ON THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH AND MORALS 
79 
(or commanded ) ” He most be instructed in arise during the summer season before noon 
are th'^ ^Rdical science, which and about mid-day. Blood during the autumn 
, TTjQc»rTO» • about mid-day, and mid-night. Phlegm 
^ ^ S rv "' ’ during the spring, morning and evening. 
Nine maladies are beyond recovery. All 
root or theory, explication, instruction, and 
lastly, manual operation.” 
Chap. 2d shews how necessary the medical 
art is to the preservation of health and morals, 
and divides the subject into four parts, name- 
ly, theory, explication, instruction, and manual 
operation. From these again are 8 ramifica- 
tions, 1st, the cure of the whole body ; 2d, par- 
ticular desires common to children ; 3d, to wo- 
man ; 4th, the cure of diseases originating in 
the influence of evil spirits ; 5th, wounds by 
knife or spear; 6th, venomous or poisonous 
infections ; 7th, the infirmities, senectude ; 8th, 
the increase of virility in men. 
Chap. 3d contains the theory of the humari 
constitution, illustrated by similes. Thus 3 
roots of the fig tree or trunks, thence 9 stems, 
thence 47 boughs, 224 branches, two blossom^ 
and three fruits. The root is the basis 
of disease, while the stems, branches and 
leaves exemplify a diseased or healthy condi- 
tion. The author distinguishes wind, bile, 
phlegm, with their offices, operations and 
influences. The supports of the body are 
seven on which life itself depends, as chyle, 
blood, flesh, fat, marrow, and semen. The 
excretions are three, odure, urine, and sweat. 
The generating causes of diseases are, lust, 
or ardent desire ; passion or anger ; ignorance 
or dulness. Of these the first causes wind, 
the second bile, the last, phlegm. Accessory 
causes are four. Season with regard to heat 
and cold; evil spirits; abuse of food; and 
the ill conduct of life. The parts of the body 
liable to disease are set down as 6 : the skin, 
flesh, veins, bones, viscera and bowels. There 
are three humours ; phlegm in the brain or 
skull, the place of dulness; bile, in the middle 
of the body, or place of anger: wind, in 
the waist, or loins. Wind operates through 
the bones, ear, skin, heart, arteries and intes- 
tines. Bile exhibits itself through the blood, 
sweat, eyes, liver, bovvels. Phlegm, through 
the chyle, flesh, fat, marrow, semen, odure, 
urine, nose, tongue, lungs, spleen, kidneys, 
stomach and bladder. Wind predominates on 
the diseases of old people ; bile, in youth ; 
and phlegm, in children : the first abiding in 
the cold parts of the system, the second in the 
dry or hot, and the last in the moist or 
unctuous. Diseases from wind commonly 
are classed under two heads. Wind and 
phlegm belong to cold, being of “ natural 
water blood and bile, being of natural fire, 
belong to heat. Worms and serum partake 
of both. 
Chap. 4th on the symptoms of diseases ; 
examination of the tongue and urine ; of the 
pulse; on oral questioning ; on the ascertain- 
ing what pain is felt and what food has been 
used. 
“ If the tongue is red, dry, and rough, it is 
the sign of prevailing wind ; if covered with 
a yellowish white, thick substance, it is 
the sign of bile ; if covered with a dim, white, 
soft, and moist substance, it is the sign of 
phlegm. 
“ With respect to the urine : ifthe urine of 
the patient is bine, clear like spring-water, 
and has much spume or froth, it is the symptom 
of wind ; if yellowish, red and thick, steaming 
or vapouring greatly, and diffusing a smell, it is 
thesign of bile ; if white, with little smell, 
and stpam or vapour, it is the sign of phlegm. 
“ With respect to the pulse : Wlien the 
physician feels the pulse, if beating greatly 
upwards it somewhat stops, (if irregular) it is 
the sign of wind ; a quick full beating is the 
sign of bile ; a sunk, low, and soft beating is 
the sign of phlegm.” 
The questions are 29 in number. 
Chap. 5th means of curing diseases ; 1st, 
with respect to food ; 2d, conduct in life and 
exercise ; 3J, medicaments to be used against 
the three humours. Those against wind are 
of three different tastes ; sweat, sour, and 
.saline : and in their efficacy are unctuous, 
heavy, or soft. Against phlegm, hot, sour, 
and acrid; their efficacy, sharpness, roughness, 
lightness. Against bile, sweet, bitter, and 
nauseous bitter ; efficacy, coolness, thinness, 
and dulness or bluntness. To this follows 
the admixture of medicaments with refer- 
ence to their tastes. 'I'hese are arranged as 
assuaging or depuratory. The specified 
sorts of depuratory medicines, are three ; 
of purging medicaments, four ; of emetics, 
two. Respecting physical, or chirurgical 
operation against wind, there is smearing the 
body with butter, and the cautery after the 
Turkish method. Against bile, phlebotonvy 
and cold water, (or bathing in ditto.) Against 
phlegm warm applications and the cautery. 
Chap. 6th re-capitulates the three last, and 
illustrates the allegory of the fig tree. The 
