CHAP. III. In what humour the malignity of the Lues venerea resides.
THough in the opinion of many the antecedent cause of this disease be the masse of bloud conteining the foure humours, yet I had rather place the matter, and primary, and chief seat thereof in grosse and viscide phlegme infected with the maligne quality of the venereous venome, and from this beginning and foundation, I thinke by a certaine contagious growth it sooner or later infects the other humours, as each of them is disposed or apt to suffer. Of which my opinion there are many arguments, but this chiefely, That by the evacua∣tion of a phlegmaticke humour, whether by the mouth and salivation, or by stoole, urine, or sweate in men of what temper soever, whether cholerick, sanguine or me∣lancholy, the disease is helped or cured. Secondly, for that the excesse of paine is * 1.1 more by night than by day, because then the phlegme bearing sway, severs the peri∣o••tium from the bone, or else offends it and the rest of the membranous and nervous bodies by the acrimony of its malignity. Thirdly, because the patients are hurt by the use of cold things, but usually finde benefit by hot medicines, whither they bee oyntments, plasters, fumigations, or whatsoever else, inwardly taken, or out-wardly applyed. Fourthly, for that in venereous pustles, there is found a certaine hardnesse at the roote, though outwardly they make shew of choler or bloud. For being opened, you shall finde them stuffed with a certaine plaster-like and ••ophous matter, or else with tough phlegme, or viscous pus; whence arise these hard tophi, or bony excressences upon the bones, if not from phlegmaticke humours there hea∣ped up and concrete? Fifthly, for that the spermaticke and cold parts doe prima∣rily and principally feele the harme of this disease. Sixtly, for that the ulcers which over-spread the body by meanes of this disease, admit of no cure, unlesse you first cause sweats. Therefore if the matter of the disease, and such ulcers as accompany it were hot and dry, it would grow worse, and be rather increased by a decoction of * 1.2 Guajacum, the roots of China, or sarsaparilla. Seventhly, because oft-times this disease, the seede thereof being taken or drawne into the body, so lyeth hid for the