The method of chemical philosophie and physick. Being a brief introduction to the one, and a true discovery of the other. namely, of diseases, their qualities, causes, symptoms, and certain cures. The like never before extant in English.

CHAP. XXXVI. Of Feavers and their causes.

WE have demonstrated in the general* 1.1 explication of diseases, how impu∣rities, at the first Sulphureous nitrosities are carried through the whole body by a vapo∣rous substance; for there are such sulphureous nitrosities to be found aboundantly in the aliments which the sepa∣ration and expulsion being frustrate at the set time and the flowers of nitrosul phureous roots, they beget Fevers, h••rrours, heat, rigour, thirst, head-ach; such roots are contained in the Anatomy of all the parts of the body, as intestines, ventricle, veins of the mesenterium liver, milt, reins, glew, or balm, blood, flesh, and wheresoever there is made separation and digestion, or the ventricle, which we have demonstrated to be in all these parts. The seed will still emulate the subtilty of the places, elements, liquor of the Cedar, and mechanical substances, which is of a sulphureous tincture mixt with Niter. The seeds of Auripigmentum, Mars, Woolfsbane, produce the Fever. Auripigmental seeds produce a perfect in∣flammation with a Fever. The circuits of the paroxisms of Feavers consist not in kind, but in degrees, because some seeds are more mature and ripe then others and nigher to resolution; for in the fermentation of the seeds or resolution of the roots, the circuits are numbred, and the constant and firm decrees of the time are consumma∣ted, which are inscribed salts. They take their ordained stations either first, second, thiro or fift, which being in∣stant (the proportion and continuity of the progress be∣ing conserved) they execute their functions and offices. Therefore after the first off-spring or resolution, the first offic••rs being consumed and spent, the superficies and

tinctures likewise corrupted, if the second be nigh the su∣perficies continuated, or the tinctures be destined unto the term of maturity in the space of 24 hours; if they can make the elements and principles of bodies (which they are united to) fit unto resolution in such a space, they demonstrate quotidian circuits, tertian, quartan, quintan, sextan, and monthly circuits of the year; by the same reason the proportions of the circuits shall be observed, as what like the proportion of the first is unto the second, such like shall be proportion of the second to the third, and of the fourth to the fift, and so forward. Oftentimes the circuits of paroxisms are transplanted by external im∣pressions, and that is when the tinctures of the interiour and more potent stars have conspired; which conspiring admit equivocal generations, because the roots of Feavers emitting from thence are Hermophroditical. So the tertian degenerate into the quartan and quotidian, and the quar∣tan into the quintan; again the erratical degenerate into the quartan Feavera, nd the intermitting into the continu∣al, & contra. The Seminal tinctures of the impurities of Feavers are Homogeneous and Heterogeneous, the Homo∣geneous are equally mature, and by continuation of time are conserved in the resolutions of the fruits, as in the bur∣ning Feaver, Hectick Feaver, Pleurifie, Prunella, and Plague, and such like diseases. The Heterogeneneous are those which contain the tinctures which are to be effe∣cted by the flourishing of the fruits, some of them are nigher to maturity, some more remote▪ from hence it comes to pass that the mature parts doe fiorish for to day, to morrow, or the third day, in which the lots of the se∣cond maturity have happened in the third circuit, which have begun the third praedestinations and that continual∣ly unto the consumption of all resolutions defined in the resolution of the root.

Paracelss. lib. de tartaro Cap. 1. All the kinds of the* 1.2

Fevers are comprehended in the cure of tartar. So also in the same Chapter, Every medicine which resolves the tartar, or expell's it, presently cures the Feaver; where∣fore in the cure of the Feaver there must be made forth∣with a resolution, consumption, destruction and consum∣ption of the nitrous sulphureous impurities, and that by insensible sweat, transpirations, urine, avoiding of the belly and vomits. Lib. 2. de vita longa cap. 5. For the re∣moval of the Feavers, there must first be made a purgati∣on of the Feaver, then a specifical cure, and causal dimi∣nution is to be made. The best cure of the Feaver is, that which Paracel. calls Diacelta••esson, and it is Antimony, It resolvs & expells the sulphureous tinctures by vomit, stool, urine, insensible sweat, & transpirations; furthermore there must be administred the spirit of Vitriol, in which the specifical cure consists. The universal cure against all Feavers, especially quartan, is, salarmoniacum seven times sublimated and made altogether spirital must be taken hot in a draught of wine or ale, and make the patient sweat. Let him use this medicament eight days with a fasting stomach in the morning; it is sour and maketh hungry. These following are available against all Feavers, the quintessences of Opiates of Theophrast. the sweet oil of Sulphur, the red oyl of Vitriol made of Ʋitriolum Unga∣ricum and drunk out of the water of Barley; the Philo∣sophers stone; the less Centory boyled in ale, and mixt with Sugar by reason of the bitterness, let him take a good draught in the morning; the flowers of Antimony being fixt in hot wine, and let the patient be well co∣vered in his bed, and let him sweat; Let him take of the Salt of wormwood in wine, and let him sweat. The juice of Wormwood mixt with sugar is a very good re∣medy against the Feaver; the oyl of Wormwood, he bet∣ter salt of the Succory, and Carduus Benedictus. So also the salt of Gold, and tartar of Gold, and the spirit

of Vitriol are very good. It is be observed in certain Feavers, especially in the tertian, and in all other Astral, Epidemical, Mercurial, and Auripigmental diseases, that a vein be not cut; for it hath come to pass, that* 1.3 many having these diseases (after the cut∣ting of a vein) have dyed. Yea surely this is known very well by experience.

The especial and immediate cause of the generation of worms is putrefaction, though Paracels. seem somewhat to go from this assertion. The Cure, killing and expel∣ling of worms is deprehended to be in specificals, of which kind are the essence of black Ellebor, Saint Johns wort, the extract of the leavs of the birch tree, and the salt of Vitriol. So also those which expel putrefaction and corruption, of which kind are Diaphoreticks, Dia∣phoretical Mercury, fixt Mercury, the Diaphoretical Gold of life. These secrets (especially in the more principal members) kill, resolve, and expel worms.

The Pica hath a common root with* 1.4 Woolfs hunger, the powers and sciences of the root or star of transplantation cause the difference betwixt them. The cure of it is contained in the resolution, consumption, and expulsion of the tartareous and pearlish tinctures. The resolution and reduction may be effected by a sour and hungry medicament, and by no help of another, or specifical pur∣gation, or Mercurial administration.

The Contracture (as we may see in the Cholick and* 1.5 other Contractures) is generated from sour, stiptical, tartareous and pearlish spirits, which by the sending forth of fruits of flourishing, inquinate, and corrupt the vital spirit, which penetrates through all the members and bo∣dy; for all the more principal and interiour members by their vertues expel and drive away the enemy and strange guest from their globes and centres unto the less princi∣pal

and weak parts, and for the most part, to the out∣wardest parts of the body which are farthest from the vital fountain, where it seateth it self, and produces the malice into act. The Cure of the Contracture consists in resolution, reduction, and expelling of tartareous Vitri∣ol, and Stiptick spirits. The Indications of the Contra∣cture, as the Paralysis, and the Appoplexie are found and exist in fixt Diaphoretical Gold of life, in Antimony, and the essence of Gold; the less principal or potent are, the water of Tartar, the spirits of Vitriol, the tinctures of Pearls and Corals. Concerning the cause and difference of the Contracture read the book of Paracels. de membr. contract. tract. 1. For the cure of the same read the 2. tract, and his book de morbis tartareis cap. 11. fo. 297. The trembling of the hands is caused from cold tinctures* 1.6 which fly unto the sinews by reason of conspiration. The cure of it is the spirit of Turpentine taken inwardly, and the oyl of it annointed outwardly. So also the spirits of Vitriol doth cure it.

The Erysipelas is generated from the* 1.7 roots of inflammation existing in the flesh, as also in the more principal members, which expel those inflammatory seeds with great force and vertue from their Globes, and expel them from the Centre unto the superficies. The true cure of it is made by Diaphore∣ticks and expulsion of the poyson. It is manifest that if external medicaments be administred for the Erysipelas, which are lesse convenient and wholsom, and expel the poyson from the Superficies, unto the Centre, then the patient is in great danger of death, and that he will scarce∣ly escape.

The Measils and Flowers of the skin, are begot from* 1.8

impure blood, especially the menstruum, which hath Mercurial seeds which of themselves vanish away; yet they are expell'd by stronger renovating and re∣storing medicaments, and are safely cured by them, as are the essence of Antimony, Diaphoretical and fixt Mer∣cury, Diaphoretical Gold of life, the water of Pease from the signature, it expels the nature of the Measils unto the superficies, and cures it by a Diaphoretical faculty wherein it excells.

The Cure of the Rheum flowing unto* 1.9 the members, thighs, and feet, is Mercurial medicaments and Diaphoreticks; as also the Tartar of Vitriol, Ellebore, the essence of Iron, Corals, Antimony. Utricus Porta sayeth that it hath his original from the remaining excrements of the most pure blood of the mother wherewith the child is nourished in the matrix; neither will he grant that the infant is nourished with menstruous blood. Notwithstan∣ding it is probable, that the spirital aliment wherewith the child is nourished is somewhat infected with tin∣ctures and spiritals of the menstruous blood; which may be conjectured from the vaporous substance and spirituality of these blossoms.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Feaver is a hot distempe∣rature of mans body sensi∣bly hurting the actions thereof.
• * 1.2

  The Cure.
• * 1.3

  It is to be observed that •• vein be not cut in astra•• diseases.
• * 1.4

  Pica is a bad appetite of bad things which are disconve∣nient for the nourishment of man.
• * 1.5

  Contracture▪
• * 1.6

  Trembling.
• * 1.7

  Erysipelas is a hot, red, little and deprest tumour caused from small and cholerick humour boyling under the skin, and it is seated in the superficies of the skin.
• * 1.8

  Measils are many great moist, and somewhat white pus••les bursting forth in the superficies of the body with a Feaver.
• * 1.9

  Rheum is a preternatural deflux of the phlegmatick humour from the brain to the inferiour members.