testimony of the senses but humane nature doth abundantly confirm this unto those which know it From hennce it is collected that the seed of woman concurs unto Generation because a woman afflicted or pained with the falling Sickness Stone or Gout in the Legs brings forth Children affected with those Hereditary Diseases Lastly because the Child is very often like the Mother which things the Mothers bloud cannot effect but the seed which is diffused from her Furthermore neither the seed of the man nor of the woman can effect any thing by it self being solitary in a perfect Generation but the conflux and true mixtion of both seeds are required unto perfect Generation for the mixtion being frustrate Generation decays The motion of Generation in perfect animals in which there is a perfect distinction of the Sex of male and female is a wise and provident Nature of things inciting and stirring them up sometime to the propagation of Generation lest that the whole kind should decay and it hath injected or put lust as a prick into them both from the heat of the seed and it hath given a pleasantness or wonderful desire of coiture unto the privities that they might bring their seed into one otherwise they would be altogether unprofitable which concurring and rightly conspiring the seed of the male and the female received in the womb are mixt with a mutual embracing for spiritual things are agreeable and do conspire and arise from one and the same Root and they have the same gifts for like do congratulate and delight to be with like and domestical things with domestical things having the same faculties or sciences and signatures After that they be mixt the womb contains them most closely and hideth them in her bosoms holding it so closely on every side that it suffers no space to be empty within and also it contracts and girds in it self and doth so straiten or compress and shut the mouth of it that is it doth so much rejoyce in the friendly guest received so that it will not open at all But the mouth of the neck of the womb namely the outward mouth sometimes lies open unto the privities The womb hath two mouths which thing Cribatius demonstrates 23 Aphorism and 6 book for the seeds being permixt and conceived in the womb there is the same force and the same nature in them both And because the mechanical spirits and Radical tinctures have brought with them the abundant store of vital heat as the motion of these spirits shall forthwith appear though it be obscure so the offices of the heart and arteries will forthwith appear and by their vital pulse attract aery and spiritual aliment through the hidden ways or passages according unto the science and power of the mechanical spirits for all things do appear unto Nature as Hippocrates witnesseth Furthermore the more small or pure and hot parts of the seed and those which more participate of spirits or spiritual tinctures do fly inwardly into the midst of the whole mass but the more Crass or Earthly parts of the seed do compass and go about those spiritual spirits from which the mechanical spirits do produce the membranes which wrap the Child These are the first Rudiments or Grounds of Generation of Animals But here Galen Fernel and other Aristotelians contend with Hippocrates and contradict him in that in his book de locis in homine he compared the nature of the seed to a simple uniform circle in which any man can neither find beginning or end and that so far forth as it pertains to the varieties of corporeal parts subsisting in act in the seed But surely the Aristotelians say this spirit having faculties and being the instrument of Nature frams three Jewels like pellucide drops of water in the midst of the animal which make immediately for themselves certain Rudiments and beginnings of the three principal members Heart Liver and Brain They have not considered and marked the mechanical Lythargy of Generation and the artificious administration of the seed neither have they understood the power of science from which all things arise But they have feigned corporeal Rudiments or beginnings of the parts in the seed especially of the principal members which being separated by the heat at length they manifest and demonstrate members whose beginnings they had obtained Hippocrates in his book de locis in homine in the beginning hath Confirmed and Established this his Opinion saying that he found nothing in the body to which he might ascribe beginning or ending for if he described a circle who can find beginning or ending Furthermore seeing the nature of the seed is altogether spiritual and hath such nutriment with it unto the matrices we ought to imagine that there be dissimilar parts in the seed so that the body of the Brain should be one and the body of the Heart another and the body of the Liver another but we must think that this multitude of parts in the progress of time rose from the same seed and not from the mass or multitude of bodies but from the variety of the gifts means powers and faculties in which the mechanical spirits excell The faculty of the mechanical spirits is so great that if they had the science or faculty of the Heart they would make and conform a heart from the attracted aliment if of the Brain they would make a Brain if they had the faculty of the Liver from the same aliment they would make a Liver flesh veins bones sinews arteries eyes ears and all members which are needful for the constitution of an Animal and this they would do in a right order and at set times That is theperfect science of the seeds and stars full of power which they say bear sway in Nature and all creatures confess the same In this science all signatures as well interiour as exteriour of the whole animal are contained This is the light of Nature and the Predestination so often reiterated of Paracelsus But now afterwards all the parts of the whole Animal shall be dissolved and separated in a legitimous and convenient order more solid and abundant aliment is required neither do hidden passages suffice Again the membranes waxing crass and thick daily in which the Child is wrapped forthwith in these membraâ—es veins and arteries are framed by the Navel which are fastened to the womb and subminister and convey spirits and aliments unto the Child untill every part be conformed and wholly perfected and consummated The Aliment attracted is spiritual even as all Vegetables and Minerals are nourished with most subtile spirits in which there is animal Balm agreeable to mans Nature Hereupon aliment of Paracelsus is called seed with which that of Hippocrates agrees We are nourished of the same from which we consist In this animal Balm are the Elements and the three beginnings of bodies Salt Sulphur and Mercury as we have demonstrated in our Philosophy But here a most gross untruth of the
for there is in Nature Earthly Fire Air and Water again there is Heavenly Earth Air and Water The natural Being is the Firmament of the Microcosm it becomes the Being of a Disease as far as there chance errours in the Firmament of the Microcosm the Planets and all the Stars as well fixt as erratical are contained in man Some things chance often in the Astronomy of the greater VVorld as Conjunctions Eclipses Oppositions which Prognosticate great Evils so also great Eclipses Conjunctions and Aspects chance in the Astronomy of the Microcosm or little VVorld and in the Transplantations of times and Prevarications of the confluences by reason that the Laws of Harmony and Conspiration are corrupted in the Firmament of the Microcosm so that there necessarily follows Barrenness want of natural Moisture Pining and many other hurts and evils CHAP. XI How much the Firmament of the Macrocosm and the Microcosm diffâ—rs A Man is a Microcosm and the most perfect creatuâ—e of all creatures he hath the East in his Mouth the VVest in his Fundament the South in his Navel the North in his Back And as there are four Cardinal winds in the greater World so there are four Cardinal winds in the less World in these parts The Bladder in the Microcosm is the VVestern Sea into which all slouds flow and in which they are consumed and in which the superfluous Salt is resolved The hollow Vein in the Back-bone is a Mediterrane Sea in the Microcosm Though it go invisibly through the whole Body yet it is grounded in the Vital or Animal Heat and Spirit namely of winds The Concordance and Division of the Elements mixtly is perspicuous in the Microcosm The Element of Fire appears in his eyes The air is in the whole body which air is the spirit of the Arteries The Element of VVater appears in the Conduits that is in the Veins of the whole body The Element of Earth is flesh with the bones which is every way compassed with watery Rivers But wherefore hath it seemed good to premit or put before the Elements and agreeable beginnings of mans Nature and those which were unknown but that the way might more easily ly open to the unknown things for in these Elements the seeds and Celestial stars Aiery Earthly and VVatery are cherished and nourished which at decreed and appointed times bâ—ing forth fruits either Messengers of Health or Diseases In these also all the Planets work namely the Sun Moon Mars Saturn Mercury Jupiter and likewise the Saturnine Jovial Martial Venereal Mercuria Solar and Lunar stars not bodily but spiritually The spirits absolve and perfect all the course in mans Astronomy and not bodies from these arise new Changes Exaltations Conjunctions Oppositions Eclipses and the Affections of mans Astronomy In the Macrocosm some stars beget Thunder Lightnings Hail Rain Heat Cold and Driness Those in the Microcosm generate spiritually Fevers Epilepsies Dropsies Rheums Paralysis Apoplexies so the Heart and Sun the Moon and the Brain Mercury and the Lungs Jupiter and the Liver Saturn and the Spleen Mars and the Gall are compared amongst themselves not according to their bodies but according to their spirits not according to the Elements but according to the Stars Therefore what actions soever are abâ—olved and perfected in the Macrocosm by bodies those are perfected in the Firmament of the Microcosm by spirits and vital powers CHAP. XII How Errours do chance to mans Astronomy and how from the Being of Nature may be produced the Being of Diseases or Being of Poison PAracelsus in his Paragr sub titulo Astronomiae fol. 50. saith that there is one Heaven one course of Stars and one Man and that Heaven is Man and Man is Heaven all Men one Heaven and Heaven only one Man according to the Cabalistical science all men are one man all anatomies one anatomy all the diseases of all men are the diseases only of one man these are true in all parts of the World in Arabia Europe Italy and Germany for we have laid the firm and solid grounds of our art not upon the sand but upon the living stone Whosoever would have the title of a Physician and challenges the title of Physick he ought to get the accurate and exquisite knowledge of this Heaven But what is the knowledge of this Heaven but the knowledge of this Star therefore who so hath obtained the knowledge of Heaven and the Star he hath deserved the true triumph of his name that is of a Physician Heaven is internal and external the Physician considers the internal the Astronomer and the Astrologer the external The internal heaven is one in essence but divers in kind for the Spirit of God which hâ—th separated the Light from the Darkness and he which hâ—th created Heaven and Earth with his Almighty word hath made in man as well the superiour as the infeâ—iour Firmament yet the analogy of them both was resâ—rved The inferiour Heaven or Firmament is corporal which produces the fruits of the Water in the bosom of the Earth Another is the Liquor of life conserving the body from corruâ—tion and deâ—â—ruction The superiour Heaven worketh in the Microcosm not by substance not by the body but by spirit vertue and vital power as it is said in the 11. Chap. Nevertheless the superiour Heaven is nourished and conserved by the infeâ—iour for the great Heaven or vital mechanical spirits consume this Firmament or the inferiour Heaven continually therefore there is need of restitution mixtion and composition It is most truly said of Hippocrates that conservation is continued by nutrition for they are called the greater after a Philosophical manner which excel in more forcible impressions and tinctures and they are called the less or weaker which yield in the mixtion and conspiration of the beams and grant the separations alterations and transmutations of their parts to the disposing and wills of the more potent and strong The fecundity and fruitfulness of whole Nature is Established and Confirmed by the mutual conspiration of both the Firmaments or Heavens and by their familiarity and nutrition by the reciprocal course of the impressions the knot or bond of health is conserved the Laws of these being corrupted barrenness defects and most grievous diseases do follow in mans Nature Some things were see in the VVorlds Astronomy as the rising of Stars at certain seasons defend and conserve the wholsomeness of the year for the seasonable resolutions of fruits forthwith the stars of Rain bringing more commodiously resolution are required Sometimes the stars of winds sometimes of serenity and clearness sometimes of heat sometime the stars of cold snow frost dew sometime of the VVest winds and the stars of the genital deflux are desired And in the Terrestrial Astronomy sometimes Roses sometimes Violets sometimes Daffodiles do spring and flourish somtime Pulse sometime Vines Trees and all Plants observe their Periods unless the causes of sterility and diseases preveâ—t So in mans Astronomy the stars of the
that terra sigillata administred in Paracel theriaca will cure this disease so also Sulphur and Salniter being prepared cures it The Empyema is cured by the Empyoma oil or spirit of Turpentine which disposes the faulting matter unto expulsion of the Empyema Paracels in his cures saith that a noble woman had the Empyema which is an avoiding of filth and I cured her with the oil of Sulphur in the water of the Herb Hogs or Sowbread Balmmint and Betony If any feel a pain or pricking of the side in the lest side about the place of the heart especially upon night and if so be the pain do somewhat lessen then the pain comes from crass winds let him take of the seed of Carduus Benedictus in a convenient liquor and of the burnt horn of a Hart untill the pain vanish The said Diaphoretick Mercury prepare thus â„ž well purged Quicksilver grind it well with Salt Peter calcined Vitriol and Alume calcined ana then sublime up the Mercury in a Cucurbite in the head will ascend white flowrs which are useless and therefore to be cast away by the sides of the body will stick yellow flowrs which separate apart and on the Caput mort will lie Mercury sublimed red as Cinaber which take off carefully then grind the said red Mercury and likewise the yellow that stickt on the sides of the body with fresh Salt Peter Vitriol and Alume subliming the Mercury as before so do also the third time This being done take in the third sublimation the red Mercury only which remained or lay upon the Caput mort gâ—ind it with ana of flowrs of Sulphur and Sal Armoniac sublimed from calcined Vitriol being all well ground together set them to sublime in a subliming Urinal and what sublimeth grind again with that which remained unsublimed and sublime as before which work of grinding and subliming reiterate five times then shall you find your Mercury in the bottom of the Glass of a very deep red colour which is a true Diaphoretick Mercury of very powerful effects in extirpating all obnoxious humours in the body Dose is from 6. grains to 12. according to the strength of the Patient CHAP. XVIII Of the Affections of the Heart THe heart is obnoxious to diseases which partly proceed from the obstruction of the spirit of life partly from putrifaction The diseases which proceed from obstruction of the spirit of life are palpitation and a most vicious dauncing thereof The palpitation The palpitation of the heart is a bad motion of the heart somewhat like unto dauncing of the heart is begot from tartar in the coffer or place of the heart namely when the mechanical spirit of the heart doth not rightly separate the tartar which is in all the aliments or else doth not rightly expel the matter separated for then the passages of pores of the case of the heart are obstructed and the passage of the spirit of life is stopt from hence is palpitation from hence is putrifaction from hence is destruction and lastly from hence is death The Lypothymy is properly a disease of the heart but the Syncope or swounding is of the The Syncope is a prostrating of the vital vertue and strength of the whole body The Lypothymy a is prosâ—raâ—ing of the vital strength of the whole body caused suddenly and at once with sweat and danger of death Ventricle being hurt with crude and slegmy humours Johannes Montanus an excellent Philosopher and Physician in his Treatise de terra sigillata writes that the Lypothymy rises from vapours elevated from the Ventricle or Liver and from putrifaction and poisonful obstructions which invading the heart cause Lypothymies palpitations or trembling The Eclipses of the Microcosm of the heart which stop the breath and brings debility to the members Hippocrates lib. 7. Apo. Barthol Anglus lib. 16. cap. 103. Alexander Benedictus lib. 10. cap. 10 11 12. Read the sign in Galenists The causes which the Gnlenists adduce in the Syncope of the heart are for the most part true some are false which any ingenious man may easily distinguish The cure In the curing of the palpitation of the heart there are to be administred deoppilatives and unobstructive medicines of the spirit of life of which sort are the liquor of Gold the oil of Margarites and Corals Michael in his Apolog. fol. 173. saith that Pearls or Margarites do especially help the affects of the heart So the vertues of Corals amongst the rest are commended because they bring hilarity and alacrity to the heart and because they purifie the bloud and restore a heavenly body unto a temperate habit and absolute mediocrity by a certain vertue and power The essence of Saffron is good for Saffron provokes Urine and amends the colour helps the concoction and it is good to the heart The liquor of Macis Celandine and Balmmint as also the water of theriaca and all Diaphoreticks and Alexipharmatical medicines The liquor that flows forth of the Cedar-trees hath excellent faculties removes the affects of the heart Musk confirme the cold and trembling heart and it helps all the affects of it Ambergreece being smelt adds strength to the brain and heart it helps old men and those which are cold by nature wonderfully The spirit of Vitriol being reduced unto sweetness and some pleasantness of a sweet sowrness is a comfortative secret of the palpitation of the heart and the spirits of the heart and brain Davus fol. 399. The same is effected by the oil of Amber Diamargaritae calidae the confection of sweet Diamoschus Diambra Diacameron and Elâ—ctâ—arium latitiae expel the palpitation of the heart Galen saith very new conserves of Roses Schordion and Theoriaca are profitable in the Syncope and Lypothymy of the heart There must be administred comfortative and strengthning medicines as Gold Smaragdus and Coral Theophrast de tribus principiis cap. 10. so also medicines made of Pearls Saffron Balmmint Macis Theophrast lib. 2. de viribus membror cap. 1. also Succory Hysop and Mint of which Fuschius Thurnens in Pisone lib. 1. cap. 3. saith that Penniroyal red Mint and stores trinitatis are profitable so in the 7. Chap. Fengreek Betony false Ditany Savory Withwind the gumm of a tree in Persia and Earthsmoke so also the herb prunell which is gathered in the beginning of the Spring also Aromatica Moschata Diaboriginata Diabuglossata Diambra and Dianthos laetitiae Take of Oleum Benedictum of Galen in wine with a fasting stomach Riffius bids take it in his Antidotary so also Theriaca water and of Andromachus the conserve of Borage Sorrel and Bugloss do cure the palpitation of the heart Manus Christi Diamargaritae frigidae Diacoralli and Saunders comfort the cold heart these cure the dejected strength and Fevers Thurnens c. Against the straitness and heart-ach take the essence and tincture of red Roses Violets and Sorrel with the salt of Crystal and tinctures of Corals Quercitanus in his answer ad Anbertum
THE METHOD OF CHEMICAL PHILOSOPHIE AND Physick BEING A brief INTRODUCTION to the one AND A true DISCOVERY of the other Namely of Diseases Their Qualities Causes Symptoms And Certain Cures The like never before extant in English LONDON Printed by J. G. for Nath Brook at the Angel in Cornhill 1664. The Preface ALthough I might have retained to my proper use this excellent Tractate yet considering that Veritatem celare est Aurum sepelire and convinc'd with charity and commiseration of so many diseased left as desperate and with desire of directing those that seek the splendor of powerful Physick I could no longer withhold it from publick view not doubting its kind reception from all that prefer native truth before fucated errour which needs so many volumes to cloak its deformities but confident of their acknowledgment that herein I have rightly improved my Talent as indeed I have endeavoured for the good not so much of my self as of many divulging not only the kernel of Physical Philosophy and a Treasure for health but even many Chemical Arcanaes also openly demonstrated and friendly tendred to all which to add their due praise would too much swell a Preface and too little satisfie the Reader when the work it self doth so briefly so apertly so compleatly demonstrate it that to speak it here were but to hold a Candle to the Sun or to hand thee a Torch in the clearest Noon day Farewell therefore and with me implore the donor of every good gift to give thee understanding of the truth to the glory of his great name and the utility of thy infirm neighbour Amara licèt VERITAS Non amarescit CHARITAS 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Books Printed for Nath. Brook at the Angel in Cornhill Excellent Tracts in Divinity Controversies Sermons c. CAtholick History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councils and ancient Fathers in answer to Dr. Vanes Lost Sheep returned home by Edward Chesenhale Esq Bishop Morton on the Sacrament Grand Sacriledge of the Church of Rome in taking away the sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table by Daniel Featley Quakers Cause at second hearing being a full Answer to their Tenets Re-assertion of Grace Vindiciae Evangelii or Vindication of the Gospel a Reply to Mr. Anthony Burges's Vindiciae Legis and to Mr. Rutherford by Rob. Town Anabaptists anatomized and silenced or a Dispute with Mr. Tombs by Mr. J. Cragg where all may receive clear satisfaction A Cabinet-Jewel wherein is Mans misery and Gods mercy set forth in eight Sermons with an Appendix concerning Tyches and expediency of Marriage in publick Assemblies by the same Author Mr. J. Cragg A Glimpse of Divine Light being an Explication of some passages exhibited to the Commissioners at Whitehall for Approbation of publâ—que Preachers against J. Harrison of Land-Chappel Lancashire The zealous Magistrate a Sermon by T. Threscot New Jerusalem in a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers in the Year 1651. Divinity no enemy to Astrology a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers in the year 1653. by Dr. Tho. Swadling Britannia Rediviva a Sermon before the Judges Aug. 1648. by J. Shaw Minister of Hull The Princess Royal in a Sermon before the Judges March 24. by J. Shaw Judgement set and Books opened Religion tryed whether it be of God or man in several Sermons by J. Webster Quarto Israels Redemption or the Prophetical History of our Saviours Kingdom upon earth by K. Manton The cause and cure of Ignorance Errour and Prophaneness or a more hopeful way to grace and salvation by R. Young Octavo A Bridle for the times tending to still the murmuring to settle the wavering to stay the wandering and to strengthen the fainting by J. Brinsley of Yarmouth Comforts against the fear of death wherein are discovered several evidences of the work of grace by J. Collins of Norwich Jacobs Seed or the excellency of seeking God by prayer by Jer. Burroughs The summe of Practical Divinity or the grounds of Religion in a Catechistical way by Mr. Christopher Love late Minister of the Gospel an useful piece Heaven and Earth shaken a Treatise shewing how Kings and Princes and all other Governments are changed by J. Davis Minister in Dover The Treasure of the Soul wherein we are taught by dying to sin to attain to the perfect love of God A Treatise of Contentation sit for these sad and troublesome times by J Hall Bishop of Norwich where all may receive full satisfaction Select thoughts or choice helps for a pious spirit beholding the excellency of her Lord Jesus by J. Hall B. of N. The holy Order or Fraternity of Mourners in Sion to which is added Songs in the night or chearfulness under afflictions by J. Hall Bishop of Norwich The Celestial Lamp enlightning every distressed soul from the depth of everlasting darkness by T. Fetiplace The Moderate Baptist in two parts shewing the Scripture way for the administring of the Sacrament of Baptism discovering the old errour of Original sin in Babes by W. Brittin Dr. Martin Luther's Treatise of Liberty of Christians an useful Treatise for the stating Controversies so much disputed in these times about this great point The Key of Knowledge a little book by way of Questions and Answers intended for the use of all degrees of Christians especially for the Saints of Religious Families by old Mr. John Jackson that famous Divine The true Evangelical Temper a Treatise modestly and soberly fitted to the present grand concernments of the State and Church by old Mr. John Jackson The Book of Conscience opened and read by the same Authour The so much desired and learned Commentary on the whole 15 Psalm by that Reverend and Eminent Divine Mr. Christopher Cartwright Minister of the Gospel in York to which is affixed a brief account of the Author's Life and Work by R. Bolton with Mr. Edward Leighs's Epistle annexed in commendation of the Work The Judges Charge delivered in a Sermon before Mr. Justice Hall and Serjeant Crook Judges of Assize at St. Mary Overeys in Southwark by R. Parr M. A. Pastor of Camberwell in Surrey A Sermon worthy perusal of all such persons as endeavour to be honest and just practitioners in the Law The Saints Tomb-stone being the Life of that vertuous Gentlewoman Mistris Dorothy Shaw late Wife of Mr. John Shaw Minister of the Gospel at Kingston upon Hull Gospel-Revelations in three Treatises viz. 1. The Nature of God 2. The Excellency of Christ 3. The Excellency of Mans Immortal Soul by Jer. Burroughs The Saints happiness together with the several steps leading thereunto in 41. Lectures on the fifth of Matthew called the Beatitudes of Christ by Jer. Burroughs being the last Sermons he ever preached both put forth by the same testimony that publisht his former Works The Iron Rod a Prophetical Treatise A Discourse concerning Liberty of Conscience in which are contained Proposals about what liberty in this kinde is now politically expedient to be given and several
one another then put that dish with the Opium into an Oven assoon as the bread is drawn out when it is so dry that you may crumble it between your fingers take it out then make it to powder and put upon it good distilled Vineger in a glass which keep in Balneo a fortnight then decant the clear from the thick and filter it through a brown paper that being done distill off the Vineger in gentle Balneo till the Opium remain thick as Honey â„ž of that thick extract â„¥ s. and add thereto Salt of Pearl and Salt of Coral ana Ê’i Tincturae Ambergrece 12. drops of Tincture of good Saffron made with spirit of Wine Ê’i and stir them all together with a stick then keep it in a Silver or Pewter box for your use make it so dry as you may make Pills of it Dose from gran 2. to 3. or 4. at most CHAP. V. Of Melancholy It is a Sowerness THe other kind of Sottishness without a Fever is melancholy He is melancholick in whom sowrness excels Melancholy is a great Sottishness accompanyed with Fear and Sorrow which is caused according to the Galenists of black and putrified humours and vapours occupying the seat of the mind That humor is generated when yellow choler or choler degenerates into black choler Sometime the humour consists in the milt sometime in the nigh parts sometime in the head alone sometime it is esfused into the veins and the whole body Hereupon melancholy is threesold that which is of the fore-â—art of the belly the primary and that which is caused by the hurt of the whole body The Hypocondriack melancholy is called also the slâ—tulent melancholy and it is caused when black choler cometh unto the seventh Traverse or Diaphragma from which a black and obscure vapour is conveyed into the seat of the mind The primary melancholy is when the Brain is primaâ—ily affected either with a peculiar hurt or by the hurt of the whole body from hence we may understand that melancholy wearies without affecting the Heart-roots which is caused by the hurt of the whole body They call this Melancholy Solitary Out-raging madness but yet falsly for melancholy is not the cause of Out-raging madness but the spirit of life infected with the poison of Mercury of which Paracelsus writes cap. 4 de morb Amentium tractat 1. cap. 5. that there are four kinds of melancholy men according unto the four complexions as they call them If these complexions beget Sottishness the cause is because they expell and drive away their spirit for their too much abundance But what are the spirits of the humours or complexions a snarp bitter or sowr or sweet taste But what is the taste that which hath a great power as Hippocrates Of the contracted Members Tract 1. c. 4. Melancholâ— hath his seat in the whole body sâ—eaks What is that that hath the great power Salt Sulphur and Mercury for in them all the powers as well of Health as Diseases are contained so the spirit or taste of every humour containing in it the three first powers as well of sanity as of diseases may produce melancholy in as much as such poison commixt with the spirit of life is more languid and faint In this disease the spirit of Salt predominates for it is a Chronical and fixt disease In the cited Chap. Paracelsus saith that melancholy and madness are oftentimes caused by Meat and Drink Cups hurt Men and also Women Melancholick men are oftentimes sorrowful and sad and fly the company and sight of men Others suppose that they must not be spoke unto but that they must live all their dayes in quietness and taciturnity The cure of melancholy the Galenists which say that melancholy is the cause of the disease of sadness when as it is only the name of a disease they endeavour to cure this disease by contraries Melancholy is say they cold and dry therefore it is to be removed with hot and moist things wherefore in that they endeavour to cure it they administer these hot medicines Diambra Mithridates Diamargarita the hot elect Plorisanoticon so also the conserve of Borage of Buglosse and of Sorrel so also Diaboriginatum Diabuglossatum and the confection and compounding of dulcis diamascus though these are not to be contemned for in some sort they refresh the vital spirits but yet they do not remove the disease but as much as in them lies and as far as they can exercise their vertues not yet reduced unto perfection they strengthen Nature The decree and opinion of Paracelsus will ever be firm and constant that melancholy or heaviness cannot be removed by the decoctions of Apothecaries In the curing of melancholy the specifical vertues of the secrets are to be considered The specifical vertue which expels melancholy is in the flowrs of Antimony for by the flowrs of Antimony those are freed wich have been bound in chains for some moneths The flowrs of Antimony are administred in a little quantity of Theriaca in the morning twice or thrice or four times by reason of the contumacy of the disease In the fifth Chapter of Paracelsus de morbis amentium The quintessence of Antimony is a perfect cure of madness so in the sixth Chapter The oil of Antimony preserves from all the kinds of madness The tincture or magistery of Saffron expels sadness desperation and melancholy for Saffron is the chief medicine for melancholy for when as any begins to despair it doth wonderfully refresh the prostrated spirits It is a general deoppilative or unobstruct of the vital spirit and it is the chief joy of the heart The Armenial stone and also the Jazal stone being prepared are more commodiously administred by much The Confection of Alchermes which is commended of all Physicians removes Madness and Melancholick Affections for it strengthneth the spirits and expels all poison The essence of Silver cures all melancholy affections The essence of Ellebor administred It is very expedient against all the affects of melancholy The Smaragdus not only drunk but if hanged about the neck it removes all melancholy affects The essence of Thime Epithime and Origanum take away melancholy Paracelsus tract 3. de generatione hominis Chap. 5. ascribes hereditary foolishness and madness to the unproportionable form of the Brain and bad conformation He setteth down the cause of it viz. The immature seed of undigested liquor of life for he which hath a vicious liquor cannot profuse good seed for the body of the seed is puâ—rid and such like are generated thereof thereof Foolishness and Madness do not rise from the seeds but in as much as some hurts are left from Generation from which many diseases of the figures and cavities descend He that would know more kinds of madness let him read Paracelsus de morbis acutis amentium these kinds which we have explained are more common but the other are more rare Confection of Alchermes much better than
been well purged by Antimony being dissolved pour therein as much oil of Vitriol then abstract the oil of Vitriol from it again then pour on as before and draw it off again thus cohobate it twelve times every time have a care that your Gold be not left dry but somewhat moist and therefore the surest way were to perform this work in a boiling Balneo Having then cohobated it twelve times the last time drawing off the oil of Vitriol and oil of Salt pour upon your Gold the best spirit of wine rectified to the highest and set it in a Cellar or some cool place where let it stand for some dayes and part of the Gold will crystalize take out those Crystals and distil off some of the water and set the rest to crystalize as before so do until all your Gold be in Crystals which dry upon clean brown paper in warm air Take the dry crystals make them into subtil powder and pour upon them good spirit of wine then put them for some dayes to digest in a gentle Balneo afterward abstract your spirit of wine by degrees very gently and the true Essence of Gold will remain behind like an oil CHAP. IX Of the Spasm THough the Spasm be properly a kind of the Falling-sickness and is referred of Paracel lib. 3. Paragraph parag 30. unto the cure of the Falling-sickness notwithstanding seeing it is an insolent The Spasm is a preteternatual motion whereby the body is pulled violently and continually into a preternatural place either wholly or in part with an impotency of bending and acute symptom and hurt of the sensitive and motive faculty which is able to kill man we will handle briefly of it in this Chapter De tartarolib 2. tract 2. cap. 1. The spasm is not a disease but a fore-runner of adisease Parag. lib. 3. Parag. 3. The cure of the spasm is referred unto the Falling-sickness De tartaro lib. 2. tract 1. cap. 5. 6. The Tetanus contracts the members the spasm extends them Read Thurnenseriusin Neptuna lib. 6. cap. 44. The convulsion is a torpor therefore The definition of the Spasm the spasm or convulsion is a perpetual voluntary contraction of the sinews and muscles unto their original The Galenists say that the cause of the spasm is contained in the beginning of the Back-bone and it somtime infests and annoys the whole body sometime some parts That which is of the whole body doth so straitly gird it that it cannot be bended when the body is crooked forward then it is Emprostothonos when it is crooked backward Emprostothonos Opistothonos Tetanus then it is Opistothonos when it is equally bent then it is Tetanus that is a distention a convulsion of the parts sometime it is in the eye in the skin of the fore-head in the root of the tongue the chin in the lips whereupon the girning laughter is caused sometime The girning laughtor it is in the arm in the hand and the thigh and in that sinew or muscle which is destinated for the motion of the member There are many causes of the Convulsion with the The cause of Convulsion Galenists all which Hippocrates reduceth unto two Into evacuation and repletion Convulsions are caused from evacuation which arise from a burning Fever or from the potion Ellebor or some other medicaments or from immoderate effusion of bloud or from immoderate watchings or from hunger or from immoderate labour But every Convulsion which rises from flegm or drunkenness surfetting or from the supprest accustomed evacuations or from the intermitted evitation is to be referred unto repletion They make the immediate cause of it to be flegm impinged fast in the sinew Besides these two kinds they bring another which they call a flatulent Convulsion The cause of it is a clammy and crass vapour implanted in the couples of the sinews and here they come at last unto Paracelsus and explain in some sort the cause of the Convulsion Paracelsus in his tract de Cholica writes that winds are generated and caused The cause according unto Paracelsus from too much meat or drink and crudities which penetrates through the whole body and are exasperated by anger The spirit of Salt is mixt with the wind and peirces through all the pores of the body and enters into the concavities joynts glew and spirits of it In those places in which it is conservant it causes a Convulsion or Spasm The paroxism dures until the wind and spirit of Salt be consumed De morbis amentium tract 1. cap. 1. de origine suffocationis intellectus he saith that the spasm is generated from cold that is from wind and acetosity that is the spirit of Salt until the wind and spirit of Salt do vanish the symptom is to be marked to what diseases the spasm chances The spasm concurs Unto what diseases the Spasm happons in the Apoplexy of the heart in the red Jaundies in the Plague in Wounds in the gutta in the suffocation of the understanding in the Falling-sickness in the Cholick and falling disease of the matrix The especial indication is to comfort and strengthen The intornal indication of curing the interiour members with internal medicaments Furthermore the cure of it is referred of Paracelsus unto the Falling-sickness to cherish and corroborate the external members and sinews with calefying medicaments you may read the internal cure and medicaments at the end of the Falling-sickness The external medicaments are Oils and Balms which are to be applied in the affected place as the oil of Euphorbium and the essence of Euphorbium corrected and inwardly applied and administred let the dosis be ℈ with a competent decoction It is very available against the Paralysis and Spasm and it evacuates the flegm though clammy crass and impinged or fastned in the sinews or joynts without perturbation The essence of Castorium Bevers stone extracted with the spirit of wine a drop of which being administred with the decoction of Rosemary flowrs Sage and Betony cures the trembling Convulsion and all the hurts of the sinews Outwardly there may be applied in the Convulsion Sage and Betony especially if it be be caused from evacuation or repletion and when those things ought to be evacuated which are contained in the sinews preternaturally The oil of Turpentine distilled and applied inwardly and outwardly cures the Convulsion and Spasm by it the Back-bone may be knit and the place of the Navel and also of the affected place The essence of temperatory administred cures all the kinds of the spasm Emprostothonos Opistothonos and Tetanus Carrecterius Inherberiosus de 4. gradu Canceri writes â—ol 2 6. of the Water-lilly which hath red and white flowrs it being dried in the Septentrional shade and being hanged upon the roof of the house or the walls he which hath the Spasm or Convulsion will be cured in a moment of time All simples do perform this which encrease in the waters
suffocation of the Matrix or Strangling of the womb Take the Fig of the flesh put Theophrast tract 2. cap. 4. it upon the coals and make that a smoak ascend through womens privity unto the Matrix Paracels lib. de Ictero cap. 3. fol. 356. saith that the liquor of the herb Dogs tongue and the secret of the water of Balmmint are very available Thomas Muffetus in his Epistle 279. perchance fol. 179. saith thou hast a singular remedy Take the mossiness of the Wallnut and dry them bruise them into powder and let there be given of it with two drops of the oyl of Amber I never found any medicine more excellent then this for this affect For the falling down of the Matrix take such a ball as children use to play with in Medows or gardens and rowl it or cover it with new melted wax which hath a string fastened to it somewhat strongly with which ball rowlâ—d in wax after the Matrix is inclosed and thrust in you must stop the fundament lest it fall down again in the next place take Balmmint Cumin Mint Crispa the red Mugwort Wormwood and red roses put them together in a bag and let them be boiled in distilled Vinegar of wine and put them hot in the fundament administer also the oyl of Mirâ—h and the spirit of Turpentine drops 4. in the water Nicotiana or Tabacus CHAP. XXXII Of the Arthritis Chiragra Gonagra and Podagra PAracelsus takes Podagra generally for every pain existing in the joynts of the bones or glew of the The Podagra is a disease which affects the less foot body The Podagra is a disease or being of tartar or a disease of Mineral salt or sour liquor Under tartar all the spirits of salt are comprehended And as the nature shall be of common salt sal gemmae and sal maris or sal alcali and of the salts of Vinegar Barbery and Acacia So the pains of the Podagra shall be and their signs shall vary The tinctures of salts are sour bitter salt and sharp and of the nature of Sulphur Pearl Niter Alume Medlar Nettle and Arsemart but amongst these the tincture of Niter and common salt produce most grievous and sharp pains The pains of salts of Pearls and Sulphur are more vehement than those of the spirits of the Alumish nature and sal gemmae Sour Alumish Styptical and Barberizated tinctures are the authors of coldness and frigidity The Sulphur and tinctures of the nature of Cuccopintle mixt with the spirits of Arsenick do cause redness heat inflammations and pulses This is it which Paracels sayeth namely that the Podagra is a Sulphur ascended and kindled in the glew also he saith that it is a coldness kindled in the glew of the body for Narcotical and cold tinctures being kindled with digestion and circulation present an adulterated Image of heat But how do these tinctures of salts come into the Anatomy of the body two ways or by two means 1. Either by a hereditary means or from meat and drink Seeing that the first matter of tartar is contained in the parent which as yet is not coagulated but spiritual and astral and as yet it exists strong and infects the balm and root of mans nature by vital and forcible impression and it comes to pass by hereditary transplantation that when the first rudiments or principles of the roots are implanted from the original that such Podagraes should arise because they are fostered in the most vehement and forcible element The Podagra is generated from the weak ventricle which separateth not rightly and hotter Liver if the matter of the urine be not â—ightly separated The Podagra is generated from meat and drink for the mechanical spirits of the ventricle cannot separate all the seeds of diseases from the aliments therefore there remains impurities which are conveyed to the glew of the body after a spiritual and vaporous manner together with the aliments And not only impurities tending unto resolution but also tartareous excrements destined unto coagulation the separation being frustrate produce corporeal stony cloddy or massie diseases diseases of the nature of Tophus Pitch neither is it difficult for the seeds of those diseases seeing they be resolved spiritual vaporous and permixt with the vapours of the aliments to peirce every way Seeing therefore such like seeds are contained in the Anatomy of the bloud and are resolved and flow with the seeds and persist or stay in the glew or balm of the hands and feet they make some manifest Sev. p. 271. marks in their passage before they come unto the matrices according unto the analogy or similitude of the spirits and purity of the glew or balm in the members by which they pass for if the vehemencie of the spirits be very great and tinctures very sharp terminating in an excrementitious coagulation and if the balsame or glew of the thighs and arms be infected or corrupted with consentany impurities or impurities of the same kind which are agglutinated about the membranes of the bones then are felt doloriferous fluxes in those places importing a calamity hanging over the suspected or infected parts The generation of the contracture is almost alike which appears in the veterated Podagras The resolution of the tartareous spirits sometime vexes the patients in the Arthritis which are driven and agitated through all the members upward and downward The cure consists in the cure of the Arthritis Concerning the cause of the Arthritis read Paracels tract 2. de malis ex tartaro cap. 2. The particular cure of it is made with the essence of Walwort the oyl of Juniper and the oyl of Hartstongue f. 271. In the cure of the Podagra there must be made a destruction The Cure abolishing consumption and resolution of the tartareous matter and that by resolving medicaments These three viz. dissolving mitigating and corroborating medicaments admit mixtion and may be absolved and comprised in one and the same medicament Paracels lib. 2. de vita long a cap. 1. saith that in the beginning all the matter of the Podagra is to be purged with a perfect and sufficient purgation and this may be made by the secret of Corals whereby the Flux of the Podagra is expell'd so that there is no place left for this assailing evil There is such vertue and force in this secret of Coral which is from the essence of Gold that it is impossible to be deprehended of a Physician but by purgation This purgation may be made six or seven ways according to the veteratness hardness or nature of the Podagra This Secret of Coral is nothing else but fixt Diaphoretical Mercury which emulates the virtues of Gold In the pains of the Podagra anoint the affected place with the oyl of Juniper and the pain will instantly be removed Against the Podagra in the beginning of the disease use the spirit of Vitriol For I have seen one troubled with this disease for