The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. IV. Of the preparation of humors to putrefaction, and admission of pestiferous impressions.

HAving shewed the causes from which the air doth putrefie, become corrupt, and is made partaker of a pestilent and poysonous constitution; we must now declare what things may cause the humors to putrefie, and make them so apt to receive and retain the pestilent air and venenate quality.

Humors putrefie either from fulness, which breeds obstruction, or by distemperate excess; or lastly, by admixture of corrupt matter & evil juice, which ill feeding doth specially cause to abound in the body: For the Plague often follows the drinking of dead and mustie wines, muddy and standing waters, which receive the sinks and filth of a City; and fruits and pulse eaten without discretion in scarcity of other corn, as Pease, Beans, Lentils, Vetches, Acrons the roots of Fern, and Grass made into Bread: For such meats obstruct, heap up ill humors in the body, and wea∣ken the strength of the faculties, from whence proceeds a putrefaction of humors, and in that putrefaction a preparation and disposition to receive, conceive, and bring forth the seeds of the Plague: which the filthy scabs, malign sores, rebellious ulcers & putrid fevers, being all fore-runners

of greater putrefaction and corruption, do testifie. Vehement passions of the minde, as anger, sorrow, grief, vexation and fear, help forward this corruption, of humors, all which hinder na∣tures diligence and care of concoction: For as in the Dog-Dayes, the lees of wine subsiding to the bottom, are by the strength and efficacie of heat, drawn up to the top, and mixed with the whole substance of the wine, as it were by a certain ebullition, or working; so melancholick hu∣mors, being the dregs or lees of the blood, stirred by the passions of the minde, defile or taint all the blood with their seculent impurity.

We found that, some years agon by experience, at the battle of S. Dennis. For all wounds, by what weapon soever they were made, degenerated into great and filthy putrefactions and cor∣ruptions, with severs of the like nature, and were commonly determined by death, what medicines and how diligently soever they were applied; which caused many to have a false suspicion that the weapons on both sides were poysoned. But there were manifest signs of corruption and putrefaction in the blood let the same day that any were hurt, and in the principal parts disected afterwards, that it was from no other cause, then an evil constitution of the air, and the mindes of the Souldi∣ers perverted by hate, anger and fear.

Notes

• Three causes of the putre∣faction of hu∣mors.
• Passions of the minde help forward the Putrefacti∣on of the hu∣mors.