not so great store of Wine strong Beere or Ale is the familiar drinke and indeed profitable enough as experience shewes But the strong drinke is prepared some of Wheate Its differences some of Barly others of them both in Polonia it is made of Oates and preserved with Hops the manner of preparing is very different every where the waters also differ wherewith they are boyled they are kept also in some places in pitched Vessels in others not pitched Strong drinke made of Wheate nourisheth more then that of Barley and also heats and moistens more Drinkes made with Wheate especially seeing the strong drink made of Wheate hath lesse Hops then that which is made of Barly but it generates more viscous juice it causeth obstructions it provokes urine With Barly but it loosens the belly Barly Beere because of the Barly heateth lesse but because more Hops for the most part are put into it acquires no small force of heating it nourisheth lesse Mixt. and yeelds a thinner juice but is more diuretick that which is mixt of Wheate and Barly is of a middle nature That drink which is made of Corne no way dried but by the heate of the Sun hath more excrementicious humours and often times brings forth obstructions All new drink is more unwholesome especially if it be troubled for it obstructs the passages and breeds the stone but that which is more cleansed is wholesomer but principally strong drinkes have their faculties from various waters of severall natures Hony and water mingled Hydromell for the most part heate and dry more then Wine especially if Aromatick things are added but it easily turnes into choler by reason of the Hony and therefore is not so good a drink for cholerick persons CHAP. V. Of the passions of the mind and of the exercise and rest of the body THE perturbations of the mind Tranquility of mind have great power in the preservation of health for an Euthumie or well setled mind and such as is at quiet doth much conduce to the preservation of health Joy Next to that moderate joy is fitrest to preserve the health of body and a naturall constitution because it recreates the heart spirits and the whole body but if it be overmuch it dissipates Exercise of body and diffuseth the Spirits Motion of the body and exercise first brings a certain solidity and hardnesse to the parts then it increaseth health thirdly it moves and agitates the spirits from whence the heart is made strong and can easily resist externall injuries and is fit to undergoe all actions happy nourishment is made and the excrementicious Vapours are discussed on the contrary those bodies which live idly are soft and tender Kinds of motion and unfit to performe labours under the name of motion are comprehended labours of every kind dancing running playing at ball gesture carrying ryding swimming walking a stirrer up of the people rubbing and such like but divers exercises have different force and some exercise some parts more then others in running and walking the legs are most exercised in handling of weapons and laying them down the armes in singing speaking with a loud voice and cleare reading the face and brest the whole body in playing with a little ball which exercise therefore is most convenient whereof a peculiar book of Galen is extant there is also a certain diversity according to violence and magnitude in motion swift attenuates and thickens slow rarifies and increaseth flesh vehement extenuates the body and makes it leane yet together hard flourishing and firme too much motion exhausteth and dissipates the substance of the spirits and solid parts and cooles the whole body it dissolves the strength of the nerves and ligaments it sometimes looseneth and distendeth the membrances and breaks the lesser veines CHAP. VI. Of Sleeping and waking MOderate watchings stirs up the Spirits and senses Watchings and render them more flowrishing distribute the Spirits and heate into all the parts of the body they helpe distribution of aliment and promote the protrusion of excrements yet if watchings are immoderate first they consume and dissipate the Animall Spirits and dry the whole body especially the braine they increase choler they whet and inflame and lastly the heate being dissipated they stir up cold diseases The strength being decayed is againe kindled a fresh with moderate sleep the spirits Sleep that are dissipated with diurnall labours are restored the heate is called back into the inner parts from whence a concoction of Aliments and crude humours is happily performed in the whole body the whole body and especially the bowells are sweetly moistned the heate increased and the whole body becomes stronger cares are taken away anger is allayed and the mind enjoyes more tranquility immoderate evacuations besides sweate are hindred and sleep is especially beneficiall to old men on the contrary immoderate sleep obscures the spirits and renders them dull and causeth an amazednesse in the understanding and memory it sends out the heate being hindred with crude and superfluous humours accumulated sleep also which seizeth on our bodyes after what manner soever when they are empty drys and extenuates the body CHAP VII Of Bathes EVery Bath of fresh water moistneth A Temperate Bath but in heating and cooling there is not the same faculty every where a temperate Bath of sweet water opens the pores of the skin and softens and rarifies the part and discusseth the excrements into the extreame parts and corrects the drynesse of parts and so takes away lassitude but if it should continue long 't would discusse that which is dissolved and weaken the strength Luke-warme Bathes Luke Warme if they incline to cold something refrigerate the body nor have they power of rarifying the parts and discussing excrements Cold water of it selfe cooles Cold. yet by accident the pores being shut and the heate penned in heateth whence if through dissipation the native heat should be in danger cold rhings being timely applyed have power to recollect and preserve it Bathes oftentimes do hurt and especially to those that are not accustomed to them and to Plethorick persons and such as are filled with crude humours as also to those which are obnoxious to Catarrhes and inflamations or an Erysipelas The Romans often frequented Bathes and they often bathed twice a day the preparation whereof you may see Galen 10. of the method of healing Chap. the tenth they used unctions also before and after bathing whereof Galen the second of simple faculties of healing Chap. the twenty fourth and the seventh CHAP. VIII Of Excretions and Retentions and of Venery THe body may be easily kept in its naturall State Excrements of the paunch if those things which are profitable for its nourishment be retained and those things which are unprofitable and ought to be cast out are omitted but if those things which ought to be retained in the body are cast out and those things which
Office if he have omitted none of those things that are in the power of Nature and Art For out of those two the Excellency and Dignity of Physick is manifested The Excellency of Physick for it is imployed about mans Body of all natural Bodies the most noble The end it aims at is health then which amongst all things that may be called good by Mortals nothing is better and that which alone is sought by it self Whereas all the rest of the Arts aim at nothing themselves but perform all things because of some outward end CHAP. II. Of the Division of Physick SEEing that the end of Physick The division and parts of Physick is to preserve present health and to restore it when it is lost it is properly divided into the Preserving and Curing part yet there are also higher things pertaining to these parts which are necessary to be known by the Physitian and they are to be added For sithence a Physitian cannot heal unlesse he know the Subject whereon he ought to work and since all Arts begin from the knowledge of their end first he should acquire the knowledge of mans body wherein he ought to work and wherein health doth consist 't is necessary he should understand and since that a disease is repugnant to health he ought to know the nature differences causes and effects of a disease and by what rules to find these in every individual And so Physick is conveniently divided into five parts the Physiological Pathological Semeiotical Hygieinal and Therapeutical Physiologie handles the subject and end of Physick Physiologie and so treats of mans body and shews the constitution thereof and all its parts their uses and actions and the faculties of the mind Pathologie teacheth the nature of diseases and Symptomes Pathologie their differences and causes and explains all things whatsoever by which mans body recedes from a natural constitution The Semeiotick part shews the Signs Of signs of sickness and health whereby we may know whether a man be sick or well and by which we may discover diseases and causes that lie hid in mans body and the events of diseases The Hygieinal part shews by what rules present health may be preserved Of preservation of health and how a man may beware before-hand as much as is possible lest he should fall into a disease The Therapeutical part teacheth by what means health is to be recovered and how diseases with their causes and symptomes may be repelled and taken away Of curing diseases If there be any other besides these which are counted parts of Physick they are not principal but lesser into which these are sub-divided such are the Diatetical Chirurgical and Pharmaceutical parts and such like CHAP. III. Of Health FIrst as for the Physiological part indeed very many dispose of it and place it otherwise What Physiologie handles Of things called Naturals and in that comprehend things called Naturals without which our bodies cannot subsist whole and they accompt them seven Elements Temperaments Humours Spirits Parts Faculties Actions but since the handling of them as they are such is properly the work of a Physitian they are considered by a Physitian in this place as they conduce to the knowledge of the subject which is mans body to the explication of the end which is health to which also we are willing to order the handling of them And indeed to it belongs principally the description and knowledge of all the parts of mans body which since it is more copious then to be contained in a Compendium that is to be sought in Anatomical books but especially by seeing bodies dissected afterwards followeth the explication of the end of Physick which is health But since that all men do then think themselves welâ— The definâ—tion of health when they can rightly perform the natural and necessary actions of life Health is defined fitly to be a power of mans body to perform those actions which are according to nature depending on the natural constitution of all the parts for health doth not consist in the action it self since that those who sleep or are quiet in what manner whatsoever and cease from certain actions are sound and as Galen hath it in the 2 cap. of the differences of diseases not to operate is to be well but to be able to operate nor is he onely well who performs his natural actions but also he that doth them not so that he be able to do them And so the formal reason of health is a potency of body to perform natural actions but because Galen in the place above-mentioned makes health to be a natural constitution of all the parts of the body and in the first Chapter of the Differences of Symptomes a framing made according to nature fit for operation or a natural constitution of all the parts of the body having power to undergo those things which are according to nature therefore it comes to passe that that position or constitution is rather subject to the actions of a Physitian then to the power of acting The subject of health is a living body The Subject of health or the parts of a living body as to that to which alone the power of acting belongs but those which live not and have no power to perform natural actions those are neither said to be sick nor well But the cause of health The efficient cause of health or that whereby a body and its parts are said to be sound is a natural constitution of them But seeing there is a twofold constitution of a body and of all its parts the one Essential which consists of matter and substantial form the other accidental which follows the former and is such a disposation of qualities and other accidents in the several parts of the body by which the essential form may exercise all its actions and according to its diversity it acteth variously Health doth not consist in the essential but accidental constitution for the mind cannot be hindred or hurt but remains alwaies the same and unchanged so that it have instruments constituted in the same manner The Essential constitution also so long as a man lives is immutable and at length is changed by death but the accidental constitution of the body is subject to many alterations whence the same soul in the same body acts one way and another way And because the parts of the body are several the natural constitution of them also is not the same The definition of similar and dissimilar parts The parts of the body are two-fold similar and dissimilar Similar parts are such whose particles have the same form and are alike to the whole and to one another and indeed some are truely and exactly such wherein no difference can be found neither by accurate sense nor by reason such are a Bone a. Gristle simple flesh a very small vein Fat Others are so onely to the sense which although at
colder is hot Man for whose sake these things of Temperaments are spoken In man there is a twofold Temperament since his body is not simply mixed but organick and living there is required in him a double Temperament one of the body as it is absolutely and simply mixt The other as it is living This is lost by death and is often changed by old age but that remaineth sometimes in the dead carcass after death yet at length by putrefaction and corruption of that which is mixed t is dissolved In that also according to Heat Cold Drowth and Moisture there is a great diversity of parts But the matter which is proper to living Creatures in all is Heat and Moisture Again the Temperament of a living man is twofold Temperament Innate Influent the one Innate the other Influent Innate is that which is imbibed in the living parts of man by reason of the Innate heat is inherent in him from his first being Influent is that which floweth from the principal parts and is communicated to the whole body And that it is not the same with Innate is manifest from those that fall into a Swoun when the body becomes extreme cold and yet the Innate Temperament is not changed These three Temperaments though they may be considered severally Yet they concur to constitute one Temperament of a sound man And therefore although without all doubt amongst all other living Creatures man is of the most temperate so that other living Creatures as also medicines compared to him are said to be Hotter Colder Moister or Dryer Yet simply and absolutely he is not temperate The Temperament of a man of what sort it is for common-sense tels us that Heat in man is predominate over the other qualities for the Temperature of a man to perform his actions best is Hot and Moist and our lives consist of Heat and Moisture on the contrary coldness and driness lead us to death and by how much sooner a man is cooled and dryed by so much sooner he grows old and dyes Yet The differences of the Temperaments of man that heat and that moisture have their degrees For if the heat exceed the cold and the moisture the drowth moderately that Temper is best and is accompted Temperate All others differing from this are called either Hot and Moist Hot and Dry Cold and Moist or Cold and Dry although all in general are Hot and Moist These differences of Temperaments are commonly explained by the names of Sanguine Sanguine Cholerick Phlegmatick Melancholy Cholerick Phlegmatick and Melancholy Temperaments These differences and appellations may be admitted of if they are not taken from the diversity of excrementitious humours in various bodies but from the variety of blood which is the nutriment of the body For those whose Blood is temperate Occult qualities or moderately hot and moist are called Sanguines Those who have hotter and dryer blood and their bodies from thence become hotter and dryer are called Cholerick Persons Those who have colder and moister and their bodies from thence grows colder and moister are called Phlegmaticks Those who have cold and dry blood and their bodies from thence become cold and dry are Melancholians But we must not rest at the Primary qualities for there are others more noble and more abstruse the causes of many actions and of Sympathy and Antipathy with other alterations that must be granted although in this humane imbecillity for the most part they are unknown to us The Astrologers The opinions of the Astrologers that they may some way expresse the various Constitutions of Bodies according to the occult diversities of Stars call some Solar bodies born under the influence of the Sun so Jovial under Jupiter others Martial Venereal Mercurial Saturninal as being born under one of those and also admit of mixt constitutions born under several Planets nor indeed absurdly altogether since there is a great agreement and consent betwixt Superior and Inferior bodies But since there are divers parts of a body and each part hath its peculiar Temperature not onely proceeding from the mixture of Elements but some are hotter some have lesse heat in them neverthelesse they agree together to make the Temperament of the whole which is hot and moist and so heat with cold moisture with dry things are equal'd So that from thence there proceedeth a certain Harmony and the Temperament of the whole is moderately hot and moist But to constitute that Temperament of the whole The Temperament of the whole wherein it depends the noble parts of the body perform more then the rest and most especially the Heart the Fountain and Treasury of the native heat and vital spirits From whence all the parts of the body receive the influent spirits and heat Next to it the Liver which furnisheth the whole body with aliment namely bloud afterwards the Stones then the Brain the shop of Animal spirits last the Stomack the place for the first Concoction Concerning the Temperament of several parts The Temperament of the parts of the body The Hot Parts the most Temperate is the skin especially that in the Palm of the hand to which as to the mean the other parts being compared tend to heat cold drowth or moisture The Hot parts are the Heart of all the parts the hottest the Fountain of native heat and Closet of vital spirits Also the Liver flesh of the Muscles Spleen Reins Lungs Veins and Arteries Fat also and fatness The Cold are Bones Gristles Ligaments Tendons Nerves Cold. Membranes Spinal Marrow the Brain The Moist parts are Fat the marrow of the bones the Brain Moist the marrow of the back the Duggs the Stones the Lungs the Spleen Reins flesh of Muscles the Tongue Heart and softer Nerves The Dry are Bones Gristles Ligaments Tendons Membranes Dry. Arteries Veins hard Nerves There is a certain difference of Temperaments in mans body by reason of Sex and Age As for what belongeth to Sex The Temperament of Sex Females are colder then Males as having contracted a colder nature from their principles of generation lest that the blood necessary for future generation by a stronger heat should be consumed The Temperament is also changed according to age to wit The Temperament of ages the age which is principally ordained for certain internal changes by heat and moisture Authors for the most part divide mans life into three ages Child-hood Manly-age and Old-age or Youthful Age of perfection Declination or if you please into the first middle and last age to which differences other ages spoken of by Authors may be referred The first age therefore is our Infancy which remaineth till the seventh year the second our Child-hood which for the most part continueth to the fourteenth year of our age then our youthfull age from the fourteenth to the five and twentieth when our growth for the most part in stature ceaseth And sometime Hippocrates in his first Book
plenty thereof as may render the Vrine thick A pale and thin Vrine is made when a small portion of choller is mingled with an aqueous Urine A pale and thin A pale red thick but a pale red and thick when choller is mixt in greater plenty but if any choller be mingled with a thick white Vrine the Vrine is dyed pale CHAP. VII Of the causes of smell quantity and such like accidents THe Urine which obtains the natural and usual smell Cause of the smell of Vrine signifies that the natural heat is right and concoction is well performed but if the Vrine smell not or lesse then the Vrines of those that are well use to do it is a token that the native heat is weak and almost no concoction performed Of no smel nor is the serous and excrementitious humour mingled therewith Sweet Vrine Of smelling well or that which smells well doth not proceed from any internal natural causes but if any such be found it hath acquired that smell from meats or medicines taken inwardly Stinking Vrines are caused first from meat and drink Of Faetid and certain medicines taken also from crudity and corruption of meats erosion and especially from putrifaction Fourthly from daily retention of Vrine in the Bladder Vrine naturally ought to answer to the drink Of store of Vrine but it is made more plentiful then is fit First if meats are administred which are full of aqueous humidity Secondly if the aqueous and serous excrements which use to be discussed by motion or evacuated other wayes be retained in the body Thirdly if nature from the other parts or the whole body expels the vitious humours through the passages of Vrine which useth to happen in Critick and Symptomatick evacuations as in a Diabetes or incontinence of Vrine Fourthly if Dyuretick medicine be taken On the contrary little Vrine is caused by contrary causes Of little Vrine namely not only by reason of small quantity of drink taken but of dry meats moreover if the aqueous matter be consumed which useth to be in burning fevers as also by motion and too much exercise Thirdly if the Vrine be converted to other parts Fourthly by reason of the straitness of the passages by which the Vrine ought to be expelled CHAP. VIII Of the causes of Contents in Vrines of those that are sound THe matter of a Content The matter of a sediment in sound men or Sediment in the Vrines of such as are sound for in Vrines of those that are exactly well there is scarce any Content save onely a sediment is some part of aliment which escaped concoction for since it neither can be changed into perfect blood nor into the nutriment of any part after the third concoction it is sent to the Reins and cast cut through the Bladder and there is scarce found a Vrine of a sound man The causes of diversity of Contents wherein the natural sediment doth not appear because scarce any body is so exactly sound which doth not generate some such excrement and no nourishment is to be found which cannot afford matter for such an excrement Whence according to the diversity of meats and natures thereof there ariseth diversity of Contents For although the Contents settle in the bottome and in those that are exactly sound yet in those which do not enjoy most perfect health The cause of the quality of the sediment or do not eat the best meats it doth not enjoy its natural place but in some and those which eat grosser food more then is convenient it doth settle in the bottome in others it ascends higher then is fit by reason of the heat which cannot subdue it A Sediment is naturally white and takes this colour from the veins and parts which are wont to impress a white colour on those things which they change Equal and continued is not divided by reason of heat rightly concocting and rendring this excrement equal and obtains the figure of a Pyramid which although all parts seem to the senses to be equally thick yet in truth some are thicker which settle underneath others thinner which consist in the superiour part A great sediment is through plenty of crude juice which affords matter for a sediment Quantity whence boyes through much eating and those that live in idleness and those whose accustomed evacuations are suppressed and females also have a more plentiful sediment but men because they are hotter and have not so many crude humors have less sediment the same happens in Summer through fasting too great evacuations and other causes consuming the humors also obstructions and much and thin drinks which are distributed and cast forth before it can receive any mixture or digestion with meat CHAP. IX Of the causes of Contents in Vrines of those that are sick AGain in sick people the sediment consists of the more crude part of the aliment which cannot turn into nourishment â—f the parts The cause of a sediment in the Urines of the sick with which notwithstanding other vitious humors also are mingled nay sometimes vitious humors onely may afford matter for a sediment but by how much the more the Contents of those that are sick are like to those that are well by so much they are the better and shew great concoction but by how much the more they recede from those either in colour or other qualities by so much they are the worse and indeed the differences of colours of Contents are borrowed from the humour whereof they consist but as for what belongs to the diversity of substance that proceeds from the variety os burning heat and various disposition of matter a farenacious sediment as Galen teacheth is made from thick dried blood Causes of a fernacious sediment Frothy Bran-lik Pulse-like or flesh unequally consumed by a fiery heat but rough or scaly when the solid parts are unequally consumed and scaly particles are cast forth with the Vrine and bran-like sediment proceeds from a flamy and consuming heat of a Fever and a sore in the bladder or veins a sediment that represents pulse proceeds from melting as Actuarius teacheth when a Fever comes to the flesh and melts it but it is not thought credible by the late Physitians that by the melting or flesh any thing so thick can be mixed with the Vrine and moreover those sediments they account do proceed from a scabby and exulcerated bladder or from a crude and melancholy humor Small Sand and Gravel proceed from thick and feculent matter which sometimes contains in it selfe a principle of coagulation and a light occasion being offered Of sand and gravel it concreates of its own accord Clods of blood are discerned when either from an ulcer Of Clods of blood or otherwise from a hurt broken or open vessel in a part through which the Veine passeth blood is cast out Quitture appears in the Vrine when an imposthume Of quitture in Urine or
and sex Incongruous is that which differs from the proper Harmony of age temperament and sex but since a dilatation can scarcely be fully known Galen doth not constitute a Harmony by comparing of the time of contraction with the time of dilatation but rather by comparing of the quality of motion as of swiftnessc and slownesse so that to him a meeter or Harmony is nothing else but proportion of dilations amongst themselves and a congruous Pulse is that wherein the Sistole and Diastole are equally swift but an irregular is that wherein the celerity of dilatation and contraction is unequall the inequality of which irregularities or discords may againe be divided into nine differences according to the variety of dilatation and contraction in celerity and tardity CHAP VI. Of certaine things necessarily requisite to distinguish Pulses by BUt that a Pulse may be rightly perceived certaine things are required in the Physitian certaine in the sich Those things that are requisite in a Physiâ—ian that he may know pulses in the Physitian first there is required that he have an exquisite sence of feeling and a soft hand especially in the Pulse of the outmost joynt of the fingers not very hot nor too cold but temperate secondly that presently after his commig in he may not touch the Artery least perhaps the sick being troubled by the comming of the Physitian the Pulse be changed but let him wait a little while untill he understands that the sick is quiet thirdly let him touch the Artery of the wrist of either Arme. For the fingers rightly are to be applyed to the Artery namely the first foure or three fingers are to be put to the Artery that the more differences of Pulses may be apprehended moreover since there is a threefold application of the hand to the Artery compression when the fingers do as it were presse the Artery softly when the hand is gently applyed to the Artery the medium when in an indifferent manner or with some small pressure it is put to the Artery pressing is most convenient for the knowledge of contraction if it may be and for vehement pulses but in languishing pulses it takes away the greatest part of the Pulseâ—by handling fearfully and softly the vehement Pulses are not enough perceived thirdly the medium is betwixt these two and neither lightnesse of feeling is observed in vehement nor compression in languishing In the sick is required first what time the Physitian touch the Pulse In the sick that he be free from all passions and preturbations of the mind lest those mutations which happen through the passion of the mind to the Pulses should hinder the Physitian Also neither is the Pulse to be tryed presently after motion of the body lastly the hand of the sick ought to be placed right and free from all voluntary motion and the sick may not bend his fingers much or distend them but keep them in their middle and naturall forme and the sick also may not lift up his hand with his strength least he tremble and causeth the Pulse to vary CHAP. VII How to know the differences of simple Pulses FOrasmuch as what belongs to the knowledge of Pulses The knowledge of a great and small Pulse if we observe the Artery to be dilated and extended more then naturally it ought and by reason of its great extending doth as it were resist the fingers or make them pit in we account it a great Pulse but if they resist but a little we account it but a small Pulse If it be considered that the Artery is moved by violence from terme to terme Of a swift and flow nimbler and swifter then in a temperate or sound man that is called a swift pulse but if the space is compleated by the Artery by a slower stroake t is called a slow Pulse If the intervall between each stroake be longer then in a temperate or sound man that is a thin Pulse if shorter Of a frequent thin a frequent Pulse If the Pulse strive against Of a vehement and weak and as it were opposes it selfe to the application of the hand that presses it t is a vehement Pulse and if not t is a weake Pulse A hard Pulse if the Artery be gently touched Of a hard and soft doth not resist the finger as a vehement one but if it be pressed harder it doth not so strongly resist as a vehement Pulse hardnesse also is never joyned with magnitude nor vehemency with smallnesse CHAP. VIII How to know the Respective differences of Pulses WHen we know the simple differences of Pulses by that means we may know the compound therefore the Physitian should first of all diligently exercise himselfe about the knowledge of simple differences it is very difficult and almost impossible to find out the inequality of Pulses in one Pulsation and under one finger but yet if it may be known it is known onely in the greatest and most vehement Pulses which resist compression afterwards slacking and sometimes the middle betwixt both is to be used sometimes one sometimes two now three then foure fingers are to be applyed so that if happily that inequality be not perceived under one or more fingers yet it may be found under some or other But if the inequality of one stroke be to be tryed under severall fingers you ought to apply foure fingers to the Arteries To know the order and preturbation of order Order how it may be known t is necessary dayly to apply the hand but if in a long Series of Pulses there be some diversity observed but keeping order it is called an orderly Pulse but if no order be observed amongst divers Pulses it is an Inordinate Pulse The knowledge of Harmony Rhythmus since the whole depends upon the knowledge of contraction and dilatation and the comparing of these motions amongst themselves but to know the Systole in all pulses if it be not impossible yet it is very difficult hence it appeares that the knowledge of meeter is not easie and for the knowledge thereof nothing is more necessary then those things which are required of or the knowledge of swift pulses CHAP. IX Of the causes of Pulses in generall THe causes of pulses are divided by Physitians Causes of pulses of generation into causes of generation or immediate and proximate and causes of mutation or remote or into primary or secundary those they call primary which make the pulse and which being put there is a pulse and being taken away there is none Of commutation those which do not make a pulse but alter and change it are three the faculty or use or end these are many whereof some belong tonaturall things as temperaments sex age habite of body others to things not naturall as aire meate and drinke exercise rest sleeping weaking excretions retentions passions of the minde others to preter-naturall namely diseases causes of diseases and symptomes The causes of pulses
in different bodies naturally yet if there be great vehemency of manifest causes even in bodies of different constitutions they may produce the same humours and diseases depending on them As for the difference of intermitting Fevers Difference they proceed from the diversity of humours for there are so many sorts of intermitting Fevers as there are of humours by which they are produced for there are according to the vulgar opinion three sorts of excrementitious humours Choler Flegme and Melancholy and so three kinds of intermitting Fevers Bilious Pituitous and Melancholy which differences we usually call a Tertian intermittent a quotidian intermittent and a quartane intermittent And in case those humours are sincere pure Fevers are generated if they are mixed spurious And that Fever which proceeds from pure Choler is called a pure Tertian but that which ariseth from yellow Choler mixt with some other humour is called a Bastard Tertian But concerning a quotidian intermittent Of a quotidian whether any be the matter is not so plain For Fernelius accounts this the rarest of all other and scarce one of them happens amongst six hundred and that those intermittent Fevers which daylie afflict for the most part he rather accounts them double Tertians But Platerus flatly denies a Quotidian Fever and wholly agreeth with Galen 8. Meth. med cap. 5. where he appoints only a twofold crudity the one nitrous the other acid and they only seem to afford matter for two sorts of Fevers Cholerick and Melancholy For although Flegme also according to preheminency and most principally be called a crude humour yet since it is exceeding cold it can scarcely putrifie and excite a Fever But whether there are more circuits of Fevers Whether there are Quintan Fevers and whether besides Tertians Quartans and if there be any such thing as Quotidians there are also other Fevers which are extended beyond the fifth circuit is doubtful Galen saw no such Nevertheless Hypocrates and other Physitians observed Fevers which returned the fifth sixth seventh eighth ninth day But what the cause of this course is is very obscure Some seek the cause of such fits out of the diverse constitution of Choler and Melancholy and Andreas Caesalpinus Art Med. lib. 2. cap. 15. refers Quintans to Choler Septanes to Melancholy and determines such flower returns of Fits to be a kind of renewing of one or more simple accessions and the Quintan to be a kind of Tertian wherein the third day is without a paroxism and a Septan to be a sort of Quartan renewing the accession of the fourth day But most derive the reason of these circuits from the various mixture of Melancholy humours with others But although it be probable that all these Fevers as keeping longer periods proceed from a Melancholy humour yet a mixture of that humour seems not necessary Because no humour can be appointed to be mixed with a Melancholy which can be a cause of a slower period then it self for those humours both Cholerick and Melancholy are not alwaies of the same sort and moreover the corruption also which they suffer is not alwaies the same so that it is no wonder that the effect also varies which proceeding from them is not alwaies the same And as in epidemical diseases somtimes rare and wonderful corruptions of humours happen so in Intermittents that some such thing may likewise happen is not altogether absurd Intermitting Fevers are easily known Diagnostick signs for they come to Apurexie and at certain times and indeed as Galen 1. ad Glaucan cap. 5.2 de crisib cap. 3. 2. de diff Febr. cap. 3. teacheth they return with shaking horror or cold For although that somtimes Fevers do occur which seem intermittent and invade without any rigour trembling or cold yet really they are not such but only slow and obscure continued ones or in case they are really intermittent they are not pure whose Idea Galen propounds but spurious But these Fevers are less dangerous then continued Prognosticks and seldome unless the strength be decayed or in regard of age or some other cause or some errour committed in diet are mortal sithence it may be convenient during the apurexie to gather strength and administer necessary medicines Concerning the cure of these Fevers in general Indications and Cure Since their cause is collected and generated in the meseraick veins there putrifies and thence is diffused over all the body and at length is discussed by insensible transpiration or sweats But the cause of the recourse of the Fever as Galen teacheth 2. de Febr. cap. the last is a twofold vitious disposition in a body the one a certain pollution or putrifaction left after the former paroxisme the other imbecility of the member or part generating excrementitious humours what therefore is to be done in each sort of Fever easily appears from hence For sithence the beginning of generation and corruption of humours producing a Fever is in the first passages Purging we are to endeavour to purge out that peccant humour before it corrupts the rest of the blood and brings weakness and a vitious disposition to the parts but we must proceed warily in those evacuations since there is not the same reason of all intermitting Fevers For when that vitious and excrementious humour the cause of a Fever in the meseraicks is mixed with blood crudity also and concoction according to their manner are necessary whereby the vitious humours may be separated from the good and rendred fit for evacuation and that often happens in a short time in Fevers full of Choler and the cholerick humour is otherwise apt enough to motion But in a Quartan the humour is more stubborn and moreover according to Galen 1. ad Glau. cap. 11. no strong medicine is easily to be admitted at the beginning And Sudorifiques are not at all or altogether to be used Sweats unless evacuations have preceded for if many vitious and excrementitious humours do hitherto abide in the first ways it may easily come to pass that by reason of hydroticks untimely exhibited they may be detruded thence to the more noble parts and may become the cause of various and grievous evils and such as may bring more danger then the Fever it self As for breathing of a vein Letting blood 't is not indicated from the primary cause of intermitting Fevers which is generated in the meseraick veins where the greatest part abideth Yet because that somtimes blood also abounds which may easily be corrupted and polluted by the vitious humours and so if it be too plentiful cannot be well governed by nature when it is weakned by a Fever and in the progress of the disease from thence some of the peccant matter passeth into the vena cava and is mixed with the blood it is somtimes needful to open a vein which nevertheless is not to be appointed presently in the beginning before the evacuation of the primary passages If the Fever be not cured by