hotter countries, as _Greece_, where
_Hippocrates_ lived, who first made mention of those dales: Yet in
colder climates, as _England_, and such like Countries, they are of
little or small force at all, and almost not to be regarded any whit,
either in using mild & temperate purgatives, or almost in any other; or
in blood-letting: though very many, or most doe erroniously say and
thinke the contrary. So that (if there be cause) they may as well and
safely then purge, as at any other time: Or, if occasion shall urge, as
in plethoricall bodies, and many other cases, a veine may safely (or
rather most commodiously) be then opened and so much blood taken away,
as the skilfull Physitian shall thinke in his discretion and wisdome to
be needfull and requisite.

Let no man here think, that this is any strange position, or a new
paradoxe (for the learned know the contrary) or that I am studious of
innovation, but rather desirous to roote out an old and inveterate
errour, which in all probabilitie hath cost moe Englishmens lives, then
would furnish a royall army, in neglecting those two greater helpes or
remedies, to wit, Purging, and Blood-letting in hot seasons of the
yeare: which in all likelihood might have saved many of their lives,
while expecting more temperate weather, they have beene summoned in the
meane time, or _interim_ by the messenger of pale death to appeare in an
other world.

Wherefore let all those who are yet living, bee admonished hereafter by
their examples, not obstinately and wilfully to eschue and shunne these
two remedies in hot seasons, and in the time of the Dog-dayes, (much
lesse all other manner of physicall helpes) not once knowing so much as
why, or wherefore, and without any reason at all, following blind and
superstitious tradition, and error, haply first broched by some unworthy
and ignorant Physitian, not rightly understanding _Hippocrates_ his
saving in all likelyhood, or at least wise misapplying it. Which hath
so prevailed in these times, that it hath not onely worne out the use of
purging, but also of all other physicke for that season, because most
people by the name of physicke understanding purging onely, and nothing
else. As though the art and science of Physicke was nothing else, but to
give a potion or purge. Then we rightly and truly might say, _Filia
devor avit matrem_.

But for as much as most people are altogether ignorant of the true
ground or reason, from whence this so dange