other ends. Therefore to correct and
avoid these errors and inconveniences, our divines, physicians, and
politicians, so much labour, and so seriously exhort; and for this disease
in particular, [3217]"there can be no better cure than continual business,"
as Rhasis holds, "to have some employment or other, which may set their
mind awork, and distract their cogitations." Riches may not easily be had
without labour and industry, nor learning without study, neither can our
health be preserved without bodily exercise. If it be of the body,
Guianerius allows that exercise which is gentle, [3218]"and still after
those ordinary frications" which must be used every morning. Montaltus,
_cap. 26._ and Jason Pratensis use almost the same words, highly commending
exercise if it be moderate; "a wonderful help so used," Crato calls it,"
and a great means to preserve our health, as adding strength to the whole
body, increasing natural heat, by means of which the nutriment is well
concocted in the stomach, liver, and veins, few or no crudities left, is
happily distributed over all the body." Besides, it expels excrements by
sweat and other insensible vapours; insomuch, that [3219]Galen prefers
exercise before all physic, rectification of diet, or any regimen in what
kind soever; 'tis nature's physician. [3220]Fulgentius, out of Gordonius
_de conserv. vit. hom. lib. 1. cap. 7._ terms exercise, "a spur of a dull,
sleepy nature, the comforter of the members, cure of infirmity, death of
diseases, destruction of all mischiefs and vices." The fittest time for
exercise is a little before dinner, a little before supper, [3221]or at any
time when the body is empty. Montanus, _consil. 31._ prescribes it every
morning to his patient, and that, as [3222]Calenus adds, "after he hath
done his ordinary needs, rubbed his body, washed his hands and face, combed
his head and gargarised." What kind of exercise he should use, Galen tells
us, _lib. 2. et 3. de sanit. tuend._ and in what measure, [3223] "till the
body be ready to sweat," and roused up; _ad ruborem_, some say, _non ad
sudorem_, lest it should dry the body too much; others enjoin those
wholesome businesses, as to dig so long in his garden, to hold the plough,
and the like. Some prescribe frequent and violent labour and exercises, as
sawing every day so long together (_epid. 6._ Hippocrates confounds them),
but that is in some cases, to some peculiar men; [3224]the most forbid, and
by no means wi