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CHAP. VI. How many, and what meanes there are to oppugne this disease.
MAny sorts of remedies have beene found out by many to oppugne and * 1.1 overcome this disease. Yet at this day there are onely foure which are principally used. The first is by a decoction of Guajacum; the second by unction; the third by emplasters, and the fourth by fumigation; all of them by Hydrargyrum, the first excepted. Yet that is not sufficient∣ly strong and powerfull; for experience hath taught, that the decoction of Guajacum hath not sufficient strength to extinguish the venome of the venereous virulency, but onely to give it ease for a time; for because it heates, attenuates, provokes sweate and urine, wastes the excrementitious humours by drying them, it seemeth to cure the disease, for that thereupon, for some time, the paine and all other symptomes seeme more remisse; but these endeavours are weake and deceitfull, as whereby that only which is more subtle in the humours in fault, is exhausted and dispersed by sweat. But Hydrargyrum, as a certaine higher power, conteines therein all the power of Guajacum, yet much more excellent and efficacious; for besides that it heats, at∣tenuates, * 1.2 cuts, resolves and dryes, it provokes sweat and urine, and besides it expels noxious humours upwards and downewards, by the mouth and stoole. By which evacuations not onely the more subtle, but also the more grosse and foeculent ex∣crements, wherein the seat of this disease is properly fixed, are dispersed and eva∣cuated; by which the Physician may bee bold to assure himselfe of certaine victory over the disease. But after the use of the decoction of Guajacum, fresh paines and knots arise by the reliques of the more grosse and viscous humours left in the cavi∣ties of the entrailes; but Hydrargyrum leaves no reliques behind it.