Noble Metrodorus,

WEre Friendship like that of o∣ther Professions; did it pro∣pose a private and personal Advantage in all its undertakings; or did it at one view represent all the Difficulties a Man must engage in doing his Duty, I had either not wrote to you at all, or had desisted now. But to make use of the hazard of my Reputation, for a Testimony of my Affection, I shall proceed to enlarge a little further on the Subject in hand. As the best and truest Knowledge in the World is Page  [unnumbered] founded upon Experience, if rightly understood, so the strongest and most pernicious Errors are derived thence, if Imperfect Essays, and Accidental E∣vents are mistaken for it. The Foun∣dation of our Adversaries Opinion is laid on this, That generally when Peo∣ple Vomit, (though never so soon) after eating or drinking, what they bring up seems to have a taste and fa∣vour of another quality than what they received; from whence they conclude, (and that rashly enough) that the disgorged Matter derives its taste from the Menstrum or Liquor in the Stomach which has infected it, and from that Consideration infer a more irrational Consequence, viz. That the Menstrum or Juice of the Stomach must necessari∣ly be of the same nature and quality that this Vomited Matter seems to be. This is a meer mistake of Nature's Ope∣rations. For be this voided Matter of what taste soever, it •annot derive its quality from the proper Menstrum; and if it be ill and unpleasant, it can Page  19 argue no more than that it proceeds from a corrupted Stomach. For the Stomach being before (by ill habits) depraved, and now by the accession of unagreeable Food disturbed, takes the opportunity to discharge it self (as well as it can) of both its troubles at once, which is so far from giving us a true account of the Menstrum, that it only argues a depravity in the Stomach, chiefly arising from an undue lying of the Food in the Vessels for want of due Concoction and Conveyance, by which means all the sweet and good qualities are drawn forth, and almost nothing out Excrement remains; for of what∣•oever quality that be that you make •our Meal of, if you Vomit strait after •t; what you deliver shall be sweet, or •etain the same taste, or be very little •ltered, unless there be a manifest dis∣order in the Menstrum it self, of which •o Person can be ignorant.

The Business of the Menstrum (as we have said before) is to supply the Mouth and Stomach with moisture. Page  [unnumbered] It being of a mild Nature, and gentle Operation, bows and applies it self to all sorts of Meats or Drinks that enter the Body, tempering and incorpora∣ting it self with them, and by the power of its pleasant moisture, and the gentle heat of the Stomach, which (whatever some think) is no hotter than our Blood, melts and softens the Mass, whereby the attractive Powers and Faculties of Nature, from all the Parts and Members of the whole Body, Extract all the sweet and wholesome Vertues of the Food, every part draw∣ing such proportion of the Juice and Nutriment as is sufficient to supply its wants; but if there be too much Food taken in, then the attractive Faculty is overcome by the Surplus, and abun∣dance of Juices, and the Stomach be∣comes dull, heavy and indisposed. I am bold to say, Metrodorus, that no∣thing is more injurious to the health of the Body than too much Nourishment, too Rich Foods and strong Drinks; the most Simple are most Natural; the Page  21 great difficulty lyes in finding out the just measure and proportion in quantity and quality. Now when your Meats and Drinks come into the common Bag of the Stomach, as into a Lembeck, where they are all mixed, melted, and dissolved, then the Operative Faculties of Nature separate and divide them in∣to divers qualities. First, into a Milky Chyle, whence the attractive Faculty draws forth the Vertue, and sends it in∣to the Blood and Spirits. Secondly, in a Phlegmy Liquor, which is white, and conveyed to the Lungs, where it is se∣parated again, and one part thereof congealed and hardned, having no o∣ther way to void it self, but only by the Windpipe. Those whose Stomachs are foul, do not digest their Food to a requisite degree, send gross and flatu∣lent Juices up to the Lungs, begetting Obstructions and Shortness of Breath. For this white Matter, or light frothy Substance, is by the natural heat of the Stomach, coagulated into various Con∣sistencies, according to the power of Page  22 the Heat and Circulations of the Blood and Spirits. In such in whom the heat is potent, and the Circulations free, those gross Juices are contracted into hard Lumps, and Nature sends them up the Windpipe with ease and plea∣sure, and casts them forth. But in Phlegmatick Complexions, whose heat is less, and the Circulations of the Blood and Spirits dull and obstructed, this Matter becomes tough and glewy stops the Breast, is the Original of Coughs, shortness of Breath, soreness in the Stomach, &c. Lastly, another part into Excrement, which the Ex∣pulsive Faculty drives downwards, and carries off in the Draught; and also in∣to thinner Substances, which Nature strains into the Ureters, and expels that way.

The Uses and Benefits of this Noble Liquor are many: without it we could neither chew nor swallow. Neither could the Attractive Powers of Nature perform their Operation in drawing forth the Vertues of the Food, and dis∣perse Page  23 and scatter them into all the Mem∣bers and Parts, to the universal Nou∣rishment and Welfare of the whole Body. This is that they call an Euscra∣sy, a good Habit and Complexion of Body: when this Menstrum performs all its Duties naturally and undisturbedly, then there is a good state of Health, the Complexion is fresh and gay, the Spirits brisk and lively; strength and agility daily increases; in fine, the whole Microcosm is in ease, health and pleasure.

Nay, this Menstrum in its pure and simple Nature does not only promote Digestion, and assist Nature in her in∣ternal Works, but also it reaches and extends it self to the Cure of External Wounds and Sores. It is a Practice as Salutiferous as Ancient, to use fasting Spittle for Sore Eyes, and several sorts of Swellings. This is often done with good success, if the Method be conti∣nued; that is, if it be often applyed. For it is a constant and repeated Appli∣cation that overcomes and cures. I Page  24 have known a Man, without any Ad∣vantage of Book-learning and Lan∣guages, that hath done Wonders in the Curing of Deafness, and Distempers in the Ears, to the Amazement of many Learned and Famous Physicians, by the sole aid and vertue of fasting Spit∣tle, with a quicker and more certain Effect than any Poultice or Plaister whatever: Dogs, and many Animals, have no other way to Cure most Wounds; and I my self, Metrodorus, have done the same: Which are all in∣stances of the Balsamick Vertue of this Menstrum. Bread chewed in the Mouth asswages all Tumors and Inflammati∣ons, if worked into a Poultice, and applyed seven or eight times a day, till the Cure be accomplished. So uncon∣ceivable is the Excellency of this Liquor, that if the Powerful Vertues of it were vulgarly known, your Common Em∣pericks and Chirurgeons would have but very little Practice. In many Cases most People might be their own Doctor, and deliver themselves from a great Page  25 deal of Expence and Torment. We have in our former Letters said some∣what of the Generation of this Liquor. It is generated more or less in all parts of the Body, but especially in the Mouth, and Glandulous Parts of the Head, augmented by the Heat and Motion of the Brain, and the quick and uninterrupted Circulation of the Blood. The more in quantity this Menstrum arises, the sounder and healthier is the Constitution, Respiration is freer and less troubled, and Digestion more ea∣sie.

The Proper and most Natural Means of the Generation of it, is Temperance, thin, fine Airs, all manner of mode∣rate Exercise in the open Fields, espe∣cially by Running Rivers, where the Air is more penetrating, and affords finer Spirits, that occasion brisk and lively Circulations. This is evident from the Constitution of People accu∣stomed to such Exercises and Works, they have sharper Appetites, better Digestions, generally exempted from Page  26 Drougth and Dryness in the Mouth, Obstructions in the Stomach, Asthma's, and other Evil Consequences of a Close and Intemperate way of Living. Meats and Drinks that usually promote and increase it, are those of the most mild and simple Nature, such as plain Wa∣ter gruel, Conjieu-gruel made of Rice, &c. Milk-pottage half Water, eaten from February to August; for after Cows are with Calf their Milk is tough and jellious. Bread, Butter, some Cheese, several sorts of Herbs, Roots, Passets, Coco-nuts, Eggs, and other things of a temperate Nature. On the other side, all Salt Meats, strong Drinks, Tobacco, and all other things that are unequal in their Parts, are Ene∣mies to consume and dry up this Balsa∣mick Liquor. The frequent use of such things beget Feavers and Scorbutick Diseases, as do also all violent Exer∣cises, too large Meals, and too long fasting. These do mightily weaken the digestive and attractive Faculties of the Stomach, induce a torpid and lan∣guid Page  27 heaviness over the Members. I∣dleness is also an Enemy to it, for those that would have good Blood, fine Spi∣rits, strong Limbs, and sharp Appe∣tites, must Labour even to Weariness, after which give Nature her due Rest, and Temperance will perfect the work.

Thus, Metrodorus, I have at last re∣solved your Doubts in the Matter you desired, and absolved the Nature of the Menstrum according to my best ability. I question not but I have stirr'd up the Choler of some young Physicians of our time, but I matter it not, if I have gi∣ven you satisfaction, I have my ends; however, I have done my endeavour.