Archeus or Vital Aire takes notice of it and being incensed it frames in it self some Ill-favoured Dark Images agreeable to the Cause Offensive According to this Model or Proportion it Acts never ceasing to follow the Copy or Draught of the Malady made by its own Activity in a certain determinate quantity of it self even to its own great damage and destruction unless the Character of the Disease be blotted out or the Archeus pacified and diverted by some pleasing Object or the External Vexing Occasion removed Those Defunct Excrements or Superfluities separated from Life never to be rconciled to it are most tedious and noisome to the Vital Spirits wherefore becoming impatient they Rage Fret Chafe at the presence of so unwelcome Guests Hereupon they stir upon the Ferments or Instrumental Transfigurators to become disordered sometimes to cause a Confusion Tumult Boiling and Huffing in the Juices whereby a Feaver is kindled sometimes to produce Congelation of the Blood otherwhile to turn it into sharp gauling Liquor causing many long Calamities Now the Filth or Dregs lodging in our Bodies are not Diseases themselves but stir up the Archeus to create those Evils we are liable to These are either Antecedent Causes of our Maladies or they are Products and Consequents stirring up Secondary Calamities accompanied with various Symptoms Accidents Dispositions and Alterations Moreover the Miseries of our Bodies do now and then begin from an Invisible Immaterial Occasion imprinting in our Phansies a lively Character of a Disease which converting the Good Juices into Bad both Foment the present Evil also excite the Vitals to procreate more Mischiefs through the Contagion of a Seed implanted in the Life That the Phansie can out of a Non Ens or Nothing frame Hoc Aliquid or something of this or that Species is evident in Women with Child who upon earnest longing after Fruit c. or some sudden Terrour make the Idea or Figure of what they greatly Covet or are terrified at in their Spirits which conveied to the Womb is absolutely conformed in that part of the Child which answers to the place the Woman at that instant touched when she was so passionately affected Withal this Plant or Living Creature pictured in the Skin shall express all those remarkable Alterations Defections Vigour and Maturation that the Real Type or Example of what is shaped is subject to at certain times of the year Thus 't is plain that the Spirits being exalted excited or put into a vehement Motion through any notable Passion can fashion that bringing it to visible Light on the Superficies of the Skin which before lay hid within Wherefore I doubt not there is as perspicuous a Signaturi of every Disease in the Spirits as the Platform of the Plant to be produced in a Bean divided The Principle Difference being that the one is more Spiritual the other Corporeal The Seminal Figure then of all Diseases made in the Spirit of Life is the only Efficient Active Cause of their Being Likewise some Degenerate Portion of the Spirit wherein the Calamitie is as it were stamped separated from that which remains in its Integrity becomes the Material Subject thereof That 't is the Blast of Life which conceives and brings forth all manner of Evils is most evident seeing no Dead Body is capable of Sickness this being the true only Reason to be given that the Principal Contriveâ— thereof viz. the Archeus or Vital Spirit is wanting For the Forbidden Fruit which Adam took into his Stomach having a Power inserted into it of stirring up Lust or Concupiscence The Omnipotent for that Reason giving Advertisement to Man not to meddle with was appropriated and applicated by means of the Animal Spirits to the Immortal Soul whereby it presently sets up Images of filthy Diseases forthwith entertaining the Sensual Soul common to all Beasts being then so continuing to this day the Fundamental Cause of all Calamities I assert the Irregular Imagination of the Living Spirit of Man in the Stomach chiefly the Brain and every Part besides doth first set on work every Infirmity seizing upon us which at first seems very inconsiderable but in process through the uncessant Motion of the First Mover it arrives to a great Height of Malignity as appears by various sad Symtoms Accidents and Products to be distinguished precisely from the Substantial Being of Diseases For Example A Stone in the Kidneys Bladder or elsewhere likewise any congealed Matter or Cancrous hollowness are not Diseases but the Products Effects or Fruits thereof The Petrifying Imaginary Seed closely seated in the Archeus is that which first laid the Foundation of the Stone carrying the same on as it began to full growth so that although the Stone be removed out of the Kidneys as long as there remains that stonifying Seed or invisible Beginning the Person before rid of this hard Concretion may ere long if the Idea the Principle of the Congealing be not absolutly brought to naught or blotted out be vexed tortured or crucified with the like deformed Matter again That the Archeus should be put into such a disturbance or Passion through any disorders in Diet c. as to frame within its own Bowels such a dreadful unhandsome Substance is to be lamented but that the Seminal Character of the Stone should be contrived fomented born with us taking deep root as we grow up is far more deplorable For Diseased Seminal Ideas derived from the Matrice are hardly to be razed out they are so incorporated with our Constitutes challenging as great priviledge to act their part upon the Stage of this Little World in an uniform Manner and Dress though depraved as Nature in its Integrity directed by wholsome Images performs all things orderly according to just proportion and approved Rules of Sanity At that very time when the chief Author moulds the Seed containing the shadowed Likeness of what is to be made capable of a perfect Form doth the same Workmaster draw the Pourtraiture of those manifold Mischiefs which happen to Body and Mind many years after So fixed are those Hereditary Miseries that although the whole Mass of every Numerical Part of the Body be changed again and again yet the Radical Tincture or dye of the Congenite Disease shall remain ready to put forth it self flourish spread into various Branches and Fruits when the full time is come that it meets with an Outward Cause to stir it up This is demonstrable in the Gout the Stone Consumption Madness Small Pox c. whose Images for some years lie as it were asleep till they be roused up through some Provocative Occasions The Idea's of Evils which the Archeus contrives when we are come out of the Womb abroad in the open Aire are flitting may easily be blurred wiped off by a stronger Figure these often interfeering each other at length clash together and both become annihilated Infinite are the Number of Idea's or Representations made by a Working Phansie some of which are no sooner
through the whole course of our Life so that we Live no longer when the Heart and Lungs do quite give over the faculty of Moving Every one then ought to take singular care that Circulation of the Blood may be in no wise intercepted nor free Breathing be intermitted for that purpose the Exercise of the Muscles of the Limbs gentle and sweet Recreation of the Mind do avail Moderate Equal Diaphoretick Alterative and duly Excitative Labor joyned with pleasant variable admirable rare and desirable Objects doth Expand and Dilate the Lungs and Arteries whereby the Breast becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Arteries Emicant Nothing promotes these Actions better than cheerfulness or temparate Joy constant love of what is truly amiable never to be repented of A probable hope of some good not long to be deferred at length a sweet enjoyment of that which is durable and capable to usher in better things For I am of a very brave Man's Opinion The Comfort of our whole Life depends upon expectation of better things Also Magnanimity or Courage founded upon Virtuous Enterprizes aspiring to Noble Designs for a Publick as well as Private Interest do sweetly enlarge the Spirits quickning the Ferments causing an expulsion of Superfluities Yea just Indignation kept within its due Limits facilitates Respiration Transpiration and Pulsation On the contrary Fear Sorrow Melancholy Hatred Jealousie Envy contract the Diaphragme and the Muscles of the Breast hindering legitimate breathing occasioning an Immature Importunate Systole or a Supine Connivence in the Arteries It is not amiss sometimes to be transported beyond the common bounds of Moderation to be agitated with some Extraordinary passion of the mind and to sustain tedious Labor that the sweeter composition of Mind and most delightful rest of Body may follow sith one constant strict tenor pertaining to Diet is hardly to be obtained without greater damage whensoever we offend not to be avoided by any Man who hath a Publick Employment or a secular Interest to look after so that it is better to be accustomed to any Exercise or labour of Body and mind voluntarily least we be surpriz'd unawares unwillingly to our notable hurt I advise those parts should undergo most gentle Exercise which are weakest to walk oftner upon the lower Limbs when they are somewhat feeble to move rather the Arms and Hands when incident to a debility lest the stronger by motion defraud the weaker and so Alogotrophia or disproportion in the nourishment of parts follow I approve Frication of all parts especially three noted Emunctories the Groin Arm-pits and Neck with a course Cloath without curious superstition of rigtht oblique or transverse Directions Combing the Head every Morning is an exercise profitable for the Brain and upper Limbs encreasing their vigour and opening the Pores for the emission of Excrements engendred in the sixt Digestion which is not a little depraved by a superfluous covering so that the Brain through too much Heat becomes Effeminate Soft and Imprudent Let every man make choice of that Exercise or Recreation he is most inclined most agreeable to his Constitution whereby he is most relieved CHAP. VIII THe fifth inseparable Companion of our Life neerly related to Exercise and Motion is Sleeping and Waking These make almost a Divident of the Life of this Microcosm And happy it is for Man that the first was Instituted sith great are the Cares of miserable Mortals that he hath reason to bless his Creator that he can fall into a sweet Lethean Sleep which like a short Death deprives him of Sorrow and Anguish of Spirit Pax Animi quem cura fugit Albeit great is the comfort of a moderate Sleep as to the refreshment of Body and Mind whereby they are enabled to execute their Faculties and Offices more vigorously awake yet no small are the Discommodities brought upon us by excess therein as an Indisposition to follow Ingenious Arts or Sciences a Stupidity to comprehend the Truth of things Forgetfulness Supinity or Indifferences what becomes of our future State leaving Affairs in a confused condition Indigested and Desperate It heaps up Crudities flats the Archeus hinders the Expulsion of Superfluities makes the Body Woman-like Delicate Tender Wanton unfit for any Noble Enterprize accumulates Excrements yielding abundant Matter for all sorts of Diseases c. Excess also in Waking is accompanied with multitude of ill Consequents Impovrishment and Distraction of the Spirits Absurd Idea's Indigestion an Augmentation of A-aids Hypochondriack Fits Melancholy and Madness CAAP. IX THe last Inseparable Concomitant of Life to be Insisted upon whereby our condition is made better or worse according as we govern them well or ill is our Passions which if they move regularly produce a sweet Tranquility in the Mind and a Salubrity in the Body but if extravagant flying out beyond their bounds they confound the whole Oeconomy of this Admirable Frame The Stoicks seem to endeavour to deprive themselves of a Sensitive Life when they would have a man to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This is all one as not to take notice of any thing adverse to Nature for it is impossible for a Man Apprehensible and Imaginable not to be moved by the Object he apprehends or Imagines as it is pleasing or distastful so he desires it or abhors it the Affections hereby set on work great reluctancy effervescence perturbation arise in the Spirits which sometimes strangly alter the Texture and Crasis of the Blood The Idea's or Images of Sorow Fear Anger Joy Jealousie Hatred Emulation are sometimes so fixed in the Animals that they become indeleble hence vain Imaginations of the whole Man Dotage Melancholy and Furie are Emicant neither do the absurd Conceptions and vain Imaginatiors of the whole Man only cause disturbance in the Stomack or Brain Storms or Tempests in the Universal Archeus but likewise the Spirit of every part frameth particular Images of Indignation Fear c. Any Spinous acculeating or pricking Matter in any particular part presently puts the Vital Spirit there into a passion the Archeus of the Eye is forthwith put into an indignation when an Extimulating Fretting Liquor is either injected into it or engendred in it through a fault in its peculiar Degestion whereupon the Lympha Latex or the Wheyish Humour is lured or summoned for the Ablution of this Blot or Defect which when it cannot perform the Ocular Water as well as the Nourishment thereof is depraved through the ringing Attrition of the Sensitive Spirit which ought by all means to be pacified The like Perturbation is observed to be raised in the Archeus of the Ear Nose Windpipe c. when any troublesome cause ariseth there 'T is certainly true Omne Vivens Mortui impatiens esse solet Whatsoever is alienated from Life engendred either within assumed or injected from without brings sometimes sooner or sometimes latter the Custos of the Whole or Part into an Inquietude For this reason Cantharides applyed raise Blisters in the Skin of a
no sooner are they received into the Stomach but part of them are rapt into the Vessels being suddenly carried into the Heart and Brain whereby the whole Body is invigorated the Vital Spirits in a Moment encreased and illuminated hereupon the Peccant Matter disturbed is profligated by Sneezing Expectoration Sweating or Transpiration by some Effloresence or Eruption in the Skin as Pimples Spots Botches c. by Stool or Urine The Truth of this as I said before is confirmed by those who making long and dangerous Voyages recover of grievous Maladies as Calentures Scurvie c. by force of a quickning Drink called Punch made of Rack or Brandy whereas formerly they were turned off as fast as rotten Sheep through that Nonsensical Method of Healing which the Doting Galenists taught the Credulous World by Cooling and Moistning Juleps In such sort hath the Authority of these Dogmatists Domineered over Mankind for many Ages past yea doth yet endeavour to uphold the same amongst us that Millions have perished by this Absurd Doctrine of Heating in Cold Diseases as likewise Cooling in Hot. However many Intelligent Subtil Wits do discover the Falacy of their Corrupt Theorems or Axioms in Physick casting away their Slibbersauces do rather chuse to trust to Holsome Well-made Strong Liquors in Feavers than their Ill-contrived Insalutiferous Weak Drossie Mixtures or Compositions I heard a Learned Gentleman of Note declare that he was Cured of a Malignant Feaver by means of Brandy Wine well construed taken in a large quantity when the Methodical Doctor of the Colledge threatning his Ruine thereby caused him to desist but for one day and take his more Temperate Prescriptions which had like to have cost him his Life if he had not fallen to his former Spirituous Liquor again For my part I am of this Judgment that 't is better for the most part to Cure Feavers after the Maritine Mode than to walk in the Customary Road of Exhibiting Medicines according to the supposed Qualities described in the London Dispensatory I le maintain Hippocr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 constant moderate sumption of Strong Liquors omitting Broath Gellies Water-Gruel Spiritless Posâ—et-crink c. shall be more prevalent to rid away Feavers in general than that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hodg Podg of Supernumerary Ingredients jumbled together without Discretion or serious consideration of the congruity of each one with another without seperating the precious from the vile by a Pyrotectnical Analysis of every Concrete whereby the violent Ferine powers of some things are mitigated cicurated and made Friendly to our Constitution also the singular Medical Dowrie of other Concretes are explicated exalted graduated the clog of their Terrestrial Impurities discharged hindering their Activity Who that is experimentally Intelligent would not in a sudden Lipothymie or Defection of the Spirits rather confide in the Analeptical or Refocillating Efficacie of good Wine or well Distilled Brandy than in Diascordium Venice Treacle London Treacle or any of their Confections Elect. or divers of their Potions I cannot otherwise believe but that the Benign Creator pitying the sad Condition of Man made worse by the Doctrine of Galen who never saw Aqua Vitae therefore delivered to Posterity this Gross Fulsome Fruitless Means of Curing hath in this later Decrepit Infirm Age of the World detected by the mouth of Mariners and Rusticks the use of those excellently well Distilled Spirits which these Thermologists and Psychrologists a company of Delirous Disputants about Hot and Cold Diseaseases requiring as they say Instruments of a contrary quality thereto to be applyed neglecting the Essential Nature and Radical Cure of Diseases have Suppressed to the Infinite Detriment of Mortals for many Centuries of years Now can the Indigent Sick-man without fear of over-heating his Blood threatned by these Thermologists confidently swallow a due Portion of vegetable Spirit potent to augment sometimes to admiration the paucity of the Animals enabling them to exclude some part of the Spurious Juice offending the Body like a Thorn in the side Now both Country-Men as well as Sea Men take these Spiritouus Liquors withouâ— scruple that they may quench their thirst asswage Burning Feavers keep off a fixeâ— Delirium and procure rest to the confusiâ—on of the rotten Precepts of these Ignorantly Learned Galenists Away then with these idle fopperies of taking directions of curing from Heat and Cold hereby fancying apâ—plications contrary to those Accidents wilâ— prevail seeing it is perspicuous all those endeavours come to nought unless the vital Spirit be animated to exterminate the occasional extimulating cause of Heat and Cold. It being then demonstrable that Spirits are best multiplied vigorously by Spirits with which they symbolize we ought to be solicitous concerning their preparation with a proportion to be allowed to the Archeus I find it frequent among the vulgar Chymists to boast how they can make vinous Spirits that in a considerable quantity will all burn away to the accension of Gunpowder in the bottome Having attained thus far in this process they think there remains nothing more in our Philosophy For all this if any study earnestly to 〈◊〉 as an able Physitian those Spirits made according to the common tract seeming to be reâ—ned contain in them an occult Impurityâ— some clandestine discommodity with some diâ—gustful tang sensible by the tast of our Vitals Although it be hard for the Plebeian to distinguish one from the other yet an expert Distiller knows the difference and happy effect of that which is really mundified above what seems to be so That Spirit of vegetables may be handled knowingly it behoveth the Naturalist to anatomize it pyrotechnicoôs that he may understand of what parts it consists and how useful it is According to our Philosophy an Aqua-vitae may be extracted out of all Herbaccous Plants i. e. Grass Blade Leaf Weed c. which contains an Alkali a Sulphur and some particles of an occult sub-acid Salt easily to be converted into Vineagar when it floats with a Tartareous Matter The vinous Alkali and Sulphur together exalted become a Balsamical Spirit of great force to preserve things from corruption Taken into our Bodies it is immediately changed partly into a vital Spirit suddainly conveighed by the Vessels to the Head and Heart part becomes Acid in the Stomach for the recreation or emendation of the Innate Ferment as likewise for a previous Disposition in order to a future alteration in the Intestines into a volatile Alkali by the eliquating or scouring facultie of the Gaulâ— afterward transmitted to the Kidneys it is turned into a Urinous Salt by a peculiar Ferment there implanted Lastly some portion runs into an Insipid Liquor called Latex or Lympha Thus is Salt and Sulphur of Plants which make up one Spirit pliable subactil or mutable above other ingested things into this or that form according as the Ferments of every shop of digestion please Moreover the Spirit of Plants if dextrously exercised is capable to be assimilated into all parts Continent
Aqua-Vitae certain Essential Salts holding close concordance with the Vitals some of which harbour Specifik Gifts for the Cure of certain kinds of Griefs In general these Salts absterg glutinous Excrements attenuating Viscosites sweeten preternatural Acidity animate the Archeus help Digestion and strengthen all parts causing Urine Sweat Expectoration Now these ought to be accurately framed for Medical use otherwise they will come short of what we expect I find it the most Compendious Effectual way to Separate the Sulphurious or Oily part from the Concrete than to change it into a pure volatile Alkali This is done by Ablution Digestion repeated Distillation Thus much concerning the Iatrical Virtue of Spirits and Salts fetched from Vegetables â—s they have Affinity with our Vital Principles now I shall proceed to shew what proâ—inquity there is between the Vital Spirits â—nd Alkali's obtained from Animals I find according to Pyrotechnical Trials â—hat all parts of Man even his Excrements â—bound with Urinous Alkali's especially the Bones Blood and Urine Each of which afford in Stilling an Alkali or Urinous Salt much alike yet different in their Effects for according to Van Helm Spirit of Blood avails against the Epilepsie The Spirit of Urine is of no force thereto Likewise I find Spirit or Salt of Bones to Operate that which the other two fail in yet may they all be so prepared that neither Taste Smell Colour â—hall distinguish them I have for many years much toiled with my Head and Hands to find out what might directly match the Principal Agent in our Body the only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Contriver of both Health and Sickness After often and serious Contemplation with strict Examination of divers Concrets by optical Analysis I find nothing more like to do my business than those subtil saline particles drawn out of the Horny Bony or Dental Concretions of certain Animals or got out of the Dung of some Creatures abounding with Volatile Salts But above all I found at length Volatile Salts or Spirits allured out of divers Poâ—tions of Mans Body were most to be prefeâ—red for the Augmentation Vigour of thâ— Archeus to this I was induced by the uâ—doubted Authority of the Maxime in Phioâ—sophy Simile simili gaudet also Iisdoâ— nutrimur quibus constamus Besides my pâ—â—pose was confirmed by the Essential Consiâ—tution of the Vital Spirit viz. Saline aâ—cording to our Philosopher Est ipse Spiritâ— Vitae de Natura Salis volatilis Salst v. â— 136. Sextup Digest The Vital Spirit is of 〈◊〉 nature of a Volatile Alkali Moreover 〈◊〉 Blas Humanum p. 113. Per motum nempe 〈◊〉 Sanguinis non quidem Acidi sed Salsi exte nutio neque ideo in pinguedinem sive Butyruâ— vertitur sed in Spiritum Vitalem de salis adâ—oque de Balsami natura Certainly by Motioâ— the Blood is rarefied into a Saline not Aciâ— Spirit neither is it changed into a Fatty Buâ—tynous Substance but into a Vital Spirit oâ— the nature of a Sal for that reason it is Balsamical Also Pa. 443. AuraVitae Estque ideâ— Spiritus Vitalis Salsus viciniorque Spiritui loâ—tij quam Sali-petrae The Vital Spirit is a Salt of nigher affinity to the Spirit of Urine than Salt-peter Membro semel stupefacto si sensus redierit id sane cum sensibilibus stimulis punctionibus fit quae verae salsedinis sunt indicia If at any time a member benummed recovers its perfect sense there is felt prickings and thorny shootings which are infallible signs of a salt matter From the consideration of the saline Texture of the Vital spirit I laboured about the Alkali's of this Microcosm divers parts whereof I Dissected fetching out by Pyrotechnie their Volatiles which I studied to nobilitate by frequent scouring iterated distillations even to ten or eleven courses adding every turn a fitting Mundifier keeping them in digestion three weeks or a Month I then proceeded to correct any harsh Acid quality lurking in them by that which blunts lenefies or mollifies the same by feeding their hungry appetite with a pleasing Nutriment that they may not so eagerly prey upon the Body to entangle and clip their Wings that they may not ascend too high or fly away too nimbly to exalt them and advance them to a more lofty virtue by the intermixture of some small portion of Salt of Tart. volatile united with a pure vegetable Spirit Having thus prepared the highest clarified Liquor I have found it to carry an admirable conformity with the Vitals to symbolize with our Constitutes so that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking it up greedily forthwith strengthned musters greater Forces for the expulsion of the Enemy that hath Invaded its Teritories This is really a Polyacea if further graduated it may come nigh a Panacea No sooner do the most defaecated Atoms in this active fluid Body arrive in the Stomach but some portion is strait absorpt or lickt up by the Archeus for its own Corroboration Part is made use by the natural Archiater foâ— the banishment of those burdensome aculeating strange Apostate Juices absolute enemieâ— to Life through all the cleansing passages convenient Quo natura vergit whether she pleases by the Kidneys Intestines through Mouth Ears Nose through the Pores of the Skin oâ— by a vigorous extermination of some malignant cadaverous Excrements lodging in the Center to the utmost bounds of the Body Add to this the Archeus enabled makes use of this symbolizing Alkali as an Instrument to edulcorate what is Acid to make slick any roughness to mitigate any biting or fretting Liquor to suppress reduce to regularity or explode exorbitant wild Spirits to correct the defects or obliquities of the Ferments that they may not continually engender the like vitiosity to deobstruct the Vessels stuffed with any congealed Blood or viscous calculous concrete or Phlegm by attenuating dissolving scouring away the same lastly to polish and confirm the Tone of every part Thus can Nature Act rare feats when it is animated by a Second when it meets with that which is of the same Pedigree with it self i. e. those saline particles first framed in the Stomach and Intestines afterward more refined are destinated for diversity of uses in this mass of flesh Now 't is not the common Alkali's used by the Galeno-Chymists that are sufficient to satisfie an able Chymist for the attaining the foresaid end Although I acknowledge the best remedies they possess are volatile Spirits drawn out of Harts-horn Armoni Ivory c. Yet I must tell them withall if they would desire to be instructed in the Art as it is Scientifick indeed I can demonstrate that their Spirit of Harts-horn and Sal. Armoni are neither rightly Corrected nor Clarified as they ought for that reason not so well embraced by the Vitals It is not without cause then that some pronounce it to be overheating c. Therefore to be given Scrupulously seldom above a Scruple at a time whereas if it be prepared by the hand of a
these Praevaricators impose upon the Simple perswading them that they possess well-prepared Medicines above others when in truth I can prove them to be but meer Philosophasters in our Sophy that they are miserably involved in Darkness not only to the handy work of the best Innocent means but also in what belongs to the Oblation of them to the Patient in a just quantity time These Chymicophants certainly did they rather chuse to be than seem would uncessantly make a severe Scrutiny by Protechny into the Essence and quiddity of Concretes that having extracted their pure parts they mighâ— advance them by adjuncts agreeable to Naâ—ture avoiding all hurtful Acids circumciâ—sing or empairing their Goodness Whereâ—fore the Mass of Aloe Myrrhe Saffron being recluded by a proper Alkalizate Liquor wilâ— by digestion freely communicate its more reâ—fined particles to a Spirit symbolizing with ours of great efficacy in curing Dangerous Maladies if given proportionably to their degree of Malignity Note some Acids wherein certain concretes pulverized very fine are infused seem to dissolve them radically to draw out high Tinctures in so much the Loborator is much affected therewith supposing he hath obtained his wished desire when at length upon a stricter test it is really only a disguise in the Liquor arising from the piercing Salt of the Dissolvent obsorbing the tenuious Corpuscles of the Dissolutum which closely combined produce this colour These Salts keeping in a FIux the particles of the Matter infused hide them that they are not discerned till the activity of the Salts be somewhat exhausted or grown languid through Expiration or a matter injected suddenly embracing the Dissolvent makes forthwith a separation of it and the Dissolutum whereby a palpable Pouder is precipitated to the bottome and the colour of the Liquor reduced to what it was before This I made trial of in Zwelfer his Spirit of Venus pouered upon Crabs eyes seeming to be brought into a Mucilage their primum Ens till upon the coalition of an Alkali they returned to their former shape of a Powder The same deception may be discovered in Spirit of Bread affused to red Coral as likewise in several other Acid Dissolvents This may suffice to shew that vulgar Acids do neither candidly deal with us in dissolving Concretes radically neither do they prefer them to higher dignities of efficacy in Healing Van Helmont's advice is therefore strictly to be observed to endeavour to make the fixed Alkali of Tartar volatile for the separation and improvement of the better part of Bodies Doubtless that great Segregatour of all Concretes into Salt Sulphur Mercury that the pretious may be separated from the vile and yet it self kept in its integrity without any diminution of its virtue hath its original from an Alkali combined with pure Mercury It behoveth then every Physitian to make a daily inspection into these Salts both friendly to the Nature of Man and so prevalent in the unlocking Materia Medica that so we may carry away what is sanative and leave the destructive CHAP. XI AS the Vital Spirits are to be multiplyed by their like that they may be lusty to conquer their Enemy so are they likewise to be pacified lulled asleep diverted treated gently to be gratified with harmless Anodives Sedatives delightful Speculatives the most lucid Objects and most beautiful Idea's This Renowned Design is to be accomplished by Vegetable Animal and Mineral Sulphurs Nothing in this kind acts better than Mineral Sulphurs brought to an height of Entelechie for no sooner are they taken into the Stomach but the Vitals are refocillated by their bright Rays a sweet composure follows their fury and rage taken off black deformed Images of Mortality defaced bright lovely Idea's of Health taking place Vegetable Sulphurs afford us excellent virtue in Healing if freed from an Empyreumatick Tang elaborated from an unkind Acid lurking in them either to be altered to a sweetness by what is apposite or abstracted from them by curious Art Add to this if they abound with store of volatile Alkali's and of good odour otherwise they put the Ferment of the Stomack to difficult labour â—n removing their unctuosity that they may become fitting for sanguification Those volatile Salts which harbour a stinking Oleous Odour can never be grateful to the Vitals Odores Oleosi abstracti a suis Concretis inquinando potius afficiunt quam materialiter in Arterias subeant Helm de Fâ—br p. 90. Wherefore I admire how some of our Learned Chymicophants can pretend to be so knowing in our Sophy yet know not how to rectifie or to give a better Odour to Spirits of Harts-horn Soot c. that they may be more acceptable to the Animals As long as any relique of faetid Oil lies couched in the saline Particles it must needs contaminate the more elegant Crasis Although some alledge the Medicine is robbed of part of its Medical endowment if this unpleasant hogo be sequestred yet dispensing with the frequent employment of about some Graveolents as likewise what may be requisite in Historical Affects without Controversies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bene Olents are most agreeable to the Synthesis or Constitution of the Vitals witness the Essential Oils of Cinamon Clove Mace Nutmegs c. which being odorous plentifully imbued with Saline Particles immediately Refocillate Illuminate and Compose Nature All caution therefore ought to be used that the Fire may not give Vegetables or Animals an ill odorous Impress scarce somtimes to be expunged also to exercise 〈◊〉 manner of industry that the foul Sulphâ—â— may not rise with the clean Spirits or Salâ— or if it so happen it may by digestion and maâ—nifold distillation with proper Adjuncts 〈◊〉 divorced at least much diminished There are several Sulphurs Balsams oâ— Oyls extracted out of Vegetables of good conâ—cernment in Healing as Aromatick and maâ—ny fragrant Plants Oyl of Aniseed Fennelâ— Marjoram Rosemary Thyme Lavender Sassafras Lemons c. are to be commended as they are if nitide and throughly polite by reason of the auspicious benevolent aspect on the Archeus yet if they shall be converted into benign Spirits or Salts they far transcend the former working strange Cures Oyl of Terebinth spiritualized by a right Spagyrical hand will get a Physitian credit by its splendid effluviums but Oyl of Amber made serene will do better things also Balsam Peruvian and Balsam Capiviae Arbor Vit. rarefied or set at liberty from their grosser matter then changed into a sublime Aethereal substance will send forth some bright beams for the enlightning this microcosm Oyl of Guaicum and Box Distilled without â—aetid unsavory fiery smell or tast afterward exalted to a highly volatile Spirit are delightful to the Archeus and far to be approved before any Diet-drink bochet c. offered by the Galenists for the cure of the Lues Venerea or other stubborn Diseases Note that we ought to be very studious in the hebetating or withdrawing the Acid latitant in most Oils whereby their virtues
may become more explicated as likewise more capable to embrace Mineral Sulphurs and fixed Alkali's for their more easie transmutation into a spirituous Liquor what a happy Comodity arises from the enjoyment of Oil Olive separated from its Acid is known to most The Sulphur of Wine changed into a saline nature serves for multitude of excellent uses both as preparative and sanative Oyl of Tartar Distilled dexterously that it may not be so graveolent next altered into a volatile Saline Liquor affords prosperous effects in grievous Calamities The essential Oil of Myrrh Aloe Saffran intimately united with a pure volatile Alkali deserves worthy applause in curing a Quartane and other tedious Griefs for it rarely Composes the disorders of the Archeus Observe that Oils or Sulphurs so graduated that they harbour good store of a kindly well Clarified Salt colliquated iâ— them are more profitable for all intention of curing outward Affects then being soâ—litary Hereby great Dolors are allaied pains mitigated Aciditie in the part eduâ—â—corated Asperities levigated Contractiâ—ons exporrected Tumours discussed oâ— maturated Inflammations qualified Node and Schirrous concretions dissolved Corruption and Malignity in Ulcers mortified but above all the Archeus exceedingly delighted with the application Certain sulphureous Juices coagulated as Aloe Opium Scam Ixia c. artificially handled and duly corrected that their Poisons may be destroyed solace the Archeus enabling it to profligate the deseased matter according as an orgasmus thereof directs Gums and Resins used as Topicks afford great comfort to the part aflicted yea some hung about the Neck emit a splendid virtue for the recreation of the Vitals CHAP. XII NExt to Vegetables let us contemplate the efficacy of Animal Sulphurs as they please indulge and compose the Spirits These are acquired from the parts of Living Creatures inward or outward contained within the verge of Vitality or excommunicated therefrom A great part of our Aliment is taken from the Sulphurious Juices of Animals best maintaining Man in vigour affording a very Robust Nutriment for Augmentation and Procreation I find generally the most able Bodies Magnanimous Souls and the stoutest Souldiers to be Sarcophagi and the nigher of Consanguinity the Sulphurious Food is to the Crasis and Constitution of our Bodies the more effectually it Corroborates For this reason Swines Flesh doth copiously nourish encreasing the strength of those in Health and quickly restoring those who are emaciated if the Ferment of the Stomach be by proper means rectified The Broath of Pork as I am informed hath done notable things for the reparation of the decayed Strength of some who have suffered an Atrophy for many Months Doubtless were it by the Authority of Diaeteticks brought into more frequent practice many would be better cured of Consumptions by help hereof than by those Gummous Clogging Gellies and Lacteous Excrementitious Prescriptions of the Galenists Anthropophagi or Cannibals earnestly covet Mans flesh esteeming it most delicate Food pittying us as Ioh. Leâ—rius the Burgandian declares that we in thiâ— part of the world are unacquainted with sucâ— dainty meat for as much as they find thiâ— Humanum Sulphur so nigh kin to their owâ— to be earnestly coveted by the Appetite deâ—lectable to Nature therefore easily convertâ—ed into their own substance Hereby Sanity and longaevity are advanced Creatures of a Musculous Robust Constitution though more than others remote from our Nature yet through custome and seminal participation become familiar and most grateful so that the Sulphur of the Flesh and Blood of Horses yield strong Aliment to the Tartars whereby they are made more Fierce Hardy and Valiant In general the Sulphur of the Inward parts of Living Creatures are prized more for nourishment than Physick yet some are not wanting to do us great service as those taken from the Gaul whose singular gifts in healing are often recorded The Sulphur of the Liver and Gaul of an Adder or Eel expedite a slow Birth The Gaul of some Fishes clarifie the Eye-sight remove a Fistula Pin or Web off the Eye It killeth Worms it openeth cleanseth attenuates gross matter The Sulphur of the Blood of a Cat profits in the Rickets of a Goat in a Pleurisie of a Mouse in the suffocative Cough The exactly purified Sulphur of the bones of certain Animals are conducible for divers Diseases did not their foetour annoy us we should by often taking them find them far more profitable The Dung of Creatures although proscriled from having a share of Vitality yet do their Sulphur afford us great relief in sickness Horse dung against a Pleurisie whose acute dolour is asswaged thereby Peacocks Excrement against an Epilepsie Goose dung against the Jaundices c. The Sulphur of the Outward parts of Animals as the horns hair skin hoofs nails teeth testicles also various superfluous excrescences of Living Bodies is to be had in estimation for Physical use All these if they be so ordered that no igneous stinking taste offend nor any clammy viscous impurity remain in them if withal their seminal virtues be preserved are of notable force to allay in some measure the tempest of the Archeus CHAP. XIII ABove all the Sulphur of Metals and Minerals challenge the greatest regard from us for their singular endowment iâ— Healing Mettaline Sulphurs are Solar Lunar Mercurial Saturnal Iovial Venereal anâ— Martial What the Sulphur of Gold can act in diffiâ—cult cases is well known to all Legitimatâ— Philosophers But hic labor hoc opus est how tâ— fetch it out aright not every Aurum potabile which some so boast of ought to be reputeâ— the Anima of this glorious Mettal For tho iâ— may after the example of Van Hel. be brought into the minutest Atoms by grinding it fine with Cinnaber and Salt afterwards by often distilling it with Sal Armoni Stib Mercuâ— Subli be turned into a red Oyl Notwithstanding the tearing of this solid ponderous most fixed body into the smallest particles possible yet may it be easily reduced again to Gold the same in every respect as before 'T is no wonder then that we are so frequently disappointed of the happy effect which this Solar Sulphur might afford us seeing so few are able to attain a Key fitting to unlock the Cabinet wherein this pretious Jewel is contained By reason of ignorance herein those at first great applauders of Van Helmont for his profound knowledg in Metallurgie have Apostatiz'd from his sincere Doctrine of Curing the most Contumacious Maladies by those compact Sulphureous Bodies vaunting that they were furnished with Vegetable and Animal Preparations every way able to conquer the most Monstrous Diseases in Nature with as much certainty activity as the best instituted Metaline or Mineral Sulphurs This the Author of Vita Sana Longa I heard asserted to the great disparagement of this Science and to the discovery of his evident weakness in Pyrotechnie We dare Practically affirm for the defence of our Philosophy that the exalted Sulphurs derived from these most solid Concretes do generally far
he would turn all into dross To advance his base enterprize the more he hath in readiness his Emissaries whom he hires or Bribes to trumpet out magnifie and extol his rare Cures he endeavours to prostitute this Chast Art to make it a very Whore to his Lusts Pimp or Pander to compass his vile Ends. He is Impudent beyond expression and because Stupid and Ignorant a most sworn Enemy to Learning yet will admire Van Helm although he never read him nor is in least able to understand him though Translated into his Mother Tongue He boasts of his Specious Furnaces but seldome handles a retort himself yet will tell you what Herculean Labours he hath undergone what he hath atchieved making comparisons with the Best He and the Galenist are herein well met for Subtlety for like Apes they know how to take Nuts out of the fire with the Paw of the Cat. This Foul Bird such as the Poet speaks of contactu omnia foedans hath a strang faculty by the enchanting melodious Tune of his Long Bill setting out his wonderful Cures to draw one into his Net hiding the rest of his ugly body till he hath picked your Pocket wronged your Health or mortally wounded you He Counterfeits the true Chymist as the Hyaena a Mans voice tempting unwary people to come unto him and then worries them He and the Chymical Galenist like Davus confound the whole World so that few know how to chuse the Right and leave the Wrong Way of Curing He is still sowing his Pseudochymical Tares so thick that Orthochymical Wheat is in danger to be strangled thereby Although he be really of no Religion yet sometimes he as well as the Galenist will profess to be of some Congregational Church or of some Fanatical Conventicle to the end being changed into an Angel of Light he may set a specious gloss of Piety upon his fraudulent ways hereby gaining more reputation amongst the Brethren he may cozen his Patients more plausibly At his first entrance upon Pseudochymical Devices he pretends to be a great Astrologer thereby to determine whether the Sick shall live or die yea to make him more notoriously famous he undertakes to tell Fortunes to instruct the people how they may come by their stolen Goods again whether Mariners shall make prosperous Voyages whether men shall meet with good or bad success in Marriage Women with the like c. But afterward having pretty well feather'd his Nest by plucking those Credulous Gulls who have stooped to his Call also now his Art of casting Figures becoming more and more suspected likewise conscious to himself the Heavens will not suffer any longer his Impostures he begins to lay aside Ouranoscopie thinking it best non altum sapere sith quae supra nos nihil ad nos and betakes himself to Ouroscopie where he fixes pretending to be a notable Pispot Prophet to tell by bare inspection of the Urine without farther enquiry what 's the Disease whether the Party may recover and how long c. To this Hocus Pocus Women of all Sorts and Degrees flock to know whether they be with Child yea supposed Maidens to be resolved whether their Tympany be Intestineal or Uterine how they may be rid of the last with privacy whose expectations he says upon good Terms he is ready to satisfie to all intents and purposes by means of a secret knack he hath attained I could acquaint my Countreymen if I had leisure with multitude of Gins Traps and Snares this Bastard Chymist lays to catch the simple harmless man that he make a Prey of his Body and Purse In short he is a most Pestilent Animal no more fitting to be tolerated by the Magistrate than Wolves and Foxes amongst Sheep A Short Description or Explanation of the Happy Efficacy and Sanative Virtue of Our STOMACK ESSENCE THE Grand Opposers of the Ortho-Chymical way did put me hard to it at first by reason of the Implicite belief most Men have Supinely and in a blind manner of Obedience without further Scrutinie yielded to their Authority and Antiquity to preserve this most Useful Florid Splendid Remedy Ess. Stom from being blasted or extinguished by their malignant Breath more mischievous to the Truth of Direct Healing than any Mephitical damp to the Life of Man However 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 crescit sub pondere Virtus the more they have endeavoured to suppress it by fastning false weights of Defamation to it viz. that it was too hot inflaming burning too strong violent consuming the Radical moisture shortning the Life withal under-valuing it that it was no better than Pepper drops and that it might be made in half a dozen hours which Dr. Merret unworthily Reported behind my back who when I came to face him offering to give it under my Hand presently to be bound to reward him with a Hundred pounds the next Morning if he would teach me to make it in twenty four hours replyed by way of Collusion that he could counterfeit it in that time I say the more these Chymicophants have laboured to sink down this Noble Remedy the more it hath sprung up and flourished to their grand shame Yea I dare averr upon Reasonable Experimental grounds this Polyacea will be esteemed by Posterity one of the best Medicines for it's general Utility to the Life of Mortals Innocent Nature Pleasant Gust and easie purchase that ever yet came to light He that will may read the just Vindication of it Published formerly none of my Adversaries daring to oppose it openly unless a tergo sneakingly below a Generous Man What Excellency I have here Attributed to it rather comes short than transcends it's desert This Medicine is not with little Labour Fabricated being brought over in Glasses above twenty several times and digested many days It consisteth of three pure Volatiles United fetched out of the Store-House of Animal Vegetable and Marine Substances which produce these Salutary Effects following It exceedingly strengthens the Stomack helps it's Digestion encreaseth and maketh Active the Vital Spirits and their Instruments by which they work called Ferments rectifies the Spleen scatters and expels Wind Vapours or any wandring wild Spirit which flies in a moment from one place to another vexing the parts It sweetens in some measure the sharpness of the thin Liquors in the Body which often-times causes pains Feavers c. It subtilly enters the Veins and Arteries being carried about with the Blood which it very much cleanses It carries off to the out-side whatsoever is impure causing a kindly breathing in the Skin It also causeth Urine conveying Gravel from the Kidneys hindring that it may not be engendred and fixed It is helpful in difficulty and pain of making Water coming forth sometimes by drops 'T is of great Service against pains of the side the Colick Griping of the Guts It is a very great Cordial preserving from fainting and restoring those who are surprized with loss of Vital Spirits It is very effectual to
framed but strait vanish becoming Non Entia for they are momentany and easily thrust out by the next Successour But when any Object shall often savourly and seriously affect us then the Representation of the same doth take deep Roots in the Spirit altering the Texture of the Blood Latex or Lympha so that according to the Species of the Immoderate Passion and the Picture thereof drawn either in the Innate Archeus or that continually repaired different Accidents Symptomes Signs and Effects arise That all Diseases have a Type Copy or Example set according to which the Archeus that first moulded it acts may be confirmed by the Uniformity Regular Motion Inseparable Appearances or Signs belonging to them from which they receive a Name proper to their Nature Those tell us of what kind the Sickness is insomuch a Judicious Physitian is able as well to make distinction between one Maladie and another as between a Pippin and a Pearmain an Almond and a Chesnut likewise to sort them into several Kinds Classes Forms Degrees a thing never to be done if there were not a certain Director Informer oâ— first Mover that laid a Platsom of whatsoever Grief depending upon an Efficient and Material Cause as all other Sublunaries Again that the Archeus doth first make a draught of the Evil in self working afterward accordingly to its own Hurt or Destruction may be proved by that Intermission Silence we find in Feavers Falling-sickness Gout Stone Convulsions Tissick c. which as it were sleep for some time then awake repeating their former Tragical Act exactly Certainly if there were not an Agent lead by a strict Rule it were impossible such a constant Mode and Method could be observed in the Beginning Progress Height Declension and Determination of Maladies Briefly therefore the true Efficient with the Material Cause of all Diseases is not any Distemper of the Elementary Qualites not any of the supposed four Humours derived from the four Elements not Salt Sulphur Mercury c. not any thing meerly Excrementitious Vexatious Ambient but the Vital Spirit stirred up to Indignation Fear c. by some loathsome tedious Object present whereupon it makes the very shape planting the Seed of the Maladie in some Portion of that Aetherial Blast separated from that in Integrity upon which Matter as a Patient the Seminal Ideal Agent works shooting forth those Manifold Fruits or Appearances in Sickness CHAP IV. Of the Therapeutick or Healing Method 1. Of Diet in General respecting the Prevention and Sanation of Mans Infirmities THe Immediate Undoubted Cause of all Diseases made Manifest their Cure will become more Easie to the Purpose Speedy with less Danger and Loathsomness There are two Capital principal Indications Ends or Marks which ought to direct us in the ordering our Diet as well as Pharmacy 1. The Support of the Strength or Vital Spirits 2. The Declining or Eschewing whatsoever is an Enemy to Nature that Incenses and puts it into inordinate Passions Laudable Diet then both Supports the Vitals encreasing them also Clarifies Pacifies and Diverts them from making Hurtful Images yea in some proportion Duls Defaces and Eclipses those already framed Now by Diet are comprehended all those Necessary Succours Requisites or Concomitants without which the Life of Man cannot Subsist Namely 1. Ingestion or taking into our Bodies whatsoever is Alimental or Nourishable 2. The Egestion or Discharge of Superfluities arising from our Food and the Retention of what is agreeable to our Nature 3. The Rectification of the Aire 4. The right ordering of Rest and Motion by Turns in due Measure and Time 5. A just Allowance of Sleep and Watching Lastly The Moderation or Regulation of the Passions aed Perturbations of the Mind In the first place the direct way to uphold increase the Spirits to keep them Clear Bright and free from unreasonable Sickly Turbulent Melancholy Idea's or Impressions is to have an especial Care of the Fountain from whence these subtil Particles spring i. e. the Stomach This Noble Part is with Care and Tenderness to be respected above any other for this purpose nothing is to be taken offending it either in Quality or Quantity Neither is the Substance and Quality of any Nourishable to be insisted upon so much as the just Quantity we are to observe for if the Stomach earnestly desire what is generally Reputed to be hard of Digestion or to afford bad Aliment notwithstanding if there be an eager Appetite to the same this Noble Part is to be indulged or favoured in such a Case only allowing a lesser Quantity Doubtless this most sensible Membrane of Exquisite Gust doth for the most part best prompt uâ— to what is for the Good of the whole so that giving a Repulse or Check to a vehement Appetite hunting after any thing eatable or drinkable we oftentimes cause a cloudiness dulness sullenness and darkness in the Vital Spirits bringing them into such a disorder that they Coin many foul black Images whereas if the Archeus of this eminent Ventricle were gratified and humoured in what it extreamly desires there would be a serenity and lustre in the Spirits and then alâ— Actions executed with more strength The severity of some Physitians in forbidding their Patients to eat that to which their Appetite is exceedingly addicted hath caused no small discommodity Neither do they less offend who strictly impose upon them such a Diet as they according to some general Rules apprehend most fitting derived from bare Qualities of Heat and Cold c. not considering that in all Diseases especially those of long duration enquiry ought to be made to what Diet the Sick is most naturally inclined to and accustomed what his Gust doth best relish then according to that account to grant him some small Portion of what he eagerly covets although usually reckoned amongst Food of hard Digestion of ill juice of bad quality or very Hot c. For none can give better Arguments of a Diet more proper for the satisfying the Appetite than a Man himself especially if he be of years carefully taking notice what doth most agree with the Genius of his Stomach I have known Posset-drink out of an intent to cool prescribed by some Doctors Humorists without farther Examination of an Antipathy thereto even to the endangering the Life in Malignant ill-conditioned Feavers Such Darkness hath forthwith seized upon their Spirits and such Loathsome foul Shapes have been delineated thereby that they have approached the shadow of Death undoubtedly perishing had not prevalent Art blotted out speedily those deformed Figures So hazardous it is to withhold what Nature doth most Sympathize with or to offer what it bears an inbred Hatred to This certainly is to be known by a Man 's own Experience whether he have an absolute dislike to Honey an Egg Sider any Spice c. For this Reason methinks 't is great vanity in those who will undertake to be Magisterial and over-rule Persons in Diet more able to judge of this
Matter than Physitians who presume no less ridiculously than ignorantly to enjoyn Iohn Thomas William the same Food Order Season and Measure of taking it alike without having respect to any Individual or Peculiar Stamp made upon the Spirits in the Womb whence Qot Homines Tot Diaetae observendae As many Men as there are in the World so many inseparable Properties are to be indulged as to the election of Eating and Drinking this or that If our Galenical Physitians who stand so much upon their bare Qualities of Heat and Cold in the Cure of Griefs according to the Rule of Contraries directing them as they say but upon false grounds to extinguish one by another did rather aim at the Cancelling and blotting out these perverse deformed crooked Impresses or Characters born with us and in process growing up to such a height insomuch that they become unconquerable Mortals would certainly enjoy both a sounder Body and Mind be free from Melancholy enjoying far more clearness of Spirit I am Confident that the Stomach whose Digestive properly is utterly estranged by a Feaver or long Imbecillity being whetted by a strong affection may alter a Red-herring Oysters a Lobster c. better than Veal Chicken Broth Gellies or any such contrived Cookeries Therefore to urge the Sick to Eat Sodden when he lusts after Roasted or Liquid when he requires Solid is to cross Nature supposed either can be made fit for nourishment In all those states wherein I find the Infirm Person 's Stomach uncapable to make a formal chang of the Food for want of a kindly Ferment or Dissolvent as for Example in all Feavers and very ill habits of Bodies there I generally injoyn the best Liquors abounding with good Spirits easily to be altered into the Vitals leaving no considerate foulness or dross behind the watrish part entering into the Vessels carrying off some Superfluities it meets with by Urine and Sweat so that my Practice hath taught me many years what Hippo. hath delivered Facilius est refici potu quum cibo The Vital steam is with more speed refreshed and longer maintained by Spirituous Liquors than by Flesh or its Juices which for want of a Living Dissolvent requisite for this chief Cook-room become Degenerate Dead and stinking whereupon a Feaver is added to a Feaver the Archeus being encreased in its Fury makes Idea's of Weakness Despair and Confusion according to the Truth of the Old Man Siquis in febre cibum de derit valenti Robur Aegrotanti Morbus Yet the custome and Authority of Malepracticants is so powerful that the Sick thinks he must be weakned if he eat not Broth of Flesh Caudels Water-gruel c. which those Diet-mongers have justified contrary to the Aphoris will turn into Nourishment whereas the Stomach hereby becomes more weakened Excrements engendered abundantly the rage of the Archeus advanced hence arise Misty Gloomy Representations eclipsing the Sun of Life raising as it were a filthy fog in the Archeus so that it cannot see how to rectifie its Erroneous Idea's suffering them to become more fixed No less Mischievous is the Galenical Doctrine of Cooling Liquors in Feavers viz. their Maukish Spiritless Dull Flat Posset-drink Small-beer Barly-water loathsome Decoctions of cooling crude Herbs Pippin Liquors and the like which starve the Vital Spirit bringing a numness upon it that it cannot do any thing effectually for the expulsion of its Enemy They likewise wedge in the ill Juices so that either Nature is totally oppressed yielding to its Fate or led Captive by a long Disease the Common Event of their Mortiferous Method Whosoever then falls into a Feaver or any other Calamity I advise him upon Fundamental Trials made many years to avoid the aforesaid poor Starvling Liquors to apply himself to the drinking of that which will enable the Archeus strongly to resist its Enemy to frame benign clear lightsome Imaginations tending to Health to subdue the detestable filthy Matter holding no communion with Life by Sweat Urine Spitting Vomiting or Stool Yet still let Moderation be the Guide in all things for the most Commendable things may be abused witness those to whom I allowed to drink now and then a Glass of Sack in a high Feaver who unadvisedly fortewith poured down a whole Quart-bottle to their Prejudice As I never forbid any in a Feaver good Strong Liquors to quench Thirst to strengthen the Stomach and Spirits So I admonish all to make use of Temperance Neither do I prohibit Broaths Collises Eggs in any Maladie c. upon any other account but that they become corrupt in a Stomach whose Ferment cannot turn them into a nourishable Juice He that will take a course to obtain Iuventutem in Senectute to be young and chearful when Old must have respect to Senectutem in Iuventute careful to be Temperate Sober and Discreet as some Old Men are Could we but know our selves aright so far as to command our greedy Appetite not to devour more than the Ferment of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is able to conquer we should frustrate the Common Saying Plures Gula quam Gladius Multitude of Evils of Body and Mind might be prevented and remedyed For sith Natura paucis contenta est 't is far better in Eating and Drinking to subsist on this side the Golden Rule of Mediocrity than to transgress beyond that being more easily corected A peculiar Robust Constitution the course of Life we follow the Exercise we use the Region or place we inhabit the Air we suck into our Lungs the Agility or Dulness the Alacrity or Indisposition we find the morning following the foregoing days Diet Dictate what Quantity of Food of what Quality and at what time we ought to Eat thus accordingly we are to Regulate and Reform what is amiss One of an Athletick Body labouring hard living in a Mountainous Clear Temperate Aire or much conversant at Sea Lively Airy and Spiriteful after Sleep may justly challenge a greater share of Aliment than a Weakly Lumpish Drousie Habit addicted to a Sedentary Studious Life in a Populous City or any Fenny Foggy Countrey remote from the Sea For I find generally that Aqua praecipue Marina promovet Digestionem The Agitation of the Body by Neptune's Ebullition the Recentation of the Aire those Copious Volatile Particles of Acid and Alkali in the Ambient do powerfully corroborate the Ferments of Digestion carry off insensibly any Recrements without any Coagulation or Dreggy Settling left behind so that many can eat without Discommodity Quintuple the portion at Sea above that at Land Large Morning Draughts are for the most part very injurious likewise frequent Drinking between Meals for the kindly Dissolution of the Food is retarded hereby the Fibers of the Stomach by degrees made Flaccid and the Tone Debilitated One Meal a day discreetly modefied and with one or two short snaps beside may 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 very well suffice most men using but gentle Motion and living in places where the Aire
Living Body from the same cause do virulent Animals Vegetables or Minerals taken inwardly Purge violently for as much as the Sensitive Spirit falls into an indignation at the presence of that it abhors so makes a confusion of the holsome Juices by Colliquating and Putrefying them Hereupon so little benefit arises from things meerly loosening the Body the Principal Agent being exasperated by what is contrary to its Texture and Nature After this rate did I begin my Practice being taught no better than to give many Stools or Vomits without indulging or pleasing this great President which as I have often proved is the Supreme cause of Sanity and Infirmity But afterward instructed by a far more able Tutor than the Schools I began to correct my former Traditional Error following the sure Thread of repeated Experiments so that at length I never gave any Solutive not fitting to Corroborate the Stomach not friendly to the Ferments and Vitals Before I took this course all frequent Laxatives were fruitless because they did anger and enrage the Archeus stirring up Storms and Tempest in the Microcosm instead of a sweet Tranquility By this means the Idea's of the Phantasie ingeneral were rectified and clarified after that the Spirits in particular places were composed aright He that desires to be free from absurd Melancholy thoughts furious passions and perturbations let him take Eustomachical Benign Benevolent Remedies sufficient always to cleanse away Impurities without causing Hatred Frowardness or high Displeasure in Nature whose genuine course is to be observed without putting her to any violent stress or compulsion CHAP. X. The Pharmaceutick or upright Method of Curing Diseases by Medicines in general HOw the Galenists have been mistaken concerning the Four Elements their Mixture for the Composition of Bodies their Contrarieties Qualities Complexions deduced from thence how falsly they have delivered them to be Principles of Natural Existences and the Causes of Sickness and Health hath been perspicuously detected by our Philosophical Pyrotechnist upon this foresaid rotten Foundation have they raised their Stately and Pompous Fabrick of Curing Obstinately endeavouring still to keep it up The Rule of Contraries derived from Imaginary Supposition of the Hostility and Reluctancy of the the Four Elements whence they say all Concretes have their Original by which they chiefly act for the end to debellate Mans Infirmities hath been the bane of many Myriads Where they find any notable heat in a Feaver they presently take Indication to cool the Body in a degree proportionable to its Antagonist in hopes thereby to reduce the Body to an Eucrasie but still with unlucky success For neglecting the Radical Cause and aiming at the Abolitions of Accidents Products or Symptoms how can it be otherwise but that they must needs miss the Mark unless they hit it by casualty A Faithful Knowing Physitian is unconcern'd and indifferent whether the Patient be Hot Cold or Temperate as to the touch in a Feaver whether Thirsty or no. For asmuch as he understands the same Agent that sends forth a hot Blas doth also send sometimes a Cold from the same Matter He also frequently observes a Cold dead Splinter or Thorn doth Vex Gaul Fret the Archeus of the Finger in such a manner that the Pulse becomes above measure Magnified the Colour Rubified the Blood incensed the Heat Exalted All which arise from the Material cause of the Thorn impacted Likewise the Eye waters smarts abhors the Light looks red or inflamed from a mote or a small fragment of Glass c. Cold things by reason of the Passion of the Ingenite Spirit much provoked at the presence of the Guest so unwelcomed to life Moreover a spark of fire Essentially Hot lighting upon the hand or elswhere causes a sudden shivering Coldness all over the Body What is more frequent than to sustain a grievous Rigour or Coldness even to chattering of the Teeth from the abundance of a supposed humor called Choller analogous to Fire as they will have it Hot and Dry. On the other side how Hot and Dry have I known some Phlegmatick Bodies in Feavers even beyond Cholerick In this Case how without contradiction to their Theorems can they without lethiferous Mistakes give cooling things for the encrease of Phlegm and Hot for the advancement of Choller were not this to augment the cause of the Disease Is not this rather the very strait course to relieve the misaffected to exempt the Thorn or Splinter out of the Finger the Mote Fragment of Class out of the Eye by proper Instruments also to attenuate rarifie Phlegm to mitigate Edulcorate Retund and alter Choller by what is adaequated operative for the ablution abstersion and carrying away both Sospite Stomachi ac Naturae robore through all the most requisite Sluces of the Body This done like a true Philosophical Artist a sweet Tranquility appears in the Vitals all evil Symptoms of Heat Cold c. forthwith or in a very short time vanish Neither in this case is it of Moment whether the Remedies bringing this to pass be Hot or Cold sith as substracting the Fuel from the Fire it will quickly be extinguished so removing the occasional Matter of Heat this is soon annihilated Did the Schools rightly comprehend how Fire may be procured by the Rapid Collision of two cold incombustible solid Bodies as Stone and Steel or by the long attrition of an accensible Matter no whit hot to the touch or by the Fermentation Agitation Conglomeration or Compression of Acids and Alkali's also by Concentration of Light into a Cone or Minute Compass they would be better acquainted with the Cause of the Aestuation Effervescence and Accension of the Vital Spirits in Feavers hereby suitable Remedies might be provided When at any time the Genuine Domestick Spirits of the Microcosm and a Wild Exotick Gas meeting together do strike or grate one upon another in a confused whirled manner there strait breaks forth a preternatural heat to be corrected by Pacifying the Vitals enraged and enabling them to profligate or subjugate this hardly tameable both subtil Wild Spirit and the matter from whence it emerges which is never to be accomplished by Cooling Prescriptions but by that which pleases the Archeus indulging it exceedingly If degenerate Salts Acid or Alkali couched in a rotten Matter create Thirst or excessive Heat by framing a Tumult in the Animals whatsoever doth correct the same is to be embraced indifferently whether hot or cold 'T is enough if I can attain my Grand Intention the ablation of the Nocuous Thermopoietick Matter the Substance on which all Qualities Accidents depend If I can compass this Fundamentally why do the Galenists wilfully blind cavil and rail at my Elaborate Preparations as violently Hot Burning Drying Inflaming when they cannot but be informed that I spurning at their Silly Insignificant Qualities of Heat and Cold as to Essential Cures I Extirpate all Feavers by amotion and abandoning the Original Exciter thereof But in this state I renounce
times Stigma's of their Malignity beâ—ind so that no Adeptus but will conclude The greatest part of them ought to be exâ—unged with a supply made of better things â—nd what remains to be more discreetly ordered in their Manufacture How do the Galenists impose upon us first â—o Cry down most Satyrically even to the Persecution of certain Honest Ingenuous Friends to this Art those Meaner sort of Paâ—acelsian Remedies now to make use of them â—o the detriment of many a Patient as well â—s to the keeping up the Credit of their Totâ—ering Dogmatical Structure which must of â—ecessity have fallen ere this to the ground â—ad they not closely foisted in upon a pinch â—ome Spagyrical active Preparations stolen â—rom us at that time when their most Dull Mixtures would take no place then boastâ—ng they tell the Credulous that their own gross Compositions had the greatest share in â—he Cure whereas in reality they did no oâ—her than hinder it Upon this account how subtilly do some pretend to be Chymists stealing Theoremâ— and Chymical Notions out of Van Helm diâ—â—guising putting them into an Elegant dress concealing the Authors Name Thus 〈◊〉 these Plagiaries own that filched from him whom in publick discourse they eitheâ— condemn or slight were they any whit candid they would blush to do so This Crime may justly be imputed to the Author De Fermentat De Febri and others who make a great noise about Lac Sulphur Spir. C. C. Spir. Vitri Ens Vene c. enough they think to make them cryed up for rare Chymists whereas were these Men with their Prescriptions brought to the Test of Practice they would easily be discovered to be but smatterers in this Philosophical Science then would their egregious Defects be obvious to any knowing Person Hereby the Safety Innocence and Vital Preservation of Manufactures would appear as much transcending theirs in excellent Endowments as a Torch in its Bright Beams surpassing a small Tallow Candle Moreover we are able not only to justifie our Operations beyond theirs as free from hazard or dangerous Consequences but we dare maintain what we give to the Sick conduces to their future Welfare and lengthning out their Life according as Divine â—â—ovidence is pleased to allow of the means 〈◊〉 that end Having thus by solid Reasons offered to be â—â—nfirmed by the true Touchstone of Expeâ—â—ence acquitted our Chymical Pharmacy from 〈◊〉 Slanders of our Enemies viz. that our â—ateria Medica is so ill handled that it is â—o Hot Burning Dangerous c. I shall â—ow describe the direct Method of Curing â—ifficult Diseases by help of a sincere Chymiâ—â—l Legitimate Learned Art The chief Indication or Scope which the Well-instructed Physitian ought continually 〈◊〉 have an eye upon is to keep in vigour â—lso to pacifie indulge gratifie the Archeus 〈◊〉 Vital Spirit the Achitectonical contriver â—f our first Being the constant Conservator â—f our Well-being the Author of our Health â—nd Sickness Weal and Woe This 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Hippocr by its Impulse â—ets all the Wheels going If a Dysphonie happen in the Sphere of this Vital Aire there aâ—iseth forthwith a jarring in the Inferiour Orbs of the Microcosm The Second Principal Indication is the Abâ—â—tion of the Inward Efficient Cause and the Outward Occasional Irritating Matter which â—isturbs the Archeus putting it into Enorâ—ous Passions and Perturbations These are the two Leggs by which Therapeutick or Healing Faculty is moved 〈◊〉 that is wanting in one of these is certainlâ— Maimed Whatsoever encreaseth the Eutonie oâ— Strength of the Vital Spirit ought to have Similitude of Nature and Symbolize wiâ—â— the same Spirit seeing Like doth readily â—â—nite with Like embracing each other inâ—â—â—mately That we may find out a Compeâ— with the Archeus the Essential knowleâ—â— thereof is to be enquired after The Vital Spirit is a most thin Aehere Breathing arising from the Blood perpetâ—â—ally circulated in the Veins and Arteries illâ—minated framed by Virtue of a Vital Feâ—ment in the left Ventricle of the Heart of a Saline Balsamical Constitution by means oâ— whose Bright Beams all Spirits generated a new diffused through the whole body receive their Light and Vivacity The Original of this Ruddy Juice where the Spirits first begin to flash and glister is from the Stomach where every thing ingested is dissolved by power of a Ferment partly ingenite partly derived from the Spleen or Arteries into a Whitish Acide Chyle This passing through the Pylorus or Neather Orifice of the Ventricle into the Guts called Duodenum Iejunum Ileon is there converted by a Lixiviate like property of the Gaul mixed with the Acid into a saline Texture denominated Chyme The more refined part of this Juice is conveighed through invisible Pores of the Guts into the Venae Lactae or Milky Vessels both trained by them and likewise impelled by the Peristaltick Motion of the Guts These Venae Lacteae carry the Milky Juice into the Liver Pancreas cava through whose Channels it runs Rubified into the right Ventricle of the heart thence it is driven out into Arteria Pulmon divaricated into the Lungs by means of the Centraction of the Heart then taken up by the Vena Pulmonica it falls into the left Ventricle where it is Flavefied by the Vital Ferment of the Heart by the force of whose Systole this Spirituous Liqor springs into all parts designed for Nutrition Procreation Sense and Motion Sith then 't is plain that the first Foundation of the Blood is laid in the Stomach according to whose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon whose good and bad action future digestions depends so that if the Chyle be once depraved in the first shop the Chyme and Milky Juice cannot be made in every respect approved in the second or third Laboratories Consequently very laudable Blood and Spirits can never be Fabricated For as the Chyle is such is the Chyme Lacteous Liquor Latex or Lympha Cruor Sanguis and Spirits Sith then there is such a Concatenation Connexion continued File of the Albified Mass in the Stomach to the rubified Balsome in the Heart and so to the extreme parts every knowing upright Physitian ought to be sollicitous about the discreet Oeconomy or Order of this Noble part that defaecated Blood and Spirits may be created Wherefore that thing ought not to be taken into the Body which is any way offensive to the Archeal Ferment of the Stomach or the weakening of its Tone Whatsoever is Dull Flat Dreggy Fretting Rank Corrosive or Virulent must be avoided Things Active well purified 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a just proportion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exquisitely mixed endued with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fragrant smell Sympathizing with the Constitution of this Membrane Benevolent and Antidotal are to be assumed that Clean Bright Spirits may be multiplyed springing from this Vital Balsame Well-rectified Spirits of Strong Liquors I have always found to perform much tending to that end before proposed For
Legitimate Chymist it hath no ill property but is fitting to be administred without the least danger in a large quantity to the debilitating strong Acute and Long Diseases For the confirmation of what I deliver if Doctor Willis who trusts much to this volatile or any other would please to be so Ingenuous to make the experiment thereof I shall order Spir. C. C. so Technically that without measuring or weighing it I will undertake to cure Languid Person with more speed security and pleasinâ— gust wholly trusting to this Alkali alâ—though I have for many Years laid it aside Remedies of more excellent Form coming to my Possession than they with their owâ— unpolished imperfect Distilled Spirit oâ— the same kind The Alkali out of Mans Bones I musâ— commend as an admirable Medicine usefuâ— both for Inward and Outward griefs of thâ— Body if construed by a Philosophicaâ— hand Yet I have rarely met with any so compleatly regulated according to those Rules before described but brought to the Test it hath not been altogether so safe insisting upon an Ample Quantity nor so efectual respecting the Quality or singular Analeptick property with which such volatiles ought to be endued Spirit of Sal. Armoniack if elegantly prepared that it move in the middle Sphere not soaring wantonly too high if its hungry Appetite be in some measure allayed if freed from any impurity if married intimately to a Vegitable Spirit with which it hath similitude abounding with an abstersive Salt may challenge no small priviledge in strengthning and encreasing the Vitals That Volatile Alkali's do match the Texture of the Animal Spirits above any besides is certain However Acid Spirits if handsomly framed want not their eminent use in refreshing the Archeus wherefore their keen corosive particles are to be made blunt supple their foul Sulphur cleansed their fair extraverted what is gross in them to be rarefied whatsoever is extraneous savoring of an unkindly Mineral condition ought to be rejected their ill odour to be amended all dross to be separated from them and lastly to be copulated by frequent Distillation with a defecated Alkali Such an Acid avails much in healing for it is grateful to the Stomach raising a kindly Appetite it reforms a preternatural Ferment cherishing what is genuine By it rotten stinking spurious saline matter in the Stomach producing extream thirst is tamed altered and cleansed away The Vitals having Allured to themselves the Alkali Atomes the Acid Corpuscles are stamped into another Form in the second digestion where they become by the transmuting faculty of the Gaul injected on them another Juice loosing their Acidity withall assuming an abstersive Salt which easily passing through the Kidneys puts on an Urinous Nature producing plenty of Urine In other shops they purifie the Blood and Lâ—â—tex penetrating deep carry off superfluitie through the whole skin I admire the Galenists who proclaim themâ—selves Chymists should dare to give sucâ— Ill-prepared Acids in their Juleps or otheâ— Mixtures such as are so far estranged from the constitution of the parts continent anâ— contained that they carry no concordancâ— with them Of this sort are Oil of Vitriol Sulphur or what they nominate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirits of the same for those are fretting gnawing biting mortifying Thesâ— meerly acetous rough harsh stiptick unâ—pleasant flat dull unprofitable Liquors plainly detecting that they were never made by a knowing Philochymist as intended foâ— that use which our Dogmatical Scribes put them to For hereby they think to take ofâ— Heat and Thirst in Feavers upon the account of their supposed cooling quality attributed to them by these Thermologists not considering that those effects of a few drops eatting a Woollen or Linnen Cloath quite through in a very short time cannot possibly arise from a cold Temperature or any other primary quality but from the abundance or conglobation of acute saline ponderous Particles as it were connexed in a Cone which thus concenterated tear and rend in pieces any subject capable wherefore as long as these Salts continue in this position or Texture I cannot allow them fitting to be exhibited by an able Healer for being Salts colliquated or melted then forced over by a strong fire they retain much of their pristine Original easily prone to be reduced into Salt of a nauseous unpleasant taste He that desires to procure a Spirit of Vitriol or Sulphur of a grateful smell and taste welcome to the Ferment of the Stomach capable without difficulty to be altered into an Alkali apt to discharge â—mpurities through all convenient sluces must extravert the Sulphur so then by a strong fire dilate their fiery beams that they may become Luminous not burning must farther take off their sharp edge by intervening particles readily closing in with them whereby their heavy corpuscles are allevated their opacous consistence made nitid hereby our Spirits comprehend them with joy Moreover the Spirit of Salt so much disscoursed of also applauded by some as made so Artificially I find very deficient scarse deserving the name of Spirit for that vulgar Liquor abounds with Phlegm little Saline Matter and that far from a genuine Spirit sith it may by evaporation be brought to a corpulent Sal. What is really a Spirit is so volatile that it flyeth away unless very closly stopped incontinently Distilled iâ— leaveth no gross residue it is delectable to the taste of the Stomach alike as to the Palate hence it is very Medicinable This requires labour with discreet Analysis of the Body of the Salt by a Golden Sulphur and an Alkali I shall here opportunely reprehend our Galeno-chymists who affuse Oil of Sulphur to those three Species the matter of Elix Propri supposing hereby both to open their Body correct any ill property and advance their virtue whereas they make by this means the excellent dowry contained in them more concluse hardly to be communicated to their very homely Menstruum they encrease the biting acride fretting quality of the Aloe or Myrrhe whereupon follows a Dyscrasie in the parts geld or mutilate the Species instead of raising them to be more masculine and compleat If we contemplate this rude Manufacture of Elix Propr 't is no wonder those botching Chymists mist of their drift in curing by such imperfect Instruments 'T is no wonder they complain they are too Hot unsafe causing Cephalalgie c. Thus taking measure by their own deformed Practice the Reason is plain why such Contumelies and disrespect is daily offered to this Salutary way by these Chymicophants continually buzzing Falsities in the years of the Rich as well as the Poorer sort unstable credulous admiring the Authority of a company of Outsides who have nothing to plead for their Errors but Antiquity They have Impudently Fictitiously suggested that the best Chymical Remedies although fabricated by a most accurate Vulcan are dangerous excessively Hot leaving a Sting behing not to be prescribed but by the most precise Rules of their Method exactly weighing or measuring them Thus
Cinabaris Nativa called of Paracelsus Metallus Primus sive Masculus comprehends a most Radiant Solar Sulphur This brought into a red Oyl afterwards into a Mercurial Juice named Vinum vitae or dissolved in some Aromatick Oyl Circulated with an Alkali in Spirit of Wine doth not onely cleanse away banishing what is hurtful in the Body but also renovates the Strength â—mpaired in the whole reducing the Tone and Vigour of every part to a just proportion and Equal Action Hence it is deservedly conducible for the protelation of Life The Sulphureous Particles of Lapis Haematites extraverted by Sublimation send forth a most fragrant smell like Saffron These Flowers immerged in a Benevolent Menstruuum digested often Distilled give a Tincture no whit different to a dissolution of Gold Great is the Power hereof to please the Vitals to Illuminate the dark Corners of the Microcosm Out of Bismuth Zink Talk Ludus Paracel and divers other Marchasites are extorted good Sulphurs which Elaborately Refined United with Symbolizing Liquors afford Remedies fitting to allay the perturbations of the Archeus There are also certain Precious Stones as the Emeral'd Saphire Granat c. whose rutilating Sulphurs although they are fast locked up yet may be recluded by means of penetrating Dissolvents whereby their shining Dowries being diffused in a Friendly Diaphanous Bath the Rigour of the Archeus may be made supple compliant and enlightned when at any time it is obnubilated For if Precious Stones be reputed to have a Happy Influence upon the Vitals by those bright Beams darted outwardly Certainly they will perform it much better when that Light imprisoned shall be set at Liberty from the grosser part being United as it were in a Cone shall be received into a fluid serene Matter so taken inwardly Those Luminous Concretions Nature seems to have taken extraordinary pains about to free from Heterogeneâ—ty or Alloy namely Unions or Pearls indigitate to us by their Clarified Signature that such shining Sulphureous Remedies may be fabricated by Analysis of them which the Archeus may esteem as Vitae Deliciae Feasting upon â—hem with admirable delight Now this Dainty Morsel for the Archeus to Banquet on is not to be acquired by a trivial affusion of Vinegar which doth onely imposie upon our Eyes representing them as truly dissolved whereas indeed they are no otherwise than Masked no better than pulverized Moreover doth likewise fleece them castrating these splendid Concretions of their real eminent Lustre they had before but by means of such a dissolvent able to make them retire to their Ens primum This is verily a great Cordial sweetly imbibed by Nature worthy to be called Elementum sive lac Margaritarum because it is a great Restorer of what is impaired a disperser of those black Meteors darkning the Spirits Thus I have I hope pro modulo confirmed one Leg of this spacious Body of Therapeutick Physick viz. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Indication dedueed from the Necessary support Augmentation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Placation Moderation Applause Photism of the Vital Spirits CHAP. XIV THE other Leg to be insisted upon or principal immediate Indication to be Considered is the ablation of the Inwarâ— Efficient Cause of a Disease and the Ouâ—â—ward Occasional Irritative Morbifick Matteâ— That the Archeus is the Prime Author 〈◊〉 all Sickness is an undoubted Truth Nether can any Malady Seat it self any where but in the Life as it 's proper Subject foâ— the Body once extinct all Diseases vanish Now this Ens morbosum as all otheâ— things arises from a Seminal Principle thâ— Quiddity or Activity of which necessarilâ— depends upon an Idea impressed upon thâ— Spirit As soon as this Idea is formed by the Arâ—cheus invested therewith it forthwith falls to Action uncessantly Labouring to pollute part of the Vitals hereupon an unkindly Forreign Ferment emerges which the Archeal Idea makes use of to alienate the Life more and more from it's Integrity Thus from an Invisible Beginning a Real Morbous Ens is Created defined by our Philosopher Vitalis Potestatis Actus Idealis Efficiens induens sibi Vestem ex Ideali materia atque aâ—quirens formam Vitalem substantialem juxta differentiam Tarditatis Celeritatis seminum Ide alum That this depraved Efficient Act of the Vitals may be hindred frustrated and deprived of Ideal Matter to clad it self so be disappointed from arriving to or continuing in a Vital Formality the Ideal Seed is to be defaced blurred and extinct by all means possible To bring this Intention home to a purpose Immediately and speedily requires the best of Van Helmont's Arcana Yet I doubt not but some of those Medical Instruments I have before proposed will by Degrees in some reasonable space at least Cancel if not totally deface those black Preternatural Ideas that the Archeus disturbed with irregular Passions hath delineated in the very Essence of Life Certainly when a supreamly clarified Salt and Sulp. shall be taken into the Body then Conducted into the very Bed-Chamber of Life shewing the Archeus as in a Looking-Glass the ugly shape of the Disease Pourtrayed it cannot but after some Re-collection Repent of Former Errors exceedingly contented at the presence of so beautiful an Object offered to the view whose salutiferous Idea causes a Composure in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereupon it falls to razing out the deformed Image of Mortality instead thereof limns though rudely at first the Picture of future Sanctity Pulv. noster Bezoard vel Pestifugus Tinct Bals. Solar Polya Sulp. ♂ ♀ most defaecated destroy in some sort Diseased Ideas producing luminous instead of Caliginous Images I question not but there are Remedies to be purchased as Active in framing Healthâ—ful Characters on the Spirits as there arâ— things noxious framing with admirablâ— Agility deadly Impresses Did we not too much acquiesce upoâ— Traditional Notions prone to be ratheâ— Credulous through Idleness than to make a narrow Indagation into the formal Essenâ—tial Virtues given to Concretes we should without Question be better Instructed concerning the specifick Properties of Animals Vegetables and Minerals we should more directly understand what is to be adapted adequately immediately for the abolition of contumacious long Maladies whose difficulty of Curing consists in fixed Ideas the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which would quickly make a Cure 'T is I say for want of the knowledge of the seminal Endowments of Creatures able to wash away the foul Tinctures or black Ideas of Evils and in lieu to ting the Body with a Vital Balsom Creating good Images in the Spirits that our Calamities are so Grievous and long How Vainly then Foolishly Obstinately yea deceitfully do the Galenists obtrude upon their mâ—serable Patients Faint Cordials Insignificant Juleps Destructive Bleeding Pernicious Solutives together with outward Butcheries as Vesicatories c. for the Conquering those Radicated Maladies whose Essence principally depends upon a Spiritual Morbifick Idea which once expunged salutiferous Images come in place Nature flourisheth it 's
Enemy shortly withers I grant the Dogmatists own the use of Specificks affirming that they substantially and formally resist the Evils of Life For all that 't is well known to the Faithful Philosopher how little they trust to them being conscious to themselves how ieiune and barren they are therein never profoundly to a purpose examining this Ideal Doctrine or putting it to the Test of Solid Learned repeated Experiments as they ought but rather trusting to what Good-wives have Taught them who Happily deprived of their false Methods slighting their Hodg podg Bolmong Non-sensical jumbling together of multitude of Ingredients looking Ninety nine ways at once but in no wise at the right Mark led by their own Genius put to some difficulties moved to pity their Neighbours Languors simply looked upon by them with a sincere Eye of Healing without that chief Sordid Mercenary End our Galenical Hucksturs or Ingrossers drive at have been by Divine Providence conducted to the knowledge of those Specificks that have beyond expectation made a Metamorphosis of the Infirmity into Sanity To the Rude contingent Essays of the Plain Candid Immethodical People are our Fine-finger'd Disingenuous Methodical Galenists beholding hardly affording a Mantissa of their own Experimental Discoveries to the weight of Direct Immediate Scheme of Curing This is the Reason we have so few Patterns of Antidotes in this kind sufficient to annihilate those Venemous Characters made by multitude of dayly Occurrent Occasional Causes such is the Laziness of these Antichymists that they will neither labour themselves nor encourage Industrious men Their Main study is to disguise themselves that they may rather seem than be truly Philosophical wherefore like the worst of Thieves stealing Pretious Truths out of Van Helm or his Legitimate Disciples they conceal them by dressing them in a strang Habit thus bring them upon the Stage of the world to be Admired as the Off-spring of their own Head and Hand whereas indeed they are but meerly Surreptitious for which they ought severely to be animadvâ—rted especially for Cavilling and Carping at this Noble Philosopher to whom they owe what Orthodox Knowledge they have Of this Crime I know some cryed up by the Ignorant for great Spagyrists who as I can expressly shew hath pillaged our Philosopher of Substantial Physical Verities changed their Name cut out their Mark put on a larg fine Coat of Rhetorick to make them look more gaudy so exposed them to Sale at the Phantastical Fairs of this Foolishly Affecting willingly to be deceived World Now let us find out if possible some Rare Gifts Instilled into the Creatures by the Conditor of all things These are fitly to be divided into three Monarchies or Republicks each one bound to act according to that Power they are subject to viz. Animal Vegetable Mineral to which is added Marine CHAP. XV. AMong the Tribe of Animals with their Parts the Spirit of the blood of Man blots out the Idea of the Falling-sickness which the Spirit of Urine in every respect besides equal with the former cannot effect The Pouder of the Skul of a Man strangled is reputed a Specifick in the Epilepsie The Spirit of the Brain is valued after the same rate To drink his own Urine preserveth from the Image of the Pest. The repeated Potation of Urine cures the Tertian and makes the Seminal Character to fade away The Uterine Blood of a Child-bed Woman drank hath an excellent faculty to stop immoderate Fluxes of the Womb arising from a furious Idea The Blood flowing from the Nose stops excessive Haemorrhagies Menstruum Virginis extinguisheth Erysipelas Blood Extravsated or quitture hath a Sympathetical Sense diffusing Beams at a great Distance towards the Vital Blood causing Idea's Sanative or Corruptive in Wounds or Ulcers according as Moderate or Violent Impresses are made upon the Matter removed from the Body The Gaul of Man correcteth Deafness The Mumy of Mans Body duly prepared acts strangly upon the Innate Spirits Ferments and Idea's for saith our Philosopher Nec etenim tutum est satis Mumiarum ad invicem connexum concordantiam exprimere inde nempe tota dimanavit Necromantia veterum A man may presume to dive too far into this abstruse Philosophy to his own prejudice imitating the Necromancy of the Antients Without Controversie the true Mumy operates notably upon the Morbifick Seal enabling the Spirits to abolish it to make salutiferous Images in place of the former But it is not to be purchased sincere at this day nor a succedaneum thereto for that liquor as it is described was of a thick Mellaginous consistence of good Odour of singular Efficacy proceeding from the Balsome of Myrrhe Aloe Cinamon with which they seasoned Mans Body Ours at this day is of a different form to the right Being only a Cadaverous Liquamen or a piece of Flesh Condited and dryed very little significant for the cure of any great Disease The Fat of Man wants not its worth as a Topick in removing weak troublesome tormenting Marks made on certain parts of the Body The Fat of Man enters into the Weapon Salve for the advancement thereof To what Nefarious Impious uses Witches put the parts of Mans Body for the execution of their horrid Enterprizes is known to those who have enquired into Natural Magical Causes of things The same parts of Man differently handled may destroy their wicked villanous Bewitching Idea's by introducing Good Moral Divine Religious Representations 'T is vulgarly known how Fasting-spittle doth take off some Griefs not so much by power of a volatile Salt in it as by a gift conferred of spoiling the Stigma in the part affected Ear-wax cometh not short thereof in Energie The Spirit of Hair applyed causeth Hair to grow Man's Dung is reported to be an Adaequate Antidote for mortifying the terrible Idea of some Poysons The great Tooth of a Dead Body placed upon an aking Tooth causeth it to fall out by bare contact Van. Hel. affirms Morientium sudor mirificas vires mortificandi Haemorrhoides excrescentias possidet p. 233. The Sweat of a Dying Man destroys the form of the swelling of the outward Piles and other Excrescenscies A Dead-mans hand caused to stroke the same acts in like manner Lice swallowed alive diminisheth as is confirmed by some experimentally the Tincture of the Jaundice and sometimes totally removes the steps thereof Intestinal Worms dried poudered taken inwardly destroy the Figure of living Worms Lice are said to rid away Lice Some declare the Stone of the Kidneys and Bladder prudently Ordered by an Expert Pyrosophist marreth the fashion of the Duelech loosening the Compage thereof making it become Retrograde to the Principle of it's first Concretion There are some who have such an Idiosyncrasie or peculiar Constitution of Body that upon Contact Palpation or stroaking another Living Body they change the Texture of the same alter a valetudinary Melancholy stamp to a wholsome Chearful Image And I doubt not but some Infected with the Venereal Poysonous sting
deformed Venemous Epileptical Image Lilly conval the Flowers of Linden or Teil Tree Black Cherries Southern wood Valerian Oyl of the Wood of Hazel Balsam of Palestina Spirit of Tobacco Spirit of Camphire are according to tradition Specificks against the Epilepsie Appoplexie and Palsie Balm Black Hellebore prevail against mad Phancies White Poppy Nutmeg help to abate great Watchings Serpillum or Wild Thyme Vervein Regulate the Disorders of the Head The Flowers of Succory Rochet applied to the Nape of the Neck Celandine the green leaves of Tobacco mitigate the Inflammation of the Eyes Hieracium i. e. Hawkweed Eye-bright Fennel strengthen weak Eyes Wormwood Vervain diminish the tingling noise in the Ear. An Onion Pellets of Common Raddish put into the Ear have a property to help the difficulty of Hearing The Root of Gentian amends the Idea of an Ulcer in the Nose Majoram Hors-mint Restore the decay of Smelling The Juice of mil-foil the mushrom of a Birch tree the Flowers of Daisie the lesser restrain Haemorrhagies Flowers of Benzoe stalks of Nigella Romana or Gith Dissolve Congealed Blood Oyl of Box the Root of sharp pointed Dock Burdock are reckoned appeasers of the Tooth ach the Fume of Henbane killeth Worms in the teeth A Decoction of Veronica mas i. e. Fluellin the male is said to Cure the Aphthae the Thrush in Sucking Children The Root of Aron Bryony Valerian are Specified against Diseases of the Lungs Ground Ivy is powerful to do good in those who are Empical i. e. have Corrupt matter gathered in the Chest the Seed of Roman Nettle and the Root of Comfrey are also proper Horse-tongue Ladies Thistle appease the pains of the Side Wild Cresses take off the mark of Hoarsness upon the Lungs Zizipha lenifie a Cough Henbane-Seed the Root of stinging Nettle Fluellin Bistort Comfrey Burnet Sanicle check spitting of Blood The Lesser Housleek is of great force against a Quinzie English Saffron Scabious Garlick Horehound Spirit of Tobacco Benzoe deface the Character of the Tissick The Root of Mullein before it comes to Flower hinders the Impetuous Flux of the Latex to any part The like Virtue is attributed to mother of Thyme and Ground-pine Zedoarie Balm Anacardium give redress in Lipothymie or Fainting Fits Oyl of Cynamon in Palpitation of the Heart Hemlock Gum of Juniper afford succour in the Inflammations of the Breast Likewise Rhaeas or Wild Red Poppy Daisie Roots and Flowers The Juice of Ground Ivie the Flower of St. Johns Wort reform the mishapen figure of a Phthisis or Ulcer of the Lungs Hemlock Mint the Root and Seed of Fennel hinder an overplus of Milk and its curdling The greater Dragon Aron spoil the filthy shape of a Cancer Burnet Bryony Root Water of Vine branches abate the Phantastical Longing of Women hindering the mischief which commonly coms upon it Zedoarie is applauded as an excellent proper Stomachick Essence of Bread helps Digestion admirably well The Seed of Columbine Crocus Horehound Strawberry Leaves and Root alter the Dye or Stain of the Yellow Jaundice Elder Berries lenefies the vehemence of the Bloody Flix Essence of Persicaria is excellent against the Diseases of the Mesentery Gladiolus Sword-grass Fox-glove are of great importance in the Kings-Evil Black Hellebore Tamarisk Garlick Fern Epithymum Polypodium Seed of Roman Nettle are accounted Remedies for the Spleen Gratiola doth good in the Dropsie Anasarcha Tapsus Barbatus in a Tympany Garden Scurvy-grass well prepared Brooklime Lesser Celandine Horse-Raddish Herb two Penny the leaves of Pine or Firr help to Cancel the virulent Idea of the Scurvy Rupture wort Hippoglossum Pilosella Semen Sophiae Filicula Perfoliata are appropriated for the Cure of a Rupture of the Guts Herb Paris reduces the Inflammation of the Scrotum to an Eucrasie The dead Nettle Terebinth Ebulus much conduceth in a Gonorrhaea Satyrium Boletus Cervinus Cubebs the Root of Dogs stone Umbilicus Veneris quicken Veneral Phancies Oyl of Rue abates the Priapism Sweet Bryar Balls Alkekeng Juniper Berries Saxifrage Lignum Nephriticum Peach stones Lachrima Job the Liquor of Birch drawn from the Tree in March are commended for the stone in the Kidneys Decoction of Red Ciches avails in the Strangury Agrimony in Pissing of Blood Figg leaves Juice of Onions Aloe open the Piles Linaria the Ashes of Vine Branches remove the Warts and knubs of the Fundament Black Hellebore quilted with Cotten in form of a Girdle worn stops the Excessive Flux of the Piles The Root of Sloe bush restores the Falling down of the Fundament Down upon Quinces Maiden-hair Thapsia cause the Hair to grow Storks Bill called Gratia Dei Unites broken bones Persicaria Celandine the lesser Bryony take away black and blew strokes Hypericon Persicaria are excellent vulnerary Herbs The Root of Bryony steeped in Water with Oak Ashes destroys Worms in the Skin Gladiolus applyed fetches out Thorns and Splinters Mushroms of an Oak mortifie Carbuncles Strawberries are accounted a Specifick against the Leprosie The Bark of Birch Bladders on Elm leaves cleanse away Freckles A Bath made of Osier leaves refresheth Consumptive Limbs Lunaria is a special Remedy for a Cancer An Apple applyed to Warts and buried under ground mortifies them CHAP. XVII Lastly Mineral and Marine Substances Act upon the Idea's of Diseases by defacing or expunging them THE Legitimate Spir. of Vitriol Amber Terra Sigillata Red Coral Natural Cinnabar Cinnabar of ♠The Emeral'd scatter those black Clouds arising from the horrid Spectrums of the Appoplexie Epilepsie introducing instead thereof a brightness and splendour in the Spirits Our Bezoartick powder with ☽ doth notable things to this purpose It operates rarely well in Comatous Evils and Watchings Balsam of Saturn appeases the furious Commotion of the brain The Sulphur of Vitriol Cures the Vertigo or Diziness The pure Tincture of Tutia respects the Good of the Eyes causing the Species of Objects to be seen more plain Sal Punella Flowers of Brimstone made as they should be are doubtless of commendable use in the Quinzie and Tissick Tincture of Mars Lapis Haematites and Vitriol stop excessive Bleeding Antimonium Diaphoreticum is conducible in Imposthumes of the Lungs The Flowers of ♠fixed are so prized in an Empical Condition Bezoar Mineral dissolves blood congealed and is of great validity in a Phthisis but above all the Anodine Sulphur of Vitriol is to be preferred Coral Revives the Vital Image in Lipothymical Persons Powder of Crystal encreaseth Milk Spirit of ♄ amends the defects of the Stomack Emeral'd Coral Sulphur of ☉ are magnified for good Remedies in Cholera and Dysenterie Mars Saccharum ♄ Clarifie the Spleen Reforming it's peccant Idea's The Load-stone applyed to the Navil causeth Cholick pains to cease by destroying the Image of the Disease The Sea Spong Sal Gemm is much commended in Schrofulous Affects Sal Gemm Artificially prepared is extolled in Bubonocele and Enterocele Mercury destroys all sorts of Worms Essence of Amber Venice Borace Revives the Image of Virility extinguishing the ill-favoured type of sterility