although Alchymie doe not beget a New Model of Phylosophy and Medicine as some would have it because they have different Theorem's and Hypotheses yet because it is referred to the most excellent Part of Medicine which is the Rule of cure it must needs have the same subject IIII. The Object of Medicine or rather of the Physitian about which it is conversant are Things Natural not Natural and against Nature A Physitian therfore is conversant 1. about things Natural That he may keep the Constitution of man in health and fortifie the parts of the body with things like 2. About things which afflict the body against Nature as diseases their causes and symtomes that he may cure them with contraries 3. about things not Natural which are either to be taken or not to be taken according to discretion Namely Diet Physick and the Help of a Chyrurgion 4. If these or those be out of the reach of his Sences by Diagnostical signes Let him goe to work warily least the Prognosticks Fall as he would not have them 5. Let him use indications for his lawful and safe Method of Cure Thus you see a Physitian ought not only to be of great integritie of life but also admirably well Skill'd in the knowledg of Medicine that he may know every thing that belongs to the Health of the body of man V. The generation of diseases is ended and no new diseas happens to the body of man There are those that think and stiffly maintayne That Diseases are more in Number and more violent in quality than they were in former ages But ther 's ner'e a word on 't true Accidents by long time hid in their Causes and get strength by stealth even insensibly as the often dropping of water upon a stone makes it hollow There are no new species in the power of Nature besides these that are already therfore there can be no new diseases if Nature bred new diseases she must be turned out of her old course But the one is impossible therfore so is the other t' is a new Essence and not a new Accident that must make a new disease There may be a difference in Diseases according to more or lesse but difference and Novelty are two things if there be then any new diseases Rarietie or ignorance is the Mother of them The Manner species and the Cause of all diseases is the same Now no disease can be without a Cause because nothing is the maker of it selfe neither can any thing worke against the Lawes of Nature because nothing can worke above it's strength Diseases arise even of that very same thing by which we live Neither are there such things as peculiar seeds of diseases but only they arise from our own vices whereby we disturbe Nature and all vices though they have different Names yet have they but one Nature VI. The Object of Alchymie or rather of the Alchymist about which he is conversant are all Natural bodyes which are concrete especially Mettalls If the internal end of Alchymie be but considered you shall find the Alchymist occupyed about all Natural concrete bodyes which are to be dissolved purifyed and artificially wrought But if you regard the External end it is conversant only about the transmutation of Mettalls You have the Subject and Object both of Medicine and Alchymie The Adjuncts followes The Adjuncts or Attributes of Medicines and Alchymie are 1. Certainty 2. Dignitie and Proffit 3. Excellencie 4. Dificultie Chapt. 11 Of the Certainty of Physick and Alchymie 1. The Art of Medicine is Certaine and infallible There are a sort of men and those no smal fools neither that cry out Medicine is uncertain and therfore 't is a thing ful of danger for a man to commit himselfe into the hands of a Physitian And this they goe about to prove by an Argument such a one as 't is Because the whole Art of Physick is Conjecturall and therfore no certainty is to be expected of it what a leane hungery Argument this is I shall make evidently appear 1. Because that is imputed to the Art which ought to be imputed to the Artist for Medicine it selfe consists of most firme and undoubted principles but the Physitian because he useth somtimes Conjectures in his actions doth not alwayes performe his Cure with the same Dexterity nor felicity This comes to pass divers wayes 1. When the Circumstances are divers nay somtimes contrary 2. When the Physitian is deceived by those that are about the sick 3. When whatsoever hinders he doth not visit the sick nor speake to him 4. When the bowells of the sick have an unequal or contrary temperature for as Aristotle saith in another case It is a hard thing to finde out a vertue Posited between two extreame vices So say I in this case it is a hard matter to correct the bowells distempred in a contrary manner 5. It often happens that the sick either through Age or weaknes on want of wit is not able to declare his owne infirmitie 6. Somtimes the Patients are Impatient and will not bee ruled neither will they take the Medicine or their case is desperat or they are poore and want Necessaries These and other things like them may hinder the Physitian in his cure but they detract nothing at all from the Art it selfe 2. The doubt lyes in the word Conjecture For if you meane a bare and simple guess that doth nothing at all But if together with the Conjecture you ad Demonstration as a Companion then 't is no longer a Conjecture but a Demonstrative sign you must make a difference between a bare guess and a Demonstrative sign which Physitians call Indication bare guesses infer no necessity but probability and that neither not alwayes but most commonly and is the usual practice of the Empericks But Indications setch their Original from Nature and pass judgment from Logicall Arguments without any doubtfulnes II. The Art of Alchymie is certaine and infallible For it propounds two scopes to it selfe Either to transmute Mettalls or To make profitable and effectual Medicines Both of them it performeth with great success and Praise The second of these namely the preparation of Medicins is granted on all hands The first is the point in dispute which because it is much doubted by many wee will put it to the Question 1. Whether Mettalls may be changed 2. Wether gold may be made by Art First Whether Mettalls may be changed To dispute the Point on both sides is not worth the while seeing none but Madmen will fight against Experience for to search after Reasons and not regard apparent sense denotes a weakness of the Minde 't is apparent to all mens eyes That glasse may be made of Ashes Experience teacheth this and t' were extreame folly to bring Reasons to perswade a man to that which he may see with his eyes Experience teacheth as plainly also that Mettalls may be transmuted therfore to goe about to prove it by Reason were but
or according to place 5 The cause which stirs up a Disease by it self are either through fault of Quantity or Quality Through fault of Quantity is either a want of Blood and Spirits or a superabounding of Blood which is called Plethora 6 Want of Blood and Spirits proceeds 1 From the Constitution of the Body 2 From outward heat as of the Air Fire c. 3 From fasting 4 From Purging 5 From Watching 6 From Labor 7 From Joy 7 A Redundance of Blood or a Plethora distempers both Heart and Liver and is most incident to people of idle lives 8 The fault of the quality is called Cacochymia which is either 9 Confusedly of all things contained or particularly of some of them as 1 Of Humors as a hot cold moist or dry distemper 2 Of Matter when the Humors are too thick or too thin hard or turbulent 3 Of the Form when the Blood or Spirits are corrupted by putrefaction of humors 10 Cacochymia of certain things contained is of Choller Melancholly Flegm Watry Humors and Wind. 11 The Causes of Choller are 1 A hot and dry Temperament of the Liver and Heart 2 A frequent concourse of cool Air. 3 Hot and dry Nourishment 4 The Evacuations of Choller stopped 5 Vehement Exercise 6 Immoderate Watching 7 Anger 12 Choller is either Natural or against Nature Natural is either Nourishing or Excrementitious Against Nature is either in the Liver or in the Vessels 13 The Causes of Melancholly are 1 A dry Liver and Heart and a stopped Spleen 2 Cold and dry Air. 3 Much feeding upon gross food 4 Usual Evacuation stopped 5 Care and much Watching 6 A sad life 14 Melancholly is either Natural or against 〈◊〉 Natural is either Nourishing or Excrementitious Against Nature is hot and sharp 15 The Causes of a Cacochymia of Flegm are these 1 A moist Temperature of the Heart and Liver 2 A cold and moist Stomach 3 Cold and moist Air. 4 The use of cold and moist food 5 The avoiding of Flegm by the Mouth and Fundament stopped 6 An idle lazy life 7 Much sleep 8 Leading a life without Care 16 Flegm is either within the Veins or without Within the Veins it is either Natural or against Nature Natural is either more or less Nourishing 17 The Causes of a Cacochymia of Water are 1 The Stomach cold the Liver and Spleen stopped 2 Cold and moist Air. 3 Moist Food 4 Retention of usual sweating or urine or accustomed Evacuation 5 An idle life 6 Immoderate sleep 7 Sadness 18 The Causes of a Cacochymia of Wind are 1 A cold and moist Stomach 2 Cold Air. 3 Windy Meat 4 Retention of Excrements 5 Idleness 19 The Internal Causes of Diseases by Accident or according to the seat of the Body are either in the first second or third Region A Cacochymia may occupy al the Regions of the Body or but one of them A Plethora is conversant in the second and third Regions only or in but one of them What my Author means by Region here I know not unless he mean the Ventricles 20 The humor is gathered together in any part either by Congestion or by 〈◊〉 21 In every Fluxion are four things to be considered 1 The matter which is moved 2 The way by which it is moved 3 The part sending it 4 The part receiving it 22 The Matter flows either by Transmission or Attraction 23 The Causes of Transmission are either the violence of the Matter or the plenty of it stirring up the Expulsive Faculty 24 The Causes of Attraction is unnatural heat Grief Motion Rubbing Consent of Parts 25 You have the Universal Causes both Internal and External The Particular follow The Causes of the Diseases of the Parts both Similar Organical and Common 1 The Causes of the Diseases of the Similar parts are either Evident or Antecedent and Consequent 2 Evident are such as make a desperate attempt upon al the Body and afflict the Spirits the Humors and Substance of the parts if they be strong there wil be some quoil to get them out again 3 Antecedent and Consequent though they be of another temper and quality yet they afflict the parts of the Body by Contagion 4 The Cause of Organical Diseases are of Conformation Magnitude Number or Place 5 Of Conformation are the Figures of the Parts Passages Cavities or Superficies 6 The Figures of the Parts are inverted either through the fault of the Seed or Womens Blood in the Womb or default of the Midwife at the Delivery or by the fault of the Physitian in giving Physick after the delivery or by accident as blood-letting Convuisions c. 7 The Causes of 〈◊〉 of the Passages and Cavities are either of too much dilation or too much straitness 8 The Causes of Dilation are either opening Medicines or the Expulsive Faculty strong and the Retentive weak 9 Dilation of the Vessels proceeds either from the plenty and quantity of Humors or else from their quality 10 Diseases of straitness proceed either from Obstruction or Constipation Contraction or Compression 11 The Causes of Superficial Diseases are roughness and smoothness Of roughness are such things as are sharp clensing and corroding Of smoothness such things as are Glutinous 12 The Causes of the greatness of the Disease are either encrease as plenty of Matter strength of Nature Wind c. Or decrease as weakness of the Spirits defect of Matter Wounds Bleeding Putrefaction 13 The Causes of accidental Diseases and their Symptomes are understood by themselves but of Compound Diseases by the Causes of the Simple 14 Thus-much of Aethiologie Nosologie follows which is either General or Special LIB VI. Of General Nosologie 1 GEneral Nosologie is that Art which sheweth the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of Diseases 2 A Disease is an Affect against Nature wherby the Actions of the Body are viciated 3 A Disease is Essential or Accidental 4 An Essential Disease is Particular or Common Particular are either Similary Organical or Dissimilary 5 Similar is 1 A Distemper either Simple as Hot Cold Moist or Dry or Compound as Cold and Moist Cold and Dry Hot and Moist Hot and Dry. 2 Immoderation of the Matter as when the Part is either too hard or too soft too loose or too much bound too thick or too thin 3 A Corruption of the whol Substance which is either Infectious or Venemous 6 An Organical 〈◊〉 is either of the Conformation Number and Bigness or Place 7 A Disease of Conformation is either in the Form or passages of the Body 8 A Disease of Bigness is when the Members of the Body are either bigger or less than they should be 9 A Disease of the Number is when the Members are either more or less than they should be 10 A Disease of the place is when Members are not in their right places as in Ruptures and Dislocations Accidental Diseases 1 Accidental Diseases are either in respect of Number or Composition and both of them are either Singular or
Manifold 2 Singular is either Simple or Compound Simple is either by it self or with company 3 Manifold is either Implicite Joyned or Disjoyned 4 Joyned is when the Effect of one is the Cause of another 5 Disjoyned are such as lie in 〈◊〉 parts 6 Implicite Diseases are when divers parts conspire together to afflict one Function as a Pleuresie and an Asthma both afflict the Lungues and by the Lungues the Breathing 7 The Substance of some Diseases is like a Tenant at will quickly removed the Cause being taken away as Feavers Others by tract of time are become Habitual to the Body as Hectick Feavers Diseases according to the Place 1 According to the Place they are taken either from the Subject or adjunct Those which are taken from the Subject are taken either from the Parts or from the Constitution of Man Those which are taken from the Adjunct are taken in respect of the Region and Air. 2 The Diseases of the Body are either Universal or Particular Universal as Feavers or Particular to some parts of the Body as pain in some particular Member c. 3 A Disease by reason of the Constitution of a Man is taken 1 From the Nature of the Man and so is more familiar to one Complexion than another 2 From the Age and so is most familiar to Child-hood Youth Manhood old age 3 From Sex and so is most familiar to Men or Women 4 In respect of the Region 1 Some are scattered up and down here and there and are called Sporadical 2 Others are Common and are called Pandemical 3 Some are proper to one place as Agues to Fenny Countreys and are called Endemical 4 Others rage at some particular times and are called Epidemical Diseases according to Time 1 They are taken in respect of the Time of the Disease or the Time of the Yeer 2 The time of the Disease is taken according to the parts of the Disease or the Disease it self 3 The parts of a Disease are the Beginning Encrease Station and Declination 4 The Disease it self is to be taken in respect of its Continuing 5 The Continuing of a Disease is either short Long or Chronical Short is either with danger or without danger and in both it is either very Acute or Acute and in these either Symply or by Degeneration 6. In respect of the Continuance of it it is either Continual or Intermitting 7 In both these consider their Beginning Encrease Station and Declination 8 In respect of time some Diseases are most frequent in the Spring some in Autumn some in Summer some in Winter Diseases according to Custom 1 They are taken according to the Nature or according to the Event of the Disease According to the Nature it is either Gentle or Malignant 2 According to Event it is either Healthful or deadly curable incurable or threatning relapse Diseases according to Magnitude 1 A Disease is either great or smal 2 A Disease is great either by it self or by accident By it sesf three waies 1 In respect of its kind proper Essence or Cause 2 In-respect of its active Power 3 In respect of its ill Conditions or ill Symptomes A Disease is great by Accident 1 In respect of the part afflicted if that be Noble as a Disease in the Head is greater than one of the Toe 2 In respect of the Faculty of the Body that is hurt by the Disease and so deprivation of Sences is greater than the Tooth-ach Diseases according to Cause 1 They are caused either Essentially or according to Consent 2 Some are inbred or Hereditary others not Hereditary but advantitious 3 Advantitious are of Blood Choller Flegm Melancholly and each of these are either Internal or External 4 Thus much of Nosologia in the General the Special follows 5 Special Nosologie is that which Numbers up al the special Diseases which afflict Nature 6 These arise either from Natural Causes or External 7 From Natural Causes are either Universal which occupy the whol Body as Feavers Or such as occupy only particular parts of the Body Of both which in order LIB VII Of Feavers A Feaver is a heat against Nature proceeding from the Heart to the rest of the Body 2 Its Considerations are 1 The common Affections namely the disposition of the Body and the Signs 2 The Differences of the Feavers 3 The Disposition of the Body is either Internal or External Internal in respect of Temperament Sex and Age. External in respect of Heat either of the Fire Sun or Bath drinking Wine use of Spice and hot Meats or heat of Air. 4 The Signs are General as swift Pulse and frequent heat of Body and failing of strength 5 The Differences of Feavers are taken 1 From the Quality of the Subject 2 From the Quantity 3 From the Essence 6 Feavers from the quality of the Subject are taken 1 From the Feeling as such as come with cold fits at the first or without cold fits 2 From the Sight as with red high color or swarthy color 3 From the Tast as such as proceed of salt Flegm 7 Feavers from the Quantity are either continually great mean or but light short or long most violent in the night or in the day 8 A Feaver from the Essence of the Subject is either common to al as Pestilential Feavers Or 9 Proper only to those that keep ill Diet. 10 A Pestilential Feaver is caused by breathing in a Venemous and Malignant Air. 11 The Causes of Feavers properly to be considered are 1 Of the Heart as a Hectick Feaver 2 Of the Spirits joyned to the Heart as one day Feaver 3 Of Humors joyned to the Heart as a continual Feaver 12 The Degrees of a Hectick Feaver are four A Consumption 1 Of the Fat of the Heart 2 Of the Moisture between the 〈◊〉 and the Heart 3 Of the strings of the Flesh consuming 4 Of the strings of the Flesh consumed and is called Marasmus And this is two fold First Of Cold and Driness as happens to all people that die with Age. Secondly Of Heat and Dryness which is contrary to Nature and the disease now mentioned 13 Feavers that have their Original from the Spirits are 1 One-day Feavers 2 Such as last three daies as Synochus non putrida 3 Such as encrease from the beginning to the end called Achmastica 4 Such as decrease from the beginning to the end called Parachmastica 5 Such as stand alwaies at one stay as 〈◊〉 14 Of the Humors ariseth Synochus or a continual Feaver either of Inflamation or Blood or Blood which is not putrefied or of Choller which is putrefied 15 A putrefied Feaver is either Primary or not Primary 16 Primary is either Continual or Intermitting 17 Continual is 1 Without Remission coming of thick Choller as a continual burning Feaver 2 With Remission which is 〈◊〉 ordinate or inordinate and so you have either a Remitting Quotidian Tertian or Quartan Feaver which are 〈◊〉 according as the Chollrer is in heat or thickness
Presence makes Humane Actions flourish preserves body and mind in vigour she is an Excellent Chamber mate more precious then Gold admirable useful both for Church and Common-wealth and the best of all earthly goods she being gone the body runs the direct road unto Death 4. Health is a Power of exercizing the actions of the body of man which are according to Nature arising from the Natural Constitution of all the parts ' We will let Galens definition of this alone as somthing imperfect you shall finde that to Performe the ordinary and Natural offices of the body two things are required The Action it selfe and the Power of acting Thence we gather that Health consisteth either in actual or potential act That it doth not consist in Acting alone is Palpable for then every man should be sick when he is asleep because most parts of his body Act not then 5. The Reason of Health is to be sought out in the body rather then in the Soul For seeing there are two things required to every Act namely the facultie or the soul instructed with its faculties which is the principal cause of Operation and moves the body to action Then the organ which the soul useth as a meanes to act by The faylings of this cannot be imputed to the soul for the soul cannot be hurt nor weakned but remaynes alwayes the same it acts the same operation so long as the creature liveth if it have the same instruments to act by According to Aristotle for a man is Somtimes well somtimes sick the Cause of which is to be sought from the constitution of the Organ although I ingeniously confesse My opinion is That the greatest mischiefs that befal a man during his life take their Original from the soul and the internal spirits as I shall shew more clearly when I come to the Subject 6. Health consisteth in an Accedental not in an Essential Constitution The Consttitution of each Part is double Essential and Accidental Essential is that which depends upon Matter and Substancial Forme by which all Compounds have their Nature and being Accidental is that which followes the former and disposeth their qualities and Accidents in all parts Exercies all their action diversly according to their diversity Now Health consists not in the Essential Constitution for so long as a man lives the Essential Constitution is immutable but Health may be changed and Sickness come in place the Substantial Form remaining Therfore a man is Somtimes sick and Somtimes well and yet a man stil. Health then is to be placed rather in Accidentalls for they are changable both by reason of Age Diet Air and other circumstances 7. To the Health of a mans body is required a good constitution of the humors and Spirits a good temperature of the similarie prats a good structure of the Organs and vnion of all the body The word Healthfull is taken three waies As the Body As the cause As the sign A healthfull body is such a one as enjoyeth present health and that either as alwayes so or as most commonly so as at present Health alwayes so is he who hath a firm and stable Health Health as at present is that which is fleeting and unconstant The Cause of Health is that which either restoreth it beeing lost or preserveth it being obtayned good Constitution of the foure Humors and spirits causeth Health The just structure of the Organs is when they consist of a just Magnitude Number Place and Confirmation Lastly the union Continuaty of all the Parts To conclude you shal find no greater preserver of Health than the Moderate use of the six things not Natural which because my Author hath left out I care not greatly if I set them down 1. Ayre 2. Meat and drink 3. sleeping and watching 4. Fulness and Emptiness 5. Exercise and Rest. 6. Affections of the Mind 8. Medicines may be given even to men in health if they be rightly administred Hyppocrates was the first that gave occasion to this question Whether healthful men ought to take Medicines or not But yet t is most certain and Galen both confesseth and commendeth it That it is the Peculiar Office of many Medicines to resist the Disease before it comes as such as resist infection cut gross and tough Humors and many others which we may reade in his fourth Book of Preserving Health But if by Medicine Hipocrates means Scammony and such other violent purges we will easely grant him the point without further dispute of the story We have done with the end come now to the cause both of Medicine and Alchymie both principal and less principal Chap. 6. The cause of Physick and Alchymie both principal and less principal 1. THe principall Cause of Medicine is God As all good Arts in generall have their fountain Original from God himself So Medicine also is a gift of God by his divine will granted to the sons of men for the Art was never first invented by the wit of man but came by demonstration from God himself to man becanse he belighted in the sons of men All Arts and Mystriees as well as the world that contains them have their Originall from God Hence it came to pass that those ancient wise men because they knew Medicine was a divine thing and they were ignorant what the true God was ascribed it unto their gods God then is the Author of medicine Nature the instrument of God the Physitian is or should be the servant of them both Hence it is that Herophylus said That medicine was the band by which God healed the sick if then the most high God be the Author of Medicine let not men despise it 2. God is the principall cause of Alchymie All true Medicine is the gift of the most high God and he that will learn it let him go to God and not to the Ethicks If you will learn wisdom go to God and not to the creatures for they are as foolish as your self God is the maker of all secrets and hath distributed some of them to every creature you can never learn them by reading dead letters but go to the living God from whom all knowledg flows to mortals even as the trees bud by the heat of the sun What knowledg hath man which he hath not from above even from that God which created knowledg it 's not an Accademie can furnish a man with the principls of knowledg but'tis the grace and gift of that invisible God if God inlighten your eys the best Book of Physick is the Book of nature and there you may read it and search for it by Chyromancie and Physiognomie 3. The less principal cause of Physick is either Impulsive or Instrumental Impulsive is the want and defect of Human Nature joyned with a natural appetite to knowledg Instrumental is that admirable Beauty and Hermony of Natural things 4. The less principal causes of Alchymie are the same with those of Medicine The Impulsive
Judgment to be Passed accordingly Also the Nature of the Signes for some are Humane and they indanger Men most others the Signs of Beastes and they hurt Beastes most especially Some Specis of Beastes Imagine Horses Sheep Hoggs c. In watery Signs it hurts Fishes most 2 The actions of the Heavens Astrologers cal by the name of Universal Influence not because it workes Universaly in all Sublunary creatures for wee shewed the contrary but now but because it workes of it self without any other disposing cause 3 The Planets have a disposition to act Sublunary bodyes to suffer by action and passion are all things generated therfore are alwayes subject to them And the whol Creation being taken as one United body one part of it must needs be Subject to the other 14 There is such a Harmonie in the Creation that every particular Constellation Produceth Effects according to its own Nature 15 Therfore when the Horoscope or the degree ascending at the nativity of any man or beast or the building of a Town setting of a Tree sowing of Corne Changing of the Goverment of a Commonwealth or of a City is afflicted by the Conjunction of evil Plannets or Eclypse of the Luminaries It threatens the distruction of them and the time when you may know by Direction or progression 16 Hence it appeares that the Operation of these is two sold first upon those Clymates Provinces and Kingdomes under that Signe the Conjunction or Eclypse happens and secondly upon those Living Creatures In whose Genesis that sign ascended or upon Trees and Plants sowed under that signe 17 Neither are wee to thinke this cause worketh altogether absolute and simply of it selfe But other causes also intervene as il Diet want of convenient Remedie c. 18. By al that hath been spoken you may see how absolutely necessary the knowledg of Astrologie is to a Physitian that so when such Accidents happen so the Ascendent of a mans Nativitie or any other Hylegiacal part or indeed when any bad Direction comes which may signifie Death Hee may keep the body with fit Diet and convenient Remidies pure and cleare from such an Humore as at such a time will take fire at the least touch Thus you have what is agreeable It followes what is disagreeable to Medicine Desagreeable to Medicine and Alchymie are Confusion abuse and ill preparation of Medicine Ignorant and Blockheaded Physitians But those things Because they belong not to the Art it selfe but to the Artist we will speake of in the booke following And thus much for the Nature of Physick and Alchymie and also for this first Treatise The Second Treatise Of the Nature and Ministers of the Physitian and Alchymist WHerin come these three things into Consideration 1. The Definition of a true Physitian and Alchymist 2. The Office and Requisites of them both 3. The Witts of Sophisters and Impostors Chapt. 1. Of the Definition of a Physitian and Alchymist 1. A Physitian is a person called of God to that Office instructed by Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience to prserve the health of man and restore it being lost as much as is possible The more difficulty there is in Medicine the more Dignitie belongs to a good Physitian Scaliger discribes him thus A Physitian is a man learned and as honest as learned Gentle Diligent and Fortunat a man that trusts in God and not in his owne Skill Hippocrates thus A Physitian ought to bee filled with the Deitie he ought to be learned good and well Skill'd in his Art Hee ought to know what hee would do and bee able to put it in practise for the Health and life of Mankind is commited into his hand The Latins derive Medicus a Medio A Physitian from the Meanes by which hee Cures And to speake â—he truth A Physitian is a great imitater of Christ himselfe for as Christ cures our spirituall wounds so ought a Physitian our Naturall Hee ought to deny himselfe to bee mindfull of the Poore He ought not to regard Gayne for that 's the bane of the World Hee ought to bee one that knowes what spirituall good Christ hath done him that so at the same rate hee may do his Brother Temporal good freely without grumbling II. An Alchymist is a person called of God himselfe artificially to make profitable Medicines of Plants living Creatures and Mineralls as also as much as is possible to change base Mettalls into Noble that so they may bee the more usefull unto Man kind which are his Brethren I told you before that such as dealt in Mettalls gave the first occasion of finding out Alchymie for they first found out how what was mixed by nature might be seperated by Art And when they noted Gold to bee the most Noble Mettall and found it mixed with much drosse they conceived a hope of changing other Mettalls into Gold as well as Ore and when they found that things were made more perfect by Distillation and separation they began to try whether the same might not bee don by Herbs and Plants and by trying found it true and their Operation to bee more perfect And thus came the Art of Alchymy which before was purely Natural to bee Medecinall from beeing servile to Houshold uses it became excellent to restore Health for the Art of transmuting Ore into Mettall begatt the Art of transmuting Mettall into Medicine To which Doctor Reason adjoyning himself as a Companion for he loves ingenious wits finding that Ore may bee separated from his drosse and so become pure Mettall presently gave order the same should bee tryed in Hearbs and plants that so the drosse beeing separated from them the Medicine might bee most pure Just so it came to passe And thus came the Art of an Alchymist to bee conversant upon all Naturall bodyes The art of an Alchymist is to bee considered under a double notion 1. As a Physitian 2. As an Apothecary 1. As a Physitian Because he knowes the use of Simple Medicines Mettals and living Creatures and knowes not only what they are but what they are good for and is very well able to teach another how to prepare a Medicine 2. As an Apothecary Hee prepares Medicines exactly for the Physitians use You haue the Definition of a Physitian and an Alchymist The Requisites follow Chapt 2. Of what is requisite to a Physitian and Alchymist in the generall I. Of a Physitian and Alchymist are two things required Forme and Beautie Forme is held to bee an Historicall knowledge of certaine precepts but indeed and in truth it consisteth chiefly in Example and Experince II. Doctor Reason and Doctor Experience are thetwo pillars upon which a Physitian stands the Principles of his knowledge are Drawn from them Doctor Reason is his master Doctor Experience his mistris both of them Joyn together hand in hand to teach a Physitian how to cure a Disease What wonders can a Physitian do unless hee know such an Hearb Performes such an Operation Hath he any more
be black it is dangerous 3 Clouds on the top of the Urine are but 〈◊〉 seen and when they are seen they portend but little good and the blacker they are the 〈◊〉 they are because they carry the Image of Death 14 Accidental is double for either it 〈◊〉 an incertain or certain place in the Urinal 15 Such as occupy an incertain place and somtimes fly up and down in the Urine and somtimes settle in the bottom are somtimes like Bran somtimes like scales of fish and somtimes like thrids 16 Such as keep one certain place are either in the bottom as red and white gravel little clods of blood worms thick flegm like snot or else in the top as wind fat and things like Cobwebs Hermetical 〈◊〉 of Vrine 1 Urine is Salt separated from undigested 〈◊〉 2 Of Urine some is Exterior some of Blood and others Mixed 3 Exterior Urine is that which comes of what we eat or drink that is of our Nourishment neither hath it any other Indication than what belongs to the Stomach Liver or Reins It is called also the Urine of Tartar because it comes of congealed Tartar or 〈◊〉 4 It is two-fold Sound or unsound Sound is when there is a Tincture of Sulphur with it and yet notwithstanding it is not alwaies of a Gold Color but somtimes redder and somtimes paler 5 The Urine of Tartar is known by the Circle which if it be only of a 〈◊〉 color it shews Tartar and the separation which is made in the three Members Stomach Liver and Reins 6 The Salt Sulphur and Mercury may 〈◊〉 be discerned in Waters For the Bottom shews the Mercury The Settling neer the Bottom the 〈◊〉 And the Tincture the Sulphur 7 The Urine of an unsound Man is two-fold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of Nourishment 8 The 〈◊〉 of Tartar is three-fold 1 Alcolita which signifies Congealation and the Tartar of the Stomach 2 Scatea signifies Putrefaction and the Tartar of the Liver 3 Tremula which signifies stopping and the Tartar of the Reins 9 The Urine of Nourishment is Dreggy and signifies a failing in the Attractive Vertue 10 The Urine of Blood is when a Circle is in the 〈◊〉 of a different Color and it tends commonly to Redness and is the messenger of grievous 〈◊〉 11 The substance of Urine is three fold Thick Cleer and Diaphanous or like Cristal You have the 〈◊〉 the Symptomes follow LIB IV. Of Symptomes 1 SYmptomes taken more generally are an effect shewing the strength of Nature More specially they are an Accident proceeding from the Disease 2 In Symptomes we are to consider the 〈◊〉 and Causes A Symptome is either Primary or Secundary 3 Primary is a hurting of the Actions or Functions 1 Either of the Animal in respect of sence or motion 2 A lessening or depravation of the Vital in Quantity or Quality 3 A corrupting of the Natural 4 Secundary is either a change of the Quality or a vice of the Excrements The change of the quality is two-fold either Common to al the Sences or Proper to one Common to al are the Bigness Number Figure Motion or Rest changed 5 Proper are the Simple Effects of the Body and they are either to be seen as the color in the yellow Jaundice or to be smelt as a stinking Breath or to be heard as noise in the Ears or to be tasted as bitterness and saltness in the Throat or to be felt as the heat in a Feaver 6 Excrements offend either in substance or in quality or in quantity in manner or in time 7 The Causes of Symptomes are either the first or arising 〈◊〉 the first The first are a hurt of the Functions either of the Animal as the Brain Sences and their Organs or of the Vital as Diseases that afflict the Heart and Lungs or of the Natural as such Diseases as afflict Nourishment and Generation 8 Arising from these are the change of qualities whether arising from the Simple Affects or the vice of the Excrements 9 The Causes of the Simple affects of the Body are the hurting of the Natural Functions namely Attraction Retention Digestion Expulsion from whence vicious humors arise 10 The Cause of vicious Excrements is these vicious Humors which offend in quantity quality or substance 11 Thus you have the Common Affection of Pathalogia The Special remains which are Aethiologia and Nosologia LIB V. Of the Aethiologie of Diseases 1 AEThiologia is that Art which declareth the Causes of Diseases 2 The Causes of Diseases are either General or Particular 3 The General are the Theological or Physical 4 The Physical are either bred with us or come afterwards 5 Those that are bred with us are either Natural or against Nature through fault either of the Seed or of the Mothers Blood 6 Those which come afterward are either External or Internal The External Causes of Diseases 1 The External Causes are either more necessary or less necessary 2 More necessary are the six things not Natural namely Air Meat and Drink Sleeping and Watching Exercise and Rest Fulness and Emptiness and Affections of the Mind 3 Air begets Diseases either by Inspiration or Respiration and changeth our Bodies by a Quality manifest or hidden and that according either to the Heaven or the Wind. 4 Nourishment changeth our Body according to its Quality Quantity and convenient Use. According to its Quality Intemperancy Matter or Substance 1 According to Intemperancy when it is hotter colder dryer or moister than agrees with our Bodies 2 According to Matter when it is either too thick or too thin of Juyce 3 According to Substance when it is 〈◊〉 before it is eaten 5 According to quantity when we eat so much that we over power the Vessels or so little that our Bodies want Nourishment 6 Sleeping and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when they are 〈◊〉 or not taken at 〈◊〉 times 7 Exercise and Rest 〈◊〉 1 In Quantity when they are either too much or too little 2 In Time when they are taken 〈◊〉 8 Fulness and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Emptying offends either when it is 〈◊〉 or when it is too much 2 Retention offends the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that in respect of either 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Seed 9 Affections of the Mind stir up 〈◊〉 when they grow immoderate as Anger joy 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 10 Causes of Diseases less 〈◊〉 are four 1 〈◊〉 things as compass us about as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 2 〈◊〉 things as we take in as Minerals 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Living Creatures not wel prepared 3 〈◊〉 Evacuation of Blood and immoderate 〈◊〉 4 External Motion as Running Riding c. Internal Causes of Diseises 1 〈◊〉 and all his Apes deny any containing 〈◊〉 of a Disease 2 Internal Causes are either Containing Contained or such as cause violence but most properly things contained 3 All Heredetary Diseases come from Causes containing Things contained as they are causes of Diseases are against Nature as Humors Vapors or Wind. 4 The Internal causes are either by themselves or by accident
he was in Health only take this Caution In intermitting Diseases give no food in the time of the 〈◊〉 unless urgent necessity or failing of strength cal for it 7 Thus much of the first part of Practical Medicine called Hygiena the second part follows which is called Therapeutica Tome II. Part II. Of the Proper Practical Part of Medicine called Therapeutica THerapeutica is that part of Medicine which teacheth the Art of curing Diseases For the Art of Medicine is three-fold To 〈◊〉 to Preserve and to Cure therfore the Operations of Medicine must needs be three-fold also Conserving Preserving and Curing 2 The Efficient Causes of these Operations are Nature and Art The Instrumental Causes by which these Operations are performed are such 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 to Nature and coutrary to the Disease The manner of acting this is quickly safely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 The way and manner of finding out matters of Help 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fold 1 The Method by Indication 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then is either General or Special General is performed by the Method of 〈◊〉 ring the Special by 〈◊〉 LIB I. Of the Method of Curing 1 THe Method of Curing is a General way common to every Particular shewing by Intention and Indication the way of Cure for every Disease 2 Its parts are two Intention and Indication 3 Intention is that Scope which a Physitian propounds to himself when he undertakes a Cure the parts of which are Eight First Whether it be to be done yea or no. Secondly What is to be done whether Alteration Purging or Restoring Thirdly By what Remedies it is to be done whether by Cooling Heating Purging or the like and whether by Liquid or Solid Romedies Fourthly How much is to be done whether much or little in what Measure or Degree Fifthly In what Manner it is to be done whether by Degrees or Speedily whether continually or by intermission Sixthly At what time it is to be done whether in the beginning encrease or state of the Disease Seventhly In what Order what 's to be given in the first place what in the second what in the third what is to be given alone by it self and what with other things Eightly In what place and in what manner General Indications 1 Indications are to be considered Generally and Specially 2 General Indications according to the mind of 〈◊〉 are Sixteen 1 From the Disease which lies in the Body and calls for its Cure 2 From the Temperature of the whol Body 3 From the part of the Body afflicted by the Disease 4 From the strength of the Patient 5 From the Air the Patient is in 6 From his Age. 7 From his Custom 8 From his peculiar Nature 9 From the Sex of the Patient 10 From the Exercise which he used 11 From the length or shortness of the Disease 12 From the four seasons of a Disease namely the beginning encrease station and Declination 13 From the particular fits of the Disease 14 From the ordinary Functions of Nature 15 From the strength of the Medicine 16 From the influence of the Stars 3 Special Indication is either Physical or Mathematical Physical Indication 1 Physical Indications are Parts declaring and parts declared 2 The Part declaring is somthing observed in the Body either according to Nature or else against Nature 3 It is either Primary or Secundary 4 Primary is three-fold The Disease the Cause of the Disease and the Faculties These may be thus distinguished 1 It sheweth what the Disease is by 〈◊〉 means it came and whether it may be cured 2 The Symptomes which are proper and peculiar namely the 〈◊〉 and Form of the part afflicted and the Disease afflicting 5 Secundary is 1 That which is joyned to the Indication that which shews that from whence the Indication is drawn 2 The Knowledg of what hinders Indication 3 The knowledg of what opposeth it 6 Parts declaring shew how much how when in what order by what place and way you must act 7 How much shews the Natural Temper of the Body as also of the part afflicted and compares them with the greatness of the Disease and the Scituation of the part 8 How shews the strength of the sick Body and the strength of the part afflicted 9 At what time hath a double signification 1 Of things present which require remedy 2 Of things absent which require prevention 10 In what order shews either that which regards the Efficient Cause or that which 〈◊〉 occasion calls for for many times the violence of the Effect must be remedied before the Cause can be medled with 11 The Place and by what Way the Figure and Scituation of the place declares 12 Parts declared are they which help those declaring 13 They are either Primary or Secundary 14 Primary is three-fold Preservative Curative and 〈◊〉 15 Indication Preservative shews the Antecedent Cause of a Disease which must be taken away by its contrary 16 Preservative Indication is taken 1 From the Internal or Antecedent Cause 2 From the Substance of the Matter offending 3 From the Quality of the abounding Humor 4 From the Motion of the Peceant Humor 17 From the Motion of the Peccant Humor is a four-fold Remedy indicated Viz. First 〈◊〉 which is done divers waies Viz. By Bleeding Cupping Glasses Rubbing of the opposite part Binding Hot Baths Clysters Blisters c. Secondly Intercepting Medicines which stop the Passages that the Humor cannot come to the afflicted place whence they are called Defensive and to be given in the intervalles of the fit Thirdly Such as draw the Humors from the part afflicted to another part Fourthly Such as Repress and Repel the Humor as al Binding Medicines 18 The Curative Indications of a Disease are such as are remedied by contraries 19 It is either Simple which is the Indication of a Simple Disease Or Compound which is the Indication of a Compound Disease 20 An Indication of a Simple Distemper is Cold of a hot Disease Heat of a cold Disease Driness of a moist Disease Moisture of a dry Disease Hardness of a soft Disease Softness of a hard Disease Antidotes and Counter-poysons to Venemous Pestilential and Contagious Diseases 21 Indications of an evil Composition is Reduction as making strait crooked things making rough such things as are smooth and smooth such things as are rough lessening and encreasing Members c. 22 Conservative Indication is maintaining things by their likes 23 The Foundation of Medicine lies in this To preserve things by their likes and take away things by their contraries Mathematical Indications 1 Mathematical Indications are taken from the change of the Celestial Bodies which by their Benevolent or Malevolent Intercourse work alterations in our Bodies Therefore Galen Hippocrates and Avicenna all harp'd upon the same string That whosoever was a Physitian must needs be an Astrologer 2 This Indication consists in the conservation of Health in the seasonable application of a Medicine and in the opening of a vein 3
Preparations are pleasant LIB V. Of the Common 〈◊〉 of preparing Medicines by the Art of the Apothecary 1 IN the Preparations of Medicines are to be considered The Cause and Effect The Cause is either Efficient or Final 2 The Efficient Cause is either Active or Instrumental Active is either Primary as God and Nature Or Secondary as the Apothecary 3 The Apothecary acteth by Heating Insolation Cooling Quenching Moistning Nourishing Infusion Softning Melting Dissolving making salt colouring perfuming preserving cutting clipping filing rasping washing beating rubbing scraping pressing straining boyling putrifying sifting Extracting scumming clarifying distilling by Asconsion and Desconsion 4 The Instruments of an Apothecary are Stills Mortars Knives Shears c. 5 The End is double 1 The Preservation of Health and restoring it being lost 2 The Preservation of Beauty and restoring it being lost 6 The Effects consists in the Remedies prepared which is 1 In the Substance 2 In the Adjuncts As the Form Order Time of during and Shop they are kept in 7 From the manner of the Substance Compound Medicines are some for Health some for Ornament Those which regard Health are either taken inwardly or applyed outwardly The Method of Curing is First to take away the Cause Afterwards to correct the Symptomes 8 Such as are taken inward are some Fluid and some not fluid Such as are Fluid are either more or less Fluid 9 Such as are more Fluid are Waters Wines Decoctions 〈◊〉 Vinegars Less Fluid are Syrups Julips c. 10 Such as are not Fluid are either Moist or Dry. Such as are Moist are Balsoms Electuaries Conserves Preserves Lohochs Rob Muccilages Extracts 11 Such as are Dry are Pills Lozenges Troches Powders c. 12 Such as are outwardly applyed are Oyls and Oyntments Bathes Cataplasmes and Plaisters c. 13 Such Medicines as either preserve or restore Beauty are either Moist or Dry c. LIB VI. Of the Chymical Preparation of Medicines 1 ALchymy is an Art perfecting Medicines reducing pure Essences from mixt Bodies That so the 〈◊〉 may be the purer healthfuller and safer 2 The Object of Alchymy is a mixt Body which is Dissolvable and subject to 〈◊〉 3 Mixt Bodies are of Three kinds 1 All kind of Plants and all their Parts as Roots Barks Branches Flowers Leavs Fruits Seeds Gums Rozins c. 2 The Seven Mettals All Minerals and Stones both Precious and not Precious Salts and Juyces 3 Living Creatures either whole or their Parts or that which comes of them as Milk Egs and Cheese 4 In Alchymy is to be considered the Signification of the Words and Medicines and the preparation of them 5 In the Preparation we are to consider the Composition and Preparation it self Of the Composition or Mixture of Medicines we have told you before what Opinion Alchymists have The Requisites of Composition are Measure and Dose 6 In Preparation consider the Cause and Effect The Cause is Efficient or Final The Efficient is acting or helping Acting is the Alchymist who acteth by Solution and Coagulation 7. The Parts of Chymycal Operation are two Solution and Coagulation or if you please Corruption and Generation 8 Solution is the First part of Practical Alchymy which takes a part the Compositions of Medicines and attenuates them 9 It consists in Calcination or Dissolution Calcination is done by Corroding or Burning 10 Burning is done either by Combustion or Reverberation Combustion is turning into ashes or into Glass Reverberation is either shut or open which is done by the Fire of the Furnace 11 Dissolution is when Bodies are dissolved and it is either Subtil or Fusive Subtil is either Microcronical or Macrocronical Microcronical is either Elevation or Descention Elevation is Dry or Moist Dry is called Sublimation Moist Distillation 12 Distillation is either Right or Oblique 13 Descension is either Cold or Hot. Hot is that which is usually called Distillation by Descention Cold Descention is either Deliquium or Filtration All things that are dissolved by Cold are coagulated by Heat 14 Macrocronical is Exaltation or Digestion Exaltation is Circulation and Ablution Ablution is Imbibition or Cohobation 15 Digestion is either Putrefaction or Extraction Putrefaction is to change the old Nature of a thing into a new 16 Fusion or Liquefaction is Simple or not Simple and performs its Office either by Ashes or Antimony 17 Coagulation is the second part of Alchymy which by privation of Moisture reduceth moist Bodies into Solid 18 It is Cold or Hot. To Coagulation is referred Fermentation and Fixing 19 You have the Efficient Cause acting The Helping follows viz. Place and Fire 20 The Place or the Subject of the Matter is either that which receives the vessels as a Furnace Or that which receives the Matter as vessels 21 In the Furnace are to be considered the Parts and Differences The Parts of a Furnace are four 22 The Differences of Furnaces are various according to their different Uses of which some are open some shut 23 Such as are open are called either Probatorius Domesticus or 〈◊〉 24 A shut Furnace is either Simple or Compound Simple is either for Calcination or Dissolution For Calcination is either Cementatory or Reverberatory 25 Dissolving is either by Ascention or Descention By Ascention is either Dry or Moist By Descention is that where by we dissolve the Matter by driving the moisture downwards 26 Compound Furnaces are First 〈◊〉 which is also called Phylosophicus and Arcanus Secondly 〈◊〉 where by one fire and little labor divers Furnace are cherished Others called Piger Henricus 27 To these are added Instruments which Alchymists use as Iron Tongs Iron Plates Bellows c. 28 You have the Subject receiving the Vessels into it The Vessels which receive the Matter follow 29 Of the Vessels some are put to the fire some are not Those which are put to the fire are either made of one Matter or else of divers 30 Vessels made of one matter are either of Glass or Mineral 31 Of Glass is either a Phial or Circulatorium Glasses are used in Solutions and Coagulations 32 The Circulatoria are of divers kinds of which three bear away the Bell A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Phylosophical or Hermetical Egg. 33 A Mineral vessel is either Mettal or Earth Mettal serves either for Subtillation or Infusion For Subtillation is made either of Brass or Bladder For Infusion is a Funnel 34 Earthen Vessels contain either the Matter it self or other vessels 35 They which contain the Matter it self are either Fusory or not Fusory 36 Those which contain other vessels are Kettles Cauldrons Earthen Pans Crocks Trevets 37 Vessels which are chosen according to the pleasure of the Workman are made of Earth Glass Mettals c. Some of these are Superior some Inferior Superior as Alembicks Inferior as Retorts c. 38 You have the Instruments and the Place Heat and Fire follows 39 Heat is Natural or Artificial Natural is by the Beams of the Sun 40 Artificial is Simple or Mixed Simple is by Digestion or Separation 41 Digestion is by Anthannor or Horsedung or Hay or Straw 42 Heat separated is either gentle or strong Gentle is of a Bladder or Ashes Strong is either Impedited or Free Impedited is of Sand Filings of Iron 43 Free heat is of Coals either with flame without flame or Reverberatory 44 A mixt heat is that which serves both for digestion and separation and is called a Bath Baths are two sold Balneum Mariae and Balneum Roris namely when the Vessel is heated by the Ascending Vapor 45 You have the Efficient Cause The final Cause of Preparation is The preservation of Health and other uses belonging to the Life and Ornament of Man 46 You have the Cause The Effects follow which consists in the Order of preparing Medicines and their application to Dileases 47 From the Substance some Chymical Medicines conduce to Health others to Ornament Such as conduce to Health are either fluid or not fluid Fluid are Waters Spirits Tinctures Oyls and Quintessences c. Such as are not fluid are Balsoms Extracts Salts Flowers Sublimates 〈◊〉 Glasses Regulus and Chymical Pouders c. 48 To my God alone in Trinity and Unity be all Honor and Praise for ever and ever Amen FINIS