44 NATURAL HISTORY. 



to have the orifice of the wound stopped by mens 

 thumbs, succeeding one another, for the space at the 

 least of two days ; and at the last the blood by cus 

 tom only retired. There is a fifth way also in use, 

 to let blood in an adverse part, for a revulsion. 



Experiment solitary touching change of aliments and 

 medicines. 



67. It helpeth, both in medicine and aliment, to 

 change and not to continue the same medicine and 

 aliment still. The cause is, for that nature, by con 

 tinual use of any thing, groweth to a satiety and 

 dullness, either of appetite or working. And we see 

 that assuetude of things hurtful doth make them lose 

 their force to hurt ; as poison, which with use some 

 have brought themselves to brook. And therefore it 

 is no marvel, though things helpful by custom lose 

 their force to help : I count intermission almost the 

 same thing with change ; for that, that hath been 

 intermitted, is after a sort new. 



Experiment solitary touching diets. 



68. It is found by experience, that in diets of 

 guaiacum, sarza, and the like, especially if they be 

 strict, the patient is more troubled in the beginning 

 than after continuance ; which hath made some of 

 the more delicate sort of patients give them over in 

 the midst ; supposing that if those diets trouble 

 them so much at first, they shall not be able to 

 endure them to the end. But the cause is, for that all 

 those diets to dry up humours, rheums, and the like ; 



