The giving then of cold medicines to a man in his natural temper, the season of the year also being but moderately hot, extinguishes natural heat in the body of man.
Yet have these a necessary use in them too, though not so frequent as hot medicines have; and that may be the reason why an all wise God hath furnished us with far more hot herbs and plants, &c. than cold.
Use 1. Their use is first, in nourishment, that so the heat of food may be qualified, and made for a weak stomach to digest.
Use 2. Secondly, To restrain and assuage the heat of the bowels, and to cool the blood in fevers.
Therefore if the distemper of heat be but gentle, medicines cold in the first degree will suffice; also children, and such people whose stomachs are weak, are easily hurt by cold medicines.
Of Medicines cold in the second and third degree.
Use 1. Such whose stomachs are strong, and livers hot, may easily bear such medicines as are cold in the second degree, and in cases of extremity find much help by them: as also by such as are cold in the third degree, the extremity of the disease considered, for by both these the unbridled heat of choler is assuaged.
Use 2. Also they are outwardly applied to hot swellings, due consideration being had, that if the inflammation be not great, use those that are less; if the inflammation be vehement, make use of medicines cold in the second or third degree, always let the remedy correspond to the just proportion of the affliction.
Use 3. Thirdly, Sometimes the spirits are moved inordinately through heat, thence follows immoderate watchings, if not deprivation of the senses, this also must be remedied with cold medicines, for cold stops the pores of the skin, makes the humours thick, represses sweat, and keeps up the spirits from fainting.