A most certaine and true relation of a strange monster or serpent found in the left ventricle of the heart of Iohn Pennant, Gentleman, of the age of 21. yeares. By Edward May Doctor of Philosophy and Physick, and professor elect of them, in the colledge of the academy of noble-men, called the Musæum Minervæ: physitian also extraordinary unto her most Sacred Majesty, Queene of great Brittany, &c.

§. 7.

BUt to me the resolution of this matter see∣meth very profitable to know how these things may be bred in men, for I suppose, men from hence will take speciall care to alter the accidentall temperament of humors, if they find them excell in any high degree of heate, cold, sharpnes, or the like, such as have in them inconvenience and danger, and to deale with learned Physitians in time.

So also is the knowledge of singular use and benefit to know when men are affected with a∣ny such disease, and how they may be cured.

As for the knowledge of abstruse and se∣cret affections, where perhaps no dolor gives certitude of the place affected, as in diseases by consent, when some other parts are more afflicted, such skill is worthy of a Physitian, and at any rate to be procured: But how or where shall we have it? Who writeth of it? Who hath so much as ever dreamed of any such helpe to mankind? For mine owne part I never yet read of any Signa pathognomonica of any such disease: Neither doe I know where to find one graine of instruction in this, as also in divers other diseases (which I can nominate) more then from mine owne obser∣vation and care. Wherefore if I set downe one thing which is not common nor els where to be found. I hope you will take it as my good

wish unto the Common-wealth of Physitians, and I will lay my ground upon two Histories of mine own: the one was in December, anno. 1634. For being sent for to a yong gentleman whose name was Arthur Buckeridge son unto M. Ar∣thur Buckeridge now of Tottenham Gentleman, who was sick of that kind of pox which our Country people call the Flocks, which were many, flat headed, white, and wrought along, as if wormes had made certaine crooked fur∣rowes among them, which when at first I be∣held, I was very diffident in my selfe of do∣ing any cure, because I never-knew any of that disease and manner saved: Yet while the friends of the Youth declared unto mee what an ingenious child and scholler he was, and what hopes all his friends had of him: I still beheld the variegation, or vermiculation of that kind of variolae: And because no Phy∣sitian in all my reading ever gave me the least light or helpe to cure them: J more studiously searching the cause of their forme, strongly apprehended that that outward work and waving could proceed from no cause, but from putrefaction caused of worms; and that God and nature did assist in so great a difficulty, shewing by this external signature the internall cause, taking therefore my Indicative from the Conjunctive (as Galen counselleth very well) J prescribed chiefly against wormes and inward putrefaction, and in very short space he was re∣stored to his health: And while I write these

things, the yong-man (whom J never saw since) commeth in to my house to search after me, and to give me thanks so long after, being shortly to goe for Oxford: Wherefore to confirme this History I sent unto the Young-mans Apothecary to see what was yet upon file, to ascertaine what I say; and it is retur∣ned me, that two of my bils are yet there re∣maining: As also one honest Gentleman re∣membreth well that I then expressed as much and told his friends that I intended to prescribe against the worms principally.

The other History was of this Iohn Pennant, whom we dissected; who was well known unto me, as his friends and others well can as∣sure it, in whom as is likewise sufficiently knowne, I very often noted this, that he had an excellent Eye, but extraordinarily sharpe, and like the Eye of a Serpent, and so much I have spoken of it, that divers Gentlemen and good Schollers did make an∣swer unto me that heard of his long diseases of the supposed stone, or ulcer of the bladder: that pains and griefes did sharpen mens aspects: But finding what we have seene in him, thus much shall mine owne observa∣tion teach me ever; Let others doe, or be∣lieve as little as they please, that secret, unu∣suall and strange inward diseases, doe send forth some radios, or signatures from the center, A∣nalogicall to the circumference, by which we may finde the causes if we be diligent and care∣full:

And this is that which I would com∣mend, of which I know no man that hath written one word as yet: Which although at first it seemeth new, yet if men will well consider it and what I shall say I doubt not but they will be confirmed, that it is an accurate and a most necessary observation, and a chiefe Window to see into the most secret di∣seases and Closets of the body and heart also.

And first as an introduction to beliefe what helps Physitians may have from beames and signatures. All learned Physitians will thus farre goe vvith me, that this vvas that admirable way of the old Magitians to find out the natures of medicines, from their peculiar beams, signatures and similitudes, and that there is no Simple or medicine Specifical (as they say) or excellent for any disease or ve∣ry few, but we are able to make the radij or sig∣natures to appeare, from which those learned Magi did, or might find out the properties and virtues of those Simples or medicines, and this you know to be true, and this way you all know that Sponsa Solis or the Kiramides of the Synas went, as that book of the King of Persia sheweth, which I lent unto you; and you have no doubt many volumes of Physitians as well as others who have written of this argument. Wherefore seeing it is so cleare that signa∣tures and beames have so excellently and clearely discovered the virtues of all medi∣cines

latent and abstruse. Shall we conceive that God and Nature are deficient in affor∣ding outwardly some helps to know the in∣ward, secret and strangest maladies? It can∣not be: For to what purpose is it, that the Sim∣ples have virtues medicinall, and for every disease, if some diseases may not be dis∣vered, and how can they bee discove∣vered within, to which no eye can come? from which nothing is received, as in some other diseases. Some are knowne by time, as Feavers, keeping Period: Some by place or part affected, as Cholick, Angine, Stone in the reynes, and the like. Some by ex∣cretions, as Dissenteries. Some by such like and others more or lesse: But there is no meanes to discover such a thing as this that hath given occasion of all this discourse, for nothing was excerned of it any waies, or from it that could give any light: No topicall griefe so great as that in his reynes and bladder, he did complaine of his breast and of a beating there sometimes; but Palpitatio cordis is signum commune. Neither did this man complaine as he did alwaies of his other affe∣ctions. Neither can it be imagined how such a substance growing and receiving daily aug∣mentation in his heart could be discovered by the wit of man, but by some outward thing singular and unusuall, as a speciall radius of what was within.