Organon salutis an instrument to cleanse the stomach : as also divers new experiments of the virtue of tobacco and coffee, how much they conduce to preserve humane health / by W.R. ...

CHAP. X. (Book 10)

When Nature by reason of age, or* 1.1 some other accident, faileth to ex∣pell these evils, although Physick may doe much to take away the e∣nemies of nature, yet the same al∣so taketh away the vitall spirits, to the destruction of Man; So that means must be found other∣wise to doe the same.

1. I Know divers have carpt exceedingly against all Physi∣tians, and their whole profession and Medicines, whereof a man may read much in Cor∣nelius Agrippa, de vanitate Scientia∣rum, and Democritus Iunior, and many others cited by him, and the late booke

of Mr. Biggs, intituled, The vanity of the Craft of Physick. But I much ho∣nour and admire the skill and know∣ledge of such of them as are honest and learned.

2. As for Emporiques, Mounte∣banks, Quacksalvers, and the like, every place is too full of them, which will cure all diseases with one Antidote. Dr. Primrose hath well discovered the Er∣rors of the People concerning them, &c.

3. That the common course of pur∣gative Physick is dangerous, by reason of the venemous qualities of the Medi∣cines, appeareth by that which is said be∣fore, and by the authority of Fernelius and Rantzovius, and all modest Physiti∣ans: And the often use thereof is very inconvenient, as those Authors, and Do∣ctor Primrose ingeniously confesse: And that when ordinary Physick fai∣leth, the best way is to leave the pati∣ent to God and Nature.

4. What infinite number of Medi∣cines, and what strange compositions are for every disease, & with what cost∣ly materials the same are made, every

man may see in Weckerus his Antidota∣rium Basiliense, and divers others dis∣pensatories; besides a great deal of cu∣rious observations must be used at the taking thereof.

5. What diversities of opinions there are about the compounding and admi∣nistring of these Medicines, and the or∣dering of the patient to use them, whe∣ther they be naturall things, after the form of the Galenists, or Chimicall, af∣ter the prescripts of the Paracelsians; or mixt, as Doctor Primrose, and the wiser sort conceived, there are as many controversies amongst them, as there were ever between the Pope and Lu∣ther, about matters of Religion. Then what shall the poor sick patient doe, especially, if there be a Colledge of such Physitians called to consult about this desperate case, but stand quaking like a poor condemned prisoner at the barre, expecting to have his finall Judgement, to be sent to the place of execution.

Notes

• * 1.1

  8. Point.