THe great Patron, to whose Decrees and Dictates (right or wrong) the Dogmatists have obliged them­selves to subscribe, is Galen of Per­gamus in Asia; who lived about fifteen hun­dred years past, in the time of Adrian. He was a man doubtless of excellent parts, and very laborious, but took a very indirect course [Page 2] to make a discovery of the Truth of things, as they are in themselves, by bringing them to the touchstone of sound Experience; by making an Analysis or Resolution of Bodies, that their Principles might be laid open, and their Heterogeneities manifested; without which it is impossible for any man to be a Phi­losopher as he ought.

He had a great ambition of writing much, as it plainly appears by those voluminous Tracts that are now extant, besides what are lost; for 'tis reported that he wrote four hun­dred Books in Physick: to what good pur­pose, any discreet impartial man may easily judge. His loquacity hath much affected some men, who count Learning principally to con­sist in variety of Languages, Polylogie, and plausible Argumentations, though deduced from false Axioms. Hippocrates his concise Aphoristical Doctrine, written according to the sincerity and candor of that age, was am­plified and vainly enlarged by his fruitless and frivolous Comments, to a huge bulk, contri­ved on purpose to get a fame in the World, by those that are ready to subscribe to any Posi­tions of Antiquity, for their ease, rather then to Anatomize things as they ought by the Fire, that thereby they may be reduced into the [Page 3] visible parts. So ignorant herein was their great Master Galen, that he never saw either Rose-water or Quicksilver. How much to seek he was in Anatomy, Vesalius hath deliver­ed; who makes it to appear in many places, that he never dissected the Body of man. In the Botanicks, or knowledge of Plants, he hath instructed the World no more then Dios­corides his predecessour, whom he hath plainly transcribed in many places word for word, concealing the Author, sticking in the mire of the four Elements, their Mixture, Qualities, and Temperaments, neglecting the Virtus Che­rionia, Crafts, and specifick properties of Simples. His followers have, and do even obstinately to this day, to the destruction of millions, cry up his method; a tedious way to cure Diseases, but a short one to get money. The two principal Pillars that support this rare Method, are Phlehotomy and Purgation, both of which we can demonstrate to be per­nicious to Humane Nature, destroying more then ever the Sword.

In the knowledge of the Causes, Quiddity, or Essence, immediate Subject, and radical Cure of Diseases, (an incurable Catalogue whereof he hath delivered to posterity) that he was extream blinde, we shall undertake [Page 4] to evince and prove è facto.

All this duly considered, would make a man stand amazed to see how refractorily his Disciples do maintain (to this day) those rot­ten principles in Physick derived from him; and how wilfully they hood-wink themselves, delighting in the darkness of their own erro­neous Tenents, lest they should behold the bright beams of Chymical Philosophy, to the diminution of their own sinister respects.

HElmont a German, was without all que­stion, ordained in these last times by especial providence of God, for the comfort and relief of distressed Man; to be an instru­ment to discover those gross Errours and no­torious abuses in Physick, that have relation to the Life and Soul of Man, committed by those that rested themselves contented to be ignorant with Antiquity, and enjoy profit, honour, and ease, rather then question any thing delivered to them (how false soever) by [Page 5] making a severe scrutiny into the bottom of Nature, by difficult labours with their own hands, and great expence of their purses. This Worthy Man who (we confess) hath in­structed us in the Principles of Philosophy, was omnifariam doctus; one that was very knowing in the Doctrine of the Ancients, ha­ving made a wonderful speedy progress in the Learning of the Schools, as well versed in the Languages as the best Galenist; who, after that he had rolled every stone in the old Phi­losophy, and ran through that Cyclopeodie, or universal Learning, yet could finde no so­lid satisfaction in the natural Causes of things, till he came to Pyrotechnie, wherein he la­boured fifty years compleat, leaving those lying Sophisms that he had imbibed, con­templating things as they were in themselves. Hereby he learnt the genuine beginnings of all Concretes, making separation of them into their fundamental parts; dissolving and co­agulating, fixing and volatilizing Bodies; looking narrowly into the defects, alteration, life, and death of things; extracting, divi­ding, conjoyning several bodies, bringing what was crude to maturation; and promoting natural Causes, by removing those impedi­ments that they could not arrive at their just [Page 6] ends. Hence he dived into the Seminal virtues and properties of things, and was able to give an account of their true, efficient, and natural Causes; bringing to light the Do­ctrine of Fermentation, the Original and acti­vity of Spirits, with the rare Effects of Tin­ctures; and this by Mechanical demonstration of the Fire. This is he that hath plainly de­tected the most absurd perilous Doctrine of the Galenists, proving their palpable ignorance of the Causes of Diseases, and their proper Cures; setting down infallible Arguments to evince how destructive their Bleeding and Purgations are to mankinde; challenging them to make good what he had delivered by visible instances and examples of fact; which they would never come to, nor ever dared to answer him by way of confutation, but by de­nying all that he had proposed, giving him scurrilous and opprobrious language, (as it is their common custom when they have nothing to say for themselves) calling him Fanatick, Innovator, Dreamer, carping at any lapse or Peccadillo in his Writings with aggravations to the height: hating and abhorring to the death all those that stood up in his behalf, na­ming them Hereticks in Physick; and all this gratis dictum, without the least tittle of truth.

[Page 7] Thus hath this worthy man been sleighted, villified, and reproached, for not still conni­ving at those capital Errours in Physick, which they have greedily swallowed down without any scruple, to the ruine of millions. However, let these pittiful Physicians rail at, and calumniate this Heroe, 'tis our duty, who have received so much benefit from him, to acknowledge him our Master, and to main­tain his true Positions, to the utmost of our power against all gain-sayers.

YE have of late made a great stir, though to little purpose and credit, to procure a Power from the Supreme Authority of the Nation, that ye might make a Reformation in this Noble Profession of Physick, there being (as ye say) no visible means left but your selves to compass it. But what was your drift in this? Truly, we believe the first thing, next the enslaving the poor Apothecaries, would have been a total Suppression of those [Page 8] that had opposed your fictitious Principles, false Axioms, and indirect practices in Phy­sick, that then ye might have domineered as ye pleased. But stay a while, we hope the Sage Magistrate will take it into considerati­on, that ye are the chiefest persons that need reformation; and that your Purgations need purgation, they being (as we can prove by matter of fact) not fitting, so uncorrected, to be taken into the Body. We hope moreover they will take notice, that your Bloody course ought to be voted cruel and unchristian, the Life or Soul being seated in the Blood: God having created the Medicines of the Earth, not Bleeding, cutting holes in the Skin, Bli­sterings, and such like butchering Tortures, to cure miserable man. 'Tis true, there are sad exorbitancies, irregularities, and abuses in Physick, but who we pray have been the prin­cipal occasions of them but your selves? who have conjured up such Swarms of Quacks in every place, (who like Locusts eat the bread out of honest Physicians mouths) by your Profane Prescripts? and now you would fain lay them down, but ye cannot; for they are become too potent for you, some of them having so well improv'd their time, that they are like for ought we can see to cast you out [Page 9] of the saddle, and to ride with Foot-cloaths themselves, dealing but deservedly with you. If ye had better practised the Pythagorical Do­ctrine, these things had never been; or had ye delivered your selves, as ye finde fault Para­celsus, Helmont, and other sons of Art did, more obscurely, and Aenigmatically, who foresaw these mischiefs, and endeavoured to prevent them, Physick had flourished to this day in its splendor and beauty: But as ye have handled the matter, every Good-wife, any silly fellow may read your Dispensatory, use some of those Medicines without your method, and sometimes no less success; yea, and may laugh at some of those ridiculous Compositions discovered to them by your trusty servant Culpepper. But all this is no hinderance but a furtherance to encrease your Practice, (as we have heard some of you say) sith these illiterate Ideots do but make work for you. Is it so, but we much doubt it; surely if ye aimed at this at first, to multiply these men to augment Mortalities for your advantage, it was a very wicked Design, not to be endured by a Nation: but if this be fallen out through your incogitance acciden­tally, that these men have brought in the more gain to you, to the detriment and ruine [Page 10] of the people, and simply for this reason, ye desire to be Arnautists, or self-deniers, why do ye (pretending to the Higher Powers a Publick Good) not likewise instruct them in some way, how the indigent Commonalty may be cured better and cheaper; giving us infallible testimonies of some rare Cures above others, and your zealous charity for your Neighbours, by abating your excessive Fees, and by curing him gratis that hath faln into Thieves, like the good Samaritan. And we think it were but just, that they who have gotten such Riches in Physick, as some of you undoubtedly, by the destruction of those that might have been preserved, should Zaccheus-like, impart a portion to those that are distressed. And certainly there is now great need of this retribution, and as the state of things stands, another course must be taken (without this costly Physick) to cure the Poor of the Nation; which if our prudent Sena­tors shall please to listen to, we shall in all humility propose to their wise considerati­ons; beseeching them to consider what sad consequences must of necessity have come up­on a Concession to the presumptuous Desires of these men: How thousands of poor Peo­ple must have neglected the means, and so [Page 11] have run the hazard of perishing, having not wherewithal to seek to these chargeable Doctors for recovery, the Apothecary not daring to sell them a little London Treacle Mithridate, &c. unless authorized by them; as if their Prescripts were able to infuse new Virtues into Medicines. Neither should any have stretched forth his hand to have pulled his languishing Brother out of the ditch, un­less licensed by them.

What we pray should our City have done, if some Epidemical contageous Disease, as the Plague, had reigned amongst us, sith they (according to their Masters Dictates) would all have run out of it: We plainly see the greatest Clarks are not alwayes the best Poli­ticians, for we stand amazed to see such learn­ed Physicians, men so highly reputed for their parts, to carry on such an unreasonable Project, meerly for their own sinister interest, (the Publick good therein being altogether neglected) as to sollicite the highest Court of Iudicature, to confirm such a Patent to them, that they might be sole Masters of their Lives, Souls, and Fortunes, without controulment: That they might Brow-beat, Insult, and Tyran­nize over those that are no whit inferiour to them in worth. Did Ambition, Covetousness, [Page 12] and Revenge so blinde them, that they should think that such wise Senators would ever con­descend to make themselves and People Slaves and Vassals to the insolent lusts of those, who never gave us any proof, pledge, or earnest of their Cures in Physick above many Apothe­caries; who have protested to us, that there were some of these stately Doctors so extream ignorant in materia medica, that they did not know the Ingredients of certain trivial Com­positions presented to their eyes: yea, and that some of their Prescripts have been so no­toriously extravagant and pernicious, that the Apothecary hath been forced to correct them, unless he would have suffered the Patient to run the hazard of perishing.

We confess, the Apothecary in many de­fects and obliquities is not to be excused, however (as Diogenes struck the Father when the Son offended) so we think the Doctor de­serves the lash for not rightly educating and instructing his poor obsequious servant; for we are verily perswaded had they been more discreetly tutor'd, they would have proved better. But hinc illae lacrhymae, this is that which wrings the Doctor, and galls him to the heart, that he should bring up birds to pick out his own eyes; that after so many [Page 13] years sweet congress, and mutual correspon­dence, his Labourer, Drudge, or Excrement (as a Doctor was heard to call him) should now stand in defiance against him, and take upon him to cure Diseases equally with him. And to say truth, a man cannot tell which of the two exceeds; for we are of that opinion, one may pick and chuse, but find never a barrel better Herring. The Servant is now become a Doctor, the Dispencer a Prescriber: Both use the same Method, the same Indications, the like Medicines, and with equal success for ought we can see. Of the two we con­fess, the Apothecary hath for the most part the start of his Doctor, for as much as he not onely knoweth the Composition exactly, and at his pleasure can frustrate both Physicians and Patients expectation; but also being more conversant with the Sick man, can ad­vantage himself more then the other by fre­quent observations, which opportunity the Doctor, partly through pride, and partly through covetousness and idleness, loses. Now good Master Doctor Galen, let us reason a little soberly; have ye not brought your Hogs to a fair market; whether of us (we be­seech you) have been most prudent and provi­dent? ye that have made this noble Science [Page 14] (the Professours whereof Divine Writ hath charged to be honoured) to become a meer mercenary or a meretricious business; a very Trade to get money, an Imposture to serve your own ends, setting up an Apothecary your Emissary and Decoy, to fetch in gainful Practice; or we that have alwayes been tender of the reputation of Physick, and the Lives of the infirm; and for that end have not onely studied hard for many years, beating our brains to do that which is fitting according to Art; but also laboured with our own hands night and day, not without hazard of our lives, and great expences, that we might un­derstand what we do, and do what we ought for the Lives of our poor miserable Patients; that we might alwayes have in readiness those Arcana's, of which the vulgus hominum is, and ever will be ignorant. Had we prostituted our selves and the Art, or taken those indirect courses which ye have done, we are certain we might have been possessours of Riches and Honours equal with you.

'TIs unspeakable how these Galenists have imposed upon credulous men, how by their plausible Rhetorick they have allured them, and made the people willingly to resign their Lives up to their Judgements, notwith­standing all those sad presidents lively repre­sented to their eyes. What fair pretences have they made use of to gull them into their Phy­sick? What a supercillious command have they had over their obsequious Apothecary, to speak for them, to lye for them; yea, and to do some things for them, to the hazard of his Soul; being forced to maintain, and some­times to own all their miscarriages, misde­meanours, and gross aberrations in Physick, or else he, his wife and children must bite on the bridle. These are they that have infused into the people abominable vulgar Errors in Physick, which neither Doctor Primerose, Doctor Browne, nor a thousand like them, are able by the best of Rhetorick or Logick to eradicate, till some notable and eminent Cures [Page 16] relating to their Lives, by degrees, shall con­vince them of the contrary; which is a hard thing to do, because these Mysochymists and haters of truth, have prejudiced them against the Assertors of it.

Great men are not a little entangled in their snares, being lured and caught by their be­witching tongues, by their fame of being great Schollars, well versed in all the Langua­ges, excellent Mathematicians, Historians, Geographers, which are qualifications very laudable, and which we very much respect; but what is all this to a Sick Man that lies groaning upon his bed in a violent Feaver, tortur'd with the Gout, the Stone, the Cholick, the Iliack, haling for breath as for life? What is this mans Learning to him, if he cannot ease him and give him Relief, quatenus a Physician? If after all learned Argumentation, and Elo­quence of the Galenist, some trivial Chymist that hath learnt something by blowing the coals for his Master, shall cure him, without any long preamble; be serious and tell me (as we are all Philautists, and desire self-pre­servation) whether this man (though other­wise not to be justified in his ignorance) be not to be encouraged and to be had in some estimation in any well-governed Land? [Page 17] Consider this therefore Worthy Magistrates, that as ye are the Sons of Adam, ye will al­wayes be prone to Diseases; and doubtless none of you in such a case but will highly prize a man that shall offer, promise, and per­form a Cure for you, above another that tires you out either with none, or false pro­mises.

Great Patriots, be pleased to take notice how they have villified and slandered true Ar­tists, perswading the World falsly, that Chi­mical Medicines (which we frequently use without strict weighing them) were danger­ous, received an Empyreuma, or hurtful im­pression from the Fire; that they did either Kill or Cure in a short time: yea, some of them have been so impudently audacious to assert, That whosoever took Chymical Medi­cines, although he were cured for the present, yet in the revolution of a year it would cost him his life. So that in their fury they have cast into the Kennel out of a very honest and able Apothecary's Shop, a most safe, innocent, and effectual Chymical Medicine, and after­ward have endeavoured the ruine of the poor man.

A quondam noted Galenist, in greatest part reclaimed from their fopperies, and almost [Page 18] got out of that durty practice, protested that he knew a most eminent Doctor of the Col­ledge, that passes for one of the most learned amongst them, that did not dare to venture to give five or six grains of Antimonium Dia­phoreticum, which we can give with confi­dence, security, and good effect, often to thirty or forty grains.

They formerly cried down Oyl of Vitriol by no means fitting to be taken into the body, because it did corrode a Glove, supposing it would act the same in the Stomack. As for Mercurius dulcis, and other Preparations of Mercury, they concluded them all to be little better then poyson; which now they frequent­ly make use of, not scrupling to give it to Children, but we fear to their destruction sometimes, as they order the matter by their method, and a careless preparation of it, which they alwayes referre to another.

Yet it is not long since that a Galenist of great fame did upon some Discourse of Mer­cury confidently affirm, that he knew he could do as much with crude Mercury, as any with it never so well prepared: which he dares not (we are sure) maintain to be true by any visible instance, but spake it meerly out of a Vatinian hatred to Chymical Prepara­tions; [Page 19] which nothwithstanding he and his Fraternity are forced to make use of closely, labouring to pump and fish them out of others.

Now at length finding that they have stri­ved in vain against truth, by their obloquies and false suggestions still kicking against a prick; and finding they cannot obscure the bright beames of Pyrotechnical Philoso­phy, they take now another supplanting course, and of a sudden will all become Chy­mists; but Galeno-Chymists, as monstrous and Anomalous as a Centaure or Syren: and here­by they think to blear the eyes of the world, to make them believe, that their Method sweetens all our sharp Vitriolate Medicines, allayes all our Corrosives, fixes all our Mer­curial Preparations; and in short, makes all safe and sound, which otherwise would be destructive in our fingers. Thus they still juggle with, and delude the world, still pro­tracting and spinning out the time, very un­willing to part with ease, gain, and honour, notwithstanding thousands suffer by their in­direct practice, e're they will come in quietly, and sincerely submit to the truth, for the good of the Nation; although they know at last they must be forced to yield, time bringing [Page 20] that to light which is their principal study to involve in obscurity. For we make no que­stion but that posterity will admire their ob­stinacy herein, and abhorre them for it.

Well, come what will come, for ought we can see they are still resolved to maintain their State and Grandure as long as they can, for their present life, and then let the world hereafter censure them, what care they: [...], as the Greek Poet hath it. Yet it hapned that one of their greatest Donns, being questioned by a Per­spicacious Gentleman, what the reason was, that he ordered something very incongruous in reference to his Patient; and being char­ged home by him, whom he knew would not be baffled, made this express answer; Hang it (quoth he) we are but a Company of Cheats. This was reported to us by a person of Qua­lity, that dares testifie the truth of it to the face of him that spake it.

HE is unworthy the name of a Physician, that in Acute Diseases doth not on the fifth or sixth day after his admission, either make Nature master of the Disease, or else on the sixth or seventh give a positive prediction what will be the conclusion thereof; and that with so much certainty, that he should seldom be mistaken but as a man: For it is a grand ignominy, and an intollerable disgrace, to see a Mechanick to engage himself to bring to pass what he undertakes, and a learned Physi­cian, either not to dare to promise you any thing of a Cure, or wholly to frustrate your expectation. It is no wonder if some men taking advantage of your weakness in this particular, have cast it in our teeth, that our Art is altogether conjectural; and that we do all things therein by hab nab, happy be lucky; hitting the mark with as much uncer­tainty as those people called Andabatae, that fought with one another winking; we wish [Page 22] these Scoffs and Taunts might lie at the doors of those that have justly deserved them.

In Chronick Infirmities a longer time must needs be required to give satisfaction to the Patient concerning his Recovery, the matter of the Disease being many times fixt in the Body, and as it were settled on the lees, the ferment of the parts being either vitiated, or in great part abolished; and the Archeus or vital Spirit being much diminished, the im­mediate instrument of the Soul, by which it acts for our health or sickness, in which every Disease nestles, and is primarily seated and characterized, without the power of which none can be cured; (of which the Galenists have been too ignorant, until such time most Acute Helmont (like a bright star of truth) made it appear) As the matter stands thus, a Phy­sician may very well assume a fortnight or three weeks at most, finally to conclude what he is able to do for his Patient; whether he be capable (as he conceives) to be restored to health, if not, then to resign him up to an­other that may be able to do more: for this wier-drawing course in Physick, to keep a Pa­tient long in suspence, without any relief, (peradventure for some private ends) is to be abominated.

[Page 23] 'Tis a strong Argument of great Weakness or Deceit in a Physician, when in some rea­sonable time he cannot or will not give an account what is like to be the Issue of his la­bours: such an one is to be avoided as the Plague, that is blinde and cannot discover the Mark he is to shoot at; or aims at the Purse of his Patient, rather then the Recovery of his Health. Be advised whosoever thou art, not to suffer him that waits for a Crisis, and can­not give thee in a short time a sufficient Testi­mony of an effectual Cure, to proceed any further; for be assured that a good Physician never looks after a Crisis, (standing still as a meer spectatour while Nature is oftentimes worsted upon unequal terms by its enemy) but with all expedition unroosteth that un­welcome Guest, that hath taken up its lodging in the vital Spirits, wherein the longer it lurks, the more difficult it is to eject; for cunctando crescit, and so at length confounds the Oecono­my of the whole Body: wherefore an Honest and Prudent Chymist, Principiis obstat, falls forthwith upon the extirpation of any malady, whereas the Galenist labours to circumcise and lop off here and there the Branches or Symptoms, lulling his Patient asleep with some incorrect­ed Opiate, mitigating sleight pains by Ano­dines, [Page 24] quenching his Thirst by cooling Iuleps, bedaubing his Feet, Wrists, and Front, with Cataplasms, and the like, to the wearisomness and vexation of the sick Man, without any real casement of his Grief. Hence it falls out that some of our learned Galenists have pro­tracted an Acute Feaver, to the one and twen­tieth day, and that in hope of a Crisis, which we are confident might have been taken down before the seventh. Hereby they hatch up some Chronick tedious languor, which usual­ly follows at the heels of most Malignant Feavers they take in hand, because they never searched the Soar to the bottom, but onely skinn'd it over. Oftentimes do these Botching Galenists bring to light a viperous Generation of Long Infirmities, that might easily have been destroyed at first in Ovo the Embryon, which afterward growing too headstrong for them, elude and slight all their trivial Applications.

And all this they can still do under the no­tion of safe Medicines; when indeed a gene­rous man had better have dyed Caesars death, and nimbly to have been sent into the other world by some precipitate Quack, or ventur­ous Pseudochymist, where he might be at rest, then to crumble and moulder away in a lan­guishing [Page 25] feeble manner; and withal to sustain those torturing and racking Carnifications, by their Blisterings, Cuppings, Scarifications, Cauteries, and Setons, with their loathsome Po­tions, Consuming Purgatives, their severe Cooke­ries, and rigid Diet-drinks, and at length to drop into the pit. Let any discreet man judge whether such Doctors as these deserve a Pa­tent, who have nothing wherewithal to ex­cuse their Homicide, but that they perform it with the fairest Method in the world.

OUr Antagonists raise no small dust, and make no little noise with their Dissecti­on of Bodies, which were much to be com­mended, if they did not spend more time then needeth, rather for ostentation, and to get a fame abroad, then for any notable improve­ment in the Cure of poor miserable Man. For if it savoured not too much of vain-glory, they would rather exercise these operations more privately amongst themselves, and instruct any ingenious Gentleman, that desires to be [Page 26] informed therein, so far as might conduce for his particular satisfaction; and not make a publique Theatrical business of it, for the entertainment of any rude fellows: but enough of that. As exact Anatomists as these men are, we know this for a truth, that the lodging place of Diseases is seldom to be discovered by the Knife; which indeed was boldly at­tempted (though in vain) by an industrious Galenist of late years, who cut up a Pestilent Body, to finde out in what part the Plague did principally reside, to the loss of his own life, perhaps for want of some Arcanum which an Helmontist could have given him.

Anatomy we stand up for, as much as any, without which we are certain a Physician must necessarily be much defective in Physick; in which (we dare say) some of us have bestow­ed as much pains as most of our Opponents: and something we can say without vain-glory, that we were the first that in these parts of Europe have made the Experiment effectually of taking out the Spleen of a Dog, without which he lived perfectly well two years and a quarter; the same being often repeated by others who stiffly opposed it at first. But what is all this to the grand matter in hand, which crowns and gives life to all the rest, [Page 27] that is, to be master of those Remedies which (proportionable to Diseases) are able to tame and subjugate them to the law of Nature? What would it profit to tell our Patients that we had taken the Spleen out of a Dog, if they (afflicted in that part) could receive no benefit from us? what pittiful comforters should we be in such a case?

'Tis true, the Invention of the Circulation of the Blood by industrious Doctor Harvey, is highly to be commended, and gives some satisfaction in the solving certain Phaenomena in Physiologie and Aitiologie; yet we can see the Therapeutick part little advanced thereby, so that many stubborn Diseases are equally as hard to conquer (caeteris paribus) as they were before its discovery. Are your Officinal Me­dicines, on which ye solely depend, any whit more sufficient and powerful to cure now, then before the Venae Lacteae of Asellius, and the Vasa Lymphatica of [...] were brought to light? Or ye (for this reason) better Physicians then formerly, notwithstanding all your ra­king and groping in these uncomfortable dark cadaverous Subjects? surely not at all: if the Spagyrist had not somewhat supplied your want in that which is most necessary; afford­ing you a few more prevailing Helps for your [Page 28] Patients Sanity, then ye ever possessed here­tofore. What would it avail if ye knew the exact site of the smallest string or fibre in the Microcosme, and yet were not able to reduce it, dislocated, into its right place? How un­comfortable to one afflicted with some grie­vous malady, is that Physicians Anatomical Lecture of Mans Body, if he be ignorant in the Anatomy of some Active, Spriteful, En­livening Medicine, that may give him ease. Whatsoever therefore is introductive, subser­vient, and of far less moment comparatively, ought to be set behinde, and have less pains bestowed upon it, then what is absolutely necessary, and doth primarily and immediately conduce to the attaining that End, which both Physician and Patient desire above all things; and such is the Knowledge of Generous Reme­dies, which can never be acquired without Herculean labour: for the hammering out of which, our whole [...] if we should live an hundred years) is too scanty.

'Tis certain, every Mechanick ought to have a competent insight of that Machine, as Watch or Clock, &c. which he goeth about to mend; but if he want Instruments and fit­ting Tools, how is it possible he should recti­fie any great Defect in it: In like manner it [Page 29] behoves a Physician to be acquainted with the Structure and Conformation of this [...], admirable Engine, Mans Body, so far as is needful and expedient, to instruct him in the Reparation and Restitution of it, when at any time it is cast off the Hinges of its Sanity, through any occasion from within or without: But above all it concerns him, to spend the greatest part of his precious time, to bend all his sinews, and to put forth his whole strength, to finde out those powerfull Reme­dies, which are indeed [...], able to re­duce and compose any Ataxie, Exarthresie, or Exorbitance in this lovely frame. Desist then ye vain-glorious Galenists from spending your dayes about impertinent and superfluous Searches in stinking Carcasses, which are ne­ver able to teach you how to destroy the Ram­pant Diseases daily breaking violently into these living Houses, without Pyrotechnical Anatomy, which alone can reclude the Se­crets of Nature, and shew us where every Dis­ease is seated, and by what effectual wayes it may be disturbed, and thrown out of that Vi­tal Light in which it lives and dyes.

CErtainly it was an evil Design at first, and a plain demonstration of idleness and pride in Physicians, when they brake into parts those Faculties, which did formerly, and should alwayes indivisibly reside in one man. We confess Fractures and Dislocations require the hand of a professed Artist, that is through­ly versed in Anatomy and accurate Experi­ence in this kinde; but when Medicines taken inwardly are principally to perform the Cure, outward as well as inward Diseases belong to the Physician, so it may be done to the encou­ragement of the Professours of Surgery; sith honos alit artes: as the matter stands now, it is not amiss for the Surgeon to have a share in the profit, although the Physician hath the greatest hand in the Cure.

We have oftentimes admired the Ignorance of some Galenists, that have not been able to undertake a Whitlow, a Scald, a green wound, a trivial Soar, but have been forced to send them to a Surgeon living remote, as if it no [Page 31] whit concerned them; and as if any one could be a true Physician, and be destitute of that which essentially belongs to his Art. Needs must that Physician be extreamly mutilated in his knowledge, that is to seek to cure a Phle­gmon, an Erysipelas, Fistula, or malignant Ul­cer: For we can confidently averre, and make it evident, that 'tis the inward Medicament that must principally cure most outward Dis­cases, if they be ever radically and to a pur­pose healed, outward Applications being of­tentimes of no effect. Yet we will not deny some virulent Ulcers may to a wonder receive sanation by vertue of Chymical Preparations outwardly applied; as, Balsamum Fuliginis, Balsamum Sameck, the pure Sulphur of Venus, Antimony, and other Minerals, of which none but a true Son of Art can be possessour. But above all is to be extolled, that admirable Magnetical way of curing, which doubtless if rightly improved would work stupendious things; so that some Galenist would presently conclude that there is Witchery, or some su­pernatural means made use of: So blinde and stupid they are in the most needful Phyloso­phy, that what their Brains cannot conceive, they presently reject as Diabolical or impos­sible. Tell them of the Alkahest, or univer­sal [Page 32] Menstruum, of Lapis Chrysopeius, Lapis But­leri, of a Panacaea, they will but deride and flout at it, boldly and presumptuously deny­ing any such thing to be in rerum natura, be­cause their shallow wits being altogether sou­sed and steeped in durty Humours, Qualities, Temperaments, Mixtures, and Contrarieties, never had the happiness to have the least glimpse of the admirable perfections of such things. This we can set down positively as a truth, that that Physician that knows not something of the Cure of Diseases both in­ward and outward this way, is but a meer no­vice, alwayes learning, and never like to come to any perfection in his Art: Let him be never so much applauded for his excellent parts, and great Learning, he shall alwayes be esteemed by the wisest, an Ideot in Phylosophy, alto­gether ignorant of the radical and intrinsecal causes of things.

We doubt not but there is excellent use of Manual operation, where the Knife is to perform the Cure, as in Amputations of parts, Lithotomie, and the like. But we know this experimentally, that both Physician and Sur­geon are too forward to lop off parts, and butcherly to cut holes in the skin; whereas many times this bloody course might be [Page 33] omitted, and the sick person restored in great part, if not altogether, to his pristine health, without mutilation or sauciation; as we could instance of late in a Gentleman, belonging to a Noble man, whose Leg after all their tedious torturing, and frivolous attempts, as, Blood-letting, Purgation, Salivation, Sudorificks, Diet-drinks, Mercurial Applications, and Cauteries, they at length despairing of his Re­covery, advised to be cut off: which God (by means of his poor servant a Chymical Physician) prevented, the Gentleman being restored to his perfect health, and his Limb saved.

It were to be wished, that ye would study to dissolve and reduce into their first matter, those Coagulations frequently hapning; as, Scrofulous Tumors, Nodes, Scirrosities, Ganglions, Wens, &c. without Scarificati­ons and Incisions: but especially to bend your whole strength, to finde out some potent Arcanum (which God no doubt hath created) for the untying and colliquating that mon­strous Product, in mans Body, the Stone, without cruel Lithotomie by a frightfull Knife. Did you not despond to finde, and supinely slight the pursuit of something in this kinde, yea, if ye did not maliciously dis­courage [Page 34] others, without controversie such an Arcanum might have probably been brought to light, able to dissolve the Stone even in the Bladder. But it is enough for you to rest your selves contented with the old profitable way of Perforating and broaching the Body, which if it fail, ye presently protest ye have done as much as Art can; which narrowly examined by a judicious Physician, would perhaps prove very impotent.

How often have ye received credit and ap­plause from the world, when in the Dissection of dead Bodies, ye have found any of the Viscera corrupted, or hard congealed sub­stance; as, stones in the Kidney, Gall, or other parts, justifying and magnifying your selves, that more could not have been done by Art; whereas peradventure at that time ye were first admitted, the Corruption might have been hindred, and Coagulations dis­solved.

Some few years since a Chymical Physician expelled three large Stones nestling about the region of the Spleen, the least as big as a large Turky's egg, out of a Maid-servants Body, by virtue of some Paracelsian Medicines, perfectly restoring her to health, which she enjoyes to this day; whom we are confident if a Galenist [Page 35] had undertaken, he would by his Blood-let­ting, pernicious Purgation, Blisterings, &c. have destroyed, and the cause of her Disease should never have been discovered, unless by accident the Knife had made it appear; which would have sufficiently excused the Galenist, and cleared him as one that did what possibly could be done by Art.

YE make your boast that ye possess (as well as we) your Laboratory, and varie­ty of Furnaces: That ye use Chymical Pre­parations, according to your Method, not as we do, at random. That ye knowing the ill qualities and properties of them, and how hazardous they are, do upon a pinch flye to them, having made use of first other safe Medicines.

These are fair pretences of truth we con­fess, but if we search narrowly to the bottom, we shall easily discover them to be meer delu­sions. [Page 36] As to the first which ye glory in, your Laboratory, we answer, 'Tis not the Labora­tory or specious Furnaces that simply makes the Spagyrical Physician, no more then a vast Library of it self will make a learned Schol­lar. Is there any more in this then a meer pomp and vanity, to have multiplicity of Instruments, and not be able to make use of them according to the true principles of Art. For we dare averre it, that that man that is an enemy to the Doctrine of Helmont, cannot possibly arrive to be a true Chymical Philo­sopher. He may indeed be like one, as the Ape is said to be like a man, and therefore most deformed; Simia quòd similis turpissima bestia nobis, &c. Do ye think ever to attain to this difficult Knowledge by virtue of your Master Galens Rules, who never saw Quick-silver or Rose water? whom incomparable Helmont hath made appear altogether blinde in the true Fundamentals of Nature, not knowing aright the Quiddity or Essence of a Disease, the Cause, the immediate Sub­ject, or place thereof, nor the direct and per­fect Cure of it.

Be not deceived, for it is no such easie mat­ter, as ye would make the world believe, to become a Philosopher by the Fire: lay aside [Page 37] therefore your dearly beloved Galen, who hath made you so rich by the ruine of others, and study Helmont night and day; and when ye have attained some of his Theory, then buy (as he advises) Coals and Glasses. By this means we doubt not but ye will become sound Physicians, if otherwise never.

To what you alledge concerning your use of Chymical Medicines, we may safely, say, it had been happy for the credit of this Art, if none had ever come into your fingers, or been prescribed by you; having so perverted the use of them, partly through adulterate and sophisticate Preparations, proceeding from ignorance, supine negligence, or covetousness; partly through your dogmatical Method, pre­scribing them unseasonably, when ye have suffered Nature to be worried by a Disease, and thrown flat on its back; and exhausted it by cruel Phlebotomy, poisonous Purgati­ons, Blisterings, Scarifications, &c. upon this ye take occasion to maligne, slight, and villifie those Chymical Medicines, which ye either never had good, or never knew how to use. Yet thus much we have observed, when a Pa­tient findes any benefit, 'tis for the most part by virtue of some Chymical Medicine which ye mix (as ye usually do) with your trumpery, [Page 38] meerly to disguise the matter, lest too much respect should be attributed to a Medicament which ye have borrowed from your Adver­saries.

Moreover, let any indifferent man judge, whether it be not a part of the most odious Ingratitude that can possible be devised, for these men to scoff at, to rail against, to calum­niate and backbite them, from whom they have received the best means they enjoy to cure their Patients; without which they had been before now exploded and thrust off the stage of the World with disgrace.

OUr Adversaries object to us, that many ignorant Empiricks make use of Chy­mical Preparations, to the destruction of ma­ny credulous persons: posting themselves up in every corner of the Street, proclaiming themselves to be possessours of great Arcana's, even to Panacaea's, whereby they profess they can work wonders, and cure a Catalogue of Diseases which the Galenists count incurable; [Page 39] but being brought to the touchstone of sound experience, they are found to be meer Impo­stors, empty of all sound knowledge, no whit able to perform any thing proportionable to their promises.

Moreover, they urge that our Chymical Authors are Hyperbolical, or excessive in the praises of their Medicamens, extolling them beyond the activity of the things themselves; and that they frequently set down false Pro­cesses, which when a young beginner first puts to a trial, according to his Authors descripti­on, he is disappointed and discouraged in li­mine, even in the first essay or onset, which is enough to make us censure you Stentors and vain boasters. This we confess ingeniously is not to be denied in part, and we could wish it otherwise; but 'tis the fate of the best things to be corrupted, and 'tis an ill Argu­mentation to conclude any thing to be evil, because some have abused it. For our parts, we utterly disown and renounce these mens actions, condemning their ignorance as se­verely as ye can, desiring they might be sup­pressed, and chastized according to their de­merits. Yet thus much we can say for some of them, that having got some trivial Chymical Medicines perchance from your Apothecary, [Page 40] neglecting your Method, (which many times ties you up so fast, that ye want liberty to use some laudable Medicines for your Patients recovery) they have performed some eminent cures to your disgrace and their own applause; which hath made some admire your great im­becillity herein, to the dishonour of Learning. We know a Chymist that desires no more Practice in Physick to get a competent living by, then those Patients to whom ye cannot make a promise of a Cure after two or three moneths time, whom he would undertake to resolve in less then a moneth. And assuredly to any discreet man this is proof enough, how erroneous ye are in that which chiefly concerns the life of man. For our parts we should think it very strange, and be infinitely ashamed, if any Patient should be cured by the Galenists, whom we have given over, which (we are sure) ye on the contrary part cannot make good.

As touching Chymical Authors, that set you not in express terms the right way to make some Medicines, and likewise prize some more then they deserve, for these we Apolo­gize not: But by your favour, we conceive that many times the errour lieth in you, who want true Chymical Rudiments, and not in them who think it not wisdom (seeing the un­happy [Page 41] success thereof) to set down all things so plain, that an Apothecaries boy may under­stand them. For believe it, if ye had those Philosophical Principles which Helmont hath delivered to the world, these trivial Authors could not so easily deceive you: In him we are sure ye will finde sound Doctrine, and de­monstrable, by which we doubt not to con­fute your false Theorems and Axioms in Phi­losophy. We plead not for any that magni­fie any Preparations beyond what they de­serve, it is enough if we engage our selves no further with you, then wherein the things themselves shall justifie us.

WHy halt ye thus between two opini­ons, and will not come fairly and candidly to give the World an assurance of your sound Practice, which concerns their Lives and Souls, but still equivocate, playing fast and loose, tergiversating, wrangling, and quarrelling about Punctilio's in Physick, assu­ming to your selves a strange Heteroclite or [Page 42] Hermophraditical name, as Galeno-Chymists, invented by your brains to blinde the world; a name altogether inconsistent with a true Physician, who may very well be expressed by two syllables.

Why hath not your Sect yielded formerly to Helmonts fair Proposal, while he was alive, that there might be a final conclusion of these Controversies by matter of fact? (indifferent Iudges appointed on both sides to give their censure) Why do ye not accept of the same at this day, if ye were not conscious to your selves of your owne weakness? What poor shifts and starting-holes have ye found out, what pittiful fig-leaves have ye joyned toge­ther to cover your nakedness, and to wave this fair, necessary, and most evincing way, to dis­cover Truth by Action? Contrary to which, all your Sophistical Disputes, your Paralo­gismes, your Quirks, your Tricks and plausible Juggles signifie nothing; no nor your great Schollarship, not rightly squared and applied to the use and benefit of mankinde, and the charity of your neighbour. Let not therefore any Physignathus, inflatus scientia, supercilious Critick, chattering Linguist, or one that knows how to dispute Problematically and Artificially to deceive his Brother; let not [Page 43] such (we say) who professes and practises Phy­sick, being grosly ignorant of the right know­ledge of things, for the commodity and use of the world, boast or vaunt of his glittering en­dowments in this kinde: but let him rather lay his hand upon his heart, and considering his own emptiness, reflect upon himself, how he hath deceived and been deceived; and at length let him, though a Senior, (for it is never too late to repent sincerely, and be wise to sal­vation) embrace the sound Doctrine of Hel­mont, who will teach him to save mens Lives as he ought.

If any be so ingenious to say, I have done what I can, and I know no other way then Bleeding, ordinary Purging, and Sweating Medicines, and doubt whether there be a bet­ter, and would willingly learn; we shall un­dertake to demonstrate to this man, that which will be very satisfactory to him, and question not to convince him, if he be not notoriously obstinate of his mistakes in this kinde.

NEeds must the Galenist erre in the cure of Diseases, when they are very ignorant of their Causes. Their very Fundamentals and Principles in natural Philosophy being false, as Helmont hath plainly made it appear. What an absurdity is it to take in Fire, which is neither a Substance nor an Accident, to make up the four Elements, and to fetch it from the highest Region, next the Moon, that it might enter into all Concretes: and from these Quaternary Elements to deduce their four Humours, Complexions, and Temperaments, and accordingly to proceed in the Cure of man; bending all their forces to remove Qua­lities, Accidents, and Products of Diseases, lea­ving the Disease it self behinde?

What an erroneous Definition have they made of a Feaver, and therefore it is no won­der if they go unsuccessfully about the Cure; as if there were no more to be done but to take an Indication from preternatural Heat, and [Page 45] so to cool in the same degree, for the restaura­tion of the Patient to his former sanity; ma­king that essential to a Feaver which is but a meer product, depending upon the exorbitan­cy of the Archeus, or vital Spirits?

What errour can be more gross then to maintain, that the natural Heat of the Stomack, by means of the parts adjacent, is able to alter what is taken into it so powerfully, that in a short time even such hard Bodies, as Bones, Iron, and Glass, are dissolved in it, which the Culinary Fire cannot easily conquer; taking no notice that the Stomack of Fishes are actually cold, and yet digest most vigorously. Surely 'tis very improbable that these men should rectifie the indigestion and defects of the Sto­mack, that know not how it performs its office aright. Hence it comes to pass, that they of­ten destroy by their faeculent Medicines the Eucrasie or Tone of that part which ought to be taken into care above any in the whole Body.

Analogous to Fire, they have brought in an Humour called Choller, part whereof they say is gathered into a Receptacle of a Bladder, which overflowing and exceeding (they af­firm) causes the Jaundies, and many other Diseases depending upon that Humour; rec­koning [Page 46] that an Excrement (to be purged out with Rhubarb) that is of most noble use, which no perfect Creature can want, neither Beasts, Fowl, or Fish; ordained by God as a special Balsom, to preserve the Body from pu­trefaction; by virtue of which the second Di­gestion is performed, the Acide juyce of the Stomack being converted into a Saline. Their ignorance herein hath produced many capital Errours in Physick, which would be too tedi­ous to insist upon.

From the Element of Earth they have dedu­ced another Humour called Melancholly, which they have placed in the Spleen, reputing it a part destinated for that purpose; never dream­ing till Helmont divulged it, that in it and the continuate Arteries, is resident a ferment of most admirable use for the Digestion of the the Stomack, which being interrupted through multiplicity of occasional Causes, engender various Diseases; as, Scurvy, Plurisie, Quar­tanes, &c. which they neither know how to cure, nor by their good wills would suffer others.

What a miserable Errour is it in Philosophy to assert, that the Stone in the Kidneys and Bladder is engendred from Phlegme, (which they say symbolizes with the Element of Wa­ter) [Page 47] which Humour by power of a graduated Heat (but where to be found in the Body we know not) is brought to that stony con­sistence; which how to break they are alto­gether unwitting, unless by the knife.

It hath been a common practice to keep their Patients some moneths to Diet-drinks of Guaiacum, Sarzaparilla, Sassafras, out of an intent of drying up superfluous moisture, and imaginary Catarrhs in the Body; as if one of their strong Purges would not more effectually answer that Indication in one day, better then their former course in a moneth. These things Helmont hath plainly shewed to be ridiculous.

Who in his right wits will take these men to be found Philosophers, that attribute the cause of extream thirst in a Feaver simply to Heat and Drought; whereas at the same time a great quantity of cool liquor floats in the Stomack, to some pints perhaps.

They see Hydropick persons abound with great quantity of moisture all over the body, and yet cannot be provoked to sweat; how­ever they never gave us any clear Reason there­of till Helmont appeared.

Infinite have been their mistakes in Nature, and false Hypotheses, to the detriment of [Page 48] mans life, which are sufficiently laid open by that great Philosopher Helmont. And there­fore having given you a little glimpse of these things, that ye may conceive ex ungue leonem, we shall referre you to know more of that worthy Author, who hath delineated and cha­racterized them exactly; from whom we ac­knowledge to have received most part of our Instructions.

DId the World rightly understand what destruction of mankinde hath been made by this Sanguinary way of curing Dis­eases in all Ages, since this prodigal emission of Blood came first in use, (suggested with­out all doubt by that sworn Enemy to man­kinde the Devil) it would (being enraged) ut­terly abominate any such Physician, or such a pretended remedy.

How happy may those Nations be reputed in this particular, (witness their Longaevity and Sanity above ours) whom Nature hath so well instructed, as not to part with this pre­cious [Page 49] treasure of Life, unless against their wills through some violent separation of the connexed parts. And certainly were we but governed by Nature, which intends all things for its own preservation, and never erres therein, unless interrupted or put by its scope through some transverse contingent, we would by no means admit of this Bloody course for a Cure; being sufficiently convin­ced, that this Solar Balsom the pure Blood, called by the Latines (to distinguish it from Cruor) Sanguis, the very Stamen and Subtegmen, the subject and material foundation of Life, is never exterminated or cast out of the Body by Nature, unless extimulated through some ex­asperating and hostile matter that is gotten in­to it. And indeed to let out promiscuously Sanguis and Cruor, good and bad together, which is unavoidable, for qua data porta ruunt, is equally absurd, as to cut off part of the fleshie substance of the Finger, that the Splinter or Thorn therein fastened may be removed; or to suffer generous Wine to run out, that some distasteful and fracedinous odour contracted from the Vessel may be taken off; or that the Ebullition or Effervescence thereof, pro­ceeding from the impetuous Spirits, endea­vouring a segregation of impurities in it, may [Page 50] be asswaged: whereas it is more consonant to reason, to pick the Thorn out of the finger, to impregnate the Wine and Vessel with some odo­riferous fume or liquor, that it may become fragrant and pleasing in smell; likewise to take down the fermentation of the fretting acide Atomes thereof by some artificial means, that is able to lenifie and appease the Spirits, and settle all quiet.

Doubtless the same may be accomplished in mans Blood, (when at any time through some preternatural occasion it becomes tumul­tuous, exorbitant, and degenerate from its genuine goodness) by ridding it of that pun­gitive acidity and cadaverous foulness, which makes it disturbed and restless as long as it remains in it; for omne vivens mortui impatiens esse solet.

And this we are certain an able Physician can effect, being admitted while there is a competent strength, which we are alwayes most careful to preserve and augment, contrary to the tenour of your Practice. For so soon as we have discharged the first and second Di­gestions, of what did burthen and clog them, we either exhibit some potent Arcanum, which upon its first entertainment into the Stomack, doth either pacifie the fury of the vital Spirit, [Page 51] or by its illuminating beams doth disperse the black Atomes that obnubilate the same Spi­rit, that it cannot act for the good of the whole: Or we give some Volatile Alkali, en­riched with the specifick Virtues of fit Con­cretes, capable to be circulated with the Blood into all parts of the Body, being allied to the foresaid Spirit, and symbolizing with it.

These are powerful in Opening, Cleansing, Expectorating, Volatilizing any congealed Blood, invigorating the natural, and correct­ing the preternatural Ferment; extinguishing the acidity of the Latex in the Blood, dissol­ving Scirrous and Tartareous-like matter, with which sometimes the Veins, Arteries, and other parts of Body are as it were pariet­ted. These are Diuretick, Diaphoretick, and Antimalignant mortifying Erysipela's, breaking and profligating Vomica's, or any Abscesses in the Body; and this we can engage our selves to perform, without any notable diminution of the strength, or fear of recidivation, or any dangerous lapse into some Chronick Disease, which the Phlebotomists dares not promise with any security: for it often happens that the Patient is sent Piece-meal to his grave, being (as it were) grated into his first Ele­ments, [Page 52] because his Disease was never rightly mannaged in the beginning.

Now the greatest Plea the Galenists have for Blood-letting, is taken from Plethora sangui­nis, an extraordinary fulness of Blood quoad vasa, or quoad vires, as they call it; that is, when the Vessels are over-filled, or the strength oppressed with too great redundance of Blood; and here they speak equivocally, leaving us to seek what Blood they mean, either that which is properly named Sanguis, the most pure sincere, and sublimest juyce in our Body, in which the Soul is chiefly seated, or that crude (lately rubefied liquor called) Cruor, oftentimes abounding with superfluities and recrements: If they take their Indication of Bleeding from the first, we can confidently upon sound Arguments deduced from some experimental Demonstrations (which we would set down at large, if succinctness which we aim at did permit) assert, that there is no such thing really existent in the Body of man; for never had any man too much of that most vital Balsom called Sanguis, the encrease or diminution of which, shortens or prolongs our dayes; for could there be every way a plenary, absolute, and continuate reparation [Page 53] of the same, our Lives would be protracted to an exceeding great length beyond what they are. This therefore is by no means to be exhausted or squandered away upon trivial occasions, at the unreasonable and arbitrary commands of a desperate Galenist, but to be precisely preserved and hoarded up, as the onely Treasure and Stock of Life.

Well, if they take their Indication to Bleed from fulness of the last called Cruor, then sith this consists of partly excrementitious matter, and partly wholesom juyce, disposed, and in a fair way to be made Sanguis by long Circu­lation, they must necessarily by opening a Vein, let out without any election, the lauda­ble as well as the depraved parts in the Cruor, and its inseparable companion the Sanguis, and all to satisfie one supposed palliating Scope (of little moment in comparison of the rest) an inanition of that which erres in quanto, which being attained, produces more hurt then profit any way; and might easily have been corrected by Diaphoreticks, and those proper Medicines that respect a Quale in the Blood, and cause a free Diapnoe thereof; consuming insensibly (according to Sanctorius his Statica) no small quantity of our Substance in four and twenty hours, sufficient in a very short [Page 54] space with Abstinence joyned thereto, to take down any Athletick habit of the Body▪ so that the principal Indication in this case ought to be taken from Cacochymie, which frequent­ly infests us to our destruction, and that ima­ginary and insignificant plenitude to be neg­lected.

There is we confess something to be said for the defence of immediate derivation of some degenerate Blood, impacted any where, as when in a Phlegmon the Vein contiguous to the part affected is opened, that the faecu­lent: Blood contained therein, oppressing it, may be directly and moderately discharged, that thereby the residue may be more difflable and easie to be discussed: Likewise, when there is some muddy foul Cruor restagnant about the Spleen and Womb, threatning an Abscess or some other malady, &c. in this condition the Opening the inward Haemor­rhoides or Uterine Veins may sometime pro­fit, without dammage to the whole; suppo­sed the Physician be destitute of those gene­rous Arcana's, that are able without any solu­tion of continuity, to reach the part affected, and to conquer the Disease radically, by mun­difying the Blood, and by ridding it of that Thorny, Vexatious, and Virulent acidity [Page 55] of the Latex that oftentimes gets into it.

All this seriously weighed, who would not avoid this Blood-sucking course, and rather commit himself to such a Physician, who, not as a meer illiterate Empyrick or Quacksalver, ventures his Medicine at random, without any sound reason or intellectual notion of what, wherefore, when, and how much of it he gives; but being throughly acquainted with the Diagnôsis of the Disease, is able upon very firm grounds to make a Prognôsis of it, and so to proceed to a Therapeia, according to just, necessary, and direct Indications, accurately designing an Adaptation, Appropriation, and Adaequation of the Remedy to the Disease.

Away then with this detestable lavish Phle­botomy, that hath destroyed more then To­bacco or the Sword together, may it be ba­nished the Court, City, and Countrey, nor ever be depended upon hereafter in this Island, or any of His Majesties Territories, for the cure of any difficult Disease; but let it be con­fined and inflicted as a feral Plague upon all those that delight in Blood, and hate our Gra­cious Sovereign, and all his loyal Subjects.

TIs not without great reason that excel­lent Hippocrates mentions one Aphorisme no less then four several times, [...], that is, If that be carried out of the Body by Purgation that ought to be, the sick man findes himself the better for it, and his spirits more chearful, and better able to bear his Disease; as if he had foreseen the great mischief that was like to come upon indiscreet Evacuation, with deletery Catharticks, which putrefie and colliquate the lately tinged Chy­mus into a faetide and cadaverous substance; whereby some juggling Physicians take op­portunity to impose upon their credulous Pa­tients, that they are in a fair way of recovery, (though they finde it otherwise) sith so many ill Humours, as Choller, Phlegme, &c. are purged out of their Bodies, whereas in very truth not a jot of the morbifick Cause hath been so much as touched.

We have a History to confirm this out of Helmont, & experto credamus, for the worthy [Page 57] Author tells us, that taking his leave of a young Lady, holding her by the hand he caught the Itch; whereupon he sent for two of the most eminent Galenical Physicians in that City, to consult with for the cure of it: who, upon the sight of a Purulent Scab pre­sently delivered their opinions, That there was abundance of Adust Choller and Salt Phlegme in his Body, which occasioned a de­praved Sanguification in his Liver. Upon this account, after they had largely bled him, and prepared the Humour (forsooth) with their fulsom and nauseous Apozemes, containing about fifty Ingredients, with addition of Aga­rick, Rhubarb, every fourth or fifth morning, to the end that this supposed retorrid Choller and Salt Phlegme might be drawn forth, ac­cording to that innate similitude of Substance, that they would fain make us believe is be­tween the Purgative and the Humour; and at length they gave him those virulent Pills de Fumaria every third day three times, which wrought so liberally, that they almost filled two buckets with the foresaid Humours: But hear with what event in his own words, Iam venae mihi exhaustae erant: Genae conciderant, vox rauca, totus corporis habitus concidens tabue­rat: descensus quoque è cubiculo atque gressus [Page 58] erant difficiles, quia genua me vix sustinebant. That is, Thus at length were my Veins emp­tied, my Cheeks fallen away, and I could hardly speak for hoarsness; my whole Body was wasted, so that I could hardly get down out of my Chamber, it being most tedious to me to stir, for my Legs were scarce able to bear me up; yea, my Stomack failed, that I had neither Appetite nor Digestion: and with­all my Itch was as bad as ever.

Thus was this great Philosopher (who at first, setting aside this Cutaneous infection, was found Winde and Limb as we say) brought almost to the gates of Death by this enormous Purgation, who without doubt might have been cured very suddenly, if that true peccant matter, which is the principal occasional cause of Diseases, and is but little in quantity, had been carried off by some appropriate Solutive, and the Miasma which stole in through the pores of the Skin, and there settled in the in­nate Archeus, had been mortified; which course Helmont at last took for his recovery, after he had been macerated, and excarnified by a Hypercatharsis, alwayes accompanied with a Dysphoria and ill effect.

This remarkable Story of Helmont (the same being re-acted many thousand times [Page 59] since) may give men a strict Caveat how they put their Lives into the hands of such despe­rate, persidious Evacuators, who cast men into Purgatory, and yet never expiate the Disease, Assuredly those Physicians that exterminate out of the Body good and bad at random, the Cruor or good Juyce, and the Scoria or Dross, with such uncorrected Catharticks, that are no better then absolute poison, leaving some­times an impression behinde hardly deleble; seldom giving any alleviation, unless (as cla­vus clavum expellit) per accidens, may be very well compared to a mad person, that in clean­sing a foul house, casteth out with the filth some of the most useful Furniture belonging to it. And yet what is more commonly pra­ctised amongst the Galenists, who being con­sulted, do upon the bare inspection of the Urine, frequently and rashly prescribe Bleeding and Purging; the last whereof being best of the two, though bad enough as they order the matter, doth generally more mischief then good.

We speak not this utterly to condemn some moderate Evacuations, both by Vomit and Stool, sith we our selves oftentimes intend the same and make it our Scope; but we never give them so uncorrected as they, to the injury [Page 60] and impairing of Nature: but they are such that are alwayes [...], consentient and com­petent Remedies for the profligatiag the Dis­ease, leaving behinde an Euphoria, an alacrity of the Patient, and an abatement of the Infir­mity according to his capacity.

Neither do we depend upon Solutives sim­ply, as sufficient to cure any difficult Disease, but having often that most excellent Rule of Hippocrates in our thoughts, [...], that is, to carry the Morbifick mat­ter that way Nature is most enclined to send it our, supposed the passage be commodious. We never give any Purgative Medicine, but the same is Diaphoretick, Diuretick, and Expe­ctorative: For whereas your Catharticks are often pernicious in malignant Feavers, as the Pest, Small Pox, Spotted Feaver, and the like, so that the Archeus being distracted upon the admission of such an unwelcome guest, leaves the propulsion of the malignant matter, and bends all her forces to conflict with the late received poison, whereby it comes to pass that the venom of the Disease, which before tend­ed to the Peripheriae, or outwards parts of the Body, hastens forthwith to the Centre, and there fixes upon some of the noble Viscera, [Page 61] We on the contrary can safely exhibit, in any of the foresaid Diseases, some Medicament that may rid the first Region either upward or downward of trash and trumpery, which encumbers it there; and at the same time both kill and drive out the Venom to the ex­tream parts, and grand Emunctory of the whole Body the Skin: questionless he that omits this last principal intention, shall sel­dom cure any Feaver, or any other Malady as he ought. And indeed it is most happy for us that what Hippocrates faith is most true; [...], That is, our whole Body is porous and transmeable, especially our Skin: for did we not freely breathe out those hurtful Atomes, that are engendred within, and likewise insinuate into us from without, we should perpetually be obnoxious to Fea­vers, and other horrid Diseases, that would quickly destroy the World; for never did any one recover of a Feaver, but by Transpi­ration either sensible or insensible; which ought especially to be regarded by all legitimate Physicians, that they may labour vigorously with their own hands to have in readiness such noble Arcana's, that may reach the sixth Di­gestion, and there joyn with the Archeus, to extinguish any malignity, to difflate and dis­sipate [Page 26] the gross Peritomata, and virulent Excre­ments therein contained. He that is ignorant herein, may as well presume to cure the sting­ing of a Scorpion, the biting of a Viper, or Tarantula, by Purgatives, as with any assurance to heal most Infirmities that are predominant among us at this day. For very many Dis­eases have in them that [...] of Hippocrates, something of a more spiritual and invisible Nature, then to be carried off by gross Pur­gatives.

Hath not the Apoplexie (that destroyes a man in the twinckling of an eye) something in it like the poison of a Basilisk? Is there not in the Palsie something of the stupefying Nature of the Fish Torpedo? Have not some Plagues destroyed men suddenly like some Mephitical or pernicious Damps, arising in the subterranean and deep caverns of the Earth, which happens to those that dig in mines? Questionless the Letharigie arises from a poi­son analogous to Opium or Hyoscyamus. The Itch may be compared to the venom of Cowich, The Spots in Feaver and the Scurvy, to the biting of Fleas. The small Pox to some viru­lent Epispastick; and the Measles to Nettles or Gnats.

There is sometimes engendred in our Bodies [Page 63] an nitrosulphurous matter, that may be compa­red to Gun-powder, which puts us as it were in­to a flame, and would quickly shatter us in pieces like a Granado, were there not free vent for its expiration through the pores of the skin. In a Gangrene, the part is mortified as if some potential Cautery were applied to it. What a strange poison is there in the Rickets, that often makes an Exostosis, and bends the Bones of Children like a bowe? But most prodigious is that poison in Plica Polonica, that in one night doth so complicate and con­tort the Hair, that all the art of man cannot untangle and unsnatle it; which if you at­tempt to cut off with a pair of Sciffers, a large Haemorrhagie or flux of Blood present­ly follows, to the hazard or ruine of life.

Many more Diseases in this Microcosme might be instanced, that do manifestly express a poisonous Nature of affinity with those in the Macrocosme; but this may suffice to con­vince those men of most palpable ignorance, that think the common course of Scouring the Body with ordinary and deletery Laxatives, is sufficient to cure most Diseases that consist of so subtil and almost immaterial substance. It is as possible to hinder the Magnetick Ope­ration of the Loadstone upon Iron, by the [Page 64] interposition of a piece of Lawn, as to be able to cure the foresaid Diseases by faeculent col­liquating Catharticks. Certainly that can­not be an appropriate and adequate Remedy, that is not in some degree proportionable to the Disease, as it is more or less graduated and sublimed in its activity: For let us take into our contemplation, what an inconsiderable thing in bulk is able from without to discom­pose, and disorder the whole frame of our Bo­dies, turning them as it were topsie turvie in a trice.

In what a minute subject matter doth the poison of a mad Dog, a Viper, a Tarantula re­side? of what little moment is it in bulk to our eye, and yet how admirable are their ef­fects to our speculations? Sith then Venoms no whit inferiour to the forementioned, are oftentimes produced in our Bodies, being ex­alted to that degree of malignity, that they sometimes destroy us solo intuitu et radio, how sollicitous and sedulous should we be to enquire after such Antidotes, which the great Creator hath ordained, equivalent to their poisons; that may be able with as much cele­rity and vigour to preserve and restore us, as the other to pessundate and destroy us.

This undoubtedly might be compassed by [Page 65] industrious and learned labourers in Chymi­stry, did not these obstinate Galenists (who alwayes stick in the mire of their stercoreous Purgatives, as, Scammony, Colocynthis, Agarick, and Rhubarb, utterly to be sequestred from the Body of man so unprepared, (as is evident through their whole Dispensatory) and never to be made use of so crude and hostile to Nature by any Son of Art) discourage and disparage us, and take off the hearts of Princes from favouring us, by falsly tradu­cing this Honourable Science, and the Pro­fessours thereof.

THat Sentence, Contrariorum contraria sunt Remedia, is generally taken up by the Galenists as a certain Rule, by which they pre­sume to abate or remove most Maladies; but with what little success, and what little verity there is in it, may easily be obvious to any intelligent Observer, that hath but seen a Feaver directly cured. What destruction hath been [Page 66] made of mankinde by this one Position, to which they have adhered most superstitiously, (though altogether false, having, as Helmont hath proved, no absolute being in Nature) is unspeakable. How many Orphans and Wid­dows have reason to brand with a Curse this one Sentence, whose Parents and Husbands might have survived many years, had not their Physicians taken a contrary course to cure them, and thereby sent them packing to the Grave? Some of us could relate notable stor­ries not long ago acted by them in this kinde, which for brevity sake we shall now omit. For the first thing they usually declaim against in a Feaver (when they have got a Patient in a hopeful way of recovery out of our hands, by their insinuating close wayes) is, that our Me­dicines (if they finde that they be spirituous, active, and strike upon the Nostrils any whit strongly, or affect the Tongue by their Lepto­merie and subtil penetrative Atomes) are too hot (forsooth) for the Disease, and endanger the inflammation of the Blood, causing thirst, &c. whereupon, having by their smooth elo­quence possessed the Patient with a dislike of such Remedies, they presently fall upon (ac­cording to the foresaid Maxime) the prescri­bing of cooling Juleps, P [...]isans, Emulsions, [Page 67] Decoctions saturated with crude Herbs, un­corrected juyce of Poppy, and the like, hardly allowing them a draught of small Beer, but by no means any Wine; whereby it comes to pass that the Tone and Ferment of the Sto­mack is subverted, Transpiration hindered, the Malignity detained, the Blood made re­stagnant, the Vital Spirits depauperated, lo­sing their activity and force, becomming tor­pid and careless to preserve themselves, and the Morbifick matter more tenaceous; and at length perhaps the sick Man rid of his Disease, and laid cooling in the Church-yard.

Were it not far better to trust in a Feaver to a Pepper or Mustard Posset, a Decoction of Carduus Benedictus, Aron, and Horse-raddish-roots, that quicken the Archeus, strengthen the Stomack, rarifying and cleansing away the febrile, gross, viscous matter by Urine and Sweat, then to such dull, destructive, and mortifying Iuleps of the Galenists, given ac­cording to the pernicious Rule of Contraries? How do these men neglect the saying of Hip­pocrates, Naturae (that is the vital Spirits prin­cipally) sunt morborum medicatrices, when they will not support and invigorate them with a little Spirit of Wine, (with which they symbolize above any thing) because it con­spires [Page 68] with the Feaver, and so too hot; not considering those qualities of Heat and Cold are but Products and Consequents of the Disease, which being removed, there present­ly follows a cessation of them in an instant: so that it matters not whether the Medicine be Hot or Cold, so it eradicate the Malady, which irritates and exasperates the Archeus, that it is impatient till it have shut out such an unwel­come guest; and according as it makes several Assaults and Onsets upon the occasional Mat­ter, so it varies in those momentary and tran­sient qualities of Heat and Cold in the extream parts; which are but insignificant in compari­sion of that which is primarily to be looked after, the enabling and advancing the enor­montick power of the vital Spirits, to pro­fligate the Disease; which can be done no better way then by spirituous Liquors, which whosoever denieth moderately and season­ably, for fear of some small inconvenience, which the violation of the Maxime of Con­trariety may induce, may very well be repu­ted a pittiful ignorant Physician. For we are able to make it appear optically, that Wine (as it may be ordered in the hands of an Artist) is able to conquer many very acute Feavers, even that they call a Causus.

[Page 69] The same reason they observe for the curing of Diarrhaea's, Lienteria's, Gonorrhaea's, Vomitings and Haemorrhagies, making use of Astringents and Corroboratives, that may diametrically answer the Laxity and weakness of the parts, whereby they many times constipate in the Body, and as it were wedge in that which Na­ture went about to extricate; whereas any but a daubing and palliating Physician, would aim at the extirpation of the original Cause of these Effects; which being once expedited, all the Products, Symptoms, Phoenomena, and Epigenomena cease immediately. But to be short, for I must but touch upon these things, 'tis no wonder and these men take a contrary way to heal Infirmities, sith they have alwayes been and still continue so contrary and oppo­site to the most sound Pyrotechnical Philoso­phy, stiffly holding fast their opinions (we fear) with one of their great ones, who swore in another case, se nolle persuaderi etiamsi ali­quis persuaserit: That he was resolved not to be convinced that he was in an Errour.

WHat invalidity and impotence to heal Infirmities there is in their Preparati­ons in general, set down in the Pharmacopoea Londinensis, as a pattern and rule for all their Servants to follow, is obvious to any one that hath made a considerable progress in the The­ory and Practice of Physick, so that he be not prejudicated and carried away by sinister re­spects. It would require a long time to scan and set down at large those Nonsensical, Ridi­culous, Improper, and Languid Medicaments they have ordained for the help of man: We shall onely compendiously give you a Glance of some of them. We finde throughout their whole Dispensatory these remarkable Errours inseparable and common to all their Pre­parations.

First, we observe a great Defect in the Ana­lysis, or opening the body of any Concrete, that its Crasis or purer part may be obtained; so that what they give is very little of its Vir­tue, separated by halves, or drowned and swal­lowed up with the Scoria, Faeces, and Excre­ment [Page 71] of the whole; so that it is impossible it should explicate its activity as it ought.

Secondly, we observe what a Congeries, Cento, Linsey Wolsey of Simples they jumble and clutter together, to some scores, without any reasonable symbolizing contexture or congruity, looking more wayes at once, then ever Argus his eyes, but still from the princi­pal mark; clashing, conflicting, and at greater hostility with each other, then ever their sup­posed contrary Elements; whereby they ca­strate and rob many a single Ingredient (by this confused Hotch-potch) of its eminent Properties, which being duly prepared and applied, would do a Physicians business.

Thirdly, we cannot but especially take no­tice and condole the ineffectual, frivolous, and vain Corrections of those virulent and poi­sonous Concretes, which they take into many of their Compositions, thinking it enough to adde to them a little Anniseed, Ginger, Cina­mon, or some Gum, with the like, onely to disguise and palliate, no whit to mitigate the violent Powers of those things that are of themselves destructive to our Nature.

'Tis strange they should be so wilfully igno­rant, in making no scruple of prescribing ten or twelve grains of Scammony, and little less [Page 72] of Colocynthis, manifest poisons so uncorrect­ed, and yet startle at, and are very nice to give four or five grains of Antimonium Diaphoret. whose supereminent Purgative operation is ta­ken off by virtue of a Spirituous Salt that puri­fies and fixes it in the Fire. But 'tis the cu­stom of these Polypragmones to busie them­selves about impertinencies, and to neglect matters of greatest weight, stumbling at a straw and leaping over a block, straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel, superstitiously precise in the regulation of the Patients Diet, over punctual in the contrivances of Slibber­sauces, and withal to offer him pestilent and lethiferous Medicaments, which they are not at all sollicitous to correct. If such be not ig­norant in their Art, we would willingly be in­formed who are? that neither know how to make a good Medicine, nor how to order it in every respect when they have it, as we can make evident.

It cannot be denied but that the best of the Remedies in the Dispensatory are Chymical, for which they are beholden to us, and these (we assure you) are of the lowest Tribe and meanest trivial sort in comparison; neither are these free from being sophisticated through inadvertency of some, and covetousness of [Page 73] others, nor are they at the best such as they might be exalted to in the hands of an Artist. We shall instance in some few that are fre­quently used: Who, but such as are supine, and indifferent whether they kill or cure, would suffer the flowers of Brimstone to be so slight­ly prepared, that we can see little difference between it and the vulgar finely powdered? whereas if it be Pyrotechnical handled, four or five grains sublimed shall effect more good then a dram of the ordinary.

The most usual, safe, and best Vomit (in their account) is borrowed from Antimony, cal­led Infusio Croci Metallorum, and yet this acts but uncertainly in the carrying off the morbi­fick matter; for wanting its due alteration and correction, it causes sometimes no small dis­commodity in malignant Feavers; moreover, their Method will not suffer them to use it aright; not knowing when, how often, nor to whom it may be given with any confi­dence, that an Euphoria or alleviation may follow: and the reason of their hesitation therein, is their often being frustrated in their intention, and some sad consequences that have come upon it.

They have taken into their Shops another Vomit called Mercurius vitae, which we won­der [Page 74] they would ever venture to admit into a Catalogue of their safe Medicines, with a —&c. sith they alwayes heretofore railed at it, and are not yet absolutely reconciled, calling it Mercurius mortis: Some of them having had ill fortune with it, because their shallow wits understand not the right process, the just dose, management, and use of it, which a Mountebank or Quacksalver is better ac­quainted with (to their disgrace) then they; for by vertue of this common Vomiting Pow­der, many an illiterate Empirick hath gained no small reputation in conquering those stub­born Effects which baffled them, and were believed incurable. Now (setting aside the abuse of the thing) if Mercurius vitae meanly prepared, and extravagantly given by Ideots, be able to do such rare feats in Physick, what think ye might be done by it if graduated, ex­alted, and perfected in the hand of a learned well experienced Chymist, that utterly re­nounces the Galenical Method?

In Feavers and Agues they cannot but con­fess that they are much obliged to us for the discovery of Oyl of Vitriol, which doth them the best service therein of any one thing they possess, for the extinction of the thirst, and allaying the Ebullition and Effervescence of [Page 75] the Blood; not by cooling, as they grosly imagine, but by comforting the natural fer­ment of the Stomack, and by correcting that Alkalizate, Exotick, and putredinous matter therein. How difficult it is to procure this Medicine legitimate (and without exceptions) from the Shops, let any Euchymist that hath laboured with his own fingers herein be judge? For as those directions they have set down for the drawing it over are very ordinary, and much inferiour to the more sublime way, so likewise their use and application thereof is very suitable; for the Prescription of it is many times as absurd, and to be derided, as their ordering of four drops of the Spirit of Vitriol in the composition of Electuar. Sassaphr. consisting of two pound of Sugar and other Ingredients.

How poor, jejune, and barren is the Prepa­ration of Pearles and Coral with Vinegar, that doth but onely superficially divide them, and as it were pulverize them into small parts or atoms, not at all penetrating them Centrally and Essentially? What dull Preparations of Mars have they set down, more becoming some Feminine Practioners then such learned Doctors?

Mercurius sublimatus dulcis, and Praecipitatus, [Page 76] are now exhibited by some of them, for the Cure of knotty and stubborn Diseases, as, Lues Venerea, and the like, but after a deal add, niceness, and scrupulosity, they were loth to venture upon them, till some confident Surge­ons lead them the way, and taught them a bet­ter Method then their own, to destroy these Hydra-like monstrous Diseases, that have of late sprung up among us.

How strangely blinde most of them have been in the [...], or manual tractation of Mercury, may appear by a Galenist, who bit­terly enveighing against Chymical Remedies in the presence of a Spagyrist, by whom when he was questioned, why he did then prescribe Mercurius dulcis, as appeared in one of his Prescripts upon the File, and being convinced of the truth thereof, and how it was a Mine­ral, protested he verily thought it had been a Vegetable, and had its original from the Herb Mercury. Hence we may learn how perfuncto­ry and drowsie many of these Prescribers have been, and what little inspection and scrutiny they have made into that which is deservedly reputed by all Hermetical Philosophers, a mi­racle in Nature.

Thus they credulously rest themselves con­tented, trusting to other mens Eyes and Hands [Page 77] in things concerning Mans Life, thinking it sufficient if they can get by roat the bare Names of some Paracelsian Medicines, though they neither know the facture of them, what they give to their Patiens, nor how much, nor when, as they ought. For did they take pains themselves, they would quickly discover that these Mercurial Sublimates and Praecipates in the Shops are very imperfect, compared with those that an Adeptus is able to produce.

HAd not kinde Nature provided some better means and more forcible Helps for the poor Diseased, ready to his hand, then the Galenist, he had been at a very sad pass. How many by virtue of these Mineral Wells have been restored, that have been brought to a very low ebb by Ill Physicians, having run through a long and irksome course of Physick, even to desperation?

We are apt to believe, that those that lately endeavoured to Engross all Physical Practice [Page 78] into their own hands, would by their good wills likewise have prohibitted the admirable use of the Waters, unless to whom they should have prescribed them, that their Method might have gain'd the more credit: For we are per­swaded that they looked upon the Waters with as Envious an Eye, as ever they did upon our Chymical Preparations; (although they have been forced to make use of both upon a pinch) and why? Because when all their costly Compositions could do no good, some few Draughts of a Cheap Mineral Water hath done the business. Which thing may very much plead for the rare Effect of Minerals (which they have so declaimed against former­ly) were not the Dogmatists perverse beyond expression. One would think they should not so long with such Heat have contended against them as dangerous, scarce allowing them a place in the Apothecary's Shop, after so many visible Experiments of their Sanative Property, to which they have been beholden at a dead lift.

Had they not minded their own, more then the publick good, they would have observed Nature, and contrived by Art those Medicines, that might at least have equalled, if not excel­led, what she was pleased liberally to afford [Page 79] us out of the Bowels of the Earth for our comfort.

Who, that had not been lazie and supine, but would have found out e're this a Succeda­ [...]eum to Natural Martial Liquors, that so pow­erfully rectifie the Spleen, and open the tuff Obstructions of the Hypocondries, cleanse away any Sabulous Synagma, and gross impu­rities from the Kidneys, takes off the Acidity of the Serosa Colluvies, and corrects the noxi­ous Aspect of the Womb, pacifying and a­mending its furious exorbitance? Were it not much for the repute of Physick, to have alwayes in readiness (at all Seasons of the year) some such Artificial Preparations con­tracted into a small bulk, (proportionable to the foresaid Natural) answering the like In­tentions, that thereby the Patient might save the labour of a long journey, and the Exces­sive Sumption of crude Water to his prejudice sometimes?

What cannot a good Menstruum friendly to Nature, free from Corrosion, do in this kinde? that is able to reserate those secret Active Virtues that are fast locked up in Met­tals, and bring them to light. By this means the Primum Ens of Minerals may be discover­ed, and their Sulphurs extracted, which are [Page 80] able to perform wonderful Cures in the hand of an Adeptus.

If the Esurine Salt of Sulphur Embryonate lightly touching a Vein of Iron or Copper, and therewith imbued, is able to exert and express such powerful Efficacy in Healing within and without; ought not this to excite any indu­strious man to follow the footsteps of Nature, to observe the beginning and progress of her Motions and clandestine Working in the in­nermost parts of the Earth; and accordingly to imitate her in dissolving either of the fore­said Mettals, by an Appropriate Saline Liquor, that is able to penetrate them Centrally. If ye took pains herein as ye ought, many a calami­tous Disease might be overcome in the begin­ning, which through delay and procrastinati­on becomes incurable, before the Patient ar­rives at the Mineral Waters.

It was not without Reason that a famous Empirick did cause an Esurine Water every other day to be fetched fresh, which he made use of as the best Liquor to receive and con­vey the Virtues of Concretes; which may be a fair president for you that are destitute of better Remedies.

And sith ye will not vouchsafe to foul your own fingers about matters of so great moment [Page 81] concerning the Life, shew your selves so far desirous to do Righteous things, as to put in practice what Nature, or some laborious Ar­tist, shall offer you prepared. For our parts, few of us depend upon these Mineral Foun­tains, having wherewithal to supply the wants of our Patients, and to procure Sanity at home: and we conceive that [...], that is, some Vinous Spirituous Liquor, a surer, safer, and more expedite means to overcome a fixed Disease, then [...], the pouring in a great quantity of raw Water, not without some in­convenience, as we have known, though pre­scribed by a most Exquisite Galenical Me­thod.

But the Offence in these Esurine Waters is far more Venial then the frequent Oblation of Aqueous and maukish Iuleps in Feavers, sine Sale, aut Sole, without either Spirit or Life; as Unsavoury and Torpid as the Authors that Dictate them, who with as much Judgement and Reason prohibit those the use of Salt, that are inclined to the Duelech, Stone, and other Troubles, which we are certain is most effectu­al to prevent them. Doubtless it is far bet­ter if opportunity be offered, to take a journey to the Wells, and to drink moderately of those Esurine Waters, abounding with Saline Cor­puscles, [Page 82] then to be obliged to take the dull Drench-like Potions of the Dogmatists, more fitting for a Horse then a Man; for those be­ing of thin parts quickly pass through, and carry with them some Peccant Matter, sel­dom leaving any great evil Impression be­hinde: but these being gross and muddy put the Expulsive Faculty to much trouble to dis­charge them, leaving many Faeculencies and Grounds behinde, and thereby debilitate the Digestion of the parts.

Now our faithful Advice in general to such as drink these Mineral Waters, is, that they first take some proper Emeto-Cathartick, that may cleanse away any filth lurking in the Stomack, Guts, and Mesentery. Secondly, That they begin with a small quantity at first, and so rise higher by degrees, according to the capacity of the person; alwayes taking af­ter the Water that which may rectifie its Cru­dity, corroborate the Ventricle, and other parts, stir up and encrease the Vital Spirits, further­ing the Water in its operation. Thirdly, that the Diet be very moderate, alwayes gratifying the Appetite, offending rather in Liquid then Solid nourishment; and here generous Wine taken soberly with discretion, cannot but pro­fit and produce many good effects.

IT is a hard thing to strive against the stream of a vulgar Opinion at any time, but espe­cially when countenanced and backt by men of eminent Knowledge and Fame. Nought in this case save somewhat of a Miracle, is able to undeceive those, that have obliged themselves to an implicite Obedience, and indis­putable Belief of whatsoever their admired Pro­fessours shall deliver, conceiving what proceeds from their mouths must needs be Oracular. Such reverence doth some mens Authority carry with it, that they need not take pains to invent Arguments, where an [...] puts the matter out of doubt. Indeed we much approve of this in Religious Matters, but can by no means allow it in Humane Arts and Sciences, which ought to have something of Demonstra­tion to confirm the Truth of them.

What Difficulties some of us have under­gone to perswade some prepossessed against us, (that have imbibed the Exitious Precepts of the Galenists) to admit of those Chymical Re­medies [Page 84] (which we knew would save their Lives) is well known to those that have been made sensible of their Errour herein. For the very name Chymical did sound so Deadly in their ears, that many in those places (where we practised) did apprehend, that he that dealt in such Medicines had a design to destroy them; and that he was to be avoided as a Necromancer, or one that busied himself in some unlawful Art: So that if prevalent necessity had at any time forced them to take these Preparations into their Bodies, they were even sick with conceit; and we had more ado to cure their Misapprehensions and Crazie Fancies, then their Diseases. Yea, now and then all our Eloquence and best Reasons could not prevail to perswade them, that what we had given them was innocent, leaving no ill effect behinde; and that they were perfectly resto­red without Relapse. Now their scrupulosity principally arose from this ground, (besides what the Dogmatists had infused into them) because we performed our business with quick­ness and dexterity, without those large Pur­gations which they had been formerly used to. To satisfie all these foolish and frivolous Doubts, which their great Doctors had buz'd into their ears, took up no little time and pati­ence.

[Page 85] Now, these things considered, have not the true Chymists been put to a very hard task, to conflict with a sworn Enemy the Galenist, a peevish, prejudicated, unruly weak Patient, and a predominating Disease. What, but Omnipotent Truth, could ever have brought this Despised and Exploded Art into any Esti­mation, that the Professors thereof should dare to look any Opposer in the face, and defie what he can openly object against it.

Magnarum us (que) adeò sordent primordia rerum. The greatest things have but minute and con­temptible beginnings, attaining perfection by degrees. Never was any excellent, useful In­vention brought to light, inconsistent with some mens Interest, but presently there emer­ged malicious Zoili, or proud Emulatours, that contrived how they might strangle it in the birth, by defamation and false suggestions.

This course the Galenists took in the Infancy of this noble Science, crying it down with all might and main, conjuring the world that they should avoid all Chymical Medicines as most dangerous; damning them all without distin­ction. And when they saw they could not maintain this falsity long, e're some Benevo­lent Patients that had found the contrary by experience, made it appear otherwise: Then [Page 86] missing their aim here, they inserted this Hy­pothesis, If they be not well Prepared; as if any Artificial thing could be innoxious if not well prepared; for even our common Food not well ordered may be dangerous to us; and a nasty Slut may poison a man, and verifie the Proverb, God sends meat, and the Devil sends Cooks.

Who that argues for Spagyrical Medicines doth not take it for granted, that they ought to be made by an Artist? Will ye never desist from diminishing the worth of a good thing, because some have abused it? Is Chymical Physick in express terms (without equivocati­on) any whit dangerous, unless depraved by you and some illiterate Pseudochymists? How is it likely that ye should ever make an appro­ved Chymical, that never made a Good Ga­lenical Remedy? Whose are most saving, and consequently safe, yours, that are either like Chip in Potrage, or else hazard the producing some mischief; or ours, that according to the capacity of the Patient (due circumstan­ces observed) acts as infallibly for his wel­fare and preservation, as Fire burns and Water moistens, from a Power of its innate gift, that the great Creator hath bestowed upon it.

You would do very well to reflect upon [Page 87] your Dispensatory, wherein (except some few Chymical lent you) all your Preparations ei­ther omit to do what they should, or commit what they should not: And certainly these are dangerous per se, supposing they be made ac­cordingly to your best Art. If ours offend it is but per accidens, because those Requisites set down are neglected to make them such as we intend them.

For Example and Experience, which is the true Touchstone that must discover us: Let any of you in perfect Health pick out of your formal Apothecary's Book, stuffed full of su­pernumerary Preparations, the most Safe and Active of them, that do you the greatest service, to the number of ten; weigh out the known Dose of any one singly, with the strict­est curiosity you please; take each of you the same into your own Stomacks, and repeat the Dose as often as ye dare; and so proceed like­wise with another, and so on to the residue of the ten: When ye have acted your parts, we likewise (every way sound) selecting ten of our Arcana's, will swallow down (without trusting to the Scales) a sufficient quantity of any one (that may be most suspected) which we com­monly exhibit to the Sick for their recovery; look how often ye have taken of each of your [Page 88] ten, so often will we iterate or duplicate the sumption of any one of ours. And then let any indifferent person judge who bears their Medicines best, having the fewest bad Sym­ptoms following, and so conclude according­ly whose are most dangerous.

Such hath been our zeal for the good of our Neighbour, that we have for some years sel­dom given any thing to our Patients which we have not first taken into our own Bodies perhaps many times: And consideratis consi­derandis, an Acute Medical Observer shall learn more feelingly from himself, that which tends to the right use of any Arcanum, then he shall from another. Assuredly for our parts, we had rather run the hazard of an ambiguous Remedy our selves, who know, and can best correct any supervenient inconvenience there­of, then to proffer it upon uncertain grounds to another, who perchance through his impa­tience and morosity will neither suffer us to amend what is fallen out amiss, nor listen to any reasonable Apology how it came to pass. If the Galenist did take this course, he would not give Chymical Preparations with such a Tremulous hand as he doth, being doubtful whether they be made as they ought, and what certain effect they may have. For all [Page 89] this proceeds from a want of that true experi­mental knowledge which he may (setting aside this timorous childish apprehension of danger and hurting himself) acquire, by frequent re­petitions of ingesting that into his own ven­tricle, which may instruct him far better then anothers.

We deny not but the Ambient Air, and the differing Constitution of several indivi­dual Bodies do somewhat alter the Operation of that which works by sensible vacuation, which is to be considered, but not to be insist­ed upon too superstitiously; but we see no reason why some transcendent Arcana's which act tono unisono invisibly, should not cure di­verse persons alike indifferently, in the East Indies, and this part of the World, with some small variation of the quantity. So that an Adeptus may presume to induce, that if the best sort of Medicines have a constant happy effect upon himself at all times of the year, the same cannot but express the like energie upon o­thers, presented by an expert hand that hath an eye in it.

It were to be wished that Physicians would animate some nice scrupulous Patients, and convince them of those harsh conceits they oftentimes harbour, (not without just cause) [Page 90] that they shall make an Apothecary's Shop of their Bellies; (and if what they take do not work it will poison them) by swallowing down the same before their faces, that they may recant of their folly, and be further incou­raged to submit to those Rules which are easie to observe, without any rigour or danger in them. And we admonish any that desires to be approved in the Iatrical Art, to make it his principal pains and study to be throughly ac­quainted with the Practical use of those Medi­cines he possesses so exactly and accurately, as a Shoo-maker with his Last, or an Artificer with his Tools; that knowing what he can trust to, he may after a judicious examination of the Sickness, begin and proceed in the Sanation of the same with confidence, and no less real performance.

OUr Adversaries do much glory and vaunt in their Method of Curing, asserting, that if a man have never so excellent Medi­cines, if he be ignorant therein, he cannot dis­charge his duty as he ought. We desire first [Page 91] to know of these learned Grecians, what (ac­cording to the Etimon) this word Methodus signifies. Is it, we pray, any more then a short way of healing Maladies? How short ye come of this, the world may easily judge, who keep your Patients in a course of Physick so long, till ye run them quite out of breath, and all under a pretence of Method. Is it worthy of a Physicians Method to dally with his Patient some moneths, even years, and not absolutely satisfie him, whether he be curable or no: or perhaps after he hath ex­hausted his strength and purse, to send him in­to the Countrey, to the Wells, or Bath; yea, sometimes into France, that the less notice may be taken of it if he chance to dye (as we have known) by the way? Is not this a rare Method to see a Physician keep a pudder, and make a great noise about a sick mans Diet, pre­cisely to enjoyn him, upon loss of his Life, not to violate the least punctilio; strictly forbid­ding those things which (given by the Nurse or standers by, and concealed from the Physici­an) have cured him? To see a sick wretch in a vehement Feaver, almost parched up for want of moisture, and not a draught of small Beer allowed him to quench his unsatiable thirst, or a little Wine to refresh his drooping spirit, [Page 92] is enough to make a man afraid of such a Method.

To hear them when a man is in a peracute Feaver, Logically discourse of their Indicati­ons, General, Subalternate, and Specifick, Profit­able and Unprofitable, Artificial and Inartificial, Condications and Contraindications; with those they call Consentientia, Correpugnantia, and Per­mittentia, and be extreamly ignorant of Indi­cata, or Remedies, proportionable and com­petent to cure the Feaver; suffering the Pati­ent either to perish, or to fall into some despe­rate Chronick Disease, and so to twindle and moulder away at length; whereas if things had been rightly ordered, all this might have been prevented, is sufficient to make a man explode and nauseate their Method.

When we hear how curiously they examine, which of the four Humours, arising from the mixture of the four Elements, (which never had an existence in Nature, as Helmont hath sufficiently proved) abounds in the Body, that thereby they may finde out a convenient Purge; as, Rhubarb for Choller, Agarick for Phlegme, &c. loosening the Body by stool sometimes fifty or sixty times; to the con­sumption of the strength of the Sick par­ty, without any ease, the Morbifick mat­ter [Page 93] still remaining behinde untouched.

When they learnedly babble concerning Complexions, Temperaments, Constitutions, being grosly ignorant of the Seminal, Formal, and Vital Properties of things; not able to disco­ver in the least without relation, or to give any plausible reason thereof from their durty Ele­ments, Humours, and Qualities, that this man naturally abhors Posset-drink, a second Honey, a third an Egg, which if they should take into their Bodies, in some Diseases, were enough to cost them their lives. When they stand so su­perstitiously upon the Season of the Year, the Climate of the Countrey, the Qualities of the Air, the Time of the Day, that before they can take an opportunity, the Patient is ten times more hard to cure, or perhaps past relief: All this (rightly understood) would justly provoke a man to condemn, abhorre, renounce, and defie their Method.

Who that hath any spark of charity in him, but must needs pitty that distressed wretch, who hath a Physician attending him, that gapes for a Crisis even to the one and twenti­eth day, doubtful what is like to be the issue then; and in the mean time exhausts the purple Soul of his Patient by frequent Phlebotomy, spending his Spirits by some torturing course, [Page 94] marring the ferment of the Stomack; and is so far from assisting and furthering Nature, that he becomes a remora, or hinderance to her; so that if strength of Body be not extraordi­nary, 'tis impossible such an one should escape without a miracle: Certainly a man may not offend to say that this is [...], Satans device and plot to destroy mankinde. Or we may justly censure this Galenical Me­thod, as the word Methodus signifies, accord­ing to another interpretation, Fictio, or Ludi­ficatio; a meer Imposture or Cheat. Had not a man better either to trust to God and Nature, or, if he can be procured, make use of some honest, plain Physician, who without any de­ceit or pompous Preludium, shall fall to his work of curing you.

'Tis a sad thing to behold a young man in the flower of his years, in full strength of bo­dy, abounding with Vital Spirits, sending for a Physician in the beginning of his Disease, to be thus Methodized into his Grave, by them that pretend to be such grave learned Doctors; who, if he had dyed in the Field bravely, ought little in comparison to be lamented. Can any sober, wise man blame any one that knows this to be true, and dares demonstrate it, that he is Satyrical and invective against [Page 95] these notorious actions? That man question­less that knows he can prove these things to be so, cannot but damnifie his Soul, if he make not a timely discovery of them for his Coun­treys good. We invocate the supreme Power, that 'tis not malice to any mans particular per­son, nor a principal Design to be known in the World to our advantage, that hath excited us to declare our selves thus, to the detriment of any mans individual credit and reputation: Far be it from us, for these things (if it could have consisted with Charity and a good Con­science) should never have been published; and we hope our future actions will sufficiently demonstrate our sincerity herein; though we expect from our Adversaries nothing but harsh censures, underminings, quick eyes to discover our lapses, calumnies, and reproaches. But 'tis sufficient that we have done our duty, to give the world a fair warning of these Abuses, which if it make not good use thereof, let it be upon their score, sith we have done what we ought.

AS you magnifie your own Method, so ye often cast it in our teeth that we use none, and that we can give little account of what we do, but as Empiricks. As to this we would willingly know of you, whether of the two performs things more orderly and me­thodically, he that brings the Life into confu­sion, disorder, and at last perhaps to a sad Ca­tastrophe, by a tedious, impertinent, groundless, absurd, and fruitless means, quite beside the mark; or he that sweetly composes, pacifies, and allayes the disorders, irregularity, exor­bitancies, and tumults in the Microcosme, by direct and adequate applications and appro­priations of those friendly Medicines, which may assist Nature immediately to conquer its grand enemy the Disease, that at length there may be a happy conclusion to Health, without your insalutiferous Method?

What man that hath been throughly cured of a dangerous Disease in a short time by us, will ever finde any fault that we did not use your long Method; a meer Ens Rationis, in­vented [Page 97] to delude the world? Are ye to be ex­cused that go far about to destroy your Pati­ents, notwithstanding your tinkling and trap­ped Arguments and Conclusions deduced from false Premises? For our parts we had by far rather enjoy an ability in our Profession, to relieve a languishing wretch, tortured and racked with some cruel Malady, then by ma­king a great noise in the world, puffed up with empty knowledge, be reputed great and emi­nent Schollars, but altogether ignorant in the cure of a Disease; Frustra fit per plura, quod fieri potest per pauciora, is known to every in­genious man.

If we Heal in a fortnight a Sickness, that ye cannot in a moneth, are not we the best Metho­dists? If we strike at the Root of a Disease, ye at the Branches; if ye mistake in applying Agents rightly to Patiens, erring egregiously in the Primary, Efficient, and Material Causes of a Disease, often blundering and overseen in your Prognosticks, and extreamly blinde in the proper Crasis of things, thus groping in the dark, are seduced by the Ignes fatui of your Elements, Humours, Temperaments, seldom (unless by accident) hitting the mark (as ye ought) your Patients sanity: If we can give a better evidence and Phisolophical account [Page 98] that we are in the right in Iatrical Practice above you: If we, when we come to our Pa­tient, after some short inquisition shall declare, that there is such a cause of his Disease, and that the subject of it is in such a part; and that if he be observant, we shall in some little time satisfie him, whether we have a Remedy suf­ficiently potent to make Nature master of the Disease or no; and so accordingly make our Prediction confidently, and that on the fifth or sixth day after our first visit in acute Diseases: If we peremptorily deliver, that by Gods help we doubt not but to cure him, and bring to pass the same, without relapse or succeeding Diseases, far better then the Galenists, will not any man say that we are the best Methodists?

What signifies it if ye abound with hun­dreds of Medicaments, composed by your own Apothecaries, which ye say ye use ac­cording to Indications, and not one of these a competent or adequate remedy for many great Diseases? Is it not better to enjoy twenty or thirty good Auxiliary Preparations, made with our own fingers, the meanest whereof shall be more effectual then the best of yours; and these used not (as ye falsly object) at Random, at a Venture, but Rationally, and according to a just Techmarsis, taken from Nature and the [Page 99] Disease; the one whereof we shall (as ought to be done) assist to overcome the other, by removing impediments, and occasional causes, by purifying and strengthning the Organs, by tinging the parts with some excellent and ap­propriate Balsom, by invigorating and rectify­ing the ferment of the Stomack and other parts, by dulcifying the degenerate sharp La­tex, which infests the Blood, Viscera, or any instrument, by expunging and razing out the Character or Idaea of the Disease in the Ar­cheus, or Vital Spirits; lastly, by pacifying the displacency, tumults, fury, and exorbitancy of the Archeus. And when we have made the truth of these things appear in the presence of modest, indifferent, and discreet Judges, we shall give sound, satisfactory, Philosophical Rea­sons of what we have done, which we will undertake to elucidate thus.

We will so many of us on each side (as we shall agree upon) visit the sick people of some Hospital, with equal and competent Arbiters or Censors: After that each party hath given his Verdict, and Opinion of the nature of the Dis­ease, inward or outward, we will make our Pre­diction what is like to be the Epilogue or Event thereof, whether it be curable or no, and in what time probably it may be brought to pass. [Page 100] Let the Galenist, or Helmontian, that doth (accor­ding to the Sentence of those elected persons, to whose award we are to stand) perform his business best in the Diagnostick, Prognostick, and Therapeutick part, prevail, and be taken into the favour and tuition of the Magistrate; and the other be rejected, and banished out of the City with disgrace, never to appear here to practise Physick any more.

Or we will deal with you in this manner, we will summon so many Patients that have Feavers, or other Diseases, in the City, whom we will visit together, and according to our former proposition, enter upon a direct proof, who may best deserve a Diplôma or Patent.

Or we will (if ye please) act severally, we will (with so many impartial Judges) undertake twenty persons that have Acute Diseases, and so many Chronick; after that we have illustra­ted the Nature, Condition, and Magnitude of the Disease to the standers by, (our foresaid Arbitratours) we will enter upon the Cure with a Prognostick, in Acute Diseases, after our first admission, upon the fifth or sixth day; and in Chronick Diseases, in the space of three weeks or a moneth at farthest. Ye shall be bound to act the like, the same Supervisors attending you that did us; who, after they [Page 101] have seriously weighed all Circumstances, be­ing rightly informed, and considered what dif­ficulties both parties have been put upon, shall determine as each of us have done better or or worse, who are the true Artists, and so re­ceive a Reward or Mulct.

Moreover we declare, that we shall take in­to our hands twenty sick persons that have Acute Feavers of what kinde soever, and of these twenty, we will engage to secure under God Sixteen of them upon the fifth or sixth day after our approach, or to give a Progno­stick upon the same dayes, how the Disease will terminate; in which if we fail, we shall be willing to suffer accordingly, supposed that ye come to the like trial.

And because ye insist so much upon Bleed­ing, and there is no Disease according to your own Positions, that requires it more then a Pleurisie; we dare oblige our selves to cure more Pleuritick persons, citò, tutò & jucundè, without Bleeding, then ye shall, making use of the same.

This is the way, great Doctors, for you to redeem the credit of this noble Science, and to restore it in some part to its pristine Re­nown, and doubt not, if ye do your business as ye should, but that our Sovereign Lord the [Page 102] King will give you a Diploma, and confirm a Patent to you ex condigno; for questionless he is of Hannibals minde, Hostem qui feriet erit sibi Carthaginensis. Do well and have well. But if ye fall to your wonted Scribling, your quarrel­ling de lanâ caprinâ, your captious and critical Censures, your guilful Sophisms, and Paralo­gisms, making the world believe that this is but a foolish Contest, and that Truth cannot be determined this way, by reason of the va­riety and multiplicity of circumstances to be observed; and that to put these Controversies to a trial in an Hospital, is to put our Sickle into another mans Harvest, with such like Mormolyceia, or Bugbears, which ye returned us as Answers, when some of us did urge by Letters, and Challenge you in particular to this most expedient proof: Yea, one of you arguing with another of us in the presence of some ingenious persons, (and the Galenist con­founding the Argumentation with much prat­tle, on purpose to amaze the Auditors, that they might not rightly understand the Oppo­nent the Chymist, (by whom, when he was put upon then, as at several other times, an Essay of Action) made a pish of it, objecting, that in difficult Cases, we Chymists had alwayes a recourse to Action. If (we say) ye shall con­tinually [Page 103] deal thus with us, and disregard us, that profess, and can vindicate our selves Schol­lars, and Philosophers, equal with you, we are resolved (after this Epitome, being onely an hint to the World of some of your Indecorums in Physick) to publish an History of your Er­rours therein at large.

NEver was there a more just, honest, desire­able, and useful Enterprise set upon in this Nation, then an endeavour of some Chy­mists to purchase an Influence and favourable Countenance from our Sovereign Lord the King, that thereby we might be authorized and encouraged to meet together, and consult (without interruption) about some expedite and effectual way, for the regulating and re­forming those present enormous Abuses in this excellent Spagyrick Science; and for the prevention of the same for the future; and that we might joyn our forces for the melio­rating [Page 104] and advancing of that Art, which in despite of all Adversaries, will in some short time manifest it self to be Queen Regent in Physick. Moreover, seldom hath there been any Design more generally countenanced and animated by the learned Nobility, and inge­nious Gentry of England, then this.

But such hath been our fate, that some ma­levolent ill-disposed persons (as well from within as from without) have both maliciously and ignorantly cast such rubs in our way, that we have been disappointed from attaining that end, for which his Gracious Majesty hath pro­fessed to have no small kindeness.

That therefore every Inquisitive man may in part receive some satisfaction, what hitherto hath obstructed our business, we certifie him, that some of us have been overseen at first in admitting among us certain very illiterate per­sons, that were [...], Chymic [...] Umbratiles, mock Chymists, no whit exercised in Anatomy and Botanicks, inexpert in the Hi­story of Diseases, their Efficient and Material Cause, their Event, or any Cure, of which they could give any Philosophical reason: These have been among us [...], foul blots and disgraces, presumptuous Boasters, heady and high-minded, intruding themselves to our [Page 105] disturbance; whereby our subtil supplanting enemies have taken advantage to defame us, representing us to the world a company of Fa­naticks, falstly suggesting that we went about to tread under foot all Learning, and to intro­duce a meer Empirical way of Practice in Phy­sick, with such blasting language, contrived on purpose to diminish our Repute, and to dis­enable us from atchieving that which would prove so useful to the world; that they may the better establish their pretended Polyarchical Government in the Galenical way.

That these Aspersions therefore may be ta­ken off, and no more reflect upon us to our prejudice, who profess our selves Philosophers by the Fire; we freely declare, that we are Philomathêis, hearty lovers and promoters of Learning, and shall never go about to derrogate from Schools and Academies, but shall vigor­ously defend them so far as truth will admit; and shall be ready to censure him that pleads for Amathie, or illiterature in the Body Natural, disposed (if ever opportunity be offered to him) to stand up for Anarchie in the Body Politick. And we are resolved upon mature thoughts, never to joyn with such, that (dis­claiming against Schollarship) go about to lay the foundation of such an Illustrious Art, upon [Page 106] the sandy foundation of some wilde and ex­travagant Notions, that they have picked up by chance from some slight Operations made at a venture. For whosoever enters upon Py­rotechnie, ought to have beforehand some ge­neral knowledge in the Nature of things, and to acquire some infallible Axioms and Theo­rems delivered to him, by those that have been most expert; which how any one can attain to, without a competent knowledge in the Scholastick Languages, we are much to seek. And certainly Helmont never thought a rude and illiterate person destitute of any previous Theory, a fit Agent to aspire to the Mysteries of this profound Science. For our parts we should be willing to condescend to any thing below our selves, that such an eminent At­tempt as a Society of Chymical Physicians might be established; but should unwillingly yield that such a Great Mistress of Knowledge should be committed to those, that are no whit able to protect, adorn, or credit her.

'Tis not a good Medicine, purchased we know not how, or stumbled upon by some ri­diculous chance, that makes a real Philoso­pher, nor multiplicity of Furnaces, contrived on purpose to get a fame in the world, but un­deniable and stable Principles, that enoble an [Page 107] Adeptus, or son of Art. Le no therefore any blinde Bayard, that wants the discretion to hold the Reins of Phebus his Steeds, presume to drive the Solar Chariot of Pyrotechnie, lest instead of cherishing and illuminating the World, he bring all into confusion and com­bustion, as some Pseudochymists among us of late have endeavoured.

To conclude, although we have been hither­to crossed in this noble Enterprize, on one side by the Galenist, and on the other by the Pseu­dochymist, or pretender thereto, (this most in­nocent Art being as it were crucified in the midst between them) yet we question not but that at length in despite of all opposition, true Chymistry will flourish, and moving in its right Sphere, will scatter all black clouds and mists of Ignorance and Envy, and shine out in its perfect splendor.