â—â—lties as motion of the body â—ing c. or by the senses Hearâ— Seeing c. entertained by â—ternal objects the expence is greater than the procreation or â—duction of the spirits But by â—cessation of the exercise of those â—mal Faculties the spirits are again â—uited and restored for by that means the production becomes greater than the expence Here is also to be noted that how much the exercise of the aniâ— faculties shall be more intense remiss so much the more or 〈◊〉 sleep will be required for the restiâ—tion of the lost spirits From hence it may appear 〈◊〉 sleep is by no means to be approâ—ated unto the constitution buâ— necessarily required by Nature pâ—portionably to the expense of spiâ— caused by the exercise of the aniâ— Faculties Now although there be sâ— Lethargical and sleepy diseases we are not in the least to concâ—â— that sleep is the cause but the â—duct and effect or at least the adjâ— or concomitant of such diseases The restitution of decayed spiâ— cannot possibly be the cause of disease whatsoever but rathâ— preservative against diseases whâ—fore to prescribe rules for the â—ation of sleep is in some sort to â—ulate the strength of Nature and â—estrain the body from being too â—ate and lively â—f sleep be it never so much can any cause of disease How comes â—o pass that young Children who â—nd the greatest part of the first â—rter in continual sleep become â—re lively and thriving than others â—o sleep less Or how happens it â—t some aged persons spin out the â—ed of their lives to a great exâ—t by much sleeping CHAP. VI. â—ether the Regulation of the Passions of the Mind be a Legitimate means to prevent Diseases ANother means in use amongst Physitians for the preservaâ—n of health is the Regulation of â—e affections or passions of the mind Now although it cannot be deniâ— but that the Irregular passions of 〈◊〉 minde may do much hurt to the â—dy and that there is somewhat 〈◊〉 to be attributed to the discreâ—â— of every person as to the regulatâ— of his passions Yet must we hâ— presuppose that health of body is â—cessarily required for the regulatâ— of all humane affections Insomâ— that the regulation of our affectiâ—â— is rather to be conceiv'd an effâ—â— product and result than any caâ— of health As to the affections 〈◊〉 passions as anger joy fear grâ—â— c. there can scarce be mens saâ— except it be in corpore sano For know by experience that sick agâ— and consumptive persons are 〈◊〉 more peevish and fretful than otheâ— Although when the body is dissed the minde or soul it self 〈◊〉 be in perfect health yet the affeâ—ons which are the souls attendaâ—â— must needs be disturb'd and disqâ—eted whensoever the body shall â—â—emper'd because their very esâ—ce or being doth depend upon 〈◊〉 crasis or temperament of the â—dy And so on the contrary they â—st needs be altogether as much in 〈◊〉 souls reach to be regulated and â—mmanded by her when the body healthful It is in some sense a â—â—st certain and infallible Axiome Mores sequuntur humores viz. that 〈◊〉 manners i. e. the affections of 〈◊〉 minde have dependance upon 〈◊〉 humours of the body From hence it cannot but be â—ought more rational that proviâ—on be made first for the body that be preserv'd in health that so the actions of the minde may be reâ—ated than to prescribe the reguâ—ion of the affections as a cause and 〈◊〉 server of health CHAP. VII That the chief preserver of health Exercise because it doth fermâ— the mass of bloud and that whâ—soever else doth cause fermentatiâ—â— may be used as a fit Succedaneâ—â— for Exercise NOw am I arriv'd unto the siâ— and last which is a true a legitimate means prescribed by Physicians for the preservation 〈◊〉 health and prevention of diseasâ— and this is bodily Exercise 〈◊〉 thing so well known by experieâ—â— to preserve health that they 〈◊〉 do moderately use it stand in neâ— of no other preventing Physiâ—â— This is that which makes the laboâ—â—ing man's sleep pleasant and swâ—â— unto him This is that which sheâ— the Justice and equality of Diviâ—â— Providence distributing the hapâ—ness of this world in some good â—asure alike unto the Sons of men â—or they who are necessitated and â—â—nstrain'd to work hard for a liveâ—â—od are recompensed with the â—â—ition of health than which noâ—â—ng is more comfortable and deâ—â—â—ble in this world And certainly â—â—e the virtue and efficacy of Exâ—â—cise for the prevention of diseases â—tter known or more seriously â—â—sidered many Millions in this â—â—rld might be happy in the injoyâ—nt of their health who are now â—iserable by reason of the want of it 〈◊〉 many there are who by reason â—â—ameness or debilitation through â—he accident are rendred incaâ—â—â—le of exercising and many more â—o are prevented by their professiâ—â— whose imployment is Writing â—â—ving Studying or some such like â—hich enforceth them unto a still 〈◊〉 sedenary life and as many who though they do sometimes Exerâ—â—â—e yet not so often nor unto that degree and measure which Natuâ—â— requires Besides that innumerâ—â—â— multitude of others who havâ— contracted a depraved habit of Eâ—minacy and softness of living 〈◊〉 think it a thing burthensom 〈◊〉 troublesom to Nature although the preservation of their health Exercise and cannot by any aâ—â—ments be perswaded unto it but 〈◊〉 apt to think such remedy as bâ— or worse than any disease it 〈◊〉 prevent So that although Exercise maâ— of it self sufficient to prevent 〈◊〉 eases yet seeing that there are many Accidents which may possâ—â— hinder Exercise it cannot butâ—â— conceiv'd a thing profitable uâ— many persons for prevention of 〈◊〉 eases to propound some other 〈◊〉 and means which may serve in stâ—â—â— thereof Not that I am willing by 〈◊〉 means to entice any unto a sedâ—tary life but am rather desirous gratifie all those with a fit and meet Succedaneum who cannot either by â—â—son of their employment or some â—â—her accident use Exercise Here we are first to suppose that â—odily Exercise is an adequate cause â—o produce the effect of continuance â—f health And this I should first â—ove by reason were it not suffiâ—ently known unto all men by exâ—erience which is the very basis and â—â—undation of reason It being then â—anted that moderate Exercise is â—â—ay and means to preserve health 〈◊〉 us enquire into the manner how 〈◊〉 produceth that effect And this 〈◊〉 â—inde to be done by fermenting of â—e mass of bloud Now this ferâ—entation of the mass of bloud is â—â—anted by all Physicians to be the â—â—xt and immediate cause of health 〈◊〉 that whatsoever hath a power in 〈◊〉 self to put a just fermentation â—â—on the mass of bloud may be a 〈◊〉 Succedaneum to be used in the â—tad of Exercise and by consequence must needs be a proper a fit Medicament to be given for tâ— prevention of Diseases or preserâ—tion of Health But before I propound those paâ—ticular Medicaments whose
Imposthumes are bred in one â—art or other within the Capacity of â—he head It is well worth our observation â—o take notice that all those who â—y any accident do weaken their Brain are the most of all subject to Consumptions Whether the Brain â—e weakned by Fumes and Vapours â—om Strong Beer and Wine or by Cuts or Blowes upon the Head â—r else by much Study 't is all the â—me CHAP. XX. How all manner of Agues may be effectually cured by the use of Steel FEavers are usually distinguish'd into putrid and Pestilential and putrid Feavers into continual and intermitting An intermitting putrid Feaver is that which we call in English an Ague To say nothing of the several kindes of Agues passing under several denominations as Quotidian Tertian Quartain Double Tertian c. it will be sufficient to shew the Quiddity or nature of an Ague in general from its cause and symptomes by which means also the particularities and differences may be easily discerned Besides sometimes illness at the Stomack and Vomiting Thirstiness pain in the Head and in the Back and other parts the common symtomes of an Ague are first Cold â—en afterwards Burning which are â—used by some Particles of the mass 〈◊〉 bloud at that time actually puâ—efying What Fermentation is I have already described in the Eighth Chapâ—er Now we must know that Puâ—â—efaction I mean the Act of Putreâ—ing is to be conceiv'd in some sort â—ontrary unto the Act of Fermenâ—ng It is Fermentation revers'd â—â—z a resolution of some Homogeâ—eous matter into particles of a â—ifferent nature Even as when a â—ell-governed Commonwealth doth â—issolve and break into an Anarchy Whereas Fermentation and Putreâ—ction do agree in one common â—enus viz. Motion they produce â—â—e common effect viz. Heat â—hich is a natural product of all and very kinde of Motion But as the â—otion of either is very much â—fferent and distinct from each other so is the Heat also resulting from either divers The result oâ— Fermentation is a Natural but oâ— Putrefaction a Preternatural Heaâ— Now whereas the Act of Putrefying is a contrary Motion unto that oâ— Fermenting it cannot be that theâ— both can subsist together in the masâ— of bloud after an intense manneâ— at the same time According to that common Maxime Duo contraria non possunt simul esse in eodem subjectio Hence it is that before there can be an intense Act of Putrefying there must needs be a cessatioâ— of the Act of Fermenting So thaâ— as the motion of Putrefying doth beget a Preternatural Heat in the body which is called the Burning or Hot Fit even so the cessatioâ— of the Motion of Fermenting must needs before that produce anotheâ— Fit as Gold as that is Hot. The cause of this distemper iâ— commonly both inward and outward the inward cause is either some putrid matter gradually collected or else a disposition of some particles in the mass of bloud to purefie The outward cause is commonly cold preventing Transpiraâ—ion and so by consequence hinderâ—ng or at least retarding Fermentaâ—ion For by one individual act of â—ermentation we are to suppose â—hat all the Offices of Nature are performed amongst the which this â—s not the least viz. That there is â—roduc'd continually either a sensible â—r insensible Transpiration Now â—s in the motion of a Clock or Enâ—â—in where several Wheels move from â—ne and the same Original cause the â—rresistible stopping of one Wheel doth hinder the first cause from acting So is it with the Clock-work â—f Nature in all humane bodies The cessation of any one Office of Nature which although it have its â—ependance upon Fermentation yet â—ay it be a means to hinder or at â—east retard it According as either the putâ—â— matter collected is more or less 〈◊〉 the disposition of some Particles 〈◊〉 the mass of bloud to putrefie 〈◊〉 greater or less a stronger or weakâ— outward cause may give an occaâ—on to this distemper An inwarâ— cause without some outward doâ— seldom produce this disease bâ— oftentimes a strong outward causâ— when there is no inward cause at alâ— doth produce it As many persoâ— who have no putrid matter nor anâ— disposition in the humours of theâ— bodies to putrefaction onely thaâ— which they call Potentia Naturaliâ— a Natural power which all men havâ— by some strong outward cause a cold baths or such-like do get Agueâ— And such Agues so contracted 〈◊〉 they continue long are altogether 〈◊〉 dangerous as others For such is the nature of an Aguâ— that it doth of it self produce Moâ—bisick matter for other diseases 〈◊〉 though perhaps when it is first begâ—◠〈◊〉 may have no Morbifick matter of â—s own An Ague is an habit and â—ach fit thereof an act of putrefyâ—g so that putrefaction or putrid â—atter in the mass of bloud is the â—roduct of all Agues which if afâ—er every fit it be not vented by â—weat and Urine must continue in â—he body as Morbifick matter for â—ome other distempers whether that â—gue was at the first chiefly produc'd â—y an Internal or External cause The way and means to cure this â—isease is to strengthen the habit of â—ermenting and to weaken the haâ—it of putrefying in the body of the â—atient both which may be effeâ—tually perform'd by the use of â—teel Give the Patient twenty grains of â—ugar of Steel in a draught of Spring-water every morning fasting â—nd as much at four in the afternoon â—xercising very well after it for ten â—r twelve dayes together and if in â—hat time his Ague be not gone endeavour to prevent in him thâ— cessation of Fermentation by giâ—ving him two drams of Sugar oâ— Steel at once in a draught of possetâ— drink two or three hours before hâ—â— cold fit this perhaps may make hiâ— vomit once or twice however iâ— doth usually continue the habit 〈◊〉 Fermentation and by consequencâ— prevent the cold fit which is causeâ— by the cessation of Fermentation and so cure his Ague for experience teacheth that whensoever thâ— cold fit is prevented the Ague iâ— cured Because as I said before there cannot be a suddain and violenâ— or intense act of putrefying excepâ— there be first a cessation of the act oâ— Fermenting so that to continue 〈◊〉 habit of Fermentation is the way and means to cure an Ague And this is the reason why Strong water and Peper and other hoâ— things of several kinds both Actual and Potential being given somâ—time before the cold fit do ofteâ— times cure an Ague And the reason why those things which do someâ—imes cure do also sometimes fail 〈◊〉 this viz. Because the habits of â—ermenting and Putrefying are in â—ome bodies more Intense or Remiss â—han in othersome Now that there â—ay be no uncertainty in the cure of â—his disease which is called Opproâ—rium Medicorum the Physitians â—ame It is best by the use of Steel â—radually to strengthen the habit of â—ermenting and to weaken the haâ—it of Putrefying first before any â—ndeavour be done to cure
viscous humors and that which by almost all Physitians is commonly prescribed for the same purpose And again there are many whose bodies seem to abound with viscous and gross humours yet by a secret instinct of Nature resulting from that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or proper temperament they do not only desire but do also very easily digest Cheese and Fish and other such things which most Physitians would strictly forbid them You shall have two persons of the same Temperament as near as any Physitian is able to judge the one shall desire Cheese and very easily digest it the other shall be sick even at the very sight of it The oâ—â— shall abhor Wine and strong Drinâ— who perhaps never drank any thinâ— beside water in all his life-time anâ— the other shall be unsatisfied and siâ—â— at his stomach if he drink not eithâ—â— wine or strong drink at all his mealâ— The one shall abhor Flesh-meat anâ— preserve his health by refusing it and the other though of the samâ— Temperament as far as any Physitian can judge shall much desire it and be very healthful all his life-time by reason of the use of it So that to prescribe a diet is noâ— so much the way and means to prevent as to produce diseases seeing that Nature the wisest of Physitians hath provided for every particular person a different and distinct palate which if not vitiated and corrupted by some accident doth truly distinguish of meats relishing or disgusting them according as they are wholsome or unwholsome for the body 'T is well known in Martial Disciâ—â—ine that he who stands Sentinel â—ath and ought to have full power to examine all particular persons beâ—ore he admit them entrance into the Garison Now suppose that some Deputy-Governour in the Governour 's absence should so far question the discretion of him that stands Sentinel as to take away all his power of Examining and in stead thereof give him in charge to admit without Examination all persons that have black hair and to exclude others This might be a means to exclude some Friends and to admit of some Enemies and so to destroy the Garison Every Physitian is Natures Lieutenant or Deputy Governour the Palate is that Sentinel which stands to examine every thing that is ingested into the body Now if the Physitian Natures Lieutenant should take away the Palates power of examination and in stead thereof give onely some general precepts whâ—â— and what not is to be ingested 〈◊〉 this means he shall by excludiâ—â— friends and admitting enemies râ—ther destroy than preserve 〈◊〉 bodies health and welfare CHAP. IIII. Whether Excretion by siege or stoâ— besides that by sweat and urine necessary to preserve health ANother way and means in uâ— amongst Physicians to preserâ— health and to prevent diseases to provide and take care that the be due excretion that the body 〈◊〉 kept Laxative or Soluble wherebâ— all that excrementitious matteâ— that shall by any accident be coâ—lected in the mass of bloud maâ— conveniently by siege or stool bâ— separated excerned and purged that so the mass of bloud may 〈◊〉 reserv'd sincere and pure in all reâ—â—â—ts fit for the use of nature This I confess seems to be someâ—â—at pregnant with reason yet notâ—â—thstanding experience doth clearly â—onfute it 'T is known by experience that â—any who are most careful by Art â—o preserve their bodies Soluble and â—axative are seldom throughly and â—â—rfectly healthful yet many others â—â—o are continually Costive who go â—ot to stool every day and perhaps â—â—metimes not above once in three â—r four dayes do enjoy their perfect â—ealth for many years together â—lthough it cannot be denyed but â—â—at most persons who are naturally â—axative are also very healthful â—et is it much to be suspected â—hether that Solubility of body â—hich some have beyond others do â—ot proceed rather from a deficienâ—y than perfection of Nature seeâ—ng also that most men are Costive â—â—d they that are Laxative are of the weakest constitutions Through the viscosity of hâ—mours obstructing the urinatoâ— passages through the coldness of tâ— body thickness of the skin 〈◊〉 closeness of the pores whereâ— transpiration is hindred industrioâ— nature being put to her shifts is â—cessitated to vent a great part of thâ— serous humidity by siege or stooâ— which she had rather throw out sweat and urine So that this Sâ—lubility of body may at the best stil'd nothing else than a good effâ— of a bad cause Although it be wâ— to be lik'd that Nature hath length found out a new chanel â—vent her superfluous humidity yâ— had it been much better if she hâ— never been so far put to her shifts to seek it Yet is it the common and geneâ— receiv'd opinion that Solubility body doth proceed from the peâ—fection of Nature and that in 〈◊〉 bodies she doth primarily intend 〈◊〉 how can this be any other than a â—gar errour Whereas those that 〈◊〉 commonly Costive are such as 〈◊〉 eat drink sleep digest exâ—ise and perform all other offices 〈◊〉 Nature perfectly and exactly 〈◊〉 on the other side those that â—on every small occasion are subâ—â—t unto Solubility or looseness 〈◊〉 either aged persons sickly and â—akly young Children Women in â—ilde-bed consumptive persons 〈◊〉 else others that are known by exâ—rience to be of the weakest conâ—tutions And besides that it is â—e intent and scope of Nature to â—parate any excrementitious matâ—â—r that may be collected in the â—ass of bloud by throwing it off toâ—â—ther with the serous part and conâ—ying it through the Ureters and â—res by urine and sweat it may clearly appear by that large quantity of Hypostasis or Sediment that iâ— in the urine of those persons that are â—ecovering from sickness and by their great inclination at that tâ— unto sweating So that whereas solubility of bâ— was never primarily intended 〈◊〉 Nature but onely made use of 〈◊〉 accident to purge the blood 〈◊〉 make such provision that the boâ— be kept soluble must needs be far from preserving health and pâ—venting diseases that it may veâ— well be thought to be a means 〈◊〉 disturbing Nature to destroy healâ— and to cause distempers CHAP. V. Whether it be Necessary for the Presâ—vation of Health to observe Ruâ— concerning sleep ANother means to preserâ— health in use amongst Phyâ—tians is to prescribe rules concerâ—ing sleep that it be not excessiâ— nor deficient but moderate agreâ—able to the Constitution Now wâ— must know that sleep is nothing else us a cessation of the exercise of the â—mal Faculties caused by a deâ—ency of spirits which spirits 〈◊〉 the onely promoters or setters 〈◊〉 work of the exercise of those â—mal Faculties The spirits are nothing else but a â—re Halitus or thin matter breath'd â—n the Mass of blood which as â—y are in a continual production â—ayes arising from the Mass of â—od so are they also in perpetual â—ence drawn out by External â—jects and continually losing themâ—ves in the air Now by the exercise of the animal
propounded â—gar of Steel to be drank in the â—mmer-time in Water and in the â—inter in White-wine in the Spring â—d Autumn in Water mix'd with â—ine yet for prevention of the â—out those persons who suspect or â—r it must drink it any time of the â—ar in water I counsel them also 〈◊〉 drink Wine very seldome or neâ—r and to use as much exercise as â—ay be CHAP. XIX Of the use of Steel in the Cure of Consumption A Consumption is truly and prâ—perly an Ulcer in the Lungâ— which by putrifying and spreadiâ— doth waste and consume the Lungs although generally it is taken for aâ— kind of Languishing and Consumiâ—â— of the Body It is of all disease considering the time that the Phyâ—tian hath to turn himself in the mâ— difficult to be cured therefore thâ— greater care is to be taken in thâ— cure of this disease that nothing 〈◊〉 omitted which may in any sort coâ—tribute to the benefit of the Pâ—tient It is bred of a putrid and also oâ— sharp humour in the Mass of blouâ— which humours continue such 〈◊〉 want of Fermentation therefoâ—â— â—l things that do add either to Acriâ—ony or Putrefaction must needs be â—urtful Et vice versâ For the cure of this disease there 〈◊〉 first a regard to be had unto those â—hings which are called not natural 〈◊〉 Air Diet Sleep the Passions of â—he Mind Exercise As for Air â—lthough considered in it self in reâ—ect of the Climate it is not easily â—o be distinguished whether it be â—etter or worse for the preservation â—f health seeing that many of all â—onstitutions are very healthful in â—ny manner of Air yet certain it is â—hat the Air may be better'd by Art â—nd corrupted by accident witness â—hat sad accident which many years â—nce happened unto one Mr. Smith â—nd his Family Mr. Smith the â—own-clerk of Grantham together â—ith his Wife Maid-servant and â—wo Children were all in one night â—ereaved of life by reason of the â—r vitiated through vapours arising â—om Charcoal removing unto a new house to dwell having its walâ— new limed and not throughly dried to correct the dampness of the aiâ— they placed a Pan of Charcoal 〈◊〉 the Room and having close shut thâ— Doors they went all to bed and iâ— the morning were found all dead Now seeing that the Air may bâ— accident be so corrupted as in 〈◊〉 short a time to make so great aâ— alteration as from health to death much more may it be so vitiated aâ— in continuance of time in Chronical and Languishing diseases in somâ— measure to increase the disease Thaâ— which either in the Air or ought else is most apt to increase that diseasâ— which is truly and properly called Consumption is either Acrimony or else Putrefaction Acrimoâ—â— cannot subsist in the Air being 〈◊〉 thing much different from its Elâ—mentary form For we are to understand by Acrimony matter consisting of Angular Atoms but 〈◊〉 Air matter consisting of Sphericâ— Atoms It remaines then that whatsoever 〈◊〉 the Air may be hurtful unto this â—sease must needs be Putrefaction â—nd indeed the Air is as much Obâ—oxious unto Putrefaction as any â—ther thing whatsoever Now â—hereas Air may be either more or â—ess putrid it must be either better â—r worse for this disease We are therefore to enquire into â—he quality of the Air in this reâ—pect and consider what Air is more â—r less putrid And this experience â—ath taught that in populous places â—n great Cities which are continually â—equented with a great multitude â—f people the Air is most of all â—utrid 't is probable it becomes so â—y reason of the breaths of many â—eople putrifying or else from that â—utrid matter which is continually â—hrown out of their bodies by Transpiration either sensible or insensible That the Air is most putrid in populous places it can be Demonstrated by no better an experiment than by the corruption of any kinde of flesh The Butchers all know by experience that any kinde of flesh-meat is sooner putrified and corrupted in the City than in theâ— Countrey which must needs be through the putrefaction of the Air. It is therefore expedient for all Consumptive persons who dwell in the City or any close place amongst many people to remove into a more open Air that the cure of their disease be not hindered by reason of the Air. The next thing to be regarded is Diet which is subject not onely to putrefaction but also unto Acrimony or sharpness whereby such a Juice may be conveyed into the mass of bloud as may by fretting and corroding exulcerate the Lungs Wherefore Salt although it resist putrefaction yet because it is apt to corrode is hurtful and so are all things sharp or sowre So is Stale-Beer and Ale if it lye long in the â—omack because by that means it is â—ftentimes made sowre But if Ale â—hich hath as yet contracted no â—wreness be drank very Warm so â—at it may immediately be conveyâ—d into the Veins and Arteries by â—eason of its lenifying quality it must â—eeds be profitable The much use â—f Bread is also very wholesome by â—eason not onely of its lenifying quaâ—ty but also in that it is apt to reâ—st putrefaction Flesh-meat is â—urtful especially in the City beâ—ause there it doth soonest putrefie â—dence it is that the City-Air is to be â—voided not onely in respect of it â—elf but also in regard of the Diet which it is too apt to corrupt As for Sleep it is also in this disease moderately to be procured Not onely because it doth recruit the spirits but also in that it doth â—etund the sharpness of humours and stop the motion of the Catarrhe â—or descent of Rheume upon the Lungs Hence it is that experience also teacheth that those things whicâ— procure sleep if discreetly used anâ— in this disease beneficial as Diacodium and Opium in Pil. è Styracâ— and in Pil. de Cynoglosso And so for the Passions of thâ— minde the Patient is in this diseasâ— to be pleased as much as may be because by inward discontent the putrid matter is lock'd up in the breast which Nature alwaies intends to expel as much as she is able by transpiration For this end is Exercise also if possibly it may moderately to beâ— used Exercise is in it self the best Diaphoretick or incentive to transpiration and certain it is that Nature alwaies intends by transpiration to clear the mass of bloud of its putrefaction Hence it is that the matter breath'd out from many bodies by sensible sweat is so Fetid or stinking Having premised thus much I â—m now to shew the efficacy of Steel â—or the cure of this Disease Herein â— shall consider those two cause of â—his Disease viz. Acrimony and puâ—refaction of the mass of bloud part or severally and first of Acrimony That sharpness of humours fretâ—ing and corroding the Lungs is â—ome cause of this distemper it may sufficiently appear by those things which do cure or at least palliate the
this disâ—â—se by preventing the cold fit â—used by the cessation of Fermenâ—tion And because that in Quartan Aâ—es the habit of Putrefying is not 〈◊〉 soon weakened as in others beâ—â—use it is there seated in a tougher â—umour it will not be amiss to give â—e Patient his Sugar of Steel in Sack â—ther than in water or at the least 〈◊〉 advise him to drink Sack very often For it is known by experience that the much drinking of Sack doth in a great measure help those that labour of Quartan Agues probably because the Sack embodying it self with the humour doth abate its toughness Now suppose there may be some Quartan Ague especially in the Winter-time which notwithstanding these means may yet remain uncured Yet must the Patient needs receive great benefit by the use of Steel in that it opens the pores and provoketh Urine whereby the Morbifick matter generated by the Quartan for other diseases may by Urine and Sweat be carried out of the body CHAP. XXI How Steel may conduce to the Cure of the Stone THe Stone is a disease Obnoxious unto all manner of persons whatsoever both Men Women and Children I my self have taken out of the Bladder of a Boy of â—bout eight or nine years of age a â—tone of the bigness of a Hens Egg. Stones are bred either in the Bladâ—er or the Kidneys of Gravel and â—ough Flegme and gradually augâ—ented oftentimes unto a very great signess especially in the Bladder which are either smooth or else â—gged and sharp according as one â—f those two Materials whereof â—hey are generated viz. Gravel or â—legme is predominant The smooth â—tones in the Bladder are generated â—hiefly of Flegm which oftentimes lying upon the Neck of the Bladder and couching close unto it do injury to the body by stopping the passage of the Urine The ragged and sharp Stones in the Bladder are bred of a greater quantity of Gravel than Flegme which oftentimes by their roughness and sharpness do excoriate and fret the Neck of the Bladder which is most exquisitely sensible whereby the Patient is tortured with extream pain That a Stone of the greatest bigness may possibly be dissolved it is without all controversie for experience hath taught that many who have been much tormented with the Stone after they have had severalâ— pieces of Stone com'd away with their Urine have been perfectly well Besides reason will very well admit that whatsoever by accident is generated in the body may 〈◊〉 well be corrupted and dissolv'd according to that Maxime Quâ—â—oritur moritur This even as all other distempers may be effectually cured if the cause can be removed All effects must necessarily cease when their cause is once taken away If that sharp Urine apt to produce gravel impregnated with a viscous matter can have its acrimony and viscosity abated it will then sooner dissolve than before it did produce a Stone Now it is well known by experience that Steel hath a faculty both to attenuate Flegm and to lenifie sharp humours wherefore it cannot be otherwise but that Steel must needs be a fit Remedy for this Distemper Give the Patient Ten Grains of Sugar of Steel in a Morning Fasting and as much at Four in the Afternoon in a draught of Spring-water for a Moneth together and let him Exercise after it if he be able As for his Diet let him by all means abstrain from New Bread and â—tale Beer Let him abstain also from Cheese and all manner of Fish except Shell-Fish of which let him eat as often as he will To drink New Whay often may be very profitable for him CHAP. XXII Of the stopping of all manner of Fluxes by the use of Steel THe word Flux is a general and comprehensive term whereby is signified any violent and suddain evacuation of humours of what kinde soever as well the overflowing of the Months in Women and the immoderate bleeding at the Nose as those Fluxes of the Belly viz. Lienteria Dysenteria and Tenesmus for all which there is not a more Soveraign Remedy than Steel and that upon a rational account For whether any Flux may proceed from Putrefaction or from sharpness of humours or from both 't is â—ot not material as to any impediment in the Steel to perform the Cure seeing that Steel as you may â—ead above in the Nineteenth Chapâ—er doth both resist Putrefaction and lenifie sharp humours And besides that it doth also very much strengthen the Bowels the weakness whereof is sometimes the cause of some Fluxes of the Belly it may appear by that quick and sharp appeâ—ite which it causeth in all that â—ake it A Case A Boy of thirteen years old had been troubled with a great looseness by Fits a year and half who was thus cured He drank for a Fortnight together Ten Grains of Sugar of Steel in Spring-water twice every day And after that another Fortnight he drank Morning and Evening a draught of New Milk from the Cow and so did he do alternately one Fortnight he drank Milk and another Fortnight Sugar oâ— Steel in Water for a Quarter oâ— a Year A Childe of six Years old was cured of a Looseness by a Gad oâ— Steel quenched in all his Beer he drank A Young Man of Twenty three Years of Age was much subject to bleeding at the Nose who for seven Years together in the Summer-time bled constantly almost every day more or less and after the tryal of several things in vain he was at length cured by the onely use of Steel In the hot Weather when his Bleeding came upon him he drank twice every day Ten Grains of Sugar of Steel in a large draught of Spring-water for Thirty dayes This he did so long in the Summer-time two or three Years together A Woman of Thirty two Years of age troubled with an immoderate Flux of her Months was cured by taking Ten Grains of Sugar of Steel twice every day in Spring-water for a Fortnight Another Woman not recovered out of Childbed much troubled with floudding was cured by taking Eight Grains of Sugar of Steel in a draught of Sack twice every day for six dayes CHAP. XXIII How a Dropsie may be Cured by Steel A Dropsie is a collection of the more serous and watry part of the Mass of bloud from the Veins and Arteries into several parts of the body caused through the want of excretion of that watrish humour by Urine and sweat through the Pores and Ureters When this watrish moisture is extravassated from the Veins and Arteries and diffused throughout the whole body iâ— is called Anasarea when it is collected in the Abdomen it is called Asciâ—es when in the Abdomen and mixt with Flatulency Tympanites But however it is distinguished by several denominations the general cause of all is want of Fermentation For this we are to suppose that iâ— there were a just Fermentation oâ— the Mass of bloud there would noâ— be those obstructions in the Poreâ— and Ureters for that