many ways Py. Galen himselâ— proves the Minor Teaching that in every fit of fevers there is more Choler breathed out or spent then there is in two dayes generated In the mean time the other members cease not to be nourished by the bloud accustomed that is besides the consuming caused by the fever they likewise consume their shares of the bloud as they were accusâ—omed which I have computed by the humor avoided by vomit in the foregoing Dialogue Ph. But now again may not the same computation with greater permission connivency be intimated and â—e-inforced Py. It may and therefore I say that iâ— 4. A Logistick proof in a sound body there be eight ounces of bloud made daily of necessity there must other eight ounces be daily spent in aliment otherwise a man would quickly grow as they say from a horse load to a Cart load If therefore from a sound man there go daily eight ounces of bloud certainly a fever will not consume less Therefore where there is little or no appetite to meat as little digestion and no more sanguification of necessity also that fulness which we spake of if there were any in the beginning it will presently within two days fail and the indication will cease for so much as concerns the letting bloud in that fever Ph. But how should we know that in fevers there is presently no more of that fulness Py. This is manifest to every one that â— Fulness of good bloud impossible hath an Issue because they are presently dried in fevers neither do they yeeld their wonted matter But here is principally to be noted how the forces can nâ—ver offend in their abundance no not in Mathusalem Neither doth good bloud ever offend in being too much in that the vital powers and bloud are correlatives because according to the Scripture the soul or vital strength is in the bloud and consequently therefore in good bloud there can never be a fulness On the other side I have in the precedent Dialogue demonstrated that corrupt bloud is never contained in the veines Therefore if 6. Never any corrupt bloud in the veines at any time there should be any fulness of the veines possible it should be in a middle state of bloud between that is corrupt and that which is very sound Whether we should consider that state as of Decidency and 7. No fulnes in a neuter stare of bloud Convalescency for Neutrality comprehends both these states or as it is mixed of both those states let Galenists at least remember that good comes of an entire cause but ill out of particular defects and that therefore this state is not called Plethorical or the state of fulness but Cacochymical or of evil juyces Neither doth it require bloud-letting but Purgation rather which may 8. Bloud-letting never indicated by the Theses of the Schools by election or choise bring out the evil and leave the good behinde it And therefore our of their Theses it is not hitherto proved that bloud letting is any way indicated or to be used Ph. How so I pray Py. Because according to the truth of the 9. What Cacochimie in the veines is properly thing I have already shewed that there is no Cacochymy in the veines as being only a disturb â—â—â— of the bloud to the taking away whereof there is no drawing of the bloud required but onely a taking away of the disturbing affect And so much the rather because it is the purâ—r bloud which passing by the centre of the heart hath obtained its purification And therefore that which is drawn out of the arm and comes 10. Co-indications in place of a proper indication and oppofite to contraindications agree but fondly out first of all will be the purer and that which staves behinde will be the impurer Ph. Now seeing it appears there is no fulness in fevers which may require the bloud letting what followes Py. This followes that the Schools having smelt so much they hâ—ve in place of an indication substituted certain co-indications as counterpoising an adjusted indication in Nature and weighing down a contrary indicâ—tion 11. A Proposition of the Author against bloud-letting in a fever which ought otherwise being taken from the conservation of the forces wholly to obtain the prime place in this respect alone that every fever is soon safely and perfectly curable without bloud-letting For in every putrefaction of so many sundry client humors and in the fevers flowing 12. The Schools defame their purgatives by their allowance of bloud letting thence they presently make use onely of the help of bloud-letting bâ—bâ—cause as they say it presently easeth and is stopt at pleasure Ph. But do they not by this distinction in some sort discredit their purgatives For they say though bloud-letting seem to be required for a sulness by its natural and onely indication yea and though it do not propeâ—ly 13. The ends of Co-indications take away such humors as putrefied yet it cools and disburdeneth the veines it recreates the forces or spirits it takes away part of the evil humor with the good and by derivation and revulsion it stops and pacifies the flux of humors calling them another way from running to the nest of putrefaction whereupon Nature finding her self comforted doth what is else required much more happily and easily Ph. What said the Sow when she eat up the Penitential Psalms These are good words but they do not satisfie the hungâ—r I mean these are Co-indications whereby they perswade men to continue their afflictions But in these I will particularly give satisfaction Ph. And herein you will much oblige posterity Py. But before all I would have you 14. A forewarning by the Author know That though in a more strong and full body there be no notable hurt done yea and sometimes such as are sick also seem presently to bee bettered and cured Yee bloud-letting cannot but bee dis-allowed considering that such as have fevers are moâ—â— happily recovered without it Ph. Do we not see that at the first or iterated bloud-lettings the violence of fevers is oftentimes remitted Py. 'T is confessed But how comes this to pass think you Note no otherwise then thus The Archeus or spirit of Life finding it self suddainly robbed of its forces and surprised by a disagreeing coolness is strucken with so manifest an horrour that it neglects the expulsion of the feverish matter and to do its duty But those which seem to be â—â—red by Phlebotoâ—â—y they either certainly relapse or at least they come more slowly to their health and when they have obtained it is not so firm as it was formerly Ph. The Turks and a great part of the world make this assertion good unto you which never heard of bloud-letting as being that which is no where read to have beene either instituted by God in Nature or that it was approved by him or that he ever did so much as mention it But now
reserve it self against this defect to continue the sever which should otherwise perish through the penury of Cholâ—r Or whether did Nature please her self in the custody of a putred Choler But if this Cholâ—r flowing out of the veines be not putred then Nature should be mad and surious to dissolve the bloud that she might have something for the continuation of the suture sever But the Galenical Schools confess it putred and that a putred humor is every fiâ— powred out by the veines and carried into the slender extremities of them and that that is the cause of the trembling of the fit and of the exceeding cold thereof the putrefâ—ction of which humor while it is there more increased should presently after be the cause of heat in such extremity Ph. How relished you this Py. I esteemed these as dry stubble unworthy tales miserable old wives fictions and ignorances most pernicious to humane Nature Ph. But did not Fernelius fiâ—st detect this ignorance of the Schools Py. He did so and therefore Rondeletius 18. The merit of Ferâ—elius and his fellow Galenists inveighed against Fernelius as a desertor of the Schools and an Apostata But Fernelius was the first that smelt out the nest of intermittents to be about the stomack and next Gut unto it called Duodenum and about the Pancreas also which we call Sweet-bread as likewise he established the seat of continual fevers about the heart But he had not the boldness to decline from the old way of curing fevers He began indeed openly to dispute against the precedent Schools about the nest of fevers but he afterwards hid himself amongst his abdita and not able to shake off those straw-made shackles of putred humors he suffered both the knowledge and the essences of fevers also to be taken from him Ph. But what saith Paracelsuâ— to this business Py. Paracelsus being terrified by the rigor 19. The rashâ—ness and inconstancy of Paracelsus of fevers perswading himself hee had the knowledge of all fevers sure enough tickled by his own invention of an allegorical Microcosme defines a fever to be a disease made of Sulphur and Nitre And in another place that it is the earth quake of the little world â—â— if Sulphur and Nitre should be made much colder then themselves as bâ—ing drawn out of the mud or slime which he cals Limus or Limbus of the Microcosm which afterwards should of their own accords be set on fire by the burning Etna Now as Galen in the search of causes stumbled every where and therein shewed himself to be no Physician whose name he saith is Iventor Occasionis so Paracelsus with a wonderous liberty is faln in his Microcosmi Parâ—emius unworthy a Physitian Ph. It would prove an hard law to precipitate 20. Man no Microcosm if we obey the Scripture a man nakedly to have a relation or a reference to the Microcosm in the miserable necessities of all diseases Py. I therefore rejoyce with my self that I bear the Image of the living God and not of the world Ph. It should seem then that this good man was deceived Py. Nothing more certain In that hee knew not that fire burneth no where unless 21. Paracelsus deceived it be first kindled neither knew hee any flint in us or steel or any thing to strike them one against the other in the point or instant of the beating of the flint howsoever he dissemble the business and indeed there was no necessity of them no nor of gunpowder to produce a feverish heat unless we were to be burnt up the first stroke and torn in pieces Therefore the matter of actual Sulphur and Salt-peter are wanting in us So is the connection of them both together neither is there actual fire within us And in fine there wants a body which could tolerate this burning though it were but for a moment Wherfore the causes and originals of fevers in the Schools are trifling songs and very fables THE FOURTH MEETING OF PHILIATRUS AND PYROSOPHILVS About the Examination of Bloud-letting in Fevers Ph. GOod Sir let mee hear your opinion of Bloud-letting in fevers Py. You shall but before I go on to further scopes intentions or purposes I should repeat what I have elsewhere in a large Treatise demonstrated viz. That there are not two Cholers and a Phlegme in Nature as parts whereof the bloud consisteth Ph. No That were worth the hearing Py. It were and the rather because in this place where there is no mention made of any but putâ—ed humors those would of themselves be destroyed In that a putred 1. One reasoÌ„ against humors the rest elswhere animal is no longer animal But this discourse of fevers requires a more succinct brevity of me Ph. Use your pleasure Py. I will therefore onely examine two generâ—l helps in curing Ph. What are those Py. Bloud-letting and Purging Ph. These are as it were the two Pillars of Physick if you should dealâ— otherwise then well with them the whole house would of its own accord fall upon the heads of Physitians For if these helps should be taken away Physitians must forsake their Patients as not having other medicines then such as doth diminish stâ—engâ—h and body 2. Galen's universal prâ—position for Phlebotoâ—y Py. These therefore I will touch upon in general For by the consent of Galen bloud-letting is required in every fever except an hectick Ph. What arguments bring you against the Schools and the destructive custome of these times in this occasion Py. Such as follow viz. Bloud letting 3. A Syllogism against him where there is no necessary indication thereof that is where there is no proper use of it is unprofitable But in fevers there is no necessary indication thereof therefore bloud-letting in fevers is unprofitable Ph. What if they deny your Major Py. I prove it thus becâ—use the end is the first director of the causes and disposer of the means unto it self wheresoever therefore the end shews not a necessity of the means those means not being requisite to that end are impertinently used Especially where a contrary indication tels us that we cannot let bloud without dejection of our strength or forces Therefore these means are foolishly appointed which are by the end declared to be used in vain unprofitably and with diminution of those forces Ph. How prove you your Minor Py. Horatius Augenius proves it by three books written to that purpose wherein he teacheth by consent of the Academies that onely a Phlethora or too great fulness of the veines that is too great aboundance of the bloud is that which shews when bloud-letting is to be used Noâ— that directly for the curing of fevers but for the evacuation of that fulness but there 's never any Phlethora in fevers Therefore there is never any need of bloud-letting in fevers And consequently iâ— is altogether unprofitable Ph. I must confess the conclusion is new and paradoxical and therefore it should be proved
I profess and affirm that the Schools withstand it by their head-strong insisting on the Gentiles principles and also that all Physick is exercised for gain ever since its first beginning which is onely among Arts to be endeavoured and followed out of pitty and compassion and not as if we should grow merry and live pompously and wax rich upon the afflictions and spoils of miserable creatures Wherefore lucre hath snatched away from men their necessary disposition and the falsity of Pagan doctrine hath turned the adept guift of curing clean another way Ph. Wherein consists the seeking it or hunting after it Py. In compassion towards the sick in unlearning of false Theorems and in putting on a profound humility of spirit Ph. How shall we know when we have this humility Py. When you are no longer puâ—â— up with better nor depressed by disorder so shall the minde in an humble intritive knowing of its nothingness be emptied of all sciences introduced by inductions of reason And then I say then the most high God scâ—rce suffereth a minde to be empty but he presently fils the same with the plentifull beam of his light Ph. But though you say this guift of curing descends from above I cannot think but you have met with many which would have Physick to be learned after that way that other Arts are learned Py. You think aright for say they the understanding is a natural power and every natural power is born to operate its proper effect but the proper effect of the understanding is intellection Therefore a man naturally understands all things understandable as the proper objects of the understanding Further they say the faculty of Physick is intelligible and therefore it descends not from above Ph. How do you answer them Py. Thus the soul and its understanding are not immediate works of Nature as rising from the supernatural fountain and so according to their beginning though the understanding be a natural faculty of the soul yet is it not at all to bee computed amongst those faculties which are meerly natural Faith tells us that Deus creavit Medicum So that Ars Medendi speaks something above the common rule of things created nor doth the adeption thereof come by the way of other Sciences For Nabuchadonozar testifies the taking away and the restoring of the understanding So doth Nolite fieri sicut Psa 32. 9. equus mulus quibus non est intellectus which had been spoken to no purpose if the understanding should be equally distributed by Nature Further this understanding which they here speak of doth not exercise its natural or intellectual act but as it draws some kinde of Notions discoursing from the observations which it received from the perception of the senses as being altogether ignorant of the causes a priori But to the Science of Physick there is a certain clearness of light required which far exceeds that knowledge by the senses yea and by consequences of causes to the effectus after the putations or I think so 's induced to them by reason which are for the most part all deceitfull For we have it from faith that the understanding together with the totallity of humane Nature and so consequently how clear soever it be at first sight perceiveth not the propositions to be true which surpass the sense unless it be by the affluence of a supernal light For example I often reade attentively some place in a book and though I understand the words yet I gather the sense thereof beyond all hope but once onely admiring much my former readings this kinde of knowledge I call knowledge of grace And so the understanding how clear soever doth not always assent to truth because it naturally perceives it not and hence come factions in Sciencâ—s and Religion so likewise in the guift of curing there is something more noble and superior to that which formed in the imagination by a fore-existent knowledge of the senses which is true solid good and far above the authority of consequences yea such as cannot be properly taught nor yet demonstrated Ph. Of what kinde of thâ—se infused Sciences is this Adeptum or guift of curing For I suppose there are many of them Py. I would not have you understand me that the Adept of curing is such an infused Science as in times past shined to Bezeliel Exod. 31. 2. and 36. 1. and Oholiab much less such as in a large showr raigned down upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost whereby they presently spake in various languages Nor yet is this Adept of healing wholly therefore of the sublunaries for the eternal wisedome created his Physitian singularly above other creatures and therefore there is something of more Majesty required for him then for such other professions which hee had not commanded to be honoured For all our understanding otherwise in Nature ariseth onely by way of discourse supposition consequent and inquisition and that wholly a posteriori Wherefore all this kinde of knowledge leanes upon uncertainty And therefore between the ordinary way of understanding and infused Sciences of the first degrees there are certain large receptacles or Latitudes in an understanding supernaturally arising one above another which are particularly every one in its degree distinguished Ph. I would you could prove me this Py. I prove it thus Every good guift descendeth from the Father of Lights The Adept of curing is a good guift therefore it descendeth from the Father of Lights Our faith confirms the Major and the Minor is apparent in that the Physitian as such is created by the Father of Lights Ph. How reply they to this Py. By a kinde of similitude and nothing to the Syllogism Ph. As how I pray Py. Thus the knowledge of God is of greater difficulty then that of Physick but the Gentiles by the operations of the understanding have naturally found out the existence of the Deity therefore have they much more easily attained to the natural Science of Physick Ph. What answer made you Py. I granted all had they not brought in four Termini Therefore as no man can by Nature draw the light of faith but onely by a shadowed kinde of knowledge so I grant that in the guift of curing by observations of helpfull things and hurtfull there may a kinde of curing knowledge be atchieved But this knowledge is indeed so shadowy and blinde that it is repugnant altogether unto the Text which to no purpose should have said that God created the Physitian as such and that he should be honoured unless some light should shine in this created Physitian above the vulgar ordinary and naturall intellectual power of the soul Ph. But now what proofs bring you against those Atheists Jewes and Gentiles which you spake that they never received this guift of curing Py. No other or farther fetched then that it is de facto that sickness remedies and their appropriations are at this day unknown to all mortals For it is an
the colour that is whiter or blacker then it should be or by the yellowness greenishness or brownness of it Or by the matter as being too clammy too thick too waterish too thin Or at last by the substance as being without fibers and scarce coherent c. But I declare or protest unto you under penalty 25. Example out of the variety of bloud of a convicted lye that if any man would make proof thereof he shall finde that many of the blouds of two hundred Country fellows sound and wanton as those were which in one day were by me examined he might finde as I found many of them to view very unlike the rest in colour matter and consistents of which I distilled many and in cuting found them to be equally wholsome for our Peasants are wont the second day in Whitson week to let bloud that they might drink more freely And though many of them seemed putrefied rusty like Iron or melancholike yet those from whom these blouds were taken were all very sound men which is a thing worth noting Therefore these blouds did by the cause confirm themselves notwithstanding the signes of corruption to be no whit alienated from the nature of the Balsam Ph. What thought you then Py. I thought not so much as I laughed 26. A ridiculous fable of bloud drawn at the table of Judgements upon the sight of bloud after Phlebotomy and this means I was confirmed and those blouds were commanded by Physitians to be kept that they might score up at least one visit more upon the recovering of the Patients For if corruption 27. An argument from the Plague against use of the Schools of bloud have place any where and should under that title indicate its letting out this should be rather in the Plague then in any other infirmity But it s a deadly thing to let bloud in the Plague there putrefaction is no where in the bloud nor is there any fear that putrefaction should grow strong therein And consequently the scope of bloud-letting is in this case erroneous Ph. Could you not illustrate this passage better by some instance Py. I could and will And therefore I 28. Another from the Pluriâ—ie suppose also that thirty men were equally sick of a Plureâ—ie and ten of them had by Phlebotomy drawn bloud apparently vitious for the bloud in this disease is like red Wine wherein are clotts of Milk I will cure the other twenty without bloud-letting It is certain in the mean while that these twenty had their bloud affected in the same manner that those ten had And again that those twenty cured if they should open a vein the bloud would be found rectified restored to the former perfection and far different from Pluritical in all or any of them Therefore the bloud of one that is Pluritical is not corrupted though it seem so Ph. May this be proved Py. It may for from a corrupted or deprived thing there is no going back again to life health or former habit Therefore no blackness blewishness greenishness or other such like colours of the bloud do testifie the corruption of it but onely tell us the tokens of a boyling or a fermental turbulency or troubledness For if the more watry or yellow bloud should especially tell us the faults thereof the arterial bloud should bee far worse then that of the veins is which were an errour in that the bloud is in the same manner distinguished by the former signes as Wine when it is troubled while the Vine is blooming which is not therefore corrupted because the trouble being gone the Wine of it self doth come cleâ—r again In like manner a fever diversly disturbs the bloud and makes the face thereof of sundry ill colours But 29. Heats and turbulences of bloud no testimonies of its faultiness But the Bug beats or Scare-crowes ceasâ— when the fever 's over Indeed I am wont to liken these men that look into the bloud to such as give their judgement of Spanish Wine and think they are casâ—ing of an Urine Ph. But they will say If putrefaction be 30. The poor deceit of the Schools not in the bloud why streams it not out of the vein purely red the third time and not the first or the first and not the third time Py. This argument at least convinceth that one part of the bloud is more or sooner disturbed then another and not the whole and all together For it is certain that Nature tendeth 31. Ridiculous to suppose putred humors in fevers to the perfection appointed her by little and little and by a direct and lineary way And that therefore the bloud near the heart is purer then about the first shops or offices thereof And that is the reason why they say a Tertian as well continual as intermittent consists of Choler a Quarran of Melancholly and a Quotidian of Phlegme but all putred and they err therein For what necessity had they to suppose these humors which I have elsewhere demonstrated to be fictious putred seeing they confess a Synochus continual and more cruel then the three former not to be putred Which if they be conferred with the proposed definition of fevers the bloud in every Synochus and the spirit of life in a Diary Ephemera or Day-fever must of necessity in life be putred that is they will have attained or be arrived to the bound of putrefaction Then whereas 32. Some absurdities alledged against the definition of fevers in the precedent Dialogue the Schools confess that these putred humors do not consist in the ventricle of the heart and that therefore they are not primarily kindled in a fever by this meanes putrefaction is consequently in vain required to the kindling of a feverish heat in the heart If therefore the putred humors shall a far off inflame the spirit in the heart this by all law of Nature should first be done nearer hand then at a greater distance and should rather inflame all the intermediating bloud by the heat of putrefaction and so all must give a necessary putred Synochus Whereupon the Quartan shall neither stop it's course nor make it's recourse if the same putred matter of it can lie quietly in expâ—ctation in the Spleen for a year together Gangrens teach me certainly that nothing which is putred for every thing that 's putrefied is dead can long persist without further contagion Neither am I capable how the very spirit of Life it self the Archeus shall become putrefied 33. A â—rivolous excuse by an Ephemirâ— to give Galen satisfaction for a Diary But if they understand a Diaria to be the daughter of that putrefaction which at last is inserted or comes into the spirit of life So all fevers in the Schools should be Diaties To conclude if a Diaria be the daughter of putrefaction it is then presupposed to be fermented with the spirit of life whence they fall again into the same straights But if
beseech you how should bloud letting necessarily weaken Seâ—ing such as are strong and â—ull or Plethorick seem to find the contrary by experience and to justifie it Py. If the sacred Text be not of power enough which warns us of the inhabitation of the life within the bloud it will at least be made manifest if you offend by a more liberal emission thereof For presently the Spirits and the Patient are dejected If 32. The Mathematiks prove bloud-letting alwais hurtfull therefore in the Mathematicks six do hurt notably Three cannot chuse but hurt though not so sensibly Now for him to hurt Nature which should cure her and restore her is not permitted If Nature must be her own Physitian and that she is by so much the happier by how much the stronger let it suffice the Physitian that the Patient fals otherwise into an excusable weakness through the disease fastings wants of appetite unquiet restings pains anxieties watchings sweats and the like and let not him who is called as a faithful helper add weakness unto weaknesses Ph. But is this bloud letting so much cried up and so much used so fraudulent a remâ—dy as you seem to make it Py. It is so fraudulent and so uncertain that no Physitian hath hitherto had the boldness to promise any future cure by it Ph. I but every Artificer doth what he promiseth the Stone-cutter makes Statues the Shoo-maker makes shooes and that undoubtedtedly 33. The incertainty of Physitians argues a defect of their principles why should the Physitian onely want the daring to uphold what his Art promiseth Py. Because he builds upon foundations which are uncertain and therefore he is by accident alone and fraudulently profitable For which way soever the business be turned it is a thing that 's full of ignorance to go about to cure by a procured weakness viz. by a sodain emptying or effusion of the bloud made at once in quantity together Nature is for the most part so danted that she neglecteth the expulsion of her enemy Which expulsion I have notwithstanding demonstrated to contain the whole Scene or Stage of Fevers and of Nature Ph. But besides this is it not confessed that the matter of the Fever consists not in the vein above the heart Py. It is so but what of that Ph. It followes then that bloud letting 34. Bloud letting cannot diminish the cause of fevers draws not by any means the occasional matter or that it effectively cureth by any direct intention of curing if I be not deceived Py. You are not deceived therefore let us go on Ph. To conclude then what say you of 35. An Argument drawn a sufficiente enumeratione the bloud that 's let for the more perspiration of the Arteries Py. That is at the least in the beginnings and increase of fevers fruitless when the heat is not yet in its full strength And seeing that neither in the state or height thereof a vein is to be opened nor yet in the declination when is it good then to let bloud Ph. Never but how prove you that it is good to let bloud in the state or height of a fever Py. Because it hinders the Crisis when Nature as they write strugleth especially being hindered and being for the most part conqueress she may then least of all tolerate the loss of forces or be called from the duel Now if in the height or state Nature be conquered what will bloud letting then bâ—e Ph. A meer Man-slaughter Py. Right but if it be not convenient to open a vein in the state of fevers whil'st the greatest heat and Anxiety or difficulty is extant and the greatest respiration of the Arteries is required it will be certainly much less convenient in the beginnings and increases of them Especially considering that the fear of a fulness goes presently away in the first days of those fevers And by that means the perspiration of the Arteries will be easie enough Ph. What say you to infirmities in their declinations Py. I say it is clear and manifest and commonly testified by the votes and voices of all men that then they neither require nor tolerate any bloud letting Ph. Let us yet further consider in fevers 36. Another from the quality of the bloud the bloud within the veins what say you thereof Py. I say it is either good bad or neither if it be good it will be good to keep what 's good because it addeth to the forces For as I elsewhere shew the fear of fulness did even from the beginning cease if there were any Ph. But they say they let good bloud to cool it and breath out the puâ—refaction Py. That 's needless That is there is neither heat nor puâ—refaction in it as is proved for both are taken away already and that imaginary good which they suppose comes by it bringeth a real and a necessary loss of forces Ph. But they teach further that bloud-letting in a fever is not commanded for the goodness of the bloud since they suppose it to be both ill and puâ—red Py. But I have sufficiently taught that during life there 's no bloud in the veins corrupted and consequently that the scope of the Schools in letting bloud is ruined They must shew me therefore what other malice 37. Whereto the Schools are constrained is in the bloud besides its corruption They must also shew me or demonstrate to me that this bad bloud is detained in the vein from the heart to the hand if they will have their bloud-letting be ratified as such or as a Revulsion They must I say teach us that this ill bloud is not in the first Shops or Offices thereof and that it being drawn out by the vein of the arm there be not worse bloud drawn unto the heart in that place the hollow vein makes the hearts right ventricles Let them in like manner instruct us that the upper veines being emptied there is not a greater liberty and impunity whereby things feverish and hurtful may approach unto the heart then formerly So that instead of breathing out of the purrefaction which I have proved to be truly nothing there be not rather a free access of putted breath unto the heart occasioned For whether doth the vacuity of the emptied veines draw the bloud downward Let them shew me I say by what reason the pouring out of the bloud and the diminution of the forces by the arm should hinder the putrefaction or should import a correction or renuing of what is putred In like manner let them express themselves what they mean when they say that bloud should be let or drawn that the Arteries may breath more freely considering that putrefaction if there were any such thing possibly to bee found within the veins affecteth not the arterial bloud which is the Steward of our whole Nature Let them moreover prove that the good bloud being diminished and the forces also spent proportionably there is greater power in that
which is remaining impure and tainted by puâ—refaction as they suppose of preserving it self from an imminent purrefaction Again let them teach against the Holy Text that the life and soul are rather and more willingly in the defiled residue of bloud then in the puter taken away by bloud-letting Otherwise regularly the drawing out of the good includes an increased proportion and an unbridled liberty of the bad remaining Ph. But what if at last the bloud in the fever and veins be bad and they say ' â—is good as a signe and effect that in the letting of the bloud the bad comes out and that they think that so much at least of the bad is taken away Py. First let them prove that bloud which they suppose hurtfull to be truly hurtfull as I have formerly proved it guiltless And then let them teach that by the hasty and full emission of this bad bloud there is no prejudice brought upon the forces and that in the residue of the defiled bloud the forces being now decreased the taking away of the bloud will be cause why the corruption of that which remaineth is of less power to go forward And whether they hope at any time that in the bloud howsoever once infected viz. by this privation a regress may be given in Nature to perfection For let them shew that it contradicteth not that it 's proper to a fever to pollute the bloud and 38. A vain hope in the changes of bloud drawn by Phlebotomy that this property is taken away a posteriori viz. by removing what is purrefied For if first the impurer bloud be drawn out of the veins and they again open the vein and in the mean time deject and trouble or disturb the forces and by this means take away the hope of a Crisis what if it then come out more red then formerly Ph. They will then certainly cry out as if all the quantity of the bad had been taken away by the first effusion and that the seat of the fever was extended from the heart unâ—… the arm onely and that the good had its residence about the Liver Py. But in a Dropsie I have noted that the evacuations of the last excrements were alwaies to be feared and much more therefore in the naked drawing out of bloud which leads away the vital spirits from the heart in a direct course thorow the wound whether it be deemed bad or good or neuter Ph. You have first proved that they offend in a fallacy as well as in those things which are supposed of a Synachae or burning Petitione principii fever both purred as of those which are conceived of the emission of a purred bloud Now therefore to our purpose what think you of the helps are gotten in lieu of the forces which are taken from us Py. I always found them full of deceit that for so little a help the strength should be infeebled by bearing the burthen of diseases for it is as drink in â—he beginning of a fever which seems for a while to give a refreshing but is any man so mad as to drink if he knew that drink did rob him of his forces Ph. You conclude then that the help of cooling by bloud-letting is trustless fraudulent and momentary But now what say you of that neuter bloud which is nor good nor bad in letting Py. Of this it is best to say nothing in that what is denied in dis junction may be denied also in copulation For if that be neuter which consists of a commixture of good with bad supposing that bad which is not Or that whereinto a neutral alteration is introduced what is formerly said may satisfie the event in either of them Ph. Have you not yet done with Co-indications Py. I shall at length when I have cut off the hope which is in revulsion and so I shall equally take away all co-indications as the poor and miserable sculking-holes of perversness It is a mad remedy to let bloud for 39. Co-indication of Phlebotomy in fevers Menstrue for Revulsion a vanity to this end they draw a great quantity whether it be in fevers or in the menstrues for revulsion in that the feverish matter swims not in the bloud or floateth up and down the veins but sticks within unto the vessel as I shall tell you in its own place when I speak of the occasional matter And for the Menstrue likewise in that the separation therof is made out of the whole and not without the separating hand of the Archeus But Phlebotomy separates nothing of things separable because it works without a fore-knowledge of the end and therefore without election But the nearest always runs out first and as soon as the vessel is open away goes the innocent bloud which because after by a continued thread others follow for fear of vacuum therefore the Menstrues about the womb or Mother collected there by the industry of Nature and of set purpose are drawn from thence by bloud letting and retire back again into â—â—e whole what though Phlebotomy may sometime in a full and well complexioned woman finde success yet certainly in many others it hath given a most miserable catastrophe Ph. But what if the menstrous bloud should offend onely in quantity while it is now gathered together and set apart in the veins about the Mother Py. In this case supposed I shall willingly admit an individual indication of Phlebotomy But if Menstrue flow in a womb that 's well conditioned it will abundantly satisfie and do its own business And in this case revulsion is useless though the Hypothesis suppose an impossibility For Phlebotomy is nothing but a meer and indistinct powring out or ensptying of the bloud But the emptied veins presently recal unto themselves what bloud soever and whence soever for as they are the greedy receptacles of the bloud so they are impatient of emptiness And therefore the menstrue being destin'd to it's departing that is already once written 40. Derivation in topical diseases somtimes profitable But impertinent in fevers or inrold by Nature in the catalogue of Excrements is drawn or sucked by the empty veins But derivation because it is a sparing letting of the bloud so it be done out of fitting veins was wont often to be profitable in many topical diseases but in fevers ' â—is impertinent Ph. But they insist upon this that bloud-letting 41. Bloud lettin hurtful in Pleurisies in a Pleurisie is so necessary that it is enjoyned upon pain of death to be made use of For they say that unless this bloud which hath recourse unto the ribs be called back by much effusion thereof it is to be feared that the Pleurisie will presently kill the man by sâ—ffâ—cating of him Py. But I never let any man bloud that is sick of a Pleurisie and this kinde of curing is safe certain solid and commodious None fail that run this course whereas by Phlebotomy many of them perish through
mean time The Prince who is much to be pittied committing himself to your arbitrement did the next morning confess he was purefied but he spake it with so weak puling and hoarse a voice such trembling of his hands such wavering of his knees with so hollow eyes such exhausted veins and countenance so dejected with so 16. A sixth confession importunate a thirst and so lost an appetire that he affirmed he suffered much the day before by so fraudulent and doubtfull experience of being purefied and that he doubted whether hee should turne that way again in that he certainly beleeved that if 17. Foul and vain evasions the quantity of the Laxative had been never so little more the business had gone ill with him Ph. Out of this strong purging in the Prince the viâ—ulent property of solutives cannot but presently be cleerly manifested But what answered the Physitians Py. That the easie Nature of the Prince hearkened too much unto the medicine and the rather for the shunning of the former filth of the remaining humors together with their disproportion in that Scammony â—ut of its property did not onâ—ly chuse Choler unto it self but out of the bloud also or compound it did of four make one melted stuff avoided downwards And hence I again 18. A dart retorted ouâ— of the seventh câ—fession concluded the imposture and deceit which supposeth either Choler or Phegme to be ejected and which affirmeth that one is by choice rather put out then another in that they now confess that they become melted altogether And according to Galen while Bloud putrefies Choler is made and that it is false that a medicine puâ—ging Choler should cure cholerick diseases and that it is a deceit to say that Choler is brought away if the other three first corrupted shall together be ejected also Ph. I should hereupon think that there werâ— no mâ—n studious of truth but must presently understand that hence the Basis of curing after the Ancients is gone to ruine as well in respect of the humours as of the choice made by solutive medicines Py. And I am indeed astonished with admiration that the world which is otherwise so soon sensible of every plot that 's laid to catch their purses takes not as yet any notice of the dangerousness of Laxatives Seeing it is no way to be doubted but Laxatives carry an hidden poyson in them which hath many thousands both of Widdows and Orphans For they draw not after thâ—m any particular humour which I in a particular Treatise have demonstrated never to have been in Nature otherwise then in the Books of Physitians For if you do but augment the doses of the Laxative a deadly poyson presently appears unto you Ph. Well go to now why should this 19. An Argument of poyson from ill smel Choler of theirs following so speedily their Laxatives smell so horridly which but a quarter of an hour before had no ill savour For the speediness of the â—ffluence takes away the occasion both of putrefaction and of Fetour for it smelleth like a carcass and not like ordure Neither could it borrow so soul a smell of ordure from the guts so suddenly Therefore I should think that this ill savour is a sign of poyson and the efficient cause of that cadaverous matter taken out of the living creature Py. Neither should you think amiss as I 20. A mechanick proof shall mechanically or by practice prove unto you For if a man shall take a dragme of white Vitriol dissolved in Wine it will presently provoke vomiting But if he shall presently after drinking it drink a draught of Beer water c. upon it he shall have many stools thereby yet altogether without fetour Therefore Scamony and Vitriol do equally liquefie the mesaraick bloud This by its violent ponticiâ—y that by the putrefactive ill smelling poyson of the Laxatives And therefore out of this consideration alone purging should by every man be suspected as a cruel and a dull invention For if according to Galen 27. The same out of â—â—len Bloud be made Choler while it putrefies then is that feâ—id and yellow liquefaction cast out by Laxatives counterfeiting Choler generated of Bloud putrefied And consequently Laxativâ—s themselves are putrefactors of the Bloud Ph. If I be not deceived this whether the Schools will or no may easily be gathered 22. A prooll from thâ— effect out of Galen and especially out of his commendation of Treacle as that which principally resisteth poyson Py. It is very well gathered of you and to the purpose for he affiâ—meth that it is an assured sign of good Treacle that if it be taken together with Laxatives they undoubtedly produce no stools Ph. And do not these words then of Galen 23. The Schools impugnâ— their owâ— Theorems convince Laxatives of being meer venomes seeing their whole operation is countermanded by Treacle as their Tamer Py. No doubt but they do For the effects are consonant to that which you suppose thereinâ— in that upon taking of the Purgative both sick and sound do equâ—lly avoid a liquid matter of the same colour smell and condition therefore it stirs not the peccant humour more than it doth that which is not peccant but indifferently defileth whatsoever it toucheth Ph. Yet further do not the Schools impugn that choosing liberty which they attribute to solutives Py. They do for if any humour of the four be putred in Fevers I do indicate its taking away and Laxatives avoid by election an humour out of the Bloud yea in such as are sound as they are perswaded they liquesie the sound flâ—sh that thence they may compass that they aim at which is to make that liquid putrefaction fusible that the belly may avoid it Laxatives at least will not have a like liberty in Fevers to chuse the peccant and the putred excrement For what is putred hath no longer its former eâ—â—ence and proprieties which it had before its putrefaction as though a Loadstone draw Iron it will not also draw rust therefore And therefore though a purging medicine should resolve flesh and bloud that thence it might draw Choler which it draws unâ—o it as master by a special propriety It doth not therefore in like manner draw putred and putrefied matterâ— included in the veins which had been causes of the Fevers Ph. Surely no man should ever die of Fevers 24. The Hypothesis of the Schools being granted no man should dle of a Fever And it should be false that purgatives should not be given in the begâ—nning of fevers if two Axâ—oms of the Schools were true viz. If putred humours should be causes of Fevers or should by choice be carried out by Purgatives Py. And moreover it would be a mad caution that Purgatives should not be given in the beginnings of Fevers before the matter did abound to wit not before maâ—urity and concoction of the offending matter Whence it appeareth that Laxatives would be otherwise â—urtfull