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 the signes by which we may foretell the event of a disease.

ANd these things are spoken of Prognosticks in gene∣rall, now we are to speak of those three, * 1.1 which use to be presaged, namely the event of a disease, the time of the end, and the manner: but the event of a disease is fourfold, for some diseases kill the diseased, others plainly leave them off, so that the sick returne to their perfect health; others neither kill the sick, nor leave them off, but accompany them even to deaths doore; others are changed into other diseases, and somtimes into worse, somtimes into milder.

The event of a disease is known by comparing the strength of nature with the disease, and by the longitude of a disease, * 1.2 or the state with the time to come; for if the sick passe over the state, there is no need, that he should any more feare the danger of death by that disease; because after the state no man dyeth in the declination by the power of that disease.

The signes of strength and weaknesse of nature are sought principally from causes, and effects: * 1.3 the proximate cause of the strength of nature is a natural constitution of the parts. And this, by how much the neerer it is to the naturall tempe∣rature, constitution and naturalll unity, by so much it signifies the firmerstrength; by how much the more remote, by so much the weaker. For strength of nature principally depends upon a naturall temperament, whereunto belongs age also and sex; for in men and youths the strength is firmer; in women, old men and boyes, weaker. Remote causes are all those things, which by whose intervening the strength of a naturall con∣stitution is increased, or preserved, or diminished; such are those things, that are taken in, which are carried about, which happen externally, and that are evacuated, and retain∣ed; for if all these things have been moderate heretofore, and are moderate, it shewes strength of nature; if immode∣rate, imbecility. Amongst the effects are first, actions, which, by how much the more they are observed according to nature, by so much the more they signifie health: on the contrary, by how much the more or more noble they are, or by how much the more they are hurt, by so much the more

they shew the strength to be weakned: Secondly, Excre∣ments signifie nature to be powerfull, when in their substance, quantity, and quality they are most like to na∣turall, but they signifie the contrary, if they are contrary. Lastly, qualities changed, by how much the neerer they shall be to the qualities of sound men, by so much they shew the greater strength in the diseased; by how much they differ from them, by so much the more imbecillity.

The strength of a Disease is known from things essen∣tiall, * 1.4 inhering causes, and effects, or consequent Symp∣tomes.

As for what belongs to a constitution contrary to nature, the difference which follows the form of a Disease, or the causes, or the subject, afford signes of the event; if the Dif∣ease be great it indicates danger and death, if little health, and by how much the fewer and more gentle those Symp∣tomes are that shew what the disease is, by so much the lesse the strength of the disease is shewn; but by how much the more or greater they are, by so much the more vehement is the Disease: but principally malignity ought to be suspe∣cted alwaies; a disease also, by how much the more it resides in a noble part, or may draw in a noble part by consent, by so much the more dangerous; but that which is in an igno∣ble part is out of danger.

The causes are such, as either bring forth a disease, or dis∣positions which have gone before it. or such as are helpers and supporters of a Disease.

The efficients are either Internall or Externall, internall are either solid bodies, or fluid; Diseases therefore which proceed from solid matter, as from stones, gravell, especially such as is great, for the most part are incurable; Diseases which arise from humours are dangerous, if they offend in the whole substance, and are malignant, if they are very purred, if plentifull, endued with mischievous qualities, and inhere in a noble part, and are crude; those which are contrary indicate the Disease to be less dangerous: Dis∣eases which arise from blood for the most part are whol∣some, from yellow and pale choller not very dangerous, from leek coloured choller, and the colour of the Yolk of an Egge, for the most part deadly.

The Aeruginous for the most part all are mortall, as those from black. A Disease also from an humour perversly thin, is more dangerous then if it be mingled with some o∣ther more mild.

Diseases also which proceed from many vitious humours mixed together, are more dangerous then those that arise from a single humour, regard neverthelesse being had to the nature of the peccant humour.

Diseases also are more dangerous which proceed from a humour causing a tumour, then from a quiet, so that it doth not adhere quietly to a noble part. As for the exter∣nall and evident causes, this is to be noted of them in gene∣rall, if they trouble the body long and violently, and are withall malignant, and continue long in the body, they sig∣nifie a dangerous Disease; those which are contrary tend more to health, and are lesse dangerous. Of the dispositions of bodies, Hippocrates 2. Apho. 34. writes thus.

Those are lesse dangerously sick, whose disease is sutable to nature, or age, or custome, or time of the year, then they whose diseases are agreeable to none of these.

Moreover, if Adjuvants, * 1.5 whether they are externall or internall, or from nature, or from art, help, they signifie a healthy Disease, and not a dangerous; but hurtfull things, if they hurt not, shew that nature is well: On the contrary, if those things which ought to help, do not help, they shew that the Disease is dangerous and deadly.

Thirdly, for what belongs to effects and Symptomes, by how much the Symptomes are lighter, by so much the Dis∣ease is more gentle, by how much they are greater, by so much the Disease is more violent.

The plurality of Signes are not only to be handled here, * 1.6 but the gravity and dignity of good and evill signes are to be considered and compared amongst themselves, and with the strength of the Sick; for the dignity of signes is principally to be valued in respect of life, and alwaies those are counted most worthy which indicate the force or imbecility of the vitall faculty.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The event of a dis∣ease foure∣fold.
• * 1.2

  When it may be known.
• * 1.3

  Signes of strength and debi∣lity of na∣ture.
• * 1.4

  Signs of a strong dis∣case.
• * 1.5

  Effects and Symptomes.
• * 1.6

  Dignity of signes.