A New METHOD Of Curing the FRENCH-POX  
Written by an Eminent French Author.  
Together with the practise and Method of Monsieur Blanchard. As also Dr. Sydenham's judgement on the same.  
To which is added Annotations and Observations By WILLIAM SALMON, Professor of physic; living at the blew Balcony by the Ditch-side near Holbourn Bridge, London.  
LONDON, Printed for John tailor at the Ship, and Thomas Newborough at the Golden Ball in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1690.   

THE PREFACE.  
THis Treatise translated out of French, being a new Method, is presented to the World, for the public Good, being indeed the most excellent of any thing of this kind that I ever yet saw. The Author without doubt was an ingenious Man, and one that well understood the practic part of Curing this Disease, which he has concisely, and in few words, delivered; and which he has as well faithfully as learnedly declared: He uses but few Medicines, nor is there need of any more, where so great things are presented. His only Remedy is the Solar precipitate, which is truly the same thing with our Impetus Mineralis, the which medicament we have used for near twenty years last past, whereby it may appear, that this author was not the first, or only man that made use of it, or divulged it to the World; and that this truth may more clearly appear, you may see the same preparation almost in all Respects in my Phylaxa Medicinae, Lib. 1. Cap. 42. Sect. 2. Under the Title of Angelus Mineralis, Printed about six years ago: And in my Select Observations, Lib. 2. Cap. 5. Sect. 57. written above eight years since, though not so long made public: If any shall object that the Angelus Mineralis is not the same Medicine; I answer, in respect to it's force it is not, because it has a farther preparation to take away it's Emetick, Cathartick, and Salivatick properties; but setting aside that last, or additional process; it is then our Impetus Mineralis, which is exactly the same with our Author's Solar precipitate, as they who please to examine it may find where this Author was to court or brief, I have, in my Annotations annexed, made bold to enlarge him; and where he was obscure, I have done my endeavour to clear him; and I hope I have done things so much for the better, that no man will repent his labour of reading them; and 'tis possible these Annotations( though short) may be worth his serious consideration. The Medicines here made use of are for the most part such, whose Preparations I have published in my said Phylaxa Medicinae, and may all of them be had at my house faithfully prepared: I have a second part of this Phylaxa now fitted for the Press, which shall also in a little time be made public, wherein I shall discover many more great and excellent Medicines which I use in my, private practise, and were never yet divulged to the World. In the mean season, the Herbal which I have for some years promised, will in a short time be completed with it's cuts, and in some few months after exposed to the public View; the Method of it is new, yet I hope may please, and the Medical Part of it is delivered Rationally, and chemically to the Investigation of the Powers of all things within the Vegetable Kingdom. I have been for some years last past in the American World, and am but lately returned home to perfect the whole System of Medical Learning; and for the performing of which I humbly crave the Assistance of the most Great and Good God, and that he would bless me in all my honest and just Undertakings,  
W. SALMON. From my House at the Blew-Balcony by the Ditch side, near Holbourn-Bridge London, 1st of November, 1689.   


The Table to the treatise of the Venereal Distemper.  
Chap. 1. OF the Venereal Distemper in General, of the Name and original thereof, page. 1.  
Chap 2. Of the Venereal Distemper, of its Description and Symptoms in General, page. 5.  
Chap 3. How many sorts there are of the Venereal Distemper, p. 8.  
Chap 4. Of the Degrees of the Pox, and its progress, p. 13.  
Chap 5. Of the Case of the Pox, and the nature of the Veneral Ferment, p. 24.  
Chap 6. Of the signs of the Venereal Distemper, and of the Conduct that is to he used, that one may neither deceive, nor be deceived, p. 36.  
Chap 7. Of the prognostic of the Venereal Disease, p. 48.  
Chap 8. Of Mercury, and if it be the specific Medicine for the Venereal Distemper, p. 52.  
Chap 9. Of the method of curing the Veneral Distemper, and that Salivation is the most short and the most certain way, provided that the Mercurial Unguent be not made use to excite it, p. 71  
Chap 10. Of the Chancre, p. 90.  
Chap 11. Of the heat of the Urine, and the Virulent Gonorrhoea, p. 92.  
Chap 12. Of a Bubo, or Poulain, p. 98.   

The Table of the Problems.  
Prob. 1. WHEREIN it proceeds that the Veneral Distemper remains concealed in the Body, without any inconveniency, and that it does afterwards appear with all its signs, page. 109.  
Prob. 2. To know if a Man or Woman, who have the Veneral Distemper, may have Children born free from that Disease, p. 111.  
Prob. 3. Why a Woman, who has not actually the Veneral Distemper, does nevertheless give it, p. 112.  
Prob. 4. Why amongst several Men, who lye with the same Woman that is infected with the Venereal Distemper, one gets a heat of Urine, another a Chancre, another a Poulain, another the great Pox, and others get no harm at all, p. 113.  
Prob. 5. Why a Woman, who has a heat of Urine does, not always give to him who has to de with her the like; but( it may be) a Chancre, or a Poulain, and so the same when she has a Chancre, p. 115.  
Prob. 6. Why there are some which catch the Venereal Distemper, at the first amorous Congress, and others do not take after many, though they have always had to do with the same infected Person, p. 116.  
Prob. 7. If there be any infallible Preservative against the Venereal Distemper, p. 117.  
Prob. 8. To know if a Woman who has her Courses, can give the Venereal Distemper, p. 121.  
Prob. 9. To know if the Stars can be the cause of the Venereal Distemper, p. 123.  
Prob. 10. To know,( when one has the Venereal Distemper; an Ague does seize him, and goes off in a Crisis,) if the Pox may be likewise cured by the means of that Crisis, p. 127.  
Prob. 11. To know, if the Venereal Distemper may be defined, a General Corruption of the mass of blood, which is ordinarily contracted by reason of a venomous vapours transmitted during the Congress, p. 128.  
Prob. 12. Why a Chancre on the Prepuce is more dangerous for giving the Universal Pox, than one that is in the glad, p. 129.  
Prob. 13. To show, if the veneral Distemper was known to the ancients, p. 131.  
Prob. 14. To know, if the Venereal Destemper be the leprosy of the ancients, p. 139.  
Prob. 15. How many ways one may get the Venereal Distemper, and if it may be got at a considerable distance, p. 144.  
Prob. 16. What is the true Subject, of the Venereal Ferment, and if it be rather the Lymph, than the Phlegm, or the other humours, p. 149.  
Prob. 17. Why a Man that wounded in the time that he has the Venereal Distemper, is never well cured of his wounds; or at least, with great difficulty, p. 157.   

The Table to Mr. Stoph. Blankard's practise.  
Sect. 1. OF Original, and Symptoms of the Venereal Distemper. Pag. 165.  
Sect. 2. Wherein the Virulency of the Pox consist, and how it is communicated, p. 169.  
Sect. 3. Of the gonorrhoea or running of the Reins, pag. 170.  
Sect. 4. Of the Inflammation of the Yard, &c. p. 179.  
Sect. 5. Of the Caruncle, p. 197.  
Sect. 6. Of the Venereal Hernia, or Tresticle, p. 200.  
Sect. 7. Of the Venereal Buboes, p. 202.  
Sect. 8. Of Condylomes, or Venereal Excrescences in the Fundament, and Privy Parts, p. 204.  
Sect. 9. Of the Universal Pox, and its symptom, p. 206.  
The History of the Venereai Distemper, p. 221.  
The Cure of the Virulent gonorrhoea. p. 231.    

A New TREATISE OF THE Venereal Distemper.  

CHAP. I. Of the Venereal Distemper in General, of the Name and Original thereof.  
THere are no small Contests recorded by Authors, that are betwixt the People of several Nations, concerning the Name and Original of this Disease, which we call Venereal, because it is an Effect of Venus's Game; or simply, the Pox, by reason of the resemblance that the Blisters appearing in some sort of Pox, bear to those of the Small-Pox, which are called Variolae by the Physitians: In which, because there is something that is shameful and sordid; every one, to excuse himself, is forward to ascribe to his Neighbour the Source and Original of this Distemper. Whence it is, that the French, Spaniards and Italians, do upon this account, charge one another, with volleys of continual Reproaches: But in my opinion, if it be considered, that it is two hundred Years ago, or more, since such Questions were started, Prescription upon Prescription ought to put an end to the Plea, and purchase to every one an indisputable Right to that which he does possess for these two Ages past, and more.  
But why do I talk of two Ages? 'tis certain, that, though the Pox has not been equally known in all Ages, yet it is very near as ancient as the World, or at least, as the impure conversation of Men, with common and debauched Women, which was before Noah's time, when the World began to be Multiplied. As we red in the VI. Chap. of Genesis, For all flosh had corrupted his way upon the Earth. Authority, Reason and Experience do evidently prove that the Venereal Disease began from that time.  
For, we may say, once for all, without making a forcible Entry on the Divine's Province, that God, having at all times hated Fornication, as an horrid Sin, did likewise in all Ages of the World, punish the same, with innumerable Miserys, and bodily Diseases, among which the Venereal one is to be reckoned, as the effect of impurity, and the Reward that is promised to such profligate extravagancy. XIX. Chap. of Ecclesiasticus, He that cleaveth to Harlots will become impudent, Moths and Worms shall have him to Heritage.  
Besides, both Experience and Reason do prove the Antiquity of this Disease, for if it be true, as no body can doubt of it, that at this day, the Pox does proceed from a Corruption of Seeds which have been mixed in the same Matrix, Reason does oblige us to believe that the same thing happened to the Debauchés of old, and that consequently, they could not be free from the Pox.  
But 'tis known, that if a Virgin, that is perfecty sound( if the Matter be so ordered as to free her from all suspicion of the Venereal distemper) shall keep Company with half a dozen young Fellows, as sound as her self, and be debauched with them severally, time after time, some one or other of them shall quickly have the Pox, and all of them, by a repetition of Venereal Acts, shall at last be infected.  
There are but too too many Examples of such Truths, and Histories might be composed of the Misfortunes that have happened, in debauches of this Nature, if the Circumstances were not too tedious to be related.  
Books do sufficiently furnish us with such Tragical accounts; and those of judgement are well enough satisfied, that the Pox may be got after that manner. We shall give the Natural Reason of it, when we speak to its Cause in Chap 5.  
And from this we may observe, that what some Authors say of the Original of the Pox is altogether fabulous, as when they refer it to the Stars:  
We shall speak of this in the Problems which we shall give upon a great number of Questions concerning the Venereal distemper.  
'tis true, that those who catch this Disease at this day, do not all get it, in this manner; the most part have it by Tradition, and a communication from one to another; it is an infectious distemper, whence it's natural property is such, as to communicate itself, and produce the like Contagion, seeing that the Cause of it is a true Ferment, and it is of the Nature of a Ferment to multiply itself indefinitely, hence, there needs no more than one grain of this Venereal Ferment to infect the whole World, as there is only need of one Grain of ordinary leaven, to work upon and to reduce into it's own Nature, such a quantity of Paste as should require all the Grain in the whole World to compose it; we shall speak of this Venereal Ferment, after we have given a general Idea or Description of the Venereal Disease.   

CHAP. II. Of the Venereal distemper, of it's Description and Symptoms in general.  
SEing a Discourse does yield no satisfaction to the Reader, unless the Subject matter which is managed thereby be represented by a distinct and clear Idea, I thought it convenient not to proceed further, until I shall have once shown what the Pox or Venereal Distemper is.  
'tis true, that herein I cannot follow that Method, in which, when one has occasion to explain a Subject, he must give the Definition of it, that is to say, express its Essence and Nature by two Artributes, which are called Genus and Differentia, because, since that Genus ought to be such as contains, and denotes the Species immediately under it, and next to it, and the difference must be essential to that which is defined, we cannot make use of any of those Genus's, since the Disease does comprehend but three things, viz. an intemperament, an ill comformation, and a solution of continuity, and we observe that the Pox does consist sometimes in one of these, and sometimes in another, and often times in all the three; but it cannot be said, that it is always one of them, for instance, an Intemperament, that ( as some pretend) is always found with the French-Pox, which is very hard for any one to be sure of, if it be considered, that an intemperament, being the excess of one or more qualities, the Pox is often discovered in such cases, where 'twill be very difficult to affirm, that it is that predominant quality, and what shall be said of those who have the Pox for ten years, or more, without any appearance of hurt done to any bodily function? 'tis necessary therefore to use a Term in this case that is more transcendent then that of an Intemperament.  
As to the other Attribute, called differentia, it must be taken from something which immediately follows the Essence or Nature of the Thing; that is to say, from some essential propriety, which does always agree with every Pox, and only with the Pox; and there is no such difference found; whence it is, that the Disease cannot admit of a Regular Definition.  
But neither must it be imagined, that the Description that we are about to give, is absolutely complete and perfect, because that does depend on very many circumstances; as for Example, one cannot exactly comprehend the nature of that Pox which remains concealed in the Body, for a long time, without exhibiting any sign whatsoever, of which we shall speak elsewhere. Whence it is, that I cannot blame those, who, to rid themselves of this trouble, do not at all define the Pox, nor writ a long Treatise of that Disease, alleging with good Reason, that 'tis of very small importance to know how to define the Pox, provided they have but the skill and good fortune to cure it.  
The Pox is a disposition against Nature, contagious upon the touch, occasioned by a ferment of the same Nature, arising from the corruption of the Seeds of divers Persons received and retained in the Wombs of Common Women, upon which one or more of these Accidents do follow, viz. Heat of Urine, or a virulent Gonorhea, or Running of the Reins, Chancers, Buboes, or Poulains, Tumours, boils, Condyloms, Nodes, Glands, Pains, Spots, Blisters, Tetters, Scabs, Ulcers, largeness, and a carries of the Bones or Cartilages, Falling of the Hair, and many others which proceed from these, or may be common to this and other distempers.  
Nevertheless some of the first of these Accidents mentioned in the description, may follow upon other Diseases, but 'tis observable, that when they proceed from the Pox, they are attended with something that is singular, which discovers them to be the Effect of the Pox, as we shall show, when we come to speak of them in particular, or give the marks, by which we may discern that distemper from other Diseases.  
And seeing the Pox does unavoidably draw after it innumerable Evils upon the Body, not to reckon those of the Mind, which appear by turns, by a great many fantastical representations, in a thousand different shapes; One said well that the Pox is the Protaeus of Diseases and a Collection of all Distempers.   

CHAP. III. How many Sorts there are of the Venereal Distemper.  
IT appears, by the Description which we gave in the former Chapter, that we allow of only one sort of Pox, and here we affirm, that that which they call Heat of Urine, a Chancre, or Bubo, is not of a different nature from that which is called the great( or French) Pox, as we shall prove by three Arguments that are without exception.  
The first is, that Heat of Urine, does as infallibly turn to the French-Pox, as the Chancre or the Poulain, upon a neglect, or ill management of the Cure; and therefore they must of necessity be of the same nature.  
The second is, that the French-Pox, and the forementioned accidents admit of the same cure, in so far at least, as they are malignant or Venereal.  
And the third is, that the French-Pox, is oftentimes nothing else but a Collection of those Accidents, which is manifest in practise; and we shall give the reason thereof in the following Part of this Discourse.  
There is therefore no essential difference betwixt Heat of Urine, Chancres, Buboes, and the French-Pox, neither as to the Nature of the Malady, nor the cause whence they proceed, nor finally, as to their specific Remedy.  
There is, nevertheless, an accidental difference, which does consist in this, that the French-Pox does generally seize the whole Body, because the Mass of Blood is thereby infected; upon which account, it may be called, an Universal Pox and Heat of Urine, the Chancre, and the Bubo attack but one single Part, either for that the Venereal Ferment has not been carried far, since it was first communicated, or, that Nature has expelled it, by a vigorous influence, and, as it were, by way of an imperfect Crisis, as may be seen in Buboes, or finally, by some other Accident, and therefore this may be called a particular Pox.  
In which there is also a notable difference, as to the manner of using a Specific Medicine, and some other circumstances, which are best observed in practise, as we shall show in the Chapter concerning the Method of curing both sorts of the French-Pox.  
'tis further observable, that there is another sort of particular Pox, that is to say, which lies in one Part of the Body; for it often happens in practise, that after the Universal Pox is cured, there still remains a lurking poison in some part of the Body, as in the carries or Gangrene of some Bones, in some Node or Tophus, which admits of no dissolution by the action of Mercury, when all the rest of the Body is very well cleansed; and which consequently requires a particular Remedy.  
Although the Pox is the same in all Persons and at all times, and has a specific Medicine, which is Mercury, yet it cannot be well cured but by accident, unless the Temper, Age, Sex, Tenderness( with other like circumstances) of the Persons thereby infected, be duly considered.  
For Men are commonly more strong, Women more delicate, more moist, and their Monthly Courses must direct us in the choice of a particular Method, when we go about their Cure; whereof we shall give an Example in the proper Chapter.  
Those who are of a Melancholy Temper are commonly cured with the greatest difficulty, because their Humors are more stubborn and tenacious, and because they abound in acid, and frequently in austere humours, which are worse then the other.  
Choloric Persons are easily moved, but suffer could or heat less than others, wherefore the boil, with which they abound, must not be irritated, by a sudden change of those qualities. Those of a Sanguine Constitution must be often blooded, and Phlegmatic Persons fequently enured to drying Medicines.  
Infants and Old-men, being more tender and feeble, ought to be looked after accordingly, neither the one nor the other is fluxed, especially, if they be respectively, very young, or decrepit.  
For this and many other Reasons, easy to be understood, Mercury, which in this Age is the common Medicine for this Disease, ought not to be Prepared always in the same manner, and I will say, by the by, that he that will still make use of the same Preparation, shall fall into a great many Errors, and fail in the Cure of many that labour under this Disease.  
'tis further alleged that the Times or Ages of the Pox are to be distinguished, viz. its beginning, its increase, its state, and its declination, but seeing it is not an acute Disease, and besides those times are not determined equally, and have not a regulated course, I think it impossible to bring the thing into a true light.  
Because, for Example, there have been some persons, who have had the Pox, for the space of ten Years or more, without any remarkable appearance, or fatal consequence, and others, who in the space of three Months, have become almost rotten. There are some, who upon a Chancre neglected or ill cured, shall be for two or three Years free from the consequent marks of the Pox, and others, who in six Months time, shall be therewith covered all over, the thing depending less or more on the activity of the Venereal Ferment, with which they are infected, and on their good or bad constitution; we shall treat of those Questions in the Problem; in a word, the Times of this Disease are so uneven and uncertain, that there can be no standing Rule given, by the help of which we may discern them, Experience being the best guide in this matter.  
And 'tis not, in my Opinion, a thing of so great importance, as to make it needful for me to insist any longer upon it, in this Chapter, because that which follows, and treats of the different degrees of the Pox, shall fully clear all that is necessary to be understood, in order to the giving a right judgement of the state of this Disease.   

CHAP. IV. Of the Degrees of the Pox, and its Progress.  
THat the Subject Matter of this Chapter may be made the more manifest, 'tis to be supposed that the several ways how one may get the Pox, may be reduced to three, for either the Disease is original, that is, contracted in the Mothers Womb, or, it is got by Copulation, or lastly, by some other external Contract, viz. by lying with those that have the Pox, or in their linen, after their sweeting, by Drinking after them, by Sucking or giving Suck, or in some other like manner.  
Secondly, It must be supposed, till it be proved in the following Chapter, that the Cause of the Pox is a sharp and biting Ferment, which without all Question is of the Nature of an Acid, upon which account it can coagulate or thicken the Humors, with which it is mixed, but especially the Phlegm, with which 'tis more readily mixed, then with the rest of the Humors, because there is something of an Acid naturally in all Phlegm.  
Thirdly, 'tis to be considered, that this Ferment is by so much the more active, as 'tis the more exalted by a long Corruption, and as it does pass from a Body that is more warm and open, to another that is likewise heated, and contrariwise, that it is the less active, and consequently works more slowly, when such Conditions happen to be contrary. In these respects, the Ferment is rendered more or less fixed or volatilized.  
These Grounds being laid, I shall give a View of its ordinary Progress, beginning with that which follows upon Copulation, which is the most common way of its Communication.  
If a Man has the Pox, he emits into the Womans Matrix, a Seed that is full of that Venereal Ferment, which insinuates itself into those parts which are naturally disposed to receive it, as being soft, spongy, and very full of small Glands that are almost imperceptible in their natural Figure and Position, though they be at this day pretty well known by Anatomists, and sometimes do so much increase, that they may be discerned with good Eyes. 'tis those small Glands that easily imbibe the Venereal Ferment, which, in them, is further corrupted, that is, it does become more sharp by remaining in them, and seeing it has the Nature of an Acid, it does fix and coagulate the liquours that are contained in those small Glands, whence there does arise a hard small tumour, accompanied with Pain, which is that we call a Chancre; and because Heat does put that Ferment in Motion, which thereby does become more sharp, there happens a Corrosion of the Substance, and a small Ulcer begins to grow, the Limits whereof remain as yet hard, and this Ulcer increases by little and little; this is that they call a Chancrous-Ulcer, and which we call a particular Pox, seeing it does only affect one part; or if one pleases, he may take this for the first Degree of the Pox, or the first Advance that this Venereal Ferment does make, according to our Example.  
That Ferment always multiplying, does corrupt the ulcerated Parts that are next to it, and especially the liquours that ferment more easily; hence it is, that the Blood that is carried by the Arteries for the Nourishment of the Parts, does receive some Particles of that Ferment, and in returning by the Veins, according to its due Circulation, communicates those Particles to the Mass of Blood, which by degrees, comes to be sufficiently disposed, by the Accession of such Particles for a Fermentation and Corruption, that is, to become itself a Venereal Ferment.  
Thus we see how an Universal Pox may proceed from a small Chance, that was only at first a particular Pox.  
And the Mass of Blood may be corrupted a thousand times, according to the Force of the Ferment, or Constitution of the Person.  
If the Ferment be volatile enough, and the Party have boil or Choler predominant in his Constitution, there does arise a sort of Turgen●y, which makes the Humors glide, sometimes on the one side, and sometimes on the other, from whence wandring Pains do proceed.  
If the Ferment is more fixed, and the Person Melancholy, the Blood likewise becomes fixed, and does coagulate, and its Motion consequently becomes unequal and slow, which is the Cause of Weariness, want of Appetite, and decay of the Animal Spirits, ill Concoction, and ill Nourishment, together with a Depravation of the Expulsive Faculty, Suppression of the Menstrua, Hemorrhoids, &c.  
If the Ferment be very acid, and the Person Flegmatic, that Ferment does entangle itself in the phlegm, which it makes viscous and thick, whence the Body comes to be chilled, puffed up, and bleak.  
If the Person be Sanguine, it does produce an unequal boiling in the Veins and Arteries; hence Inquietudes, Watchings, Heats, vapours, sometimes in one Part, and sometimes in another, &c. Every one may here discern by his own Reason, the Consequences of that Corruption of the Mass of Blood, for all cannot be contained in a small Treatise.  
And this is the second Degree of the Pox, or if you please, the first Step to the Universal Pox.  
'tis not easy for the Mass of Blood of remain any long time in this Condition, but it discharges itself into all Parts of the Body, which it does moisten, and through which it does pass by a continual Circulation.  
And such discharges do always happen with a great deal of Inequality, for it is a constant Maxim in the admirable economy of the Body, as 'tis everywhere else, that the Stronger does overpower the Weaker, Nature that has a continual Propensity to disburden itself when oppressed, though it be provided with ordinary passages, for expelling the Impurities of the Mass of Blood, yet does not always take the same ways, especially when she is struggling with an Adversary that treats her with the greatest Violence.  
And therefore, if the Venereal Ferment be( though in a very small quantity) in the Mass of Blood, it may be pushed on by Heat to the Glands of the Emunctories, though by reason of its Weight, it goes downward more easily: And thus we see that there grows certain tumours in the Groin, which are called Buboes or Poulaines. Sometimes the same Matter is carried towards the Arm-pits, and frequently towards the Glands of the Neck, which become thereby very much inflamed.  
Sometimes we see the Pox of such a sort, that a great Number of Glands do appear, in which case, there is a strong ground to believe that the Lymph and Lymphatic Vessels have contributed to that Discharge, seeing, that according to the Principles of Anatomy, the Lymph cannot pass from the Arteries in the Lymphatic Vessels, otherwise then by the Glands, through which it is filtered.  
If there be a great quantity of the Ferment, the Mass of Blood does discharge itself by an Ebullition upon the whole Skin, upon which we may see Spots, which are nothing else but Venereal Fumes; that by reason of their being gross, do settle on the Surface, Blisters, which in a little time grow hollow, and turn to Chancers or Scabs, as well great as small, tetters, boils, Warts, according to the predominant humour.  
If the Blood discharge by Sweat, any serous Humours betwixt the Muscles, these Serosities, by pricking the Members, do cause Pains that resemble a Rheumatism.  
If these Serosities march along the Membranes, a Nerve or a Periostium, they cause fixed Pains, with which, those who have the Pox are miserable tormented.  
If those Serosities affect the joints, they shall excite the Venereal Gout.  
If that serous Matter settle at the Roots of the Hair, it does cause, by corroding the Roots, the falling off of the Hair.  
And this is another Degree of the Pox. If those Serosities grow confirmed and hardened all along a Bone, they produce Nodes, which make yet another Degree.  
If they sink into the Substance, and penetrate even to the Marrow, they cause profound Pains, and becoming more sharp by their stay there, corrode the Bone, which likewise befalls the Cartilages.  
And this is the utmost Degree of the Pox; 'tis true, there is another Degree, worse then any of the former, because it makes the Disease incurable, and the Patient is unavoidably lost, which is, when the virulent Matter does discharge itself on a Noble Part, and corrupts it; for besides that, the lost Substance can never be repaired; the bad Symptoms that accompany this Pox, and the Condition of the Noble Part that is affencted, admit of no specific Medicine.  
'tis evident therefore, that there are so many degrees of the Pox, as it does make advances to take deeper root, and that from the Surface, it does pass to the Mass of Blood, from thence to the Flesh, from the Flesh to the Membranes, and from the Membranes to the Bones.  
Nevertheless, all these Degrees which I have described, do not keep always the same Order, for oftentimes the Pox doth pass from one Degree to another inperceptibly; and sometimes there is a gangrene or carries perceived in the Bones, without the Precedency of other Accidents, as it was in our Explication, and this arises from some particular Dispositions of the Ferment, or of the Parts of the Body, so that one Part does make a greater Resistance than another, and the Ferment makes a longer stay in one Part than in another. And therefore judgement may be best made of it according to the Disposition and State of the Patient, in which case Reason will be joined to Experience.  
'tis easy, by this Example to judge of the Progress and Degrees of the Pox in all other kind of Examples: I shall further explain some of them, which may serve as a Rule for the rest.  
I suppose that a common Woman has the Pox, and though she were not infected, if she has a particular Conversation with many Men, the Mixture of so many Seeds does occasion such a Corruption in the Passage of her Matrix, that degenerates into a proper virulent Ferment, as we shall explain in the following Chapter.  
If then in that Case, another Man shall keep Company with that Woman, and heat himself by Copulation, he shall attract some Particles of that Ferment, which adhering to his Yard, shall produce some Chancer, in the same manner as we have explained the former, and have the same Progress, very near, as the other.  
But if the Venereal Ferment, which is in the Passage of the common Woman, be sufficiently volatilized, and the Passage of the Yard, which made a Penetration, be sufficiently open, that Ferment being put in motion, shall enter into that Passage, and go to the small Caruncle, that hinders the involuntary Emission of Seed, from thence to the Prostatae and Parastatae, which are the Repositories of the Seed, and shall produce in these Parts an Inflammation and an Acrimony in the Seed( which shall corrupt it) and after a little time, one Ulcer or more in the same Parts, so that the Seed so corrupted and fermented, shall be involuntarily emitted by continual Irritations; and 'tis this involuntary Effusion of Seed that makes the first Degree of the particular Pox, which they call Heat of Urine, and afterwards a gonorrhoea or Running of the Reins, of which we shall treat in a Chapter apart.  
This Venereal Heat of Urine may continue in some a longer, in others a less time, without bringing the great Pox; because of the Effusion of some other Humors with the Seed, that proceed, as it may be supposed, from some Ulcers, and carry off a part of the Venereal Ferment of those Ulcers, and blunt the Activity of what does remain therein, whence it comes to pass, that in such a Case, 'tis something slow in its Operation; but when that Ferment is volatilized or raised by Heat, the Blood which does pass through those Parts, gradually attracts into the Mass of Blood, so many Particles as are sufficient to corrupt it; after the same manner as we have said, of a Chancer at the beginning of this Chapter; and this is the Universal Pox, which makes the like Steps in its Progress with the other, which is already shown, and needs no Repetition.  
If the Venereal Ferment is yet more volatile, it passes not only into the Seminary Vessels, but also( without any stop) into the adjacent Veins, and mixing itself with the Blood, does corrupt it, and this Blood does corrupt that which is next to it, and so on, till the whole Mass be infected, and thus there is an Universal Pox, when there was no other Symptom that preceded, which is commonly very surprising, and very much deceives the World.  
But if Nature be strong, before this Ferment is much multiplied in the Mass of Blood, 'tis separated by way of Crisis, and forced towards the Glands of the Groin, where there grows a Bubo or Poulain, and sometimes two together, when the Matter does much abound.  
This may happen, when the Heat is so strong, and the Ferment so volatile, that it is expelled through the Pores with the Sweat, without the Help of any Medicine; but to speak the truth, I know very few that come off with so cheap a Cure, and he would be very unadvised, who would trust to such a Chance.  
After what has been said, 'tis very easy to conceive, that in what way soever the Pox is got, it does make very near one and the same Progress, that is, the Venereal Ferment acts by degrees, beginning at that place which it first seized, diffusing itself insensibly into the neighbouring parts, which it does corrupt, and these corrupting others, until the whole Body be involved in the same Catastrophe, then this Body can bring the same Fatility on an infinite number of others, because the Ferments have no Limits, as we are now about to show by what does follow.   

CHAP. V. Of the Cause of the Pox, and of the Nature of the Venereal Ferment.  
HItherto we have used the Term of a Venereal Ferment, which we supposed to be the Cause of the Venereal Distemper, and I think, that I cannot find a more proper one, for giving such a general Explication as shall agree with all the Opinions of reasonable Authors, who have treated of this Disease; I shall also use the same in the following part of this Treatise, for this reason, because no Body can be mistaken therein, unless he apply thereunto some extravagant Idea, as that of an Occult Quality, or a Quintessential Agent, which has served the turn of the ancient and the Ignorant Race, who loved not to be involved in intricate Affairs, nor puzzled with hard Questions; and also for another reason, because those who are prepossessed with another Opinion, about such kind of Subjects, will not grant( unless it be proved) that the Cause of the Pox is rather a Salt than a Mercury, or any other Principle; or that it is a true mixed Body in which a Salt is predominant; and yet none will deny this to be a true Ferment, since it has all the Qualities thereof, which purpose, in this Chapter, to make good, upon plain and demonstrative Reasons.  
I say then, that every Ferment is a Body whose Principles are resolved, exalted, and in such a Motion, that being applied to another body of its own kind, can penetrate, move and finally Convert that Body into its own Nature.  
And since I know that this definition does agree to all proper Ferments, that I may explain it in such a manner as does best svit the subject in hand; ordinary leaven and common Vinegar will suffice for Examples in this Matter.  
A bit of leaven being put in a proportionable quantity of Flower that is reduced into Paste with Water, shall put the Parts of that Paste into such a motion, that it shall be sensibly corrupted and become leaven, like unto that which was put therein, and this leavened Paste shall turn another Paste into leaven, and this shall change another, and so infinitely. But the first leaven was made of the like Paste, and it can change nothing but Paste, into its own nature.  
This change or conversion does evidently appear to be made by a motion, and agitation of the Parts of the Paste, that is to say, that the leaven which is sharp and penetrating( which may be sufficiently, known by the Smell) by the means of it's acid, or sharp points, does enter into the Parts of the Paste, and in dilating and expanding them by the Motion, sets at liberty the Spirits which were in the Flower or Paste, and gives occasion to the adjacent Ethereal matter to enter into it, which joining itself with those Spirits, does increase the Motion, and drive the parts of the leaven yet further into those of the Flower, which thereupon are more divided, and this gives entrance to new Ethereal Matter, and disengages new Spirits, that increase the Motion more and more, and in fine, it does continue the same, until the Flower be very much divided, all the principles be in Motion, and receive a determination like, to that of their first mover, which was the leaven, and that was nothing else, as appears, but a Motion, Attenuation and Resolution of the Principles, which will be yet more manifest by the Example of Vinegar.  
Seeing Truth seldom appears on the Surface; 'tis worth the while to observe what happens in the Generation and Multiplication of Vinegar. Wine is a Compound of five Principles. Of Spirit, Salt, Sulphur, Water and Earth, in such a Proportion, that the Spirits are predominant, and the rest of the Principles of a moderate quantity: If it happen by any acciddent, that the Spirits evaporate, or that the acid of the Air( which the Wind does often-times carry with it) does enter into the Vessel, or that heat alone does excite motion in this Wine, the Essential of Salt the Wine, which is naturally Acid( as we see in the crystal of Tartar) and is betwixt a fixed and a volatile, does more volatilise or raise itself, and being attenuated does dilate and expand itself over the whole substance of the Wine, and get the Mastery over the Spirits, which it does clog and bear down, yet not destroy, as some have pretended, but in vain, because, 'tis in no wise hard, at one trial to recall those Spirits from strongest Vinegar, provided it be made of Wine, and not of other liquours. And 'tis by this exaltation of its own essential Salt, which comes to be predominant over the rest of the Principles, that Wine is turned into Vinegar, which is a true Ferment that will turn a proportionable quantity of Wine into Vinegar, and this shall change another infinitely. That is to say, that there needs no more than one drop of Vinegar to turn all the Wine in the World into Vinegar, successively.  
This being supposed, 'twill not, in my opinion, be difficult to complete the Explication, and show, that the cause of the Pox is a Ferment, which owes it's original to several Seeds that are corrupted and Fermented.  
I have said, at the beginning of this Treatise, that the most of those who get the Pox, have it by Tradition, or by Communication from one another; and there, we did not meddle with the Manner of the Formation of that Ferment; but, because we would proceed, and search into it's first source, 'tis by this way of Reasoning we may find it out.  
Experience does teach us that the Pox is an infectious Disease, which is communicated from one to another indefinitely, that it is the same in all, that 'tis cured with the same Medicine, and that consequently its Cause is aways the same, whence its Cause must be a true Ferment, because nothing but that, does admit of these qualities.  
And because leaven must be of the same kind with the Paste, the Venereal Ferment must necessary be composed, of the same Matter of which the Persons therewith infected are composed.  
The Seed is the first Matter of which Man is composed, the Seed has relation to all Parts of the Body, to the solid Parts, it being the foundation and basis thereof, to the Spirits, since it abounds with them, to the Blood, and other humors, because it does proceed from them.  
The Seeds is very proper to degenerate into a Ferment, when it is corrupted in some circumstances, because it does contain Principles that are very active, and fit to be exalted.  
We cannot therefore find the Original of the Venereal Ferment, any where but in Seed that is much corrupted, nor is there any Seed that is corrupted, but in the Wombs of common Women which keep company with many Men. The Seeds of one Man and of one Woman only can never degenerate into a contagious and Venereal Ferment, seeing that according to the Laws of Nature, which is always uniform, if they take good care, those two Seeds, are afterwards capable of no alteration, but for the Generation of a Natural Birth, or some other production, or, if some disposition be wanting for such a Generation, those Seeds are lost, but never produce any bodily harm, at least no contagious or Venereal distemper.  
'tis therefore somewhat else that is necessary required to make the Seed degenerate into a Ferment, that is Venereal, and altogether against Nature.  
It shall therefore happen when a Common Woman has kept company with many Men, that their Seeds( which are of different, and often times of opposite qualities) being mixed in that womans Womb( which is naturally fitted to preserve the Seeds with all their Spirits) do forcibly justle against one another, and 'tis very hard to imagine, but that in this Combat, some Spirits( with which each Seed abounds) shall vanish or be destroyed, and because the seeds have viscous Parts, the rest of the Spirits are entangled therein, whence there proceeds a mixture of Principles, and so great an Agitation and Attenuation of Parts, that the Salts that are in the Seeds are, 
'tis by reason of the Salts with which the Seed abounds, that Voluptuous Men are called Salaces, which is derived from Sal, and Venus is said erta mari.  by that occasion, exalted, and do expand themselves through the whole, and so prevail over the other principles which compose the Seed. And therefore this compound of several Seeds becomes a Ferment which is capable of corrupting other Seeds, and all the Parts of the Body, by reason of the relation they have to the Seed; and 'tis this Ferment which is to be called Venereal, because it is the cause of the Venereal Distemper by a peculiar determination which it received in that corruption, that occasions it to exert it's force in one certain manner only, as we have shown in Vinegar, which proceeds from the corruption of Wine, that is, from the resolution of the Principles of Wine.  
And seeing Milk, which has a great resemblance of Seed, becomes easily Acid, by the exaltation of its own Salt, we have reason to believe, that in the present Case, the Ferment that proceeds from the corruption of Seeds and the exaltation of their own Salt is also of the nature of an Acid.  
Reason and Experience will confirm this opinion, if after great silvius de Leboe's Example, we make some reflection on Acids, and upon the Principal Symptoms of the Pox.  
We have said, that the Principal Symptoms of the Pox were the Chancres, Ulcers, Heat of Urine, Bubo's, Pains, Nodes, Glands, Scabs, Tetters, and the Rottenness or carries of the Bones.  
'tis evident that these Symptoms can proceed from none other, but a cause that is sharp, biting and coagulating, for the Chancre begins ordinarily with a hardness, that denotes the coagulation of some juice, and then it becomes an Ulcer, and this is made by corrosion. In heat of Water, there is an Inflammation, Pain and Ulcer which shows an Acrimony, the Nodes and Glands proceed from the thickening and coagulation of some liquours thatly all along the Bones, and in the Glands, with which our Bodies abound. The Itching that accompanies Scabs and Tetters does manifest the sharpness of Salt to be the cause, and the corrosion of the Bones does prove the same.  
All sharpness does proceed from Salt; This Proposition is general, and 'tis very easy to prove it; for of the five Principles which we reckoned in mixed bodies, Spirit, Sulphur, Salt, Water and Earth, there is not one but Salt, that by it's Points and stiffness, is capable of Acrimony; the Spirit being very subtle and swift, Sulphur exceeding sweet and unctuous, Water very soft, and Earth without Action.  
'tis thought with good reason, that all Salts are Originally Acid; but because it does not belong to the present Subject; 'tis to no purpose for me to discuss that proposition; 'tis sufficient that there are solid grounds, upon which we should admit a Salt; of whatsoever kind it be, as the Principal Salt of all, and a Principal most simplo, and which being intimately United to the Principles of mixed Bodies( which cannot be perfectly resolved by any chemical Art) is the cause of the different Salts that are acknowledged at this day, and are drawn from mixed Bodies. But how different soever these Salts are, they are nevertheless reduced to two sorts, which are, an Acid and Alkali, the proportionable mixture whereof makes a third which is called Salin, and however the matter has been examined before this time, the Salts that are admitted to be in an Animal are reduced to these two. And upon this account( that we may return to our Subject) we may say, that all Acrimony depends on one of these Salts, viz. an Acid, an Alkali, or a Salt that is compounded of these two.  
Now that we may determine, if the Salt that produces the Acrimony of the Venereal Ferment is an Acid or an Alkali, 'tis necessary to make the following reflections.  
The Essential Salt of Bread and Wine, which is the Principal Aliment we use are Acids, common Salt with which our Victuals are seasoned is Acid, the essential Salt of Fruit and Plants which we eat, is Acid, the Ferment of the Stomach is Acid, the essential Salt of the Chyle is Acid, that of Milk, which in all appearance is nothing but Chyle, is Acid, and therefore that of the Seed must be the same: whence 'tis probable, that when the Seed is Fermented by the exaltation of it's own Salt, it does become Acid, and therefore the Venereal Ferment must be so too.  
'tis true, that 'tis possible for the Salt of the seed not to be Acid, because so many Concoctions that precede the generation of Seed, might entirely have changed the nature of the essential Salt, which was in the Aliment and in the Chyle; and in effect, we see that boil is made of the Food and Chyle, and yet it must be considered as an Alkali: but we must also observe, that boil is nothing else but a Recrement, which is particularly made up of some parts of Salt and Sulphur, that have been scorched by the great heat of digestions, and it principally proceeds from this strong heat, that a Salt, tho' first an Acid, is changed into an Alkali, it being thereby forcibly joined to a Terrestrial Matter; and yet it cannot be said, that the Seed is made up of a burnt Substance, since on the contrary, it ought to be the most gentle, pure and noble matter of the whole Body; and therefore if it is made by the means of an acid Ferment, 'tis necessary that this Acid remain in its Composition, although this does never appear but when the Spirits that are predominant therein, are as it were vanquished and fettered by the exaltation of its own essential Salt, which we affirm to be an Acid.  
All this is liable to many Objections, which with the Answers thereunto would take up too much time. They who are not willing to acquiesce in the Hypothesis, may if they please, suspend their judgement, and if they will be at the pains to examine it, as the matter requires, they will grant me this at least, that although what is proposed by way of objection may be true, yet that( in all cases) would not change the System, nor force of other Proofs.  
The effects of the Venereal Ferment do manifest that it is Acid, since 'tis evident that it does condense and coagulate the Humours excites sharp and piercing Pains, corrupts the Flesh, Membranes and Bones, as much almost, as other Acids; and ordinarily without any blackness or gangrene; whilst that corrosion or corruption that proceeds from Alkalis's is always attended with a blackness, mortification and a gangrene, as in the Plague, the reason whereof is, that since an Alkali is produced by the force of Heat, it is by so much the more Fiery and Caustic as the Heat from which it did proceed, was violent. And therefore it is to be considered as a potential Fire.  
Nevertheless it does not follow, but that a gangrene may sometime seize such Parts as are infected with the Venereal Distemper, when the Body is much heated, abounds with Choler, and is under a Fever at the same time, but especially when one is careless of himself, or takes hurtful Medicines, as we have seen some Patients who had fallen into ill hands, but that happens by accident, the Acid of the Venereal Ferment being in less quantity or weaker then the boil which is an Alkali: for in that Case the Alkali is predominant, and being irritated by the Acid, does produce Effects contrary to those of the Acid.  
And likewise, 'tis from this various Mixture of an Alkali and Acid, and their different proportion, whether it be in quantity or vigour, that we see in the Venereal Distemper, so great a Variety of Symptoms, and are frequently mistaken in our judgement about the nature of that Disease, and the effect of the proper Medicines: wherefore 'tis needful to make our Observations with great care and consideration, and not to imagine that all Patients are to managed after a like manner.   

CHAP. VI. Of the Signs of the Venereal Destemper, and of the Conduct that is to be used, that one may neither deceive nor be deceived.  
'tis sometime easy enough to discover the Pox, especially if one has had some experience: but it often falls out, that the Signs which appear are so obscure, ambiguous and equivocal, that it is very difficult, and frequently impossible( even for the most judicious and experienced) to know it.  
From thence it is, that so many Impostures flow. The number of those who pretend to Cure this Distemper, is so considerable in the World, that there is scarce one, even to the most whifling Journey-man Apothecary, but gives himself out for an Able Man in this respect; from which we may conclude, that for one of sufficient Skill in these Affairs, you may find many thousands that know little or nothing; and there are not a few amongst the rest, who are governed by their Interest, and who, in expectation of Half a Guinea, will persuade those that consult them, that they have the Pox, and having gained their point, treat their Patients with a thousand Sham-Offices, that are unworthy of the Character of a Man of Honour, who would rather choose to starve, or never gain one penny during his Life, then Affront the most inconsiderable and poorest Creature in the World. The Sick who know not their own Condition, or who oftentimes are ashamed to make it known to those who could Assist them, become a Prey to those Ignoramuses, or to those Cheats.  
I am resolved, in this Chapter and elsewhere on all occasions, to lay down the most certain Rules, by which the Venereal Distemper may be discerned, that the Ignorant may learn to know it; and I shall give wholesome Counsel to those who have had the misfortune to get this Disease, that they may shun the Ignorant, and avoid all Imposture.  
Heat of Urine is not hard to be discerned in Men; 'tis somewhat more difficult in Women. Of this we shall treat in a Chapter by itself, and therefore, that we may neither be tedious, nor repeat what has been said already, the Reader may consult the respective Places.  
We shall also speak of a Bubo or Poulaine, by themselves; in one of the following Chapters.  
As for the Chancre, as it is considered as a particular Pox, we shall treat of it in a Chapter apart, which 'tis needful to red, in order to get a clear and solid Notion of it.  
I suppose also, that the Reader remembers what was said in the fourth Chapter of this Treatise, for his help to distinguish the particular Pox, from the Universal; The different degrees of the Venereal Distemper were described there, which as I think was sufficiently explained, so far as to prevent mistakes about it; it being observable, that in doubtful cases we must always prescribe some Remedies by way of precaution, provided they be no ways hurtful to the Patient.  
For Example, a Nurse, by giving suck to an Infant that has the Venereal Disease, has got a Chancre in one of her Breasts, and has had it for some time, never thinking of it nor dreaming of a Cure: Although you have no manifest signs that this Chancre has infected the Mass of Blood; nevertheless seeing it is very hard to conceive, but that some Particles of the Ferment have glided into the Blood; 'tis Prudence not only to mind the particular Cure of the Chancre, but also to prescribe some Medicines for cleansing the Blood, as some doess of Mercurius dulcis mixed with a Purgative that is proportioned to the Constitution; or some slight Diet, for what remains, we shall treat thereof in the Chapter concerning the universal Cure, and that of the Chancre.  
And this is a Rule that is very useful in the Cure of the particular Pox, that is, which does only effect one Part.  
As we must notneglect the Remedies of Precaution, for the depuration of the Blood( which may have received some Particles of the Venereal Ferment) during the time that necessary Medicines are applied to the Part affencted.  
So we must not proceed to the great Remedy so long as we have no certain marks of the Universal Pox.  
I call that the great Remedy which does cause a Salivation, which I believe to be most natural and proper for curing the Universal Pox.  
I shall now give the Rules concerning the Universal Pox.  
When a great number of Signs do appear, as a Chancre, Heat of Urine, Pains in the Night, Nodes, Glands, Scabs, Chancrous Ulcers and others mentioned in the description of the Venereal Distemper, in the Second Chapter; every one may know it to be the Pox.  
If there be a Chancre and Botch in the groin, one whereof does follow upon the other, it is a sign of the Universal Pox; for 'tis very evident, that such a thing cannot happen, unless the Mass of blood be infected, according to what we said, in the Fourth Chapter.  
And 'tis the same, when there is Heat of Urine and a Chancre, or heat of Urine and a Poulaine or Botch in the Groin.  
If one of these three, a Chancre, heat of Urine, or a Poulain is accompanied with some other Sign, as some Nodes, Glands, Pains, Scabs, virulent Tetters, carries of the Bone, 'tis a Mark of the Universal Pox.  
And also when there is no Chancre; Heat of Urine, or Poulain about the Person, if it appear that he was either neglected or ill cured; if any of those Accidents supervene, as Pains, and especially about the middle of the Arms or Legs, a great Scab, that is no ways like to an ordinary one, but especially, if it happen on the Head, or any virulent Ulcer without an external Cause it may be believed to be the Pox.  
Nevertheless, a Woman may have her Whites, which may be taken for a virulent gonorrhoea, and she may have at the same time Pains, which yet shall not consequently be the Pox; and therefore on such Occasions, 'tis needful to proceed wisely in Business, and study the Discourse I shall make anon, of the Heat of Urine.  
If there be any Chancre in the secret Parts or Breasts, and also elsewhere, which is dried up, either by itself, or by Medicines, and that Chancre, after a considerable time, come again in the same place, without any manifest Cause there is some reason to believe that the Pox has passed into the Mass of Blood; but if the Chancre return in another place, though never so near to the first, 'tis so without all doubt.  
When the Body is covered with Blisters, and these Blisters are turned into Chancres, that is to say, into round Ulcers, the sides whereof are hard, and the middle somewhat white, or( as they say) resembling the Eyes of a Partridge, there needs no other proofs to assure us of the Pox.  
Pains alone over all the Body in the middle of the Members or Limbs, or Nodes or Scabs on the Head, which happen after keeping company with infected Persons, are Marks of the Pox.  
If Pains be in the joints, it requires a more strict Examination, and the Patient ought not to be treated, as if he had the Venereal Distemper, unless there be a Concurrence of more evident Signs, because that may be a single Gout, and the same is to be said of a Rheumatism.  
And herein 'tis very easy to be mistaken, for the Pox is often concealed under the Name of the Gout and Rheumatism. Nevertheless, so long as there are no other Signs, as Chancres, Virulent Ulcers, great Scabs, Nodes, or the like, though the Pains happened after an unclean Conversation, the Patient is not to be exposed to the great Remedy.  
And the Nodes that lie near the joints in Gouts, give an Assurance of the Pox, if they are not accompanied with other Signs; for such Nodes are often seen in Gouty Persons, who are not liable to the least suspicion of having the Pox.  
An intolerable Pain, and such as has not yielded to ordinary Means, has passed frequently for the Pox; but in that case 'tis upon some Asiurance that the Party has had some Chancre or Heat of Urine for a long time, from whence it is concluded that the Pox did proceed.  
But upon such Occasions as that, he who knows himself to be under those Circumstances, does very little tender his own Health, if he do not consult with the most able Men, and those whose Profession it is to cure the Venereal Distemper, will have no sense of Honour and Conscience, if they do not, upon mature Deliberation, undertake his Cure.  
And because from this Case, which does often happen( as may be seen in such Treatises as contain Medicinal or chirurgical Consultations) I draw a General Rule for the Patients, and those who cure them.  
I say that no Person ought to be undertaken, as having the Venereal Distemper, so long as no convincing Signs thereof do appear; otherwise, this were to undertake the Cure without knowing the Disease, and pretend to restore a Man to Health, without any Assurance that he is sick.  
'tis better, whenever the Signs are not certain, to stay till some one does appear, that determines the thing, and if there be any Grievances that do absolutely require some Help, they are, in my Opinion, to be looked upon as single, and it a Purgative be needful, Mercurius Dulcis may serve the turn, that being an harmless Medicine, which never has any bad Effects, if it be prepared, prescribed, and given as it ought.  
And if the Mass of Blood be sensibly corrupted, it may be depurated by easy Methods and gentle Medicines, such as promoting of Transpiration without excessive heating of the Body, for which purpose, at this day, we safely use the Volatile Salt of Vipers, or Vipers themselves, or the like.  
There are also some Cases, in which 'tis better to use gentle Means, when we are not fully assured of the Venereal Distemper.  
As for Example, After one has been cured in appearance of some Chancre or Heat of Urine; if Weariness without Labour, Loathing of all manner of Food, an Indisposition to the Venereal Action do follow, there is great probability that some Virulency is transmitted to the Mass of Blood; nevertheless, seeing these, when single, are but doubtful signs, and may very well be the Forerunners of some other Distemper, I think, he should be very precipitant, who would salivate this Person, and that therefore, gentle Means( as we have said) are more preferable.  
As also, if nothing appears but some Piles or Warts in the secret Parts, without any other sign, 'tis not to be thought the Pox, because these Accidents in that place do ordinarily proceed from a Decay and Weakness of those parts through a long and frequent use of Venery.  
But if, together with such signs, there be some Fissures, which come towards the Anus, Chancrous Hemorrhoids, and Warts in other places of the Body; in such a Case, there is sufficient assurance of the Distemper.  
If there be Chancres, with a carries of the Bone, in the Palate or Nostrils( I mean such Chancres as are perceived in Persons who have the Venereal Distemper, which differ very much from those that are called Cancers) 'tis called the Pox, which is also very hard to be cured, as we shall show in the Chapter that treats of the Cure.  
If there be a Line of Pimples that across the Fore-head, which begins with the Impression that the Hat does make, and which does not disappear with a Scab on the Fore-head, Face, or Head, or Spots in other places of the Body, provided it be known that the Party has had some ill Conversation, it may be said to be the Universal Pox.  
I saw lately a Sea-man, who, after having had a Venereal Chancre for the space of three Years, of which he was ill cured, became full of Glands or tumours, some of which broken in his Neck and Breast, just as the Kings Evil, with no other difference, but that his was the Venereal Kings-Evil.  
We frequently see Persons who have their Bodies covered all over with Tetters, very large and thick Crusts, if they have had any Conversation with Persons infected, or lay in Bed with them, or in their linen that is made Contagious by their Sweat, it is the Universal Pox.  
I have seen a young Woman, who had never known a Man, and who was covered all over her Body, the Privities only excepted, with those Crusts of an Inch thickness, and as broad as ones Hand, without knowing that she had laid with any suspected Woman; she could not be cured for the space of three years, though during that time, some who passed for famous Men, prescribed Medicines to her. I cured her with baths, Whey and Mercury, without Salivation, and within seven Months she perfectly recovered, and no Tetter or other Accident has ever returned, though it be now fourteen years since she was cured. And from that time, I have been more confirmed in the Opinion I had, that Mercury is an excellent Remedy for Tetters and the Scab; I also give it on the like Occasions, at all times, especially when the Scab is more obstinate then ordinary, and to have the Cure the more speedily done, during all the time that I was physician to the Hospital of St. James, I have usfed with good success, a Mercurial Purgative for those that had the Scab.  
I brought that Example of the Maid, only to show, that there are some Cases that require the use of Mercury, though there be no Pox at all in the Case, or when we are least assured of it, and especially when we see that Mercury is otherwise a proper Medicine for the Symptom that is apparent, and when we observe that ordinary Means do no good, whence also an Indication may be drawn, if the Symptom be not Venereal, it may at least appear to be such as requires almost the same Medicine.  
Yet I do not pretend that this Indication is either general or certain, and I am not, in this, in Mercurial's Mind, in other respects, a very great Physician, who says in his third Chapter, concerning the Venereal Distemper, That when the Disease does not yield to ordinary Medicines, nor to those that the ancients have taught us, 'tis in effect, a sign( as he says) that 'tis the Pox.  
On the contrary, I am of the Opinion, that every thing should be examined, all Circumstances exactly weighed, and a prudent Deliberation used, that nothing be undertaken but upon weighty reasons, and if, after all the Efforts that are made for knowing the Truth, no signs shall appear, that may manifest the Distemper to be Venereal, 'tis not to be meddled with under that Name, without knowing it to be of that Nature.   

CHAP. VII. Of the prognostic of the Venereal Disease.  
AFter that which we have said in the foregoing Chapters, it will not be difficult to find what is the Prognostic of the Pox, for after having examined if the Pox be original( which makes it the more hard to be cured) or contracted since ones Nativity; together with the Difficulties which may arise from the Constitution, Age, &c. And by considering what was said in the Fourth Chapter, concerning its different Degrees; it will be easy to judge, that it is so much the more difficult to cure, as it is the more rooted in the Body: And therefore, seeing the last Degree is that of a carries or Rottenness of the Bones, 'tis also that which is most hard to be cured, especially when that carries is in the Skull or Nose: I will also say that 'tis so difficult, that the Cure thereof ought not to be expected by any use of bare Mercurial Pills; and the outward use of Mercury by Friction, is to no purpose, because it never reaches the carries of the Bones, that it may destroy or remove the Venereal Ferment that adheres to those parts.  
I know by Experience, that the surest Course that can be taken about this kind of Pox, is by way of Vapour, which does reach the infected Bones; but seeing this Method is somewhat dangerous, and may have ill Consequences, it requires both judgement and Dexterity to accomplish it.  
The Venereal Distemper is not commonly Mortal; there have been some who have had it for the space of thirty years or more, and when they die, it does not so much proceed from this Disease, as from others which were contracted through the Disorder that is made by the Venereal Ferment, which does so much corrupt the Humors, that it hinders the Nourishment and other bodily Functions, or when it disgorges itself on some noble part, it does so corrode and corrupt it, that the Loss is irreparable, whence it comes to pass, that in such a Case, Death is unavoidable.  
It frequently happens, that the most part of those who have the Venereal Distemper, do not suffer themselves to be dealt with to good purpose, and that upon a great many Considerations. Some are thus backward, because they have not enough to pay for their Cure; others, because their Estate or Business do not permit; a third sort, because they are guided by Physicians who have no Skill, or if they have, yet may be mistaken, though they were the most able Men in the World, seeing the Pox is sometimes so concealed, that it is impossible to know it in all its Circumstances. There are some Bodies of such singular Dispositions, that Mercury cannot produce the desired Effect upon them, notwithstanding all the Precaution and Means can be used; those who have practise in these Matters, know very well, that they cannot perform a Cure at the first, especially those who make use of Mercurial ointment; there have likewise been some, whom Salivation by Friction could never work upon; 'tis true, that at this day, 'tis advised, when these Difficulties do occur, that we should make use of a Dose of Mercurius Dulcis, that the Salivary Vessels may begin to open.  
But I could wish that it were an easy Matter to raise a Salivation, by the Means of the Unguent, and if so, can any one be assured that a sufficient Quantity of the Mercury shall enter into the Body, to excite a Salivation to that degree which is requisite, or that it shall not enter in too great a Quantity, so as to cause a Suffocation, or some other Catastrophe, which shall be worse than the Disease.  
I am of the Opinion, that it is impossible to be exact in this Matter, because, as we shall show in the Chapter of the Cure, it does depend on the Disposition of the Skin( which in some, is too much shut, and in others too open, whence it does admit of a greater or lesser quantity of the Mercury that is in the Unguent) and not on him who applies the Unguent, how well soever he may observe the Rules.  
And therefore it often falls out, by reason of some of those Faults I have shown, that the Venereal Distemper is not cured, but only its Symptoms, and that some of the Venereal Ferment does still remain in the Body, which in process of time, does lodge and entangle itself in the Humors, in such a manner, that some Inconveniences do afterwards ensue, which do not resemble the Pox, though they have in effect sprung from it as their proper Fountain.  
From thence it is, that there are so many hereditary Diseases, so many scrofulous tumours, so many old Ulcers, so many Gouts and Rheumatisms, so many white Courses amongst Women; and in a Word, from thence arise the most part of those Diseases which we observe in Families, and which unhappily have only ordinary Means applied to them, because their Source is concealed, and the Physicians themselves many times, dare not be inquisitive concerning their Original.   

CHAP. VIII. Of Mercury, and if it be the Specific Medicine for the Venereal Distemper.  
NOT to stand upon the Etymologies that Authors have given of Mercury, nor the different Names that it has got, nor the Influence which it receives( as is thought) from the Planet Mercury, nor the places where it is found; I only say, that Mercury or Quick-silver is a Metallic liquour, the Nature whereof is as wonderful as it is singular for it is extremely heavy, seeing it comes very near to the weight of Gold( which is the most ponderous Body of any we know, and that which may be called the most fixed Body too, because it does resist the Fire more then all others) we may add, that it has a nearer Affinity to Gold than any other Metal, because it does more easily unite itself to it than to other Bodies, and goes as to a Loadstone, a considerable way, to find it, which has been matter of admiration, that there should be a Sympathy of a most active and movable Body, with another that is of all Bodies the most fixed.  
And yet the least Action of the Fire makes this liquour extremely swift, volatile, and invisible. Mercury is a gross Body, seeing it is very opacous, and it is exceedingly subtle, seeing it does penetrate the Pores of our Bodies; those of the Vessels that contain it, when ever the Fire does work upon it, and those of Gold, which are incredibly small, by reason of its compactness; and which is more, it does produce surprising and quiter opposite Effects; it heats sometimes, and does cool at other times; it does purge some by Salivation, others by Stool, and a third sort by Transpiration, and as though it were never the same thing, one Man is purged at one time with six Grains of Mercury, who at another time cannot be purged with thirty Grains.  
And 'tis this great Unconstancy and Diversity of Mercury, that has very much perplexed, to no purpose, the Heads of very able Men, who endeavoured to explain its Nature, and give some regular Definition thereof; upon which account, I have sometimes said, by way of diversion, that in this Matter, 'tis needful to follow Aristotle's Precept very closely, who said, That 
C. 8. lib. 1. Poster. &c. 1. l. 1. de Animâ.  Definitio debet esse rei immutabilis, i.e. A Definition ought to be of such a thing as does not change.  
If Mercury be a Bank that splits the judgement of the Learned, and a ston of stumbling to so many curious Men, who are assiduous in making new Discoveries, and more especially, to draw an universal Medicine from this Metallic liquour, without knowing its Nature: What can the more Ignorant pretend, who know nothing of it, unless it be some pitiful receipt, to sublime or precipitate the same with a Corrosive( which they can never any more separate) or barely to mix it with Purges or ointments, and with this they would pass for Workers of Miracles. 'tis indeed an Abuse, and one ought to use Diligence, if he cannot know the Nature of Mercury to the bottom, to find out a Method, whereby it may be, in such a manner prepared, as it may be given without danger. For if we examine the ordinary receipts thereof that are found in Authors, we shall find that all of them give us the same Song, which they borrow from one another, and that none of them does examine what he proposes to us, which will be more manifest, after I have delivered my Opinion of Mercury, and my Experiments upon using it.  
Although Mercury is an homogeneous Body, and it is as easy to separate the Principles that compose it, as those of Gold, though this principal Metal does contain such as are very closely united and well digested, and those of Mercury are not so strongly joined, because it is only a crude, imperfect and undigested Metal, or rather a Substance that comes somewhat near to a Metal; nevertheless, Reason and Experience do evince that it does contain such Principles.  
First, a great deal of Salt, but not an Alkaly, as some pretend( for there was never any such found in the Mines) but an exceeding Acid Salt, very like that which is in Sulphur Mineral, which is known by distilling it by itself, by a Method that all chemists are well acquainted with; for it is resolved into an Acid liquour, as the Acid of Sulphur drawn off Per Campanam, which would not happen, if the Salt of Mercury were an Alkali, from which there can never be so much as one drop of an Acid drawn, seeing they are opposite. And this is an evident proof of my Assertion.  
notwithstanding what has been last said, Mercury may sometimes Operate not unlike to an Alkali, but upon a quiter different reason which is, because it's Salt is Fettered by a great deal of Sulphur.  
For 'tis not to be questioned, but that there is much Sulphur in Mercury, not at all imflammable as the common Sulphur, but Mettallic, incombustible, and as pure Originally, as that of Gold; the Proof of which is, that there are no metals but do consist of Unctuous Parts, for 'tis their oil that makes them capable of extension; if then Mercury be a substance that has a near affinity to metals, as 'tis not to be doubted; it contains Unctuous Parts as well as metals. Experience does plainly confirm this, for Mercury does easily mix with common Sulphur, Fat, Turpentine and Resins, by which it appears, that they consist of substances that are alike; but the resemblance it has of common Sulphur is yet greater, because, this having a great deal of an Acid Salt in it's composition, has a double relation to Mercury, that is to say, by it's Salt and by it's Sulphur.  
There is also without all question, contained in Mercury a subtle and volatile Earth, a Metalic Water, which makes it Fluid, and a Spirit which is it's proper Mercury. I shall not stay to give the Proofs of a Matter that is so very conspicuous in itself.  
We shall now endeavour to explain what is observable in Mercury, together with the effects which it does produce.  
It is ponderous, because it abounds with Salt, and experience does show, that liquours are by so much the more heavy, as they contain the more Salt; the same may be observed in all sorts of Wood; which is sufficient to persuade us, that it is likewise Salt which makes metals ponderous. Some believe, that it is the Sulphur that does produce this quality, and I also think, that this is not useless, but that it does much contribute thereunto, by uniting the Salt to the other Principles; but it cannot be the Principal cause thereof, because itself is very inconstant, and there are some Bodies which are surcharged with Sulphur, which weigh nothing in comparison with others, which cannot be said of Salt.  
And it will not evince the contrary, to say, that this great quantity of Salt which we admit, cannot be drawn either from metals or Mercury; for this reason does only prove our want of Skill, for we see, that in Glass, there is a great deal of Salt Kali, and yet it is so entangled in the Flint, which they use for making of Glass, that it cannot be separated from it, by any ordinary Art, much less can it be done from Mercury, which flies away with the least heat.  
It is Volatile, and the least fire does make it evaporate, because, seeing it is Liquid, the fire does easily penetrate into it, and divide it into such small Parts, that it can then raise it into Vapours, and reduce it into that State, in which it was at first; for Mercury is nothing but a Mettalic Vapour, which is raised by the Central heat of the Earth, and condensed in the Surface, by the external heat. It is true, that this Mercurial Vapour, meeting, in its way with some Sulphurs, with which the Mines abound, does, by joining therewith, compose a mixture that makes the Mineral Cinabar, not unlike that we see in Artificial Cinabar, which is only a mixture of Sulphur and Mercury, that may be easily separated by putting filings of Iron into the Cinabar, and then distilling the whole in a Retort.  
It is Opacous, because it has strait pores, and such as never can be disposed in a right Line, without changing the Nature of the Mercury, being composed of Spherical Particles that are in a perpetual motion.  
It is penctrating, because it does easily divide itself into Atoms, and is in a continual motion.  
It resolves Tumours, and dissolves Phlegm, because it is penetrating, and composed of an Acid Salt and of Sulphur, which are very proper dissolvents, because Phlegm contains much of an Acid, wrapped up in Unctuous Matter; And therefore there is a great Affinity betwixt the one and the other: and Tumours proceed from a Phlegm, that is made thick and hard by an Acid, and therefore, the Mercury does dissolve it, and the resolution that afterwards happens, does proceed from the natural heat and motion, which does assist the Mercury in its Action.  
It does produce could Diseases in some Persons, and is a great Enemy to the Brain and the Nerves, especially when it is taken crude or ill prepared, because it's Mettallic Sulphur, which is crude and indigested, and by the Action of heat draws other Parts with it, does turn into a Vapour, that always joins with some Volatile Acid, which it finds in the Body, and this Vapour, being carried through the Body, with the Blood, and especially to the Brain, does settle there, by reason of the coldness of that Part, as it does also stay in the Nervous parts, which are likewise could; and fixing itself in their Pores does obstruct the passage of the Spirits, and stop their course; And hence it is, that those who take Mercury out of the Mines and who are employed in the Works, do commonly fall into a palsy, by reason of the ill effects of the Mercurial Vapours.  
On the contrary, it does heat some others, by Accident, when it is unskillfully mixed with Purgatives, that are proper for causing heat, or when it is prepared with sharp Ingredients, that make violent Irritations, which raise an Effervescence in the Humours; or when that Acrimonious preparation, and that Purgative have procured, without Discrimination, a avoidance of the serosities which were in the Blood; for in that Case, the Active Principles of which the Blood is composed, not being tempered and restrained by those serous Parts, making nearer approaches to, and being altered by one another, produce that great heat, which follows upon a Fermentation against Nature.  
It does excite Salivation, because, when it has once entred into the Body, the heat does reduce it into a Vapour, and seeing there is an Acid in all sorts of Bodies, those Acids do easily join themselves to the Mercury, which in itself, does contain an Acid Salt, as we have said, and those Acids being in Conjunction therewith, make it Corrosive, in the same manner almost as the Acids of Vitriol and Sea. Salt do communicate a Corrosive quality to common Sublimate, which, as is most manifest to all, has no force, but by the points of Salt, which are joined thereunto, in Sublimation, without being able to dissolve it entirely; for the Mercury does retain its round Eigure, as may be seen by a Microscope( and those Salts are by their Points, fixed in the little Globs of the Mercury, end-wise,) so that the Mercury is the more easily carried to the head, where it does, with no difficulty stay, by reason of the could that it meets with there, and because it does join itself more readily to the Phlegm then to any other Humours, upon the account of the Acid which it contains, and the Salivary Vessels do always contain a Phlegm that is the matter of the Saliva, the Mercury does dissolve the same, and for that reason, it is more abundantly evacuated by the Salivary Vessels, and seeing the Phlegm does attract the Mercury, which is become Acid, as we have said, the extremity of the Salivary Vessels is Corroded, and likewise the mouth is thereby all Ulcerated, whence it comes to pass, that the Salivation or Flux is increased, and that an extraordinary quantity of Phlegm, does Issue out of the mouth till the same Phlegm, by its continual Course, has washed these Ulcers, and drawn to itself the Mercury that had lodged there, and then, by degrees, it does occasion a closing and healing of the Salivary Vessels, which makes the Salivation to cease.  
Sometimes Mercury does only Purge by stool, and 'tis thought, that, in such a Case, it does meet with some Alkalious Matter, which makes it let go those Acids, and precipitates the Mercury into the lower Parts, not unlike to what is observed, when Sublimate Corrosive, dissolved in common water, is precipated by the oil of Tartar, or by its Salt only, which I believe may be done; but I have observed, that it is more difficult to excite a Salivation in Melancholy Persons, then in those that are Choleric, or of any other constitution, and that those Melancholy Persons are frequently Purged by stool, which gives me ground to believe, that seeing those Persons abound in Acids, and that the Acids are more fixed in them, then in others, those same Acids may very well stop the Mercury, and hinder it from ascending to the head, whence it comes to pass, that being more heavy, because surcharged with those fixed Acids, it is forced to pass by stool; so we see, that when there is a dissolution of Mercury made with Acids, as the Spirit of Sulphur, the Spirit of the oil of Vitriol, of alum, &c. those Acids are the more fixed, and the Mercury is sublimed with the greater difficulty, and if it be taken at the mouth after a convenient Dulcoration, it does Purge more by stool then by Vomit, and is not proper to cause Salivation.  
It does, without doubt, proceed from the defect of those Acids, that the Mercury not finding enough thereof, to make it sublime to the Head, or to precipitate it downward, is carried off by Transpiration only, and that there are some Persons who can neither be Flux'd nor Purged with Mercury.  
From thence it is also, that one may be well Purged with a small quantity of Mercury, at one time, and that a considerable quantity thereof shall have no effect upon him at another time, for there is not the same quantity of Acids in the Body, at all times, which depends on the Diet, the Season and the Passions, together with many other circumstances which every one may easily observe.  
From which we must conclude, that Mercury does act in so many different manners, according to the different dispositions of the Person who receives it, or the different manner of it's preparation.  
And finally, it is from thence that we are to draw a Consequence, that is the most important of all others, that those who adventure to give Mercury, without knowing it's right Preparation and the effects which it is capable to produce, as well as the Constitution of their Patients, do a great injury to themselves, and a greater to the Sick, whom they unhappily expose to a great number of Accidents and Dangers which they cannot prevent, so long as they are not capable of knowing them.  
It remains, that we examine, whether Mercury be a Specific Remedy for the Venereal distemper.  
A Specific Medicine is that which does cure a certain Disease, at all times, in all places, in all ages, and in all degrees; and seeing we have shown, that the Venereal Ferment is of an acid Nature, that it fixes on the Phlegm particularly, it may be said, that Mercury is the most fit Remedy of any we have yet known, for the Cure of the Venereal Distemper; for if it is not become absolutely incurable, by the defect of the Person who is subject thereunto, as by the Corruption of some noble Part, or the Complication of some mortal Disease, I believe it may be completely Cured; but seeing I have made it appear that Crude Mercury is very dangerous, as well as that which is Corrosive; the former, because it is an Enemy to the Brain and all the Nervous Parts, as we have formerly shown; the latter, by Irritations, Corrosions and other Depredations which it makes in the Stomach and elsewhere; I can advice no body to use either of them, although I know very well, that some have been Cured both by the one and the other, because those Cures were causal, and if there happens to be Success at one time; the Sick are nevertheless always exposed to danger, or to the fury of some other Accident worse then the Venereal Distemper; I shall make this more manifest in the following Chapter, in which I shall show the common way of using Mercury, and after having demonstrated the danger that is apparent upon such a manner of using it, and the small assurance that one can promise himself, of curing the Sick that way, I shall establish another Method which may be practised at all times, and is incomparably more gentle, more easy and more certain.  
In the mean time, although this Method has many Advantages above the common way, yet the Sick are exposed thereby to some inconveniences, when Salivation is to be excited, which ordinarily cannot be so effected, but that there will be Ulcers in the Mouth, tho' we have sometimes seen gentle and protracted Salivations without any ill Accident to the Mouth, which proceeded from a good management of the Mercury; and the like Success may happen by taking what time is needful for the Cure.  
But seeing there is no better medicine; known then that, and that all others that have been hitherto used, are ineffectual, or in all Cases, tedious and most dreadfully troublesone, we are forced to use it. We may also say, that Mercury is an admirable Medicine for many other Diseases; the wonderful Effects that we perceive every day of Mercurius dulcis does prove the Excellency of this Remedy, and there are so many Able Men at this day who make Experiments on Mercury, that we may reasonably hope, that some or other of them will at length, Communicate to the World, some extraordinary preparation thereof, which will make it manifest that Mercury is a sovereign Remedy for the Venereal Distemper; whilst I expect this, I shall ingenuously declare, that having of a long time observed the different Effects produced by Mercury( that is prepared a thousand ways) in a great Number of Persons subject to the Venereal Distemper, whom I have cured; I have found by Experience that Mercurius dulcis sublimate is a Remedy that will never do any hurt, if one knows how to use it, but it is also so weak, that how little soever the Pox has taken root, it is not to be expected that it can be cured thereby; yet there are some Persons of so delicate a Constitution, and whose Humours are so fluid, that they may be Cured with twenty or thirty Doses thereof, provided it be mixed with a Purgative, and convenient Vehicles. I have often, on such occasions, prescribed this receipt.  
Take of Mercurius dulcis sublimate well prepared, and the Powder of Vipers, of each six Drachms, crystal of Tartar in fine Powder, and Scammony in Powder, of each half an Ounce, the Trohisicks of Alhandal, two Drachms, mix them altogether with so much Powder of Pale Roses as may suffice to make up a Mass of Pills, whereof a Drachm is to be taken, or one Drachm and a half, with your ordinary Diet, Exercise, &c.  
I have also found by Experience, that we may use with very good Success( even in the case of an inveterate Pox) the Golden Precipitate, the preparation of which is as followeth.  
Take one part of fine Gold, and three parts of Mercury revived from Cinabar, make an Amalgam of both in the ordinary form, and put this Amalgam in a fit matras, well luted, digest them over a fire, with a gentle heat at the first, that the Mercury do not ascend and separate itself from the Gold, increase the fire by little and little, till all the Mass shall be changed into a read Powder, and which will become of a dark read Colour upon continuance of the heat: That it may be well done, it is necessary to digest the Ingredients for three Months together, after which it will be sufficiently fixed, so as it may be safely given. The Dose is from three to twelve Grains for the strongest Persons, mix it with a convenient Purgative, for Example, with the Polychrest, or the Catholic Pills.  
I cannot enough extol the virtues of this Medicine, and he who shall use it skilfully, will not repent the time he bestowed in the digesting of it, and no sooner shall he have made the Experiment of its virtue, but he will reject all other receipts which are found in Books.  
It does ordinarily purge by Stool, and sometimes by Vomit, it must not be washed before it is used, otherwise it will loose some of its Acrimony which was communicated to it by the fire, without which it will not purge as it ought.  
It may be taken every third day, unless the Patient have a looseness or Purgation in the Morning in which it is to be taken; in which case, it is to be given on another day when it is stopped; in the Intervals the Patient must be let Blood less or more, according as his Blood abounds, or is corrupted.  
When there are Nodes or Tetters, or the Body is dry, baths must be used, for Emollition of the Parts, for humectation and increasing of the fluidity of the Humors, and bringing them to such a Condition, as they may easily yield to the Medicament.  
All the difficulty is to determine, what Number of Doses is requisite to each Person that has occasion to use it, for although the Accidents have wholly disappeared, it does not follow, that the Patient is perfectly recovered, for there still remains some Ferment in the Parts, or in the Blood, from which the Pox will in a short time spring up again, when it has not been altogether rooted out, as we have sometimes seen, when we had less experience: And therefore to be sure, some Dose of the Medicine ought to be taken after all the Accidents have quiter vanished, that no leaven be left in the Blood; a Decoction of Vipers may be given for some days, by which means, there will be an insensible transpiration that shall carry off all the rest of the Venereal Ferment, and that shall so perfectly cleanse the Blood, that the Patient will be beyond the danger of a relapse. It is truly said, 

Heureux celuy qui pour devenir sage;  
De maux d'autry, fait son apprentissage. i. e.   

That Man is happy, who grows Wise  
By other Men's Calamities.    
There is no Pox but what may be Cured by this medicine, such a degree of it only excepted, where there is a carries or Putrefaction of the Bones of the Nose or Skull, which cannot be thoroughly effected, but by a method that is extremely troublesone and tedious. And therefore, in this case, it is better to salivate the Patient, not by the means of an Unguent, which I would advice no body, because of its ill Consequences, which we shall show in the next Chapter, besides that it cannot do any good in such an Exigency, for this reason, because the Mercury does not penetrate so far as the putrefied Bone, to destroy the Ferment that infects it, but this Salivation must be procured by Fumigation or Vapour for which we shall show the best method.  
I leave all other Medicines which were used by the ancients, as Guiacum, Sarsa-parilla, Sassafras and China-root and also Box, which has been used of late, by some modern Artists, because no body doubts of the insufficiency of these Remedies, and every one is satisfied that there is no Cure to be expected from them, and they serve for no other purpose but to heat such Bodies, as require them, for attenuating the Phlegm, by making a Ptisan thereof, for their ordinary Drink.   

CHAP. IX. Of the Method of Curing the Venereal Distemper, and that Salivation is the most short and the most certain way, provided that the Mercurial Unguent be not made use of to excite it.  
IT must be agreed upon by all, that the Pox may be cured by all such methods, as will effectually evacuate the Phlegm, in which the Venereal Ferment does particularly ly, and which will depurate the Blood; And therefore, Sudorifics, Diuretics, Vomits, Purgatives and Salivation are the means that are the most proper and convenient for that end.  
But after all, I must freely declare, that although these Remedies be all good, yet Salivation is to be preferred to all the rest, as being the best, the shortest, the surest, nay I will say, the most natural method: for if we observe the economy of our Body and the ways which Nature has provided for the evacuation of superfluous Humours, we shall find that she voids the Excrementitious Matter that remains after the first digestion, with the more gross Parts of the boil and the Pancreatic juice, by stool; the superfluous Serosity( after it has served as a Vehicle for the Nutritive juice, with which all the Parts of the Body are nourished) partly by the Veins, and partly by insensible Transpiration; the menstrual Blood by the Matrix; the Hemorrhoid Blood by the Hemorrhoid Veins; some other particular Excrements by particular Passages, as by the Ears, the Hair, by Expiration, &c. And, Lastly, as to the Pituit or Phlegm, the Salivary Vessels are appointed for the Evacuation thereof: The likeness that is betwixt the Pituit and Saliva is well known; They being the same Matter, and only differing in consistence; for the Saliva is the first Matter of the Pituit, the Saliva is continually swallowed down, and when it is in the Stomach, it grows thick, and in the digestions, it does intermix itself with the most Viscous Part of the Aliment and is afterwards carried into the Gut called Duodenum, where it does continually mix itself with the boil and the Pancreatic Juice, which make a Fermentation together, by the means of which it does so fall out, that the more gross Parts are precipitated, or forced downward with the Excrementitious Matter, to be evacuated by stool, and the purer Part is carried by the Venae lacteae to the Heart, and from thence, by the Arteries, to all the Body, with the Blood, from which it is grandually separated by the Conglomerated Glands that lie on either side of the Mandibulum, and from thence it is carried by the Salivary Conduits, to the Mouth, in which the Pituit that descends from the Brain, does mix with it, there being a considerable quantity thereof, produced in the Head, by reason of the coldness of that Part, which Pituit does insensibly pass through the Infundibulum, from whence it is Filtrated, through the Pituitary glad, into the Mouth, so that it is easy to comprehend how the Phlegm is carried from all places of the Body into the Mouth, and that by it's natural motion; And therefore, in a Salivation, which is excited by Mercury, the Phlegm being put in a quicker motion then ordinary, does easily draw to itself all the impurities of the mass of Blood, and especially the Venereal Ferment, because of its Acidity, as we have said elsewhere, and by that means the P●●●d is completely purified.  
It is true, that it seems that the sweat may effect the same; which certainly would be so, if we had a Sudorific, that could without any violence, separate the Pituit from the mass of Blood; but seeing it is Viscous, it is very difficult, to reduce it into Vapours by any Remedies that we know, to the end that it may transpire through the Pores of the Skin; and if one will needs attempt it, he must heat the Body very much; whereas the Maxillary Glands have naturally a Consiguration fit for making this separation, which is enough( without using other reasons) to prove, that an Artificial Salivation is only an imitation and an Acceleration of the natural.  
They also who are conversant about this Matter, know by experience, that it is more difficult to stop a Flux then to raise it, and therefore they who give it by the Unguent do always expose the sick to a mortal danger, because they cannot measure the quantity of Mercury, which ought to enter into the Body, for putting that Pituit in motion, which is not precipitated, and opening the Pituitary Vessels by little and little; whence it does come to pass, that a great deal thereof does enter into them at once, which makes the Pituit and the rest of the Humours ascend to the Throat and Head, and produces Inflammations, which are ready to choke the Pati●●●, a thing which does very frequently fa●l out; upon which account, every one concerned ought for the future, to think of such means for exciting Salivation, as may be gentle, and safe.  
This did oblige me to apply myself with all diligence to search for another kind of preparation of Mercury then what is to be found in Authors, by the means of which I can excite a Salivation, by giving, at the most, half a Drachm thereof, to the strongest Person, in four or five Doses, which will also Purge by stool, and a little by Vomit, Urine and Transpiration; and will give motion enough to the Phlegm to pass by the Mouth for as long a time, as when Salivation is excited by Friction, but in a manner that is imcomparably more gentle, all the trouble which ensues upon Friction, being thereby avoided, which to speak the truth, is so great and intolerable( besides the danger to which the sick is exposed) that if those who have the Venereal Distemper knew the same, I am verily persuaded, that there is not one of them amongst a hundred, but would rather choose to endure the Disease all his life time, though it should be never so short, then meddle with such a mischievous Remedy.  
That I may make it appear how intolerable that method is, I shall show in what manner those that have the Pox are commonly treated when they are to undergo Salivation by way of an Unguent.  
I suppose that the Patient hath no other Disease in complication with the Pox, which would require distinct Remedies, that ought to be first given, and that the Venereal Distemper is only to come under consideration.  
I do likewise suppose that the Person that is to undergo the Friction is of a good and strong Habit of Body, to engage with the Remedy, without any great Preparation, for the correcting of the evil qualities that are predominant in his Blood.  
Now the Patient is to be prepared, First, they give him a Glister to dispose him for bleeding; the next day they let him Blood; and afterwards repeat bleeding, according as the Patient is more or less Sanguine or plethoric. They purge him at least, three or four times, for carrying off the more gross Excrements; and after that, they Bathe him for eight or ten days, to make the humours fluid, to open the Pores of the habitude of the Body, and to make the Mercury pass more easily through the Skin. Some, for the better opening of the Pores, give a Sudorific, putting them three or four times in a Sweat, placing the Patient under a Canopy, archet, or any other Instrument proper for that purpose: And in the mean time, they give him a Ptisan to drink, to cause heat, and put the humours in Motion, and withal diminish his Diet gradually, till he be wholly reduced to Broths.  
After that, they begin Friction, with the Mercurial Unguent, which they have prepared before: This Unguent is ordinarily prepared according to this form, or some other that may be reduced hereunto, buy putting more or less Mercury in it. Take six ounces of Quick-silver, beat it in a Marble Mortar, with it's cover of Wood, with three or four ounces of fine Turpentine, when the Mercury is extinguished, add thereto a Pound and a half of Hoggs-lard, and one ounce of the oil of Laurel; the Unguent must be beaten a long time, for dividing the Mercury, the beating being to last for the space of seven or eight hours, this is called the Gray, or Neapolitan Unguent, which is the same that the Apothecries sell for the Scab, with this difference, that the latter has a less mixture of Mercury.  
This Unguent is then taken, and after having made a great fire, with a Screen before it, they make the Patient warm himself in his shirt, that the Unguent may make a farther entrance, and they rub it on him, for that time, very well, from the Soles of his Feet to above his Knees, and from the Wrists, to his Shoulders, using in this Friction, two or three ounces of Unguent; after that, they put the Patient in a Bed very warm, obliging him to keep very close and covered, having, before that, so ordered the Bed and all the Room, that the Air is shut out, and the wind can have no entrance, keeping a good sire on, by Night and by Day, even when the whether is but moderately could.  
The next day following, they put the Patient in the same Posture, and making use of a little more of the Unguent, they rub all his Body( the Head, the fore-part of the Breast and Belly being only excepted;) and afterwards commit him to his Bed warm as before.  
On the third day, they repeat the same, and if they do not perceive the marks of an approaching Salivation, they continue the like method, by a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth Friction, and if after all, the Signs of Salivation do not appear, they think it the best way( instead of using more Frictions which may prove mortal) to give the Person, a small Dose of Mercurius Dulcis by the mouth, to determine or begin the Salivation.  
Then it is, that whilst the Mercury, afcends to the head, the Patient finds pricking Pains in his Mouth, which are followed with Ulcers therein. And because the Phlegm is ordinarily carried thither with a Rapid Motion, it does draw along with itself the other humours, which inflame all the Head and Throat, and put the Patient in danger of being suffocated: yet if the Salivary Vessels be opened, and the Pituit sufficiently Fluid, it does run swift enough, and two or three Pounds of the Saliva are every day evacuated at the mouth.  
This Salivation, that it may answer the design, ought to continue at the least for the space of fifteen, and at the most, thirty days; and during that time, the Patient is to eat nothing but Broth, some yolks of Eggs upon the remission, and a Ptisan made with Guiacum which is something offensive to the taste.  
They give the Patient a Glister every other day, and sometimes Purge him gently, especially towards the end of the Salivation, which being over, they give him a formal Purge, they let him again Blood, and put him to sweat, according as he is more or less dried by the Salivation.  
To this it must be added, that the Patient is not to stir out of Bed, and that his linen must not be shifted for seven or eight days, and that he must wear the same shirt that he had on when the Friction was begun, which would be no matter of great hardship for some old soldier, who might possibly wear a dirty and lousy one much longer time; but for those Gallants who pretend to neatness, I verily believe, that they need no other Article of Pennance from the most rigid Confessor.  
What has been said of this Matter, is supposed to be in a Mans Case; for, as to the Female Sex, if their monthly Courses do not proceed regularly, proper means are to be used to regulate them, before the Remedy be applied, and if the Woman be with Child, there are Measures to be taken, with regard to all particulars.  
I also supposed, that the Persons who receive the Friction, is of a good Habit and easy to be cured; for seeing by this Method, the Mercury has entred into the Body without any proportion, and that this Entrance does depend upon the Disposition of the Pores of the Skin; It does frequently happen that those Pores are very much shut, and that only a very small quantity of Mercury does enter, which not being capable to dissolve the Phlegm, which is over all the Body, does still leave some Venereal Ferments behind, upon which occasion the Pox does quickly appear again. And when the Pores are too large, a great deal of Mercury gets an entrance, which does attenuate the Phlegm with too great celerity, and draws it to the Head, and to the Salivary Vessels, with the other Humors, whence not only a danger of Suffocation does ensue, as we have said, but also this precipitated Motion does hinder the equal distribution of the Mercury, through all the Body, and the resolution of the coagulated Humors, which the Mercury would otherwise perform therein; so that in this Case there can be no Cure any more expected; it is so far true, that a great or small quantity of Mercury does signify nothing in this Method; and nevertheless, it does not depend on him who does manage the Friction, to make it enter more or less, as we have said, but wholly on the Disposition of the Pores; whence we may draw this Consequence, that those who undergo a Method of Cure by the Unguent, are not restored but by accident, and that they are more obliged to their good Constitution than to the Physician who prescribes the Medicine.  
That will not happen, if Salivation be excited by taking Mercury at the Mouth, because in this case it may be entertained as long as it is thought necessary, and also augmented, when we perceive that it is not copious enough.  
This way of Salivation is not dangerous, because it is excited by little and little. It is more gentle, because there is one part of the Matter discharged, which the Mercury does evacuate by Stool, Vomiting, Urine and Transpiration. It is not troublesone, there being no need for all that dolorous Fatigue to which the Patient is exposed by means of the Unguent, and by this Method, he may get out of his Bed when he pleases. It is short, because this Remedy is given to all, and the time from the giving of the Mercury, to the appearing of the Salivation, being ordinarily but six or seven Hours, is sufficient to prepare the Patient, if need be; and this Preparation is only some Bleeding, which is done to those who stand in need of it, and some Broth made of Herbs, to those who are of a hot Disposition of Body; the Salivation being once over, there is a Purge given with some Royal Ptisan, and the Work is done.  
It is true, that when the Skin has been infected, some gentle Sudorific may be given by way of precaution, viz. a Glass of the Water of Carduus Benedictus, with a little Cinnamon Water, and some drops of the volatile Spirit of Sal Armoniac, to be drank every Morning, for three or four days together; Which is an admirable Remedy for procuring Sweat without any Trouble, in a manner that is the most gentle that can be imagined. If it be advisable to sweat more copiously, there may be six grains of the volatile Salt of Vipers added thereunto.  
This Method of procuring a Salivation by Mercury taken at the Mouth, is not unknown to able Men. It is also practised in places of greatest renown. Some make use of crude Mercury, which is extremely dangerous, for Reasons mentioned else where; others, white Precipitate, which I do not believe to be without danger, because it is prepared with Aqua Fortis, the salt Spirits of which do unite themselves so strongly to the Mercury, that they cannot, by any means, be again separated, though it may be sweetened with washing, and the Spirit of Wine, and may be also prepared without Aqua Fortis; but since I have not seen these Medicines tried, and have great cause to suspect them, I will not determine any thing concerning them.  
I only know, that Mercurius Dulcis sublimate, which some use, is not in the least dangerous, by reason of its preparation, which Experience has confirmed to be very good: But seeing it is necessary that a great quantity thereof be given to each Patient, there having been one Person that had the Venereal Distemper in the first Degree, who took more than six hundred Grains, before his Cure could be effected; I shall not make use of such a Remedy so long as I can make a Salivation with a Mercury that is more sweet than that, and in so small a quantity, that the Work may be very easily completed, by taking fifteen or twenty Grains, and at the most thirty, for the most robust Persons, in three or four Doses.  
To make it appear that the thing is very easy, we must make the following Observations, which shall withal, most clearly contain all the Process that I use in my way of preparing Mercury.  
First, to proceed upon sure Grounds, we must banish every thing that is sharp, for the Mercury does find enough of that in the Bodies of those who have the Venereal Distemper; there is also enough in all Bodies, which joins with it, and gives it force enough to open the Salivary Vessels.  
Secondly, Seeing Mercury is a great Enemy to the Brain, and to the nervous Parts, when it is crude or ill prepared, it must not be given crude, nay, not with a Purgative, which sends it off by Stool, for this is not the way to procure a Salivation, because it cannot be doubted but that there is a way to prepare it so, as it shall not be dangerous, as we see for example, in Mercurius Dulcis, which is known by Experience to be a harmless Remedy.  
Thirdly, That in what manner soever Mercury be prepared, it can never be so divested of its own Nature, but that it will always keep a Character of its first Form, which it can easily resume in all the ordinary Preparations, and that it is good to divest it as much as is possible, at least, as much as is necessary, that the Mercury may not be revived in the Body.  
Fourthly, That for this reason, the Mercury must be given in as small a quantity as posfible; and it is to be observed, that when Friction is allowable, as it is in Persons of a good Constitution, there does very little Mercury enter into the Body, although the Ungu●● does contain much of it; and it is so far thus to be presumed, that there are some judicious Persons who have maintained an Opinion, that in this case, nothing but the single vapour of the Mercury does enter into the Body, and if one had the Curiosity to gather the Mercury that remains in the linen, there would be the same weight found, that was put in the Unguent at the first.  
Fifthly, That although the Mercury be made fit to go to the Head, and raise a Salivation; yet this Salivation shall do no good, if it be not performed by such a motion as is called Critical; that is to say, that the Venereal Matter must be separated from the Mass of Blood, that it must be conveyed out of the Body by the most convenient Passages, which will not happen, if the Mercury be not a double Mercury, which may exert its Activity from all Quarters, and be distributed through the whole Body, in conformity to the motion of the Blood, that it may be in a Capacity to seize upon the Venereal Ferment in all the parts of the Body; and therefore we must think it to be much better, if we could join it inseparably by way of Fermentation, to some domestic Spirit, that is well acquainted with the Affairs of the House, to conduct it through all those Stages.  
Sixthly, When this is once effectually performed, we shall only have a Medicine which will be more proper for Transpiration than for Salvation: And therefore there must be an Assistant that is no Stranger to this Kind, which must be made fit to produce all these necessary motions.  
Ignorant Persons may imagine that I talk to be seen, and not to be understood; but Men of reason, who by Study and Industry, do in some measure know the Nature of the Subject about which I treat, will understand me at the first reading, and do me the Right to declare in my Favour, that it is not possible for me to explain more clearly and faithfully, the preparation of a Medicine of this importance.  
And for such Persons it is, that I have written this Treatise; 'tis just, that they receive the Benefit of it, and that, in the mean time will invite others, by their Example, to Industry and Study. Qui nucleum ex nuce vult excorticat nucem. i. e. He that would have the Kernel must crack the Shell. I further declare, that neither Ambition nor Covetousness moved me hereunto. What I offer has a Foundation in reason, which assisted me in the finding of it, and this reason is seconded by a very fortunate Experience.  
By this means we may cure the most inveterate Pox, I have already excepted that Degree of it, where there is a carries of the Bones of the Nose or the Skull. Yet we may reasonably think it sufficient. Nevertheless, from the time that I first discovered this Anti-venereal Medicine, although I have cured a great number of those who had the Venereal Distemper, I have not yet had enough of such Persons, who had their Bones so very much putrefied, as to afford me an Occasion of establishing by Experience, an absolute Assurance of the thing. No body, in these days, does suffer himself to be eaten to the Bones by the Venereal Distemper, they look to it, in some reasonable time, without exposing themselves to the Fatality of the last Degree, but because I have formerly seen many, even of this sort, who could not be cured, either by Mercurial Pills or Friction, which were given them with no small Rigour; I have, with good success, used on the like Occasions, a Fumigation or Vapour, with Turpentine or Balsam of Peru, the Crust of Bread in Powder, and a little Mercury, and thereby raised a happy Salivation, proceeding gently at the first. Yet this Method is not absolutely without Danger, although Mr. silvius de Leboe has said of it, that the Fumigation is the safest way; it is easy, by making the least Observation, to be of a contrary mind, and I shall demonstratively prove, that this Remedy cannot cure all sorts of Pox, and if another way can be found for curing the carries of the Bones, I would not advice any one to use this; but seeing this Method is not used in this Country, and there are very few who knows how to practise it, I shall no longer insist on it.  
I do not here prescribe any particular Method for Infants, because I know they may be very well cured without salivation, by the only use of Sublimate, or in all Cases, by that of the Golden Precipitate.  
Neither do I particularly consider as yet, the Case of Women, who have irregular Courses, because we know by experience, that the Remedy I have given does infallibly provoke the Menstrua, and that it does not in the least divert Salivation: We have also observed, that the same Remedy does provoke the hemorrhoids in Men who are subject to them, without diverting Salivation.  
And upon this account, it ought not to be given to Women with Child, for fear of an Abortion; but the Solar Precipitate is to be used, and that with great moderation and prudence, and in Case the Cure cannot be completed before she is brought to Bed, by reason of her being near her Time, which will hinder the Continuance of the Remedy, it may be conveniently done afterwards, and in giving it to the Mother, the Child will be cured at the same time, if some Grains of the Volatile Salt of Vipers be given to it from time to time. Or the Mother may be salivated in that Case, if the Physician pleases.  
There is no need of a separate Chapter for a Description of the Medicines that may correct the ill Accidents that frequently follow upon Salivation, that is made by the mercurial Unguent which, to speak the truth, are so dreadful, that they are enough to strike us with Horror, when we red them in Authors. You may judge how intolerable they are to the Patients, and what a Tragedy they are to the Spectators: For if the Medicine be well ordered, there will no ill Accident ensue, there needs only a common Gargarism to qualify the Ulcers of the Mouth, yet this is not to be used too often, unless there be an Haemorrhagy, least the Ulcers be closed up too soon, and so the Salivation have not a due time for its Continuance, which ordinarily, is at the least fifteen, sixteen or twenty days, or at the most thirty days, which happens very seldom, unless when it is thought necessary to be entertained so long.   

CHAP. X. Of the Chancre.  
I Speak not here of Chancres that are the Accidents of the Venereal Distemper, because these are cured by the same Remedy, that is proper for the Pox, but only of those that are the particular Pox, the Ferment of which has not been carried farther than the part which at first received it; and whereof we have spoken sufficiently in the preceding Chapters, with respect to the Theory; so that it is needless to repeat the same thing. As for the practise, I differ somewhat from some Authors whom I have seen, not from a Spirit of Contradiction towards any Person, but because I learned by Reason and Experience, that this sort of Chancres may be more successfully and easily cured, otherwise than by the ordinary Methods.  
They allege that all Chancres of the right Sort, ought to be Cauterised, and then brought to Suppuration; and for this purpose, they make use of read Precipitate, of Lapis Infernalis, or the common Caustic, or Sublimate Corrosive, and they cicatrise the Chancre with a Suppurative, after that they use the Ordinary Remedies, and in the mean time they Purge the Patient frequently with Mercury, for the depuration of his Blood, because they suppose, that it would be very extraordinary for the Chancre to remain in a Part, for any long time, without transmitting insensibly some Particles of the Venereal Ferment into the Mass of Blood, which may produce the Universal Pox, if it be neglected, and besides that, those who use the greatest Precaution, give Diaphoretics to the Patient, after those Remedies. All this is attended with an insupportable Pain, and unspeakable trouble to the Person, besides the unreasonable time which it requires. I am confident, that if Vigo's plaster, with a little Mercurius Praecipitatus dulcis be applied to the Patient, and if some Doses of the Solar Precipitate be given to him; The most inveterate Chancre shall be safely Cured without pain, without trouble, and in a little time.  
If there be a Phymosis or a Paraphymosis( that is to say, the former, when the Glans is so enclosed within the Prepuce, that it cannot be uncovered, or the latter, when it is so uncovered that it cannot be again covered) but the latter especially, being attended with an Inflammation and a Pain; the same Solar Precipitate, after once Bleeding, is an Effectual Remedy.   

CHAP. XI. Of the Heat of Urine and the Virulent gonorrhoea.  
IT would require a Book by itself to treat of this kind of Pox exactly; yet all sorts of Persons meddle with it, and there are those who pretend that they can easily Cure it with Water and Sugar, others with a bare Royal Ptisan, which is to be taken every day, till the Cure be completed, a third Sort, with the Salt Polychrest or crystal Mineral; in a Word; every one does flatter himself with the Fancy that he has found an Excellent and easy Method for Curing this Disease.  
Yet they who are most Conversant about those things, and who are to be Credited, are obliged to aclowledge, that if there are sometimes Heats of Urine that may be easily Cured, there is also a great number of others which are hard enough to be Cured; and that oftentimes the great Disease might be more easily Cured then any Venereal Heat of Urine whatsoever, especially, if it be not well looked to at the beginning, and if the specific Remedies be neglected, or ill administered.  
I have seen no approved Treatise of this Subject, but what does give Rules that are to be observed, for a good Cure. And therefore, I shall not here particularly treat of them. Yet I hope, within some time, to give some singular Observations upon this Subject, which I would have willingly done in this Impression, if they had been ready for a publication.  
Yet that this Treatise may not be altogether Defective, I shall here lay down a Method of practise for ordinary occasions.  
I do not repeat what I have said in the fourth Chapter, touching the Theory of this particular Pox: for although I did not very much enlarge upon it, you may there find that which is necessary for the Knowledge of it's Nature, and the manner of it's Production.  
First, If the Person be of a very hot Temper, and Plethoric, and the Pain, and heat of Urine considerable, there is no danger in Bleeding him, and repeating it as often as it shall be thought necessary; The Blood must be taken in the Arm, to make a true revulsion, and not in the Foot, which would draw the Humours more upon the part.  
They were formerly, very scrupulous to let Blood, and especially, in the Arm, because they believed, that that might attract the virulency into the mass of Blood, and thereby occasion the great Pox, but they were undeceived, after they saw that both reason and experience do manifestly justify Phlebotomy. The circulation of the Blood does plainly show, that if there were any danger in letting of Blood, the practise would be as dangerous in the Foot as in the Arm; and experience shows, that bleeding in the Arm does so much contribute to the Cure, that it is the means of preventing the Pox, because it cools and suppresses the inflammation, and thereby hinders the progress of the Venereal Ferment, it disburdens the Sanguinary Vessels, and so makes way for Purgatives and Diuretics to operate with the greater Efficacy.  
Yet I do not allege, that all sorts of Patients ought to bleed, but only those who are hot, Sanguine and Plethoric.  
I advice withal that the Virulency be not neglected, and that the specific Remedy, which is Mercurius dulcis, be not forgotten, which is sufficient for this Disease, if it be given with convenient Purgatives, as Cassia, fine Catholicon, or Confection of Hamech, and repeated from time to time, as necessity shall require.  
Nevertheless this Remedy will be ineffectual, or very slow on some occasions, as when the hot Urine is roapy, which happens when the Inflammation is very great, and the Patients suffer great Pains, that cause a Convulsion in the Nerves of the Yard, which by dilating themselves in their breadth, do retire toward their Original, and so make the Yard crooked or twisted; In this Case it will be found, that one Dose of the Solar Precipitate seasonably given, will be a very safe and effectual Expedient.  
In the mean time, care is to be taken, that the Patient may be Cooled, which is one of the first things to be done, and 'tis to be remembered, that if he be heated from the beginning, by a Purgative, the Malady becomes thereby very Rebellious, and the Symptoms are exceedingly increased; or the virulent Matter shall be thrown upon the Stones: Emulsions are the best means that can be used for cooling, after which, if it be thought convenient, there may be given some very cooling Prisan for Example, of whole Barley, the Roots of water-lily, Sorrel, Marsh meadows, and of Liquorice, Linseed, the could Seeds, white Poppy Seed, and some lemon juice, all boiled together in a proportionable quantity of Water, which must be always a great deal, because the Patient must drink as much of the Ptisan as his Stomach can bear.  
When the accidents disappear, so that the virulency is mitigated by the means of Mercurious Dulcis, that the running is not so great, and becomes pretty white, if an Ulcer be thought to be in those Parts that are the Seat of the Gonnorrhea, there must be put in the Prisan a little of the Salt Polychrest, or Crystal Mineral, or which is much better, the fixed Salt Armoniac, which is a gentle and powerful Diuretic for cleansing Ulcers, after which, to consolidate the Part, there must be given, for some mornings, in a little Wine, twelve or fifteen drops of a mixture made by distillation, of two parts of the Balsam of Peru, one Part of the Ethereal Spirit of Turpentine. Or, this following preparation of Antimony may be used, which is a good remedy for drying an Ulcer; it stops the running of matter, gently and insensibly, and also expels the remainder of the virulent matter, by sweat, when it has not been sufficiently taken off by preceding medicines.  
Take equal Parts of good Antimony, and of Harts-horn calcined to a whitness, mix these two substances very well upon Marble, put the mixture in an open Earthen Vessel, set it in a Wind Furnace, you shall calcine them, by stirring the matter continually with an Iron Spatula, till the smoke thereof be well over; after which the whole is to be put into a Crucible with a large bottom; calcine them therein over a great fire, for the space of two hours; you shall have a Powder, white as Snow, and which for some great and peculiar advantages, is preferable to the vulgar Diaphoretic Antimony; which will be manifest by experience: The Dose is, half a Drachm with the Conserve of Roses, or any other conserve, or water of the like nature, as you please.  
No injections are to be used, if they may be avoided, but sometimes we are at last obliged to use them, and that we may have one that is proper and safe, this is to be made use of.  
Take a handful of Hors-tail, as much of read Roses, and five or six Flowers of a Pomegranate, or their peeling in proportion. Let all be boiled in three pints of Claret Wine of a good Body, to the diminution of the half, then strain it through a wisheth to free it from the grosser Parts, and make an injection with it three or four times a day.  
All these Remedies will be unprofitable, if the Patient does not observe good Rules for governing himself, he must be continent, use no violent exercise( especially what may prove troublesone to the Reins, such as much walking, riding) avoid drinking of Wine, Sauces, play, watching, and the like.   

CHAP. XII. Of a Bubo, or Poulain.  
THE manner how a Venereal Bubo or Poulain is produced has been spoken of in the fourth Chapter, we need only add here, that seeing the Poulain is produced in a critical manner, it is not to be imagined, that it is a perfect Crisis; and when such a tumour does appear in the groin, which makes a Poulain, although the Venereal matter of that Poulain has been separated from the mass of Blood, and the Blood is entirely cleansed from it, yet there does always remain a great deal more, and even when the Poulain does suppurate very well, there is some time required, before the mass of Blood can be freed; and possibly this will never happen, unless there be great care taken, both to draw forth the matter by external Remedies, as by Cupping Glasses, and Vesicatory plasters, and likewise to give frequent and strong Purges by Specifics; besides a Sudorific diet, which some prescribe, the better to consume the Venereal Ferment, with which the whole Blood is infected.  
And upon this account, we ought to look upon this sort of Pox, not as particular, but Universal, because the virulency thereof does reside in the Blood, and it is upon this ground, that I am of opinion, that it does require the same Remedy. I further affirm, that by that means, it shall not only be Cured with all imaginable assurance, but likewise in a much less time, then according to the ordinary method.  
To understand this well, we need only observe, that two or three Month's time is often times requisite for perfecting the Cure of a Poulain. When it begins to appear, they apply Cupping-Glasses to it, to draw the matter outwards, and stay it in that Part, which puts the Patient to a great deal of Pain; after which, they apply very attractive plasters or Cataplasms, and very frequently it is a Month before that Bubo come to a state of suppuration, especially in those who are of a could and melancholy temper; for in those that are sanguine it does suppurate more easily: when the Purulent matter is of some maturity, they open the Bubo with a lance or Cauter, and dress it as they do other tumours, till the suppuration be over, which is of a very long continuance: in the mean time they Purge the Patient frequently with Mercurial Pills they confine him to a Diet Drink and after all, there are some who make him sweat a little, or empty him by Diuretics.  
If the Solar precipitate be used every third day, and Vigo's plaster with Mercury, be applied to the Bubo; Poulains shall be Cured without danger, if what we said in the Eight Chapter be observed, where we spoken of the Golden Precipitate.  
By this method you will find that Poulains are resolved, and the consequences are not to be feared, because, according to the Precautions that we have laid down, the Blood is so well depurated, that there remains no Venereal Ferment; and no Man can upon any good ground oppose this method, because, it may be often observed, that Poulains do disappear,( what ever may be pretended) after all kinds of suppuratives have been essayed, and the Patient has endured a long Fatigue. And therefore, there is a necessity, to use the same methods as in the great Distemper, or, if it be not done in that time, those who differ from me, are constrained to use this way, when they see the ordinary signs of the Pox appear. Those who have practise about Poulains, know very well that what I say, is true, and if they would be at the Pains to reflect on their own method, if they would take a view of the sick whom they have not recovered, or have cruelly tortured, and if they were disposed to quit the prejudices with which they are Blinded, they would quickly embrace what I propose, seeing it is a more certain, gentle and short way.  
But if a Poulain comes to suppurate of itself; it would, in this Case be very foolish, to drive the Venereal matter into the Body, to evacuate it by stool, or any other way than by the Part itself; which ought to be cauterized or lanced, without expecting any thing but the Maturation of the abscess itself. The matter must be let alone, to run so long as it can of itself, by keeping in the passage a Tent of Lint only, and the like upon the plaster which we have mentioned, and in the mean time, the other Remedies of which we have spoken are to be given, as if the Bubo had not been opened.  
I declare, it is very much to be wished that Buboes did suppurate of themselves, and also, that if instead of the drawing plaster, the matter could be so ordered that all the Venereal matter, with which the mass of Blood is infected, might be evacuated through the passage that is made after suppuration; the sick would receive some comfort, under the extraordinary pain which they suffer, and the wearisome time that is taken for the Cure: But to suffer much, to be patient beyond patience, and to take an extraordinary Number of troublesone medicines, all this, I say, is sufficient to open the Eyes of those who are most stupid, and oblige them to consider what I propose to them.  
I know very well, that it is a matter of some difficulty, for those who have been prevented with a contrary method, to accommodate themselves to this: reason, how Pregnant soever it may be in itself, has ordinarily no power over those who are not in a condition to use it themselves, or( if they be) are engaged by their interest, not to change; the continuance of the Disease, a great Number of Cataplasms, Pills, Ptisans maintain the Trade of not a few in the World, and are valuable enough to purchase some Lucre, which is fairly advanced by the Pains that the sick endure, who being ignorant of the Nature of the Disease, do never think it great but when the pain is great, and when the Cure takes a long time: Nevertheless, because there are some able Men in all places, who harken to reason, and who are so laudably disposed, that they suffer themselves to be convinced, I hope, that there may be some one of such found, who will grant me one thing at least, which is to examine impartially what I offer; and when he shall find that what I affirm is not contrary to reason; it must also be inquired, if experience does agree with reason; by this means he will judge rightly, and if there be any cause for it, he may give me the lie, but I have no reason to be afraid of the charge, because, before I offered any thing to the World, I did three things, I reasoned, I practised, and frequently reflected on my own experience.    

Some Curious PROBLEMS: IN WHICH The finest Questions that can be proposed concerning the Venereal Distemper, are resolved.  
And which may serve for an ILLUSTRATION Of the former TREATISE.  
By the same Author.  
Printed in the Year, 1689.   

AN ADVERTISEMENT Concerning the PROBLEMS.  
I Have observed no particular Order in publishing these Problems. I have left them in the same order in which I writ them, which is as they occurred to my Thoughts. There are some of them which cannot be perfectly understood without reading some Chapter of the preceding Treatise. It is true, that I have taken the Pains to refer the Reader to the Chapter, by quoting such as has a Relation to the subject Matter of the Problem; the rest, being more easy, may be understood by every one at the first reading. I have affencted an extreme Brevity in them all, yet not neglecting what was necessary to make me be understood, that those who have occasion for any Decision upon some of these Problematic Questions, in which they shall find themselves interested, either for themselves or for their Friend, may be quickly satisfied without Impatience; and those who shall red them for Curiosity only, may not be disgusted with the tedious Length, to which Problematick Questions are ordainarily d●●wn. And moreover, I have, for this reason, frequently in the Problem, omitted the opposite Opinion; for a Problem is properly a Question which has Reasons Pro and Con; because I follow so clear, so simplo, and so natural a Method for resolving those I give, that the opposite Opinion may be easily refuted with those Reasons which I use.   

Problem I. Whence it proceeds that the Venereal Distemper remains concealed in the Body, without any In●●●● veniency, and that it does afterwards appear with all its Signs.  
WE have shown in the Fourth Chapter, that a Venereal Ferment, in its ordinary progress, does stick by the external part that first receives it, and from thence does communicate itself to the Mass of Blood, by reason of a Fermentation which does multiply it, by changing the neighbouring parts into its own Nature, and when the Mass of Blood is infected by it, it is carried into all the Body by the Arteries; but because the Medicines that have been taken by a Person that has the Venereal Distemper do cleanse the Blood by an Effer; vescence, or because Nature does so provide, that in that case there shall be a continual Ebullition; it does often times fall out, that a small quantity of that Venereal Ferment is, as as it were, precipitated into some part of the Body, which shall be more disposed to receive it then other parts are, as we see in Rheums, and that Ferment losing its motion in those parts grows fixed and dormant, having but little action elsewhere, because of its small quantity, whence it comes to pass, that it can remain concealed for the space of ten, nay, even thirty years without any sensible mark of its presence, till it shall happen that being excited by some particular Cause, or exalted by a foreign or natural Heat, it is put in a Condition of corrupting the adjacent parts, and these corrupting others, till at length the Mass of Blood be infected, and the Ferment is distributed through all the Body in that manner, where it does produce those Accidents that are as dreadful as they are surprising to a Person who finds himself punished with the Venereal Distemper, without having given any occasion for it for so many years past.   

Problem II. To know if a Man or a Woman, who have the Venereal Distemper, may have Children born free from that Disease.  
BY the first Problem it was shown, that one may have the Pox, and yet the Mass of Blood not be infected, because the Virulency is discharged upon some one or more parts of the Body, and in that case there may be Children begotten and born that shall not have that Disease, because the Arteries do carry the Seminal matter to the Testicles; this Opinion is founded on Reason, and Experience does confirm it every day; for we see that there are very sound Children born of Parents subject to the Venereal Distemper; it is also very probable, that the Mass of Blood may be infected with the Venereal Ferment, but in such a manner as that the Seed may not be corrupted thereby; as when for Example, the Ferment is as yet very much fixed, or not equally mixed through all the Blood, for the seminal Substance which is the purest and most spirituous part of the Blood, may be separated without drawing any Particle of the Venereal Ferment along with it. And according to this we see every day, Parents who are subject to sundry other Diseases, beget sound Children, and who are altogether free from the like Distempers.   

Problem III. Why a Woman, who has not actually the Venereal Distemper, does nevertheless give it.  
IF it be true, as Reason and Experience do show, that the Venereal Ferment is produced by the Corruption of many Seeds, received into the Matrix of the same Woman, as we have explained it in the fifth Chapter, it is easy to comprehend, that if after a Woman has known many Men, another keeps Company with her, at such time as the first Seeds shall be fermented( yet without making any impression upon the Matrix of the Woman, and who by consequence has not the Pox, although she has the Cause near enough) that Man, I say, shall carry off with his Yard that Venereal Ferment, and shall frequently free the Woman from the eminent Danger she was in, of having the Pox within a very little time,   

Problem IV. Why, amongst several Men, who lie with the same Woman that is infected with the Venereal Distemper, one gets a Heat of Urine, another a Chancre, another a Poulain, another the great Pox, and others get no Harm at all.  
THis Problem would be soon explained, by alleging, that it depends upon the different Constitution of those Men; but to give a Physical Reason for it, it is to be shown wherein that Disposition does consist. And therefore it must be observed, that when the Venereal Ferment that is contained in the Concavity of the Matrix is very volatile, and the Passage of the Yard is large enough, that Ferment being excited by Copulation, has the force to penetrate to the Prostate and Parastate, to produce therein that Disposition which does cause a heat of Urine; sometimes it is yet more volatile, and goes into the Mass of Blood, where it does produce the great Pox; but if the Heat be great enough to expel that Virulency by a critical way, the Matter being carried to the Groin, a Poulain does grow there; but if the Venereal Ferment is less subtle, it stays on the outward parts of the Yard( especially in those who have taken no care to wipe the same after the Venereal Act) and produces some Chancre, and those who take care to wipe themselves, who have their Yard not so porous and hot, who otherwise are very active in the Affair, or who come after the Matrix is cleansed by those who went before, receive no hurt, although it does often fall out, the first gets free, and the latter is catched, which may then happen, not only for some one of those Reasons, which we have already given, but also because the Venereal Ferment which is in the passage of the Matrix is less penetrating, the Person being could, or because it is imbibed in the Pores, and the small Glands of that Passage, in which it lies, as it were dormant, whence it comes to pass, that the first came well off, not having put the Ferment into a sufficient Motion, for to make it penetrate, and that the latter does put it in an Agitation that will serve to transmit a share of it to himself. To conclude, many other Circumstances may concur upon the whole Matter, which may be easily found out by the Observations that we have already made.   

Problem V. Why a Woman, who has a Heat of Urine, does not always give to him who has to do with her, the like; but( it may be) a Chancre, or a Poulain, and so the same, when she has a Chancre.  
THis Problem is very near wholly explained by the former, wherein it was made manifest that the quality of the Venereal Ferment, and the manner of receiving it does make all that difference. Thus, when it is volatile, and the Passage of the Yard is open, it does insinuate itself into the Prostatae, and Parastatae, to produce heat of Urine therein; if it stays upon the outward Parts, it causes some Chancre there, and so of the rest. This position being laid down, it is easy to comprehend, that a Woman who has a Chancre in the Passage of her Matrix, shall nevertheless communicate heat of Urine to a Man who has knowledge of her, because the Motion and Heat shall so attenuate the Ferment of the Chancre, that it shall easily penetrate into the Passage of the Yard; and on the contrary, if she has a Heat of Urine, she may easily give a Chancre, because the Venereal Ferment of that hot Urine shall stay upon the External parts of the Yard.   

Problem VI. Why there are some who catch the Venereal Distemper at the first amorous Congress, and others do not take it after many, though they have always had to do with the same infected Person.  
BY a rational Consequence, we must conclude, that if one be more than ordinary hot, the natural parts very porous, and the Venereal Ferment exceeding active, the Venereal Distemper may be got at the first Coitus. This may happen to a Man who has knowledge of an infected Woman, when she has, or is very near having her Months, for then the Venereal Ferment, joining itself to the menstrual Ferment, which is natural to all Women who are in a Condition of having their Months, does produce a more vigorous effect, which therefore becomes the more malignant, and when there are contrary Dispositions, and one does likewise take care to wipe and wash himself, and to make water after the Venereal Act, such a Correspondence may be frequently maintained with one that has the Venereal Distemper, without any evil Consequence. But this is not to be relied upon, for there are so many particular Dispositions that do concur in this Case, in such a manner as it is impossible to avoid them, or prevent them any other way then by ꝯtinence, which is the only Preservative against the Venereal Distemper, as we shall show in the following Problem.   

Problem. VII. If there be any infallible Preservative against the Venereal Distemper.  
LIbertines have been, for a long time, searching for some preventing Medicine to Arm them against the Venereal Distemper, that they might continue their dissolute Life, and yet be without the reach of that Disease. We also see, that some Authors do give Prescriptions for this purpose; from which some promise themselves marvelous Success, and are very confident, that by that means, Men may take their swing, keep as much Company, as they please with Persons infected with the Venereal Distemper. By this, all Men of sense may easily judge, that such Authors are Cheats, who to purchase Credit at the cost of others, do venture all at once, and so prostitute their Conscience, which must needs be struck with horror, for teaching a Remedy in favour of a debauched Conversation; Seeing, without all doubt, there is a vast number of Persons, who are Libertines by Inclination, who would go to the Stews, if they were assured that they should not catch the Pox, as there are a great many young Women who would not value their Virginity, if they were secured against a Big-belly. And therefore, those who show such Expedients, shall be the Authors of such damage as they can never repair: But further, all such Preservatives, to speak properly, are nothing else but Impostures, which yet have gained Credit with some silly Persons, who suffer themselves to be imposed upon, by the exceeding woeful Reasons, that they allege, for Conciliating Authority, to that pretended Preservative; the most conclusive of which is such, as at most, does only prove the possibility of such a Remedy.  
There is no poison, but what has a proper Antidote, nor a Disease without it's own Specific, and all the difficulty is to know these Antidotes and these Specifics. We have heard of Men who being fortified with good Antidotes did so vigorously defend themselves against poisons, that they suffered no Alteration from them, and still we see some Persons who have natural Talismans, and carrying such about them, go amongst those who are infected with the Plague without any danger of being touched with it; we saw in the time of the last Pestilence, a Man who was called Vinceguerre, who carried a Vial full of a Composition, which possibly is not unknown to us, and with that he went amongst those who were sick of the Plague, with contiual safety both to himself and those who accompanied him, though he exposed himself every hour to that greatest Fatality; Why( say they) may there not be found a Preservative of as considerable a virtue, with respect to the Venereal Distemper. I am clearly of the mind, that we may be hereby induced to believe, such a Preservative to be possible. But if it be considered, that although God is pleased to sand the Plague frequently amongst Men, for the Punishment of their Crimes, yet he does not execute his Anger upon them all equally, and therefore, besides his Grace which is the principal and sovereign Preservative, he is pleased very often, to make use of natural Means, which the Philosophers call Contraries; so the Plague has it's contrary, without all doubt, which can extinguish it, as water quenches fire, seeing it is not in the power of Man to defend himself against manifold external Causes, which the Physicians call Non-natural, as for Example, from the Air, which frequently transmits the Plague and many other Epidemical Diseases; it is very reasonable for us to think that God has Created contrary things, that there may be a possibility of our Cure, so long as he suffers the natural Causes to continue in their ordinary Course; But, as to the Venereal Distemper, seeing it is commonly the reward of the Sin of Fornication, which God has always had in Abomination, as we have said in the first Chapter, and that that Distemper may be avoided by ꝯtinence, which is the true Preservative, it seems that it was no ways necessary that God should create a Specific Preservative against that: And for those, who being innocent, have contracted the Venereal Distemper, as Infants in their Mother's Womb, or on the Breasts, Virtuous Women who have got it from their dissolute Husbands, and those good Husbands that are trepanned by their extravagant Wives; It is sufficient, that there are assured Medicines in Nature, and in the hands of skilful Artists for the Cure of that Distemper.   

Problem. VIII. To know if a Woman who has her Courses can give the Venereal Distemper.  
THere is frequently a specious Pretext used to palliate the Crimes of such Women as have given the Venereal Distemper to their Husbands, by telling them, that the mischief has therefore befallen them, because they would needs embrace them whilst they had their Courses: There are some who tell some Old Women's Stories, or some Passages taken out of Cardan, John Baptista Porta, or the Book of Albertus Magnus, de secretis mulierum. They ●lledge, that the Vapour of the Menstrua does slain Lookingglasses, so as no Art can remove the infection, that Women kill the Plants that are near them, and Chickens which they look upon, at that Juncture, and many other Rapsodies, which are only for diversion or amusing silly Souls who believe every thing that is  told them, without examination, or regard had to the Credit of the Author that does propose it. Some others, that they may be more serious will relate on this Subject of Women's Months, sundry Passages of the Old Testament, and especially in the fifteenth Chapter of Leviticus: which is, to say the truth, a very impertinent Quotation, because they ought not to mix sacred things with profane, when there is no occasion for it, and the Scripture is so mysterious, that we must refer the exposition thereof to those whose profession it is to handle it, who are of a more refined Character then that of a mere Naturalist. Therefore to resolve our Problem, it must be maintained, that Women's Months never flow but by reason of a Fermentation, and the menstrual Blood attracting that Ferment which has been gathered in the space of one Month, in the small passages of the Matrix, it cannot be, but that the Blood must needs ferment some other Bodies, which may be disposed for it, but above all, the menstrual Blood of some Women who have their Humours very sharp and corrupted, has much more force then that of other Women: It is by reason of this Acrimony, that we see Men have Heats, Blisters and small Ulcers on their Yard, after having known some Women otherwise very sound, in the time of their Months; but such inconveniences cannot possibly degenerate into the Pox, for as we said, in the fifth Chapter, that the Seed of one Man and one Woman can never degenerate into a Venereal Ferment; because that would be against the Laws of Nature; It may be also said, that it would be no less against the same Laws, for Women's Months to give the Venereal Distemper; none could escape the Pox, and Women that are Big must infect the very Child in their Womb; the Women themselves must have it, and to conclude, a great many Absurdities would follow, which are obvious to the consideration of every one, so that it is needless to stay any longer upon this Problem.   

Problem. IX. To know if the Stars can be the Cause of the Venereal Distemper.  
IT is very pleasant to observe that some Authors do attribute the Original of the Venereal Distemper to the Stars. When some do allege, that the Pox does proceed from the Conjunction of Jupiter, of Mars and Saturn, of the Sun and Mercury in the House of Libra; and others, from the Conjunction of Mars and Venus, or Jupiter and Venus in the House of Libra, it would seem, that they believed, that the Stars went to the Bawdy House, and that there are some Intrigues that prove fatal in their Consequence, amongst them; I do not know why they have not also alleged, that they might get the Pox too, and communicate the same to Men, by their influences, seeing the one would follow from the other. I do not know, which is most ridiculous, for Authors to own, or me to go to refuse this Opinion; for, to be short, it requires but some grains of good sense to conceive, that it is an extravagancy to believe, that the Stars, in any disposition whatsoever can produce the Venereal Distemper: They who are of the Opinion of Des carts and sundry other New Authors, will quickly agree to this, because those Influences, according to them, are nothing else but illusions and the imaginations of Astrologers, that we are only to reckon upon the Sun, whose Heat and Light is as much as all the Stars put together( which have nothing of themselves) and sublimary Bodies are capable of such an Influence: but Heat and Light cannot be the Cause of the Pox: And other true Philosophers, more knowing in this, then Des carts, who, besides Heat and Light, did aclowledge in all the Stars, Influences that are capable to produce powerful Motions in all inferior Bodies, and also to change a Man's Temper, and by that means, stir up divers Inclinations in them, nevertheless leaving the will free, over which they have no direct or absolute Power, as the Angelic Doctor has very well explained it: those Philosophers, I say never reckoned the Venereal Distemper in the Number of Astral Diseases; but that we may not go too far, but seriously resolve our Problem; we must say, that it is very little to the purpose, to have recourse, in the explication of any Effect, to an occult Cause, when there is a manifest one at hand; seeing, if they will needs persist in the Assertion, that the Stars are capable of producing that Effect, they shall yet never be able to know, by what virtue they do it, and therefore, they will be obliged to say, that it is an occult Quality, which is the same, as if they should say, it is, they do not know what; although, they will not, through either Vanity or Stupidity declare their Ignorance in plain English; and yet we may clearly explain( as we have done in the fifth Chapter) the Cause of the Pox, as proceeding from the Corruption of Seeds in the Matrix of a Common Woman. Again, it is demonstrative, that the Cause of the Pox is a true Ferment; that a true Ferment must be of the Nature of the thing fermented; that all the parts of the Body being subject to the Venereal Ferment, the Ferment must have an affinity with them; that there is nothing that has so great an Affinity as the Seed has to all the parts of the Body, seeing they are composed of it, that the Seed can easily degenerate into a Venereal Ferment, after several Men have ejected it into the same Matrix, which cannot happen without many Circumstances that can never be attributed to the Stars, in any disposition whatsoever. Besides, if those pretended Conjunctions of the Stars could produce the Venereal Distemper, which they cannot do, we must wait for some Ages before it can happen, because, a vast interval of time is requisite, before such Conjunctions do happen; I will likewise add, that we might reasonably hope, that when those Stars should happen to be in a contrary Position, all those who have the Venereal Disease should of necessity be Cured, which is a fancy which can possess no Man who is not either in his Sleep, or out of his Wits.   

Problem. X. To know, if( when one has the Venereal Distemper, an Ague does seize him, and goes off in a Crisis) the Pox may be likewise Cured by the means of that Crisis.  
IF it be considered, that there is during the Course of an Ague, an extraordinary Motion and Fermentation in the Mass of Blood, and that, for a perfect and Healthful Crisis, it is necessary the natural heat do mitigate, digest and separate the impurities in the mass of Blood, from that which is pure, and that impure matter be at last expelled out of the Body by a rapid motion; it is easy to conceive, that, if the mass of Blood be, at that time, infected with the Venereal poison, it must of necessity, follow the motion of the other impurities, and that consequently, the mass of Blood shall be freed from them; and this is consonant to experience: But if the cause of the Venereal Distemper does not lie in the mass of Blood, and that the Venereal Ferment is stopped, or fixed to one or more Parts of the Body, as in some Nodes, Exostoses, or Ossicular Tumours, carries of the Bones or the like, 'tis very Plain, that the only Motion and Fermentation which does happen by the Crisis, in that Case, cannot possibly dissolve it, and that on the contrary, the heat of the Fever, by dissipating the Fluid Parts, may harden the Nodes the more, and drive the putrefaction more into the Bones, by Augmenting the Acrimony of the Ferment which corrodes the Parts.   

Problem. XI. To know, if the Venereal Distemper may be defined, a General corruption of the mass of Blood, which is ordinarily contracted, by reason of a venomous Vapour transmitted during the congress.  
THose who give this Definition, and make it pass for an exact one, have not well observed the Rules of Logic, because it is evident that this Definition cannot agree to the Venereal Distemper, which we called particular, in which the Venereal Ferment is fixed to the Part which received it, and has not as yet glided into the mass of Blood; which consequently cannot be corrupted thereby; but if they have not observed the Rules of an exact Definition, they have made it manifest, that they have not consulted experience, that shows every day, that Blood not altogether corrupted is taken from Persons that have the great Distemper, and that one may have the Venereal Disease without such a corruption, whether it be because the Mass of Blood has rid itself of the Fermentby discharging it on the Flesh, Membranes or Bones, or because the Ferment has passed insensibly into the Parts without making any stay in the Blood, as we have shown in the fourth Chapter. What I here affirm is common, and so well known by those who have any practise, that the time is but ill spent in impugning a Definition that destroys itself.   

Problem. XII. Why a Chancre on the Prepuce is more dangerous for giving the Universal Pox than one that is in the glad.  
ALthough every Chancre, in what place soever it be, may communicate the Universal Pox, experience has confirmed this, that a Chancre on the foreskin, if it be never so little neglected, or ill ordered, will be incomparably more infectious, for giving the Universal Pox, then a Chancre in the glad; some have said, that the Prepuce being a double membrance, the Venereal poison does easily glide betwixt, and that from thence, the passage is free, for it is to be carried into the Body; and this reason is not ill, if it be added, that seeing the membrane is more sensible then the Flesh, because it is a Nerve extended, and that so it has more Spirits; these Spirits do volatilize the Venereal Ferment, and render it fit to Penetrate, and that this Penetration and Subtilization are Augmented by the Pain, and the continual Irritations, that are produced by the Acrimony of the Venereal Ferment, whence a certain contraction does ensue, that is natural to all sensible Parts, that shrink when any thing that is sharp or pungent does touch them; and if we observe, seeing this contraction is made towards it's Original, which is a Nerve, whatever is most liquid in the Part that does shrink, is pressed out, as it were, and pushed inwardly; which makes the Explication of this Problem: whereas all this is not to be found in the glad that is a Fleshly Part, more soft and more moist, wherein the Spirits do not so much abound, the Pain is less, the Humidity does qualify the Ferment; and the suppuration of the Chancre, which happens more often therein, by reason the Blood in that Part, does continually draw to the out Parts, some Part of the Ferment which is in the Chancre, whence it comes to pass that it does not give the Pox so soon.   

Problem. XIII. To show, if the Venereal Distemper was known to the ancients.  
IT is highly probable that the Venereal Distemper is as ancient as we shewed it to be, in the First Chapter, that is, that it began before Noah, because it is certain that there were common Women from that time; and seeing there have been such, ever since, in all times; 'tis evident, that there has been also this Distemper in all succeeding Ages. Yet this is a thing which can only be proved by reason; for we have no undoubted Authority for it; seeing it ought to be taken, either from the Holy Scripture, or from Authors that treat of Physic, who might give a faithful Relation of this Disease; I say Authors who treat of Physic, for all other ought to be reckoned incompetent Judges of this matter, in which they know nothing; and if any one has meddled with it, beyond his Line, he could only writ by Hear-say, and some popular conjecture, which is commonly false, or at least Subject to suspicion.  
As for the Scripture, I do not think that there is any single place that speaks more clearly then that of Ecclesiasticus, which I quoted in the First Chapter, which says, that he that cleaveth to Harlots will become impudent, Months and Worms shall have him to Heritage, which cannot be easily interpnted, but of the Morphew and the Pox; Nevertheless, because that Passage is not express, there does need some inferences to prove it from thence, as we have done in our Chapter, for though we red in many places in the Old Testament, in Liviticus, and Numbers, that all those who lost their Seed were separated from other Men, this does not prove any thing that is like the Venereal Distemper, because in all the same Places, we observe, that the same course was taken with Lepers, and Women who had their Monthly Courses, or some other of Blood, who were all, as well as Eunuchs and Bastards( though these were upon different reasons) deprived of their liberty of entering into the Temple, as were also those who had touched the same Women and Lepers, or their clothes, all which Persons were declared unclean for some time, and could not come near to the Sanctuary of the Lord, till they were first purified according to the Law, which extended so far, as even to banish out of the Camp, not only those who were sick by reason of an involuntary emision of Seeds, Lepers and Women who had their Months, but also, those who had nocturnal Pollutions in their Sleep, as we red in the 23 Chap. of Deuteronomy, for the Law does declare; Castra Domini sunt sancta, and Dominus in medio corum, i.e. The Lord's Camp is holy, and the Lord is in the midst of it. And therefore, we cannot from thence form any Argument, to prove the Antiquity of the Venereal Distemper, and so much the rather, because an involuntary emision of Seed may happen sundry ways, without any Venereal indisposition, as all the World does know.  
Besides those places we have quoted, it is also Written in the beginning of the 24th Chapter of Deuteronomy, that it was permitted to a Husband, who took an unclean Wife, to put her away, but the word that the Scripture does use( which is this) propter aliquam faeditatem, i.e. for some uncleanness, is too general to allow a liberty of drawing any Consequence from it, in favour of the Venereal Distemper, for saeditas does signify Filth, Dirt, stinking Matter, Corruption, Deformity, Ugliness, Spots, Pollution, Turpitude and the like; so as I do not in the least see, that this expression propter faeditatem, does rather signify, that he might put her away, upon the account of the Venereal Distemper, rather than for ugly, or pissing the Bed, or for a stinking Breath, or being deflowered, and the like.  
There can therefore be no evident proof drawn from Scripture, much less are we to follow the example of a certain Doctor of Physic, who, to prove the Antiquity of the Venereal Distemper, did say, that in the 29th of Deuteronomy, there is mention made of a Disease, the Symptoms of which resemble those of the Pox, and to establish this upon a very solid ground, he did quote the 25th and the 29th Verse of the same 29th Chapter. Yet 'tis evident, that that place does no more speak of the Venereal Distemper then it does of the amphitheatre of Tholouse, and that in the whole Book of Douteronomy there is nothing like it. The Reader by this may judge of the rest.  
If there be therefore any express Authority, it ought to be taken from Physical Authors, and those of ancient times, and for that purpose, I known some quote Hippocrates, Galen, Salicetus, Gourdon, who( as they pretend) had the knowledge of the Venereal Distemper, which yet is false as we must reckon to the first Two, and those who affirm it, are either Men of small Credit, or they have not red Authors.  
It is true, that those Authors have spoken here and there, of many Symptoms that are common to the Venereal Distemper; but it is as true, that these Accidents are also found without that Disease, as the loss of Seed, the Falling off the Hair, Ulcers of the Mouth and the Privy Parts, Scabs, Blisters, Condylames, Warts, tumours, &c. We know that Hippocrates and Galen have made mention of those Accidents, sometimes of one and sometimes of another, but it cannot be found they ever attributed these Symptoms to the Venereal Distemper, that they ever spake of any Venereal Ferment, or that they knew, that these Accidents could proceed from that virulency, which is produced by the impure Conversation of Men with common Women, or by any other contract; and therefore it may be said, that the Venereal Distemper was not known to them.  
There are some who believe that Hippocrates has described this Disease, with all its Symptoms in lib. 3. Epidem. Sect. 3. of Marinel's Impression, where there are all the Symptoms of the Pox, as Blisters over the Body, tumours, Abscesses and Putrefaction of the Bones, Pains, Falling off the Hair from the Head, Ulcers in the Head, Mouth and Privy parts, &c. All this( say they) does signify the Pox: And Valesius, the famous Commentator on Hippocrates, at his beginning of his Fourth Commentary that he made upon the Epidemies, had reason to say upon the same Subject, that at the Reading of those Symptoms, there is no physician but might be easily assured, that the Venereal Distemper is meant in that Place; Take Valesius his own Words, What physician can hear of one that has got filthy Ulcers in his Head, baldness of Head and Chin, without a Fever, Ulcers in his Privities and his Throat, and lastly, who has his Bones made bare of Flesh, and coming out by reason of Rottenness and Corruption; and not certainly affirm, that it is the Venereal Distemper; but there were many such in those days, by reason of which, and many other Symptoms, that Hippocrates mentions in this Work and elsewhere, I am persuaded, that there is nothing of late discovered in that Disease, but what was sufficiently known in former Ages. I do agree with Valesius, that as the Accidents he has observed, there is not a physician who would not judge them to have been the Pox; if there had been nothing else in the case; I believe also, as well as he, that there were Persons who had the Venereal Distemper in former Ages, as there are those who have it now. But I affirm that the Disease which Hippocrates described, was not Venereal, but Pestilential according to the Opinion of Galen and Hippocrates himself, and to make this manifest, 'tis only consulting the History of Hippocrates, and one will without contradiction grant, when he has considered the other Accidents that accompanied those which are mentioned before, that it was an Epidemical Pestilential Disease which raged at that time. It will also appear, that Hippocrates did never think that it was the Venereal Distemper; and I again affirm, that it was not known to him, at least his Writings which we have, do not acquaint us with any such thing. It might very well be, that amongst the sick, whom he saw in those days, there were some who had the Pox, and that he knew it not, or that they had the Plague and the Pox both together, which might have deceived him, for( to draw to a close) although Hippocrates was one of the greatest Physitians in the World, and that he has furnished us with more Light, proportionably, than all those who came after him, he was a Man, and therefore liable to Error; he lived in a time, when Speculative Physic was in its Birth, or rather, he himself was the Father of it; whence it it could not be perfect, at the time of it's first production.  
'tis alleged, that Salicetus, who writ in the Year 1270. did give us some Marks that he understood the Venereal Distemper, which is true, not in these places that are quoted, nor in his discourse, but there is a Chapter in his chirurgery that bears this Title, Chap. 48. Concerning white Blisters, Sores and Corruptions which happens in the Yard, and about the Prepuce, that proceeds from Copulation with an unclean Harlot, or some other cause. I have also found something to this purpose in Gordonius, who Printed his Book Anno 1305. after he had been for above twenty Years a Professor in the College of Physicians in Montpelier, amongst some passages that he has, that may be the most clear which is in his Fifth Chapter De Passionibus Virgae. That amongst the external Diseases that befall the Yard, we must reckon that which proceeds from carnal Copulation with a Woman, whose Matrix is unclean, virulent, full of corruption, &c. and in the same Chapter he prescribes a Remedy for curing the Chancre of the Yard. And this is sufficient to make it appear, that the Venereal Distemper is very ancient; and therefore we are to give no Credit to some Stories, that are framed concerning the Introduction and Original of this Distemper, as that of some who have alleged, that it appeared first in Europe a hundred Years ago, or thereabouts, and that it was brought into France by the Souldiers who returned from the War of Naples, betwixt Charles VIII. and Alphonsus King of Naples, in the Year 1493, or 94. Seeing we know that Salicetus and Gourden( the former of whom lived about Three hundred Years before) have taken notice of this Distemper, and that in all reason, we are to believe, that there was such a thing as the Venereal Distemper, as well as Common Women, although the the first Physitians did not well know it. It might possibly have been confounded with the leprosy, of which we shall speak in the following Problem.   

Problem. XIV. To know if the Venereal Distemper be the Leprosy of the ancients.  
THE Question is not to be understood concerning that Leprosy with which God, of Old, did punish Sinners, and of which, as we red in the Holy Scripture, there were three sorts, in proportion to the greatness of their Offences; If the Sin was small, the Leprosy was only fixed to the Walls of the House, if it was somewhat greater it was confined to their clothes, and if it was very heinous, the Bodies of the Criminals were more or less infected, according to their own demerit, or as it pleased God to afflict them; and this sort of Lepers was only cured by the Priests, to whom God gave the Power, in a Spiritual and Miraculous, as well as a mystical Manner, all Corporeal Medicines being altogether useless in that case.  
But yet we may find, that this Leprosy was known to the ancient Physitians, and that we have reason to believe it to be a Disease, as others are, produced by the Concurrence of natural Causes, seeing it was cured by Medicaments, so long as it had not arrived at the highest Degree. But to understand what this Leprosy was: it is to be observed, that altho' it was one and the same Disease, they did divide it into three Kinds, and they have given it such different Names, that Authors are at a great uncertainty about it. Some call that a Leprosy which is nothing else but a Tetter or great Scab. The Greeks called that a Leprosy which the Arabians name Albarras, or Barras nigra and the the Latins, Scabis faeda, and on the contrary, the Arabians called that a Leprosy, which the Greeks have called an Elephantiasis. And both the one and the other have made Divisions of it, and invented particular Names for it, which 'tis needless to recount. They who desire to have the Theory of the Leprosy ought rather to distinguish well, if they have a mind to understand any thing of it.  
In the mean time, that we may, in a few words, say all that is necessary for the Resolution of this Problem, the Leprosy is distinguished into that of the Greeks, and that of the Arabians: That of the Greeks is not properly any thing else but a Disease of the Skin, such as the Scab, and others that are of Kin to it. This is justified by an authentic Passage of the Venerable Hippocrates, the most ancient of all the Greek Authors, whom we esteem. It is in his Book, De Affectionibus, that he speaks thus, The leprosy, the Itch, the Scab, Tetter, Morphew, and Falling off the Hair, proceed from Phlegm, and these are rather an Uncleanness and shameful Deformities than Diseases.  
Not to insist on the truth of this passage, nor to mention what the Greeks and Arabians have written concerning this Matter; I only say, that the leprosy of the Greeks, which is the highest Degree of the Scab, although Hippocrates has name it as the first or lowest, is only an Indisposition of the Skin, for it may be observed, on this Subject, that the Skin becomes filthy and deformed three several ways, either by very deep White or Black Spots, and that is the white or black Morphew, or by some other small Specks which make the Itch, which coming to maturity and a dryness, are separated from the Skin upon Scratching, in the likeness of Bran, which is therefore called Furfures; or they are reduced to Scabs or to Tetters, and at last to Scales, like to those of Fish, and it is upon this Mark that the Greeks have called it a leprosy. But when the Matter of this leprosy becomes more sharp by the mixture of black, Choler the Skin is corroded thereby, and not only the Skin, but also the Flesh, Membranes, and the Bones, or rather the whole Body, which is affencted with gross, malignant and dreadful Ulcers; and according to the proportion of the mixture of the Phlegm and the black Choler, there does appear a very great number of terrible Symptoms, as the falling off the Hair from the Head and Eyebrows( and the like of the Eye-slashes and Beard) a frightful or hippocratical Countenance, the Mouth ulcerated, the Nose putrefied, the whole Body filled with Blisters, tumours, Nodes, Kernels( as we see in Swine that have the Murrain) the Loss of judgement, and many other Accidents which 'tis needless to relate, among which Ulcers have been looked upon as Chancres, so that the Arabians have called this kind of leprosy an universal Cancer, and the Greeks have name this leprosy an Elephantiasis. It is this particularly which has many Accidents common to the Pox, as the leprosy of the Greeks has also some of the same sort, as may be judged by the Account that we have given; and there is all the probability in the World, that Men are frequently deceived with it, and that the Venereal Distemper has been taken for the leprosy, and so much the rather, because the leprosy is communicated by an amorous Congress as well as the Pox, though in a manner somewhat different; and seeing there were many Leprous Persons of ancient time, as there are a great many Persons who have the Venereal Distemper at this day, I believe that they might have been very easily mistaken, and that which confirmed their Error, was, that seeing the ancients did not know the Cure of the Venereal Distemper, their Sick perished, very near in the same manner as if they had had the leprosy. And that which confirms this Opinion, is, that 'tis evident that the ancient Physitians did separately describe the Symptoms that are common to the Pox, without referring them to a Venereal poison, as we have said in the preceding Problem, which does fully assure us that there were those who were infected with the Pox at that time, as well as there are now; but tat they did undoubtedly confounded the same with the leprosy.   

Problem. XV. How many ways one may get the Venereal Distemper, and if it may be got at a considerable Distance.  
WE shewed in the fourth Chapter, that the Venereal Distemper may be contracted many ways, as in the Mothers Womb, by Copulation, or only approaching the privy Parts that are infected with the Disease, by Kissing, by Sucking, or giving to Suck, lying with the sick Person, or in his linen in which he has Sweated, or left some Filth, by drinking after the infected Person who has left some of his Spittle on the side of the Glass, that is not afterwards washed, and generally by all manner of immediate Contact of any Person that has the Venereal Distemper, from whom some virulent Matter goes forth, or by touching any other Body which has received the same poison, to which there does as yet remain some Motion that makes it capable of communicating itself, which is observable; for if the Gl●ss which h as received some of the Parties Venereal Slabber, or the linen that has been infected by his Sweat, or the purulent Matter of any Ulcer, has been a long time exposed to the Air, or that the poison has exhaled from such Stuff, or if the Substance that contained the Virulency be so dried, that there is no likelihood that one can catch the Pox by touching it; there is no matter of Difficulty or Danger in all this.  
That which is doubtful, is to know if any Particles, which are called Venereal Miasms, do, by Transpiration or Expiration, go out of a Body infected with the Venereal Distemper, and if these Particles being transmitted through the Air, can, at some considerable distance, convey the Venereal Distemper to those who breath in the same Air. But seeing this Proposition is big with Difficulties, it must be well distinguished, before there can be a Resolution given of it.  
First, 'tis past all doubt, that all sorts of Bodies do transpire, and consequently those who are infected with this Disease do the same; but it does not from thence follow, that there is always an Evacuation of Venereal Particles in that Transpiration, because the Cause of the Venereal Distemper does not always lie in the Humors, as has been often times said in the foregoing part of this Discourse, and it is the Humors as well as the Sweat, that does furnish Matter for Transpiration. And although the Humors be infected with the Venereal Ferment, that Ferment may be so fixed, so tied up and entangled amongst other viscous Humors, that the vapour that goes out through the Substance of the Body, shall not be able to carry it off with itself.  
It is true, that the Vapours that come from the Mass of Blood, may, whilst they pass, carry with them some Particles of the Venereal Ferment, which had settled itself in some solid part; but that is so inconsiderable, that I do not think that the Pox is ever got by that means, and if it were so, that it could be so easily catched, there would need nothing else to give one the Pox, but a bare rubbing with the Hand upon a Node or a glad of any Person that has the Venereal Disease, which is contrary to Experience. Transpiration alone does not communicate the Distemper, though the Blood be very much corrupted, unless the Skin be covered with inveterate Scabs or Ulcers, whereof the purulent Matter or Corruption has been received by the Party. I have known that some Persons covered over with Venereal Scabs, their Mouth and Privities full of Chancres, have lain with others that are sound, d●ing the space of one or two Months, without any Communication of the Evil, which proves that the Venereal Distemper is not so easily communicated by Transpiration, although the Parties lie in the same Bed. Yet this is not to be t●●sted to, for seeing the Scab or Itch is catched by such Persons as handle the scabbed Party, or use the same Towel with him, the Venereal Disease may be also catched, and although there be some Persons who are conversant a long time with those who have the Itch, and it may likewise happen in the same manner, amongst those who have the Pox; yet they, whose Business it is to be concerned with them, ought not to handle them too much; for on the contrary, there are some who catch the Itch by only rubbing the Parties Hand, which proceeds from a great Aptitude they had, before that, to become Scabby, as having had their Blood corrupted, or because they abound in Salt and acid Humors; yet that which proves that the same thing does not happen, as to the Venereal Distemper, is the Example of the chirurgeons who rub the Party affencted all over, who dress their Buboes or other Abscesses without any Inconveniency ensuing to themselves thereby.  
As to Expiration, we may say almost the same thing. If the Blood which is in the Lungs is not fermented with the poison, or if the Blood be very viscous, if the Mouth or other Conduits by which the Air does pass, that is breathed by the infected Person, be not spoiled with malignant and stinking Chancres, the Air which entred in by Inspiration, shall go out by Expiration, without transmitting the Venereal Ferment: and though all that we have said should happen, it is not to be believed, that those Venereal Particles, are carried any great way, or that they have force enough to convey the Venereal Distemper; for if that were so, the whole World would be put in a Venereal Fermentation, that is, there is not one alive that could escape the Pox, and any one that has the Disease, could not so much as enter into any Chamber or public Place, but would communicate the Distemper to all Persons that are present: It is very well known that Experience speaks the contrary; and the reason is, that there is no Venereal Ferment that is like that of the Plague, because this latter is more volatile, more active, and of an igneous Nature, and consequently swift and apt to be transmitted through the Air, whereas the Venereal Ferment being acid, although it may be very much volatilized by a mixture of Spirits and boil, is nevertheless almost continually entangled in Phlegm, which is heavy and viscous, and can never, without putting off its Nature, be made so swift as to be carried through the Air, though to never so near a distance, and if it should be so carried, it would then loose all its force, by the Coldness of the Air, or by the mixture of other Particles which compose it.   

Problem XVI. What is the true Subject of the Venereal Ferment, and if it be rather the Lymph than the Phlegm, or the other Humors.  
THis is the most celebrated Question at this day, on the present Subject. Many Authors of known worth are of Opinion, that the Venereal Ferment does rather invade the Lymph than the other Humors, that the Former does receive it first, and afterwards transmit it to the Blood. They allege, that as two Homogeneous Bodies are easily united together, and that this Union does happen by reason of the Disposition of their Pores, which being alike, give occasion to the Ethereal Matter( which continually endeavours to make a Passage for itself, finding the Pores of two Bodies alike) to pass through the two, without any Obstacle, which is that which makes the Union of those two Bodies; the Venereal Ferment being acid, must of necessity, upon the same reason, invade the Lymph rather than the other Humors, because it is acid, and consequently has Pores disposed in the same manner, for affording a Passage to the Ethereal Matter. After all, we see that the Lymph being made more acid by its Union the Venereal Ferment, does produce upon the Blood, the same Alterations very near, that the Juice of lemons or Vinegar, does upon boiling Milk, and that hereupon do depend all the Consequences and Accidents of the Venereal Distemper, as Pains, Blisters, tumours, Nodes, Tophes, or Exostoses, Ulcers, &c. This Opinion is confirmed by an Observation, that the Venereal poison has a great power over the Glands, which are always affencted in this Disease, and the Glands being the principal Seat of the Lymph, we may reasonably believe that the Lymph does also receive the Venereal poison, and that the other parts do derive their Virulency from it. It may be added, that those who are a fluxing do voided a clear Matter at the Mouth, which has a great Resemblance of the Lymph.  
Although this Opinion has a great probability, and that it already begins to be received amongst many learned Men, who have not as yet been at the pains to examine it to the bottom; I do nevertheless believe that it is false in its Principle, and that it is always ill understood.  
I think that the prepossession, the first Proposers were subject to, and by which they were swayed in their judgement about the Lymph and the Glands, might much contribute to their giving the Lymph more than was due: I am at least very much persuaded, that there are others who have rendered this Matter by so much the more obscure, as they have a head-strong Zeal for the Lymphatic Vessels, beyond whatever the first Inventors had. They imagine already that the whole Body is but a Tissue of Lymphatic Vessels, and that all the Humors are Lymphs. The Blood, just after its Sanguification will be taken for nothing among them, but a read Lymph, the Chyle shall be a white Lymph, but opacous, the boil a yellow Lymph, &c. So true it is, that when Men are prepossessed with the Conceit of a thing, they believe every thing they see or touch to be that thing. Jupiter est quodcunque vident, quodcunque movetur.  
It is true, that the Lymph has oftentimes an Interest in the Venereal Distemper, as well as the rest of the Humors have; but that it should be the first, and the only humour that receives the Venereal Ferment, 'tis easy to prove the contrary by their own Reasons, and show that there is an Error in the Principles upon which their Opinion is founded: for seeing they said, that the Lymph, in its natural State, is a very agreeable Acid, because the acid Spirits which enter into its Composition do make it to be so, and that consequently it would be very homogeneous with the Venereal Ferment, which is likewise acid; without doubt, because they tasted the Lymph of some Person after he was hanged, which was made acid by Displeasure and the Pains of Death; for it is well known that there is nothing that does so much augment Acids as Grief; But those who have made a Discovery of the Lymph, and have observed it well, have assured us that it was insipid, and consequently free from any predominant Acidity; and those who know the good Qualities of the Animal Spirits, will never affirm, that in their natural State they ought to be acid; on the contrary, 'tis only the Spirits that do reduce Acids to a good Temper; the Spirit of Nitre, which is extremely acid, is sweetened with the Spirit of Wine; this is very trivial, so that if the Remainder of the Animal Spirits, as they would have it, enter into the Composition of the Lymph, they would be so far from making it acid; I will undertake, though it had been so before( seeing 'tis probable that the Lymph does contain somewhat of an Acid, upon the Supposition that it owe its Original to the Arteries) that those Spirits shall entirely correct all that Acidity: And therefore we may easily judge, that what they propose, is an Error in its Principle, and this Error is so much the greater, as it admits of no Gloss, seeing there are Humors in the Mass of Blood, that are much more acid, as the Serum, melancholy, and the Pancreatic liquour, and above all the rest the Phlegm, and consequently the Venereal Ferment shall have a greater Affinity with some one of these liquours, then with the Lymph; and therefore, according to their own Reasoning, it ought rather to join itself thereto; and so much the more, because that Conjunction may be promoted by the Motion of Fermentation, which is raised in the Blood by the means of an Acid, whereas the Lymph does not ferment at all, besides, it is more liquid, and circulates more swiftly then the Blood, which renders it less apt to receive a Coagulation which is observed to be the ordinary Effect of the Venereal Ferment, as we have often said in several Chapters.  
And what shall be said of those who take the Venereal Distemper by Chancres in the Mouth, in such a Case, it is the Saliva that is first affencted; it is that which receives the Venereal Ferment and does communicate the same to the Blood; if it be said, that the Saliva is a kind of Lymph; I say also, that the Lymph is a sort of a Saliva, and thus we shall confounded the Terms.  
I know, that there is a great Affinity betwixt the true Lymph, the Pancreatic liquour, the Saliva, the Pituite, and the serum of the Blood, and that these liquours do not differ so much in substance as they do in consistence, and by the Vessels that contain them; but nevertheless every one of them has it's own use; and they must be name so as that they may be understood. Therefore the Lymph must be said to be, that clear and transparent liquour that is in the Lymphatic Vessels, the Pancreatic liquour that which is in the Pancreas, the Saliva that which is in the Salivary Vessels, the Pituite, that which does result from the Saliva and the more viscous part of the Food, which after digestion does pass into the Mass of Blood as we have said elsewhere, especially in the ninth Chapter.  
It is this that has a greater Affinity with the Venereal Ferment then any other Humour, because it may be said, that it does contain more of an Acid then any other, and that it is all over the Body: it is more Acid, because it contains the Acid of the Saliva which is the first matter thereof, it contains the Acid of the Food, to which the Saliva is joined in the digestion, it contains the Acid of the Ferment of the Stomach through which it does pass, it contains the Acid of the Pancreatic liquour, with which it is mixed in the Duodeum: and finally, although it be in a greater quantity in some places of the Body, it is nevertheless, in and over all Parts generally, because it does accompany the Blood, with which it is continually mixed by silvius his Triumrirate.  
And therefore, there is more reason to say, that the Venereal Ferment does rather join itself to the Phlegm then to any other Humour whatsoever. There are also some occasions, in which those of the contrary side, cannot say otherwise, seeing they admit that the Venereal Ferment may be communicated by respiration, for it is certain, that in such a case, the Ferment that should be carried through the Air, would go directly into the Blood, to join with what is most acid therein.  
And the matter which is known to issue from those who are in a Flux for the Venereal Distemper, does deserve well to be called Pituite rather than Lymph, because it does effectually contain all the Properties of the former, especially a viscous quality which is essential thereto, and does very much depend on the acid that is in it; it is also probable, that this quality, which sure is not occult, does serve as a Glue to fix the Venereal Ferment.  
Nevertheless I do not intend to critisise on Words, let the appellation be what they please, provided the thing be explained. I said, that there was so great an Affinity between the Lymph, the Saliva, the Pancreatic liquour and the Phlegm, that their consistence, or the Vessels that contain them, do make the great difference that is between them.  
All these humours do easily degenerate into Pituit, when they become viscous; It may be said, that the true Lymph is never capable of making obstructions, nor receiving any Coagulation in the Glands, or elsewhere, but when it becomes Phlegmatic, and although the Glands are the proper Filters of the Lymph, we know they have Arteries, Veins, and a Nerve as the Lymphatic Vessels; so that throughout the whole Body, where there is any Lymph, there is also Phlegm, and it may be ridgidly said on the contrary, that there is no Lymph in all places where there is Pituit.  
I have said nothing of the Nervous liquour, because it cannot be reasonably understood, when it is said to be a liquour that is the Vehicle of the Animal Spirits, which they compare to the Spirit of Wine, and which is believed to join itself to the Lymph: And therefore 'tis needless to say any thing of it, seeing, to speak properly, it is nothing else but Spirits that are less subtle and more aqueous, and if any thing be understood by it, we deny down right, that there is any such thing as a Nervous liquour.   

Problem. XVII. Why a Man that is wounded in the time that he has the Venereal Distemper, is never well cured of his Wounds, or at least, with great difficulty.  
THose who have their Blood corrupted, who abound in ill Humors, and who have a great deal of Acrimony in their Blood, are very hard to be cured of Wounds, because a great quantity of sharp humors discharge themselves on the wounded. Parts, Humidity and Acrimony are plain hindrances of the Cure, and these must be of necessity removed, if one would close up a Wound or Ulcer, and for that purpose, some success may be at last expected from bleeding, altering Medicines, that correct the Acrimony, gentle Purgations, Balsams, ointments and plasters; unless the Body be so Cacochymical, and the Humours so sharp, that a gangrene does ensue, which cannot be corrected, when it is confirmed, but only by an Amputation of the gangrened part, but when the Venereal Distemper is found with the Wounds, the Blood is very sharp and much corrupted, by the means of the Venereal Ferment, which, seeing it cannot be corrected by ordinary Remedies, hinders the Cure, and the Patient, is not in a Condition, so long as he has his Wounds, to take those Medicines that are proper for curing him of the Venereal Distemper, which is obvious to the consideration of every one, and from thence it is, that he is not cured at all, and although the Wound be very small, some ill Accidents do happen nevertheless, by reason of the sharp and virulent Humours that throw themselves upon the Part. This does suppose, that the Cause of the Venereal Distemper is in the Blood, or in the solid Part that is wounded; for it might possibly have been some where else; in which case the Wounds ought to be looked upon as single and without complication.   

AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER.  
I Have, in this small Treatise, delivered in a few Words what I thought necessary to be said on this Subject. I might, 'tis true, have taken up more Paper, and spent more time, by giving Examples and general Maxims, by stuffing it with a great Number of Pompous and Extraordinary Receipts, by embellishing every Chapter with a premeditated Discourse by way of Preface, by quoting the Opinions of five or six Authors, or doing as many others have done, who having nothing of their own, to say, by plundering Authors, do very much imitate those Jack-Puddings, who never appear on the Stage, but with Garbs composed of shreds of divers Colours. To the rest, I might have added many Cures, with their Circumstances, to give Authority to my Experiences; But seeing I was not Ambitious of all this, as being more troublesome then necessary, giving liberty to every one to say, to believe, and to do concerning this little Book, as he shall think fit, I desire all Persons of candour and Equity to take this in good part, which I have given them with a good intention; and others, who, laying aside Justice and good Nature, are offended with it, to believe, that they shall never bereave me of that Tranquillity, with which God has been graciously pleased to bless me, beseeching him to continue the same with me, and to grant it to all my Enemies.   

Mr. Stephen Blankards's practise Relating to the Venereal Distemper And the ACCIDENTS thereunto belonging;  
WHEREIN, There is a true and solid Cure of the same Distemper, Exhibited and Confirmed by several Remarkable CASES.  
London, Printed for John tailor and Thomas Newborough, 1689.   

SECTION I. Of the Original, and Symptoms of the Venereal Distemper.  
I. PAracelsus believed, 
The Opinion of Paracelsus.  that the Venereal Distemper does owe its Original to a Leprous Strumpet, in the Year 1478. who had some virulent Inflammations in and about the Privities betwixt the Groins. I grant that there was such a Strumpet, but it is not so certain that the Distemper she had was Venereal, which is the Subject Matter of the present Discourse. Besides, we have no assurance that she was the first Person who had this Disease, seeing the Writings of the Ancients inform us of the like.  
II. Others think that this Distemper was brought from the West-Indies, 
This Distemper did not come from the West-Indies.  and that it raged there as the Disease of the Country, like the Scurvy in France, and the ston in England; but Ferdinand Cortez does witness the contrary, for he tells us, that before his Arrival in those remote Parts of the World( he having been the Conqueror of the Indies) the Venereal Distemper was altogether unknown there, unless to one single Negro( Slave to Pamphilio of Navaes) who first brought it from Spain, and that many hundreds of the Savages were thereby quickly infected, that Slave having been just come from the Siege of Naples; whence, as it is believed, this Distemper does derive its Original. But farther, if it was the Disease of the Country, why should it be catched rather by Conversation than otherwise? For Diseases that are peculiar to a Climate, are common Evils that are not confined to Persons who have Carnal Copulation with those that have the Distemper, but do also reach those who live very Honest and chased, and do not haunt the peppered Tribe, and these Innocents of necessity would incur the same Fate, seeing they breath in the same Air with the rest; but Experience does teach us the contrary.  
III. Helmont differs in Opinion from the former. 
Helmont's Opinion.  He fancies that some Wretch had to do with a scabbed mere, and that the Farcy in the Brute did produce the Pox in the Man. But seeing the Symptoms of this Distemper do very much differ from those that are observed in Horses that have that Disease, I must reject this Opinion as well as the rest.  
IV. I am of Opinion that the said Disease is more Ancient then is commonly believed, but it was unknown and cured under the name of some other Distemper, as may appear from the Fourth Book of Epidemical Diseases written by the Famous Hippocrates; what he says in his Book of inward Diseases, and his Book of Ulcers. page. 171. Chap. IX. does confirm the same; as also in his Coacae Praenotiones. page. 535.10, 11. does prove that the Venereal Distemper was known by another Name, that they knew not that this Disease was the effect of an unchaste conversation, and that they cured it oftentimes, under the notion of some other unclean Distemper. See also Plinius the Younger, in Chap. 18, of the Book XXI. and in Chap. 8. of the Book XXII. and in several other Places. Amongst other things he gives us an account of a Gentleman who was miserable pestered in his Privy-Parts; which being discovered by his Wife, she to avoid the mischief, threw her self out of a Window into the Sea, having first persuaded her Husband to bear her Company.  
V. The Disease called the Elephantiasis among the ancients had a great resemblance of the Venereal Distemper; For they writ of it, that it was an Universal Gangrene over all the Body, which happens to those who neglecting their own safety, put off their Cure till they be eaten with the Pox, and their Bodies be covered as with one Universal Ulcer.  
VI. Nor do we find, that those Accidents and Diseases spoken of by the ancients( which for the most part agree with our Venereal Distemper) do befall those Persons who live honestly and chastened, unless they be infected by another, as a virtuous Woman may get it of her vicious Husband.   

SECT. II. Wherein the Virulency of the Pox does consist, and how it is communicated.  
1. THis Disease does consist, 
The Essects of an Acid.  for the most part, in an Acid; yet it is not enough barely to affirm this, seeing that all the Diseases of the Humours do consist, for the most part, in an Acid: But because the particles of the Acid do much differ from one another in figure and quantity, in Vinegar, for example, Aqua fortis, the juice of black Gooseberries, and Verjuice, and many other Acids, I affirm in the present case; that this does also much differ in figure, quantity, and motion, from other Acids: And this poisonous Acid does not in all appearance presently infect all the Humours of our Body, but it seems that one sort of Humours is more subject to the contagion thereof than another, and especially that Member which was first infected with this poison, as it appears in the cases of carnal copulation, where the Privy-parts are ordinarily first seized; or as it was in the case of a certain Nurse of Zealand, whose Nipples did first attract the poison; and as a little Leaven can ferment the whole mass, so a little of the venereal Ferment can poison the whole mass of blood. The same may be said of the Foam of a mad Dog, a little whereof does poison a Man to such a degree, that he becomes as mad as the Dog, and breaks out into the like Fury. It cannot be thought any thing but a Ferment, which passing into our Humours does corrupt them, and makes them of the same nature with itself.  
2. But besides this, we may assign a cause for the venereal Virulency, which none that I know have ever thought of, viz. that we find in Men's Seed, and that moist matter that Women have in their Matrix, and passage, little Animals, which, being venomous, do not only corrupt our Genitals, but also, after they have increased to some bigness, make an universal and forcible inroad into our blood, perverting the Crasis, and corrupting the whole Mass.   

SECT. III. Of the gonorrhoea, or Running of the Reins.  
1. A Virulent gonorrhoea, 
The Virulent.  or Running of putrid Seed, happens when the Seed being mixed with the virulent matter does discharge itself at the Yard of the infected person; which running, is accompanied with a stench, a pain, and with a white, grey, yellow or greenish, colour, and commonly with an inflammation of the Prostatae, or the Neck of the Womb in Women, and frequently with an erection of the Yard in Men.  
2. But in a Single gonorrhoea the Matter is white and watery, 
Single.  without any stench or pain, not occasioned by an unchaste conversation, but by a too frequent reiteration of venereal Acts, even in sound persons, or by excessive evacuation, or the weakness of the person: To both of these there is frequently joined Heat of Urine; not that the Urine is really of that quality, but because it does pass through a Yard that is excoriated inwardly, which cannot happen without a sense of great pain ensuing; yet sometimes the Urine may be really hot.  
3. If a sound Man does lye with an unclean Woman, that Member with which he first touched her Frivy-parts must of necessity be first infected; for the humour that was in her passage, and afterwards in her Matrix, is composed of many penetrating, acid, and salt particles, which may sufficiently appear by the stench thereof; for particles of one sort make no stench, unless they be excited by others: It must therefore be a volatile and fermentative Acid, that works continually upon a volatile Alcali, and the former corrupting the latter, a stench proceeds from this Corruption.  
4. This matter consists of a salt Acid, that is to say, that the Alcali is composed of long and hard Tubes, in the concavities of which there is a great number of acid points; which being mixed with some ramous and oily particles, do by a strange astringency inspissate the body, which was fluid before. In the mean time, the more fine salt particles are actuated by the subtle matter, and these composing a kind of fire, do divide and cut out their way, as if they were many thousand of Knives and Swords mixed together, and in action; and a Man's Yard approaching thereto, does meet with this matter, which hews and cuts down all in its way; and from hence Ulcers and a Gangrene do happen in a Man's Yard.  
5. 
The Motion of the poison.  But seeing the ways by which this liquour, or rather virulent Ferment, passes into the Prostatae, are as yet somewhat hide, we shall endeavour to discover them. I know no particular Vessels that serve for this purpose; but I affirm, that when the virulent matter does corrode the flesh, it hews out its way into the blood, and other humours of the Yard, stops their course, and inflames the Yard; and that this poison, after that, corrupting the blood, and the other humours, by little and little, must necessary hurt the adjacent parts; as, first the Prostatae, and then the Cods, &c. and hence the Yard is violently erected; for seeing the blood, because of its grossness, cannot so quickly enter into the small ends of the Veins, as it does pass out of the Arteries into the Yard, it must be, that more does remain therein than is conveyed back; and all the small receptacles of the Yard being filled therewith, they must needs render it rigid.  
6. The gonorrhoea is gradual, because the Prostatae are but gently pressed by the stay of the humours that are inspissated, and so the running is by drops, the blood and Humours, being separated from the Pores of the Glands, are pressed out by little and little; which pressure does not happen, but for the carrying the matter through certain Vessels, and discharging it into the blood; which being impossible, by reason of the obstruction of the passages of the Glands, it is discharged by little and little into the Yard.  
7. As for the Cure of the gonorrhoea, we must first free the Body of the Patient from the virulent ferment; for without this his Recovery is not to be expected: After that the Body being duly purged, the Ulcer must be cured; after which the gonorrhoea will quickly cease. As to the usefulness of Purgatives, it is to be known, that these do force a great quantity of the acid into the Belly, and from thence they pass by stool, as may be perceived by the stench of the excrementitious matter, which would not be so disagreeable to the smell, if the Acid and the Alcali did not work so strongly on one another. I am of the opinion that much purging is not necessary, because it would weaken the Patient, and make him unable to endure the sweeting that is necessary.  
8. The purging Medicines are for the most part prepared of some compositions of Mercury, especially Mercurius dulcis, or White Precipitate, and the like; but not always of such, especially if there be no fear of the universal Pox, or if the evil is not inveterate. I shall set down some Medicines here, which are ordinarily used: As,  
♃ The Extract of fresh Cassia one ounce, the Extract of rhubarb one scruple, Venice Turpentine one drachm; mix them, and make them into a Bolus.  
Or, ♃ Diagridium sixteen grains, Cream of Tartar, Antimony diaphoretic, of each six grains; M. for a Powder.  
Or, ♃ The Extract of rhubarb half a scruple, Diagridium nine grains, Oil of Cloves two drops; M. make Pills thereof, five in number.  
If after this, many Mercurials be joined to these Remedies, the Acid shall be so much the more broken; as by that which follows.  
♃ The Extract of rhubarb half a scruple, Mercurius dulcis sixteen grains, Oil of Guiacum two drops; mix them, and make all into five Pills.  
Or, ♃ The catholic Extract one scruple, white Mercury precipitate three grains, Oil of Turpentine three drops; mix them, and make them into five Pills.  
Or, ♃ The Catholiok Extract fifteen grains, Mercurius dulcis twenty grains, Oil of Amber three drops; mix them, and make all into five Pills.  
These and the like shall conquer the Acid, which is cause of the Malady, and force it to a particular part of the Body, which the Mercury does also perform by the means of its round particles.  
9. After this, those Remedies are to be used which do not only provoke Urine, but consequently procure Sweat, and withall open the obstructions of the Prostatae; which being open, all the matter is discharged; and afterwards such Medicines are administered as temper the Acid, or rather break its force.  
The simplo Medicaments that provoke Urine, are, Privet root, Thea leaves, Savain leaves, Winter Cherries, the Balsam of Peru, the Balsam of Copayva, myrrh, Venice Turpentine, Cantharides, Woodlice, Venice Soap, Sperma Caeti, Salt of Amber, Oil of Amber, Oil of Turpentine, Oil of Savain.  
The Medicaments that temper the Acid, are, China root, Sarsaparilla root, Lign. Guiacum, Sassafras, the Leaves of Thea, of Winter-green, of Savain, Saffron, the Balsam of Peru, the Balsam of Copayva, camphor, Gum Elemni, mastic, Turpentine, Bezoar, Crabs-eyes, Sperma Caeti, coral, Bolus, Cuttle bone, &c.  
In the next place I shall give some examples of such Remedies as expel and temper the Acid.  
♃ Crabs-eyes half an ounce, camphor, Venice Turpentine of each three drachms, the Balsam of Peru two scruples; mix them, and make up Pills, five out of one scruple.  
The Dose is of five every day, which shall not only temper the Acid, but also expel it by Urine.  
Or, ♃ Crabs-eyes one ounce, Savain leaves two drachms, Venice Turpentine three drachms, Balsam of Copayva two scruples; M. for Pills; make five of one scruple. The Dose is as before.  
Or, ♃ Crabs-eyes in Powder two ounces, Lapis Prunellae one ounce, the vitriolated Salt of Tartar, camphor, of each two drachms, Balsam of Peru a sufficient quantity, oil of Savain half a scruple; make all into Pills; let the Pills be small: The dose is from a scruple to a drachm.  
Or, ♃ mastic one ounce, camphor two drachms, Salt of Amber one scruple, oil of Amber twenty drops; make all into Pills.  
Or, ♃ Privet Root two ounces, oil of Turpentine what is sufficient; set them some days in the Sun; this evacuates: The dose is from six to ten drops, but it is something too strong. Some make use of Spanish Flies.  
♃ Cantharides one drachm, Spirit of Wine five ounces; which must lye for some days, after which two drachms thereof are to be taken with one drachm of Crabs-eyes,  
Or, ♃ Crabs-eyes half an ounce, Cantharides one scruple, oil of Turpentine one drachm, oil of Savain half a scruple, Rhenish Wine six ounces; make a Tincture of them: It may be taken by spoonfuls. Quercetane's Water is likewise proper in this Case, and is a volatile oily salt composed of several, things. lettuce seed is of little use therein; but instead of it, it is better to put a drachm or two of camphor: There may be also Turpentine given with the Yolk of an Egg.  
♃ Venice Turpentine two drachms, the Yolks of two or three Eggs, Quercetan's Water a sufficient quantity; make up a drink to be taken at once.  
To make this the more forcible to expel the acid, the oil of Amber and the oil of Savain may be mixed with it.  
10. We may also put some drops of the oil of Amber in the Alchohol, or most highly rectified Spirit of Wine, and give it with a little Wine.  
11. Then for tempering the Heat in the Corroding Pains, and in making of water; there is nothing better than Thea taken warm, for it dilutes the acid, and tempers the Inflammation, seeing the Particles that caused the inflammation, are dispersed and go downward in as far as Thea-drinkers have frequent occasion to make water. A ptisan may be likewise prepared of Barley, Raisins, and sweet Wood, with a little Salsaparilla, or the Patient may very conveniently drink sweet Milk and warm Thea together.  
12. Some injections may be also used with a strong decoction of Thea, which will cleanse and heal the Ulcers; and these are to be repeated often.  
Or, ♃ White Vitriol, camphor, of each one drachm, Spirit of Wine sixteen ounces; mix them for an injection;  
Or, ℞ Common Water three ounces, Salt of led half a drachm, camphor one scruple; mix them for an injection. An injection with Lime Water is very good.  
13. If the Yard be very much inflamed, so that it becomes crooked, there must be something applied to it, that may make the inflammation vanish.  
℞ Bole Armoniac two drachms, camphor one scruple, Spirit of Wine a sufficient quanty; mix them for a lineament: Apply this to the Yard round about, and the Inflammation will be gone.  
14. Sudorisicks may be likewise used in a sufficient quantity, chiefly Guiacum, Sassafras, China, and Salsaparilla; especially when this distemper is something inveterate.  
15. If it be necessary to close up the Ulcers, these following Pills may be given.  
℞ Gum. Elemni, mastic, of each two scruples, Japan Earth one scruple; mix them for Pills: Two of them may be taken every day, which will always work it's effect, unless the Ulcer be very great; if the Ulceration be so rooted as hardly to yield to this, you must mix a little Vitriol with the injections, which will eat the impure crust that remains. Now seeing our Method does tend to this end, a good and regular conduct must be observed in diet, and the Patient is generally to abstain from all sorts of drink; unless it be a decoction of Salsaparilla, Thea, with, or without sweet Milk, or A ptisan, or the like; neither will a little fresh Ale do any hurt. His food must not have any thing that is sharp or fat in it. Toward the latter end of the Cure he may eat a few Almonds and Raisins. We proceed to give some Cases in the practise.  

CASE I.  
A certain young Man of 28 years of Age, had for the space of twelve days a gonorrhoea, accompanied with and offensive smell, and purulent matter: He endured a great pain and heat in making water, with an Inflammation in the Yard; which mischief was got by a conversation with an unclean person. I gave him the following Pills.  
℞ The Extract of rhubarb one scruple, Mercurius dulcis half a scruple; mix both, and make up some Pills: By these he had eight stools; after which I prescribed to him the following Pills to be taken evening and morning on the same day.  
℞ Venice. Turpentine boiled half an ounce, Crabs-eyes three drachms, the Balsam of Peru one drachm, camphor half a drachm, oil of Savain twenty drops; mix all, and make up some Pills, five of one scruple: After which I made him drink a decoction of Thea, morning, noon, and evening; and I made an injection twice a day into his yard with the like decoction though very strong; and I applied a linen cloath, with Bole, camphor, and Brandy, round about his Yard; after which he was cured in a few days.   

CASE II.  
Mr. J. B. Pinket, an Excellant Anatomist of gaunt, did me the favour to communicate to me this Case:  
A certain Gentleman( said he) aged 38 years, had followed a Bawd's advice for the space of some weeks, but without any good effect; and when he came to me, after all, I gave him the Infusion of Cantharides, prepared thus:  
♃. Cantharides, one drachm and an half, Spirit of Wine twelve ounces; as to the former, I ordered the gross parts to be peeled off, and what remained to be put in a linen cloath, then to be hung in Brandy a whole night over the fire, for making an Infusion.  
The Patient took a spoonful thereof morning and evening, and a Glass of the Almond Milk every day, which is prepared as follows:  
♃ Of the four great could Seeds of each two drachms, sweet Almonds twenty in number, barley Water a quart, white Sugar what may suffice; make an Emulsion according to Art. The day following he was twice lanced in the Yard, for to ease him of his pain.  
♃ Rhasis's white Trohisks half a Scruple, Rose water two ounces; make an injection. Several things were continued for six days following; then the Patient took the following decoction to cleanse his body.  
♃ Guiacum wood half a pound, Senna Leaves two ounces, Anise seed one ounce, Liquorice one ounce, common Water eight pints; boil them to the half quantity: The Patient is to take sixteen ounces at two several times a day, viz. eight ounces at a time. This decoction lasts for three days, and every day gives four or five stools. After this Purge, the following is to be taken:  
♃ The Sugar of led, camphor, of each half a Scruple, Sal Prunella one drachm, Prepared Steel one scruple, the Conserve of the Egyptian Thorn one drachm; mix them. The dose is a drachm twice a day: The following injection is also to be given twice a day for an absolute Cure:  
♃ White French Wine two ounces, Prepared Tutty half a scruple; mix them. By this Method the Patient was cured in fifteen days time.  
Note, that the Injection is the chief means for curing a gonorrhoea, for I always find that the most sovereign Medicines taken by the mouth, are not so effectual as those that are very near the parts; and there is no need to fear that the Syringe Pipe, entering the Yard, will put the Patient to pain, or other inconvenience, because I order the Pipe so, that it is completely round in the end that enters the yard, and but a span long.   

CASE III.  
A certain Lawyer, about 30 years of Age, who would needs be dabbling, and after having sailed in a dangerous passage, arrived very fairly in the Straits; being pinched with a gonorrhoea, that held him for eight months together, the Cure of which he committed to a pitiful Apprentice, but in vain, I ordered for him the following things:  
♃ Venice Turpentine two drachms, the Balsam of Peru half a drop, the Extract of rhubarb one Scruple; mix them, and make up a Bolus. I made him repeat this every other day, till he had taken it four times, in the mean time he made use of the following Pills:  
♃ Venice Turpentine coct. Gum. Elemni, of each two drachms, oil of Amber ten drops, Crabs-eyes half an ounce; mix them, make up Pills; the dose one Scruple. After which he also took Quercetane's Water, four spoonfuls a day, and he was cured in the space of ten days, or thereabouts.   

CASE IV.  
A certain Person of Quality, of 25 years of Age, took my advice, after he had made use of several other Physicians to no purpose; for the distemper did still appear: I purged him with some Mercurial Medicines, which I desired him to repeat every other day, till he had used them thrice; in the mean time he drank the following decoction:  
♃ China Root, Salsaparilla, of each two ounces, Liquorice half an ounce; boil them in such a quantity of water, that being strained, the whole may amount to eleven ounces; then let it be used. He drank in the morning, and at noon as much then as he could get down. His Yard was washed and cleansed twice a day with an injection; after which I ordered for him the following mixture:  
♃ oil of Amber, of Juniper, of each one drachm, the Spirit highly Rectified, or, the Alcohol of Wine five ounces; mix them. He took one spoonful of it every day, morning and evening, mixed with a little Wine, and half a drachm of Crabs-eyes; after which he was cured.   

CASE V.  
A certain young Man, an Hamburgh Merchant, having had the misfortune to be made free of a Bawdy house, got a gonorrhoea for for his Certificate; and having acquainted me with his condition by the means of a chirurgeon that was with him in the same Inn, we made him sweet once, and the morrow after we purged him with a Mercurial. His Yard was very much inflamed, and we did mitigate the same with new Milk; after which we put camphor about it, and gave him the following injection:  
℞ camphor ten grains, Infusion of Thea two ounces; mix both for an injection. This was continued for some days, and in the mean time he took Pills made of Turpentine, Balsam of Copayva, Crabs-eyes; after which he returned to Hamburg in very good health.   

CASE VI.  
A Friend of mine was troubled with a virulent gonorrhoea, and a very great Inflammation in the glad of his Yard, with a pain in making water.  
The morrow after I saw him I made him immediately be purged with some Mercurial Pills, which afforded him some ease; I put round about his Yard a Plaster of Bole Armoniac, camphor, and Spirit of Wine, which took away all the Inflammation, and increased the gonorrhoea; for if this virulent matter be stopped, it does corrode, whence there is an exceeding great pain in making water. He drank a great deal of new Milk, with Coffee, to take the heat or acrimony from his Urine. After he was purged I prescribed to him Detersives, with some other Medicaments; by which he recovered his perfect health in three weeks time.   

CASE VII.  
A young woman, wronged by her Husband, had a gonorrhoea of sharp, stinking, and yellow matter, accompanied with great pain; so that the external parts of her tender passage were exceedingly excoriated, and she mightily tormented thereby. I ordered an outward application of a mixture of Bolus, camphor, and Spirit of Wine, upon fine linen; by which that Inflammation that proceeded from the sharp and corrosive matter continually running, was wholly removed; I also purged her with an ordinary Medicine, viz. the catholic Extract, and afterwards moderately with white Precipitate, after she had had three very convenient stools, I ordered her that which follows:  
℞ Balsam of Copayva an ounce and an half, of Peru one drachm; mix them. After she had used this mixture for some days, having taken some drops of it in Thea, or Coffee, I ordered for her what follows:  
℞ mastic, Franckincense, Bole Armoniac, Amber, Cuttle bone, Crabs-eyes, our Arcanum, of each three drachms; mix, and make them into a powder. I ordered her to take of this powder every day, morning and evening, the bigness of a Dait, either in the decoction of Salsaparilla and China, or with Coffee, or Thea; by the use of which she was very quickly restored to her health.   

CASE VIII.  
A certain Gentleman had a gonorrhoea for almost the space of two years, which was not very virulent, I cured him of it; in which case the juice of the Egyptian Thorn, and the juice of the Holy Rose Root, are very useful, but my Arcanum is better.   

CASE IX.  
A certain Person having a virulent gonorrhoea, committed himself to a Mountebank, but in vain; his Yard was very much inflamed, on the glad of which there grew a Node.  
After he was once purged with the Extract of rhubarb, and Mercurius dulcis, I put camphor and Bolus about his Yard, having first mixed them according to art, whereby the Inflammation was allayed; he drank likewise new Milk with Thea, to mitigate the sharp pains he suffered in making Water; he also drank Nimiguen Beer, which they call moll; afterwards he took the Balsam of Capayva, and the Balsam of Peru, for the space of one Week; after which he took our Arcanum for some time, and perfectly recovered.   

CASE X.  
A Man of thirty years of age had a continual gonorrhoea for the space of two Months, and after having taken many things of several chirurgeons, he took my advice, I then made him take a good deal of balsam of Sulphur, eight days together, purging him once in the mean time; and after this I gave him my Arcanum, by which he was recovered.    

SECT. IV. Of the Inflammation of the Yard, &c.  
1. The Inflammation of the Yard is to be cured in this manner: Put the Yard frequently into warm Coffee, and warm Thea, letting it lye for some time; or in new Milk mixed with a little camphor; the following ointment is exceedingly useful for curing the said Inflammation.  
♃ Bole Armoniac half an ounce, camphor half a drachm, Spirit of Wine in a sufficient quantity; mix all together, and make an Unguent.  
And the operation of this Unguent is this: First, I order the Bole, which is composed for the most part of an Alcali; secondly, the camphor, which is nothing else but a volatile oleaginous Salt, with which I mix Spirit of Wine, which in some sort incorporating with the camphor, is very active, by reason of the subtlety of the air, and being put on the Yard, or an Inflammation, must penetrate into the root of the cause by the means of its energetick quality, which in the first place does open many passages, and afterward the matter of the obstruction becomes more fluid, or at least more movable; so as one part of it does evaporate, and another is carried into the blood.  
2. If it happens that the obstruction that causes the Inflammation be so great that it cannot be entirely removed, the Pores and passages of the parts are corroded for so long a time, that they are cut and broken to pieces; and so Ulcers are opened, which ought then to be purged, to carry off the purulent matter, for fear the Ulcers should proceed to lay waste the adjacent parts, and devour the Yard wholly; against which Fate good Medicines are to be used, such as,  
♃ Verdigrise, Sublimate, of each four grains, camphor one scruple, Rich Wine three ounces; mix them, and make up a Clyster.  
Or, ♃ Fallopius's Mercurial Water, Spirit of Wine, of each two ounces, Frankincense, Aloes, camphor, of each one drachm; mix all for the same purpose.  
These Remedies are called Detersives, or Purgatives, the operation of which is as follows. There is Mercury one of the greatest enemies to an Acid; it is streighty united to saline particles, and therefore it is the more easily dissolved in Wine or Water, to be employed for this or the other purpose. Besides, to these Medicines we add some oils of a volatile Salt, such as camphor, and other Gums, which are mixed with Wine, and Brandy, that it may penetrate the Ulcer; it cleanses the part from the virulency, and opens the pores, so as the Acid is overcome by the means of the Mercury; to which there is also added Verdegrise, white Vitriol, and the like, which by reason of their gross and sharp parts, like hewers of wood, cut down the Copse, or Small-wood, and cleanse the Ulcers from all useless and decayed matter.  
3. The Precipitate Water that follows is not to be slighted; we shall give the Receipt for it here, seeing we shall have occasion to use it hereafter.  
♃ Sublimate pulserized half an ounce, Sal Armoniack one ounce, Rain water two quarts; mix these together in a bottle, and shake them now and then, adding thereunto two ounces of the Salt of Tartar, the Sublimate will be precipitated; let it alone till it fall all to the bottom, and then put it into water; you may dry the precipitated Powder, and keep it till you have occasion; the Water is kept in a bottle.  
4. This Water does then consist of some particles of Salt which were in the Sublimate, viz. the Vitriol, and the Salt, to which some volatile particles of the Sal Armoniac do join themselves, together with some others of the Salt of Tartar, which are fixed, so as the volatile do put the fixed in motion; and the Acid of the Ulcer is overcome by the Vitriol, the Salt of Tartar, and Armoniack; and these particles being in motion, do cut out their way round about the borders of the Ulcer, till the whole be cleansed by their detersive Energy.  
5. That which is precipitated is the greatest part of the Mercurial particles, and contains some others of the Salt of Tartar and Armoniack; for the Mercury, before that, was reduced to a compact body in the Sublimate, by the acids of Salts which are therein; but being dissolved in water, all these acid points left the Mercury, and fixed themselves in the alcalious Salts, which leaving their place, the fine and volatile parts of the Salt Armoniack take place in the Mercury; for the one going out, the other must succeed, seeing there is a circular motion always in the Body.  
6. Quick-lime Water ought not to be excluded here; for it is a known thing, that the Lime is an Alcali, which by the means of the Water does cleanse the Ulcers from the Acid, that was the great cause that the Ulcer opened, and remained so; this Acid being therefore removed, and the borders of the Ulcer hewed and lopped, the Ulceration is cleansed.  
7. Nevertheless it will not be amiss to cleanse the Body with Mercurial Medicines, to sweat continually, and to take some Turpentine Pills, Crabs-eyes, and white Precipitate; and the Patient ought to drink of nothing but a Decoction of China and Salsaparilla, but always warm, which will drive the Acid from the Body, and vanquish the virulent Ferment on which the whole depends: The Ulcers being cleansed, it onely remains that we close up the passage.  
8. As for the means that are requisite to obtund the Acid, we may give these following; first, there is Emplastrum griseum, composed of several ingredients which temper the Acid, as all Alkalies do, such as Lapis Calaminaris, the Lithargyre, Ceruse, Tutty, that have all an Alcali, capable of breaking the points of the Acid, and to receive them into their pipes; which appears by Ceruse, a sort of led, in which many acid points are engaged, and being broken can no longer retain their pristine character and vigour. To these are also joined some volatile Salts, mixed with an aromatic Oil, as Turpentine, Frankincense, mastic, myrrh, camphor, which put the Acid of the Ulceration in motion; and thus the Acid is butted in the Alcali. The like may be said of Diapompholix, and several other things, in which Mercurials are mixed, as Precipitate, which by its corrosiveness does restrain the too great growing of the flesh; otherwise, without it, this would increase to such a bulk, that it would afterwards be hard to reduce it by Corrosives: Oils and pingous Unguents are oftentimes hindrances to a good and ready cure; to avoid which, 'tis better to use such as are composed of firm ingredients, but reduced; as,  
♃ Ceruss half an ounce, Lithargyre, three drachms, Powder of Frankincense two drachms, read Precipitate half a scruple, Spirit of Wine a sufficient quantity; mix all, and make thereof a soft Unquent.  
When the Unguent is too dry, put always therein some Brandy to moisten it.  
Or, ♃ Prepared Tutty, Frankincense, of each two drachms, camphor half a drachm, Spirit of Wine a sufficient quantity; mix them, and make up a soft Unquent.  
Or, ♃ read led, Bole, of each two drachms, mastic a drachm and a half, Rich Wine what sufficeth; M. make up a soft Unguent.  
Or, ♃ Burnt Ivory, led grinded with Water, of each two drachms, Quick Lime Water what sufficeth; M. make up a soft Unguent.  
9. It sometimes happens, that there grows venereal Warts or, the like, in Ulcerations, which may be remedied by Corrosives, such as read Precipitate, and burnt alum, which must be put on the same in powder; the same thing may be done to hard and callous Ulcerations; in which case, some make use of a plaster of Frogs, prepared with Mercury, or this that follows:  
♃ Ointment of Roses one ounce, Crude Mercury half an ounce; mix them.  

CASE I.  
A Servant Man having kept company with an infected person, had an itching in the glad of his Yard, but afterwards the whole became inflamed with great pain, then ulcerated; he had a gonorrhoea at first, but the matter being locked, could not be discharged; or, being a poor Creature, he had neglected himself; I prescribed to him good Cataplasms, such as,  
♃ sour Rye Bread two ounces, pigeons dung one ounce, Phellandrium Leaves one handful; boil all in Joppa Ale; add of camphor two drachms; make up a cataplasm: This removed the Inflammation, so as on the morrow after he voided a huge quantity of Urine, and putrefied seed: In other things the ordinary method was observed; as, Mercurials, and Decoction of China, &c.   

CASE II.  
A certain Man having had a gonorrhoea for a long time, that was very virulent, had the glad of his Yard covered with hard Nodes, and so with some Ulcers: I made him apply Unguentum Basilicum thereunto, with a little read Precipitate; I also made him cover his Yard with a plaster of Frogs, prepared with Mercury; which were so operative, that all the Nodes were dissolved, and the Ulcers healed, which were at last closed up with a little Bolus, and Unguentum rosaceum mixed together; he observed withall a good diet, and drank every day a Decoction of Salsaparilla and China.    

SECT. V. Of the Caruncle.  
1. A Caruncle does accompany a gonorrhoea, and is a small fleshy Tumour, placed in the very passage of the Yard. The chief part of the cure does consist in taking away this Tumour, which is difficult to be done, seeing we cannot come near it, as in the case of an external part: The best way therefore is to make a small silver Pipe, very even, but something smaller in that end that enters into the Yard.  
2. The Pipe being prepared, the next thing is a good Powder; the prepartion of which is as follows:  
℞ Burnt alum one drachm, Brass Rust ten grains; mix them, and make a Powder:  
Or, ℞ read Mercury half a scruple, Powder of Savain one drachm; mix them into a Powder:  
Or, ℞ Sulphur one drachm, Brass Rust half a scruple; for a Powder, as before.  
3. Some Unguents are to be conveyed through that Pipe to the excrescence; such as Unguentum Apostolorum, or this which follows:  
℞ Butter one ounce, Yellow Wax two drachms Turpentine three drachms read Precipitate, Brass Rust, of each one scruple; mix them, and make up an Unguent; and this is used till the Carnosity be consumed. These Unguents and Powders may be made as strong or weak as one pleases, by adding thereto a greater or lesser quantity of Corrosives.  
4. After the excrescence of flesh is corroded, the Orifice that was made by the Tumour, is to be healed by the following Powders, blown by the Pipe into the Yard.  
℞ Crude Antimony one drachm, Bole Armoniack two drachms, camphor one scruple; mix them all into a Powder.  
Or, ℞ Lapis Calaminaris, Frankincense, of each one drachm; make them into a Powder.  
Or, ℞ Sweet Vitriol Earth, burnt Hartshorn, of each one drachm, Yellow resin one drachm; make them into a Powder.  
Or, ℞ Sealed Earth, Ceruss, of each two parts, camphor one part; make them into a Powder.  
Or, ℞ Lithargyre of Gold, mastic, of each equal parts; mix them into a Powder.  
Or, ℞ Burnt led, Tutty, of each two parts, camphor one part; make them into a Powder. We may likewise make Unguents of these Powders, with a little Oil, Wax, and Turpentine; and for the same purpose we may use Emplastrum Griseum, Unguentum Oculare, Diapompholigos, Opodeldoch, Felicis, Wurts, &c.  
5. But whilst the excrescence is kept from increasing, the Pipe is to be drawn out sometimes, to give passage to the Urine, and if it cannot be conveniently emitted, a Catheter is to be used to facilitate the passage; the Urine being voided, the pipe is to be put in again, and some of the last mentioned Powder is to be blown in by it, and repeated till the cure be completed.  

CASE I.  
A young Man having been cured of a gonorrhoea, felt some pain in making water, by reason of an obstruction, so as sometimes the passage was stopped up, and no Urine could pass, but by drop and drop. We found with the finger and a probe, that there was something in the middle of the Uretra: In order to his cure there was some of this following Powder blown in by a Pipe, upon the excrescence:  
℞ Burnt Honey two drachms, Burnt alum three drachms; mix them into a Powder. By this means the Carnosity was taken away, and it was healed by a Composition of Brandy and Bolus.    

SECT. VII. Of the Venereal Hernia, or Testicle.  
1. THis accident of the Venereal Hernia is nothing else but an enlargement of of the Testicular Vessels. As to it's Cure, we must endeavour to make the matter that causes the swelling to be fluid, by dissolving and operative Medicines; but if the mischief be come to a great height, we must draw the matter from it, to free the part from the Scherrous Tumours; and if after all, the remedies have not the desired success, it is necessary to make an Incision in the part.  
2. The Patient may take Turpentine Pills, together with the Balsam of Peru, or that of Copayva, Crabs-eyes; and afterwards drink every day a great quantity of the Decoction of Thea, or Coffee, to heat the body, and render all the humours fluid; and so he may put for his use some drops of the volatile Salt of Harts-horn into Spanish Wine, to dissolve all the gross liquours; which may also be performed by this which follows:  
Spirit of Salt, Armoniack, Ivory, Bones, blood, Urine, a volatile oily Salt, Harts-Horn, flowers of Salt Armoniack, and the like, seeing all volatile Salts are Antidotes against the venereal Symptoms. The External Medicines are these that follow:  
℞ Cows dung three ounces, Phellandrium leaves, Rue leaves, of each one handful, Tobacco one drachm: Boil them in water to a good consistency, adding thereto, Wheat, and Honey, of each two ounces; mix them for a cataplasm; the cataplasm must be applied very warm, and so must the following Fomentations be used.  
℞ Joppa Ale three ounces, Spirit of Feather feat two ounces, Sal Armoniack ten drops; mix them for a Fomentation.  
Or, ℞ Tobacco half an handful, Cresses two handfuls, Phellandrium one handful; boil them in new Wine to ten ounces, strain them; then add thereto of the Spirit of Sal Armoniack half a drachm, camphor half an ounce; mix them for a Fomentation.  
The following receipt was given me as a rarity, by a friend who had cured many with it.  
℞ Cresses three handfuls, fresh butter one ounce; stir this till it be freed from all redundant Humidity, then add thereto two drachms of camphor and put them about the Hernia; all the fine liquours are very fit to remove it, of which this which follows is not the least:  
℞ Spirit of Feather feat, Frankincense wood, Amber, myrrh, mastic, of each equal parts, Spirit of Wine rectified what is sufficient; peel and refine these very well, and leave them to digest some days in the Spirit of Wine, that the Gums may be the better dissolved, and afterwards distil them by a slow fire: The Tincture of Assafetida is useful upon the same occasion.  

CASE I.  
A certain man coming to me, acquainted me that he had to do with a strange Woman, upon which he got a gonorrhoea, which he had stopped by the advice of one of his Comrades; after which his two Testicles did increase prodigiously: He consulted a chirurgeon who brought him to me; we applied a good cataplasm to his Testicles made up of Brandy, Drache, and camphor, which had a good effect, being used thrice a day; and the Patient was cured without any thing else.    

SECT. VII. Of Venereal Buboes.  
1. VEnereal Buboes happen commonly in the Glands of the Groin, sometimes in the Arm-pits, and other Glandulous places. To which there is joined an Inflammation, Heat, Corrosion, Pain, Pulsation and Extension, which are the most ordinary marks.  
2. As for the cure, if the Inflammation be onely begun, it may be repelled; if it be come to some forwardness, it must be brought to suppuration as soon as possible; for which purpose the receipts which here follow are proper.  
℞ Wheat flower three ounces, Yolks of Eggs six in number, camphor two drachms, Saffron one scruple, Honey what is sufficient; mix them for a soft plaster;  
Or, ℞ Roasted Onions two ounces, Pigeons dung one ounce, Mustard seed half an ounce, Honey what is sufficient; mix them for a cataplasm;  
Or, ℞ Galbanum two ounces, Powder of Tobacco, Cummin seed, of each one ounce, Spirit of Wine, with camphor and Honey, of each what is sufficient; mix them for a plaster. These remedies being warmly applied, ought to be assisted frequently with a bag of warm Sand, applied to the place over the cataplasm.  
These Applications do very much contribute to the Suppuration of those Inflammations; for whatever can make an Inflammation to va●ish, can likewise bring it to Suppuration; if ●hen the Inflammations do not break easily. we may use such Remedies as are of somewhat greater force; for there is often need that the Inflammation be lanced, or opened with a Corrosive, or that this following plaster be applied thereto:  
℞ Of Rye-leven three ounces, Mustard two ounces, black Soap one ounce; boil all together in a sufficient quantity of Water, and Spirit of Wine, to the consistency of a cataplasm.  
3. But if it happens to suppurate, the passage is to be cleansed with a little of the Juice of Celandine and Honey, applied with a Pledget.  
4. Nevertheless a Mercurial Purgative is to be used once, and the Patient is to drink nothing but a Decoction of Salsaparilla and China; neither must sweeting be omitted.   

SECT. VIII. Of Condylomes or Venereal Excrescences in the Fundament, and Privy-Parts.  
1. WE are to reckon amongst the accidents of the Venereal Distempe● whatever grows in that case, in the Fundament and Privy-Parts, which are called Condylomes, or Wens; and these, according to their various figure, admit of various Appellations; they are called Ficus, Marisca, and Morus; if they hang, they are called pencils; but names make nothing for the thing.  
2. Care is to be taken to remove these Excrescences, and to cicatrise their place; if they leave no open passage, they are to be anointed with the Butter of Antimony,( or the Oil of Antimony, or else with the Spirit of Sulphur per campanam, both consisting of acid Parts: The Butter of Antimony, and it's Oil, seem not indeed to be composed of a pure Acid, otherwise the Butter would raise an Effervescence, with the Spirit of Niter; so that there are many particles of an Alcali therein, which cannot come near to one another, for want of a liquor, which happens when the Spirit of Niter is joined to it; the anoninting must be afterwards repeated once every day, after which the Condylomes will die, dry, and fall off gradually. The following Unguent may be likewise used:  
℞ Mercury Sublimate one drachm, Sal Armoniack, Ceruss, of each two drachms, White-Wine Vinegar six ounces; mix them.  
When the Warts have a neck, a horse hair may be tied about them, after which they will gradually fall off, and dry up: If there remains a large passage, cicatrising Remedies are to be used, which take away all noisome smell, as Lithargyre, Ceruss, Tutty.   

SECT. IX. Of the Universal Pox, and it's symptoms.  
1. SEeing this Distemper does consist in an Acid Poison, it cannot be better cured than by such Medicines as expel the Acid out of the Body, or altogether vanquish and obtund it; and this may be done by purging, sweeting, salivating, and using other altering Medicines.  
2. The Purgatives are not to be used too often, lest the Patient be reduced to great weakness of Body, and so be made unable to endure the fatigue of sweeting. It is best to observe a Medium, that is, to purge moderately at the beginning, at the middle, and at the end. As for the Medicines, it is no great matter what sort we use, although many think Coloquintida to be the most proper Cathartick, not knowing the reason why, unless they suppose that it does contain more alkalious Particles, that are fit to vanquish the Acid; to this they join Mercurials, the better to expel the Acide from the Body. It is to be observed that we must mix the Mercurials with Pills, or a Bolus; for if they be mixed with drink, or powders, and then be given, the Acid of the Saliva would mix therewith in the Mouth, and would very much impair the parts thereunto belonging. I shall here set down some receipts for learners.  
℞ The Confection Hamech one drachm and an half, Mercurius dulcis 24 grains; mix them for a Bolus.  
Or, ℞ Aloes, Guttae Gambae, white Mercury Precipitate, of each half a scruple; mix them, and make up seven Pills.  
Or, ℞ The catholic Extract, Sublimate Precipitate of each 16 grains; mix them, and make up five Pills.  
Or, ℞ The Pulp of Cassia, Calomelan, of each one drachm, Scammony six grains; mix them, and make up a Bolus.  
These are the principal Purgative Medicines prepared with Mercury; otherwise this sort is made up into Decoctions.  
3. Mercurials are also mixed with hieroglyphics, which are given at night in the following manner:  
℞ Treacle one drachm, Mercurius dulcis one scruple; mix them for a Bolus.  
Or, ♃ White Mercury Precipitate half a scruple, resin of Guiacum one scruple; mix them, and make up six Pills.  
4. But besides these Remedies that procure Sweat, the Patient is to be sweated every day once, by the means of Brandy, or Aquavitae; in the same, or the like manner, as follows:  
5. The Patient being undressed, and stark naked, is set in an high Seat, his feet over a warm stove; then his body is to be covered all over with a large sheet from below reaching to his neck, so that nothing appear but his head; after which the sheet is to be put very close to his body, all over, that nothing be naked, and that the Air be utterly excluded: Then a pot of Brandy is to be taken, set under the seat, and kindled, but not all at once, but by degrees, and often, lest the flamme rise too high, and damnify the Seat; when the Patient has sweated well, he is to put on a shirt very well aired, and warm; and he is to be put immediately into a Bed well warmed, and must drink a good Pottinger of Decoction.  
6. The drinks that we give in this Distemper are as follow:  
♃ Lignum Sanctum razed one ounce, the Bark of the same, Liquorice, of each half an ounce; boil them according to Art to 40 ounces; strain them, and give them.  
Or, ♃ Salsaparilla Root, China Root, of each three ounces, Sassafrass Wood two ounces, Liquorice one ounce; boil them in Water to eighty ounces, strain them.  
Or, ♃ Burr-dock Root, Salsaparilla Root, Raisins of the Sun, of each three ounces; boil all in water to eighty Ounces, and being strailet it be used.  
Or, ♃ Roots of China, of Butter-burr, of Burdock, of each three ounces; boil them in water to eighty ounces, strain them for use.  
7. The Patients in the mean time, so long as they are under cure, are to drink no other decoctions but these; for they provoke sweat much, which is affencted by heat, whether it be that Brandy, hot Bricks, or other things of the like Nature, be used.  
8. After the Patient has sweated sufficiently, he must take a full Cup of such drink, that the motion of the Humours be not suddenly stopped.  
9. Many think that there is a great benefit to be expected from crude Antimony, because they believe that it excites Sweat, which must proceed from it's Sulphur, which in this Case is like an Alkali. The Sulphur of Antimony being like common Sulphur, and this having no Acid in it, as it is believed, it must needs be that the Acid of our bodies( by cutting and continually dividing the Sulphur of the Antimony) does break it's own points, by which means all the strength of the Acid is vanquished; and during this Combat in the blood, there is a motion, and consequently a heat; so that the finest Acides do fly out of the Territories of the Body.  
10. After having spoken of proper hieroglyphics, it will not be unfit to set down something relating to the practise of Artificial Salivation, without which this Distemper cannot be cured oftentimes.  
11. The Internal Medicines for Salivation are as follow:  
♃ Mercurius dulcis half an ounce, Treacle in a sufficient quantity; mix them, and make up Pills for ten times. A Dose thereof is to be taken Morning and Evening.  
Or, ♃ Camomel one ounce, White Sugar two ounces; mix them, and make up six Pills: Of which also a Dose is to be taken Morning and Evening.  
Or, ♃ Turbith Mineral ten grains, Treacle one drachm and a half; mix them, and make up a Bolus. The Dose is to be taken thrice a day.  
Or, ♃ White Precipitate, read Precipitate, of each three drachms, Old Treacle one ounce, Powder of Mace, Powder of Cloves, of each two drachms; mix them, and make up Pills. The Dose is from twelve to sixteen grains.  
Or, ♃ Sublimate Precipitate twelve grains, or sixteen grains, Old Treacle one drachm; mix them. To be taken once a day, till the Salivation begin.  
12. The following receipt was communicated to me as a great secret, to cure the Venereal Distemper without any danger:  
♃ Mercury Sublimate one drachm, common Water twenty ounces; mix them.  
In the Morning the Patient may take a spoonful thereof; and this frequently cures upon seven times taking: But I think this too strong; so that there may be more water added, and a greater quantity taken thereof.  
13. For cleansing the Mouth which is ulcerated by the Acid, in the Salivation, it is convenient to take Remedies that are proper to rince the Mouth withall, and to draw the corrosive Acid from all the corners thereof, for which purpose the Pickle of lemons is useful, being full of volatile and aromatic Particles; and if the mouth be rinced therewith, it does very much contribute to the cleansing of it, and much more than all the Almond Milk, decoctions of Figs, Roses, &c. but if the Ulcers be obstinate, and the Pains insupportable, some Gargarisms are prepared, which are penetrating; such as,  
♃ Limon Pickle, Spirit of Scurvy-grass, of each two Ounces, Spirit of Wine four ounces, Opium four grains; mix them, and make a Gargarism.  
When the Salivation is backward, the Patient is to take something to sweat; and if it be too forward, a gentle Purge must be given, that the Mercury may also operate in the Glands of the Region of the Belly.  
14. When Mercury is taken, the Patient may very well make use of such things as temper the Acid, and break its points; which may be effected by such Remedies as provoke Urine, and cleanse the Ulcers and the Belly.  
15. In salivating, the Mouth is to be continually rinced, that the Acid may be always expelled from thence, and those parts be not impaired; for this purpose fresh Water, new Milk, and Decoctions of Harts-horn may be used; for the Acid remaining a long time in the Mouth, must of necessity continually corrhode the same: and a decoction of Guiacum is likewise used for this end, seeing it keeps the Pores always open.  
16. The Venereal Distemper is sometimes accompanied with Tophes, or stony or chalky Tumours, as in the Gout, which cannot be better discussed than by Mercurial plasters; as, the plaster of Frogs, prepared with Mercury, Vigo's plaster with Mercury: There is also for the same purpose a Mercurial Water, made in the manner following.  
♃ Tin five ounces, Crude Mercury three ounces; make an Amalgam thereof.  
♃ Of this Amalgam, of Sublimate corrosive, of each eight ounces, distil them in a Retort in Sand, with a Recipient well luted; there will come forth a most clear Water always smoking.  
Of this Water a drop or two is to be taken every day, to put on the Tumour. I think that there is something singular in this Water that deserves to be noticed, and that the Tin being mixed with the other two, divides the minute particles of the Mercury, and separates them from one another; and the Sublimate, which is composed of an Aleali, and of an Acid, being added, one part of the Acid works upon the Tin, and another part goes out of the Retort by the action of the fire, and seems to represent to us the figure of a Water, one part of which can never be vanquished by another; the Mercury being divided into very small parts, is in continual action and resistance; and hence the incessant smoke.  
17. But these Remedies are only to be used when the Bones are not corrupted; for if they be, another method is to be followed; as when a carries is to be cured, by grating, scraping, drawing out the small Bones, and cauterising them; upon which, there is afterwards put a Powder that drinks up the Acid, and effects the Cure by its alcalious and volatile particles. The Powders are as follows:  
♃ mastic two drachms, Powder of valentine Orris half an ounce; mix them into a Powder.  
Or, ♃ Powder of Birthwort, Fab. vel Rot. Frankincense, of each three drachms, camphor one drachm; mix them into a Powder.  
But if there be scales that are but slowly separated, they may be removed by Remedies that drink up the Acid, and make them fall off the sooner.  
♃ Spirit of Wine two ounces, the juice of the greater Celandine one ounce, Euphorbe one drachm; mix them.  
Wash with this from time to time; and after this, the foresaid Powder is to be sprinkled on the part.  
18. There are some marks of sores and Pox that are rubbed with the Mercurial Waters of Fallopius, and Fernelius, and the like: And the following may be used for the same purpose:  
♃ Quick Lime Water six ounces, Salt of Saturn one drachm, Brass Rust six grains; mix them.  
Or, ♃ Spirit of Wine two ounces, Sal Armoniack half a drachm, Aloes one drachm, Orpiment six grains; mix them.  
Or, ♃ Sublimate Precipitate Water four ounces, White Vitriol six grains, myrrh one drachm; mix them.  
I shall conclude the Work with a Relation of some Cases: and first, I shall set down what I had in a Letter from Mr. J. Bapt. Pinket, a famous chirurgeon and Anatomist of gaunt.  
I must, Sir, communicate to you an Observation, touching that which the Spaniards make use of for curing the Venereal Distemper on the Ninth Day; and there have been many of their Captains and Ensigns, who have been cured by this Method in that small time. I made trial thereof some Months ago on a Woman, aged forty years, with good success: But I am very well assured, that nothing can be effected to purpose, but where the Disease is not inveterate: I also believe, that it is to be repeated, if the pains and other accidents do not leave the Patients at the end of Nine days.  
I thought fit to add the said manner of Cure.  

A Cure of the Venereal Distemper in Nine Days.  
The Air must be warm; but if it be Winter, the Patient must not stir from his Chamber, but must have good fires there, that his Pores may be always open.  
His Diet must be so regulated, that he must abstain from eating in the Morning; at Noon he must eat Veal, or Mutton, roasted, with no fat, to the quantity of four ounces; his Bread must be biscuit, but without Sugar: He is to take three ounces thereof: For his desert he shall take a few Almonds and Raisins; at Night he must abstain from all other food, but only one ounce of biscuit, with a few Almonds and Raisins; and for his Drink he must take this:  
♃ Sarsaparilla three ounces, Sassafras an ounce and a half, Aniseed half an ounce, Raisins of the Sun four ounces, Common Water twelve pints. Make a Decoction of all, according to art. It must be boiled to the half. Of this Drink the Patient must take as much as he can; he must avoid all Wrath, Grief, and other Passions of the Mind.  
So much for the Patient's Diet: Now follow the Medicines; and first, this Decoction.  
♃ Four ounces of Salsaparilla, split, peeled, and steeped twenty four hours in four pots of Water; then boil it in a Copper, or Earthen Pot, well stopped, over a small fire, till three thereof be consumed, and strain the remaining part through a course strainer; put again this Decoction in a new Earthen Vessel upon the fire, and add thereunto a quarter of a Pint of Virgin's Honey, and an ounce of white Sugar; let them boil together, and scum it well; then take it off the fire, for such use as we shall presently show. Then this Powder is requisite.  
℞ Salsaparilla two ounces, Senna Leaves one ounce, Oak-fern Roots half an ounce, Hermodacts three ounces, White Sugar half an ounce; make all up into a powder. Make them severally very small, then mix them together; afterwards take them in the following manner, viz. In the Morning four spoonfuls of the foresaid mixture, two drachms of the Powder, mix them together and take them; if it be too thick to be drunk, put into it some of the ordinary Decoction of Sarsa, to make it drinkable. If the Patient take of it, he must cover himself very well, that he may sweat, or get a stool; for this Remedy does produce both the one and the other effect.  
This is to be continued for the space of nine days, unless the Patient become very feeble; for in that case one day must be intermitted. After the use of it for five days, the Patient will find himself much better, and on the ninth day he will perceive himself to be perfectly cured.   

CASE. I.  
A Woman, about forty years of age, having complained a long time of a pain in her Head, especially about her Forehead, and her Nose, whereof the cartilaginous Interstice was already corroded; for a Probe being put into her Nose, it was found to be all hollow, which was a sign of a great corruption in the Bones of the Nose, and Palate; her Uvula was also gone, with an Inflammation and Ulcers round about. We washed her Mouth one day with Sublmate, whereby the Ulcers were cured; afterwards we prepared one of the following Medicines:  
♃ Spirit of Featherfeat, Juice of Cholidonii, of each equal parts; mix them.  
We put of it into her Nose, morning and evening, together with something of the following Composition for humectation.  
♃ Juice of Celandine one ounce, Spirit of Wine two ounces, myrrh, Aloes, of each one drachm, Brass Rust six grains; mix them.  
By these she was gradually cured; in the mean time we made her continually sweat by the means of a Brandy stove; her diet was the same as we have already prescribed in the like cases, and her drink was nothing else but a Decoction of Salsaparilla and China. This Woman, who was in that extremity, was at last perfectly restored.   

CASE. II.  
A certain Man, infected with the Pox, went to one for his Cure, who made him sweat, and besmeared him with a Mercurial Ointment, which excited a salivation, after he had been twice rubbed with the Unguent; but he took a kind of Apoplexy in his arms and Legs; besides, his Belly swelled; in his Throat he looked like a Man strangled; and the salivation stopped on a sudden: They rubbed the parts with a little warm Spirit of Wine, and gave him Cordial Waters, but in vain; they gave him a Clyster, and made him take a little Treacle-Water, after which he gathered strength. The Salivation proceeded one day, or two, at a slow rate: they applied a Mercurial plaster to his Legs, and Arms; after which the Salivation went on strongly, but he was surprised with the same hurricane; the same Remedies were again used, but in vain, and he seemed likewise to be choked; there was a stronger Clyster given him, and he recovered: The next day, after having salivated a little, he was surprised a third time after the same manner, but more violently than before; whatever means were used, were in vain: At last, it was concluded that he should take a Vomit, because, it might be, that in salivating he had gathered a great deal of corrupted humours in his Stomach; accordingly it was given, with a Tincture of the Glass of Antimony, of which he was sensible for some time, and began to vomit; and after having by this means discharged a great quantity of slimy humours, he was restored: And the Salivation was afterwards continued for some days, after which he was completely freed from the Distemper.    

THE HISTORY Of the Venereal DISTEMPER.  
THE Venereal Distemper was first brought into Europe out of the West-Indies An. Dom. 1493. for before that time, for any thing we can find, it was not so much as heard of in our part of the World; whence it is that the Disease is thought to be Epidemical in those parts of America, where we first had our Colonies: But I rather incline to think that it took it's Original from some Territory of the Blacks, near the Confines of Guinea; seeing I was informed not by a few of our Country-men, Persons of good Credit, who inhabit the Caribee Islands; that the Slaves that are newly brought from Guinea are infected with this distemper, even before they are set on shore, as are also others who live on the Place, and that without any unclean Conversation preceding; so that oftentimes it does fatally seize a whole Family of them, and involves equally Men, Women, and Children in the Catastrophe: Nor does this Contagion, which frequently surprises those miserable Souls, differ in the least, for any thing I know, in respect of the Symptoms, Pains, Ulcers, &c. from that we call the Venereal Distemper, the different Climates being considered, though the name is much different for they call it the Yaws: Nor does the Method of it's Cure, in use amongst them, differ much from ours; for both do hold Salivation by Mercury to be the most sovereign Remedy, notwithstanding what is alleged amongst us of the exceeding great virtue of Guiacum and Sarsaparilla, which they exert in their own soil, but is thought to be almost exhausted by reason of the great distance between them and us. It seems to me therefore probable, that the Spaniards, who brought this Disease first into Europe, were themselves infected by the Negroes, who were bought in afric, to some of whose Countries it may be Epidemical; for there are sundry people on the confines of Guinea, who had that barbarous custom of changing Men for Merchandise in their dealings with the Europeans. However it be, this Contagious Distemper making gradual advances, has so much infected these parts of the World, that if it now raged with the same swiftness with which at first it made it's assaults, the whole Race of Adam must in a few Ages Perish by it's fury, or at least be so confined to Hospitals, that they would be rendered utterly uncapable of managing those Affairs that maintain human society: But, like to a Plant removed from it's Natural to a Foreign Soil, the Disease does not so well agree with our European Climate, but languishes more and more, and goes off with less Pomp. When it first arrived amongst us, in seizing a Person, it corrupted the whole Mass of his blood, and did discover itself by extreme pains in the Head and Joints, and Ulcers in divers Parts. But an hundred years a go, it did first show itself by a virulent gonorrhoea, which it continues to this day, seeking to vent itself this way; with no other manifest symptom, unless that in a very few, a small boil in the Privities( commonly called a Chancre) is the first mark of the Distemper; whose virulency not being ejected by the gonorrhoea, does very quickly invade and infect the Mass of blood.  
This Venereal Distemper is propagated either by Generation, whence a poor Infant from the infection of either of the Parents receives the disease in it's first formation, or by touching some soft part, so as the Virulency and Inflammation do insinuate themselves into the Body, upon these and the like occasions. First, in giving or receiving suck the Infant may either infect the Nurse by the wide Pores of her Breast, or the Nurse the Infant by it's Mouth. Secondly, Infants, if they lye naked in the same bed with infected Persons; for although Persons grown up, whose flesh is become firm with Age, can hardly be infected, but by an impure Conversation, though they lye with the diseased in the same bed, yet the flesh of Infants being more tender, and of a loser texture, receives the Poison easily, which I have more than once observed in Infants, who having lain with their infected Parents, catched the Distemper of them. But Thirdly, The Contact of a soft part happens most frequently in having to do with an unclean Person; and therefore the Venereal Distemper is propagated this way especially; seeing the Yard being turgid with the Spirits that are destined to Generation, does quickly suffer by a Venereal Ulcer, or Blister lodging in the Neck of the Females Womb; either of which lurking inwardly, the women may nevertheless seem to be sound, the Poison being either detained by the Urine, and other humours, passing through these parts, or being oftentimes washed, and in some measure expelled by the menstrual Purgations. This Contagion in my opinion does first seize the carnous substance of the Yard, which it corrupts, and it does first communicate thereunto an Inflammation, and soon after an Ulcerous disposition by degrees; and hence it is that the purulent matter, such as we perceive in a gonorrhoea, does pass into the Ureter by drops; and I believe this for this Reason: For I myself have seen this virulent Matter come out of the Poruos substance of the glad, and not pass by the Ureter; there being no Ulcer that affencted either the glad, or the Prepuce: But at last taking deeper root, it uses to lay waste the Glands, Prostate, with a virulent Ulcer; which is frequently seen in the bodies of those who die of this distemper.  
This Disease does make it's progress by the following steps,( sooner or later, as the Female that gave it was more or less infected, and also according to the temper that is more or less disposed to receive the Corruption.) First, the privy Parts are tormented with an unusual pain, accompanied as it were with a rotation of the Testicles; then, if the party have not his Prepuce turned back from his glad, there is a spot very like one of the Small-pox at it's first breaking out, both in respect of colour and bigness: Presently after this spot appears a liquor drops out like to seed, which daily grows more and more unlike seed, both in respect of colour and consistency, till it grow somewhat more yellow than the yolk of an Egg; and in a more virulent Pox, it is not only green, but it is likewise mixed with a waterish Humour tinged deeply with blood. The said Blister becomes at length an Ulcer( at first not unlike the Apthae that are in the mouths of Infants) and daily spreads and penetrates, over and into the part; a hard Callus growing upon the Orifice. Nevertheless it is to be observed, that the foresaid Blister is seldom accompanied with a gonorrhoea, in those who either have had a gonorrhoea long before, or have their Prepuce turned back from their glad, seeing their glad growing hard, by reason of the Air to which it is exposed, and the frequent pressure it sustains by the linen it always touches, is not so soon damnified. Persons of this sort are seldom or never troubled with an Ulcer in their glad, 'tis only a gonorrhoea that happens in the manner forementioned.  
THis is followed by other symptoms; as, first, a great sense of pain in the Yard, when it is erected, as if it were violently grasped with a strong hand; which happens most in the night time, when the Patient grows warm in his Bed; which painful constriction of the Yard, I hold to be the most Pathognomical sign of the Disease in this state; the Yard is also made crooked by a violent contraction, which when it is erected, as it uses to be, brings an intolerable pain: There is also heat of Urine, which for the most part is not perceived in the time of making water, but when the Patient has just done, he is extremely burnt through all the passage of his Yard, especially about the glad. For sometimes the Urethra being corroded and excoriated by a continual running of sharp and purulent Matter, Nature somewhat too precipitant in supplying what is lost, does form a loose and spongeous flesh, which daily increasing, and growing insensibly into a confirmed hardness, so fills the urinary passage with carnous excrescences, that the Patient cannot any more make water, and these Caruncles do sand forth some corrupted Matter out of the Ulcers that grow by them, which both perplexes the Physician in the Cure, and is of a more tremendous aspect than death itself to the Patient. And it frequently happens, that the purulent Matter, which should have been discharged by a gonorrhoea, is thrown upon the Scrotum, by reason of a virulent motion, or the use of Astringents, which occasions an horrible sense of pain, and produces an Inflammation of the part; sometimes one, and sometimes both sides of the Scrotum swelling prodigiously, by reason of this; in the mean time the gonorrhoea is but slow, yet the heat of Urine is not the more abated. And these are the more common symptoms of this Disease, its state continuing thus.  
But when, by reason of the length of the Disease, and its continuance in the said parts, the Contagion is carried upwards, and gradually infects the Mass of blood; or when the humours are corrupted by the virulent matter retained in the Body, through the use of Astringents, a real Pox is produced; in which, Tumours or Bubo's appearing oftentimes in the Groin, do constitute the first degree thereof. After this, pains torment the Head, and spaces betwixt the Joints, viz. the Shoulders, arms, and Legs, without any order, though with some intermission in the day time; for in the night, the Patient, being warm, is very seldom free from them; nor do they easily vanish till toward the morning. Tetters and dry Scabs do deform sundry places of the Body: These are of a yellowish colour, not unlike a Honey-comb, whereby they may be known from all others: Sometimes they spread over several parts of the Body, with a larger surface, in the same manner as the leprosy is represented in the Books of the ancient Writers. But the more that this scab is diffused over the Body, the Patient is the less tortured with pain. All the symptoms do gradually increase to an extreme violence, but especially the pain of the Head, which at length becomes to be so intolerable, that the miserable creature cannot any longer confine himself to his Bed, but is forced to jump out upon the Floor, and run about like a Bedlam, till day light. Besides, it happens by the vehemency of the pain, that the Skull, and the Bones of the Legs and arms are raised, in sundry places, into hard tumours, called Exostoses, not unlike the bony excrescences in the Legs of Horses, commonly called a Spavin: And the Bones being so beset with Tumours, contract a carries, and they putrifie by reason of the continual Pain and Inflammation. Likewise Phagedenick Ulcers destroy sundry places of the Body, which first invading the Jaws, pass insensibly by the Palate into the cartilege of the Nose, which they quickly devour; so that the Nose, wanting its prop, must fall without remedy. The Ulcers daily increasing, and the Pain augmented, the Patient being partly overcome with incessant torture, and partly eaten up with Ulcers and Petrefaction, does live a deplorable life, surcharged with torment, stench, rottenness, and reproach, till at length Death seizing each member by retail, his torn and mutilated Carcase being so much noisome to the living, is committed to the Earth.  
The extrinsic, or( as they say) the essential Nature of this Distemper, is no more known to me than is the essence of a Plant, or of an Animal, unless in so far as the thing may appear from the symptoms we have already described: Whatever may be said of it, I am sure, that the Humour that does produce it, partakes very much of an Inflammation, whence proceed so many evils; 'tis also plain, that the said Humour ought to be evacuated, and by such means as are approved by Experience, the Mistress of Physicians; seeing there has not been as yet found any immediate specific, by which the Venereal Distemper may be vanquished, without a preceding evacuation. Neither are we to think, that Mercury, or the drying Woods, as they call them, are to have the Title of sudorifics, till it be proved by plain examples, that either Mercury has completely cured the Venereal Distemper without Salivation; or that a Decoction of the Woods has performed the same without sweeting. And as I have learned by Experience, that common hieroglyphics have been of as great use in this Distemper, as the Decoction of the Woods; so I make no question, but if there were any thing in the Vegetable, or Animal Kingdom, found equivalent to Mercury in virtue, for exciting Salivation, that it would be also equivalent to it for curing the Venereal Distemper; but as this disease, when confined to the limits of a gonorrhoea, does very much differ from the same when it has corrupted the whole Mass of blood, and gets the name of the Venereal distemper in a strict sense; so the Evacuation by which the matter of the gonorrhoea is voided, is different from that whereby the Pox already formed, is rooted out.   


The Cure of the Virulent gonorrhoea.  
AS to the gonorrhoea, of which we shall treat first, the whole stress of Cure( for any thing we have yet found) does lye on Cathartick, or purgative Medicines; by the means of which either the peccant humour is expelled out of the Body, or the natural Juices of the Body are diverted, which otherwise would afford sustinence to the enemy. But although both Reason and Experience persuade me, that this distemper may be cured by any Cathartick given often, and for a long me together; yet those Purgatives seem to me to carry a more vigorous Energy, which strongly purge out and expel the boil, but especially the noxious serosities out from the blood: And therefore, I have sometimes administered help to the poor by the bare root of Jalapp; for as this served the turn, so I considered their inability to purchase dearer Medicines: But when the disease draws a conspicuous Inflammation along with it, and the purging Medicaments by which it is to be vanquished are also hot, a cooling diet must be prescribed from the first to the last of the Cure.  
I use to make my Prescription thus: Take the greater Pill coched three drachms, of Extract Rudy one drachm, of rosin of Jalap, of Diagraphium, of each a drachm; with a sufficient quantity of Balm of Gilead; make up Pills, six out of every drachm: Four of these are to be taken every morning at four or five of the Clock( so that the Patient may sleep upon them) for twelve, fourteen, or more days, till the heat of Urine, and the Yellow colour of the Seed-like Matter be very much diminished; and when this is effected, I think it will be sufficient if the Patient take the same every other day, for the space of two weeks more; which time being past, it will be enough to take the Pills twice a week, till the humour that used to drop out of the Urether do quiter vanish, which for the most part happens not till after many days. For although it be commonly said, that such a Matter that is perceived to come out by drops( after the heat of the Urine, and Yellow colour of the running, is over in the Morning, especially when the top of the Yard is pressed with the fingers) does only proceed from a weakness, and laxness of the Parts, by reason of the long stay of the virulent ferment there; yet poor Creatures find to their sorrow, that this is a remainder of the Contagion, that is not altogether expelled out of the Body; which although it be in some measure subdued, does on every light occasion( as too much drinking, too great exercise, or the like) afford new Tragical evidences of the real existence of the Malady, whilst the gonorrhoea re-usurps it's ancient Province, if the Patient avoid the fatigue of purging, when the distemper, not being thoroughly rooted out, does absolutely require it.  
If the gonorrhoea does not yield to this sort of Purgatives, it will be convenient, instead of the Pills, especially in those who are purged with some difficulty, to give betwixt whiles some more powerful Medicament; such as the following Potion, which at once taking, has sometimes contributed more to the stoping of a gonorrhoea, than a more gentle Cathartick often repeated:  
℞ Tamarinds half an ounce, Senna leaves two drachms, Rhubarb one drachm and an half; boil them in a sufficient quantity of water, that there may be three ounces; when strained dissolve therein Manna, Syrup of Roses, of each one ounce, Syrup of Harts-horn, and Electuary of the Juice of Roses, of each two drachms; mix them, and make up a Potion:  
Or, If the Cure proceed too slowly, give Turbith Mineral eight grains, only for two or three times,( and that with the intermission of some space of time, lest it cause a Salivation,) which remedy is to be preferred to all others, especially for the curing of a more inveterate gonorrhoea; or the following Pills may be given twice a week:  
♃ Pill. ex duob. half a drachm, Mercunius dulcis one scruple, Balm of Gilead in a sufficient quantity; make up four to be taken very early in the Morning.  
But sometimes it happens, that the Patient, upon the repeated use of the aforesaid Purgatives, comes to bear such a strong aversion to them, that he cannot endure either the sight or the taste of the Medicines; and sometimes the Body from a certain peculiarity of constitution does pertinacioiusly oppose the operation and force of Purgatives, 
{αβγδ}.  so that a sufficient quantity of the peccant humour cannot be evacuated; and thus when there is too great diligence used to no purpose, the Pox takes place at length, invading especially such persons whose bodies do most resist Cathartick Medicines: When the Case is such, Clysters are to be used; which being injected, the event will answer to both indications, viz. for purging the humour, and conveying it from the part affencted: And this is more expeditious than the former Method, but not so safe in my opinion, seeing the former, though more troublesone by it's continuance, yet has less of danger; because by it's means no particle of the virulent Ferment does remain in the bowels ready to raise new tumults: But this inconveniency is very easily avoided if proper Purgatives be likewise given on such days as the Clysters are not taken. I proceed therefore after this Method; I take care that the foresaid Pills, or others of the like Nature, be given for two or three Mornings following; and afterwards I order a Clyster to be given in the Morning, and at five a Clock in the Afternoon, every day till the symptoms shall quiter disappear; only once or twice in the week I prescribe a Purgative, omitting the Clyster for that day.  
℞ An Electuary of the Juice of Roses six drachms, Venice Turpentine dissolved in the Yolk of an Egg half an ounce; dissolve them in Barley water one pint; strain all, and put thereto Diacatholicon Electuary two ounces; mix them, and make up a Clyster.  
Every night I also allow twenty five drops of Balm of Gilead, or the Balm of Mecha, when the Patient is going to bed, which Medicament, seeing it is a liquid and pure sort of Turpentine, has likewise the same virtue, and affords a sovereign relief against the Ulcerous Disposition of the Privy parts; therefore in case it cannot be had, Cyprian Turpentine may in it's stead be given at the times forementioned, the bigness of a Walnut in quantity.  
Whilst the Cure goes on, in what method soever it be managed, I forbid the Patient all meats that are Salt, or of no good Concoction; such as Beef, Pork, Fish, Cheese, Roots, Oils, and all Summer Fruit, instead of which I allow Mutton, Veal, Chickens, rabbits, and others that are of an easy digestion: And I advice that the Patient may also be moderate in using these, that he take them only so, as his strength may not fail. As for his drink, he must abdicate Wine in general, as also all Spirituous and Acid drink; and keep himself to Milk and Water, viz. three parts of boiled Water, and a fourth of Milk; only at dinner and supper a little small Ale may be allowed him. Moreover to temper the Inflammation, and mitigate the Heat of Urine, I make some cooling Emulsion after the following manner, to be often drank on those days when he does not purge.  
♃ Melon and Pumkin Seed, of each half an ounce, White Poppy Seed two drachms, sweet Almonds peeled eight in number, bray them in a Marble Mortar, and pour thereon by little and little one pound and an half of Barley water; strain all, and then add thereto of Sugar Candy so much as is sufficient; mix them, and make up an Emulsion according to Art.  
In a very sanguine Temper, and an inveterate Malady, after having used cathartics for one month or thereabouts; I most commonly advice to take eight or ten ounces of blood from the right arm: I am not of the opinion that the Patient should be let blood sooner, lest by this occasion the Contagion take deeper root: I think not much of Injections into the Yard, seeing they use often to do more hurt than good, either by reason of their biting acrimony, or their astringent quality; nevertheless toward the end of the Cure a small quantity of Rose Water may be injected.  
I have found as yet no better method than this I use, which has always answered my expectation, especially in those that are easily purged; for in those who are purged with some difficulty, the Cure, though it always holds, yet is not completed till after a long time. From these persons blood is to be again taken, and the cathartics they use are to be sharpened, and to be more often repeated, and continued for a longer time; or Clysters are to be used in the same manner; for purging in this case is in a manner as good as all other things; and in this distemper, if in any other, it may be truly affirmed, that he who cleanses well, heals well, provided he abstain from Mineral Waters, which I am very certain do by their astringency, and too healing quality, arrest and rivet the remainder of the Disease that ought to be expelled out of the Body. Hence, as I have frequently observed, Tumours grew in the Scrotum, if these Waters were drank in the beginning or State, and worse symptoms, as Caruncles, if they were drank toward the end of the distemper, which I confidently affirm, although the Mineral Waters be frequently prescribed in the said case, agreeable to the custom that obtains at this day.  
Nor am I ignorant what great things some empirics pretend in the Cure of this symptom, relating partly to the shortness of the time, in which they complete it, and partly to the high Names, and mighty Titles, of those Medicines which they employ in the accomplishing of it; in the mean time I have certainly found by too frequent observation, that the Matter that should have been exterminated from the Body, was detained therein by the force of astringents, and exposed the Patients to great inconveniencies; so that the virulency being very often transmitted to the blood afresh, does produce the universal Pox: Nor have I observed the Decoction of the drying woods to have been used with better advantage, though they were attended with less danger: With this( being as is pretended a specific Medicine) the Patient's whole Body, and especially the part affencted, were overheated, and farther inflamed; and sometimes also the gonorrhoea that had vanished( which I remember I observed) came again.  
But it is to be considered, that if the Patient's glad be covered all round with his Prepuce, and the borders thereof be so much swelled, hard, and callous, by reason of the Inflammation, that it cannot be by any means brought back, it would be in vain to endeavour the cure of the gonorrhoea by the strongest purgatives, though never so often repeated, unless at the same time the part so affencted be reduced to it's natural state, by removing the hardness and tumour, by which means there is way made for the gonorrhoea: And this I do by the following Fomentation:  
♃ Marsh meadows, and lily Roots, of each one ounce and a half, Marsh meadows, Longwore Elder, and Henbane Leaves, Chamamel, and Melilot flowers, of each one handful, Lin-seed, and seed of Faenygreek, of each half an ounce; boil them according to Art in Fountain water; make up a Fomentation of all to be laid on the place for the space of one hour, twice or thrice a day; after this fomentation, I order that the part affencted be anointed with Lin-seed Oil, newly drawn; then I cause to apply a plaster of the Mucilaginous part, of a Lamb skin to the sides of the Prepuce, round about the swelling: But if the Ulcer, either in the sides of the Prepuce, or in the glad, by reason of it's callosity hinder the retraction of the Prepuce, besides the said fomentation, I prescribe likewise the following lineament:  
♃ Ointment of Basil six drachms, of Tobacco two drachms, Precipitate washed in Rose Water, and very well refined, half a drachm; mix them together, and make up a lineament of them; dip a little rag therein, and apply it to the Ulcer always after the fore-mentioned Fomentation has been used.  
But when, either by reason of stoping the gonorrhoea too soon, by too violent exercise, or any other cause, the Scrotum, which is now the seat of the Disease, is thereby very much swelled; I apply the foresaid fomentation twice a day to the part affencted, in case that the pain, and the tumour are not diminished by the ordinary Cataplasm of Oxycrate and Bean flower: Whilst these external remedies are applied; I continue to attack the Enemy with both Cathartick, and cooling Medicines taken inwardly, and with the forementioned diet which we have already prescribed; nor do I think it amiss to take nine or ten ounces of blood( on every such occasion) from that Arm which answers to the swelled Testicle, if the greatness of the Tumour, and vehemence of the pain require it: And so much for the gonorrhoea.   

The Cure of the confirmed Pox.  
But when the distemper is come to such a height, that it ought to be called strictly the Veneral distemper, or the confirmed Pox: Other means are to be used, and a more severe course is to be taken for removing a disease that is so inveterate; seeing for ought I know there has been no experiment brought to prove that this distemper has been cured any other way, than by Salivation raised by Quick-Silver, whatever some of both the Learned and Ignorant have temerariously, and confidently talked of other Methods of Cure: Therefore seeing Salivation is the only Sovereign Remedy in this case; it is my business here to show what my Reason( such as it is) and Observation have taught me, concerning exciting, and managing Salivation aright.  
But first, I cannot so much as imagine what is meant by the frequent Advices that are given by way of Caution, to prepare the Body by Cathartick, and Digesting Medicines, as by Bathing, and the like; not to say any thing of Bleeding, which some believe to be the principal thing in this Case: Seeing if we have a due regard to Truth, we must acknowledge that the Matter is brought to this, that Salivation is to be procured by a Poison( for we do not as yet know any wholesome Medicament by which it can be excited, nor yet can the Patient be safe without the use of it;) the question is, whether it is best to give Poison to a Body when it is strong and vigorous, and so able to grapple with it's enemy, and stand the shock of all the violence it offers, or when it is weakened with phlebotomy, and a spare diet; he that weighs the thing impartially will undoubtedly conclude, that it is better to do nothing at all in this Case, than to expose the Patient to mischief by tampering with him, to such a rigorous extremity; nay, experience teaches us, that those who are not weakened by any Evacuations, or by any other means do much better endure the fatigue of a Salivation, then others whose Nerves as it were have been cut before Battle. Omitting therefore such an hurtful prelude, so soon as ever I am sent for, I prescribe an Ointment of Hog's Lard two ounces, and of Crude Mercury one ounce; and I mix therewith none of the hot Oils, nor any thing else; seeing the Unguent will be the worse, if it be fettered with any such addition, and will never be the more effectual, if such things added be no wise operative; and it is possible that such additaments, under the name of Correctives, perform the same thing here,( if they perform any thing,) that they do, as we see by experience, when joined to Cathartick Medicines, viz. they cause gripes, and render the Operation of the Purgatives more intolerable, which arise from the combat that happens betwixt the Antidote and the Cathartick, all whose Purging virtue does consist in this, that it is an Enemy to Man's Nature. But I appoint the Patient himself to take one third part of the said Unguent, and anoint his own arms, legs, and thighs therewith for three nights together( including that night that I was sent for,) but that he touch not his Arm-pits, or Groin with it; and let him defend his Belly from the Unguent, by putting a Linen Cloth upon it, and tying it behind him: After the third anointing the Gums swell for the most part, and the Salivation begins; but if this does not happen within three days, and after the third anointing; then the Patient must take eight grains of Turbith Mineral in the Conserve of read Roses, and after each Vomit, or Stool, let him take a draft of a warm Posset: When he begins to spit, the onely business of the Physician is to consider the degree of the Salivation in the most exact manner imaginable; lest by a rash increase of it, the Patient's Life be endangered: When the Salivation is come to a just state,( so that two quarts are voided at the mouth in the space of twenty four hours) or the Symptoms disappear,( which for the most part happens after the fourth day from the state, or height of the Salivation) although the Salivation proceed moderately, the Patients Shirt is to be changed, and it will be fit that for some the bed clothes which may be have been used since the time of the last washing be removed, and clean Linen put in their room; seeing the foul Linen having drawn in much of the Unguent, is apt to raise the Salivation to a greater height, and protract it to a longer time than is expedient for the Patient; but if it happen that the Salivation cease before the Symptoms do altogether disappear; it must immediately be retrieved by one scruple of Mercurius dulcis, given 〈…〉.  
It falls out sometimes, especially in such bodies that are habitually open, that after using the Unguent once or twice( viz. so soon as the blood begins to be sensible of the Quicksilver) Nature presently sets her self vigorously to work that she may expel this Enemy by the intestines, whence not only mucous ejections and gripping of the guts, do happen, as in those who have a dysenterie; but also the Cure of the distemper is hindered; seeing it only yields to Salivation. In this case Mercury must by no means be meddled with, neither for outward Application, nor inward Operation, till these Symptoms altogether disappear; and moreover the said looseness( which happens for the most part before the Salivation is well begun) must be stopped by the use of Laudanum liquidum increasing and repeating the Dose according to the violence of the symptom, or a drachm and a half of Diascorides swallowed down sometimes, as need shall require: When the flux is over, the Salivation uses to proceed in regular manner, though it was scarce discernible before.  
When the Patient is recovering, only his mouth being Ulcerated( which is the genuine Fruit of Salivation) the Salivation which now daily decays, must not be stopped by Purging, or in any other manner whatsoever; for it may so fall out, that even after the pain is assuaged, and the Ulcers are dried, that something of the Venereal Ferment may be lurking in the Body; and afterwards raise a new sedition, unless this moderate spitting be permitted, which will cease after the Patient is so well recovered that he can expose himself for some time to the open Air. I think it therefore a thing of dangerous consequence, either to purge off by cathartics, or to dry up by a Decoction of the Woods, the remainder of the Salivation; upon which practise, which is common under the pretence of either cleansing the Body of the Mercury, or correcting it's Malignity; Relapses do follow, which befall miserable Creatures, who long for their health( after such vast expenses, oppressive toil, and dolorous fatigue,) to which state they would certainly have arrived, if the Salivation had ceased in it's own time. It would therefore be much better to promote the Salivation, by giving a Dose of Mercurius dulcis once in the week, even after the Patient is very well in health, and walks abroad( which I sometimes have enjoined for some months) than stop it too soon.  
But although I am against Purging in the declenson of Salivation, for the reasons already shown; yet it may so happen that in its State it neither can nor ought to be omitted, viz whensoever the Matter is so ill managed that the Salivation being raised to too great a degree, does put the Patient's Life in danger; in which case it is not only safe, but necessary to use a Cathartick for reducing the Salivation to that degree, which may proceed with the ease and good plight of the Patient, and so it is to be left.  
If any one now ask, whether or no we must rest satisfied with bare Salivation, and use no Purgative, nor other solemn Remedies, after it is over? I answer, besides what has been said, which is confirmed by Reason and Experience; that I would very fain know why it is thought more necessary to purge after the Salivation, than to excite a Salivation after a Purge; seeing Purgatives( as Scammony, and other sharp Medicaments of that Nature) do leave somewhat of Malignity in the Body, which yet we leave to Nature, by whose energy whatever Poison lies there, is at last subdued, provided the Person that has been purged betake himself to his wonted diet, exercise, and live in a more open Air than before. And farther I would very willingly know what Maxim of Art we trust to, when we pretend to expel the remainders of Mercury by cathartics, and not only neglect but hinder that Genuine, and only Method( viz. by Salivation) whereby Nature uses and ought to effect it? Such confused apprehensions of things proceed from the small measure of the Light of Reason, which we poor Mortals now enjoy, whence it is that our knowledge being only superficial, we cannot reach the Truth which lies at the bottom; but catch at any shadow, or appearance thereof and embrace, as they say a Cloud instead of Juno: Thus weakly armed we proceed to Velitations by discourse, and feloniously wound our own Judgments by rivetting our former ill grounded prejudices, with such vigour, and to such a height that we would pass our own fantastical Ideas and incoherent dreams for cogent and demonstrative Principles, an Instance of which, if I be not mistaken we have now in hand.  
Although the Cure is completed in the most Persons after the manner aforesaid, viz. by anointing for three nights together, and giving a Dose of Turbith Mineral when the Salivation does not proceed aright, as also Mercurius dulcis for some times, when it ceases too soon; yet it is seriously to be considered, that some persons have an Idiosyncrasie, or a certain peculiar Temperament, as well in respect of Salivation as Purgation,( and the same for the most part in the same persons; that those who are purged with difficulty are also brought to salivate with difficulty;) so that the received Method can hardly cause an Exulceration of the gums in some, much less procure that degree of Salivation that is requisite for carrying off the Distemper. As to this sort of Patients the Physician ought to use all the caution imaginable, that he do not force Salivation, with an obstinate importunity in spite of Nature, which may have an utter aversion to that sort of Evacuation; they who have not understood this, have by reason of the darkness of their own minds, deprived many of their Patients of the light as well as comfort of their lives; for in Bodies of that Constitution, whensoever one shall pertinaciously load the Patient with Medicaments, whether external or internal, instead of a perfect Salivation, there is nothing to be perceived as the effect of it; but gripings of the Guts and a bloody Flux,( Nature expelling the Poison of the Mercury by the postern,) or pains of the Stomach and Sickness, could Sweatings, and other dreadful symptoms shall appear, so that the poor Patient, if he deliver not up his afflicted Soul, can yet hardly appear to be in the state of the Living: As to these, though it may be allowed to the Physician, that when he has in vain expected Salivation for the space of four or five days after the last anointing, he may repeat the said anointing together with Turbith Mineral,( intermitting some days betwixt every two inunctions,) yet he ought to make Conscience of this, that whilst he has in vain endeavoured to raise a Salivation with so eager an application, he proceed not to force it contrary to Nature: Therefore this measure in my judgement is to be observed by the Physician; that so soon as ever Sickness of the Stomach, or gripings of the Guts do happen, in that case, he presently abstain from giving remedies till these symptoms do quiter vanish; for when the number and force of the Medicaments are increased to force Salivation in a constitution that is altogether against it, a bloody Flux shall certainly follow upon the gripping of the Guts, and death shall quickly follow upon the sickness of the Stomach: Whilst on the contrary if he make no greater hast than good speed, and proceed with due deliberation, by giving one scruple of Mercurius dulcis once or twice in the Week, either by itself, or with one drachm of diascord; if the Patient be inclinable to be loose, the success will answer expectation: For although the Salivation never come to the height, yet the Patient shall spit more copiously than ever he used to do, and a stench, the concomitant of a right Salivation, shall not relinquish this which is of a moderate degree; whence it is undeniable that that Putrefaction or alteration,( or what ever it be,) has reached the blood, and the Humours, which either produces a Salivation, or is produced with it. And by this Method all the symptoms of this Distemper shall be at length overcome, if there be a due time taken for it.  
But it must be observed, that although Salivation is very much preferable to all other Remedies for rooting out a confirmed Pox, yet it cannot by any means heal the gonorrhoea that accompanies it, nor shall the latter be stopped, though the former be absolutely cured: From whence it may be concluded, that Mercury contains no specific Virtue, by which the Veneral distemper may be immediately vanquished; although perhaps it may be called a Mediate, or Remote specific, in so far as it does expel the disease by the means of a Salivation, almost in the same improper sense as a Chirurgion's Penknife may be called a specific for curing an Ulcer in the side. But to return to the present Subject, whensoever the Confirmed Pox and a gonorrhoea happen to be together, the Cure of the gonorrhoea is to be undertaken either before, or after Salivation, and in my opinion it is both more safe, and more easy after the Salivation; seeing a gonorrhoea which is accompanied with the Pox, is more difficulty Cured; that which has been in some measure subdued by the preceding Salivation is more easily rooted out: But we must be sure to abstain from cathartics, so long as the least remainder of a Salivation does as yet continue: And therefore it will be the surer way to depend upon Turbith Mineral, given once or twice a Week for doing the work, than to trust to any other Purgatives whatsoever; by which means the Salivation shall be somewhat promoted, whilst in the mean time the matter that maintains the gonorrhoea shall be gradually discharged.  
Moreover it is to be observed if any Tumour, commonly called an Exostosis, or bony excrescence, invade a Bone, which continues so long time that the Bone comes to have a carries, it will be altogether in vain to attempt the Cure, either by Salivation, or by any other Method whatsoever, unless we also use means for removing of this mischief: And therefore the Bone is to be made bare by a caustic, and as soon as possible it is to be exfoliated as they call it, by using such remedies as are proper for producing this effect.  
As for an Ulcerated Mouth, which those ordinarily have, who have undergone a Salivation, if either the Patient be under an intolerable pain, or his mouth be so excoriated that it run with blood, and that both night and day it must be very often gargarised, either with Damask Rose Water, or with Milk and Water, or with a Decoction of Barley Water, Mallow Roots, and some Seeds of Quinces. This is the only memorable symptom that I know of that follows upon Salivation, at least when it is performed in a due manner, and the truth, is if the pain and exulceration of the mouth could be by any art prevented, the Cure of this distemper would not be much more troublesone than that of others that are of much less note.  
As for the Patien's Diet, and the rest of his Conduct; in my judgement the same Rules are to be observed in Salivation till it be almost brought to a close, as are observed in Purging; and seeing he that has taken some Purgative Medicine, is onely to mind this, that he keep himself within his Chamber from the could, and moderately eat such food as is of good and easy digestion; I do not as yet apprehended why the Patient should either be confined to his bed, or be restrained from moderate eating, which would strengthen and encourage him in the conflict of Nature with the Poison: From such irregular Methods it is, that when Nature has been totally oppressed with so great a burden, a great many persons being exhausted in their Spirits, and deprived of all manner of strength through the sweeting, purging, and unnecessary fasting enjoined on them,( besides the mischief done to them by the Mercury) have been miserable destroyed; and very often when the disease is vanquished, the Patient being destitute of that stock of Spirits that is requisite for his perfect recovery yields to fate through weakness; but if he avoid grim Death, he buys his Life at the price of so great and many Torments, that he has but a dear bargain of it: Of which one of the Modern Poets has expressed himself elegantly enough: 
Graviora morbis patimur Remedia,  
Nec Vita tanti est, vivere ut possis, mori.   
And it is easy in this place to answer an Objection; How comes it to pass that some persons having this distemper in a great extreme,( viz. in such a state as has been just now shown,) are obliged to go to France for their Cure? The reason of which, in my judgement, is this; our Air being thick and moist, is not so proper for repairing the Spirits in this sort of persons, who have the Oeconomie of the Body subverted, and their strength ruduced to the lowest; whereas that of France being more wholesome and clear, is more apt to restore the Spirits, and repair decayed strength: Not that the Men of Experience there, though Learned, have a better Method of Curing the distemper, than we have in England: But that I may return to the diet.  
Therefore I am of Opinion,( and Experience is for me) that besides water grewel, Panado posset drink, and warm Ale; that we may, nay, we ought to allow the Patient Veal, Pullets, and the like, to be taken moderately; and that he be permitted to eat a little of a Rabet, Pullet, or Lamb, so soon as the the Tumour of his Gums is fallen, so as he may make use of his Teeth; that he may keep his Bed, or sit by the Fire, as he himself pleases: For seeing this Distemper is cured by Salivation, not by diaphoretics; I cannot imagine why the Patient should be Tormented with to much heat without any necessity.  
This said Method, as it is more expeditious, seeing it does not impose upon the Patient so long a Preparation of his Body for so many days before Salivation, nor those solemn Purges or Decoctions after Salivation; so I am very well assured that it is much more easy, less dangerous, and does not so much expose the Patient to a Relapse; which every one who has been used to the other practise, will soon be satisfied in, when he comes to try this Method; I at last found therein all imaginable success, as to very many Patients; of whom some had undergone more than once the fatigue of a Salivation, suffering still a Relapse upon it, upon such occasions, and for such causes as we have formerly mentioned.  
FINIS.    

ANNOTATIONS ON THE FIRST PART.  By WILLIAM SALMON, Professor of physic. 
I. IF the Mass of Blood be sensibly corrupted, it may be depurated by gentle Medicines, such as Volatile Salt of Vipers, or Vipers themselves. Pag. 44 Line 8.  
Salmon. Our Author calls this Gentle Means, and so it is indeed, if you have respect to the Form of its Operation: but if you have respect to the Effects, 'tis no such thing, but one of the greatest, most stupendious and excellent of Medicaments in the whole Animal Kingdom; and some question whether any in the Mineral exceed it; I am certain none in the Vegetable come near it by many degrees, I speak by a long and through Experience; Guajacum itself, yea, and Sarsa too, are much below it. But here an Objection arises, how they shall do that live far off in the Country, or cannot get the Salt of Vipers, or if it may be had, are so poor, that they cannot purchase it? To this I answer, that they must make use of Vipers Flesh. 1. By boiling, and then the Flesh may be eaten, and the Broth may be drank, as if it was made of eels: but by this way some few of the volatile Parts are lost. 2. By drying the Flesh, and beating it into Powder: of which Powder the Sick may take two Drams a Day, viz. a Dram or more in the Morning fasting, and last at Night going to Bed. 3. In the Wine made of them, made as directed in our Doron Medicum, Lib. 1. Cap. 24. Sect. 39. Thus, Take choice Canary pound viij. Live large Vipers vj. or viij. Suffocate the Vipers in the Wine, then let it pass a gentle Fermentation: and after two Months, when it is fine and clear, the Sick may begin to drink of it. The Sick may take six or eight Spoonfuls in the Morning fasting, and as much at Night going to Bed. This Wine is very full of Volatile Salt, and most effectual to the Purpose intended. 4. By taking our Powers of Vipers, mentioned in our Phylaxa. Chap. 29. Sect. 1.2.7.8.12. You may give twenty, thirty, or forty Drops in Milk, Broth, or a Glass of Canary, two or three times a Day. These Viperine Medicines are safe, and cannot be given amiss, should it not be the Pox, but a leprosy, inveterate Herpes, or malignant and high graduated Scurvy.  
II. Also if nothing appears but some Piles or Warts in the Secret Parts, which without any other Sign, 'tis not to be thought the Pox; but if with those Signs there be Fissures towards the Anus, ulcerous Hemorrhoids, and Warts in other Parts, there is sufficient assurance of the Distemper, Pag. 45. Line 1.  
Salmon. Though sometimes it may not be the Pox, when there is Piles or Warts only in the secret Parts; yet sometimes it may be the Pox for all that no more may appear, notwithstanding what our Author has said; but then the Artist ought to inquire what Course of Life the Patient has lived before, that he may make a judgement from the Preludes of the Distemper: However, whether it be the Pox or no, the former Medicaments may be of use here; and if the Sick pleases, they may take the said Powers of Vipers in an Infusion of Our Hercules in Canary: the way of making the said Hercules and Infusion, you may see in Our Phylaxa Medicinae, Cap. 47. Sect. 1.6.11.12.15.  
III. I have seen a young Woman who had never known Man, who was covered all over her Body( the Privities only excepted) with Crusts of an Inch thickness, and as broad as ones Hand. Pag. 46. Line 15.  
Salmon. Our Author is not willing to have this to be the Pox, and it may be, what he thinks it to be; for an inveterate Herpes or Serpigo may have that appearance: But if the Patient was of age enough to get the Pox, by Venery, I should have little Charity to believe it to be otherwise, for that I have known some, yea, innocent looked Creatures, who have denied the Matter of Fact with an Oath, yea, with many Oaths, who, before the Cure has been over, has confessed the thing, which before they perjured themselves to deny. In this Case our Authors Method by Mercuriates( without Salivation) is very good: as also all the Means before directed. Besides Mercurius Dulcis, and other gentle Preparations of Mercury; I should use Our Hercules as directed in our aforesaid Phylaxa. Cap. 47. Sect. 12. I have never found it fail what I designed for. Outwardly the Sick may wash the Parts affencted with the following Water. Take Lime Water boiling hot, a Gallon; put it into a whiteware earthen basin; dissolve in it sweet Sublimate in fine Powder two Ounces: So a blackish Powder will precipitate. This Water keep in a Glass Bottle for the Purposes aforesaid.  
IV. I know by Experience, that the surest course that can be taken about this kind of Pox, is by way of vapour, which does reach the infected Bones; but seeing this Method is something dangerous, and may have ill Consequences, it requires both judgement and Dexterity to accomplish it. Pag. 49. Line 11.  
Salmon. The kind of Pox here intended, is the worst of Poxes, viz. That wherein there is a carries, or Rottenness of the Bone, which is scarcely cured by any Method or Preparation of Mercury, nay not by Salivation itself, whether inwardly given, or outwardly by Unction, which indeed I account the most pernicious way of all. Our Author says, the surest way is by Fumigation, the Method of which we shall hereafter teach. Wiseman in his chirurgery commends these Troches. Take Cinnabar ℥ ij. Crude Mercury ℥ j. mastic, Frankincense, Juniper Gum; ana. ℥ ss. Storax Calamita, Benjamin, ana ʒiij. make all into a subtle Powder, with which a sufficient quantity of Turpentine, make into Troches for use, each weighing about three Drams.  
V. They cannot perform a Cure at first, especially those who make use of the Mercurial ointment: there has likewise been some whom Salivation by Friction or Unction could never work upon. Pag. 50. Line 19.  
Salmon. This is true generally, and therefore it is, that this our Author doth so much inveigh against this Way or Method of Cure, because for the most part it is no Cure, but the Introduction of a whole Regiment of Vexatious and Deplorable Symptoms, notwithstanding all that the magnifyers of this way of Fluxation can say.  
VI. And therefore it often falls out by reason of some of those Faults I have shown, that the Venereal Distemper is not cured, but only its Symptoms, and that some of the Venereal Ferment does still remain in the Body. Pag. 51. Line 17.  
Salmon. That is to say, by some of those almost impossible to be avoided Faults, which happen in the Method by Unction; and though many times, some of the raging Symptoms, at the time of the Salivation seem to vanish, or are laid asleep; yet new arise in many Patients, which are far worse than their former, and sometimes prove uncurable to boot: I have known many Patients who have been thoroughly salivated twice, yea, three times for a Pox, by this Method, whom it has left worse than at first it found them, notwithstanding all the Faithfulness and Care of the Undertaker; and then this false Conclusion has followed, viz. that there were some kinds of Poxes, so inveterate and malign, that no Salivation could cure: which was, and is a false Deduction from the Premises. And truly, if I may freely speak my Thoughts, I firmly believe that most of the Persons, in whom there is a carries or Rottenness of the Bones( which is the worst sort of Pox, and by some accounted uncurable) that it oftener, yea, ten times to one, arises from the unhappy Method of Cure by Unction, rather than from the Malignity or poison of the Disease: though I do not say, but that some have happily met with a good and safe Cure that way too, yet am almost confident that ten to one has either miscarried, or been made worse by it.  
VII. 'tis indeed an Abuse, and one ought to use Diligence, if he cannot know the Nature of Mercury to the bottom, to find out a Method whereby it may be, in such a manner prepared, as it may he given without Danger. Pag. 54. Line. 20.  
Salmon. This is good Advice of the Author, and therefore he has been so industrious as to fix upon a safe and substantial Medicine in order to this end, which you will have in its due place: he has not given you many Receipts, nor multiplied Medicines without reason, having met with one that is good, true, and indubitable. Nor will we multiply many after him, but either confirm the Use and Practise which this prudent Author has laid down, by manifold Experiments of our Own, or produce some one or two other Medicaments no ways inferior to his, which will not only supply the Place, but also perfectly perform the same Work, without any Hazard, danger of ill Symptoms, or fear of Relapse.  
VIII. ( Mercury does contain) a great deal of Salt, but not an Alcaly, as some pretend, but an exceeding Acid Salt, very like that which is in Sulphur Mineral. Pag. 55. Line 14.  
Salmon. I must confess, I cannot but dissent here from this Author, nor am I alone, but have on my side very great and good Authority; I am sure the Pox proceeds, and is made up of an extreme and vehement Acid, and it is the natural Course of the Cure, to proceed with Alcalies, that may sweeten the Blood and Juices; and if Mercury was such an Acid as he would make it, it would rather be inimical than beneficial for this purpose; but this is not the place to enter the Lists of Dispute about a thing, which( let its Nature be what it will) so perfectly answers our Ends.  
IX. It is ponderous, because it abounds with Salt; and Experience doth show, that liquours are by so much the more heavy, as they contain the more Salt; the same may be observed in all sorts of Wood. Pag. 56. Line 4.  
Salmon. This seems to be a Paradox, and may be thought not to be universally true: for some suppose that the Sulphurs of some Metals cause their Heaviness; as in Gold, which is the heaviest of all Metals, and contains a much larger quantity of Sulphur than of Salt. To instance also in Woods. Guajacum is an extreme heavy Wood, yet its principal Composition is Sulphur, next to a dead Earth, and I am confident from Experience, that it contains near ten times the quantity of Sulphur, that it has of Salt of any kind.  
X. This Mercurial vapour, meeting in its way with some Sulphurs, with which the Mines do abound, by joining therewith, compose a Mixture, that makes the Mineral( or native) Cinnabar, not unlike that we see in the Articifical Cinnabar, which is only a Mixture of Sulphur and Mercury. pag. 58. line. 10.  
Salmon. This is true in Nature: how the Artificial is made, we have taught in our Pharmacopaeia, Lib. 3. Cap. 7. Sect. 54. to which I refer you. The Cinnabars of all kinds, as well the Artificial as the Antimonial and Native, are great Medicines, and in a wise and skilful Hand will perform Wonders in the Medical Art, and may be so prepared, that they shall perform as much in the Cure of the Pox, leprosy, Gout, Scurvy, and hypochondriac Disaffections, as any other Medicine whatsoever, yea, even to outvie with the Greatest.  
XI. ( Mercury) excites Salivation, the Heat of the Body reducing it into a vapour: and seeing there is Acids in all sorts of Bodies, those Acids do easily join themselves to the Mercury, which in its self does contain an Acid Salt, and those Acids being in conjunction therewith, make it corrosive, in like manner almost as the Acids of Vitriol and Sea Salt make Quick silver, Sublimate Corrosive. page. 60. Line 17.  
Salmon. But we have before declared our Opinion, that Mercury is an Alcaly, and truly I believe it to be one of the greatest Alcalies in Nature, which is in part demonstrated by its immediate Fermentation, and being disquieted, being mixed with any Acid of what kind soever. So that this Author had more exquisitely spoken, if he had said thus. Mercury, by the Heat of the Body, and Acidity of its Juices, being turned into a vapour, excites a Salivation; for the Acid Salts of the Body meeting, and being conjoined with the Alcalious Substance of the Mercury, immediately promotes a Fermentation of the contaminated Juices; and the Mercury being made Corrosive( as Sublimate is with the Acids of Vitriol and Sea-salt) by the sharpness and Corrosion of its Particles, makes a Separation and Participation of the malign Humors and poisonous Salt from the truly natural and benign, so that those evil Juices being joined with the Mercury, and the Mercury, by the Heat and Fermentation, forced to ascend upwards to the Salivatick Glandules, they are actually separated, and so carried forth out of the Body.  
XII. Sometimes Mercury does only purge by Stool, and 'tis thought that in such a Case, it does meet with some alcalious Matter, which makes it let go those Acids, and precipitates the Mercury into the lower Parts. page. 62. line 1.  
Salmon. I can no ways concede to this Opinion, but do rather think, that the Cause of the Purging by Stool, is, when the Alcaly of the Mercury much exceeds in Strength and Proportion the Acid Salts of the Body, whereby it has not that Natural Propensity upwards, which otherwise it would have. But there are many other Reasons for this Phaenomenon, which we cannot stand here to enumerate.  
XIII. We see, that when there is a Dissolution of Mercury made with Acids, as the Spirits or oils of Sulphur, Vitriol, alum, &c. those Acids are the more fixed, and the Mercury is sublimed with the greater Difficulty. page. 62. Line 22.  
Salmon. This is wholly a Mistake; for in this Case of the Dissolution of Mercury with acid Spirits or oils, &c. the Mercury is overpowered; and its Alcaly( by reason of the Disproportion of the Acid) is fixed by the Acid Salt( for that almost all Acid Salts are naturally fixed Salts) and it is a received Principle in Nature, that the Weaker must subject itself to the Stronger; and this is the Reason that the Mercury cannot so easily be sublimed or ascend, because it is as it were fixed or chained down by the Fetters of the fixed acid Salt.  
XIV. A specific Medicine is that which does cure a certain Disease, at all Times, in all Places, in all Ages, and in all Degrees( provided it be not past Cure.) page. 64. line 8.  
Salmon. This is a good Definition of the Nature and Property of a specific Medicament: And such a Medicine is indeed in Mercury, and such a specific it will become, if it be prepared by a curious and skilful Hand: It is the most excellent and absolute Remedy yet known to the Learned World; and what indeed neither Guajacum, Sarsaparila, nor any other Vegetable can pretend to, which although by Accident( in a recent and young Pox) they have sometimes cured this Disease; yet ten, yea, twenty times miss it again, for that one, that is cured by them.  
XV. I have made it appear, that Crude Mercury is very dangerous, as well as that which is Corrosive: the former, because it is an Enemy to the Brain and all the Nervous Parts; the latter, because by irritations, Corrosions, &c. it makes De●redations in the Stomach, and other nobler Parts, page.. 64. line. 21.  
Salmon. This is for the most part true, yet several learned Men have prescribed it with good Success in this Case; and I have many times found it to answer, when all other things would do no good. But it ought to be administered by a wise Hand, and a prudent Physician, and where the Patient is near to, or under the Eye of the Physician, that if any Accident should happen, he may be ready to remedy it. I remember Chalmeteus Enchirid. Chirurgic. Lib. 5. Cap. 7. prescribes this. Take Rhubarb ʒx. Scammony ʒiij. mix them, powring on Juice or Syrup of lemons; Quick-silver tied up in a Cloth, that it may run out in very small Grains ℥ ij. ʒvj. Let it be well killed with the Juice, by long stirring in a Mortar, and pouring on the same Syrup or Juice, adding Wheat-flower ʒij. Musk ʒj. make a Dram into five Pills, which guild well: Let him take one Dram every Day, six Hours before Dinner, and take them for thirty Days. In the Interim let him take no other Medicine, neither Cathartick nor topic, but now and then half an Ounce of Aqua Vitae mixed with Fennel-water ℥ j. I have given this Prescript several times, and with very good Success, but 'tis not a Weapon fit to be put into every ones Hand. But much superior to this is our Pilulae Herculaeanae, mentioned in my Parateremata, or select Observations, Lib. 3. Cap. 7. Sect. 10. with which I have done great Cures in this Disease, even beyond expectation: The Receipt is this. Take Hercules noster ℥ iiij. Scammony in fine Powder ℥ ij. Musk in fine powder ʒij. with any convenient Syrup, make a mass of Pills. Dose ab ʒ ss. and ℈ ij. or ℈ ij. ss.  
XVI. Mercurius dulcis sublimate, i sa Remedy that will never do any hurt, if one knows how to use it: but it is also so weak, that how little so ever the Pox has taken root, it is not to be expected that it can be cured thereby. page. 66. Line 21.  
Salmon. 'tis a weak Medicine indeed, compared to other Preparations of Mercury: but as weak as it is, if given by a skilful hand many may be cured by it; and several have been cured with it: Rhodius Cent. 3. observe. 84. says it is almost a Divine Remedy, and may be given well prepared about 12 grains of it in Lenitive Elect. ℥ j. for thirty or forty days together; it is a Purge sufficient saith he for a Strong man, and operates without any pain or salivation. Yet lest any malignity might stick to the Guts( letting alone other Medicines) they ought to be eleansed every week with mell. Rosatum Solutivum and a Decoction of Tamarinds in Cichory water with Citron Seeds.  
XVII. ℞. Mercurius dulcis sublimate, Powder of Vipers, and ʒvj. Cristals of Tartar, Scammony, ana ℥ ss. Troches Alhandal ʒij. with Surrup of Damask Roses, make a Mass of Pills. Dose ʒj. or ʒj. ss. with ordinary Diet. page. 67. Line 3.  
Salmon. Though I like Crystals of Tartar well enough in some Purges, yet I care not much to use them with Mercuriates, because of their acidity. 'tis possible this following may do much better.  
Take Mercurius dulcis, Powder of Vipers, Scammony in Powder of each 12 grains: Troches Alhandal 6 grains; with Surrup of Damask Roses make a Mass of Pills for one Dose, to be taken in the Morning fasting, which may be given for thirty or forty days together, unless the vehement force of the Cartharticks forbid it; but the number of times ought to be completed, though with the intermission of a day or 2 or 3 between each Dose: if the Person be a strong robust body, the Mercurius dulcis may be increased to 15 or 18 grains; but this as you see occasion.  
XVIII. I have also found by Experience, that( even in the case of an inviterate Pox) the Golden Precipitate is to be used with very good success, page. 67. line 13.  
Salmon. This is an Excellent( if not one of the best of) Remedies indeed, and our Author commends it with much Reason, the Preparation whereof, he has given you in the place cited. But that the world may not think that this Author is the only Man that has used this Medicament, they may please to peruse Our Phylaxa Medicinae cap. 42. Sect. 2. where you have the same Medicine, which has been Printed and made public to the world by me this six years agone: also in my Parateremata. or select Observations, lib. 2. cap. 5. pag. 270. written about five years since: where there is a singular Cure performed by the same Medicine; The name which I have given it is Angelus Mineralis from its wonderful and stupendious virtues, in which place I have given you the Preparation in these words. Take Hungarian Quicksilver, or the best purified Mercury three Ounces, fine Gold one Ounce, mix and make anAmalgama, put this into a Glass Cucurbit or boult head, two or three feet high, whose interior part let be large and broad: but the superior part narrow and long: digest with a gentle fire forty days; and let the Fire be gentle and continual, so will the Amalgama be turned into a Rubicund powder, which mix with Aqua Ovorum, digesting and cohabating seven times: then for fifteen days circulate with Spirit of Wine in a gentle Sand heat: Abstract the Spirit of Wine by distillation, so have you the Angelus Mineralis, which is one of the greatest Medicines in the world. This is a Medicine we have had experience of, for these twenty years last past, and possibly may be able to say more to it, then the Author has done. Do but consider the Histories of Cures which we have done with it, nay but them which are yet in Print, and you must acquiesce in our sentiments see the following Histories in our Parateremata lib. 2, Cap. 5. Sect. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 53, 55, 56, 57, and Chap. 4. Sect. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. besides some hundred of other Patients not only of these but of other Diseases, the History of whose Cures are not yet extant; but I hope in their due Season shall be made public to the World.  
XIX. In the Intervals the Patients must be let Blood less or more, according as his Blood abounds, or is corrupted. page. 68. Line 23.  
Salmon. He who has red my Arguments against this operation in my Synopsis Medicinae lib. 3. cap. 15. sect. 3. ad 16. I am sure must be another Opinion: however, whether he be against Blood-letting in general or no, if he considers the nature and quality of the Disease, and state of the Sick, must disapprove of this advice: the very weakness of the Patient, Paucity of Spirits, and declivity of the natural juices and functions, absolutely bespeak the contrary.  
XX. Where there are Nodes or Tetters, or the Blood is dry, Baths must be used, for Emollition of the Parts, for humectation and increasing of the fluidity of humors, to bring them to such a condition, as they may easily yield to the Medicines. page. 68. Line 26.  
Salmon. You ought to have a Bathing-Tub, wherein the sick may sit up to the Neck in the Bath, Blood warm, or so hot as with pleasure it may be endured. For this purpose several sorts of Baths may be made use of; nor are Authors sparing in delivering several prescriptions or forms of them. I might here describe several forms of Baths of admirable use, but the two or three following shall suffice. Take water a sufficient quantity for a Bath and for every Gallon of water, dissolve in it an ounce of Soap: which use as hot as the Sick can endure it, to sit in. Another. Take water a sufficient quantity for a Bath: To every Gallon of which add a Pint of good Brandy: to be used hot as the former. Another: Take water a sufficient quantity for a Bath: And in every Gallon of it dissolve Soap one Ounce, Common Spirit of Wine a Pint: to be used of a moderate heat. Another which is more excellent. Take fair water enough for a Bath, and to every Gallon of it add, common spirit of Wine a Pint, Powers of Mercury( see the Preparation in our Phylaxa, cap. 24. Sect. 1.) an ounce or something less: mix them, the water being first warm enough for the Bath. These Baths especially the latter are of admirable use in the Cure of this Disease, especially if there he any external defedation, by Pocky Herpes, tetters, Ringworms, Serpigo, Ulcers, Gums, Nodes, Tophs, Warts, Pains or the like. And they ought to be often used, as once every day for the same time, then once every other day, afterwards twice a week, till the sick is well.  
XXI. All the difficulty is to determine what number of D●ses( of this Golden Precipitate) is requisite to each person that has occasion to use it: for although the Accidents may wholly disappear, yet it does not follow that the Patient is perfectly recovered. page. 69. Line 3.  
Salmon. This is a difficulty, but may easily be determined by any one skilful in our Profession: and them that are not skilful are not fit to practise. This is certain, that it ought to be given, till all the Accidents are vanished: but in my Opinion that is not enough, two or three Doses ought still to be taken after all, yea although the Patient may think himself to be perfectly well; that the said Accidents may not only vanish, but that no leaven or Seed of the Disease may be lest in the Blood and Humors; and then also Viper Broth, or Powder, or the other preparation of Vipers mentioned at Sect. I. of these Annotations ought to be taken for twelve or fourteen days, where by, the recrements of the Disease( if any yet remain) will be so thoroughly carried off, that the sick will be in no future danger of a Relapse. But here is one thing to be noted, that our Angelus Mineralis works not so strongly as the Preparation of the same Medicine, here laid down by our Author— but does things much more mildly and pleasantly, and therefore requires a longer time, and more Doses to do it in: for which cause sake I always keep of both sorts by me, to wit, the mildred or gentle which I call Angelus Mineralis; and the strong, or most powerful which I call the Impetus Mineralis, because it forcibly invades the distemper, vehemently assaults the poison, and certainly eradicates the malignity, performing the Cure as well with great safety as speed.  
XXII. A Decoction of Vipers may be given for some days( after the use of the Powder I suppose he means) by which there will be an Insensible transpiration that shall carry off all the rest of the Venereal Ferment, page. 69. line 16.  
Salmon. It is an usual thing for Physicians to prescribe Diets or Diet-drinks to the Sick after the chief work is over, to carry off the relics of the Disease, and these for the most part are made of Guajacum, Sasaparilla, China, and the like, the Forms of which you may find plentifully enough in other Authors, and therefore we shall not vainly repeat those meaner Remedies here: Our Author here, in place thereof, prescribes one much more powerful prepared from Vipers, which sheeps those things almost an hundred fold, viz. Viperbroth, but you may use either that, or other Preparations of Vipers mentioned at Section 1. of these Annotations, which may be taken for 12, 14, 16, 18, or twenty days together, as you see occasion. But for those that cannot take Vipers, or otherwise cannot get them, or those Preparations of them, I commend a Diet drink, made of Our Hercules; the Preparation of which you have in Our Phylaxa Medicinae Lib. 1. Cap. 47. Sect. 1. Of this Hercules you may make a Diet as is taught in the same Chapter Sect. 15. in these words. Take of this Our Hercules or Panacea five ounces: Canary two quarts; shake them together; and let them stand in a warm Infusion for a week, shaking the Glass twice a day: then being well settled pour off the clear Wine( which will have neither colour, taste, nor smell, more than it had when it went on) and keep it for a Diet. Dose a quarter of a Pint in the Morning, or more if you please, and as much at night going to Bed. This much exceeds a Guaiacum and Sarsa Diet, yea that made of Vipers, and may be taken without offence at Meals, even by the most delicate senates. This Diet you must renew, by putting the like quantity of fresh Canary upon the same Powder: and you may repeat the Infusion upon the same faeces or Hercules, seven or eight times,;( and so long the Powder will hold good, and make the Infusion strong enough) which will be sufficient for any ordinary Cure: the Patient may take this Diet drink even in Company, and yet the most prying Eye never take notice of it.  
XXIII. There is no Pox but what may be cured by this Medicine, such a degree of it only excepted, where there is a carries or putrefaction of the Bones of the Nose or Skull, which cannot be thoroughly effected, but by a method that is extremely troublesome and tedious, page. 69. line 27.  
Salmon The Medicine he here means is his Solar Precipitate before mentioned, which is our Impetus Mineralis. He excepts a Pox with a carries: whether it may cure such a Pox or no, I cannot be positive in, because I have had no Experience of it in that case; though I am apt to believe it would go a great way in the Cure, if it was managed by a prudent hand, given for some time longer then in the former Cases. And our Author page. 87. saith, We may reasonably think it snfficient.  
XXIV. And therefore in this Case, it is better to salivate the Patient not by means of an Unguent, which I would advice no Body to, because of its ill Consequences: besides— the Mercury does not penetrate so far as the putrefied Bone, to destroy the Ferment that infects it. pag. 7. line 5.  
Salmon. This is very true, and therefore we can advice no Body to a Method so unhappy, where other ways much more excellent are known, and which we shall explicate in the Sequel hereof.  
XXV. But this Salivation must be performed by Fumigation or vapour, for which we shall show the best Method. page. 70. line 14.  
Salmon. Our Author here promises the Method of Salivating by Fumigation, but has no where in his whole Book shown the particular Way how it should be done. And therefore, for the Sakes of the Ignorant, we shall here explicate it. The Fume may be made with Cinnabar, either Native or Artificial. Some Authors think the Artificial to be the best, because in the Burning, by reason of the Brimstone, it has a much greater and more piercing Fume, piercing further, and working stronger than Quick-silver by Unction, or any other way of touching the Body. Thus, Take Cinnabar ℥ j. Frankinscence, mastic, Benjamin, Cortex, Winteranus, ana ʒj. all being in fine Powder, with Turpentine or Mucilage, of Gum Tragacanth, make a Mass for Troches, of which make tmenty four for eight times. If there be many Ulcers in the Body, you must make the Troches stronger, after this manner. Take Cinabar one Ounce: Frankinscence, mastic, Myrrh, Amber, of each an Ounce, Cortex Winteranus, Cloves, Nutmegs, Zedoary, ana ℥ ss: all being in fine Powder with Turpentine or Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, make thirty two Troches for eight Fumagations. But if the Ulcers are many, and very Malignant, you must yet use stronger than these, made after this manner. Take Cinabar ℥ j. Frankincense, Myrrh, Amber, Benjamin, Crude Antimony, ana ℥ j. of our Hercules, Verdigrise, ana ʒij. Cortex Winteranus ℥ ij. Cloves, Nutmegs, Zeadory, ana ℥ ss. all being in fine Powder, with Turpentine or Muscilage make two and thirty Troches for eight times. And if the party be strong, some add a dram of Orpiment or a dram of some precipitate, with this caution, that they avoid the fume, so as it may not come into their Mouth or Nose. The way of using these Troches is this. Put the Sick naked into some warm close place, which is kept from the Air, as a hot House, or a Tub for the purpose, made beneath of boards, arched like a Tent, and covered all over with a Mat; Or which is much better Hartmans sweeting Chair: with in this, let him sit, and take the fume ascending from the Troches within, being thrown upon live Coals: his face must be out, as the Nature of the Place imports, that he may endure it the longer, and his Head so covered, that the Air come not at it: but towards the conclusion let the Headreceive some of the fumes also; and let him endure it so long as he can endure it without fainting: then wraping warm Sheets round him, carry him to a fresh warm place, and put him into a warm Bed, to sweat for three or four hours or more, as long as he can endure it. These Fumes are to be used once every day, if the Sick be strong, but if weak once every other day: or if he grows faint, let him rest a day, or so, till his Spirits be recruited, and then repeat the Fumigation again, till by his soreness of Mouth, and fluxing or spitting, you see reason to give over. And because this way by Fumigation, weakens more than that by Unction, the Sick is permitted, to eat oftener than otherwise, and that good, wholesome and nourishing Food; for too much Abstinence in this case will certainly do hurt.  
XXVI. All other Medicines as Guaiacum, Sasaparilla, Sassafras, China, Box, &c. serve for no other purpose but to heat such Bodies as receive them. page. 70. line. 17.24. &c.  
Salmon. 'tis true, they may do some good, being given in the Pox; but our Author supposes that no body doubts of the insufficiency of those Medicines, for my part I do not: and this I am sure of, that in all thin, and lean and Tabefick bodies, they are of very ill consequence and vehemently promote the Indisposition; in so much that those who have been but a little consumptive before, by the use of Guaiacum and Sassafrass, have fallen into an incurable Tabes, or some other distemper, of which they could never be relieved by the utmost power o● Art.  
XXVII. That when the Skin has been infected some gentle sudorific may be given by way of Precaution. page. 82. line 5.  
Salmon. Our Author has in the place cited, given you some pretty things for the same purpose: but Our Aqua Bezoartica the making of which we have taught in our Phylaxa Medicinae lib. 1. cap. 2 sect. 1. much exceeds them all. Or this. Take Aqua Bezoartica nostra ℥ iij. Cinnamonwater( in our Phylaxa lib. 1. cap. 61. sect. 8.) ℥ vj. mix them; of which let the Sick take now and then three or four spoonfuls. Or this. ℞. Aqua Bezoartica nostra ℥ iij. Our Hippocrass( Phylax. cap. 61. sect. 4.) eight ounces mix for a Cordial: to be taken as the former, and if a small proportion of Volatile sal Armoniack or Salt of Vipers be added( if the sick will permit it,) it will be profitable: and at Night the Patient may take a Dose of Our Pilulae Angelicae, and continue their use for fourteen, twenty or thirty days, as need shall require. See their Preparation in our Phylaxa lib. 1. cap. 53. sect, 1.  
XXVIII. Some make use of crude Mercury, which is extremely dangerous, for reasons mentioned elsewhere: others white Precipitate, which I do not believe to be without danger, because prepared with Aq. Fortis pag. 82. line. 21.  
Salmon. Crude Mercury is indeed dangerous, unless managed by a skilful hand: And by such it has often been used with great success: as we at Sect. 15. aforegoing have declared. And as for the ordinary Precipitates, we confess they are used with danger enough, of the common sort Turpethum Minerale and Arcanum Coralinum, are the chief: Of the more choice, Our Aurum Vitae( the making of which you have in our said Phylaxa. lib. 1. cap. 41. sect. 1) is very excellent, and may be used without danger, if the directions we have given in the place cited be exactly followed, I have known( I believe) above an hundred Patients cured with that alone Remedy.  
XXIX. I only know that Mercurius ducis sublimatus, which some use, is not in the least dangerous, by reason of its preparation, which experience has confirmed to be very good. page. 83. line 5.  
Salmon. That 'tis safe is certain; and that it may cure a recent or young Pox is true, provided it be in a skilful hand: but by the management of the Common Quacksalvers it does not usually do any great feats: being taken for a long time together, it is at last found to root out the Disease: and being ground small, viz. to an impalpable Powder and mixed with Unguents, it cures veneral Ulcers to a Miracle, and such rebellious and ill natured Scabs, as resist other Remedies, and to which Precipitates for their corrosive quality are applied in vain; the following Water also is very good to wash these Pocky sores withal. Take Lime-water of an ordinary strength a Pint: Calomelanos levigated ℥ j. mix and shake them together in a Glass, till the Mercury is dissolved, or rather precipitated into a black Powder. And here note, that if you use the Colomelanos( in our Phylaxa. lib. 1. cap. 30. sect. 1.) instead of Mercurius dulcis before name you will do much better, for that it is much safer, and better pe paed.  
XXX. Yet this method( viz. of salivating by Fumigation) is not absolutely without danger, although silvius has declared it to be the safest way: it is easy by making the least observation to be of a contrary mind. page. 87. line 22.  
Salmon. The danger or security in the using this method is according to the dexterity and skill of the Undertaker. If it be an ignorant fellow the Patient does indeed run a Risk: but if he be a learned and able Man, he needs fear nothing, nor is there any danger in it: the experience I have had of this means, makes me declare my dissent from this Author, and defend the most learned Sylvi●s against the exprobration of all Men whatsoever. The way and manner how it is performed we have declared at Sect. 25. aforegoing.  
XXXI. I am confident that if Vigo's Emplaster with a little sweet Precipitate be applied to the Patient,( viz. to the Chancres) and if some Dosos of the Solar Precipitate be given him, the most inveterate Chancre shall be safely cured without pain, without trouble, and in a little time. page. 91. line 14.  
Salmon. Our Author speaks-truth itself in this: Vigo's Emplaster is an Excellent thing to apply over all; or this. Take oil Olive ℥ viij. Bees-wax, Common Turpentine, ana ℥ iiij. Of our Hercules ℥ vj. mix for a Plaster. And instead of the sweet Precipitate Calomelanos levigated into an impalpable Powder may be used, for it much exceeds it in all cases, let the Ulcers be never so rebellious, it being strewed upon them, or applied, mixed with our Balsamum Amicum( in our Phylaxa. lib. 1. cap. 56. sect. 1.) So also our Hercules used in the same manner; the Sores or Ulcers being first washed, with the Water mentioned at Sect 3. aforegoing. Giving also our Impetus Mineralis in the mean season, mixed with some proper Cathartick: Or our Tabulae Catharticae the Preparation of which you have in Our Phylaxa. lib. 1. cap. 37. sect. 1. in these words. Take Cathartick Antimony, Aurum Vitae Cathartick, ana ℥ iiij.: Mercurius dulcis levigated, ℥ x. best Resinous Scammony ℥ xviij. double refined Sugar ℥ lxiiij. Gum Tragacanth ℥ j. ss. made ●nto a Muscilage: mix and make Lozenges according to Art. Dose from a Scruple to two Scruples, to a Dram, Dram and half, or two Drams, according to age and strength. Or this, our Pilulae Catholicae. Take Extract of Aloes ℥ x. rosin of Scammony ℥ vj. Extract of Colocynthis ℥ iiij. Turpethum Minerale ℥ vj. Aurum Vitae Cathartick ℥ j. with Syrup if Elaterium make a Mass of Pills, to every Ounce of which add ℈ j. of oil of Juniper-berries Dose à gr. 15. ad gr. 25. or ʒss. in strong Bodies, there is scarcely any Pox will stand before this Medicine.  
XXXII. If the Person be of a very hot temper and Plethoriok, and the pain and heat of Urine considepable, there is no danger in bleeding him, and rereating it, &c. page. 93. line. 20.  
Salmon. This is no part of the Cure, nor can it do any good, or any ways promote the intention: mischief it may do, and that very much, by weakening and debilitating the Powers and Forces of Nature, so that she will not be able to act in conjunction with the Medicament to expel the Disease.  
XXXIII. I advice with all that the Virulency be not neglected; and that the specific Remedy which is Mercurius dulcis be not forgotten, which is sufficient for this Disease. page. 94. line 21.  
Salmon. Mercurius dulcis to ℈ j. being often given in Extract of Aloes ʒ ss. is a very good Medicine indeed: but our Tabulae Catharticae are much better, or our Pilulae Catholicae above described, which are scarcely inferior to any other thing. Also this. Take Extract of Aloes gr. 25. of our Impetus Mineralis, or Solar Precipetate gr. vj. or vij. mix for a Dose. You ought to Purge with discretion, for I have known that too long and vehement purging has brought upon a Patient, an incurable Gleet, which is a note worth the observing.  
XXXIV. In the mean time care is to be taken that the Patient may be cooled, which is one of the first things that is to be done. pag. 95. line 13.  
Salmon. This must be done indeed; but I like not much of our Authors way of doing it. This following Mixture is admirable: Take spring Water ℥ viij. white Sugar ℥ j. Extractum pectorale nostrum( in our Phylaxa, Cap. 51. Sect. 1.) a Dram: Guttae Vitae, twenty five or thirty Drops, Sal Prunellae ℈ j. or twenty five Grains; mix for a draft: it may be given Morning and Evening till the Heat and Pain is gone. Every third or fourth Day the Patient may purge as before directed, for three, four, five or six times, till the Virulency and Malignity is wholly taken away. When that is done, the Sick is to take our Pilulae Angelicae( in our Phylaxa, Lib. 1. Cap. 53. Sect. 1.) à ℈ j. ad ʒj. or more, every Night till the Cure is completed, and that without so much as once intermitting them.  
XXXV. When the Accidents disappear, so that the Virulency is mitigated by the means of Mercurius Dulcis, that the Running is not so great, and becomes pretty white; if an Ulcer be in those Parts that are the Seat of the gonorrhoea. page. 96. line 4.  
Salmon. In this Case, if you would do the Cure Artist like, you must positively pursue the following Method; which will in four, six, or eight Days time effectually perform the Work: for by the other Methods, Men( even of great Names) have held their Patients in hand, many more Months, than I have limited Days; yea, after ten, twelve, or fourteen Months, have been so far from a Cure, that they have been much worse than at the beginning; and some have contracted a perpetual Gleet, which for some years they could find no Cure for. 1. Inwardly let him take Haust●s albus. Take Turpentine ℥ j. Yolks of Eggs new laid No ij. mix and dissolve by grinding in a Mortar, then add thereto Poppy water a quart: stir them together till they are well mixed: dose half a Pint at a time, twice a Day: if the Stomach of the Patient be so queasy, that this white draft will not down, in place thereof give the following Pills: Take Chio Turpentine ʒj. Bezoar Mineral, Sal Prunellae, ana gr. xij. Crabs Eyes in Powder, enough to make it up into Pills for one Dose; continuing also at Night to take the Pilulae Angelicae, as before directed. 2. For topics, you have nothing more to do, but to inject two, three, four, five, or six times a Day, as need requires, our Aqua Regulata into the Yard, with a proper Syring for that Part; and also Syringing two or three several times at one 'bout; but let the Patient make Water just before the Operation, that he may not do it presently after, whereby the Medicine would be washed away with the Urine. This Course, if followed, will cure an inveterate gonorrhea, and that a in a Weeks time, or a little more; nor is there any danger of swelling of the Testicles by means of their Operation, for the Injection does but only dry and heal the ulcerated Part, which beforehand you cleansed with proper cathartics and Vulneraries.  
XXXVI. No Injections are to be used, if they may be avoided, but sometimes we are at last obliged to use them. page. 97. line 15.  
Salmon. That is true, if they may be avoided; but with our Authors leave, we shall make bold to say, that there are but few Patients who are affencted with this Disease, but who are forced to make use of them: If not, I am morally sure, that the Disease will be sometimes six times, yea, eight or ten times as long in curing as otherwise it would be, though it falls under the care of the most skilful Artist: And therefore, though it may be sometimes cured without Injections, yet since they so very much hasten and facilitate the Cure, they are not in any wise to be pntermitted, unless you positively design to play the Knave with your Patient; after which, as our Author says, You will at last be obliged to use them.  
XXXVII. Two or three months time is oftentimes requisite for perfecting the Cure of a Venereal Bubo. page. 99. line 16.  
Salmon. Our Author means this, according to the old Method of curing them; in that he is very right: he has taken a great deal of pains in the place cited, to refute the said old Methods, and deservedly they ought to have his exprobration, for that they are so unnatural troublesone, pernicious, and delatory to the true way of curing the same, which he in his following Discourse has laid down.  
XXXVIII. If the Solar precipitate be used every third Day, and Vigo's Emplaster with Mercury be applied to the Bubo, it shall be cured without Danger. page. 100. line 8.  
Salmon. Our Author has here spoken to the purpose, and has said much in few Words: and indeed it is all that is truly necessary for the curing of a Bubo, that is not likely to suppurate, being used according to the Directions in Sect. 18. and 21. aforegoing of these our Annotations, where we have spoken of our Angelus and Impetus Mineralis at large. As for the plaster, you may instead of Vigo's use that described by us in Sect. 31. aforegoing, which will do full as well; and here is to be understood, that the whole Course of an Universal Pox is to be run through, in this Cure; for that Bubo's seldom appear, but where there is an Universal Contamination of the whole Mass of Blood and Humors.  
XXXIX. But if a Bubo comes to suppurate of itself, it would in this case be very foolish, to evacuate it by stool, or any other way, than by the part itself, which ought to be Cauteriz'd or lanced. page. 101. line 10.  
Salmon. If it tends to Suppuration, you ought to promote it by all the means that may be, which being perfected, it is to be opened either by a Cautery, as that of Lapis Infernalis; or by the Incision-knife: which done keep it open with a Tent of Lint, that it may run as long is any Matter is in it, it being every day cleansed and dressed, for a while as a malignant Apostem, and then afterwards it is to be cured after the manner of other ordinary Ulcers; but in the mean season while this is doing, you must be careful to make your Patient take as often as you see fit our Impetus Mineralis, Herculian Diet-drink or Viperin Medicaments, in such order and method as before we have declared.  
XL. Reason, how pregnant so ever it may be of itself, has ordinarily no power over those— that are engaged by their interest not to change their method: the continuance of the Disease, great numbers of Cataplasms, Pills, Ptisans, maintain the Trade of not a few in the World, and are valuable for the sake of Gain, which is fairly advanced, &c. page. 102. line 13.  
Salmon. Our Author here has hit the Nail on the head: for the Vulgar Practiser, for the most part, makes a prey upon his Patient by reason of his Ignorance, necessity, shane and terror of the Distemper, whereby he can magisterially do with him even what he pleases: and if he be a Man of Wealth, extract what sums of Money he has a Mind to, out of his Pocket, which base, unworthy, and unjust way of dealing is a blemish so great upon the heads of some, hat I fear will never be obliterated: such, the Abomination of Mankind, I leave to the just judgement of God.  
From my House at the Blew Balcony by the Ditch-side near Holborn-bridge, London 20. November, 1689. W. Salmon.