Dr. Willis's practice of physick being the whole works of that renowned and famous physician wherein most of the diseases belonging to the body of man are treated of, with excellent methods and receipts for the cure of the same : fitted to the meanest capacity by an index for the explaining of all the hard and unusual words and terms of art derived from the Greek, Latine, or other languages for the benefit of the English reader : with forty copper plates.

OF URINES.

CHAP. I. Of the Elements and chief Accidents of Urine.

WHEN the Liquor of the Urine, being either fresh rendred from the body, or putri∣fied by a long digestion, is exposed to a spagirick Analysis, it is wont to be resolved into these parts or principles: In the Distilling, First, ascends whatever of a vinous spirit is in it, diluted with water; but yet in so very small quantity, that it is not easily to be perceived by the taste it self. To this follows a watry liquor, large enough in proportion, with which are mixed some more loose particles of Salt, and Sulphur especially. Third∣ly, There is stilled forth a very penetrative water; which is commonly called the spirit of Urine, but in truth almost without any vinous spirit, and is chiefly phlegm highly sharpned with Salt, and therefore it ascends last, as in the distillation of Vinegar: but forasmuch as the salt of Urine is volatile, but that of Vinegar only in the Flux; therefore the liquor stilled forth, which is greatly impregnated with its parti∣cles, is very acide: That which is imbued with the saline Particles of the other, is exceeding sharp and pricking. It is a sign that this kind of Spirit of Urine (as it is commonly known) ows its sharpness chiefly to the Salt, because, though it be most subtil it will not take fire, but being put to it extinguishes it. After the humidity is wholly exhal'd, another portion of Salt remains with the Earth of the cucur∣bit; to which if a more hot fire be made, that Salt will be sublimed into the Alembick, and the earthy feces only remain. This kind of Anatomy of Urine plainly shows, that the Elements of which its li∣quor is composed, are a great deal of Water and Salt, and a little of Sulphur and Earth, and a very little of Spirit.

The saltness in Urines is perceived by the taste and touch; it comes nearest to a Nitrous salt in savour: It is drawn indeed from saline Particles of things eaten, which being more plentifully exalted by the con∣coction in the Bowels, and the circulation in the Vessels, for the most part go into a Volatile Salt. That is truly Salt and Spirit, by reason of the long accompanying of either together, are gathered into a most strict bond; and therefore it happens, that the Salt it self otherways fixed, is carried up on high, and ren∣dred able for motion, as it were by the wings of the other. Urines contain in them more or less of Salt, according to the disposition of our body, and have it either volatile or fixed, which are therefore of a divers colour and consistency.

That there is Sulphur contained in Urines, their quickly putrifying, and stink, sufficiently testifie: it arises from the fat and sulphureous Particles of Meats, in the concoction being most minutely broken, and boyl'd with the serum and salt; so as also there is less plenty of Spirit in it, than is in Blood, Soot, or the Horns of Animals: wherefore in the distillation of Urine, there ascends nothing almost of an oylie form or fat. But indeed, whilst the blood is circulated in the Vessels, the spirituous and sulphureous little bo∣dies, which fall away from it, do for the most part evaporate out of dores; in the mean time, the saline recrements, and the watery, chiefly constitute the Piss: nevertheless, Urines do always participate a little of sulphur, but its quantity and proportion, is diversly altered according to the various degrees of Con∣coction and Crudity, and thence also the colour and consistence receive many mutations in Urines.

That there is but a very little of vinous spirit in Urines, the defect of it in the liquor distilled forth, also the soon putrifying of the Stale do testifie: but that there is some, the intestine motion of the Parti∣cles in the Urine doth argue, to wit, the departure of the thin from the thick, and the spontaneous sepa∣ration of some parts from others, and a collection of them into a settlement: besides, the saline Parti∣cles (for that they are made volatile) are married to spirituals, and so they are of a more ready motion, and energy; yet according to the divers plenty of Spirits in Urines, and their power, there arise divers manners of hypostases and settlements; also the Urines themselves, sooner or slower putrify.

The watry part of the Urine far exceeds the rest in quantity, and is greater than they by almost a sixth part: it is not so simply drawn forth by distillation, but that some Particles of Salt and Sul∣phur (forasmuch as they are volatile) ascend with it, and impart to the water an ingrateful stink: the potulent matter, copiously taken with aliments, affords an original to this; which of what kind so∣ever it be, before it is changed into Urine, lays aside its proper qualities, and acquires others; for tru∣ly, from the assumed liquor, there is nothing sincere almost left in the Piss, besides meer humidity.

That there is earth, and muddy feces to be had in Urines, its distillation, or evaporation sufficiently declares: for when the rest of the parts are exhaled, the earth as it were a caput mortuum, will remain in a moderate quantity in the bottom: Forasmuch as in the nourishing juice, there is required some∣thing solid besides the active principles of salt, sulphur and spirit, whence the bulk and magnitude of the body grows; the recrements of this, viz. the earthy feculencies, are plentifully dissolved in the serum, and contribute to it a thick consistence and contents: but these shew themselves after a divers manner, according to the state of Concoction and Crudity.

These are the principles which constitute the body of the Urine, also into which it is easily resolved, by a Chymical Analysis: out of the divers changes, and various contemperation of these, the other acci∣dents of Urine arise, viz. Quantity, Colour, Consistency, and Contents, which are as to the sense the most notable concerning it, and the chief objects of the rendered Urine: For when there is nothing beheld besides in the Piss, they constitute these first Phaenomena, in which rightly solved, consists the whole Hypothesis of this Science: Wherefore we shall speak in the next place, concerning these, and first of the Urine of healthful People, what its quantity may be, how coloured, with what consistence and contents indued; and together shall be unfolded, out of what mixture of Elements, and by what Con∣coction in the Viscera, and Vessels, each of these depend. Secondly, shall be shewn how many ways the Urines of Sick People vary from the square or Rule of this of the Sound: and I shall endeavour to assign, for the several differences of them, proper Causes of their alterations; and these shall conclude our first proposition in this discourse, viz. the Anatomy of Urine.

CHAP. II. Of the Quantity and Colour of the Urines of Sound People.

THE Quantity of the Urine in Sound People, ought to be a little less than the humor, or li∣quid substance daily taken, for moist and drinkable things daily taken, are the matter it self of which Urines are first made: But these (hunger and thirst urging) are more plentifully required, both that they may sufficiently wash the mass of the Chyme, by which means it may rightly ferment in the Viscera; and that they may serve for a Vehicle, both to the Chyme, whereby it may be conveyed to the bloody Mass, and to the Blood it self, that it might be circulated in the Vessels without thickening; and to the Nervous Juice, whereby it might actuate and water the Organs of Sense and Motion: when the serous Latex by this means hath bestowed whatever it hath almost of Spi∣rit and Sulphur, for nourishment, Heat and Motion, it gives way to a new nutritious humour; and it self as unprofitable, being secluded from the Blood, by the help of the Reins is sent away. The nou∣rishing liquor, which will at last be changed into Urine, of its own nature is divers, viz. now watry, now impregnated with Spirit, now with Salt and Sulphur, and according to the various forces of this or that Element in it, Urines are wont to be somewhat altered: However all liquors taken in at the mouth, do not pass thorow our body whole and untouched; but that they undergo mutations in va∣rious parts, and lose a little portion of their quantity, before they are made into Urine: For the Latex or Humour to be converted into Urine, is first of all received into the Ventricle, (for I assent not to Reus∣ner, who affirms the same falling for the most part on the Lungs, to cause the more quick making wa∣ter after drinking) whilst that it stays in the Ventricle, it is there boyled; also impregnated with Salt and Sulphur of its own, or from more solid Aliments dissolved: then very much of it is confused in the blood, with the nourishable juice, which when it is a long time circulated, from thence receives a far∣ther tincture of Salt and Sulphur, according to the various temper of the blood, and its inkindling in the Heart: Hence some portion of it is derived with the Animal Spirit, to the Brain and nervous stock; and afterwards from thence, being made lifeless and weak, is lastly reduced into the bosom of the blood; after that it hath bestowed on the Blood and Nervous Juice, whatever of generous or noble is conteined in the Serum, also no small quantity is consumed by sweat and the other emunctories; what remains, whilst that the Blood continually washes the Reins, a precipitation being made, either by a straining or force of a certain ferment, it is there separated from the Blood, and from thence passes thorow the Ure∣ters into the Bladder, and so is carried forth of doors.

From the origine and lustration of the Serous Latex, but now described, it plainly appears, that the Urine ought to answer to the quantity of the liquids taken, in somewhat a lesser proportion, perhaps un∣der a third part; which plainly shews the disposition and strength of the Viscera serving for Concocti∣on, as also the temper and distribution of the blood it self, and after a sort, of the nervous juice; more∣over it carries with it signs of the affections of the Urinary passages. The quantity of the Urine de∣clines often from this Rule, so that sometimes it superabounds, also sometimes is deficient: and ei∣ther for a short time, may consist with a disposition not much unhealthful; but if these kind of dist∣empers continue long, they argue a sickly condition. Concerning these we shall speak among the ap∣pearances of the Urine in a diseased condition of the Body; we shall now next consider the colour of a sound Urine.

The Urine of Sound People, which is rendred after Concoction is finished in the Body, is of a Citron colour, like Lye a little boyled: which without doubt proceeds from the Salt and Sulphur of the nu∣tritious juice, and the Blood, dissolved in the Concoction, and boyled in the Serum. This colour doth not arise only from Salt (as some would have it) because the Liquor impregnated with Salt, unless it be evaporated to a certain thickness, will not grow yellowish: Also Salt of Tartar, being dissolved by melting, continues still clear. What may be objected concerning the Lye of Ashes, I say, there the whole Sulphur is not consumed by burning, but the Citron colour arises from some saline Parti∣cles, and others Sulphureous burnt, and sticking together in the Ashes, and then infused or boyled in the liquor. Neither doth the Urine of sound People acquire this same colour from Sulphur only, be∣cause Sulphur in a watry Menstruum, is not dissolved unless by the addition of Salt, nor will it give any tincture of it self; but if Salt of Tartar and common Sulphur be digested together in water, or if Antimony be boyled in a saline Menstruum, both liquors will by that means grow yellow like U∣rine; after the like manner, the saline and sulphureous Particles of Aliments, being incocted and most minutely broken in the Serum, by a Digestion in the Ventricle and Intestines, and by a Circulation with the Blood in the Arteries and Veins, impart to it a Citron Colour.

This kind of dissolution of Salt and Sulphur, by whose means the Urines are made of a Citron Co∣lour, is first begun in the Bowels; and afterwards perfected in the Vessels, and very much depends upon the Concoction performed in the Ventricle and the Intestines: For here, by the help of heat and of fer∣ments, the Aliments taken are chiefly subdued; the bond of mixture being broken, the saline and sul∣phureous Particles being most smally broken, and made small, go into a milkie Cream, and from thence the Serum remaining after that Concoction and Distribution of that milkie juice, becomes of a Citron colour: after the same manner, as when the Salt of Tartar and common Sulphur being disso•…•…ved toge∣ther, and mixed with some acide thing, indue a milkie colour; then the contents being separated by setling, the remaining liquor grows yellow like Lye. If that the aliments, by reason of an evil dis∣position of the Ventricle, are not rightly digested in the first Concoction, as in the Longing Disease or Pica, the Dropsie, and other ill dispositions of the Bowels, usually comes to pass, the Urine also is ren∣dred crude, clear, and almost insipid, like Fountain water; but if by reason of the ferments of the V•…•…∣scera being more than duly exalted, or otherways depraved as in the S•…•…urvy, Hypochondriac distemper, or Feverish intemperance, the Particles of things eaten are too much dissolved in the first Region, by that meanes Urines are rendred red and thick.

The Serum, as hath but now been said, being imbued with a Lixivial Tincture in the first Concoction, and confused in the Blood, so long as it is circulated with it, it is yet further concocted, and acquires a more deep colour; for the particles of the Blood being roasted and scorched, although for the most part they are laid aside into the Gall bag, yet being in a manner boyled in the Serous Latex, they heighten its colour; hence the Concoction being ended, the Urine which is first made, is more pale, and that which is last, more red. That which is made after long fasting, is yet more high Coloured. Where the Blood is more cold, as in Cachectical people, the colour of the Urine is made less; where the Blood grows raging with a feverish Heat, and is roasted, the Urine grows highly red.

Concerning the Urines of sound people, it is worth observation, that which is made after plentiful Drinking, hath no tincture, but is pale like water; of which we shall enquire, by what means the Se∣rous Latex so suddenly slides away out of the Ventricle, (contrary to what is vulgarly believed) and passing thorow all the Chyliferous passages, then the Veins, Arteries, the bosom of the Heart it self, and the turnings and windings of the Veins and Ureters, is put forth of the Body within so short a space: moreover, how it comes that the Urine being so precipitately made, contrary to most other things, is not only changed into no Colour in its passage, but it also loses its own proper colour: For as the Pro verb is, Our Drink goes thick in, and comes forth thin: or We Drink thick Beer, and Piss clear.

Concerning this we say, that besides the long wandring of the nourishing juice, to wit, whereby, after some stay in the Ventricle, it slides into the Intestines, and from thence thorow the milkie Vessels into new passages, and thence is carried into the Veins (which carrying about cannot be quickly performed) it is most likely, that there is another nearer passage of the same nutritious Juice, whereby indeed it may be conveyed immediately, and without delay, to the Mass of Blood, and perhaps to the nervous Li∣quor; and therefore, after fasting, there immediately follows a most quick refection of strength and spirits, after Eating, and especially after Drinking; which indeed cannot be thought to be made by the Spirits and Vapours; also from such drinking the Urine is presently rendred, and indeed sooner than it can

be thought, that the Mass of the Chyle can be sent out of the bosom of the Ventricle; wherefore, it is not improbable, that when the Alimentous Liquor is entred the Ventricle, presently the more thin portion of it, which consists chiefly of Spirit and Water, is imbibed by its Spongeous Membranes; and from thence being instilled into the little mouths of the Veins, it is presently confounded with the Blood flowing back towards the Heart. For of this opinion (though not very stubbornly) I always was, That the Chyme was in some measure immediately derived from the Ventricle, and Intestines by the branch∣es of the Vena Porta, into the Mass of Blood; and as the milkie passages carry it about by a long compass, whereby it may be instilled into the descending Trunk of the Vena cava; so that it may be carried in a more near way, viz. into the ascending Trunk of the same, by these Vessels; forasmuch as the Blood being made poorer in its Circulation, returning from either part, before it had entred the heart, it ought to be refreshed with a new juice, whereby it might more lively ferment in the bosom of the heart; but forasmuch as the much greater part of the Blood is carried upwards, surely it may seem agreeable to truth, that at least some portion of the nourishing Juice may be added to this, as it were a sustenance, it being before burnt forth, and almost lifeless, for its new inkindling in the heart. The Arguments that seem to perswade to this, not of light moment, I could here heap together, but I should so divert far from our proposition: wherefore, that we so suddenly make a waterish Urine after Drinking, I est∣eem to be done after a manner as was but now said, therefore the Liquor that is carried so hastily from the Aliments to the Mass of Blood, passing thorow the so narrow windings (as are the Membranes of the Viscera) being drawn as it were by distillation, the more thick matter being rejected, consists al∣most only of Water and Spirit; with which indeed it refreshes the vital Spirits, and dilutes the Blood; about which task, when the spirituous part is consumed, the watry Latex, because of its plenty, being heavy and troublesome, is continually sent away by the Reins; and when it comes from the Ventricle, not yet imbued with Salt and Sulphur, nor is long circulated with the Blood, that it might by that means acquire a lixivial tincture, it is rendred thin and clear.

CHAP. III. Of the Consistency and Contents of the Urine of Sound People.

SO much for the Quantity and Colour of Urines, which proceed from a sound Body; but as to what belongs to the Contents, we must know, that there ought to be nothing besides the Hy∣postasis in a sound Urine; but what this is, and by what means it sinks down, remains to be un∣folded in the next place.

So long as the Mass of Blood, being fused with the serous and nourishable humour, is continually cir∣culated in the Vessels, from it a certain nutritious juice is made, by a perpetual digestion, which being put continually to the solid parts, goes into nourishment: This first of all is digested into a glutinons hu∣mour, like the white of an Egg, afterwards into thin Filaments or Rags, which being interwoven in the Pores, and little spaces of the solid parts, still afford to them an increase of new substance; but whilst the Serum being mixed with the Blood, washes all the Regions of the Body, it sucks up into it self a certain superfluous portion of this last Aliment, to be lay'd on the solid parts, and carries it forth of dores with it self; and this it is that constitutes the Hypostasis or settlement in Urines; wherefore so long as this is present, it indicates how far Concoction and Nutrition in some measure is performed, and is accounted a laudable sign; its absence shews Crudity and Cachectical people, or a Dyscrasie in Fevers; it consisting of small Threads or Filaments, is dispersed at first thorow the whole body of the Urine, and then is collected into a little Cloud, by this means. These Filaments or Threads, are long, and smooth, also indued with some sharpnesses like Brier-pricks, that from thence being shaken about, they easily lay hold of one onother, and are fastned together; even as if unto an Urinal full of water, you •…•…hould cast many Hairs, and then by shaking about the Vessel, the hairs at first swimming dispersedly, in a little time would lay hold on one another, and be collected into a little bundle; after the same man∣ner (as it seems) the little threads which constitute the Hypostasis or settlement being variously here and there agitated by the Colour and Spirits implanted in the Urine, intangle and thrust upon one ano∣ther, until they gather into one little Cloud by the mutual knitting of all together; and because these Filaments are compacted, and more solid than the other Contents of the Urine, they sink towards the bottom with their weight.

It is very likely, that these kind of Filaments, make the Hypostasis in the Urines of Sound People, for that the Blood being well constituted, and disposed to nourishment, is very much stuffed with Fi∣bres, or white Filaments: because, when a Vein is opened, if the Blood let out be received into warm water, it will be conspicuous to any one; for the red thick substance being diluted with the liquor, these

smooth and white threads swim in the water; wherefore it seems, that some of these thin or slen∣der rags, being snatch'd away with the serous juice, are the matter of this cloud subsiding in the Urine; wherefore in Cachectical people, by reason of Crudity, the Blood being very waterish, and unfit for nourishment, is destitute of these well labour'd Fibrils; also in Dyscrasies, when the nutritious hu∣mour, the Blood being too much scorched, is not rightly concocted into these kind of Filaments, the Hypostasis in Urines is either wholly wanting, or is very confused and disturbed.

It is said to be a good and laudable Hypostasis, which is of a whitish colour, of a round and equal figure, and sinks towards the bottom, to which are required, First, that that last Aliment be right∣ly labour'd, whereby the Filaments may become white, smooth and solid, like to slender Fibres. Secondly, That the Urine be sufficiently strong in spirits, which (as is beheld in the growing hot of Must, or new Wine) may agitate, and compel here and there all parts. Thirdly, that the liquor be not too thick, nor that its Pores be first possessed by strange bodies, whereby the motion of the contents may be hindred, but that a sufficient space may be left, for the free agitating and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 about these kind of Particles.

If the substance be red, it is a sign that that last Aliment is scorched and burnt, with too much heat; wherefore such a sediment, for the most part is in the beginning of a Feavour, so long as the Coction in the Viscera and Vessels, is not wholly perverted; if the Hypostasis be broken and unequal it is a sign that the nutriment destinated for the solid parts, is not rightly and equally con∣concocted, and that its Particles are not homogene, and alike in every part: wherefore the Fila∣ments do not cohere together, but these with those, and they with others, are entangled apart; hence some more thick descend towards the bottom, and others more light swim upon the top. When the Hy∣postasis does not wholly sink down, but hangs all of it, either in the middle or upper Region, that happens, because that those Filaments are not perfectly laboured, nor solid and compact, but more rare and spungy, or because the liquor is thicker, and more impregnate with Salt and Sulphur, and there∣fore like Lie it sustains some weights, which otherwise would sink to the bottom. Sometimes the Hypostasis is wholly wanting, in sound people, after long fasting, immoderate labours, or copious sweating, the matter being wholly consumed into nutriment, or evaporated by sweat; in Fevers, by reason of the very depraved condition of the Blood; also in the Pica, Cachexie, and other Distempers of that kind, by reason of the great Crudity.

Concerning the consistency of the Urine in sound people, there is not much worthy consideration to be met with: It is wont to be of that sort, as midling Beer is, being purified by a long Fermenta∣tion; or Lye a little boyled, viz. the watry liquor of the Urine, ought to include in its Pores and pas∣sages, a great many Particles of Salt and Sulphur, most smally broken and dissolved; and besides a little of earth, divided very exceeding small, and dispersed thorow the whole body of the Piss, if the consistence be thinner than it ought, as it is in clear, or limpid Urines, and watry, it is a sign of indigestion and crudity; that the Aliments are not fully overcome, and concocted; but if the Urine be thicker, and closer than it ought, it is a sign, that the body of the liquor, is filled with preternatural Contents. But of these elsewhere, when we shall speak of the Urines of the sick.

Thus far of Urine, forasmuch as it is an Excrement, and sign of Concoction in a sound body (truly performed in the Viscera and in the Vessels) the quantity or bulk of which is to be deter∣mined by the potulent matter; the colour Citron, from the dissolved Salt and Sulphur, and boy∣led in the Serum; the Hypostasis or Contents depend upon the Filaments, elaboured in the Blood, for the nourishment of the solid parts; the consistency on the Salt and Sulphur, together with the Particles of Earth, filling the Pores and passages of the serous liquor. It next remains, that we treat of the Urines of Sick People: in which also, the Quantity, Colour, Contents, Consistence, and some accidents besides, offer themselves to consideration.

CHAP. IV. Of the Quantity and Colour in Urines of sick People.

IN a Morbous provision of Bodies, or Sickly estate, the quantity of the Urine does not exactly qua∣drate with the proportion of the liquid things taken; for sometimes it wants of its due measure, and sometimes exceeds it. When the Urine is much less than the drinkable things taken, the reason is, because the watry Latex either stays somewhere in the Body, or is diverted by some other way of Excretion, than by Urine: if it rem•…•…ins within; First, it is either heaped up about the Viscera, and their Cavities, and so is stay'd now in the Ventricle, more than it ought to do, and in∣duces by the distention of it, troubles, with spitting; but more often, it is laid up in the hollowness of the Abdomen, and sometimes of the Thorax and head, and there is wont to cause Hydropic Diseases. Or, Secondly, the Serum stagnates in the Vessels, and so increases the bulk of the Blood, and NerVous Liquor, and notably perverts its motion; whence Catarrhs, Rheumatick distempers, and often Palfies and Convulsions are caused. Or thirdly, this watry humour is fixed in the habit of the body, and so creates a swelling up of the whole body, or of some parts. Or fourthly and lastly, it is obstructed in the urinary passages, by the Stone, or thick matter, as it were a dam opposing it; and causes in those parts pains and Convulsions, and a fulness of the Serum in the whole body. When the serous water is other ways bestowed, the Patients are for the most part prone to frequent and troublesome Sweats, or almost to a continual Loosness.

The distempers therefore which the small quantity of the Urine is wont to indicate, are sometimes the swelling up of some of the Viscera, and a heaping up of water in them, sometimes Catarrhal dis∣tempers, sometimes evil dispositions of the nervous stock: sometimes an Anasarca and watry Tumors: and sometimes the stony disposition of the Reins and Bladder. And sometimes also the diminution of the Urine is the effect and sign of some other preternatural evacuation, viz. an immoderate excretion of Siveat, Lask, or some other thing. To describe here exactly all the subsistences of the serous Latex, either in the body, or the causes of it other ways excreted, and the manner of doing it, were to transfer hither almost the whole matter of Pathology; for many and divers are the occasions and circumstances, whereupon this Serum is heaped up in this or that part, and subsisting in the body, diminishes the quantity of the Urine; but for the most part the principal and most frequent cause of this consists not so much in the fault of the Liver, Spleen, or Reins, as of the blood it self: to wit, a copious and free making of Urine, as also its stay in the body, and only made in little quantity, depends chiefly on the temper of the blood, and either on its kindling, or fermentation in the heart: for if the blood be strong in rightly exalted principles, (viz. Spirit, Sulphur, and Salt) it grows very hot in the Vessels, and so the frame of the liquor being loose enough, it is duly kindled by the ferment of the heart; and almost spiritualizes the whole, passes through all parts with heat and a rapid motion, without stopping; and whatsoever is superfluous and volatile, evaporates out of doors: and whilst the blood is rarified, and boiling with heat, passes through the Reins; what is serous is easily separated, either by the strainer of the Reins only or (which is most likely) by a coagulation, and is as it were precipitated from the remain∣ing mass of the blood. The same thing almost happens after this manner to the blood, as we may observe in Milk, viz. whilst it is warmed, and grows hot, it most easily goes into parts, and its Serum is most easily separated by the least drop of Runnet, or Coagulum put into it: but if you pour much more strong and sour ferment into it, when it is cold, a precipitation will hardly follow; so if the blood be∣comes through an evil constitution, or ill manner of living, more cool and watry, that being less endu∣ed with active Elements, it grows but dully hot, and is but little kindled in the heart, it is circulated very slowly and difficultly in the Vessels; passing through the Pores and passages of the Viscera, it cleaves a little to them, and leaves something behind it; whe•…•…ce are gotten every where Obstructions and Tu∣mors; also the blood by this means becoming viscous and cool, and so unfit for precipitation, or percola∣tion lays aside less readily its excrements in the Reins; but leaves them every where in the body, because it hardly, and not without the residence of a certain humor, is circulated. Wherefore in this state, those things thatmove the blood very much, as exercise and a more quick motion; or also such as may fuse it, as it were with a Coagulum or Runnet, as are sharp things, and preparations of Salts, will more freely provoke Urine.

It sometimes happens, that the Urines of the sick are made in a large quantity, and very profuse, that a day and a nights space, they make perhaps twice or thrice as much water as the Liquids they have taken; the causes of which distemper are also various, and the significations very divers; if after the suppression in of Urine, or its quantity formerly lessened, if in Hydropick distempers, Rheumatisms, or passions of the nervous stock, or in the Crises of Fevers, a flowing down of the Urine follows, either of its own ac∣cord, or by the use of Diureticks, it denotes a Cure of the disease, or preternatural disposition, or at least a declining of it. But if (as I have often observed) in a lean and weak constitution (without any of the

previous distempers but now recited) the Urine exceeds much the Liquids taken, and from thence a great debility of the whole follows, this indeed signifies an evil disposition, with a tendency to a wasting or Consumption. I have known some women of a tender and most fine make, who sometimes being ill, for many days, were wont daily to make water in a great abundance, (exceeding twice the Liquids taken) and that watry and thin, without contents or settlement; at which time they have complained of a lan∣guishing of strength, difficult respiration, and an impotency to motion. I suppose in this case, that the blood and nervous juyce grow too sour, from the salt carried forth, and suffering a Flux, and there∣fore that they are somewhat loosned in their mixture, and fused so much into serosity, as to be made fit for it. For it is to be observed, that all Liquids, though more thick and mucilaginous, if they be kept to a sourness, presently become for the most part watry and limpid: also the flowing down of the Urine is sometimes seen to arise from such a disposition of the blood and humors: for that the Urine so copi∣ously excreted, is like Vinegar in taste; and these kind of distempers are usually cured, chiefly by Chalybe∣ates, and not by binding and thickning things.

But as to what respects the Colour, the Urine of sound people may be the square or rule, to which all the rest of the sick may be referred; for as the colour of sound peoples is Citron, the Urine of the sick is paler than Citron, and so either watry, or white, or higher coloured than it; whose cheif kinds are, flame-colour, yellow, red, green, and black. I shall run through every one of these briefly, and endeavour to weigh them together, by what causes all the alterations may be made, and what distempers, or provi∣sions of diseases they are wont to make known.

The Urine is watry or limpid, when by reason of the indigestion of the Ventricle, the saline and sul∣phureous particles of things eaten, are not rightly subjugated, nor being smally broken, are made so vo∣latile, that being dissolved in the Serum, they may impart to it a tincture, which it may carry with it, through the several turnings and windings of its passage: For the Latex or juyce to be changed into Urine, because it is forced through very secret passages, and narrow, as it were by a certain distillation; therefore it is wholly deprived of the colour and consistency, which it had from the taken Liquids, and imbibes al∣most nothing, but the volatile part, from the Chyme, whose Vehicle it is. Wherefore, if by reason of the great crudity, the Salt, Sulphur, and other contents are not first made volatile in the Viscera, nor afterwards dissolved in the Vessels, that they may make their passage together with the serous juyce; it being at last stripped almost of all, is sent out like clear water. That such Urines do want the active principles, it is a sign, because they are kept a long time from putrefaction: This sort of Urine denotes in Virgins, for the most part, the Green-sickness, in most the Cachexy or Dropsie; in all it is a note of indigestion and crudity. Sometimes in those obnoxious to the Stone, it foretels the approach of the fit, viz. whilst the Serum is coagulated by the stony juyce in the Reins, its dissolutions and contents are con∣gealed into a tartareous matter, only a watry juyce or Latex staying behind. Those who for some time make a thin and watry Urine, what ever sickness they are obnoxious to, have often ad∣joyned to it a difficulty of breathing, and shortness thereof after motion, and distention about the region of the Ventricle, and as it were a swelling up after eating. The reason of the former wholly depends on the defect of spirits in the blood, because its liquor is not fully imbued with active principles (of Spirit, Sulphur, and Salt) rightly exalted; therefore it is not sufficiently kindled by the ferment of the heart, where∣by the whole may presently leap forth, and break as it were into a flame: but that hardly fermenting, and being apt to stagnate in the heart, and for the most part to reside there, burdens it grievously: where∣fore if the blood so disposed, is urged more than it is wont, by a more quick motion, into the bosom of the Heart, because not being rarified of its own accord, it may presently go wholly forth, therefore there is need of great endeavour of the Lungs, and a more quick or frequent agitation, whereby it may be car∣ried forth. Therefore watry Urines signifie this kind of Crudity in the blood; because, for as much as they receive no tincture almost from the Salt and Sulphur, it is a sign that the Particles are little dissolved in the mass of blood, or are rendred volatile. As to what appertains to the inflation of the Ventricle (of which also limpid or clear Urines are the effect and sign) I say, because of a defect of due Fermentation, the Chyle goes not into a volatile Cream, but (like bread not fermented) into a sad and heavy mass, which indeed is slowly, and not without a residence of viscous Phlegm, carried out of the stomach: its reliques being impacted in the folds and Membranes of the Ventricle, obstruct all the Pores and passages, that no∣thing may vapour forth, nor that the thin and spirituous part may be conveyed (as it ought to be) by the secret passages, to the blood: hence flatulencies are begotten, which continually distend the Ventricle, and blow it up beyond its due bulk: also when those Feculencies are left a long time in the stomach, they abound in a fixed Salt, and degenerate now into an acid, now into a vitriolick matter, or of some o∣ther nature; from whence Heart-aches, desire of absurd things, oftentimes Heat with cruel thirst, and sometimes Vomiting arise: some of which though they argue a very sharp heat to lye hid within, yet by reason of the want of concoction, such distempers often render the Urine crude and watry. We have treated thus largely of a limpid or clear Urine, because from hence the reasons of the rest (which as to colour and consi•…•…tency are pale and thin in healthful persons) may be drawn. For from the Salt and Sulphur, more or less dissolved and boiled in the Serum, the appearances of a pale and straw-coloured Urine, and of other colours, under a Citron colour, are excited; and by the like means, which was said of the watry, they may be unfolded.

There remains another certain kind of Urine, more pale than the Citron Colour, not thin but thick and cloudy, and of whitish colour; it appears by common observation, that children do often make such water, when they are troubled with the Worms: The reason of which seems, because the matter whereof the worms are made, is a certain viscous Phlegm, heaped up in the Viscera, by reason of the indigestion of the Chyle, and a defect of making or generating Spirits, which matter at first transmits no tincture to the Urine, because of its fixity, the same afterwards putrifying is exalted, and is in some manner vola∣tilized; and then partly by heat and spirit, is formed into worms, and partly being confused with the passing Chyle, and carried into the vessels, when 'tis made unfit for nourishment, it is separated with the Serum from the blood, and being mixed with the Urine, gives it that white colour. Sometimes also in Fevers, especially of children, The Urine is whitish: the reason of which is, because the supplement of the nutritious juyce being poured from the Chyle to the mass of blood, is not rightly assimilated, degene∣rater into an excrementitious humor: A portion of which being incocted in the Serum, imparts to it the the thick consistence and milky colour: otherwise than in the Fevers of those of riper years, where when the heat is stronger, the same degenerate juyce impresses on the Serum a red colour. Also the Urine is whitish in the flowing of the Whites, the Gonorrhea, Ulcers of the Reins and Bladder, and of the Uri∣nary passages, by reason of the confusion or mingling of the filthy matter, or the corrupted seed: how∣eves it be, that the colour of the Urine be white, it is produced from its contents, which at last putting down its settlement to the bottom, the liquor for the most part becomes of a palish and yellowish colour; even as it may be perceived by the making of the Milk of Sulphur, where the milky substance sinking down to the bottom, the overswimming liquor is of a Citron colour.

Urines whose colour is deeper than Citron, owe their appearance, not only to the Salt and Sulphur dissolved more than usual, but in some sort to the more thick contents in the liquor. The more plentiful dissolution of the Salt and the Sulphur, is chiefly performed in the vessels, in the mass it self of the blood, and from thence the Tincture is impressed on the serous Juyce: But this happens to be done for the most part, after a double manner, viz. either by reason of the fe∣verish fervour, for as much as the blood boiling in the vessels, and being more kindled in the Heart, is very much loosned in its mixture, and so copiously fixes on the Serum the particles of Salt and Sulphur, wasted as it were by the boiling: Or without a Fever, when these kind of sulphure∣ous and saline little bodies, wont to be sent forth at other sinks, are restrained; and so being by degrees heaped up in the blood, are poured into Serum. Of this also there are two ch•…•…if causes or means; for either the excrements of the blood, which cheifly participate of adust Sulphur, and that ought to be sent away by Choler-carrying vessels, are retained, and so they impress, being suffused on the serous humor, a tin∣cture of yellowness: or else the Effluvia's, which are chiefly of a Saline nature, and ought to be evaporat∣ed by insensible transpiration, are restrained, and from those the urine is filled with a lixivial tincture. The Urines of the former kind are proper to people that have the Jaundice; but those of this latter are fami∣liar to the Scurvy: for in the Scurvy the saline particles of the blood depart from volatilization, and get a Flux: wherefore, by reason of their fixity, they will not evaporate, and so being more fully heaped to∣gether in the blood, they more and more pervert its Crasis, and very much impregnate the serous humor with a saltness. The contents which heighten the colour of the urine, are of a twofold kind to wit, either adust recrements, remaining after the deflagration of the blood, or particles of the nutritious juyce, degene∣rated into an extraneous matter: Concerning which we shall speak hereafter in their proper place. It now remains that we describe particularly the several colours of urine more intense or deep than Citron colour.

1. The first is a flame-coloured Urine, which shines with a brightness like the Spirit of Nitre: and this is very often seen in an intermitting Tertian Fever; this colour arises from a portion of the thinner yellow Bile, mixed with the Serum, whilst it is in motion: for that in this Fever there is a sharp and hot intemperature of the blood, which burns and scorches all the humors, and so plentifully begets Cho∣ler. But although this, for the most part, is separated from the mass of blood by the Bilary vessels and passages; yet when it abounds in the vessels, a part of it, or (which is the same thing) some burnt and a∣dust particles of the blood and humors being boiled in the serous water, impart to it an high or deep yellowness. This urine is thin and shining, for that there is in this disease almost a continual breathing forth, thatthrusts out the recrements of the nutritious Juyce, and all the thicker parts of the Serum to∣wards the circumserence of the body.

2. The Saffron-coloured Urine, and which dyes Linen with the same colour, undoubtedly is a sign of the Jaundice: it is tinged after this manner by the yellow Bile or Choler, or by the Salt and Sulphur burnt and plentifully mixt with the Serum: for the yellow Bile is necessarily begot from the yoked heat and motion of the blood; but for this the Gall bag is designed by Nature, for the separating it from the mass of the blood, its passages being rooted in the Liver: But if such a separation be any ways hindred, that humors flowing back in the blood, and copiously heaped together, infects the skin with its yellowness, the blood, and especially the serous Latex. The Saffron-coloured Urine differs from the flame-coloured, because in this only a certain portion of the more thin Bile is poured into the Urine, but in that the more thick part, and much more plenty: besides, in the yellow Bile the Sulphur, with the Salt, being joyned and long circulated, is fully dissolved by it, that it becomes like paint, imparting to every subject a Saffron-coloured tincture; as when common Sulphur and Oyl of Tartar are mix∣ed together. But what things cause a redness Urins, without the restagnation of this Bile,

happen after the same manner as in the Lye of Ashes: where the particles of the Sulphur without any previous disposition from the saline, are forthwith put down with them in the Liquor.

3. It remains that we speak next of red Urines, which are of a divers habit, neither do they always depend on the same causes, nor plainly denote the same kind of distempers; we shall briefly run through the cheif differences and proper significations of them. First, the liquor of the urine is either red of it self, and remains after the same manner, nor is the colour altered by the setling or sinking down of any of the parts: or secondly, the redness of the urine chiefly owes its colour to the Contents, which being setled to the bottom, the liquor grows yellow, or is less red. The distempers that these kind of urines are wont to shew, are chiefly Fevers, and a confirmed Scurvy, and Consumption. W shall now consider the reasons of each.

1. When the Urine that is made red so remains, it is first of a mean consistency, and somewhat clear, and then it owes its colour to the Salt and Sulphur, being burnt more than usual, and so boiled more copiously in the Serum: or secondly, such an urine is red, and also troubled and cloudy: but this, be∣sides the contents of Salt and Sulphur, has boiled in it some earthy particles also, which indeed being im∣pacted in the Pores and passages of the serous Latex, do not descend: because the liquor of the urine is destitute of convenient spirits, which may segregate all heterogeneous thing•…•…, and drive them to the bot∣tom, as it is wont to happen usually in dead drink, or Beer growing sour by reason of Thunder; where the liquor is infected with a troubled Feces, and by reason of the defect of spirits, will not grow clear; wherefore this kind of urine is a very bad sign in, Fevers because it shews such a confusion in the blood of a∣dust and to be separated matter, such as the vital spirits are not able to master by taming and subjugating it.

2. Sometimes the Urine is made red, by reason of its contents; which setling in the bottom, the liquor becomes of another colour: but these contents, as before we hinted are twofold, viz. now thin, which are the remaining matter, or adust recrements after the burning forth of the blood; now more thick, to wit, the degenerate particles of the nutrious Juyce; both these being torrified, and separated from the burning blood, are partly thrust forth by Sweat, and partly mixed with the serous Latex, thicken its consistence, and heighten its colour, viz. so long as these kind of contents are included in the Pores and Passages of the liquor, they are sustained, the colour of the urine appears more deep, and the consistency thicker: but these being precipitated to the bottom, both the redness and thickness of the liquor are lessened. The reason of this shall be given anon, where we shall speak of the Causes of the Co∣lours, and also of the Clearness and Cloudiness of Urines: we shall now inquire, what is the reason of the difference, that red urines: are wont to be made both in Fevers, and also in the Scurvy, Con∣sumption, and perhaps in severall other distempers.

1. In Fevers, the liquor of the Urine is filled with redness, because of the more plentiful dissolution of the Salt and Sulphur, and their particles copiously boiled in the Serum; for whilst the blood and humors grow hot, from the feverish cause, by reason of the heat being more fully inkinded, the saline and sul∣phureous little bodies being burnt and torrified, are more dissolved; and being boiled in the serous Juyce, impart to it a deeper tincture: Even as if the Lye of Ashes be boiled over the fire, it grows more red, than if it were only only made by infusion. Also in Fevers, the contents of the urine most often increase its colour, viz. by reason of the intemperance and deflagration of the blood, both the degenerate particles of the nourishing Juyce, and also other matter (as it were the Ashes remaining of the burning of the blood) are burnt together, as it were into a reddish Calx; which being included in the Pores of the urine, renders its co∣lour deep, and afterwards sinking down, makes a sediment like red Oker.

2. In a long Scurvy, the liquor of the Urine grows sometimes so highly red, that it cannot be greater in a burning Fever: if such urine be evaporated, or exposed to distillation, it will shew great plenty of Salt, with a muddy Fecrs or dreges: wherefore it seems to be manifested, that this deep redness doth cheifly a∣rise from the Salt, (as we have already hinted) by this Experiment; because in Scorbutick people the saline particles, which ought to be made volatile, and so constantly exhaled by transpiration, become fixed, and be∣ing hindred form a flux, are heaped together more plentifully in the distempered body. The Salt re∣remaining within, is variously coagulated with Sulphur and Earth, and then is continually dissolved: and from this diverse coagulation and dissolution, the to be admired Symptoms of this Disease are caused, Also from the saline little bodies plentifully dissolved with Tartarous feculencies, anddiluted with the Se∣rum, urines are filled with an high redness; to which most often happen in this inveterate disease vices of the Liver and Gall; for when these inwards, being either obstructed or other ways depraved, cannot perform their tasks, for the separtting the adust particles of the blood, they being more fully heaped up in the blood, are dissolved in the serous Juyce, and infect it yet with a more lixivial tincture. And if the a∣dust particles of the Sulphur do excel the rest of the fixed and scorbutick Salt, the yellow Jaundice happens together with the Scurvy, and the urine fixes to Linen a Saffrony tincture. But if they be less than they, and that the saline particles excel, the Scorbutick distemper only is produced, in which the urine in intensly red yet does not dye the Linen. I am perswaded that it is thus; because, when I have opened the dead car∣casses of many dead of the Scuryy, in whom there was a red urine, I observed that the Liver or Gall was in fault: In some the Liver was wholly without blood, and dry like a Cows Udder; in others the bag of the Gall was empty, and nothing in it; in others it wa, beset with little stones; in others it was filled with filth, not bitter; in all these Inwards were so distempred, that the secretion of the Bile was hindred.

3. By reason of this kind of dissolution of the Salt, Urines sometimes grow red in Arthritick diseases: for besides the Gout (in which such Urine is often made) I have observed in some a painful distemper, and as it were like a Fever, caused, with a very high-coloured Urine; they had wandring pains, now in this place, now in that, grievously tormenting, that the sick were scarce able to stand, or to stir their limbs: they were obnoxious to wakings and frequent sweats; they were also troubled much with thirst, and heat of their mouth: and they had a Urine highly red, with a plentiful red sediment. In the mean time it did not appear, either by the Pulse, languishing of the Spirits, or Head-aches, that the blood grew excessively hot, or that they had a Fever. Wherefore I suppose that this kind of distemper doth chiefly consist in the nervous stock, and depends on the exorbitances of the saline Principle, rather than the sulphureous.

4. Also in the confirmed Phthisis or Consumption, especially if an Hectick Fever be joyned with it, there is a red Urine; the reason of which is, if at any time an Ulcer is excited in the Lungs, the putrid filth from thence being mingled with the blood sliding by, causes in it almost a continual effervescency, whereby the sulphureous and sal•…•…ne particles being more plentifully dissolved and boiled in the Serum, affect its liquor with redness: besides, by reason of the blood being defiled after this manner, the nourish∣ing Juyce degenerates almost wholly into putrefaction, by whose recrements the Urine being filled, grows more red, and is very much stuffed with contents: The sign or note of this is, that the sick for the most part grow hot after eating, and that they are troubled with an heat through their whole body, fol∣lowed with a nightly sweat; besides, their Urines yield a thick and copious sediment, to wit, when the nourishing Juyce, being mixed with the blood, is not assimilated, it stirs up in it a fervour, and being degenerate into an extraneous matter, exhales partly by sweat through the Pores of the skin, and partly being transmitted to the Urine, very much heightens its colour and consistency.

Thus far of a red Urine, whose several species, but now related, have more degrees of intention and remission, accordingly as the causes, altering the colour and consistence in them, are either weaker or stronger.

4. As to what belongs to a green and black Urine, I consess I have never seen those kind of deep colours (exactly like those ofLeeks and Ink) in any Urine: but I imagine I may have seen the appear∣ance of a greenish colour from a more deep yellow, and of a blackish Urine from the same with a cloudy and somewhat a dark mixture, and from thence called by Authors a green and black Urine. But those Urines, coloured after that manner, are esteemed either signs of the Jaundice, or of being distempered with some virulency of the blood, if they continue so constantly for some time: or such Urines, as occa∣sion offers, are variously changed, and are now of this or that, and presently of another colour. So I have known Hypochondriacks wont to make such Urines, as it were critically for some time, and then afterwards to render them like sound men. As to the first, when the Jaundice is very great upon them, that the adust portions of Sulphur and Salt remain a long time in the mass of blood, they acquire by a long incoction a fulness of the yellow colour, at first green, and afterwards black, and impart the same to the Serum: For if the yellow Bile, being taken out of the bag of the Gall, and put into a Cucur∣bit, be exposed to the gentle heat of a Bath, the same in a short time will grow green, and afterwards ap∣pear like the blackest Ink: wherefore in the black Jaundice, which is only the yellow carried forth into a worse state, by its long stay or continuance, there is nothing more usual than to make black Urine. Besides, these kind of Urines sometimes appear in a malignant Fever, and in the Plague, also often from drinking of poyson, and in this case it is for the most part a sign of death, because it argues the blood greatly corrupted, and the spirits profligated, and the bond of the mixture loosned, as it were the deadly or mortified distemper: even as were some part of our body, being distempered with an Ulcer, is afterward taken with a Gangrene or mortification, forthwith the flowing corrupt matter, which was at first white, waterish, or yellow, becomes black. Wherefore in the forementioned distempers, when the Urine grows black, the Serum and the blood being wholly vitiated, the skin also is dyed outwardly with such a co∣lour. As to what belongs to Urines periodically tinctured with a greenish colour, and especially with black (which happen often to Hypochondriacks) it is most likely, that such arise from the melancholick Feculencies laid up in the Spleen, and from thence, by reason of its congestion, too much flowing forth some∣times, and confused with the blood: for such a matter, being often poured into the Ventricle in some men, stirs up black Vomitings; also in others, the same being supp'd up from the blood passing through, may im∣part suffusions of the same colours to the serous Juyce.

So much for the Colours of Urines, of which the more pale arise from too much Crudity, almost all the high-coloured, either from the Salt and Sulphur plentifully dissolved, and sometimes from the adu•…•…t recrements throughly boiled in the Serum, or from the more thick contents of the Urine; whether they be the Calx and remaining part of the aliment, degenerated in the concoction, or the wasting or melt∣ing of the pining body, or some part of it evilly distempered: what hath been said may be better under∣stood, if the means, whereby these kind of dissolved things or contents are able variously to change the colour of the Urine, be unfolded.

The causes of the diversity of appearances of colours, and their variously changing, as also of the cloudi∣ness and clearnes•…•… in Urines, (as in all other Liquors) depend only on the various incidency and emersion of the beams of light, as is hinted in another place, in the Tract of Fermentation: For if the substance of the liquor be rare and thin, with open Pores and passages, that the beams of light may easily pass

through, it is shining and clear like fountain water: but if the Pores of the liquor be filled with contents, or little bodies swimming in it, so that the luminous beams are broken in their passage, but so that at length they may shew themselves, according to those various manners of refraction and emission, there will appear a Citron, a Saffron, or red colour in a yet clear liquor. If that, in the little spaces of the Porces yet more obstructed, the light cannot pass through, there is a darkness induced: but then if the immersed beams be a little or nothing reflected, the liquor will appear of a brown or dark colour; but if they are beaten back, according to the diverse manner of reflection, a white, ashy, or some other kind of appearance, is induced. From this being supposed, according as the liquor of the Urine, sometimes almost wholly de∣prived of Salt and Sulphur, and other things dissolved, easily admits of light, sometimes either very much stuffed, or else moderately with these kind of contents, either distorts the beams falling on them in their pas∣sage, or wholly imbibes them, or lastly beats them back; it were easie to explicate all the Phaenomena or appearances of colours and their consistence.

It often happens, that the colour of the same Urine is variously changed: for what is made red, being exposed to the air, becomes white, or of a dark colour, and then after a long time of Citron colour: the reason of which is this, if I am not deceived, this kind of Urine, when it is made, is red, because the Pores of the Liquor are very full of contents; yet so long as they are dilated with heat, they transmit the rays of light, (although variously distorted) that they may at length shew themselves or appear; but this Urine is no sooner exposed to the cold, but that the Pores being straitned, the site and position of the parts is chang∣ed in the contents, and by that means the passage of the beams of light is hindred: wherefore the liquor presently becomes cloudy, and according as those beams are reflected after this or that manner, a white, or brown, or some other kind of colour is induced: but at length the contents falling down towards the bot∣tom with their weight, the Pores being freed, transmit again the rays of light, and do not distort them; wherefore a clear or a Citron colour appears.

From these things which have been spoken concerning the Colours of Urins, may appear what is the cause of the various consistence of Urines. For the particles of Salt and Sulphur, of the adust matter, or nutritious Juyce, depraved in the similating, are more or less boiled in the Serum, Urines also get their more thin or thick consistency. It remains next that we speak more clearly of the Contents in preterna∣tural Urines, wher•…•…of we have often made mention.

CHAP. V. Of the Contents in the Urines of sick People.

WE suppose the Contents in the Urines of sick people to be twofold, viz. either universal, which proceed from the mass of Blood, and of the nervous Liquor, and respect the ha∣bit of the whole Body; or particular, which are the layings aside or excrements of one bowel, or part ill affected, of which we shall speak anon. Those of the former kind, which come away from the whole, are either natural, viz. Filaments or small threads constituting the Hypo∣stasis or settlement, as in sound Urins; or preternatural, which chiefly are particles of the nutritious humor degenerate from assimilation, and constitute to more thick bodies of the sediment in Urines; and lastly to these, (if there be a feverish intemperance) the adust matter of the blood after deflagration, and diluted in the serous Juyce, is added, and increases the bulk of the Contents.

But these Contents, both natural and preternatural, of Urines, represent themselves after a various manner, as the blood more or less unduly grows hot, also as the aliments in the bowels and vessels are variously concocted, and either the superfluities or corruptions of the Chyme, thence made, are washed a∣way with the Serum: for if the nourishable humor transmitted to blood, is not at all perverted, but a great portion of it, laid upon the solid parts, is changed into nourishment, some parts of this also rightly made, being mixed with the Serum, impress yet some marks of an Hypostasis in Urines: Also from the adust or degenerate matter, a preternatural sediment is framed, yet little and thin, neither doth it wholly blot out the appearances of this natural. Wherefore in the begininning and declination of a Fever, some∣times also in a Consumption, or a Cachexy, an Hypostasis, though not so perfect, is perceived. If that the greater portion of the same Chyme, growing hot with the blood, by reason of the immoderate heat, is perverted into an heterogene matter, which afterward is sent away with the Serum, as hurtful and un∣profitable, presently an obscure and imperfect Hypostasis appears; and besides it, very many contents are seen in the Urines, which heighten their colour and consistency. Such an Urine, which contains an Hypostasis, though imperfect, together with other things of the same kind dissolved in it, if it be kept in a warm place, the Hypostasis will be perceived alone; but the rest of the contents, comprehend in the pores of the Urine, dilated by the heat, are made wholly inconspicuous or not to be seen: yet afterwards the little spaces of the Pores being straitned by cold, the same contents are precipitated,

and by that means they render the site and position changed, and the Urine troubled and cloudy, and blot out the appearance of the Hypostasis. These kind of Urines in the better state of Fevers in a Catarrh, Cough, difficulty of perspiration, fulness of humors, and in the more light Dyscrasies are wont to be made.

But if in the more grievous state of sickness the Concoction be wholly vitiated, and the whole nutri∣tious Juyce changed into a putrefaction, these kind of contents also may be perceived in the Urine with∣out an Hypostasis, and signifies variously in diseases, after their various ways of being precipitated, and sinking down, and constituting a diverse kind of sediment; to wit, as the separation of the parts succeed soon or late, or not at all; and as the matter falling down shall be little or much, or also of a white, red, or dark colour. I will briefly run through what is most notable and worthy observation concerning this thing.

1. This kind of Urine being full of contents, is not sometimes at all precipitated, (unless the sub∣stance of the liquor be dissolved by putrefaction a long time after) but remains a long while troubled and somewhat cloudy, with little bodies swimming through the whole. The reason of this is, either because these contents are too much incocted in the Serum, so that the spirits implanted therein, cannot separate the pure from the impure, the thick from the thin; as may be perceived in brewing Beer, if that the Mault be too much boiled, the liquor shall never grow clear: or else the Urine remains troubled, because it is wholly destitute of spirits, which may compel the parts of the liquor into the motion of Fermentation; as it usually comes to pass in Beer growing sour by reason of Thunder, or of immode∣rate heat, and being infected with a troubled Feces or Lee, will scarce ever be rightly made clear again. This kind of Urine is perceived for the most part in very dangerous Fevers, and sometimes in a desperate Cachexy, and always portends evil.

2. Sometimes it happens, that the Urine is so full of contents, that it begins to be troubled whilst it is yet warm. I have often obs•…•…rved it, after this manner, in a slow Fever, whose heat was gentle and more remiss, to wit, in which the particles of the nutritious crassament or substance are depraved, but being a little subdued by heat, or boiled in the Serum, they easily fall out of its pores: as when common Sulphur is boiled in Lye, if that before it be perfectly dissolved, it be taken from the fire, the liquor at first clear and red, by reason of the quick precipitation of the dissolved matter, becomes presently troubled, dark, and of a somewhat whitish colour.

3. But what most usually comes to pass, that this sort of Urine, big with contents, as long as it is hot, and some time after, seems clear and perspicuous, when it grows cold, is wont to be troubled, and as if some Runnet were infused to be precipitated according to all its parts; yet the same, if held near the fire, or in warm water for a little space, shall grow clear again. The reason of this is already fully un∣folded, where we spake of the Causes of Cloudiness and of Clearness.

4. After that the Urine being exposed to the cold, is precipitated in this manner, it may be observed by what means its contents descend to the bottom, for sometimes they settle in short a time: and if the liquor grows clear in the space of two or three hours, it is a sign that the liquor of the Urine is not too thick, nor very much filled with Salt and Sulphur: wherefore in the beginning or declination of Fevers, when the heat is slack, such an Urine is most often made: sometimes such a settlement follows not but in the space of many days; the reason of which is, because the consistence of the liquor is thicker than it should be, therefore the contents or dissolved things are not so easily let go from its embrace, that they may fall down to the bottom by their weight. These kind of Urines are wont to be made in the state or height of Fevers, and most often precede an evil Crisis.

5. Of no less a diverss kind are the sediments which fall to the bottom. That I may pass over in this place the filthy matter, and blood, sand, gravel, and the like, deposited from some parts, I shall mention those which are the products of the whole body, and they for the most part are either white or brown, or red like Oker: If you strain Urine, when it hath stood long, through brown paper, you may collect these contents. I have often seen a whiteness like Chalk, and sometimes red like Bole Armene, without doubt there is the same matter of all, to wit, the recrements of the deflagrated blood, and of the nutritious juyce depraved in the assimilating: which, as they are burnt by heat in our body, and di∣versly perverted, appear also in the Urine under a various colour and form; even as Antimony mixed with Nitre, as it is more or less calcined exhibits a Calx, now red, now Saffron colour, now yellow, now brown: The like reason is (as it seems) of the sediments of Urines, which are as it were the Calx of the sulphureous and earthy matter burnt forth by the fire of the Fever in the Viscera and Vessels.

6. Besides these kinds of Contents, which happen in the Urines of sick people, I have often observed, that after the Urine had stood a long while, something was affixed to the sides of the glass like sand, and indeed in divers figures; for now these little bodies like sand grow together with a sharp and unequal superficies, now with ridges like the Crystals of Nitre, and some shine and are pellucid like Ice. I have seen these kind of Crystals fixed to the Urinal, sometimes in the Urines of those troubled with a Dysen∣tery, also in those troubled with pertinacious wakings. Sometimes in Urines, when they have stood long, a certain Cream will swim on the top, as when Tartar is boiled in water: this kind of whitish crust growing together in the superficies of the Urine, is commonly thought to be fat and fattish things, and taken for the melting of the solid parts: wherefore such as are wont to make such an Urine, are presently pronounced to be consumptive, and in a desperate condition: But indeed that is only a saline concretion

which if put into the fire, will not melt, but grows hard into a crusty substance. Yea both this and the other concrescences of Urines are as it were the Tartar brought forth in them by a certain Coagulation: But such a concretion depends altogether on the particles of the fluid or acetous Salt, combined with o∣thers of the fixed or Alcalisate Salt: For in every subject where there is a commixtion of the Salts of either kind, Crystallizations and Coagulations of a diverse manner are caused, either spontaneously by Nature, or may be procured by artificial separation: wherefore this kind of Urine, on which this Cream swims, or that Crystals gather in the sides of the Vessels, indicates the blood to be departed, from its sweet and Balsamick nature (such as depends of the volatile Salt) into an acid and corrosive, by reason of the flux and fixity of the saline Principle. Such an Urine, if it be evaporated, leaves in the bottom of the Vessel great Plenty of Salt: the distempers wherein it is usually found (as I have often obser∣ved) are spitting of blood, Atrophy, or general wasting, and the Hypochondriack disposition.

In the Urines of sick people it is worth observation, whether they dye the Urinal or not? For some∣times in Fevers the Urine is no sooner put into the Glass, but presently it darkens its sides with a whitish cloud, and again at another time this does not happen: I suppose that the Glass is dyed, when the liquor of the Urine is fuller of dissolved Sulphur, than its pores can contain within themselves; as may be preceived in Lye, wherein common Sulphur or Antimony is boiled: Also every Urine, if it stand in the Glass till it putrifie, will infect its sides with a crust or cloud, sometimes whitish, sometimes reddish, sometimes of another colour: for the frame of the liquor being loosned by putrefaction, the particles of the Sulphur being loosned from the bond of mixture stick to the Glass: But in the Urines of sick people sometimes this presently follows, because the Sulphur is more copiously dis∣solved than can be included in its pores.

As to what respects the particular Contents of Urines, they indeed are manifold, and may come from many parts and places: yet they most often depend on diseases implanted about the Reins, Blad∣der, and Urinary passages: sometimes it happens by reason of an Imposthume in the Liver, Spleen, Lungs or other inward; or by reason of preternatural humours heaped up in those places, and flowing out with their fulness, an extraneous matter is transmitted into the mass of blood, and thence into the serous Juyce: but this happens more rarely, because an imposthume being broken within, for the most part pours out its matter into the cavities of the Viscera, from which there is no passage open into the Urinary passages: besides the mass of blood flowing with impurities, does not presently endeavour to send them forth by Urine, but oftener by sweat, spitting, breaking out of Wheals, Tumors, or by other ways of excretion. Wherefore it appears by common observation, that the other contents of Urines (that which we have above cited) are chiefly sent from the Reins and their dependences; the chief of which are sand, stones, blood, matter, bits of flesh, skins, branny or mealy sediments, which for the most part signifie either the stony or an ulcerous distemper, or both together, planted beyond the emulgent Vessels.

It is an usual thing for some to void with their water, gravel or small sand of a red colour in great quantity; some of these are obnoxious to the stone in the Reins, and are frequently tormented with Nephritick fits: I have also known others without pain, or other grievous Symptom, for a long time to make a sandy water. All Urines whatsoever, if they stand for some time in a leaded or earthy glazed ves∣sel, affix this kind of red sand to the sides and bottom of the Pot, to wit, the volatile Salt of the Urine is coagulated with the fixed Salt of the Metal: so when Salt Armoniac being mixed with the filings of Steel, Sea-Salt, or Vitriol is sublimated, the elevated flours grow notable red: wherefore it seems that these kind of little sands are begot in the Reins, for that the Salt of the Urine is coagulated with the Tarta∣rous feculencies laid up about the windings of the Reins, from whence the sandy matter is made, which is presently washed away by the serous Juyce passing through: Therefore the gravel that is so frequently made are no small parts or fragments of a greater stone, (as is commonly thought) but extemporary products of the blood and Serum washing the winding passages of the Reins.

By what means little stones are produced in the Bladder or Reins, is not to be fully discoursed in this place: But without doubt it is done rather by Coagulation than Exsiccation or Excalefaction, by dry∣ing or heating, I have observed some sick of the Stone in the Bladder, who after they have made water, were wont to void with great striving and pain a thick and viscous Juyce, which presently hardned into a scaly matter: the smell of this was like Lye, and of such a consistence as Lye evaporated to a thick∣ness, the liquor of which being made thick, presently stiffens into a saline hardness. Lesser stones sometimes pass through the Urinary passages, and are carried out: the greater remain unmoved in their Cells. The places wherein they are usually begotten are the narrow winding bosoms of the Reins, from thence the smaller slide into the Bladder, and if not excerned, they grow into great stones. I once saw many great stones shut up as it were in a Chest about the sides of the Bladder between its Membranes; these without doubt being sent from the Reins while smaller remained in the passages of the Ureters, creeping between the Coats of the Bladder, and there by degrees did increase in bulk. A Matron so distempered long before her death, cast out of the Urinary passage a Membrane thick and broad, full of sandy matter, which (as appeared after her body was opened) was part of the interior Tunick of the Bladder worn and broken by the stones there included.

It is ordinary for Nephritick people, or such as are troubled with the Stone, frequently to void blood or matter with their Urine: for from a greater stone, and endued with sharpness, the flesh of the Reins is easily worn, and the mouths of the Vessels opened, whereby blood flowing out, tinges the Urine; and when a solution of unity is caused in this manner in the Reins, an Ulcer most commonly follows, where∣by matter and filthy stuff are poured out with the serous water, and constitute a plentiful and stink∣ing sediment in the Urine: then the sore being more inlarged by the Ulcer, more large profusions of blood often follow, and the flesh it self of the Reins being worn away, and by degrees eaten off, is voided with the Urine. I visited once an ancient Woman, who daily voided with her Urine, for many months, pure blood in great quantity; besides, as often as she made water, she used to void in great quan∣tity pieces of flesh, great gobbets, as it were the little Tubes of the Vessels eaten away, that it was suspected one of her Kidneys was all thus cut away from her body: yet afterwards by a vulnerary Decoction acidu∣lated with Spirit of Vitriol, that bloody water was staid, and this Woman lives still well and in health. I knew another Matron, who used for a long time in making water to void at first blood with a purulent matter, and Membranes: then the bloody water ceasing, for many years she made a waterish Urine with a copious sediment, and white like snot, sinking down to the bottom of the Urinal. Afterwards when she began to want that sediment, a Feverish intemperance followed with pains wandring here and there, with a languishing of strength, and other dangerous Symptoms: and when this sick Woman was brought into danger of her life, a Tumor arising in her left side about her Reins, and ripening into a Boil or Sore, by reason of the large flowing out of the matter, freed her: but yet an hollow and sinuous Ulcer pour∣ing out a thin matter, remained in that place during her life: and being sometimes healed up, would presently break out again. Scarce two years after this Noble Lady having endured the suppression of her Urine for fourteen days, became apoplectick and died. Her body being opened, her left Kidney was quite gone, in the place of it a membranous substance growing to the Loyns, infolding the extremities of the Vessels and Ureter, was grown up: some prints or marks of the Ureter remained, but without any opening into the hollowness of the passage: yea a certain Ichor or serosity dropping out from the little mouths of the emulgent Artery, was carried outwardly into that sinuous Ulcer. The other Kidney was very full of sandy matter and small stones; besides, near the top of the Ureter a stone about the bigness of ones thumb was fixed, whose extremity was so fitted and firmly impacted to the passage or cavity of the Ureter, that it shut it up just like a Tap, and quite hindred the passage of the serous Juyce. The purulent matter comes into the Urine, not only from the Reins, but sometimes out of the Bladder and Urinary passage distempered with an Ulcer; and sometimes also a corrupt seed, or white flux, or men∣struous blood are poured into Urines from the Vessels and genital parts, and produce in them preterna∣tural settlements.

4. In the Urines of sick people are often seen abundance of white Contents composed of most small bodies; which, when they are setled, fill up above half the liquor, and make it white and duskish, the rest remaining limpid, and thin in the upper region of the Urinal: this kind of sediment is called Mealy, because it is like water imbued with meal. Concerning this it is doubtfull, whether it proceeds from the whole mass of blood, or only from the Urinary Viscera. It appears by observation, that the same sort of Urine is all ways made in the stone of the Bladder, also sometimes by reason of the Kidney being op∣pressed with some great stone. I never saw such a settlement in Urines without Nephritick distemper; wherefore I have thought it almost indubitable to be always a sign of the Stone: And it seems that it should wholly depend on the juyce or humour heaped up about the bulk or substance of the stone: For where the stone is fixed in the Kidney or Bladder, the nutritious humour is there perverted from ass•…•…milation, and degenerates into a more thick mucor, which uses to be copiously heaped up; like Ichor, which by reason of a Pea put into an Issue, runs out plentifully. But this mucor or filth being washed with Serum, makes that white sediment.

CHAP. VI. Of Judgments to be given concerning the Urines of sick People.

SO much for the Anatomy of Urines, wherein are unfolded their Elements and constitutive Princi∣ples, together with their chief Accidents, viz. Colour, Consistence, and Contents, both what ought naturally to be in them per essentiam or essentially, and also what are wont to happen to them preternaturally, by reason of the body being ill affected. It will be easie for any one to accommo∣date this Hypothesis to practice, and to give Judgment on Urines beholding them in the Urinal; for from what hath been said it appears of what parts the Diseases are known by the inspection of the Urines, and what the Urine signifies in each of them. Concerning this subject there hath been e∣nough said by Authors; I shall therefore only touch upon it briefly, and lightly pass it over.

Although the matter of Urine, viz. the Serum of the blood washes the whole region of the Body, and is circulated with the blood through all the several parts, yet it doth not lay open the condition and dis∣eases of them all, but only of those to which it owes either the natural perfection and genesis of it self, or from which it receives every alteration: wherefore in some respect it shews the action and disposition of the Viscera serving to Concoction, and besides denotes the temper and motion of the blood and hu∣mours in the Vessels: but that any one should pretend to know from the Urinal, and to divine a pain in the Head, an Imposthume in the Throat, or any other Disease of any part, from whence nothing is com∣municated to the Serum, he shews rather his ignorance than the knowledge of any Disease.

Urines brought from sick persons sometimes are wholly like those of sound peoples, and then they give no light to the disease or distempered part; but it may be lawful, having inspected them, to say something negatively, viz. that the Patient is free from a Fever, that as to the Ventricle and Concoction of the food, they are indifferently well: wherefore unless he be inclining to a Consumption, or is sick of an Imposthume, or some other disease of the unity being broken; whatsoever it be, the distemper seems not very dangerous or hard to be cured.

But in the mean time I would not have him declare any thing rashly, nor proceed farther than he can with safetyreturn: for I have often observed in some most grievous distempers, viz. in a malignant Fever, when with loss of strength, a weak and unequal Pulse, eruption of Spots, and other dangerous Symptoms, the Patients have been desperately sick, that the Urines as to the colour, consistence, and Hypostasis, have been laudable, as in sound persons, so that in such a case the Physician by only viewing the Urine, as to his Prognostication had grievously erred: wherefore there is scarce credit to be given to the single testi∣mony of the Urine, unless there be other signs agreeable; but that it is a lyar in the Plague and malignant Fevers, and deceives: the reason is, that in those diseases the blood is leisurely, and as it were silently corrupted, sometimes without any great fervour: and so, although its liquor be infected by Coagula∣tion, or by mortification or deadness; yet because it doth not burn out much at the same time, so as to make an heap of adust matter, as of Ashes, the Serum is little or nothing altered from its usual disposi∣tion or tenour: Besides, sometimes when in such a sickness the blood grows very hot, whatever of excre∣mentitious is heaped up in its mass, is presently transferred to the Brain and nervous stock: wherefore the serous water being free from the preternatural contents, remains after its usual manner; besides this case, when the Urines appear of a deep colour, troubled, and without any sediment, there is no reason why the Piss-prophet should make a Prognostication.

As often as the Urines of sick people are unlike those of sound, either something natural is wanting, or what is preternatural is added, or it happens both together.

1. There may be wanting Colour, Consistence, Contents, and Quantity. If the Colour be more re∣miss than it should, and the Liquor paler, it indicates Crudity, and a defect of making Spirits, to wit, that the nourishing Juyce is not rightly concocted or exalted either in the Viscera or in the Vessels; so that the saline and sulphureous Particles being carried out together, following the distribution as it were the distillation of the Serum, might throughly stick to the same, and impart also to it the tincture: wherefore such Urine being viewed from these kind of Symptoms, you may unfitly divine, that there is a weight in the Ventricle, want of Appetite, evil Digestion, a tension in the Hypochondria, an unfit∣ness for motion, sleepiness, difficult breathing, and a frequent palpitation of the Heart upon exercise, a pale colour, a swelling of the Feet and Belly, you may say they are in danger of falling (if not already fallen) into a Cachexy or Dropsie, and if it be a Maid, that she is troubled with Longings and the Green∣sickness.

If the Colour of Urines be remitted in a Fever without a Crisis, it is a sign that the fermentative mat∣ter or adust recrements of the blood are separated from the bosom of the blood, and fixed somewhere, which for the most part happens in the Brain; and for that cause such Urines use to foretel a Delirium or Phrensie; in those troubled with the Stone, a sudden alteration of the urine into a pale and watry colour, denotes the approach of a Fit.

A copious and pale Urine often shews the too great resolution or melting of the Salts, by reason whereof the serosities are sent away as it were in a flood from the whole body, and chiefly from the ner∣vous parts; such an Excretion sometimes is healthful, and as it were critical, when the superfluities happen only to be carried away: sometimes it is symptomatick, and causes a great debility, to wit, be∣cause the nutritious Juyce and the good humours are purged out.

If the Consistence be thin, and the Liquor pale, it argues Crudity, want of Spirits, or too much Drinking, or the Nephritick distemper: if it be of a flame-colour, it is a sign of an intermit∣ting Tertian Fever.

If the Contents be wanting, and it be pale, want of Concoction is signified, and a Cachectick distem∣per of the body. But if it be of a Citron colour, and the consistency mean, without Hypostasis, you may suppose the Patient to have used too much labor or exercise; or to be frequently distempered with Sweats in the night, or perhaps to have an Atrophy, or general wasting, or to be inclining to a Con∣sumption.

If the Urine be continually made in a lesser quantity than it should, unless there be a larger transpi∣ration, it is a sign that the blood is not sufficiently purged from the serous Juyce: wherefore there is a necessity that it become more watry, and that at length a Cachectical disposition of the body, or a Dropsie be brought in. But if it be suddenly suppressed, or made with pain and difficulty, it is a sign of the Stone or Gravel.

2. Something is added to the Urine, to wit, when the colour is heightned, and in the mean time the consistency and contents shew themselves in due measure, there may then be a suspicion of a Feverish or Hectical distemper: perhaps some evident cause may precede, as the use of Baths, Heat, Surfeit, or im∣moderate Exercise, which might have heated the blood; or Cold may have heedlesly been taken, whence may arise a shutting up of the Pores, and difficulty of Perspiration. If the Urine be of a Saffron-colour and tinges the Linen with yellowness, you may say it is the Jaundice: but if it be of a Saffron-colour or red without a Fever, and doth not dye Linen, it shews for the most part the Scurvy or Hypochon∣driack disposition.

Though the Colour and Hypostasis may be in good order, preternatural Contents are often in the Urine; therefore when it grows cold it is troubled, and makes a sediment sometimes white, and then there is a suspicion of the blood's overflowing with filth, also of an impure Ventricle stuffed with excre∣mentitious matter, or with Worms; sometimes red, which often happens by reason of Transpiration being hindred, a Consumption, and sometimes by reason of a Surfeit, or the beginning of a Fever.

Preternatural and thicker Contents are sometimes in Urines, shewing themselves naturally, which de∣notes a distemper of some part about the urinary passages; whence Matter, Filth, Blood, the Whi•…•…, corrupt Seed, or the like, are mixed with the Urine: and you may easily know by asking how, and in what place the Patient is ill, what part is distempered; and the straining the sediments of those urines will shew what the disease is, and you may be more sure of the nature of the distemper.

When Urines have stood some time, copious white sediments are thence made; it is not easie at first sight to know from whence they come, viz. whether from the whole mass of blood, or only from a particular bowel imployed for the preparations of the Serum or the Seed. For the impurities of the blood and nervous juyce being deposited under a mealy species in the bottom of the Urinal, are wont to cause a suspicion in the Physician of the Whites in Women, and of the Running of the Reins in Men: such like contents are also seen in Urines, which proceed from the urinary and spermatick parts. Amidst these ambiguities, lest you should guess rashly and confidently by the Urine, and assert uncertain for cer∣tain things, and falshood for truth, the difference of these kind of Urines ought to be indicated after this manner. If the contents be universal, and their signs be to be applied to the mass of blood; for the most part these presently after the making (unless sometimes by chance in a Critical separation) are wholly inconspicuous (as in a thinner substance,) then the Urine being troubled by cold, they descend slowly to the bottom; and being setled, and the Urinal heated, they disappear again. But if these white settle∣ments are sent from a particular nest, they presently disturb and thicken the Urine newly made, are soon precipitated, and vanish not by heat. But that it may appear to what bowel these kind of particular contents should be ascribed, 'tis easily made known to Learned men by other circumstances.

3. The Urine is sometimes wholly altered from the natural state; the colour and contents which should be therein are wanting, and strange things are in their place; then indeed is indicated that there is an intemperance in the whole body, and that the Concoction in the Bowels and Vessels is depraved, you may say the Patient is sick of a Fever; and thence by asking, you may learn and presently pro∣nounce that he is distempered with the Head-ach, Thirst, Heat, queasiness of Stomach, want of sleep, and by consequence with other Symptoms.

It happens sometimes, that the Urine declines from its natural state, yet not to shew the distemper the Patient complains of, but either the cause of the disease, or the consent of some other part with the di∣stempered; as if any one should complain of a cruel Head-ach, or trembling of the Heart, and make a watry Urine, that doth not denote those distempers, but only a crudity in the Ventricle, and some obstru∣ctions about the Spleen and Viscera, which may be the cause of those distempers: I say in this case, the Urine being inspected, the chief indications are taken about the Method of Curing, and we must not use Cephalick or Cardiack Remedies, but either Catharticks, which cause Vomit or Purging, or Openers, and especially Calybeats: But the Urine is sometimes vitiated, and yet its signification is wholly a stran∣ger to the distemper the Patient complains of, as if any one were subject to the sleepy disease, or a Le∣thargy, and makes it red and full of preternatural contents, its inspection suggests chiefly coindications, viz. that we insist not on too hot, but temperate Remedies.

The chief use of Inspection of Urines will be for the observing the state and progress of every disease, as also the alterations towards health or death. For in Chronical diseases, by daily inspecting the Urine, is made known to the Physician, by what degrees the sickness may increase day by day; at what time purging or altering Remedies will be most fit, and what Medicines will be most profitable; hence is to be observed, whether Nature prevails on the disease or not; and a most certain Prognostication may be drawn from hence, either of the hope or danger of health; to wit, according as the signs of Concoction or Crudity appear in the Urines. In acute diseases, hence the state and height of the Fever may be best known, at what time the Crises may be expected, and with what success: when it is best to insist upon Evacuations, and when on Cordials. The Compass is not beheld with more certainty and diligence

by the Mariner or Steers-man, than the appearances of Urines ought to be observed by the Physician for fit times and ways of Curing.

These were what I had to say concerning the Judgments of Urine, not collected from the vain Tra∣ditions of Quacks, but what are consonant to reason and truth. Besides I know there are ordinarily de∣livered by Medicasters and Old women almost an innumerable company of Rules and Directions of Urine-divination, that the Urinal is no sooner inspected, but they will undertake to divine, whether it be a man or a woman that is sick, how long they have been sick, what their disease is, and whether the distemper shall end in health or death; whether the Patient be subject to the passions of Love or Sadness, whether a Woman hath conceived with Child or not, or whether it shall be a Boy or a Girl▪ and an hundred other the like; in which using a vain conjecture, they either impose by their confi∣dence on the minds of the credulous, or (which is more frequently their custome) by a cunning craftiness they otherways sift out the matter by inquiring, and falsly ascribe it to their knowledge in the inspection of Urine.

CHAP. VII. Of the Examination and various ways of proving of Urines.

ALthough the business of the Examination and Inspection of Urines seems commonly only a simple thing (viz. the Medicasters and Quacks for the most part behold the Urine sent in a Glass, shake it a little, and presently give Judgment) yet to those who honestly endeavour the recovery of the sick, the matter seems a little more intricate, and they use to observe se∣veral circumstances concerning Judgment by Urine; which being omitted, nothing indeed can be cer∣tainly or directly learnt in the Medicinal Practice from the Urinal. Moreover, in some diseases, besides the mere inspection of the Glass, there are other ways of tryal to be had, by which, what lies hid in the Urines, and out of sight, may be made clear: from whence some not unprofitably taking care of the separation of Urine more accurately, have used to evaporate, distill, putrifie, and precipitate them. Wherefore we shall speak briefly of the right manner of inspecting Urine, and in some cases of the Ana∣lysis or separation variously to be instituted.

When the Urine of the Patient is offered to the Physician, if it hath first stood for some time in the Glass, and if the liquor be clear, the Hypostasis is as it were gathered into a little cloud, and if the rest of the contents sink down to the bottom, there is nothing more wanting, but that forthwith a progno∣stick sentence may be given. But if the Urine be newly poured into the Urinal, or be troubled by a former shaking, you must stay till the confused parts be separated, and the settlement have acquired its due place. If the Liquor be full of contents, and the Pores straitned, it becomes troubled and dark, and the Glass must be put in a warm place, till the Urine grow clear again, and then let it be placed for some time near the fire, that whilst the preternatural or more thin contents are absorpt by the Pores dilated by the heat, the more thick may fall down to the bottom, and the filaments or little rags ma∣king the Hypostasis, (if there be any) may be gathered together below, or in the middle region; for so will appear what is the power of Nature, and what of the Disease: Also in Fevers, the degree of heat and effervescency, the concoction or depravation of the nutritious Juyce, also the congestion or hea∣ping together of the adust matter in the blood, and its separation begun, or wholly frustrated, may somewhat appear by the signification taken from Urines; wherefore you ought to proceed after this man∣ner, when the urine is brought from far, to wit, whose Particles are disturbed by much shaking, unless it be kept for some time in a warm place, they will not easily get again their due place of position. But if you often visit any Patient that keeps his bed, it will be convenient, that the urine newly made, and put into an Urinal, be placed near a Stove, where, whilst it grows moderately hot, the several parts may, after the best manner, be disposed to a settlement without any trouble or disturbance.

Afterwards the Urine thus naked, and as it were disrobed from any covering, is offered to the sight, the next caution will be, lest any of its Phaenomena or appearances being accidentally contracted, and not properly belonging to it, may impose upon the Physician; which indeed sometimes happens, by rea∣son of alterations caused in them by food taken, and which chiefly consist in the colour and smell of Urines, being variously changed besides Nature, and the expectation of the Physician.

For it is an errour commonly committed, when the Urine being yellow, and tinging the linen by the taking of Rhubarb, Saffron, Sanders, and the like, undoubtedly to believe it a sign of the Jaundice; also the urine being imbued with blackness by the taking of Cassia, to attribute it to the melanch•…•…ck Tumor or black Bile; also when the urine is deep colour'd by taking of Pulse-broth, or a Decoction of Madder, or other drinks, we falsly suppose it to indicate a feverish intemperance. It often hap∣pens from the drinking plentifully thin liquor, the urine is lessened of its high colour beyond expecta∣tion,

and heightned by the drinking of strong drink or hotter things: unless the Physician •…•…ake notice of these kinds of mutations, he will give but a false Judgment concerning Urines by looking on them. When therefore the colour is changed in the Urin•…•…s without any manifest cause, the manner of living must be inquired into, if that the alt•…•…ation proceeds from what is ea•…•…n or drunk, that it may not be wrongfully ascribed to the disease. A question will her•…•… arise, why forasmuch as mo•…•… things taken in at the mouth, before they go into urine, wholly los•…•… all th•…•…ir colour; which being eaten; so pertina•…•…∣ously impress a tincture to the Serum, that they pass untouched through all the •…•…rait turnings and windings of the passages? The reason or cause of which consists chiefly in this, that some mixtures have the constitutive parts of their colour or dye very subtil, and those highly volatile; wherefore these be∣ing taken only in a small quantity, dye the whole mass of the Chyle with their colour; and from thence the nutricious Juyce conveyed to the blood, ascends coloured, and its vehicle, viz. the serous Latex, is sent away still dyed or tinctured.

What the odour of Urines of sound people may be, is obvious to every one that can smell, viz. whilst it is fresh made, it is not very ungrateful, by reason of the sulphureous and saline Particles bound up in the substance of the liquor; when it hath stood so long, that the Sulphur begins to exhale, sharpned with the Salt, the mixture being loosned, it putrifies and stinks grievously. Besides we may observe, that sometimes there arises from urines fresh made, a sweet odour like Violets, and sometimes they of∣fend the nose with a very ungrateful stink. The former doth not depend either on an healthful or un∣healthful condition of the body, but is produced only from things taken: Turpentine, Nutmeg, and other Gumms and Spices taken in at the mouth, though of a diverse nature and operation, impart a like suavity or sweetness to the urine. The reason of this seems to be, because in these kind of mixtures very many particles of the purer Sulphur (that is imbued with Spirits) are eminent; which, for that they are volatile, being confused with the Serum, are not contained in the bond of the mixture; where∣fore the urine being made, these alone leap out, and not accompanied with others of the stinking urine, and so diffuse a grateful odour; which, although it proceeds from divers kind of things eaten, yet re∣mains still after the same manner like Violets, for that in all, those sulphureous Particles are set •…•…ee by digestion from the others joyned with them in the same concr•…•…te, nor are infe•…•…ed by different ones from the urine. But as to what respects the stinking urine, that sometimes proceeds from an Ulcer about the Reins, Bladder, or urinary passages; sometimes also it is raised from a too hot intemperance of the Reins, or of the whole Body; for when the Sulphur is deeply boiled in the Serum, its particles being sharpned by the Salines, (for that they are less closely shut up) do presently evaporate, and grievously affect the sense of smelling; but besides, sometimes urines contract a stink from things eaten. For the Balsam of Sulphur, Garlick, Asparagus, Cider, Rhenish Wine, and many other things taken at the mouth, do cause a strong smell in the urine. If the reason of this be demanded, we say that such things which impart a stink to the urine, also p•…•…ovoke it in a more plentiful quantity: wherefore it seems that these sort of things being taken, fuse the blood, and greatly hasten the precipitation of the Serum; and when by this means the serous Juyce is pulled away as it were abruptly from the blood, the frame of the liquor is made lax, nor are its parts exactly •…•…xed, nor contained in an equal bond of disposition: wherefore when this urine is made from the body, its frame or substance being b•…•…fore loosned, the par∣ticles of the more gross Sulphur (that is combined with Salt) presently breathe out, and so diffuse a stinking smell. For urine thus altered by things taken, seems very like to Lye, wherein Antimony o•…•… common Sulphur is boiled, and is afterwards instilled into some acid thing, because in this Decoction, as also in such ruine, the frame of the liquor being unlocked, the little sulphur•…•…ous bodies leap out, and affect the sensory with a stinking smell.

If that any one more curious in the search of Urines, shall seek further than the examination of the sight and smell, he may easily, by a divers manual operation, resolve them into parts, and as it were dissect them to the life, and thence draw Medicinal directions of no small moment; for that in many Chronical diseases where the Dyscrasies of the blood are more exactly to be sought into, that the pro∣portion and temperature of Salt and Sulphur may be truly found in it, it is sometimes convenient to eva∣porate urines, or to distil them, something also is to be learned from them, being precipitated, or loos∣ned by putrefaction. I knew an honest Woman greatly afflicted with a scaly filthiness of the skin, which she was wont to scratch off in great plenty, as it were a branny matter. Her urine being evaporated in a little Skillet, left sticking to the sides of the Vessel, a crusty and salt sediment, like the excrement o•…•… her skin. Not long since I evaporated the urine of a Gentleman, grievously subject to convulsive mo∣tions and painful stretchings out of the Muscles, in the bottom of which there remained a quantity of sal•…•… and tartarous matter, exceeding the weight of half the liquor. By this means it will be an easie thing to find the proportion of the saline Principle in the blood and humours: but whether this Salt be volatile, or becomes fixed beyond measure, the distillation of the urine will presently shew; For if the Spirit (•…•…o called) be copiously drawn out of the urine, and that besides the Salt ascends into the Alembeck, it is a sign of volatilization: but the contrary to this argues the fixity of the Salt.

As the evaporation and distillation of the Urine shew the power of the saline Principle, so the preci∣pitation, putrefaction, and Sulphur lay open the thicker contents of the Urine, as it were in weight and measure. As to the former, although the liquor of the urine be salt, and often big with contents, yet for as much as its saline Particles are not (as it is wont to be in most Me•…•…struums) either wholly in a state of

fixity, or of flux, but for the most part volatile, therefore it is not easily nor presently by any salt in∣fusion subject to putrefaction; the Spirit of Vitriol and other acetous things effect nothing: the Salt of Tartar stirs up a little peturbation. But the so•…•…ution of Alu•…•…, for that it greatly constrains into a little space, presently disturbs the whole liquor extreamly, and delivers all the contents of the urines, as they were thrust out of their dens, to be seen openl•…•… by the eyes. Wherefore by this means, without any long stay for settlement you may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 k•…•…w how much of •…•…ulphureous a•…•…d earthy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is depo∣sed 〈1 line〉〈1 line〉

The putrefaction of Urines is w•…•…nt to exhibi•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 se•…•…l 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kin•…•…, •…•…et mor•…•… distinct, and disposed as it were by themselves; for if the urine be left to stand unmoved for many days in the Glass, the colour, odour, and consistency will be very much altered; for the colour will be deeper, the smell ungrateful, and •…•…ighly stinking; the co•…•…sistency thicker, and will have on the superficies a downi∣ness or 〈3 lines〉〈3 lines〉 or less altered from their formet state, it may be conjectured what the proportion of Salt or Sulphur may be, whether of them exceeds the other: also no unfaithful Judgment of the quality and plenty of the earthy matter or the contents may be take•…•… from hen•…•…e.

And thus, Sir, at length you have the Doc•…•…e or Method of Separation of Urine, such as our un∣skilfulness hath rendred it: I desire you would be pleased not only to pardon the errours and barrenness of this Discourse, bu•…•… al•…•…o to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it in other things, •…•…cause at first writ b•…•… your 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and then by your command and request made pub•…•…. Where•…•… pray take care of this ch•…•… hardly brought forth and almost an abortive, and as it were exposed a•…•…d deservedly laid at your door without por∣tion. Farewel.