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 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 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 oââ 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 siââ at his stomach if he drink not eithââ 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 Disciââine that he who stands Sentinel âath and ought to have full power to examine all particular persons beâore 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 whââ and what not is to be ingested ãâã this means he shall by excludiââ friends and admitting enemies râther destroy than preserve ãâã 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 ãâã kept Laxative or Soluble wherebâ all that excrementitious matteâ that shall by any accident be coâlected in the mass of bloud maâ conveniently by siege or stool bâ separated excerned and purged that so the mass of bloud may ãâã reserv'd sincere and pure in all reâââts fit for the use of nature This I confess seems to be someââat pregnant with reason yet notââthstanding experience doth clearly âonfute it 'T is known by experience that âany who are most careful by Art âo preserve their bodies Soluble and âaxative are seldom throughly and âârfectly healthful yet many others ââo are continually Costive who go âot to stool every day and perhaps ââmetimes not above once in three âr four dayes do enjoy their perfect âealth for many years together âlthough it cannot be denyed but ââat most persons who are naturally âaxative are also very healthful âet is it much to be suspected âhether that Solubility of body âhich some have beyond others do âot proceed rather from a deficienây than perfection of Nature seeâng also that most men are Costive ââd they that are Laxative are of the weakest constitutions Through the viscosity of hâmours obstructing the urinatoâ passages through the coldness of tâ body thickness of the skin ãâã closeness of the pores whereâ transpiration is hindred industrioâ nature being put to her shifts is âcessitated 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 Sâlubility 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 âvent 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 peâfection of Nature and that in ãâã bodies she doth primarily intend ãâã how can this be any other than a âgar errour Whereas those that ãâã commonly Costive are such as ãâã eat drink sleep digest exâise and perform all other offices ãâã Nature perfectly and exactly ãâã on the other side those that âon every small occasion are subâât unto Solubility or looseness ãâã either aged persons sickly and âakly young Children Women in âilde-bed consumptive persons ãâã else others that are known by exârience to be of the weakest conâtutions And besides that it is âe intent and scope of Nature to âparate any excrementitious matââr that may be collected in the âass of bloud by throwing it off toââther with the serous part and conâying it through the Ureters and âres 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 âecovering from sickness and by their great inclination at that tâ unto sweating So that whereas solubility of bâ was never primarily intended ãâã Nature but onely made use of ãâã accident to purge the blood ãâã make such provision that the boâ be kept soluble must needs be far from preserving health and pâventing diseases that it may veâ well be thought to be a means ãâã disturbing Nature to destroy healâ and to cause distempers CHAP. V. Whether it be Necessary for the Presâvation of Health to observe Ruâ concerning sleep ANother means to preserâ health in use amongst Phyâtians is to prescribe rules concerâing sleep that it be not excessiâ nor deficient but moderate agreâable to the Constitution Now wâ must know that sleep is nothing else us a cessation of the exercise of the âmal Faculties caused by a deâency of spirits which spirits ãâã the onely promoters or setters ãâã work of the exercise of those âmal Faculties The spirits are nothing else but a âre Halitus or thin matter breath'd ân the Mass of blood which as ây are in a continual production âayes arising from the Mass of âod so are they also in perpetual âence drawn out by External âjects and continually losing themâves in the air Now by the exercise of the animal
ââlties as motion of the body âing c. or by the senses Hearâ Seeing c. entertained by âternal objects the expence is greater than the procreation or âduction of the spirits But by âcessation of the exercise of those âmal Faculties the spirits are again âuited 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 ãâã sleep will be required for the restiâtion of the lost spirits From hence it may appear ãâã sleep is by no means to be approâated unto the constitution buâ necessarily required by Nature pâportionably 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 concââ that sleep is the cause but the âduct 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 whâfore to prescribe rules for the âation of sleep is in some sort to âulate the strength of Nature and âestrain the body from being too âate and lively âf sleep be it never so much can any cause of disease How comes âo pass that young Children who ând the greatest part of the first ârter in continual sleep become âre lively and thriving than others âo sleep less Or how happens it ât some aged persons spin out the âed of their lives to a great exât by much sleeping CHAP. VI. âether the Regulation of the Passions of the Mind be a Legitimate means to prevent Diseases ANother means in use amongst Physitians for the preservaân of health is the Regulation of âe affections or passions of the mind Now although it cannot be deniâ but that the Irregular passions of ãâã minde may do much hurt to the âdy and that there is somewhat ãâã to be attributed to the discreââ of every person as to the regulatâ of his passions Yet must we hâ presuppose that health of body is âcessarily required for the regulatâ of all humane affections Insomâ that the regulation of our affectiââ is rather to be conceiv'd an effââ product and result than any caâ of health As to the affections ãâã passions as anger joy fear grââ c. there can scarce be mens saâ except it be in corpore sano For know by experience that sick agâ and consumptive persons are ãâã more peevish and fretful than otheâ Although when the body is dissed the minde or soul it self ãâã be in perfect health yet the affeâons which are the souls attendaââ must needs be disturb'd and disqâeted whensoever the body shall ââemper'd because their very esâce or being doth depend upon ãâã crasis or temperament of the âdy And so on the contrary they âst needs be altogether as much in ãâã souls reach to be regulated and âmmanded by her when the body healthful It is in some sense a ââst certain and infallible Axiome Mores sequuntur humores viz. that ãâã manners i. e. the affections of ãâã minde have dependance upon ãâã humours of the body From hence it cannot but be âought more rational that proviâon be made first for the body that be preserv'd in health that so the actions of the minde may be reâated than to prescribe the reguâion of the affections as a cause and ãâã server of health CHAP. VII That the chief preserver of health Exercise because it doth fermâ the mass of bloud and that whâsoever else doth cause fermentatiââ may be used as a fit Succedaneââ 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 ãâã health and prevention of diseasâ and this is bodily Exercise ãâã thing so well known by experieââ to preserve health that they ãâã do moderately use it stand in neâ of no other preventing Physiââ This is that which makes the laboââing man's sleep pleasant and swââ unto him This is that which sheâ the Justice and equality of Diviââ Providence distributing the hapâness of this world in some good âasure alike unto the Sons of men âor they who are necessitated and âânstrain'd to work hard for a liveââod are recompensed with the ââition of health than which noââng is more comfortable and deâââble in this world And certainly ââe the virtue and efficacy of Exââcise for the prevention of diseases âtter known or more seriously ââsidered many Millions in this âârld might be happy in the injoyânt of their health who are now âiserable by reason of the want of it ãâã many there are who by reason ââameness or debilitation through âhe accident are rendred incaâââle of exercising and many more âo are prevented by their professiââ whose imployment is Writing ââving Studying or some such like âhich enforceth them unto a still ãâã sedenary life and as many who though they do sometimes Exerâââe yet not so often nor unto that degree and measure which Natuââ requires Besides that innumerâââ multitude of others who havâ contracted a depraved habit of Eâminacy and softness of living ãâã think it a thing burthensom ãâã troublesom to Nature although the preservation of their health Exercise and cannot by any aââments be perswaded unto it but ãâã apt to think such remedy as bâ or worse than any disease it ãâã prevent So that although Exercise maâ of it self sufficient to prevent ãâã eases yet seeing that there are many Accidents which may possââ hinder Exercise it cannot butââ conceiv'd a thing profitable uâ many persons for prevention of ãâã eases to propound some other ãâã and means which may serve in stâââ thereof Not that I am willing by ãâã means to entice any unto a sedâtary life but am rather desirous gratifie all those with a fit and meet Succedaneum who cannot either by ââson of their employment or some ââher accident use Exercise Here we are first to suppose that âodily Exercise is an adequate cause âo produce the effect of continuance âf health And this I should first âove by reason were it not suffiâently known unto all men by exâerience which is the very basis and ââundation of reason It being then âanted that moderate Exercise is ââay and means to preserve health ãâã us enquire into the manner how ãâã produceth that effect And this ãâã âinde to be done by fermenting of âe mass of bloud Now this ferâentation of the mass of bloud is ââanted by all Physicians to be the ââxt and immediate cause of health ãâã that whatsoever hath a power in ãâã self to put a just fermentation ââon the mass of bloud may be a ãâã Succedaneum to be used in the âtad of Exercise and by consequence must needs be a proper a fit Medicament to be given for tâ prevention of Diseases or preserâtion of Health But before I propound those paâticular Medicaments whose
Imposthumes are bred in one âart or other within the Capacity of âhe head It is well worth our observation âo take notice that all those who ây any accident do weaken their Brain are the most of all subject to Consumptions Whether the Brain âe weakned by Fumes and Vapours âom Strong Beer and Wine or by Cuts or Blowes upon the Head âr else by much Study 't is all the âme 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 âen afterwards Burning which are âused by some Particles of the mass ãâã bloud at that time actually puâefying What Fermentation is I have already described in the Eighth Chapâer Now we must know that Puââefaction I mean the Act of Putreâing is to be conceiv'd in some sort âontrary unto the Act of Fermenâng It is Fermentation revers'd ââz a resolution of some Homogeâeous matter into particles of a âifferent nature Even as when a âell-governed Commonwealth doth âissolve and break into an Anarchy Whereas Fermentation and Putreâction do agree in one common âenus viz. Motion they produce ââe common effect viz. Heat âhich is a natural product of all and very kinde of Motion But as the âotion of either is very much âfferent 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 Transpiraâion and so by consequence hinderâng or at least retarding Fermentaâion For by one individual act of âermentation we are to suppose âhat all the Offices of Nature are performed amongst the which this âs not the least viz. That there is âroduc'd continually either a sensible âr insensible Transpiration Now âs in the motion of a Clock or Enââin where several Wheels move from âne and the same Original cause the ârresistible stopping of one Wheel doth hinder the first cause from acting So is it with the Clock-work âf Nature in all humane bodies The cessation of any one Office of Nature which although it have its âependance upon Fermentation yet âay it be a means to hinder or at âeast retard it According as either the putââ matter collected is more or less ãâã the disposition of some Particles ãâã the mass of bloud to putrefie ãâã greater or less a stronger or weakâ outward cause may give an occaâon 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 ãâã they continue long are altogether ãâã dangerous as others For such is the nature of an Aguâ that it doth of it self produce Moâbisick matter for other diseases ãâã though perhaps when it is first begââ ãâã may have no Morbifick matter of âs own An Ague is an habit and âach fit thereof an act of putrefyâg so that putrefaction or putrid âatter in the mass of bloud is the âroduct of all Agues which if afâer every fit it be not vented by âweat and Urine must continue in âhe body as Morbifick matter for âome other distempers whether that âgue was at the first chiefly produc'd ây an Internal or External cause The way and means to cure this âisease is to strengthen the habit of âermenting and to weaken the haâit of putrefying in the body of the âatient both which may be effeâtually perform'd by the use of âteel Give the Patient twenty grains of âugar of Steel in a draught of Spring-water every morning fasting ând as much at four in the afternoon âxercising very well after it for ten âr twelve dayes together and if in âhat time his Ague be not gone endeavour to prevent in him thâ cessation of Fermentation by giâving him two drams of Sugar oâ Steel at once in a draught of possetâ drink two or three hours before hââ cold fit this perhaps may make hiâ vomit once or twice however iâ doth usually continue the habit ãâã 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 ãâã 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 somâtime before the cold fit do ofteâ times cure an Ague And the reason why those things which do someâimes cure do also sometimes fail ãâã this viz. Because the habits of âermenting and Putrefying are in âome bodies more Intense or Remiss âhan in othersome Now that there âay be no uncertainty in the cure of âhis disease which is called Opproârium Medicorum the Physitians âame It is best by the use of Steel âradually to strengthen the habit of âermenting and to weaken the haâit of Putrefying first before any ândeavour be done to cure
propounded âgar of Steel to be drank in the âmmer-time in Water and in the âinter in White-wine in the Spring âd Autumn in Water mix'd with âine yet for prevention of the âout those persons who suspect or âr it must drink it any time of the âar in water I counsel them also ãâã drink Wine very seldome or neâr and to use as much exercise as âay be CHAP. XIX Of the use of Steel in the Cure of Consumption A Consumption is truly and prâperly 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 Consumiââ of the Body It is of all disease considering the time that the Phyâtian 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 ãâã omitted which may in any sort coâtribute to the benefit of the Pâtient It is bred of a putrid and also oâ sharp humour in the Mass of blouâ which humours continue such ãâã want of Fermentation therefoââ âl things that do add either to Acriâony or Putrefaction must needs be âurtful Et vice versâ For the cure of this disease there ãâã first a regard to be had unto those âhings which are called not natural ãâã Air Diet Sleep the Passions of âhe Mind Exercise As for Air âlthough considered in it self in reâect of the Climate it is not easily âo be distinguished whether it be âetter or worse for the preservation âf health seeing that many of all âonstitutions are very healthful in âny manner of Air yet certain it is âhat the Air may be better'd by Art ând corrupted by accident witness âhat sad accident which many years ânce happened unto one Mr. Smith ând his Family Mr. Smith the âown-clerk of Grantham together âith his Wife Maid-servant and âwo Children were all in one night âereaved of life by reason of the âr vitiated through vapours arising âom 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 ãâã 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 ãâã 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 Acrimoââ cannot subsist in the Air being ãâã thing much different from its Elâmentary form For we are to understand by Acrimony matter consisting of Angular Atoms but ãâã Air matter consisting of Sphericâ Atoms It remaines then that whatsoever ãâã the Air may be hurtful unto this âsease must needs be Putrefaction ând indeed the Air is as much Obâoxious unto Putrefaction as any âther thing whatsoever Now âhereas Air may be either more or âess putrid it must be either better âr worse for this disease We are therefore to enquire into âhe quality of the Air in this reâpect and consider what Air is more âr less putrid And this experience âath taught that in populous places ân great Cities which are continually âequented with a great multitude âf people the Air is most of all âutrid 't is probable it becomes so ây reason of the breaths of many âeople putrifying or else from that âutrid matter which is continually âhrown 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 âomack because by that means it is âftentimes made sowre But if Ale âhich hath as yet contracted no âwreness be drank very Warm so âat it may immediately be conveyâd into the Veins and Arteries by âeason of its lenifying quality it must âeeds be profitable The much use âf Bread is also very wholesome by âeason not onely of its lenifying quaâty but also in that it is apt to reâst putrefaction Flesh-meat is âurtful especially in the City beâause there it doth soonest putrefie âdence it is that the City-Air is to be âvoided not onely in respect of it âelf 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 âetund the sharpness of humours and stop the motion of the Catarrhe âor 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 âm now to shew the efficacy of Steel âor the cure of this Disease Herein â shall consider those two cause of âhis Disease viz. Acrimony and puârefaction of the mass of bloud part or severally and first of Acrimony That sharpness of humours fretâing and corroding the Lungs is âome cause of this distemper it may sufficiently appear by those things which do cure or at least palliate the
this disââse by preventing the cold fit âused by the cessation of Fermenâtion And because that in Quartan Aâes the habit of Putrefying is not ãâã soon weakened as in others beââuse it is there seated in a tougher âumour it will not be amiss to give âe Patient his Sugar of Steel in Sack âther than in water or at the least ãâã 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 âbout eight or nine years of age a âtone of the bigness of a Hens Egg. Stones are bred either in the Bladâer or the Kidneys of Gravel and âough Flegme and gradually augâented oftentimes unto a very great signess especially in the Bladder which are either smooth or else âgged and sharp according as one âf those two Materials whereof âhey are generated viz. Gravel or âlegme is predominant The smooth âtones in the Bladder are generated âhiefly 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 ãâã well be corrupted and dissolv'd according to that Maxime Quââoritur 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 âtale 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 âot not material as to any impediment in the Steel to perform the Cure seeing that Steel as you may âead above in the Nineteenth Chapâer 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 appeâite which it causeth in all that âake 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 Asciâes 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