finer parts, and leaving the mass of humours more stubborn than before.

We judge it proper to take a dose of chalybeate wine, or decoction, three or four times a year; to dissolve the more stubborn obstructions; provided it be each time preceded by two or three spoonfuls of new drawn oil of sweet almonds, and followed by due motion of the body; especially of the arms and belly.

Sweet liquors, made with a mixture of some fat substance, have a great and capital efficacy to prevent dryness, parchedness, and saltness of the liver; and preserve it in a youthful state; especially if they are well incorporated by age. Thus, in particular, wines and drinks made of new raisins, jujebs, figs, dates, parsnips, pistachios, the bulbous roots, as potatoes, &c. sometimes with a mixture of liquorish; and again, drinks made with maiz, or Indian corn, are of great service. And the intention of preserving the liver in a certain soft and balmy state, is of much greater efficacy than that which regards the opening of it; which rather tends to health than the prolongation of life only such obstructions as cause parchedness of the liver, are as destructive as other kinds of dryness.

The roots of succory, spinage, and beet, separated from their pith, and boiled tender in water,

with a third part of white wine, are serviceably eat along with oil and vinegar, in the way of sauce at meals; so likewise are asparagus, artichoak-bottoms, and burdock-roots, properly boiled, and served up in the same manner and again, in the spring-time, pottage made with vine-buds, and the green blades of wheat. And so much for preserving the liver.

The heart receives the greatest relief and prejudice, 1. from the air we breath; 2. from odours and vapours; and, 3. from the passions of the mind. And, in this respect, many of the partieulars above noted of the spirits, may be applied here. But as for the indigested heap of cordials, to be found among the writers on medicine, they are of little service in this intention; only such as have an antidotal virtue may be used, with judgment and discretion, for strengthening the powers of the heart; especially such as do not so much oppose the peculiar nature of poisons, as fortify and preserve the heart and spirits against them. And for particular cordials, the table of them, above drawn up, may be consulted.*

A wholesome air for habitation, is better discovered by experience than by signs: but we judge that of open plains, or champaign coun

* See Sect. VII.

tries, to be the best; where the soil is dry, not parched or sandy, but spontaneously grows wild thyme, and wild marjoram; with up and down some tufts or sprinklings of calamint ; and which is not otherwise bare, but interspersed with trees for shade; and where also the dog-rose smells somewhat aromatic. As for rivers, we conceive them rather prejudicial; unless very small, clear, and gravelly bottomed.

It is certain that the morning air is more vital and refreshing than that of the evening; though the latter be coveted more through delicacy. And we judge the air agitated with breezes, to be more healthy than that which is serene and still. The western breezes seem wholesomest in the morning, but in the afternoon the northern.

Odours are very effectual in reviving the heart. But a good odour is no property of a good air; for some airs are found to be perfectly pestilential, though of a less disagreeable scent than others more innocent; in like manner, conversely, there are wholesome airs, and very agreeable to the spirits, yet either absolutely inodorous, or less fragrant and grateful to the sense. And those who live in a good air, should only make use of odours at certain intervals; because a continued odour, though ever so excellent, proves somewhat oppressive to the spirits.

And for this purpose we recommend, before all others, the odours of plants and vegetables, uncropt and growing, to be received in the open air; as from blooming violets, pinks, and julyflowers, bean-flowers, lime-tree-blossoms, honey-suckles, yellow wall-flower, musk-roses, which yield their smell more copiously on the bush than other roses; dying strawberry-beds, sweet-briar, calamint, lavender in flower: and, in hot countries, oranges, citrons, myrtle, and bays. And therefore to walk, or sit sometimes in the atmospheres of these vegetables, will be of use.

For recreating the heart, we prefer cooling odours to such as are heating; and therefore recommend as excellent, and to be used in the morning, or during the noonday-heat, a certain perfume or vapour, made by throwing a mixture of equal parts of vinegar, rose-water, and good wine, upon a hot iron plate. And the same intention might be answered by pouring fragrant wine into a hole made in good fresh earth, and stirring the moistened mould about with a spade. It is likewise excellent, now and then, to smell at, or snuff up the nostrils, orange-flower-water, mixed with a moderate proportion of rose-water, and fragrant wine.

Masticatories held almost continually in the mouth, composed of such things as cherish the

spirits, are exceeding useful. And to supply the want of the famous Indian betel, little troches may be made of orrice-root, lignum aloes, lignum rhodium, roses, musk, and ambergris; the mass being beat up with rose-water, and a little Indian balsam.

The vapours arising from things taken internally, for strengthening and fortifying the heart, should be benigu, clear, and cooling; for heat in vapours is bad and wine itself, though thought to have only a heating vapour, is not without some opiate virtue. By clear vapours we understand, such as have more of real or aqueous vapour than of fume or exhalation; without at all participating of smokiness, sootiness, or greasiness; but being purely moist and uniform.

From an unwieldy heap of cordials we may select a few, fit to be made a part of diet: and what may supply the place of all the rest, are, for the purpose of warming; ambergris, saffron, and kermes-berries; and for cooling, the roots of bugloss, and borage, as also citrons, lemons, and apples.

We have, above, spoke of gold and pearls, which taken in the manner there prescribed, may, besides their action in the finer vessels, have also some effect upon the viscera in their passage; and cool without any noxious quality.