120 JEROME CARDAN. 



said Cardan, would serve his purpose, nourish, his body 

 and his lungs, allay the excess of heat, be grateful to the 

 palate, and help also to avert consumption. When taking 

 this, the patient should not at the same time eat much, 

 especially should eat nothing very corruptible, as fish or 

 fruit, should use very gentle exercise, and keep his mind 

 as quiet as he could. The ass, whose milk he was to use, 

 should be well fed, and provided with mild herbs, such as 

 mallow, beet, and the blossoms of roses. She should eat 

 corn and barley, have foaled recently, and it might be 

 better if the foal were not a male. Ass and foal should 

 live in freedom, and run daily together in the meadows. 



His grace, having performed his first morning duties, 

 ought next to comb his head with an ivory comb, by 

 which the brain is comforted, rub well his extremities, 

 anoint his spine and chest with oil of sweet almonds, and, 

 being fully dressed, walk for a short time in some pleasant 

 spot, not sunny. 



He should avoid all immoderate excess and repletion, 

 taking care also not to be immoderate in abstinence. In 

 discussing whether breakfast or supper should be the chief 

 meal, Cardan, having first decided that in every man's 

 case an established custom ought not to be interfered 

 with, proceeded to give a long series of curious, minute 

 directions upon food and cookery. He prescribed many 

 articles of diet as particularly proper to be used by the 



