There are three sorts of people you must not let draw blood; first ignorant and inexperienced persons.  Secondly, those who have bad sight and trembling hands, whether skilful or unskilled.  For when the hand trembles, the lance is apt to start from the vein, and the flesh be thereby damaged, which may hurt, canker, and very much torment the patient.  Thirdly, let no woman bleed, but such as have gone through a course of midwifery at college, for those who are unskilful may cut an artery, to the great damage of the patient.  Besides, what is still worse, those pretended bleeders, who take it up at their own hand, generally keep unedged and rusty lancets, which prove hurtful, even in a skilful hand.  Accordingly you ought to be cautious in choosing your physician; a man of learning knows what vein to open for each disorder; he knows how much blood to take as soon as he sees the patient, and he can give you suitable advice concerning your disorder.

* * * * *

PART III

ARISTOTLE’S BOOK OF PROBLEMS

WITH OTHER

ASTROMER, ASTROLOGERS AND

PHYSICIANS,

CONCERNING

THE STATE OF MAN’S BODY.

Q. Among all living creatures, why hath man only his countenance lifted up towards Heaven.  A. 1.  From the will of the Creator.  But although this answer be true, yet it seemeth not to be of force, because that so all questions might be easily resolved.  Therefore, 2.  I answer that, for the most part, every workman doth make his first work worse, and then his second better! so God creating all other animals before man gave them their face looking down to the earth; and then secondly he created man, unto whom he gave an upright shape, lifted unto heaven, because it is drawn from divinity, and it is derived from the goodness of God, who maketh all his works both perfect and good. 3.  Man only, among all living creatures, is ordained to the kingdom of heaven, and therefore hath his face elevated and lifted up to heaven, because that despising earthly and worldly things, he ought often to contemplate on heavenly things. 4.  That the reasonable man is like unto angels, and finally ordained towards God; and therefore he hath a figure looking upward. 5.  Man is a microcosm, that is, a little world, and therefore he doth command all other living creatures and they obey him. 6.  Naturally there is unto everything and every work, that form and figure given which is fit and proper for its motion; as unto the heavens, roundness, to the fire a pyramidical form, that is, broad beneath and sharp towards the top, which form is most apt to ascend; and so man has his face towards heaven to behold the wonders of God’s works.