h do not steal away some of our strength,
and rob the parts of our body, weaken nature, and cause that cacochymia,"
which [4106]Celsus and others observe, or ill digestion, and bad juice
through all the parts of it. Galen himself confesseth, [4107]"that
purgative physic is contrary to nature, takes away some of our best
spirits, and consumes the very substance of our bodies:" But this, without
question, is to be understood of such purges as are unseasonably or
immoderately taken: they have their excellent use in this, as well as most
other infirmities. Of alteratives and cordials no man doubts, be they
simples or compounds. I will amongst that infinite variety of medicines,
which I find in every pharmacopoeia, every physician, herbalist, &c.,
single out some of the chiefest.

SUBSECT. II.--_Simples proper to Melancholy, against Exotic Simples_.

Medicines properly applied to melancholy, are either simple or compound.
Simples are alterative or purgative. Alteratives are such as correct,
strengthen nature, alter, any way hinder or resist the disease; and they be
herbs, stones, minerals, &c. all proper to this humour. For as there be
diverse distinct infirmities continually vexing us,

[4108] "[Greek: nousoi d' anthropoisi eph aemerae aed' epi nukti
automatoi phoitosi kaka thnaetoisi pherousai
sigae, epei phonaen aexeileto maetieta zeus.]"

"Diseases steal both day and night on men,
For Jupiter hath taken voice from them."

So there be several remedies, as [4109]he saith, "each disease a medicine,
for every humour;" and as some hold, every clime, every country, and more
than that, every private place hath his proper remedies growing in it,
peculiar almost to the domineering and most frequent maladies of it, As
[4110]one discourseth, "wormwood grows sparingly in Italy, because most
part there they be misaffected with hot diseases: but henbane, poppy, and
such cold herbs: with us in Germany and Poland, great store of it in every
waste." Baracellus _Horto geniali_, and Baptista Porta _Physiognomicae,
lib. 6. cap. 23_, give many instances and examples of it, and bring many
other proofs. For that cause belike that learned Fuchsius of Nuremberg,
[4111]"when he came into a village, considered always what herbs did grow
most frequently about it, and those he distilled in a silver alembic,
making use of others amongst them as occasion served." I know that many are
of opinion, our northern simple