CHAPTER I.
Of Medicines appropriated to the head.
By [head] is usually understood all that part of the body which is between the top of the crown, and the uppermost joint of the neck, yet are those medicines properly called Cephalical, which are appropriated to the brain, not to the eyes, ears, nor teeth; neither are those medicines which are proper to the ears, proper also to the eyes, therefore (my intent being to write as plain as I can) I shall subdivide this chapter into these parts.
Medicines appropriated
- 1. To the brain.
- 2. To the eyes.
- 3. To the mouth, and nostrils.
- 4. To the ears.
- 5. To the teeth.
For what medicines are appropriated to an unruly tongue, is not in my power at present to determine.
Of Medicines appropriated to the brain.
Before we treat of medicines appropriated to the brain, it is requisite that we describe what the nature and affection of the brain is.
The brain which is the seat of apprehension, judgment, and memory, the original of sense and motion, is by nature temperate, and if so, then you will grant me that it may easily be afflicted both by heat and cold, and it is indeed more subject to affliction by either of them, than any other part of the body, for if it be afflicted by heat, sense and reason, it is immoderately moved, if by cold, they languish, and are dulled, to pass by other symptoms which invade the head, if the brain be altered from its proper temper.
Also this is peculiar to the brain, that it is delighted or offended by smells, sights, and sounds, but I shall meddle no further with these here, because they are not medicines.