there be no notable signs in the
stomach, hypochondries, or elsewhere, _digna_, as [2627] Montaltus terms
them, or of greater note, because oftentimes the passions of the stomach
concur with them. Wind is common to all three species, and is not excluded,
only that of the hypochondries is [2628]more windy than the rest, saith
Hollerius. Aetius _tetrab. l. 2, sc. 2, c. 9 and 10_, maintains the same,
[2629]if there be more signs, and more evident in the head than elsewhere,
the brain is primarily affected, and prescribes head-melancholy to be cured
by meats amongst the rest, void of wind, and good juice, not excluding
wind, or corrupt blood, even in head-melancholy itself: but these species
are often confounded, and so are their symptoms, as I have already proved.
The symptoms of the mind are superfluous and continual cogitations;
[2630]"for when the head is heated, it scorcheth the blood, and from thence
proceed melancholy fumes, which trouble the mind," Avicenna. They are very
choleric, and soon hot, solitary, sad, often silent, watchful, discontent,
Montaltus, _cap. 24._ If anything trouble them, they cannot sleep, but fret
themselves still, till another object mitigate, or time wear it out. They
have grievous passions, and immoderate perturbations of the mind, fear,
sorrow, &c., yet not so continuate, but that they are sometimes merry, apt
to profuse laughter, which is more to be wondered at, and that by the
authority of [2631]Galen himself, by reason of mixture of blood, _praerubri
jocosis delectantur, et irrisores plerumque sunt_, if they be ruddy, they
are delighted in jests, and oftentimes scoffers themselves, conceited: and
as Rodericus a Vega comments on that place of Galen, merry, witty, of a
pleasant disposition, and yet grievously melancholy anon after: _omnia
discunt sine doctore_, saith Aretus, they learn without a teacher: and as
[2632]Laurentius supposeth, those feral passions and symptoms of such as
think themselves glass, pitchers, feathers, &c., speak strange languages,
_a colore cerebri_ (if it be in excess) from the brain's distempered heat.

SUBSECT. II.--_Symptoms of windy Hypochondriacal Melancholy_.

"In this hypochondriacal or flatuous melancholy, the symptoms are so
ambiguous," saith [2633]Crato in a counsel of his for a noblewoman, "that
the most exquisite physicians cannot determine of the part affected."
Matthew Flaccius, consulted about a noble matron, confessed as much, that
in this malad