of the stomach concur with them. Wind is common
to all three species, and is not excluded, only that
of the hypochondries is [2628]more windy than the rest,
saith Hollerius. Aetius
tetrab. l. 2, sc.
2, c. 9 and 10, maintains the same, [2629]if there
be more signs, and more evident in the head than elsewhere,
the brain is primarily affected, and prescribes head-melancholy
to be cured by meats amongst the rest, void of wind,
and good juice, not excluding wind, or corrupt blood,
even in head-melancholy itself: but these species
are often confounded, and so are their symptoms, as
I have already proved. The symptoms of the mind
are superfluous and continual cogitations; [2630]"for
when the head is heated, it scorcheth the blood, and
from thence proceed melancholy fumes, which trouble
the mind,” Avicenna. They are very choleric,
and soon hot, solitary, sad, often silent, watchful,
discontent, Montaltus,
cap. 24. If anything
trouble them, they cannot sleep, but fret themselves
still, till another object mitigate, or time wear it
out. They have grievous passions, and immoderate
perturbations of the mind, fear, sorrow, &c., yet
not so continuate, but that they are sometimes merry,
apt to profuse laughter, which is more to be wondered
at, and that by the authority of [2631]Galen himself,
by reason of mixture of blood,
praerubri jocosis
delectantur, et irrisores plerumque sunt, if they
be ruddy, they are delighted in jests, and oftentimes
scoffers themselves, conceited: and as Rodericus
a Vega comments on that place of Galen, merry, witty,
of a pleasant disposition, and yet grievously melancholy
anon after:
omnia discunt sine doctore,
saith Aretus, they learn without a teacher: and
as [2632]Laurentius supposeth, those feral passions
and symptoms of such as think themselves glass, pitchers,
feathers, &c., speak strange languages,
a colore
cerebri (if it be in excess) from the brain’s
distempered heat.
SUBSECT. II.—Symptoms of windy
Hypochondriacal Melancholy.
“In this hypochondriacal or flatuous melancholy,
the symptoms are so ambiguous,” saith [2633]Crato
in a counsel of his for a noblewoman, “that
the most exquisite physicians cannot determine of the
part affected.” Matthew Flaccius, consulted
about a noble matron, confessed as much, that in this
malady he with Hollerius, Fracastorius, Falopius, and
others, being to give their sentence of a party labouring
of hypochondriacal melancholy, could not find out
by the symptoms which part was most especially affected;
some said the womb, some heart, some stomach, &c.,
and therefore Crato, consil. 24. lib. 1. boldly
avers, that in this diversity of symptoms, which commonly
accompany this disease, [2634]"no physician can truly
say what part is affected.” Galen lib.
3. de loc. affect., reckons up these ordinary
symptoms, which all the Neoterics repeat of Diocles;
only this fault he finds with him, that he puts not
fear and sorrow amongst the other signs. Trincavelius