398 HISTORY OF 



the body of a man are nutritives; fat fleshes of oxen, swine, 

 deer, oysters amongst fishes, milk, butter, yolks of eggs, 

 flower of wheat, sweet wine, either sugared, or before it be 

 fined. 



18. Such things as we would have mixed to make im 

 pression, are instead of all salts, especially baysalt : also 

 wine (when it is full of spirit) maketh entrance, and is an 

 excellent convoy. 



19. Astringents of that kind which we described, namely, 

 unctuous and comfortable things, are saffron, mastick, 

 myrrhe, and myrtle-berries. 



20. Of these parts, in our judgment, may very well be 

 made such a bath as we design : physicians and posterity 

 will find out better things hereafter. 



21. But the operation will be much better, and more 

 powerful, if such a bath as we have propounded (which 

 we hold to be the principal matter) be attended with a 

 fourfold course and order. 



22. First, that there go before the bath a frication of 

 the body, and an anointing with oil, with some thickening 

 substance, that the virtue and moistening heat of the bath 

 may pierce the body, and not the watery part of the liquor, 

 then let the bath follow, for the space of some two hours. 

 After the bath, let the body be emplastered with mastick, 

 myrrhe, tragacanth, diapalma, and saffron, that the perspi 

 ration of the body may (as much as is possible) be inhibited, 

 till the supple matter be by degrees turned into solid. 

 This to be continued for the space of twenty-four hours, or 

 more. Lastly, the emplastering being removed, let there 

 be an anointing with oil mixed with salt and saffron, and 

 let this bath, together with the emplastering and unction 

 (as before), be renewed every fifth day. This malacissation, 

 or supplying of the body, be continued for one whole 

 month. 



23. Also during the time of this malacissation, we hold 

 it useful and proper, and according to our intention, that 

 men nourish their bodies well, and keep out of the cold air, 

 and drink nothing but warm drink. 



24. Now this is one of those things (as we warned in 

 general in the beginning) whereof we have made no trial by 

 experiment, but only set it down out of our aiming and level 

 ing at the end. For having set up the mark, we deliver 

 the light to others. 



25. Neither ought the warmths and cherishing of living 

 bodies to be neglected. Ficinus saith, and that seriously 





