Observations Divine and Moral, Chapter 32
CHAP. XXXII. Of Health, and Phisick.
HEalth is the greatest bodily blessing, which God bestows upon any in this life: yet is it one of the least regarded: partly by reason of its commonnes to al sorts of people, poore and rich, fools and wise, the vilest and most excellent otherwise: partly, for that it is a naturall good thing, which we bring, for the most part, into the world with us, and so oftens preserv, without any sensible change: And accordingly, we see, that no man is the more honoured for his health; which can scarse be sayd of any other good thing whatsoever. The benefit of this most sweet sause of al other goods is scarslyPlutarch. discerned by them that enjoy it, till sicknes come: for then not onelyonly Orpheus his song, but much more our own experience teacheth us, that nothing is avaylable to men without health: neyther riches, nor honour, nor the greatest delights for belly, or back, which the earth can affoard. This blessing therefore, where it is, may be set alone against many other wants: and God acknowledged to deal graciously with us in bestowing it, though with the want of many other outward good things: which though others enjoy, yet without it, they want the comfortable use of them; & have lesse joy of their lives by far, then we by it, without them.
The best rule in physick is to preserv health by the use of things wholesome, and eschewing what is noxious, and hurtfull, either in matter, or manner, or measure: and that betimes, and before distempers have taken too deep root, or that the strength of nature be too much impayred by the inordinate appetites, and licentiousnes of unadvised youth. We say in the proverb, At fortie years every man is either a fool, or a physition. But because most are fools so long before, & that in their best years, it is too late for them to become physitions at this age; & the after years are constreyned to bear the manifold infirmities, & diseases which are owing to inordinat youth. And a happy thing it were, considering how few young folks will regard, or beleev these things, till they be taught them by miserable experience, that wise parents, and governers would so shew their care over their children, pupils, and servants; that where they cannot disswade the affection, they might yet prevent the using of those unwholesom, & hurtful youth-banes, unto which inordinate appetite carryes young folk headlong.
I have marvailed oft at the aversnes of many, specially of the meaner sort, from physick, in time of sicknes: but more at their unreasonable choyse of physitions, when they use it. How ordinarie a thing is it with a number, that if but theyr horse, or cow be sick, or but in danger; they will let them blood, or get them a mash; or run to a leach for them? who yet for themselvs, or their nearest freinds will neyther seek, nor willingly be perswaded to use the counsail, or help of a physitian. The reasons hereof I conceav to be, eyther, for that men are prone, and ready to perswade themselvs, and to be perswaded by their freinds, that they shall do wel enough without such helps, and that manie times out of a superstitious presumption of Gods speciall help, where mans is neglected: or, on the contrary, when they are heartlesse, and dispair of good thereby. But yet more strange is the choyse which many make, when they use means. For though in all other courses, men seek for such, as are most skilfull; yet in this they are not onelyonly more readie to beleev any that professeth himself a physition, then of any other facultie; Pliny.but also chuse rayther to trust theyr bodyes, and lives in the hands of ignorant Empericks, men or women, then of the most expert, and learned physitions that are. Which I speak not, as esteeming the counsayl, or help of the meanest to be neglected, specially where eyther the more skilfull cannot wel be come by, or that the danger is not great: But for that all things are to be done reasonably, and for the best advantaging and likelihood of good, that may be. The causes of this are on the Empericks part; that they are more officious about their patients; the other being many tymes supercilious, and neglective of meaner persons: Secondly, that they are more bold boasters of their own doings then the other, whose learning makes them modest: Thirdly, their affoarding their counsail, and pains at a cheaper rate then the other do; who verie likelily, and as experience teacheth in other countries) if they would descend to that rule of equitie in other cases, (A penny-worth for a penny) would finde, that lighter gayns comming thicker, would make heavier purses. Fourthly, their administring of medicines usually lesse offensive, and loathsome unto nature: which, it may be, the others skill, and care (if custome made not men lesse compassionate then they should be,) might much correct: though it can not be denyed, that by Gods providence, and for mans sin, the most wholesom things eyther naturally, or morally, are bitter, and unpleasing. On the patients part this aryseth commonly, 1. from a suspition, least they being mean, and playn persons should eyther be overreached, or neglected by the learned. 2. From envy, which the learneds arrogancy also oftens occasioneth. 3. From an ambitious desire in them, to advance those of their own order; as of old, the citizens of Rome would have the cheif officers, even the Consuls, and Dictatours created, Livy.and chosen out of their rank. And lastly, for that, if any cure be, or seem to be wrought by them, which want art, men are therein ready to conceav of a special divine assistance, and helping hand of God.
One speciall use of a skilfull artist is to discerne aright of the varietie of circumstances that fall in. Simple men and women have many times the same medicines, or simples, at least, with the most skilful doctours: But wanting art, and skil to temper, and apply them, according to the diversitie of the estates of patients, and varietie of accidents within, and without the sick, they eyther profit not; or hurt one way, what they profit an other. To which purpose it was wittily answered of the physition, who having prescribed a medicine to his patient, and thereby cured him; and being asked by him afterwards, why the same medicine, which the same person, falling into the same disease again, took himself, did not avayl him, as before; that the reason was, because he (the physition) gave it him not. Neyther is the use greater of the skilfull in this consideration, then of the experienced.
Physitians (sayth one, and truely) have this advantage Antoninusabove them of other professions; that the sun beholds their cures, and the earth covers their faylings. They that dy under their hands, or by their default, are past complayning of them: they that recover and survive, though, sometimes, by the benefit of nature alone, under Gods providence, will repute, and report them the means of their recovery. Which consideration makes not the honest, and conscionable the more secure; but the more carefull of their account to be given unto God, from whose eyes nothing is covered.