CHAP. VIII. The usual Remedies are weighed.

THe internall remedies used by Physitians in Fevers, if they are look't into, will be found to be of the same leaven with the other of their succours: For except that they are brought into one heat, as it were the scope, and hinge of the matter, they are as yet of no worth in themselves, neither do they any way answer unto a putrified matter.

For first of all, distilled waters, as well those which are called cooling ones, such as are those of Succhory, Lettice, Purslane, and Plantaine, as those which are of the or∣der [ 1] of the greater alterers, such as are those of Grasse, Dodder, Maidenhair, Carduus-Benedictus, Scorcionera, &c. Or those also which are fetcht from cordial plants, are in very deed, nothing but the sweates of herbs, but not their blood; and I wish they were not adulterated for the perswasion of gain.

For they are the rain waters of green and fresh herbs, but not the essential liquors of [ 2] the herbs which shew forth the whole Crasis or constitutive temperature, and savour of the thing. Therefore they cover an imposture in their name, and in the mean time the occasion of well doing slips away.

Moreover, the decoctions of plants, since they conteine the gums, and muscilages of simples, they provide pain or cumbrance for a feverish stomach, loathings, overthrows, [ 3] and other troubles; therefore also, they joyn themselves with the excrements, and are sequestred, after that they have procured all those perplexities: nor at least wise, is any thing of them carried inwards unto the places affected, and vitall soiles.

Physitians also, are wont to brag of their exhilarating Cordials; and restoring remedies [ 4] prepared of Gold, and gems or pretious stones, surely from a like stupidity with the rest: For although they are broken into a fine powder, they undergo nothing from the fire, and much lesse do they suffer by the digestive virtue.

For they are first made into a light powder in a brassen morter, and the gems shave of a part of the brasse with them, because they are harder than any file. And that thing I [ 5] have at some time demonstrated to the shops, while as I steeped that powder of gems in aqua fortis: For a green colour presently bewrayed it self, and the Apothecary confessed that his fortyfying remedies acted most especially, by communicating verdigrease or the rust of brasse unto the sick.

And then, if gems are afterwards the more curiously beaten in a grindstone or marble, Page  971 which is far more soft than themselves, they increase in weight, and become comforting marbles, and stones, beyond the original gems.

For at length, gems that are made into a light powder, do no more profit than if [ 6] flints, or glasse powdered are taken: And that thing, as many as have ever been diligent in examining the resolution of bodies, will subscribe to with me, and with me will pity the empty blockishnesses of Physitians, and the unhappy clientships of the sick.

Yea they administer Pearles, and Corrals being beaten to dust or dissolved in distilled [ 7] vinegar, orthe juice of limons, and again dryed, and solvable in any potable liquour: But Pearles are not of the same hardnesse with Christalline gems, but of the Animal king∣dome, and they conreine most pretious natural endowments; they cannot but bestow a famous help. For Pearles are of their own accord resolved indeed in the stomack of a Pigeon, but in ours they do not undergo any thing, whether they are drunk being beaten into a powder, or being dissolved as before.

For first of all it is to be noted, that I before my repentance, had learned by some [ 8] pounds of Pearles being so prepared, that it was only vaine boasting whatsoever Physiti∣ans promise concerning them: And then, that a true Pearle hath not within it a mealy powder, and that of a different likenesse from its own bark: but that the whole body of the Pearle even unto its center, is meere little skins, laying on each other as it were the rhines of onyons spread under each other; which thing, they know with me, as many as have known how to reduce Pearles of an egg-like figure unto a circular Pearle: But the aforesaid barks of Pearles are in no wise dissolved by the aforesaid sharp things; there∣fore they shall dissolve only the meale of false Pearles.

Yea although the aforesaid barks were dissolved, (which they are not) the Pearles [ 9] should as yet be the same powder which they were before: To wit, wherewith the salt of the sharp dissolver is now combined, and so it happens, that that salt of the dissolvent being dissolved, the powder of Pearles, or Corrals which that salt drinkes up, is also sol∣ved together with it.

Which powder, however it may be reckoned to be dissolved by the judgment of the eyes, [ 10] and the substance of the Pearle thought to be changed; yet it is nothing but a meer deciet, and delusion of the sight. For Pearles, or Corrals do as yet remaine no otherwise in their own former nature, than otherwise, Silver remaines safe being dissolved in Chry∣sulca or aqua fortis, it been plainly unchanged in all its former qualities: For otherwise, the same silver could not be fetch't again from thence, seeing there is not granted a re∣turn from a privation to an habit.

They therefore that drink Pearles thus solved, so far is it that they enjoy the milky sub∣stance of Pearles, that they drink unto themselves nothing but the dssolved salt of the vinegar: The which I thus prove by handicraft operation: If thou shalt poure some drops of the salt of Tartar on dissolved Pearles, or Corrals, the hidden pou∣der of the Pearles presently falls to the bottome; which is a demonstration of the deed.

First therefore, the pearles of the shops are not true ones, but a certain abortion of [ 11] those sowed within through the middle substance of the Pearle.

Secondly, the powder of Pearles, or Corrals dissolved, although it may delude the eyes: yet it is not truly solved, it remayning the powder which it was be∣fore.

Thirdly instead of comforting remedies, they substitute nothing but the acide salt of the things dissolving.

Fourthly, that powder being thus solved, cannot be made bloud, and therefore nei∣ther can it enter into the veines.

Fifthly, what if it had entred unto the Liver, hollow veine, and so by the power of digestion, that sharp salt adhering thereunto had at length been wasted into a trans∣mutation: What other thing should such Comfortatives performe, besides to besmeare the veines within, with a forreign powder? And at length to load an un-obliterable malady with a• forreign guest? This is the harvest that is to be exspected from Gems.

It is an alike doating monstrous thing, which they promise concerning the broath of an old Cock being joyned with herbs: For first of all; there is more of life, and strength in the more young birds, than in decrepite ones: Let the judgment be brought unto Hens.

And also medicinal broaths are ungratefull, and troublesome to the stomack, and Page  972 so they are easily dismissed unto excrements: Therefore after this manner, under a changed maske, they again dissemble their Apozemes under the broath of an old Cock.

Last of all, there is the Antidote Alkermes, which although, as it consisteth of the Syrupe of the grain that dieth Scarlet (I wish it were not adulterated by roses) it be lau∣dable; [ 13] neverthelesse, inasmuch as it being scorched and roasted, is impregnated with the more crude silk untill that it can be powdered, the whole power of the dying grain is vitiated: which silk being thus roasted, is nothing else but the wool of silke wormes depraved or vitiated by burning.

For the invention of some covetous old man brought up that thing, as thinking that nature is exhilarated or rejoyced with things that delight the eyes.

Far be it, for neither Gold, gems, not pretious stones as such, shall refresh the vi∣tal spirits, and much lesse crude silk roasted, and that if it were tinged with a Purple Co∣lour; unlesse the vitall spirits shall well perceive restaurations to themselves by the additi∣ons of strength.

But moreover, vaine are comforting, and cordiall things which are wished for; the fewel of Fevers remayning, and the blood, and strength being dimi∣nished.

For if a Fever prostrateth a strong person, and one that is in good health, how shall it suffer him to be strengthened being now dejected? Especially by things which [ 14] are forreigners in the whole general kinde, nor agreeing with the spirits in the union of co-resemblance?

How shall a Citizen fortifie himself, who hath received an houshold enemy strong∣er than himself, into his possession? The wan therefore, and vain promises of Physitians concerning fortifiers and strengtheners, are full of deceite.

For he that exhausteth the strength or faculties together with the blood, and with∣drawes them by evacuating medicines, but forbids wine, and things that do im∣mediately restore the strength; also who continually prosecures after cooling things as enemies to the vitall heat; how shall he procure strength by such electu∣aries.