Of Phlegm.

Phlegm (so called by contrariety because of its crudity and that not in respect of the first conco∣ction but of the second) is an humour cold and moist white and without tast, or somewhat sweet. It may be called imperfect blood: for by further concoction it becometh reall blood therefore na∣ture hath appointed no vessell to receive it: intend∣ing it for alteration not evacuation, this is the Ali∣mentary phlegm, that is the Phlegmatick blood That which is preternatnrall (as are all the follow∣ing kindes) is avacuated with other excrements ha∣ving no peculiar receptacle, here note, that the filth of the nose is not phlegm properly, but the private excrement of the braine, yet I deny not but that if the body be full of phlegmatick hu∣mours part of them may passe this way, of this pre∣ternaturall phlegm be four kindes: the first is cal∣led Nisipid, not absolutely as the Alimentary, but Page  97 in respect of the other three kindes which follow. This onely is properly termed a crude humour: tis true, every concoction may have its crudity, but this concoction which attaines not its full perfection in the stomack, by way of eminence is called crude, and that body which aboundeth herewith is of the colour of lead, such an humour also appears 1 in the sediment of some urines, 2. Acid, (tasting like vineger) which remaine thus for want of naturall heat and is caused by cold and moist diet especially if liberall, large and out of due time: as also by the constitutions which is colder in old men and wo∣men then others, by a cold liver, cold aire, to much sleep and the want of the ordinary evacuation thereof, thirdly Salt, Avian thinks phegm becomes salt by adustion of bitter humours, as we finde after combustion the fixed salt of any plant as worm∣wood &c. Galen sayes tis either from putrefaction or from the mixture of a salt whaylike humour, neither do oppose other if rightly understood, for doubtlesse the true cause is a salt whaylike moysture which is nothing but the superfluous salt of those things which we eat and drink; do we not finde tartar in wine casks? and is not such a substance found in the earth wherewith plants are nourished? do we not use salt with many meates? that then hereof, which nature cannot convert to nourish∣ment is the matter of this preternaturall humour, which is therefore hot because salt. Fourthly glasse this bifference is not taken from the taste as the o∣ther, but from the colour and consistence, it repre∣sents melted or liquid glasse: this is the coldest of these kindes yet not exactly cold, for then it should Page  98 be like ice, nor exactly moist but thick and viscous pertaking of the two other qualities.