A treatise of the asthma divided into four parts : in the first is given a history of the fits, and the symptoms preceding them : in the second, the cacochymia which disposes to the fit, and the rarefaction of the spirits which produces it, are described : in the third, the accident causes of the fit, and the symptomatic asthmas are observed : in the fourth, the cure of the asthmas fit, and the method of preventing it is proposed : to which is annext a digression about the several species of acids distinguish'd by their tastes, and 'tis observ'd how far they were thought convenient or injurious in general practice by the old writers, and most particularly in relation to the care of the asthma.

First, The Air.

No Changes or Alterations happen in the Air without causing some Alterations in Animal Humours and their Spirits, es∣pecially those of the Asthmatic, the Air being admitted into the Lungs, and every where compressing all the external Parts of the Animal, according to its several

degrees of weight or pressure; it must af∣fect the Spirits, which are also of an Ela∣stic Quality, and expand themselves the more the external pressure of the Air is abated. This Mr. Boyle has sufficiently proved. For Animals are wonderfully inflated or blown up in his Vacuum; the Eyes start out, and they Vomit; but up∣on the readmission of Air, they subside in∣to their former bigness; and in very high mountainous places, 'tis observed, by reason of a less pressure of the Atmosphere, that Vomiting, Choleras, Hemorrhages, and Dyspnaea's happen. The Respira∣tion is most particularly affected by the Alteration of the pressure, because in In∣spiration, the Air, by virtue of its Elasti∣city, expands the Vesiculae of the Lungs, and therefore that expansion must alter according to the different pressure and ela∣sticity of the Air. For want of this due Expansion in the Vacuum, the Circula∣tion of the Blood is stopt in the Lungs, and the Animal dies Convulsive: And that the pressure of the Air being weakned, occasions short breathing, is not only evi∣dent by those who have been on very high Mountains; But Helmont describes an Asthmatic, of whom he tells us, Mon∣tanis

locis pejus se habet, ideoque Bruxellis vix pernoctare audet: And it will more fully appear, by comparing the Observa∣tions made of Weather by the Barome∣ter, with the Changes in the Spirits of Asthmatic Persons, and their Fits, which succeed on the Changes of Weather.

I will first prove that the Spirits of Ani∣mals be very Elastic, and those of Asth∣matics much more so, because very windy.

If the Experiments above mentioned are not sufficient to convince the Reader, let it be consider'd, that the Spirits of Vegetables are very Elastic, and force their Vessels in very high Fermentations, and in bottled Liquors; that the Changes of the Weather make Vegetable Liquors clear or turbid, and set them to Fer∣ment again; upon the Changes of the Year, Wines Ferment: And the same Changes may be observ'd in Animal Hu∣mours, upon Changes of the Weather, and the Times of the Year, which shews the Similitude of their aerial Spirits, which keep the same Expansion and Pres∣sure as the Air it self has, which is the great Instrument of the Agitation by which Fermentation is managed, and also the chief cause of fluidity in Liquors, as

well as the clearness of their consistence. That the Animal Spirits are Elastic, ap∣pears by the Inflation of the Belly, and all the Habit of the Body in those who die Convulsive, their whole Body being excessively swelled; and in Poison'd Bo∣dies the same happens when the Poison comes by those Medicines which act much on the Spirits.

All Liquors, as Milk and Blood, are raised into Bubbles in Vacuo Boyliano, up∣on the Pumping of the Air, which is oc∣casion'd by the Rarefaction of the included Air and Spirits; and that Air is included in Animal Humours, is evident by the application of Cupping-Glasses, by which the pressure of the external Air being re∣moved, the Internal Spirits and Air be∣come rarefied by its Heat, and swell the solid Parts in which they are contained.

I will next consider how the Spirits of the Asthmatics are affected in the diffe∣rent States of Air, and shew that those Effects are produc'd in Animal Bodies, by the same cause as the Alterations are in a Weather-Glass.

In a dry state of Air, the Spirits of the Asthmatic are most lively, and they breath free, there being then no Vapors

in it, or Fumes to weaken the pressure of the Air; for in Serene Weather the Mer∣cury stands higher than in other states, because a larger Cylinder of Air unmix'd, presses up the Mercury in the Barometer, and by this heavy pressure of the clear Air, the Spirits of the Asthmatic are kept from that Expansion, which ordinarily produces the Fit. 'Tis observ'd that the Intervals of the Fits are largest in dry set∣led Weather.

When any Mist arises, the Asthmatic breaths difficultly, and finds an Oppression on his Spirits, especially a Straitness and Fulness at the Stomach, upon Changes of Weather, though the Fit does not always succeed that complaint. The Moisture of the Air is most prejudicial to the Asth∣matic, whilst the watery Vapours retain the nature of Exhalations, because then they act most on the Spirits, and cause the Inflation at the Stomach.

The Rain when it falls, does not much affect the Asthmatic, but the watery Va∣pours which precede it one, two, or three Days, because the Vapours weaken the pressures of the Air, as appears by the Barometer, which sinks sometimes before Rains, and great Storms, and the Asthma

Fits happen two or three Days usually be∣fore such Changes; but I have observ'd the Animal Spirits to be more nice, and predict the Alteration before the Wea∣ther-Glass. It is observ'd by Seamen, that if there be any bad Weather in a Month, it usually happens two or three Days before, or after the Full or Changes of the Moon, which is the reason why the Asthmatic Fits happen at those times. The pressure of the Air being weakned by the Vapours, the windy Asthmatic Spirits expand themselves, and inflate the Pneumonic Nerves and Membranes, and occasion the Asthmatic Fits before great Rains.

All damp Houses and fenny Countries, and those Winds that bring fenny Vapours and Mists, by altering the pressure of the Air, very much affect the Spirits of the Asthmatics; and such the East Wind often brings, which at its first coming usually give, the Asthma Fits, upon very great Winds and Storms, though no Rain follows, the Mercury sinks lowest of all; for these drive away a great quantity of the usual Cylinder of Air, by which the pressure of the Air is alter'd; and before great Storms I have frequently observ'd

great Asthma Fits. It was one of Van Helmont's Observations, Al••as observavi, quae spirante Boreâ statim vel in Hypocau∣stis Asthmate plecterentur insontes. The South Wind is also offensive by the moist Air it brings, but the West and North are least prejudicial here in England.

From other Causes I have observ'd the Fits of the Asthma to happen, in all the various Points of the Winds, so that the Changes of the Air and Winds only dis∣pose or incline the Asthmatic to their Fits, and oft occasion them; but such acci∣dental Fits are short, and I generally ob∣serve them to trouble the Stomach most, where a Windiness inflates it, and hinders the depression of the Diaphragme, but no great alteration happens in the Lungs; for the Fit goes off with Wind, and a little Spit, and loose Stools.

In Summer the Asthmatic Fits are most frequent, and grievous; the Asthmatic are most impatient with Heat, especially that of the Fire, before which they do not willingly sit, but most of them, taught by long Experience, chuse to sit on the side of it. The heat of the Fire rarefies the Air, or over-heats it, so that it ex∣pands the Animal Spirits in the Lungs,

and disposes them to their Asthmatic In∣flations. So we observe in Dogs, a great Dyspnea occasion'd by lying too hot near the Fire.

Van Helmont observes, Aestate saltem saepius & saeviùs infestat accessus, quam hyeme, which is generally true, though I have discoursed some who complain most of the Winter. These Winter Asthmatics have a Catarrh join'd with their Asthma. I had once a Patient who was a fat Wo∣man, who complain'd of her Winter Asthma; she Spit very much, and com∣plain'd of frothy Urine, and Stools like Barm, who by a Diarrhaea was run very Consumptive, and during the continu∣ance of that, she had none of the Asthma.

That Vegetable Spirits are expanded by Heat, appears by the Thermometer, and the Animal are alike expanded by the Heat of the Sun, Fire, Clothes, and the Bed, or a Crowd, or close Room, because of the hot Air in them are very offensive. All Heat weakens the pressure of the Air, as it appears in Cupping-Glasses, and that being weak, it cannot easily expand the Bladders of the Lungs; therefore Asth∣matics seek a moderate cool and free Air, which makes a more vigorous pressure on

their Lungs, and cools their expanded Spirits, which thereby does refresh them; they love the Windows open, and to be carried into the open Air in a Chalash, to avoid all hot Places, and Weather, which Suffocate them.

The Fit of the Asthma is generally in∣creased by the Heat of the Bed, and it usually seizes them there, and they are obliged to rise out of it, and they can bear a great degree of Cold, in sitting up all Night with the Windows open on them, because of the great Expansion of Animal Spirits by the Fit.

I have often had great Fits when the Weather has continued very clear, and only very hot Weather has succeeded, to which I then imputed the Fits.

In very cold Weather the Fits of the Asthma are less violent, because that com∣presses the Expansion of the Spirits; but before any great Snows, the Asthmatic usually have a Fit, and that a severe one; or, or least, when the Fit does not suc∣ceed, they feel a Fulness at Stomach.

The Quicksilver falls in the Glasses for want of pressure in that state of Air, and occasions or gives way to the Expansion of the Spirits; and before such Storms of

Snow, the Spirits feel very uneasy and restless, and some Rheumatic Pains affect the Temples, or top of the Head, with a lightness in the Head, and other Pains are observ'd in the Limbs: Hence it appears that frozen Vapours have the same effect on the Barometer, and the Spirits, as the floating moist Vapours have, and the rea∣son of both is a less pressure in the Air at such times.

In calm frosty Weather the Mercury stands high, the cold Air being condens'd weighs most; and in such Weather the Asthmatic is most free from Fits, for by compression of the Spirits the Asthma is hindred.

The Mercury stands highest in the cold Easterly and Northerly Winds, because the cold condensed Air is drove hither by those Winds; and since that Air is heavi∣est, we must impute the Fits occasion'd by them to a sudden check of Perspira∣tion, which produces the Effervescence, on which the Asthmatic Inflation depends, and not only to the want of pressure in the Air.

In extreme cold Weather the Circula∣tion is more stop'd in the External Parts by the compression of Air, and therefore

then the serous Humours are carried in∣wardly towards the Belly, Lungs or Brain, where they pass those Glands, after the manner of a Defluxion.

Any kind of Smoak offends the Spirits of the Asthmatic, and for that reason many of them cannot bear the Air of Lon∣don, whose Smoak, like Fire it self, irri∣tates their Spirits into an Expansion. I al∣ways observ'd the Smoak of Wood more Suffocating than that of Coal, and more apt to occasion a Cough.

The fetid smell of a Candle put out, or the smell of melted Grease, will often occasion a Fit: And I remember an Asth∣matic Lady had a severe Fit by the smell of an Ointment she boiled. Horstius has a Remarkable Story of a Woman who grew Asthmatic, by holding her Head over the smell of a Lixivium, for the ma∣king of Soap, of which she died after 7 Years; and in her Wind-pipe opened, black Glands were observ'd, of the big∣ness of Peas or Beans, to which the Fit was imputed.

A Lady inform'd me that she smoak'd Tobacco for an Hysterical Pain in her Sto∣mach, by which she fell into the Asthma, for which Astrop-Waters gave her some Relief.

During the Fit of the Asthma, the smoak of Tobacco is so offensive, that it very much straitens the Breath, if it be smoak'd the first Day of the Fit, and much endangers a Suffocation. There are many Asthmatics that cannot bear the smell of it, therefore its Foetor is injurious at any time, its Heat thickens the Phlegm, and rarefies their aerial Spirits, making them restless; all the good it can do, is, to discuss the Windiness after the Fit abates, and to help the Coughing up the Phlegm; but it generally over heats the Air in the Hu∣mours of Animals, and raises the Fermen∣tation too much.

There is a Remarkable Instance in Bo∣netus, of an Asthmatic who fell into a vio∣lent Fit, by going into a Wine-Cellar, where the Must was fermenting; and this shews how much the Spirits may be disturbed by Fumes, which are capable of Rarefying them, or else causing a Fer∣mentation in the Humours, which will certainly cause their Expansion to produce an Asthma Fit.

The Fumes of Metals dry the Lungs, and especially those of Quicksilver, which may corrode the Trachea, or at least irri∣tate the Spirits there, and determine their

motion much towards the Lungs, where the Fumes are received. Fumus Mercurii (qui ut larvatus semper est tamen Mercu∣rius) statim laringem praecludit, & con∣stringit: Helmont gives us this Obser∣vation; from whence we may observe the Stipticity of Mercury, and that Stipicity was observ'd by Avicenna in Mercury, which Taste is always injurious to the Asthma: Those Fumes which Irritate, may vitiate the Trachea, and produce the Humid Asthma, as Helmont describes the Asthma from such Fumes.

The Dust of other Metals fills the Lungs and irritates them, and the Fumes dry the Lungs like Flesh dried with Smoak, and this Asthma is to be cured by moistening them with Oil, and Milk-Diet, Mucilaginous Pectorals, and open Air.

Mineral Poisons are best corrected by Mineral Medicines; Mercur. Dulcis with Lenitive Purges, Antimonium Diapho∣reticum with Theriaca to Sweat, Sulphur Flowers unite with Mercury.

There are some Instances of Shortness of Breath occasion'd by Thunder, and helped by Sulphur Medicines, and Vomi∣ting; to which those who are Thunder∣struck,

and recover, are inclin'd, as I have been told.

Not only foetid offensive Smells occa∣sion the Asthma Fits, but those also that are strong scented and sweet, and most Asthmatics are affected by Perfum'd Wa∣ters and Medicines, as the Chymical Oils offend by their strong Odors. There is a Relation of a Monk, in Helmont, who when he eat Fish fry'd with Oil, Ruit extemplo anhelitu privatus, sicut vix praefo∣cato distinguatur; and this Observation Helmont farther confirms, Vidi frequentes, quae suave olentium odore praeter cephalal∣gias, & syncopes, confestim in extremam respirandi difficultatem inciderent.

Since I have given these Instances of the great Influence of Smells upon Animal Spirits, I will beg pardon to digress a little, to consider the nature of Smells, that by comparing what I shall say of them with my ••ormer Discourse of Animal Spirits, I may give a general account of these great Effects produced by Smells.

I will describe the Matter of Smells, then their Differences and Manner how they variously affect the Animal Spirits.

The••phrastus has observ'd that every thing that is unm••••'d is without smell, as

well as taste, therefore all Simple Bodies are without smell, as Water, Air, and Fire are without smell; but that the Earth alone has a smell, because most mixt.

Tastes and Odors are therefore chiefly to be observ'd in Juices of Plants or Ani∣mals, or Metals, and it is is a particular Texture in those Juices, which arises from the mixture of the Principles of things, (viz. the Oil, Acid, Earth, and Water) which strikes the Organ of Taste, with a particular taste, and the same specific tex∣ture and mixture was necessary to pro∣duce a particular smell, which every Plant and Animal has peculiar to it self; for what gives the taste in the form of a Li∣quor, if it be Rarified and ascends into the Air in Vapour, it strikes the Organ of Smelling with a particular Odor.

Since there is no Odor without Taste, nor Taste without some Odor, and the Odor in Wines and Fruits are changed with their Tastes; the matter of both Tastes and Smells appears to be the same which gives such a vicinity and sociable accord to both those Senses, that Plants are said to taste as they smell, and è con∣tra; and we use the names of Smells, as Foetid and Aromatic, to express our Tastes;

and, I think, we ought also to use the Names of Taste, to express the great va∣riety of our Smells, as I shall do here∣after.

Odors are not sufficiently distinguish'd into their Species, which want Names, and they must be borrow'd from the tastes of Plants.

Odors are commonly distinguish'd into pleasant or grateful 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and ungrateful or ill smells 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; but since all Animals have a great variety in their Food, and that was design'd to be grateful to them both in Taste and Smell, the different Temperament of each Animals Humours and Spirits must make one Food grateful to some, which will prove very ungrate∣ful to others: So it may be observ'd of Birds of Prey, as Kites, Crows, delight in putrid Flesh, which is to Mankind ve∣ry ungrateful and unnatural; therefore the gratefulness or disagreeableness of a Taste or Smell consists in its suitable Na∣ture to the Spirits of each particular Ani∣mal.

Every Animal has his peculiar Odor, according to the particular Temperament of the Humours, which is pleasant and sincere in the Vigour of its Age, and in

perfect Health; it is sweet in Youth, but strong, virose, at the Seasons for Coition, or when the Humours are changed by Age or Diseases, they smell ill, strong, rank, as in Rabbets, Goats, Deer.

The Matter and vaporous Nature of Smells in Plants and Animals, does most immediately represent the Nature of the Spirits of Animals, and their various States.

1st. Odors are very volatile, lighter than the Air in which they swim, and such are the nature of Animal Spirits vo∣latile, invisible, as Odors, and the effects of a thorough Digestion; for Plants have not their true Odor till they be full ripe, and in Flower; Wine smells more odori∣ferous than their unripe Must, and Plants in their native Soil are better ripened, and therefore more odoriferous than in the Garden Soil, where there is too much crude Juice: And in a Morning, after a perfect Digestion of Animal Humours, we are sensible that our Spirits are most pure, active, and lively.

2dly. The Matter of Smells in Plants, is chiefly an Oil, or Turpentine, or Rosin▪ in Animals a greasy or fat Substance▪ Wine and Oil does most easily imbibe and

dissolve Odors, because of the similitude of oily Substance; and in Oil of Ben and Almonds we usually preserve Aromatics. In Animals the most odorous Juices are Oily, as Musk and Castor; nothing smells stronger than the Axungia's, and all these readily mix with Oil, by reason of their oily nature.

Amongst Minerals the Bitumens, which are of a strong smell, have an evident Oiliness, as Ambergrease, and Petroleum, and Sulphur is ready mix'd with Balsams.

3dly. All Aromatics give a briskness to the Spirits, and please them if smelt to, and supply a larger quantity, if deficient, and are therefore accounted Cordials; foetid Smells are accounted Hysteric Me∣dicines, and inlarge the Expansion of Spi∣rits; and since Smells act so immediately on the Spirits, there must be a great simi∣litude betwixt their oily Substances.

But these effects of Smells on the Spi∣rits, must be more particularly consider∣ed, and for that end I will divide Smells into their several Species, and give the Names of Tastes to several of them, whose Effects being well known, it will be more easie to assign the true Effects of their Smells on Animal Spirits.

I will give Avicenna's Opinion of Tastes, and their Virtues, Non est possibile ut sa∣pores dulcis, & amarus, & acutus, & salsus sint nisi in substantià calida; neque ponti∣cus, Stypticus, & acetosus, nisi in substantia frigida; & similiter odores acuti non sint nisi in substantia calida; odores quando{que} signifi∣cant sapores, sicut odor dulcis, & acetosus, & acris & amarus; sapores sunt octo dul∣cedo, amaritudo, & acuitas, & salsedo, ace∣tositas, ponticitas, Stypticitas, unctuositas.

I will reckon all the following Smells amongst the hot Smells, which affect the Head, and expand the Spirits, and give them a quicker Motion.

1st. Acrid Smells, which are pungent; and Authors call this 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but these may be very much distinguish'd, accord∣ing to the Degree of Acrimony; for a cress Acrid is milder, such as Mustard; then a corrosive Acrid, such as Garlick, or Squills; and Acrids may be distinguish∣ed by the Aromatic, or Bitterness, or Foe∣tor joined with them.

These kind of Smells are most specific to those indispositions of Spirits, which happen to arise from that state of Humors which requires a hot acrid Taste to cor∣rect them; in Hypochondriac cases we

excite the Animal Spirits by volatile Salts, and we give the same inwardly: In Hy∣steric cases, we discuss the flatulent Va∣pours by foetid and acrid Gums, both out∣wardly and inwardly, so that it may be a Rule, where any Taste is necessary and useful inwardly, we ought to apply the same, if Odorous, outwardly, to rectify any Disorders of Spirits, that may happen in that case; and why may we not infer, that since any Medicine externally applied to the Smell, very much gratifies it, the same may be given inwardly to alter the Cacochymia, from whence the disorder'd Spirits are produced? This seems a piece of natural Reasoning, whereby Brutes discover their Medicines when they are Sick, and they eat what pleases their Smell; and if any Medicine or Meat pleases both Taste and Smell, we readily use it. If the piercing and volatile Nature of acrid Smells be consider'd, we shall never ap∣ply them to Hysterics, where the Spirits are over-volatile and fiery, which seem only proper for the stupid, dull, contract∣ed State of Animal Spirits.

2dly. All Aromatic Smells, as well as Tastes, are hot, and they have either a great Acrimony, or a Bitterness join'd

with them; fresh Orris is bitter, and ex∣ulcerates the Skin, Myrrh, Costus, Cin∣namon, Cassia, Juncus Odoratus, Cy∣perus, are described by Theophrastus to be hot, acrid and styptic, for which Tastes they are used as Medicines.

The milder Aromatics have a sweet∣ness, as Fennil, Aniseed; but all strong Aromatics a bitter Taste: These Smells are on the account of their Acrimony and Bitterness very hot; these Aromatic Smells we apply to fainting Persons, and the same are very useful inwardly in a languid state of Blood and Spirits. These vola∣tile oily Salts or Balsams are easily infus'd in Vinous Spirits, and if they be put into Wine as the Antients used, (viz. they commended Wines impregnate with Myrrh, Cedar, Rosin, &c.) they affect the Head much, and raise the Circulation of Blood, and Expansion of Spirits, and by similitude of oily Parts assimulate them∣selves with the Animal Spirits.

These Aromatic Smells will not agree with the choleric, hot, fiery Spirits, be∣cause the Aromatic inwardly in that state of Humours are too hot, burning and in∣flaming the Humours and Spirits. 'Tis this excessive Heat of odoriferous Medi∣cines

which gives a vertiginous Motion to the Spirits of hot Constitutions, and too much expands the windy Spirits, and thereby produces a Dyspnaea.

3dly. Foetid Smells, which the old Writers call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Gravis Odor, this is offensive to the Spirits, as Aromatics are grateful; if they be Narcotic, they stu∣pify the Spirits, and allay Pains, Watch∣ings, stop Bleedings at Nose, and too great a volatility of Spirits, and their great expansion in Convulsions: And these Foetids, though very acrid in Taste, and very bitter, yet because of a peculiar tex∣ture cause a coolness of Spirits, and there∣fore may be reckon'd amongst the cooling Smells; but all other Foetids, as Assafoeti∣da, Castor, volatile Salts, Amber, Sulphur, and the fume of the Fat of a Sea-Calf, Horns and Hoofs are of very hot Parts, very volatil, they expand the Spirits more than Aromatics, but because they prevent their tumultuous Expansions by changing their motions or texture, they are use∣ful to some Hysteric Women, but ex∣tremely offensive to others, who cannot bear the least of those foetid Smells. And Pliny relates that the Antients did by burn∣ing Bitumen, try whether their Slaves

were Epileptic or not; Accenso lapide gagate explorabant Epilepsiam in servis vena∣libus; by which one might conclude, that Bitumen, and other Foetids, are inju∣rious to Convulsive cases, especially when they come near to be Epileptic; in which cases I should doubt of Castor, Assafoetida, Powders of the Skull, Vipers, Toads, Worms, the Stones of Horses, or Secun∣dine, all these being strong Foetids, rare∣fy tumultuous fiery Spirits into violent Fits, and drive more morbifie Matter in∣to the Nerves of such Persons, which are too open to receive extraneous Matter.

All poisonous Plants, whether Narco∣tic or Corrosive, are very Foetid; such as Napellus, their Foetor offends the Spirits, and their Burning or nauseous Taste, the Palat, that thereby Animals might be na∣turally taught to avoid them.

All putrid things are very Unwhole∣som in our Diet; and Theophrastus well observes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Foetor gives us an aversion to it, therefore I should always avoid giving Mummy, or other putrid Parts of Animals, as Skulls, Rennet; to these who have a violent Aver∣sion, especially if we smell their putrid or virose Odor.

Foetid Smells outwardly, and Foetid Medicines inwardly, are useful always in the same case, viz. Lethargic and great Dulness of Spirits; the Antients gave Ca∣stor from ℈i. to ʒss. and ʒi. for a Dose; for 5 days, they u'sd the same quantity in Cly∣sters, they mixt it in Sternutories, or used its Fumes, and they anointed it outwardly, and in very hot Bodies they contrived to temper its heat, by giving it in Oxymels, or Vinegar, and not in Brandy Spirits, as we improperly do. 'Tis plain to me, that Foetids do more good after their Acrimony is abated by Vinegar, than in a finer Solu∣tion: We therefore act very odly, when we study more for a Menstruum, which shall curiously dissolve a Gum, but neg∣lect an experienc'd Vehicle, which makes it better to agree with our Constitutions. Vinegar does not dissolve Gums well, but coagulates them; but nothing corrects their corrosive Acrimony like it: Water is their most natural Menstruum, which turns them into their original Milk, and Brandy Spirits only dissolve the resinous Part, and not the whole Gum.

The cool Smells are those which abate the Heat, Motion, and Expansion of our Animal Spirits.

1st. Crude Smells, such is that of fresh Plants which are set in Rooms to correct the heat of the Air, as Vines, Nymphea Leaves, Willows, and all Plants of a crude Juice, Meadow sweet, and fenny Plants. The smell of a green Turf is used to be held to the Noses of them that are struck with a Damp, to recollect and cool their Spirits, which are too much rarefied by the Sulphur Fumes.

2dly. Acid smells, such as is that of Vi∣negar: The Seamen use Vinegar much to correct the putrid Air of their Ships, by washing the Wood and Beams of their Cabins with it. This is therefore very agreeable to the Sick in many cases.

The smell of Vinegar removes the nau∣seousness, and prevents Vomiting, and cools.

Omnes odores ex quibus sentitur mordi∣catio sunt calidi, & bene redolentia, qua∣propter dolorem capitis pariunt, & illi ex quibus sentitur acetositas, omnes sunt frigidi. Avicenna.

The smell of the Fumes of Vinegar is proper for many Hysterical Women, who cut Rue and Nutmeg, then sprinkle it with Vinegar, so they tie it in a No∣dulus to smell to: This will most

effectually compress the expanded Spirits, for Acids make the Blood black, which the curious Microscope impute to the Globuli crouded together, as they do the Floridness to the Division and Separation of the Globuli.

Vinegar will cool the Elastic Particles, and abate their Expansion, for that cor∣rects all volatile Salts, thickens Oils, coa∣gulates milky Juices, cools Inflammations, stops Evacuations and Fermentations, and has all properties contrary to the acti∣on of Fire, and all hot Animal Princi∣ples, for they rarefy and expand the Spi∣rits and Humours, and make them more agile, elastic, fermenting.

Vinegar agrees with Fevers and all In∣flammations, and Effervescences of Hu∣mours; therefore the smell of Vinegar is very suitable to all Nervous Effects de∣pending on such Diseases, such is the Hy∣steric Fits and Inflations of Spirits I have described, and in all furious Dispositions of Spirits, where their motions are tumul∣tuous, in Deliriums, Phrenetics.

3dly. The Narcotic Smells, such as Primrose, Poppies, give a Heaviness to the Spirits, and dispose them to a less Ex∣pansion; therefore we may add these to

a Nodulus with Vinegar to compose the Spirits.

Sweet Smells, such as the Writers call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, seem to be Cordials refreshing the Spirits, but neither so strong as to dis∣compose them, but so warm as to conti∣nue the motion or expansion.

A strong (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) Smell is when there is very much of a Smell in any thing which makes a violent impression on the Spirits. The heat of Fire, or of the Sun, or grind∣ing, causes the Vapour in which the smell is, to rise plentifully into the Air, and act briskly on the Spirits: Strong Inspi∣ration through the Nose, and snuffing up any Liquors, gives a more evident Im∣pression on the Sense.

A mild Smell, Mollis, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a weaker Impression by a more languid Ha∣litus, Quicquid tenue & molle in odoratu, infirmum est.

The Sensibleness of the Trachea is very evident, because all Asthmatics are of∣fended by the least Dust made by sweep∣ing of a Room, or making of a Bed. I knew one who was a Malster, who told me he could not bear the Dust of Corn whilst it was removed. And Helmont gives a remarkable Instance of a Monk

employ'd in pulling down Buildings, who grew Asthmatic; and he says of him, Quoties deinceps locus aliquis vertitur, vel al as ventus pulverem excitat, mox concidit fere praefocatus, pene praecluso anhelitu ••a∣cet moribundus. In this case the Dust ir∣ritates the Skin of the Trachea, and there∣by occasions a tumultuous motion of Spirits, which of themselves are always disposed in Asthmatics to expand too much, and cause the Constriction in the muscular Fibers of the Bladders of the Lungs, and those of the Bronchia.