380 HISTORY OF 



meats, nor in any such manner as they may stick long, lest 

 they beget dangerous obstructions about the mesentery: 

 lastly, that they be taken very rarely, that they may not 

 coagulate and knot together in the veins. 



9. Therefore let the manner of taking them be fasting, in 

 white wine, a little oil of almonds mingled therewith, exer 

 cise used immediately upon the taking of them. 



10. The simples which may satisfy this operation are, 

 instead of all, gold, pearls, and coral ; for all metals, ex 

 cept gold, are not without some malignant quality in the 

 dissolutions of them, neither will they be beaten to that 

 exquisite fineness that leaf gold hath. As for all glassy 

 and transparent jewels, we like them not (as we said be 

 fore), for fear of corrosion. 



11. But, in our judgment, the safer and more effectual 

 way would be by the use of woods in infusions and decoc 

 tions ; for there is in them sufficient to cause firmness of 

 blood, and not the like danger for breeding obstructions; 

 but especially, because they may be taken in meat and 

 drink, whereby they will find the more easy entrance into 

 the veins, and not be avoided in excrements. 



12. The woods fit for this purpose are sanders, the oak, 

 and vine. As for all hot woods or something rosiny, we 

 reject them; notwithstanding you may add the woody 

 stalks of rosemary dried, for rosemary is a shrub, and ex- 

 ceedeth in age many trees, also the woody stalks of ivy, 

 but in such quantity as they may not yield an unpleasing 

 taste. 



13. Let the woods be taken either boiled in broths, or 

 infused in must or ale before they leave working; but in 

 broths (as the custom is for guaiacum and the like) they 

 would be infused a good while before the boiling, that the 

 firmer part of the wood, and not that only which lieth 

 loosely, may be drawn forth. As for ash, though it be 

 used for cups, yet we like it not. And touching the ope 

 ration upon the blood, thus much. 



iv. The Operation upon the Juices of the Body. 



The History. 



1. There are two kinds of bodies (as was said before in 

 the Inquisition touching inanimates) which are hardly con 

 sumed, hard things and fat things, as is seen in metals and 

 stones, and in oil and wax. 



2. It must be ordered, therefore, that the juice of the 

 body be somewhat hard, and that it be fat or subroscid. 





