The philosphical and physical opinions written by Her Excellency the Lady Marchionesse of Newcastle.

Chap. 187. The remedies of Malignant Diseases.

IN malignant diseases expelling medicines are best, which expelling medicines are not hot, and dry medicines, for all* 1.1 drugs that are naturally dry, have a contracting quality which is an utter enemy in this disease; for they must be di∣lating medicines, and all dilating medicines have a fluid faculty working after the nature of a flowing tide, which is thrusting, or streaming outward, as to the circumference, and the opera∣tions of drying medicines, are like the ebbing tide that draws backward or inward, as to it self; but as I said before, that all hot and dry medicines have a contracting quality, which contractions draw or gather up the malignity, as in a bundle or heap together, and if it be a fiery contraction, it sets it on a fire, which burns out the life of the body; for fire makes no distinguishment of good or bad, but destroyes all it can in compasse, so as it will not onely burn up the superfluities, or corruptions, but suck or drink up the radical moisture, or char∣coales, the vital parts, and consumes the animal life. Wherefore dilating medicines, must be applied in these diseases, but not strong expulsives medicine, by reason the malignity is so in∣termixt, or spread in the, body that striving with a strong force to cast forth the malignity they should cast forth the nourish∣ing and consistent matter, for the malignity, and corrupt hu∣mours being more strong, having a greater party, can resist with more strength the force of expulsion then the nourishing,

consistant part can being weak, so that the expulsions give strength to the malignity, or corrupt humours, by taking a∣way the pure, and well tempered matter; but leting blood in these diseases 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be excellent good, for bleeding is ra∣ther of the nature of sweating, then of purging; besides, it will draw the malignity more from the vital parts into the veins, for the veins having a natural quality or faculty to draw, and to suck into them, will draw, and suck in that which doth most abound, so as it is but still letting blood as the malignity is* 1.2 drawn in, for it is better to let out the blood, then endanger the vital parts, by keeping it in, for if most of the blood should bee let out there will fresh blood increase in a short time, but if the vital parts be never so little corrupted, or putrified or wasted, we cannot heale or make up those parts again.

Notes

• * 1.1

  As hot and dry Cordials.
• * 1.2

  As to draw every day an ounce, or two as long as the violence of the discase lasts.