more diligently searched their work-houses or mines Wherefore Aristotle hath truly delivered that life is contained by heat and that neither Animals nor Plants could live without heat Again he defining Death he opposed not cold as a contrary to heat but extinction which is a privation of heat To which also Hippocrates ascribeth all the actions of the whole Animals he also affirmed that all and most diverse faculties are absolved and perfected by the benefit of this heat at fit seasons and places Philosophers searching the nature of this heat they have fallen into strange errours in that they did not distinguish the ethereal and celestial heat from the elementary heat which is in all things rising from the mixtion and temperature of the Elements but this is fruitless and void or a companion or adjunct-embassadour of the thing compound But the natural or vital heat is altogether alienated from the conditions of the Elements whereupon they called it Celestial and altogether Divine Again any man may easily distinguish and discern the vital heat from the elementary heat in Plants and cold animals as in the Poppy the Lettuce the Mandrake and the Serpent which being exceeding cold in their temperature it is certain that they do not live by this but by sole vital spirits and heat Again they brought it into controversie whether heat which is the worker of life be a substance or an accident Lastly after much contention of words they concluded it to be an accident but yet altogether celestial and divine as the light or the heat of the Sun is and every other virtue or power conveyed from the Heavens unto the prepared body They also affirm that that nature or form which consists in the matter by the mediation of the spirits or heat to be altogether one substance and that wholly celestial and divine not participating at all of the Elements The later is beaten upon and vulgar amongst the more secret Philosophers but they have not received the first But because Philosophers do intreat of vital heat they do not consider it as an accident but they comprehend together the in-bred spirits and the radical matter that is the native humidity in which the heat is seated under the name and appellation of heat for truly every thing may be found forth by it self The cause of this errour is because they have not known the original of forms which thing we wil demonstrate and explain more amply and copiously in the Chapter Of the original and differences of Forms The The divers names of Vital Heat more profound Philosophers have called this Vital Heat the Internal Sun the Internal Element and the Mineral Sun in which all the grounds of Nature are contained Arnoldus de Villa nova in his book of Conserving youth and deferring old age the third chap. he consirmeth it in express words saying That which hath not an equal is the Mineral Sun And wise men have compared the prepared body to the natural heat and sound youth for which similitude the wise men have used to call this heat by the name of an Animal for vital Sulphur and radical humidity is the store-house of all Nature for by the onely power of it all the cures of all diseases may be accomplished Galen being adduced by the notable and wonderful power of the actions in the second book of his Art unto Glauco he calleth the native Heat the Substance of the faculties and vertues which thing he doubted much in another place concerning the substance of Nature and the Soul Aristotle in the second book of the Generations of Animals the third chap. ascribeth all the faculties of all natural things to this vital heat in these words There is something in the sense of all things which causes the seed to be fruitful namely that which is called vital heat not fire for it is not any such faculty but the spirit which is contained in the seed or foamy body and the nature which is in that spirit in proportion is correspondent to the element of Stars Plato which came nigher to the shut gates of Nature called this heat or spirit the Defence of the form which heat is incident in Animals and Plants from the original He also writes that from this universal spirit of the World which alone consociates and conjoyns the soul to the World and contains the virtues that it was thereby caused and conserved for it comprehends the The Seed of every thing and the power of Procreating seminal reasons and hidden proprieties of all Procreants it filleth all and it is diffused through all and it is propagated into all Animals Plants and Metalls and these as it were of the green wind of Sulphur Concerning the native or first-begor Humidity there First-begot Humidity is required an accurate distinction of the Humours in every natural body for the attaining of the true knowledge thereof seeing that there is one humour Elementary another Alimentary another Native or first-begot and that there is much difference of them For the Elementary and Alimentary humidity do differ much from the Native and first begot humidity in the substance essence and nature The Elementary humidity is a waterish humour by which as it were with glew the dissentient and repugnant Earthly parts of the body do cohere and are united and this is common to all things which are generated by the commixtion of the concreated Elements The Alimentary is that which is attracted spiritually The spirit are â—o 〈◊〉 ed for diâ—â—erence or distinction from vapours or mists which are called spirits of the mechanical Spirits existing in the parts of the body and is exhibited or communicated to the body for nourishment or aliment which humidity all Individual things namely Vegetables and Minerals both greater and less which lie occult in the Centre of the earth attract untill they come to the predestinated limit or tearm of their continuance Afterwards the Planet ceaseth Every nutrition or nourishment is spiritual or it is made by the spirits From hence is the dewish moistening of the Microcosm and forsaketh the compound as the Philosophers affirm in these the Spirit ought neither to serve for sence or motion The Native or Inbred moisture which is also called the Vital moisture is called of the Philosophers the quintessence which may be extracted from all living roots There inhereth a matter representing Oil which is the subject of Heat and Spirits it is also indissolvable from which natural spirits and vital heat floweth as forth of a seminary and perfuseth the whole living body from which also the strength and firmness of the parts arise This fat humour which is very like Oil is not fat with Of the Microcosm which we see many parts of the body covered but it is other fat very much different and aery which flyeth the sight of the eye nevertheless it may be distinguished by art and industry and this is the Original both of spirits and
therein are privily contained CHAP. III. Of the Beginnings of Bodies and their Original Differences and Properties PHilosophers do greatly dissent in the handling of the Principles and every one almost led by his own Opinion doth bring his own beginnings Some do consist in Reason only and are not grounded in Nature they admit no demonstrations from the light of Nature Those which hold these imaginary beginnings are conversed in the Knowledge and Inquisition of the Essential Causes they are drawn by a blind and a terminary endeavour upward and downward they admit a dissolute and futile or vain confusion of things wavering this way and that way without sinews and joynts they stick in all things as if they were but beginners they hold nothing which is ratified nothing that is comprehended and nothing that is fixed and sure But they ever stand in that place and in doubt from which they may be moved with a light moment which daily Experience not only in Philosophy but also in Physicks doth testifie and approve But according to these fine Philosophers and Physicians if it please God some beginnings are of Philosophy some of Physick and where the Philosopher endeth there the Physician beginneth Aristole the chief of the Peripatetical Family or Sect made three beginnings of Nature two Essential as he calleth them Namely the Matter and the Form and one Accidental namely Privation which beginnings seeing they do alone comprehend them in mind and abstract them from the very Essence of the thing and do not explain what the Matter of a natural thing is nevertheless they would be thought to explain and lay open the Knowledge of the Matter Let me define them The Matter is of which a thing is made The Form is by which a thing is made Privation is the absence of the Form But yet it remaineth unexplained altogether what the true real and essential beginnings of Nature are All the Spagirical Philosophers have made a Matter and confessed there was a Form and that a new Form was forthwith induced the old being abolished and deprived where closely the necessity of Privation is included But while they imagine of these in their mind they consider the true subjects of Nature Wherefore whosoever is instructed with these imaginary beginnings will never come to the Bath of Diana wherefore he need not fear the punishments of Acteon Galen held that the Elements adorned with their Qualities were the Foundations of Nature Hermes ter maximus the Father of the Phlosophers taught that all things were generated of three things he explains the terminary number calling them Spirit Soul and Body though he doth not expresly shew what he meaneth by Spirit Soul and Body yet our Paracelsus hath so expounded them no less artificially than naturaly in his Book de Naturarerum The Spirit is Mercury the Soul is Sulphur the Body is Salt The mean betwixt the Spirit and the Body of which Hermes speaks is the Soul so that the mean betwixt Mercury and Salt is Sulphur which unites conjoyns and couples diverse things and compounds them into one substance of a Body Now we will seek forth the Original differences and properties of these three these are they which have wearied and astonied the Wits of many Philosophers our beginnings of our Paracelsus have true Foundations in Nature Sulphur Salt and Mercury are the issues and off-spring of the Seeds In the first framing of creatures it was needful that the Seeds should have their Foundations in others seeing they were gone from the Fountain of Unity If the images of the Seeds that is the Seeds themselves should be dispersed it was also convenient for the images of the Elements that is for the beginnings to imitate Nature So the Essence Existence Life and Act of all things are the Elements that is the Seeds which are beginnings but yet not common or general beginnings For the more full understanding of this thing in the first place the difference of Bodies is to be observed Some Bodies are more nigh their beginnings namely the Seeds and Vital beginnings Others have gone further from them as the mix'd Elements Those which are more nigh by reason of the likeness of their Nature are called Heavenly Bodies Spiritual and Vital and constant Vegetable Bodies in which the constant property of every body is apprehended These are called of Paracelsus Mercury Sulphur and Salt Not that they are altogether like to the vulgar Salt Sulphur and Mercury in Substance but in Essence Actions and Properties and as much as those perfect individuals in their kind do differ amongst themselves so much do these Vital beginnings differ in Essence Actions and Properties Those which are more remote from the Seeds are called Earthly Crass Mixt Dead and Unfixt Bodies these are the common Elements commixed with the beginnings which do exhibit or propound before our senses one similar substance of the Bodies by the virtue of mixtion The beginnings which we name first of the two are formal and natural Bodies but yet spiritual they are Spirits yet corporeal so that in some sort they are means betwixt the corporeal and incorporeal Nature The latter are bonds of visible and invisible things of temporal and eternal corruptible and incorruptible of superiour and inferiour therefore they ought to manifest the properties of the superiour and inferiour Nature So that they purely and exquisitely do not represent the conditions of either of them He which knows not these bonds hath not learned the power of life because he hath only exercised the anatomy of death Aristotle and Galen coupled death and life together and they would have attributed things belonging to dead things without qualities to the living things they both laboured for one end Furthermore in these spirits and spiritual Bodies the properties of all natural actions do bear sway and all separations digestions and concoctions in Nature are absolved and perfected by the benefit of Salt Sulphur and Mercury and not by the benefit or ministery of Heat and Humidity The temperament of all the parts are not integrated or compounded from the mixtion of Heat Cold and Driness but from the mixtion of Salt Sulphur and Mercury amongst themselves and with the Elements which agree in the Sciences and Predestinations of the foresaid beginnings and root or ground And this is the temperament of Nature Nature it self and the towardness or good disposition of things produced from the Sciences and Signatures of the beginnings for the properties of the actions which are contemplated and beheld in the natural parts as of Attraction Retention Separation Digestion and Evacuation we deprehend them to be in the anatomy of Salt Sulphur and Mercury even as the Sulphur of the Loadstone attracteth iron and worn Amber attracteth straw oftentimes also we deprehend it to be in outward things And though these three beginnings of Bodies seem to have their forces united in Nature yet they reserve the properties without hurt and confusion The office and property
the ordinary one make thus â„ž white Sugar Candid â„¥ 6 spirit of Salt well rectified half an ounce and as much pure water as will make the Sugar like thick a syrup then add to those half an ounce of purple Calx of Gold which hath been first solved in Aqua fortis then precipated with Tin or Spilter and well edulcorated and dryed lastly to all the former ingredients add also one ounce of pure Pearl in subtil powder and one dram of good Ambergreece so have you a far more excellent Confection than the common one wherein the Gold is used in its metalline form and so hath no effect in the medicine but here by reason of it subtil preparation it rendreth the medicine aboundantly more cordial more effectual CHAP. VI. Of the Lethargy THe Lethargy is a torpor or drowsiness and almost an unresistible necessity of sleeping according unto The Lethargy is almost an unresistible necessity to sleep Celsus lib. 2. cap. 10. 20. The Galenists say that the cause of this disease is a cold and slegmy humour which in great aboundance is effused into the substance and Ventricles of the brain The kinds of it are the Catophora the Coma and the Carus The Catophora is a profound and deep sleep The Coma Catoche or Catalepsis is a stupour while one wakes whereupon Physicians The Catalepsie is a prefernatural affect of the Head whereby man is deprived of all motion suddenly as if he were congealed call it a waking dream by which the affected both waketh and sleepeth together which sometimes rises from too much drinking of Wine as Galen affirmeth in his 3. book Chap. 5. de temperameutis The Carus is such a profound and deep sleep so that the sick doth neither feel the The Carus is a dead sleep out of which man is not easily wakened without often and loud calling upon and beating of his body pulling off the hairs nor beating nor pricking of the body Paracelsus in his 2. book de vita longa Chap. 2. de gutta saith that the lethargy is a kind of gutta that is of the Apoplexy for the Apoplexy is begot of ill-digested sublimated Mercury if that the genus of the Lethargy then the species though the sublimation be not so vehement in the lethargy and other kinds of the Apoplexy as in the Apoplexy it self â—n another place he saith that the Lethargy is generated from too much moisture of the brain which being dryed and abolished the effect is removed when it is to be dryed and exsiccated the 1. book of preparations teaches us tract 4. fol. 42. The Cure of the Lethargy It is to be removed and Nature is to be corroborated and strengthned Paracelsus in Parag. de Alchymia saith that the lethargy is not to be cured by ordinary decoctions for it is a Mineral disease and therefore it is to be cured by Minerals Paracelsus in his cures relates that a certain man after a Fever fell into a deep sleep so that he felt not if any prickt him neither would he open his eyes or speak any thing he had the lethargy and I cured it with the oil of Vitriol so also there was a woman waking which was affected with the lethargies sleep so that her eyes were still shut and hardly would open them if she were called upon neither could any understand what she spake neither did she rightly answer I restored her to her health by the oil of Vitriol alone The chief Medicine of all in Curing this Disease is Antimony for in this one all the wayes of curing are found for it takes away the cause altogether and strengthens Nature by a specifical vertue wherein it excels Some drops of the oil of Vitriol administred with Marjoram water availeth much In this part the spirit of Vitriol is much better and more excellent In the volability of Vitriol there is a secret of corroboration of the spirits of the brain and heart Bartholomeus cures the lethargy with Sulphur lib. 16. Chap. 94. so also lib. 7. Cap. 7. affirms that this is a most excellent Dosis in the Falling-sickness â„ž of Opium Theb. Ê’i of Cinnamom Ê’iij of Musk and Ambergrece ana 6 gr of the seeds of both the Poppies Ê’i of Mandragora ℈ i. of the juice of Henbane ℈ i. of Mastick Ê’iij let them be pulverized mix them and make a mass of them with the juice of Pomcitrons put them in the rine of the Pomcitron and shut it with the bark afterward put it in dough bake it as bread when the bread is back'd let them be taken forth and bruised and put in â„¥ i. of the secret of Vitriol Read Theophrastus Paracelsus de morbis Amentium tract 2. Cap. 1. A precious Medicine of Antimony in a Red Oil prepare thus â„ž pure Regulus of Antimony grind it to subtil powder put it in a Cucurbit and by degrees pour on good Aqua Regis prepared with Salt so dissolve the Antimony and when it will dissolve no more decant it and on the remaining part undissolved pour fresh Aqua Regis and so do till all the Antimony be dissolved then let it all stand unmoved and the Antimony will settle to the bottom of the glass in white powder from which decant all the water and with sweet water made hot edulcorate the white powder and dry it that being done put the white dry powder in an Iron box stop it well with a scrue that no air may enter and keep it five days in good heat then take it out and you shall find the white powder become red from which extract a red tincture with pure distilled Vinegar which abstract again then remaineth behind a pure tincture of Antimony upon which put pure Spirit of Wine digest together in Balneo then distil by retort so will you have a bloud-red Oil which may well be termed a great Arcanum in medicine which being most prevalent not only in the foresaid disease but in many others likewise CHAP. VII Of the Falling-sickness and his kinds THe Falling-sickness is a disease inherent in the body not corporally but an The Epilepsie or Falling-sickness is a preternatural affect of the Head by which the whole body for a certain time is convulst with the hurt of sense and reason astral disease It is an Elementary disease not a complexionate disease it is a spiritual disease not a natural disease The species or kinds of the Falling-sickness are all the kinds of the Epilepsie the suffocation of the matrix without his place the swounding with his kinds viz. the returning deliquium and the swounding not returning the Vertigo or turning of the The Vertigo is a preternatural affect of the Head whereby all things seem to turn about head The Vertigo rises from the obstruction of the principal bowels Paracelsus lib. 3. de caducis para 2. The Vertigo is a kind of the Falling-sickness The cure of the Vertigo is the same with the Falling-sickness The cause of
THE METHOD OF CHEMICAL PHILOSOPHIE AND Physick BEING A brief INTRODUCTION to the one AND A true DISCOVERY of the other Namely of Diseases Their Qualities Causes Symptoms And Certain Cures The like never before extant in English LONDON Printed by J. G. for Nath Brook at the Angel in Cornhill 1664. The Preface ALthough I might have retained to my proper use this excellent Tractate yet considering that Veritatem celare est Aurum sepelire and convinc'd with charity and commiseration of so many diseased left as desperate and with desire of directing those that seek the splendor of powerful Physick I could no longer withhold it from publick view not doubting its kind reception from all that prefer native truth before fucated errour which needs so many volumes to cloak its deformities but confident of their acknowledgment that herein I have rightly improved my Talent as indeed I have endeavoured for the good not so much of my self as of many divulging not only the kernel of Physical Philosophy and a Treasure for health but even many Chemical Arcanaes also openly demonstrated and friendly tendred to all which to add their due praise would too much swell a Preface and too little satisfie the Reader when the work it self doth so briefly so apertly so compleatly demonstrate it that to speak it here were but to hold a Candle to the Sun or to hand thee a Torch in the clearest Noon day Farewell therefore and with me implore the donor of every good gift to give thee understanding of the truth to the glory of his great name and the utility of thy infirm neighbour Amara licèt VERITAS Non amarescit CHARITAS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Books Printed for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill Excellent Tracts in Divinity Controversies Sermons c. CAtholick History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councils and ancient Fathers in answer to Dr. Vanes Lost Sheep returned home by Edward Chesenhale Esq Bishop Morton on the Sacrament Grand Sacriledge of the Church of Rome in taking away the sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table by Daniel Featley Quakers Cause at second hearing being a full Answer to their Tenets Re-assertion of Grace Vindiciae Evangelii or Vindication of the Gospel a Reply to Mr. Anthony Burges's Vindiciae Legis and to Mr. Rutherford by Rob. Town Anabaptists anatomized and silenced or a Dispute with Mr. Tombs by Mr. J. Cragg where all may receive clear satisfaction A Cabinet-Jewel wherein is Mans misery and Gods mercy set forth in eight Sermons with an Appendix concerning Tyches and expediency of Marriage in publick Assemblies by the same Author Mr. J. Cragg A Glimpse of Divine Light being an Explication of some passages exhibited to the Commissioners at Whitehall for Approbation of publâ—que Preachers against J. Harrison of Land-Chappel Lancashire The zealous Magistrate a Sermon by T. Threscot New Jerusalem in a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers in the Year 1651. Divinity no enemy to Astrology a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers in the year 1653. by Dr. Tho. Swadling Britannia Rediviva a Sermon before the Judges Aug. 1648. by J. Shaw Minister of Hull The Princess Royal in a Sermon before the Judges March 24. by J. Shaw Judgement set and Books opened Religion tryed whether it be of God or man in several Sermons by J. Webster Quarto Israels Redemption or the Prophetical History of our Saviours Kingdom upon earth by K. Manton The cause and cure of Ignorance Errour and Prophaneness or a more hopeful way to grace and salvation by R. Young Octavo A Bridle for the times tending to still the murmuring to settle the wavering to stay the wandering and to strengthen the fainting by J. Brinsley of Yarmouth Comforts against the fear of death wherein are discovered several evidences of the work of grace by J. Collins of Norwich Jacobs Seed or the excellency of seeking God by prayer by Jer. Burroughs The summe of Practical Divinity or the grounds of Religion in a Catechistical way by Mr. Christopher Love late Minister of the Gospel an useful piece Heaven and Earth shaken a Treatise shewing how Kings and Princes and all other Governments are changed by J. Davis Minister in Dover The Treasure of the Soul wherein we are taught by dying to sin to attain to the perfect love of God A Treatise of Contentation sit for these sad and troublesome times by J Hall Bishop of Norwich where all may receive full satisfaction Select thoughts or choice helps for a pious spirit beholding the excellency of her Lord Jesus by J. Hall B. of N. The holy Order or Fraternity of Mourners in Sion to which is added Songs in the night or chearfulness under afflictions by J. Hall Bishop of Norwich The Celestial Lamp enlightning every distressed soul from the depth of everlasting darkness by T. Fetiplace The Moderate Baptist in two parts shewing the Scripture way for the administring of the Sacrament of Baptism discovering the old errour of Original sin in Babes by W. Brittin Dr. Martin Luther's Treatise of Liberty of Christians an useful Treatise for the stating Controversies so much disputed in these times about this great point The Key of Knowledge a little book by way of Questions and Answers intended for the use of all degrees of Christians especially for the Saints of Religious Families by old Mr. John Jackson that famous Divine The true Evangelical Temper a Treatise modestly and soberly fitted to the present grand concernments of the State and Church by old Mr. John Jackson The Book of Conscience opened and read by the same Authour The so much desired and learned Commentary on the whole 15 Psalm by that Reverend and Eminent Divine Mr. Christopher Cartwright Minister of the Gospel in York to which is affixed a brief account of the Author's Life and Work by R. Bolton with Mr. Edward Leighs's Epistle annexed in commendation of the Work The Judges Charge delivered in a Sermon before Mr. Justice Hall and Serjeant Crook Judges of Assize at St. Mary Overeys in Southwark by R. Parr M. A. Pastor of Camberwell in Surrey A Sermon worthy perusal of all such persons as endeavour to be honest and just practitioners in the Law The Saints Tomb-stone being the Life of that vertuous Gentlewoman Mistris Dorothy Shaw late Wife of Mr. John Shaw Minister of the Gospel at Kingston upon Hull Gospel-Revelations in three Treatises viz. 1. The Nature of God 2. The Excellency of Christ 3. The Excellency of Mans Immortal Soul by Jer. Burroughs The Saints happiness together with the several steps leading thereunto in 41. Lectures on the fifth of Matthew called the Beatitudes of Christ by Jer. Burroughs being the last Sermons he ever preached both put forth by the same testimony that publisht his former Works The Iron Rod a Prophetical Treatise A Discourse concerning Liberty of Conscience in which are contained Proposals about what liberty in this kinde is now politically expedient to be given and several
diffused abroad very much it begins to decay and corupt and so the dry and cold matter is left which is held to be the last of all For the vital spirits whose force is fiery do consume nutriments and aliments hourly so that there is need of continual restitution mixtion and composition therefore it is most truly said of Hippocrates I find saith he that we are nourished from those things of which we consist and that by them generation and nutrition is continued From hence Aliment is named of Paracelsus seed because in all aliments there is the Balsam of the animal Whether doth Gaeln make Hippocrates the chief in his folly or no Let us I pray you pardon Galen for he is ignorant of the Spagirical art and hath never attained unto the secrets of Hippocrates whereby it is come to pass that he hath left the Essence of Nature untouched and uncomprehended As likewise he was ignorant of the forms of things and therefore he could not obtain the forms of things from their bodies For the confirmation of this namely that Hippocrates understood by the name of Fire Nature it self we may bring the testimonies of other Philosophers lest that we be thought to depend on the authority and judgment of one man alone though that the testimony of Hippocrates being an excellent Philosopher might abundantly suffice us Paracelsus also in his book writ of the Generation of Natural things so also in his book de Electro he calleth the Soul or Nature by the name of Fire with whom Fernelius Alanus consents in his Sayings which he hath consecrated to posterity he calleth Nature by the name of Fire of Wisdom Alexander a Suchten calleth Nature by the name of Living Fire Raimundus Lullius calleth Nature the Living Fire of Nature so also he calleth Living Fire by the name of Nature Geber the Prince of Philosophers calls this Fire of Nature the Incombustible Sulphur Paracelsus in his first book of the Secrets of Creation calleth this Fire by the name of Middle Nature and forthwith in the same place he annexeth some few things and calls it the Nature of Viridity or Greenness for this is the blessed and happy Greenness which makes all things bud This is the Green Lion of the Physicochemists to the which Paracelsus ascribes all the cures of all diseases in his book de tincturaphysicorum The ancient Author in the Apocalyps of the Spirit of the secret world amongst the rest he affirmeth this celestial spirit the Heaven to exist in a waterish body more than perfect and clarified he affirmeth this to be the inferious Heaven whose sparkle is the Alcool of wine which is spirit water and fire This is that which is so much commended of Paracelsus in his writings as also of other great Philosophers of notable wits affirming thus The Fire and Azoth are sufficient for thee which are the great mysteries of Nature as Paracelsus speaks in his Archidoxes In this place I have communicated and opened the gates of Nature by these which are said very benignly I might also bring more without envy but that it is a caution in the laws of Philosophy That there be some tedious things left for the Scholars Concerning the cited place of Hippocrates Hippocrates explains himself in his first book de diaeta which may fully certifie what he meaneth by the name of Fire for saith he either Fire hath distinguished in the generation of Man three circuits diverse in faculties yet conspiring both in vardly and outwardly by a mutual society which have circuits in the cavities which are workhouses of the humours That is in the Bowels which serve for nutrition They relate the power motion and maturity of the Moon but those which absolve the resolutions outwardly where the more solid members consist do imitate the properties of the Stars which do consist in the midst that is in the heart they contain the nature of most forcible fire which is present without and within through all the parts and hath dominion over them all and it in secret silence is not perceived by sight nor feeling In this fire that is in the Stars the soul of this middle revolution understanding prudence augmentation motion diminution transmutation sleep watchings are secretly contained The spirits being there mechanical workers are ascending spiritual bodies and they are the immediate instruments of the actions and have roots In the same book he hath described the faculties and sciences of this Divine Nature Hippocrates saith that Nature is the governour of men this causes the attractions of the elements the mixtions of the parts dispensations conspiâ—ations of those which agree the expulsion of those which disagree This is that which expells which attracts which gives and receives and which proportionateth less things for less places but greater things for greater places and this it doth by altered and well-tempered mixtion Furthermore Orpheus calls Nature as it were a thing adorn'd with the Laws of the Fates which word Hippocrates uses for there is a Law or Reason grounded in the essence of Nature and it is that essence which impells moves and governs all things and because it is in bred it perfects the decrees more sorcibly Because of the diverse in comprehensible gifts of Nature Hippocrates said that Nature was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is taught or instructed of none This is the Light of Nature this is the Predestination of Paracelsus in which he deservedly glories that he knew it wholly and perfectly I say this Nature is the Vegetable secret of Nature the vigour or efficacy of the name the fruitful vertue of the light which is of a perfect body the bright force of Sulphur the hidden virtue of the Heaven the most pure laâ—p the fire of truth which cannot be attained the ensigns of a living form the flower of Nature the house of tincture and the noble branch CHAP. VII Of the Soul What the Soul is and the substance of it ALL living bodies inasmuch as they live whether they be contained in the bosom of the Elements and live obscurely or they live manifestly I say all these are compounded of three parts namely Soul Sâ—irit and Body The Body and Spirit may in some sort be sought forth by sense but the Soul and the essence of it seeing it flies sense is obsecurely and too darkly known for it is no obvious or easie thing to attain thereunto Wherefore the understanding must apprehend it from the operations functions and effects arising from thence conspicuous and objected unto the sense even as every occult cause is to be enquired and sought forth These are Aristotelical and Galenical opinions taken from the same ground They endeavour to proportionate the anatomy of Troy by Geometrical partitions and figures but in vain Thus they define the Soul The Soul is the beginning and cause of the functions of a living body Or the Soul is the perfection of an Organical body Seeing that every living body is forthwith
an Organical body every thing that giveth it life and causes the vital actions is to be judged to be the Soul which is the perfection of the whole Furthermore seeing that they can no other way know the essence they leaving the obscurity of essence do pass unto the proper functions of it which are more manifest and they attain knowledge from the differences of the Soul so they define the Soul to be life as from the proper functions of it and from the differences of life they make certain kinds of the Soul and so they comprehend in their mind three differences of living things namely Natural Sensitive and Intelligent because that some bodies do live by the benefit of sole Nature others have Sence others are induced with Reason and Understanding as if Sence and Reason were not aswell natural and have their foundations in the very essence of Nature which thing Hippocrates expresses manifestly by a luculent testimony in his first Book de diata And these differences of living things are not to be ascribed to their functions faculties sciences gifts and interior signatures but rather to the Essence of the Soul Here you may see the calamity of Aristotle and Galen which are fallen and do cast themselves headlong into very foul and unfortunate errours by their subtilty for they do attribute that to the faculties and functions of the Soul which are to be attributed to the very Essence But they may say that that which is natural in Plants is a Soul from which we say that Plants are animated though they be not animals and that Sensitive faculty which governs and directs brute Beasts is also a Soul which doth not only make them animated but also animals Lastly there is none which will say that the Intellective faculty of man is not a Soul These Souls are so severed and distracted that neither the Intelligent Soul of Man is a Sensitive Soul nor the Sensitive Soul of a Beast is a Natural Soul So that Man is not Beast nor Beast is a Plant otherwise there would be great confusion of the kinds and natures of things To whom I answer with Hippocrates Of what kind the sciences and gifts of the natural spirits of the Soul of the hot Fire are there are such like signatures or sealings exprest in the bodies and the whole ornature or comeliness of the whole body is contained in the anatomy that is in the Soul for the Soul is the cause or beginning of the organical body for from this the body is caused by the vertue and power of it the elements and principles are mixed augmented and changed from spiritual into bodies having their figures magnitude colours and such paintings that is signatures agreeable to the Soul which make much for the absolving of the pre-ordinated functions and offices Hippocrates doth illustrate the unity of the Soul by an excellent testimony in his Book de diaeta saith he Male and Female may consist together and each one constitute other and he addeth this reason because the same Soul is in all living bodies but the body of them all do differ Therefore the Soul is the like as well in a greater as a less that is in an infant as one come to years for it is not altered neither by Nature or Necessity but the body is never the same either by Nature or Necessity Now it is separated from all otherwise it were commix'd Here he calleth the Soul the Root and the vital beginning because this thing is common to both Sexes in all kinds of animals therefore they may consist together Again the Male and Female are rooted in the same root and mutually propagate themselves for the Souls which are vital beginnings and the radical tinctures of things are stable and perpetual not subjected to mixtion therefore they persist the same and altogether like themselves The natural description of the Soul whether they be in less Individual things that is in weaker and unfirmer or in greater that is in more stronger and firmer The unity of the Soul being thus demonstrated I call the Soul Vitalspirits the Chorionium of Paracelsus the Powers of Hippocrates Spiritual and Vital powers Tinctures Vital qualities which being dispersed through the whole anatomy of the living body nevertheless they are concentred and united in the more principal parts which communicate true essence to the body The Essence of this Soul though it be obscure and unknown of Aristotle and Gallen nevertheless it is perspicuous and manifest enough to us for by the industry of the workman it is subjected to the eye which we call the Native liquor the Radical moisture the mystery the mean of the Soul the golden vigour of the Soul the flowr of the Soul and the efficacy of the spirit in the elements which we call Jupiter in heaven Juno in the air Neptune in the water and in each of the parts of these the Ancients have called it by divers names of the Gods PART II. CHAP. I. Of the Original of Forms THe most have supposed Heaven to be the Father of all things which are generated upon Earth and the Earth to be the Mother They called the Heaven the Father because the Water falling from thence supplies the place of Seed they call the Earth the Mother because it receiveth it after the manner of a Mother and brings forth For the same cause we find the Moon called of many after Mankind because it is affirmed to have the Dominion over the humours and doth perform a manly work in the administration thereof Which thing Tertullian and Cornelius Severus profess which Charisius cites the Epithete of Phoebus being adduced from the Male kind he saith Now the fiery Stars did shine in the Heaven O Phoebus the succeeder with thy Brothers Horses In the secrets of the Hebrews which they call Cabalistical all the vertues of the Stars and the heavenly images are received and contained in the body of the Moon from which afterward the species of things fruits animal sand all new things which are in power to be generated by the several elements are immitted into the inferiour matter and genital seed Aristotle and other which imitate him deduce the forms and first substances of all things from heaven Galen derived the specifical form or essential property of every thing from a certain congress mixtion and temperature of the elements These are the famous doubts which obscure very much the knowledge of natural things from this fountain there is derived an overthrow which hath corrupted all Philosophy and begot obscurity and transplantation by the Laws and confuse administration of mixtion In whose steps must we now insist whom shall we trust shall we trust ancient Writers as Aristotle and Galen Unto these Aristotelians methinks I hear Moses speak who many years before the history of the created World following the Eternal God and instructed in all kind of things said that God had put a natural power or vertue in the created
Plantation are not subjected to the wills of men neither do they conserve perpetuity as the Vegetables by propagation of Individuals The seeds of Vegetables are twofold The Astral seeds which are only subject to Nature Secondly Mineral seeds which are subject to the sense and will of man as of Barley Wheat Oats and other pulse which spring not but by Industry and good Husbandry In Plants there be divers manners of propagation but in Minerals at least there is but one manner and it is spontaney or of free accord caused by no labour of man Some Vegetables are propagated by mans Industry and Husbandry by material seeds or grains either round or three cornered or long c. Some Vegetables are propagated by Graffs as Vines some by Branches or Boughs as Willows very many from Roots pulled up There are divers times of the springing and rising of these seeds whether astral or material Some spring in Summer some in the Spring some in Autumn some in the beginnning middle or end of the Spring or Summer or Autumn some spring in Cancer or in Libra or in Virgo or in Leo and then come forthâ—nto the sight or aspect of men He will admire the confluence of Nature which marketh the springing and budding of Plants at the rising and setting of certain Stars There are also certain fit places required in the Generation of Vegetables as the Poplar tree and the Willow and Arsmart love the Waters the Trifoil Ragwort the Coslip and Melilot the Origan and the herb Groundpinn love the mountains of which Virgil in his 1 book of his Georgicks writes thus here will good Corn rise there will Grapes spring plenteously and in another place good Apples will grow and flourishing Grasse And again in the second of his Georgicks he saith every ground cannot bring forth all fruits The Willows spring at the waters side the Alder-trees in the foggy Fens the barren wild Ash-trees grow on stony mountains the Sea shores are most pleasant with Mirtles our Ladygloves affect hillocks the Yew-tree loves the Northwind and cold of the Air and he addeth the cause in the second of his Georgicks for surely it is only Nature This is by reason of the temperament and friendly conspiration of superiour and inferiour things for the seeds having an in-bred knowledge do all Fructifie as Seasons and in their places for the constitution of the air is otherwise about the waters or flouds than in the valleys in which the Sun-beams by their great power cannot peirce and temperate the turbulent and crasse air The constitution of the air about little mountains is divers from that about great mountains for the conspiration of the superiour and inferiour things is chiefly to be considered in the Generations of the inferiour Globe if that the prevarications of the confluences and the dearth of Corn bring great defect There are three especial differences of Generations in this inferiour Globe of Minerals Vegetables and Animals In the Element of Water four kinds of fruits appear Salts Minerals Gemms and Stones by one name called Minerals There are only two kinds of fruits from the Element of Earth Plants and Trees called Vegetables which being explained we will descend to the Generation of Animals The vital principle of the Nature of Animals is grounded in a certain Radical matter namely in animal Balsam in Suphur and vital Liquor which two namely the vital Principle or native Heat and radical moisture or first-begot moisture have made a constant and firm Wedlock or Union as we have demonstrated in our Philosophy de calore native This first matter of Animals though in spiritual subtileness it excel the Balsam of Vegetables and Minerals neither is it grounded in a matter subject to the wills and judgment of man nevertheless it hath most effective tinctures in it in which as though in mechanical spirits the knowledge of the anatomy of all the parts of the animal are secretly contained for the least dram of the seed contains the anatomy of the whole kind because the mechanical spirits and Principles of the bodies are taken from the Dimensions and Straitness of bodies that is the First matter or stars of animals is not subjected to Geometrical Demonstrations Here the Aristotelians contend that this seminal matter is only contained in the anatomy of the Testicles Hippocrates saith that seed is derived from the most strong and forcible Root of the whole animal he testifieth it by this note because so little matter being evacuated there are made very great mutations and great losse of the strength in the body There is nothing in the body more strong than the animal Balsam or vital Sulphur Hereupon Paracelsus in his book de sagaci Philosophia calls this Radical matter the quintessence of Lmibicagaster From hence the Philosophers called the seed of Animals the viridity of Nature and the flowr of strength though we deny not but that the crude and imperfect matter which is in place for a covering wherewith the mechanical spirits and principles of Generation are invested is perfected and digested and brought unto maturity by the perfecting of the members of Generation otherwise Generation were frustrate and in vain not by the inconstancy of the mechanical spirits and vital principle but by the imperfection and debility of the bodies This is the true original of seed and the Nature in Animals From these it appeareth that the seed the Animal Balsam is not only contained in the Testicles or Brain or Sperm of the marrow but that it is diffused through the whole body that is through the whole anatomy of the Animal and it is the vital Liquor the Radical matter the First matter for these vertues and faculties which have flown forth of the whole body especially out of the principal parts together with the spirits do inhere and remain in that matter of the seed being prepared and perfected in the Testicles and are as it were the mistresses or workers of procreation Aristotle contends by many reasons that he might shew that women neither have seed nor do emit or send forth any in the Venereal act But the contrary may be taught especially by this reason because women have Testicles and Vessels for seed all which if Nature did not make them in vain as it makes nothing in vain have likewise a faculty of generating seed attributed them which is the cause thereof The truth of this matter is proved by the testimony of sense for it is seen in women which have longer refrained from coiture that their seed would flow about the Vessels being cut as well as in men but in the Testicles there is a more crass and perfect seed because women will confess that by dreams their seed is sent forth with no less pleasure than in coiture In widdows and those which have longer abstained from Venery by dreams and by tickling of the privities abundant and crass seed will burst forth This is not only confirmed by the whole
most grievous Diseases Whereupon with Paracelsus and other true Physicians this being of poison is celebrated to be almost the most noble amongst other beings of Diseases Of which being of poison and more common cause of Diseases we will more largely handle in the differences concerning the Generation of Diseases This general Transplantation contains in it a spiritual Transplantation in regard of the tinctures which bear sway in all the Elements The spiritual Transplantation is twofold The first is the Transplantation of Individuals The second is of the kinds The Transplantation of the Individuals is in which the utmost Signatures are only changed as Colours Smells Tastes Magnitude Figure c. yet this transplantation is not to be read so that it be not made with the superadded tinctures of the Elements but by Seeds Stars and Roots of the same kind as Vegetables with Vegetables Minerals with Minerals c. Seeing there be many seeds in Vegetables in which the Sciences and predestnated gifts of many Individuals are conjoyned which by the judgment of the sense do seem to differ in some sort in kind it is no marvel if that they pass into new Familes by a light moment Severinus p. 141. as if Watercresses be transplanted into Mint Rape into Radish the herb Imperatoria into Angelica This Transplantation is neither to be ascribed to the tinctures of the Elements nor being of Poison but to the Star Seed or Root of Mint Radish Angelica and to the Roots of Watercresses Rape and the herb Imperatoria by the perfect mixtion of the Individuals superadded In this Transplantation the power of the Root and his family or kind remaineth and sheweth certain signs though it be very much changed The Generation of Gemms is a Transplantation of this kind which are produced from the first and common Root of Metalls the Stars Seeds or Roots superadded and concurring So from the Roots of Lead the Adamant is transplanted from the Roots of Gold is the Saphirus transplanted from the Roots of Copper is the Smaragdus transplanted from the Roots of Iron is Berill transplanted c. Those which are spoke of the Stars Seeds and Roots of Transplantation namely those which manifest the anatomy of death and dissolution are not to be understood of the Transplantation of the Individuals but of the general Transplantation and of the kinds nevertheless the general Transplantation is also to be referred unto the Transplantation of Individuals for no natural body or which is produced of four Elements wants impurities or being of poison The Transplantation of perfect animals pertains also unto this Transplantation of Individuals for it is above said that a woman is a transplanted man for in the Generation of perfect animals if the Star Seed and tincture of the Menstruum concur and be indued with a strong power all the seed shall be adorned with properties and parts in the Menstruum If that the Star or Seed of the Male shall domineer it produces the Male and mans Members But here an Inquisition may be made how it comes to pass how Hermophradites are generated having both Male and Female members The answer is that if the Stars and Seeds of the Male as well as of the Menstruum shall be equal in vertue in the mechanical process of Generation Hermophradites are generated for that seed or star doth sometime predominate and hath the nature of the one forthwith it abounds with propension to beget man forthwith to beget woman That Transplantation which rises from the congress of animals of divers kinds is often barren neither can there be a natural Transplantation unless their seeds conspire with exceeding great Society and Consent for animals do difficultly admit Transplantation which are separated by the perfect distinction of the Sex Hither is referred the Generation of Minerals which hath as a Companion of Generation Transplantation adjoyned nigh the nature of an Hermophradite with Balm The Fruits of the superiour Globe are also obnoxious to this Transplantation and that if they be perfected at the same time and have conspired by the Society of the beams as Snow and Rain and there are made Transplantations of the bodies of the Fruits namely the qualities of the bodies being altered by violence frequency aboundance and diuturnity The Transplantation of the kind is where not only the external signatures but also the internal are changed and thereby the Root and First Matter This Transplantation proceeds from most valid and effective tinctures and only adheres to the Individuals of things that is to the beginnings of bodies Again it hath possest the very Root of the thing so that there is no further hope that these first Transplantations may be mended The tinctures of the Elements are proper unto this Transplantation and it differs in nothing from the general Transplantation of things but that the Transplantation of the kind may be caused by more valid and effective tinctures of the Elements but the general Transplantation is caused by more light tinctures The Transplantation of the kind and mutation of the Root appears in the Tare and in the Darnel in which Transplantation the Root of the Wheat is transplanted by the tinctures of the Elements into a calamitous chance Hither pertains Antimony and Anarchisite Sol and Luna It is to be observed that those tinctures of the Elements are not altogether disagreeable from the thing to whom they are superadded but in some sort they conspire with them though they endeavour for dissolution and make divers deceits against life for if they had not some affinity with the Roots Stars and First Matter of things they could not be mixed and so the Counsel and intent not only of Generation but also of Transplantation shall be anihilated and frustrate A true and Philosophical Explanation of all Diseases both Astral and Material Acute and Chronical CHAP. I. Of the Beginnings of Diseases GAlen and his imitators have made the grounds of Philosophy to be the Elements and Qualities adjoyned unto them and the Principles of the art of Physick to be the Humours These grounds and principles being laid of Philosophy and Physicks they make an easie compendious way unto the top of them without any labour and sweat But yet concerning the Spirits of Diseases both Galen and his Sectators are silent The power and force of which rise immediately The Reciprocal Nature of the Spirits is to be noted for the Material Diseases for Bodies are produced from Spirits and again Bodies are resolved into Spirits and the Beginnings of Material Diseases are spiritual that is vaporous which afterward end in Coagulation which in the curing is to be reduced into the First Matter that is into a vaporous substance from Spirits Winds and Vapours as Hippocrates testifieth in his book de flatibus where he professeth that all Diseases as well Astral as Material Acute as Chronical rise from Spirits Winds and Vapours Here we must have respect unto the Philosophy in which we have distinguished
lie it is certain and most true that that which is below is as that which is above and that which is above is as that which is below This saying of Hermes is not only to be understood of the Conspiration and Harmony or Conflux and Consent of the First and uncorrupted Matter or of the stars of Generation in both the Globes but also of the Conspiration of the superadded tinctures and stars of Transplantation The Holy Ghost confirms this Hermes his concord of the superiour and inferiour things and as well of the first perfect Nature as of the corruptible and superadded Nature by John in the Apocalyp where it is writ that Apoc. â— the star of Wormwood fell upon the Waters and made the Waters bitter for the Destruction of man Furthermore this star and other like in properties are The Transplantation of Water and Earth deprehended to be in the superiour sphere â—â—ars of the Firmament So also the properties of Arsenick Colocynthis Devils Milk and Scammony and all the properties of things and of superadded tinctures according to the sentence of Hermes and Doctrine of the holy Ghost are found to be in the superiour Globe and visible stars which properties are hidden in the bodies of the inferiour Globe We were ever happy Astronomers Philosophers and Physicians if we knew that concordance of Hermes then we could truly interpret that which God spake by Moses That they were for signs which thing we see with half shut eyes these Concordances being not known Certainly many Physicians do neither believe nor do grant that from the stars of the four Elements as from universal causes of all Diseases as well spiritual as material acute as chronical all Diseases do rise seeing that the stars are such clear beautiful and lucid bodies which do absolve and finish a certain Course From hence it appears that they only read the Writings of the Heathen and that they have lost the great book of Nature and the book of Philosophy and art of Physick and that they have not read the Bible from which as from a Fountain all Wisdom floweth for if they had read the Bible with judgment they would have found it in express words writ in Job that the stars before God are not pure but contaminated with impurities and tinctures superadded wherefore as the Earth for the fall and prevarication of the first man was Cursed and filled with thorns and briers even so the superior bodies the like spiritually which the inferiours receive corporally which Hermes and all real Astrologers confirmed by Experience do affirm CHAP. V. Of the Being of Poison in the Visible Stars SEeing that in the visible stars of the Firmament there are found not onely the form of the Wheat but of Darnel and not only the Nature and Properties of Gold and Silver Balmmint and Rose but of Arsenick Woofsbane and Poppy it follows necessarily that the Being of Poison is contained in the Being of the stars though it differ from the being of poison in the inferiour bodies because it is in the stars spiritually but in the inferiour bodies corporally for Paracelsus in his book de ente Astr cap. 9. writes that there do not more poisons exist in the Earth than do in the stars when as he says all the kinds of poisons which the fruits of the inferiour Globe of the Earth and Water do shew unto us are likewise contained the stars of the Firmament And furthermore he saith of those exalted stars poisoned with impurities and resolved seeds that they can produce all Diseases which these inferiour bodies by the being of their poison can produce for the original and cause of all Diseases is the being of poison and all Diseases are generated from poison Wherefore Physicians perswade themselves that all Diseases as well spiritual as corporal have their original and beginning from the spiritual or corporal being of poison The being of poison is rightly distinguished for the difference of the superiour and inferiour bodies into the spiritual in regard of the superiour and corporal in regard of the inferiour bodies We have said in our Philosophy that no Element doth bring forth fruits in his own proper place but in a strange place and that the fruits of the Firmament were absolved and perfected in the Air for as the fruits of Sanity flowing from the Firmament are absolved in the Air so also the stars of the Firmament do lay down the fruits of Diseases and Death in the bosom of the air that there they may attain the predestinated term and perfection But seeing that the necessity of the air is so great to all living creatures that they cannot want it for a moment It comes to pass that not only brute Animals do attract corrupt and infected air by breathing but also men for the aliment of the Microcosm as of the superiour Globe is altogether invisible and spiritual Hippocrates in his book de flatibus shews the unresistible necessity of this aliment The necessity of breathing is so great to all mortal creatures that though man abstain from all other things so that he neither eat nor drink yet he may live two or three days or moe but if any man have the passages stopped by which breath enters into the body he dies in less than a moment of an hour Again men may cease from other labours but there is no rest or ceasing from breathing granted to any Paracelsus in his book de ente Astror cap. 7. calls the Air a great Mystery but yet for some analogy or similitude for by the air he understands the stars of the air which give life unto all things And it is truly said of Paracelsus in the same Treatise cap. 7. that all bodies and Elements are preserved by the air but not by the air alone but by seeds and stars for all aliments and nutriments are seeds but mixt with impurities Neither is the air alone as far as it is an Element infected with poisonsome properties but that great Mystery from the resolution of the poisonful tinctures is Transplanted and transmutated which gives aliment to the vital Balm So that this aliment being received and the great Mystery being Transplanted and transmutated the animal and vital Balm is also infected whereupon follows the Transplantation of the body into a calamitous chance Although this aliment be invisible and want external signatures by which they make differences of the aliments of the inferiour Globe as Taste Solidness Crasness Tenuity Clamminess Heat Easie or Hard Digestion yet it is not destitute of the interiour signatures for the spirits and resolutions of fruits of the superiour Globe are neither sweet nor sowr bitter nor sharp white nor black and very often admit or receive stinking smells In this aliment four qualities as the qualities or faculties of some poisons exist and triumph which neither by taste nor smell or any manifest qualities shew and manifest their occult qualities But pernicious resolutions are
Sleep or Narcotical medicines which smooth and do as it were make the pain sleep In the raging pains of the Head the too much good bloud is to be let forth of the forehead or receive the oil of Musk and the oil of Camphora of each six drops give it in Wine or in Ale in the morning or at night this is a secret against the raging pains of the Head Take the Fish Cancer bruise it strain forth the juice make it into ointment apply it unto the Temples Theophrast Paracel in his book de vermibus Chap. 11. against the daily pain of the Head Take the leaves of Penniroyal and Polypody and Sena Vervin and Anise of each Ê’ij of Ginger Ê’iiij let them be pulverized and mixed Again receive the spirits of Wine whereby the essence may sooner be extracted forth of Origanum Hysop and the slowrs of Camomil pour it upon the Powder let them be digested and afterward distilled through the Alembeck with a gentle fire Administer 4. or 7. drops of this being extracted in a convenient liquor Theophrastus Paracelsus in his cures which he left writ with his own hand one had this Head-ach as he writes and his Head was purged by the Nostrils by infusing juice of the herb Hoggs-bread by an instrument called Rhinechites or instrument for the Nostrils as also by a quill In the same place he writes that one had a vehement Head-ach for the space of a year and he was made whole only by opening of the crany of the Head and by the same means the tumour of the Brain may be cured by administring therewith the oil of Salt in the water of Basil Another Cure There was a certain Barber of a City in Germany who was tormented with a very grievous Head-ach I gave the oil of Marjoram that he might smell and I put a drop of it in both the ears He brings the oil of Anise for the pain of the Head the external oil of sweet Cane the essence of Cloves or the tincture of the oriental Saffron a drop of which must be mixt with liquor Broth or Wine The distilled oil of Amber helps the Head-ach if it be taken with the water of Linden tree the oil of Vitriol and the spirit oâ— it the oil of Corals are also very beneficial In the curing of the Head-ach there must a regaâ—d be had of the belly for if it be obstructed all medicine will be in vain Furthermore if it be constipated it is to be sollicited with a suppository CHAP. III. Of the Diseases which annoy the substance of the Brain and first of the Phrensie THe depraved Function of the principal faculty of the Soul which is seated in the substance of the Brain as in his proper closet is Sottishness which is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is an abalienation of the mind â—hose which are troubled with it Sottishness is a defect of Reason when man is depraved only in the use of Reason either think strange things such like as are either no where or else are much otherwise those which are sick with it as Hippocrates says almost feel no pain There are three orders of Sottish men some do doâ—e onely in cogitation as Melancholick men which walking think in their mind that they see things which are not so Others in words as Phrentick men which bable many things immodestly confusedly and without judgment Others in their work as Out-raging men which accomplish their words with deeds Fernelius saith that the cause is a humour or an exceeding hot vapour effused into the substance of the Brain and his Ventricles by whose impulse and agitation the mind is reduced unto some false and feigned things Some Sottishness is with a Fever some without a Fever That which is with a Fever is the Phrensie or Doting Of Hippocrates Galen The Phrensie is a great and continual Sottishness joyned with a Fever Aeginetas Trallianus and other Greek Writers it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which doth not only hurt the Head but the Mind which they call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is understanding and discourse as Galen asfirmeth The Galenists say that the Phrensie is begot when yellow choler ascends to the Brain and inflames the Membranes as happeneth in sharp Fevers Paracelsus lib. 10. Parag. de affectibus cap. 1. Parag. 3. saith that the Mania the Phrensie and the kinds of Madness and other most grievous diseases are got from obstruction In his 1. book Chap. 3. de viribus membrorum he writes that the Phrensie and Out-raging madness are generated from the obstruction of the spirit of life namely when the passages by which the spirit of life passes to the Brain are obstructed then there rises a putrefaction in the Brain and continues to an ulcetation from the putrefaction rises an inflammation and when as the passage of the spirit is suffocated then it shakes the whole body with the fit of a Fever In the second book Parag. de morb Vermium Parag. 2. worms breed in the principal members only except the Reins Salt predominates in the Reins in which consist the Balm of life which expels all Rottenness by reason of the Urine for in the anatomy of the Brain there is a worm found which hath almost eaten the thin film of the Brain from whence the Phrensie is begot lib. 2. Param de origine morbor he saith that the Mania and the Phrensie are begot by the sublimation of Mercury But how do these agree These are to be reconciled viz. from the sublimation of Mercury and from the multitnde of vapours ascending there is begot an obstruction and from the obstruction the oppilation of the spirit of life and from this obstruction rises the Mania and the Phrensie so that Paracel somtimes names the remote cause sometime the immediate cause of a disease in his 3. book Parag. de origine morborum ex tartaro tract 4. he writes that a Tartar is begot without the substance of the Brain in the Ventricle from which the Phrensie the Mania and other kinds of madness arise which is an oppilation of the spirit of life from Tartar The cure of the Phrensie In the tract 3. Parag. de Alchymia fol. 74. Paracelsus writes that the more griâ—vous Apoplexy Paralysis Lethargy Falling-sickness the Mania the Phrensie and the melancholy cannot be taken away by the decoctions of the Apothecaries Bartholomeus Anglus lib. 16. cap. 96. writes that the most excellent cure of the Phrensie is that sleeping medicines be administred to the patient afterward the obstruction is to be removed and the Brain is to be comforted and strengthned Joannes Montanus in his Treatise de terrasigillata saith that that Earth is a very present cure against all raging diseases of the Head Paracelsus in his Cures writes that a German Prince was Frentick and he administred for the
regeneration of which we have spoke in the sixth Chapter CHAP. XXXV Of Lues Venerea and the causes THe Lues Venerea is that which is got Lues Venerea is a poysonful and contagious cachexia of the body accompanied with a hot distemperature of the same of the Leprous which in the exaltation of Venery is polluted and infected with a Whore because she had the bubo and because her menstruum began to flow forth in the time of coition from which the French Pocks are begot and proceed which hath invaded all Europe especially Germany This disease is very well known to men and women Paracels lib. 2. de origine morbor ex tribus principiis cap. 4. saith that the French Pocks is generated from the sublimation of Mercury which is altogether poysonful and penetrates and exulcerates the skin by a corroding violence In another place he saith that it is generated from corrupt blood and that truly for the poyson of Lues Venerea presently causes putrefaction from putrefaction there proceeds the corrosive being of poyson or the sublimation of Mercury or the separation of salt Concerning the signs of it read more in Paracel in his book de morbo Gallico Read also Julius Palmarius in his seventh book de morbis contagiosis lib. 1. 3. de Lue Venerea The Cure Paracel lib. 2. de vita longa Cap. 8. And in the kinds of Morbus Gallicus you mâ—y observe a purgation a cure and an observation of which these few are to be noted First purge the infected with the Pocks with Xeniotenium that is with â—â—â—â—cury prepared for the French Pocks whereby the cause of the disease is expell'd together with the peccant matter The Dosis and the quantity of this medicament is to be observed in regard of the patient Furthermore if the Pocks stick on the skin outwardly or if the pain of the joynts be more grievous anoint the body with the oyl which is extracted from Realgar or fixed Arsnick and the patient will soon be well and restored The Mercury of Gold is a most excellent remedy against the French Pocks So also common Mercury Theophrastus in lib. de morb Gallico and in his book de principiis cap. 6. So also it is cured by Diaphoretical Gold three grains of it being given in Pills Laudanum Mercuriale doth cure it It is also cured by the liquor of the Cedar Theophr in lib. de temperatur a tract 3. It is also cured by the oyl of Mercury Theophrast de signis Zodiaci in his preface It may be cured also by the Philosophers stone de tinct phys cap. 6. The spirit or yellow oyl of Fuligo cures Morbus Gallicus though it were in the extreme degree The said Laudanum Mercuriale which radically cureth the French Pocks â„ž Quicksilver well purged sublime it from Vitriol and Salt Peter ana what sublimeth red and lyeth upon the Caput mort grind well with as much sublimed Alume then sublime the red Mercury from the Alume take it out and sublime it again by it self so will it be free from any ill tast Grind it small put it on a bolt-head and pour thereon a well prepared spirit of wine digest them 40 days so will it become an oyl separate the spirit of wine from it in gentle Balneo and the remaining Mercury distill in sand with strong fire there will ascend a white juice which with that that sticks on the side of the glass distill over by force of fire again then will it be a heavy oily substance sweet of cast a universal medicine in the Plague and total extirpation of Morbus Gallicus CHAP. XXXVI Of Feavers and their causes WE have demonstrated in the general A Feaver is a hot distemperature of mans body sensibly hurting the actions thereof explication of diseases how impurities at the first Sulphureous nitrosities are carried through the whole body by a vaporous substance for there are such sulphureous nitrosities to be found aboundantly in the aliments which the separation and expulsion being frustrate at the set time and the flowers of nitrosul phureous roots they beget Fevers hâ—rrours heat rigour thirst head-ach such roots are contained in the Anatomy of all the parts of the body as intestines ventricle veins of the mesenterium liver milt reins glew or balm blood flesh and wheresoever there is made separation and digestion or the ventricle which we have demonstrated to be in all these parts The seed will still emulate the subtilty of the places elements liquor of the Cedar and mechanical substances which is of a sulphureous tincture mixt with Niter The seeds of Auripigmentum Mars Woolfsbane produce the Fever Auripigmental seeds produce a perfect inflammation with a Fever The circuits of the paroxisms of Feavers consist not in kind but in degrees because some seeds are more mature and ripe then others and nigher to resolution for in the fermentation of the seeds or resolution of the roots the circuits are numbred and the constant and firm decrees of the time are consummated which are inscribed salts They take their ordained stations either first second thiro or fift which being instant the proportion and continuity of the progress being conserved they execute their functions and offices Therefore after the first off-spring or resolution the first officâ—rs being consumed and spent the superficies and tinctures likewise corrupted if the second be nigh the superficies continuated or the tinctures be destined unto the term of maturity in the space of 24 hours if they can make the elements and principles of bodies which they are united to fit unto resolution in such a space they demonstrate quotidian circuits tertian quartan quintan sextan and monthly circuits of the year by the same reason the proportions of the circuits shall be observed as what like the proportion of the first is unto the second such like shall be proportion of the second to the third and of the fourth to the fift and so forward Oftentimes the circuits of paroxisms are transplanted by external impressions and that is when the tinctures of the interiour and more potent stars have conspired which conspiring admit equivocal generations because the roots of Feavers emitting from thence are Hermophroditical So the tertian degenerate into the quartan and quotidian and the quartan into the quintan again the erratical degenerate into the quartan Feavera nd the intermitting into the continual contra The Seminal tinctures of the impurities of Feavers are Homogeneous and Heterogeneous the Homogeneous are equally mature and by continuation of time are conserved in the resolutions of the fruits as in the burning Feaver Hectick Feaver Pleurifie Prunella and Plague and such like diseases The Heterogeneneous are those which contain the tinctures which are to be effected by the flourishing of the fruits some of them are nigher to maturity some more remote from hence it comes to pass that the mature parts doe fiorish for to day to morrow or the third day in which the lots of