infect the whole Maſs of the Fluids; but this is a morbid State. The Experi⯑ments made upon Chyle have never diſcover'd any Acidity in it; but the Subject of theſe Experiments has been always the Chyle of healthy Animals.

3. The firſt and principal Seat of Acidity is the Stomach; this Quali⯑ty of the Chyle is in ſome meaſure taken off in the Duodenum, and by the Mixture of Bile with it, grows leſs in the other Parts of the alimentary Duct, and ſtill leſs in the Thoracick Duct, becauſe great Quantities of Animal Liquors have been mix'd with it; but at laſt it may (as was ſaid before) infect the Blood: Thus it is found by Experience, that the Sweat is ſometimes acid, which is a Sign of Recovery after acute Diſtempers, where the Blood was in the contra⯑ry alkaleſcent Diſpoſition.

[171] 4. The Antecedent Concomitants and Effects of ſuch a Conſtitution, are Acids taken in too great Quan⯑tities: Sour Eructations, a craving Ap⯑petite, eſpecially of terreſtrial and ab⯑ſorbent Subſtances, the Caſe of Girls in the Green Sickneſs, Sourneſs in the Stomach, Pain in the Stomach (which tho' ſometimes occaſion'd by an acrid Bile, this Cauſe may be diſtinguiſh'd by the Abſence of other Symptoms) Colical Pains about the Navel, the Weſt-India dry Gripes are perhaps occaſion'd by the too great Quantities of Acids, as Lime-juice in Punch. The Colicks of Infants proceed from Acidity, and the Air in the Aliment expanding itſelf while the Aliment ferments; for Oil of Vi⯑triol will throw the Stomach into involuntary Contractions, Inactivity and Change of Colour in the Bile; for Acids change the Colour and Conſiſtence of it. Bile is the chief Inſtrument of Digeſtion, and as was [172] ſaid before, Prop. V. Chap. I. can attenuate the cheeſy Subſtance in the Stomach of a Calf, and render it fluid; hence bilious Conſtitutions ea⯑ſily digeſt Cheeſe, a ſour Smell of the Faeces (when the Bile is redun⯑dant, they ſmell cadaverous) acid Sweats, Paleneſs of the Skin; for as was obſerv'd before, taking much Vinegar will make the Lips pale. It is poſſible that Tumors in the Breaſts may be the Effect of Acidity in the Milk, and Convulſions in Infants may be occaſion'd from Acidity paſ⯑ſing into the Blood, and affecting the tender Fibres of the Brain. Some Sorts of cutaneous Eruptions are oc⯑caſion'd by feeding much on acid unripe Fruits, and farinaceous Sub⯑ſtances.

5. Acidity, as it is not the natu⯑ral State of the Animal Fluids, but induc'd by Aliment, is to be cur'd by Aliment, with the contrary Qua⯑lities; for which the Reader is re⯑ferr'd [173] to the foregoing Chapter. An⯑ti-acid Medicines are ineffectual with⯑out a Diet of the ſame Kind; all Animal Diet is Alkaleſcent, eſpecial⯑ly of ſuch as feed upon other Ani⯑mals, as Infects, Fiſh; and eſpecially Shell-Fiſh. Acidity in the Infant may be cur'd by a Fleſh-Diet; in the Nurſe. There are a great many anti-acid Vegetables which do not eaſily ferment, but putrify, as all the warm Anti-ſcorbuticks: Selery, Aſ⯑paragus, Cabbage, Turnips, Carrots, Onions, Leeks, Radiſhes, Muſtard, Eringo-Roots and Nettles, are An⯑ti-acid. In Caſes of Acidity, Water is the proper Drink, its Quality of re⯑laxing too much may be corrected by boiling it with ſome Animal Sub⯑ſtances, as Ivory, Harts-horn: Abſti⯑nence from fermented Liquors is ne⯑ceſſary.

6. This Diſtemper is moſt inci⯑dent to Children, becauſe of the De⯑bility of their Fibres and Milk-Diet, [174] to ſuch as lead a ſedentary Life, to thoſe who take much Bread and Wine, and vegetable Acids, to Girls diſpos'd to the Green Sickneſs, and to Artificers who deal in the Prepa⯑rations of Acids, as Diſtillers, Dyers.

PROP. VII.

To explain the Symptoms, Cau⯑ſes, and proper Diet of Conſtituti⯑ons, which abound with a ſpontane⯑ous Alkali.

1. A Conſtitution oppoſite to the former is that which abounds with a ſpontaneous Alkali. No Animal un⯑putrify'd being burnt, yields any al⯑kaline Salt, but putrify'd yields a volatile Alkali, therefore in a healthy Animal no true Alkali is found; but as an Animal degenerates from this State, by ſuch Diſeaſes as increaſe the Attrition and Heat of the Fluids, the Animal Salts formerly benign approach towards an alkaline Nature, [175] Human Blood, when it is firſt let, is mild, and will not make the Eye or a freſh Wound ſmart. Let it ſtand in a Degree of Heat equal to that of a Human Body, it will grow in three Days, fetid, the Salt of it volatile and alkaline fermenting with Acids, the Oil that remains volatile and rancid; the Blood in the Veſſels may at laſt arrive at the ſame State, but muſt paſs thro' infinite Degrees, and be⯑fore it comes to the laſt, the Ani⯑mal will be deſtroyed. All Animal Subſtances expos'd to the Air turn Alkaline of their own accord, and ſome Vegetables by Heat will not turn acid but alkaline: Every Plant in that State of Putrefaction by Prop. III. Chap. I. is converted as it were into an Animal Subſtance, by Chy⯑mical Trials yielding the ſame Con⯑tents.

2. The Cauſes of ſuch a Diſtem⯑per, is a Diet of alkaleſcent Subſtan⯑ces. If a Woman ſhould live upon [176] Vegetables, Bread, and fermented Liquors, her Milk would be aceſcent or ready to turn ſour; if only on Animal Food her Milk would be apt to turn fetid and putrid, but not ſour.

If it was poſſible to take Muſtard in great Quantities, it would quick⯑ly bring the Blood into this alkaline State, and deſtroy the Animal; the warm antiſcorbutical Plants taken in Quantities will occaſion ſtinking Breath, and corrupt the Blood. All Animals that live upon other Ani⯑mals have their Juices more alkaleſ⯑cent, than ſuch as live upon Vegeta⯑bles, and for that Reaſon perhaps Fiſhes have this Quality more than terreſtrial Animals; for in the open Air they putrify ſooner, by what was ſaid Prop. I. Chap. IV. An Ani⯑mal with a ſtrong vital Force of Di⯑geſtion will turn Acids into Animal Subſtances; but if its Food be in⯑tirely alkaleſcent, its Juices will be [177] more ſo. No Perſon is able to ſup⯑port a Diet of Fleſh and Water with⯑out Acids, as Salt, Vinegar, and Bread, without falling into a putrid Fever. If his Diet conſiſted of Snails, Fiſh, eſpecially their Livers, Shell-Fiſh, Vipers, ravenous Birds, as ſome who feed upon Inſects and alka⯑leſcent Vegetables, the Effect would happen ſooner. Eggs and Spaniſh Wines, taken in great Quantities with⯑out Exerciſe, will occaſion a Fever. A⯑bundance of good Blood and laudable Juices diſpoſeth towards this alkaleſ⯑cent State. Likewiſe long Abſtinence, (by which the Fluids are depriv'd of a Dilution of the cooling Emulſion of freſh Chyle. See Prop. VIII. Chap. II.) great Strength of the Bowels, and a right State and Abundance of Bile. Bile is an anti-acid. Another Cauſe is a vigorous Action of the Veſſels, through which the Juices circulate, which is the Reaſon ſtrong healthy and young People are more in peril [178] by peſtilential Fevers, than the Weak and Old.

Violent Animal Motion produ⯑ceth this alkaline State. Two hard Bones rubb'd hard againſt one ano⯑ther, or with a File, produce a fetid Smell. It is poſſible to produce a Gangrene by ſtrong Friction, and yet Stagnation of the Fluids turns them putrid.

The Effects of ſuch an alkaleſcent State in any great Degree, are Thirſt, and a Dejection of Appetite, which pu⯑trid Things occaſion more than any other; (thoſe who are troubled with Acidity have often a bad Digeſtion, but a craving Appetite) nidoroſe e⯑ructations, which are different from a⯑cid, Foulneſs of the Tongue and Palate, a bitter and hot Taſte in the Mouth, Thirſt, Sickneſs, Loathing, bilious Vomitings and Dejections of a cadaverous Smell, iliacal Pains with Heat. Theſe are the Effects of it in the alimentary Diet. Such a [179] State diſſolves the Blood, and diſpo⯑ſeth it towards Putrefaction, hinders Nutrition; for no Chicken can be hatch'd of a rotten Egg, the Blood turning acrimonious corrodes the Veſſels producing Hemorrhages, Puſ⯑tules red, lead-colour'd, black and gangrenous, and almoſt all Diſeaſes of the inflammatory Kind.

3. The Aliment of ſuch Perſons ought to be aceſcent Subſtances, as Bread, Vinegar, ſuch as are deſcrib'd in the foregoing Chapter. Acids keep Animal Subſtances from Putre⯑faction; for neither Blood, Fleſh or Fat will putrify in Vinegar, or ſour Wine: The Effect of the ſtrongeſt Acids, even Oil of Vitriol in putrid Fevers, is known by Experience, in which your alkaline Spirits muſt be hurtful, farinaceous Things, eſpecial⯑ly ſuch as are made of Oats, are proper as having an aceſcent Quali⯑ty; it is a common Miſtake that People in ſuch a State ſhould for⯑bear [180] Wine. Thin Wines, as Rheniſh, Moſelle mix'd with Water are pro⯑per in a Fever. But when the Diſ⯑temper is attended with great Heat, Milk mixed with Water is the pro⯑pereſt Drink. The propereſt Sea⯑ſoning is Salt-petre; Sea-ſalt creates Thirſt, Water is the only Diluent; but as it has no Acidity in it, it is better mix'd with Limon, or with the Rob or Jelly of ſome acid Fruit, ſometimes the demulcent Aliment mention'd Prop. IV. of the foregoing Chapter, will be of great Uſe.

The muriatick Scurvy induced commonly by too great Quantity of Sea-ſalt, and common among Mariners, is rather an artificial than a natural Diſeaſe, ſpontaneous only in few who have a great Diſpoſition towards it. Its common Symptoms are a ſaline Taſte in the Spittle, Itch⯑ing and red Eroſions of the Skin, great Thirſt, Dryneſs of the Skin, a lixivial Urine ſometimes with a fatty [181] Subſtance like a thin Skin a-top, Relief from watery and acid Sub⯑ſtances. The Cure of this Diſtem⯑per lies in a Diet of freſh unſalted Things, watery Liquors acidulated, farinaceous emollient Subſtances, ſour Milk, Butter Milk, acid Fruits, and avoiding of the hot Antiſcorbuticks of the Muſtard Kind, the Rule of Diet is not much different from that in the alkaline Scurvy before men⯑tion'd.

5. It is of great Importance to know whether cutaneous Diſtempers proceed from an acid or alkaline Cauſe, becauſe, according to the dif⯑ference of the Cauſe, there muſt be quite oppoſite Methods of Cure; they may be diſtinguiſh'd firſt by the difference of the Diet that occaſion'd them, crude Aliment, farinaceous Sub⯑ſtances, unripe Fruits, and other Aceſ⯑cents will ſometimes produce the Scur⯑vy and Itch, and even Leproſies de⯑pending on the ſame cauſe, in which [182] volatile Salts, and ſuch as are taken from Animal Subſtances are indica⯑ted. Secondly, From the Abſence of the concomitant Symptoms of the one, and the other: in the acid Acri⯑mony, there is not Thirſt, Heat nor ſo great a Dejection of Appetite as in the Alkaline. Thirdly, The Ero⯑ſions of the Skin are not of ſo deep a Colour in the Acid as Alkaline. In general, an Attention to the Symp⯑toms before enumerated may be a Guide to the Diet.

6. Another Conſtitution of the Fluids of a Human Body, may be properly call'd Glutinous or Phleg⯑matick: Phlegm amongſt the An⯑cients ſignified a cold viſcous Hu⯑mour contrary to the Etymology of the Word which comes from ⟨ [...]⟩, to burn; but amongſt them there were two Sorts of Phlegm, cold and hot. A cold Tumor they call'd ſim⯑ply Phlegmonem; when it came from glutinous Blood, they call'd it Phleg⯑monem Phlegmenodem.

[183] 7. Phlegm or Pituite is a Sort of ſemi-fluid, it being ſo far ſolid, that one Part draws along ſeveral other Parts adhering to it, which doth not happen in a perfect Fluid, and yet no Part will draw the whole Maſs, as happens in a perfect Solid.

8. The Pituite or Mucus ſecern'd in the Noſe, Mouth, Palate, Stomach, Inteſtines, and Wind-Pipe, is not an excrementitious but a laudable Hu⯑mour, neceſſary for defending thoſe Parts from which it is ſecern'd, from Excoriations, as happens in the Noſe, when the Pituite is too thin. The Want of it in the Wind-Pipe occa⯑ſions Hoarſeneſs, in the Gullet and Difficulty of Swallowing. The Pituite defends the Inteſtines from the Acri⯑mony of the Ingeſta, and lubricates the Extremities of the Joints. There⯑fore thoſe are miſtaken who imagine that Phlegm cannot be too much purg'd off; but when the Phlegm is either too viſcous, or ſeparates in too [184] great a Quantity, it brings the Body into a morbid State; this viſcous Phlegm ſeems to be the vitrious Pi⯑tuite of the Ancients.

9. The firſt Seat of it is the ali⯑mentary Duct where it creates Cru⯑dity, Dejection of Appetite, a Senſe of Repletion and Sickneſs; for it hinders the natural Contraction of the Fibres, and that Senſe of Irrita⯑tion which produceth Hunger. A Senſation of Fullneſs without eating is a ſure Sign of a phlegmatick Sto⯑mach. In the Inteſtines it occaſions a Tumor of the Belly, with an Atro⯑phy in the reſt of the Body; for the viſcous Cruſt ſtops the Entry of the Chyle into the Lacteals. The Caſe of rickety Children. In the Body it often affects the Lungs, Phlegm may be ſo concocted in the Lungs by the Evaporation of its moſt liquid Parts as to ſhut up the Paſſages of the Bronchea, and it makes Paleneſs in the Skin; for as it was [185] obſerv'd before, our Aliment in the form of Chyle before it circulates with the Blood is whitiſh, by the Force of Circulation, it runs through all the intermediate Colours till it ſettles in an intenſe Red; as much as the Force of Circulation is defi⯑cient, ſo much will the Blood fall ſhort of that florid Colour, and Per⯑ſons in that Condition are call'd Leucophlegmatick; from this Phlegm proceed white cold Tumors, Viſci⯑dity, and conſequently Immeability of the Juices; hence Lethargies in old People.

10. The Cauſes of this phlegma⯑tick Conſtitution are, Firſt, Viſcid Aliment as of unripe Fruits, farina⯑ceous Subſtances unfermented and taken in great Quantities. The Flowers of Grains mix'd with Water will make a ſort of Glue. Meals have an Oil in them which makes their Parts adhere. Secondly, Great Loſs or Want of Blood which is a natu⯑ral [186] Soap, preſerving itſelf and the Aliment from Coagulation by con⯑ſtant Motion. Thirdly, Weakneſs and Indigeſtion in the alimentary Duct which leaves the Aliment viſcous. Fourthly, A Defect or bad Conſti⯑tution of the Bile (which is the chief Reſolvent of the Aliment) phlegma⯑tick and bilious Conſtitutions are oppoſite. Fifthly, Diſſipation of the moſt fluid Parts by Heat or ſome great Evacuation, therefore profuſe Sweats, and Fluxes of Urine diſpoſe towards this Conſtitution by thicken⯑ing the Phlegm. Sixthly, Stagna⯑tion from the Debility of Inſtru⯑ments of Excretion for if the Pi⯑tuite ſtagnates, it muſt grow viſcid from Heat. Theſe are the Cauſes and Symptoms of a phlegmatick cold Conſtitution, but Spiſſitude at⯑tended with Heat grows inflamma⯑tory.

11. The Symptoms point to the Cure. All the Methods of atte⯑nuating, [187] mention'd Chap. V. Prop. IV. well fermented Bread, and well fer⯑mented Liquors, Fermentation de⯑ſtroys the Viſcidity of farinaceous Subſtances. High ſeaſon'd Aliment is proper for Phlegmaticks. Spices, Onions, Garlick, diſſolve Viſcidity. Water impregnated with ſome ſtimu⯑lating Subſtance which both dilutes and attenuates. Hot Mineral Wa⯑ters are the beſt Diſſolvers of Phlegm. All Sorts of Nouriſhment which pro⯑mote Heat, and a vigorous Motion of the Blood, and for that Reaſon Broths made of the moſt volatile and alkaleſcent Parts of Animals.

12. A Diſeaſe oppoſite to this Spiſſitude is too great Fluidity, the Symptoms of which are Exceſs of Animal Secretions as of Perſpiration, Swear, Urine, Liquid, Dejectures, Leanneſs, Weakneſs, and Thirſt. The Methods in ſuch a Caſe muſt be op⯑poſite to the former. Farinaceous Subſtances, and watery Liquors, un⯑fermented [188] Gellies of Animal and Ve⯑getable Subſtances, all ſuch Things as are deſcrib'd Prop. IV. Chap. V.

13. Another Conſtitution is the oily or fat; Animal Fat is a Sort of am⯑phibious Subſtance, it is ſciſſile like a Solid, reſolvable by Heat not greater than what is incident to Human Bodies, circumſcrib'd and contain'd in proper Veſſels, like a Fluid. The Symptoms of this Conſtitution are too manifeſt to want a Deſcription, it co-incides often with the pletho⯑rick and phlegmatick Conſtitutions above deſcrib'd. It is but one Spe⯑cies of Corpulency, for there may be Bulk without Fat, from the great Quantity of muſcular Fleſh, the Caſe of robuſt People. An Animal in the Courſe of hard Labour ſeems to be nothing, but Veſſels, Bones and muſ⯑cular Fleſh. Let the ſame Animal continue long in Reſt, it will per⯑haps double in Weight and Bulk. This Superaddition is nothing but [189] Fat or Oil, and in this Senſe an A⯑nimal perhaps never arrives at its full Growth.

14. The common Cauſes of this Diſtemper are a particular, and per⯑haps a gentilitious Diſpoſition of Bo⯑dy, which ſeems to conſiſt in the Chy⯑lopoetick or Organs of the firſt Di⯑geſtion being ſtrong, and the Fibres of the circulating Veſſels, eſpecially thoſe about the Panniculus carnoſus being lax, according to the Doctrine of the ſecond Chapter. By the Ac⯑tion of the Fibres of the Veſſels up⯑on the Fluids the oily Parts of the Chyle are intimately mix'd with the Blood, which by Prop. III. Chap. II. will ſwim a top of it ſeveral Hours after Repaſt; when this Action is not ſtrong enough, and the Chyle ex⯑tremely copious, perhaps the thicker Oil is never entirely ſubdu'd; ſome Sorts of cramm'd Fowl have always a milky Juice ſwimming a-top of their Blood. Secondly, Quantities of [190] oily Nouriſhment, Milk, Butter, and oily fermented Liquors. Thirdly, All Things which occaſion Coldneſs in the Skin ſo as to ſtop Perſpiration, by which the oily Parts are con⯑geal'd, which Heat reſolves and at⯑tenuates. The Inhabitants of cold moiſt Countries are generally more fat than thoſe of warm and dry; but the moſt common Cauſe is too great a Quantity of Food, and too ſmall a Quantity of Motion, in plain Eng⯑liſh, Gluttony, and Lazineſs. I am of Opinion that ſpare Diet and La⯑bour will keep Conſtitutions, where this Diſpoſition is the ſtrongeſt, from being fat. You may ſee in an Ar⯑my forty thouſand Foot-Soldiers with⯑out a fat Man amongſt them; and I dare affirm that by Plenty and Reſt, twenty of the forty ſhall grow fat.

15. The Oil in Animals is ne⯑ceſſary for many Purpoſes; in all for Motion, in ſome for Nouriſhment; ſuch accumulate Fat in the Summer [191] which ſerves to refreſh the Blood in the Penury of Aliment during the Winter, and for that purpoſe ſome Animals have a quadruple Omen⯑tum. But the too great abundance of Fat ſubjects Human Conſtitutions to the following Inconveniences.

16. Firſt, It hinders the Motion of the Joints by making them more heavy by filling the Spaces, occupy'd by the Muſcles when they contract and ſwell. Secondly, It ſubjects them to all the Diſeaſes depending upon a defective projectile Motion of the Blood; for the Blood flows through the Veſſels by the Exceſs of the Force of the Heart above the incumbent Preſſure, which in fat People is ex⯑ceſſive; and as want of a due Quan⯑tity of Motion of the Fluids increaſ⯑eth Fat, the Diſeaſe is the Cauſe of itſelf. Thirdly, To Suppurations, of which the Membrana adipoſa is the chief Seat. Fourthly, To danger in inflammatory Diſtempers, a Fever re⯑ſolves [192] many Things which ſtagnate, and amongſt others the Fat, which being mix'd with the Blood turns volatile, and occaſions an Acrimony much more dangerous than the ſa⯑line; for Salts can be diluted with Water which Oils cannot. That the Fat is diſſolv'd by Fevers, is evident from the great loſs of Fat which People undergo in Fevers. Amongſt thoſe and many other bad Effects of this oily Conſtitution, there is one Advantage that ſuch of them who arrive to an advanc'd Age, are not ſubject to the Stricture and Hard⯑neſs of Fibres, the Effect of old Age.

17. The Cauſes above mention'd lead directly to the Cure; as it is the Product of Gluttony and Lazineſs, Exerciſe and Abſtinence is the Anti⯑dote; it has been obſerv'd that a fe⯑veriſh Heat reſolves Fat, and there⯑fore what produceth this Effect in a ſmall Degree ſo as not to endanger, [193] the Life of the Patient, muſt be pro⯑per, ſuch are all acrid and ſtimulat⯑ing Subſtances. Salt, Pepper, Gar⯑lick, Onions, Vinegar, &c. taken in Quantities will produce a mo⯑mentary Fever. Salt taken in great Quantities will reduce an Animal Bo⯑dy to the great Extremity of Aridity or Dryneſs. The Ancients were ſo ſenſible of the Force of Stimulating in this Caſe, that the celebrated Re⯑medy againſt Fat was a certain Quan⯑tity of the Vinegar of Squills taken every Morning; for the ſame Reaſon, ſaponaceous Subſtances, as Sugar, Honey, the Juices of ripe Fruits, Pot Herbs with Abſtinence from fat Meat, and even an entire Milk-Diet by its Thinneſs are very effectual. Unfermented watery Liquors are hurt⯑ful only as they relax, but on the other hand Quantities of oily fermented Liquors commonly increaſe the Diſ⯑eaſe. All Things which promote the Animal Secretions, eſpecially Sweat, [194] and inſenſible Perſpiration, and for that Purpoſe even Water taken in Quantities is ſometimes uſeful. Salts mix'd with Fat harden it, and acid Things congeal Oil; Spirit of Nitre will turn Oil of Olives into a Sort of fatty Subſtance; but Acids may be us'd as ſtimulating. If acid Things were us'd only as Coolers, they would not be ſo proper in this Caſe, in which it is neceſſary to keep up a conſiderable Degree of Heat; but for their foremention'd Qualities they are ſtrongly indicated in the inflam⯑matory Diſtempers of fat People, where the Oil diſpoſeth to a rancid Putrefaction; but Abſtinence being the chief dietetick Method of pre⯑venting or curing the Diſeaſe, leads me to ſay ſomewhat of the Quantity of Aliment in general.

18. By Prop. VIII. Chap. II. The frequent Repetition of Aliment is neceſſary, not only for repairing the Fluids and Solids, but to keep the [195] Fluids from the putreſcent alkaline State, which they acquire by conſtant Attrition without being diluted; from whence it follows, Firſt That long Abſtinence may be the Parent of great Diſeaſes, eſpecially in hot bi⯑lious Conſtitutions, and extremely painful to acid Conſtitutions by the uneaſy Senſation it creates in the Sto⯑mach. Secondly, That the Quantity of Aliment neceſſary to keep the A⯑nimal in a due State of Vigour ought to be divided into Meals at proper Intervals in the natural Day, by which Method neither the chylopoe⯑tick Organs, nor the Blood-Veſſels are overcharg'd, nor the Juices de⯑priv'd too long of freſh Recruits of Chyle. Sanctorius confirms this Ma⯑xim in his Doctrine of Perſpira⯑tion.

19. The great Secret of Health is keeping the Fluids in due Propor⯑tion to the Capacity and Strength of the Channels through which they [196] paſs; but the Danger is leſs when the Quantity of the Fluid is too ſmall; than when it is too great, for a ſmaller Quantity of Fluid will paſs where a larger cannot, but not con⯑trariwiſe.

20. When the Quantity of the Fluid is too ſmall, the elaſtick Pow⯑er of the Canal (in which Life con⯑ſiſts) exerts itſelf with too great a Strength upon the Fluid. In which Caſe there muſt follow too great a Diſſipation of the Fluid, Dryneſs and a gradual Decay. In too great Repletion either the elaſtick Force of the Tube is totally deſtroy'd; or if it continue proportional to the Degree of Extenſion like a Bow too ſtrongly drawn, it throws the Fluid with too great a projectile Force forward through the Veſſels, and back upon the Heart, and ſubjects the Animal to all the Diſeaſes de⯑pending upon a Plethory, and may bring it into immediate Danger. [197] Therefore the Diſeaſes depending up⯑on Repletion are more acute and dangerous than thoſe that depend upon the contrary State. The In⯑ſtances of Longevity are chiefly a⯑mongſt the Abſtemious. Abſtinence in Extremity will prove a mortal Diſeaſe, but the Experiments of it are very rare.

21. Such as have an imperfect Circulation through any Organ of the Body, ſhould never charge their Veſſels with too great a Quantity of Chyle, this was obſerv'd Prop. II. Chap. II. of the Lungs, and is equal⯑ly true in any other Caſe, as in Head⯑aches, which eating little relieves, and eating and drinking much occa⯑ſion. A Senſation of Drouſineſs, Oppreſſion, Heavineſs and Laſſitude are Signs of a too plentiful Meal, eſpecially in young People.

22. The Meaſure of inſenſible Perſpiration diſcover'd by weighing is the beſt Rule of Diet; therefore [198] in fat People the Uſe of vaporoſe or perſpirable Food, and exerciſe (both which increaſe Perſpiration) are pro⯑per.

23. The Conſtitution of the Air diſpoſeth the Inhabitants of one Country more to be fat than that of another. Sanctorius's Experiment of Perſpiration being to the other Se⯑cretions as 5 to 3 does not hold in this Country, except in the hotteſt Time of Summer; ſo that the Acti⯑on of Paduan Air in promoting Per⯑ſpiration the whole Year round, is equal to ours in the Month of Au⯑guſt.

24. From the foregoing Doctrine, a common Caſe both of fat and lean Men having great Stomachs may be accounted for: by the laſt having a great Perſpiration, and ſome of the perſpirable Matter in the firſt not ſufficiently attenuated, ſtopping at the Surface of the Skin, and as it were carried about him. Hunger is [199] only a Warning of the Veſſels being in ſuch a State of Vacuity as to re⯑quire a freſh Supply of Aliment, af⯑ter Secretions, the Veſſels of the fat and lean Man are equally empty; for the Fat is as much out of the Thread of Circulation as what is evaporated, and perhaps the Fat in that Caſe becomes like a morbid Excreſcence, requiring a ſuperfluous Nutrition.

25. Infants and old People ſup⯑port Abſtinence worſt. The firſt from the Quantity of Aliment con⯑ſum'd in Accretion, the laſt from their Weakneſs, and the ſmall Quan⯑tity of Aliment taken at once. The Middle-aged ſupport it the beſt, be⯑cauſe of the oily Parts abounding in the Blood.

26. From the foregoing Princi⯑ples follow naturally the Hippocrati⯑cal Rules of Diet in Fevers, of giv⯑ing more or leſs, more thick, or more thin Aliment, according to the fore⯑ſeen time of the Duration of the Fe⯑ver; [200] for Example, in an Ephemera none, becauſe of its Termination in one Day, in a Fever of four Days Duration leſs than in one of eight. And as the Fever comes to its Height ſtill ſubtracting from the Quantity of Aliment, and making it more diluent and thin.

27. We come now to what we may call the earthy or atrabilarian Conſtitution, where the ſpirituous and moſt fluid Parts of the Blood are diſſipated, that is the Spirit, Wa⯑ter and ſubtile Oil ſo much evapo⯑rated, as to leave the Salts, Earth, and groſſer Oil in too great a Pro⯑portion. The Blood grows darkiſh and thick, ſuch a Conſtitution the Ancients call'd Atrabilarian or melan⯑cholick: Melancholy, ſignifying in Greek, black Gall; whether there be any ſuch Humour as black Gall, is only a Diſpute about Words. Hip⯑pocrates gave ſuch an Humour this Name, and that is ſufficient; beſides [201] it is matter of fact, that in the Ex⯑tremity of this Diſeaſe, the Gall it⯑ſelf will turn of a blackiſh Colour, and the Blood verge towards a pitchy Conſiſtence.

28. The Signs of a Tendency to ſuch a State, are Darkneſs or Lividi⯑ty of the Countenance, Dryneſs of the Skin, Leanneſs, a penetrating quick Genius, a ſlow Pulſe and Re⯑ſpiration. The Cauſes of it are all ſuch as expel the moſt volatile Parts of the Blood, and fix the Reſidue: Great Applications of the Mind to one Object, either ſuch as produce Sadneſs, or great Joy, both which equally diſſipate the Spirits, and im⯑moderate Exerciſe in hot Air with un⯑quench'd Thirſt: Aliments of hard Digeſtion, as dry'd and ſalted Fleſh, unripe Fruits, farinaceous Subſtances unfermented, and likewiſe immode⯑rate Uſe of ſpirituous Liquors.

The Effects of ſuch a vapid and viſcous Conſtitution of Blood, are [202] Stagnation, Obſtructions, Acrimo⯑ny, Putrefactions, Viſcidity, and im⯑perfect Secretion of the Gall, a de⯑fective Circulation, eſpecially in the lateral Branches deſtined to ſeparate the more fluid Parts, and therefore viſcous, and ſparing Secretions in the Glands: The Blood moving too ſlowly through the celiack and me⯑ſenterick Arteries, produce various Complaints in the lower Bowels and Hypochondres; from whence ſuch Perſons are call'd Hypochondriack: Such as Senſation of Weight, Anxie⯑ty and Repletion, a bad Digeſtion; from whence different Kinds of Ali⯑ment acquire ſuch a State as they affect of their own Nature, aceſcent, if the Diet is of acid Vegetables, and alkaline or nidoroſe, if of Ani⯑mal Subſtances, eſpecially Fat, which remains rancid ſo as the Spittle will ſometimes flame in the Fire. This Indigeſtion proceeds from the Inac⯑tivity of the Gall, which likewiſe oc⯑caſions [203] a Conſtipation of the Belly, and a Difficulty of being purg'd. The Urine is ſometimes limpid, ſometimes thick, which latter is of⯑ten a Sign of Recovery. The Ob⯑ſtruction of the Pituite in the lower Belly, forceth it upon the ſalivary Glands, and produceth Spitting.

29. Such a State of the Fluids at laſt affects the tender capillary Veſ⯑ſels of the Brain by the Viſcidity and Immeability of the Matter impacted in them, and diſorders the Imagi⯑nation, and at laſt produceth Cor⯑ruption in the Bowels of the lower Belly.

30. It is plain, that the Removal of ſuch a Diſeaſe is not to be at⯑tempted by active Remedies, any more than a Thorn in the Fleſh, or pitchy Matter adhering to a Thread of Silk is to be taken away by Vio⯑lence; what is viſcid, ought to be gently attenuated, diluted and carried off. That all Subſtances, which do [204] heat, will ſtill diſſipate the fluid Parts more, and conſequently increaſe the Diſeaſe. Therefore Water impregnat⯑ed with ſome penetrating Salt, is found to have great Effects in this Diſtemper. The Diet ought to be oppoſite to the particular Acrimony, whether acid or alkaline, which it is eaſy to gueſs at by N^o. 5. of this Propoſition. It ought to be demul⯑cent, in both Caſes light, and of ea⯑ſy Digeſtion, moiſtening and reſol⯑vent of the Bile; of ſuch Nature are vegetable Soaps, as Honey, and the Juices of ripe Fruits, ſome of the cooling, lacteſcent, papeſcent Plants, as Cichory, Letuce, Dandelion, which are found effectual in hot Countries. The Diet proper for all the Intentions in this Caſe, the Reader may ſee in the foregoing Chapter.

PROP. VIII.

To draw a few general Inferences from the foregoing Doctrine.

From the Doctrine of this ſhort Eſſay, it is as eaſy to determine the Rules of Diet in the different natu⯑ral States, as in the different morbid States of a Human Body.

1. By Prop. VII. Chap. II. Infan⯑cy and Childhood demand thin co⯑pious nouriſhing Aliment, ſuch as lengthens their Fibres without break⯑ing or hardening, becauſe of their Weakneſs and State of Accretion. Milk has all thoſe Qualities.

2. By Prop. IV. Chap. II. The So⯑lidity, Quantity and Strength of the Aliment is to be proportion'd to the Labour or Quantity of muſcular Motion, which in Youth is greater than any other Age, upon which Ac⯑count a ſtrong and ſolid Diet would ſeem to be indicated; but as that [206] Age is ſtill in a State of Accretion, their Diet ought ſtill to be emollient, and relaxing, copious, and without Acrimony.

3. The Diet of a Human Crea⯑ture full grown, and in the State of Manhood ought to be ſolid, with a ſufficient Degree of Tenacity, with⯑out Acrimony, their chief Drink Wa⯑ter cold, becauſe in ſuch a State it has its own natural Spirit and Air, (which Heat deſtroys) with a Quanti⯑ty of fermented Liquors propor⯑tion'd to their natural Conſtitutions.

4. The Courſe of the Fluids through the vaſcular Solids, and the common Animal Functions without any Violence, muſt in length of Time harden the Fibres, aboliſh ma⯑ny of the Canals, and make the So⯑lids grow together; from whence Dryneſs, Weakneſs, Immobility, De⯑bility of the vital Force both of the firſt and ſecond Digeſtion. Loſs of Teeth, Depravation of Maſtication, [207] the Condition of old Age, which therefore demands a Diet reſembling that of Childhood often repeated, but not ſo copious in Proportion to the Bulk, emollient and diluting.

5. From the Doctrine of the fifth Chapter, it is likewiſe eaſy to de⯑termine the Inconveniences ariſing from the Exceſs of any one ſort of Diet. Too much Sea-ſalt produceth Thirſt, Hoarſeneſs, Acrimony in the Serum (which deſtroys its ſoft nutri⯑tious Quality) Eroſion of the ſmall Fibres, Pains, and all the Symptoms of the muriatick Scurvy.

6. Acids taken in too great Quan⯑tities, eſpecially ſuch as are auſtere, as unripe Fruits, produce too great a Stricture of the Fibres, incraſſate and coagulate the Fluids; from whence Pains, Rheumatiſm and Gout, Pale⯑neſs, Itch, and other Eruptions of the Skin: Subſtances extremely ſtip⯑tick are hurtful to the Nerves, and occaſion Palſies.

[208] 7. Spices in too great Quantities occaſion Thirſt; Dryneſs and Heat, quicken the Pulſe, and accelerate the Motion of the Blood, diſſipate the Fluids; from whence Leanneſs, Pains in the Stomach, Loathings, and Fe⯑vers.

8. Strong Liquors, eſpecially in⯑flammable Spirits, taken in great Quantities, intoxicate, conſtringe, har⯑den, dry, and ſtimulate the Fibres, and coagulate the Fluids. They cor⯑rode and deſtroy the inward Coat of the Stomach and Inteſtines, and if Digeſtion be a Putrefaction, Spirits muſt by their natural Quality hinder that^* they produce Debility, Flatu⯑lency, Obſtructions, eſpecially in the Liver, Fevers, Leucophlegmacy, and Dropſies, as by their ſtimulat⯑ing they raiſe the Spirits for a Mo⯑ment, to which ſucceeds a propor⯑tional Depreſſion; they create a Ha⯑bit [209] and Neceſſity of continuing the ſame Courſe, and increaſing the Quantity. Liquors in the Act of Fermentation, as Muſt and new Ale, are apt to produce Spaſms in the Stomach, Cholick and Diarrhaeas.

9. A Diet of viſcid Aliment creates Flatulency and Crudities in the Sto⯑mach, Obſtructions in the ſmall Veſſels of the Inteſtines, in the Mouths of the Lacteals and Glands, Tumors and Hardneſs of the Belly, Coldneſs, Paleneſs of the Skin, and Viſcidity in the Fluids.

10. A Diet of oily Nouriſhment relaxeth the Solids, and particular⯑ly the Stomach and the Inteſtines, (Monks who take a great deal of Oil are ſubject to inteſtinal Hernias) it creates nidoroſe Eructations, Loath⯑ings, Oily and bitter Vomitings, ob⯑ſtructs the capillary Veſſels by hin⯑dering the Entrance of the watery and fluid Part, with which it will not mix; it creates Thirſt and Inflamma⯑tions.

[210] 11. A conſtant Adherence to one ſort of Diet, may have bad Effects on any Conſtitution. Nature has provided a great Variety of Nou⯑riſhment for Human Creatures, and furniſh'd us with Appetites to deſire, and Organs to digeſt them (there is a moſt curious Bill of Fair in Sir Hans Sloan's Natural Hiſtory of Ja⯑maica) as Aliments have different Qualities; a conſtant Adherence to one Sort, may make the Conſtitu⯑tion verge to ſome of the Extremes mention'd in this Chapter; for heal⯑thy People, Celſus's Rule I. Chap. I. is a good one, Sanus homo qui bene valet & ſuae ſpontis eſt, nullis obliga⯑re ſe Legibus debet, nullum cibi genus fugere quo populus utitur, interdum in couvivio eſſe, interdum ab eo ſe abſti⯑nere, modo plus, modo amplius aſſumere, &c. The Senſe of the whole Paſ⯑ſage, is, That a healthy Man under his own Government, ought not to tie himſelf up to ſtrict Rules, nor to ab⯑ſtain [211] from any ſort of Food in com⯑mon Uſe, that he ought ſometimes to feaſt, ſometimes to faſt, ſome⯑times to ſleep, ſometimes to watch more than ordinary, &c. An un⯑erring Regularity is almoſt impracti⯑cable, and the ſwerving from it, when it is grown habitual, dange⯑rous; for every unuſual thing in a Human Body becomes a Stimulus, as Wine, or Fleſh-Meat to one not us'd to them; therefore Celſus's Rule with the proper moral Reſtrictions, is a good one for People in Health, and even in Perſons diſeas'd in any of the Senſes of this Chapter, as too ſtrict, too lax, acid and bilious, &c. A conſtant Adherence to one Sort of Diet, may carry the Caſe beyond a Cure to the contrary Extreme.

12. General Rules about Diet, without Regard to particular Conſti⯑tutions, are abſurd.

13. That with regard to diffe⯑rent Conſtitutions, the common Diſ⯑tinction [212] of Diet into Vegetable with Water, and Animal with fer⯑mented Liquors, is not proper and compleat. Firſt, Becauſe in the E⯑numeration of Conſtitutions in this Chapter, there is not one that can be limited and reſtricted by ſuch a Diſtinction, nor can perhaps the ſame Perſon in different Circumſtan⯑ces be properly confin'd to one or the other. Secondly, Becauſe a ve⯑getable Diet is not characteriz'd, there is not a general alimentary Quality in which all Vegetables agree; there are Vegetables, acid, alkaline, cool⯑ing, hot, relaxing, aſtringent, acrid, and mild, &c. Uſeful or hurtful, ac⯑cording to the different Conſtituti⯑ons to which they are apply'd, there may be a ſtronger Broth made of Vegetables than any Gravy-ſoup.

14. As Fleſh-Diet is generally al⯑kaleſcent, and many Vegetables are acid and cooling; People of hot bi⯑lious Conſtitutions find themſelves [213] extremely well in a vegetable Diet and Water, and the ſame Perſons perhaps had enjoy'd their Health as well with a Mixture of Animal Diet qualify'd with a ſufficient Quantity of Aceſcents, as Bread, Vinegar, and fermented Liquors.

15. The Oil of moſt Vegeta⯑bles in which their nutritious Qua⯑lity chiefly conſiſts, ſeems not to be ſo hard of Digeſtion as that of Animals; fat Meat is harder to di⯑geſt than the moſt oily Plant taken as Aliment: Sick People could not take ſo great a Quantity of melted Fat, as they can of Oil of ſweet Al⯑monds.

16. Animal Subſtances are more nouriſhing, and more eaſily tranſmu⯑table into Animal Juices, than Vege⯑table, and therefore a vegetable Diet is more proper for ſome Conſtituti⯑ons, as being leſs nouriſhing.

17. As the Qualities of Plants are more various than thoſe of Animal [214] Subſtances, a Diet of ſome Sorts of Vegetables may be more effectual in the Cure of ſome chronical Diſtem⯑pers, than an Animal Diet.

18. The fibrous or vaſcular Parts of Vegetables ſeem ſcarce changeable in the Alimentary Duct. The Dung of Horſes is nothing but the Fila⯑ments of the Hay, and as ſuch Com⯑buſtible.

19. Vegetables abound more with aerial Particles, than Animal Subſtan⯑ces; and therefore are more flatulent.

20. Man is by his Frame as well as his Appetite a carnivorous Ani⯑mal; the Inſtruments of Digeſtion are ſo well adapted to the proper Food of each Animal, that from the Structure of the Firſt, it is eaſy to gueſs at the Second. Moſt Quadru⯑pedes that live upon Herbs, have inciſor Teeth to pluck and divide them: after they are ſwallow'd, they are brought up again from one Sto⯑mach to receive a new Alteration [215] by a ſecond Maſtication, after that the Maſs ſo prepar'd, paſſeth through four Stomachs of different Figures and Structure before it comes into the Inteſtines. This is the Caſe of ruminating Animals, except ſome few; as of Hares who have but one Stomach, by which it appears, that Nature is at a great deal of Labour to tranſmute Vegetable into Animal Subſtances: Therefore Herb-eating Animals, which don't ruminate, have ſtrong Grinders, and chew much. There have been ſeveral Inſtances of ruminating Men, and that Quality leaving them, was a Symptom of approaching Sickneſs, Vid. Philoſoph. Tranſact. & Bonet. Sepulchret. Ana⯑tom. Granivorous Birds have the Mechaniſm of a Mill, their Maw is the Happer, which holds and ſoftens the Grain, letting it drop by Degrees into the Stomach where it is ground by two ſtrong Muſcles, in which Action they are aſſiſted by ſmall [216] Stones which they ſwallow for the Purpoſe, and becauſe this Action of Grinding; cannot be perform'd by the weaker Stomachs of their Young; many of them, as Pigeons, half di⯑geſt the Aliment before they give it. Some Birds that live upon Subſtan⯑ces eaſily diſſolvable, as Worms, Eggs, have the Coats of the Sto⯑machs ſmooth; as Cuckows. Birds of Prey that live upon Animal Sub⯑ſtances, have membranaceous not muſcular Stomachs.

The beſt Inſtruments for dividing of Herbs are inciſor Teeth; for crack⯑ing of hard Subſtances, as Bones and Nuts; Grinders or Mill-Teeth; for dividing of Fleſh; ſharp-pointed or Dog-Teeth, which ſeem to be ſo neceſſary for that Purpoſe, that an Eagle has ſuch Teeth not in his Bill, but two at the Root of his Tongue to hold his Prey, and three Rows in his Jaws at the Entry of his Gullet. A Human Creature has all the three [217] Sorts of Teeth; the Teeth and Sto⯑machs of ſome carnivorous Beaſts, don't differ much from the Human. A Lion has generally fourteen in each Jaw; four Inciſors, four Ca⯑nine, and ſix Grinders, ſharpiſh, for dividing of Fleſh as well as cracking of Bones. A Human Creature has commonly ſixteen Teeth in each Jaw, two of them only Canine. The inward Coat of a Lion's Sto⯑mach has ſtronger Folds than a Hu⯑man, but in other Things not much different. The Stomachs of Water-Fowl that live upon Fiſh are Hu⯑man; therefore it ſeems that Nature has provided Human Creatures with Inſtruments to prepare and digeſt al⯑moſt all Sorts of alimentary Sub⯑ſtances, as Herbs, Grain, Nuts, by the Structure of their Parts as well as Appetites, they are plainly carni⯑vorous.

21. It has been objected againſt this Doctrine, that Granivorous [218] Animals have a long Colon and a Caecum which in Carnivorous are wanting. Now it is well known that a Man has both, Vid. Philoſo⯑phical Tranſactions; to this it is an⯑ſwer'd that the Obſervation is not true without Exceptions; many car⯑nivorous Animals have neither Co⯑lon nor Caecum, and many Grani⯑vorous have both. There are Ani⯑mals not carnivorous that have a large Caecum and no Colon, and others that have neither.

There are carnivorous Animals, I mean ſuch as eat Fleſh ſometimes, that have both Colon and Caecum; but as the Obſervation is generally true, it proves at leaſt that Mankind is deſign'd to take vegetable Food ſometimes, and it is a freſh Inſtance of Nature's being at more Labour to aſſimilate Vegetable into Animal Sub⯑ſtances, by affording them a longer and more retarded Paſſage.

[219] 22. Carnivorous Animals have more Courage, muſcular Strength, Activity in Proportion to their Bulk, which is evident by comparing the Cat-Kind, as Lions, Tigers; and likewiſe the Dog-Kind with Herb eating Animals of the ſame Bulk. Birds of Prey excell Granivorous, in Strength and Courage. I know more than one Inſtance of iraſcible Paſſi⯑ons being much ſubdu'd by a vege⯑table Diet.

23. Fermented Liquors are pro⯑per, and perhaps neceſſary for ſuch as live upon an Animal Diet; for Fleſh without being qualify'd with Acids, as Bread, Vinegar, and fer⯑mented Liquors, is too alkaleſcent a Diet; and Wine moderately taken, rather qualifies the Heat of Animal Food than increaſeth it. Water is the only Diluter, and the beſt Diſ⯑ſolvent of moſt of the Ingredients of our Aliment. It is found by Ex⯑perience, that Water digeſteth a full [220] Meale, ſooner than any other Liquor; but as it relaxeth, the conſtant Uſe of it, may hurt ſome Conſtitutions. As it contains no Acid, it is impro⯑per with a Diet that is entirely Alka⯑leſcent.

The Doctrine laid down in this Eſſay, is in moſt Particulars (I do not ſay in all) conform to that of the divine Hippocrates, as appears by ſeveral Paſſages of his Works; particularly of his Books of Diet, of his Method of Diet in acute Diſ⯑eaſes, and Galen's Commentaries both upon thoſe Books, and ſome others of his Works. I ſhall inſtance in ſome few Particulars as far as relates to that Part of Diet call'd Aliment, without refering to the Editions, Books and Pages, which would be of ſmall Uſe to my Readers. The Maxims of this great Man are, That Health depends chiefly upon the Choice of Aliment.

[221] That the Phyſicians before his Time were to be blam'd, for not pre⯑ſcribing Rules of Diet.

That he who would skilfully treat the Subject of Aliment, muſt conſi⯑der the Nature of Man, the Nature of Aliments, and the Conſtitution of the Perſon who takes them.

In his Books of Diet, he de⯑ſcribes the Qualities of all the Sub⯑ſtances which Mankind generally feed upon.

As of all Sorts of Fleſh, many of which are not in Uſe amongſt us, as of Dogs, Foxes, Aſſes, Horſes.

That the Fleſh of Wild Animals is dryer than that of Tame, of Stall⯑fed, than of thoſe fed by Paſto⯑rage.

That the Fleſh of Animals, in the Vigor of their Age, and of ſuch as are caſtrated, is beſt.

That of Animals, which have not us'd hard Labour, is tendereſt.

[222] That Beef is bilious that is alka⯑leſcent, as all Fleſh Meat is.

That the Fleſh of hot dry Coun⯑tries is moſt nouriſhing.

He is very particular as to Man⯑ner of Cookery, that Roaſting deſtroys the Humidity.

That ſalted Fleſh ſhould be mace⯑rated and moiſten'd.

That ſalted Fleſh dries, attenuates, and moves the Belly.

He is likewiſe very curious in tempering the Qualities of his Meats, by Seaſonings of contrary Qualities.

He deſcribes the Qualities of the Fleſh of moſt Sorts of Fowl, that the Fleſh of granivorous Birds is not ſo moiſt and oily as that of Ducks; he is particular as to the Qualities of Fiſhes freſh and ſalted, and of all Vegetables both Alimentary and Me⯑dicinal; that Onions, Leeks, Ra⯑diſhes, &c. are hot and acrimonious, that ſome of them, as Muſtard, and Creſſes, will occaſion a Diſury; that [223] others as Letuce, are cooling and re⯑laxing; Selery, diuretick; Mint, hot; that the Cabbage Kind reſolve the Bile, that ſuch Herbs as are odorous are Heating, Legumes are flatulent, ripe Fruits laxative, and unripe, aſtrin⯑gent.

That unripe Cucumbers are hard of Digeſtion.

That the Fruits of the Earth in hot Countries, are dryer and hotter than in cold.

He is no leſs exact in deſcribing the Qualities of Milk, Whey, all Sorts of Bread and Water, which he chooſes clear, light, without Taſte or Smell, drawn not from Snow, but from Springs with an Eaſterly Expo⯑ſition; tho' he ſeems to have known ſomething of Mineral Waters, he ſays nothing of the Uſe of them.

He is no leſs accurate in the De⯑ſcription of the Qualities of ſeveral Sorts of Wines, black, white, auſtere, oily, thin, with the proper Uſes of [224] them, by which it appears, that Wine was ſeldom or never drunk in his Country without Water. He allows Wine unmix'd after great Diſ⯑ſipations of the Spirits by Fatigue, and regulates the Quantities of it ac⯑cording to the Seaſons.

He likewiſe conſider'd the Medi⯑cinal Qualities of Aliments, and tells you, that of Aliments ſome are laxa⯑tive, ſome moiſten, ſome dry, ſome bind, ſome move Urine.

Indeed the Qualities which he a⯑ſcribes to alimentary Subſtances, are the four in common Uſe amongſt the Ancients, as hot, cold, moiſt, and dry; according to thoſe, his No⯑tions are often very juſt and inſtruc⯑tive, and nothing can be more ſo than what follows, that acid, acrid, auſtere and bitter Subſtances do not nouriſh; but by their Aſtringency create Horror, that is, ſtimulate the Fibres; that ſweet, oily and fat Things are nouriſhing and anodyne, that Wa⯑ter [225] dilutes and cools, than Honey is detergent, and Vinegar profita⯑ble to bilious Conſtitutions: No leſs judicious are his Intentions in the Cure of Diſeaſes by Aliment.

That Diſeaſes depend on the Parts contain'd, and the Parts containing, that is, on the Fluids and Solids.

That the ſolid Parts were to be re⯑lax'd or aſtricted as they let the Hu⯑mours paſs, either in too ſmall or too great Quantities.

That Animals conſiſt of Fire and Water, which Diviſion is not ſo un⯑compleat as one may imagine; for by Water he ſeems to underſtand the unactive, and even the ſolid Parts, and by Fire all the volatile and active Parts, and that the difference of Con⯑ſtitutions, conſiſts in the Exceſs or De⯑fect of theſe Principles, and he com⯑pares the due Mixture of them to a Sort of Harmony.

That there are in a Human Body Bitter, Salt, Sweet, Acrid and Inſipid.

[226] That Contraries are the Remedies of their Contraries.

That Health conſiſts in a due Pro⯑portion of Blood, Pituite and Gall.

That Redundance of Blood and Gall, are the Cauſes of acute Diſtem⯑pers.

That long Abſtinence occaſions Bitterneſs in the Mouth and beating of the Temples, and he finds fault with the Phyſicians that ſtarv'd their Patients in the beginning of a Diſ⯑temper, and gives a Reaſon for it conformable to the Principles laid down in this Eſſay that it dry'd too much, that is, the liquid Parts were diſſipated.

That a Man cannot be healthy and digeſt his Aliment without La⯑bour, and that the Quantity and Kind of Diet muſt bear a due Pro⯑portion to the Labour. His Com⯑mentator Galen lays down this Apho⯑riſm.

[227] Young, hot, ſtrong and labour⯑ing Men may feed on Meats giv⯑ing both a hard and groſs Juice (as Beef, Bacon, powdered Fleſh and Fiſh, hard Cheeſe, Rye-Bread, and hard Eggs, &c.) which may nou⯑riſh ſlowly, and be concocted by Degrees; for if they ſhould eat Things of light Nouriſhment, ei⯑ther their Meat would be too ſoon digeſted, or elſe converted into Cho⯑ler.

And again, Milk is fitteſt for young Children, tender Fleſh Meat for them that are growing, and li⯑quid Meats for ſuch as have acute Diſeaſes.

Hippocrates obſerves, that Paleneſs is the Effect of Acidity.

That the Choice of Diet ſhould be according to the difference of Conſtitutions, as in phlegmatick Conſtitutions, Fiſh and Fleſh well ſeaſon'd: The Fleſh of Fowls (which is an alkaleſcent Diet) not many [228] Vegetables, black auſtere Wines. In dry Temperaments, lenitive Fruits, Figs, Raiſins, and ſoft Wines. In ſuch as have a bad Digeſtion, and moiſt Bellies (the Caſe of acid Con⯑ſtitutions) the Fleſh of Fowl, which is a Diet both alkaleſcent and of eaſy Digeſtion; for ſuch as have dry Bel⯑lies, Pot-Herbs.

Galen his Commentator tells you, that bitter Subſtances engender Cho⯑ler and burn the Blood, giving no general Nouriſhment to the whole; howſoever they may be acceptable to ſome one Part, that is (according to what was ſaid in this Eſſay) that they are a Sort of ſubſidiary Gall: And again, ſharp Spices are moſt unfit for tender Bodies, whoſe Sub⯑ſtance is eaſily melted and inflam'd. However, ſtrong Men may eat them with groſs Meats, and conſequently by the Principles of the Eſſay; Spi⯑ces by their melting Quality are pro⯑per for fat People: Meats over-ſalted [229] are dangerous: Inflammations, Le⯑proſies, Sharpneſs of Urine, and great Obſtructions happening to ſuch as uſe them much, agreeing with none but ſtrong Bodies, as Sailers, Soldiers, and Husband Men, accuſ⯑tom'd to hard Labour, and much Toiling.

Fat Meats are not good but for dry Stomachs; for in ſanguine and cholerick Stomachs, they are ſoon corrupted; in phlegmatick Stomachs, they procure Looſeneſs, and hinder Retention.

When any Man is ſick or diſtem⯑per'd, let his Meats be of contrary Qualities to his Diſeaſe; for Health itſelf is but a Kind of Temper got⯑ten and preſerv'd by a convenient Mixture of Contrarieties. According⯑ly, in Fevers the Aliments preſcrib'd by Hippocrates, were Ptiſans and Cream of Barley. Decoctions of ſome Vegetables likewiſe with the Mixture of ſome acid, Hydromel, [230] that is, Honey and Water, Oxymel, Honey and Vinegar, then Wines without Flavour diluted with Water, when there was no Tendency to a Dilirium. Water, Vinegar and Ho⯑ney in Pleuriſies and Inflammations of the Lungs. Sometimes he mixeth Spices, which ſeems odd; but that muſt have been for promoting Ex⯑pectoration; and even in Ulcers of the Lungs, he preſcribes Fat and Salt for the ſame Purpoſe; and to Wo⯑men troubled with Pains after Child⯑bearing, he mixeth his Ptiſan with Leeks and Fat; which Practice no doubt he had found ſucceſsful.

He preſcribes great Quantities of Aſſes Milk as far as an Engliſh Gal⯑lon in proper Caſes, eſpecially as a Reſtorative; and to ſuch as had hot, dry Conſtitutions, Aſſes Milk, Whey and Abſtinence from Fat and Oil.

No leſs judicious are his general Maxims for preſerving of Health.

[231] A Diet moderate in Quantity with a due Degree of Exerciſe.

That ſuch as are of hot Conſtitu⯑tions, ſhould abſtain from violent Exerciſes, uſe Bathing in hot Water, rather than Unctions, feed upon Maize (which is his favourite Food) and Pot Herbs.

That one muſt not accuſtome one's ſelf to a too regular Diet, becauſe the leaſt Error is dangerous.

That all ſudden Alterations in Ex⯑tremes, either of Repletion, Evacua⯑tion, Heat or Cold are dangerous.

Galen ſpeaking the Mind of Hip⯑pocrates, tells us, That the whole Con⯑ſtitution of Body may be chang'd by Diet.

That we ſhould take thoſe Kinds of Meats which are beſt for our own particular Bodies for our parti⯑cular Age, Temperature, Diſtempera⯑ture, and Complexions; for as eve⯑ry particular Member of the Body is nouriſh'd with a ſeveral qualify'd [232] Juice; ſo Labourers, and idle Per⯑ſons, Children and Striplings, old Men and young Men, cold and hot Bodies, phlegmatick and cholerick Complexions muſt have diverſe Diets. It is eaſy to produce a great many more Inſtances to prove the Con⯑formity of the Doctrine of the Eſſay, with the Notions and Practice of Hip⯑pocrates; but thoſe already mention'd are ſufficient, and may be of uſe to ſome Readers to confirm by Autho⯑rity, what they will not be at the Trouble to deduce by Reaſoning.