Arcana microcosmi, or, The hid secrets of man's body discovered in an anatomical duel between Aristotle and Galen concerning the parts thereof : as also, by a discovery of the strange and marveilous diseases, symptomes & accidents of man's body : with a refutation of Doctor Brown's Vulgar errors, the Lord Bacon's natural history, and Doctor Harvy's book, De generatione, Comenius, and others : whereto is annexed a letter from Doctor Pr. to the author, and his answer thereto, touching Doctor Harvy's book De Generatione / by A.R.

CHAP. II.

1. The benefits of sleep, and reasons why some sleep not. 2. Why dead bodies after the ninth day swim. Why dead and sleeping men heavier then others; why a blown bladder lighter then an empty. 3. Strange Epidemical diseases and deaths. The force of smels. The Roses smell. 4. Strange shapes, and multitudes of worms in our bodies. 5. The French disease, and its malignity. The diseases of Brasil.

WHereas Sleep is one of Natures chiefest blessings for refreshing of our wearied spirits, repairing of our decay∣ed strength; moistning of our feebled limbs, as the Poet speaks, fessos. sopor irrigat artus, (Virg. AEn 3. & 4.) for easing of our di∣urnal cares, Positi somno sub nocte silenti, lenibant c••r••s & cor∣da oblita laborum. And therefore is, as Euripides cals it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the remedy of our evils. And whereas in sleep the heart is at rest, as Aristotle rightly said, (though Galen who understood him not, checks him for it) from feeling, understanding, and inventing, though not from life and moti∣on; I say, whereas by-sleep we have so many benefits, it is a wonder that any should bee found to live a long time with∣out sleep. Yet I read in Fernelius (Pathalog. l. 5. ca. 2.) of one who lived fourteen moneths without any rest. And it

is more strange what Heurinus (Praxis, l. 2. c. 7. records of Ni∣zolius, that painful Treasurer of Cicero's words and phrases, who lived ten years without sleep. Mecaenas was sleeplesse three years, saith Pliny. Laurentius in his Tract of Melancholy, knew some who could not sleep in three moneths; the rea∣son of this might be, 1. The heat and drinesse of the brain, as is usual in decrepit and melancholy men: 2. The spare∣ness of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so that no vapours could be sent up to moisten the brain or nerves. 3. The want of exercise and motion; for sedentary men are least given to sleep. 4. Continual cogita∣tion and intention of the phantasie. 5. And adust melancho∣ly humours. 6. Accompanied with continual fears, horrid and distemperate phantas••es, representing to the mind unpleasant objects.

II. Why dead bodies after the ninth day swim upon the water, may seem strange, seeing till then they lie hid under the water. Cardan (de subtil. l. 8.) gives this reason, Because between the Peritoneum and Omentum flatulent matter is ingendred, as appears by the great swelling of the belly. Now this flatulent matter is be∣got of humidity dissolved by heat, which heat is procreated of putrifaction. Besides, we see that putrified bodies, as eggs, fruit, wood, grow light, because their solid parts being consumed, what remains are porous and full of air: for experience teach∣eth us, that the more porous and aereal the body is, the lighter it is, and lesse apt to sink; and perhaps may bee the reason why that body which wants the Spleen swimmeth, not being a po∣rous light substance: And those men who have capacious lungs to hold much air, can dive and live longer in the water then o∣thers. And surely some people whose bodies are active, subtile, and quick, will not sink so soon as men of duller spirits. Such were the Thebii, a people which could not sink; so that it is a vain way to conclude those to be Witches, who do not present∣ly sink. Hence also it is plain, that dead bodies are heavier then living, though Dr. Brown (of Errors, l. 4. c. 7.) contradict this, be∣cause he found no difference between a Mouse and a Chick being dead and alive, in respect of gravity. A weak reason to reckon a received truth among his vulgar errors; for though there were no sensible difference in such little animals, which have but few spirits, yet in men which are of a greater bulk, & in whom do abound vital and animal spirits, to say there is no difference of gravity in their life and death, is to contradict sense and rea∣son; for every woman that attends upon sick men, knows that they are more pondrous when dead, then when alive, being used

to lift and turn them. Reason also grounded on experience, teacheth us, that those bodies are lightest in which air is pre∣dominant; therefore doubtlesse where there is store of such pure and refined air as the spirits are, there must be lesse gra∣vity, then where they are vvanting: his Error is grounded on a false supposition, in thinking there is gravity in the spi∣rits themselves, because they participate of corporeity, as if gravity v••ere an essential property of bodies, vvhereas there is no gravity in the pure fire, nor in the Stars and Heavens, and yet these are bodies. Besides, if the spirits had any gravity in them, it must follow, that living bodies are heavier then dead carcasses, which is absurd to think. Again, I would know, vvhy inebriated Apoplectical and swouning persons are heavier then others; is it not because their spirits fail, and they resemble dead men? And so in sleep the brother of death the body is heavier; every Nurse that carrieth her child in her arms will tell him this. Why doth a man fall down in his sleep, who stood upright when he was awaked, If he be not heavier then he was? The Scripture acknowledgeth, that even the Apostles eyes vvere heavy vvhen they vvere sleepy. And vvhereas he proveth the spirits to add vveight to the body, becaus a man that holds his breath is weightier while his lungs are full, then upon expi∣ration: And a bladder blown is heavier then one empty. I answer, that I could never find this experiment true, though I have made trial. 2. It seems to be false, because the blown bladder vvill swim vvhen the empty one sinks. 3. If I should yeild him this, yet his sequel is nought, except he can prove the animal spirits in a mans body, to be as thick and course as the grosse vapour which is blown into the bladder, which is neither air in name nor purity, much less to bee compared to those subtil spirits, vvhich are so pure and apt to vanish, that nature vvas forced to inclose them vvithin the thick walls of the nerves. So likewise the air retained in the lungs, may perhaps add vveight to the body, because the longer it stays there, the more it degenerates into a thick vapour, by reason of the bodies moisture, and so may become ponderous.

III. God is pleased many times to punish whole Nations by extraordinary epidemical diseases, for the sins of the people. So vvas England visited vvith a sweating sicknesse; so vvas Po∣land with that disease called Plica, of vvhich vve have spoken; so vvas Ethiopia (as is already said) visited vvith the Lousie dis∣ease. Forestus (Observ. medic. part. 3.) records, that in Syra∣cusa,

there vvas an universal disease, called the hungry sick∣nesse, in vvhich people did continually desire to eat, and vvere never satisfied. Of this multitudes died; at last it vvas obser∣ved, that this disease proceeded of Worms, vvhich vvere ex∣pelled by Bolarmenick and Treacle. And Hollerius reports, that at Beneventum many died of intolerable pains in the head, cau∣sed by Worms ingendred there, vvho also mentions one Italian, who by smelling much to the hearb Basil, had a Scorpion which bred in his brain, and killed him; this is not impossible if vvee consider, that according to the disposition of the p••trified mat∣ter, and the preparations made for introduction of the form, divers shapes of creatures are begot; and it seems there is a great sympathy between the Basil and the Scorpion, vvhich did facilitate the generation: neither are vve ignorant vvhat force there is in smells, both to breed and expel diseases; and even to prolong and shorten life; as appears in divers Histories, of some that have died vvith the smell of coals, others of new vvort or ale, as those two Monks recorded by Forestus (Observ. medic. part. 1.) although I suppose it vvas not so much the smell as the smoak of the coals and vapours of the air that suffoca∣ted the spirits; yet such is the force of smells, that som have been purged by passing by or entring into Apothecaries shops, vvhilest they vvere preparing purgative medicaments; And divers with the smell of the purges vvhich they carried in their hands, have been as much purged, as if they had taken the whole substance. But this I ascribe not so much to the smell (vvhich is a meer accident, and cannot passe from one substance to ano∣ther, but is in some subjects wherein it is inherent) as to the subtile vapours vvhich from the physick being smelled, con∣vey the smell to the body. The same reason may be given why some are offended with smells which to others are pleasant; so I have read of Francis the firsts Secretary, who was forced to stop his nosthrils with bread when there were any apples at table: and so offensive was the smell thereof to him, that if one had held an apple neer his nose, he would fall a bleed∣ing. Marcel. Danat. adm. hist. l. 6. c. 4.

And Cardinal Carafa did so abhor the smell of roses, which of all smells is most delightful to man, that during the rose time he durst not go out of his doors, for fear of encountring with that smell; nor did he suffer any to come within his palace that had a rose about him. This I adscribe to the phantasie and na∣turall antiphathy between him and the rose: Such power there is in smells, that the Ancients ascribed a Divinity to

them; and because good smells do so chear the spirits, hence they were used in Temples both amongst Jews, Gentiles, and Christians. Homer describes his Iuno by the sweetnesse of her smell, and so doth Virgil his Venus: Ambrosiaeque comae divinum vertice odorem spiravere; the like doth Plutarch his Isis, and so doth Ovid: Mansit odor, possis scire fuisse Deam. But for the Rose there may be some manifest causes why its smell may bee offensive: for some brains are extraordinary cold, some extraor∣dina••y dry, and whose olfactive passages are wider then usual∣ly; to such the smell of Roses may be hurtful, because the ••ose hath but a weak heat, or rather is refrigerative, as Dioscori∣des thinks which may comfort the hot, but not the cold brain. And if the brain be dry, & the passages wide, the smel doth too suddenly affect it, which may procure an aking. but why Hy∣sterical women, and such as are troubled with the Mother, are apt to swoun at the smell of Roses and Lillies, and other sweet odours, is, because the Matrix delighteth in these smells, and therefore riseth toward them, to the danger of suffocation; whereas it is suppressed by strong and unpleasant odours. There are indeed in the rose different parts, which have different qua∣lities, but the predominant are moistning and coldness; whence to cold and moist brains, the smell is not proper, but to hot brains the rose is comfortable: therefore the Ancients in their drinking matches, used to wear rose garlands, and to lie upon beds of rose-leaves for refrigeration. Mitte sectari rosa quo loco∣rum sera moretur. Horat. l. 1.

IV. It is almost incredible, what is written of the multi∣tudes, divers shapes, and length of worms bred in our bodies, if we had not the testimony of so many grave Physitians to prove this. Forestus out of Hostim (Obs. Med. part. 1. Obs. 2.) shews, that at Beneventum in Italy, there was a great mortality, which much troubled the Physitians, not knowing the cause thereof, till they opened one of the dead bodies, in whose brain they found a red worm yet alive: This they tried to kill by divers medicaments, such as are prescribed against worms, but no••e of them could kill it. At last they boiled some slices of Radish in Malago wine, and with this it was killed. He shews also, that one being cured of the French malady, was notwithstanding still tormented with the head-ach, till his skull by advice was ••p••n••d; under which, upon the Dura mater, was found a black wo••m, which being taken out and killed, he was cured. Brasavola records, (in 16. Aphoris. l. 3. Hippocr.) that an old man of 82 years, by a potion made of Scordium and sea-moss, voided

five hundred worms, which was the more strange in so old a man, whose body must needs have been cold and dry; yet it seems he wanted not putrified matter enough to breed them•• Alexander Benedict speaks of a young maid, who lay speechless eight days with her eyes open, and upon the voiding of forty two worms, recovered her health, (lib. de verit. & rerum.) Car∣da•• records, that Erasmus saw an Italian, who spoke perfect Dutch, which he never learned, so that he was thought to bee possessed; but being rid of his worms, recovered, not knowing that he ever ••pake Dutch. It is not impossible in extasies, phren∣sies, and transes, for men to speak unknown tongues, without witchcraft or inspiration•• if we consider the excellency and subtilty of the soul, bein•••• sequestred from corporeal Remora's, and so much the rather, if with Plato, we hold that all••onr knowledge is but reminiscency. Ambrose▪ Parry (lib. 19. c. 3.) sheweth, that a woman voided out of an imposthume in h••r belly; a multitude of worms about the bigness of ones finger, with sharp heads, which had pierced her intestins. Forestus (l. 7. Obs. 35.) tells us of a woman in Delph, who in 3 several days voided 3 great worms out of her navel; and not long after was delivered of a Boy; and then seven days after that, another: Thad. Dunus, speaks of a Switzer woman, who voided a piece of a worm five ells long, without head and tail, having scales like a Snake. After this she voided another bred in her bow∣ells, which was above twenty ells long. This poor woman was tortured so long as she was fasting; but when she ate, she had some ease. I ••ould set down here many other stories of Worms, voided out of mens bodies, some having the shape of Lizards, some of Frogs, some hairy and full of feet on both sides, some voided by the eyes, some by the ears, some by vo∣miting, some by the stool, some by urine, some by imposthumes, but I will not be tedious; these may suffice to let us know of what materials this body of ours, which we so much pamper, is composed, and how little cause vve have to be sollicitous for the back and belly; and vvithal let us stand in awe of God, vvho vvhen he pleaseth can for our sins, plague us vvith vermin in our bodies vvhiles vve are yet alive.

V. I said before, that divers Countries had their peculiar diseases; the French sickness as vve now call it, vvas peculiar to the Americans, and not known to this part of the vvorld; but Christopher Columbus, brought it from America to Naples. Now it is become common, and yet no disease more pernicious, and vvhich breeds more dangerous symptoms and tortures

in the body. This is that great scourge with which God whips the wantonnesse of this lascivious age: not without cause is this called the Herculean disease, so hard to be overcome, and the many headed Hydra: the poison of it is so subtile, that not on∣ly it doth wast the noble parts, and spoils the skin even to the losse of all the hairs both of head, beard, and eye-brows, besides the many swellings and bunches it causeth, it pierceth also in∣to the very bones, and rots them, as Fernelius fully describes. (De abdit. rer. causis, l. 2.) I have read of some who have been suddenly struck blind with the infection thereof. Zacuta mentions one who was so blinded that he could never recover his sight again. And another who was troubled with an Oph∣thalmy, the poison of which was so vi••lent and subtile, that it infected the Chyrurgion that cured him; (Prax. mira. l. 2.) by which it appears this disease is infectious at a distance. There is another peculiar disease in Brasile, called the Worm, which comes with an itch and inflammation of the fundament: if this be taken in time before the Fever comes, it is easily cured by washing the place affected, with the juice of Lemmons, whereof that Countrey abounds; but if it be neglected till it come to a Carbuncle, it is harder to be cured, and not without the juice of Lemmons and Tobacco. But if this by carelesnesse be omit∣ted, no help will then prevail; and so the party dieth with a thirst or fever, which is strange. Not unlike to this is that dis∣ease which Zacuta speaks, of one who was tortured with a terrible pain in his Hip and Fundament, with a violent Fever: upon this he openeth the outward ancle vein, out of which gushed scalding blood, and with it a living Worm, the breadth of ones palm, and so the party was cured. It seems the poison of this Worm had reached into the Hemorrid veins in the fun∣dament, which caused that pain. Linscho••en (in his voiages) makes mention of another disease familiar to the Brasilians, cal∣led Pians, proceeding from their letchery; it maketh blisters bigger then the joynt of a mans thumb, which run over the whole body and face.