LEECH BOOK. TT. 223 



Of tlie cold and inoist natnred \vainl>. Tho avjuuIi I'-coK II. 



wliich is of a cold or inoist iiatnie or caprice; on ilic 



man cometli disease of tlio ]»raiu and loss of his senses; 



and when the desiccated nature is upon the sinews 



and on the l)ones, so that they are dried up, then 



they cannot be cured. Then if this dryne^ss be more 



within on the fleshy parts, one may cure that witli change 



of residence, and wettings, and meats, as long as from 



the liver the blood gushes through the whole body. 



The l)est leechdoni for such tilings is, that a man 



should frequently make use of pitch, and strike the 



wamb with it, when it is warmed ; and baths of rain 



water, and newly milked milk, softened with honey, is 



good for tlie patient. Let him bathe himself frequently 



in the day, and at whiles smear himself with oil. It 



is also helpful to him that a fat child should sleep by 



him, and that he should put it always near his wamb. 



Oven baked bread also helpeth him, and sliell fishes 



in liquor, and (let him eat) the meat which will readily 



digest. Of the hot and dry wamb, if the diseased 



wamb be somewhat hot, besides, for the dryness ; 



then shall the ixdicnt not taste of honey, but old wine 



and lukewarm meats. If the evil humour be too 



mickle, then are good for liim cold water, and sharp 



meats without lieat. At whiles the humours be on 



the membranes of the wamb ; then shall a man wisely 



seek into that, and warily cleanse them with aloes, 



and draw out the turbid humours with such purging 



drinks : first clear the vjamh Avith them, and then 



work light emetic drinks of radish, as leeches ken 



how to do it. Of venery: to all dry constitutions 



venery is not beneficial ; but most to dry and cold 



ones ; it harmeth not hot and wet ones ; it is worst 



for the cold moist ones and them which have 



disorder of the gastric juices. To sucli men it is of 



benefit that they should seek to themselves exercise, 



and should dose themselves, without bath, and with 



