be made hereof, yet must we prefer the nearer indication before those which are drawn from the time of the year, or other celestial relations.

The second testimony is taken out of the last piece of his age, and after the experience* (as some think) of no less than an hundred years, that is, his Book of Aphorisms, or short and definitive determinations in physick. The Aphorism alleged is this, Sub Cane et ante Canem difficiles sunt purgationes. Sub Cane et Anticane, say some, including both the dogstars, but that cannot consist with the Greek, áñò xúva xai agò zuvòs, nor had that criticism been ever omitted by Galen. Now how true this sentence was in the mouth of Hippocrates, and with what restraint it must be understood by us, will readily appear from the difference between us both in circumstantial relations.

And first, concerning his time and chronology; he lived in the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, about the 82nd olympiad, 450 years before Christ, and from our times above two thousand. Now since that time, as we have already declared, the stars have varied their longitudes, and having made large progressions from west to east, the time of the dogstar's ascent must also very much alter; for it ariseth later now in the year than it formerly did in the same latitude, and far later unto us who have a greater elevation, for in the days of Hippocrates this star ascended in Cancer, which now ariseth in Leo, and will in progression of time arise in Virgo; and therefore, in regard of the time wherein he lived, the aphorism was more considerable in his days than in ours, and in times far past than present, and in his country than

ours.

The place of his nativity was Coos, an island in the Myrtoan sea, not far from Rhodes, described in maps by the name of Lango, and called by the Turks, who are masters thereof, Stancora, according unto Ptolemy, of northern latitude, 36 degrees. That he lived and writ in these parts is not improbably collected from the epistles that passed betwixt him and Artaxerxes, as also between the citizens of Abdera and Coos,

4 experience.] Experience of 100 yeares infers he lived at least 120 in all.—Wr.

in the behalf of Democritus; which place being seated, from our latitude of 52, 16 degrees southward, there will arise a different consideration, and we may much deceive ourselves, if we conform the ascent of stars in one place unto another, or conceive they arise the same day of the month in Coos and in England; for, as Petavius computes, in the first Julian year, at Alexandria, of latitude 31, the star arose cosmically in the twelfth degree of Cancer, heliacally the 26th; by the compute of Geminus, about this time at Rhodes, of latitude 37, it ascended cosmically the 16th of Cancer, heliacally the first of Leo; and about that time at Rome, of latitude 42, cosmically the 22nd of Cancer, and heliacally the first of Leo; for unto places of greater latitude it ariseth ever later, so that in some latitudes the cosmical ascent happeneth not before the twentieth degree of Virgo, ten days before the autumnal equinox, and if they compute heliacally, after it in Libra.

Again, should we allow all, and only compute unto the latitude of Coos, yet would it not impose a total omission of physick: for if in the hottest season of that clime, all physick were to be declined, then surely in many other none were to be used at any time whatsoever; for unto many parts, not only in the spring and autumn, but also in the winter, the sun is nearer than unto the clime of Coos in the summer.

The third consideration concerneth purging medicines, which are at present far different from those implied in this aphorism, and such as were commonly used by Hippocrates. For three degrees we make of purgative medicines; the first thereof is very benign, not far removed from the nature of aliment, into which, upon defect of working, it is ofttimes converted, and in this form do we account manna, cassia, tamarinds, and many more, whereof we find no mention in Hippocrates. The second is also gentle, having a familiarity with some humour, into which it is but converted if it fail of its operation; of this sort are aloe, rhubarb, senna, &c. whereof also few or none were known unto Hippocrates. The third is of a violent and venomous quality, which, frustrate of its action, assumes as it were the nature of poison, such as scammoneum, colocynthis, elaterium, euphorbium,

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tithymallus, laureola, peplum, &c. Of this sort Hippocrates made use even in fevers, pleurisies, and quinsies; and that composition is very remarkable which is ascribed unto Diogenes in Ætius, that is, of pepper, sal-ammoniac, euphorbium, of each an ounce, the doses whereof four scruples and an half, which whosoever should take, would find in his bowels more than a canicular heat, though in the depth of winter. Many of the like nature may be observed in Ætius, or in the book De Dinamidiis, ascribed unto Galen, which is the same verbatim with the other.

6

Now in regard of the second, and especially the first degree of purgatives, the aphorism is not of force, but we may safely use them, they being benign and of innoxious qualities; and therefore Lucas Gauricus, who hath endeavoured with many testimonies to advance this consideration at length concedeth that lenitive physick may be used, especially when the moon is well affected in Cancer, or in the watery signs. But in regard of the third degree, the aphorism is considerable; purgations may be dangerous, and a memorable example there is in the medical epistles of Crucius, of a Roman prince that died upon an ounce of diaphonicon taken in this season; from the use whereof we refrain not only in hot seasons, but warily exhibit it at all times in hot diseases; which when necessity requires, we can perform more safely than the ancients, as having better ways of pre

Tetrab. lib. i. Serm. 3.

5 canicular.] Such as is the heate of the dog-dayes in the hottest countreyes, where the dog-star sheweth his force most.- Wr.

6 aphorism.] Aphorisme is a general rule grounded upon reason, ratified by experience; but in this place he gives this name to that received opinion, that during the dog-dayes all physicke is to be declined; not bycause itt was grounded upon truthe, but by cause itt was generally supposed to bee soe; the ground whereof relating to those countreyes onlye which lye under the torrid zone, hee refutes in this chapter most judiciouslye, and determines the state of the question most excellentlye in the two following periods in four propositions or conclusions. First, that in preventinge there is no use of

that rule, for that noe wise man will defer the physick till the dog-dayes, having fitter times in the spring, and the fall, wherein to take such physick with greater advantage. Second, that the heate of the dog-dayes in our clymates is not soe greate as that of the torrid zone in their spring. Third, that in chronical diseases physick may safely bee deferred till those dayes bee over. Fourth, that the strength of the aphorisme is grounded cheefly upon a point of wisdom; that itt must needs bee dangerous to adde fire to fire, i. e. when the bodye is overheated in the dog-dayes to adde the heat and acrimony of purging medicines, but yet where the case is desperate, as in sharpe fits, wisdom must give way to necessity; better purge than dye.—Wr.

paration and correction, that is, not only by addition of other bodies, but separation of noxious parts from their own.

But besides these differences between Hippocrates and us, the physicians of these times and those of antiquity, the condition of the disease and the intention of the physician hold a main consideration in what time and place soever. For physick is either curative or preventive; preventive we call that which by purging noxious humors, and the causes of diseases, preventeth sickness in the healthy, or the recourse thereof in the valetudinary; this is of common use at the spring and fall, and we commend not the same at this season. Therapeutick or curative physick we term that which restoreth the patient unto sanity, and taketh away diseases actually affecting. Now of diseases some are chronical and of long duration, as quartan agues, scurvy, &c. wherein, because they admit of delay, we defer the cure to more advantageous seasons; others we term acute, that is, of short duration and danger, as fevers, pleurisies, &c. in which, because delay is dangerous, and they arise unto their state before the dog-days determine, we apply present remedies according unto indications, respecting rather the acuteness of the disease, and precipitancy of occasion, than the rising or setting of the stars, the effects of the one being disputable, of the other assured and inevitable.

1

And although astrology may here put in, and plead the secret influence of this star; yet Galen in his comment makes no such consideration, confirming the truth of the aphorism from the heat of the year, and the operation of medicines exhibited. In regard that bodies, being heated by the summer, cannot so well endure the acrimony of purging medicines and because upon purgations contrary motions ensue, the heat of the air attracting the humours outward, and the action of the medicine retracting the same inward. But these

7 recourse.] Recurrence.

at this season.] That is during the dog days.-Wr.

acuteness.] i. e. the sharp and fierce condition of the disease, admitting noe delay of any requisite helpe in physic.-Wr.

precipitancy.] Precipitancy is properly the swift motion of a man falling

headlong, hence itt signifies the soden passings of occasions in diseases, which once let passe can never be redeemed, and by those means endanger the life of the patient, by suffering the disease (which might have been timely prevented) to get such a masterye as noe physick can quell.—Wr.

are readily salved in the distinctions before alleged, and particularly in the constitution of our climate and divers others, wherein the air makes no such exhaustion of spirits, and in the benignity of our medicines, whereof some in their own nature, others well prepared, agitate not the humours, nor make a sensible perturbation.

Nor do we hereby reject or condemn a sober and regulated astrology; we hold there is more truth therein, than in astrologers; in some more than many allow, yet in none so much as some pretend. We deny not the influence of the stars, but often suspect the due application thereof; for though we should affirm, that all things were in all things, that heaven were but earth celestified, and earth but heaven terrestrified, or that each part above had an influence upon its divided affinity below; yet how to single out these relations,* and duly to apply their actions, is a work ofttimes to be effected by some revelation, and Cabala from above, rather than any philosophy, or speculation here below. What power

soever they have upon our bodies, it is not requisite they should destroy our reasons, that is, to make us rely on the strength of nature, when she is least able to relieve us; and when we conceive the heaven against us, to refuse the assistance of the earth created for us. This were to suffer from the mouth of the dog above, what others do from the teeth of the dogs below; that is, to be afraid of their proper remedy, and refuse to approach any water, though that hath often proved a cure unto their disease. There is in

Hic labor, hoc opus est.

2 refuse to approach any water,] The horror of water in this disease, though a very general, is not an invariable symptom, even in the human subject.

standers, she found herself capable of looking at the water, and even of drinking it without choaking."-Good's Study of Medicine, iii, 362.

Dr. Good enumerates a variety of modes of treatment which have been adopted, and medicines which have been prescribed, with most uncertain and only occasional success.

3 hath often proved a cure, &c.] "Morin relates the case of a young woman, twenty years old, who, labouring under symptoms of hydrophobia, was plunged into a tub of water with a bushel of salt dissolved in it, and was harassed with An American plant (Scutellaria laterepeated dippings till she became insen-riflora, or Virginian skullcap,) has been sible and was at the point of death, when she was still left in the tub sitting against its sides. In this state, we are told, she was at length fortunate enough to recover her senses when, much to her own astonishment, as well as that of the by

used with great success by several American practitioners: and so powerful has been its influence, that it has been made the subject of a separate publication by Dr. Spalding, of New York, in 1819. It appears to have been discovered by a