Van Helmont's works containing his most excellent philosophy, physick, chirurgery, anatomy : wherein the philosophy of the schools is examined, their errors refuted, and the whole body of physick reformed and rectified : being a new rise and progresse of philosophy and medicine, for the cure of diseases, and lengthening of life / made English by J.C. ...

CHAP. II. The Schools Nodding or Doubting, have introduced Putrefaction.

1. The Schools have been constrained to devise another thing in Fevers beside heat. 2. Another defect in the definition of a Fever. 3. The Schools contradict the princi∣ples laid down by themselves. 4. That the essence of Fevers is not from heat. 5. They by degrees are forgetful of their own positions. 6. The spiciness of Roses is most hot. 7. Whether a Feverish heat be rightly judged by the Schools, to arise from Putrefaction. 8. A malignant Fever, wherein it differs from other Fevers. 9. A Crisis of Fevers by sweat, is most wholesome. 10. Why the Schools have fled back unto Putrefaction. 11. A blockish comparison of heat in horse-dung. 12. Why horse-dung is hot. 13. A degree of the heat of a putrifying matter is not sufficient for heating the whole man in a Fever. 14. Putrefaction is no where the cause of heat. 15. Dung waxeth not hot from Putrefaction. 16. Why they have not drawn a feverish heat from hot Baths. 17. The ignorance of the Roots hath wrested the Schools aside unto the considerations, and remedies of effects 18. Dung looseth its heat, while it begins to putrefie. 19. The great blindness of the Schools. 20. Galen convicted of error 21. That the blood doth never putrefie in the veins, and so whatsoever they trifle concerning a Sunochus or putrefied Fe∣ver, is erroneous. 22. The foregoing particulars are proved. 23. The natural endowments of the veins. 24. Either Nature goes to ruine, or the Doctrine of the Schools. 25. An example from the variety of blood. 26. A ridiculous table of blood let out of the veins. 27. An argument from the Plague, against the Ʋse of the Schools. 28. Again, from the Pleurifie. 29. The heats, and turbulencies of the blood do not testifie the vices thereof. 30. A wan deceit of the Schools. 31. To suppose putrefied humours in Fevers, is ridiculous. 32. Against the definition of Fevers of the foregoing Chapter, some absurdities are alledged. 33. A frivo∣lous excuse by a Diary. 34. The foregoing definition of Fevers is again resisted. 35. The unconstancy of the Schools. 36. That the blood doth not putrefie in the veins. 37. Corruption, from whence it is. 38. That the blood of the Heme∣roides is not putrefied. 39. A wonderful remedy against the Hemeroides or Piles, by a ring: And likewise for other Diseases.

THE Schools meditated, that an heat did oft-times spring up through exercises, not unlike to the heat of feverish persons; the which notwithstanding, seeing it was not a [unspec 1] feverish one, they indeed judged heat to be, of necessity, in Fevers; not any one in different∣ly, but that which should be stirred up by putrefaction.

Now they are no longer careful concerning heat, as neither concerning the degrees, or distemperature thereof; but rather concerning the containing cause thereof; For neither hath a heat graduated besides nature, seemed to be sufficient for a Fever, unless that heat also spring up from putrefaction; which particle surely, hath been dully omitted in the aforesaid definition of Fevers.

Therefore the essence of a Fever, is now no longer a naked heat, neither shall this heat distinguish Fevers from the diversity of heat, (although a Species doth result from [unspec 2] thence, whence the essence is) but from the varieties of the putrefied, or at leastwise from the putrefying humours.

It was finely indeed begun, thus to wander from the terms proposed, that when as they before respected nothing but heat which should exceed the accustomed temper of na∣ture, [unspec 3] they afterwards require heat, and a subject of putrefaction, which heat they will

have to be kindled in an offensive putrified matter; but not any longer, first in the heart. But seeing that of heat, there is not but only Species in degree, but very many moments, or extensions of the same; and there are very many particular kinds of Fevers; neither that [unspec 4] the specifical multitude of Fevers can proceed from one only Species of heat besides nature: Therefore in the Essence or Being of heat, another thing is beheld besides the degree of the same.

Heat therefore shall not constitute the Essence of a Fever, but that other thing, by reason whereof the diversity of Fevers breaks forth. If therefore putrefying of divers mat∣ters be the efficient cause of the diversity of Fevers, heat shall be thing as well caused from putrefaction, as the Fever it self; and so seeing the action of causality of the pu∣trisied matter involveth some other thing in it besides heat it self, a Fever shall not be heat

Now the Schools do confusedly adjoyn very many things on both sides, that if one thing do not help, at leastwise, another may help them: So that although they toughly maintain [unspec 5] the aforesaid definition, and adore it; yet they by degrees decline from the naked di∣stemper of heat, unto the putrefaction of Humours. Neither do they stay in these trifles, but moreover, they flee back unto hot remedies, as having forgotten their own Positions: And that, whether they attempt Purgations, or next, whether they shall convert themselves unto the proper specifical Rdmedies of Fevers.

For what is now more solemn in healing, than to have given Apozemes of Hop, Aspa∣ragus, [unspec 9] &c. and to have seasoned the same with Sugar? For what is more hot, than the spice∣ness included in Roses, whether thou respectest its savour, or application; without which notwithstanding, the Rose it self is a meer dead carcase? what doth every where more frequently offer it self, than to have mingled the corrosive liquor of Sulphur, or Vitriol (being through the perswasion of gain, manifoldly adulterated) with Juleps, for Fevers?

In the next place, to have drawn forth those which they feign to be guilty humours, by Rhubarb, and Scammoneated Medicines? Therefore before all, we must profesly exa∣mine, whether the heat of a Fever owes its Original to Putrefaction: Wherefore first [unspec 7] of all I have plainly taught, That a feverish heat doth in no wise causally depend on the peecant matter. And then I have learned, that a malignant Fever alone, differs from other Fevers in this, that its own offensive matter hath a beginning-putrefaction adjoyn∣ed [unspec 8] unto it: The which, if it shall afterwards creep unto its height, until the putrefaction be actually made, and shall remain within, it straightway brings death of necessity: But if it be driven forth in the making of the Putrefaction, (as in the Measills, an Erisi∣pelas, &c.) it is for the most part cured; Because health for the most part accompanies a motion to without.

From hence it is, that Fevers do about their end, provoke voluntary sweats. And a Crisis or judicial sign which is terminated by sweats, is most exceeding wholesome, and by [unspec 9] consequence also, sudoriferous Remedies: But they fled together unto Putrefaction, that they might find the cause from whence they might confirm, first, cold, and presently af∣terwards, heat. [unspec 10]

They therefore assume, that Horse-dung which is actually cold, doth voluntarily wax hot by reason of putrefaction: But how blockishly do they on both sides deceive the credulous world! For Cowes-dung of the same nourishments, hath better putrified, and [unspec 11] been digested than Horse-dung, yet it waxeth not hot: Also the dung of an Horse which is fed with grass, or Fetches, waxeth not hot, even as while he is fed with grain; yet that hath putrefied no less than this.

They have not known therefore, that heat follows the eaten grain, but not the na∣ture of Putrefaction: Therefore they foolishly transfer a feverish heat unto humours putrified in a Fever, from the heat of the dung not yet putrefying. [unspec 12]

The Schools thefore have not known, that by how much the nearer Horse-dung is unto a beginning-putrefaction, by so much the more it is deprived of all heat: And neither therefore shall the same dung ever putrifie, if it be spread broad; But only while as be ing moist, it is contracted into an heap, no otherwise than as Hay, or Flowers, if they are pressed together being moist, are inflamed before putrefaction: They have been ig∣norant I say, that dung waxeth hot by its own spirits of salt being pressed together.

Again, although dung do wax hot in the making of Putrefaction, yet all heat ceaseth be∣fore the Putrefaction begun is in its [being made:] And so the heat of the dung squares not with a feverish matter, if the putrefied matter (as they say) layes hid long before in Receptacles, and indeed, in a Quartane, always, and very long.

Yea, neither is the degree of the heat of dung suitable, that it may be dispersed from [unspec 13] its putrefied center, even unto the soals of the feet; but that it should first burn up the center of the body, where that putrefied humour should overflow: Therefore the ex∣ample of dung is plainly impertinent to Fevers, and so much the rather, because they do not teach, that Cold is before Heat in time.

And moreover in nature, Putrefaction no where causeth heat, and much less in vital [unspec 14] things: For in a putrefying body, Cold must needs be, if it be spoyled of life; which life in us, is the fountain of heat: For in the interposing dayes of intermitting Fevers, we complain not of heat, or Cold molests us; when as notwithstanding, they suppose the humours to be putrefied: Therefore if Heat, and Cold do causally succeed in that which is putrefied, and Cold be always before Heat, in the comming of Fevers, Cold is more native to a putrefied matter than Heat: For therefore we measure the long continuance of the Disease, by the duration of cold in an Ague or Fever, but not by heat.

At length, I have shewn that all feverish heat is wholly from the Archeus, and there∣fore that it ceaseth before death; when as notwithstanding, Cold, and Putrefaction do the more prevail. It implies also, that the heat of a Fever should be from a putrefied matter, and that it should be first kindled in the heart it self, from whence the Putrefacti∣on is banished.

In the next place, Heat is not kindled in dung from the Putrefaction it self; For if it be daily be-sprinkled with the new urine of a horse, it will not so much as wax hot in a [unspec 15] years time: But it is certain, that urine doth not preserve from putrefaction, but more truly, that it should increase it: For they should more truly have drawn heats out of [unspec 16] Baths, or Lime: But they were rather ignorant of the Causes of these Heats: Where∣fore they have judged it a more easie matter to have accused the putrefaction of one horse-dung: Neither was there any reason why they should horrow the essence of a Fever, rather from heat than from cold, and other symptomes; Seeing they are the alike, and fellow accidents of Fevers: Therefore they have alwayes endeavoured to beat down the [unspec 17] accidents of the Product; because they have been ignorant of the roots: But since it is now manifest, that material things are the matter it self, after what manner will they cure, who convert the whole hinge of healing only unto heats? At leastwise, the simili∣tude of horse-dung, and of a feverish heat ascribed unto putrefaction, hath fallen: For dung when it begins never so little to putrifie, it puts off heat: And as long as it can be [unspec 18] hot, Artificers extract Salt-peter from thence: But if it shall wax cold, they leave it to Countrey Folks, as unprofitable for themselves.

But the Schools accuse the Putrefaction or Corruption of Humours; and indeed of one and the same Humour, as well for Cold, as for Heat, and both in a heightned degree; [unspec 19] And by consequence, that one and the same thing should immediately effect two Oppo∣sites out of it self: Therefore it must needs be, that either of these two, is by it self, but the other by accident.

If therefore Cold be the Off-spring of Putrefaction by it self, it cannot in any wise essen∣tially include heat, but only by accident.

But if Heat be the son of Putrefaction by it self, verily, neither then should a Fever begin from Cold.

Nevertheless, it is clear enough from the aforesaid particulars, that the Schools do suppose Putrefaction to be the essence of Fevers; But Heat, and Cold to be accidents ac∣companying the Putrefaction: Wherefore Galen saith, When blood putrifies, Choler is made: which Text if they shall admit of, that Choler shall be putrified in its own birth, [unspec 20] or not: If putrified, it should cause a Tertian; but not a Sunochus or putrified burning Fever.

Let the Schools therefore know, that the blood is never putrified in the veins, but that the vein it self also putrifies, as in a Gangrene, and in Mortifications: And so they beg the principle, who let forth the blood, lest it should putrifie in the veins. Like-wise [unspec 21] they who affirm a Sunochus to arise from the blood of the veins being putrified: And also they who say, that the blood while it purrifies, is turned into Choler: The which particulars I thus prove.

The veins retain their blood fluid, even in a dead carcase, by the consent of all Anato∣my; but the blood being chased out of the veins, straightway grows together into a clot: [unspec 23] But the coagulation of the blood, is only a beginning of Corruption, and way of sepa∣ration of the whole: Therefore if a vein preserves its blood from corruption in a dead carcase, much more doth it do that in live bodies; It being an argument from the less to the greater.

Forreign excrements indeed putrifie in the veins; to wit, they being the Retents as

well of their own, as of another digestion, (as concerning digestions elsewhere) but the blood never; Because it is that which according to the Scriptures, is the seat and trea∣sure of life.

If therefore the life it self cannot preserve its own seat, and treasure from corruption, as long as it is in the veins, when shall it preserve it? and how shall it ever be free from corruption? And likewise, if the life doth not preserve the blood from corruption wherein it glistens, after what manner shall the bones be preserved? The veins there∣fore [unspec 23] are ordained by the Creator, that they may preserve the blood from corruption, be∣cause the life is co-fermented with the blood of the veins: Therefore under this Que∣stion, [unspec 24] the ornament, and appointment of nature goes to ruine; or the whole order of healing hitherto adored by Physicians, falls to the ground: But be it so, by what sign do Physicians judge of putrified blood? Is it not from the more white, black, yellow, somewhat green, or duskish colour? Is it not from a slimy, gross, watery, thin matter? And lastly, Is it not from a consistence not threddy or fibrous, scarce cleaving toge∣ther, &c.

But I declare under the penalty of a convicted lye, if any one will make tryal, that I have examined the bloods of two hundred wanton countrey and healthy people in one [unspec 25] only day, and many of them were exceeding unlike in their aspect, colour, matter, and consistence; many whereof I distilled, and found them to be alike profitable in healing: For our Countrey Boores are wont at every Whitsontide to let out their blood, whereby they might drink the more largely: For although many of them seemed to be putrefi∣ed, others cankery, or black chole-ry; yet especially, the Countrymen from whence they had issued, were very healthy: Therefore they confirmed by the cause, the tokens of corruption not withstanding them, that their bloods were not any thing estranged from the nature of a Balsame: Wherefore I have laughed at the Table of judgements, from the beholding of blood let out of the veins; and so I confirmed it with my self, that the [unspec 26] venal blood is commanded by Physicians to be kept, that at least in his regard, they may reckon one visit to the sick: For if the corruption of the blood hath any where place, and betokeneth the letting forth of it self from that Title; surely that must be in the Plague: [unspec 27] But in the Plague, the cutting of a vein is destructive; Therefore there is no where pu∣trefaction in the blood of the veins; and a fear, lest the putrefaction of that blood should [unspec 28] prevail, and by consequence, the scope of letting out the blood, is in this respect, erro∣neous.

I suppose also thirty men to be oppressed with an equal Pleurisie; but ten of them to pour forth blood out of a vein apparently vitiated, (for the blood of those that have the Pleurisie, is like red wine, whereunto clots of Milk have a Conflux) but the re∣maining twenty, I will cure without shedding of their blood. It is certain in the mean time, that those twenty have their blood no otherwise affected, than the ten whose vein was cut.

And again, That if in those twenty that were cured, a vein be opened, their blood shall be found rectified, restored into its former state, and far estranged from a pleuritical errour: Therefore the blood of him that hath a Pleurisie, is not corrupted, although it may seem to be such: The which I prove, Because from that which is corrupted, or deprived of life, there is not granted a return unto life, health, or an habit: Therefore black, blew, or wan, green, &c. blood, do not testifie of its corruption, but they afford signes of its fer∣mental angry heat, or turbulency alone.

For first of all, if the more waterish, and yellow blood should betoken a vice, the arterial blood should be far worse than the blood of the veins; which thing is erro∣neous: For the blood of the veins is no otherwise distinguished by the aforesaid signs, than as wine is troubled while the Vine floureth; for it is not therefore corrupted, because the tempest being withdrawn, it voluntarily cleers up again: So likewise a Fever doth vari∣formly disturb the blood, and discolour it with strange faces: But these masks cease, [unspec 29] the Fever being taken away.

Truly I am wont to compare the Lookers into the blood, unto those who give their judgement concerning Spanish Wine, and who give their thoughts in beholding of the urine.

But they will say, If putrefaction be not in the blood, why then doth purely red blood leap out of a vein at the third, and not at the first turn; or at the first, and not at the third [unspec 30] turn? But that argument at least convinceth, that one part of the blood is more, and soon∣er disturbed than another; not the whole, or all at once: For it is certain, that nature tends by degrees in a lineal path, unto the perfection appointed for her: Therefore that the [unspec 31]

blood nigh the heart is more pure than that which is about the first shop thereof: There∣fore they say, (and err therein) That a Tertian, as well as that which is Continual, as that which is renewed by Intervals, consisteth of yellow Choler, a Quartan of black Choler, as also a Quotidian of phlegm, but putrified ones.

For why was it of necessity to suppose these Humours (the which I have elsewhere demonstrated to be feigned ones) to be putrefied, seeing they confess a non-putrefied Sunochus to be continual, and more cruel than the three aforesaid Fevers: Which par∣ticulars surely, if they are compared with the definition of Fevers proposed, now of necessity the blood in every Sunochus or continual Fever, and the vital spirit in a diary Fever shall putrifie, the life remaining; to wit, they shall attain the bound of pu∣trefaction:

And then, seeing the Schools confess that such putrified humours do not consist in the sheath of the heart, and that therefore they are not primarily inflamed in a Fever, [unspec 32] and so by consequence, that putrefaction is in vain required for a feverish heat to be kindled in the heart.

If therefore putrefied Humours do enflame the spirit in the heart from far, that thing shall by every law of nature be made nigh, before afar off, and they shall the rather, or more fully enflame all the blood that lyes between the heart, and themselves, with the heat of Putrefaction, and so all Fevers shall of necessity afford a putrefied continual Fever; Wherefore neither shall a Quartan Ague stop its course, and repeat its return, if the same putrefied matter thereof waiteth safe in the Spleen for a years space.

Gangrens certainly teach me, that nothing of a putrefied matter (for every putrefied [unspec 33] matter is dead) can long persist without a further Conragion of it self: Neither do I apprehend how the Archeus of life it self shall putrefie, that it may give satisfaction to Galen for a diary Fever? But if they understand a diary Fever to be the daughter of that Putrefaction, which at length is implanted in the spirit of life; But thus all Fevers in the Schools, should be Diaries.

Again, If a diary or one dayes Fever be the daughter of Putrefaction; therefore Putrefaction is presupposed to be fermented to the spirit of life: From whence there is a relapse unto the same straights.

But if they understand Putrefaction beginning onely, or a Disposition unto Putrefaction, and that the Heat is an Effect of Putrefaction, therefore it fol∣lowes, [unspec 34] that a diarie Fever shall have onely a Disposit on unto Heat; but not a true heat, even as, that neither therefore shall it be a true Fever.

But the Schools require a formal, and absolute putrefaction, that they may find out the cause of a feverish Heat; Having forgotten, that then heat shall [unspec 35] be an effect of the Putrefaction, and not of the Fever; and so they shall con∣strainedly distinguish Heat from a Fever: For why; seeing a non-putrefied con∣tinual Fever, is a true Fever, without putrefaction, and by consequence ought to be without Heat.

In the mean time, they by little and little lay aside the fear of heat; neither must we in healing employ our selves thereabout, while as a greater dammage is to be feared from the contagion of putrefaction in those things which have a co-resem∣blance: And therefore it would be better to divert the putrefaction, than vainly to have smeared over a Fever with cooling things.

But surely, whatsoever things resist putrefaction, are hot: For Myrrhe preserveth the dead Carcases of Aegypt for now two thousand years; The which otherwise, with Succory, Plantain, and their Coolers had putrified long since: Therefore the putrefactions of putrefied Humours, likewise of the blood, and spirit, are so like unto Fables, that I should scarce believe that the Schools spake in earnest, unless they did fatally even unto this day, confirm those Positions by the practical part.

For a Conclusion, I will as yet add one thing: Whatsoever hath been once corrupted in the body, never returns again into favour; but the blood of the veins, however corrupted it [unspec 36] may seem to be, returns again into favour: Therefore it was not once corrupted.

The Major proposition is proved, because Corruption in us is an effect of the se∣questration of vital dispositions, and so it presupposeth a privation, and death of the corrupted body, or matter it self.

The Minor proposition is proved, by those who are cured of the Plague, Pleurifie, [unspec 37]

and a Fever, without the drawing out of blood. And likewise, if the blood be ever to be reckoned putrefied or corrupted while existing in the veins, that blood shall espe∣cially [unspec 38] be that of the Hemeroides; but this is not corrupted, although it be as it were al∣most hunted out of the veins: Therefore the blood is never to be reckoned putrefied in the veins.

Whole Chyrurgery proves the Major proposition concerning Ulcers bred from an accidental happenning of the Hemeroides or Piles: But I prove the Minor, because I [unspec 39] compound or compose a mettal: A Ring made whereof, if it be carried about one, the pain of the Hemeroides is taken away in the very space of the Lords Prayer: and the Piles, as well those within, as without, vanish away in twenty four hours space, how greatly soe∣ver those veins may tumefie or burgen; Therefore that blood is received into favour, and they have themselves well at ease.

That Ring also prevails in the strangling, and motions of the womb, and very many Diseases: The Description, and manner of composing whereof, I deliver in the Treatise upon those words; In Words, Herbs, and Stones, there is great vertue, where I speak of the great vertue of things.