the first place who may lawfully practise Physick properly so called for Physitians that are created in the Universities doe practise as also their servants Ministers Many sorts of Physicians Mountibanks Runnagate Quacksalvers and women who are said to meddle in Surgery of every one of which Something is to be said in order Hippocrates would have a Physitian to be an honest diligent and ingenious man and in his Booke de Arte he would have him to bee instructed from his childhood in a fit and convenient place and a lover of paines Galen in a peculiar book saith that he ought to be a Philosopher and Hippocrates saies that a * 〈…〉 Physician which is a Philosopher is God-like Aristotle saith that in a Geometrician the knowledge of another Science which is diverse from Geometry is not to be desired And so it may be said of a Physician onely the exquisite knowledge of his owne Art is to be expected 〈…〉 From whence a manifold Errour of the people doth arise First That they call him a learned Physician and a great Scholler who can perhaps speak Latine or understand a little Greeke but not him that is well experienced in his own Art and this is it which some thinke is sufficient to fit a man to sustaine the person of a Physician As of late I knew one who in that he professed himselfe to be a Physician although he was but lightly tinctured with the knowledge of Physick yet was accounted so for a little smattering that he had in the Latine tongue But there is a great difference betwixt these for well said Celsus chiefe of the Latine Physicians that Diseases are not cured with Eloquence For although the knowledge of the Tongues in the compasse whereof the greater part of the Vulgar doth comprehend all Learning doth make way for the understanding of all the Arts yet they are not acquired without new labour care and industry Therefore let the people from henceforth think him a learned Physician not that knowes a little Greeke and Latine or some other Science besides Physick but who being well instructed in the Rules of Physick and well read in Galen and Hippocrates understands throughly the Diagnostick Prognostick and Therapeutick parts of Physick for he that is either wholly ignorant of these things or understands them but meanely and in part can scarcely be accounted a good Physician But who is he that shall judge of these things For they are not a few who having gotten some fame among the people and become renowned with a certaine name of Learning which never read Galen and Hippocrates do study very little no not when they are most at leasure and follow some new Writers scarce worth the reading But because there are also very many good diligent Physicians learned and laborious we will adde no more Well therefore writes Aeschylus the Poet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that knowes profitable things not he that knowes many things is wise CHAP. II. Of Doctors of Physick GAlen makes two sorts of ignorant Physicians one of them which are meere Empyricks the other of them that would have a name of knowledge and yet are but meanly furnished therewith Of this sort are very many who that they may acquire to themselves a better credit for some small matter get the honours of Universities which they call Degrees and yet returne home not awhit better learned than when they went up Doctores non doctiores redeunt Now the approbations of Universities have been wisely ordained by our Ancestours being indeed both proper and necessary yet concerning them diligent heed is to be taken But now adayes great is the neglect herein for on many although but of meane learning the Degree of Doctour is conferred insomuch as from some Universities they returne Doctours but little learned fit for nothing lesse than to teach or practise Physick And there are few Universities into which that abuse hath not crept Therefore in Itlay and France the degree of Doctour procures not much respect nor is it permitted to any although Doctour to practise Physick in their famous Cities who hath not been first approved by the Magistrates of the Citie being examined by Physicians of whom also perhaps some are not Doctours In like manner he that is Doctour in one Universitie cannot practise in another unlesse therein also he take his Degree The same also was well and wisely ordained at London that no Doctour of the Universitie should exercise his Art there before that after new examination he be approved by the Colledge of Physicians For in many Universities although Physick be diligently taught in their publique Lectures yet in conferring those Degrees they are too carelesse denying them to few or none Therefore it were an excellent thing It is most honourable to take degrees at home if it were permitted to no man to take those degrees and honours out of his own Country that he might have his own Countrymen among whom afterwards he intends to exercise his Art to be witnesses of his learning as they doe in France Andreas Laurentius that famous Interpreter of Anatomie when by the Kings royall Writ he had obtained the office of the Physick-Lecturer at Monspelier yet could not be admitted untill he had againe commenced first Batchelour of Physick then Licentiate afterwards Doctour and had so often kept his Acts againe in Physick as was requisite according to the Statutes of the Universitie In like manner at Burdeaux where I was educated it was not permitted Iulius Caesar Scaliger a man so learned and skilfull to reside because he would not be examined by the Physicians of that Citie He would not not because he disliked that order of that Citie which is also observed throughout all France but because he would not expose his fame to every mean question of a young Physician concerning which thing there were mutuall Letters dispatched betwixt him and Manialdus a very learned Physician of Burdeaux which also Manialdus his sonne the ancientest Physician of that City had lately in custody These are the things which because many do not take notice of they so easily give credit to every one that professes himself to be a Doctour To a learned man indeed these degrees doe adde honour yet they conferre no learning For he that to day is no Doctour but shall be to morrow is not wont of such a sudden to become for that cause more learned nor if he abstain from that degree will he be more unlearned than a a Doctour As therefore I do not speak against the constitutions of the Universities but rather reverence them yet so many abuses can no man approve For many mongrell-Physicians ignorant of this art or at best but meanly skilled therein having bought the title of Doctour in forrain Universities or perhaps but feigning that they have bought it and so become proud of that counterfeit honour return home that they may bee cram'd with the bloud and wealth of
most ingenious Comment upon the Art of Galen is extant was made Monke of the order of the Carthusians If therefore any painefull and ingenious Divine hath adquired so much knowledge of Physick that he is able to make use of it why shall he not practise with a good Conscience It is therefore to be left to their conscience whether they doe well understand this Science or no let them looke to that Benedictus Arrias Montanus as Arceus relates taught Surgery in Spains but few like Arrias Montanus doth this country bring forth Neither hitherto hath it been my hap to see any Minister and I have known many practising Physick that understood it well yea that knew scarce the Tithe that I may say no worse of those things which are needfull for a Physician to know Not probable that Divines should bee able Physicians Therefore although the knowledge of both these Arts is possible yet that seldome happens for the practise of Physick doth wholly turne away the minde from the study of Divinitie and the study of Divinitie in them that preach especially doth interrupt the practise of Physick therefore it is very probable that Physick cannot with a safe conscience be exercised by any Divine who hath the cure of soules Nor doe the cited examples move me a whit As for Marsilius Ficinus he was a man more wittie than learned in Physick a busie man nor doth his bookes of Physick argue any depth of knowledge in that art and he busies himselfe more about trifles and dreames of the Platonists than about serious matters And as for Trustanus he grew weary of practising Physick and therefore relinquished it utterly and put on a Monks hood So likewise Arrias Montanus left Surgery and medled no more with it And the order of the Decree is cleare in this point in divers places In generall it forbids Ecclesiasticall persons all negotiations especially for lucre sake which withdraw them from their sacred functions The Decrees of the Church concerning Ministers that meddle in Physick They that in the Church of God are preferred to the order of Clerkes let them in no case be diverted from divine administration nor let them be distracted with cares and Secular affaires but let them serve day and night in heavenly and spirituall matters And a little after it gives the reason Because no man warring for God doth entangle himselfe also in Secular affaires And in another place Let the Laickes who have more leasure doe these workes one for another But in particular concerning Physick in another place speaking of the malice of Satan c. Namely thence it is that transforming himselfe after his wonted manner into an Angell of light under pretence of consulting for the feeble bodies of their brethren and of managing their Church businesse more faithfully he perswades some regular persons to read the Lawes and to weigh out Physicall confections and so drawes them out of their Cloysters Therefore lest by occasion of their knowledge therein Spirituall men be aga ne involved in mundane affaires Wee make a decree that no man after a Vow of Religion and religious profession made in some place be permitted to go forth to read Physick or the humane Lawes but if they shall goe forth and returne not to their cloyster within the space of two moneths that they be avoyded of all men as excommunicate persons c. Where it teacheth that religious persons under pretence of Charitie and Pietie ought not to meddle in Physick that it doth proceed from the Devill the Arch enemy of Mankind if at any time religious persons employ their studies in Physick But more cleare is the Councell of Yours related in the same place Cap. 10. Against religious persons going out of their cloysters to heare Law or Physick Lectures Alexander our Predecessour made a Decree formerly in the Councell of Tours that except they return to their Cloyster within the space of two moneths they should be avoyded of all men as excommunicate persons and in no case he heard if they would plead And being returned that they be the lowest of all the brethren in the Assemblies at the Table and in the Convocation house and unlesse by the mercy of the Apostolicall chaire to lose all hope of preferment But because some of these through the different opinions of some men were excused and found indulgence We willing that for the future they doe ipso facto incurre the sentence of Excommunication do straitly charg and command to the end that as well by the Diocesants and in their Consistories as by the Bishops in whose Diocesses they study such excommunicate persons be publiquely pronounced lyable to the aforesayd penalties And because we desire that the study of Divinitie may be enlarged that the place of its Pavilion being dilated it may be further propagated that the Catholick Faith may be environed with an impregnable wall of warriours which may be able to resist those that oppose it We will and command that this be extended to all Archdeacons Deacons Provosts singing men and others that have Ecclesiasticall livings moreover Parish-priests unlesse they desist within the time limited and that in the name subscribed it be firmly observed And in the ninth Chapter it is forbidden that any Subdeacon Deacon or Priest exercise any part of Surgery which concernes burning or incision which notwithstanding is the easiest part of Surgery as to let blood c. But if these easie things be forbidden without doubt it much rather comprehends harder matters But our Ministers that practise Physick more adventurously than is fitting intruding it upon the people under covert of counterfeit Piety will perhaps but lightly esteem of the censure of the old Church wherefore I leave them to the judgement of GOD to whom one day they must be accountable for all their words and works Chap. V. Of Women that meddle in Physick and Surgery HAving taken upon me to point out some Errours of the people or at least the common Errours of many I have willingly favoured Church-men as much as I could possibly so I resolve also concerning Women For it is not a thing of such consequence nor ought any Physician of note or Surgeon to think worse of Women which are borne for the care and service of men if they doe their whole endeavour for the good of Mankinde for they know how to make a bed well boyle pottage cullices barley broth make Almond milke and they know many remedies for sundry diseases But they especially are busied about Surgery and that part chiefly which concernes the cure of Tumours and Ulcers Notwithstanding the cure of Ulcers and Wounds doth require very much art The cure of Ulcers and Tumours require much arâ— as first all their differences must bee known to wit whether it be a simple Wound or corroding contused with putrefaction of the bone corrupt cancrous fistulous c. Then the variety of remedies and circumstances in curing makes
their Countrymen But for the most part it is to be observed that greater danger hangs over the sick by those practitioners in Physick which have but little knowledg therein then from that know nothing at all For they become audacious talkative outbrave and resist their betters and brag that they either excell them or at least equallize them I have observed in some this evill custome that whatsoever a Physician shall speak well they contradict that they may get to themselves some fame out of the ruine of another mans name CHAP. III. Of the servants of Physicians and of Apothecaries that practise Physick THis is an ordinary Errour that they that have been Physicians servants although meer ignorant fellows Physitians servants and Apothe caries far short of the abilities requisite to make them Physicians after the death of their Master or many times before address themselves to the practise of Physick of whom I have known many and they are also thought by the people to have some knowledg because for many years they have served a Physician have written down his prescriptions which they call Bills and Receits and have observed the successe The same may be said of some Apothecaries whom some Physician hath long imployed but all this is not sufficient to make a Physician nor can the Medicinall art be so easily learned For Hippocrates What is requisite to make a Physician in him that desires to be a Physician besides a prompt wit requireth instruction from his childhood a fit place for his studies labour discipline convenient time and other things which these men want as if to follow a Physician were sufficient to learn Physick or as if those Physicians whom they serve were more excellent than others who have commended their learning and experience in their writings to posterity Not that I think it absurd for a poor painfull Scholler to serve a Physician and to learn from him what he can but that it is too much saucinesse for such fellows and drudges adventurously and malapertly to imitate their Masters for seeing that no man is such an exact Physician to whom many things are not wanting to that perfection which should be requisite for a Physician how can these fellows so easily become Physicians And yet they as well as others are much extolled by the people CHAP. IV Of Ministers that practise Physick AMong men of Ecclesiasticall order that have dedicated themselves wholly to God and the Churches commodity there are many that do seriously and greedily and with much gain to themselves undertake the cure not of souls only but of bodies likewise and strive to their utmost to get patients to themselves for the healing of their bodily diseases even in such places where there is store of Physicians I know this is disliked by many Physicians especially by them that gape all for gain but seeing that many Physicians of lighter note do scarce patiently brook others better then themselves it is no wonder if they approue not that order of religious men But this is no new thing for Marsilius Ficinus that great interpreter of Plato was both Physician and Priest and proves it to be lawfull because to the holy Priest all the offices of charity doe belong Wherefore he that to the Priesthood joynes Physick procures that a sound mind may be lodged in a in a sound body But if in a Minister the knowledg not only of Theology but of other sciences also be requisite why shall Physick be excepted How many of them are there that are full well versed in the knotty questions of the Law why not also in Physick But some will object 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who is sufficient for these things The study and practise of Physick requires the whole man For the Medicinall art seems to be so cumbersome difficult and long that it cannot be throughly learned of any man but it requires and exacts the whole man Wherefore the Divine feems to be blame worthy who leaving and neglecting the nobler science to which he hath given up his name and hath gotten to himself a character never to be blotted out doth addict himself to another so slippery so hard so unconstant for it must of necessity follow that a sufficient knowledg of another art must be wanting to him But they have many things to object whereby they can defend that singular charity forsooth towards their neighbours And first the curing and preventing of diseases is not contrary nor opposite to the study of Divinity and to the preaching of Gods Word for even the Apostles and promitive Christians did heale diseases and also preach Now though that kinde of curing was miraculous yet from thence we may gather that the curing of diseases in it self and its own nature is not oppugnant to the Ecclesiasticall office but doth well and friendly agree therewith If it be lawfull therefore to atchieve the end it is likewise lawfull to use the means that tend to that end and such are remedies which God hath created to this use But perhaps some will say that curing of diseases in respect of the thing it self doth not oppugne the office of Divines but only because it doth suppose the knowledg of another Science to which together with Theology it is not easie to give diligence But they may answer all mens wits are not alike and the gifts of God to every one are not the same Some perhaps are so prompt of wit able of memory and such lovers of pains that they can imploy their minds in both arts with very much profit Yea at this day there are but few that to the study of Divinity have not added some other Science to which their Genius doth most encline Some are conversant in the study of Mathematicks or of Astrologie or of the Lawes or the like nor doth any man blame them for it That the knowledge of both these Arts is possible the example of some Physicians themselves doth manifest of whom many study but little and yet in regard that they are taken for Physicians they desire to be preferred before any painfull Divine but for what reason it is unknown For if a Minister do employ that time in the study of physick which a mongrel physician doth shamefully spend either in doing nothing or in ill doing or in playnig as many doe what should hinder him to become a skilfull Physician Nor is it a new thing that some Physicians also are delighted with the study of Theologie and verily I see no reason why in this our age where abuse hath corrupted almost every thing that some Divines may not be more learned than some Medicine mongers seeing that many Physicians or at least such as would be accounted so doe so little bend themselves to the study of Physick that it is an easie thing with a light labour to know more in Physick than they know Volaterranus reports that Trusianus who was called more than a Commentatour whose admirable and
such observatours take notice onely of one difference of the pulse to wit the swiftnesse and slownesse but there are many differences of the pulse necessarily to be considered by a physician simple compound absolute relative in one only pulsation in many All which if they were considered according to Galens minde the Ancients they would be more than two thousand differences But by us who have rejected many superfluous things there remaine more than an hundred to be observed Nor is it sufficient to know the differences onely for besides the causes of every one of them are necessary to be known that the judgement touching diseases may be infallible Againe the manner of knowing them is difficult for every difference hath its peculiar manner of knowing it which if one be ignorant of he will never finde out the pulse If many should heare onely the names of the pulses they would of their own accord abstain from touching the Arteries for like Magicall termes they are able to affright the ignorant as Pulsus arythmos ecrythmos pararythmos mejouros in unâ vel pluribus pulsationibus caprisans imparcitatus aequalis inaequaliter equaliter inequalis and many other differences there are in this place needlesse to bee rehearsed out of which wee take the knowledge and prognosticks of diseases The same may be said of Urines of which there are many differences simple compounds in colour consistence contents and their causes are likewise to bee known but things that are so difficult can scarce be dealt withall by an ignorant man or by a woman Besides they are wont to administer Cathartick and purging Remedies Now they must know it is a very easie thing to loose the belly for many both simples and compounds doe it but he alone is able to doe it according to the rules of art that is a good Artist For purges are for the most part troublesome to Nature and for that cause ought never to be administred but with great heed and discretion Moreover they are much mistaken that without making any difference if their bellies be but abundantly loosed doe applaud it while they consider not the remedy by which it is done The same likewise is to be said of other remedies whereof great store may every where be found Not the plenty of remedies but the manner of using them makes a Physician which doth suppose a Physician to be exercised in knowing diseases and that he is skilfull in the nature of bodies and method of curing which thing very many of these cannot promise of themselves nor others of them Would God also some whom the Universities have approved fell not into the same Errour and did not at a venture collect their remedies out of foolish bookes I doe not here dislike the reading of many bookes which set out unto us the wits of modern writers and of those curious Artists especially that have committed their observations unto writing But I leave all to the judgement of the learned Physician I chase from the hives the sluggish drones and doe here treat onely of some mongrell Physicians which by mens deaths make their experiments and would indeed imitate good and skilfull physicians but cannot attain to them CHAP. XVI Of them that promise an easie cure of the French Pox. THe last Chapter of this booke we will dedicate to that disease which they who are most troubled and vexed therewith doe alwaies give to others we will call it by the common name of the French Pox. A most filthy disease accompanyed with sundry and horrible symptomes concerning which divers tractates of learned Physicians are extant wherein they seeke out the time casie and ready way of curing the disease But a certaine sort of men are crept up who gives out that to be most easie which hitherto hath seemed very difficult to all Physicians and in their Tables they professe themselves to have a kinde of method whereby within ten or twelve daies they say they are able to root out this disease although inveterate nor doe they strickly observe any manner of diet but leave the sick to himselfe alone this is indeed an easie and pleasant way of curing But how is it that Physicians now adaies are thought unable to cure this disease but it is beleeved to be the proper office of Surgeons and Mountibankes when notwithstanding the right way of curing this disease hath proceeded from physicians and requires a great deale of industry as well about sudorificks as ointments suffumigations and other preservatives against the poyson of the disease The curing of which although I denie not but it may be performed by skilfull and learned Surgeons yet many unskilfull men in that art perhaps against their wills and ignorantly bring many evils upon the sick Yea I am sure I know some who being supposed to be infected with this pest have been disquieted and tormented with many Medicines who notwithstanding never had contracted any such disease for though the knowledge of the disease be not so difficult yet I certainly know that many pains of the joints head and other parts have been taken for the French pox by some unskilfull fellowes but it was a grosse mistake And here all men are to be admonished that first they beware of Whores and then that they beware of such coseners This disease not easily cured For this disease is not so easily cured and being left sticking to the body some while it doth so debilitate and corrupt the bowels that it breeds other incurable diseases as the A sort of leprie Elephantiasis I deny not but the cure of this disease in the beginning is easie enough yet such as requires the care of the Physician the obedience and patience of the sick and heedfull diligence to be had in his dyet Surely it must needs be a very light disease which any one can cure in so short a time without regarding any course of living with liberall and jocund feasting walking abroad and using other such recreations of the minde It requires a strict regiment Neverthelesse the remedies that are convenient for this disease doe not promiscuously admit or what course of living men please for it may perhaps be such as doth resist the remedies and abate their vertue Againe as in other diseases the diversitie of temperaments is to be regarded so also in this and therefore a strict choice of remedies is to be made which things if any man do not consider and weigh it is no wonder if he undoe many sick persons Wherefore he that is troubled with this disease Cautions so such as are â—ll of the â—rench pox lethim not trust himself but to a Physician that is a skilfull Artist unlesse he desire to lose both his labour and his money too which many times men both promise and bestow more freely on those knaves then on a learned and faithfull Physician But enough of this for it is not my purpose in this book to handle the manner of
colour preferred before red because that colour doth dissipate the sight and call forth the spirits to the externall parts and so by consequence further the springing forth of the humours into the skin CHAP. XX. That they erre who thinke to drive away a disease beginning by labour IT is the custome of many when they feele themselves begin to besick to labour to shake off the disease by walking exercises and labours following herein the old saying Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito Unto diseases give no way Be bold and let them beare no sway And somtimes it succeeds well to them not alwayes except the cause of the disease be very light For exercise is troublesome and hurtfull to the sick in regard of the agitation of the morbous humours thereby Prodicus was wont to molest those that were in feavers with much walking abroad coursing about wrestling and dry fomentations but he is blamed by Hippocrates 6 epid sect 3. text 23. because saith he a feaver is exasperated by hunger wrestling walking abroad coursing and frictions for from thence did happen a rednesse of the veines palenesse of the face and some gentle paines of the sides This custome of walking to and fro in diseases Plato attributes to Herodicus in the beginning of Phaedrus So Asclepiades in the beginning of a burning feaver would have the Patient to use violent exercise but he is blamed by Celsus He thought saith he that the strength of the sick was to be disquieted with labour light lib. 2. cap. 4. 15. watching and vehement thirstinesse so as that for some few dayes in the beginning of the feaver he would not suffer their mouthes to be washed It is not therefore alwaies safe to strive against the disease with such violent exercises for many times the Patient becomes farre worse after them than the was before POPVLAR ERROVRS The Fourth BOOK Of the Errours of the People about the use of Remedies CHAP. I. Of them that despise those Remedies that are Chymically prepared THE principall part of Physick concernes the use of remedies for it is an Art ordained for the vanquishing of diseases Now diseases are vanquished by the proper and right administration of remedies Therefore in this Book we will take notice of certaine errours of the people about the administration and use of remedies And first the opinion of men concerning remedies is two fold A twofold errour Some do neglect and greatly feare to use any remedies that are chymioally prepared Others on the contrary doe extoll them beyond measure but those of Galens method as they call them to wit which are prepared after the vulgar and long since received manner they basely account of and contemne We will say something of them both but they are wise that keep a meane Medium tenuere beati And as almost all the errours which are rife among the people have heretofore at first proceeded from Physicians whose meanings the people have not well understood so this also among the rest Wherefore something is to bee said of the aforesaid errours Chymicall remedies not to be rejected Now in this Chapter I will plainly manifest that chymicall remedies ought not to be neglected being administred by a prudent Physician and an honest man As touching this manner of preparing medicaments it was not invented by Paracelsus as we have already said Chymistry not invented by Paracelsus but was practised many ages before Paracelsus was borne even by those Physicians which followed Galens method as Raimundus Lullius Villanovanus and many others who have left behinde them for us some excellent remedies chymically prepared And after Paracelsus his time many learned Physicians judiciously distinguishing the chymicall preparation of remedies from the doctrine of Paracelsus have followed that and disallowed this Fernel the chief of the modern Physicians did frequently practise that art Matthiolus used the spirit of vitriol and antimonie prepared chymically and in his Epistle to Andrew de Blaw being the last of his fourth book of Epistles he doth not only approve of this art and commend the admirable operations of it but he thinks that no man can be an absolute Physician The knowledg of it necessary for a Physician no not an indifferent one who is not of good experience in this most noble science Crato a Physician to 3 Emperours in his counsels set forth by Scholtzius doth highly commend chymicall remedies and professes that he himselfe used them Yea Erastus himselfe the great Antagonist of the Paracelsian Sect in the preface of his works against Paracelsus confesses that he doth not implead or dislike this chymicall preparation of remedies but commends and approves of it very much Ioannes Riolanus a most excellent Interpreter of Physick whiles that at the appointment of the Colledge at Paris he had abolished all the deceitfull figments of the Paracelsians writes that this Colledge wherein are the most excellent Physicians of Europe doth leave free the use of Chymicks so as the old manner of curing according to the precepts of Galen and Hippocrates remaine in force Indeed that art in Galens time was not practised nor knowne Chymistry not known in Galens time neverthelesse it is not therefore to bee rejected For it hath been and ever will be free for posterity to adde something for use and ornament to an art already well established Thus we use many remedies which our ancestors were ignorant of as Sene Rubarb Cassia Tamarinds and other things far better than peplium coloquintida and the like Moreover the Rudiments of the chymicall art do appeare even in the vulgar preparation of medicaments Now according to them all remedies are prepared either by addition detraction or immutation for either the matter of the medicaments is required or else the faculty and vertue separate from the matter the matter in thickning astringent and drying remedies but the vertue alone in attenuating dissolving and purging medicines because the grosseness of the matter hinders their efficacie For this intention Mesues makes 4 kinds of operation decoction dissolution infusion trituration or grinding to powder What is infusion but an extract begun What is decoction especially roasting with fire but the beginning of calcination But in this manner of separation which they so much wished for and the Ancients accounted so necessary the chymicall Art doth excell for by divers wayes it severs the pure from the impure and so extracts and stirs up the divers vertues of medicaments which otherwise had been hid under the grosse matter and could never have been drawn out by naturall heat as especially may be seen in minerals Besides it concocts and attenuates the earthly parts alters or else quite takes away the malignant venemous and corrupt qualities and increases the vertues for there is more vertue and efficacie in cinnamon water against the Syncope and other diseases than in whole cinnamon The same may be said of distilled and extracted oyles the oyle of
the Epistles of Scholtius who being intreated by the Germanes to communicate his secrets answered very well read my practise and you shall finde my secrets in which book there is no secret no hidden thing at all I remember I have heard Varandaeus the Kings professour in the Universitie of Monspelier The best remedies are such as are no secrets say that those remedies are the best which are no secrets but best knowne as being confirmed with more certain experience and he said truly But let us now pry into the nature of secrets they are either simple or compounded I confesse indeed all the vertues of simples are not yet perfectly known as yet many lye hid If therefore any man hath found out by experience the vertue of some simple medicament What is properly to be called a secret not yet known that increase of art is to be commended and deserves to be called a secret as he that first found out the vomiting vertue of Antimony he that invented the compounding and found out the efficacie of gunpowder he that first brought Jalap into use had secrets greatly to be commended such as these if any man have he is worthy of commendation and I think no other secrets are to be admitted For those that are compounded of the ordinary matter of simples as usually they are albeit a physician doe keep them to himself and desire not that they be known yet they are not to be called secrets for any learned and skilfull physician can at his pleasure make the like of present materials And therefore I have observed that no man is more unhappy than those physicians that note their medicines out of books and many ignorant fellows we see doe cunningly conceale their remedies lest if they should become known to other physicians they should be laughed at Hence it appeares how much many both men and women here in England are beguiled where all do busie themselves in gathering receits as they call them when oftentimes those remedies are of no worth at all and did at the first come from some physician who himselfe had nothing that was secret And what though they be good yet they are not nor ought to be called secrets For as good yea and farre better remedies can a learned and skilfull physician provide out of the matter of physick diversly tempered as different words are made out of the letters diversly joyned I once met with a man that had a receit of a purge which as he said a very learned physician lately dead had given him which I perusing I could not hold from laughter at the foolishnesse of the composition he made it up for his Wife but all in vaine I perswaded him to give it to the Apothecary and that he should give her but the third part wherewith shee was sufficiently and abundantly purged And I knew a Gentleman that accounted Electuarium Lenitivum to be a great secret who told me hee paid twenty pound for the receit Others I know who have the pils of amber aqua mirabilis and many other such remedies which are to be had in every Apothecaries Shop and yet they account them as great secrets So I have knowne others keep for precious secrets the descriptions of Diet drinks which many times they believe to be more efficacious then those that are prescribed by physicians although the matter is far otherwise CHAP. XIII Of Physicians that are thought to be lucky and fortunate Many of them that practise physick although sometimes they are not thought to be so learned yet they are esteemed by the people to be fortunate and lucky Indeed some of them are very fortunate to heape together so great riches by an art which they doe not well understand But they are unfortunate that trust to them for by art and not by fortune are diseases cured forasmuch as to the cure of discases there ought to precede a certain understanding and fore-knowledge of them and their Symptomes how can it be that he that is but lightly tinctured with the knowledge of them can ever performe a good cure but that after the manner of the * They were a sort of people who were wont to fightblindfolded Andabatae he wrestles with diseases It may so fall out that he may meet with diseases very easie to be cured which nature it selfe is able to overcome without the help of physick of which if a Physician be but a spectator they will be cured and then he is a fortunate physician to whom such a thing doth happen It may fall uut also that he may be sent for in the declination of the disease or after the principall remedies have been administred by another more able Aristotle calls fortune an accidentall cause of those things that are done Now diseases are cured by a due administration of remedies which due administration doth not depend upon fortune but on the learning and judgment of the physician T is a right administration of remedies not fortune that cures diseases Otherwise he that useth a remedy and hath not a sufficient knowledge of the Art undoubtedly he aimes like a blinde man at a mark which if he hit it is meerly hap-hazard from whence it comes to passe many times that such men by their unskilfull application of remedies make diseases otherwise easie to be cured to become a great deal worse Hippocrates sayes well Lib. de locis in homine If the remedies of diseases be certaine what need is there of fortune otherwise as well remedies as those that are no remedies being exhibited with fortune will doe good But some man will say that which we call fortune is none other then the providence of God which directs the Physicians remedies though he be not very learned to the health of man But that is not enough for though all things depend upon Gods blessing and are to be expected from thence yet he doth not use to worke immediately but by the use of remedies For the most high from Heaven hath created physick and he saith that an honest learned and faithfull Physician is to be honoured So that it is not usuall with him to give a blessing to naughty remedies ignorantly and unseasonably administred But on the contrary if any physician whether a good man or bad know well the nature of remedies and diseases Gods covenant with nature and administer every thing discreetly that is in due place time order and according to the rules of art a happy event is to be hoped for and God is wont to blesse such meanes in regard of the covenant which he hath made with nature Otherwise although one should mis-apply remedies if yet a happy successe were to be expected what a miracle would it be if bad meanes which naturally cannot attain to the end propounded besides the order ordained by God in nature by his immediate benediction should notwithstanding be directed to the right aime Although God can doe this when
That blood retained because for the smalnesse of the young one in the beginning of her graviditie it is not at all spent for the nourishment thereof doth putrifie and hath recourse either to the noble parts or at least annoyes them with filthy vapours which it sends forth from whence arise the aforesaid symptomes in the stomach intrailes belly head and the whole body as vomiting loathing of meat unsatiable longing and lusting gripings dizzinesse of the head and such like Seeing therefore the husband hath not in him the causes of these affects but his wife onely it stands with reason that shee onely should be sick Nor if any husband be sick when his wife is with childe was hee infected by his wife for that distemper may happen through some peculiar fault of his owne body As while I write this it raines yet neither is my writing the cause of the raine nor the raine of my writing It is no new thing for husbands and their wives to bee both sick together But it is a wonder and heretofore a thing unknown that graviditie or a womans being with childe is a contagious disease and that not other women but men only whom nature hath freed from this travaile should be infected therewith Furthermore it is observed that the same symptomes do not happen to all women or at least not all to every one and yet it often falls out that when the woman is in good health the husband is sick yea sometimes being many miles off But if he endure that by his wives being with childe how comes it to passe that she continues well at the same time For naturall causes doe sooner worke upon the near than upon the remote subject And for that cause seeing the woman carries about her such noxious humours she should be sooner and more grievously sick I know something might be said of simpathy antipathy contagion fascination and other such trifles But if these things be so why do not maids and widows who are very often troubled with the like symptomes through suppression of their flowers infect their bedfellows and familiars seeing there is the same cause and without doubt they may have a sympathy with some of them To cause a contagion not only the efficacie of the agent but also a disposition and analogy in the patient is requisite But who believes not that another woman is more prone to receive and take the symptomes of gravidity than a man seeing they were all created for propagation of children and therefore one woman ought to take great heed to her self of another Moreover it may happen that a woman that is sore troubled with the green sicknesse as they call it is married to a man whom notwithstanding although her flowers be suppressed she shall never infect why then when the same woman is with childe and there is no other reason of sickness then suppression of the flowers shall her husband be sick Men would be in an ill case if as often as there were a suppression of their wives flowers so often they not their wives should bee sick But because by the very relating of it the absurdity of this errour doth appeare I will adde no more Iupiter bore Bacchus in his thigh and Pallas in his brain but let this be proper to him alone CHAP. XIIII Whether forraine Physicians and Aliens can know the temper of the sick of another Countrey TO know the temperature of the sick conduces much to the knowledge of diseases and their cure and this businesse requires a long and difficult handling I will onely say thus much that some are of opinion that Strangers cannot know the temperature of them of another Country as French men of the English But that is repugnant to the nature of the Art of Physick the precepts whereof are generall The precepts of Physick are generall and may easily be applyed to any Country For every art is of universals not of particulars therefore here in England all that are skilfull Artists doe practise Physick according to the precepts of Galen and Hippocrates which if any man doe well understand he is able to discerne the diversitie of men according to their ages countries and the different temper of the aire and what medicaments are convenient for them Concerning which Hippocrates hath written an excellent book of aire waters and places For the Art of Physick wheresoever it is taught doth lay downe marks and signes which are taken from Countries both for the knowledge and prognostication of diseases and indications which the diversitie of Countries doth afford for the appointment of a right diet letting of bloud prescribing of purges and administring of all other remedies Otherwise it were no Art if it should accommodate its precepts to some particular place only Galen who was borne and brought up in Greece practised Physick at Rome Hence 3 prognost Hippocrates saith that his documents may be applyed to any Country either hot or cold to Lybia Delos Scythia and the rest Also the Arabians have borrowed from the Greeks their precepts of curing which are the very same with the Galenists which we promiscuously follow Therefore it was wisely ordered by the Spaniards and Portugals that in India where they beare rule Physick should be practised after the self same manner that it is in Europe according to the doctrine of Galen and Hippocrates I know much might be said of that variety of temperature which Countries doe give to the inhabitants for even in one and the same Kingdome there is a great diversitie of inhabitants in respect of the divers situation of the Countryes nature of the soyle blowing of the wind and other causes for the diligent search of all which the Art of Physick layes down rules And yet whatsoever the Climate and Country be even in the most Northern Climates there are men of every temper hot cold cholerick flegmatick sanguine melancholick One that without license practised Physick a Surgeon by profession that he might doe me a displeasure was often wont to say that Frenchmen cannot understand the nature and constitution of the English I once asked him what was that constitution of an Englishman wherein he differs from a Frenchman by what signes he could know it seeing that in every place are men of every temperature which things seeing they cannot be knowne but of a learned Physician it is no wonder if every simple medicine-monger be ignorant of them For it is a thing exceeding hard to be known Therfore Galen said that if he could but perfectly know the temperature of his Patients he should be another Aesculapius I will now only adde thus much that what is talked by the vulgar concerning the temperature of divers people is well understood but of few for all men have their proper temperaments differing from others ingendred in them from the principles of generation they cannot therefore have any thing common in which all men can agree That same therefore is onely a certain
the blood of the party wounded is joyned unto the ointment the spirits that are in the blood are by reason of sympathy joyned with the spirits of the ointment being both of the same kind and so doth take the vertues of the ointment and carry it unto the party wounded And not only the vertues of the ointment but also the affects which follow the administration of ointments which are such as happen either by a too strait or too loose ligature as also those which may ensue if a wound be left uncovered in a place that is either too cold or too hot And there is so much force in these spirits that they are able to conveigh the vertue of the ointment from the East into the West from the North to the South And Crollius calls them all fooles who think that this cure is Magicall and hee will have it to be done by a magneticall and attractive vertue caused by the starres which is carried unto the wound by the Aire being the Medium and that by reason of the sympathy of Nature and Balsame of bloud which is in every man and by reason of the influence of caelesticall bodies And thus Hartman explaines it when the weapon is anointed the salt of the blood which is on the weapon doth by a magneticall vertue draw the animal spirits out of the ointment which two spirits by the concurrence of the spirit of the world are friendly united into one But if the spirit which is in the bloud of the weapon cannot attract the spirit of the ointment without the annointing that is to say without reall contract how can it bee sayd to draw it with a magneticall vertue Now this spirit of the world hee will have to bee diffused throughout all things in the world to be that which carries the formes of seeds and all proportions which knits all things together and which applies actives to passives Hence it comes to passe that what commoditie or discommoditie that bloud congealed without the veines doth receive it is presently by sympathy communicated to its connaturall blood that resides within the veines Thence it is that the partie is in paine if the weapon bee held to the fire or exposed to the cold aire and contrariwise if the patient chance to eat Onions Mustard or Garlick it may presently be perceived in the weapon namely because those spirits doe communicate their passions one to another From what hath been premised it will be very easie to demonstrate the vanity of that manner of curing The vanity of curing by the ointment of which I confesse I never did nor yet desire to make any tryall Yet I doubt not but I shall plainly shew the frivolousnesse of it even from their own principles For instead of the ground-worke they lay downe many things that are very dubious and uncertaine as that which Hartman talkes of the spirit of the world which what or where it is no man as yet hath been able to demonstrate which saith hee is diffused throughout all things when but a little before hee had said that it is conveighed into these inferiour things by raine dewes and frosts and so in a clear and caime aire this spirit may be to seek when perhaps there would be most need of it And lest we should conceive it to be a spirituall and incorporcall substance he calls it Mercurius Mundi and questionlesse it must be corporcall which stands in need of corporeal means to carry it also he supposes the spirits to be perpetual and unalterable in the bloud although it be corrupted when notwithstanding the blood even in the body and veins may be so corrupted that it may lose its form much more without the veines and doubtlesse the bloud that is in the ointment hath quite Jost its form the efficacie of its spirits and so the analogie and sympathie of the spirits of the partie wounded and of the ointment is much weakened Now that some do call this a magicall forme of curing it is not improbable Probable arguments to prove it magicall seeing that vertue of curing which is sayd to be in the ointment doth stand in need of the spirit of the world to carry it that is to say the Divell who is called the Prince of the world But I rather thinke this manner of curing is false than magicall because many follow it which are very farre from that impious and detestable crime Nor matters it that experience confirmes the truth of this form of healing for onely such wounds have been healed which might have been healed by natures endeavour alone without any help of Art and therefore it may yet be questionable whether the cure were performed by vertue of the ointment or no as we shall manifest afterwards First then it is false that this ointment is a more speciall gift of God than other ointments remedies are It s not a special gift of God as is pretended seeing by their own confession the whole cure is done by naturall means We must needs confesse that every thing is the gift of God whatsoever we eat drinke or use for the health of mans body But in this sence they call it not the gift of God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because God hath miraculously taught it men as if every Science Art and all knowledge of remedies were not from God who hath created Medicine out of the earth But let us see whether this cure be possible or no. That there are great and divers sympathies and antipathies of things experience it selfe shewes the reasons whereof it is impossble to render Yet all things are contained and terminated within a certaine spheare of activitie Wee dayly see that the Loadstone drawes not iron but within a certaine distance I knew one that could not endure Cat to be in the roome although he saw her not but being put out of the chamber with a wall or doore between hee returned to himself again and so of all others There is no stronger antipathy then that which is betwixt the heavens and these inferiour things because it comprehends all things within its circumference and being of great force to act is able to dilate its qualities and vertues every way so that this inferiour orbe and every parcell thereof is within the spheare of the activitie of those caelestiall bodies yet we see that sympathy to languish by the distance of places The Loadstone tends to the Pole Artick but the further it is from the Pole the more it declines from it and so by little and little it tends not to the Poles of the world but to the Zodiack and perhaps rather to some other part of the heavens then to the North. If this bee true of the Caelestiall bodies it must needs be more true of these inferiour things Therefore how can the vertue of that ointment be carried so farre as sometimes it must be and not bee hindred by the interposition of buildings seas