A treatise of the rickets being a diseas common to children. Wherin (among many other things) is shewed, 1. The essence 2. The causes 3. The signs 4. The remedies of the diseas. Published in Latin by Francis Glisson, George Bate, and Ahasuerus Regemorter; doctors in physick, and fellows of the Colledg of Physitians at London. Translated into English by Phil. Armin.

CHAP. VIII. The Secondary Essence of this Disease in the Vital constitution. (Book 8)

WE have already propounded that part of the Secondary Essence of this Diseas which is ra∣dicated in the natural constitution, in as much as it comprehendeth the common qua∣lities; it remaineth now that we examin the organical vices, and the faults of continuity, if any such be found out. But seing that no proper faults of continuity do accur in this affect, and seing that the organical vices do depend partly upon the Essence above given, and partly upon the vital constitution being viciated, it seems ne∣cessary in the next place to search into these faults of the vital constitution.

The vital constitution is aptly distinguished into the original, or that which maketh an influx, and the parti∣cipative or that which is produced by that influx.

The subject of the original vital constitution are the Spirits themselvs excited in the blood of the Arteries. You will say, The heart rather seemeth to be the subject of this constitution. But it is not so, for the heart it self through the coronary Arteries receiveth the vital Spirits brought down with the Arterious blood from its left Ventricle. But it is absurd to suppose the wals of the Heart to be the first subject of the vital heat, and in the mean time for those to receiv that heat from the Arteries. We must say therfore that the solid substance

of the heart is indeed the first & principal subject of his natural and inherent constitution; but seing that re∣ceiveth the Vital Spirits (as hath been said) it cannot be accounted the first subject of the Vital Constitution, which is imprinted in it by those Spirits, and continu∣eth no longer than the substance of the Heart is shedded and besprinkled with the Vital Spirits. For neither can life subsist in any place without the Vital Spirit. Wher∣fore the substance of the Heart doth so far participat of the Vital constitution, as it is wash'd and bedew'd with the Vital Spirits, and by Consequence tha•• Con∣stitution in the substance of the heart is not original or influent, but participative or produced by that influx. This is also confirmed in that, becaus the vital heat of the blood in the hollow Parts, or Ventricls of the Heart (which heat is at least a part of the Vital Constitution) is for greater and more intensiv than that which is within the wals of the Heart, as any man may observ by the opening of the Bodyes of living Creatures, the Ventricle of the heart being wounded, and the Finger presently thrust in. For he shall feel a far more aug∣mented heat in the blood, than in the very substance of the Ventricle, however it be handled. Moreover the vital Constitution is a thing transient and consisteth (as the Phylosophers Phras is) in motu & fieri; ther∣fore it is rooted. In the movable and decaying Spirits (such as the Vitals which are contained in the Arteri∣ous Blood) for som Member being cut off, the Life vanisheth almost in a moment, and by Consequence the vital constitution: but the natural (as we have already insinuated) continueth (though not in such an exalta∣tion as when the Vital remaineth) for a while after death. And indeed the Life and the Vital constitution is suddenly taken away in the case aforesaid not by any

positive contrary Cause, But by a meer privation of the Conservant and Continent CAUSE. This is most evidently confirmed, because the Vital constitution is suddenly intended, remitted and altered in al the parts in respect of the model or measure of the Vital Constitution, excited in the Ventricles of the Heart, so in a Lipothymy, the heart fainting, the life of the parts presently vanisheth, at last languisheth; but assoon as the Ventricles of the heart are refreshed with Spirits by some proper cordial applications, straight way we behold the vital Constitution to be suddenly in some measure repaired in all the Parts. In the suppres∣sion of the breath sudden death followeth the torrent of the vital Blood from the right to the left Ventricle be∣ing intercepted. In the opening of a Vein or in a∣ny other immoderate profusion of Blood there happe∣neth a swouning by the sole defect of the Vital Spirits. Therefore seing the Vital constitution is transient and fugitive in any of the solid parts, and seing it dependeth upon the proportion of the vital spirits flowing into them from the Ventricle of the heart, we may right∣ly infer that in the solid parts, it is not original but participative. But in the Vital Spirits themselves, by whose function the Vital constitution is diffused and transmitted into all the Parts, it must necessarily be o∣riginal: For there is no other original subject of it to be found in the Body.

Yet we grant that the solid substance of the heart by his Natural Constitution (especially being watred by the Vital) is the assistant caus of the excitation of the Vi∣tal Spirits in the blood included their Ventricles, al∣though it cannot be the first subject of that same Vital Constitution, as we have even now abundantly proved. And these things for the present may suffice in general

concerning each vital constitution, the original and the participative, and to prov that that must properly be ascribed to the Vital Spirits, this to the solid Parts as the immediate Subjects of the inherence. Three kind of vices belonging to this Constitution do stil await our examination: The two former wherof relate to the Original: And the third pertaineth to the participative Constitution. The first vice concerneth the Generati∣on of the Vital Spirits. The second hath reference to the distribution of them: And the third appertaineth to the participation of the Vital Constitution. Of these we shal make enquiry in their order.