122 Of the Advancement of Learning, L i b. IV, 



cle, than in progreffion. For I find mnch Iteration bntfrnall Addition in 

 Writers of that Faculty. 



II. We will divide it into three Parts, which we will call the three 

 Duties thereof; The fi'rji is Confervation of Healthy fecond the Cure of Dif- 

 eafes -, the third Prolongation of Life. 



§ But for this laft duty, Phylicians feem not to have acknowledg'd it 

 as any principal part of their Art 5 but have (ignorantly enough) 

 mingled and confounded it as one and the fame with the other two. For 

 they fuppofe, that if Difeafes be repelled before they fcize upon the 

 bodyi or be cured after they have furpriz'd the body ; that Prolonga' 

 Hon of Life muft naturally follow. Which though it be fo, without 

 all queftionjyet they do not fo exactly confiderjthat thefe two offices of 

 Conjervation and Curation^ only pertain to Difeafes 5 and to fuch PrO' 

 longation of Life alone, which is abbreviated and intercepted by Dif- 

 eafts ; But to draw out the thread of Life^ and to prorogue Death for a 

 feafon, which filently fteals upon us by natural refolutiouj and the A- 

 trophy of Age ; is an argument, that no Phyfician hath handled it ac- 

 Fatura, cording to the Merit of the fubjed. Neither let that fcruple trouble the 

 h'"% - ^'"^^ rf Men^ asiftf»sthing committedtothe difpenfation of Fate, and 

 ma. * the divine providince , vpere now by usfirfi repealed and commended to the 

 charge and office of Art. For without doubt Providence doth difpofe 

 and determine all kind of deaths whatfoever , whether they come of 

 violence, or from Difeafes, or from the courfe of Age ^ and yet doth 

 not therefore exclude Preventions and Remedies : For Art and humane 

 induftry do not command and rule Fate, and Nature ; but lerve and 

 adminifter unto them, ^nt of this part we (hall fpeak anon: Thus 

 much in the mean time by way of anticipation, left any fhould unskil- 

 fully confound this third office of medicine, with the two former, which 

 ufually hitherto hath been done. 



§ As for the duty of prefervation of Health, the firft duty of the three, 

 many have written thereof, as in other points very impertinently, fo 

 (in our judgment) in this particular 5 in attributing too much to the 

 quality of meats, and too little to the quantity thereof; and in the quan- 

 tity it felf, they have dilcourfed like Moral Philofophers, exceffively 

 praifing Mediocrity j whereas hothfafling changed to cuftome, and fuU 

 feeding, to which a man hath inured himlelf, are better regiments of 

 health, than thofe Mediocrities which commonly enervate Nature, and 

 make her flothful, and impatient, if need fhould be, of any extremity, 

 excefs, or indigence. And for the divers kinds of Exercife, which much 

 conduce to the cenfervation of health, none of that profeffion hath well 

 diftinguilht orobferved, whereas there is hardly found any difpofitioa 

 to a di(ea(e, which may not be corrected by Ibme kind of exercife pro- 

 per to fuch an infirmity : As bowling is good againft the weaknels of 

 the Reins ; (hooting againft the obftruftion of the Lungs ; walking and 

 upright deport of the Body, againft the Crudities of the ftomach , and 

 for other difeafes other exercitations. But feeing this part touching 

 the confervation of health ^hzxh been in every point after a fort handled, 

 it is not our purpofe to purfue lefTer deficiencies. 



HI. As concerning the cures of Difeafes j that is a Part of Medicine, 

 whereon much labour hath been beftovved, but with fmall profit. It 

 comprchendeth in it the k>' owl edge of Difeafes, to which mans body is 



fubjeft 



