Prognosticon

prepares for us this year, and to explain briefly how one must provide against them. Galen writes that humors obtain the cause of increase and diminution according to the disposition of the time of the year, both because of the question of a similar thing and because of the dissimilarity of the season. And it is no wonder. For in things that have a symbol, the transition becomes easier, as Aristotle is the author in the second book of De generatione et corruptione original: "pigeneos", and Avicenna in the second of the first Canon concerning the signs of complexions. But indeed, since I perceive easily that the planet of the eclipse is wonderfully glowing and raging this year, I cannot but augur that this itself will bring us the most vehement heats. Hence, continuous fever, frenzy, cases of tertian fever, daily fever, vomiting, ophthalmia, pain of the ears, ulceration of the mouth, erysipelas, sweating, and many, and that kind of disease, will be prowling everywhere. Let us therefore insist with sharp study and apply the efforts of medicine diligently, so that we may more easily succor wretched mortals. It is indeed possible for a physician, as Galen wisely mentions in the first book of the Prognostics, to precede and resist all these things that happen, just like a wise pilot of a ship who fears the force of the sea's commotion over him. Nor is this a wonder. Since the art of medicine, by itself and in the first reason, as it is famously written by Haly Rodohan and Trufiano, the commentator on the third book of the Microtechne, judges the cause of disease only by accident and in the second reason of health. Since, however, regimen in preserving health is primarily commended and praised by every school of physics. Hence that principle of Avicenna in the fourth of the first: "Not every repletion," he says, "nor every malice of complexion, is treated by its medical contrary by means of evacuation and opposition; rather, often the goodness of regimen is sufficient for us." For this reason, this treatment is proved by Rhazes original: "Errafi" and Damascenus in the Aphorisms to be more excellent and more effective than all others. And not without cause. If an error in the six non-natural things does more harm, as Serapion testifies in the fifth of Practica, then the aid of pharmacy becomes [useful]. Therefore, we will explain in a few words what food and drink should primarily be used. We warn, therefore, those especially in whom the heat of choler is feared, that they should diligently avoid all those things by which yellow bile is easily excited and generated. For all things similar to the disease, with Duchio as author, who indeed is brought in by Galen on the Aphorisms in testimony of this matter, makes it rage and glow (for then it aids the stomach), if Avenzoar original: "Auençoar", to whom the glory of medicine is owed in great part, has written correctly. We also frequently admit in prepared pottages cold vegetables, such as lettuce, spinach, pumpkin, purslane, chicory, endive, sorrel, beet, and orach, a type of herb. But beets and orach, so that the stomach may not be harmed, if Avicenna