Diseases of the soul a discourse divine, moral, and physical. By Tho. AdamsDiseases of the soule a discourse diuine, morall, and physicall. By Tho. Adams

Usury, and Caninus appetitus, or the dog-like appetite. Disease 7.

Vsurie, and Caninus appetitus, or the dog-like appetite. Disease 7.

Next to the Dropsy of Covetise, I would place the immoderate hunger of Usury; for as the one drinks, ⟨p. 28⟩so the other feeds to satisfy; and the former is not more thirsty after his cupping, then the latter is hungry after his devouring. Some have compared Usury to the Gout, (by reason of that diseases incidency to Usurers) which is an unnatural humour flowing to the extreme parts. It is either Arthritis, an articular disease, which we call a joint sickness: or Podagra, a pain invading the joint of the great toe, or the heel, or some inferior parts of the foot: this like a strong charm bindeth a man to his chair. Musculus says, that Divines shall reform Usury, when Physicians have cured the Gout: the sin and the disease are both incurable. And that will one day rack the conscience, as this the sinews. Herein the merely Covetous and the Usurer differ: the Covetous to be rich, would undergo any labour, the Usurer would be rich, yet undergo no labour; therefore like the gout-wrung, desires to sit still. I have thought fitter to compare it with the dog-like appetite; which cannot refrain from devouring meat without measure; which the stomach not able to bear, they fall to vomiting like Dogs: hence again hunger is excited to more meat, and much meat provokes spewing: so that their whole life is nothing else but a vicissitude of devouring and vomiting.

NExt to the Dropsie of Couetice, I would place the immoderate hunger of Usurie; for as the one drinks, ⟨p. 28⟩so the other feedes to satisfie; and the former is not more thirsty after his cupping, then the latter is hungry after his deuouring. Some haue compared Usurie to the Gout, (by reason of that diseases incidency to Vsurers) which is an vnnatural humour flowing to the extreame parts. It is either Arthritis, an articular disease, which we call a ioyntsickenesse: or Podagra, a paine inuading the ioynt of the great toe, or the heele, or some inferiour parts of the foote: this like a strong charme bindeth a man to his chayre. Musculus sayes, that Diuines shall reforme Vsurie, when Physicians haue cured the Gout: the sinne and the disease are both incurable. And that will one day racke the conscience, as this the sinewes. Herein the meerely Couetous and the Vsurer differ: the Couetous to be rich, would vndergoe any labour, the Vsurer would be rich, yet vndergoe no labour; therfore like the gout-wrung, desires to sit stil. I haue thought fitter to compare it with the dog-like appetite; which cannot refrain from deuouring meat without measure; which the stomake not able to beare, they fall to vomiting like Dogs: hence againe hunger is excited to more meate, and much meate prouokes spewing: so that their whole life is nothing else but a vicissitude of deuouring and vomiting.