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CHAP. VIII. Of humours according to the opinion of latter Physitians, and of Chymists.
ALthough some Chymists plainly reject these things that have hitherto been said, * 1.1 according to the opinion of the Galenists; and having rejected them, they have in their stead and place put the names of Salt, Sulpher, and Mercury; yet they have no reason for it; for as Galen in his first Book of Places affected, and second Chapter writeth, That that which put, we are diseased; and which taken away, we are freed; 'Tis taken for granted by all to be the cause of a disease; but we see the hu∣mours being present we are diseased; and being taken away, we are freed; therefore humours are the causes of diseases. Yet this we grant, that humours are not confined to the first quali∣ties, but that they have in them secondary qualities; such are, bitter, acide, salt, sharp, which may offend and hurt the body no lesse then the primary, as Hypocrates of anci∣ent Physick teacheth, which he calleth the Powers and Efficacies; also the force and strength of humours. Whence Galen also, and o∣ther Physitians, call them Salt, Nitrous, Aluminent Humors, which plainly manifest themselves in many diseases, as the Gout, Scurvy, Cankers and others. * 1.2 And so such humours are not to be rejected, but to be explained by the principles of Chymists; and such things as have affinity with themselves: and hence ve∣nenate humours bred of poyson and poysonous matter, do not seem so properly to be referred to Choller, Phlegm, Melancholly; although in colour it seems to have some affinity with some of these, yet their nature is far different, and therefore are to be described by their Powers Hyppocratically. * 1.3
Lastly, of the Melancholly and black humour. It is to be noted, that by it selfe it is thick, earthy, feculent, or salt, and for the most part 'tis so much moystened by many serous and wate∣ry humours, that it becomes like unto Lee, which consist of wa∣tery adust, and salt parts; and therefore it is called by some Water.