sick person in the Rigor of the seavor for he that doth it is the Cutter of his throat But if the feavour doth not increase and also doth not decrease and we do not hope for any declination of it in such a case you must not lose this onely occasion of blooding although it be worse then in the declination of the fit In the hand-gout and the foot-gout one may open the veins of the foot or the hand for the Migren the Arteries and veines of the Temples and by this evacuation of the blood which floweth with the Arthritique powers and the boyling spirits which evacuate the pain presently ceaseth But in the intermitting feavour blooding ought to be not after the third accesse or fit as Galen would have it but in the beginning but this evacuation of the blood ought to be understood to be if there be Plethory in the body and fulnesse of the vessells and for the breathing and refreshing of the Masse of humors for otherwise there should be no evacuation of the blood because it is the bridle of the Choler In the quartain feavour or again if the blood do abound you must take some from the Mediane or Basilique of the left Arme or from the splenique veine with this Caution that if the blood do shew it self black and dull or thick you may let it run but on the contrary you must stop it preâ—ently if it shew it self fresh and well coloured In the cure of the Fehris Synochus a continuall feavor the benefit of Phlebotomy causes the opening of the belly and the sweatings to issue forth very abundantly a thing much to be wished in this kinde of feaver which moved Galen to say that one ought to bleed in this case even untill Lipothemie but notwithstanding fearing that one should let slip the soul with the blood one ought rather to reiterate it severall times as much as the strength of the sick party can bear it even in the burning feaver espece de Tierce continue one ought to blood in a good quantity if the powers the age and other Circumstances do permit In like manner you ought to blood in the quartain feaver Glistering first for the doing whereof Artificially you must open the veine of the left Arme which hath more Communication with the Spleen to which the most part of this feaver is often heaped We say also that in Pestilent feavers we must not indifferently as is done presently when they see the person strook with the plague prescribe him blooding which hath been often times the cause of the death of an infinite Number of persons but if the matter be urgent in quantity quality and Motion I must draw a conclusion That in the Plague occasioned by the viciousnesse of the Ayre with fulnesse of blood and humors Blooding I say together with purgation are there necessary which is held sorth by the saying of Celsus Cels Lib. 3. Ch. 7. That forasmuch as the Plague is an Active and Tempestative disease you must quickly use remedyes even with rashness Wherefore you must consider if the person infected hath a burning feaver and great repletion in the Conduits and that the virtue be strong which may be known by the veins being full and stretched the eyes and the face greatly inflamed also sometimes in spitting blood with great beating of the Arteries of the Temples pain in the throat pain or difficulty in breathing pricking or shooting throughout the body with exceeding heavinesse and dulnesse the waters or urine being red thick and troubled in such case you must blood presently to help nature to discharge her-self least the naturall heat be suffocated by the aboundance of blood Then you must rather breathe the Basilique veine of the left side then the right because the heart and the spleen are much affected in this disease and take abundance of blood thence according as you shall see necessary alwaies having respect to the power and virtue of the sick person and taking heed not to blood whilst the shivering of the feaver is upon him Observations in blooding for the difference of the disease But you must here take notice that in such a repletion of blood blooding must be otherwise performed in a simple Pestilent seaver than in that which is accomplished with a Bubon or Carbuncle for if the one or both together be conjunct with the great and furious seaver then it is requisite to open the veine nearer to the Apostume or plague soare and according to the rectitude of feavers to the end that thereby the blood may be draw a forth and evacuated directly in regard that all retraction and Reâ—ulsion of infected blood towards the Noble parts is prohibited by all good Physitians and Chirurgions But enough of the feaver untill we speak of Symptomatiques And beginning at Tumors in generall I say that if there be repletion in the whole body you must purge and blood and besides makes frictions and Bathings As in the Cure of the true Phlegmon you must divert the flux which will be turned away if we take away the cause thereof to wit the Chachochimie or Plethory which is to be done by purging first but chiefly by Phlebotomy Come we now to the Erisipela for if it be in the face and doth possesse it very much Phlebotomy is very necessary to it which must be performed upon the Cephalique veine in like manner Phlebotomy is necessary if there be some portion of blood mingled with the Choller but if it be in any other part and be not in great quantity and be made of pure Choller Phlebotomy is not necessary because the blood is the Bridle of the Choller as we have made mention before besides the Cancre is cured most commonly by purging and Phlebotomy For the Tumors in particular being a Parotide we say that Phleb is therein very necessary specially when there is rednesse in the part which demonstrates great inflammation abundance of blood also for the kernells great and swelled you must purge but specially purge and apply Cupping-glasses behind the shoulders with scarifications to the end to obviate the accidents which may come thereupon as suffocation and consequently Choaking The same remedy is necessary to the Tumor or inflammation and relaxation of the Vvula called by the Latines Collumella Also for Esquinancy the Chirurgian ought to be ready and prompt in reguard this disease doth not give great Leasure wherefore he must blood the sick parts on the Basilique on that side where the fluxion is and the same day on the veines under the tongue to evacuate the Conjunct matter Let us speak of Fellons or whitlows the curing whereof consists onely in blooding and purgations but yet notwithstanding further according to the prudence of the good Chirurgion Come we now to Wounds wherein for the Little ones there is no great necessity of blooding but in the great where there is danger of fluxion or where the body is repleate as in wounds of the
Joynts Tendon Nerves and where one fears paine raveing and inquietude yea also when they are accompanied with a feaver And as for the Spasme coming in Wounds through repletion it must be cured by inanition and that by the good government of purging food and blooding and for a resolutive remedy friction and sulphured bathes As to particular Wounds if there happen in those of the head with fracture or contusion a Continued feaver and Raveing with great flegmatique inflammation accompanyed sometimes with the hurting of the Pericraniâ— t is then that you must take abundance of blood but yet therein the Chirurgion must consider the strength of the Patient concerning the motion of the Brain the Chirurgion seeing that the bone is not fractured but doubts that there is some vessell broaken within let him presently take some blood from the Cephalique veine on that side is hurt in a good quantity having regard to the distemper present and future and principally of the strength as I have said before and other things which ought to be considered in blooding You must take notice that in wounds by Gun-shot there doth not come forth much blood wherefore the day after he must use revulsive Phlebotomy and take so much blood as is proportionable to the fulnesse of blood and the strength of the party and he must not fear to make aversion of the blood towards the noble parts so long as in such wounds there is no venemous quality As to that which concerns the blood of great Contusions within the body it must be evacuated either sensibly or insensibly which insensible evacuation is done by bloodings Cupping-glasses or Scarrifications or by Horse-Leeches and that upon the same day or the next morning And unto this Hippocrates seems to agree in his book of Fractures in saying if any one is fallen down from on high the same day one ought to give him Physick or blood him and Galen saith upon this subject that if any one is fallen from an high place although he have but little blood or nor enough It is so that some of that blood must be drawn from him to prevent it from coagulating and corrupting in the inner parts of the body being out of his proper vessells and in the cure of the Gangreen one part of its curing lies in Purgation and blooding If the habit of the body be Plethorique or Cacochymicall Besides for curing the scald or Leprosy if those who are infected with such a disease be of a sufficient age they shall be blooded and over and above purged and blooded In the cure of the Ophthalmie or inflammation of the uppermost skin of the Eye the Chirurgion must propose three points The first is the regulating food The second is evacuation of the Antecedent matter And the third is the application of Topicall medicaments two of which I shall let alone as not conducing to this subject and shall onely say that he who ought to evacuate the Antecedent matter shall performe it by purgation and Phlebotomie and by Cupping-glasses applyed to the shoulders in like manner for the Vngula In the beginning of the curing whereof you must use purgation and blooding especially if there be great inflammation And which is more in the cure of the Mydriasis which is no other thing but a dilatation of the pupill of the eye either occasioned naturally or by accident its cure consists in nothing but applying upon the eye repercussive things and to appease the dolour or painâ— and prohibit the defluxion by regular diet but specially by Phlebotomy Cuping-glasses frictions and other things which one shall see benificiall For the pain in the Teeth occasioned by fluxion one may let blood for evacuating the antecedent matter and all by the advice of a good Chirurgion In the preservative cure of the Stone especially if there be repletion you must evacuate as well by Medicaments as by Phlebotomy and vomiting which is a singular remedy to prevent the Stone And if one should come to take it out you ought to purge the patient well and blood him two dayes after he hath taken the Physick In the small Pox or Measles diseases which are very frequent in Children you must in no wise blood them unlesse there be great plenitude or some Complication of some disease as a Plurisie Ophthalmie Esquinancy and such like or if it be not at the declination of the disease or at least the first or second day of sicknesse at the furthest But you must take notice that in several Maladies you must not attend untill the Malady appear to the end to use Phlebotomy afterwards as Galen saith but you ought to foresee it blooding them in the Spring as we shall discover in the Part concerning Election Necessity hath no set time for blooding in Finally for the Necessity to use Phlebotomy or not to use it I say that then when the disease requires it and that necessity presseth one may blood at all times in all seasons and at all houres be it night or day alwayes considering the power and strength of the patient the quantity and quality of blood taken out carrying ones self in all the Phlebotomique operations above instanced with a sound Judgement accompanied with knowledge and experience In the contrary practice the Chyrurgion will very hardly arive to his proposed end in regard that then when he shall understand it to be necessary to use Phlebotomy when the saving of ones life is in dispute and that he finds himself all alone not able to consult with any body concerning the disease he ought not to present before himself any obstacles whether of the quality or greatnesse of the Person or for fear of making the operation without advice for that will hinder him in making a good operation because fear coming upon him and causing his hand to tremble is sufficient to hinder such an effect of the operation as we expect The Plebotomist ought to be bold Times of Election divided into two Let us come now to the time of Election which is divided by Guidon into two parts to wit the inferiour Root and the superiour Root meaning by the inferiour root The disposition of the body of the time the Region the Cuâ—tome the force and strength and so of others And by the superiour Root the observation in the Concuâ—â—â—â—… of the Starrs which time of Election we shall deduce briefly not having undertaken to discourse of any other things here save that Yet as I have said before I will do it as succinctly as possibly I can by the assistance of the grace of God To whom father son and spirit c. CHAP. IV. Of the time of Election for the inferiour root and of the superiour root which reaches to the knowledge of the Starrs as well in the concurrence which they have to the parts of our bodies as upon the humours and Maladies which happen therein THe Astrologicall Science is so admirable that it hath caused all the Philosophicall
their life or if they be not killed thereby they have fallen into a prolonged weaknesse and their bodies are thereby cold wan and discoloured and all this by the ignorance of the operant who will put himself to the performance of this so noble help of Nature without being provided of all those things which are Necessary for him as well gifts of the body and minde as other externall Instruments Condition of the Phlebotomist As to be young well sighted to have a steady hand and exercised unto Phlebotomy a good Anatomist to know the scituation of the veines and of other parts of the body for without that he will be like unto a blinde man which cleaves wood But it will not be from the matter to note here that if the veines should not be apparent in the morning you must not breath them until about one a Clock in the day and then those who are able to walk let them use a little Exercise and then the most occult and Invisible veines as one would say will appear But I have not mentioned this here except onely concerning those who have small veynes and covered either with flesh or fat Also shall I not instruct the Chirurgion to fill the veines by rubbings or bathing of the Member in warme water Ligatures and assuring the sick party not to put them to any pain for it would be too Triviall What Instruments are to be used in Phlebotomy But I shall say to return to our purpose that the externall Instruments by which this opeation is to be accomplished shall be good Lancets of several fashions Ligatures Swathes Boulsters Red pouder burnt lint to stop the blood if there be need of it or with Cotton Pulverised according as we have shewn in our Chirurgie Chymique Default in Phlebotomists This default especially is found in the greatest part of the Phlebotomists of our age viz. That of the knowledge of that so excellent wonderfull Astrologie without which it is as it were impossible to be able well to exercise Physick or Chirurgery upon our bodyes which are by good right called a little world for their having a great Sympathy with the great one as I shall shew hereafter by the help of God as also the observation that ought to be made in the Concurrence of the Starres and the influence of them upon our bodyes to the end that we may avoid those unhappy accidents which we see daily to happen to the share of those who have been blooded so inconsideratly That which hath withdrawn me from picking and culling out all the conditions requisite in this operation as well for the Chirurgion as for the sick person and other things requisite thereupon is I not having intended to treat on this subject except of the two principall points of this operation under which two may be Comprehended all the rest whosoever will explain them Notwithstanding I shall content my self to have traced this little path for some one who indued with a more high Style and accompanyed with a greater knowledge provoked by one lesse then himself shall have had a desire to have the knowledg of this science appear above the small knowledge which it hath pleased the divine goodnesse to give me and to make the desires and lovers of true and perfect Chirurgery partakers thereof Provoked I say by this desire doth stretch out his sayles of Eloquence to steere in a higher or greater Sea then I do But winding up the thread of my discourse I shall content my self I say with these two principal Points that is to say the time of Necessity and the time of Election The time of necessity from whence taken That of Necessity is in all times and seasons and at all houres without considering any thing which may hinder provided that the Necessity be certainly known to be the most strong or pressing as I shall mention in its place The time of Election from whence taken That of Election is taken either from the nature of the body of the party who ought to be blooded or of superiour and external things which ought to be a fair clear and clean day and not Rainy not by no meanes at new Moon nor very near to the full And rather in the spring then any other season I shall declare also upon what parts of our bodyes the Planets and heavenly Signes do particularly rule also in what day or hour in what time or season To the end that having the knowledge of these things one may not commit so many errours in this operation as are committed by the ignorant Protestation of the Authour Protesting that I have not writ this Tract possessed with any other desire but to assist and help so many diseased persons who dye for want of being well comforted by this excellent remedy and not to receive any glory thereby But if I shall receive some one spark I do Consecrate and dedicate it from hence forward to the Authour of all things To whom Father Son and holy Spirit be glory honour and praise for ever and ever Amen CHAP. II. How the Chirurgion ought not to be Ignorant of Astrologie and the profit that proceeds therefrom as well for Phlebotomy as for all the diseases which happen to humane bodies The Sympathy of the Starres therewith and other discoveries most profitable to Chirurgions FOr good cause did the Comique Poet pronounce this Sentence which is worthy of great consideration to wit That there is nothing more unreasonable then the ignorant man who esteems nothing good but the things which he doth himself and of which onely he hath knowledge The which I make mention of here by reason of a Crue of Sophisters who dare contradict the force which the superiour bodyes have upon inferiours alleadging that the Ancients never took heed to these foolish fancies as they call them which they urge being ignorant that the great Hippocrates did Prognosticate the plague which was to happen to the Iyllnians And that onely by the knowledge which he had of this Admirable and divine science of Astrology By that meanes preserving a great number of the Inhabitants of Greece who in acknowledgement of one so great benefit did give and attribute unto him great honours which he dedicated to Hercules Besides having not read that the same Hippocrates restoring and increasing Physick did so far praise and respect Astrologie that he hath demonstrated by knowledge and concluded by reason that Physick is maimed without the knowledge of Astrology insomuch that the Athenians after his death caused his image to be engraven after they had built the Notable Colledges for Physick and Astrology Lectures Plin. Lib. 7. Ch. 37. And particularly for one Berosus a great Astrologian after the death of whom was erected in the Colledg of Athens a Statue having a tongue of Gold by reason of his Eloquence and great knowledge in Astrology St. Jerome in his Epistle to Paulinus affirmes the profit of Physick Astronomy and Astrology for the
preservation of mankinde St. Dennis the Areopagite by meanes of this Science had knowledge of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ Besides it is sufficiently proved in the holy Scripture Luke 22. where it is held forth that future events may be predicted by the order of the Elements even the faire and rainy dayes as also in St. Matthew St. Matthew Ch. 16. The whole text whereof I had inserted had I not feared to weary the Reader and should produce many other Authorities and examples drawn from the Doctors of the Church which the most studious could finde out to cheque the presumtuous ignorance of the envious for none can doubt of the verity and necessity of this Science which caused Lycurgus the Lacedemonian to cause that in the Administration of the Common-wealth the course of the Starrs should be observed and to ordain by expresse Law that the Laconians should not go to warre before the full of the Moon That Grand Legislator Moses had attained the perfection of this Science as doth testifie the Protomartyr Saint Steven in the Acts of the Apostles And a fore Moses the great Patriarch Abraham did esteem it in the Land of the Chaldeans as also the Lybians Indians and Sages of Persia reported by St. Augustine The Auntients great Astrologers Which is more Do we not read that Pericles King of the Athenians and Emperour delivered his Army which was in Amazement from the Eclipse of the Sun and this onely by the onely Science of Astrology the practise whereof if Ilicias had had he had not lost his fair Triumphant Army in Sicily being discomfited by a like motion Which wound was not small to the Athenians but the beginning of infinite misfortune In short to the end that such evils should not fall on the Romans Sulpitius Gallus did prognosticate the Eclipse of the Moon long time before to the end that his horsemen should not be affrighted and lose their courage by seeing these things which are sufficient testomies to shew that this Science was known by the Ancients as well Physitians as Kings Princes and other great Personages which I omit for brevity sake to the end that I may produce that excellent book of Guidon of Caulias whereof our Chirurgions do make so great a Trophy But it is onely to keep it in their closet or to make it keep the shop for if they did read attentively the most profitable discoveries made therein they would learn that then when he speakes of the Superiour Root and the inferiour Root in his Treatise of Phlebotomy that he understands or meanes by the Superiour Root no other thing but that the Chirurgion be advised in times of Election to know and choose what Planet or what Heavenly signe concurs in that time or in such an hour wherein he would make his operation Also that he know whether the Star that Governs the part be there in the the same time to the end to obviate or discover the strange Accidents which might be followed by death or great diseases as Ptolemie saith in the twenty sixth Proposition But they will say This would be very good if there were a meanes to learn all these things in a short time In regard that our life is very short the Art very long as the Prince of Pyhsiticians Hippocrates hath well observed Hip. Lib. 1. Aph. 1. Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius It is true I agree with you behold here the reason wherefore all wood is not fit to make an Image of Mercury of Since thou dost acknowledge thy self not to be fit to comprehend all that which is necessary to be known to a good Chirurgion why doest thou not forbear to exercise this so excellent and so admirable yea more divine then humane Science of Chirurgery knowing well that we shall render an Accompt before God of all our Actions And it will not then serve for excuse to say You had not a meanes to exercise any other calling having had some entrance in this And what progresse is it to make a beard for a Peasant though with a thousand scratches to pull out a tooth with a thousand pain to know how to spread a Plaister like a Plaisterer or Mason and so many other miseries which are committed by the malicious igrance of many all which I leave that I may not be seen to go out of the line of my discourse And say that beyond the great profit that Chirurgions do gather from the knowledge of Astrologie in this operation called Phlebotomy It serveth yet very much to the healing of diseases which come upon our bodies also for gathering of Plants and to dig out the Mettalls and Mineralls out of the bowels of the earth of which one may prepare by the Art of Alchimy most healthfull remedies and administer them to the diseases which come into our bodies by the mixtion or meeting of the three principall simples whereof all bodies are Composed to wit Sulphur Mercury and Salt from which three substances all the diseases that proceed there from are called by their proper names as Sulphereous Mercuriall and Saltine the which not making to this matter are contained in another Volume In his Little Chymicall Chirurgery But some one will aske me why are such names given to all diseases Making this question because they are ignorant as they confesse it publikely of the three first substances whereof all bodies are composed which are as we have said Sulphur Salt and Mercury Which substances Hippocrates Hip. Lib. de vet med Doth call in man Bitter Sweet Salt and Moist One whereof to wit the Moist as being more apparant he hath divided into four parts which he calls Blood Choller Flegme and Melancholy which is but the third part of that which constitutes the matter And which also gives us to know the diseases growing by its depravation Lib. de Genit But the two others his being silent or letting them alone neglected hath buried the knowledge of diseases which are of their essence which is the reason they are held incurable if they do not determine by nature These three substances are demonstrative and by consequence may be Anatomized but the four humours not Which things or the like caused that pretty sentence to be pronounced by Fabius that the Arts and Sciences would be happy if there were none but wise and good unfolders who should give the judgment The Common opinion of heading rejected But to answer and clear up what is above mentioned I say that it is materiall not onely to know them in their true Anatomie with their originall and cause but also to give understanding what ought to be the Remedies and the nature of Medicaments necessary for their cure so that the Common opinion doth not please me in any wise which saith Diseases are cured by their contraries That is to say the hot distempers by cold Medicaments and the cold ones by the hot be it either in such or such a degree
Physicians as well Auntient as modern to say that it is most necessary to Chirurgions to have the knowledge of it as well for the advantage and profit which one may extract therefrom in severall respects as for the necessity of knowing the concurrence of the Starrs upon the bodies the influence whereof the Chirurgions ought to observe punctually upon our bodies in all his operations especially in that of Phlebotomy And all those who have Treated thereof have observed two times as we have said here before to wit the time of Necessity and the time of Election in which time of necessity the Chirurgion will know how to regulate himself according to the discourse before inserted Now it remains to speak of the time of Election which according to the doctrine of the good Guidon we will divide into two parts to wit the Inferiour root and the Superiour root Observation concerning the time of Election Now the Inferiour root may be thus understood First concerning the concoction of the food it must be throughly performed before you let blood if you have eaten lately before Also if ones blood be grosse it is necessary before bleeding to use a little exercise for the subtilising the blood or at least that one take some kind of things which have the faculty of subtilising it which are the syrup of the herb Calamint and such like In the second place one must consider the force and the strength the temperature and the necessity of him who ought to be blooded to the end that the re-iteration thereof be not perform'd sooner or latter then is necessary choosing a serene day and not subject to inconstancy clear and not dull not rainy in the spring and in Autumne making choice also of a wind which is uncertain as if it be in Winter you should take a day wherein the southwind blowes A Digression But some one may demand here If the winds have any power over our bodies that we need to make observation of them To which I answer that experience lets us see the effects which they produce upon our bodies as the Plague the Coqueluch a new disease which troubled the French in the year 1510 and 1557. Plurisie Aposthumes Catharrs Fluxions small Pox and Scabbinesse or the Itch also so many venemous Creatures as Froggs Toades Locusts Caterpillers Spiders Flyes Hannetons Snayles Serpents Vipers Snakes Efts Scorpions and Asps Yea in all hot and moist times if the Southwind blow Meats will Corrupt or taint in lesse then two houres let them be but fresh wherefore one need not enter into doubt that humane bodies enter in affections contrary to nature when the seasons pervert their qualities by the evil disposition of the Ayre and the winde that is mingled within them Unto this I will adjoyn that which the great Hippocrates hath truly pronounced Hip. in his preface of Prognostick and Galen in his Comment That the Ayre hath I know not what of divine in it self in regard that it doth in blowing through the Universall World incompasse all things contained within it and doth nourish them miraculously sustaines and supports them firmly and entertaines them in an Amicable union the whole Symbolizing with the Starrs into which the Divine providence is infused which changeth the Ayre according to his pleasure gives unto it power as well over the mutations of times as the naturall bodies And therefore the Philosophers and Physicians have expresly commanded us to have respect to the scituation of places and to the Constitution of the Ayre and concurrence of the Starrs when you are in agitation for the preserving of health Or to cure the sick in which cases the motion and change of the Ayre is very powerfull Hip. his third book of Aphorismes Ch. 5. and 17. The same Hippocrates affirmes our bodies do receive great alteration by the vicissitude of the times and seasons of the year as by the Southterne winde which doth render us subjected to all sorts of Maladies which acknowledge moisture for their first cause and it doth infeeble our naturall heat which in the opposite case of a cold and dry winde doth fortifie it self and is rendred more vigorous and doth in like manner render our spirits more Subtill and Active A prety observation upon the winds and our bodies Besides there is ascribed to the four principall windes four Elements four humours four seasons and four ages The South winde or Auster doth in quality participate with Tender years then to fire and Choler and also to Summer Austraphricus or a midle wind betwixt Auster and Africus participates of the stronger years of the Ayre of the blood and the spring Subsolanus or East wind participâ—tes of the more Grave years of water Flegme and Winter Favonius or West wind to the more decrepit and decayed yeares to the Earth the melancholique humour and to Autumn I should have insisted longer upon the property of the windes but that I have treated sufficiently of it in another place In his Book call'd Grande Chirurg and have only spoken of it here to shew how they have power over our Bodies and therefore not out of rule or order if we observe them in Phlebotomie Elective But returning to our purpose we say that if the Veins be small you must stay till ten of the Clock in the morning for at that time they appear better then at six a Clock such are the veins of the Tongue of the hands and the feet observing also to let blood in the winter on the left side or part and in Summer on the right as saith Guidon The reason thereof is saith he because the humors which at those times we endeavour to evacuate are properly in those parts it being true also that the cold humors do rule most in the left part and the hot humours in the right behold therefore why in Winter which is cold we draw blood from the left part and in the Summer from the right The Region must be observed in blooding In like manner the natural habite of the Body ought to be considered in the emptying it of blood for we do largely empty those who have large veins and who are not too lean nor too whitely or pale nor have their flesh too tender but on the contrary we do less empty those who have but little blood and the flesh tender in like manner you must have respect to the Region for if it be very warm as it is in France the Countrey of Languedoc and Provence in this place you must make no great evacuation the like must be observed in the cold Region because that the natural heat being emptied out with the blood the Region doth chil the body too much and the hot Region by its heat doth debilitate the strength for this very reason the Summer season nor the Winter are not in any wise fit to breathe a vein in but the most proper time is the beginning of the Spring because it is temperate breathing the vein in
the morning not immediately upon your wakening Besides you must consider the former life of the Patient to wit whether he you are to blood have used great quantity of meats or drinks principally of such as give great nourishment for if so one may blood them boldly but if on the contrary not so much notwithstanding to those who are too full of exces and are drunkards voluptuous or Gourmandizers never put your hand for truly one doth not help them much by taking blood from them because by their intemperance they immediately heap up abundance of humors Also one ought not neg igently to let slip the Custom of bleeding for those who have 〈◊〉 themselves to it do undergo it better then those who have not so that by very good râ—â—son one may blood those who have lost the benefit of evacuation of excrements by having forborn accustomed exercise But enough hath been spoken concerning the inferior Root let us speak now concerning the superior for as Galen saith in Libro de Criticis diebus and also as Philosophy saith The inferâ—or World is governed by the superior so that it is necessary for Chirurgions to consider the Influences of the seven Planets also of the Signes and other heavenly bodies to the end that having the knowledge thereof he may take heed of blooding in the part which is possessed by one of these Signes which Planets and Signes we will put in order according to the parts of the Body which they possess Upon what maladies the Planets rule In the first place Saturn cold and dry hath respect unto the melancholique humour and upon the maladies composed of melancholy and by consequence rules over the Spleep Jupiter hot and moyst hath respect to the blood and upon the maladies caused by blood and from that reason governs the Liver Mars hot and dry hath respect to the Choller and upon Chollerique Diseases and by this meanes governs the Cystis felix Sol hot and dry governs the Heart Venus cold and moyst extends her power upon the Vessels appropriate to generation Mercury of a temperate Complexion is indifferent to all the humours Luna cold and moyst hath power principally upon the Phlegme and Phlegmatique maladies she rules in the brain but her power is extended much further in that which concerns her property for elective blooding for she being delivered from her hindrance and in Conjunction with Jupiter Venus and Mercury in the sixth third and fourth opposition in her own sign it is excellent for blooding The Aspects of the Stars ought to be observed in blooding On the contrary it is not good to let blood the Moon being in Leo or in 12 degrees before or after the Dragon and principally you must take heed that Saturn be neither in opposition to nor conjunction with her or Gemini with Mars for such Aspects are very dangerous but the Moon being in conjunction with the three Planets above mentioned which is Jupiter Venus and Mercury it is very good Pisces and Sagitarius for the Phlegmatiques the first part of Libra for the Melancholique for the Chollerique Cancer and Pisces and their contraries which are Leo the second part of Libra and the first of Scorpio the others are indifferent and mean for Phlebotomie notwithstanding we will speak more particularly thereof hereafter Division of the times of the Moon But here it is worthy of observation that the Moon the Mother of humours is divided into four parts The first is from the Conjunction or new Moon unto the first quarter signified by Gemini which continues seven dayes wherein it is good to blood young Children The second is from Gemini until the Opposition which is the full Moon 7. dayes more wherein it is good to blood the young and active about the age of 20. or 30. years The third is from the opposition to the last part of Gemini when you may blood the strong and ancient from 30. to 60. years The fourth part of the Moon is the last 7. dayes of her last Gemini wherein you must blood the decaying who are above 50. years old only in cases of necessity but in whatsoever Aspect the Moon be you must not make incision on any member nor touch it with any Instrument or Cauterizer either actual or potential if the Moon be in the Signe ruling that member You must take notice that the third quarter is best for Phlebot Besides the first quarter is hot and moyst the second hot and dry the third cold and moyst and the fourth cold and dry 'T is true that at all times the Moon is effectively cold and moyst but in her several quarters she doth acquire several Complexions according to the several Aspects of the Sun so that we say Every one ought to be blooded in that quarter wherewith he hath most agreement or likeness and the first quarter begins after the Conjunction of the Moon with the Sun But you must here take notice that by Conjunction we mean when the Sun and Moon are in the same Signe And by opposition or full Moon we mean when the Moon is in one Signe and the Sun is in an opposite Sign in the half of the Zodiac But the Aspects of the Moon are Conjunction Opposition Quadrate Trine and Sextile marked by the Astrologers after this manner Conjunction in this manner ☌ Opposition thus ♂ Quadrate â–¡ Trine â–³ Sextile âš¹ The propriety of the twelve Signes upon the humane bodies Besides we consider in the eighth Sphere which is the Starry Heaven and which is called the Zodiac twelve Signs whereof three are of the nature of fire which are Aries Leo and Sagittarius proper for Phlegmatique persons except in the burning parts above mentioned Signes which passe by eight Degrees unto the thirteenth degree of Sagittarius and doth strengthen the attractive faculty The other three are of the nature of water to wit Cancer Scorpio and Pisces very proper for cholerick persons good to comfort the expulsive faculty and to administer Laxative Physick The other three of the nature of Earth which are Taurus Virgo and Capricorn very good to sanguine persons and good to comfort the retentive faculty The other three participate of the Ayr to wit Gemini Libra and Aquarius these are very propet for melancholy persons and good to cherish the digestive faculty But for the knowing upon what parts of our Bodies the said Signes do rule we will set it down in order to the end that the Chirurgion commit no error therein for the day and hour wherein they concur you must have recourse to some good Almanack Ephemeris or rather to the Ephemerides of Origan which will continue yet untill the year 1660. You must take notice here that I send you to the Ephemeris to know in what day hour degree and minute the Sign will rule for it is out of my design to teach it you here or to know their Ascendant Conjunction or Oppositions good or bad although in my Book
called Grande Chirurgerie I speak of it largely enough wherefore I say you shall have recourse to the Ephemerides In the mean time I will persue the declaring upon what parts of the body the Stars do rule with their proprieties And in the first place Aries is hot and dry of the nature of fire he governs the head and face of a man and it is good to blood when the Moon is there unlesse it be in the part which the Moon governs The parts wherein the Signes rule together with their property concerning blooding Taurus is cold and dry of the nature of the Earth and governs the neck and Wind-pipe and it is bad to make use of bleeding the Moon being in that Sign Gemini is hot and moyst of the nature of Ayr and governs the shoulders and Arms and hands is ill for blooding Cancer is cold and moyst of the nature of water and governs the Breast the stomach Lungs and is indifferent neither too good nor too bad for blooding Leo is hot and dry of the nature of fire and governs the back and sides and is ill for blooding Virgo is cold and dry of the nature of the Earth governs the Belly and the Intrals is neither very good nor bad for blooding Libra is hot and moyst of the nature of the Ayr and governs the Navel the Reins and the lower part of the Belly good to blood in Scorpio is cold and moyst of the nature of water and governs the parts for generation is neither good nor bad Sagittarius is hot and dry of the nature of fire and governs the Thighes is good to let blood Aquarius is hot and moyst of the nature of Ayr and governs the Legs is neither good nor bad for letting blood Pisces is cold and moyst of the nature of water governs the Feet and is neither good nor bad to let blood Aries Libra and Sagittarius are very good Virgo Scorpio and Aquarius and Pisces are indifferent Taurus Gemini and Leo and Capricorn are evil Yet we say that the Moon being in Trixe and Sextile with Venus it is a good time to purge Choller by Electuary with the Sun 't is good to purge Flegme by drinks with Jupiter 't is good to purge melancholy by Pills Division of the Signes Furthermore you must take notice that every one of the Signes is divided into 30. Degrees from whence it followes that in the whole Zodiac there are 360. degrees and again every degree is divided into 60. minutes and every minute into 60. seconds and every minute into 60. thirds and so of the rest following until ten The rising and setting of the Signes Besides you must take notice that when we have the longest day of Summer which is to say then when the Sun is in the beginning of Cancer there arises six Signes in a day which do rise directly and in the night six Signes obliquely And on the contrary when we have the shortest day of the year to wit the Sun being in the beginning of Capricorn then six Signes rise in a day obliquely and the six of the night directly but when the Sun is either in th' one or th' other Equinoctial point then they rise three Signes directly and three obliquely in a day and in the night in like manner For there is a Rule that let the day or the night be long or short as you will six Signes rise in the day and six by night so that either for the length or the shortness of the day or night neither the more or lesse Signes do rise For the knowledge of which Signes you must take notice of the Characters following as the Astrologers mark them Aries with such a Sign ♈ Taurus such a one ♉ Gemini such ♊ Cancer ♋ Leo. ♌ Virgo ♠Libra ♎ Scorpio ♠Sagitarius ♠Capricornus ♑ Aquarius ♒ Pisces ♓ Let this suffice for the discovery concerning the 12. Signes let us come now to the 7. Planets whereof we should here make a Table or Figure but because we have sent the Reader to Ephemerides in relation to the Signs we will do the like concerning the Planets contenting my self only in this place to set down their Characters for the discovery of the more easie understanding them and their differences Behold then how the Astrologers mark them Saturne thus ♄ Iupiter thus ♃ Mars thus ♂ Sun thus ☉ Venus thus ♀ Mercury thus ☿ Luna thus ☽ Here followes the difference of the Planets as well for purging and blooding as for the making other operations upon humane bodies Most good ♃ ♂ Indifferent ☉ ☽ ☿ Bad. ♄ ♂ The Chirurgion must Encounter the Starrs And you must take notice that then when Mercury is with a good Planet he augments its goodnesse and with a bad one its Malignity wherefore it is that when one is wounded you must take notice whether Mercury be not with some bad Planet which rules the part wounded and if so then the Chirurgion must Encounter the Starrs and so you must minde these things but most especially in blooding to the end that we having done nothing improperly through our negligence may have an occasion of praise and thanks-giving to the Authour of all things to whom Father Son and Spirit be honour and glory for ever Amen CHAP. V. That it is necessary that the Chirurgion have the Astronomicall figure in his study or in his shop and of the profit that proceeds therefrom as well for the sick persons as for those who exercise it which is proved by a History and other examples As also that it is better to keep cleanse the blood then to evacuate it With the description of two admirable remedies for this end The good desire of the Authour I Should desire by good reason as well for the profit of those who search relief or Remedy from Phlebotomy as for the spiritual contentment of those that practise it to the end that the whole might be to the honour and glory of God that every Chirurgion had within his shop the Astronomicall figure as formerly the Ancients had and who had recourse unto it then when they would know the Domination of a Starr on the part whereon they were to operate observing with all their power the rising and setting of the above mentioned Signes and their constellations insomuch that the Antients have not found it to be unprofitable Of the truth whereof among severall of them Arnoldus de villa nova shall be a most faithful witnesse Therefore I shall again heartily intreat the Chirurgions that they would take heed unto it and not to pretend that their Art is subject to Calumnie seeing it is they themselves which are the cause of their arts being so Calumniated whilst they neglect that which is most necessary to be known in their profession to wit Astronomie The ignorance of Astronomy is cause of great evils Insomuch that not having the knowledge of it there doth arive many evil Accidents and the
vulgar being ignorant of the causes of them do Calumniate and sleight all the Judgments of Chirurgions and their so admirable Art together See how it is weighed and esteemed at nought and contemned by the ignorant and all this by reason of the small care which Chirurgions have to minde it well But to shew that the knowledge of the Starrs is most necessary for a Chirurgion I will insert a History which may serve as an example to those who shall know well how to put it in practice A Remarkable History It happened that at Chatellerault a Chirurgion having blooded a Maid in the right arme in the time when the Moon passed under the signe of Gemini on the next day about noon there came upon her a great defluxion causing inflammation with a feaver at the same time this Maide goes complaining to another Chirurgion saying that one had spoiled her had prickt her Nerve that it rendred her a Cripple using revilings concerning him that had blooded her they appeased her as well as they could promising her it would be nothing and that she should be suddainly cured applying unto her at the same instant a Cataplasm continuing Cataplasm upon Cataplasm and making Revulsion by blooding but notwithstanding all they could do the Arme became extreamly swell'd yea to the danger of her person insomuch that in a short time the same was known through the whose town and behold here the Poor Chirurgion is so disgraced as not to be ever received into any house upon any occasion whatsoever the present age is so scruplous being ignorant of things how they may happen Which he seeing resolved to frame a rational excuse to defend his reputation and to maintain his innocence which he did when there was a pretty Company together in the house of the said sick person his reasons were these That she was upon the point of her Termes and that her body was Cachochymicall and full of humours and that at the time when she was blooded she helpd at the washing a Buck and also to do other business of the house and other things which might excite defluxion and attraction in the part having been blooded before for if so it had been said he that I had prickt the Nerve or Tendon the Accidents would have appeared in the same instant as convulsion Spasm great pain in the part difficulty in the Action none of which happening saith he one may thereby judge that it was none of my fault In Lunar purgations the vein of the Arme must not be opened But that is contrary for his reasons served to fight against himself for since she was upon the point of her purgations he ought not to have been so rash as to have opened a vein on her Arme but rather the Saphena for provoking them and several other reasons which rendered him mute confessing as it were by his silence that he was in fault but if he had known how to have discoursed or argued concerning the science of Astronomie he had been heard attentively in regard that was not vulgar to them Notwithstanding continuing to dresse the Maide she was cured in three weeks but not without having indured a great deal of pain I have been willing to relate this story which happened in the year 1613. in the said Chastelerand in the shop of a Chirurgion named Bureau to the end I might induce and provoke the Chirurgion to learn the Constellation of the Starrs with all his power for otherwise it is impossible that he should come to his intended end of Phlebotomy Elective without some dangerous accident which I have seen happen severall times but for brevity sake I shall passe on Yet notwithstanding Guidon dela Nanche speaking of blooding in his Tract Dela Santé Corporelle saith that he hath seen severall expert and famous Chirurgions of his time as well at Paris and Mont-pelliere as at other good Cities of France and at the Court and Armies-Royall let blood which hath caused swellings in the Armes and other parts which have been blooded and many other evil accidents which as he saith flattering himself did arive by the fault of the Patient pulling back or throwing up his Arme through fear or sudaine apprehension or by having lain upon his Arme after blooding or by sleeping or by having wrought or exercised the Arme. In the second Tome lib. 2. Chap. 16. He here deceives himself exceedingly for if he had searched further he would have found that it is rather the fault of the Phlebotomiser then the Phlebotomised for in regard they are ignorant of the concurrence of the Starrs and of the houre and time wherein they govern the part they commit these blockish and irreparable faults Objection This is also for answer to that which may be objected That several sick persons are blooded at the same time and yet they are not ill It may be so but I say that if there happen no Malady in the part touched with the Lancet yet there happens other Symptomes as vomitting weaknesse vertigo Giddy-headed souning nocturnall paines and sometimes death Accidents ariving in blooding through ignorance of the Starrs Objection But may some say that is by reason of the great evacuation of blood To that I answer that experience lets us see every day that when there hath not been drawn out perhaps an half ounce of blood from the patient that he falls into some one of these accidents Objection Yes but will some reply that is because he hath conceited such a thing but who hath ever heard say that that which one hath premeditated it may be a day or two before is capable to do us hurt when we come to effect it It cannot be in anywise wherefore let us leave all these Trifles and let us follow verity Objection But will some one reply the knowledge of the Starrs with the observation of them is prohibited To that I answer That in truth if one should beleeve that the Starrs had Soveraigne power over men he would be worthy of Censure but we do not find in any place that any person hath ever been blamed for knowing and observing the elevation of the Starrs Advertisment of the Authour For Conclusion I shall content my self to admonish the Chirurgion Phlebotomist to behave himself wisely with reason in the extraction of blood for it is the treasure of life insomuch that you had better conserve and cleanse the blood then to evacuate it inconsiderably in regard that doth shorten our daies and is the cause of severall other Accidents as we have said elsewhere But will some say By what reason would you make use of the extraction of blood in the time of necessity as when a man falls from on high in great Contusions of the interiour and exteriour parts or when one hath received some dry blow or in the Plurisie and other Maladies whereof you discourse in your time of necessity To that I answer that it is true I discourse of it for three
causes which induce me to discourse of it in that manner The first is the honour and respect which I bear to the Hippocratique Doctrine and that of Galen for having been nourished therein ever since my young years The second is because by that meanes I would give to understand as I shall shew in a book which I will make apart from this the agreeing reason and affimity that there is between the books of Hippocrates and Galen and those of Paracelsus as I have made one Chapter thereof in my Petite Chirurgie Chymique The third reason is That so the Learned Chirurgion may make use of it as he shall know to be necessary for since in all his operations he ought to follow Nature he ought also to take speciall heed to maintain and preserve Her and not to alter her as he doth in the emission of blood which is the Treasure of Life as before I have said Definition of the Pleurisy For I pray how can it be possible that the blood which is out of its vessells spilt in capacity of certain parts of the body yea even Clotted and Coagulated therein can re-enter into the vessell to be evacuated by blooding for example in the Pleurisy which is a tumour made of subtile blood which comes out of the veine Azuges stopt between the Membrana pleura and the Muscels Mesopluri in the curing whereof they prescribe Blooding Glisters Syrops Tablets and other like remedies But I aske what is it that blooding serves for there seeing that the blood which as we have said is out of the veines cannot enter thereinto again to be thereby evacuated I know well that they will answer me that the matter continued in the same place doth not enter into the veines to be evacuated but that they use it for the hindering of any more from flowing into that place and also that the Medicaments given inwardly do work more easily Oh this is a pritty doctrine for the healing of a patient to weaken nature which one ought rather to corroborate for the rendring her more strong to strive against the disease for curing the Pleurisy they evacuate the good and pure blood which ought to be preserved for maintaining the strength of the Patient and leave the impure blood in the body which ought to be taken away I will not therefore say that blooding being performed in the beginning of the true Pleurisie is not profitable but is very necessary being performed opportunely but oh unfortunate time I have seen those who in all the seasons of that Malady do not forbear with too bold a rashnesse to evacuate this Treasure of the life But to the end that none may continue any longer in this errour and that I may not amuse my self by disputing in these things therein following Galen who is not willing that one should dispute neither of Apollo nor of Aesculapius but that one should endeavour to inlarge the Doctrine for I know that one may alleadg Sophisticall Arguments to prove falsities but it must be to those who know not how to guard themselves from them I shall onely say that Hippocrates understood well what he said when he affirmed that by probable and subtile fictions in Physick there did often happen great and heavy falls From whence one may perceive that Physick is fallen so miserably having been called by its own props or upholders opinionate or subject to opinion and Conjecturall 616. Praecept Com. 2 Aph. 2. de Comp. me Secund. loc That the verity thereof cannot appeare but by subtile Arguments and that is is incertain This is it which hath induced Galen to reprehend Hippocrates for having called Physick Conjectural which he had need to do seeing it is neither Conjecturall nor imaginary but on the contrary Scientifique So that as a kingdom divided against it self cannot stand can Physick subsist when the supports therof are divided among themselves That is it which hath given occasion to the Vulgar to slight it as it is slighted But wherefore do we assemble seven or eight as well Physicians as Chirurgions for consultation upon one disease which if it be known what need is there of opinion upon it In short either the Science of Physick is True or it is not True If it be true its rules are certain But it is true that it is true because it is of Gods Creation and God and nature make nothing vain It follows then that its precepts are true Which Hippocrates perceived although he was an Ethnique in regard he saith the Philosophicall Physician is like unto God but he cannot be so who follows not Truth That is it which I desire to follow avoiding to the best of my power Sophistryes which are the onely causes of nourishing falsities wherewith to my great trouble our Chirurgery is replenished But to the end as I have said before I may not keep the Reader in such an errour I give him two Remedies for all sorts of Contusions Dry-blowes Bruises Phlegmatick-Swelling blood clotted or congeled within the body by reason of a fall from some high place In which from these two Remedies borrowed from Paracelsus one shall see a very great effect without running to Phlebotomy as many who follow the ordinary errour do One may by these serve himself to his own great honour the benefit of the Patient and to the Glory of God Of these two Medicines the one you may take inwardly when you suspect there is some quantity of blood spilt and coagulated in the inner parts of the body and the other is to be applyed outwardly when the Phlegmatick Tumor appears to the sense of the eye and both of them together may serve as in Pleurisie Eshimose collection of Corrupt matter within the body between Breast and Lungs Empyeme and such like as I intend to mention in the book which I have heretofore promised by the assistance of God Let us come now to the description of these two Remedies which are as followeth A Remedy for the externall Parts â„ž Flowers of white Mullein M.j. flowers of St. Iohns-Wort M. iij. roote of Asclepias or Swallow-wort M. ss Mumie â„¥ j. fresh oyle Olive Lib. ij There bentine al. Turpentine Lib. j. White-wine Lib. iij. which you must boyle together on a soft fire for the space of five houres then you must afterwards put it into a Glasse well stopt and set it in the Sun leave it there for the space of a Month or six weeks then you must strain the whole through a peece of Cloath and Squeze well the dregs you shall have an oyle incomparable for the effect above mentioned which you must keep carefully and therewith anoynt the part evening and morning A proper Remedy for the Internall parts Rec. of good Rubarbe â„¥ ij Mumie â„¥ ss Red Gum Lack Sperma Caeti â„¥ j. Bolarmeniack and Terra Sigillata an â„¥ ss root of Asclepias â„¥ iij. you must beat them all to powder of which you must give the weight of a drag
doth exercise its power and faculties upon the body Division of the Sun in its Circular Motion So also as the Circular motion of the Sun is divided into four parts which are called Quarters of the Heaven representing the four Elements and Seasons of the Year together with the four parts of the Day from whence reâ—uâ—teth that there is a certain Sympathy as well between the four quarters of the Moon and the Elements and the four Seasons and the four Humours and the four parts of the Day yea I shall also say with the very four Windes and four Ages Nay such a Sympathy that it is impossible that the one being depraved the other with which it doth Sympathize should not have a resentment thereof Division of the Seasone with the Elements But for the more clear understanding hereof we say That these four quarters of the heavens do represent the four Elements and the four seasons of the year That is to say from the Sun rising unto the Mid-day The first from Noon to the Sun setting The second from Sun-set to midnight The third and from thence to Sun rising The fourth so that the Sun being in the first quadrature with the fixed Starrs therein Then is the spring which is represented by the Ayre being in the second then is the Summer which is represented by the Heavens or Fire and being in the third causeth Autumn represented by the Earth and lastly being in the fourth it causeth Winter which is represented by the water Moreover we see the Symbolization of the spring to the Ayre to blood and to youth of the Summer to fire Choller and manhood of Autumn to the Earth to Melancholly and by consequence the first part of old age and in fine the fourth is of the Winter to water Phlegme and decrepit age Division of the day for the Elements and humors of the body The same division is of the time wherein the Sun moves round the Earth which is one day divided into four parts The first part is from three of the Clock in the morning untill Nine for the Ayre the spring and the blood And from Nine a Clock in the morning untill three afternoon for the Fire Summer and Choler And from that time untill Nine for the Earth for Autumne and for Melanchoâ—ly and from thence following untill three of the morning for the Water for Winter and for Phlegme And if it so happen that one of those Elements be depraved or Malignant in a man or that thereby a disease of its temper or degree insallibly it will discover it self in the time so appropriate or ordained Maladies occasioned by the Signes are healed by the opposing of contrary Signes Now it is impossible that these humours Symbolizing thus with the Heavens and the Elements can continue without alteration seeing that the Starrs do make known their effects in them as we have said in another place wherefore it is that the blood hath such force and power that the Spring being come and it being in vigour doth ingender Maladies and feavers of its nature to wit continuall ones which give no space or respite which Maladies are caused by the depravation of the three signes which govern the above mentioned humour such are Gemini Libra and Aquarius and the healing of such Maladies ought to be performed in contrary signes which are Taurus Virgo and Capricornus In like manner the Choller in Summer making its course and recourse by daies alternate occasions the Tertian feaver and that by the depravation of the three signes which have influence upon that humour that is to say Aries Leo and Sagittarius which Maladies are cured by opposition of the contrary sign as Cancer Scorpio and Pisces Afterwards the Phlegme in Winter when it is putrify'd engenders the Quotidian intermittent feaver also caus'd by the three signs which govern that humour such are Cancer Scorpio and Pisces and those diseases are cured in like manner as the last above mentioned and that is by the observation of Aries Leo and Sagittarius finally the Melancholly at the beginning of Autumn stirrs up the quartain Feaver or Ague caused also by the aspect of these signes which govern over that humour such are Taurus Virgo and Capricornus and the curing of them is found by the Concurrence of these three Gemini Libra and Aquarius Wherein consisteth the one-day Feaver So the Ephemere or one-day ague doth end in one day or shortly after in regard that it doth not consist in the Putrefaction of the humours but only in an inflamed exhaled spirit All which things are done by the same reason the same proportion and the same order as the rising and setting of the Sun The Ebbing and flowing of the Ocean and the pleasant vicissitude of Plants and Hearbs and Trees which bear seed and fruit How the fits of the Feaver appear Insomuch that if one do take good heed hereunto we shall easily observe that almost at the same time that the humours are forced by the Starrs they demonstrate the fit of the feaver not as some would say who alleadge that then when the humors do every one by its turn perform its office comes the fit of the feaver but when the time is compleated of each the hours which serve to the humors provided that they be pure and not intermingled th' one with th' other then they cease and conclude A Considerable reason But I say these reasons are not to be received but much more to the purpose and with more verity this that the accesses of the feaver appear then when the Star which governs the humour concurrs upon it wherefore it is that we see the fits to become retrograde or to skipp forward even as that Star renders it self Retrogade or direct So that we ought by good right to consider more narrowly of the Judgment upon Maladies that destroyer of that Little World Man who is constrained to suffer Change every four daies which the Vulgar do call Crisis which is done by loosenesse in the belly by bleeding vomiting or sweating excited and occasioned by the Course of the Moon through the points of the Zodiac But because I have resolved to speak succinctly of Crisis'es in this place and how you ought to observe the Criticall daies from the Concurrence of the Starrs we will discover first what a Crisis is for of necessity the Malady quits the patient in the same instant by the Crisis or else by solution by little and little Definition of the Crisis Now Crisis is a suddain change of the disease either to health or to death which is done then when nature separates the ill humours from the good to the end she may force them out Two sorts of Crisis And of this Crisis there is two sorts the one perfect and the other imperfect The imperfect is that by which the matter is not absolutely forced out of the body but is evacuated from the Noble parts to the Ignoble and from the interiour
I perceive these to scoff at my pen perceiving I treat of an operation which hath been so learnedly deduced before our time by some of the most sublime personages which antiquity hath produced To this I answer that although one would thinke one could say nothing more upon this subject there having been severall Volumes of it yet notwithstanding they are not performed with that method wherewith I treat of Phlebotomy in this place not following the old opinions because that would be nothing but singing the same song again but discovering the fault which people daily fall into in this so important operation I describe a means so to behave ones self that one shall very seldome fall into irrepairable faults Wherein I do assure my self loving Reader that if putting off all Passions thou dost come with a favourable eye to look on these Lines which proceeding from an honest Leasure do run the hazard of Censure thou wilt confesse that it is not without great consideration that I have put hand to pen to a Treatise of this matter Not that I have been provoked thereunto by any vain-glory but possessed with a good desire to serve the Publique And truly I should have beleeved I had faild of my duty if having received something peculiar from the Liberall hand of the Almighty I should not have distrubuted it to the lovers of true Learning To the end that all their and my workes might be to the honour and glory of God for the edification and health of our Neighbour and to the salvation of our souls To which God Father Son and Spirit be rendred all honour and glory for ever Amen A Treatise of Phlebotomy A TREATISE OF Phlebotomy CHAP. I. What Phlebotomy is It s property and of that which is to be observed particularly for the good performance thereof MAny Philosophers both Graecians Latines and Barbarians after they had diligently contemplated all sorts of Animals curiously sought out their manner of living and compar'd their Condition and Nature with ours have writ that amongst all Creatures breathing and moving upon the Earth Man is more miserable then al Animals and the reasons therefore There is not any more Miserable than Man by reason of his unsatiable desire and disorderly Appetite for continually he is hunting after new food and having found any according to his taste he devoureth them after such a fashion that I exceedingly admire that the bellyes of many are not already rotten and infected by that excesse of drunkennesse and debauchery which they do commit I am amazed in thinking of it And what doth there proceed from it except abundance of Rheums Catharrs and infinite other kindes of diseases which do nothing but adulterate change and corrupt this second part of our generation The treasure of life the seat of the Naturall heate the matter or substance of the seed and of the Milke of the Duggs or Papps that is to say the Blood which is so well dispersed and mingled through all the parts of our bodies that there is not any one of those parts which doth not receive its nourishment from it and there is not any good thing in us which is not maintained and supported by It. It is the Mother of the spirits which does impregnate the seat of the faculties for the maintaining the strength of the whole Body which does foment and entertain its primitive moisture It is so replenished with spirits that the conservation thereof is the cause of our life insomuch that some have esteemed that it was the proper seat and habitation of the Life and that therefore our unruly wills accompanied with our more then unreasonable Debaucheries are causes that this continuance of our lives is almost wholly extinguished One shall see nothing else in the Countryes but Doctors and Docteresses for the renewing of this scource of our lives so many bloodings made improperly that I wonder that instead of helping their Patients they do not destroy them The diligence of the Learned Chirurgion praised Not that I would here blame the diligence of the Learned skilful Physitian and Chirurgian who as friends to nature do endeavour with all their might to preserve her in her health or integrity And that by purging and cleansing or evacuation which last is not to be done but by incision of a Veine This is called Phlebotomy 〈◊〉 word Compounded of the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a Veine and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say division of whole parts The derivation of the word Phlebotomy Behold therefore why in particular this word is taken for making incision of a Vein by which evacuation is made of blood and other humors contained with it Galen 13. Method Ch. 6. You must take notice that there are severall sorts of bloodings As of a Veine of an Artery Scarrifications and others we will speak especially as to Phlebotomy For what causes one should open a Vein We make bloodings for six principall causes The first To Evacuate Secondly To divert turn back or make Revulsion Thirdly To Attract Fourthly To Change Fifthly To preserve And sixthly to alleviate which is according as all those who have treated of this matter have defined it But let us content our selves with these two Causes to wit Plethorall and Chachochymicall the one consists in nothing but too great quantity of humors the other in the evil quality How far Phlebotomy doth extend its self But the benefit of Phlebotomy doth not extend it self only to the evacuation of the fulness which ought to be made according to the kinde or difference of it but also to divert and to drain which are the three sorts of evacuation It serves also for great and extream paines principally when they proceed from Tention insomuch that all the learned Physitians and Chirurgions do hold that blooding is a most excellent assured remedy if the rules requisite thereunto be therein well observed yea more ready and secure then Laxative Physick which being taken works immediately and forceth its operation it not being in our power to hinder it Phlebotomy more safe then purging Physick But Phlebotomy the Reines of the Conduct whereof we hold doth nothing but what seems good unto us forasmuch as we do stopp it and draw it forth when we please And in truth among all Chirurgicall operations blooding holds the first Ranke because it is the Common remedy of diseases which proceed from Plethore and Cacochymie as we have said before both which are the Antecedent causes of diseases What Plethore and Cacochymy is Let us then define what Plethore and Cacochymie is and then we will appropriate unto them Revulsion and Derivation Plethore is nothing else then a repletion of all the humors equally increased or else of the blood onely Cacochymie is a repletion of Choller Melancholy or Phlegme Plenitude hath two kindes the one Ad vires and the other Ad vasa there is another added unto them called Supra
vires The first to wit Ad vires Although that the blood be not excessive neither in quantity nor in quality yet it may oppresse the weak powers notwithstanding the other to wit Ad vasa surpasseth the Naturall Symmetry or proportion But although the vessells seem to burst by reason of the abundance of blood if it doth not suffocate the powers but it happens that the strength is debilitated thereby This then shall be plenitudo supra vires But it must be taken notice that Cacochymie is threefold Cholerick Melancholick and Phlegmatique Enough of this for he that would see more therein let him reade Lafframboisiere in his Loix de Medicine Let us now return to Revulsion and Derivation where we find there is great difference between the one and th' other forasmuch as the Revulsion is to be performed on the Contrary part according to Galen Galen in the 5. of his Meth. Ch. 5. If the right Nostril bleed you must apply a Cupping-glass upon the Region of the Liver but if both do bleed you must apply two th' one upon the right Hypocondre or flanck and the other upon the left and if the distemper be strong one must breathe the vein under the elbow If the mouth and the throat be distempered open the Cephalique and it is Revulsion and if one draw blood from the veines under the tongue it is Derivation In like manner if the hinder part of the head ake you must make Revulsion by the vein of the arme then Derivation by the vein of the forehead also Revulsion and Derivation must be made on the same side if it may be as if there be a Phlegmon in the Liver you must breathe the Basilique or Mediane of the right Arme If in the spleen on the left If in the kidneyes the Bladder or privities you must open the vein of the ham or Ankles If in the right Leg on the Right Arme Gal. in his 13. meth Ch. 11. and Aph. 36. d. 6. If in one Arme on the other and so of the rest if it maybe as I said before forasmuch as if there happeneth a Phlegmon in the Liver and that the Right Arme should be hurt one cannot nor ought not to take any blood from it but you ought to take it from the other Arme or from the Ankle-veines Oribas l. 1. Ch. 22. Note that they Lance the Arteries especially those of the Temples to evacuate the hot windy humors which flow into the eyes and cause tedious paines of the head vertigoes or swimmings of the head which are principally caused by hot things and windy and the Arteryes behind the eares are for the same effect Gal. 13. Metho Ch. 22. One never lanceth the Great Arteries as those of the Armes and other places As well because of the too great dissipation of the vitall spirits as because there can be no agglutination or knitting made there by reason of their continuall moving we will speak more largly hereof hereafter Observations concerning blooding It is time now to know who are they who ought to be blooded and those who ought not so to be Those who can easily bear such lancing to whom it can do no hurt are those who have a strong constitution the veins bigg full large who are neither lean nor wasted who have their colour good and ruddy their flesh firme hard and solid those who are of a contrary disposition cannot bear it healthfully neither must one blood Children before the age of fourteen nor old men after threescore and ten unlesse in case of great and extream necessity and considering this That with the blood slides forth part of the life which you must alwayes do prudently measureing the greatnesse of the disease with the power of the Patient's strength to the end that one may easily judge of the matter or substance and likewise of the evacuation but you ought not only to consider of the forces or vertue at present but to know for the future if they will be sufficient to support the length and continuation of the disease also you must observe if those whom you blood have been accustomed to be lanced For those who have not been accustomed to it do not undergo it easily Insomuch that Custome must be considered in all manner of evacuation especially as to that of blood Moreover all those who have weak stomacks or who are wrought on and opprest by the Dyarrhe or loosenesse and flux of the belly or who undergo some indigestion ought not to be blooded also the women with Childe ought to abstain from it principally in their first and last months also those who have used too great sobriety those who are of a cold and Phlegmatick Nature and those who Live in a Region or Air too cold or too hot do not easily bear blooding All things which weaken the powers as horror and trembling the immoderate use of venery too great frequenting the bath the flux of the belly whether it be by nature or Physick great perplexity and care watchings and labour and tedious diseases do prohibit our use of blooding For conclusion whether to blood or not to blood All these things above mentioned and severall others must be observed which I shall here omit for fear of being accused of writing any thing here which hath been already long ago treated of by the more Learned somuch more for that reading their writings I lose my hopes of being able to say any thing upon this subject worthy to see the light All which would have been enough to have rendred my pen silent in this affaire if the greatnesse of the case which ought to be examined by divers writings together with a good will which doth move my affection to be able in something to serve in publique had not imboldened me unto it And also to leave unto posterity some mark of my duty And that as well to solace and refresh the Memory of my Companions in Chirurgery giving them also some entrance into Astrologicall observation which few among them know The Charity of the Authour As also for the health and benefit of those who are to be blooded having alwayes preferred the health of the poor sick persons who need blooding or those who use it to preserve themselves from diseases before the ariving to my owne gain and profit The great errour and Covetousnesse of some Phlebotomists Many of the Chirurgions of our time do let blood at all houres at all times at all seasons and all ages without considering the power and strength of the party whom they Lance induced thereunto by this cursed desire of gain never taking heed to the accidents which may come upon those who have bin blooded making evacuation of more blood then they ought or else making operation upon the Member at the time wherein the Starre is ruling or predominant there insomuch that some are dead by reason of the undue administration of this Remedy which hath cut of the use off
with the water Florum Tiliae Tilia is a tree bearing fruit as great as a bean round in which are seeds like to Aniceseeds some call it the Linden tree or the like for it is most good to take away the Phlegmatick tumour as well within the body as without There is no necessity of discovering any other of these Medicines now because it is not my intent in this place for I have not brought in these two in this place but onely to shew that one may cure these kinds of Maladies and severall others without having recourse to Phlebotomy of which Medicines the Learned Chirurgion will know how to make use according as he shall see occasion and will invent others according as necessity shall require But above all I intreat those who shall read this little treatise that they will not sleight it for I have not taken pen in hand to Teach but to give wholesome advice and Councell for the sick and most necessary for the augmentation of the honour which the true Chirurgions aspire unto and which is more to provoke to do better as I have said elsewhere to the end that doing and persuing from good to better we may go into heaven with God to whom Father Son and holy Spirit be honour and glory Amen CHAP. VI. Of Veins to be blooded for several Infirmities which come upon mens bodies also of the use and benefit of Cupping-glasses with scarrification and without scarrification what must be observed in that Operation lastly of Horsleeches ALthough it is true I have with good reason here before said that it is not needful to blood for all maladies and at random without any consideration as is done ordinarily yet I shall not omit to describe the number of the veins proper to be blooded with the benefit of opening them together with the use of Cuping-glasses and Horsleeches for I shall thereby please the Galienists and Paracelsians and it is also the end which I have respected Let us begin then at the Vein in the middle of the fore-head which is between the two eye-browes usually called Recta sive preparata the breathing of that vein is good against old Infirmities for foul Ulcers Leprosie scabbiness Morphew Inpetigine in Maladies of the eyes in old continuing pains of the head in the affections of the brain in madness or raging The two veins of the Temples are proper to be breathed in the Megrim in the great pain of the head in continuing maladies old Inflammation of the upper skin of the eye call'd Ophthalmy in cloudy dulness of minde watring of the Eyes Pimples or Scabs on the Eye-lid The veins of the little corners of the Eyes which makes a little extuberance upon the Os Jugale are to be blooded against the same Maladies as those of the Temples The veins behinde or round about the eares which appear in the hollow place behinde them in the place where if you put your finger you will feel pulsation is to be breathed for the Megrim old Cathars the scald for reviving or repairing the memory for Ulcers of the Eares or Neck for clearing or mundifying the countenance for the pain and defluxion in the teeth for the pains and ripe imposthumes and Ulcers of the Head The Vein which is between the two Cartilages of the Nose for the Phrensie in acute Feavers old pains of the Head the old redness of the Face for the trouble of bleared Eyes running with water for dulness or heaviness in the Head for Hemorrhoides the itching or tickling of the Nose and Aposthumes thereof The veins under the Tongue which are called Ranulles for Aposthumes of the Throat and the mouth for the Squinacy you must first blood the Cephalique for the heaviness of the tongue for the Apoplexie and for all pains of the teeth for the pain and malady of the gums for Cathars and other defluxions of the Head for the Cough for the spots of the face and in the passions of the Jawes The vein which is between the Chin and the under lip for the stinking of ones mouth for the corroding breaking out and for chapt lips or soreness of the gums for Ulcers of the Nose for an ill complexioned face for the pains of the Dugs or Paps and for the pain of the Head The two veins of the neck called Jugulary Veins th' one on the right side and th' other on the left for the Impetigo or Ring-worm for Serpigo being Pushes and angry read wheals the Noli me tangere for the Cancer Corrosive in the swelling of the Gums for the Squinacy for the Asthma for a hoarse voyce for the Aposthumes of the Lungs for the Passion of the Spleen for the pain of the sides The Cephalique Vein which they call humerall Cubitall between the thumb and the fore-finger one may make incision of it without any danger in the superior part of it in the bending of the Arm against the infirmities of the Stomach and the shaking in the hand The Median in the bending of the Arm between the Cephalique and the Basilique which is commonly called black and the vein of the heart and this is for the evacation of all the humours in maladies of the whole body principally those of the heart and strengthens the stomach or appetite for all the Passions of the stomach of the Liver of the Spleen of the Lungs of the Breast and of all the Body The Basilique called the great Basilique of the Liver for the Spleen the Breast the Lungs the Stomach the Liver abundance of Choler and for the heat of the Liver for the pain of the Teeth of the Back of the sides partes laterales and of all the members for the Hemorrhogie of the Nose for the itching and pricking in the skin and in Feavers The Salvatella called the Splenatique vein between the Auricular or little finger and the Medicus otherwise called the Ring-finger declining towards it the breathing of that vein to wit that on the right hand is prevalent in the affections and obstructions of the Liver and that of the left hand in the stoppings of the Spleen in short the one or the other is prevalent for the pain or the Heart Yellow Jaundice to all Feavers to the obstruction in the breast for the yellowness comming in the eyes The Apoplectique or vena poplitis which is at the bending of the knee for the provocation of the Menstrue for pains in Arms for affections in the Loynes for the provocation of Hemorrhoides for pains in the Blather for passions in the testicles for the infirmity of the feet for all maladies of the Articulations The Ischiadique or Sciatique Vein under the Vein which runs acrosse the outward Ancle of the Foot calld Maleolla or round about it for the pains of the Ischium or hip-Gout the Foot-Gout Leprosie Varices or Veins sweld with corrupted blood for pains in the Bladder for the difficulty of Urine for Ulcers and swellings of the Testicles in Ulcers
and Tumors of the Kidneys and other evils The Saphaena under the interior Maleolla or Ancle vein of the Foot yea which runs a crosse it sometimes for all the passions of the Matrix for all the affections of the Testicles old scabbiness salt Phlegme for the griefs of the Cox tibia It strongly provokes the Menstrue and the Hemorrhoides for the purging of the Vterus after birth of a Childe it takes away barrenness for the affections of the yard for the derivation of blood from the Matrix Yard and Testicles The vena Tarsi appearing and ending about the great Toes for the vices of the Bladder to the faults or spots of the Face inflammation of the upper skin of the Eye call'd Ophthalmia for redness of the Eyes blear-eyedness running with water being red and soare for the Cancer for the Varices of the Tibia with corrupt matter and for the maladies near the Saphena The Vein in the middle of the Foot is to be blooded for pains or maladies in the Kidneys for the weariness and dull heaviness of the Members of the Body Apoplexie Palsie and Epilepsie Of Cupping-glasses and of the benefit of the use of them in generall Intentions for which one should apply Cupping-glasses Every one knoweth well what Cupping-glasses are They are to be applyed where blooding cannot well be performed some are with scarrifications and others without it those with scartification are for the evacuation of a matter Conjunct in one part and the other is to make attraction they are also applyed to make revulsion and derivation in several parts as for deflexion into the Eyes the Cupping-glasses are to be applyed upon the shoulders for the flux of the blood at the Nose they are to be applyed to the Hypocondryes Besides they being applyed without scarrification are good for diverting of Aposthumes from the Noble parts to the ignoble parts and to draw the heat to a member debilitated by cold They are to be used in the Cholique being applyed above the Navel or under it for easing of the pain for drawing from the Center to the Circumference To evacuate the windiness to stop the Hemorrhoides to reduce the members into their place For the pain of the Matrix they being put upon the Navel the part being first well warmed For the immoderate Flux of the Menstrue if they be applyed about the Region of the Paps at the same time Also for the Flux or bleeding at Nose as we have said already being applyed upon the Liver if it be the right Nostril that bleeds and if it be the left Nostril that bleedes you must apply them to the Region of the Spleen For drawing pestiferous Aposthumes from the Interior parts and in venerious Bubons For diverting the blood which flowes immoderately to one place To stop the Fluxes of the stomach For the drawing out of Poyson and for the coldness of the Ventricle But in the use of them you must consider four things First the matter of them Secondly The manner of applying them Thirdly The time And Fourthly The Intentions and parts to be applyed to In the matter you must consider three things First The substance which is either of Horn or of Glasse or Metal or Earth Secondly The quantity of them which is great mean or little And Thirdly The Figure or Form which is Circular or round and somewhat long like a Horn. The manner of applying them is with fire or else without fire and that with scarrifications or without scarrifications as we have said deep or superficial The time of the Application is either necessary which being there is nothing to be respected or Elective and then you must take heed that it be with the necessary regularity proposed by Guidon Concerning the intentions we have spoken enough thereof already before Notwithstanding you must take notice that the Attraction of Cupping-glasses doth not depend upon any natural faculties of them nor of any similitude but upon an accidental vertue of hindering of the Vacuum This Attraction is made when the fire for want of ventilation or breathing being choaked doth degenerate into Ayr and possesseth lesse room then when it was fire for as the Philosophers say one little part of Ayr produceth ten parts of fire and on the contrary ten parts of fire turn themselves into one part of ayr so that nature to supply the place of the fire contracts the flesh the Spirits and the humours into its place Finally the parts whereupon the Cupping-glasses are to be applyed are the shoulders the neck the hinder part of the Head the Hypocondyres the Reins of the back the stomack the Matrix the Thighes the Buttocks for the better understanding whereof we will mention them more particularly and distinctly together with the maladies wherein they are profitable Of the use of Cupping-glasses as to the parts or places as well with scarrification as without it In the first place Cupping-glasses being applyed upon the Head are very commodious in madness or distraction scotomie canicie manginess scabbiness knots or pimples in the eyes and in the maladies of the nape of the neck but they do prejudice the Intellect and the memory because they do stupifie They being applyed to the forehead do help very much in the pain of the hinder part of the head in the heaviness and swelling thereof in all affections of the brain for madness and distraction for old infirmities of the face Ring-worm or Tetter Ulcers Leprosie scabbiness and Morphew for all the maladies of the Eyes and for the Vertigo or swimming in the Head but they do prejudice the reason and Intellect They being applyed to the Chyne are very profitable against Pustules and swellings in the mouth for maladies of the Teeth and Gums for the Spots and viciousness of the face for Wens for swellings in the throat for all maladies of the Jawes They being applyed between the neck and shoulders are very commodious for maladies of the face of the neck Teeth nostrils eyes for the stinking smell of the mouth for Ring-worms or Tetters for the Squinacy having first opened the Cephalique or median vein but they do prejudice the memory and cause the head to shake They being applyed between the shoulders in the part against the heart and stomack are very commodious in the affections of the Breast in the maladies of the neck for the Asthma or Spasme for the trembling or quivering of the heart and for the blood in the throat but they do prejudice the stomack and the heart the which in its trembling doth not send forth the blood They are to be applyed upon the breast in the pain thereof and for the Asthma on the Region of the Liver for the Inflammation thereof upon the back for the pains that happen therein over against the part grieved They being applyed upon the stomack they avail much in swellings thereof and when it is grown cold and for the humours and viciousness thereof They being applyed upon the hands
are prevalent against all the distempers of the Head Eyes and Eares They being applyed upon the Reyns are prevalent against the Apotemes of the Coccix Sabbine so Hemorrhoides Gout Leprosie for the itching of the back and scabbiness there for the windiness and coldness thereof and other distempers for the windes in the Bladder They being applyed upon the Navel are prevalent against the Maladies of the Matrix and for the Cholick Upon the Hypocondries to draw back the Impetuous issuing of blood at the Nostrils and for immoderate Flux of blood from the Uterus They being applyed to the Loynes stop the Hemorrhoides and cause the pain of the back to cease as also of the Matrix and of the Loynes to repress the too strong desire of Venery to heal the scabbiness and Aposthumes within side of the Thighes They being applyed upon the Buttocks do cleanse the blood and are beneficial for the cure of the white Menstrue for the pains of the privities and of the Loynes and the Breast In the Interior part of the Coccyx for the Aposthumes of the Testicles in the Issues or sores of the sides and of the Coccyx They are to be applied on the hinder part of the Coccyx in Aposthemes and running sores of the Buttocks They are to be applied under the Ham or bending of the knee for the pulsation of the sinew near the knee which turns the Legg inwards which is occasioned by a cold humour and for Ulcers and running sores of the Feet They being applied to the fleshy parts of the Thighes they do good to all the parts of the Body for the Tumors or swellings of the Buttocks and for Aposthemes thereof for pains of the Reins of the back and the Bladder for Fluxions in the Eyes for affections in the Head for cold Aposthemes and tremblings of the knees for maladies of the stomack or breast pains of the back for Aposthemes of the Testicles for wounds and ulcers in the Coccyx and in the privy parts yea in the old pains of the Matrix for purging the Matrix of its superfluities for the Aposthemes and sores of the hands to provoke the Hemorrhoides and the Menstrue for the Sciatica Gout and Vertigo or swimming in the Head I should have spoken much more of the utility of Cupping-glasses but I forbear for brevity sake And come now to speak of observation concerning the manner of the use of them Those things which ought to be observed before applying of Cupping-glasses THose who are best versed in the Rules and Observations Astrological and Medicinal are of opinion that you ought to applie Cupping-glasses or little Horns for that purpose upon Phlegmatique persons when the Moon is in Aries or Sagittarius To the Cholerique when she is in Cancer Scorpio or Pisces To the melancholique when the Moon is found in Gemini Libra or Aquarius notwithstanding you must take notice not to scarrifie the part when the Moon is in the Sign which governs it and in generall not to use it neither with Glasses nor with little Horns when the Moon is in Leo it is true there are Horns applied at all times but it is without Fire or Candle You must also take notice not to scarrifie before four years of age nor after 60. And you must also avoid that operation in the new and full Moon The scarrifications may be made about the second or third houre of the day an houre before eating or drinking The place where one ought to applie the Cupping-glasses or Horns should be well fomented with warm water or use frictions for half an houre or an hour with a warm Linnen Cloth especially to such who you suppose have thick blood or if it be in the winter time Besides you must not apply them before the Body be empried or purged neither are they proper in a Plethorique body nor in any part affected with a Phlegmon as for the rest the wise Chirurgion will dispense with these rules according to the violence of the Maladie Necessity derogating from all Lawes Here followeth the use of Horse-leeches There is no so dull block-head but knowes what Horsleeches are they are ordinarily applied there where Cupping-glasses can take no place as on the nose upon the lips gums fingers privities Hemorrhoides at the entrance of the Os Matricis and other places One should choose them such as are bred in good clear and running waters which have yellow streaks upon their backs and not those among rushes in bad waters and which are of a horrible colour and have a great head because those are venomous Gui. Treatise 7. Section 1. Chap. 1. And you must not applie them being fresh taken but keep them a whole day in clean water to the end they may vomit forth that which they have in their Bellies Oribas Lib. 1. Chap. 15. It is good to leave them without water three or four houres space before you apply them for they will after that be more greedy You must wash the place where you applie them with warm water and then dry and rub the place with a Linnen Cloth until it be red except in places where there is great pain then having made a slight scarrification upon every place where you would applie the Horsleech put thereupon a little drop of a Chickens blood and then applie the Horsleech holding it in a clean Linnen Cloth for most commonly they will not take hold if you hold them in your naked hands and when they have suckt enough they will fall off themselves otherwise every one knowes the way to make them and to order them in these things Above all let one take heed not to applie them when the Moon is in the Signe governing the part for you must observe the same in applying these as in the operation of blooding and using Cupping-glasses I beseech the Authour of all things that all those who read this Treatise may make use of it to their advantage To whom Father Son and holy Spirit be honour and glory for ever Amen The end of the Treatise of Phlebotomie A Brief Treatise Or discourse concerning Crisis's Wherein is shewn how people do deceive themselves in their judgements upon them being ignorant of the Motion of the Starrs All things have a regular motion GOd the Creator according to his inestimable goodness Clemency and wisdome put into the nature of things well ordered and regulated motions insomuch that he hath been pleased that not any thing should move by chance or rashly but that all should move by good order and a continuall succession And so the Starrs The Elements the Ocean the seasons of the year and the Spheres of the heavens have their motions and vicissitudes and performe their Courses absolutely regular The humors have a Limited course In like manner the humors which are in humane bodies have their effects their proper motions and certain Periods so that in every one of the four Seasons of the year each humour performes its part and
parts to the exteriour The other is called perfect whereby nature even as Mistris and Lady governing the body doth absolutely and wholly reject the matter out of the body and this is done either by vomiting or by flux of blood at the Nostrills or by menstrue or by the Hemorrhoides or by sweatings as we have said above A pritty similitude of Avicen concerning Crisis Avicenna had an excellent understanding of Crisis when he saith that The Crisis is no other thing but the strife and contention of two persons pleading the one against the other in a civill case for saith he even as in one civill proceeding there doth concurr four sorts of persons that is to say he which accuseth he who is accused the witnesses and the Judge In like manner do these four concurr also in the Crisis first the accuser who is the power which governs the body secondly the Malady which is accused and thirdly the witnesses are the signes of that Malady and the Physitian is the Judge And even as the civil Judge giving sentence the one of the parties continues sorrowfull and the other is joyfull so in like manner in the Crisis if the signes are bad the Physitian adjudgeth the patient to die and then he and his kindred continue sorrowfull but if the signes be good signifying victory of the powers over the Malady the Physitian makes Judgment and passes sentence that the Patient shall recover and thereby he and his kindred continue joyfull The Common Criticall judgment of no value It is true that the greatest number of Chirurgions do passe Judgement but it is most commonly of no value and that by reason of their not being able to discern that which causeth the said Crisis or rather by reason of his not observing it for if they did calculate well the Critricall daies they would not be deceived in predicting the events and would in no wife fail to hit the Mark. You must take notice in this place that they hold that the Salutary Crisis arives ordinarily the seventh fourteenth or twentyeth day wherefore it is that those dayes are called Criticall dayes They foresee the future Crisis by the signes of Coction which appear the fourth eleventh and seventeenth daies which are called Indicative and Contemplative dayes for according to Hippocrates the fourth day is the Indice of the seventh the eighth is the beginning of the other week the eleventh also is remarkable because it is the fourth of the other week yet the seventeenth is remarkable because it is the fourth after the fourteenth the seventh from the eleventh some do not go to search so many fashions but they hold simply that the Crisis doth use to conclude either the fourth day or the seventh or else the ninth and eleventh and fourteenth daies The Common opinion concerning the Crisis is fallacious As much upon the one side as the other the one party are as good shooters in a Crosbow as the other for it is most certain that the Crisis is either sooner or latter ascribing these daies of decision to the effects of the Moon And so the Astrologers assigne the Indices of Maladies when the Moon is distant in degrees about the fourth part or about half of the Zodiac from the true place where she was at the beginning of the Maladie But because her motion is more quick or slow at sometimes then at others sometimes she arives more late and sometimes more early to such aspects that if it happen that upon a Critical day the Moon is in her house or in her exaltation with Jupiter and Venus which are benevolent and healthfull Planets that doth denote that the change will be good A most true signe concerning the Crisis And if the disease consist in a great affluence of humours it is good that the Moon be in the increase in a quartile aspect or in opposition If the Moon be in the same time in Conjunction with the Sun or Saturn it is an ill signe and denotes that it will be a very dangerous disease or else of a long continuance If the Moon increasing do accompany Saturn precisely in the beginning of the disease it doth denote that the Malady will be of a long Continuance or Mortal But if the disease happens then when she is in her decrease it is a signe that the Malady will not continue long and will not be dangerous for this cause you ought not to sleight the salubrious or nocent signes of the Starrs but to observe them exactly to the end that you may attain the honour of Prognosticating Divinely for the wise man doth oppose himself to the mutation of the heavens made on the earth And that no otherwise then in removing away or repairing the earthly matter wherein the Heavens do operate or else not finding a subject to act upon his Action is turned in an Eclipse The Charity of the Anthour is Commendable Notwithstanding I desire in this place to make known that the fall of an Innumerable multitude of men is occasioned by not knowing any thing but the name and word onely of Crisis and not the cause of the effect And that severall men who by by their extream ignorance cause the Heaven and the Earth to be opened and fix there their eares and do there bound the eyes of their understanding to the end that they may take notice of the earth covering or Entombing their errours which ought rather to serve as Scarlet to make them blush And behold the manner how It is certain that our bodies are moved and inflamed by the superiour bodies otherwise they could not suffer for in the method of the distribution of things the body of the Moon in her Sphere doth by the points of the Zodiac produce that mutation which is made from time to time in all bodies none excepted As for example Example concerning the above named opinion If it happen that some one is taken sick the Moon being in the first point of Aries infallibly on the fourth day following counting from the time of falling sick the Moon is found in a point repugnant in property to that wherein she was at the time of the first falling sick And then is the Crisis made either by vomiting flux of blood flux of the belly or sweatings as we have said before In this day is prohibited the offering force to Nature whether it be by blooding or Physick either solutive or restringent for fear that nature intending to discharge her self by sweat be not forced to do it by other Emunctory and for this cause evacuation is to be practised upon the third or fifth day from the beginning of the sicknesse And none can deny however he be opinionate of himself but that this is true A too Common errour But alas behold the evil which doth often nay most commonly happen That while men are attending the Crisis on the fourth day because of the above mentioned motion of the Moon it happens that the Moon expedites her course and comes on the third day to the point which causeth the Crisis And without taking notice thereof the Physician who would count her hours makes too much haste and onely counts the fourth day for the Crisis and without any other Ceremony being bold causeth the sick person to be blooded or purged and by that meanes sends him to ask St. Peter for his Keys to open heaven with And when the Moon becomes declining or Retrograde she is not come to that point untill the fifth day wherein happens the same oversight Behold the reason why Hippocrates Lib. de flatibus would have the Physitian to have but a few patients and to languish with them for whom as saith Paracelsus he is created father and not Doctor I should enlarge my self further upon this discourse concerning this matter to make seen to the eye and felt by the finger the great errour which is commonly committed in Judgement upon Criticall daies and should shew the true meanes of giving a true Judgement according to second causes of either life or death But because that doth require a greater speculation and that the age of a man will not suffice for it I shall so bear praying to God that he will be pleased so to blesse our Labours that what we do may be to his honour and glory the edification and benefit of our Neighbour and the safety and salvation of our own souls To whom Father Son and holy Spirit be honour and glory eternally Amen To the Benevolent Reader A Quadrine Beleeve not That In Ostentation I have writ this Treatise of Plebotomy But as a friend to life I undertook to shew its operation In this Book A TABLE OF THE Chapters CHAP. I. WHat Phlebotomy is Its properties and that which must be particularly observed for the good performance thereof CHAP. II. How that the Chirurgion ought not to be ignorant of Astrology and of the profit that comes thereby as well for Phlebotomy as for all the Maladies which do happen unto humane bodies The Sympathy of the Starrs therewith and other discoveryes most usefull for a Chirurgion CHAP. III. Of the time of Necessity wherein are shewn the Maladies wherein Phlebotomy doth necessarily fall out CHAP. IV. Of the time of Election for the Inferiour Root and of the Superiour Root which extends its self to to the knowledge of the Starrs as well in the Concurrence which they have to the parts of our bodies as upon the Humours and Maladies which happen therein CHAP. V. That it is necessary that a Chirurgion have the Astronomicall figure in his study or at least in his shop and of the benefit that proceeds therefrom as well to the Patients as those that exercise or practice it which is proved by a History and other examples Also that it is better to mundify the blood than to evacuate it with the discovery of two excellent remedies for that effect CHAP. VI. Of the Veins proper to be blooded for several infirmities which arive to humane bodies together with the benefit and the manner of using of Cupping-glasses with Scarrification and without it and of that which is to be observed in this operation and lastly of Horse-leeches  A short treatise or discourse of Crisis's wherein is demonstrated how men do deceive themselves in the judgement of them not knowing the motion of the Starrs FINIS