and decay of his efficacy, and vertue; so ayrie, subtill, and piercing
are its spirits, and minerall exhalations, that they soone passe,
vanish, and flye away. Which thing wee have esteemed to be a principall
good signe of the worthy properties of this rare Fountaine. So that this
water, being newly taken up at the Well, and presently after drunke,
cannot otherwise, but sooner passe by the Hypochondries and through the
body, and cause a speedier effect, then those in _Germany_ can. Whereby
any one may easily collect, and gather, that this getteth his soveraign
faculties better in its passage by and through the variety of minerals,
included in the earth (which only afford unto it an halitious body) then
those doe.
If then wee bee desirous to have this of ours become commodious either
for preserving of our healths, or for altering any distemper, or curing
any infirmity (for which it is proper and availeable) it ought chiefly
to bee taken at the fountaine it selfe, before the minerall spirits bee
dissipated.
_CHAP_. 8.
_=That Vitriol is here more predominant, then any other minerall.=_
We have sufficiently beene satisfied by experience and trialls, through
what minerals this water doth passe: but to know in what proportion they
are exactly mixed therewith, it is beyond humane invention to find out;
nature having reserved this secret to her selfe alone. Neverthelesse it
may very well be conjectured, that as in the frame, and composition of
the most noble creature, Man (the lesser world) there is a temper of the
foure elements rather _ad justitiam_ (as Philosophers say) then _ad
pondus_; so nature in the mixture of these minerals, hath likewise taken
more of some, and lesse of others, as shee thought to be most fit, and
expedient for the good and behoofe of mans health, and the recovery and
restitution of it decayed; being indeed such a worke, as no Art is able
to imitate.
That _Vitriolum_ (otherwise called _Chalcanthum_) is here most
predominant, there needs no other proofe, then from the assay of the
water it selfe; which both in the tart and inky smack thereof, joyned
with a piercing and a pricking quality, and in the savour (which is
somewhat a little vitrioline,) is altogether like unto the ancient
_Spaw_ waters; which according to the consent of all those, who have
considered their naturall compositions, doe most of all, and chiefly
participate of vitrioll.
Notwithstanding, for a more manifest, and fuller tryall hereof, put as
much powder of galls, as will lye on two-pence, or three-pence, into a
glasse full of this water newly taken up at the fountaine, you shall see
it by and by turned into the right and perfect colour of Claret wine,
that is fully ripe, cleare, and well fined, which may easily deceive
the eye of the skilfullest Vintner.
This demonstration hath beene often made, not without the admiration of
those, who first did see it. For the same quantity of galles mingled
with so much common water, or any other fountaine water thereabouts,
will not alter it any thing at all; unlesse to these you also adde
Vitrioll, and then the colour will appeare to be of a blewish violet,
somewhat inkish, not reddish, as in the former, which hath an exquisite
and accurate conjunction of other minerall exhalations, besides the
vitrioline. But this probation will not hold, if so be you make triall
with the said water being caried farre from the well; by reason of the
present dissipation of his spirits.
_CHAP_. 9.
_=Of the properties, and effects of Vitrioll, according to the ancient
and moderne Writers.=_
The qualities of Vitrioll, according to _Dioscorides, Galen, Ætius,
Paulus Ægineta_, and _Oribasius_, are to heate and dry, to bind, to
resist putrefaction, to give strength and vigour to the interiour parts,
to kill the flat wormes of the belly, to remedy venemous mushromes, to
preserve flesh over moyst from corruption, consuming the moysture
thereof by its heat, and constipating by his astriction the substance of
it, and pressing forth the serous humidity.
And according to _Matthiolus_ in his Commentaries upon _Dioscorides_, it
is very profitable against the plague and pestilence, and the chymicall
oyle thereof is very availeable (as himselfe affirmeth to have
sufficiently proved) against the stone and stopping of urine, and many
other outward maladies and diseases, (_Andernæus_ and _Gesner_ adde to
these the Apoplexy) all which, for avoyding of prolixity, I doe here
purposely omit.
Neither will I further trouble the Reader with the recitall of divers
and sundry excellent remedies, and medicines, found out and made of it
in these latter times, by the Spagyricke Physitians, and others: In so
much that _Joseph Quercetanus_, one of those, is verily of opinion,
that out of this one individuall minerall, well and exquisitely prepared,
there might be made all manner of remedies and medicines sufficient for
the storing and furnishing of a whole Apothecaries shop.
But it will (perhaps) be objected by some one or other in this manner:
If vitrioll, which as most doe hold, is hote and dry in the third
degree, or beginning of the fourth, nay, of a causticke quality, and
nature (as _Discorides_ is of opinion) should here be predominant, then
the water of this fountaine must needs bee of great heat and acrimony;
and so become not onely unprofitable, but also very hurtfull for mans
use to be drunke, or inwardly taken.
To which objection (not to take any advantage of the answer, which many
learned Physitians doe give, _viz_. that vitrioll is not hot, but cold)
I say:
First, that although all medicinall waters doe participate of those
mineralls, by which they doe passe, yet they have them but weakly
(_viribus refractis_) especially when in their passages they touch, and
meet with divers others minerals of opposite tempers and natures.
Secondly I answer, that in all such medicinall fountaines, as this,
simple water doth farre surpasse and exceed in quantity, whatsoever is
therewith intermixed; by whose coldnesse it commeth to passe, that the
contrary is scarce, or hardly perceived. For example, take one
proportion of any boyling liquor to 100. or more, of the same cold, and
you will hardly find in it any heat at all. Suppose then vitrioll to be
hot in the third degree, it doth not therefore follow, that the water,
which hath his vertue chiefly from it, should heat in the same degree.
This is plainly manifest not onely in this fountaine, but also in all
others, which have an acide taste, being indeed rather cold, then hot,
for the reasons above mentioned.
_CHAP_. 10.
_=Of the effects, which this fountaine worketh, and produceth in those
who drinke of it.=_.
Experience sheweth sufficiently, besides reason, that this water first,
and in the beginning cooleth such, as use it: But being continued it
heateth and dryeth; and this for the most part it doth in all, yet not
alwayes. For (as we shall more fully declare afterwards) it effecteth
cures of opposite, and quite contrary natures, by the second and third
qualities, wherewith it is endowed, curing diseases both hot, cold, dry,
and moist.
Those waters (saith _Renodæus_) which are replenished with a vitrioline
quality, as those at the _Spaw_, doe presently heale, and (as it were)
miraculously cure diseases, which are without all hope of recovery;
having that notable power, and faculty from vitrioll; by the vertue and
efficacy whereof, they passe through the meanders, turnings, and
windings of all parts of the whole body. Whatsoever is hurtfull, or
endammageth it, that they sweepe and carie away: what is profitable and
commodious, they touch not, nor hurt; that, which is flaccid, and loose,
they bind and fasten: that, which is fastened, and strictly tyed, they
loose: what is too grosse and thicke, they incide, dissolve, attenuate,
and expell.
More particularly, the water of this fountaine hath an incisive and
abstersive faculty to cut, and loosen the viscous and clammy humours of
the body, and to make meable the grosse: as also by its piercing and
penetrating power, subtilty of parts, and by his deterging and
desiccative qualities to open all the obstructions, or oppilations of
the mesentery (from whence the seeds of most diseases doe arise and
spring) liver, splen, kidneis, and other interiour parts, and (which is
more to be noted and observed) to coole and contemperate their
unnaturall heat, helping, and removing also all the griefes and
infirmities depending thereupon.
Besides all this, it comforteth the stomacke by the astriction it hath
from other minerals, especially iron, so that (without doubt) of a
thousand, who shall use it discreetly and with good advice (their bodies
first being well and orderly prepared by some learned and skilfull
Physitian, according to the states thereof, and as their infirmities
shall require) there will scarcely be any one found who shall not
receive great profit thereby.
Moreover, it clenseth, and purifieth the whole masse of blood contained
in the veynes, by purging it from the seresity peccant, and from
cholericke, phlegmaticke, and melancholike humours; and that principally
by urine, which passeth through the body very cleare, and in great
quantity, leaving behind it the minerall forces, and vertues.
Their stooles, who drinke of it, are commonly of a blackish, or dark
greene colour, partly because it emptieth the liver and splen from adult
humours, and melancholy, or the sediment of blood: but more especially,
because the mineralls intermixed doe produce and give such a tincture.
_CHAP_. 11.
_=In what diseases the water of this Fountaine is most usefull and
beneficiall.=_
Over and besides the peculiar and specificall faculties, which this
fountaine hath, it sheweth divers and sundry other manifest effects and
qualities in evacuating the noxious humours of the body, for most part
by urine especially when there is any obstruction about the kidneyes,
ureters and bladder: Or by urine and stoole both, if the mesentery,
liver, or splen, chance to bee obstructed. But, if the affect or griefe
be in the matrix or womb, then it clenseth that way according to the
accustomed and usuall manner of women.
In melancholike people it purgeth by provoking the hæmorrhoides, and in
cholericke by siege, or stoole. If it causeth either vomit or sweat, it
is very seldome and rare.
See here a most admirable worke guided by the omnipotency and wisedom of
the Almighty, that a naturall, cleare, and pure water, should produce so
many and severall effects and operations, being all of them in a manner
contrary one to another, which few medicines composed by art can easily
performe without hurt and damage to the party. Wherefore being drunke
with those cautions and circumstances necessarily required thereunto, it
is to be preferred before many other remedies, as not onely procuring
these evacuations; but also (which is more to be noted) staying them,
when they grow to any excesse. For seeing that here are minerals
contained both hot, cold, dry, aperitive, astringent, &c. there is none
so simple but must needs thinke and grant, that it cannot otherwise bee
but good and wholesome in grievances, and diseases, which in their owne
natures are opposite.
But I may instance in some few, for which it is good and profitable, and
therein observe some order and methode; It dryeth the over moist braine,
and helpeth the evils proceeding therefrom, as rhumes, catarrhs,
palsies, cramps, &c.
It is also good and availeable against inveterate headaches, migrims,
turnings, and swimmings of the head and braine, dizzinesse, epilepsie,
or falling sicknesse, and the like cold and moist diseases of the head.
It cheereth and reviveth the spirits, strengtheneth the stomacke,
causeth a good and quicke appetite, and furthereth digestion.
It helpeth the blacke and yellow Jaundisse, and the evill, which is
accompanied with strange feare and excessive sadnesse without any
evident occasion, or necessary cause, called _Melancholia
Hypochondriaca_. Likewise the cachexy, or evill habit of the body, and
the dropsie in the beginning thereof, before it be too farre gone. For
besides that it openeth obstructions, it expelleth the redundant water
contained in the belly, and contemperateth the unnaturall heat of the
liver.
It cooleth the kidneyes or reynes, and driveth forth sand, gravell, and
stones out of them, and also hindreth the encrease or breeding of any
new, by the concretion, and saudering of gravell, bred of a viscous and
clammy humour, or substance. The same it performeth to the bladder, for
which it is also very beneficiall, if it chance to have any evill
disposition either in the cavity thereof, or in the necke of it, and
shutting muscle called _Sphincter_, whereby the whole part or member is
let and hindred in his office and function.
Moreover, if there chance to be any ulcer in the parts last specified,
or any sore, or fistula in _perinaeo_ through an impostume ill cured,
this water is a good remedy for it, in regard of its clensing,
cicatrizing and constringing power, and vertue; and for that cause it is
very proper and commodious for the acrimony and sharpnesse of urine, and
against the stopping and suppression of urine, difficulty of making
water, and the strangury.
Although it is very availeable against the stone in the kidneyes, and
against the breeding, and increase of any new there; yea, and against
little ones, that are loose in the bladder; yet notwithstanding it will
afford little or small benefit to those, in whom it is growne to bee
very great and big in the bladder: Because nothing will then serve to
breake it, as _Brassavolus_ saith, but a Smiths anvile and hammar.
Neverthelesse, if in this case incision be used, it will be very
commodious both for mundifying and consolidating the wound, made for the
extraction of it.
It shall not bee needfull to speake much of the profit, which will
ensue by the fit administration of it in the inveterat venereous
Gonorrhæa, causing it to cease and stay totally, and correcting the
distemper, and the evill ulcerous disposition of the seed vessels, & the
vicine parts.
There are very few infirmities properly incident to women, which this
water may not seeme to respect much. The use whereof, after the advice
and councell had of the learned Physitian, for the well and orderly
preparing their bodies, is singular good against the greene sicknesse,
and also very commodious and behoovefull to procure their monthly
evacuations, as also to stay their over much flowing; as well to
correct, as to stay their white floods; as well to dry the wombe being
too moist, as to heat it being too cold, through which causes and
distempers conception (for the most part) is let and hindered in cold
Northerne Countries, as _England_, and the like. For by the helpe of it
these distempers are changed and altered, the superfluous humidities
and mucosities are taken away, the part is corroborated, and the
retentive vertue is strengthned.
This hath beene so much, and so often observed at the ancient _Spaw_,
that it cannot otherwise, but bee also verified at this in aftertimes,
when it shall bee frequented (as those have beene) with the company of
Ladyes, and Gentlewomen: Divers whereof, having beene formerly barren
for the space of ten, twelve yeares, or moe, and drinking of those
waters for curing and helping some other infirmities, then for want of
fruitfulnesse, have shortly conceived after their returne home to their
husbands, beyond their hopes and expectations.
Besides all this, it is good for these women, who, though otherwise apt
enough to conceive, yet by reason of the too much lubricity of their
wombes, are prone to miscarry and abort, if before conception they shall
use it with those cautions and directions requisite.
Also it respecteth very much the hard scirrhous and cancarous tumours,
and the grievous soares, and dangerous ulcers of the matrix. All these
excellent helpes and many moe it performeth to women with more speedy
successe, if it be also received by injection. But here by the way, all
such women, who are with child, are to be admonished, that they forbeare
to use it during that time.
In children it killeth and expelleth the wormes of the guts and belly,
and letteth and hindreth the breeding and new encrease of any moe.
I will here forbeare to write any thing of the benefits which it
affordeth against old and inveterate itches, morphewes, leprosies, &c.
in regard the other three sulphurous fountaines, before mentioned, doe
more properly respect such like grievances. Neither will I now spend any
more time in shewing what vertues it hath in the cure of the Indian,
commonly called the French, or rather Spanish disease: because
experience hath found out a more certaine and sure remedy against it.
_CHAP_. 12.
_=Of the necessity of preparing the body before the use of this water.=_
It is not in most things the bare and naked knowledge or contemplation
of them, that makes them profitable to us; but rather their right use,
and oppertune and fit administration. Medicines are not said to be
_Deorum manus_, that is, the hands of the Gods, (as _Herophilus_ calleth
them) or _Deorum dona_; that is, the gifts of the Gods (as _Hippocrates_
beleeved) till they be fitly applyed and seasonably administered by the
counsell and advice of the learned and skilfull Physitian, according to
the true rules, and method of Art.
_Temporibus medicina valet, data tempore prosunt,
Et data non apto tempore vina nocent._
That is,
Medicines availe in their due times,
And profit is got by drinking wines
In timely sort; but in all reason
They doe offend, drunke out of season.
Therefore to know th' originall mineralls, faculties, and vertues of
this worthy acide fountaine, will bee to no end, or to small purpose for
them, who understand not the right and true use, nor the fit and orderly
administration of it. For not only Physicke or medicines, but also
meats, and drinks taken disorderly, out of due time and without measure,
bringeth oftentimes detriment to the partie; who otherwise might receive
comfort and strength thereby: So likewise this water, if it be not
drunke at a convenient time and season, in due fashion and proportion,
yea, and that after preparatives and requisite purging and evacuation of
the body, may easily hurt those, whose infirmities otherwise it doth
principally respect. For medicines ought not to be taken rashly, and
unadvisably, as most doe hand over head without any consideration of
time, place, and other circumstances; as that ignorant man did, who
getting the recipt of that medicine, wherewith formerly he had been
cured, made triall of it againe long after for the same infirmity
without any helpe or good at all, whereat greatly marvailing, received
this answer fro his Physitian: I confesse (said hee) it was the selfe
same medicine, but because I did not give it, therefore it did you no
good.
To the end therefore, that no occasion may hereafter be either given, or
taken by the misgovernment, or overrashnesse of any in using it to
calumniate and traduce the worth, and goodnesse of this fountaine, I
will briefly here shew, what course is chiefly to be followed and
observed by those who shall stand in need of it.
First then, because very few men are thoroughly and sufficiently
informed concerning the natures, and causes of their grievances, it
will be necessary that every one shold apply himselfe to some one, or
other, who either out of his judgement, or experience, or both, may
truely be able to give him counsell and good advice concerning the
conveniency of this fountaine. And if he shall be avised to use it, then
let the party (in the feare of God) addresse himselfe for his way to it,
against the fit season of it, without making any long and tedious daies
journeys, which cause lassitude, and wearinesse.
Then, being come to the place, he ought after a dayes rest, or two, to
have his body wel prepared, & gently clensed with easie lenitives, or
purgatives, both fit, and appropriate, as well to the habite and
constitution thereof, as also for the disease it selfe, and as occasion
shall require, according to the rule of method, which teacheth that
universal or generall remedies ought ever to precede and goe before
particulars. Now what these are in speciall, to fit every ones case in
particular, it is impossible for me here, or any else to define
precisely. _Ars non versatur circa individua._ We may see it true in
mechanicall trades. No one shoemaker can fit all by one Last; nor any
one taylor can suite all by one, and the selfe same measure.
Yet in regard it may perhaps bee expected that something should be said
herein, I say, that in the beginning (if occasion serve) some easie
Clyster may very fitly bee given, as well for emptying the lower
intestines from their usuall excrements, as for carying away and
clensing the mucose slimes contained therein. After that, it will be
convenient to prepare the body by some Julep or Apozeme, or to give some
lenitive medicine to free the first region of the body from excrements.
For otherwise the water might peradventure convey some part of them, or
other pecca̅t matter, which it findeth in his passage either into the
bladder, or to some other weake, and infirme member of the body, to the
increase of that evill disposition which is to be removed, or else to
the breeding of some other new infirmity.
_Object_. Some perhaps will here object and say, that the time of the
yeere, in which this fountaine will be found to bee most usefull, will
be the hottest season thereof; or (if you like to call it) the
dog-daies, when it will be no fit time to purge at all.
_Answ_. 1. To this I answer and say: First, the purging medicines here
required are not strong, and generous but gentle, mild and weake, such
as are styled _Benedicta medicamenta_: which may with great safetie and
profit bee given either then or at any other time of the yeere without
any danger, or respect of any such like circumstance at all.
2. Secondly I answer; Although this observation of the dog-dayes might
perhaps be of some moment in hotter countries, as _Greece_, where
_Hippocrates_ lived, who first made mention of those dales: Yet in
colder climates, as _England_, and such like Countries, they are of
little or small force at all, and almost not to be regarded any whit,
either in using mild & temperate purgatives, or almost in any other; or
in blood-letting: though very many, or most doe erroniously say and
thinke the contrary. So that (if there be cause) they may as well and
safely then purge, as at any other time: Or, if occasion shall urge, as
in plethoricall bodies, and many other cases, a veine may safely (or
rather most commodiously) be then opened and so much blood taken away,
as the skilfull Physitian shall thinke in his discretion and wisdome to
be needfull and requisite.
Let no man here think, that this is any strange position, or a new
paradoxe (for the learned know the contrary) or that I am studious of
innovation, but rather desirous to roote out an old and inveterate
errour, which in all probabilitie hath cost moe Englishmens lives, then
would furnish a royall army, in neglecting those two greater helpes or
remedies, to wit, Purging, and Blood-letting in hot seasons of the
yeare: which in all likelihood might have saved many of their lives,
while expecting more temperate weather, they have beene summoned in the
meane time, or _interim_ by the messenger of pale death to appeare in an
other world.