making water is to be observed those Vrines which are made presently after eating and drinking When Vrine is to be received signifie nothing certainly especially if much drink be taken since the decoction is not performed Vrine is rather to be lookt upon after a perfect concoction and about the morning In Fevers regard is to be had of the fits because in time of the Paroxism the morbifique matter is expelled another way Secondly it is to be weighed whether any meat drink or medicine be taken which may change the Vrine Thirdly The whole Vrine to be taken It should first settle In what place should be kept Inspection of troubled Vrines the whole Urine made at once is to be be taken not to be mingled with waters made at several times Fourthly judgment is not to be given of Urine before it hath setled and the Contents enjoy their proper place Fifthly you must beware least the Urine by cold air or winds especially in an open vessel being exposed thereunto should be changed or corrupted yet it may be changed no less by too much heat then by too much cold Sixthly if the Urines are troubled they are to be setled by the heat of fire or rather warm water that they may return to their former state yet it is convenient to look upon troubled Urines before they become clear again since often times in troubled Vrines the substance of the Vrine is more manifest then in clear and often times Vrines which be not troubled seem to be alike when troubled they differ exceedingly and in troubled Vrines oftentimes that matter of the Vrine shews it self which scarce any one could believe had been contained in it when 't was clear Seventhly the Vrinal in Inspection ought to be quiet and not to be stirred only after Inspection it may be lawful to stir the contents Eighthly the Glass wherein the Vrine is to be viewed ought to be clear perspicuous and void of all colour Ninthly the Urine is to be cast neither in a place too shady nor too light yet the colours in a small shade so not too dark may be discerned best but the Contents in a lighter place CHAP. XII What may be discerned and foretold by a Vrine ALL diseases and affects cannot be discerned by Vrine only since there are diseases of many parts which alter not the Vrine What can be known by Urine but without dispute the Vrine may shew that disposition which is in the Liver and Vrines since the Vrine is an Excrement of the Veins of the Reins also and passages through which the Vrine flows and the diseases of the Bladder and Yard without controversie the Vrine may shew for if any thing be contained in the ways through which the Vrine passeth contrary to nature 't is easily mingled with the Vrine moreover the diseases of those parts which send matter to the Veins may be dscerned by the Vrine Whence if any peculiar part be affected and the Vrine changed also if in the part affected there be also made any peculiar change it is a token that such matter is transmitted from that part to the Reins and Bladder On the contrary also when the matter which is contained in the Veins is carried sometimes to other part s and causeth various Symptomes the diseases of those parts may also be known by the Vrines especially if other Symptomes agree with those of the Vrine Lastly when Fevers and venemous diseases may be joined with the diseases of many parts although the Vrines then do not first indicate that very disease of the private part yet 't is not unprofitable then to consider the Vrines and to observe the signs from thence of life and death And thus what may be known and foretold of every Vrine is manifest from those things which are spoken of the causes of all the differences which happen unto Vrine Book III. PART I. SECT IV. OF PULSES CHAP. I. What a Pulse is A Pulse which the Greeks call Sphugmos and Sphuxis A Pulse what is a motion of the Heart and Arteries proceeding from the vital faculty consisting of dilatation and contraction and is appointed for the preservation of the Harmony of the native heat Instruments of a Pulse Instruments of the Pulse are the Heart and Arteries and the Heart is the Fountain Chimny and Elaboratory of heat and vital Spirits but the Arteires are the Channels through which this vivifying heat is derived from the heart as from a Fountain and disperst through the whole body which work that they may rightly perform power is given to them by nature whereby they can dilate and contract them selves by perpetual motion Efficient cause by which means Arteries Blood with the vital Spirits is diffused through the whole body the vapors are expelled and cold air is drawn in neither is the motion of the Heart and Arteries made only by the fervent heat of the Blood and Spirits nor is this motion to be accounted accidental Vital faculty and as it were violent but the heart by a peculiar faculty which it hath in its self which they call Vital and Pulsisique is moved neither are the Heart and Arteries dilated because they are filled but they are filled because dilated Neither is this faculty denied to the Arteries although in its own manner it depends on the heart The vse of the Heart and Arteries The use of the motion of the heart and arteries and the end of their motion is the preservation of the native heat the generation of vital spirits and the distribution of them through the whole boby but the native heat is preserved as being hotter whilest 't is cooled and fanned and the matter fit for the generating of spirits is drawn but the fuligenous vapors are expelled The motion of the Heart and Pulse performs these duties by that double motion out of the which as of parts it is composed namely by Sistole and Dyastole or dilatation and contraction But because these two motions are opposite and a thing cannot be moved against its opposite unless first it be quiet It is necessary that these two motions admit of two cessations between the one is that which follows the Systole the other the Dyastole And indeed attraction is made by dilatation for the cooling and fanning of the heat and the generation of spirits But contraction is made for expulsion for the heart when it is dilated attracts blood the matter of vital spirits and arterious blood and air from the Lungs through the arterious veins But the Arteries draw some of the thinner blood from the Veins especially they draw aire through their small orifices opening to the Pores of the Skin by contraction the Heart expels fuliginous vapors and together emits arterious Blood and Spirits into the Arteries but the Arteries expel fuligenous excrements and together communicate some Spirits and arterial blood to all the parts CHAP. 2. Of the simple differences of Pulses THe differences of
Pulses are either absolute or relative The differences of Pulses Absolute Respective absolute differences are when a Pulse hath any difference absolute and in its own nature when we consider it without comparing it with any other Respective are those which arise from comparing of the Pulses amongst themselves Absolute again are twofold simple and compound But seeing to the Pulse as also to every local motion Simple five things are required 1. The thing moving 2. The space through which the motion is made 3. Time 4. The rest between the two opposite motions 5. The instrument according to these also the simple differences of Pulses are constituted and every simple difference regards one of these and so there are ten simple Pulses a great and smal in respect of space swift and slow in respect of time thick and thin in respect of rest between vehement and weak in respect of moving hard and soft in respect of the instrument And if amongst the opposit motions we account a mediocrity or moderate in every kind there will arise 15. simple Pulses And if there may be added to these other differences either they are not comprehensible by the touch or they are unprofitable A great Pulse is that which exceeds the space A great and a small Pulse which by nature is granted for the motion of the Artery A little Pulse is that which doth not wholly keep that space A moderate Pulse is that which doth observe its definite space for its motion but whereas in space longitude latitude profunditude may be considered some divide a great and small Pulse into other differences to wit long and short high and deep narrow and broad to which if a moderate Pulse be added then there will be made five kinds all which kinds if they are joined together amongst themselves make twenty seven differences which comprehend eighty one Pulses of which Galen in the first of the differences of Pulses Cap. 5. A swift Pulse is when an Artery runs through his space in a short time A swift and slow a slow when in a long time moderate when in an indifferent time A thick Frequent and thin or frequent Pulse is performed little rest interposing between A thin when long an indifferent is performed in the middle of those extreams but that a frequent and thin Pulse may be rightly perceived The Pulses are to be divided into the stroak and the intervall the stroak is the motion of the Artery resisting the touch but the interval is the time interposed betwixt two stroaks whereby the Artery is contracted and dilated which by how much the shorter or longer it is by so much the Pulse is said to be more frequent or thin A vehement pulse is that which strikes the hand of him that feels it Vehement weak and resists it and as it were reverberates Weak is that which gently strikes the hand Moderate is the middle betwixt these two A hard Pulse is when the Artery is hard Hard. Soft and resisteth the touch A soft is when the Artery is soft and fainty and gives way to the touch CHAP. III. Of the compound differences of Pulses OUt of these differences of simple Pulses compound differences are easily to be found which although they are very many yet these are the chief Great Swift Frequent Vehement Soft Great Swift Moderate Moderate Moderate Great Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Swift Frequent Vehement Hard. Moderate Swift Thin Weak Soft Moderate Moderate Frequent Vehement Soft Moderate Moderate Moderate Vehement Hard. Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Weak Soft Moderate Moderate Thin Weak Soft Moderate Slow Thin Weak Soft Little Swift Frequent Vehement Hard. Little Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Little Slow Moderate Moderate Moderate Little Slow Thin Weak Hard. CHAP. IV. Of an equall and unequall Pulse REspectively or Relatively Respective differences of pulses equality and inequality for either respect is had to the equality and inequality or to order or to proportion or number equallity and inequality of the Pulse is nothing else but a congruity or difference of one thing in pulses when compared with another Equality and inequality is either simply and absolutely such or Secundum quid How manifold equall Absolutely equall Absolutely unequall and which is at least in a certaine kinde such Absolutely and simply a Pulse is said to be equall which neither changed in magnitude nor in swiftness nor in frequency nor in vehemency nor in swiftness and if equality be observed in neither of these it is called a Pulse absolutely and simply unequall but if a Pulse keeps not equallity in all these neither is made unequall in all these it is said according to something and in some respect to be unequall the denomination is to be taken from that wherein it observes not equality Moreover these unequalities againe are divided into systematicall or collective Systematique inequality An unequall pulse equally unequall which is observed in more stroaks and singular which is in one stroake collective againe is double unequality equally and unequality unequally unequall Pulses are equally when the first is so to the second as the second is to the third the third to the fourth and so forward unequall unequall unequally are those which are not alike in their change neither is the first so to the second as the second is to the third We call an unequal Pulse equally Myouron Myoures from the similitude of the tayle of a Mouse which as the taile of a Mouse from some thickness by little and little and equally tends to sharpness so these Pulses in magnitude are lessened by degrees and equally and the following stroake is alwayes less then the former which some call maimed Pulses These againe are either deficient Myourn which perpetually are lessoned till at length they plainly cease to strike any more or such as at length cease to be lesned Deficient Myouroi and do not plainly give off and rest and both of them againe are various for some keepe that pravity to which they are come others do not persevere therein but returne againe to magnitude Maimed reciprocall which the Greekes call maimed Pulses running again reciprocall shortned or running Pulses and these again either return to their former magnitude or to lesser or to a greater Unequally unequall Pulses also are various according to all the simple differences of Pulses but the chief and those which the Ancients gave names unto are the intermittent deficient the intercedent or intercurrent The name of intermittent is attributed to that inequality which is in pravity and rarity Intermitting or only rarity namely when the arterie is so hindered in cessation that one pulsation seems to have two or three between two which seeme to be deficient and after one or more stroakes Intercurrent the intermittent begins to beat againe Intercurrent or such as go between are opposite to intermittent and amongst
the Vital Spirits should be carried from the heart of the Child to the exterior parts thereof namely the Secondines and the Urine-passage which is carried from the bottom of the bladder unto the Navel The time from the conception to the bringing forth Physitians divide into two parts the first is called the time of formation from the conception till the time when first the Child begins to move the second the time of adorning which is the time from its motion till its coming forth Of adorning Hippocrates in his book of the Nativity of a Child makes the time of Females formation to be two and fourty dayes but males thirty dayes which is to be conceived from their more imperfect formation but afterwards nature more elaborately frames the parts which are not framed in males till three months nor in females till the fourth month When all the members are framed and rendred more firm the Infant begins to spring and kick in males in the third in females in â—e fourth month as t is commonly reported so that the time of â—rmation being doubled is the time of quickning The time of motion the time of moâ—â—on being trebled is the time of bringing forth Yet one quickning 〈◊〉 more obscure another more manifest which about the middle of time of a Womans going with Child as all Women commonly perswade themselves is first perceived The time that Women go with Child although it be uncertain and various yet for the most part The time of birth it is nine months end or the beginning of the tenth month that a natural birth happens for the most part such Children as live come into the World at that time and that time for humane birth is most natural But before half a years time experience tells us that a Child can hardly be brought forth and live and if it so happen that before the scaventh month be ended a Child be borne and live it is a great rarity and very strange But in the seaventh month because the perfection is finished of all the parts the Child may live and especially which as Hippocrates in his book of beginnings says is of two hundred and ten dayes that is about the end of the seaventh month brought forth But Hippocrates says that a Child borne in the eighth month cannot live Yet others say that some that are borne in the eighth month may live After the tenth month the Child being great wants nourishment and roome to be in although we read some are delivered after the tenth month yet that is seldome The time of legitimate birth For a legitimate birth according to the Law of Nature is then when there is not roome enough for the Child to live and move in nor aliment enough to satisfy him for then 't is time to shake off his shackles those tunicles and indeavour to make away for its own birth and the Mother finds paines and the womb strives to put out that bagg and by its expulsive faculty sends forth the young which thing the Voluntary endeavour of the mother much helpeth which is done by her contracting her Spirits and depression of her Midriff and squeesing the muscles of the paunch CHAP. XI Of the Vital Faculty THE Vital faculty which Physitians call the second faculty although some would refer it to the Animal The Vital faculty differs from the other faculries some to the Natural faculty and others think it to be mixed of them both Yet since it differs not only from those actions which are performed by the natural and Animal faculties but also goes forth by its own organs nor doth it move hither and thither by the assistance of the Animal Spirits but by its own proper Spirits which from thence are called Vital Spirits it is deservedly to be esteemed a peculiar faculty diâ—â—inct from the Vegetable and Animal faculties There are three sorts of Vital faculties Its actions are three and so many motions of the heart wherein they relide The first is the generation of the Vital Spirit and heat The second is the Pulse The third is the Irascible faculty The first to wit Generation of Vital Spirits A Pulse It s definition Of Dilating Of Contracting is the generation of the Vital Spirits and influent heat The second without the which the first cannot perform its office is the Pulse namely the motion of the heart and of the Arteries consisting in dilating and contracting that so the Vital Spirits may be generated and distributed and the natural heat may be preserved in its natural harmony By Dilatation the heart is filled and attracts to its self air with blood from the right Ventricle by the Venous Artery which goes from thence to the heart and attracts from the lungs air and blood by help of the Arterial Vein into the left Ventricle of the heart for the generation and refreshing and restauration of the Vital Spirits and heat By the Systole or Contraction of the Heart it distributeth the Vital Spirits and Arterious blood through and by the help of the great Artery into the whole body and sends the fuliginous excrements to the Lungs by the Arterial Vein In like manner the Dilatation of the Artery through its little Orifices terminating in the skin attracts to it self ambient air to form and cool its heat the Orifices that are terminated neer the Heart draw from it the hottest and thinnest blood full of Vital Spirit But as the mouths of the Arteries with the Orifices of the Veins do draw the purest and finest Spirits to fostet and cherish their heat but by Contraction they expâ—l fuliginous excrements which action is called a steaming through or transpiration which is made through the hidden Pores of the skin and by the Latines is called Transpiratio In the third place the Irascible faculty belongeth to the Vital faculty The Irascible faculty from whence Anger Joy Fear Sadness and terrour and other passions of the mind arise And that its residence is in the Heart is most evident because the motion of the Heart and the Pulse of the Arteries are most evidently changed in the passions of the mind Respiration is also added to the Vital faculty as principally necessary to further its action Breathing and hath the same end and purpose as the Pulse hath and is instituted for the benefit of the Heart It is performed principally by the Lungs and the Lungs are as it were the fan or bedows of the Heart and are the primary Instruments of breathing and are indued with a peculiar power of moving themselves even as the Heart is differing only from the Animal faculty Nor are the Lungs moved only by the motion of the breast but by their proper force and power The motion fo the Lungs And although the motion of the Lungs and Breasts are made together yet neither are the cause of the others motion but they therefore move together because they conspire to bring one
to be ejected by the panch that being closed 't is cast out of the mouth with the meat For the other publike concoction Symptomes of Sanguification which is made in the Liver Sanguification is either abolished when for the most part there is no change of the Chyle and in stead of good blood serous and Petuitous is generated or else it is diminished when halfe raw blood is elaborated or it is depraved when hot and adust blood is generated The Symptomes which belong to the evacuation of the excrements of the second concoction Symptomes about making Water Iscury Dusury A Strangury Incontinency of Urin. Diabetes Bad milk are an Iscury or suppression of Urine or stopping of Water or a Dusury or difficulty in making Water a Strangury or dropping of Urine when it comes away drop by drop and that there is a continual irritation to expel Urine Incontinence of Urine is when it goeth from us against our wills Diabetes or plentiful making Water is when whatsoever is drunk cometh away by Urine not changed at all or altered very little Hitherto belong the Symptomes which belong to the generation of milk when too much or none or not enough is generated or it proves scurvey and is coagulated and curdled Hitherto we refer the Symptomes Gonorhaea Flux of Months which belong to the other concoctions as the running of the Reins suppressions of Courses diminishing dropping flowing in too great plenty the Flux of the Womb. Increasing is hindered when either the whole body Symptomes of encreasing or some part is not encreased enough and ceaseth to encrease before it comes to its just magnitude or it encreaseth too much and grows to too great a bigness Lastly there are some hurts of the generative faculty Symptomes of generation for generation is either taken away when no Children are generated or diminished when few and weak ones are begotten or depraved when Monsters or a Cripple or any way an imperfect thing is begotten and because to the generation of mankind there is required male and female joyned hitherto belongs impotency in men extinction of lust in women barrennesse and other Symptomes of this kind CHAP. V. Of the Symptomes of the vital faculty FOr the Symptomes of the vital faculty there is a palpitation of the heart a Lypothymy Palpitation of heart or an absence of Spirits for a short time or an Aphyxy or no Pulse Palpitation of the heart is when there is a depraved motion of it swifter then it ought to be when the heart leaps and strives to fly from that which troubles it A Lypothymy A Lypothymy or want of vital spirits is when the Pulse beats swift on a sudden and then ceaseth to beat at all or is suddenly taken away with a small slow and weak Pulse to which some add an Eclusie or absense of the vital soule A Syncope again is a motion depraved A swooning Absence of Pulse when the Pulse is much lesser slower and weaker then a Lypothymy An Asphuxy is a total absence as it were of the Pulse and the highest degree of swooning and neerest to death of the other preternatural differences of Pulses we will speak in another place Respiration which is caused by the heart Respiration hurt Taken away Depraved Shortbreathing Shorter Shortest either is wholly taken away Which Symptome the Greeks call Apnoia or is depraved which they call Dyspnoia besides these the respiration is either too great or too small too often or too seldome too swift or too slow equal or unequal And lasty of swift and slow breathings there are some differences according to more and lesse for the first degree is a Dusopme the second is an Asthma the third is an Orthopnie when the sick are forced to fit upright to breath Of the Symptomes of the external senses FOr as much as belongs to the external senses Symptomes of sight first of the sight that either is wholly lost as in blindness the Disease called Amagrosis or it is diminished in the disease which is called Ambluopia and dimnesse of sight or Muopia which is to see as Mice do that is to discern objects which are neer us and seeming lesse to us then they are Depravation of sight Nutolopea is when any one sees well by day but very bad in the evening and not by night or the sight is depraved When these things which are white seem red or yellow those things which are strait crooked those things which are whole seem halfe and perforated those things which are single double when Cobwebs appear before the eyes and Flyes and Gnats when shinings and glistnings appear which the Greeks call Marmarugase The hearing is either taken away Symptomes of hearing which disease is called Deafness when the diseased can neither hear a great nor smal sound or it is diminished when loud sounds are heard but with difficulty small sounds not at all which disease is called hardnesse of hearing the Greek name Barucoia Ducecoia Hypocophosis or it is depraved when there is a hiding in the ears which disease the Greeks call Ecos and Sorigmos i. c. a hiding a whistling a hissing The smel is hurt when it is abolished Symptomes of smelling diminished or depraved when things seem to stink have in them no ill smell Moreover the taste is either plainly taken away or else diminished or depraved Of tasting when a thing seems to taste otherwise then it doth The touch is either wholly lost and can feel nothing or is diminished Of feeling which is called Numness or 't is depraved as in pain or itching hitherto also belongs want of sense in the teeth CHAP. VII Of the Symptomes of the Internal senses THe Symptomes of the Internal senses are watchings and sleepings when either of them are contrary to nature Symptomes of the common sense Too much watching Too much sleep as likewise dreams the error in watchings are when men either sleep not at all for a long time or if they do they sleep too little Sleep is opposite to watching if it be too much which comes to passe when it is natural but not absolutely such but longer either from the repletion of the head by vapours and exhalations as in drunkenness or by the consuming of the heat and spirits through too much labour But preternatural sleep is such as doth proceed from a morbifique cause which is a Cataphora or a Coâ—na that is a diminution of the action of the common sense which as it were a wreathing neither suffers the Animal Spirits to be diffused into the external senses nor being entertained by them doth know and judge aright of other objects A Coma is two-fold Coma two-fold Somnolent Vigilant somnolent and vigilant somnolent is that which is oftentimes called an absolute Coma with which disease those that are affected the eyes being shut do sleep sound and too much but a vigil is when the sick have a
Naturall rest in the beginning make the pulses lesser Sleep weaker slower and thinner afterwards greater and more vehement and the slownesse and thinnesse by little and little is increased moreover if the sleep be too long they returne againe to pravity and debility and retaine their sloath and thinnesse when a man is stirred up or awakned the Pulses begin to be greater more vehement swifter more frequent equally indeed if a man be awakned by degrees but unequally and troubled if he be suddenly awakned yet a little afterwards the pulse againe becomes moderate long watchings cause little and weake pulses yet swift and frequent at length the faculty being weakned they become dull and thin Exercise and motion moderate cause great pulses Exercise vchement swift frequent but overmuch exercise cause little faint swift frequent when the use may be increased and the faculty debilitated at length they are little slow and thin Moderate use of baths make great pulses swift frequent Baths and vehement but if they exceed measure little faint swifter and more frequent Passions of the mind As for the passions of the mind anger causeth great pulses swift frequent vehement joy makes great pulses thin and slow moderately vehement but if it be overmuch it renders them unequall and inordinate In sadnesse they are little languishing slow thin feare soone makes the swift pulse vehement Inordinate unequall but they are of as long continuance as those are in sadnesse Immoderate evacuations Evacuations because they debilltate the faculty bring forth pulses like to those caused by a weake faculty But as for those things which happen contrary to nature Preternaturall things how they alter the pulse although they are various yet they change the pulse because either they change the use or affect the instruments or faculty in the first place when the faculty is affected many changes are made of the pulses for whether the faculty be diffolved and weakned by those things which dissolve the Spirits and sollid parts such as are soule diseases great distempers vehement and diurnall greifs fastings too great Evacuations or whether they are burthened or oppressed by plenty of humours or by diseases of instruments inflamations or other tumours the pulses are made lesse in the first place and swift frequent feeble afterwards the least most slow most frequent most faint and at length the faculty being almost prostrated intermittent deficient declining vermiculant formicant all which running through the various kind of affects contrary to nature and principally out of the doctrine of feavers are made more manifest CHAP. XIII What the simple differences of Pulses signifie and presage ALthough from the causes of pulses Great pulses what they signify it easily appeares what every pulse signifies and portends yet that we may add something of each in particular a great pulse although principally its familiar use be in increasing a strong faculty and a soft instrument in those which are sick it signifies a hot disease and a great pulse unlesse it be hindered followes all feavers and it cannot be much dilated with the Artery unlesse the power be strong or at least not weake a great pulse in all feavers is good signe A small pulse argues either debility of the faculty or remisnesse of the use or hardnesse of the instruments and indeed if a small pulse shall be also faint t is a token that its weakness proceeds from a weake faculty if small and hard from the Artery if neither debility nor hardnesse be perceived in the pulse it is an argument that it comes from the diminution of the use whence little pulses with a weake faculty foretell death the rest of pulses that are small for the most part presage long and difficult diseases A swift pulse signifies that the use is increased and the vigour stronge A swift or certainly not very weake whence in those that are sound a swife pulse signifies heate stirred up by motion exercises baths and such like causes which if it be also great the strength is not yet debilitated but in those which are sick a swift pulse signifies a hot disease and is proper to those which are feaverish and if magnitude be joyned therewith itshewes that the use is increased with strength of nature but if frequency be adjoyned without magnitude it shews that the powers are weakned if hardnesse of the instrument the use being increased hinders dilatation that hardnesse is to be perceived by the touch A slow pulse shews Slow the contrary to wit little heate and the use diminished and then it is onely thin and the vigour not firme enough and withall it is feeble A frequent pulse signifies the use to be increased Frequent or the faculty weakned or the instrument hard if it proceed only from the use increased it is not faint nor hard and magnitude frequently goes before and then extraordinary great heat is discovered in those that are sick if it proceed from debility or hardness of the artery that is discerned by the pulse Thin pulses are made either through a strong faculty Thin and a soft instrument or from the use diminished in sound bodies it signifies a cold constitution but in sidk a cold disease and coldness of the heart and that which is contained therein and therefore 't is accounted an ill signe A strong and vehement pulse shews a strong faculty Vehement and if its vehemency exceed the bounds of nature it signifies also great irritation A faint pulse on the contrary Faint signifies powers to be dejected and that either by dissipation of spirits and resolution and then it is also smal and if use hinder not slow or by oppression occasioned by plenty of humours and then the pulse also is inordinate and unequal A soft pulse shews softness of the arterie Soft and moreover in a sound body signifies immoderate drinking or dyet over moistning or a bath or idleness but in a sick a moist habit of the body On the contrary hard pulses Hard. shew the hardness of the arterie and indeed either by extending in convulsions Tumours or by repletion of vessels with humours and wind or by drying as in burning Feavers Hecticks consuming Feavers Quartans and other drying causes CHAP. IV. What the other differences of Pulses signifie presage NOw for the other differences of pulses and first Equality and inequality of that of equality and inequality equality although it shew a fixed disposition of matter yet it signifies firmness of nature and therefore affords the better hope but all inequalities are worse and either signifie obstructions of vessels or compressions or aboundance of humours hindring the force and indeed a single inequality is more dangerous then systematick or mixed whence intermitting pulses in one pulse are more dangerous then intermitting in many if both of them proceed from debility of the faculty Uneven pulses Vnalike stirred up Myouri Dicroti therefore being stirred
that which by mischievous persons hath been done and committed as histories again inform us yet if any one would refer this kind of cause to contagion or infection Imagination we will not contend with him Fifthly The cause is imagination terror and fear and experience hath taught us that some whilst they have beheld those that were infected with the plague or dead of it or seeing some go out of a house that was then infected by reason of too much terror and fear have fallen sick of the plague I have observed the same to proceed from anger CHAP. III. Of Contagion ANd these are the causes by means whereof the pestilent poyson may be generated in the ayr or in mans body yet it often comes to pass that neither the ayr nor evil diet nor any of the rest of these causes have stirred up the pestilence but otherwise from elsewhere being brought into some place by contagion and afterwards by contagion also it is diffused into more places Infection For although there are other diseases contagious also yet the plague is the most infectious of all others Contagion is a production of the like diseased or sickly affect in another body by pollution sent out from a discased body but there are three things required to perfect contagion A contagious body it self that may infect others a disease or an affect contrary to nature which is communicated to another and the body which is infected First a contagious body is that which whilst 't is sick of any disease diffuseth not the disease it self for the actident goes not out of the subject but some of the morbifique cause out of it self and communicates it to another and so in this manner excites the same disease in it For that which is communicated to another from out of a contagious body is not the disease it self but a certain body flying out of the diseased body and received into another having power of stirring up the same in it The Greeks call it Noseras apocriscis and aporroias and miasmata The Latines the pollutions and seeds of contagion and since that we see that such seeds have not only hurtful qualities in the smallest quantities and that they easily insinuate themselves into the body but also they endure a long time and retain their strength entire and they are most exactly mixed and are some way spirituous Infection how many ways it is spread and 't is necessary they should sowe their store of strength by some occult quality But contagion is not scattered after one manner for somtimes it goes out by breathing somtimes through the pores of the skin or in the form of vapours or of sweat and filth adhering to the skin and is communicated to other bodies And this seed goeth out most plentifully from an infected body when the poyson is too strong for nature and overcomes it which happens in those that are dying The seeds of contagion are communicated either by immedidiate contact or by some medium and vehicle This vehicle is twofold ayr and some fewel as they call it Ayr when it receives the seeds of contagion from infected bodies it can carry them to places nigh yea and somtimes more remote places That hath the nature of fewel in it which can receive the seeds of contagion and communicate the same to another which kind of bodies are thin and porous as Flax Cotton Feathers the hairy skins of animals and garments made of them feathers also of birds and birds themselves and it is found out for a truth that those pestilential sparks have often lain hid in the cinders or ashes and it may come to pass that any one may carry the sparks of it about him in his garments and not be infected and yet they being moved and shaked may infect another But the seed of a contagious pestilence when 't is received into a body it brings in that disposition with it wherewith that body from out of which it came was afflicted and that for the most part suddenly yet somtimes it is found to lie hid some days in the body before it denudates it self Thirdly Concerning the body that receives the pestilent treasury although no man can promise to himself immunity from the pestilent venome yet it is certain some are more easily some more hardly infected The cause whereof without all doubt consisteth in some peculiar occult quality of the heart by the power whereof it hath or hath not strength to resist the venomous pestilence yet because the venomous quality is not transferred without a subject out of the infected body into another it will more powerfully insinuate it self if it be received into a body proportionable and like unto that wherein it was generated whence kinsmen are sooner affected then others Yet there are also other things that occasion the more facile reception of the pestilence for such as breath stronger and such as have wide and open pores of their bodies easier take in the seeds of the plague inhering in the Ayr or any place apt to retain it CHAP. IIII. Of the signes of the Plague MOreover concerning the signs Diagnostick signs that I may say nothing of approaching signs desiring brevity but only by what means it may be known we will speak Indeed the plague when many have been infected may easily be known but before many have been overspread thereby there is scarce any pathognomick signe by which it can certainly be known that one or a few being affected are sick of the plague afterwards when more are visited it is not so difficult to be known especially when all sporadick diseases for the most part are silent For first the plague seizeth on many and the most it kills Secondly 'T is contagious and easily given to others and 't is more contagious then any other disease Thirdly by its violence it destroys the strength and principally the vital spirits Whence fourthly when little frequent and unequal pulses are made palpitation of the heart happens lipothymie syncope and great anguish and perplexity altogether Fifthly If the disease be protracted and the venome corrupt the humours evils and symptomes happen of all kinds and the whole order of the body is disturbed Fevers happen divers wheals or pustules buboes carbuncles yet if there are no pushes bubo or carbuncle appear we must not therefore conclude that the sick hath not the plague for it often happens that before they come out and can be drived out by reason of the debility of nature the sick die with the violence of the disease There happens likewise other symptomes of all sorts for when the strength of the body is debilitated by the vehemency of the poyson the humours and spirits are corrupted the excrements are changed and the urine either becomes crude or fully corrupted the sweats are stinking and untimely filthy foetid ill coloured excrements proceed from the belly the qualities of the body are variously changed and there is nothing at all
destruction and yet neither the contagion nor destructive power have attained to the highest degree and many continue well in health 't is a pestilent Fever in particular Lastly if so be many which begin to be visited die and that most every where are infected and that the contagion be spread over remote places 't is the plague CHAP. VIII To what kind of Fevers Pestilent and Malignant ones pertain MOreover since there are three kinds of Fevers To what kind of Fevers pestilent and malignant ones belong Ephemeral Putred and Hectick and again of putred Fevers there are some differences 't is now enquired to what kind of Fevers malignant and pestilent do belong or whether malignancy and pestilency belong to all Fevers or to some certain kind only But we have already determined that there are no Ephemeraes nor Hecticks pestilent and malignant because that in all pestilent and malignant Fevers there are manifest tokens of corruption or putrefaction of humours although that malignant and pestilent humour have likewise a manifest antipathy with the spirits and may stir up a dangerous Fever But all putred pestilential Fevers are continued since the force of the venomous putrifaction is such as that it can easily diffuse it self into all the veins and arteries and may easily corrupt the humours But malignant Fevers in particular so called may also be intermittent as experience sheweth Neither is it impossible that even in the first passages of the body the putrifying humours may acquire some malignity and seeing that in such Fevers the force of the venome is not so great nothing hinders but that Nature may appoint certain excretions at appointed periods Continued pestilent and malignant Fevers are particularly addicted to no sort of them but according as putrefaction happens into this or that sickly preparation so this or that continued Fever is stirred up somtimes a Synocha somtimes a periodick whence various symptomes likewise do arise according to the sickly provision Moreover concerning the differences of malignant and pestilential Fevers The differences of pestilent and malignant Fevers since that in every such Fever there are found two things the putrifaction it self from whence the Fever ariseth and malignity in respect of these also do the Fevers differ For somtimes equally from putrefaction and malignity danger is at hand which Fevers if the putrifaction and malignity be great are exceeding dangerous but if neither the malignancy nor putrefaction be much the Fevers are not dangerous Somtimes there is more putrifaction but the malignancy is not much and then the Fever comes neerer to the nature of other putred Fevers but somtimes the putrifaction is not much but the malignant quality vehement and such Fevers seem to be milde but they are most fraudulent and dangerous Concerning the nature of Pestilency and Malignity although it be occult yet from its effects we may apprehend a certain variety whilst somtimes spots somtimes Measles somtimes wheals come forth somtimes too great sweats somtimes Catarrhs Pleurisies and other evils according to the antipathy which the venome hath with this or that particular part CHAP. IX Of the causes of a Pestilent and Malignant Fever AS for the causes of these Fevers Cause because their malignancy is less then theirs of the pestilence and through this as it were by degrees we ascend to the Pestilence those which are the causes of the Plague for the most part are the same with those of malignant and pestilent Fevers but more mild as principally ayr heaven course of diet and contagion Namely malignant Fevers in the first place do arise from a sickly provision of the body for it ariseth from meat that is bad fit for corruption and very obnoxious to putrifaction whereof Galen may be seen in his book of Meats affording good and bad juice and the humours may be so corrupted in our bodies as that they become venomous of which I have spoken in the Institutions in the second book part 2. cap. 12. Furthermore from common causes likewise namely unprofitable constitution of Ayr as also from the influence of Stars But pestilent Fevers so called in particular have the same causes but more grievous which at length if they are increased produce the pestilence whence Fevers malignant and pestilent long continuing at length turn to the plague CHAP. X. Of the Signs of Malignant and Pestilent Fevers IN the same manenr is it about the Diagnostick signs The Dianostick signs of pestilent Fevers for in a pestilential Fever peculiarly so called the same signs almost appear as in the plague only fewer or more gentle and such Fevers are not so dangerous nor so infectious as the Plague it self But as to the signs of their differences if both malignity and putrifaction be very much the strength will be much weakned and grievous nay the most dangerous symptomes appear If the putrifaction be very great the malignancy little the feverish symptomes which accompany putrifaction are vehement enough but the strength is not so much debilitated But if the putrifaction be not great but the malignant quality vehement the symptomes which accompany the Fever are gentle enough but the strength is exceedingly weakned If the humours only are affected there appear Buboes Carbuncles Imposthumes Spots Pushes and other tokens of putred Fevers if the spirits are much infected these signes are wanting neither is the heat great the strength suddenly languisheth and the sick are troubled with faintings the pulses are unequal weak and languishing and the Fever it self in one two or three days space is terminated by health or death Lastly if the heart be much infected great defect of the strength is present and the sick do not complain of any great heat As concerning Malignant Fevers Of malignant they are very difficult to be known at the first because the malignity often lies hid and shews not it self unless when it take strength wherefore all signs are diligently to be weighed and if any thing be suspected it must be seriously pondered but all the signs of a malignant Fever are greater then those of a Fever and the symptomes which appear are more vehement then those which can proceed from a Fever namely weakness of strength unquietness more anxiety then the feverish heat would occasion the pulse is freqnent little weak or if it seem to be natural other evil symptomes are present the Urine somtimes is like unto those who are in health somtimes thin and crude having in it no sediment or in case it have any 't is more like an excrement then a sediment somtimes 't is thick discoloured troubled muddy having a red and troubled sediment the heat is more milde then the nature of the disease and symptomes seem to afford the face or countenance is much changed from its lively and natural state and therefore by these signs pestilent and malignant fevers may be easily known yet there are other things happen heaviness to sleep watchings diliriums pains of the head