saliens efformatur idemque calore vitali praeditus est priusquam per pulsum cietur atque ut in illo ab illo Pulsatio incipit ita tandem in ultimo mortis articulo in eodem deâ—â—nit Which I suppose gave occasion to Dr. Glisson in his Anat. Hep. Cap. 35. to assert That the blood was generated and moved by the heart but the heart and blood were originally by the Vivifick spirit or juice which remaineth in the blood after its first production and is the cause of its future generation seeing that the Womb by its heat doth excite the Vivifick Spirit of the Seed and put it in action which frameth the Seminal Matter into the structure of an Animal So that the Quickening Spirit making the first blood and heart of an Embryo he supposeth it still to perform the same office according to that Axiom Idem quà idem semper facit idem Against this Opinion Diemerbroeck Anat. Lib. 2. Cap. 11 doth oppose several Arguments and endeavoureth a Confutation thereof and concludeth from his Reasons That the Blood is generated after and by the Heart and not by the Vivisick spirit which saith he inhering in all parts of the body quickens and disposeth them to their proper functions So that he concludeth of a Ferment in the Heart The Learned Dr. Willis telleth us Natura posuit in corde fermentum eujus instinctu seu occursu sanguis impetuosè effervescit ac velut in flammam accensus de ferment cap. 5. And in his Exercitation de Accens sang Vitalem sive flammeam animae partem in corde pulmonibus sedem praecipuam quasi imperialem habere putemus So that he avoweth the Ferment of the Heart to be the main Cause and Seat of the Flamma vitalis or the Soul 's vital flame But whether it be in rerum naturâ may be questioned Variety of Opinions there are about the Motion of the Heart the immediate instruments of its Motion are agreed upon to be the Fibres but then what sets these Fibres in motion is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the main Query or thing sought after Some like Dr. Lower suppose the motion of the heart to depend upon the influx of Animal Spirits into the Nerves and Fibres which make a Contraction as in other Muscles Others suppose it to depend on the Dilatation of the Blood in the Ventricles of the Heart Others like Franciscus de Le Boe Sylvius think to go a middle way and make it depend partly on the Influx of Animal Spirits and partly on the Dilatation of the Blood Others to depend on a Materia Subtilis that subtile Matter supposed to be in continual motion and to move all Bodies more or less according as it hath more free or difficult passage through the Pores of them Others suppose the heart not to move the blood neither the heart to be moved by the Animal Spirits nor by a subtile Matter but by the Vivifick Spirit residing in the blood and is the cause of its Generation But Maurocordatus not approving the above-recited Opinions supposeth the motion of the heart to depend on the respiration of the Lungs and the respiration of the Lungs to depend on the motion of the heart as if the Heart and Lungs did put their help in hand to each others Motion To run through each Opinion apart and to recite the Reasons laid down for confirmation thereof would be too tedious and beyond my proposed Subject I shall therefore lay down some Experimental Observations as Mathematical Data and see what Collateral Conclusions about Sanguification and Motion of the Heart may be thence deduced 1. Observ I took out the Hearts of two young Puppies about a Fortnight old and cut off their Nerves to prevent all influx of Animal Spirits and separated the Coherent Parts I cut open the Ventricles of one of the Hearts and let out all the blood therein contained The Hearts I exposed to the open Air upon a cold Trencher which did continue beating with a regular Systole and Diastole as long as warmth continued When their Motion had almost ceased I breathed upon them and perceived their motion recruted by the warmth of the breath When their motion again began to abate by pouring on warm Water I renewed the same Thus they continued until the Natural Heat was totally expired which was near upon Three Quarters of an Hour after the first exposing out of the Body to the Air. The like Effect I found upon the Hearts of Frogs Tortoises and several young Animals Yea I cut out the Heart of a young Puppy and of a Frog and divided them into several pieces I observed a Motion in a Systole and Diastole for some Minutes to continue in each part thus separated and that the pricking them with a Needle did much excite decaying Motion 2. Observ A Girl about Fifteen years of age by a Pen-knife had an Artery cut asunder in the Wrist of her hand With convenient Applications by a Chyrurgion the Blood was stoped but in his absence the Girl had plucked off the Eschar so that presently followed a great effusion of blood from the Artery At the return of the Chyrurgion with whom I was also called I perceived that she had lost almost the whole mass of Blood of her body In the time of her bleeding which was the greatest part of a Day her Friends about her had given her Sack and Caudle to keep up her decaying strength At our coming we found That which the Artery sent forth did more resemble the Caudle then Blood and so it had been for some hours by the relation of her Attendants for it was so pale and watery that it would notting a Handcherchief red Her Pulse notwithstanding had small remission I administered to her Cordials with Spirits to buoy up declining Nature but before the Chyrurgion stoped the Blood she died which was about One Quarter of an Hour after our arriving thither To this I may adjoyn a like observation related by Dr. Lower de Cord. motu cap. 2. the Sum is thus A Youth about sixteen years old bled for two days without intermission or ceasing The occasion of it is not mentioned His attendants and friends gave him broth to refresh and recruit his Vitals which he eagerly supped down His flux of blood now and then thereby increased but at length the whole Mass was almost evacuated That which run out was pale and watery neither of the Colour nor Nature of blood but was more like the Broth administred which he drank much of The flux so continued for a day or two but the Heart in the mean time retained its Pulsation At last the flux was stoped the Party recovered his health and became a stout strong fellow This he relateth from a Physitian of Credit 3. Observ Dr. Lower in the forecited Chapter giveth us an Experiment of his own He drew out of the jugular vein of a Dog about half of his blood injecting the
like quantity of Ale and Wine mixed into his Crural vein This he continued by turns until a paler tincture instead of the blood issued out of the vein like water wherein flesh hath been washed or like Claret diluted with much water 4. Observ I shall in the next place lay down the Observation of Dr. Harvey de gen Anim. Exerc. 16. The Bulla or Punctum saliens which saith he maketh the Heart is made before the Brain that elaborateth the Animal Spirits The same also doth Langly Obs gen Anim. affirm and common Experience teacheth it So that although it be questioned Whether or no the Blood be formed before the Heart yet it is certain that the Bulla saliens is formed before the Brain From which Experimental Observations I shall gather these Conclusions First the motion of the Heart in fieri cannot proceed from an influx of Animal spirits 〈…〉 panctum saliens which is the Heart in 〈…〉 its motion before either Brain or 〈…〉 are framed to elaborate and convey 〈…〉 spirits to it according to the 〈…〉 Observation 〈…〉 neither can the Pulse be from the 〈…〉 or Ebullition of blood in the 〈…〉 of the Heart for according to the second and third Observations That which came from the Arteries was far enough from Accension being pale and dilute like broth and as Dr. Lower intimateth was far from the colour and nature of Blood From the two Observations before cited from Dr. Lower Dr. Gibson in the Anat. Hum. Bod. Epitom l. 2. c. 5. concludeth a full confutation of that Opinion viz. Pulsation is from Ebullition and Accension of Blood in the ventricles of the Heart Which may be farther denied by the first Observation for the blood was all poured out of the ventricles of the Puppie's heart so that there was none left to make either Ebullition or Accension Thirdly Neither could the Pulse be from a continued influx of Animal spirits from the Brain For according to the first Observation All influx of Spirits was stoped because the Puppie's and Frog's Hearts were cut off from their Nerves by which the spirits do flow if any at all Fourthly Neither can it be from the Respiration of the Lungs for by the first Observation the Hearts of them Animals cut off from the Lungs much more the pieces did yet continue Beating And in an Embryo there is Pulsation of the Bulla saliens before the Lungs are formed and long before they have any Respiration Fifthly Neither from the impression of Subtile Matter for that concludeth for a general but not a particular motion nor why the Heart should keep a Regular Systole and Diastole Because the subtile Matter being in continual motion would press against all the fibres at all times so that the Heart would remain either in a Systole or a Diastole Besides as Diemerbroeck argueth This subtile Matter would restore the motion of the heart whist warm and so always recover life in creatures that are strangled Sixthly Neither can it be from the vivifick spirit in the blood for by the first Observation The Pulse continued after the blood was poured out of the ventricles and a stop put to all influx of fresh blood And by Observ 2. and 3. it s proved That when the whole mass of blood was almost emptied and the rest watery and dilute the heart retained its Pulse yet the vivifick spirit of the blood must have been for the greatest part evacuated with the blood I shall now proceed to lay down what I guess to be the genuine cause of Sanguification and Motion of the Heart although this may be accounted one of Nature's Secrets and too abstruse for Us peremptorily to determine And first for Sanguification In the begining of Conception the Spirituous part of the Seed by heat is excited and collected into the Punctum or Bulla saliens from this Spirit as from a Fermentative substance by the vis Plastica or Archeus are all the Parts of the body deduced For according to Dr. Harvey's Observation the Bulla saliens is first formed from which are derived Sanguincous fibres and one part after another framed until the whole Compages of the Body is perfected Whether according to the sentiments of Dr. Harvey the blood be first made and the Heart afterwards for the motion of the Blood or according to Diemerbroeck the Heart be made before the first Blood it is not very material For on both sides it is concluded That the vivifick spirit of the Semen is the first Former either of Blood or Heart This Spirit having got some Blood for his Vehicle and being by Heat stirred up and dilated doth enlarge its Domicile the Punctum saliens for being too close pent up doth endeavour for an eruption by particular assaults which is the first cause of Pulsation As the Ferment is increased by the addition of new Matter from the Colliquamentum Seminis at first and other Matter afterwards so the vivifick Spirit doth farther dilate it self in the blood uutil it hath formed the Veins and Arteries for its Channels and as a Workman according to the Divine Impress stamped at first by God Almighty on blind Matter or by the Direction of the Archeus as Helmont calls it but as for the Name of that Directive Power call it as you please hath made every part of the whole Body This vivifick acrimonious Spirit doth not only forme out of convenient Matter but also inhere in the Parts formed more or less and giveth to every Part a peculiar Property or Ferment as That of the Stomach for Chylification That of the Heart for Sanguification c. But suppose that the first blood should be formed before the Punctum Saliens and the Heart contribute nothing thereto Yet it must be granted that Things proceed otherways in Adult Animals then they do at the first formation As for Instance There is Motion before the Brain or Nerves are formed yet none now deny that Office to the Brain of elaborating the Animal Spirits that serve for Motion The Embryo is nourished and encreased before the Stomach and other parts serving for Concoction are made yet after they are made in a perfect Foetus and in adult Persons none except through a Spirit of Contradiction will deny them to serve for Concoction so that the Heart by his Acrimonious Spirit implanted therein may serve for Sanguification which I imagine to be as thus So soon as the Chyle is mixed with the Blood the Vital Spirit and other active Principles do work upon the Chyle to assimilate it to its own nature By the Stomachical Ferment the Salt Sulphur and Spirit of the Chyle are almost set at liberty from the grosser parts of the Aliment so that the Active Principles of the Blood soon add to their Exaltation When the Chyle with the Venal blood is entered the right ventricle of the Heart the Heart addeth a new Ferment thereto and sendeth it into the Lungs where it receiveth a farther Alteration from the Nitrous
in the Neck or to the sides of the Receiver in the Distillation of Harts-horn mix it with so much Phlegm drawn off as sufficeth for its dissolution you 'l have an excellent Spirit which according to the Quantity of Salt dissolved will be stronger or weaker So that the Phlegm rising with volatile Salt in Distillation or afterwards mixed with it liquisieth and turneth it into a Spirit The same may be said of the Spirits of all Animals and is manifestly apparent by the Distillation of Vipers whose Salt sticketh for the greatest part to the sides of the Receiver or head of the Limbeck but mixed with the Phlegm doth become a Spirit of Excellent Use This Salt in Distillation carrieth with it a little yellowish Oyl but by instillation of Sp. Vini Tartarizatus is preserved except the Spirit of Wine containeth a considerable quantity of Phlegm which will soon dissolve the Volatile Salt of Vipers Acid Spirits as of Vitriol Vinegar Sulphur c. is but an Essential acid Salt liquified by Phlegm or by Violence of Fire Spirit of Vitriol is Salt Liquified by force of Fire which hath freed the Saline from the terrestrious parts this we may conclude from the Caustick quality both of the Spirit and Oyl which only differ in as much as the Oyl is the more Acid part of Vitriol with a little Phlegm and Sulphur and improperly called Oyl but the Spirit with more Phlegm and less of the Acid Part. And that Spirit of Vitriol chiefly consists of a Salt in fluore is more fully manifest by instillation of an Alkali for Example pour Olcum Tartari per Deliquium upon Spirit of Vitriol as in the making of Tartarum Vitriolatum the Acid of Vitriol and Alkali of Tartar combine together into a Neutral Salt but the Phlegmatick part is evaporated as an insipid Water So may any Acid Salts in fluore being mixed with Alkalis be revived again into dry Salts by Evaporation Precipitation Chrystallization c. so that Saline Spirits either Acid or Alkalizate in as much as they contain a Salt highly exalted or volatilised are called Spirits Sal quatenus volatile Spiritus dici potest Helm Paradox 4. Against this Opinion Thales Milesius Helmont and others oppose themselves Thales observing Vegetables to grow and flourish by Moisture that Plants fade by drougth and Trees cast their leaves but after showrs of Rain revive look fresh and green that Moisture is requisite to Nutrition of Animals that Minerals take their Original and encrease from a concretion of their proper Succus that Stones take their Rise from a petrifying juice upon such like Considerations hath assigned Water for the Original of Concretes To which Principle Van. Helmont hath added Semen making the Chymical Principles Salt Sulphur and Mercury but posterior products of Water and Seed He telleth us indeed Primordialiter duo tantum in Vniverso esse Elementa aerem videlicet aquam à Textu sacro satis insinuata per spiritum in mundi incunabulis aquarum abysso supernatantem Paxad â— But then speaking of the Elements as the first matter of Compounds telleth us by his own experience he could convert all Concrete bodys into Water as into the only and first Principle And if so what becomes of Earth the Fourth Aristotelian Principle and the Fifth Chymical according to Dr Willis Nostra Mechanica mihi patefecit arenam marcasitam argillam terram lapides coctos vitrum calcem sulphur c. transmutari in salem actualem aequiponderantem suo corpori unde sactus est quòd iste sal aliquoties cohobatus cum sale Circulato Paracelsi suam omnino fixitatem amittat tandem transmutetur in liquorem qui etiam tandem transit in Aquam insipidam quòd Aqua ista aequiponderet sali suo unde manavit Plantam verò carnes ossa pisces quicquid similium est novi redigere in mera sua Tria unde â—ostmodum aquam insipidam confeci Helm in Elementa So that by his Alkahest at least assisted with Paracelsus's Sal circulatam he could reduce all Concrets into Water yea the Tria Chymicorum Principia whence we may suppose them but secundary things made out of Water by the efficacy of Seminal Principles planted ab origine Lantent in Elemen torum condo an ditissimo promptuario hospitaâ—â— ab initio rationes in aevum durabiles scientiâ rerum sibi in tempore futurarum instructae c. Haelmont Parad. 1. So that he granteth but Two first Principles viz. Water for the subject matter and Semen for the efficient and plastick cause From this experiment we must necessarily conclude allowing the truth thereof That the Quaternary of the Aristotelian principles and also the â—ria for Spirits and Earth are but products of the other of the Chymists must fall excepting that of Water with the Seminal Principles for we must allow that argument of the Aristotelians into which bodies are ultimately resolved of such they do consist but into the Principle Water bodies are ultimately resolved Ergo They consist of the Principle of Water For the truth of which Analysis we have the experience of that profound and learned Helmont who with his â—â—kahest could reduce Animals Vegetables and Minerals into a pure water only telleth us that the greatest difficulty was in the Reduction of the Sabulum bulliens or Quellem yet by industry the thing was fecible Paracelsus his Predecessor did arrive almost to that height who could with his Circulatum majus resolve Metals into an Oyl which Helmont by the addition of an Alkali did change into water Besides the testimony of Helmont led as he tells us by thirty years experience and not trusting to probable conjectures Lullius and others have contended for the same thing and pretended to have been experienced in the same grand and noble Menstruum But to lay aside Authority Reason built upon Experience seemeth to conclude that Water is the main and perhaps I might truly say the only subject matter of Concretes Which by the Seminal Principles and ferments thereof is transmuted into this or that Bodie according to the nature or species of the Semen or Idea of the Archeus It may perhaps seem a strang Paradox and a renovation of an old Philosophical Hypothesis exploded by most of the Ancient and Modern Naturalists But were it not beyond my intended subject I might prosecute the assertion and prove That all bodies in the Animal Vegetable and Mineral kingdom do take their material Principle from Water I mean not that all sublunary bodies do immediately owe their Original to a pure elementary Water but either to simple Water or else to a Succus sui generis nutritius which is matter run through some alterations from that first pure Element of Water And in this sense are the Assertions of the Hydroplasticks comprehending Succus under the notion of Water I might only propose Let any man shew me an Animal Vegetable or Mineral that I cannot prove to owe its Original
immediately to Water or to a Succus transformed by the Seminal principle into the proposed Object But shall only instance some particulars leaving a further prosecution to another's enquiry Dr. Sharrock giveth us a Catalogue of Plants that would grow and encrease by simple water in a Glass-bottle as Mints Sedum multifidum Pennyroyal Bugle Prunella Water-cresse Scordium Marsh-mallows Nummularia c. Sedum multifidum in a month encreased in weight half a Scruple Scordium as much in a fortnight Dorias his Woundwort in six weeks gr 13. Bugula in less time gr 15. Water-cress in a month gr 25. Ranunculus in 6 weeks half a Scruple Periwincle as much Prunella Brooklime and most of the sorts of Mint got weight proportionably Shar Veget p. 102. For experiment sake I took several small young slips of Mint diligently weighed which I kept in Glasse-bottles of fair water the space of Twelve weeks as the water wasted I poured on fresh at the end of which time I weighed each Plant for every Slip was now become a Plant with large roots and branches and found the former weight of several of them to be tripled but the least of them doubled Famous are the Experiments of Mr. Boyle I caused said he my Gardiner to dig out a convenient quantity of good Earth and dry it well in an Oven to weigh it to put it in an Earthen Pot almost level with the surface of the ground and to set in it a selected seed he had from me of Squash which is an Indian kind of Pompion which grows apace this Seed I ordered him to water only with Rain or Spring water c. and a little after giveth us the account of it from his Gardiner I have weighed the Pompion with the Stalk and Leaves all which weighed Three Pound wanting a quarter then I took the Earth baked it as formerly and found it just as much as I did as first which made me think I had not dryed it sufficiently then I put it into the Oven twice more after the Bread was drawn and weighed it the second time but sound it shrink little or nothing Boyle Scep Chy. He giveth us also another Experiment from the same Gardiner in these words To give you an account of your Cucumbers I have gained two indifferent fair ones the weight of them is Ten pounds and a half the branches and the roots weigh'd Four pounds wanting two Ounces and when I had weigh'd them I took the Earth and baked it in several small earthen Dishes in an Oven and when I had so done I found the Earth wanted a pound and half of what it was formerly yet I was not satisfied doubting the earth was not dry I put it into an Oven the second time after the Bread was drawn after I had taken it out and weighed it I found it to be the same weight So I suppose there was no moisture left in the earth Neither do I think that the Pound and half that was wanting was drawn away by the Cucumber but a great part of it in the ordering was in dust and the like wasted Famous is also that Experiment of Helmont Who took of earth dryed in an Oven 200 pound put it in an earthen vessel and moistened it with rain-water and planted in it a Willow tree of Five pounds weight this he kept and watered with rain or distilled water to prevent an addition of fresh earth he covered the vessel with a plate of Tin full of holes At the end of Five years he dug up and weighed the Tree and found the Tree computed with the leaves fallen off in four Autumns to weigh 169 Pounds and about three Ounces and the Earth in which it was set to want only about two Ounces so that 164 pounds and upwards was the encrease by Water Had this Tree or other Plants encreased by simple water been distilled undoubtedly there had been found the same principles with others of the same Species that sprung in open Gardens or Fields Water we see by these Experiments was disguised by the Plastick virtue of the Seeds into various formes as it is evident by the Experiments of Mr. Boyle One of the Vegetables cherished only by water having obtained a competent growth I did for tryal sake cause to be distilled in a small Retort and thereby obtained some Phlegm a little Empyreumatical Spirit a small quantity of adust Oyl and a Caput mortuum which appeared to be a Coal I concluded it to consist of Salt and Earth And a little after The water I used to nourish this Plant was not shifted or renewed I chose Spring water rather than rain-water because the latter is a kind of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 containing steams of several bodies wandring in the Air and a certain spirituous substance c. Scept Chym. p. 112. Here are the Chymical Principles extracted from a Subject whose matter before transmutation was Water That Water is the material Principle for the growth and encrease of Vegetables may be collected from these observations viz. Rain-water or Dews refresh the fading Herbs That flooding of grounds causeth fertility That Grass cut down by the want of a supplemetal Succus soon withereth That exceeding Droughts have caused Famines and that the Corn of Aegypt dependeth on the overflowing of Nile And truly whence is the lustre of the Fields bedecked with flowers but from Water transformed into this or that Species according to the Idea of the semen or Archeus for according to the Plastick or Formative power Water is changed into roots stalks leaves yea to make the glorious Lilly As Vegetables so Animals receive their growth and sustenance immediately from Water or else mediately viz. From Herbs Flesh c. which is but Water metamorphized and run through former alterations An Ox feedeth on grass or plants viz. Water transformed thereto a Man feedeth on the flesh of the Ox whose material Principle is but Water transformed into a Plant thence into Flesh by divers fermentative alterations of the Ox and now farther according to the ferments of Man But to shew more particularly how that Water or at least a succus is necessarily requisite to the nutrition of every Animal Aliment taken into the stomach before it is fit for nutrition is turned into Chyle which is a Succus from whence blood then Chyme to be assimilated into each part As for example Bread or Flesh eaten by a man is by concoction turned into a fluid Chyle by the ferment in sanguification the Saline and Sulphureous parts work upon each other and turn the Chyle into Blood out of which a succus is separated and by the innate ferment of each part assimilated thereto What is Flesh but a Leffas or watery succus first turned into Grass Corn c. and at length by succeeding alterations by ferments shaped into Flesh And the more probable it is seeing that the Flesh Blood Urine or Milk of Animals by bare distillation is turned for the greatest
first it becomes a Mineral water which is whilst the Esurine Acid preyeth on the minera of Iron is hot but by long running through a Colander of earth or gravel loseth its heat and becometh almost a cold Spring Almost I said for by comparing the water of this Spaw with other ordinary Spring-water but especially with a Rock-spring a sensible warmth may be discerned And that the Effervescence is scarce over at the Spring-head may be gathered from the Sparkling of the Water in a glass like bottled Sider newly emptied and as I have it by good information doth much resemble the German Spaw-water sealed up in bottles and brought to Leyden and several places in the Low-countries I took about a Pint of Ilmington Spaw-water fresh from the Spring-head into which I let fall a few drops of Oyl of Tartar per Deliquium which made a white Coagulation dispersed through the whole body but so small that it was scarce discernable I then made a Solution of sal chalybis with fair water upon which I droped some oyl of Tartar and found a Coagulation in it exactly like the Spaw-water with oyl of Tartar The coagula in both by an addition of spirit of Vitriol were dispâ—rsed but by Alkali's were reduced c. Now it may be questioned How come Alkali Salts as oyl of Tartar c. to make these Coagulum's when as spirit of Vitriol or other Acids cause no Alteration Answ There are two sorts of ordinary Menstruums for Bodies Ordinary I say because I must except Paracclsus's Sal circulatum and Helmont's Liquor Alkahest the grand Solvents of Bodies into their first Principles First Menstruums impregnated with acid Spirits or Salts whether they be Natural Acids such as the Juice of Crabs the sowr juice of Plants the Acid of Marcasites of Iron Alum c. or Artificially made from natural Salts as spirit of Vitriol sp of Sulphur per campanam c. Secondly Menstruums endowed with Alkalizate Salts either fixed Alkali's as salt of Tartar Wormwood c. or volatile as spirit of Urine Harts-horn or of the horns and hoofs of Animals Sage c. Some add a Third sort of Menstruum viz. a vinous Spirit which is the common Menstruum for making of Tinctures and Extracts because it is apt to imbibe the sulphureous Principle from Compounds But for my part I take a vinous Spirit not as a distinct Menstruum from the two former For spirit of Wine is nothing but an oyl highly advanced by its volatile Salt with a small quantity of Phlegm The quantity of oyl is manifest by its inflammability for good rectified spirit of Wine once kindled will almost totally consume In Distillation the volatile Salt implexed in the sulphureous parts striving to get free doth tear and divide them until they be rarified into a Spirit to which is added a little phlegm for the better seperation of the Salts fermenting and exalting the oyl Now chiefly for its volatile Salt spirit of Wine is the Menstruum in making the Tinctures and Extracts of Senna Rhubarb Aloes Mirrh Saffron Hellebore and of all dry Roots Seeds Flowers Woods and Barks For by addition of volatile Salts the Extracts are stronger than when made with spirit of Wine only Having this premised I may return to the Question thus That upon the mixture of Acid and Alkalizate Salts they ferment and close together in a Neutral Salt as I have already intimated and forsake or rather thrust forth the Metalline Body dissolved and buoyed up in the Menstruum which with some of the Salts of the Liquor falls down to the bottom The Salts combined together and floating up and down in the Menstruum with some of the Mineral body as yet unprecipitated do represent these Coagula even as oyl of Tartar poured upon a solution of Vitriol made with fair Water causeth a separation of the Metalline and Colcotarine Parts subsiding to the bottom and Coagulums of the contrary Salts for a time buoyed up in the Menstruum So oyl of Tartar with Ilmington Water maketh a white Coagulum because it combineth with the Esurine Acid of the Water But the Curdling is very small because of the small quantity of Acid that doth free and as it were unsheath it self from the minera of Iron or is yet lodged in the pores of the Water and is not as yet fixed and joyned to the Alkalizate part of Iron To try what figure the Salt bore that was contained in this Water I took about two or three Gallons of the Water and evaporated it ad siccitatem At the bottom and sides of the vessel I found a redish white Powder which I dulcified with warm Water And there was left behind an insipid Earth like red Ocre or Colcotar The Water I filtred evaporated and then set to chrystallize which yeilded a Salt of an irregular figure it was of a palish colour but as to its operation answered vitriol of Iron It being asserted by some Authors but the Truth thereof I much question That many Mineral Waters will loose in Weight by carriage by loss of Spirits as They say or rather if at all I suppose by an Aporrhea Mineralis I filled a glass bottle with this Spaw-Water and stoped it up close at the Spring-head where I weighed it with an exact pair of Scales After four or five Miles carriage I tryed and found it continue the same weight After it had stood a day or two by examination I found the weight not at all diminished so that by this way nor by Distillation could I find any volatile spirits wherein the vertue of this Water consists The Bottle thus stoped I kept for a fortnight and then could perceive the Sediment just begin to fall to the bottom But in another Bottle carried with This and left open to the air I found great part of the Sediment fallen in twelve hours Which confirms my former Assertion viz. That not only Heat Motion by carriage c. but the Air also precipitates its Sediment Upon Tryal I found that the Water out of which the Ocre was fallen would not tinge with Galls but the Water kept close stoped for a fortnight did with Galls readily strike a Purple and so would more or less until the Terra Metallica was all fallen To sum up then that which hath been laid down I may say of this Spring as Helmont said of the German Spaws Pawhont and Saveâ—ir Distillavi aliquando serio Savenirium Pauhonteum sanè non tantum mineralium catalogum imo nil quicquam in iis offendi praeter Aquam fontanam vitriolum ferri Helm paradox Quar. de aq Spad So in this Spring the Acid Salt with which the Water is impregnated doth in its passage through the subterrestrial channels meet with a Minera of Iron which it partly dissolves and bringeth along by its Current to the Spring-head And by a Fermentation betwixt the Esurine Acid and the Metalline Parts of the Minera is made a vitriolum
whole body to me it seems irrational that the same juice should be carried to and fro through the same vessels and that an Acid juice for such is that of the Spleen should be supposed to be a vehicle for the Animal Spirits that are a volatile Alkali The proper Use then I imagine as thus The Spleen by its Ferment placed therein ab origine doth with the Nervous juice deposited in the Glandules by the extremities of Nerves terminating in them cause an Acidity in the blood brought by the Arteries By which Acidity the Bile consisting much of retorrid â—ixivial Salt is hastened towards a separation even as by mixture with other Alkalis and Acids may be seen so that the blood reduced from the Spleen by the Ramus splenicus doth in the Liver soon make a Secretion of its Choler An Acid Ferment may well be supposed in the Spleen from its natural structure which is chiefly made up of membranous Cells like the holes of a Hony-comb about which the ends of the blood-vessels are twisted like the Tendrils of a Vine Now here the Glandules as in other parts of the body may be well supposed to contain an Acid juice and may the sooner impress its ferment on the blood by its little stay in the cells before it is carried away with the subsequent streams For a large account hereof I shall refer the Reader to Malpighius de Liene The Seminal parts both in male and female seem to be highly endowed with a Ferment insomuch that the Sal Sulphur and Mercury are as it were exalted into a noble Elixir from which the Embryo taketh its rise I mean the semen in males and the ova in females for both by the ferments of the Genital parts are elaborated out of blood The manner how is too large for me here to describe and may be seen in ample manner in Harvey and de Graef It is beyond my intention to take upon me here to dispute whether or not Milk is made by a bare transcolation through the Mammillary Glandules or by an innate Ferment of the Dugs or how the Bile is separated in the Liver or whether all the Glandules of our bodies are endowed with a Specifick ferment But this we may lay down as a Truth viz. That the Archeus in the first formation hath bestowed on every Part a peculiar configuration of Pores and a fermental Digestion to receive its proper Aliment and convert it into a similar substance to repair that which was lost and hath assigned a peculiar Office to every particular part PART III. SEC 2. AS from the fermental Digestions in their full vigour and lustre the Organs have that which is requisite to their functions and consequently Health is entire so from their diminution and depravation Distempers take their Original The Concoction of the Stomach and other fermental Digestions of the body may suffer by the inordinate Use of the Sex Non-naturalia but I shall take a short survey of Diseases as they are immediately derived from the disordered Ferments The Stomachical Ferment may be vitiated so as to leave a twofold Errour on the Aliment viz. Crudity and Over-acidity which concur to laying the foundation of many Distempers In this sense I mean viz. That All Diseases cannot be immediately derived from This or the Other particular ferment but that the Generality of Distempers owe their original to the Error of Fermental Digestions the one many times concurring as a Procatartick and another as a Proximate cause When the Stomachical ferment is debilitated the Aliment receives an imperfect Concoction whence a flatus is excited and a Pain in the Stomach with an inclination to vomiting and abhorrence of Dyet If it pass thus crude through the Pylorus into the Intestines it lays a foundation of a Diarrhoea Worms Obstruction of the Misentery c. An Error in the first Concoction cannot be corrected in the second wherefore the crude Alimentary juice being conveyed through the Lacteal and Thoracical vessels and so away to the Heart doth cause a spurious and febrile conflict with the Principles of Sanguification and according to the quantity of the depraved Aliment that in 24 or 48 hours c doth rise ad turgescentiam and able to vie as it were with the blood so it giveth the difference betwixt Quotidian Tertian or Quartan Agues c. as several modern Authors have observed And as it is a cause of Intermittent so also it layeth a foundation of Continual fevers according as the Principles of the blood by this depraved Ferment become too much exalted For if the Spirituous part be highly inflamed then a febris Synochus or Ephemera if the Sulphureous part be exalted or a Putrefaction of Humors in the blood-vessels then a Putrid fever if a contagious Miasma be added then a Malignant fever such as the Plague small Pox Measles But whether this vitiated Juice be made so by the vitiated Bilis and Lympha as Sylvius de le boe would have it is not to my purpose to dispute If the vitiated Succus Nutritius arrive to the Brain and by Obstruction of the Pores hindereth the Third Digestion viz. the elaborating of Animal Spirits or stop their motion or subvert the volatizing Ferment of the Brain it causeth an Apoplexie Lethargy Coma or Carus And according as the Nerves are obstructed and the Spirits with their vehicle the succus Nervosus defiled and stoped in their passage thence a Palsie great or less And as the vitiated juice hath passed the Cortical substance of the Brain and is confused with the Animal spirits so as to cause an irritation of the Nerves and explosion of the Animal spirits it causeth Epilepsies Convulsions c. To these Distempers the depraved Ferment of the Spleen doth contribute for when the bilious Particles are not evacuated but by long fermentation become retorrid and gross then the Melancholy adust terrestrious blood subverteth the refined Texture of the Animal spirits and bringeth on them a mighty gloominess whence Melancholy Phancies and as it impresseth its labes on the Spirits and Genus Nervosum so it concurreth to Hypochondriacal Fits and many Nervous diseases Every part in the body receiving a Succus Nutritius from the blood is deprived of its due nourishment when the fermental Digestions are deficient and the Aliment unprepared instead then of assimilating the succus nutritius to each Part it being a succus depravatus doth instead of assimilation cause Aposthumations Tumors Vlcers c. As the too much debilitated so also the too great or over-acidity of the Stomachical ferment will be as a Ground-work for many Enormities A proportionate Acidity as I intimated before is a cause of Digestion so too great and especially when alienated from its natural Crasis is a cause of Coagulation Precipitation and Fixation and consequently of Indigestion Besides the Appetitus Caninus caused by an exorbitant Acid gnawing the stomach and the Pica and Malacia from a depraved Ferment causing an inordinate appetite
after objects unfit for Aliment as Chalk Stones c. a parallel instance may be given of Precipitation Coagulation and Fixation of the Aliment by too great acidity of the Ferment I mean that of our Cooks Pickling as of Sampier Cucumbers c. whose Pores are filled with the points of the acid Particles fixing themselves in clammy matter which put a stop to an ingress of fermentative Particles from the Air that may tend to the dissolution of the Compages and so are as a coat of Defence from putrefaction And as the aereous particles are not allowed free passage so neither are the fermentative particles of the Stomachical Digestion admited to enter and raise a luctation with the active principles of the Aliment whose parts are as it were linked together by the acid particles of the Pickle that the Stomachical ferment cannot tear them in pieces except when they are taken in a small proportionate quantity and not able to out-vie That of the primary Digestion A 〈◊〉 instance may be taken from salted and dryed â—â—ats as Beef Bacon c. which we 〈◊〉 of a hard Digestion and unfit for a weak stomach because its parts are tied together and pores obstructed by saline Particles and not to be freed and set in motion without a Ferment stronger than the Coagulation And that the Depraved ferment by over-acidity in the primary Digestion is a cause of many disorders yea whilst in the stomach affecting its Orifice causeth Ructatio acida Cardialgia Ardor cum dolore c. may be concluded from their cure by fixed Alkalis as Sylvius doth observe whose property is to correct and destroy an Acid and therefore in these cases may rationally besides Experience proves it recommend Coral Crabs-eyes Margarites Chalybis limatura c. Sylv. de alâ—â— serm in ventric laesâ Prax. med lib. 1. c. 7. This exorbitant Acid sent into the Intestines may with sharp vapours excited therefrom cause an Iliack Passion Disenteries Cholick c. But if it be conveyed to the Blood-vessels so as to pass the stage of the second Digestion it doth destroy the sweet Balsamick Crasis of the Blood and by altering its genuine texture doth give occasion to some of its Principles to become too much exalted and as the ingenious Dr. Willis de Fermentatione Febribus hath proved doth produce several Diseases but its Effects may principally be discerned in Putrid and Intermittent Fevers The Phaenomena of which latter Fran de le Boc Sylvius de febr ingeniously solveth from a spurious acid succus Pancreaticus and depraved Bilis making sudden Eruptions into the Intestines and a mutual Conflict with each other yea when absorbed by the vessels into the blood Not only the debilitated as I said before but also the over-acid and vitiated Ferment may concur to the Production of many Distempers for it precipitating the sweet and well-poised Temperament of the Blood giveth Fluidity to its Compages and from thence an Exaltation of its sulphureous and saline Parts This Dyscrasia sulphureo-salina and salino-sulphurea impressed on the Blood and Genus Nervosum giveth Being to the Scurvy which sheweth it self by its vitiated Ferment in various Dresses over the whole body such as Weariness Dulness of Spirits Spots Swellings Asthma Change of Urine flying Pains stinking Breath Rheumatisms Gout c. Among the Distempers derived from a Pravity in the second Digestion may be reckoned the Dropsie and not as Sennertus following the footsteps of ancient Physitians laying it upon an ill Constitution of the Liver would have it For on all hands it being allowed to be from a Non-separation or an Abundance of Serous Humors retained in the body want of a due Ferment to the destroying of which an exorbitant Acidity will in no small measure concur as well as an Obstruction in the Vessels or viscera may much contribute thereto For when the Saline and Sulphureous particles are deficient in their due state and proportion either by want of Aliment or by consuming Chronical Diseases or by a depraved Stomachical Ferment communicating it self to the Alimentary juice received into the blood or by want of a due access of Air or by a mixture of heterogeneous things with the Aliment then the blood becomes too much dilute and watery As by Obstructions in the Urinary and other Passages so the loss of a due Ferment as many Cases might be produced of an Ischaria or Suppression of Urine by a meer defect of Fermentation in order to a Secretion to lax the Contents in the Blood-vessels or rather to make a Secretion the Urinous Latex is not separated from the blood but regurgitates in its Vessels until Nature over-burdened layeth it down in the Habit of the body thence an Anasarca or in the Abdomen and thence an Ascites and if with a flatus in the Cavity of the lower Region thence a Tympanites Besides the Usual causes of a Consumption of the Lungs such as an Ill-conformation of the Breast an Hereditary weakness in the Lungs and Inclination precedent Diseases as Pleuritis Empyema Variolae c. obstruction of the Lympheducts of the Lungs unwhosome Air and acrious Steams a spurious Acidity impressed on the Blood and the Genus Nervosum hath no small share in as much as the Corroding humor will soon exulcerate the Lungs or at least excite the Diathesis morbâ—sâ— of them Beside the exorbitant Ferment of the Kidneys if any there be and their lax Compageâ— too much percolating the Serum from the Blood this inordinate Acidity causing a too loose Contexture of Parts and consequently too great a Secretion of Serous humors doth much concur to the foundation of a Diabetes As an Ischury many times doth not so much depend on the Stone or Obstruction of the Urinary vessels but on a too strict and faâ—â— compages of the blood when for want of a Saline ferment the Serous parts remain unseparated so from too much Acidity too great a Secretion and consequently a Diabetes This spurious Acidity assaulting and combining with the Tartareous recrements of our bodies doth coagulate into Gravel or Stones commonly in the Urinary passages For all Stony Concretions take their Original either from a viscous Matter or fabulous Earth congealed together by a Saline Agent as Nitre Alum Sal Gemma c. or by a Seminal petrifying Juice whence many stony Concretions take their growth as Coral Coralline Moss and many other Marine Concretions Yea perhaps it might be truly asserted that Rocks take their growth from the Plastick power of a petrifying Seed If this depraved Acidity arrive with the Blood to the Brain so as to cause Obstructions which are as Bars to stop a generation of fresh Animal Spirits or to deprave its Ferment it effecteth a Coma Lethargy Carus or Apoplexie according as an acid serous or otherways vitiated humor hath entered the Brain more or less and the Spirits retire from the outward parts of the Brain or are incapacitated for Motion But if a putrid recremental sordes hath
entered with and defiled them Animal spirits that are generated it causeth an Explosion of the Spirits until they have shaken off the heterogeneous Matter offending as in an Epilepsie Convulsions Swoonings c. If for a Nutritive juice to be conveyed to each part that by its proper digestive ferment assimilateth a convenient matter to repair that which was lost a sowr fretting Humor is advanced in its place instead of Nutrition many Diseases are occasioned For the peculiar ferment of each part being hereby depraved That matter which should be Nutritive will become a sharp corrosive substance or humor as in Cancers Fistulas Vlcers Aposthumations Leprosies Inflammations Strumas Scabies and many other maladies If the thus depraved Aliment reach the Genus Nervosum but not so powerfully as to produce a multitude of Infirmities incident to that kind yet sufficient to cause the Succus nervosus to degenerate from a volatile spirituous Ferment into an Acid humor and by the extremities of the Nerves to be laid down in the Synodia of the joints and the extremities of the Organs where the nervous fibres end and it there meeteth with a Tartareous or fixed humor from the blood the Gout taketh its off-spring or at least is excited from a latent hereditary Seed From the combination of these different saline humors even as from spirit of Vitriol and oyl of Tartar cometh white hard Coagulums or Nodings and by the irritation of the nervous fibres a flux of Humors and consequently Solutio Continui is the Result whence the Gout attended with his various symptoms or wracking Torments approacheth Champion-like almost irresistible The Gout Enemy-like having one displayed his Colours how easily are its forces increased by the eating of Salt-meats drinking of Acid liquors and French-Wines much abounding with a Tartareous Salt which maketh the aforesaid Cause very probable It may be objected That if a spurious Acid or depraved Fermental juice of the first Digestion be thus transferred from the stomach through the subsequent Digestions as to lay a foundation of so many Distempers then from a depraved stomachical Ferment the Diseases resulting from the second and third Principal and other peculiar Digestions will all arise together because the same depraved Alimentary juice is carried in a very small time through them all Answ An Error in the first Digestion being not corrected in the second or subsequent thence it will follow That an Error in the stomachical Ferment will be as a Proximate or at least as a Procatartick Cause of many Diseases immediately ensuing the Digestions subsequent to the first Yet it may not be concluded that it always concureth as a necessary Cause For many times Distempers are the very Products of and are derived from the Depravation of latter Digestions without any previous disposition from the primary Ferment as the Depraved ferment of Sanguification or Production of Animal Spirits may be no less hurtful to our bodies when it is immediately derived from the Errors of subsequent Digestions than when it is laid in the stomachical or first Ferment Thus the Blood wanting a vital Ferment in the Heart and Arteries or its usual volatising Ferment from the Air for want of a due Secretion of its recremental sordes by Obstructions of the vessels want of Perspiration and inordinate use of the Sex Non-naturalia c. will cause Fevers Scurvies or other Distempers incident to the blood when the stomachical Ferment may be entire The Brain also being too lax or weakened by the irregular use of the Six Non-naturalia or by the illness of them or otherways having lost its saline volatising Ferment may of it self give occasion to many Distempers incident to the Genus Nervosum The Womb in the Female sex by its peculiar Ferment causeth an inturgescence of the Uterine blood-vessels so as to open them and make a Lunar Evacuation of the superfluous blood which by the intention of Nature is designed for the nourishment of the foetus but if there be no Conception excepting impediments then a Menstrual flux If the blood-vessels be obstructed by gross humors or their orifices closed by Cold c. then the superfluous blood ready for Expulsion contracts a violent acrimony and regurgitates with the circulating blood to the Heart and Brain whence Syncopes Palpitations of the Heart Faintings Convulsions Suffocation of the Lungs yea many other Distempers according as the Blood and the Vital Spirits are tainted or the Animal deâ—iled Instances might be given of an Epilepsie Palsie Tumors Scurvy c. occasioned by the stopage of the Menstrual course which seem to be from the enormities of the second and third Digestion but the febris alba peculiar to this sex with its usual symptoms plainly illustrateth that the Menstrual Obstruction may ill affect the second and third Digestion Not only in the Female but also in the Male the Spermatick vessels exorbitant or deficient in their Ferment may produce direful disasters The Spleen by its ferment helpeth to sublime and exalt the seculent and terrestrious parts of the blood brought by the Arteries so that by the Splenical ferment the blood returneth in the veins far more pure with its exalted Principles and â—itter to deposite the the â—ile in the Liver But when the Spleen is ill-affected the blood either over-fermenteth as in the Scorbutick and Hypochondriacal diseases but if obstructed or Scirrous the blood is deprived of its due ferment and thence may occasion a Dropsie Cachexie c. To these may be added the depraved ferment of each Part all-sufficient to produce Maladies in them yea when the foregoing Digestions are in good plight But I shall not insist thereon having taken a short Abridgment of most of the Distempers incident unto our bodies which may lead me to an Enquiry after the Vertue of this Ilmington-Spaw PART III. SEC 3. AFter a short Cursory of Diseases I come next to enquire into the Medicinal Use of this â—â—mington-Spaw and finding it to be a Chalybeat Spring a little Scrutiny into the 〈…〉 Artificia Preparations of Mars 〈…〉 to our business in hand 〈…〉 a Chymical Analysis is found to 〈…〉 Sulphur and Earth as the three 〈◊〉 Constitutive â—ngredients with a 〈…〉 of Water and a less of Spirit 〈◊〉 say not that These are the first Principles 〈…〉 other Metals is derived from Water or a Nutritive Succus as a more remote 〈◊〉 Matter indeterminate as the real primary Element but that They are such which do immediately make up the Body of Iron and 〈◊〉 it as such an Object to our Senses Chalybs or Steel doth differ from Iron only by Calcination with Horns Claws and Hoofs of Animals or with such like Alkalis laid stratum super stratum Which by their Alkalizate volatile Salts do carry away in Calcination many of the soluble parts of Iron and destroy much of its Acidity So that Steel is of a more fast and hard body or of a closer texture of Parts than Iron and doth much partake
dissolved in water will with oyl of Tartar or spirit of Salt Armoniack be precipitated in form of a Powder called Mars Diaphoreticus which taketh its Sudorisick quality from the volatile penetrating parts of Salt Armoniack carried with and fixed in the Chalybeat particles in Sublimation These volatile Salts will soon open the Pores of our bodies especially seeing they carry with them Chalybeat Particles all-sufficient to cut tough viscous humors obstructing the Pores or Passages 6. Vitriolum or Sal Martis is made from the parts of Iron dissolved in an Acid Menstruum such as oyl of Vitriol oyl of Sulphur Aqua fortis c. but most commonly with oyl of spirit of Vitriol which giveth the Denomination to the Composition yet if we look into the nature of the thing we may form a like Composition of other Acids with oyl of Sulphur spirit of Nitre c. as well as with oyl or spirit of Vitriol only changing the name into Mars sulphuratus or Sal Martis cum Sulphure cum Nitro c. In the making of Sal Martis with oyl of Vitriol and Iron either filed or in its gross substance some Chymists will add an equal weight of spirit of Wine to the oyl of Vitriol or else two pounds of ordinary Water to one pound of good spirit of Vitriol The reason of it is because the spirit of Wine by its Alkalizate Salt or else the Water may dilute and weaken the oyl or spirit of vitriol that it may not incorporate with the main body of Mars but with the saline and more soluble parts that there may be gained a more pure Salt freed from most of the sulphureous and terrestrious parts of Iron In the Dissolution the saline parts of the Menstruum do joyn with these of Mars and in the mutual conflict of Fermentation they take off and dull the edges of each other and by combining together become a Neutral Salt In this Preparation the sulphureous and terrestrious parts of Iron are separated from the saline from which dissolved in fair water by Evaporation Chrystallization c. is made sal Chalybis or vitriolum Martis Sal Chalybis being actuated by the Vitriol â—s of a stronger operation against Obstructions than Crocus Martis but for want of the sulphurcous principle of Mars will not add so stronger Ferment to the blood and consequently is not so effectual in Cachexies nor against Diseases proceeding from a cold watery constitution But where the blood is over-fermented where it is either Pontick acrious or fiery and in Obstructions proceeding from such a Dyscrasie of the Blood it may be of excellent use This Ilmington water as I have proved before doth derive its vertue from an Esurine Salt preying upon a Minera of Iron which by working upon and combining with each other do become a vitriolum Martis I shall then in the next place shew more fully as to particulars wherein this Spring may be serviceable to our Country in respect of its Medicinal vertue and then lay down some Cautions and Rules to be observed by the Drinkers of this Chalybeat Water After a short Account in the foregoing Section of Diseases how they may be derived from the Depraved digestions of our body I shall now consider how far this Ilmington Spring will conduce to the Restoration of the lost or vitâ—ated Ferments and consequently be a Preservative for Health or restore that which is impaired First the Scurvy being caused by a Dyscrasie of the blood either when its saline or sulphureous parts are too predominant may be much corrected or curbed by this Chalybeat Spring In as much as the Mineral Salt is herein become near a plain Alkali and will penetrate to the second Digestion is able to correct the sowr saltish Blood And being freed from the sulphureous parts of Iron will much correct the sulphureo-saline Dycrasie when the blood like Wine is become over-fermented or fretted This Spring being a great Diuretick will help to carry off that which is superfluous and being a good Aperient in obstructions of the Spleen may correct its vitiated acid Ferment that with other Enormities may concur to alter the sweet balsamick temper of the Blood But considering that a Crude Digestion or spurious Acid Ferment of the Stomach doth many times as a Procatartick Cause lay a foundation of the Scorbutick Ferment this Water must be assisted with Purgatives to carry off the recremental Sordes of the Stomach and other Digestions more especially for Cautions hereafter laid down and be also assisted with some peculiar Medicine to restore the blood to its sweet and well-poised Temparament according to the Cause from whence the Dyscrasie took its Original which requireth the Advice of a skilful Physician Secondly the Spleen by a Specifick Ferment conduceth to a Secretion of Bilis but if by Obstruction or Depravation it be deficient in its fermental Operation the blood not purged from its sordes doth become obscure and muddy so that the Animal Spirits thence elaborated are neither pure nor refined but dark and gloomy fit for melancholy Phansies From a long supply of such feculent blood are the Spirits spoiled and Hypochondriacal Fitts and Melancholy take their growth This Spaw-water containing a vitriolum Martis is a good Deoppilative in Splenical obstructions for being of a penetrating nature is good for these abstruse Recesses By the Reaction and Combination of the acid salt of the Menstruum with the Alkalizate of Mars is made a Neutral Salt but most inclining to an Alkali Whence it may be of good use to correct the spurious acid Ferment of the Spleen but now communicated to the blood By restoring the Spleen to his natural Ferment in destroying that spurious Acidity by opening Obstructions and its Diuretick property carrying off many of the feculent parts the blood may be freed from the opace Melancholy steams that defile the Brain the workhouse of Imagination and Judgment and so be restored to its natural Crasis But withal observe That this Water must be helped with Purgatives to cleanse the blood from its faeces lest that instead of being an Aperient it should prove to be an Obstructer especially in the Extremities of the small Capillary vessels where the Blood in its Circulation is hindred by a viscous dreggy Matter but besides Catharticks where other Digestions are deficient in their office Specificks must also be applied Thirdly the Dropsie consisteth in a dilute watery blood or rather in a Non-separation of Serum or Urinous Latex that regurgitateth into the blood-vessels until it be laid down in the Habit of the body and sometimes with a flatus The loss of secretion of this Latex is frequently from the want of a Ferment in the bood which chiefly dependeth on the Saline Principle as the main cause of laxing the Compages of the blood for the separation of Serous Humors Besides the loss of a Ferment Obstructions in the Urinous vessels and Lympheducts many times do lay a foundation to the structure
of a Dropsie Ilmington-Spaw may be useful in this case upon a threefold Account 1. Although sal Chalybis be freed from the sulphureous parts of that Mineral and consequently is not as I said before proper by it self in Cachexies and cold Phlegmatick Distempers yet it doth mightily take off the spurious Acidity and laxeth the too strict compages of the blood And this Salt coming nigh to an Alkali is a great Diuretick fit to carry off the superabundant Matter 2. The saline Particles with their Edges will cut the viscous Matter obstructing the vessels which many times put a stop â—o the Latex in its proper Passages 3. It being a Stiptick Medicine may be beneficial to restore the debilitated Membranous parts too much laxed by the stagnating water All which Properties do exactly correspond with the Indications of Cure of the Dropsie Yet we must necessarily allow Specificks and other Medicines intermixtim applied according as the Patient is this or the other way inclined But withal take notice That what is here spoken must be understood of a Dropsie in its first growth for otherwise the gulping down of three or four Quarts of Water will help to swell up the debilitated parts and add a great Oppression to decaying Nature Fourthly from Gravel-stones in the Reins and Bladder and also the Strangury and Dysury we may be relieved by drinking of this Spaw-water in as much as it will destroy that exorbitant Acid combining with the Tartareous recrements into Gravel-stones in the Urinary Passage and also as a Subalkalizate take off that acrimonious Humor which causeth a sharp fretting Urine Besides taking off that sharp Humor that giveth increase to these stony Concretions and fretting Urine it being drank in a large quantity and a great Diuretick it will keep the Current open and lax the Urinary vessels so as to carry off much of the feculent Matter and like a Brook with a Current-stream take with it some sandy Concretions which in our Bodies we call Sliping of a Stone Whether or not a Calculus may be dissolved whilst in the Kidneys or Bladder is not to my purpose here to enquire for I look upon it to be beyond the vertue not only of This but of all other Chalybeat Waters Fifthly the Jaundice proceeding not only from an Obstruction of the Hepatick vessels by tough viscous â—umors Scirrous Tumors c. but also by the Saline and Sulphureous or Bilious parts of the blood too much exalted and indisposed for a Separation but dispersed over the whole body As it happeneth frequently after immoderate drinking of Wine or strong Liquors that too highly ferment the Blood so that the acrious particles remain unseparated and shew themselves by a yellow Tincture of the skin For the Cure of the Jaundice we may have recourse to this Spaw and that upon account of answering these two Indications 1. It opens Obstructions derived from impediments in the second Digestion and so may reduce the Choledochal vessels to their proper functions 2. The Vitrlolum Martis in this Water by its Stiptick Vitriolick Salt will take off these high flown acrious Particles that make too strong a Ferment and whirl about these adust Cholerick parts which by a due ferment and lax compages of the blood should have been thence separated Sixthly the Lunar Evacuation of Blood in the female Sex is checked in its natural course by Obstructions in the Uterine Sanguinary vessels by viscous tough Humors Tumors or when their Orifices are closed by Cold c. The blood stopped in this Critical Evacuation doth regurgitate by the veins up again into the body from whence follows a Depravation of the vital Ferment and thence frequently a Crudity of Humors causing the Green-sickness Cachexie c. And if by stagnating in the vessels the blood hath acquired a virulent acrimony so as to oppress the vital Spirits then Syncopes Faintings c. but if it reach the Animal Spirits then Epilepsies Hysterical Fits and such like Diseases will make their Assault In Diseases thus proceeding for these Distempers may also otherways take their Rise as from passions of the Mind Hysterical Fitts from loss or defilements of the Spirits Lipothymia Syncope c. Ilmington-Spaw is of excellent Use For it will open Obstructions sterge the excremental sordes and take off the spurious Acidity that is many times exorbitant in the blood and may adhere to the Orifices of the Uterine vessels that often causeth the Febris alba to be of so difficult Cure in some young women Sal Chalybis being freed from the sulphureous part of Iron it will not be amiss to add some Crocus Martis or other prepared Medicine that by its sulphureous Particles may increase the Sanguinary Ferment in Cachexie Green sickness c. by which the Cure will be facilitated and the pale-faced Patient brought to a lively Complexion But if there is a virulent Acrimony contracted then a more Appropriate medicine is also requisite for this Spaw will not reach the remote recesses of the Genus Nervosum So that Specificks of a penetrating nature and abilities to correct the Enormities of the Digestions subsequent to the Stomachical with Catharticks to purge off the faeces and dregs of our Bodies must necessarily be required Seventhly this Spaw-water drank will help to cleanse and purifie the Blood and may be used with good success in Distempers proceeding from a saline acrious Humor or froâ— Obstructions in the second Digestion But neither Chalybeats nor Spaw-waters will help the Disasters of the Animal Spirits suffering in their abstruse Passages It may as a Subalkaâ—izate correct a spurious Acidity in the blood and by opening the obstructed vessels as a Diuretick carry off much of the recremental sordes of the blood and so as a Remote Cause help to prevent Diseases proceeding from exorbitant saline Humors such as the Gout but cannot reduce the coagulated Salts from the Synodia of the Joynts nor correct the spurious Acidity that hath reached the Genus Nervosum when the Gout attended with direful Symptoms doth appear Neither can this Chalybeat water reach the Morbisick Disposition or Seminal Idea of the Gout more especially in persons to whom it is Hereditary which only wanteth an Acid ferment to bring this latent Enemy upon the open Stage This latent Seed will shew it self in growth as often as it is excited by Saline Agents such as Salt-beef Stale beer French Wines c. Which morbid Idea first laid by the Archeus is beyond the Power of any Spaw-water or Chalybeat but requireth more noble Balsamick Arcana I shall now sum up the Vertue of this Spaw-water as Van Helmont de aq Spad Parad. quint. doth of the German Spaws Pawhont and Savenir and of all such that take their Medicinal vertue â—rom an Esurine Salt and a dissolved Minera of Iron This Spaw assisted with Catharticks will help their Stomachs that are loaded with a mucous Matter and free us from a viscous filth that hath entered the more