Medicina magnetica: or, The rare and wonderful art of curing by sympathy: laid open in aphorismes; proved in conclusions; and digested into an easy method drawn from both: wherein the connexion of the causes and effects of these strange operations, are more fully dicovered than heretofore. All cleared and confirmed, by pithy reasons, true experiments, and pleasant relations. / Preserved and published, as a master-piece in this skill. By C. de Iryngio, chirurgo-medcine [sic] in the Army.

CONCLUSION XI. In the Excrements, Blood, and separated parts, the Spirit is not so deeply drowned, as in the Body; And therefore in them it is sooner infected.

The Proof and Explanation, &c.

UPon this Conclusion the whole Art is grounded, and this being false all fails; therefore muse well in thy mind of what hath been said, and what shall be said; for he that well understands this Conclusion, will finde no difficulty in the whole Art; therefore it had need to be confirmed with some Reasons: the first whereof is this, The spirit is not so deeply drowned in the excrements, blood and separated parts, as in the body; because in them it ranges abroad, as more at liberty, in that it doth not so much attend Organical operations, that do violently snatch the spirit inward, that being congregated it may work more powerfully in secesse; but all organical ope∣ration

being far from the Blood and Excrements, there is no need the Spirit should drown it self so far and so in∣wardly: Moreover, the beams coming from excrements, blood without the veins, and parts separated stick about the surface and outside, and are not allured and drawn inter∣nally; because that is tending to destruction, the spirit retires it self, and makes some stay in the superfices, where also the beams joyn themselves to their fellow-beams, and there rest, untill at last the excrements, blood and sepa∣rated parts becoming clean another thing, are apt either to receive these beams, and the spirit that accompanieth them, or to return them when they have received them. Again, the spirits are more naked in these, especially in the blood, because that when it was in the body, it had the spirits more naked, and scarce tyed to the body, as appears evidently in blood. But some may ask how this reason agrees to parts cut off, for what priviledge have they above parts of the same kind? I answer, It is to be considered, That now the door is open, by which a more free egresse is granted to the spirits, which now having broken the fetters, begin to wander abroad more at liberty. Again, some will object, That if this were true, then by applying things to a wound, we might cure internal diseases. To satisfie this objection, we must con∣sider these things; and first, That in every wound there is not only solutio continui, but also the part wounded, there is in a part exotick and a strange quality introduced, by means whereof the vital spirit is hurt. Secondly, Those things that are applied to the wound, have no power to change the vital spirit, labouring of another evil disposi∣tion; yea, the Phisician's expectation is satisfied, if one thing do but perform operation; and therefore they are content with the cure of the wound. Thirdly, If a thing good for another disease, whereof peradventure the Pa∣tient is sick, should be applied to the wound, it perhaps will hurt this more, than it would help that: Now rea∣son perswades, we should first succour that which most urgeth. From these things the Answer to the Objection is

manifest; for the spirit then labouring of a double distem∣per, Art commandeth to cure that which most urgeth; therefore we principally attend the wound, lest syderation should follow, or something else bringing assured de∣struction; And for the same reason we apply not to it things good for the other disease; yet this I will here adde, That it is manifest by experience, that many men by wounds have been freed from many other diseases, and so, that they never relapsed into them afterwards; namely when the part affected being wounded, the things proper to the disease could also perform the cure of the wound: as if the head labouring of a cronical disease, should be wounded, and the wound could be cured with Betony and Sage, there is no doubt but the spirit being naked, and now being refreshed and cherished with these reme∣dies, would perfectly heal both the head, and the whole body. Here also is this to be noted, That they who dig the body with Cauteries, and keep the wounds open a long time for the purulent matter to run, are ill advised, they do not apply to the wound remedies proper for that disease, for which they made the Issue; for this being done, the Patients would in short time feel very great ease, if that wound were made upon the part principally in∣fected; especially if all the other things were accordingly done diastatically, and the matter also that issueth out, used as Art commandeth. By these means it is certain, and found by experience, that the Gout in the hands, feet, and other parts, may most happily and easily be cured. But returning again to the excrements, blood, and separated parts, we say, That this Art useth those rather and with better successe than the whole body that is hurt: because the vital spirit being free and naked, easily receiveth im∣pressions, especially from things agreeing with it: There∣fore the Inventers of this Art, mingle such things (though taken from other bodies) with the Medicines, as in the common Weapon-salve it is to be seen, where they mingle with the Oyntment, the flesh, blood and fat of men for no other cause; that being endued with these Medicaments

and qualities of Medicaments, they might the more ea∣sily help the heart, spirits; for, by their likenesse, they do the more easily draw the spirits, and being drawn, do the more easily change them, according to the qualities acquired; but it is not alwayes necessary, that the Me∣dicines be mingled with those things that are taken from the body; for, we see, that the sympathetical water alone, and simple without any mixture, will cure all wounds by means of the blood of the wound: but especiall care must be taken, that you make choise of those things that do cure, not by qualities, but by their whole substan∣ces, as they use to speak, that is, by their signatures from Heaven; or else ordained to such affections by the semi∣nary reason of the soul, otherwayes they may easily misse the mark: for, the similitude dispensed from Heaven, be∣cause it passeth the like spirits, doth much advance the effects; nay, without this thou wilt scarce do any good, as by daily experience we may see made ma∣nifest.