He was a voluminous writer.[170] His _Greek Surgical Books_[171] contain valuable extracts from the Greek writers on medicine and surgery not before published. Amongst other writings may be distinguished his _Treatise on the Use of Cold Baths by the Ancients_.[172] The treatise which gives him a place in this work was published at Florence under the title of _The Pythagorean Diet: for the Use of the Medical Faculty_.[173] Dr. Cocchi begins his little treatise with a eulogy and defence of the great reformer of Samos, and of his radical revolution in food. He cites the Greek and Latin writers, and especially the earlier Roman Laws, the Fannian and the Licinian. He proceeds:-- “True and constant vigour of body is the effect of health, which is much better preserved with watery, herbaceous, frugal, and tender food, than with _vinous_, abundant, hard, and gross flesh (_che col carneo vinoso ed unto abundante e duro_). And in a sound body, a clear intelligence, and desire to suppress the mischievous inclinations (_voglie dannose_), and to conquer the irrational passions, produces true worth.” Cocchi cites the examples of the Greeks and of the Romans as proof that the non-flesh diet does not diminish courage or strength:-- “The vulgar opinion, then, which, on health reasons, condemns vegetable food and so much praises animal food, being so ill-founded, I have always thought it well to oppose myself to it, moved both by experience and by that refined knowledge of natural things which some study and conversation with great men have given me. And perceiving now that such my constancy has been honoured by some learned and wise physicians with their authoritative adhesion (_della autorevole sequela_), I have thought it my duty publicly to diffuse the reasons of the Pythagorean diet, regarded as useful in medicine, and, at the same time, as full of innocence, of temperance, and of health. And it is none the less accompanied with a certain delicate pleasure, and also with a refined and splendid luxury (_non è privo nemmeno d’una certa delicate voluttà e d’un lusso gentile e splendido ancora_), if care and skill be applied in selection and proper supply of the best vegetable food, to which the fertility and the natural character of our beautiful country seem to invite us. For my part I have been so much the more induced to take up this subject, because I have persuaded myself that I might be of service to intending diet-reformers, there not being, to my knowledge, any book of which this is the sole subject, and which undertakes exactly to explain the origin and the reasons of it.” His special motive to the publication of his treatise, however, was to vindicate the claims of the reformer of Samos upon the gratitude of men:--