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. LI. The Disease that was antiently reckoned that of delightful Livers. (Book 51)

1. The false name of a drop, in this Disease. 2. The Gowt grows daily more and more frequent. 3. The Gowt will presently distinguish choice Physitians from others. 4. Things proper to the Gowt. 5. The unconstancy of the Schools. 6. A hot Gowt doth not differ in the particular kind, from a cold one. 7. A hereditary one at least, is not from a Catarrhe. 8. After what sort the li∣mitation or appointment of the Seal in the seed is. 9. Diverse fellowships of the Character, with the corporeal Seed. 10. Nothing of a rheumy substance in the Gowt. 11. Why the Remedies and preventions of the Schools are abu∣sive. 12. How long Medicines will be unprosperous. 13. That the Podagra is not in the foot, as neither the Chiragra in the hand. 14. The manner of making in the Gowt. 15. Why the perpetual place of the Gowt, is between the co-touchings of the bones. 16. Why the Gowt doth infect the seed of the Parents. 17. Why it begins far from the heart. 18. The sharpness of the Gowt is not yet in its seed. 19. After what sort that sharpenss is fermented. 20. What the Synovie is. 21. Whence a Gowty chalk may be formed. 22. From whence, and what is the afflux unto places of the Gowt. 23. Profitable and hurtful things, whom they may instruct. 24. Objects in healing. 25. The true Remedy of the Gowt. 26. A repetition of things spoken. 27. The name of a drop hath caused an errour in the supposition or subject of percei∣vance. 28. A definition of the Gowt. 29. The rise and progress thereof. 30. It is decyphered from the first into the last life. 31. Wherein the sick may be deceived. 32. Cauteries are vain in the joynt-sickness. 33. That no ma∣terial thing which is humorous, is sent, doth slide, or is directed into places of the joynt-sickness. 34. The Remedies of the Schools, as well those of the Eu∣ropians, as Barbarians, are vain. 35. Drying drinks are derided. 36. The Schools through their own rashness, do fail in the Gowt, Consumption, Ca∣tarrhs, and Cauteries. 37. Some things are chiefly true concerning moisture, and dryness. 38. Concerning different kinds of Remedies of the Gowt, else∣where.

THe Arthritis, joynt sickness, being understood by the name of the Gowt, it so attributed unto Catarrhs or rheums, that in many Nations, by putting one [unspec 1] name for a another, it is called a Drop; unto which Etimology the sick do assent, and have given their labour unto so great blindness of mortal men; because they seem to foel the slidings of a certain drop, between the co-knitting of the bones: For the Schools who presume to teach every thing, do rejoyce that they have learned from the undistinct sense of the vulgar, and also proceeding without a diligent search, are be∣come Rheumy:

But seeing I have already overthrown the whole fable of a Catarrhe, I will also discover the errour of the vulgar sense, in the Gowt; which I have judged could not otherwise be done, unless I shall explain the tragedy of the Gowt from its beginning. The Gowt remained unknown to the first ages, although man-kind, even from the [unspec 2] Infancy of the World, did run into all luxury: But misery increasing by degrees on the weakness of men, it was at least so rare to the first writers, that it was scarce worthy of their quill: But the corruption of mortals, waxed afterwards more strong, it first of all arose in those who were most dissolute in Luxury: For hence it is believed to be the Plague or common destruction of those that are enslaved to leachery and riot, even unto our dayes.

Notwithstanding, seeing it doth now oftentimes molest Labourers, and Ca∣puchines who are most abstinent; I have coniectured that the Gowt will presently

spread abroad over the people, unless God being merciful unto us, shall prevent its in part Hereditary, and in part attained dammage.

In the next place also, I have from thence fore-divined, that that will be the Gowt, which is to be brought as a prognostical Sign, after a Quartane, between choice and [unspec 3] thinkative Physicians: for when it hath once taken root, it not only abides a com∣panion of ones life; but sometimes is unin-treatably transferred on remote Nephews: And so as it is ready, manifoldly to erect the fruitfulness of its Propagation for the fu∣ture, it will distinguish of paultry contemptable Physicians: for there are many things which this princess of Diseases, doth keep as singular to it self: For besides stub∣bornness, it not only succeedeth through the begetting of parents, for some years; [unspec 4] but also moreover, it thirty years and more, in patience waiteth, before it bewray it self.

Furthermore, the generater being not as yet Gowty, doth oft-times constitute an heir of his Gowt, almost the same year wherein the patient after generation, is to suf∣fer the first beginnings of the Gowt. In the parent therefore, a silent, and not yet Plague, being bred, doth generate, before a just maturity of its Seed, which is denied to other Seeds in nature: as if the field of Humane nature being defiled, doth now of its own accord, beget the Gowt. I pass by; that it produceth small Stones, Chalke or Lime, diverse in their Beginnings from Duelech or the Stone of the Kidneys, or Bladder, and a rocky Monster, out of a wonted and due place, and that it doth deform a man being maimed and cut short in his Members, from so proud a structure, into a Monster. But the Schools do without controversy attribute the Gowt to defluxions; but it is not [unspec 5] yet determined by them, whether that Rheum be lifted up from the stomach in manner of other things; or whether indeed by the Liver, through the narrow and most knit Re∣ceptacles of the Veins, so different a kind of Catarrhe be derived thorow the Veins, not indeed by a straight line, where the mouths of the Veins do end; but that it be stayed in unaccustomed, and wayes known only to nature, between the joynts, and Liga∣ments. But I being little careful of Fables, do suffer them to try both opinions. In the mean time they may be ashamed to have discourses of the causes of diseases, pro∣blematically only, and to have left them disputable.

In the mean time, I certainly know, that the Gowt, whether it slide on the heirs through the Seeds of the Parents, or in the next place, be contracted by a proper error of living, is of one and the same kind, with every property following it: Neither [unspec 6] that that doth relate any thing, whether a hot Gowt doth molest, and pain one great∣ly, or next, be reckoned more sluggish and mild through cold: because those are En∣signs of degrees, whereby the matter is ennobled or made remarkable; but do not vary its essence.

Then also I know, and have learned first of all, that at least an Hereditary Gowt is not derived from a Catarrhe, if it hath layn hid in the Seed, and that which is [unspec 7] framed hereof, for the space of thirty years: For truly, seeing nothing that is exter∣nal can be contained in the Seed, but for that very cause, it looseth the fruitfulness of causing off-spring; be sure, that nothing of a Rheumy substance remains in the Seed, and that there is not place for any Hostile matter there. Therefore it is confirmed, that nothing doth remain in the Seed besides a Character or Seal of things to be acted in the body constituted; and that that Seal is not indeed of so great a concernment, as to display the fruitfulness of a Seed, If an Hereditary disease, ought from thence to rise again in the Son, or Nephew. Again, neither can that Seal in the Seed, defile the Young with a monstrous deformity, although other Characters of Seeds by reason of their disposition, do figure the Seed: wherefore, although the Seal of the Gowt be in very deed in the Seed, yet it sleepeth, is silent, and layeth hid in the course of figu∣ring, and so long as till at length, an opportunity of matter, and maturity being ob∣tained, it unfoldeth it self. Therefore the Character or impression of the Gowt is in the Seed, as it were the first life, with a determination of silence, that it may sleep [unspec 8] even till the first Fit, as it were a swallow all the Winter: Therefore the formative virtue in the Seed, doth not yet feel its own defect, by reason of the fault of a ma∣terial Indisposition: for truly the Character in the Seed is not born to generate i••s Gowt, before its own maturity; which ripeness of the Character, is now and then not unfolded but in the Nephew. Truly although there are strict wed-locks of the Seed [unspec 9] of man with the Seed of the Gowt, that they do promise as it were an undissoluable unity for the future; yet it is certain, that Diseases do not adhere to the root of the particular kind, unless in whom they are, as being created by a condition (as the

Falling-evil in the Elke and Swallow) but only unto individual Beginnings, whereto they are fast tyed as it were by accident. Therefore if there be nothing of a Rheumy matter, actually, in the Seed of the Gowt, therefore, neither also in the Gowt, which is to arise from thence; Seeing proper effects ought alwayes to bear a respect to their [unspec 10] own causes.

In the next place, if any Hereditary Gowt doth want a Catarrhe; therefore also, any other; Seeing, of one thing in the particular kind, there are alwayes the same specifical constitutive Beginnings.

Furthermore, if that blemishing Gowty Character be so notably homebred to the Seed, so intimately social to it, sleeping with so patient a suspense, and not to be washed off by so many Circuits of years, and storms of Tempests; I have judged it to be altogether of necessity, for the same to be coupled to the vital Spirit. Whence first of all, it is manifest, that the supposed withdrawings of bloud, and feigned Humors, [unspec 11] for attempting the prevention of the Gowt, are vain: because that Character of the Gowt is not co-mixed with the venal bloud, but well with the Governour of the Solide parts: for indeed the venal bloud is many times changed, and the whole Fardle of nourishment, before the access of an Hereditary Gowt to come. From thence like∣wise it follows, that if the Character of the Gowt, being either transferred with the Seed of the Parents, on the young, or being gotten by the inordinate storms of life, be the connexed and efficient cause of the Gowt, and so that that be a true formal Gowt; it is a fabulous thing, whatsoever hath been devised concerning Rheums and Drops: For that absurdity being granted, that a Catarrhe rayning down, did cause the access of the Gowt; likewise, whatsoever Weapon hath been retorted on this, Disease, all that hath been directed unto the effects, the product, latter thing, or fruit; but nothing unto the cutting off the cause. But seeing the true causes in the Gowt, have been unknown to the Schools, and will stand unknown as long as the doatages of [unspec 12] Humors shall prevail; it must needs be, that unprosperous and cruel Medicines have been hitherto applied by anoynting, for an unseen mark: for the Gowt is not in the Finger, but only the Apple or Fruit of the root; and therefore, although thou shalt [unspec 13] cut off the Finger, thou shalt not therefore cure the Gowt. For from hence two things do follow:

The first is that the Gowt doth immediately consist in the Spirit of life, neither there∣fore, that the fruit of the Gowt is the Gowt, or the root thereof.

The other is, that the Gowt doth not flow down materially, or (as they will have it) in manner of a Humor, as being a Bridge for the Rheum unto the joynts. Where∣fore if I shall explain the Progress of the Gowt in its being made, I think, that by li∣beral wits, and those not yet defiled by any prejudice, I shall be affented unto: For in the beginning, after that the seminal Gowty Character is constituted (be it now [unspec 14] all one whether it shall be made to increase from the seed of the Parents, or next, be gotten by excess of living) it must needs be, that it hath prescribed limits of its con∣tinuance, as well in rising up, as in continuing, according to the law of its destiny, and the successive change of things obeying. When therefore, the beginning of this Gowty motion is at hand, the vital spirit being an obedient client to the corruptive Cha∣racter, puts on a fermental sharpness, altogether hostile to it self, and foreign un∣to us.

In the next place, even as all sharpness, as well in the venal bloud, as in the flesh, is demonstrated to contein the beginning and token of putrefaction; hence it comes to pass, that nature well perceiving or being thorowly sensible of that sharpness in the Spirit, which it conceived from the Seed or Gowty Character, doth presently stir up an every dayes Fever, before the comming of the Gowt: presently also a pain is well perceived in the proper place or Womb, to wit, where two Bones do touch each o∣ther; first a small light pain, but afterwards, as it were that of a burning Drop: Being increased, it afterwards stirs up Pains, Burnings, and at length, oft-times, Swellings: For then the sharpness being conceived in the Spirit, by a spiritual Fermentation; to wit, by an active alteration, defiles the Spermatical or seedy Glew which is conjoyned between the Ligaments, and the Bones.

I have already before demonstrated, that the Character of the Gowt is of its own disposition, bred to infect, and to be transferred with the seed (to wit, even as Mer∣cury infects the Mouth and Teeth; but the Spittle of a mad Dog, the brain) as it were in an Inn, in which it oft-times lurketh for a long Race of years: Wherefore, by vir∣tue of a co-resemblance, it is agreeable to truth, that the Character or Impression of [unspec 15]

the Gowt doth originally respect the Seeds: Notwithstanding, seeing nature is whol∣ly careful of the Sex, and a diligent preserver of the particular kinds to be preserved, and a saver thereof; she peculiarly, what she can, forsees, that that Character doth not infect the Species, or that it do not fall on the Stones: wherefore she could not at least prevent, that in respect of its disposition, it doth not Immediately infect the li∣quor next to the Seed, which Paracelsus calls the Sunovie, being plentifully powred forth between the chests of the Ligaments, and the co-touchings of the Bones. But at the very moment of Copulation, the Character of the Gowt, otherwise sleeping [unspec 16] in the Spirit the Archeus, being stirred up under so great a stirring of Lust, is con-tem∣pered with the Spirit, together with the seed, plainly after an irregular manner: because nature being then unable to govern the Rains, could not restrain, but that the Poy∣son of the Character doth fermentally infect the Lustful seed: Therefore seeing the Seed or Character of the Gowt doth regularly defile the Spermatical or Seedy parts; therefore, as speedily as may be, the Sunovie; which no where happens alone, but where two Bones do mutually touch each other: Hence is the place or Nest of the Gowt in the Joynts: which things, seeing they ought to succeed by causes already constituted, nature being at least needy of her own preservation, doth not suffer the imprinted Spirits to infect the Sunovie, but in places far distant from the heart: For from hence [unspec 17] the name of Podagra or Gowt of the Feet, and of Chiragra or Gowt of the Hands is borrowed. But at length, when as the Disease hath gotten strength in going, and nature hath lost hers; the Gowt molesteth more-nigh places also: Therefore the [unspec 18] sharpness of the Gowt being conceived, is in the Spirit, as also in the seed potential∣ly, without an actual tartness; to wit, even as the seed of a Pear doth not shew forth the tast of the Fruit: but while the time of ripening is urgent or at hand, a sharpness is actuated in the Spirit, and desiles this, which in a little space after, defiles the Sun∣ovie with its own Ferment; no otherwise, than as the smell of a soure Earthen-pot, doth a little after, curdle new Milk poured into it. But in the mean time, while these [unspec 19] things happen within, the whole Archeus of the body is altered in himself: For ma∣ny Gowty persons have known that they did foretel to themselves a fit at hand, from the Excrement breeding between their Toes its being changed: which thing surely, doth not bewray so much the defluxion of a Humour, as the very altering of the Sweat and Latex it self. The Sunovie therefore, from whence or what time it once falls down, or becomes sharp, cannot but provoke Paines, wherefore by reason of a greater and less sharpness, do the heats, greatnesses, or cruelties, & properties of the Gowt on∣ly differ. But the Sunovie is a certain cleer Muscilage or slymie juyce, such as drops out [unspec 20] of the shanks of a killed Calfe when his feet are cut off: but a sharpness being pre∣sently conceived, the Sunovie waxeth clotty, in the form of Cheese, and becomes thick: And so also it is thereby rendred unapt, that according to a wonted Tenour of health, [unspec 21] it can wholly exhale, without the residing of a dead Head: And hence the degene∣rate, diseasie Birth becomes an unhappy mother of knots: for then it suffers a puffing away of the watery parts, the remainders of the thick and hardened Sunovie being re∣tained: Hence are those monsters, Lime and Chalke. Therefore that sharpness is the cause of the pain, but the pain is the cause of the flowing forth of the neighbouring venal bloud which is good and guiltless: But the afluxion of bloud, is not a defluxi∣on [unspec 22] from the Head, or Liver, sent thither thorow straight passages of wayes impossible to the understanding: And although it may deceive the unwary senses, and they may seem to feel a defluxion from aboue; yet they are only the deceitful Judgments of the senses; even as when the Tooth akes, an increase seemeth to raine down to the payning causes on the whole side of the Head: no otherwise than as at the pain of the clea∣ving of the Skin at the roots of the Nailes of the Fingers, or a White-flaw, a Kernel ap∣pears under the Arm-pit. For by a local Remedy, the pain of the Teeth departs, or it being pulled out by the roots, ceaseth, and the Kernel vanisheth when as the Finger is eased of pain.

This is the original & root of the Gowt, & this is the manner of its making: the which surely is confirmed by things helpful, and hurtful: Not indeed that I do approue of that Maxime, shameful in it self: or that I will have curative judgments to be drawn from thence: But errors being sometimes admitted, do instruct Judicious erring per∣sons, who are willing to be wise in Charity, as good Remedies do confirm good o∣perators: [unspec 23] And therefore, whatsoever begins a subtile sharpness in the Spirit, doth ripen, increase, or promote the same; that also Spurs on the Fits of the Gowt; of which sort are white, sharpish Wines, containing little of Wine, and much of Vine∣gar

being the more largely drunk; and likewise whatsoever things are corruptives of the liquor Later, as Asparagus, &c. In like manner also, whatsoever things do take away sharpness out of the Spirit of life, and the Latex, before the fit, being inwardly taken, or outwardly applyed, do remove, prevent, or preserve from the fit; at least∣wise they do mitigate the pains, and hinder the knots. But in curing the Gowt., the sharpness produced is not to be regarded (which is instead of a fruit and of a product) [unspec 24] but we must meditate, after what manner the Seminal o••seedy Character of the Gowt may be abolished out of the Spirit of Life: The which otherwise, remaining, nothing is done which is worthy a choice Physitian.

For neither doth every Letter-Carrier come unto the Caskets of the vital Spirit; but only the Embassadour who is a Friend. And therefore the purging by the Coralline [unspec 25] secret, kills the Gowt in its seed. But that Arcanum is not the Colour or Tincture of Coral (as the rout that are ignorant of Chymical matters do scoffingly interpret; because the applied words of Paracelsus (which is of the essence of Gold) do sound another thing: Nor also doth the colour, sulfur, or Tincture of Gold move the Belly: but this secret is in matter, metallick, in Colour, Coralline, in savour, like hony, and in essence, Golden: Not indeed, that it was ever a Malleable or Hammerable Body; but it is the Horizon or circular bound of gold, an un-concluded or un-enclosed and fixed Body, whose Sulfur is sweet, and Co-mixeable with our constitutive parts: For in this Sulfur the almighty hath Collected all the virtues of Sol, to whom alone all Ho∣nour and Glory is due. He that understands me is rare; yet he knoweth that what things I have said concerning Gowt, are true. Nevertheless, seeing that is not suffici∣ently spoken, which is not sufficiently understood, it shall perhaps be profitable, to have repeated the rise, and progresse of the Gowt in an Epitome.

In the first place, those that have the Gowt or are Gowty, do complain that they do well perceive or feel the defluxion of a burning Humor. [unspec 26]

But I have already sufficiently and more than sufficiently taught, that there never was any humor of us in nature, besides the blood, the Latex, and a secondary or nu∣tritious [unspec 27] nourishment, and besides a degenerate excrement, and that none of these do flow down, and much less can a defluxion be felt, a humor no where exsisting but in Galenical books.

Therefore in the suposition of feeling or percievance, there is (of necessity) an errour Therefore the Gowt is a diseasie Character, Seminally implanted in the spirit of life: [unspec 28] the which at the set bounds of its own ripeness, doth beget a fermental sharpe Fruit, co-fermentable with the spermatick or seedy parts. Therefore the Gowt doth not exist in the venal Blood, and muchless in the excrements.

But Gowty Persons are first disturbed in their Midriffs, and they do as well feel the inward successive changes of Drinks and Meats, as the outward ones of the air, yea [unspec 29] and oftentimes they presage these to come. Wherefore, they at first undergo feverish motions about the Shop of the vital Spirit, and indeed in the beginnings of a fit: For [unspec 30] the first Motions do ascend out of the Midriffs, and assault the Seat of the Sensitive Soul: For the Character conceived in the Midriffs, unfoldeth the figures of the Moon, and Mercury, and afterwards is perfected in the Heart: But the formed, or ripened Character, doth there put on a feverish Spirit, as it doth infect it: The which, assoon as it hath conceived the sharpness of the content or co-resemblance of Life, or a fer∣mental sharpeness, it is ill-favouredly driven by a feverish Motion, and is feverishly brought unto appointed places, to wit those of the raw sperm, in the Sunovie of the joynts: The Spirit I say, being thus infected, and not a humor (which thing is to be noted) doth Coagulate the Sunovie, being a transparent thing in it self, with the sharp∣ness of a ferment, into a thick clot; So that by reason of the degree of a conceived brac∣kishness, heats, pains, and swellings of the Gowt are distinguished. But that the Hu∣mor Latex is called by the horn of pain, and is dismissed by the veins, to wash it off, it is certain, that it hath confirmed in the Schools the errors of defluxions, an accused Li∣ver, and the Head to have paid the punishment of an undeserved fault, and to have sustained a thousand vain Medicines. Therefore the Gowt is not that which Paineth, and that which Swelleth, or burneth; but they are the products hereof: For neither when the foot is taken off by the Bullet of a Gun, is the Gowt taken away, or the Joynt-sickness: for truly, in the act of feeling, by an instrument of feeling, there is made only a consent of parts:

Which thing hath deceived the Sick, and Physitians who believe or trust to them: neither in the mean time, doth Swelling prove a descending: For that which follows [unspec 31]

the Pain, ought to go before it, if the descending of a humor, or a Swelling should be the cause of the Pain. Add to this, that the hottest Gowt is without Swelling: For that is wont to be seen in the pain of the Teeth, in the thorn fixed in a part, that the pain of a place doth counterfeit the defluxions of the upper parts; But what have these things common with the fable of a Catarrhe? On the contrary, the Schools do persist, they inflict Cauteries on the opposite side, that they may pull back the humor flowing down into the opposite Leg, and expunge it by a hole: But in good sooth, what do Cauteries suck out? nothing but Snotty, and liquide corrupt matter: But [unspec 32] these are the fruits of a Wound, the degenerations of venal Blood. Is therefore the matter of the Gowt, Snotty corruption, or liquid corruption? Or the Snotty filths of an Ulcer? Is Snotty matter ever transchanged into a Chalk? Is Snotty corruption quiet without corroding? Therefore the Schools sell their own Dream to the Young beginner; that Snotty corrupt matter doth descend between the joints, or that it is apt to be turned into a Chalk; but well, that it maks an opening to it self by Corrod∣ing: And it is more childish that any Snotty corrupt thing flowing down into the right foot, should decline from the scope appointed to it, if the Wound be made in the left leg; the which if it do flow down, it falls down of its own free accord, or is sent and directed by a Commander.

I pass by in the mean time, the absurdities of making it, and of waies or passages which I have elsewhere blown away: And likewise the falling down of humors sepe∣rated [unspec 33] from the venal Blood, I have already before, together with the humors them∣selves, banished without the nature and hope of things, in an appointed Book: First of all that there is no part Commanding, Sending, Darting, or Directing, hath been else∣where sufficiently concluded: But if of its own accord, it fall down into the side per∣pendicular unto it; surely the humor will not fall in one that Sleeps, if the whole Body Sleepeth in a plain Bed, because a Perpendicular line is wanting; neither shall a humor sliding down by its weight, be called away from its purpose, although the hole be in the opposite Leg.

In the Gowt therefore, surely, nature hath derided the vain purgations of Physiti∣ans, their extenuations, cuttings of a Vein, Scarrifying, hot Baths, and Cauteries, the [unspec 34] which do even detract from the strength, and shorten Life: For it is certain that na∣ture fore-perceiving and fearing a ruine procured unto her, such remedies do often mi∣tigate the aforesaid Sumptoms; but that appeasing is presently to be requited with a more cruel pain, and cruelty of knots. Therefore all things have been hitherto at∣tempted with an unprosperous event.

In the next place, they appoint dry sweats with lesse loss of Life indeed; but with the like unprosperousness of successes. At length, they give drinks, from a bar∣barous foundation, of the utmost corner of the Earth, to drink, and when they per∣ceived our own Country remedies to be in vain, they promise that humors (never seen, named, and bred) are to be dryed up at least by barbarous remedies.

But why do they give these drinks to drink also in a dry consumption? Is it not that they may dry up the defluxing and exorbitant ill juicy humor? But let them [unspec 35] first satisfie the question, whether the thing be, or not; whether watery decoctions are for drying up? And then let them teach, that these drinks will not by a certain priveledge, dry up the Blood, as neither those Humors which they call secondary ones; but the other three Dreamed ones only in the Blood; or next, only Phlegmatish ex∣crements; lastly, that they will not vitiate the requisite composition in the Blood, and the due proportion of the thing composed: But if these sort of decoctions do only dry up slimy and sharp excrements; at leastwise, they shall increase the clots and knots, by [unspec 36] leaving a curd of harshness. But if they do these things in Rheums, why not in the Gowt? Or if not in the Gowt, why also not in Catarrhs? If they do dry up Phlegm between the joints, when they are given to drink for prevention of the Gowt, how shall they not constrain Phlegm sliding in the Veins, or in the passage between the Skin, unto a Sand-stone and knots? If tough Phlegm be dried up into the Sand-stones, by de∣coctions; shall they not increase hurt in those that are distempered in their Lungs? And therefore are they wickedly prescribed and given to Drink: If dry things do im∣bibe or drink up moisture, at leastwise, I do not see how moist things shall dry up, es∣pecially where the Drink of that which is decocted doth alwaies remain Moist.

Lastly, at leastwife a Catarrhy humor could not chuse but be an excrement: But the Schools have not considered, that excrementous things cannot be blown away, as nei∣ther [unspec 37] be dried up without a dead Head. For I have elsewhere taught, that drying up is

only of heat, and cold: This whereof, in an increased degree scarce Tolerable for living Creatures, doth convert watery Bodies into a Gas; but the other is not an O∣perative quality into a drying vapour, as neither into Moisture; but that the dry doth drink up the moist, and on the other hand, that the most doth moisten as it is imbibed: But moisture is not dryed up by dryness, but the moisture departing, being supt up by heat, or cold. The Schools in defluxions, do forbid hot things, do forbid Wines, do perswade Barley Broaths, and so in the middle of the Waters, sometimes moistening, and sometimes drying up (as they say) they endeavour to dry up; but they know not what, in what manner, and by what means, because hitherto, the Humor the Author of so great evils, is an unnamed one. I therefore have not known, either the Motion, or manner, or means, whereby these Drinks are able to dry up, by a true drying up, and much less hurtful excrements only, and least of all, can they perform those things which Physitians do promise. Nature therefore despis∣eth these Dreams of Physitians, and doth alwaies make, and will alwaies make void their promises. I beseech the most excellent God, that he would pardon the offences or sins which we have contracted, not by a stubborn ignorance, but from humane frailty: Yet I fear, least that befall Physitians, which doth other men; among whom an ignorance of right or Law, takes away or looseth the inheritance. [unspec 38]

Last of all, even as the Gowt is truly, a primary or chief disease; hence the knowing thereof, depends on the knowledge of chief Diseases, about the end whereof, some things are recorded concerning the cure of the Gowt.