378 
THE COMPLETE HERBAL 
body to its natural heat, as the fire doth the 
external parts in cold weather, unless the 
affliction of cold be so great that such mild 
medicines will not serve the turn. 
Effect 2. The second effect is, the miti- 
gation of pain arising from such a dis- 
temper, and indeed this effect hath other 
medicines, some that are cold, and some 
that are hotter than the first degree, they 
being rationally applied to the distemper. 
These medicines the Greeks call Anodyna, 
and shall be spoken of in their proper 
places: In this place let it suffice that medi- 
cines hot in the first degree, make the offend- 
ing humours thin, and expel them by sweat, 
or insensible transpiration, and these of all 
others are most congruous or agreeable to 
the body of man, for there is no such equal 
temperature of heat and cold in a sound 
man, but heat exceeds, for we live by heat 
and moisture, and not by cold. 
Medicines then which are hot in the first 
degree, are such as just correspond to the 
natural heat of our bodies; such as are 
hotter or colder, are more subject to do mis- 
chief, being administered by an unskilful 
hand, than these are, because of their con- 
trariety to nature; whereas these are grate- 
ful to the body by their moderate heat. 
Effect 3. Thirdly, These take away 
weariness, and help fevers, being outward- 
ly applied, because they open the pores of 
the skin, and by their gentle heat prepare 
the humours, and take away those fuligi- 
nous vapours that are caused by fevers. 
Discommodities.] Yet may discommodi- 
ties arise by heedless giving even of these, 
which I would have young students in phy- 
_ sic to be very careful in, lest they do more 
mischief than they are aware of, viz. It is 
possible by too much use of them, to con- 
sume not only what is inimical in the body, 
but also the substance itself, and the 
rengtl Ap scene ee 
are not appropriated to, or by not heeding 
well the complexion of the patient, or the 
natural temper of the part of the body af- 
flicted, for the heart is hot, but the brain 
temperate. 
Effect 4. Lastly, Medicines hot in the 
first degree, cherish heat in the internal 
parts, help concoction, breed good blood, 
and keep it good in temper, being bred. 
Of Medicines hot in the second degree. 
These are something hotter than the nat- 
ural temper of a man. 
Use. Their use for such whose stomachs 
are filled with moisture, because their fac- 
ulty is too hot and dry; they take away 
obstructions or stoppings, open the pores 
of the skin, but not in the same manner 
that such do as are hot in the first degree, 
for they do it without force, by a gentle 
heat, concocting, and expelling the hu- 
mours, by strengthening and helping nature | 
in the work; but these cut tough humours, 
and scatter them by their own force and 
power when nature cannot. 
Of Medicines hot in the third degree. 
Those which attain the third degree of 
heat, have the same faculties with those — 
before mentioned; but as they are hotter, 
so are they more powerful in their opera- _ 
tions, for they are so powerful in heating — 
and cutting, that if unadvisedly given they 
cause fevers. Use. Their use is to cut 
tough and compacted humours, to provoke — 
sweat abundantly; hence it comes to pass 
they all of them resist poison. 
Of Medicines hot in the fourth degree. 
Those medicines obtain the highest de- 
gree of heat, which are so hot that they burn 
the body of a man, being outwardly applied | 
to it, and cause inflammations, or raise blis- _ 
ters, as Crowfoot, Mustard-seed, Onions, 4 
&c. Of. these more hereafter. | 
Of cooling Medicines. 
Physicians have also observed four de- — 
re 
| briefly treatof inorder, 
