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CHAP. XI. How much to seek the Galenists are in that ne∣cessary Philosophy which directs us to the Cure of Diseases. (Book 11)
NEeds must the Galenist erre in the cure of Diseases, when they are very ignorant of their Causes. Their very Fundamentals and Principles in natural Philosophy being false, as Helmont hath plainly made it appear. What an absurdity is it to take in Fire, which is neither a Substance nor an Accident, to make up the four Elements, and to fetch it from the highest Region, next the Moon, that it might enter into all Concretes: and from these Quaternary Elements to deduce their four Humours, Complexions, and Temperaments, and accordingly to proceed in the Cure of man; bending all their forces to remove Qua∣lities, Accidents, and Products of Diseases, lea∣ving the Disease it self behinde?
What an erroneous Definition have they made of a Feaver, and therefore it is no won∣der if they go unsuccessfully about the Cure; as if there were no more to be done but to take an Indication from preternatural Heat, and