Indeed, Sir; you have philosophised
rightly, and well, yea, Arthodoxly,
against the universal Medicament,
according to that notorious,
and far spred proverb. As
many Heads, so many Senses. For
as Sweet sounding Musick delights
not the Ears of every Midas; nor
doth the Same History related
please all Historians; nor of Bread
and Wine, of the same Taste, is
there a like relish in all Palats. So
also the judgements of Skilful Men
do strangely differ, touching the
wonderful Effect of this Universal
Medicine, on Humane and
Metallick Bodies. For this Universal
Medicine, in its way of
Operating, vastly differs, from a
particular Medicine, which may
in some sense be called Universal,
as the Herb Scurvy-grass, curing
every Scorbutick marked with blew
Spots; or Sorrel, healing every Scurvy,
noted with red Spots; or Brook-lime,
healing an Atrophia of that
Kind, or Fumitory remedying
Tumors of that Kind: and that
especially with such Physicians,
with whom the Observation
you before recited, is of any esteem.
Moreover, there is an exceeding
great difference between the Universal
Medicine of Philosophers,
refreshing the vital Spirits, and
between a Particular Medicament
of Proletary-Curation, with which is
corrected the venom of Humors;
viz. such as boyles up against Nature,
in this Man, Acid; in that
Man, the Bitter is predominant;
in one, what is Saline, in another,
what is sharp, grow potent. But,
if these Corrupt humors be not
without all delay presently expelled
out of the Body, by the ordinary
Emunctories of Nature either
by the Belly, or by Urine of the
Bladder, or by the Sweat through
the Pores, or by the Spittle of the
Mouth, or by the Nostrils,
assuredly the corruption of one,
becomes the Generation of another,
viz. of a Disease. For, from
every spark, if we do not timely
extinguish it, an exceding great
burning will arise. Also, if there be
a defect, of the Vital Spirits, it is
impossible to effect this. Therefore
the only care of a Conscientious
Physician should be, how to
deduce the motion of the Vital
Spirits to a digestible natural Heat,
and that is best of all, and most securely
performed by the Operation
of our Universal Medicament, by
which they are found to be notably
recreated. For as soon as this
more than perfect Medicine hath driven
the Morbifick Evil from
the Seat it occupies, then immediately
it infuseth the lost Sanity,
and that only from the Harmony,
or Sympathy it self, which the
Vital Spirits, and this Medicine,
have mutually in themselves.
Wherefore, it, by the Adept, is called
the Mystery of Nature, and the
Defensive of old Age, against all
Diseases. Which, I fay, even in
a most pestilent Season, most full
of contagious Diseases every where
raging, makes of man a Salamander,
bearing such Epidemical
Plagues of Heaven displeased,
until the utmost term of his Life
be expired.