Chap. 13. Of Suppuring Medicines
THese have a great affinity with Emolients, like to them in temperature, only Emollients are mething hotter.
Yet is there a difference as apparent as the Sun is when he is upon the Meridian, and the use is mani∣fest. For,
Emollients are to make hard things soft; but what Suppures, rather makes a generation than an alterati∣on of the humor.
Natural heat is the efficient cause of Suppuration, neither can it be done by any external means.
Therefore such things are said to suppure, which by a gentle heat cherish the inbred heat of man.
This is done by such Medicines which are not on∣ly temperate in heat, but also by a gentle viscosity, fill up or stop the Pores, that so the heat of the part affected be not scattered.
For although such things as bind hinder the dissi∣pation of the Spirits, and internal heat, yet they re∣tain not the moisture as Suppuring Medicines pro∣perly and especially do.
The heat then of Suppuring Medicines is like the internal heat of our Bodies.
As things then very hot, are ingrateful either by biting, as Pepper, or bitterness: in Suppuring Me∣dicines, no biting, no binding, no nitrous quality is perceived by the tast (I shall give you better satis∣faction both in this and others, by and by)
For Reason will tell a man, that such things hinder rather than help the work of Nature in Matu∣ration.
Yet it follows not from hence, That all Suppu∣ring Medicines are grateful to the tast, for many things grateful to the tast provoke Vomiting, there∣fore why may not the contrary be?
The most frequent use of Suppuration is, to ripen* 1.1 Phlegmonae, a general term Physitians give to all swel∣lings proceeding of Blood, because Nature is very apt to help such cures, and Physick is an art to help, not to hinder Nature.
The time of Use is usually in the height of the dis∣ease, when the flux is staied, as also to ripen matter that it may be the easier purged away.