office of digestion to the night； which will much better perform it than
the day； when the body and soul are in perpetual moving and action。 Thus
do they juggle and trifle in all their discourses at our expense； and
they could not give me one proposition against which I should not know
how to raise a contrary of equal force。 Let them； then； no longer
exclaim against those who in this trouble of sickness suffer themselves
to be gently guided by their own appetite and the advice of nature； and
commit themselves to the common fortune。
I have seen in my travels almost all the famous baths of Christendom； and
for some years past have begun to make use of them myself： for I look
upon bathing as generally wholesome； and believe that we suffer no little
inconveniences in our health by having left off the custom that was
generally observed； in former times； almost by all nations； and is yet in
many； of bathing every day； and I cannot imagine but that we are much the
worse by； having our limbs crusted and our pores stopped with dirt。 And
as to the drinking of them； fortune has in the first place rendered them
not at all unacceptable to my taste； and secondly； they are natural and
simple； which at least carry no danger with them； though they may do us
no good； of which the infinite crowd of people of all sorts and
complexions who repair thither I take to be a sufficient warranty； and
although I have not there observed any extraordinary and miraculous
effects； but that on the contrary； having more narrowly than ordinary
inquired into it； I have found all the reports of such operations that
have been spread abroad in those places ill…grounded and false； and those
that believe them （as people are willing to be gulled in what they
desire） deceived in them； yet I have seldom known any who have been made
worse by those waters； and a man cannot honestly deny but that they beget
a better appetite； help digestion； and do in some sort revive us； if we
do not go too late and in too weak a condition； which I would dissuade
every one from doing。 They have not the virtue to raise men from
desperate and inveterate diseases； but they may help some light
indisposition； or prevent some threatening alteration。 He who does not
bring along with him so much cheerfulness as to enjoy the pleasure of the
company he will there meet； and of the walks and exercises to which the
amenity of those places invite us； will doubtless lose the best and
surest part of their effect。 For this reason I have hitherto chosen to
go to those of the most pleasant situation； where there was the best
conveniency of lodging； provision； and company； as the baths of Bagneres
in France； those of Plombieres on the frontiers of Germany and Lorraine；
those of Baden in Switzerland； those of Lucca in Tuscany； and especially
those of Della Villa； which I have the most and at various seasons
frequented。
Every nation has particular opinions touching their use； and particular
rules and methods in using them； and all of them； according to what I
have seen； almost with like effect。 Drinking them is not at all received
in Germany； the Germans bathe for all diseases； and will lie dabbling in
the water almost from sun to sun； in Italy； where they drink nine days；
they bathe at least thirty； and commonly drink the water mixed with some
other drugs to make it work the better。 Here we are ordered to walk to
digest it； there we are kept in bed after taking it till it be wrought
off； our stomachs and feet having continually hot cloths applied to them
all the while； and as the Germans have a particular practice generally to
use cupping and scarification in the bath； so the Italians have their
'doccie'； which are certain little streams of this hot water brought
through pipes； and with these bathe an hour in the morning； and as much
in the afternoon； for a month together； either the head； stomach； or any
other part where the evil lies。 There are infinite other varieties of
customs in every country； or rather there is no manner of resemblance to
one another。 By this you may see that this little part of physic to
which I have only submitted； though the least depending upon art of all
others； has yet a great share of the confusion and uncertainty everywhere
else manifest in the profession。
The poets put what they would say with greater emphasis and grace；
witness these two epigrams：
〃Alcon hesterno signum Jovis attigit： ille；
Quamvis marmoreus； vim patitur medici。
Ecce hodie； jussus transferri ex aeede vetusta；
Effertur； quamvis sit Deus atque lapis。〃
＇〃Alcon yesterday touched Jove's statue； he； although marble；
suffers the force of the physician： to…day ordered to be transferred
from the old temple； where it stood； it is carried out； although it
be a god and a stone。〃Ausonius； Ep。； 74。
and the other：
〃Lotus nobiscum est； hilaris coenavit； et idem
Inventus mane est mortuus Andragoras。
Tam subitae mortis causam； Faustine； requiris？
In somnis medicum viderat Hermocratem：〃
＇〃Andragoras bathed with us； supped gaily； and in the morning the
same was found dead。 Dost thou ask； Faustinus； the cause of this so
sudden death？ In his dreams he had seen the physician Hermocrates。〃
Martial； vi。 53。＇
upon which I will relate two stories。
The Baron de Caupene in Chalosse and I have betwixt us the advowson of a
benefice of great extent； at the foot of our mountains； called Lahontan。
It is with the inhabitants of this angle； as 'tis said of those of the
Val d'Angrougne； they lived a peculiar sort of life； their fashions；
clothes； and manners distinct from other people； ruled and governed by
certain particular laws and usages； received from father to son； to which
they submitted； without other constraint than the reverence to custom。
This little state had continued from all antiquity in so happy a
condition； that no neighbouring judge was ever put to the trouble of
inquiring into their doings； no advocate was ever retained to give them
counsel； no stranger ever called in to compose their differences； nor was
ever any of them seen to go a…begging。 They avoided all alliances and
traffic with the outer world； that they might not corrupt the purity of
their own government； till； as they say； one of them； in the memory of
man； having a mind spurred on with a noble ambition； took it into his
head； to bring his name into credit and reputation； to make one of his
sons something more than ordinary； and having put him to learn to write
in a neighbouring town； made him at last a brave village notary。 This
fellow； having acquired such dignity； began to disdain their ancient
customs； and to buzz into the people's ears the pomp of the other parts
of the nation； the first prank he played was to advise a friend of his；
whom somebody had offended by sawing off the horns of one of his goats；
to make his complaint to the royal judges thereabout； and so he went on
from one to another； till he had spoiled and confounded all。 In the tail
of this corruption； they say； there happened another； and of worse
consequence； by means of a physician； who； falling in love with one of
their daughters； had a mind to marry her and to live amongst them。 This
man first of all began to teach them the names of fevers； colds； and
imposthumes； the seat of the heart； liver； and intestines； a science till
then utterly unknown to them； and instead of garlic； with which they were
wont to cure all manner of diseases； how painful or extreme soever； he
taught them； though it were but for a cough or any little cold； to take
strange mixtures； and began to make a trade not only of their health； but
of their lives。 They swear till then they never perceived the evening
air to be offensive to the head； that to drink when they were hot was
hurtful； and that the winds of autumn were more unwholesome than those of
spring； that； since this use of physic； they find themselves oppressed
with a legion of unaccustomed diseases； and that they perceive a general
decay in their ancient vigour； and their lives are cut shorter by the
half。 This is the first of my stories。
The other is； that before I was afflicted with the stone； hearing that
the blood of a he…goat was with many in very great esteem； and looked
upon as a celestial manna rained down upon these latter ages for the good
and preservation of the lives of men； and having heard it spoken of by
men of understanding for an admirable drug； and of infallible operation；
I； who have ever thought myself subject to all the accidents that can
befall other men； had a mind； in my perfect health； to furnish myself
with this miracle； and therefore gave order to have a goat fed at home
according to the recipe： for he must be taken in the hottest month of all
summer； and must only have aperitive herbs given him to eat； and white
wine to drink。 I came home by chance the very day he was to be killed；
and some one came and told me that the cook had found two or three great
balls in his paunch； that rattled against one another amongst what