The works of that late most excellent philosopher and astronomer, Sir George Wharton, bar. collected into one volume / by John Gadbvry ...

Of the Crises in Diseases; to find out the same, and how to judge thereof, according to Durret.

CRisis is thus defined by Galen. Est velox & repen∣tina morbi mutatio, quâ Infirmus vel ad salutem vel ad mortem deducitur: and indeed every swift and sudden Mutation, whether it be in the Moon, the Air, or in a diseased Body, is by him so called: for that it seems to execute the Judicial Sentence, be it for the Life or Death of the Patient.

It is so called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which in Latin is judico, decerno, or sententiam fero; whence these Days are Metaphorically termed Critici, Judiciales, or Judici∣arii, Decernentes, or Decretorii.

The cause thereof is two-fold, Internal, Exter∣nal: The Internal is taken from its own proper Prin∣ciple, the which is also twofold: For,

1. Either Nature would expel some Noxious Humor.

2. Or else the Humour it self, not yet digested, nor prepared to Excretion, offending Nature, either by the quantity or quality thereof, breaks out violently. The which Hippocrates, seemeth also to grant, Lib. 4. de Morbo, saying, Conturbatur homo dumfebricitat, cujus reisignum est, quod horror aliàs atque ailàs per corpus transcurrit.

The Ext••••nal cause is from some Alteration of the Spirit or Air, namely, when the Humours are changed

from what they were by Nature, as from a Cold to a Hot, or from a Dry to a Moist condition, & con∣tra. For Hippocrates (Aphoris. 6. and elsewhere in his Book De Nat. Hum.) tells us, that Heat and Moisture in the Body move forward the Crises. For (saith He) some Diseases proceed from naughty Dyet, others from the Air we attract, by means whereof we Live. Wherefore Dyet (as it breeds such and such Humors) is the Internal, and Air attracted the External cause of the Crisis.

That the Qualities are alter'd by the Influence of the Stars; and especially the Luminaries, is a thing not now to be doubted: it being sufficiently apparent in the four seasons of the year, how the Air with all Plants and Animals , &c. do diversly admit of Al∣teration: and therefore the Watry Humors and the Spirit (being Aerial) are observed to operate more when they are excited, than otherwise: As when the Harp. is touched, it moves men to Dancing; when the Trumpet Sounds, to War like Employments.

Hence it appears that the universal Cause of all Crises is the Influence of the Heavens: For, the Coe∣lestial Bodies, by their Heat, Light, Motion, and Configuration or Aspects (to which St. Augustine adds Afflatum, that is , Inspiration or Instinction, and St. Thomas, Aptitudinis Efficaciam, a virtual Apti∣tude, or fitness) do rule and govern, not only the Four Elements, but all Elementary Bodies, and especially Man, from the very first Moment of his Birth, until the Ultimate Minute of his Death, incit∣ing him sometimes to Mirth, another while to Sor∣row, now to be Sick, anon Well again. For, as Aristotle saith, Ex irroratione Coelorum felicia & in∣faelicia germinantur in Terris, &c.

But as touching the Efficient Radical cause thereof,

the Philosophers (making a deeper Scrutiny there∣into) do attribute it to the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Unity, as that which primarily and radically governs the whole Uni∣verse, as the Agent and first Act, from which, by which, and into which, all things are at length Re∣solved: Wherefore the Pythagoreans named the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Unity, Apollo; because that as from Unity all Numbers take their Original and Encrease: So are all things not otherwise than from One alone. Surely the same Act, (which is the Word) works cen∣trally and alone, from the Center to the Circumference, (for God is contained in the Heavens, as a Center is within its Circle:) but by a different manner, accord∣ing to the variety of the Subject whereon it appears: The Form or Essence of the Agent not being chang∣ed; which is always Permanent and the same.

Wherefore it is evident that there is but only One Agent in every Region of this World, and but only One Act of his; yet divers and sundry Effects, accord∣ing to the manifold condition of the Organical Subject, the thing Receiving or Suffering. Whereof more in Dr. Flud, in Cris. Mysterio.

There are two Principal sorts of Crises; the One, as in Acute Diseases, and Lunar. The Other, in Chronical Diseases, and Solar.

Such Crises as take their Original from their pro∣per Principle, or from an Internal cause, as do the Crises Synochorum, depend upon the Motion of the Moon.

But such as Proceed from the Air, or from an Ex∣ternal Cause, as do the Crises of all Pestilential Fea∣vers, are govern'd both of the Sun and Moon: Of the Sun, if respect be had of the year; if of the Month only, then of the Moon.

Wherefore Acute diseases follow the Motion of the

Moon, and her configurations, or Aspects to the place she was in at the first beginning of the disease.

But here we must Note, that in Acute Diseases, the Aspects or Radiations of the Moon, viz. her Quartiles and Oppositions, are not to be counted as if they should begin from her Conjunction with the Sun: but from the degree and minute she is in at the Beginning of the Disease, until her return to the same Radical Point, which is performed in 27 days, 8 hours, or thereabouts.

Of Acute Diseases, some are Acuti simpliciter, simply Acute; some Acuti, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, seu Decidentia, or from Mutation, and Degeneration; some Peracuti, very Sharp, others Perperacuti, Exceedingly Sharp.

Acuti simpliciter, are they which from the 8. to the 10, 11, 14, 20, and 21, day, Run to the very height; some whereof are called Menstrui, because absolved within the space of a Lunar Month.

Acuti ex decidentiâ, from Diminishing, or Dege∣neration, are such as are judged imperfectly: For sometimes they wax worse in respect of the Symptoms, and are sometimes Remitted, according as the Moon meets with the Good and Evil Aspects of the Good or Bad Planets: And oftentimes they Degenerate from being Acute, and become Chronical. As when a Pleurisie turns into an Empiema, or an Ulcer in the Breast: So when a Quotidian Feaver becomes a Hectick, or from an Intermittent degenerates into a Quotidian, & Contrà. And these Diseases are judged within 40 Days.

Peracuti, are such as are judged the 5, 6, 7, and 8, days, in which number are the Febres causones, Synochae, Cho¦lera, Angina, Peripneumonia, Lethargus, and the like.

Perperacuti, be such as are absolved within the Space of 3 days or 4 at the utmost, and in that time terminated, either with Recovery or Death; of which

sorts are all Pestilential Feavers, the Apoplexy, Pleu∣risie Phrensie, &c.

Chronical Diseases follow the Motion of the Sun, Acquiring a Crisis after the 40th day, and Judgment when the Sun attains to the Quadrates, as is Evident in Hectiques, Dropsies, and Quaternaries: When he comes to the Sextiles and Trines there are only some Indicative Motions made of such Effects as follow in the Opposition. Nevertheless they are oftentimes Anti∣cipated, or Protracted, according as the Planets (he meets with) help or hinder; and for the better if by Na∣ture those Planets be Benevolent; if Malevolent, for the worse. And the like we are subject to in the whole course of our Lives, Nam & Morbus est Modus vitae Partialis, as Campanella (Lib. 4. Medicinal.) most ingeniously observes.

Moreover the Crises are thus generally distinguish∣ed, viz. Salvae, Dubiae seu suspiciosae, Judicatae seu periditatae, & non Judicatae.

Crisis Salva, or safe, is that which happens with∣out any great and Pernicious Accidents.

Crisis Dubia, doubtful, or Suspicious, which ap∣pears with great and Pernicious Accidents, and is the most dangerous.

Crisis Judicata, or Hazarded, is, when on the 4th day the Signs of Concoction do appear, and therefore p••aesage the Disease to be judged on the Seventh day.

Crisis non judicata, or not Judged, is when the Crisis is absolved the Seventh day, yet was not to be Judged the Fourth day, by any sign of Concoction.

Hence the days themselves are divided into Three Class••s: For,

1. Some are called Critical (nomine Generico.)

2. O••hers Judicative, on which Sentence is Pronounced.

3. O••thers Intercident, (the which are Posited

between the judicative and Critical;) whereon the Diseases is Remitted.

Many other Distinctions there are amongst Phy∣sicians, not so proper for this Place: For here I in∣tend not to enumerate all belonging to Physick, but such only as concern Astrology.

Nor shall I need to say any thing of the Sympathy and Antipathy, Power and Efficacy of the Stars, my room being so Narrow, and the same amply hand∣led in several Learned Authors: Only, I think it requisite, (before I come to the manner of Acquiring the Critical and Judicative Days) to say something concerning the Terminus à quo, or the Point of time from whence they take their Original.

Seeing therefore that by these Critical and Decre∣tory days some Notable Alteration would be foreseen; tending either to the Health or Death of the Patient; 'tis fit we begin our Account from the first Notable Point of the Diseases Invasion: For, to Assign a be∣ginning to the Disease, is a thing very hard to be done, as Galen himself confesseth, Lib. 1. Cap. 6. Exactè primum Principium ferè est insensibile. The time when the Sick-party takes his Bed, is the be∣ginning of his Decumbiture, but not the beginning of the Disease: For, a Man that is strong and robust endures a Disease more easily, and takes not his Bed so soon as a Man that is tender, weak, or fearful of Mind; who suspecting himself upon every Idle Pinch; gets forthwith to Bed: Nevertheless in many Dis∣eases, (as the Vertigo, Epilepsie, Paralysis, Apoplexy, Hae∣morrhagia, Plurisie and the like,) it is easie to find out the precise Beginning or Hour the Disease Invadeth: And the Learned in Astrology do believe and affirm, that the Moment of time to be taken for the begin∣ning of the Disease, is the very Instant in which a

Man shall perceive any manifest Hurt, or Malady in his Body, as when he begins to lie down and be Sick of a Feaver: but not when the Head akes, or that he suffers any other trivial Symptom: Because these are not Feavers, but rather Febrium Nuntii, the Messengers of Feavers.

Thus Hippocrates observed his Indications from the day a Man Sickned of a Feaver, but not from the day whereon he perceived a Heaviness of the Body only, or was troubled with the Head-Ach. For, by how much sharper and more violent the Feaver is, by so much is it the more Manifest to sense, and im∣possible the first Assault, or Invasion thereof should be hid from the Patient.

It now follows that I shew the manner of number∣ing and determining these Critical days by the Mo∣tion of the Moon; because the Radix and Foun∣tain of this Doctrine is of all Astrologers, and by Hippocrates and Galen themselves said to consist in her Efficacy, and in the Motion and Position of the Parts of the Zodiaque.

And first I will shew you the manner of finding out the Critical and Indicative days by an Octogo∣nal, or Figure of 8 sides, according to the Opinion of Hippocrates and Galen, the construction whereof follows.

First, find the Place of the Moon to the beginning of the Patient's Decumbiture as before you were taught.

Next, let a Circle be described and divided into 8. equal parts, representing the Zodiaque, wherein the Moon is moved: And let the Degree and Minute the Moon is in at the Hour of the Patients Decum∣biture, be Posited in the first division or Angle of the Figure, which shall be accounted as the Ascen∣dant or First-House.

Thirdly, Let 45 degrees be added thereunto, a•• to the Radical place of the Moon, (for so many, degrees are the Angles of this Octogonal Figure distant one from ano∣ther) and by this means you have the Moons Place in the Second Angle, called the First Indicative: Unto which if you add 45 degrees more, it gives you the Place of the Moon in the Third Angle, in which the First Crisis is Celebrated; being always elonga∣ted from the Radical Point by the space of 90 degrees.

After this, Add 45 degrees to the place of the Moon in the Third Angle, and the Aggregate giv••s you the Place of the Moon in the Fourth Angle, wherein is made the Second Indicative: and if there∣unto you again add 45 degrees, they make 180 de∣grees, the direct point of Opposition. And so by a continued Addition of 45 degrees, until she return to the Radical Point of the Decumbiture. By which means there will be Four principal Angles in which the Crises are observed, and 4 Less princip••l, where∣in the Days-Indicative are Demonstrated.

Lastly, let the Planets be inserted in their re∣spective Places of the Figure thus Delineated, to the time of the Patients Decumbiture.

Now seeing it is manifest (by what hath been said) that the Critical days are made in such time as the Moon (counting from the time of the Decumbiture, or the first Paroxism of the Disease) shall have run through one fourth part of the Zodiaque, or 90 de∣grees, wherein she produced the first Crisis, or Alte∣ration in the Disease, which commonly happens on the Seventh day, yet we must note that it may fall out on the Sixth, (if the Moon be swift in Motion) or (if slow) on the Eighth day. And because this Aspect is Evil Naturally, by reason of the Signs Disconveniency in Qualities, Passive, or Active, there∣fore

a War commences between the Disease and Nature, whence it is deservedly call'd Criticus Primus, the first Critical Day; whereon if it hap∣pen that the Moon be afflicted by Saturn or Mars, or the Lord of the Eighth, this Crisis (the Disease growing worse and worse) tends unto Death.

But if the Disease end not this Critical day, you must wait till she comes to her Opposite Point, which f••lls out commonly the Fourteenth day; and some∣times the Thirteenth or Fifteenth, according as the Moon is Swift or Slow in Motion: For then the Se∣cond Crisis is to be looked for. Whereon if yet the Disease be not Loosn'd, then we must attend the M••ons access to her other Quadrate, in which shall be the Third Crisis, viz. the 20 or 21 day, accord∣ing to the Moon's Swift or Slow Motion: And if the Dise••se continue still, we must mark when the Moon returns to her Radical Place, for then the Lunar Month is finished, whose Period is 27 days, and 8 hours, and the Fourth and Last Crisis accomplished in Acu••e Diseas••s. Wherefore if the Disease shall per∣severe beyond the Lunar Month, we must thencefor∣ward have regard to the Motion of the Sun, and the r••st of th•• Planets: For then the Acute degenerates into a C••ronical or long continued Disease: as Quar∣tan Feavers, and the like.

A•• for the Second species of the Critical Points, called Indicative, they are such as fall exactly in the Middle of every Q••adrature: For when the Moon ••ttains the half of her Quadrate, that is 45 degrees of the Zodiaqu•• (accounted from the first assault of th•• Di••••••se.) which makes up the Octile. or Semiqua∣dra•••• Asp••••t, there (by the same Reason) she begins to op••r••••e, as she will in the next subsequent Critical 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wh••••h••r it be to Good or Evil: And this falls

out the Fourth day, wherefore it is called of Hippo∣crates and Galen, Index Diei Septimi sequentis.

The second Indicative (the which Hippocrates and Galen six upon the 11th.) may also be upon the 10. or 12. days, according as the Moon (in the Point intermediate) shall hasten from the First Quar∣ter or Quadrate to her Opposition, and have run through 135. degrees (from the time of Decumbi∣ture,) which makes the Trioctile or Sesquiquadrate Aspect. And so of the rest, &c.

This done, we must observe the Disposition of the Heavens to the time when the Moon comes to the foresaid Angles, and that according to the generally received Precepts and Aphorisms. But to make this the clearer I will illustrate all by—

Example.

A Gentleman fell Sick at Paris of an Acute Dis∣ease, Anno 1641. the Second of January, about 8 a Clock in the Afternoon: at which time I find the Moon in 10 degr. 19 Min. of ♒. wherefore I put this Sign with the degree and Minute in the first Angle, as it were the Ascendant.

In the Next place I add 45 degrees to 10 degr. 19 Min. of ♒. (the Radical Point of the Moon) and it gives me 25 degr. 19 Min. of ♓. for the place of the Moon, the First Indicative: And by adding 45 degrees thereunto, I get the place of the Moon, for the Cuspe of the Third Angle, 10 degr. 19 Min. of ♉. (the Point of the first Crisis:) And soby a continued addition of 45 degrees, it produceth the Fourth Angle, (25 d••∣grees, 19 Minutes of ♊. (the second Ind••cative) The Fifth Angle, (in which is observed the Second Crisis) 1•• degrees, 19 Minutes of ♌. (being the Point Oppo∣site to the Radical place:) The Sixth Angle, 25 de∣grees,

19 minutes of ♍. (designing the Third In∣dicative: The Seventh Angle, 10 degrees, 19 mi∣nutes of ♍. for the point of the Third Crisis: And lastly, the Eighth Angle (wherein is the Fourth Indi∣cative) 25 degrees, 19 minutes of ♐.

These had, I therein insert the Places of the Pla∣nets, respectively, and so I have it compleat, as the following Figure demonstrates.

[illustration]

Now to know when the Moon comes to the 10. degree, 19. Min. ♉. (for in that point she beholds the Radical Point, or her place at the time of the Decumbiture with a Quartile Aspect, viz. 10 degrees 19 min. ♒.) you must do as followeth:

First, look in the Ephemeris on what day the Moon comes to the degree of the Sign that beholds her

Radical place with a Quartile, which you will find to be the 9th. day of January, for on that day at Noon her true place is 6 degrees, 11 minutes of ♉. and the 10. day at Noon in 18 degrees, 34 Minutes of ♉. wherefore her Diurnal Motion is 12 degrees, 25 minutes, and the distance from the place of her Qua∣drature, 4 degrees, 8 minutes, which had, I reason thus—

As her Diurnal Motion, 12 degr. 25 min. to 24 hours;

So the Distance, 4 degr. 8 min. To 8 hours, ferè, the Critical time desired.

In the same manner do I find out the Time of the other Crises and Indicatives, and after that the state and disposition of the Heavens, agreeing to eve∣ry Critical Phasis, as is evident by the following Synopsis.

Abacus, seu Sypnosis Calculi Figura Octogonalis.
Species of Critical Days.	The Motion of the Moon.	The time of ••very Critical Phasis.	The state of the Moon in re∣spect of her Place in the Ra∣lix, with the Syzygies, and the Mutual Aspects of the Pla∣nets, January 1641. S. V.
Decumbi∣ture.	d. 10	••. 19	♒	D. 2	H. 8	M. 0	P. M.	☽ app. ♀. and ♄. ✶. ☽ ♂. □ ☉ ♂. □ ♃ ☿. ♂ ☉ ♃ ☿.
1. In••icat.	25	19	♓	6	5	43	Manè	Octile o•• S••mi-qu••drate.
1. Critic.	10	19	♉	9	8	0	P. M.	Quartile Sinister, □ ♂ ☿. 3 h. 11′.
2. Indicat.	25	19	♊	13	2	36	P. M.	Trioct. Sinister, △ ♄. 10 h. 57′. shewing a Bad Crisis.
2. Critic.	10	19	♌	17	5	50	Manè	Opposition.
3. Indicat.	25	19	♍	20	3	44	P. M.	Trioct. Dexter, △ ♃. 4 h. 28′. shewing a happy and propi∣tious Crisis.
3. Critic.	10	19	♏	23	9	1	P. M.	Qu••rtile Dexter. △ ♀. hor 22.36′.
4. Indic.	25	19	••	2••	12	9	P. M.	O••tile, or Semi-quadrate.
4. Critic.	10	19	♒	29	16	17	P. M.	Th•• Radical pla••e.

The Story of this Observation concerns a Person, who after a long and wearisome journy was sudden∣ly assaulted at the time aforesaid by a Quotidian Fea∣ver, attended with a dry Cough and a Plurisie: The Feaver grew to a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For indeed the Night before it seized on him, he was in a grievous condi∣tion; and the Third day he was quite without any Shivering, nor brought it any Intermission to the Patient, when the Moon passed 10 degrees, 19 mi∣nutes of ♒. (a Sign of Infirmity) at which time she applyed to Venus and Saturn, in a long Sextile of Mars, who afflicted Jupiter and Mercury (both in Combusti∣on) and likewise the Sun himself by a Quartile Aspect.

The Sixth of the same Month of January the disease

grew worse, for then the Moon came to an Octile, or Semi-quadrate Aspect where the first Indicative was ce∣lebrated: at which time there was no Aspect with the Moon, and therefore a doubtful or unfortunate Crisis was to be feared.

The Ninth day (about 8. a Clock) produced the First Crisis by a little Sweat , about which time both a Cough, and a Pain he had in his side, left him; but his Pulse beat inordinately for thr••e hours after, the Tritaeophia remaining. Wherefore Galen, Lib. 1. Epid.— Proprium est Febrium 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, ut & malignarum exacerbari diebus Criticis. The which also Mars seems to argue by his Quartile Aspect with Mercury about the same time. Moreover both these Quartiles, namely that of the Moon to her radical place, (♉. to ♒.) and the other of Mars to Mercury, (♈. to ♑.) are differing in Qualities as well Active as Passive, which aggravates the mischief: Besides, it is to be not∣ed, that the Signs ♒. and ♉. are Signs of Infirmity.

The Thirteenth day when the Moon came to a Trioctile Aspect in 25 degrees, 19 minutes of ♊. Saturn afflicting her by a Trine, shewed that an evil Crisis was to be feared.

The Seventeenth day, at 5 hours, and 50 minutes, in the Morning, the Moon possess••ng the degr••e Op∣posite to the place she was in at the Decumbiture, viz. 10 d••grees, 19 minutes of ♌. wh••n there was no Aspect good or bad unto her, promised the Patient no hopes of his Health.—And then inde••d he was in greatest fear of himself—Notwithstanding,—

The Twentieth day about Four a Clock the Moon entered the 25. degree, 19 minutes of ♍. and came to a Trioctile with the Radical Place of the Moon in the third Indicative, (Jupiter benignly Irradiating the Moon by a Trine about the same time,) denoun∣ced a propitious Cris••s to ••nsue.

The Twenty-third day, about Nine a Clock in the Evening, the Moon perambulating 10 degrees, 19 min. of ♍. (wherein fell the second Critical day) applyed to the Trine of Venus. At which time she Produced a wholsome and propitious Crisis: For on this very day the Feaver began to leave him, and soon after he r••covered his Health. Quod sanè miram rerum Medicarum cum coelo Harmoniam & consen∣sum arguit.

Now that the Cause of this Crisis arising from the Stars, may yet more plainly appear: I will hereunto add a Coelestial Figure, erected after the Rational manner, with a Judgment Astrological thereupon.

[illustration]

Judicium Astrologicum ex Figurâ Decubitus Rationali.

Figura Decubitus Rationalis Ad Annum 1641. Mens. Januarii, Die. Hor. Min. 2. 8. 00. Lat. 480.50′. T. Ap. ☽ ad ✶ ♂ & ☌ ♀.

The Principal significators of this Figure are, (1.) The Ascendant, and (2.) Mercury Lord thereof in Capricorn, a movable Sign, Retrograd, and Com∣bust in the Fifth House, (3.) The Sixth House, and (4.) the Lord thereof in Aquarius a Fixed Sign, strong and powerful in his own House, the Moon in the Cusp of the Sixth House in Aquarius. The Sun in the Fifth, afflicted at the beginning of the Disease by a Quadrate of Mars in Aries, (a Fiery Sign) and Lord of the Eighth House. Whence it appears that the Disease proceeded from Choller ingendred of a Chur∣lish Melancholy Humor, according to the Aphorisme, Sol à Marte ad Initium Morbi quovis modo infortuna∣tus, aegritudo erit Cholerica ex humore bilioso orta.

Furthermore, Jupiter in a movable Sign in the Fifth House, (which rules the Stomach, Liver, and the Sides, &c. combust and wounded by the Quartile of Mars, brought the Pleurisie upon him; and because Mercury (Afflicted by the Malevolent Planets) is here∣by rendered Malevolent, he gave him the Dry-Cough.

Moreover, the Moon in Aquarius applying to Sa∣turn argues that the Cause of the Disease proceeded from the Weariness of a Journey, according to the Doctrine of Hermes and Hippocrates.

Now for determining the length or shortness of the Disease, consider these Aphorisms.

Sexta Domus in Signo Fixo, Morbi Longitudinem pollicetur. Item, Saturnus existens Dominus sextae, & in Signo Fixo, longum praesagit morbum. Rursum, Sa∣turnus Dominus Sextae Domino Ascendentis fortior, Morbi Incrementum denotat. Postremò, Luna Domino Sextae applicans, Incrementum Morbi portendir.

Seeing therefore that Mars (in a fiery Sign) af∣flicts both the Luminaries, namely the Sun by a Qua∣drate, and the Moon by a long Sextile, which is

equivalent to a Quadrate, I gather that the Principal Authors of this Disease are Saturn and Mars; which together excited a very long Burning Feaver: Then Mercury the dry Cough, and at last Jupiter the Plurisie; the which (together with the Cough) soon∣er ended than the Feaver, for that Mercury and Ju∣piter were both constituted in a movable Sign.