d some in the same case by intermission of it." Not use of it hurts many,
Arculanus, _c. 6. in 9. Rhasis, et Magninus, part. 3. cap. 5_, think,
because it [1481]"sends up poisoned vapours to the brain and heart." And so
doth Galen himself hold, "That if this natural seed be over-long kept (in
some parties) it turns to poison." Hieronymus Mercurialis, in his chapter
of melancholy, cites it for an especial cause of this malady,
[1482]priapismus, satyriasis, &c. Haliabbas, _5. Theor. c. 36_, reckons up
this and many other diseases. Villanovanus _Breviar. l. 1. c. 18_, saith,
"He knew [1483]many monks and widows grievously troubled with melancholy,
and that from this sole cause." [1484]Ludovicus Mercatus, _l. 2. de
mulierum affect. cap. 4_, and Rodericus a Castro, _de morbis mulier. l. 2.
c. 3_, treat largely of this subject, and will have it produce a peculiar
kind of melancholy in stale maids, nuns, and widows, _Ob suppressionem
mensium et venerem omissam, timidae, moestae anxiae, verecundae,
suspicioscae, languentes, consilii inopes, cum summa vitae et rerum
meliorum desperatione_, &c., they are melancholy in the highest degree, and
all for want of husbands. Aelianus Montaltus, _cap. 37. de melanchol._,
confirms as much out of Galen; so doth Wierus, Christophorus a Vega _de
art. med. lib. 3. c. 14_, relates many such examples of men and women, that
he had seen so melancholy. Felix Plater in the first book of his
Observations, [1485]"tells a story of an ancient gentleman in Alsatia, that
married a young wife, and was not able to pay his debts in that kind for a
long time together, by reason of his several infirmities: but she, because
of this inhibition of Venus, fell into a horrible fury, and desired every
one that came to see her, by words, looks, and gestures, to have to do with
her," &c. [1486]Bernardus Paternus, a physician, saith, "He knew a good
honest godly priest, that because he would neither willingly marry, nor
make use of the stews, fell into grievous melancholy fits." Hildesheim,
_spicel. 2_, hath such another example of an Italian melancholy priest, in
a consultation had _Anno_ 1580. Jason Pratensis gives instance in a married
man, that from his wife's death abstaining, [1487]"after marriage, became
exceedingly melancholy," Rodericus a Fonseca in a young man so misaffected,
_Tom. 2. consult. 85._ To these you may add, if you please, that conceited
tale of a Jew, so visited in like sort, and so cured, out of Pog