with thirst heat wakings and at several turns with swoonings and cold sweats at this time being sent for I prescribed her Cardaic Remedies and such as moved the purgings of the Womb and also a Clyster to be given her at length the Flux of her Belly being provoked the Lochia also came down and the sick Woman being freed from the aforesaid symptoms and the more grievous Disease to wit the Remedies of the Nurses quickly grew well of her Feaver The more plentiful Flux of the Womb hapning to this Woman removed the Procatartic cause of a more grievous Disease wherefore when they had committed so many errors about the ordering her viz. first in stopping the Lochia then what might compensate their defect in hindring the Flux of her Belly yet the Feaver was only light and without any venomous taint impressed on the Blood the like to this I have known to happen frequently to wit when at first the purgings of the Womb have flown very plentifully afterwards when they have flown very sparingly and sometimes stopped the Women in Child-bed have escaped And by the way it is here to be noted that it is wholly dangerous to inhibit or at least divert and cross any motion of Nature incited tho irregular A Noble Gentlewoman about 20 years of Age indued with a smooth and full habit of Body miscarried twice in the space of a Year when she had again Conceived by the prescription of her Physician she provoked a Vomit once a month by drinking plentifully Posset Drink by which she was wont to cast forth much thick tough Phlegm also in the time of her being with Child he Let her Blood 5 times the time of her going being over she was brought to Bed of a Son with very hard Labour the Secundine came whole away and she purged notably on the second day whilst she was lifted upon her feet in Bed that the Sheets and the Blankets might be laid in better order she took Cold and by that means the bloody Lochia wholly stopped and only a little serous Water came away on the third day she began to complain of an acute pain in her right side to which the Women laid Bags of Camomil made hot with Bricks but the distemper grew worse with a bloody spittle on the fourth day of her being brought to Bed a most â—harp pain with a difficult breathing and very Laborious invaded her by the prescription of her Physician then coming to her from the neigbourhood six ounces of Blood was taken away out of the Basilic Vein and she felt sudden ease for 10 hours she was better in the middle of the night the pricking pain returned with its wonted fierceness at length other Physicians being called to Counsel they agreed that it was necessary to open a Vein again in the arm of the distempered side four ounces of Blood being taken away the pain remitted and the sick breathed better then by Diasphoretic Remedies she fell into a great sweat with a quiet sleep But the Pulse was made quicker and weaker also contractures of the tendons in her wrists appeared presently afterwards she talked idly and within 24 hours after she was last Let Blood she departed That this Lady fell into a Pleurisie with a Feaver upon the Lochia being suppressed the cause in some measure seemed to be the Letting of Blood so often in the time of her being with Child for by this means the Blood being accustomed to be eventilated at the arm afterwards growing hot leaving the Womb was carried violently towards the place of its letting forth where when it found not a passage it fixed in the neighbouring side as the next nest to the place of extravasation yea besides the usual manner of a Pleurisie there was no small malignity hapned to this Disease for the Blood being hindred from being let forth of the Vessels began presently to be corrupted in its disposition and in the third day of the Feaver was so much depraved that it could not be any longer fermented in the heart so as to Prorogue Life It was not so with the Wife of a certain Smith who was brought to Bed at what time her Children had the Small Pox in the same House and she her self as it seemed had taken the Contagion of the same Disease for on the second day after her Delivery they began to break forth with a feaverish heat and pain in her Loyns which indeed for three days whilst the Lochia moderately flowed arose rightly into little swellings altho the purging of the Womb was very copious at that time she had the Small Pox very thick all over her Body not only in the superficies of her skin but also they filled the cavity of her mouth and throat so that she could scarce speak or swallow The sixth day of her Lying in the Lochia flowed immoderately from whence presently fell upon the sick a frequent swooning with a flagging of the Small Pox Convulsions and other symptoms of an ill nature which threatned Death soon being sent for I prescribed half a dram of this Powder to be taken constantly every three hours in a spoonful of the following Julep viz. take of the Roots of Tormentil in Powder drams two of the best Bole Armonie dram one of the species of Hyacinth half a dram make a Powder Take of the Compound Water of Scordium of Dragons of Meadowsweet each three ounces of Therecal Vinegar one ounce of the Syrup of Corals two ounces of Harts-horn burnt half a dram make a Julep Besides I ordered to be boyled in her Broths and in every thing she drank the Roots of Tormentil by these Remedies the purging of her Womb was soon wholly stopped and the Small Pox by degrees being ripened came off without any grievous symptom Indeed this case was difficult and was cured with great danger viz. for either the Lochia or the Small Pox to have been restrained inwardly was very dangerous and yet the more full eruption of the one hindred the motion of the other so long as either moderately proceeded things being permitted to the conduct of Nature was moderately well but when one of them became ill the work of Art was required and it was requisite to bridle the Lochia but to provoke the Small Pox. CHAP. XVII Of Epidemical Feavers HAving meditated rather a Commentary than an intire Tract I had thought here to have concluded our Discourse of Feavers But forasmuch as certain Epidemical Feavers do often spread which observe no Laws nor can be brought to any certain rule of Doctrine but being irregular vary every year and for that reason as often as any of them increase or spread abroad presently it is called the new Disease therefore I thought it worth our while because general precepts concerning these Feavers are not to be delivered to subjoyn some particular Histories of some of this kind for out of the various provision of symptoms whereby they are wont to be noted the nature and the whole
hysterical water what will suffice to make 16. pills Let 4. of them be taken every sixth or Seventh day Take of the Roots of Polypodia of the Oak of sharp pointed-docks prepared of chervill cach ʒ vi of the male Paeony ʒ iii. of the leaves of Betony germander Chamipits Vervine the male Betony each i. handfull of the seeds of Cardamums and burdock each ʒ iii. let them be boyled in 4. pints of Spring water till half be consumed Let it be strained into a matrace to which put of the leaves of the best Senna ℥ i. of Rhubarb ʒ vi of Turbith gummed ℥ ss of Epithimum of yellow-Sanders each ʒ ii of the Salt of wormwood and Scurvy-grass each ʒ i. the yellow rine of the Orangeʒ ii let them digest close shut in hot Sand for 12. hours let the straining be kept for use sweeten it if there be need with what will suffice of the Augustan Syrrop or of Succory with Rubarb The Dose ℥ vi once or twice in a week Every day in which purges are not taken Remedies strengthning the brain and also the animal Spirits for the taking away the heterogeneous Copula or for the hindring them from running into explosions Remedies for a more hot temperament are to be administred which indeed ought to be prescribed and chosen according to the Constitution and habit of the Body and temperament of the sick for too lean bodys and such as being indued with a more hot blood medicines less hot and which do not trouble the bloud above measure ought to be given On the Contrary for phlegmatick and fat people whose urine is thin and watery and whose Blood is Circulated more heavily and Viscera's stuffed more hot Remedies and notably apt to ferment the humours are designed In the former Case let it be prescribed after this manner Coroborating medicines and specificks Take of the Conserve of the Flowers of Betony Tamarisk the male-Paeonie each ℥ ii of the Species of Diamargerit frigidaʒ iss of the powder of the Root of Paeonie and of the seeds of the same each ʒ 1. of red-Corall prepared ʒ ii of vitriol of steel ℈ ii of the Salt of Wormwood ʒ ii with what will suffice of the juce of Oranges make an Electuary take of it twice or thrice in a day drinking after it a little draught of the Julap hereafter prescribed Powders Take of Corall Red with the juce of Oranges beaten together in a glass or marble mortar and dry'd ℥ ss of the powder of misletow of the oake of the root of the male Paeonieʒ ii of perled sugar ʒ iii. make a powder the dose from ℈ i. to ʒss twice or thrice in a day Take of the Species of Diamargarit frigidaʒ ii of the Salt of wormwood ʒ iii. of the root of Cocowpint powderd ʒ i. mix them make a powder let it be divided into xx parts take a dose in the morning and at four in the afternoon Distilled waters and Julaps Take of the Roots of Butterbur ℥ i. dose ʒss to ʒ i. twice in a day Take of the Leaves of Burdock and Cocowpint each vi handfulls let them be cut and mixed together and so distilled The dose ʒ ii to iii twice or thrice a day after a dose of Electuary or powder Take of this water distilled ii pints of our steel prepared ʒ ii mix them in a Vial let it be taken after the same manner Take of the Simple water of walnuts and of black-Cherries each half a pint of Snalesʒ iii. of the Syrrop of the flowers of the male Paeonie ℥ ii the dose ℥ iss to two after the same manner Take of the shavings of Ivory and harts-horn each iii. drams of the roots of Chervill burdock Valerian each half an ounce of the leaves of Betony Chamepits harts-tongue the tops of Tamarisk each one handfull of the barks of Tamarisk and of the woody nightshade each half an ounce let them be boyled in two quarts of spring water to the consumption of the third part add to it of white-wine eight ounces strain it into a pitcher to which put of the leaves of brook-lime and Cardamine each one handfull make an Infusion warm and close for four hours Let the colature be kept close in glasses The dose ℥ vi twice in a day after a dose of some solid Medicine sometimes such an Apozme may be mixed with ʒ ii of our steel and taken in the same manner In the Summer time the use of spaw-waters is convenient and for want of them our Artificial ones may be taken Remedies in a more cold temperament If that for the reasons above-recited more hot Medicines are to be prescribed you may proceed according to the following method Take of the Conserves of Rosemary of the yellow of Oranges and Lemmons each ℥ ii Electuaries of Lignum aloes of yellow-sanders of the roots of snake-weed Contrayerva Angelica Cocowpint each ʒ i. of the vitriol of steel or of steel prepared ℈ iiii of the salt of wormwood and Scurvy-grass each ʒ i. with what will suffice of candied Wallnutts make an Electuary Let it be taken twice in a day to the quantity of a nutmeg drinking after it a dose of appropriate Liquor Take of the Roots of male-Paeony Angellica and red Coral prepared each ʒ ii Tablets of Sugar dissolved in the water of Snales boyled to the consistency of Tablets ℥ vi of the oyle of Amber lightly rectified ʒ ss make a sufficient quantity of Lozenges each weighing about half a dram take one or two twice or thrice a day drinking after it a dose of proper Liquor Take of the Roots of Virginian Snake-weed Contrayerva Valerian each ʒ ii Pills of red Coral and prepared Pearl each ʒ i. of winteran Bark and of the root of Cretian Dittany each ʒ i. of the Vitriol of Steel and Salt of wormwood each ʒ iss of the extract of Centauryʒ ii of Ammoniacum dissolved in histerical water what will suffice to make a pillulary mass of which take four pills in the morning and at four in the afternoon Take of the Spirits of harts-horn or Sut or humane Blood or of Sal ammoniack Spirits what will suffice take of them from 10. to 12. drops morning and evening in a spoonfull of Julap drinking a little draught of the same after it Take of the Leaves of Betony Vervine Sage Lady-smocks Cocowpint Burdock Distill'd waters each two hand-fulls of green wallnuts number 20. the rinds of six Oranges and of 4. Lemons of Cardamums and Cubebbs each ℥ i. being cut and brused pour on them of whey made of Cider or white wine six pints let them be distilled according to Art The dose ℥ ii or iii. twice in a day after a dose of a solid medicine Add to i. quart of this liquor ii drams of our Steel Take of the Water of Snailes and of earth-worms each ℥ vi walnuts simple ℥ iiii of Radish Compound ℥ ii of
ways are thought of whereby the Menstruum of water is made sharper and is rendred fit for the dissolving of any Bodies whatsoever For by means of the Bodies which it ought to dissolve and of the parts which it ought to receive in it self it is armed as it were with some Weapons with which it is able to unlock any Subject and to possess now these now those Particles The Menstruum of water is sharpned with Spirit Salt or Sulphur to wit either with each of these or with more of them joyned together we will first speak of the watery Menstruum with the various sharpning of it and afterwards of the fiery dissolvent Common water most easily dissolves the more simple Bodies except Sulphur and hides their Particles in its pores and passages it readily receives Salts of every kind and easily imbibes Spirits it loosens the frame of Earth and cherishes its more tender little bodies in its embrace but it is hardly mixed with Fat and Oyly things and receives not their Particles but by the coming between of others but drives them forth to its Superficies as not miscible or thrusts them down to the bottom Water in some measure enters the more compounded Bodies whose frame is somwhat loose and then receives into its bosom some not simple Particles but resembling the nature of the whole mixture hence most Vegetables also parts of living creatures and some Minerals being put into common water do impregnate it with a certain virtue and from most Metals by a long maceration it takes away some strength though but small Some Bodies are dissolved by water which yet a Sulphureous or Spirituous Menstrua leave almost untouch'd as the Gums Tragacanth Arabic c. also Salts and Sugar The first and most common way of sharpning whereby simple water may more easily enter the Bodies to be dissolved is that it be furnished with fiery Particles or darts of adventitious heat for so it is driven more deeply with a certain force into Bodies and destroys some thrids as it were the smallest mites in their most inward recesses Wherefore we are wont to boyl for a long while the matter to be dissolved in water or at least to infuse it in warm water by which means the more tenuious and certain subtil Particles which resemble the nature of the Subject are easily drawn forth and impregnate the water with the virtue of the whole mixture So much for the simple or natural Menstruum of water to wit for as much as its activity is wont somtimes to be promoted by fire or ascititious heat But this cannot be so simple but that it contains in it self some Particles of another kind as may be gathered from its easie Putrefaction for oftentimes it is impregnated with Spirituous Sulphureous or Saline breathings contracted from the Air or Earth that for the drawing forth the tinctures of very many things somtimes it excels an Artificial Menstruum for that Acidulous or Spawish waters Mineral waters Rain water and May Dew are of frequent use among Chymicks for the remarkable faculty of dissolving with which they are strong Besides 't is a vulgar observation that some waters most easily dissolve Sope and being throughly mixed with the same causes in the liquor a great spume or froth such if they be rubbed between the fingers feel soft and gentle but other waters which being handled with the hands are more harsh refuse the mixture both of Sope and Oyl and so are accounted unprofitable for the washing of Cloaths these sort of waters if they should be evaporated in a Glass oftentimes affix a Crust to its bottom and sides because they are impregnated more than they ought with Saline Particles with which when the Saline parts residing in the Sope combine the Sulphureous are carried away and they being excluded the pores are thrust forth as not miscible to the top of the Liquor When Flesh is boyled in these waters it grows very red which tincture indeed being thence contracted is a sign that those waters are somwhat imbued with Vitriol or some other kind of Salt But we will pass to Artificial Menstruas in which the watry Liquor is furnished with Spirit Salt or Sulphur being gathered apart or many of them together The Spirituous Menstruum of water is made when from a Body swelling with Spirits a clear and limpid water is distilled as from Wine or strong Beer or other Bodies truly Fermented and brought to exaltation The kind of dissolvent is hardly to be had so sincere but it is mixed with the Particles of more pure Sulphur and somtimes of a volatile Salt The former kind of Liquor is called Spirit of Wine which being subtil and very penetrating easily enters the Bodies and parts of Vegetables and also of living Creatures but hardly Minerals or not at all it extracts from many things not any Particles or resembling the Nature of the whole mixture as common water but chiefly Spirituous and Sulphureous the rest being almost untouched wherefore it is wont to be used for the resinous magisteria of Vegetables which it draws forth almost sincere or without mixture under the form of Gum or Refine in the mean time it is not so fit as common water for the extracts of Plants which are not so indued with Sulphur from Sulphureous things as Benzoin Sulphur Olibanum Styrax Amber and the like it draws forth excellent Tinctures It dissolves the fixed Salts of Herbs also of Pearls and Coral before prepared with Vinegar by a long digestion and receives their Tinctures into it self it leaves Sugar and Gums being dissolvable in water almost untouch'd But there is another Spirituous Menstruum that is sharpned with a volatile Salt such is the Liquor which is distilled out of blood Harts-horn or Soot it is far stronger than the former and cuts most Bodies except Metals into parts and oftimes destroys the forms of the whole mixture yea it most excellently dissolves secondarily the most fixed Metal to wit Gold being first reduced into a Calx by its proper Menstruum and reduces it into a Tincture or potable Liquor They are accounted Sulphureous Menstrua which are brought forth of Sulphureous Bodies under the form of an Oyl these are prepared either by distillation such as are chiefly the Oyl of Turpentine Juniper and the like or by expression such as are wrung forth of Olives Almonds and other Fruits or Seeds of Vegetables Things distilled are of more efficacy than preparations by expression either of them draw forth some Particles from Vegetables or Animals by the vertues of which these Oyls being impregnated they are made fit for Medicinal use Yea they are conveniently enough made use of for the extracting of the Sulphureous Particles of Minerals which somtimes they draw forth sincere or unmixt But if Oyl of Turpentine or Lin-seed Oyl draws forth by dissolving the combustible part of common Sulphur in the mean time the remaining Saline parts and untouched by the Menstruum grow into Crystals
as is obvious to every one in the preparing the Balsam of Sulphur Mineral Bodies in which the bond of Concretion chiefly depends upon Sulphur as are the Fire-Stone Antimony common Brimstone and the like are in some sort dissolved by a Sulphureous Menstruum which draws forth of the Body Particles of the same kind the Saline being almost untouched wherefore Oyl of Turpentine Linseed c. draw forth a Tincture from these in the mean time Saline Menstrua such as are distilled Vinegar or Stygian waters profit little for the dissolving their Bodies but that these unless before Calcined hardly are touched But on the contrary where the frame of the mixture consists of a Saline bond such as are Iron Copper and the like Saline Menstrua as Aqua fortis Spirit of Vitriol Salt c. receive in the dissolving the Particles of the same Nature into themselves the Sulphureous being almost untouched This plainly appears in the solutions of Metals but chiefly and remarkably in Camphire which Stygian waters reduce into a Liquor in form of an Oyl swimming on the Menstruum to wit they dissolve its frame and receive some Saline parts on which the Concretion depends into themselves in the mean time the Sulphureous being untouched they are gathered together apart on the Superficies of the Liquor There is somthing to be wondered at concerning Antimony to wit that its Concretion being very irregular that Mineral becomes exceeding unlike not only to other mixtures but also to it self for it is very lax nevertheless much compacted it lies open to the least injuries yet is almost impervious to the greatest so that it may equally number its losses with its Victories some of its Particles lie so loose that they are brought away by any Oyly Menstruum or by a common lixivium or Lie others in the mean while do so pertinaciously stick together that Aqua Fortis cannot touch them only Aqua Regia being poured upon it can know it which so strongly resists it that the fume raised up from thence presently obscures the whole Room wherefore there seem to be in this parts wholly of a different Nature some imperfectly mixt viz. Earthy and Sulphureous which are easily loosned by a fit solvent in the mean time others wholly Metallic perfectly mixt coming near in some sort to the Nature of Gold it self which therefore are only to be dissolved by a fit Menstruum of Salt The Saline Menstrua are of divers kinds and natures viz. of Vegetables Animals or Minerals Among Vegetables are eminent the sowr juices of Fruits and Herbs Counterfeit Vinegars acid Liquors distilled out of ponderous Woods as Guaiacum the Oak and Box in all which the Saline Particles having gotten a Flux either by Art or by Nature give a notable sowrness or the Vegetable Menstruum consists of Salts of Tartar or made by the cineration of Herbs and dissolved which by the Fire are very much whetted and acquire an acritude in these the Saline Particles are fixed and in a condition opposite to a Flux To the rank of Animals I refer the Spirit of Urine Harts-Horn c. which although they are impregnated with Spirits yet they take their chief forces from a Volatile Salt But the strongest Saline Menstrua are drawn forth of Minerals such are acetous Liquors which are most strongly forced by fire out of the Salts of Nitre Sea-Salt Alumn Chalcarth or Vitriol and such like Those which are drawn out of Vegetables as Vinegars and acid Liquors do best of all dissolve Corals Pearls Shells and Shelly substances because in these there is great plenty of Alcalizat Salt with which the fluid Salt which abounds in those kind of acetous Menstrua's desires to be most strictly united wherefore they being applyed to the body to be dissolved enter its pores and passages loosen the Complications of the Particles of the Alcalizat Salt and snatch them into their own Embrace Even after the same manner the fluid Salt in a Vegetable Menstruum approaches the Volatile Salt in the Horns of Animals These kind of Menstrua's do corrode some Mettals towards the Superficies but do not so potently unlock their bodies by dissolving as Stygian waters some Sulphureous subjects being before loosened by Calcination do enter aptly enough and from thence carry forth Saline Particles Wherefore for the Salt of Tinn Lead Antimony Soot and others being first reduced into a Calx we use distilled Vinegar The Salts of Tartar and the fixed Salts of Herbs although they serve for praecipitation rather than dissolution yet because they consist of sharp and very penetrating Particles they are of egregious use For watry Menstrua's are chiefly sharpned with these for the extracting of the Tinctures of Vegetables And altho bodies which abound with an alcalizat Salt as Pearls Coralls c. are left wholly untouched by reason of the Homogeneity or agreeableness of the parts in either and that also they but little gnaw only on the Superficies being put upon Mettals and grow together with their Salt and Sulphur into rust yet Sulphureous bodies they readily enter so they be loosened by the fire and unlock and pull assunder their joyntings or complexions wherefore for the making of the Milk or Magisterium of Sulphur the Salt of Tartar most excellently conduces Saline Menstrua's are most strong which are forced by distillation out of Minerals to wit out of Vitriol Niter Sea Salt Alumn Arsenick Acetous Liquors are distilled either from these single or from many of them mixed together which as they are of the highest sharpness like to fire readily enter most bodies but chiefly Metallic bodies and such as consist of a Saline bond and dissolve them easily into most small parts These Liquors are only Saline Particles which being driven by the force of heat from the embrace of their Earth having gotten by that means a Flux are converted into water as actual fire chiefly assaults Sulphureous bodies and by destroying the body draws to it self the Consimilary parts Stygian waters which are also called potential fire easily pull assunder bodies which very much abound with Salt as Mettals and break them inviolable by fire into most minute parts Concerning the Solutions of Minerals we may observe that their frame is not easily destroyed or loosened into parts as other Concretes of Nature but for this most strong Menstrua's and those chiefly Acetous distilled from Salts are required the reason of which is for that the Concretion of Minerals depends mostly upon great plenty of Salt binding the rest of the Particles as with a bond wherefore their substance is more solid more hard and compact and only gives place to a Saline Menstruum When any Mineral or Mettal is dissolved the fluid Particles of the Salt in the Menstruum most easily enter the most strict Complications of the fixed Salt in the mixture and impervious to any other solvent loosen them from their binding and snatch them into their Embraces after this manner the Particles of the Salts being
any Menstruum and that I had especially tryed many things about Iron after several experiments at length by a certain chance and almost thinking of somthing else I found out a preparation whereby without any Corrosive or Acid Liquor by the mediation only of a gentle heat the body of Iron is opened that being reduced into powder gives immediately a tincture to any Liquor that neither Salts themselves are sooner dissolved in common water By this means I am wont to prepare suddenly in great quantity Mineral waters which exactly resemble our Tunbridg Spaws and to render Wine Beer Milk or Whey with no trouble Chalybeated By this means Syrrops Tinctures Extracts or Magisteria out of Steel are most easily to be had Moreover plainly by the same Artifice Corals Pearls Eyes and Claws of Crabs and all shelly things are prepared that their powders presently impart to any Menstruum a tincture or the virtues of the whole Concrete And in this preparation no strange quality is introduced to the Subject nor its own proper quality lost When I had by this means learnt to unlock all Bodies whatsoever consisting of a Saline bond presently from the Analogy of this was made known the means of unlocking Subjects whose Concretion is wholly Sulphureous for I am wont so to prepare common Sulphur that its powder immediatly impregnates any Liquor with the tincture and virtue of Sulphur The Spirit of Wine suddenly contracts a deep colour and very red that being put into it Common water by the infusion or decoction of the same Powder is rendered clearly Sulphureous and gilds Silver and by this means from that Tincture a praecipitation being made of White Wine or Vinegar the Milk of Sulphur is easily prepared in great quantity Out of Sulphurated Wine by this infusion I make a Syrrop than which there is scarce found a more excellent remedy in the distempers of the Thorax By this means Tinctures Extracts Magistries are prepared from Sulphur with no labour and without any smatch of the fire By the same way preparations from Amber Benzoin and other Sulphureous things easily dissolvable in any Menstruum are composed But enough and too much of this we will now pass to the other great dissolvent of Nature CHAP. X. Of the Nature of Fire and by the way of Heat and Light WE may almost pronounce the same thing of Fire what the Philosophers of old did of the first Matter to wit that it was potentially every where and in all things but in none in act For among these sublunaries Fire hath got no existence of its own Nature or certain means of duration It is produced almost in every Subject but is retained long in none but it suddenly vanisheth and expires yea unless some external accidents oftentimes should concur for its production I think it had not at all been in the world Some have dreamed that its Sphear is scituate under the Moon but this was introduced only for the making the Hypothesis of the four Elements for such a thing seems consonant neither to Sense nor Reason That we may rightly search out the Nature of Fire we must seek in what Bodies it is chiefly to be found and how they are disposed and then we may proceed to the unfolding its essence The Subjects most convenient both for the producing and the maintaining of Fire are of that kind in which there are very many Particles of Sulphur and but only a moderate portion of Water Salt and Earth for these do hinder its inkindlings and being plentifully poured on it extinguish it being inkindled Wherefore Bituminous Fat and Oyly things quickly take flame so also Chips Straw light and dry Wood in the mean time Metals Minerals the glebe of the Earth Dung wet Straw and green Wood are hardly or not at all to be inkindled Secondly we observe that all the time Fire continues in the Subject Sulphureous Particles fly away in heaps and from the departure of these the substance of the burning body is by degrees destroyed in the mean time very much of Salt and Earth remains in the form of Ashes after the burning There is a third observation that when the Sulphureous Particles are wholly or for the most part flown out of any Subject the burning wholly ceases and the form of fire is quite destroyed nor can it be renewed in the remaining matter wanting of Sulphur Fourthly we will note that somtimes some Bodies conceive a burning without the advention of another fire only by their own effervency and by the intestine motion of the implanted Particles and of their own accord are reduced into Ashes as when wet Hay is layd up close it first grows hot then afterwards breaks forth into smoke and flame or the Wheels and Axeltrees of Carts or Wains being heated by too great agitation are inkindled According to these positions we may affirm that the form of fire wholly depends upon Sulphureous Particles heaped up in any Subject and breaking forth from it in heaps and that fire is no other thing than the motion and eruption of these kind of Particles impetuously stirred up For Sulphur is of an exceeding fierce and untamed Nature whose little bodies when the yoak of the mixture being shook off they begin to be thickly heaped together diffuse themselves on every side like a torrent break whatsoever obstacles are in the Subject destroy whatever comes in opposition or fling it down headlong Nor do they only unlock their proper Subjects but also lay open the gates and doors of any other Subject near that they can reach to and there incite to the like fury all the consimilary Particles of Sulphur and provoke them to an eruption wherefore fire every where inkindles fire The Sulphureous Particles while they heaped together within the confines of their Subject or on its Superficies are agitated with a rapid motion but are detained by the Embrace of other little Bodies from a more free eruption and more aggregated constitute the form of fire as is to be seen in burning Coals or in glowing Iron but when these sort of Particles fly away by heaps from the same Subject and bound together they produce flame which is only an heap or rather a torrent of the Particles of Sulphur flowing together and conjunctly flying away if Watery Earthy and Saline Particles are commixt with the Sulphureous breaking away and are able to disjoyn and separate them only smoke is excited which afterwards the Sulphureous little Bodies more plentifully breathing forth themselves and getting together breaks forth into flame The inkindling of Fire happens very many ways The first and most simple is when from hard bodies struck one against another but oftenest from a Flint struck against Steel sparks of fire break forth which being received in Tinder made of a Linnen Cloth burnt to blackness dilate themselves and then a Match or Sulphurated thing being applyed they cause the inkindling of a flame Secondly a fire often happens in dry Wood and dry
readily thrust out of the little spaces of the Menstruum and descend to the bottom We will in this place more sparingly insist upon instances of this nature because the more full handling of them belongs to the Chymical Work Precipitation is not only observed in the separation of a more thick matter from a serous latex and in the settling of the disturbed parts towards the bottom but somtimes the Particles shut up within the pores and passages of the Liquor are so small and subtil that being Precipitated they are not discerned by the sight neither do they quickly descend to the bottom but from their situation and position being variously changed the colour and consistency of the Liquor are diversly altered I was wont in times past to sport with the solutions of Vegetables and Minerals which being made by themselves were clear like Spring water and appeared bright being commixed shewed now a Black colour now a Milky Red Green Blue or some other kind The solution of Saturn or Lead being made with distilled Vinegar appears bright like common water if you add to this Oil of Tartar like clear water the mixture straight grows White like Milk If Antimony calcined with Nitre be boiled in Spring water the straining seems clear and almost without smell which yet being dashed by any Acid thing presently acquires a deep yellow colour with a most wicked stink Common water being imbued by an infusion of Mercury Sublimate is presently tinged with yellowness by Oyl of Tartar dropped into it Quicksilver and Sal Armoniack being beaten together and Sublimated in a Matrace by the heat of Sand go into a white powder this being soluted by melting shows like to clear Spring water which yet being smeared upon Brass or Copper appears like Silver and being lightly rubbed on brasen Vessels renders them as if they were perfectly silvered A solution of Calcined Tin being put to melted Salt of Tartar becomes bluish A clear infusion of Galls being mixt with a solution of Vitriol makes Ink if you add to this Spirit of Vitriol or Stygian water the black Liquor is by and by made clear like Spring water and this Oil of Tartar reduces again to Ink. And what is more wonderful if you write on Paper with the clear infusion of Vitriol and frame any Letters what you so write presently vanishes nor is there any marks of the Characters left but if you smear over the Paper with an infusion of Galls presently the Letters may be read as if wrote with Ink which yet with a Pen run over dipt in Spirit of Vitriol you may put quite out at once wetting and then again render them with wetting them with another Liquor of Tartar The Sky-colour Tincture of Violets being dashed with Oil of Vitriol becomes of a Purple colour to which if you add some drops of the Spirit of Harts Horn that Purple colour is changed into Green Brasil Wood being infused in common water leaves a very pleasant Tincture like to Claret Wine if you pour to this a little distilled Vinegar the Liquor appears clear like White Wine a few drops of Oil of Tartar reduces it to a deep Purple colour then if the Spirit of Vitriol be poured in it becomes of a pale yellow like to Sack if you add the Salt of Lead being soluted by deliquation the mixture grows presently Milky by this means you may imitate that famous Water-drinker who having swallowed down a great deal of Spring water was wont to vomit forth into Glasses placed before him diversly coloured Liquors resembling the ideas of divers kinds of Wines for Glasses being medicated with the aforesaid Tinctures so lightly that they may not be perceived by the standers by will not only cause the water poured into them to imitate every Wine but will exhibit the very Proteus himself of the Poets changed into waters and from thence putting on all colours and infinite forms If a Reason of these kind of appearances be asked it ought to be fought in the minute Particles contained within the pores of every Liquor which as to their site and position being diversly altered by another Liquor infused transmit variously the Rays of Light many ways break or reflect them and so make divers appearances of colours For when the Rays of Light pass through almost in right Lines they make a clear colour like Spring water but it in their passage they be a little broken the Liquor grows yellowish but being more refracted they cause a red colour if they are bowed back so as to be drained or that they cannot shew themselves a dark or black colour arises but if they are again reflected to the outmost Superficies of the Liquor they create the image of Whiteness after this manner we might variously Philosophise about other colours and their appearances the diversity of which and sudden alterations in Liquids depend chiefly on Precipitation because as the Particles conteined in the Liquor are driven somtimes more near by another infusion that they clasp themselves together somtimes are ordered into other series of positions the diverse representation of colours is made For Liquor being impregnated with little Bodies or Atoms or this Nature most minutely broken seems as an Army of Soldiers placed in their Ranks who now draw into close Order now open their Files and Ranks now turn to the left now to the right hand as is diversly shown in the exercising of Tacticks or the Art Military When two clear Liquors being mixed together shall make Ink it is because the Particles conteined in either approach near one another and as it were placed in their close Orders hinder the passage of the beams of light when afterwards this Ink is made clear by another Liquor poured in it is because the new Bodies of the thing put in disperse abroad the former close joyned Particles and drive them as it were into their open Orders CHAP. XII Of the motion of Fermentation as it is to be observed in the Coagulation and the Congelation of Bodies COagulation and Congelation of Natural Bodies no less than their Solution depend only on these our Principles The improportionate mixture of these and the exaltation and powerfulness of some above others are the cause of either Spirit and Sulphur being loosned from the bond do not only pull assunder the proper Subjects but they set upon whatever is next them and where they are mighty in number and strength they affect nothing more than divorces and separations from the rest of the Principles and suffer no delay but on the contrary Salts love to be united to the rest and to be made into hard and solid substances and being destitute of the Company of the rest presently to enter into new Friendships and desire only not to be joyned to any opposite If at any time they are more impetuously moved either by their own disposition or being soluted they destroy the substance of others this thing seems to be done for this end
1657. I observed very many affected after this manner for when after an hot and dry Summer about the middle of Autumn an Intermitting Feaver generally raged the sick were wont suddenly to grow very ill in the middle of their hot fit and somtimes also in their sweating and the Sweat being struck in to be taken with Swooning but shortly after when a Choleric Vomiting followed they were eased Not only the signs and symptoms but the Procatartic or more remote Causes of this Disease clearly indicate that it takes its rise from the temper of the Blood being changed because Intermitting Feavers are most frequent in the season and places in which the Blood receives the greatest alteration from the Air viz. either in the Spring when the vernal heat shutting out the Winters cold causes the Blood before benumed and apt to be more slowly moved to begin to flourish and luxuriate in the Vessels and from thence to get a bilous and hot temper or in the Autumn when the Blood being torrified or roasted by the Summers heat and therefore its Spirits very much depressed and Salt and Sulphur exalted acquires now a sharp and Choleric now a binding and austere disposition wherefore at this season Feavers now Tertian now Quartan are frequent besides in some places there is that constitution of the Heaven that on all men whatsoever there comes either a Tertian or more frequently a Quartan Feaver although in the first offices where the Mine of the Disease is commonly believed to be lodged there be no congestion of humors by reason of an ill manner of living or sickly disposition Yea they most easily fall into this Disease who have their inwards firm and strong and who abound with a lively heat on the contrary those who by reason of a weak Concoction heap up Crudities in the first passages continually that they are prone to the Dropsie or Cachexia remain free for the most part from this Distemper to wit the Blood being made more watery like Wine degenerated into a tastless substance is altogether unapt to be fermented No less doth the Cure of Intermitting Feavers seem to prove this our Assertion whether it be Natural and Critical or Artificial and performed by the help of Medicines As to the first Intermitting Feavers are wont to be terminated after a twofold manner The first is when from the fits themselves the temper of the Blood is altered and oft times is reduced into its Natural disposition For when in every coming of the fit very much of Sulphur and adust Salt is burnt out and exhaled by Sweat the Liquor of the Blood by that means becomes more temperate and less torrid wherefore oftentimes this Disease is cured at six or seven periods and of its own accord ceases but if it be longer protracted and that the Blood being somwhat changed from the sharp and bilous temper or disposition is not restored to its Natural temper somtimes it degenerates into an Acid Watery and also Pontic or saltish temper from whence a long Tertian Feaver passes into a Quotidian or a Quartan also oftentimes because the Blood is greatly depraved by the long continuance of this Feaver the Jaundies or the Scurvy or the Cachexia follow The other manner whereby this Disease is terminated is when the change of the Air or the Country brings a notable alteration of the Blood for so Feavers begun at the times of the Equinoxes are ended about the time of the Solstices also the sick traveling into another Region often grow well As to the cure of it by the Institutions of the Medicines it uses to be done two ways viz. Empirically and Dogmatically and in this Disease Empirical remedies sought from Quack-salvers and old Women are more esteemed and oftentimes do more than the prescriptions of Physicians administred after the exact method of cureing Empirical Remedies which are said to cure Intermitting Feavers or Agues are of that sort which drive away the approaching Fit without any Evacuation and are either taken inwardly or are outwardly applyed where the Pulses chiefly beat viz. For the most part they are bound either to the region of the heart or to the hand-wrists or to the soles of the feet these sometimes are so commonly known to help that some have warranted the sudden cure of this Disease by these Remedies under the pain of some Forfeiture Wherefore it is worth our inquiry how these operate and by what way or means they stop the Feaverish accessions It is clear First that those which are outwardly applyed do immediatly impart force and action to the Blood and Spirits and when they drive away the Fit by preventing without the Evacuation of humor or any matter of necessity the reason of this effect consists only in this that by the use of these sort of Medicines the turgescency or swelling up of the Blood with the Feaverish matter and Fermentation are stop'd to wit from the Medicine tyed about the Body certain little Bodys or Effluvia are communicated to the Blood which do very much fix and bind together the particles of it or also as it were precipitate them by fusing and shaking them and by either way the spontaneous growing hot of the Blood is hindred as when cold water is put into a boyling Pot or as when Vinegar or Alum is flung into new and working Beer presently Fermentation ceases and the Liquor acquires a new tast and consistency whereby it becomes fit to be drunk as if it had been kept to ripen a long time But that these Ague-stoppers do work after this manner it is plainly seen because those which are of principal note do excell in a Styptic and binding force or else with a precipitating virtue hence Sea-salt Nitre Sal-gemmae the Juice of Plantan Shepherds-burse any binding Herbs pounded with Vinegar and the like bound to the wrists the root of Yarrow Tormentile also Campher hung about the neck are said to take away this Disease yea those also which are taken inwardly are of the same rank The Juice of Plantan Red-rose water Alum for that they fix and constrain the Blood a decoction of Piper Sal Armoniac or of Wormwood Spirit of Vitrial also a sudden passion of anger or fear forasmuch as they precipitate the Blood by fusing and shaking it do oftentimes hinder the Agues approach even as the Concussion and shaking much any Liquour or the infusion of astringent things into it hinder its spontaneous Effervescency and rage It is usual with some Empiricks for the cure of Agues to tye a little knot in a Linnen rag or a piece of Paper roled up so strickly to the wrists pressing hard upon the beating of the Pulse that the circulation of the Blood is somewhat hindred and by this means the Aguish fit coming on is driven away Very many by this way I have none to be most certainly cured of a tedious sickness the reason of which seems to be that whilst the Blood is hindred from its motion in
pertinaciously will be deceived whilst they imagine the knowledg of every Disease and the prognostication of it cannot be found out but by inspecting the Vrine and esteem a Physician of little worth unless he undertakes to divine from the Vrinal as from a Magical Glass But indeed as to what belongs to the precepts and rules whereon the reason of Judgment by Vrine doth depend there are many collected by diligent observation that are extant and from thence establish'd with good reason and judgment yet for as much as the signification of Vrines is by some too largely extended to particular Cases very many uncertain things interwoven and some obnoxious to deceit and others plainly false therefore who shall confidently pronounce concerning the business of the Sick by the judgment only of the Water deserves rather the name of a jugling Quack than of a Physician But this Doctrine concerning Vrines abounds so ordinarily with errors that the observations which belong to its practice are either wrongfully made or not well reduced into method We may lawfully suspect that the observations are not rightly made because perhaps from one or two particular cases oftentimes a general Rule is established For Example sake because some Hydropical people render a thin and watry Vrine therefore it is affirmed such sort of Vrines necessarily denote a Dropsie when also in some other diseases such like Vrines are made and sometimes in the Dropsie the Vrine are thick and full of redness Also as it is most commonly received that Vrines on which a cream doth swim as on water that hath Tartar boyled in it doth denote a Consumption which is most uncertain because this sign is more proper and familiar to Hypochondriacks than to Consumptive people And how many dye of Consumptions without this Besides what is generally asserted to wit that in all diseases whatsoever Nature doth make known the Disease by the Vrine is altogether false because sometimes sick people make their Vrine like healthful people and sometimes those who are very well in health by reason of some accident perhaps from the meats eaten have suspected Vrine varying from the natural state or condition As to what belongs to the method or doctrine delivered by most concerning Vrines they seem to be altogether Empirical and nothing rational for the naked differences of Vrines are rehearsed and are wont to be distinguished according to their colour consistency and contents thence are opposed to the several species of these pathologick significations collected only from more rare observations when in the mean time the causes of the appearances nor of the preternatural alterations in the Vrines are not assigned as they ought to be nor is the signification of the Vrines applyed to the Causes of diseases but only to the Disease or Symptom and therefore it is most often deceitful and uncertain because the same morbifick Cause and signification of the same Vrine may in like manner mediately respect at once divers Diseases and Symptoms As for Example a thin and watry Vrine most often immediately denotes Indigestion or a defect of Concoction in the Viscera nevertheless by reason of that condition of Crudity the Green-sickness in Virgins sometimes the Dropsie or the white watery phlegmacy sometimes Head-aches and many other diseases arise But the task which you have required of me Worthy Sir to wit That the notions which in times past we have discoursed together and conceived concerning Vrines as it were collected notes and what have since fallen under my own knowledg by my proper study and observation concerning this thing should be fram'd into a little Treatise and that I should write a plain and new method of Vrinoscopie I confess the work greater than can well be performed by our own proper strength however I have resolved as much as I am able to obey you therein But that a doctrine or method concerning Vrines may be instituted beyond the vulgar and plainly Empirical manner of Philosophising there shall be these two heads of our Discourse To wit First that the Anatomy of Vrine may be delivered of what elements and parts it consists and also its genesis in our Body to wit by what Concoction this kind of Liquor is made and then by what secretion of some Particles from others Secondly That the inspection of urines in the Vrinal may be truly unfolded and what may be the Rules and the Certitude of Vromancie or divination of the Vrine OF URINES CHAP. I. Of the Elements and chief Accidents of Vrine WHEN the Liquor of the Urine being either fresh rendred from the body or putrified by a long digestion is exposed to a spagirick Analysis it is wont to be resolved into these parts or principles In the Distilling first ascends whatever of a vinous spirit is in it diluted with water but yet in fo very small quantity that it is not easily to be perceived by the taste it self To this follows a watry liquor large enough in proportion with which are mixed some more loose particles of Salt and Sulphur especially Thirdly There is stilled forth a very penetrative water which is commonly called the spirit of Urine but in truth almost without any vinous spirit and is chiefly phlegm highly sharpned with Salt and therefore it ascends last as in the distillation of Vinegar but forasmuch as the salt of Urine is volatile but that of Vinegar only in the Flux therefore the liquor stilled forth which is greatly impregnated with its particles is very acid That which is imbued with the saline Particles of the other is exceeding sharp and pricking It is a sign that this kind of Spirit of Urine as it is commonly known ows its sharpness chiefly to the Salt because though it be most subtil it will not take fire but being put to it extinguishes it After the humidity is wholly exhal'd another portion of Salt remains with the earth in the bottom of the cucurbit to which if a more hot fire be made that Salt will be sublimed into the Alembick and the earthy feces only remain This kind of Anatomy of Urine plainly shows that the Elements of which its liquor is composed are a great deal of Water and Salt and a little of Sulphur and Earth and a very little of Spirit The saltness in Urines is perceived by the taste and touch it comes nearest to a Nitrous salt in savour It is drawn indeed from saline particles of things eaten which being more plentifully exalted by the concoction in the Bowels and the circulation in the Vessels for the most part go into a volatile Salt That is truly Salt and Spirit by reason of the long accompanying of either together are gathered into a most strict bond and therefore it happens that the Salt it self otherways fixed is carryed up on high and rendred able for motion as it were by the wings of the other Urines contain in them more or less of Salt according to the disposition of our body and have it either more
of it self untameable and not to be overcome by any Remedies From this observation that a Cautery accidentally and by chance being made on this sick party freed her from the fits of the Disease it may be inferr'd that fontanells or Issues may be profitably administerd in the Cure of the Epilepsie for wheresoever an emissary is opened for the constant carying away of the serous water both from the blood and nervous juce there very many heterogeneous and morbifick particles flow out with it that therefore the brain might remain free The Daughter of a Brewer of Oxford had been very obnoxious to a Rheume Observation 2 falling into her eyes from her Infancy otherwise strong and sound enough also accustomed dayly to hard labour about the 14th year of her age she began to be tormented with Epileptick sits of which she suffered neer the greater changes of the moon especially then returning Being asked to endeavour her Cute I gave her a Vomit of precipitate Solar and orderâ—d it to be renewed three days before every new and full moon besides that she should take at every turne for four days after the Vomit twice in a day a dram of male-Paeonic root in powder with a draught of black Cherry water By these remedies the fits so long intermitted that the Disease seem'd to be Cured Afterwards when they returned again she was again recovered by the use of those medicines and then the menstruous flux breaking forth and observing its true periods she remained for the future free from that disease The Therapeutic or Curatory Method IN the Curing of the Epilepsie I judg it fit to begin with a Cathartick and if the sick can easily bear vomiting first let an Emetick be administred and for several months let it be repeated four days before the full of the Moon For infants and youths may be prescribed wine of Squills mixed with fresh Oyle of Sweet Almonds or also of Salt of Vitriol from half a Scruple to 1. Scruple For those of riper years and of a stronger Constitution may be prescribed the following forms of Medicines Vomitories Take of Crocus mettalorum or of Mercurius vitae gr iiii to vi of Mercurius Dulcis grain xvi ℈ i. let them be brused together in a mortar mix it with the pap of a rosted Apple or of Conserve of Burage â„¥ i. make a Bolus or you may take an Infusion of Crocus Mettalorum or Mercurius Vitae made in Spanish wine from â„¥ ss to â„¥ i ss or take of Emetick Tartar of Mynsicht gr iv to vi who are of a tenderer constitution let them take of the Salt of Vitriol ℈ i. to Ê’ ss and half an hour after let them drink severall pints of posset drink then with a feather or finger put down the throat let vomiting be provoked iterate it often The day following the vomiting unless any thing shall prohibit let blood be taken out of the Arm or from the haemorhod veins with a Leech then the next day after let a purging medicine be taken which afterwards may be repeated constantly four days before every new Moon Purger Take Refine of Jalop ℈ ss Mercurius Dulcis ℈ i. of Castor gr iii. of Conserve of the Flowers of Paeony â„¥ i. make it into a Bolus Take pill faetida the greater ℈ ii of Hysterica what will suffice make thereof v. pills Take of the strings of black hellebore macerated in Vinegar dry'd and powder'd â„¥ ss of Ginger ℈ ss of the Salt of Wormwood gr xii of the Oyl of Amber drops ii make a powder let it be given in the pap of an Apple Take of the powder of Hermodactils compound â„¥ i. of humane Scull prepar'd gr vi make a powder let it be given in a draught of the decoction of Hyssop or Sage On those days that they do not purge especially about the time of the changing of the Moon let there be administred Specifick Remedies morning and evening which are said to cure this Disease wirh 〈◊〉 certain innate and secret virtue of these there are extant a very great company and are prescribed in various forms of Compositions Specificks The most simple Medicines which Experience hath found to be very Efficacious are the root of the male Paeony and the seeds of the same Take of the Root of the Male Paeony dryed and powder'd â„¥ i. to ii or iii. let it be given twice a day in the following Tincture Take of the leave of Messletow of the Oak â„¥ ii of the root of Paeony slic'd â„¥ ss of Castor â„¥ i. let them be put into a close Vessel with simple water of Betony or Paeony and white-wine Each lb i. of the Salt of Missletow of the Oake or the Common Missletow â„¥ ii let them digest close in hot sand for ii days let them take â„¥ iii. with a dose of the aforesaid powder Poor people may take of the aforesaid powder in a decoction of Hysop or Castor made with fair water and white-wine At the same time let the Root of Paeony be cut into little bits and being strung upon a thrid hung about the neck Also let the Roots being fryed in a pan or boyled tender be eaten dayly with their meat Take of the Roots and Seeds of the male Paeony each â„¥ ii of Missletow of the Oake of the hoof of ElkÊ’i each let them be fliced and brused and put into a thin silk bag and hang at the pit of the Stomack Among the spicificks this powder is greatly commended by many Authors Powders Take of Castor Opoponax Dragons blood Antimony and the seed of Paeony each alike make a powder of which may be taken â„¥ ss to â„¥ i. every morning with wine or some proper decoction or with black Cherry water Take of a mans Skull prepar'd â„¥ i. of Missletow of the Oake of Counterfeit Cinaber of an Elks Claw each â„¥ ss so mingle them The dose is ℈ ss to ℈ i. If the form of powder be distastful to any one or if it should become loathsome by the long use of it Electuaries Pills Troches Spirits and Elixirs each of which agree with specifick medicines are wont to be prescribed Take of the Conserve of the male Paeony of the Lilly of the Valley each â„¥ iii. Electuaries of the seed and root of the male Paeony powder'd each Ê’ ii prepared CorallÊ’ i. of the powder of Pearls and of humane Skull prepared each ℈ ii of the salt of Missletow of the OakeÊ’ i ss with what will suffice of the Syrop of Corall make an Electuary let them take of it morning and evening the quantity of a Nutmeg Take of the powder of the root of the male Paeony â„¥ i. of the seeds of the same â„¥ ss of Missletow of the Oake of an Elks claw of humane Skull prepared each Ê’ ii of the roots of Angelica Contrayerva Verginian Snakeweed each Ê’ i. of the whitest Amber of Calcined Corall each Ê’ i. of the Common Salt of Missletow
then when the evident causes daily fixing the infection more on the bloud and humours did happen upon this remote hereditary cause for there were many chances and unfortunate accidents which continually brought sadness and melancholly upon this Gentleman indeed therefore the nervous Liquor being imbued above measure with a fixed and Scorbutic salt became highly sharp and irritative like aqua fortis or the Stagma's of Vitriol and so continually incited the Spirits and the bodys containing them into Corrugations and contractions just as the aforesaid Liquors when poured upon worms do the same thing Why this Distemper grew worse by the use of the Baths But that this disease leasurly at first increasing was quickly brought into a much worse condition by the use of the hot Bathes the reason easily appears It is known by experience that the hot Bathes do very much exalt and quickly bring to the hight the Sulphureous-saline particles in the humane body and otherwise morbid which abound in the Bowells and humours viz. do render them more fierce by agitating them throughly and force them from their first passages into the blood and from thence into the Brain and nervous stock yea and joyn together those that were before seperate and idle and incite them into a certain fermentation wherefore those who are hereditarily obnoxious to the Gout or Stone and have not as yet suffer'd any fits of those distempers very often feel the fruit of either disease in themselves to grow ripe soon by the use of the Bathes When therefore in this sick person both the blood and Liquor watering the Brain and nerves were imbued both with narcotick or stupifying and convulsive particles and also when they did degenerate from their sweet and balsamy Disposition that towards a saltish and this into a sour Ciaemul of a Stagma of Vitriol the use of the hot minerall waters was so far from bringing help that on the contrary these evills for that very cause presently grew all very much worse and the Disease proceeding from the humors being so depraved as to their temper and mixture could never be cured by any medicines no easier than vinegar may be reduced into wine When this Gentlemans body being at last dead of the Phthisis or Consumption was opened by me we could finde but very few foot-steps of these kinde of most grievous Symptoms Hence as it appear'd the Palsie and Convulsion did not depend so much on a thick and copious matter heaped together somewhere in mines as of an evill affection of the animal Spirits who are subtle and Invisible I will lay forth what was worthy taking notice of in the anatomy of this person Things worthy to be noted in the body being dissected The Abdomen being opened the Caule as is wont to be in most who dye of a Consumption and other Chronical Diseases was putrified and almost consumed In the mean time the Ventricle Intestines Pancreas and Mesentery were well enough to wit the membranes were firm well coulour'd and free from any ulcer or hard swelling There grew to the greater Intestines certain excrescencies like to the ears of a mouse for that there were very many of these kinde of things out of either side of the Colon and right intestine they shewed like twins at certain distances like the branches of Trees The like I formerly found in a Consumptive person The Reason of this seems to be that the nourishment in Consumptive people though it be deficient about the more solid and outward parts yet sometimes within neer the fountains of the nourishing juice performs more than it ought and for that cause superfluous and unnaturall additions grow forth The milt or Spleen which always is thought ill of and of most Physitians condemned for being the Principal cause of the Scurvy and of all other distempers appear altogether blameless and free from any fault For as in most sound people we observed it was of a darkish Colour soft and of an equal superficies free from any obstruction or swelling indued with vessells and fibres distinct and firm enough out of its substance flowed black biood when it was cut The Liver which indeed might be wondred at was indifferently well neither was it from so long and grievous a sickness become harder then usuall or scirrhous or planted with little whelks but it was somewhat big and of a darkish colour The Kidnys though free from any ulcer or gravell were not however free from fault for in the middle of the right Kidney was seen a great cavity distinct from the Tunell and much greater then it full of clear water the like I have very often found in hydropical people But indeed this perhaps arose from the serum deposited in that kidny that could not easily be strained thorow its passages and pores for that the serum subsisting therein had in the beginning made for it self a little den which afterwards by degres was inlarged and when for this Reason the secretion of the serum and its passing forth by the ureter were something hindred its Latex restagnating into the blood brought in the grievous trouble to the head which indeed was the rather to be suspected because also the left Kidny being mightily extenuated and consumed contained many Cisterns and Cavities full of clear water The Lungs growing on every side to the Sternum or part of the breast where the ribs meet sides and Diaphragma seem'd without any distinction of Lobes of one substance only of putrid spongy flesh staâ—fed throughout with a frothy or ichorous matter without doubt the sick man had not contracted this evill so long before to wit when he was not able to perform any exercise of the Body nor stay in bed that it might breathe out any thing more freely the faeculencies and recrements of the blood which were wont to evaporate thorow the skin being layd up in the Lungs were the cause that they grew together among themselves and with other parts and did vitiate their tone and conformation wholly so that a Consumption being at last arisen was the effect and product and not the cause of the rest of the distempers wherewith he had bin a long while miserably afflicted In either ventricle of the heart blood was concreted into a solid whitish substance and bak'd like flesh which being formed neer the Cavities and processes of the vessells of the Heart resembled the figure of a Serpent with a manifold divided tail than which indeed nothing is more usual in many dead People after long sickness The reason of which is that the Blood being without life from long sickness and from thence circulated slowly about the Praecordia begins to stand or stagnate in the heart and depending vessells and by that means is congealed leasurely into this kinde of fleshy Concrete When the Skull was opened we sought among its contents the chief Cause of the Disease The first thing that occurr'd was the bulk of the brain was less than it should be