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. IV. Of Diseases of the whole substance or of hidden qualities.

IT is a controversie amongst Physitians, whether there are any other. * 1.1 Diseases in the similar parts, besides those of Intempera∣ture. Truly the ancient Physitians make no mention of them; but the Moderne do and principally Fernelius in Lib. 1. Pathol. Cap. 2. and Lib. 2. of the Hidden causes of things, Cap 9. and afterwards he largely endeavours to prove that there is yet another kind of Dis∣ease besides Intemperature in the similar parts, and that is two∣fold: the one is of the whole substance; the other in the matter, which may be seen in the fore-quoted places. But 'tis not our pur∣pose largely to reckon up the opinions of others, for this Epitome will not permit it.

But that we may briefly propound our opinion, * 1.2 we determine that there is another kind of Disease in the similar parts, besides Diseases of Intemperature, being so perswaded for these reasons; first, because every agent which acteth, desires to make the patient like it self. But there are agents from the whole substance or such things, whose actions can be reduced into no manifest quality, and which are be∣yond the power of Elements, as elsewhere is proved: It necessarily follows that those agents from the whole substance, whilst they bring in Diseases, and act in our bodies, do not change the primary, but Occult qualities, and introduce Diseases agreeable, and correspon∣dent to their nature. Also because contraries may be cured and re∣sisted by their contraries: But the whole substance, or things acting in Occult qualities cure many Diseases; It necessarily follows that their are such Diseases to which such Medicines are opposed: and un∣lesse there should be certain Occult Diseases, in vain are Medicines

invented which act in the whole substance. Thirdly, since there are actions hindred or hurt which neither can be referred to any Disease commonly known, nor to any external error, as may ap∣pear in the plague and other Venemous Diseases, hence we may well conclude that there are other Diseases of Intemperature, from whence these kind of mischiefs happen.

But which and what those Diseases are is likewise controverted. We setting aside the opinions of others determine, * 1.3 those Diseases of the whole substance, or of hidden quality, to be those which consist in a certain occult, and malignant disposition of the simi∣lar parts, and to be no other then such whose mischiefs cannot be re∣ferred to the primary, qualities, and such as the agent cause excites, which is endued with a malignant, venemous and occult quality, and which are cured not by primary qualities, but by those things which are said to act in the whole substance.

But Diseases of matter which Fernelius brings there, * 1.4 are no new Diseases of similar parts, but either Organick Diseases, as softnesse and hardnesse in parts, wherein they ought not to be such, or Symp∣tomes, or causes of Diseases.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Whether there are any Disea∣ses besides those of In∣tempera∣ture.
• * 1.2

  There are Diseases of hidden qua. lities. The reoson.
• * 1.3

  Which are Diseases of the whole substance.
• * 1.4

  Whether there be ary Diseases of matter.