CHAP. XVI. Signs of the Plague drawn into the body by the fault and putrefaction of humors.
FOrmerly we have reckoned up the causes of the corruption of humors from plenitude, obstruction, distemper, and the ill juyce of meats. Now must we deliver the signs of each corrupt humor which reigns in us, that it may be reduced to soundness and per∣fection of nature, by the opposition of its contrary, or else be evacuated by Physick. There∣fore if the body be more yellow then usual, it is a sign of choler offending in quantity and quality. If more black, then of melancholy; if more pale, then of phlegm; if more red, with the veins swoln up and full, then of bloud. Also the colour of the rising blains, tumors and spots, express the colour of the predominant humor, as also the excrements cast forth by vomit, stool, and otherwise; the heaviness and cheerfulness of the affected body; the manner of the present Fever; the time of the year, age, region, diet. Such things as have a cutting, penetrating, attenuating, and cleansing faculty, take away obstruction. By means of obstruction, Fevers oft-times accompany the Plague, and these not only continual, but also intermitting, like tertians or quartanes. Therefore that Plague that is fixed in the infection or corruption of a cholerick humor, shews it self by the forementioned signs of predominating choler, to wit, the heat of the skin, blains, and excrements; as also in the quickness of killing, and vehemency of the symptoms, bitterness of the mouth, a painful and continual endeavour of going to stool, by reason of the acrimony of choler stimulating and raking the guts in the passage forth. That which resides in the corrupt sub∣stance of gross humors, as of bloud, sheweth it self by many and plentiful sweats, by a scouring, by which are avoided many and various humours; and oft-times also bloudy matter that proceeds from corrupt phlegm, it invades with more sound sleep, and causless weariness of all the members;