it almost of no other physic,
deriding in the mean time Hippocrates, Galen, and all their followers: but
magic, and all such remedies I have already censured, and shall speak of
chemistry [2846]elsewhere. Astrology is required by many famous physicians,
by Ficinus, Crato, Fernelius; [2847]doubted of, and exploded by others: I
will not take upon me to decide the controversy myself, Johannes Hossurtus,
Thomas Boderius, and Maginus in the preface to his mathematical physic,
shall determine for me. Many physicians explode astrology in physic (saith
he), there is no use of it, _unam artem ac quasi temerarium insectantur, ac
gloriam sibi ab ejus imperitia, aucupari_: but I will reprove physicians by
physicians, that defend and profess it, Hippocrates, Galen, Avicen. &c.,
that count them butchers without it, _homicidas medicos Astrologiae
ignaros_, &c. Paracelsus goes farther, and will have his physician
[2848]predestinated to this man's cure, this malady; and time of cure, the
scheme of each geniture inspected, gathering of herbs, of administering
astrologically observed; in which Thurnesserus and some iatromathematical
professors, are too superstitious in my judgment. [2849]"Hellebore will
help, but not alway, not given by every physician," &c. but these men are
too peremptory and self-conceited as I think. But what do I do, interposing
in that which is beyond my reach? A blind man cannot judge of colours, nor
I peradventure of these things. Only thus much I would require, honesty in
every physician, that he be not over-careless or covetous, harpy-like to
make a prey of his patient; _Carnificis namque est_ (as [2850]Wecker notes)
_inter ipsos cruciatus ingens precium exposcere_, as a hungry chirurgeon
often produces and wire-draws his cure, so long as there is any hope of
pay, _Non missura cutem, nisi plena cruoris hirudo._ [2851]Many of them, to
get a fee, will give physic to every one that comes, when there is no
cause, and they do so _irritare silentem morbum_, as [2852]Heurnius
complains, stir up a silent disease, as it often falleth out, which by good
counsel, good advice alone, might have been happily composed, or by
rectification of those six non-natural things otherwise cured. This is
_Naturae bellum inferre_, to oppugn nature, and to make a strong body weak.
Arnoldus in his 8 and 11 Aphorisms gives cautions against, and expressly
forbiddeth it. [2853]"A wise physician will not give physic, but upon
necessity, and first