to the Eyes cause Tears. Also the pain of any part near, as the Tooth-ach.
Tears usually break forth from a violent motion of the Humors by straining; or from a disturbance of the mind, in which, by reason of that wonderful Convulsion of the Muscles, Cheeks, Lips and Eyes, which we observe to go before tears in crying: these watery Humors near the eyes being moved, insinuate themselves into the Eyes, and cause tears. As we may observe tears to fall from violent laugh∣tre, when the Mouth is strained with too much Joy. Al∣so we may observe that tears will fall in other strainings or forcings, as at stool, or in Child-birth, with Coughing or Sneesing.
VVhen a moist Humor falls from the Brain into the Nostrils that are ordain∣ed for the discharge thereof,
it causeth the dropping of the Nose. In which the Flux is greater, by how much it a∣boundeth in the Brain. And there fals a thin Humor like water, if it comes di∣rectly from the Brain, because it is gene∣rally that of the Brain, and if it be kept long in the Cavi∣ties, it quickly grows thick and clammy. Also there is a serous Humor in the Brain which is an Excrement as we shewed in other Defluxions mixed with Flegm, and flows to the Nose, and either causeth or increaseth this Flux, and then it is thinner, sharper, and hotter, and causeth Itching and Sneesing, and that which is called Coriza or Pose. The Collection of Humors in the Brain causeth this Defluxion: And these things that stir up the expulsive Faculty, do in∣crease it. As we shewed in other Diseases from Defluxi∣ons, especially in the Cough.
That water which flows out at the Ears comes from other parts besides the Brain,
for it cannot come to the place of hearing any way, but by the hole in the hearing Nerve, and if it should en∣ter by that, it can only come into the internal seat of hearing, and cannot pass to the external, except it pierce through the Tympane, which it cannot do without hurting of it, and loss of hea∣ring. But when this Flux is without the loss of hearing, and comes externally, it is plain that the water was carry∣ed to the outward Passage of the Ear, into which the serous Matter sweating through doth moisten; and when it is too much, it comes from the Veins there about, and cau∣seth this Flux: this is seldom, because there are better Passages for it; and but somtimes, especially when the Passages are loosned. As we shall shew in the Whites, that water and flegm comes from the Veins.
As we shewed that the Terms come from the veins of the neck of the womb,
so the Whites come from the same; and not from the Cavity of the womb, as some dream, because that is so narrow, that it cannot hold such a quantity as usually floweth, neither can it be con∣tained therein, or pass through the veins which are small, and are not enlarged till the woman be with Child; as it may through the Veins of the neck of womb which are larger. And this is, when this excre∣mentitious Humor is mixed with blood, or with the terms, which makes it ill-coloured; or after the terms are gone, when it presseth by the same wayes they did, for which Cause it is called the white Terms. And this may be at other times, when Nature is burdened, both in such as have, or such as are past their Courses. As it is somtimes in women with Child: In whom in regard the inward O∣rifice of the womb is closed it cannot flow from the cavity of the womb, but from the neck; and in them who are not with Child it is the same. Nor is it a wonder, that nature should purge these Excrements by the same way that blood is evacuated, because she doth the like in other Vessels or∣dained for other Evacuations. And the reason why they are white. and without Blood is, because Nature discha••∣geth them at that time, when there is no blood to be sent forth. As also because Nature separates the blood from the Impurity, and keeps it, and sends out the Excrements as noxious. Which Excrements, if serous or watery, come from the whey, if flegmatick, from crude blood, if mattery from blood stained. And if other Humors be mixed, as yellow, green, or black Choller, it is discoloured therewith. And if they be sharp, or the whey salt, then by pricking, and burning in the Parts to which it sticketh, it causeth Itching, and sense of Heat; and if it continue long, ulce∣rateth. But when it is alone, it flows without sense, like water, or the white of an Egg beaten, nor is it then noxi∣ous, except it be immoderate.
The Cause of these Excrements in the Blood which feed this Flux, is that which is eaten or taken in, and the weak∣ness of Concoction, and of those Bowels which separate the Excrements, as in a Cachexy, of which we spake suffi∣ciently. These Excrements are sent forth by nature when she is burdened, and the sooner if there be weakness of the womb, as may be from divers Causes, and also from this Moisture which wets and cools the Part. As also when Nature is stirred up to expel them by other means. As we have known women who never had the whites before af∣ter they have taken a Purge, which stirred up Nature have had them. And many have had the same by sitting long in a Bath, not from Infection, as they have thought from other that were in at the same time. But Nature throw∣ing out Excrements by bathing, doth cause the whites which are too thick to be sweated forth.
That water which is swet forth through the whol Body, is serous;
and mixed with blood, gets into the Superficies of the Body, by an obscure solution of con∣tiguity of the skin, it goes through the Veins.
This Solution of Contiguity comes from the opening of the Pores, or Anastomosis, or Rarefaction of the Skin, or Diapedesis: For then the Serum being very thin, passeth through the Pores of the skin, and causeth Sweat, being either drawn, or driven thither.
Serum or water is attracted by Heat external, for then that with the Blood is snatched to the superficies of the bo∣dy, and goes through the skin, as water is distilled from Plants, as I shewed. And the rather, when the water is made thin and hot, that it may pierce. And if there be plenty, or if it be thin, sharp, or cholerick, it will be more easily drawn out by the heat. And as Heat doth cause a Natural sweat, so if it be vehement or long it is pre∣ternatural. This Heat is from Exercise or Baths, dry and moist, and the immoderate use of these causeth immode∣rate Sweats. Therefore Baths are said to weaken.
In Diseases, as Feavers, though the whol Body burn, yet it scarce sweats, till Nature expells the Cause thereof by sweat, which is in intermitting Feavers when the heat cea∣seth in the day of rest, and in continual Feavers, when they decline. For when the Body is hot, and Nature is busie in the Concoction of the Cause of the Disease, it cannot be sent forth by sweat, but when it is prepared, and made thin it may.
Nature drives water to the Superficies of the Body, where it is burdened therewith, and then the expulsive Fa∣culty labours to cast it out by sweat.
Nature is burdened, when the quantity or quality of the Serum is offensive; when it is too much in the Veins for want of Evacuation by Urin; then when it cannot be pur∣ged from the blood, otherwayes it is sent forth, or drawn forth by sweat. Therefore they which piss little, sweat much, especially they that use moist Diet, and drink much.
If it be offensive in quantity, and be impure by mixture of other Humors, and so burdensom to Nature, it is sent forth by sweat as well as urin. In Cacochymicks or Bo∣dies of evil Juyce, Sweats are not Natural, but are stink∣ing or clammy, and somtimes discoloured; now all over