L I B . I V. Of the Advancement ofL earning. 129 



ture of drinks, as is of parts very tenuious and fubtil , and yet with- 

 out all acrimony or tartnefs. Reparation is clone by Aliments , and Ali- 

 mentation is promoted four ways; By theConco&ion of the invcardPartt 

 for the fending forth of the nourilhment 5 asm Confortatives of the 

 Principal Bowels '■> by Excitation of the outvpard parts^ for the attrafti- 

 on of nourifliment^as in due exercifes and frications 5 and Come kind of 

 Unftions and appropriate Baths-^^by preparation of the Aliment itfelf-^ that 

 it may more eafily infinuate it felf , and in a fort anticipate Digeftions, 

 as in divers and artificial kinds ofjeafoning meat^ minglingdrinl^^^ leaven' 

 ing breads and reducing the virtues of all thefe three into one 5 by com- 

 forting^ the laft aft of AJjimiUtion, as in feafonable feep^ and outward 

 or Topick^ Applications : the Renovation of that which began to wax old, 

 is performed two ways, either by inteneration of the habit of the body 

 it felf, as in the ufe of fuppling or foftning applications by Baths , em- 

 plaifters and unftions, of fuch quality as may foak or infinuate into the 

 parts, but not extract from it 5 or by expurgation of the old moijiure, 

 andjiibJiitHtion of new moiftttre^ as in feafonable and often purging j let- 

 ting of blood 3 attenuating Diets, which reftore the Flower of the 

 Body, andfo much for Indications. 



^ As for Precepts, although many of them may be deduced from the 

 Indications, yet we thought good to fet down three of the moft prin- 

 cipal. Firji, we give in Precept that the Prolongation of Life, muft be 

 expefted from a prefcript (et Diet, rather than from any familiar regi- 

 ment of Food, or the excellency of particular Receipts ; for whatfo- 

 ever are of Cnch virtue, as they are able to make nature retrograde, are 

 commonly more ftrong and potent to alter, than that they can be com- 

 pounded together in any Medicine , much lefs be intermingled in fa- 

 miliar food. It remainQherefore that fuch Receipts be adminiftred 

 regularly, and fucceflively, and at fet appointed times, returning itr 

 certain courfes; 



^ Our fecond Precept is, that the Prolongation of life be expe&ed, ra^ 

 ther from working upon fpirits, and from a malacijfation or inteneration 

 of Parts, than from any kinds of Aliment or order of Diet. For feeing 

 the Body of Man, and. the Frame thereof (leaving afide outward ac- 

 cidents_) three ways becomes Paffive , namely, frem the fpirits 3 front 

 the parts -y and from aliments 5 the way oi prolongation of life, by mean? 

 of aliment is a long way about , and that by many ambages and cir- 

 cuits ; but the ways by working upon the fpirits, and upon the parts, 

 are more compendious , and fboner brings us to the end defired; be- 

 caufe the fpirits are fuddenly moved , both from vapours and pafH- 

 ons, which work ftrangely upon them : and the Parts, by Baths, Un- 

 guents, Emplaifters , which in like manner make way by fudden im- 

 preffions. 



(j Our third Precept is, that Malacijfation or inteneration of Parts by 

 outward Topickj, muji be performed by applications Conftibjiantial , Pene- 

 trating, and Stringent. Confubftantials are willingly entertained with 

 a kindly imbrace, and properly intenerate and fupple. Penetrating 

 and infinuating remedies are theDeferents, as it were, of Malaciflant 

 and mollifying qualities, and convey more eafily and impreffedly the 

 virtue thereof, and do themfelves (bmewhat expand and open the 

 Parts. ReHringents keep in the virtue of them both, and for a time 



R fix 



