Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. I. Of Putred Fevers in General.

WHereas there is a two-fold sort of Fevers, whose heat is inherent in the parts according to habi∣tude, whereof the one hath it's rise, and is con∣tinued by the kindling of the Spirits, and thin∣nest parts of the blood, without putred humours, the other hath it's original from vapours and putred humours; of the former kind 'tis already spoken; The next business is that we handle the putred Fevers.

That there are putred Fevers many things shew; * 1.1 For neither is it dissonant from the nature of humours, but that they may putrifie, since that may happen to every mixt body; and we see humours putrifie otherwise in mans body, as it happens in inflamations, wherein quitture is generated, as Galen in the 1 of the differences of Fevers, cap. 6. he compares the putrid∣ness whereby the humours putrifie in the brain, with that, by which Sanies is generated in the humours. And that they do actually putrify, sufficient reasons are given, which hereafter we shall propound, and the matter it self shews that humours do putrifie in the veins. For both blood which cometh forth from breathed veins, and those things which are evacuated by stoo••, Urine, sweat, sufficiently by their smell and otherwise, argue pu∣tridity of humours. And the way of cure proves the same, for 'tis not performed by things that alter, but evacuate humours, which is partly instituted by nature, partly by the Physician. For if humoral Fevers could be made without putrefaction, they might also be cured by altering things only. And indeed such Fevers are not only malignant as some think, but the same signs appear, and the same way of cure is exhibited to intermittent and continued, * 1.2 which are void of all malignity and pestilency.

Aristotlc. 4. Met. c. 1. defineth putrefaction to be the corrup∣tion of the proper and natural heat in every moist body, by rea∣son

of external ambient heat, but by Galen 11 Meth. med. c. 8. without doubt not so much regarding the common and adequate subject of putrefaction, as to mans body, subject to medicinal consideration. It is (says he) a change of the whole substance of the body putrifying to corruption, by reason of extrane∣ous heat; the ultimate end of putrefaction is the dissolution of the parts whereof the mixt body consists, and the corruption of the whole mixture.

That we may here pass by the tedious disputations which are extant amongst Philosophers and Physicians concerning putre∣faction, this is to be taken notice of, * 1.3 that putrefaction in re∣spect of the mixt body putrifying, the one, is according to the whole and perfect, * 1.4 whereby mixt bodies are plainly dissolved in∣to Elements, out of which they are bred: The other is in some part, and imperfect, whereby these which are full of moisture, * 1.5 putrify. For seeing the moisture wherewith it aboundeth can∣not wholly be drawn out, only some parts thereof, especially the thinner are. And such putrefaction, namely, according to parts, agrees to humors also; namely, when some particles of theirs are really corrupted, and they loose their form: Yet the whole hu∣mour must not necessarily loose it's form; thence it continues it's name, and those corrupted parts being evacuated, it returns to its former nature; unless the corruption have so far gone, that mutation is made into another kind. Which putrefaction, is pu∣trefaction indeed, and not alteration only. For although the whole be not corrupted, yet some parts thereof are really cor∣rupted.

Putrefaction in a body is caused by extraneous heat, * 1.6 and when the humours are no longer governed by the natural heat, but are destitute thereof, they are corrupted. Therefore all things whatsoever which may be an occasion to hinder the innate heat, so that it cannot in its due manner govern the humours, may be said to be the cause of putrefaction of the humours.

Putrefaction of humours though oftentimes it be caused by obstruction, and bowels, and prohibiting of free transpiration, since that, as Galen. 11. Meth. med. c. ••. writeth, things hot and moist, in a hot and moist place not being fanned and cooled by wine easily putrifie: Yet putrefaction may be occasioned with∣out this, by the meeting with putred things, and other causes, which debilitate the native heat, and bring in an extraneous heat.

First, certain humours by reason of some internal defect, * 1.7 of heir own accord tend to putrefaction, or at least are casily over∣come

come by small causes of putrefaction, and having gotten the least occasion fall into putrefaction: Such vice humours contract first from bad meats, of the which they are generated, whether they are such by nature, or any other wayes corrupted: More∣over by meats which are easily corrupted, such are fruits rare∣ripe. Thirdly, from the ill dressing of meats, or ill concoction, or when they are taken in excess, or at unseasonable hours, or after a preposterous manner. Fourthly, by the default of the parts appointed for concoction, by reason whereof even the best aliment may be corrupted. Lastly by reason of other causes which either impede concoction, or retain execrements, as also the preposterous use of the six Non-naturals. Therefore by how much the more of such humours are cumulated in the body, by so much the more easily they putrify. For nature doth not defend excrementitious humours so carefully as those which are fit to nourish the body; whence they are easily corrupted and putrify. Blood also out of the veins, being out of it's natural place, and of a hot and moist nature easily is corrupted. But al∣though such humours turn to putrefaction of their own accord, and being in a hot and moist place; yet it happens sooner if any other cause be added. Nay good humours also in a sound body if they are the cause in p••sse of putrefaction may become putted.

Amongst all these causes the first and chiefest is the hinderance of transpiration and ventilation, * 1.8 whether it happen by straitnes of the pores of the skin, or by obstruction of vessels & passages in the more inward parts of the body. For hot and moist things in a hot place unless they are ventilated, easily putrify. Narrowness of pores is occasioned either by constriction from cold, or astrin∣gent things, or driness, as staying under the Sun-beams; or by Obstructions, which either plenty or vicosity, or thickness of humours brings forth. Moreover the internal passages are stopped, either through store of blood over-flowing in the body, or plenty of it contracted up and down in many parts, or by the thickness and viscousness of humours.

Secondly, * 1.9 those things cause putrefaction, which can kindle preter-natural heat in humours, and call out the native heat; in which number is the Fever Ephemera, which for this cause is often changed into a putred in hot and moist bodies: Moreover the other causes heating, as hot air, a hot bath, too much ex∣ercise of body and mind * 1.10

Lastly, the meeting with putred things, seeing that which is touched by what is putred, is defiled and putrifieth

From all which it is manifest, that a putred Fever is short,

having it's rise from hot vapours stirr'd up by putred humours, and heating the heart, and thence the whole body against nature.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Putred Fevers.
• * 1.2

  What Pu∣trefaction is.
• * 1.3

  How ma∣nifold it is,
• * 1.4

  according to the who••
• * 1.5

  in some part.
• * 1.6

  The cause of putrefac∣tion.
• * 1.7

  Default of humours.
• * 1.8

  Transpi∣ration hindred.
• * 1.9

  Causae cali∣facientes.
• * 1.10

  Meetings with pu∣tre•• things.