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CHAP. XIX. Of things against Nature, and first of the Cause of a Disease.
HAving intreated of things naturall, and not naturall, now it remaines wee * 1.1 speake of things (which are called) against nature, because that they are such as are apt to weaken and corrupt the state of our body. And they bee three in number; The cause of a disease, a Disease, and a Symptome. The * 1.2 cause of a disease is an affect against nature, which causes the disease. Which is di∣vided into Internall and Externall. The Externall, originall or primitive comes from some other place, and outwardly into the body, such be meates of ill nourish∣ment, and such weapons and hostilely wound the body.
The Internall have their essence and seate in the body, and are subdivided into * 1.3 antecedent and conjunct. That is called an antecedent cause, which as yet doth not actually make a disease, but goes neare to cause one; so humors copiously flowing, or ready to flow into any part, are the antecedent causes of diseases; The conjunct * 1.4 cause is that which actually causes the disease, and is so immediately joined in affinitie to the disease, that the disease being present, it is present, and being absent, it is absent.
Againe, of all such causes, some are borne together with us, as the over-great quantitie, and maligne qualitie of both the seedes, and the menstruous bloud, from diseased Parents are causes of many diseases, and specially of those which are called Hereditary.
Other happen to us after wee bee borne, by our diet and manner of life, a stroke, fall, or such other like. Those which bee bred with us, cannot be wholy avoi∣ded or amended; but some of the other may be avoided, as a stroke and fall; some not, as those which necessarily enter into our body, as Aire, Meate, Drinke, and the like.
But if any will reckon up amongst the internall, inherent, and inevitable causes, * 1.5 the daily, nay hourely dissipation of the radicall moisture, which the naturall heate continually preyes upon; I doe not gaine say it, no more than that division of causes celebrated and received of Philosophers, divided into Materiall, Formall, Efficient, and Finall; for such a curious contemplation belongs not to a Chirurgion, whom I onely intend plainely to instruct. Wherefore that wee have written may suf∣fice him.