Gentleman and his wise coming in kindness to visit the Gentlewoman both of them having had Extraordinary Experience of the safety and Effectualness of the Medicines in manifold dangerous cases I took the opportunity to desire them to acquaint her who had sole charge of the Child with what they knew touching the fitness and innocency of Salus and Radix in this case which they did so throughly that my perswasions which till then were fruitlâ—ss prevailed so far That throughout that night there was given to the Child every two hours a spoonful of Salus which by the morning had brought the Child into so hopeful a condition that afterwards my Directions were exactly and without scruple followed under which it so thrived that in short time proved a perfect and joyful recovery both of the mother and her little daughter Many more instances of their performances I might here recite were not these more then sufficient to satisfie the ingenious that their virtues are still fresh permanent and prevalent not of a dying or a declining nature as divers boasted Medicines have proved but of so constant lively and efficacious performance as gives just encouragement to believe they can never fail any rational expectation in any disease whatsoever And as it is from this undoubted assurance of their innocency and efficacy that I have thus frequently pressed their use the very same reason still urgeth me thus far further to affirm that in this important cause of health or for the disconsolate times of sickness It is not possible in my apprehension for any to do themselves or their Relations a greater good Than to be constantly furnished with such of them as in their rational observation of their vertues They shall judg most requisite for their occasions Yea even Practisers of Physick how hardly soever they may brâ—ng their minds to it ought in special manner throughly to consider their powerful benignity and in tender respects to the weighty trust reposed in them freely and fully to direct their use thereby avoiding all the troubles and dangers of other Physick untill from their own Studies they are provided of Medicines of like benignity Which yet they are to know will never be compass'd whil'st they give esteem to so many insignificant Notions and conceptions referring to Principles Methods and Medicines set so high a value upon Antimony Quicksilver and Opium are so little acquainted with the true humane temperature and so regardless of the improvement of their pallats to the discerning the proprieties Spirits of Materials without serious regard and conformation whereunto the Aâ—tist sails but by a bought or borrowed and imaginary wind without Needle or Compass and never arive at any worthy production Besides where Nature gives not promptitude and as one instances well a Teeming Constitution though Art and Learning may abound pertinent invention will be to seek and new Discoveries fail as the compleatest Laboratories do frequently manifest The native genius being the Artsmans Alkahest and of more worth than that so much talk't of rarity was ever yet to any for any commanding medicine as yet appeareth except in boast from its assistance Or rather like unto the Archeus to one that had the Alchahest in forming his paâ—lat how to distinguish of every part lai'd open to view and whereof rightly to choose and regularly to dispose for the advance of cure The want of which native Energie hath in studens been the occasion that Chymistry hath lately abounded to its own disparagement yielding nothing comparable to the noble countenance given unto it For who now will not be a Chymist whether Nature hath fitted him thereunto or not So the famous Orator would needs make his son an Orator but long labour in vain Taught him his native temperature was not for it And if after his Father was gone he should at any time need an Orator He was to make use of anothers Fancy brain and Eloquence and which he might do without disparagement for no man makes himself He that wants an Excellent Musitian seeks for one Naturally so adicted And if the most Exquisite Mathematitian thinks no disparagement to make use of Instruments made by another hand and invented by another head why should a Physitian deem himself dishonour'd to make use of the long approved safe Productions of another mans Invention especially considering that no Science so material unto man depends so wholly upon native promptitude as this of Medicine There being no Rule unto Conception nor Instruction to direct the Pallats Election Upon which the whole of all Improvements necessarily dependeth When all men are alike every one will produce a like but till then one will still need anothers aid He that in this Warfare will use no weapons but such as he knows how to make himself would hardso venture upon a Combate were his own life concern'd But I shall leave this to the sole perswasion of time though I daily see manifest inconveniencies for want of their general reception into practise And so I return to my advice for Families Whom yet I Iwould willingly and fully possess of this important Truth before I put a period to this Discourse viz. That how ever it be taken and justly for a great happiness to be recovered immediately by safe means upon a suddain illness And reckoned upon good grounds like life from the death to be raised to health and strength from a tedious and dangerous fiit of sickness by safe and kindly Medicines free from all hazards and disturbance unto both which most remarkable ends in Physick the Medicines afore proposed are effectually adapted yet is there no benefit or advantage so desirable or in it self so truly valuable as where by a timely providence and foresight you make use of them to keep you in constant health and chearfulness where-unto I verily believe there is not any thing so proper or so effectually prevalent being used according as afore is specified nor any thing that doth more highly commend their qualifications it being no common strain of Vertue for the same particulars to be so poweâ—ful as to subdue the most violent Distempers and yet so familiar as to be a most pleasant strengthner and fortifier against all the ordinary assaults of time and accidents And which compleats the wonder of their vertue as small quantity in sickness doth as effectually and as speedily relieve one constantly using them in times of health as it doth those who never before knew or took them At so true an amity are they with humane nature and so matertally do they differ from all other Physical Preparations And as I have deemed these very worthy your se rious notice so also that you heedfully observe the vast difference between those who recover out of any considerable sickness having run the usual Tract of Physick and those who are raised from the beds of sickness by these kindly Medicines How pale weak and crazy the one long languish liable to relapses upon every
Physitians or Chyrurgions near him which unnoted by him or his dearest Friends might perplex nullifie the operation of these Medicines Nevertheless by Degrees he gaind so much strength or rather so much courage as to resolve for London where with difficulty he arrived But his residence being near to a Physitian his friend and being then on the suddain Extream ill he fell into the general course of Physick which held a long time and had very various successes very much through a strange unchect liberty he took in Diet helping himself notwithstanding now and then with a large Bottle of Radex and at length got so much strength as to adventure to refresh himself in the Country But withal depending so much upon my Medicines that he caused to be sent immediately after him 7 pints of Vis vitae and 2 pints more before he came back and through mercy returned so well as to pursue his occasions and which hath not since failed him and seems still to have as high if not a more high Esteem of these Medicines and I believe he hath good cause for it or he would not as he since hath done commended their use to his best Friends in all their occasions And I conceive under God ascribes unto them very much of his preservation It being also very presumable his recovery had been far sooner and more perfect had he not been diverted but solely depended on their assistance 12. A young Lad taken suddenly so Extream ill and Feverish that the Mother knowing his weak nature doubted he could not live twice two ounces of Vindex for two nights given him prov'd to his recovery 13. The same Lad a while after fell into another Distemper lying continually in a senseless stupid condition I gave him 2 ounces of Vindex mixt with half an ounce of Ignis vitae for one night and the like for next night which perfectly cured him 14. A young Gentlewoman always upon taking cold and preternatural stoppages Extreamly afflicted with sharp violent pains all over her body but more especially in her head never fail'd of recovery by the use of Radix vitae in the day-time to the quantity of half a pint taken by little and little and by six ounces of Vita naturae taken by two ounces a night for three nights together 15. A young Boy far off in the Country being accustomed to Extream fits of Crying a Gentleman related to the Family noting how he writhed his body at such times told the Parents he was perswaded the Child was troubled about the passage of his Water and being well acquainted with my Medicines advised the use of Vis vitae which being given day and night by little and little perfectly cured him wherein they used about three pints or two quarts at most which was no great cost for persons of Quality 16. A youth about seventeen strong and healthful upon a suddain without any manifest cause became Extreamly ill with violent pains in his head sickishness at his stomack sore all over his body with some Giddiness it was a time when the Small Pox was very rife but he having had them and my advice instantly taken I thought it best to arm as if it might prove the Pestilence and so gave him three ounces of Vindex and a good quantity of Radix to use little and little refreshing himself therewith continually But for all this a Vomiting seased him with Extream thirst and restlessness and binding of his body I wisht his Kinred might be acquainted how he was and to resolve what course to take But it fell out the principal of them within reach understood my way earnestly desiring I would proceed upon which I plyed him continually with Salus vitae till at length the Small Pox plentifully appears and being ordered accordingly with due care he soon began to feel his stomack and strength so far that he presumed one morning to rise without a fire in his Chamber or warming any of his Clothes unknown to any body This struck him down and the Wheals began to grow flat Then his Friend who had the chief care of him being tome to Town he began to be troubled that he was under an unusual Course of Physick ordering one of his own acquaintance to take the charge of him But this the youth refused as being satisfied with the way he was in and so was the Physitian to whose care he was referred which was somewhat rare So I fell to work a fresh with Vindex Salus Radix and the like and in short time recovered him to so much strength as made him so fond therewith that one of his Familiars coming to visit him out of mirth and sportfulness he urged him to sing with him some merry Catch but the party disliking so simple a motion fell into more seriousness with him that he was but newly escaped from as dangerous a Sickness as ever any did that though he were sure the worst was past as for his part he as yet was not other thoughts would better become him But to deal plainly with you said he what ever you think there may be but a step betwixt you and Death and therefore it is fit you better prepare your self But this well meant advice wrought so much farther then he intended that it had like indeed to have cost him his life making so deep an impression that there was no perswasion of any possibility of life so that I was forced to redouble my Cordials and others to convince him that there was no fear of his present Distemper And that now he had nothing to trouble his thoughts withall but how to be thankful to God and walk worthy of so great a Deliverance which at length cured and restored him But may serve for Caution not to lay too much weight upon weak minds in times of sickness nothing being more killing then the affright of Death 17. No sooner was he recovered but the maid that attended him throughout his sickness fell Extreamly ill highly Feverish with intollerable Gripings and pains all over her body But being plyed with Vindex Salus and Radix and at length with Vis vitae in respect to stoppages in four days she perfectly recovered 18. A Gentleman about 30. taken with vehement pains in his left side with stoppage of his breath and thereby in such Extremity that he could hardly speak and then crying out he must either bleed or die Yet when Bleeding hath given him no relief or so little that his misery hath soon returned upon him A quarter of a pint of Vindex hath clearly discharged the fit And when in process of time he hath been troubled again in like manner he hath found speedy remedy by a quarter of a pint of Stella or at most half a pint Other times by as much of Refugium for he hath often been so afflicted yet could never be induced to condescend to any course for rooting out the cause of the Distemper And that because he
indeavoured all I could and bent all my Studies for the obtaining of such kindly and Powerful Medicines as thereby safely to avoid and wholly to abandon all those troublesome painful hazardous and dangerous operations and Ingredients too to usual in practice It being too sad a time to add affliction to affliction as I have much comfort therein so I conceive my charitable intentions sufficiently justified by the Text The truly Christian Vertu eof Compassion being as essentially needful in a Physitian as in the most tender hearted Samaritan and without an eminent proportion whereof what ever other parts or Arts abound none ought in justice to be owned as a competeut Helper in times of such necessity Nor did I decline the common Road of Physick for any other cause Imaginable but for its manifest uncertainty in Principles Roughness Harshness and Cruelty in Methods Impropriety Impotency and danger in Medicines Nor found out any way to relieve my understanding when first at so great a loss but by withdrawing my thoughts from out the wilderness of all the uncertain Notions and Guesses of Philosophy and giving them free liberty in the walks of Scripture Where the true Original of man the sole subject of Physick hid from Phylosophy being apparent and the sublimity of the true Humane Temperature thence deducible I soon discerned that all miscarriages in Phisick proceeded from the admission of gross virulent and dangerous materials into practice together with other Rugged and Boysterous handling And for want of assimulating all Helps and Helpers in times of sickness more agreeable to the distinct purity of mans Nature Upon which noting with great circumspection every the least Glance or Lustre of this my surest Guider the Scriptures insinuating any spark of instruction towards the appropriation and power of Medicines It was not long before I apprehended a possibility of obtaining all Effects attainable in Physick solely by kindly and pleasant means void of all noxious operations or mischievous Materials In persuance whereof I concieve it very conducible to my end to confine every of my Medicines to such qualifications of what specifick intention soever as being such should necessarily answer all my aims and expectations and which since proving in their performance accordingly I have deemed it a considerable advantage to the Science of Physick to propose those their peculiar qualities as sure Marks of Real Medicines whereby to distinguish those which are fit and proper for Humane Constitutions and Rational to be relied on in all cases from those which are not as by the sequel of this Discourse will more fully appear An undertaking in the whole of so strange a Difficulty that I have many times since wondred I was not astonished and utterly disheartned at the first conception Nevertheless assisted as I have said and as I verily believe with very Effective Propensions in Nature and with a Palate suitably exercised in the Discerning of the Spirits and bent to the Discovery of the Vertues of materials whereby all Compounds as well as Simples lay open to my assistance with a mind thus furnished and prepared resolving neither to flatter nor indulge my self in trifling insignificant Attainments nor to be startled in so Worthy and Needfull an Attempt by any Difficulties with due Submissions I proposed my End made choice of Materials wrought them into the consistence and Qualities of real Medicines satisfied my Palate in their tast proved them upon my self and as cause required either altered or immediately fixt them for general Use and Practise In which way of proceeding in process of time I became so happy as to satisfie my reason in the Production of so large a variety of kindly and powerful Medicines so Equally proportioned to mens Natures and so peculiarly qualified for particular Distempers as sufficed for all Occasions and Necessities And which ever since they had a being have with that constancy wrought so many remarkable Cures that I now deem my self bound in duty to propose them as the most proper Physick for Families according to the Titles judging I should highly offend if I should fail of my uttermost endeavour to beget a right and thorow understanding of their performances And this not only because of the manifest good they bring with them in theiruse with safety but also for that absolute exemption from all those troublesome painful hazardous and dangerous proceedings with which the general course of practise is sadly and grievously encumbred A brief view of the particulars whereof may here be needful that every one may see and lay to heart how much more dreadful painful and Dangerous the afflicted times of sickness are thereby rendred and what an unspeakable happiness it would be both to all Conscionable Compassionate Physitians and all considerate Patients to have such Medicines alwayes in readiness by which all those Evils and Inconveniences may Safely and securely be avoided The first of which molesters of the sick in the usual course of practice are commonly Glisters which how innocent and harmless soever they are esteemed are nevertheless attended with more Trouble and Danger then is considered For besides their pressing over hard upon the modesty of the more bashful natures and so Disturbing their minds by the odd position and Distastful handling of the body they also expose very much to the taking or increasing of Colds and exceedingly disorder when Quietness and Sleep are most desirable But how they amaze with fears when they one after another work not at all as often befalls to extream prejudice and how dreadfully they affright when they work too much as sometimes they do in my apprehentsion deserves very much consideration Especially since in their mildest working the state of the body and Distemper may be such as they may prove no less then mortal by diverting and withdrawing the Spirits from their more needful combating the venomous Cause of the Disease to this needless operation and consequently leaving Nature destitute in her greatest extremity Nor is the very manual part how slight so ever the most make of it altogether free from the most feared effect It having been known where a small errour in the Hand administring hath occasioned an incurable Ulcer And therefore all circumstances duly weighed it must be deemed a very great advantage to understand the use of such Medicines as bring an absolute freedom from all those Troubles Hazards and Mortal Inconveniences After Glisters the next afflicter of the sick is generally Bleeding a practice not so frequent in former as in latter times and both highly commended and every whit as much condemned by persons equally Learned So that in this their Trumpet gives an uncertain sound And some who are famous upon Record Esteemed it the more proper work of worthy Physitians to rectifie rather then draw and wast it in times of sickness when Nature most needeth its assistance of which cautious judgment also seem the Chineses and the Bannian Physitians but later times and Operators are at that
reach being indeed of a more sprightly and and subtile Nature then to be discovered by the Eye Hand or Knife of the most skilful Anatomists and only liable to the disquisition of Reason and an ingenious intimate conception And so not to be attempted by such blusterers but by Medicines issuing from the same Fountain such as by their efficacious friendilness to Nature with quietness and safety Extinguish venoms and enable her in all her faculties towards the clear discharge of all distempers And such being to be had as in the sequel hereof will evidently appear one would think there were no need to perswade either Physitians or patients to make an exchange where the differences of operation and hopefulness of the Event are so plainly manifest Now if Purging as they call it be thus justly chargable with so many evils and mischiefs what can be said in behalf of Vomiting the most Rugged Churlish and cruel of Physick tearing and rending and torturing both Stomach Bowels Heart Brain Lungs and Throat in so hidious a manner as hardly any corporal punishment can be imagined to exceed it in pain and misery And yet though often reiterated as it often befalls in many Distempers to intollerable torment is never the less so uncertain in its Effects as that no relief with any certainty can be promised thereby but fills distressed patients one while with fears when it worketh not and when it worketh with greater fears of working too much There being sad Examples of both viz. where they have stayed in the body without any expected operation and so destroyed the patient And also where the working hath been so violent and so continual as hath never ceased but with the Expiration of the sick And where these Extreams have not been yet the failing of both men women and children is so frequently ascribed to Vomits that its wonderful they are not Excluded quite out of use Besides where Minerals are the main Agents in this unhappy work it is incredible how mischievous their present tortures and after worse than mortal inconveniencies have proved conveying and entailing most Horrid pains and distempers from Generation to Generation to all Posterity without hope of remedy which though in process of time are judged to proceed either from the Scurvy or foul Disease and to end in Consumptions or Kings Evil yet driving the inquiry back to its Root generally it hath been found that the Original Cause hath much more justly belonged to unwholsome Purgers or Vomiters taken in way of Physick And when with their violence they have thrown up never so great a quantity of ugly â—opy or filthy stuff which is often shewed to Patients and friends as if now the Disease must needs be wrought upon and near its Extirpation it truly proveth no more but the Venomous Nature of the Medicine the Disease for the most part rather advancing than retreating and receiving rather an addition of strength then any miâ—tgation from such mischievous helpers Seeing thus it generally is with Vomits though sometimes they may perform what may be taken for a good Office yet since they do it not through any benignity in them but by disturbance and the consequence being certainly dangerous why should so troublesome a mischief-working-operation be longer retaind in practise or be imposed as necessary upon distressed patients in time of sickness and not rather gladly remitted for such truly vertuous Medicines as through their powerful friendliness to Humane Nature being taken into the body perform with ease and safety only what the present necessity of the body requireth so as if the Disease be such as requireth the emptying of the Stomach throweth up or carryeth downwards so much and no more but what is requisite for promoting the most speedy recovery without any possibility of any after inconvenience as hath been the constant prevalence of those real Medicines herein proposed And in Reason may well deserve the serious thoughts of all ingenious persons before they are further engaged in ways so uncertain and dangerous though of never so long continuance The next prescription in Physick is commonly Sweating which is attempted either with the vulgar Waters Electuaries or Powders or else with Mineral Preparations and had it not been for the known uncertainty and deficiency of the former there had been no recourse to the latter which instead of proving a sure Refuge in time of need hath generally treated the distressed with like adulation as hers who cut the locks or struck a nail into the Temple frequently outsweating all the powers of Nature or running madly out into salivation or perpetual spetting which are the ordinary Extravagant Effects of Quicksilver and Antimony though under the most boasted Preparations and whereof there are so many sad stories as needs a Vail to cover their mischievous treacheries and are more then enough if but a little hearkened after to induce all rational persons for ever to renounce both the giving and taking of them into their bodies upon any occasion whatsoever Yet if there be any who nevertheless will retain a confidence of the safety of their preparations see them take them themselves before you take them and then you have some assurance for your great adventure But for me who deem it irrational that any thing should be given to the sick which is not safe and good for the healthful and who am undoubtedly assured that there are Medicines as securely to be used in all Cases as Milk to Children which yet in the most desperate Cases are full as speedy and as certainly prevalent as ever was pretended from those so extreamly hazardous and dangerous Minerals and that too with very little or no sweating at all but ever without Exhausting the spirits drying or binding of the body or any other after inconveniencies having always in readiness plenty of such as these and approved for such by continual performances I hope I may pass without blame though I retain my judgment and press thus earnestly for an exchange where the advantage to every one is so manifestly weighty and material The nexr sore troubler of the sick are Vescicatories or Raisers of small and great Blisters by irksome fretting if not venomous Plaisters somtimes flaying off all the skin from the backs otherwhiles the shoulders leggs or wrists the neck head c. to extream torments especially when those raw places are rub'd and irritated for diversion of venomous inflammations hidious Curses and Excrations having been noted the impatient Effects of such cruelties of which Nature also are the use of Cupping Glasses drawing of Silk through the Neck-skin Leeches and Issues all full of pain hazard and danger And as the Event proveth them frequently fruitless as to the removal of any Distemper so are they wholly needless where real Medicines are in being and must henceforth be accounted the more intollerable since it is known so many notable Cures have been performed without any such tedious assistants solely by such Medicines Then
for cutting off the Hair Capping and Plaistering the Head they are all but troublesome Operations to the sick very seldom proving successful either in Consumptions or for removal of inveterate pains for which ends they are most used and with more advantage might be spared in liew of safe and powerful Medicines And so also were it happy if Patients in like manner were rid of Opium let what will be said of its several Rectifications for whether it be used in the Ladanum or otherwise the Event is oftentimes so suddenly and so unexpectedly and so unavoidably dangerous that the knowledg of its aptness to miscarry as it hath done with divers is more then enough to make every Dispenser of it to tremble during the whole time it is in the Patients body And therefore in reason should gladly be left and abandoned for ever having never since I have been furnished with the Medicines herein specified though in the most violent distempers seen any occasion for the use of so critical helpers that instead of rest and sleep like treacherous flatterers stroak and stab and give Death it self in the same instant to the horror and amazement both of Physitians and bewailing relations Which by truly good and real Medicines might be safely avoided such by their efficacious prevalence against the venom of the Distemper in short time not failing to introduce an unenforced well proportioned sleep not only void of all possibility of danger but without sickishness upon waking afrer-dotages weakness of the Nerves or any dispiriting of the Animal Faculties Palsies Vertigoes Apoplexies the frequent Issues of opumated Medicines And therefore though I am far from wishing so much evil to the Practisers with Opium that every of them should be obliged to take the same quantity which at any time they prescribe which yet is one of the Rules I always bind my self to in whatsoever I advise yet I do heartily wish that the whole Old Method of Physick aforementioned in all the particulars of Glisters Bleedings Purgings Vomitings Sweatings by Minerals Issues Cuppings Blisterings c. were all so well and throughly opiated stupified and laid asleep for ever that they might never more rise again in Reputation with Physicians or ever more be readmitted by distressed Patients But that both out of a most powerful ingenuity which most good Consciences are full fraught withall And out of a deep sense of the manifold mischiefs incident to that way would freely and fully forsake them all and exchange them for the use of such true and real Helpers as are known to perform the utmost in all Cases that can be expected from Medicine and that with so much mildness and safety as disturbs not nor hazards the weakest in their Operations And which both by Physitians and â—â—tients And all persons and Families may certainly be known to be such and plainly to differ from all Medicines that are not such By these Marks following 1. A truly benign Medicine fit for the Sublime Humane Nature ought to be liquid transparently clear pure and pleasant for reasons expressed in my touchstone of Physick so powerful as to subdue the most violent Distempers and yet so mild as the weakest women and children may partake thereof in any case without hazard And for assurance the Prescriber is to take the same quantity he gives upon any occasion 2. All such kindly and real Medicines ought to be so qualified that if taken by Men Women or Children in Health shall no ways move their bodies but nourish and cherish them But if by any in sickness the same quantity from their effectual friendliness to humane Nature in due time shall either binde or loosen vomit or stay vomiting sweat or restrain excessive sweating give rest in case of restlesness or with-hold from immoderate sleep as the instant necessity of the body needeth or as conduceth most to Recovery 3. And lastly They ought to be no perishable Commodities which prove but weak and defective helpers but such as close stopt keep good for years in all Climates without any Diminution of their vertues never failing or decaying upon their hands who furnisheth themselves therewith either for Sea or Land or that rely and depend upon them for relief in any their occasions or necessities These are the Marks which are sufficient for proof of the fitness or unfitness of all Medicines whatsoever and for detection of all such as may and no doubt will be counterfeiting of these or at least some of them as soon as they grow into any Estimation and are called for by the sick Then who that practises will be without some such spiritful preparation about them that so it may be thought they are not wanting in any thing for their recovery well it were if it were so indeed But being really such they are then not to molest their Patients either with Purgings Vomitings Bleedings Issues Glisters Blisters nor with any thing of Antimony Quicksilver or Opium there being no need of such hazardous and dangerous operations or operators but are all totally to be abandoned where there are Medicines of those absolute Marks and Qualifications so as if in the least they tamper one while with a Glister anotherwhile with a Purge or a Vomit c. though now and then they should give a Dose resembling such as these it signifies just nothing but that they would seem to have as much as any when at the same time it is manifest they themselves have no confidence therein nor no dependence thereupon but according to their old Mode are fain on all occasions to have recourse to their old perplexed medlyes therefore it s good to be wary and to note all such Counterfeitters of Medicines as but Counterfeit Practisers more mindful of their own reputations then of the recovery of their Patients the Marks are few easy to be minded and to be applyed wheresoever or by whomsoever any Medicines are presented and prescribed and in reason should sway in every ones Election or rejection accordingly Or however for my self I shall never be ashamed to acknowledge that it is to these Marks solely that I have confined all my Medicines And that for this way This untrodden Path in Physick so acquired as I have expressed I have forsaken and abandoned all the troublesome and dangerous courses Materials Operations and Practises forementioned and still see good cause to bless God that ever I was Enabled to make so happy an Exchange for the benefit of mankind at least to so many as the difference of those two wayes shall come to be ingeniously and throughly considered A difference so great the one bringing abundant troubles pains hazards and dangers and attended with weepings woes and lamentations the other with quiet ease safety hopefulness and chearfulness so that the profit of this Exchange in it self rightly understood cannot but appear inestimable and unexpressible yet so hardly with many are old ways left though never so painful and perplexed Or new ways
found these remedies so certain Now these being Pleuretick Distempers and which are not only accompanied with violent pains and heat and pass not off but with the avoidance of an abundance of thick Flegm it would amaze an ordinary Artist that Medicines so hot as these could be so proper and so succesful as these have proved in such Cases and which they often object to disswade their use But as their Objections proceed from want of a due distinction between Vertuous and Vitious heats so hath their constant good success baffled their Objections the Patient being not to be startled from what gives him most sure and certain Remedy for their Groundless if not partial counsell 19. Another Gentleman about 30. Extreamly afflicted with a quartane Ague to quit himself whereof he had run the whole course of Physick but all in vain his cold fits being very turbulent and tedious his hot more long and irksom being accompanied with intollerable thirst and followed with such vehement Sweatings as if he had been in a boyling Bath which sweatings with sickishness also continued as much upon his well nights as upon his ill And being much engaged in business which required his being abroad he was ful of anxious thoughts what to do for relief When one who had good experience of my way recommended him to me so I gave him when he came unto me a draught of Sanguis well heated and a quarter of a pint of Vindex for his Fit which taking twice and not finding remedy he withdrew his hopes and it being not my manner to press any beyond their own minds our Proceedings ceast for above a week he hearkening to his former Councel being possest that if any thing carried off the Cause of so great disturbance it must be Purging and Vomiting Physick which rowsing all parts of the body and voiding so great a mass of ugly coloured and nasty filth the Ague or what ever it be must needs out at last Arguments indeed with custome of knowing no better so powerful as deceives both the Learned and unlearned parts of the whole World and therefore no marvel if it retained this our perplexed Patient as long as he could stand or till he was almost off of his legs But at length wearied and tired out Discoursing again with his friend he told him he was to blame to Desist from my way so soon that he was certain it was a sure way and if followed would not fail Why says he why did he not tell me so then He did says his friend and I told you so too but you regarded it not besides says he you are to urge him to do his utmost and to spare for no cost if you mean to be cured and not to expect that he should press you that having such a shew of self respect as is abhorred by all ingenious Artists Upon this he returns to me again and Earnestly desires me to do my utmost for him that he would with all his heart give twenty pounds to be cur'd of his Distemper Whereupon I fell to work amain giving him Radix to carry always about him and to drink it in good quantity continually Also to take every night at resting time 4 ounces of Salus and not to rise too soon in the morning Then for his fit he was to take a quarter of a pint of Vindex either a little before or just upon its entrance And in his hot fit to sip continually of Salus vitae And if thirst enforced to relieve by White-wine Posset or now and then with Table Beer and tost Sugar so pursuing this course for about ten Days the whole work was finished and he perfectly recovered And this without spending much more of his twenty pounds then fifty shillings so far have I ever been from putting any to farther charge than meerly necessary though it be very much to my Encouragement to have the whole in all respects wholly referred to me Nor with me shall any over speed the worse for so doing nor is any thing more improper or absurd than in sickness either to starve their Cause or to trust to halves But though this Gentlemans Ague were quite discharged and Strength and Stomack restored and all faculties in Due State and good Condition Yet being performed without Purging Vomiting Bleeding Issues or Blisters or Sweaters Except such as restrain'd and put an end to his most violent sweating this seem'd so strange a Mystery to those in whose hands he had been that they told him the work was but falacious could not be perfect but would either return upon him or bring him into some more dangerous Distemper and this he would certainly find if he did not speedily take some fit Purgative to carry off the Relicks Now though this somewhat prevail'd with him as it doth upon most yet he would be so ingenious as to tell me what was said before he would take any thing I told him they were so accustomed to that course that it was no wonder they thought it necessary But for him that had seen the Impotence of their Purges and Vomiters as to the subduing of his Distemper and the powerfulness of those Medicines that did subdue it for him to doubt that which had performed so far above his hope and upon which he found himself so compleatly well would leave Relicks that must want the help of such nasty miserable helpers should give the least Ear or yield in the least thereto would argue him a fit Subject to be play'd upon by every trifler and never more to be assisted by such benigne Medicines as when they had done his work must be made liable to so abominable Disparagement Upon this he seem'd fully fortified against their charming And when next they undertook him and in reply to what he urged from my Discourse said they did allow the Ague was subdued and kill'd But say they admit you kill a Dogg in your house if you let him lie there and not quickly throw him out hee 'l soon make you weary of your Habitation Ergo If you throw not your Dead Dogg out you must look to quit your house afore ye are aware And this frighted him again to me with a witness I smil'd to hear this Syllogistical Conclusion putting out a Candle that was before us I ask't him where was the flame he said it was Exstinguish't I askt him whether there were any Danger to be feared from it he said no I ask't him why he said because it was Extinguish't I told him so it was with his Ague the Venom which caused all his various Disturbances being also Extinguished by the Vertue Efficacy of the benign and powerful Medicines he had taken whose good qualities were such as to leave nothing behind but what they put Nature into an ability to Evacuate And this satisfied him and it was well it did for though it be the common Course and frequently passeth without manifest prejudice yet as here it was