SUBSEC. 2. Of the part affected. Affection. Parties affected.

Some difference I finde amongst Writers, about the principal part affected in this disease, whether it be the Brain, or Heart, or some other Member. Most are of opinion that it is the Brain: for being a kinde of Dotage, it cannot otherwise be, but that the Brain must be affected, as a similar part, be it by consent or essence, not in his ventricles, or any obstructions in them, for then it would be an Apoplexie, or Epilepsie, as Laurentius well observes,

but in a cold dry distemperature of it in his substance, which is corrupt and become too cold, or too dry, or else too hot, as in mad-men, and such as are inclined to it: and this Hippocrates confirms. Galen, Arabians, and most of our new Writers.

Marcus de Oddis (in a consultation of his, quoted by Hildesheim) and five others there cited are of the contrary part, because fear and sorrow, which are passions, be seated in the Heart. But this objection is sufficiently answered by Montaltus, who doth not deny that the heart is affected (as Melanelius, proves out of Galen) by reason of his vicinity; and so is the midriffe and many other parts: They do compati, & have a fellow-feeling by the Law of nature:

but for as much as this malady is caused by precedent Imagination, with the Appetite, to whom spirits obey, and are subject to those principal parts: the Brain must needs primarily be misaffected, as the seat of Reason; and then the Heart, as the seat of Affection.

Capivaccius and Mercurialis have copiously discussed this question, and both conclude the subject is the inner Brain, and from thence it is communicated to the Heart, and other inferior parts, which sympathize and are much troubled, especially when it comes by consent, and is caused by reason of the Stomack; or myrache, as the Arabians terme it, whole body, Liver, or Spleen, which are seldome free, Pylorus, Meseraick veines, &c.

For our body is like a Clock, if one wheele be amisse, all the rest are disordered, the whole fabrick suffers: with such admirable art and harmony is a man composed, such excellent proportion, as Lodovicus Vives in his Fable of man hath elegantly declared.

As many doubts almost arise about the Affection: whether it be Imagination or Reason alone, or both. Hercules de Saxonia proves it out of Galen, Ætius, and Altomarus, that the sole fault is in Imagination. Bruel is of the same minde: Montaltus in his 2. cap. of Melancholy, confutes this tenent of theirs, and illustrates the contrary by many examples:

as of him that thought himself a shel-fish; of a Nun, and of a desperate Monk that would not be perswaded but that he was damned; reason was in fault as well as Imagination, which did not correct this error; they make away themselves oftentimes, and suppose many absurd & ridiculous things. Why doth not Reason detect the Fallacy, settle and perswade, if she be free?

Avicenna therefore holds both corrupt, to whom most Arabians subscribe. The same is maintained by Areteus, Gorgonius, Guianerius, &c. To end the controversie, no man doubts of Imagination, but that it is hurt and misaffected here; for the other I determine with Albertinus Bottonus a Dr of Padua; that it is first in Imagination, and afterwards in reason; if the disease be inveterate, or as it is more or less of continuance:

but by accident, as Herc. de Saxonia adds; faith, opinion, discourse, ratiocination, are all accidentally depraved by the default of imagination.

To the part affected, I may here adde the parties, which shall be more opportunely spoken of elsewhere, now only signified. Such as have the Moone, Saturne, Mercury misaffected in their genitures, such as live in over-cold, or over-hot Climes: such as are born of melancholy parents: as offend in those six non-natural things, are black, or of an high sanguine complexion, that have little heads, that have a hot heart, moist Brain; hot Liver and cold stomack, have been long sick:

such as are solitary by nature, great Students, given to much contemplation, lead a life out of action, or most subject to melancholy. Of sexes both, but men more often; yet women misaffected are far more violent, and grievously troubled. Of seasons of the year, the Autumne is most melancholy.

Of peculiar times; old age, from which natural Melancholy is almost an inseparable accident; but this artificial Malady is more frequent in such as are of a middle age. Some assigne 40 years, Gariopontus 30. Iubertus excepts neither young nor old from this adventitious. Daniel Sennertus involves all of all sorts, out of common experience, in omnibus omnino Corporibus cujuscunq; constitutionis dominatur.

Ætius, and Aretius, ascribe into the number not only discontented, passionate, and miserable persons, swarthy, black; but such as are most merry and pleasant, scoffers, and high coloured. Generally, saith Rhasis, the finest wits, and most generous spirits, are before other obnoxious to it;

I cannot except any complexion, any condition, sexe, or age, but fools and Stoicks, which according to Synesius, are never troubled with any manner of passion, but as Anacreons cicada sine sanguine & dolore, similes ferè diis sunt.

Erasmus vindicates fools from this Melancholy Catalogue, because they have most part moist brains, and light hearts, they are free from ambition, envy, shame and fear, they are neither troubled in conscience, nor macerated with cares, to which our whole life is most Subject.