The Art of Physick
Section B. Of the 6 Non-Naturals
7. Of the Passions of the Mind (Emotions)

D. Of all the things not Natural, which belong to the preservation of Health, there only remain those which Latins call Perturbations of the Mind. I desire thee to explain what and how many they are, and whether they be wholesome or no? C. The Passions are Motions of the Mind, Violent, and contrary to right Reason, which cause an alteration in the Body, because of the extraordinary force of the Native Heat acting together with the Spirit [Qi] and Blood, both without and within. There are four Principle Passions; two arising from an Opinion of a good object, as Gladness, or Joy and Desire; and as many out of an apprehension of a Bad object, as Sadness and Fear. Anger and Shame are added; but the first being a burning Desire of Revenge, is referred to Desire, as the latter may be said to relate to Fear.     The two first sorts of Passion, if they be moderate, are wholesome, otherwise pernicious: For many pusilanimous Persons have expired through immoderate Joy, as the writings of several Authors testify; but all the rest are hurtful; for many have died through vehement and sudden Grief: at what time a weak little Soul being oppressed by a strong Affection, was presently extinct, and suffocated, while all the Blood was violently carried away to make an inundation upon its first Original. Thus Pliny relates, that P. Rutilius, hearing the News of his Brothers Repulse upon his putting in for the Consulship, presently expired. Thus upon the 16th of August 1619, Monteler, a Noble young Gentleman of Tours, and Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Ments, through extraordinary Grief fell down suddenly dead, as he was talking in the Street: His Body being opened, all his Bowels appeared to be sound, only we observed his Pericardium to be full not only of Water, but a great quantity of thick Blood, which upon some vehement motion foregoing, the Heart being contracted through extreme Grief had made its way though the two Lappets, and suddenly suffocated the Principles of Life, whence followed sudden Death. Through Fear also the Spirits and Blood are drawn back to their first Fountain, whence it comes to pass, that the Parts wax cold, the Countenance grows pale, the Body quivers, Utterance fails, and the force and strength of the whole Frames grows weak and faint. On the other side, in Anger the motion if the Natural Heat is more vehement, which at length throws itself forth with violence into the outmost parts. From whence the Countenance becomes red, and the whole Body being warm, becomes more bold, and ready to put it self forth into danger. In Shame both the inner and outer Parts suffer; because the Heat first flies to the inner Parts, and them throws it self forth again. Seeing then the force of the Perturbations of the Mind is so great it behoves the Physician to correct or expel them by all the Art imaginable. Previous: Of the Excrements Next: Of Things Preter-Natural – Introduction

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The Art Of Physick
Section A.
OF THE 7 NATURALS
(Physiology)
Introduction to the 7 Naturals
1. Elements
2. Temperaments
3. Parts
4. Humors
5. Spirits
6. Faculties
7. Actions
Section B.
OF THE 6 NOT-NATURALS
(Preservation of Health)
Introduction to the 6 Not-Naturals
1. Ambient Air
2. Food and Drink
3. Sleep and Waking
4a. Exercise &
4b. Rest
5. Excrements
6. Emotions (Passions of the Mind)
Section C.
OF THE 3 PRETER-NATURALS
(Pathology)
1. Diseases
2. Causes
3a. Symptoms &
3b. Signs