The conclusion at which Galen arrives with regard to venereal exercises is that they have a tendency to render the body drier, colder, and weaker, and that these bad effects are to be counteracted by things of a bracing, heating, and strengthening nature. Averrhoes says, venery, in a word, induces the following evils: dryness of the body, effeminacy, imbecility, exhaustion, and at the same time prostration; therefore, the friction which is had recourse to after it, ought to remove the inconveniences occasioned by it. This should be much and rough friction, and be performed with oil. According to Avicenna, excessive indulgence breaks down the powers of the constitution, and superinduces either a cold intemperament or hectic fever. Abstinence, on the other hand, by those who had been in the habit of indulgence, is said to bring on heaviness of the head and diseases of the joints and testicles. In this case, he recommends rue, and various other articles, which were supposed by the ancients to be possessed of anti-aphrodisiacal properties. Cicuta, according to Pliny, produces this effect. Alsaharavius forbids coition when the body is either reduced by abstinence or overloaded with too much food and drink. The proper season for it, he says, is after sleep, when digestion is accomplished, and towards morning. It is prejudicial, he says, in very hot seasons, and to persons of a dry intemperament. Rhases, like our author, says that moderate indulgence removes plethora, lightens the mind, and cures sorrow. According to Haly Abbas, the most proper time for enjoyment is after digestion, and when the food has descended into the stomach. If performed before sleep, he says, there is most chance of impregnation. Abstinence, when one had become habituated to the act, he says, weakens the natural heat, hurts the breast, stomach, and liver, induces coldness of the body, and renders it dry, sluggish, and enervated. Excess, on the other hand, brings on premature old age and consumption. It will be remarked that our author and Alsaharavius differ in opinion as to the best season for partaking of the δωῤ ἐρατὰ χρυσῆς Αφροδίτῆς. See a learned disquisition on this and other similar matters in the ‘Symposiacon’ of Plutarch. Pliny says of it “medetur et lumborum dolori, oculorum hebetationi, mente captis, ac melancholicis.” (H. N. xxviii, 16.) SECT. XXXVI.—ON IMPOTENCE. In cases of impotence, it may be proper to rub the parts frequently with an ointment containing a small part of the root of the narcissus, or the seed of the thymelæa, or pellitory, or stavesacre, or the seed of the nettle, or of anise. Let them also before their meals take a drink with pepper, or satyrium, or rocket, or bastard saffron, or all together. Before food, let him also eat the small red bulbi roasted, with salt and oil, or a little of the squill dried in the sun. They may also use the compound preparations elsewhere described, and often indulge in obscene reading.