are differenced in their stations the one more noble than the other according to the eminency and degree of their vitality as the vegetative life of a Plant is below the sensitive life of animals and this sensitive life of animals inferior and ignoble compared with the rational life of man Now in respect of conjunction they agree equally that the vegetative soul of a Plant is as really united to its body as the soul and body of man is coupled here is no gradation in connexion to distinguish them therefore Life is something else that will admit of degrees and here many arguments might be used to prove and some objections to be answered but it was not my intention to ingage so far in polemical discourse and controversie therefore I pass on Cardan and others determine vitam esse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formae life to be the operation or action of the soul and by how much the actions or operations in one Creature are more noble than in another by so much is the life of that Creature more noble than his fellows and although Greg. Horstius condemns this opinion and adheres to the Aristotelian yet it is much more rational and less intangled with objection Helmont speaking of the life of Creatures in general gives this definition vita est lumen initium formale quo res agit quod agere jussa est Life is a formal light of a luminous nature and he accounts the life and form of every thing to be synonimous natura recipit distinctiones specificas à lumine formali there is so many distinct lights in nature saith he as there is things Formae quaedam nitent ut in lapidibus mineralibus quaedam aucta luce splendent ut in plantis aliae verò sunt etiam luminosae ut in animantatis by which we understand their degrees in eminency of being And the same author in another place creating of the life of man saith vita humana est lux formalis life is a formal light and if we admit of this Definition all vital operations or actions are emanations and streams issuing from this formal light so that lumen formale est causa actus vitalis Now because forma est indemonstrabilis à priori the essence of things is not demonstrable in their causes but are the ne plus ultra the bounds and limits of our reasoning and disquisition I shall level the following discourse that you may take a view of this life à posteriori since the Creator hath vailed the face of the Creature that we should not behold their essence as being his prerogative For these two latter definitions of life although they differ yet we may receive information from both the last appropriates the word life to the soul or specific individual form of every thing and so vita anima forma are synonimous the other to the operations that do emanare proceed from that form or soul and in this aceeptation vita is actus vitalis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 istius formae what this life is as it is actus primus forma anima rei I shall discourse in due place following and as vita is act us secundus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 formae action or operation I think it necessary to explicate And here I might observe and lay open the variety and difference of life in the several species of Creatures yea those things that seem to be dead and inanimate are alive do edere actiones perform operations more or less eminently to testifie and prove that there is life in them and therefore Minerals as Stones and Metals do live and can exert their power proportionable to that life which is in them though their life is not so perspicuous and refulgent as those of a higher orb and degree in vitality yet their life is not so mean and contemptible as some may imagine but their operations are such as may and oftentimes do cause our admiration vivunt animalia vegetabilia mineralia suo quaelibet vivendi mode But I must wave what collaterally falls into this discourse and prosecute directly the intention of this Treatise and therefore setting aside the life of other Creatures I shall strictly examine the life of man in its initiation or plantation gradations and exaltation declensionâ— and period and for the better understanâ—ing of this life in its several degrees of vitality how â—nd by what means the life of man is so fluxible and mutable I shall bring into consideration the principles of life which is the subject of our discourse in the following sâ—ction Of vital and fundamental Principles and their operations HAving undertaken to declare the life of man what it is wherein the ratio formalis does consist wâ—ich we have determined to be operation or action and since vital operation is not simple and univocal but equivocal and various humane vitality being compounded of or admiting different actions comprised within its latitude I shall therefore examine how it comes to pass and from whence these different actions do proceed that the principles and foundation of this life may be discovered The vital and fundamental principles I call such as are principally and fundamentally concerned in vital operations and they are three the sensitive Soul the Archaeus or vital Spirit and the ferments and these are the three grand wheels upon which the life of man doth move by their distinct causations cooperating subordinately and consenting in uniformity and conformity with each other In natural actions of compound bodies there is both agent and patient part moving and part moved in humane vital actions there is first anima movens efficienter the Soul moving as an efficient principal cause secondly there is also spiritus movens instrumâ—ntâ—liter the vital spirit moving as agent or instrument Thirdly there is fermenta partium the ferments which is the peculiar and different Crasis of each part the two former are active and more general in causation the latter passive special and distinct determining the other and specificating their efficiency to produce various effects to which organization and different fabrication of parts suiting those purposes does contrâ—bute The proprieties of life result from these principles hereby the Creatures are distinguished one from the other producing such and such distinct operations answerable to the principles of their vitality so that their peculiar distinct beings and operations arise from the peculiarity of their vital and fundamental principles and if these vital principles be the basis on which the several degrees orders of Creatures do stand by which they are ranked and placed in their proper stations as their distinguishing characters then we must conclude that a right notion and conception of these unfolds the Creature discovers its being by this light of their vitality which unknown our knowledge is very dark and uncertain and as life consists in and manifests it self by operation then by how much those operations are more noble
A TREATISE OF CONSUMPTIONS LICENSED October 13. 1666. Roger L'Estrange A TREATISE OF CONSUMPTIONS The Second Edition Whereunto is Annexed Useful Discoveries and Practical Observations in some late Remarkable Cures of the SCURVY Never before Printed By E. Maynwaringe Dr. in Physick Cognitio Sequitur Curationes LONDON Printed by Anne Maxwell and are to be sold by Tho. Basset at his Shop under St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street 1668. Preface HAving surveyed and seriously perused many Volumes of the most learned and eminent Physicians ancient and modern I find a great progress made in the Art of Physick being modelled and methodized into such order as if nothing were wanting to its perfection and that the burden of this business hath wholly rested upon the shoulders of our Predecessors in this Faculty and Profession so that it may be thought by superficial indagators there is nothing new to be inquired after that the work is done to our hand and we may sit down and rest satisfied in thâ— enjoyment of their labours thaâ— tracing their footsteps we arâ— sufficiently guided in the righâ— practice of Physick Though others are contented to acquiesce in traditional notions and jog on in the common road as being most easie and beaten and to look upon the inquiries and determinations of our Ancestors as a ne plus ultra to any disquisition or sedulous indagation of their own for my own part I am willing to step aside sometimes into rough untrodden ways to find out some secrets in Nature not confining my self within the Rules of Common Practice nor thinking my self bounded and restrained by the Canons of the Ancients but guided by Reason and true Experiments the best and safest conduct that leads to truth But I would not be mistaken as if I contemned the works of other men endeavouring to build upon their ruines I have as great a regard to all the Learned in this Faculty as any whatsoever and am so far from blasting any one that I would rather smother then willingly blaze their errours but where necessity compells me for truths sake I am blameless when I name some nor is it to be look'd upon as a defamation men are but men and we know but in part and if another can convince me of errour I shall thank him for his admonition and submit to his more prevalent and persuasive reasons until then I shall adhere to and defend the Assertions delivered in the following Discourse as most consonant with reason and verified by my practice and observations London At my House in Clerkenwell-Close A Table of the Heads and chief matter treated on OF Consumptions in general several Denominations and their Etymologies page 1. Of Life p. 3. Of vital and fundamental Principles and their operations p. 8. Of the material sensitive and mortal Soul of man p. 11. Of the vital Spirit or balsom of Life p. 16. Of Fermentation and fermenting Principles p. 25 A Survey of the vital and fundamental Principles conjunctim p. 36. Of vital heat p. 39. Of a Consumption Atrophy p. 42. Of Scorbutick Consumptions p. 49. Of a Hectick Fever p. 54. Of a Phthisick and Consumption of the Lungs p. 77. Of a Spermatick Consumption and Gonorrhaea or running of the reins p. 98. Of Fluor albus the whites p. 104. Tabidorum Narratio Of Consumptions in general several Denominations and their Etymologies AT the entrance of our discourse upon this Subject it will not be unprofitable to examine the word Consumption for that Diseases most commonly have their denominations significant intimating the nature of the Disease or somthing eminently appertaining thereto Consumption in its genuine signification denotes a wasting or wearing away from Consumo to spend wast or lessen but the Latine word most commonly us'd by Physicians is Tabes from Tabeo signifying also to consume or wast and in the latitude of this signification most diseases may be called Consumptions because they do prey upon the vital and fundamental principles spend and wear them yea after the vigour and strength of our age is past although we continue without a manifest depravation of the functions belonging to vitality and in a state of health yet theâ—… is a declension spending and decay of the vital and fundamental principles which do deficere fall off from their pristine integrity and vigour though we are not sensible of it but by space of time we cannot perceive daily they do decrescere but we find them decrevisse that they are wasted and decreased in their vigouâ— and strength which this word Consumption does comprise But this is not the intent of our discourse although the latitude of the word will admit yet it will be profitable and useful to consider the variety oâ— Consumptions and Declensions of Nature although in a state of health for the better illustration of those arising from morbific causes which strictly and more peculiarly intended are the subject matter of this work and they are distinguished by these several appellations Atrophia Febris Hectica Phthisis Seminis excretio called tabes dorsalis by Hippocrates The first signifies barely a defect or want of nutrition the second a Hectic Feaver the third a Ptissick an exulceration or rottenness the fourth an involuntary emission of seed or voluntary but immoderate Of Life FOR your better understanding the whole frame of this discourse and to facilitate your apprehension of what shall be delivered which otherwise might seem obscure and incongruous with the present design I shall first lead you to the foundation that you may see what basis it hath and then your reason will determine of the superstructure and the conformity of its parts This work takes its rise from or is bottomed upon the life the vital and fundamental principles to which the whole discourse refers and depends upon and since our Subject to be handled and treated on is a Consumption a decay and wasting of the vital principles it is requisite in the first place you should know what this life is the vital and fundamental principles are being the basis of the discourse which unknown or not rightly and exactly discovered clouds all that shall deductively from thence be asserted and delivered And first I shall recite some opinions of great Philosophers concerning life what it is Aristotle lib. de respir says that life is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mansio animae nutritivae cum calido by which we understand only a conjunction of the vegetative soul with the body and like to this is Scaliger's Definition Exerc. 102. sect 5. where he saith the life to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unionem animae cum corpore to whom Hollerius agrees quid aliud vita est quam animae corporis firma copulatio Comm. 2. lib. 5. Coac Hippocr what is life saith he but the connexion or coupling of soul and body But this opinion when it comes to be throughly examined will not hold because there is several gradations or degrees of life whereby the Creatures
vigorous free and operative by so much is the life more excellent in that Creature â—am in essentia specifica quam in esse individuo and as the life of man is distributed into several faculties by fit organs we may judge of the integrity of that life by the performance and execution of each function What these vital and fâ—ndamental principles are I shall distinctly examine them apart for a clearer discovery of their pecuâ—iar nature as followeth The material sensitive and mortal Soul of man MAN falling from that state of integrity in which he was created lost his honour and supreme priviledge of being wholy governed by his rational and immortal soul in all vital actions but being degraded from that perfection the regiment of the body was delegated to a sensitive and mortal Soul common to the brutes and made the immediate Rectrix and Governess of man in vital actions By this means death entred into mankind the immaterial and immortal principle of life being supplanted thereby forfeited Sovereignty and Jurisdiction total and uncontrolled power in man did resign great part of the government and was thereby made subject to the over-rulings and contradictings allurements and seductions of a depraved and sensitive Soul the substitute of that immortal and first total Sovereign and Rectrix of our vitality This material irrational soul having the Reins and Government of man in vital and animal actions as the brutal soul of beasts governs those Creatures and being a material substance subject to mutability and decay as other sublunary bodies are hence the life of man became frail and mortal being the result of corruptible prâ—nciples depending on them in mutual concurrence conspiratâ—on and vigour but è contra subject to irregularity discord and defection This sensitive or brutal Soul is a principle of life giving sense and motion distributed â—nto several faculties by the spirit of life which is animae instrumentum conveyed through the body by fit organs for the execution of divers functions If you ask what is the Office of the rational soul and to what purposes doth it serve since the vital oeconomy and government of the body is transferred and committed to another power To give satisfaction herein and to determine distinctly between the rational and irrational soul that their conjunct and disjunct operations their subordinations and dependances in vitality may more clearly be discerned I shall in these following Theses give solution to some nice questions than may be started and reduce the whole to our present deâ—ign First That the rational Soul hath deâ—ivered up the Power and Government of the body in vital actiâ—ns that are meerly animal to a sensiâ—ive and inferior power immediately acting tanquam ejus vicario for governing the vital functions Secondly That the rational Soul post lapsum being seated in the bosom of the brutal and united quasi in connubio to this vital principle hath influence upon the sensitive by way of promotion assistance or direction usque in vitae periodum through the whole term of life Thirdly That the sensitive or brutal Soul taking itâ— oriâ—ination and introduction into mankind from a defection lapse and depravation remains perverse repugnant to reason and refuseth often to obey the dictates and instructions of the rational Soul in vital actions and government of the body Est lex in membris Contradicens legibus mentis immortalis Scrip. Sac. Fourthly That both rational and sensitive Soul do often concur consent and cooperate unanimously for preservation of the body and integrity of vital actions the sensitive Soul obedientially and willingly receiving concurrence aid aâ—… direction from the rational as supreaâ—… Moderatrix 5ly That the sensitive and mortal Soâ—… arising seminaliter and of material production hath a temporary incremenâ— state and decrement does senescere tabescere as other perishable bodies subject to corruption 6ly That the mortality and decay oâ— man does not arise from any deficiencâ— and decay of the rational Soul whicâ— is in sua natura of perpetual duration but from the fragility and corruptibility of his other principles both active anâ— passive forcing the immortal Soul to aâ— egress by ruine and inhabitableness of her mansion 7ly That the rational Soul though immortal and a principle of perpetual duration yet being obnoxious to passions and disquietudes thereby disordereth the oeconomy and regular execution of vital operations by disturbing the sensitive Soul in her several functions and this à necessitudine combinationis vinculi being both connexed in the bond of vitality are both compatible and liable to each others injuries and discomposures 8ly That the sensitive and mortal Soul in esse and in execution of vital operations depending on material and organical parts is wholy lyable and obnoxious to their deficiencies and decays and therefore hath her duration exaltations and declensions according to the disposition and durability of the material and organical structure 9ly That the sensitive Soul hath distributed her faculties necessary for life by the several organs of the body which vital faculties are distinct in duty and office though not in vitality being the same stream issuing ab unitate animae ad organa diversa and transmitted by the vital Spirit which is animae minister 10ly That sensitive and brutal Souls as they do excel one another in specie having peculiar endowments and properties distinguishing their kinds so likewise in individuis ejusdem speciei they transcend or degenerate from one another in some properties and therefore the material and mortal Souls of men à principio are of longer or shorter duration juxta exigentiam seminalium dispositionum being propagated per successivam sexuum copulam according to Helmont 11ly That the sensitive Soul is supported and best upheld by the placid and unanimous concurrence with the rationaâ— Soul by whose irradiations pleasanâ— estate and amicable conspiration thâ— sensitive Soul is vigorated cheared anâ— enlivened and therefore it is not a littlâ— prejudicial but much detrimental anâ— a shortning of mans life the distractions passionate tumults and indisposed sadness of the rational which otherwise as the Sun in the Heavens gives a chearful brightness and reviving lustre througâ— the world so the Soul by a bright anâ— chearful aspect through the microcosm oâ— man The vital Spirit or balsome of Life IT is rightly affirmed by a learned Philosopher nullum est sensibile quod non ab insensibili intus agatur spiritu every corporeal thing manifesting it self a sensible object is acted by an insensible principle that evades our senses the successive generation of all things in this sublunary world è centris tenebricosis sungunt they arise out of darkness that is are produced and brought forth by invisible principles and secret agents the Authors of such mutations which being invested and clothed with sensible corporiety act their parts in divers figures and operations and as the sensible world is various so is the insensible answerable thereto à principiis insensibilibus omnia moventur
every thing hath its insensible movent principle In the generation of man the materia ex qua the material passive and visible principle is seed this active and invisible principle contained in this seed that disposeth this matter and exerts a power of formation per modum instrumenti to delineate and erect a fit mansion for the Soul to dwell in that fabricates and contrives fit organs for execution of her various functions is the innate spirit or vital spirit in the seed This is called vis plâ—stica vis formatrix the formative power wherewith the seed of man is impregnated as a propagative and prolific principle for successive generation and this virtute verbi from the Creators institution Crescite multiplicamini The Archaeus seminalis this vital spirit is not only an active principle in generation to delineate and fabricate thâ— seed into various parts for several officâ—… and purposes but also doth continâ—… balsamum vitae being of a saline and baâ—samic nature which preserves the bodâ— from corruption This vital spirit is called by many vâ—tal heat because in many animals thâ— spirit manifests its presence by sensibâ—… heat and we may judge of this vitâ—… principle in what state and condition 〈◊〉 is by this concomitant heat which is â—… character and signature of life yet heâ—… is not inseparable and necessary to thâ— vital principle in genere but that it maâ— act in vital operations as vigorously with out this adjunct property as we see iâ— Fishes which are of a cold nature anâ— void of all heat yet are as vegete lively and brisk as any animals of a waâ—… nature so that heat and cold does emerge from life not life from these accidents are but Characteres vitae distinguishing qualities appertaining to severaâ— species of Creatures sutable to their several natures and stations for which theâ— were created and destined What this vital Spirit in humane bodies is and the properties thereto belonging I shall lay open distinctly iâ— these following Theorems First That this vital spirit contained 〈◊〉 the seed is spiritus architecionicus in â—eneratione doth delineate fabricate â—nd form the seed into divers parts and â—…gures to construct and build a fit manâ—…on for the soul to dwell in with necesâ—…ry organs for the execution of her seveâ—…l functions Secondly That this spiritus formator â—ontained in and arising ex semine having â—…s origination materialiter from the seed â—ath its aptitude and hability or inepâ—itude to act juxta seminum dispositionem â—nd therefore the infoecundity miscarriâ—ges and errors in formation is not to â—e imputed alwaies to this Sculptor or â—imner qui generati imaginem habet â—arrying the idea of the foetus impressed â—… generantibus but inobedientiae materiae â—o the indisposition and intractibility of â—eminal matter or external occasional causes intervening and disturbing the workmanship Thirdly That this seminal Agent which is Rector generationis the Framer Director and Delineator in the generation and fabrication of man does also perform and carry on all vital actions or functions in the body during the whole course and progress of mans life and is vitae regiminis moderator 4ly That the Archaeus this seminal Sâ—…rit for its own preservation and additioâ—al supply in carrying on the work of â—…tality which by time increaseth as tâ—… microcosme framing comes to perfectâ—… and growth does therefore associâ—… with and assimilate to its self an influâ—…ed spirit congenerous with its own â—…ture extracted from our aliment daâ—… brought in by natures appointment 〈◊〉 preserve the innate spirits in vigor aâ—… strength preventing their exhaustioâ—… which order is observed during the couâ—… of life at least during the regular mâ—thod of nature until she fall off and dâ—cline 5ly That this vital spirit is planted â—…sentialiter in the whole body Tanquâ—… subjecto adequato that no part can 〈◊〉 without it and live but dispensed 〈◊〉 nature geometricè not equally distribâ—ted to all alike by arithmetical propoâ—…tion but each part is furnished and eâ—dowed pro dignitate ex officio suitabâ—… to its office and duty 6ly That the vivacity or livelinesâ— strength and durability of our bodiâ—… is more or less according to the plentâ—… or want of this vital spirit which 〈◊〉 principium movens in all the faculties anâ— â—ndimentum corporis the balsomick preâ—erver of our bodies from putrefaction 7ly That semen humanum the spermaâ—ick extract containing in it this soecund â—ital spirit elaborated for generation is â—ot excrementum according to the erroâ—eous opinion of the Ancients but comâ—lementum the perfection and choicest â—xtract impregnated and richly endowâ—d with vital spirits for propagation of â—he species 8ly That prodigality in emission of seed â—…vishly expending that elaborated exâ—…act containing the seminal balsamick â—…irit which is robur naturae custos corâ—…oris à corruptione the strength of naâ—ure and preserver from putrefaction â—ust needs enervate and weaken the faâ—ulties by draining the whole body and â—mpoverishing the treasury of vital balâ—…mick spirits upon which our alimenâ—ary liquors of the body do degenerare in â—…ejus degenerate and alter from their â—rimitive goodness producing various â—hanges in the body as their several naâ—ures and properties are various in their â—ntegrities Hence several morbifick productions bearing several denominations from the deficiency of one vital principle 9ly That this Vital Spirit which â—… Robur balsamum naturae the strenâ—… of our bodies and balsom of our â—…mentary liquors yet being a mateâ—… corruptible substance subject to mutâ—…on hath its increment state and deâ—…ment as other natural bodies in the coâ—mon course of Nature from wheâ—… Consumptions and many chronick lâ—…guishing Diseases take their rise from â—… declension or infirm radication of â—… our innate robur not to be restored 〈◊〉 retarded by the common Medicines adâ—…ted à posteriori to effects the producâ—… degenerate matter but by such as 〈◊〉 applicable and accommodated to 〈◊〉 vital principle being auxiliary and â—…staurative congenerous with its 〈◊〉 nature 10ly That the vital spirit contained â—… semine parentum being an extract frâ—… the whole body elaborated to that pâ—…fection gradually by several digestiâ—… and contributions of divers parts aâ— impressed with the Idea or image of 〈◊〉 for propagation does also carry the â—…ces and imperfections of those parts 〈◊〉 the proles the following generation bâ—ing a draught from that copy mâ—… bear a proportion in the imperfectioâ—… plus minus more or less manifested according to the concurrence of intervening accidental and external causes aggravating or correcting as Astral Influx Education and Diaetetick Customs 11ly That the Morbific Imperfections of Parents are not all transferred to the Children but such as are sigillated upon the innate Spirit of the Parents 12ly That Morbi à parentibus traducti hereditary Diseases being transplanted or inserted into the off-spring per ideam morbificam in parentum semine sculptam and connatural with us by our seminal principles are latent until the time of their maturity do appear successively at
a fermenting principle in the â—ear◠〈◊〉 vite initia à spiâ—… in 〈◊〉 vâ— lut pâ—nâ—… 〈…〉 â—…men tescentâ— du unâ—… Diatrib de Ferment p. 24. And in the page followinâ— Praetâ— hâ—… fâ—rmentâ—… in â—…rdis 〈◊〉 eâ—…titution à quo sanguinis râ—… is effâ—râ— escâ—ntis plurimum dependent sunt alia diversa indolis passion in viâ—ceribus recondita quorum 〈◊〉 Chyluâ— qui est sanguinis rudimentum sâ—iritus animalis ejus quint essentia viâ—… elaborantur sunt etiam alia quae sanguini perficiendâ— in alios liquoreâ— transmutando ipsuâ—noue à materia exerementitia liberando inserziunt Whereby you may understand there are divers ferments in the body for various transmutations elaborations and depuration of alimentary matter What this worthy Author means by divers Ferments I shall not take upon me to deliver his sâ—nse but by way of enquiry let us examine the reason of the diversity of Ferments and what they are If every fermentative transmutation in the body does arise from peculiar and distinct Ferments then every part hath a peculiar Ferment implanted in it the partâ— being different one from the other 〈◊〉 office and use from thence a very numerous company of Ferments must be allowed which are so many vital principles which to me implies some difficulty in the admissiâ—n Enâ—… non surt multiplicanda sine necessitate to avoid this inconvenience and to clear this Doctrine in order to the present design I shall deliver my opinion and determine the matter in these following Theses First That the various Fermentations in several parts of the body producing distinct alterations in the alimentary matter fermented are promoved and differenced by the peculiar Crasis and different composition of the parts destinated for the offices of digestion Secondly That the alimentary matter consisting of fermenting principles and having all the praevious dispositions necessary to fermentation as cauâ—es occasional adjuvantâ— and sâ—re qua nâ—n contributing does co-operate in the work of fermentation and that 〈◊〉 principiâ—s â—ntimis of which it doth consul Thirdly That the different Crasis and peculiar mixture of the parts of mans body â—hus necessary for fermentation and vital operation upon the aliment received by time and the continual transition of various matter does alter changâ— and obliterate 4ly That the peculiar Crasis and temperature of the parts in juvenile person of a sound and due composition do vigorously shew their different natures by causing several and various fermentations answering their several compositions according to the institution of Nature for elaboration of the alimentary matter received until it attains the due perfection 5ly That the distributive justice of Nature fabricating the parts and structure of humane bodies in her Geometrical proportions is various in diversis and disproportionate in eodem individuo hence the different propensions to diseases in several persons and the constant inclination to this or that in the same propter inequale robur partium 6ly That the alienation and degeneration of the Crasis of parts by time begetting a new fermentation and transmutation of alimentary matter received does produce new and strange morbifick effects in the body hence it is and every person may observe the alteration of their bodies apparently different in seven years or sooner pro vitae genere and in the progress of mans life some diseases appear at one age other infirmities at another pro varia fermentationum differentâ—a and so the whole course of a declining life produceth either new diseases or aggravations of the old or commutations for others or new complications and this to be expected à naturae fragilitate after the manner and for the reasons aforesaid 7ly That by reason of the continual action and re-action between the parts recipient and the food recepted the Crasis of the parts suffer an alteration and degeneration from their primigeneous temperature and harmony of principles So that by time it is no wonder if our desires to this or that kind of food be varied and changed or that our digestions be much different in vigour and what else attend or are the products of the several digestions 8ly That the residue of the chyliferous or alimentary matter remaining after every digestion is by such remansion so strongly altered and aliâ—…ilated by the ferment of that officâ— that it acts per modum assisteâ— iâ— with the natural innate ferment of the part in the subsequent digestion of the same office 9ly That certain meats carrying in them a stronger fermenting nature are more gratefully received by the stomach and better digested then others of a lighter nature and seemingly of more easie digestion and therefore it is that some tender stomachs can better digest and do covet salt Beef before Chicken â—…mb c. 10ly That as the vigorous inaltered Crasis of the parts â—…eris paribus produce a good fermentation and consequently good nutrition 〈…〉 contra the debility disproportion and variation of the ferments beget a corruptive and morbifick fermentation diverse pro varia eorum laesâ—ome disproportione 11ly That this declension and decay of the ferments which is the natural and due constitution of parts disordered is hastened and procured sooner by irregular injurious living offering violence to Nature does pervert the principles of fabrication and government in the Microcosme causing a ruinous disorder before a spontaneous falling off and inevitable inability to subsist secundum leges Naturae 12ly That the foâ—d received having an aptitude for alteratâ—on and change â—…sisting of fermenting principles is promoted and inclined to this or that transmutation pro varia partium compositione according to the nature of the part recipient where this fermentation is wrought 13ly That some peculiar food injuriously long accustomed to depressing some and exalting others of the fermenting principles disposeth to this or that disease and infirmity and therefore the diaetetick part of Physick is not to be slighted and neglected but carefully to be observed by all persons especially such as incline and have a manifest propension to some disease above others 14ly That the debility or digression of a fermenting principle within the possibility of restauration is raised and advanced by medicament or aliment having that congenerous principle eminenter in sua natura 15ly That the concomitant and subsequent effects attending the digestion are declarative to an acute Spagyrist or Chymical Physician and do shew the intension and remission of the fermenting principles whereby correctives medicamental or alimental or both may duly and seasonalâ—…y be appointed and exhibited Obiter 16ly That our diaetetick part of Physick differencing the proprieties and nature of food from the temperature of their qualities is insufficient and unprofitable shewing only the husk or shell not their internal constituent natures and principles chiefly to be known and that by a Chymical analysis 17ly That the error of nature in the particular composition and frame of some parts ab initio does necessarily dispose some persons to this or that disease