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CHAP. LXXXVII. Things Retained [in the Body.] (Book 87)

THe Treatise of things Received being finished, I now proceed unto things Retained. But in things Retained, let it be sufficient once, and seriously to have admonished of this: That although they are onely the occasional Causes of Diseases, yet I have been willing to distinguish of Diseases according to the things Retained, that I might Retain the antient names of Diseases: But that the Chapter whose Title is, That the Know∣ledge of a Disease in its universality hath remained unknown hitherto: is sufficient for a fore∣caution of those things which are to be spoken of things Retained: Whither I refer the Reader.

For truly all particular things which are Retained, do stir up their own Invasions on the Archeus, and from thence also, the differences of Diseases. But those are things Retain∣ed, which are either taken into the Body from without, or are bred as domestical things within, by an internal inordinacy. For seminal things, whether they shall be forreign, or homebred, do on both sides stir up a memorable effect of their disorder on the Archeus: Which thing is easie to be seen, even in a simple Lacryma or Tear of the Eye: Because it is that which by a healthy motion of the Spirit is wholly discussed or blown away with∣out feeling or trouble: The Spirit of the Eye being badly disposed, it is wholly thicken∣ed, waxeth clotty, or is changed into a gnawing Liquor.

In the next place, things Retained do not onely vary in their unlikeness of Form; but also are changed by reason of the dispositions of the Body: For the Body as it is more or lesse transpirable, doth vary Diseases: For some things retained are discussed, neither do they leave behind them the Root of stirring up a Relapse. Sometimes also they are for∣getful of this bounty, they leave an occasional matter, and herewith oftentimes, fermen∣tal adulterous impressions, as off-springs which do stir up new Heirs or Products from themselves in the Archeus. Because the inward pores also do sweat, as the whole Body is transpirable, and as liquid things are derived into a strange harvest: The which, because they are brought out of their own cottages, they are therefore soon spoiled of their common Life, are most speedily coagulated (as I have said concerning the Tear of the Eye) or do remain resolved into a liquid Poyson. For so the matter of Coughs, the Dropsie, Pose, Flux, Pissing-Evil, Apostems, and Ulcers are bred. For the retained curdlings of some things do stick the more stubbornly fast, are slowly or never resolved, or they do of their own ac∣cord think of a dissolving and melting; or they leave an impressional symptome in the Archeus, introduced for a perpetual remembrance of relapses: For so the seeds of Diseases being ready to depart elsewhere, do depart awry or mishapen.

And so in the next place, Diseases do vary in respect of a six-fold Digestion, being hin∣dred, inverted, suspended, extinguished, or vitiated.

Diseases also do vary in respect of the distribution of that which is digested: For a proportioned distribution doth exercise the force of distributive Justice, due to every part: But if they are disproportioned, now there is an infirm and necessitated distributi∣on, and that as well in respect of the natural functions, which are never idle, as of a conti∣nual transpiration, and from thence, for the sake of an uncessant necessity. But that dis∣proportion is voluntary, and as it were an overflowing distribution, in respect of a sym∣ptomatical expulsion, by reason of a conspirable animosity of the disturbing Archeus; or at length the distribution is disproportioned, as it is necessitated in respect of penury or scantiness; whence at length also, no seldom dammage invadeth the whole Body: To wit, while in some part, the nourishment degenerateth, is ejected, and so is wasted: Such as is the Consumptionary spittle in Affects or Ulcers of the Lungs, a Snivelly Glew in the Stone, in the Gonorrhea or running of the Reines, &c. For seeing the part, its nourishment be∣ing once defiled and degenerate, is thenceforth never nourished, but despiseth and thrusts that forth, yet by reason of a sense of penury, that ceaseth not continually, with importuni∣ty to crave new nourishment from the dispensing faculty, and to obtain it by its importuni∣ty,

that it may satisfie its thirst. Therefore new nourishment is many times administred unto it, and is withdrawn from its other chamber-fellows, because a sufficient nourishment for all parts is wanting.

From thence therefore, is Leanness, an Atrophia, a Tabes, or lingring Consumption, and an impoverishment of all necessary nourishment: So indeed, Fluxes, Bloody-Flux∣es, Aposthems, Ulcers, and Purgative things do make us lean and exhaust us: For the infirm parts are like the Prodigal Son, because they do waste and unprofitably cast away, being those which have badly spent whatsoever was distributed unto them, and the other parts do lament that lavishment.

Things Retained that are taken into the Body, offend onely in quality, or quantity, or indiscretion, or inordinacy: For if they are immoderate in quantity, if frequent, or too rare (for numbers are in quantities) also one onely error doth sometimes give a begin∣ning unto a Disease, whereas in the mean time otherwise Nature makes resistance for some good while. But Poysons received, Solutive Medicines, and likewise, altering things, which are too much graduated do chiefly hurt in quality. Discretion also doth offend in things assumed, if they are taken rashly out of their hour, and manner: As if the Menstrues be provoked in a Woman with young, or in a Womb that doth excessively flow: For in∣discretion doth every where bring forth a frequent inordinacy, when as any undue thing is cast into the Body or required the scopes of Causes and betokenings of being unknown. Also harmless things which are cast into the Body are vitiated onely by their delay, and long continuance of detainment; And they become the more hostile, by how much they shall be the more familiar, or the further promoted: for truly, by reason of a mark of resem∣blance sometime conceived, they do the sooner ferment, and more deeply and powerful∣ly imprint their enmities. And as by things Assumed, things Retained are sometimes at length made inbred: So by things inbreathed, Diseases are oft-times made like unto those made by things Retained. For some inspired things are Retained, and do affect the same parts which things Retained do. Otherwise, they differ in their internal Root, as much as breath doth from drink, and as much as food from blood.

But before I descend unto inbred Retentions, it is necessary to represent the unknown Tragedy of the chief or primary Diseases: Because inbred Retents do for the most part, take their beginning from primary Diseases: For indeed, I have already before distinguished of all Diseases, that they do either affect the Archeus implanted in, or inflowing into the parts: Although in both cases, Diseases do proceed by the forming of Idea's. The which I will have to be understood of primary ones: To wit, out of whose bosom superfluities do arise, or degenerate, which give an occasion for new Idea's, or onsets of Diseases. For it is scarce possible, that the Archeus being remarkeably smitten by a voluntary Idea of a Man, or the Archeus, a lot of Disaster should not arise in the inferiour family-administrati∣on of the Body, from whence the Digestions themselves first of all wandering from their scope, do frame the pernitious collections of Superfluities, whereby the primary distem∣peratures of the Archeus are nourished (to wit, if they shall proceed from the same root: That is, if the root of a primary Disease shall produce its like, to wit, the former Idea of exorbitancy persisting) or the new off-springs of Diseases are stirred up. But at least∣wise, after either manner, the aforesaid Excrements are the Products of primary or the chief Diseases. But primary Diseases are either of Idea's Archeizated, to wit, by the pro∣per substance of the influous Archeus issuing into the composure of the Body, the which in∣deed he by reason of his madness, wasts: And such kind of Diseases are oft-times ap∣peased by Opiates; yea are also utterly rooted out: Because they are, for the most part the off-springs of a more sluggish turbulency: The flame of the chaffe either ceasing from a voluntary motion, or being silent at the consuming of the Archeus, informed by the vi∣tiated Idea. But Idea's arising from the implanted afflictions of the vital Spirits, whether they are the governing Spirits of the similar or organical parts, they do for the most part disturb the family-administration of Life, especially, if the Archeus being badly disquieted in some principal bowel, shall form the Idea's of his own hurt: For then he brings forth most potent afflictions: Yea, sometimes those remaining safe for term of Life. For as they are the Rulers of a greater nobleness and more eminent power: So also they draw forth the more efficacious Idea's, and do propagate Diseases of a prostrating nature: Because the Powers themselves, the In-mates of the more noble parts, are defiled with the same Ima∣ges, as it were with Seals; the which, diseasie Products arising from thence, the foot-step of the Seal being as it were received into themselves, do afterwards linkingly expresse through the ranks of the Digestions: For so the primary Diseases of the Bowels do abound; neither do they hearken unto Remedies, but of a more piercing wedlock; yea and do be∣queath

their inheritances on Nephews. The Arcanums of which sort I have reckoned up in the Book of Long Life, to wit, the which do every one of them represent the Majesty of an universal Medicine: Although I will not deny but that there is that Majesty in some the more refined Simples, which can heal particular primary Diseases.

The Galenists do laugh at the promise of a generality: but every Bird doth utter his voice according to the tune of his own Beak; and every one talketh of the Faires according as he hath profited in them.

From what hath been before mentioned in sundry places, it now plainly appeareth.

1. That the Sanation or sound Healing of a secondary Disease, is vainly intended, unless the primary Disease which nourished it, be first brushed off and trodden under foot.

2. That then the Healing of a secondary Disease is conversant onely in a removal of the Product.

3. That Primary Diseases do continue even after the generation of a Secondary Disease, if its Idea's do issue from the implanted Spirits.

4. That Primary Diseases do also voluntarily cease, whose Idea's have failed in their first on-sets.

5. That the Causality, Succession, and Propagation of a Disease, being hitherto unknown, the Healing of the same hath remained unknown.

6. That the Schooles have esteemed Secondary Diseases, yea and the Products of Diseases, to be the Causes of the same: and therefore they have directed the whole endeavour of Healing unto later things, or to the Effects.

7. And that they had more rightly proceeded by taking away of the Product, than by the con∣trarieties of Qualities, and they had sought out due Remedies which (their virtue remaining safe) would have been able to pierce unto the places affected.

8. That whatsoever hath happily succeeded under healing, that is to be ascribed to conjecture, and the goodnesse of Nature alone, because they being seduced by false perswasions, have wandered about Distemperatures, Humours, Catarrhes, and Tartars by Solutives, not drawing forth Ele∣ctively, but putrifying every thing furiously.

9. That they have learned some Remedies from Old Women, or Countrey-Folk, which besides the Maxims of the Schooles, might cure diseasie Idea's by a specifical gift.

10. That they have accounted as many primary Diseases as did persist by their own Ferment, to be uncurable, and those that did not transplant their Vigors into their Products.

For primary Diseases do for the most part respect the transmittings of seminal causes in Idea's, and disturb the action of Government: From whence, not only the framing of Diseases; but also the Critical, or judicial freeings of the same, do issue of their own accord, by unwonted expulsions, wandring conspiracies, labours, anguishes, and con∣vulsive assaults, especially if they subsist in the matter, by a Seed, and an efficient Fer∣ment: to wit, by which signs they distinguish themselves from the family of Symptoms. But I have confirmed the Doctrine of primary Diseases, above, by hereditary ones, un∣equal strength, the torture of the Night, and silent Diseases; the which indeed do not only presuppose the necessities of Idea's; but moreover also, primary Diseases. Truly, Nature hath no less variously sported in defects, than in integrity: but also, by a Systeme of the Universe, she (being every-where conformable to her self) hath seemed to walk up and down, that also in things of a different kind she may every where represent her self in a proportionable agreement.

I have now done as much as I promised in the beginning of the work. I have de∣monstrated the errors of the Schools in natural things, so far as they concern the faculty of Healing: and that they have been more ignorant of nothing, than of Principles, Means, and Ends, to wit, the Essence and Causes, manner of proceeding and making, the means of Preparing and Remedies.

Of things retained which are assumed, because they are by themselves known, I have said something: Now I must come unto the Products of Diseases which are inbred, do∣mestical, and degenerated within our Cottages: For indeed our Retents do offend in abounding, quality, intimateness of place, or in their strangeness, or long continuance of delay; and because they have crept into anothers harvest, through a vice of the distri∣butive Faculty, therefore I call all of them things transplanted or transmitted. But other Retents, I call transchanged ones, for their distinction sake from things assumed: Truly things retained, whether they are transchanged, or indeed transmitted; yet they are alwayes made remarkable by an intrinsecal Idea: I say, by a diseasie Being, from whence they have received an hostility of degeneration: Wherefore the root also of a primary Disease, doth for the most part adhere unto them, and therefore they do imitate and re∣present the same, as they are the Products of it: But because all the particular Digesti∣ons do first of all contribute their own Citizens, to wit, the nourishable Liquors unto home-bred Retents, which were prepared in their Kitchins, and those otherwise ordained for the solid substance of our Body: Therefore domestical things retained, have degene∣rated from the scopes of Nature.

But I do as yet divide home-bred Retents, that some may be the dungs of things assumed, which I call Reliques, or they are things which from a good Citizen have degenerated into a Traitour: From whence indeed, I have drawn things transchanged and transmitted; for they are those which do descend from the vice of the Digestions and Ferments, to wit, from a universal offence of the inflowing Spirit, or a particular errour of the implanted Spirit, through a voluntary defilement of a wantonizing Idea produced by humane, or Archeal Passions.

Also the Relique of things Assumed, Inspired, and Suscepted, not unfrequently bring∣ing aide hereunto: Therefore Reliques, next after things assumed, do offer themselves unto the publick view or exercise of Products: For although things taken into the Body, and things there left, are not the Products of primary Diseases; yea, do often produce primary Diseases; yet I have accustomed my self to reckon them among secondary Di∣seases and Products. But not that I am ignorant, that they could have no relation unto a primary Disease, as a Parent; but I refer them among Products, by reason of their strict affinity with those; where we must again seriously admonish, that it is an abuse to distin∣guish intimate Causes from Diseases: For truly the thingliness of causality is obscured, if it be never so little banished from the rank of Diseases: For external Causes, as long as they are external, are only occasions by accident; but after that they are admitted, and transchanged by the force of Digestions, although they may seem internal Causes; yet they become not Diseases, but occasions by themselves, which disturb the Archeus, stir up an Idea, and defile the material part of the Archeus with an Ideal Seal: For so things assumed, do wander into Reliques or things left, and do lay up their troublesome remembrance into the Archeus, that he may presently tumult, and stir up a Disease his off∣spring: for they are not Products, although they dissemble the marks of Products; but they leap froth abroad under the name of Reliques: For if by a proper vice of malignity they shall violate the right of their Inn, they are for the most part cast out, crude, half digested, and badly seasoned by Vomit, Stool, Urine, yea, and now and then, do by an Imposthume, pass over into things transmitted: From whence are Paines, Gripings of the Bowels, Un-concoctions, Fluxes, Lienteries, Sranguries, and Miseries of the Parts through which they pass. But if a Vice subsisteth in the Shops of the Digestions, and not sprung from things assumed; Now a primary Parent of confusion is supposed, which hath neglected, and defiled the things assumed: Oft-times also things assumed do scarce continue changed in the Reliques, which is called the Coeliack or Belly-passion, invading with a remaining delight of eating, no less than with a dejected Appetite; that we may know that in the ferment of the spleen, diverse Offices, and dispensations of Properties do lay hid; to wit, those of Digestion, and Appetite.

Things assumed also, which are less grateful or convenient, if they floate about diary Fever, burntish unnamed Contents, likewise inordinate Appetites, &c. are made; but if they shall the more stubbornly adhere, they bring forth diverse, and stubborn Disasters of one Stomack: From whence are Sobbings or Hickets, Swoonings, Faintings, Convulsions, Gri∣pings or Wringings of the Guts, Dissolvings or Loosenesses of the Paunch, Vomitings, A∣trophia's or Consumptions for lack of Nourishment, &c. the which do manifestly enough appear in the labour of the Duumvirate. But if indeed the Ferment in the first Digestion, shall be diminished through age, or the promoted difficulties of Diseases; Things assumed howsoever good they are, are vitiated: Because Ferments do no otherwise govern things assumed and left, than the Digestions themselves.

Wherefore I refer the Lientery or Smoothness of the Bowels, Fluxes, Choler, because they are as well the Heires of things assumed, and of Reliques, as of things transchanged, unto the Vices of Digestions. But Stranguries, although they do often happen from things transmitted from the first Digestion unto the third, as the native sharpnesses of things, have remained stubborn in things assumed (even as is especially conspicuous in the drinking of new Ale) yet they happen through a defect of the Ferment of the second Digestion, and therefore, such a kind of Strangury is familiar unto old age: Therefore I have as∣cribed Stranguries, as well to things left, as to things transchanged in the second Digestion.

Let it be sufficient also, to have admonished by the way, that I have been every where less exact about the splendour, and order of division, in so great Paradoxes, than about the Essence of a thing: For neither do things assumed; only offend through a double fault, to wit, through the errour of Reliques, and local Ferments: But also the things digested themselves, are after a twofold manner, badly affected: For the Stomack doth cook, not only for the whole Body, but also for it self.

So also concerning many Organs, in the diverse Offices of whose digestions and functi∣ons, their own errours do alienate their Products: Yet the Stomack is manifestly subject unto a double Calamity: To wit, of its own Digestion, and of the sixth: Because every part lives by its own Kitchin; which in the Stomack, being subjected unto that which is assumed, rushing on it, is most easily disturbed, even with every shaking of the mind.

Therefore in the first, second, and third Digestion, obvious, manifest, and frequent stumblings and omissions of Digestions do happen.

But in the sixth, although they do manifestly, every where leave Products; yet these the Schooles have referred unto the four feigned diversity of kinds of the venal blood: Yea, and far more absurdly also, have they for the most part dedicated the Vices of the sixth Digestion, unto the Snivel lifted up by a feigned Vapour of the Stomack, and from thence distilled. Wherefore they have devised, that Rheumes do fall down into the Common∣weal of the sixth Digestion; but they unbashfully affirm, that Phlegm also, which they contend to be generated by a vital Beginning in the Liver, together with the venal Blood, is now a Relique, through a casual distillation of Art.

But in the fourth, and fifth Digestions (because they are altogether vital ones, with much care, first refining all things from Filths their Inmates) although there are not so mani∣fest superfluities of things assumed; yet it is not absurd, that inbred Retents should there be procreated, because the Nature of Mortals being now wholly corrupted, is in no place free from all contagion or blemish.

Authors do rehearse, that small Ulcers have been found in the bosome of the Heart: and likewise, that a Woman being dead of a four Months disury or Difficulty of Urin, two small Stones, together with some Pustules or Wheales, have shewn themselves to the Dissecters, &c. in the substance of her Heart: Although indeed, these things do rather convince of the Vice of the sixth Digestion, than of the fourth, or fifth. But dayly beat∣ings or pantings of the Heart do accuse of Reliques, or rather of things transchanged, although not plainly manifest ones.

It is sufficient that Idea's tinged with Poyson, do as much as may be, and often spring into the Spirit of Life, as the causes of unthought of Death: For neither doth the mad∣ness of Dogs, otherwise corrupt by their Tooth, the Spirits which are the authors of dis∣courses; because the Tooth being vitiated in its disposition, infects the cases of the Brain, and Spleen, which hath assumed the Nature of a poysonous Relique. Simples also although they are but once only assumed, do oftentimes make mad for term of Life: As they do defile the Spirit of the Bowel with a slow Poyson, that it self degenerates into the condi∣tion of the Poyson left. And moreover also, the very Itch-Gum or tenderness of tickling, is folded in the naked sensitive Spirit, that as oft at it being once set at liberty; is by a retrograde motion carried into the Arteries, it causeth that feeling in healthy folk, as it being snatched out of its own Hinge, doth abound with a strange, and infatuating Poyson. But in sick Folks, the aforesaid original of tickling, a manifest Poyson now sufficiently or plentifully abounding, stirs up the dance of S. Vitus, and the Trippings of the Taran∣tula, by the Arteries derived into the Head. The same Spirit also, because it is of the race of Salts (as of long Life elsewhere) being degenerate in this point, doth receive a Poysonsomness into it self, stirs up a proper Idea in it self, and therefore being chased into the Skin, doth receive the blemish or contagion of itching into it self, from whence Scurvinesses or Manginesses, Scabbidnesses, yea Erisipelasses, and a various troop of Ulcers

doth spring up, some whereof do afterwards, there sustain themselves by the proper Poy∣son of a Ferment, and do now and then propagate: Therefore the inflowing Spirit doth also suffer its own defilements by the fourth, and fifth Digestion.

In the mean time, through occasion of a wandring Spirit, if that which was once dedi∣cated to motion, doth repeatingly re-pass into the Head, and from thence be again dispersed into the Sinews; because it is marked with a double Idea of exercising motion, (the which I have taught mutually to pierce, and co-suffer with each other) it brings forth tossings of the Members, and Fools become four-fold stronger than themselves. But indeed if in the first Digestion, that which is assumed doth not answer unto the ferment of the Stomack (for many do not desire, do not bear, do not concoct very many things) however good it shall be in it self, it degenerates into Reliques, and brings forth often∣times no mean troubles of it self, and sealeth them in the parts; and they are the faults of some things, as when Minium or Red-lead is cast into the Body, being too hard, stink∣ing, or rebellious: But those are rebellious things, whose middle Life cannot be subdu∣ed and taken away by the Ferment of the Stomack; which things every one doth against his will experience and acknowledge.

And then I have said, that there is a twofold Ferment in the Stomack.

One indeed for the first Digestion, which flows unto it out of the Spleen.

But the other is proper for the sixth Digestion, which is natural or homebred unto it, from the implanted Spirit, and proper to its own Cook-room.

But both of them are diminished, altered and estranged through Diseases, Griefs, Age, &c. For the ferment infused by the Spleen is peculiarly silent, and altered in Fevers: for instead of a sharpness, a burntishness is substituted, whereby Eggs, Fleshes, Fishes, and Broaths become averse, and do sooner putrifie within, than they are truly concocted in∣to Chyle: And these Hippocrates calls Impure-Bodies, the which, by how stronger a refresh∣ment or nourishment thou shalt endeavour to refresh them, by so much the more, thou shalt hurt them: For heat doth then more strongly burn in the Stomack; but the Ferment is withdrawn from the Stomack: Therefore things cast into the Stomack, are not digested, but putrified. So under a dog-like hunger, the Ferment of the Spleen is doubled.

In the next place, if not the Ferment it self, but a strange sharpness doth increase, there are sharp pains in the Stomack, co-pressings of the Breast, irregular Appetites, Head-aches, Diseases called Cholers, &c. In like manner, the Ferment of the Gaul being exorbi∣tant, failing, or otherwise vitiated by a forreign Poysonsomness, Products agreeable unto those Roots do soon bewray themselves: For from hence are Giddinesses of the Head, Swoonings, Apoplexies, Fluxes, Cholers, and likewise bitter, or bloody Vomitings, Atrophia's, &c.

I again admonish, that although I leave the antient names of Diseases; yet I under∣stand the Idea's, the causers of these, by abstracted names: Therefore in the first, second, third, or sixth Digestion, I understand vitious transmutations to be made by diseasie Idea's there bred and transchanged. But those kinde of Reliques, or things transchanged, are voided out by a washing of, being made by Sweat, or Urin, or are voided by the Paunch, and an unsensible transpiration.

Indeed the Reliques of the first Digestion, are expelled through the accustomed Emun∣ctories or exspunging Places.

But those of the second and third, are regularly driven out with the Urin. But because inordinacies do happen in most Digestions; therefore there is place for things trans∣changed and transmitted: But things transchanged are the produced, Excrements of primary Diseases, or the Fruits of things assumed: The which, because they were once domestical, therefore they are bred by the vice of the transchanging Archeus.

But indeed the Retents of the second Digestion, are made, either by reason of a weakness of the Ferment, or a riotous exorbitancy of the same. Hence a sharpness of the first Digesti∣on remaining, and not sufficiently corrected, proceeds unto the Bowels, for Wringings or Gripes: Moreover, it passing thorow into the Veins, doth stir up diverse Fevers, a con∣tracture of the Abdomen, Dropsies, Obstructions of the Meseraick Veins, likewise Palseys of the Joynts, and Stranguries or Pissings by Drops. But if the Ferment of the second Digestion shall too much increase, or be joyned with a vitiated quality: From hence are Jaundises, bitter Vomitings, Faintings, Giddinesses of the Head, &c. But if that of the third Digestion which is digested, be too much delayed under the third Digestion: for al∣though the venal Blood shall in it self, nothing offend: yet a doubled Ferment of the Shop increaseth, and in this respect it is estranged through inordinacy. For truly, nothing

keeps Holiday within, all things do proceed unto the scopes appointed for them, no other∣wise than as the water of a defluxing Brook. The venal Blood therefore, although it be the treasure of mans life, being detained beyond its just term, degenerates into Menstrues, Hemorrhoids, &c. And whatsoever things the Schools do generally attribute unto black Choler, they are nothing but the Retents of the third Digestion, retained in the third Di∣gestion. But seeing the Members are not nourished, but under a certain proportion, un∣known to Mortals, to wit, of the Blood of the Veins unto the Arterial Blood; it must needs be, that in the sixth Digestion, an inordinacy doth spring up, which the Schools attribute to the heat of the Liver, and do falsly bend themselves to cure by cooling things. For the Liver in it self is a dead Carcass, and cold, unless it be nourished by the Spirit of life: And therefore, all heat being a stranger to the Liver, is forreign. For it hath it self, just even as a finger which is rightly tempered in it self, whereinto if a thorn be infixed, al∣though it be in act, and power cold, yet the finger presently swells, beats, waxeth hot, and is enflamed, &c. So also, the Liver is never hot, unless it shall conceive a troublesome thorn within it: Wherefore also we must diligently employ our selves in plucking out of the thorn, but not in cooling. Therefore the Liver hath a double thorn: to wit, one from a hurtfull Retent; but the other from a troublesome Retent, to wit, the Blood bur∣dening it: For so the Liver hath oftentimes, from a hurtful Retent, darted forth Impo∣stumes and Vices of the Skin, the which, by reason of that which is transmitted, do mani∣foldly degenerate in the way, and do so co-defile the Skin, that whatsoever (at length) of Blood is distributed unto it for nourishment, is corrupted in the same through a Title of contagion: Of which sort, are Ulcers, the which if they are healed up, they sorely threaten a greater dammage within.

Therefore in Retents of the third Digestion, Cauteries have oft-times performed help, unknown in the Schooles from a foundation, who endeavour with the uncertain conjecture and hope of Events: For they are rare Defects, which are from a plurality of good Blood not vitiated (even as in the Book of Fevers) and the scantiness of abstinence of two dayes, doth easily reduce the venal Blood suspected of abounding, into a due proportion: Therefore the Blood offends, if it hath a thorn its Companion; and then, if it stay within beyond its due time, as I have said.

And thirdly, if the venal Blood be disproportioned with the Arterial Blood; Gluttony is for the most part, the Mother of these three.

Whence it is wont to be said: The Throat smites more than the Sword. Also for the most part, a plurality of venal Blood is bred, not because more venal Blood is begotten than is meet; but because less is consumed than is meet, by reason of want of exercise, an idle. Life, abundance of Fat, &c. For the Gout, and those Diseases which are thought to be the bastard births of Catarrhs, do withdraw themselves from this order: Because that they have a Seed of their own, and therefore also do oft-times rage under the penury of venal Blood. But in this case, an unequal strength flourisheth, seeing that the more weak Organs are quickly filled, loaded, nor do desire to be abundantly nourished, ac∣cording as the more stronger Organs do: For from hence the Archeus of the more weak Organs is sadned, doth through delay, and impatience, wax wroth, and stamps on himself diverse Diseases: Wherein, while Issues weep a plentiful Pus and Liquor, the Ancles do swell in the evening, a more plentiful Snivel is dashed out of the Head, and un∣thought of Phlegms out of the Lungs, under a consent of the wandring Keeper: To wit, a total deluge of the Archeus, and prone Excrements, do grow or spring up according to the weaknesse of every part: For the term of the Moon as a Law, doth prescribe to the quantity of the Blood, that it may be wasted in both Sexes, nor may make a longer delay: For from hence it is, that because there is little transpiration under cold, there are the more frequent Spittings. Also under cold, more of meat is Injected, yet there is not therefore more of Blood composed.

In brief, in Diseases of strength, a Vice of the Distributive Faculty is alwayes present. At least-wise, it is manifest from what had been said before, that the force of Appetite is not to be measured from sanguification, as neither from a consuming of the Blood.

But things of the sixth Digestion that are transchanged, have been neglected by the Schooles, and dedicated to their own Humours and Catarrhs: As if all Diseases should arise from the Vice of the Liver, and a defluxing Phlegm of the Head. They have more∣over neglected the primary Offences of the Members containing, which are to be at∣tributed unto the inordinate enforcements of the Archeus, but not unto things re∣tained.

For I have seen the Liver, in a temperate Duke of Catafractum, to have weighed 16

Brabant Pounds: For he complained of the swelling of his Belly; he had drunk of sharpish Fountains, and at length of Wine steelified, who when he was variously distur∣bed or handled by his Physitians, as for an Hydropical Man, and but the day before had walked thorow the Streets, suddenly died.

I have seen a Woman who lived a single Life, alwayes thirsty, and pressed with a dis∣easie thirst; for she was thought to be Hydropical, and being tormented with many solutive Medicines, died: But when after Death, her broached Belly did not afford Wa∣ter, she being unbowelled, appeared sound within, but that her Liver, harmless to the sight, did weigh 21 pounds and a little more.

I have seen a Man, who after a long torment of his Belly, voided many Membranes, the which being dryed and affixed to a Board, with Nailes, did dissemble Parchment. We have seen a little Pouch grown to the Stomack of a certain Governour, filled with small Stones. Likewise a new Sack to have grown to the Abdomen of a Woman, wherein were fourteen Pounds or Pints of Water and more.

So very often, another of the Kidneys being stopped up with Stones, to have monstrously voyded them forth: Which primary Diseases, are to be attributed unto the local Spirit of the parts containing.

I sometimes believed, that growth ceasing, the growing Power was extinguished, be∣cause all things did stop from increasing: But after that I saw many things to increase through Errour, which were of the first Constitution, I thought that the growing Faculty was detained from its progress, only through the disobedience of the bony Matter. But Pores are bred in Broken-bones, and the Ribs do become longer through an enlarging of the Breast, long after the cessation of growth: A swollen burstness of the Veins is bred anew, and becomes by degrees like a Sinew. A Lobe growing every year unto the Liver of an Wolf, bewrayes his age. Wherefore I refer the Excrescences of Flesh of a remarkable bigness, troublesome through Pain, and endowed with a beating Motion, a∣mong the Diseases of the patrs. containing, which have been neglected by the Schooles: As also new Fibers having arisen on the Muscles, I have observed to have brought the Palsey, and those being taken away, this to have been Cured: For in the Grease, not only fatness alone is bred, but also Fibers, or the Honey-combs thereof, which are of the condition of solid things. So there are notable Super-crescences of the Gristles and Liga∣ments, which are subject to the Chyrurgion, not as the occasional Causes of Diseases; but as erroneous Products which are to be taken away, they being sometimes annexed unto their primary Diseases: For from an injured Bone, a nourishable Liquor doth oftentimes distil, which dissembles the hardness of a Bone: Yet with rottenness as being a partaker of a bony curd.

Therefore if I shall reckon up the Diseases of the part containing, among Retents, think thou that that is done, because they are nourished by a Root of their own, nor are taken away but by Mortification: Unto these Diseases voluntary Excrescences, Bunchinesses, Strainings, and Disjoyntings have also regard: The which because they follow an inbred unequality of Strength, they for the most part shew a receit from the seed of the Parents, or from the Defects of Nurses: For from hence whole Families are inclined unto an Hectick Fever, Asthma, Gout, affect of the Stone, Jaundise, Dropsie, and Madnesses: For if they are not drawn from the Parents, they are drawn from Nurses: For the Young doth easily drink some Defects with the Milk, and derives them into the similar Parts. For seeing our Powers do uncessantly operate, hence Retents cannot make a long stay in their former state and place, but that the term of their motion being finished, they do revolt from their fomer Disposition, and being estranged, do decline into a worse: For so things retained do degenerate into things transmitted, as well because they offend through an inordinacy of their own vitiated matter, as through an exorbitancy of distribution caused from the Archeus being provoked. For among things transmitted, the Carrier Latex first offers it self, which by floating up and down, doth manifoldly erre: For seeing that is ordained to wash off the filths of the parts; it first offends by a strange Vice, which it hath contracted on it self: From whence are some Vices of the Skin, which at length a Fer∣ment being called to it, do frequently persevere: But if the attractive Faculty labours, Oedema's are made, and the Latex overflowes into the Liver and Veins: Whence are Disuries or Difficulties of Pissing, Pissing-evils, and a various houshold-stuff of Diseases: As also in Squinances, the Toothach, and elsewhere, is oftentimes easie to be seen, especially if by a singular adulterous Allurement, the Latex be derived 〈…〉〈…〉 certain part: So al∣so Poses, Cataracts, and Pins and Webs in the Eyes, Defects 〈…〉〈…〉 Eares, and Teeth, do arise, if the Latex finds either the Vices of Digestions, or brings strange ones thither

with it; because it is that which from its appointment, drinks up the strange defects of the parts: So also the Latex doth of its own desire, slide into a Sunovie or spermatick glewiness, from whence it stirs up the torture of the night: For it floats about according to the coursary successive changes of stations, and subjects it self unto the government of the Moon: Wherefore it afflicts the Sinews, Tendons, Ligaments, and Membranes, as well by reason of its own transmutation, as through the draught of a forreign Seed.

In the next place, if Dross (which elsewhere, I call a liquid Dung) from the Bowels, be joined beyond a just proportion with the Latex, and doth float within the Veins, now the Stone shall be present. Or next if it putrifie, it adornes or promotes Dotages, and diverse ranks of Fevers: Even as elsewhere concerning the History of the Humour Latex, of Fevers, and likewise of the Stone in man. In things transmitted also, the Errours of things transchanged are especially regarded, and their Effects are esteemed according to their Qualities, or the Degrees, or Powers of Quality: To wit, the which especially, do on both sides occasionally determine of the varieties of Diseases.

Furthermore, if the things transchanged of the first Digestion, are brought down unto the second; too strange and hateful Guests, do bring forth Fevers, Wringings of the Bowels, Loathings of the Stomack, Faintings of the Spirits or Swoonings, &c. But if they pro∣ceed even unto the third Digestion, Dropsies, Cachexia's or ill habits of the Body, Jaun∣dises, difficulties of Urin, pains of the Hypogastrium or neather Belly, &c. do subsist. But if indeed the Defects of the first Digestion are brought into the sixth: sudden Fevers, Pleurisies, Peripneumonia's, &c. do arise. But if the things transchanged of the second Digestion, do re-gorge into the first; Un-concoctions, bitter Vomitings, the Iliack Passion, the Disease of Choler, the Lientery, Caeliack Passion, Flux, &c. are stirred up. But if those of the second Digestion shall reach into the third; now Cachexia's, Fevers, Jaundises, various Obstructions, are at hand.

In the next place, if things of the third Digestion which are transchanged, are derived into the first; bloody Vomitings, bloody Fluxes, the Piles, &c. do bewray themselves. But if into the second; Fluxes, and diverse Fevers are bred: For things retained, are on every side hostile, and much more things transchanged which are transmitted; and there∣fore the Archeus cannot but stir up feverish Storms. But if indeed things transchanged of the third Digestion, do proceed into the fourth; It will presently come unto Heart∣beatings or Pantings, Swoonings, and sudden Deaths. But if things of the first Digestion transchanged, do go into the sixth Digestion of the Stomack; From hence are Giddinesses of the Head, Apoplexies, Palseys, &c. And likewise, if the transchanged Retents of the third Digestion, do go into the sixth, there are soon Apostemes, and almost all local Maladies; for truly, through the errour of the sixth Kitchin, as well Diseases of its own proper trans∣changed Retent, and of a strange one transmitted, do happen, as whatsoever is falsly attributed to Defluxions out of the Head: But things transmitted, are sometimes mild; and those things, which as it were through repentance of their deed, do repent them of one only Errour, and for that Cause, do cease through one only Importunity: but other∣wise they are fountainous ones, which owe the substituting of their continuation, unto the part transmitting; if they are not also con-centred with the implanted Spirit of the place: For a ferment of their defilement being drawn from thence, they are Poysonous, and defile the part by a certain Contagion remaining; so as that their Fewel being there laid up, they have as it were by one only stroake, established their Center. I say, they afterwards erect a Colony hearkening to the importunate circular motions of the Stars: They therefore erre, as wandring out of the way, as many as by cuttings of a Vein, solu∣tive Medicines, Diaphoreticks or transpirative Things, Cauteries, Vesicatories, Baths; and by Diminishers of the Body and Strength, do hope that fountainous Transmissions are to be Cured: For those kind of things do desire renewing Arcanums, after the manner of the Leprosie; as of the Leprosie in its place.

In the sixth Digestion therefore, Nourishments do either degenerate presently before assimilation, and a curd of their solidity being received from the place, they afterwards lay it up for a durable Disease (the Moderns accuse the Tartars of the Blood;) or if a thing transmitted be a forreigner in the place, neither while it hath not also associated unto it a Poyson; the Powers do presently conspire for its banishment, for the most part, with much co-shaking of the Strength or Faculties. But although four Degrees of nourishable Liquor are determined by the Schooles; yet have they found in none of them an Errour, Degeneration, 〈…〉〈…〉 of Diseases: And although they take notice of a mattery Im∣posthume in the Lungs, and a great harvest of obstructions elsewhere, yet they refer all things into the four first and feigned Humours, as if they knew not that the Liquors of

mans Body were slideable, and subject to Corruption every hour: But I determine of much houshold-stuffe of diseasie occasions, in a numerous aversion and degeneration of the Liquors which do immediately nourish: And likewise I place not, I know not their number, because I know that it is not knowable, where one only thing runs down with a continual Thred, by a multitude of coursary Dispositions. At leastwise, it is to be ad∣mired at, that no Errour hath hitherto been found out, or believed by the Schooles, to be in transchanging, while as, notwithstanding some degenerations do offer themselves to the sight, and every degeneration doth occasion its own Diseases: For so the Giddi∣ness of the Head, maketh the Sense and Motion to stumble, because a nourishable Liquor being degenerate, hath joyned unto it a be drunkening Faculty: Also if it shall be sleepi∣fying, it becomes next neighbour unto an Apoplexie: And the which, if be also made stupefactive, it now bears the conditions of the Falling evil. Let those also take notice, who intend to Cure Mad-folks by sleepifying things: For stupefactive Medicines do scarce procure sleep unto mad Persons by a fourfold Dose; but they increase the Madness: for Madness is nothing but an erring sleepifying Power; because every Mad-man dreameth waking: Therefore stupefactive Dreams, are added unto doating Dreames in waking: For the sealing Character in a Mad-man, presupposeth a restoring of the Member, and a Correction of the Poyson by its Antidote, but not a stupefactive Poyson.

In the mean time, it nothing hinders erroneous transmutations from being bred, and likewise the Digestions from wandring, through the importunity of things transmitted, and from obeying an off-spring of their own condoling Sympathy, agreeable to the impedi∣ment: From whence are painful Fluxes, distrubed by a sharp Chyle of the first Digestion, and likewise con-folded and double Fevers: Neither doth it also forbid a primary Disease to be con-folded with its own, or with a secundary one bred from else where: In such a manner as is a primary Fever which brings forth a Product, from whence there is a re∣solving of the Blood into the putrifying Disease of a malignant Flux, matched with a fe∣verish Ferment. At length, neither is there a necessary passage of the three first Digesti∣ons unto the sixth, by the fourth, and fifth: Because the greatest part of the venal Blood never comes unto the Heart, and much less is it snatched into its left Bosom: Because all particular parts are nourished no less with Venal, than Arterial Blood.

From hence indeed it happens, that the Vices of the three first Digestions, do often∣times immediately pass over into the sixth: And therefore the transchanged Retents of the three first Digestions, if they shall reach unto the sixth, they offend not by transmission of a proper name, but only by transmutation; because a transmission from the third into the sixth Digestion, is regular, lawful, and ordinary. I will add concerning the Spleen.

If from the first Digestion, a sharpness of the Chyle be immediately brought unto the Spleen, A Quartane Ague is soon present, to wit, from a curdled Retent being there a stranger.

But if the sixth Digestion in the Spleen be troubled, seeing it is the Couch of the first Conceptions; The Excrements or things transchanged, which are made of its proper nour∣ishment, are for the most part endowed with an imaginative Power (such as occurs in many Simples, and which is most plainly to be seen in the Spittle of a mad Dog) and the which therefore I call inebriating or be-drunkening, dreamifying or befooling Simples: For therefore, of one Wine, there is a many-form condition of drunken Men: That is, one only Wine doth stir up diverse Madnesses; For a mad Poyson halts with the similitude of Wine: For a mad Poyson by reason of its excelling Power, doth not follow the con∣ditions of the Man; but the very Conditions of the Man are constrained to obey the Poy∣son: As is clearly seen in the Poyson of him that is bitten by a Mid-dog. Poysons there∣fore, which of a degenerate nourishment, are bred in the sixth Digestion, do follow their own Nature: For by how much the nearer they shall be unto assimilating, by so much the more powerfully do they infatuate: For by how much the nearer the Ferment of the Bowel, and an in-beaming of the implanted Spirit shall be present with it, by so much also the nearer, it calls unto it the Idea of a certain imaginative Power, which at length it trans∣planteth into a venemous Poyson, not indeed so destructive unto the Life, as unto the Power of that Bowel. But from what hath been before declared, any one shall be hereaf∣ter able to erect unto himself the Stages of Diseases. But it hath been sufficient for me to have shewn, that every primary Disease, doth objectively, and subjectively fall into the Archeus, and so into the Life it self; whereof, to wit, it is immediately formed: But that a secondary Disease, fals objectively indeed into the Archeus, but subjectively into a Matter, either the solid one of the part containing, or the fluide one of that contained.

And thus indeed to have shewn Diseases to be distributed in Nature, by their Causes, Roots and Essence, according to their Inns; I repose my Pen.

Barrenness also, seeing it is among Defects beside Nature, hath hither extended its Treatise. Wherefore Coldness, Heat, or moistness is not in either of the Sexes the cause of Barrenness, however lowdly others may sound out this thing.

For truly first of all, there is no dryness possible in living Creatures, or the vitious moisture of the Womb, is not of the complexion, but a meer superfluity of Digestion, or Transmission.

So in the next place, Heat, and Cold, are signs of Defects in Nature, but not Causes: Because these Qualities do want a Seed, vital Properties, and potestative Conditions: Therefore indeed Barrenness, and Fruitfulness is in every Climate of the World: Yet an Aethiopian Woman, is far hotter than the most hot Woman of Muscovia. But the ex∣crementitious and superfluous Moistness of the Womb, is an Effect of Diseases: Yea, if it shall be a companion of Barrenness, yet not the containing Cause thereof: For an inter∣nal Cause differs not from the Being it self: So neither is the Defect of the Menstrues the cause of Barrenness; if that Defect contains a denial, or proceeds as an Effect of a nearer Indisposition. Women of unripe Age have oft-times conceived, even also before their Menstrues; and those of more ripe years, their Menstrues being silent. Also oft-times Women affected in their Womb, being trampled on by many Perplexities, do succesfully conceive, and accordingly bring forth. In the mean time, some Barren Women are in good health: Also many conceive while their Menstrues is urgently present; As also the Menstrues being afterwards silent, hath deceived many of Conception. Some Women do take notice of their Menstrues all the time of their bearing; but many for some months only: For indeed, although Barrenness may after some sort bespeak a privative respect; yet it is meerly a positive, and diseasie Being; for it ariseth from singular positive Defects: Because by it self, and in self, it is a Malady of Nature: Even as fruitfulness bespeaks an entire Cause: For in a Man which is not Gelded, not an Eunuch, not hindred or disturbed, not mischieved, Barrenness hath scarce place; For from hence an Old-man doth as yet generate: Whence it follows, that there is not so much perfection to be attributed, as neither to be required in the Male, as in the Mother: But I call those hindered Males, who do labour with a Gonorrhea, or who have from thence retained a Vice: And likewise who do labour with the notable Vice of some Bowel. In a Woman the Menstrues abounding, being Deficient, Irregular, Watery, Yellow, looking Blackish, Slimy, Stinking, a Pain in her Loyns, Belly, Hips, and movings of the Womb upwards, downwards, to the Sides, are indeed Witnesses and Signs of the Sicknesses or Feeblenesses of the Womb; and there∣fore also they fore-slow, overflow Conception, move Abortions, and gushings forth of the Courses; yet they do not altogether take away the hope of Conception, nor are they the Disease which is called Barrenness: For indeed old Women are Barren without all those: For I find the one only suitable and co-equal Cause in Time and Age, to be described in the holy Scriptures for a positive Being (which is called Barrenness) in these Words; God opened the Womb of Sarah: For it is the Gift of God derived into Nature, whereby the Parchment or Membrane of the Womb being most exactly shut in its Foldings, is opened and enlarged at the co-agreeing moment of Conjunction. There is I say, an attra∣ctive drawing Blas, whereby for fear of a Vacuum or Emptiness, an attraction of the Seeds, and a suitable filling up of the opened Wrinckles, follows that opening: To wit, the afore∣said opening causeth a sucking for fear of a Vacuum; which if it be made at an undue moment, it now becomes Vain: For the Womb of a Virgin, doth scarce shew the largness of two Fingers; because it is that which wrinckled into it self by the least foldings: but the opening of it doth not consist in the will of Man, as neither in the tickling, or luxuri∣ous desire of Pleasure; but altogether in the good Pleasure of God; from whence also Endowments are dispersed into nature, of opening and shutting: So that some Simples have obtained this Faculty. Neither is it sufficient for the Womb to be opened at the set Moment, unless the Guest which comes unto it be acceptable to the Place: For if it be defiled with a blemish, the hope of generating for the future is void with that Man; be∣cause the Womb being wroth, doth conceive a fury of abhorrency, which is scarce appeasable.