Long Life, Short Art

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To the gymnastic art are attributed the arts of dancing, gladiatorial combat, wrestling, ball games, carriage riding, and frictions, which were also performed in antiquity with a strigil a curved metal tool for scraping the skin. By their benefit, the solid parts are strengthened and fortified, with useless and superfluous juices excluded through greater perspiration. Hence, according to Hippocrates, labor (provided it is not excessive) is the food of the muscles.

§. VI.

The praise of aëreometria measurement of air is not the least. It would be desirable if observers of the Austrian air and the success of perspiration had existed for centuries, so that a very useful path for preventing diseases and understanding epidemics might lie open. For by experience, the proverb was rightly born: The Austrian is either windy or poisonous. For through the more rapid movement of the air, which is wind, harmful effluvia are dispersed, and the air returns to its purity. These inventions provide a general prophylaxis for bodies. Now we must proceed further and inquire a little more carefully into the inventions that serve to heal bodies. O happy, most fertile times for diligent talents!

§. VII.

To begin with the simplest things, the Psychrolusia cold-water therapy of the celebrated Floyer appears: he revealed the effects of the internal and external use of cold water with the greatest praise and most faithful observations to the Anglican Society. His letters are witnesses in various cases. He was followed by the celebrated practitioner of Świdnica, Sigismund Hahn. He calls water to physical examination, explains its gifts so clearly, and declares its use for curing various diseases most appropriately. Now follow

§. VIII.

The discovery of mineral waters. Those that gush out hot are called thermae hot springs; if they leap forth cold and are endowed with mineral principles and heated for external use, they are greeted as balnea baths. Since there is no small number of these in various regions, I think I will do a grateful work for my fellow students if I speak a little more lengthily about them.