Galeno-pale, or, A chymical trial of the Galenists, that their dross in physick may be discovered with the grand abuses and disrepute they have brought upon the whole art of physick and chirurgery ... To which is added an appendix De litho-colo ... / by Geo. Thomson ...

CHAP. XI. How much to seek the Galenists are in that ne∣cessary Philosophy which directs us to the Cure of Diseases.

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

so to cool in the same degree, for the restaura∣tion of the Patient to his former sanity; ma∣king that essential to a Feaver which is but a meer product, depending upon the exorbitan∣cy of the Archeus, or vital Spirits?

What errour can be more gross then to maintain, that the natural Heat of the Stomack, by means of the parts adjacent, is able to alter what is taken into it so powerfully, that in a short time even such hard Bodies, as Bones, Iron, and Glass, are dissolved in it, which the Culinary Fire cannot easily conquer; taking no notice that the Stomack of Fishes are actually cold, and yet digest most vigorously. Surely 'tis very improbable that these men should rectifie the indigestion and defects of the Sto∣mack, that know not how it performs its office aright. Hence it comes to pass, that they of∣ten destroy by their faeculent Medicines the Eucrasie or Tone of that part which ought to be taken into care above any in the whole Body.

Analogous to Fire, they have brought in an Humour called Choller, part whereof they say is gathered into a Receptacle of a Bladder, which overflowing and exceeding (they af∣firm) causes the Jaundies, and many other Diseases depending upon that Humour; rec∣koning

that an Excrement (to be purged out with Rhubarb) that is of most noble use, which no perfect Creature can want, neither Beasts, Fowl, or Fish; ordained by God as a special Balsom, to preserve the Body from pu∣trefaction; by virtue of which the second Di∣gestion is performed, the Acide juyce of the Stomack being converted into a Saline. Their ignorance herein hath produced many capital Errours in Physick, which would be too tedi∣ous to insist upon.

From the Element of Earth they have dedu∣ced another Humour called Melancholly, which they have placed in the Spleen, reputing it a part destinated for that purpose; never dream∣ing till Helmont divulged it, that in it and the continuate Arteries, is resident a ferment of most admirable use for the Digestion of the the Stomack, which being interrupted through multiplicity of occasional Causes, engender various Diseases; as, Scurvy, Plurisie, Quar∣tanes, &c. which they neither know how to cure, nor by their good wills would suffer others.

What a miserable Errour is it in Philosophy to assert, that the Stone in the Kidneys and Bladder is engendred from Phlegme, (which they say symbolizes with the Element of Wa∣ter)

which Humour by power of a graduated Heat (but where to be found in the Body we know not) is brought to that stony con∣sistence; which how to break they are alto∣gether unwitting, unless by the knife.

It hath been a common practice to keep their Patients some moneths to Diet-drinks of Guaiacum, Sarzaparilla, Sassafras, out of an intent of drying up superfluous moisture, and imaginary Catarrhs in the Body; as if one of their strong Purges would not more effectually answer that Indication in one day, better then their former course in a moneth. These things Helmont hath plainly shewed to be ridiculous.

Who in his right wits will take these men to be found Philosophers, that attribute the cause of extream thirst in a Feaver simply to Heat and Drought; whereas at the same time a great quantity of cool liquor floats in the Stomack, to some pints perhaps.

They see Hydropick persons abound with great quantity of moisture all over the body, and yet cannot be provoked to sweat; how∣ever they never gave us any clear Reason there∣of till Helmont appeared.

Infinite have been their mistakes in Nature, and false Hypotheses, to the detriment of

mans life, which are sufficiently laid open by that great Philosopher Helmont. And there∣fore having given you a little glimpse of these things, that ye may conceive ex ungue leonem, we shall referre you to know more of that worthy Author, who hath delineated and cha∣racterized them exactly; from whom we ac∣knowledge to have received most part of our Instructions.