strained through the Parenchyma doth leave behind it some salt and earthy parts which after they have suffered some alteration by their attrition and justling in the several passages through the cells cavities and Pores of the Parenchyma are by fresh blood which perpetually flowes thither by continual circulation carried back through the veins into the mass of blood in which they serve for a most useful ferment by which the blood becomes rarified and is made more brisk and lively fit to circulate for the better supply of the parts 2. Of the use and office of the Stomach In the next place Physiophilus I shall show you the use and office of its compeer the Stomach The office of the Stomach is to prepare Chyle of which by several alterations by several ferments is made that vital juice the blood the manner of which is as followeth Food being conveyed into the Stomach is by virtue of a ferment or menstruum inherent in that part reduced into a whitish chyle subacid from whence when it hath attained Natures ends it is emitted by the passage of the Pylorus into the Intestins where it suffers another alteration by a bitter ferment in those parts the more pure part of which is sucked up by the lacteous vessels implanted in the mesentery and the grosser parts discharged by the intestins In these lacteous vessels runs the Chyle through the Pancreas into the Vena cava by means of which it is conveyed into the right ventricle of the heart and by motion of that Engine by the pulmonary Arteries is flung into the Lungs out of which having there separated some crude and phlegmatick Excrements it hasts through the pulmonary Veins to the left ventricle of the Heart out of which it is sent by the aorta into all the parts of the body CAP. II. A discourse of the cause of Intermitting Feavers or Agues I Know Physiophilus it will be expected by this curious Age that I should be as happy in finding out the cause as I have been successful in finding out the cure of this supposed unknown and uncurable disease a Quartan Ague which that I may not seem altogether Irrational and Empirical I shall here endeavour to give the world my opinion of the seat and cause of Agues which I shall not confidently assert as some have their dreams and conjectures but only propose and submit it to the more mature judgments of the learned and judicious and if any nice Critick shall take the pains to contradict it I shall return him no other Answer than that of Martial Carpere vel noli nostra vel ede tua The principal seat of Agues is the Spleen which being deficient the blood wanting its ferment is obstructed in its circulation and likewise the ferment of the stomach wanting a supply from this part is depraved so that Concoction not being well performed tough viscous humours are generated which with the Chyle conveyed into the mass of blood do at certain periods when they arrive at the heart disturb that noble part by obstructing the passage of the chyle or blood upon which violence offered to Natures chief Fortress a trepidation of the whole microcosme doth ensue which lasts so long till by the impulse of the blood or chyle following it it is at last forced through No sooner doth the blood find a free passage having been for some time dammed up but it flows more violently as when a Sluyce is opened in a Mill or other current of water from which violent motion an ebullition of the blood doth ensue which causeth the hot Fit The Ebullition being ended and the blood running again in its ordinary course Nature relieves her self by Transpiration resettling the blood disturbed by the commotion of the late Fit Then doth the Patient continue well till the morbifick matter come round again continually recruiting it self with fresh supplies from the imperfect digested chyle till that cause be taken away either by nature alone by recovering strength and vigour or by help of proper Medicines assisting her against so subtil and potent an enemy The distances of the Fits some being once in 24 hours as Quotidians others once in 48 hours as Tertians and some but once in 72 hours as Quartans are from the levity or ponderosity of the materia morbifica whether Phlegme Choler or Melancholly The heavier body moving more sluggishly in the sanguinary Channel than that which is lighter as we see in a current of water a piece of Firre shall move swifter than a piece of Oak or heavier wood and a Paper or Feather swifter than the Firre The length or shortness of the Fits are from the quantity of the matter more or less Double Tertian double and treble Quartans are occasioned by a quick supply of the morbifick matter so that there may be two or three several masses of the morbifick matter in the veins which arrive at the heart by succession But since the most plausible reasons unless backt by some demonstrable experiments seem but suppositions or conjectures I shall instance one common experiment used for the cure of Agues which though it doth not certainly cure yet it always delays the fit and that is strong ligature to the pulse which by retarding the circulation of the blood doth likewise hinder the coming of the morbifick matter to the heart and it may accidentally cure as some times it is known to do by retaining the morbifick matter if it be on that side the ligature that it must pass under it before it arrive to the heart where by the continual impulse of the blood the morbifick matter may be so dissipated and disunited that it may never unite again I have observed where it hath cured the part hath been extraordinarily swelled and they endure a great deal of pain and once a Gangrene happened upon this ligature Another confirmation of the cause of Agues being from tough viscous humours is that which the country people in Essex and other parts call an Ague-cake I have observed these in four Patients two were cast out of the stomach by nature and the other two by Emetick medicines One of them was like a clotted piece of phlegme about the bigness of a Wallnut pliable like Glue or Wax weighing about half an ounce another about the bigness of the yolk of a Pullets Egge and like it in colour but stiffer weighing about five drachmes the other two of a dark colour more tough about the like bigness and heavier It is a general observation amongst them that their Ague comes away when they see those Ague-cakes In those before mentioned it was verified and I have reason to believe it since the observation hath been confirmed by so many experiments CAP. III. Of the Diagnostick Signs of Intermitting Fevers or Agues THe signs of Intermitting Fevers in general are these They suddenly invade the Patient with a trembling or shaking and vomiting or at least some provocation thereto and sometimes they have convulsive motions in
Î Ï…Ïετολογια A Rational Account OF THE CAUSE CURE OF AGUES With their SIGNES Diagnostick Prognostick ALSO Some specifick MEDICINES prescribed for the Cure of all sorts of AGUES With an Account of a successful Method of the Authors for the Cure of the most Tedious and Dangerous QUARTANS Likewise some OBSERVATIONS of CURES performed by the aforesaid Method Whereunto is added A short Account of the Cause and Cure of FEAVERS and the GRIPING in the GUTS agreeable to Nature's Rules and Method of HEALING Authore R TO TALBOR Pyretiatre Non multa sed multum London Printed for R. Robinson and are to be sold at his Shop near Greys-Inne Gate in Holborn 1672. To his worthy Friends B. Aylemore A. Blackwell Esquires Mr. R. Alchorn Mr. W. Thornton Citizens and the rest of those worthy persons that have been my Patients Worthy Patients and Patrons A Book sent abroad into the World is like a Ship lanched forth into the Sea It must expect not always to sail with the fair gale of judicious Censures but sometimes to meet with blustering storms raised either by the puffing blasts of Criticks breath or the envious murmurings of the ignorant From these two viz. the seeming-wise Critick and the grosly Ignorant I can expect little favour the one will cavil at the Rational part because perhaps it doth not square with his Imaginary Fancies the other will deny the Rational and Experimental parts and both will endeavour to withdraw the breath of people from it that wanting the air of Reputation it may be either becalmed by that little notice people take of it or else be stranded on the dangerous sands of prejudice I have therefore chosen you my Patrons whose known Reputation is sufficient to check the insolence of any that shall contradict or deny what your selves can testifie of your own knowledge and experience And I desire that your mouthes may only speak my Actions and let the world from them read my Merits From whom I request nothing more than a kind acceptance of that which is intended for a general good By him who is ever ready to serve his Country and his Friends R. Talbor To the Reader WHen I first began the study and practice of Physick amongst other Distempers incident to humane Bodies I met with a Quartan Ague a disease that seem'd to me the ne plus ultra of Physick being commonly call'd Ludibrium opprobrium Medicorum folly and derision of my Profession did so exasperate my spirit that I was resolved to do what study or industry could perform to find out a certain method for the cure of this unruly distemper In order thereto I first dived into the cause of it and to that end read most Authors that have writ on this subject but I could find no more satisfaction from them than I can in Philosophy from that odd solution by occult qualities I considered then there was no other way to satisfie my desire but by that good old way observation and experiment To this purpose I planted my self in Essex near to the Sea side in a place where Agues are the expidemical diseases where you will find but few persons but either are or have been afflicted with a tedious Quartan In this place I lived some years making the best use of my time I could for the improving my knowledge curiously observing all Symptoms Diagnosticks and Prognosticks by which observations and the assistance of my reason God blessing my endeavours I have attained to a perfect knowledge of the cure of the most inveterate and pertinacious Agues and can inform a patient to a day when I will remove the fits and what method I will proceed in with him though to several persons according to their several constitutions and other complicated diseases I use different methods If our Physicians would use the Primitive way of the Egyptians apply themselves to the study of some one disease they would in a short time bring this noble Science to great perfection but idleness hath so possest this age that most of us care for no more than a little smattering of every thing As you accept these my Primitiae you encourage him to proceed Who is Yours and his Countries Friend R. Talbor To his Friend the Author on his Î Ï…Ïετολογια THe Learned Author in a generous Fit T' oblige his Country hath of Agues Writ Physicians now shall be reproacht no more Nor Essex shake with Agues as before Since certain health salutes her sickly shoar Philosophers spend oyle and time in vain And no Minerva issues from their brain Whilst here a general good accrues to all Like the disease 't is Epidemical Man though the lesser world does far surpass All that's i th' greater world or ever was Whilst he these earthly gods obliges thus He shall be styl'd an Esculapius J. D. The Introduction to the Discourse of Agues MAN being subject to as many and more distempers than his famous structure can boast variety of parts all the faculties of his soul have been continually employed to find out Remedies for the preservation and restauration of his decaying body Now the first man Adam had a perfect knowledge of the virtues of all Plants Minerals or Animals but whether it was immediately dictated to him by the Creator I shall not here argue or whether their innate vertues were engraven upon the front or superficies of every creature in those lines we see on Plants c. which I believe are not flourishes a-la-vole of natures Pen but fair characters legible to our forefather Adam and some few of his posterity But since the Fall Soul and Body have deviated from their first perfection all the faculties of the Soul are depraved the Memory is subject to fail the Judgement given to erre and the Will often known to rebel and become a voluntary slave to passion so is his Body subject to so many infirmities that he that shall consider upon what slender filaments the life of man depends will have greater cause to admire at the Providence of the Creator seen in the preservation of Man than at his Wisdome known in his Creation though both of them surpass the scale of our reason for our Reason being fallen from its primitive purity is as much confused as our Languages now tot homines tot sententiae tot rationes Reason is at best but the harmony or musical sound of a well tuned Hypothesis wherewith the fancy is delighted and it suffers the same fate with our common Musick for as every tune delights not every ear so every reason pleases not every fancy We have nothing certain in Physick or Philosophy but Mathematical and Experimental Demonstration and what we have learnt in either Science hath been by industrious Observations and Experiments Thus by the industrious toils and labours of those Primitive Heroes the ancient Empiricks in their observations and experiments the foundation of this famous structure of Physick was laid and in some ages by the same
the urine of healthy persons but sometimes thick with a red sediment if the disease run high Phrensie Convulsions Madness happens Spots Pustules Blains Buboes Carbuncles c. break forth Of the signs Prognostick in Malignant Fevers These Distempers generally afflict the people about the Autumn and Winter more than the Spring and Summer they last according to the nature of the disease and strength of the Patient four seven twenty one or forty two dayes The dangerous symptoms in these diseases are unquiet sleeps the Patient not relieved by them madness imbecillity of the retentive faculties a creeping low and irregular Pulse black and turbid Urine Convulsions Epilepsies c. otherwise if the Patient is relieved by sleeps hath a regular pulse good Crises happen moderate sweats and the Patient appearing refreshed after them signs of concoction in the Urine c. the Patient is in no danger SECT IV. A discourse of the cause of Fevers YOu know Physiophilus such is the humour of this present age that they are not contented with those accounts of Fevers the Antients thought rational but must have some new well-tuned Hypotheses to please their humours that I may not be thought altogether Empirical I will follow the steps of some of our modern ingenious Physicians and run with them in their rational accounts of Fevers which being pleasant and coherent do gratifie our humours and delight our curious fancies But I must beg their pardon if I leave them sometimes in the method of curing and follow the experienced and well-troden paths of the Ancients The Hypothesis granted that Blood and Wine are analogous and observe the same rules and method in casting out extraneous bodies the cause of Fevers will be thus understood when either from the defects of the Duumvirate i. e. the Stomach and Spleen change of Air or Diet whereby the habit of the body is altered violent Passions retention of Excrements and the like an imperfect and ill-digested chyme is prepared and conveyed into the mass of blood which being not fit for mixture and assimilation is resected and cast forth as an Heterogenous matter From hence is caused a commotion or hermentation of the whole mass of blood which last so long till the extranious matter be cast out either by the Pores of the skin Ureters Intestins or other emunctories The Experiment may be proved in Wine into which if you put any Heterogeneous matter as a drop of a Candle Sugar or any Liquors it will immediately ferment which will not cease till the extraneous matter be thrown out or separated from the Wine and lodged at the bottom of the Vessel and the whole body of the Wine remain pure and clear Thus we see persons after excess in eating or drinking fall into Fevers the ferment of the stomach being diluted and depraved by such excess and the parts designed for conveyance of chyle or nutriment are obstructed so that an unsuteable chyme is sent to the Veins which the blood cannot admit of So likewise we may observe from such persons as have fed upon ill diet a long time as at Sea or in Captivity the body at length hath been accustomed to it but when such have returned home and came to feed upon good and wholsom food they have oftentimes fallen into very high Fevers the reason of it may be this The parts of the body designed for concoction were not acquainted with such food and through depravity could not digest them sufficiently or if this food were digested into good Chyme yet when it came into the veins the blood could not admit of its mixture and assimilation because it is of a contrary nature to that which was produced from the former ill diet When this Chyme from some ill food or bad air hath contracted a poysonous nature the blood touched with this venomous Miasme is either too much fused from whence follows a greater ebullition in the mass of blood by which the vital spirits are wasted and dispersed or sometimes the blood is coagulated by which its circulation is hindred and a stagnation of that vital current follows as in the high malignant and Pestilential diseases SECT V. Of proper Diet to be observed in Fevers IN putrid Fevers in the beginning and state of the disease a thin diet is necessary as Water-grewel broth of Chicken Mace-Ale Barly-water with cooling and cordial Syrrups In the declination Mutton or Veal-broth or gravey of meat stued with a little Claret and a chive of Mace after the first Purge which is not to be administred till signs of concoction appear in the Urine Chicken boyled or roasted Mutton or Veal c. may be allowed For drink White-wine Posset-drink or small Beer with a fourth part of White-wine In Malignant the Diet must be thin but spirituous as clear Sack posset-drink Mace-ale broth of Chicken with Harts-horn and cordial Flowers boyled in it In the declination of the disease White-wine Cawdles gravy of Mutton stued with Claret a little Mace and Nutmeg then after purging Flesh may be permitted viz. such as is of easie digestion as Chicken young Rabits Lamb or Veal the drink during the encrease or state of the disease must be cordial Julips but afterward good fresh Beer with half Ale that is well boyled and neither too new or stale SECT VI. Of the method of curing putrid Fevers FIrst of all take care to clear the Stomach if you be consulted in time and nature will bear it Proper Vomits are these Oxymel scilliticum Oxymel simplex Infusio croci metallorum Sal vitrioli vel Gilla Theophrasti Then prescribe as a Julip this tincture of Roses viz. ℞ Florum Rosarum Rubr. ℥ j. Spir. vitrioliʒiv Aquae Fontanae liv infundantur in loco calido per horas sex postea coletur colaturae depuratae adde sacchari albissimi ℥ iij. Aquae Rosarum Damascenarum ℥ iv misce fiat tinctura de quâ bibat aeger ad libitum At other convenient times let the Patient take this Cordial ℞ Aquarum melissae cardui benedicti una ℥ iij. perlarum Corallii praeparat an ℈ j. syr acetositatis citri ℥ iss misce fiat Julapium pro quatuor dosibus If the Fever increase and violent symptoms appear as Delirium Phrensie c. apply blistering playsters to the Neck Arms and Anckles and Herrings or this following Cataplasme to the Feet ℞ Carnis Halecum ex muria ℥ iij. Radicis Brioniae ℥ j. fol. Rutae M. j. Salis nigriʒvj saponis nigri q. s fiat cataplasma plantis pedum applicandum After which Applications administer this following bolus ℞ Conservae Rosarum Rubr. vitriolat ʒj pulveris ex chelis cancrorum compositi ℈ j. laudani Londinensis gr j. misce fiat bolus Then administer other proper Cordials pro re nata till you observe a good crisis and signs of concoction in the Urine at which time observe Natures indications as which way she offers to drive out the morbifick matter whether still by
the Pores of the skin or by the Intestines and according to your observation assist her either with proper Diaphoreticks such as Pulvis ex chelis cancrorum compositus cum Rad. contrayervae serpentariae Or else with a lenitive Purge such as followeth viz. â„ž Fol. endiviae cichorei ana pj. coquantur in Aquae font â„¥ vj. ad â„¥ iv postea add Rhabarbari electiÊ’ij sennae mundataeÊ’j Zinziberis ℈ j. sam AnisiÊ’ss infundantur per noctem mane colentur colaturae adde syr Rosarum solutiv Ê’vj misce fiat potio The same Potion or another may be afterwards repeated as occasion serves SECT VII Of the method of curing malignant Fevers IF you are consulted in time first clear the stomach with Oxymel seillitic â„¥ iij. vel â„¥ iv After its operation is ended give this Cordial viz. â„ž Aquae cardui benedicti â„¥ iij. corallii praeparati boli armenii ana ℈ j. diascordiiÊ’ss syr Garyophyllorum â„¥ j. misce fiat potio cordialis Then let the Patient drink of this following Julip every three hours viz. â„ž Cornu cervi usti â„¥ j. Rad. Scorzonerae â„¥ ss Rad. Contrayervae Serpentariae anaÊ’iss Lujulae M. j. coquantur in Aquae fontanae Lb. iv ad Lb. ij colaturae adde syrrup melissae Garyophyllorum ana â„¥ j. confectionis de Hyacintho elect de sassafrâ anaÊ’ij misce fiat Julapium de quo capiat Cochlear quatuor tertiâ quavis borâ tepide Once in two hours let the Patient take a spoonful of this Cordial viz. â„ž Aquae melissae Scordii ana â„¥ iij. Aquae Pezoardicae â„¥ j. syr Garyophyll â„¥ iss confectionis de Hyacinth Ê’ij corallii perlarum praeparat ana ℈ j. misce fiat Julapium cordiale de quo capiat cochlear j. secundâ quavis borâ tepide If violent Symptoms appear apply blisters to the Neck Wrists and Anckles Pigeons or Herrings to the Feet Chickens split to the Heart and Stomach Heighten your Cordials as the disease encreaseth and change them often in these distempers Administer nothing cold either actually or potentially when you see signs of concoction you may administer a gentle Purge such as that before prescribed in putrid Fevers Thus have I given you Physiophilus that method which I have used with extraordinary success some years but except there be judgment and experience joined with it viz. to know a disease and what doses according to the several ages and constitutions of Patients when to administer and apply Remedies the best methods and medicines are used in vain SECT VIII A discourse of the disease called the Griping of the Guts THere hath appeared Physiophilus amongst many other diseases a strange Monster called the Scurvy acting its part upon the stage of this little world in various shapes counterfeiting the guise of most other diseases sometimes it consumes by little and little as it were grating and crumbling the body into the grave then again it rends and distracts separating the union of body and soul suddenly puffing out the lamp of life sometimes it is couchant other times rampant so alternately chronick and acute But amongst the many appearances of this Protean disease there is none more eminently atrocious than this termed the Griping of the Guts and though by some it may be accounted a substantial disease it appears to my reason to be only a product or an effect of a virulent scorbutick root Of the signs Diagnostick of the Griping of the Guts It seizeth the Patient with wringing gripes usually and oftentimes with intolerable racking and convulsive pains some have only a flux downward others evacuate both by vomit and stool they are accompanied with a Fever manifest or hidden giddiness great pains in the Head Drowsiness Phrensies tedious Watchings weakness of the Limbs difficult breathing a weak and irregular Pulse pains in the sides and loins fluxes of blood oppression at the stomach the urine for the most part like healthy persons but sometimes it is thick and troubled oftentimes spots appear of a reddish or purple colour being small and lying deep in the flesh Prognosticks in the Griping of the Guts If a Fever with other bad symptoms as Lipothymie Convulsion Phrensies c. be joined with these griping pains the patient generally miscarries except the virulent Ichor be transmitted by large sweats or more gentle breathings with eruptions of Pustules Spots or red Blotches If these malignant Gripes joined with a Fever invade any that have been debilitated by a long infirmity or intemperate persons the ferment of whose stomach is diluted and depraved the case is dangerous Sometimes it happens that the Torminous matter is translated into the limbs whereupon Palsie Rheumatismus or Gowt happen to the preservation of life If none of these symptoms appear the Patient recovers with little help of proper Remedies but otherwise not without great care and industry annexed with medicines of some force and energy SECT IX Of the cause of the Griping of the Guts IT s Cause may be supposed Physiophilus from an exorbitant acidity of the stomachs Ferment occasioned from the ill disposition of the Air Diet Contagion or Hereditary constitution By this luxuriant exorbitancy of the stomachs Ferment the food dissolved and digested is converted into a juice of the same sharp and corroding nature and resisting the alteration and dulcoration designed by the Ferment implanted in the intestins by its acrimony frets extimulates and excites the expulsive faculty of those parts colliquating the nitrous juices turning them into an acid fretting and vexatious Ichor bringing a damp upon the spirits and if not timely prevented totally extinguishing them SECT X. Of the method of curing the Griping of the Guts IF consulted in time a gentle Vomit will be necessary such as Oxymel scilliticum from â„¥ i. to â„¥ iv after that some proper Diaphoretick such as Pulvis ex chelis cancrorum compositus lapis contrayervae prepared Pearl and Coral these do dulcorate acid and corroding juices and relieve nature by throwing out the offending humours per poros cutis Let the Patient drink Julips made of Cornu cervi ust Rad. scorzonerae contrayervae serpentariae c. Administer Cordials made of spirit of Juniper Scurvy-grass Harts-horn with proper Sytrups Elixir proprietatis Parâ—…si Spirit of Tartar Tincture of Coral Haematitis or Blood-stone proper chalybiate Medicines may be used at convensent times as the judicious Physician shall find occasion The Diet may be the same prescribed in malignant Fevers Let this short discourse suffice at present Physiophilus as occasion offers and acceptance answers I shall be ready to serve you and my Country to the utmost of my power Si quid scis rectius istis Candidus imperti si non his utere mecum From my dwelling next door to Grey's-Inn-gate in Holbourn July the 14th 1672. ERRATA IN the Epistle to the Reader line ult for yours read your pag. 34. lin 1. for Halecium read Halecum lin 4. read cataplasma lin 12. read extracti lin penult read Helmontii pag. 33. lin 13. read conservae FINIS The Contents THe Introduction to the Discourse of Agues Page 1. CAP. I. Of the Use and Offices of the Spleen and Stomach p. 15. CAP. II. A discourse of the cause of intermitting Fevers or Agues p. 19. CAP. III. Of the Diagnostick signes of intermitting Fevers or Agues p. 23. CAP. IV. Of the Prognosticks in Agues p. 27. CAP. V. Of the several Remedies used for the cure of Agues p. 31. CAP. VI. Of Charms used for the Cure of Agues how they operate with the dangerous consequences that have attended them p. 35. CAP. VII The Authors particular Method of curing all sorts of Agues p. 42. CAP. VIII Of the proper diet to be observed by such as have Agues and during my method of curing Agues p. 45. CAP. IX Observations of this successful method in some long tedious Quartans complicated with other Chronick diseases p. 47. Appendix SECT I. NAtures method in the time of sickness and by what means she opposeth her enemies p. 54. SECT II. Natures several indications in chronick and acute diseases according to which the Physician ought to frame his method of cure p. 56. SECT III. A discourse of the Cause and Cure of continuing Fevers p. 60. SECT IV. A discourse of the cause of Fevers p. 63. SECT V. Of proper Diet to be observed in Fevers p. 66. SECT VI. Of the method of curing putrid Fevers p. 68. SECT VII Of the method of curing malignant Fevers p. 70. SECT VIII A discourse of the disease called the Griping in the Guts p. 72. SECT IX Of the Cause of the Griping in the Guts p. 75. SECT X. Of the method of curing the Griping of the Guts p. 76.
spirits evacuated or evaporated the ferment of the stomach becomes weak and feeble not able to perform its Office from hence proceeds a general decay of the parts as in Consumptions c. other times the Ferment grows exorbitant and will not admit of Nature's Rules here food may be quickly dissolved but not so well digested From hence comes the Scurvy Rheumatismus vagrant Pains c. sometimes the passages as well for the conveyance of the Chyle as evacuation of excrements become so obstructed that not only a decay of the superior parts do ensue but Tumors and Inundations in the inferiour parts do arise from whence Dropsies c. do proceed But although upon the first sensible invasion of these diseases Nature useth her utmost endeavours to oppose them yet in these Chronick distempers she meets with so many obstructions that she rarely or never overcomes them without the assistance of her friend the Physician Acute diseases charge more violently but Nature having timely notice she presently applies all her force to oppose them and is sometime known to throw off these distempers without the help of a Physician But when either by the irregularity of the Patient in his diet or otherwise the distemper is re-inforced or re-invigorated Nature is often known to be over-power'd without the timely assistance of her friend the Physician In these Distempers a sudden and violent charge being given to Nature a Tremor shakes the whole body after that the Enemy having got into the sanguinary channel all force is used to drive it out but this is not done without much violence Hence a Fermentation or Ebullition of the blood doth ensue and continues so long till the morbifick matter is discharged part per poros cutis and the rest by the Ureters and Intestines SECT II. Natures several Indications in Chronick and Acute diseases according to which the Physician ought to frame his method of Cure IN Chronick diseases where the stomach is troubled with tough viscous humours sticking to the sides thereof Nature indicates vomiting by the Nausea that attends that part and offers of Nature to be relieved that way If these humours be fluid they generally participate of an acid quality being impregnated with a fixed acrimonious salt which mixing with the chyle converts it into a juice of the same nature whose exorbitant acidity resists the alteration designed by nature in the intestines and by its acrimony extimulating and exciting the expulsive faculty of those parts a Diarrhoea Bloody-flux griping of the Guts c. are caused Nature here indicates dulcoration of the Acrimony and Evacuation with emollient and lenitive Medicines Where the passages by which the chyle is conveyed or the excrements pass through are obstructed occasioned from a defect of the splenetick ferment or otherwise Nature indicates opening and attenuating Medicines and such as do excite the ferment of the Spleen In Acute diseases as Nature is most watchful and industrious in opposing them so is she most curious in her indications giving timely notice of the approach and critical Battalia of the Enemy for no sooner doth the adversary invade but a sudden tremor gives notice of the approach of a potent Enemy and when it assaults her she leaves all to oppose it Therefore we are not to charge the stomach with too much or any gross food for nature and the spirits being employed otherwise cannot attend the digestions And no sooner doth she get a little respite but she indicates to the Physician her friend how part of the morbifick matter is expelled and how the rest by his assistance may be carried off And this she doth by those pearly drops displayed upon the superficies of the Cutis as so many Trophyes of her late acquired Victory but if the disease be so potent that she cannot by her own desired way viz. per poros cutis throw it off she is forced to throw the morbifick matter into some other parts till she can recover more strength to vanquish it and here she acquaints her friend the Physician where she hath lodged the enemy calling for his assistance The symptomatical Pleurisie and Phrensie and other symptoms in Fevers are only signs of nature's weakness who wanting ability to discharge the morbisick matter her own way was forced to throw it into some other part as into the Membrane Pleura or into the meninges of the Brain from whenoe Pleurisie and Phrensie happen in Fevers when she hath separated and vanquished her Enemies she usually offers to drive them out at the inferior Postern indicating to the Physician that way she would be assisted I could instance many more but to the rational this is sufficient to acquaint them with Natures method and wise government in the Oeconomy of our body and that the true method of cure ought to be according to Natures own prescripts and indications For which I will bring the authority of that true friend of Nature the learned Helmont page 802. Naturam esse morborum medicatrioem eam confortandam ideo non consternandam Nature being the Physicianess of diseases she is to be strengthned and comforted not frightned or disquieted SECT III. A Discourse of the cause and cure of continuing Fevers FEvers though by some distinguished by various names may be reduced to these two heads viz. Putrid and Malignant Of the signs Diagnostick of Putrid Fevers They invade the sick with a chilness in the back and oftentimes shaking like an Ague after that a burning heat which diffuseth it self through the whole body and increaseth gradually to the 4th 7th 14th or 21. day and then decreaseth accordingly It is attended with Thirst a quick Pulse high coloured Urine Head-ach Phrensie Convulsions with many more dangerous symptoms if the disease be high Of the signs Prognostick These Fevers happen commonly in the Spring or Summer and if the symptoms be mild they sometimes go off in 4. or 7. dayes if violent they last 14. 21. and 42. dayes when a Phrensie Delirium Epilepsie Convulsion an irregular Pulse no signs of concoction are seen in the Urine after a Crisis or such like violent symptomes appear the Patient hardly recovers without powerful remedies and the diligent care of the Physician and his Assistants But if milder symptoms appear as if the thirst be not great the Patient not disturbed in his sleeps and wakes somewhat refreshed after them good Crises happen and Nature at those times gives some signs of a conquest either by sweat urine or a looseness the Patient recovers with little care and help Of the signs Diagnostick of Malignant Fevers They seize the Patient with a pain in the back or head the strength is debilitated without any manifest cause viz. more than could be expected from the nature or heat of the Fever a dry Cough palpitation of the Heart involuntary Weeping the heat in these distempers at first touch mild but after some time more sharp the Pulse low and quick often intermitting the Urine oft-times pale and like