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Consil. 230. for an Italian Abbot, he makes it one of the greatest reasons, why this disease is so incurable, because the parties are so restless, and impatient, and will therefore have him that intends to be eased, to take physick, not for a moneth, a year, but to apply himself to their prescriptions all the dayes of his life.
Last of all, it is required that the patient be not too bold to practice upon himself, without an approved physicians consent, or to try conclusions, if he read a receipt in a book; for so, many grosly mistake, and do themselves more harme then good. That which is conducing to one man, in one case, the same time is opposite to another.
An Asse and a Mule were laden over a brook, the one with salt, the other with wool: the Mules packe was wet by chance, the salt melted, his burden the lighter, and he thereby much eased: He told the Asse, who thinking to speed as well, wet his packe likewise at the next water, but it was much the heavier, he quite tired. So one thing may be good and bad to severall parties, upon divers occasions.
Many things (saith Penottus) are written in our books, which seem to the Reader to be excellent remedies, but they that make use of them, are often deceived, and take for Physick poyson. I remember in Valeriola’s observations, a story of one John Baptist a Neopolitan, that finding by chance a pamphlet in Italian, written in praise of Hellebor, would needs adventure on himself, and tooke one dram for one scruple, and had not he been sent for, the poor fellow had poysoned himself.
From whence he concludes out of Damascenus 2. & 3. Aphoris. that without exquisite knowledge, to work out of books is most dangerous: how unsavorie a thing it is to beleeve Writers, and take upon trust, as this patient perceived by his own perill. I could recite such another example of mine own knowledge, of a friend of mine, that finding a receipt in Brassivola, would needs take Hellebor in substance, and try it on his own person; but had not some of his familiars come to visit him by chance, he had by his indiscretion hazarded himself: many such I have observed.
These are those ordinary cautions, which I should think fit to be noted, and he that shall keep them, as Montanus saith, shall surely be much eased, if not throughly cured.