The remaining medical works of that famous and renowned physician Dr. Thomas Willis ...: Viz I. Of fermentation, II. Of feavours, III. Of urines, IV. Of the ascension of the bloud, V. Of musculary motion, VI. Of the anatomy of the brain, VII. Of the description and uses of the nerves, VIII. Of convulsive diseases : the first part, though last published, with large alphabetical tables for the whole, and an index ... : with eighteen copper plates / Englished by S.P. esq.

CHAP. V. Of things to be Observed of Fermentation about Ani∣mals.

IT is so certain that the Bodies of Animals, consist of the aforesaid Principles, that it wants no proof. For they so plentifully swell up, with Spirit, Salt and Sulphur, that their Particles are obvious to the sense: Wherefore they are moved with a more swift motion, and more excellent senses of Life, and Functions of Heat, in the Subjects, in which they are implanted, are inlarged. It would be too much labour, and tedious, here to describe, the several manners and processes of Fermen∣tations. The first beginnings of Life proceed from the Spirit Fermenting in the Heart, as it were in a certain little punct. The motion of this, is not as in Vegetables, slow and insensible, and only to be known by their increasing; but presently becoming rapid, is conspicuous to the Eyes: because the Spirit leaping from the Punct, as from a Prison, being stirred, and having obtained the Vehicle of Blood, swiftly runs forth; and leaping forth, it cannot wholy fly away, it makes hollow spaces for it self in the thick substance, in which it is included, for its excursion, being compelled some other way backward. Lastly being returned to the Heart, it Ferments the more, where∣fore it stretches forth further the spaces of its Excursion, and so easily makes an hollow way for its return back; and after this manner, for the carrying about the Blood, Arteries and Veins, as Channels and Rivulets are framed through all the parts of the Body: and on such a Vicissitude of Motion, or Reciprocation, depends the life of living Creatures, which, that Nature might preserve a long while, she placed the Ferment in the Heart, by whose instinct, or endeavour, the Blood grows impetuously Hot, and as it were inkindled into a Flame by its Deflagration, diffuses the effluvia of its Heat round about on every side: for by the Fermentation, or Accension which the Blood suffers in the Bosome of the Heart, very many Particles of Spirit, Salt and Sulphur, endeavour to break forth from its loosened frame: by which being much rarified, and like Water boyling over a Fire, the moved and boyling Blood is carried through the Vessels, not without great Tumult and Turgescency. We would speak more in this place, both of the Natural Fermentation of the Blood, and the Fea∣verish, but that we reserve this Consideration for a peculiar Tract, where we Treat of Feavers.

Besides this Ferment constituted in the Chimny of the Heart, upon which the motion and heat of the Blood very much depends, there are others laid up every where in the Bowels, of a diverse disposition, by the help of which, both the Chyle (which is the Rudiment or Beginning of the Blood) and the Animal Spirits, its Quintessence, are truly framed. There are others also which serve for the perfecting the Blood, trans∣muting it into other Liquors, and freeing it from Excrementitious Matter: It will

be too far from our proposed method, to wander, to insist upon each of these, and to reap anothers Harvest: Wherefore I will only add in this place, some select instances, which may illustrate the Doctrine of Fermentation.

It is commonly received, that the Concoction of the Chyle, in the Ventricle, is made by the means of a certain Acid Ferment: That such a thing is the Acid belch∣ing in a full Stomach, and the want of it in the loss of Stomach, in Feaverish and Dysenterical people do testifie, &c. and its restitution a sign of Health: to which may be added this Observation; Chalybeat Medicines being taken at the Mouth, a little after excite a Sulfureous savour in the Throat, as if hard rosted Eggs had been eaten: which seems wholly to be made by the Acid Ferment of the Ventricle, gnawing the Iron, even as Spirit of Vitriol, being sprinkled upon the fileings of Steel, ex∣cites such a stinking and Sulphureous Odor. Some say this Ferment is breathed into the Stomach from the Spleen, but by what means that may be done doth not yet ap∣pear by Anatomical Observation. It seems not improbable that this Ferment is im∣planted in the Ventricle, that it is only made by some remains of the perfected Chyle, which fixed in the folds of the Ventricle. and there growing sowr, puts on the Na∣ture of Ferment; even as a portion of Dough being fermented or levened, and and kept to a sowrness, becomes a convenient Ferment or Leven, for the making of Bread. In like manner this kind of Acid humour being prepared from the Aliments, and long carried in the Ventricle, promotes the Concoction, and subaction or subdu∣ing of the Food. For Acid things, which are full of Salt, carried out to a Flux, ex∣cellently conduce both to the Fermenting and Dissolving of Bodies: Wherefore by the action of this, Salt and Sulphur, with which eatable things very much abound, are broken in the Ventricle, and are reduced into very small parts. The Chyle being after this manner Fermented, acquires a Milky colour, by reason that the Sulphureous Particles are dissolved together with the Saline, and mixed with the Acid Ferment. For if you pour an Acetous humour to any Liquor impregnated with Sulphur and vo∣latile Salt, it presently grows white like Milk; as may be discerned in the preparing the Milk of Sulphur, or the Resinous extracts of Vegetables. Yea, the Spirits of Harts Horn, or Soot, being very full of Volatile Salt, if they be poured to any Acid Liquor, or simple Water, acquire a Milky colour.

Concerning this Ferment hid in the folds of the Ventricle, it is observed that it is after various manners, and changes the Aliments by a diverse means: for tho in a sound Constitution it is indifferently Acid, and chiefly owes its force and energie to the Salt being brought to a Flux; yet it often declines from this laudable condition, and conteins in it self either too much of sowrness, or less than it ought to have: In the former Case, where the Salt hath got too sowr a Dominion, all things taken in, (the Saline Particles being carried forth to a Flux, and the rest unduly brought under) presently grow sour: as most often happens in Hypochondriack Distempers: on the other side, where the Volatile Principles obtain the first place, (Fermentation being too hastily made) the Sulphureous parts of the Chyle are suddenly, and as it were force∣ably exalted; and the unconcocted of the Saline, pass into Choler: which ordina∣rily happens to those abounding with bitter Choler. They therefore who have the Ventricle affected after this latter manner, Sweet and Fat meats being eaten, they are troubled with a bitter and bilious Taste: Again, they who suffer the contrary dis∣position, altho they eat the most simple Food, send forth plentifully Acid and Stinking belchings: and indeed this seems to come to pass even after the same manner, as when a little too much Yest is put to the Batch of Dough, it becomes bitter; or when too great a Portion of sour Ferment, or Leven is put to the same Dough, the Bread from thence contracts a mighty sowrness.

As the Blood in the Heart, and appending Vessels, the Chyle in the Ventricle, so the Animal Spirit is wrought in the Brain, whose Original and Motions are very much in the dark. Neither doth it plainly appear, as to the Animal Spirit, by what work∣man it is prepared, nor by what Channels it is carried, at a distance, quicker than the twinkling of an Eye. But it seems to me that the Brain with Scull over it, and the appending Nerves, represent the little Head or Glassie Alembic, with a Spunge laid upon it, as we use to do for the highly rectifying of the Spirit of Wine: for truly the Blood when Rarified by Heat, is carried from the Chimny of the Heart, to the Head, even as the Spirit of Wine boyling in the Cucurbit, and being resolved into Vapour, is elevated into the Alembick; where the Spunge covering all the opening of the Hole, only transmits or suffers to pass through the more penetrating and very subtil

Spirits, and carries them to the snout of the Alembick: in the mean time, the more thick Particles, are stayed, and hindred from passing. Not unlike this manner, the blood being delated into the Head, its spirituous, volatil, and subtil Particles, being restrained within by the Skull, and its menynges, as by an Alembick, are drunk up by the spungy substance of the Brain, and there being made more noble or excellent, are derived into the Nerves, as so many snouts hanging to it. In the mean time the more crass or thick Particles of the blood, being hindred from entring, are carried back by Circulation: But the highly agil and subtil Spirits enter the smallest and scarcely at all open pores of the Brain and Nerves, and run through them with a wonderful swiftness: For there is need only of such Receptacles and Channels, for the Animal Spirit, in which there are none, or at least very small cavities or holes; other∣wise the blood or excrementitious humours, their Followers and Companions would not be excluded. Also, besides, if these Spirits should run about through too open and loose spaces, being easily dissipated, they would fly away: wherefore, when there is need of a Pipe for the transmitting of blood, or serous water, the Spirit of Wine runs rapidly through the secret passages of the Instrument or Leather. Neither doth the more strict frame of the Brain and Nerves serve only for the straining of the subtil from the thick, and the pure from the impure; but also that spirituous and most sub∣til Liquor, being as it were distilled from the blood, gets yet a farther perfection in the Brain; for there being inspired by a certain Ferment, whereby it is yet more volati∣lised, it is made more fit for the performing the offices of motion and sense. Because the substance of the Brain is exceeding full of a Volatile Salt, which is of great Virtue for the sharpning and subtilising the Spirits; therefore the Spirits of Harts Horn, or of Soot, are far more penetrating than Spirits of Wine.

The Seminal Vessels and Genital Parts, do so swell up with Fermentative Parti∣cles, that there is nothing more: here Spirit, Salt, and Sulphur, being together compacted, and highly exalted, seem in the Seed to be reduced as it were into a most noble Elixir. These kind of active Principles do not only Ferment in the Womb, for the forming of the Child or Young ones, but also as it were with a living Ferment, they inspire through all the Body, the whole Mass of blood, that it may be more Vola∣tile, and more sharply Hot: wherefore in women who have the Ferment of the Womb in good order, their Face is furnished with a curious and flourishing colour, their heat is more lively and copious; moreover, the Mass of Blood growing too rank, there is need of emptying it every Month by the Flux of their Courses; but when this Fer∣mentation from the Womb is wanting, both Virgins and Women become Pale, and as it were without blood, short winded, and unfit for any motion. Also in men, from the Seminal Ferment, happen abundance of heat, great strength, a sounding Voice, and a manly eruption of Beard and Hair; by reason of the defect of this, men grow womanish, to wit, a small Voice, weak Heat, and want of Beard are caused.

Since we Treat of Ferments, which are found in the Animal Body, we may here opportunely inquire, what is the use of the Spleen: concerning which all good things are said by some; that it is as it were another Liver, and serves for the making of blood, for the Viscera of the lower Belly: It is by others reputed to be of a most vile use; that it is only the Sink or Jakes, into which the Feculencies of the blood are cast. By reason of its structure, we make this sort of conjecture; because the Arte∣ries, do carry the blood to this, and the Veins bring it away, neither any other thing is carried in, or conveyed out, and for that its substance is filled with black, and stagnating blood, it seems that it is as it were a store-house for the receiving of the earthy and muddy part of the blood: which afterwards, being exalted into the Na∣ture of a Ferment, is carried back to the blood for the heating of it: Wherefore, while the blood being carried by the Arteries enters the Spleen, somthing is drawn from it, to wit, the muddy and terrestrial Particles, which are as it were the dregs, and Caput Mortuum of the blood; that by this means the whole Mass of the Blood, might be freed from the Melancholick or Atrabilous Juice; which is separated in the Spleen, even as the yellow Bile or Choller, is in the Liver: wherefore, for the most part the Spleen is of a black or blewish colour, by reason of the Feculencies or dregs there lay'd up. But as this Juice deposited in the Milt or Spleen, is not altogether unpro∣fitable, but by reason of the plenty of fixed Salt, is of a very Fermenting Nature; it is not presently, as the Choler, cast into the sink, but is farther Cooked in the Spleen, and being exalted goes into a Ferment; which being lastly committed to the

blood, promotes its motion and Volatilisation: Wherefore, as somthing is drawn from the blood, entring the Spleen by the Arteries, to wit, the Crude Juice of Me∣lancholy; so somthing is continually added to the same, flowing back through the Veins, to wit, the same Juice concocted and exalted into the Nature of a Ferment: Even as Chymists, in Distilling, that the Liquor may be made better, separate the Subtile and Spirituous parts, from the Caput Mortuum, and then pour them on it again; and this work they so often repeat, till the Caput Mortuum or dead Head, is by frequent Distillation Volatized, and the Liquor rightly exalted, even in all its Particles. That this is the use of the Spleen, it is a sign, for that this inward being ill affected, the blood either ferments too much, as in the Scorbutick and Hypochondriack Distempers; or if the Spleen be obstru∣cted, or beset with a Scirrhous Tumor, the blood is destitute of fit Fermentati∣on, and causes the Dropsie, Cachexie or evil disposition of the Body, or the Tym∣pany.

As we assert, the Earth and muddy part of the blood, which consists chiefly of Earth and fixed Salt, being separated in the Spleen, to pass there into a Ferment; so it seems not improbable, that also the Adust, or as it were the fiery part of the blood, to wit, the Yellow Bile, which consists chiefly of Salt and Sulphur, being se∣parated in the Liver, and from thence transmitted to the intestines, serves for some use of Fermentation. For this being mixed with the Chyme or Juice, fallen from the Ventricle to the intestines, makes it there to grow hot and to swell up; whereby both the Elementary Particles are more overcome, and by reason of the Rarification or swelling up, the purer part is wrung forth into the Milky Vessels, for the Nutriti∣ous Juice.

We are not only born and nourished by the means of Ferments; but we also die: Every Disease acts its Tragedies by the strength of some Ferment. For either the Sulphureous and Spirituous part of the blood, being too much carried forth, boils up immoderately in the Vessels, like Wine growing hot, and from thence Fea∣vers of a divers kind and nature are inkindled: or somtimes the Saline part of the blood, being too much carried forth, suffers a Flux; and from thence it being made acid, austere, and somtimes sharp, is apt for various Coagulations: from which the Scurvy, Dropsie, Stone, Leprosie, and very many Chronical Diseases arise.

Yea we also endeavor the Cure of Diseases by the help of Fermentation: For to the preserving or recovering the Health of man, the business of a Physician and a Vint∣ner, is almost the same: the blood and humors even as Wine, ought to be kept in an equal temper and motion of Fermentation: wherefore when the blood grows too hot, even as Wine, it is usual to empty some out of the Vessels, and to allay its Fervor with temperat things. If any extraneous or heterogeneous thing, is mixed with it, unless growing hot of its own accord, it drives it forth of doors; Purging, Vomiting, and Sweating Medicines, by shaking and fusing the blood and humors, promote its seclusion: when that the blood is depauperated, and grows less hot than it should do, Cardiacks, Digestives, and especially Chalybeats or steeled Medicines restore its vi∣gor and Fermentation: no otherwise than Wines growing sowr or degenerating into a deadness or want of strength, are mixed with more rich Lees, whereby they may Purge or grow turgid anew. I could easily unfold the Curatory intentions, as also the effects and operations of every Medicine, according to the Doctrine of Fermen∣tation; but I design a particular meditation for this thing: for the perfecting of which serious work, God willing, I have determined to add to the business of Medicine, as I hope, somthing not unprofitable.

Having thus far wandered in the spacious field of Nature, we have beheld all things full of Fermentation; not only in the distinct Provinces of Minerals, Vegetables and Animals, do we discern the motions and effects of this, but also the whole Sublunary world, seems as if one and the same substance were planted, and very pregnant through the whole with Fermentative Particles; which in every Region and Cor∣ner of it, as little Emmits in a Mole-hill, are busied in perpetual motion and agitation; they fly about here and there; somtimes upwards, somtimes downward they are hur∣ried, they variously meet one another, associate themselves, and again depart asunder; with a continual Vicissitude they enter into divers Marriages, and suffer Divorces, on which the beginnings, the death, and transmutations of things depend. These lit∣tle Bodies do not only very much abound in the bosome of the Earth, or in the midst of the waters, but they are especially diffused through the whole Atmosphear of the

Air in thick heaps. It is sufficient that I have noted in this place, some examples in a word: I have not determined a more full speculation of them here. It is time that we proceed from Physical things, to the works of Art.