Bacon, Francis - Sylva sylvarum : or, a natural history in ten centuries

As for the Brain, where the Seat and Court of the Animal spirits is kept, thoſe things
1140. which were inquired before touching Opium, and Nitre, and the Subor dinates to them
both, alſo touching the procuring of placid ſleep, may likewiſe be referred hither. This
alſo is moſt certain, that the Brain is in ſome ſort in the cuſtody of the Stomach; and
therefore thoſe things which comfort and ſtrengthen the Stomach do help the Brain
by conſent, and may no leſs be transferred hither. We will adde a few Obſervations,
three Outward, one Inward.

We would have bathing of the Feet to be often uſed, at leaſt once in a week; and
2241. the Bath to be made of Lye with Bay-ſalt, and a little Sage, chamomile, Fennel, Sweet-
marjoram, and Pepper-wort, with the leaves of Angellica green.

We commend alſo a Fume or Suffumigation every morning of dried Roſemary, Bay-
3342. leaves dried, and Lignum-Aloes: for all ſweet Gums oppreſs the head.

Eſpecially care muſt be taken that no bot things be applied to the Head outwardly;
4443. ſuch are all kind of Spices, the very Nutmeg not excepted: for thoſe hot things we
debaſe them to the ſoles of the Feet, and would have them applied there onely; but a
light anointing of the Head with Oil, mixed with Roſes, Myrtle, and a little Salt and Saf-
fron, we much commend.

Not forgetting thoſe things which we have before delivered touching Opiates, Nitre,
5544. and the like, which ſo much condenſe the spirits; we think it not impertinent to that
effect, that once in fourteen days Broth be taken in the morning with three or four grains
of Caſtoreum, and a little Angelica-ſeed, and Calamus, which both fortifie the Brain, and
in that aforeſaid denſity of the ſubſtance of the ſpirits, (ſo neceſſary to long life) adde
alſo a vivacity of motion and vigour to them.

In handling the Comforters of the four principal Bewels, we have propounded thoſe
6645. things which are both proper and choice, and may ſafely and conveniently be tranſ-
ferred into Diets and Regiment of Life: for variety of Medicines is the Daughter of
Ignorance; and it is not more true, that many Diſhes have cauſed many Diſeaſes, as the
Proverb is, than this is true, that many Medicines have cauſed few Cures. And touch-
ing the Operation upon the principal Bowels for their Extruſion of Aliment, thus
much.

The Operation upon the Outward Parts for their
Attraction of Aliment. 6.

The Hiſtory.

ALthough a good Concoction perſormed by the Inward Parts be the principal to-
771. wards a perfect Alimentation; yet the Actions of the Outward Parts ought
alſo to concur; that like as the Inward Faculty ſendeth forth and extrudeth the
Aliment, ſo the Faculty of the Outward Parts may call forth and attract the ſame: and
the more weak the Faculty of Concoction ſhall be, the more need is there of a concurring
help of the Attractive Faculty.

A ſtrong Attraction of the outward parts is chiefly cauſed by the motion of the Body,
882. by which the parts being heated and comforted, do more chearſully call forth and attract
the Aliment unto themſelves.

But this is moſt of all to be foreſeen and avoided, that the ſame motion and heat which
993. calls the new juice to the members, doth not again deſpoil the member of that juice
wherewith it had been before refreſhed.

Frications uſed in the morning ſerve eſpecially to this Intention: but this muſt
10104. evermore accompany them, that after the Frication the part be lightly anointed with
Oil, leſt the Attrition of the outward parts make them by Perſpiration dry and
juiceleſs.

The next is Exerciſe, (by which the parts confricate and chafe themſelves) ſo it
11115.

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