Arcana philosophia, or, Chymical secrets containing the noted and useful chymical medicines of Dr. Wil. and Rich. Russel chymists, viz. I. Species vitæ, alias universalis, II. Tinctura regalis, call'd scorbutick, &c., III. Species coroborativa, alias pleuretica, IV. Species proprietatis, V. Species minor, VI. A pestilential cordial, call'd his white cordial : as also several curious chymical processes and spagerick preparations of natural things for the use of medicin, and many other things of great use and vertue in eradicating the most stubborn diseases, likewise four curious small treatises, viz. the I. Of fevers, the II. Of the jaundies, the III. Of madness, and the IV. Of diarrhæas, lientries &c., by the renowned and most aproved Dr. Aurelius Philipus Theophrastus Paracelsus, of Hoheneim / publish'd by John Headrich ...

Of Madness according to Paracelsus.

ALtho' Madness be one only Disease, yet many names have been given to it, both by the Latins, and other Nations; and accord∣ingly various Causes have been assigned there∣unto, none of which are consonant to (or a∣greeing with) Experience, drawn from the very Light of Nature.

When a Man having Reason, is depriv'd and spoiled thereof, so, as he cannot imploy the same to those ends for which it was created, but furiously acts, and inconsiderately tumul∣tuates; then is that Man seized with Madness. Indeed many Men are otherwise spoiled of their Reason, as the Possessed, Drunk, Fatuate and Tyrants; which are not to be referred to this Classis. For they are not deprived of Reason from a Disease, but from other Accidents: But those Distempers, of which we now treat, are true Diseases, and naturally arise from Morbifick Causes.

Now that we may explain the Cause, it is to be understood. The Reason should be pure and Clean, such as the best Wheat in the Feild is, without Cockle or Darnel. But as among Wheat sown, Tares grow and increase; so also Darnel is bred in the Intellect.

In a Natural manner Madness is thus caused, viz. When any thing is extended beyond its

Strength, and Nature, it is broaken. So the Eyes are blinded by beholding the Sun. For unto every Member its bound and Office is assigned, pass beyound these, it cannot, with∣out damage.

To speculate beyond Humane Capacity, is to infringe and cast down Reason it self.

But there is also another sort of Madness, which proceeding from Elements hurts our Reason, no otherwise, then as you see Fire to rage, and become furious in the Element of Water, and by that excited Ebullition, to cast forth Bubbles, Froath, and Vapour: for our Reason is as a certain Liquid thing, and so be∣comes that Element, in which the Fire exer∣ciseth its power. But by what is this Element broaken? viz. By Fire only: Therefore if, what breakes is Fire, what is broak must be Water. Thus the Body of our Reason is a fly∣ing Water, th•• highest subtilty of which is a boyling Dew. Therefore the Fire kindling, such Operations are made, as from Fire and Water.

Besides these said two Causes of Madness, viz. One, a too great confidence of Strength and Power; the Other, the Operation of Ele∣ments, many other Causes of Madness may be added and commemora••ed by other Men; but these can neither find weight, or place, in Phi∣losophy or Astronomy, in which Physick is founded, Yet I own there is another kind of Madness, which ariseth from Meats eaten, as

Lupines inflict Madness, &c. (See Paracelsus's Treatises of Madness; and of Diseases of Mad-Folks.)

Also, trouble of mind even to Desparation, may cause Madness; for by this disturbance, they enforce Madness on the Brain. Yet the cause hereof is hidden and Obscure, &c.

In like manner some Diseases may induce Madness, &c.

But that an Imposthum should cause Mad∣ness, as the Humorists say, is utterly false. For this Imposthum they never saw; and if any should at any time appear outwardly, in a Person that is Mad, then judge, that the same thing, which generated Madness, produced the Imposthum its fore-runner: For the Im∣posthum it self inferrs not Madness, but is e∣qually produced by the same thing, which in∣duceth Madness.

He, who suddainly degenerates from his na∣ture, custom, and manners, and is mutable according to the Affections of his mind, not having the use of Reason, but hates and striks Men, crys out and Raves, acting many mad pranks, may certainly be prounced Mad.

Also he, who museth and sits quiet and still, not having the use of his Reason, may in like manner be termed Mad: Therefore the diver∣sity of their gestures and manners should be di∣ligently observed, yea, and the Assendant of every hour (which alone infuseth manners) exactly taken notice of, more then those things which are in the Body.

Cure.

He, who indeavours Experimentally to cure this Disease, must let pass the Syrups, Purga∣tions, and prescribed Diet of Antient Physiti∣ans; the chief of which are Violets, Roses, Camomil, the Water Lilly and the like. This Disease is familiarly cured by the Adjurers of Divels, altho they themselves well know it is otherwise; in the mean while, they give him other Remedies, by which they expel the Mad∣ness, and then they glory they have cast out the Devil, when as they have only cured that Madness, which afflicted the Man. By these Deceits they gain more, then by their Medi∣cine. Therefore let him, who is desirous of Skill in these matters, learn of those Adjurers, not to cast out Divels, but to cure Maniacks, with sutable Secrets.

Medicines taking away Madness are twofold; one Chirurgick, the other Physical.

Yet I would have all Men be advised, not rashly to undertake this Chirurgick cure, un∣less by their proper Experience, they be well instructed and skilled in all Accidents, &c.

Tke Chirurgick Cure is thus.

First, make an Apertion in that place, in which the Madness ariseth; But if you be not certain of the place, then open all Extreami∣ties

in the Fingers and Toes; in the Head also, as far as the Circle, or Circumference of the Center is diffused.

This Apertion is twofold.

One takes away, and removes the Skin only, that the Flesh under it may be left bear. The other makes an hole, out of which the Eschar falls, and the hole remains.

But according to the Condition of the Di∣sease, the following difference must be observ'd.

If the Disease be vehement, and frequent, then the first Apertion of the Skin only, is not sufficient for removing the Cause of Madness; but thete is need of the other, which makes a more deep Ulcer. For every Hole hath a cer∣tain power and property of casting out, as an Emunctory. Therefore I here give you the Receipts of Either Apertion.

A Receipt of the First Apertion.

℞. Root of Crowsoot, fresh, or imbibed in Vineger, Flowers of Crowsoot, fresh, or im∣bibed ℥j. Fatness of S••ara••es ℥ss. Cantharides ʒv. Ferment (or Yest) Vineger of each q. s. Beat and sift what are to be beaten and sifted, and mix them into an Unguent, which being spread upon a Cloath, apply it to the Fingers, Toes, &c. And to keep the Cloath moist, moisten it often with Vineger. Let this Plais∣ter

abide on five, or six hours: Afterward remove it, and brake the Bladders, and take away the Skin, that the flesh underneath may be bare.

Anothor more gentle to be made at such a time, in which the said Symples cannot be had.

℞. Of the best Aqua-fortis, Sal-Armoniack sublimed ℥ss. Mercury sublimed ʒiij. mix these three, and put them into a Glass, which set over a Gentle Fire, that all may be resolved into the form of Water: With this wash the spaces of the Extreamities five, or six times, afterward let them dry. This being done, the Skin will be removed from the parts, like Dust from Flesh.

These Apertions are sufficient for taking off any Skin from the Flesh: And the Blood which flowes out in this Excoriation, doth also help much to diminish the Madness.

The Second Apertion.

Where the aforesaid Apertion is not Effectu∣al, this Ulcerative may be used.

℞. Sublimate Mercury, pure Arsenick, A∣qua-fortis of each equal parts; mix these into the form of a Cerote, which apply to the Ex∣tremities, until they be benumed, or rendred sense-less. Afterward moysten the parts with some Fatness, that the Eschar's may come

forth. Then use the following Attractive

℞. Galbanum, Opopanax, Serapinum, Bdellium, Ammoniack of each ℥ijss. Dissolve these in Vineger, then strein the Solution, and boil it to a just consistency: Afterwards mix the following Species, first beaten and findly sifted.

℞ Mastick ℥ss. Frankincense ʒij. Amber ʒj. Herb Paris, Cruc. ungulae of each Mss. the Magnet ʒiij. Colophony ʒij. Fernisij (alias Vernix) ʒv. mix all into a Cerote, with which well fill up the holes of the Extreamities; and always renew the dressings so long, as until the Madness be plainly altered, and removed: Afterward consolidate, heal up the holes (with sutable Incarnatives.

But touching these Apertives, and Attract∣ives, there is one thing remarkable to be ob∣served; and it is this, viz. that the Aperti∣ons of the Head ought to be, and be made last of all; the Apertions in the Extreamities being first healed up, and Skinned; For then, if ne∣cessity require, you may also open the Center of the Head, and proceed in the aforesaid manner.

Also Note: The opening of Veins proper, may here likewise be very conducent. For by such Blood le••tings the Madness is oftentimes expelled.

The Physical Cure.

Now we will speak of the Physical Cure, which is compleated without help of Chirur∣gery.

There is a twofold difference of this Cure. One by Cooling, congeals the peccant matter of Madness; The other asswages and mortifies the same.

Of things Cooling and Congealing, we first speak. These are either Internal, or external. Of Internals, you have the greatest part alrea∣dy described in Cure of the * 1.1 Epilepsy (ari∣sing from Madness.)

Nevertheless here take this one Description, the like of which, we have scarsly as yet found.

℞. Oyl of Campher, Oyl of Musk; mix them, and of the mixture give ℥ss. at one time in Drink. For this Medicine wonderfully takes away, and expels Madness, extinguisheth the Burning heat of the Body, and allays the boyl∣ing of the Blood; also it congeals, and com∣pels the matter, no otherwise, then as Cold congeals Water into Ice. Likewise this Oyl may externally be used, by anointing the Tem∣ples and Forehead.

Besides this, there are many other Arca∣num's which take away Madness, as Quintes∣sences, &c. every of which per se, by reason of

a singular property, and an insited power of Comforting, may be sufficiently efficacious, for expelling Madness▪ Of this Classes are, Qintessences, of Silver, Iron, Lead, and Mercury. Solution's of Crystal, of Co∣rals, &c.

But much more excellent are those things, which are given (as) appropiates against Mad∣ness, such are:

Extractions of Campher, of Gold, &c.

The other way of Curing, is effected by those things which mortify the Madness, and do moreover so still, and allay the peccant matter of the same, as it thenceforth can no more be perceived. Of this Cure the Remedies also are manifold, as well External as Internal; the best of which are those which are prepared ac∣cording to the Rule of Extracting Quintessen∣ces, as are: The Highest Anodine, Qintes∣sences of Poppy, Mandrake, Loliats, Opiats, and Henbane; Altho all these Remedies be strong and vehement, yet being so purged, and prepared, have no Impurities left in them, by which the Body can be hurt.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See the Author's Treatises of Diseases of Mad∣ness.