easie Parallel may be produced any one that reflects on the admirable Virtue and force of the Peruvian Tree amidst the Crouds of almost breathless Persons languishing in Fevers Hence it is that so many prolifick Wits have been exercised in explicating its qualities and the doubtful Controversy of the cause of intermittent Distempers some have placed the seat of the Disease in the Mass of Blood as the Celebrated Willis others in the Pancreatick juice grown too Austere as the noted Sylvius de Le Boe others from Salt Humours thrown by the Arteries into the Miliary Glands as the Learned Dr. Iones others in a certain Poyson oppressing the Elastick force of the Animal Spirits as the late Dr. Morton and others in the Nervous juice Vitiated as the accomplish'd Dr. Cole but to make strict enquiries into these several Opinions wou'd be too tedious a matter I shall not therefore insist upon them but passing over these Philosophical disputes shall assign the cause of all intermittent Fevers their Seat and modus In the first place therefore let us suppose all intermittent Fevers to arise from Saline Particles Coagulating the serous part of the Blood the truth of this may be thus render'd apparent as first from the Air the Season of the Year or an Errour in the six Non-naturals in those places where the Atmosphere abounds with Saline Particles as in Moist and Marshy parts there intermittent Fevers Yearly Epidemically rage as in Holland some Parts of the West-Indies in the Marshes of Kent Essex Lincolnshire Lancashire and other the like Countries that the Air does abound with such Particles in such places has been before shown from the Season of the Year it is very clear as about the Vernal and Autumnal Aequinox at which times of the Year above the rest the Air is filled with Saline Particles for at these Seasons Saline Efflorescences are more observable as may be seen on the Lime of Walls and then it is these Fevers rage most That they arise from an Errour of living is very plain from the meaner sort of People who are more subject to them and whose Diet is chiefly Salted or sour Meats to these we may add that after the fit is ended the Urine often is highly Lixivial emitting a Pleasant smell and depositing a Lateritious Sediment which is very familiar in the Scurvy in which case it is allowed by all the Blood abounds with Saline Particles hence we may take notice the Cortex may be of no small use in Scorbutick cases whose success we have Experienced more than once From what has been said it is plain intermittent Fevers arise from Saline Particles Proceed we next to shew the seat of the Distempers and this may be evinced from the following Heads First From Observations in cases and again from the Opinions of the Ancients and their Methods of Cure and after all our own conjectures in the matter As to the Historical part I will first instance in the case of Alexander Rigby of Laton in Lancashire Esq he was seized with a Quartan Ague that continued upon him some Months which Proteus like still alter'd its form many times after theCold trembling fits were pass'd upon approach of a Hot fit he became Epileptick though of no long continuance but by a regular method with the Cortex and other alterative Medicines he perfectly recover'd and lived many Years afterwards The second instance is of Mrs. Clegg Wife to the Reverend Mr. Clegg of Kirkham in Lancashire who for a whole Winter and some part of the Spring had been afflicted with a Quartan Ague which at last alter'd into a double Tertian but alas Instead of those Reciprocal returns usual Convulsive motions succeeded to that degree that for many hours her Limbs were all distorted an Aphonia or loss of Speech seized her so that the very Standers by concluded her Dead Many of these fits she had and then fell into an Hipocondriac Melancholy being called into her relief Apperitive Apozems were prescribed afterwards the use of Mineral Waters and Chalybeats withCatharticks in due intervals by the use of these and the Sulphur Spaw in Yorkshire in about a Month her Melancholy vanish'd but her Aguish fits return'd which were only weakned by the preceding Method the Cortex with the bitter alterative Decoction with Rad. Serpent Virg. were directed which being regularly pursued she recovered Another case on this Topick I 'll produce you of Ann Cambell Wife of Thomas Cambell at Stakes near Preston in Lancashire she was seized likewise with a Quartan in Autumn and for about a Month her fits were regular enough but then a very tragic alteration ensued it seized upon the Nerves and instead of Aguish fits she became Speechless except some inarticulate inward Mutterings her Sense and Memory were lost that for the time she knew no one nor remember'd any thing the day after cruel Spasms disturb'd her and thus she continued for four or five Months about three in the Afternoon the fits came on and after all she labour'd under a severe Anasarca from which and her Quartan by the use of Hydragogues Antiscorbuticks and the Cortex she recovered her former Health From these Historical cases it is evident the Genus Nervosum is effected in intermittent Fevers it now follows in the next place to confirm it by the Opinions and Practice of the Ancients That our Predecessors in Physick were Inferior to us in Anatomy is not to be disputed hence it was they transmitted to us their Sentiments in very Ambiguous expressions however by Comparing their Theory and Practice together we find they placed the cause of intermittent Distempers in a certain Spirit piercing through the Blood and ent'ring even the Penetralia of the Nerves To evince this take Hippocrates's Thoughts our Primitive Standard in Physick let any one consult his Book de Flatibus where they may find he assigns the cause of intermittent Distempers to certain Malignant Spirits commixt with the Animal Spirits I will only produce two instances relating to the thing the first is this Aphorism 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 On which words Duretus thus Comments The Sense of any cold Cause first arises in the Limbs then coursing through the Back effects the Head but still occasion'd by an ill Digestion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In another Aphorism thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on which words the same Author thus proceeds For a Rigour or Chilliness in the Back denotes the Seat of the Distemper there but repeats the words occasion'd by an ill Digestion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Hippocrates said before it is plain from these Aphorisms and Commentaries this Cathectick Habit of the Blood affixt to the Nerves was the cause of intermittent Fevers in pag. 130. 131. he adds thus This cause may be given for the Yawnings and Stretchings which are common Symptomes in this Distemper for the Nerves Tendons and Ligaments by concenter'dBlood grow hot and are contracted and by the Flatus's force are as it were
distorted Hollerius in his second Book of Distempers pag. 23. says It was Customary among the Ancients and practised by the Moderns that besides other Medicines directed before the fit upon its approach to Anoint the Spine Scapulas's and Arms and use the Oil of Chamomel prepared with Wild Cucumers with a Decoction of Rose-Mary in it and other ingredients agreeable in a Palsy so those crass Humours which occasion'd the Quartan and produced the Palsy were prevented In Clusius translated by Christopher Acosta pag. 326. These may be noted In Diurnal intermittent Fevers after the Spine is Anointed with Peruvian Balsome made warm half an hour before the fit let five or six drops of the same be taken in a little Wine as before directed it allays all their Symptoms if repeated twice or thrice Vallesius in his sixth Section of Epidemick Distempers pag. 219. thus proceeds To what was before prescribed the Aegyptian Nitre may be added with Coriander and Cummin Seeds applyed to the Orifice of the Uterus in Barrenness and in intermittent Fevers to the Loins and the whole Spine He alleges the fits arise thence from all which it is evident the Opinions of the Ancients were that all intermittent Fevers arose from a certain Fermentative matter impacted upon the Nerves but knew not how to explain the Modus through their Ignorance in Anatomy which is brought to a Noble perfection in these Days but that is not not so much to our purpose it is sufficient for me to shew these were the Sentiments of the Ancients I cannot therefore see why the noted Dr. Morton in his first Exercitation of intermittent Fevers pag. 72. thus argues against the Ancients in these words Argumentis quae in Hypothesi nostra generali attulimus pensitatis nemo opinor in receptaculis Visceribus aut recessibus ad Mentem veterumCollocabit verum ingremioSpirituum delite scere concedet the arguments duely consider'd which we urged in our general Hypothesis no one I think will place their cause either in the common receptacles the Bowels or other recesses of Nature as the Ancients wou'd but solely in the Spirits since assuredly by the instances quoted the Opinions of the Ancients placed the Causes of intermitting Distempers in the Spirits Having now made it highly probable that intermittent Fevers arise from Saline Particles Coagulating the serous part of the Blood it now remains to shew how it produces these Tragedies and assign the seat of the Distemper Upon the Coagulations accruing in the Mass of Blood the Lympha is render'd too Viscid to be separated by its proper Vessels hence it regurgitates back or forces its way through more open Passages which we may reasonably suppose to be the ConglomerateGlands seated in the Areolas of the Stomach and Bowels hence by repeated Circulatious thoseSalt Humours are discharged upon the Stomach and Bowels first producing but slight Corrugations or Tremblings but afterwards more dismal Agonies these Saline Particles at last entirely entangled in a Viscous Mucus are still hurry'd about and irritate or disturb the Animal Spirits insomuch that the whole Body seems to be in a general Convulsion for now it is the extremities of the Nerves and the Nervous Membranes by consent bring in the Genus Nervosum as first the Par Vagum then the spinal Marrow and all the other Nervous ramifications so that from Head to Foot the whole Animal Oeconomy is disturbed the Saline Particlesat length encountering with the Bile from this Emotion it is those heatsarise those inquietudes and pungent Pains at length precipitated by the Peristaltick motion of the Bowels it enters the Lacteals and Passes into the mass of Blood there fresh disturbances arise as well in the Nervous parts as the whole Habit of theBody till it is partly thrown off by Sweat when I have often observed in many Persons their Sweats to be perfectly of a sour smell and partly by Urine which being highly Lixivial deposites a Lateritious Sediment by reason of the Bilious Particles too much exalted and United with Saline ones But against this Hypothesis many important Arguments may be objected I will Enumerate the most Material First If the Seat of this Distemper be in the Stomach or Bowels or both it is not probable the whole Body should so instantly be shaken as in this Distemper it generally is Secondly We find the Genus Nervosum effected and very severe Symptoms attending as Convulsions Epileptick and Apoplectick fits Thirdly How happens that feebleness and pain of the Loins those Yawning and Stretchings if the Morbifick matter was confined only to the Stomach and Bowels Fourthly If in intermittent Distempers the Lympha was grown too Viscous How comes it the whole Body seems to be dissolved in such profuse Sweats Fifthly If they arise from Salt Humours whence comes it that from Salt and Acid things inwardly taken Agonies and Tremblings do not always immediately ensue To these I will Answer in Order To the first although the Morbifick matter be lodged only in the Stomach and Bowels yet by irritating their Nervous Membranes all the Nerves are effected and consequently the whole Body suffers the truth of this is render'd apparent by those instances produced by Wepfer particularly that of the Poisonous Aquatick Hem-Lock where he reports of a Woman who having Eaten of this Root in the space of half an hour was seized with Convulsions a stiff bending forwards and as intensly backwards and likewise with the Cramp in which small time it can scarcely be immagin'd it shou'd enter the Mass of Blood and the Penetralia of the Nerves but after she had taken a Dose of Theriaca mixt with Vinegar the Roots were vomited up entire her Epilepsy ceased and she recover'd others instances he brings like this tryed upon Dogs and Wolves and Cats by Harderus Hurterus and himself where by the use of Cocculus Ind. Nux-Vomica they were seized with Agonies and Tremblings in space of half a quarter of an hour and upon a dissection of them they found the Powders had not pass'd the Stomach but by irritating its Membranes brought in the whole Order of Nerves with the spinal Marrow whence ensued those violent Convulsions and Spasims from all which it may be concluded beyond dispute that the Body may generally suffer though the Morbifick matter be nested only in the Stomach and Bowels More-over who is not sensible that the Histerick Epilepsy arises from the Membranes of the Uterus and that cruel Convulsions Agonies and Tremblings proceed from the Cholick whose Seat is doubtless in the Intestines To these may be added that strong Convulsions arise from the puncture of a Nerve and sometimes from the Herniatomia which things consider'd it seems easy to conceive how Agonies seize the Patient in intermittent Fevers though the Stomach and Bowels are only effected therefore I think my self Excusable to so many Learned Men though I dissent from their Nervous Hypothesis in this case for these following reasons First I cannot think these Salt
fleshy Parts of the Body proceeding from a Collection and stagnation of over-heated Blood Violently flowing upon the Part and disturbing all the inferiour Orders of Vessels around it but these distinctions of inflammations our Modern Authors take no notice of our Celebrated Sydenham makes no difference betwixt Malignity and Inflammation but as the Blood is more or less Inflamed so is the Malignity greater or less as for Malignity it self he condemns it as a subterfuge of ignorance yet explains not what he means by inflammation of the Blood his whole performances rather delineate to us the effects than causes of inflammation The Eminent Morton says the inflammation continues until the Febrile Poyson the Primary cause of inflammation is either expell'd by Art or Nature or that the Spirits sink under it by which account it is very plain he places the causes of inflammation in a certain Poyson oppressing or destroying the Spirits but passes by in silence what that Poison is so Noxious to Human kind so that the inflammation of the Blood thus accounted for amounts to no more nor gives us any clearer Idea of its Aetioligy than that Archaeus of Helmont a meer riddle to himself and all the World or that Light within which directs to greater Obscurity Wepfer was in the right of it when he takes notice of Helmont's Ferment that it was neither Substance nor Accident neither Man Woman nor Hermophrodite so consequently nothing True indeed he acknowledges various Species of Poisons but reduces their Operations all to Occult qualities and to attempt their Explications as he alleges is only a Philosophical trifling but with the leave of so Eminent an Author let us take Oil of Vitriol Spirit of Nitre or any other Menstruum we may readily discern their Effects in Corroding of Flesh or Coagulating the Blood or by a Menstruum prepared from Cantharides the like Phoenomena are produced and all arise from a like cause but must it be no less than madness it self to endeavour their Analisis And must they altogether be solved by Occult qualities If the matter stands thus how comes it that a Philosopher of the first Class is Eminent beyond a Noisy Mountebank Or in relation to Physick how comes it that a regular Physician out-strips a vulgar Emperick Let us suppose a Person making his Observations with Microscopes whether shall we solve the different Phoenomena there by different refractions or by Occult qualities No one certainly in his Senses wou'd take the last for a Rational reply This I know that Sulphureous Saline and Oleaginous Poisons may be prepar'd out of various Bodies nor does it seem unreasonable to me their different effects shou'd be solved by certain Principles For my part let them Delight that will in Darkness and by dusky Notions obscure the sight of Mankind I shall think it no Errour freely to Essay a solution of causes and perhaps to will in some is to effect it To set aside all Controversies of this Nature I will briefly explain what I mean by Malignity or Inflammation of the Blood by an Inflammation of the Blood I mean a Coagulation of its Serous Parts proceeding from certain Saline Austere Acid or Acrid Particles For confirmation of which Hypothesis take the following Experiments In the first place Let Alum or Vitriol be mingled with the Serum of the Blood it straitways passes into a sizy Viscous Coagulum like what is observable on the superficies of the Blood in Malignant inflammatory Distempers In the second place Scorbutick Persons Drinkers of Wine and the Inhabitants near the Sea-Coasts whose Blood doubtless abounds with such Particles are above others subject to these Distempers or how comes it that Bezoardick Medicines are of such Efficacy here unless by absorbing or otherwise altering these Saline Particles for Particles of different kinds will exert themselves and shew their Power that the Animal Spirits by these Medicaments are expanded and excited as some affirm I confess is true but thus I imagine it to be Effected not that the Medicines immediately act upon the Spirits but by destroying the Saline Particles they dissove the Coagulation of the Blood and hence the Animal Spirits unfetter'd in a constant and continued Course perform their waving Motions and like the Sun darting its rays through all the enlighten'd Hemisphere actuate the whole Microcosm and those Noble actions of the Spirits display themselves which were almost extinct in a Viscous Lympha and appeared only as a Star twinkling in an hazy Air and diffused only some Languid Motions through the whole frame of the Body that saying of Hippocrates agrees with this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is an interception of the Spirits in the Veins occasion'd by a severe Obstruction there for this reason it is that Camphir a Natural Sal. Volat. Oleos is so much applauded in Pestilential Diseases by Iunken Ettmullerus and others and this I Experimentally speak that for two or three Years past I made use of Electuar de Ovo in which Camphir is an ingredient and met with desirable success in Malignant Pestilential Fevers and judge it equal to the Noblest Alexipharmics from the whole we conclude that the more or less these Saline Particles are Malignant or Inflammatory the Distemper is more or less Acute or Pestilential For a farther illustration if we drop a little Spirit of Nitre into Blood immediately taken out of the Arm it produces even in the twinkling of an Eye a Black Viscous Coagulum which a solution of Vitriol effects but very slowly and hence it is these Distempers are sometimes called Essential Spurious and sometimes Scorbutick which is attributed to the solutions of Salts of different Kinds Coagulating the Lympha and Contracting and Vellicating the Membranes Nerves and all the Limbs of the Body but against this Hypothesis these Objections occur First In inflammatory Distempers it very often happens the Blood is diluted so consequently cannot be Coagulated as is evident from the frequent large returning Haemorrhagies and from the use of Acids and a slender diet in these Cases Secondly In these Distempers the very first Symptoms sometimes appear in the Genus Nervosum and produce Deliriums continual Watchfulness and Convulsive motions wherefore it may seem reasonable they do not always proceed from a Coagulation of the Blood but rather from the Genus Nervosum To these I reply That doubtless there are Poisons of various Kinds some of which fuse and others Coagulate the Blood as in that Disease called the Plica Polonica and others but the present Controversy is not about these we only enquire now whether those Distempers called inflammatory amongst us whether I say in those the Blood is Coagulated or Colliquated that is made to fluid To the first Objection I answer though there happen sometimes Violent Haemorrhagies in these Cases yet these arise from a Coagulation of the Blood in this manner in many of the Capillary Vessels the Blood being either Coagulated or through its Viscidity moving slowly
the Ore is thus prepar'd if it be that of Tilberthet or Cocklebeg in High-Furness in Lancashire it will then weigh about seventeen Penny-weight and an half After this to run down the Metal proceed in the following Method Take of Crude Tartar and Nitre each one Ounce powder and mix them well together afterwards flux them in a Mortar which is thus done Put an Iron Spatula or any other piece of Iron red-hot into the mixture continually stirring it till the great Emotion ceases powder the remaining part when cool and add to it two Penny-weight of Pit-coal beaten also to Powder mix these with the prepared Ore then put them all into a Crucible place it in a Furnace armed with Bricks with a Wall about a Foot square and as much in perpendicular cover the Crucible with a Plate of Iron to reverberate the heat upon the Ore by which means it more easily fuses let the Bellows be blown with a moderate Blast and keep the Focus of the Furnace from suffocating with Cinder by frequently elevating the Fire with the Spatula or Iron Salamander in about half an Hours time or less the Ore will run which may be discern'd by the violent Boyling of the Salts Then remove the Crucible from the Furnace and strike it easily for some little time upon the Ground which motion makes the Metal more readily to separate from the Scoriae If when the Crucible is thus hot you should immerse it half way in cold Water it is diverting to observe that this glowing Heat emits for a considerable time an actual Flame occasion'd as it is probable by a Concentration of the Igneous or fiery Particles The Crucible being cool you will find at the bottom of it about six Penny weight of Copper so that it is evident the Ore contains betwixt a third and fourth Part of Metal If the Metal occasion'd by the remaining Sulphur should prove brittle after it is thus run down you must then run it down again in the same Furnace by addition of some Saltpetre and by repeating the Fusion twice or thrice you will have a malleable Copper or that which the Workmen call fine Copper This is the best Method for Essaying this sort of Ore that I ever yet could learn nor do I think it can be well effected otherwise The reason why the Saltpetre and Tartar are thus prepar'd is this tho' it is not usual in other Flux-powders because the Ore abounds with so great a quantity of Sulphur If the Saltpetre was not thus bridled with the fix'd Salt of Tartar it would doubtless carry away the greatest part of the Metal I have been inform'd that this Ore when prepar'd as directed above may be run down with Flanders-Ashes and it is very likely it may be so to Experiment which would be highly worth the time of the Gentlemen that are concern'd in Copper Mines for by that means they may perhaps prevent the Expence of repeated Fires which they are at before they can reduce it to malleable Copper These are the most remarkable Phaenomena I have observ'd in Fusion of Copper Ore I proceed next to treat of the Fusion of Lead Ores which is done only by roasting of the Sulphur and afterwards in a common Furnace by running it down with white Wood. This Ore contains a very corrosive Sulphur insomuch that when it was Essay'd in an Iron Vessel I have known it corrode it quite in pieces which Sulphur is I doubt not the occasion of that Distemper the Smelters call the Byon I have in some of these Mines observ'd a liquid Metal not much unlike Quicksilver but cannot aver it to be the same and have frequently in Copper Mines seen small pieces of Virgin Copper malleable without Fusion but how it came to be so I do not determine considering with what difficulty the Metal is ravish'd from its Ore on that Topic therefore I leave every Person to his own Conjecture There is some Lead Ore which contains Silver which after Fusion may be separated from it with Spirit of Nitre and so both the Metals preserv'd But let us consider farther this poysonous Sulphur of Lead which will better be understood by the tragical and various effects which it produces not only upon Human Kind but upon Quadrupedes The other Distemper is by the Miners call'd the Belland which discovers it self in the following Symptoms A continual Asthma or difficulty of Breathing seizes the Patient with a dejection of Appetite his Complexion turns pale and yellowish these are attended with a dry Cough and Hoarseness swelling of the Limbs and Joynts ensue which are render'd useless This Distemper may be taken either by working in the Lead-Mines or by the Fumes of the Ore in smelting of it These very Symptoms happen to Horses and other Cattle these generally take the Distemper either by feeding on the Grass where the Lead-Ore is wash'd or by drinking of that Water In some Horses that have died of this Disease the Ore has been found in Lumps and Masses in the Stomach Let us now enquire into the Cause of these Distempers since it may perhaps seem strange how an Ore without any diminution of its Substance in appearance should so far affect the extreme Parts as to cause them to swell and render them useless In prosecution of w ch I alledge that it is probable the Sulphur of the Lead is a Substance as minute as that of Antimony in Crocus Metallorum which we find by daily Experience will cause most violent Vomitings without the least diminution of its Weight why may not this Sulphur then enter the very Penetralia of the Nerves and in those by its saline Particles produce a Corrugation and by that means obstruct the Influence of such a proportion of Spirits as are necessary to Nutrition Hence the Blood becomes dispirited and performs not its due Circulation but stagnates in various parts of the Body the Serum becomes Effoete and Viscid and thence proceed the Hoarseness Asthma weakness and swellings of the Joynts It is probable this Distemper in the beginning before it has too far affected the Nerves might be cured by repeated Emeticks but after it has once advanc'd to that State all Endeavours are vain In the Discovery of these Mines I do not find that the Miners use the Virgula Divina or the Forked and Virgin Hasel but the Ore generally discovers it self in the Fissures of Rocks and this they follow till they break into the Bole or Trunk of it which resembles the Trunk and its Veins the Boughs of a Tree I have sometimes observed in the Center of a piece of Lime-stone like a Frog involv'd in Amber an entire piece of Ore without any Strings or Leaders directing to it which brings me in the next place to consider the Formation of Ores whether they germinate or are the Exuviae of the Deluge It is affirm'd of the Iron Mines in the Duke of Florence's Country that in 3 Years time the same
extraordinary use in scrophulous Cases either in Powder or Decoction Spatula foetida grows in some parts but very rare Lamium album grows in several places and is a good Anti-strumatic Dulcamara grows very common and is an Anti-scorbutic good in the Jaundice and Dropsies the Bark of it is used and that in infusion Upon the Draining of Martin-Meer several unusual Plants were observable never before seen in these Parts particularly a kind of Grass which grows to a prodigious length and is as sweet as Liquorice this in a very short time fattens Sheep and other Cattle and makes them very delicious Food but then they must be slaughter'd out of it when thorowly fatten'd otherwise they are apt to grow rotten and dye Which Distemper by what I can observe in the Dissection of those Creatures is nothing but an Anasarca or Dropsy of the whole Body and in these we have the fairest opportunity of discovering the Lymphatic Vessels which if thorowly known both as to their Uses and Rise would bring Matters in Physick very near to a Demonstration and in Hydropic Cases might save the Lives of several Persons by having a clear Idea of the Cause of that Distemper in those Creatures Erysimum we have in these Parts and it is of use in Asthma's Consumptions and Dropsies Feverfew grows common a noted Anticsteric and Diuretic White Hoare-hound likewise and is an excellent Pectoral Scabios is plentiful and Tragopogon or Goats-beard of great use in Consumptive Cases Centaury and Celandine are very common and are used in the Jaundice and Intermitting Distempers Asarum grows in several places and likewise Arum or Wake Robin its Water is an Antiscorbutick and the Roots are used in Distempers of the Stomach and the Pica Virginis Enula Campana is very common as likewise Bistort Echiums and Buglosses we have both the Hispidum and Glabrum and Hieracia of several sorts particularly the Lactescens which deserves our strict Enquiry into its Vertues of which the Botanists have not taken notice Water-Plantain grows common and is much used in Arthritic Cases we have likewise the Plantago Rotundi-folio other Plantains are common which in the Autumnal Season are apt to collect a white Powder from the Air about which time Intermitting Distempers are generally Epidemical This Powder has no peculiar Taste I have given it to Dogs and Cats but never found any Effects from it Ebulum or Dwarf-Elder grows in several places and is of great use in Hydropic Cases There are several other Plants in these Counties but these being the most remarkable for their Vertues in Physick I have only given an Account of them for the benefit of the Inhabitants of these parts the other are already describ'd at large by the incomparable Dr. Morrison Mr. Ray Dr. Plackenet Dr. Sloane Dr. Robinson and Mr. Dale wherefore for a full and entire satisfaction in those Matters to those eminent and learn'd Authors refer the Reader As to fossile Plants Dr. Woodward in his Essay towards an universal Natural History seems not to give a more probable Conjecture of a total dissolution of the Strata of the Earth at the universal Deluge than by the Observations he has made upon Plants discover'd in Rocks But since this Hypothesis labours under so many unanswerable Difficulties I cannot till more pregnant Proofs are produc'd adhere to it nor can we reasonably suppose a dissolution of the Strata of the Earth and yet conceive these to be kept entire That very Instance in Coal-Mines is a demonstration against it To these I shall add another Instance I have now by me of a stony Substance of the exact resemblance and magnitude of a Cockle-shell found many Yards in Stone yet much lighter than any Cockle-shell of the same bigness which could never be perform'd by specifick Gravitation as the Dr. alledges In the next place to imagin a dissolution of most solid Rocks and Bodies of more obdurate substance this surely must be effected by some peculiar Menstruum distinct from Water and why then in the Name of common Reason should not Plants run the same risque That Menstruum that could make so severe an Impression and disunite those compact Bodies would certainly have easily reduc'd Plants to ruin That there was a Disruption of the Strata of the Earth is but reasonable to allow and likewise that various Bodies floated in that general Inundation but that these Plants are any Argument for a Dissolution or that they were the Exuviae of the Deluge is in the next place to be consider'd In the Rocks in these Parts are only found Polypody Wall-Rue Scolopendrium or Leaves of Thorns doubtless other Plants as well as these would have occur'd to our Observation had these been deposited here by Noah's Deluge Again these Leaves are never found doubled which certainly in so dismal a Confusion as the Deluge was would have happen'd had they here been deposited in that general Catastrophe My Sentiment of the whole is this That as it is observable in Chymistry that the Salts of some Plants will divaricate themselves into the figure of the Plants that these representations of Plants in Rocks are nothing but different Concretions of saline bituminous and terrene Particles and I am farther confirm'd in this Hypothesis since they as well as the Capsulae they are found in seldom fail to afford us that mixture Various Specimens we have of these in Rocks in these Counties in one particularly near Ormskirk in Lancashire in which Scolopendrium may be seen exactly delineated This was communicated to me by Mr. William Barton Apothecary in that Town and is as I remember in some Rocks near Latham belonging to the R t Hon ble William Earl of Derby to whom I am infinitely oblig'd for the Honour done me in having had the Honour to be frequently Physician to his Lordship and to that unparallel'd Youth his Son the R t Hon ble Iames L d Strange There are other Rocks in which may be observ'd Leaves of Thorns as in some Rocks near Heesham and in the Coal-Pits near Burnley in Lancashire These are all the reputed Plants that I have found remarkable in these Parts Having now fairly illustrated it to be highly improbable that these Plants shou'd be the Exuviae of the Deluge but rather Concretions of Matter or the Disports of Nature it may perhaps be expected by some that I shou'd give an account of the different Opinions concerning the Universality of the Deluge as well in respect of the Terrestrial Globe as of the total Destruction of all its Inhabitants I shall therefore give you a Scheme of the most principal amongst them The first is of the Iews who extend the Universality of the Deluge not only to all the Terrestrial Creatures but the Fish they say were suffocated by the Heat of the Rains and Waters which broke out of the deep Fountains of the Earth There are others also amongst the Jews who deny this Universality of the Deluge not only to all terrestrial
entire without the least Perforation Now I say considering the minuteness of the Vessels that convey nourishment to the Kernels of the Apple which are much smaller sure than those that bring Milk to the Breasts in human Bodies by the same parity of Reason we may affirm that the Ova are introduc'd into the Body of the Infant by the Chyle W ch it receives from the Breasts But perhaps it may be objected if the various substances of Creatures are included in Minimis in their distinct Seeds what necessity is there for these Ova To this I reply Tho' Malpighius and Lewenhoeck have discover'd Animalcules in the Seeds of divers Animals and in a late Transaction in human Seed there are delineated different growths of them that altho' I should grant this yet I affirm that these Animalcules could never arrive to Perfection until they are deposited in their proper Ova and there they receive their Nutriment and this is not only evident in Insects but even in Fishes Birds Quadrupedes c. and Mankind it self As to Frogs they generate in Eggs the first formation of the Foetus is in a black Speck adhering to the Ovum after they are enliven'd they have long small Tails and are then call'd Bull-heads in a little time this shapeless Covering is thrown off and their perfect shapes are disclos'd they have a peculiar Membrana Nictitans with which they cover the whole Eye which preserves them from the points of Reeds Rushes and Prickles which otherwise might injure them they will lie with their Lungs expanded a long time squeezing out the Air by degrees and so it is they continue under Water so long at a certain time of the Year they have a Membrane which closes their Mouths it is wonderful how long a time they sleep in the Water without any Food their Mouths being still clos'd by this Membrane but Iacobaeus a Danish Physician assures us that they have two peculiar Vessels which carry nothing but Fat which he imagins nourishes them in that Interval but this being spent the Blood grows sharp and then by its Irritation they immediately awake In Consumptive Cases the young ones are frequently made use of in France and as I have been often told by the Inhabitants of that Country with great Success I do judge that for the same reason that Snails are prescrib'd in those Cases these may be also both of 'em consisting of a viscid Mucilage which probably may sheath the acid Salts of the Blood which in the first place coagulated the Serum converting the Lympha into a Size as may be frequently seen upon the surface of the Blood taken from Consumptive Persons and so having reduc'd it to that cross Consistence it is very probable that it may raise Obstructions in the Lungs whence ensue Nodes Tubercles and at last Imposthumations many of the small Bladders of the Lungs being distended beyond their natural tone and at last breaking one into another There is a Water distill'd from the Spawn of these frequently and with success likewise us'd in Spitting of Blood for which in some measure the same Cause may be assign'd as in the former Case But I have often wondred why Plaisters of these are so frequently prescrib'd in most of the scrophulous Cases not only in our own Dispensatories but in forreign likewise but it may be that in the Mucilage of these there may be invelop'd volatile alcalious Salts that may destroy those Acids in the Blood which so incrustate the Serum that it obstructs the Glands and so makes 'em scrophulous This I rather surmise because I know by repeated Instances that from the Mucilage of several Plants whose Virtues have been always suppos'd to consist in that because 't is easily prepared from them a Volatile alkalious Salt may be separated and if it be so in a Vegetable why not in an Animal likewise There only remains one Observation more relating to this Creature upon which I shall descant a little and then not trouble the Reader further and that is to shew what that Substance is which is vulgarly call'd Starr-Slime whether the Frogs spawn as some imagin or a Meteor that falls from the Air as others alledge or lastly a Body that arises out of the Earth And these I shall examine in their several order That it is not the Spawn of a Frog is evident from the subsequent Argument because it is frequently found in those seasons of the Year in which the Frogs do not spawn as in Winter nor does it seem probable that it should be a Meteor because I do think that no Man can Experimentally aver that he ever saw such a Substance fall from the Air upon the surface of the Earth which doubtless in some Generation would have happen'd had the Production of it been in that manner it remains therefore in the last place that we conclude it to be a Mucilage arising out of the Earth which is usually in low moist Grounds and what is said in relation to this may in a great measure be apply'd to that Substance vulgarly call'd Faries Butter both of which as I suppose may in small portions be rais'd by a subterraneous Heat but successively condensed into that Body in which we find 'em by the intense coldness of the ambient Air. Having finish'd my Observations in reference to Frogs I shall in the next place proceed to what I propos'd and that is to make some Remarks upon the Toad As this Creature like the Viper contains one of the greatest Poysons in the Universe so like that also it supplies us with the richest Cordial I have in the late pestilential Fever seen repeated Instances which demonstrate the truth of these In a low vermiculating Pulfe so call'd from the analogy it bears to the creeping of a Worm a melancholly Hieroglyphic to shew a Man by what Reptile he is just a hurrying to be devour'd by giving plentiful Doses of a Powder prepar'd from these many have been snatch'd from the very brinks of Eternity Nor has it less frequently in more lingring and tedious Distempers afforded us an easy and a large Reprieve I having by the repeated taking of this Medicine in Hydropic Cases seen the Lives of many for several Years protracted so that as in the former Case it saves us from perishing by the scorching heat of a Fever so it does in the latter likewise keep us from sinking in the Waters of a Dropsy The Tast of it if rightly prepar'd is a little Acid which I take to be the Effect of a volatile alcalious Salt and it is I presume in these Cases by attenuating the viscid Serum of the Blood that it produces these wonderful Effects I have been lately inform'd by Persons of great Learning as well as Integrity that in the Fever before recited large Doses of Laudanum have effected the same thing a Practice modern to what has been formerly laid down but the reason of the giving of this in so large
quantities was grounded in a great measure upon Experiments try'd with a solution of Laudanum by injecting it into the Mass of Blood which was always found to make it fluid and if so to me the Method seems rational Some Years ago I laid down some Arguments in the Exercitations I printed at Oxford accounting for the Cause and Cure of that Distemper from which it is evident beyond contradiction that the Mass of Blood in that Distemper is coagulated and this may fully hint to us what I shall afterwards make out viz. that Opium by its acrid Salt making the Mass of Blood too fluid becomes poysonous or else because the Points of this too much contract the Fibrillae of the Brain and so obstruct the separation of the animal Spirits it is not to be imagin'd that by crass faeculent Particles it should effect these Matters since it is abundantly known to be a most noted Diaphoretick and consequently a Medicine whose Ingredients are volatile and 't is therefore I doubt not that in the confluent Pock it is of that extraordinary use viz. by attenuating the Serum of the Blood which was almost converted to a putrid Pus Much more might be added in relation to this but I hasten to some other Observations and so shall close this Chapter and those are chiefly concerning Butter-flies Bees Hornets and the Heminens or the American or Humming Bird. The Butter-flies by the ingenious and industrious Mr. Iames Pettifer of London as to the Descriptions of them are rang'd into that accurate Order that it would be but superfluous to add any thing in relation to that Matter wherefore since the Preparation from 'em yield us not any thing material and their Generation having been fully accounted for by others I shall pass 'em over as likewise the Bees their Government Generation Stings and Honey having been before accounted for by so many various and learned Hands however I shall make some few Remarks by what a wonderful but natural Chymistry they elaborate their Honey and how tho' seemingly dead they revive and lastly the difference betwixt them and the Heminens So wonderful is the structure of the Organs of these Insects and so differently modify'd that the various Juices which they suck and extract from Plants that the greatest Bitter they convert into one of the sweetest Extracts and the rankest of Poysons into one of the most balsamic Medicines with what little reason therefore do some so vehemently inveigh against our Chymical Preparations as not safe or agreeable to human Constitutions since we see one of the meanest of Insects does so fully evince the contrary Can I see that Creature imbibing the Juice of the most poysonous Vegetable and converting it to a safe and a palatable Medicine and not allow to Man that he shall with all his exalted Reason be able so far to correct the Poyson of a Metal or Mineral that it shall become a safe Medicine Surely he that of human Kind has these Apprehensions either wants a publick Genius to exert its Faculties for the good of Mankind in general or that he has a mind to rest satisfied in the ignorant Traditions of his Ancestors and at last be entomb'd in Cimmerian Darkness I shall now in the next place assign some Reasons how after being seemingly drown'd in Water or suffocated by the steams of Brimstone they will revive It is certain that Air is not convey'd into the Bodies of these Insects either by the Mouth or any Nostrils they not being supply'd with Lungs but has its admission thro' the Pores of the Body if these therefore either be impleted with Water or their Orifices pursed up by the Restringency of an Acid as in that of Sulphur it is then that the Bee lies as if dead the animal Spirits in her wonderful Vessels being depriv'd of a fresh supply from the Air but as soon as the humid Particles are either scatter'd by the heat of the ambient Air or that the Orifices of their constringed Pores recover their natural tone it is then if the Spirits expand themselves again that this Insect seems as it were re-animated The Heminens or Humming Bird tho' it seems to ply about a Flower after the same manner as the Bee and has a Proboscis like that of a Bee and is much about the size of the largest of that fort yet this Creature never produces Honey and the reason I take to be this because that Bird has Viscera and Bowels like other Birds which the Bee has not and therefore the Digestions being different so must the Effect be likewise The Sting of the Hornet and Bee are fully accounted for by others wherefore I shall close this Chapter CHAP. IX Of Birds THESE Counties afford us great variety of Birds and in some places even clog the Inhabitants with their Plenty Amongst the rest the Barnacle being very common and the manner of its Generation having been a Matter of Controversy I shall recite my Observations upon it and endeavour to reconcile that Point It is observable of our Ships which Trade to the West-Indies that upon their return home an infinite number of small Shell-fishes often adhere to them at the first view not much unlike young Geese these for several Ages have pass'd for Barnacles not only amongst the Vulgar but Men of Learning likewise wherefore to set things in their true Light I shall in the first place give the Anatomy of this Shell-fish resembling the Barnacle and afterwards that of the real Bird and then lay down some Reasons to shew the Impossibility of their being bred after the manner formerly receiv'd This Shell sticks to the outward Planks of Ships by a glutinous Matter it resembles the Head of a Goose to which there is a Neck annex'd yet this Neck is not conserted to the Body but terminates immediately within the Shell whence it is impossible that this should be the Barnacle in Embryo Within the Shells are Claws with Hairs like those of Lobsters wound within one another in spiral Lines and are not very unlike the Wings of a Goose but these I found to be perfect Shells and not Quills or Feathers whence it is plain that they could not appertain to the Barnacle that being of the Feather'd Kind These Shell-fishes are observable upon several Sea-weeds in the Gulph of Florida and are there chiefly pick'd up by our Shipping I never yet could meet with any Seaman who could affirm that he had seen any fall from Ships and swim which must have necessarily happen'd had they been converted into Barnacles besides in the Anatomy of Barnacles I found them as other Geese Male and Female the one having a Penis the other Ovaria whence it is evident that their way of breeding is no wise different from that of other Birds what therefore has been asserted by Speed and others concerning this Bird is only a vulgar Error and they only wanted a thorow Enquiry to give them satisfaction in this Matter The Sea-Crow is a
and still pressed forwards from the larger Vessels urges its passages through other Ramifications and hence ensues that expence of Blood through the Nostrils sometimes the Stomach and Womb at Critical Seasons which with Evacuations the Patient many time expires yea very often we observe that even in those Persons these Haemorrhagies happen whose Blood upon the opening of a Vein appear'd Black and Sizy which is an undeniable Demonstration of its Viscidness To these may be added the frequent fluxes of Blood in Scorbutick Cases where the Blood is unquestionably condensed as the Purple Livid Spots abundantly evince And in these Persons Testaceous Powders preparations of Steel Mineral Waters Natural or Artificial Challenge the first Class either in absorbing or altering the Saline Particles and so promoting a free circulation of the Blood In the second place as to what relates to Acids we may allege with Wedelius that they both Coagulate and dissolve a Coagulation of the Blood and for this reason may be of Excellent use in these cases besides yet there are Acids which Act upon each other as Spirit of Niter and Oil of Vitriol Vitriol and Marine Salt and thence are converted into a third substance by the same parity of reason tho' the cause of inflammatory Distempers may be deduced from a Coagulation of the Blood or Lympha from Saline Particles c. yet there are Acids of different kinds imagine the juice of Berberies or Limons or Gas Sulphuris by adhering to the Saline Particles Coagulating the Blood and Nested there by their adhesion thus they become so far alter'd and augmented in bulk that they are render'd incapable to penetrate the Lymphatick Globules or coalesce longer with them whence the circulation returns the Blood reassumes its wonted vigour and the Distemper ceases To the third thing of a slender Diet being given in these cases as Gruels Panado's and Posset Drink it is certain that these given in large quantities dilute the Saline Particles and render the Lympha fluid and by that means assist the circulation and hence are of Extraordinary use To the fourth I answer That some Saline Particles are of so Active and Penetrating a Nature That ev'n in a moment of time they may be transfer'd to the Genus Nervosum as is observable in that Sulphurous Halitus near Mount Aetna where a Dog instantly grows Convulsive and expires without Speedy relief Let us imagine then when in the beginning of the Distemper such severe Symptoms attend the Morbifick Ferment to be Acrid and Volatile such perhaps as Spirit of Niter by these Corrosive Particles smartly irritating the Nervous Fibres and Whirling them into twisting Motions and at the same time Coagulating the Lympha sometimes the Patient is Molested with Wakefulness and Convulsive motions sometimes a deep and heavy Coma or becomes Paralitick or Apoplectick the Animal Spirits thus entangled in a Viscid Lympha cannot be seperated from the Nerves which now deprived of their wonted Pabulum the Person becomes Pallid like the Image of Death But against these Assertions there yet remains one Powerful Argument and urged Vehemently by Persons of no common Fame Viz. That no Acid cou'd ever yet be produced from the Mass of Blood by any Art yet known to Vindicate which the Learned Boyle is very often quoted who cou'd never by any Experiment whatever effect it But to that I thus reply That all the Experiments try'd by that Eminent Philosopher were only on the Grumous part of the Blood as I remember not in the Lympha but in the Massy Red Body of the Blood the Saline Particles are so involv'd with others of a different kind that they are not distinguishable by the tast and sight nor can they be separated by any Art of Fire but only by their proper Emunctories Viz. The Lymphatick Vessels and Glandules of the Body as is evident in very many instances for pray tell me whoever yet cou'd separate one Particle of Bile or Urine from the Blood Or what Person will deny such Liquors are therein contain'd Besides it passes for an undoubted Truth as Demonstrable that the Lymphatick Vessels are only Compages of small Arteries and consequently whatever is contain'd in them first passed through the Arteries this granted it is beyond dispute the Lympha sometimes affords an Acid the truth of this is confirmed by the Learned Nuck who by many repeated Experiments knew how to discover an Acid in the Aqueous Humor of the Eye which by a peculiar Lymphatick Vessel is separated from the Artery for this Humour is only brought thither by the ramuli of the Carotide Artery I 'll annex one Argument more that if no Acid be contain'd in the Blood how comes it I beseech you that in Carious or Virulent Ulcers the Silver Probe becomes instantly of a Livid Colour which can only be effected by an Acid not an Alkalious Menstruum or what causes the Spittle of many Consumptive Persons to be like a solution of Alome That Argument will not abide the Test set forth by a late Scribler in assigning the causes of Distempers to Alkalies not Acids but like his New Light to Surgery vanishes like a wandering Star In the Gout or Stone says he a Chalky matter is deposited in the Ioints Reins and Bladder fermenting with any Acid so consequently of an Alkalious Nature therefore these Distempers arises rather from Alkalies than Acids We allow it to be true indeed that those Bodies may be reputed Alkalies for from them Volatile Alkalies may be prepared but whoever deny'd Alkalies to be contained in the Blood Or what then Does this prove the consequences that they produce Distempers no more if I mistake not than the frothy Spittle of Epileptick Persons demonstrates the causes of their Convulsions or the Ocre of Mineral Waters discloses their Principles We allege then that in those Distempers the Blood having acquir'd a Saline Acid Austere or Acrid Temper and in that case commixing with the Alkalies of the Blood become like a certain Magistery or an Adiaphorous Salt by which faeculent matter the Capillary Vessels and Membranes become distended and contracted by its Acrimony hence in the parts affected arise those Inflammations and pungent pains the like Cretaceous substances may if I mistake not be observed by a mixture of Spirit of Niter and Oil of Vitriol with the Serum of Blood yet this is not to be supposed to be produced from Alkalies but by Acids United with them daily practice illustrates the truth of this It is very well known Lime Water Millepedes Mineral Waters a Milk diet and other Medicines of an Alkaline Nature which infringe Acids are preser'd In the Cure of these Diseases which success cou'd never ensue if their causes were Alkalious more might be added but these may suffice Let such Persons who Pride only in a gingle of words and argue against confirmed Principles perhaps rather through the Protection of a Patron than an awful regard to Philosophy and the truth of things be assured
they mount like Icarus on Artificial Wings and may expect an equal ruin The truth of our Allegation may farther appear from an Experiment first shown to me by my Learned and Worthy Friend Dr. Edw. Baynard of the College of Physicians London He order'd the Urine of Rheumatick Persons to be distill'd by Mr. George Molt Chimist after distillation scarce one grain of Salt was found remaining which he had never observed in the distillation of any Urine before which doubtless must proceed from this cause that the Saline Particles lodged in the Mass of Blood were so entangl'd in a Viscous Lympha that the Glandules of the Reins and Urinary passages were Orifices too small to separate them The same reason may hold in those labouring under the Dropsy for their Emission of so small a quantity of Urine These things premised proceed we next to give an account of the Pestilential Fever raging in these Counties the Aetiology of which may be deduced from what proceeds Sometimes it seized the Patient with an intermittent fit or Two and then instantly turn'd continued and in this Class Malignant intermittent Fevers may be ranked sometimes Violent Pleuritick and Rheumatick pains attend them the extreme parts were elevated to an uncommon bulk and many times the Groin swell'd and which was worthy our Observation these Symptoms receding the Patients grew Delirious or Comatose sometimes their Pulse seem'd regular but oftner weak quick unequal and intermitting with Vibrations and twitching of the Tendons sometime they were opprest with Cold clammy Sweats Convulsive Motions and an Universal trembling yet many thus afflicted recover'd and many sunck away in an irrecoverable Coma others were all distain'd with spots of different Colours as Red Yellow Purple and sometimes with Purple Tokens about the Neck that many times the Patients seem as though they had been strangl'd I saw Carbuncles upon the spine with all the Ambient flesh Black and Sphacelated but indeed these were only in one Person One there was that was Paralitick but he recover'd many complain'd of insufferable Head-Aches as if the very Cranium had been opened they were very restless and had repeated Deliriums and sometimes it fell out that even to their Dying hour many were neither sick in appearance nor was the Pulse irregular their Urine well digested and were sensible all along many were seized with Violent Haemorrhagies at the Nostrils and sometimes the Uterus others complain'd of Nauseousness and continual Sickness and Vomiting the Tongue was spread over with a Yellow Pellicle with sometimes Black or White Fissures the Urine often Lixivial full of Red White Black and Dusky Sediments many of these Dyed Convulsive or Comatose sometimes the Urine was pellucid and for many Days deposited a Bricky Sediment yet having observed remissions in many of these by the use of the Cortex desirable success attended What the Eminent Dr. Morton takes notice of as to this Bricky Sediment I rather attribute it to a peculiar Bilious Scorbutick Temper of the Blood than the febrile ferment as he wou'd have it The Urine sometimes had no Consistence with it was greenish and bore an Oleaginous scum over it but the Patients voiding such were afflicted with very severe Symptoms many were opprest with cruel Diarrhaeas and Gripes and others with Costiveness their Egesta downwards were of a Blackish green become so doubtless by very Acrid humours commixt with Bile by the Learned Hippocrates such sort of Excrements were stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and those Persons very Mortal Symptoms attended that Expression of Galen occurs with this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The Bowels bound and the Excrements black and small like those of Goats is Ominous The Blood upon the opening of a Vein was generally sizy and sometimes very florid with a separation of little or no Serum for that was too much entangl'd with the grumous part of the Blood by Saline Particles to disengage from it in some the Spittle was thick and plentiful sometimes Yellow and sometimes streaked with Blood and very often so faetid there was no abiding in the same Room many of them toured on to forty Days when being counted Consumptive and no regard had to the Fever they expired their Teeth frequently in Twenty four Hours grew very Black though White enough before and when Dead purple spots appear'd thick about their Neck and Breasts which Symptoms to me are undeniable proofs of a Coagulation of the Blood Besides can any one observe the vast quantity of Viscous Phlegm expectorated and not conclude from thence the Serum of the Blood to be Coagulated Or who in the Name of common Sense that sees the different Coagulations perform'd by different Acids and the various solutions from various Alkalies will not upon the whole matter Vote these Distempers to arise rather from the first than the second Principle But this Hypothesis will be the farther illustrated by what follows Let Blood be taken from the Arm of an Healthful Person and as it flows into the Porringer mingle with it some Spirit of Harts-Horn Sal Armon or Viganis Tinctura Antimon and in another Porringer mix some of his SalVolat Oleos impraegnated with Salt of Amber in the first Vessel the Blood remains fluid and florid in that commixt with SalVolat Oleos a sizy Pellicle covers all the Superficies as in Blood in inflammatory Distempers proceeding doubtless from that Acrid Volatile Salt Coagulating the Serum which by the heat of the Blood endeavouring to fly off is condensed like Bird-Lime Note well here if I mistake not this Phoenomenon clearly Demonstrates to us the causes of these Distempers and may be of great use in Physick The Famous Malpighius and Borellus have observed in that Epidemick Distemper in Pisa that by certain Fermentative Particles a too great Secretion of Bile happen'd insomuch that many Alkalious Particles were thrown out of the Mass of Blood notwithstanding which the Distemper did not arise from them as such but only as they were armed Porcupine like with other Morbifick Particles In one Porringer let the Blood remain as it comes out in another mingle either Hungary Water Ticture of Tartar or any Volatile Alkalious Spirit in the first you will observe all the Superficies sizy and in the second the whole to be Florid it abundantly appears hence that the Viscidness of the Blood arises not from Alkalies as they are such first because Blood mingled with Alkalies becomes Florid yet that very Blood mixed with an Alkaly armed with an Acid grows sizy these are the most remarkable Symptoms observable in these Distempers and as to the Therapeutick part I refer it to be deduced from what precedes Of Intermittent Distempers IT is reported by the Germans that an Eagle was so Artfully formed of a certain Wood that it took Wing to meet the Emperour Maximilian upon his road and appear'd as though alive The truth of this is not our present enquiry but an