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. VIII. The Seat prepared.

IT is not sufficient to have demonstrated, that the causes of the Pest are unknown to the Schools, unless I shall declare my own experiences, the cause of the plague, its di∣vers progresses in the making, its strange properties in its being made, its preservations, and cure. At first therefore, I will repeat what I have demonstrated elsewhere; to wit, that in Nature, there are at least two causes, and no more: Indeed the matter, and effici∣ents which efficient in the plague, I call the Archeus, Vulcan, or Seed: at leastwise, for the matter, there is not a certain undistinct hyle or matter, which never existed, nor will be in nature: and it serves for Science Mathematical, and not to a contemplater of Na∣ture: Therefore, I behold the matter of the pestilence, with relation unto its internal efficient. The matter therefore of the plague, is a wild spirit tinged with a poyson: But that matter tends unto the end proposed to it self, after a three-fold manner; because it either comes to us from without, and being totally and perfectly pestiferous, exhaling from a pestilent sick person, or dead carkass, or place, or Utensile being defiled; or it is drawn inwards, being as yet crude, from a Gas of the earth putrified by continuance, which afterwards receives an appropriative ferment within; and at length, by degrees, attains a pestilent poyson in us: Or also a total destruction of us, is now and then materially, and formally finished within, without an external assistance. But that there are not more man∣ners, whereby the plague is made, is manifest from the division: For either it is wholly generated within, without a forraign aid; or it happens on us from without; and that is either perfect in the matter, and form of a poyson, wanting only appropriation, and ap∣plication; or it is as yet crude, imperfect, and as it were an Embryo. Whence at least∣wise, first of all, it becomes easie to be seen, that the Pest doth not always first invade the heart: For I have seen him, who in touching pestilent papers, at that very moment felt a pain, as it were of a pricking Needle, and straightway he shewed a pestilent Carbuncle in his fore-finger, and after two daies died.

Furthermore, the aforesaid three-fold matter, however plainly venemous the first is; yet on both sides, it holds it self within the number of an antecedent cause: For no o∣therwise than as poyson taken in at the mouth, is not the disease it self, or death, but on∣ly the occasional cause thereof: For not any thing that is corporeal, acteth immediately on the li••e o•• vital powers (because they are those which are of the nature of Coelessial lights) but first it is received, and made as it were domestical: and when some poyson is now made a Citizen of our Inn, to wit, it being swallowed or attracted; notwithstanding al∣so, it cannot as yet enter, or be admitted unto the hidden Seminaries of the vital pow∣ers (because it is in its whole essence external) but first, the poysonous quality, by acting on the life, stirs up the Archeus (otherwise the Author and workman of all other things to be done under his own government) into its own defence: For otherwise, a pestilen•• poyson acteth not like a sword, which equally wounds all it toucheth at, in the same mo∣ment of it self; but the pestilent poyson is not able to strike any. The Archeus therefore, since from his own disposition, he hath animal perturbations, passions, confusions, and interchangeable courses, he suddenly brings forth the image of his own alteration con∣ceived, and decyphers that Idea in the particle or small portion of his own proper sub∣stance wherein it is conceived; which Image of Death being thus furnished, is the Pest or Plague it self. For truly, I do not judge the plague to be a certain naked quality, al∣though it existeth not elsewhere than in a body, as it were accidents in a subject of inhe∣rency: but the plague is a Being, a poyson of Nature, subsisting by it self in us, and con∣sisting of its own matter, form, and properties; the which I have elsewhere most fully demonstrated in the Treatise of Diseases.

But here it is sufficient to have admonished, that the life operates nothing by conquer∣ing, or destroying, unless by the vital motions of the sensitive Soul, which is not wont but to operate by Idea's on the Archeus the Executer of any motions whatsoever; even as, neither doth the Archeus operate after any other manner on the body. Wherefore, it is to be noted by the way, in this place, that the inward material and immediate cause

of a disease, is the disease it self, 〈…〉〈…〉 wise, than as the material cause in a man, is his very body, persevering from the 〈…〉〈…〉 unto old age; but not that there is any con∣joyned material cause of a man, besides his body it self, which is the very product of generation; to wit, from a material cause, and seminal internal efficient: which things have hitherto been vailed from the Schools, and so they have reputed the internal occasi∣onal causes of diseases, to be the immediate and conjoyned ones, being as yet plainly distinct from the disease produced: Wherefore that is also, next to be repeated in this place, which I have taught in my discourses of Natural Phylosophy; to wit, that there are six digestions in us: For in the three former, that there are their own Retents, and their own excrements; the which, seeing every one of them are in themselves; and in their own Regions, troublesom; yea, by a co-in••olding, and extravagancy, they have be∣come hateful, they degenerate into things transmitted, and transchanged, and do from thence induce divers diseases occasionally.

But in the fourth and fifth digestion, I have shewn, that not any perceiveable excre∣ment is admitted: But in the sixth digession, which is that of things transchanged, that very many voluntary dungs do through the errour of the vegetative faculty, offer themselves. Moreover, that some are transmitted from some other place, as also that not a few do degenerate through a violent command of things suscepted or undergone: which things have been hitherto unknown by the Schools; and therefore also, have been neglected: and the which therefore, have wanted a proper name, and the diseasie effects of these have been ridiculously translated, and adjudged unto the four feigned humours of the Liver. Wherefore, although I as the first, have expelled the diseasifying causes of Tartar; yet least I should seem to make new all things from animosity, I will here call these filths, the Tartar of the blood; although by an improper Etymology; because for want of a true name. Such excrements therefore, whether they are brought into the ha∣bit of the body from elsewhere: or next, made under transchanging, by a proper errour of the faculties; or lastly, through a violent command of external things being there degenerated; I name them the Tartar of the blood 〈…〉〈…〉 that in very deed they are Tartars, in the matter and manner of the Tartar of Wine; but because of good nourishment being now defiled, that which before was fruitful and vital, hath afterwards become hostile.

And these things I have therefore fore-admonished of, that ye may know, that the Tartar of the blood is the product of the plague, and that that is easily made from effici∣ent pestilential causes. And moreover, it is not yet sufficient to have said, that the Tar∣tar of the blood, is the product of the Pest; but besides, I ought to prefix the place there∣of: For I will by and by teach, that the Plague is a poyson of terrour; and therefore I have noted, that the Seat or primitive Nest thereof, is in the Hypochondrial or Midriffs; to wit, where the first conception of humane terrour is, whether it happen from exter∣nal disturbances, or next, of its own accord, from the motions of things conceived: Wherefore there are present in the plague, vomiting, doatage, headach, &c. the which in its own place, I have decyphered in the Commonwealth of the Spleen. Therefore if the Schools had put this Tartar of the blood for a conjoyned cause, we had as yet notwith∣standing, been differing from each other, as that which with them had been a connexed cause, is with me a product of the plague: for the Pestinvades us after an irregular man∣ner; neither is its conjoyned matter a certain solid body, or visible liquor, as neither therefore any putrefaction plainly to be seen; but only a Gas, separated and degenerated from the substance of the Archeus. But whatsoever visible thing offers it self as vitiated in the Plague, is not of the matter of the plague it self, nor of the matter [whereof] but it is either the occasional matter, of which before, or it is the product or off-spring wherein the plague sits, as it were in a nest. Wherefore the Carbunole, Bubo, or Es∣charre, are not the original matter of the Pest, but the effect and product which the Pest ••ath prepared to it self: For the plague is for the most part so cruel and swift, that as soon as it is introduced into the Archeus, it cannot omit, but that it subjecteth some part of the nourishable humour unto its tyranny, and dwells therein: Wherefore, if the putrified humour should be the immediate cause of the plague, truly it had been putri∣fied before it had putrified; To wit, seeing the Pest it self, prepares that vitious product for it self, which the Schools call humours, they being as yet undefined. For Fernelius would be a little more quick-sighted than the Schools; and therefore he knew that the plague was not bred, or did con••ist of the putrefaction of four seigned humours; as nei∣ther of the heat of the air, or of the cold thereof; but of a certain poyson, the Foster∣child of hidden causes.

Again, we must take notice, that when the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the blood, or dross of the last digestion being vitiated, hath received a pestile•••• ••••ment, it hath a priviledge of exha∣ling through the pores, no less than other transchanged excrements, without any resi∣dence left behind it, or remaining dead-head (So the Chymists call the dreg which re∣mains after distillation) to wit, if the humours shall be alimentary; but not, if the sub∣stance it self of the solid parts be scorched into an Escharre, or Carbuncle: for so the much more hard dungs of the Lues Venerea, being as it were equal to bones, the counsel of resolving being snatched to them, do wholly vanish.

But although the Tartar of the blood, doth also rejoyce in the aforesaid prerogative, as oft as it is banished as infamous, out of the family-administration of life; yet while it is transchanged into a corrupt mattery, or thin sanious poyson, it gnaws the skin into the shape of an Escharre, before that it can sweat thorow the pores in manner of a vapour: And that indeed, by reason of the imprinted blemish of a strange ferment, whereby it degenerated into a formal transmutation: But if indeed, the Tartar of the blood shall draw the odour of the ferment, but is not yet transchanged, Glandules, Buboes, &c. are made, which are oftentimes ended by a plentiful Flux of sweat, without opening of the skin: whereas the other aforesaid products cannot obtain that: and almost all these, are by the Schools banished into Catarrhs. The whole Tartar of the blood therefore, is in∣deed bred at home; but it is a Bastard, which is intruded by force, destruction, and er∣rour.

But since the remedies of Nature are subject unto so many Courts of digestions, and bodies of so eminent an excellency, do possess a violence and strength of acting, and likewise have filths admixed with them, or difficult bolts; truly, the art of the fire is ne∣ver sufficiently esteemed, which now and then graduates one Simple to that height, that it persecutes with revenge all the excrementitious filths of the digestions, even into the uttermost coasts of the body: otherwise, in the last digestion, very many griefs do offer themselves, they being referred by the Schools, among incurable ones, by reason of one only fault of a remedy alone, which accompanies, and accuseth the defect; no o∣therwise than as they are destitute of curing, in the work of witches, because remedies are neglected, which may go into the root of the malady: For truly, those devilish dis∣commodities do not lay hold so much on the body, or the filths thereof, as on the Ar∣cheus himself; the which, since he is as it were the clear image of the man, it follows, that while that Spirit is wrested, aside in any Organ of its body, the same member suffers the sumptoms of the Archeus: And so, whatsoever the Spirit suffers, which is the Ruler of life and sense, it must needs be, that the body suffers; but not on the contrary: For neither doth he that is maimed in one leg, therefore generate a maimed off-spring, be∣cause the spirit is not defectuous: For whatsoever the body suffers, although the Spirit feels this same thing; yet this is not drawn together, unless the passion incline unto ex∣tremity; that is, that it is co-fermented within the root of life, or implanted spirit; e∣ven as I have elsewhere shewn concerning the convulsion in the Colick. Its no wonder therefore, if a Tartar of the blood be stirred up by the state, or insisting urgency of the Archeus: For who is he that knows not, that indignation, confusion, a sorrowful mes∣sage, affrightful fear, &c. do presently take away an appetite of eating, do stir-up sighs, or tears, and extend an unwonted fardle under the Midriffs; to wit, as the nourishment of the sixth digestion degenerates in the stomach, namely, where such passions are imme∣diately framed. This Tartar of the blood therefore, being once become degenerate, doth presently molest in manner of an Enemy. And even as a dog being once mad, pays the punishment of his madness with his own death; So that Tartar being once banished, and referred into the number of excrementitious filths, doth never afterwards return into favour; because, whatsoever the Archeus once forsaketh, straightway dieth, and that which is dead doth no more revive, nor strike a peace with the Enemy: Therefore an earnest desire of revenge, and indignation of self-love, are radically co-bred in the first Fountain of Nature: They do also more manifestly rise up in the more perfect subject, and so in sensitive creatures, do challenge to themselves the animosity and glory of a wrathful power. Wherefore that Tartar of the blood, being subdued by the plague, doth no longer obey the Laws of Life, but repenting of its former obedience, arrogates to it self an unbridled liberty of fury, and by so much the more cruelly molesteth us, by how much the more confidently it hath once received the hidden counsels of the Archeus within; which thing, the Schools name, to symbolize or co-resemble: For then it is an houshold-Thief, unto which the ways to the treasure, and privy store-houses are known: For how speedily do a few drops of corrupt matter under the scull, kill? and what cruelty

doth not the blood chased out of the veins, threaten? how cruel, is even but one only thorn in an Aposteme? Its no wonder therefore, that the Pest, the most fierce of diseases, doth presently bring forth its own product, and if it shall not find •• sea••, that it present∣ly makes one for it self: notwithstanding, a hope of curing the plagu•• remaineth, because that Tartar, and the Pest its own Inn, may be puf•• away or dis••••ssed by a due banishment of swea••: The which understand thou, as long as it shall remain in the shape of dissol∣vable Tartar: For otherwise, if it shall catch hold of a solid part, the hope of life fails, unless the part it self which is catcht hold of can forthwith be sequestred: But Wheals, black strakes, or black and blew spo••s or tokens, denote the Archeus to be affected; for they are the superficial tinctures of the skin, the which, if they shall the more deeply lay hold of, they do also cauterixe it: and since they do immediately pierce the Archeus be∣fore others, they stand in need of a most speedy remedy.

It is also worthy to be noted, th••t an unsensible transpiration in the plague, differs from sweat; because Diaphaeresis or unsensible transpiration is the matter of the nourish∣ment, and so also of the Tartar of the blood, being defiled; but sweat is of the substance of the Latex: But transpiration, seeing it is continual, it is also without sweat. Hence it comes to pass, that sweat doth most especially wash off, and for that cause, a dry tran∣spiration is seldom sufficient for curing of the plague: and therefore a plentiful rincing sweat is to be provoked; that while the Pestilent Tartar breatheth the naughtiness of its poyson thorow the pores, it may be partly washed off by the sweat, and the delay of its departure be partly speedied. Here a difficulty is manifest to be noted, and not deci∣ded by the Schools; to wit, why some defects of the stomach are cured not by vomiting, or stool, but only by sweat; because they consist in the Retents of the stomach being transchanged in the sixth digestion, but not in the remainders of the Cream. The Plague therefore, for the most part begins in the stomach, and there begets and infects the Tartar, whereon, as soon as the perturbations of the Archeus have made their assaults: For every imagination of the desirable faculty hath its seat in the same place, and there frames its Idea; and chiefly, about the orifice of the stomach, the vital powers are concealed, as I have elsewhere many times profe••ly demonstrated. But because the Tartar of the blood is in the form of a mucky sliminess; Hence the Idea of the Pest willingly buds forth into Glandules: for the stomach, and the Archeus thereof, because it sends a continual society of imagining into the brain; hence are Parotides or tumors behind the ears: But it pierceth thorow the Diaphragma into the lungs, and arm-pits, and a perplexity of breathing doth arise. But pestiferous odours being prepared in the stomach, frequent vomitings do accompany them, together with a pain in the head, the which, we having often experienced from the odours of burning coals, to have vomited with headach, and a dejected appetite: But if they proceed unto the Liver; Now there is a Bubo in the groyn.