A KEY 
TO 
GALEN’S METHOD OF PHYSIC. 
The general use of physic. 
I sua desire thee, whoever thou art, 
that intendest the noble (though too much 
abused) study of physic, to mind heedfully 
these following rules; which being well un- 
derstood, shew thee the Key of Galen and 
Hippocrates their method of physic: he 
that useth their method, and is not heedful 
of these rules, may soon cure one disease, 
and cause another more desperate. 
That thou mayest understand what I 
intend, it is to discover in a general way of 
the manifest virtues of medicines. 
I say of the manifest virtues, and qual- 
ities, viz. Such as are obvious to the senses, 
especially to the taste and smell: for it 
hath been the practice of most Physicians, 
in these latter ages as well as ours, to say, 
when they cannot give, nor are minded to 
study a reason, why an herb, plant, &c. 
hath such an operation, or produces such 
__an effect in the body of man: It doth it by 
an hidden quality, for they not minding the 
whole creation, as one united body, not 
_ knowing what belongs to astral influence, 
_ not regarding that excellent harmony the 
only wise God hath made in a composition 
+O+ 
consists the whole ground and foundation 
of physic) are totally led astray by T'radi- 
tion. 
It is the manifest qualities of medicines 
that here I am to speak to, and you may be 
pleased to behold it in this order. 
Section 1. Of the Temperature of 
Medicines. 
Section 2. Of the appropriation of 
Medicines. 
Of the Properties of 
Medicines. 
Section 3. 
SECTION I. 
Of the Temperature of Medicines. 
Herbs, plants, and other medicines mani- 
festly operate, either by heat, coldness, dry- 
ness, or moisture, for the world being com- 
posed of so many qualities, they and only 
they can be found in the world, and the 
mixtures of them one with another. __ 
But that they may appear as clear as the 
sun when he is upon the meridian, I shall 
contraries (in the knowledge of which 
| treat of them severally, and in this order. 
