er good cures, we must begin with diet, as a matter of most
moment, able oftentimes of itself to work this effect. I have read, saith
Laurentius, _cap. 8. de Melanch_. that in old diseases which have gotten
the upper hand or a habit, the manner of living is to more purpose, than
whatsoever can be drawn out of the most precious boxes of the apothecaries.
This diet, as I have said, is not only in choice of meat and drink, but of
all those other non-natural things. Let air be clear and moist most part:
diet moistening, of good juice, easy of digestion, and not windy: drink
clear, and well brewed, not too strong, nor too small. "Make a melancholy
man fat," as [4244]Rhasis saith, "and thou hast finished the cure."
Exercise not too remiss, nor too violent. Sleep a little more than
ordinary. [4245]Excrements daily to be voided by art or nature; and which
Fernelius enjoins his patient, _consil. 44_, above the rest, to avoid all
passions and perturbations of the mind. Let him not be alone or idle (in
any kind of melancholy), but still accompanied with such friends and
familiars he most affects, neatly dressed, washed, and combed, according to
his ability at least, in clean sweet linen, spruce, handsome, decent, and
good apparel; for nothing sooner dejects a man than want, squalor, and
nastiness, foul, or old clothes out of fashion. Concerning the medicinal
part, he that will satisfy himself at large (in this precedent of diet) and
see all at once the whole cure and manner of it in every distinct species,
let him consult with Gordonius, Valescus, with Prosper Calenius, _lib. de
atra bile ad Card._ Caesium, Laurentius, _cap. 8. et 9. de mela._ Aelian
Montaltus, _de mel. cap. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30._ Donat. ab Altomari, _cap. 7.
artis med_. Hercules de Saxonia, _in Panth. cap. 7. et Tract. ejus
peculiar. de melan. per Bolzetam, edit. Venetiis 1620. cap. 17. 18. 19._
Savanarola, _Rub. 82. Tract. 8. cap. 1._ Sckenkius, _in prax. curat. Ital.
med_. Heurnius, _cap. 12. de morb_. Victorius Faventius, _pract. Magn. et
Empir_. Hildesheim, _Spicel. 2. de man. et mel._ Fel. Plater, Stockerus,
Bruel. P. Baverus, Forestus, Fuchsius, Capivaccius, Rondoletius, Jason
Pratensis, Sullust. Salvian. _de remed. lib. 2. cap. 1._ Jacchinus, _in 9.
Rhasis_, Lod. Mercatus, _de Inter. morb. cur. lib. 1. cap. 17._ Alexan.
Messaria, _pract. med. lib. 1. cap. 21. de mel_. Piso. Hollerius, &c. that
have culled out of those old Greeks, Arabians, and Latins, whatsoever