Of the virtues of the members, part 2 of 2

CHAP. XIII. Of the Virtues of the LUNGS.

THis is the best virtue of the lungs, viz. that it remain in its own Matter, and that nothing be put thereunto, but that it act, and be solely and alone without any thing adjoined thereto; but now it is more movable then all the other parts of the body, the which it hath from the force and virtue of the spirit of life; therefore Reason and Vse informeth, that this is to be comforted chiefest of all, and 'tis accomplished by such things as make all the Members found, for thus even the Lungs will be also whole: But to avert such Fluxes there to as are more then fitting, wee'l deliver the following Medicine: And here 'tis equally as well to be observed, that the other Members are to be conserved sound, lest an occasion of death be given.

CHAP. XIV.

AMongst all the Medicines profitable for the Lungs, there's none that excels Chibur: therefore let Chibur be taken, and be mixed with two sorts of Calxes and Minerals, and be sublimed thrice, and give thereof to the sick.

This takes away all the evils of the Lungs, encreaseth and doubles its strength, and so is a Balsom of the Lungs and of the whole Breast, a more potent then which is not to be found in all the virtues of things, not is there any thing in which more of the external Lungs is to be found, then in Chibur, as we have said.

The End of the second Book of the Virtues of the seven Internal Members in the little World

These other Books are not come to light, Viz.

The third Book of the Virtue of the External Members.

The fourth, of the Virtues of the Members of the Chaos.

The fifth, of the Four Elements, how ihey are desended.

The sixth, of the Three Essences of which Nature is composed, and how they are considered.

BITISKIUS his Epistle to the READER.

FRiendly Reader, I have here need again to forewarn thee that these Books, according as the Author hath disposed, and begun to write them, are not to be found with the two former Books, because haply he had not […]niched them: An this may be conjectured out of the Original; for 'twas written with an hasty Pen, so as onely to exhibit or discover the face of the first delineation, or rude Pourtraicture, and Rhapsody. But these following Titles, together with the begining of the Fifth Book, because they were found in the same Papers with the two first Books; they are here placed for this reason, That an occasion might be administred thereby to the studious Inquirers of a nearer attaining the mind of the Author: And whereas there's good reason to suppose, that this small Book of the three first Essences, is the Sixth here inscribed; 'tis here annexed to the rest, for that reason. 'Tis but just in thee, therefore, Reader, to enjoy these present things with a contented mind; and not to complain, and be displeased, because of the things that are wanting.

The Third BOOK. Of the Extraneous Members.

CHAP. I. Of the Stomach, and its Coherencies. The other Chapters are wanting.

The Fourth BOOK. Of the Virtues of the Members of the Chaos, is not to be had.

The Fifth BOOK. Of the four Elements how they are defended.

CHAP. I.

THe Elementary nature which is in us, besides the substance of the Members, and the other things which we have spoken of, have also their interpretations on this wise; viz. that we do also conserve the four Elements in us, after such a manner, as that the Element of the Fire doth not generate the Stone; or the Element of the Earth, the kinds of Pustules; or the Element of the Water, the Dropsie; or the Element of the Air, the Tinipany: for by the same means as they generate externally, do they also internally.

CHAP. II.

WHereas therefore those four Elements are mixed in us, you must know that they are placed in the whole body, in that form or species of the four Humors. Two Elements lie in us externally, and two hidden, on this wise: The Aire and the Fire are the Flesh and the Skin: the interior Elements, that is, those that are placed in the hollow of the body within the Ribs, Brain, and Bones, are subject to the other Elements, viz. of the Earth and Water. The Intestines therefore, the Matrix, […]. are the Element of the Earth, the other members are the Element of the Water.

CHAP. III. The rest are wanting.

Of the three first Essences, out of which a thing Generated is composed.

CHAP. I.

EVery Generated or begotten thing, and every thing produced from its Elements, is assigned to three; viz to Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury: out of these three is a Conjunction made, which Constituteth one body and united Essence. As to what appertains here to the Body, that is not spoken of, but the Internality onely of the body.

The Operation thereof is threefold; One is of the Salt, and this acts by Purgation, by Mundisication, and by a Balsamick property, and other waies, and ruleth over that which tends to putrefaction. Another is of Sulphur, and this rules over that which is the overmuchness or superfluity of the other two, or is dissolved. The third is of Mercury, and this removes that which hath its tendency unto a Consumption.

As concerning these three, you must know what the form of each is; One is a Liquor, and that is the form of Mercury. Another is an Oilyness, and that is the form of Sulphur. The other is an Alkali, and this is the form of Salt. Mercury is without Sulphur and Salt: Sulphur is without Mercury and Salt: Salt is without Sulphur and Mercury; and by this means and way every thing abideth in its Potency. But as for those Operations which are found in permixt diseases, you must know, that the Separation of things is not perfect, but two are conjoined in one; as in the Dropsie, and such […]ke. For those sicknesses are permixed, which exceed their juice and temperate humidity. So sometimes Mercury and Sulphur do take away the Palsey, because there's a concurrance also of corporal Sulphur: Or because there's some hurt in the next and neighbouring Confine. You are to consider, therefore, that every Disease may be either doubly or trebly Commixt; and that is a Commixture of the Disease. Herein the Physician is to consider, when he makes use of a certain Simple; what the degree thereof is in Liquor, in Oil, and in Salt, and how it squares with the Disease of the adjoining, or neighbouring hurt. According as is that degree, so must the Liquor, Salt, and Sulphur be extracted and administred as need requires. So therefore, this short rule […]to be heeded, viz. that One Medicine be given to the […], or annoiance, and another to the disease.

CHAP. II.

SAlts do purge but yet various waies: Some purge by Stool, and of these there are two sorts; One is the Salt of the thing, and this disposeth to the Stool; the […]ner is the Salt of Nature, and that drives forth. With[…] Salt therefore, no excre[…]ion, or casting out of superfluities can be done. Hence then it follows, that the Salt of the Vulgar is helpful to the Salts of Nature.

Some Salts do purge by Vomit; such a Salt is most […]ost, the which, whereas it cannot p[…]ss into digestion, […]seth a strangulation in the stomach, inwards: some […]rge by Sweat, such a Salt is a most subtil one, for it doseth with the blood: the other purgative and vomitive Salts don't conjoin with the blood, and therefore they provoke not to sweat; and 'tis Salt onely that departs, or separateth. Some Salts purge by Vrine, for all the whole Vrine is nothing else but a superfluous Salt. The Excrement, or dung, is a superfluous Sulphur, […] nothing of the Liquor departs, as superfluous out of the body, but abides within: On this wise are all the […]oidings of the excrementitiousness of the body; the Phlegm is expulsed by the Nostrils, by the Ears, by the Eies, and other waies, and all by the Salt. But now you are to understand, that this is done by the Archeus, from whom they derive their Operations, as shall be last of all declared.

Now therefore, even as there proceeds from the Archeus a Laxative Salt; that is to say, One purgeth the stomach, and comes from the stomach of the Archeus: another purgeth the Spleen, because it comes from the Spleen of the Archeus: Even so is it likewise with the Brain, Liver, Lungs, and other members; for the member of the Archeus is the mover of the member of the Microcosm. You must know, as concerning the Alca[…] and Salt, that it is various: One is sweet as Cassia, an[…] is a separated Salt; which in Mineral is called Antimony. Another is an Egar Salt, as, Sal Gem: Anothus is sharp, as in Ginger: Another is a bitter Salt, as i[…] Rhubarb and Colloquintida. Moreover you must know that many Alkalies are begotten, as that of Harmes many are extracted, as that of Scammony: many are coagulated, as that of Wormwood; all which is to be understood according to that which is to be considered o[…] and known in the Salt. Likewise some things purge only by Sweat: some by consuming the diseases, and the like: for as often as there is a peculiar savour, so often is there a peculiar operation and expulsion: but yet there's no more then two kinds of working, that i[…] the Operation of the thing, and the extinct or quenched Operation.

CHAP. III.

SVlphur Operates by drying up and consuming Superfluity, whether it be of it self, or of other things it must be wholly consumed by Sulphur, provided, that it be not subjected under Salts. Thus a Medicine of Salts produced out of the Liver of the Archeus, is good for the Dropsie, to consume that which is putrefied and corrupt. But yet there's need, besides them, of the virtue of Sulphur, for the taking away of that same diseases to which those kind of diseases are subjected, as to their Originality: although every Sulphur is not able so to do. And 'tis so produced from the nature of an Element, that every kind of sickness, which the nature of the body begets, hath its contrary out of the Elemental nature, and this is done universally and particularly: therefore the several kinds of Diseases are to be known from the kinds of the Elements: so the one is alwaies the sign and manifester of the other.

The like judgment is to be had concerning ☿︎, it assumes that which hath not to do with Salt and Sulphur. From hence are made the Diseases of the Ligaments, Arteries. Joints, Articles, and such like: therefore in these Diseases this One thing is to be heeded, that the Liquor of ☿︎ be taken away But the said sicknesses are to be removed by those things which shal seem suitable & beneficial unto each, which are demonstrated by the speciality of things in nature, and in Philosophy, by the thing itself, and nature, which for brevities sake we here omit.

CHAP. IV.

ON this account therefore, the Phisician is to understand the three kindes of all Diseases: One is of Salt, one of Sulphur, and one of Mercury: Those of Salt are on this wise, viz. Every lax or loose Disease is generated of Salt, as the Flux of the Belly, the Dysen[…]ry, the Diarrhea, the Lyentery, &c. But that is Salt which lyes in its own seat: For every voiding of Or[…]re is caused by the Salt, both in sound men, and sick; One is the Salt of Nature, (viz. the sound mans:) The other is a corrupted and resolved Salt: From hence 'tis to be gathered, that even by Salts the Cure of it is to be perfected, in such wise, that the Salt may again rectifie and separate the resolved Salt from the the Sound: then afterwards, the Sulphureous Cure follows, as being a kind of confirmation of the Operation of the Salt: for that doth bear rule over this, and is a special Sulphur out of the virtue of the Archeus, &c.

Furthermore, out of Mercury do all those Diseases arise that possess the Arteries, Ligaments, Articles, Bones, Nerves, &c. For the substance of corporal Mercury doth not bear sway or rule in other places of the body, but in the external Members onely: For the Sulphur doth mollisie and cherish the internal Members, viz. the Heart, Liver, Brain, Reins, &c. And Diseases of those are to be called Sulphureous; for a sulphureous substance is placed in them, an example whereof we may take from the Chollick, the cause thereof is Salt in reference to the Intestines, in which salt predominates, and begets many kinds of Chollick, viz. One kind if it be resolved; Another if it be too much hardened: For so it exceeds its temperature, and becomes either too moist or too dry; thence it comes to pass that in the cure of the chollick the humane salt is to be rectified by the Elemental salts: But if any other salt be thereto joined then of sulphur thou shalt esteem it an overwhelming of the salt, and not the cure of the Diseases of the Chollick So likewise in Mercurial and sulphureous Diseases a proper thing must be applied unto each, and not acontrary thing to a contrary; but a thing proper must be accommodated to that of its like nature; for the Cold doth not overcome the Hot, nor the Hot the Cold, in Natural Diseases; but the cure proceeds from that which hath generated both the Disease, and the place thereof

CHAP. V.

THE several kinds of Diseases are divided into various Boughs, Branches, and Leaves, but yet the cure is but one: For example, Consider a Mercurial Disease, and you shall finde that the Mercurial Liquor doth likewise pass into many Branches and Leaves; so 'tis in the small Pox, or Pustules, all the kinds thereof are under Mercury, for the Disease it self is Mercurial: Some French-Po[…] are under Common Mercury: some Pustules are under a Metalline Mercury, some are under an Ebonywood Mercury, some are under a Mercury of Antimony: The cause is this, viz. the Mercury goes to its proper Branches, and not out of order; 'tis needful therefore that the Liquors of Mercury be known, for he it is that heals that which his salt dissolves. There's also another thing which is placed in it, viz. An Incarnative, and Consolidative Virtue, according to the nature of the Mercury. But now this mercurial Liquor is manifold: In […]als, the Liquor of Mercury is like a metal: In Juniper and Ebony, 'tis like Wood: In Markasites, Talx's, Cha[…]ymia's, 'tis like a mineral: In Brassatella, (or Adders[…]gue) Arsmart, and Serpentina, (or sea-Plantane) 'tis like an Herb: And yet notwithstanding 'tis but one and the same Mercury which doth so manifoldly present it self: As 'tis with Pustules, so likewise is it to be understood of Vlcers, some of which are to be cured by the Mercury of Arsmart, some by the Mercury of Arsenick, some by the Mercury of the Guaieum Wood; the Phisician therefore ought to know the tree of the Diseases, and of the things suitable: some Trees there are of this sort; theres one tree of salt, and it is twofold, viz. of Rebis, and of the Element; there's likewise a tree of sulphur and of Mercury, therefore the Phisician must be careful that he implant not two trees into one cure, but let him keep to the Rule, and know that a Mercury is to be given to mercurial Diseases, salt to saline Diseases, and sulphur to sulphureous Diseases; that it to say, to every Disease let an appropriate Remedy be administred, as is convenient: For to speak truly, there are but three Medicines, even as there are but three Diseases: And therefore those long circumstances, and trislings or cavill[…]tions of Avicen, Mesue, and others, are to be cut off and omitted.

CHAP. VI.

NOw therefore (after all this that we have hitherto spoken that a Phisician may carry about him a brief & […]sie […]om[…]en […]ium he must divide or place his Diseases under the Name of his Medicine, as we have made a beginning thereof in the aforesaid Diseases; and let him carefully shun to say, This is the Iaundice: for such a speech is beside, or void of the Practise of Art, and every Countrey Fellow knows such a kind of Art as that: But contrariwise, thou shalt speak thus, viz This is the Disease of Leseolus: For so thou shalt comprehend the Cure, Property, Name, Quality: Disposition, yea thy Art and Science in one word alone: For Leseolus cures the Iaundice, nor doth it cure any thing else save this Disease: By this means thou hast gotten thy self out of all Errors, and the cure is thus proved, viz. In Leseolus there is a most notable transparency of salt, which coloureth and figureth more excellently then a molten Topaz: Even so the Iaundice is (as I may so term it) a diaphanous, or transparent Iaundice salt, (of a yellow colour) and hath need of being expulsed and thrust forth by its like. After the same manner the yellow Orpmens, and the salt which makes the Iaundice, is the mother of the Orpment and Leseolus, but yet notwithstanding 'tis begotten of two mothers, viz. Annual and Elemental.

I do therefore perswade all men rightly and solidly to know those three trees, for he that knoweth not the seed of these trees, i[…] drowned in meer Errors. Thus likewise you shall say, This is the Disease of Gold, and not say, This is the Leprofie, nor must any species of it be named: And thus to speak is truly Phisician-like, and that on this account, Because this one Name only, doth sufficiently declare what cure thou intendest to apply in the Leprofie: and thus to say, is much more then if thou should'st call it the Leprofie: So again, if I say, This is a Disease of the Tincture; A wise man will sufficiently understand that I both know how, and what a Tincture is, and how it regenerates, and causeth old age to become young. So again, if I say, This is a Disease of Vitriol: experience will declare this to be true, viz. that the sorts of the Epilepsie may be cured by the Oyle of Vitriol, or its spirit: The which very thing, albeit 'tis every where allmost confirmed by writing; yet seeing it doth appertain here to the Theory of my intention, what hurt is it to repeat it here? by what means the Theory is to be perfected: But in that I have comprehended these things Theorically, the cause thereof is this, viz. the especial mean out of which the former is deduced, together with the Mysteries of Nature, which have been hidden by the Chimical Authours, out of whom I do on just grounds prove and demonstrate my Theory, of both the one and the other Originality, viz. the Elementall in its production, and the Annual, alias, Animal, in its Generation, and from thence do I build the foundation of my Theory.

CHAP. VII.

MOreover we may enquire from the Theory, out of what vertue Incarnatives are? They are out of ☿︎. onely, 'tis it that heals wounds; and viz. in a long time by the Mercury of Rosin, yet sooner then, alias, by the Mercury in Mummy; and again sooner then, alias by the Mercury in Tartar: So likewise doth it in Vlcers, some whereof are Cancers, Estiohmenae's and Erysiples: There are many such Mercurial operations or virtues in things Elementary and Annual. all found out by the experience of those who do understand what things one ☿︎ lies in, and what things others, viz. Mercuries lie in: who likewise know how to prepare that Mercury, and to form one ☿︎ into a Topaz, another into a yellow-sanders, another into a Spirit but each into its exaltation, in which it is must pleased

And although indeed Mercury i[…] but onely one yet notwithstanding as the need of it is; so will it be produced: We do therefore testifie in this place, that the virtue of Incarnating and Consolidating proceedeth from Mercury alone, in which there's neither Sulphur nor Salt, but it must be extracted and reduced into it pure Liquor.)

After the very same manner is Sulphur and Salt to be proceeded witha[…]; and you must know the exaltation of them if you would obtain the name of a Physician, and heal your sick Patients laudably. Full well do I know, that Purphyrius will wonder to hear that the Saphir is a Mercury, and the Noble Iasper, so too, because he doth not see it, nor feel it with his hands; Who albeit he is not hitherto any wayes experieneed, nor hath, ever set himself to learn any thing, yet notwithstanding doth dote and dream of I know not what.

CHAP. VIII.

SO likewise, whence is it that Ginger is a Diaphoretick: 'tis because of the Salt, by the body whereof this is made so to be, (alias, out of which the body is made) But, that same is the virtue and power of the fire, by which the Generations do bo[…]le up, by which there's a Generation of Ebullition, (as is treated of in our Philosophy) and by reason of the Ebullition, it doth open and unstop, and reduceth or advanceth the humours of Sulphur, Salt, and Mercury, into the second, third, and fourth degree of Ebullition: And according as it is constituted in relation to the sieriness of the Salt, even so doth it kindle the degree; by which degree the humidities do distill forth, through the poars, and by drops. Hence also it is, that Mundificatives do cleanse, meerly by virtue of the Salt, as Noney and other things; from whence it follows that in Honey is placed the Balsame of Salt by reason whereof it doth not putrifie; for Balsom is the most noble Salt that Nature ever produced.

The Attractive virtue, or property, is of a Sulphureous Nature or Essence, as is to be seen in Gums; They attract by reason of a Sulphureity. Mastich is a Sulphur thus produced, and so is Opoponax, Galbanum, and others. Neither are you to believe this Axiome of the Physitians, viz. That it is the property of heat to draw, but you are to say thus, 'Ti the property of Sulphurs to draw or attract, and this is most true: For hot things do draw there onely, where they are; that is, where they burn; but that which burns, is a Sulphur, but not fix, and therefore […]lies away; and this, Gums do perform. Laxatives do also draw from those places in which themselves are not, in the manner of a Magnet: But the cause why salts do also draw, is because of the Impression of sulphur, in the salt; and because of that it is Coagulated by the Spirit of the sulphur: and therefore it doth attract from those places that are more distant from it self; In like manner, Repercussives are also sulphureous, be they told, or green, or red, or whatever other manner they are of; for this is the Nature of a Repercussive sulphur, it goes to the Center, and drives before it whatever moveable things it laies hold on. Nor is that true which they usually say, viz. That 'tis the property of Cold to repercuss; Alass! those simple Dwarfs think to hold the Fox by the Tayl, when as yet, they have onely caught him by the Arse.

He must be a subtile Albertist that would or can desend that Rute of theirs: But more at Large of this is spoken in our Philosophy.

CHAP. IX.

BVt as concerning what is requisite for us to know about Comfortatives, the explanation of the Archeus teacheth that, it being like to a man, and lyes hid in the four Elements; that is to say, there is but One Archeus, but it is divided into four parts: It therefore is the great World, and man is the lesser, and one is like the other; from that Greater proceeds the virtue of comforting; so that that which proceeds from the Heart of the Archeus, is the comfortative of the Heart, as Gold, the Emrald, Corrals, and such like. That which proceeds from the Liver of the Archeus, comforteth the Liver of the lesser World, and so consequently, 'tis neither Mercury, sulphur, nor salt that afford this so comfortative a virtue, but the Heart of the Elements giveth it, from this it is that it flows. In the Elements is a virtue and power that brings a tree out of a seed: And from the Element it self cometh that virtue by which the tree stands, is fastned, and abideth; thus likewise Hey and straw is strengthened externally, as is visible to the eye: the like strength is in Animals, by the benefit whereof they go, stand, and are moved, and so is it in the other Products.

Besides, there's another strength not visible, but that is a strength it hath in it self, by which that Body abides sound and strong wherein it is: But this is the spirit of Nature, which spirit except every thing hath, it perisheth: that spirit abideth fix in its body, and that-same doth also comfort a man. So therefore, the virtue of the several members of the Archeus, floweth down into the lesser World, and that by the means of the Vegetables.

FINIS.