AND ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED. 
379 
Of Medicines cold in the first degree. 
Those medicines which are least cold of 
all, obtain the first degree of coldness; and 
I heseech you take notice of this, that see- 
ing our bodies are nourished by heat, and 
we live by heat, therefore no cold medi- 
cines are friendly to the body, but what 
good they do our bodies, they do it by re- 
moving an unnatural heat, or the body 
heated above it natural temper. 
The giving then of cold medicines to a 
man in his natural temper, the season of 
the year also being but moderately hot, ex- 
tinguishes natural heat in the body of man. 
Yet have these a necessary use in them 
too, though not so frequent as hot medi- 
cines have; and that may be the reason 
why an all wise God hath furnished us with 
far more hot herbs and plants, &c. than 
cold. 
Use 1. Their use is first, in nourishment, 
that so the heat of food may be qualified, 
and made for a weak stomach to digest. 
Use 2. Secondly, To restrain and assuage 
the heat of the bowels, and to cool the 
blood in fevers. 
Therefore if the distemper of heat be but 
gentle, medicines cold in the first degree 
will suffice; also children, and such people 
whose stomachs are weak, are easily hurt 
- by cold medicines. 
Of Medicines cold in the second and third 
degree. 
Use 1. Such whose stomachs are strong, 
and livers hot, may easily bear such medi- 
cines as are cold in the second degree, and 
in cases of extremity find much help by 
them: as also by such as are cold in the 
_ third degree, the extremity of the disease 
considered, for by both these the unbridled 
heat of choler is assuaged. 
Use 2. Also they are outwardly applied 
to hot swellings, due consideration being 
had, that if the inflammation be not great, 
use those that are less; if the inflammation 
he —— use| of medicines cold | 
in the second or third degree, always let 
the remedy correspond to the just propor- 
tion of the affliction. 
Use 3. Thirdly, Sometimes the spirits 
are moved inordinately through heat, 
thence follows immoderate watchings, if 
not deprivation of the senses, this also must 
be remedied with cold medicines, for cold 
stops the pores of the skin, makes the 
humours thick, represses sweat, and keeps 
up the spirits from fainting. 
Of Medicines cold in the fourth degree. 
Lastly, The use of medicines cold in the 
fourth degree, is, To mitigate desperate and 
vehement pains, stupifying the senses, 
when no other course can be taken to save 
life: of the use of which more hereafter. 
Of moistening Medicines. 
There can be no such difference found 
amongst moistening medicines, that they 
should surpass the second degree. For see~ 
ing all medicines are either hot or cold, 
neither heat nor cold, seeing they are ex- 
tremes, can consist with moisture, for the 
one dries it up, the other condensates it. 
Use. Phylosophers therefore call mois- 
ture and dryness, passive qualities, yet have 
they their operation likewise; for moist 
medicines lenifies and make slippery, ease 
the cough, and help the roughness of the 
throat. These operations are proper to 
medicines moist in the first degree. 
Those which are moister, take away nat- 
urally strength, help the sharpness of 
humours, make both blood and spirits 
thicker, looses the belly, and fits it for pur- 
gation. 
The immoderate or indiscreet use of them: 
dulls the body, and makes it unfit for action. 
Of drying Medicines. 
Drying medicines have contrary faculties a, 
| to these, viz. To consume moisture, stop 
fluxes, and make such parts” dry as are 
slippery, they make the body and membe 
firm, when aise are weakened by 
