The book of degrees, part 1 of 5

PARACELSVS HIS BOOK OF DEGREES, &C.

Theophrastus Bombast of Hohenheim, an Hermite; Doctor and Professor of both Medicine.

To the Studious of the Medicinal Art, Health.

WHereas of all Disciplines Medicine onely, as being a certain divine gift, is praised with the honorable title, and name of Necessity, by the testimony both of Sacred Writ, and also of Prosane; and whereas the number of Doctors that do at this day prosperously exercise it, is most exceeding small, it seemed good to recall it to the former praise of its Authority, and Credit: the which wee will purge and cleanse from the Dregs of the Barbarous, and from their most grievous Errors. We do not addict or lind our selves to the Precepts of the Antients, but to such onely, as partly from the Indication of the nature of the thing, and partly from our own labors, we have found out, and have by the long use and experience of the things, made proof of. For who knows not, but that most of the Doctors in this Age, have (to the exceeding great hazard of the sick) most foully erred? because that they have anxiously adhered to the sayings of Hipocrates, Gallen, Avicen, and others, just as if they had been so many Oracles, proceeding forth out of Appollo's Tripode; and such, as from which it would be unlawful to depart even a fingers bredth. By these Authors we may doubtlesly be made most gallant Doctors, (if fates so favour) but not Physicians. 'Tis not Title, nor Eloquence, nor knowledge of the Tongues, nor the reading of many Books, (though those things are a comely ornament) that are to be required in a Physician; but an excellent and deep knowledg of Things, and Mysteries; which one bare knowledg, doth easily supply the room of all the rest. The Rhetoricians part is to be able, Eloquently to speak, and perswade, and to draw the Judge to be of his opinion: But the Physicians part is to know the Kinds, Causes, and Symptoms of Affects, and withall (by his piercing quick-sightedness and industry to apply Medicines, and to heal even all, according as the nature and occasion of every one requires. But that I may in a few words trace out to you the manner of teaching, but especially as concerning my own particular; know, that I being invited by the large stipend of the Lords of Basil, do (for two hours space, daily) publickly interpret, with most accurate diligence, the Books of both the Active, and also Inspective Medicine, both of Physick, and Surgery, (which said Books my self am the Author of) to the great fruit and profit of the hearers: But yet I have not begged them from either Hipocrates, Galen, or any else, as the custom of others is; but these of mine are such as I have obtained by Labour and Experience, the chiefest Instructress: Therefore when I would prove any thing, Experiments and Reason, are (instead of Authors) my Spokes-men; Wherefore, honest Readers, if the Mysteries of this Apollinean Art are delightful to any of you, and that a love and desire after them possess you, and that you covet throughly to learn in a short space of time, whatsoever pertains to this Discipline, come forthwith unto us at Basil, and you shall find far other and greater things then I can describe in these few Lines. But that my intention may appear the more clearly to the studious; I am not ashamed to put you in mind (by way of Example) that we do not in the least imitate the Antients, as to the Account of Complexions and Humours, for they have falsly attributed to them, all kinds of sicknesses; Whence it happens, that none, or at leastwise a very, very few Doctors have even at this day exactly known, the Diseases, Causes, and Judicial daies. Lastly, let these things thus demonstrated, through (as 'twere) a Lattice suffice; but yet I do not allow ye rashly to judge of these things, till you have first heard Theophrastus. Fare yee well; and take in good part this our indeavouring the Reformation of Medicine. Dated at Basil, in the Nones of June, MDXXVII.

Theophrastus of Hohenheim, an Hermite, Doctor of both Medicine, Physician and Ordinary at BASILL.

To the most Excellent, Mr. Christopher Clauser, the most Leared Doctor of the Tygurine Phisicians and Philosophers, HEALTH.

THe best and most excellent thing of every true Physician, is, Wel to know his own proper Medicinal Verity; and withal, Whether he be a possessor of his own Arcanum, or not; Even as thou O Christopher, the best of the Tigurine Physicians, dost not make use of ought in the Medicinal Faculty, without Judgement, and an exact Conscience, (which is not causelesly said to be a thousand Witnesses:) But as concerning the Power or Authority whereby I exercise my self in this my Monarchy, 'tis thus: My Medicinal drivings and forcings are born in me out of my Countrey Soil: As Avicen was the Arabians Physician, Galen the Pergamensians, and Marsilius the best of the Italian Physicians, even so the most fruitful Germany her self hath chosen me to be its necessary Physician; for even thou thy self knowest, That Experience her self is (as it were) the Mother of every Physician, and also verily is of all my whole Monarchy. Besides, thou knowest that every Countrey hath its own Laws and Customs, and moreover, that no Stranger or Alien can be well united with the Senators of another Countrey; nor can a Contrary (that is, a meer Stranger) be ever well joined together with another Contrary: From this observe, that thou compares Hypocrates to Me, Me to Averois, and compare Rhasis together with Us three, viz. Each according to his own countrey

Forasmuch as the Arabians and Graecians, together with the Germans, do stand in an equal Poise, no otherwise then as the Triple Horehound; and they do make the Ambergreese of Germany and Graece, equal with Storax and Turpentine, Balsom and Mummie; nor art thou ignorant that every Countrey contains in it self the Matrixes of its own Element, and exhibits to its own self that which is necessaly: For there is in Arabia the Ambergreese of its own Countrey: And although a (haldean Rose be haply no wayes comparable to a Rose of Arpinum, yet what is this to the sicknesses themselves? For a Rose is alwayes a Rose of its own Countrey: Just so every Nation produceth to it self its own proper and peculiar Physician, and that out of its own Archeus: For every Necessity affords Industry (alias, things necessary) to its Workman: But the self-same Necessity, is as it were both a Master and Parent of every Physician; therefore the Italians may excuse themselves from using the Graecians, and the Germans may from them both: For each of these have their necessities to themselves, and likewise a peculiar Helper of that Necessity, viz. of the nature of that proper Nation: Nor is there any need for any one to follow the Dreams and Customs of the Arabians or Graecians, but the so doing is the Error or Ignorance of the Countrey, and a Peregrine Arrogance; verily this is negligently done of them, and as it were, dreamingly, without any Reason, and uncompulsively, beside either Opportunity or Necessity; from which things a Physician is (notwithstanding) to be begotten.

But he that is (by reason of such like dotage and carelessness) stirred up from the necessity of his Countrey, to be a Physician, he at length is a perfect Physician of his own Nation, and plainly is the very Hypocrates, the very Avicen; and finally, the Lully himself of that Countrey: Albeit, I do not (in this place) therefore praise them to this end, as if they were born from necessity; for (and this I shall pass by in […]ilence) their own Countrey could not sustain the Errors of them: For I pray, What help did R[…]si; afford Vie[…]a? What did Savanarola profit Friburgh? What did Arnoldus the Suevians? What doth entilis, of the Countrey of St. James, and the Trusane Commentaries, help the M[…]sntan Physicians? What doth Avicen help all these; for as much as even the health alone of the sick is to be considered. This therefore is that Faculty I write of, which even my Countrey her self hath given Me, and that very thing is by the Necessity which I spake of, out of which I am begotten. Therefore I dedicate unto Thee, even whatsoever is in this Book, that thou mayest have it committed to thee in Print. But I am perswaded that after a while some unskilful Fellow or other will Reply to these Books of mine, and my self answer them again: For from thence will be plainly manifested, and evidently known on both sides, the necessity of every Physician, and the healing of the Sick: But as for those whom I most dearly love they perhaps will briefly give the interpretations of some obscure places in these my Writings; but not those, viz. the very oldest of my Foxes: For my Troop, forsooth, of the Physicians, is cut and torn a pieces; for one part of them is of a deceitful Tongue, the other part of Heart and Tongue. Questionless thou understandest what I drive at; I will send thee very suddenly some Descriptions, together with my amending of the Colcotharine Oyle. Take this in good part, and always be careful to act the part of a friend. Farewel.

From Basill, the 4th. of the Ides of […]ber. An. 1526.

THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE DEGREES AND COMPOSITIONS OF RECEIPTS AND NATVRAL THINGS. By THEOPHRASTUS of HOHENHEIM. &c.

BEfore I begin to treat of the Degrees, there are two Complexions of Nature that require our observation: the one is Hot, the other Cold: Moreover each of these hath a certain unbred disposition within it self; For every Hot thing is dry, and every Cold thing is moist, nor can Heat nor Cold be alone: Therefore these two Natures, as Hot and Dry, are one thing, and so are the Cold and Moist.

Hence therefore are the Degrees easily found out, that is to say, In what manner every thing is in its own Degree, and how many Degrees each thing doth occupy. And haply in this place those that have a long time had Catarracts in their Pannicles, (or Filmes over their sight) will gain-say, and such as have been accustomed to the in nature Treatises of the four Complexions, viz. Hot, Cold, Dry and Moist, from which they gather and understand that Cold is present in moisture and driness; and likewise that Heat is coupled with both. And according to this Opinion have they directed every thing, viz. That Cold may be dry, and Heat may be moist, which verily is a contradiction; whereas if they had approached neerer and throughly searcht into Nature, they would certainly have found my Arguments here following to have been neerer the truth; for they did not sufficiently understand that these four are but two onely and therefore have they falsly ascribed them to the four Elements, when as they are nothing less then Elements, the which Philosophy doth evidently demonstrate.

CHAP. II.

BVt that those things which I have spoken of, as to the two Complexions, may be the better known, understand thus: Whatsoever the Elements have produced in the Nature of things, is either Cold or Hot; If it be cold, it hath in it self a certain imbred, individual Humidity: Therefore where there is moisture, there is cold; so where heat is there is driness, for driness is in heat alone: Nor can it possibly be that cold can be dry, and heat, moist; For these are Elemental Conjunctions which come of the Ares, which is evident in the Example of a Man and a Woman; the man hath in himself the hot and dry, and the woman she hath the cold and moist, but they contribute to the Complexions as far forth as in their Degrees. First of all then, it is to be considered what moisture is, what a coagulated is, and finally, what a resolved dryness is: For from thence flows a common Error, which is very frequent amongst the chiefest Phisicians: For Example, Take Christal, which appears cold, and besides that, dry, for it dryes, but falsly; for the most dry virtue of Christal is a moist Coagulum, and in its administration it transmutes whatsoever it overcomes, and compels it into a coagulated Humidity, because it is again resolved like Ice. Likewise in Petroleum, (or Oil of Peetr[…]) it is not a resolved Siccity, as it appears to be (alias, 'tis a resolved Siccity, and not (as it appeareth to the fight) moist: For the dryness is resolved in the substance of its own body; Wherefore here (by way of in Epilogue or Conclusion) I define the Degrees to be observed in a twofold manner, viz. Hot and Cold and therefore the dry is twofold, and so is the moist, viz. the dry perse, and the dry resolved; the moist perse. and the moist congealed: What else is in this place desirable, may be found in our Philosophy it self.

CHAP. III.

ALthough more things might be spoken in this place about the Degrees, then have been hitherto mentioned by me, yet notwithstanding, because these things are known to such as are after any sort skilled in Medicinal affairs, I shall pass them over in this place with silence, and onely briefly speake of those things which have been hitherto falsly and erroneously, yet commonly uttered; the which take and observe in the following manner. In the first place the Sum or Number which respects the Elementated Degrees, is not only to be noted, forasmuch as it only servs to Elementated Sicknesses, but also those things which respect Mundificatives, Incarnatives, Laxatives, Constrictives, Repercussives, Diaphoreticks, Narcoticks, Cicatrizers, and others of that kinde. But as for these things, there is in the first place required a plenary knowledge of sicknesses, and also of the peculiar Degrees of every infirmity: For, as for wounds, their proper Degrees are requisite, viz. Of Incarnation: As for the Dropsie, or Hiposar[…]ha, the Degrees of drying up. For the Gutta, the Degrees of Comforting. For the Epilepsie, the degrees of Specification. For the Chacexia, the degrees which are of Commis[…]ion. If thou hast well examined and considered all these things, then at length set upon, or attempt the Composition of Receipts.

Neither do I think it sit to for bear to demonstrate in this place, that for the perfect knowledge as well of sicknesses, as of degrees, there i[…] onely required the Medicinal Professi[…]n, but also the A[…]logical, and besides them, the pegyrual Species, (o[…] Qualities) for all these things deserve a perfect and so consequently a long Experience; for even this alone (and not a bare continual reading, nor a judgement, though it be exact) unlocks the scope of this Book.

Lastly, If you desire any thing in this place concerning degrees, seek it from a daily use, whereto we direct and refer you all, that ye may know the virtue of Anthera, and also of Tereniabin, which is eminently enobled; xnd lastly of the Flower of Cheiri.

CHAP. IV.

BVt before we come to the degrees themselves, there are certain rules of the degrees to be observed, viz. By what means the degrees are augmented, or diminished: Therefore in the first place you are to observe this method: Whatsoever is of the Elements of the Earth, it possesseth the first degree, such as are Lettice, the Violet, Anthos, &c. Likewise whatsoever is made by the Ayre, as the Plagne, the Peripnumonia, or Imposi[…]me of the Lungs, the Causon, or most sharp Fever; these are in the second degree: But that which is begotten of the Element of Water, possesseth the third degree, as Lead, the Saphir, the Topaz, &c. But such things as come from […]he Element of Fire, as Ice, Crisial, Snow, they are of the Fourth degree, and that either hot or dry: Therefore you are to note, that whatsoever, sensitive thing proceeds off an Element, it is the same with the Element; as for Example, a Frog, whose Spenn i[…] in the third Degree; Likewise Camphire. That which is of the Earth, as men, is in the first Degree, as Rebis: Whatsoever comes forth out of Volatile or flying things, is in the second Degree, as ava, alias nvis, a Bird. But whatsoever breaks forth from the fire, as the Salamander; is in the fourth Degree: But the means by which one excells another, shall be laid open in the following Chapters.

CHAP. V.

MOreover, that the Degrees may be more clearly known in their Points, consider the present Example: Even as the Degrees which respect the Herbs, have been hitherto divided into four Degrees, so as many of them as ever there be, are to be referred to the first Degree, but yet not all alike; for one is sometimes more strained or exalted then another, viz. as to th[…] beginnings, middle, and end of both; but yet so, that whatsoever descends from the Element of the Earth, remains in the first Degree, nor is to be placed without the same: For amongst you, the Water-Lilly possesseth the fourth Degree, and with you, Saturn is placed in the third Degree, which in its frigidity or cold, exceeds the Water-Lilly almost eight Degrees: Wherefore they can never be placed or assigned to the same Degrees. So whatsoever is here in the second Degree; there even the first point overcomes, or exceeds the fourth Degree of the Element, which is off the Earth. And the fourth Point is more sublime by four Degrees then the last Point of the first Degree.

The like is to be supposed in the third Degree, and so of the fourth: From thence are collected sixteen points, which ascend, as it were, by stairs unto true Degrees, yea even to the six hundreth sixty and third. Therefore we have rightly affirmed, that those have erred, who have com[…]rized Camphire. the Sperm of Frogs, the Water-Lilly, Adums into one Degree; from which a certain and true Degree could never be found out in Receipts, the which shall be shewed in the following Forms or Measures of Compositions.

CHAP. VI.

BVT that you may peculiarly understand both the Degrees and the Point of those which induce heat, Observe, Whatsoever beings a thing into Athes, Calx, or Glass, is in the fourth Degrees fire: as Fire, Mercurial-water, and Aqua-[…], &c. So whatsoever is of a biting quality, and bring a thing to an Eschar, so as to putrifie poslesseth the third Degree such are Calcothar, Arsenick, Salt-armoniack, Borax, Auripigment, and others of that Kind, as also Alkali: But as to what appertains to the vertues of these things, by which some things excell others, that belongs to the Points; and not the Degrees. Besides, whatsoever makes Cicatrizes, or Blisters, possess the second Degree, of which sort are Rab[…]boia, Cantharides, Flammula, or Scarwort, Melsna, and others of that Kind: For although Flammula be in the first Degree, yet other ways it affects the second Degree; Because the spirit of Salt reduceth Flammula so far that it may be in a sort transferred to the first Point of the second Degree.

Lastly, whatsoever heats, and yet attains not to the aforesaid signes, as Ginger, Cardamomes, Southernwood, and other of that kind, is in the first Degree, together with their higher and lower Points. But you are to observe in this Rule, that the Degrees are not here ordered according to the Nature and Reason of the Elements, but are concluded into this present Rule, without them, and that on this Account; because the present Rule is taken from the three Principles, and serves for these things: which excell in Salt, in Mercury, and finally in Sulphur.

Wherefore in this place, we are chiefly to beware, that we use not this present Rule in Elementatedsicknesses; for they are certain things pickt out of these, and serve for such Diseases onely, as are to be healed by the three Principles.

CHAP. VII.

BVT that you may know the Degree of Cold, besides that which is Elemental; understand it thus: Whatsoever Congeals humours, possesseth the fourth Degree, of which sort are those things that are begotten of the Element of Fire: But whatsoever infrigidates (that I may use the Common expression and yet doth not impair the Spirit of Life, the Remedy being administred in its own proper Dose) as Narcoticks, Anodynes, Somnisirous things, the sperm of Frogs, Hemlock, &c. are subjected to the third Degree. Moreover, whatsoever Congeals humours, as the Beryll, Carniola, possesseth the second Degree: But whatsoever extinguisheth praeternatural heats, and allays the Paroxismes or Fits, is in the second Degree.

Lastly, whatsoever hinders a Disease from breaking forth into a Paroxisme or Fit, is of the first Degree. This Rule doth not much dister from that which is of heat, for these things have the Enantiosis, or the just-contrary of the things aforementioned: But whatsoever portion of Degrees those have which are off the Elements, the same portion doth also remain according to the decreed form or precept, together with the present Degree; so that now there's made a two-sold Degree of Nature, and it operates meerly according to the Rule and Nature of the Elements.

CHAP. VIII.

MOreover the Rule of Colours is worthy observation; for they also declare the Nature of the things wherein they are, as Century which is Red, and therefore of an hot Nature; and a Lilly which is white, and therefore of a cold Nature; But as concerning the Colours, which are outward, there can be nothing of certainty defined, unless on this wise; A Rose is red and of a Cold Nature, because of the yellow Threds […]ying in the middle thereof which attracts the […]ea[…] of the Rose. Besides, wheresoever there is a yellow in a Red flower, there also is the heat, viz but the Redu[…]s i[…] adjudged to be of a cold Nature, the like opinion is to be had of other Flowers.

Moreover there are Flowers which although they appear to he of a hot Nature yet […] they Cold, amongst which Minium is one. Others seem Cold o[…] Nature, when as they are Hot, such as Copper is: For the better knowledge of these things, N[…]e the following Rule; Whatsoever is green, brown or du[…]kie, as soon as in commixtion, 'tis pickt out, or taken from the body, is hot; likewise that body under which the Colours lie hidden.

Silver is Cold in its Nature, and keeps the Colour of Cold, for in the End it goes into the Colour of Lazure; But Mars is by Nature of a cold Colour, and suffers it self to be Transmuted into an hot Nature, yet nevertheless it keeps the force and Consequently the Vniversal Virtue of its own Nature: The black Colours are of no Nature, for they are nothing else but a Sulphur, which is Adust, or burned, under which there lies nothing at all, which is Elemental: But whatsoever is White, Wan, Black; and jaecynth is Cold, the other Colours are Hot; But whatsoever is garnished with divers Colours, consisteth in one Nature, viz. in that which is of the more principal Colour: So likewise in a green Colour, although there be Cold therein, yet 'tis comprehended in its Own Head, or Principal thing.

CHAP. IX.

WHatsoever is fat, and moreover moistned, is cold, although this be in a green thing, yet that greenness is turned into a Cold Nature; But whatsoever is dry, is of an Hot Nature: Besides, whatsoever is of Sulphur, Mercury, and Salt, fall within the compass of both Natures, viz. hot and cold, by reason of the three Principles. Briefly, whatsoever burns, is sulphur, and of an hot Nature, unless it be in the hot, alias cold, Colours; But whatsoever goes into Sublimation, and Calcination, admits an hot Nature: So whatsoever resolves it self, or is boiled, or brought into an Alkali, is hot: Also whatsoever it austere, is Cold.

Every sweet and bitter thing, is of an hot Nature, unless it be subjected to the former Rules; But that which dries the skin is hot, and that which Constringeth is cold. Now if you would judge by the Odours of these things, you can define nothing certainly; Except, as far forth as they keep the same Nature with the body. Lastly, there are other Rules which may be allowed of, if they obstruct not the precedent Rules.