Some considerations touching the vsefulnesse of experimental naturall philosophy propos'd in familiar discourses to a friend, by way of invitation to the study of it.

ESSAY V. Proposing some Particulars wherein Natu∣tural Philosophy may be useful to the Therapeutical part of Physick. (Book 5)

ANd now, Pyrophilus, the method that we formerly prescrib'd to our selves (a little after the beginning of the first Essay) requires, that we consider awhile the Therapeutical part of Physick, which is indeed that, whose improvement would be the most beneficial to Mankinde; and therefore I cannot here forbear to wish, That divers Learned Physitians were more concern'd, then they seem to be, to advance the Curative part of their Profession; without which, three at least of the four others may prove indeed de∣lightful and beneficial to the Physitian, but will be of very little use to the Patient, whose relief is yet the principal end of Physick: whereunto the Physiological, Pathological, and Semiotical parts of that Art ought to be referred. There was, awhile since, a witty Doctor, who being asked by an Acquaintance of mine (himself an eminent Physitian, and who related this unto me) why he would not give such a Pa∣tient more Generous Remedies, seeing he grew so much worse under the use of those common Languid ones, to which he had been confin'd, that he could not at the last but dye with them

in his Mouth? briskly answered, Let him die if he will, so he die secundum artem. I hope there are very few of this Man's temper, but it were to be wished, that there were few∣er Learned Men that think a Physitian hath done enough, when he hath learnedly discoursed of the seat and nature of the Disease, foretold the event of it, and methodically im∣ployed a company of safe, but languid Remedies, which he had often before found almost as unable to cure the Patient, as unlikely to kill him. For by such an unprofitable way of proceeding, to which some lazy or opinionated Practizers of Physick (I say some, for I mean not all) have, under pre∣tence of its being safe, confined themselves; they have ren∣dred their whole Profession too obnoxious to the Cavils of such Empericks, as he that (as the Lord Verulam reports) was wont to say, Your European Physitians are indeed Learned Men, but they know not the particular Cures of Diseases; and (unreverendly enough) to compare our Physitians to Bi∣shops, who had the Keys of binding and loosing, and nothing else: Which brings into my minde, what Monsieur De Bal∣sac relates (in his witty French Discourse of the Court) of a Physitian of Millain, that he knew at Padua, who being con∣tent with a Possession of his Science, and (as he said) The en∣joyment of the Truth, did not onely not particularly enquire into the Cure of Diseases, but boasted, That he had kill'd a Man with the fairest Method in the World: E mort•• (said he) canonicamente, è con tutti gli ordini. And such Scoffs and Stories are readily enough entertain'd by the major part of Men, who send for Physitians, not so much to know what ails them, as to be eas'd of it; and had not rather been me∣thodically kill'd, then Empirically cured. And it doth in∣deed a little lessen even my esteem of the great Hippocrates's skill, to finde mentioned in his Writings so many of his Pa∣tients,

of whom he concludes, that they dyed: And I had much rather, that the Physitian of any Friend of mine, should keep his Patient by powerful Medicines from dying, then tell me punctually when he shall die, or shew me in the opened Carcase why it may be supposed he lived no longer. But, Pyrophilus, my concern for Mankinde, and for the reputation of many excellent Physitians, whose Profession suffers much by the want of either Industry or Charity, in such as we have been speaking of, hath diverted me longer then I thought, from telling you, That I suppose it will not be very difficult to perswade you, that this so useful Therapeutical part of Phy∣sick is also capable of being much improved by a knowing Naturalist, especially if he be an intelligent and expert Chy∣mist, as in this Essay we will suppose him.

CHAP. I.

SOme Paracelsian would, perhaps, set forth, how much more easie to be taken Chymically prepared Medicines are wont to be, then those loathsome and clogging Galenical Po∣tions Bolus's, &c. which are not onely odious to the Takers, but (which is much worse) are to many so offensive, that ei∣ther the Patients cannot get them down, or the incensed Sto∣mack returns them, by Vomit, before they have stayed long enough in the Body to do any more then distemper it. But I shall not much insist on this, because I think wholesomness to be much more considerable in a Remedy then pleasantness: though, I confess, I could wish that Physitians were more careful to keep Patients from being almost as much troubled by Physick, as by the Disease, and to cure according to the old Prescription, not onely citò and tutò, but jucundè too:

Especially considering that, as we were saying, the loathsom∣ness of some Medicines maketh the Stomack reject them, be∣fore they can have performed their Operations. And it is, I pre∣sume, on this account as much as on any other, that at Oxford Learned & Practical Physitians, of your Acquaintance, make very frequent use (on Patients not Feverish) of the resin of Jalap, barely drawn with Spirit of Wine; since as we have tryed six, eight or ten, or more Grains, of this almost insi∣pid Resin, being cleanly prepared, according to Art, and with a little Gum-tragacanth, and half its weight of powdred Cinamon, or some such thing, made up, may be taken in the Morning, in form of Pills, instead of a Potion; and is wont to evacuate plentifully enough, and yet gripe the Patient much less then common Purges. But, as I said, I shall not insist on this. I might better commend the usefulness of Chymistry to the Therapeutical part of Physick, from hence, That it is probable, that even emptying Medicines may, by the Spagyrists Art, be so prepared, as not onely to be less of∣fensive then common Purges or Vomits in the taking, but to be less painful in the working: As I have often observed, both in my self and others, that upon the taking of the clear, and not loathsome Mineral Waters of Barnet, though the Medi∣cine wrought with me ten or twelve times in a Morning, yet it did not either pain me, or make me sick, or disorder me for the remaining part of the day, any thing near so much as a common Pill or Potion that had wrought but once or twice would have done. And I shall elsewhere (God permitting) teach you a preparation of Silver, whereof about three or four Grains being made up (with any proper Conserve) into a little Pill, is wont to make a copious evacuation of Serum especially (in Bodies that abound with it) without making the Patient almost at all sick, or griping him: Insomuch that

I know some Persons, both Physitians and others, with whom though this Medicine work frequently in a day, and though (which is stranger) once taking of it will with some Persons work so for two or three, or more days successively, yet they scruple not to go abroad and follow their business; and some that take it, tell me, That when it works not with them (as for the most part, when it hath freed the Body from superfluous Serum, it will cease, and in some Bodies will scarce purge at all, it neither puts them to pain, nor makes them sick.)

And now I am speaking of the painless ways of relieving the sick, I shall adde, That there is another way, whereby 'tis to be hop'd, many Patients may be rescued from a great deal of pain, and that is by finding out Medicaments, that may in several Distempers, that are thought to belong pe∣culiarly to the Chirurgions hand, excuse the need of Burn∣ing, Cutting, Trepaning, and other as well painful as terrible manual Operations of Chirurgery. Helmont tells us,* 1.1 That he knew a Country Fellow, who cur'd all fresh Wounds by a Drink made (as I remember) of burnt Tilia. I have in∣form'd you in another Essay, of the Cure I observed to be made of the exulcerated Tumors of one sick of the Kings Evil, by the use of Beer, altered by a little Plant, that did not at all disturb the Taker. If we may believe, Hel∣mont's and Paracelsus's Praecipitatus Diaphoreticus, taken at the Mouth, doth cure, to use his own Words, Carcino∣ma, Lupum & quodlibet Aesthiomenum cacoethes ulcus, sive ex∣ternum sive internum. And if there be any truth in what hath been affirm'd to me by several Eye-witnesses, as well Physitians as others, concerning the Weapon Salve, and Powder of Sympathy, we may well conclude, That Nature may perform divers Cures, for which the help of Chirur∣gery

is wont to be implor'd, with much less pain to the Pa∣tient, then the Chirurgion is wont to put him to. I know a very ingenious Man, that is Famous as well for his Writings as for a Remedy, wherewith he undertaketh to cure constant∣ly the exulcerated Cancers of Womens Breasts, without any considerable pain: But having not yet had opportunity to make tryal of that which I have lying by me, I shall onely tell you, he assures me, That his Medicine is indolent, and mortifies the ulcerous parts as far as they are corrupted, with∣out disordering the Party troubled with them; which I the less doubt, because, that (to adde thus much on this occa∣sion) partly by the colour, &c. of his Powder, and partly by his own confession to me, it seems to be a dulcification of Arsenick, first fixt with Nitre, and then carefully freed from its corrosiveness, by very frequent Distillations of fresh Spi∣rit of Wine. I shall ere long have occasion to teach you a Drink, whereby exulcerated (but not Cancerous) Breasts have been very happily cured. The learned Bartholinus, in his late Observations) mentions the cure of some hurts in the Head, done without Trepaning, in cases where that for∣midable and tedious Operation is wont to be thought necessa∣ry. As for the terrible way of stopping the violent Bleed∣ing in great Wounds, by seering the Orifices of the Vessels with hot Irons, it would be little needed, if we knew such Remedies as that which the Inquisitive Petrus de Osma, in his curious Letter to Monardes from Peru, mentions in this Passage,* 1.2 which I finde among his other Observations: Anno (saith he) 1558. in urbe D. Jacobi quae est in Provincia Chyle, quidam Indi captivi sur as sibi amputarunt, & eas assas prae fae∣me ederunt & (quod mirabile dictu) cujusdam Plantae folia vul∣neribus imponentes, ilicò sanguinem sistebant. I knew a rich Man, extreamly corpulent, who having long had a strange

kinde of Fistula in his Breast, and having travelled from one Country to another, to consult with the ablest Chirurgions, was at length brought to that pass, that at a Consult they re∣solved, by opening his Breast, to try if they could track the winding Fistula, and save his Life: And as the Instruments, for this sad operation, lay upon the Table, another famous Chirurgion casually coming into the House, told the Patient that he had an art of curing Fistula's without cutting them open, and without any considerable pain or trouble: Where∣upon the rich Man offering him what he pleased for the Cure, the Chirurgion quickly perform'd his Promise, as the Pati∣ent himself, who shew'd me his Breast, confess'd to me, and that by the use of an almost indolent Remedy, which he pur∣chas'd of the Chirurgion, and which by his favor came to my hands: And that even very ill-condition'd Fistula's may be cured without Chirurgical Operations, by Medicines taken at the Mouth, I shall ere long have occasion to shew you by a notable Example.

In the mean time I shall adde, That a Man, whom I sup∣pose you have often seen, having a while since received such a kick of a Horse, as made the Doctor and Chirurgion that tended him, to conclude the part gangrenated, and the Pati∣ents condition, by the accession of a violent Feaver, so despe∣rate, that they desired to meddle with him no longer; a large Dosis of Sir Walter Rawleigh's Cordial, sent him by an ex∣cellent Lady you are nearly related to, not onely freed him from his Feaver, and the Delirium that attended it, but, to the wonder of all that observed it, restored the Limb that was concluded gangrenated to its former soundness.

And to bring credit to all these Relations, I shall crown them with that memorable Passage of Gulielmus Piso, of as great things that he saw done by the illiterate Indians them∣selves:

Memini (saith he) in castris membra militum globu∣lis sclopetorum icta, & jamjam ab Europae is Chirurgis, tam Lusi∣tanis quam Batavis, amputanda, barbaros recentibus gummi succis & balsamis à ferro & igne liberasse & feliciter restituisse. Oculatus it idem testis sum in Nosocomiis relicta ulcera & gan∣grenas ab illis vel solo succo Tabaci curata.

But, Pyrophilus, That the making of divers Helps to Re∣covery less distateful, or less painful to the Patients, is not the onely, nor perhaps the greatest service that Chymistry may do him that attempts the Cure of Diseases, I shall now indeavor to manifest in some Particulars.

CHAP. II.

ANd first, The skilful Naturalist, especially if a good Chymist, may much assist the Physitian to discover the Qualities of Medicines, whether simple or compound; That the Experiments of the Spagyrists may much contribute to the examining those many things themselves prepare, you will, I presume, easily grant: That also divers Mineral Wa∣ters are of the nobler sort of Medicines, is sufficiently con∣fessed on all hands; and 'tis known too, that the Industry of Chymists hath produced some good directions towards the discovery of the Minerals predominant in divers Medicinal Springs: But I am much mistaken, if they have not left much for others to do, which may be easily done. And I scarce doubt, but that by the various ways that might be propos'd, of try∣ing what such Waters hold, and what saline or other Quali∣ties are predominant in them, not onely the nature of those Medicinal Waters that are already used, might be more throughly understood; but undetected Properties, might in many others that are now not taken notice of, be discovered;

of some of which ways of examining Mineral Waters, I may elsewhere give you an intimation. And I have made several tryals that have, I confess, much inclin'd me to think, that the fault is rather in us, then either in Nature or Chymistry, that Men do not, by the help of Chymical Experiments, dis∣cover more of the nature of divers Medicaments, then hi∣therto they seem to have so much as aim'd at: For though the abstruse Endowments of Specificks will not, I fear, be learn'd in haste, otherwise then by particular Tryals and Ob∣servations; yet many Simples have other Qualities, which seem chiefly to reside, though not in an Elementary Salt or Sulphur, yet in a part of the Matter that seems of kin to a Salt or Sulphur: such as sowerness, saltness, a caustick or a healing faculty, abstersiveness, and the like, upon whose ac∣count such Remedies seem chiefly to work in a multitude of cases. And towards the Investigation of such Qualities, a Chymist may oftentimes do much, without making all his Tryals in humane Bodies. But though, to illustrate this matter, I have sometimes made several Experiments, yet not having now my Notes and Observations at hand, I shall one∣ly mention a few things as they offer themselves to my me∣mory, reserving the more distinct handling of this subject to another opportunity: And the rather, because that till such Phaenomena have been more diligently observ'd, and reduc'd to their distinct sorts, I would have them look'd upon but as hints to further Enquiries, not as sufficient Authority to ground general Rules on.

There are some Plants, whose Juices, especially when the superfluous moisture is exhal'd or abstracted, will, some by the assistance of a gentle Heat and Filtration, and some, even of themselves, in time (which I remember hath in some suc∣culent Plants amounted but to a very few hours) coagulate

in part into a kinde of Salt, which, if you please, you may call Essential: And by this Nitro-Tartareous Salt (as it seems to be) those Vegetables, whose Juice affords it (such as are, if I mistake not their names, Parietaria, Borrage, Bugloss, &c.) may be discriminated from those many others, from whence it is not (at least by the same way) to be obtain'd. And possibly also these Salts may, to a heedful Surveyor of them, appear to differ enough from each other in shape, taste, or other obvious Qualities, to deserve to be sorted into dif∣fering kinds.

If likewise we compare the Essential Salts and Spirits of these Plants, with those of Scurvy-grass, Brook-lime, and other Vegetables that are counted Antiscorbutical, and a∣bound in Volatile and Saline parts: And if we also examine other Plants, by divers Chymical Operations, and observe not onely their disposedness or indisposition to yield Spirits or Oyls by Fermentation, or without it; but those other Parti∣culars wherein they will appear to agree with, or differ from each other: there is little doubt but such Tryals will make them discover, to a considering Naturalist, much of their Na∣ture and Properties, and especially of such as depend chiefly upon the plenty or paucity of the saline, unctuous, sowre, spi∣rituous, lazy, tenacious or volatile Parts.

It may be also observ'd, that the Infusion or Decoction of some Plants, as of Brazil, Senna, &c. will be heighten'd in∣to a redish colour, by putting Alkalizate Salts, as of Tartar, or of Pot-ashes, in the Water that extracts their Tinctures: Whereas acid Spirits, at least some of them, will much im∣pair, if not destroy their colour; as a little Aqua fortis will immediately tu••n a red Tincture of Brazil, made in fair Wa∣ter, into a pale yellow: Whereas on the other side, I have observ'd, that a small quantity of a strong Solution of Pot-ashes,

drop'd into an Infusion of red Rose-leaves, hath pre∣sently turn'd it into a muddy colour, that seem'd to partake of green and blew, but was dark and dirty; whereas a little Aqua fortis, or good Spirit of Salt pour'd into the same sim∣ple Solution, did immediately turn it into a fine red, and so it would do to the muddy Mixture lately mention'd, if it were put to it in a far greater quantity. I observ'd also, that with a very strong (though clear and well filtrated) Lixivium of Pot-ashes, I could precipitate some pa••ts of the Infusion or Decoction of red Roses, which grosser parts, when the Mixture was filtrated through Cap-paper, remain'd like a dirty colour'd (though somewhat greenish) Mud in the Filtre; the fluid and finer part of the Mixture passing through, in the form of a Liquor high coloured, almost like Muscadine.

And on this occasion, I remember, that as Galls, a very stiptick Vegetable excrescence, will yield a Decoction, with which, and Copper is, the common Ink is made; so divers o∣ther Plants, of notably astringent parts, may be employed to the like use: For, by casting Vitriol into a Decoction ei∣ther of Oaken Bark, or red Roses, or even a bare Infusion of either Log-wood, or Sumach, to name now no other Plants of the like nature, I have presently made a Mixture that might make a shift to serve for Writing Ink; but whether all stiptick Plants, or they onely, will with Vitriol make an Ink, I refer to further Enquiry: And as a Solution of Vitriol, and the Decoction of the above-mention'd Plants, do precipitate each other to make Ink; so I remember I have try'd, that by dissolving the Crystals of pure Silver (made the common way with Aqua fortis, or Spirit of Nitre) in a good quantity of fair Water, that the Liquor having no colour of its own, the colours it produceth in other Bodies may be the better ob∣serv'd, I found that I could with this Liquor precipitate out

of the Infusions alone of several Vegetables, Substances dif∣feringly colour'd, according to their respective dispositions: And so I have found, with less cost, that Saccharum Saturni, which seems to be a kinde of Vitriol of Lead, whilst it lyes dissolved in the same Spirit of Vinager which extracted it from the Metal, being put to the bare Infusion of Log-wood, Lignum Nephriticum, red Roses (to name those I now remem∣be•• I made tryal of) they will precipitate each other.

I might farther adde, That I have try'd that sulphureous Salts, such as Oyl of Tartar, made per Deliquium, being drop'd into the expressed Juices of divers Vegetables, will, in a moment, turn them into a lovely Green, though the Ve∣getables were of colours differing from that, and from one an∣other (as I remember one of those Vegetables, in which I expected, and found that change, was of a fine Carnation) And I could tell you, that though it be disputed whether Quick-lime have any Salt dissoluble in Water, and of what sort it is, the Examen of that Question may be much fur∣thered, by trying, as I have done, that the Water of Quick-Lime, well made, will precipitate a Solution of sublimate made in fair Water, and will presently turn Syrup of Violets (which is Blew) if well mix'd with it, into a fair Green. Ex∣periments I say of this nature I might easily annex, but ha∣ving already set down divers of them in what I have written concerning colours, I shall refer you thither: And now onely adde this Observation, that the Investigation of divers Me∣dical Qualities, even of Animal Substances, may be much assisted by the Naturalist, especially a Chymist; as we elsewhere have by the Distillation of the Calculus humanus shewn, how much it differs from the Stones that are found in the Earth. And if you take those hard Concretions, found at certain times in the Heads of Craw-Fishes, that are wont

to be call'd Lapides Cancrorum, and commit some of them to Distillation, and infuse some in Vinager, and others in old Rhenish-Wine, or strong White-Wine, you will probably discover some thing of peculiar in the nature of this Con∣crete, of which I may possibly elsewhere make further men∣tion to you: And not onely so, but in some Animal Sub∣stances, you may, by fit Experiments, discover notable Changes to be made, and their Qualities to be much heigh∣ten'd, when the Eye scarce perceiveth any Change at all, as I have purposely observ'd, in keeping Urine in close Glasses▪ and a moderate heat for many Weeks: For at the end of that time, the Virtues that depend upon its volatile Salt will be so heighten'd, that whereas upon putting Spirit of Salt to fresh Urine, the two Liquors readily and quietly mix'd, drop∣ing the same Spirit upon digested Urine, there would present∣ly ensue a Hissing and Ebullition, and the volatile and acid Salts would, after a while, concoagulate into a third Sub∣stance, somewhat of the nature of Sal Armoniack. And whereas the Syrup of Violets, formerly mention'd, being dissolv'd in a little fresh Urine, seem'd to be but diluted there∣by; a few drops of the fermented Urine, temper'd with it, did presently turn it into a deep Green: And the same dige∣sted Urine being drop'd upon a Solution of Sublimate made in fair Water, presently turn'd it white, by precipitating the dissolved Mercury. With what (various) success we have likewise made upon some other parts of a humane Bo∣dy, as well consistent as fluid, some Tryals, analogous to what we have recited of Urine, I may elsewhere perchance take notice to you: But of such kinde of Observations I must give you but this Hint at present.

CHAP. III.

SEcondly: By these and other ways of investigating the Medicinal Qualities of Bodies, the Naturalist may be en∣abled to adde much to the Materia Medica: And that two se∣veral ways.

For, he may by his several ways of tryal, and by his Chy∣mical preparations discover, that divers Bodies, especially of a Mineral nature, that are as yet not at all employed by Phy∣sitians, at least internally, may be brought into use by them; and that others that are naturally so dangerous, as to be us'd but in very few, and for the most part extream cases, may with safety be more freely employ'd. Some Modern Chy∣mists (as particularly Glauberus) have of late p••epar'd Reme∣dies not unuseful out of Zinck or Spelter. And I have alrea∣dy mention'd unto you an excellent Medical use of Silver, of which, prepared (as is there intimated) I have now this to adde, That since I began to write of it to you, I met with a considerable Person, who assures me, That she her self was by the use of it, in a short time, cured of the Dropsie, though, by reason of her having a Body very corpulent, and full of humors, she have been thought more then ordinarily in danger of that stubborn Disease. I have sometimes won∣dered, that there hath been so little care taken by Physitians, and even by Chymists, to investigate the Qualities of Mine∣ral Earths, and those other resembling Bodies, that are, or may be, plentifully enough digg'd up in most Countries, though not the self-same in all; for however Men are pleas'd to pass them slightly over, as if they were but Elementary Earth, a little stain'd, or otherwise lightly altered: I have seen great variety of them, that have been digg'd sometimes

within the compass of a little spot of Ground: and the dif∣ferences of divers of them, both as to colour, taste, consi∣stence, and other Qualities, have been too great, not to make me suspect they were of very differing natures. And the true Bolus Armenus, and the Terra Lemnia, which is now brought us from the Island that gives it that name (mark'd with a Seal, which makes many call it Terra sigillata, though that name be for the same reason apply'd to the Terra Silesia∣ca, and other Medical Earths) have been so esteemed, both by Ancient and Modern Physitians, as well against Malig∣nant Diseases, and the Plague it self, as against divers other Distempers; that 'tis the more strange, that (since the great∣est part of those two Earths, that are now brought into our Countrys, have not, as the more skilful complain, the true marks of the genuine Earths, whose names they bear) Phy∣sitians have not been more careful to try whether their own Countrys could not furnish them with the like, or as good, especially in regard some of the few attempts of that nature, that have of late times been made, may give them much in∣couragement. For, not to believe the boasts of the Silesian Johannes Montanus (who passeth for the Inventor of the Terra Sigillata Silesiaca Strigoniensis) in the Writing he pub∣lished of the vertues of it, That 'tis Gold prepared and trans∣muted, by provident Nature, into an admirable Medicine; I finde that Learned Physitians prefer it before the Lemnian Earth, that is now brought from Turky: And the experi∣enced Sennertus gives it this commendation,* 1.3 Experimentis (saith he) multis jam probatum est, ejus infignes ••sse vires con∣tra pestem, febres malignas, venenatorum animalium morsus, diarrhocan, dysenteriam: What he adds, that the Chymists name it Axungia solis, brings into my minde (what I shall hereafter have occasion to mention more particularly to you)

that I had once brought me a certain Earth, by a Gentleman that digg'd it up in this, or some neighboring Country, which, though it seem'd but a Mineral Earth, did really afford, to a very expert tryer of Metals of my acquaintance, a not despicable proportion of Gold. They have also found in Hungary, an Earth, which they call Bolus Tockaviensis, which is affirmed by Crato (in Sennertus) to melt in the Mouth like Butter, and to have all the other proofs of the true Bolus Armenus, and therefore is, by that Judicious Phy∣sitian, preferred before the Modern Bolearmony, even that which was brought out of Turky to the Emperor himself; and he relates, not onely its having succeeded very well a∣gainst Catarrhs, but his having experimentally found it of great efficacy in the Plague, that reign'd in his time at Vienna. To which I shall adde, That a very Learned and Successful English Doctor, now dead, did, some Years since during a great Plague that then rag'd in the City where he liv'd, finde a vein of red Earth, not very far from that Town, and pre∣scrib'd it with very good success in Pestilential Feavers, as I was inform'd by an Ingenious Friend of his, that us'd to ad∣minist••r it, and shew'd me the place where he digg'd it.

I remember also, the experienc'd Chymist Johannes Agri∣cola, in his Notes upon what Poppius delivers of Terra Si∣gillata, after having much commended the Terra Silesiaca in divers Diseases, and equall'd it to the best of Turky, where he had travelled, relates one strange thing of it, with many Circumstances, and in a way as if he spoke upon his own tryal, namely, That the Spirit of Terra Sigillata, by which I think he means the Strigoniensis, doth, though slowly, dis∣solve Gold as well as an Aq. Regis, and that into a red Solu∣tion; whence in two or three days, the Gold will fall of it self into a very fine and subtil Powder. And the same Au∣thor

tells us, That he hath seen another Earth digg'd at the Rheinstran, not far from Westerwaldt, which was more in∣clinable to white then to yellow, which is preferable to the Silesian, and gives more Salt then it, and dissolves Silver better then other Menstruums; since, as he saith, the Silver may thereby be easily made potable, and be prepar'd into a very useful Medicine for the Diseases of the Head. And for my part, I do not much wonder at the efficacy of these Earths, when I consider, that divers of them are probably imbu'd, as well as dy'd, with Mineral Fumes; or tincted with Mineral Juices, wherein Metals or Minerals may lie, as the Chymists speak, in solutis principiis; in which form, having never endured the Fire, many of their usefullest parts are more loose and volatile, and divers of their Vertues less lock'd up, and more dispos'd to be communicative of them∣selves, then they are wont to be, in a more fixed or coagu∣lated state, or when they have lost many of their finer parts by the violence of the Fire.

Besides, there are several Mineral Bodies, which though perhaps they may not be of themselves fit for the Physitians use, may, by addition of some other convenient Body, or by sequestration of the more noxious parts, or by some such other Chymical Preparation, as may alter the Texture of such Minerals, be rendred fit to encrease the Materia Medica. As I have known, that by a preparation of Arsenick, with Salt Peter, whereby some of the more volatile and noxious parts are driven away, and the remaining Body somewhat fixed and corrected by the Alcali of the Nitre it hath, by a farther dulcification with Spirit of Wine, or Vinegar, been prepared into a kinde of Balsamum fuliginis, which wonder∣fully cured a Physitian of my acquaintance, as he himself

confess'd to me, of dangerous Venereal Ulcers (divers of which penetrated even to the Meatus Urinarius) which had reduc'd him to great extremity.

And though Bismutum have not, that I know, till very lately been used, unless outwardly, and especially for a Cos∣metick (hereafter to be taught you) yet the Industrious Chy∣mist, Samuel Closseus, by calcination and addition of Spir••t of Vinegar,* 1.4 and Cremor Tartari, makes two Medicines of it, which he highly extols in the Dropsie; and (to reserve for another place, what I have tryed upon Tin-glass) a very expert Chymist of my acquaintance, doth, by preparing it with common Sublimate (carry'd up, by which I remember it hath afforded a very prettily figur'd Body) make it into a white Powder (like Mercurius vitae) which he assures me he findes, in the Dose of a few Grains, to purge very gent∣ly, without being at all (as Mercurius vitae is wont to prove, violently enough) emetick.

2. But the Naturalist may adde to the Materia Medica, not onely by investigating the Qualities of unheeded Bodies, but also by gaining admittance for divers, that, though well enough known, are foreborn to be us'd upon the account of their being of a Poisonous nature; for by digestion with powerful Menstruums, and some other skilful ways of Pre∣paration, the Philosophical Spagyrist may so correct divers noxious, nay poisonous Concrets, unfit in their crude sim∣plicity for the Physitians use, at least in any considerable quantity, as to make them useful and effectual Remedies. Helmont, who though frequently extravagant in his Theory of Physick, doth often make no bad estimate of the power of Remedies, after having told us, That he ador'd and admir'd the Clemency and Wisdom of God, for creating Poysons, gives this account of his so doing: Nam venena (saith he)

noluit nobis esse venena aut nocua. Nec enim mortem fecit,* 1.5 nec Medicamentum exterminii in terra: sed potius ut parvo nostri studio, mutarentur in grandia amoris sui pignora, in usuram mortalium, contra futurorum morborum saevitiem. In illis nempe latitat subsidium, quod benigniora & familiaria simpli∣cia recusant alias. Ad majores & heroicos medentum usus ve∣nena tam horrida servantur. And though I would not for∣bid you, Pyrophilus, to think there is some Hyperbole in the Encomiums he here and elsewhere gives Poysonous Simples; yet when I consider, what great things are oftentimes per∣formed by Antimony, Mercury and Opium, even in those not over-skilful ways of preparing them, that are divers of them vulgarly us'd by Chymists, especially when the prepa∣rations are (which doth seldom happen) rightly and faithful∣ly made: I can scarce think it very unlikely, that those active Simples may, by a more skilful way of ordering and correct∣ing them, be brought to afford us very noble Remedies, And the same Examples may in part prevent the main Objection that I can foresee in this case, which is, That whatever cor∣rects Poysons, must, with their virulency, destroy their acti∣vity; for the above-named Simples, though so prepared as to be Medicines safe enough, have yet activity enough left them to let them be very operative, their energy being, by preparation, not onely in part moderated, but in part so over ruled, as to work after a more innocent manner; as in Bezoardicum Minerale, skilfully prepared (for it very sel∣dom is so) the laxative and emetick virulency of the Anti∣mony, is changed into a diaphoretick, resolving and deoppi∣lative power; which probably made the experienced Riverius (though counted a Galenist) so particularly recommend this Medicine to Physitians, which, if I be not mistaken, may well be prais'd without being flattered: And Helmont sup∣plies

me with an easie Experiment to our present purpose,* 1.6 by telling us, That Asarum, which when crude, doth, as is well known, provoke Vomits, by a slight preparation (pre∣sently to be mention'd) is so altered, that its virulency is changed, to use his expression, in deoppilans, diureticum tar∣darum febrium remedium; which I the rather take notice of, because I finde, upon enquiry purposely made of some In∣genious Physitians of my acquaintance, that upon tryal, they commend this preparation of Helmont's, and confess, that by it the Asarum looseth its emetick, and acquires a diuretical Quality.

Now that all other Animal and Vegetable Poysons may be corrected, without loosing their force with their virulen∣cy,* 1.7 is the affirmation of Helmont concerning Paracelsus's and his Sal circulatum (majus.) And as for Vegetables, he else∣where tells us, That the Lapis Cancrorum resolv'd in formam, as he speaks,* 1.8 Pristinae lactis, habet remedium contra incle∣mentias multorum vegetabilium vi laxante infamium. And I remember that I knew two Physitians, the one of which affirmed to me, his having seen tryal made (by the help of a noble Menstruum) of what Helmont here teacheth, and found it true; the other a person severe, and apt enough to dissent from Helmont, assur'd me, That with the volatile Salt of Tartar, he had seen Vegetable Poysons, and particularly Napellus, so corrected by a light digestion with it, that it lost all its Poysonous Qualities; for proof of which, he freely offer∣ed me, to take himself as much of that fatal Herb as would kill three or four Men (but at that time, and in that place, I could not get any of the Plant to make the Experiment with.) And though I shall say nothing now concerning Hel∣mont's Sal Circulatum, yet as to the volatilization of the Salt of Tartar, what I have seen, scarce permits me to doubt that

it is possible. And if I could now clearly acquaint you with my ••easons, you would, perchance, not wonder to finde me inclinable to think, that some such Methods (perhaps a Men∣struum) may be found to correct poisonous Simples, without rendring them ineffectual: And though it must be some very powerful corrective, whether Salt or Liquor, that shall be able to correct any store of differing Poysons; yet 'tis not ir∣rational to think, that divers particular Concretes may be prepar'd without any such abstruse or general corrective, some by one way of handling it, and some by another: And in such cases, skill, in the natures of particular Bodies to be mannag'd, or lucky hits, may supply the place of a meliora∣ting Dissolvent, of which Helmont affords me a considerable instance,* 1.9 where he teacheth (in the place lately quoted) That the emetick property of Asarum may be taken away, and the Plant turn'd into a noble diuretick, onely by boiling it awhile in common Water. And whereas a wary Man would be apt to suspect, that this change is made but by the avolati∣on of some subtile parts, driven away by the heat of the boil∣ing Water, I finde that our Author affirms, that though it be boil'd with the like degree of Fire in Wine, instead of Water, it will not so loose its violence. I have known white Hellebor, Opium, and some other noxious Bodies, so pre∣pared, as to be given not onely harmlesly, but successfully in such quantities, as were they not skilfully corrected, would make them pernicious. We daily see, th••t the violent eme∣tick and cathartick properties of Antimony, may singly, by calcination with Salt-peter, be destroyed. And (which is though a known, yet a notable Experiment among Chym••sts) Mercury sublimate may be deprived of its deadly corrosive∣ness, and prepar'd into a Medicine inoffensive even to Chil∣dren, by bare resublimat••ons with fresh Mercury. And to

give you one instance more of what the knowledge of the ef∣fects of Chymical Operations, and of the disposition of a particular Body, may enable a Man to do, in changing the pernicious nature of it; I shall adde, that the violently vo∣mitive Flowers of Antimony, which our wonted, though sumptuous and specious Cordials are so unable to tame, I can shew you (which perhaps you will think strange) so correct∣ed, without the addition of any thing besides heat and skill, that in a treble Dose, to that wherein they are wont to be fu∣riously emetick, we have not found them to work otherwise then gently by sweat: But some more Particulars applicable to our present pupose, you will meet with by and by.

CHAP. IV.

THirdly, And now, Pyrophilus, that I am speaking of the service that the Naturalist may do Physick, I must not pretermit that he may assist the Physitian to make his Cures less chargeable: For though to cure cheaply, be not proper∣ly, and in strictness, any part of the end of the Art of Phy∣sick, which considers Mens Health, and not their Purse; yet it ought in Charity, if not also in Equity, to be the endea∣vor of the Physitian, especially when he dealeth with Patients that are not rich. For not now to say any thing of the Fees of Physitians, which in some places are not very moderate, 'tis certain that the Bills of Apothecaries, especially in Chro∣nical Diseases, do often prove so chargeable, that even when the Remedies succeed, by that time a poor Patient is recover∣ed, he is undone, and pays for the prolongation of his Life, that which should have been his lively-hood: Whence it comes to pass, that the more necessitous sort of People are either fain to languish unrelieved, for want of being able to

purchase health at the Apothecary's rates; or are deterred from applying themselves to the Physitian, till their Diseases have taken too deep ••oot to be easily, if at all, eradicated: And this oftentimes, not more through the fault of the Apo∣thecary, then of the Doctor, who in his Presciptions might, for the most part, easily direct things that would be much more cheap, without being much less efficacious.

Now there are several Particulars, wherein it may be hop'd, that the Naturalist may assist the charitable Physitian to lessen the charge of his Patients.

And first, He may perswade the Physitian to decline that more frequent, then commendable custom, of stuffing each Recipe with a multitude of Ingredients: 'Tis not that I ap∣prove the practice of some Chymists, who too freely censure the compounding of Simples; for I know, at some times, a complicated Distemper requires in its Remedy more Quali∣ties, then are, perhaps, to be met with in any of the known Simples that the Physitian hath at command (though one and the same Simples may sometimes answer divers Indications; as a Plant that is hot and dry, may serve for a Distemper that is cold and moist:) And I know too, that in some cases to that Ingredient, that is as it were the Basis of the Medicine, o∣ther things must be added either to correct its noxious Quali∣ties, or to allay its vehemence, or to serve for a Vehicle to convey it to the Part affected, or to make it easier to be taken by the Patient, or to preserve it from corruption, or for some such like reason. But yet I think Physitians may well be more sparing, as to the number of the things prescribed, then most of them use to be, both to save charges to their Patients (upon which account it is that I here mention it) and for o∣ther considerations. For the addition of needless Ingredi∣ents adding to the bulk of the Medicine, makes it but the

more troublesom to be taken, and the more apt to clog the Stomack: And oftentimes the Efficacy of the more useful In∣gredients, as well as their Quantity in each Dose, is much a∣bated, by their being yok'd with those that are less appropri∣ated, or less operative. Besides, it seems a great impediment to the further discovery of the Vertues of Simples, to con∣found so many of them in Compositions: For, in a mixture of a great number of Ingredients, 'tis so hard to know what is the operation of each, or any of them, that I fear there will scarce in a long time be any great progress made in the discovery of the vertues of simple Drugs, till they either be oftner imployed singly, or be but few of them employed in one Remedy. And besides all this, whereas when one of these Mixtures is administred, the Physitian expects but such operations as are suitable to the Quality which he conceives will be predominant in the whole Compound; several of the Ingredients may have particular Qualities that he dreams not of, which working upon a Body, that the Physitian consi∣ders as subject onely to the Sickness he endeavors to cure, may therein excite divers latent Seeds of other Distempers, and make new and unexpected commotions in the Body. On which occasion I remember, that whereas Parsley is a very u∣sual Ingredient of aperitive and diuretick Decoctions and A∣pozems, a famous and learned Oculist tells me, he hath very often observ'd, That when he hath unawares, or for tryal-sake employ'd Parsley, either inwardly, or even outwardly to those that were troubled with great Distempers in their Eyes, he found the Medicines wherein that Herb was but one Ingredient among many, to cause either great pain or inflam∣mation in the Eyes. In confirmation of which, I shall adde, that awhile after having a slight Distemper in my Eyes, I one day found it upon a suddain strangely encreased, without be∣ing

able to imagine whence these new Symptoms proceeded; till at length, recalling to minde all I had done that day, I remembred, that at Dinner I had eaten Sawce wherein there was a pretty deal of Parsley, mixt with other things. And whereas in divers of these Compositions some noxious Ingre∣dients are allow'd, upon a supposition that their ill Qualities will be lost, by their being, as it were, tempered with the rest; though this may sometimes happen, yet it would be considered, that in Treacle (especially at one age of it) the Opium doth not, considering the small proportion of it to the rest of the Ingredients, loose much, if any of its power, by being mingled with sixty odde other Drugs, which Com∣position possibly ow's much of its vertue to that little Opium. And perhaps one reason why those that accustom themselves to be ever and anon taking Physick, though they often escape dangerous Diseases (by preventing the accumulation of hu∣mors, and taking their Sicknesses at the beginning) are yet almost ever troubled with one Distemper or other, may be, That by the multiplicity of Medicines they take into their Bodies, divers things are excited to disorder them, which o∣therwise would have lain quiet. I am not ignorant that it may be alledg'd, That in compounded Medicines, as Treacle & Mi∣thridate, how many soever the Ingredients be, they do so clog & temper one anothers activity in the composition, that there results from them all, one or more Qualities fit for the Physi∣tians turn, and which is the thing he considers and makes use of. And I confess, that in some cases this Allegation doth not want its weight: For I consider, that a decoction of Galls, and a solution of Copperas, though neither of them apart be blackish, will, upon their mixture, turn to Ink: And that when Brimstone, Salt-Peter, and Coals are well mingled together in a due proportion, they make Gun-Powder, a

mixture, that hath Qualities much more active then any of the sever'd Ingredients. But I fear, that when a multitude of Simples are heap'd together into one compound Medicine, though there may result a new crasis, yet 'tis very hard for the Physitians to know before-hand what that will be; and it may sometimes prove rather hurtful then good, or at least by the coalition the vertues of the chief Ingredients, may be rather impaired then improved: As we see that crude Mer∣cury, crude Nitre, and crude Salt, may be either of them safely enough taken into the Body in a good quantity; where∣as of sublimate, consisting of those three Ingredients, a few Grains may be rank Poyson. As for those fam'd Composi∣tions of Mithridate, Treacle, and the like, though I cannot well, for the mention'd Reasons, commend the skill of those that first devised them, and though I think that when one or two Simples may answer the same Indications, they may for the same Reasons be more safely employed; Yet I would by no means discommend the use of those Mixtures, because long experience hath manifested them to be good Medicines in several cases. But 'tis one thing to employ one of these Compositions, when tryal hath evinced it to be a lucky one, and another thing to think it fit to rely on a huddle of Ingre∣dients, before any tryal hath manifested what kinde of Com∣pound they will constitute. And, in a word, though I had not the respect I have for Matthiolus, and other famous Do∣ctors that devised the Compositions, whereinto Ingredients are thrown by scores, if not by hundreds, yet however I should not reject an effectual Remedy, because I thought that it proved so rather by chance, then any skill in the Contri∣ver: And I think a wise Man may use a Remedy, that scarce any but a Fool would have devis'd.

Another thing, upon whose account the Naturalist (whom we here suppose an expert Chymist) may assist a Physitian to lessen the expensiveness of his Prescriptions, is by shewing, That in very many Compositions, several of the Ingredients, and oftentimes the most chargeable, whether they be proper or no fo•• the Disease, are unfit for the way of management prescrib'd, and consequently ought to be left out. I need not tell you, that since Chymistry began to flourish amongst us, very many of the Medicines prepared in Apothecaries Shops, and commonly the most chargeable, are distill'd Wa∣ters, Spirits, and other Liquors: And he that shall survey the Books and Bills of Physitians, shall finde, that (very few perhaps excepted) the most usual Prescription is to take such and such Ingredients (for the most part numerous enough) and pouring on them either Water or Wine, if any Liquor at all, to distil them in Balneo, rarely in Ashes or Sand. But I confess I have not without wonder, and something of indig∣nation, seen in the Prescriptions of Physitians, otherwise emi∣nently Learned Men, and even in the publick Dispensatories, I know not how many things ordered to be distill'd, with o∣thers, in Balneo, which in that degree of heat will yield either nothing at all, as the fragments of Precious Stones, Leaves of Gold, prepar'd Pearl, &c. Or if they do yield any thing (for that hath not been yet, that I know of, evinced) do pro∣bably yield but a little nauseous Phlegm, or at least some few loose parts, far less efficacious then those that require a stronger heat to drive them up: such are Sugar, Raysins, and other sweet Fruit, Bread, Harts-horn, Flesh prepar'd by Coction, &c. which though wont to be thrown away with the Caput Mortuum, oftentimes there retain their pristine Texture a••d Nature, or at least are almost as much more considerable, then that which they yielded in Distillation: as a

boyl'd Capon is, then the Liquor that sticks to the Cover of the Pot. And though as to some of these Ingredients it may be thought that they may yield even in Balneo some of their useful parts, yet this can, with any probability, be suppos'd but of some of such Ingredients: And even as to them it is but suppos'd that they may yield Something in so milde a heat, and how that Something will be qualified, is but presum'd: at least, by the Analogy of the Experiments vulgarly made, there seems so small cause to exspect, that these more fix'd Ingredients will adde half so much to the vertue of the Me∣dicines, as they will to the cost; especially since though it could be prov'd, or were probable, that fix'd Substances may communicate their vertues to Wine or Water, yet it would not follow that those impregnated Liquors, distilled in Balneo, will carry those vertues with them over the Helm. All which I have more largely prov'd in another Discourse, where I shew both that the nobler parts of many Ingredients wont to be distill'd in Balneo, do commonly remain in the Caput Mor∣tuum, and that 'tis very unsafe to conclude always the Ver∣tues of distill'd Liquors from those of the Concrets that af∣forded them.

But there is another way of putting unfit Ingredients in∣to Medicines, by confounding those in one Composi∣tion, which, though perhaps they might apart be properly enough employed, do, when mixed, destroy or lock up the Vertues of one another; and of this fault, even famous Chymists themselves are but too often guilty. I know not how many Processes I have met with, wherein saline Sub∣stances, of contrary natures, are prescrib'd to be mingled, as if because they were all of them saline, they must be fit to be associated; whereas 'tis evident to any Man, ••hat consi∣ders as well as employs the Operations of Chymistry, that

there are scarce any Bodies in the World betwixt which there is a greater contrariety, then betwixt acid Salts: and as well those that the Chymists call volatile, as the Spirits and Salts of Harts-horn, Blood, Flesh and the like, as those others which are made of Incineration, as Salt of Tartar, and of all burnt Vegetables. So that oftentimes it happens, that by an unskilful Mixture, two good Ingredients are spoil'd; as when Vinegar, Juice of Lemmons, Juice of Barberies, and the like, are prescrib'd to be distill'd with other Ingredients, where∣of the Salt of Wormwood or some other Plant makes one, for then the acid and alcalizate Salts, working upon one another, grow more fix'd, and yield in Balneo but a Flegm: and so Spirit or Urine, which is highly volatile, and Spirit of Salt, which is also a distill'd Liquor, being mingled toge∣ther, will, by their mutual Operation, constitute a new thing, which in such a heat as that of a Bath, will yield a Flegm, leaving behinde the nobler and active Parts concoagulated in∣to a far more fix'd Substance, much of the nature of Sal Armoniack. And indeed where Salts, especially active ones, are made Ingredients of Mixtures, unless they be skil∣fully and judiciously compounded, it often happens that they spoil one another, and degenerate into a new thing, if they do not also spoil the whole Composition, and of divers use∣ful Ingredients compose one bad Medicine.

CHAP. V.

ANother way by which the Naturalist (skill'd in Chymi∣stry) may help to lessen the chargeableness of Cures, is by shewing, that as to divers costly Ingredients, wont to be employ'd in Physick, there hath not yet been sufficient proof given of their having any Medical Vertues at all, or that at

least as they are wont to be exhibited, either crude, or but slightly prepared in Juleps, Electuaries, &c. there is not any sufficient evidence to perswade us, that their efficacy is as much greater, then that of many cheap Ingredients, as their price is. I am not altogether of their minde, that absolute∣ly reject the internal use of Leaf-Gold, Rubies, Sapphyrs, Emerauds, and other Gems, as things that are unconquerable by the heat of the Stomack: For as there are rich Patients that may, without much inconvenience, go to the price of the dearest Medicines; so I think the Stomack acts not on Medicines barely upon the account of its heat, but is endow'd with a subtle dissolvent (whence so ever it hath it) by which it may perform divers things not to be done by so languid a heat. And I have, with Liquors of differing sorts, easily drawn from Vegetable Substances, and perhaps unrectified, sometimes dissolv'd, and sometimes drawn Tinctures from, Gems, and that in the cold. But though for these and other Considerations, I do not yet acquiess in their Reasons, that laugh at the administration of crude Gems, &c. as ridiculous; yet neither am I altogether of their Adversary's minde. For though I deny not that the Glass of Antimony, which looketh like a kinde of Gem or Ruby, will easily enough impart to Liquors an emetick Quality; yet I know too, there is great odds betwixt Ruby's and other Gems (which will endure vio∣lent Fires, and remain undissolved in divers strongly corro∣sive Liquors) and the Glass of Antimony, which is a Body so far less compact and fix'd, that Spirit of Vinegar it self will work upon it, and a strong Fire will, in no long time, dissi∣pate it into smoke. But that which I chiefly consider on this occasion, is, That 'tis one thing to make it probable, that 'tis possible Gold, Ruby's, Sapphyrs, &c. may be wrought upon by a humane Stomack; and another thing, to shew both that

they are wont to be so, and that they are actually endow'd with those particular and specifick Vertues that are ascrib'd to them: Nay, and (over and above) that these Vertues are such, and so eminent, that they considerably surpass those of cheaper Simples. And I think, that in Prescriptions made for the poorer sort of Patients, a Physitian may well substi∣tue cheaper Ingredients in the place of these precious ones, whose Vertues are not half so unquestionable as their Dear∣ness.

What strange Excellency there may be in the Aurum Po∣tabile, made by a true Adeptus, or by a Possessor of the Li∣quor Alcahest, I shall not now dispute, not knowing what powerful and radical Dissolvents the profound skill of such Men (if any such there be) may furnish them with, to open the Body of Gold. But as for the attempts and practices of the generality of Chymical Physitians to make Gold potable, besides that, their attempts to make their Solutions volatile, succeed so seldom, that even Learned Physitians, and Chy∣mists, have pronounced the thing it self unfeasible; I con∣fess, I should much doubt whether such a potable Gold would have the prodigious Vertues its Encomiasts ascribe to it, and expect from it: For I finde not that those I have yet met with, deliver these strange things upon particular Expe∣riments duly made, but partly upon the Authority of Chy∣mical Books, many of which were never written by those whose Names they bear. And others, I fear, commend Aurum Potabile, prepared after another-guess manner then that we are now speaking of, partly upon a presumption that if it be made volatile, it must be strangely unlock'd, and ex∣alted to a meer Spiritual Nature; and partly upon rational Conjectures (as they think them) drawn from the nobleness and preciousness of Gold. But for my part, though I have

long since bethought my self of a way, whereby I can, in a short time, and a moderate Fire, make my Menstruum bring over cru••e Gold, in quantity sufficient to make the Liquor look at the first or second Distillation, of a high golden co∣lour; yet finding that I could, by an easie Art, quickly re∣cover out of this volatile Liquor, a corporal and malleable Gold, I dare not brag that my Tincture (as an Alchymist would call it) must needs do strange feats, because there is so noble a Mettal brought over in it. And if this or other pre∣parations of Aurum Potabile prove good Medicines, it would be further enquired, whether the Vertues may not in great part be rather attributed to the Menstruum, then the Gold (that requiring a very subtile Liquor to volatilize it) or to the association of the Corpuscles of the Gold, with the sa∣line Particles of the Menstruum, into a new Concrete, dif∣fering enough from Gold, though never so well open'd. And as for the nobleness and pretiousness of this Metal, That de∣pends upon the Estimation of Men, whence in America the Indians that abounded with it, had not such a great value for it; And in divers Countries, at this day, it is postponed to Iron or to Copper, and hath rather a Political (if I may so speak) then a Natural Vertue. Nor will it follow, that because it is the fixedst and pretiousest of Metals, that therefore it must be an admirable Medicine: For we see that Diamonds, though they be the hardest of Bodies, and very fix'd ones, and in much greater esteem, caeteris paribus, then Gold, are yet so far from being accounted highly Medicinal, that they are com∣monly (though, perhaps, not so deservedly) reckon'd among Poysons. But I see I have digress'd, That which I chiefly aim'd at, being to inculcate, that whether Gold and Gems, and the like pretious Ingredients, may be good Medicines or no, 'twere a good work to substitute cheap ones for the poorer

sort of Patients; and that Physitians are much to blame, who prize Simples, as Drugsters do, according as they are brought from remote Countries, and are hard to be come by, and cannot imagine that what doth not cost much Money in the Shops, can do much good in the Body; as if God had made Provision onely for the Rich, or those People that have Commerce with China or the India's: whereas indeed it may oftentimes happen, that what the Chymists call their Caput Mortuum, and perhaps throw away as an useless Terra Dam∣nata, may have as great Vertues as those nobler Parts, as they call them, which they have extracted from it; and a desp••sed Simple, nay, even an Excrement or an Infect, may in some cases prove nobler Remedies, then those that Men call and think very noble Bodies, not to say then, I know not how many Extracts and Quintescences.

I shall not trouble you with many Instances to prove this Doctrine, having more fully discoursed of it in one part of another * 1.10 Treatise: But yet some Instances I suppose you will here expect, and therefore I shall present you with a few of those that at present come into my minde.

When the Distillation of Aqua fortis is finished, the Caput Mortuum, as deserving that name, is wont, by common Di∣stillers, to be thrown away; and I have seen whole heaps of it thrown by, as useless, by those that make Aqua fortis in quantity to sell it: And yet this despised Substance doth, in common Water it self, yield a Salt, which being onely de∣purated by frequent Solutions and Filtrations, is that fa∣mous Panacca Duplicata, or Arcanum Duplicatum, which that great Virtuoso and knowing Chymist, The Duke of Holstein, whose name it also beareth, thought worth purcha∣sing at the rate of Five hundred Dollars; and of which the Princes experienced Physitian thus writes to the Industrious

Schroder,* 1.11 Mille experimentis salis hujus Efficaciam Aula nostra comprobavit in melancholicis affectibus, febribus quibus∣cunque continuis & intermittentibus, calculo, scorbut••, &c. Quin & somnū conciliasse praesertim in Melancholicis non semel nota∣vimus. Dosis à scrup: 1. ad scrup: 2. Libras aliquod quotannis absumimus. And another very skilful Physitian that frequented that Excellent Princes Court, confirm'd to me the same Medi∣cin's diuretick and deoppilative Vertues: (But upon my own Experience I can say little of it, having casually lost a great quantity I caus'd to be prepar'd to make tryal with, before I had opportunity to employ it.)

But whereas in the Caput Mortuum of Aqua fortis there re∣mains pretty store of easily soluble Salt; In the Caput Mor∣tuum of Vitriol, when not onely all the Oyl is forc'd away by the Fire, but all the fix'd Salt is exactly separated by Water, There seems to remain nothing but a worthless Terra Damnata: And yet 'tis of this, th••t, as I shall teach you ere long, I make those Colcotharine Flowers, which are possibly a nobler Medicine then either the Oyl, the Spirit, or the Salt of Vitriol.

As for the Bezoar-stone, which is so often prescrib'd by Physitians, and so dearly paid for by Patients, the experi∣enc'd Bontius, a very competent Witness in this case (and whose account of the manner of its generation, agrees the best of any I have seen with that I receiv'd from an Intelli∣gent Person, that was employ'd into Persia by the late King) hath in one place a Passage concerning it; and elsewhere writes such things of the Stone cut out of a Mans Bladder (though that, whil'st crude, be despis••d as a thing vile and useless in Physick) as may be justly applicable to our present purpose:* 1.12 Caeterum (saith he, speaking of the Bezoar-stone) quantum ad hyperbolicas hujus lapidis virtutes & facultates portentosas

non tantos in eo mille experientiis edoctus inveni: And else∣where speaking of those contemptible and excrementitious Stones that are found in humane Bladders: Nil pooro (saith he) de his lapidibus addo ne videar eos elevare & lithotomos monere ut vel cum periculo plures mortales secent:* 1.13 Hoc certe compertum habeo lapidem in vesica hominis repertum urinam & sudores probe ciere quod tempore ingentis illius pestis quae Anno 1624 & 1625 Leydam patriam meam & reliquas Hol∣landiae Civitates miserandum in modum vastabat, in penuri•• lapidis Besoartici nos exhibuisse memini & sudorificum (ausi•••• dicere) melius & excellentius invenisse, &c.

Soot is generally look'd upon as so vile a thing, that we are fain to hire Men to carry it away; and yet, as I elsewhere shew that 'tis a Body of no ignoble Nature, so I must here tell you, that 'tis no unuseful one in Physick. And not to mention that Riverius commends it crude, to the quantity of a Drachme, in Plurisies: I have try'd, with the Spirit of it well drawn, some things, that make me look upon it as a considerable Liquor. And I know by their own confessions, that some Medicines, even of eminent Physitians, that pass under other Names, have the Spirit of Soot for their prin∣cipal Ingredient. I knew, a not unlearned Emperick, who was exceedingly cry'd up for the Cures he did, especially in difficult Distempers of the Brain, by a certain Remedy, which he call'd sometimes his Aurum Potabile, and sometimes his Panacaea; and having obtain'd from this Man, in ex∣change of a Chymical Secret of mine he was greedy of, the way of making this so celebrated Medicine, I found that the main thing in it was the Spirit of Soot, drawn after a some∣what unusual, but not excellent manner; in which Spirit, Flowers of Sulphur were, by a certain way, brought to be dissolv'd, and swim in little drops that look'd of a golden co∣lour.

You will easily grant, Pyrophilus, that there are not any Medicines to be taken into the Body, more cheap and con∣temptible then the Excrements of Men and Horses, and then Insects: And yet that even these want not considerable Me∣dical Vertues, we elsewhere shew. And (not to meddle with such nasty things as the grosser sort of humane Excrements, though they outwardly apply'd, either in Powder or other∣wise, do sometimes perform strange things) the Juice of Horse-dung, especially of Stone-horses, being strongly ex∣press'd (after the Dung hath been awhile steeped in Ale, or some other convenient Liquor, to facilitate the obtaining the Juice and to afford it a Vehicle) doth oftentimes so pow∣erfully relieve those that are troubled with the stoppage of Urine, with Winde, Stitches, and even with Obstructions of the Spleen and Liver, that You, Pyrophilus, and I, know a great Lady, who though very neat, and very curious of her Health, and wont to have the attendance of the skilfullest Physitians, scruples not, upon occasion, to use as I have known her do, in Silver Vessels, this homely Remedy, and prefer it to divers rich Cordials, and even to what some Chymists are pleas'd to call Essences or Elixirs: And with the same Remedy very many poor People were cur'd of the Plague it self, when it lately swept away so many thousands in Ireland (and the Doctors with the Patients) as I was as∣sur'd by a Person who cur'd so many, as to invite men to se∣cure themselves that assistance, by refusing the Party the li∣berty to leave the Town. But (to adde that upon the by) this Person, in exchange of a Secret of mine, confess'd to me, That the Arcanum, which had cur'd such numbers, and to which the Juice of Horse-dung was a Succedaneum, was onely a good Dose of the Powder of fully ripe Ivy-berries, which did usually, as also the Horse-dung, work plentifully

by Sweat, and which I presently remembred to be one of those few things that Helmont commends against the Plague.

The Medical Vertues of Man's Urine, both inwardly gi∣ven, and outwardly apply'd, would require rather a whole Book, then a part of an Essay to enumerate and insist on: But referring you to what an industrious Chymist hath alrea∣dy collected touching that subject, I shall now onely adde, That I knew ancient Gentlewoman, who being almost hope∣less to recover of divers Chronical Distempers (and some too of these abstruse enough) was at length advised, instead of more costly Physick, to make her Morning-draughts of her own Water; by the use of which she strangely recover∣ed, and is, for ought I know, still well. And the same Re∣medy is not disdain'd by a Person of great Quality and Beau∣ty, that You know; and that too, after she hath travelled as far as the Spaw for Her healths sake. And I remember on this occasion, that passing once through one of the remoter Parts of England, I was visited by an Emperick, a well-wisher to Chymistry, but a Novice in it, who pressing me, to communicate to him some easie and cheap Preparation, that he might make use of among the C••untrey People; I dire∣cted him to Dist••l, with a gentle heat, a Spirit out of Urine, putrified for six or seven Weeks on a Dung-hill, or some a∣nalogous heat, but in well clos'd Glasses, or other glaz'd Vessels; and having rectified this Spirit once or twice, that it might be rich in volatile Salt, to give ten, twenty, or thirty drops of it in any convenient Liquor for the Plurisie, for most kinde of Coughs, and divers other Distempers, as a Succedaneum to the Essence of Harts horn: And awhile af∣ter this Emperick return'd me great thanks for what I had taught him; and I found by him and others, that he had

cured so many with it, especially of Plurisies (a Disease fre∣quent and dangerous enough in that Country) that this slight and seemingly despicable Remedy had already made him be cry'd up for a Doctor, and was like to help him to a comfort∣able Subsistence.

Great store of healthy Mens Blood is wont to be thrown away, as altogether useless, by Chirurgions and Barbers, that let Men Blood (as is usual in the Spring and Fall) for prevention of Diseases; and yet from a Man's Blood skil∣fully prepared, though without addition of any thing, save Spirit of Wine to keep it at first from putrifying, may be easily obtain'd a Spirit, and volatile Salt, that have much the same Vertues, with those of the newly mention'd Spirit of Urine, but more noble (as far as I can guess) then either that, or even Spirit of Harts horn, as having perform'd in Consumptions, Asthma's, and other obstinate cases, such things as I, as well as others, could not but admire. But in this place, mentioning humane Blood onely in transi••u, I shall pretermit what I have observed about the preparation of it; yet leaving you a liberty to call for my Observations up∣on a Medicine, which is perhaps nobler, then the most costly and elaborate Chymical Remedies that are wont to be sold in Shops, and which hath been almost alone excepted out of the Censure made by a Learned Modern Writer, of the Me∣dicines found out by Chymistry.

I shall adde but one Instance more, of the efficacy that may be found in the most obvious and abject Creatures; and this Instance is afforded me, by those vile Insects com∣monly called in English, Wood-lice, or Sows, and in La∣tine Millepedes, which I have often both recommended to others, and taken my self: What their Vertue is against the Stone, the World hath been informed by Laurembergius,

who hath published a Narrative, how by the use of them he was cured, even of the Stone in the Bladder; and he was in∣vited to use them by credible information, that others had been cured of that Disease, by the same Remedy. And of late Years, in England, an Emperick being much resorted to, for the relief he gave in that tormenting Sickness, a Phy∣sitian, famous for his Learned Writings, wondering at what was done, was very curious (as himself afterwards told me) to finde out the Emperick's secret, and at length was so indu∣strious as to discover, That 'twas a slight preparation of Mil∣lepedes. But my having found them in my self very diure∣tical and apertive, is not that which chiefly recommends them to me; For I knew, and liv'd in the same House with a pious Gentlewoman, much better skill'd in Physick, then her Sex promised, who having lost the use of one Eye by a Cataract, and being threatned by the Oculists with the speedy loss of the other, especially in regard of her being very aged and corpulent, she nevertheless did, for some Years, to my won∣der, employ her Eye to read and work with, without finding, as she told me, any decay in it, or any encreasing danger of a suffusion: And she assured me, that her Medicine was to bruise first five Millepedes, then ten, then fifteen, then twenty, &c. (daily encreasing the number by five, till it had reach'd, if I mistake not, fifty or sixty) in White-wine (or Small-ale) and to drink upon an empty Stomack, the strong∣ly express'd Liquor; And when I desired to know how she came by this Specifick, she answered me, That having made enquiries among all those, both Oculists and others, that she thought might assist her against so sad a Distemper, she was advised to the use of Millepedes, by a Woman, that not onely much magnified their vertue in such cases as hers, but assured her (if I much mis-remember not) that she her self

had been cured by them, of no less then an incipient suffusion in one or both of her Eyes.

[Since the writing of the former part of this Page, relating what I newly told you to a very Ingenious Physitian, he as∣sures me, Th••t being some Yea••s since in Holland, he there met with a Woman who was cured, as her self confessed to him, of a real Cataract, by the juice of Millepedes, begin∣ning with that of three at a time, and so encreasing to nine at once, and then gradually lessening the Dose by one Insect each day, t••ll she were come back to three at a time; after which, she gradually increas'd the Dose as before: And he adds, That this Woman w••s advised to this Medicine by an Emperick, that was said to have performed divers Cures with the same Medicine.]

[What strange things these same Millepedes have done in the sore, and even exulcerated Breasts of Women (provi∣ded they be not cancrous) though they be given without pre∣paration onely, to the number of three first, and so on to nine at once (which number may perhaps be usefully encrea∣sed) stamp'd with a little White-wine or Beer, that the Li∣quor strain'd out may be drunk in a draught of Beer, Morning and Evening; during which time, Linnen clothes dipp'd in White wine, and apply'd warm, are to be kept upon the Breast, I may elsewhere have a fitter opportunity to relate. I shall now onely subjoyn, as a further proof of the great Vertue that may be even in vile and costless Insects, and that without any elaborate or Chymical Preparation, this memo∣rable Story; That after all the tryals I had made about these Millepedes, I met with a yong Lady, who by divers strange∣ly winding and obstinate Fistula's, that had made themselves Orifices in many places of her Body, was not onely lam'd, but so consum'd and weakned, that she was scarce able to turn

her self in her bed; and this, notwithstanding the utmost en∣deavors of the eminentest Chirurgions, both English and Foreigners, that could be procur'd: But when both the hopes of her Friends, and those that endeavored to cure her, were lost, she was in a short time not alone freed from her Fi∣stula's, but recovered to a thriving condition of Body, by the frequent use of an internal Medicine, which, as both her Parents and the Person that taught in them informed me, was onely a Drink (to be taken twice or thrice a day) made of a small proportion of a couple of Herbs (very common, and not much more likely to do Wonders in this case, then Worm-wood and Mint) and of Three hundred of these Millepedes well beaten (when their Heads are pull'd of) in a Mortar, and tunn'd up with the Herbs, and suspended in four Gallons of small Ale, during its fermentation. The wonderful efficacy of this Medicine in this and many other cases, which by oc∣casion of this Cure were related to me, being almost wholly ascrib'd to the Millepedes, by the Illustrious Imparter of it, whose leave I have not yet, by naming him, to disclose, that this is the Secret He makes use of.]

CHAP. VI.

ANother way there is whereby the Naturalist may assist the Physitian to make the Therapeutical part of Physick less chargeable, and that is, by shewing those that are wont to employ most Chymical Remedies, that much of the cost and labor in many cases might be spared. I am not altogether of their minde, that indiscriminatly cry down Chymical Pre∣parations as excessively dear: For of many of those that seem very dear, when bought by the Pound or the Ounce, a Dose may be cheap enough; as if for instance, an Ounce of preci∣pitate

of Gold and Mercury cost ten times its weight of Sil∣ver, under which rate I have bought it of honest Men, that make it themselves, yet that Ounce containing 480 Grains, (of which three or four may be a Dose) a taking of this dear Powder, may cost far less then a Dose of many Galenical Medicines, where the quantity that is taken at once, makes up what is wanting in the costliness of the Ingredients. But though this be the case of some Chymical Remedies, yet we must not deny, that many others are chargeable, and though perhaps not more so then many Galenical ones employ'd for the same purposes: Yet if those be dearer then they need be, that grievance ought to be redress'd in Chymical Medicines, how justly soever the same thing may be imputed to Galeni∣cal ones.

Now there are two Particulars, wherein the Chymists, and those Physitians that imitate them, are wont to be blame∣able in reference to this matter; The one, their employing Chymical Preparations on all occasions, even where Simples or slight Compositions might serve the turn: and the other is, Their making many of their P••eparations more laborious, and consequently more chargeable then needs.

As for the first of these: 'Tis known there are divers Chy∣mists, and others that practise Physick, who so dote upon the Productions of their Furnaces, that they will scarce go a∣bout to cure a cut Finger, with less then some Spagyrical Oyl or Balsam: And in slight Distempers have recourse to Chymical, and perhaps to Mineral Remedies, which being, for the most part, such as vehemently alter the Body, espe∣cially by heating and drying it, they do often more harm then good, when employed in cases that need not such active Me∣dicines. And methinks those that practise, as if Nature presented us nothing worth the accepting, unless it be cook'd

and perfected by Vulcan, might consider, That Paracelsus himself oftentimes employeth Simples for the cure even of formidable Diseases. And though for particular Reasons I be incl••nable enough to think, that such searching and command∣ing Remedies, as may be so much of kin to the Universal Medicine, as to cure great numbers of differing Diseases, will be hardly obtain'd without the help of Chymical Prepara∣tions, and those perhaps of Minerals: Yet as to most parti∣cular Diseases, especially when not yet atriv'd to a deplora∣ble height, I am apt to think, that either Simples, or cheap, or unelaborate Galenical Mixtures, may furnish us with Spe∣cificks, that may perform much more then Chymists are wont to think, and possibly be preferable to many of their costly Magisteries, Quint-essences and Elixirs.* 1.14 Helmont himself, a Person more knowing and experienced in his Art, then almost any of the Chymists, scruples not to make this ingenious Confession: Credo (saith he) simplicia in sua sim∣plicitate esse sufficientia, pro sanatione omnium morborum: And elsewhere he truly affirms, That there may be sometimes greater Vertue in a Simple, such as Nature affords it us, then in any thing that the Fire can separate from it. And certain∣ly the specifick Properties of divers, if not most Simples, are confounded and lost by those Preparations, wherein that Texture, which is the foundation of those Properties, is ei∣ther destroyed by the Fire, or chang'd by the taking away of some of the Parts; or the adding of some other Substance to it, with which compounded, it may constitute a new thing. The more Judicious of the Chymists themselves do several of them now acknowledge, that the bare reducing of Pearls to fine Powder, affords a Medicine much richer in the Ver∣tues of the Pearls, then the Magistery, prepar'd by dissol∣ving them in acid Spirits, and precipitating them with Oyl

of Tartar, and afterwards scrupulously edulcorating them. And one may easily observe, that by making the Magistery of Harts-horn the same way, the Vertues seem to be more lock'd up then they were in the crude Horn, which may easi∣ly enough impart its Vertue in the Body, since fair Water will reduce a good part of it into a Jelly; whereas the Ma∣gistery remains a fix'd Powder, not easily dissoluble, even in acid Menstruums; and, which thrown upon hot Iron, will scarce send forth that stinking Smoak, which argues the avo∣lation of the saline and sulphureous Parts. I never knew any of the vulgar Chymists Essences or Elixirs half so powerful a Remedy to stanch Blood, as a slight Mixture of two Drachmes of Hyosciamum, or Henbane-seed, and the like weight of white Poppey-seeds, beaten up with an Ounce of Conserve of red Roses, into a stiff Electuary; with which, given in the quantity of a Nutmeg, or Wall-nut, I have snatch'd some, as it were, out of the Jaws of Death; and with which an eminent Physiti••n, now dead, affirm'd, That he, and the Inventor of the Remedy, had very frequently cured profuse bleedings at the Nose, and in Women, at other Parts besides. Nor did I ever see, to give an instance in a resembling Disease, such wonderful Effects against spitting and vomiting of Blood, of the most elaborate Chymical Preparations, as I have of a slight Syrrup, made onely of a convenient quantity of fine Sugar, and the strongly express'd Juice of twelve handfulls of Plantain-leaves, and six Ounces of fresh Cumfrey-roots, well beaten together; with which Syrrup, besides what I have try'd my self, two eminent Phy∣sitians perform'd in that Disease unusual Cures, though (for reasons elsewhere mentioned) I forbear to name them, other∣wise then by telling you, That one of them is that Ingenious and Friendly D^r T.C. to whose skill both You and I owe so much.

But I consider further, that as oftentimes those I am rea∣soning with make use of Chymical Remedies, when much more easily parable ones may suffice; so in divers cases, where Spagyrical Medicines are proper enough, their Pre∣parations of them are more tedious and expensive then is ne∣cessary. There are more then a few who seldom prescribe, and seldomer esteem a Chymical Process, that is to be per∣fected in less then many Weeks; as if a Chymical Medicine, like an Embryo, must needs be an Abortive, if it be pro∣duc'd in less then so many Moneths. And as if in Prepara∣tions, the Vertue depended less on the skilfulness, then the elaboratness, they seem to estimate the efficacy of Reme∣dies by the time and pains requisite to prepare them, and dare not think, that a Medicine can quickly cure, that was not long a making; as indeed theirs (especially those where Co∣hobations and Digestions, till they have such and such effects upon the Matter to be wrought on by them, are prescrib'd) are many of them far more toilsom and tedious, then those that have but read such Processes, without working them, are apt to suspect. And this is the humor of divers, not one∣ly as to those stable Medicines, that ought always to be found ready in Apothecary's Shops, but even as to those that are design'd for particular cases, and perhaps acute Diseases; in which Emergencies, if a Physitian had no other Remedies then those he must make according to such Processes, it would, •• fear, too often happen, that before the Medicine could be ready, the Patient would either be past the need of it, or past the help of it. And that which oftentimes encreas∣eth the tediousness of Chymical Processes, is the unskilful Prescriptions of those that devise them. 'Tis not unusual in Chymists Writings to meet with Processes, wherein the Matter to be prepar'd, is expos'd to I know not how many

several successive Operations: But if you should ask why such a thing should be, for instance, rather precipitated, then exhal'd ad siccitatem, or why such and such an Operation is to be us'd after such another, rather then before it; nay, per∣haps, if one should demand why some of those Operations should be used at all, the Devisers of those unskilful Pro∣cesses would possibly assoon be able to finish their Operati∣ons, as to give a satisfactory answer. Nay, sometimes they lengthen their Processes by Operations, so injudiciously pre∣scrib'd, that they cross one another; And the Chymist vex∣eth himself, and the Matter he works upon, to leave it at last no better, if not a worse, Medicine then he found it; of this we have already given an instance in the common Ma∣gisteries.

But I lately met with another Example of it, in the Wri∣tings of a Famous, Modern Chymist, where to purifie the fix'd Salts of Vegetables, to the height, after I know not how many Solutions, Filtrations and Coagulations (which alone would abundantly serve the turn) he prescribes the dissolving them in Aqua fortis; after which, he saith, they will become very pure and chrystalline, and not so easily resoluble in the Air: Of which I make no doubt, for divers Years before I met with this Process, I have, with the fix'd Salts of more then one kinde of Vegetable, by joyning them with Aqua fortis, and after awhile exhaling the superfluous moisture, made good inflammable Salt peter; by which you may easily guess, how judiciously the solution in Aqua fortis is prescrib'd onely as a further depuration, and how fit such Authors are to be credited, when they ascribe to these Chrystalline Salts the several Vertues, (& those improved too) of the respective Vegetables, from which the Alcalies were obtain'd. And indeed, as to those exact Depurations, which some Chymists

so strictly require in all their Preparations, though their Pro∣cesses be oftentimes hereby made incredibly tedious, I will willingly allow, nay I assert, that in some cases, and especi∣ally in the making of powerful Menstruums, which by their activeness and penetrancy, are to unlock other Bodies, Chy∣mists do rather erre in making their Depurations less exqui∣site then they should, then on the other hand: Yet in many other cases, such exact refining and subtiliation of a Reme∣dy, is not so necessary as they imagine; and sometimes too, may do more harm then good, by sequestring those parts of a Simple, as faeces, which concurr'd with the finer parts to that determinate Texture, whereon the specifick Vertues of it did principally depend; but of this more elsewhere. And therefore I shall here present you with two or there Instances, to shew you, That Remedies, at least as noble as such vul∣gar Chymical ones as are more tedious and costly, may be prepar'd in a shorter time, and cheap enough to be fit for the use of the Poor.

And to comply, Pyrophilus, with your curiosity, to know the Preparations of those Chymical Medicines, that I do the most familiarly employ, the three following Instances shall be of such, namely, The Flores Colchotaris, The Balsa∣mum sulphur is crassum, and, The Essentia Cornu cervini, that you may see what slight and easie Preparations afford the Re∣medies, whose Effects you have so often heard of, if not al∣so seen.

The first of these, is the same Powder, which passeth un∣der the name of Ens Veneris, which appellation we gave it not out of a belief, that it equals the Vertues ascrib'd by Helmont, to what he calls the true Ignis Veneris, but partly to disguise it a little, and partly upon the account of the oc∣casion whereon it was first found out, which was, That an

Industrious Chymist (whom you know) and I, chancing to look together upon that Tract of Helmont's, which he calls Butler, and to compare it somewhat attentively with other Passages of the same Author, we both resolv'd to try, whe∣ther a Medicine, somewhat approaching to that he made in imitation of Butlers Stone, might not be easily made out of calcin'd Vitriol; And, though upon tryals we found this Medicine far short of what Helmont ascribes to his, yet find∣ing it no ordinary one, we did, for the Minerals sake 'tis made of, call it Ens primum Veneris.

The Preparation, in short, is this: Take good Dantzick Vitriol (if you cannot get Hungarian or Goslarian) and cal∣cine it till the calx have attain'd a dark red, or purplish co∣lour, then, by the frequent affusion of boyling, or at least warm Water, dulcifie it exactly; and having freed it as well as you can from the saline parts, dry it throughly, and after mix it exquisitly, by grinding, or otherwise, with an equal weight of pure Sal Armoniack, very finely powdered. Put this Mixture into a glass Retort, that may be but a third part fill'd with it, and subliming it in a sand Furnace, by degrees of Fire, for ten or twelve hours, towards the latter end en∣creasing the Fire, till the bottom of the Retort (if you can) be brought to be red hot: That which is sublim'd must be taken out, and if it be not of a good yellow, but pale (which usually happens for want of an exact commistion of the In∣gredients) it may be return'd to the residue, mingled better with it again, and subli••'d once more: The yellow, or red∣dish Sublimate may be sublim'd a second time, not from the Caput Mortuum, but by it self; but if you re-sublime it oft∣ner, you may, though you will think that strange, impair the Colour and the Sublimate, instead of improving them. The Dose is from two or three Grains, to ten or twelve (in some

Bodies it may be encreas'd to twenty or thirty, without dan∣ger) in distill'd Water, or small Beer, or other convenient Vehicles: It may be given at any time upon an empty Sto∣mack, but I most commonly give it at Bed-time. It works, when it works sensibly, by Sweat, and somewhat by Urine. That it is a potent Specifick for the Rickets, I think I scarce need tell ••ou, Pyroph: whose excellent Mother and Aunt, to∣gether with some Physitians, to whom I also gave it ready prepar'd, have cur'd perhaps a hundred, or more Children, of that Disease, divers of whom were look'd upon as in a desperate condition. I give it also in Feavors, and other Di∣stempers, to procure sleep, which it usually doth where 'tis wanting: In the Head ache likewise, in which, if the Dis∣ease be inveterate, the Remedy must be long continued; with the like admonition it hath done Wonders, in suppressi∣one Mensium obstinata: In the Worms it hath sometimes done strange things; and for provoking of Appetite, I re∣member not that I have either taken or given it without suc∣cess: And though I seldom take (for I often give more) a∣bove two or three Grains of it at a time, yet in that small Dose it usually proves Diaphoretical to me the next Morn∣ing.

But the Experiments we have had of the several Vertues and Efficacy of this Medicine, would be here too tedious to recite; and therefore I shall now pass them by, though, if you require it, I shall not be backward to set you down, by way of observations, most of the cases wherein I or my Friends have given it, and of the principal Cures that have been performed by it: In the mean time, because this exalt∣ed Colcothar, being given in so small a Dose, may prove, if it be rightly and dexterously prepar'd, what Helmont saith of his imitation of Butlers Drif, A Medicine for the Poor, and

yet requires more care, not to say skill, to Prepare it well, then upon the bare reading of the Process you will imagin, I shall to gratify your Charity annex to the end of this Essay, (for to insert them here would make too prolix a Digression) as many of the Particulars relating to the Preparation of it as I can readily meet with among my loose Notes, And least you should think me a Mountebanck for want of knowing in what sense it is, that I commend this and the other parti∣cular Medicins, I shall likewise to those Observations sub∣joyn a Declaration of my meaning in such particulars, and of the sense, wherein I desire you should understand what you meet with in the Praise of Remedies either in this Essay or any other of my Writings, which I hope it will be suf∣ficient to give you this Advertisment of once for all.

The next Medicine I am to mention to you is the Balsa∣mum Sulphuris which being made but with gross Oyls drawn by Expression may be called Crassum to distinguish it from the common and thinner Balsom of Sulphur, that is made with the Distil'd Oyl or Spirit of Turpentine.

This Balsom is made in an Houre or less, without a Fur∣nace, onely by taking to one part of good Flower of Brim∣stone, foure or five times as much (in weight) of good expressed Oyl, either of Olives or Nuts, or Poppey-seeds, and boyling the former in the latter in a Pipkin half fill'd with both, till it be perfectly Dissolv'd into a Blood-red Balsom. But as easy as this Preparation seems (and indeed is) to them that have often made it, it will not at first be so easie to make it right; For the Fire which ought to be of well kindled Coals, must be kept pretty quick, and yet not over-quick, least the Oyl boyle over, or doe not well Dis∣solve the Flowers of Sulphur, but turn them with its self into a Clotted and almost Liver-colour'd Masse: And to a∣void

these Inconveniencies, and the adustion of the Matter, speciall care must be had to keep it constantly stirring, not only whil'st the Pot is over the Fire, but after it is taken off, till it be quite Cold. You may if you think fit Dissolve this simple Balsom in Chymicall Oyl of Anny-seeds, or a∣ny other Essential Oyl like to advance its Efficacy in this or that particular Distemper: But those Oyls being gene∣rally very hot, I most commonly Prescribe the Balsom with∣out those Additions, especially if long Digestion have som∣what lessened the Offensiveness of the smell, which though no peculiar fault of this Preparation being common to Sul∣phureous Medicins is yet the chief Inconvenience of it. I will not too resolutly affirme that this is the very Balsamum Sulphuris Rulandi of which that Author relates such won∣derful things in his Centuries; but if it be not the same, tis so like it, and so good, that I doubt not but by perusing those Centuries, you may find divers uses of it, that I have not made tryall off: And in Coughs, old Strains, Bruises, Aches, (and sometimes the Incipcent fits of the Gout it self) and especially Tumors, some of your friends can in∣form you, that it doth much greater things then most Men would expect from so slight and easy a Preparation; And indeed greater then I have seen done by very costly and com∣mended Balsoms and Oyntments, sold in Apothecaries Shops: And in those Observations, I lately told you you might command, you will find that this Balsom outwardly applyed, hath cured such obstinate Tumours, as Men either knew not what to make off, or what to doe with them, of which skilful Physitians, to whom I gave it to make tryal off in difficult cases, can bear me witness; Though it ought sufficiently to endear this Balsam to us both, that it was the Meanes of rescuing your Fair and Vertuous Sister E: from

a dangerous Consumption. In outward Applications it is to be well warm'd, and to be chaf••'d into the part affected, which should be afterwards kept very warme, or else Lint dipped in it may be kept upon the place. Inwardly some drops of it may be given at any time, when the Stomach is not full; either rol'd up with Sugar, or mingl'd with any convenient Vehicle. But as for the Particulars that concern the Preparation of this Balsam, you will find, those I can readily meet with among my loose Papers, annex'd with the Notes concerning Ens Veneris to the end of this Essay.

And therefore I shall now proceed to mention the third Medicine, which you have often heard off, under the name of Essence of Harts-horn; but which is indeed onely the Simple, but well Purify'd and Dephlegm'd Spirit of it. And though Men are pleased to imagin by the Effects this Remedy often produces that I have some Mysterious or ela∣borate way of Preparing it, yet to deal ingenuously with you, the chief thing I have done to bring it into credit, is the teaching some Physicians and Apothecaries a safe and ea∣sy way of making it: For whereas before those that went about to Distil it, commonly used, as the Apothecaries are wont to doe in what they make of the same Matter, Sha∣vings or Raspings of Harts-horn, and Distil'd it with a strong and naked Fire, the fugitive and subtle Spirits were wont to come over in that plenty, and with th••t impetuosi∣ty, as to break the Glasses to pieces, whereby Apothecaries and even Chymists were discouraged from drawing the Spi∣rit, and they not having it in their Shops, its Vertues re∣mained unknown: Whereupon considering that if it were onely broken on an Anvil into pieces of about the bigness of ones litle finger, besides that this way of comminution

would be far less chargeable then Rasping, the fumes would not be driven out so fast, and considering too, that a violent Fire was requisite, not to Distil the subtle Spirit, but to drive over the Grosse and heavy Oyl; I thought it was needless to take paines to force that over, which not being (that I observ'd) used in Physick, would but cost me further pains to seperate it again: And therefore, trying to Distil Harts-horn, in naked Retorts, placed but in Sand, I found I could Distil two or three pound at a time, and obtain from each of them, almost, if not quite, all the Spirits and Volatile Salt, which I afterwards separated from the redish and lighter Oyl, and freed them from Phlegm and Feculencies by a couple of Rectifications, made in tall Glasses, and with ve∣ry gentle heats: (commonly of a Lamp Furnace) The Dose may be from eight, or ten Drops of the Spirit, or Graines of the Salt, to six times the quant••ty of either, in warm Beer, or any Vehicle that is not acid, except Milk. Finding it to be a Medicine of an attenuating, resolving, and Diaphoretical Nature, and one that much resists Malignity, Putrefaction, and acid Humours (whence being mingl'd with Spirit of Vinager, and the like soure Juyces, it de∣stroyes their acidity.) I direct it (Praemissis Universalibus) in Feavers, Coughs, Pleurisies, Obstructions of the Spleen, Liver, or Womb, and principally in Affections of the Brain, as Stoppages of the Head, Feaverish Deliriums, and even in Phrenitide. And since I wrote a good part of this Essay, I had an Experiment of it in a Child, who being, by many violent Convulsion fits, reduc'd to a desperate condition, was recovered by one Dose of five or six Drops of th••s Spirit, that I sent it. 'Tis true that I have another Medicine, that is more elaborate and costly, and more pro∣perly bears the name of Essentia Cornu Cervi, which I

more value then this; But I cannot communicate that, without prejudicing a third Person, and an excellent Chy∣mist who makes a great advantage of it. But this I can tell you, that most of the Cures, for which my Preparation of Harts-horn hath had the good fortune to be esteem'd, have been performed with the above describ'd Simple Spirit and Salt, with which some skilful Physitians, and other Inge∣nious Persons, who had it from me, have within these few Years sav'd so many Lives, that I am enclined to think, I have done no useless piece of Service, in bringing so happy a Medicine into Request, especially with those that have skill and opportunity to make better use of it then I. But, Pyrophilus, I find I have detained you so long with so pro∣lix a Mention, of the three above describ'd Remedies, that I should think it requisite, to make you a solemn Apologie; but that I hope your Charity will as well invite you to Par∣don the fault, as mine induc'd me to commit it.

CHAP. VII.

A Fourth way of lessening the Charges of Cures, may be this; That whereas the dearness of very many Me∣dicins proceeds from the Chargeableness of those Chymi∣cal Operations, whereby they are wont to be Prepar'd, 'tis to be hoped that a greater measure of skill in Physiology, and other Experimental Learning, will suggest cheaper and better ways of doing many things in Chymistry, then are, as yet, usually practis'd.

And those thrifty Expedients, I conceive, may be of several kinds, of which I shall at present mention, and that but tran∣siently, three or four.

And first, I doubt not but Chymists may be taught to

make better Furnaces, for several purposes, then those that have been hitherto most us'd among them: For profess'd Chymists, having been for the most part unacquainted e∣nough with many other parts of Learning, and particularly with the Mechanicks, their contrivances of Furnaces and Vessels have been far enough from being as good as know∣ledge in Mechanicks and dexterity in contrivances might, and, I doubt not, hereafter will, supply them with; whether as to the saving of Fuel, or to the making the utmost use of the Heat afforded by the Fuel they do employ, or as to the intending heat to the height, or as to the regulating of heat at pleasure.

'Tis somewhat wonderful, as well as pleasant, to see how many Vessels may be duely heated by one Fire (perhaps no greater then common distillers employ to heat one Vessel) if the Furnace be so contriv'd, as that the Flame may be forc'd to pass in very crooked and winding Channels, towards the Vent or Vents, and the heat may be skilfully conveyed to the several parts of the Furnace, according to the Exigency of the work it is to do: And as for the intention of heat, I remember I have had odde effects of it, by the contrivance of a certain Furnace, that held but very few Coles, and to which I us'd no Bellows. But though by this way I could vitrifie sometimes the very Crucibles, and though possibly I could, with a slight alteration, melt down the sides of the Furnace themselves; yet a Disciple of Cornelius Drebell, and a very credible Person, assur'd me, That he knew a way of Furnaces that was yet fitter to bring heat to the superlative Degree: and that he himself, the Relator, could, by the meer force of Fire in his Furnace, bring Venetian Talk to flow; which is more, I confess, then ever I have been able to do either in mine, or those of the Glass-house. But Ex∣perience

hath assured me, 'tis easie to make a Furnace give that heat as expeditiously enough, and in other respects very conveniently to Cupel both Gold and Silver, without the least help of Bellows: That also Furnaces may be so ordered, as that the heat may be better regulated, then That in our or∣dinary ones, I may elswhere shew you cause to believe: And in the meane time I sh••ll only tell you, that I look upon the skill of intending and remitting heat at pleasure, and especi∣ally the being able to keep a gentle heat long and equal as a thing of much greater moment, both as to Physick and Phi∣losophy, then Chymists are wont to think (the powerful effects of constant and temporate heats, being as yet known to few save those that have made tryal of them) And with Lamp Furnaces, well ordered, divers things may be done in imitation of nature; some friends of mine having, as several of them assure me, in such Furnaces, brought Hens egges to manifest Animation. That also Furnaces may be so built, as to save much of the Laborants wonted attendance on them, may appeare by the obvious invention of Athanors or Fur∣naces with Towers, wherein the Fire is for many Hours, (perhaps for twenty-foure or forty-eight) supply'd with a competent proportion of Coales, without being able to burne much faster then it should: And that in many cases the labour of Blowing may be well spar'd, and the annoy∣ance of Mineral fumes in great p••rt avoyded, by an easie contrivance, is evident by those Furnaces which are blown by the help of a Pipe, drawing the Air, as they commonly speak, either at the top, as in Glaubers fourth Furnace, or at the bottom, as for want of room upwards, I have sometimes tryed: To which may be added, that the casting of the Mat∣ters ••o be prepar'd upon quick Coals, as Glauber prescribes in that which he calls his first Furnace, is in some cases a

cheap and expeditious way of preparing some Minerals, though his method of making Spirit of Salt in that Furnace would not succeed, according to his promise with me, and some of my acquaintance. And there are other more com∣modious Contrivances, by casting some things upon the naked Fire, which invites me to expect, That there will be several good Expedients of employing the Fire to Chymical operations, that are not yet made use of, nor, perhaps, so much as dream'd of.

And as Furnaces, so the Vessels that more immed••ately contain the Thing to be prepar'd, are questionless capable of being made more durable, and of being better contriv'd, then commonly they are. Good use may be made of those Earthen Reto••ts, that are commonly call'd Glauber's second Furnaces, in case they be made of Earth that will well en∣dure strong Fires; and in case there be a better way to keep in the Fumes, then that he proposes of melted Lead, which I h••ve therefore often declin'd for another, as having found it lyable to such inconveniences as I elsewhere declare.

But for Materials that are cheap, and to be distill'd in quan∣tity, as Woods, Harts-horn, &c. the way is not to be de∣spis'd, and is, as we may elsewhere have occasion to shew, capable of improvement; though in many cases this kinde of Vessel is inferior to those tubulated Retorts, that were of old in use, and mentioned by Basilius Valentinus, and from which Glauber probably desum'd that which we have been speaking of. The utility of the way of sealing Glasses her∣metically, and of the Invention that now begins to be in re∣quest of stopping the Bottles, that contain corrosive and subtle Liquors with Glass-stopples, ground fit to their Necks, instead of Corks, together with some other things, not now to be mention'd, keep me that I scarce doubt but

that if we could prevail with the Glass-men and the Potters, to make Vessels of Glass and Earth exactly, according to directions, many things in Chymistry might be done better and cheaper then they now are; and some things might be then done, that with the forms of Vessels now in use cannot be done at all. And if that be true which we finde related in Pliny, and with some other Circumstances in Dion Cassius, of a more ingenious then fortunate Man, who, about his time, was put to death for having made malleable Glass, as the truth of that Story, if granted, would shew the retriving that Invention, a thing not to be despair'd of: So he that could, now Chymistry is so cultivated, finde again the way of making Glass malleable, would be, in my Opinion, a very great Benefactor to Man-kinde, and would enable the Virtuosi, as well as the Chymists, to make several Experi∣ments, which at present are scarce practicable; And some Chy∣mists would perhaps think this attempt more hopeful, if I tell them first, that I remember Raymund Lully expresly reckons it among three or four of the principal Vertues he ascribes to the Philosophers Stone, that it makes Glass mal∣leable; and then, that an expert Chymist seriously affirm'd to me, that he met with an Adeptus, who, among other strange things, shew'd him a piece of Glass, which the Re∣lator found, would endure and yield to the Hammer: But what my own Opinion is concerning this matter, and what are the (uncommon) Inducements I have to be of it, I must not here declare.

And on this occasion, I remember I have seen an Instru∣ment of Tin, or Pewter, for the drawing of Spirit of Wine (which you know is one of the chargeablest things that be∣long to Chymistry) so contriv'd, that whereas in the ordi∣nary way much time, and many rectifications, are requisite

to dephlegm Spirit of Wine; one distillation in this Vessel will bring it over from Wine it self, so pure and flegmless, as to burn all away. And I remember, that the ancient French Chymist, in whose Laboratory I first saw one of these Instruments, told me, That 'twas invented, not by any great Alchymist or Mathematician, but by a needy Parisian Chy∣rurgion. And now I speak of Spirit of Wine, I shall adde, That as the charges of Chymistry would be very much less∣ned, if such ardent Spirits could be had in plenty, and cheap; so I think it not improbable, that in divers places there may be found, by Persons well skil'd in the Nature of Fermen∣tation, other Vegetable Substances far cheaper then Wine, from which an inflammable, and saline Sulphureous Spirit, of the like vertue for dissolving resinous Bodies, drawing Tinctures, &c. may be copiously obtain'd: For not only, 'tis known, that Sydar, Perry, and other Juyces of Fruits will afford such a Spirit; and that most Graine••, not very unctuous, as Barley, Wheat, &c. will do the like; but other Berries that grow wild, as those of Elder, will yield a Vinous Liquor. And in the Barbada's they make a kind of Wine, even of Roots, (I mean their Mobby, which they make of Potatos; as I have also, for curiosity sake, made Bread of the same Roots) nay, even from some sorts of Leaves, such a Liquor may be obtain'd: For I have observed Roses well fermented, to yield a good Spirit very strongly tasted, as well as inflammable. And as to the Preparing of pure Spirit of Wine it self, I know wayes (and one of them cheap) that may exceedingly shorten the time, and pains of dephlegming it; but that being to be done otherwise, then by any peculiar contrivance of Furnaces or Glasses, I reserve it for a fitter place, in one of the following Essays.

And as more expedient and thrifty wayes, then the vulgar

ones, of making Chymicall Furnaces and Vessels, may be devis'd; so 'tis to be hoped that a skilful Naturalist may find cheaper waies of heating the Chymists Furnaces, or Di∣stilling in his Vessels (either by finding combustible Materi∣als, not formerly in use in the places where we work, or by making those already imployed fitter for use) by bringing them, by some cheap alterations, either to give a greater, or a more durable heat, or to be less offensive by their smoak or smells; or else by discovering some cheap way of doing, in some cases, without Fire, what was wont to be done by it.

We see that in some places, especially here in England, where Char-coale was only burnt in Furnaces, Pit coale is substituted in its room; and at this Day there are several of those that make Aqua-Fortis, in great quantities, that Di∣stil it with such Coales, which cost nothing neer so much as those made of Wood. And experience hath inform'd me, that even in other sorts of Furnaces, the same Fuel may be imploy'd, provided the Barres of the Grates be set wider a∣sunder, and a little Char-coale be mingled with it for the better kindling; and since of late Years Pit coale have been found in several places among us, where they were not for∣merly known to be, it seems not improbable, that many other Countries may afford Chymists, and the rest of their Inhabitants the like advantage, if search were duely made, by boring of the ground, by the observations of the Waters, and the Steames of places suspected, and by other waies of inquiry that a skilful man might direct; But because the a∣bundant Smoak of Pit-coale, uses to be very offensive, and the smaller Coales easily run through the Grates, and because of other inconveniences, there hath been a way found out of charring these Coales, and thereby reducing them in∣to

coherent Masses, of a convenient bigness and shape, and more dry and apt to kindle; and these though, quantity for quantity, their price be little inferiour to that of Char-coale. Yet those that consume great proportions of Coales, tell me they finde them almost as cheap again, in regard they will not only last much longer, but give (especially near at hand) a far more intense heat: And therefore it must be a very useful thing to Chymists, to shew a way of charring Sea-coales, without the help of those Pots, which make them of the price they now beare. And that it is not only possible, but very easy, I could quickly shew you, if it would not prejudice an industrious Laborant, whose profession being to make Chymicall Medicines in quantity, obliges him to keep great and constant Fires, and did put him upon finding a way of charring Sea-coale, wherein it is in about three houres or less, without Pots or Vessels, brought to Char-coale; of which having, for curiosity sake, made him take out some pieces, and coole them in my presence, I found them upon breaking to appeare well charr'd, and much thereof in shew not unlike a Marchasite. And that which was very convenient in this Contrivance was, that whil'st the Pit coale was charring, it afforded him a very intense heat to melt or calcine the Minerals, he had occasion to expose to it: And he confest to me, that by this Method, he saved three parts in foure of the Charges the keeping such great and constant Fires, with common Char-coale, would cost him. In Holland, likewise, they have a way of charring Peat, (which is a combustible Turfe, that they dig under Ground) and a skilful Distiller, that much employ'd it, commends it to me, as a very good Fuel, even for Chymical Fires; which I therefore mention, because the way of charring Peat, is not yet brought into several Countries, where Peat is dig'd up:

And probably, it would be found in divers Regions, where 'tis yet unknown, if due search were made for it. To which I may adde, that 'tis not unlike, that some Countries may afford such combustible Materials, fit for Chymical Furna∣ces, as have not, as yet, been so much as nam'd by Mi∣neralist's; as I remember I have seen, and had, a sort of Coales, some of which look'd like Marchasites, that burn'd clear with a good Flame, and had this convenient quality, for the Chymist's use, that they were not apt, like the com∣mon Pit-coales, to stop the Grates with their Sinders, but burnt to whitish Ashes almost like Char-coale made of Wood; and yet gave so great a heat, that an Industrious Chymist of my acquaintance, who kept many things con∣stantly at work, found it worth while to have them brought him, above a daies journey, on Horses backs.

But 'tis not impossible, that when Men grow better Na∣turalist's, they may find waies, of exciting heat, enough for many Chymicall operations, without the help of Fire; and consequently, without the consumption of Fuel. We find that by the attrition of hard Bodies, considerable de∣grees of heat may be produc'd, not only, in combustible Ma∣terials, as Wood, and the like, (which would therefore be improper, to be here insisted on) But in others also, and particularly in Iron and Steel, one may by attrition soon produce a smart heat, as you may quickly try, by nimbly Filing a piece of Iron, with a rough File; or swiftly rubbing, though but for a few minutes, a thin piece of Steel against a Board. And whether some contrivance may not be found, by the help of cheap Engines mov'd by Water, or otherwise, to produce a durable heat in Iron Vessels, fit to digest in, we may elsewhere have further occasion to consider; But this is known, that from some succulent Plants, a Liquor may be

drawn, only by exposing them in Glasses, purposely con∣trived to the Beames of the Sun. And there is nothing more common, then for Chymists to make their Digestions by the warmth of Hors-dung, whereby they might also (as some Analogous tryals incline me to think) conveniently enough, Distil some fermented Liquors; especially, if the way were improv'd by the skilful addition of Quick-lime, and seasonable aspersions of Water. And I doubt not but many cheap Materials might, by a few tryals, be found, whereby portable digesting Furnaces, without Fire, (if I may so call them) might be made, without the ill smell and nastiness, which discommends the use of Hors-dung. For not only we see, by what happens in the Spontaneous hea∣ting of Malt, and some other familiar substances, that pro∣bably most sort of Graines, and Berries, fit for Fermentation may be brought to yeeld, for a good while, a heat great e∣nough to putrifie, or digest with: But I have, several Years agoe, by many trials found; that I could, by invironing Glasses with refuse Hay well press'd down and equally wet∣ted throughout, produce for divers daies such a heate, as made me decline the employing of Hors-dung; and yet (which is the chiefe thing for which I mention this) the quantity of Hay was so small, that in all my trials I found not, that the Hay did of it self, though kept close enough, take Fire; as else is usuall in Ricks of Hay not sufficiently dried, where the quantity, and consequently the weight, that presses the lowermost parts close together, is conside∣rable.

But further, in divers operations, where an actual Fire is requisite, it may be hop'd that Knowing Men, may discover waies of saving much of the Fire, and making Skill perform a great part of the wonted office of heat. To obtain the

Spirit of fresh Urine, you must Distil away near nine parts of ten, which will be but Flegm, before the Spirit or Vo∣latile Salt will (and that scarce, without a pretty strong heat) regularly rise. And there are several Chymist's that, to this day, make use of no better way of Distiling Urine; But he that knows, how Putrefaction opens many Bodies, may ea∣sily save himself the expence of so much Fire: For if you let Urine stand well stop'd, for eight or ten Weeks, the Sa∣line and Spirituous parts will so extricate themselves, that the Spirits that before staied behind the Flegm, will now, even with the gentlest heat, rise up first, and leave the Flegm be∣hind. And on this occasion I shall teach you, what I do not know to have been mention'd by any Writer; namely, That even of fresh Urine, without Digestion or Putrefaction, I can, by a very cheap and easie way, make a subtle and pe∣netrant Spirit, ascend, first, even in a gentle heat; And I am wont to do it only by pouring Urine, how fresh soever, upon Quick-lime, till it swim some Fingers breadth above it, and then distilling it assoon as I please. But I did not find, upon many trials, that this Spirit, though even without Rectification very strong and subtle, would Coagulate Spi∣rit of Wine, like that of putrified and fermented Urine; though, perhaps, for divers other purposes it may be more powerful.

And here I shall advertise You, that whereas I just now took notice, that there was a pretty strong Fire requisite to force up the Salt of unfermented Urine, out of that part, which after the abstraction of the Phlegm, remains of the consistance of Honey; trial hath inform'd me, That the vo∣latile Salt may out of the thick Liquor be obtain'd, better and more pure, with ease, and with a, scarce credibly, smal heat; barely, by tempering the Urinous extract with a con∣venient

quantity of good Wood Ashes, whereby (for a reason elswhere to be consider'd) the volatile part, of the Salt of Urine, is so free'd from the grosser Substance, that with strange facility it will ascend, fine and white, to the top of very tall Glasses. But of the differing Preparation of Urine, more perhaps elswhere. I now proceed to tell you, that I think it not unlikely, that even Bodies, which are more gross and sluggish, may by the affusion of such Menstruums, as humane Industrie may find out, be far more easily, either, volatiliz'd or unlockt, then common Chymists are wont to think. For I know a Liquor, not very rare among Chy∣mist's, by whose help I have, often enough, distill'd Spirit of Nitre, (whose distillation requires much about the same vi∣olence of Fire, with that of Aqua-Fortis) even in a mode∣rate he••t of Sand, and without a naked Fire. This Spirit may easily enough be brought over, even in a Head and Body; and, for a Wager, I could obtain a little of it without any Fire or outward heat at all. And I remember, also, That hav∣ing once digested a certain Menstruum, for a very short time, upon crude Antimony, and abstracted it, in a very gentle heat, of Sand; the Liquor, not only, brought over some of the Antimony in the form of red Flowers, swiming in it, and u∣nited other parts of the Mineral, with it self, in the trans∣parent Liquor, but the gentle heat raised to the top of the Retort, divers little Masses of a substance, that were very transparent, like Amber, which were inflammable, and smelt, and burnt blew, just like common Sulphur; And yet the Menstruum, which was easily again recoverable from the Antimony, was no strong Corrosive, tasting, before it was pour'd on, not much unlike good Vinager.

But besides all the wayes, above mentioned, of saving the Chymist, either, Time, or Fire, or Labour; I dispair no••

that divers others, yet unthought on, will be in time found out by the Industry of skilful Men, taking notice of the nature of things, and applying them to Chymical uses; as we see, that by Amalgamations with Mercury, the calcination of Gold, and Silver, may be much easyer perform'd, then by a long violence of Fire. And, (if it be true, what Helmont, and Paracelsus, tell us of their immortal Liquor Alkahest) Medicines far nobler, and otherwise more difficult to make, then those hitherto in use among the Chymist's, may be Prepar'd with greater ease, and expedition, and with far less expense of Fire, then the nature of the Mettals, and other Concretes, to be open'd by it, would let a vulgar Chymist suspect. However, I see no great cause to doubt that there may be Menstruum's found that will much facilitate difficult Operations, since not to mention again the Liquor, I late∣ly told you, would work such a change on Nitre (and, I might have added, on some other compact Bodies) 'tis ve∣ry like, there may be Menstruum's found, that will not be so spoyl'd by a single Operation, made with them, as our vulgar saline Spirits are wont to be. For I have try'd that a Menstruum, made by the bare distillation of good Ver∣digrease, will not only draw, as I have formerly told you, a Tincture of Glass of Antimony, or perform some other like Operation for once, but being drawn off from the dissolved body, or the extraction, will again serve, more then once, for the like Operation upon fresh Materials.

The fifth, and last way, Pyrophilus, that I intend to men∣tion, of lessening Chymical expenses; is, That the Natura∣lists may probably find out wayes of preserving some Chy∣mical Medicins, either longer or better, then those wayes that are usual. But of this preservation of Bodies, being like, as I formerly intimated, to have elsewhere further oc∣casion

to Treat; I shall now only say, That the purified Juyces, liquid Extracts, Robs, and other soft Medicaments, made of Plants, may be Conserv'd far cheaper, aswel as bet∣ter, then with Sugar (which clogs most Mens Stomacks, and otherwise disagrees with many Constitutions) in case Helmont say true, where he tells us, That for a small piece of Money, he can, for I know not how long, preserve whole Barrels of Liquor. And a way he intimates, of fuming li∣quors with Sulphur, I have allready told you, is a very good way of keeping them uncorrupted; provided, that (though he prescribes it not) they be six or seven several times (seldomer or oftner, according to the quantity or nature of the Liquor) well impregnated with that embalm∣ing Smoak; to which purpose it is convenient to have two Vessels, to poure from one to the other, that whil'st the Li∣quor is shaking in the one, the other may be well fill'd with Smoak; whereto I shall only subjoyn this secret, which a friend of mine, practises in preserving the fumigated Juyces of Herbs (as, I elswhere inform you, I do to preserve other things) with •• success that I have somewhat wondred at; which consist's, in adding to the thick Liquor, to be pre∣served, a due, but small, proportion of the white Coagu∣lum, (which I often elswhere mention) made of the pure Spirits of Wine and Urine.

But I have made this excursion too prolix, and therefore I shall only adde as a general admonition, that we are not, by the common practice of Vulgar Chymist's, to estimate what Knowing Naturalist's, skill'd in Mechanical contrivances, may be able in time to do, towards the making of Chymi∣cal Remedies, as well more cheap as more effectual; and, indeed, to make them more effectual, is the best way to make them more cheap.

For, Pyrophilus, after all the wayes, that I have men∣tion'd, whereby the charges, of the Therapeutical part of Physick, may be lessned; I must advertise you, both, That I make no doubt but there may be divers others found, which either through want of skill or leasure I have pretermitted, and that I have not yet named the principal of all; which is, That the deep insight into Natural Philosophy may qua∣lifie him that hath it by several wayes, and especially by discovering the true Causes and Seats of Diseases, to find out such generous and effectual Remedies, (whether Specificks, or more Unive••sal Arcana) as by quickly freeing the Pa∣tient from his Disease, may exempt him from needing, either, much Physick from the Apothecary, or many chargeable visites from the Doctor of Chirurgeon. Thus the rich Merchant I mention'd in one of the former Essayes to have been freed, by a Specifick, from the Gout; and the young Lady, cur'd of her Fistulas, by the infusion of Millepedes; might well, in the ordinary way, have spent, even suppo∣sing them thrifty, a hundred times more, upon Physitians and Physick, then the potent and nimble Rem••dies, where∣by they were so happily recovered, cost them.

[To which I shall adde, by way of Confirmation, both of this and of what I lately told you; concerning the Efficacy that may be, even, in slightly Prepared Simples; what I came to learn, since the writing of the former part of this Essay, namely, that a young Lady, who (though of great Birth, is yet of far greater Beauty and vertue, whom I pre∣sume I need not name to you) having been long troubled with an almost hereditary Epileptical Distemper, and after having been wearied by courses of Physick prescrib'd her, by the famousest Doctors that could be procur'd, without at all mending, but rather growing worse, so that some∣times

She would have, in one day, eight or ten of such dis∣mal Fits, as You and I have seen her in; was cur'd onely by the Powder of true Misseltoe of the Oake; given as much as would lie upon a Sixpence, early in the morning, in black Cherry Water, or even in Beere, for some days near the full Moon. And I am assur'd, partly, by the Patient her self, and, partly, by those that gave her the Medicine, That though it had scarce any other sensible Operation upon her, and did not make her sickish, especially, when she slept upon it; Yet, after the first day she took it, she never had but one Fit. And this Remedy, an ancient Gentleman, who, being casually present when she suddenly fell down as dead, gave it her, profess'd himself to have constantly cur'd that Disease with it, when he could procure the right Simple, which is here exceeding scarce. And what further Experiment some Friends of Yours have succesfully made, of its Vertue, I may elswhere have occasion to relate.]

To which I shall only adde, That one of the Skilfullest Methodist's I ever knew, having had much adoe to pre∣serve a young Cousin of Yours from a very dangerous Cough, by a long course of Physick; the party, at the be∣ginning of the next Winter, falling into a Relapse more threatning then the first Disease, was rescued from it in two or three days, by not many more takings of a Specifick sent her, made of nothing else but Harts-horn prepar'd as I late∣ly taught You. And if such slight Medicines, consisting, each of them, but of a single Simple, not elaborately prepa∣r'd, may sometimes (for I say not alwaies) perform such speedy cures even in Chronical Di••tempers, what may not be hoped from the Arcana m••jora (such as Paracelss's Lau∣danum, so praised by Operinus himself; and Butlers Driff, so extold by Helmont) when the skilfullest Preparations, of

the noblest Simples, shall come to be known by Learned and Judicious Men, intelligent in the Theory of Physick, and especially vers'd in the History of Diseases? And though Riverius were none of the greatest Naturalists, or, at least, Chymists, Yet if in his Observation, and elswhere, he flat∣ter not his own Febrifugum; how many Patients did that one Specifick, rescue from Quartanes, that would else pro∣bably have prov'd as Chargeable as Tedious?

But, Pyrophilus, having sayed so much, that I fear you have thought it tedions, to shew that a Naturalist, skill'd in Chymistry and the Mechanicks, may assist the Physitian to make his cures less Chargeable; 'tis high time, that after so long an excursion, I proceed to consider in what other particulars he may be a benefactor to the Physitians Art.

CHAP. VIII.

FIftly, then, that the Naturalists skill may improve the Pharmaceutical Preparations of Simples, by several wayes partly touch'd already, and partly to be, either, ad∣ded or further treated of; the great variety of new Remedies, wherewith the Laboratories of Chymists have furnished the shops of Apothecaries, may convinceingly inform you. To which I must take the liberty to adde (and that upon serious Consideration) That the Chymical Preparations, hitherto common in Dispensatories, are, as to the Generali••y of them, far enough from being the most Dextrous, or Noble, that can be devis'd: For our Vulgar Chymistry (to which our Shops owe their venal Spagyrical Remedies) is as yet very incom∣pleat, affording us rather a Collection, of loose and scatter'd (and many of them but casual) Experiments, then an Art duely superstructed upon Principles and Notions, emergent

from severe and competent Inductions, as we have elswhere endeavoured, more particularly, to manifest. And there∣fore till the Principles of Chymistry be better known, and more solidly establish'd, we must expect no other, then that very few vulgar Chymical Remedies should be of the No∣blest sort; and that in the Preparation of many others, con∣siderable errours should be wont to pass unheeded; and faults, gross enough, be apt to be mistakenly committed. But, of this Subject, we may elswhere have divers occasions to entertaine You; and our single Essay, of the ••••••mical Distinctions of Salts, will perhaps discover to You no small mistakes, in the Preparation of divers applauded Vulgar Me∣dicines. For it is not the Elaborateness, but the Skilful∣ness of Preparations, that produceth the Noble Remedies, and a few Teeming Principles well known and apply'd, will enable a man with ease to make better Remedies, then a great many Furnaces and Glasses, though never so well con∣triv'd, and though very useful in their kind. To make out this in some measure, I shall name some such Instances, as may withall confirm what I formerly deliver'd in this Essay, touching the possibility and usefulness of Correcting either poisonous, or otherwise very noxious Simples. I never knew Opium so much Corrected by Saffron, Cinnamom, and other Aromatical and Cordial Drugs (wherewith 'tis wont to be made up into Laudanum) nor by the most tedi∣ous tortures of Vulcan, as I have known it by being a while Digested in Wine, impregnated with nothing but the weight of the Opium of pure Salt of Tartar; as we elswhere more fully de••lare. (a much nobler Laudanum may be made by adding to the Opium, insteed of the Salt, two or three appro∣priated Simples, and by due Fermentations and Digestions of them with it) And for that violent Vomiting Medicine,

by Chymists flatteringly enough, call'd Mercurius Vitae; a whole Pound of Cordial Con••erves, or Liquors, will not so well moderate its evacuating force, as the keeping it continually stirring in a fl••ttish and well glaz'd earthen Vessel, placed o∣ver a Ch••fingdish of Coales till it emit no more fumes, but grow of a grayish Colour: which I am very credibly informed to be the Preparation of Merc-Vitae purgans, often mention'd and commended by the famous Practitioner Riverius, in his Observations. A not unlike, but far more sudden, Correction of tha•• ••••tive Powder, I elswhere teach. And as for those O∣perative Minerals, Quicksilver and Antimony, though long Experience of their churlish and untractable N••ture have made many, of the waryer Physitians and Chymists shy to meddle with either of them single: Yet these Concretes, which seem so Incorrigible, may, by being barely (in the gra∣dual Distillation, of Butter of Antimony) sublim'd up to∣gether into a Cinnaber, and then that Cinnaber six or seven times resublim'd per se, be united into a Medicine, that not only is not wont to work, either upwards or downwards, but of which I have known safely taken, even in substance, to the Dose of many Grains; and a few Drachmes, of which, infus'd in a Pound or two of Wine, hath made it of that in∣offensive Efficacy (taken, in the quantity of a Spoonful or two, daily upon an empty stomach) That, if it still succeed aswell as we have observ'd it two or three times to do, we may think that our having thus acquainted You with the Ver∣tue of this one unlikely Remedie, (though we have also met with it, even, in P••inted Books) may make you amends for all the rest of this ted••ous Discourse. I once knew a slight (but altogether new and tedious, aswell as Philosophical) Preparation, of Salt of Tartar Correct and Tame such Poisons, as ten times the quantity of the highest Vulgar An∣tidotes,

or Cordials, would (I was confident) scarce have so much as weakned: And I have known by the same Pre∣par'd Salt, dextrously Specificated by Simples, the Vertues of some Vegetables so exalted, That, without any Cathar∣tique or Emetique Operation, they have (if many Patients, of whom I had casual opportunities to enquire of the Effects of those Remedies upon them, do not mis-inform me) prov'd more effectual in Tameing divers stubborn Diseases, then Crocus Metallorū, Mercurius Vitae, (as 'tis abusively call'd) and those other dangerous Remedies; which make the Vul∣gar wont to say of Chymists, that they quickly either cure their Patients or kill them. And to let You see, Pyrophilus, by one plain, and yet noble, instance; That the knowledge of the Specifick Qualities of Things, skilfully applied to Preparations, may perform, with ease, what neither costly Materials, nor elaborate Processes are able to effect; Give me leave to inform You; That, whereas, Chymists and Physitians have not been able by infusing the true Glass of Antimony (made per se) in Spirit of Wine, or the richest Cordial Liquo••s; nor yet by torturing it after seve∣ral tedious and artificial manners, to deprive it of its Eme∣tique quality, That Vomitive faculty, of Antimonial Glass, may be Corrected by so slight a way, as that of Digesting it with pure Spirit of Vinegar, till the Menstruum be highly ting'd. For if you gently abstract all the Liquor, and on the remaining yellow or red Powder, you Digest well de∣phlegmated Spirit of Wine; You may after a while obtain a Noble and not Emetique Tincture: Of which though Basili∣us Valentinus prescribes but five or six Drops for a Dose, yet a Domestick of mine having, out of curiosity, taken to the quantity of thirty Drops at a Time, he found it not at all Vomitive. And this Tincture we the rather mention, Be∣cause,

not only,* 1.15 Basilius Valentinus, but other skilful Per∣sons, highly extol it for several Diseases.

And let me adde, Pyrophilus, (and be pleas'd to mark well what I tell you) That by bare reiterated Digestions, and Fermentations, there may be Prepar'd, out of many Vegetables, Saline and Sulphureous Essences (whose Bulk is exceeding small, in proportion to the Concrets whence they are Extracted) which will keep many Years, as I can shew you some above three Years old, and contain more of the Crasis (if I may so call it) of the Simple, then the vulgar Vegetable Waters, Spirits, Extracts or Salts, hi∣therto extant in Laboratories and Shops. But there is so great a length of Time required, to the Prepar••tion of these Efficacious Juyces, That my ambulatory condition of Life, hath not allowed me to furnish my self with many of them.

And, Pyrophilus, if You will not dis-believe a Person for whom You have so just an esteem, as You have for that In∣genious, and Experienc'd, Monsieur L. F. who was the French Kings Chymist, when You knew him at Paris; I can, present You with a yet Nobler instance, to perswade You; That, if skill be not wanting, a single Herb, with∣out any violence of Fire, may, by other wayes then are in use among Chymists, be easily enough brought to afford Medicines, endow'd with some Nobler Vertues, then any of the most compounded, costly, and elaborate Medicines, whether Minerals or others, that are to be met with among Vulgar Chymists. This Efficacious part of the Plant, whence 'tis obtain'd, Paracelsus call's the Primum Ens of the Plant that yeilds it; But though, indeed, I have found the way of Preparing it much plainer, and better deliver'd, then is usual in his Writings, at the end of his Book De Re∣novatione

& Restauratione; Yet I freely acknowledge, That, I should scarce have thought it worth the Trial, if it had not been for what the Experienc'd Chymist, above men∣tion'd, affirmed to me, upon his own Observations, con∣cerning it, partly, because I am not wont to be forward so much as to try long Processes upon Paracelsus's credit, and partly, because what he call's Sal Solutum seem'd to me somewhat ambiguous; since, in the same Page teaching to draw the Ens Primum of Gold and Antimony, he makes not use of Sea-salt, but of (a Salt of an incomparably high∣er Nature) his Sal Circulatum; and in the Processe imme∣diatly preceeding ours, to make the Ens Primum of Eme∣ralds, he Prescribes the Calcining them in Sale Soluto, which agrees far better with his Sal Circulatum then with a∣ny Solution of Sea salt, which seems very unlikely to be able to Calcine and, as he sayes it must, dissolve Eme∣ralds. But the way, that our French Chymist told me he us'd, was in substance this: Gather, in a convenient season and time of Day, Baulm for instance, or some other fit Herb, (for experience hath taught, both him and me, that all Herbs are not fit, by this way, to be reduc'd into Li∣quors) and having beaten it well, in a marble Morter, to a soft mash, plac'd in a Bolt-head hermetically seal'd, to Digest forty dayes in a Dunghill or some analogous heat; then, opening the Vessel, take out the Matter, which will be far more Liquid then before, from which, having sepa∣rated the grosser parts, You must Digest it in a gentle Bath, that the yet remaining grosser parts may subside; to which, being filtrated. You must, according to him, (for I find not that Paracelsus requires it) joyn the fixed Salt, of the grosser parts above mention'd, dry'd and calcin'd. To this, Prepar'd Liquor, You must adde equal parts of the

Liquor of good Sea-salt well purifi'd, and then melted, and suffered to run Per Deliquium: This Liquor, being also seal'd up in a convenient Glass, must be expos'd to the Sun for about six Weeks; at the end of which time there will swim at the top of it, the Primum Ens of the Plant in a Li∣quid form, transparent, and either green or red, or, per∣haps, of some other Colour according to the Nature of the Plant. And though Paracelsus prescribes but Celandine, and Baulm, to be us'd, Yet having enqu••r'd of our Chymist, he told me, he had made such Prima Entia of Scrophularia, and, as I remember, of one or two other Herbs. But that which makes me thus, particularly, take notice of these kind of Medicines, is, That not only Paracelsus ascribes to the Primum Ens of Baulm, (or Celandine) the power of reno∣vating them that use so much of it in good Wine as will give it a Tincture, early every Morning; till, first of all, the Nailes of their Fingers, then those of their Toes, after∣wards their Hair, and Teeth, fall off, and, lastly, the Skin be dri'd and exchang'd for a new one: But Your ingenious acquaintance assured me several times, and once, in the pre∣sence of a famous Physitian, and another Virtuoso, to whom he appeal'd, as knowing the truth of what he sayed; That an intimate Friend of his, whom he n••med to me, having, after the above mentioned manner, Prepared the Primum Ens of Baulm, to satisfie himself the better of its effects, made the Trial upon himself, and took of it, according to the Prescription, for about a Fortnight; Long before which his Nailes, both of Hands and Feet, began to loosen themselves from the Skin, (but without any pain) which at length falling off, of their own accord, this Gentleman keeps yet by him in a Box for a rarity, but would not pursue the Trial any further, being satisfied with what he had found,

and being in no need of such Physick; But having given of the same Medicated Wine, for ten or twelve Dayes, to a Woman that serv'd in his house, and was neer seventy years of Age, without letting her know, what he expected it should do, Her Purgationes Menstruae came upon her again in a sufficiently great quantity, to fright her so much, that he durst prosecute the Experiment no further. And when I ask'd, why he made no triall upon Beasts? It was answer'd, that though he had but little of the Medicine, yet he put apart an old Hen, and moistning her food with some drops of it for a Week, about the sixth day she began to moult her Feathers by degrees, till she became stark naked; but before a fortnight was past, she began to regain others, which when they were come to their full growth, appear'd fairer, and bet∣ter colour'd then the first; And he added, That besides that, her crest was rais'd, she also laid more Egges, then she was wont. And as to the Primum Ens of the greater Scro∣phularia, by the relater himself, though he ascrib'd not to it any renovating power, as to that of Balm or Celandine, yet he assured me, he had found it enobled, by other great and ex∣traordinary Vertues. But of this kind of Preparation, I might ere now, possibly, have been able to give You a better account, if in my trials about them, I had not met with some unhappy accidents, which I hope my next attempts will es∣cape: which if they do, I may possibly, with an account of them, send You one of some attempts to prepare the like Me∣dicines another and shorter way, together with a considera∣tion, whether Paracelsus and others deservedly call such ac∣cidents as the abovemention'd change of Nailes Hair, and even of Teeth a reall renovation or rejuvenessence.]

'Tis likewise a way of preparation, differing enough from those that are common among Chymists, which Helmont (as

he saies out of commiseration to the sick) delivers, where he teaches that which he calls the Via Media of making the E∣lixir Proprietatis,* 1.16 of which he gives us this commendation: Hoc medicamine tam Quartanam, quam continuam statim ab∣solvi. Adeò ut qui noctu susceperat sacresanctum viaticum, & olei extremam unctionem, me in prandio convivam circa lectum habuerit. And though many think, that he has rather fraudulently, then rightly set the process down; yet expe∣rience has invited me to absolve him in this particular. (Though I must tell You, that because a Languid heat is not sufficient to make a Spirituous liquor ascend and circu∣late as he requires; 'tis not every Chymist, that will, especi∣ally in his first trials, avoid the breaking of the Glasses, or at least the burning of the materialls, to which accidents this preparation is very obnoxious, if it be not as well watchfully as skilfully made.) And though for my part, I have scarce us'd this Elixer but as a Cordial; yet I know some very ex∣pert Physitians, that have given it with great successe in di∣vers difficult cases, and particularly a Friend of the younger Helmonts gives it so succesfully, that partly his Patients, and partly others that have try'd it, have sometimes taken of him, at a great rate, whole Pounds in a Year or too; and yet I know by his own confession, that, besides the skill he em∣ploies in making it dexterously, he adds nothing but one In∣gredient, to which I confess, I am not apt to ascribe any con∣siderable part of the efficacy of the Medicin••; which, when made, he sometimes perfumes by cohobations with Musk, and Amber.

And Pyrophilus, that you may not wonder, that I, who think much of Helmonts Theory scarce intelligible, and take great exceptions at many things in his writings, should yet now and then commend Medicines upon his Authority, I

must here confesse to you once for all, that (alwaies excepting his extravagant piece, De magnetica vulnerum curatione,) I have not seen cause to disregard many things he delivers, as matters of fact, provided they be rightly understood; ha∣ving not found him forward to praise Remedies without cause, though he seem to do it sometimes without measure, and having more then once, either known, or even had, consi∣derable effects of Medicines he commends, which one of the happiest Practitioners I have met with, and one not lavish in extolling Chymicall Remedies has solemly assur'd me, he has generally, though not alwaies, found more then ordi∣narily effectual. And upon occasion of this odde prepara∣tion of the Elixir Proprietatis, I shall adde that, Since Expe∣rience shewes us, by what is daily done in Chymicall Labo∣ratories, that upon the operation of the fire upon several Concretes, substances of Nature oftentimes very differing both from the body that afforded them, and from one ano∣ther, may be obtain'd; as the Oyles, and fixt Salts, even of cold Plants or Hot: Since also, by the mixture of active Bodies new Concretes, endow'd with new qualities, may be produced; as we see that Saccharum Saturni emergeth from the conjunction of Lead, with the Acid Salt, distill'd Vinegar; and Since too the same Concrete, according to the differing manners, after which 'tis handled, may acquire differing Qualities, as is clear in the various Medicines, afforded us by Quicksilver, and by Antimony, according as each of them is order'd; I cannot but think, that if Chymistry did no more then assist us, by the resolution of bodies, to extricate their more active parts, and, partly by such resolutions, and partly by associating bodies together, to alter the former texture of Natures Productions, or present us with new Concretes of new Textures; by this

very means, if men want not Curiosity, and Industry to vary and prosecute experiments, there must necessarily arise such a store of new and active Medicines, that in all probability, many of them will be found endow'd with such Vertues, as have not been, at least in that degree, met with in the usuall Medicines, whether simple or compound, to be bought in Apothecary shops; and consequently, even without any no∣table discovery, or improvement of Principles, Chymists, (even as matters now stand with them) may considera∣bly adde to the Pharmaceutical part of Physick. But if the Operations of Chymistry were seriously enquir'd into, and throughly understood, I make little doubt, but by a skilfull application of them, and especially by a series of them, in a rationall and orderly way, succeeding one another, there may be found out a great many preparations of Remedies, both very differing from the common ones, and far more noble then they. And to make this seem probable, I need but re∣peat some of the examples formerly mention'd; To which I shall adde now, that Experience has inform'd me there is a way, whereby firmer consistent substances, belonging to the bodies of Animals, may without the addition of any extra∣neous matter, and without any violence of heat, be reduced almost totally into Liquor, and if I much misremember not, these Liquors without any violence of heat, afford their Spi∣rituous and Saline parts, in a very gentle heat, and that before their Flegme. And I must peculiarly inculcate this, That if we had but a few potent Menstruums, to dissolve and unlock bodies with, I scarce know what might not be done in Chy∣mistry. But when I speak of noble Menstruums, I mean not such as work like the generality of Corrosives, and the like Acid or Saline Liquors, which work but upon few kinds of bodies, and soon coagulate, or exantlate themselves

by working, and thereby become unfit for future operations; but I mean such as either are separable with all their efficacy from the dissolv'd Body; as is said of the Alkahest, or such Saline or other piercing Liquors, as not being precisely either Acid, Urinous, or Alcalizate can resolve a great variety of Concretes, without haveing their Vertue, I say not impair'd, but destroy'd thereby; and unlock Minerall bodies, far more then vulgar Menstruums, (as for instance by volatilizing them, or else making them irreducible, or working the like grand changes in them:) and if it be not quite separated from the dissolved Body, is yet so friendly to Humane Nature, as to be free from either fretting, or other such dangerous and offensive Qualities, and rather to be of it self a powerfull Me∣dicine. I should therefore exhort both You, and such other in∣genious persons, as wish the advancement of Chymistry, and Physick, (I might possibly adde Natural Philosophy too) to apply their Chymical attempts, chiefly to the finding out of Noble Menstruums, for by being possessor but of one of these, a Man may be able to doe a great number of things, that otherwise are not to be performed; As one of our or∣dinary Goldsmiths, by the bare knowledg he hath of Aqua∣fortis, can make many useful Experiments, about Silver, and Gold, that before that Menstruum was found out, all the Men of his profession in the World, were never able in many ages to compass. Nor do I much wonder at that advise, which Helmont gives those that aime at the improvement of Phy∣sick, in these Words:* 1.17 Quod si ad istud ignis arcanum non pertingatis (he was speaking of a prodigious, not to say incre∣dible Liquor) discite saltem, salem Tartari reddere volatilem, ut hujus medio vestras solutiones perficiatis. Qui etsi sua soluta, anaticè homogenea deserat, digestus in nobis: illorum tamen aliquot vires mutuatus est, quos intra defert, plurimorum mor∣borum

do••itrices. For concerning this Salt, he not only else∣where saies:* 1.18 Dicam saltem pro ingenuis, quod Spiritus Salis Tartari, si unicornu, argentum, hydrargyrum, lapides cancro∣rum, vel aliquod è simplicibus dissolverit, nedum febrim, sed & plures affatim morbos sanet, &c. But in another place he gives us, together with some account of its way of working, this great and comprehensive commendation of it. Mi∣rum sanè, saies he, quantum sal Tartari, vel unicum, volatile factum,* 1.19 non praestiterit: Nam omnem è venis amurcam deter∣git & obstruentium contumaciam, dispergitque apostematum suscepta conciliabula. De hoc salis (& non olei) spiritu, verum est illud Paracelsi, quod quocun{que} non attigerit vixalius poten∣tior perveniet. These passages I should not think worth transcribing and laying together, but that I find that besides the concurrent Testimonies of Helmont, Paracelsus, and Ba∣silius in prase of this Salt, the generality of the more inquisi∣tive Chymists, without excepting the more sober and judi∣cious, do, by the various and painfull, though fruitlesse, at∣tempts they have made to Volatilize Salt of Tartar, conspire in acknowledging it a thing highly worth labouring for; nor do I for my part see (whatever some say to the contrary, and however I have indeed found it more difficult, then perhaps a Novice in Chymistry would think) it should be impossible, for I have more then once with ease enough, made Gold it self volatile, though it be confessed to be the fixest body in the World, and consequently more fixt then Salt of Tartar, which in an open Vessel, may be in time made to flie away by a vehement fire; And I have likewise by an unusual Method, that I have elswhere deliver'd, more then once ob∣tain'd from a mixture of crude Tartar, and two or three Mi∣neral bodies good store of true Volatile Salt, which I could see no just cause not to think afforded by the Tartar.

But I consesse this may be rather a volatile Salt of Tartar, then Salt (that is Alcali) of Tartar made volatile, and there∣fore the principal thing I mention it for, is to shew you, that Tartar it self, by an unusual way of management, may be b••ought to afford an unusuall kind of Salt. But this I can tell You, that an ingenious acquaintance of mine, whom not∣withstanding my wonted distrusts of Chymists, I durst credit, affirm'd to me, that he had himself seen a true and real Sal Tartari volatile made of Alcali of Tartar, and had seen strange things done with it, insomuch that he believ'd most of the things, that Helmont delivers of it. For my part I am inclin'd to think, that Salt of Tartar may be made volatile, (whether in the form of a Sublimate or a Liquor) by more wayes then one, though not all of them neer equally good: and whereas one of the best (if not the very best) of the wayes of volatili∣zing it, seems to do it principally with Spirit of Wine, and the great difficulty of that way consists in bringing this Spi∣rit to associate with the salt: I have seen Salt of Tartar of my own, brought to that passe, which great Virtousi have long in vain attempted to bring it unto, namely, to flow rea∣dily upon a red hot Iron, and also to take fire, and burn with a conspicuous flame, besides that when it had been dry'd by a smart fire to drive away any parts that did not firmly adhere to it, it would yet readily dissolve in high rectify'd Spirit of Wine, which you know Salt of Tartar will not otherwise do; not to mention the change of its Alcalizate taste, and o∣ther lesser alterations; but what I can further say of this mat∣ter, I must not declare in this place.

And Pyro. That You may not be as many other Virtousi, discourag'd from labouring for noble Menstruums, by the confident perswasion of many, who believe Angelus Sala & Guntherus Billychius (whom I deny not to have been Learned

Men, but do not take to have been great M••sters of Chy∣micall Arcana) fit to determine with Autho••ity, what can, and what cannot be done by Chymistry, least I say You should be, by such mens inconsiderate severitie, brought to despair of ever seeing any noble Menstruum, that is not sharpe to the taste, nor of any of the three peculiar kinds of Saline Liquor. (Acid as Aquafortis Urinous, as the Spirits of Blood, Urine, and other Animal substances, nor Alcalizate, as Oyle of Tartar Per deliquium) I shall assure you, that to my own knowledg there is in the World a kind of Men∣struum, that consists of a pure Chryst••lline substance, that is made by the fire, and as truely Saline as Salt of Tartar it self, which strange Salt, though well purified, and readily dis∣soluble, as well in dephlegmed Spirit of Wine, as common Water, and though it be totably volatile (whence you may guesse of how Saline a nature it is) and also be either way reducible to a noble Menstruum, does really tast sweet; I mean not in the Chymical sense, by want of sowerness (as when they say that the Calces of corroded and precipitated things are dulcify'd by frequent ablutions) but by a positive sweetnesse. And whereas the vulgar Saline Menstruums, (which alone seem to have been known to Sala and Billychius) are so specificated, if I may so express it, that what an Acid Menstruum dissolves, an Alcalizate, or an Urinous will pre∣cipitate, & è converso; And whichsoever you choose of these three sorts of Menstruums, one of the other two will disarm, and destroy it. I found by tr••al, not only that a Red Tincture of Glass of Antimony, being drawn with a Men∣struum that was but a degree to this Liquor, I could not precipitate it like our common Tinctures, either with Spirit of Urine, or an Alcalizate Solution. But that (which is for more considerable) though it would readily mix with Acid

Spirits, as Oyle of Vitriol, with Volatile and Urinous Spi∣rits, as Spirits of Urine it self, and with Alkalizate Solutions; yet would neither of these three make any Ebullition at all with it, or seem to work at all upon it. But of such Matters no more at present.]

CHAP. IX.

YOu will perhaps expect, Pyrophilus, that, Treating of the advantages that may accrew to the Therapeutical part of Physick, from a more accurate knowledg of Natural Phi∣losophy; I should tell you with the Chymists, that Chymi∣stry it self, and much more Physiology in its full extent, is not only capable of improving the Pharmaceutical part or Preparation of Remedies; (for, that we have confessed alrea∣dy) but also of affording us a new and much better Methodus medendi, or skill of using the Helps, that Nature or Art hath provided against Diseases. And indeed the Physitians Art is so difficult, and a man must know so many things to be, though not tolerably, yet perfectly skilld in it, that it may without disparagement to Physitians, be thought yet capable of being improved, if not of being reformed. Hippocrates begins his Aphorismes with a complaint, that Life is short, but the Art long. And Paracelsus himself, though he say after his boasting manner, Ars est longa, vita brevis, ubi autem donum finis (as he speaks) est, ibi ars est brevis, vita ve∣rum longa si arti conferatur: Yet expounding the same words a little above, he saith, Itaque Hippocrates meritò de eo conqueritur: nam & asseclis ipsius idem accidit: Ars medica consistit in Philosophia, Astronomia, Alchymia & Physica, meritò igitur dici potest Artem esse longam. Multum enim requiritur temporis, ad quatuor has Columnas Medicinae dis∣scendas

& perscrutandas. Celsus, who hath been stiled Hip∣pocrates Latinorum doth more then once call Physick a Con∣jectural Art, as particularly in that place where he saith, Est enim haec ars conjecturalis,* 1.20 neque respondet ei plerumque non solum conjectura sed etiam Experientia. And well might these great men acknowledg their Art to be difficult,* 1.21 since the two Instruments (as Galen calls them) of finding Arts, being Judgment and Experience, Hippocrates gives this Character of them; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And that Experience may be uncertaine without the Theory of Phy∣sick, he that so much builds upon Experiments, Paracelsus himself seems to confess where expounding those words of Hippocrates, he saith, Hoc modo se habuit: Medicina in Prin∣cipio, ut nullam Theoriam habuerit, sed solum Experientiam hoc laxare, hoc constipare, quomodo autem & cur, id ignoratum fuit: ideo unus salvatus est, alter perditus, nunc autem, &c. And concerning the Critical part of Physick (to allude to Hippocrates his expression) Galen who exercised his reason so much about it tells us, that Per rationem judicium haud quaquam facile existit,* 1.22 sed, si quid aliud, maximam habet diffi∣cultatem. And to confirm the difficulty of finding the best way of employing reason to the cure of Diseases, not only by the Authority of Galen, but his Arguments; Let me in∣form you, that after having told us how difficult a thing, and how rarely to be found is that reason, which considers, and determines what on every occasion is to be done, Neque enim (addes he) si veritas esset inventu facilis, tot ac tanti viri in ea quaerenda occupati, in tam contrarias sectas fuissent un∣quam dispertiti. And Paracelsus, whatever he often else∣where boastingly affirmeth of himself, yet handsomely enough both expresseth and confesseth the difficulty of being a good Physician, in one of his Prefaces to the Students of Phy∣sick,

where he saies, Non Titulus, non Eloquentia, non Lingua∣rum peritia,* 1.23 nec multorum Librorum lectio (& si hac non pa∣rum exornant) in Medico consideranda, sed summa rerum ac Mysteriorum cognitio, quae una facile aliorum omnium vices agit. Rhetoris quidem est diserte posse loqui ac persuadere at∣que judicem in suam sententiam trahere. Medici autem affe∣ctuum genera, causas ac 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 novisse, & iis insuper saga∣citate ac industriâ Pharmaca applicare, atque pro cujuslibet in∣genio ac ratione vel cunctis mederi: But though, Pyrophilus, after the acknowledgments made by such great men of the almost insuperable difficulty of their Art, you would per∣haps think it no great presumption, if a man should attempt to innovate in any part of it, and consequently even in the Methodus medendi: Yet Pyrophilus, I am much too young, too unlearned, and to unexperienced, to dare to be dogma∣ticall in a matter of so great moment. And the Physitians are a sort of men, to whose Learned Writings on almost all sub∣jects, the Commonwealth of Learning is so much beholden, that I would not willingly dissent from them, about those notions in their own profession, wherein they seem generally to agree; And do very much disapprove the indiscreet practise of our common Chymists and Helmontians, that bitterly and indiscriminately raile at the Methodists instead of candidly acquiescing in those manifest Truths, their Ob∣servations have enricht us with, and civilly, and modestly shewing them their Errors where they have been mistaken. And yet, Pyrophilus, Since divers of the eminentest Metho∣dists themselves have more then once ingeniously acknow∣ledged to me, and seriously deplored with me, the incom∣pleatnesse of their Art, (which perhaps made (that Learned Prince) the Late King tell them, that they were at best but good guessers) and since about divers particular dise••s•••• we

have observed, the Method of some of the most reputed Doctors in England (which yet, I think, is at this day as well stored with Learned Men of that profession, as any part of Europe) not only very differing, but repugnant to each other; I suppose we may without disrespect to their profession, dis∣sent from the most of them about those cases, about which they are reduced to disagree so much among themselves. And it would be worth an impartial disquisition, whether, since the Methodus medendi ought to be grounded on and accommodated to the Doctrine of Diseases, the new Anato∣mical discoveries formerly mention'd, and others not yet publish'd do not by innovating divers things in Pathology, re∣quire some alterations & amendments in the Methodus Me∣dendi? But in this particular, I dare yet affirme nothing, and therefore shall proceed to observe to you, that the unu∣sual efficacies of new remedies, may probably make the Me∣thod of curing more compendious, because (as I lately also in∣timated) one Medicine may be so richly Qualified, as to an∣swer several intentions, which in the common way, require diversity of Helps and Remedies. Thus, for instance in the Cure of the Kings-Evil, by the received Method, the Physi∣tian must propose to himself several scopes (suited to seve∣ral indications) and prosecute them successively with distinct and appropriated Remedies. But I have (as I formerly also told you to another purpose) known a single Specifique Sim∣ple, given only in small Beer, in not very many daies, without any sensible Evacuation, wast the peccant humor, appease the pains (which before were very great) and discusse the unbroken Tumours, and heal the broken ones. Thus, ac∣cording to the known Method, the great Remedy in Plu∣risies is copious Blood-letting, which is strictly prescribed even to Aged persons and teeming Women, by the famou∣sest

of our Practitioners, and, I confess, not irrationally, where the Physician is furnisht but with vulgar Remedies: and yet by some Helmontian Medicines, we have known Plurisies cured even in young men, without Phlebotomy, and our selves some while since made a succesful trial of that Nature in a young Gentleman not unknown to you, which I men∣tion not, with Helmont, to reject or so much as to dispa∣rage Phlebotomy in this disease (for so it be moderate and sea∣sonable Experience shewes it frequently proves useful) nor as if we had observed all Helmonts boasted Remedies (though for the most part good ones) to be constantly succesful; but to give you an instance of the truth, of what I was saying be∣fore, That new and more generous Remedies may so far alter the received Methodus Medendi, as to make divers of its prescriptions unnecessary. Of this truth, Pyrophilus, ano∣ther instance might be afforded us by the Rickets, a new and abstruse Disease, at least as is supposed, and sometimes so stubborn, that one of the famousest Physicians in Europe, (whom I think I need not name) hath not been able of late to cure it in several of his own Children. And yet I suppose you may have heard that Excellent Person your Mother, several times mention her having performed divers cures (some of them improbable enough) of this Disease, barely by that slight preparation of Colcothar, lately taught you, and presented Her by us; And by which (we having made and distributed, at Her desire, a considerable quantity of it) seve∣ral other Persons have freed Children from that disfiguring Sickness: Of which, but few Moneths since, your little Cousin D. being sick almost past hope, vvas a while since brought out of danger, by Gods blessing upon some of the same Remedy, wherewith we presented her Mother, toge∣ther with our perswasions to try it on her own Child, as she

had successfully done on the Children of divers others. And yet this Remedie (to adde that upon the By, in favour of something to be said anon) works almost insensibly, save that in many bodies it is, especially at first, diaphoretique. And this property of ••••at Remedie minds me to adde, that it would not be amiss for Physitians, to consider whether or no (However, Bleeding, Purging, Vomiting, Issues, Glisters, Scarifications, and those other painful wayes of Evacuation be not (however Chymists are too bitterly and unreservedly wont to reject them) to be altogether condemned and laid aside, yet) there may not in some particular diseases and bo∣dies be found more gentle, and yet effectual waies of dischar∣ging Nature of that which offends her, then those painful and debilitating ones, which we have mentioned (without the use of one of the chief of which namely Phlebotomy we see that almost all kind of Diseases are cured in Children.) The contributing to render the waies of Cure less painful and weakning, would gratifie so great a part of those who may need Physick, th••t I hope you will easily pardon my spen∣ding some Pages to that purpose. I consider then, that of∣tentimes the peccant matter, though very offensive by its qualities, is much lesser then is supposed, in quantity, and might, if we were but Masters of Specifique Remedies, ei∣ther be breathed out by insensible transpiration, or carried off by Sweat or Urine, without tormenting, or weakning the Patient, by those other copious Evacuations of grosser Mat∣ter, which are alwaies troublesome and painful enough, though not alwaies effectual: Nay that even in Chirurgery it self, if those that practise it were as knowing as Nature has been bountifull, there would not be so often a necessity as 'tis commonly supposed there is of mutilating or tormen∣ting the Patient to recover him. You cannot doubt, un∣less

You will denie what Gulielmus Piso affirmes, upon his own Observation, of the Cures done by the illiterate Indian Empericks. The passage You have seen already; But to it he adds so notable and ingenious an acknowledgment, that I cannot but honour him for it, and be willing to make way for the Credibility of a good part of what we are hereafter to deliver, in this discourse, by premising it. Immo (con∣tinues he) ex venenatorum fungorum aliorumque toxicorum esu, solo potu infusi recentis radicis Jaborandi in instanti à letho vindicatos, me aliisque Galeni Nepotibus haud parum pu∣dore suffusis, post tot alexipharmacorum & theriacalium An∣tidotalium irritos conatus. Ita ut postea ejusmodi collegas barbaros subinde mihi adjungi passus sim, non adeo quidem nostratium valetudinem ad tactum arteriarum moderari quam dictis modis consilii copiam praebere solitos. Thus farre he: Which premis'd, let us proceed to consider, more parti∣cularly, some of the less painful wayes of freeing men from Diseases.

CHAP. X.

THat great Cures may be done by bare outward Applica∣tions, You will scarce deny,* 1.24 if you dis-believe not the Relations which are made us, by Learned Men, concerning the Efficacy of the Lapis Nephriticus, only, bound upon the Pulses of the Wrist's (chiefly that of the left Hand) against that stuborn and anomulous Disease the Stone: And that which gives the more credit to these Relations is, That not only the Judicious (a) 1.25 Anselmus Boetius de Boot seems to prize it, but the Famous Monardes professeth Himself not to write by Hear-say, of the great Vertues of this Indian Stone, but to have made tryal of it Himself upon persons of very high

Quality: And that which is related by (b) 1.26 Monardes is much less strange, then those almost incredible things which are with many ci••cumstances delivered of that Stone, by the Learned Chymist (c) 1.27 Untzerus. And although it must be acknowledged, That some Stones, that go under that name, have been ineffectually applied in Nephritick Distempers, Yet the accurate Johannes de Laet Himself, furnisheth us with an Answer to that Objection, informing us that many of those Nephritick Stones (which differ much in Colour, though the best are wont to be greenish) although not at all Counterfeited, or Sophisticated, are of little or no Vertue. But that yet there are some others of them which can scarce be d••stinguished from the former, but by tryal upon Nephri∣tick persons, which are of wonderful Efficacy, as he Him∣self hath more then once tryed in his own Wife. Garcias ab Orta (lib: 1. cap: 53.) mentions a Stone, found in Bala∣gat,* 1.28 call'd Alaqueca; of which he tells us, That though it be cheap, Hujus tamen virtus (to use his own words) re∣liquarum Gemmarum facultates exuperat, quippe qui sangui∣nem undiquaque fluentem illico sistat. Monardes (cap: 35.) relates the great Vertues of a Stone against Hystericall Suffo∣cations, and concludes, Cum uteri Suffocationem imminen∣tem praesentiunt, adhibito lapide subito levantur, & si eum perpetuo gestant (Hysterici) nunquam simili morbo corri∣piuntur, exempla hujusmodi faciunt ut his rebus fidem adhi∣beam. The same Author in the next Chapter, treating of the Lapis Sanguinaris, or Blood Stone, found in new Spain, (having told us, that the Indians do most confidently be∣lieve, that if the Flesh of any Bleeding part be touched with this Stone, the Bleeding will thereby be stanched) adds this memorable Observation of his own, Vidimus nonnullos hae∣morrhoidum fluxu afflictos remedium sensisse, annulos ex hoc

lapide confectos in digito continue gestando; nec non & Men∣struum fluxum sisti. And of the formerly mentioned Lapis Porcinus, the Experienced Bontius (having mentioned how the Indians give the Wine wherein it hath been steeped, a∣gainst the Disease called Cholera; which is as much and as justly feared, by the Islanders of Java, as the Plague is in Holland) adds this memorable passage, Pragnantibus tamen hic lapis non bene datur; nam abortum provocare adeo certum est, ut foeminae Malaicae mihi retulerint ut si quando Menstrua eorum purgatio non bene procedat, si saltem hunc lapidem manu gestent juvamentum se inde sentire. And the relations, Pyrophilus, that I may in another place present You with, concerning the wonderful Stone, formerly mentioned, with which your Grandfather performed such eminent Cures, (particularly of the Stone in the Lord of Falkland, then Deputy of Ireland, and others, to whose Backs it was ap∣plyed) will, I suppose, make You the more readily give credit to the Relations of the Authors we have newly men∣tion'd. What Monardes mentions of the Vertue of the La∣pis Sanguinaris, to Cure Haemorrhoidal Fluxes, puts me in mind of a yet much stranger thing, which Helmont affirmes,* 1.29 namely, That he could make a Mettal, of which, if a Ring were worn, the pain of the Haemorrhoids would be taken a∣way, in the little time requisite to recite the Lords prayer; and within twenty four Hours the Haemorrhoids themselves, as well internal as external, how protuberant so ever, would vanish, and the restagnant Blood would (as he speaks) be received again into favour, and be restored to a good condi∣tion. The same Ring he also commends in the suffocation and irregular motion of the Womb, and divers other Diseases: But if Paracelsus be in any case to be credited in an unlikely matter, We may think, by his very solemn Protestations,

that he speaks upon his own experience; That he had a Ring made of a Metalline substance, by him called Electrum, (which, by his description, seems to be a mixture of all the Mettals joyn'd together under certain Constellations) which was of far greater Vertue then this of Helmont; For, hoc loco (sayes he) non possum non indicare admirandas quasdam vi∣res virtutesque electri nostri,* 1.30 quas fieri his nostris oculis vidimus, adeoque cum bona veritatis conscientia proferre at∣testarique possumus. Vidimus enim hujus generis annulos, quos qui induit, hunc nec spasmus convulsit, nec Paralysis corripuit, nec dolor ullus torsit, similiter nec apoplexia, nec epilepsia invasit. Et si annulus hujusmodi Epileptici digito annulari, etiam in paroxysmo saevissimo, insertus fuit, remittente ilico paeroxismo, aeger à lapsu ilico resurrexit. &c. But to take notice of some other outward Remedies. To our present Theme belongs that noble Cure,* 1.31 performed by the Famous and experienced Fabritius ab Aquape••dente; who tells us, That he Cured a man of a Scirrhus Lienis, and a Dropsy, by the long use of Sponges, moistned with strong common Lime Water, and then expressed and worne upon the Spleen; notwithstanding the Muscles of the Abdomen, and all the other parts that ly betwixt the applyed Spong and the part affected. And to this we may adde, the strange Cures mention'd by Kircherus; and confirmed to me, by a Learned Eye witness, to be frequently performed of very dangerous Diseases, in that Cave, neer Rome, where the Patients being exposed stark naked, and tyed Hand and Foot, upon Beds of Straw; and being by the Sulphureous vapour of the place and sometimes their own fear, cast in∣to a sweat, are lick'd well by a great number of peculiar kind of Serpents that inhabit that Grotta. Moreover, We oftentimes see Agues Cured by Amulets and Applications

to the Wrists. And I my self was, about two Years since, strangely Cured of a violent Quotidian, which all the won∣ted Method of Physick had not so much as abated, by ap∣plying to my Wrists a mixture of two handfuls of Bay-Salt, two handfuls of the freshest English Hops, and a quarter of a Pound of blew Currants very diligently beaten into a brit∣tle Mass, without the addition of any thing moist, and so spread upon Linen Cloth and tyed about the Wrists. And with the same Remedies (which yet we have observed some∣times to fail) have divers others been cured, both of Quotidian and Tertian Agues: Nay an Eminent Physitian gave me, lately, thanks for the great Effects he had found of it, even in continual Feavers.

And here, Pyrophilus, I shall not scruple to acquaint You, with my having sometimes wished, That Phy∣sitians had been a little mo••e curious to make Observa∣tions and Tryals of the distinct Operations of various Bodies outwardly applyed. For I consider that, in some of them, the subtle Corpuscles, (which seem to insinuate themselves into the Pores of the Body, and into the Mass of Blood, with little or no alteration) have much the like Operations with the Body whence they exhale, taken in at the Mouth. As we see in some Preparations of Sulphur, which have like Vertues, inwardly given and outwardly applyed; and more manifestly in Cantharides, which I have found, by ex∣ternal application, to work strangly upon the Bladder, as that they excoriated it when taken into the Body; & yet more ma∣nifestly in Quick-silver, which by inunction may be made as well to Salivate, as if it were swallow'd down. And an eminent Physitian lately complain'd to me, That washing a Childs scabby Head with a Decoction of Tobacco, to kill and dry up the Scabs, the Boy was made thereby both

sick and drunk: And Learned Men assure us, That, by some Catharticks outwardly applyed, those may be purg'd that will not swallow Physick. But other Medicines there are, which, before they get into the Mass of Blood, are much alter'd; either in straining through the Flesh and Membranes of the Body, or in the Digestions they pass through in the Stomack, and elsewhere: And these may have very differing Effects, inwardly given and outwardly applyed; as, in the formerly mention'd instance of Hops, Currans and Salt, neither any of the Ingredients inwardly given, nor the mix∣ture hath been (that I know of) noted for any Febrifugal Vertues. So likewise Turpentine and Soot that inward∣ly taken are good for quite other Diseases, (as Plurisies, and Obstructions of the Kidneys) outwardly applyed are the main Ingredients of Pericarpiums, extoll'd against Agues. And Mille-folium or Yarrow, besides the Vertues it hath inwardly against Diseases of quite other Natures, being worn in a little Bag upon the tip of the Stomack, was (as Himself confess'd to me) the Secret, against Agues, of a great Lord, who was very curious of Receipts and would sometimes purchase them at very great Rates; And a very famous Physitian, of my acquaintance, did since inform me, That he had used it with strange success. I know also a ve∣ry happy Physitian, who assures me, That he hath very often cured, both in himself and others, the Chilblains when they come to be broken, by barely strowing on the sore parts the fine powder of Quinces thinly slic'd and dryed. And who knows what unexpected Operations divers other Bodies may have, when outwardly applyed, if various Trials of that Nature were skilfully made; especially, since we see that (for reasons elsewhere to be considered) some Bo∣dies seem to have quite contrary Operations, when out∣wardly

applyed and inwardly taken. For we see that Spirit of Wine does, in several cases, allay the inflammation of the external parts, which given inwardly, would quickly inflame the body. And our often commended Piso, speaking of a choise Remedy for those Distempers of the Eyes, that used to trouble Men in Brasil, addes, Idem quo{que} praestat ma∣nipahera, ex radice Mandihoca, quae licet pota venenosa habea∣tur (as we formerly noted out of his and other Testimonies) oculis tamen prodest, visum{que} emendat. And if the Simples, to be outwardly applied, be skilfully prepar'd, That may much vary and improve their operations. As we see that Vitriol, which is made of Copper, or Iron corroded by, and Coagulated with Acid Salts, hath outwardly divers Vertues which crude Copper has not, either outwardly or inwardly. And Gold D••ssolved in Aqua R••gis, and precipitated vvith Oyle of Tartar, is invvardly, as far as I can discover, gently Purgative; yet the same Aurum fulminans being calcin'd vvith tvvice or thrice it's weight of Flovvers of Brimstone, till the Flores be burnt away, is known to be much com∣mended by Chymists, and others, for a Diaphoretick. But though, as to any outward Vertues of the same Powder, Physitians and Chymists are wont to be silent, yet pro∣bably it may have very great ones, as well as quite differing from those it has, being taken at the Mouth. For I know a Person, that being grievously tormented with exulcerated Haemorrhoides, a very expert Chymist of my acquaintance, not knowing what else to do, applied to the part affected, an Oyntment consisting onely of Aurum fulminans prepa∣red and fixed by a slight and familiar way (which you may command) and made up with a little Oyle of sweet Almonds, into a requisite consistence; and though presently upon the application of the Remedy, the pain for a quarter of an

Houre hugely increased, yet soon after it abated, and the Hemorrhoids the next day were closed, and the day after went away; Nor has the Patient ever since (that is, for some Years) been troubled with any thing of Relapse. And the same Physician assures me, that with the like Remedy he has found a strange effect in Venereal Ulcers. And per∣haps to this may be referred what has been found by some friends of mine, that Phlegm of Vitriol, and Saccharum Saturni, which not only inwardly given are said much to cool the Blood, but outwardly applied are good for Burns and hot Humours, do yet potently discusse cold Tumours. But least you should say, that this diversity may proceed (at least in part) from the Corpuscles of differing Natures, that may be imagined in the forementioned Medicines; I shall return to what I was discoursing of before, and take notice of the Efficacy of some other external Remedies.

[Since the beginning of this ESSAY, I saw a lusty and very sprightful Boy, Child to a Famous Chymical Writer, who, as his Father assu••'d me and others, being by some Ene∣mies of this Physitians, when he was yet an Infant, so be∣witcht that he constantly lay in miserable torment, and still refusing the Breast, was reduc'd by pain and want of food to a desperate condition, the experienc'd Relater of the Story, remembring that Helmont attributes to the Electum Mine∣rale immaturum Paracelsi the Vertue of relieving those whose distempers come from Witchcraft, did according to Helmonts prescription hang a piece of this Noble Mineral about the Infants Neck, so that it might touch the Pit of the Stomack, whereupon presently the Child, that could not rest in I know not how many Daies and Nights before, fell for a while a sleep, and waking well, cry'd for the Teat, which he greedily suck'd, from thenceforth hastily recove∣ring,

to the great wonder, both of his Parents, and several others that were astonish'd at so great and quick a change. And though I am not forward to impute all those Diseases to Witchcraft, which even Learned Men Father upon it; yet its considerable in our present case, that whatsoever were the cause of the Disease, the Distemper was very great and almost hopeless, and the cure suddenly perform'd by an out∣ward application, and that of a Mineral; in which compacted sort of Bodies, the finer parts are thought to be more lock'd up.]

Among the proofs of the efficacy of appended Remedies, we must not pretermit the memorable Examples, that are deliver'd by the Judicious Boëtius de Boot,* 1.32 concerning the Vertues of that sort of Jasper, which is blood red throughout the whole Body of the Stone, not being mingled with any Colour: Testari possum (saies he) me, qui alias lapidibus & geminis tantas vires, quantas vulgus solet, non tribuo, credibile vix, de Jaspidis viribus, observasse. Nam cum ancilla fluxu menstruorum ita laborasset per aliquot dies, ut nullo modo sisti posset, Jaspidem rubram impolitam & rudem femori alligari jussi. Alius (in eadem Domo) cum in pede vulneratus esset, nec sanguinis fluxus cohiberi posset, admoto lapide, extemplo impeditus fuit, licet vulnus non tegeretur. To these he ad∣joynes a much more memorable Example, of a Maid he cur'd at Prague, who had been for six Years sick of an Hemorrhagy so vehement, that there scarce ever pass'd a Week, in which she did not several times Bleed, neither could she be reliev'd by any Remedies, though she had long us'd them, till she was quite tired with them; wherefore our Author setting them all aside, lent her a Jasper, of whose Vertues in such cases he had made good trial, to hang about her Neck, which when she did, the flux of Blood presently ceas'd, and she after∣wards

for curiosity sake, oftentimes laying aside the Stone, and as often as she needed it, applying it again, observ'd, That where∣as the flux of Blood did not presently return upon the ab∣sence of the Jasper, but after divers Weeks, yet upon the hanging it on again it would presently be stopt, so that she could not ascribe the relief to any thing but the Stone, by which our Author tells us, that at length she was quite cur'd: And speaking of the praises given by others to Green Ias∣per speckled with Red, he concludes, Sed ego, quod multoties expertus sum, refero. But amongst the Operations of out∣wardly appended Medicines, I have scarce met with a stran∣ger then that which the Experienc'd Henricus ab Heer, men∣tions in the fourteenth of those Observations which he truely stiles Rare,* 1.33 namely, That a Woman, who had by an unskilful Mid-wife the Bladder Lacerated, and thereby been subject to a perpetual Incontinentia Vrinae, and had been reduc'd constantly to wear a Silver Pipe, was perfectly help'd, by wearing, as a Gypsie had taught her, a little Bag hung about her Neck, containing the Powder made of a live Toad, burnt in a New Pot: Which relation I the rather mention, not only because the Author having try'd the Remedy upon a Merchant, to whom an unskilful Lythotomist had left the like Disease, found it presently to succeed; But because having been very desirous to have further trial made of so odd a Remedy, by a curious Physitian, he lately gave me this Account of it, that though in one or two it had fail'd, yet having given some of the powder to an inquisitive Per∣son, known to us both, he assur'd him it had succeeded in two or three. (and the Disease is too unfrequent, to give occasion to have the Remedy often tried) And the Physitian adds, that one of those Patiens tels him, (the Physitian) That though her infirmity were occasion'd by a Laceratio Vesicae, yet the

yet the Remedy helps her as long as she wears it about her, in case she renew the Powder, when the Vertue of it begins to decay: but that (which is remarkable to our present pur∣pose) if she leaves it off awhile, she findes the Disease re∣turn. The same Henricus ab Heer, among his freshly com∣mended Observations, hath another of a little Lady, whom he concludes to have been cast into the strange and terrible D••stemper, which he there p••rticularly Records, by Witch∣craft. Upon so severe an examination of the Symptoms made by himself, in his own House, that if, notwithstanding his solemn Professions of veracity, he mis-relate them not, I cannot wonder he should confidently impute so prodigious a Disease to some supernatural cause. But though the Obser∣vation, with its various Circumstances, be very well worth your perusing; yet that, for which I here take notice of it, is, what he adds about the end of it, concerning his having cured her, after he had in despair of her Recovery sent her back to her Parents, by an outward Medicine, namely, an Ointment which he found extoll'd against Pains produc'd by Witchcraft, in a Dutch Book of Carrichter's: (where also I remember I met with it set down a little differently from what he delivers) Of which wonderful Ointment, the Ingre∣dient that he found so extreamly difficult to procure, namely, The Misseltoe of Hazel, being in England not so rare, but that I have more then once got it, and found it, as he inti∣mates, very green, and (what he mentions not) extreamly bitter, I could wish that those that have the opportunity would make tryal. For besides what Carrichter deliv••rs, and our Author relates of it, a Learned Physitian did highly commend it to the Judicious Gregorius Horsius. And though, if we allow it to cure bewitch'd Patients, the vertue that may be in external Remedies, will be made so much the more

conspicuous; yet supposing the Diseases to be, though strange, yet but natural, we cannot but allow that there may be a wonderful efficacy in an outward Remedy, since it was able, onely by anointing the Joints, and those pained parts with it, to cure a radicated Disease, attended with such wonderful and horrid Symptoms. And after this it may seem but little, what else would appear a strange thing, which Helmont affirms of a Plaister he had,* 1.34 wherewith he tells us, That he safely cur'd hundreds of Quartans, even Autumnal, without relapse: elsewhere he saith, That he made this Plaister, for by the Circumstances I presume he means no other, of a few resolving and abstersive things; and adds,* 1.35 That it never fail'd him, but onely that in fat Per∣sons it succeeded more slowly. And yet in these, and the like ways of curing Diseases, though approv'd, if not also commended, by eminent Physitians both Ancient and Mo∣dern, there is no sensible evacuation made of peccant Hu∣mors, which perhaps materially remain in the Body, and may, by the Effluvia of these Remedies, be deprived of their former Qualities, and made so far obsequious to nature, that she is able, if need be, to ease her self of them by Sweat, Urine, or undiscerned transpiration.

And that the peccant Humors remaining for awhile mate∣rially in the Body, the Disease may sometimes be removed, may appear by the Cures which we see now and then per∣formed of Agues by suddain frights; by which no discernable evacuation is made of Humors, though probably some con∣siderable change be thereby produced in the temper of the mass of Blood, or in the Texture of the Morbifick Matter: (as Physitians call it) As seems probable both from divers other things mention'd here and there in this Essay, and par∣ticularly from the lately recited Passage of Helmont, where

he takes notice of the rectifying of the peccant, and, by Na∣ture, rejected Blood, without any sensible evacuation upon the wearing of His Ring. I knew a Gentleman, a strong and a resolute Man, who had been long a Souldier, and at∣tained the highest sort of Military Employments; notwith∣standing which, he was strangely fearful of Rats, and could not endure the sight of them: This Gentleman, having been long troubled with an obstinate Quartan, and travelled with it into several Countries, without being able to finde any Cure for it, coming at length accidentally and suddenly into a place where a great Rat was in a corner, whence he could not flie from the Gentleman, he furiously leap'd upon him (yet without biting him) and thereby put him into a fright,* 1.36 which freed him from the Ague that had so long importuned him. And the experienced Salmuth tells us a pleasant Ob∣servation, of one who was cured even of the Gout by a fright. For this Man having his Feet and Hands covered with a Poultis, made of Turneps, Flower and Milk, and being left in his Chair in a low Room, was, whil'st his Servants were all gone into the Garden, assaulted by a Sow, who find∣ing the Door open, and invited by the smell of the Cata∣plasm, came to devour it; and striving to do so, flung the sick Man and the Chair to the Ground, and put him into such a fright, that our Author tells us, That that very Day his Pains decreased, and continued lessening by degrees, till at length they wholly left him, without ever returning to trouble him again. There are divers Instances that discover what great changes may be produced in the Body, without taking in any thing visibly at the Mouth. And on the other side a good Air alone doth often, in Consumptions and o∣ther Diseases, perform what hath in vain been expected from the use of emptying Physick. It were to be wished that we

had, among our European Physitians, the Physick Books of those of China; For though our Doctors are much more Learned Men then theirs, yet probably their Writings and their Practise may teach us something that is new, and some∣thing making for our present purpose. For the famous Je∣suite Semedo informs us,* 1.37 That the Books of our Physitians having not yet been brought to China, they are instructed in their Art by abundance of their own Writers; and that though in their practise they do not let Blood (as th•• Learn∣ed Varenius tells us,* 1.38 That neither do the Japonian Doctors) or set Cupping-glasses, though they use no Syrrups, nor Potions, nor any Issues, but are onely Herbarists, using no∣thing but Herbs, Roots, Fruits, Seeds, &c. yet Physick (to use our Authors Words) is in a very good condition in China.* 1.39 (as Almeida also tells us, That the Physitians are much esteemed in Japan) And of the skill of some of the Chineses in that Art, he gives us in the same Chapter some considerable Instances. And though, as we said it is very likely that their Doctors are much inferior, in point of Le••rn∣ing to ours, yet it is considerable, that in so vast, so civiliz'd, and so poulous a Countrey, Physick can be practised with reputation, without the use of those Evacuations which are here so frequently made by Phlebotomy, Potions and Issues. Nor should we onely expect some improvement to the The∣rapeutical part of Physick, from the Writings of s•• ingeni∣ous People as the Chineses; but probably the knowledge of Physitians might be not inconsiderably increased, if Men were a little more curious to take notice of the Observations and Experiments, suggested partly by the practise of Mid∣wives, Barbers, old Women, Empericks, and the rest of that illiterate crue, that presume to meddle with Physick a∣mong our selves; and partly by the Indians and other barba∣rous

Nations, without excepting the People of such part of Europe it self, where the generality of Men is so illiterate and poor, as to live without Physitians. For where Physick is practised by Persons that never studyed the Art of it in Schools or Books, many things are wont to be rashly done, which though perhaps prejudicial, or even fatal to those on whom they were tryed, may afford very good Hints to a Learned and Judicious Observer: Besides, where the Practi∣tioners of Physick are altogether illite••ate, there oftentimes Specificks; may be best met with. For such Persons, being wont, for want of skill in Physick, and part••cularly the Art of m••xing Simples, and in that of varying their Remedies according to Circumstances, do almost wholly rely upon Specificks; whose Ve••tues, from their practise, may be some∣times better gathered, then from that of skilful Physitians, in regard that those Empericks (besides, that they assist not with any skill in the Methodus medendi the vertues of their Reme∣dies) are wont, for the Reasons newly mention'd, to try obsti∣nately, and to the uttermost, the eff••cts of their few specificks. And the nature o•• their Medicines may be the better known, in regard they are not wont to blend them, as Learned Men but too often do, with many other Ingredients, whose Mix∣ture, as we formerly noted, either alters their nature, or makes it difficult to determine (as Galen himself in a like case confesseth,* 1.40 Nam ut verum fateamur haec difficilis quo{que} res est & rara inventu cùm post multa remedia adhibita agro∣tanti quod ex iis in causa fuisse dicitur ut melius pejusve ha∣beat) whether the effect be to be ascribed to what is given for the specifick, or to some other of the Ingredients, or to the whole Compound as such. The experienced Bontius, in his excellent little Tract De Medicina Indorum, doth more then once confess, That it is very undeservedly that the Europe∣ans

look upon the East Indians as Barbarians.* 1.41 And even of those among them, that are ignorant of other things, he hath this Passage, Hinc etiam fit quod homines caeteris rebu•• idiotae tam exactam herbarum & stirpium nanciscantur scien∣tiam ut si vel Doctissimus Pawius, nostri avi Botanicorum princeps è mortuis resurgens huc veniret, miraretur se ab hisce hominibus barbaris doceri posse. And Linschoten in his Voy∣ages,* 1.42 speaking of th••t F••mous Mart of the East Indies, the City of Goa, where the Viceroy and the Arch-Bishop resided, and he himself lived: These Heathenish Physitians (saith he, mentioning those of Goa) do not onely cu••e their own Nati∣on and Country-men, but even the Portugals also; for even the Viceroy himself, the A••ch-Bishop, and all the Monks and Fryers, do put more trust in them then in their own Country-men, whereby they get great store of Money, and are much honored and esteemed. I have not now the leisure to acquaint you with what I might alledge, to confirm this truth out of the practises of the illiterate Natives of some not yet sufficiently civiliz'd parts of Ireland, and the In∣habitants of some other places where Physitians have not yet setled: But I shall minde you of the Confession of Celsus, where speaking of Physick, Haec nunquam (saith he) non est: siquidem etiam imperitissimae gentes herbas alia{que} prompta in auxilium vulnerum morborum{que} noverunt.* 1.43 And I wish that other Learned Men would imitate the commendable example not onely of Prosper Alpinus, who Writ a Treatise De Me∣dicinâ Aegyptiorum; and of Jacobus Bontius, in his Medi∣cina Indorum, but of Gulielmus Piso, who hath lately pre∣sented the World with the rude ways of curing, used by the Brasilians themselves, in his new and curious Books De Me∣dicina Brasiliensi, in the beginning of the second of which, he much confirms what we have been delivering, in the ensu∣ing

Passage:* 1.44 Quemadmodum multa in tam crassa Barbarie cruda vel corrupta arte{que} Hippocraticâ indigna reperiuntur; sic etia•• non pauca utilissima antiquitatem redolentia: quae vel eruditissimos medicos ad urnas medicinae subjiciunt, observanda occurunt. Quippe cum multarum Artium rudimenta vel ab ipsis Animantibus brutis (quibus benigna mater Natura arte insita imprimis curandis morbis destitui noluit) ad nos redundare fa∣tendum sit; Quis dubitet ab his mortalibus, licet remotissimis à dogmaticâ & rationali medendi arte, non plurima nobilissima at secreta remedia at{que} antidota, medendi morbos veteribus in∣cognitos quotidiè ad posteros derivari? quibus paulatim ad ma∣num traditis & tandem quasi in succum & sanguinem à rationa∣libus conversis doctorum scholae & libri superbiunt? And to this agrees very well that grave saying of our experienc'd Harvey, to the very Learned Doctor Ent:* 1.45 Nulla gens tam Barbara est quae non aut fortuitò, aut inevitabili quadam ne∣cessitate coacta, aliquid in usum communem adinvenerit quod Nationes alias humaniores latuit. Nor should we disdain the Remedies of such illiterate People, onely because of their being unacquainted with our Theory of Physick. For though I will not say, as the old Empericks wittily enough did in that Passage of Celsus, Requirere etiam, ratio idem doceat quod experientia, an aliud? Si idem supervacuum esse, si aliud etiam contrarium. But lest we should, by too great reliance on the Galenical, or other ancient Opinions, neglect useful Remedies, because presented by Persons that ignore them, and perhaps too, hold Opinions contrary to them, I shall leave you to consider what is in the Person of the same Em∣perical Sect, represented by Celsus, where having spoken of the darkness of the causes of Things, and the uncertainty of the Theorems of Physick: Ac nihil istas cogitationes (saith he) ad Medicinam pertinere, eo quo{que} disci, quod qui diversa

de his senserint ad eandem tamen sanitatem homines perduxe∣rint.* 1.46 Id enim fecisse, quia non ab obscuris causis ne{que} à natura∣libus actionibus, quae apud eos diversae erant: sed ab Experimen∣tis, prout cui{que} respondeant, medendi vias traxerint, ne inter initia quidem ab istis quaestionibus deductam esse medicinam sed ab Experimentis, &c. For though this Sentence ascribes too little to reason, yet there is something in it that deserves to be considered: Especially since we observe not that the late Anatomical Discoveries of the motion of the Chyle and Lim∣phatick Liquor, by formerly unknown ways, in newly de∣tected Vessels, hath yet made Men cure Diseases much bet∣ter then before. Not that I think that Anatomical and Patho∣logical Discoveries will not, in process of time (when the Historia facti shall be fully and indisputably made out, and the Theories thereby suggested, clearly establish'd) highly conduce to the improvement of the Therapeutical part of Physick; but yet this Observation may make it the more reasonable to beware of relying so much upon the yet dispu∣table Opinions of Physitians, as to despise all Practises, though usually successful, th••t agree not with them: For of such our Author speaks well, In omnibus ejusmodi cogitatio∣nibus in utram{que} partem disseri posse, ita{que} ingenium & facun∣diam vincere: morbos autem non eloquentiâ sed remediis cu∣rari; quae si quis elinguis usu discreta benè nôrit, hunc aliquan∣to majorem medicum futurum quam si, sine usu, linguam suam excoluerit. And Paracelsus spoke well too, if he spoke tru∣ly, when in one of his Prefaces, speaking to those whom he invited to hear him expound his Books of Phyfick and Chy∣rurgery at Basil, Illos tamen (saith he of the formerly men∣tioned Books) non aliorum mo••e ex Hippocrate aut Galeno, aut quibuslibet emendicatus, sed quos summa rerum doctrina, experientia at{que} labore assequut us sum, proinde si quid probatu∣rus

experimenta, ac ratio, auctorum loco, mihi suffragantur.

It would, Pyrophilus, I fear, be tedious to trouble you here with all that I have met with in good Authors applicable to my present subject, and the Design I have been prosecu∣ting in favor of external Remedies: But yet one Passage there is, which doth so notably confirm what we have deli∣ver'd, as well touching the Efficacy of simple Medicines, as the great cures that may, in divers cases, be perform'd by outward Applications, that I must not here omit the men∣tioning of it, as I find it in the Epistle Written out of Peru to the inquisitive Monardes, in these words: In urbe Posto,* 1.47 ubi aliquot annis vixi, omnis generis morbos Indus quidam curabat solo cujusdam Plantae succo artubus & parti affectae illito. Aegros deinde stragulis egregiè tegebat ad sudorem pro∣vocandum: Sudor è partibus illitis emanans, merus sanguis erat, quem lineis pannis abstergebat, atque ita in curatione per∣gebat, donec satis sudasse putaret, optimis interea cibis eos alens. Eo Remedio multi morbi deplorati curabantur, imò agri juni∣ores & robustiores ab ejus usu fieri videbantur; sed ne{que} pretio, ne{que} precibus, ne{que} minis unquam ••fficere potuimus, ut eam plan∣tam nobis demonstraret.

CHAP. XI.

BUt, Pyrophilus, besides such external Medicines as work after the manner of those I have heretofore mention'd, we may possibly without absurdity, provided we do it with∣out cre••ulity, enquire, Whether there may not be a sort of others that operate, in a more wonderful and extraordinary way? And it would not perhaps be altogether unworthy the Experiment, to try whether or no, there may not sometimes be performed, such cures as are wont to pass, either for

Fabulous or Magical; some of them being to be done with∣out exhibiting, or applying any thing immediatly to the Pa∣tient, and others by some such unknown wayes as those which Chymists call, either Magnetism, or Transplantation: such as are the cures reported to be perform'd by the Wea∣pon-salve, and Sympathetick Powder, and such as is that cure of the Yellow Jaundice (mention'd with some variation by Paracelsus) wh••rein seven or nine cakes (for it must, for∣sooth, be an odde number) are made up with the newly emit∣ted and warm Urine of the Patient, and the Ashes of Ash∣wood, and buried for some daies in a Dunghil. For it is not only by the easie and superstitious vulgar, that the possibility of performing such cures, by transplantation, or some other Magnetical way (as they are pleas'd to call it) hath been be∣lieved; For within the compasse of my own slender rea∣ding, I find that divers Eminent Physicians, have both made use of, and commended Magnetical Remedies.

What is to be thought of the Sympathetick Powder; I confesse I am as yet in doubt, but however I shall take this occasion to inform you, That a very honest Gentleman, whom his Pen has made known to a great part of the Lear∣ned Men, and Virtuosi in Europe, complaining often to me, that though he were much troubled with, that sad disease, the Stone in the Bladder, yet he was more incessantly tor∣mented with an Ulcer he had in the same part (all the sear∣ching Medicines that he took to dissolve, as he hop'd, the Stone, exasperating the Ulcer:) I one day advis'd him to make trial of the Powder of Sympathy, upon some of the Ulcerous Matter he voided with his Urine; the Remedy being such, as if it had a Magnetick Virtue, might do him good, and if it had none, could not prejudice him; a while after, I receiv'd both from him in a Letter, and from his

Physician very great thanks for the advice; the Patient ha∣ving since the use of the Powder, been eas'd of the distinct pain he was put to by the Ulcer, and this relief lasted, if I misremember not, above a Year, and how much longer I know not. But I shall not insist either upon this, or upon the Testimonies and Relations of Paracelsus, Helmont, Go∣clenius, Burgravius, nor even the modern Roman Doctor Ser∣vius, nor any of the other Authors that do professedly take upon them the defence of the Weapon-Salve, by reason of what we have elsewhere to Write to you, by way of Exami∣nation of that Salve, and the Sympathetick Powder, though I deny not in some Trials, I have found them unavailable; Yet besides what I have newly related, I have seen sometimes something follow upon the use of the Symathetick Powder, that did incline me to think, that sometimes it might work Cures. But I shall alleadg something of more unsuspected credit, and first Dominicus Panarola now Professor of Phy∣sick at Rome in his newly divulged Fasciculus Arcanorum presents us two instances to our present purpose,* 1.48 in these wor••s. Mira (say's he) quotidie reperiuntur in Medicina ad confirmationem operis quod Doctissimus Physicus, Petrus Servius (the same we lat••ly mentioned) complevit de unguento armario, sciendum ••st, quòd petia sanguine imbuta sub cineri∣bus calidis posita menses sistit experimento pluries comprobata: quin etiam Magister meus Petrus Castellus whose name his late Anatomy of the Civet Cat, and other Writings have made Famous) ajebat se expertum fuisse Hemorrihoides, si tangan∣tur tuberosa radice Chondrilla, siccari, si Chondrilla siccetur; corrumpi vero si corrumpatur:* 1.49 quapropter sub Camino exsiccan∣da ponitur, post hujusmodi tactum Chondrilla tuberosa. The Learned Salmuth in his Observations furnishes us with an Example of a most violent pain of the Arme, removed by

Transplantation: They did beat up Red Corals with Oaken leaves, and having kept them on the part affected, till suppu∣ration; they did in the Morning put this mixture into an Hole bored with an Auger in the Root of an Oak, re∣specting the East, and stopt up this Hole with a Peg, made of the same Tree, from thenceforth the pain did altogether cease, and when they took out the Amulet, immediately the torments returned sharper then before. A great and excel∣lent Lady (a near Kinsvvoman, Pyrophilus, of yours and mine) and very far from credulous, confess'd to me, as did her ser∣vants also, that with the above mentioned Remedie of Ashes and Urine, she was not only once cured of the Yellow Jaun∣dice, by a Friend of hers that had observed, that she had been fruitlesly vexed by a Tedious course of Physick, prescribed by the famousest Doctor then in England; but that after∣wards relapsing into that same Disease she had cured her self by the same Remedy. I remember, that being some years since brought almost to the brink of the Grave by a suddain effusion of Blood within my Body, from which without a signal mercy of God, I should not have recovered, among other men skilled in Physick that came to assist me, in that danger, I was visited by a Galenist of much repute, whose pale looks inviting me to enquire what it was that ailed him, he answered me, That he had not long before been despe∣rately sick of an obstinate Marasmus, which notwithstanding all the Remedies he could use, did daily so consume him, that he appeared but a Skeleton, whereupon having found the uneffectualness of ordinary Remedies, and being hope∣less of being relieved by them, he resolved to try a Sympa∣thetick Medicine, which I remember my self to have met with in Hartman. He took then an Egge, and having boi∣led it hard in his own warme Urine, he with a Bodkin perfo∣rated

the shell in many places, and then buried it in an Ant∣hil, where it was left to be devour'd by the Emmets, and as they wasted the Egge, he found his distemper to lessen, and his strength to encrease, insomuch that he now conceived his Disease to have quite left him.

The Experienc'd Riverius in his last Observations (new∣ly publish'd since his Death) has two notable Examples to our present purpose. For (a) 1.50 first, he tells us, that the eldest Daughter of a great Officer in France, was so tormented with a Paronychia for four daies together, that the pain made her passe the night sleepless; whereupon having by Riverius his order, put her Finger into a Cats Eare, within two houres she was deliver'd from her Pain, and her whole hand, which before was Tumid, unswell'd again; except the Finger, which it self was out of Pain.(b) 1.51 The other case was of a Counsellors Wife, who by the same Remedy was cured of a Panaritium (which had for four daies vex'd her) in a much shorter time then the other, namely within a quarter of an Houre. But that which chiefly makes these stories pertinent to our pre∣sent occasion, is this notable Circumstance, that in both these cases, the Cat was so manifestly put to pain, that Riverius thought it had attracted to it selfe the morbifick matter from which it freed the Patient; For in the former of these two cases, the Cat loudly complain'd of the pain he felt, and in the other, was, in that short time the cure was in perfor∣ming, put to so much pain in his Eare, that two men were hardly able to hold him fast, he struggl'd so forcibly. And these two relati••ns of Riverius, may, though there be some disparity in the cases, give some countenance to what might otherwise be distrusted in the Observations of the Industri∣ous (c) 1.52 Petrus Borellus, where he saies, Podagra mirè leva∣tur, si catelli cumpodagrico recumbant, morbum enim contra∣hunt

adeo ut vix incedere queant; Aeger verò levamen sus∣cipit. Which perhaps he may have been induced to write by the story that goes of, that odde Chymist, Robert Fludd's having transplanted the Gout of one of his Patients, by ma∣king him often sleep, with a Dog that was fond of him, who thereby became afterwards subject to such periodical fits of the Gout, as the Master had been troubled with.

[And since I begun this Chapter, and met with these Ob∣servations, discoursing of this matter with a judicious per∣son, well skill'd in Physick, and whom his learned Writings have made Eminent, He told me, that he had not very ma∣ny Months since, seen a Cure by Transplantation, perform'd on the Son of one that was wont to make Chymical Vessels for me: and because the Observation is considerable, that there might be no mistake in it, he was pleas'd to set it me down in writing (attested with his annexed name) which enables me to present it you in his own words, namely: N. N. of N. Potter, had a Sonne, who was long sick of the Kings Evil, which swell'd much, and broek into sores at last, which he could by no ordinary means heale. The old Man had then a Dog, which took an use of licking the soares, which the Dog continued so long, till he w••sted the ve••y kernels of the Ulcers th••t were knit in with the Veins, and perfectly cur'd the sore, but had the swelling transplanted to him∣self, so that he had hereupon a great swelling, that a••ose and continued on his Throat. The Lad was hereby freed, and so continu'd to be till 1660, and for ought I know, is so this day. This I saw being there at that time to view the Clayes, and bespeak Retorts of the old man. * 1.53]

And to confirm the credibility, as well as increase the num∣ber of our magnetical waies of cure; I shall adde, That S^t Francis Bacon himself Records, with great solemnity,* 1.54 his own having been freed, not only from very many new warts, but from one almost as old as he, by a piece of Lard, vvith the skin on it, which after having rub'd upon them, was exposed out of a Southern Window to putrifie. And therefore, though the vanity and superstition of most of the Authors that speak of Magnetick Remedies, and the impertinent cir∣cumstances, that are usually prescribed, as necessary to their effectualness, do generally, and justly enough, make sober men despise, or at least suspect such unlikely waies of cure; yet in consideration of the instances lately produced (to which we may perhaps elsewhere adde some others) and because divers men, as well Physitians as others, have seri∣ously assured me of their having been some of them eye∣witnesses, and others p••rformers of such cures; I am apt to think it fit, that, a severe indeed, but yet further trial be made of Physical Experiments of this kind. And I cannot but commend the curiosity of D^r Harvey, who, as rigid a Natura∣list as he is, scrupled not often to try the Experiment men∣tioned by H••lmont, of curing some Tumors or Excrescen∣cies, by holding on them for a pretty while (that the cold may throughly penetrate) the Hand of a man dead of a lin∣gring disease; which Experiment, the Doctor was not long since, pleased to tell me, he had sometimes try'd fruitlesly, but often with good successe. N••r doth the grand Ob∣jection against such Experiments, namely, that such or such a person, having once made trial of them, found them not succeed, seem at all to me, alone, of weight enough to make such Experiments, or those other improbable ones formerly mentioned, totally rejected: Because, that if they

really do sometimes succeed, though sometimes they chance to fail, yet that possibility of their succeeding may suffici∣ently evince, that there are really in Nature Medicines that worke after that extraordinary manner. And I see no rea∣son, why it should be more required of those Medicines, that work at a distance from the Patient (or at least are not t••ken at the Mouth, or injected otherwhere) only by subtle Efflu∣via, that they should alwaies cure, then it is exacted of vulgar Remedies, from which we might reasonably expect more const••nt effects, because of their being either inwardly given, or more immediately or at least more durably applied to the Patient. And if Rubarb be, justly affirmed to be an ex∣cellent medicine in Loosenesses, though we daily in Ireland see many swept away those diseases, in spight of the use of Rubarb and Mirabolans, with other ast••ingent Remedies to boot: And if quiksilver be, not un••easonably, by most of our Physitians esteemed, and employed as an effectual Reme∣dy against Venereal Diseases, because it sometimes removes them; though Fernelius, Montanus, and many other Learned Authors tell us, as they say upon their own experience, that (though it often palliate those distempers) it very sesdome cures them. Nay, and if Diaphoreticks are still esteemed such by the generality of Physitians, though few Sudor••ficks will cause sweat in all bodie, and scarce any in some bodies, I see not, why these Remedies, that wo••k, as it were, by Ema∣nation, may not deserve the name of Medicines, if they some∣times unquestionably succeed, though they should not alwaies prove successful ones; Nor why they should, notwith∣standing their sometimes not succeeding be laid asi••e, especi∣ally since these sympathetical wayes of cure are most of them so safe and innocent, that, though, if they be real, they may do much good, if they prove fictions they can do no harme,

(unlesse by accident, as in case the Patient should so singly rely on them, as to neglect (which he need not) all other helps to recover.)

CHAP. XII.

BUt you will now perhaps demand, Pyrophilus, how the Naturalist, as such, can contribute to the Credit or Ad∣vancement of the mentioned ways of curing Diseases, with∣out the wonted weakning and painful Evacuations? In an∣swer to this Question, I must put you in minde, That it would be no new thing for Naturalists, not professedly Phy∣sitians, to treat of this subject; and that the Naturalist may afford good Hints to the Practitioner of Physick, both upon divers other accounts already touch'd upon, and by trying on Bruits variety of hitherto untryed Medicaments or Remedies, and by suggesting to him both the Events of such Tryals, and also what hath been already observed about the cures of the Diseases incident to Beasts. For though (as we formerly told you) there are some things that are not e∣qually Poysonous, as others not equally Safe, to Man and to some Bruits; yet there are other Beasts, especially Dogs and Monkeys, whose Bodies are, by many Poysons, affect∣ed almost like those of Men: And since according to the old Rule, Periculum faciendum est in vili animâ, many things may be very well tryed on such Creatures, that we dare not at first venture to try on Men. We may give Dogs Poysons, onely to try the Vertue of our Antidotes; and we may give them Wounds, to make tryal of the efficacy of the Weapon∣salve and Sympathetick Pow••er: Since divers of my Friends (as I have intimated above) assure me, That they have some of them seen, and others performed cures of Horses, lam'd by pricking, by sticking the Nails that hurt

them into the Weapon-salve; which for that very use, a∣mong others, some of them are wont to carry about them in Silver Boxes. When Oxen, and such-like Cattle, are troubled with that Disease which makes them continually turn about in one place (and is therefore called The turning Evil, or Sturdy) a common Remedy here in England, ••s Gra∣siers that make use of it inform me, is to cast down and tye fast the sick Beast, and then to open his Skull a good way (or, if need be, take off a round piece of it over the place sup∣posed to be affected) and at the open place to take out a lit∣tle Bag or Bladder, which is usually found to lye near the Membranes of the Brain, and to be full of Water and Blood, and then leisurely to heal up the hurt: And this cure is much commended, as both common and easie, by our experienced Markham. In Goates likewise, that are much subject to the Dropsie, the Husband-man ventures to slit, and let out the Water under the Shoulder.* 1.55 And divers hazardous Ope∣rations in Chirurgery, such as are Arteriotomy, the Exse∣ction of the Spleen and other parts, were, or should have been first attempted upon Bruits, and then practised on humane Bodies. And in imitation of these, 'tis likely that divers o∣ther Experiments, of good use in Chirurgery, may be dis∣covered for the relief of Man, without Endangering him in prosecuting such Discoveries. And to say nothing of the known practice of splaying Swine and Bitches; In the Neigh∣borhood of a Country House of mine, in the West of Eng∣land, and probably in divers other parts, some experienc'd Shepheards have an odde way of castrating male Sheep, espe∣cially Lambs, when they are grown so old that 'tis thought dangerous to geld them the common way. A Servant of mine that deals much in Cattle, and had lately divers Sheep swigg'd (as they call it) after this manner, tells me that is thus done: The Beast, on whom the Operation is to be perform∣ed,

being held by a strong Man with his Belly upwards, an∣other strong Man draws a string, as firmly as he can (tying it with a knot or two, to prevent its yielding or slipping off) a∣bout the Testicles, as if he meant by drawing that string, to cut them off; and then anointing the part with a little fresh Butter, or some such like thing, he lets the Ram goe to feed; which for the most part (notwithstanding the anguish of this Ligature) he will begin to do in a short time: And within two or three days, the Testicles being, by the strict Ligature, denyed the Nutriment and Spirits that were wont to be conveyed to them will grow so rotten as either, together with the string, to fall off, or be very easily pull'd off, sometime stinking very rankly like Carrion. And even among those things that are already practised by Farriers, Shepherds and Graziers there are many such things as we have newly mentioned, which may serve either to enrich or illustrate the way of curing humane Bodies: Their ignorance and credu∣lousness, together with the liberty and meaness of those Creatures they physick, gives them leave to venture on any thing, having made them try upon Horses and Cattle, many such things as Physitians dare not try upon Men and Wo∣men. And among those many extravagant things, some, as it oftens happens, have succeeded so prosperously, as to de∣serve to be considered by the skilfullest Physitians; Some of whom might, without disparagement to their Profession, do it an useful piece of service, if they would be pleased to collect and digest all the approved Experiments and Practices of the Farriers, Graziers, Butchers, and the like, which the Ancients did not despise, but honored with the Titles of Hippiatrica and Veterinaria: And among which, if I had leisure, divers things may be taken notice of, which might serve to illustrate the Methodus medendi. As to give you but

one Instance which lately occurred to me, The Usefulness of letting Blood in some cases, Which is so severely condemned by many Chymists, and the efficacy of a small, if seasonable, Evacuation, which can scarce be conceiv'd to do more then alter the course of the Blood, may be illustrated by the Staggers in Horses, and the Cure of it. For I have seen a Coach-horse, ready to drop down dead of his Disease upon the High-way, by having his Gums rubb'd with the Coach∣whip till the Blood appear'd, relieved almost in a moment so much, that though he were not well able to stand before, yet he was immediatly able to go on, and draw the Coach with his fellows.

CHAP. XIII.

THe next thing we are to observe to you, Pyrophilus; and on which its nature and importance will engage us somewhat long to insist, is this, That the Handling of Phy∣sical matters was Antiently thought to belong to the Natu∣ralist; as we are clearly informed by the judicious Celsus, in that memorable Passage, where speaking of the Origin of Physick, Primo (saies he) medendi scientia Sapientiae pars habe∣batur;* 1.56 ut & morborum curatio & rerum naturae contemplatio sub iisdem Authoribus nata sit: Scilicet his hanc maxime requi∣rentibus, qui corporum suorum robora, inquieta cogitatione nocturna{que} vigiliâ, minuerant. He adds, that many of the Professors of Philosophy were skilful in Physick, especially Pythagoras, Empedocles, and Democritus, and that Hippocrates (whom some think to be the disciple of this last nam'd) was the first who severd Physick from Philosophy, and made it a distinct Discipline, And this Apologie for the ensuing dis∣course being thus premised to it, I shall further Answer,

that I should perhaps be obliged to exceed the limits of an ESSAY, if I should in this Discourse insist on every thing, upon whose account the Naturalist may assist the Phy∣sitian, if he be barely a Medicus to cure Diseases, which that you may the more readily believe, I shall Select and prose∣cute some of these things in the remaining part of this ESSAY.

And first I shall represent to you on this subject, That the account upon which Physitians are wont to reject, if not, deride the use of such Specificks, as seem to work after a secret and unknown manner, and not by visibly Evacuating peccant humours (or by other supposedly manifest qualities) being generally this, That they see not how the promis'd Effects can well be produced by Bodies, that must work after so peculiar and undiscerned a manner; This being, I say, the great thing that hinders Physitians from endeavouring to find, or, so much as, being willing to make use of Remedies of this sort, the Naturalists may do much towards the remo∣val of this Impediment, by shewing out of such things as may be met with or performed within the Macrocosme, That such, or at least as strange operations as are ascrib'd to these Specificks, are not without Example in Nature; and consequently ought not to be rejected, barely as being impo∣ssible. And indeed the Physiologie, wherewith Physitians as well as others are wont to be imbu'd in the Schools, has done many of them no small Disservice by, accustoming them to grosse apprenhensions of Natures wayes of working. Whence it comes to passe, that not a few ev'n Learned Doctors will never expect, that any great matter should be performed in Diseases, by such Remedies as are neither ob∣vious to the sence, nor Evacuate any grosse, or at least sen∣sible matter. Whereas, very great alterations may be

wrought in a Body, especially if Liquid, as is the Blood and peccant Humour, without the Ingresse or Egresse of any visible matter, by the intestine commotion of the parts of the same body acting upon one another, and thereby acqui∣ring a differing Motion, Location (if I may so speak) or Figure, which, with the other Qualities and Effects resulting thence, may alter the motion and Texture of the Liquor, and there∣by produce great changes in the Body that Harbours it. How much an unperceiv'd recesse of a few subtile Parts of a Liquor may alter the Nature of it, may be guess'd at, by the obvious change of Wine into Vineger; wherein upon the Avolation (or perhaps but the misplacing) of so little of the Spirituous and Sulphureous part, that it's Presence, Absence, or new Combination with the other Parts is not discernable to the Eye, the scarce decreased Liquor, becomes of a quite differing Nature from what it was. And though in Eng∣land this Degeneration be not wont to be so suddenly per∣form'd by reason of the coldness of the Climate, yet in hot∣ter Count••ies the change is much more speedily made. As in Brasil, the above mentioned Piso informes us, that the ex∣pressed Juice of the Suger Canes, which by Coction, ••nd far∣ther ordering, would be certainly brought to Suger, will of it self keep sweet but about four and twenty Houres, and then begin to sowre,* 1.57 and be altogether unfit to make Suger of, though very fit to turne into good Vinegar. And this I find confirm'd by a Modern and applauded French Wri∣ter in his Description, of some parts of the West Indies, inhabited by his Nation: And relations of the same sort, con∣cerning the hasty sowring of some other Liquors in Ame∣rica I have had from our English Travellers and Planters. And in the East-Indies, Linschoten tells us of a change much more suddain: For speaking of the formerly men∣tion'd

Sura or Liquor, afforded by the wounded Coc••-tree. The same Water (sayes he) standing but one Houre in the Sunne is very good Vineger,* 1.58 and in India they have none other. And that even very hurtful Liquors (and why not then some peccant matter in the body?) may after the like manner change their Nature may appear by what we have formerly mentioned, and is unanimously affirm'd by credi∣ble Writers of several Nations, concerning the juice of Man∣dioca, which being Poyson,* 1.59 when it is first express'd do's in a few houres by Fermentation, purge its selfe and loose its per∣nicious Nature. That also by the bare Ingresse of some Subtile and not visible Matter, such intestine Commotions may be excited in Liquors, may appear by the sowring which has been often observed upon great Thunders to happen, not onely to wines, but to other Vinous Liquors also, as I lately received from a great Master of variety of Liquors, a com∣plaint that by some Thunder, which happen'd here a few weeks since, almost all the Beer and Ale in the neighbour∣hood was spoil'd. And I remember, that when I return'd out of Italy thorow Geneva, there happen'd in that place an Earthquake, upon which, the Citizens complaind, that much of their wine was sowr'd, though I that lodg'd in the highest part of the Town, saw nothing to make me believe, that the bare Succussion of the Earth was capable to produce so great and suddain an alteration in the Wine.

That such invisible Corpuscles may passe from Amulets, or other external Remedies into the Blood and Humours, and there produce great changes, will scarce seem improbable to him that considers how perspirable according to Hippocrates a living body is, and that Vegetable and Animal Body's, whose Texture is more loose and open, may well be suppo∣sed to send forth Expirations, since even divers Minerals are

found to do the like; as may appear by the odorable steames of rub'd Brimstone, and Amber, by the Corpuscles, which performe the Magnetick Operations, by the Emetick Qua∣lity imparted to Liquors by the Glasse of Antimony, and by Crocus Metallorum barely infus'd in them, without sensibly loosing any thing, either of their bulk or weight; and by the vertue of killing Wormes, wherewith Wine, and even Wa∣ter has been, not only by Helmont, but by divers other Phy∣sitians observed to be enrich'd, after a Quantity of Quicksil∣ver has been for some Houres sh••ken in it, though without any sensible deperdition of the substance of the Mercury. And indeed I have somewhat wondred that many Learned moderne Physitians, either out of an affected Severity, or perhaps Animosity against Chymists, ov••rlook or even de∣ride all operations of this Nature; Since I remember Galen himself, not only confirmes the like Doctrine, by his Reasons and Authority, but delivers a very strang Example of it; for,* 1.60 under the Title of Glychysida, Treating of Peony, He thus Discourses, Est praeterea omnino resiccatoria: Ea propter haud desperaverim eam ex collo pueris suspensam merito Comi∣tialem morbum sanare. Equidem vidi puellum quandoque octo totis mensibus morbo Comitiali liberum, ac postea fortuna cum quod à collo suspensum erat decidisset, protinus denuo con∣vulsione correptum; rursusque suspenso in locum illius alio, in∣culpate postea egisse, Porro visum est mihi satius esse rursum id collo detrahere, certioris experientiae gratia: id cum fecissem, ac puer iterum esset convulsus, magnam recentis radicis partem ex collo ejus suspendimus, ac deinceps prorsum sanus effectus est puer, nec postea convulsus est. Rationabile itaque erat, aut partes quaspiam à radice d••fluentes, ac deinde per inspi∣rationem attractas, affectos ita locos curare, aut Aerem à radice assidue mutari & alterari. Nam hoc pacto

Succus Cyrenaicus collumellam plegmone affectam juvat & Melanthion frictum palam Catarrhos & Coryzas desiccat, Si quis id in calidum linteum, rarum, liget assidue{que} calorem ex eo per inspirationem in nares attrahat. Quin etiam si plu∣ribus linis, & maximè marinae purpurae, collo viperae injectis, illis viperam praefoces, eaque postea cujuspiam collo obvincias, mirifice profueris tum Paristhmiis tum omnibus iis quae in collo expullulant. Nay, that such invisible Bodies, by pa∣ssing thorough grosser ones, and thereby changing the Moti∣on and nexus or Juncture of their parts, may produce lasting alterations in their Textures (though it be a Paradox) seems not to me at all impossible. For we find the most fluid Body of Quicksilver has been sometimes, (I say sometimes) and therefore may, without sensible increase of Bulke, be coa∣gulated by a Metalline Exhalation so, as to be cut like Lead, and to retain that solidity, 'till by some Art or other it be reduc'd to its pristine Fluidnesse. You may be inclin'd to think, that the hard and solid Body of Iron has a permanent alteration made in it's Texture, if you hold a Needle during a competent time neer the Pole of a Vigorous Loadstone without touching it. For the Magnetical Effluvia (as may very probably be conceiv'd) will so dispose the parts of the nearest extream of the Needle, as that they shall admit the steames that come from one of the Poles of the Load-stone, and not those that come from the other: whereas by skilfully holding it to the contrary Pole of the same Stone, the internal Pores, and consequently the Texture of the Needle, will presently be quite otherwise disposed in reference to the Magnetical Effluvia; as we more fully declare in another ESSAY, where we shall, I suppose, also perswade you, that the Effects of the Load-stone are performed by subtil Bodies issuing from, or passing through it. What

we have in a former discourse told you concerning our having at pleasure changed the Poles of a Load-stone, by help of the Magnetica Effluvia of the Earth, may let you see that in Stones, also such alterations are possible to be made. And in the next ESSAY save one, we shall give you another Instance, pertinent to our present purpose. For if you heat a slender piece of Steel (as a graver, or the like) red hot, and suffer it to cool leisurely in the Air, it will continue flexi∣ble enough, and of so soft a Texture, that you may easily make impressions on it, with any hardned Steel: But if, instead of cooling it thus slowly, you knock it into such a dry Body, as we shall there name to you, it will immediately grow so hard, as to be brittle. Which alteration, whether it be resolved to proceed from the particular Effluvia of the Body, into which it is knocked, or barely from the ingresse of the Cor∣puscles of Cold; (if any such there be) it will be however an Instance not unfit for our purpose. And those Pyrophilus, that are conversant in Glass houses, may easily observe, that Glass acquires a more or lesse brittle Texture, according as (to speak in the Glass-mens language) it is baked. For if after Glasses are blown, they be quickly carried into the open Air, they are wont to be much more subject to break, then those, that after they are fashioned are placed in a kind of very long Oven (which is wont to be built over ••he Furnace, wherein the materials, whereof the Glass is made are kept in Fusion) and are by slow degrees refrigerated, and not 'till after some houres exposed to the open Air: For whether this difference of Brittleness, and consequently of Texture, be ascribed to the interrupted Transcursion of some Etherial matter, through the Pores of the Glasse, or to the insinuations of the Atoms of the Cold, or to this, that the Particles of the Glasse agitated by the heat, were surpriz'd by the Cold,

before they could make an end of those Motions which were requisite to their disposing themselves into the most durable Texture; it is evident enough, that 'tis by no gross or vi∣sible Body, that this permanent difference of Texture is pro∣duced. Of the like to which we may elsewhere give you Ex∣amples, in some other Concretes. That also in an human Body, great alterations may be made by very subtil Effluvia, appeares evidently, not only by the instances we have for∣merly given of the efficacy of some outwardly applied Re∣medies, but by divers other things, as that many are purged by the bare Odor of Potions, of which I have been assured upon his own Observation by the experienced Town Physician of Plimmouth Dr D. And of which Salmuth in his Obser∣vations, gives us an instance in a young Gentlewoman,* 1.61 whom he saw more happily purged, by the Odor of a Potion, drunk by her Sister, then she was that took the Medicine. And the same Author tells us,* 1.62 of one Dr Pfeil an eminent Physi∣tian, who was wont, when he had a mind to be Purged, to goe into some Apothecaries shop, where Electuaries electively purging were preparing, to which having a while smelt, they would by their Odour, after his return home, work with him six or seven times, as if he had swallowed the Medi∣cine it self. And Henricus ab Heer, in the twenty ninth of his formly commended Observations, tells us, Of a Woman that not only was wont to be copiously purg'd by drinking Bief-broth, but having by a fall broken her Leg, us'd no other Cathartick, then the bare Odor of that sort of Broth. And very Observable to our purpose, is the operation of the Air, all along the ridg of the high mountaine in Peru, called Pariacaca, of which the Learned Jesuite Joseph Acosta relates, That though he went as well prepared as he could,* 1.63 to with∣stand the Operations usually produc'd in Travails, by that

piercing Air, yet when he approached to the top of the Mountain, he was (notwithstanding all his Provision) surpri∣z'd with such fits, and pangs, of striving and casting, as he thought he should cast up his Heart too; having after meat, Phlegme, and Choler, both yellow and green, in the end with over striving cast up Blood; and continued thus sick for three or four houres, 'till he had passed into a more temperate Air then that of the top of the Mountain; which runn's about 500 Leagues, and has every where, though not equ••lly this discomposing property, having operated upon some of his companions, as well downwards as upwards. A greater proof of the power of Steams upon the Body may be taken from the propagation of Infectious Diseases, which being conveyed by insensible Effluvia, from a sick into a healthy Body, are able to disorder the whole Oeconomy of it, and act those sad Tragedies, which Physitians do so often unsucces∣fully indeavour to hinder. But you will cease to doubt, that Corpuscles, though so small as to be below the sense, should be able to performe great matters upon humane Bodies; if you consider what alterations may be therein produced by the bare actions of the parts upon one another. This may appear by the effects of several Passions of the mind, which are often excited by the bare, if attentive, thoughts of absent things. In obstinate grief and Melancholy, there is that altera∣tion made in the disposition of the Heart, and perhaps some other parts by wh••ch the Blood is to Circulate, that the lively motion of that liquor is thereby disturbed, and ob∣structions and other not easily remov'd distempers are occa∣sion'd. The bare remembrance of a loathsome Potion, does of∣tentimes produce in me (and I doubt not, but the like thought may have the like Operation in many others) a Horror, attended with a very sensible Commotion of divers parts of

my Body, especially with a kind of convulsive motion, in or about the Stomack. And what power the Passions have to alter and determine the course of the Blood, may appear yet more manifestly in modest and bashful persons, especially Women, when meerly upon the remembrance or thought of an unchast, or undecent thing, mentioned before them, the motion of the Blood will be so determin'd, as to passe suddenly and plentifully enough into the Cheeks (and some∣times other parts) to make them immediatly wear that livery of Vertue (as an Old Philosopher styl'd it) which we call a Blush. And even by joy, if great and sudden, I not long since saw in persons of both Sexes, not only the Cheeks and Fore∣head, but it left (as to the Lady) even the Neck and Shoulders Died of that Colour. And that Passions, may not only alter the Motion of the Juyces of the Body, but likewise make some separation and evacuation of them, may appear in grief, which is wont especially in Women to make all the Commo∣tions requisite to weeping: whereby oftentimes a considera∣ble quantity of Briny Liquor, is excluded at the Eyes, under the forme of Tears, by which divers (especially Hysterical) Persons are wont to find themselves much refreshed, though with some it fares otherwise in teeming Women. Also that vehement desire we call Longing, may well be supposed to produce great alterations in the Body of the Mother, which leaves such strange and lasting impressions upon that of the Infant; since 'tis the Mother only, and not at all the Infant that conceives those importunate desires.

CHAP. XIV.

THere are many Instances to be met with in Physitians Books, to shew that Imagination is able so to alter the Imagining person's Body, as to work such a disposition in the Spirits, Blood and Humors of it, as to produce the de∣terminate Disease that is excessively feared. And I remem∣ber, that soon after the last Fair Lady R. Died of the Small Pox, I chanced to meet one of her Sisters with her Mask on amongst some other Persons of High Quality, and won∣dring to see her sit Maskt in such Company, her Husband (who was present) told me, That his Wife having been hap∣pily brought to Bed some while before her Sister fell sick; he had carefully kept the knowledg of her sicknesse from his Wife; least the kindnesse that was betwixt them two might prejudice her in the condition she was in, but that after, a while a Lady unawares making mention in her hea∣ring of her Sisters sickness, she immediatly fancied, That she should have it too, and accordingly fell sick of that dis∣figuring Disease, whose Marks obliged her for a while to weare a Mask. Nor is it in Women only, but even in Men, that conceit may produce such real and lasting effects. For many authentick Histories record examples of those in whom excessive Grief or Fear has made such a change in the Colour of their Hair in a Night, as Nature would other∣wise have scarce made in divers Years. And I remember, that being about four or six Years since, in the County of Cork, there was an Irish Captain a man of middle Age and Stature, who coming with some of his followers to render himself to your Uncle Broghill, who then commanded the English Forces in those parts upon a publick profer of par∣don

to the Irish that would then lay down Arms, he was ca∣sually in a suspicious Place, met with by a party of the Eng∣lish and intercepted. And my Brother being then absent, upon a designe, he was so apprehensive of being put to Death, by the inferiour officers, before your Uncles returne, that that Anxiety of mind quickly changed the Colour of his Hair after a peculiar manner: of which I being then at that Castle of your Unkles whereunto he was brought) had quick∣ly notice given me, and had the Curiosity to examine this Captain, and found that the Hair of his H••ad, had not (as in the instances I had met with in Histories) uniformely chan∣ged its Colour, but that here and there certain peculiar Tufts and locks of it, whose Bases might be about an inch in Dia∣meter were thus suddenly turned White all over: the rest of his Hair (of which you know the Irish use to weare good store) retaining it's former Reddish Colour.

[You will mistake my design Pyrophilus, if you conclude from what I have said, concerning the Power of Effluvia, to work upon the Body that I am either so much an Helmonti∣an as to condemne the Use of all those Remedies that make such more grosse Evacuations (if I may so call them) as are made by Vomit, Seige, and the like; or that I would have you, or am my self so credulous, as to believe all the Vertues that are, ev'n by Eminent Writers ascribed to the Remedies called Specificks: For (to mention here but this) we have ob∣served, that the hopes built upon ev'n excellent Specificks, unlesse they be of such a resolving and abstersive Nature, as to be able to make way for themselves into the Recesses of the Body are oftentimes disappointed, where some Emetick or Cathartick Remedy has not been first us'd to free the Stomack and Guts from those viscous Humours, which ob∣structing the first passages much enervate the Vertue of the

Remedy, if they do not altogether deny it accesse to the innermost parts of the Body. That then which I aim at, is first to keep you from being prejudiced by the Confidence of some Learned Doctors, who laugh at the very name of Specificks, and will not allow any Disease to be curable, but by visible Evacuations of store of what they call peccant Matter; And next to give you cause to think that such Spe∣cificks, as men of judgment and credit do recommend upon their own Experience ought not to be rejected without Trial, upon the bare account of their not being either Lax∣ative or Vomitive, Sudorifick, or Diuretical; Nay, nor so much as for this, that they are not endow'd with any Emi∣nent Degree of any manifest Quality, such as Heat, Cold, Drinesse, Odor, Tast, Astriction and the like; nor able per∣chance to work any considerable alteration in a healthy Hu∣man Body. For I consider the Body of a living man, not as a rude heap of Limbs and Liquors, but as an Engine consisting of several parts so set together, that there is a strange and conspiring communication betwixt them, by vertue whereof, a very weak and inconsiderable Impression of adventitious matter upon some one part may be able to work on some other distant part, or perhaps on the whole Engine, a change far exceeding what the same adventitious Body could do upon a Body not so contriv'd. The faint motion of a mans little Finger upon a small piece of Iron that were no part of a Engine, would produce no considera∣ble Effect; but when a Musket is ready to be Shot off, then such a Motion being applied to the Trigger by vertue of the cont••ivance of the Engine, the Spring is immediatly let loose the Cock falls down, and knocks the flint against the Steel, opens the Pan, strikes Fire upon the Powder in it, which by the Touch-hole Fires the Powder in the Barrel and that

with great noise throw's out the ponderous Leaden Bullet with violence enough to kill a Man at Seven or Eight hun∣dred Foot distance. And that also the Engine of a Hu∣mane Body is so fram'd, as to be capable of receiving great alterations from seemingly slight Impressions of outward Objects, upon the bare account of its particular contrivance, may appear by several instances beside those which may be∣long to this Argument in the foregoing part of this ES∣SAY. When a man goes suddenly out into the Sun, it often happens, that those beames which light upon his Head, and would not in so short a time have any discernable effect on the least Hair of it, do allmost in a moment produce that strange and violent motion in the head and almost all the Body, which we call Sneezing. Men that from the top of some Pinacle or other high and steep place do look down to the bottome of it are at first very apt by the bare prospect, (which yet convey's nothing into the Body but those images, if yet there intervene corporeal ones in sensation of visible Objects that enter at the Eye) to become so giddy, that they are reduced to turne away their Eyes from the Praecipice for fear of not being able to stand upon their Leggs. And many that look'd fixedly upon a Whirle poole, or upon a very swift stream have had such a Vertiginous Motion there∣by impressed on their Spirits, that they have been unable to keep their Bodies upright, but have fallen into the Water they gazed on. And it is no lesse rem••rkable, that when a man is somewhat discompos'd at Sea, and yet not enough to Vomit freely; the Seamen are wont to advise him to look from the si••e of the Ship upon the Water, which see∣ming swiftly to passe by the Vessel, has upon the gazer the operation of a rapid stream, and by making him giddy ha∣stens and facilitates his Vomiting, as I h••ve somet••m••s t••ied

upon my self when I had a mind for healths sake to be put into a fit of Sea sicknesse. If a person be very Ticklish and you but gently stroke the Sole of his Foot with the top of a Feather, that languid Impression on the bottome of the foot shall, whether he will or no, put all those Muscles and other parts into motion, which are requisite to make that noise, and to exhibite that shape of the Face (so farre distant from the feet) which we call Laughing; and so the gentle Motion of a straw tickling the Nostrils is able to excite Sneezing. Most men may observe in themselves, that there are some such noises as those ma••e by the grating of an un∣greas'd Cart-wheele upon the Axle tree, or the tearing of course Paper which are capable of ••etting the Teeth on edge, which yet cannot be done without exciting a peculiar Mo∣tion in several parts of the Head. I had a servant, who some∣times complained to me of a much more rem••••kable and unfrequent disorder, namely, that when he was put to whet a Knife, that stridulous Motion of the Air was wont to make his Gummes bleed. Henricus ab Heer (in his Twenty n••nth Observation) Records a Story of a Lady, to whom he was sent for, who upon the hearing of the sound of a B••ll, or any loud noise, though Singing, would fall into fits of Soun••ing, which was scarce distinguish••ble from Death; an•• we may confirm that this disposition depended upon the Texture of her Body in r••ference to M••terial sounds by wh••t he sub∣joyns, that having well purg'd her, and given her for two Months the Spaa-waters, and other app••op••iate Remedies he throughly cur'd her. And it often enough happens, that when a Woman is in a Fit of the Mother, another H••sterical person standing by, is by reason of a peculiar Disposition of her Body, soon infected with the like strange discomposure.

And to shew you, that a distemper'd Body is both an Engine, and also an Engine disposed to receive alterations from such Impressions as will make none on a sound body, let me put you in mind that those subtile Ste••mes that wander through the Air before considerable changes of Weather disclose themselves, are wont to be painfully felt by many sickly Per∣sons and more constantly by men that have had great Bruises or Wounds in the parts that have been so hurt; though nei∣ther are healthy men at all incommodated thereby, nor do those themselves that have been hurt, feel any thing in those sound parts, whose Tone or Texture has not been alter'd or enfeebl'd by outward violence. I have known several also (and the thing is obvious) whose body's and Humours are so fram'd and constituted, that if (as men commonly speak) they ride backward in a Coach, that Motion will m••ke them giddy, and force them to Vomit. And it is very ordinary for Hysterical Women to fall into such Fits as counterfeit Epilepsies, Convulsions, and I know not what violent di∣stempers by the bare smell of Musk and Amber, and other strong perfumes, whose steames are yet so farre from having great, much lesse such Effects in other Humane body's, that almost all men, and the generality ev'n of healthy Women are not affected by them, unless with some innocent delight. And that even on men Odours (how minute and invisible bodies soever) may sometimes have very great power, may be gathered from the story told us by Zacutus Lucitanus,* 1.64 of a Fisherman, who having spent all his life at Sea, and being grown Old there, and coming to gaze upon a solemne re∣ception, made in a Maritine Town, to Sebastian King of Por∣tugal, was by the perfumes plentifully Burnt, to welcome the King immediatly cast upon the ground thereby into a F••t which two Physicians judg'd Apoplectical, and Physi••k'd

him accordingly 'till three daies after the Kings chiefe Phy∣sician Thomas à Vega guessing at the cause of his disease commanded him to be remov'd to the Sea side and cover'd with Sea Weeds, where within four Houres the Maritime Air and steames began to open his Eyes, and made him know those that were about him, and within not many Dayes restor'd him to health. We may also conjecture how much the alteration produced in the Body by sickness m••y dispose it to receive strong Impressions from things that would not otherwise much affect it, by this, That even a man in perfect health, and who is wont to Drink cold without the least harme, may, when he has much heated himself by exercise be cast by a draught of cold Drink into such sudden, formi∣dable, and dangerous di••tempers as, did not daily Experience convince us, we should scarce think possible to be produc'd in a Body, free from Morbid Humours by so familiar a thing as a cup of small bear or water; insomuch th••t Benive∣nius relates a Story of one, who after too vehement exercise Drinking a Glasse of very cold Water fell into a swoun, that was quickly succeeded by Death. And yet, to adde that on this occasion, in Bodies otherwise dispos'd a large draught of cold Water, Drunk even without thirst, may v••ry much relieve the D••incker, and prevent great Fit•• of the Mother, and partly of the Spleen, especially upon sudd••in f••ights, to which purposes I know some Hyste••ical Ladies that find in this Remedy, as themselves assure me more advantage then one wo••ld easily imagine.

And (further) to shew you that the Engine we are speaking of is alt••rable, as well for the better as for the worse, by such Motions of outward Bodies as in them∣selves consider'd, are languid, or at least may seem despica∣ble in reference to sickness or recovery; Let me call upon

you to consider a few, not unobvious things, which may also serve to confirme some part of what has hitherto been deliver'd.

[The true Mosse growing upon a Humane Skull, though I do not find Experience warrant all the strange things some Chymical Writers attribute to it for the stanching of Blood, yet I deny not, but in some Bodies it does it wonderfull e∣nough. And I very well know an Eminent Virtuoso who has assur'd me, as his Physitian likewise has done, that he finds the Effects of this Moss so considerable upon himself, that after having been let Blood, his Arm falling to Bleed again, and he apprehending the consequences of it, his Phy∣sitian, who chanc'd to be present, put a little of the abovemen∣tion'd Mosse into his hand, which barely held there, did, to the Patients wonder, stanch his Blood, and gave him the cu••iosity to lay it out of his hand, to try whether that Mosse were the cause of the Bloods so oddly stopping its course, whereupon his Arm after a little while, beginning to Bleed afresh, he took the Mosse again into his hand, and thereby presently stanch'd his Bleeding the second time: and if I mis∣remember not, he added, that he repeated the Experiment once more with the like successe. The smoak of burnt feathers, or Tobacco blown upon the face of an Hysterical Woman, does oftentimes almost as suddenly recover them out of Fits of the Mother, as the odour of per••umes did cast them thereinto.]

And now I speak of Cu••es performable by fumes, it brings into my mind, that a friend of yours and mine, and a Person of great Veracity professes to have strangly cur'd Dysenteries by a way unusual enough, which is to make the Patient sit over a Chair or Stool close on the sides, and per∣forated below, so that the Anus and the neighbouring parts may be expos'd to the fumes of Ginger, which must be

thrown upon a Pan of Embers, plac'd just under the Patient, who is to continue in that posture, and to receive the Fume as long as he can endure it without too much fainting. And when I mention'd one of the Cures that was thus perform'd, to one that is look'd upon as a Master of Chymical Arcana against Diseases; he preferr'd before it (as he saies upon ex∣perience) the shavings of Harts-horn us'd after the same manner, and the Remedy seems not irrational. But if in this distemper, the Actual heat applied to the abovemention'd parts of the Body concurre not to the Effect, we may too, warrantably enough, adde that Cures may be perform'd by far more minute corpuscles then those of smoke, insinuating themselves from without into the Body. For I know a very dextrous Goldsmith, who, when he over heats himself, as he often unawares does at hammering of Plate, is subject to fall into Gripings of the Belly, which lead to Fluxes; but his usu∣al and ready Cure is, assoon as conveniently he can, to heat his Anvil, and sit upon it for a great while together, heating it hot again if there be need. But to return to our Medici∣nal Smoaks, 'tis known that some find more good against the Fits of the Colick, by Glysters of the Smoak of Tobacco, then by any other Physick they take; so that I know wealthy persons, that relying upon the benefit they find by this Re∣medy, have left off sending for their Physitians to ease them of the Colick. And indeed, when I consider what an odde Concrete, even common Soot is, and that many Concretes by being resolv'd into Smoak, may be e••ther more or other∣wise unlock'd, then they would be by the Stomack of a Man (so th••t I may elsewhere entertain you of the great heightning of some Emetick and Cathartick Simples in their operation, by their being reduc'd into Smoak,) and that also probably the Operation of some Fumes and Odours

may be much chang'd and improv'd by their not getting into the Body by the Mouth, but other parts; I am inclinable to think that there might be made further use of them, if Phy∣si••ians pleas'd, then hitherto has been. For I have made such trial of the Vertue of Sulphureous Smoak, to preserve some Liquors, as I was much pleas'd with. And not only Pa∣racelsus, but Helmont highly extol, as a grand Specifick in fits of the Mother, the Smoak of the Warts that grow upon the Legs of Horses, conveigh'd to the parts suppos'd to be primarily affected. And I remember, that lately I met with a Gentleman curious and intelligent, who, as himself assur'd me, was by the Scurvy and ill condition'd Ulcers, and other obstinate distempers brought so low, that he was scarce able to turn himself freely in his Bed, and thereupon resolv'd against taking any more Physick, partly out of despair of re∣covery, and partly out of wearinesse of the tedious courses of Physick the Doctors had in vain made him passe thorow: But that some o•• his Friends b••inging him a certain Surgeon, whom they affirm'd to have strangly cur'd many desperate dist••mpers, by wa••es very unusu••l and not troublesome to the Patient, this Gentleman was content to put himself into his Hands, the Surgeon promising that he would not give him any other Physick, but now and then a Cup of Sack by way of Cord••al; his way of Cure being to fumigate the Pa∣tient very well ••very Morning with a certain Smoak, which th••t Gentleman th••nks, by what he took n••tice of, in the Pow••er that yeel••••d it, to have been some Vegetable sub∣stance. And with this Remedy in a short time he grew per∣fectly well, and came home a while since in very good health from a Voyage, which the confusions of his own Country in∣vited him to make as far as the East-Indies. This Surgeon, whose name I cannot hit upon, dying suddenly, his secret

(which was try'd upon divers others besides this Gentleman) is for ought we yet know, dead with him.

[But as for the efficacy that may be found in appropriated Fumes and Steams. We have more then once by barely un∣stopping and holding under her Nose a smal Phial of highly rectified Spirit of Sal Armoniack, or even of Hartshorn almost presently recover'd a Young Beauty I need not name to You; out of strange Fits that were wont to take her more suddenly then those of the Falling Sicknesse, and were look'd upon as Epileptical, though perchance they were not meerly so. To which I shall adde, that a Lady that both You Pyrophilus and I know and love very well, though she have been long subject to violent and tedious Fits of the Head-ach, and though that distemper have since been much increas'd by a great con∣cussion of her Head, occasion'd by the overturning of a Coach, yet she is wont presently to be relieved, barely by holding her Head a pretty while over a strong decoction of Thee, and breathing in the Steams of it.]

And now I am discoursing of Cures made by Steams, or other seemingly slight means, I must not pretermit a thing so remarkable, that if it were more generally known in Eu∣rope, I should think it somewh••t strange to find it so little reflected on by Physitians; and that is the constant and almost suddain ceasing of the Plague, how raging soever, in the almost incredibly populous City of Grand Cayro in Ae∣gypt towards the latter end of June, about which time in most Countries in our Hemisphere it is wont to spread fastest and be most rife. The t••uth of this is attested by so many Tra∣vellers of several Nations, that 'twere injurious to doubt of it, and not only the Dexterous Mr R. whom y••u well know, and who lived at Cayro has confir'md to me the truth of it.

But the Learned Prosper Alpinus, who both was an excellent Physitian, and spent many Years in Aegypt,* 1.65 gives us this particular account of it, Pestis Cayri at{que} in omnibus locis Aegypti invadere eos populos solet ineunte Sept••mbri mense, us{que} ad Junium: his enim omnibus mensibus, à S••ptembri ad Junium us{que}, Pestis aliunde per contagium illuc asportata eam gentem invadere solet: And after a few Lines, Junio vero mense, qualiscun{que} & quantacun{que} sit ibi Pestilentia, Sole pri∣mam Caneri partem ingrediente omnino tollitur, quod multis plane divinum esse non immerito videtur: Sed quod etiam val∣de mirabile creditur, omnia suppellectilia, Pestifero contagio infecta, tunc nullum Contagii effectum in eam gentem edunt; ita ut tunc ea vobis in tutissimo & tranquillissimo statu reduca∣tur, ex summe morboso: at{que} morbi particulares, sporadici, à Graecis vovati tunc apparere incipiunt, qui nusquam gentium tempore Pestis apparcbant. And in the next Chapter, inqui∣ring at large into the causes of this Wonder, he denys it to proceed from the increase of the Nile, which happens to be coincident in point of time with the extinction of the Plague, because that the Infection ceaseth before the swelling of the River is considerable; and ascribeth it rather to the alterati∣on of the Air, produc'd by the Northernly Winds which then begin to blow, and some other Circumstances: speak∣ing of which, Haec (saith he) per id temporis incipiunt obser∣vari à quibus fortasse non immerito causam extinctionis Pestis morbosi{que} in salubrem statum mutationis pendere arbitror:* 1.66 quando nulla alia ex conservatricibus causis, quas vulgus medi∣corum res non naturales appellat, aëre excepto, ibi eo tempore appareat, in quam morbosi status in salubrem mutationem re∣ferre possumus: ideo necessartum erit hujusce mutationis causam Aëris mutationi acceptam referre, &c. Upon this Instance, Pyrophilus, I h••ve presum'd the longer to insist, because

(if you duly reflect on it) you will, I suppose, discern, that it much credits and elucidates a great part of what hath been delivered in divers of the foregoing Leaves, concerning the possibility of Natures doing great matters against Diseases, without the help of gross and sensible Evacuations.

CHAP. XV.

ANd since we have represented a humane Body as an En∣gine, we shall adde, That it may be altered both for the better and for the worse, by such bare motions or impulses of external Bodies, as act but in a gross and confessedly Me∣chanical manner: For 'tis known, that out of such speedily killing, unless seasonably remedy'd Distempers, as Fits of Swounding, Patients of either Sex are often recovered with∣out any inward Medicine, by being barely pinch'd in several places. I, that have endured great and dangerous Sicknesses, have scarce ever found any so violent for the time, as that w^ch the bare motion and smell of a Ship and Sea Air hath put me into, especially in rough weather, till I was somewhat accustomed to Navigation; and yet this violent and weak∣ning Sickness, as it was not produced by any peccant Humor in the Body, so it was quickly removed by the Air, and Quiet of the Shore, without the help of Physick. And the like may be observed more suddenly in the newly mentioned Instances of those in whom, as the bare agitation of a Coach will produce such violent Fits of Vomiting and such Faint∣ness, that I have known some of them apprehend they should presently die; so the bare cessation of that discompo∣sing motion soon relieved them. We see in our Stables, what operation, the currying of them carefully, hath upon

our Horses. And Helmont somewhere tells us, That him∣self, as I remember, could by the Milk of an Ass, tell whe∣ther she had been that day diligently curryed or no; and so considerable an alteration in Milk should, me thinks, strong∣ly argue, that a great one in the Blood or other Juice, of which the Blood is elaborated, and consequently in divers of the principal parts of the Body must have preceded it. But to prefer our consideration from the Bodies of Beasts to those of Men, 'tis remarkable what Piso confesseth, the illi∣terate Brasilian Empericks are able to perform with Fricti∣ons, even as unskilfully as they order them: Mira equidem, saith he, tum tuendae sanitatis ergo,* 1.67 cum in pleris{que} morbis sa∣nandis, f••ictione & unctione frequenti incolae praestant, illam in frigidioribus, & chronicis, hanc in acutioribus adhibentes. Quae remedia lubenter advenae imitantur, & ut par est, ex le∣gibus artis haec & plura medendi Empiricorum genera mode∣rantur. And as Galen himself highly extols a skilful Appli∣cation of Cupping-glasses in the Colick; so in Brasil they finde that the like Remedy is strangely successful: For Cho∣lera sicca, saith our candid Piso in another place,* 1.68 eisdem fere Remediis (of which he had been speaking) curatur, maxime si regioni hepatis corneae cucurbitulae applicentur. De quibus merito hoc testor, quod Galenus de suis cucurbitulis, quas in Colico affectu incantamenti instar operari tradidit.

We shall adde, for further confirmation, that notwith∣standing all the horrid Symptomes that are wont to ensue upon the biting of that Poysonous Spider, the Tarantula, that lasting and formidable Disease, which often mocks all other Remedies, is by nothing so successfully oppos'd, as by Musick. Some determinate tune or other which proves suit∣able to the particular Nature of the Patients Body, or that

of the Poyson producing there such a motion, or determina∣tion of some former motion of the Spirits, or the Humors, or both; as by conducting the Spirits into the Ne••ves and Muscles inservient to the motion of the Limbs, doth make the Patient leap and dance till he have put himself into a Sweat, that breaths out much of the virulent Matter which hath been probably fitted for expulsion, by some change wrought in its Texture or Motion, or those of the Blood, by the Musick. For if Sweat and Exercise, as such, were all that relieved him, why might not Sudorificks, or le••ping without Musick, excuse the Need of Fidlers? which yet is so great,* 1.69 that Kircher informs us, That the Apulian Ma∣gistrates are wont to give Stipends, at the publick charge, to such to relieve the Poor by their playing. And not onely He hath a memorable Story of Robertus Pantarus, a Taran∣tine Nobleman, whose Disease being not known to proceed from the biting of a Spider, could by no Remedies be cured; he was at length, even upon the point of death, suddenly re∣l••ev'd, and by degrees restored to perfect health by the use of Musick: But Epiphanius Ferdinandus, in h••s accurate Observations concerning those bitten with the Tarantula, together with Mathiolus, and other Authors be••r witness thereunto, by resembling Narratives. Now that a Sound (not barely as a sound, but as so modified) may powerfully operate upon the Blood and Spirits, I, who am very Musi∣cally given, have divers times observ'd in my self, upon the hea••ing of certain Notes. And it might be made probable, both by that which we have formerly said of the effect of skreaking upon the Teeth and Gums, and by the Dancing Fit, into which not every Musical Sound, though never so loud, but some determinate Tune is wont to put the bitten

Patien••. But it m••y be more manifestly prov'd, by the fol∣lowing testimony of our inquisitive Jesuite, wherein he af∣firms, That the Spiders themselves may, as well as those they have bitten, be made to Dance by Tunes, suited to their peculiar Constitutions.† 1.70

And this I the less wonder at, because Epiphanius Ferdi∣nandus himself,* 1.71 not onely tells us of a Man of 94 Years of age, and so weak that he could not go, unless supported by his Staff, who did, upon the hearing of Musick after he was bitten, immediately tall a dancing and capering like a Kid; and affirms,* 1.72 That the Tarantula's themselves may be brought to leap and dance at the sound of Lutes, small Drums, Bag∣pipes, Fiddles, &c. but challenges those that believe him not to come and try, promising them an Ocular Conviction: and adds what is very memorable and pleasant, That not onely Men, in whom much may be ascribed to fancy, but other Animals being bitten may likewise, by Musick, be re∣duc'd to leap or dance: for he saith, He saw a Wasp, which being bitten by a Tarantula whil'st a Lutanist chanc'd to be by; the Musician playing on his Instrument, gave them the sport of seeing both the Wasp and Spider begin to dance: annexing, That a bitten Cock did do the like.

CHAP. XVI.

I Might also, Pyrophilus, confirm what I told you, when I said, That Sickness may produce such an alteration in the Fabrick of the Body, as to make it capable to be very much affected, as well for the better as for the worse, by such things that would not scarce at all affect it if it were sound, from the consideration of those many and strange 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Peculiarities, to be met with in some Persons in Sickness and in Health. For though many of these differences be∣tween healthy Men, are not likely to be greater then may be observ'd between the same Man when well, and himself as the Oeconomy of his Body may be dis-compos'd by some Distemper; yet we often see, that some Persons have the Engine of their Body so fram'd, that it is wonderfully dis∣ordered by such things as either work not at all on others, or work otherwise on them: as it is common enough for Men to be hugely disturb'd, and some of them to fall into Fits of trembling or swooning, upon the sight or hearing of a Cat. And to such an affection I know a very eminent Commander obnoxious, Your late Unkle, the last Earl of Barrymore, a very gallant Noble Man, and who did his Country great Service in the Irish Wars, had the like apprehension for Tansey. I cannot see a Spider near me, without feeling a no∣table commotion in my Blood, though I never received harm from that sort of Creature, and have no such abhor∣ring against Vipers, Toads, or other venomous Animals. You know an excellent Lady (marryed to a Great Person that hath more then once govern'd Ireland) whose Antipa∣thy to Hony, which is much talked of in that Country, hath display'd it self upon several occasions: notwithstand∣ing

which, her experienc'd Physitian imagining that there might be something of conceipt in her Aversion, took an opportunity to satisfie himself, by mixing a little Hony, with other Ingredients, of a Remedy which he applyed to a very slight and inconsiderable cut or scratch, which she chanced to get on h••r Foot; but he soon repented of his Curiosity, upon the strange and unexpected disorder which his (in other cases innocent) Medicine produc'd, and which ceasing upon the removal of that, and application of other ordinary Remedies, satisfied him, That those Symptomes were to be imputed to the Hony, and not the bare hurt. The same excellent Lady, I remember, complained to me, That when she was troubled with Coughs, all the Vulgar, Pecto∣ral and Pulmoniack Remedies did her no good, so that she could find relief in nothing but either the Fume of powdred Amber, taken with convenient Hearbs in a Pipe, or that Balsamum Sulphuris which we have already taught you in this Essay.

[I know a Person of Quality, tall and strongly made, who lately asked my Opinion, Whether, when he had need of Vomit, he should continue to make use of Cauphy, in re∣gard it wrought so violently with him: This gave me the occasion, as well as curiosity, of enquiring particularly both of Himself and his Lady, concerning this odde Operation of Cauphy upon him; and I was told, That an ordinary Wine-glass full of the usual warm decoction of Cauphy, boyl'd in common Water, was wont, within about two hours, to prove emetick with him, and before Noon did give him eight, ten, or sometimes twelve Vomits, with so much violence, that he was less affected by the infusion of Crocus metallorum, or other usual emeticks, and therefore was deliberating whether he should not change Cauphy for

some of them, though finding its Operation very certain, he had for some Years accustomed himself to take that Vomit: And that which is also remarkable in this m••tter, is, that he tells me, That scarce any Vomit is more troublesome to him to take, then that above-mentioned ••s grown of late, so that even the odour of Cauphy, as he passeth by Cauphy-houses in the Street, doth make him sick; and yet that Simple is to most Men so far from being Vomitive, that it is by eminent Physiti••ns, and in some cases not without cause, much extoll'd as a strengthner of the Stomack. And this very Gentleman, himself, used it a pretty while against the Fumes that offended his Head, without finding any Vomi∣tive Quality at all in it.]

The Books of sober and learned Physitians, afford us Ex∣amples of divers such, and of much more strange Peculiari∣ties, and likewise of such Persons who having desires of cer∣tain things very extravagant, and even absur'd (ordinarily not onely improper, but hurtful to their Distempe••s) have been cured by the use of them, of very dangerous and some∣times hopeless Diseases: Of which kinde of Cures I may also elsewhere tell you what I have observed, and some cre∣dit may be brought to such Relations, by what we ordinari∣ly see more greedily devoured (without much harm) by longing Women, and Maids troubled with the Green∣sickness.

But now, Pyrophilus, since the Engine of an humane Body thus appears to be so fram'd, th••t it is capable of re∣ceiving great alterations from such unlikely things as those we have been mentioning, Why should we h••stily conclude against the efficacy of Specificks, taken into the Body, up∣on the bare account of their not operating by any obvious quality, if they be recommended unto u••, upon th••ir own ex∣perience

by s••ber and faithful Persons? And that scarce sen∣sible quantities of M••tter, having once obtained access to the mas•• of Blood (which is very easily d••ne by the Circula∣tion) may, by the contrary and swift motion, and by the Figure of the Corpusc••es it consists of, give such a new and unnatural impe••iment or determination to the motion of the Blood, or so dis-compose either its Texture, or that of the Heart, Brain, Liver, Spleen, or some such principal part of the Body (as a spark of Fire reduceth a whole Barrel of Gun-powder, to obey the Laws of its motion, and become Fire too; or as a little Leaven is able, by degrees, to turn the greatest lump of Dow into Leaven) need be manifested by nothing, but the Operations of such Poysons as work not by any of those (which Physitians are pleased to call) Manifest Qualities. For though I much fear, that most of those th••t have written concerning Poysons, supposing that M••n would rather believe then try what they relate, have allowed themselv••s to deliver many things more strange then true; yet the known effects of a very small quantity of Opium, or of Arsenick, of the scarce discernable hurt made by •• Vipers Tooth, and especially of the biting of a mad Dog (which sometimes, by less of his Spittle then would weigh half a Grain, subdues a whole great Ox into the like m••dness, and produceth truly-wonderful Symptomes both in Mens Bodies and Beasts) are sufficient to evince what we p••oposed.

And that Man's Body may be as well sometimes cured, as we see it too often discompos'd, by such little proportions of M••tt••r, m••y (not now to mention the questionable Ver∣tu••s ••scrib'd to many Antidotes) be gathered from that Ex∣pe••iment, so common in Italy and elsewhere, of curing the invenom'd biting of Scorpions, by anointing the bitten and

tumid place with common Oyl, wherein store of Scorpions have been drown'd and steep'd. And a resembling Example of the Antidotal Vertue, wherewith Nature hath enrich'd some Bodies, is given us by the above-commended Piso, in his Medicina Brasiliensis,* 1.73 where (treating of the Antidotal Efficacy of the famous Brasilian Herb Nhanby, eaten upon an empty Stomack) he adds this memorable Story; That he himself saw a Brasilian, who having caught an over-grown Toad,* 1.74 and swell'd with Poyson (such a one as Brasilians call Cururu) which useth to be as big again as the European Toad, and desperately venomous (which perhaps our Toads are not) he presently killed him, by dropping on his back the Juice of the Flowers and Leaves of that admirable Plant. And you may remember, that the same Author formerly told us, in effect, that as great and salutary changes may be produced even in humane Bodies, where he relates, That he had known those that had eaten several sorts of Poyson, Snatch'd, in a trice, from imminent death, by onely drinking some of the Infusion of the Root he calls Jaborandi; and this, after I know not how many Alexipharmaca and Theri∣acal Antidotes had been fruitlesly administred.

You will perchance tell me, Pyrophilus, that these three or four last Instances are of Poysonous Distempers and their Antidotes; not of ordinary Diseases, and their Specifick Re∣medies. But to th••s I have a double Answer: and First, Many of those Distempers that proceed from Poyson, are really Disea∣ses, and both call'd by that Name, and treated of, as such, by Physitians. And indeed they may well look upon them but as Diseases, exasperated by a virulent Malignity, which yet appears to be not always easily distinguishable from that of Diseases that proceed not from Poyson, by this, That other∣wise the Physitians of Princes and great Men, if after having

considered all the inward Parts of their dis-bowell'd Patients, could not so often doubt and dispute, as they do, whether or no Poyson were accessary to their death. And Piso (who learn'd divers of their detestable Secrets from the Brasilians) relates, That some of them are so skilful in the cursed Art of tempering and allaying their Poysons, that they will often hinder them from disclosing their deleterial Nature for so long a time, that the subtle Murtherers do as unsuspectedly as fatally, execute their Malice or Revenge. These Diseases indeed are wont to differ in this from Surfeits, and other re∣sembling ordinary Diseases; that in the one, the venomous matter that produceth the Disease, is at first much more small, then in the other the morbifick Matter is wont to be. But the activity of this little quantity of hostile Matter doth make it so pernicious, that the Disorders it produceth in the Body, being much greater then that of ordinary Sicknesses is; the cure of such Distempers is the fitter to manifest how powerfully Nature may be succour'd, by Remedies that work not by first or second Qualities, since such are able to deliver Her from Diseases heightned by a peculiar and venomous malignity.

To this first I shall subjoyn my next, which is, That di∣vers Passages of the former Discourse (especially what we have related concerning the cure of Agues, of the Rickets, and of the Kings-Evil) may satisfie you, That even of ordi∣nary Diseases (some at least) may be as well cured by Speci∣ficks, as those produced by Poyson are by Antidotes.

You may also say, Pyrophilus, But what if a recommend∣ed Sp••cifick do not onely seem unable to produce the promised Eff••ct, but have Qualities, which according to our Notions of the nature of the Disease, seem likely to conspire with it and in∣crease it?

I Answer,

First, That though it is better for a Patient to be cured by a rashly an•• unskilfully given Medicine, then to die under the use of the most skilfully administred Physick; yet that the Physitian who looseth h••s Patient, a••ter having done all that his Art prescribed to save him, deserves more commen∣dation then he th••t luckily ch••nceth to cure his Patient by an irrational course. And therefore in such a case as you put, Pyrophilus, I think the Physitian ought to be very well sa∣tisfied of the matter of Fact, before he venture to try such a Remedy, especially if more ordinary and unsuspected means have not been imploye•• and found ineffectual; for it is not one lucky Cure that ought to recommend to a wary Physi∣tian the use of a Remedy, whose dangerous Qual••ty seems obvious, whereas its vertue must be credited upon Re∣port.

But then secon••ly, If the Physiti••n be duly s••tisfied of the efficacy of the Remedy, upon a co••petent number and variety of Patients, I suppose he m••y, without ••ashness, make use of such Remedies at least, where ordinary Medi∣cines have been already fruitlesly try'd.

CHAP. XVIII.

THat you may cease to wonder at my daring to say this, Pyrophilus, I must offer to you three or four Parti∣culars.

And first, it is manifest to those that are inqu••sitive, Th••t the true Nature an•• Causes of several Dise••ses, are much less certain, and much more disputed of among the Do∣ctors themselves, then those that are not inquisitive ima∣gine: Nor is the method of curing divers particular Dis∣eases

more setled & agreed on, that depending chiefly upon the knowledg of those C••uses, which as I was saying, are contro∣verted. 'Tis not that I am either an Enemy to Method in Phy∣sick, or an Undervaluer of it; but I fear the generality of Phy∣siti••ns for I intend not, nor need not all along this Essay speak of them all have as yet but an imperfect Method, and have, by the narrow P••inciples they were taught in the Schools, been perswaded to frame their Method rather to the barren Princi∣ples of the Pe••ipatetick School, then to the full amplitude of Nature. Nor do I finde that Physitians have yet done so fit a thing, as seriously (and with the attention which the im∣po••tance of the thing deserves) on the one side, to enume∣rate and distinguish the several Causes, that may any whit probably be assign'd, how the Phaenomena of that disorder∣ed state of the humane Body, which we call a Disease, or its Symptomes, may be produced. And on the other side, by how many and how differing ways the Phaenomena may be re∣moved, or the D••seases they belong to destroy'd: And if this were analytically and carefully done, I little doubt but that Mens knowledge of the Nature and Causes of Diseases, and the ways of curing them, would be less circumscrib'd and more ••ff••ctu••l then now it is wont to be. And I am apt to think, that even Methodists would then finde that there divers probable, if not promising Methods (proper to di∣vers ca••es) whi••h Ways they yet over-look: And though in a right sense it be true, that the Physitian is but Natures Mi∣nister, and is to comply with Her, who aims always at the best; yet if we take them in the sense those Expressions are vulgarly used in, I may elsewhere acquaint You with my Ex∣ceptions at them, and in the mean time confess to you, That I know not whether they have not done harm, and hindred the advancement of Physick, fascinating the mindes of Men,

and keeping them from those effectual Courses, whereby they may potently alter the Engine of the Body; and by rectifying the Motion and Texture of its Parts, both consi∣stent and fluid, may bring Nature to their bent, and accu∣stom Her to such convenient Courses of the Blood and o∣ther Juices, and such fit times and ways of evacuating (what is noxious or superfluous &c.) as may prevent or cure divers stubborn Diseases, more happily then the vulgar Me∣thodists are wont to do.

And indeed, it is scarce to be expected, that till men have a better Knowledg of the Principles of Natural Philosophy, without which 'tis hard to arrive at a more comprehensive Theory of the various possible causes of Diseases, and of the contrivance and uses of the parts of the Body, the Method which supposes this Knowledg should be other then in ma∣ny things defective, and in some erroneous, as I am apt to think, the vulgar Method may be shewn to be as to some particular Diseases. Of this I may perhaps elsewhere ac∣quaint you more particularly with my suspicions, and there∣fore I shall now only mention the last Observation of this kind I met with, which was in a Gentleman, You and I very well know, who being for some Months much troubled with a difficulty of breathing, and having been unsuccesfully treated for it by very Eminent Physitians, we at last suspected, that 'twas not the Lungs, but the Nerves that serv'd to move the Diaphragme and other Organs of respiration, upon whose distemper this suppos'd Asthma depended, and accor∣dingly by a taking or two of a Volatile Salt of ours, which is very friendly to the genus Nervosum, he vvas quickly freed from his trouble some distemper, which afterwards he was fully perswaded did not proceed from any stuffing up of the Lungs. To be short, how much esteem soever

we have for Method, yet since that it self and the Theories whereon men ground it, are, as to divers particular Diseases, so hotly disputed of; even among Eminent Physitians, that in many cases a man may discerne more probability of the successe of the Remedy, then of the truth of the received Notion of the Disease; In such abstruse cases me-thinks it were not amiss to reflect upon that reasoning of the auncient Empericks (though on a somewhat differing occasion) which is thus somewhere express'd by Celsus: Neque se dicere con∣silio medicum non egere, & irrationabile Animal hanc artem posse praestare, sed has latentium rerum conjecturas ad rem non pert nere; Quia non intersit, quid morbum faciat, sed quid tollat. And as the controverted Method in the abovemention'd Diseases is not yet establish'd or agreed on in the Schools themselves, so divers of those that are wholly strangers to those Schools, do yet by the help of Experience and good Specificks, and the Method their Mother-wit does, according to emergencies, prompt them to take, perform such conside∣rable cures, that Piso sticks not to give this Testimony to the utterly Unlearned Brasilian Empericks. Interim,* 1.75 saies he, seniores & exercitatiores eximii sunt Botanici, facili{que} negotio omnis generis medicamina ex undiqua{que} in sylvis con∣quisitis conficiunt. Quae tanta sagacitate internè & externè illos adhibere videas, praecipuè in morbis à veneno natis, ut quis illorum manibus tutius & securius se tradat, quam medicastris nostris sciolis, qui secreta quaedam in umbra nata at{que} edu∣cata crepant perpetuo, & ob has Rationales dici volunt.

Secondly, There are divers Medicines, which though they want not some one quality or other proper to encrease the Disease against which they are administr'd, are yet con∣fidently us'd by the most judicious Doctors, because that they are also inrich'd with other qualities, whereby they may

do much more good then their noxious quality can do harm; as in a Malignant Fe••ver, t••ough the distemper be Hot, and though Treacle an•• s••••e other Antidotal Su••or ficks be hot also, y••t they are usefu••••y admin••stred in such Dise••s••s, because the reliefe they bring th•• p••tient by oppugning the Maligni∣ty of the pecc••nt matter, an•• perhaps by easing him of some of it by sweat, is more consi••erable then the h••rm they can do him, by encreasing for a while his He••t.

The very experienced Bontius, Chief Physiti••n to the Dutch Plantation in the East-Indies; in his Methodus medendi Indica,* 1.76 Treating of the Spasmus, which (though here unfre∣quent) he reckons among the Endemial Diseases of the Indies, commends the Use of Quercetanus's Laudanum, of Phi∣lonium, and principally of an Extract of Opium ••nd Safron, which he describes and much Extols; and le••st h••s Readers should scruple at so strange a prescription, he a••••s this me∣morable passage to our present pu••pose. Fortaf••••s (sues he) Sciolus quispiam negabit his remediis, propter vim stupefacti∣vam ac narcoticum nervisque inimicam, esse utendum. Speciosa quidem haec prima fronte videntur sed tamen vana s••nt. Nam praeterquam quod calidissima hujus Climatis t••mp••r••es non re∣quirat, certissimum est in tali necessitate: sine his aeg••um eva∣dere non posse. Adde quod nos tam rite Opium hic praeparamus ut vel infanti innoxie detur: & sane ut verbo ab••••lvam•• si Opia∣ta hic nobis de••ssent in morbis calidis hic grass••ntibus frustra remedia adhiberemus quod etsi imperitis durum, ex progr••ssu ta∣men me nihil tem••re dix••sse pat••bit.

The drincking freely, especially if the Dr••nk be cold Wa∣ter, is usually (and in most c••ses, nor w••thout much reason:) strictly forbidden, as very hurtful for the Dropsie, and yet those that frequent the Spaa, tell us of great cures perform'd by pouring in plenty of Waters ••nto the Patients already

distended Belly; and I know a Person of great Quality, and Vertue, who being by an obstinate Dropsy, besides a com∣plic••tion of other formidable diseases, brought to a desperate condition, was advis'd to Drink Tunbridg Waters, when I happn'd to be there, by her very skilful Physitian: Who told me, that the Doctors having done all their Art could direct them unto in vain, she would be cur'd by Death, if she were not by these Waters; from whence (the weather proving very seasonable for that sort of Physick) she return'd in so pro∣sperous a condition of recovery, as exacted both his and my wonder. That the Decoction of so heating a Simple as Guaja∣cum; would be lookt upon by the generality of Physitians, both Galenists and Chymists, as a dangerous Medicine in P••hi∣sical and other consumptions, you will easily grant: and yet some eminent Physitians, and (particularly Spaniards) tell us of wonderful cures they have perform'd in desperate Ulcers of the Lungs by the long use of this Decoction, notwithstan∣ding its manifestly and troublesomely heating Quality. And I know a Physitian eminently learn'd, and much more a Me∣thodist, then a Chymist, who assures me, that he has made trial of this unlikely way of curing Consumptions with a successe that has much recommended these Paradoxical Spa∣niards to him. 'Tis also believ'd, and not without cause, by Physitians, that Mercury is wont to prove a great enemy to the Genus nervosum, and often produces Palseys, and other distempers of the Brain and Nerves: and yet one of the ex∣actest and happiest Methodists I know, has confess'd to me, that Mercurial preparations are those which he uses the most succesfully in Paralytical and the like distempers of what Physitians call the Genus nervosum. And on this oc∣casion, I remember, that a Gentlewoman being confin'd to her Bed by a Dead Palsey, that had seis'd on on•• side of

her Body, a Physitian eminent for his Books and Cures, gi∣ving her a dose of a certain Preparation of Mercury, cor∣rected with a little Gold, which I put into his hands for that purpose, was pleas'd to bring me word, that by the first ta∣king of the Powder, which wrought but gently by Siege, without either Vomits or Salivation, she was enabled the same or the next day to quit her Bed, and walk about the Room.

Thirdly there are many things which seem to be a∣gainst reason whilst they are barely propos'd and not prov'd for which we afterwards discerne very good reason: when ex∣perience, having satisfied us they are really true, has both in∣vited us, and assisted us to enquire into their causes. Of this we have elsewhere given divers not Medical Instances in our ESSAY Concerning improbable Truths: And I coul•• ea∣sily enough, if I du••st be tedious, give you some Medical Illustrations of the s••me truth. But I dare now only invite you to consider th••s one thing, which may be of g••eat use to explicate many others, both in Natural Philosophy, and in Physick too, which is, Th••t ••here are divers Concretes, some of them as to Sense, Similar, or Homogeneous, whose diffe∣ring parts are endow'd with very differing and sometimes contrary Qualities. And this not only appeares in the Chymical Analysis of Bodies made by the fi••e, where the difference of what Chym••sts call the separate•• Principles of Concretes is often ve••y manifest and g••eat, but ev'n in di∣vers Bodies that h••ve not been resolv'd by the violence of the Fire; as is evident in Rhubarb taken in substance, whose subtiler parts are purging, and its terrestrial astringent: Nay, if those parts which do in much the lesse quantity con∣curre to the constitution of the concrete do but meet with a Body dispos'd to receive their Impressions, it is very pos∣sible,

that they may work more powerfully on it then the other Parts of the same Concrete, of which the Eye judgeth it altogether to consist.

This I have made out to some ingenious Men, by shewing, that though Sallet Oyl be generally reputed to consist of Fat and Unctuous Particles, and therefore to be a great re∣sister of Corrosion; yet it containes in it sharp and piercing parts, which meeting with a disposed subject, do more pow∣erfully operate then the more purely Oleaginous ones. As we endeavoured to evince by keeping for a short while in a gentle warmth, some pure Oyl-Olive, upon a quantity of Filings of ev'n crude Copper: For from them the Liquor extracted an high Tincture betwixt Green and Blew, like that which such Filings would have given to Distill'd Vine∣ger, which according to Chymists Notions obtains that Colour, by making with its Acid and Corrosive Salt a real solution of some part of the Copper, as may appear by the recoverablenesse of the metal out of it. Another proof or two of the Acrimony of some of the parts of Oyl we may elswhere give you. But now we shall rather confirme our Answer to your Question, by two or three Examples of Cures perform'd by unlikely Remedies.

I went once to visit an Ingenious Helmontian, whom I found Sick on his Bed, and having by the Symptomes of his Disease, discern'd it to be a Pleurisy, I talk'd with him of sea∣sonably opening a Veine, but he was resolv'd against it, and told me he would cure himself by a remedy, which at first seems as likely to encrease such a disease as Phlebotomy is to cure it, namely by the use of Helmonts Laudanum Opi∣atum which in effect did in three or four daies cure him, and since he without Blood letting cur'd some others with it; which I the lesse wonder at, because of my having observ'd

that Opium (with which unskilful men seldome tamper with∣out danger) if duely corrected and prepared proves some∣times a great resolver, and commonly a great Sudorifick in∣somuch, that I have known it make a person copiously sweat, who often complain'd to me, that other Diaphoreticks had no such operation on him.

I have oftentimes seen Coughs strangly abated by the use of a Remedy, which I have not long since told you, how I prepare: and with which (I remember) in a pretty Child you (Pyrophilus) know, and who is now very well, I was so happy as to represse in a few Houres a violent Cough, that threat∣ned her with Speedy Death, and yet this Medicine has so eminent a saltnesse, that the Tongue can scarce suffer it; and how much the use of Salt things is by many Physitians con∣dem'd in Coughs (and indeed in many cases not without Rea∣son) I need not tell You. And with exceedingly piercing Essence or Spirit of Mans Blood, I have known, notwith∣standing its being very Saline, and its manifestly heating the Patient, especially for the first Four or Five daies, strange things perform'd even in a deplorable and hereditary Con∣sumption. This Pyrophilus brings into my mind, some∣thing, that, it may be, you will think odde, which is, that hav••ng had occasion to advise for a person of high quality, with a very ancient Galenist, that in his own Country was look'd upon as almost an Oracle, and particularly in reference to Phthisical Consumptions, which was there a vulgar Disease, He confessed to me, that though his having fallen into it him∣self, made him very solicitous to find a cure for it; and though he had in his long and various practise, made trial of great variety of Methods and Remedies for the cure of that Disease, yet that with which he cur'd himself, and afterwards the generality of his chief Patiens was principally Sulphur

melted, and mingled, in a certain proportion to make it fit to be taken, in a Pipe, with beaten Amber or a Cephalick Herb. The particular circumstances of his Method, I cannot now set you down, not having by me the Paper wherein they were Noted, but if I mistake not the Herb, with which he mingl'd the Brimstone or Flower of Sulphur was Coltsfoot or Betony; and I well remember, that what he look'd upon as the chief and specifick Remedy in his way of curing, was the smoak of the Sulphur; the other ingredients being added, not so much for their being proper enough for the Disease, as their helping to fill the Pipe, and thereby to allay the pun∣gency, wherewith the Smoak, if afforded by a Pipe fill'd with Brimstone alone, would be qualify'd. But yet this Sulphu∣reous Smoak is so predominant in the Remedy, that he us'd to have a Syrrup in readiness to ••elieve those, whom the A∣crimony of the Fumes should make very sore, and perhaps blister on the one side of their Mouthes, or Throats, which ac∣cident he provided for, by that cooling and healing Syrrup, without being thereby discourag'd from prosecuting the cure with the same Remedy; wherewith a person very Curi∣ous and Rich, has solemnly assur'd me, that himself has cur'd divers Consumptions, and particularly in a Lady, even in health very Lean, that he nam'd to me, as being one I then knew. Now we know that Physitians generally, and in most cases justly, forbid Acid things to those that have exulcerated or tender Lungs, and how highly Acid and piercing the Smoak of Sulphur is, the Chymists can best tell you, who by catching it and condensing it in Glasses shap'd almost like Bells obtain from it that very corrosive Liquor, which readily dissolves Iron, being the very same that is commonly call'd Oleum Sulphuris per campanam, and yet it seems that either the Theory of Consumptions is misunderstood, or

that the drying quality of the Sulphureous steam, and its great power to resist putrefaction, and as it were embalm the Lungs and season the Blood are considerable enough to ac∣count for the Harm which its Acidity may do.

Eeles are so commonly eaten by Persons of both Sexes without being taken notice of for any Quality, except their Crudity, that one would scarce believe such a stinking and odious Medicine as that of their Livers and Galls dried slowly in an Oven should be more proper for any thing, then to make the taker Vomit; and yet Helmont in divers places speaks of this Medicine as if it had ke••t multitudes of Wo∣men from dying of hard Labour. And since him, Panarola in his New Observations highly extols it. And I knew a very famous Emperick, who had very few other Secrets, and scarce any one so great to get Reputation and Mony by. And I remember also, That some years since I had occasion to give it to the Wife of a very ingenious Physitian, of whom the Midwives and her Husband almost despair'd, and (as she afterwards told me her self) each Dose made her throwes (which before had left her) returne, and at length she was safely delivered she scarce knew how. But I found double the Dose prescrib'd by Helmont, requisite to be used at last; and that the quantity of a Walnut of the Powder of these Livers given in Rhenish or White-wine, and when the Sto∣mack was most empty, was no more then such a case re∣quired.

Scorpions being Venomous Creatures, to suffocate and infuse them in Oyl might seem the way to make it Poyso∣nous, if experience did not assure us, that th••s Oyl is so far from being such, that it Cures the invenom'd bitings of Scorpions, which effect now that Physitians find it upon trial to be true, they confesse to be rational, and ascribe it, how

justly I now examine not to the attraction of the Poyson re∣ceived into the Body, by that which is outwardly applied to the hurt. And Piso informes us that amongst the Brasilians, whose country is so much infested with Venomous Crea∣tures 'tis the most general Cure to draw out the Poyson by applying to the hurt the beaten Body of the Beast that gave it. As likewise in Italy, they account the crushing of the very Scorpion that has bit a Man upon the bitten place for a most speedy and effectual Remedy. And I remember that here in England the Old man, whom you have seen going about with Vipers, Toads, &c. to sell, tol'd me that when he was dangerously bitten by a Viper and all swel'd by the Poyson of it a g••eat part of his cure was the outward ap∣plication of Venomous Creatures stamp'd 'till they were brought to a Consistence fit for that purpose.

That Fluxes are the general and Endemical Diseases in Ireland, I need not tell you; and yet I remember, that ha∣ving occasion to consult the ancientest and most experienc'd Physitian of that Nation Dr F. about the cure of it, he assur'd me, that though during his very long Practice he had found divers Remedies very prosperous, some on one sort of Patients, and some on another; yet the Medicine he most relied on, was this. To take unsalted Butter, and boil it gently 'till a pretty part were consum'd, Skimming it diligently from time to time, whil'st it stands over the fire, and of this Butter melted, to give now and then a con∣siderable quantity, according as the Patient is able to bare it. A Remedy which at the first proposal may seem more likely to put a man into a Flux then to cure him of one. And yet the same Remedy which he suppos'd to benefit by mi∣tigating the sharp humours and preserving the Entrals from their Corrosion was afterwards much commended to me by

another antient Irish Physitian, who was esteemed among the Doctors the next in Eminency to him that I have na∣med.

CAP. XIX.

I Should not here, Pyrophilus, adde any thing to what I have allready said above in favour of the use of even odde Specificks, but that finding at every turn, that the main thing, which does (really or in pretence) prevail with ma∣ny Learned Physitians (especially in a famous University You have visited abroad) to reject Specificks, is, That they cannot clearly conceive the distinct manner of the Specificks working, and think it utterly improbable, that such a Medicine which must passe through Digestions in the Body, and be whirl'd about with the Mass of Blood to all the parts, should, neglecting the rest, shew it self Friendly to the Brain, for in∣stance, or the Kidnies, and fall upon this or that Juyce or Hu∣mor, rather then any other. But to this Objection which I have propos'd as plausible as I can readily make it, I shall at present but briefly offer, according to what has been hitherto discours'd, these two things.

And First, I would demand of these Objectors a clear and satisfactory, or at least an intelligible explication of the man∣ner of working of divers other Medicaments that do not passe for Specificks, as how Rhubarb Purges Choler, and Hellebor Melancholly rather then other Humou••s, how some Medicines that have endur'd a strong fire, as Antimonium Diaphoreticum, and Bezoardicum minerale well made, are yet oftentimes strongly Sudoririck; why the infusion of Cro∣cus Metallorum or of Glasse of Antimony, though it acquire no pungent, or so much as manifest t••st, whereby to velicate

the Palat or the Tongue, are yet violently both Vomitive and Cath••rtick; And how Mercury, which is innoxiously given in many cases Crude to Women in labour and others, does e••sily acquire, besides many other more abstruse Me∣dicinal Qualities, not only an Emetick and Purgative, but a Salivating faculty. For I confesse, that to me, even many of the vulgar Operations of common Drugs seem not to have been h••therto intelligibly explain'd by Physitians, who are yet, for ought I have observ'd, to seek for an account of the manner, how Diureticks, how Sudorificks, how Sarcoticks, and how many other familiar sorts of Medicines, which those that consider them but slightly are wont to think they un∣derstand throughly, perform their operations. Nay, I much question, whether the generality of Physitians can yet give us a satisfactory account, why any sort of Medicine purges in general: And he that in particular will shew me, where either the Peripatetick or Galenical Schools, have intelligibly made out, why Rhubarb does particularly purge Choler, and Senna more peculiarly Phlegm, Erit mihi magnus Apollo. For I see not how from those narrow and barren Principles of the four Elements, the four Humours, the four first Qualities (and the like;) Effects, far lesse abstruse then the Operations of Purging Medicines, can satisfactorily be deduc'd. Nor can I find, that any thing makes those Physitians, that are unac∣quainted with the Philosophy that explains things by the Motions, Siz••s, and Figures of little Bodies, imagine they understand the account upon which some Medicines are Pur∣gative, others Emetick, &c. And some Purgative in some Bodies, Vomitive in other, and both Purgative and Vomi∣tive in most; but because they never attentively enquire into it.

But (which is the next thing I have to represent) if we duely make use of those fertile and comprehensive Principles of Philosophy, the Motions, Shapes, Magnitudes and Tex∣tures of the Minute parts of Matter, it will not perhaps be more difficult to shew, at least in general, that Specificks may have such Operations, as are by the judicious and experienc'd ascrib'd to them, then it will be for those that acquiesce in the vulgar Principles of Philosophy and Physick, to render the true Reasons of the most obvious and familiar operations of Medicines. And though the same Objection that is urg'd to prove, That a Specifick cannot befriend the Kidnies, for Example, or the Throat, rather then any other parts of the Body, lies against the noxiousness of Poysons to this or that determinate part; Yet experience manifests that some Poysons do respect some particular part of the Body, without equally (if at all sensibly) offending the rest: as we see that Cantharides in a certain Dose are noxi∣ous to the Kidnies and Bladder, Quicksilver to the Throat, and the glanduls thereabouts, Strammoneum, to the Brain, and Opium to the Animal Spirits and Genus Nervosum. And if You call to mind, what we have formerly deduc'd to make it out, That a Humane Body is an Engine, and that Medicines operate in it as finding it so; we need not think it so strange, that there being many Strai∣ners, if I may so call them, of differing Textures, such as the Liver, Spleen, and Kidnies, and perhaps divers local Ferments residing in particular parts, and a Mass of Blood continually streaming through all the parts of the Body, a Medicine may be quickly by the Blood carried from any one part to any other, and the Blood, or any Humour mingl'd with it, may be as easily carried to the Medicine, in what parts soever it be,

and the Remedy thus admitted into the Masse of Blood, may in its passage through the Strainers, be so alter'd, either by leaving some of its parts there, or by having them alter'd by the abovemention'd Ferments, or by being associated with some other Corpuscles, it may meet within its passage; where∣by the Size, or Figure, or Motion of its small parts may be chang'd, or in a word it may by some of those many other waies, which might, if this ESSAY were not too Prolix already, be propos'd, and deduc'd, receive so great an Altera∣tion, in reference either to some or other of the Strainers, or other firmer parts of the Body, or to the distemper'd Blood, or some other fluid and peccant matter, that it needs not seem impossible, That by that time the Medicine (crum∣bl'd as it were into Minute Corpuscles) arrives at the part or humour to be wrought upon, it may have a notable Ope∣ration there. I mean Part as well as Humour, because the Motion, Size, or Shape of the Medicinal Corpuscles in the Blood, though not by sense distinguishable from the rest of the Liquor they help to compose, may be so conveniently qualify'd as to shape, bulk, and motion, as to restore the Strai∣ners to their right Tone or Texture, as well as the Blood to its free and Natural course, by resolving and carrying away with them such tenacious matter, as stuff'd, or choak'd up the slender passages of the Strainer, or at least Straitned its pores, or vitiated their Figure; And the same Sanative Cor∣puscles may perchance be also fitted to stick to, and thereby to strengthen such Fibres of the Strainers, or such other fir∣mer parts of the Body, as may need congruous Corpuscles to fill up their little unsupply'd C••vities.

Meats that are Salt, and Ta••tareous, whilst they are whir∣led about in the Mass of Blood, may by the other part of th••t Vital Liquor be so diluted and kept asunder so, as no•• to be of∣fensive

to any part: When they come to be separated by the Parenchyma of the Kidnies, from the sweet••r parts of the Blood, that did before temper and allay them, they easily, by their Saline pungency, offend the tender Ureters and Mem∣branous Bladders of those that are troubl'd with the Stone or Strangurie. And perchance 'tis upon some such account, that Cantharides are more noxious to the Bladder then to other parts of the Body. And as S••lt meat thus growes peculiarly offensive to the Reins and Bladder; so a Specifick, dispos'd to be dissolv'd, after a peculiar manner, may, in the Body, either preserve or acquire, as to its Minute parts, a friendly congruity to the Pores of the Kidnies, Liver, or other Strainers equally, when distemper'd; as I formerly observ'd to You, that New-milk sweetned with Sugar∣candy, though it be not wont sensibly to affect ••ny other p••rt of the Body; nor would have sensibly affected the Kid∣nies themselve••, had they not been d••sorder'd, yet after the t••oublesome operation of Cantharides, it ha•• a very friendly effect upon the distemper'd Parts; Thus a Specifick, for one Disease, may be resolved in the Body into Mi∣nute particles of ••uch Figure and Motion, that being fit to stick to other Corpuscles of peccant matter, which, by their vehement agitation, or other offensive qualities di••compose the Body and make it Feavouri••h, may allay their vehement Motion, and by altering them, as to bigness and shape, give them new and innocent qualities, instead of those noxious ones they had before.

Another Specifick may dissolve the Gross and Slimy Humours that obstruct the narrow passages of the Veins; as I have observ'd that Spirit of Harts-horn, wh••ch power∣fully opens other obstructions, and resolves stuffing Phlegm in the Lungs, will also, though more slowly, resolve prepar'd

Flowers of Sulphur, crude Copper, and divers other Bodies; and also it may, by mortifying the Acid Spirit that often∣times causes coagulations in the Blood, restore that Vital Liquor to its Fluidity and free Circulation, and thereby re∣move divers formidable Diseases, which seem to proceed from the Coagulation, or Ropinesse of the Blood; and on the other side, the Minute parts of some Specificks, against a con∣trary Disease, may somewhat thicken and fix the two thin and agitated parts of the Blood, or of some peccant matter in it, by associating themselves therewith: as the nimble parts of pu••e Spirits of Wine, and those of high rectify'd Spirit of Urine, will concoagulate into Corpuscles, bigger and far less Agile. And the same Spirit of Wine it self, with another Liquor I make, will presently concoagulate into a kind of soft, but not fluid Substance. Nor is it so hard to conce••ve, that a Specifick may work upon a determinate Part or Humour, and let the others alone: as if you put, for instance, an Egge into strong Vinegar, the Liquor will operate upon and dissolve all the hard shell, and yet leave the tender skin untouch'd; And if you cast Coral into the common recti∣fy'd Spirit of Tartar, the far greater part of the Liquor, though strong and spirituous, will remain unalter'd thereby, and may be, integris viribus, abstracted from it; but the Co∣ral will presently find out, or rather be found out by Acid or Acetuous Particles, and by incorporating it self with them, take aw••y their sharpness: as in some cases Coral has been observ'd to do to Sower Humours abounding in Humane Bo••ies, those Humours being easily, by the Circulating Blood, brought (in their passage) to the Coral, whilst it per∣haps remains in the Stomack or Guts. And though the Circulation of the Blood be sufficient to bring, little by little, the Acid Particles of that Liquor in its passage through

the Vessels to work upon Coral; yet in other Medicines the Operation may be more nimble: The Remedy quickly diffu∣sing it self through the Mass of Blood, to seek, as it were, and destroy the Acid parts, which it meets with blended with the rest of the Liquor; as Spirit of Urine being instead of Coral put into the above mention'd Spirit of Tartar will not (that I have observ'd) fasten it self to the Spirituous nor the Phlegmatick parts of the Liquor, but only to the Acid ones, which it will Mortifie or deprive of their Sowerness by con∣coagulating with them. And I see not why it should be more inconceivable that a Specifick should have a peculiar Vertue to free the Body from this or that peccant Humour, and a benign congruity to the distemper'd Spleen or Liver, then that some Cathartick should purge Electively, and some Antidotes have peculiar Vertues against such Poysons, whose Malignity particularly invades the Brain or Kidnies, or some other determinate part: the former of which the Physitians, we reason with, scruple not to teach; and the latter of which is taught us not by them only, but by Experience too.

[Of the credibility of Specificks, and of the Efficacy even of some unlikely ones, we might easily enough present You with more Proofs and Examples: But these may possibly be sufficient for our present purpose; especially if you duely consider, that as Pysick has ow'd its beginning to Expe∣rience, so those that practise it must enlarge and rectifie their Principles, according to the new discoveries, which are made from time to time of the Operations and Power of the pro∣ductions, whether of Nature or of Art. This consideration I thought to insist upon in my own Expressions; but fin∣ding lately the same Notion which I had, to have been long since that of the ancient Empericks, I will summe up what

I meant to say in their words, as I find them wittily deliver'd by Celsus, in that excellent Preface, where having spoken in their Sense of the Origin of Physick, He continues Sic Me∣dicinam ortam, subinde aliorum salute aliorum interitu perni∣ciosa discernentem a salutaribus: Repertis deinde Medicinae re∣mediis, hom••nes de rationibus eorum disserere caepisse; nec post Rationem, Medicinam esse inventam, sed post inventam Medici∣nam, Rationem esse quaesitam. And least the mistaken name of Emperick should make you undervalue so useful a Con∣sideration, which not the nature of their Sect, but that of the thing, suggested to them; I shall adde in favour of what we have deliver'd concerning experienced, though otherwise un∣likely Remedies, that 'tis a sentence ascrib'd to Aristotle (and in my opinion, one of the best that is ascrib'd to him,) libires constat, si opinio adversetur rei, quaerendam rationem non rem ignorandam.]

And certainly Pyrophilus, though there be scarce any sort of men, whose credulity may do the World more mischief then that of Physitians; yet perhaps, neither nature nor man∣kind is much beholden to those, that too rigidly, or narrowly, circumscribe, or confine th•• operations of Nature, and will not so much as allow themselves or others to try whether it be possible for Nature excited and manag'd by Art to performe divers things which they never yet saw done, or work by divers waies, differing from any, which by the com∣mon Principles that are yet taught in the Schools, they are able to give a satisfactory account of.

To the many things which you may be pleased to apply to this purpose, out of the precedent Discourse, divers others may be added, if without tiring you, they may be now insi∣sted on. It would scarce have been believed some ages since, by those that knew no other then Vegetable Purges and

and Vomits, that a Cup made of a Concret, insu••erable by the Heat of Humane Stom••cks should, by having for a while, Wine or any such other Liquor, b••rely powr'd on it to make an infusion, without any sensible diminution of its own bulk or weight, and without any sensible alteration made in the Colour, Tast, or Smell of the Wine, communicate to it a strongly Emetick and Cathartick Ve••tue, and prov•• often∣times Vomitive, ev'n when put up in Clysters; and yet that this is performable by Antimony, slightly prepared with Salt-peter, or without addition, melted into a Transparent Glasse, is commonly known to those that are not Strangers to the Operations of the Antimonial Cup, and of the Glass made of the same Mineral. And much more strange is that which is affirmed by inquisitive Physitians upon their own Trial of the common Crocus Metallorum, or somewhat cor∣rected Antimony wont to be sold in Shops, namely, That a few Drachmes of it, infus'd into some ounces of Wine, will make the Liquor work so strongly, as if six or eight times the quantity had been steep'd in it.

Those that believe that all Diaphoreticks must consist of subtle, sapid and fugitive part•••• as if only such were easily separated form each other, and agitated by the gentle heat of a Humane body, will scarce expect that any body could, in a moderate Dose, be a good Sudorifick, that is so fixt as to be able to persist divers hours in a good Fire. And yet that Antimoniu•• Diaphoreticum is such a Concrete, is now very well known to many besides Chymists.

That a Stone, and a Stone too so fixed, that it will su∣staine the violence of reverberated Fire, and is consequently very unlike to be much wrought upon, or digested by the heat of Humane Stomach, should be capable of agglutina∣ting together the parts of broken bones, would seem impos∣sible

to many, but 'tis very well known to those that have made tryal of the efficacy of the Lapis Ossifragus: for though I have sometimes wondred at the Fixtness of this Stone, a∣bove others, in the Fire, yet being for some days successive∣ly drunk in Wine, or Aqua Symphyti, to the quantity of about half a Drachme, or more, it doth so wonderfully cement to∣gether the parts of broke and well-set Bones, that it deserves the name it commonly hath in the Shops of Osteocollae, and hath wonders related of it by several eminent, not onely Chymical, but Galenical Writers.

'Tis almost incredible what Quercetane relates of what himself saw done with it as to the cure of broken Bones, without much pain or any of the usual grievous Symptoms, within four or five days; so that to the stupendous Vertue he ascribes to this Stone, both inwardly given and outward∣ly applyed, in the form of a Poultis, with onely beaten Ge∣ranium and Oyl of Roses or Olives, he thinks fit to annex these words: Quod incredibile videri posset, nisi praeter me in∣numerabiles alii oculati & idonei testes extarent. And indeed these need good proof to make a wary Man believe so strange a thing, since Chirurgions observe, That Nature is wont to be forty days in producing a Callus to fasten together the pieces of a broken Bone. But to make this the more cre∣dible by the testimony of Authors more Galenically inclin'd, Matthiolus relates, That in many the Bones having been very well set (Which Circumstance he requires as necessary) have had their broken Parts conglutinated within three or four days:* 1.77 And not only that most experienced Chirurgion Fabri∣cius Hildanus us'd it much in Fractures, with onely a little Cinnamon and Suger to make it pleasant;* 1.78 but the Learned Sennertus, who somewhere calls its Vertue admirable, thinks it requisite, in his Chirurgery, to give us this caution of it:

Verum in juvenibus & iis qui boni sunt habitus callum nimis auget: Quapropter caute & non nisi in adultioribus exhibendus: The warrantableness of which caution, and consequently the strange efficacy of Osteocolla, was, I remember, confi••m'd to me not long since by a skilful Physitian who hath particu∣larly studyed its nature; and related to me, That some Years since his Mother, having by a fall broken her Leg near the Knee, had too suddenly, by the over-much use of this Stone, a Callus produced in the part much bigger then he expected or desired.

He that, before the salivating Property of Mercury was discovered, should have told Physitians of the ••espondent temper of these, we are now discoursing with, that besides the known ways of disburthening Nature (namely by Vo∣mit, Siege, Urine, Sweat, and insensible Transpiration) there were a sort of Remedies, that would make very large Evacuations by Spittle, and thereby cure divers stubborn Diseases that had been found refractory to all ordinary Reme∣dies, would certainly have been more likely to be derided, then believe by them; since no known Remedy, besides, Mercury, hath been, that I remember, observed to work re∣gularly by Salivation: (for though Ceruss of Antimony have been observed to make Men, of some Constitutions, apt to spit much, yet it works that way too languidly, to deserve the name of a Salivating Remedy; and probably oweth the quality it hath of enclining to spit, to the Mercurial part of the Antimony, wherewith the Regulus it is made of abounds) and therefore the greater their experience of the Effects of Medicinal Operations should be supposed to be, the greater indisposition it would give them to credit so unallyed a Truth. And yet the reality of this Fluxing Property of Quick-silver is long since grown past question, and hath

been found so useful in the cure of the most radicated and ob∣st••••••te Venereal Distempers, that I somewhat wonder those Physitians, that scruple not to employ as boisterous ways of Cure, have not yet applyed it to the extirpation of some o∣ther Diseases; as Ulcers of the Kidnies, Consumptions, and even Palsies, &c. wherein I am apt to think, it may be as effectual as in those produced by Lust, and much more ef∣fectual then vulgar Remedies, provided that the exceeding troublesome way of working of salivating Medicines be bet∣ter corrected then it is wont to be, in the ordinary Medicines employed to produce Salivation, which they do with such tormenting Symptomes, that they are scarcely supportable. But if purified Quick-silver be dexterously precipitated by a long and competent digestion, with a due proportion of refined Gold, Experience hath informed us, that the saliva∣ting Operation of it may be performed with much less unea∣siness to the Patient. And that such Mercurial Medicines, wherein the Quick-silver is well corrected by Gold, may produce more then ordinary effects, we have been enclined to believe, by the tryals which we procured by Learned Phy∣sitians to be made in other then Venereal Diseases, of a gent∣ly working precipitate of Gold and Mercury, of which we may elsewhere set you down the Process.

[And now I am upon the Discourse of the peculiar Ope∣rations of Mercury, and of unusual ways of Evacuation, I am tempted to subjoyn an odde Story, which may afford notable h••nts to a speculative Man, as it was related to me both in private, and before Illustrious Witnesses, by the formerly commended Chymist of the French King: He told me then awhile since, that there is yet living a Person of Quality, by name Monsieur de Vatteville, well known by the Command he hath or had of Regiment of Swissers in

France, who, many Years ago following the Wars in the Low Countries, fell into a violent Distemper of his Eyes, which, in spight of what Physitians and Chirurgions could do, did in a few Moneths so increase, that he lost the use of both his Eyes, and languish'd long in a confirm'd Blindness; which continued till he heard of a certain Emperick at Am∣sterdam, commonly known by the name of Adrian Glas∣maker (for indeed he was a Glasier) who being cry'd up for prodigious Cures he had done with a certain Powder, this Colonel resorted to him, and the Emperick having discours'd with him, undertook his Recovery, if he would undergo the torment of the Cure; which the Colonel having under∣taken to do, the Chirurgion made him snuff up into each Nostril, about a Grain of a certain Mercurial Powder, which, in a strangely violent manner, quickly wrought with him al∣most all imaginable ways, as by Vomit, Siege, Sweat, U∣rine, Spitting and Tears, within ten or twelve hours that this Operation lasted, making his Head also to swell very much: But within three or four days after this single taking of the Drastick Medicine had done working, he began to re∣cover some degree of Sight, and within a Fortnight attain∣ed to such a one, that himself assur'd the Relater, He ne∣ver was so Sharp-sighted before his Blindness. And the Re∣later assured me, that he had taken pleasure to observe, That this Gentleman, who is his familiar Acquaintance, would discern Objects farther and clearer then most other Men. He added, That Monsieur de Vatteville told the Relater, he had purchas'd the way of making this Powder of the Empe∣rick, and had given it to an eminent Chirurgion, one Benoest (an Acquaintance of the Relaters) by whom he had been cured of a Musket-shot that had broken his Thigh-bone, when the other Chirurgions would have proceeded to amputation;

and that this Benoest had with this Powder, administred as be∣fore is related, cur'd a Gentlewoman of a Cancer in the Breast. All which, and more, was confirm'd to the Relater by the Chirurgion himself. But in what other stubborn and deplo∣rable Cases they use this Powder, I do not particularly re∣member. The Preparation of it, which a Chymist did me the favor to tell me by word of mouth, as a thing himself had also made, was in short this: That the Remedy was made by precipitating Quick-silver, with good Oyl of Vi∣triol, and so making a Turbith, which is afterwards to be dulcified by abstracting twenty, or twenty five, times from it pure Spirit of Wine, of which fresh must be taken at every abstraction. But I would not advise you to recommend so furious a Powder to any, that is not a very skilful Chymist and Physitian too, till you know the exact Preparation, and particular uses of it; the reason of my mentioning it here, being but that which I expressed at the entrance upon this Narrative.]

CHAP. XX.

YOu will perchance wonder, Pyrophilus, that having had so fair an opportunity as the subject of this Essay afford∣ed me, of discoursing to you about the Universal Medicine, which many Paracelsians, Helmontians, and other Chymists talk of so confidently: I have said nothing concerning the existence, or so much as the possibility of it. But till I be better satisfied about those Particulars then yet I have been, I am unwilling either to seem to believe what I am not yet convinced of, or to assert any thing, that may tend to dis∣courage Humane Industry; and therefore I shall onely ven∣ture to adde on this occasion, That I fear we do somewhat

too much confine our hopes, when we think, that one ge∣nerous Remedy can scarce be effectual in several Diseases, if their causes be supposed to be a little differing. For, the Theo∣ry of Diseases is not, I fear, so accurate and certain as to make it fit for us to neglect the manifest or hopeful Vertues of noble Remedies, where ever we cannot reconcile them to that Theory. He that considers what not unfrequently hap∣pens in distempered Bodies by the Metastasis of the Morbi∣fique matter (as for instance, how that which in the Lungs caused a violent cough removed up to the head may produce (as we have observed) a quick decay of Memory and Rati∣ocination, and a Palsie in the Hands and other Limbs) may enough discerne that Diseases that appear very differing, may easily be produced by a peccant matter of the same nature only variously determined in its operations by the constituti∣on of the parts of the body where it setleth: and consequently it may seem probable to him, that the same searching Medicine being endowed with qualities destructive to the texture of that Morbifique matter, where ever it finds it, may be able to cure either all, or the greatest part, of the Diseases which the various translation of such a Matter ha••h been observed to beget. Moreover, it oftentimes happens that Diseases, that seem of a contrary nature, may proceed from the same cause variously circumstantiated; or (if you please) that of divers Diseases, that may both seem primary, the one is but Symptomatical or at most Secundary in relation to the other; as a Dropsy and a slow Feaver may, to unskilfull men, seem Diseases of a quite contrary nature, (the one be∣ing reputed a hot and dry, the other a cold and moist Distem∣per) though expert Physitians know they may both pro∣ceed from the same Cause, and be cured by the same Reme∣dy: And in women experience manifests, that a great variety

of differing Distempers, which by unskilful Physitians have been adjudged distinct and primary Diseases, and have been, as such, unsuccessfully dealt with by them, may really be but disguised Symptomes of the distempers of the Mother or Genus Nervosum; and may, by Remedies reputed Antihyste∣rical, be happily removed. To which purpose I might tell you, Pyro. That I, not long since, knew a Practitioner, that with great success used the same Remedies (which were chief∣ly Volatile and Resolving Salts) in Dropsies, and in (not, Symptomatical, but) Essential Feavers. And our selves have lately made some Experiments of not much unlike na∣ture, with a preparation of Harts-horn, of equal use in Fea∣vers and Coughs, both of them primary. I might on this occasion recur to divers of the Remedies formerly mentioned in several places of this Essay; since divers of them have been found effectual against Diseases, which, according to our common Theory, seem to be little of kin one to another: And by telling you what I have observed concerning the va∣rious operations of Helmont's Laudanum, of our Ens Veneris, and even of a Medicine devised by a Woman, the Lady Kents Powder, I might illustrate what I have lately delivered: But it is high time for me to pass on to another Subject; and therefore I shall rather desire you, in general, to consi∣der, whether or no several Differing Diseases, and ev'n some commonly supposed to be of contrary natures, be not yearly cured by the Spaa waters in Germany.

And to assist you in this Enquiry, I shall address you to the rare Observations of the famous and experienc'd Henricus ab Heer, and to his Spadacrene; in the 8^•h Chapter of which he reckons among the Diseases which those Waters cure, Catarrhs, and the Distempers, which (according to him) spring from thence; as the Palsie, Trembling of the Joints,

and other Diseases of kin to these, Convulsions, Cephalal∣giae, (I name them in the order, wherein I finde them set down) Hemicraniae, Vertigo, Redness of the Eyes, of the Face, the Erysipelata, Ructus continui, Vomitus, Singultus, Obstructions, and even Scyrhus's, if not inveterate, of the Liver and Spleen, and the Diseases springing thence; the Yellow Jaundise, Melancholia flatulenta seu Hypochondriaca, Dropsies, Gravel, Ulcers of the Kidnies, and Carunculae in meatu urinario, Gonorrhoeas, and resembling affections, Ele∣phantiasis or the Leprosie, fluor albus mulierum, Cancers and Scyrrhus's of the Womb, Fluxes and even Dysenteries, the Worms (though very obstinate, and sometimes so co∣pious as to be voided in his presence, even with the Urine) Sterility, and not onely the Scabies in the Body and Neck of the Bladder, and clammy pituitous Matter collected therein, besides Ulcers in the Sphyncter of it: but he relates, upon the repeated Testimony of an eminent Person that he names, and one whom he stiles Vir omni fide dignissimus, That this Party being troubled with a very great Stone in his Bladder, and having had it search'd by divers Lythotomists, before he came to the Spaa, did, by very copiously drinking these Waters, finde, by a second search made by those Artists, that his Stone was much dimin••shed the first Year, and (by the same way of tryal) that it was so the second Year. And of the Cures of these Diseases, the Physitian mentions in the same Chapter, as to many of them, particular and re∣markable Instances; and in the beginning of the next Cha∣pter, having told his Readers that he expects they should scarce believe these Waters can have such variety of Vertues, Caeterum, saith he, si in Spaa maturè & constantibus natura∣libus, vitalibus{que} facultatibus venerint; aquas{que} quo dicemus modo biberint, indubiè quae dixi, vera esse fatebuntur: And

though we be not bound to believe (nor doth he ••ffirm it) that the Spaa-waters do universally cure all the afore-men∣tion'd Distempers; y••t it is very much, and makes much for our present purp••se, that they should in so many Pati∣ents cure most of these Distempers, and lessen, if not cure, the rest. And we may somewhat the better credit him, be∣cause even where he reckons up the Vertues of the Spaa, he denys it some, which other Physitians ascribe to it. And it is very considerable, what he subjoyns in these words: Pau∣cissimos enim vel nullos Spadae Incolas Capitis doloribus, Car∣dialgiâ, Cal••ulo, Obstructionibus renum, Hepatis, Lienis, Mesaraicarum, laborantes invenies, Ictericos, Hydropi∣cos, Podagricos, Scabiosos, Epilepticos, quod sciam, nullos. But that which I most desire you to take notice of, is, That besides all the above-mention'd Diseases, I finde that he ascribes to these Waters the Vertues of curing such as are counted of a contrary nature, and are thought to require con∣trary Remedies: For besides that, he expresly affirms, in the beginning of the eighth Chapter, That these Waters being endow'd with the Ve••tues both of hot and cold Minerals, they cure both hot and cold affections, in the same Patients, and in d••ffering Bodies, and that contrary Effects are per∣formed by them: He hath, after some Pages, this passage, which may go for an Illustrious Proof of what he had assert∣ed: Inter caetera (saith he, speaking of the Spaa-Waters) Mensibus movendis imprimis idonea, quod millies experientia comprobavit. Et tamen nimium eorum fluxum quovis alio medicamento felicius sistit.

These Testimonies, Pyrophilus, of our experienc'd Au∣thor, would perhaps obtain the more credit with You, if You had seen what I la••ely had the opportunity to observe in a hot and dry Season, at ou•• own Tunbridge-Waters in Kent, when

I was there to drink them. And therefore I shall again invite You not onely to consider, Whether one potent Remedy, such as it may be, may not be able to cure variety of Dis∣eases, and some suppos'd to be of contrary natures? But whe∣ther or no divers Persons, on whom the received Methodus medendi hath been long and fruitlesly employ'd, be not by their tyred and despondent Physitians themselves sent thi∣ther, and there cur'd of their abstruse and obstinate Diseases, by Remedies prepar'd by Nature without the assistance of Art? For if you duly reflect on this conspicuous Observa∣tion, and consider how much it is possible for Art to melio∣rate and improve most (especially Mineral) Remedies, afford∣ed us by Nature, you would probably dare to hope, That Medicines might be prepared of greater Efficacy, and appli∣cable to more Diseases, then they who think the more recei∣ved Theory of Diseases (from which yet very eminent Phy∣sitians, in divers Particulars, scruple not to recede) incapa∣ble of being rectified; and that judge of all Remedies by them, that are publickly Venal in Apothecaries Shops, will allow thems••lves so much as to hope.

If now You demand, Pyrophilus, if I think that every Particular which hath contributed to swell this Discourse in∣to a bulk so disproportionate to that which the Title of an Essay promised, do directly belong to the Art of Physick? I shall leave it to the Judicious Celsus (whom Le••rned Men have stiled The Roman Hippocrates) to answer for me, and he will tell you, That Quanquam multa sint ad ipsas artes non pertinentia, tamen eas adjuvant excitando artificis ingenium. I suppose I need not remind You, Pyrophilus, that it was not my design, in what h••th been represented, to subvert those Principles of the Methodus medendi, from which no sober Physitians themselves recede, and in which they unani∣mously

acquiess: And that I much less intend to counte∣nance those venturous Empericks, who, without any com∣petent knowledge of Anatomy, Botanicks, and the Histo∣ry of Diseases, think Receipts or Processes alone can enable them to cure the Sicknesses they know not, and who would perswade Men to lay by, as needless, a Profession, of whose Usefulness to Mankinde we may elsewhere have occasion to discourse. No, Pyrophilus, without peremptorily assert∣ing any thing, I have but barely represented the Notions I have mention'd concerning the Methodus medendi, as things probable enough to deserve to be impartially considered; That in ••ase they prove fit to be declin'd, they may appear to have been rejected not by our superciliousness or laziness, but (after a fair tryal) by our experience: And in case they seem fit to be approved, they may prove additional Instan∣ces of the Usefulness of Natural Philosophy to Physick. Which Usefulness, Pyrophilus, if I have in any considerable measure been so happy as to make out, I shall not think the time (and much less the pains) I have bestow'd upon that Theme, mis∣spent. For, I must confess to you, Pyrophilus, that to me it seems, that few things ought more to endear to us the Study of Natural Philosophy, then that (according to the Ju∣dicious Sentence of our Celsus, Rerum Naturae contemplatio, saith he, quam vis non faciat Medicum, aptiorem tamen Me∣dicinae reddit) a deeper insight into Nature may enable Men to apply the Physiological Discoveries made by it (though some more immediately, and some less directly) to the Ad∣vancement and Improvement of Physick.

And I well enough know, Pyrophilus, that if instead of Writing this Essay to such an one as You, I should Write it to the more critical and severer sort of Readers, they would be apt to think both that it is impertinent for me, who do not

profess to be a Physitian, to treat prolixly of Matters Medi∣cinal; and that it may appear somewhat below me, in a Book, whose Title seems to promise you Philosophical Matters, to insert I know not how many Receipts: But I shall not scruple to tell such a Person as Pyrophilus, That since my Method requir'd that I should say something to you of the Therapeutical part of Physi••k, I thought that Chri∣stianity and Humanity it self, oblig'd me not to conceal those things, w^ch how despicable soever they may seem to aspecula∣tive Philosopher, are yet such, as, besides that some of them may perhaps afford improveable Hints touching the Nature of Remedies, if not also of Diseases, Experience hath en∣couraged me to hope, that others may prove useful to the sick. And as for the inserting of Receipts, even in Books of Philosophical Subjects, I have not done it altogether without example. For not onely Pliny, a Person of great Dignity as well as Parts, and Friend to one of the greatest Roman Emperors, hath left us in a Book, where he handles many Philosophical Matters, store of particular Receipts; but our great Chancellor, The Lord Verulam, hath not dis∣dain'd to Record some. And as for that Industrious Bene∣factor to Experimental Knowledge, the Learned and Pious Mersennus, his Charity made him much more fearful to neg∣lect the doing what good he could to others, then to venture to lessen his Reputation by an Indecorum, that in a Mathe∣matical Book, and in a Chapter of Arithmetical Combi∣nations, he brings in not onely a Remedy against the Ery∣sipelas, but even a Medicine for Corns, where he tells us, That they may be taken away, by applying and daily renew∣ing for ten days, or a fortnight, the middle Stalk that grows between the Blade and the Root (for that I suppose he means by the unusual Word Thallum) of Garlick, bruis'd. Nor is

it without Examples, though somewhat contrary to my Custom in my other Writings, that in this, and the four precedent Essays, I have frequently enough alledged the Testimonies of others, and divers times set down Processes or Receipts, not of my own devising. For even among pro∣fessed and learned Physitians, scarce any thing is more com∣mon, then on Subjects far less of kin to Paradoxes, then most of those I have been discoursing of, to make use of the Testimonies and Observations of other approved Writers, to confirm what they teach. And not now to mention the voluminous Books of Schenkius and Scolzius, that famous and experienc'd Practitioner Riverius himself, hath not been ashamed to publish together a good number of Receipts, given him by others, under the very Title of Observationes communicatae: And Henricus ab Heer, hath, among his Ob∣servationes oppido rarae, divers Receipts that came from Mountebancks, and even Gypsies. And therefore I hope that you, who know that it is not after every Body that I would so much as relate an Observation, or mention a Medi∣cine, as thinking them probable, will easily excuse one that hath much fewer Opportunities then a profess'd Physitian to try Remedies himself; if treating of Subjects not so fami∣liar, I choose to countenance what I deliver by the Testi∣monies of skilful Men, and if I scruple not to preserve in these Papers some not despicable Remedies, as well of abler Men as of my own, that otherwise would probably be lost. But of this Practise I may elsewhere have occasion to give you a more full Apology, by shewing how much it may con∣duce to the enriching and advancement of Physick; an Art, with whose praises I could long entertain You, if I were at leisure (and durst allow my self) to exhaust common places.

And yet give me leave to tell you, That Man is so noble

a Creature, and his Health to requisite to his being able to relish other goods; and oftentimes also to the comfortable performance of what his Conscience, his Country, his Fa∣mily, his Necessities, and perhaps his allowable Curiosi•••• challenge from him, that I wonder not so much at those An∣tient Heathens, that being Polytheists and Idolaters, thought themselves oblig'd, either to refer so useful an Art as that of Physick, to the Gods or God-like Persons; or to adde those, that excell'd in so noble a Faculty, to the number of those they worshipp'd. For my part, Pyrophilus, a very ten∣der and sickly Constitution of my own, much (impair'd by such unhappy Accidents as Falls, Bruises, &c.) hath, besides (as I hope) better motives of Compassion, given me so great a sense of the uneasinesses that are wont to attend Sickness, that I confess, if I study Chymistry, 'tis very much out of hope, that it may be usefully imploy'd against stubborn Diseases, and relieve some languishing Patients with less pain and trou∣ble, then otherwise they are like to undergoe for Recovery. And really, Pyrophilus, unless we will too grosly flatter our selves, we can scarce avoid both discerning and deploring the ineffectualness of our vulgar Medicines, not onely Galenical, but Chymical; (for an active Body may yet be but a languid Remedy.) For besides that many that recover upon the use of them, endure more for Health, then many that are justly rec∣kon'd among Martyrs, did for Religion; Besides this, I say, we daily meet with but too many in the case of that bleeding Woman, mention'd in the Gospel, of whom 'tis said, That she had suffer'd many things of many Physitians,* 1.79 and had spent all that she had, and was nothing better'd, but rather grew worse. And therefore I reckon the investigation and di∣vulging of useful Truths in Physick, and the discovering and recommending of good Remedies among the greatest and

most extensive Acts of Charity, and such, as by which a Man may really more oblige Man-kinde, and relieve more distressed Persons, then if he built an Hospital. Which per∣haps you will not think rashly said, if you please but to con∣sider, how many the knowledge of the Salivating, and other active Properties of Mercury, and of its enmity to putrefa∣ction and Distempers springing thence, have cur'd of several Diseases, and consequently how many more Patients, then have recover'd in the greatest Hospital in the world, are ob∣lig'd to Carpus and those others, who ever they were, that were the first discoverers of the medical efficacy of Quick-sil∣ver. And for my own particular, Pyroph. though my Youth and Condition forbid me the practice of Physick, and though my unhappy Constitution of Body, kept divers Remedies from doing me the same good they are wont to do others; yet having more then once, prepar'd, and sometimes occasi∣onally had opportunity to administer, Medicines, which God hath been so far pleas'd to bless on others, as to make them Relieve several Patients, and seem (at least) to have snatch'd some of them almost out of the jaws of death; I esteem my self by those successes alone sufficiently recompenc'd for any toil and charge my Enquiries into Nature may have cost me. And though I ignore not, that 'tis a much more fashionable and celebrated Practice in young Gentlemen, to kill men, then to cure them; And that, mistaken Mortal•• think it the no∣blest Exercise of vertue to destroy the noblest Workman∣ship of Nature, (and indeed in some few cases the requisite∣ness and danger of ••estructive valour may make its Actions become a vertuous Patriot) yet when I consider the Cha∣racter, given of our great Master and Exemplar, in that Scri∣pture, which says, That he went about doing good,* 1.80 and Healing all manner ••f Sickness; and all maner of Disease among the peo∣ple,

I cannot but think such an Imployment worthy of the very nobl••st of his Disciples. And I confess, that, if it w••re allow'd me to envy creatures so much above us, as are the Celestial Spirits, I should much more envy that welcome Angels Charitable imployment, who at set times diffus'd a healing vertue through the troubled waters of Bet esda,* 1.81 then that dreadful Angels fatal imployment, who in one night de∣stroy'd above a hundred and fourscore thousand fighting men. But, of the Desireableness of the skill and willingness to cure the sick, and relieve not only those that languish in Hospitals, but those that are rich enough to build them, having elsewhere purposely discoursed, I must now trouble you no longer on this Theme, but Implore Your much need∣ed pardon for my having been (beyond my fi••st intentions) so troublesome to You already.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Helmont, De Febri∣bus, c. 14. See also the same Author in Tractat: quem vocat Arcana. Paracels: & Lib. de Febr. Cap. 14.
• * 1.2

  Apud Mo∣••ard: de simplic: Medic. pag. 84.
• * 1.3

  Epitome scientia naturalis. lib. 2. c. 1.
• * 1.4

  Apud Sh••od••∣rum in Pharma∣cop: lib. 3. cap. 18. Dr. J. C.
• * 1.5

  Helmont in Phar∣mac: & dispens: Modern. numero 46.
• * 1.6

  H••••mont Tractat: su••ra al••e∣gato. Nu∣mero 46.47.
• * 1.7

  H••lmont pag. 466.
• * 1.8

  Helmont de Lithiasi. lib. 7. cap. 32.
• * 1.9

  Helmont i•• Pharmacop. & dispens. Modern. N. 46, 47.
• * 1.10

  Of the efficacy of unpromi∣sing Medi∣cines.
• * 1.11

  Schroder Pharnacop. lib. 3. c. 23.
• * 1.12

  Bo••tius in cap. 45. Garcia ab Orta.
• * 1.13

  Idem cap. 46.

  Gartia ab Orta.
• * 1.14

  Helmont, Pharma: & Dispensat: Nov. p. 458
• * 1.15

  See his Currus Tri∣umphalis Antimonii.
• * 1.16

  In tracta∣tulo cui ti∣tul. sequun∣tur ••uae∣dam Imper∣f••ctio••a.
• * 1.17

  Helm. de febr. cap. 5. num. 26.
• * 1.18

  Helm. de feb••. ca••. 17. vers. f••acm.
• * 1.19

  Helm. de scholar. Humo••ista. pass, decept. cap. 2. nu∣mero 89.
• * 1.20

  Lib. 2. c. 6.
• * 1.21

  In Praefa∣••••••, Lib. 1.
• * 1.22

  In Commen∣tar. Apho∣••is. 2.
• * 1.23

  Pa••acelsus in his P••e∣face to his Be••theona, or Chirur¦gia Mi••o••.
• * 1.24

  Franciscus Ber∣nius, Donzelli∣nus, Ernestus Burgravius, who commend it upon their own experience, besides very ma∣ny that commend in general termes.
• (a) 1.25

  De La∣pid: & Gemm: lib: 2. cap: 11.
• (b) 1.26

  Nico∣laus Monardes de simpli: Ind: Histor: Cap: seu Tit: 20.
• (c) 1.27

  De Ne∣phrit: lib: 1. cap. 24. where he hath nine or ten Observations which he calls Observationes rarae & inaudi∣tae de Lap: Ne∣phritico.
• * 1.28

  De Gem: & Lapidibus lib. 1. cap. 23.
• * 1.29

  Helm. de Febr. cap. 2.
• * 1.30

  Paracels. in Archidox Magic. lib. 5.
• * 1.31

  De Operat. Chirurg p. 1. cap. 51.
• * 1.32

  De Lapid. & Gem. l. 2. cap. 102.
• * 1.33

  In observa. Medic. op∣pido raris. pag. 194.
• * 1.34

  Helmont, de febr. cap. 14. vers. finem.
• * 1.35

  Cap. 17. in sine.
• * 1.36

  Observ: Cent. 1, Observ; 4••.
• * 1.37

  H••story of Chi∣na, part. 1. chap. 12.
• * 1.38

  [N B]
• * 1.39

  Medicinae fa∣ciendae medio∣cr••m habent pe∣ritiam.—Aegris salsa, acria, & plura propo••unt, dicente Ma••f••o, pisces & coa∣chylia Pha••ma∣ca suavia & o∣dorata.

  [NB] San∣guinem nunquam eliciunt, Mag∣nam Medicorum dignitatem vi∣de••e est ex Epi¦stola Almeidae ubi narrat, &c. Bern: Vareni∣us, in Descript: Regn: Japon. Cap. 25.
• * 1.40

  Gal: in Aphor: Hipp. Comment. 1.
• * 1.41

  Lib. 2. Dialog: 7.
• * 1.42

  Voyages chap. ••4.
• * 1.43

  Preface, Lib. 1.
• * 1.44

  Piso de Medic; Br••si: Lib: 2. Cap: 1.
• * 1.45

  Georg: Ent in Epistol: praefix: Exercit Harvei de Gen: Ani∣mal.
• * 1.46

  Celsi p••••es••tione ad Lib. 1.
• * 1.47

  P••trus de Osma in E••ist. ad Mo∣nard. quae erstat. in libello de sim∣plicibus medica∣mentis ex Occi∣dentali India delatis.
• * 1.48

  Panarola Fase: Arcan. 1.
• * 1.49

  Centur. 3. Obser∣vat. 34.
• (a) 1.50

  River. C••nt. 4. O••ser. 63
• (b) 1.51

  River. Cent. 4. Observ. 19.
• (c) 1.52

  In Hi∣storiar. & Observ. 3. Medico-••hysicar. Cent. 3. Observ. 28.
• * 1.53

  Some yea••s si••••e the pres••nt ESSAY was written, I ligh∣t••d on the 66th O••se••vation of the industrious Bartholinus 3 Century, and the 53 Obs••r∣vation of his 6 Century, in both which pla∣ces giving in∣stances of the Transplantation of Diseases he mentions, b••sides some of those Examples deli∣ver'd by us, di∣vers o••hers; for which I am wil∣ling to refer you to the alledged places, only in the last of those Ob∣servations deli∣ver••ng some••hing as upon his own knowledg (which he does not in th•• r••st of the instan∣ces.) th••t much confirm••s wh••t we have menti∣on'd concerning Fludd. We shall annex it in his own words, In Catello Milesio Avi nostri materni, quem jam alit in aedibus suis Av••n••ulus meu•• suspiciendus M. J••c••lus F••••c∣kius Phys P.P. & Academi••e nostrae senior, evidentius haec pat••it trah••ndi facultas. Co••ico dolore to••q ••ebatur Avunculus, Canis ventri impositus quum incalui••let, u••gebat ex••tum, vomuit veheme••ter et To••mina colica Avunc••li re••••serunt. Ancilla ejusdem in dolore dentium ••un••••m canem g••n••s ap∣posuit, sens••tque levamen, sed canis do••orum impat••entia h••nc inde curs••ta••e et lat••a••e. Idem ex••ertus est scriba in Colli Tumore.
• * 1.54

  Centur. X. Exp. 997.
• * 1.55

  Way to get Wea••th. Book. 1.
• * 1.56

  Celsus in Prae∣fatione Lib. 1.
• * 1.57

  Lib. 4. Cap. 10.
• * 1.58

  Chap. 56.
• * 1.59

  See Piso lib. 1.
• * 1.60

  De simp. Medi. facultatibus. Libro. 6.
• * 1.61

  Cent. 3. Obs••r. 4.
• * 1.62

  Cent. 3. Obser. 8.
• * 1.63

  Lib. 3 cap. ••.
• * 1.64

  In P••. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. a••m. lib. 3. Ob. O••se••••at. 99.
• * 1.65

  De Medicina ••••gyptio••um, l••b. 1. cap. 17.
• * 1.66

  Ibidem, cap. 18.
• * 1.67

  Histor. Nae. Med. lib. 2. cap. 5. pag. 33.
• * 1.68

  Idem cap. 11.
• * 1.69

  M••surg. lib. 9. cap. 4.
• † 1.70

  Vbi sonatores q••i Musicá suā hoc ma••ū etiam publicis magi∣stratus stipendiis ad pauperum re∣me••ium solati∣••••••••ue co••••••cti cu••a••e con••ueveru••t, ad curas patientium certius faciliúsque accelera••das, pri∣••o ••x in••••ctis quaerer•• so••••••t ub••, quo loco, aut c••m••o, aut cujus coloris Ta••an••ula era••, à q••o morsus 〈…〉〈…〉. Quo f••cto indica••••m lo••um 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ubi f••equentes numero a••q••e omnis g••neris Ta••antulae 〈◊〉〈◊〉 te••endorum la••or••bus incumbu••t, acced••re sol••nt Medici Citharaedi, va•• aque tentare h••rmonia••um 〈◊〉〈◊〉: ad quae mi••um dictu, n••nc h••s ••unc ill••s salta••e non secus ac duorum polychordo••um aequaliter 〈…〉〈…〉, p••rso••atione ill•• chor••ae, quae simil••s si••i fu••rint to••o, & aequalit••r tensae mo••••ntu••, reliquis 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ita ut p••o simil••tu••ine & co••••itione Taran••ular••m nunc ••as nunc illas sal••are compe••iunt. Cum 〈◊〉〈◊〉 co••o••is Tar••••••ul••m quae à 〈◊〉〈◊〉 indicata f••••rat in saltum prorumpere viderint, pro certissimo 〈◊〉〈◊〉 h••ben••, mo••u••um se h••b••re ••erum & certum humori v••ne••ioso 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 proportionatum, & ad 〈…〉〈…〉 aptissim••, quo si uta••tu•• in••allib••l••m 〈◊〉〈◊〉 effectū se co••sequi asseveruunt.] Kircher: Musurg: lib. 9 pa••t. 2. cap. 4.
• * 1.71

  Histor: 81.
• * 1.72

  Vide Senner••i Practic. lib. 1. p. 2. cap. 16.
• * 1.73

  Lib. 4. Cap. 48.
• * 1.74

  See the same Author, Lib. 3. under the Title Cur••ru.
• * 1.75

  Hist. Nat. & Med. Lib. 2. pag. 23.
• * 1.76

  Cap. 2.
• * 1.77

  Fab. Cent. 3. obser. 90.
• * 1.78

  Lib. 5. Part. 5. Cap. 1.
• * 1.79

  Mark 5.26.
• * 1.80

  Acts 10.38. Mat. 4.24▪
• * 1.81

  John 5.14. 2 Kings 19.35.