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. II. Of the causes and differences of Symptomes in general.

SO that in respect of the causes, * 1.1 a Symptome is properly divi∣ded into a Symptome of a Disease, a Symptome of a Cause, and a Symptome of a Symptome; for they labour in vain•• who endeavour to draw all Symptomes from Diseases.

A Symptome of a Disease is that which immediately fol∣lows a Disease, * 1.2 no other affect contrary to nature comming be∣tween, as when an ill concoction follows a distemper of the sto∣mach, which is called in Greek Cylosis. A Symptome of a cause is when the action is hurt, although the faculty, and its organ be well; the faculty being hindered by an external fault, as when the Liver, though sound, cannot sanguifie, by reason of vitious chyle; * 1.3 they trouble themselves exceedingly here, who endea∣vour to deduce every Symptome from a Disease, and actions hindred, which happen without a Disease, no way worthy the name of a Symptome, but think them worthy to be called certain natural differences, or imbecilities, since that they are accoun∣ted to perform nothing beyond their own strength: but they plainly erre in the matter, for that any work: may be perfected, not onely the agent, and that rightly disposed, but also the pa∣tient which receives the operation of the agent, is required: For as in voluntary actions; as for example, in gesture, or lifting of a weight, the businesse is in the free will of man, but that some work may be performed in the body; as for example, Sangui∣fication, Nourishment. It is necessary that the patient be joyn∣ed and coupled with the agent, but since the action of him that moves, and the patient moveable is but one motion, and dif∣fer onely in reason, as Aristotle teacheth, in the second Book of his natural Philosophy, Chap. 3. Title 23. Diservedly there∣fore in natural actions, when that is not performed which ought to be, especially in natural concoctions, all that which either is hurt, or frustrated, is deservedly called a Symptome, whether it be done by reason of the agent, or of the patient; for although,

in respect of the agent, it be impotent. Yet some fault doth happen by reason of the patient; and therefore it is the office of a Physitian if he will govern a mans body aright, to govern as well the patient, as agent in such actions.

A Symptome of a Symptome is that which follows another preceding Symptome, * 1.4 no other affect contrary to nature com∣ming between.

Moreover there is a common division of Symptomes into an action hurt, errours of excretion, and retention, and qualities changed, namely such as doe not hinder the actions of our bodies.

Actions hurt are of two kinds, * 1.5 the one is so called when the faculty is hurt; The other by reason of some external fault, as is said.

When the faculty is hurt, the action is said to be hurt; * 1.6 since the agent is not right, or since the instrument (for the faculties of the mind cannot be hurt) is affected contrary to nature. That the natural constitution of the part, which is the next instru∣ment of the faculty is vitiated, which being spoyled, the mind cannot perform its actions. Again, some divide the faculty hurt into the faculty hurt alone by its selfe, and into certain actions hindred. The faculty hurt by it selfe they say is, when the next instrument which it useth, in performing whereof that action is ill affected: as for example, when the Bladder doth not expel Urine, by reason that the Fibers which are used in expelling, are ill disposed. Again, to the good constitution of the instrument is required not only as abovesaid, constitution of the part, as it is mixed, temperatenesse, and innate heat, but spirits, and influent heat, which being deficient, the faculty cannot rightly perform its actions, as most plainly appears in the senses. But they then say the faculty is hindered, when the next instrument of the fa∣culty is well, yet the faculty is hindered in its action, by some Organick Disease; as when the expulsive faculty in the Bla••∣der will not send forth Urine, though it be well, by reason of ob∣structions of the Uriters, occasioned by the Stone.

On the other side, if the agent and instrument are in all re∣spects sound, and they be well constituted; * 1.7 yet neverthelesse for some other cause, which is without the constitution of the part, the faculty is frustrated in acting, and is hindred that it cannot perform its action. The action is said to be hindered by some external error.

To external error first belongs the patient or object, betwixt which and the agent, there ought to be a proportion; for if

the patient be not fit to receive the operation of the agent, a perfect action is not brought forth. Hitherto belong all these things by which actions are performed, or without which they cannot be performed, as time, place, and order in some, and moreover the use and necessity of actions.

The other two kinds of Symptomes, * 1.8 to wit, the fault of ex∣cretion and retention, and the qualities changed by hurting of the natural actions, depends on them, and the humours procee∣ding from them; for from evil concoction proceeds ill excre∣ments: and hence also the qualities of the body are changed; for such as the humours are in the body, such colours, smells, tasts, and such like qualities the body sends forth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Its divisi∣on.
• * 1.2

  A Symp∣tome of a Disease. A Symp∣tome of a Cause.
• * 1.3

  Whether hurt by ex∣ternal meanes be Symptomes
• * 1.4

  A Symp∣tome of a Symptome. A division of Symp∣tomes.
• * 1.5

  Manner of actions hurt.
• * 1.6

  How many ways are actions hart when the facul∣ty is hurt.
• * 1.7

  Through some exter∣nal error.
• * 1.8

  The cause of excreti∣ons, and retentions, and of qua∣lities chan∣ged.