4511Century I.
Surfeits many times turn to Purges, both upwards and down wards.
There-
fore we ſee generally, that the working of Purging Medicines cometh two
or three hours after the Medicines taken: For that the Stomack firſt maketh a
proof, whether it can concoct them. And the like happeneth after Surfeits,
or Milk in too great quantity.
fore we ſee generally, that the working of Purging Medicines cometh two
or three hours after the Medicines taken: For that the Stomack firſt maketh a
proof, whether it can concoct them. And the like happeneth after Surfeits,
or Milk in too great quantity.
A ſecond cauſe is Mordication of the Orifices of the Parts, eſpecially of
1137. the Meſentery Veins; as it is ſeen, that Salt, or any ſuch thing that is ſharp and
biting, put into the Fundament, doth provoke the part to expel, and Muſtard
provoketh ſneezing; and any ſharp thing to the eyes provoketh tears. And
therefore weſee, that almoſt all Purgers have akinde of twitching and vel-
lication, beſides the griping which cometh of wind. And if this Mordi-
cation be in an over-high degree, it is little better than the Coroſion of Poyſon;
and it cometh to paſs ſometimes in Antimony, eſpecially if it be given to
Bodies not repleat with humors; for where humors abound, the humors
ſave the parts.
1137. the Meſentery Veins; as it is ſeen, that Salt, or any ſuch thing that is ſharp and
biting, put into the Fundament, doth provoke the part to expel, and Muſtard
provoketh ſneezing; and any ſharp thing to the eyes provoketh tears. And
therefore weſee, that almoſt all Purgers have akinde of twitching and vel-
lication, beſides the griping which cometh of wind. And if this Mordi-
cation be in an over-high degree, it is little better than the Coroſion of Poyſon;
and it cometh to paſs ſometimes in Antimony, eſpecially if it be given to
Bodies not repleat with humors; for where humors abound, the humors
ſave the parts.
The third cauſe is Attraction:
For I do not deny, but that Purging Me-
2238. dicines have in them a direct force of Attraction; as Drawing-Plaiſters have
in Surgery: And we ſee Sage, or Bittony bruiſed, SneeZing-powder, and other pow-
ders or Liquors (which the Phyſitians call Errhines) put into the Noſe, draw
Flegm and Water from the Head; and ſo it is in Apophlegmatiſms and Gar-
gariſms that draw the Rheume down by the Palat. And by this vertue, no
doubt, ſome Purgers draw more one humor, and ſome another, according to
the opinion received: As Rubarb draweth Choler, Sean Melancholy, Aga-
rack Flegm, & c. but yet (more orleſs) they draw promiſcuouſly. And note
alſo, that beſides Sympathy between the Purger and the Humor, there is alſo
another cauſe, why ſome Medicines draw ſome humor more than another;
and it is, for that ſome Medicines work quicker than others; and they that
draw quick, draw onely the lighter, and more fluid humors; they that draw
ſlow, work upon the more tough, and viſcuous humors. And therefore,
men muſt be ware how they take Rubarb, and the like, alone, familiarly; for
it taketh onely the lighteſt part of the humor away, and leaveth the Maſs
of Humors more obſtinate. And the like may be ſaid of Worm-wood, which
is ſo much magniſied.
2238. dicines have in them a direct force of Attraction; as Drawing-Plaiſters have
in Surgery: And we ſee Sage, or Bittony bruiſed, SneeZing-powder, and other pow-
ders or Liquors (which the Phyſitians call Errhines) put into the Noſe, draw
Flegm and Water from the Head; and ſo it is in Apophlegmatiſms and Gar-
gariſms that draw the Rheume down by the Palat. And by this vertue, no
doubt, ſome Purgers draw more one humor, and ſome another, according to
the opinion received: As Rubarb draweth Choler, Sean Melancholy, Aga-
rack Flegm, & c. but yet (more orleſs) they draw promiſcuouſly. And note
alſo, that beſides Sympathy between the Purger and the Humor, there is alſo
another cauſe, why ſome Medicines draw ſome humor more than another;
and it is, for that ſome Medicines work quicker than others; and they that
draw quick, draw onely the lighter, and more fluid humors; they that draw
ſlow, work upon the more tough, and viſcuous humors. And therefore,
men muſt be ware how they take Rubarb, and the like, alone, familiarly; for
it taketh onely the lighteſt part of the humor away, and leaveth the Maſs
of Humors more obſtinate. And the like may be ſaid of Worm-wood, which
is ſo much magniſied.
The fourth cauſe is Flatuoſity:
For wind ſtirred, moveth to expel;
and
3339. we finde that (in effect) all Purgers have in them a raw Spirit or Wind, which
is the principal cauſe of Tortion in the Stomack and Belly. And therefore
Purgers leeſe (moſt of them) the virtue, by decoction upon the fire; and for
that cauſe are chiefly given in Infuſion, Juyce, or Powder.
3339. we finde that (in effect) all Purgers have in them a raw Spirit or Wind, which
is the principal cauſe of Tortion in the Stomack and Belly. And therefore
Purgers leeſe (moſt of them) the virtue, by decoction upon the fire; and for
that cauſe are chiefly given in Infuſion, Juyce, or Powder.
The fifth cauſe is Compreßion or Cruſhing:
As when Water is cruſhed
4440. out of a Spunge: So we ſee that taking cold moveth looſneſs by contraction
of the Skin, and outward parts; and ſo doth Cold like wiſe cauſe Rheums
and Defluctions from the Head, and ſome Aſtringent Plaiſters cruſh out pu-
rulent Matter. This kinde of operation is not found in many Medicines:
Mirabolanes have it, and it may be the Barks of Peaches; for this vertue re-
quireth an Aſtriction, but ſuch an Aſtriction, as is not grateſul to the Body
(for a pleaſing Aſtriction doth rather binde in the humors, than ex-
pel them:) And therefore ſuch Aſtriction is found in things of an harriſh
taſt e.
4440. out of a Spunge: So we ſee that taking cold moveth looſneſs by contraction
of the Skin, and outward parts; and ſo doth Cold like wiſe cauſe Rheums
and Defluctions from the Head, and ſome Aſtringent Plaiſters cruſh out pu-
rulent Matter. This kinde of operation is not found in many Medicines:
Mirabolanes have it, and it may be the Barks of Peaches; for this vertue re-
quireth an Aſtriction, but ſuch an Aſtriction, as is not grateſul to the Body
(for a pleaſing Aſtriction doth rather binde in the humors, than ex-
pel them:) And therefore ſuch Aſtriction is found in things of an harriſh
taſt e.
The ſixth cauſe is Lubrefaction and Relaxation:
As we ſee in Medicines
5541. Emollient, ſuch as are Milk, Honey, Mallows, Lettuce, Mercurial, Pellitery of
the Wall, and others. There is alſo a ſecret vertue of Relaxation of Cold; for
the heat of the Body bindeth the Parts and Humors together,
5541. Emollient, ſuch as are Milk, Honey, Mallows, Lettuce, Mercurial, Pellitery of
the Wall, and others. There is alſo a ſecret vertue of Relaxation of Cold; for
the heat of the Body bindeth the Parts and Humors together,
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