LIFE AND DEATH. 361 



17. The flight of the spirits by opium and opiate medi 

 cines is best seen by applying the same outwardly, for the 

 spirits straight withdraw themselves, and will return no 

 more, but the part is mortified, and turns to a gangrene. 



18. Opiates in grievous pains, as in the stone, or the 

 cutting off of a limb, mitigate pains most of all, by putting 

 the spirits to flight. 



19. Opiates obtain a good effect from a bad cause ; for 

 the flight of the spirits is evil, but the condensation of them 

 through their flight is good. 



20. The Grecians attributed much both for health and 

 for prolongation of life, as opiates, but the Arabians much 

 more, insomuch that their grand medicines (which they 

 called the god s hands) had opium for their basis and prin 

 cipal ingredient, other things being mixed to abate and 

 correct the noxious qualities thereof; such were treacle, 

 mithridate, and the rest. 



21. Whatsoever is given with good success in the curing 

 of pestilential and malignant diseases, to stop and bridle 

 the spirits, lest they grow turbulent and tumultuous, may 

 very happily be transferred to the prolongation of life ; for 

 one thing is effectual unto both, namely, the condensation 

 of the spirits : now there is nothing better for that than 

 opiates. 



22. The Turks find opium, even in a reasonable good 

 quantity, harmless and comfortable, insomuch that they 

 take it before their battles to excite courage; but to us, 

 unless it be in a very small quantity, and with good cor 

 rectives, it is mortal. 



23. Opium and opiates are manifestly found to excite 

 Venus ; which shows them to have force to corroborate the 

 spirits. 



24. Distilled water out of wild poppy is given with good 

 success in surfeits, agues, and divers diseases ; which, no 

 doubt, is a temperate kind of opiate. Neither let any man 

 wonder at the various use of it, for that is familiar to opiates, 

 in regard that the spirits, corroborated and condensed, will 

 rise up against any disease. 



25. The Turks use a kind of herb which they call caphe, 

 which they dry and powder, and then drink in warm water, 

 which they say doth not a little sharpen them both in their 

 courage and in their wits ; notwithstanding, if it be taken 

 in a large quantity, it affects and disturbs the mind ; whereby 

 it is manifest, that it is of the same nature with opiates. 



26. There is a root much renowned in all the eastern 

 parts which they call betel, which the Indians and others 



