388 HISTORY OF 



sky ; but the best is, the wind blowing from the west in the 

 morning, and from the north in the afternoon. 



30. Odours are especially profitable for the comforting 

 of the heart, yet not so, as though a good odour were the 

 prerogative of a good air ; for it is certain, that as there are 

 some pestilential airs which smell not so ill as others that 

 are less hurtful ; so, on the contrary, there are some airs 

 most wholesome and friendly to the spirits, which either 

 smell not at all, or are less pleasing and fragrant to the sense. 

 And generally, where the air is good, odours should be 

 taken but now and then; for a continual odour, though 

 never so good, is burthensome to the spirits. 



31. We commend, above all others (as we have touched 

 before), odour of plants growing, and not plucked, taken in 

 the open air ; the principal of that kind are, violets, gilli- 

 flowers, pinks, bean flowers, lime tree blossoms, vinebuds, 

 honeysuckles, yellow wallflowers, musk-roses (for other 

 roses growing are fast of their smells), strawberry leaves, 

 especially dying, sweetbriar, principally in the early spring, 

 wild mint, lavender flowered ; and in the hotter countries, 

 orange tree, citron tree, myrtle, laurel. Therefore to walk 

 or sit near the breath of these plants, would not be neglected. 



32. For the comforting of the heart, we prefer cool smells 

 before hot smells ; therefore the best perfume is, either in 

 the morning, or about the heat of the day, to take an equal 

 portion of vinegar, rosewater, and claret wine, and to pour 

 them upon a firepan somewhat heated. 



33. Neither let us be thought to sacrifice to our mother 

 the earth, though we advise, that in digging or ploughing 

 the earth for health, a quantity of claret wine be poured 

 thereon. 



34. Orange flower water, pure and good, with a small 

 portion of rosewater, and brisk wine, snuffed up into the 

 nostrils, or put into the nostrils with a syringe, after the 

 manner of an errhine (but not too frequently), is very good. 



35. But champing (though we have no betel) or holding 

 in the mouth only of such things as cheer the spirits (even 

 daily done), is exceeding comfortable. Therefore for that 

 purpose make grains, or little cakes of ambergris, musk, 

 lignum aloes, lignum rhodium, orras powder, and roses ; and 

 let those grains or cakes be made up with rosewater which 

 hath passed through a little Indian balsam. 



36. The vapours which, arising from things inwardly 

 taken, do fortify and cherish the heart, ought to have these 

 three properties, that they be friendly, clear, and cooling; 



