they can purge fantastical imaginations and the devil by physic.  Another caution is, that they proceed upon good grounds, if so be there be need of physic, and not mistake the disease; they are often deceived by the [2855]similitude of symptoms, saith Heurnius, and I could give instance in many consultations, wherein they have prescribed opposite physic.  Sometimes they go too perfunctorily to work, in not prescribing a just [2856]course of physic:  To stir up the humour, and not to purge it, doth often more harm than good.  Montanus consil. 30. inveighs against such perturbations, “that purge to the halves, tire nature, and molest the body to no purpose.”  ’Tis a crabbed humour to purge, and as Laurentius calls this disease, the reproach of physicians:  Bessardus, flagellum medicorum, their lash; and for that cause, more carefully to be respected.  Though the patient be averse, saith Laurentius, desire help, and refuse it again, though he neglect his own health, it behoves a good physician not to leave him helpless.  But most part they offend in that other extreme, they prescribe too much physic, and tire out their bodies with continual potions, to no purpose.  Aetius tetrabib. 2. 2. ser. cap. 90. will have them by all means therefore [2857]"to give some respite to nature,” to leave off now and then; and Laelius a Fonte Eugubinus in his consultations, found it (as he there witnesseth) often verified by experience, [2858]"that after a deal of physic to no purpose, left to themselves, they have recovered.”  ’Tis that which Nic.  Piso, Donatus Altomarus, still inculcate, dare requiem naturae, to give nature rest.

SUBSECT.  II.—­Concerning the Patient.

When these precedent cautions are accurately kept, and that we have now got a skilful, an honest physician to our mind, if his patient will not be conformable, and content to be ruled by him, all his endeavours will come to no good end.  Many things are necessarily to be observed and continued on the patient’s behalf:  First that he be not too niggardly miserable of his purse, or think it too much he bestows upon himself, and to save charges endanger his health.  The Abderites, when they sent for [2859]Hippocrates, promised him what reward he would, [2860]"all the gold they had, if all the city were gold he should have it.”  Naaman the Syrian, when he went into Israel to Elisha to be cured of his leprosy, took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment, (2 Kings v. 5.) Another thing is, that out of bashfulness he do not conceal his grief; if aught trouble his mind, let him freely disclose it, Stultorum incurata pudor malus ulcera celat:  by that means he procures to himself much mischief, and runs into a greater inconvenience:  he must be willing to be cured, and earnestly desire it. Pars sanitatis velle sanare fuit, (Seneca).  ’Tis a part of his cure to wish his own health, and not to defer it too long.