continue the species After Adam had drew a curse on the ground we still find that the Earth should bring forth but it should be such as were more useless an unfit for meat as thorns and thistles but the more useful plants it should not unless by humane labour and industry In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread Gen. 3 19. As God implanted various seeds of Herbs in the earth which as at first sprung therefrom so yet from seeds continue their species being set at work by the Divine Fiat so soon as the celestial influences and appropriate secondary Causes are rightly applied with convenient Matter so in like manner hath God the Creator placed variety of Mineral seeds in divers parcels of Earth from which cometh a Diversity of Mineral glebes as here Clay Marle there Marcasites of Iron Alum c. as Dr. Jorden Nature Bath and Min. Wat. c. 7. argueth That Minerals have their Seeds to perpetuate their species And that there are Metallick seeds in the bowels of the Earth may be concluded from the Generation and Maturating of a crude Mercurial and sulphureous juice until a perfect Metal is formed As hath been proved p. 18. how the caput mortuum of Vitriol exposed to open Air will be again impregnated and fresh Ore of Tin or Lead where 60 or 70 years before aâ— was extracted and old mines replenished with fresh Iron stones All which productions depend on the Seminal Principles lodged in several parcels of Earth which from a succulent Matter from a Body according to the Specification of the Archeus The succus of the Earth by the operation of the Seminal Agent is at first converted into a crude Mercury and embrionate Sulphur which at length by maturation doth become a perfect Metal So from the Esurine or common Salt of the earth according to the diversity of Glebes do arise different Mineral Salts such as that of Vitriol Alum Nitre and Sal Gemma These Salts being dissolved in spring-water sliding through the veins of the earth and meeting with a Vitriolick or Aluminous glebe c. doth become a natural Menstruum to open the body of a Minera These Salts as so many Keys to unlock the Mineral Kingdom make the current Springs impregnated with the vertues of them and hence is the Original of Medicinal Waters Against the opinion of an Universal or one Common Salt of the Earth out of which all Mineral Salts according to the different Glebes are made into different species Dr. Lister de font med c. 6. objecteth several reasons and endeavoureth a confutation of Helmont's Assertion of an Esurine or Vniversal Salt His Reasons are reduced to four Heads 1. The Esurine Salt as it doth participate of no Quality to assert the existence thereof is but a gratis dictum 2. A Pyrites or Marcasite cannot perfect its vitriol under water 3. It is scarce credible that a vein of Iron can be corroded of that Esurine Salt 4. Vitriol is not made suddenly or in a moment but by a gentle assiduous germination Against which reasons I shall offer these Experimental Observations proving that there is an Universal Salt or Common Matter to them all 1. There is one thing in common among them because of the Convertibility of one Salt into another as a Vitrioline by Alterations may be turned into an Aluminous Salt witness the making of Turbith Minerale thus Add four ounces of oyl of Vitriol to one ounce of Mercury by setting the mixture on a digestive furnace the Phlegm will be evaporated but there will remain in the Bolt-head a Citrine powder from the Alkalizate Mercury fixed by the acid parts of the oyl of Vitriol From this powder edulcorated by washings of water and distilled with Quick-lime or Pot-ashes may be revived a current Quicksilver yea to its full weight as at first The water that by washings edulcorated this powder boyled up yieldeth an aluminous Salt Here Vitriolick salt is turned into Alum for the Mercury may be restored to its full weight so that the Vitrioline is the only salt transformed This is mentioned by Dr. Simpson Hydrol. Chym. p. 60. where an Experiment of his own he giveth thus Distill oyl of Vitriol and common Salt with a gentle heat in a glass body or Retort you will find a very volatile spirit of Salt will come over the helm which will fume exceedingly the Caput mortuum or remaining Salt being dissolved gives a Salt exactly resembling Alum To which I may annex that Observation of Dr. Jorden Natur Bath c. 7. That in Distillation of oyl of Vitriol the Lute wherewith the glasses are joyned will yield a perfect Alum The affinity or rather transmutability of Vitriol and Alum are so great that he telleth us it may be doubted whether they are distinct species of Salts 2. Set several plants in the same soyl as Scurvigrass Wormwood c. These by distillation shall yield different salts as the greatest part of that of Wormwood will be a fixed but of Scurvigrass a volatile salt Which variety of salts must proceed from the different fermentations and alterations of the nutritive succulent Matter If it be objected that each plant attracteth a peculiar succus whose particles are answerable to the pores of the Vegetable and so some Plants take in more of the volatile and others more of the fixed salt Answ The same Plants as Wormwood Beans yea I had almost said All vegetables by distillation yield both volatile and fixed salt although they differ as to the quantity thereof For the division of Salts into Fixed and Volatile is only from the degrees of volatization The fixed or Alkali salt is not easily sublimed but will endure calcination in as much as it is deprived of spirits and incorporated with earth but the volatile is endowed with spirits and may be easily sublimed either of which containing all the vertue of the Plant may be called an Essential Salt Yet the proximate Matter before formation might be the Common universal Salt determined by different Strainers and Ferments of Vegetables 3. The production of Sal fossilis is from the Acid of the Earth insinuating it self into the pores of stones that are an Alkali it being once penetrated is united with the stony parts into a saline Concrete which from its transparency is called Sal Gemma Thus an Acid of the Earth sliding through mountains of stone have converted them almost all into a fossile Salt as Authors of credit do testifie of mountains in Poland 4. That Salts have something in common among them may be hence concluded Expose the Caput mortuum of Vitriol of Nitre of Alum and of Sal Gemma to the open air Each will center upon it the floating saline particles of the Air or else imbibe a saline succus so as to become again impregnate with a peculiar Salt So that the saline particles are indifferent to which kind they are to be appropriated by the latent Seminals And that all Minerals stony
be thus described It is a fixed Salt which will make an Ebullition with an Acid and by taking off the Edges of its Particles will sweeten an Acid Liquor As for Mineral Waters Libavius giveth us this Notion Quae a simplici vulgari mera discedentes cum aliquo subterraneorum conspirant aut spiritaliter sunt tinctae aut mistae corporaliter Judicio Aquar Lib. 1. Cap. 1. viz. Waters that besides their own Nature have imbibed something of the quality or substance of some Subterranean Mine What are the Subterranea he afterwards telleth us Lib. 1 but Gab. Fallopius De Therm Aq. Cap. 8. ranketh them under Five Heads viz. Vapours Juices Metals Stones and Earth As for Vapours impregnating Waters in their Current I see no reason to make them a distinct Ingredient from the others Fallopius alloweth only Vapours to be found in Waters that are Poisonous Bituminous and Sulphureous yet of what kind soever they seem not to differ from the Evaporating Object as the Vapour of Water is but Water rarisied whose Particles recollected in a Receiver may appear again under the form of Water As Helmont Parad. 2. hath observed Vapor reipsa nil aliud est Materialiter formaliter quam Atomorum Aquae in altum sublata Congeries To the same effect speaketh Libavius de Jud. Aq. Lib. 1. Cap. 6. Dr. Jorden On Natur. Bath and Min. Wat. Cap. 4. not content with what Fallopius hath done especially because New Minerals have lately been discovered as Calaem in the East Indies Rhusma and Terra Ghetta in Turky c. and perhaps future Ages may discover many more hath comprehended them under Seven Heads taking a Mineral for An inanimate Perfect Body bred in a Mine in the Bowels of the Earth His Genera are 1 Earth 2 Stone 3 Bitumen 4 Salts or Concrete Juices 5 Spirits 6 Mean or half Metals 7 Metals Of all which in as much as they cause Alterations in Waters I shall take a short Survey Brevity here beeng intended First Earth is a cold dry sluggish Body altogether effete in its vertue except when it containeth some active Principle such as a Nitrous Salt by which Fullers-Earth doth scour Cloth and Marle laid on Land doth cause Fertility or an Aluminous Salt such as is found near Scarbrough Spaw c. Vpon which account the Chymists rightly call Simple Earth Caput Mortuum or Terra damnata Water hereby may become turbid and muddy but not impregnate with any Vertue Secondly Stones by their Qualities of Cold Dryness and Stipticity come near that of Earth Yea as Dr. Jorden Cap. 4. hath hinted to us Stones in their simple Nature distinct from any other Ingredient are but as a Caput Mortuum and untamable by â—ire or Water 'T is true some Stones will melt others by Calcination turn as it were to Ashes but that is from a Heterogeneous Mixture of some Salt Metal c. And this may be concluded hence The more pure and free from Mixture Stones are by so much the more indissolvable by Water or the devouring flames of Fire as Diamonds Amiantus or Alumen plumosum Glymmer Saxum Arenarium all which stony Concretions will endure the Fire yea I suppose had we but a pure stony Body it would endure the washings of Water and the utmost degree of Fire Pliny Natur. Hist Lib. 36. Cap. 19. saith Amiantus lapis nihil igni deperdit Not only the Terra Damnata left after the Active Principles are drawn off in Distillation will endure the Fire but the Asbestum which is an Efflorescence of the Amiantus and many such like Stony Concretions I doubt not were they free from Heterogeneous Mixtures Stones then in their simple Nature yield no Vertue to Springs except whilst in their Primitive juices or Solutis principiis for then they may cause an Alteration as we may perceive by many cold petrifying Springs of which almost infinite Examples might be produced here in our own Country But when there is a mixture with a Minera then Stones by Fire or Water may soon suffer a Dissolution as Marcasites of Iron Copper Alum c. not only by fire may undergo a Change but also may communicate their Vertue to Waters having a proper Menstruum Thirdly Bitumina are either hard as Amber Carbofossilis or Liquid as Petroleum and Naphtha We find by dayly Experience that unctuous Matter or Oyls will not undergo a perfect mixture with Water yet by some Mineral juice may have its body so opened as to come floating with the Spring Water though in a confused Posture Yea saith Fallopius de Aq. Therm Cap. 8. It is sometimes so confused that a Separation from the Water is very difficult Instances of Bituminous Waters he giveth us as the River Lipparis in Cilicia which by its plenty will as it were anoint the Bodies of them that swim in it the Fountains of Mount Gibbus near Modena in Italy many Fountains likewise near Baia in Campania so also Springs at the foot of Vesuvius many also we read of in Saxony Swedland and at Avergne in France and of one famous in our own Country at Pitchford in Shropshire and that Bitumen is the predominant Principle in our Springs at Bath Dr. Jorden hath proved De Nat. Bath Min. Wat. Cap. 6 Fourthly Concrete Juices called Salts which are not only found in Waters but being dissolved make the Current Springs as so many Menstruums to unlock the Bodies of other Minerals The Species are usually reckoned Four viz. Alum Vitriol Nitre and Common Salt but as for the Number I shall not here dispute 'T is true different Salts will shoot by Chrystallization into several Forms as Vitriol and Alum into Glebas although these of Alum differ something from them of Vitriol Nitre into Stirias and Salt into Tesseras so likewise will other Species of Salt comprehended under these by reason of their Glebes and difference of Particles As for the Vertues of such Springs we must look to the Nature of the Ingredients and whether the Waters are not impregnated with several Mineras from whence there must needs follow great Variety in Mineral Waters That Salt Nitre Alum and Vitriol are Ingredients of Mineral Waters we have the Testimony of several Authors too many here to relate As Salt-Springs at Saltzburgh and Halstat and many other places in Germany the Salt-Springs in Tuscany and as our Springs at Droit-Wich and at Nant-Wich will testify Nitrous Springs we read of at Calestria in Macedonia in many places of Aegypt in many places in France mentioned by Du Clos Classe Second and Third and Nitrous Springs by Baccius De Therm Lib. 5. Cap. 6. Alum Springs are frequent in Tuscany and many other Places of Italy and also in Germany and in Spain with us at Okenyate in Shrop-shire and that famous Spaw at Scarbrough in York-shire Vitrioline Waters are also found although the truth thereof is questioned by Dr. Lister De Font. Med. Angl. Cap. 7. Instances of which Dr. Jorden de Nat. Ba.
of an Alkalizate Salt The vertue and operation of Mars doth chiefly depend on its Saline and Sulphureous parts and according as they are more or less set at liberty from the terrestrious so a Preparation is more or less Medicinal The usual Compositions are 〈…〉 Martis aperitivus cum 〈…〉 aqua vel aceto 2. Crocus Martis 〈◊〉 3. Tinctura Martis 4. Extractum Martis 5. Mars diaphoreticus 6. Vitrioluâ— Martis 1. Crocus Martis aperitivus cum sulphure is made by applying a Butt of Brimstone to a hot Bar of Iron or by calcining the Filings of Iron with Sulphur in an earthen pot or Crucible In either way the Acids of Sulphur do penetrate the body of Mars so as in the operation to carry off much of the sulphureous parts of Iron but by the addition of the acid parts of Sulphur to much increase the Saline Some of the Sulphureous do yet remain is apparent by the setid savour in Belchings after the taking of this Crocus That the Saline part is increased is clear because the Weight of the Iron will be increased by the Preparation For Sixteen ounces of good Iron by weighing after the Operation is ended will yield Eighteen or Nineteen except the Calcination be vehement which is needless of Crocus This is an excellent Preparation and worketh good effects upon a twofold account viz. 1. because of its Sulphur 2. its Salt The Sulphur will enrich and add a new supply to a cold watery blood so that in the Febris alba Pica and Leucophlegmatia it will reduce the pale-faced Patient to a florid complexion because of its Salt it is a good Deoppilative as in Uterine obstructions and those maladies peculiar to the Female sex and in the Dropsie may be of good use because of its vitriolick Stipticity that bindeth up the laxity of vessels and other parts In the making of Crocus Martis cum aceto the Sulphureous parts are almost separated insomuch that after it is swallowed down it yieldeth but a weak sulphureous savour But by addition of the Acid parts of Vinegar the Saline Principle of Mars is so much exalted and advanced so near an Acid that by instillation of other Acids it will scarce make any effervescence or ebullition at all yea weaker than Crocus cum Sulphure that maketh a far less ebullition with Acids than plain filings of Iron This Crocus in the Preparation having lost much of its Sulphur is unfit for use when the blood is too low or depauperated in its Balsamick Sulphur as in diseases proceeding from a waterish blood or from phlegmatick Obstructions But where the blood is retorrid or adust this Crocus cum Aceto by its Saline Principle being cool and aperient is of good use as in Hypochondriacal distempers Carbuncled faces and to astringe a laxed blood-vessel because of the saline stiptick Principle implexed in the Terrestrious Crocus Martis cum Aqua is made by exposing Plates or Filings of Iron to the Rain or Dew until it hath contracted a Rust which collected is called Crocus Martis cum Aqua or ferri Rubigo This Crocus consisteth of the sulphureous saline and terrestrious parts combined together yea indeed it is the very substance of Iron having its pores much opened by the Dissolvent or Saline parts of Water which not only maketh its Pores more open but by combining with it maketh this Crocus an excellent Aperient medicine whose Deoppilative vertue chiefly dependeth on this Salt The Sulphur of Iron being retained in this Preparation renders it a fit ferment for blood whose active Principles are weak and faint And the Saline part being exalted by That of the Dissolvent Water that much laxeth the body of Mars renders it a good Aperient in Obstructions as of the Liver Spleen Mesentery Lacteal vessel or Womb with its coherent parts Crude filings of Iron taken inwardly may be dissolved by the Acid stomachical Ferment as by extraneous Acid Menstruums which may be concluded from the fetid strong scented Smell and the blackness of their Excrements that take it unprepared But then it must be a strong robust Constitution able to bear the Iron in its solid substance but in Constitutions where the acid stomachical ferment is weak there is danger lest that the Filings should remain undissolved and cause Obstructions or else grating on the Tunicles of the Intestines cause wracking Torments Besides the Sulphureous part of filings of Iron unprepared will more increase the Ferment of the Blood than the Saline stiptick can repress which maketh it unfit for Use in hot Constitutions or in Distempers proceeding from a wracking fiery Blood And if the Filings of Iron be of so hard a Dissolution much more these of Steel whose substance is more fast and compact and pores more closed that its Dissolution must be more difficult 2. Crocus Martis astringens is made by calcining of Filings or Plates of Iron in a strong fire which carrieth away the saline and sulphureous parts that made it an Aperient medicine Some wash the Iron in order to the Preparation with fair Water or Vinegar which not only with frequent Washings may carry away much of the drossy impurities but also take away or at least destroy much of its volatile Salt and soluble Parts that must afterwards by the violence of â—ire have been consumed or else disposed for a separation The terrestrious part of the Iron being deprived of the active Principles for by a strong Calcination those few that remain are become fixed it imbibeth the saline igneous Particles which remain fixed therein And being much deprived of its Salt that renders it a Deoppilative it is become a proper Astringent to be used in a Diarrhoea Breaking of a vein Flux of Haemorrhoids immoderate Lunar evacuation in women c. for besides the Astringency it is endowed with it will imbibe much of the exorbitant Acidity of our bodies seeing it is deprived much of its Saline principle 3. Tinctura Martis made with Rust or Filâ—ings of Iron and white Tartar boiled together in fair water is an excellent Aperitive for besides the dissolved Mars the Tartar is also a great Assistant especially in diseases proceeding from an acid Humor Whence it may be of good effect in a Cachâ—xie Dropsie Vterine obstruction and Hypochondriacal Distempers 4. Extractum Martis made with the phlegm of Honey juice of the White-wine Grapes throughly brought to maturity and the juice of Lemons hath its aperient faculty not only from the Iron but also from the saline part of the Menstruum Now this Menstruum being not very corrosive doth dissolve only the saline and soluble parts of Mars but leaveth the gross and terrestrious parts behind So that the saline parts of Iron impregnated with the Essential salts of the Menstruum maketh it a good Opener of Obstructions such as those of the Liver Spleen Mesentery or of the other viscera of the Abdomen 5. Mars Diaphoreticus made from Rust of Iron and Salt Armoniack sublimed together into Flowers which being
dissolved in water will with oyl of Tartar or spirit of Salt Armoniack be precipitated in form of a Powder called Mars Diaphoreticus which taketh its Sudorisick quality from the volatile penetrating parts of Salt Armoniack carried with and fixed in the Chalybeat particles in Sublimation These volatile Salts will soon open the Pores of our bodies especially seeing they carry with them Chalybeat Particles all-sufficient to cut tough viscous humors obstructing the Pores or Passages 6. Vitriolum or Sal Martis is made from the parts of Iron dissolved in an Acid Menstruum such as oyl of Vitriol oyl of Sulphur Aqua fortis c. but most commonly with oyl of spirit of Vitriol which giveth the Denomination to the Composition yet if we look into the nature of the thing we may form a like Composition of other Acids with oyl of Sulphur spirit of Nitre c. as well as with oyl or spirit of Vitriol only changing the name into Mars sulphuratus or Sal Martis cum Sulphure cum Nitro c. In the making of Sal Martis with oyl of Vitriol and Iron either filed or in its gross substance some Chymists will add an equal weight of spirit of Wine to the oyl of Vitriol or else two pounds of ordinary Water to one pound of good spirit of Vitriol The reason of it is because the spirit of Wine by its Alkalizate Salt or else the Water may dilute and weaken the oyl or spirit of vitriol that it may not incorporate with the main body of Mars but with the saline and more soluble parts that there may be gained a more pure Salt freed from most of the sulphureous and terrestrious parts of Iron In the Dissolution the saline parts of the Menstruum do joyn with these of Mars and in the mutual conflict of Fermentation they take off and dull the edges of each other and by combining together become a Neutral Salt In this Preparation the sulphureous and terrestrious parts of Iron are separated from the saline from which dissolved in fair water by Evaporation Chrystallization c. is made sal Chalybis or vitriolum Martis Sal Chalybis being actuated by the Vitriol â—s of a stronger operation against Obstructions than Crocus Martis but for want of the sulphurcous principle of Mars will not add so stronger Ferment to the blood and consequently is not so effectual in Cachexies nor against Diseases proceeding from a cold watery constitution But where the blood is over-fermented where it is either Pontick acrious or fiery and in Obstructions proceeding from such a Dyscrasie of the Blood it may be of excellent use This Ilmington water as I have proved before doth derive its vertue from an Esurine Salt preying upon a Minera of Iron which by working upon and combining with each other do become a vitriolum Martis I shall then in the next place shew more fully as to particulars wherein this Spring may be serviceable to our Country in respect of its Medicinal vertue and then lay down some Cautions and Rules to be observed by the Drinkers of this Chalybeat Water After a short Account in the foregoing Section of Diseases how they may be derived from the Depraved digestions of our body I shall now consider how far this Ilmington Spring will conduce to the Restoration of the lost or vitâ—ated Ferments and consequently be a Preservative for Health or restore that which is impaired First the Scurvy being caused by a Dyscrasie of the blood either when its saline or sulphureous parts are too predominant may be much corrected or curbed by this Chalybeat Spring In as much as the Mineral Salt is herein become near a plain Alkali and will penetrate to the second Digestion is able to correct the sowr saltish Blood And being freed from the sulphureous parts of Iron will much correct the sulphureo-saline Dycrasie when the blood like Wine is become over-fermented or fretted This Spring being a great Diuretick will help to carry off that which is superfluous and being a good Aperient in obstructions of the Spleen may correct its vitiated acid Ferment that with other Enormities may concur to alter the sweet balsamick temper of the Blood But considering that a Crude Digestion or spurious Acid Ferment of the Stomach doth many times as a Procatartick Cause lay a foundation of the Scorbutick Ferment this Water must be assisted with Purgatives to carry off the recremental Sordes of the Stomach and other Digestions more especially for Cautions hereafter laid down and be also assisted with some peculiar Medicine to restore the blood to its sweet and well-poised Temparament according to the Cause from whence the Dyscrasie took its Original which requireth the Advice of a skilful Physician Secondly the Spleen by a Specifick Ferment conduceth to a Secretion of Bilis but if by Obstruction or Depravation it be deficient in its fermental Operation the blood not purged from its sordes doth become obscure and muddy so that the Animal Spirits thence elaborated are neither pure nor refined but dark and gloomy fit for melancholy Phansies From a long supply of such feculent blood are the Spirits spoiled and Hypochondriacal Fitts and Melancholy take their growth This Spaw-water containing a vitriolum Martis is a good Deoppilative in Splenical obstructions for being of a penetrating nature is good for these abstruse Recesses By the Reaction and Combination of the acid salt of the Menstruum with the Alkalizate of Mars is made a Neutral Salt but most inclining to an Alkali Whence it may be of good use to correct the spurious acid Ferment of the Spleen but now communicated to the blood By restoring the Spleen to his natural Ferment in destroying that spurious Acidity by opening Obstructions and its Diuretick property carrying off many of the feculent parts the blood may be freed from the opace Melancholy steams that defile the Brain the workhouse of Imagination and Judgment and so be restored to its natural Crasis But withal observe That this Water must be helped with Purgatives to cleanse the blood from its faeces lest that instead of being an Aperient it should prove to be an Obstructer especially in the Extremities of the small Capillary vessels where the Blood in its Circulation is hindred by a viscous dreggy Matter but besides Catharticks where other Digestions are deficient in their office Specificks must also be applied Thirdly the Dropsie consisteth in a dilute watery blood or rather in a Non-separation of Serum or Urinous Latex that regurgitateth into the blood-vessels until it be laid down in the Habit of the body and sometimes with a flatus The loss of secretion of this Latex is frequently from the want of a Ferment in the bood which chiefly dependeth on the Saline Principle as the main cause of laxing the Compages of the blood for the separation of Serous Humors Besides the loss of a Ferment Obstructions in the Urinous vessels and Lympheducts many times do lay a foundation to the structure
entered with and defiled them Animal spirits that are generated it causeth an Explosion of the Spirits until they have shaken off the heterogeneous Matter offending as in an Epilepsie Convulsions Swoonings c. If for a Nutritive juice to be conveyed to each part that by its proper digestive ferment assimilateth a convenient matter to repair that which was lost a sowr fretting Humor is advanced in its place instead of Nutrition many Diseases are occasioned For the peculiar ferment of each part being hereby depraved That matter which should be Nutritive will become a sharp corrosive substance or humor as in Cancers Fistulas Vlcers Aposthumations Leprosies Inflammations Strumas Scabies and many other maladies If the thus depraved Aliment reach the Genus Nervosum but not so powerfully as to produce a multitude of Infirmities incident to that kind yet sufficient to cause the Succus nervosus to degenerate from a volatile spirituous Ferment into an Acid humor and by the extremities of the Nerves to be laid down in the Synodia of the joints and the extremities of the Organs where the nervous fibres end and it there meeteth with a Tartareous or fixed humor from the blood the Gout taketh its off-spring or at least is excited from a latent hereditary Seed From the combination of these different saline humors even as from spirit of Vitriol and oyl of Tartar cometh white hard Coagulums or Nodings and by the irritation of the nervous fibres a flux of Humors and consequently Solutio Continui is the Result whence the Gout attended with his various symptoms or wracking Torments approacheth Champion-like almost irresistible The Gout Enemy-like having one displayed his Colours how easily are its forces increased by the eating of Salt-meats drinking of Acid liquors and French-Wines much abounding with a Tartareous Salt which maketh the aforesaid Cause very probable It may be objected That if a spurious Acid or depraved Fermental juice of the first Digestion be thus transferred from the stomach through the subsequent Digestions as to lay a foundation of so many Distempers then from a depraved stomachical Ferment the Diseases resulting from the second and third Principal and other peculiar Digestions will all arise together because the same depraved Alimentary juice is carried in a very small time through them all Answ An Error in the first Digestion being not corrected in the second or subsequent thence it will follow That an Error in the stomachical Ferment will be as a Proximate or at least as a Procatartick Cause of many Diseases immediately ensuing the Digestions subsequent to the first Yet it may not be concluded that it always concureth as a necessary Cause For many times Distempers are the very Products of and are derived from the Depravation of latter Digestions without any previous disposition from the primary Ferment as the Depraved ferment of Sanguification or Production of Animal Spirits may be no less hurtful to our bodies when it is immediately derived from the Errors of subsequent Digestions than when it is laid in the stomachical or first Ferment Thus the Blood wanting a vital Ferment in the Heart and Arteries or its usual volatising Ferment from the Air for want of a due Secretion of its recremental sordes by Obstructions of the vessels want of Perspiration and inordinate use of the Sex Non-naturalia c. will cause Fevers Scurvies or other Distempers incident to the blood when the stomachical Ferment may be entire The Brain also being too lax or weakened by the irregular use of the Six Non-naturalia or by the illness of them or otherways having lost its saline volatising Ferment may of it self give occasion to many Distempers incident to the Genus Nervosum The Womb in the Female sex by its peculiar Ferment causeth an inturgescence of the Uterine blood-vessels so as to open them and make a Lunar Evacuation of the superfluous blood which by the intention of Nature is designed for the nourishment of the foetus but if there be no Conception excepting impediments then a Menstrual flux If the blood-vessels be obstructed by gross humors or their orifices closed by Cold c. then the superfluous blood ready for Expulsion contracts a violent acrimony and regurgitates with the circulating blood to the Heart and Brain whence Syncopes Palpitations of the Heart Faintings Convulsions Suffocation of the Lungs yea many other Distempers according as the Blood and the Vital Spirits are tainted or the Animal deâ—iled Instances might be given of an Epilepsie Palsie Tumors Scurvy c. occasioned by the stopage of the Menstrual course which seem to be from the enormities of the second and third Digestion but the febris alba peculiar to this sex with its usual symptoms plainly illustrateth that the Menstrual Obstruction may ill affect the second and third Digestion Not only in the Female but also in the Male the Spermatick vessels exorbitant or deficient in their Ferment may produce direful disasters The Spleen by its ferment helpeth to sublime and exalt the seculent and terrestrious parts of the blood brought by the Arteries so that by the Splenical ferment the blood returneth in the veins far more pure with its exalted Principles and â—itter to deposite the the â—ile in the Liver But when the Spleen is ill-affected the blood either over-fermenteth as in the Scorbutick and Hypochondriacal diseases but if obstructed or Scirrous the blood is deprived of its due ferment and thence may occasion a Dropsie Cachexie c. To these may be added the depraved ferment of each Part all-sufficient to produce Maladies in them yea when the foregoing Digestions are in good plight But I shall not insist thereon having taken a short Abridgment of most of the Distempers incident unto our bodies which may lead me to an Enquiry after the Vertue of this Ilmington-Spaw PART III. SEC 3. AFter a short Cursory of Diseases I come next to enquire into the Medicinal Use of this â—â—mington-Spaw and finding it to be a Chalybeat Spring a little Scrutiny into the 〈…〉 Artificia Preparations of Mars 〈…〉 to our business in hand 〈…〉 a Chymical Analysis is found to 〈…〉 Sulphur and Earth as the three 〈◊〉 Constitutive â—ngredients with a 〈…〉 of Water and a less of Spirit 〈◊〉 say not that These are the first Principles 〈…〉 other Metals is derived from Water or a Nutritive Succus as a more remote 〈◊〉 Matter indeterminate as the real primary Element but that They are such which do immediately make up the Body of Iron and 〈◊〉 it as such an Object to our Senses Chalybs or Steel doth differ from Iron only by Calcination with Horns Claws and Hoofs of Animals or with such like Alkalis laid stratum super stratum Which by their Alkalizate volatile Salts do carry away in Calcination many of the soluble parts of Iron and destroy much of its Acidity So that Steel is of a more fast and hard body or of a closer texture of Parts than Iron and doth much partake