Leechdoms, wortcunning, and starcraft of early England. Being a ...

LEECH BOOK. II. 245
these most often come of meats and of cold drinks, Uook ir.
such as are cold oysters, and apples, and various worts,
chiefly in summer, when one partaketh of such. Bathing
is harmful to them who are splenitic, chiefly after
meat, and copulation following on surfeit. The unmeasured
heat of the milt cometh from fevers and
from the swealing or burning of fever, and in old age
from corruption of the blood. The milt is extended
and distended with swelling, and also hot air and hot
weather bring disease upon the milt ; when the man
becometh too much heated. So it is also in winter,
for the cold aud for the variableness of the Aveather,
that the milt becometh corrupted. We next treat that
wise men may understand whence the disease cometh
by bad weather, and from partaking of unholesome
meats and drinks, and through these things the evil
humours and windy things are produced in the milt,
and diseases wax titerein.
xxxvi.
We noio
xxxvii.
explain how one must apply leechdoms to
the man, within and without, with hot and cold treatments;
within, with lettuce, and clote, and gourd; let
him drink them in wine ;
let him also bathe himself
in sweet water. Without, he is to be leeched and
smeared with oil of roses, and with onlayings or
pioultices onade of wine and grapes, and often must
an onlay be wrought of butter, and of new wax,
and of hyssop, and of oil ; mingle with goose grease or
lard of swine, and with frankincense, and mint; and
when he bathes let him smear himself with oil ; mingle
it with saffron. Meats which work out good blood are
beneficial for him ; such as are shell fishes,^ and those
that have fins,^ and domestic and wild hens,^ and all
'
Not iu the Greek.
[
- Wild hens arc pheasants.