CENTURY I. 39 



out, and doth not draw more to it ; for it is a gentle 

 fomentation, and hath withal a mixture, though 

 very little, of some stupefactive. The plaister is a 

 moderate astringent plaister, which repelleth new 

 humour from falling. The poultis alone would make 

 the part more soft and weak, and apter to take the 

 defluxion and impression of the humour. The 

 fomentation alone, if it were too weak, without way 

 made by the poultis, would draw forth little ; if too 

 strong, it would draw to the part, as well as draw 

 from it. The plaister alone would pen the humour 

 already contained in the part, and so exasperate it, 

 as well as forbid new humour. Therefore they must 

 be all taken in order, as is said. The poultis is to 

 be laid to for two or three hours : the fomentation 

 for a quarter of an hour, or somewhat better, being 

 used hot, and seven or eight times repeated : the 

 plaister to continue on still, till the part be well 

 confirmed. 



Experiment solitary touching cure by custom. 

 61. There is a secret way of cure, unpractised, 

 by assuetude of that which in itself hurteth. 

 Poisons have been made, by some, familiar, as hath 

 been said. Ordinary keepers of the sick of the 

 plague are seldom infected. Enduring of tortures, 

 by custom, hath been made more easy : the brooking 

 of enormous quantity of meats, and so of wine or 

 strong drink, hath been, by custom, made to be with 

 out surfeit or drunkenness. And generally, diseases 

 that are chronical, as coughs, phthisics, some kinds 



