ot eat until he is over-full,
and does not suffer from constipation, he is not liable to
disease. Even such men, however, are much safer if they do not
take food that may disagree with them.

15. Whoever gives himself up to inactivity, or puts off
evacuations of the bowels, or suffers from constipation, will
be sure to suffer from many diseases and will see his strength
disappear even should he eat the best food in the world and
make use of all the remedies that physicians have. Immoderate
eating is a poison for men and the cause of many diseases
which attack them. Most diseases come from either eating too
much or partaking of unsuitable food. That was what Solomon
meant with his proverb: "He who puts a guard over his mouth
and his tongue protects himself from many evils," that is to
say, whoever protects his mouth from the overindulgence in
food and his tongue from unsuitable speech protects himself
from many evils.

16. Every week at least a man should take a warm bath. One
should not bathe when hungry, nor after eating until the food
is digested, and bathe the whole body in warm but not too hot
water and the head in hot water. Afterwards the body should be
washed in lukewarm and cool water until finally cold water is
used. One should pour neither cold nor even lukewarm water on
the head, nor bathe in cold water in the winter time, nor when
the body is tired and in perspiration. At such times the bath
should be put off for a while.

17. As soon as one leaves the bath one should cover oneself,
and especially cover the head, so that no draught may strike
it. Even in summer, care must be taken to observe this rule.
After this one should rest for a while until the heat of the
body passes off and then should go to table. If one could
sleep a little just before a meal it is often very beneficial.
Neither during the bath nor immediately after it should cold
water be drunk, and if there is an inappeasable thirst a
little wine and water or water and honey should be taken. In
winter it is beneficial to rub the body with oil after the
bath.

18. Venesection should not be practised frequently, for it is
only meant for serious illness. It should not be permitted in
winter or summer, nor during the months of April or September
(