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The Conservation
of
Youth and
Defense of
Age
http://www.archive.org/details/conservationofyoOOarna
ARNALDVS
Villanouanus.
:-
The Conservation
Defense of
of
Youth and
Age
By Arnaldus
Drummond
Edited by
Charles L.
Dana
MDCCCCXII
Copyright, 1912
L.
Of this book there have been printed for Charles Dana five hundred copies, at The Elm Tree
3XK.1H
PREFACE
The "famous
born about
clarke and
right experte
medycyne",
He was educated
He
Naples and
chemistry.
Sicily.
He was
familiar with
all
the medical
worked
in
He
called
one of the
and astrology, in which sciences he acquired both good and bad repute. He was once imprisoned for a day and his books were at one time burned yet Pope Clement later approved them and ordered the Universities to preserve them. He made some study of theology under
;
at
Late in
life
he was something of a
diplomat, and
King
of Aragon, to
Arnaldus was an incessant traveler, his services being in demand with the Popes and by the various royalties
had a restless temperament, a mind eager for knowledge and a zeal for progress
of Italy
and Spain.
Besides, he
in his art.
Despite his activities of body he found time to write a monumental treatise on medicine, besides many works on special medical topics.
He
celebrated
Regimen
Sanitatis
Salerni
or
Rules
of
was pub-
by many
from 1474 to 1846 amounted to two hundred and forty. Arnaldus was a kind of specialist in the matter of preserving the health, and he was asked to prepare for King
James of Spain a
warding
treatise
and the
age
is
the result.
Hebrew
He
and
restraint
spellers of today.
The work we
are in
it
let
It
if
some
"
",
According to
this,
wet and
dry.
To keep
If
is
as
when
there
ill.
an excess of
he becomes
Now
was
the body.
It is
ing the
warm and
equilibrium.
temperament and humor. Old age is prevented by attention to these regimens. But he has also a general regimen applicable to all temperaments, and these are his general laws of health. He advises moderation in all things, a life equally and regularly divided between moderate exercise of the body, physical repose, waking and sleeping, mental work and some kind of amusement. He especially insists on the utility of intellectual diversions; music,
opposed to ex-
and too
favors
re-
He modifies
The spring
the
mends wood
fumes
distil
;
fires
a dangerous vapor."
is
He
prescribes proper
clothing and he
each meal.
for
He
disease.
When
thing more
These are chiefly warm aromatic drinks, ptisanes, concoctions of herbs that act chiefly on the kidneys, skin and bowels, cleansing and regenerating
scribes his medicines.
the body.
ally expert in
His eau d
'or ox
water of gold
It
is
esteemed preparation.
must have had some of the qualities of the modern cocktail, of which Arnaldus may be said to be the inventor.
All the measures for the conservation of youth indi-
cated above are not given in this treatise ; but are referred
They
life.
many
details as to the
use of special
these, however, in
the original,
tions
modern lay treatise. A few prescripand special comments on food and drink, given under the head of Sermones, are added to Drummond's work, not using, however, the immortal orthoepies of that author. His book was published about 1544.
or obscure for a
The
fame.
His
name
is
He is not
The
its
Arnaldus
lies in
being the matured advice of an erudite, experienced and popular physician of the thirteenth, sometimes called the greatest of centuries. And it also gives a good illustration
of
early sixteenth
and at a period when there was a freedom from restraint which writers now do not possess. The English work is very rare. No copy has been in the market for thirty years. The present edition follows
10
copy
now in
the British
Museum.
These are days when hygiene is earnestly preached, and, with somewhat abated zeal, is practiced. The fact that in the thirteenth century it was a popular and much appreciated study by the doctors and laymen of the middle ages deserves recognition, and most of the doctrines taught then can be safely followed now. The periodical starving cure as advised by Arnaldus is perhaps the method which modern science accepts as especially efficacious and advanced. Everyone over sixteen is interested in the conservation of youth and the defence of age and so there is something for all grown-up people in this book. As was the custom in the days of Arnaldus we would
say:
Buy this, prudent reader, and read it through, And you shall have huge riches for a little sum."
CHARLES
L.
DANA
C Octets a wtue
ssofce, callettf)tDefcnceofage/
ano recouctp of pouty/trawla teo out of tt) e famous ciatfte ano tpgl)t etpette men?* cpne^tnolooe^Soua
3!itiia/toetpp?of{>ta*
men
toftnome.
Title page of
Drummond's
original
book
t$emo{&
of f
&$^
^f
up! oi btfuztQ
&atz
mb gcftge,
S^DltpJamtooffttbnto pout noble,
an& bettuou UaDpfbpp
bdfee,
fo
fmaila
torecompencc pour iaDpfbpp^totft a greater^ tbnt t^temape fauoutablp be tecepue&ftoln'cb to beleuejt&e beep no
blene&aito gcntpineja? ttyat ft in popper
fcoaDetb me 5 aifo 31 Ijope tl^at pe topi con fpbet rather tijebette of tbegpaec,tl)en tbe gpft it feife totycb altljoug&it be bttr fmail in quatite, pet it i2 great in effects drtisibone^fbai! &efpze got) entperlp
Drummond's book
$et3feraactiof?ontf)
B^^ra
anDtoitbftan&pngofage^on
tvdttl) in ttje maytitmyn&e of
ItftepofcDjefetlierpnttf^ tljc natucall ijeate of tfee boDp in tfjepj date anD temperance inrtccofojtrngatiD repap^nge of tljepmbepnge Defectpue. jf o;t fo longe a# tlje potoje&tlje fppjpte# anD tl?e naturall Ideate of manned bobp ace noc&ebplitate no? tuefef ncD^fo longc few) nept^er fljatl (fepnnc tojpnfcle, foi tty oebplpte of natural Ijeateaeclp npnge to col&enes and Dittos tf#ougt?e tbe tot)icty tfcc foDc 9 nojiffljement of tbe boDp ig corrupted 5 b{nirercD:t^ caufe cf tojrugacpon 0? toipnfclpng of (fcpnne* fox tfce meate bepnge fp^fle Dpgeflefc in t^e (iomac&Mnb tben fljojtlp after Cent tn to euerp parte of tfcc bobp^ig DpgetteD agapneoff naturali Ijeatcof tyetome parte^Mbere it ttf recerucb : tfean pf tftat tbtfnaturall tjeatebe bp nnpoccafpon couupteD o^fceftropeD: tfjefoobealfotS fcnf to tfje fame plate, fljaii be Ipfeetojfe
2t-.it.
First
OJfrxt te a ratoe
Pofee, calleb
tfce
befence of age
anb
0>ne firnolb
J^toua
men
to fmotoe.
&
Mitt, bnto ttyt mostc noble ^enrp pe biti. fepng of Cnglanbe of Jfrance, befenber of pe bnber gob suoremebeeb of pe faptb, Cfjurcbe of Cnglanbe, sister bnto tbrpsten tbe mosfte noble prpnte STamesi, fepnge of
fcotogles,
crptften,
prpnce
&
&
&
Staotteg
bougbter, unto tbe noble coutte grcbebalb <rle of gfogupstfbe, Jonas! Bruumbe ber bmble sttvuptor besuetb grate anb beltfje.
recompence pour Habpsbpp, bittb a greater, so tbat tbis mape f auourablp be recepueb (tDfjitfj to beleue) tbe berp no bleues, anb gentplnes tbat is in pou, per stoabetb me, also3bop*tbatpetoplcon spber ratber tbe berte of tbe spuer, tben tbe gpf t it self e tobtcb altbougb it be but small in quatite, pet it is great in effecte &tbisbone,3 sball bespre gobentperlp to preserue pour Habpsbpps npblenes*
to
potoreg, tfjegpprtteg,&
tfje
naturall fjeate of
bobp in
tfjepr
gtateanbtemperancp;&tntfjecofortpng anb repaprpnge of tfjepm bepnge bef ec tpue* jfor go longe ag tfje potoreg, tfje gpprpteg anb tfje naturall fjeate of man neg bobp are not bebplttate nor toefeen eb, go longe (3 gape) neptfjer gfjall pe gfepnne torpnfele, for tfje bebplpte of pe natural fjeate beclpnpnge to colbeneg anb brpneg tfjrougfje tfje tofjtcfj tfje fobe $c nortgofjement of tfje bobp tg corrupt eb Sc fjpnbereb: tg cauge of corrugacpon or torpnfelpng of pe gfcpnne* jfor tfje meate bepnge fprgte bpgegteb in tfje gtomacfce, anb tfjen gfjortlp after gent in to euerp parte of tfje bobp, tg bpgeg teb agapne of pe natural! fjeate of tfje
game
pf
parte, tofjere
tt
tg recepueb: tfjan
a. it
tfjat tfjtg
occaspon corrupteb or bestropeb: tbe foobe also is sent to tbe same place, sball be Ipfcetopse corrupted, tben go ensuetfj corrugacpo of pe sfepune,& bore fieares, as pe mape se in pe aun cpent Sc ageb men, tob^t tbep be colbe brpe, for borenes cometb of pe befecte of naturall beate, tfje tobtcb bef enbetb tbe bobp fro age,age property botb make ma colbe brpe,& tberefore tbep be of Iptel blobe, anb tbe potores Sc natural beate in tbem berp toefee, &bnable to co coctpns&bpgestpngofmeate.toberfore tbere tncreace great pletp of fmmtbtteg anb crube ratoe bumours, Sc tberefore tbe tbre sprptes Sc tbe tijre btgesttons in age be becapbe,& in tbe rapnetb pe bebtlt
&
&
&
anb befebeb bp pfnstcfee, Sc bp auopbtng of sucbe acctbentall causes as bo tnbuce age, as sorotoe, stubp, fymy nes, besperactou, ouer mocb benerp, la
& to
fie
of tfiesecausesiscome,tfien to
amputat
or cut atoape tfje cause tip tfipnges apro priat &vto for tfie preseruacpo of tfie
potores, is no better tfipnge tfien a spr
partes of
toyxit, Sc it
of suger bronfce
toitfi
ttoo
tofiicfie
are
tfie
& tofien
potores fie
as map coforte tfiem, fiotfi meates,brpn fees, anb otfier sppces, anb mopstpnge mebpepnes, anb tfiis is a fierp secrete tfipnge* Corrugacpon anb reuelpnge of tfiesfepnne requpre sucfie tfipnges,asbo dense &mafeeplapne&smotfi sfepnne, to* certapne oples, toaters, opnte meutes* <oobtpnes anb f ressfines of coloure, is fip f ebinge bpon sucfi meates Sc brpnfces, as bo engenber goob Sc
&
are Ipgtjt of bpges laubable blobe, tpon, anb tip sue!) tfjpnges, as bo dense pe blobe corrupteb,anb tfje otfjer potores ts, ouermorij euacuacpon, or to often lettpnge of blobe, or suclje otfjer Ipfee
tfjpnges* GCfjese tljpnges
&
eatpnge of cfjekpus, anb cfjefepn brotfj, tottfj ^nt rest anb slepe, anb also tuttf} stoete anb oborpf erous
hth
tottfj tfjus,
tljpnges,
anb
&
membres,
Putamonge
go stronglp
botij
cause a man to
lofee olbelp,
HI
cfjefelp,
bispos eb to tije game, anb tfjat is tfje cause tfjat manp hepng toste, turmopleb, anb toexeb, tottf) tfjis toorlblp stormes so toapnlp tfjepr fjeer toaxe fjore,or tofjpte* CiSotoe tfjpngestfjatborespsteorput atoap tijese causes, are cfjosen tije topee
is
mane* complexpon
porage, Sc of fumptorpe, Sc speepallp grene anb purpfpeb, anb pe bertue of tfje rote of $lapntapne anb
topee of
sucfje otfjer*
HWfyt
tije fose
toitfj
&potfjecarieS* ilnb pe
properlp botf) melaneolpe Sc fleume be expelleb out of tfje bobp, is CleboruS niger, calleb in Cnglpssfje Peares foote, prepareb bp a certapne maner tmto f eto fenotoen* Jfor in tlje rectif ping of pe malpcpousnesse of tfjis
berbe, stanbetb all tbe secrete of ijte operacpon, for tip fjpm a man sbal tie
altereb
it
is not
conuenpent for belpcate bobpes anb noble complexpons, ttjerfore 3 topi gap Iptel of bpm. petoare pe neuer en
&
termeble toitb tbis berbe, toitbout tbe abupsement anb councepll of some ex perte anb toell learneb $bP*pcpon-
sug er, tbe tobicbe properlp botb consume tbe f leume anb melancolp being in tbe tyttb, anb it tarietb anb lettetb tbe bore beres coroboratetb anb streugnetb tbe censes, anb prologetb tbe Ipf e, & cbef elp toben a quatite of it is bisolueb in aqua bita toel anb craftelp mabe, & somtpme
toitb
it
is bisolueb in topnt,
or. Hi bapes,
&
ttjen
bseb conuenientlp, accorbpng to tbe councepll of a $bP3pcpon* Htt)tv tbpnges also tbere be, tobicbe
qupcken maketb lugtp pe bobp, ag tacameron, Jltrabolanp, CJjefaulp compogeb, tofjtcf) bp tfjepr propertp bo
&
consume anb toagte tfjeflematpcke gup erfluptpeg of tfje gtomacke bo com forte bpm, anb bo clartfp tfje blobe anb
&
be of great force agapngt melancolp,anb tfjuge of tfjoge bo comforte poutij, anb caugetf) a man to toaxe ponge agapne,
$c bef enbeti) a
man from
tofjep of
fjore beareg,
tottfj
alio
tfje
becoction of gene
Btabor
&
goteg mplfee
tije cfjefe
&nb
one of
anb
prolonged tg once in a mouetf) to baue a toompte, to ex^pel tfje f leuma tpfee ijumour, anb once in a toefee to re cepue aclpgter, anb gpecpallp tfjat com pogeb of tfje topee of j$lercurp,toaltoort elber, anb bete to* balf e an ounce of pero pegara, tfje ixititcije tg a great gecrete*
Caggta
fistula,
anb
tfje
topee
a gooblp easer of nature, mpnpgtreb topgelp, anb it ig bleggpb mebpcjme to make a man goluble, anb tfjertoitf) algo it comfortetf) tfje prjmcppal membreg in man, anb alteretf) tije eupll bpgpo
ig
gicion of
man
to goob,
it
openetf) opil
ationsorgtopppnges.Stcomfortetf)t|)e
fjerte,
tf)e
anb
clengetf)
anb to mebpcpne
it,
gpefee of
consuming
tije
fmmourg,
cause age are tfjoge temperate >ppceg fcnotoen to euerp bobp, Cloueg, Cinamome, Hirjuirpce, anb guci) otfjer, but most prjmcppallp, incorporate toften tfjep are conficte toitf) goob topne, anb go (bepng fprgt gomtofjat toatereb) recepueb anb bron
tofjicf)
&
ken*
mabe
of mprrfja, be of
tfje
an
excel
goobnegge in
congeruacpon of
fjeltfj
$c Ipf e, for
it
toitfjstanbetfj
putre
tofji
isrebpto putrefaction, tofjerfore tfjis illprrfja is confpete toit J) sucfje tfjpnges as beabe bobpes are incereb toitfj all, to befenbe tfje corse from putrefaction. &vto tfje fore sapb sppceb topne, tofjen it is recepueb of man, it sprebetfj it self e afcrobe in pe partes of tfje bobp, anb comfortetfj all tfje partes of tfje bobp, anb brpetfj fap tfje superfluous fjump bpties of tfje fcobp, also tfje potober of tfje same sppces bseb toitfj meate, pro fptetfj toonberf ullp* CLSNtoebeit, pf tfje man be of a brp bpspospepon, tfjen sfjall it be nebef uU to abiopne to tfjese sppces, some more temperate tfjpnge, as tfje iopce of egranates, &ose toater, >ugre, llpcfe
$om
Biaca meron restoretfj bpsestpon, loste anb comfortetfj it, anb tErifera passetfj all beclpnpnge somtofjat more to calibite*
erpce,
sucfj Ipfee*
&espns, anb
Wt)t natural!
fjrte tfjen
&
tfje
meate
compng
to tfje
eb or corrupted tobicb become of put rpfpeb colour, f urtfjtoitb eusuetb corru gacpon, anb olbe lofepnge as pe map se in sucf) as are scabp, in anp parte of tfjepr bobp, for tfjat parte bepnge en
f ecteb, it
sfep
nne. ^fjeinfectionbepnsonce beparteb agapne, tfje sfepnne sbetoetf) it selfe fapre,smotf)e,anb ponglp,aub to tbose golbe preparate is souerapne, tfje top* ne of pomegranate, anb tfjisis specpal goob for tfje leprp* &nb tfjis topne of granates taken anb recepueb fjotoe pe Ipst, ijatf) properte to extenate tfje fju mours,anbtoalapetfjebeteoftfjelpuer, anb to comforte all partes of mans
&
moutf) of
tfje
stomacfee,
& comfor=
lB.ti.
bult conbiti
anb
tfje
melancolicfee people,
clere tfje blobe,
tfjere
tfjep clarefp
anb make
anb
tfje
spprptes, neptfjer is
anp
tfjpnge
tfjeu tfjese.
tpme
presseb) toitf) must is principally goob for mel ancolp, f apnte fjerteb, anb mab people, for it clensetfj tfje blobe, tafeetfj atoap eupl fantasies, anb comfortetfj all tfje regetpue potoer, anb encountretfj all
grapes be gatfjereb
&
&
tfje
jfHprabolans bseb, ii a tfjpnge rpgfjt often proueb anb alotoeb, to tfje conser uacion of fjeltfj, anb prolongpnge of tfje Ipf e, anb to toaxe ponge agapne, for it
confortetfj
tfje
stomacfee,
apte
& lustp, & consumetfj pe toatrp nesse lefte of fore fobe, & bse
tfje
& mafcetfj
tfje
it
&
causetb
of sob.
man to
Ipue longe by
tfje
belp
X&>
CPatljpnge also temperatlp toitbout anp great stoeatpng go f onelp tfje sfepnue be munbefpeb anb clenseb from
bolesome anb profptable, for tberbp pe potores are openeb, anb tbe superfluous fmmibities lurfepnge toitbin tbe skpnne, be toasteb anb brp
fpltbpnes, is
eb bp-
%&> x^
tbe bse of goob \x^nt in
tfje
CPut
baue spoken of before, baue btn stepeb, anb tbe ber tue of tbepm in it resolueb, temperatlp tafeen toitb a Iptell toater mpxte tber= toitb in bue season, sball passe anb enter into all tbe bpbbe toapes of tbe bobp, anb it sball brpe bp all tbe eupll
3.
tit.
fmmpbpties,
all
maner
of opilaction or stopppnge,
is secrete for tlje
tfje tofjidje
aparpcpon
or openjmge of places opilat, or stop= peb, causeti) pe Ipuelp spprpts to rune tfjrougfjout euerp parte of tfje bobp, anb causeti) tije natural! fjeate for to toaxe stronge, anb to be of great force, but optlacton or stopping causeti) tije con trarp, for tije natural! bete bepng con culcate, or strangled not fjaupng tbe fre passage tfjrougfje euerp parte, is tijerbp bebplptate anb toefeeneb, anb so not suf fpcpent anb mpgfjtpe to seper= ate tfje pure from tije unpure, tofjerup on tije superfluous fmmpbpties rotten putrefpeb be in tfje bobp mocbe in creaseb, anb tberebp consequently en= suetb torpnfeelinge of tije flesslje anb sfepnne, anb age at fjanbeotfjer also stronge meane tfjere is to bef enbe age, anb to recouer poutb
&
C&n
agapue, bp abstpnence, anb conuenpent f or bearpnge of pour tjuantpte of meate, fan to sucb tpme as tbe bobp be brought berp lotoe, anb mabe berp spare, anb
agapue britb laubable, bolesome, anb goob tobe, tobttbe batb a propertpe, to engenber cleare anb pure blobe* %&>
CL^b& popnte also bo tbep obserue tbe tobicbe make fat <&xtn: tobose fles sbe tbe more it toaxetb lean anb bare, pe more also botbe it be come tenber anb ponge, anb tbe better aftertoarbe bo tbep Ipfee anb batten, anb pe map al so se tbe practpse of tbis in sucbe as be latelp recouereb from spcfeenesse* Put to be sborte, be p* topll refrapne age, anb conserue poutfj, let bpm not be netlpgent in cbospng of bis meate, tbat it be sucbe, as mape brebe goob, cleare, fat, tbpcfee anb biscous blobe, anb tben map be toitbstanbe toell age. toben tbat sucbe ^ump^yttif
C^nb
or mopstenesse, tofucfje are in tfje bobp, anb crube fmmoures are mcreaseb in man, tfjen fjatf) fje nebe of surf) tfjpnges tofjtcfje bo extenate anb extccat tfjose superfluous! mopstenes,anb sucfj tfjpn ges as map bpgest tfje crube or ratoe Humours, sincere anb bepure tfje fjole bobp*
otfjer
tinges,
suctje
as
sape,
toarmpnge, anb mopstpnge, of botfj equallp, bp meates, anb brpnkes, anb mebpcpnes conuenpent, bp exercpse,
feepe fjts
fje
bobp
map Ipue
pe fjorrpble bauger of greuous spcfeenes, anb tfie better able to serue almpgfjtp <ob, to toljom be all fjonoure*
CJntprjmtetr bp
me Robert
s#gra of sfajmt
anD bttmrttation ,tf*at istto fa?e,toar tnpnge, anD mopft)mge,of botb f tjuailp, bp meate&anb Dtfnbes,an& meDpcjmest
XGnuEiipent,bj> ccercpfc ,ans giabneffe.
nc3,3n0 tbe better able to ferae almygb t y d5ob,to fob om be all bonoute,
e* 3 3
4>.
^attpnsparpl^je/at
t&e fpgne of fapnt giohfi Cttangclpfl/ bcfpoeCljaryn*
ge CtoCTc.
Colophon
of
Drummond's book
Appendix
Honey of
is
good
THE CONSERVATIO
The
following
is
not given by
Drummond.
They
consist mainly of
and
laxatives.
It is
Dianthus
Cheboly
This
used as
Borage
Borago
is
a European annual.
It is still
Polymnia uvedalia
This
is
Myrobalanus
astringent properties.
is
an East India
its
fruit in
Mercury
Agaric
purgative
;
Mercurialis annua
This
is
a European herb
It
was used as a
inconveniences.
remains
now
to set
prescriptions
36
which are called " the royal medicaments." These have been summarily mentioned in the course of the preceding treatise, and the reader has already been referred, in
connection with them, to the standard works, both practical
and
theoretical, dealing
The
prescriptions that
we
specify
Prescription for oenocrocus and eleocrocus. This compound restores tranquillity of mind and cheerfulness. Take a small quantity of saffron and put it in a large bag
of very thin linen.
else in
Pour either wine or oil over it so that it will absorb the essence of the saffron. Repeat the operation as often as you please until the liquid has drawn
a linen sac.
flavor.
Spices,
desired,
may be added
at pleasure.
Prescription for a steam-bath. Put a decoction of rosemary plants and of rosemary flowers in a tub of
steaming water.
memory. You may also use stoecas, and sage, and camomile. Washing your feet in a decoction of camomile opens up and clears the brain. Such baths are very strengthening and reand you
will
be
lieving.
37
will
an
electuary
which
be found
who
from jaundice
to the
;
wrinkled
to the hypochrondriac
;
for excessive
and
premature hoariness; for stomach and heart troubles. R myrobalans, six drachms fruit of terminalia, three
: ;
drachms
eric,
ind.,
emblic and
;
bell-
fennel, each
one drachm
;
each oneas
is
trifera.
half
as
much
The
proper-
of the
term
us of
its
good
qualities.
is
However the
very sluggish,
it
hiera pikra
made up
of six ingredients
it is
administered,
its
re-
mains
them.
in the intestines,
on account of
sluggishness,
compounded with sixteen ingredients is efficacious in small quantity one drachm to two and one-half it reaches even to the remotest
But the hiera which
is
abundant evacuation.
for
hiera are found the drugs that produce the results claimed
by the
sublime
"
medicaments, that
is
laxation,
and
relief of all
cinnamon, spike,
38
andropogon schaenantus, cassia lignea, white balm-tree, fruit of the balsam-tree, worm-wood, cuscuta epithymi,
turpeth, agaric, colocynthe, mastic, each
two scruples;
ing
honey,
The arrangement of the brain, which is the seat of the " spiriius animalis ", is not to be slighted. Its
functions indeed are disposed, as are the functions of the
measure the things for which it was created. When a part of the body performs that natural operation assigned to it by the blessed Lord, whereas illness or weakness is nothing else it is healthy
stomach, to
fulfill
in the highest
comes the great attention permanent illness, either in avoiding that which causes the damage, or removing the damage itself. With this digression, which is not without its aptness, let us return to our original subject and we will note that the substance of the brain is created cold and humid and for this reason the phlegmatic humor is concentrated in most people in very large quantities around it, espean organ.
this fact
From
given by every
man
to anticipating
whom
39
grows white
more some heads more rapidly than others, and the traces of old age appear. Our whole problem, in a word, consists in reducing the existing humor and in removing those things which produce it. On the temples and front part of the face the hair grows white more rapidly than elsewhere since there, more of the crude vapor reaches, by which the matter which produces old age is made subtle and the more ready to penetrate to the roots and
;
functions in relation to
work they
do.
The
body have a
And
this is
if
its
not
difficult to
much however must be borne in mind: great sleepiness is the symptom of much phlegmatic
concerning them. This
humor and
;
sleep
itself,
which
is
the resting of
all
sen-
sitive and
choleric
to sleep,
wit,
addicted
much
; :
40
And such
nesses, but
live to greater
health.
Now
;
all
age than usual and in exceptionally good dryness tends to remove from decay and
and many men who know have recommended placing salt in bread. Salt moreover and all diuretics, acids and cleansers are solvents and dispellers of the phlegmatic humor and and other watery substances. That is why they enter into the subject of this book Moreover those who are closest to nature are best qualified to study such diseases and the astrologer in many things agrees with the doctor and so what he says is not to be disregarded.
deal of salt,
;
tell
how
humors are
to
be
And to
that
it
conclude
let
a necessary art
was created
good health,
is
and
man who
the
ig-
worthiest of creatures
And
is
so
and benemost serene dictions to the Lord and to the glory of his majesty Robert, King of Jerusalem and of Sicily, to whose
the whole book
also complete, with thanks
sway may
all
nations
become
subject.
THE BREVIARIUM
ARNALDUS ON THE CAUSES AND CURE OF HEADACHES
Arnaldus wrote a treatise on medicine which he called the Breviarium.
It
was one
of his important
is
PROLOGUE
After the death of Master Johan Casamida, of blessed
memory, professor
of medicinal science,
I
my
most
re-
made up my mind
which
should
call
I
might on symp-
and
to the universality of
ailing people.
prominence there to
the treatments of
these that there
all
I
days of
ones.
and
all
teachers whatsoever,
was
small.
There was
epilepsy,
now under
the head of
42
length therefore.
1
THE BREVIARIUM
Headache
to cold
is
of headaches.
).
grip-headache
).
2 3
toxic
).
catharral
).
5 6 7 8
bile
ex melancholia, bilious
).
hemicrania).
of
phlegm
in the
stomach
(
dyspeptic
).
bile in the
stomach
bile in the
10
liver
dyspepsia,
Headache in General. In as much as all nerves and as the latter is the root of all consciousness (as Galenus says in the Tekne), we must consider disorders of the brain as a most important and
impressive subject.
The
brain in fact
is
frequently dis-
now from
distemperantia ) of
cold air or from heat (such as the heat from the sun),
now from
sort,
shall
(
speak below.
inflatum ) or comair, it
When
pressed
spreads
its
humors
(just like a
sponge
full
of water
when
THE BREVIARIUM
;
43
shrivelled )
it
by the
distemper of hot
(
attracts
like a
of the
body to
same members.
And this has usually been the cause of we see many people falling sick from
rheum descending from the
and toothache, paralysis, quinsy, peripneumonia, consumption and many other diseases and oftentimes it comes about that the patient suddenly succumbs to some one of the above mentioned ailments, so that the skilled physician, in dealing with sufferings of the brain, must be prompt and attentive in controlling this rheum, whenever practicable, less the patient become subject to these mortal ailments or diseases, for as Aristotle says in the De Animalibus The brain is exposed to many causes of rheum, since it is like an inverted tree ( i.e. with branches extending in
brain
catarrhs, hoarseness, coriza, ear
;
come
in all directions ).
Headache Due
ing
to
Draughts.
Headache resulting
symptoms the
:
with a
chill ?
the
through them.
inability to
44
THE BREVIARIUM
:
powdered
ginger,
bettony,
rosemary,
narcissus,
southerwood
cannot escape.
mouth and nose, when the wine is hot let the feet, shins, and the arms up to the shoulders, be washed in it. On the head, place a poultice of ground papain, mixed in said hot wine, or of pulverized mustard and pennyroyal, mixed in the same way. Here is another remedy which I derived from a certain Saracen: Take two or three bricks and heat red hot, pour on them the best red wine and let the patient with
inhale the fumes through
;
head covered inhale fumes through nose and mouth. All the better if in the hot wine are mixed the above mentioned herbs.
daily.
I
The
warm
The
spices.
If
with charcoal
God
willing, in
my
chapter on coughing.
_':.'AVj7>,'j^^J
5A^
SR\HP:JEW]Ssrcra
G. L. Walton, M.D.