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CHAP. XX. Of a Disease.
* 1.1A Disease is an affect against Nature; principally, and by it self, hurting and depraving the action of the part in which it resides. The division of a Disease is threefold; Distempera∣ture, ill Conformation, and the Solution of Continuity.
Distemperature is a Disease of the similar parts dissenting, and changed from their proper and native temper. That digression from the native temper, happens two ways; either by a simple distemperature from the excess of one quality; and this is fourfold, Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry; or by a compound distemperature, by the excess of two qualities, which also is fourfold, Hot and Moist; Hot and Dry; Cold and Moist; Cold and Dry. Again, every distemper is the fault of one simple and single quality, as an Inflammation; or hath some vicious humors joyned with it, as a Phlegmon: Again, a Distemperature is either equal, as in a Sphacele; or unequal, as in a Phlegmon, beginning or increasing.
* 1.2Ill Conformity is a fault of the organical parts, whose composure is thereby depraved. This hath four kinds; the first is, when the figure of the part is faulty, either by nature or accident, or some cavity abolished; as if a part which nature would have hollow for some certain use, do grow or close up; Or lastly, if they be rough, or smooth otherwise than they should, as, if that part which should be rough, be smooth, or the contrary. Another is in the magnitude of the part increased, or diminished contrary to nature. The third is in the number of the parts increased or diminished; as, if a hand have but four, or else six, fingers. The fourth is in the site and mutual con∣nexion of the parts; as, if the parts, which should be naturally united and continued, be pluckt a∣sunder, as happens in Luxations; or the contrary. The third general kind of disease, is the so∣lution of continuity,* 1.3 a Disease common, both to the similar and organical parts, acquiring di∣versity of names, according to the variety of the parts in which it resides.