380 



THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



moisture, that so they may perform their 

 proper functions. 



Yet although the members be strengthen- 

 ed by drying medicines, ihey have not- 

 withstanding their own proper moisture in 

 them, which ought to be conserved, and not 

 destroyed, for without it they cannot con- 

 sist : If then this moisture be consumed by 

 using, or rather over use of drying medi- j 

 cines, the members can neither be nourish- \ 

 ed, nor yet perform their proper actions. 



Such medicines as are dry in the third 

 degree, being unadvisedly given, hinder \ 

 the parts of the body they are appropriated \ 

 to, of their nourishment, and by that means j 

 brings them into consumption. 



Besides, There is a certain moisture in I 

 the body of man, which is called radical 

 moisture, which being taken away, the parts 

 must needs die, seeing natural heat and life 

 also consists in it, and this may be done by I 

 too frequent use of medicines dry in the? 

 fourth degree : And it may be this was the j 

 reason of Galen's writing, that things dry j 

 in the fourth degree, must of necessity burn ; j 

 which is an effect of heat, and not of dry- j 

 ness, unless by burning, Galen means con- j 

 suming the radical moisture. 



The use then of drying medicines, is only j 

 to such bodies, and parts of the body, as | 

 abound with moisture, in which observe! 

 these rules. 



1. If the moisture be not exteme, let not j 

 the medicine be extremely drying. 



3. Let it be proper to the part of the| 

 body afflicted, for if the liver be afflicted j 

 by moisture, and you go about to dry the | 

 brain or heart, you may sooner kill than \ 

 cure. 



Thus have we briefly spoken of the first | 

 qualities of medicines, and in the general? 

 only, and but briefly, because we shall { 

 always touch upon them in the exposition j 

 of the olher qualities, in which you must \ 

 alwa ys have an eye to these. 



SECTION II. 



Of the appropriation of Medicines to ihc 



several parts of the body. 

 That the qualities and use of these medi- 

 cines may be found out, and understood 

 by every one, and so my country reap the 

 benefit of my labour, they shall find them 

 presented to their view in this order. 

 Medicines appropriated. 



1. To the head. 



2. To the breast and lungs 



3. To the heart. 



4. To the stomach. 



5. To the liver. 



6. To the spleen. 



7. To the reins and bladder. 



8. To the womb. 



9. To the joints. 



CHAPTER I. 



Of Medicines appropriated to the head. 



By [head] is usually understood all that 

 part of the body which is between the top 

 of the crown, and the uppermost joint ot 

 the neck, yet are those medicines properly 

 called Cephalical, which are appropriated 

 to the brain, not to the eyes, ears, nor 

 teeth; neither are those medicines which are 

 proper to the ears, proper also to the eyes, 

 therefore (my intent being to write as plain 

 as I can) I shall subdivide this chapter into 

 these parts. 



Medicines appropriated 



1. To the brain. 



2. To the eyes 



3. To the mouth, and nostrils. 



4. To the ears. 



5. To the teeth. 



For what medicines are appropriated ,lo 

 an unruly tongue, is not in my power ut 

 present to determine. 



