try medicinal diet, before he proceed to medicinal
cure." [2854]In another place he laughs those men to scorn, that think
_longis syrupis expugnare daemones et animi phantasmata_, they can purge
fantastical imaginations and the devil by physic. Another caution is, that
they proceed upon good grounds, if so be there be need of physic, and not
mistake the disease; they are often deceived by the [2855]similitude of
symptoms, saith Heurnius, and I could give instance in many consultations,
wherein they have prescribed opposite physic. Sometimes they go too
perfunctorily to work, in not prescribing a just [2856]course of physic: To
stir up the humour, and not to purge it, doth often more harm than good.
Montanus _consil. 30._ inveighs against such perturbations, "that purge to
the halves, tire nature, and molest the body to no purpose." 'Tis a crabbed
humour to purge, and as Laurentius calls this disease, the reproach of
physicians: _Bessardus, flagellum medicorum_, their lash; and for that
cause, more carefully to be respected. Though the patient be averse, saith
Laurentius, desire help, and refuse it again, though he neglect his own
health, it behoves a good physician not to leave him helpless. But most
part they offend in that other extreme, they prescribe too much physic, and
tire out their bodies with continual potions, to no purpose. Aetius
_tetrabib. 2. 2. ser. cap. 90._ will have them by all means therefore
[2857]"to give some respite to nature," to leave off now and then; and
Laelius a Fonte Eugubinus in his consultations, found it (as he there
witnesseth) often verified by experience, [2858]"that after a deal of
physic to no purpose, left to themselves, they have recovered." 'Tis that
which Nic. Piso, Donatus Altomarus, still inculcate, _dare requiem
naturae_, to give nature rest.

SUBSECT. II.--_Concerning the Patient_.

When these precedent cautions are accurately kept, and that we have now got
a skilful, an honest physician to our mind, if his patient will not be
conformable, and content to be ruled by him, all his endeavours will come
to no good end. Many things are necessarily to be observed and continued on
the patient's behalf: First that he be not too niggardly miserable of his
purse, or think it too much he bestows upon himself, and to save charges
endanger his health. The Abderites, when they sent for [2859]Hippocrates,
promised him what reward he would, [2860]"all the gold they had, if all the
city we