Of the virtues of the members, part 1 of 2

Theophrastus of Hohenheim, OF THE Virtues of the Members,

The First Book treats of the Vertues of the Spiritual Members.

The Second, of the Vertues of the Inward,

The Third, of the Vertues of the Outward Members.

The First BOOK. Of the Vertues of the Spiritual Members.

CHAP. I. Of the SPIRIT of LIFE.

THE Spirit of Life is a Spirit planted in all the members of the Body, whatever Distinction they are denominated by: It dwelleth in them all, and in each of them, and is the One, or sole Virtue of them all, promiscuously. 'Tis it that is the supreme and most noble Grain, by which all the whole members live: But according as 'tis extended or dis[…]used, so doth it become various, answerable to its various Seats: For in the Heart it is so acted, as to assume the Virtues of the Heart, which property it is not fraught with in the other members: So likewise in the Liver it gets the virtues of it, and performs that Office there onely, and not in the other parts. The like is to be judged of the Marrow; but although that these Virtues are either perceptible, or not perceptable; yet the virtues of all the members are uniform, nor are they any otherwise to be understood then thus, viz. That the virtues of the Heart do in some sort onely differ from those of the Bones, whereas the virtues are but One notwithstanding: For the Virtues that sustain and conserve the Bones, are not weaker then those are which refresh and strengthen the Heart; for there's as much of importance scituated in the Bones, as is in the Heart: So in like manner the virtues of the Spirit of Life in the Brain, are not of more excellency then those in the Marrow: And although by reason of the use and necessity of that in the Brain, the contrary seems true, yet the necessity of the Marrow, is as much as that is of the Brain, and the virtues of them both are alike.

The like consideration is to be had of all the members, of the which though some seem worthier then other some, yet 'tis but one onely Spirit of Life that is the Governor, the Virtue, the Efficacy, and Operation of them all.

CHAP. II.

THE Spirit of Life ariseth from external Causes or Generations, and not from Natural, according to the Flesh: For as the Generation of the other members i[…] twofold, so the Generation of the Spirit is simple, and is united with the body and the members, as we have said: this likewise is the cause why (as in reference to its own Virtues) it cannot be strengthened, unless the members themselves be healthy and strong; for by how much the stronger, healthier, and chearfuller a Member is by nature, by so much stronger and more refreshingly doth the spirit shine forth: And therefore we must not by any means attempt to conserve, strengthen, and advance it as 'tis a Spirit of Life, but onely thus, viz. by conserving and strengthening the members (which have their birth from Nature, in their first Integrity, and Original Healthfulness; this being done, the Spirit doth in it self become more enlarged, and more strong: But yet theres One thing that appertains to the Spirit onely, and 'tis this, viz. That it be occupied in the Open Passage, and kept unstopt: Concerning which Oppilation or stopping if it chance to happen, we will here annex a peculiar Treatise; then after we have so done, we will annex two little Books of the Members that govern themselves, as shall anon follow: You must therefore know, that the Spirit of Life may be so stopped, that unless the wayes and pores of its passages be opened, it may be strangled; for the second Generation is nothing else but a Vapour and the Spirit of Life lives in us in the form of a Vapour, as the Nature of the second Generation, which is made without Nature, (or Externally:) therefore the Pores are to be immediately opened, even at the very beginning, viz. In the Marrow, in the Flesh, in the Veins, in the more principal Members, in the Bones, in the Ligaments, in the Nerves, in the Joints, in the Bladder, in the Diaphragme, in the Matrix, in all the members, none excepted; for this Spirit is likewise placed in the Brain as well as in the Flesh, and passeth through the Brain upwards, & downwards, and penetrates the Pia Mater, and Dura Mater, and runs through the Heart and its Case, and the Chest of the Gall, and the Regions of the Reins, and the Centre of the Bladder, and possesseth as wel the place that is empty, as that which is full.

CHAP. III.

WHeresoever therefore, the Spirit of life cannot penetrate, there a Disease is stirred up; for if it be stopped, there ariseth a Putrefaction, degenerating into an Exulceration, for there it dyes in that place; But now, that which is dead, doth putrifie, and make an Vlcer, according to the Nature of the Member, which the Disposition (or effect) it in; for if the Vlcer be made in the principal parts, it causeth death. From the Oppilations of the spirit of life, do proceed Feavers, Aposthumes, Pleurisies, the Iaundice, Vlcers, and whatsoever seizeth on the body with a Feaverish Fit, as the Plague, and the like; the cause hereof is this: The spirit foreknowing its suffocation and death, doth first shake the whole body with horror, whiles it is as 'twere congealed; then afterwards if it be resolved, heat and inflamation prevail: I do here except those Feavers that produce more Pavoxisms or Fits then once, as the Quotidian, the Tertian, and Quartain; and therefore (as I may so speak) if it causeth Fits in the Brain, it stirs up the Phrensie, Madness, and the like: If in the heart, it induceth the Chorea viti, or the Laughing-Disease, for it toucheth the Veins of rejoicing; and it often happens, that it procures Fits, according to a time, and hour, and year: But this the Regular Practice of Feavers and the Plague doth discover, viz. From what causes such things come to pass, the Spirit of Life is subject to influence, even as the body it self to the Earth; for even as the Body eateth the Earth, and is it self that which it eateth, and sustaineth its Life from the Earth, even so likewise the Spirit of Life eateth of the superior Influence, and is nourished by the Element of the Fire, in which the four Elements do shine bright; For even as the Earth doth according to its fruits shine in the four Elements, so here do the influences also shine. There are therefore two Practicks to be set before us; the first is, That the Influence may be so much conserved, a[…] is grateful and suitable to the spirit. The second is, That the Body may be kept profitable to, and fit for the spirit; this done, there follows the health of the body one way, as to the Spirit.

CHAP. IV. Of the Influence of the Spirit of Life.

THE vertue of the Spirit of Life is extended, or enlarged by the Stars, and all the Influences of the whole Heaven, by which the Firmament is manifested, and 'tis like a coelestial, invisible Vapour, with which it is united, even as Cold & Heat are, when a temperature is constituted and made of them: But if haply the Stars of the Members do at any time run cross, corrupt, and cause Fits, then also that member of the body is vanquished, and either stops the Spirit of Life, or doth vitiate and corrupt it in that same Place: But there can't be administred to this Evil, any other Remedy then a Receslion from that l[…]f[…]ence, and undergoing another: For the Opinion of the Astronomers concerning Nativities and Ascendants is false and wicked: For example, Put case I am born under Scorpio, if now I submit my self to Aries, I am become of his stock, nor have I any commerce with Scorpio thenceforward: It is not therefore any longer my Ascendant then whiles I submit my self thereto, even as I have treated thereof concerning Nativities.

The Place therefore, as to the Nature of the Firmament, is to be changed, nor is the Ascendant or any Conjunction afterwards to succeed: So if I should be born under such an Aspect as that I should be hanged, and such a like spirit of the Firmament should be in […], (at we know it delivered or written of Humane Spirits) if then I would hinder and annihilate this efficacie, I reject that Planet, and take to me another, and so the force thereof is broken. And although that that property, or nature, and kind remain, yet the effect doth not follow. But contrary wise it often happens, that an honest and ingenuous man becomes (under an evil influence) a thief; according as is written of Spirits, in the Treatise Of the External Senses of men.

CHAP. V. Of Oppilations in general.

AS for the removing of the Stopping of the Spirit of Life in general, 'tis necessary that the spirit be preserved in its heat, so as it may be more strong and vigorous therein, the process whereof is this; viz. That it be made Diaphoretical; and constantly glow in its own essence, and continue in a full heat; the which is speedily done by this Receit: Take Saffron, Ginger, and Triacle, &c. Extract their essence, &c.

The Second BOOK. Of the Virtues of the Internal Members.

CHAP. I. Of the Virtues of the Heart.

THe Heart requires nothing els but corroboration of it self, when that which is adverse and contrary unto it is removed, for it is too weak of it self alone to resist and strive with all those evils which daily beset and assault it. And therefore it must be succoured by supplying remedies; for that member is the chiefest, and given to man for this end, and is implanted in his body, that it may continue him in his stability and vigour. But if any hurt, and dissolution of substance possesseth any member, 'tis not to be thought that the Heart is appointed and ordeined to turn it off: but that evil is to be corrected and removed by the help of Medicine; where upon that Medicine seems to be esteemed as another Heart. For the more diligent and acceptable care of a Physician, depends more on registring and ordering the external heart, then the internal. For this, viz. the Internal, is not subject to the Physician, but the External onely. If therefore at any time the Internal Heart hath need of the External, 'tis wholly necessary, that (as we have said already) it be appled unto, and conserred thereon; for there must not be onely a Cordial, and a simple Medicine administred, but it must be manifold: for 'tis fitting, that One [Medicinal property] do strengthen the elemental powers, that another property do hinder a particular corruption, or putrefaction, that another property do divert and turn away other external accidents: therefore 'tis necessary that various virtues be congregated, or assembled into One Medicine.

The Recipe, thus.

Note here the Description of Aurum potabile; the Matter of Pearls, the Essence of Saffron, the Essence of Bawm, the Essence of Celondine, the Essence of Mace, &c.

CHAP. II.

THe highest Arcanum of comforting the Heart, so as not to be hurt by any accident that may befall, and that its substance may not be suffocated, or depraved, is Aurum potabile, or the Liquor of Gold, and the Matter of Pearls, in the form of Oil, like Balsom: then next, the Essence of Saffron, Mace, Corrals, &c. The description of the Gold is this: That the Gold be calcined into its yellowness by the Regal Cement of Hil and Malch; then let it be separated from its impurity, and afterwards let it be permixed with the Circulated water, and be digested for twenty four hours, in a moderate fire, then the Oil will flow forth, which will swim on the top of the water; gather it, and drink it with Aqua Vitae; nothing is more excellent then this: In like manner must thou proceed with Pearls, doing onely this; Add the Calx of Cheb, and Cohobate them with distilled Vineger, so long, untill they pass into a Liquor: take likewise your Corralls, and resolve them in burning Wine, permixt with Hell: if then you abstract the burning Wine from the putrefaction, thou shalt have the Liquor of Corral. So likewise as forother diseases that assault the heart by reason of the condition, or elemental humors, the Essences of Saffron, Celondine, Mace, Cosius, and Bawm: the manner how to prepare them is this; First, take the best Saffron, cohobate in the best Aqua vitae, hang is in a fost cloth, that it may not touch the bottom, and sealing it with Hermes seal: this must be done by thee twelve times, and the Saffron will become an Oil of a most strong odour. Administer one drop of this in the Wine of Life. This medicine is a most high refresher and rejoicer of the heart in old men, in infirm, melancholy, and sad men.

After the same manner must you proceed with Mace, only you must go on in the Cohobation of it twenty four times; this Essence doth in some virtues exceed the Saffron; thou must cohobate the Celondine, Hawm, and such like in themselves, four days space: then afterwards separate the pure from the impure, by straining it; take away its Phlegme, and add thereto the Wine of life, and Cohobate it even to a Liquor; on this wise thou shalt operate with all Herbs that are to preserve the Heart, and to comfort the Spirit of life.

CHAP. III. Of the Virtues of the BRAIN.

AS there are two Hearts, so likewise two Brains: One is External, the other is Internal: The Nature of the Internal is unchangeable; that is to say, the Brain it self cannot of it self purge away the faultiness that is in it; for as it is framed, such doth it remain, nor is it changed: But if it be invaded by some external effects, or if that offending matter proceed from the Body, or from the Spirit of Life, that Effect is to be wholly cast out by another Brain, which God hath implanted in the Herbs; nor do the members themselves acquire a certain power whereby to fight against the Disease, and expel it, but themselves remain quiet, and commit the wrestling and chasing it away, to the external Brain: If then this gets the victory, the Internal Brain grows wel; but if it be mastered, then the other feels the loss: You must therefore know that External Brain, that strives against all such things as may annoy the Internal Brain: Of which kind are, the Oyle of ☽︎, the Liquor of the Saphir, of Musk, and the Liquor of Vitriol.

CHAP. IV.

THE Brain is to be conserved in its strength, so at that nothing may endamage it, and that it self may be wholly Brain: But it sometimes any infirmity be tide it, then the Hurts and Distempers are to be removed by the External Brain, that the whole Brain may remain: Of those sorts of Brains, one is the Liquor of ☽︎, and is thus made: First calcine it, then cohobate it with the Wine of Life for seven dayes, so the Calx of ☽︎ will be resolved into a soft or clamming Liquor.

Digest this in a Balneo for a Moneths space, then 'twill be resolved, and be in the form of a Green Liquor: This is the highest Arcanum, by which the substance of the brain is cherished, and a new, or extaneous brain implanted. Like unto this is the Arcanum extracted out of Gilla; on this wise, Distil the Gilla in an equal Weight of the Wine of Life, circulate it so long till it touch not the bottom; administer it with Falernum Wine, or Muskadine: It doth so powerfully strengthen the brain, that no Vertigo, Phrensie, or Madness can offend it.

The Liquor of the Saphir, and of Musk, do the same, and is on this wise prepared; If the Saphir be reduced into an Alcoadamantine Nature, and be dissolved afterwards by Chybur into its own powder, and the Wine of Life be added by six dayes Cohobation to this Powder, then at length the Liquor becomes potable, and heals the Choraea viti, or laughing Disease, and the Madness and Phantasie of such as incline to hang, or otherwise destroy themselves: A like Medicine is extracted out of Musk: It is to be decocted in a Cloath by the Wine of Life, into the form of a Juyce, like to Storax: Herewith is the Vertigo, the Scotemia, or running round of the Head, and whatsoever induceth as wounding or Giddiness, cured; as also the beginning of the Falling-Evil, Madness, and Phrenzie.

CHAP. V. Of the VIRTUES of the LIVER.

THE Liver it self of the Body, hath likewise need of an external Liver to succour it: Neither is i[…] such a Warrier, and of such a Military ingenuity or capacity as to be able to defend it self. On this accompt these are called spiritual members, for no spirit goes a warring, but the body: But now the Liver onely, and of it self is a spirit, but the flesh thereof, which bears the Name of the Liver, that is a Member of the Body, wherein there is not so very much placed If therefore at any time the Liver is to wage war, then 'tis behoveful that some other certain thing do fight for it, that is to say, A certain Body that hath its proper Hands and Feet, with the which he produceth and employeth his Weapons against the corporal Disease; for if the body suffereth, it suffers materially: 'Tis therefore sitting that such a like Medicine be applied, that so by this means Matter may proceed against Matter, and Like may act upon its like: Such a one now is this; Take the Essence of Spodium. Likewise if the Liver he broken or marred with an Hyposarcha, then the virtue or property of it is thus: If with the Iaundice, its Virtue is so. If Feavers, then so. If with an Aposthume, then is its virtue so, &c.

CHAP. VI.

THere is nothing more excellent, or conducible then Cheiri for procuring Healthfulness to the Liver, so that it receive no detriment, nor be hurt. The Preparation is this: Take Cheiri, and let it be sublimed from its blackness into whiteness; this Whiteness is to be drunk with the Wine of Life: With this Drink the Apostematical Nature, and putrefaction of the Liver is removed, and all its corruption is amended, insomuch that thenceforth it doth well digest, and rightly dispence the Blood; nor doth it onely produce much, but such as is good and laudable, and not so capable of being subiect to any Diseases. It doth likewise renew the old and exalete blood, and doth so amend it, as to cause even the Leprosy to vanish. The Yellow Anthos doth the same, if it be resolved by the spirit of Aqua vitae, so drunk, it heals all the faults and Diseases of the Liver.

But the Liquor of Alchahest hath also a great power and efficacy of conserving and comforting the Liver, and consequently of preserving it from the Dropsie, and all such kinds thereof as arise from the defects of the Liver: The Process whereof is this; It must be resolved after its coagulation, and be again coagulated into a transmuted Form, as the Process of Coagulation and Resolution teacheth; For then if when it hath overcom its like, it becomes a Medicine for the Liver, exceeding all other Medicines: And verily, should the Liver it self be broken and dissolved, yet this stands in the place of all the whole Liver, no otherwise then as if it had neverbeen broken and dissolved.

Whosoever ye be therefore that set about the work of MEDICINE, 'tis needful that ye endeavour with your utmost diligence, the learning how to prepare the Al[…]ahest, because of the turning away, or hindring of the many Diseases that arise from the Liver.

CHAP. VII. Of the VIRTUES of the SPLEEN.

THE Spleen is like to the rest of the Members, for it, it self also doth no less then the rest, admit occasion of breaking of the body, & therefore hath need of having its like sought out: Herein confists its mischievousness, that it generates Hardness, stirs up Feavers, Putrefactions, Oppilations, and many more such like.

But the Virtue and Industry consisteth herein, viz. That the Spleen of the Body be taken our, and an External spleen be immitted or implanted: For the Life without the Spleen is longer then with the Spleen; the which though it cannot be so spoken as in relation to the three aforesaid Members, for their being in the body, is most highly necessary; yet notwithstanding it is true, as to the spleen, for we can be conveniently without that. The whole Practick therefore is to be thus, viz. That we may live by the benefit of the External, and not the Internal spleen, and that we root out the Internal, and radically consume it.

CHAP. VIII.

AS for the consuming and taking away of the Spleen, that's done by Sutratar, from the which separate its Liquor without a Corrosive, by a Report in a strong Fire, then afterwards abstract it five times; Let every Cohobation be rectified with the (alias, as in the Dutch) Cohobation it all with rectified Wine of life, & so let it be drunk: This doth throughly take away the Spleen, nor doth it leave any footsteps thereof behind it, and doth likewise consume that which was to be digested by the spleen; it preserves the whole body from Hurtfulness. The same virtue and operation is to be likewise found in the Feces which the Wine of life is separated from; the like Efficacy is also planted in Cafa: It is to be macerated in Oyle Olive, and to be afterwards mixed with one pound and a quarter of Opopanax, let it be distilled in an Alembick: this Oyle anointed upon the Region of the Milt, takes away all the spleen; being yeerly used, it removes all Diseases begotten by the spleen: But yet being used by a more accurate order, it doth thoroughly take away and consume the spleen, and remove its Griefs, Diseases, and all its Hurts.

CHAP. IX. Of the VIRTUES of the REINS.

THE best comforting of the Reins is to be in those things which are Reins outwardly, as thus: the interiour Reins are to be abolished and taken away, and be rendered like to the Spleen, and then at length the virtue of the Reins will be intire, if the Operation of them shall be slain; For they do by their Operation produce the Lithiasis, Stone, Sand, Diabetick, and many other such things; but the Operations of them being dead, and that other Essence be therein, none of those Diseases remain, but the virtue of the body is good and strong, and both its Old Age and its Youth is sound, nor is it invaded by any of those Diseases which would happen to them, viz. the Reins, were they alive, and remaining.

CHAP. X.

BVt that the Reins, which make more for chastity then do the Testicles, may be removed, you must know that they may be taken away without any hurt: And as for the damage that may follow upon their being taken away, it doth not at all pertain to the rest of those passages which run through the Reins themselves; for their Matter and Life remains, but their Nature and Operation is taken away: And this is done by Aroph, the which by distillation in Bread, is reduced into a Liquor, and is to be so drunk: this Drink takes away the Evil which the Reins beget.

CHAP. XI. Of the Virtues of the GALI.

THE highest selicity and virtue of the Gall is, that it be materially taken away and consumed; for so there will not be generated those chollerick Diseases, the Chollick, Iliack, and such like, the Contractures, Tremblings, and other ill effects of the Ventricle; for these parts do nothing else but destroy that which the profitable Members have built up; But the Physicians are ignorant that the Gall is nothing profitable; for they ascribe unto it great Vse and Honours, when as there's no cause; for this is a superfluous Member in Nature, and is like a Monster; for indeed there's nothing so good and so pure, but that Tares and Cockle are sown therein; so likewise the Gall and its like Member, is the Tare or Darnel of Nature, and hath insinuated it self next to the good, not for the conservation, but for the destruction of the body.

CHAP. XII.

THE process of so consuming the Gall, as that whatsoever thereof is unprofitable, may be abolished, is this, viz. that all the Diseases arising from the Gall, be removed, and that neither any anger or sickness be induced therefrom henceforth. And this is obtained by Rhubarb on this wise: Take Rhubarb and the Flowers of Cheiri, ana, and extract the Liquor of Cheiri, as we said before, and extract it out of the Rhubarb after the same manner, as you did out of the Anthos; mix these two together, and then add as much Wine of life, the which when thou dost administer, so do as first, as to cause the Anger to be appeased, then afterwards the Disease, if any be from the Gall; then after this a thirstiness inwadeth.

With this the Gall dis-appears, and goes away; then at last doth Health follow more profitable then the former.