Cogan likewise makes some interesting statements regarding the effects of custom on the consumption of proteid food, especially meats. Quoting further from this author: “The fourth thing that is to be considered in meats is custome. Which is of such force in man’s bodie both in sicknesse and in health, that it countervaileth nature itselfe, and is therefore called of Galen in sundry places, an other nature. Whereof he giveth a notable example, where he sheweth that an olde woman of Athens used a long time, to eate Hemlocke (which is a ranke poison) first a little quantitie, and afterwarde more, till at length she could eate so much without hurt as would presently poison another.... So that custome in processe of time may alter nature.” Finally, we may quote one last saying of Cogan’s, because of the good sense and wisdom displayed in the sentiment, as true to-day as when it was written more than three hundred years ago: “Neither is it good for any man that is in perfect health, to observe any custome in dyet precisely, as Arnoldus teacheth upon the same verses in these wordes: Every man should so order himselfe, that he might be able to suffer heate and cold, and all motions, and meats necessary, so as he might change the houres of sleeping and waking, and his dwelling and lodging without harme: which thing may be done if we be not too precise in keeping custome, but otherwise use things unwonted. Which sentence of Arnoldus agraeth verie well to that of Cornelius Celsus: He that is sound and in good health, and at libertie, should bind himselfe to no rules of dyet. To need neither Phisition or Chirurgion, he must use a diverse order of life, and be sometimes in the countrie, sometime in the towne, sometimes hunt, and sometime hawke. But some man may demand of me how this may agree with that saying of the scholar of Salernus ‘if you would be free from physicians, let these three be your physician, a cheerful mind, rest, and a moderate diet.’ Whereunto I answer, that a moderate dyet is alwaies good, but not a precise dyet: for a moderate diet is, as Terence speaketh in Andria: To take nothing too much: which alwaies is to be observed. But if a man accustome himselfe to such meats and drinks as at length will breed some inconvenience in his bodie, or to sleepe or to watch, or any other thing concerning the order of his life, such custome must naedes be amended and changed, yet with good discretion, and not upon the sudden: because sudden changes bring harme and weaknesse, as Hippocrates teacheth. He therefore that will alter any custome in dyet rightly, must do it with three conditions, which are expressed by Hippocrates. Change is profitable, if it be rightly used, that is, if it be done in the time of health, and at leisure, and not upon the sudden.”