has found the use of Cuppings Leitches and Frictions to be very beneficial in these Fevers The cause wherereof being enquired into will also confirm this Hypothesis For these being used in several places of the Body as they alwayes are when beneficial by their raising the Flesh and Skin they do shake and loose throw all the circumambient parts that congealed and clotted Blood obstructing the capillary Veins which does facâ—litate the arterial Blood to run more easily throw them and that by clearing these Passages of Obstruction And for Frication and Rubbing of the Skin that makes such Impressions on the capillary Vessels by pressing them hither and thither that it must necessarly force the obstructing Matter into motion again And moreover the benefit that even in Fevers has redounded to some by riding yea when the Patient was necessitate to be held on Horse-back for a while can be no other wayes accountable but by the Impressions that the jogging of the Body makes on the fixed and coagulated Humores to set them again a going Now as to these Phaenomena which are hurtful in Fevers it is no less certain that these being duely pondered will also confirm this Hypothesis for it is clear that in many Fevers the sick are poured forth all in Sweats And that without any ease thereby but rather with great hurt and weakening Therefore as our experimented Author observes these ought not to be indulged but rather checked Now this Phaenomenon may be easily solved by considering that the serosity of the Blood is in this case by the frequent Pulses squeezed out from the Globuls whereby the Blood being much thickned the obstructions are increassed while Sweats called criticall and giving ease which rarely fall out in long and great Fevers Because these are nourished of a copious and viscide fewel in the first wayes fall out in diseases only caused by perspirable matter first attenuat and comminuted and nixt expelled by Sweat and as this evacuation is altogether the effect of Nature so it rarely succeeds happily by stimulating Medicines Which after its wisely argued is most reasonbly concluded by Sydenham in his Schedula Monitoria And further as our Author observes and dayly experience also confirmes it is very much Hurtful to Persons in Fevers to ly continually in the naked Bed For the continual Heat of the Bed doth exceedingly lash enervat and relax the tone and firmness of the pores and fibers Whereby they shrinke and creep in And so retain the perspirable matter which ought to be evacuate throw them and this matter retained recoiling on the Blood does much increase all the tumult and disorders there But by exposing of the Body to a moderat refrigeration by putting on the Cloathes some Hours in the day the Natural Heat is both Concentrate to expel that perspirable Matter and the Tone and Firmness of the Pores and Fibres are restored to give a free passage to it And this is very suitable to the Experimental doctrine of Sanctorius who finds and Declares reasonably that the inward heat being by the external heat too much diffused is not sufficiently Concentrate bended to expel the perspirable matter as it happens in Aestival heat that is very troublesome to the Body not so much because of any vehement Impressions it makes thereon For every part of the Body is hotter of it self then the external heat affecting it But because of the detension of the Perspirable matter through the defect of sufficient Concentration of the Internal heat to expell it And indeed this state of the internal heat does also render iâ— subject to several indirect and refractive Motions instead of the direct motion by which the perspirable matter should be sweeped â—orward and expelled so the lesion of perspiration upon these reasons seemes in this case to be amended by the Patients keeping out of the naked Bed several hours of the day and lying on the top of the Bed with their Cloaths on And in that Situation rather than the upright posture of the Body the vacillant reflux of the Blood unto the heart is also promoved as was shown And also as our Author observes it is hurtful in Fevers and several other Diseases to ly with the Head much depressed it being more conducible to ly with it raised somewhat because in that posture the lighter finner Particles of the Blood as Des Cartes thinks are sublimed up to the brain for the generation of nervous Liquor and Spirits and the grosser and heavier parts are carried by a descent downward And so in that posture only there is an ascent of the Blood throw the Arteries unto the Head in so much that the subtilest Particles thereof prove alone obsequious to the Impulse And if it chance that any grosser parts mixed therewith do endeavour likewayes to ascend they secede and turn off at the axillarie Branches So that nothing but the most sublime parts of the Blood in this posture does ascend like the subtile Spirits of Wine which are only carried so high as is fit to separate them from the Phlegm But when the head lyes level with the Body and that especially in Sickness and when the Blood is vitiated in its Particles and Motion because then and in that posture there is no ascent to the Head nor descent to the rest of the Body the grosser parts of the Blood being carried indifferently to the Head do there generate Obstructions Which must certainly produce all such Phoenomena as are competent to the Brain and Nerves being affected SECT XV. Some Difficulties concerning the Hypothesis Answered IF perhaps there remain any difficulty in the mind concerning this Scheme because it may be thought that the Blood being alwayes first strained throw the narrow Vessels of the Lungs before it come to have difficult passage in the small Vessels betwixt the Arteries and the Veins that it should leave or Imprint some marks of its grosness in the Lungs To Answer this difficulty it is fit to premise something concerning the progress and pedigree of Sanguification And therefore it may be reasonably thought very likely that the Lungs are not only the Colatory for and Test of the Bloods sufficient Attrition and Comminution but also they by their Braying and Levigating thereof give the same the outmost Perfection and Complement which they do by their continual motion and agitation For their contraction and dilatation meeting with the Pulse of the Blood coming from the Heart into the Lungs must necessarly make such impressions on the Particles of the Blood going throw the Arteries of the Lungs as will attenuate smooth and polish them and thereafter the Lungs sends them thus levigated and intimately mixed with the Air back again and that under the notion and name of Arterial Blood unto the Heart to be dispersed by it as a Pump throw the whole Body And indeed that the Blood receives its outmost perfection in the Lungs and not in the Heart As is commonly
Purging in Fevers considered from Reason and Authority page 156 Some practical cautions concerning purging in Fevers page 161 The benefit and season of using Paregoriques in Fevers page 165 The hurt of meer Diaphoretiques in Fevers page 166 The hurt of a method direct to A crisis p. 167 A difficulty takâ—n from the Authors Constitutions answered shewing that this method agrees with all constitutions of years p 168 The further Helpers and Hurters in Fevers considered confirm this Hypothesis as Salts volatile and fixed Alcalin and Testaceous Concrets page 170 The Benefit of Cuppings Leeches and Frictions confirm the same page 174. The Phaenomena of Hutters confirm this Hypothesis as lâ—ing alwayes in the naked Bed page 176. Why Hurtful to ly with the Head too low showen by this Hypothesis page 178. Some other difficulties concerning the Hypothesis answered at first how the Blood gives no signes of that grosness in its passage thorow the Lungs page 179. Where by the way the progress of Sanguification is considered page 180. As also how A pthisis or Consumption is bred with some signes of the approach of this Disease taken out of Mortouns Pthisiologia page 182. The Phaenomena of a Fever in A pthisis confirms this Hypothesis page 184 Another difficulty how this Grosness of the Blood does not rather produce Tumors and Inflammations than Fevers answered page 185. An Appendix of the Statical Doctrine of Sanctorius with the description and use of the weighing Chair page 189. Of the Weight and Nature of insensible Perspiration page 190. Concerning Air and Waters influence thereon page 192. Of the influence Aliements Meat and Drink has thereon page 20â— Of Sleeping and Walking page 203 Of Exercise and Rest. page 205. Of Venery page 207 Of the passions of the mind page 20â— ERRATA Epistle to Physicians page 1. line ult read Heterodoâ—y p. â— l. 24 for that r thâ— p. 4. l. 3. del thâ— p. â— l. 8. for choiching r. choosing p. 16. l. 7. for choicing r. choosing p. 17. l. 10. for samen r. same p. 21 l. 12. del be p. 24. l. 16. for stirring r. steering p. 25. l. r. for enter r. center p. 26. l. 27 del of thâ—se p. 28. l. 11. r. comprehend ibid. l. 24. r. affects p. â—2 l. 25. r. too p. 38 l. 6 r. chioce p. 42 l. r â— r. their p. 48 l. ult r. therefore p. 54 l. 10 r. of p. 61 l. 7 r. subsidiary p. 62 l. 21 r. measures p. 65 l. 17â— one p. 66 l. â— r. thorow for throw all throughout p. 67 l. 19 del to p. 72 l. 25 r. from ratio cination only p. 90 l 3 r. had never p. 103 l. 11. dele proportionable p. 104 l. 5 r its ibid l 9. r. ordinary p. 107 l. penult dele their p. 119 l. 2 for which r. so this p. 131 l. 20 r. of the p. 135 l. 8 r. infirmity p. 140 l. 13. visive p. 143 l. 16 r. it be l. 22. dele a. p. 145 l. 1 r. was near for throw r. all along thorow Epistle to the Physicians pag. 2. lin 9. for Etâ—mology Etiology in the Preface pag. 13. lin 2. for Orâ—simes Orâ—asmâ— pag. 13. lin 12. for Approve r Disâ—pprove pag. â—10 lin 1. for Evacuationly read Evacâ—uâ—â—â—â—â—ly Act of Council AT Edinburgh the Twenty third Day of Iuly 1691 Years anent the Supplication given in to the LORDS of Their MAJESTIES Privy Council be Mr. Andrew Broun Doctor of Medicine Shewing That where the Petitioner has Compyled and Printed a Treatise intituled A Vindicatory Schedule about the New Cure of Fevers he humbly conceaved their Lordships would not deny him the ordinary Priviledge allowed to Authors and Composers of Books And therefore humbly Supplicating the said LORDS would be pleased upon consideration of the Premisses to give anâ— grant sole Priviledge and Licence of the Printing of the foresaid Treatise in whatsomever Language to the Petitioner or his Order for the space of Nineteen Years And to Discharge all Persons from Printing Re-printing or Importing and Vending of any of the saids Books within this Kingdom for the said space without the special Licence of the Petitioner or his Executors or Assigness And that under the pain of Confiscation thereof to his or their behove beside what farther Punishment their Lordships should think fit as the said Petition bears The LORDS of Their MAJESTIES Privy Council having considered the above Petition given in to them be Mr. Andrew Brown Doctor of Medicine They grant the desire thereof Extracted by me DA. MONCRIEF Cles Sti. Concilii A TABLE For explaining the hard words of this Book to the Vulgar Abdomen signifies The paunch or rim of the belly including the skine fat and muscules thereof Attrition A grinding or braying Antecedent cause The cause of a disease immediatly before the nearest cause Capillary vessels As small as hairs Cathartick A purgative Medicine Coagulation Congealing Crisis The sudden termination of a disease Crase The temper of the parts or blood Concatenation A chaining of causes and effects Continent cause The immediat cause of a disease Diaphoresis A breathing out thorow the superfice of the body by sweat or otherwayes Diaphragma The Midrife Endemical disease Which is very common in a place Fibres The small shreds constituting the fleshy or nervous parts Fomes The feuel of a disease Glands Kernels Globuls Little balls such the blood are full of Grumafite The solid parts of the blood that subsides Hemoragies Fluxes of Blood Heterogeneous Another kind Hypothesis A supposition or the plate form of any thing represented Identitions The same Idea The representation of any thing in the mind Inteâ—tines The guts First impellent The first mover in the body Lixivial Belonging to lie made of ashes Maze A labyrinth Muriatique Briny Mesentery The membran keeping the guts together Neotericks New Writers Orgasâ—e A tumult or commotion oesophage The wâ—sane Animaloeconoâ—â—â— the order in government of the animal Paregorick A quieting Medicine Paroxisme A sit of a disease Perspiration The great evacuation continually made throw the pores oâ— the body Pulmonick Belonging to the lungs Pheâ—omeâ—â— Appearances or effects of hidden causes Phlebotomy Bloodletting Regimen The government of the six things called not natural Scabrieity Roughness Scheme A figure or representation of a thing Smegmatique Belonging to soap Spumosity Froâ—hiness Staguation The pooling of running liquor Systole and Diastole Contraction and Dilatation Susceptibility Capacity of receiving impressions Specifie so particularise Specifique Proper Serosity The watery part of the Blood or Humors Tone The fiâ—mness of the parts as to their contracting and dilating Tenuity Thinness Trach-artery The Wind-pipe Vatillant Tottering Viscuous Glewy Venivicle Stomack Veâ—â—section Blood-letting A VINDICATORY SCHEDULE CONTAINING A Disquisition Theoretical and Practical of the New but most Effectual Method of Curing Continual Fevers Invented c. SECT I. Clearing that the infallible Principles of Law Equity and Reason and the necessary consequences thereof applicable to the Physician does both oblige
of the Balâ—om and Mercury of life and that of Helmont making it an Imparity of one part of the Archeus that thereby is affected with Wrath and Indignation Because they seem altogether enigmatical vain bring more obscurity then light to this dark Subject therefore we leave them both Next follows the Opinion of that Hero in Medicine Sylvius who has placed the Pathognomick signe of a Fever in the Pulse preternaturaly frequent having conjoyned therewith Trouble Pain or the blemish of any function requisite for the felicity and ease of Life The cause whereof which makes to him the Essence of Fevers is either first a too great and Permanent Rarefaction of the Blood made by a violent Heat breaking out of the Effervescence of the Blood Or secondly any Acrimonius Acide Lixivial or Muriatique salt carried thorow the Veins together with the Blood and gnawing the Parenchyma of the Heart or thirdly any flatulent halitous Matter brought with the Blood to the Heart and augmenting the expansion thereof Fourthly any sharp or hard thing in the Pericardium or other wayes externally grating upon the Heart This Great-Man to whom Medicine this day is much indebted as being the first that clearly discovered the Errors and Dilusions of the Schools has also found out a more efficatious and sure practice in many Diseases Yet he there being none able for all things has fallen into some Errors of Theory about his triumvirat Humor and the effervescence of these Humors in the Intestines and Heart and about the motion of the Bile towards the Heart All which subsequent and more acurate anatomical Inspection having found to be otherwayes his Hypothesis of Fevers being established upon these must necessarly fall Yet these that reject this his Theory do imbrace his Practice in the Cure of Fevers In the last place follows the Opinion of Barbet placing a Fever in the circulation of the Blood increased which Opinion since it seems directly contrary to what we think most probable with the confirmation then thereof it will necessarly of it self evanish SECT VII Containing a New and Mechanical Hypothesis of the Essence of Fevers with the cause efficient and occasional of the frequency of the Pulse and that matterial or occasional cause also farther Mechanically traced IT seems very probable that all the Physicians holding the former Opinions have Erred and the Fountain of all their mistakes appears to be that fundamental error as the acurate Bontikoe observes that they took the immediate efficient cause of the motion of the heart to be the blood and that the frequent motion thereof and the Arteries did alwayes depend upon some alteration of that blood but that this must be otherwayes seems plain because the Heart of some Animals being cut out when they are alive and holden in the hand will beat a long time without a drop of Blood So the motion of the Heart seems not to depend on the Blood but on some other cause perhaps on the influx of the animal Spirits proceeding from the Brain by the remainder whereof inviscate in the Heart the motion seems to be continued after the separation thereof from the Body The next fundamental Error and observed likewayes by the same Author seems to be that they esteemed the intension of Heat alwayes to depend on the rapide efflux or circulation of the Blood and that it was both a sign and effect thereof The contracy of which appears by an Inflamation or Tumour where the Member affected is vexed with a great Heat and kind of Fever which is oft times communicate to the whole Body and here it is clear that the Blood is rather stagnant then swiftly moved and the Fever that is communicate from the Inflamation certainly shewing a near resemblance betwixt them perswades that a certain degree of Incrassation from this Fountain of Co-agulation And accompanied also with a frequent Pulse does affect the Blood as the Ignorance then of the concurring occasional cause of that frequency of the Pulse gave rise to all the Errors about this subject so the bringing to Light the true cause thereof will make all these Errors evanish For clearing then of this it is to be considered that the Body of Man being a curious Machine the motion wherewith it is enâ—ueâ— like other Machines as it has an efficient cause so it has a final cause thereof And in respect the final cause is alwayes the reason of placing the efficient cause and that the Idea thereof is still in the mind of the Architeck before the Idea of the efficient This makes the Idea of the efficient to be alwayes shaped subservient to the Idea of the final Cause And must also make the structure of the efficient in the Fabrick of the machine to be moulded to that final Cause likewise instructed qualified Suitable to attain the end of the motion that is to say that it may have a faculty of Intension and Remission to be regulate and moderate according to the exigence and necessity of the final to be productive of the end of its being put there At least in so far as the Contrivance of a Mechanism will go As in a Watch whose Spring is so contrived that it may be Bended or Slackned for attaining the end of its motion And it seems also probable that in every motion in Nature it s only the end that both puts the Efficient and sets it a going and therefore it must be still by that end that the motion must be regulate Hightned or diminished As it is seen when Mariners do exercise the Pump of the Ship it s alwayes with respect to the breaking in of Water at the Leaks Which being in great quantity does excite to frequent and vigorous Pumping to save the Ship Much after the same manner it seemes probable that this motion of the Heart which is nothing but a Pump designed to lay in the alimentitious Juice and so has for its end a proportionable proportional reparation of the functions and parts suitable to their Consumptsion and Waste And that by the sending to them throw the Channels of the Arteries the arterial Blood which is to be dispersed in such quantity and time as may answer to the reparation of their Consumptsion and Waste The Body consisting which seemes to deny it all consistance in a continual Flux and succession of new parts coming in place of the old that are wasted like a River which has nothing Identitious but the Channel And so this final cause would seem to require an efficient whither that be the first Impellent the Archeus or Spirits indued with a capacity and aptitude not only to continue but also to incite and quicken this motion according to the exigence of the final as when the Intervention of any stops or Impediments of the motions of the Blood does Interveen to overcome which its necessarie that the efficient of the motion be bended to Superate these stops and gain t is
matter and this seemes a case altogether beyond Art to repair Or its Fault is dependent and that is either when its Energie is augmented as when the Humours or Organs do not yield to its due Impulse then to attaine its end it adds more force Which often making the motion to be propagated beside the designe terminates in Collisions and Reflections As if the Impellent were affected with Fury or Anger As is seen in Convulsions and Histerick Affects and in Fevers Or the Impellent may be vitiated by its Energie diminished as when it is stupified and Inviscat by gross Humores as is seen in many Chronick Affects The Aptitude of the moveable matter in the solid parts is vitiate by their rigidity which depends upon gross Humors that fill up their Fibres or their Junctures or Hinges upon which in their motion they are turned the fault in the liquide parts such as the Humors whither Alimentitious or Excrementitious depends upon there grosness or viscosity also which soon begets slowness Imprinting a blemish upon the functions eluding the end of the oeconomy Notwithstanding the Incitation of the Impellent and its outmost Effort to attain the end of the oeconomy The faults of the Channels Vessells consists either in their straitning obstructing or Scabricity Which alwayes depend unless when they are from an external and compressing Cause upon the same grosness of Humors stuffing their Chanells Coats or Fibres So the fundamental cause of most if not all Diseases seemes to be the grosness of the Humores causing their slowness making soon bad Impressions upon the functions To overcome which providing the Impellent be veget and not Inviscat it stirs up struglings whence comes Orgasimes Reflections other depravations of motion as consequential to the attemps for obtaining the due measures of its motion Now from this Easie Obvious Hypothesis the Nature of Fevers is here clearly enucleat whilst Authors feign many Chimerical Phantasmes to explain the Phaenomena by which they become rather the more Intricat It seemes likewayes not improbable that the moveable fluide Matter being deprived of its due motion acquires various Configurations of its minute parts which make it troublesome to the Fibres or Channels of the Vessels and this seems withal to be the Immediat Material cause of many Depravations of motion such as Refractions Reflections and Collision raised by the incitation of the Impellent and so from the complication of these the varietie of symptoms and the indefinite multitude of Diseases is begotten And even as that motion of the blood commonly called Circulation or Circuit of the blood did strangelie ly in the dark for many Ages and was with difficultie received by many because which was often brought to its reproach that although it seemed to illustrate the Theorie of Medicine yet it made no improvement in the practice thereof so now that noble invention will not only be delivered from that reproach but will be yet further imbellished if we can evince this motion of the blood vitiated viz. its slowness depending upon grosness to be if not of most diseases yet the nearest and continent cause of continual Fevers And moreover if it can be shown of what Concatenation or Complication of causes this nearest cause by order or congress is fomented how many fruitful solid indications altogether formerly in the dark may there be drawn from thence especiallie seing we may be furnished with sufficient means to satisfie these indications that either by the correction intercepting or eradicating of those causes being distinctlie known And so I have expede this method of the famous Sydenham Theoretically and Practically with as much Brevitie and Perspicuitie as I could but with what fruit or fate I know not but if this essay be received with the same Ingenuitie it is offered if it do not reach to the full design it will at least as is hoped be favourablie constructed For many may run at a prize but only one enjoyes it And amongst all that have attempted to make discoveries none has been so happy as to discover all but one has found out one thing and another an other thing And Chance rather than Art hath led many Searchers beyond their Intensions to discover notable things Some whereof may bring light and other some may bring Fruit to medicine out of which the succeeding Ages by a prudent choice may perhaps gather materialls to compile a more solide Systeme especially of Practical medicine then is yet extant To which whither or not this attempt may contribute any thing let others judge but not these that by their precipitant sentences against this method have made themselves parties in this Plea If no other advantage come of this design this at least I hope may be the effect of it that as the barking of the little Dogs raises the courage of the great ones so these aimes may rouse to the more profound diving into the sublime and obscure Nature of Fevers these Quibus ex meliori luto finxit praecordia Titan. But whatsomever benefit or advantage may come to the Publick by this design unto my self praise or advantage I expect none because herein having ingaged against so many who perhaps esteeming themselves obscured and consequence not a little injured will necessarlie therefore become picqued and follow closs the opportunitie and advantages of their resentment It being also very certain that in proportion as this Essay appeares fraught with any benefite to Mankind that the wicked Serpentine brood still big with malice and envious of the good of Men and which was never more Dominant then at this time Will rake all the corners of Hell for Venom to bespatter it with And this may be a Grave marke by which Honest Men that are not so very Penetrating may Judge whither it contains any thing useful or not And as it falls out for the most part in the World that man makes but a sorry bargain who gratifies one to the altho but supposed detriment of another the resentment of the injury often proving more heavy then the result of gratitude for the benefite done can any wayes allay Reveng being a natural is also a rank thriving-weed in the mind of man Whereas gratitude being like an exotick plant requires diligent culture to make it grow there But above all benefits done to the publick meeting with least acknowledgment and recompense having so many concerned have for the most part therefore none concerned do therefore strangly expose the Benefactor to the resentments of thâ—se that suppose themselves injured for private and publick Interest seem to be alwayes at war where the publick receives the foill And indeed therefore I might have consulted my own praise and profit more by treading the broad way and beaten path with the multitude thô with ever so much hurt to Mankind But this is not all for the World is no more Barren of gratitude and acknowledgment than it is fertil and productive of
trice overturnes our Hopes and Comforts doth therefore make the loss of Life more bitter and grievous This Disease seeming to Envie and Prevent other Languishing Distempers or Wrinckled Age in the spoil of Beauty and ruine of Strength triumphs in their Sudden and Unexpected downfall And by the cruell Ravage it makes out-does a leisurely dissolution in dismal effects both upon the Souls and Estates of many Mortals Men being thereby in surprize hail'd out off the arms of seemingly perfect Health Security throw the vale of miserable delirium stupidity or Distraction precipitated into the Shades of the other World life here being taken by furious storme has all the dreadful effects of a Pitiful saccage while a leisurly dissolution gives oportunity for Preparation to make Peace with the great Monarch whose Messenger Death is and for a honourable and happy Surrender And now since all this is done under the Presidence of a Government whose trust makes it the concernment thereof to inquire narrowly whither negligence or mistake may give occasio to the Course of so sudden a Devastation this makes it no less the Credit of Faithful Physicians then the Common interest of Mankind to put the Cure of this disease to appear in the first rank for Tryal Reformation and Improvement And may also shew the reason and necessity of our going so far back and making a Ramble to rally up the whole force of that obligation lying on the Physician to diligence and Improvement and to conjure down negligence and araigne all vulgar errors and mistakes capable to stiffle or deprave Improvement in this particular Subject or any other in that Art Such indeed seeming to stand like Mountains in the way by serious consideration therefore deserve first to be removed and levelled In Pursuing then of this Improvement of the Cure of continuall Fevers it comes to be observed that althô the remote and Antecedent cause of this and most part of other Diseases seems to be a load of Humours often viscide yet scarce do we understand the specifical essence of this or that humor which excites this or that symptome and produces the variety of diseases except in so far as the nature of the place it clogs produces the symptoms and this being a purely Mechanical reason gives but little light to the specifique quality thereof far less can we tame these noxious humours with specifique or appropriate Remedies which were indeed the best expeâ—imental improvement were it known unless in somuch as the cortex pernvianus seeming to be the specifique of intermittents is known And altho some essay to explain the essence of Diseases lodge it in such modification of the figure quantity and motion of the particles of matter in respect of the pores fibers and channels of any Bowel or Organe which make obstruction impression of pain irritation convulsion and the rest of the sâ—mptoms competent to this or that Organe which modifications seing they cannot as yet be determined and pitched on as by their subtilty escaping the Edge of the sharpest Ingine neither can these be reached or subdued by way of Indication Therefore as yet all our certain cure and curative indications are directed not against the continent and nearest cause but only against the antâ—â—edent cause or fewel of the disease to wit to carry off the load of humours and not to attacque its specifique and evil quality that being seldom if ever hit and if at any time but by a very faint blow and althô the specifique cure providing it were known would be both the shortest and surest yet this cure might ly open to the like hazard that sometimes falls out in the Cure of intermittents by the copious use of the bark which as our worthy Author observes are sometimes thereby translated into a scrobutique rhumatisme the morbifique matter being divested of one specification or modification puts on another Seing there is no specifique cure pretended to in continual Fevers their cure must then lean on some indication which false Theory and long custome has made to degress and decline to the satisfying the common indication of attenuation of the Febril matter and expulsion thereof throw the pores of the skine some forceing it by a milder some by a stronger and all urging it by some degree of Diaphoresis but still without any triumphant or solid yea rather with many lamentable and funest experiences This indeed were no unfit Design or Method if the morbifique matter were so thin and little and sticking in the superfice of the Body that it might easily yield to the impulse of Diaphoretiques But on the other hand where the matter or at least the fewel of the Disease is copious viscide and besets the first wayes the Ventricle intestines and mesentery in so far as you attenuate and force that matter by Diaphoretiques in proportion ye shal translate and turn the antecedent cause lurcking there into the continent and nearest cause of the Disease to wit by subliming that viscide and obstructing matter into the mass of Blood and habit of the Body which shall further exasperate the tumult of the Fever and overwhelm the natural efflux and reflux of the Blood and thereafter this matter being carried from the mass of Blood into Head and region of the nerves will likewise excite there symptoms competent to them being so infested till at length nature unable to wrestle under such a load of viscous matter poured in upon the Blood and Nerves wholly despirited and overwhelmed must succumb And that such an viscous slimy and copious Matter is at least the antecedent cause and fuell of many Fevers perchance also of all can be made evident not from any Ratiocination but from Antopsia or Sense it self For in several Fevers especially these accompanied with delirium or raving there has frequently been seen a great quantity of such touch flegm sometimes evacuat by stooll sometimes by Vomit and that only by putting the Finger into the Throat after which evacuation almost an total ease of all the Symptomes but chiefly of the delirum or raving did follow until that after some dayes the matter reâ—ruiting and regurgitating and bringing the same Symptoms required a reiteraâ—ed evacuation which was signalised with the former benefit and so furth as the plenty of the matter required until a perfect Evacuation Cured the Disease What novice in Medicine will judge such plenty of Viscidity and Slime could be with advantage or safety forced into the Mass of Blood to be expelled throw the Pores of the Skin or that it can be so attenuate especially under the languid natural Heat of Persons in Fevers that it be noways hurtful or obstructing when it comes to the small capillar Vessels As to the rest of Medicaments used in Fevers as Refrigerants subservient to the indication of Refrigeration since it can be shown that heat is nothing of the essence of Fevers that their proper effect is to encrease the viscidity
in his Book lately emitted concerning The acute Diseases of Children which containing several remarkable Observations do also contain his Testimony from the page 45. unto the 51. In these words saying after I had used for some years the like Method in Cure of Childrens Fevers I durst not venture on the same in adult Persons until I most happily met with the first edition of the Monitory Schedule of that incomparable Practitioner D. Sydenham and finding that Method approven of in adult Persons by the experience of that most Sagacious Man as much overjoyed as I had gotten a great favour from Heaven I presently set on to try that Method in adult Persons also and found it no less succesful then I had found it before in Children and a little after he proceeds saying For his discovery of the Cure of Fevers and many other his notable Improvements I hope that every Age so long as Medicine shall flourish shall publish his Name for the great Ornament and Light of this Age. Sydenham has with an extraordinary Courage and Ingenuity compleated the Cure of Fevers both by sufficient Reason and by Experience and Practice concerning which others have given nothing but words SECT VI. Containing the Opinion of some Authors concerning the Nature of Continual Fevers and the same from Reason rejected which makes it necessary to inquire for a more probable one in relation to the clearing their nature and this Method of their Cure NOw to make this Method every way compleat it is convenient as was insinuate in the beginning after the manner that a practical Discipline ought to be treated to essay if from this Experiment and Method of Cure of Fevers we can draw any unstrained and probable Theory Which inquiry necessarly presuposes the Nature and Essence of Fevers seeming yet altogether to ly in the dark to be narrowly searched into and exposed Having first weighed and eventilate what the Ancients and Neotericks has delivered concerning the Nature and Essence thereof The first then and which is the Opinion common to most Authors placing the Essence of a Fever in a Preternatural heat kindled in the heart and diffused by the Blood through all the Body indeed seems a very improper Metaphorical Description For the Heart is compared unto a Chimney neither is there a fewel capable of accension determined there being no fewel in the Body proper to foment a Fire but all as liquid and aqueous contrary thereunto And although in a Fever there be a great heat the same can be made clearly to depend upon another Principle then any thing of accension as shall be afterwards shown and also seing intense Heat is only accidental to a Fever and may be absent therefrom or present therewith It can be nothing of its essence more then the rest of the symptoms are for in the cold Paroxisme of Intermittents it is absent for a while with the presence of an Intense cold And in some algid Fevers it is always absent yea in fevers that are esteemed malignant it is very mild and nothing beyond the degree usual in health for it s reckoned commonly a sign of malignity when the heat does not rise proportionably with the other Symptoms And farther if Heat were of the Essence of Fevers in respect there is no distinct Species of Heat but all the difference thereof is gradual by Intention or Remisson it must undoubtedly follow that there can be no distinct Species of Fevers but only that they are gradually different which is against the commonly received Opinion As to that qualification of Heat that it is preternatural It may be obvious to any that seriously perpend the matter that no Heat is preâ—ernatural thô its cause may be said to be so For Heat is nothing else but a natural and genuine Passion imprinted in the â—ense by the presence and energy of a calorifique Efficient Neither can it be any more said to be against Nature then pain can be It being most natural for pain to be raised upon the action of a dolorifique Efficient And so furth necessarly and naturally all the rest of the Passions are made by impressions of the object impressing in the subject receiving But that the speculation of Heat must be more subtile then to be inlightned by the common and dark explications thereof may appear from that common Phoenomenon of the breath which being leisurely blown out imprints upon â—he hand a sense of Heat when this same breath with force blown out gives a sense of coldness thereon this diversification insinuates the Impression of Heat to consist in a modification of the motion of the Particles perhaps in a thwart transverse and tottering motion some thing resembling Refraction or Reflection And that cold on the other hand is Imprinted by a direct motion from which a true Idea of Heat subservient to the true explication of Fevers may be perhaps clearly drawn afterwards Nixt follows the opinion of Willis who reasonably rejecting that of the Ancients placed his in a notable â—ffervescence of the blood humours This ingenious Philosophical Physician doth with great fervor bend both his own Brain and the Subject to establish a certain effervescence in the blood of the Feverish persons proportionable to the Fermentation of Liquors He nowayes taking notice that all the Circumstances and Conditions requisite to the fermentation of Liquors are not only wanting in the generation of Fevers but the contrary are present free eventilation and rest of Liquors to be fermented being necessary conditions But in the blood the eventilation stopped frequently is the cause and condition of Fevers And furder the circuit motion of the blood will hinder its fermentation as it falls out in Liquors which are to be fermented requiring rest Neither did any ever see in the Blood of Persons in Fevers any signes of fermentation but rather tokens of viscosity and grosness Signifying coagulation Neither can the Phaenomena in Fevers be so commodiously explained from that Effervescence as from the contrary Coaleseence of which afterward There is another Opinion of Cartesius affirming a Fever to be the Perturbate mixture of the Blood which description does rather darken the subject unless he should teach us in what the Natural mixture did consist And how the Perturbation thereof should excite a Fever and the manner of the dependence of the Phaenomena upon that Perturbation And seeing he seems to insinuat a determinate Order and Position to be naturally requisite to the Particles of the Blood and the Disturbance of these to make a Fever It is very difficult to understand how the Particles of the Blood should be carried from the Heart so rapidly throw the smal branches of the Artry's and keep that Order or how they should again make up their ranks in their reflux throw the Veins back again to the Heart As for the Opinion of Paracelsus making a Fever to be the accension of Sulphur and Niter or an Vniversal Excandescence
end then it must necessarly double its Force and Stroaks Otherwayes every light Impediment or Obstacle which were equivalent to and of equal moment and Force with the moderate and odinare career of the motion of the Blood would put a stop thereto And indeed there is in a River something of a resemblance of this faculty thô from an other kind of efficient yet for the same or the like end For any Impediments put to barr or dam up a River are soon overpoised by the swelling Force of the Water above them till in proportion it overcome the strength of the stop Now if it were otherwise every Impediment equivalent only to the present current of the River either put by Accident or Designe would interrupt their course to the great hurt of Mankind and the blemish of the Worlds fabrick Seing then the returnes of Reparation to the parts and functions ought to be made both in time and quantity in proportion to the waste by the efflux of the Arterial Blood from the Heart as the vehicle and thorow the arterys as the conduites of these recruites When this is done vegetlie integrally without any stop or delay then redounds felicity ease and integrity of the functions and life But when that efflux is retarded or stopt either by reason of the Blood it self or some stopage in the extremities and small channels of the vessels or by reason of immoderate and unusual waste beyond the proportion of the ordinary supply as falls out in immoderate exercise and motion And so I say when by reason of any these causes the heart cannot convey and lay in the desired suppliment in due proportion and timeously by stroaks repeated at the usual intervals then it does by precipitating the stroaks and straiting the intervals of the pulsations endeavour what in it lyes to overcome the slowness of the motion of the Blood to come so near as it can to the due and proportional distribution of nutriment in respect of the waâ—te But if notwithstanding of these sedulous endeavours of the heart by the redoubling of the pulsations that slowness of the Blood shall by a gradual encrease of the thickness and of obstructions in the capillary vessels prove yet so obstinare as still to be augmented then this leads straight to the porch and gate of Death Death being nothing else but a total and permanent cessaâ—ion and defect of this distribution If there remain yet any difficulty to comprehend this Scheme because this incitation of the pulse being only a natural action and proper to the Animal part thus circumstantiate is made too like an effect of Reason and savours too much the acting for an end or of a voluntary motion to be applicable here To answer this reasonable doubt since it is very plain that Nature in the structure of the outward parts of Animals has acted so much Reason and Design as importing clearly that the Idea of their end has regulate their fabrick has also made the structure of all their parts terminate into such a perfection of the Animal that the most rigide survey can find nothing wanting As is most ingeniously displayed by the Honourable and Learned Boyle in his Treatise of the Final Causes of natural things Why should not the same Architect also have instructed the Function and inward parts with faculties to be exerted less or more according to the particular exigence of the Animal But especially that radical and fundamental one of supplying all the rest with sufficient provision and nouâ—ishment that it should be endued with a faculty to accelerate when the nâ—urishment either by its fault or immoderate waste is more then it ought in its Returns delayed Otherwayes every light cause that did retard the accession of reparation or did waste it much beyond the ordinary recruite would soon precipitate the Animal into inevitable ruine And also seing most Animals are endued with swifness beyond their ordinary pace whereby they flee dangers why should they not be endued with the like inward faculty to escape dangers internal that frequently threaten them And indeed all these efforts which we call from Irritation giving a Resemblance of such a faculty as this argue as much reason and acting for an end as this that 's here laid down does For the Impression made in the place being resented in the Brain the Fountain of Sense and motion the Irritation or endeavour to be rid of the offending cause has its effects in the place first invaded or beset and why should not the starving of the parts as much querelous as the surcharge of them is be as well heard and have also its releif so far at their least as motion can help them And there is yet a clearer resemblance of such a natural Action as this to be seen in the Pupil of the Eye which without consent of the will Contracts and delates it self so much as is needful for the comodity of seeing viz. Dilating where there is too little Light to let in more and convey the Species into the Eye and Contracting when there is too much Light and letting in only so much Light as is necessary to Paint the Species in the Eye And althô there is a Phaenomenon and case in Fevers which seems to oppugne this Hipothesis yet it is hoped that the same being duely considered will rather confirm and clear it and the Casâ— is this in some Fevers the Pulse is not altered as to the frequency or Vigour yet these portend great imminent danger which Phaenomenon or slowness of the Pulse comes from this that althô the final Cause of its motion be here craving enough of the acceleration of the Pulse for reparation in proportion to the waste yet it seems the efficient or Impellent of this motion or the first spring thereof that should answer exactly the exegencies of the final Is either stupified attacqued or befettered and so there is no strugle or essay to overcome the Impediments and Supply proportionably the waste And as this case is of all Fevers the most dangerous commonly giving the name of malignant so it brings the oeconomie for the most part soon to dissolution To unfold yet further this paradoxical Hypothesis if any desire to know upon what nearest and immediate cause this slowness of the motion of the arterial blood or delay of Reparation which excites the pulse to acceleration does depend unto this not impertinent inquiry that an apposite answer may be made it is to be adverted that the blood is made up of innumerable little globules swiming in a limpide watery serum As being observed by Loewenhoek with help of the microscop is also delivered and described by him and as it s very probable that these Globules do naturally require to be of such a bulk figure and number and the serosity wherein these swim doth also require to be of such tenuity and quantity as may best facilitate the motion and course of the Blood throw
the small channels and conduites betwixt the Arteries veins In which passage for the most part it depositates its nutritious parts or particles So it is very probable that slowness of the bloods motion to overcome which the heart excites frequent pulses doth for the most part proceed either from the number or magnitude of these Globules augmented or some viâ—iation of their spherical figure as their scabricity and the like Or further thorow the viscidity of the serum into which as a vehicle they swim and are carried And thô from any of these alone this slowness of the blood may clearly proceed yet it is certain that the ingemination and complication of these causes rendring the groseness of the Blood more intense may also render the slowness of its motion more contumacious To conclude then as by this scheme here laid down seemes indeed may be given pretty clearly both a rational discovery a Mechanical solution of the nature phenomena of Fevers so it appears that former explications thereof having raised so many fumy efferveseences and turbid fermentations concerning them could never yet bring the matter to a digested pellucide and defecat conclusion but having clouded the eyes with the mist of â—iry phantasmes still left the mind boiling and working in the tumult of commotion doubt and difficulty SECT VIII Shewing that the Heat in Fevers is the â—ffect of the slow Motion of the Blood And how Heat is made may be consistent with that slowness SInce by what is said the rapid Circulation of the Blood in Fevers seems to be overturned And that the rapid motion thereof was the only adequate Reason commonly given to solve the Phaenomenon of Heat in Fevers Because swift and violent motions used often times to produce Heat in Bodies althô we perceive motion to produce Heat in no bodys but where it is acompanied with grating and grinding of hard solid parts on upon another but never in fluids and so we find the violent motion of the Body produces Heat therein by the atâ—rition which the Museules make on themselves and the adjacent parts Which also produces a thickness of the Blood and in consequence slackens its motion It remains to inquire to what parent this off spring of Intenss and Feverish Heat can be most properly legitimate The inquiry into this Phaenomenon may not only discover how Heat is made but will perhaps also further establish the Hipothesis of Fevers already laid down For if we take a view and find that all these things which as external causes bring Imoderate Heat that the same do bring on a pace with them thickness and crassness of the Blood Which is necessarly followed with the slowness of its motion And so to supply the parts with proportionable reparation suitable to the waste that is made the Acceleration is stimulated and frequent pulses are excited in proportion to that thickness and slowness of the Blood as it falls out in vehement motions of Body and Minde Great and long heat of the Sun and fire the excessive abuse of strong Liquors and in perspiration impeded c. In the vehement motion of the Body beside the above mentioned grateing of the muscles upon one another and upon the parts adjacent exciting heat there is also such a waste of spirits and particles of the Blood and humours which in motion do exhale that to make proportionable supply and refocillation with the arterial blood the heart is made to mend its pace As also that copious eruption of exhalations which sometimes comes to the degree of sweat leaving the Blood and Humors more gross and thickned must necessarily also increase the slowness of its motion which therefore crave greater and repeated force to squeeze it forward into these narrow Channels And so from all these circumstances in violent motion there is raised a paroxisme as to Heat and Pulse altogether resembling a Fever Which is muâ—h after the same manner also produced by all the rest of external causes exciting Heat but with this difference that the Heat coming from the abuse of spirituous Liquors as apears by the Spirit of Wine which being poured upon Blood doth immediately co-agulate the same comes from their immediate incrassating and coagulating effect upon the Blood Which Incrassation has likewayes and for the same cause that stimulating effect upon the Heart And how stopt perspiration produces Heat shall be in its due place shown Whence we may conclude that all Intense Heat grivous to the Body is the genuin effect of the grosness of the Blood as it is clear by the contemplation of the Community of the Causes and the Community of the Phoenomena Natural and Practical belonging to both and shall afterward more fully be shown Having thus far premised It remains to clear how this Thickness and Grossness of the Blood produces also intense Heat And that the same Heat does not establish but rather evert both the Effervessence of the Blood and the swiftness of that motion thereof by some called the circulation and by others the circuit of the Blood In prosecution whereof it is to be noticed that in the natural state of Health the Heat is more strong and veget then in the valetudinary state where it is fretting and with trouble felt For in the state of Health the Rayes of Heat now whither or not these be thickly compacted together troops of Spirits it seems not worth the while to contend these Rayes I say do chearfully and pleasantly glide with the arterial Blood throw the Channels of the Arteries in a fluid sequacious and yeilding enough and by passages open sufficiently toward all the Bowels Organs and Habit of the Body for their refoccilation in which for the most part they are consumed And so from the continual efflux of these Rayes chearfully accomplshed does result the faelicity and ease of Life and integrity of the functions of the Oeconomy But in the state of sickness and cheifly in the heat of Fevers these rayes or Companies of Spirits flowing throw a viseuous crass-medium such as the arterial Blood then is and also approaching the narrow Channels of the arteries partly obstructed and partly beset with scabricity by means of this viscous Blood these rayes I say must undoubtedly in there passage throw that viscid and unequal Medium suffer refraction And in their approach to the extremities of the arteries thus obstructed or vitiated they must suffer Reflection or Collision Such modifications then of the rayes of heat seeme likely to produce the same effect on the sense that the like modifications of the rayes of Light and of Sight do It being known that the diversity or inequality of the medium throw which these pass and by which they are refracted Or the variety of the superficial textures on which these inciding are therefrom also reflected doth occasion Impressions on the organe of Sight whereby the object is represented either some way depraved or greater or more multiplied then it
would be represented without such refractions or reflections So it seems not very Improbable that the rayes of Heat passing throw the medium of crass unequal and not sufficiently Diaphanous Blood that they should be several wayes refracted and so coming to the Organe of feeling that is the nerves dispersed every where throw the Body that therefore they should imprint therein a greater sense of Heat then usual Or otherwayes by reflection which comes to the same purpose as when these rayes are darted throw the trunes of the Arteries incid upon the small Channels obstructed either in whole or in part by this crass Blood they must necessarly being reflected several ways impinge on the Nervs the sensorie of Heat and affect them with more brisk twitches then if they did glide smoothly along the trunks and by open passages were dispersed and exhausted in there designed ends And that the sense of intense heat is made much after the same manner seems clear by the Instance mentioned before to witt when the breath is with a wide mouth slowly exhaled it gives the sense of heat upon the hand Because the Particles of the breath are not caried streight and directly forward but being dispersed by an Oblique transvorse and recâ—illing motion they undergo a Modification much resembling refraction And coming so modified to the nerves of the hand imprint thereon the sense of heat when these very same Particles flowing out forcibly give no sense of Heat but of Cold The Particles being straight and direct in their motion undergo no such modifications SECT IX Shewing that Fevers being treaced up to their Fountain viz. The outward causes in that quest this grossness of the Blood and Humors presents it self Where insensible Perspiration is touched and how much the same lesed contributes the generation of Fevers And how indigestion of the Stomach is also accessory thereto with a new Hypothesis of digestion proposed TO comprehend more fully and clearly this dark subject of Fevers its necessary to trace the same up to the very fountain and spring according to the Concatenation of causes and effects which termmate in that production called a Fever And whose presence is testified by all the various Phaenomena that as Irradiations beames are darted therefrom Now if in this Inquisition we find all such causes concurâ—ing and concateuat as produce that thickness and grosness of the Blood and that these Phaenomena can be nowayes so comodiously resolved As by there being made likwise depending on that grosness and the product thereof and also that the Practical Phaenomena of Hurters and Helpers have their immediate effect in respect of this grosness or what depends alwayes thereon the slowness of the Blood then with a certainty litle below a demonstration we may conclude according to the alleadged Hipothesis Here then the Procatartick and external causes as first in operation deserve the first consideration Such are errours about the six things commonly called not Natural viz. Air Aliment Motion and Rest Sleeping and Watching Excretion and Retention and Passions of the mind For the errours about some of these using to generate and about others of them to retain and accumulate crudities Peice meal which serve for the antecedent or potential cause of a disease and this anteâ—edent cause gradually by its own tendency and sometimes more quickly by some great error superveining favoring this or that disease Is acuate and formed into the continent cause or very essence of the disease it self And even as the life of Man thorow Infirmitie and Misfortune is incumbred and involved in manifold straits difficulties and sometimes necessities whereby he must transgress the measure and bounds and run into the excess or defects of the use of these things Which would surely make his life both very miserable and without any comfort but that it would likewise be very short Were it not that the bountiful architect giveing as well an evidence of Providence and Art as of Commiseration and tenderness has contrived these bodies exceedingly commodious in the multiplicity and convenient situation of excretory passages by which the noxious matter accumulate being expelled the errours hapening about these none natural things might be amended and that not only throw the Gutts and Bladder these sensible and patent wayes serving also sometimes for extraordinary turns as well as for their ordinary and natural Excretions but by another indeed most ocult and obscure yet no less certain and obvious to the mind and reason and more adequat and oftner serving to these extraordinary thô necessary Excretions And that is insensible Perspiration which sends forth continually throw the Pores of the whole Skin such a quantity of excrementitious Rayes as does twise exceed all other sensible Evacuations and is the Excrements of the third and last Concoâ—tion And indeed such a wonderful work of Nature should by lurking always not have had as much certainty evidence as it demonstrats sagacity and providence and so the Ignorance of Men should have intercepted smothered their admiration and gratitude if the most ingenius Sanctorious a Sanctorio Physician Professor of Padua by divine Influence had not above all exception demonstrat to the world the reality necessity and measure together with Rules for the regulation of this Perspiration insensible After whom for Fourty Years almost now since elapsed Mortals have so much forgot themselves that they have not only neglected in so far as I know to improve this Doctrine delivered by him perhaps tending more to the conservation and also to the recoveâ—y of Health then all other means whatsomever preservative or curative but also to receive or make any Benefit or Fruit of his Industry and Discovery Except what the most acure Bellinus Physician and Professor of Pisa and Ettmullerus Professor in Lypsick have observed of it And indeed that most acurate and piercing wit Sanctorious delivers all his Observations approven to the eve by the Ballance for having weighed the Body and all the aliment taken in 24 Hours time the next Morning he again weighes the Body before the Excretiones sensible of Belly and Bladder and after the evacuations does the same again and the difference betwixt these two last weights goes to make the weight of the Excrements which is much within the weight of the aliement taken in the weight of the Body remaining the same it was the former day As for example Suppose the weight of the whole aliment be 8 pound the next morning the Body being weighed before and after evacuation of the Belly and Urine the difference making the weight of the Excrements may be about 3 pound The rest of the 8 being 5 evaportating by insensible Perspiration But in this computation some consideration is to be had to the Urine excerned the former day which in sober People is little for the most part the recreâ—ment of the Liquors taken in the third day before as that most exact observer by thirty years Experience
is the defect of the watering these places with the Lymph and Spittle because the Lymphal and Salival Glandes being in like manner affected with the same Obstruction from the crasness of the Humors either do not secerne their proper liquor from the Blood or do not excerne and squeeze it out on these parts The Phaenomena of Paines of all sorts inquietudes and anxieties may also be resolved in that same fountain of obstructions For the rayes of Heat or Spirits not being able to run their course and carreer by reason of the gross Medium and obstructions do therefore resile and recoile on all hands and by their brisk twitches on the membranous parts endued with exquisite sense they raise paines and uneasiness and acting their scenes in every organ they do excite Sâ—mptomes Competent thereunto And in the Brain Delirium or Raving seems to be raised much after the same manner for it appears only to be the Direct and Regular motion of the Spirits by Refraction and Collision perverted imprnting a Troubled Chattered and False Imagination Much after the same manner as there is a deception Imprinted in the Fancie when an Oare appears broken the one half thereof â—eing only in the Water And that because of the Refraction or Distortion of the visible rayes coming to the Eye So then it is very probable the Spirits within the Brain at the least the nervous juice their vehicle or medium being generate of that crass and unequal Blood the parent of these Refractions and Perversions acted in the Mass of Blood that thereof also may be generated such nervous juice as will make the Spirits obnoxious likewayes by Refractions and Depravations of their motion to produce all these Phaenomena competent to the region of the Brain Nerves And that by reason of the Obscurities or Inequalities of their medium that is the nervous juice throw which these Spirits do pass And that these Delusions are raised much after this manner is farther clear by pondering that familiar deception of the Touch which is made and exercised by crossing the Formost finger with the Mid-finger of the same Hand above it and with the points of the two fingers thus placed if ye shall touch any little Ball you will not only think but swear it to be two neither will you any wayes be delivered from this error but by the Eyes The true reason of this delusion seems to be from the distortion of the nerves which necessarly induce a depravation of the Impressions made and conveighed by the nerves unto the Brain And as this distortion in its manner effect resembles very much the refraction of the visive rayes misrepresenting the object in the Organe so it bespeaks a delirium or depraved Imagination to come from some refraction of the spirits within the Brain As concerning the eruption of spots in Fevers there seems nothing more perswasive to confirm the Hypothesis For these altogether resemble the markes made by stroaks on the Skine And these markes are also made by the stagnation coagulation of the Blood in the small Channells bruised and distorted which remain until new Blood superveening both cleanse and repair these Channels and restore to the skine its usual colour which is soon done when the Mass of Blood is intire and not infected with an obstructing Grossness After the same manner these Spots in Fevers happen but with this difference that they come not from the bruising of the Channels but from the thick and gross Blood stoping and coagulating in these Channels and tinging the Skine with blewness or redness And in Fevers the difference betwixt red and purple Spots as to the cause is the same that is betwixt these from an external cause Blew Spots being from a greater stroak and contusion beget a more intense Coagulation of the Blood and the red from a less produce a lesser effect for every Light external cause is apt to make the Skin red as the bits of the Fleas often do And so a lesser coagulation in Fevers begets red spots and a greater makes purple Spots SECT XI That the Phaenomena of Helpers and Hurters in Fevers confirm this Hypothesis And first how Bleeding a Helper confirmes the same And several other Phaenomena concerning Bleeding â—leared according to this Hypothesis THE nixt point both bringing light to the Theorie and fruit to the Practise of the Cure of Fevers is the exact consideration of the Practical Phaenomena the Helpers and Hurters in Fevers And how they do the same And the first is Bleeding which by the consent of almost all is granted to be very beneficial but if by this Theory is be cleared how it is so it may perhaps have its effect further improven also thereby Now it s certain that for the most part Bleeding Cooles the Body Calmes and slackens the Pulse and allays almost all violent Symptomes In so much that being celebrate to one in the Fury and Fever of a Drunkenness it allays that also But how it does this is to be inquired It s certain that the immediat effect of Blooding is the Emptying or depletion of the vein that 's cut and the nixt effect to this must be that the Blood that 's poured forth of the Vein that 's cut not going back to the Vena Cava or great Vein must be in consequence a proportionable Depletion of that Vein also Because the usual accession of Blood from that Vein cut is intercepted Now this Ebb made in that great Vein must certainly make the rest of the Veins that feed it flow with greater Force and Quantity thereunto likewayes Because the moment of Resistance in the great Vein thereby being less then it was is also less then the Pressure of the Veins feeding it which must make them empty themselves therein with greater freedom and force then they did before And this in consequence diminishing the pressure of the Blood in the whole Veins which lay against the Arterial Blood must make the arterial Blood from all the Arteries go into all the Veines with more freedom also When before the whole Veins being choak full by the resistance contranitence of the venal against the arterial Blood the arteries emptyed themselves with dificulty into the veins any obstructions betwixt the Arteries Veines could not easily yield to the Pressure of the Arterial Blood Because the Venal Blood being throng and Regurgitating its Resistance was equivalent to the Pressure of the Arterial Blood And so little or no advance being made in the motion of the Arterial Blood toward the Veins it could not sweep and clear these passages betwixt them the Veins Not very unlike as when a Mill-Wheell stands still and has its motion stoped by back Water there being an equivalent weight with that which should force it about hinging on the other side of it But when the back Water is removed off or falls low then the motion goes on as before even so it is here that any
Crisis he levelled in these Constitutions as the genius of that Intention would permit So it was only the difference of the Cures by way of a Crisis that did with him intitle different Constitutions of these Years But in the last Constitution of which he treats in his Schedula most happily falling on a method that did sure with that constituon and expending it further he did find it a method that did quite alter all the former measures and conduct of the cure of Fevers and consequently his constitutions and that it was a method which made the practice of the cure to run in an other channel and which did take up different indications passed over the needless dangerous conduct of Nature throw the maze of a crise As that this method did save the strength of Nature from a laborious prodigal and uncertain profusion and was a method that profitably and securely anticipated the crise he did therefore most reasonably judge it as I received it from his own mouth that it would agree with all manner of continual Fevers neither can there be yet any solide experience brought into the field that will weaken this Conclusion while the daily practice of sundry Physicians offers it self to all that will notice it clearly establishing the efficacie of this method SECT XIV The further Helpers in Fevers considered and how they work and confirm the Hypothesis such as fixed and volatile Salts Alcaline and Testaceous Concrets and also Cuppings Leeches and Frictions Wherealso some Phoenomena of Hurters are considered as the continual Sweats in Fevers And the continual lying in bed And lying with the head much Depressed For all which Reasons are given confirming the Hypothesis IT remains in the next place to enquire into other Helpers and Hurters in Fevers how they Operate and if the explication of such Phoenomena can bring any light to the foresaid Hypothesis And first as for helpers volatile and fixed salts are by the consent of all granted to be very effectual which altho in the case of a copious fomes they seem not to be â—afe yet the clearing how they work may shew as that they are effectual so when they are fit then to answer this it would be noticed that as the state or crasis of the blood may be vitiate two wayes so there may be so many wayes stops and bolts put so the motion thereof inducing its slowness and making it need more frequent or greater pulses to drive it on to distribution And first when the serosity of the Blood endued with due tenuity serves for a fit vehicle for the globuls but these globuls are vitiated either by their bulk number or in their figure that is by scabricity all which viâ—es severally much more when they are complicate makes these globuls stick and stop in the small passages and channels of the vessels and so baricade up the course of the Blood that there are raised frequent and violent pulses of the heart and arteries to remove them and carry on the blood The next fault in the crase of the Blood is when the due proportion in the number bulk and figure of these globuls is kept yet the tenuity of the serum is vitiated by viscidity and this fault also makes the Blood slow in its passage throw the small vessels to overcome which the heart does excite great and frequent pulses likewise In the first case where the globuls are only vitiated and the serum intire the sick are infested and weakened with sweats Because the frequent pulses drive away the serosity of the Blood out at the pores which is called the dissolution of the crase of the blood leaving the globuls cruded up together in the small vessels And in this case fixed and Alcaline salts testaceous and marine concrets made in subtile powder seem much to help because all these concrets consisting as is known of particles very rough scabrous and rigide the minutest particles whereof where ever they go carrying that Figure with them so then such being mixed with the blood and carryed along with it must necessarly impinging on the obstructions and scabricities in the small channels not only scoure and clear them but likewise by their continual Attrition of the Globuls of the Blood they must polish and grind these globuls and make them fit for passage thorow these channels As to the other state and crase of the Blood where the Serosity being viscide makes the slowness of the Bloods motion here as there are no sweats so it 's difficult to raise dangerous to attempt them Before any remedie can be justly levelled for the removal of this fault of the Blood it must be first inquired in what this viscosity does consist it seemes then that viscosity being a degree of Solidity and Firmness and the first step from Fluidity thereunto and that Fluidity consisting in the actual and due Motion of minutest parts of the Liquors viscidity then must Import some abatement and diminution as of their due Fluidity so of their Motion And that either from the weakness of the Principle of that Motion or the unaptitude of the matter to receive and obey Impressions of that Principle As having some glewy viscous matter mixed therewith But whatever it proceids from it is certain that the outward or sensible Rest in Liquores that naturally ought to be moved is a concurring Cause to there viscosity so the agitation of Liquors does altogether take off there viscosity As may be seen in the example of Ale which being ropie and viscuous is by tossing and agitating thâ—reof in a Bottle closs stoped soon brought to leave its viscosity So then the viscosity of the serum of the Blood seemes to be the effect of its want of due motion And is further a cause to hinder that due motion of the efflux and reflux And as this viscoâ—ity seems originaly to depend upon the serum not being duely Impregnat and Irradiat by the Spirits which do make it diaphanous and subtile so the want of this irradiation may depend upon its viscosity hindering that irradiation and so as these causes may hinder its due motion that want of due motion also does exceedingly contribute to its viscosity and check the influx of the Spirits And thus every one of these are mutually causes and effects to one another Yet unto these Efâ—ects from whatsomever of these causes they be produced seem much conducible all such things which give copious Matter to the generation of Spirits and also which give them being generated also Spurrs such as are all volatile Salts which for this reason are known to break and attenuate all viscosity But these are indeed to be used with moderation and warriness in Fevers least we should spurr faster than we open and clear the way and so these Spirits too much incited should waken up or exasperat all these Scenes of Confusions and Tumults to which the Blood is very prone under this state It is certain that long experience
accounted is clear from this that the Blood which is sent from the right Ventricle of the Heart by pulsation unto the Lungs is nothing different from the rest of the Venal Blood While the same Blood being immediatly sent back to the left ventricle of the Heart from the Lungs has before it enter the heart both the colour consistence and rarefaction proper to the Arterial Blood And differs nothing from the Arterial Blood in the Aorta or great artery Now in the case of a Fever althô the grosser Particles or Globuls of the clotted Blood returning from the Veins into the Lungs are grinded and levigate over again and then the Blood gives small token of its fault Because being so near it is also under the brisk impressions of the Hearts motion and also being crumbled by its passage throw innumerable ramifications and small capillary vessels in the Lungs while they are likewayes under a perpetual Systole and Diastole it is so attenuaâ— and grinded that any tendency to coagulation or obstruction is soon put off But yet when such Blood comes to the extremities of great Arteries where the force and strength of pulsation cannot be propagated in proportion to the Bloods slowness there then it must loyter and stop And moreover in some Fevers which are indeed very dangerous ones the slowness of the Blood 's passage even throw the vessels of the lungs is conspicuous that always making high difficult frequent breathing And moreover the Blood is also depurate and defecate from its crudities and viscosities by its passage through the Lungs And so by their taking care of the whole and endeavoring to repair the faults of the other functions they smart for them and become the Seat of many Diseasâ—s themselves for that same viscosity and grosness of the Humores does frequently make blemishing Impressions on them by obstructing tumefying their glands many of which obstructions are shaken off by the force of respiration but not always For althô the Motion of the Systole and Diastole of Lungs contrarying alwayes the direct Motion of the Blood in the vessels of the Lungs must subtilize attenuat the Blood So that it stickes not easily in the Channels of the Lungs yet often the fault of the former functions is so deep ingrained that the Blood sent here cannot be sufficiently attenuated and the crudities and viscosities expelled by the glands of the Lungs But does obstruct and tumefie them And breeds that disease called Pâ—hisis or Comsumption of the Lungs Now this Disease being of as universal extent among Chronick Diseases as a Fever is among acute ones is most Learnedly treated by Dr Morton in his Pthifilogia But alas as he wisely observes the Practise in this Disease is rarely attended with success For this reason that the Disease steals on the Patient unawares And before he peâ—ceives he is irrecoverably taken with the Distemper It is then hoped it will be thought no impertinent or useless digression if to instruct every one against the surprize of such a remediless attack there be transferred here from his work which is in Latine such apposite signs as may admonish every one of the aproach of that Disease and put them upon their guard in case of imminent danger to prâ—vide the timeous help of a faithful and skilful Physician The first sign he gives is The Descent from Parents that have been Pthisical For this Disease seems most hereditary of all Distempers 2 An evil frame of the Breast whether natural or aâ—cidental and that is either narrow or strait 3 A small Voice and Hâ—low 4 White and soft Skin with a thin habit of Body 5 A soft and Phlegmaticâ— habit of the Muscules 6 Oppression or Weight in the Breast 7 Thoughtfulness anxiety sadness and anger without a manifest cause 8. The Suppression of usual evacuation by Issues old Ulcers or any other usual 9 Spitting of Blood 10 A continual haughing of Viscide and black plegm in the â—orning 11 Salt or sharp phlegm haughted up 12 A pronness to copious evacuation of spittle either with or without an evident cause 13 An continued and increasing prostration of appetite without any other Disease accompanying it and with oppression of the Stomach and Spontaneous Laâ—â—itude in time of digestion 14 A Troublesom and continual Heat especially in the Soles of the Feet and Palms of the Hands cheiâ—ly after meat with a Pulse something too frequent 15 A shortness of Breath with difficulty of respiration 16 A great disposition to the Cough which is brought on frequently either by a slender or no evident Cause at all which is the most evident signe of an imminent Pthisis And the more of these signes there be the more still is the danger Now this Disease having alwayes a Fever accompaning it and that with an exacerbation some houres after Meat answering exactly to the time when the Chyle comes to the Blood doth also confirm the foresaid Hypothesis of Fevers For the chyle coming with the Venal Blood unto the Lungs to receive there its attrition and perfection While they are affected with obstructions and tumors in â—heir glands that must be superficâ—ally done And many of the Particles of the Blood do therefore return back to the Heart without sufficient elaboration which coming to the small Channels oâ— the Arteries betwixt them and the veins pass there also with difficulty So that to distribut the nourishment a fâ—equent Pulse is raised until the Particles by often passing that way be yet farther polished attenuated And so passing with greater ease the Fever and Pulse is remitted If any shall yet judge that this grosness of the Blood should be rather productive of tumors and inflamations then of Fevers It is to be considered that Fevers and Inflamations have that common to them both that they use to be generate together And also Fevers do depend on tumors inflamations which shews they are near of Kin to one another but yet they seem to differ in this that Fevers depend on an universal altho lesser grosness of the Blood which makes it with difficulty pass the small vessels and tremors depend as upon greater grosness so upon total obstruction of the Blood or other Liquores in some particular vessel And oftentimes they are generate and propagate by compression And perhaps it is the perverse figuration of some particles of the Blod or humours in respect of the Pores and Channels of a vessel which wholy stoping makes a total stagnation therein and this stagnation making a compression on the neighbouring vessels and these again upon the next adjacent affects them all with stagnation likewayes And thus that obstruction that begins in a point may have the sphere of its activity so extended as to infect all the neigâ—ouring parts with that tumour as is seen in a Thorn which pricking the Flesh doâ—s compress the next adjacent vessâ—ls and makes the Blood to stagnate therein And they again compressing these nixt