Author a fourth or fifth part of Water may be obtained without any addition which for ought he could find could not be reduced to Mercury so that it appeared to be plain Water As for that Objection why Metals should weigh heavier than water or that a Spoonful of Quicksilver is in proportion nigh fourteen to one if Metals should be made out of or else Water disguised This I say doth depend on the Seminal Principles collecting more matter in less space in some bodies then in others Bodies which have few Pores or Interstices of parts but Particles of matter closely united so they are more heavy or light although the same Elementary matter compose all but not compact in all bodies alike And the inspection through a Microscope on the Pores of bodies will clear up this answer to the Objection The first Change of Water in order to Metals is into a Mineral Mercury the next change by coagulation with Sulphur is into some metal according to the Specification of the Seed the repurgation from Sordes or feculent matter and the tincture of the Sulphur either Solar Lunar Saturnine c. so the diversity of Metals arise Although the foregoing Experiments prove the more immediate matter of Generation and Nutrition to be Water yet they do in effect prove one material Principle which is the ultimate Result of Water and all other Bodies as by the Experiment of Monsieur de Rochas and by Conversion of water into the roots and branches of Vegetables may be collected For as Helmont by his alkahest could convert Stones Earth Glass yea any body into water so water may again be transmuted into fixed matter As it is proved by the encrease of Mints or other Vegetables in water by Helmont's Experiment before cited of a Willow Tree by Mr. Boyle's Experiment of a Squash in which water is transformed into a body according to the nature of the thing nourished Yea in the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Kingdome as the Aliment is converted into a Succus or at least is a succulent matter before Nutrition so the Succus is again converted into flesh bones roots branches leaves or metalline Concrete according to the individual and its parts of this or the other Species So that it may be as well urged That fixed matter is the first Element of all things as well as Water For as all Concretes may be converted into Water so Water may be converted into fixed matter As for Instance Vegetables that from a watery nourishment are become a gross and hard aliment taken into the stomach of an Animal is by the ferment thereof turned into a liquid Chyle which by the ferment of the Heart c. is turned into a balsamick blood and from thence again into bones flesh or other gross and fixed Substances From the transmutations and reductions of Matter into its pristine form may be concluded the truth of the Fourth Opinion viz. of Epicurus and Democritus That Matter is the first and only Principle out of which all concrete bodies are made And according to the divers figurations motions and fixation of the Atoms or minute parts of matter so are bodies of this or that Species I cannot close with the opinion of some that to matter would add Chance for a Principle as if the glorious bodies of the Sun Moon Stars c. were made by Chance or by an accidental collection of Atoms as if a Dog or other Animal were but as a Clock or other mechanical Engine but that Matter was shaped at first by the Divine Fiat and is now metamorphized according to the Plastick power of the Archeus or Seminal Principles planted ab origine by God Almighty which by the Celestial influences are set at work and out of convenient matter form to themselves a Body We must not rely on Secondary Causes to explain all the secrets of Nature as Mr. Boyle in his Vsefuln of Experim Phil. Essay 2. hath observed That Gods power is conspicuous in all Creatures and even in the least of them the Wisdom of God is manifest Des-Cartes telleth us Materia in toto Vniverso una eadem existit Princ. Nat. Phil. Par. 2. parag 23. And a little after Omnis materiae variatio sive omnium ejus formarum diversitas pendet a motu Matter in the whole Universe is one and the same and that all variation or diversity of Forms which matter hath put on doth depend on Motion Which Philosophers seemed to observe by their Definition of Nature Natura est Principium motus quietis For then they understood saith he Id per quod res omnes corporeae tales evadunt quales ipsas esse experimur But then if we consider what is the First Movent that setteth Secondary Causes in action we must with Cartesius § 36. acknowledg God to be the Universal and Primary Cause of motion Ingenious is his Phansy That God made all the parts of matter equal in the beginning both in magnitude and motion which whilst moving by Attrition did break off their angulous parts that became a subtile matter fit to make the Sun and fixed Stars but these that became Spherical globuli were for the structure of the Heavens but the parts of matter which by their figures were unfit for motion did remain gross and fit to make the Earth Planets and Comets But seeing I have disowned imaginary Philosophy I shall enquire how far Experience giveth light to this opinion viz. That Matter Indeterminate is the only Elementary Principle ex Quo is made every compound Body If we take a survey of the whole frame of sublunary Concretes we shall find Matter of it self to be unconsined to any One Species but the same Matter according to the determination of Forms runneth through any Species and according to the disposition of its parts doth put on the forms of different Elements which gave occasion to Philosophers so much to dispute the number of Ingredients in a mixt Body which really are but Secondary things made out of Matter that first Principle of Concretes From that Experiment of Mr. Boyle Scep Chym. p. 112. before mentioned of his Distillation of a Vegetable nourished only by Water out of which he procured according to some the Five Chymical Principles Spiritus Sal Sulphur Aqua Terra we may conclude thus much viz. That Matter which made up the body of Water was converted into Salt Sulphur c. Having proved before that a Succus or Water is the immediate matter for nutrition of Vegetables Let us take for Example a Vine which requireth a great deal of moisture as may be concluded from its hasty growth and bleeding of broken slips The increase of its bulk is by liquid Sap which through different strainers and coagulation is turned into leaves branches Grapes c. The juyce of the Grapes by fermentation will cast a Tartar to the sides of the Vessels which by distillation will yield a Salt and Terra damnata the Wine will
continue the species After Adam had drew a curse on the ground we still find that the Earth should bring forth but it should be such as were more useless an unfit for meat as thorns and thistles but the more useful plants it should not unless by humane labour and industry In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread Gen. 3 19. As God implanted various seeds of Herbs in the earth which as at first sprung therefrom so yet from seeds continue their species being set at work by the Divine Fiat so soon as the celestial influences and appropriate secondary Causes are rightly applied with convenient Matter so in like manner hath God the Creator placed variety of Mineral seeds in divers parcels of Earth from which cometh a Diversity of Mineral glebes as here Clay Marle there Marcasites of Iron Alum c. as Dr. Jorden Nature Bath and Min. Wat. c. 7. argueth That Minerals have their Seeds to perpetuate their species And that there are Metallick seeds in the bowels of the Earth may be concluded from the Generation and Maturating of a crude Mercurial and sulphureous juice until a perfect Metal is formed As hath been proved p. 18. how the caput mortuum of Vitriol exposed to open Air will be again impregnated and fresh Ore of Tin or Lead where 60 or 70 years before aâ— was extracted and old mines replenished with fresh Iron stones All which productions depend on the Seminal Principles lodged in several parcels of Earth which from a succulent Matter from a Body according to the Specification of the Archeus The succus of the Earth by the operation of the Seminal Agent is at first converted into a crude Mercury and embrionate Sulphur which at length by maturation doth become a perfect Metal So from the Esurine or common Salt of the earth according to the diversity of Glebes do arise different Mineral Salts such as that of Vitriol Alum Nitre and Sal Gemma These Salts being dissolved in spring-water sliding through the veins of the earth and meeting with a Vitriolick or Aluminous glebe c. doth become a natural Menstruum to open the body of a Minera These Salts as so many Keys to unlock the Mineral Kingdom make the current Springs impregnated with the vertues of them and hence is the Original of Medicinal Waters Against the opinion of an Universal or one Common Salt of the Earth out of which all Mineral Salts according to the different Glebes are made into different species Dr. Lister de font med c. 6. objecteth several reasons and endeavoureth a confutation of Helmont's Assertion of an Esurine or Vniversal Salt His Reasons are reduced to four Heads 1. The Esurine Salt as it doth participate of no Quality to assert the existence thereof is but a gratis dictum 2. A Pyrites or Marcasite cannot perfect its vitriol under water 3. It is scarce credible that a vein of Iron can be corroded of that Esurine Salt 4. Vitriol is not made suddenly or in a moment but by a gentle assiduous germination Against which reasons I shall offer these Experimental Observations proving that there is an Universal Salt or Common Matter to them all 1. There is one thing in common among them because of the Convertibility of one Salt into another as a Vitrioline by Alterations may be turned into an Aluminous Salt witness the making of Turbith Minerale thus Add four ounces of oyl of Vitriol to one ounce of Mercury by setting the mixture on a digestive furnace the Phlegm will be evaporated but there will remain in the Bolt-head a Citrine powder from the Alkalizate Mercury fixed by the acid parts of the oyl of Vitriol From this powder edulcorated by washings of water and distilled with Quick-lime or Pot-ashes may be revived a current Quicksilver yea to its full weight as at first The water that by washings edulcorated this powder boyled up yieldeth an aluminous Salt Here Vitriolick salt is turned into Alum for the Mercury may be restored to its full weight so that the Vitrioline is the only salt transformed This is mentioned by Dr. Simpson Hydrol. Chym. p. 60. where an Experiment of his own he giveth thus Distill oyl of Vitriol and common Salt with a gentle heat in a glass body or Retort you will find a very volatile spirit of Salt will come over the helm which will fume exceedingly the Caput mortuum or remaining Salt being dissolved gives a Salt exactly resembling Alum To which I may annex that Observation of Dr. Jorden Natur Bath c. 7. That in Distillation of oyl of Vitriol the Lute wherewith the glasses are joyned will yield a perfect Alum The affinity or rather transmutability of Vitriol and Alum are so great that he telleth us it may be doubted whether they are distinct species of Salts 2. Set several plants in the same soyl as Scurvigrass Wormwood c. These by distillation shall yield different salts as the greatest part of that of Wormwood will be a fixed but of Scurvigrass a volatile salt Which variety of salts must proceed from the different fermentations and alterations of the nutritive succulent Matter If it be objected that each plant attracteth a peculiar succus whose particles are answerable to the pores of the Vegetable and so some Plants take in more of the volatile and others more of the fixed salt Answ The same Plants as Wormwood Beans yea I had almost said All vegetables by distillation yield both volatile and fixed salt although they differ as to the quantity thereof For the division of Salts into Fixed and Volatile is only from the degrees of volatization The fixed or Alkali salt is not easily sublimed but will endure calcination in as much as it is deprived of spirits and incorporated with earth but the volatile is endowed with spirits and may be easily sublimed either of which containing all the vertue of the Plant may be called an Essential Salt Yet the proximate Matter before formation might be the Common universal Salt determined by different Strainers and Ferments of Vegetables 3. The production of Sal fossilis is from the Acid of the Earth insinuating it self into the pores of stones that are an Alkali it being once penetrated is united with the stony parts into a saline Concrete which from its transparency is called Sal Gemma Thus an Acid of the Earth sliding through mountains of stone have converted them almost all into a fossile Salt as Authors of credit do testifie of mountains in Poland 4. That Salts have something in common among them may be hence concluded Expose the Caput mortuum of Vitriol of Nitre of Alum and of Sal Gemma to the open air Each will center upon it the floating saline particles of the Air or else imbibe a saline succus so as to become again impregnate with a peculiar Salt So that the saline particles are indifferent to which kind they are to be appropriated by the latent Seminals And that all Minerals stony
HYDROLOGIA PHILOSOPHICA OR An ACCOUNT of ILMINGTON WATERS In Warwick-shire With Directions for the Drinking of the same Together with some Experimental Observations touching the Original of Compound Bodies By SAM DERHAM Bachelour in Physick lately of Magd. Hall OXON OXFORD Printed by Leon. Lichfield Printer to the University for John Howell Bookseller 1685. TO HIS Honoured Friend WIâ—â—IAM LENTHALL Esq of Haseley Sâ—â— Iâ— was not my Ambitious Design but the importunity or rather Command of several Gentlemen to commit to the Press these Experiments I had made on Ilmington Waters that maketh me thus appear however was resolved it should pass as from an unknown Pen until I found Concealment was impossible and by absconding should seem to impose falsities on the World which are the only Reasons of my Name in Print And seeing that hereby I do expose my self to the Censure of all men although it is but a mean Return for your Kindness and Civilities to me to entrench farther upon your good Nature yet I hope you 'l allow this following Treatise a propitious Acceptance whose Prudence and Learning is able to withdraw me from the Calumny of mine Enemies Although the greatest Patron that ever liv'd was never able to protect Books from Censure neither is it reasonable to impose Opinions in Philosophy as Truths necessarily to be believed against the Arguâ—ngs of more solid judgement yet as just Umpire may advance Truth against the malicious Cavils of them that neither consider the Sureness of the Experiments nor whether the Deductions be a forced Consequence or the Sence of Authors perverted but through Envy quarrel at the Treatise because Delivered by such an Author Flattery for Patronage I shall avoid true praise being not more pleasing to You than Counterfeit is ungrateful but shall presume the more because of your imbred proneness to the Advancement of Scholastick Undertakings Neither shall I endeavour an Encomium of Him whose Merits and Excellent Endowments have already become their own Herauld beyond the Praise of Your truly Affectionate and Humble Servant SAMUEL DERHAM THE PREFACE READER PErhaps it may seem strange that I should thus undertake an Hydrological Essay seeing that many Eminent Writers have given their judgement of the Cause and Vertues of Mineral Waters such as Georgius Agricola Libavius Solinander Andr. Baccius Fallopius and of our own Countrymen Dr. Jorden Simpson Turner and many others both Ancient and Modern Authors Yet there were several Reasons inducing me to publish this my Scrutiny into the Nature and Operation of this New-found Spring by some called Balmoore Waters naming the Spring from the Place which is near Ilmington a Town in Warwick-shire This may also deserve the Name of Ilmington-Spaw from its brackishness according to Van Helmonts's Appellation Parad. 3 and 4 of Fontes aciduli Spadanae or Spaw-Waters Which name I shall retain in my following Treatise My chief Inducements hereto were First The Common Good seeing Multitudes dayly flocked to this Fountain of whom many were poor illiterate Country-men that inconsiderately without preparing their Bodies or Physitians advise repairing hitherto might as well have hastened to their ruine as to recover their impared Health For The most ingenious Dr. Cole who first tryed and applauded these Waters by his recommending a Person of Quality to the Drinking of them did so alarum the Ordinary sort of People and the rude Mobile as if Waters had been found with some Supernatural Vertue like the Pool of Bethesda or the Waters of Jorden when they cured Leprous Naaman the Syrian Secondly The Doctor being called away by his Employment I was desired by several Gentlemen to commit the Tryals I had made on those Waters to the Press on no other design then to give Caution to the incautelous Multitude among which many are as an * Auth. of the Query about Driâ—king the Bath-water prefixed to Dr. Jordâ—n oâ— the Bath Author observed like so many Animals that follow one another and are apt to go the broader way though it lead to ruine Thirdly Ancient Authors did usually take a general Survey of Mineral Waters not descending to a strict Scrutiny by Experiments into Particular Springs Vpon which account many things have been left false and imperfect which an Examination of Particulars may descry and perhaps afford more of knowledge to Posterity though in a few Experiments than in great Volumes of Conjectural Philosophy As Dr. Tyson in his Phocaena Page 9. rightly saith Malpighius in his Silk-worm hath done more then Jonston in his whole Book of Insects and He and the ingenious Dr. Crew have taught us more of Plants than either Gerard or Parkinson Yet I desire not to contemn but to speak with due honour and reverence of the writings of the Ancients to whom we owe great part of our knowledge but withal hoping that I may have as much freedome to communicate my Sentiments as others have done theirs before me As for the Calumny and Reproach which I shall occur from mine Enemies and especially those that out of a Disgust to the Author verify the Proverb Try the Man and not the Cause I shall pass by remembring the Saying Habent sua fata libelli But least that by making use of some words mentioned by Helmont and other Chymists such as Archeus Leffas terrae Acid and Alkali c. I should seem far short of answering my Design I shall by the way hint out the Sence of them least that by obscure Terms I should seem to darken the Matter and amuse the Reader that is unacquainted with Chymistry Helmont De Form Ortu Sect. 61. thus explaineth himself Repetam seminum massam recipere in se corporalem Auram vulcanum Quem Archeum nomino Now the Aura Vitalis by him termed Archeus is but that Stamp or Divine Impress made at first by God Almighty to direct blind Matter in the Composition of an Object For we cannot suppose that an Embryo is formed by a fortuitous concourse of Atoms and that Animals do propagate after their kind by an accidental Conjunction of Matter but the Divine Fiat in the Creation made an over-ruling Power to the work of Generation and Specification of the Individual whether it be called Archeus vis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forma c. Which was at first made by God the Creator and as Helmont else-where telleth us is as a Faber or Workman to the shaping of a Concrete in its Generation Leffas terrae is that Succus terrae fracidus unde surgit omne plantarum genus visibili carens semine sataque semina promoventur in Destinationes Helm Imag. Ferm Parag. 31. viz That fracid juice of the Earth that is the Nutritive Juice to Vegetables For Water on the Earth exposed to heat and air will be soon endowed with a putrid Ferment which is a Leffas convertible by the Archeus into Vegetables Salts are either Acid or Alkalizate upon the mixture of which contrary Salts an Effervescence will follow So that an Alkali may
be thus described It is a fixed Salt which will make an Ebullition with an Acid and by taking off the Edges of its Particles will sweeten an Acid Liquor As for Mineral Waters Libavius giveth us this Notion Quae a simplici vulgari mera discedentes cum aliquo subterraneorum conspirant aut spiritaliter sunt tinctae aut mistae corporaliter Judicio Aquar Lib. 1. Cap. 1. viz. Waters that besides their own Nature have imbibed something of the quality or substance of some Subterranean Mine What are the Subterranea he afterwards telleth us Lib. 1 but Gab. Fallopius De Therm Aq. Cap. 8. ranketh them under Five Heads viz. Vapours Juices Metals Stones and Earth As for Vapours impregnating Waters in their Current I see no reason to make them a distinct Ingredient from the others Fallopius alloweth only Vapours to be found in Waters that are Poisonous Bituminous and Sulphureous yet of what kind soever they seem not to differ from the Evaporating Object as the Vapour of Water is but Water rarisied whose Particles recollected in a Receiver may appear again under the form of Water As Helmont Parad. 2. hath observed Vapor reipsa nil aliud est Materialiter formaliter quam Atomorum Aquae in altum sublata Congeries To the same effect speaketh Libavius de Jud. Aq. Lib. 1. Cap. 6. Dr. Jorden On Natur. Bath and Min. Wat. Cap. 4. not content with what Fallopius hath done especially because New Minerals have lately been discovered as Calaem in the East Indies Rhusma and Terra Ghetta in Turky c. and perhaps future Ages may discover many more hath comprehended them under Seven Heads taking a Mineral for An inanimate Perfect Body bred in a Mine in the Bowels of the Earth His Genera are 1 Earth 2 Stone 3 Bitumen 4 Salts or Concrete Juices 5 Spirits 6 Mean or half Metals 7 Metals Of all which in as much as they cause Alterations in Waters I shall take a short Survey Brevity here beeng intended First Earth is a cold dry sluggish Body altogether effete in its vertue except when it containeth some active Principle such as a Nitrous Salt by which Fullers-Earth doth scour Cloth and Marle laid on Land doth cause Fertility or an Aluminous Salt such as is found near Scarbrough Spaw c. Vpon which account the Chymists rightly call Simple Earth Caput Mortuum or Terra damnata Water hereby may become turbid and muddy but not impregnate with any Vertue Secondly Stones by their Qualities of Cold Dryness and Stipticity come near that of Earth Yea as Dr. Jorden Cap. 4. hath hinted to us Stones in their simple Nature distinct from any other Ingredient are but as a Caput Mortuum and untamable by â—ire or Water 'T is true some Stones will melt others by Calcination turn as it were to Ashes but that is from a Heterogeneous Mixture of some Salt Metal c. And this may be concluded hence The more pure and free from Mixture Stones are by so much the more indissolvable by Water or the devouring flames of Fire as Diamonds Amiantus or Alumen plumosum Glymmer Saxum Arenarium all which stony Concretions will endure the Fire yea I suppose had we but a pure stony Body it would endure the washings of Water and the utmost degree of Fire Pliny Natur. Hist Lib. 36. Cap. 19. saith Amiantus lapis nihil igni deperdit Not only the Terra Damnata left after the Active Principles are drawn off in Distillation will endure the Fire but the Asbestum which is an Efflorescence of the Amiantus and many such like Stony Concretions I doubt not were they free from Heterogeneous Mixtures Stones then in their simple Nature yield no Vertue to Springs except whilst in their Primitive juices or Solutis principiis for then they may cause an Alteration as we may perceive by many cold petrifying Springs of which almost infinite Examples might be produced here in our own Country But when there is a mixture with a Minera then Stones by Fire or Water may soon suffer a Dissolution as Marcasites of Iron Copper Alum c. not only by fire may undergo a Change but also may communicate their Vertue to Waters having a proper Menstruum Thirdly Bitumina are either hard as Amber Carbofossilis or Liquid as Petroleum and Naphtha We find by dayly Experience that unctuous Matter or Oyls will not undergo a perfect mixture with Water yet by some Mineral juice may have its body so opened as to come floating with the Spring Water though in a confused Posture Yea saith Fallopius de Aq. Therm Cap. 8. It is sometimes so confused that a Separation from the Water is very difficult Instances of Bituminous Waters he giveth us as the River Lipparis in Cilicia which by its plenty will as it were anoint the Bodies of them that swim in it the Fountains of Mount Gibbus near Modena in Italy many Fountains likewise near Baia in Campania so also Springs at the foot of Vesuvius many also we read of in Saxony Swedland and at Avergne in France and of one famous in our own Country at Pitchford in Shropshire and that Bitumen is the predominant Principle in our Springs at Bath Dr. Jorden hath proved De Nat. Bath Min. Wat. Cap. 6 Fourthly Concrete Juices called Salts which are not only found in Waters but being dissolved make the Current Springs as so many Menstruums to unlock the Bodies of other Minerals The Species are usually reckoned Four viz. Alum Vitriol Nitre and Common Salt but as for the Number I shall not here dispute 'T is true different Salts will shoot by Chrystallization into several Forms as Vitriol and Alum into Glebas although these of Alum differ something from them of Vitriol Nitre into Stirias and Salt into Tesseras so likewise will other Species of Salt comprehended under these by reason of their Glebes and difference of Particles As for the Vertues of such Springs we must look to the Nature of the Ingredients and whether the Waters are not impregnated with several Mineras from whence there must needs follow great Variety in Mineral Waters That Salt Nitre Alum and Vitriol are Ingredients of Mineral Waters we have the Testimony of several Authors too many here to relate As Salt-Springs at Saltzburgh and Halstat and many other places in Germany the Salt-Springs in Tuscany and as our Springs at Droit-Wich and at Nant-Wich will testify Nitrous Springs we read of at Calestria in Macedonia in many places of Aegypt in many places in France mentioned by Du Clos Classe Second and Third and Nitrous Springs by Baccius De Therm Lib. 5. Cap. 6. Alum Springs are frequent in Tuscany and many other Places of Italy and also in Germany and in Spain with us at Okenyate in Shrop-shire and that famous Spaw at Scarbrough in York-shire Vitrioline Waters are also found although the truth thereof is questioned by Dr. Lister De Font. Med. Angl. Cap. 7. Instances of which Dr. Jorden de Nat. Ba.
Cap. 7. giveth us as that at Cyprus described by Galen where the Water is Green at Smolnicium in Hungary in Transilvania c in which saith he the very Body of Vitriol is found Besides the Testimony of Helmont Paradox 4. of Pauhont and Savenir two German Spaws and the Experiments of Dr. Simpson on our Scarbrough Spaw and as I shall prove of Ilmington Spaw As for the distinction of being vertually or by its quality contained I cannot allow of not finding any solid Reason how an Accident can be seperated from his Substance and remain Existent in another for I look upon that Rule as true Accidens non migrat a Subjecto in Subjectum Fifthly Spirits so called from their Volatility by fire that enter the Composition of Metals will not endure fusion by fire but easily fly off such as Quicksilver Auripigmentum Sandaraca Chrisocolla Cadmia which by some Authors are reckoned for Concrete Juices but by others for Spirits from their Volatility and Waters endowed with these kind of Ingredients are generally poisonous Agricola Lib. 1. 2. telleth us of waters betwixt Seburgh and Strapela that by their Malignancy will kill Fishes and other Animals that drink thereof Arsenical Waters we read of as at Circum in Thracia at Perant near Mompelier of many such waters Fallopius de Therm Aq. giveth us an account Now Dr. Jorden reckoneth some Waters that contain Quicksilver for wholesome waters as that at Serra Morena and La Nava in Spain Almagra and Toletum But if we consider how that Mercury is an Enemy to the Nervous Parts especially when unprepared how it abounds with Arsenical Particles before it is purisied we may much doubt of the wholesomeness of them yet I shall not dispute against the Possibility of the Thing So also are these from Sulphur very dangerous because they often partake of a Poisonous Minera These that partake of Cadmia are to be avoided because the Natural Cadmia is Poisonous and a strong Caustick Cadmia foffili Aquae infectae acres esse consueverunt Agricol de Natur. Eor Efflu ex Terra Lib. 1. Sixthly Mean or half Metals so called because they are fusible but not malleable like Metals as Antimony Bismuthum or Tin-Glass found in England and Germany These may be Ingredients to Mineral waters and for the Vertues of such we must look to the impregnating Object Seventhly Metals as Lead Tin Iron Gold Copper and Silver for Mercury from its Volatility by fire is reckoned by Dr. Jorden among Mineral Spirits These saith Fallopius de Therm Aq. Cap. 8. May be Ingredients in Mineral waters but telleth us that he never knew any Particular Spring in which Metals had their share But we have sufficient Testimony of Particular Springs that are impregnated with Metals Baccius De Therm Lib. 6. Cap. 3. giveth us an account of several waters that have preyed on Iron and several whose Vertue is from the Magnet which indeed is a better sort of Iron-stone Solinander De Font. Temperat Cap. 6. Instanceth divers Springs containing Metalline Ingredients as that impregnated with Copper at Baia in Campania and that at Luca called St. John's Bath with Lead as the Lead-Waters in Lotharingia with Iron as at Siena Verona and Luca. To which I might add our Chalybeat waters at Tunbridge Astrap and Scarbrough with our late found Spring at Ilmington The same Author telleth us that waters are found impregnated with Gold Silver Lead and Precious Stones although very rarely because of their Scarcity and the compact Substances of Pearls Multitude of Examples of Mineral waters we have cited by Dr. Jorden On Min. Wat. Nat. Bat. Cap. 10. to whom I may refer the Reader But it may be questioned how can Earth be reckoned as a Mineral and one of the foregoing seven Genera taking a Mineral for an Inanimate perfect Body bred in the Bowels of the Earth Answ Minerals are here taken in a large sense under which Earth is comprehended in as much as it is the Receptacle and Matrix of Subterraneous Conceretes whose Particles may also be communicated to water in its Current Stones also in this respect may be taken for Minerals Concrete Juices or Salts are reckoned as a Distinct Genus although as I shall hereafter prove that all Compound Bodies in the Animal Vegetable and Mineral Kingdome are made out of a Succus as their more immediate Matter from their Properties resulting from their peculiar texture of Parts Thus Salts are reckoned from their easy Dissolution in water and their reconcretion Bitumina from their burning and wasting by fire although they enter not the Composition of a Metal Sulphur will burn and wast by fire and is also often a Metalline Ingredient and is reckoned with Mercury c. among Mineral Spirits which are so called from their Volatility by fire although they enter the Composition of Metals Antimony and Tin Glass are accounted as half Metals because they are fusible but not malleable like Metals which are both Fusible and Malleable Mineral Substances I need not Apologize for the Vsefulness of Mineral Waters seeing they have been for several Hundreds of years in great Estimation The Romans we are informed by Baccius De Therm had their Baths in great request and for the greater splendor had many Magnificent Buildings erected at Rome And of the frequent Bathings of the Turks although only with pure Water Alpinus De Medic. Aegypt Lib. 3. Cap. 17. giveth us an Account I need not likewise relate the Superstition of the Ancients who when a Mineral Spring was found from the strangeness of its Effects soon dedicated it to some Saint or Deity because they made little Scrutiny into the Nature of Mineral Waters And since that Experimental Philosophy hath found favour in the world knowledge herein hath dayly encreased and for the Promotion hereof let us make enquiry into each Particular that at length we may arrive to Vniversal Conclusions In the Prosecution of my Design I shall observe this method and accordingly divide the following Treatise First To enquire into the Nature of Compound Bodies either in the Animal Vegetable or Mineral Kingdom under Minerals will fall in a Consideration of the Original and Difference of Glebes that chiefly give Essence to Mineral-Waters Secondly To make Experimental Essays into the Nature of Ilmington-Spring Thirdly After taking a short Survey of most Diseases incident to the Body of man as to their Causes or Original to enquire how far Ilmington-Spaw may conduce to their Cure and to preserve Health whilst entire But by the way take notice That whereas I made the Experiments on Ilmington-Spaw in a dry Season and was very careful and exact in the weight of the water which I have given Pag. 48 it may admit of a Variation not only in weight but be weakned in its Vertue in a wet Season when the Springs are rank by a mixture of Rain-water and also by the breaking in of any fresh Spring Hydrologia Philosophica OR An Account of
Martis which giveth the vertue to this Spring PART III. SEC 1. HAving made an Hydrological Essay as to the Essential part of this Spaw-water I think it not amiss to speak something as to its Vertue seeing Multitudes resort to the Fountain and especially the Poorer sort guided by a Hear-say who drink it as a Catholicon or Sovereign medicine for all Distempers not regarding the original of its Source or what Mineral Ingredients are contained therein We are told by the Learned Dr. Willis That by the means of Ferments we are born bred up decay and die that Diseases thence take their Original and the Restoration of Health is owing thereto Nec tantùm ration◠Fermentorum nascimur nutrimur sed morimur quilibet morbus virtute fermenti cujusdam suas excitat tragoedias And a little after Quin morborum curationes fermentationis ope molimur Will. de ferm cap. 5. I shall therefore only speak somewhat of the Natural ferments of our Bodies and their Depravations in order to my present business but for a large account of them shall refer the Candid Reader to Willis Helmont Sylvius and other eminent Authors that have fully handled that subject brevity here being only intended As for the Notion of Fermentation take this Definition Fermentation is an intestine motion of the Parts or Principles of a Body with an Inclination to its Perfection or to its Change By Change may be understood its Destruction or Dissolution of its Compages or mutatio in quid aliud Upon consideration that an entire Function or Office of every Part in the Body is the Effect or Product of Health and that a Disease is an Ill Constitution causing an impediment to the Parts in their Function or Office some according to the diversity of Functions have made a division of Distempers The Functions do either respect the Conservation of the Individual or the Propagation of the Species These that respect the Conservation of the Individual are either Natural such as Concoction of Aliments Sanguisication Secretion of Excrements Production of Vital Spirits c. or else Animal which do respect the Sensitive part of the Creature as in its External or Internal Senses These that respect the Propagation of the Species are peculiar to the Male or Female Sex and accordingly Authors have grounded their Distinctions I shall not proceed in this method bnt rather take a Summulary of Distempers sufficient for my present purpose from the Ferments or rather from the Depravations of them in our body knowing that a large Explanation would raise a Tractate to a large Volume Whereas the ingenious Franciscus De le boe Sylvius hath laid down the Dyscrasia of the Lympha and of the Bilis for the two sole Causes of Fevers either Intermittent or Continual under Lympha he comprehendeth Succus Pancreaticus and Saliva and ascribeth Chylification chiefly to the Salt in Spittle which by Mastication is mixed with the Aliment or is already conveyed into the stomach but alloweth of no stomachical Ferment I cannot assent to be his Proselyte For considering the structure of the stomach how that its interior or nervous tunicle hath a Crusta villosae or hairy scurf with a multitude of Glandules to percolate and imbibe the Liquors derived from the Arteries and Nerves we may well suppose an acid Ferment either implanted in or derived to the stomach from the same vessels that the Saliva is Besides this Glisson Willis Diemerbroeck yea authors both ancient and modern afford us reasons all-sufficient to believe a stomachical Ferment But supposing an acid Ferment in the stomach or else in the Spittle and so the stomach to be only as a convenient Work-house it will be all one in a manner as to the Original and Cures of Diseases that arise from the Depravation of the primary Ferment It will be too tedious and beyond my intention to describe the Modes of Fermentations in humane bodies I shall therefore content my self to enquire 1. What are the Fermental Digestions of our bodies and the Depravations of them 2. The Distempers thence arising 3. Whether this Ilmington Spaw will contribute to the Restoration or Cure of the disordered Digestions The Aliment in its way to Nutrition doth undergo several alterations by the Ferments of our bodies it is several times percolated and as it were strained and purged from its faeces after the Changes it hath received before the Animal spirits the Instrument of Sensation and the chief vehicle of the Soul are elaborated therefrom There are three Principal Digestions viz. Chylification Sanguification and Production of Animal spirits Besides there are others appropriated to particular parts such as that of the Spleen Seminal vessels and Prolifick parts the fermental Digestions of every particular Part by which it turneth the Nutritive juice into its own likeness as the saline and tartareous part of the Aliment into Bones the sulphureous and oyly into Fat the more temperate and balsamick parts the saline and sulphureous being equally mixed into Flesh c. To which according to some may be added the Ferment of the Reins for secretion of the Serum a Ferment of the Glandulae Renales and also in the Liver for a secretion of the Bilis and serous Liquor through the Lympheducts The Ferment of the Renal Glandules is only supposed and conjectural That of the Liver for separation of the Choler and that of the Kidneys for separating the serous humor may with good reason be believed to be conjectural and fictious For when the blood is rightly fermented and in its lax Compages the Liver is sufficient without any innate ferment to transcolate the Choler through its Glandulous Substance as Malpighius de Hep. hath Observed So also are the Kidneys by the Observations of Bellinus de Ren without any specifick ferment yea any more then is peculiar to the blood in its Natural Crasis Chylification I conceive to be chiefly from the Ferment of the Stomach although other Things concur thereto How Chylification is performed Diemerbroeck Anat. Corp. Hum. Lib. 1. Cap. 6. hath excellently well described Which in short is thus The Meat whilst masticated doth inbibe the Saliva or Spittle which not only softens but impregnates the Meat with a Fermentative Quality that is chiefly by the Salt therein contained Unto which concureth the Drinks often endowed with acrimonious fermentative Particles The Stomack receiveth and by contraction of its Fibres closely embraceth the meat thus prepared and communicateth the fermentative juices from the Coat of the Stomack to which do concur the Reliques left after former Digestions which by staying in the Stomack like an old Leaven are brought to an Acidity The Acid Particles excited by the Heat of the Stomack and adjacent parts do enter the Pores of the Aliment and ferment with its Saline and Spirituous Parts until it be dissolved and eliquated into Milky Cream or Chyle which by Contraction of the Stomachical fibres is sent through the Pylorus into the Guts where it
like quantity of Ale and Wine mixed into his Crural vein This he continued by turns until a paler tincture instead of the blood issued out of the vein like water wherein flesh hath been washed or like Claret diluted with much water 4. Observ I shall in the next place lay down the Observation of Dr. Harvey de gen Anim. Exerc. 16. The Bulla or Punctum saliens which saith he maketh the Heart is made before the Brain that elaborateth the Animal Spirits The same also doth Langly Obs gen Anim. affirm and common Experience teacheth it So that although it be questioned Whether or no the Blood be formed before the Heart yet it is certain that the Bulla saliens is formed before the Brain From which Experimental Observations I shall gather these Conclusions First the motion of the Heart in fieri cannot proceed from an influx of Animal spirits 〈…〉 panctum saliens which is the Heart in 〈…〉 its motion before either Brain or 〈…〉 are framed to elaborate and convey 〈…〉 spirits to it according to the 〈…〉 Observation 〈…〉 neither can the Pulse be from the 〈…〉 or Ebullition of blood in the 〈…〉 of the Heart for according to the second and third Observations That which came from the Arteries was far enough from Accension being pale and dilute like broth and as Dr. Lower intimateth was far from the colour and nature of Blood From the two Observations before cited from Dr. Lower Dr. Gibson in the Anat. Hum. Bod. Epitom l. 2. c. 5. concludeth a full confutation of that Opinion viz. Pulsation is from Ebullition and Accension of Blood in the ventricles of the Heart Which may be farther denied by the first Observation for the blood was all poured out of the ventricles of the Puppie's heart so that there was none left to make either Ebullition or Accension Thirdly Neither could the Pulse be from a continued influx of Animal spirits from the Brain For according to the first Observation All influx of Spirits was stoped because the Puppie's and Frog's Hearts were cut off from their Nerves by which the spirits do flow if any at all Fourthly Neither can it be from the Respiration of the Lungs for by the first Observation the Hearts of them Animals cut off from the Lungs much more the pieces did yet continue Beating And in an Embryo there is Pulsation of the Bulla saliens before the Lungs are formed and long before they have any Respiration Fifthly Neither from the impression of Subtile Matter for that concludeth for a general but not a particular motion nor why the Heart should keep a Regular Systole and Diastole Because the subtile Matter being in continual motion would press against all the fibres at all times so that the Heart would remain either in a Systole or a Diastole Besides as Diemerbroeck argueth This subtile Matter would restore the motion of the heart whist warm and so always recover life in creatures that are strangled Sixthly Neither can it be from the vivifick spirit in the blood for by the first Observation The Pulse continued after the blood was poured out of the ventricles and a stop put to all influx of fresh blood And by Observ 2. and 3. it s proved That when the whole mass of blood was almost emptied and the rest watery and dilute the heart retained its Pulse yet the vivifick spirit of the blood must have been for the greatest part evacuated with the blood I shall now proceed to lay down what I guess to be the genuine cause of Sanguification and Motion of the Heart although this may be accounted one of Nature's Secrets and too abstruse for Us peremptorily to determine And first for Sanguification In the begining of Conception the Spirituous part of the Seed by heat is excited and collected into the Punctum or Bulla saliens from this Spirit as from a Fermentative substance by the vis Plastica or Archeus are all the Parts of the body deduced For according to Dr. Harvey's Observation the Bulla saliens is first formed from which are derived Sanguincous fibres and one part after another framed until the whole Compages of the Body is perfected Whether according to the sentiments of Dr. Harvey the blood be first made and the Heart afterwards for the motion of the Blood or according to Diemerbroeck the Heart be made before the first Blood it is not very material For on both sides it is concluded That the vivifick spirit of the Semen is the first Former either of Blood or Heart This Spirit having got some Blood for his Vehicle and being by Heat stirred up and dilated doth enlarge its Domicile the Punctum saliens for being too close pent up doth endeavour for an eruption by particular assaults which is the first cause of Pulsation As the Ferment is increased by the addition of new Matter from the Colliquamentum Seminis at first and other Matter afterwards so the vivifick Spirit doth farther dilate it self in the blood uutil it hath formed the Veins and Arteries for its Channels and as a Workman according to the Divine Impress stamped at first by God Almighty on blind Matter or by the Direction of the Archeus as Helmont calls it but as for the Name of that Directive Power call it as you please hath made every part of the whole Body This vivifick acrimonious Spirit doth not only forme out of convenient Matter but also inhere in the Parts formed more or less and giveth to every Part a peculiar Property or Ferment as That of the Stomach for Chylification That of the Heart for Sanguification c. But suppose that the first blood should be formed before the Punctum Saliens and the Heart contribute nothing thereto Yet it must be granted that Things proceed otherways in Adult Animals then they do at the first formation As for Instance There is Motion before the Brain or Nerves are formed yet none now deny that Office to the Brain of elaborating the Animal Spirits that serve for Motion The Embryo is nourished and encreased before the Stomach and other parts serving for Concoction are made yet after they are made in a perfect Foetus and in adult Persons none except through a Spirit of Contradiction will deny them to serve for Concoction so that the Heart by his Acrimonious Spirit implanted therein may serve for Sanguification which I imagine to be as thus So soon as the Chyle is mixed with the Blood the Vital Spirit and other active Principles do work upon the Chyle to assimilate it to its own nature By the Stomachical Ferment the Salt Sulphur and Spirit of the Chyle are almost set at liberty from the grosser parts of the Aliment so that the Active Principles of the Blood soon add to their Exaltation When the Chyle with the Venal blood is entered the right ventricle of the Heart the Heart addeth a new Ferment thereto and sendeth it into the Lungs where it receiveth a farther Alteration from the Nitrous
whole body to me it seems irrational that the same juice should be carried to and fro through the same vessels and that an Acid juice for such is that of the Spleen should be supposed to be a vehicle for the Animal Spirits that are a volatile Alkali The proper Use then I imagine as thus The Spleen by its Ferment placed therein ab origine doth with the Nervous juice deposited in the Glandules by the extremities of Nerves terminating in them cause an Acidity in the blood brought by the Arteries By which Acidity the Bile consisting much of retorrid â—ixivial Salt is hastened towards a separation even as by mixture with other Alkalis and Acids may be seen so that the blood reduced from the Spleen by the Ramus splenicus doth in the Liver soon make a Secretion of its Choler An Acid Ferment may well be supposed in the Spleen from its natural structure which is chiefly made up of membranous Cells like the holes of a Hony-comb about which the ends of the blood-vessels are twisted like the Tendrils of a Vine Now here the Glandules as in other parts of the body may be well supposed to contain an Acid juice and may the sooner impress its ferment on the blood by its little stay in the cells before it is carried away with the subsequent streams For a large account hereof I shall refer the Reader to Malpighius de Liene The Seminal parts both in male and female seem to be highly endowed with a Ferment insomuch that the Sal Sulphur and Mercury are as it were exalted into a noble Elixir from which the Embryo taketh its rise I mean the semen in males and the ova in females for both by the ferments of the Genital parts are elaborated out of blood The manner how is too large for me here to describe and may be seen in ample manner in Harvey and de Graef It is beyond my intention to take upon me here to dispute whether or not Milk is made by a bare transcolation through the Mammillary Glandules or by an innate Ferment of the Dugs or how the Bile is separated in the Liver or whether all the Glandules of our bodies are endowed with a Specifick ferment But this we may lay down as a Truth viz. That the Archeus in the first formation hath bestowed on every Part a peculiar configuration of Pores and a fermental Digestion to receive its proper Aliment and convert it into a similar substance to repair that which was lost and hath assigned a peculiar Office to every particular part PART III. SEC 2. AS from the fermental Digestions in their full vigour and lustre the Organs have that which is requisite to their functions and consequently Health is entire so from their diminution and depravation Distempers take their Original The Concoction of the Stomach and other fermental Digestions of the body may suffer by the inordinate Use of the Sex Non-naturalia but I shall take a short survey of Diseases as they are immediately derived from the disordered Ferments The Stomachical Ferment may be vitiated so as to leave a twofold Errour on the Aliment viz. Crudity and Over-acidity which concur to laying the foundation of many Distempers In this sense I mean viz. That All Diseases cannot be immediately derived from This or the Other particular ferment but that the Generality of Distempers owe their original to the Error of Fermental Digestions the one many times concurring as a Procatartick and another as a Proximate cause When the Stomachical ferment is debilitated the Aliment receives an imperfect Concoction whence a flatus is excited and a Pain in the Stomach with an inclination to vomiting and abhorrence of Dyet If it pass thus crude through the Pylorus into the Intestines it lays a foundation of a Diarrhoea Worms Obstruction of the Misentery c. An Error in the first Concoction cannot be corrected in the second wherefore the crude Alimentary juice being conveyed through the Lacteal and Thoracical vessels and so away to the Heart doth cause a spurious and febrile conflict with the Principles of Sanguification and according to the quantity of the depraved Aliment that in 24 or 48 hours c doth rise ad turgescentiam and able to vie as it were with the blood so it giveth the difference betwixt Quotidian Tertian or Quartan Agues c. as several modern Authors have observed And as it is a cause of Intermittent so also it layeth a foundation of Continual fevers according as the Principles of the blood by this depraved Ferment become too much exalted For if the Spirituous part be highly inflamed then a febris Synochus or Ephemera if the Sulphureous part be exalted or a Putrefaction of Humors in the blood-vessels then a Putrid fever if a contagious Miasma be added then a Malignant fever such as the Plague small Pox Measles But whether this vitiated Juice be made so by the vitiated Bilis and Lympha as Sylvius de le boe would have it is not to my purpose to dispute If the vitiated Succus Nutritius arrive to the Brain and by Obstruction of the Pores hindereth the Third Digestion viz. the elaborating of Animal Spirits or stop their motion or subvert the volatizing Ferment of the Brain it causeth an Apoplexie Lethargy Coma or Carus And according as the Nerves are obstructed and the Spirits with their vehicle the succus Nervosus defiled and stoped in their passage thence a Palsie great or less And as the vitiated juice hath passed the Cortical substance of the Brain and is confused with the Animal spirits so as to cause an irritation of the Nerves and explosion of the Animal spirits it causeth Epilepsies Convulsions c. To these Distempers the depraved Ferment of the Spleen doth contribute for when the bilious Particles are not evacuated but by long fermentation become retorrid and gross then the Melancholy adust terrestrious blood subverteth the refined Texture of the Animal spirits and bringeth on them a mighty gloominess whence Melancholy Phancies and as it impresseth its labes on the Spirits and Genus Nervosum so it concurreth to Hypochondriacal Fits and many Nervous diseases Every part in the body receiving a Succus Nutritius from the blood is deprived of its due nourishment when the fermental Digestions are deficient and the Aliment unprepared instead then of assimilating the succus nutritius to each Part it being a succus depravatus doth instead of assimilation cause Aposthumations Tumors Vlcers c. As the too much debilitated so also the too great or over-acidity of the Stomachical ferment will be as a Ground-work for many Enormities A proportionate Acidity as I intimated before is a cause of Digestion so too great and especially when alienated from its natural Crasis is a cause of Coagulation Precipitation and Fixation and consequently of Indigestion Besides the Appetitus Caninus caused by an exorbitant Acid gnawing the stomach and the Pica and Malacia from a depraved Ferment causing an inordinate appetite
after objects unfit for Aliment as Chalk Stones c. a parallel instance may be given of Precipitation Coagulation and Fixation of the Aliment by too great acidity of the Ferment I mean that of our Cooks Pickling as of Sampier Cucumbers c. whose Pores are filled with the points of the acid Particles fixing themselves in clammy matter which put a stop to an ingress of fermentative Particles from the Air that may tend to the dissolution of the Compages and so are as a coat of Defence from putrefaction And as the aereous particles are not allowed free passage so neither are the fermentative particles of the Stomachical Digestion admited to enter and raise a luctation with the active principles of the Aliment whose parts are as it were linked together by the acid particles of the Pickle that the Stomachical ferment cannot tear them in pieces except when they are taken in a small proportionate quantity and not able to out-vie That of the primary Digestion A 〈◊〉 instance may be taken from salted and dryed â—â—ats as Beef Bacon c. which we 〈◊〉 of a hard Digestion and unfit for a weak stomach because its parts are tied together and pores obstructed by saline Particles and not to be freed and set in motion without a Ferment stronger than the Coagulation And that the Depraved ferment by over-acidity in the primary Digestion is a cause of many disorders yea whilst in the stomach affecting its Orifice causeth Ructatio acida Cardialgia Ardor cum dolore c. may be concluded from their cure by fixed Alkalis as Sylvius doth observe whose property is to correct and destroy an Acid and therefore in these cases may rationally besides Experience proves it recommend Coral Crabs-eyes Margarites Chalybis limatura c. Sylv. de alâ—â— serm in ventric laesâ Prax. med lib. 1. c. 7. This exorbitant Acid sent into the Intestines may with sharp vapours excited therefrom cause an Iliack Passion Disenteries Cholick c. But if it be conveyed to the Blood-vessels so as to pass the stage of the second Digestion it doth destroy the sweet Balsamick Crasis of the Blood and by altering its genuine texture doth give occasion to some of its Principles to become too much exalted and as the ingenious Dr. Willis de Fermentatione Febribus hath proved doth produce several Diseases but its Effects may principally be discerned in Putrid and Intermittent Fevers The Phaenomena of which latter Fran de le Boc Sylvius de febr ingeniously solveth from a spurious acid succus Pancreaticus and depraved Bilis making sudden Eruptions into the Intestines and a mutual Conflict with each other yea when absorbed by the vessels into the blood Not only the debilitated as I said before but also the over-acid and vitiated Ferment may concur to the Production of many Distempers for it precipitating the sweet and well-poised Temperament of the Blood giveth Fluidity to its Compages and from thence an Exaltation of its sulphureous and saline Parts This Dyscrasia sulphureo-salina and salino-sulphurea impressed on the Blood and Genus Nervosum giveth Being to the Scurvy which sheweth it self by its vitiated Ferment in various Dresses over the whole body such as Weariness Dulness of Spirits Spots Swellings Asthma Change of Urine flying Pains stinking Breath Rheumatisms Gout c. Among the Distempers derived from a Pravity in the second Digestion may be reckoned the Dropsie and not as Sennertus following the footsteps of ancient Physitians laying it upon an ill Constitution of the Liver would have it For on all hands it being allowed to be from a Non-separation or an Abundance of Serous Humors retained in the body want of a due Ferment to the destroying of which an exorbitant Acidity will in no small measure concur as well as an Obstruction in the Vessels or viscera may much contribute thereto For when the Saline and Sulphureous particles are deficient in their due state and proportion either by want of Aliment or by consuming Chronical Diseases or by a depraved Stomachical Ferment communicating it self to the Alimentary juice received into the blood or by want of a due access of Air or by a mixture of heterogeneous things with the Aliment then the blood becomes too much dilute and watery As by Obstructions in the Urinary and other Passages so the loss of a due Ferment as many Cases might be produced of an Ischaria or Suppression of Urine by a meer defect of Fermentation in order to a Secretion to lax the Contents in the Blood-vessels or rather to make a Secretion the Urinous Latex is not separated from the blood but regurgitates in its Vessels until Nature over-burdened layeth it down in the Habit of the body thence an Anasarca or in the Abdomen and thence an Ascites and if with a flatus in the Cavity of the lower Region thence a Tympanites Besides the Usual causes of a Consumption of the Lungs such as an Ill-conformation of the Breast an Hereditary weakness in the Lungs and Inclination precedent Diseases as Pleuritis Empyema Variolae c. obstruction of the Lympheducts of the Lungs unwhosome Air and acrious Steams a spurious Acidity impressed on the Blood and the Genus Nervosum hath no small share in as much as the Corroding humor will soon exulcerate the Lungs or at least excite the Diathesis morbâ—sâ— of them Beside the exorbitant Ferment of the Kidneys if any there be and their lax Compageâ— too much percolating the Serum from the Blood this inordinate Acidity causing a too loose Contexture of Parts and consequently too great a Secretion of Serous humors doth much concur to the foundation of a Diabetes As an Ischury many times doth not so much depend on the Stone or Obstruction of the Urinary vessels but on a too strict and faâ—â— compages of the blood when for want of a Saline ferment the Serous parts remain unseparated so from too much Acidity too great a Secretion and consequently a Diabetes This spurious Acidity assaulting and combining with the Tartareous recrements of our bodies doth coagulate into Gravel or Stones commonly in the Urinary passages For all Stony Concretions take their Original either from a viscous Matter or fabulous Earth congealed together by a Saline Agent as Nitre Alum Sal Gemma c. or by a Seminal petrifying Juice whence many stony Concretions take their growth as Coral Coralline Moss and many other Marine Concretions Yea perhaps it might be truly asserted that Rocks take their growth from the Plastick power of a petrifying Seed If this depraved Acidity arrive with the Blood to the Brain so as to cause Obstructions which are as Bars to stop a generation of fresh Animal Spirits or to deprave its Ferment it effecteth a Coma Lethargy Carus or Apoplexie according as an acid serous or otherways vitiated humor hath entered the Brain more or less and the Spirits retire from the outward parts of the Brain or are incapacitated for Motion But if a putrid recremental sordes hath
dissolved in water will with oyl of Tartar or spirit of Salt Armoniack be precipitated in form of a Powder called Mars Diaphoreticus which taketh its Sudorisick quality from the volatile penetrating parts of Salt Armoniack carried with and fixed in the Chalybeat particles in Sublimation These volatile Salts will soon open the Pores of our bodies especially seeing they carry with them Chalybeat Particles all-sufficient to cut tough viscous humors obstructing the Pores or Passages 6. Vitriolum or Sal Martis is made from the parts of Iron dissolved in an Acid Menstruum such as oyl of Vitriol oyl of Sulphur Aqua fortis c. but most commonly with oyl of spirit of Vitriol which giveth the Denomination to the Composition yet if we look into the nature of the thing we may form a like Composition of other Acids with oyl of Sulphur spirit of Nitre c. as well as with oyl or spirit of Vitriol only changing the name into Mars sulphuratus or Sal Martis cum Sulphure cum Nitro c. In the making of Sal Martis with oyl of Vitriol and Iron either filed or in its gross substance some Chymists will add an equal weight of spirit of Wine to the oyl of Vitriol or else two pounds of ordinary Water to one pound of good spirit of Vitriol The reason of it is because the spirit of Wine by its Alkalizate Salt or else the Water may dilute and weaken the oyl or spirit of vitriol that it may not incorporate with the main body of Mars but with the saline and more soluble parts that there may be gained a more pure Salt freed from most of the sulphureous and terrestrious parts of Iron In the Dissolution the saline parts of the Menstruum do joyn with these of Mars and in the mutual conflict of Fermentation they take off and dull the edges of each other and by combining together become a Neutral Salt In this Preparation the sulphureous and terrestrious parts of Iron are separated from the saline from which dissolved in fair water by Evaporation Chrystallization c. is made sal Chalybis or vitriolum Martis Sal Chalybis being actuated by the Vitriol â—s of a stronger operation against Obstructions than Crocus Martis but for want of the sulphurcous principle of Mars will not add so stronger Ferment to the blood and consequently is not so effectual in Cachexies nor against Diseases proceeding from a cold watery constitution But where the blood is over-fermented where it is either Pontick acrious or fiery and in Obstructions proceeding from such a Dyscrasie of the Blood it may be of excellent use This Ilmington water as I have proved before doth derive its vertue from an Esurine Salt preying upon a Minera of Iron which by working upon and combining with each other do become a vitriolum Martis I shall then in the next place shew more fully as to particulars wherein this Spring may be serviceable to our Country in respect of its Medicinal vertue and then lay down some Cautions and Rules to be observed by the Drinkers of this Chalybeat Water After a short Account in the foregoing Section of Diseases how they may be derived from the Depraved digestions of our body I shall now consider how far this Ilmington Spring will conduce to the Restoration of the lost or vitâ—ated Ferments and consequently be a Preservative for Health or restore that which is impaired First the Scurvy being caused by a Dyscrasie of the blood either when its saline or sulphureous parts are too predominant may be much corrected or curbed by this Chalybeat Spring In as much as the Mineral Salt is herein become near a plain Alkali and will penetrate to the second Digestion is able to correct the sowr saltish Blood And being freed from the sulphureous parts of Iron will much correct the sulphureo-saline Dycrasie when the blood like Wine is become over-fermented or fretted This Spring being a great Diuretick will help to carry off that which is superfluous and being a good Aperient in obstructions of the Spleen may correct its vitiated acid Ferment that with other Enormities may concur to alter the sweet balsamick temper of the Blood But considering that a Crude Digestion or spurious Acid Ferment of the Stomach doth many times as a Procatartick Cause lay a foundation of the Scorbutick Ferment this Water must be assisted with Purgatives to carry off the recremental Sordes of the Stomach and other Digestions more especially for Cautions hereafter laid down and be also assisted with some peculiar Medicine to restore the blood to its sweet and well-poised Temparament according to the Cause from whence the Dyscrasie took its Original which requireth the Advice of a skilful Physician Secondly the Spleen by a Specifick Ferment conduceth to a Secretion of Bilis but if by Obstruction or Depravation it be deficient in its fermental Operation the blood not purged from its sordes doth become obscure and muddy so that the Animal Spirits thence elaborated are neither pure nor refined but dark and gloomy fit for melancholy Phansies From a long supply of such feculent blood are the Spirits spoiled and Hypochondriacal Fitts and Melancholy take their growth This Spaw-water containing a vitriolum Martis is a good Deoppilative in Splenical obstructions for being of a penetrating nature is good for these abstruse Recesses By the Reaction and Combination of the acid salt of the Menstruum with the Alkalizate of Mars is made a Neutral Salt but most inclining to an Alkali Whence it may be of good use to correct the spurious acid Ferment of the Spleen but now communicated to the blood By restoring the Spleen to his natural Ferment in destroying that spurious Acidity by opening Obstructions and its Diuretick property carrying off many of the feculent parts the blood may be freed from the opace Melancholy steams that defile the Brain the workhouse of Imagination and Judgment and so be restored to its natural Crasis But withal observe That this Water must be helped with Purgatives to cleanse the blood from its faeces lest that instead of being an Aperient it should prove to be an Obstructer especially in the Extremities of the small Capillary vessels where the Blood in its Circulation is hindred by a viscous dreggy Matter but besides Catharticks where other Digestions are deficient in their office Specificks must also be applied Thirdly the Dropsie consisteth in a dilute watery blood or rather in a Non-separation of Serum or Urinous Latex that regurgitateth into the blood-vessels until it be laid down in the Habit of the body and sometimes with a flatus The loss of secretion of this Latex is frequently from the want of a Ferment in the bood which chiefly dependeth on the Saline Principle as the main cause of laxing the Compages of the blood for the separation of Serous Humors Besides the loss of a Ferment Obstructions in the Urinous vessels and Lympheducts many times do lay a foundation to the structure