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. ...

I have perceived also, That such Laxatives, do not electively bring forth Humours, which are in themselves feigned; but (seeing we are nourished by none but one onely juyce, the blood; therefore also we intend the driving forth, not of the blood but of Dis∣easie excrements) do resolve whatsoever forreign thing is implanted within the Inne of Life, but not vital things, unless they are taken in an undiscreet dose, or frequency. Otherwise they onely have respect to excrements; Nature affording her aid within, to this end. And chiefly, seeing they are from God, as well by Creation, as the endowment of knowledge; they have received the ends of their Ordination, onely for a good pur∣pose.

Therefore I perceived that Paracelsus had erred, who teacheth; That Laxatives do not otherwise operate, but as the Laxative Medicine by calcination, and a supervening moisture, [unspec 35] should be resolved together with the Humours, like Calx vive.

For first of all, he that proclaimed War against the Humorists, now again acknowledg∣eth Humours. Then also, his assertion is wholly ridicvlous; Yet the lesse, if either Laxa∣tives should be taken being first calcined, or might have been calcined within; or the eje∣ctions should ascend onely unto a treble of the things taken. For what of calcination have the leaves of Sena in them? Doth not Asarum, by boyling, cease from making Laxa∣tive? And thus far is ignorant of a Calx.

I have furthermore perceived, That Chymistry doth give more powerful and absolute operations, and that there are those things prepared by the same, which before were not. [unspec 36] For neither was the Oyle of Tiles or Bricks formerly in the Oyle of Olives, as neither the spirit of Salt in Salt, or of Vitriol in Vitriol, &c. For by the fire, they assume an Acrimony, as Honey, Sugar, Manna, Dew, Earth, &c. Other things do thereupon lay aside their corrosion; as the juyce of Citron, Scarrewort, Frogwort, Water-Pepper, &c.

They erre therefore, who do equally judge of the Spirits by the concrete Body: For truly, although Spices and sweet smelling things, do persist in distilling; yet the seminal [unspec 37] virtues of the concrete Body, do for the most part perish through the fire, and are made another thing. For some things, their volatile parts being separated, do become an Alca∣li

or fixed Salt, a Calx, Ashes, and Glass; which things were not before in the composed Body: For I perceived, that there was nothing in the concrete Body, which did not issue from its seed. For the Fire seeing it is the death of things, if it doth not totally destroy the seeds of things, yet at leastwise, it notably transchangeth them. Therefore in one thing a preparation doth transchange the whole matter; as in Magisteries; but elsewhere, by reason of a sequestration of some things, it onely changeth, sharpeneth, destroyeth or con∣sumeth the things which are left.

Thirdly, In the next place, by things adjoyned, now and then, the things themselves, together with their adjuncts, are diversly transchanged by the Fire, and become neutral; as Glass, which is no more Ashes and Sand. Often times also, without the fire, adjuncts do pierce the root of the mixture, and that especially a ferment coming between; and then a neutral concrete Body is constituted. For so, of Rie-bread and Honey, Ants are bred; of Honey and Dew, Eeles; of Basil and the hoary putrifaction of a Stone, Scor∣pions; of a Calf being strangled and Dew, Bees. But those things which are mixed by fusion onely, do oft-times suffer themselves to be reduced into their former Being: For so, although Glass be no longer Sand; yet from thence by Art, yea and through the old∣ness of putrifaction by continuance, the same Sand is found; because it is as yet, alwayes materially in it, not thorowly changed, because without a ferment. I perceived there∣fore, that many volatile things being joyned to volatile things, by reason of a mutual action with each other, are transchanged into a certain third thing.

In the next place, that volatile things are fixed by fixt things; and in this respect, do [unspec 38] pass over into a new Being; after another manner fixed things being joyned with fixed things, do remain in their antient Being.

I perceived also, that Mineral Remedies, being changed into the nature of Salt (I do not understand those which are seasoned by an adjoyned Salt) do carry with them their [unspec 39] seeds, yet exalted into a degree. These things Paracelsus hath sufficiently taught concern∣ing Hematine or sanguine glassie Mettals; wherein, although the whole Mettal be resol∣ved into a strange disposition (which is that of a Magistery) yet, because the running Mer∣cury is straitway drawn out from thence; whatsoever hath truly assumed the nature of a resolvable Salt, is not the Mercury, or inward and immutable kernel of the Mettal; but onely the Sulphur thereof. Wherefore those Hematines or Magisteries, do perfect ad∣mirable operations in the Remedial part of Medicine. I perceived therefore that the Hematines of Sol and Lune, or of Gold and Silver, although from the purity of their Bal∣same, they might comfort; yet that they did contain some strange thing in them, in re∣spect of us.

I perceived, I say, That the crudity of Saturn or Lead, was solvable through the fat∣nesse of fixed Salts, to be sometimes destroyed piece meal, by the Fire alone; and [unspec 40] so, that the parts of the composed Body were divided, and the crude Argent-vive, per∣mitted to run; the fugitive Sulphur overcoming in the Saturn, doth draw unto a volati∣lized fixed one, unseparably joyned; And the which, the sublimation of the Saturn doth chiefly dispatch. In the expression whereof, there is no difference of colour, or substance between that which is elevated, with that which resideth: Whence also, the causes of Heat, Fusion, and Softness, deeply or inwardly residing after the calcinements, and re∣ducements, doth not refute the Fusion and wonted Softness, without the Fire. There is the same cause of the sweetness of Saturn: For the most sharp calcined things, if (as in Lead, they are tempered by a concourse of Vitriolated things, they are dulcified or sweet∣ned with the properties of Sal Armoniack resolved, and of Tartar being putrified. The Symbols or resembling Marks of all which things, in all their examinations, especially in distilling, separating of Lead into Salt, fugitive, sulphurous, coloured, fat parts, with the sharpness of Roch-Alume, are discerned by a quick-sighted and industrious Chymist, not without great delight.

I perceived, I say, That there are Planetary virtues in Mettals, if they are reduced into the nature of a Salt or Sulphur; yet that ought to be done without the remainder of [unspec 41] every adjunct, wherein, not every Boaster, could go to Corinth. For after that I knew how to unloose bodies by things agreeable to their radical Principles; then at first, I be∣gan [unspec 42] with a comfortable weariness, to deride my blockish credulities, whereby I in times past dissolved Gold: yet I less profited by its potable juyce, than by the decoction of any Simple: But afterwards I could dissolve Gold, and mock it with the face of Butter, Rosin, and Vitriol: But I no where found the virtues attributed to Gold, because it was also so reluctant to our ferments. I perceived therefore that Gold without its own pro∣per corrosive, is dead; dead, I say, unless it be radically pierced by its own corrosive.

Not indeed that it doth then resemble the Nature of the Sun, and doth add any thing un∣to its vital faculties; but onely that its whole body doth by purging unsensibly cleanse, in a unisone, tone or harmony. Yea also, the pretious Pearles called Ʋnions, are by that corrosive changed into a Spermatical Milk, which is sociable with the first constitutives of us; and in this respect are they a Remedy of the Consumption, Palsie, &c.

At length I perceived, That the liquor Alkahest, did cleanse Nature, by the virtue of its own Fire: For as the Fire destroyeth all Insects, so the Alkahest consumeth Dis∣eases. [unspec 43]

In the next place, I perceived, That Mercurius vitae, reckoned by Paracelsus among his four secrets, besides the fiery force of the fire of Hell, doth clarifie the Organs, no other∣wise [unspec 44] than as Stibium doth purify Gold from things admixt with it; which same thing, I judge concerning the tincture of Lile, a Sunonymal. Nature in the mean time, desireth as it were, by a new spring, to rise again under these Medicines: Yet we are without hope of restoring into our former state, seeing an infusion of new faculties, arguing im∣mortality, is wanting unto us. For it is appointed for every living Creature once to die. Be∣cause there is nothing in Nature which can have an equal prevalency with the Temple of the Image of God.

Therefore I perceived, That all renewing Medicines, do operate by refining, and in this respect by exhilarating; otherwise there is not a true renewing of Youth. And then [unspec 45] I perceived, That Secrets which do cure by resolving, and expelling, do nothing but awa∣ken the faculties placed in us; the which impediments being removed, do as it were bud again, under a new spring.

Lastly I perceived, That there were Simples, wherein a proper issuing of the forme doth not operate; but the command of a strang form and character doth happen unto them, [unspec 46] that they might cause a contagion between Symbolizing or co-resembling things; and from thence are Sorceries and Inchantments. For whatsoever things are prepared by a voluntary Blas, are for the most part propagated to the functions of local motion, they are directed, I say, unto the Sinewes, being most apt for the stirring up of pains, and sicknesses or griefs. For neither have they poysons or ferments, unless an evil spirit do add them, or couple them by functions vanquished by himself; for then they do excell other poysons, being a-kin to the poyson of the Plague.

Yea I perceived, That even all poysons (besides corrosives) did act by reason of a specifical property, emulous of, or imitating the imaginative faculty, placed in the seed, [unspec 47] formally inbred, and having the powers of a ferment equivocally acting.

I perceived moreover, That every thing doth variously diffuse its activities, accord∣ing to the manner of the thing receiving, and of application: For bread operates other∣wise [unspec 48] within in us, and otherwise in all bruit beasts, and otherwise in the Stomack, Liver, and in the other Kitchins: by reason of the diversities of ferments. So I perceived, that flesh applied to the outward parts, doth presently putrifie, which within is resolved by the fer∣ments, and at length assimulated unto our parts. To wit, I have perceived Polenta or Barley floure dried by the fire, and fried after soaking in water, to besmear and soften the outward parts; which within nourisheth, heateth, bindes the belly, and moves flatus's. For every Simple, being outwardly applyed, doth under the sixth digestion, display its virtues with us; the which within, is almost in its first progresses, for the most part subdu∣ed. A live man, being long detained in the water, would putrifie; but dead flesh, be∣ing alwayes well rinced in a new stream, doth put on the nature of Balsame: So the Sto∣mack, although it be perpetually moist, yet it doth not thereby putrifie: For the operati∣ons of Nature, Galen was ignorant of, because he smelt not out the properties of fer∣ments.

But Paracelsus hath caused the incongruities of an Idiotisme, in affirming, that Oyles, and Emplaisters, are digested and transchanged into new flesh, in a Wound, even as meats [unspec 49] are in the Stomack. But he is ignorant, that there is no passage into the sixth digestion, but gradually, by precedent digestions. For this cause, there is no venal blood made in the Stomack; as neither is any nourishment made by a Clyster detained in the Colon, or confines of the Ileon; however the Schooles may whisper to the contrary. For Brothes do presently putrifie in the Bowels, neither is there a making of Cream; but far be it, that blood should be made, if it shall not be first a Cream: neither is the Liver the shop of the Cream; much less is there an incarnating in the Stomack: But least of all, that of an Emplaister, flesh or blood should be made; For the skin being opened, putrifa∣ction is presently introduced into it, no otherwise, than as the shell or peel of an Egg be∣ing bruised, there is corruption.

For hence is there a weeping Liquor, Sanies, Pus, Sandy-water, Latex, Wormes, &c. for preventing whereof, the whole care of the Chyrurgion diligently endeavoureth; and [unspec 50] the which, being separated, the flesh doth voluntarily grow, but not by applyed Reme∣dies. I have also perceived, that Salts, which are domestical unto us, are fitter for sea∣soning of meats, also for dissolving, and exterging, or clean wiping away of filths; than that they are promoted into nourishment: But that Oyles are scarce proper for sangui∣fication; but least of all, those which ascend by the fire. But that distilled waters, have [unspec 51] small conditions of medicine; Because Nature doth every where rejoyce in nourishment, caused of Bodies existing in their composition. And therefore artificial Salts do pierce [unspec 52] deeper, than Oyles, the which do resist sanguification; neither are they thoroughly mixed.

And therefore the Salts of Spices, or sweet smelling things, which are made of their Oyles, do supply the room of their first Being. [unspec 53]

Magisteries are to be had in great esteem; because, the substance of these is entire, di∣gestible, and obedient to the ferments. [unspec 54]

And therefore Nature refuseth meats which are hidden in their Essences, by reason of their difficulties of fermentation; For all things that are too much graduated, do draw [unspec 55] after them the middle Life of the Blood; but they are not easily subdued by the ferments. In brief, Those things which do the more stubbornly keep their middle Life, are not easily vanquished by our Archeus; neither are they onely stubborn in digesting; but they are obstinate in perseverance, and do act on us, so far as they are not subdued.

But Verdigrease, Crocusaeris, Cerusse, Precipiate, Sublimate, &c. have ascended into a poysonsomnesse by addittaments. But these, seeing they are not admitted, within the [unspec 56] root of the Mercury, do operate onely without, about the Sulphur, and are there variously disposed, according to the manner of the receiver.

At length, I perceived, That there was a sixfold difference of Digestions in us, and that the three former of them, were busied about the disposing of the matter appointed for to [unspec 57] nourish; the which, although they do truly transmute, yet they are sent before, rather for a preparatory disposing, than for a vital espousing thereof. For truly, in the Fourth Di∣gestion, a vital power is communicated to the venal blood; and so the Controversie is [unspec 58] decided, whether the arterial blood be quickned. For the venal blood is not truly en∣livened, until it be made arterial blood; The which is drawn through the partition of the Heart, into the Arterie Aorta; for no other end, but that in that Buttery it may be en∣dowed with Life, and informed with a mind. But we are nourished by both bloods, even as we have our original of the seed of a twofold Sex. For perhaps, the Mysterie of the Ly∣turgie is hence known; why a little Water is mixed with much Wine: That the Wa∣ter may pass into venal blood, and the Wine into arterial blood. I perceived therefore, That the Fifth Digestion, was plainly occupied about the participative communion of Life. But Lastly, That the sixth did operate by a dispositive quality, but did rejoyce in an assimilating ferment; and that, inducing humanity. Therefore external aides, are stirred up, and do operate by another quality than internal ones. Fat or gross persons, are ta∣ken with Paines, or Crampes, or Convulsions of the Tendons; the which notwithstand∣ing, the grease of man being outwardly over-smeared, doth alay. For the Sixth Digestion is wholly assimilative; therefore it indeavours to change the grease brought on it, into [unspec 59] its own vital aire. But the internal grease of fat things, being now subdued by an assimi∣lating ferment, is kept without action. But the Sixth Digestion enters into the middle Life of the external anointed grease, the which our Archeus doth therefore appropriate to himself; which Life, and its properties, are hidden in the last Life of the internal grease.

Moreover, I perceived, after what manner a Cantharides doth embladder in living People, but not in a dead carcase; as neither doth it raise up a burnt Escharre in the dead [unspec 60] carcase, although it dissolves the dead carcase no otherwise than as Calx vive poudered doth resolve Cheese. For the Cantharides, as long as it remains dry, doth not act, but is moistened by an unsensible eflux of our dew; then first it begins to itch, whence the Archeus under the Epidermis or outward skin is furiously inflamed, not much otherwise than as under an Erisipelas, the burning Coal, or burning Fever; and so the Cantharides begins in the Epidermis, and an Escharotick in the skin; the same which a Gangreen doth at length finish in the habit of the Body. For Causticks do at first crisp the skin; the which after∣wards they resolve into a muscilage, after they have fully moistened. For then they do not onely sharpen our heat, but also they assume the strength of a proper corroding. Then

I say, they do not onely make an Escharrhe, which ariseth from an inflaming of the Ar∣cheus, but do melt the whole.

Lastly, I perceived also that Amulets or preservative Pomanders, things bound about [unspec 61] the Head, and hung about the Body, do act by the virtue of influence, and that directive, without the evaporation of those things, which indeed do reside in the more fixed Bodies. Although there are other things hung on the Body, which are by little and little diminish∣ed of their Virtues, because they dismiss a Vapour out of them. But things tied to the Head or Body, are Bony, Horney, Animals, and Plants; but others are Mettallick, Stony, Salts, Transparent things, or Thick or Dark things. But Mettals are seldome Amulets, unless they are as yet opened, or exalted by an external adjunct: Because they have a dividable Sulphur in them.

But in Stones there is great virtue; but of Stones, some are transparent Looking-glasses, but some are thick or dark ones; As Corral, Coraline, the Turcois, the Jasper. [unspec 62] But in clear Stones, the Evestrum or Ghost of Life, being well or ill affected, doth re∣verberate; To wit, the life rejoyceth to be reflexed in a clear glass, whereby it is then made like to the Understanding, which in its own light is altered, (after the manner of a Chamelion) at the assimilation of Objects. Neither also have I in vain perceived, Gemms to be as it were thick Glasses, well polished: Because the native and natural Endowment that is in them, from the nature of the Glasse, doth more powerfully reflect the vital beam communicated unto it. For something is continually, and necessarily dis∣cussed or blown out of us, which is not yet plainly destitute of the participation of Life: That very thing doth keep the activity of its own sphear about us; the which, while it findeth in the polished Glass, it easily reflecteth on the whole Body from whence it issued; for thereby sympathetical Remedies or Things were first made known. But afterwards when it was known, that things tied about the Body, were applied in operating, by virtue of a Glasse; there were thereupon, boughtie or convex, concavous, &c. figures of Look∣ing-glasses, presently bethought of, whereunto Gentilisme joyned Hieroglyphicks, that by a figure they might denote the sign of a hidden virtue: Superstition in posterity there∣by encreased, who anointed Gamahen, Talismanicks, and devilish Scurrilities of that sort: Thinking that Figures had not indeed the virtues of a Sign, but of a Cause. But transpa∣rent Glasses, do receive an Evestral or Ghostlike faculty, the which, although they do not reflect, as otherwise dark ones do; yet they approach nearer unto the nature of life, or the shining glasse.

Finally, I perceived that the diversity of Effects, the end and appropriation of Medi∣dines, [unspec 63] did not proceed from the fourfold fiction of Complexions: but from the very pow∣ers of Simples themselves; whose Election, dose, and preparation, have therefore stood neglected, because they have not been hitherto searched into, in their root and manner. After the perceivances of all these things; at length, another Spirit, took from me the bottle, which the other had given me: And with great grief I then perceived all the neces∣sities of Death in me, unfit to be declared: Whereby I presently returned unto my self, neither could I receive comfort, but when I truly knew that all things were acted onely by [unspec 64] a Dream; and because that if I ought to rehearse the virtues of things, I could not better performe it, than if I had as it were felt all those things within. This one thing, at least, I did moreover remember, that Chymical things did rather act by the force of Art, than by the native power of Nature, because their beginnings were brought forth and changed by the Fire.

To wit, Chymistry separates fixed things from things not fixed, which is the first and [unspec 65] easiest sequestration of Heterogeneal things. There are not a few things also which it fixeth, before they were volatile, or on the contrary: And then, among some volatile things, it separates odoriferous things from things not odoriferous; which distinction is falsly reckoned, of the pure from the impure. For truly, the action of the fire, is to burn, and therefore it burns as well the pure as the impure. And then a third separation is made by digestions and proper ferments, as the parts which do stick fast with a stubborn continuity, do depart from each other, through a discord of the ferment. For so Bodies do in the fulness of their last life, voluntatily decay; and entertained faculties do come to light.

Moreover, by boyling and melting, the parts formerly ruled by one rein, do now act on each other, under which degree they attain other virtues: Therefore Chymistry produ∣ceth those things, which else should never be made, or had in Nature; and that not one∣ly in separated volatiles, but also in things residing, and the which residues, are therefore calcined. But if by a co-mingling, and co-fermenting of the composed Body, new facul∣ties

do arise; that very thing is more beholdable in Alchymical things, not only because Art doth wholly imitate Nature in all her operations; but also in a peculiar efficacy of a moist influx and melting, which do perform various operations under the fire, and change the Nature. For so, the spirit of Salt-peter doth elevate a moist Sulphur, and embrination or sharp waterishness of Vitriol, from whence are poysonous waters; the Spirits of both which, notwithstanding being separated, were fit for Healing, and grateful to the Sto∣mack.

In the last place, Chymistry doth bring up some more milde things unto a degree; as poysons may be made of Honey, Manna, &c. most things, how violent soever they are, do also wax milde under the Fire: So that fixed Alcalies, is they are made volatile, do equalize the powers of great Medicines: Because by the virtue of Incision, Resolving, and Cleansing, they being brought even unto the entry of the Fourth Digestion, do fun∣damentally take away the toughnesse of things coagulated in the Vessels. For Chymistry doth so resolve the most hard and compacted things, that they being not onely forgetful of their former curdling, and constancy against the Fire, do retire into a tameable juyce, and being occult, are made manifest; but moreover they become social unto us: Yea it doth not onely so prepare things themselves; but it also effecteth means, whereby Bodies may be opened. For so, coagulated things, do depart into the Family of resolved things; fixed things are changed into volatile, and on the contrary, crude things are ripened, and things Heterogeneal or of diversity of kind, are divided into their Classes's or Ranks.

In the next place, drowsie or sleepie things, do attain degrees of Virtues; and ma∣ny new things spring up which have remained unknown in the Schooles of the Gen∣tiles.

Finally, and finally, Chymistry, as for its perfection, doth prepare an universal Solver, whereby all things do return into their first Being, and do afford their native endowments, [unspec 66] the original blemishes of Bodies are cleansed, and that their inhumane cruelty being for∣saken, there is opportunity for them to obtain great and undeclarable Virtues. But how much purity the Understanding may attain under this Work, the Adeptist hath onely known.

Ah, I wish the Bottle once possessed by me, had not been taken away! But God hath known, why he hath given to the Goat so short a Taile. Let his Name be exalted throughout Ages; and let the alone sanctifying Will of him onely be done.