Cloves Pepper Saffron of each four scruples of Cinamone Myrrh Castor Styrax Calamite of each three drams of good Honey as much as is Sufficient make an Opiate Jul. Palmarius Fernelius his Scholer followed him who as was said before in Lib. 1. de lue Vener Cap. 7. writes that Fernelius was most averse from the use of Quick-silver and first dared to promise the Cure of this Disease without the help of that and did take care for the compounding of many Alexiphatmaca at his House which he administred against the Mischeif of this Disease with Guajacum and also without it two of the which which he found to be most excellent and efficatious he describes the first was discribed even now the other is this Take of Divils-bit Scabious Burnet flowers of Marigold Mullein Plantane Balme Rue Broom Origanum Rosemary flowers Red Roses of each three drams of the Seeds of Citron Sorrel Fennel blessed Thistle of the Roots of Dittander Gilliflowers Tormentil round Birthwort Gentian Zedoary Roman Woolfesbane of each two drams Hartshorn shavings of Ivory Wood of Aloes Yellow Saunders Choice Cinamome of each half an ounce Saffron Cloves Nutmeg of each two drams And he relates that he called the first composition the greatet Opiate the other the less and that he gave for a dose half a dram of either with the like quantity of conserve of Bugloss and half a scruple of Mithridate and somtime without Mithridate but that he after Fernelius departed this life out of them both did compleat one adding also certain other Medicines which he found to be prevalent against poysons and most fit to provoke sweat the description of which is this Take of water germander half an ounce of divels-bit scabious burnet Palmarius his antidote Poley Mount peneroyal calamint white sweet smelling Horehound origanum mint St. Johns-wort centory the less French Lavender Germander Ground Pine Plantane Balme rue Time Elder each two drams of Hyssop the lesser Sage Oake Ferne vervin both speedwels each two drams Flowers of Betony Marigould Mullen Broome Rosemary Jasmin Sage Red Roses St. Johns wort Bugloss Burrage Violets Water Lilies of each three drams Seeds of Anis both Parsleys wild Carot Scarlet Graines St Johns Wort Libistick Rue Lovage Basil Berries of Bay Juniper seeds of both Pionies Hartwort of each on dram and half Seeds of citron Sorel Blessed Thistle Fennel of each three drams of the roots of male Piony Round Birthwort Gentian Sweet cane Flowerdeluce of Florence Sweet Cyprus each one dram of Angelico Dittander Gilliflowers tormentil Zedoary Romane Woolfesbane of each three drams and an half of choice perle three drams and hal of Harts horn Shavings of Ivory each one ounce wood of aloes yellow saunders bone of the heart of a hart both currals each half an ounce choice cinamon one dram and half Balsome wood if it may be had one ounce of al pretious stones each half a dram of Nutmeg mace loves myrrh styrax Calamite Benjamin Saffron Castor each half a dram juice of liquorish one ounce oyl of the seeds of Fennel Anise of Sage mint juniper Nutmeg Cloves red opobalsamum brought out of America if it be to be had of each one dram Let al the the herbs flowers and rootes be gathered at that time they are of greatest strength let them be dryed and kept in paper cases then al of them being reduced into a most fine pouder let them be mixt with wine and honey and be boyled into an electuary til it comes to the thickness of wel prepared mithridate yet the flowers may be candied and kept with sugar that they may be mixt with the other things towards the end of their boyling to one pound of honey mix two ounces of the pouder Let it be kept in a most large earthen vessel whose third part may be empty least it swel up and grow hot neither let it come to that use we shal by and by speake of before it be three years old He ads there also a cordial water and an alexipharmacal pouder their discriptions are these the Cordial water Take Of the leaves of sage mint marioram rue hysop origanum Galmarius his Cordiol water the tops of betony each one handful Bruise them al and put them in a great earthen vessel in a warm place and cover them with the water of blessed thistle that they be under it every day stir them with a stick and before they soure which wil he the fourth or fifth day after Strein out the liquor and keep it casting away the Faeces Again Take of plantane leaves marigold balme mullein St. Johnswort centory the less burnet each two handfuls After they have beensteeped four dayes and streined cast them away and take again of water germander Bivels-bit fennel parsly bugloss burage angelico of each one handful Which also being steeped so many dayes streined and then cast away Take of the roots of angelico dittander tormentil betony Zedoary each half an ounce of galangal three drams Nutmegs Cloves each one dram seeds of Fenel Citron Sorrel Blessed thistle Juniper berries each two drams Shavings of Ivory harts horn wood of aloes Yellow Saunders cinamon each one dram Safforn half a dram make a pouder of it and mixe it with the Liquor streined then weigh out of the amulet against this disease and of choice mithridate each one pound and half of old treacle foure drams and being mixt with the said liquor and pouder and put up in a glass alembick or an earthen one glazed expose them six or eight dayes to the heat of June til they grow hot and be perfectly fermented and at length distil them in a double vessel with a most gentle fire If the same simples be put into a new pot with the water of bastard saffron and be heated fifteen dayes in warm horse-dung there wil be extracted a more excellent Water Take of the aforesaid water three ounces Syrup of Lemmons and Violets of each six drams Make a dose A Description of the Pouder Take of the shavings of Ivory Palmarius his Alexipharmacal Pouder the younger Harts-horn Choice Pearles of each half a dram wood of Aloes Yellow Saunders the bone of the heart of a Hart of each one scruple Seeds of Fennel Coriander prepared of each one dram the Leaves of Mint Plantane Vervin Burnet of each two scruples the Roots of Tormentil Betony Zedoary of each half a dram the dryed flowers of Betony Marigold Broom of each half a dram Sugar of Roses three times as much Make a fine Pouder The dose is one spoonful beforemeat and before a drauft of the sweating drink if the Patient refuse the use of the Opiate And in cap. 13. Lib. de lue Vener where he disputes whether this Disease may be perfectly cured by the use of Guajacum alone or whether there be need of the assistance of other Medicines joyned with it at last he concludes with a distinction that the vertue of Guajacum is neither so great that that
the Head and Joynts 23. But chiefly the Nature of the Contagion it self from which the sick contracted the disease doth manifest the force and greatness of the disease for this poyson hath somtimes a greater somtimes a less activity and Physitians do relate who have often had such Patients in cure that somtimes of ten strong yong men who have had to do with the same Whore not one of them hath scaped therefore if it be known from what he or she this evil was contracted the Physitian may the easier judg of the event of the disease 24. Other things being alike this evil is easiest cured which is contracted by Whorish Copulation but that is harder to Cure which the Infant hath sucked in with the milk whenas the virulency goes into the stomach with the milk and hence in the Liver there is generated a virulent blood which afterwards runs through the whol body and Pollutes that But the Hereditary evil is hardest of al to Cure and that which is communicated from infected Parents with the Seed and blood 25. As for the parts affected if the Liver only be affected the evil is the easier Cured whenas it hath a strong expulsive faculty and Medicaments can easily penetrate unto it but the Spleen Kidneys Womb and external joynts are not so easily Cured but hardest of all the Brain and the Lungs because they have a weaker expulsive faculty and Medicaments do not easily penetrate thither 26. From al which 'tis easily collected what wil be the event of the Disease for by how much the more and more grievous diseases and Symptomes are joyned with the Veneral disease by so much the more the sick are indangered by how much the fewer and lighter by so much the less and those chiefly die who to their putrid and Malignant Veneral Disease have supervenient those Feavers they call Gallical for the Veneral Virulency whiles it corrupts the Humors and induceth a Malignant quality into them makes the Feaver worse and also debilitates the innate heat whence neither the Feaver nor that Malignant disease can be overcome by Nature 27. Very many also die of a wasting of the body and a hectick Feaver or rather a slow and putrid one for both the Veneral virulency it self and the pains watchings and other symptomes do debilitate the innate heat hurt nutrition whence follows a wasting of the whol body to which is joyned a slow putrid Feaver raised from the evil Humors 28. Sanguification also being hurt some die of a Dropsie 29. Many also die by reason of Catarrhes falling down on the jaws and Lungs hindering and taking away their breath or the Vessels of the Lungs being eaten by a sharp Catarrhe and first of al spitting of blood being raised then a Phthisick they die 30. Somtimes the Vessels being eaten in two by the acrimony of the Humors and Vomiting of blood caused the sick die by too great a Flux to the stool or by the Womb. CHAP. VIII Of Prevention WHenas 't is safer to prevent a Disease than to cure it Prevention some Physitians endeavor to teach by what means one may keep himself clear though he have had to do with an infected Woman Of which business Fallopius treats in the whol Chapter 89. de Morb. Galli and he writes that he should seem to have done nothing unless he teach how one seeing a handsome Woman and lying with her though she be infected may be preserved from the French Disease and he cals the immortal God to witness that he hath made tryal of it in ten thousand men and none of them was infected and he propounds there two medicaments by which the Contagion received may presently be drawn forth dissipated or dryed up Hercules Saxonia propounds the same de lue Vener cap. 16. and does very much commend them and as Aurelius Minadous speaks of this business many confide that being guarded with those Medicines as with a buckler they may enter the most infected whores and freely ramble al the world over Eustachius Rudius also proposes the like Medicaments Lib. 5. de morb occult cap. 13. But indeed I do not beleeve that those things can be taught with a good conscience by which so many men are encouraged to lust whom perhaps the fear of this Disease might have frighted from it and therefore we wil say nothing of these Medicines but Aurelius Minadous thinks they themselves are deceived that teach such things Cap. 31. de Virulentia Venerea Where he overthrows Fallopius foundation who thinks that this Disease is only communicated by the least purulent bodies which if they be wiped away extracted dissipated this Disease may be turned off and he teacheth that the Contagion doth not only enter by the external parts of the Privities but also chiefly by the internal and runs through the Body and that the infected Vapors and spirits do pass through the internal porosities and are admitted by the Veins and therefore no man can promise himself health and safety from washing which only reaches to the external parts nor from other Medicaments outwardly applied neither can such external Medicaments take away the Pollution conceived within The safect way therefore to avoid this Disease is to abstain from whores and to remember that Whoremongers and Adulterers the Lord wil judg who yet is wont also to punish them in this Life with that most filthy Disease Yet Jul. Galmarius hath another way of prevention of this Disease to wit by internal Medicaments and he writes that he hath found out an antidote or a Mullet by the use of which mens bodies are rendered safe against this Disease yet he entreats and conjures al Physitians and Chyrurgeons that they do not communicate and make known that Medicine in obedience to lustful people and that they make not themselves fosterers of lusts but to them only who must necessarily converse with those that are suspected or defiled But he describes that Antidote Lib. 1. cap. 8. and this is it Take of the Amulet for the Pox and of old Mithridate by Galens description of each six drams Conserve of the flowers of Bugloss of broom of Rosemany of each three drams mix them give one dram or a dram and an half or two drams at the most in the morning two hours before meat eight or ten daies together But if any one suspect himself to be infected he admonisheth that he earnestly use a greater care for prevention therefore let him take of the Alexipharmacal Medicine even now described swallowing a dram or a dram and an half in the morning and before supper for eight or ten daies together whose Verture that it may reach the easier to the more remote parts when they have swallowed it 't is expedient they drink presently after it somwhat of this Julep by which as its vehicle it may be carried into every part Take of the water of blessed thistle burnet Devils-bit of each two ounces of Syrup of the juyce of Sorrel of Lemmons
addition of such Herbs doth cause that the Decoction wil not last so long to prevent this such herbs are to be added not to the whol decoction but to about one pound of it Some not unprofitably especially to those accustomed to it and whose stomach is weak do add towards the end of the decoction three pound of a sweetish white wine some prepare the whol decoction in wine but not so rightly for the best part of the wine doth evaporate in boyling and there is left an ingrateful Flegm as was said before Aurelius Minadous also doth admonish that the decoction of the wood is to be given with a vehicle which may direct the vertue of the Medicine to the parts principally affected and the Head most of al affected we must mix Cephalick things the Reins affected things Nephtitical the Liver Hepatical the Spleen things Splenitick Which as we do not wholly disallow of so we do not alwaies think it necessary whenas the vertue of the decoction doth easily of it self penetrate into the whol body but we must chiefly have a care least by the admistion of such Medicines the decoction be rendered nauseous and ingrateful to the Patient which when he himself also considers he admonisheth rightly that such Medicines are more commodiously taken by themselves reduced into a pouder or Bolus or some other forme than mixt with the decoction but we shal speak hereafter of compound decoctions The Chymists whenas they fear least by the long boyling Distilled water from Guajaum which is to the half or a third part the Spirituous and subtile parts should exhale and be dissipated and so the vertue of the Medicine be diminished prepare this decoction another way so that it loseth nothing of its strength they take the pouder of Guajacum and put it into a retort and pouring a sufficient quantity of water they place the retort in the ashes and apply the receiving vessel and making a fire under it first they make a digestion then distil it to the Consumption of one half of the water they give of the distilled water four ounces yet it were most commodious if the distilled water were mixed with the rest of the decoction in the retort being strained for so they would have al the vertue to that decoction remaining in the retort may be poured more water and let it digest twelve hours afterwards distil it and the liquor distilled may be given for common drink and whenas it happens somtimes that Infants are born infected with the Veneral disease or are infected by their Nurses this distilled and sweetned with Sugar may be given them instead of Juleps Also after that the first decoction prepared the common way The second decoction is strained twelve or eighteen pound of water again is poured to the wood remaining after the first boyling according as the Patient is wont to drink more or less and is boyled to the Consumption of the third part and being strained is given for ordinary drink at dinner and supper if they desire a more pleasant and sweeter drink you may add four ounces or more of Raysons or instead of Raysons one ounce or two of Coriander seed prepared and sweeten the decoction with two or three ounces of Sugar But if any Herbs have been added to the first decoction the decoction for drink at meals must not be made of the remainders of the first decoction because it would be nauseous but you must prepare another fresh decoction but more dilute or a wine of Guajacum which is made thus Wine of Guajacum Take four or five pound of the wood four pound of white Sugar ten pound of white Wine and put the wood into a wooden Vessel and heat the Wine and powr it to it Some boyl the wood the third time and use the decoction to boyl meat in The third decoction the same decoction also may be used to wash the hands to clense the Nostrils and mundisie Ulcers And some give this wood other waies some in the form of a pouder An Electuary of Guajacum others make electuaries of it Thus Nicol. Massa Lib. 2. de Morb. Gal. Cap. 6. he takes of the Indian wood most finely prepared one pound and with Syrup of Fumitory boyles it to the form of an Electuary of which he gives half an ounce or an ounce or take of the wood of Guajacum Sarlaparilla finely poudered of each one ounce of the species of the three saunders and Diarrhodon Abbatis of each two drams Conserve of Succory Roses of each six ounces with Syrup of Succory make an Electuary Others with a convenient Syrup make pills of it But others not without cause do here admonish us that such Medicines are less effectual and that many who were newly infected when as they hoped for health by the use of such Medicaments by that delay and lingring and weakness of the Medicine have fallen into a most grievous evil for as was said such Medicines do less penetrate into the body Yet towards the latter end of the Cure when the evil is almost overcome and 't is only feared that there may remain some evil disposition and the long continued drinking of the decoction of the wood is nauseous to the patient such Medicines may be used to consume the reliques of the disease An extract of this wood is more commodiously prepared and out of that pills An extract of Guajacum or rowles but after the use of it there is need of taking some liquor by whose vehicle the extract may be distributed and carried into the whol body nay these extracts according to the opinion of Hercules Saxonia have scarce so great strength as to overcome this disease if it be very great and ancient but the decoction is deservedly preferred before them Hercules Saxonia de lue Vener cap. 27. writes that the oyl is stronger The oyl of Guajacnm and he thinks the whol Alexipharmacal power of the wood is placed in this Oyl and he relates that he hath proved by experience that by the benefit of this oyl the greatest and ancientest disease hath been overcome But he gives it divers waies in wasted bodies with milk in others of a hotter temperament with Conserve of Roses or whey of Goats in Melancholly with conserve of Burrage or Bugloss in Flegmatick with Conserve of Betony in those that have knobs with Turpentine and two scruples for a dose But doubtless it was not oyl which Saxonia gave but a liquid extract or Tincture as they cal it For no oyl is distilled from this wood by an Alembick but that which is distilled by a retort or descent by an open fire is found to be such that it cannot conveniently be given into the body nay scarce with safety I attribute more to the spirit of Guajacum The spirit of Guajacum the preparation of which is not every bodies work for it requires a longer and more diligent digestion and fermentation for
animadv num 214. as shal be said also hereafter in the last chapter So if cruel paines molest the patient or gummous tumors or exceeding ulcers be joyned with them Sasaparilla is most profitable which doth discusse the french knobs and easier appease the pains then Guajacum Thus according to the constitution of the Patients and the Nature of the Diseases joyned with it 't is good somtimes to use Guajacum alone somtimes Sarsaparilla somtimes China Root and somtimes to mix al of them in a greater or lesser quantity and somtimes the bark of Guajacum is added somtimes three or four ounces weight to one pound of the wood and they are boyled in fifteen pound of water For examples sake Take Of the wood of Guajacum half a pound of the bark of the same of sarsaparilla each three ounces of China root one ounce and half Infuse them twenty four houres in twelve pound of water afterwards let them be boyled to the consumption of half for a sweating drink Poure on the remainder twelve pound of water let them stand and infuse eight houres afterwards boyl them to a consumption of a third part for drink at meales Or. Take of the Wood of Guajacum one pound the bark of the same Sarsaparilla of each thre ounces Boyl them in sixteen pound of water to the consumption of half Or. Take of the wood of Guajacum China root each one ounce an half Sarsaparilla one ounce infuse them twenty four hours in six poundof water afterwards boyl half away Poure on the residue ten pound of water boyl it to the consumption of three pound Strainit and give it for drink at meales Or Take of wood of Guajacum eight ounces of the bark of the same four ounces sarsaparilla sassafras wood each two ounces Boyl them in twelve pound of water to the consumption of two thirds that there remains four pound towards the end ad four pound of wine Poure to the remainder sixteen pound of water boyl it to theconsumption of half towards the end ad four pound of wine make a drink for meales In this place we must not omit a question concerning the use of purgers Whether purgers ought to be mixt with the decoction whiles the decoction is drank to wit whether they ought to be mixt with the decoction or to be used at the same time with the decoction For some do wholy reject them and hold that purgers are neither to be mixed with the decoction nor to be used apart for this reason because the bodies are wont diligently to be purged before they come to the use of these decoctions next of al because purgers and sweaters do cause contrary motions Others on the contrary do mix purgers with these decoctions that by benefit of them the blood may be purefied and the belly constantly kept loose others do not mix purgers with these decoctions but purge at certain intervals every eighth or tenth day or at a longer distance as need requires which last opinion seemes to me to be trewest For though the body be purged before the use of these decoctions yet some may easily remain and ever and anon be collected and sweating doth purge onely the thinner humors but leaves the thick neither after this manner are there caused contrary motions for that day that purging is ordered sweaters are not administred but if purgers were mixed with the sweaters then there would be contrary motions And besides by the admistion of purgers the decoction being to be used so many weeks it would become nauseous and ingratful Hercules Saxonia also holds de lue Vener Cap. 38. Whether purgers may serve instead of sweaters That purging may be ordered every day to wit in those in whom sweat cannot or ought not to be caused he thinks sweat cannot be provoked in them who either are of such a hard and thick Skin that they can by no means sweat or in those who fal into fainting and swouning fits as soon as sweaters are administred but he thinks they ought not to sweat in whom the Veneral disease possesseth not the Joynts nor the Skin nor the superficies of the body but hath rather taken up its seat about the bowels but this opinion seems not to me to be agreeable to truth for whereas he thinks that some ought to have purgers administred because they cannot sweat by reason of the thickness of their Skin or because they presently fal into swouning fits is agreeable neither to reason nor experience for scarce any one hath so thick a Skin that the pores wil no way open for sweat and though on the first daies sweat doth not prelently follow yet after that the Humors are attenuated by the use of the decoctions the passages and pores are opened then sweat succeeds especially if those Laconick Baths be applied as shal be said hereafter And the Patient may so moderate his sweating that he need not fal into fainting or swouning fits and they that cannot endure sweating wil not easily endure purging Last of al purgers cannot performe the same as those sweaters do But that in some bodies sweaters are not to be administred is salf for though the disease may have its principal seat about the Liver and bowels yet it cannot be but also vitious Humors do abound in the whol body whenas the Liver infected with this disease doth generate virulent blood and distribute it to the whol Body Chap. XIX Of the manner of using these Medicines AS concerning the manner of using these Medicaments The manner of using these Medicines The dose of the decoction first of al the decoction of Guajacum is administred for the most part in the morning and afternoon two hours before Supper In the morning 't is given from five ounces to eight or nine ounces before the evening from three ounces to six ounces the pouder is given to two drams the extract to two scruples Yet somtimes the evening drauft is omitted especially at the begining before the patient is accustomed to the Decoction For what was said above of moderating the quality of the decoction that also is to be observed concerning the quantity of the Decoction to be given that the sick be not offended and overcharged which too much of it which unless it be observed it happens somtimes that the sick fal into Feavers contract Crudities and there is caused a loosness ill habit of body and a Dropsie After the same manner we must give the Decoction of Sarsapatilla China Root and the compound decoctions For though some do prescribe here divers doses yet he shal not erre that shal administer them in the aforesaid manner And indeed after the mornings drauft Sweat we must endeavor that the Patient sweat for expetience teacheth that they that sweat not upon the taking of these Medicaments are â—carce clearly freed from this Disease but that sweat may flow the easier let the Patient sleep one hour after he hath taken the Medicine for so
alone can wholly Extirpate the Roots and whol malice of the Venereal poyson nor so weak that it can perform nothing without the help of others that by the use of that only the Humors be wasted al Symptomes wil at length be allaied and wholly lie hid but yet the taint of the disease which hath already taken possession of the solid parts cannot in most bodies be wholly overcome and extinguisht by that remedy Rondeletius Rondeletius his Treacle Water doubtless followed these men also who de morb Itali commend his Treacle water which provokes sweat in the inveterate Italian Disease and takes away the pains the description of which is this Take of Treacle one pound of Sorrel three handfuls of the flowers of Chamomel Peny-royal Pomegranates blessed Thistle of each two ounces Mix them al in white wine and distil them Of which water give three ounces to drink with three ounces of Sorrel and Bugloss water when the Patient goes into his bed or hot house Platerus also thinks that it is confirmed by experience that the decoctions of other plants besides Guajacum Sarsaparilla China Sassafras can performe the same in this disease as they do and therefore fals into this opinion but evilly That the late mentioned Medicines which are accounted alexipharmaca of this disease do work rather in the cure of this disease by moving sweat then by an occult quality and therefore he thinks that not only a decoction of box wood Juniper Cedar Cypress and Savin Agallochus Rose-wood but also the decoction and Treacle water which are given in Pestilent Feavers are profitable also here Aurelius Minadous de lue Vener cap. 53. Whether treacle be good in the Venereal disease when he had spoken many things in the praise of Treacle at length concludes that Treacle also may be used against the venereal virulency as a most excellent Alexiterum not as if it were to be numbered amongst them which of themselves are said to expel this virulency but amongst them which expel it by accident in as much as it doth strengthen the spirits by a Conformable proportion to them so that they being now made strong are able as the principal agent together with the Treacle as their instrument to overcome the malignity of the venereal virulency The same Author cap. 44. Trochisks Cypheos commends Trochisks Cypheos in this Disease as being such which do principally strengthen the Liver which in this Disease is chiefly affected and free it from Excrementitious Humors which are collected in this Disease being powerful to concoct cleanse and dry up the Excrement and therefore as Galen thought this Composition was to be preferred before al other Medicines written by Asclepias Andromachus and other most Famous Physitians for the affects of the Liver so he thinks the same is to be used and Magnified beyond al others in this Disease But as I wil not disswade any one from the use of such common Alexipharmaca in the cure of this Disease whenas in other cases it is a custome when any one hath drank poyson or any waies taken it and knows not what it is to give treacle and common Alexipharmaca so I wil counsel no body that he confide only in these Medicines and neglect those proper ones And I see it done by very few Physitians as being taught by experience that this Disease cannot wholly be extirpated without Guajacum Sarsaparilla and the like neither doth it follow that therefore because some sick of an incurable French Pox could not be cured by Guajacum wood that we must place more hope in these Medicaments For they that could not be cured by those proper Alexipharmaca wil much less be cured by these common ones CHAP. XXI Of the Cure by Quick-silver ANd this is the chief kind of Medicine for the cure of the Venereal disease Of the cure by Quick-silver and this is the chief manner of curing it For there is also another way of curing the same Disease by quick-silver which was first brought into use by Chyrurgions and barbers afterwards also was applyed by learned Physitians For whenas as was said before by Fracastorius certain Barbars had found out amongst the Medicines of our ancestors for the filthy scab joyned with the pains of the joynts unguents compounded of Mercury and Sulphur other Medicines profiting little they began to use them The use of which being not altogether unsuccessful afterwards quick-silver was used in the cure of this Disease by many learned Physitians But though it be not my purpose in this place to treat of quick-silver which the Chymists cal Mercury but rather of the use of it in curing this disease yet I shal admonish you of a few things in general Quick-silver is reckoned amongst the mettals and 't is called Silver from its color in which it resembles silver Quicksilver whence so called It s wonderful Nature but quick because t is alwaies moveable and its Nature is altogether wonderful which many learned men admire and which hath tortered the wits of many Chymists and deluded their pains For though it be mortified fixed or what way soever it oftentimes seems to be changed yet it is easily reduced to its former quick Nature And though it be reduced into the smallest bodies and transmitted through leather or be otherwise reduced into atomes and a strong form yet it retaines in them its whol Nature and essence and returns to its former quick body Naturalists and Physitians differ concerning its temperament Whether Quicksilver be hot or cold whiles some hold it to be cold others hot Matthias Vnzerus hath collected the arguments of both in Anatom Spagyr Mercu. to alleage al which at large in this place is not our intent for you may consult with him on that business in the alleaged place yet by and by we shal make mention of some of them but Vnzerus himself cap. 12. goes the middle way and holds Matthias Vnzerus his opinion that some natural things have oftentimes in them diverse and wholly contrary vertues and faculties and some of them are manifest others occult and that these depend on the specifick form those on the first qualities of the Elements which he proves by the examples of Wormwood Rhubarb Vineger and others and he thinks Mercury is to be reckoned in the number of these which may be considered both as crude and as prepared the crude he thinks hath mixt qualities and is partly hot partly cold and that diversity is to be attributed to the divers parts of the matter of which it consists some of which are very thin Subtile pure and Spirituous but some are thick earthy and feculent but he thinks that Mercury prepared hath no longer any cold quality but they are wholly taken away by the outward help of fire or by the Application of the menstrua and therefore that it is very hot Hercules Saxonia Hercules Saxonia holds the same de lue Vener Cap. 39. Whiles he
quality of the liquor for some boyl the wood in water some in Barly water some in distilled waters others in wine others in Whey and others in broth of Flesh L. Septalius lib. 7. adnimadu nu 204. reprehends those who deny that the decoction of this wood may be made in wine only when as nothing is more fit to extract the faculties of medicines than wine and the water of wine he had spoke righter than the spirit of wine and therefore he prepares his decoction with wine which he useth when the disease is inveterate with an evil habit of body and a cold matter predominant after this manner eight ounces of the bark of the best holy wood grossely poudered being infused in forty two physical pints of the best white wine for two days the wine being first heated and alwaies kept hot those two days in a double vessel or in the ashes afterwards with a slow fire boyl it away in a double vessel to the consumption of the third part which let the sick make use of both in the morning instead of a syrup and for his drink at meales let him take in the morning seven ounces an hour after move sweat but at dinner and supper let him not exceed fourteen ounces But though we grant that wine is most commodious to extract the vertues of vegetables yet this cannot be denied that by boyling the strength of wine doth vanish and when the spirit is exhaled there is left a nauseous phlegme less profitable than plain simple water And therefore I am of that opinion that either the wood is to be boyled in water and towards the end the wine is to be added or else the wood is only to be a long while infused in wine or to be boyled in a double vessel that nothing be lost but by no means to the Consumption of the third part Therefore most commonly and rightly the decoction is made in pure water which doth both a little correct the Heat and driness of the Medicine and further the distribution and provocation of sweat yet if the body and especially the stomach be cold and weak and the Patient accustomed to wine Wine is not unprofitably mixt with it as was said even now and shal be said hereafter for by the admistion of Wine the stomach is less hurt and the vertue of the Medicine doth the easier penetrate to al the parts And a different proportion of the wood to the water is observed according to the age constitution of the body and season of the year The proportion of wood to the water and they take to twelve pound of water from three ounces of the wood to twelve for if the season of the year and the body be hot 't is safest to take a less quantity of the wood and in a longer time to perfect the Cure than by too strong a Medicine to damnesie the patient especially at the beginning of the cure and before the superfluous Humors in the body be abated and sweat begin to flow easily and exquisitly and the patient be accustomed to the Decoction afterwards by degrees you may take more of the Wood which unless it be observed the Patient is easily brought into danger And Eustachius Rudius writes Lib. 5. de Morb. occult Cap. 13. That he hath seen patients who by this error viz. too great a quantity of the wood given on the first daies have fallen into a Feaver that afterwards they have been forced to abstaine from the use of the decoction to their great detriment but where there is no such thing to be feared in those of ripe years we commonly add to one pound of the wood rasped or turned smal twelve pound of water in an earthen Vessel glased and let it infuse twenty four hours in a warm place afterwards the vessel being wel covered boyle it with a gentle fire til half or the third part remain and let the decoction cool in this vessel stil covered afterwards strain it Fallopius Lib. de morb Galli cap. 46. After what manner 't is to be boyled disputes whether it be better to boyle it with an open fire or in a double vessel as was said or in Balneo Mariae and reprehends them who hold that the decoction made in Balneo is more dilute or less powerful and that the decoction made in Balneo is more excellent than that which is made with an open fire he endeavors to prove by the example of distilled waters which by the balneum are made most excellent when as there is no adustion in them but the greater eliquation which is made in that hot and moist doth render the decoction more excellent but experience teacheth otherwise which reason also doth confirme For though out of some moister plants as Roses Violets Lilly of the vallies and the like being fresh whose vertue consists in the volatile part as the Chymists speak the best waters are made in balneo without the affusion of water yet in hotter plants especially in Roots and woods whose vertue consists in the oyly part their vertue can never be extracted by the too gentle heat of a Balneum as happens also in many seeds but they must be distilled by a †Vesica through which by the vehicle of the water A chymical Vessel those more fixed parts may be elevated when as then the whol vertue of Guajacum doth consist in that oyly and rozeny part and there is need of strong boyling that that may be extracted the gentle heat of a Bolneum cannot do it but it must be boyled in an open fire which nevertheless causeth no adustion if there be added a sufficient quantity of water Some for the better gust and that the bitterness and acrimony may be abated a little before 't is boyled enough add of Raison and Liquorish of each one ounce and you may add Sugar or some Julep to rellish it Aurelius Minadous de virulen Vener Cap. 4. holds the Decoction ought chiefly to be Dulcorated with Honey for he thinks that a smal quantity of Honey if it be boyled with it and Skimmed wil rebate al the bitterness and the Decoction acquire a greater power to cleanse attenuate open and make fusil the Humors and strengthen the parts which we grant may take place in phlegmatick bodies and especially in a cold stomach so whenas honey doth easily turn to Choller we think it cannot safely be used in chollerick bodies hot and dry but more conveniently and safely Raisons Liquorish or Sugar Some also in those who have a hot and dry Liver do add towards the end of the decoction a root or two of Succory one or two handfuls of Endive Sowthistle but whenas such decoctions are to be continued along while we must have a care least by the admistion of such things they be made ingrateful and provoke nauseousness in the Patient besides whenas for the most part there is boyled at one time Decoction enough for many daies but the
teacheth that this Medicine doth exulcerate and cause heat and inflamation on the other side it causeth numness Palsies and other cold affects and that it proceeds from the inequality of its temperament and because 't is an imperfect mixt body and if it be prepared by calcination that the cold substance doth fly away and that which is left is fire But these authors erre very much The authors opinion indeed it cannot be denied that there are many Medicines which have Heterogeneous parts by vertue of which they produce divers effects which parts also may be separated by the help of art But that Quick-silver hath such parts is fals neither was there yet ever found any Chymist who could show the diverse parts in it and separate them by art for the whol is Homogeneous if there be any thing so in Nature and either it al flies away or al remaines and what way soever it is prepared Quicksilver is Homogeneous at last it al revives wholly Homogeneous and whatsoever Chymist can show any Heterogeneous parts in Quick-silver as in Rhubatb shal be in my esteem a great Apollo Neither is precipitate of another Nature then that which is crude neither doth Quick-silver loose any thing by its preparation and that prepared does differ from the crude only in external form which is caured by the admistion of other things which somtimes are Salt parts as happens in Mercury Sublimate and Precipitate somtimes only watry as when Mercury is reduced into water by a retort without the admistion of any other thing as the same Vnzerits teacheth Lib. 2. de Anatom Mercu. cap. 2. n. 4. for this water is nothing else but the Quick-silver resolved into the smallest bodies or Atomes by the strength of the fire and mixt with watry Vapors or the moist Air. Yet in that there appeare no effects of cold but rather of heat and that very water as other mercurial waters wil dissolve gold in like manner Saxonia is mistaken for Quick-filver is no imperfect mixt body but a body that hath the most perfect mistion and cannot be destroied by any art of the Chymists but every where retaines its form neither whiles it is calcined or rather exposed to the sire for Quick-silver cannot properly be said to be Calcmed do the cold parts fly away and the fiery stay behind but if those parts which are raised up be received they are of the same Nature with those that remaine as is wel known to the Chymist Therefore whenas this Reconcilation is of no force Quick silver is hot let us see who is in the righter whether those who hold Quick-silver to be hot or those that say 't is cold But I think that they are altogether of the righter judgment who think it to be hot for that appears by its great penetrating and corroding vertue so that it penetrates and Eats into Mettals and the flesh nay the very bones are corroded by Mercury precipitate and sublituate And Libavius writes in tract de igne natu cap. 30 that he knew by the relation of a most learned Physitian that a certain Chyrurgion dying by the too frequent use of Mercurial Medicines had his bones plainly britle or frangible But whenas they object first of al The answer of the reasons against it that whiles 't is quick and whol it doth not corrode the cause of that is because it cannot infinuate it self into the body and worke upon it whenas al its parts are most closely knit together nor cannot be mixed with other bodies but the Medicines prepared out of it as Mercury sublimate Precipitate Oyl of Mereury and it there be any more of this kind have a great power to burn and corrode not only by the reason of Salts commixt which is very little but because 't is resolved into the smalest bodies and being mixt with the Salts it can adhere to the body and by the benefit of things admixt most intimately insinuate it self into it Secondly whereas Quick-silver appears cold to the touch that is common to it with steel Brass Lead Wine things of their own Nature hot which by accident feel to be cold Thirdly whereas some also from the effects would collect quick-silver to be cold in that they are very much deceived and they attribute those effects to cold which have their dependance elswhere Truly they that drink the waters infected with quick-silver on the Alps are sick of divers fluxes and are taken with a bronchocele Goldsmiths and others who often deal with quick-silver are seldom healthful and long lived but are obnoxious to numnesses tremblings palsies convulsions lethargies suffocating catarths and appoplexies Thus Fernelius relates of a certain Goldsmith that imprudently admitting the vapour of quick-silver only presently became stupid drowzy and wholly speechless Ferdinandus Ponrertus relates that the same happend to another lib. 1. de vene cap. 3. And Forestus lib. 8. obser 5. writes That a certain yong man learning the Smiths art upon the atching of a Cup with quick-silver had all the hair of his head fell off and that his face became extraordinary pale and all his body tremulous and many others have observed the same And Jacobus Oethoeus in his observat reports That a certain yong Noble man troubled with Crab-lice in his Privities used Mercurial Oyntment to drive them away upon which his Yard grew cold and sluggish and unfit for Venery But here is a fallacy of the cause for quick-silver doth not do these things by cooling but because it hath a peculiar and occult quality that is an enemy to the Nerves and Brain as appears in many other stupifying poysons Fourthly That which is Objected is easily Answered to wit That the damage brought upon mans body by quick silver is cured by the use of hot things as Sage Hyssope Origanum Clary Rue Castor and the like For those Medicaments are not therefore applied to the preternatural affects caused by quick-silver only because they are hot but because they are friends to the Brain and Nerves and furthermore as they themselves grant by a specifick property are enemies to the Mercurial virulency and that such things are not therefore applied because they are hot but because by a peculiar vertue they are friends to the Nerves it appears by this because other hot things as Ginger Pepper and the like which have no specifick property freindly to the Nerves do not perform the same But concerning the Occult Vertue and Propriety of Quick-silver we chiefly meet with two doubts First of all Whether it be poysonous next of all Whether it be rightly applied for the Cure of the Venereal Disease Concerning the former Question Whether Quick-silver be Poysonous Whether quick-filver be Poysonous we have already treated before in tractat de Chym. Aristot consens dissens cap. 19. where we speak of Mercury and we said there That Matthias Vnzerus de anatem spagyr Mercu. did endeavour to prove at large That Mercury is not
grease be most exactly mixed with the mercury then ad the mastick finelypoudered together with the oyl of mastick and Safforn and afterwards the aples through ripe cleansed from the parings and core Or Take of mercury killed with spitle three ounces old oyl four ounces of Frankincense prepared as common mastick two ounces mastick one ounce hogs-greese two ounces and half oyl of bayes one ounce and half virgins wax two ounces ointment of diaitbaea one ounce and half sagapen one ounce of wax as much as is sufficient Make an Ointment Or Take of mercury two ounces of hogsgrease three ounces turpentine one ounce pouder of orice franqincense mastickeach two drams oyl of chamemel white lillies bayes of each two aunces Stirax half an ounce mix them Or Take of hens hogs and beares greace each one ounce oyl of white lillies bayes each two ounces mercury six ounces mix the greases in a morter after wards ad the mercury and stir them an houre in the morter then ad of frankincense mastick myrrh amoniacum stirax pouder of Arabick lavinder each half a dram make an ungnent The Places which are anointed are the joynts and the spaces between and the less fleshy parts in the hands elbows feet knees sometimes in strong bodies the emunctories of the liver are anointed and the backbone Fallopius expects the hands and first of al anoints the feet transversly about the begining of the feet afterwards the spaces between the joynts of the leg then the midle of the thighs The time for anointing the middle of the Elbow bones and the midle of the Armes afterwards the whole back The most commodious time for anointing is the spring and autum the winter and summer are less convenient and the unction is to be performed in the morning upon an empty stomach in a close and warm place beginning at the lower parts and so passing to the upper unction is seldom ordered twice on the sameday The patient anointed must either be ropped up in linnen or the parts anointed be covered with course flax or hemp and so the patient be placed in his bed How long unction is to be continued But the unction is to be continued so long til salivation or a loosness or some other evaccuation succeed and the symptomes be lessened and cease and truely if a loosness follow it is not suddenly to be supprest yet we must have a care least the guts suffer any hurt casting in by Clyster chaly beat milk or the juyce of ptisan with milk or the decoction of barley and afterwards if need require come to astringent meanes Some think that sweat alsoought to be moved but if nature tend to salivation t is not convenient to move sweat least there be contrary motions caused but if nature of her own accord tend to sweat t is not to be hindered yet unction is scarce to be continued above three dayes at one time sometimes also there presently follow greivous symptomes as great ulcers of the mouth swellings and inflamation of the tongue and jawes the swallowing is hurt the teeth loosened an extraordinary flux of virulent humors from the mouth a diaâ—rhy or dicentery and then we must presently forbear anointing yet sometimes it hapens but very sildom that no such greivous symptom followes But only sweats and pustles are multeplied al over the body When unction is now perfected and the spitle runs wel What is to be done after unction let the parts anointed be washt with wine in which sage Arabick lavender flowers rosmary grownd pine bayleaves calamint origanum have bin boyled afterwards lay upon them some plaister for the nerves At last when the unction is past we must use our endeavor that the mercury be not left in the body and that no evil be contracted neither in the mouth nor other parts and therefore we must move sweat in a Laconick bath keep gold money in the mouth shaveings of gold must be dranke or bullets or pils made up of lease gold must be swallowed for the mercury is imbibed by the gold and with it is emptied out of the body and so al evil that might happen is prevented To asswage pain the mouth and jawes must be washed with warme milk or the Decoction of Barley to hinder inflamation let the patient use the decoction of plantaine or plantaine water or of Vine leaves with the syrup of Mulberries and dry roses the teeth must be washed with the decoction of sage or with Sage columbine water or austere wine after unction we must not presently desist from the cure but the decoction of Guajacum as being the alexipharmacum of this disease must be drank stil for certain days which if it be intermitted a relapse is wont easily to follow upon it Secondly Mercurial plaisters emplasters made of mercury are wont to be applyed in this disease which though they cause less trouble yet they are less effectual to empty by spitting They are prepared of the same matter of which the ointments are to which also we may ad cinnabar but quicksilver either is mixt with usual plaisters as diachylum Ireatum melilot or new ones are compounded The plaister called de ranis with mercury is also in use These plaisters are spred upon linnen cloth leather and are applyed to the same places as the ointments especially to the hands and feet also to the emunctories and somtimes to the back bone and they are worne continually night and day and every third or fourth day are renewed this cure is less troublesome and upon faire daies the patient may go abroad yet the cure is not so perfect and therefore must be continued longer Thirdly Lavatoris of mercury Linnen clothes wet in mercury water are applyed to the same places in the forme of an epitheme and because sublimate is most commodiously dissolved in water the same places which are wont to be anointed are besmeared with mercury dissolved in this manner which medicines are commonly called lavatories which are prepared of mercurius sublimate one ounce which is disolved in two pound of some liquor For Examples sake Take of Mercury sublimate one ounce of Scabious Rose Fumitory water each eight ounces Sage water four ounces Let them boyl and be mixed The use of it is this with a cloth wet in this liquor let the knees and feet be besmeared and the armes from the elbow towards the hands and that must be done in the morning and towards the evening in a warme place and continued for ten days til spitting follow Fourthly Mercurial girdles and bracelets Girdles and bracelets are made of Mercury killed with spittle and mixt with the white of an egg which mixture is spred upon cotton and that is sowed into leather or cloath and of that girdles or bracelets are made Fiftly Also this disease is cured by suffumigations made of quicksilver but this way of cure is more dangerous than that by unction Suffumigations of mercury nay it
and make a Pouder Let there be one dram hereof taken for the one half of the yeer and for the other half of the yeer half a dram Doctor Johannes Mattheus out of an old Manuscript produceth this Pouder as he there findeth it prescribed Viz. Take Rhapontick one ounce Agarick two ounces Valerian three ounces Macedonian Parsley seed and Spignel of each four ounces Gentian and Aristolochy of each feven ounces Germander nine ounces and make a Pouder Donzellinus his Pouder is as followeth Take Germander Groundpine both the Centauries or only the lesser Marjoram Sage Betony Gentian and Birthwort of each one ounce the best Guajacum eight ounces or one pound and make a Pouder And by this one Remedy alone Donzellinus writeth that the Gout may be perfectly cured provided that a man live not like unto a Sardanapalus Crato his Pouder is this Take Aristolochy one ounce Centaury the less three drams Gentian six drams Spignel five drams St. Johns Wort six drams Parsley of Macedonia half an ounce Agarick two drams Rhapontick or if that may not be had Rheubarb one dram and make a Pouder Of which he giveth in the morning two scruples in the Water of Groundpine or Betony Water with the Syrup of either of the two former in January five daies in February as many in March two in May three in June one in July two in August one in September October November and December two but it matters not much if it be oftener taken only as he saith it wil be somwhat better to take it in the manner aforefaid This following is Doctor Manard his Pouder Take Germander Dittany of Crete Groundpine or Herb Ivy Roots of the greater Centaury and round Aristolochy of each two ounces the inward Rinds of Walnuts one pound make a Pouder The Dose is one dram for forty daies This Pouder next following is attributed unto Erastus Take Harts-horn burnt Beef bones burnt the Kernels of the Citron Dates Jaws of the Luce-fish or Pike equal parts burnt Coral and burnt Ivory of each half parts make hereof a Pouder Unto which for the tasts sake you may add a little Cinnamon Mace and Cloves and with Sugar make a Pouder Johannes Anglicus greatly commendeth this Pouder The Sarracenick Pouder which he calleth the Sarracenick Pouder Take Herb Ivy or Groundpine one ounce the bones of man or woman burnt two drams Liquoris three drams make a Pouder And yet nevertheless the sick person is not strictly and precisely to be tyed unto any forms of Pouders but of the same simple Medicaments there may with Sugar or some convenient Syrup be made Electuaries or Pills which for the most part are very fitly made up with Turpentine of Cyprus since that most of those that are troubled with the Gout are likewise obnoxious and subject unto the Stone or Extracts or those Medicaments they cal Essences or liquid Extracts or a Wine or a Medicate Drink that so in this manner also the palat of the sick person may be pleased Antonius Gallus a Physitian somtimes of Paris greatly commendeth this Electuary Take Valerian one dram Agarick two drams Spignel three drams Macedonian Parsley seed four drams St. Johns wort five drams Gentian six drams Birthwort seven drams the lesser Centaury eight drams Groundpine nine drams Mans bones taken out of the Joynts and moderately dried ten drams with Oxymel Scillitick as much as will suffice make an Electuary the Dose whereof is one dram for a whol yeer together Or. Take the Conserve of Germander three ounces of Herb Ivy and Betony Leaves of each one ounce and half Seeds of St. Johns wort Roots of round Aristolochy of each half an ounce Angelica two drams the bones of a Man prepared red Corals prepared Ivory prepared of each one dram Cloves and Cinnamon of each two drams and with the Syrup of Betony make an Electuary And we may likewise add the Medicaments of latter Physitians viz. their Magisteria their Feculae and their Salts as also Margarites and Crabs Eyes As Take Roots of Spignel or Masterwort St. Johns wort of each one ounce the Feculae of Cuckowpint two drams the Salt of Groundpine of Germander of Cherfoyl and of Masterwort of each one scruple Magistery of Corals and Crabs Eyes of each half a dram Margarites one scruple Sugar as much in weight as all of them and make a Pouder For the causing and provoking morning sweats there are also given Syrups of the Berries of Eldern prepared with Sugar two spoonfuls and if you please there may likewise a little Harts-horn be added Crato commendeth this Distillation of which one spoonful is to be taken every day in the week once if not oftener Take Balm Valerian Juniper Berries of each what you think fit Let them be sprinkled with good sweet Wine then macerated in Balm Water and afterwards destilled And in cold Bodies there may also very conveniently be used that Aquae vitae which Gilbertus Horstius Hollandus once a famous Physitian at Rome made frequent use of and it is thus prepared Take Rosemary flowers the lesser Centaury Comomile flowers Groundpine Gilbertus Hostius his A qua vitae St. Johns wort Germander Asarabacca of each one ounce the Rinde of Dwarf-Elder Root one handful Orace one ounce Treacle half an ounce Cinnamoin Nutmeg Galingal Mace and Ginger of each one dram and half Hermodactyls and Aloes Hepatick of each one dram Agarick half an ounce Coloquintida three drams all the Myrobalans of each two drams Roots of Polypody of the Oak one ounce and half Leaves of Choyce Sene one ounce Seeds of Anise Dauk and Fenel of each one dram infuse them in the spir it of Wine that so the said spirit may lie a fingers breadth above them for two daies space and then let them be afterwards destilled in Balneo Mariae Of this Water he gave unto such as had the Gout from one ounce to three ounces in the morning But now in the Judgment of very many of Decoction of Groundpine may serve in stead of all the aforesaid Medicaments The Decoction of Ground pine and will do better than any one of them and therefore it was likewise highly commended unto the Emperor Charls the fifth by the Physitians of Genoa and Solenander in his fifth Sect. Consil 1. tels us that it hath been found by experience that very many which had drunk of this Decoction for the space of threescore daies have been wholly freed from the Gout and restored unto their healths whereas before they had both the Joynts of their hands and of their feet also grievously afflicted and tortured by this Disease And no wonder for it attenuateth the thick Humors and consumeth them driveth forth the Excrements by Urine or else by sweat evidently or else it insensibly discusseth them by transpiration and it strengtheneth also all the internal bowels and every kind of Nerve yea and the whole habit of the Body But because that Vesalius writeth so largely and
of each an ounce and an half Make a Julep for two doses to be drank presently after the taking of a dram and an half of the Amulet in the morning and two hours before supper But whenas al those simple Medicaments which are in that Antidote are not proper to this Veneral Disease we must consult with experience whether their vertue be so great as Palmarius cries it up for CHAP. IX Of Indications THose Indications which are in other diseases Indications are found also in this to wit That which is taken from the Disease called in specy Curative That which the cause doth afford Preservatory whether also are referred urgent Symptomes and last of al the Vital for they deservedly challenge a place in this disease yet in the explaining of them Authors vary much and as every one thinks of the Nature of this Disease so also he teacheth concerning its indication and cure We insisting on those things which we have formerly preposed of the Nature of this Disease and have strongly proved think thus of indications in this Disease First of al whenas this Disease is occult and Malignant chief enemy to the Liver and nutritive faculty therefore it affords a kind of genercial indication but no specifical and profitable one can be had from thence and therefore only experience which hath found out Medicines working by an occult quality hath administred profitable Medicines in this Disease and unless the Spaniards had received from the Indians such Medicaments as Lignum Sanctum Sarsapartilla China Root and the boldness of Ciyrurgions and especially Jacob Carpus had not fallen upon the use of Mercury either by chance or by argumentation whiles they read that Avicen Mesue and Theodoricus made use of quicksilver in certain pustles and a crusty Scab perhaps even to this day the true Remedies of this Disease would lie hid But though the Remedies of this disease were not found out so much by indication as by experience yet a Method in curing of it is not wholly excluded but hath its place also whenas 't is necessary that those Medicaments found out by experience be rightly applied and besides also Tumors Ulcers and the like Diseases springing from the corruption of Humors have their Method by which they are cured Yet in this case we must have a care that we do not look more on the manifest qualities and known diseases than on the occult Nature of the disease in which business notwithstanding many do fail who are tedious in curing of divers distempers preparing the Humors and directing their cure to these or those diseases Whenas yet 't is plain by experience that in a hot and in a dry distemper and in an exustion of the Humors as they speak and in a Consumption it self we do most happily use pockwood and the like hot and dry things and the Malignity being overcome the rest do easily vanish Secondly as concerning indication preservatory Preservatory here we must chiefly have respect unto that Malignity and virulency imprinted on the Humors and that is to be destroyed by proper and Alexipharmacal Medicines Yet if there be any other faults in the Humors it wil not be unprofitable also to mend them And whenas the body is either burthened with a Plenitude or abounds with vitious Humors the malignity is the easier disseminated into it and there is more plentiful matter prepared for putrefaction and the force of the Alexipharmacal means is dulled it is expedient to empty either the superfluous blood or the vitious Humors that the other Medicines afterwards may be administred more safely more commodiously and with greater benefit Thirdly the Disease and various Symptomes Curative which supervene to the principal disease and arise from the corruption of Humors are al to be removed in their proper manner Fourthly the strength is to be preserved for as no other disease can be cured Vital unless there be strength of body so nor this and al attempts are in vain unless at leastwise we have Nature willing And so there are four things chiefly to be done in this disease First of al Four things to be done in the Cure of the Veneral disease if blood abound that must be diminisht and if any vitious Humors abound they are to be prepared and emptied and if there be any manifest diseases which may be an impediment to the proper Cure as obstructions and the like they must first of all be taken away Secondly the Malignity and virulency as wel that inherent in the humors as that imprinted on the parts and principally the Liver is to be destroied by the proper Alexipharmaca of this disease Thirdly the strength is to be preserved and confirmed and first of al chiefe care is to be had of the Liver which suffers in this disease Fourthly the diseases and Symptomes which are wont to be joyned to this disease are to be taken away Here we must clear a controversie to wit Whether the cure may be perfected without sweating Whether this disease may be cured without sweating Some are of this opinion That this disease may be taken away though sweat be not provoked And first of al they prove it thus Because this evil consists in a certain hidden quality which cannot be taken away but by alteration of the body whenas contraries are cured by contraries but that alteration may be affected by the proper vertue of antidotes and decoctious administred without sweating Next of al they alledge experience by which it is evident that by the taking of such Medicaments some have recovered without sweating Thirdly they urge this That those that drink the decoction of the wood are somtimes happily emptied by nature by urine by the stool and not alwaies by sweats Aurelius Minadous contends against these de Virulen Vener Cap. 39. And first of al he writes that he never observed that Physitians commanded the decoction to be taken without sweating to which al Alexipharmacal things of their own Nature do incline men neither is the matter it self unfit to be expeld this way being Vaporous and halituous neither was there ever any one who did throughly and wholly overcome this disease without the help of some sweating especially if it were inveterate but why he holds thus he brings this reason That in his opinion the essence of this evil doth not consist in a quality but in the body affected with an evil quality and therefore he holds as a quality doth indicate alteration so a body indicates Evacuation which though it may be many waies yet most commodiously by sweating whenas this very thing is a Vaporous body and is most rightly and easily discussed by sweat and he adds this whenas there is a great quantity of Excrements abounding in those bodies infected with this disease not only in one part but al over the body but sweat is an universal Evacuation they are most commodiously emptied by sweating and he holds that sweats do very much profit