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KEY

PHYSIC

TO

AND THE

OCCULT SCIENCES.
#

OPENING TO MENTAL VIEW,

TheSYSTEMandORDERoftheInteriorand Exterior HEAVENS

The

ANALOGY

betwixt

ANGELS

MEN;

and the SPIRITS of

AND THE

SYMPATHY between CELESTIAL and TERRESTRIAL BODIES.

FROM WHENCE

An

IS

DEDUCED,

obvious Difcrimination of Future Events, in the Motions and Pofitions of the Luminaries,

Planets, and

Stars

Univerfal Spirit and

the

Things; the Principles of

ethereal and

Economy

of Nature in the Produdlion of

ent of Life; the active and paffive Tindlures requilite in the Generation of
the Properties of

and Qualities,

Modes

V egetable. Mineral, and ANIMAL MAGNETISM;

vifible or occult, of all

prefcribed

by

Nature

all

atmofperical Influx, in conftituting the proper Recipi-

DISEASES,

for their

Men

and Brutes;

the fundamental Caufes

Mind and Body; and

both of

the

Ample

Prevention and Cure.

TO WHICH ARE ADDED,

LUNAR TABLES,

calculated from Sidereal Motion; exhibiting, upon the moft Ample yet unerring
Conftnution, the actual Moment of the Crisis of every Disease, and the confequent Termination
thereof, whether for LIFE or

DEATH.

THE WHOLE FORMING

An interefting Supplement to CULPEPERS FAMILY PHYSICIAN, and Difplay of the OCCULT
SCIENCES. Publithed for the good of all who fearch after Truth and Wifdom to preferve all the
;

Bleflings of Health

and Life ; and

to give to all the

Knowledge of ftimitive Phyfic, and the Art of Healing.

By E. SIBLY, M.D. F.R.H.S.

j

The SIXTH EDITION.

Illuftrated with elegant

COPPER PLATES-

L O ND O N:
Printed hy

FOR

G. JONES,

W. Lems, Finch

(LATE WILKES,) N

Lane, Cornhill ;

17,

182 L

AYE-MARIA LANE,

St.

PAULS.

(fl
ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
LIBRARY

CLASS
ACCN.

OF

bW

SB

fzoi^z.

SOURCE

Of

DATE

<?7. ^

lilff

vn

PH'S!C!ANS

OF
i

DEDICATION,
TO THE NUMEROUS

SUBSCRIBERS

to

rjlHE Liberality,

my

Attention, 'and Confidence, I

YOU, demand the ear-

have received from

liest

fulfilment of

FORMER WORKS.

my Promise,

following Sheets.

in publishing the

Not conscious of having de-

viated from the line of

REASON

or

TRUTH,

not challenged by Critics, nor accused by the

Faculty, of leading you astray, I feel more than

common
more

Gratification in submitting myself once

your Patronage and no longer than I

can render myself useful to SOCIETY, and
worthy of
Protection, do I wish to retain
the Power of subscribing myself
to

YOUR

Your much-honoured

Brother,

Friend, and Servant,

^

No.

Upper

Titchfield~ftreet^

Cavendijh Square.

E. SIBLY.

ri'

'

K,'

'

vr.

it.J
ir

>

KEY

PHYSIC

TO

AND THE

OCCULT SCIENCES.

ISDOM
Man

to

is

the Light of Reafon, and the

God, and

elevates his

principal excellence which diftinguifhes

ornament that
defies the

Bond of Peace.

mind above unworthy

dignifies his character.

him from

Whatever

is

It affimilates

purfuits.

brutes,

and the chief

found in Wifdoms

knowledge

is

natural to

man; and,

if

laws

Hence

mouldering hand of Time, and ranks with immortality.

that a third; after

It is the

it is

the cares and follies of this

world could be eftranged from his concerns, his defire of information would be
infeparable from his exiftence.
as the curfe of

contrary,
the earth
nity,

God, which chains

Ignorance and Superftition may be confidered

its

votaries to

Wifdom and Underftanding provide

;

to contemplate the

unworthy objects

us with wings,

works of creation

whereby

on the

whilft,

to foar

above

to difcern the myfteries of divi-

and converfe with angels.

The

beautiful defcription given

highly deferving the attention of

by Solomon of
all

men

the fcience of phyfic, and the cure of fouls.

Jlanding was given me;

his acquirements in wifdom, is

but particularly of thofe

I prayed^

I called upon God, and the

who

fays Solomon,

spirit

profefs

and under-

of wifdom came to-me.

All good things came xvith her, and innumerable riches in her hand. Wifd.

vii.

What greater reward could any one defire? And though the intelle6iual
of all men are not alike ftrong and apt for occult fpeculations yet it is
No. 1.
B
;

7, II.

faculties

manifeft
that

A KEY TO PHYSIC

that a1t perfons are capable of deriving great

that

that fo

improvement from reading; and,

much the want of natural ability, as of induftry and application,

not fo

it is

many men

feffions

difgrace the image of the Deity,

and degrade the venerable pro-

of Divinity, Phyfic, and Law.

It rarely

happens that the w'ant of

which men

are the rocks on

man

unapt indeed muft that

fplit

be,

intelledt,

endowments of the mind,

or natural

charader.
Indocile and
Avhom education, experience, obfervation, readin their profeffional

or enquiry, will not fet generally right in his progrefs through

ing,

Yet,

life.

without induftry, and an anxious defire of knowledge and improvement, neither

education, nor

all

the advantages of natural ability, can fave us from the wreck of

Obftinate men, though of the

error, or the difgrace of ignorance.

the world, are a forlorn hope, and often irrecoverably

phantom of

fuing the

own

their

brain

fociety, furrender

up

upon

form the brighteft charadlers amongft

to

their talents for difcernment

truft

by unadvifedly pur-

loft,

whilft others, enriched by dignity of fenfe,

and qualified by depth of underftanding

felves with taking

capacity in

firft

and enquiry, and content them-

whatever they fee or hear; particularly

in the

prac-

The mifchiefs attendant on this geand many; for by thus implicitly fubfcribing

of phyfic, in the law, and in the church.

tice

neral conduct of mankind, are great

to the

vague notions, and

of others

falfe dodtrines,

by

ftiutting their eyes againft

the light of reafon and enquiry, and refufing to receive the convidlion of their
fenfes, they transfer error

from one generation to another,

until the unlettered

multitude, dazzled by the fplendid ignorance of the learned few,

and make error and enthufiafm an hereditary

to their miftakes,

Hence, then, we
our

owm

form

our temporal and eternal

all

occaiions which immediately

glorious and permanent

life

and under

their office

and

it is

unqueftionably the duty of

Yet

prove, and employ them.

ples at

is

all.

thofe affli6Iions

jtafiTage to

and

a better; to one

the ultimate end and reward of all our labours

it

is

all

often founded

This, however,

upon erroneous
is

principles,

a condudt by no means

man; who, being placed

men

to exercife, to im-

aftonifliing in general to fee

we are of thofe very faculties Nature has given us for our

we fubmit to the opinions of others, whofe nerves cannot

aftigned to

all

af-

on thefe occafions, are ever ready to fupport our endeavours, and per-

fenfes,

judgment

reafon, and employing

all

misfortunes wherewith we ftruggle in this world, in our

more

difciples

on

for ourfelves

regard our health, our happinefs, or our

Our

become

difeafe.

underftanding, in the difcrimination of

and of adling and judging

fairs;

own

fee the necefiity of confultirig our

own

at the

head of

guide,

how

diftruftful

and how fondly

feel for us,

and whofe

and fometimes on no

princi-

fitted to the dignity and office

all

Gods works upon earth,

walking
o

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

walking in his image, and exercifing dominion over his creatures,

prove that

intelledl

of reafon and underftanding, whereby he

to govern

of juftice, and of mercy.

re6l them, according to the didlates of truth,

to ftiidy the

purpofe he ought, like Solomon,

is

bound

is

to

im-

and

di-

For

this

occult properties and qualities of

all

from the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon, even unto the hyffop that fpringwith w hatever relates to a proper knowledge of himfelf, and
eth out of the w'all
of beafts, and of fowl?, and of creeping things, and of fidies not to worfliip the
things:

fun, nor the

moon, nor the

nor any of the hofl of heaven; but to confider, to

ftars,

admire, and to inveftigate their charadlers, fixed by the hand of

for feafons,

every

and

for

man ought

They,

days and years.

w ith,

to be acquainted

God

for figns

and

contain no more than what

in fadt,

to the beft of his abilities

becaufe they

lead to a comprehenfive idea of thofe occultcaufes andeffedts, w'hich adl the moft,

though they are the

leaft feen

and whereby the human underftanding

is

enlight-

ened and improved, and' the mind enriched with thofe divine precepts, which lead
to a manifeftation of that

FIRST and Omnipotent CAUSE

to

whofe power

fecond caufes are fubfervient, and operate but as the agents of his Will

whofe providerit care and fufferance we

The

fee, feel,

move, fpeak, and have our being

ten thoufand bleftings w'hich refult from this ftudy, are found in our enquiries

after

truth,

and the myfteries which furround us

of the aftonifliing fympathy

and antipathy betwixt heavenly and earthly fubftances

and

conftrudtion of the celeftial bodies

exiftence,

To

and the end

fuch enquiries

fions, unlefs

of the wonderful harmony

belief, in all

all

men

for

which they are and

are alike competent, and

w'ere created

may

in

boaft the

fame preten-

obftinacy or indolence be fubftituted to prevent them. There is certainly

implanted in the

ing,

of the nature and qualities of our own

and the propagation of our fpecies; of the occult properties implanted

created beings

all

all

and under

human mind,

a power which perceives truth,

the occult properties of nature, not by

the.

and commands

force of argument, nor learn-

nor fcience; but by an inftantaneous, inftindlive, and

irrefiftible,

impulfe, de-

rived neither from education nor from habit, but from the peculiar gift of Provi-

dence, adling independently of our

will,

whenever thefe objedls are prefented, bearr

ing evidence of their reality, even wdien the pride of our external deportment,

our very words, afe6l to deny them..

will
all

venture to affirm,

my

is felt

more

or

This
lefs

by

an intelledlual fenfation, w'hich, I

mankind ; and

readers, if not their tongues, will admit the fadl.

tlie

humble

tor,

ftand on the fame level in this refpedl.

c.ult

is

all

The

know

It is therefore

cottager, the claffical curate, the regular phyfician,

and the

the hearts of

evident that
village doc-

ftudy of Natures laws, of the oc-

properties in medicine, and in the frame and temperature, of our bodies,

,

and

is

no
lef?

A KEY TO PHYSIC

4
lefs fimple,

than important to our welfare

and without knowing

We can nei-

nothing that can place us beyond the fagacity of the brute creation.
ther forefee danger nor fliun

it

when

we

near

it is

are fubjedt to mifguided

ment, and miftake, in our medical applications, and advice

we

without
the admonition. In
are clouded our views
fliort,

limited,

tions

The weaknefs

difappointment.

and

infirmities

neceffities of

our

and

all

to benefit

by

vain our percep-

our purfuitsare vanity, vexation, and

of our reafon, and the avocations arifing from the

fituations, require the mofl;

cleareft perceptions of heavenly

and the

our enquiries are

this ftudy,

treat*

receive intuitive

and tokens of misfortune or advantage, without knowing how

figns

we know

thefe,

and earthly

powerful inftru6lions,

things, for the prefervation of

our fouls and bodies, and for the illumination of our minds; advantages that can
in

no wife be more completely obtained than by an intimate acquaintance with the

Occult Sciences

or, in other

words, by a contemplation

OF GOD.

THOUGH God has given us no innate ideas of himfelf, yet, having furniflied us
with thofe faculties our minds are endowed with, he hath not

a witnefs

fince

we

and

have fenfe, perception,

left

himfelf without

and cannot want a clear

reafon,

proof of him, as long as we carry any thought of ourfelves about

To

us.

Ihow,

we are capable of knowing, that is, being certain, that there is a

God and how we may come by this certainty, I think we need go no farther than
I think
ourfelves, and that undoubted knowledge we have of our own exiftence.
he knows
it is beyond queftion, that man has a clear perception of his own being
In the next place, man knows,
certainly that he exifls, and that he is fomething.
that

therefore,
;

than

it

being,
fince

can be equal to two right angles.

it is

what was not from eternity had a beginning

another muft alfo have

all

the powers

all that

all

fo this eternal being

Again,
there

is

man

Next

elfe.

which

it is

is

in

has muft be owing

it

This eternal fource of

and

we know

therefore,

If,

there

is

fome

real

an evident demonftration, that from eternity there has been fomething ;

be produced by fomething
too

can no more produce any real being,

intuitive certainty, that bare nothing

by an

and what had a beginning muft

evident, that

and belongs

to,

to its being

its

being from

from another

and received from, the fame fource.

being, muft be alfo the fource

muft be

what has

alfo the

moft powerful.

finds in himfelf perception

and knowledge

and

we

original of all

power;

are certain then that

not only fome being, but fome knowing intelligent being, in the world.

There was a time when

there

was no knowing being, or

elfe there

has been a know-

AND THE OCCULT

If

ing being from eternity.

had no knowledge
any knowledge;

it

faid, there

be

I reply, that then

SCIENCES.

was a time when that

eternal being

impoffible there Ihould have ever been

it is

and

being as impoffible that things wholly void of knowledge,

it

operating blindly, and without any perception, fhould produce a knowing being,
as

it is

make

impoffible that a triangle fliould

right ones.

itfelf three angles bigger

Thus, from the confideration of ourfelves, and what

we

than two

infallibly find

our own conftitutions, our reafon leads us to the knowledge of this certain and
evident truth, that there is an eternal, mofl powerful, and knowing, being, which
in

whether any one

this idea,

will call

duly eonfidered,

Gop,

it

will eafily

The thing

matters not.

be deduced

all

is

evident; and from

thofe other attributes

we ought

to afcribe to this eternal Being.

From what has been

God

the exiftence of a

we have a more

faid, it is plain that

certain

knowledge of

than of any thing our fenfes have not immediately difcovered

know that there is a

God than that there is any thing elfe without us. When I fay, we know, I mean,
there is fuch a knowledge within our reach, which we cannot mifs^ if we will but
apply our minds to that, as we do to other enquiries^
Nay,

to us.

I prefume I

may

fay, that

we more

certainly

It being then unavoidable for all rational creatures to conclude, that fomething

has exifted from eternity, let us next fee what kind of thing that muft be.

There

are but two forts of beings in the world, that

man knows or conceives fgch

purely material without fenfe or perception

and

as

we

find ourfelves to be.

Thefe two

forts

we

as are

fenfible perceiving beings, fuch

fliall call

cogitative

and incogitative

beings; which, to our prelent purpofe,. are better than material and immateriali

If then there mull be fomething eternal,

necelfarily be a cogitative being;

becaufe

mull

it is

very obvious to reafon, that

it is

as Impoffible to conceive that bare

it

incogitative matter Ihould ever produce a thinking intelligent being, as that nothing

of

Ihould produce matter.

itlielf

lhall find it in itfelf

at reft together

main
itfelf

;,

if

unable to produce any thing.

lump?

is it

poffible to conceive that itcan

or produce any thing? Matter then, by

itfelf fo

much

Let us fuppofe

its

eternal,

vve

parts firmly

there were no other being in the world, muft it not eternally re-

a dead una^live

fo,

Let us fuppofe any parcel of matter

as motion.

The motion

it

its

own

has, mull

add motion to

ftrengtb, cannot

alfo

produce in

be from eternity, or elfe

added to matter by feme other being, more powerful than matter. But let us fupr
pofe motion eternal too yet matter, incogitative matter, and motion, could never
;

Knowledge

produce thought.
produce.

will

be as far beyond the power of nothing to

Divide matter into as minute parts as you, will, vary

motion as much as you pleafe,

.

No. L.

ftill

it

will operate

its

figure

and

no otherwife upon other bodies

of

A KEY TO PHYSIC

6
of proportionable bulk than
matter, knock, repel, and

they can do

fo that, if

it

The

did before this divilion.

refill,

minuteft particles of

one another, juft as the greater do

we fuppofe

and that

is all

nothing eternal, matter can never begin to be

we fuppofe bare matter without motion eternal, motion can never begin to
we fuppofe only matter and motion eternal, thought can never begin to be

be: if

if

for

it

4s impoftible to conceive, that matter, either with or without motion, could have

and from

originally, in

itfelf,

fenfe, perception,

and knowledge

as

is

evident from

hence, that then fenfe, perception, and knowledge, muft be a property eternally
infeparable from matter, and every particle of
the

firft

things,

eternal being, muft neceflarily be cogitative

muft neceflarily contain

that can ever after exift

be matter.
eternity,
it is

Since, therefore, whatfoever

it.

If,

it is

therefore,

in

it,

and whatfoever

and adually have,

is firft

of

is

all

at leaft all the perfedlions

eternal being cannot

it

neceflarily follows, that the

it

be evident, that fomething muft neceflarily exift from

firft

For

alfo as evident, that that fomething muft be a cogitative being.

as impoftible that incogitative matter fliould

produce a cogitative being, as that

nothing, or the negation of all being, fliould produce a pofitive being, or matter.

This difcovery of the neceflary exiftence of an eternal mind

to the

knowledge of God; for

it

will

hence follow, that

fufficiently leads us

other knowing beings

all

that have a beginning, muft depend on him, and have no other ways of knowledge
or extent of power, than what he gives them and therefore, if he made thofe, he
;

made

alfo the lefs-excellent pieces of this univerfe, all inanimate bodies,

his omnifcience,

power, and providence,

w'ill

be

eftabliflied

whereby

and from thence

all

his other attributes neceflarily follow.

Thus, a manifeftation of the Deity

fmalleft part of that
that

is

not

filled

is

vifible in all his

works.

There

is

not the

immenfe fpace our eyes behold, or our imaginations conceive,

with His prefence.

The worlds which

revolve with fo

beauty, and harmony, through the immenfity of fpace, the fun,

planets, are upheld by the light of his countenance

much

moon,

order,

ftars,

and

but for which they would drop

from their orbs, and, plunged into the vaft abyfs, w'ould return to their primitive
chaos.

To

the

mercy of God we owe

good and virtuous

To

a6lions.

all

his anger,

the bleflings of this

we Juftly

life,

as the reward of

attribute all violent concuflions

of the elements, famine, plague, peftilence, &c. brought on a wicked and aban-

and brimftone on Sodom and Gomorrah, The

vengeance of the Deity cannot be more awfully defcribed, than by David in his
Pfalms; which fliould a6t as a timely warning to thofe atheifts and unbelievers, and

doned people,

like the

ftorm of

to thofe wicked, idolatrous,

fire

and polluted, countries, againft whofe deteftable crimes

thefe terrible fcourges have

been fo often

fent.

The

fliaking of the earth;

the

trembling

AND THE OCCULT

trembling of the
the firmament

hills

and mountains

the heavens bending

SCIENCES.

the flames of devouring

down

darting through

fire

with forked thunderbolts

their riding

on the clouds, and flying on the wings of a whirlwind, the burfting of the lightnings from the horrid darknefs; the tremendous peals of thunder; the ftorms of
fiery hail

and diflblving into floods of tempeftuous

the melting of the heavens,

rains; the earth opening and fwallowing up her inhabitants; the rocks and

and difclofing

tains cleaving afunder,

of water, and bituminous

are

all

their fubterraneous channels,

at the very breath of the noftrils of the

fire,

of them circumftances which

fill

the guilty

Almighty;
mind with horror and difmay,

and admirably exprefs the power, the prefence, and the omnifcience, of

To what

has been ftated above, I would earneftly

of what I have written in the

fal

obftinate atheift, (if

God, all-powerful and

potent and omnifcient

will

Illuftration of the

be manifeft to the

con-

full

fuch a thing can really exift,) that there

fupremely perfect; eternal and

intelligent;
;

it

God

recommend aa attentive peru-

my Complete

volume of

firft

Occult Sciences, from page 61 to 71; whence

vi6ton of the moft

moun-

their torrents

who endures from

eternity to eternity,

and

is

is

omni-

infinite;

prefent from

infinity to infinity

But though, from the nature and perfedions of the Deity, he

in all places,

and nothing happens without

exprefsly revealed in Scripture,

that he

and

invifibly prefent

knowledge and permiffion

his

and admitted by

vifibly prefent with the angels

is

is

all

fpirits,

parted, in thofe manfions of blifs called Heaven.

wdfe

and

and

yet

it is

intelligent authors,

blefled fouls of the de-

There he

pleafed to afford a

is

nearer and more immediate view of himfelf, and a more fenfible manifeftation of
his glory,

and a more adequate perception of

in any other parts of the univerfe

tin6lion,

than can be feen or

felt

which place, for the fake of pre-eminent

dif-

and as being the feat, and centre, from whence all things

beginning,

life, light,

power, and motion,

The pofition and order of

varioufly defcribed,

and

its

agree as to the certainty of

is

this

is

locality
its

fomewhat difputed among the learned

Hermes Trifmegiftus

exiftence.
is

Heaven.

terms w^hich bear fo

ftri<5l

and magnificent a

all

defines heaven to

he meant no more than to affirm, w'hat we have done above, that

in fo elevated

been

but

every- w here, and circumference no-where;

prefent every-where, and at all times,

in

and have their

called the interior^ or empyrean.

from

without limitation, bounds, or circumference.

ven

flow,

this interior heaven, or centre of the Divinity, has

be an intelle6tual fphere, whofe centre

but by

his attributes,

infinity to infinity,

that

is

God

to fay,

Plato fpeaks of this internal hea-

a refemb lance w ith the books of Revelation, and

ftyle, that it is

apparent the heathen philofophers,

notwithftanding their worfhipping demi or falfe gods, poflefled an unfhaken confidence

A KEY TO PHYSIC

whofe throne was the

fidence in one omnipotent, fupreme, over-ruling, Power,

centre of

all things,

To defcribe this
is

and the abode of angels and bleffed

interior heaven, in terms

utterly impoflible.

The utmoft we can

adequate to

do,

is

fpirits.
its

to colle6l

magnificence and glory,

from the infpired writers,

and from the words of Revelation, affifted by occult philofophy, and a due
ledge of the celeftial fpheres, that order and pofition of
divine lights

we

through

dire6tion,

from whence
all

fpheres,

all

ideas of the Divine

and through

That the inner circumference of

all

this centre is

know-

which reafon, and the

That God muft be

have, bring neareft to the truth.

literally the centre,

it,

Mind

ftri6tly

flow, as rays in

and

every

bodies, cannot admit of a doubt.

furrounded,

arrangements of the three hierarchies of angels,

is

filled,

or formed, by

alfo confonant to reafon

and

and forms what may be termed the entrance or inner gate of the empy-

Scripture,

rean heaven, through which no fpirit can pafs without their knowledge and permiffion

and within which we muft fuppofe the

vaft expanfe or manftons of the

Godhead, and glory of the Trinity, to be. This is ftridtly conformable to the idea
From this primary circle, or gate of
of all the prophets and evangelical writers.
heaven, Lucifer, the grand Apoftate, as Milton finely defcribes
the bottomlefs abyfs ; whofe

office,

it,

was burled into

as one of the higheft order of angels, having

placed him near the eternal throne, he became competitor for dominion and power
with

God

himfelf! But,

Him
Hurld headlong flaming from

With hideous

To

the Almighty Powr

th ethereal fky.

ruin and combuftion,

down

bottomlefs perdition, there to dwell

In adamantine chains and penal

fire

Milton, Parade Lojl,

The

circles next

angels and

fpirits,

b.

i.

1.

44, &c.

furrounding the hierarchies, are compofed of the miniftering

and melfengers of the Deity. In

of the holy Trinity, and interfering

all

pofitions anfwering to the ideas

orders of angels, are feated, in fulnefs of

glory and fplendor, thofe fuperior angels, or intelligent

fpirits,

who anfwer

to the

God, and are the pure eflences or ftream through which the will
Godhead is communicated to the angels and fpirits, and inftantaneoufly

divine attributes of

or

fiat

of the

conduced to the Anima Mundi. Round the whole, as an atmofphere round a planet, the Anima Mundi, or univerfal Spirit of Nature, is placed; which, receiving the
impreffions or ideas of the Divine Mind, condudls them onward, to the remoteft
parts of the univerfe; to infinity itfelf ; to, and upon, and through, all bodies, and to
all

Gods works.

TK\?,

Anima Mundi

is

therefore what

we underftand of Nature, of
Providence,

^f.

'*
;

'i:

V'-'

'

f;

/''

'

'

(-

^T% -

'

(,-^#r.'

ft" V'-

''>

'

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

Providence, of the prefence of God, and the fountain or feat of

being, as

it

were, the

Next

things.

to the

Eye of God, or medium between God and all creaX:ed

Anima Mundi, is that vaft region or expanfe, called the

ethereal heaven, or firmament, wherein the fixed ftars, planets,

difpofed

and towards

diredtions,

To
rior

the celeftial bodies,

and wherein

Heaven,

and comets, are

and the comets, move

freely in all

parts of the heavens.

all

ftated above, I

what has been

illuftrate

fecond caufes,

all

have fubjoined a plate of the Inte-

with the different orders of the Spirits

and Effences of the Divine Mind,

by their proper names and charadters, in the original Hebrew text,

as pointed out in Holy Writ, and in the manufcripts of ancient and learned philodiflinguifiied

As

fophers.

thefe

names and charadters are printed

my

volume of

in the firft

at length,

Occult Sciences,

Illuftration of the

is

is

there written, the annexed plate

abfolutely neceffary to

this plate, in

and

to the

ftars

what

Godhead, through

the inquifitive

affift

It will alfo

appear

celejtial influx,
is

to all the celeftial bodies, planets,

to the remoteft parts of infinite fpace, conftituting

and

temperature of one body

the different orders of angels and

all

Anima Mundi, and from thence

to our earth,

termed

is

it

what manner the rays or beams of Divine Providence pafs from

the centre or feat of the

fpirits,

and 71,

p. 69, 70,

reader in forming a competent underftanding of the fubjedl.

from

fully explained,

but for a more perfedl explanation of what

unneceffary to repeat the fame here

is

and

or that faculty in nature by which the quality and

communicated

to another.

OF NATURE.
No

one expreflion, ufed by authors, or fpoken amongft men,

varioufly applied, or fo

or caufes which

we attempt
that

make

it

When

underftood, as the word Nature.

little

we moft commonly mean

the nature of a thing,

what

it is,

its

effence

in general

is

that

whether the thing be corporeal or not

to define the nature of a fluid, of a triangle, &c. oftentimes

fuch a

fay, that

man

principle of motion

Sometimes

we

as

when we

fay, that a ftone

Sometimes we take nature

for

which fenfe phyficians

cure.

Sometimes we

1.

in

when

we confound
as when we

by nature

falls to

the ground.

an aggregate of powers belonging to the fame body,

fay, that

or that, in fuch and fuch difeafes, nature

ufe the

the corporeal w'orks of

No.

as

underftand by nature, the eftablifhed courfe and order of things.

efpecially a living one

or fpent

noble by nature. Sometimes we take nature for an internal

is
;

fpeaking of

the attributes

is,

which a man has by nature with what accrues to him by birth

more

God

nature

is

ftrong,

left to herfelf will

weak,

perform the

term nature for the univerfe, or whole fyftem of

as

when

it is

faid of a phoenix, or

any imaginary
beiag.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

10
being, that there

is

no fuch thing

quently, Ave exprefs by the

word

Sometimes

in nature.

too,

and that not unfre^

nature, a kind of femi-deity, or fupernaturalfpirit,

prefiding over all things.

This general abufe of the word nature,

lifli

people or language

fe6ls;

and feems

it

more

prevails

by no means peculiar

is

Greek word

there are

ters,

no

lefs

<pva-n,

than

enumerate the various accepta-

rendered in Englilh nature

fifteen

and,

The bulk

word nature radically means the fyftem of the world

that the

of the univerfe; or the affemblageof

of the Author of Nature

the univerfe
it

fruitful.

and

call the

and the father of nature, becaufe he warms the

Others, underftanding the word in a more confined
;

who

together

pofTefs the

the machine

fame

fpiritual

earth,

and makes

fenfe,

apply

who

oppofition or diftin6tion to the creatures,

who

to

and human nature, meaning

reafonable

In this fenfe

foul.

the natura naturans, as giving being and nature to

is

it

and corpo-

fpiritual

the fchoolmen and divines fay, natura naturans, and natura naturata

of God,

of them

fun the eye of nature, becaufe he illuminates

real; thus they fay f/wiwe nature, angelical nature,

men

wri-

created beings; in which fenfe theyfpeak

all

each of the feveral kinds of beings, created and uncreated

all

among Latin

or fixteen different acceptations of the fame

word, with advocates out of number for their interpretation.

infift,

all

have been copied from the fabulous ideas of the ancients.

to

Ariftotle has written a whole chapter, exprefsly to

tions of the

Eng-

to the

and amongft

or lefs in all countries,

all

fpeaking

others

jn

are the natura naturata, as receiv-

ing their nature from the hands of another.

Nature, in a

dill

more

limited fenfe,

ing to which the Cartefians fay,

it is

or the laws which

it is

God

ufed for the eflence of a thing; accord-

the nature of the foul to think

and courfe of material things

the feries of fecond caufes

has impofed oh every part of the creation

they fay, nature makes the night fucceed the day,

tion necelfary to

kind of divine

life,

art,

According

&c.

communicated

they Avere intended for

in

concatenation of caufes and

and that the

Others more properly ufe the word Nature

nature of matter confifls in extenfion.

for the eftablifhed order

is

to Avhich, St.

to beings,

has rendered refpira-

Thomas

fpeaks of nature as a

which dire6t and carry them

which fenfe nature can be neither more or

effects,

which fenfe

in

or that order and (economy which

to the
lefs

ends

than a

God has efia-

the a6tion of Providence, and the principle of all

more driddy confider nature as

things; or that fpiritual power or

being, which

and moves and

bliflied in all parts

is

of his creation.

Others

dill

diffufed throughout the creation,

and gives them peculiar properties, and produces peculiar

a6ls in all bodies,

effe61s.

In

this fenfe,

our modern philofopher Mr. Boyle confiders nature as nothing elfe but God,
acting

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES..

a6ling himfelf according to certain laws he himfelf has fixed.

very much with

the
all

the opinion of a

fe61;

of ancient philofophers,

This correfponds

who made Nature

god of the univerfe, Xon*v, whom they conceived to prefide over and govern
but this they acknowledged to be only an imaginary being ; and that
things
;

Nature meant no

than the qualities^ or virtues, which

rfiore

creatures, but which their poets

in the fchools, is

only

fit

to lead us

to fay,

back

to

to underfland fomething, which, without being

implanted

that the Nature fo

in his

much fpoken

pagan idolatry; fince

God,

it

taught us

a61s continually throughout

would be adored

the univerfe; according to which, he fuppofes Nature

idol,

God

and orators had figuratively perfonified as a god.

Hence F. Malebranche was aggravated

of

11

as an

conceived to pofTefs an a6lual principle, which, in concurrence with God, was

the next and immediate caufe of all the changes which befal matter.
Ariftotle,

with a view of concentrating thefe ideas of nature into one point, as

beft adapted to the works of an infinitely-perfedt

principium et caufa motus

dens

et ejus in

quo

and all-powerful Being, defines

ejt primo perfe, et non peracci-

which definition being miftaken by the Peripatetics and

hence conceived the principle of nature to be a certain

or virtue diffufed

motion by the invariable order

or knowledge. This induced the idea of

throughout the univerfe, which gave every thing

of an inevitable neceffity, without liberty

fpirit

from

Stoics, they

its

a plajlic nature, which feveral learned modern writers have defcribed to be an incorporeal created fubftance, indued with a vegetative

life,

but not with fenfation or

thought, penetrating the whole created univerfe, being co-extended wdth

under God, moving matter

ved by mechanical laws

its

own

actions,

produce the phenomena which cannot be

fo as to

ai5live for

ends unknown to

itfelf,

Y>v.

to be entered upon.

Cudworth argues thus: Since neither all

things

are produced fortuitoufly, or by the unguided mechanifm of matter, nor

himfelf
it

may

may

reafonably be thought to do

well be concluded, that there

is

all things

fol-

not being confcious of

and yet having an obfcure idea of the a6lion

Infupportof \N\%plaJiic nature,

and,

it,

God

immediately and miraculoufly,

a plajiic or formative nature under him,

which, as an inferior and fubordinate inftrument, executes that part of his provi-

dence which

confifts in the regular

motion of matter

yet fo as that there

befides this, a higher providence to be acknowledged, which, prefiding over

often fupply the defe6ls of

it,

and fometimes over-rule

nature cannot a6l eledtively, nor with difcretion.

had the fuffrage of the

cles, Heraclitus,

it,

forafmuch as

is alfo,
it,

doth

this plaftic

This doctrine, he conceives,

beft philofophers of all ages, Ariftotle,

Plato,

Empedo-

Hippocrates, Zeno, and the Stoics, and the latter Platonifts and

Peripatetics, as well as the chemifts

and Paracelfians, and feveral modern

writers.

Now

A KEY TO PHYSIC
Now

am

dearly of opinion,

that,

notwithftanding thefe great authors have fo

obftinately contended for the definition of the word, and for the principles and

meant one and the fame thing, only

and if their arguments are clofely
giving different explanations of the fame ideas
purfued, and compared with each other, they will all tendtofliow, that the anima
mundi, or foul of the univerfe, was what they meant by Nature.
conftrudion of Nature, yet they

all in reality

This aiiima mundi, as we have before feen,

and

rior heavens,

immediately
that

is

medium

pure ethereal fubrtance, or

confirts of a

inverting the whole intefpirit

which, as

refides in the celertial regions, is the fe'cond or next caufe,

moves and governs the heavens, and heavenly

which bodies, having received

bodies, rtars,

it

more

under God,

and planets

from the fecundity of the fame

their firrt exirtence

fpirit in the a6l of creation, are by an influx of fyrnpathetic rays, and by light,

and motion, nouriflied and

heat, gravity,

courfe, and in the beautiful order

fame regular
regions, the

fame

is (iiffufed

through the mafs of

life,

every-where breathing a

elementary bodies, and, intimately mixing with

rtitutes the

ting,

power or inrtrument we

all things,

From

And

Mens

the celeftial

this world, informing, aftuat-

fpirit like itfelf,

all

it

and

beino-

the

pervades

all

the minute atoms thereof, con-

Nature, forming, fafliioning, and propagawill

of the Divine

Mind

in the firft

alit,

totofque infufa per artus

agitat molem, et

magno fe corpore

mifcet.

only thing that has been objected to the notion of an anima mundi,

mingles the Deity too much with

workman

in the

fo the poet

Spiritus intiis

The

call

conformably to the ideas or

a6l of creation.

fee them.

different parts thereof into various fubftances

and uniting the

primary fource of

we

upheld and continued,

influx of pure ethereal fpirit defcends into every part of the im-

meafurable fpace, and

ing,

furtained,

with his work, making

his creatures;
this,

as

it

is,

that

it

confounds, in fome meafure, the

were, a part of that, and the feveral

many parts of the Godhead. Yet is the fame principle

Totum hoc quo continemur, et unumeft, et Deus. Et
M. du Hamel thinks, that thofe who deny it, objedl
focii ejus Jumus, et membra.
without a reafon of which every one will h& fenfible, who reads the defcription
portions of the univerfe fo

afferted by Seneca, Epirt. 92.

above

given, rtnce

it

in

no refpe6l confounds our comprehenfion of an

and Supreme Being with that of the anima mundi;

be as

diftin6l

from the Deity as are the angels and

further obferve, from what

is

but,

infinitely-wife

on the contrary, proves

fpirits in

heaven.

it

to

And we may

above premifed, that thofe who deny the anima

mundi on one hand generally admit

it

on the other.

Thus

the Peripatetics

have

AND THE OCCULT

have recourfe to

which

celeftial influxes,

is

SCIENCES.
fame

partly the

13

thing, in order to ac-

The

count for the origin of forms, and the occult power of bodies.

have their fubtle matter, which anfwers to the active

Others fuppofe an a6fuating
bodies, which

of

is

is flill

the

fame

of thefe, have fubftituted the idea of

through
riflied

all

parts of fpace, as the

and fuftained

have contended for

only they
that

is,

it

infifl

is

Some

thing.

or an etherial elaftic

fire,

a,pbi/tic nature, fall in wdth

by the medium

I mall conclude this

the fource or principle

philofophers, in the place

medium by which elementary

power

dwells in the heavens, and

into all matter,

and

which nearly comes to the fame

that the formative

of the anima mundi.

fpirit

from the fun, and the other heavenly

diffufed over all parts of the world,

motion, &c. w'hich

life,

fpirit to flow

is

is

Cartelians

fpirit,

diffufed

bodies are nou-

Evei^ thofe

thing.

who

every principle of the anima mundi;

lodged in the earth

conveyed

whereas the truth

to the earth, to the elements,

and

have defcribed.

definition of

Nature, with remarking, agreeable to the

opinion of ^he ingenious Mr. Boyle, that, in order to regulate our conceptions of
the

worddn common, and

diftinguifli

nature

to render the application of

it

lefs

ambiguous, we fliould

between the univerfal and the particular nature of things.

we fhould

Confider to be the aggregate of

all

the bodies that

Univerfal

make up

the

world, under the anima mundi, confidered as a principle by virtue wdiereof they adl

and

And

fuffer,

this

according to the laws originally prefcribed by the Author of

makes way

all things*

for the other fubordinate notion; fince the particular

of an individual confifts

in

nature

the general nature, but only applied to that diftin^t

part or portion of the univerfe; or, which

is

the

fame

thing,

it is

a particular af-

fernblage of the mechanical properties of matter, motion, &c. of that fubjeft which

immediately engages our attention.

Of

the

HAVING

VISIBLE

OCCULT PROPERTIES

thus far explained the foregoing fubjeft, w^e

tigation of Canfes,
tification

and

and

their Effects, or the

of the univerfe.

We

of

NATURE.

come next

means whereby Nature

to

an invef-

adls in the fruc-

derive the idea of caufes and effedts from our ob-

fervations of the viciffitudes of things, while

we

perceive fome qualities or fub-

ftances begin to exift, and that they receive their exiftence from the due applica-

and operation of other beings ; in all which circumftances, that which produces is the Caufe, and that which is produced is the Effedt. There is fuch a relation and conn^dtion between the caufe and the effedl, that we cannot have a true
notion of the one, unlefs at the fame time w^e have a conception of the other.
So in general we fay that a caufe is nothing elfe- but that which gives being to

tion

^0.

2.

another

A KEY TO PHYSIC

14
another thing, which

the

is

efFe<5t

of

which way foever

it,

happens, according t

it

the various caufes.

The Firjt Caufe, which afts of itfelf, and of its own fupreme power and will, is
God. This is a truth fo evident, and fo confpicuous, that it cannot be denied. The
exilience of a Firfl Caufe may be deduced from the certainty of our own exiftence;
for that we exift in the world, is a felf-evident truth
but that we came into it of
ourfelves, or by cafualty, necefifity, or chance, isabfolutely impoflible. The fource
;

of OUT exiftence muft therefore be derived from fome being, who, as the author,

muft alfo be the

we
it

free principle, of that eflence, or

we

life,

would follow

we

that

which we were not

exifted before

we

that

of

in the pofleflion

and the fame thing; which

is

we had a
;

and that the caufe and the

for, if

fay that

becaufe from thence

being; that we gave ourfelves that

likewife impoflible.

are in the world by neceflity

To

poftefs.

ouiTelves were the caufe of our being, would be ridiculous

It

is

no

effedt

were one

an error to affirm

lefs

fuch were the cafe, our exiftence would

have never had a beginning, and we Ihould have been immutable and independent,

and

infinite in

to a

firft

every kind of perfedtion; but, as thefe qualities are only applicable

caufe,

it

follows that fuch caufe muft be Almighty.

Thofe who are convinced of the

bute to

it all

exiftence of a

and moft noble, but

moft
or

capable of producing, are contained within

and

that every

one of them

is

in the

world

its

it

not only

it is

hath produced,

the utmoft perfedlion;

itfelf, in

infinite, in the unity of

that

which

alfo, that all the effedls

perfeft,

is

caufe, muft neceffarily attri-

firft

the perfedUons which are or can be

being; for

necefiary

it is

fhould poffefs the perfe6tions of thofe beings it hath or can produce, otherwife

would be faid to communicate

caufe would not be abfolutely

that which
perfedl, if

had a beginning, and might have an end

caufe,

infomuch as

it

and by confequence

cond caufe, limited

feem

to

firft, all

derives

its

this caufe,

in its being

it

it

was not Eternal

it

for fo

it

which we fuppofe

and

to

perfedlions, as in

be the

firft,

others muft depend upon, and be fubordinate

caufe,

which

it,

is

exiftence of

God, muft

neceflarily

had

feveral natures, the

it

would
be the

Whence

it

follows,

independence, eternity,

infinity,

to,

it.

firft

caufe, but at the

God.
have that peife^i unity, which ad-

mits no multiplication either of nature or perfedlions.

his being, but

it

fe-

to

duration; and

its

andthat we cannot conceive any

fame time we muft acknowledge the

This firjl

firft

would be a

have a dependence upon another; whereas, w'hen we fuppofe

and fupreme authority

would have

could not have been the

exiftence from that which was pre-exiftent to it;

that thefe qualities muft be infeparable from

one in

it

The firft

neither hath nor can have.

and then

it

Certainly

if

number of them ought

God was

not

to be infinite,

and

AND THE OCCULT

3nd

none of thefe beings

36t

SCIENCES.

would be

ia particular

infinite,

1$

becaufe,

jfedion of one cannot be the perfeftion of another, there will not be

but will Hand in need of the other, that

that perfection

which the other beings

in

is,

whom

fuppofed beings would be oppofite, independent, and

or that

fible;

whence

it

would be fubje 6l

all

follows, that there

capable of any multiplication, and

The

things.

hend

may

who

is

all

fupreme, ivhich

who

is

one

thefe

irnpof-

is

ridiculous;

is

the primary and univerfal caufe of all

we appre-

not repugnant to the Trinity, becaufe that does npt

is

divide the being; and thefe perfedlions are but one and the

fame

to corredl; fince without that unity there

would be

though we

thing,

give them feveral names, and confider them under feveral ideas, which

parts,

all

in his exiftence, in-

great number, or rather the infinity, of perfedtions which

to be in the firft caufe,

the per.

be found

to

add, that

one or other of them, which

to

but one only God,

is

one

there would not be requifite

Therefore we

poffefs.

when

we

are forced

necelfarily a compolition of

which would be the materials of the whole compound, and w ould precede its

exiftence

therefore could not be the ingredients of that compofition, without

fome-

They may alfo be divided and feparated; fo that, by the

which is plainly inconfifteut
dilfolution of the parts, the compound would ceafe
with that idea we have of God, who is not fimple in his nature, independent in his
will, and every way incorruptible.
The firft caufe is only one, and without its like,
thing elfe intervening.

but alfo one

in its etfence,

foie,,

world was produced; and for

and without a fecond,

this

reafon the adtion

nothing but mere nothing, out of which

is

in that adtion

by which

this

called creation^ fuppofing

were made, by the only power of

God, without the help of any other, having either the quality of an agent or a fub->

The

jedl.

pleafure of
firft

all things

world, being produced by this

it

caufe, fo

and, in the fame

preferved in

it is

caufe ; which, as

it

firft caufe, remains fubjedl to the will and

manner as it was produced by the foie adt of this
the fame ftate, by the foie influence of the fame

did not want any help in the creation of the univerfe, fo neither

doth itftand in need of any affiftance in the confervation of it.

was

free in the creation of the world, thence

it

follows that

all

If the

firft

caufe

things w'ere

made

by diredtion of reafon and underftanding, and by eonfequence according to a cer^#

and rule and, fince the firft caufe operates after an independent manner,

tain idea
it

could not have the type of its produdtion any where elfe but from

could
the

it

firft,

adt by a rule diftindl from

own

its

but the exemplary, caufe of

faid, that the firft caufe,

which

is

God,

is

an intelligent and free being, produced

anfwerable to his dignity, that

is,

God

is

not only

For the fame reafon

it

may be

being; fo that in truth

all things..

itfelf; neither

the final caufe of all things; for

this world,

to himfelf

and

when

he, as

he propofed to himfelf an end

his

own proper

glory.

So that
the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

the Firft

Caufe

neceffarily, the ultiniate

is,

beautiful to thofe

end of

all

and writers feem at a

fubjefty wherein all preachers

who purfue

the leffons of

its

This

effe(?ls.

but the cafe

lofs;

wifdom and

is

a nice

is

clear

and

fcience.

Second Caufes are thofe which derive the power or faculty of ailing from the in-

Hence the anima mundi is

fluence of the Firft Caufe.

the feat of all fecond caufes,

which are alfo termed natural caufes, becaufe they have implanted
Caufe, the occult power of diffufing through

Firft

fpace, and of

all

in

them, by the

communicating

to all bodies, that univerfal foul, or etherial fpirit, whereby every particle of matter
is

moved, and made to ^cl upon one another, fo as

mena

in nature, in the animal, vegetable,

in the

This univerfal

firmament of heaven.

produce the various pheno-

to

and mineral, worlds;

in the elements,

and

caufe a6ls univerfally with

fpirit or

particular caufes; but after a manner agreeing with the nature of every particular
thing,

and according

to the

power which was given

it

when

it

was created; w'hich

neither alters the quality of the caufes, nor the neceftity or liberty of their actions..

This power f a6ting, which

is

communicated by fecond

have of moving in

all

directions

be in the manner

feCt,

and which

which

is

is

it is

fire

to which

it is

inherent, unlefs

of an aCtion which terminates from the caufe to the ef-

nothing elfe than a certain relation, or an aClual fubordination,

always found betwixt the caufe and the

fecond caufes are what

tinder different forms

all

and are neither more nor

Hence we

effeCl.

lefs

than that univerfal

all

glory and manifeftation, and to the good of

to the bright

or

conduced

to

his creatures, the ftudy of

beams of true wifdom ;

and dependence one thing has upon another

material bodies

all

fpirit,

Gods works are re-

gulated and preferved, and the ends and purpofes of that creation

which opens our eyes

perceive that

philofophers, ancient and modern, have contended for

inherent law, implanted in nature at the creation, whereby

GodV

not a quality

of our conceiving things, or of fpeaking of them according to

So

our conceptions.

is

to a6t;

of burning or heating doth not differ from the

it

caufes,,

whence the power which th^ atoms

doth not differ from the atoms themfelves; the power

different from thofe things im powered

to the

mutual harmony

to the fympathy and antipathy of

to the perceptions of fenfe, reafon,

and

intelleClual vifion

nice faculties and exquifite conne6lion of foul and body

to the

and ultimately to the

knowledge of ourfelves, of our progrefs through this world of our fublunary

and fortune ; and of the things calculated to preferve life, or to deftroy it.
;

Efficient Caufes are all thofe a6lions of bodies or things,

fate

which are the agents or

means whereby any effects are produced. Thus a painter, painting a picture,
and the picture itfelf, when finiftied, is the effect thereof.
is an efficient caufe
Efficient caufes comprehend a number of compound or fubordinate caufes, which
direft

alfo

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

If the efficient caufe a6ls

alfo contribute towards the produ6lion of their effeft.

by a power proper

to

itfelf,

then

the thing

formed,

is

carved,

is

the material caufe

called

is

called the material caufe

as

moon,

ftars,

as

is

likewife the paint and canvas of

the

or moral; the phyjical

adls obvioufly

and immediately

in things immaterial

thefe

of which adl necelfarily and without choice

The

liberty.

men

efficient

thus

fire is

for they adl

caufe

is

by a free

likewife either

the phyfical caufe of burning,

The moral caufe

thus, repentance

From

this world.

that which produces a fenfible corporeal effedt,

is

the fun the phyfical caufe of heat.

we

the fculptoi

alfo an efficient caufe in the fun,

and phenomena of

firft

wherein confifls the effence of

phyfical,

and

is

the fun, and all-created beings, except angels and

fire,

to the pro-

and elements, whereby they adt upon fublunary matter, and produce a

neceffary and free caufes

will,

There

efficient caufes.

variety of effedts in the frudlificalion

a-rife

dif-

thus the marble out of which a

a pidture, as being the matter, or materials, of which they are made

and painter being the

by the

Again, the fubjedf whereon the agent works, or whereof

du6tion of the pidture.

is

but, if only,

termed theinffruraental caufe. So we

it is

between the painter and the pencil, though both contribute

tinguifli

flatue

called the principal caufe

it is

force and flrength of another, then

17

is

the moral caufe of forgivenefs.

define a phyjical caufe to be that which produces

and

alfo produces a real effedl, but

its effedl

Again,

by a phyfical virtue;

and a moral caufe, that which determines the phyfical caufe, though not neceffarily.
to produce the effedl;, thus, the fun

is

from an eminence, and fradlures the

the advice, intreaty,
eejjarily, to do,

a moral caufe

knowledge,
effedl

is

is

all

the fubordinate caufes concur to the produdlion of one

drawing

obvious

this notion

of

is

is

caufe

the final caufe

the

the idea

the exemplary caufe; the form and difpofition of

proves his pidlure, like Agillaus,

not, in

and the fame

his pidlure is the principal

the end propofed by the painter

the formal caufe; the colours

and could

it is

it is

the moft juft, clear, and diftindl.

its

and the canvas are the material caufe, as being

the conftituent matter of the work; and

^

though not ne-

the efficient caufe applies to a free intelligent being, and adls from

diredling the performance

is

us,

only applicable to a free intelligent agent; and

pencil the inftrumental

parts

caufe of death; and thus

or not to do, any thing, are moral caufes. In this fenfe

as for example, the painter

fkull, is a phyfical

commands, or menaces, which determine

a moral and phyfical caufe that

Whenever

the phyfical caufe of light; a flone'that falls

if

the

artift,

by any accidental touch, im-

who labouring many days

to

draw a foaming horfe,

a paffion flung his brufli at the painting, and the thing he wanted

was thus accompliflied when it was not intended it. is termed an accidental caufe.
So that we fee all fubordinate caufes are in effedl under the efficient caufe ; and
are fubfervient to

No.

2,

it,

when applied by

reafon, and diredled by

Ikill.

Form.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

IS

Form
two

dtXxA

formal caufe

forts of forms, that

is

one and the fame thing; and, when we fay there are

is

only according to our manner of conceiving things;

fo

fay there are two forts of formal caufes, the fuhftantial and accidental. But

we

all

forms are ifnaginary; neither do true philofophers acknowledge any other fubftance
to be in natural

compounds than

matter, except only in

becaufe

than the difpofition of the parts,

^loreover, the exemplary caufe

may

a pi6iure
'

which

the difpofition of

is

then had

it

in the

thefe forms are altogether ufelefs.

all

becaufe

our

in

fpirit

it is

the

fo the formal caufe of

according to the difpofition and ordination

parts,

its

mind of the

nor any other form

be referred to the formal,

we frame

idea and inward form of that which

man

The fame may be

painter.

faid of all rational

agents which are endued with underflanding.

There

no difference betwixt matter and a material caufe

is

That

forts of material caufes, as well as of matter.

is

and there are two

the firjl matter out of which

may be re-

bodies are compofed, and into which, by an univerfal divilion, they

all

duced

efficient

the fecond

is

made of the

nothing elfe but bodies

Therefore

caufes exercife their action.

in the world but what

is

firfl,

and upon which the

apparent, that there is nothing

it is

a compound, and that there

is

no compound without mat-

made without an efficient caufe, which

a6ts upon compounds, and deftroys them, that of them others may be made; becaufe
the matter of the firfl ferves for the compofition of the fecond. The matter which
ter.

It

is

alfo certain that there

goes to the compofition of the

of the

compound

patient

is

is

firfl

nothing

and fecond

is

the jirjl matter^ or material caufe,

and that matter which ferves the

Both of them

called the fecond matter.

efficient

caufe for afubje6l and

may be an

efficient

caufe

for

upon one another like the elements, which drive one another backwards and forwards. That which drives another is called the agent, as that which
and if there be any thing which refills it, and drives
is driven is called the patient

compounds

aft

back another, this regrefs of the motion

is

So that one and the

called re-aBion.

fame thing may be the fubjeft and caufe of motion

being the principle of agent and patient, both

and

that, to give

may happen

at the

and receive

fame time, but

in divers refpefts.

Efficient caufes, in folid

manner ; and,

if

and

often fee, aft in a moft wonderful

they were not vifible to our eyes,

thefe occult properties exifled in them.

violent ebullition of various fubflances,

mixture of fugar, honey, or the

over the tides of the

veffel, the

In many cafes the marking a

'

we

fluid bodies,

like,

is

fcarcely believe any of

Thus, the aftion of

truly furprifmg. It is

be boiling on the

pouring in a

circle

we fhould

little oil

round the

fire,

oil,

in flopping the

well known, that if a

and in danger of riling

immediately makes

infide of a veffel, in

it

fubfide.

which a liquor of
this

AND THE OCCULT

this

kind

is

to

be boiled, with a piece of hard foap,

the ebullition to that height,

and not

fnffer

foap

to the oil, or fat, contained in the

owing

SCIENCES.

it

to

diall, like

ftir

any

folution while

making ;

This

wholly

is

but there is, befides thefe, another very

little

of it on any me-

this reftrains the afcent of the noxious

ferves the operator from danger; and, at the

a magic ring, confine

farther.

important ufe of oil, oq a like occafion, which is the pouring a

tallic

'IQ

fame

timej

vapours

pre-

by keeping down the evapo-

rating matter, gives redoubled ftrength to the menftruum. Pliny has mentioned an

extraordinary

effe<?t

of

ahd the ufe made of

weaves,

tranquillariy ^c. lib.

ii.

by the

it,

et

divers, for this

And

cap. 103.

oleo confperfumper lucidumjit

purpofe

it is

agitated with

Omne, fays

he, oleo

Plutarch, in Quffift. Natur. afks, Cur mare

tranquillum? Plinys account feems to have been

either difcreditedor difregarded by our writers

'

when

in Hilling the furface of water

oil,

on experimental philofophy,

till it

was

confirmed by feveral curious experiments of Dr. Franklin, which were publifhed in

the year 1774. The property of oil above mentioned has, however, been well known
to

modern

divers

and dredgers for oyfters

at Gibraltar,

and elfewhere. The divers

in

the Mediterranean, in particular, defcend, as in Plinys time, with a little oil in their

mouths, w'hichthey now and then

fea,

immediately renders

ter undifturbed

to

fee

and

fedl a fafe palFage

fea,

and which, on

rifing to the furface of the

fmooth, fo as to permit the light to pafs through the warefraQ;ions.

The Bermudans

are enabled

which would be concealed from their view through the

ftrike filh,

when

out

by various and irregular

roughnefs of the

the fea,

it

let

by pouring a

little oil

upon

it.

And the

Lifbon filhermen ef-

over the bar of the Tagus, by emptying a bottle or two of

the furfis fo great as to endanger

have alfo obferved, that the water is always

hath been newly tallowed than

it is

in

its filling

their boats.

Our

oil into

failors

much fmoother in the wake of a Ihip that

one that

Dr. Franklin was

is foul.

by

led,

an accidental obfervation made at fea in 1757, to attend particularly to Plinys account

and the various informations which he afterwards received

relating to

in-

it

duced him to try fome experiments on the fubjeft. Standing on the windward

fide

of a large pond, the furfacq of which was rendered very rough with the wind, he

poured a tea-fpoonful of oil on the water. This fmall quantity produced an inftant

calm over a fpace of feveral yards fquare, which fpread amazingly, and extended
felf gradually,

till it

reached the lee

fide,

it-

making all that quarter of the pond, per-

haps half an acre, as fmooth as a looking-glafs.

On

repeating this experiment,

which conllantly fucceeded, one circumftance ftruck him with particular furprife ;
this was the fudden, wide, and forcible, fpreading of a drop of oil on the face of the
water, which, he adds,

drop of

oil is

do not know that any body has confidered.

pu| on a looking-glafs, or poiilhed marble,

it

fpreads very

When
little;

but

on

A KEY TO PHYSIC

20
on water

it

inftantly

expands into a

circle extending feveral feet in diameter,

becom-

ing fo thin as to produce the prifmatic colours for a confiderable fpace, and beyond

them fo much thinner

at a

much

between

particles took place as foon as

its

them

wind,

is

in palling

on that furface, and

raife

ments of future waves.

fubliding raifes nearly

the furface,

it

into contaft with

as ftraws,

effefts of oil.

each other.

Therefore,

over the fmooth furface of water,

leaves, &c.

Dr. Frank-

into wrinkles, which, if the

may

fuch

air,

air in

rub, as

it

mo-

were,

wind continues, are the ele-

The fmalleft wave does not immediately fublide, but in

as much of the water next to it. A fmall pow'er, continually

operating, will produce a great adiion

upon by the wind,

ally afted

a mutual repulfior>

there feems to be no natural repulfion between water and

them from coming

which

fmoothing the waves

if

from the drop, as from a centre, leaving a large

In endeavouring to account for the fingular

lin obferves, that

tion,

effe6ls of

touched the water, and a repulfion fo

it

on other bodies fwimming on

to recede every w^ay

clear fpace.

as to keep

its

Dr. Franklin, as

It feems, fays

greater didance.

ftrong as to a6l

forcing

as to be invifible, except in

fo that the firft-raifed waves, being continu-

though the wind does not increafe

are,

in ftrength,

continually increafed in magnitude, riling higher and extending their bafes, fo as to

include a vail mafs of water in each wave, which, in

But,

lence.

if

and water,

hefion to the fpot on which

the

expand

oil, all

itfelf

it,

oil,

oil,

may be

it

oil is

will not

it

it

will

oil,

and no

at~

not be held together by ad-

be imbibed by the water, but be at

will continue

till

the mutual repulfion

weakened, and reduced to nothing by their dillance.

blowing over water thus covered with

that the wind,

cannot eafily catch upon

and leaves

being between
the

it falls

immediate conta6l; the expanlion

Dr. Franklin imagines,

over

dropt on water

oil

and fpread on a furface, that prevents, perhaps, by repelling

between the particles of

a film of

motion, a6ls with great vio-

there be a mutual repulfion between the particles of

tradlion between oil

liberty to

its

fmooth as

it

and the water, ferves

dropt on the windward

feeh by the fmoothnefs

fide
it

it,

finds
it

fo as to raife the
it.

It

moves a

to Hide with,

firft

little

the

wrinkles, but Hides

oil,

and prevents

indeed, which,
fri6lion

hence

of the pond, proceeds gradually do leeward, as

carries with

wind, being thus prevented from railing the

it

quite to the oppofite fide

firll

ments of waves, cannot produce waves, which are

for the

wrinkles, which he calls the eleto

be made by continually acting

upon and enlarging thofe elements; and thus the whole pond is calmed. Upon the
whole, there is great room to fuppofe (notwithllanding the partial failure of an ex-

made

Portfmouth by Dr. Franklin and others), that feafaring people

derive advantages from ufing oil on particular occafions, in order to moderate

perinient

may

at

the violence of the waves, or to lelTen the furf which fometimes renders the landing

on
C

AND THE OCCULT

on a

To

dangerous or impra6licable.

lee-fliore

Dutch Eafl India

the captain of a

SCIENCES.
this

21

purpofe we are imformed, that

being overtaken by a ftorm, found hinifelf

ftiip,

obliged, for greater fafety in wearing the

to

ftiip,

pour

the fea, to prevent

oil into

the waves breaking over her; which had an excellent effe6t, and fucceeded in preferPhil. Tranf. vol. Ixiv. parts, p. 445, &c.

ving her.

It

is alfo-

obfervable, on

when the lump-fifh abounds in fpring, and are devoured by

may be known by the fmoothnefs of the water above the fpot; the

the coaft of Sutherland,

the feals, that
oil

ferving to

it

the agitation of the waves.

ftill

Occajionalcaufe

is

applied to the foul and body of man, and are only the occq/ions,

not the direct caufes, of their effeds.

The

the body reciprocally on the foul

keep up an intercourfe between them, God,

to

foul

is

not able to

a<5t

on the body, nor

on occafion of a motion of the body, impreffes a fenfation on the feul ; and, on occafipn of a fentiment of the foul, impreffes a

motion on the body the motions, therefore,

:

of the foul and body, are only occajional

Thus, we

other.

of what

caxifes

fay, the ftroke, or percuffion, is

mf>tion produced in the

body ftruck;

it is

thus the a6tion of objects on our organs

is

God

is

paflfes

in the

one or the

only the occafional caufe of the

the direft efficient caufe.

And

not the efficient caufe of our ideas and

perceptions, but merely the occafional caufe, which determines

God

to a6lon the

mind, according to the laws of the union of foul and body.

In a medical fenfe, whatever produces a difeafeis called the caufe thereof.

operates either by inducing a

fomething which

internal caufe

the difeafe,

is

ftate

of the folids and

abfolutely requifite to the exercife of

fome meafure

pre-exifted in

new

in the

body before the

fluids,

fome

efFe6l

or by taking

it is

away

function. If a caufe

produced,

called an

it is

but if it exifted out of the body, and by its application to

This

it

produced

called external.

Internal caufes generally injure

firft

the humours,

and then the

folid parts

whereas, the external caufes affe6l the folids, and, in confequence of that, the hu-

mours

and

this

holds univerfally, unlefs perhaps in fome few difeafes produced by

poifon or contagion.

The immediate caufe

ately conftitutes the prefent difeafe

is

this is

that which taken altogether

always adequate, and

formation of the difeafe, whether fimple or complicated.

ftitutes

very

fufficient to the

prefence of this con-

and continues the difeafe ; and the abfence of it removes the diforder, being

little

tremely

different from the difeafe itfelf.

ufefiil

in fuch a

The

it is

it

is

that which changes the

for the reception of a difeafe

is

ex-

body

upon the accelTion of

never adequate or fufficient to produce a difeafe alone; nor

would that other caufe, the acccefijon of which

2,

inveftigation, therefore, of this

and very neceffary. The remote caufe

manner, as to difpofe

another caufe; but

No.

The

immedi-

is

neceffary, be of itfelf fufficient for

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

^2

The

the produ6lion of the difeafe; but both muft concur.

bufinefs of phyfic, there-

both together, which, in conjun6i:ion, conftitute the proximate

fore, is to eradicate

or immediate caufe.

The remote caufe

antecedent, and by the Greeks

inherent in the body,

and

w-fon^oufAEV)),

called predifponent,

is

confifls principally in

temperaments,

plethora, and cacochymy. The caufe whofe acceffion to the remote caufe

and

conjunction with

in

it

or occaiion of the difeafe.

wfofpatTif,

Thefe Boerhaave reduces

body

fuch as the

forms, the difeafe,

It is

to four claifes.

by the pores of the fkin and

noftrils

by

excites,

called the procatarClic caufe, or the

fometimes

fometimes external.

internal,

Firft, the ingejla,

or things entering the

medicines, poifons, fuch things as enter

aliments, drink,

air,

is

feveral paffages of the mouth, lungs,

tlie

oefophagus, ftomach, inieflines, &c. either in a vifible or invifible manner; vyhether

by fleam, draught, deglutition,

Secondly, the gejla, or things

clyfter, or injeClion.

aCled, as motion of the whole or any part of the body, affeClions of the mind, reft,

both of the body and mind, fleeping and watching.

Thirdly, things retained, or

excreted, whether falubrious, fecrementious, or morbid.

to the

body

plafters

as air,

vapours,

fomentations,

Fourthly, things applied

liniments,

cloths,

together with whatever wounds, contufes, or corrodes

and

ointments,
all

which

cir-

cumftances ftiould be well confidered by medical men.

Of THE FIRST MATTER.

ALL philofophers agree that there is afirji matter,

beginning; and, though

it

which was pjroduced from the

can never undergo any change, yet

it is

to be feen in all

Hence it appears, that the

compounds wherein it is found, and

the generations and corruptions which are in nature.

firft

matter exifted before

that

it ftill

made
fire,

the.

generation of the

remains and furvives the corruption of it

of chips;

partly in the fmoke,

and partly alfo

thing produces nothing, and that there

ced into nothing, but that the

happen

new

firft

it

tity,

but

in the allies.

It is

we may

nor any

He

fays

alfo',

this explication gives us

thing of the nature of

it.

is

found partly in the

agreed by

that no-

all,

fit ft

this

juftly fay, that there

matter

matter

is

in its

nature

is

the only difficulty.

the fubjeft of all forms, and nottiing but a palfive

effence befi Jes that

is

not any thing in nature that can be redu-

world fince the creation, and that

of producing them.

which

as, for inftance, in fire

principles remain in all revolutions which can

ble; fo that to explain the effence of this

makes

is

therefore, in refpe6l of matter,

in the

the matter of the fire was in the chips, and

is

nothing

incorrupti-

Ariftotle

power or a mere capacity

that matter in itfelf hath neither quality nor quan-

which

it

received from that form which perfedled

no clear idea of matter, neither doth

Thofe were nearer the

truth

who

it

it

teach us any

faid that the

firft

matter

was

AND THE OCCULT

was nothing
are reduced

wife the

firft

we fuppofe them

elements are not fuch as

do6lrine, that neither water, air, earth, nor

new chemiftry

are compounds, as by the

fire,

are

and

fimple and indivifible atoms are the only

whereof bodies are compofed

evidently proved

is

by mortality and time into

and,

laftly,

firft

from

this

elements, becaufe they

firft

therefore,

Now,

it is

we muft

obvious, that

and the principle and elements

matter,

and of thefe parts

out of mafles greater parts,

whereof the univerfe

is

It follows

out of thefe atoms are corpufcles made, out of

thefe corpufcles fmall mafles,

M'ard analytically, the world

indivifible, for other-

to be.

look for other elements which are fimple and indivifible.

greater bodies,

S3

elements into which compounds by a total diflblution

alfo that thefe elements ought to be fimple

firft

but the

elfe

SCIENCES.

And

itfelf confifts.

vice verfa,

going back-

divided into great bodies, thofe bodies are reduced

parts into fmall mafles, mafles into corpufcles,

parts,

corpufcles into atoms.

Of atoms, and their NATURE.

TO

may be

the other hand, there

vided

many

divided into fo

parts as they are which

muft neceflarily ceafe when there

vifion

may fuppofe

demonftrate the exiftence of atoms, we

for

we muft

is

is

make

compound
compound; and di-

that every

the

failure of parts to be divided.

no end of divifion as long as there are particles to be

either

allow,

On
di-

body cannot be fo exaftly divided but

that a

that there always remain divifible parts in injinitum, or that there are parts after a

certain

number of divifions which

will not

admit any further divifions. Ariftotie holds^

the former, but Gaflendus and the ancient philofophers defend the latter; and, ac-

cording to this

laft dobtrine, after all

fides atoms, that

1 confefs

it is

is,

thing in this world which

ft

which are the

firft

elements of natural bodies.

hard toimagine a corporeal thing to be indivifible, becaufe we fee nonot divifible

is

are corporeal, becaufe they

fi

the divifions are made, nothing can remain be-

indivifible beings,

compofe

but this makes nothing againft atoms which

bodies,

and are indivifible, becaufe they are the

and moft fimple elements of bodies. Hence arifes another

cannot be eafily explained after what manner a thing that

parts which are indivifible- Impartial minds

ing this matter, as thofe do

people do not Confider,

yet are moft real;

we

fee that unity

fii fl,

who

do not find

fo

is

difficulty,

divifiole

much

is

becaufe

it

compofed of

difficulty in

conceiv-

fome
and
not a compound, as

follow the prejudices they have received;

that there are

fecundly, that which

makes number, though

many

things which efcape our fenfes,

compofes a body
itfelf

is

be not a number;,

letters,

whereof

nouns and words are framed, yet are neither one or the other; the drops of water,
whereof rivers

confift, are

not rivers

fo atoms, though they are invifibie and indivifible

A KEY TO PHYSIC

24
vifible,

They

yet they compote bodies which are vifible and divifible.

immutable,

in

order to the worlds continuing in the fame

now

of the fame nature

ftate,

are alio

and bodies being

as formerly.

Of the properties, MAGNITUDE, FIGURE, WEIGHT, and

MOTION,

An atom
tutes

is

ATOMS.

OF

a corporeal being, fimple,

and

invifible,

indivifible;

eifence or eifential property, which dittinguifhes

its

which hath no power of

they are compofed of

refilling.

many

dillindl

Atoms

it

from

folidity coiiili-

fpirit

and vacuity,

necelfarily avoid all our fenfes, becaufe

and grofs

parts,

pofed ere it can be perceived by the external organ

whofe object ought

this,

the truth and reality of atoms, becaufe finall corpufcles efcape our fenfes

obferve in dull, which llicks to our clothes

is

made hollow by drops of water;

in divers occult parts in

be feen without the help of a microfcope

move

are feen to

in

in the corpufcles

and,

a chamber by the fun-beams

lallly,
;

are fmaller, which, without doubt, w e could fee

Though atoms

of a ftone,

as

we

which

a mite, which cannot

in finall corpufcles

which

we may omit many others that

if our fight were more acute.

are moll fubtle and imperceptible, yet they have their particular

extenfion, magnitude, and figure, from

of fomeof them

com-

to be

however, does not dellroy

is

whence

their differences arife: for the figure

round, as the atoms of water,

and quickfilver;

oil,

otliers

have

cubicular figures, fuch as the atoms of fea-water; and others are pyramidal, as thofe

whereof nitre confifts; there are fome which have lharp points like needles, as thofe
of fire
is

w hence we have

to fuppofe there are others varioully figured. This difference

neceffary to dillinguilh

vifibility

and

compounds

indivifibility,

and as thefe atoms, as

(which are their infeparable properties,) are

alfo, if they did not differ in their figure

Weight
violent

is

mo* ion.

motion, or that

atoms doth tend

laftly,

and thicknefs,

all

mention

this, that

it

we may know whether motion

fome centre;

whether

it

fo

it

doth

in

refift

atoms hath

or whether weight be determined only to one

be indifferently inclined to

to

alike,

bodies would be alike.

the principle of the faid natural motion, inafaiuch as

an internal or external principle,

and,

to their folidity or in-

many

and whether

it

and whether the motion of

be continuant or interrupted,

be perpendicular or horizontal, parallel or declined, right,

or parabolical, or circular.

In order to folve

this difficulty, I

may be confidered in a double

bodies which are made of them,

fappofe that atoms

(late: the firfl ftate is before thecomp(fition

of the

and may be called the date of liberty; the other is that which they have in the bodies
which confift of them, which may be termed the llate ot obligation or fervitude.

If

AND THE OCCULT

If atoms be confidered in their
that

ought

not in the leaft to

fame

that underftanding

loofe,

unlefs his intelledt be

From

be wondered at
is in

for

motion

is

25
perpetual

is

fo that an

which

effentially in motion,

in refpefit of a free

refpedt of an angel, which

is

atom

is

the

never without knowing,

bound and clouded.

this principle it is evident,

that atoms are in continual motion,

fome

they are hindered, or that they meet with

refifting or repelling

atoms

motion

their

and freed from any compofition,

atom

is

firft ftate,

SCIENCES.

unlefs

obftrudtion, or that there are other

them, or that they find fuch as will ftick to them, or that

they infmuate themfelves into the atoms of certain bodies, or that they enter into

fome compofition whereby

their

motion

is

pounds are not altogether void of motion,

is

Neverthelefs, atoms in

becaufe they are not fo

fome motion,

died together but that they have

cording to the liberty which

Hopped.

like vibrations

and

ftraitly

com-

embo-

palpitations, ac-

granted them by the diffeminated vacuities

nay,

fome of them do fometimes attempt their efcape, efpecially in porous bodies, which
therefore fooner corrupt and perifh than bodies which are more folid and clofe.
It is yet

more evident

in living bodies,

out of which the animal

fpirits,

which are

but the bodies of atoms, and moft fubtle corpufcles, are diffipated by tranfpiration,

whence aliment

is

which are diffipated by motion and agitation.

leaft corpufcles, in living bodies,
firft

liberty; and,

whole body thofe

neceffarily requifite to fupply to the

may be

This motion of atoms,

fpirits

or the

defervedly accounted the image of their

though they do but feldom enjoy their

full liberty,

yet they are

apt to raife the greateft commotions in order to be freed, and to gain their liberty.

This

the origin of

is

many

diftempers

as, in

acute fevers, the atoms or corpufcles

of the boiling blood, orobftrudled choler, are carried and driven into thebrain, where
they produce watchfulnefs, deliriums, and phrenfies.
that which

we

nute corpufcles

faid before

may be

concluded, That

and emancipated atoms;

According to

many

this principle,

diftempers arife Jrom mi-

for thefe, being driven forwards

by other

atoms, and forced back, run into the membranes, perioftidm, meninges, or inteftines,

and caufe the

cholic, head-ach, gout,

and rheumatifm

of corpufcles and emancipation of atotas in our bodies

to prevent their danger,

avoided

all

motions of the body

is

much

fo that this folution

to

be dreaded

and,

which are too violent muft be

for thefe are the external caufe of the confufion of the fpirits

and the

emancipation of the atoms.

The emancipation

of the atoms, and alfo of the fmall corpufcles which are conl-

pofed of thofe atoms, are to be feen no lefs

for the

winds are nothing

lefs

2.

world than in the

little

than emancipated atoms, which, by their impetuofity

being driven backwards and forwards,

No.

in the great

force all bodies that ftand in their

way

it

A KEY TO PHYSib

26

thefe atoms which agitate the

it is

and overturn

air,

therefore the motion of atoms

tion;

things which refift their

all

mo-

not equal, nor every where alike, but varies

is

according to the diverfity of bodies whereby they are driven, or as the figures of
them are more or lefs fitted for motion, or otherwife, according to the proportion
of vacuities which are difperfed in bodies

fome atoms are moved quicker,

fo that

and others flower, not becaufe fome are heavier than

driven backwards or forwards,

them with greater or

An
being

atom
;

or are flopped,

fix

lefs violence.

not a body according to the notion

is

others, but becaufe they are

by 'others which happen to

but a fimple being, and alfo corporeal

we

that

have, that

it is

fimple, becaufe

is,

compound

it

is'indivifi-

and corporeal, becaufe it hatha certain extenfion, and makes up the compdfiwhich in the total divifion of them are reduced again into atoms.

ble;

tion of bodies,

Two

other difficulties arife from the former opinion

after

what manner can we propofe

it

be an ingredient

to ourfelves that

is

ble

its

it is

and, though

fay of angels,
will fay, that

have

parts,

the parts of

is

indivifible

atoms are neither

fical points,

atom
fouls,

To

this

how can

we anfwer

it is

the

which are

To

have no

which are material

it is,

it

like

an atom,

occupies, yet

it

fo,

on

and exindivifi-

hath an in-

fame thing which divines are forced to

tumid points. But fome
nor phyfical points, becaufe they
confifts of parts is divifible,

this difficulty I

fpirits

and

in

for, if

their phyfical

and fince that which

is divifible.

the extenfion

poffeffed of the whole body,

like fouls, angels,

and thefe have none

and our

is

neverthelefs

it;

and fome philofophers about

follows alfo that an

that angels

all

is

be divifible in refpedl of the fpace

it

which

ternal extenfion

fame manner

of the rational foul, v/hich

operations in

indivifible,

according to the nature of the thing extended;

the thing extended be divifible, in the

ercifes

an atom be

hath extenfion, or

it

compofition of divifible bodies

in the

few words, that extenfion

the other fide,

for, if

and

it

anfwer, with the divines,

alfo, with philofophers, that

real but only potential parts

that

phy-

is,

an

angel and rational foul in refpe6t of the operations which they exercife and the fpace

which they occupy, and the tumid points in refpe6l of the fpace which they
Indeed, an angel and the foul have tw'o powers, whereof the one
other the

and

(which at

up.

the intelleft, the

is

which, being only an indivifible fubftance, capable of underftanding

will,

willing,

fill

yet no

leaft

is

man

will

deny but they, notwithftanding

equal to the indivifibility of an atom,) do

as no

man can doubt

of the

room and

their indivifibility,

up a

divifible fpace;.

but that an angel can be at the fame time in the four corners

in the

middle of

it,

and that

bath a four-fquare figure by com-

it

munication of the four angles or corners, and that

figure at its pleafure;

fill

which cannot be faid of

it

can quit this and aflume another

tumid points and atoms, which are

7

defiitute

AND THE OCCULT

deftitute of underftanding

and

The

will.

SCIENCES.

27

rational foul, being equally indivifible

w ith an atom, angel, or point, doth wholly polTefs a great body, no lefs than it did
when the body was little; therefore it dilates itfelf without being divided, becaufe
This is the
in its nature it is fimple and indivifible, and is without diftindl parts.
opinion of Ariftotle, and indeed

were not by

own

its

it is

the moft

Van Helmont

Cartefius

fenfe

there

it is

called

becaufe there

the opinion

of

Duncan

it

it is

tially

may have
it

and

follows that there

common

or the

is,

becaufe

in the cineritious part

and that thay have

diftin6l parts
is

divifible

not hinder but that a fubftance

divifible

and figures:

as to the place which

its

whence

may have a

it poffefles,

or

fubftance effen-

indivifible.

one catholic or univerfal matter, called corpuf-

is

which is an extended, impenetrable, and

cles or atoms, filling all fpace,

fubftance,

fenfe

in the callous parts,

angles and figure in refpe6l of place, though

remain one, ftmple, and

Hence

common

occupies a fpace or place which

indivifible,

certain indivifible extenfion, but

it

of the brain, according to

certain that all thefe parts, which are taken to be

is

that indivifibility does

I conclude,

feat

its

performs the fundions of the memory, according to

it

the feat of the foul,^ are divifible,

fo the foul, as

the foul

if

or in the fpleen and the ftomach,

of the brain,

that

or in the glandiila pinealis

by way of excellency and

forms the ideas "of things and judges of them
as

itfelf,
it

places it;

it

or in the ftriate bodies of the brain where the

But,

opinion.

fubftance extended through the whole body, and had

only in the heart, as Empedocles would have

as

common

to all bodies,

and capable of all forms ;

infinitely

divifible,

harder than any

of the fenfible porous bodies compounded of them ; even fo hard, as never to wear,

God made one in the

may compofe bodies of

or break in pieces ; no other power being able to divide what

firft

creation.

While thefe corpufcles remain

one and the fame nature and texture

break in
ter

pieces,, the

in all

entire, they

ages

'but,

ftiould they

wear away or

nature of things depending on them would be changed.

Wa-

and earth, compofed of old worn particles and fragments of particles, would not

be of the fame nature and texture now with water and earth compofed of entire particles at

the beginning; and therefore, that nature

may

be

lafting,

corporeal things are only to be placed in the various feparations and

of thefe permanent corpufcles

that,

in order to

bodies, this matter miift have motion in

ner of dire6lions and tendencies.

inertics,

force

accompanied with fuch

but alfo are

^at which

moved by

all its

form the

the changes of

new aftbciations

vaft variety of natural

aflignable parts,

and aQ;

in all

man-

Thefe corpufcles have therefore not only a

paflive laws of motion as naturally refult

vis

from that

certain a6five principles, fuch as that ot gravity,

caufes fermentation, and the cohefion and fympathy of bodies.

and

That'
this

A KEY TO PHYSIC

28
this

matter muft alfo be a6iually divided into parts, and each of thefe primitive par-

muft have their proper magnitude,

fragments, or atoms of matter,

ticles,

and muft have different orders, pofitions,

and ftiape;
whence all the

varieties of

compound bodies

of matter accounts for an

points out

all

This view of the

arife.

of phenomena,

infinity

figure,

and poftures,

lituations,

firft

principles

otherwife inexplicable

and

the occult operations in nature, by fyrnpathy, antipathy, fafcination,

cohefion, coagulation, diffolution, &c. for, fince thefe corpufcles are every-where

and

at all times in motion, ilfuing

way

and

proper to

fince they are operated

this

world

from and cohering to

upon and

bodies that

all

fall in their

diverfly altered by the four elements

and thefe elements again by rays of light,

the anima mundi, and celeftial bodies

from them

all

heat,

and influx of

the viciflitudes of nature are deduced

and, according to the qualities and temperature of the matter fo formed,

and of thofe they come

in contadl with, are the affedlions of the

mind, the fundlions

of the body, the paflion of love, and a thoufand inexplicable circumftances attend-

human

ant on

Of

affairs,

sympathy and ANTIPATHY

THE wonderful
eafily

and
,

regulated and 'governed; as

effedls

we

fee in nature,

we

in

to

delicate,

better underftand

curs in

explaining an

firft

place

efficient

caufes are not

and antipathy, which happen

effedfs

faid

upon a fubjedt fo nice and

which are attributed to fympa-

we muft fuppofe,

effedl of this nature, is

BODIES.

compounded.

what may be

and give a reafon for thofe wonderful

thy and antipathy, in the

is

to fhow.

have recourfe to occult caufes,

to attribute all thofe effedls to natural fyrnpathy

amongft the feveral bodies whereof the world

now proceed

NATURAL

whofe true and

found out, obliged philofophers heretofore

That we may the

ftiall

that the difficulty which oc-

becaufe the mind

is

not able to

know

the truth of things but by the fenfes, which are the gates through which the objedts
enter,

and form

their ideas in

our underftanding; but, becaufe there are an abun-

dance of things that efcape our fenfes,

reafon for thofe caufes

moves

itfelf,

it is

no wonder that

which are fo remote from our view

and that by way of local motion, and joins

it is

fo hard to give a

as for example, iron

itfelf to the

loadftone;

we

do not fee that which draws the iron to it, though we fee it attradled; and therefore,
that we may give a folid reafon for this and other phenomena of the like nature, we
declare, according to our philofophy, that there are no bodies but what continually

omit certain fubtle particles and imperceptiblecorpufcleswhicharedifperfed through

the air, and are fometimes carried to a great diftance, unlefs they are furrounded

by other bodies

in their

way. By

this principle

we

find the reafon

why a dog follow%

the

-'

/.

'r

'J

5-

t,

>

f:*''

&

V-

liijr.

v;-v):

!*

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

2:9

the footftep of the bare, or from a heap of a thoiifand floiiesy he readily knows the
ftone his mailer threw,
this difperfion

and picks

of corpufcles,

we

it

a great way

command brings it to him from

how the contagion of the plague,

his

find the reafon

from the wind blowing from that region,

either from the perfon infe6ted, or

ried

and by

out,

may

be cured at

means of the fympathetic powder, the

aftonilliing

and hence appears the reafon why wounds

off;

a hundred miles diftance by

car-

is

properties of which are fully defcribed in

fo likewife of the fermentation of

my

Occult Sciences

Illuftration of the

Canary wine brought

into England, which fer-

ments here at the very time of the vintage there.

We

muft fuppose,

and are not equally received by

nitude,

by the plague
the

farther, that thefe fmall corpufcles differ in figure

in the

this or that

body

fo

fame place where many others efcape

beams of the fun melt wax, but not lead

by the help of a burning

lens, or the like

one

man

for the

is

infedled

fame reafon

unlefs they are collected

and the heat of

and mag-

and united

melts metals in a

fire

very different manner.

Again, the palm-tree of the male kind

it

and,

if

feparated by a

river,

is

barren unlefs the female be planted near

they lean to each other as

If you flrike the firing of a lute in one corner of a room,

of another lute, tuned to the fame pitch, and placed

a found

in

All effects which

we

fee

they would embrace.

it

lhall caufe the firing

an oppdfite corner, to give

the cock alwaj's crows and claps his wings at the

the horizon.

if

moment the

from fympathy afford us matter of admi-

ration; but the loadftone demonfirates the affinity of corpufcles

our fenfes than mofi other experiments.

and

is

not

much

different

fun afcends

The

loadfione

is

more palpably

found

to

in iron-mines,

from the nature of iron; wherefore the particles which

proceed from the loadfione have a kind of agreement with the pores of iron
thefe fmall corpufcles, going out of the loadfione,

way, ^ufh into the pores of it; but, becaufe

and meeting with the iron

and

in their

all

cannot enter at once, a great many re-

main without, and

thefe are as firongly beaten

back by the particles of the iron which

they mSet with as

if

liberty, return

they were of the

of their

number of thofe

own accord, and

theloadfione, from whence they

firfi

corpufcles, which, being at

at length fend thefe

came. Hence

it is

by a refleifiive motion

that the iron

is

drawn towards

the loadfione, principally by the agitation of thofe minute magnetic corpufcles

in the concavities of the iron; and, being fiiaken together

to

moved

by the fundry motion of

thofe corpufcles which are twified one within another, thofe corpufcles which re-

turn by reflexion are complicated and annexed to thofe which are in the pores of
the iron,

and cannot be returned or moved towards the loadfione, unlefs they draw

along with them thofe corpufcles to which they are annexed, and which cannot

No.

3.

fol-

low

A KEY TO PHYSIC

30

low unlefs by their motion the iron-be carried with them; fo the iron follows and is
moved toward the loadftone, except the iron be bigger than the loadftone; for then
the corpufcles which proceed from the loadftone are not fo many, nor by confequence

draw the

fo powerful, as to

but iron,

is

The

iron.

reafon the loadftone draws no other body

becaufe other bodies do not return the atoms, neither are their pores well

fitted for thofe

By

magnetic corpufcles.

fame reafon

the

appears, that the load-

it

ftone does not approach to the iron, but the iron to the loadftone.

that hard and folid bodies, fuch as iron, cannot emit fuch a great

It

may

be faid

number of cormore porous.

pufcles as other bodies, which, like the loadftone, are lefs folid and

There may be

a.

reafon given alfo

does not fo eafily draw iron to

oil,

why

the loadftone, being rubbed with garlic or

which

it;

that thefe ftrange corpufcles, by

is,

their oilinefs, hinder the cmiffion of the corpufcles out of the loadftone,

their entrance into the pores of the iron,

We

may

obferve

put upon a table

is

is

certain that the corpufcles of the loadftone which

to the loadftone.

and alfo

their elaftic force.

many other effedls of the loadftone as for example, that iron

moved by the virtue of this ftone placed under the table ; for it

the vacuity or pores of the table, as

it

and thus break

It

is

it

by fmall and

the fame thing

if

moves the iron penetrate through

invifible threads

be not greafy nor too thick ; which proves the porofity of bodies

other eftedt of the loadftone

is

it

had been

in general.

feen in a needle, which, being touched by

turns towards the north pole; the reafon

tied

the table be of marble or glafs, provided

is,

An-

always

it,

becaufe there are mountains of load-

ftones under the poles, difperfing their attradtive fpirits through the univerfe, fpirits

which are entangled with thofe which adhere to the magnetical needle, whofe force
leftened as the fpirits of

is

place where

it

are diffipated

efpecially if the

there are pieces of iron to which the

fpifrits ftick,

compafs be

fet in

and leave the needle,

which had taken no greater quantity of them than what was requifite according
its

But the moft wonderful property

capacity.

on one

fide,

and

rejedts

it

on the other; fo that

in this ftone
it

that

is,

it

to

draws iron

appears in every loadftone that

there are two poles of the world, the north pole attradls iron, thefouth pole repels
it

becaufe the

erncannot, for

fpirit
it

of the north pole enters

ftrikesagainft the iron,

in at the

pores of the iron, but the fouth-

and drives back too much

its

elaftic particles.

This explication prefuppofes the being of fpirits and qtoms, and their figures and
motions, as alfo fmall occult vacuities, which are difperfed through

There are obferved

to

be many

the help of the word antipathy.

lifk,

who

kills all

-other animals

whom

but this

he
is

fees,

effedls for

is

bodies.

which no reafon can be given, without

We will inftance fome

which

all

few

and,

firft,

of the bafi-

by the antipathy fubfifting betwixt

rather done by the emiffion of certain

venomous

it

and

fpirits,

which

AND THE OCCULT

which penetrate the eyes of thofe feen by the

we know

not be explained, unlefs

this contrariety

of the

bafililk; the

it

whence

bafililk, that the fpirits iffuing

thofe animals which they

meet with, becaufe the

out of the pores of

or lharp figure, like needles piercing the heart.

fuch

like, is

In the

not fo acute nor fo deadly, nor fo ready in

In reference to this matter, there are

firft

place,

places, as in the

water.
it

it is

bottom of

againft: the bafilifks eyes,

glafs are font

many

certain that the bafililk

is

it is

to

bafiliflc

the glafs, receive a

w'hich are iffuing

kill

The

poifon of vipers, and

as that of the ba-

its effedts,

not engendered but in moifi; deep

if

you take a

glafs,

and hold

thofe fpirits which ilfue from his eyes refledling upon the

violent motion,

Now it cannot

will kill the bafiliflc.

hates itfelf ; but that the

more

from

eyes

things that are worth confidering.

be obferved, that

back from whence they came, and

be faid that the

its

penetrate them by their fub

nothing but muddy, thick, ftinking,

pits w'here there is

In the fecond place,

nature of this poifon can-

Sve difcover the principle of

fpirits

tilty,

fililk.

31

the occult property of poifon, becaufe poifon

only by a contrariety betwixt us and

kills

SCIENCES,

venomous

fpirits, refledling

and forcibly drive back the other

and

his eyes, fo that they penetrate his brain

from

fpirits

and

heart,

thence occafion his death; in the fame manner as vapours often arife with fo great
violence from the hypochondria, the mefentery, and the ftomach, into the head, that

they caufe an apoplexy, epileptic dizzinefs, or lethargy; and fometimes they are
carried with fuch fubtilty and violence into the heart, that the perfons fo aftiidled
die fuddenly.

ftrange antipathy fubfitls in

fome vegetables,

as between the colew'ort

vine, which, if planted near together, will irifsnfibly give

as if they really hated one another.

This

effect

and the

back and lean fideAvays,

cannot be afcribed to any thing but

the emiffion of the corpufcles and material fpirits of both of them, which rufli

one another, and mutually repel, by the irregularity of their

rent in the juice of coleworts, which
fently

comes

to himfelf and

is

fober

if

taken by a

is

appa-

In the fame manner, we find by ex-

perience, thatfpirit of

opium or laudanum cures the cholic, head-ach,

other kinds of pains

it

is

drunk, he pre-

becaufe the corpufcles of the juice of coleworts

blunt the corpufcles of the juice of the vine._

need of the greateft care

This

figures.

man when he

upon

alfo cures the phrenfy,

and procures

in ufing thefe narcotic medicines,

tooth-ach,

But there

fleep.

becaufe

it

and
is

often happens

that the vital fpirits are fo ftupified by them, that they are deprived of their motion,

which caufes a deadly

effedt

fleep.

The

colew'ort

and the vine have not

on each other as narcotic medicines have on the animal

fo pow'erful

fpirits;

an

for neither

the vine nor the colew^rt will lean Tideways if there be cloth or paper fet betwixt

them, becaufe the corpufcles flowing from each are then flopped in their w'ay.

third

A 1CEY TO PHYSIC

A third efFedt,

^vhich

is

afcJribed to antipathy, is-objferved in the ufe of medicines,

we

external. ; the external, of which

as well internal as

carry about us, w>hich by their quality take

away themalign

and preferve us from

air,

the plague and other contagions; as prepared quickfilver, or a toad dried

up

in a box.

This phenomenon

we

flow fpeak, are thofe

and

fliut

afcribed to the peftiferous fpirits or corpufcles,

is

which, approaching towards us, find fubjedls more apt for their reception, and fix in

them, but not in

appears in

us, at leaft in

becomes

thefe contagious atoms,

and

know by

fuch a quantity as to hurt us

that the prepared quickfilver,

this,

and ought

ufelefs,

being carried about a perfon

filver,

people, in time becomes black, fo that afterwards

becaufe there are no fmall vacuities

cording to the proportion of the greater or

who

changed and renewed;

carries

it

about him.

And

lefs

frequently with fick

is

ufelefs to

him who

the airy poifons

may be made

Quickfilver turns black, more or

ufeful, as before.

fon goes

it

who

it is

left to retain

be renewed by another preparation, whereby

and

to be

experience that quickfilver, prepared white and fliining like an adar

mant, or poliflied

it,

which moft evidently

or the toad, being once filled with

but

carries
it

may

as white, tranfparent,

lefs,

fooner or

later, ac-

malignity in the air where the per-

thefe antidotes can never hurt

rightly prepared, they not only withftand the contagious air,

nay,

when they hinder

if
its

nearer approach towards us, but alfo fupprefs inward vapours, which, afcending
into the head, occafion

many

diflerapers.

Thefe confequences, properly fpeaking,

are the joint effects of fympathy and antipathy adting toge;her; for the animal
via or corpufcles ifluing from our bodies repel as

much

efflu-

as poffible the malignity

of the ambient matter, by antipathy; whilfi bodies compofed of poifonous or noxious particles,

draw

to themfelves,

by fympathy, the foul or poifonous atoms which

furround them. Juft the fame as the loadftone draws iron. In

hereafter prove,

that amulets or charms,

worn about

the

this w'e fee,

body

and

fliall

that eledlricity,

animal magnetifm, and other occult properties, adting upon our bodies

though

fome inexplicable caufe, are nothing more than the

attributed to witchcraft, or

natural effedts of fympathy and antipathy, pre-ordained at the beginning of

things.

Aromatic herbs and

by repulfion, or antipathy

all

fvveet-fmelling flowers, ufed againft infedtious air, adt

whereas nightfliade, hemlock, and

all

poifonous herbs,

adl by fympathy, drarving into their pores the infedtious atoms, juft the fame as
horfe-radiffi drawls in vinegar

and hence

it

follows that both thefe clafles of plants

are ufeful in preferving the animal juices from infedtion,

I

now proceed

to effedts internal.

Rhubarb, and the leaves of fenna, purge

melancholy; jalap and diagridium, phlegm and watery humours.

and certain

truth,

that every purgative medicine

comprehends

It

is

a conftant

in it certain fpirits

or

AND THE OCCULT

or corpufcles which are venomous, that

SCIENCES,
and biting

acute, pungent,

is,

33
so that,

up by them, and thereby the internal parts and membranes

nature being ftirred

being touched and agitated, the animal

rufli

fpirits

together in order to

draw with them the foreign humours which are less fixed and
fpirits, expels them by the proper palfages
fo

part afFe 61 ed, and

then nature, by the help of thefe

that, after
is

the

affift

a purgation by rhubarb, the urine

is

yellow, but, after fenna or cafiia,

it

dark and high-coloured.

Thus fympathy and antipathy

or mineral

another

and things of one

clafs,

exifi; in all

clafs

have

between rue and the

it

affinity or

correfpondence wdth things of

or contrariwife, according to the nature and quality of the atoms or

Hence

corpufcles whereof they are formed.

and hence

fubftances, whether animal, vegetable,

is

fig-tree

it is

that fo ftrong a

and that the elm rejoiceth

likewife that ferpents preferve their fight by fennel

hind draws out the piercing dart with dittany, or garden-ginger.

antipathy, water and

do the vine and

thing

it

tree, are fo inimical to ferpents, that

is

fo

tically

firft

obnoxious to crabs,

difcovered.

with our bodies

also,
;

by
as

Rue, and the

that, if they are

fiiell

afii-

and

covered over with

its

and claws.

and the

art of

All things temperate in quality concord fympathe-

as fweet

marjoram and nutmeg

Those which exceed

to the belly.

and hurtful

Hence

inveftigation of thefe properties in nature, medicine

healing were

and that the

they cannot exift under their branches

leaves, they will in a fiiort time cajft off their

From an

which ufually entwines round every

fhuns and inclines another way from thefe.

the herb polypody

exifts

and wine and the juice of hemlock, repel each other

oil,

bralfic plants; for the vine,

near,

is

fympathy

to cohabit with the vine

this

medium

in their

and are the more dangerous or deadly,

to the head,

and wormwood

temperaments are noxious

in proportion as they

recede

from the temperate quality, which we perceive

in opium, arfenic, and the like.

fympathy and fimilitude are fynonymous; and
that all fubftances which have refemblance by fignature, have fympathy and agreement by nature, and ferve for the confervation of each other. Thus fulphur is found

From

this caufe,

we

likewife find that

which hath great analogy w ith our blood ; and, if wood, or cables,
or any thing whofe life is in the water, be done over with a preparation of the oil
to preferve wine,

of fulphur, they will be preferved, in a moft fingular and remarkable manner,

from injury or decay. From hence Paracelfus concludes, that the particles of
fulphur are of themfelves a balfam, fufficient to prevent wine or any inanimate fubftance from putrefaction;

prejudice or affed

prepared

is

it.

and

conferves the body, that no adverfe qualities can

Querintius, in his Pharmacy, affures us, that fulphur rightly
fo

the true balfam of the lungs, and the principal ingredient ufed by the

ancient

A KEY TO PHYSIC

34
ancient Egyptians to

embalm

their

whereby they are preferved even

Mufeum, and

the Britifh

mummies, or bodies of

to this

tainly the efficient caufe of all mineral fprings

of

them againft

deel, the fparks of fire

adlive properties of fulphur are indeed wonderful

I

is

have difcovered

felf to the daily toil

peb-

evident from ftriking

me credit. For

are occafioned

fires,

Sic.

The

many

that

and lightning, meteors.

and, were I to inftance

chemical preparations

in the various

readers would be difpofed to give

cer-

is

produced being the fulphurous or inflammable

as are likewife earthquakes, thunder

feen in

all cryftallizations, ftones,

All volcanos, burning mountains, and fubterraneous

part.

by fulphur

Sulphur

curiofities.

&c. by which they concrete, and are held together, as

bles,

may be

day from putrefa6lion, as

moft other magazines of

in

deceafed nobles,

their

have made of

few of

it,

ten fucceffive years I applied

of making chemical experiments; and there

is

my

my-

fcarcely an herb

or a mineral fubftance to be found, that I have not paffed through the retort, or the

and power of adtion, previous

crucible, in order to afcertain their native qualities,

to the invention of my Solar and

properties of fulphur

than

all

Lunar Tindtures

cod me more labour

to

things elfe together, except mercury.

and

fix,

And

mud confefs

and

to invedigate,
I

do

in

that the occult

to afcertain,

confequence affirm, that

there are no mineral fubdances in the bow'els of the earth, whofe virtues are not

communicated

to plants

and herbs growing on the

earths furface

and that the

correfpondent virtues found in thefe herbs are infinitely more pure, innocent, balfamic, nutritive, and better adapted to medicine, than any grofs or earthy particles

common herb borage, we can extradl nitre, fea-falt,

and the common fixed alkali and it is no trivial informa-

Even from

whatever.

tartarum vitriolatum,

the

tion to the medical world, to

in

one humble plant.

all-wife

dical

and
of

know, that the three mineral acids are

Indeed vegetables appear

and omnipotent Creator,

and occult virtues of the

difl'erent

for adapting their virtues,

human

to be the

for feledling, concofting,

fubdances found

medium

infirmities; according to that

padage

contrived by an

bowels of the earth,

by an eafy and natural conco6lion,

hath caufed medicines togroxo out of the earth, and he that

be found

and combining, the me-

in the

in fcripture

all to

to the alleviation

which fays, that the Lord

iszvife zvill

not abhor them,

fuch doth he heal men, and taketh away their pains. Eccl. xxxviii. 4, 7.
Whence I conclude, that all diforders incident to mankind are to be cured, pre-

for

until

more

and certainly, by preparations from me-

ferably and

more

dical plants

and herbs, than from any mineral fubdances whatever

elegantly,

fafely

and that mer-

cury, for the hies uenerea, for the fcrophula, and impurities of the blood, ought to

be wholly expunged from our pradlice.

lefs

Its baneful effiedts are every

day more or

experienced, in the rotten bones and ruined conftitutions of thofe

who have
habitually

AND THE OCCULT

habitually taken
fixed

itfelf,

in advertifed

it

and the difeafe

SCIENCES.

35

noftrums for a certain complaint,

likewife, fo ftrongly in the habit, as to

the reach of a proper remedy, which in reality

until it

has

be almoft beyond

and truth can only be found

in the

vegetable world.

Vegetables bear relation to thefeven planets, and have form and

microcofm, or parts of

man

part,

member

with the

and conftitute the original aliment intended by the

Creator for the fuftenance of our bodies.

plant has with any

affinity

And whatever

or part of our body,

and tend fympathetically

fignature or fimilitude a

will

it

promote a cure

in that

and prefervation. For example, thofe

to its comfort

herbs which in any refpedt refemble the form of the eyes, are falubrious and healing to the eyes

dum, and
diforders

as eyebright, fcabious, marigold, chamelion,

and

infirmities thereof ; the

walnut refembles the brain,

or fpirit of the nut be applied to the head,

brain.

fempervivum, nar-

So plants which refemble the head are cephalic, and help the

ftar-wort.

fo that, if the oil

ftrengthens the fibres and comforts the

it

Maindenhair and the mofs of quinces have the figure of the hair of our head

and a decodlion of thefe herbs,

So

fully efficacious.

the heart, have a

plants,

in reftoring hair

which

by the lues venerea,

or

lung-wort, fage, camphor, wall-wort, &c.

much

ihell of fea-fnails,

ear,

as the citron-apple,

and mother-wort.

and

fo

an

oil

as fools-foot, or wild

extradled from the

has been found of wonderful efficacy in

reftoring the faculty of hearing, even after feveral years deafnefs.

is

fenfe of

greatly

much

to ftrengthen

dity

as the

The

promoted by the application of thofe herbs which refemble the

as water-mint, &c.
So plants that bear refemblance with the womb, conduce

fmelling
nofe,

Herbs

Plants which refemble the

to the relief of all diforders of the ears

which refembles the

wonder-

and ftrengthen the lungs; as hoimds-

refpiration,

fpikenard, which are a fpecific for deafnefs

is

refemble the figure of

power of comforting and fuftaining the heart:

which refemble the lungs promote

ears conduce

fruit,

fpikenard, mint, balm, white-beet, trefoil,

fullers thiftle,

tongue,

loti;

in root, leaves,

and comfort the fame,

to

purge the uterus, and promote fecun-

round birth-wort, briony, ladies-feal, heart-w'ort, fatyrium, and man-

drakes, which have round

and hollow

Plants which bear fimilitude with

roots.

the gall and bladder contribute to the benefit of thofe parts, by breaking the ftone,

ftrengthening the urinary paftages, and bringing

pointed out in

which bear
ftrength,

my

edition of

affinity

away the gravel as particularly

Culpepers Herbal. So likewife herbs and roots

with the generative parts contribute

and vigour;

and

truffles,

which have fimilitude with the

men

as

potatoes,

much

to their virility,

and the capfules of the cafhew-tree,

ftir up and promote the fedo the parfnip, the root of rag-wort, and the mangel wurzel, or root of

tefticles,

wonderfully

fcarcity.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

36
fcarcity, contribute

much

to (limuiate the virile

member.

Herbs having forma-

and preferve the fame, fuch as fpleen-wort, milt-wort,

Plants which in leaves or roots bear fignature with the liver, do

tion like the milt, nouriili

and

lupines,

ivy.

wonderfully concur to promote a good digeftion and concodlion of the blood, to

prevent the liver from decay, and to heal and cure
tue has the herb trinity,

much

feeds refembling the teeth confer

all infirmities

to the

refemblance with the knuckles and

Thofe plants which have

joints of the body, are wonderfully efficacious

white fwellings, and

and knotty odoriferous

lingal

ruflies,

all

pains whatever in the joints; fuch as ga-

Plants and herbs expreffing a natural

&c.

fatnefs or oilinefs increafe corpulency, or fatnefs of the

and kernels of every kind

by the fame

and,

Herbs and

good and prefervation of them; as

tooth-wort, the pine-kernel, and the feeds of hemlock.

againfi; the gout,

thereof; fuch vir-

fumitory, lent-figs, &c.

liver-wort,

agaric,

body

as all pulfe, almonds,

rule, thofe vegetables

which have a

lean and fpare defignation, macerate and reduce the body, fuch as farfaparilla, long-

Nervous or

leafed rofa-folis. See.

finews; as fennel,

flax,

hemp, the

fortify the nerves

female animals

in all

a ferous quality purge the noxious humours between the

as fperage,

fcammony, and

the like.

its

leaves perforated,

is

wounds; and palma

fanative to

root a ftrong refemblance of the hands and'fingers,

cuts, burns, fcalds,

I here

is

and

injuries,

flefli

and buglofs, are Angularly good

open, and comfort, the porous and hollow organs of the body,

having

which diredls us

St.

to purge,

Chrifli,

having

in

to all

thereof

to a very curious occult virtue, in curing hurts or injuries received

affinity with.

Thus, the herb dragon, which

like

a bee,

is

its

room,

dart-wort, and the flowers of turnfol, having fimilitude with the

have furprifing efficacy

curing hurts by

in

ail

properties and virtues of plants are alfo

fame or

like figure

umbelliferous tribe have

erfrd expellers of wind,

all

venomous

Ragwort,

Scorpion-grafs,
tail

of a fcorpion,

the analogy of their form

like virtues

in all flatulent diforders.

The

Thus the
confequently pow-

and

a carminative tafie, or fmell, and are

and good

form

creatures.

known by

having the fame or

in

thorns fet like

Fleabane, which grows

the beft cure for the fting of bees.

as if covered with vermin, caufeth all fleas to avoid the

thofe of the

fkin,

Johns wort,

the teeth of ferpents, are an abfolute cure for the bite of thofe animals.

The

and

remarkably healing

is

refembles a fnake, and the bramble called Chrifls-thorn, having

is

and thofe

another fimilitude found between fome vegetables and the brute fpecies,

from thofe creatures they bear

which

Plants that are hollow, as the flalks of corn,

reeds, leeks, mallows, hollyocks, garlic,

its

and

herb neuras, and the root of mallows.

Vegetables pofleffing a milky juice propagate milk

ixifreffing

and

ftringy plants fupple

nettle, the

ufes.

galeate or verticillate

AND THE OCCULT SCIENCES

37

of them a degree warmer, and more potent, and therefore may be

The tetrapetalous kind are
aromatic, and proper for nervous diforders.

late kind are all

reputed

fait with
hot and biting, and exert their power by means of a diuretic volatile
which they abound; and are therefore good in chronical difeafes, obftru6tions,

cacochymias, &c.

and diredt
colours of plants and herbs likewife bear fimilitude or fympathy,
of a light colour, fuch as
us to a knowledge of their temperature and ufe ; thofe
difeafes. Thofe of
briony and water-lily, are profitable for the cure of phlegmatic

The

occafioned thereby; as is
a yellow afpedl purge choler, and remove obftrudlions
the blood and
the effea of rhubarb, celandine, &c. Thofe of a fanguine hue purify
of fern brake, agrijuices, and contribute greatly to a good complexion; as the root

mony, germander, and

plants in general
tues will

that fo

poffefs

it

And

forrel.

many

this rule is to

diftindt colours as

and whatever difeafe

it

it

be obferved with refpedl to

many

hath commixed, fo

bears analogy or fympathy

vir-

with, that

flower of the water-lily, bearing'the flgnature of a drop

The rpot of lalTafras, and the
of water, is a prefervative againft the apoplexy.
of cherric'-s, are good againft the flone and gravel in the bladder and kidneys.
difeafe

it

will cure.

The

ftones

feeds of marigolds have refemblance with the canker, and are a certain cure
All plants of a glutinous nature, having their ftalks fignated
that complaint.

The
for

with cuts and ftabs, are fanative to cuts, fears, and wounds. The root of galangale
growing in marfhy grounds, and taken up in May or June, and w^orn as an amulet
againft the belly, will perform moft aftoniftiing cures in the dyfentery

has a

fl;rong

refemblance to the natural excrements, both

in figure

and flux;

it

and colour.

All the excrefcences of trees arifing above the branches, are good againft excrefcences of the arteries. The ftrawberry very much refembles the puftules of the
leprofy

and the

complaint, as

w'ell

diftilled

water of ftrawberries

as for red

and pimpled

is

a moft admirable cure for that

faces.

We

may further remark, that the more fignatures or fimilitudes are found cohering in a plant to one and the fame fignification, fo much the more powerful and
efficacious will its operation be, in any of the purpofes for which it is applied ; for
the fpirit

is

in quality the

fame

in all bodies, but different in quantity,

ftitutes that variety or difference

perceivable by our fenfes.

more fparing and

which con-

In fome bodies
debilitated

this

fo that,

more copious and adtive ; in others,

by how much the more the fame fpirit produces a convenient form and figure in
divers things or fubjedls under the fame climate, by fo much the more the fame
fubjedls are enabled tofympathize with, and affift, each other. For fympathy is by
fpirit is

the fpirit; and fimilitude points out the things that adt

No.

3.

by fympathy.

Hence

it

is

A KEY TO PHYSIC

38
is

that fimilitude of affe6lion increafes ftrength,

is

that plants

and the contrary, hatred.

So

it

whofe parts refemble the fcorpion, as libards-bane, hellebore, and

aconitum, will cure the bite of that reptile; and that the flowers of plants, having
the refemblance of butterflies, conduce to fruitfulnefs and
the flower of beans, woodbine, and ragwort.

virility,

as gandergoofe,

Plants fpotted like ferpents, as cow-

wake-robin, dragon-wort, fea-dragon, &c. are fanative again flthe bite of

garlic,

ferpents

and plants which refemble the head of fuch animals are alfo good againft

their poifon

as the flowers of wild buglofs,

which refemble the head of a viper,

Diofcorides affirms to be a certain cure.

The

and herbs

virtues of plants

by change of climate, which

are,

however, variable, and liable to be injured

will alter or deflroy

them, as we fee in

medical plants of other countries brought into England

to flourifli with us, never poflefs their virtues in the
their

own

climate, which

the reafon that

is

many

of the

which, though they feem

fame excellent degree as

Culpeper recommends

in

Englijh herbs

for an Etiglijh conftitution. The bodies of different animals alfo render the effeft
thus the tythmels, or fpurges, are all very violent caof the fame plant different
but they are eaten by goats and feveral other animals,
thartics when taken by us
;

without any purgative

and
are

fpirits.

Fiflies,

effe6l,

and feem

to give

them a

particular fliare of vigour

on the contrary, are more ftrongly affe6ted by them than we

made into a pafte with flour and honey, will fo much

may be taken out of the water with ones hand. Again,

for the juice of fpurge,

intoxicate them, that they

bitter

almonds are of no ill-confequence

touch them.

The
See

difcovery.

Londinensis,

The
where

Buceros, or hornbill, feeds upon ihenux vomicay which

moft deadly poifon to

to be a

my
vol.

the

man,

man and

all

Syftem of Nat. Hift.

iii.

p.

foregoing notions
is

to us, while they kill all forts of birds that

quadrupeds and
vol.

viii,

This

fifhes.

is

known

is

a late

and Encyclopcedia

p. 153.

478.

may be

ridiculed,

from

their

at all converfant with natural philofophy

extreme fimplicity

and

phyfic,

yet

and poffefled

of an impartial mind, that will dare to controvert thefe fafts? Every wayfaring man
knows fomething of the herbs I have mentioned, and is capable of judging of their
fimilitude

and

and fympathy.

Let him apply them for the purpofes

their occult properties will

foon be vifible to his fenfes.

have pointed out,

The

track of nature

pleafmg profpefts, and the fureft

is a plain and obvious road, abounding with moft
God, in the plenitude of his omnifcience and mercy, feems to have fet a
guides.

mark on
in the

the minuteft particles of his creation, for mans information

contemplation of which, our happinefs, as well as our

and benefit

health, will invariably

be found.

Of

AND THE OCCULT

Of

SCIENCES.

OCCULT PROPERTIES

the

PLANTS

IN

ALL plants are produced from feeds,

the procefs of nature

39

GENERATION

of

HERBS.

AND

very fimilarin both kinds of generation.

is

from eggs

as all animals are produced

The

getables have feeds, though often not difcoverable by the naked eye.

known

to

be produced from feed

and the

and

feffile

flat

and

fmalleft ve-

Miftletoe

fungufes, which

is

fome

confider as morbid excrefcences, are true fpecies of thofe agarics which are furniflied with

caps and

and grow on the ground, whofe feeds,

fterns,

moift tree, produce, as

were, half-caps without

it

falling

on a

Befides, that feeds are

fterns.

the eggs of plants appears from hence, that, as every egg produces an offspring
fimilar to the parent, fo

are eggs.

and the

membrane

fear, or point

of the earth fupplies

flower
ficle,
is

is

going

which

is

alfo the feeds of vegetables

feed refembles the egg of an hen

external

Ihell,

do

of

its

or film, a

membrane

and therefore they alfo

as this, as well as the egg, has a

including the yolk, the yolk

In feeds, the white

life.

is

wanting, becaufe the moifture

and nourifhes the embryo of the

place,

itfelf,

plant.

When

the

the feed begins to fwell, and on the outfide there appears a ve-

off,

the amnion, furniftied with an umbilical chord, or navel-ftring, which

introduced through the chorion to the oppofite fide of the egg.

egg the amnion increafes, on

wife increafes continually,

its

till

top

it

is

has

While with the

obferved another fmall body, which likefilled

the whole chorion and egg

amnion and chorion are turned into the external

fliell

and the

or coat of the feed. Thus, as

the fame changes are brought about on the feed as in the egg, the feeds muft be the
Farther, that plants fpring from eggs,

eggs of plants.
which,

when we fpeak of cows and

is

plain from the lobes,

fimilar quadrupeds, are nothing elfe than fe-

veral fecundines, always adhering to the foetus, drawing their fupply or fluids

from

the matrix, which fluids they prepare for the nourifhment of the tender foetus.

That moft plants have feminal leaves, or lobes, is very well known. Thefe feminal
leaves once conftituted the whole feed, except the hilum, or little heart, in which
is

the point of

plant, until
in

it

life

and thefe lobes prepare the nourifhment

be able to

ftrike root in the earth; in the

for the very tender

fame manner as the yolk

an egg, becoming the placenta, prepares the nourifhment, and fends

navel-ftring to the chick

after

feminal leaves are the lobes

may

fairly

which they drop

off.

Hence

but, fince all lobes proceed

conclude that plants are produced from eggs.

duce an animal

till it

it

by the

appears, that the

from the egg or feed, we

But, as no egg can pro-

be impregnated or fecundated by the male,

fary to inveftigate the fituation of the genital

it

it

will

be necef-

organs deftined by nature for this

purpofe in plants.
It

A KEY TO PHYSIC

40
It

'

plain that the genital organs of plants muft be fituated where the feeds are

is

produced ; now the feeds are produced where the flower and
the flower and fruit

fruit are

and evident example produced of any plant which wanted flowers and
they might not be diftindtly

may

therefore in

are the genital organs of plants. And, as there was never a clear

known on account of

fruit,

though

we
More-

their exceeding minutenefs,

juftly fay, that the effence of plants confifts in their fructification.

over, as generation precedes the birth in animals, the flower in plants always pre-

cedes the fruit

flower,

and, therefore,

and the

we

are necelfarily led to afcribe fecundation to the

The

birth or exclufion of the feed to the ripe fruit.

flower may,

confequently, be defined to be the genital organs of a plant, ferving for fecunda-

and the

tion,

fruit to

And,

the feed.

fince

be the genital organs ferving for the birth or maturation of

we know

we

plants,

fome of which want the

all

thefe parts

find a flower with antheras, but

ther flower, either in the

fame

mufl conilitute the effence of the flower.

no ftigmata, we may alfo affuredly find ano-

or a different plant of the

ftigmata with the antherae, or without them.

in the flower

thofe of the male

be in one flower,

genital organs are the antheras

The

fame

fpecies,

aCl of fecundation

is

which has
performed

genital organs of both fexes muft be prefent in

and therefore the

the flower; not indeed always in one and the

fame flower; but

and thofe of the female

and ftigmata.

The

in

it is

fufficient that

another

antherae, or

and thefe

male organs of ge-

neration in flowers, are nothing elfe but the bodies which prepare and contain the
male fperm therefore thefe antherae are the tefticles together with the feminal ve;

and

ficles,

ticles

come

their duft the

genuine male fperm of plants, anfwering to thofe par-

which are called animalcules

may

tion

in the

before the fruit; and

flower has attained

and become

ufelefs.

propofi-

the antherae and the duft always

they ilied their duft, which they do before the

they have performed their

office,

and then drop

Befidcs, the antherae are fo fituated in the flower, that their

the male fperm,

duft,

which

mina

either furround. the

is

when

its full vigour,

The

male fperm of animals.

be evinced by the following arguments

piftil,

may

reach the

piftil

as moil flowers,

or female organs

for the (la-

or, if the piftil incline to the

per fide of the flower, the ftamina do the fame; or,

if

the

piftil

up-

nods, the (lamina

afeend.

the antherae and ftigmata are in full vigour at the fame time,

Farther,

when they
over,

are in the fame flower, and

if w'e

flowers, the mofles only excepted, are furniflied with the aritherce, or

ftigmata, or both together

If

many

others the filaments of a {lamina, and others the ilyle

calyx, others the corolla,

but that

that there are

when they

are in feparate flowers.

both

More-

cut afunder the antherae before they have (lied their duft, their ftruc-

ture will be found altogether as wonderful

and curious as that of the feedveffels

AND THE OCCULT

veffels themfelves

for,

SCIENCES.

41

they conlift of one, two, three or four, cells

within,

and they open either longitudinally or at the bafe, feparating into pieces or

And,

or from the top, or at the two points or horns.

valves,

we

if

cut off the

antheras of any plant which bears but one flower, taking care at the fame time
that
leaf!

no other plant of the fame fpecies

is

near

the fruit proves abortive, or at

it,

Finally, the figure of the fertilizing

produces feeds which will not vegetate.

duft will clearly convince any one, that this fine

powder

is

not accumulated by

chance, or from the drynefs of the antherag.

The powder of the

and the lligma which receives

male fperm ;

in the

that the duft

may

antherae, in point of fecundation, anfwers to the animalcules

inftantly adhere or ftick to

That the

it.

always

this duft is

moiftifli,

which are

ftigmata,

may be

the other effential parts of the flower, are the female organs of generation,

proved by the following confiderations

The

parts of the piftillum are the ger-

men, the

ftyle,

flower,

is

always imperfedl and immature, being only the rudiment of the future

foetus

the ftyle

and the ftigma ; the germen, or feed-bud, while the plant

is

no

effential part, for

it is

Hence

it

in

wanting in many fpecies of plants;

but the germen can never bring the fruit to maturity, except
flower along with the ftigma.

is

be within the

it

follows, that the ftigma is that part of the

flower which receives the impregnating duft.

This will farther appear,

if

we

confider that the ftigma is always fo fituated, that the antherae, or their impregnating
duft,

can reach

it

moft (though not

when

moreover,

all)

plants

it

it is

has always a figure peculiar to

double when the

the feed-veffel has three cells, quadruple

fruit confifts

when

it

of two

has four

fo that in

itfelf,

cells,

cells,

&c.

the ftigmata are always in full vigour at the fame time with the antherae
the ftigmata in moft plants,

when they have difcharged

fame manner as the antherae do

nothing to the ripening of the

of the antherae, the plant

is

Again,
befides,

drop off in the

w'hich proves, that the ftigmata contribute

but ferve only for the purpofe of genera-

fruit,

If the ftigmata be cut off before they have received the impregnating duft

tion.

The

their office,

triple

is

caftrated as to the female organs,

and the

fruit perifhes.

ftigma of the flower has, befides, two other Angular properties

always divefted of the cuticle or

have, and

Upon

it is

film,

nor has

it

viz. that it

any bark as the other parts

always bedewed with a moifture.

the whole

it

appears, that the generation of plants

is

accomplifhed by the

antherm fhedding their duft on the ftigmata. In the generation of animals, we are certain, that

the male fperm muft

come

in contadt with the female organ,

any impregnation. In the vegetable kingdom, the genital duft

to the moift ftigmata,

No.

3.

is

carried

if there

be

by the

air

where the particles burft and difcharge their exceeding

fine or

foluble

42

A KEY TO PHYSIC

foluble contents, which impregnate the ovary.

dered, that,

when a

plant

flower,

is in

This will appear

and the

dull:

if it

be confi-

of the antherae flying about,

upon and clings to the lligina ; the ftamina and

are generally of the fame height, that the male dull may more eafily come

part of this duft vifibly lights

piftillum

at the'ftigma

and, in thofe plants w'here this

may be

of fecundation

obferved

nium inquinans, where the

powder may

fall

upon the ftigma

and then ftand upright a fecond

is fliorter

after

their

or

Gera-

opening they ftand upright, that the

which they again nod

piftilla,

bill,

than the ftamina, the flowers be-

time,, that their feeds

In fome of the pinks, the

about.

not the cafe, a Angular procefs

thus in the African tree cranes

piftillum

blow are pendulous, but upon

fore they

is

may

till

the fruit

ripe,

is

be more eaAly fcattered

which are longer than the ftamina, are

bent back like rams-horns towards the antherae.

Again, the ftamina for the raoft part furround the piftillum, fo that fome of
the duft
piftillum

alw-ays

is

come

blowm by the wind on the ftigma.

at the

fame

Moreover, the ftamina and

one and the fame flower, but alfo

time, not only in

where fome are male and others female on the fame

Farther, in almoft

all forts

of flow'ers

we

fee

plant, very

how

they expand or open by the

heat of the fun; but in the evening, and in a moift ftate

contraft their flowers,

the fecundation

yet againft rain.

is

it

who

The wind on many

relates that in

occaftons ferves as a vehicle for bringing the

M.

his

GeofFroy

male palm-tree

at Brindifl,

makes no doubt but

woods of Otranto,

method
is

it

it

any

fruit

till

its

leagues

at length,

might fee (fays the poet) the

then began to bear fruit in abundance.

M. Geoffroy

branches the farina of the male,

it

was

brought thither

by

In the male and female of the piftachia-nut-tree they obferve the fame

as in thofe of the date-tree^

We may obferve

generally of greater fpecific gravity than the

farther, that, fince the

air,

in

nodding, that the powder

may more

plants w'hofe ftems grow

blow, emerge or

rife

above the

eafily reach the ftigma.

under

w'atef,

the flowers, a

furface, of thCjWater;

and

male

moft plants that have

the piftillum longer than the ftamina, the all-wife Creator has

thofe

flfteen

that the tree then only began to bear fruit, becaufe,

a condition to catch, on

the wind.

duft

a ftory from Jovius Pon-

time there were two palm-trees, the one male,

riftng above the other trees of the foreft, lb as

in

cites

that this latter w'as feveral years without bearing

but,

over, the flowers neither contradl in the evening, nor

cultivated at Brindifl, the other female, in the

apart

they clofe or

incapable of being blown on the ftigma;

farina of the males to the females.

tanus,

of. the air,

the moifture, getting to the duft of the antherm, fhould

left

coagulate the famej and render

when once

few excepted.

made the flowers

With refpe.61; to
littl-e

before they

thofe, all

whofe parts

grow

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

43

grow under water, about the time of flowering raife their genital ftems above
A
the water, which flems fink again as foon as the time of generating is over.

may be

fimilar conclufion

flowers

farther eftabliflied from the confideration of all forts of

but enough has been faid to prove that the generation of plants

formed by the genital dull of the antherse

organ; which
its

falling

on the moift ftigma, or female

by the help of the moifture,- adheres and burfts,

duft,

per-

is

difcharging

contents, the fubtile particles of which are abforbed by the ftyle into the ova-

However, the dull of the antherae does not penetrate

rium, germen, or feed-bud.

through

germen and rudiments of the

the ftyle to the

feed,

as

fome

writers have

fuppofed; the contrary appears to be the cafe from opening a flower of the oriental

rough poppy, cutting

downwards

piftillum perpendicularly

its

and the fmall feeds fticking to them,

or folds, the placentae,

pure white colour, though at the fame time the

ftyle

and

and the lamellae

will

all

be found of a

the ftigmata are

Hence, we con-

wholly tinged'with a purple hue from the duft of the antherae.

clude, that not one grain or particle of the farina enters the folds of the receptacle

or feeds themfelves.

We

may

account with obferving upon the whole, that the calyx

clofe this

the marriage-bed, in which the ftamina and

celebrate the nuptials of plants,

external injuries

piftilla,

and where they are cherifhed and defended from

the corolla or petals are the curtains clofely furrounding the

genital organs, in order to keep off ftorm, rain,

or cold

but,

when

fecundating duft

the filaments are the fpermatic veffels, by which the juice, fe-

creted from the plant,

is

carried to the antherse

the antherse are the tefticles, and

not improperly be compared to the foft roe or milt of

fifties

the duft of the

antherae anfwers to the fpemi and feminal animalcules; for, though

it

may be

the

more

ing the ftigma

ceives the

male

tube, through

the

germen

is

the fun

they freely expand, to give accefs both to the funs rays and to the

fliines bright,

may

conveyed by the wind, yet

eafily

the ftigma
duft,

is

effluvia of the

the ovary, for

gets moifture

dry, that

by touch-

that external part of the female organ which re-

and on which the male duft adls

which the

it

it is

it

male duft pafs

the ftyle

to the

is

the vagina, or

germen, or feedbud:

contains the unimpregnated or unfertilized feeds

the pericarpium, or feed-veffel, anfwers to the impregnated ovary, and in fadl

the

fame with the germen, or feed -bud, only increafed

fertile feeds;

is

and male and female organs,

the feeds are the eggs.

external bark of the plant

burnum, or white fap

in bulk,

Moreover, the calyx

is

is

and loaded with

a produdlion of the

the corolla of the inner bark; the ftamina of the al-

the pericarpium, or feed-veffel, of the

and the feeds of the pith of the

tree

for in this

woody

fubftance;

manner they are placed, and

in

this

; ;;

A KEY TO PHYSIC

44
manner

this

alfo they are unfolded

we

fo that in the flower

find all the internal

parts of a plant unfolded.

The ftomach
and the
ries

of plants

and moft

fineft

is

the earth, from which they receive their nourifliment

fubtile parts of

or chyliferous veflels, of animals

the whole plant,

their agitation

is

the root, which car-

analogous to the ladteals,

the trunk, which fupports and gives ftrength to

analogous to the bones

is

are inftead of lungs, and they

by

their chyle

its foil is

the chyle from the ftomach to the body of the plant,

may be

the leaves, by which

compared

alfo

with the wind the plant

is

plants tranfpire

to the mufcles of animals, for

put in motion

on which account,

herbs furniftied with leaves cannot thrive unlefs they have air;

which have no

plants,

the external

air,

up

leaves, though flint

thrive very well.

Heat is

in green-houfes

but fucculent

and quite deprived of

to plants analogous to the heart in animals

have no heart, nor have they occafion for any ; becaufe they

for they

lypes in the animal

kingdom

mixed with

their juices

their veflels, but not circulated

air

back again by returning

live like

po-

being propelled through

Plants have ge-

veflels.

nerally their genital organs placed at their ramifications, as animals have theirs at
the ramification of the iliac veflels,

with this difference, that the ramifications of

downwards or backwards

plants afcend, whereas thofe of animals go

ancients called a plant

a natural

an

inftindl to generation

whence the

Pliny obferves, that there

in*oerted animal.

and that the males, by a certain

blaft

is in

plants

and a

fubtle

powder, do confummate the nuptials on the females.

For the manner wherein the farina

nions:
full

1.

That the

of fubtile penetrating parts (as appears from

piftils

fold the
is

young

its

piftil

and the young

plant, enclofed in the

fruit, excite

embryo of

on the

fprightly odour), falling

its

and

parts, penetrating the

a fermentation to open and un-

the feed.

In

this hypothefis the

fuppofed to contain the plant in miniature, and only to w^ant a proper juice

to unfold

its

of the flower
it,

Geoffroy advances two opi-

of the flowers, there refolves, and the fubtileft of

fubftance of the

feed

M.

fecundifies,

farina being always found of a fulphureous compofition,

parts,
is

and enable

the

it

and make them grow.

firft

germ or bud of the

to grow,

but the juice

it

The fecond opinion is, that the farina

new plant, and needs nothing to unfold

2.

finds

prepared in the embryos of the feed.

Thefe two theories of vegetable generation, the reader

analogy to thofe two of animal generation

will obferve,

viz. either that the

bear a

young animal

ftridl

in the

is

femen mafculinum, and only needs the juice of the matrix to cherifli and bring it forth
or that the animal is contained in the female ovum, and needs only the male feed to excite
a fermentation, &c. M. Geoffroy rather takes the proper feed to be in the farina inafmuch as the beft micro fcopes do not difco ver the leaft appearance of any bud in the little
embryos
;

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

embryos of the grains, when examined before the apices have

leguminous plants,

if

45
In

flied their dull.

the leaves^and ftamina be removed, and the

or that part

piftii,

which becomes the pod, be viewed with the microfcope, before the flower he
opened; the little green tranfparent veficulm, which are to become the grains, will
ajipear

in-

their natural order;

Ikin of the grain.

but

ftiil

mere coat or

fliowing nothing elfe but the

If the obfervation be continued for feveral days fucceflTively, in

other flowers, as they advance, the veflculoe will be found to fwell, and by degrees
to

become

replete with a limpid liquor; wherein,

when

the farina comes to be flied,

and the leaves of the flower to fall, we obferve a little greenifli fpeck, or globule^
floating about at large. At firft there is not any appearance of organization in this
little

body

but in time, as

it

grows,

two horns. The liquor diminiflies

we

upon opening

plant in miniature; confifting of a

little

body grows,

infenfibly, as the little

the grain becomes quite opaque; when,

with a young

begin to diflinguifli two

we

it,

find

leaves like

till

at length

cavity filled

its

germ or plumuia, a

little

little

and the lobes of the bean, or pea, &c.

The manner wherein this germ of the apex enters the veficula of the feed,

root,

very

difficult to

For, befides that the cavity of the

determine.

the top to the embryos of the grains, thofe grains or veficulae have a

correfponding to the extremity of the cavity of the

may

farina,
is

the

grains,

and

it is

This cavity, or cicatricula,

grain.

eafily

obferved

in peafe, beans,

root of the little germ is juft againft this

when the little grain comes to germinate.

From what has been

pregnated by the male,

fixed,

little

aperture

fo that the fmall duft, or

faid,
it

it

becomes evident,

can bring forth no

and cannot

wife Creator has compenfated

this,

much

fame

the

and through

that, unlefs the

fruit,

like animals rove

is

in

moft

The

&c. without the microfcope.

aperture,

this it paffes

female plant

nor feed, that

holds good throughout the whole fyftem of vegetation.

immoveably

not

through the aperture into the mouth of the veficula, which

eafily fall

embryo of the

piftil,

is

reaches from

piftil

will

grow.

is

im-

This

But, as trees and plants arc

about in fearch of a mate, the

by means of

out

little infects,

all-

the bee, and the

winds, which doubtlefs carry the pollen, or fecundating matter of the male, to the
piftilla of the female, whereby impregnation and generation follow.
But as this,
in the produ6lion of fruits,
in profufion,

by

is

rather a fortuitous ev6nt, which fometimes happens

and at others but fparingly, thofe who cultivate

art to affift nature in this neceffary conta<5l of the fexes.

taken to fee

this curious

No.

4.

While

have been led

in Arabia, I

was

operation performed on the date-tree, by which the Arabs

always fecure to themfelves a plentiful harveft of that

importance to their

fruits

traffic,

fruit,

which

is

of fo

much

and amongft whom this art appears to have been known

long

A KEY TO PHYSIC

46

long before any botanift dreamed of the difference of fexes

the gardener informed me, but was furprifed to find I
fore; for (fays be)

flowers, they fearch

and experience)

who come from Europe

all

When

operation as a fable.

on a

knew

the circumftance be-

to this country

have regarded

tree that has

male flowers (which they know by cuftoni

out the fpadix, and cut

care not to hurt the flowers.

this

they obferve a tree where the fpadix has female

for a male fpadix which has not yet burft out of

this they open, take

Of this

in vegetables.

it

its

fpatha or huflc;

lengthwife in feveral pieces, taking

Thefe pieces of fpadix with male flowers they put

lengthwife between the fmall branches of the fpadix which hath female flowers, and

then cover them over with a palm-leaf; in this fituation the

of the female

piftilla

flower becomes impregnated by the male, which foon after withers and dies; and,
unlefs the natives thus

Or

even

it is

if

taken,

wed and fecundate

the female date-tree,

it

it is

ufelefs for fecundation;

head, as the Arabs term

it,

or

it

it

muft

for this

do; and this

will not

From

bloflbrns burft out of their cafe.

this

purpofe have

is loft

fruit.

for that purpofe,

and vary, the

many

tafte,

may be

ufeful hints

form, and quality, of

derived

new

year by our nurfery-men and gardeners, with

how

flie

has contrived

to alter, improve, enrich,

&c. by impregnating the flower of

fruits,

that the numberlefs varieties of

maiden-

curious pr.ocefs of nature in the ge-

one with the farina of another of the fame clafs

it is,

its

fame moment the

the

neration of vegetables, and from a contemplation of the apparatus

mixing

bears no

they permit the fpadix of the male flower to burft, or come out, before

and

to this artificial coupling

fruits, flowers,

many

other

and

&c. produced every

phenomena

in the vege-

table kingdom, are to be afcribed.

In the cultivation of many of our home-plants, we fometimes meet with circumftances not unfimilar to thofe of the date-tree, which become barren when deprived
of the males.

Thus,

if

the flowers of the male

hemp

are pulled off before thofe of

the female are fully expanded, the females do not produce

mae
fertile

flower

is

fometimes found upon a female plant,

fertile feeds.

may be

But, as a

the reafon

why

feeds are fometimes produced even after this precaution has been obferved.

The tulip affords another experiment to the fame

of a red tulip before the pollen
tulip,

this

is

and throw the pollen of the

purpofe.

Cut

off all the antheraa

emitted; then take the ripe anther as of a white

w'hite

one upon the ftigma of the red; the feeds

of the red tulip, being thus impregnated by one of a different complexion, will next
feafon produce fome red, fome white, but moftly variegated, flowers.

In the year 1744, Linnaeus publiflied a defcription of a new genus, which he called
peloria,

on the fuppofition of its being a hybrid or mule plant,

by an unnatural commixture of two

different genera.

The

i.

e.

a plant produced

root, leaves, caulis,

&c.

of

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES,

47

of this plant, are exceedingly fimilar to thofe of the Antirrhinum linaria, or

mon yellow toad-flax; but the flower and other parts of the

On

totally different.

flower, Linnasus

account of

imagined

produced by a fortuitous commixture

to have been

it

are

fimilarity to the linaria in every part but the

its

feme other plant

of the linaria with

com-

fructification

and from

this doCtrine

he fuppofes that only

two fpecies of each genus of plants exifted ah origine, and that all the variety of
fpecies which now appear have been produced by unnatural embraces betwixt
fpecies of different genera.

Under

Baal, gardener at Brentford.

This Baal fold a large quantity of the feeds of the

head he defends the cafe of Richard

this

Braffica florida to feveral gardeners in the fuburbs of

after

to be plants of a different fpecies from that

had purchafed

for, inftead

The

Braffica longifolia.

gardeners',

which Baal made them believe they

of the Braffica florida, the plants turned out to be the

gardeners,

upon making

this difcovery,

The

profecution of fraud againfl Baal in Weftminfter-hall.

guilty of fraud,

likewife to

Thefe

London.

fowing their feeds in the ufual manner, were.furprifed to find them turn out

Had

and decerned him not only

pay the gardeners

commenced a

court found Baal

to reftore the price of the feeds,

for their loft time,

and the ufe of

but

their ground.

thefe judges (fays Linnaeus) been acquainted with the fexual generation

of plants, they would not have found Baal guilty of any crime, but would have
afcribed the accident to the fortuitous impregnation of the Braffica florida by the
pollen of the Braffica longifolia.

With refpedt to the nourifhment of plants, we need only recur to the analogy that
known to fubfift between plants and animals. It is highly probable that the radical fibres of plants take up their nourifiiment from the earth, in the fame manner

is

that the ladteal veffelsabforb the nutriment from the inteftines

and, as the oily and

watery parts of our food are perfe6tly united into a milky liquor, by means of the
fpittle,

pancreatic juice, and

bile,

before they enter the ladteals,

we have

all

the

reafon imaginable to keep up the analogy, and fuppofe that the oleaginous and

watery parts of the

foil

are alfo incorporated, previous to their being taken up by

the abforbing veffels of the plant.

reflect that

every

foil,

To form

a perfedt judgment of

in a ftate of nature, has in itfelf

earth, fufficient to incorporate its inherent oil

with fat manures,

becomes

it

when we load it
bellow upon it, at the fame
but,

time, fomething to affimilate the parts.

Lime,

alkaline fubllances, perform that office.

In order to render

to the fenfes, diffolve

one fpoonful of

mafs of a

oil

one dram of Rulfia

adapted to

all

foap-aflies, kelp, marl,

the

this

and

all

the

operation vifible

ounces of water ; then add

pot-alli in four

lliake the mixture,

whitilli colour,

we muft

a quantity of abforbent

and water;

effentially neceffary to

this,

become an uniform
purpofes of vegetation. This eafy and

and

it

will inllantly

familiar

A KEY TO PHYSIC
a juft reprefentation of what happens after the operation of
burn-baking, and confequently may be confidered as a condrmalion of the hypo-

familiar experiment

In

thecs advanced.

is

fward being reduced to

this procefs, the

a fixed alkaline

aflies,

produced; the moifture of the atmofphere foon reduces that fait into a
flate, which, mixing with the toil, brings about an union of the oily and

fait is
fluid

watery parts,

in the

manner demonfirated

firatum confifts of a rich vegetable

but, w'hen the foil

before

The

paring and burning a thin

farmer, therefore,

foil, fliould

When

experiment.

eftedls of

happens to be thin and poor, the

arrives at maturity.

it

in the

mould, the

beftow upon

it

burn-baking
firft

the under

will belafting;

crop frequently fuffers

who

at the

is

expenfe of

a portion of rotten dung, or

fliambles manure, before the allies are fpread, in order to fupply the deficiency of
oily particles

in this

way

the crop will be fupported during

land will be preferved in health and vigour.

its

and the

grow'th,

But plants not only receive

nourifli-

ment

by their roots,

leaf,

fuch as vetches, peafe, beans, and buck-wdieat, draw a great part of their

but alfo by their leaves.

nourifliment from the

Vegetables that have a fucculent

and on that account impoverifii the

air,

oats, barley, or rye, the leaves of

foil lefs

Rape and hemp

which are of a firmer texture.

are oil-bearing plants, and, confequently, impoverifiiers of the foil

lefs fo

than the

leaves of all kinds of grain are fucculent for a time,

plants take

little

from the earth

they lofe their foftnefs,

more

are then

on account of the greater fucculency of

latter,

and

than wheat,

but the former

its

leaf.

The

during which period the

but, as foon as the ear begins

to be formed,

The

diminifli in their attradlive power.

radical fibres

vigoroufly employed in extradling the oily particles of the earth for

The

the nourifliment of the feed.

leaves of plants ferve, not only as excretory

dudls to feparate and carry off the redundant watery

fluid,

which, by being long

detained in the plants, would turn rancid and prejudicial to them, but likewife to

imbibe the dew and

which contain

rain,

fait,

ufe to plants that the lungs are to animals.

fulphur, &c. and to be of the

But, as plants have not a dilating

and expirations

and contfadting thorax,

their infpirations

as thofe of animals, but

depend wholly on the alternate changes from hot

for infpiratioiij
rifliment

is

and

vice verfa for expiration.

derived from the roots.

fiderable proportion to the

it

is

latter.

a curious occult

fadt,

putrefadlion, and flourifli

cut

to cold

their

nou-

the fuperficies of

Hence appears

of cutting off many branches from a tranfplanted tree

is

not be fo frequent

Thefe, therefore, are found to bear a con-

body of the plant above ground

up, a great part of the root

It

will

But the greater part of

the former being above four-tenths of that of the

ceffity

fame

the ne-

becaufe, in digging

off.

with refpedt to vegetables, that they thrive bed from

mod in putrid air. Manure, though it has a dench almod

fufficient

AND THE OCCULT

fwfficient to infe6l the blood, yet, if

grow

Yet

dunghill.

and thrive

fuch as would prove fatal to

human

it is

foul or infe6led corpufcles, as

and fweet.

luxuriantly they will thrive upon a

and imbibe

life,

even

in

yet thofe very plants exhale a dire6t oppo-

and fweeten the atmofphere, and to render

it

whole-

become noxious in confequence of epidemical complaints, or of

animals dying and putrifying in

and changed,

co6led, altered,

how

make them

in air fo ftrongly tainted with putrefa6lion,

effluvium, tending to refrefli

fome, when

fee

as true, that though thefe vegetables eagerly fuck in

it is

fo foul a moifture,

fite

49

placed round plants and herbs, will

and we every day

furprifingly;

SCIENCES.

This

it;

whence

it

follows that vegetables

draw

in the

favourable to their fuftenance, which being con-

in the

body of the

plant,

it

again emits them purified

have proved by the following experiment:

quantity of air

was made thoroughly noxious, by fome mice breathing and dying

in

it.

This I

Into one I put a moufe with a fprig of

divided into two parts, in glafs receivers.

mint, which lived very well, and the mint alfo flourithed; but in the other, where

moufe died almoft immediately.

there was no mint, the

many times repeated

found the refult nearly the fame; wherefore

vegetables

draw

in

by

their leaves

'tvholefome for refpiration;

vifit

the

fick,

this plain

air,

and have always

reafoning follows; that, as

and roots the putrid effluvium of the

emiffion of purified corpufcles contributes to

who

This experiment I have

with different kinds and portions of infe6led

and from

this

make

air, fo their

more fit and

recommend all perfons
families, to ufe as many frefli

the remaining air

circumftance I

or have putrid diforders in their

vegetables as poffible, and never to be without fome fprigs of mint about them.

Of sympathy, ANTIPATHY, SAGACITY, and

INSTINCT, IN BRUTES.

BRUTE

is

a general name given to

all

OCCULT

animals except man; and an animal

muff be an organized living body, endowed with fenfe; for minerals are faid

grow and
fenfation.
radteriftic

increafe, plants to

grow and

It is this property

of an animal

live;

but animals alone are endowed with

of fenfation alone, that conftitutes the

effential

cha-

and by which the animal and vegetable kingdoms feem

to

to

be fo materially feparated.

Thofe naturalifts, who have fuppofed the difiin6tion

between animals and vegetables to confift in any thing elfe than the gift of fenfation,
have found themfelves greatly embarraffed; and have generally agreed, that it was
extremely /lifficult, if not impoffible, to fettle the boundaries between the animal and
vegetable kingdoms. But this difficulty will be eafily feen to arife from their taking
the charadleriftic

marks of the animal kingdom from fomething that was evidently

common

Thus Boerhaave attempted

No,

to both..

4,

'

to diftinguifii an. animal

from a

vege-^.

table^,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

50

by the former having a mouth, which the

table,

mouth of an animal
body,

it

is

is

latter has not;

but here, as the

only the inftrument by which nourifhment

is

conveyed to

evident that this can be no eifential diftindlion, becaufe vegetables, as

we have above demonftrated,

for conveying

it

require nourifliment, and have inftruments proper

The

eifential.

gula, flomach, and inteftines, as

the fame, a difference in the

fixing the difference in

is

as

an animals having a
to the purpofe.

little

many been thought to

mofl cafes, it is the obvious mark

place to another, hath by

and indeed,

conftitute their eifential difference;

diffinguifh

is

done by Dr. Tyfon,

is

The power of moving from one

by which we

where the end

into their bodies; and,

means can never be

in

an animal from a vegetable; but Lord Karnes hath given

us feveral very curious inflances of the locomotive pow'er of plants;

an animal.

Upon the

fenfitive plant, flirinks back,

and

folds

up

touch, retires within

If a

fly

would doubtlefs do honour

inftantly,

to

its fliell.

its

admirable than a contrivance,

vifible in

There

many

open
in

to receive rain,

the fun;

fome

fome

clofe to avoid

hufbandman they always

to the

Some

plants follow the fun, others turn from

;

which

plant was lately difcovered in Bengal

ftones

and gravel.

walk; and feemed to

in w'hich not a

fituation, is

New

may

fome

after;

flowers

expand

After the feeds

ferve as a baro-

their leaves on an impending ftorm.

Many

plants,

on the fun

recefs,

of plants. A fingular
continual motion all day

leaves are in

grows naturally on the tops of our higheft

This flirub

w'as planted in

under a fruit-wall. In two or three years,

and

fome

many

petals of

when night approaches, they fall down from an erect pofture to reft.
has a power of dire6ling its roots for procuring food. The red whortle-

berry, a low ever-green plant,

among

clofe their flowers

ftyled the Jleep

is

its

it.

clofes

it

advantage of good

They open and

All the trefoils

contrail;

vary the pofition of their leaves

plant

flower-leaves,

but contradt at night, or on the approach of rain.

meter

its

not an article in botany more

plants, to take

The

are fecundated, the petals no longer contradl.

long; but,

is

clofe before funfet,

it.

Mimofa, or

leaves,* as a fnail, on the flighteft

weather, and to protedl themfelves againft bad.

in different circumftances

fome of which

flighteft touch, the

perch upon one of

and crufhes the infedl to death.

and leaves

its

fly

it

an edging to a rich border,

over-ran the adjoining deep-laid gravel

from the border, which was not congenial

Angle runner appeared.

extremely remarkable

Abbey, formerly a monaftery

An

effort to

in the following inftance

in

hills,

come
;

to its nature,

at food in a

Among

bad

the ruins of

Galloway, there grows on the top of a

w'all

plane-tree about twenty-feet high. Straitened for nourifhment in that barren fituation,

it

feveral years ago diredted roots

down

the fide of the wall,

* See a particular defcription of the fenfitive plant, in the

Appendix

to

till

they reached

Culpeper,

p. 27.

the

AND THE OCCULT

the ground ten feet below; and

now

SCIENCES.

the nourifliment

it

51

afforded to thofe roots

during the time of their defcending was amply repaid, having every year fince that
time

made

thefe roots

vigorous

From

flioots.

have not thrown out any fibres

reftore themfelves.

Untwill

any degree

if left in

natural pofition.

alters its

What

better can
its

it

and

fide to its

in its original direction.

will dire<5l its

endowed with a power

tie it in

recovers
its

its

open

directs

the oppofite direction;

it

till

and

fix it in

that pofition

the leaves recover their

for its welfare?

What

to the air.

root of a

follows? It

dips into the ground, undermines the ditch,

wonted dillance from the

Lay a wet fponge near a

Put a pole

furface,

and then ptoceeds

root laid open to the air; the root

into the

ground at a moderate dillance from a fcandent

plant: the plant dire6ls its courfe to the pole, lays hold of

natural height.
its

to

courfe from

courfe to the fponge. Change the place of the fponge; the root varies

direction.

porting

its

natural direction in a fingle

leaves,

an animal do

progrefs, is laid

courfe like a rational being

on the oppofite

rifes

are

loofe, it untwills itfelf gradually,

meeting with a ditch in

tree,

it,

dire6tion,

united in a fingle root.

round a Hick,

Twill a branch of a tree fo as to invert

night.

its

wrong

in the

now

pofition,

hop-plant, twilling

fouth to well, as the fun does.

Leave it loofe

but are

when forced from -their natural

Plants,

dies.

the top of the wall to the furface of the earth,

honeyfuckle proceeds in

weight ; and then llrengthens

its

itfelf

courfe,

it,

and

till it is

by Ihooting into a

rifes

on

to its

too long for fupIf

fpiral.

it

meets

with another plant of the fame kind, they coalefce for mutual fupport ; the one
fcrew'ing to the right, the other to the

dead branch,

it

left.

fcrews from the right to the

into a fpiral,

and lay hold of whatever comes

completing a

fpiral

for further fupport,

By comparing
with that

we can

fliare

and

by altering

in

thefe

and other inllances of feeming voluntary motion

in plants,

and

fenfitive plant

is,

putting

Mufcles, for inllance, are fixed to one place, as

as plants are; nor have they

fo much,

after

their courfe.

fcarcely hefitate in afcribing the fuperiority to the former; that

motion of the

flioot

of life wherewith fome of the inferior kinds of animals are endowed,

ffiutting their fliells;

M.

The clafpers of briony

their way for fupport.
If,

left.

of three rounds, they meet with nothing, they then try again

fenfation out of the quellion.

much

If a honeyfuckle-twig meets with a

any power of motion, befides that of opening

in this refpedl

they have no fuperiority over the

nor doth their a6tion difcover more fagacity, or even

as the roots of the plane-tree, or the a6lion of other vegetables.

Buffbn,

who feems

to be defirous of

confounding the animal and vegetable

Senfation (fays he)
kingdoms, denies fenfation to be any eflential diftinftion.

more

elfentially diftinguiflies

animals from vegetables; but fenfation

is

a complex
idea,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

52

and requires fome explication.

idea,

For, if fenfation implied no

motion confequent upon a ftroke or an impulfe, the

power
ideas,

but

by fenfation,

if,

mean

w^e

fenfjtive plant enjoys this

the faculty of perceiving and comparing

uncertain whether brute animals are

is

it

more than

endowed with

If

it.

fhould

it

be allowed to dogs, elephants, &c. whofe adions feem to proceed from motives
by which men are adluated,

fimilar to thofe

of animals,

degree from that of a dog;

though

in a

degree

animal and vegetable,

we

mufi be denied to many fpecies

poffefs

to

the faculty of

If the Fenfation of an oyfter, for example, differed only

progrefiive motion.

tables,

it

thofe which appear not

particularly to

why do we

not afcribe the fame fenfation to vege-

inferior?

This diflindlion, therefore, between the

ftill

general

neither fufficiently

is

in.

are led to conclude, that there

is

no abfolute and

Hence

nor determined.

effential

between

diftindlion

and vegetable kingdoms; but that nature proceeds, by imperceptible

the animal

degrees, from the moft perfedt to the moft imperfedl animal, and from that to the

vegetable; and thus, the frefli-water polypus

and the
It

firft

were

no

affords

to

be wifhed, that philofophers would on fome occafions confider, that

be dark as well on account of their inability to fee, as when

This great author boldly concludes, that there

light.

and none

oyfler,

therefore,

vegetables were
It

is

to the fenfitive plant; but

perceive a diflindtion,

had concluded

is

it

no

in

it

we ought

to

remember,

neverthelefs exifl.

Before

that,

though

M.

Buffon,

fenfation.

no doubt, however, as much incumbent on thofe who take the contrary

of the queflion, to prove that vegetables are not endowed with fenfation, as

incumbent on M. Buffon

to

an

to

manner, he ought to have proved that fome

this

endowed with

may

really

effential

and an animal, becaufe we afcribe fenfation

difference between a plant

we cannot

as the laft of animals

of plants.

may

a fubjcdl

may be regarded

prove that they

are.

But a

little

it

fide

was

attention wilffhow us,

that the difficulty here proceeds entirely from our inability to fee the principle of
fenfation.

another.

We

perceive this principle in ourfelves, but no

Why then

perceives his neighbour formed in a

fimilar occafions, &c.

It

can only be from analogy.

manner

Juft fo

it in

with brute animals.

we have them

ourfelves.

a knife, for inftance, he expreffes a fenfe of pain,

avoid a repetition of the injury.

exprefs a fenfe of pain; and,

Wound

if yllu

Every man

fimilar to himfelf; he adls in a iimilac

it is

doubtful that they have fenfations, than that

wounded with

perceive

does every individual of mankind conclude, that his neighbour

has the fame fenfations with himfelf ?

manner on

man can

a dog in

It is

If a

him

man

is

and endeavours to

the lame manner, he

offer to ftrike

no more

again, will

will

alfo

endeavour

to

elpape,.

AND THE OCCULT

To

efcape, before he feels the ftroke.

SCIENCES.

53

conclude here, that the adlion of the dog

proceeded from a principle different from that of the man, would be abfurd and
unphilofophical to the

We

laft

degree.

muft farther take notice, that there are fenfations effentially diftindt from one

another

and

in proportion as

different fpecies,

them remains,

when they

more or

it is

it

makes not

The

animal; but

is

lefs

is

from becoming a vegetable, that

fo far

us, laflly,

and,

it is

only

little

as before ; becaufe a vegeta-

and we fuppofe him

to enjoy thefe three

flill

fuppofe him endowed only with the fenfe of

and he

to include that of tafte,

merly, but only an imperfedl animal.

lefs perfedt

Suppofe him next deprived of hear-

would be as

ble can neither feel, tafte, nor fmell;

Let

he becomes then a

fight,

as unlike a vegetable as before.

however feems

kingdom

fenfes of a perfe6t animal, for inftance, are five in

ing, his refemblance to a vegetable

fenfes.

or fewer of thefe

perfedl as an animal: but, as long as only one of

Take away one of them, fuppofe

number.

endowed with more

is

the leaft approach to the vegetable

are all taken away,

a mafs of dead matter.

an animal

is

feeling,

which

no more a vegetable than

If this fenfe

is

then taken away,

for-

we connedl

him not with the vegetable kingdom, but with what M. Buffon calls brute-matter.
It is to this kingdom, and not to the vegetable, that animals plainly approximate
as they defcend.

animal kingdoms,

Indeed, to fuppofe an approximation between the vegetable and

is

very abfurd

ought to be the moft perfedl plant

at that rate, the moll imperfedl animal

for,

but

we obferve no fuch

from the higheft to the loweft, are polfelfed of vegetable

we can
fedl ;

perceive, in an equal degree, whether the animal

life

thing.

All animals,

and

that, as far as

life is

perfedl or imper-

nor doth there feem to be the fmalleft connedlion between the higheft de-

gree of vegetation and the loweft degree of fenfation.

polfelfed of vegetable

life,

feem to be

thefe two

Though

all

as perfedlly diftinft

animals are

and incom-

menfurate to one another, as any two things we can poffibly imagine.

The power

of vegetation, for inftance,

dog, an elephant, or a
fo much,

wound

it,

it

man

and

yet,

as perfedl in an onion or leek, as in

is

though you threaten a leek or an onion ever

pays no regard to your words, as a dog would do

does

it

avoid a fecond ftroke.

It

is this

charadleriftic of animal

undoubtedly a confequence of fenfation

place

in vegetables,

we have a

fation, belongs not to

them.

is

4.

nor, though

you

and, as

it is

generally taken,

is
life.

This principle

never obferved to take

right to fay that the foundation of

There

it,

namely, fen-

no animal, which makes any motion in con-

fequence of external impulfe where danger

No.

principle of felf-prefervation in

animals, which, being the moft powerful one in their nature,

and with very good reafon, as the true

is

is

threatened, but what puts itfelf in a

pofture

A KEY TO PHYSIC

54
pofture of defence

but no vegetable whatever does

touched, immediately

we conclude

fence,

fliuts its

that

diell; and, as this adtion

it is

before; for whatever would have deftroyed

The motion

tain property called irritability;

eminent degree,

fliows a

brought near

thread in this cafe

feeming

flight is

and,

ing to

ftir.

if

in its

in a ftate of defence

expanded

ftate, will alfo

a charaCteriftic neither of animal nor vegetable

is

if

life,

than any fenfitive plant.

immediately ereCts

it

not detained,

if.

Why

will fiy off.

it

its

but

if

remain there,

The fenfitive

plant, in like

An

fafety,

prickles,

its

into water,

it is

will

quicklime

this principle

If a

finger is

after

be burnt without

its

thereby putting

is

fnail,

itfelf in

The cafe
its

it,

fo that

is

not

body toge-

a pofture of defence.

when touched, withdraws

fprihkled upon

offer-

has contraCled, will fuffer

it

hedge-hog, when alarmed, draws

its fliell is

it

to ex-

itfelf into its fliell,

no longer a place of

itfelf

of

its

locomotive

In mufcles and oyfiers, indeed, we cannot

of felf-prefervation fo ftrongly, as nature has deprived them

of the power of progreffive motion

means which nature has given them

but, as w'e obferve

them conftantly

for felf-prefervation,

to think that they are deftitute of that principle

is

fpreads

reafon, that

this plain

thrown into agonies, and endeavours to avail

But there

itfelf;

do we not conclude that the

fuffer itfelf to

manner,

pow'er in order to efcape the danger.

obferve

an

but belongs

and the fame principle of felf-prefervation prompts

body and fwim.

little

in

If a candle approaches,,

it.

For

really afraid of the candle?

allow'ed to

and expands

pand

it

not to get aw'ay from the candle, but to get towards the electrified

fo with the meaneft animal.

Throw

do fo

If a bit of filk

itfelf to be cut to pieces, without making the leaft effort to efcape.

ther,

than

certain, that an eleClrified filk thread

is

clafps clofe to the plate as if afraid of

metal

no more

the thread feems greedily to catch at

it,

a ftate of de-

in

and which, though our bodies poffefs

out tbe fmall fibres like arms; and,

it

it

dropt on an eleCtrified metal plate,

is

it

It

of the fenfitive plant proceeds only from acer-

common with brute-matter. It

much greater variety of motions

to us in

thread

is

puts

mufcle, when

proceeded from the principle of felf-prefervation. When;

it

the fenfitive plant contracts from a touch,

in its contracted ftate.

fo.

we can have no reafon

upon which

no need of arguments drawn from the

to ufe the

it is

founded.

We our^

inferior creation.

and vegetable life, and certainly muft know

any connexion between vegetation and fenfation or not. We are

felves are poffeffed both of the animal

whether there
confcious that

is

we

exift;

lutely unconfeious.

ger and

thirft;

that w'e hear, fee. See. but of our vegetation

We feel

we

are abfo-

a pleafure, for inftance, in gratifying the calls of hun-

but of the procefs by which our aliment improves our growth and

vigour, ive are altogether ignorant.

If we, then,

who

are

more

perfeCl than othec

vegetables,.

AND THE OCCULT

vegetables, are utterly infenfible of our

own

SCIENCES.

vegetable

55

why

life,

we imagine

fhould

that the lefs perfe6l vegetables are fenfible of it?

To

plane-tree, mentioned above, fhovvs as

outward
ever

If a
the

can be obferved

a6lion, as

neverthelefs,

ground

we have not

at a diftance, or that

wound

is

The dire6Hon of the roots

much fagacity, if we are to look only

our reafoning here by an example.

illuftrate

it

in

to the

any motion of the moft perfe6l animal what-

the leaft fufpidon, either that the tree faw the

was. informed of

being there by the

its

in the body of a man, and a lofs of fubftance

made

of the

fame fagacity w ill be obferved

in the

arrangement of the

reft

of its roots.

to be repaired,

is

not only as

fibres,

if

they tvere animated, but they will difpofe of themfelves feemingly with a degree of

wifdom

far fuperior to

what we have any idea of yet

this is

the leaft knowledge either

how

it is

done, or of

its

being done at

therefore in ourfelves a demonftration, that vegetable

what

it

does

and,

life

We

all.

if

we have a

fenfation, let

it

have

ads without our knowing

vegetables are ignorant of their moft fagacious adions,

fhould w'e fufped that

inferior ones,

done without our having

why

be ever fo obfcure, of any of their

fuch as contrading from a touch, turning towards the fun, or ad-

why we
namely, becaufe we perafcribe fenfation to an oyfter, and none to a vegetable
ceive the vegetable to do nothing but what is alfo performed in our own bodies

vancing to meet a pole

Thus we may

eafily give

M.

BulFon a reafon

without our having the leaf; fenfation of it; whereas an oyfter puts
fenfive pofture

own upon
fenfation.

Here

it

may

proceeds from the fame principle of

it

alfo be obferved, that, though the inferior animals are

number, they are by no means fo

other fenfe than that of feeling, yet this fenfe

As

flighteft touch,

to that

heart, or
irritated

it,

is

irritability,

by pricking

it,

after

very good moral reafon

Had

are cut or deftroyed

is

fo exquifite, that

it

which

is

it

will

contrad

of.

obferved in fome plants;

life;

will continue to

for the

contrad,

human
if it is

has neither fenfation nor vegetation.

may

why vegetables are not endowed

we may fuppofe them to fuffer pain when they
what an unhappy ftate muft. they be in, who have
allb be adduced,

they been fo,

and,

if fo,

not the leaft power to avoid

of the Deity

probably endowed with no-

when deprived both of vegetable and animal

a mufcle, cut out of an animal body,

with fenfation.

is

of their fenfa

fuch as we fliould altogether be infenfible

power of contradility, or

our folids have

in the acutenefs

on the contrary, though a mufcle or an oyfter

upon the

a de-

and, this being an adion fimilar to our

a like occafion, w'e conclude that

deficient in the
tion;

on the approach of danger

itfelf in

the. injuries daily

offered

them

In fadj the goodnefs

very confpicuous in not giving to vegetables the fame fenfations as

to animals;, and, as

he hath given them no means of defence, though we had not

been>

A KEY TO PHYSIC

5(5

been told

by himfeif, we might have known that he gave them for food to ani-

it

endowed them with fenfation would have been

cruelty.
Though animals without number prey upon one another, yet all of them
have fome means of defence; from whence w'ejuftly conclude, that their mutual demals

and, in this cafe, to have

ftru6lion

the

fall

was not an original appointment of the Creator, but what followed from

of iVdam, and what he forefaw would happen in a courfe of time, and which

gave every one of them fome means of guarding againft.

lie therefore

may no

It

doubt be here objedled, that the giving fome means of felf-defence to every animal
cannot be reckoned a

fufficient

proof that

was not the

it

that they fliould be deflroyed, feeing thefe

prefervation.

original defign of the Creator

means are not always

elFedlual for their

This objedlion, however, cannot be completely obviated without a

among the works of a permay be in folving this queftion,

folution of the queftion concerning the origin of evil

fe6lly-good Being.
it is

certain, that, as

But, whatever difficulty there

fome means of

felf-defence

been the original defign of the Creator, that

is

given to every animal,

in all cafes

felf-defence

is

given to

and, as no

means of

plain that they have been deftined for a

it is

prey to every fpecies of animals that had accefs to tliem. Philofophers have

much on

infifted

the neceflity of one animals devouring another, that there might be

fufficient for all;

but

upon

to be a refledlion

means

to preferve the life of

it,

as if the

one part of

Author of Nature could not have found

his creatures,

without the deftrudtion and

The facred writings leave us at no lofs to fee how this

came im; and in the next world, this piece of perfedtion

mifery of the reft

fanguinary philofophers above-mentioned would have

for there,

it is

faid,

room

fo far from being a fyftem w'orthy of the divine wifdom,

this,

feems

rous difpofition

has

one fpecies of animals fliould

not be deftroyed at the pleafure or w ill of any other fpecies

any vegetable,

it

They

lhall not hurt

the ox; and there ihall be no

more pain.

it

to be)

feems

nor deftroy; the lion

Ifa. xi. 7, 9.

ftiall

Bev. xxi.

carnivo(as the

to be left out;

eat ftraW like

4.

Of ANIMAL FLOWERS.
The grand argument

for

animal

life in

vegetables, w'as inferred from the curious

conftrudtion of the frelli-water poly pus, and the ciBinia genus, called animal flowers,

'lea-anemone, fea-funflower, &c. which, having indeed the external form and figure

cf vegetables,
obfervers

clafs, turn

with fcarcely

but,

any progreflive motion, might

when more minutely examined,

eafily deceive fuperficial

the polypus, and all the adlinia

out to be abfolute animals, of the viviparous kind, and feed on

flfli

ihe heads or mouths of which, when open, refemble a full-blown flower, whence
they

AND THE OCCULT

fheyare called

There

flower-fifli.

is

SCIENCES.

57

one fpecies of them, in which the pureft white,

The

carmine, and ultramarine, are fcarcely fufficient to exprefs their brilliancy.

bodies of fbme of them are hemifpherical, of others cylindrical, and of others

Their fubftance likewife differs fome are fliff and gelatinous,
fliaped like a fig.
;

others

flefliy

and mufcular

when they extend

many

but

their bodies

They have only one

round

part of the animal ;

mouth of

the animal,

and

;*

is

when food

but,,

mufcles in their

fhells,

is

The

the centre of the uppermoft

claws

flefliy

will

bear long
in

faffing.

opening

is

the

of fea-water, without any vifible

veffel

one of them

prefentedj

this

The animals themfelves,

They may be preferved

capable of great extenfion.

will fueceffively

devour two

or even fwallow a whole crab as large as a hens egg.

voided at the mouth, perfe6tly cleared of

is

all

In
the

mufcle-fhells are likewife difcharged whole, with the fhells joined to-

gether, but entirely empty, fb that not the

An anemone of one

on opening them.
another fpecies

;.

but, after retaining

and uninjured. Through

furniflied

is in

placed rows of

whole year, or perhaps longer,

a day or two the crab-fhell

meat.

opening, which

this are

though exceedingly voracious,

alive a

with

this

One

it

it.

By

can

to be perceived

it

produces

its

young ones

it

up

alive*

alive, alrea|Jy

as foon as they fix themfelvesj they begin to

while

the other extremity

it

is

of the extremities of the fea-anemone exactly re_

rocks or ftones lying in the fand

progreffive motion, as

particle of fifh

ten or twelve hours, will throw

fembles the outward leaves of that flower

or inner part of

leaf!;

fpecies will even fwallow an individual o^

opening alfo

claws,, which,

little

extend in fearch of food.

They are found on

and on fome parts of the coafl:

in fearch of food.

and claws

of the rocky coaffs of the Weft-India iflands,

of England.

food

of them are capable of altering their figure

all

but

it

fixes

limbs are not unlike the fliag

itfelf,

as by a fucker, to the

not totally deprived of the power of

it is

fhift its fituation,

peculiar fpecies of animal-flowers,

its

though very flowly.

called the cluttered

animal-flower, has

been found in fome of the Wett-India iflands, an account of which was publifhed:
in the Philofophical Tranfa6tions, vol.

of

many

by Mr.

Ivii.

This compound-animal, which

borough.

is

Ellis, in

of a tender

a letter to Lord Hillf-

flefliy

tubular bodies, fwelling gently towards the upper part, and ending like

bulb or very fmall onion

two rows of

The lower

on the top of each

tentacles, or claw^s,

part of

all

which when

is its

mouth, furrounded by one or

thefe bodies has a communication with a firm

creep along them in various directions.

4..

Thefe are
Q.

a.

contracted look like circles of beads

led tube, which flicks fatt to the rocks, and fends forth other

No..

fubttance, confitts

full

flefliy

of different

flefliy

wrink-

tubes,

which:

fizes

of thefe

remarkable.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

iS
remarkable animals, which

rife

up

adhering tube, that fecures them

The knobs

notice.

irregularly in groups near to one another. This

faft to the rock,

or

flielly

are formed into feveral parts of

it

by

bottom,
its

is

the inequalities of the coral rock, or by grafping pieces of diells,

Hill

remain

inftin(5l

in

it,

worthy of our

infinuating itfelf into

with the flefhy fubftance grown over them.

part of which

This fhows us the

of nature, that diredls thefe animals to preferve themfeives from the vio-

lence of the waves, not unlike the anchoring of mufcles by their fine filken

ments that end

lliell,

in fuckers

the tree-oyfter,

fiiape of

or rather like the

and the

whatever fubflance they

fix

themfeives

difleifled lengthwife,

mach, from whence there

we

find

rife eight

little

of the ferpula, or

to,

grafping

When we

it fall

with their tefla-

view the infide of

this

tube leading from the mouth to the

flo-

wrinkled fmall guts, in a circular order, wdth a

yellowifli foft fubflance in

them

the lower part of the bulb,

whence they may be traced downwards,

part of the upright tube,

till

they

them may be perceived entering

worm-

&c. whofe bafes conform to the

flipper barnacle,

ceous claws, to withfland the fury of a florm.

animal

fiielly bafis

fila-

thefe bend over in the form of arches towards

come

to the flelliy

to the

into the papilla, or the beginning of

the like kind, moft probably to convey

it

narrow

adhering tube, where fome of

nourifliment

till it is

an animal of

provided with claws;

the remaining part of thefe flender guts are continued on in the flefhy tube, with-

qpt doubt for the purpofe of producing and fupporting more young from the fame

common parent.
The Abb6 Dicquemarre, by many
the Phil. Tranf. for 1773, has

curious though cruel experiments, related in

Ihown that thefe animals

dinary degree, the power of reprodudlion

ceflary to produce as

into as

many

many fea-anemones

pieces.

poflefs, in a

mofl extraor-

fo that fcarcely any thing

as

we

fea-anemone being cut

pleafe,
in

more

is

ne-

than to cut a Angle one

two by a fedlion through the

body, that part, where the limbs and mouth are placed, ate a piece of mufcle of-

foon after the operation, and continued to feed and grow daily for three

fered to

it

months

after.

The

food fometimes pafled through the animal

but was generally

thrown up again, confiderably changed, as in the perfedt fea-anemone.

In about

two months, two rows of limbs and a mouth were perceived growing out of the
On offering food to this new mouth, it w^as
part where the incifion was made.
laid hold of

and eaten

and, the limbs continually increafing, the animal gradu-

became as perfedi as thofe which had never been cut. In fome inflances,
however, when one of thefe creatures was cut through, new limbs would be produced from the cut place, thofe at the mouth remaining as before fo that a mon-

ally

ftrous animal

was the confequence, having two mouths, and feeding

at both ends.

Under

AND THE OCCULT

Under a

large hollow

always under

is

eighteen inches, are feen at

tain fubftances that

or a bright

draw

a fixed ftone, or piece of rock, in the middle, which

Round

water.

Barbadoes, where the fea flows up,

in the illand of

cliff,

and forms a bafon, there

SCIENCES.

all

its

at different depths,

fides,

thick-fet petals, about the fize of,

little

fine radiated flowers, of

holes, cer-

a pale yellow,

having a circular border of

colour, flightly tinged with green,

and much refembling, thofe of a Angle garden-

marigold, except that the whole of this feeming flower

narrower at the difcus, or

is

Mr. Hughes,

any flower of that kind.

fetting-on of the leaves, than

feldom exceeding

times of the year, iffuing out of

have the appearance of

in his Hiftory

I have attempted

of Barbadoes, gives the following curious account of them:

pluck one of thefe animal-flowers from the rock to which they are fixed
never could effedt
it,

it;

as foon as

my

fingers

would immediately contract together

it

the hole of the rock

gradually
at lad

till

for,

fight,

in
it

furprifing quicknefs,
tried the

in its

very cautioufly,

flirink

its

it

it

with

my

back into

would come
with a

recoil,

within a fmall didance of

to touch

feeming leaves,

would again

it

to

but

or three inches of

about four minutes,

However,

when my hand came

flender rod, the effeft was the fame.

came within two

yellow border, and

firfi;

former bloom.

fame experiment by attempting

trive to take

its

but, if left undifturbed for

expanding, though at

appeared

is

it.

Having

cane, and a fmall

But, though I could not by any

means con-

or pluck one of thefe animals entire, yet I cut off (with a knife

which I had held for a long time out of

fight,

near the mouth of a hole out of which

one of thefe animals appeared) two of thefe feeming leaves.

the water, retain their diape and colour
like

fubdance, furprifingly

thin,

but,

Thefe, when out of

being compofed of a membrane-

they foon flirivelled

reprodu6tive power of the Barbadoes animal-flower

is

up,

and decayed.

Many

prodigious.

The

people

coming to fee thefe drange creatures, and occafioning fome inconvenience to a

perfon through whofe grounds they were obliged to pafs, he refolved to dedroy
the objedl of their curiofity
the holes out

and, that he might do fo

of which they appeared,

effe(5lually,

he caufed

all

be carefully bored and drilled with an

iron indrument, fo that we cannot fuppofe but their bodies mud have been entirely

crudied to a pulp

neverthelefs they again appeared in a few weeks in did

greater abundance, from the very

The

to

fame

places.

fea-carnation, or animal-flower, found

among the

rocks at Hadings in Suf-

fex, is very fimilar to the animal-flower of

tail,

Barbadoes. This animal adheres by its

or fucker, to the under part of the projedling rocks oppofite the town and,
;

when
f

it

the tide

when put

is

out, has the

appearance of a long white

fig

which

is

alfo the

form

into a glafs of fea-water.

Oj

A KEY TO PHYSIC

50

Of the polypus.

THE Polype,

or Polypus, which fo long divided naturalifts in opinion whether

was of vegetable or animal conformation,

it

a frelh-water animal, of the hydra

is

genus, in the clafs of worms, and order of zoophyteSy in the Linnaean fyftem,is

of a cylindrical figure, but variable, with very long tentacula, or claws,.

is

fcarcely an animal in the world

worm

varies

it

young

whole figure

more

difficult to defcribe,

adhering to

it

fo as to appear parts of

wards the

this furprifing

by which

tail,

it

fome

fixes itfelf to

the tentacula, or claws, which are eight

about half the length of

commonly

called,

its

into a circle of

ture feels every thing that can ferve

calls in the afliftance

other animals

for the

body

folid

body

its

it

young

is

young one

to-

and larger towards the

mouth, around which ar^

its

more than half a

if

different

to

are'

foot diameter, the crea-

and, feizing the prey with one of

necelTary, to condudt

from the

common

from the fide of

iffues

oblong,,

it is

fomewhat fmaller

of thefe tentacula, or arms, as they

for food

of the others,

is

number, and are ufually extended

in

By means

body.

expanded

production of

its

has a larger opening, called

it

y&ung ones

thefe

body.

its

and of a pale-reddifh colour

other extremity, where

The

than

There

frequently found befet witb

is

fimple and in a moderate ftate as to contradtion or dilation,

flender, pellucid,

them,

and

at pleafure,

fuch a manner as to appear ramofe and divaricated

in

When

its

It

its

it

to

its

mouth.

courfe of nature im

parent in the form of a

fmall pimple, which, lengthening every hour, becomes, in about two days, a perfeCV

animal, and drops from off

its

parent to

has often another growing from

before the

firft

is

fide

its

feparated from

fliift

but, before

and what

among them any

is

much

more
when cut
and

kept feparate as

furprifing,

ftill

diftinCt

if

into a

There

is

no

for

diftinguiflied place in the

forth

its
it

among

very extraordinary,

others

or ap-

in a

prolific,

but what

when cut

feveral parts

becomes

even

is

and
even

off ; for,

day or two fo many

each piece having the property of producing a head

life,

and

all

the animal functions.

body of the polypus, from whencb the

for they fpring out like flioots or branches of a tree, from-

the exterior parts of their bodies.

creature,
it

feparate pieces,

and the other organs neceffary

young are brought

all

fuffered to live

the reproduction of

is

number of

and feparate animals

tail,

if

this, it

that,

diftinClion of fex,

pearance of copulation; every individual of the whole fpecies being

that as

does

it

and fometimes a third from

parent

its

there has never yet been difcovered

for itfelf

and being determined

M. Trembley, who had

to convince himfelf,

by

heard

much

real experiments,

of this

whether

was a vegetable or an animal, cut one in the middle, when, to his utter amazement.

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

61

ment, he found that in twa days each of thofe pieces was become a perfedl animal,
Numerous trials of a
the head-part having fhot forth a tail, and the tail a head.

have been made

fimilar nature

that

in

my own

laboratory; and I have always found

how often you cut them,

many diftindt polypes.

members, and become

fo

to fticks, flones,

and water-plants, and

alive a long time in glaffes,

live

on fmall

The

with other fmall infedls.

creature has

a foot, fignifying an animal with

ffoy;,

have been invented, fince

taken for

it

capable of great extenfion,

fedls,

and brings them to

bodies larger than itfelf

in proportion, than

it

its

feizes

mature

one

After

its

upon which

food
it

feeds through

little fibres
;

which

numerous

offspring,

#pe6t, as

one of them be cut

in

twm

5.

in

but for

itfelf,

feeding, tending

was feparated, produces a

in the middle, the feparated part

to

circle of

fome

fixed bafe, like the parent

arms; a mouth

Itrange properties recorded of the polypes

is

and animal

very furprifing, are not, however, peculiar to them alone.

No.

its

increafes in bulk, emits a

The feveral

man-

manner reprefented

formed

numerous progeny, and is foon,

perfedl an animal as that from which it w'as fevered.

it

thefe are ar-

growing out of

of thefe provides nourifiiment not only for

becomes ajcomplete animal, and foon, adhering

centre;

foon

Thus a polype of the frefii-vvater kind becomes like a

or compofed of many bodies, each of which has this fingular

eharadteriftic, that, if

it

again,

fibres they

When

8cc.

united together and difpofed in the

Each

it

in the reft.

plant branched out,

from which

mouth

its

wider,

fiomach,

they fend out other young ones on their fides in the fame

common parent, and

an increafe

its

are feen rifing out of

the whole fociety; an increafe of the bulk of one polype, by

to

mouth

its

digefted in

is

In a few days there appear fmall knobs or

fo that the animal branches out into a

the annexed plate.

more properly

arms, which are

little

having a furprifing property of extending

any other animal.

fize,

What were originally

thefe

begin to ufe for the purpofe of procuring nourifiiment,

ner

many,

the Greek

horns, and of late

the circumference of their heads, as in the parent animal

rived at

clean,

of the Thames, or

but a more appofite one might

With

fides; as thefe increafe in length,

its

kept

eafily

minute worms, and various kinds of water-in-

having no other obfervable emundlory.

on

mud

feet at all.

its

prey.

its

the

tail

mouth:' and, like the fea-anemone, often fwallows

returns the remains of the animals

papillas

feet;

has in reality no

arms, their office being to catch

its

many

in

name from

its

are what have fince been called

feet,

They are

infedts.

often changing the water, keeping the glaffes

and feeding them with a fmall red worm, common

eafily

put out new

ftill

are always to be found in clear flowly-running waters, adhering by the

They

and

for they

of no confequence

it is

in

flowers,

The Surinam toad

'

in the

every re-

though
is

well

known

A KEY TO PHYSIC

62

known
And,

produce

to

we know

young, not in the ordinary way, but

its

amazing of

as to the inoft

and

the crab

upon

back

its

lobfter, if

a leg be broken

can always produce a new one.

oif,

have annexed a copper-plate of fome excellent drawings of thefe curious phe-

nomena

which No.

in nature; in

reprefents the frelh water polype, with

No. 2

arms extended upwards.

tacula or

young branching from

taken, goes to the

and putting out

it,

common

reprefents the

fupport of the rvhole family.

No. 4

fearch of food.

defcribed.

No. 5

is

to catch

clofe inftantly

prey, which being allured to

its

upon

it,

its

No. 3 fliows the animal

with

its

tentacles

extended

an exadl reprefentation of the fea-anemone, above

a brilliant difplay of the fea fun-flower animal, with

panded

ten-

howfoever

No. 6

head of the animal-flower of Barbadoes.

fliows the

its

fame animal, with

their claws for food, which,

carnation-flower of the rocks near Haftings in Suffex,

in

in cells

their properties, the re-prod ui5lion of their parts^

and convey

it

it

its

by

is

innumerable tentacles ex-

its

elegant appearance, they

No. 7

mouth.

to the interior concavity or

reprefents a clufter of the animal-flower defcribed by Mr. Ellis, in the iflands ceded

by France;
of food.

in

which a

No. 8

is

fliows

one of the animals ftretching out its tentacles

in

fearch

a perpendicular difledlion of one of the fame animals, in order to

fliow the gullet, inteftines, ftomach,

and the

tendons that move the claws.

fibres or

Of animalcules.

THE next mofl furprifing part of animal nature,

merable tribe of living beings, wholly
even be perceived to

is

invifible to the

that of animalcules, an innu-

naked eye, and which cannot

but by the afliftance of microfcopes.

exift,

The

fmallefl;

living creatures our inftruments can fliow, are thofe that inhabit the waters

though poflibly animalcules equally minute, or perhaps more

air,

or creep upon the earth,

it is

fo,

all

that

it

contains.

it

to

our

fly in

for,

the

fcarcely poffible to bring fuch under our exami-

nation; but, w^ater being tranfparent, and confining the creatures in

by applying a drop of

may

glaffes, to difcover, to

Some of the moft

curious

it,

we

are able,

a certain degree of fmallnefs,

of thefe animalcules, which have

been defcribed by microfcopical obfervers, are as follow.

].

The Hair-like InfeB.

This

is

fo called on account of

tremely flender, and frequently an hundred and

body or middle

part,

which

is

fifty

its

fliape;

being ex-

times as long as broad.

The

nearly flraight, appears, in fome, compofed of fuch

rings as the windpipe of land-animals; but, in others, feems rather fcaled, or mai^e

up of rings

that obliquely crofs one another. Its two ends are hooked or bent, pretty

nearly in the fame degree, but in a dire6lion oppofite to one another ; and, as no eyes

can

AND THE OCCULT

can be difcerncd,

motion

is

difficult to

it is

SCIENCES.

judge which

is

65

the head or

Its progreffive

tail.

very fingular, being performed by turning upon one end as a centre, and

deferibing almofi; a quarter of a circle with the other

its

ihape and form

feen greatly magnified in the following curious Plate of Animalcules, at

much

motions are very flow, and require

may be

fig. 1.

Its

patience and attention in the ohferver.

Thefe creatures are fo fmall, that millions of millions of them might be contained
the circle,

in

When

fig. 2.

viewed

of a beautiful green colour; but,

fingly, they are

exceedingly tranfparent, and

when numbers of them

are brought together, they

become opaque, lofe their green colour, and grow entirely black. The hair-like
was firft difeovered in a ditch at Norwich, one end of which communicates

infe6l

with the river there, and the other end with a fecond ditch, into which feveral
kennels empty themfelves.

and

green fubftance in

blackifli

The

length of this ditch was at leaft a hundred yards,

The bottom,

breadth nine.

its

more than a foot thick, was covered with a

appearance like mud, made up for the moft part of
for

thefe infe6ls; but, fuppoflng only half or a quarter part of

it

to

be compofed of

them, according to the above dimenflons, their numbers mufl: exceed

Eels in Pqjte, &c.

2.

When

pafle

is

allowed to fland

till it

motion

is

their

form cannot be perfe6lly

of thefe infe6ls

is,

that they are viviparous.

it

be difeerned

Fig,

The moft remarkable property

w'ill

is

cut through near

be feen to iffue forth.

are young anguillae, each of them coiled up and inclofed in

while

it is

diftinguiflied, their

If one of them

the middle, feveral oval bodies, of different fizes,

is

may

four,

very perceptible, and'the whole pafte will feem to be animated.

reprefents one of thefe anguillae highly magnified.

which

imagination.

becomes

then found to be the habitation of numberlefs animalcules, which

by the naked eye; and, though

all

its

Thefe

proper membrane,

fo exquifitely fine, as fcarce to be difcernible by the greateft magnifier,

inclofes the

break through

this

embryo animal.

The

largeft

and moft forward immediately

covering, unfold themfelves, and wriggle about in the water

move themfelves about more flowly; and the

leaft mature continue entirely without motion.
The uterus, or veffel that contains
all thefe oval bodies, is compofed of many ringlets, not unlike the afpera arteria

nimbly-; others get out, uncoil, and

of land-animals, and feems to be confiderably elaftic;

for, as

foon as the animal-

fome degree of violence, from

the fpringing-back or action of this bowel. An hundred and upwards of the young
ones have been feen to iffue from the body of one Angle eel, whereby the prodigious increafe of them may be acounted for ; as probably feveral fuch numerous
cule

is

cut in two, the oval bodies are thruft out with

generations are produced in a

wife found in vinegar
rous,

But

it is

fliort

time.

Animalcules of a fimilar kind are

like-

and, like thofe already deferibed, are found to be vivipa-

not only in acid matters that fuch appearances are obferved.

In

fome

A KEY TO PHYSIC

64

fome fields of wheat, many grains maybe obferved, that appear blackifii outwardly,
as iffcorched; but when opened, are found to contain a foft white fubftance, which,
attentively confidered, appears to be nothing elfe than a congeries of threads or
fibres, lying clofe to

dowm of fome

each other

in

a parallel diredtion,

leaft fign

newly gathered, the fuppofed

ahvays flower and with

or motion, unlefs water

is

The

and indeed, unlefs

will often

be

known

be living creatures.

to

but gradually become more adlive and

fomewhat

manner of

in the

as the

become fuddenly

the eels in

affuming a great number of different

its

fame animal

in its various transformations;

be carefully watched wdiile paflingfrom one

it

vi-

lefs regularity.

Proteus, fo called on account of

fliapes, fo as fcarcely to

it

life

and appear

fibres feparate,

are very languid

firfi;

gorous, twifting and wriggling themfelves

3.

of

but immediately on wetting, provided the grains of wheat have been

Their motions at

pafte, but

the unripe

on cutting open the flower-heads before they begin to blow.

thirties

This fibrous matter difcovers not the

applied

much refembling

When water, w-herein

invifible.

fliaj)e to

another,

any fort of vegetable

has been infufed, or animals preferved, has flood quietly for fome days or weeks
in

any glafs or other

veffel,

a flimy fubflance will be colledled about the fldes

up with

of which being taken

fome

the point of a pen-knife, placed on a flip of glafs in a

drop of w'ater, and looked at through the microfeope, wdll be found to harbour feveral kinds of

little

which the proteus

animals that are feldom found fwimming about at large

is

Its fliape is better

one.

and

fnail;

to that of a fwan.

It

its

fwims

whole
to

fliape

and

flop for a minute or two; during which time

as

it

fubflance and colour re-

Its

feems to bear a confiderable refemblance

fro with great vivacity

can reach, forwards, and on every

fide,

its

long neck

is

but

will

There are no

to be difeerned: but

its

eyes, nor

adtions plainly prove

it

its

progreflive motion

is

very fwift,

it

Plate at

fig.

When

4 and

5.

it is

alarmed,

transforming

it

it

like

a mouth,

to be an animal that can fee; for,

in tlie

fame water, and

its

never ftrikes againfl any of them, but diredls

fuddenly draws in

itfelf into the fliape

its

we fuppofe

it

neck, reprefentedin the

reprefented at

becomes more opaque, and moves about very flowly, with the
When it has continued fome time in this poflure, it will often,
and neck

mo-

body, and feem-

courfe between them with a dexterity wholly unaccountable fliould

deflituteof fight.

then

ufually employed as far

any opening in the head

though multitudes of different animalcules fwim about

owm

now and

with a fomewhat-flow but equable

tion, like that of a fnake, frequently extending thrice the length of its

ingly in fearch of food.

among

underflood from the following plate,

than from any defeription that could be given.

femblethatof a

large

fig. 6.

when it

and foremofl.

inflead of the

head

had formerly, put forth a new one, with a kind of wheel-machinery,

reprefented

AND THE OCCULT

reprefented at

65

the motions of which draw a current of water to

fig. 7.

Having

fiderable diftance.

SCIENCES.
it

from a con-

and thruft out this fhort head, fometimes

often pulled in

and fometimes without the wheel-work, the creature, as if weary, will remain
motionlefs for a while; then its head and long neck will be very flowly protruded,
w'ith

as at

fig. 8.

and

it

foon refumes

and head as reprefented at

its

fig.

former

Sometimes

agility.

difpofes of its neck

it

9.

4. the Wheel-animal, or Vorticella.

This wonderful animalcule

found in rain-

is

water that has ftood fome days in leaden gutters, or in hollows of lead on the tops
of houfes, or in the flime or fediment

found
left

in other places;

behind

finding
ter,

it,

them

yet

left

but, if the w'ater

by fuch water

Handing

has any thing of a red colour in

Though

therein.

it

In

exceeds not the bignefs of a grain of fand, and

put into water,

in the

life

many months

the water, and kept in a Hate as dry as duft.

and peidiaps may

may be

one

it,

difcovers no figns of

capable of continuing alive for

it is

in gutters of lead, or the

this

no

be

almoft certain of

except when in the wa-

after

Hate

alfo

fediment

it is

taken out of

is

it

of a gobular fliape,

appear ; but, being

figns of life

fpace of half an hour a languid motion begins, the globule

turns itfelf about, lengthens itfelf by flow degrees, affumes the form of a lively

maggot, and moft commonly in a few minutes afterwards puts out

fwimming vigoroufly through

itfelf

by the

10, 11, 12,

fliow

its

tail,

and

the water, as

works the wheels

13,

if in

fearch of food

fuch a manner as to bring

in

wheels

or elfe, fixing

its

its

food to

Fig.

it.

appearances of its wheels; andfig. 14, and 15,

The moft remarkable part of this animalcule is its wheel-

Ihow the

globular form.

different

This confifts of a couple of femicircular inftruments, round the edges of

which many little fibrillos move themfelves very brilldy, fometimes with a kind of
work.

rotation,
it

and fometimes

fometimes unfaftens

ingly in purfuit of

its

in a trembling or vibrating

its tail,

prey.

manner.

When

and fwims along with a great deal of

Sometimes the wheels feem

in this ftate,

fwiftnefs,

feem-

to be entire circles,

armed

with frnall teeth, like thole of the balance-wheel of a watch, appearing projected
forwards beyond the head, and extending lideways fomewhat wider than
ter.

The

tances

teeth or cogs of thefe wheels

feem to Hand very regularly

diame-

at equal dif-

but the figure of them varies according to their polition, the degree of their

protrufion, and perhaps the will of the animal

itfelf.

ture feem to imply fagacity and quicknefs of fenfation.

tion in the water, they inftantly

draw

lodged fomewhere about the wheels

tions are flow

and blundering; but,

in their wheels;

5.

All the adlions of this crea-

At
and

the leaft touch or

their eyes

becaufe, while in the maggot

mo-

feem to be

ftate,

its

mo-

after the wheels are protruded, they are per-

formed with great regularity, fwiftnefs, and

No.

its

fteadinefis,

Befides

A KEY TO PHYSIC

66

Befides the above, there are found in our waters feveral other fpecies of animals

fome of which appear

furnifhed with wheels,

the hair-like iiifedl

manner

differ

veffel,

vi-

Norwich, where

from the foregoing only

having

in

19, reprefent a fpecies of wheel animals, whicii

of this fpecies confifts of three parts, in

as the other; only the thorax

by any gut, or intermediate

is

and

The body

are alfo covered with Ihells.

like

They

produced.

is

Fig. 17, 18,

tails.

have a rotatory, and others a

Fig. 16. reprefents a kind found in the ditch at

bratory, motion.

very long

to

and abdomen,

in this, are not feparated

The

but are joined immediately together.

heart

plainly perceived, having a regular fyftole and diaflole, at a a a, as in the former

Tiiefe creatures occafionally

fpecies.

and the

diell

other.

The young ones

draw themfelves

then appears terminated by

is

ging

and

its tail,

about to burft

its

condition the young one fets

tail

from

as the old one does,

parent.
figure

is

its

tail

young

wheel a-going, and exerts

it

fig.

Fig. 20.

has got clear,

it

it is

not

ened by their
of uneafmefs

all its

fhows

it

flea
5.

can ufe

The

In

it

this

endeavours to free

to the

its

fiell of the

of which a

w^ater-flea,

magnified, wuth fome of the wheel-

21. flows the natural fize of the

flea.

when

Thefe
that

is

infedls

the cafe,

to difcover five or fix of thefe crufaceous wheel-animals faft-

tail to
;

by wag-

becomes as

fwims away, w'agging

are often found in great numbers in the fame water; and,

uncommon

When

tail.

cannot be fo foon difengaged.

Thefe wheel-animals are great tormentors of the

it

and two on the

greatly,

alfifts it

ones head

and leaving the integument adhering

given in the plate.

animals adhering to

fide

fomewhere about the

integuments, the parent

When

confinement.

its

fliells

ftriking the oval bag, fo that the

were forced into the water, though the

itfelf

on one

fix fiort fpikes

of this fpecies are carried in oval facculi, or integuments,

faftened externally to the lower part of their

a young one

entirely wnthin their fhells;

the fiell or horns of the flea

caufmg

nor can they be driven away, or fiaken

it,

olf,

feemingly, a vaft deal

by

all

the efforts the

for that purpofe.

Bell-jiower Animal, or

nies together,

exceeding the

from ten
latter,

Plumed

Polype.

Thefe animalcules dwell

to fifteen, (feldom falling fiort of the former

number, or

in a flimy kind of mucilaginous or gelatinous cafe

out of the w'ater has -no determined form, appearing like a

little

in colo-

which

lump of

flime;

when expanded therein, has fome refemblance to the figure of a bell with its
mouth upwards ; and is ufually about half an inch long and a quarter of an inch in

but,

diameter.

Thefe

bells, or colonies, are to

duckw'eed, and other aquatic plants.

They may be moft

ting a quantity of water, with duckw^eed in

in glafs veffels in

be found adhering to the large leaves of

it,

eafily difcovered

by

let-

ftand quietly for three or four hours

a window, or other place where a ftrong

light

comes

for then,
if

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

67

any are about the duckweed, they will be found, on careful infpedlion, extending
Befides the parthemfelves out of their cafes, and making an- elegant appearance.

if

and feparate motion which each of thefe creatures is able to exert within its
own cafe, and independent of the reft the whole colony together has a power of
altering the pofition of the bell, or even of removing it from one place to another ;

ticular

and hence

fometimes found ftanding

this bell is

perfetftly upright, as at fig. 22.

and

As thefe animalcules feem not to

whofe number exceeds fifteen, when the colony

fometimes bending the upper part downwards.

choofe

to ftay together in focieties

happens

to increafe in

number, the

bell m.ay be

obferved to

fplit gradually,

begin-

ning from about the middle of the upper or anterior extremity, and proceeding

downwards towards the bottom,

become two complete

removes

as at

fig^

23.

they at

till

laft

colonies independent of each other, one of which fometimes

to another part of the veftel.

The arms of each

individual of this colony

are fet round the head, to the

number of forty, having each

one of whofe hooked ends

faftened to the head,

ed,

compofe a

feparate entirely, and

is

and

all

figure ftiaped fomewhat like a horfes fiioe,

the figure of an Italic /,

together, w'hen expand-

convex on one

fide

next

the body, but gradually opening and turning outwards, fo as to leave a confidera-

When

ble area within the outer extremities of the arms.

ed, the creature,
w^ater,

the arms are thus extend-

by giving them a vibrating motion, can produce a current in the

which brings the animalcules, or whatever other minute bodies are wdthin

the fphere of

its

a6lion, with great velocity to its

where they are taken

in if liked,

mouth, fituated between the arms;

or driven away by a contrary motion.

their eyes c an n n't be difeovered, yet they have perception of the light:

kept in the dark, they- always remain contrafted

for,

w^hen

on being expofed to the

fun or of a candle, they conftantly extend their arms, and ftiow evident

light of the
fi

but,

Though

gns of being plea fed.

6.

The Globe-animal.

bular, having

This animalcule, reprefented

no appearance of either head,

tail,

or

at fig. 24.

fins.

It

fsems exadlly glo-

moves

forwards or backwards, up or down, either rolling over and over

in all dire6lions,

like a bowl, fpin-

ning horizontally like a top, or gliding along fmoothly without turning

Sometimes
it

its

its

motions are flow, at other times very fwift

The
The

with points

pearance

is,

it

pleafes,

it

are fliowmin the figure.

to feven.

and, w'hen

were upon an axis, very nimbly, wfithout removing out of

whole body is tranfparent, except where the circular black fpots

can turn round, as

place.

itfelf at all.

Some

df the aninfials have no fpots, and others from one

furface of the whole

body appears,

in others, as if granulated like fliagreen

asif befet thinly round with

fliort

fome, as

in
;

if all

over dotted

but their more general ap-

moveable hairs or

briftles,

which

probably

A KEY TO PHYSIC

6S

probably are the inflruments by which their motions are performed. Thefe animalcules may be feen by the naked eye, but appear only like moving points.

The Pipe-animal.

7.

Thefe creatures are found on the coaft of Norfolk,

fandy matter,

in fmall tubes or cafes of

fometimes of three

aaaa

where

off,

feet in length.

is

made

Fig. 25. fliows a piece of fuch a congeries broke

reprefent the mouths or openings of the pipes wherein the

animals make their abode.

rated from the

living

fuch multitudes as to compofe a mafs

in

reft,

Fig. 26. fliows one fingle pipe, with

and magnified nine or ten times

its

of fand, intermixed here and there with minute

inhabitant, fepa-

The

in diameter.

and

fliells,

little

pipe or cafe
all

cemented

together by a glutinous flime, probably iffuing from the animals

is

compofed of raufcular

The anterior end

contradlion.

a double row of
of extenfion,

little

or head,

arms difpofed

order to catch

in

own body c, which

worm, capable of great extenfion or

ringlets like thofe of a

in

exceedingly beautiful, having round

it

a very regular order, and probably capable

aud bring

food,

its

d, is

it

to

its

mouth.

Some

of thefe

tubes are found petrified.

8.

An

There thefe
bling,

The

Infect with net-like arms.

are very extraordinary. It

when

all

exadlly in the

magnified.

found only

together, the

combs of bees

fame manner

Its

on

their tails;

about

like fans or nets,

out and draws in again

Fig. 27.

is

raifes itfelf,

and ftands upright

head, where

its

which ferve to provide

its

it is

food.

furniflied with

Thefe

it

of claw

head, which, every time the nets are drawm

is

of grafs put into

Some

taken in them.

moft of them died

tranfparent cafes,

in

feemed

lived above three days

two

but

inftru-

frequently fpreads

changed

and, though

times a-day, yet in a few hours

it

in,

conduct to the mouth of the ani-

reft,

having fpun themfelves'

fides of the glafs, or to pieces

into a kind of chryfalia.

frefli

would

ut-

to the body.

of thefe creatures being kept with water

two days; and the

to be

are

are faftened to the lower part of the

which were faftened either to the

it,)

tail

in the water

and when drawn up they are folded together with the

At the bottom of thefe fans a couple

vial,

their

Ihows one of thefe infedls

moft nicety and exadtnefs, fo as to be indifcernible when brought clofe

and refem-

body appears curioufly turned as on a lathe; and at the

it

in

fwift.

at the time they are filled with

as the garden-fpider.

three fharp fpines, on which

mal whatever

animal

little

where the water runs very

being taken out of the water, they fpin threads, by which they hang

the moft curious apparatus

ments

properties and fhape of this

in cafcades,

infedts are found in clufters, ftanding eredl

On

aurelias.

is

None

of them

water was given them two or three

ftink to

a degree fcarcely conceivable, and

that too at feveral yards diftance, though, in proportion to the w'ater, all the in-

cluded infects were not more than as one to one million one hundred and

fifty

thoufand.

;;

AND THE OCCULT

This makes

fand.
left

It

probable, that

neceflary for

it is

them

is

found

in ditch-water,

About

of the body

is

and

the head

it

This animalcule
is

of various

fizes,

is

own

from one

which, in the large ones,

Along

may

it

be feen with the naked eye,

in the water, or creeps

up the

hollow, or of what ufe

it is

this it

fide of the glafs;

to the creature

but

malcules in the femen of moft animalsj

turalift.

doth their

fize differ in

The bodies

of

all

it is

them

not

The

is

and

it

and

moves

known whether

found

it i|

in the

male feed

much

by this fliape they referable tadpoles, they

name; though the tails of them., in proportion

longer than the

fifties

tails

of tadpoles are: and

have

tails

much

it is

obfervable,

longer and more flender

of thofe in other animals; infomuch, that the extremity of them

and the utmoft attention.

feed of a dog.

fig.

30,

The numbers of thefe animalcula are

ten thoufand of

them are capable of being contained

concluded, that the milt of this Angle

in the

fifti

g, h, thofe

inconceivable;

innumerable

fize,

that at leaft

bulk of a grain of fand

contained more living ani-

malcules than there are to be found people living in the whole world.
fize

is

Fig. 29, a,

e, jf,

cod-fifti,

multitudes of animalcules are found therein, of fuch a diminutive

comparative

clear,

is

fro as

very much the fame, nor

viewing with a microfcope the milt or feed of a male

it is

very

difcovery of living ani-

reprefentthe fpermatic animalculaof the rabbit; and

whence

is

claimed by Leeuwenhoek, a Dutch natu-

not to be difcerned without the beft glaffes,

in the

fides are feveral

and, as

that the animalcules in the feed of

found

the reft

of them feem to be of an oblong oval form, with long tapering

to their bodies, are

b} c, d,

an inch

itfelf.

but their general appearance

have been frequently called by that

tails

28.

proportion to the bulk of the animal to which they belong.

flender tails iffuing from

than the

is

its

the water

if

to this naturalift, thefe animalcules are

of every kind of animal

fig.

a long horn or probofcis

waves to

Spermatic Animals and Auimalcula Injtiforia.

According

all

has two black eyes, and

in this creature, is

fornetimes one tenth of an inch in length

10.

no

and tranfparent, except the inteftinesr, which are

But the moft remarkable thing

nimble.

fortieth to half

has fomewhat of a yellowifti colour; but

perfedlly colourlefs

with long hairs growing from them:

papillae,

bodies, as

ftiown, magnified, at

confiderably opaque, and difpofed as in the figure.

On

to live in a rapid ftfeam,

in the phial.

curious aquatic worm.

in length.

is

69

they fkould be poifoned by the effluvia ifluing from their

doubt they were

it

SCIENCES.

To find the

of thefe animalcules, Mr. Leeuwenhoek placed a hair of his head

near them; which hair, through his microfcope, appeared an inchin breadth; and

he was

fatisfiedj that at leaft fixty

fuch animalcules could eafily

meter; whence, their bodies being fpherical,

No.

5.

it

follows, that

lie

within that dia-

two hundred and

fix-

teen

A KEY TO PHYSIC

7d

teen thoufand of them are but equal to a globe whofe diameter

He

hair.

obferved, that,

cod-fidi w'as exhaled, the

when the water wherewith he had

little

and confiftency of the

of a land animal

be obferved

have

to

the breadth of a

diluted the feed of

bodies of the animalcules burft in pieces

not happen to thofe in the feed of a ram

latter, as

Thefe animalcules appear

is

the

flefli

and

this is

to be very vigorous

move long after the animal from

imputed

is fluid

to the greater firmnefs

more compaft than

and tenacious of

is

dead.

may
They

motion, without the leaft reft

them tofwim about in.

fufficient for

fifli.

for they

life;

which they are taken

this peculiarity alfo, that they are continually in

or intermiffion, provided there

is

Thefe

animalcules are only peculiar to the feed; nothing that has the leaft token of

being difcoverable by the beft

to

be found in the

between our teeth; fome of which are of an oval

The Animalcula

life

either in the blood, fpittle, urine, gall, or

glafles,

Great numbers, however, are

chyle.

which did

name from

Infuforia take their

either of vegetable or animal infufions.

figure,

whitifti

matter that fticks

and others refemble

eels.

their being found in all kinds

Indeed, there

is

fcarcely any kind of water,

fome mineral fubftance, but what will difcover living

Leeuwenhoek fays, that at firft he could difcern no living creatures in
creatures.
rain water; but, after Handing fome days, he difcovered innumerable animalcules,

unlefs impregnated with

many thoufands
a bee

is

of times lefs than a grain of fand, and in proportion to a mite as

to a horfe.

In other rain-water, which had likewife flood fome time, he

found the fmalleft fort he had ever feen; and,

in

eight times as big as thefe, and almoft round.

that

two

had been expofed

little

like the former,

roundifii,

In another quantity of rain-water,

he difcovered a kind of animalcules with

The fpace between

horns, in continual motion.

though the body was

a few days more, met with others

but tapering a

little

the horns was

towards the end; where a

flat,

tail

appeared, four times as long as the body, and the thicknefs of a fpiders web.

He

obferved feveral hundreds of thefe

cupy.

If they

happened on the

w'ithin the

fpace a grain of fand would oc-

leaft filament or firing,

they were entangled in

it;

and then would extend their bodies into an oblong round, and ftruggle hard to
difengage their
the head to

tails.

Hand

He

obferved a fecond

at the fliarpeft end.

fort,

of an oval figure, and imagined

The body was

flat,

with feveral

frnall feet,

moving exceeding quick, but not difcernible without a great deal of attention.
Sometimes they changed their lliape inko a perfeft round, efpecially when the water
began to dry away. He met alfo with a thii'd fort, twice as long as broad, and
eight times fmaller than the

moved

very nimbly.

yet in thefe he difeerned

firft

little feet,

whereby they

He perceived

likewife a fourth fort, a thoufand times fraedler

than a loufes eye, and which exceeded

all the

reft in briflinefs

he found thefe
turning

AND THE OCCULT

turning themfelves round, as

he

were upon a point, with the

it

were feveral other

fays, there

SCIENCES.

71

celerity of

a top.

And

The produftion of animalculainfiiforia

forts.

is

In four hours time, an infufion of cantharides has produced ani-

very furprihng.

malculalefs than even the

tails

we have

of the fpermatic animals

already defcribed.

Neither do they feem to be fubje^f to the fate of other animals; but, feveral kinds
of them at

by dividing themfelves

leaft,

enjoy a fort of immortality.

in two, to

do the common methods by which other animals aredeftroyed, feem

Hot mutton-gravy, fecured

for deftroying their vital principle.

and afterwards

cork,

fet

among hot

fwarming with animalcules,

adlions, vol. lix.

we have a

allies, to

fuppofed to

living creature that could be

after
ve.-y

Nor

to beeffe61:ual

in a phial with

deftroy as effedlually as poffible every

exift in

it,

has neverthelefs been found

In the Philofophical Tranf-

Handing a few days.

curious account, given us by Mr. Ellis, of animal-

cules produced from an infufion of potatoes and of hemp-feed.

On

May, 176iS, Fahrenheits thermometer feventy degrees, I boiled

New-River w'ater, till it was reduced to a mealy confiftence. I

the i^5th of

a potatoe

in, the

put part of

it,

with an equal proportion of the boiling liquor, into a cylindrical

glafs velfel, that held fomething lefs than half a

At

wine

pint,

and covered

it

clofe

fame time I fliced an unboiled potatoe,

and, as near as I could judge, put the fame quantity into a glafs velfel of the fame
kind
with the fame proportion of New-lliver water not boiled
and covered it

immediately with a glafs cover.

the

On

with a glafs cover; and placed both velfels clofe to each other.
fixth of

May, twenty-four hours

the

magnifier of Wilfons microfcope, whofe focal diftance

firfi;

fiftieth

part of an inch

and, to

afterw'ards,

more

examined a fmall drop of each, by

my amazement,

of a linear lhape, very diftinguifhable,

that there appeared to be

moving

particles of

This experiment I have repeatedly

tried,

the twenty-

they were both

to

and

is

reckoned at the

full

of animalcules

fro with great celerity; fo

animal than vegetable

and always found

it

life in

each drop.

to fucceed in pro-

portion to the heat of the circumambient air; fo that even in winter,

if

the liquors

are kept properly warm, at leaft in two or three days the experiment will fucceed.

What

have obferved are

infinitely fmaller

different fhape: the truth of

of,

whofe

curiofity

may

no way

lead

than fpermatic animals, and of a very

which every accurate obferver will foon be convinced

him

to

compare them; and

am

perfuaded he will

At prefent I fiiall pafs over many other curious obhave made on two years experiments, in order to proceed to
the explaining a hint which I received laft January from M. de Sauffure, of Geneva,

find they are

fervations,

which

akin.

when he was here; which

is,

that he found one kind of thefe animalcula infuforia

thatincreafe by dividing acrofs into nearly two equal parts.

had often feenthis

appearance

A KEY TO PHYSIC
appearance
minutes

animal,

when

left

it

had taken \\hen

made any new

obfervation; but always fuppofed the

Not

be in coition.

in this ftate, to

la

Roche, of Geneva, informed me, the

was from hemp-feed.

men,

hearing,

after

till

M. de Sauffure

kingdom, from what infufion he had made his obfervation,

this

Dr. de

a year or two ago, as I found upon looking over the

in various fpecies

in diffant parts

into diftilled w ater,

latter

Some

of the town.

of

it I

put into New-River water, fome

warmth

larger than the

firft,

fome oval opes made

which

ftill

refult was.

in wdiich they

w as an appearance of millions of minute animalcula

after,

The

hard pump-w^ater.

I put into very

that in proportion to the heat of the weather, or the

kept, there

were

in all the infufions;

Thefe were much

their appearance.

continued; they wriggled to and fro in an undu-

latoiy motion, turning themfelves round very quick all the time that they
forw^ards.

that

laft,

I immediately procured hemp-feed from different feeds-

and fome

and, fome time

friend

his

end of February

Nothing more plainly fhows thefe animals

to be

moved

zoophytes than

circumftance; that when, by accident, the extremity of their bodies has been
velled for w ant of a fupply of frefli water, the applying

motion to the part of the animal that was

figure has continued to live
frefli

water.

ftill

Thus we have given

frefli

water has given

by which means,

alive;

and fwim to and

more

fro all the- time

it

this fliapelefs

was fupplied with

as full an account as our limits would admit, of

We

the moft curious kind of animalcules that have hitherto been obferved.

not, however, difrnifs this fubjedt, without taking notice of the animalcules
in tlie feed of

this
fliri-

can-

found

man.

Before the invention of microfcopes, the dodtrine of equivocal generation, both

with regard to animals and plants of fome kinds, was univerfally received

but this

inftrument foon convinced every intelligent perfon, that thofe plants which for-

merly were fuppofed to be produced by equivocal generation, arofe from feeds;

and the animals,

in like

manner, from a male and female.

threw light upon one part of nature,

it left

But, as the microfcope

another involved

in

darknefs: for the

origin of the animalcula infuforia, or of the fpermatic animals already mentioned,

remains as

much unknown,

as that of

equivocal generation reigned in

The

many other

kinds was,

when

the dodlrineof

full force.

difcovery of fpermatic animalcules was thought to throw fome light on the

and thefe minute creatures were imagined to

be each of them individuals of the fame fpecies with the parent. Here the infinite

myfterious affair of generation

itfelf^

number of thefe animalcules was an objedlion, and

as before;

for,

the difficulty remained as great

as every one of thefe animalcules behoved to be produced from a

male and female,

to explain their origin

by animalcular generation

in the

fame

manner,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

manner, was only explaining generation by itfelf.

73

This hypothefis, therefore, hav-

ing proved unfatisfa^ory, others have been invented, but which are likewife in-

M.

volved in doubt.

Buffon, however, fo far as concerns

human

generation, has

we fhall

given fuch a particular account of the animalcules in the feed of man, that

Hate

it

here, for the information of the curious.

Having procured the private parts of a man who died a violent death, he extra6led all the feed from them while they were ftill warm: and having examined a drop
of

with a double microfcope,

it

it

had the appearance as

in the Plate, at fig. 3

fome places fpread out into branches, and in

Thefe filaments clearly appeared to be agiothers intermingled with one another.
Large filaments appeared, which

in

by an internal undulatory motion,

tated

He faw

moving fubilance.

Two of thefe filaments,

like

diftindlly this

hollow tubes which contained fome

appearance changed for that at

32.

fig.

which were joined longitudinally, gradually feparated from

each other in the middle, alternately approaching and receding, like two tenfe cords

by the ends, and drawn afunder

fixed

Thefe filaments were com-

in the middle.

pofed of globules that touched one another, and refembled a chaplet of beads.
After

this,

he obferved the filaments fvyelled in feveral places, and perceived fmall

globular bodies ilfue from the fwelled parts, which had a vibratory motion like a

pendulum.

Thefe fmall bodies were attached to the filaments by fmall threads,

which gradually lengthened as the bodies moved. At

laft,

the fmall bodies detached

themfelves entirely from the filaments, drawing after them the fmall thread, which

looked
dies

like

moved

tail.

When

a drop of the feminal liquor was diluted, thefe fmall bo-

in all direftions very brifidy.

The feminal matter was

but gradually became more fluid; and, in proportion as

filaments difappeared, but the fmall bodies

of them had a long thread or

to get free.

tail

attached to

at

its fluidity

firft

too thick,

increafed, the

became exceedingly numerous.

it,

from which

it

Each

evidently endeavoured

Their progreffive motion was extremely flow, during which they

brated to the right and

left;

and

at each vibration they

had a

rolling unfteady

vi-

mo-

tion in a vertical diredtion.

At the end of two or three hours, the feminal matter becoming ftill more fluid, a
greater number of thefe moving bodies appeared.
They were then more free of
incumbrances; their tails were fhorter; their progreffive motion was more dire6t,
and

their horizontal

acquired almoft

all

motion greatly diminiflied.

the fluidity

of the fmall bodies were

they

it

In

five or liJc hours, the

feed had

could acquire without being decompofed.

Moft

now difengaged from their threads? their figure was oval;

moved forward with

confiderable quicknefs, and, by their irregtilar motions

backward and forward, they had now more than ever the appearance of animals.

No. 5

'

Thofe

A KEY TO PHYSIC

74
Thofe

that

had

adhering to them, feemed to have lefs vivacity than the others;

tails

and of thofe that had no

tails,

twelve hours, the feed had

fome

altered both their figure and their

bottom of the

depofited at the

vial a

kind of afli-coloured

The

gelatinous fubftance, and the fluid at top was almoft as tranfparent as water.

now

bodies, being

little

entirely freed

and fome of them turned round

from

moved

their threads,

They

their centres.

with great agility,

changed their

alfo often

figures,

from oval becoming round, and often breaking into

activity

always increafed as their

In

fize.

Their

finaller ones.

In twenty-four hours the feed

fize diminiflied.

had depofited a greater quantity of gelatinous matter, winch, being with fome
ficulty diluted in water, exhibited

the clear feed

thefe were

itfelf,

ftill

and

leafi;

after this nothing

appearance of motion.

feen moving

lace.

dif-

In

next day,

was to be feen but glo-

All the above-mentioned appear-

feed of man, are fliown in the Plate, at

in the

now

only a few fmall bodies w^ere

farther diminiflied;

bules, without the

ances

an appearance fomewhat refembling

fig.

33, 34, S5, 36, 37, and 38.

39 and 40 reprefent an appearance of the globules in another experiment, in

w'hich they arranged themfelves in troops, and palfed very quickly over the field

Pig.

of the microfcope

in this

experiment

tey were found to proceed from a fmall

quantity of gelatinous mucilage, depofited by the feed.

An obje6tion has,

made to the exiftence

however, been

of animalcules in the feed,

or in any other part of animal bodies, from the total exclufion of

fo neceffary to the

of larger animals.

life

Many

air,

infiances, however,

which

is

found

have been ob-

ferved of large animals being found in fuch fituatioiis as they could not pofiibly have

enjoyed the

leafi benefit

from the

have not only lived, but lived

air for

much

a great

In Toulon harbour, and the road, are found

tire,

folid

containing, in different cells, fecluded from

feveral living
fifh,

number of years

fhell-fifli,

and

in this fiate

longer than they would otherwife have done.

of an exquifite

the fiones are broken with mauls.

all

hard fiones, and perfe6lly en-

communication with the

tafte, called claByli.

To come

air,

at thefe

Alfo, along the coaft of Anconia, in the

Adriatic, are fiones ufually weighing about

fifty

pounds, and fometimes even more;

the outfide rugged, and eafily broken, but the infide fo hard as to require a ftrong

arm and an
found fmall

Thefe

fliell-fifh,

more

fpeak of

is

them

within them, and in feparate niches, are

and very palatable, called fulenes, or cappe lunghe.

by Gaffendi, Blondel, Mayol, the learned bifliop of Sultu-

particularly by Aldrovandus, a phyfician of Bologna.

it

In the volume
at Paris,

to break

quite alive,

fafts are attefied

rara; and
latter

maul

iron

as a

common

fa6l

for the year 1719, of the

the following palfage

The

two

which they themfelves faw.

Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences

In the foot of an elm, of the bignefs of a pretty

corpulent

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.
and exa6tly

corpulent man, three or four feet above the root,

been found a
fpace

live toad,

middle-fized, but leaoj and

no fooner was a paffage o))ened by

very haftily

fuppofed to have got into

fome very

The egg

it.

Caem
The volume

In 1719
;

fo that the toad cannot be

fpawn whence

it

for the year

its firft

growth. There

feeding on thefubftance of the tree, and growattefted

by Mr. Hubert, profelfor of philofophy

1731 has a fimilar obfervation, expreffed

we gave an account of a

was formed, muft, by

fa6l,

in thefe words-:

which, though improbable, was well at-

and growing in the trunk of a middling

the creature to come out or to have got in. M. Seigne, of
academy a fa6t juft of the very fame nature, except that

that a toad had been found living

elm,, without

any way for

Nantes, lays before the

elm

inftead of an

it

w'as

Ho judges,

wonder.

muft have fubfifted

one hundred

With

air,

This is

ing only as the tree grew.

tefted

up the whole vacant

wood, that it fcutlled away

fingular accident, have been lodged in the tree at

the creature had lived without

at

fplitting the

or

in the centre, has

filling

a more firm and found elm never grew

75

by the time requifite

in

it,

M.

years..

an oak, and larger than the elm, which

for the

ftill

heightens the

growth of the oak, that the toad

without air or any adventitious aliment^ during eighty or

Seigne feems to have.known nothing of the fa6t in 1719.

the two foregoing

may be

claffed a narrative of

Ambrofe

Pare, chief fur-

geon to Henry III. king of France, who, being a very fenfible writer, relates the
following fa6l, of which he w'as an eye-witnefs:

Being

(fays he) at

near the village of Meudon,. and overlooking a quarry-man

break fome very large arid hard ftones

toad, full of

life,

and without any

began to wonder how

told me,

it

was not the

it

firft

had

feat,

fet to

middle of one we found a huge

in the

vifible aperture

received birth, had

whom

my

by which

grown and

it

lived

could get there,

but the labourer

time he had met with a toad, and the like creatures,

within huge blocks of ftone, having no vifible opening or fiffure.

Obfervations of living toads, found in very hard and entire ftones, occur in feveral authors, particularly Baptift Fulgofa, doge of

Agricola and Horftius, and Lord Verulam

Genoa, the famous phyficians

others give very fpecious accounts of

fnakes, frogs, crabs, and lobfters,, being found alive,, inclofed within blocks of mai^
ble, rocks,

An

and large

ftones.

inftance fimilar to thefe, of the truth of which

was obferved

in this country in the year 1773,

we have no

reafon to doubt,

where a large toad was found

in

the middle of a piece of coal^ having not the leaft vifible crack or fiffure.

Thus much

Upon the

as to the faculty of

fome animals

to live without air.

how very mimuch fmaller than

whole, though philofophers are not yet able to difcover

nute creatures are produced ; yet, that there really are animals

what

A KEY TO PHYSIC

76

what we can difcern with our naked

je<5t

eye,

And

feems to be indifputable.

the fub-

evidently requires the utmoft attention of philofophers, as well as further im-

provements

Moft

in the conftrudtion of microfcopes, fully to inveftigate

and explain

it.

naturalifts fuppofe another fpecies or order of invilible animalcules, fuch

as efcape the cognizance even of the beft microfcopes,

Reafon and analogy give fome fupport

conje6lures in relation to them.

exiftence of infinite imperceptible animalcules.

elephant to the mite

and give many probable

The naked eye

takes in from the

but there commences a new order, referved only for the

microfcope, which comprehends

all

thofe from the mite to thofe twenty-feven

millions of times fmaller; and this order cannot be yet faid to be exhaufted,

microfcope be not arrived at

its laft

is

if

the

and higheft perfection.

Animalcules are the caufe of various diforders.

riments,

to the

The

itch,

from feveral expe-

a diforder arifing from the irritations of a fpecies of infeCt found in

the puflules of that diforder, (the Acarus exulcerans;) whence the communication

of

it

by contact from one

to another is eafily conceived;

Many

cure being effeCted by external applications.

as alfo the reafon of the

other cutaneous eruptions,

more than fettlements made

fwarm of them light upon the fkin, and,

often fuppofed to originate in the blood, are nothing

by

colonies of thefe invifible beings.

finding in

and

its

irritation.

But

this is

not the worft.

a variety of internal complaints

tines,

pores a comfortable habitation, foon produce a punCture, with fcabs

Obfervation has long convinced

and

in the flomach, pancreas, lungs, liver,

intef-

are brought on by fwallowing myriads of thefe, and other imperceptible

living creatures,

which inhabit raw vegetables and foul water; and, finding the

heat and food of the ftomuch congenial to their growth, they become a
cies,

me that

of an alarming

fize,

and prey upon the

vital parts, to the great

new

fpe-

detriment of

the patients health, and oftentimes at the expenfe of his

before the malady

life,

can be known, qt even fufpeCled.

A patient of mine,

a young

man

near eighteen years of age, had been a confider*-

able time in a confumptive habit, and difordered in the ftomach

and notwithftand-

ing he had the advice of feveral eminent phyficians, and had taken a variety of

Upon

medicines, he never found the fmalleft alleviation of his pain.

into the nature of his food for

fome time

before, he told

enquiring

me he came from

a village

near Bridport, in Dorfetfhire, M^hich abounds with water-crelfes, and on thefe he had
fed almoft daily for

fome months previous

to his

coming

to

London.

three emetics fucceffively, with a view to cleanfe the ftomach from

and undigefted food; and immediately

dofe, undiluted, of

my

Solar TinClure.

after the laft

firft

gave him

all flime,

phlegm,

had operated, he took a ftrong

In lefs than ten minutes

animal of the moft hideous form, which at

it

brought up an

appeared incapable of motion, being

AND THE OCCULT

ing overcome by the flrength of the medicine

warm

water,

SCIENCES.
but,

on putting

it

into a bafon of

quickly recovered, and fent forth a fet of tentacles or claws, which,

it

though greatly enlarged, and diverfely altered, foon convinced

have been a fhoot from the frefh-water polypus
it

77

had attached

it

muft originally

on leaving the parent animal,

that,

me

And

it

appeared further, that thefe tentacles or claws

affixed to the bowels or coats of the ftomach, as to

had been fo ftrongly

man

a root or leaf of the water-creffes which this young

iifelf to

unfortunately fwallowed.

have defied

common remedies to remove them. Tho patient happily found

immediate relief, and is now healthy and robuft.
From feveral other patients, apparently in confumptions, or afflicted with naufea,
or uncommon fenfations in the ftomach and bowels, I have brought away living
animals that w ould terrify many people to look upon and which muft have come

the poAver of

all

from the fpawn, or eggs, of minute animals, taken in with the food.
fon I w'ould admonifli

and cleanfing of

my

all

and

worm which

heart or centre of a head of celery.

kinds of fruit

fince nothing

living creatures.

Cold

pofition of

all

raw vegetables ; and particularly

almoft continually

lies

The fame

is

caution

to

concealed in the very

neceffary in eating all

much more abounds with animalcules, and various

when ftagnant, ought never to be

raw' water, particularly

It is ever the fafeft w'ay to boil

drunk.

this rea-

readers to have the utmoft care taken in the wafliing

fallads, water-crefles,

guard againft the long red

For

your water, before

be ufed in the com-

it

any kind of beverage, or even to drink alone.

many

I might here adduce

creatures in their bowels,

A young man,

fervant to

other inftances of perfons having engendered living

by fwallowing the eggs or fpawn of the parent animal.

Lord Stawell, at Holt-park near Farnham, Surry, had

eaten voracioufly of w'ater-creffes.

Some time

afterwards he went into a decline,

and complained of a continual fenfation of pain at the pit of his ftomach, w'hich no
medicine could remove. His lordftiip, having a value for the man, fent him to

town

for the advice of the

in this ftate fent

cafe.

In

home

this ftage

moft able phyficians

to his friends,

but

ftill

to

no purpofe.

and given over as a

loft

He

w'as

and incurable

feme ftrong emetics were given him by a country apothecary

and he threw up, to the amazement of

number

all

the country round, an incredible

of fmall tadpoles, which w'ere evidently the production of fpawn attached

t the water-creffes, eaten without care,

recovered rapidly,

and

in

lefs

and perhaps without w'afliing.

The

patient

than a month was able to refume his former

avocation.

But a

ftill

more extraordinary cafe happened

year 1792, of a girl

6.

county of Hants,

about fourteen years of age, who found a moft

fenfation in her ftomach

No.

in the

and bowels, and could plainly

feel

and

in

the

uncommon

diftinguifti

fomething

A KEY TO PHYSIC
moving within

thing alive, and

At

treated as a chimera.

laft,

The

her.

is

fome time

for

however, Ihe brought up a living toad

queftionably mull have been taken into her ftomach

which

was

defcription

girls

This un-

in that ftate of the

fpawn

emerging to tadpoles, and was attributed to her eating water-creffes,

juft

which had long been a common food with

Nothing could have faved her from

poifon, but the creature having been bred and nourifhed up as it were in her own

much

body, and had afiimilated fo

proved harmlefs.
away,

flie

It

is

however

her.

with the nature thereof as to have thus long

had

certain, that,

it

not been thus timely brought

muft very foon have died.

Animalcules are the moft

common

the roots below the enamel, which they perforate, and in a

tions or fcales

round the

teeth, as

a congeries or cruftaceous
formed of the

fliell,

hard as ftones

which thefe

little

mented together by a glutinous flimy matter

are

compofed of ringlets

foetid or ftinking breath

marrow, or internal
the

marrow fends

like

when

thefe

part, of the tooth, the

forth a putrid effluvia,

am

known

from

we

eels

their perforations, ce-

their

own

difcover the true caufe of

have made their way to the

but

fimilar,

Thefe circumftances feem

perfuaded their mode of pradlice would be widely

fuch as multiply and nourifli

little

of which any perfon

offenfive,

to be but

otherwife I

Inftead of apply-

different.

ing powders and dentifrices calculated to deftroy thefe

and

rotten,

much more

to the generality of dentifts and operators on the teeth

them

bodies, which

whole crown foon becomes

fomewhat

than the animalcules in ftinking cheefe.

little

animals inhabit, and are probably

too

little

attack

time form crufta-

but which are nothing more than

iffuing

Hence

a worm.

for,

iliort

from the teeth during

fine particles falling

They

caufes of foul and rotten teeth.

worms, they prepare

may be

who

convinced,

Let the roots of the teeth

be fcraped, and the matter collected from them put into a few drops of any dentiIf viewed with a mifrice or tooth-tin6lure, particularly of the aromatic kind.
will take the pains to

crofcope,

will

it

make a

few^

fimple experiments.

be feen that the animalcules or eels found

about with great

celerity, as if delighted with the liquor

in this

matter will

move

and, in proportion as

it

evaporates or dries away, the animals appear diffatisfied and become very uneafy.

Happening

to

have a patient who had a very bad fet of

make fome experiments upon them.

them

in

but imparted no

he fuffered

I took off a few of the fcales,

a fmall quantity of fpring water.

or animalcules

teeth,

It

fmell.

ill

was quickly

filled

me

to

and emerged

with the

little

eels

I examined the fcales with the mi-

crofcope, and found them full of pores, out of which thefe invifible animals were
Iffuing.

then took out as

much

of the foul matter from the cavities of his hollow

teeth as I could conveniently get at

came

foetid,

and, the

and fent forth an offenfive fmell.

moment
Viewing

I put
it

it

in the water,

it

be-

with the microfcope, the

animals

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

79

animals appeared in the fame fliape as the former, but quite opaque, and the internal
canal

much

fuller,

and more diftended.

poured into the water a few drops of

Solar Tincture, and in lefs than five minutes

me

This induced

quite dead.

He

with the Solar Tincture.

to perfuade the

did fo

and

all

motion ceafed, and they were

man

I then

my

wafh

to

his teeth

and gums well

took off more of the fcales, and

colledted all the matter I could from the rotten teeth

but very few living animal-

He

was confiderably abated.

cules could be found therein, and the foetid frnell

continued to wafh his mouth with the Tindlure every other day for a week, and

then ufed the following preparation

Chalk

finely

powdered, burnt hartfliorn

vigated, Florentine orris-root, and myrrh, of each

drops

the whole mixed into a fine powder.

and

third day, with a foft brufli,

came

beautifully white

in lefs than three

ever fince continued them fo by the

dentift

what

my readers
tinually

againfl too free a ufe of thofe

recommended

for the teeth.

le-

fait, fix

he rubbed his teeth every

this

weeks

and

his black fet of teeth be-

his

have ftated was matter of mere accident

often the diredl contrary tendency,

of

fpirit

gums hard and firm and he has

fimple means above defcribed.
I am no

breath fweet

his

With

two drams

but I would caution all

numerous powders and preparations con:

Inftead of preferving them, they have too

by deftroying the whole

fet.

ever is fond of tooth-powders; and a moderate ufe of fome of them

The world howmay be of fervice;

but the daily rubbing does more injury to the teeth than wholly neglecting them.
Fine levigated powders

may be prudently

teeth white and fplendid.

are

much

ufed once in

fix

or feven days, to keep the

But the generality of powders prepared

too hard, and wear

away

the gums, as well as the

Yet, notwithftanding the danger of thefe preparations,

it is

for this

purpofe

enamel of the

teeth.

a very defirable thing to

be enabled to preferve the beauty and foundnefs of the teeth, from infancy to old
age. For this purpofe I would advife, that children fliould be accufiomed to walh
their teeth every

morning wdth common water, and a

meals to rince the mouth, and rub the teeth with their
not conveniently be ufed.

and after

foft tooth-brufh;
fingers,

Thofe who conftantly purfue

this

where a brulh can-

method,

may expedt

to be free from rotten teeth, putrid flough, external difeolou rations, flaccid gums,

and pain and loofenefs of the

them.

When

from the animalcules which prey upon

teeth have been negledled for a time, and fcales and cruftations are

affixed to them, thefe fhould

teeth, arifing

be removed by inftruments, and the teeth and gums

well waflied with a pow'erful infinuating tindlure, to

kill

the animalcules

teeth fhould be rubbed with a fine teftaceous powder, in order to

louration.
this fine

When the

enamel

is

become

powder fhould be ufed very

perfedlly clean, white,

fparingly,

and

then the

remove the difeo-

and

poliflied,

at diftant intervals.

even

The colour
and

A KEY TO PHYSIC

$0
and fweetnefs are only

common

to be preferved

trick of dentifts

teeth, the

fudden

effeids

is

All the acid fpirits will do this

The

the enamel, and rot the teeth.

two drams

the following

is

fpirit

of

and whitens the

of which are apt to furprife and pleafe people; but their

confequences are very pernicious.

difcolorations,

The

by frequent brufliing and wadiing.

to give a wafii that infiantly cleanfes

fait,

but they deftroy

fafeft liquid to take off black, green,

Take plantane

water, an ounce

and

yellow',

honey of

rofes,

mix the w hole together, and rub the teeth

the mixture, every day till they are perfectly white.

ten drops

well with a linen rag dipped in

If the roots of the teeth are very foul, inclined to grow rotten, and furrounded

w ith

fcales

and

cruftations,

I lliould

by

wadied with the Solar Tinblure, which

means recommend them to be well

Hop them from further decay, entirely

all

wall

remove the fcurvy from the gums, and perfe6lly fw'eeten the breath.
The form, difpofition, and order, of the teeth, are admirable and furnifh us with
;

a noble inftance of the wifdom and goodnefs of the Creator; the foremoft are weak,

and

from the centre, as being only preparers to the

far

reft;

the others, being to

grind and mafticate, are accordingly ftronger, and placed near the centre of motion.

Their peculiar hardnefs

are formed

very remarkable, confidering the tender fubftance they

is

Again, their various forms, in various creatures, are no lefs con-

of.

ftderable, being

all

curioufly adapted to the peculiar food and occafions of the

different fpecies of animals.

Thus

holding, and tearing, the prey

of vegetables

Add

and

in

to this, that the

in the rapacious, they are fitted for the catching,

in herbaceous, for the gathering

fuch as have no teeth, as birds,

temporary defeft of them

children, for inftance, fliould have

to hurt themfelves or the

the

more

fubftantial food,

no

the' bill fupplies the defe6l.

lefs obfervable in

live

that, at the

fome

that

to ufe them, but

none while they are not able

mother ; and

and

is

and comminution

very age when they can take in

without the breaft, and begin to need teeth for

the help of fpeech, that then their teeth fliould begin to appear, and gradually
grow', as they

more and more

ftand in need of

them

and

that,

are worn out or decayed, they fliould be fucceeded by a new

rable than the former.

when

fet,

this firft

more firm and du-

Nature, indeed, fometimes deviates from the ordinary rule

according to the conftru6lion of the elementary influx then operating, as

large in

my

llluftration of the

fons born with

Carbo

crop

all their teeth,

Occult Sciences
as

whence we have

is

fliown at

inftances of per-

Marcus Curius Dentatus and Cneius Papirius

others have only had one continued tooth, reaching the whole length of the

jaw, as Pyrrhus king of Epirus, and Prufias fon of the king of Bithynia.

phyfician, named Mentrelius, affures us, that he faw an old man at Cleves,
1066, aged a hundred and twenty years, who had a new fet of teeth only two

German
in

years

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

81

years before, which were cut with great painj and he alfo faw an Engliihman at
the Hague,
the

who

new

cut a

fet of teeth in his

fame purpofe Dr. Slare mentions a

relation,

who had

years of age, and afterwards ihed them, and had a new

Tranf. Abr. vol.

all his teeth at

eighty

See Phil,

fet all round.

353.

v. p.

Of

INSTINCT is

To

hundred and eighteenth year.

instinct.

an occult power or difpofition of the mind, by which animals are

unerringly directed to do fpontaneoufly whatever

is

neceffary for the prefervation

From

of the individual, or the continuation of the fpecies.

this caufe, all the

actions of brutes, or inferior animals, are faid to be directed by inJtinB ; but thofe

of

man by

Philofophers, however, have greatly differed in their opinions

reafon.

concerning

this fubjeft

the line.

Some

and modern authors are extremely at a lofs where to draw

maintain that

man

i&

endowed with a greater number of

Others

than any fpecies of brutes whatever.

is

not any power or propenfity

Some contend
fmallefl:

at

all,

that in

human

by an invariable

intelle6lual faculty

they polfefs a vegetative foul, diredled by a certain

its elfential

Upon

properties

all

others

whilfi;

inllindl,

inflin6live.

without the

inftinfit,

infill,

that

capable of reafon, of

memory, and of experience.

With refpe6l to man, nothing can be more apparent, than
microcofrn, or epitome of

nature there

which can properly be called

that brutes are guided wholly

power of memory, or of any

infill,

inftin^ts

that,

as being the

created nature, he mull of neceffity partake of

of which reafon and

inJlinEt

all

rank amongfl the foremoft.

it wdll be obvious to every reader, ihoXreafon can

experience
confequently, until man is arrived to a
from
never be exercifed but
;
certain degree of maturity, he mull be directed, in moll of the propenfities of na-

by mere

ture,

by an
and

the flighteft refle6lion,

inflin6l.

inflin6live

to the

fame

Thus an

impulfe for

its

infant,

a few moments after

prefervation, to feek the bread:,

caufe, in the earlier ftages of

countries, are to

its birth,

be attributed the

firfl

life,

and in

all

is

diredled

and to fuck

it

favage uneducated

fenfations or defires of copulation, not

from the pleafures of enjoyment, for they are then unknown; but from an impulfive inftin6l, for the
firft

commerce of

propagation of the fpecies.

the fexes amongfl

arguments afligned for

either fex

become

No,

6.

beings

is

been

dire6led

infilled,

that the

by reafon ; and the

that,

as foon as the organs of generation in

fufficiently ripe for the

purpofe intended by nature, they fym-

pathife with the fenfes,

into pleafure

human

It has

it

are thefe

and are

affedled with vibrations in the nerves,

which

rife

above the power of controul, and are heightened by youth, health.

grateful

A KEY TO PHYSIC

82

grateful aliment, imagination, ambition, fympathy,

and various other involuntary

And

under fuch circumftances, pervade the whole fyftem.

fenfations, which,

as

thefe organs are endued with a greater degree of fenfibility than the other parts,

both from their make, and the peculiar ftru6lure and difpofition of their nerves

from the great diftention of the mufcular fyftem and feed-veftels

in

males; as well

as from the extenfton of the clitoris and finufes of the uterus in females, which never
fail to

take place about the time of puberty, the genital organs in both fexes be-

come

fo extremely irritable, that reajon, being thereby awakened, directs and impels

to that a6t,

by which alone the human fpecies can poflibly be continued, and the

works of an Omnipotent Creator carried on and conduced

am perfuaded

In the above ftatement, I

word

inJiinSi

by reafon to overcome thofe

them

ftead of having our reafon awakened by

ftinftive paftions are

virtuous families, in

ends intended.

every rational mind will agree, that the

ought to have been fubftituted where that of reafon

civilized focietieswe are taught

we

to the

but

we

is

ufed

too often find that thefe in-

proof againft both reafon and refolution, even

all

countries,

fay then of that part of the

and

human

becaufe in

inftin6live paftions, in-

in the

moft

What

ftiall

in the beft-regulated focieties.

race which yet remains in a ftate of nature,

uncultivated, and unenlightened by any precepts of morality or fcience

are fubjeft to

They
it.

couple of young favages go together for the jirji time, without any view to

offspring, without

any knowledge of the pleafure

out any determinate idea at

all

the primary command, Increafe and multiply f and they obey

all

and, as

we

to be derived

fee thefe

from

it,

and with-

means invariably purfued by

animals, as well rational as irrational, without experience, and without inftruc-

tion,

we muft refer

the mutual defire of the fexes to a

can poftibly arife from human motives

ftin6t.

But as

the article Love,

ftiall

have occafion to

when

come

much

higher principle than

and that principle can be nothing but infpeak more at large on this fubjedl under

to treat of the affections

and of the nature and perfections of Man, I

ftiall in

and paftions of the mind,

the interim proceed to ftiow,

that the inferior animals are directed by inftinCt to performances of the moft furprifing kind

and

are, within certain limits,

endued with memory, and a reafoning

intellect.

The moft remarkable

ftruCtion of a

inftance of the

honey-comb.

fmall cells on both

fides, fit

Bees,

it

power of

is

inftinCt is

obferved in the con-

well known, conftruCt their

combs with

both for holding their ftore of honey, and for rearing

There are only three poftible figures of the cells, which can make
equal and fimilar, without any ufelefs interftices. Thefe are the equila-

theh young.

them

all

teral triangle, the fquare,

and the regular hexagon,

Of the three,

the hexagon

is

the

moft

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

moft proper, both for convenience and flrength.

make

may

cells

cell

may

will ferve as

upon the

reft

Bees, as

combs have

the

they

if

cells

knew

on both

this,

the

fides,

oppofite, having partition againft partition, or the

either be exa6lly

bottom of a
which

As

their cells regular hexagons.

83

between the

partitions

a buttrefs to ftrengthen

it.

The

laft

way

cells

on the other

fide,

the beft for ftrength

is

accordingly the bottom of each cell refts againft the point where three partitions

meet on the other

cell

may

fide,

which gives

compofed of

the ftrength poflible.

The bottom of a
or it may be

fame

for the

feveral planes, meeting in a folid angle in the middle point.

only in one of thefe two w'ays that

And

it all

either be one plane, perpendicular to the fide-partitions

all

is

compofed,

if

be more than one, muft be three in number, and neither more nor fewer.

by making the bottoms of the

that,

planes meeting in a point, there

The

derable.
low'

w ith thefe principles of

the bottom of each cell being

which make obtufe angles with the

in a point in the middle of the

cells to

confift of three

fide partitions

bottom

folid geometry, fol-

compofed of three planes,

and with one another, and meet

the three angles of this bottom being fup-

ported by three partitions on the other fide of the comb, and the point of

common
matical
It

is

interfe6tion of thefe three partitions.

Ikill

there

It has

a faving of material and labour no-way inconfi-

is

bees, as if acquainted

them moft accurately

is

the cells can be fimilar without lofing room.

intention, the planes, of which the bottom

been demonftrated,

It

One

inftance

by the

it

more of the mathe-

difplayed in the ftru6lure of a honey-comb deferves to be mentioned.

a curious mathematical problem, at what precife angle the three planes which

compofe the bottom of a

cell

ought to meet,

faving of material and labour.

This

is

in

order to

make

thegreateft poflible

one of thofe problems belonging to the

higher parts of the mathematics, which are called problems of maxima and minima.

The

celebrated Maclaurin refolved

found

in the

cifely the angle required.

could admit,

it

by a fluxionary calculation, which

Upon

to

be

the moft exa6l menfuration which the fubje6t

he afterwards found, that

it

is

the very angle in which the three

planes in the bottom of the cell of a honey-comb do actually meet.

comb were

is

Tranfa^tions of the Royal Society of London, and determined pre-

a work of

human

art,

every

man

of

common

If a honey-

fenfe would conclude,

without hefitation, that he w'ho invented the conftru6lion muft have underftood
the principles on which

it

was conftru6led.

We need not fay that bees know none

They work moft geometrically without any knowledge of geometry

fomewhat like a child, who by turning the handle of an organ makes good
mufic without ,any knowledge of mufic.
The art is not in the child, but in him
who made the organ. In like manner, when a bee makes its comb fo geometriof thefe things.
;

cally,

A KEY TO PHYSIC
the geometry

cally,

and made

the bee,

is

Geometrician who made

not in the bee, but in that great

all

things in number, weight, and meafure.

This places in a

moft ftriking point of view the difference betwixt inftindt and reafon.

There are

no improvements made by man, but what we fee carried ftill further by fucceeding
generations ; but in bees, and in all inferior animals, we fee precifely the fame

economy and contrivance now,

in conftrudling their cells, building their nefts, lay-

ing up provifions, &c. as at the beginning

rations, they

to

and that

in all ages,

and

in all

have neither improved, nor departed from, that fixed fyftem afiigned

them by nature,

and guidance

for their prefervation

whereas men, adting by

Were

reafon and fcience, improve from the labours and inventions of each other.

we to
we

attribute reafon inftead of inftindt to bees, in the conftrudtion of their

fliould at the

fame time admit them to be

is

conftrudled,

is

rational creatures,

men

ing and reafoning faculties far fuperior to

honey-comb

gene-

endued with think-

for the principle

combs,

upon which the

founded on thofe high departments of the mathema-

unknown to the human race till the beginning of the

prefent century, and which at this moment are beyond the comprehenfion of nineHence it is plain that
tenths of mankind in the moft enlightened nations on earth.
the contrivance is not in the bees, but in the Creator of the bees, who diredts them,
and all brute creatures, to adt by an inftindt for their own immediate benefit, with-

tics,

w'hich were altogether

out knowing the principles upon which they

to reafon

for

we

And this

adt.

is

by no means contrary

men, working under the diredtion of others of fuperior

daily fee

underftanding, to effedl purpofes, and accomplifli ends, without having them felves

any idea^of either; and,

tions,

we

ftiall

if

we look through

find that the greater part of

But

to

a tree

in

nature to be governed in this way.

Caterpillars,

when

iliaken

off

the endlefs variety of

human avoca-

mankind feem deftined by God and

proceed
every diredtion, inftantly turn round

towards the trunk, and climb up, though they had never formerly been on the furface of the ground.

upon

This

is

a ftriking inftance of inftindt.

the ground, the caterpillar finds

climb up the trunk,

it

would inevitably

the fand, in each of which

worms, which

flie rolls

its

up

in

flie

in fucceffion;

The

perifii.

a circular form, and

the

and the number

its

is

from the hole, and

is

did not turn and

wafp

colledts a

is

hatched,

digs holes in

few fmall green

it is

fuch a man-

amply ftored

The green worms

are de-

exadlly proportioned to the time

wafp-worm into a fly then it

capable of procuring its own nourifliment. This in-

neceffary for the grow th and transformation of the

iffues

folitary

flie

fupport.

depofited

it

the tree, and not

fixes in the hole in

wafp-worm

with the food which nature has deftined for

voured

If therefore

food.

depofits an egg

When

ner that they cannot move.

On

ftindl

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

85

more remarkable, that the feeds not upon flefh herBirds of the fame fpecies, unlefs when reftrained by peculiar circumftances,
felf.
uniformly build their nefts of the fame materials, and in the fame form and fiituation,
of the parent-wafp

flin6t

though they

the

is

inhabit,, very different climates

and the form and

exadlly fuited to their nature, and calculated to afford

When

always

and protedlion.

flielter

danger, or any other circumftance peculiar to certain countries, renders a

deviation from the

made

in

cies;

and

common form

or fituation of nefts neceffary, that deviation

an equal degree, and in the very fame manner, by

it is

return to

When

them with

hafte

removed by

and anxiety, and

them

ffiift

Thus

the coldnefs of the climate.

the oftrich in Senegal,

negledts her eggs during the day, but

upon them

fits

their eggs,

fo as to heat
is

is

the birds of one fpe-

from

neceffity

worthy of obfervation, that their hafte to return

it is

all

never found to extend beyond the limits of the country where alone

can ferve any good purpofe.

and

them

fituation are

always

it

birds

them equally;

in

proportion to

where the heat

is

At

in the night.

exceftive,

Cape

the

of Good Hope, however, where the degree of heat is lefs, the oftrich, like other
In countries infefted with monkeys,
birds, fits upon her eggs both day and night.

many

The

ftiut,

in buflies

and

clefts

and thus elude the rapacity of

of trees, fufpend their

their enemies.

is

the cat gave herfelf

finement, fhe

and came

As foon

no uneafinefs.

mounted on the

the latch,

lifted

twigs,

iemarkable.~A cat frequented a clofet, the door of which itas

by an iron latch, A window was fituated near the door. When the door

following

faftened

was

which in other climates build

birds,

upon flender

nefts

fill

as fhe

was

of the window, and with her

tired of her con^

paw

dexteroufly

This pradtice, which we are told continued for

out.

years, muft have been the confequence of reafoning in particular ideas.

not be the effedl of inftindl; for inftindt

which cats have neither latches to

the animal attempted to

lift

flieil-fifh

the cat had repeatedly feen one door

when within

It

raifing the fifh to a great height,

its

food.

But what

and

known

well

is

their reach;

perhaps be confidered as pure

acquiring

nor doors to open

is

letting

to

that

it

tree,

not faid that

in ideas enlarged

opened by an exertion which

crows feed upon feveral kinds

be thought of the following,

is

In the fpring of the year

Ihell

by

may

means of
communi-

the animal to the proper

fadl,

unqueftioned, and who, being totally un-

17^1,

o-f

courfe no favourite hypothefis

a pair of crows

of w'hich there are feveral planted round his garden

No.

it is

are not authorifed to

drop upon a ftone or a rock. This

acquainted with the theories of philofophers, has

?

and as

we

and that they contrive to break the

inftindt, diredting

cated by a gentleman whofe veracity

to fupport

could

ftate of nature,, in

was the confequence of reafoning

fhe was capable of imitating.

of

adapted only to a

the latches of other doors,

infer that this particular adlion

by abftradlion

lift

is

It

Z.

and

made
in his

their neft in

morning-walks

he

A KEY TO PHYSIC

86

he had often been amufed by witneffmg furious combats between them and a

One morning
and took

the battle raged

flielter

under a hedge, as

The crows

treating to the houfe.

noife

more

fiercely than ufual,

if to

wait a

cat.

gave wav

at laft the cat

till

more favourable opportunity of re-

continued for a

fiiort

make a threatening

time to

on the ground they could do nothing more than threaten,

a ftone from the middle of the garden, and perched with it on a

but, perceiving that

one of them

lifted

tree planted in the hedge, where fhe fat watching the motions of the

As

young.

from branch to branch, and from tree

flying

enemy of her
by

the cat crept along under the hedge, the crow accompanied her
to tree ;

and,

when

at laft pufs ven-

tured to quit her hiding-place, the crow, leaving the trees and hovering over her
in

the

air,

let the ftone

occafion reafoned,

and

it

feems to be

little lefs

this

evident, that the

employed in herreafoning were enlarged beyond thofe which fhe had received

ideas

from her fenfes.

broken by a

fall;

driven off the

By

her fenfes

As

flie

may have

perceived, that the

fliell

of a

fifhis

but could her fenfes inform her, that a cat would be wounded or

No

by the fall of a ftone?

field

ferved in her memory,

fle6t

That the crow on

drop from on high on her back.

felf-evident,

is

from the effe6tof the one

fall

pre-

muft have inferred the other by her power of reafoning.

to the natural affe6lion of brutes, fays an ingenious writer, the more I re-

on

it,

the

more

flie

am

aftonifhed at

It

its effe6ts.

feems

t(jf

awaken the

paflions,

quicken the invention, and fliarpen the fagacity, of the brute creation.
hen, juft

become a mother,

is

no longer that placid bird

ufed to be, but with

flie

feathers ftanding on end, wings hovering, and clocking note, fhe

thing which feems to threaten her brood.

of the greateft danger, in order to avert

Dams
it

flies

throw themfelves

wall

Thus a

from their progeny.

at every

in the

Thus a

way

partridge

will tumble along before a fportfman, in order to draw away the dogs from her

moft feeble birds

helplefs covey.

In the time of

moft rapacious.

All the hirundines of a village are up in arms at the fight of a

hawk,

whom

they will perfecute

nidification the

till

he leaves that

diftri6l.

will affault the

very exa<?l obferver

has often remarked, that a pair of ravens neftling in the rock of Gibraltar,

would
no vulture or eagle to reft near their ftation, but would drive them from the
even the blue thrufh at the feafon of breeding would
hill with an amazing fury
dart out from the clefts of the rocks to chafe away the keftril or the fparrow-hawk.

fuffer

If you (land near the neft of a bird that has young,

them by an inadvertent fondnefs, but

will wait

flie

will not

be induced to betray

about at a diftance, with meat in

her mouth, for an hour together.

A moft Angular effect of

kows are propagated.

inftindl

may be

obferved in the means by which cuc-

Unlike the generality of

a female appears on the wing, fhe

is

birds, they

do not

pair.

When

often attended by two or three males,

who
feem

AND THE
feem
till

after the

found

begin to lay

middle of fummer, the nefls of the birds feledted to receive her egg are

abundance; but,

in great

fome weeks

till

cuckow does not hatch

its

cuckow
it

like the other migrating birds,

after her arrival.

own

eggs.

It

on

is

The hedge-fparrow,

the water-wagtail, the

young cuckow.

It

egg in the abfence of the bird

lays her

may be

in

whofe neft Ihe intends to depofit

attacked heron approaching the neft, putting her to

her away, that

did not dare to return.

file

generally feledls the three

This

fparrow.

laft

firft,

commonly

much

pofit her

egg among the

When

reft,

greater partiality to the hedge-

leaving the future care of

young cuckow and fome of her own offspring from the

cuckow
it

gether,

either entangled

ground under

it.

about the

bufii

but

own young

out, the

all

which contains the

is

wrong caufes

we

but the true caufe

upon

young cuckow

The young birds

are left to perifli to-

or lying on the

neft,

Jenner,

who

prefently explain.

cuckow

The wagtail

the eggs but one-; which, with

The young

ftiall

it.

water-wagtails neft in the thatch of an old cottage.

all

ones,

a circumftance that has been noticed by others, but at-

variety of conje6lures have been formed

and then hatched

her

The early fate of the young hedge-fparrow (fays Mr.

thefe experiments)

tributed to

and difengaged the

and foie obje6t of her future care.

are not previoully killed, nor are the eggs demoliihed

contrives to de-

entirely to the hedge-

fiiell,

and any of her eggs that remain unhatched, are foon turned
neft,

Dur-

takes up four or five days in laying her eggs.

the hedge-fparrow has fat her ufual time,

remaining poffeffor of (he

mate jointly

the birds above mentioned, it

ing this time (generally after ftie has laid one or two), the

fparrow.

its

and foeffedtually drove

flight;

Among

but Ihows a

is

fuppofed, that the female

has been known, that, on fight of one of thefe, a red-breaft and

made

the does not

hands allowed, that the

all

the red-breaft, the yellow-shammer, the green-linnet, or the winchat,

titlark,

generally the nurfe of the

as

S7

be earneftly contending for her favours. From the time of her appearance

to

to be

OCCtJLT SCIENCES.

all

the

laid her

egg in a

fat her ufual time,

young ones except the

were found

cuckow, was turned out of the

neft.

upon the

from under the thatch, and with them was an egg not

rafter that projedted

in the leaft injured.

The cuckow was

pable of flying, when

it

was

killed

birds, confifting

reared by the wagtails

of

five,

till it

was nearly ca-

by an accident.

A hedge-fparrow built her neft in a hawthorn-bufli in a timber-yard.

had

laid

two eggs, a cuckow dropped

as if nothing had happened,

On

in a third.

had

The fparrow

laid five, her ufual

flie

continued laying

number, and then

fat.

June 20, 178fi, (fays Mr. Jenner,) I found that the bird
morning, and that every thing but the young cuckow was thrown

infpefting the neft,

had hatched
out.

till fiie

After

Under

this

the neft I found one of the young hedge-fparrows dead, and one egg

by the fide of the

neft entangled with the coarfe

woody materials

that formed its outfide

A KEY TO PHYSIC

88

On

fide covering.

ed,

examining the egg,

and could fee that the fparrovv

found one end of the

yet contained was alive.

it

was thrown

to the neft, but in a few minutes

The

out.

fhell a little crack-

was then reflored

It

egg, being again fufpended

by the outfide of the neft, was faved a fecond time from breaking. To fee what
would happen if the cuckow was removed, I took out the cuckow, and placed the
egg containing the hedge-fparrow
this time,

flew about the fpot, fliowing figns of great anxiety

On

drew, they quickly came to the neft again.

hour afterwards,

The

The

in the neft in its ftead.

looking into

old birds, during

it

when

but,

I with-

in a quarter. of

found the young one completely hatched, warm, and

an

lively.

new charge for

when the cuckow'

hedge-fparrovvs were fuflered to remain undifturbed with their

three hours (during which time they paid every attention to

was again put

into the neft

and, on examining

the young fparrow was tumbled out.

perienced the fame

From

fate.

It

it

it},

again in a few minutes, I found

was a fecond time

reftored, but again ex-

thefc experiments, and fuppofing, from the feeble

appearance of the young cuckow juft difengaged from the

fhell, that it

was utterly

incapable of difplacing either the egg or the young fparrows, I w'as induced to believe that the old fparrows

But

were the only agents

feemingly-unnaturai bufinefs.

in this

I afterw ards clearly perceived the caufe of this ftrange phenomenon, by difco-

vering the young cuckow in the a6t of difplacing

June

ing relation will fully evince.

18, 1787, 1

its

fellow-neftlings, as the follow-

examined the

neft of a hedge-fpar-

On

row, which then contained a cuckows and three hedge-fparrows eggs.

fpe6ling

it

contained only a young cuckow and one young hedge-fparrow.

placed fo near the extremity of a hedge, that

forward in

it

and, to

my

plifliing this

The

animal, with the

little

and wings, contrived to get the bird upon

till it

a jerk, and quite difengaged

where
it

from the

neft.

ther the bufinefs was properly executed,

thefe (the extremities of

an egg and

neftling before

it

its

lar procefs,

it

was

its

feemed

deftitute of.

was conveyed

back; and making a lodgement for

to the

its

moment,

It

it

remained

wings, as if

operations

put

in

up the

fide of the

its

load with

in this fituation

lliort

to be convinced whe-

it

into the neft again.

examine, as

and the nice

fufficiently to

I afterwards

it

threw off

and then dropped

wings) I have often feen

began

thefe parts appeared to polfefs,

which as yet

its

refting for a

time, feeling about with the extremities of

With

was

The mode of accomafliftance of its rump

elbows, clambered backward with

its

reached the top

neft

aftonifhment, faw the young cuckow, though fo newly

was very curious.

the burden by elevating

The

could diftinftly fee what was going

hatched, in the a61 of turning out the young hedge-fparrow.

neft,

in-

the day following, I found the bird had hatched, but that the neft now

were,

it

fenfibility

which

compenfate the want of fight,

an egg

and

edge of the neft and thrown out,

this,

by a

fimi-

Thefe experiments

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

89

cnent I have fince repeated feveral times in different nefts, and have always found

In climbing up the

the young cuckow difpofed to a6t in the fame manner.

it

fometimes drops

tle

the

refpite,

work

two or three days

to

its

burden, and thus

is

foiled in its endeavours; but, after a

is

refumed, and goes on almoft incelfantly

till

it is

lift

birds,

In this ftate

out.

lhape

old, if a bird

is

reftlefs

back, from the fcapulae downward,

its

of giving a more

when

When

feems ever

it

it

that

is

too weighty for

The

and uneafy.

it is

fingularity of

well adapted to thefe purpofes; for, different from other newly-hatched

the

very broad, with a confiderable

fecure lodgement to the egg of the hedge-fparrow, or

young cuckow is employed

about twelve days

it is

is

This depreflion feems formed by nature for the defign

deprellion in the middle.

one,

be put into the neft with

lit-

effe6led.

wonderful to fee the extraordinary exertions of the young cuckow, when

It is

it

its

neft,

in

young

its

removing either of them from theneft^

old, this cavity is quite filled up,

and then the back

affumes the lhape of neftling birds in general.

It appears a little extraordinary that
in the

fame neft,

as the

Two

ftiould ever

be depofited

young one produced from one of them muft inevitably perifli;

yet two inftances of this kind

thug relates:

two cuckows eggs

fell

under our authors obfervation, one of which he

cuckows and a hedge-fparrow were hatched

in the

fame

neft this

morning, (June 27, 1787;) one hedge-fparrows egg remained unhatched.

few hours

which continued undetermined

neft,

In a

a conteft began between the cuckows for the poffeflion of the

after,

which was foniewhat fuperior

in fize,

when one of them,

the next afternoon,

till

turned out the other, together with the young

This conteft was very remarkable.

hedge-fparrow and the unhatched egg.

The

combatants alternately appeared to have the advantage, as each carried the other
feveral times nearly to the top of the neft,

by the weight of
vailed,

its

burden;

till

and then funk down again, oppreffed

at length, after various efforts, the ftrongeft pre-

and was afterwards brought up by the hedge-fparrows.

But the principal circumftance that has agitated the mind of natui'alifts refpe6ting
the cuckow

cies

is
;

why,

call that

merous progeny.

the 17th.

firft

Its

in the neft before

after this period

6.

egg

it,

during that refidence, to produce a nu-

appearance here
is

it flies,

fo that,

if
*

is

about the middle of

not ready for incubation

feldom before the middle of May.

the fitting bird in hatching the egg.

No.

ftiould not build a neft, incubate its eggs,

nature has upon

The cuckows

commonly on

after its arrival,

weeks

it

its

and the

April,

like other birds,

own young? The moft probable fuggeftion is, the ftiort refidence this
allowed to make in the country where it is deftined to propagate its fpe-

and rear
bird

is,

The young

fortnight

till

is

it

more than

a cuckow ftiould be ready with an egg

a

taken up by

bird generally continues three

and the fofter-parents feed

fipme weeks

five

much

weeks
foorier

than

A KEY TO PHYSIC

90

ewn

than the time pointed out, not a fingle neftiing,

be

fit

to provide for itfelf before its parent

a new refidence, and be thus compelled

kows take

many
Long

their final

it

young cuckow, there

leaves the neft,

like a

it,

Hence probably

young hawk.

and devours

verb, Ingrat

comme un

its

coucoUf
it

As

euc_

for bid

Among

in July.

itfelf

the

very early.

affumes the manner

irritated,

and peeks

at

any thing pre-

fame

Sometimes, when

accompanied with a

hiffing noife,

what has been faid,

young one

The fcheme

wmuld be extremely

whence the French pro-

ungrateful as a cuckow.

From

the nefls of other birds, diredls her

neft.

its nefl;

it

becomes evident,

impulfe w'hieh diredls the cuckow to depofit her eggs in

inflindlive

owner of the

the vulgar opinion, that this bird changes

makes a kind of

heaving motion of the whole body.

it

young one;

one that fliows

itfelf back,

nurfe on quitting

difturbed in a fmaller degree,

the

its

feek

adth great vehemence, often at the fame time making a chuckling noife

into a hawk,

that the

is

vvould

earlieft,

inftindli'vely diredfed to

week

firft

when

frequentlyj

it

of a bird of prey, looks ferocious, throws

fented to

abandon

to

leave of this country the

peculiarities of the

before

would be

one of the

difficult, if

to throw out the eggs

and young of

of nature wmuld be incomplete without

not impoffible, for the

little

it; for

birds deftined

to.

find

often are, brought up tame, fo as to

own young ones after a certain peneft. Cuckows may be, and
become familiar. They will eat in this ftate

bread and milk,

and

fuccour for the cuckow', to find

riod

alfo for their

it

nor would there be room for them to inhabit the

fruits, infedfs, eggs,

flefli,

of nature, they chiefly live on caterpillars.

either cooked or raw; but

When

eating as a land-raih the French and Italians eat

Romans admired them

be compared

to

them

greatly as food

fat,

them

in.

a ftate

they are faid to be as good

The

to this day.

Pliny fays that there

is

ancient

no bird which can

In migrating, the major part of thefe birds are

for delicacy.

fuppofed to go into Africa ; fince they are obferved

to vifit the ifland of

twice in a year, in their paffage backw^ards and forw'ards, as

is

Malta

fuppofed, to that

part of the world.

The inftindl which

has been difcovered in ants, beavers, &c.

and admired, to need any mention in

birds, infedts,

this place:

and quadrupeds, afimilar economy

time of plenty, that they might have accefs to

has a peculiar knack of this fort

tame, have frequently been

lockets,

and other fmall

in fervants or others,

We have

in

in laying

in

up

time of need.

is

too well

known

a great variety of

ftores

of provifionin

The common daw

and, in houfes where they have been brought up

known

trinkets,

who

it

and we fee

to hide,

with their meat, money, rings, feals,

thereby occafioning injurious fufpicions of theft

are perfedlly innocent.

a remarkable anecdote given by the Rev. Mr. Robinfon of Oufby in

Weftmoreland, relative to an

inftindl in

crows, by which they are

made

the natiual

AND THE OCCULT

wood and

turat planters of all forts of

the earth, which like nurferies bring

flrength

and

He

perfection.

fays,

SCIENCES.
They

trees.

them

forth

diffeminate the kernels upon

they grow up to their natural

till

About twenty-five years ago, coming from

Kofecaftle early in the morning, I obferved a great

number of crows very bufy at

I went out of my way on

their work upon a declining ground of a molfy furface

purpofe

to

their planting

with

going about and about

their bills,

was thus

they

till

they dropped in the acorn, and covered

at the latter

end of autumn, when

all

it

but I imagine

it

made

and then

The

feafon was

in times of need,

make ufe

they

of,

wmnderful

all

again

but that as

Many

known

horfe has been

Oxen and cows

trees they plant

in the earth,

fame

But

It
this

clafs or fpecies.

we cannot fup-

independent of fexual. at-

horfes, though quiet with

:

is

given

pened alfo on a time to have but one

com-

the ftrongeft fences cannot

in

other refpeCts to be remarkawill negleCl the fineft

would be needlefs

to inftance in

propenfity feems not to be con-

Even great

difparity of kind

does not alw^ays prevent focial advances and mutual fellowfiiip.

following remarkable inftance

much

for,

remain in the plot of ground

by themfelves; but

not recommended by fociety.

fined to animals of the

fpent

to leap out at a fiable-window through

and yet

will not fatten

fheep, which confiantly flock together.

fize

will

by themfelves

which dung was thrown, after company

is

many

fpirit of fociality in the brute creation,

field;

bly quiet.

prefervation^

as can well grow by one another.

pany, will not ftay one minute in a

pafture that

own

a double purpofe; both their

and the propagation of the

tachment, has been frequently remarked.

reftrain them.

for their

to

propagation

fupply them in a time of fcarcity

may anfwer

wherever they hide a great number of nuts or grains

pofe they find them

Mr. Robinfon feems

full ripe.

this inftinCt folely for the

was given them principally

fo that fuch an inftinCt in thefe birds

holes in the earth

little

was deep enough

with earth and mofs.

in time of plenty, in order to

by hiding provifion

own fupport

firft

the hole

feeds are

think that Providence had given the crows

*

view their labour, and I found they were planting a grove of oaks.

The manner of

of trees

91

A gentleman who kept

Of

and

this the

but one horfe, hap-

two incongruous animals

folitary hen: thefe

of their time together in a lonely orchard, where they faw no creature

but each other: by degrees an apparent regard began to take place between thefe

two fequeftered individuals

the fowl would approach the quadruped with notes

of complacency, rubbing herfelf gently againft his legs

look

down with

tion, left

good

fatisfaftion,

he Ihould trample on his diminutive companion

oflices

while the horfe would

and move with the greateft caution and circumfpec;

and thus by mutual

each feemed to confole the vacant hours of the other.

Im

A KEY TO PHYSIC

92

March

In the Gentlemans Magazine for

of a raven. The raven alluded to

Lion at

coming

my

was evidently a concerned fpedlator

the

manger wdth

my

You

Eafe.

is

muft know then,

chaife ran over and bruifed the leg of

we were examining

land dog; and, while

the following anecdotes

or did live three years fince, at the

lives,

ungerford ; his name, I think,

into that inn,

we have

1788,

the minute the dog was tied up under

for,

vifited,

but fetched him bones, and

The

attended upon him with particular and repeated marks of kindnefs.

dog was fo marked, that

notice of the

obferved

it

that he had been bred from his pin-feather in intimacy with a

them was mutual

and that

all

birds

for I

had not

John then

told me,

to the hoftler

heard a word before of the hiftory of this benevolent creature.

tion between

that,

my Newfound-

the injury done to the dogs foot, Rafe

Rafe not only

horfe,

Red

dog

that the affec-

the neighbourhood had often been

witneffes of the innumerable a^ls of kindnefs they

had conferred upon each

other.

Rafes poor dog, after a while, unfortunately broke his leg; and during the long

time he was confined, Rafe w^aited upon him conffantly, carried him his provifions daily,
hoftler

had

and never fcarcely

ftiut

left

him alone

the ftable door, and Rafe

friend the w'hole night; but the hoftler found in

door fo pecked away,

have made

what

his

own

that,

had

it

One

night by accident the

was deprived of the company of

the

morning the bottom of the

not been opened, Rafe would in another hour

entrance-port.

I then

enquired of

my

landlady, and heard

have related confirmed by her, with feveral other fingular

traits

ones.

I hope

believe,

however, the bird

is

living;

ftill

or

and the

have not over-rated his merit.

traveller will find I

To

and

of the

maimed

kindnelfes this bird fiiows to all dogs in general, but particularly to

wounded

bis

thefe inftances of attachment between incongruous animals from a fpirit of

fociality or the feelings of

fympathy, may be added the following inftance of fond-

nefs from a different motive, recounted by Mr. White, in his Hiftory of Selborne

My

friend

had a

little

with milk in a fpoon

helplefs leveret brought to him,

and about the fame time

The

were difpatched and buried.

the

way of moft

after,

foundlings, or killed by

which the fervants fed

his cat kittened,

hare was foon

loft,

fome dog or

and the young

and fuppofed to be gone

cat.

However,

in

a fortnight

as the mafter was fitting in his garden in the dulk of the evening, he ob-

ferved his cat, with

tail ere6l,

trotting

towards him, and calling with

inward notes of complacency, fuch as they ufe towards their kittens,

little

ftiort

and fome-

thing gamboling after, which proved to be the leveret, which the cat had fup*

ported with her milk, and continued to fupport with great affeftion.

Thus was a

graminivorous animal nurtured by a carnivorous and predacious one!

Why fo cruel

and fanguinary a beaft as a

cat,

of the ferocious genus of

felis,

the

murium

leo,

as

AND THE OCCULT

as LinnEbus calls

which

is

its

SCIENCES.

fhould be affefted with any tendernefs towards an animal

it,

natural prey,

is

This ftrange affection

not fo eafy to determine.

thofe tender maternal

probably was occafioned by that defiderium,

which the

of her kittens had awakened in her bread ;

lofs

93

feelings,

and by the compla-

cency and eafe the derived to herfelf from procuring her teats to be drawn,
which were too much diftended with milk, till from habit fhe became as much
delighted with this fbundling as
is

if it

had been her real offspring.

This incident

no bad folution of that ftrange circumftance which grave hiftorians as well as

poets

affert,

beafts that

that

of expofed

had probably

loft their

Romulus and Remus,

than that a poor

being fometimes nurtured

children

young.

For

it is

in their infant ftate,

by female wdld

not one whit more marvellous

ftiould

be nurfed by a Ihe-wolf,

fucking leveret ftiould be foftered and cherifhed by a bloody

little

grimalkin.

That brute animals

poffefs refle6lion

and fentiment, and are fufceptible of the

kindly as well as the irrafcible.paflions, independently of fexual attachment and natural affe6lion

fenfe of glory

and that they have a great

may

ftiare

of

fidelity,

of pride, and even a

be demonftrated from the elephant, the horfe, and the dog.

Elephants, even in a favage

ftate,

are peaceable and gentle creatures.

ufe their weapons but in defence of themfelves or companions.

pofitions are fo ftrong, that they are

They never

Their focial dif-

feldom found alone, but march always

in large

troops: the oldeft and moft experienced lead the van; the younger or lame ones

keep

in the

middle

and thofe of a fecond

females carry their young on their

trunk.

They feldom march

tuftcs,

rate, as to age,

walk

in the rear.

The

embracing them at the fame time with, their

in this regular

order but when they reckon the jour-

ney dangerous, fuch as an expedition to cultivated lands, where they expe^f

meet with

refiftance.

On other occafions they

ing behind or feparating from the

reft,

are lefs cautious;

fome of them

but feldom fo far as to be without the

reach of affiftance by alarming and affembling their companions.

to offer

them the

leaft injury; for they

the weight of their body be great,

outrun the fwifteft man,

whom

to,

fall-

It is

dangerous

run ftraight upon the offender; and, although

their fteps are fo large,

that they eafily

they either pierce with their tufks,

or feize with

him in the air like a ftone, and then trample him under their feet.
But they never attack any perfon unlefs when provoked. However, as they are
extremely fenfible and delicate with regard to injuries, it is always prudent to keep
their trunk, dart

out of their way.

Travellers

beat drums, during the night,

who frequent

thofe countries kindle large

in order to prevent their approach.

once attacked by men, or falling into any ambufti,

No.

7.

fires,

and

After being

they are faid never to forged

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

94

As

the injury, but fearch for every opportunity of getting revenge.

dowed perhaps with a-more exquifite

fenfation of fmell than any other animal, owing

to the great extent of their nofe, they can fcent a

trace

him by

The
he

man

at

a very great diftance, and

his footfteps.

elephant,

when tamed,

the moft friendly and obedient of all animals

is

who

entirely attached to the perfon

is

feeds and takes care of him.

time he underftands hgns, and the found of his mailers voice.

the language of palfion,

He

command, of

of

receives his orders with attention

body, for the convenience of thofe

He lifts

his trunk.

He

in a cart or

frnall

who mount

His guide

ears and head;

tame elephant

will

and

He

dillinguiflies

adls

accordingly.

thofe

affills

his

ala-

knees and lower his

careffes his friends with

who

are loading

him

in

When

and trappings.

waggon, he pulls equally and cheerfully, unlefs he be abufed

rod of iron, lliarp at the point,

him on the

He

him.

delights in lliining harnefs

by injudicious chaltifement.
a

bow

eafily learns to

burdens with his trunk, and

laying them on his back.

yoked

fatisfadlion

In a ihort

and executes them with prudence and

He

but without precipitation.

crity,

they are en-

generally

is

in bis

hand

do more labour than

fix

moll

for the

but,

mounted on

his neck,

with

he diredls his motion by pricking

a

part,

horfes

word

is

fufficient.

but then he requires a propor-

They are the principal bealls of burden in many parts of

They carry facks and bundles of all kinds on their
Africa and the Eall Indies.
They never lofe or damage any thing committed to their
neck, back, and tullvs.
tional quantity of food.

care
lay

they

them

will ftand

on the edge of a

carefully in a boat,

take bundles off their necks and tulks,

river,

whenever they are

whether they are properly fituated

if

defired,

and

try with their trunk

they be loaded with cafks, they go in quell

The elephant is riot only

of Hones to prop them and prevent them from rolling.
fenfible of benefits, and
thfe moll tradlable, but the moll intelligent, of animals
In India, they were once employed in the launching of
refentful of injuries.
;

Hiips

one

w'as diredled

to force a very lai'ge velfel into the water

proved fuperior to his llrength

his mallei-, with

take away this lazy beaft and bring another

efforts,

fradlured his Ikull,

along the
woi'k

flreets,

put his trunk into a

every drop

among

filled his

the

work

a farcallic tone, bade the keeper

the poor animal inllantly repeated his

fpot.

tailor s

one of them pricked the end with

the next dirty puddle

and died on the

In Delhi, an elephant, paffing

Ihop where feveral people were at

his needle

the beaft palfed on

but at

trunk with water, returned to the Ihop, and, fpirting

the people

who had

offended him,

fpoiled their W'ork.

An

elephant in Adfmeer, which often palfed through the bazar, or market, as he went

by a certain herb-woman,

always received from her a mouthful of greens: at

length

AND THE OCCULT SCIENCES.

length he was feized with one of his periodical

running through the market, put the crowd to

who

in halle forgot

and placed

trunk,

in fafety

it

madnefs, killed

of rage, broke his fetters, and,

flight;

child fhe had brought with

little

the fpot where his benefa^trefs was wont to

in his

fits

his,

on a

among others, this woman,

her. The animal, recoHedting

took up the infant gently

fit,

before a neighbouring houfe.

flail

or governor

cornac,

95

in his

Another

the wife, feeing the misfortune,

took her two children and flung them before the elephant, faying, Now yon
have deflroyed their father, you may as w'ell put an end to their lives and mine.
took the greatefl of the children,

It inflantly flopped, Yelented,

its

him

neck, adopted

elfe to

mountit.

placed liim on

for his cornac, and never afterwards wmuld permit any

foldier at Pondicherry,

received the portion that

came

body

who was accuflomed, whenever he

to carry a certain quantity of it to

to his fliare,

of thefe animals, having one day drank rather too freely,

one

and finding himfelf

purfued by the guards, who were going to take him to prifon, took refuge under the
elephants body, and fell afleep. In vain did the guard try to force him from this

The next morning

afylum,'as the elephant prote6led him Muth his trunk.

dier,

from

recovering

drunken

his

flretched under the belly of this

fhuddered

fit,

M'ith

The

huge animal.

horror tO find himfelf

elephant,

doubt perceived the mans embarraffinent, careffed him with

his trunk raifed

up

in the air

uncommon

frequently

if

him was the caufe of the

on the

lad,

he turned

of water in his trunk,

in

order

and fpoiled

At

it.

the

and armed with

affront that
his

it

Europe,

mouth

but as the lad

only of throwing him the

fruit,,

was offered him, inflead nf revenging him-

Cape of Good Hope,

by the chafe.

it

is

cuflomary to

kill

Three horfemen, well

thofe

mounted

attack the elephant alternately, each relieving the otlier

who had made

and enjoy the

in the ufual

till

the beaft

is

fubdued.

large fortunes by this buffnefs,

they went, to have a lafl chace by

and began the attack

offer

holding

on the paper on which the painter was drawing,,

as they fee their companion preffed,

(brothers),

fruit into his

was that of

painters boy, in order

refentment on the mailer, and, taking up a quantity

th'eir teeth,

lances,

The

he had known that the painters intention of drawing

threw

animals for the fake of

threw

and made an

deceived him,

he grew angry; and, as

which

attitude,

with his mouth open.

to keep the animal in this poflure,

retire to

his trunk,

painter was defirous of drawing the elephant which was kept in the

menagerie at Verfailles in an

men

who without

him with courage and make him underfland that he might now depart

to infpire
in fafety.

felf

the fol-

fruits

of their labours;

way of aniufement

Three Dutchdetermined to

but refolved, before

they met with

manner ; but unfortunately one of
:

their game,,
their horfes
fell

A KEY TO PHYSIC

96
fell

down and

with

flung its'rider

trunk, flung

its

his tufks

the enraged animal inftantly feized the

him up

to a vaft height in the air,

and received him on one of

then turning towards the two other brethren, as

of revenge and

unhappy man

if it

were with an afpeft

held out to them the impaled wretch w rithing on the bloody

infult,

tooth.

When

is

properly managed, he lives very long even in a ftate of

and labour: that fome have

llavery
is

the elephant

and propagate

years before they

their fpecies

come

as

Mr.

Buller, Lieut.

till

they are an hundred and twenty

is

now

it is

thirty

The mode of connedlion

their full growth.

to

tween the male and female

an hundred and thirty years,

In a natural ftate they often exceed two hundred

pretty well authenticated.

years,

lived in this ftate

be-

afcertained beyond the poftlbility of doubt;

Hawkins, and many others, faw a male copulate with a female,

after they w'ere fecured, in the Eaft-Indies, in a

manner exadlly

fimilar to the con-

This faCt entirely overturns what has been fo

junction of the horfe with a mare.

often related concerning the fuppofed delicacy of this ufeful animal,

The

of other hypothefes, which are equally void of foundation.

and a variety

time an elephant

goes with young, has been afcertained to be fome what lefs than two years, as an
elephant brought forth a young one tw'enty-one months and three days after
taken. She

was obferved

to be with

taken in January preceding

fo that

with the male fome months before

that

flie

it is

flie

in

April or

very likely

May

flie

1788, and

flie

was

was only

muft have had connexion

was fecured, otherwifethey could notdifcover

foetus of lefs than three

was with young, as a

pofed to make any alteration

young

flie

months cannot well be fup-

in the fize or fliape of fo large

an animal.

The young,

one, a male, was produced October 16, 1789, and appeared in every refpeCt to
have arrived at its full time. He was thirty-five inches high at his birth, and grew
Elephants are always meafured at the
four inches in nearly as many months.
flioulder; for the arch or curve of the back,

of young ones particularly,

derably higher than any other part, and

a fure fign of old age whenever this

curve

is

attained

it is

found flattened or confiderably deprefled,

its full

and never with

growth.

The young

their trunks, as

from conjecture,

after

Buffon has afterted

and applied by every elephant.

The approach

known;

for

happens,

on each

fide of the head.

it

The

confi-

an elephant has once,

elephants fuck conftantly with their mouths,

;

a conclufion he

made merely

and the great and various ufes to which the trunk

fome days before

is

is

of the rutting-feafon

adapted
is

eafily

an oily liquor flows from a fmall hole

domeftic female on thefe occafions fometimes

makes her efcape, and joins the wild males in the woods. Some days afterwards
her cornac goes in queft of her, and calls her by her name till flie comes.
She
fubmits to him with complacence, and allows herfelf to be conducted home, and
/hut

AND THE OCCULT

up

iliut

They bring

in the ftabie.

two dugs, one on each

world,

their

when

in

The
by

a natural

intrepidity

a time, though the female has

at

one, as foon as

furniflied with teeth

is

fome time

till

Elephants of

long.

97

this

and

after,

it

comes

into the

h&wever, the large

at the

age of

fix'

age are as large as an ox

ftate.

and fagacity of the horse have been regarded with admiration

ranks of men, and in

all

and

appearance

months they are feveral inches

one

The young

fide the breaft.

as large as a wild boar,

is

do not make

tuflcs

forth but

SCIENCES.

all

ages

Even

world.

.of the

in

a domeftic flate he

is-

bold and fiery; and, equally undaunted as his matter, faces danger and death wuth

ardour and magnanimity.

He

to feel the glory of victory

in the

chace

his eyes fparkle with emula--

But, though bold and intrepid, he

tion in the courfe.

knows how

he exults

and tumult of arms, and feems

delights in the noife

to govern

is

docile

and check the natural viVacity and

fire

and tradlable

he

He

of his temper.

but feems to confult the inclination of his rider.

not only yields to the hand,

Conttantly obedient to the impreffions he receives, his motions are entirely regu-

He

lated by the will of his matter.

He

the pleafure of man.

delivers

Who

will rather die than difobey.

who

fome meafure

in

up

hi^

ture has

We

endowed brute animals

w'ith

The

none but wretches mott relentlefs

memory;

or ttables, a horfe has been accuttomed

again,

he

need go no further than the horfe, to prove how ftrongly na-

to,

for

whatever roads, pattures, inns,

though removed for years to a

part of the country, he never forgets them;

them

could endure to fee a charadler fo noble, abufed?

could be guilty of fuch grofs barbarity?

and unfeeling

refigns his very exittence to*

whole powers, he referves nothing

but,

if

dittant

ever he returns, or pafles by

he gives evident tokens that he has been accuttomed to the place.

celebrated equettriansj

Hughes and Attley,

fand curious anecdotes to illuttrate this fadt;

controvertible,

will

could, I doubt not, furniflia thou-

but the following, I think, being in-

be fufficient for the purpofe.

Mr. James George, a gentleman of Southampton, in the county of Hants, loft;

his horfe from off- the common on which he had been accuttomed to be turnedout.

About twelve months

after,

on a common near Burfledon.

the horfe was feen and recognized, grazing

Soon as

this

was made knawn, Mr. George fent

his fervant with a bridle, and ordered the horfe to be caught, and brought home.

In a few days
the horfe,

on the

infitting

a Mr. Langtree of Burfledon

it

was

his

affirmations

of

fix

to

Mr. George,
for years

Mr. Langtree brought an

which was tried at Winchetter

pofitive

came

and had been fo

property,

being pofitively w-ithheld,

however,
covery,

after,

affifes,

or feven

in

March

witneffes,

demand
The horfe,

to

adtion for his re-

I7b9.

The

traced the fale of the

horfe from one dealers hands to another, as far back as the year 1784,
No.. 7.

Cc

plaintiff,

when he
was

A KEY TO PHYSIC

98

was purchafed of one farmer Mofes,

the horfe was identified by them all.
fitive

evidence was adduced,

in the

On

who bred him

county of Suffex,

real property of -Mr.

was not the horfe fworn

but was,

fide,'

George, from the year 1786.

In

been to infpedl him but the day before the

trial,

to

and

this fituation,

with the horfe equally fworn to and identified by the witnelfes on both fides,
all

and

the part of the defendant, the mofi; po-

to fliow that this horfe

have been fo bought and fold by the witnelfes on the other

had been, the

who had

the judge by crofs-examining

thelaftwitnefs, difcovered, that, u hen the defendants fervant brought the horfe back,

he turned him into

on Southampton common, where he had not

his old pafturage

been many minutes, before he

own

of his

fet off,

accord, towards Southampton;

way crolfed a number of lanes, and turnings, paffed by eight or ten llables,
until he came to the liable of Mr. George, where he inflantly flopped, and neighed
at the ftable-door, as much as to fay he was come back, and begged to be taken in.

and

in his

The

This circumftance decided the verdict.

learned judge remarked, that there

could be no collulion in the evidence derived from the

memory of the

horfe

and

directed the jury to find for the defendant.

This charadler, though natural to the animal,

is

improved by habit and education.

His education commences with the lofs of liberty, and is finifited by conftraint. In
the vail deferts of America, they roam at large without any reftraint. M. de Salle
relates, 'that

he faw,

in the

America, near the bay of

St. Louis,

come near them. Oexmelin

mingo running

year 1685,

in the valleys

horfes feeding, in the

meadows of North

which were fo ferocious that nobody durft

of them in St. Dowhen any perfon approached, they all flopped;

fays, that he has feen large troops

that,

and one of them would advance till within a certain dillance, then fnort with his
nofe, take to his heels, and the whole troop after him. Thefe relations fufficiently
prove,

that the horfe,

mankind

when

has no inclination to alfociate with

at full liberty,

that all the foftnefs and dudlility of his

temper proceed

entirely

the culture and polifli he receives in his domeftic education, which in

fure commences as foon as he

deur in

his general

is

brought

appearance,

but there

him an

air

The horfe

fome mea-

has not only a gran-

the greatell fymrnetry and propor-

regularity and proportion of the dif-

of lightnefs, which

He

the llrength and beauty of his chbll.

is

The

tion in the different parts of his body.

ferent parts of the head give

forth.

from

eredls his head,

is

well fupported

by

as if walling to exalt

himfelf above the condition of other quadrupeds; his eyes are open and lively;
his ears are

handfome, and of a proper height

his

him the appearance of llrengtli and boldnefs.

two years and an
like

half,

moll other females,

the horfe
is

is

in

mane adorns his neck, and gives

At the age of two years, or

a condition to propagate

ready to receive him

Hill fooner.

and the mare,

But the

foals pro-

duced

AND THE OCCULT

duced by fuch

mare

meant with regard

till

but their chief ardour for the horfe

and Spanifh

lafts

vigoi'ous,

ftallions

not

and of a good breed.

Britifii ftallions

The

For

carriage horfes,

The

degenerated.

little

The

Denmark,

are thofe of Naples,

foreign ftallions,

ftallions

ought to have courage,

Thefe

tradlability,

To

good or bad

all his

fliow,

more

and voracious

cruel,

with men, he

is

be

a fenfible

agility,

fpirit,

communicate

to his offspring

the reafoning.-faculty of brutes, and to diftinguifli

adtions and difpofition of the rog.

is fierce,

ftallions to

Befides thefe external

whether natural or acquired.

qualities,

obvioufly,

we need only contemplate

the operations of intelledf from thofe of inftindl,

he

The

of a ftallibn are the more

precautions in the choice

neceffar}% becaufe he has been found by experience to

almoft

draught or

and Friezeland.

overlooked; as a fine black, grey, bay, forrel, chefnut, &c.

See.

and

of Italy,

beft ftallions for

Holftein,

Neither ought the colour of

drauoht-horfes at leaft fifteen hands.

mouth, fare limbs.

Next

all others.

be from fourteen to fifteen hands high, and for

ftallions for faddle-horfes fhould

qualities, a ftallion

this

ought to be found, well-

ftallion

fine faddle-horfes,

are very good.

efpecially the Neapolitans,

The

end of June

becaufe they originally fprang from thofc

are the beft;

above-mentioned, and are very

only

feven.

till

to the

as Arabians, Turlcs, Barbs, and Andalufians, are preferable to

to thefe,

horfe

is

only about fifteen or twenty days, and

critical feafon flrould always be embraced.

made,

four or four and a half ; this

from the beginning of April

in feafon

mares are generally

is

The

Fine horfes fhould not be ^admitted to the

to draught-horfes.

before they are fix years old

he

99

and weakly.

early embraces are generally ill-made

fliould never be admitted to the

mare

SCIENCES.

In a favage
but,

when

ftate,

it

civilized

He

poffeffed of every amiable quality.

He

the

muft be allowed, that

and accuftomed

to

live

feems to have no other

defire than to pleafe

and protedt

and

difpofitions, joined to his almoft unbounded fagacity, juftly

Thefe

faithful.

claim the efteem of mankind.

refpedled

he

is

his mafter.

gentle, obedient,

is

Accordingly no animal

fo dudlile, and fo

much formed

to pleafe,

An

very air and temper of the family in which he refides.

fuch

uncommon

qualities,

vigilance are daily

The

fo

to protedt

our perfons,

at Bruffels

and

It

is

preffed with ficknefs, to which he

fummer, and before

ill

His

our flocks,

in

Holland he

is

trained to

fidelity

and

or our goods.

he

is

frequently

draw

little

carts

northern regions draws a fledge with his mafter in

in the

or loaden with provifions.

and

careffed or

that he affumes the

muft anfwer many ufeful purpofes.

employed

as a turnfpit

to the herb-market

much

animal endowed with

acutenefs of his fmell gains him employment in hunting

employed

it,

is

fubmiffive,

a remarkable
is

inftindl; in

very fubjedl,

the dog, that,

when op-

efpecially in the beginning of

weather, he eats the leaves of the quicken grafs,

the

bearded

A KEY TO PHYSIC

100

bearded wheat-grafs, or the rough cocks-foot grafs, which gives him immediate
relief

by making him

He

votnit.

cuoudy upon every thing

does not throw out his excrements promif-

happens

that

This

trunks of trees, or barren places.

be

to

way, but carefully feeks

in the

flones,.

a wife inftitution of nature; for the ex-

is

crements of a dog deftroy almoft every vegetable or animal fubftance. They are of
fuch a putrid nature, that,
particular part
urine,

if

rot in a few days.

v^ill

them when recently expelled, that

obferves the fame method in making his

a mans flioc touches

which he throws out at a

He
It

fide.

is

remarkable, that a dog will not pafs a

flone or a wall againft which any other dog has urined, without following his
ple,

although an hundred iliould occur in a few minutes; infomuch that

how fuch

nifliing

jeHion

a quantity can be fecreted in fo

fliort

The

a time.

examaflo-

it is

principal ob-

mad, and of commuvvhatever perfon, or animal, they may chance to bite; and of

to dogs, in the fliocking circumftance of their going

nicating the diforder to

From a minute

which the cure has ever been confidered precarious and uncertain.

inveftigation of the poifonous qualities of the hydrophobia, and the effedt

it

has on

the blood, as well as from a confideration of what the blood and juices undergo

by emerging the body

miniftei ed in the

plorable malady
cine.

in the fea,

way

am

at leaft as far as

bold to affirm that

have diredted,

is

a certain

human

keep dogs, to w
misfortune

is

placed, and

my

to

have them inftantly difpatched,

much anxiety and

diftrefs prevented.

With regard

remain

feafon ten, twelve,

in the cold

dition ol the female

One

than

by the fmell

coition will

in the
;

but

in

months

feafon generally twice

The male

hot months.

flie

feldoin admits

make her conceive

a great

from

rate themfelves,

him the

firft fix

'>t

w'hen

fhe feems to have no choice

this

circumftance

but remain united fo long as the ercdtion fubfids.

the corpus

or feven.

but,

it

fome-

in bring-

During the time of copulation, thefe animals cannot fepa-

to the flru<5ture of the parts.

middle

and

difcovers the con-

times happens, that a fmall female, w ho has admitted a maftiff, periflies

ing torth her young.

They

old.

in the year,

number of young;

not reftrained, die will admit feveral dogs every day

or preciiiedtion, except in favour of large dogs

be eatily re-

to the propagation

during which time they wdll

or even fifteen, days,

They come

admit a variety of males.

may

as they

the females admit the males before they are twelve

days.

who

atch w'ell their aHions, and, on the fmalieft fufpicion that fuch a

near,

more frequently

cure for this de-

certainty can go with refpe<5t to medi-

of dogs,
in

Solar Tin6lure, ad-

infallible

to encourage a negligence in thofe

would not however be underftood

and

The dog

cavernofum there

time of ereHion to a confiderable bulk.

is

a large hollow, which

The

larger clitoris than perhaps any other animal

This

is

owing

has not only a bone in his penis, but in the

female,

is

blown up in the

on the other hand, has a

befides, a large firm protuberance

rifes

AND THE OCCULT

rifes in the

eifedled, -the male turns

in that pofttion

fuhfides

till it

about

in

bring forth

order to reft himfelf on his legs, and remains

The female

the parts turn flaccid.

till

fix to

goes with young about nine

They continue

and the

fox,

creation.

to copulate

life,

the females like the bitch.

like the dog,

boar-dog to

terrible

All the variety

we behold

Fompey
in

the

The dog,

them,

climate, or the accidental effedf of foil, food,

is

were

little,

all

the wolf,

dogs whatfo-

one

all

either produced

or fituation

and

The

the tenth or twelfth

till

are certainly derivedjVom one original parent; and

from the

ever,

fuiall

w'hich lafts generally about fourteen or fifteen years.

whelps are commorrly blind, and cannot open their eyes

day; the males are

Thofe of a

twelve puppies.

and fometimes but two.

five, four,

bring forth during

accordingly, after the a6f of penetrating

weeks.' They generally bring forth from

fize

101

time of copulation, and remains perhaps longer than that of the male, and

prevents him from, retiring

is

SCIENCES.

in the firft

by change of

or from the iftue of hu-

man care, experiment, or caprice. Every buntfman knows what a vaft alteration
may be made in dogs, by induftrioufly improving the breed for twenty or thirty
Nature wifely fends

years.

where

it is

to inhabit,

to render every kind of creature

or be employed

which

other animals, degenerate, by being removed

from the following experiment:

nifeft

moved
by

to the north,

fenfible

and fuffered

if

But the utmoft

a couple of right fouthern hounds be re-

efforts

human

of

Almighty Creator

Nature

to be imitated

mules are always barren

induftry and contrivance,

is ftill

will ever difcover

fpecies.

Above
own and

only

In fpite of

the horfe,

There appears a

the dog,

the bear,

our

art,

diftindl fpecific

the goat,

in fize,

how-

fhape,

the peculiar inftindf and appetite for generation, will

This

by

or

fomething that approximates to the charadler of their

is

Animals of

one of the moft undeniable arguments that

held together in the fame manner, but

prompt

different fpecies wdll never

and dogs, are originally the fame fpecies, becaufe

all

aflifted

uniform as to the main, nor fuffers the

by fhort-fighted mortals.

indicate their relation.

copulate together.

whether

by copulation, or by climate, either

figure,

all,

in the

nor can the moft curious projedfor produce one amphi-

difference in all living creatures

art,

and

could never add one new fpecies to the

geneous animal that will increafe and multiply.

ever diverfified by

they will,

by being carried from one country to another.

varied,

works of the creation.

foxes,

why hounds, and all

This is ma-

into contrary climates.

to propagate without art or mixture,

change of climate, or mixture of breed,

to

the reafon

country

for the

degrees, decline into lighter bodies and fhriller accents;

fame way are -all dogs

them

is

fit

wolves,

in coition they are

we have fome

not

inftances of litters of

puppies produced from the dog and fox, and alfo from the dog and wolf. Mr. Brooke^,

animal-merchant

No.

7.

in

Holborn, turned a wolf to a Pomeranian bitch in heat;

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

102

the congrefs was immediate, and as ufual between dog and bitch

flie

produced

Mr. Pennant faw one of them at Gordon Caftle, that had very
much the refemblance of a wolf, and alfo much of its nature being flipped at
a weak deer, it inftantly caught at the animals throat and killed it.
I could not
ten puppies.

learn (fays

Mr. Pennant) whether

this

mongrel continued

its

fpecies

of the fame kind did, and flocked the neighbourhood of Fochabers,

of Moray, (where

There

it

in the

county

was kept,) with a multitude of curs of a mofl wolfifh

afpe6l.

w^as lately living

wolf parent.

was

It

a mongrel offspring of

ferocity.

it

It never barked,

w'here fheep were,

it

would

was very tame; but

but rather howled

feign lamenefs, but if

attack them. It had been feen in copulation

It greatly

this kind.

the property of Sir Wolflein

firft

Willoughby Aflon. During day

into

but another

Dixey

refembled

its

afterw-ards of Sir

at night fometimes relapfed

when

it

came

into

fields

no one was prefent w'ould inftantly

witli

a bitch, which afterwards pupped;

many refpefts the fuppofed fire. It died beThe woodman of the manor of Mongewell, in Ox-

the breed was imagined to refemble in

tw-een the age of five
fordfliire,

and

fix.

has a bitch, which conftantly follows him, the offspring a tame dog-fox

by a fliepherds cur; and

flie

again has had puppies by a dog. Since there are fuch

authentic proofs of the further continuance of the breed,

wolf and fox to the other fuppofed flocks of thefe

mofl naturalifts fuppofe the dog

to

we may

furely

add the

faithful domeftics, particularly as

have been originally the produ6lion of one or

other of thefe animals, tamed and civilized.

Many and
even of

wonderful are the inftances of fagacity,

which thefe

forefight,

faithful animals

Some fuch will doubtlefs occur to

own obfervation I fhall therefore
;

queftionable authenticity.
ford,

Indies
night,

to take lodgings,
;

fidelity,

and

attention,

and

have evinced towards their mafters.

the minds of

my

readers, as falling under their

only recite tw'O or three fuch inftances, of un-

In the year

1791, a perfon w'ent to a houfe in Dept-

under pretence than he was juft arrived from the Weft-

and, after having agreed on terms, faid he fhould fend in his trunk that

and come himfelf the next day.

trunk was brought in by two porters,

as the family were going to

bed,

About

nine oclock in the evening,

and was carried

their little

ftation in the fhop, placed himfelf clofe to the

into his bed- room.

houfe-dog,

the

Juft

deferling his ufual

door of the chamber where the cheft

was depofited, and kept up an inceffant barking. The moment the chamber
door was opened, the dog flew to the cheft, againft which it barked and
fcratched with redoubled vehemence and fury.

At firft they tried to get the

dog out of the room; but in vain. Galling in fome neighbours, and making
them eye-w'itneffes of the circumftance, they began to move the trunk about,
when they quickly difcovered that it contained fomething alive.
Sufpicion
falling

AND THE OCCULT

felling very ftrong, they

who

were induced to open

fliould prefent himfelf

to rob the houfe

Portfmouth

In the fummer

He

the water.

went

to

Being unacquainted with the depth,

himfelf, the inftant he quitted the machine, nearly out

and, unnoticed by the

attends the machines, he had funk for the laft time in the agonies of

who

A large

drowning.

feeing the diftrefs

Newfoundland dog, Handing by accident on the fliore, and

and, feizing him by the
of this ftranger, plunged in after him
;

hair of the head; conducted

him

fafely on-fhore,

though

it

was fome time before

he recovered. The gentleman afterwards purchafed the dog

At the
values fiim equally with thp fum total of his fortune.

at a high price, but

three miles from Blenheim, there

of Litchfield,

is

feat of the late Earl

a portrait in the dining-room

with that of a mafiiff dog which faved his

by Johnfton,

of Sir Henry Lee,

It

in,

down

one of Mr. -Bradleys

to

Fright increafed the peril of his fituation,

of his depth.

perfon

when, to their utter aftoniihtnent,

of the year 1792, a gentleman went

fea-bathing.

for the benefit of

and no fwimmer, he found

it,

103

but their new lodger, who had been thus conveyed

to be condu6ted into

machines,

SCIENCES.

feems a fervant had formed the defign of

matter and robbing

affaffinatirig his

the houfe; but the night he had fixed on, the dog,

life.

which had never been much

time followed him up-tlairs, got under his bed,

by
either mafter or man; in the dead of night,
and could not be driven thence
the fame fervant entered the room to execute his horrid defign, but was inftantly
noticed by Sir Henry, for the

feized by the rlog,

firft

confetfed his intentions.^

and, being fecured,

quaint lines in one corner of the pidture, which conclude thus

But

in

I find

U pon

dog, whereof I

more love than thofe

Or

poffibly

will it

become capable

in a -great

had either uttered

in the hearing of the

I trufted more.

forefight

and penetration

difficulty,

that a

dog

meafure of underftanding human difcourfe,

;

and

It has

prefent inftance, the

that, in the

his defign in foliloquy, or

animal?

ftore,

be fuggefted, as a folution of the

and of reafoning and adting accordingly

villain

made no

what hypothefis can we account for a degree of

fuch as this

may

my

There are ten

imparted

it

to

an accomplice,

been much difputed whether brutes have

any language whereby they can exprefs their minds to each other ; or whether
the noife they

themfelves.

make

confiils only of cries inarticulate,

We may

indeed,

and

from analogy, conclude, with great reafon, that

fome of the

cries of beafls are really exprelTions of their fentiments; but

one beaft

capable of forming a defign,

is

kind of language to others,

is

all

unintelligible even to

w'hat I fhall leave to the

whether

and communicating that defign by any

judgment of the reader,

after

A KEY TO PHYSIC
after fubmitting to his confideration the following inftance.

Afparrow,

finding a

neft that a martin had juft built, ftanding very conveniently for him, poffefled himfelf of

it.

him.

The

martin, feeing the ufurper in her houfe,

thoufand martins came

latter,

being covered on every

of the

neft,

full

fide,

and attacked the fparrow

fpeed,

but the

and prefenting only his large beak at the entrance

was invulnerable, and made the boldeft of them who durft approach
After a quarter of an hours combat,

him repent of

their temerity.

difappeared.

The fparrow thought he had

that the martins had

abandoned

they returned to the charge

and indofed him

him thence. Can

it

the martins

all

got the better, and the fpedlators judged

Not

their undertaking.

the leaft. Immediately

in

and, each of them having procured a

tempered earth with which they make

fparrow',

called for help to expel

their nefts, they all at

once

little

fell

of that

upon the

though they could not drive

in the neft to perilli there,

be imagined that the martins could have been able to hatch and

all of them together, without fpeaking to each other, or without

equivalent to language?
communication
fome medium of
From all thefe extraordinary endowments, manifefted by brute animals of differ-

concert this defign

fome philofophei s have maintained

ent countries and kinds,

men

with a foul, though effentially inferior to that of

this fu bjedl, entitled,

animated by

me

ftrangenefs of this dodrine has induced

ment,

fince

it

to this foul they

cannot

evil

Reafon (fays

to prove entertaining to the reader.

fail

thing that oppofes this fentiment

is,

tw'o,

and yet you dare

and the only

the confequences that might be inferred from

If brutes have a foul, that foul muft be either matter or fpirit;

of the

or devils.

fpirits>

to give the outline of his argu-

he) naturally inclines us to believe that beafts have a fpiritual foul

it.

have

A Philofophical Amufementon the Language

in which he aftirms that they are

of Brutes,

The

on

that brutes are gifted

Father Bougeant, aJefuit, publiflied, about the year 1740, a

allowed immortality.
treatife exprefsly

and

You

affirm neither.

dare not fay

it

it is

muft be one

a matter, be-

caufe you muft then neceffarily fuppofe matter to be capable of thinking; nor will

you fay

that

it is

this

fpirit,

principles of religion-;

and

opinion bringing with

this,

among

only by the degrees of plus and minus

of

all religion.

Therefore,

if I

would

w'hich
all

my

Now

I even have means, by the

the

Holy

confuted.

Scriptures,

This I

and

ffiall

ftiall,

and can do

fame method,
to refolve

it,

is

from beafts

very foundation,
;

dodrines of religion

fyftem, being moreover the moft agreeable to reafon,

able hypothefis.

differ

deinoliffi the

thefe confequences

to beafts a fpiritual foul, without ftrikingat the

that

man would

others, that

can elude

confequences contrary to the

it

if I
;

can aftign

it is

evident,

the only warrant-

with the greateft eafe imaginable.

to explain

many

fome very great

very obfcure paffages in

difficulties

unfold in a more particular manner.

which are not well

Religion teaches
us,

AND THE OCCULT

doomed

that they were

burn for ever

to

in hell

but the church has not yet deter-

mined whether they do actually endure the t(jrments

It

to

which they are condemned.

then be thought that they do not yet fuffer them, and that the execution of

may

the verdi6l brought againft them

what

105

from the very moment they had finned, were reprobate, and

that the devils,

us,

SCIENCES.

referved for the day of final judgement.

is

pretend to infer from hence

not to fuffer fo

many

is,

that,

till

doomfday comes, God,

legions of reprobate fpirits to be of no ufe,

Now

in order

has diftributed

them through the feveral fpaces of the world, to ferve the defigns of his Providence and make his omnipotence to appear. ^ Some, continuing in their natural
ftate, bufy themfelves in tempting men, in feducing and tormenting them; either
immediately, as Jobs devil, and thofe that fay hold of

Thefe wicked

miniftry of forcerers or phantoms.

human

bodies

thofe

fpirits are

whom

or by the

thefcrip-

God, with the others,

ture calls the powers of darhiefs, or the powers of the air.
makes millions of beafts of all kinds, which ferve for the ufes of men, which fill
the univerfe, and caufe the

By

means

that

on

and,

the

how

other,

can think,

beafts

without any

foul,

fpiritual

wifdom and omnipotence of the Creator

can eafily conceive, on the one hand,

way

more perfedl than

is

wonder

know,

to be admired*

the devils can tempt us

have fentiments,, and a

ftriking at the do61rines of religion.

memory, and judgment.

longer furprifed to fee them have forecaft,

rather have ocrcafion to

how

at their having

no more, fince

ours. But I difcover the reafon of this

am

no

I ffiould

their foul very likely

it is

becaufe, in beafts

as well as in ourfelves, the operations of the

mind are dependent on the material

organs of the machine to which

and,

lefs

perfedt than in us,

it

it

if

united

thofe organs being groflTer and

that the knowledge,

follows,

the thoughts,

know

thefe proud fpirits

their

own difmal

ftate,

what an humiliation muft

be to them thus to fee themfelves reduced to the condition of beafts

ther they

know

it

or no,

fo fhameful a degradation

Having mentioned the prejudices

But whe-

with regard to them,

is ftill,

the primary effect of the divine vengeance I juft mentioned

hell.

and the

of beafts, muft of courfe be lefs perfedl than ours

other fpiritual operations,

and,

it is

it is

an anticipated

againft this hypolhefis, fuch particularly

as the pleafure which people of fenfe and religion take in beafts and birds, efpecially all forts

of domeftic animals

own fakes? No. As

he proceeds,

they are altogether ftrangers to

Do we

human

fociety, they

no other appointment but that of being ufeful and amufing.

whether
far

it

from

be a

devil or

fliocking,

of the Creator,

any other creature that amufes us ?

me

pleafes

who gave me

fo

told that thefe poor devils are

No.

7.

mightily.

love beafts for their

And

can have

what care we

The thought of

it,

I with gratitude admire the goodnefs

many little devils to ferve and amufe me. If I anx

doomed to fuffer eternal tortures, I admire Gods

Ee

decrees*

A KEY TO PHYSIC
but

decrees,

execution of

my

it

to the Sovereign

devils as I

little

number
moment

that a great
effe6led in a
'v

have no manner of fhare

upon

to touch

this

Judge

in that dreadful fentence

and,

notwithftanding

whom

do with a multitude of people of

be damned.

iliall
;

But

done by time and

it is

in order to

difficulty,

Perfuaded as we are that beafls have

I leave the

,*

I live with

this,

religion informs

the cure of a prejudice

reflection

me

give

not to be

is

leaye then lightly

obferve a very important thing to you.

intelligence,

have we not

all

of us a thoufand

times pitied them for the exceffive evils which the majority of them are expofed

and in

reality fuffer?

How

unhappy

is

the condition of horfes

upon feeing a horfe whom an unmerciful carman

miferable js a dog

beads

living in

whom

me

we

murdering with blows.

is

they are breaking for hunting

woods; they are perpetually expofed

How

to,

are apt to fay,

difmal

IIow

the fate of

is

to the injuries of the weather,

always feized with apprehenfions of becoming the prey of hunters, or of fome wilder
animal;

after long fatigue,

for ever obliged,

food; often fuffering cruel hunger

If

men

and

to look out for

are fubjeCl to a multitude of miferies that

quaints us with the reafon of

beads have committed by

it;

viz.

birth to

fome poor

fubjeCl, moreover, to illnefs

overwhelm them,

the being born flnners. But what crimes can

be fubjeClto

evils fo very cruel?

What

undergone by beads

indeed, far greater than thofe endured by men.

This

religion ac-

then, to think of the horrible excedes of miferies

incomprehenfible rnydery

infipid

and death

whereas nothing

is

in

is,

more eafy

are we,

miferies,

any other fydem, an

to be conceived

from the

fydem I propofe. The rebellious fpirits deferve a punifhment dill more rigorous,
and happy is it for them that their puniflnnent is deferred. In a w-ord, Gods goodfor what right can we have,
nefs is vindicated, and man himfelf is juffified
without neceflity, and often in the way of mere diverfion, to take away the life of
:

God had

not authorifed us fo to do?

And, beads beinw as

fendble as ourfelves of pain and death, how could a jud and merciful God have
given man that privilege, if they were not fo many guilty victims of the divine

millions of beads,

'

vengeance?

quence
never

But

if

hear

dill

fomething more convincing,

beads, by nature, are extremely

fin,

becaufe they are not free

make them

dnners.

The

but

vicious.
this is

We

well

that they

the only condition wanting to

one and the fame fpecies devour one another.

ungrateful

monkeys are mifchievous

and dogs envious.

are jealous and revengeful to excefs; not to mention

many

Many

Cats are perfidious and

AH

beads

in

general

other vices w-e obferve

them; and at the fame time that they are by nature fo very vicious, they have,

fay we,
fo

know

voracious birds and beads of prey are cruel.

infeCts of

in

and of greater confe-

redd the bias that hurries them

into

according to the fchools, neceflitated to do

evil,

neither the liberty nor any helps to

many bad

aClions.

They

arC,

AND THE OCCULT

to difconcert the general order, to

we have of

commit whatever

is

107

moft contrary to the notion

What

natural juftice and to the principles of virtue.

and

thefe in a world originally created for order

good

SCIENCES.

monfters are

This

juftice to reign in?

is,

in

what formerly perfuaded the Manicheans, that there were of necefftty

part,

two orders of

one good, and the other bad

things,

and that the

beafts were not

work of the good principle: a raonftrous error! But how then fhall we believe that beafts came out of the hands of their Creator with qualities fo very
the

man

ftrange! If
fin

fo very

is

wdcked and corrupt,

perverted the happy nature

then,

we muft fay one

God

God

either that

and of giving us

cious as they are,

it is

them models of what

in

mind, and
ever

is

The

came out of Gods hands,

a dog fo

full

What good

was in order

to punifli

man

fuppofition, of which there

with

whdm man

and

infedls,

accefs to the

in

a monkeys being fo very mifchievous,

But then many authors have pretended,

were different from what they are now ; and that it
?

became

But

fo wicked.

this

opinion

not the leaft footftep in holy fcripture.

elude areal difficulty

ful fubterfuge to

difficult

was good,

that they
is

rnoft fliameful in

that what-

can there be

fall,

is

which has perverted their pri-

Holy Scriptures; which fay,

of envy, a cat fo malicious

that beafts, before mans

things,

at the time of the creation of the world,

an exprefs contradidlion to the

yea very good.

fin,

of thefe propofitions finds very

firft

Of two

at his creation.

has taken delight in making beafts fo vi-

the world; or that they have, like man, original

mitive nature.

becaufe he has himfelf through

had given him

a mere

It is a piti-

moft might be faid of the beafts

this at

has a fort of correfpondence

is

but not at

all

of the birds,

We

which have no manner of relation to him.

fifties,

muft then have

re-

courfe to the fecond propofition, that the nature of beafts has, like that of man,

been corrupted by fome original

fin:

another hypothefis, void of foundation, and

equally inconfiftent with reafon and religion,

in all the fyftems

What

hitherto efpoufed concerning the fouls of beafts.

Why, admit of my

fyftem, and all

tory fpirits which have

?s

no

original fin

nature in

its

it is

is

explained.

made themfelves

The

which have been

we

fide are

to ta!ke?

fouls of beafts are refrac-

guilty towards

The

God.

fin in beafts

a perfonal crime, which has corrupted and perverted their

whole fubftance; hence

all the vices

and corruption we obferve

in

them, though they can be no longer criminal, becaufe God, by irrecoverably reprobating them, has at the fame time divefted them of their liberty.

Thefe quotations contain the ftrCngth of Father Bougeants hypothefis, which alfo
hath had its followers ; but the reply to it is obvious. Beafts, though remarkably
mifchievous, are not completely fo

they are in

tude and love, which devils cannot poffibly be.

in the brutes

exift in the

human

nature;

and,

6
/

many inftanees capable of gratiThe very fame paffions that are

if

we chofe

to

argue from the

exiftence'

A KEY TO PHYSIC

108
exiftence of thofe paffions,

we

times,

and the afeendency they have over mankind at ft)me

may- fay, with as great juftice, that the fouls of

valency of the malignant paffions

who

favages,
is

to

lefs

pra6lifed,

deduce

rationality than

combine

among men,

brutes than

accordingly

without being deemed a crime.

this variety

it is

found,

and feem

of a6lion,\

announce

refledtion

a new one

Upon

the whole,

moment

impoffible

Many

by experience.

the hen,

who has been robbed

know

their faults

Again

changes her

of her eggs,

it is

the cat difcovers both

evident,

on many

that,

and miftakes, and corre6l them; they fome-

when one

have recourfe to another; and they have, without doubt, a kind of

How

language for the mutual communication of their ideas.

for,

unlefs

we fuppofe them endowed with

remembering,

thinking,

comparing,

powers, in a degree inferior to the

fpecies,

is all this

to be ac-

the powers of perceiving,

They

and judging?

human

the graduated fcale of intelligent beings

moral ends,

They

of their operations

times contrive the moft ingenious methods of obtaining their ends, and

counted

inftin^t

the bird repairs a fhattered neft, inftead of conftru6ling in-

care and artifice in concealing her kittens.

occafions, animals

it is

they avail themfelves of the

place in order to lay the remainder with more fecurity

fails,

among

and circumftances.

their operations to times

to receive inftruftion

flinftively

method

that the

is,

that

in animals, from a general and uniform

they choofe the favourable

occafion,

among the
men and

exercife their reafon lefs than other men, every fpecies of barbarity

For they accommodate

only.

are devils, as that

All that can be reafonably inferred from the greater pre-

the fouls of brutes are.

former have

men

and form

certainly have thefe

claffes

below them

in

but, their adlions not being diredled to

are confequently not accountable and proper fubje6ts for reward or

punifhrnent in a future world.

After
that

all,

it

does not appear upon what principle of reafon and juftice

mankind have founded

in a fubordinate

right of food
lefs beings

their right over the life of every creature that

lives in peace,

the moft wanton and unneceifary cruelties.

it

it

their privilege no' farther,

who

are

now

is

in

number-

hurried out of them by

It is furely difficult to difcover

Ihould be thought lefs inhuman to crufli to death a harmlefs

offence

placed

Whatever claim they may have

rank of being to themfelves.

and felf-defence, did they extend

might enjoy their

is

it is,

infe61;,

whofe

why

fingle

that he eats that food which nature has prepared for his fuftenance, than

would be were we

to kill

any bulky creature

for the

fame reafon.

There are

few tempers fo hardened againft the impreffions of humanity, as not to ffiudder at

the thought of the latter; and yet the former
leaft

check of compaffion.

that every creature

is

is

univerfally praftifed, without the

This feems to arife from the grofs error of fuppofing,

really in itfelf contemptible,

which happens

to

be clothed
with

AND OCCULT SCIENCE.

abody

with

and

But the inimitable Shakefpeare would teach

are merely relative terms.

little

not confidering that great

difproportionate to our own,

infinitely

109

us, that

poor beetle

the
]*n

As when
And, indeed,

there

pang

every reafon

is

touch, and

Are not

The

fo.

as great

a giant dies.
to believe,

are as requifite as thofe of creatures of far

even more

tread upon,

we

that

corpral fufFrance feels a

millepede, for inftance,

infects

more enlarged dimenfions, perhaps

rolls itfelf round upon the flightefl

upon

the fnail gathers in her horns

many

the fenfations of

that,

the

approach of our hand.

leaft

thefe the ftrongeft indications of their fenfibility

and

is

it

any evidence

of ours, that we are not therefore induced to treat them with a more fympathifing
tendernefs

cannot conclude thefe obfervations on the

which inhabits the Bahama Iflands,

tropics,

and ceconomy of brute

without reciting the following moft remarkable account of the land-

animals,
crab,

inftinO;

and feeds upon vegetables.

well

as

moil parts between the

as

Thefe creatures

live

not only in a kind of

orderly fociety in their retreats in the mountains, but regularly, once a-year,

down

to the fea-fide

i^n

body of fome millions

great numbers, they choofe the

and then

As th?y multiply

at a time.

month of April or May

march
in

to begin their expedition;

out by thoufands from the ftumps of hollow trees, from the clefts

fally

of rocks, and from the holes which they dig for ihemfelves under the furface of
the earth.
turers;
fea

is

At

there

their

that
is

time the whole ground

no

ones

covered with

foot without

place of deftination, and to that they

lined precifion.

No

a fhorter courfe;

this

treading

direft

their

band of adven-

upon them.
march with

The
right-

geometrician could fend them to their deftined ftation by

they turn neither to the right

intervene; and, even

walls to

down

fetting

is

meet with

they

if

keep the unbroken tenor of

order of their route, they,

a houfe,

their

upon other

the face of the country; and, if

it is

way.

nor

left,

whatever obftacles

they will attempt to fcale the

But, though

occafions,

this

be the general

are obliged to conform to

interfered with rivers, they are then feen

wind along the courfe of the {{ream. The proceffion fets forward from the
mountains with the regularity of an army under the guidance of an experienced
commander. They are commonly divided into three battalions; of which the
to

firft

ward

confills

of the ftrongeft and boldeft males,

to clear the

to halt for

No.

8.

that,

way, and face the greateft dangers.

want of

rain,

and

go into

to

'

like

pioneers,

march

for-

Thefe are often obliged

the moft convenient

encampment

till

the

'

KEY TO PHYSIC,

10

The main body

weather changes.

the

>jvhich

never leave the mountains

defcend

and three miles deep, and

The

former.

in

by the occafion

profit

to

fail

their

flow uniform

manner,

difarderly

When

off a piece of the

wound.

holding

up

But, though they

thus

nippers,

their

that,

if

flrive

to

purfue their journey.

they

The

have

arrived

reft

fall

When,

(for they

fand dangers,

at

fun

fhines

and

kind,

this

wafh over

its

bringing their

it

with which they

enemies;

tail

For

eagerly goes to
three

three months

they

come

perly the

tail.

This bunch

bling the roes of herrings.

at the

bring

it

clatter

to difturb them.

much more

in

getting to
cafl:

the

for

creature

waits

is

for

the

fhore,)

their

fpawn.

ufual in ani-

the

benefit of

this

purpofe the crab has no fooner reached

the

edge of the water, and

the

waves

This feems only a preparation for

times.
for,

lets

without

further

flicks to the

barbs

delay,

they

withdraw

fpawn grows larger,

under the

is

feen as big as a hens egg,

In

this

Rate of pregnancy

flap,

and

they

is

ex-

or more proexafitly

refem-

once more feek

time; and, fhaking off their fpawn into the water, leave

the fhore for the laft

accident to

infljded the
often

and efcaping a thou-

prepare to

In the mean time the

land.

cluded out of the body, and

the

fometimes tear

they

for

that

a fatiguing march,

after

under the

upon

till

maimed in fuch a manner as to be incaupon and devour it on the fpot, and then

fpawn to maturity;

to feek a lodging

wait

for-

upon

one molt unfocial property, which

deftined port,

their

body two or

hot

is

are fometimes

fea-water to help the delivery.

the fhore, than

move

is

univerfal halt, and

peafe are as yet within their bodies, and not excluded, as

mals of

are

they continue to

the

be formidable to man, they are

any of them by accident

pable of proceeding, the

tribe,

as the

by day,

rains

it

weapon where they

the
their

fo to each other; for they are poffeffed of

is,

but, if

and

were to threaten thofe

together, as if

their nippers

make an

intimidate

to

try

Three

they are terrified, they march back in a confufed

and then leave

fkin,

They even

paces broa^,

fifty

robuft nor fp vigorous

fo

When

manner.

the furface of the ground, they then

cool of the evening.

and then

time,

guard follows, a ilraggling undifciplined

chief time of proceeding;

their

is

fome

cover the ground.

fo clofe that they almoft

and females, but neither

night

they do not

ward

the rain has fet in for

till

the rear

this,

confining of males

compofed of females,

is

being formed into two columns of

in regular battalia,

or four days after

of the army

to maturity.

At

this

whole

time

fhore in expefilation of this annual fupply

feems black with them;

ard

fhoals

the fea to

of hungry
a

fifh

great diftance

about two thirds of the crabs eggs are immediately

devoured by thefe rapacious invaders.

The

eggs that efcape are hatched under

the fand; and, foon after, millions at a time of the

little

crabs are feen quitting the

fhore,

AND peCULT SCIENCE.

fhpre, ?nd flowjy travelling
fo

a^iye to

retuipp

up

changes

that time

at

therefore, are obliged to continue in the

no

fo that
as

it

There they

enter.

flat

The moft

colour.

its

they can hardly

that

parts of the country

which they cover

in the earth,

may

air

old ones, however, are not

they havie hecorae fo feeble and lean,

Gteep along, apd the flefh

making holes

The

to the mountains.

till

mouth with

at the

Ill

of them,

they recover,

leaves and dirt?

which they leaves

throw/ off their old fhells,

were, quite whole; the place where they opened on the belly being unfeen.

At that time they are q.uite naked, and almoft without motion for fix days together,
whpn they become fo fat as to be delicious food. Tliey have then under their
ftomachs four large white ftones, which gradually decreafe in proportion as the

th?t time that the animal

commonly performed
its

come

h^fdens, and, when they

fhefl

is

feen flowly

making

the fpace of fix

in

remains for a great part of the feafon

pelled by the defire of bringing forth

defcent

in

that

it

is

in perfeft

fecurity.

At

that

about the

more valuable upon

their return after they

may be
ment

eaten.

They

foft

lies

have

on each

caft their

its

fide the

flomach

They

are much,

for,

being co-

fhell;

parchment, almoft every part except the ftomach

are taken in the holes by

they are fought after by night,

when on

inftant the animal perceives itfelf attacked,

its

only when im-

difregarding their

but,

tbickncfs of a mans thumb.

within the fhell, of

refembling

It is

time the natives wait for

thoufands;

deftroy

bodies, they only feek for that fmall fpawrr which

fltin

moft

young, and when compelled to defcend

its

taken.

eager expectation, and,

vered with a

is

habitation being in the moft inacceflible places,

feldom ventures out; and,

country,

this

its

it

flat

all

animal, when poflefled of

impregnable; for only fubfifting on vegetables,

it

into the

way back; and

its

weeks. This

It is at

is

the mountains,

retreats in

be found.

to perfeftion, are not to

claws pinches moft terribly whatever

it

it

them with an

inftru-

journey, by flambeaux.

The

feeling for

their

throws

itfelf

happens to

on

faften

its

on.

back, and with

But

the dexte-

rous crab-catcher takes them by the hinder legs in fuch a manner that the nippers cannot touch him, and thus he throws them into
they are caught,
fea fide_,

ting out
is

are

in the

bag.

Sometimes

alfo

bottoms of holes in rocks by the

by clapping a flick to the mouth of the hole, which prevents their get-

and then foon

found, upon

fixes,

when they take refuge

hw

its

after, the tide

retiring,

drowned

the largeft about fix inches

flaaped like

in

coming, enters the hole, and the animal

its

retreat.

wide; they walk

-Thefe

fide

crabs are of various

ways like'the fea-crab, and

them: fonae are black, fome are yellow, fome

variegated with red, white, and yellow, mixed.

Some of

red,

and others

thefe are poifonous;

and feveral people have died of eating of the crabsj particularly of the black kind,.

The

AKEYTO

112

The

PHYSIC,
when

light-coloured are reckon heft; and,

are very well tafted.

full in flefh,

In fome of the fugar-iflands they are eaten without danger;

many of

help to the negro flaves, who, on

thefe iflands,

and are no fmall

would

fare

very hard

without them.

Of

NOTHING

C E N

more eminently demonftrates

T.

<

the doftrine of atoms, than /cent.

an effluvium continually arifing from the corpufcles that

It is

dies

and,

and juices of

particular

that

of fmells

variety

by the olfaftory nerves, or organs of

Hence, the reafon why one perfon

why

will trace the footfteps

dog

bo-

all

animal from which they flow, occafions the vaft

or feents cognizable

fmelling.
a

out of

iffue

being impregnated with the peculiar date and quality of the blood

from another

in fcent,

and

of his mafter for an hundred miles together,

fol-

differs

low him into any houfe, church, or other building, and diftinguifh him from every
other perfon, though furrounded by ten thoufand

and when the

has thus diligently fought out and recognized his mafter, he

even to

truft the

a few cordial

evidence of

fniffs,

his

own

eyes, until,

to convince himfelf he

is

is

feldom willing

with ereQed creft,

Hence

right.

alfo

animal

faithful

he has taken

we perceive how

a pack of hounds are enabled to purfue the hare, fox, flag, or any other animal
to hunt, acrofs the fcent, 'and amidft the fociety

they are trained

fame

without being diverted from the purfuit of that felffame animal

fpecies,

on

they had JirJi

And

foot.

hence too we difeover how

from putrid bodies, and floating

rent quarters

and,

effluvia

may be gone

whether

this

for thefe corpufcles,

by the wind to

off,

fo as

enough remains

to irritate the olfaflory

be bird or beaft, they try the fcent in

is

all

diredions,

and weaker, and what

know

in

is

hunting

increafed eagernefs

approach the objeft of purfuit;

* It

is

by

this

organ;

the direft

and obvious road

as

is

terrried

for,

and

to their prey,

naturally

This obfervaiion

heel.

is

weakcon-

animals, the nearer they

we perceive in all
we fee hounds and

means the fmall-pox, meafles, putrid

is

the

they

at length

till

ftronger and ftronger in proportion as they proceed

nature has taught them to

firmed by the

bow much

It matters not

fpot.

and prevents them from following the contrary courle, which

er

diffe-

ftriking the olfaflory nerves of whatever animals they meet

way,* immediately condufl them to the

difeover that which

in the air, are carried

in their

it

and

poffible for birds

it is

beafts of prey to be direfled to their food at fuch vaft diftances

iffuing

of others of the

fevers,

and

all

fpaniels

in

hunting and

epidemic complaints, are com-

municated, and the plague and peftilence conveyed .nom one place to another.

fhooting,

and occult science.

fliooting, are the

more

earneft, in proportion as the fcent

The fame

Bearer to the game.

domeftic, direQs the male to the female that

we

ambient

Boftrils to the

min which
dermine

infeft

and the

know how

when turned

By

the

loofe. apply their

fame medium the ver-

to direfct their operations, whether to un-

through folid boards, crofs rivers, or climb fpouts; which (hows

ftronger the faculty of frnelling

poffelfed

is

wifely ordained by nature, to enable

by the human;

and hence

for love;

in feafon

is

ftallion,

and proceed accordingly.

our dwellings

walls, eat

how much

air,

and as they draw

amongft quadrupeds, whether wild or

thing,

fee the dog, the boar, the bull,

recent,

is

113

by

them

the

brute fpecies than

and

to feek their food,

propagate their fpecies, but for which they would often perilh, or have, long fince

become

extinfl.

There are wonderful

inftances of

with lime, and buried ten feet

have attrafted dogs to the

to

And

to get at them.

feme animal

carcafes, which, though flaked

under ground, have fent forth fo ftrong a fcent as

endeavoured to dig away the earth

fpot, that eagerly

an inftance happened only a few years fince

at Petersfield

in Hampfliire, where an unfortunate female, having privately delivered herfelf of

two children,

w'ent

and buried them

days fome dogs were

deep hole

in a

in

an adjoining

by the

attrafled to the fpot

li

but

them up,
and partly devoured them before the (hocking circumflance was difeovered. No
wonder then a pack of bounds, which have caught the fcent of a polecat or weafel,
within three

will

purfue them into the thickeft

the

trunk of which they have

fcent, diig

and affemble round the very

foreftj

up

tree

run for (belter; or that blood-hounds,

in

as

times of old, (hould trace out fugitives and robbers in fubterraneous caverns, in
trees, caves,

or

given by the

mod

forefts,

or in

clefts

of inaccelfible rocks, of which inftances are

reputable hiftorians:

It

is

animals hunt for and purfue their prey by

to

know,

that they themfelves

from

iffuing

their

own bodies;

and occult fpeculalion,

and the

ferent animals,

And

hare

fleeps in

fenfe

but,

remarked, that as aU

they feem inftin6tively

and purfued by means of the fcent

this fubjeQ;

as

to be

fcent, fo

admits of fo

much

curious

give a few inftances of the effe61s of fcent upon dif-

and fagacity they di%lay

in the

management of

it.

of the hare.

firft,

The

I (hall

are hunted

however
its

his

is

naturally a timid animal, but emanates a very ftrong fcent.

form or

feat

during the day;

and feeds, copulates,

See.

in

He
the

In a moon-light evening, a number, of them are fometimes feen fporting together, leaping and purfuing each other:, but the lead motion, the falling
night.

of a

different

gallop,

No,

alarms them;

leaf,

route.

ora
8.

They

and then they

are extremely fwift

fucceflion of quick leaps.

'

run off feparately, each taking a

in their motion, which is a kind of

all

When
g

purfued, they always take to the

higher

AKEYTOPHYSIC,

114

much

higher grounds-; as iheir fore feet are

run with more eafe up-hill than down-hill.

which are neceffary for

in(linls

form expofed

to the fouth,

elude

contrivances to

from the hounds.

the

If

his

and

in

hare

the hind ones, they

endowed

is

with

thofe

all

own prefervation. In winter he choofes a

fummer to the north ; and has a thoufand

vigilance of his

be rainy, the

it

than

fliorter

The

purfuers, and

hare

ufually

cut off his

to

takes

the

to

fcent

highways.;

come to the fide of -a young grove, or fpring, fhe feldom enters,

but fquats down till the hounds have over-lhot her; and then fhe will return
the very way file came, for fear of the wet and dew that hangs on the boughs.
When fhe comes near brook-fides and plafhes, fhe will make all her croffings,

and

fhe

if

Some

doublingsj and works.

hares have been

have heard the found of a horn,

though

was

it

and

pool,

thence

upon fome

out,

fwimming

they

could

after

them, fwimming and

kill

and

or,

the natural craft

fame form

ufing

and

herfelf.

all

and would not

it:

fubtilties

in

fume

ftir

from

Others,

when

the

in

frefli

hare,

and

having been hunted a confiderable

they have been hard hunted, will run in

and run up a wall, and hide

go up one

up

drive

by no means be gottea out from among them

like a rabbit,

and croffings

of the hare, that fometimes

fubtilty

fhe will

fide

of the hedge and

till

among
the

Some of them

up, and the fheep driven into their pens.

will

foon as they

under the door of a fheep-cot, and hide themfelves among the

t}me, will creep

will

is

has been hunted three hours,

fquat in the

fheep

as

out of their form,

and go and fwim

midft of

the

rufli-bed in

that,

and have flood up before the hounds four hours before

to land,

Nay, fuch
flie

crafty,

they have -heard the found of the horn again, and then have ftarted

till

water.

fo

inflantly ftart

the diltance of a quarter of a mile,

at

reft

would

they

in the grafs

come down

a flock of fheep,

hounds are coupled

will

take the ground

on the top of

it.

Some

hares

the other, the thicknefs of the

hedge being the only diftance between the courfes.

hare that has been forely

hunted, has got upon a quickfet hedge, and run a good way upon the top thereof,

And

and then leapt off upon the ground.

and

to furze bufhes,

v;ill

leap from one to the other, to cut off the fcent,

the hounds are frequently in default.

not

fit

in

In

the

whereby

fpring-time or fummer, a hare will

bufhes, becaufe they are frequently infefted with pifmires, fnakes, and

adders; but will

near towns and
is

they will frequently betake themfelves

fit

in

corn-fields

villages, in tufts

northerly or foutherly.

It is

and open

places.

In the winter-.irne they

of thorns and brambles, efpccially

when

the

fit

wind

remarkable that the hare, although ever fo fre-

quently purfued by the dogs, feldom leaves the place where fhe was brought forth,

or even the form

in

which fhe ufually

fits..

It

is

common

to find

them

place next day, after being long and keenly chafed the day before.

in the

The

fame

females
are

AND
more

and never allow the dogs

timid,

S C

E N C

E.

the males, and have lefs ftrenglh and agility

more ^rofs than

are

O C C U L T

115
they are likewife

approach fo near their form before

to

rifing,

They likewife*pra6life more arts, and double more frequently than

The hare is diffufed almoft over every climate; and, notwithftanding
the* males.
They are in a conthey are every where hunted, their fpeeies never diminifhes.
dition of propagating the fird year of their lives*; the females go with young about
as the males.

and produce four or

thirty days,

forth, they again

The

always pregnant.

ftill

and

admit the embraces of the male

eyes of the

them about twenty days,

food.

five at a time;

foon as they have brought

as

may be

fo that they

young are open

at birth;

which they feparate from her, and procure

after

be

faid to

mother fuckles

the

their

own

The young never go far from the place where they were brought forth ; but
make forms about thirty paces difiant from each other:
if a young hare be found any where, you may almoft be certain of finding

they live folitary, and

thus,

feveral others within a very fmall diftance.

The

fecundity of the rabbit

feven times in

Suppofing

time.

from a

is ftill

the year, arid the

fingle pair will

amount

old; and, like the hare, the female

young about
days before

thirty days,

the

at

in a
is

condition for generating

when

fix

months

almoft eonftantly in feafon; (he goes with

and brings forth from four to eight

at

litter.

few

Ihe digs a hole in the earth, not in a ftraight line, but in a

littering,

zig-zag form

breed

one million two hundred feventy-four thoufand

to

hundred and forty. -They are

eight

will

happen regularly for four years, the number of rabbits

to

this

They

greater than that of the hare.

female fometimes brings eight young ones

bottom of

this

hole fhe enlarges every way, and then pulls off

a great quantity of hair from her belly, of which fbe makes a kind of bed for

During the two

her young.

firft

days after

birth, file

never leaves them but when

preffed with hunger, and then ihe eats quickly and returns;

ner Ihe fuckles and attends her young for

hole and the young are concealed from

tire

out, Ihe, in order to deceive the male,

fix

weeks.

and

in this

man-

All this time both the

male; fometimes, when the female goes

fills

up the mouth of the hole with

earth,

mixed with her own urine.

But when

of the hole, and

herbs as the mother brings to them, the father feems

to

know them

to eat fuch

the

young ones begin

to

come

to the

mouth

he takes them betwixt his paws, fmooths their hair, and careffes

them with great fondnefs.

The
prey.

fox

is

efteemed to

The former

J)e

the moft fagacrous

quality he Ihows in his

and

mod

crafty of all beafts of

method of providing himfelf with an

afylum, where he retires *from preffing dangers, where he dwells, and where he
brings up his
falls

upon

young

and

his craftinefs is chiefly

in order to catch lambs, geefe,

difcovered

hens, and

all

by

the fchemes he

kinds of fmall birds.

The
fox

A K E Y T O

ii6

H Y

fox fixes his abode on the border of a wood,

he

liftens to the

at a diftance;

crowing of the cock, and the

neighbourhood of cottages

the

in

cries

G,

He

of the poultry.

he choofes his time with judgment; be conceals his road as well

his defign; he Qips forward with caution, fometimes eventrailing his

dom makes

a fruitlefs

till

In

expedition.

this

manner he

mouth, he has

as"

fel-

has been feen, on a moon-light

trailed along like a roiling-ftone, unfufpefted by bis prey,,

he had got too near for them

If he can leap the wall, or get

to efcape.

all

underneath, he ravages the court-yard, puts

his prey,

body, and

where feveral hares were feeding, when lying down, and takings

night, enter a pafture

his tail in his

them

fcents

all

to death,

and then

which he either hides under the herbage, or carries off

in,

retires loftly with,

to his keanehi.

He.

returns in a few minutes for another, which he carries off, or conceals in the fame

manner, but
fun, or

in a different place.

In

fome movements perceived

this

way be proceeds

catchers of ihrufhes, wood-cocks,

in the

him; that

in the houfe, adveriife

He

fufpend his operations, and to retire to his den.

He

&c.

vifits

plays

the prog refs of the

till

it

is

morning, carries off fucceflively the birds which are entangled, and

perfeftly

where to

them when he

find

the plains, feizes old ones

is in

in their feats,

lays them,

under the

two or three days; but he knows

lie

need.

never

the.

the nets and bird-lime very early

in different places, efpecially near the fides of highways, in the furrows,

herbage or brufhwood, where they fometimes

time to

fame game with

the.

He

raiffcs

hunts the young hares in

wounded,

thofe which are

digs out the rabbits in the warrens,, difcovers the nefls of partridges and quails,
feizes the

mothers on the eggs, and deftroys a

exceedingly voracious; befides

milk, cheefe,
fail

fruits,

flefh

of

all

and particularly grapes.

him, he makes war againfl

be deftroys vaft numbers

vaft quantity

When

the

this

is

by a thoufand

flings

is

partridges

&c.

Of thefe
He is fo

the only fervice he does to mankind.

They

fond of honey, that he attacks the wild bees, wafps, and hornets.
lo flight

fox

young hares and

rats, field-mice, ferpents, lizards, toads,

and

The

of game.

kinds, he eats, with equal avidity, eggs,

at firft

put him

but he retires only for the purpofe of rolling himfelf on

the ground to crufh them ; and he returns fo often to the charge, that he obliges them

abandon the hive, which he foon uncovers, and devours both the honey and wax.
He will alfo devour fifties, lobfters, grafs-hoppers, See. Foxes produce but once

to

a-year; and the

three.

litter

When the

commonly

female

is

that her

the

dog kind,

The

five,

When fhe perceives that

young have been difturbed,

of another habitation.

of four or

feldom

fix,

and never lefs than,

fhe retires, and feldom goes out of her hole, where fhe

full,

prepares a bed for her young.

confifts

is

difeovered, and

fhe carries them off one by one, and goes in fearch

fox, as well as the

as noticed before.

her retreat

The fox

congenerous wolf,

fleeps found,

and may be

without awakening: he fieeps in a round form, like the dog;

will

produce with

eafily

but,

approached

when he

only^

repofes

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

117

repofes hrmfelf, he extends his hind legs, and lies on his belly.

and meditates fchemes

tion that he fpies the birds along the hedges,

The

them.

fox

flies

when he

It is in this fitua-

for catching

hears the exploflon of a gun, or fmells gunpowder.

Being exceedingly fond of grapes, he does much mifchief in vineyards.

purfued by the hounds, he feldom

and fatigue them, becaufe he

to deceive

fails

When

purpofely paffes through the thickell parts of the foreft or places of the moft

where the dogs are hardly able to follow him; and, when he takes to

cult accefs,

the plains, he runs ftraight out, without flopping or doubling.

mirer of his

own tail,

fmell of this animal

is

it

and, in cold weather, wraps

in general very flrong,

This feems fo offenfive even to

ging a hole in the ground,

fmell

is

flretching

covers

after depofiting its water,

The

fo obnoxious, that

it

it

that

body

its

encountering the animal

means,
tain;

to force the cleanly

rather doubtful

is

it

The

his nofe.

remarkably

is

of dig-

will take the trouble

at full length over

it

and

there,

dung.

its

filthy effluvia, as to

It is faid the fox

badger from

its

makes ufe of

habitation

its

its

firfl

own

whether that be the

but to fave

retreat,

avoid

urine as

but that the fox makes ufe of the badgers hole

trouble; for, after the expulfion of the

it

a great ad-

has often proved the means of the foxs efcape

not through want of ability to form

enlarges

is

over with the earth, as the cat does

came from.

it

round

it

but that of the urine

itfelf,

from the dogs; who have fo flrong an averfion at the

an expedient

He

with which he frequently amufes and exercifes himfelf, by run-

ning in circles to catch

fetid.

difli-

is

itfelf

cer-

fome

inhabitant, the fox improves as well as

confiderably, adding feveral chambers,

entrances to fecure a retreat from every quarter.

and providently making feveral

warm

In

weather,

it

will quit its

habitation for the fake of baflcing in the fun, or to enjoy the free air; but then
rarely lies expofed, but choofes

Crows, magpies, and other

prife.

enemy,

The

fome thick brake,

buck

is

for,

may

refl

it

fecure from fur-

common

confider the fox as their

the moft crafty of all the fpecies of deer.

felf with great addrefs, is

inftin6l;

it

by their notes of anger, point out his retreat.

will often,
flag or

who

birds,

that

moft

difiicult to trace,

He

conceals him-

and derives fuperior refources from

though he has the misfortune to leave behind him a flrong fcent,

which redoubles the ardour and appetite of the hounds, he knows how to withdraw
himfelf from their purfuit, by the rapidity with which he begins his
his

numerous doublings.

He

delays not his arts of defence

him; but, as foon as he finds that the

fuccefsful,

fent with the paft fcent

,

and, retiring to a
8.

fide^

and by

and

after confounding,

by

the diredion he has taken, after intermixing the pre-

from
he

flight,

his ftrength fails

of a rapid chace have been un-

he -repeatedly retraces his former fteps

thefe oppofite movements,

No.

firfl efforts

till

his

lies

body, be rifes from the earth by a great bound,

down

flat

on
h

his belly,

and

in this

immoveable
fituation

A KEY TO PHYSIC
when

forely hunted,

His

laft refuge,

left,

by touching a bough, or a fhrub,

He

enemies to pafs very near

his deceived

he allows the whole troop of

fituation

is

the

keeping the middle,

foil,

may

he

liirn.

fearing

give greater fcent to the hounds.

always fwims againft the ftream, and will often cover himfelf under water, fo

as to

fhow nothing but

markable,

that he

may

What

middle of a very large white-thorn,

in order to cut off its fcent;

laft

he was run through by the huntfman, rather than

be worried by the dogs.

is ftill

more

re-

hard prefted, leaped into the

being at

till

fly

huntfman of Louis XII. that a buck which

they had hunted for a long time,

aloft

he will

fails,

fometimes leap on an ox, cow,

will

leave no fcent on the ground.

related by the principal

it is

opportunity of water

as cows, Iheep, &c. and

into herds of cattle,

or the like,

Where

his nofe.

ftir

and there ftood

from the place to

Their feafon of love commences about the end of Auguft

when they leave the coppice, return to the forefts, and
They cry with a loud voice their neck and throat fwell

or beginning of September,

fearch for the hinds.

they become extremely

grounds; they

reftlefs,

ftrike their

to be tranfported with fury,

whom

or females,

avoids and

flies

in

open day the

and run from country

they purfue and compel into compliance

The

old hinds likewife

come

in

his

attack each other with fuch fury,

paw

fields

and the fallow

in a word, they feein

till

they find the hinds

for the female at firft

embraces

till ftie is

fatigued

feafon before the younger ones.

two bucks approach the fame hind, they muft

nearly equal in ftrength, they threaten,

to country,

from the male, and never fubmits to

with the purfuit.

When

and traverfe

horns againft the trees and hedges

fight before they enjoy.

the ground, fet

up

If

and
wounds with the

terrible cries,

that they often inflidl mortal

The combat never terminates but in the defeat or flight of

The conqueror lofes not a moment in enjoying his vidlory, unlefs

ftrokes of their horns.

one of the

rivals.

another rival approaches, w'hom he

ftags are

always mafters of the

than the young ones,

miftrefles.

who muft

again obliged to attack and repel.

is

field

becaufe they are ftronger

wait patiently

Sometimes, however, the young

till

The oldeft
and more furious

their fuperiors tire,

ftags

and quit their

accomplifh their purpofe while

the old ones are fighting, and, after a hafty gratification,

fly off.

The

hinds prefer

the old ftags, not becaufe they are moft courageous, but becaufe they are

more

It has

ardent.

been alleged,

ftags in the rutting- feafon

that,

throw themfelves into the

to another at the diftance of feveral leagues.

fwim

for,

when purfued,

high; and on

all prefting

much

attraded by the fcent of the hinds, the

"they eafily clear

They

fea,

leap

and pafs from one ifland

ftill

more nimbly than they

a hedge or fence of

fix

or feven feet

occafions fliow aftoniftiing fenfe and fagacity.

The fenfes of the wolf are likewife excellent, particularly his fenfe of fmelling, which
often extends farther than his eye. The odour of carrion ftrikes him at the diftance
of

AND THE OCCULT

He

of more than a league.

He

When

on the borders of the

flops

he

iffues

Though he

He

other.

them with an

fond of

is

infatiable avidity; and,

when once accuflomed

men, prefer the fhepherd to the

ever after attack

off children.

The

company even

ivith

wolf, unlike the dog,

thofe of his

own

This military expedition

and each returns

for they growl, chace,

mirers,

and

no fooner

There

this affociation is

even

little

flefh,

Some time after fhe

The young wolves

live fowls.

worry them

or two months.

many

more bloody than the former;

facrifice him that is
a long time, fatigues her ad-

flies

When

The

which

The

forefl.

them fome weeks,

them by tearing it into

the mother fuckles

which fhe prepares

brings

ring,

the females are about to bring

them

for

field-mice,

young

hares, partridges,

begin by playing with thefe animals, and at lafl

They then

They never

leave their den

follow their mother,

who

hollow trunk of a

neighbouring' pool.

to the den,

is

or,

tree, or in fome
when any danger

felves elfewhere.

than the male,

till

Though,
yet,

fhe lofes

them

in winter;

then the mother pulls off the. feathers, tears them in pieces, and gives

a part to each of her young.

intercourfe be-

a concealed place in the inmofl receffes of the

and foon teaches them to eat

leaves

is

finifhed, than they fepa-

and have an ofTeous penis, furrounded with a

puppies come into the world blind, like dogs

fmall pieces.

and dreadful

large animal, as a flag, an ox, or a

is

The female commonly

like dogs,

forth, they fearch for

pidity

tufinult

they feel the mutual attradlions of love but once a-

and hinders them from feparating.

fwells

and keeps no

while they fleep, with the mofl alert or favourite male.

retires,

wolves copulate

they

and tear one another, and often

fight,

preferred by the female.

flefh,

feveral wolves unite together,

and never remain long together. The females come in feafon

males follow the fame female; and

and

all fociety,

attended with

in filence to his folitude.

tween the males and females

year,

upon fome

bowlings, and indicates an attack

formidable mafliff.

When

it is

human

to

devour women, and carry

flock,

an enemy to

is

fpecies.

not a fociety of peace, but of war

rate,

him from a diftance by the

dead animals, yet he devours the mofl putrid

of battle, where bodies are carelefsly interred, to tear them up, and to devour

field

is

and receives

all (ides,

human flefh and, if flronger, he would perhaps eat no

Wolves have been known to follow armies, and to come in troops to the

carcafes.

it

prefers living to

and hunts them

far,

from the wood, he never lofes

fmells on

foreft,

the corpufcles of living or dead animals brought to

wind.

119

likewife fcents live animals very

a long time by following their track.

the wind.

SCIENCES.

all

till

leads

the end of fix weeks

them

to drink in the

She condudls them back

apprehended, obliges them to conceal them-

like other females, the

when her young

fhe-wolf is naturally more timid

are attacked,

fhe defends

them with

fenfe of danger, and becomes perfedlly furious.

intre-

She never

they are fo flrong as to need no affiflance or protection, and

till

A KEY TO PHYSIC

190
they have acquired talents

fit

The wolf has

for rapine.

great ftrength, efpecially in

the anterior parts of the body, in the mufcles of the neck, and jaws. He carries a
fheep in his mouth, and at the fame time outruns the fliepherds ; fo that he can
His bite is cruel, and always
only be (lopped or deprived of his prey by dogs.

more

obftinate in proportion to the fmallnefs of the refiftance

can defend

itfelf,

he

is

cautious and circumfpe6l.

He

When wounded

and not from motives of courage.

yet,

when difpatching him with bludgeons, he complains

overcome with

fo

is

without refiftance

terror, that

may be

not.

When

he

and

falls into

either killed or taken alive

he allows himfelf to be chained, muzzled, and led where you

pleafe, without exhibiting the lead

are

he

when an animal

for,

with a ball, he cries

fity,

a fnare, he

never fights but from necef-

fymptom of refentment

or difcontent.

Wolves

fo rare in the populated part of America, that the inhabitants leave their

now

llieep the

whole night unguarded

Jerfey did fome years ago allow a reward of twenty

(hillings,

and the

laft

even

Tradition informed them what a fcourge

for the killing of a wolf.

thirty (liillings,

New

yet the government of Pennfylvania and

thofe animals had been to the colonies; fo they wifely determined to prevent the

wolves came down in multitudes from the mounby the fmell of the corpfes of hundreds of Indians who died
of the fmall-pox, brought among them by the Europeans but the animals did iiot

In

like evil.

their infant (late,

tains, often attradled

confine their infults to the dead, but even devoured, in their huts the fick and dying
favages.

Britain, a few centuries ago,

was much

infefted

appears by Hollingftiead, very noxious to the flocks

they entirely extirpated

famous

Sir

to fuperintend and
cefter,

till

about 1680, when the

Owen Cameron. Edward I. iffued

affift

in

laft

by them. They were, as

Scotland in 1577; nor were

wolf

fell

by the hands of the

out his royal mandate to Peter Corbet

in the deftrudlion of them in the feveral counties of

Worcefter, Hereford, Salop, and Stafford

Derby, certain perfons at Wormhill held

and

in the adjacent

Glou-

county of

their lands by the duty of hunting and

taking the wolves that infefted the country, whence they were ftiled wolve-hunt.

To

look back into the Saxon times, we find that in Athelftans reign wolves abounded
fo in Yorklhire, that a retreat was built at Flixton in that county, to defend
paffengers from the wolves, that they (hould not be devoured by them

ravages did thefe animals

cold was

fevereft, that the

wolf-month

which

is

^At the

make during
Saxons

winter, particularly in January,

diftinguiflied

Cape of Good Hope,

there

that
is

month by

times enabled to

Near fome of

of other animals
beguile

and

by which means

is

when the

name of

fome meafure,

this arch-deceiver is

attradl calves, foals, lambs,

the larger farms, where there

the

and fuch

the

a fpecies called the tiger- wolf,

poffeffed of the peculiar gift of being enabled, in

imitate, the cries

a great deal of

to

fome-

and other animals.

cattle, this

ravenous
beaft

A N D O C C U L T
be found almoft every night

bead

is

hour

to another betraying itfelf

to

by

cafe the cunning of the wolves

defending themfelves,

of the wolves to

reft

E N C

fame time frequently from one

at the

fo great, that a party

is

ii

E.

In

bowlings, gives the dogs the alarm.

its

this

of them, half flying and half

decoy the whole pack of dogs

will

tance of a gun-fhot Or

and

to follow

them

to the dif-

more from the farm, with a view to give an opportunity to the

come out from their ambufcade, and, without meeting with

the leaft refiflance, carry off booty fufficient for themfelves and their fugitive bre-

The

thren.

much

though a

tiger-wolf,

larger and ftronger animal, does not ven-

ture, without being driven to the uimoft neceflity, to

common

dog, which

ing

the Hottentots

this,

is

the tiger-wolf was bold

particularly

certainly an evident proof of

inform us, that

enough

by carrying off

meafure

its

Notwithftand-

memory of man,

within the

it is ftill

ftrength with the

its

cowardice,

upon them and moleft them

to fteal

their children.

This, however,

now no

is

that

in their huts,

longer the

cafe; a circumftance, perhaps, proceeding from the introduction of fire-arms into

the country, an invention which, in thefe latter times, has caufed this, as well as

other wild beafts, to Hand

awe of man than

in greater

it

did formerly.

heard the following ftory of the tiger-wolf mentioned, which

though perhaps not quite

who had

peter

got his

fill

threw him on

his

During

tain.

know

probable

The

feent

have

laughable enougbj

Cape one

a feaft near the

night, a

trum-

order that he might cool him-

in

of him foon drew thither a tiger-wolf, which

back, and dragged him along as a corpfe, up towards Table-moun-

this,

however, the drunken mufician waked, enough in

and to found the alarm with

the danger of his fituation,

to his fide.

The

frightened in his turn.

Any

he carried fattened
lefs

At

was carried out of doors,

and get fober again.

felf,

not

fo

is

wild beaft, as

may

his

eafily

his fenfes to

trumpet, which

be fuppofed, was

other befides a trumpeter would in fuch cir-

cumftances have undoubtedly been no better than wolfs meat.

The jackal
be

appears to have the

wild fpecies.

like

hounds

but

in a lefs

in full cry

in

gift

of feent equal to a dog, of which

packs of forty,

from evening

to

will

even

and

fkins,

fteal

it

Teems to

and even two hundred, and bunt

They

ravage the

dell toy children, if left

and outhoufes, and devour

will familiarly enter a tent,

fifty,

morning.

degree than the wolf or fox

near towns, and

ftables

They go

deftroy flocks and poultry,,

of villages and gardens

ftreets

unprotefted.

They will

or any thing made of that material.

enter

They

whatfoever they find from the fleeping traveller.

In default of living prey, they will feed on roots and

fruits

and even on the moft

infeCled carrion: they will greedily difinter the dead, and devour putrid earcafes.

They

attend caravans, and follow armies, in hopes thatdeath will provide them a

banquet.

Their voice naturally

tently inherent;

No,

8,

and

is

in their ftaie

a howl.

Barking, Mr. Pennant obferves,

is

la-

of nature feldom e^terted: but its difFerent modiI

ficatioiTs

TO PHYSIC,

K E Y

122

c3ticns are adv-cndtious, and expreflivc of the

by

domeRic

pew

Their bowlings and clamours

Rate.

paffions

fo loisd that people can fcarcely hear one another fpeak.

many

like the cries of a great

Lions Provider, from an opinion that

fal

is,

and

Dellon

voice

fays, their

is

children of different ages mixed together: when one

This animal

begins to howl, the whole pack join in the cry.

every creature

and affeflions gained

in the night are dreadful,

in the forefl

is

it

rouzes the prey for

fet in

is

tl'at

moiipn by the fearful

vulgarly called the

The

quadruped.

cries of the jackals-;

the lion, and other beads of rapine, -by a fort of inffindf, attend to the chace, and
lie in

wait, to feize fuch timid animals as betake themfelves to flight at the noife of-

this nightly

pack.

From what
it

has been Hated, as well as from the contemplation of nature, in genera!^,

will appear, that there

is

an occult inHindfive principle infufed into the whole race

of animal beings, whereby they are unerringly led on to the propagation and prefervation of their fpecies; yet fo as that no one

fltall

become too numerous

fur the

exiftence of another, upon which they prey, or with which they live in a conti-

nual Hate of warfare.

We

may

likewife remark, that the

more

we

funilarity

dif-

cover among brutes, the more amicable we find them towards each other, becaufe
the corpufcles of their bodies have an agreement pleafing to their fenfitive faculty,

without exciting the appetite; but for which the fanhe

devour each
tion of

its

other,

would

fj.ccies

and the purpofes of creation would be annihilated by

inceffantly
tlie

opera-

Contrary however to fuch a violation of order, we find

own works.

the beads of the fored, and brute animals

which are oppofite or inimical

in feent

in general,

prey by antipathy upon thofe

and fpecies to themfelves; and alTociate by

fympathy with thofe of fimilar and concordant qualities; but the mod powerful
efFeft of fympathy is to be found betw'een the male and female-of one and the fame
clafs

of beings; as we

demondrate more

(hall

fatisfafilorily

and pleafingly,

in

our

confiderations

On

MAN
reflefits,

is

man.

placed at the head of the animal creation, and

thinks, contrives,

who
and who

and a6ls; who has power of changing

the earth at pleafure;

pofTeffes the faculty of

means of fpeech;

has dominion over

globe.

is

Animated and enlightened by

dignity every material being.

He

all

communicating

who

feels,

his place

upon

being

his

thoughts by

other creatures on the face of the

ray from the Elivinity, he furpafles in

fpends lefs of his time in foiitude than in fociety,

or in obedience to thofe laws which he himfelf has framed,

'

The hidory

fiderhim
.

of

man

is

an objett of attention highly interedingj whether

in the different periods

of

his lifcj

we

con.-

or take a view' of the varieties of his

fpecies.

AND OCCULT SCIENCE.

fpecies, or

womb,

examine the wonderful fyrametry and conflruQion of

more mature completion and organization of

or the

manhood.

123

body

his

in

perfect

therefore attempt fiid to give a fhort fketch of him in thefe dif-

(halJ

his parts in the

and

ferent points of view;

theti,

by eoiihdering the athions and paflions of his mind,

the infirmities of his nature, the afftftions of his hearty the objefis ofhis purfuits,

and the impreflion of the

celeftial,

elementary, and atmofpherical, influx; of

heat, colour, motion, magnetif n, eleftricity,

upon

als

from them, and w'hich

fhould be the care of every

it

Key- to the occult

health and long lcfe.

to difcover the golden

Know

Nofce teipjim,
it

has been called the

in the

firfl

thyfelf,

ftep to

light,

of nature which

man

know, who would

to

wifli

operations of Nature, and to the fecret

a precept

worthy of the lawgiver of Athens

wifdom, and was formerly written

this

in letters

important information,

Man

of gold

may

be

in the following refpebls:

PHYsroLOGrc ALLY,

machine, chiefly compofed of nerves and fibres

His molt perfebl ftate is during youth; and he is en-

3S a frail

interwoven with each other.

dowed

is

In purfuit of

temple of Diana.

contemplated

fpirit

ion; deduce ihofe obvious and inevitable caufes that refuk

his conftitu

of preferving

and the univerfal

more numerous, and in higher perfeblion, than thofe of all

Man, intended for exercifing dominion over the whole animal

with faculties

other anima\^.

is fent by Nature into the world naked, forlorn, and bewailing his lot;
then nnahlf> fn nH- his hands or feet, and is incapable of acquiring any kind of
knowledge without inftrublion; he can nejm.,*

creation,

he

is

form any aBion whatever by natural indina-. Pliny . We may judge what kind
an omen, that we fhould
of life is allotted to us by Nature, fince it is ordained, as
It is humiliating to the pride of man, to
Seneca
come weeping into the world

the animals: Pliny.'

confider the pitiable origin of this m.od arrogant of all
Dietetically. Cwra valetudmem. Bodily health and tranquillity. of mind arc

more

to be defired than

or an Alexander.
ftinence, injured

Health

pomp, or glory, of

the riches,

all
is

a Cresfus,- a

to be prelerved by moderation;

it is

deflroyed by ab-

by a variety of delicacies, weakened by unufual

ftrengthened by the ufe of proper and

nicious art of cookery,

is

accudomed

fond of many

fare.

Man,

Solomon,

learned

things,
in the

and.
per-

difhes, rendered palatable by the injurious

and by the baneful addition of wine. Hunger is fatisfied with a

Imagination requires
fmall quantity of food, while luxury demands overabundance.
quantity of ordinary food,
vafl fupplies; while nature is contented with a moderate
effebts

of

and

is

burthened by fuperfluity

life

be enjoyed.

fire,

'

According as thou

liveft,

fo fhall thy

'

Fat HO-

KEY TO PHYSIC,

124

Pathologioally

Memento mori

The

of

life

man

refembles a bubble rCdOy

dependent on the uncertain laple

Nothing
Homer
The earth contains nothing more frail than man
of time.
not
to what dangers, and to how many difeafes, is it
is weaker than human life:
Hence the whole period of a mans life is but a fpan half of it is neexpofed
is/ufpended by a

to burftj his fate

and

hair,

is

without including the years of infancy,

celfarily fpent in a Rate refembling death;
judgment; or the perioa ot old age, fertile in fulFerings, during

wherein there

which the

is

no

fenfes are blunted, the limbs

become

ftiff,

and the faculties of

fight

and

of walking, and the teeth, the indruments of nourifliment,

Pliny . Thus a confiderable part of death is
of the body

hearing, the powers

fail

before the

fufi'ered

poffeffes

that

ail

belonged to the times which are

all

the beings which thou feeft,

calls equally
thy imagination can fuppofe to exift hereafter; for death
Seneca.
whether they be good or whether they be evil

all that

upon

all,

Naturally.
who

and death

life;

Finally, nature will fpeedily recal and deftroy

paft.

and

reft

during

is

Numen adejl

Jnnocui vivite^

a miracle of nature,

and

for

whom

Man,

all

things

the prince of animiated beings,

on

were created,

this earth

is

traftable, judicious, in-

mimic animal, weeping, laughing, fmging, fpeaking

with natural weapons,
quifitive, and moft wife; he is weak and naked, unprovided
others, of an anxexpofed to all the injuries of fortune, needful of affiftance from
;

complaining, changeable in temper,

ious mind, felicitous of proteaion, continually
He defpifes die time
obftinate in hope, and flow in the acquifition of wifdom.
k.s
affeaions
on the uncertain
^
r
future; thus continually neglefting winged time, which, though infinitely precious,

can never be recalled: for thus the

with miferable mortals; fome

labours; fome
fuperfluities

it

and readieft time,

fummons

it

in

every age,

to attend their daily

confines to luxurious inaftion,

fome

it

bell

folicits in the ever-reltlefs

pampered even

flies

on

and burihenfome
to fulfocation with

paths of ambition; fome

renders

it

anxious for the acquifition of wealth, and diftreffes by the polfeflion of the thing
defired; fome

crouded with

condemns

vifitors

Tears

their lofs.

On

remove.

it

rounded with

to folitude,

and others to have

will

fooner

fail

we

every hand our evils overbalance our advantages

dangers; we rulh forwards

into untried fituations;

enemies of

own

we

we

we

are fur-

are enraged

deftroy thofe vVe do not

wilh for favourable gales, which lead us only to deftruflion; the earth

yawns wide, ready

his

doors continually

us than their caufes, which only oblivion can

without having received provocation; like wild beafts,

hate;

their

here one bewails the condul of his children, there one grieves

kind

for our death

diflPerent

from

Seneca
their

Other animals unite together

own, while man

fuffers

againfl;

moft injuries from

fpecies: Pliny,

Pon-

AND THE OCCULT

Politically.
which

is

right,

his faculties-

di6lates he

F^fto aniiqna virtute et fide

is

veil

of cuftom, as foon as he

inftead of following that

he

governed by opinion;

Though

guided by reafon.

is

brought upj and diredled' in

fed, educated;

arbitrary rules his honefty, fortitude,

thus,

Man,

125

fubje6ted to the guidance of manifeft error;

under the thick

is.

SCIENCES.

lives

conformably

its

and by

its

things;

religion, are judged of;

cullom,

to

all

born; according to
all

wifdom, morality, and

envelopes

this

inftead of being

fent into the world a perifliable being, (for all are evi-

dently born to fuffer,) inftead of endeavouring to fecure thofe things which are moft

advantageous and truly beneficial.

colle6ls her
is

gaudy

trifles for

infatuated by the fmiles of fortune, anxioufly

Tie,

future enjoyment, and neglects her real benefits

he

driven to raadnefs by envious fnarlers; he perfecutes with hatred the truly relL

gious for differing from himfelf in fpeculative opinions

broils,

He

he excites numberlefs

not that he may do good, but for a purpofe that even himfelf

waftes his precious and irrecoverable time in

is

ignorant

of.

he thinks lightly of im-

trifles;

mortal and eternal concerns, while regulating the fucceffion of his pofterity; and

new projeds,

perpetually entering on

laces inftead of preparing his grave;

forgetful of his real condition,

till

at length,

he builds pa-

midft of his fehernes,

in the

man! that all is

death feizes him; and then, firft opening his eyes, he perceives,

immortal,
firft
live
as
if
and
learn
we
in
Thus
death
that we have to
delufion.
Seneccu

die

Morally.

Benefac

et

fubftance, which prompts

him

impreftions which inftigate

he

is

Man

Icetarel
to that

him

is

compofed of an animated medullary

is

right;

which

to the

and of a bodily frame

enjoyment of pleafure.

In

liable to

his natural ftate

foolifh; wanton, an inconfiderate follower of example, ambitious, profufe,

diffatisfied,

cunning, peevifh, invidious, malicious, and covetous; by the influence

of juft morals he

is

transformed to be attentive,

chafte,

modeft,
Sorrow',

confiderate,

and contented.

temperate, quiet, fiiicere, mild, beneficent, grateful,

luxury, ambition, avarice, the defire of life, and anxiety for the future, are
to all animals

Pliny:

Theologically.
tion,

common

Memento Creatoris tut!

Man,

the ultimate purpofe of crea-

and mafterpiece of the works of Omnipotence, was placed on earth that he

might contemplate

its

perfections;,

he was endowed with fapient reafon, and made

capable of forming conclufions from the impreftions of

lideration of created objeCls he
finite,

the Omnifcient;

governing care,

and muft have

it is
it

his-

might know their Creator as the Almighty, the

the Eternal,.

God:

that

we may

live

In--

morally under his

have a thorough conviClion of his exiftence,

remembrance. There are two things which lead to a-

requifite that.we

ever in

knowledge of God; creation and revelation: Augujiine.

No.

fen fes> that, from a con-

K.k

9.

God,

therefore,
,

may
be.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

126
be found out by the
do6lrine: Tertullian.

Man alone has

the perfe6tions of God,

Learn that

God

but

light of nature,

who

is

is

alloted for

you

Man ( Homo

In the Syftema Naturae,

known by

the affiftance of

the author both of nature and of revelation

is

has both ordered you to

that part properly which

only to b^

the ineftimable privilege of contemplating

exift,

and that you diould ftudy to qSl

in life: Perf. Sat.

is

Ihid

iii.

71.

ranked as a difHn6l genus of the order

Primates or Chiefs, belonging to the Mammalia clafs of animals, or thofe which

Of this

nourith their young by means of ladliferous teats or paps.

genus he

the

is

only fpecies; and denominated Sapiens, as being endowed with wifdom far fuperior
to,

or rather in exclufion

and habits

of, all

and the following

other animals.

Ho. varies, from climate, education,

varieties, exclufive of wild

men, are enumerated by

Linnasus.

Americans.
ably eredt.

Of copper-coloured

Their

hair

is

complexion, choleric conftitution, and remark-

black, lank,

features harfli, and the chin

is

and coarfe;

their noftrils are wide;

fcantily fupplied with beard.

Are

tempers, free and fatisfied with their condition; and are regulated in
ceedings by traditional cuftoins.

Europeans.

Of

fair

Paint

The

hair

is

Drefs

Of

pro-

their fkin with red ftreaks.

AJiatics.

all their

complexion, fanguine temperament, and brawny form.

The hair is flowing, and of various fhades of brown the

They are of gentle manners, acute in judgment, of quick
by fixed laws.

their

obftinate in their

eyes are moftly blue.

and governed

invention,

in clofe veftments.

footy complexion, melancholic temperament, and rigid fibre.

ftrong, black,

and lank; the eyes are dark brown.

haughty, and covetous, manners;

They

and are governed by opinions.

are of grave,

Drefs

in loofe

garments.

Of black

Africans.

The

hair

is

black and frizzly

crafty, indolent,

Anoint the

the fkin foft and filky; the nofe flat:

and

carelefs, difpofitions,

and governed

breafls.

fibre.

the lips are

They are of

in their actions

by caprice.

fkin with greafe.

following arrangement of the varieties in the

human

fpecies

is

offered

by Dr.

more convenient than that of Linnajus

White, (Horn, alhus.) Formed by the rules of fymmetrical elegance and

Gmelin
a,

and the female has a natural apron, and long lax

thick;

The

complexion, phlegmatic temperament, and relaxed

as

beauty; or at leaft what we confider as fuch.

This divifion includes almofl

inhabitants of Europe; thofe of Afia on this fide of the Oby,

the Cafpian,

all

the

Mount

Imaus, and the Ganges; likewife the natives of the north of Africa, of Greenland,

and the Efquimaux.

h,

Brown:

AND THE OCCULT

Brown

b.

and fmall eyes.

features,

Of a

(Horn, badius.)

This

SCIENCES.

yellowifli

brown colour

variety takes in the

has fcanty hair,

flat

whole inhabitants of Afia not

included in the preceding divifion.

Black

c.

lips.

Horn, nige^.)

Of black

complexion

The whole inhabitants of Africa, excepting thofe of

its

The complexion

Copper-coloured: (Horn, cupreus.)

d.

the colour of copper not burniflied.

The

and thick

frizzly hair, flat nofe,

more northern

parts.

of the fkin refembles

whole inhabitants of America, except

thdGreenlanders and Efquimaux.

e.

Tawny: (Horn, fiifcus.)

Chiefly of a dark blackifli-brown colour

broad nofe, and harfh coarfe ilraight

and of moft of the Indian

Morifters.

Of thefe

the following

duced by
tains

hair.

having a

The inhabitants of the fouthern iflands,

iflands.

there are feveral varieties

the

firft

and fecond of which,

in

are occafioned by peculiarity of climate, while the reft are pro-

lift,

artificial

management.

they are fmall in'ftature,

1.

The

Alpini

acftive,

and timid

inhabitants of the northern

moun-

in their difpofitions. 2. Patagonici:

The Patagonians of South America of vaft fize, and indolent in their manners.
3. Monorchides
The Hottentots having one tefticle extirpated. 4. Imberbes Moft
the
American
of
nations who eradicate their beards and the hair from every part
of the body except the fcalp. 5. Macrocephali The Chinefe; who have their heads
The Canadian Indians,
artificially forced into a conical form.
6. Plagiocephali
who have the fore part of their heads flattened, when young, by compreffion.
We have likewife the following account of monfters Homines feri; defcribed
as walking on all- fours, as being dumb, and as covered with hair.
1. A youth found
;

in Lithuania,

in 1761,

refembling a wolf.
4

A youth

1724

in

3.

refembling a bear.

A youth

in Ireland

1544,

refemhling a Iheep, ( Tulp. Obf.

iv. ft.)

Bamberg refembling an ox, ( Camerarius. ) 5. A wild youth found in

6. Wild boys found in 171ft in the Pyrenees.
7. A wild girl
1717 in Overyfel. 8. A wild girl found in 1631 in Champagne, ft. A
in

wild lad found near Leyden, ( Boerhaave.

their fimilitudes,

fubjeCt, I

fliall

extraction,

treat largely of

Thofe characters

in the

by which the body

is

confifts in the articulation

ftand upright,

Thefe

and generation,

them

form of

animals, are reducible to two heads.

legs,

youth found

Hanover.

found in

men,

in Hefle, in

2.

in

and other inftances of wild

being foreign to the prefent

a future work on

man by which
The

firft is

he

is

Natural History.*
diftinguifhed from brute

the ftrength of the mufcles of the

fupported in a vertical pofition above them

of the head with the neck by the middle of

its

the fecond
bafe.

We

bend our body, and walk, without thinking on the power by which

we
* Since publilhed

at

No.

17,

Ave-Maria-Lane, St

Pauls, in 14V0IS. 8vo.

See vol.

i.

oGhat work.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

128

we

This power refides chiefly

are fupported in thefe feveral pofitions.

and

felt,

their

motion

is

vifible externally,

when we

in

the

Their exertion

mufcles which conftitute the principal partfif the calf of the leg.

is

ftand upright and bend

our body backwards and forwards. This power is no lefs great when we walk even
on an horizontal plane. In afcending a height, the weight of the body is more fenfibly felt

than in defcending. All thefe motions are natural to man. Other animals,

on the contrary, w'hen placed on their hind legs, are either incapable of performing
them at all. Or do it partially, with great difficulty, and for a very fhort time. The
gibbon,

and

i\\e jocko

conftru6tion

or ourang-outang, are the animals moft refembling

they can ftand upright with

much

to them.

The

reafon

is,

them

man,

not, as in

fufficiently large to

form a

and confequently

calf,

in that pofture.

The

man,

attitudes proper to

are pointed out by the different manners in which the head

neck.
firft

The

tw'o points,

in

man

on w'hich every

movement of

and

line,

and

to pre-

to the animals,

articulated with the

is

by which the offeous part of the head

vertebra of the neck, and

is

connedled with the

the head

is

made

with

are placed at the edge of the great foramen of the occipital

the greateft facility,

bone, which

not natural

it is

that the mufcles in the back part of the leg in the gibbon

not fufficiently ftrong to fupport the thighs and body in a vertical

ferve

in their

than other brutes; but

lefs difficulty

the reftraint they are under in this attitude plainly ftiows that

and the jocko are

man

is

fituated near the centre of the bafe of tbe cranium, affords a

paffage for the medullary fubftance into the vertebr, and determines the place of

The body and neck

the articulation of the head with the neck.

being, according to

the natural attitude, in a vertical dire6lion, the head muft be placed in equilibrium

upon

the vertebrce as

upon a pivot or point of fupport. The face is on a vertical

body and neck. The jaws, which are very fliort

line, almoft parallel to that of the

compared with thofe of moft other animals, extend very

the forehead.

No animal has, like man,

its

little

farther forwards than

hind legs as long as the body, neck, and

head, taken together, meafuring from the top of the head to the os pubis.

In

the-

frame of the human body the principal parts are nearly the fame with thofeof other animals; but in the connexion and form of the bones, there
difference as in the attitudes proper to each.

Were

man

to

but with the greateft

difficulty

pleafed, he would find

it

and pain

he could not move

and, let him

imj)offible to attain a fteady

as great a

affume the natural

pofture of quadrupeds, and try to walk by the help of his hands and
find himfelf in a very unnatural fituation

is

feet,,

his feet

make what

he would

and head

exertions he

and continued pace.

The

principal obftacles he would meet with would arife from the ftru6lure of the pelvis,
the hands, the feet, and the head.
in

man

is

The plane of
puts

almoft horizontal,

the great occipital foramen, which

the head in a kind

'

of equilibrium upon
the

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

129

when we

the neck

attitude of quadrupeds,

it

is

Hopped by

the protuberance of the occiput,

which then approaches too near the vertebr of the neck.

magnum

in the

prevents us from raifing our head fo as to look forwards,

becaufe the movement of the head

foramen

when we are

ftand ere6l in our natural attitude; but,

of the occipital

bone

fituated at the

is

In moft animals,

the

back part of the head; the

jaws are very long; the occiput has no protuberance beyond the aperture, the
plane of which

is

fo that the head

in

is

a vertical dire6lion, or inclined a

little

pendant, and joined to the neck by

forwards or backwards;

This po-

pofterior part.

its

of the head enables quadrupeds, though their bodies are in a horizontal di*

fition

muzzle forwards, and to raife

re6lion, to prefent their

and head dowm to their

feet.

heel reHs

upon the earth

when they bring

man

In the attitude of quadrupeds,

earth only with the fore part or the top of the

head. When man

their

neck

could touch the

is

Handing, his

when he walks,

as well as the other parts of his foot;

thefirH part which touches the ground;

above them,

fo as to reach

it

or to touch the earth with the extremity of their jaws

man can Hand on one

it is

foot: thefe are pe*'

Guliarities in Hru6fure and in the manner of moving which are not to be found in

We may therefore conclude that man cannot be ranked in

of quadrupeds. We may add, that in man the brain is much larger, and
other animals.

much

Ihorter,

than in any other animal.

The

by

brain,

the protuberance of the occipital bone, the forehead, and

which

is

above the

In animals, the brain

ears.

no occiput, or the front

is

is

its

all

the jaws

great extent, forms

that part of the head

fo fmall, that

either weanling or little raifed.

the clafs

moH

of them have

In animals which have

large foreheads, fuch as the horfe, the ox, the elephant, &c. they are placed as

and even lower, than the ears.

low,

and the top of the head

is

Thefe animals likewife want the occiput,

of very fmall extent..

The jaws, which form

the greatefl

portion of the muzzle, are large in proportion to the fmallnefs of the brain.

The

length of the muzzle varies in different animals

very

long;

it is

Ihort in the ourang-outang; and in

in folipede animals it is

man

it

does not exiH at

all.

No

beard grows on the muzzle.

AnatomiHs have employed much pains

and of that organization which determines

in the

Hudy of the

his place in the

material part of man,,

From

animal creation.

tracing and combining his different external parts;: from obferving that his body

is

fome places covered with hair; that he can w'alk upon his hands and his feet at
the fame time, in the manner of quadrupeds that, like certain animals which hold
in

;.

their food in their paws,

young

he has two clavicles ; that the female brings forth her

alive,,

and that her

breafts are fupplied with milk;

we might be

led to aflign

man a

in truth,

o., 9.

from thefe circumHances

place in the clafs of viviparous quadrupeds.

fuch an arrangement would be defective, arbitrary, and abfurd.

L. 1

But,

Man

is

not

A KEY TO PHYSIC

ISO
of

all

the animals, he alone can fupport himfelf continually,

and without

reftraint,

in

an ere6t pofture;

vertical line

upon

not a quadruped

In

his legs.)

this majeftic

that

is,

with his head and body in a

and dignified

which he inhabits, and turn

his place, furvey this earth

attitude,

his eyes

he can change

towards the vault

of heaven.

By

parts of his

body, and tranfports himfelf from one place to another with different

a noble and eafy gait, he preferves an equilibrium in the feveral

degrees of celerity.

To man alone

mafterpiece, the laft work which

nature has denied a covering; but

came from

he

Hill

her

is

the hands of the Almighty Artift, the

fovereign and the chief of animals, a world in miniature, the centre w'hich conne6ts
the univerfe together.

fuch a manner as to

in

announces

his

The form of his body, the organs whereof are conftrudled

produce a much greater effedt than thofe of other animals,

power.

Every thing demonftrates the excellence of

and

man and

beaft.

being; brute animals are deprived of that noble faculty.

The

the im'menfe diftance placed by the bounty of the Creator between

Man is a reafonable

his nature,

weakeft and moft ftupid of the

quadruped; he commands

it,

human

race

and makes

it

is

manage

able to

the

fubfervient to his ufe.

mod

fagacious

The operations

of brutes are purely the effe6l of mechanical impulfe, and continue always the fame;

human works are varied without end, and infinitely diverfified in the manner of
execution.
The foul of man is free, independent, and immortal. He is fitted for
the ftudy of fcience, and the cultivation of art;

he has the exclufive privilege of

examining every thing which has exiftence, and of holding communication with
his fellow-creatures

by language,

by particular motions of the body, and by

marks and chara6lers mutually agreed upon.

nence which he enjoys over

all

Hence

arifes that phyfical pre-emi-

animals; and hence that power which he poffeffes

over the elements, and (fo to fpeak) over nature

Man,

itfelf.

therefore,

is

une-

qualled in his kind; but the individuals thereof differ greatly from one another in
figure, ftature, colour,

covered with the produdlions of

bits is
it is

manners, and difpofitions.

his labour, in fhort,

his induftry

The globe which man

and the works of

which gives a value to the w'hole

Nothing (fays M. Buffonj exhibits fuch a

the condition of an infant immediately after birth.

organs,

we

it

needs affiftance of every kind.

terreftrial

ftriking pifture of

In the

firft

his

inha-

hands

mafs.

our vveaknefs as

Incapable of employing

moments of our

its

exiflence,

prefent an image of pain and mifery, and are more weak and helplefs than the

young of any other animal. At birth, the infant paffes from one element to
another: when it leaves the gentle warmth of the tranquil fluid by which it was
completely furrounded in the womb of the mother, it becomes expofed to the impreffions of the air,

afting

and inftantly

feels the effedls

of that adlive element.

The

air

upon the olfactory nerves, and upon the organs of refpiration, produces a
4

fhock

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

Ihock fomething like fiieezing, by which the breaft

is

131

expanded, and

upon the vifcera of the abdomen, and the excrements are thus

for the firfl time

The

difcharged from the inteftines, and the urine from the bladder.

air dilates

the veficles of the lungs, and, after being rarefied to a certain degree,

by the fpring of the dilated

now

the world

cannot

retina

infants

open

is

of vifion

is

About

to fmile.

begins to

incapable of fixing_his eyes upon them.

is

the cornea

the

wrinkled

and perhaps the

weep

fame time

it

for its

begins to look at bright objects, and fre-

eflfe6l

of an infant born at the

full

and

race,

man and moft of the other animals.

we ihall find that pain and pleafure are

to

our palfions in motion.

fets all

human

are peculiar to the

while the cries, motions, and other marks

common

Confidering the fubjedf as metaphyficians,

fize

like-

of two internal fenfations, both of which de-

Thus they

of bodily pain and pleafure, are

power which

Now

light.

former cries and groans were not accompanied with

ferve to exprefs mental pain or pleafure

the univerfal

days, the infant begins to hear

towards the window, a candle, or any

pend on the a6tion of the mind.

The

is

At the end of forty

Smiles and tears are the

tears.

he

yet imperfe6t

quently to turn its eyes

it

infant

blind for

too foft for receiving the images of external obje6ls, and for communicating

the fenfation of diftin6l vifion.

wife

The

this rarefied fluid.

Mofi: animals are

expelled

Lome
moment they come into
and commonly blue. The new-born child

but they are dull, fixed,

is

their eyes to the light the

diftinguifli objects, 'becaufe

The organ

and

upon

fibres re-a6ling

refpires; and articulates founds, or cries.

days after birth

ad-

air is

In the mean time, the agitation of the diaphragm preffes

mitted into the lungs.

time

is

commonly twenty-one inches; and

months before was an imperceptible bubble, now weighs

The head is large in proportion to
ten or twelve pounds, and fometimes more.

that fxtuSy which nine

the

body

and

this difproportion,

w'hich

is ftill

The

continues during the period of infancy.

foetus,

a reddifli

colour, becaufe

colour of the blood to

no means perfe6f in a

it is

fliine

is to

fingers.

The

be found

The

ikin of a

firft

new-born child

through.

The form of

child foon after birth

all

in the breafts

only ^with

In

warm

this

country

water; but

is

body and members

we have
it

is

is

the parts appear to be fwollen.

of

by

At

at the

fame time

may be fqueezed

out by the

comes

of the infant, which

fwelling decreafes as the child

the

on,

and

grows up.

liquor contained in the amnios leaves a vifcid whitifli matter

of the child.

flage of the

fo fine and tranfparent as to allow d flight tint of the

the end of three days, a kind of jaundice generally

milk

greater in the

the precaution to wafli the

upon the body

new-born infant

the cuftom with whole nations, inhabiting the

coldefl climates, to plunge their infants into cold water as foon as they are born,

without their receiving the

leafl:

injury.

It is even faid that the

Laplanders leave
their

A KEY TO PHYSIC

132
their children in the

plunge them into a

fnow

warm

thrice a-day during the

tries

the cold has almoft flopped their refpiration, and then

till

Among

bath.

firft

thefe people, the children are alfo wafhed

year of their

life.

are perfuaded that the cold bath tends to

and on that account accuftom

The inhabitants of northern counmake men ftronger and more robuft,

their children to the ufe of

from

it

their infancy.

The truth is, that we are totally ignorant of the power of habit, or how far it can
make our bodies capable of fuffering, of acquiring, or of lofing.
The child is not allowed to fuck as foon as it is born; but time is given for difcharging the liquor and (lime from the (lomach, and the meconium or excrement,

which

milk, a

bread

The
ther:
it

little

not prefented to

is

mixed with fugar

diluted wine

it

is

thefe fubflances might four the

fird given to the infant;

and the

before ten or twelve hours have elapfed.

young of quadrupeds can of themfelves find the way to the teat of the

only by

mud

not fo with man; the mother, in order to fuckle her child,

it is

to her bread; and, at this feeble period of

life,

the infant can exprefs

moraife

wants

its

its cries.

New-born

At

often as they wake.

wake but when

them; and
to the age

it

During the day, the

children have need of frequent nourilhment.

bread ought to be given

to

As

of a black colour, from the inteftines.

is

them every two hours, and during the night as

they deep almod continually
and they feem never

te

fird

prelTed

by hunger or pain.

fometimes becomes

neceflfary to

Sleep

is

ufeful

employ narcotic

and refrediing to

dofes, proportioned

conftitution of the child, for the purpofe of procuring

and

The common way

of appealing the cries of children

is

cradle; but this agitation (hould be very gentle, otherwife a great rifk
fufing the infants brain,

and of producing a

total

derangement.

their being in good health, that their deep be long and natural.

ever, that they

that cafe,

it

may deep

them repofe*

by rocking them

It

is

is

run of con-

necelfary to

It is poffible,

too much, and thereby endanger their conditution.

would be proper

In

them out of the cradle, and awaken them by a

fome bright obje6l to their eyes. At this age we

receive the fird imprelTions from the fenfes, which, without doubt, are
life

than

taken to place the cradle in fuch a

for the eyes are

how-

to take

gentle motion, or by prefenting

portant during the red of

in the

is

generally imagined.

manner that the

more im-

Great care ought

to be

child IhalL'be diredly oppofite

always directed towards that part of the room where

to the light

the light

ftronged: and, if the cradle be placed fide ways, one of them, by turn-

is

ing towards the

will fquint.

light,

will acquire greater ftrength

For the two

fird months,

but the milk of the nurfe; and, when

than the other, and the child

no other food diould be given to the

it is

child,

of a weak and delicate conditution, this

nourilhment alone Ihould be continued during the third or fourth month.

A child,.
however

AND THE OCCULT

however robuft and
if any other aliment
Italy,

may be expofed

healthful,
is

SCIENCES.
to great danger

adminiftered before the end of the

firft

Turkey, and the whole Levant, the food of children

The

the nurfe for a whole vear.

four, five,

and fometimes even feven, years.

have not a

fufficient quantity

commonly fupply

The

Canada

favages of

133

is

and inconvenience,

month.

In Holland,

limited to the milk of

give their children fuck for

In this country, as nurfes generally

of milk to fatisfy the appetite of their children, they

the want of

by panada, or other

it

light preparations.

The

teeth ufually begin to appear about the age of feven months.

of thefe, although a natural operation, does not follow the

common

which a6l continually on the human body without occaiioning the

Here a

or even producing any fenfation.

panied with cries and tears.

become

when

white,

and painful

finalleft pain*

effort is

made, accom-

lofe their fprightlinefs

firft

The gums

they become fad, reftlefs, and fretful.

afterwards

violent

Children at

cutting

laws of nature,

and gaiety;,

are red, and fwelled; but they

the prelTure of the teeth

is

fo great as to ftop the

circulation of the blood. Children apply their fingers to their mouth, that they

remove the
their

irritation

hands a

bit

which they

with which they rub the

to that of the teeth,

brane of the

gum

fition to herfelf;

gums

Some

feel there.

of ivory or of coral,

relief is given,

by putting into

or of fome other hard and fmooth body,

This prelTure, being oppofed

at the affected part.

calms the pain for a moment, contributes to make the

thinner,

and an

and

Nature here

facilitates its rupture.

incifion of the

may

gum muft

a6ts in

memoppo-

fometimes take place, to allow

a paffage to the tooth.

When children

are allowed to cry too long and too often, ruptures are fometimes

occafioned by the efforts they make.

plication of bandages;

may

continue through

but, if this
life.

Thefe may

eafily

be cured by the fpeedy ap-

remedy has been too long delayed, the difeafe

much

Children are very

fubjeft to worms.

Some

of

the bad effe6ls occafioned by thefe animals might be prevented by giving

little

them a
wine now and then, for fermented liquors have a tendency to prevent their

generation.

Though

the

body

is

very delicate in the ftate of infancy,

cold than at any other part of

pulfe in children

is

much

life.

it

is

is

then lefs fenfible of

internal heat appears to be greater

greater than in adults

tled to infer, that the internal heat

reafon,

The

it is

greater in the

fame proportion.

fmallnefs of the animal.

The

is

the
inti-

For the fame

evident that fmall animals have more heat than large ones;

the beating of the heart and of the arteries

from which we are certainly

for

always quicker in proportion to the

ftrokes of the heart in a fparrow fucceed

one another

fo rapidly, that they can fcarcely be counted.

No.

9..

"

Mm

Till

A KEY TO PHYSIC

134

Till three years of age, the life of a child is Very precarious.

becomes more certain and at fix or feven years of age, a child

chance of living than at any other period of life. From the bills of

following years,

has a better

it

mortality publiflied in London,

fame

at the

In the two or three

it

appears, that, of a certain

one half of them die the three

time,

which, one half of the

human

number of children born

firft

years:

according to

race are cut off before they are three years of age.

But the mortality among children is not near fo great every-where as in London.
M. Dupr6 de Saint Maur, from a great number of obfervations made in France, has
fhown that half of the children born at the fame time are not extinQ; till feven or
eight years hav.e elapfed.

The

period of infancy

is

followed by that of adolefcence.

This begins, together

with puberty, at the age of twelve or fourteen, and commonly ends

and

teenj

in

boys at eighteen, but fometimes not

According to

or twenty-five, years of age.

the Latin word adolefcentia,')

the fpring of
this

twenty-one, twenty-three,

etymology (being derived ftom

completed when the body has attained

it is

Thus, puberty accompanies adolefcence, and precedes youth.

height.

alas

its

till

in girls at lix-

this

life;

the feafon of pleafures,

is

fmiling feafon

is

its full

This

is

of loves, and of graces; but

Hitherto nature feems to have had

of fhort duration.

nothing in view but the prefervation and increafe of her work

the has made no

neceffary
what
is
to
its
life
and growth. It has lived,
provifion for the infant except
or rather enjoyed a kind of vegetable exiftence, which was lliut up within itfelf, and

which
is ftill

it

was incapable of communicating.

afleep: but the principles of

is neceffary to his

own

This redundancy of

exiftence, but

life,

this

of puberty

of numbnefs and

is

man

reafon

life,

has not only what

to give exiftence to others.

fource of health and vigour, can no longer be conitfelf.

announced by feveral marks. The

ftiffnefs in

of

this firft ftage

what enables him

fined, but endeavours to diffufe and expand

The age

In

foon multiply; and

life

the groins, acconipanied with a

tion in thofe parts which diftiiiguifti the fexes.

firft

fymptom

new and

There, as well as

a kind

is

peculiar fenfa-

in the

fmall protuberances of a whitifh colour appear, w hich are the germs of a

arm- pits,

new

dudlion, of a kind of hair by which thefe parts are afterwards to be veiled.

voice, for a confiderable time,
ler,

ftronger,

and graver, than

guiflied in boys

rough and unequal; after which

is
it

but lefs fo in

was before.

girls,

Thefe marks of puberty are common

This change

may

it

becomes

The
ful-

eafily be diftin-

becaufe their voices are naturally fiiarper.

to both fexes:

but there are marks peculiar

to each, fuch as the difcharge of the menfes and growth of the breafts,

the beard, and the emiffion of femen, in boys :

defire,

pro-

and the appetite which unites the

fexes.

in girls;

in fhort, the feeling of venereal

Among

all races

of mankind, the

females

i.

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

females arrive at puberty fooner than the males

in different nations,

but the age of puberty

and the quality of the food.

In

different

the fouthern countries of Europe, and in cities,

all

But

at puberty

they are fourteen or

in the

and boys about fourteen,

northern parts, and in the country, girls fcarcely arrive

years of age.

In our climate,

feventeen.

is

and feems partly to depend on the temperature of the climate

the greatefl part of girls arrive at puberty about twelve,

till

135

and boys not

fifteen,

for the greateft

girls,

till

they are fixteen or

have attained complete

part,

maturity at eighteen, and boys at twenty, years of age.

At

and of puberty, the body commonly

the age of adolefcence,

young people fhoot out feveral inches almoft at once.

no part of the human body which increafes more quickly and more

About

height.

But there

is

attains its full

that time,

perceptibly than the organs of generation in both fexes.

growth

is

but in females,

it

In males,

nothing but an unfolding of the parts, an augmentation in

fize

this

names

often occafions a flirinking and contradtion, which have received different

from thofe who have treated of the

Marriage

figns of virginity.

which he has acquired by puberty. At

culties

make ufe of

a ftate fuitable to man, wherein he mull

is

ducing a being like himfelf is ftrongly

this period of life, the defire

The

felt.

and perpetuates the

By

race.

fa-

of pro-

external form and the correfpon-

dence of the organs of fex occafion without doubt that

unites the fexes

new

thofe

irrefillible attradlion

which

connedling pleafure with the pro-

pagation of the fpecies, nature has provided moft effedlually for the continuance

of her work.

Increqfe and multiply

one of the natural fundlions of

life.

is

the exprefs

We may

command

add, that at the age of puberty a

thoufand impreffions a6l upon the nervous fyllem, and reduce

tion, that

he

feels his exiftence

become the

feat of his foul,

fufceptible,

and which

of the Creator, and

man

to fuch a fitua-

only in that voluptuous fenfe, which then appears to

which engroffes the whole

of which he

fenfibility

at length proceeds to fuch a height, that

its

is

attacks cannot

The
who in-

long be fupported without a general derangement of the whole machine.

continuance of fuch a feeling

may fometimes

dulge in exceffive enjoyment ; but

perfift in celibacy, efpecially

The femen,

it is

when

indeed prove

fatal to thofe

equally dangerous to thofe

ftrongly folicited

who

obflinately

by nature to the contrary.

being too long confined in the feminal veffels, may, by

its

ftimulant

property, occafion difeafes in both fexes, and excite irritations fo violent as to

reduce
fions,

man

all in

which,

are perfe6tly furious and ungovernable.

extremity,
habit,

to a level with the brutes,

it

produces what

however,

is infinitely

the frozen, zones.

is

called the

all,

When

furor uterinus

more commoil,

After

when afted upon by fuch impref-

excels

this irritation

in

women.

proceeds to

The

efpecially in the temperate,

is

much more

to be

oppofite

and above

drqaded than continency.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

1S5
neficy.

The number of diffolute and intemperate men

afford us plenty of examples.

Some have loft their memory, fome have been deprived of fight, many have become
early bald, and forae have died, through mere weaknefs. In fuch a cafe, bleeding
is well known to be fatal. Young men cannot be too often warned of the irreparable injury they
trufted,

may do

to their health

ought to employ

it is

nor

refle6l

How many ceafe

of thirty?

in their

power

to turn

life

on what

to be

much depends. Then

fo

paft,

is

men, or at

them from fuch dan-

men know

to prolong this finding feafon of their days,

or mifery of their future

turity,

means

the

But at the age of puberty, young

gerous exceffes.

importance

all

and parents, to whofe care they are en-

not of

how

great

whereon the happinefs

they look not forward to fu-

nor enjoy prefent pleafures with moderation.

leaft to

Nature muft not be forced

have the faculties of men, before the age

like a true mother, her 6bje6l is the fober

and difcreet union of the fexes. It is fufficient to obey when fhe commands, and
to anfwer when fhe calls. Neither mufl we forget here to mention and condemn an
outrage committed againft nature, the fhameful pradfice of which endangers the
lofs of health,

and the

of the conftitution

total ruin

nifm, fo extenfively explained in the Medical Part of

which a man or woman, deceiving nature as

it

mean

my

that folitary liberti-

edition of Culpeper,

by

were, endeavours to procure thofe

enjoyments which religion has forbidden except when connedled with the happinefs
of being a parent. Such then

the phyfical order which the Author of Nature, the

is

great preferver of the fpecies as well as the individual, has appointed to induce

man, by the attradlion of pleafure, to propagate and continue

According
till

women

to the ordinary courfe of nature,

after the firft

appearance of the menfes.

happens about forty or

When

his race.

are not

fit

for conception

thefe ftop, which generally

years of age, they are barren ever

fifty

after.

Their

and decay, and the voice becomes feebler. Some, however,

become
mothers
before they have experienced any menftrual difcharge;
have
and others have conceived at the age of fixty, and fometimes at a more advanced age. Such examples, though not unfrequent, muft be confidered as

breafts then fhrink

exceptions to the general rule

difcharge

is

but they are fufficient to ihow that the menftrual

not abfolutely effential to generation.

quires the faculty of

the

produ6lion

of

procreating

fernen,

the

is

not

fo

The age

diftindlly

body muft have

at which

marked.

attained

man

ac-

In order to

a certain growth,

which generally happens between twelve and eighteen years of age. At fixty
or feventy, when the body begins to be enervated by old age, the voice be-

eomes weaker, the femen is fecreted in fmaller quantities, and it is often unThere are inftances, however, of old men who have procreated at the
prolific.
age of eighty or ninety. Boys have. been found>^who had the faculty of- generating
at

AND THE OCCULT

at

nine, ten, or eleven, years of age;

and young

But fuch

the age of feven, eight, or nine.

SCIENCES.

who have become pregnant

girls

fa6ls,

137

which

are very rare,

at

ought to be

confidered as extraordinary phaenomena in the courfe of nature.

At the age of puberty, or a few years after, the body attains its full ftature.
Some young men grow no taller after fifteen or fixteen, and others continue to grow
till the age of twenty or twenty-three. At this period they are very flender; but by
degrees the members fwell and begin to affume their proper fliape; and, before the

age of

ftrength,

body

and

men

in

at this period

of the years of mans

age of thirty or

has attained

and fymmetry

confiftence,

twenty-five;

made

the

thirty,

life

its

greatefi: perfection

with regard to

Adolefcence ends at the age of twenty or

youth (according to the divifion which has been

into different ages) begins.

It continues

till

the

thirty-five.

ftature of man is about five feet and three, four, five, fix, or feven,
women about five feet and two, three, and four, inches. Men beare of a fmall ftature. The Laplanders do not exceed four feet and

The common
inches.; and of

low

five feet

a half; and the natives of fome other countries are

their full height fooner than

of Europe, the
is

medium

ftature of

obferved by the fame

taller

men. Haller computes,

men

about

that, in the

five feet

Women

fmaller.

and

five

or

fix inches.

among

climate,

men whofe
its full

human

ftature.

In furveying the inhabited earth, we find

the

fame people, and fometimes

ftature is^either too tall or too diminutive.

remains for fome years in the fame

it

During

this ftage,

man ought

This

is

the pe-

thirty or thirty-five to that of

in the

body continue

human

in

figure arifes

Exceftive fatnefs disfigures the body,

fat in different parts.

of a well-fliaped

In the

family, there are

dimenfions in youth,

the powers of the

and becomes a very cumberfome and inconvenient

The body

its full

and the principal change which takes place

from the formation of

fame

begins to decay.

which extends from the age of

forty or forty-five years.

full vigour,

ftate before

in the

The body, having acquired

height during the period of adolefcence, and

riod of manhood,

It

It is difficult to afcertain with precifion the

greater differences in the ftatures of individuals than in thofe of nations.

fame

attain

temperate climate*

author, that inSwifferland the inhabitants of the plains are

than thofe of the mountains.

aClual limits of the

is

ftill

load.

to be fquare,

the mufcles ought to be

ftrongly marked, the contour of the members boldly delineated, and the features

In women,

of the face well defined.

features are

and majefty

more
;

delicate,

nal appearance of
9.

the parts are

more rounded and

and the complexion brighter.

To man

fofter, the

belong ftrength

gracefulnefs and beauty are the portion of the other fex.

thing in both fexes points

No.

all

man

-Every

them out as the fovercigns of the earth; even the exter-

declares his fuperiority to other living creatures.

His body
is

A KEY TO PHYSIC

138
is

ereft; his attitude

is

that of

command;

countenance, which

his auguft

The image

bears the impreffion of his dignity.

towards heaven,

is

turned'

of his foul

is

painted in his face; theexcellence of his nature pierces through the material organs,

and gives a

fire

and animation to the features of his countenance.

portment, his firm and emboldened

touches

the eartli

to defpife

announce the noblenefs of

gait,

only with his extremity; he views

his rank.

He

only at a diftance, and feem&

it

been juftly obferved, that the countenance of

It has

it.

His majeftic de-

man

is

the mir-

In the looks of no animal are the expreffions of paffion painted

ror of his mind.

with fuch energy and rapidity, and with fuch gentle gradations and fhades, as in

We know,

thofe of man.

that in certain emotions of the mind, the blood rifes to

the face, and produces blufliing;

and that

countenance turns pale.

in others the

Thefe two fymptorns, the appearance of which depends on the

flru6lure andtranf-

parency of the reticulum, efpecially rednefs, conftitute a peculiar beauty.

climates, the natural colour of the face of a
lively red fuffufed

fymptom.

picious

and of

upon the cheeks.

That colour which

vitiated bile;

man

is

good health

fliaded with black

and conftant and univerfal rednefs

The

colour of the fkin

tint
is

is

is

is
is

white, with a

always a fuf-

a fign of melancholy

a proof that the blood

A livid colour is a morbid and

carried with too great irnpetuofity to the brain.

gerous fymptom; and that which has a

pletion of bile.

in

Palenefs of the countenance

In our

of yellow

is

is

dan-

a fign of jaundice or re-

frequently altered by want of fleep or of

nourifliment, or by loofenefs and diarrhoea.

Notwithftanding the general fimilitude of countenance in nations and families,

there
le61;

is

a wonderful diverfity of features.

whom

the perfon to

One man

No

one, however,

is

at a lofs to recol-

he intends to fpeak, provided he has once fully feen him.

has livelinefs and gaiety painted in his countenance, and announces be-"

forehand, by the cheerfulnefs of his appearance, the character which he

The

port in fociety.

compaffion in the

tears

is

to fup-

which bedew the cheeks of another man would excite

moft unfeeling heart.

Thus

the face of

man is

the rendezvous of

the fymptorns both of his moral and phyfical affe6lions; tranquillity, anger, threatening, joy, frniles, laughter, malice, love, envy, jealoufy, pride, contempt, difdain

or indignation, irony, arrogance, tears, terror, aftonilhment, horror, fear, fliame or

humiliation, forrow and afflidion, compaffion, meditation, particular convulfions,

deep, death, &c. &c.

The

difference of thefe eharadters

is

of fufficient importance

to form a principal article in the natural hiftory of man.

When

the

tranquillity.

mind

is

at eafe, all the features of the face are in a date of

profound

Their proportion, harmony, and union, point out the ferenity of the

when the

human

becomes a living canvafs,

whereon the paffions are reprefented with equal delicacy and energy, where, every

thoughts.

But,

foul

is

agitated, the

T"

face

emotion

AND THE OCCULT

emotion of the foul

is

SCIENCES.

139

expreffed by fome feature, and every a6lion by

and thofe intentions which we are anxious

fecret agitation,

particularly in the eyes that the foul

is

fome mark;

by pathetic

the lively impreffion of which anticipates the will, and reveals

to

our

figns

conceal.

It is

painted in the ftrongeft colours and with the

moft delicate fhades.

The
and

different colours of the eyes are,

dark hazel, light hazel, green, blue, grey,

The moft common of

w'hitifh-grey.

thefe colours are hazel and blue,

Eyes which are commonly

of which are often found in the fame eye.

are only dark hazel

both

called black

they appear black in confequence of being contrafted with

Wherever there

the white of the eye.

is

a tint of blue, however flight,

the prevailing colour, and outfliines the hazel, with which

it

becomes

intermixed, to fuch

it is

a degree, that the mixture cannot be perceived without a very narrow examination.

The moft beautiful eyes

is

more

Next

are thofe which appear black or blue.

expreflion and vivacity; in the latter,

tb the eyes, the parts of the face

effedl is increafed

by

The

forehead

is

more fweetnefs and perhaps

by which the phyfiognomy

They

contraft.

When

a very great defedl.

proaches, the hair which

firft falls

and the parts above the temples.

face,

and contributes moft

men; women do not naturally

in the

old age begins to

to its

phyfiognomy,

make

its

ap-

which covers the crown of the head

off

is

feldom fee the hair of the lower part of the

that

Baldnefs

fall of.

lofe their hair, though

it

is

peculiar to

becomes white, as

w^ell

as

men, at the approach of old age.

The nofe
tion,

is

We

temples, or of the back of the head, completely

that of

parts, their

and forms.

one of the largeft parts of the

is

delicacy.

moft ftrongly

are like a fliade in a pidlure, which gives relief

beauty. Every body knows of how great importance the hair

and that baldnefs

is

Being of a different nature from the other

marked are the eye-brows.

to the other colours

In the former, there

and

is

the moft prominent feature of the face; but, as

that only in the

moft violent paflions,

it

The nofe

middle of the

is

caufe of

face,

but for the moft part

has very

little

mo-

contributes lefs to the expreflion

than to the beauty of the countenance.

this irregularity,

it

is

feldom perpendicular to the

The

turned to one fide or the other.

which, according to the painters,

is

perfedtly confiftent

with beauty, and of whicfi even the want would be a deformity, appears to be fre-

quent preflure on one

the mother when

it

fide of the cartilage of the childs

receives fuck.

bones have acquired very

the legs

At

little folidity,

and thighs of fome

individuals,

nofe againft the breaft of

this early period of life,

and are

eafily bent, as

who have been

the cartilages

and

may be obferved

in

injured by the bandages of

the fwaddling clothes.

Next

A KEY TO PHYSIC

145

Next

mouth and

to the eyes, the

lips

have the greateft motion and expreflion.

Thefe motions are under the influence of the

off

by the vermilion of the

forms which

it

fion than
,

this feature,

any of the

poffeffed by

is

and the enamel of the

The organ

and communicates

The cheeks

reft.

to

it

is

fet

by the various

teeth, marks,

their different charadters.

affumes,

wife gives animation to

lips

The mouth, which

palTions.

of the voice like-

more

and expref-

life

are uniform

and

eatures,^

have no motion or expreffion excepting from that involuntary rednefs or palenefs

with w'hich they are covered in different paflions ; fuch as ftiame, anger, pride, and

and forrow, on the

joy, on the one hand; and fear, terror,

other.

In different paffions, the whole head affumes different pofitions, and

It hangs forward during ftiame, humility,

with different motions.

it

inclines to

fide in languor

one

and

fixed in obftinacy

moves from
of tears

is

it is

felf-conceit; in aftoniftiment

fide to fide in

joy, love, ftiame,

and compaffion

affe6ted

is

and forrow

elevated in pride; ere6l

it is

and

thrown backwards; and

contempt, ridicule, anger, and indignation.

and compaffion, the eyes fwell and the

tears flow.

In

The

it

grief,

effufion

always accompanied with an extenfion of the naufcles of the face, which

opens the mouth.

In forrow,

down, the pupil of the eye

lip rifes, the eye-lids fall

The

the eye-lid.

mouth are

the corners of the

is

raifed

depreffed, the under

and half concealed by

other mufcles of the face are relaxed, fo that the diftance be-

and confequently the

tween the eyes and the mouth is greater than ordinary
In fear, terror, confternation, and horror,
countenance appears to be lengthened.
;

the forehead

is

wrinkled, the eye-brows are raifed, the eye-lids are

as poffible, the upper

lid

depreffed and partly concealed by the under

opens wide, the

ijelow.

lips

derifion, the

the teeth, while the other fide of the

The

the

mouth

fails

lid.

At

the

fame

time, the

is

mouth

recede from each other, and difcover the teeth both above and

In contempt and

a fmile.

opened as wide

uncovers a part of the white above the pupil, which

noftril

lip

on the elevated

down.

upper

lip

moves a

is

raifed at one fide

little,

fide of the lip ftirivels up,

The eye on the fame

and expofes

and wears the appearance of

and the corner of

fide is almoft thut, while the other is

when one looks down from

In jealoufy, envy, and malice, the eye-brows fall down and are wrinkled;
a height.
The upper lip is elevated
the eye-lids are elevated, and the pupils are d'eprefled.
of
the
little
corners
mouth
are
a
while
depreffed, and the under
the
on both fides,
lip rifes to join the middle of the upper.- In laughter, the corners of the mouth

open as ufual; but the pupils of both are depreffed, as

are drawn, back and a

are

more

little

elevated; the upper part of the cheeks rife; the eyes

or lefs clofed; the upper lip rifes, and the under one falls

down;

mouth opens; and, in cafes of immoderate laugiiter, the fkin of the noTe
That gentler and more gracious kind of laughter which is called fmiling,

the

wrinkles.
is

feated

wholly

AND THE OCCULT

The under

wholly in the parts of the mouth.

are

SCIENCES.
lip

drawn back; the cheeks are puffed up; the

and a fmall twinkling

may be

laughter

obferved in the eyes.

is

rifes;

141

the angles of the

mouth

eye-lids approach one another;

It is very extraordinary,

that

excited either by a moral caufe withq,ut the immediate a6lion of

external objects, or by a particular irritation of the nerves without any feeling of

Thus an involuntary laugh

joy.

excited by a flight tickling of the

is

of the

lips,

palm of the haod, of the foie of the foot, of the arm-pits, and below the middle
of the ribs.
We laugh when two diffimilar ideas, the union of which was unexpefted, are pre fented to the

mind

fome abfurdity which

thefe ideas, or their union, include

In general,

difdain mingled with joy.

laughter.

-A change

is

produced

excites an emotion of

contrails never

ftriking

produce

to

fail

of the countenance by weeping

in the features

When we

as well as by laughing.

fame time; and when one or both of

at the

weep, the under

lip is

feparated from the

the eye-brows are depreffed, the dimple, which

teeth, the forehead is wrinkled,

more compreffed,
more feldom and lefs

gives a gracefulnefs to laughter, forfakes the cheek ; the eyes are

and almoll conllantly bathed

in tears,

which

in laughter flow

copioufly.

The

arms, hands, and every part of the body, contribute to the expreflion of

the paffions.

In joy, for inllance,

quick and various motions.

all

the

members of

In languor and forrow, the arms hang down, and

In admiration and furprife, this

the whole body remains fixed and immoveable.

total fufpenfion

of motion

is

In love,

likewife obferved.

head and eyes are railed to heaven, and feem to

body leans forward,

feize

the body are agitated with

as if to approach it; the

beforehand the beloved obje6l.

On

defire,

arms are ftretched

out,

the contrary, in fear, hatred,

it is

is

externally

the

and feem

to

and horror,
;

we

turn

it; we recoil in order to Ihun it.

much more delicate than that of any

very nervous, and perhaps flronger in proportion to

than that of the ftrongell animals.

We

ftories are related

ing their agility in running.

Civilized

its fize

are affured that the porters at Conllantinople

carry burdens of. nine hundred pounds weight,

thoufand wonderful

as if to avoid the fight of

Although the human body

other animal, yet

good

folicit the wiflied-for

the arms feem to pulh backward and repel the objedl of our averfion

away our head and eyes

hope, the

a,nd

yet drink nothing but water.

of the Hottentots and other favages, concern-

man knows

not the

full

extent of his powers,

nor how much he lofes by that effeminacy and ina6livity by which they are weakened

and deftroyed.
which

He

members

his

to fevere exercifes, as

dufion

is,

No.. 10.

contented even to be ignorant of the flrength and vigour

is

are capable of acquiring by motion, and by being accuftomed

therefore,

is

obferved in runners, tumblers, and rope-dancers.

The eon-

founded on the mofi; juft and indifputableiindudion and;

Oo

analogy,.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

14 ^

analogy.

The

placed when he

attitude of walking

is lefs

flopped in running.

is

fatiguing to

Every time he

man

than that in which he

fets his foot

is

upon the ground,

he paffes over a more confiderable fpace; the body leans forward, and the arms follow the fame diredlion; the refpiration increafes, and breathing becomes difficult

Leaping begins with great inflexions of the members; the body

but immediately flretches

fliortened,

which accompany leaping make

It is

it

out with a great

itfelf

are

Itill

The fprings, though not

awake, even when every movement is

wound up while we

are

fatigue.

In Jleep nature finds that repofe which

This

different organs enjoy a falutary relaxation.

own

The motions

not alone fufficient to reftore the

is

powers of the body when they are exhaufted by

fufpended.

much

then

very fatiguing.

obferved that a celfation from exercife

in a6iion,

effort.

is

is

is

and the

that wonderful ftate in which

man, unconfcious of

his

apparent death, repairs

-the

lofs w'hich his faculties

have fuffained, and feems to affume a new exiffence. In

this

exiffence,

and funk

fuited to her wants;

in

ffateof drowfinefs and repofe, thefenfes ceafe to a6l, the functions of the

fufpended, and

it

feems abandoned

The

to itfelf.

external

fymptoms of fleep, which

alone are the obJe6ls of our attention, are eafily diffinguiflied.

fleep, the eyes begin to w'ink,

the eye-lids

fall

body are

At

the approach of

down, the head nods and hangs

down: its fall affonifhes the fleeper; he ffarts up, and makes an effort to drive
away fleep, but in vain; a new inclination, ffronger than the former, deprives him
of the power of raifing his head ; his chin reffs upon his breaff, and in this pofition
he enjoys a tranquil

fleep.

The age of decline extends from forty or forty-five to fixty or

age.
At this time of life, the diminution of the fat is the caufe
which begin to appear

in the face

of contracting, finks

vifion.

The

fkin,

not

and being incapable, from want of

down and forms

remarkable change takes place alfo in

talline lens, being thicker

fat,

of

of thofe wrinkles

and fome other parts of the body.

being fupported by the fame quantity of

elafficity,

fixty-five years

folds.

In the decline of

life,

In the vigour of our days, the cryf-

and more diaphanous than the humours of the eye, enables

us to read letters of a fmall character at the diffance of eight or ten inches.

when

humours of the eye diminiflies, they lofe their clearnefs, and the tranfparent cornea becomes lefs convex.
To remedy this inconvenience, we place what we wifh to read at a greater diffance
But,

the age of decline

from the eye: but

comes

on, the quantity of the

vifion is thereby very little

objeCl becomes fmaller and

Another mark of the decline of life

more obfcure.

weaknefs of the ffomach, and indigeffion,

improved, becaufe the image of the

in

moff people who do not take

exercife in proportion to the quantity and the quality of their food.

fixty-three, or fixty-five, years of age, the figns of decline

is

fufficient

At

fixty,

become more and more

vifible,

AND THE OCCULT

vifible,

SCIENCES.

143

and indicate old age. This period commonly extends to the age of feventy,

fometimes

to feventy-five,

When

but feldom to eighty.

and bent by old age, man then becomes crazy.

body

is

extenuated

Crazinefs therefore

is

nothing but

the

an infirm old age. The eyes and flomach then become weaker and breaker; leannefs
increafes the number of the wrinkles; the beard and the hair become white; the
ftrength
age, the

and the memory begin

of

life

man

to

fail.

After

is

Some men

David near three thoufand years ago.

or at moft eighty years of

feventy,

nothing but labour and forrow

fuch was the language of

of ftrong conftitutions, and in

good health, enjoy old age for a long time without decrepitude; but fuch inftances
The infirmities of decrepitude continually increafe, arid at
are not very common.
This

length death concludes the whole.

we
made on a

clufions which

obfervations

term

fatal

uncertain.

is

can form concerning the duration of

great

number of men who were born

who died at different ages.

The figns of decrepitude form a

ftriking

thaf^of drinking,

only con.

at the

fame

from

and

time,

totally fails;

the nerves be-

blindnefs take place; the fenfes of fmell, of

are deftroyed; the appetite

touch, and of tafte,

more frequently

deafnefs and

The

mufi: be derived

pidure cf weaknefs, and announce the

The memory

approaching diffolution of the body.

come hard and blunted;

life,

are alone

felt

fails;
;

and

the neceflity of eating,

after the teeth fall out, maftica-

the lips fall inwards

tion is imperfeftly performed, and digeflion is very bad
the edges of the jaws can no longer approach one another ; the mufcles of the
lower jaw become fo weak, that they are unable to raife and fupport it; the body
;.

finks

down;

anterior part

wretch

is

the fpine
;

is

bent outward;

and the vertebras grow together

the body becomes extremely lean

unable to fupport himfelf; he

is

the ftrength

fails

at the

the decrepid

obliged to remain on a feat, or flretched

the bladder becomes paralytic ; the inteftines lofe their fpring ; the
in his bed
circulation of the blood becomes flower; the ftrokes of the pulfe no longer amount
:

to the

eighty in a minute, as in the vigour of

number of

twenty-four, and fometimes fewer: refpiration

the circulation of the blood ceafes;

is

life,

but are reduced to

flower; the body lofes

death follows;

and the dream of

its

heat;

no

life is

more.

Man, however, has no

right to complain of the fliortnefs of

the whole of living beings, there are few

ternal canfes which tend to prolong

very confiderable

growth

is

flow,

who

Throughout

unite in a greater degree all the in-

different periods.

The term

of geflation

the rudiments of the teeth are very late in unfolding;

and

its

life.

is

age of puberty, alfo,

not completed before about twenty years have elapfed.

is

much

parts of his body, being

later in

man

compofed of a

than in any other animal.

fofter

and more

is

his

The

In fhort, the

flexible fubftanee, are

not
fo

A KEY TO PHYSIC

144

Man,

fo foon hardened as thofe of inferior animals.

feems to receive:

therefore,

he reaches not the diftant period M'hich na-

at his birth the feeds of a long

life:

ture feemed to promife him,

muft be owing to accidental or acquired caufes,

it

if

Inftead of faying that he has finitlied his

reign to hiinfelf.

fay that he has not completed

it.

The

a longer time.

If

much

decays

its full fize,

it

which foon

tree or an animal,

fooner than another which continues to grow for

be true that the

period of their growth,

we ought rather to
life is in fome

natural and total duration of

ineafure proportioned to the period of growth.

acquires

life,

fo-

life

of animals

we might conclude

eight times longer than the

is

that the boundaries of

human

life

may

be extended to a century and a half

It does not

appear that the

of time the world has exifted.

human

In

tlie

days of the Pfalmift, the ordinary limits of

No

did not exceed feventy or eighty years.

life

yond that

of man becomes iliorter in proportion to the length

life

When

period.

the

king of Judah lived be-

Romans, however, were numbered by Yefpafian,

there were found in the empire, in that age of effeminacy,

Among

dred and twenty and upw'ards.

the princes of

George

the Great of Pruffia lived to the age of 74.

Louis

of 77.

XIV.

lived to the

of Lorrain exceeded that age.

fame

fician to

other

til e

12,

men aged an hun-

modern

times, Frederic

of Britain lived to that

King of Poland and Duke

William Lecomte, a fhe})herd, died fuddenly

county of Caux in Normandy, at the age of 110.

both of

The

whom

Cramers, phy-

were fathers at that age.

Saint Paul the hermit was

in

1775, aged almoft 111;

Rofine Iwiwaroufka died at Minfk in Lithuania at the age of

at

Oldeborn

in Friefland,

aged

Zealand lived

to the age of 120.

Virginia, aged 121.

IR.

Eleonora Spicer died

John Argus was born

in 1773, at

in the village of

the

and

number of 160
In December 1777,

all lived in

the

fame

it

on horfe-

13.

Fockjek

Marfk Jones

John Niethen of Bakler

and died the 6th of March 1779, at the age of 123; having
daughters, by whom he had pofterity to the fifth generation
fouls,

3 years and 16 days.

died in the year 1775 at Villejac in Hungary, aged

in

1 1.3'

he w'as a great hunter; he

undertook a long journey a fhort time before his death, and performed

Johannes died

the-

Sieur Ifwan-Horwaths, knight of the order of St. Louis, died

Sar-Albe in Lorraine,

back.

George

lived to the age of 80.

emperor, faw at Temefwar two brothers, the one aged 110 and

at his death.
at

II.

Staniflaus

Pope Clement XII.

I^of Britain attained the age of 83.

in 177(1, in the

age.

ten

village:

Accomack

Laflua
fix

in

in-

Turkey,

fons and three

they amounted

to-

his father died at the

named John
Brookey, who was 134 years of age, and had been fifteen times married. The Philofophical Tranfadtions mention an Englilhman, of the name of Ecclefton, who lived
to the age of 1 43. Another Englifiiman, of the name of Effingham, died in 1 757, at
age of 120.

there lived in Devonlhire a farmer

the

AND THE OCCULT

Jacob Drakemberg died

Chriftian

this old

man

1770

in

in

1764, aged 146.

at Archufen, in the !46th year of his

Norway in 1624, and at

In Norway fome men have lived to the age

of the north was born at Stavangar in

widow of 60.
who
was born
John Rovin,

the age of 130 married a

of 150.

145

Niels Jukens, of Hammerfet in Denmark, died

the age of 144.

ager

SCIENCES.

bannat

at Szatlova-Carantz-Betcher, in the

of Temefwar, lived to the age of 172, and his wife to that of 164, having been

married

to

him during the fpace of 147 years: when Rovin died, their youngeft
Peter Zoten, a peafant, and a countryman of John Rovin,

fon was 99 years of age.

died in 1724, at the age of 185

his youngeft fon

was then 97 years of

age.

The

Henry Jenkins, and Peter

H. Prince Charles at Bruflels. Hanovins, profeffor at Dantzic, mentions in hi^ Nomenclature an old man who died
at the* age of 184; and another ftill alive in Wallachia, whole age, according to
this author, amounted to 186.
Thomas Parr, of Shropfliire, died November 16,
Henry Jenkins, of Yorkfliire, died December 8, 1670, aged
1635, aged 152.
Robert Montgomery, of Yorkfliire, died in 1670, aged 196. James Sands,
169.
of Staffordfliire, aged 140, and his wife, 120. The Countefs of Defmond, of Ireand whole-length pidtures of John Rovin,

hiftory

Zoten, are to be feen in the library of H. R.

aged 140.

land,

J. Sagar,

of Scotland, aged 140.

of Lancafliire, died in 1668, aged 112.

Simon Sack, ofTrionia, died

Thomas Window, of

Col.

Confift,

Ireland, died Auguft 26,

30,

1764, aged 141.

1766, aged 146.

Francis

died in January 1768, aged 150.

Margaret Forfter,
and her daughter, aged 104, of Cumberland, were both living in

of Yorkfliire,

aged 136,

Francis Eons, of France, died Feb.

1771.

May

Laurence,

-of Killingworth,

aged 152.

John

Tice,

6,

1769, aged 121.

of Worcefterfliire,

James Bowels,

died

March

'

1774,

John Mount, of Scotland, died Feb. 27, 1766, aged 136. A. Goldfmith, of France, died in June 1776, aged 140. Mary Yates, of Shropfliire, died
in 1776, aged 128.
John Bales, of Northampton, died April 5, 1766, aged 126.
aged '125.

William

Ellis,

of Liverpool, died Auguft 16,

1780, aged 130.

Louifa Truxo,

a negrefs of Tucomea, South America, was living Oaober 5, 1780, aged- 175.
Margaret Patten, of Lockneugh near Paifley, aged 138. Janet Taylor, of Fintray, Scotland, died Odtober 10, 1780, aged 108.
Richard Lloyd, ofMontgomery, aged 133.

Sufannah

19, 1781, aged 110.

April

5,

Ann

1775, aged 105.

17,

1781, aged 112.

hill,

lived to the age of 112.

Hilliar,

of Piddington, Northamptonfliire, died Feb.

Cockbolt, of Stoke-Bruerne, Northamptonfliire, died

James Ayley, of Middlewich,

William Walker, who was a foldier

Chefliire, died

at the battle of

March
Edge-

Hippocrates, phyfician, of the ifland of Cos, aged 104.

Democritus, philofopher, of Abdera, aged 109. Galen, phyfician, of Pergamus, aged
140.

Albuna Marc, of Ethiopia, aged 150.

P p

Dumitur Raduly, of Haromfzeck,

Tranfylvania,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

146

Tranfylvania, died Jan. 12, 1782, aged 140.

Abraham

150,

Paiba, of Charleftown, South Carolina, aged 142.

Lewis Cornaro, of Venice, aged 100.

of Arminium, aged 137.

ney, Efq. of

William

Armagh,

W.

aged 125.

Titus Fullonius, of Bononia, aged

Ireland, aged 114.

Margaret

Gulftone, of Ireland, aged 140.

Poflell,

L. Tertulia,

Robert Blake-

Scott, of Dalkeith, Scotland,

J. Bright,

of Ludlow, aged 105.

W.

Jane Reeves, of Effex, aged 103.

of Prance, aged 120.

Paulet, Marquis of Winchefter, of Hamplliire, aged 106.

folk,

aged

Patrick Wian,

116,,

I.,aurence of Arcades, aged

was

alive in

This man,

John Wilfon, of SufNorthumberland, aged 115. M,

Le (bury,
Evan Williams,

of

140.

of Caermarthen workdioufe,,
John Jacobs, of Mount Jura, aged 12L

Odfober 1782, aged 145.

in

1789, at the age of 120,

quitted his native

fummit of Mount Jura undertook a journey

to Verfailles,

and from the

hills,

behold and return

to

thanks to the national affembly for the vote which had freed him and his poor

In the early part of his

countrymen from the feudal yoke.

His memory continued good

in the family of the Prince de Beaufremont.

lall

dav of

age were,

his life

fitting

and the principal inconveniences which he

that his fight

diminilhed,

not

he was a fervant

life,

felt

was weakened, and the natural heat of

from

his

to the

his great

body was fo

that he fhivered wdth cold in the middle of the dog-days if he

by a good

This old

fire.

man was

was

received in the body of the houfe

by the national affembly, indulged with a chair, and diredfed to keep on his hat
left

he ftiould catch cold

if

he were to

fit

uncovered.

was made for

colledtion

him by the members, which exceeded 5001. fterling; but he lived not to return to
Mount Jura. He was buried on Saturday the 31ft of January 1790, with great
funeral

pomp,

in the parifh-church

of

St.

Euftace,

Mathew

at Paris.

Tait, of

Auchinleck, Airlhire, died Feb. 19, 1792, aged 12.3: he ferved as a private at
Donald Macleod, of the Ifle of Sky, w'as living
the taking of Gibraltar in 1704.
in
*

May

There was

1793, aged 105.

living in

Portfmouth poor-houfe,

1793, one Elizabeth Bennett, aged 104 years.

Before we proceed to aftign the common caufes of longevity,
(juire into the manner of

We

life

find, then, that thofe

not attain their

full

and the

who have

growth

till

fituation of thofe

by

whom

it is

it

in

proper to

life,

iii-

has been enjoyed.

lived to the greateft age have been fuch

a very advanced period of

May

arid

as*

did

who have kept

In a word, thofe
their appetites and paffions under the raoft complete fubjedtion.
who have exceeded 100 years, have in general been robuft, laborious, fober, and
careful to obferve the ftridteft regimen.

Enjoying a good conftitution from nature,

They have even enjoyed the

they have feldom or never been fubjedt to difeafe.
the
fenfes, to the laft moment
retained
ufe
of
their
greateft health and vigour, and
of their lives.

Among

AND THE OCCULT

,

Among thofe who

have led a

life

a very advanced age. Longevity

who by

SCIENCES.

147

of contemplation and ftudy,

many have reached

frequent

is

wine and the ufe of meat.

among

moderate

their ftatutes are confined to a

the different orders of religious,

diet,

and obliged

Some4 celebrated anchorets have

from

to abflain

lived to a great age

while they fed upon nothing but the wild roots and fruits which they found in the

The

defert whither they had retired.

age of 106, was of the Pythagorean

who held

who

philofopher Xenophilus,

fedt.

It

well known, that thofe philofophers

is

the tranfmigration of fouls denied themfelves the ufe of meat, becaufe

they imagined that killing an animal would be to affaffinate another

try life has

happy

Hans

produced many found and vigorous old men.

old age

is

obferved, that

It is

felf.

A coun-

fuppofed that a

attained with greater difficulty in towns than in the country.

Sloane, Duverney, and Eontenelle, howxver,

have been fpent in

lives

lived to the

men

cities,

and yet extended

are inftances of

to a very great length.

deprived of reafon live very long; which

It has

to be

is

Sir

men whofe
been

imputed

to

exempt from thofe inquietudes which are the naofl deadly poifon. Perfons poffeffing a fufficiently good underftanding, but deftitute of ambition, have
their being

been found to enjoy very long

free

Men who

life.

from thofe cares which a defire of

fliining

ing dignity and power, neceffarily brings in

are devoid of pretenfions,

by a difplay of

its train,

who

feel

To

are

no regret for the

paft nor anxiety about the future, are ftrangers to thofe torments of the

wafte and confume the body.

who

talents, or of acquir-

that tranquillity of foul, which

is

mind which

fo excellent

prerogative of infancy, they add that of being long young by phyfical conftitution,

on which the moral has a

firiking

Premature wifdom, and early

expedlation.

The

and powerful

influence.

talents, are often fitter to excite aftonifliment

rapid unfolding of the moral faculties, by fliortening the period

of youth, feems to diminilh in proportion the total duration of

life.

We have known

a young lady of feventeen, w'ho could fpeak very corredlly feven languages:
tranflated

than

and wrote Latin, Greek,

Italian, Spanilli,

but Ihe died at the age of eighteen.

German,

flie

Englilh, and French!

The young man by whom

die was alked in,

marriage, having been informed that he could not obtain her hand

till

he had

made

himfelf worthy of her by the fame degree of talents and information, died the fame
year,

and

at the

fame

age.

From the preceding obfervations, Haller has attempted to deduce the caufes
why a few men are longer exempted than others from the common fate. The cir-

cumftances which oppofe their influence are independent of our

will;

fuch as the

ravages of epidemic diftempers ; trouble and anxiety of mind, which create difeafes
in the

body: or the torments of ambition.

It is neceffary to live in a falubrious

climate; to enjoy a fortune fufficiently eafy to exclude thofe uneafy defires which
A.

create

A KEY TO PHYSIC

14S

create a feeling of want and privation

avoid drinking wine in youih

deal of vegetables.
fures, ftudy,

It

we muft

man and that which

made to be long lived:
caufes, which

it is

is

Long

life is

to eat little meat,

and a great

but nature

is

and to

allot

certainly very rare; but, as has been

what

the confequence of his

is

natural to the conftitution

By

condition.

arcefted in her

the former he

is

courfe by local and accidental

not always in our power to avoid.

the chief of thefe different caufes.

bills

and

diftingui/h between

Let us take a retrofpedtive view of mans

don

to be naturally inclined to cheerfulnefs

a due time to fleep and repofe.

of

water

neceffary alfo to be temperate in meals; moderate in plea-

is

and exercife;

already obferved,

to drink

defcended from healthy parents, to

to be

Of

life

from

his infancy,

and enumerate

a thoufand infants, extradted from the Lon-

of mortality, twenty-three died almoft as foon as they came into the world

teething carried off

fifty,

and convulfions two hundred and feventy-feven

Among

died of the fmall-pox, and feven of the meafles.

eighty

the adult females,

confumption and affhma, difeafes more frequent

at lead died in child-bed;

eight

in

Eng-

land than in France, carried off a hundred and ninety-one of the fame fex, and

almoft a

fifth

At a more advanced

hundred and

age, twelve died of apoplexy,

whom

fifty

died of fevers.

and forty-one of dropfy, with-

themfelves became
There only remained feventy-eight whofe death could be aferibed to old

out mentioning thofe to

mortal.

part of the full-grown men.

difeafes of

little

importance

in

Among

age; and of thefe twenty-feven lived to the age of eighty and upwards.
the different difeafes of which

carry off

we have

now

juft

feen the fatal effects, and which

more than nine-tenths of mankind, not

The

tural to the conflitution.

one,

it

mufl be allowed,

inhabitants of this ifland are in general but

fubje6t to difeafes, excepting the fmall-pox and the meafles

enjoy uninterrupted health to old age.

And

what are the moft prevalent difeafes

in

fatal to the duration

of

is

human

life.

here

it

little

and many of them

may be proper

other countries,

na-

to

mention

which prove equally

In northern climates, feurvy, the cholic of

the Laplanders, and the difeafes of the lungs, mofl; frequently occafion death.

In

temperate climates, dropfy carries off a great many at the beginning of old age,

which

is

the boundary of

life in

the greateft part of both fexes,

efcaped the acute difeafes, fuch as putrid fever, &c.

mon
thofe

warm countries. In fome places,

who are expofed to its burning heat.

in

'

the rays of the fun

engenders the plague, by which one half of

The

air

when they have

Acute difeafes are moft comkill in

a few hours

of Egypt and of Afia

their inhabitants are carried

Minor

off.

Be-

tween the tropics men are fubjedl to dyfenteries and violent fevers. The cold of
the night, in warm climates, occafions fometimes violent difeafes, fuch as palfy,
quinfey, and a fwelling of the head.

Damp

and marfliy places give

rife to fevers

of

of a different kind,

dency

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

but alfo very dangerous.

The

How many

produce fcurvy.

to

life

of failors has a ^*eat ten-

haften that period which nature would have brought on by flow degrees
ftone-cutters,

perfons employed in emptying privies,

gilders,

difeafes of the lungs,

What

has been

fhow, that

furrounded that fhorten the period of

By examining the

lift

of thofe

life

human

who have

it is

obferved, that there are

in plains, and

more old men

We

low countries.

in

repeat

we ar&

the dangers with which

exiftence.

attained a great age,

it

be found that

will

It has been

are longer lived in northern than in fouthern countries.

mankind

bring on

carry us too far to give a particular account.

would

it

faid is fufificient to

Miners,

are fubjed to

&c.

Other profeffions of

and become paralytic.

other accidents, of which

and

profeffions prove fatal to the health,

mountainous and elevated fituations than

it,

if

the duration of

life

among

the inhabi-

compared with the duration of life in northern nationsj

the latter enjoy both longer life and better health than the

tants of fouthern climates be

it

will

be allowed, that

Their growth being retarded by the rigour of the climate,

former.

mufl alfo be flower, becaufe of the proportion which

Among

animals and the length of their lives.

exifls

their

decay

between the growth of

ten perfons

who have

lived to the

age of an hundred, eight or nine will be found to have lived in the north.
It appears

than

in cities,

girls;

Obfervations
alive than

from the

of mortality, that in the country more boys are born

bills

on the contrary, the number of females

made with great

women, and

is

commonly

greatefl.

men

care prove, that in mofl countries there are fewer

that naore males die, chiefly at the

and

firfl

lafl

periods of

In Sweden, the whole number of females, in 1763, was to that of males in the

life.

The number of old women who exceeded eighty years

of age' was to that of old men of the fame age in proportion of thirty-three to
nineteen and there were more women than men who had attained the age of eightyproportion of ten to nine.

fix, in

proportion of almoft two to one.

Dr. Price made obfervations, after Dr. Percival, on the difference of longevity,

and the duration of human

of which ,the following

is

life,

the refult:

great towns than in fmall ones,

lages.

The caufe of this

the

place, the luxury

firfl

the badnefs of the

air.

towns,

in

country-parifhes,

a greater number

and a greater number

difference,

which

is

in

and villages;

proportion die i

in the latter

than in

vil-

found to be very great, muff be, in

and diffipation which prevail

in

towms; and, fecondly,

In the town of Manchefler, according to obfervation, l-28th

of the inhabitants die annually; whereas in the neighbouring country, the nunrber
of deaths does not exceed l-46th of the whole inhabitants.
as a general principle, that in great towns, the

No.

10.

It

may

be laid

number of deaths annually

is

down
from

one

A KEY TO PHYSIC

150

one

in nineteen to

one

in

one

in twenty-four

to

one

feldom more than one

Stockholm amounted

twenty-two or twenty-three
in twenty-eight;

in forty or fiity.

to

and

middling towns,

in country parilhes

and

from

villages

In 1763, the number of inhabitants in

The average number

72979.

in

of deaths for the fix years

preceding had been 3802, which makes one in nineteen annually; while throughout

all

Sweden, including the towns and the country, not more than one

die annually.

the inhabitants are numbered every year.

At Rome

in thirty-five

In 1771 they

were found to amount to 159675: the average number of deaths for ten years was

7367

which makes one

in twenty-three

and a half annually.

than one in twenty three-fourths of the inhabitants die every

M. Daubenton

has

conflrudled from that which

life,

feventh volume of the Supplemens a IHiftoire Naturelle de

following

Of
fame

is

an abridgement of

lefs

)'ear.

Encyclopedic Methodique, a table of

given, in the

of the duration of

bilities

London not

In

is

to

th e

be found

M. de

probathe

in

BufFon.

The,

it

twenty-three thoufand nine hundred and ninety-four children, born at the

time, there will probably die.

In one year

7998

Remaining 2-3ds, or 15996.

In eight years

Remaining

1-half, or

In

fifty

15996
17994

l-4th, or

5998

In fixty-one years

Remaining

l-3d, or 799B.

years

Remaining

11997

11997.

In thirty-eight years

Remaining

19995

l-6th, or 3.999.

In feventy years

21595

Remaining 1-lOth, or 2599.

In eighty years

22395

Remaining l-40th, or 599.

In ninety years

23914

Remaining l-300th, dr 79.

In one hundred years
Remaining

number of men indeed pafs through all the

at the goal marked out by nature.
Innumerable caufes

It thus appears, that a very fmall

riods of

life,

23992

1-1 0000th, or 2.

and arrive

celerate our diflblution.

The

life

of man,

we have

peac-

obferved, confifts in the adlivity

and

AND THE OCCULT

and exercife of
than

it

No

begins to decline.

lil

which grow up and acquire llrength during infancy,

his organs-,

adolefcence, and youth.

SCIENCES.

Its

fooner has the body attained

decay

is

at

imperceptible

firft

its

utmoft perfe^ion,

but in the progrefs of

time the membranes become cartilaginous, the cartilages acquire the confiftence of

bone; the bones become more

folid,

and

all

the fibres are hardened.

the fat waftes away; the fkin becomes withered and fcaly

formed; the hair grows white; the teeth

is

more

perceptible.

bent;

firft

which

fixty,

till

is

always to increafe.

Next

this is the

its

At

this period"

fucceeds decrepitude,

body almoft deftroyed.

Little

and continues

begins,

when

memory is gone,

the

now remains

worn

to be loft;

then dies by

little

and

little;

its

the ufe of

and the func-

out,

and, before the

age of ninety or a hundred, death terminates at once decrepitude and

The body

the

fliape;

humour become

They increafe by flow

They increafe more rapidly till the

the ftrength totally annihilated, the organs

loft,

tions of the

cryftalline

age of decline.

the period of old age.

age of feventy or feventy-five.

the fenfes

wrinkles are gradually

traces of this decay begin to be perceived at the age

and fometimes fooner;

forty,

degrees

The

out; the face lofes

and the colour and confiftence of the

body
of

fall

Alraofi; all

life.

motion gradually diminiflies;

life is

extinguifhed by fucceffive gradations, and death is only the laft term in the fucWhen the motion of the heart, which continues longeft, ceafes, man has
ceffion.
then breathed his laft ; he has pafted from the ftate of life to the ftate of death and,
;

as at his birth a breath opened to

him the career of

life,

fo with a breath he finiflies

his courfe.

This natural caufe of death

We

may

is

cornmon

obferve that the centre of an oak

to all animals,
firft

and even

to vegetables.

pefifhes and falls into the duft, be-

caufe thefe parts, having become harder and more compadl, can receive no further
nourifliment.

The

inevitable; and

caufes of our diffolution, therefore, are as neceflary as death

it is

no more

in

our power to retard

Hence

the eftabliflied laws of the univerfe.

verfally adopted; Contra

manner death happens,

confidered, however,

mind with

mm mortis,

the time

term than to

alter

uni-

nullum medicamentum inhortis. In whatever

and circumftances thereof are unknown.

as at all times terrible,

and trouble.

fear

the following

and the very thoughts of

It is notwithftanding our

As

in

to prepa,re againft thofe

women

It

it fill

is

the

duty frequently to direct

our thoughts to that event, which muft inevitably happen, and by a

and innocence

is

maxim has been

this fatal

confequences which we fo

life

much

of virtue
dread.

the bones, the cartilages, the mufcles, and every other part of the

body, are fofter and

lefs folid

than thofe of men, they muft require more time in

hardening to that degree which occafions death. Women of courfe ought to

longer than men.

This reafoning

is

confirmed by experience;

for,

live

by confulting
the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

\5t
the

bills

in

it

appears, that, after

women have

palled a certain age, they

men who have arrived at the fame

found by experience, that in women the age of youth is

live
is

of mortality,

much

age.

longer than

men, but that the period of old age

longer,

is

In

like

manner,

it

diorter and happier than

and attended with more trouble.

Cilius pubefcuut, citius fenefcunt.

After death, the organization of the body begins to be dilfolved, and

the parts

all

and feparate. This is produced by an intelline fermentation,

which occafions putrefaction, and reduces the body to volatile alkali, fetid oil,,
corrupt,

relax,

and earth.

The

defire of felf-prefervation,

and of protracting the

timately interwoven with our conllitution, that

lliort

fpan of

juftly elleemed

it is

life, is

fo in-

one of the

firll

principles of our nature, and, in fpite even of pain and mifery, feldom quits us to

the laft

moments of our

our interell

to

exiltence.

It feems, therefore, to

be no

lefs

our duty than

examine minutely into the various means that have been confidered

as conducive to health and long

life;

and,

if poffible,

to diftinguifli fuch circum-

flances as are effential to that great end, from thofe which are merely accidental.
It has long

food; for a

been known that

man may

live

nutes without the former.

effential to the

have propofed

more immediately neceffary

frelli air is

two or three days without the

The

many

conjectures,

many mi-

is

concerning which authors

life,

nothing elfe but the pure oxygenated

fluid

difcovered by that ingenious philofopher Lavoifier.

may

well be fuppofed to be

more or

As

with this animating principle.

but not

latter,

vivifying principle contained in the atmofphere, fo

fupport of flame, as well as animal

fo

to life than

The common atmofphere

lefs healthy in proportion as

this exhales in

it

abounds

copious ftreams from the green

may
much more

leaves of all kinds of vegetables, even from tho.fe of the moft poifonous kind,

we

not, in

fome meafure, account why

frequent in the country than in large

inftances of longevity are fo

cities;

largely of this falutary impregnation,

is

where the

air,

inftead of partaking fo

daily contaminated with noxious animal

effluvia.

With refpeCl to
which

lie

climate, various obfervations confpire to prove, that thofe regions

within the temperate zones are bell calculated to promote long

Hence, perhaps, may be explained, why

and why

iflands in general are

gined.

men

The

many

long

life.

livers,

more falutary than continents; of which Bermudas

and fome others afford examples.

jfland appears to contain far

Italy has produced fo

more

And

it is

a pleaflng circumftance that our

own

inftances of longevity than could well be ima-

ingenious Mr. Whitehurft affures

are in general longer lived than

us,

from certain

North Americans; and

tution will laft longer, even in that climate, than

faCls, that Englifli-

that a Britifli confti-

a native one.

But

it

muft be
allowed

AND THE OCCULT

human

allowed in general, that the

conftitution

SCIENCES.
is

153

adapted to the peculiar

ftate

and

temperature of each refpeftive climate, fo that no part of the habitable globe can
be pronounced too hot or too cold for its inhabitants. Yet, in order to promote a
friendly intercourfe between the moft

remote regions, the Author of nature has

wifely enabled the inhabitants to endure great and furprifing changes of temperature
with impunity.

Though foods and drink of the moft fimple kinds

culated for fupporting the body in health, yet

may

it

be fafely indulged occafionally, provided

are allowed to be the beft cal-

can hardly be doubted but variety

men would

reftrain their appetites

within the bounds of temperance; for bountiful Nature cannot be fuppofed to have

poured forth fuch a rich profufion of provifions, merely to tantalize the human
fpecies, without attributing to her the part of a cruel ftep-dame, inftead of that of

a kind and indulgent parent.

Befides,

we

find, that,

by the w^onderfui powers

of the digeftive organs, a variety of animal and vegetable fubftances, of very dif-

cordant principles, are happily affimilated into one bland homogeneous chyle;
therefore

it

to one fimple

mankind
Nature,

feems natural to

diftruft thofe cynical writers,

and

difli,

their drink to the

who would

has pointed out that mild infipid fluid as the univerfal .diluent,

it is true,

and therefore moft admirably adapted for our daily beverage

equally proved, that vinous and fpirituous liquors,
lefs falutary

and

w'hether

beneficial,

bodily fatigue, or to exhilarate the

But, alas

rigidly confine

mere water of the brook.

it

but experience has

on certain occafions, are no

be to fupport ftrength againft ficknefs or

mind under the

prelTure of heavy misfortunes.

what Nature meant for innocent and ufeful cordials, to be ufed only

occafionally,

and according

to the dire6tion of reafon,

by degrees, rendered habitual

and deftrudlive abufes.

cuftom and caprice have,

human frame, and liable to the moft enormous

may be juftly doubted, whether gluttony and in-

to the

Hence

it

temperance have not depopulated the world more than even the fword, peftilence,
and famine.

True, therefore,

is

the old maxim,

Modus utendi ex

veneno facit medU

camcntum, ex mtdicarnenio xenenum.

It is

allowed on

all

hands, that alternate motion and

ing, are neceffary conditions to health and longevity;

reft,

and fleep and watch-

and that they ought

to

adapted to age, temperaujent, conftitution, temperature of the climate, &c.

the errors which

mankind

daily

commit

in thefe refpe^is

be
but

become a fruitful fource of

difeafes. While fome are bloated and relaxed with eafe and indolence, others are
emaciated and become rigid through hard labour, w'atching, and fatigue. Where
the animal fun6lious are duly performed, the fecretions go on regularly ; and the

different evacuations fo exaftly correfpond to the quantity of aliment taken in, in

given time, that the

No.

10.

body

is

found.to return daily to nearly the

fame weight-

If any

particular

A KEY TO PHYSIC

154
particular evacuation

cuation

happen

to

be preternaturally diminifhed, fome other eva-

proportionally augmented, and the equilibrium

is

commonly preferved

is

but continued irregularities, in thefe important fundtions, cannot but terminate in

difeafe.

The due regulation of the

more

paffions, perhaps, contributes

to health

and longevity than'that of any other of the non-naturals. The animating paffions,
fuch as joy, hope, love, &c. when kept within proper bounds, gently excite the
nervous influence, promote an equable circulation, and are highly conducive to
health

while the deprcffing affedlions, fuch as fear, grief and defpair, produce the

contrary

and lay the foundation of the moft formidable difeafes.

eflfe6t,

From

the light which hiftory affords us, as well as from the foregoing

lifl;

of

their

is in fome meafure herethere is

and that healthy long-lived parents would commonly tranfmit the fame to
children, were it not for intemperance, and the frequent errors in medical ad-

vice,

which fo evidently tend to the abbreviation of human

long

great reafon to believe, that longevity

lives,

ditary;

from thefe caufes, and the unnatural

are born

in

modes of living,

life.

Where

is it,

the capital cities of Europe, nearly one half die in early infancy?

whatelfe can we

attribute this extraordinary mortality?

but

of all the children which

that,

To

Such an amazing proportion

among favage nations, or among

the young of other animals! In the earlieft ages, we are informed, that human life
was protra6led to a very extraordinary length; yet how few perfons, in thefe latter
of premature deaths

is

a circumllance unheard-of

Man

times, arrive at that period which nature feerns to have defigned!

is

by na-

ture a field-animal, and feems deftined to rife with the fun, and to fpend a large

portion of his time in the open

air,

to inure his

body

to robuft

exercifes

and the

inclemency of the feafons, and to niake a plain homely repaft only w hen hunger

But

dictates.

enflaving
to folly

one,

him

art has ftudioufly defeated the kind intentions

to all the blandifhments of fenfe, has left him, alas

and caprice.

who

of nature;
!

and, by

an eafy vidtim

Let the confideration of the following fubje6ts dire6l every

values health and long

life,

to purfue the

means nature has pointed out

and fuftenance.

for their prefervation

Of nutrition.

NUTRITION,
body, either for

in the animal oeconomy,

is

the acceffion of

new

parts to the

augmentation, or for the reparation of fuch as are worn

its

off,

or exhaled through the pores and perfpiiing veffels, whereby the fluids are diminiflied,

and the body

reftitution
loft

be made

falls

away.

to the juices

by thofe motions; which

loft juices are eafily

is

So
and

that, to preferve

folids of the

what we

call the

life,

body,

it is

at leaft

neceffary that a

equal to what is

a^ion of nutrition.

and quickly fupplied by aliment,

air,

Now

the

&c. but the nutrition

/

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

155

much more obfcure. This, indeed, has proved a fubjeft of

infinite doubts and differences among authors; nor had we any rational or fatisfacof the folid parts

is

tory account of the fame,

that of the accurate Boerhaave,

till

whofe do^rine

is

as

follows.

Every

folid part

of the body confifts of other fmaller ones, in

larger; veffels, of veficles,

Which

and thofe of others

beyond

ftru6lure goes

all limits

ftill

refpe6ls like

all

tfce

fmaller; bones, of officles, 8cc,

of fenfe, however affifled by art; as appears

by the experiments and obfervations of Malpighi, Ruyfch, Leeuwenhoek, and

Hooke. Yet

fcarcely ppffible this divifion and fubdivifion fhould be infinite, as

it is

thofe of foods and juices are.

Again,

it

appears from microfcopes, injediions,

fmall wounds, exficcations, &c. that the folid parts of the body are very fmall,

compared with the

and

fluids;

and generation of the

nerves, as

only excepted, at

firft

all

And,

elements.

its

alfo demonftrable, from confidering the rife

and the refolution of the greater

veffels,

fmaller conflituent ones, that

it is

the folid mafs of the body

in effedl, all this

is

veffels into their

conftrudled of mere

mafs, an incredible fmall particle

arofe out of what was a very fmall colliquament,

the nervous juice itfelf; as

is

much

like

abundantly fliown by the great Malphighi, in his two

treatifes on incubated eggs.

For neither does the white of the egg nourifh, till, by
means of the incubation, it has paffed innumerable degrees of fluidity, from its
firft

thicknefs, to that exceeding fubtilty wherein

the liquor, thus given to the embryo,

what

it is

to

be when converted into

folids, arifing

from

this fubtle

is

it

exceedingly thick, in comparifon with

its veffels

and

Now,

vifcera.

humour, do again pafs

and by Ruyfch

the folids, in their

in

firft

embryoes and

the

is

tender

Ihovvn by Malpighi in

Hence, therefore,

fostufes.

firft

infinite intermediate degrees,

before they arrive ^t their utmoft ftate and confiftence ; as

eggs,

But, even then,

terminates.

formation out of the liquids whence they

it

follows, that

arife,

only differ

cohefion, and figure.

Therefore fuch a particle, now in its
become a part of the folid to be formed out of it, as foon as there
be a power to effe6l its cohefion with the other folid parts, howfoever

from them in

reft,

fluid ftate, will

happens to

that cohefion be effected.

This cohefion

is eafily

produced in a

a proper cavity in the folid,

left

fibre already

open by forae loft

formed,

particle^;

a particle in the fluid, anfwerable thereto in bulk, figure,

if

there be a

thereto.

power wherewithal to intrude

Thus

will arife

real nutrition

it

Which

thefe veffels,

it

happen

into that place, or

is,

to

be

and, at the fame time,

and nature; and,

laftly,

accomodate

of the folids in the minute

whofe union the large ones are formed ; that

thereto.

if there

veffels,

it

by

in the nerves, or in veffels fimilar

being imprafticable by any other liquid than that brought into

appears very evident, that the nervous juice, at

leaf!;

a juice perfeQ;ly
like

A KEY TO PHYSIC

156
^

like

it,

laft

and

the immediate matter of nutrition:

is

body

mofi; perfedl adtions of the

whence

fince, to

nutrition appears

have

The

cedent actions muft of neceffity have been

fo.

make

the immediate matter of nutrition,

indeed, fitted to

but

cannot nourifii or reftore them.

it

intimately mixed in the lungs by

paffage of certain veflels,

is

be the matter of nutrition.

there

veffels. See.

fure experience,
It

is,

we know

the larger veffels

and thus

fire,

it all

foft,

becomes perfedlly

all the folid parts

like the white of

an egg.

is

of an animal arife by mere incubation.

mot yet quite difpofed

much

for nutriment;

Neither are yet

fitted to

made

But, as the heat of the incubation, fo the action of the vifcera

it

be rendered fubtile enough for the purpofe required.

is

inftantly repaired:

The matter
whereby,

it is

of nutrition thus afeertained,

effedled, are as follows

or

part,

the fides of

its

every-where

if it

when exbaufled,

body, except, perhaps,

how weak

nutrition.

the caufe

juice being driven diredlly through a

its

full,

courfe be from a wider to a nar-

if its

have any thing to o[>pofe

n^us, or endeavour,

This,

at length a part of

the manner wherein, and

canal, according to the axis of

in the

till

and thus we have the true immediate matter of

conic or cylindric, elaftic or rigid, canal

rower

to

the conditions found in that, from whence, by

on the ferum, introduces various changes therein,

veffels

fit,

tenacious, plaftic, infipid,

enter the veffels; yet both the one and the other are, by different authors,

and

the

fitted for

yet far from being quite

or red globular part of the blood, fo.

the nutritive juice.

more

But, by the repeated a6lion of the lungs, the vifcera,

therefore, a ftep nearer; but

lefs is the cruor,

fitter,

fill

attenuated, changed,

refpiration,

formed, out of this humour, a

is

therefore, has in

fluid,

means of

which fome

chyle, therefore,

when

This,

indeed rendered

ferum, which, thickening by the

This

is,

one of the

this laudable, all the pre-

motion, w

its

length.

in the veins

ill

endeavour to ftretch

This muft be the cafe

By

and receptacles.

this

foever, continually repeated, the veffels will be

made more and more

which in man are extremely

infenfibly lengthened out; and, in lengtheninL^ they will be

flender.

Hence

the laft extremi ies of the veffels.

fmall, are continually ftretched, and rendered

lefs

and

lefa

coherent,

i.

e.

ftill

nearer and nearer to a diffolution; and thus at length will they cohere fo w'eakly,
While fuch motion goes bn, therefore, and the
as fcarcely to differ from fluids.
propulfion

is

continued, there

will,

of neceffity, happen thefe two things:

the outmoft particles of the minuteft tubes being torn

off,

will again

Firft,

be converted

humour, what part of the body foever they ftick in. Secondly, the
fmalleft particles, which, by their union, compofed the flendereft fibrill, will be
where,
fo feparated from each other, as to leave open interftices in thofe places,
Both thefe effects will be produced at all times, and in all
before, they cohered.
into a kind of

parts of the body, fo long as

life

continues, efpecially where nature

is

ftrong,

and

AND THD OCCULT

U7

SCIENCES.

the aftions of the

body violent.. But the fame humour whereby thefe

ducd|, containing

abundance of particles

eflfe6ls

fimilar to thofe thus feparated

veys and applies them to thofe interftices, by

and

are pro-

con-

loft,

tha,t veryimpetus whereby it endeavours

to diftend the canals; and, thus intercepted, at length it forms, adapts, and faftens,
them, fo as to adhere in the fame manner as the former. The matter, preparation,

application, energy of motion,

thus prefently reftored

is loft, is

that

remaining the fame; what, from time to time,

and the

folids continue in the

fame

ftate as before,

they are perpetually nourifhed, and fupjilied, and preferved.

is,

In

ftill

this the Creators

wifdom

is

very confpicuous; dn that the fame power which

inevitably deftroys does repair again at the

fame time, and by the fame a6tion;

more copious the fupply; and, laftly, that
thofe parts firft fpent in the a6tion of the body are the firft reftored.
Farther, it
is evident, that the newer, the more tender, and the nearer to the moving caufe,.
thefe veflels are, the more eafily will they be lengthened,- diftended, deftrOyed, and
and

that, the greater the lofs

repaired

is,

the

our bodies, therefore, the nearer to the origin, the more do they grow.

For, the action

ftill

and at the fame time the fmaller, whereof the membranes or

fluid;

larger fort are compofed, are comprefled, dried,

up

whence

become more extended by

continuing, the greater veflels

arifes

a firmnefs, indeed^ of the

what were formerly

being once

fixed,,

veflels

commence

niflies

at laft concreted,

but a lofs of the

There hard ligaments;

and

and grow

is

and hence

and thicknefs, of the

greateft in embryoes, and; as age

it is,

folid parts.

comes

the

it

fenfibly dimi-

and

their ftrength

on,

that their weaknefs conftantly declines,

Hence

In young people, therefore, the quantity of humours

and firmnefs increafe.

redundant, and greatly exceeds the folids: in old men, the folids exceed the

And hence we

Thus

veficles.

thus, the fluids

the feveral veflels coalefce; from the concurrence of thefe caufes

arife the ftrength, hardnefs, rigidity,

number of veflels

and

fibres,

their

coats, of the

is

fluids.

fee the reafon, manner, and appearance, of growth, ftate, declenfion,

and, at length, of death from pure old age.

perfon

who

confiders this account,

and compares

it

with what

fervable in the body, will find every circumftance to obtain

cula

is

every-where, and at

again renewdng;

worn

off,

again

all times,

and thus the

come again

are'

and the fordes, or

both of folid and

the fame.

Hence

11.

a6tually ob-

conftantly defqua mating, peeling

hair, nails, teeth,

filth,

too,

we

and

off,

continually rubbed, torn, and

rubbed off from the extremities of the

grow

veflels,

or diluted, and viewed in water, appear plainly to

fluid parts;

with regard to habit, as in

No.

is

thus the whole cuti-

parts taken off from the veflels and the bones foon

when examined by amicrofcope,

Gonfift

and thofe carried

fee, that

fat, flefliy,

off

by wafliing,

fliaving,

&c.

a general increafe of the bulk of the body,

brawny, perfons, does not arife from any

S f

increafe

A KEY TO PHYSIC

158

increafe of the folids, but by their extenfion into larger cavities, 'Crowded with flag*

fuffocates.

And hence fatnefs becomes hurtful, as it loads, weakens, and

Whence arifes a very confiderable diftin6lion between nutrition and

repletion, to

which a phyfician

nant humours.

and condenfing the

fame.

Hence,

we

have fpecial regard; the one ftrengthening

the other weakening, loofening, and extending, the

fee

why

the fabric of the folids

how our machine comes

contained fluids;
is

veffels

laftly,

fliould

corrupted, the nutrition of that part

obtains in an artery
in old

men

it

why, when a neive

belongs to ceafes;

and why the fame

folids, in

and why even the nerves, tendons,

not deftroyed by the

to fubfift fo long;

why in an embryo there are no

a great deal

is

a foetus very few,

and recep-

ai teries,

become firft cartilaginous, and then bony. Dr. Prieftley concludes, from
fome experiments undertaken with a view of difcovering the principle of nutrition
in vegetable and animal fubftances, that this principle is phlogifton, in fuch a ftate
tacles,

as to be capable of becoming,

genous gas

;)

by putrefaction, a true inflammable

blue and lambent flame, mixed with a certain proportion of fixed

ciple in nutrition

chyle formed by

it

This prin-

air.

immediately held in folution by the gaftric juice, and

is

and,

anfwered the purpofe

when

in the

it

phlogifticated with

in the

has entered into the circulation with the chyle, and

animal oeconomy for w'hich

it is

defigned,

thrown

it is

out again by means of the blood in the lungs, and communicated to the
is

(hydro-

air,

but not generally fuch as to burn with explofion, but rather with a

which

air,

it.

Of food, or aliment.

FROM aliment,

or food, by the procefs of digeftion,

fweet, and whitifii, liquor, refembling milk,

chyle; which, being abforbed
culation,
trition,

by the

and

laCleal veins,

which, as

Food

require.

is

we have

by the name of

by them conveyed into the

feen above, the continual wafle of the body

is

cir-

found to

the moft neceffary thing for the prefervation of our bodies

derlland, in general,

what

deviations from health,

is

it is of much importance

and,

to un-

the propereft for our nourifhment; and, in particular

what

juices naturally incline to

is

Our blood and

the beft adapted to reftore us.

become

putrid and acrimonious

frefli

chyle, duly re-

prevents this deftru6live tendency, and preferves in them that mild ftate

which alone

confifts with health.

nutritious mucilage
is

diftinguiflied

and there alfimilated into the nature of blood, affords that fupply of nu-

as on the choice thereof our health greatly depends,

ceived,

prepared a very mild,

is

become

An

animal diet affords the moft of

bland

this

watery fluids dilute the too grofs parts, and carry off what

unfit for ufe. It

is

only the fmall portion of jelly which

the farinaceous parts of vegetables, that, after being

much

is

feparated from

elaborated,

is

con-

verted

AND THE OCCULT

verted into the animal nature

SCIENCES.

159

yet the ufe of vegetables prevents both repletion and

a too great tendency to a putrefcent acrimony of the blood.

In hot climates, as

well as againft the conftitutional heat of particular perfons', vegetables are deraand-

the iargeft portion; animal fubftances afford the bigheft relifh while our ap-

=ed in

petite continues;

may be

getables

but

eaten after either

as that the ftomach

or

flefli

whence

fifli;

will fate the appetite before the

fifli

fome degree

quence of animal food alone

is

crafis of the. blood;

quantity of food, animal diet

is

up of three elements,

mable; of one of an earthy,

:

filled.

Vemuch

viz.

and

of animals, efpecially when

it-is

is

foon the confe-

freely.

of one which

fubtile,

and from the fmalleft

in general all the parts

is

roafted, affords the

of the body, are

fulphureous, oily, and inflam-

alkaline, nature;

ed with one another, afford a proper nourifhment

fulphureous part; but

to preferve this, a mixture

may

and of one of an aqueous

be moft commodioufly re-

and aliments of thefe three feveral

claffes;

Health de-

fatiating.

but in cold, pituitous, and nervous,

fo the feveral kinds and virtues of food

duced to thefe three

and

and

leaft digeftion,

more

to be ufed

the blood, the nutritive juice,

nature

duly

hot acrid habits, too, receive from milk and vegeta-

habits, which want moft nourifhment from

made

is

fruits fatiate fo

always required, for a loathing

bles the needful for corre6ting their excefles

As

ftomach

few herbs or

nutritious parts are oily

its

pends almoft wholly on a proper

of

or

may not be filled with them when it is already fatisfied vi-ith

it may be obferved, that no diet which is very nourifliing can

be eaten to fulnefs, becaufe

vegetables in

flefli

for the

body

human body.

its

duly mix-

qualities,

The

flefh

principal fupply of the

to be obferved, that wild animals are preferable in this

refpeft to the tame and domeftic kind, becaufe their oils and falts are exalted by.
habitual exercife.

Among

parts, of animals, fifh;

the aliments which furnifh the blood with

and of vegetables, pot-herbs, the milder

To

fummer-fruits; are reckoned the principal.

blood with

its

parts, belong

all

rice, peafe, beans, lentils, chefnuts,

of bread,

what has been

and

fixed and earthy

faid, it will

appear that

refemble the chyle and blood, are

either recedes from, or

is

all
fit

quite oppofite

its

humid

and fome

the third clafs, which fupplies the

kinds of grain, as the feveral forts

almonds, cocoa, cheefe, &c.

From

fuch aliments as are of a mild quality,

for

to,

nourifhment ; that

all

fuch food as

the nature of the chyle and blood,

unfit for nourifhing the parts; that all food in

is

roots,

which there

is

too

much

is

of an acid,

improper for nourifhment, becaufe milk and blood will not mix with an acid,

which

is

quite oppofite to their natures, and induces a coagulation of the circulat-

ing juices
<rilhment,

that all falts,

becaufe no

fait

and

all

foods too highly failed, mull be unfit for nou-

whatever can be mixed with the blood, chyle, and milk;

and

A KEY TO PHYSIC

160
and

laftly,

and

that the free ufe of fpirits inuft, be very detrimental both to health

nourilhment, becaufe blood and chyle never incorporate with fpirituous liquors, but
rather feparate from them.

Thus much being obvious

as general principles vvith

quality of our aliment, the valetudinarian

may eafily

refped

to the matter

regulate his diet with

but drink fparingly

be ftronser than

roaft

meat

is

to

be preferred, and what

In fummer,

at other feafons.

let thirft

be drunk; cold ftomachs never require much:

may now

not otherwife contradidted,

the winters diet to be continued

all

fome ad-

In winter, eat

vantage to himfelf by an attention to the few enfuing particulars.

freely,

and

is

drunk

fliould

determine the quantity to

boiled meats and vegetables,

Lax

be more freely ufed.

if

habits require

the year, and rigid ones diould be confined to

fading will prevent the neceffity of periodical bleeding,

fummer. Occafional
who are troubled with erudlations occafioned by their food fliould
Thofe
&c.
The thirfty lliould drink
drink but little, and ufe fome unaccuftomed -exercife.
let
In general,
moderation be obferved; and, though no
freely, but eat fparingly.
that of

dinner hath been had, a light fupper

is

at all times to be preferred.

high feafoned meats, a glafs of water acidulated wdth the acid elixir of

weak ftomachs the fweet elixir of vitriol, is far more

digeftion than tlie common method of taking brandy.

very

As to common
nature.

drink, water alone

is

and

fufficient

vitriol,

afliftant to the

or in

work of

effedlual for all the purpofes of

common

Strong liquors were never defigned for

After verr

They were formerly

ufe.

kept here in England, as other medicines are, in apothecaries fliops, and prefcribed

by

phyficians, as they

do diafcordiumj and Venice

The

ftrengthen the weak, and raife the low-fpirited.

wine and
is

treacle, to refrefli the weary,

effedt of the ordinary ufe of

as natural caufes will always

fpirituous liquors,

produce

their effedts,

to inflame the body into gout, ftone, and rheumatifm, fevers, pleurifies, fmall-

pox, &c. to dry up the juices, and fcorch and

flirivel

the folids.

Thofe whofe ap-

petite and digeftion are good and entire, never want ftrong liquors to fupply

with fpirits

pofes of

life.

fuch

fpirits are

Two

ounces of

more durable and ufeful

flefli-meat,

fpirits

well digefted,

than ten times as

much

beget a greater ftock of

ftrong liquor.

All ftrong liquors are as hard to digeft, and require as

coflive powers, as ftrong food

itfelf.

Water

menftruum, and the moft certain diluter of

many fpirituous
harden, and make more
a great

them

too volatile and fugitive for any folid or ufeful pur-

all

is

indigeftible,

wherein their active qualities, that

is,

con-

the only univerfal dilfolvent, or

There are

bodies proper for food.

which not only

liquors,

much labour of the

will not diffolve,

but which will

certain parts, efpecially the falts

thofe which can do moft

harm

to

of bodies,

human conftitutions,

AND THE OCCULT

And we have known

ftitutions, confift.

neither eat nor digeft

SCIENCES.

161

who could

perfons of tender conftitutions,

warmed, have recovered their appetites and

and grown plump. It is true, ftrong liquors, by their

water,

digeftion,
heett,

and have thriven

and ftimulation on the

organs of conco61;ion, by increafing the velocity of the motion of the

more

But

prefe?it cheerfulness.

the food

is

its

heat and inflammation,

hurried into the habit unconco6led, and lays a foundation for a fever,

of the cholic, or fome chronical difeafe.

fit,

upon
damage

lies

then, befides the future

of fuch a quantity of wine to the ftomach and fluids, by

and

fluids,

thereby quickening the other animal fun6lions, will carry off the load that
the ftomach, with

common

upon drinking wine, but who, by drinking at meals

which are commonly ufed,

it

may

With refpe6l

to fermented liquors,

be obferved, that thofe which are too ftrong

hurt digeftion, and are fo far from ftrengthening the body, that they weaken and
relax

They keep up a

it.

conftant fever, which exhaufts the fpirits, heats and in-

flames the blood, difpofes to numberlefs difeafes, and occafions a premature

But fermented

age.

either be

liquors

may

drunk new, before the fermentation

air in the bowels,

and occafion

fufficientlV ftrong to

keep

neither fooner nor later.

flatulencies

On

ftomach, and injure digeftion.

be

be too weak, as well as too ftrong

till

this

is

over,

and

in this

or they foon

account

all

olft

thefe muft

cafe will generate

become

ftale,

four the

malt liquors, cider, &c. ftiould

they are ripe, and then they ftiould be ufed

and

Liquors that are adulterated with a mixture of ingredi-

ents of the opiate kind, which are poifonous in their quality, as they moftly are

who make them for

thofe

fale,

by

hurt the nerves, relax and w'eaken the ftomach, and

fpoil its digeftive powers.

due regulation of the quantity and quality of our meat and drink, and a nice
is of the utmoft confequence to health

adjuftment thereof to the conco6live powers,

and long

life.

What we expend

in motion,

excretion, effluvia,

&c.

is

but a deter-

minate quantity; and the fupply ftiould only keep pace with the expence; a juft
proportion of the two would, probably, prefsrve us from acute diftempers, as
certainly
tion, as

would from chronical ones; moft or

all

it

of which proceed from reple-

appears fromitheir being cured by evacuation.

Phyficians have attempted to determine the healthful quantity of food for a hu^

man
fon

body.

is

Some

fay, that in winter,

the perfpiration of an unexercifed per-

only equal to the urine, the diet for twenty-four hours ought not to exceed four

pounds, or four pounds and a

a

when

half,

which

and dry.

may

half.

In fummer, the diet

may

be

fix

pounds and

be carried off without the help of exercife, when the

If the quantity of food be fuch as to

make

air is

hot

the perfpiratien and urine of

a natural day always nearly equal, and the morning weight of the body always
nearly the fame, that quantity

No.

11.

is

the truly healthful quantity of food for

Tt

grown
bodies

A KEY TO PHYSIC

152
bodies which ufe but

grown body

The

exercife.

little

quantity of food neceffary to keep a

be better and more

in health, will

when it is fo divided
The diftance bevery unequal.

eafily digefted,

when they are

tween one meal and another fhould bear fome proportion

make

as to

the meals equal, than

Good and

ceding meal.

meat

juft proportion of the

to the largenefs of the pre-

conftant health confifts in a juft quantity of food, and a

to the drink; and, in order to be freed

from chronical

diforders contradfed by intemperance, the quantity of food ought to be lefleued,

more or

and the proportion of the meat

to the drink increafed,

the greatnefs of the diforders

and both the quantity of

of meat to the drink, ought to be fuch as

equal at

The

all

it

produces

and

b'ut little
its

of that air which

numerous

hypochondriacifm, &c. w'hereas,

from

the gas or air

we fhould have
and the

if

low

fpirits,

vegetables and milk, whofe antifeptic quality,

were more ufed as food,

afford,

why

leproftes,

hot fcurvies, dyfenteries,

made

in the

plagues, peftilential

London, are now fo

food of the inhabitants.

into general ufe, have been a great

Hopped

rare,

beer,

means of fupprefling putrid

greens and fruit are likewife more univerfally eaten, and failed meats

difeafes;

much

autifeptic: hence they are fubje^l

like diftempers, formerly fo frequent in

and wine, coming

generally pernicious,

train of confequences, indigeftion,

which they plentifully

the change that has been

make

is

is

fcurvy, and likewife fewer putrid and inflammatory fevers.

lefs

great reafon

fevers,
is

perfpiration anti urine nearly

feafons of the year.

to the fcurvy,

One

make

according to

and the proportion

food,

quantity of animal food confumed by the Englifti

becaufe

arifing

ftiall

lefs,

lefs part

of our food than formerly: to which

may

be added the more

general confumption of tea and fugar.

Vegetable food
well with people

is

moft proper for fcorbutic and hedtical perfons, and does very

who have much

exercife; but in other circumftances, a

of vegetable and animal fubftances, fuch as

to nourifli

The

of their

commonly

diet

ufed, feems beft calculated

and preferve the body from decay.

fofter

ftronger.

is

mixed

and milder kinds of aliment are proper for children, and for youth the

Old people ought to leflen the quantity of their food, and increafe that
drink
but yet fome allowance is to be made for cuftom, efpecially in
:

cold climates;

for, as in

thefethe appetite

is

keener, fo

is

thedigeftion ftronger and

better performed.

Different fexes alfo require a different food and regimen.

Women

are weaker

than men, and for that reafon require a food and regimen peculiar to themfelves
they are of a fpungy and lax habit, and for the moft part addidled to indolence and
pleafure, drink

little,

have bodies of a highly delicate and fenfible nature, much

inclined to fpafms and convulftve motions,

and difpofed

to generate a

redundance
of

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

;if)3

Befides, at certain Hated times they have a regular evacuation

of blood,

veins of the uterus; and in confequences of thefe circumftances

it is

women, rather than men^ ihould obferve a regimen and method of

and accurately adapted

Hence
part who

to their habit

neceffary that

living peculiarly

conllitution.

obvious, that the phyfician a6ts a prepofterous and unaccountable

it is

to every one prefcribes the

contributes to the health of one

For we are

all.

and

by the

will

equally adapted to

all

may

effe6ls,

patients;

thinks, that

what

without diftin6fion orreferve prove falutary to

by daily experience, that

fufficiently taught

of any bad

fame method of living; or

fubftahces are not

all

and that what one may bear without being

to another prove prejudicial,

and even

fatal.

fenfible

Time

itfelf

has a confiderable influence in determining the falutary or noxious effe6ts of

may

ments; fince fome fubftances

fafely,

ufed at one feafon, which at another

may

ali-

and without any bad confequence, be

contribute not a

little

to the deflru61;ion

of health.

As

on the mind,

to the effedfs of food

it is

plain,

and acutenefs of judgment, very

linefs of imagination, quicknefs of apprehenfion,

frequently

Hate

accompany a weak

is liable

flate of the

to timidity, flm^uation,

that delicacy of feeling, live-

True

body.

it is,

indeed, that the

and doubt ; while the ftrong have that

fame

fteadi-

nefs of judgment, and firmnefs of purpofe, which are proper for the higher and

more

active fcenes of

The

life.

mofl; valuable

Hate of the mind, however, ap-

pears to refide in fomewhat lefs firmnefs and vigour of body.

as never over-diftending the velfels or loading the fyflem,

mind

flronger motions of the

are an

enemy

to

Us vigorous

in the quantity, for that

viz.

never interrupts the

while the heat, fulnefs, and weight, of animal food,

efforts.

always

Vegetable aliment,

will

Temperance, then, does not fo much

confifl;

be regulated by our appetite, as in the quality,

a large proportion of vegetable aliment.

Of air.
IT is no

eafy talk to afcertain the nature and origin of

perceptible to all our fenfes, except that of feeling.

and impreffion

it

makes, we know that there

earth,

and

moting many ufeful

arts,

furrounds our

and

is

is

air,

as being a fluid im-

Indeed, from the refiflance

fuch a body, which every-where

of the utmoft importance, not only to mankind, in pro-

but abfolutely neceffary for the prefervation of health

life.

The wholefomenefs

or unwholefomenefs of air

ent effluvia with which

valetudinarian.

where the

The

foil is dry,

it

is

certainly

owing to the

differ-

abounds, and ought to be particularly attended to by the

befl air

is

to

be met with

not parched or fandy,

in

open champaign countries

and fpontaneoufly produces wild

thyme.

A KEY

164

PHYSIC

TO'

thyme, wild marjoram, and the like fweet-feented plants.

That near

rivers is

rather prejudicial, unlefs they are final!, clear, and have a gravelly channel.

morning

deemed more

air is

with breezes than that which

fo that wnich

to health,

is

refrefliing than that of the evening,

is

bad

ferenc and
is

no

As good

ftill.

leis prejudicial to

and

air agitated

air contributes

greatly

Stagnating air

it.

The

pro-

is

du6tive of putrid and malignant diforders, as dyfenteries, bilious .fevers, &c. and
that

which

too moift,

is

of inflammatory ones,

Moift and rainy feafons, however,

as coughs,

rheumatifms,

widely in this refpecl;

differ

in marfliy

fince,

intenfe and continued heats occafion the greateft moifture in the air:

countries,

whereas frequent fliowers, during the hot feafon, cool

it,

check the excefs of va-

pour, dilute and refrefli the corrupted ftagnating water, and precipitate

and putrid

To

&c.

all

noxious

effluvia.

we

the preffure of air

are to attribute the coherence of the parts of bodies.

Breathing too, on which depends animal

and

of the air;

to the

is owing to the preffure and fpring

fame caufe may be attributed the produdlion of fire and

life,

flame, as appears from the fudden extindiion of a coal or candle in the exhaufted
receiver.

It

is

likewife neceffary for the exiftence

and preparation of founds,

the germination and growth of plants, for conveying

for tranfmitting the rays

and influence of the

generating and vivifying power of

dered

it

common

as the

firft

properties of weight and elafticity,

is

and copper, unlefs well defended by

the air

is

impregnated with the

and

the different effluvia, diffufed through the

mines of copper,

it

parts are then

obtained in

It

is

more ready

air is full

in-

which are

and

in

From
Near

fixed.

effedls.

London, the

air

of fulphur in a clear dry

whereas

in

a moift cloudy

air,

air it

of

than

as

its

may be

All falts melt moft readily in cloudy weather; and fepa-

rations fucceed beft in the

where the

to evaporate;

oil

its

diffolves iron

particles, metalline utenfils ruff fooner

very difficult to obtain

abundance.

confi-

bodies by

contradts a ruff like

regia,

proceed a variety of

difcolour filver and brafs;

will

which abounds with acid and corrofive

in the country.

aqua

volatilizes thofe
air,

it

the

gold, in the chemifts laboratory,

effluvia of

It fixes volatile bodies,

other bodies.

of a corroding acid,

Even

oil.

all

is

but by the peculiar virtues of the

By means

compofed.

In fhort, fuch

celeftial bodies.

fome of the ancient philofophers

for

and

the variety of fmells,

Air not only adls upon

principle of all things.

gredients whereof it

when

that

air,

all

fame

ftate

of the

air.

If pure wine be carried into a place

of the fumes of wine then fermenting,

it

will

begin to ferment

afrefh.

Wherever

air ftagnates long,

it

becomes unwholefome.

Hence

the unhsTppy

perfons confined in gaols not only contradf malignant fevers themfelves, but often

communicate them

to others.

Nor

are

many

of the holes, for

we cannot

call

them

houfes,,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

16 S

Thefe low

houfes, poffeffed by the poor in great towns, innch better than gaols.

habitations are the very lurking-places of bad air and contagious difeafes.

dirty

Such as

live in

young.

In

pay the

their children commonly die

who have it in their power ought always to
The various methods which luxury has
air.

them feldom enjoy good health; and

choice of ahoufe, thofe

tiie

greatefi; attention to

open

free

invented to make houfes clofeand w'arm, contribute not a

No houfe

wholefome.

For which reafon houfes ought daily

it.

windows, and admitting a current of

made up

being

little to

be ventilated, by opening oppofite

to

into every room.

frefli air

expofed to the frediair from the open windows through the day.

In hofpitals, gaols,

to

fail

This w'ould expel

promote the health of the inhabitants.

of expelling foul, and introducing frefh,

moft falutary invention, and

ventilators, is a

down, and

&c. where that cannot be conveniently done, ventilators

our modern medical improvements.

all
is

fliips,

The method

be ufed.

means of

Beds, inftead of

as foon as people rife out of them, ought to be turned

any noxious vapour, and could not

fliould

render them un-

can be wholefome unlefs the air has a free paffage through

It

is

is

air,

by

indeed the moft ufeful of

capable of univerfal application, and

fraught with numerous advantages, both to thofe in health and in licknefs. In all

places where numbers of people are crowded together, ventilation becomes abfo-

Air which flagnates

lutely necelfary.

That kind of air

noxious.

in mines, wells, cellars, &c. is

extremely

moft deadly poifon.

It often

to be avoided as the

almoft as quickly as lightning. For this reafon, people fliould be very cautious

kills

in

is

opening cellars that have been long fhut, or going dowm into deep wells, or

who

fons
air

lofe their lives

by going down

have daily accounts of per-

into deep wells

and other places where the

ftagnates. All thefe accidents might be prevented by only letting down a lighted

candle before them, and ftopping w hen they perceive

Ample
If

as

it is, is

frefti air

hot,

fo

is

be necelfary for thofe in health,

It

is

want of

be

go out

yet this precaution,

faint,

any one may judge.

No

the

more

fo for the fick, who

chamber where a

medicine

the moft reviving of all cordials, if

let into

ftill

notion that fick people muft be kept very

by reafon of the hot fuffocating fmell.

are not, however, to throw

air is to

Xhe

it.

it is

that one can hardly enter the

common,

out being ready to

fe6l the lick

it

feldom ufed.

often lofe their lives for

air.

pits,

We

efpecially if they have been kept clofe covered.

it

is

fo beneficial to the fick as frelh

be adminiftered with prudence.

open doors and windows

chamber gradually, and,

patient lies, with-

How this muft af-

at

random upon

if poffible,

the fick.

We

Frefh

by opening the windows

of fome other apartment.

There are many kinds of air, produced by accidental or artificial caufes, of which
the following are the moft material

No.

11.

Deplilogijiicafed

A KEY TO PHYSIC

166

Dephlogijlicated air, the oxygenous gas, or vital

elaftic fluid naturally extricated in the

cured from

minium, rnagnefia, water, &c.

nitre,

porting flame and animal

life,

and

Phlogijiicat eclair, or azotic gas,

and fermentation; and

and

Fixed

produced

and

this is

Inflammable

by heat; and

is

in

air,

eminently capable of fup-

great quantities during putrefa6lion

and extinguiflies flame; but

life,

its

fixing itfelf in them.

name from

very friendly

is

of an acid.

confifts

remarkable for being the

produced naturally fromall putrid

and deflroys animal

of all gravitating fubftances.

and may be

artificially

burning lens

in

and by

it

be mixed with a certain pro-

portion of atmofpherical, or dephlogifticatcd, air; in which cafe,

lently.

Nitrous

air, or nitrous gas, is

fubftances in nitrous acid.

lofe their elafticity,
kills

is

procured

life.

artificially

In fome cafes

it

explodes vio-

by diflblving metallic or other

Being mixed with dephlogifticatcd

animals and extinguiflies flame.

it

friendly to vegetation.

and a fmall quantity of nitrous acid

into volatile alkali.

mal

but

life,

diftil-

by oppofing charcoal to the heat of a

vacuo. It extinguiflies flame, unlefs

It deftroys animal

It is

procured from cer-

tain metallic folutions, by paffing the fteam of water over red-hot iron,

ling vvood, pit-coal, &c. with a ftrong heat, or

life.

wholly of charcoal and water rarefied

lighteft

w-aters,

and mani-

phlogiflic procefles,

all

It extinguiflies flame,

(hydrogenous gas,)

the property of adhering to

It confifts of dephlogifticatcd air united to

obtained by fermentation, and in

fefts the properties

an

another of the component parts of our atmofphere.

or carbonic acid gas, derives

air,

certain bodies,

charcoal

is

is

is

artificially pro-

alfo obtained in the calcination of metals and other phlo-

Itdeftroys animal

giflic proceffes.

to vegetation,

is

This

but

one of the component parts of our atmofphere.

is
is

of the new cherniftry,

air,

procefs of vegetation;

is

air,

both the fluids

produced.

Itinftantly

By union with fome metals it is converted

may be made to fupport flame, and even ani-

Its property of condenfing with dephlogifticatcd

air,

renders

it

teft

of

the falubrity of the atmofphere.

Marine

acid air, the muriatic acid gas of the

new

chemiftry,

acid reduced into vapour, and deprived of moft of

its

is

the

Dephlogijlicated marine acid air, or oxygenated muriatic acid gas,

fome to be

the marine acid deprived of

with an addition of pure

mable

air,

regenerates

air.

its

common marine

Alkcdine air, or ammoniacal gas,

is

air, or

of fulphur by acids; and in the

fuppofed by

fame acid

acid.

the

fulphureous acid gas,

as marine

kinds of colours, and, with inflam-

fame w ith pure

ed by an union of phlogifticated and inflammable

Hepatic

is

phlogifton; by others, to be the

many

It deftroys

fame

waters.

is

volatile alkali,

and is form-

air.

produced from the decompofition of liver

common atmofphere

it is

inflammable, but does not

burn with explofion.

Atmofpherical

AND THE OCCULT

Minofpherical air,

is

exterior part of our habitable world

and the higher

air;

And, as a

pillar

and thus

the air or atinofphere, a fpringy

and

near a thoufand times

is

compreffed by the fuperior

being a fpringy body, the thinner it is.

it

of air^f any diameter

is

all fides,

the lefs

it is,

and fo confequently,

incumbent

air,

and vegetation.

life

body, that encompaffes the folid earth on

lighter Chan water;

167

coaipofed of dephlogifticated and phlogifticated

fupports and fuftains both animal

The

SCIENCES.

it is

equal in weight to a pillar of quickfilvef

of the fame diameter of between twenty-nine and thirty inches high, we may
infer that the top of the atinofphere

Now,

as quickfilver

filver,

that

is

not very near the furface of the folid earth-

is

near fourteen times heavier than water, the atmofphere will

fuflain a column of water about fourteen times higher than the column of quickis,

is

about thirty-four

and,

feet;

if

we confider

that air

is

a thoufand times

lighter than water, then a pillar of air, equal in \veight to a pillar of quickfilver of
thirty

to

inches

know,

miles,

high,

but probably

high,

fpringy body,

weight of

all

of the earth
theory

it

will

may

and that that which

much

is

we

it,

for

why

owing

ponent

pa,rts

we

it

that

we

come

about

is,

confider that the air

fix

is

compreffed by the
find that the air near the furface

fliall

denfer and thicker than

be accounted

if

feet,

neareft the earth

is

in the

is

is

On

upper regions.

this

great cities are not fo healthful to refide in

as

fmall towns and country villages; and

health,

And

whereby

feet;

34,000

at leaft

much more.

the atmofphere above

is

thoufand

be thirty-four

that the air or atmofphere

why London

much more

is

prejudicial to

many works

containing noxious effluvia poffeffed of the commentioned in the different kinds of air, and confequently forms an air
to the

to breathe in that

is

not congenial to the

life

of

Man.

Of exercise.

EXERCISE may

be faid to be either a6tive or

paffive.

hunting, dancing, playing at bowls, and the like

The paffive is riding

Exercife may be continued

labour of the body and mind.

in

any other manner.

and ought

to

be ufed before dinner

in

a pure light

The

a6live

is

as alfo fpeaking,
in

walking,

and other

a coach, on horfeback, or

to a beginning of wearinefs,

air;

for

which reafon, journeys,

and going -into the country, contribute greatly to preferve and

re-eftablifh health.

Exercife increafes the circulation of the blood, attenuates and divides the

and promotes a regular perfpiration, as well as a due fecretion of

for

it

accelerates the animal fpirits,

and

all

the

humours

facilitates their diftribution into all the fibres

of the body, Rrengthens the parts, creates an appetite, and helps digeftion.
it

arifes, that thofe

and feldom fubjed

who accuftom

fluids,

Whence

themfelves to exercife are generally very robuft,

to difeafes.

Boerhaave

A KEY TO PHYSIC

168

Boerhaave recommends bodily exercife

in difeafes of

abdomen

riding on horfeback, the pendulous vifeera of the

ment, and gently rubbed as

the digeflion

near

is

are fiiaken

were one againft another, while

it

But

the pure air a6ts on the lungs with greater force.

weak man fhould not

a weak and lax

in the

By
every momean time
fibre.

to be obferved, that a

it is

ride with a full flomach, but either before dinner or after

finiflied;

for,

when

the flomach

is

diflended,

weak people do

not bear thefe concuffions of th&horfe without difficulty; but, when the primce
are near empty, the remaining fasces are difcharged by this concuffion.
a

fiiip

isalfo an exercife of great ufe to

even motion,

weak people.

by increafing perfpiration

it

Sailing in

moves with an

If the veffel

ufually excites a wonderful alacrity,

creates an appetite, and promotes digeflion.

Thefe exercifes are more efpecially

ferviceable to weak people; but, in order to flrengthen the body by mufcular

w'ith the

mofl gentle, fuch as walking, and increafe

Thofe exercifes of

running.

delight to the

mind

the

fame

at the

body are more

mo-

In thefe we fhould begin

running and bodily exercifes are to be ufed.

tion,

vise

it

by degrees

till

we come

to

efpecially ferviceable which give

time, as tennis, fencing, &c. for which reafon,

wifdom of antiquity appointed rewards for thofe who excelled in thefe gymnaflic exercifes, that by this means the bodies of their youth might be hardened for
the

warlike

As

toils.

nothing

is

more conduciv

cife diffipates the fpirits,

and exhaufls the

to health than

moderate exercife, fo violent exer-

weakens the body, deflroys the

fluid parts

of the blood.

No

elafticity

often arife from too violent exercife of the body

tal fevers

of the fibres,

wonder, then, that acute and mor;

for the

motion of the

venous blood towards the heart being quickened by the contradlion of the mufcles,

and the veins being thus depleted, the

humours through the

arteries

more

fmalleft extremities into the

eafily propel their contained

now

lefs-refifling veins

and

therefore the velocity of the circulation will be increafed through all the veflels.

But

this

cannot be performed without applying the humours oftener, or in a

greater quantity, to the fecretory organs in the

fame

time,

whence the more

fluid

parts of the blood will be diffipated, and what remains will be infpiffated; and, by
the greater adlion of the velfels
fluids

upon the

veffels,

upon

their contained fluids,

and of the re-a6ling

the blood acquires an inflammatory denfity.

Add

to this,

that by the violent attrition of the folids and fluids, together with the heat thence

arifmg,

all

the

humours

will incline to

a greater acrimony, and the

of the blood will become more acrid and volatile.

from too much

Hence

falts

and

oils

thofe fevers which arife

exercife or motion, are cured by the reft of body and mind, with fuch

aliments and medicines as moiften, dilute, and foften or allay acrimony.

The

exercife of afoldier in camp, confidered as conducive to health. Dr. Pringle

diftinguifties into three

heads;

the

firft

relating to his duty, the fecond to his

AND THE OCCULT

living

more comlnodioully, and

the fun grow's hot,

in his

will

unneceffary fatigue

for fliading the tents,

is

lefs the

camp

affording

As

and before

early,

this,

be more advantageous than repeating

to be avoided.

confifting

firft,

means of preferving health than

duty: and frequent returns of

flaying out long at a time; for, a

all

no

169

The

diverfions.

the third to his

chiefly in the exercife of his arms, will be

of making him expert

SCIENCES,

feldom, and

it

convenience for refrefhment,

little

to the fecond article, cutting

making trenches round them

boughs

for carrying off the water, airing

the flraw, cleaning their clothes and accoutrements, and affifting in the bufinefs of
the mefs, ought to be no difagreeable exercife to the

men

for

fome part of the day.

men muft be encouraged to them either by the example

or by fmall premiums to thofe who fhall excel in fuch kind of fport

Laftly, as to diverfions, the

of their

officers,

as

be judged moft conducive to health: but herein great caution

fliall

neceffary,

is

not to allow them to fatigue themfelves too much, efpecially in hot weather or fickly
limes; but above

all,

that theirclothes be kept dry, wet clothes being frequent caufes

of difeafes and death.

Exercife, above

young gentlemen
the mind,

it is

all, is

How

at fchool.

ufeful,

how

frail

formed an intimate conne6tion between the body and

machines lofe their

choaked by

obflru6tions,

life

defift

The limbs

fellows: and, whatever

may be

The

and fedentary

likewife

become

we con-

to ourfelves as to others.
it

ought not, however,

natural lot of

man

man muft

is

to live

to defend, him felf againft a brutal

Many

as by leaping, fwimming. See,

enemy

An

to in-

among

his
life,

naturally defire to render hiinfelf

agreeable; to be a6tive and adroit; to dance with a grace; to

;

ftiff;

therefore

the condition of our birth or our fituation in

there are a thoufand occafions where a

fteed

is

difguftful air attends all our

and we are very near being as difagreeable

inclination to ftudy is highly commendable; but
a6lions,

fiuciety.

veffels are

an aukward conftrained manner; a certahi

an averfion to

delicate fprings of

from exercife and the confequences

entirely ftudious

equally prejudicial to body and mind.

fpire us with

The

and become enervated, and the

activity

when we totally

neceffarily affe6l the brain:

tra6l

be to

Every one ob-

a perpetual a6tion and re-a6tion, by which the body inftantly feels the

diforders of the mind, and the mine! thofe of the body.

our

may

agreeable foever, ftudy

very far from being equally falutary to the body.

ferves, that the Creator has

the mind

and

peculiarly neceffary to the philofopher, the ftudent,

command

the fiery

to preferve his life by dexterity,

rational caufes have therefore given rife

to the pra6lice of particular exercifes; and the moft fagacious and benevolent legiflators

have

inftituted, in their

Enabling youth,

who

academies and

univerfities,

devote themfelves to ftudy, to

proper methods of

become expert

alfo in laudable

athletic exercifes.

No,

11.

Xx

Whoever

A KEY TO PHYSIC

170

Whoever

confiders the ftru6ture of the

human body will foon be convinced of

The body is compofed of an

the neceffity of exercife for the health of children.

number of

infinite

whofe

velfels,

fluids

cannot be puflied on without the adlion

and preflure of the mufcles.

But,

happen, and the humours

of courfe, be vitiated, which cannot

will,

if

the fluids remain inadtive, obflrudtions muft

Nature has furnilhed both the

difeafes.

fail to

occafion

which carry the blood and lymph

velfels

with numerous valves, in order that the adlion of every mufcle might pufli for-

ward

admirable contrivance can have no

but, without adlion, this

their contents;

This part of the animal oeconomy proves to a demonftration the neceflity

effedt.

of exercife for the prefervation of health.

Without

exercife, the circulation of the

blood cannot be properly carried on, nor the different fecretions duly performed;
without exercife, the humours cannot be properly prepared, nor the folids rendered

The

ftrong or firm.

effedls are

human body

fliall

to point out the

all

manner

the
in

produced, would lead us farther into the oeconomy of the

than moft of

We

to follow.

But

are greatly ^affi fled by exercife.

vital fundlions,

which thefe

adlion of the heart, the motion of the lungs, and

whom

th.ofe for

this treatife is

intended would be able

where exercife

therefore only add, that,

of the animal fundlions can be duly performed; and, when that

is

negledled,

none

the cafe, the

whole

is

conftitution muft go to wreck.

The

love of activity fliows itfelf very early in man.

So ftrong

is this

principle,

that a healthy youth cannot be reftrained from exercife, even by the fear of

ment.

Our

love of motion

no difpofition

in vain.

It

is

furely a ftrong proof of

feems

to be a catholic

punifli-

Nature implants

its utility.

law throughout the whole animal

exercife, fliould enjoy health, or be able to find

creation, that

no creature, without

fubfiftence.

Every creature, except man, takes as much of

it

as

is

He

neceffary.

alone, and fuch animals as are under his diredlion, deviate from this original law

and they

fuffer accordingly.

Inadlivity never fails to induce an univerfal relaxa-

which difpofes the body

tion of the folids,

folids are relaxed, neither the digeftion nor

formed.
loll all

Nor do
or fuch

In

day

this cafe, the worft

in eafy chairs,

fuch greatly
like.

mend

and
the

ridiculous

innumerable difeafes.

fleep all night

rjiatter,

When

How

on beds of down,

who never

ftir

can perfons who

fail to

be relaxed

would

now below anyone

it

fome danger of loftng the ufe of

to walk,

abroad but in a coach, fedan,

Thefe elegant pieces of luxury are become fo common, that

It is

the

any of the fecretions can be duly per-

confequences muft enfue.

habitants of great towns feem to be in

altogether.

to

who can

the in-

their limbs

afford to be carried.

How

feem, to a perfon unacquainted with modern luxury, to behold

the young and healthy fwinging along on the flioulders of their fellow-creatures

or to fee a fat carcafe, over-run with difeafes occafioaed by inadlivity, dragged

through the

ftreets

by half a dozen horfcs

Giandular

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

171

Glandular obftrudlions, now fo common, generally proceed from

'

Thefe are the moft obflinate of maladies.

glands,

nothing can reftore

fail,

So long as the

duly perform their functions, health

reafon to believe that

ufed in due

it

One

time,.

Exercife

it,

dular obftrudbons; indeed,

it

would feldam

thing

to prevent

fail

is certain,

Nothing but exercife and open

but there

known

is.

thefe complaints, were

amongft thofe who take

that,

little

Weak

inadive are feldom free from them.

inadivity.

but,

does not always fucceed as a remedy

glandular difeafes are very

exercife,

kidneys, and other

when they
only cure we know for glan-

almoft the

is

liver,

feldom impaired;

is

ina6livity.

it

fufficient.

whereas the indolent and

nerves are the conftant companions of

air

can brace and ftrengthen the nerves,,

or prevent the endlefs train of difeafes which proceed from a relaxed date of thefe.

organs.

We

feldom hear the adive or laborious complain of nervous difeafes;.

Many

thefe are referved for the fons of eafe and affluence.

cured of thefe diforders by being reduced from a

where the perfpiration

can never be the cafe where exercife

thrown

oft'

by perfpiration

and occafions the gout,

many

may be

and the means by which they

poffible to enjoy health,

to be

have been completely

of opulence to labour for

This plainly points out the fources from whence nervous dif-

their daily bread.

eafes flow,

ftate

fevers,

is

is

negleded.

is

prevented.

is

abfolutely im-

not duly carried on;

When

retained in the body,

rheumatifm, &c.

It

but that

the matter which ought

it

vitiates the humours,,

Exercife alone would prevent

of thofe difeafes which cannot be cured, and would remove others where

medicine proves ineftedual.

No

piece of indolence hurts the health

a-bed too long in a morning.

This

is

more than

modern

the

ciiftom of Lying

The

the general pradlice in great towns-

inhabitants of cities feldom rife before nine or ten oclock; but the morning,

undoubtedly the beft time for exercife, while the ftomach

refrefhed with fteep-

and, in

Belides,. the

morning

air braces

feme meafure, anfwers the purpofe of a cold

been accuftomed

to lie a-bed late, rife

by

fix

is

and ftrengthens the

bath.

is

empty, and the body

nerves,,

Let any one who has

or feven, fpend a couple of hours in

walking, riding, or any a6live diverfion without doors, and he will find his fpirits
cheerful and ferene through the day, his appetite keen, and his

ftrengthened.

more

Cuftom foon renders early

to the prefervation of health.

The

rifing agreeable,

body braced and

and nothing contributes

inadtive are continually complaining of

pains of the ftomach, flatulencies, indigeftions, &c.

Thefe complaints, which

pave the way to many others, are not to be removed by medicine

only be cured by a vigorous courfe of exercife,

to.

they can

which they feldom

fail

to

yield.

Exercife,

if poftible,

ought always

cannot be done, various methods

may

to be taken in the

open

air.

be contrived for exercifing the

When
body

that;

withini

A KEY TO PHYMC

172
doors. It
beft

way

not neceffary to adhere

is
is

them by

to take

turns,

ftridlly to

any particular kind of exercife. The

and to ufe that longed which

is

mod

Thofe kinds of exercife which give

the drength and conditution.

fuitable to

adtion to

mod

of the bodily organs, are always to be preferred, as walking, running, riding, digging,

fwimming, andfuch
dons are now' fo

It

like.

little

much .to

is

be regretted, that adtive and manly diver-

Diverdons make people take more exercife than

pradtifed.

they otherw'ife w'ould do, and are of the greated fervice to fuch as are not under the

As

neceldty of labouring for their bread.

fedentary kind feem to prevail.

confume

Sedentary diverdons are of no other ufe but to

Indead of relieving the mind, they often require more thought than

time.

dudy

either

or budnefs.

Every thing that induces people

feme necedary employment, ought

unlefs

fit dill,

it

be

to be avoided.

Thefe exercife the limbs, promote

cricket, bowls, &c.

fecretions.

They

who cannot

ride,

can, ought to fpend

fort of necedity to take exercife.

it.

Every man diould

in the early part of

the cafe of

mod

life,

men

Hence many who were

become quite averfe from

it

afterwards.

hypochondriac and gouty people, which renders their

cafes in a great meafure incurable.

renders

lay himfelf

Indolence, like other vices, when in-

dulged, gains ground, and at length becomes agreeable.

is

Exercife fhould

Over-fatigue prevents the benedt of exercife, and

indead of drengthening the body tends to weaken

fond of exercife

and the other

two or three hours a-day on horfeback

diould employ the fame time in walking.

never be continued too long.

under dome

perfpiration,

likewife drengthen the lungs, and give drmnefs and agility to the

Such as

\vhole body.

This

to

diverdons which afford the bed exercife are hunting, diooting, playing at

The

thofe

adtive diverdons lofe ground, thofe of a

dif-

Indolence not only occadons difeafes, and

To

manner of vice.

ufelefs to fociety, but promotes all

fay a

man

is

him vicious. The mind, if not engaged in dome

qued
of ideal pleafures, or impreded with the apufeful purfuit, is
.prehendon of fome imaginary evil. From thefe fources proceed mod of the miferies
of mankind. Certainly man was never intended to be idle. Inaftivity frudrates
lazy, is little better than calling

condantly

in

the very dedgn of his creation: whereas an adtive

and the greated prefervative of

life is

the

bed guardian of

virtue,

health.

Of sleep.
SLEEP,

as w'ell as food, ought to be duly regulated.

Too

little

the nerves, exhaufts the fpirits, and occadons difeafes; and too

mind

dull, the

body

grofs,

plaints of a dmilar nature.

is

not eafy to dx.

and difpofes

much

to apoplexies, lethargies,

medium ought

deep weakens
renders the

and other com-

therefore to be obferved

but this

Children requipe more deep than grown perfons, the laborious

than

AND THE OCCULT

than the

idle,

SCIENCES.

17S

and fuch as eat and drink freely than thofe who

live abftemioufly.

RefideSj.the real quantity of ileep cannot be meafured by time, as one perfon will

be more refrelhed by five or

dren
fix

may always

much

may

frefliing

is

The cuftom

to rife betimes.

only makes the fleep

The

noon.

till

than night-watching.

health fliould be fo

much

It

way

to

night,

is

fink to reft

fleep found

How

in fafliion.

To make

re-

Nature points

a great pity that a practice fo deftruftive to

quickly the want of reft in due feafon

from the gbaftly countenances of thofe who, as the phrafe

and night into day.

and

Nothing more certainly deftroys the con-

moll blooming complexion, or ruin the beft conftitution,

will blaft the

Firft, to

tije

make

of lying a-bed for nine or ten hours, not

out night as the proper feafon for fleep.

ftitution

beft

but weakens the conftitution.

lefs refrefliing,

Thofe

eight.

{lumber, but they can be hardly faid to

fuch generally tofs and dream away the fore part of

towards morning, and doze

Chil-

fleep as they pleafe; but, for adults,

and no one ought to exceed

are certainly fufficient,

a-bed more than eight hours

lie

fleep

hours fleep than another by eight or ten.

be allowed to take as

or feven hours

who

fix

is

evident

turn day into night,

is,

fleep refrefliing, the following things are requifite:

take fufficient exercife in the open air; to avoid ftrong tea or coffee; next,

to eat a light fupper;

and

laftly, to

down

lie

with a mind as cheerful and ferene

as poffible.
It is certain that too

much

exercife will prevent fleep, as well as too

little.

feldom, however, hear the active and laborious complain of reftlefs nights.

who

the indolent and flothful

that a bed of

chair?

but they

who

more

down

generally have thefe complaints.

fliould not be refrefliing to a perfon

great part of the pleafure of

who

relifli

the former.

and found

fleep,

than

tables

and downy

found

fleep, is true

pillows,

where exercife

is

that meal, are fure to have uneafy nights

is

wanting.

Many

even to a proverb.

day

fits all

perfons,

and,

if

they

to

The

is

in

an eafy

and motion

labourer enjoys

be found

That
if

It

any wonder

it

conlifts in alternate reft

life

negledt the latter can never

true luxury in plain food

Is

We

in

fumptuous

fuppers caufc

light

they exceed the leafl at

fail

the load and

afleep,

oppreflion on their ftomach and fpirits occafion frightful dreams, broken and

Were

difturbed repofe, the night-mare, &c.

a light fupper, or

found

fleep,

and

fit

up

till

that meal

rife refrelhed

the

fame perfons

to

go

bed with

to

was pretty well digefted, they would enjoy

and cheerful.

There are indeed fome people who

cannot fleep unlefs they have fome folid food at night ; but this does not imply
the neceffity of a heavy fupper.

Nothing more certainly difturbs our repofe than anxiety.

When

greateft of

human

the wretched, and vifits the happy, the cheerful, and the gay.

This

not at eafe, one feldom enjoys found fleep.

No.

12.

That

the

mind

is

bleflings flies
is

fufficient

reafon

A KEY TO PHYSIC

174

why every man fliould endeavour to be as eafy in his mind as poffible when
he goes to reft. Many, by indulging grief and anxious thought, have banidied
reafon

found fteep fo long, that they could never afterwards

of the night,

in the fore part

be the eftedl ot habit or not

to go early to bed

is

hard to fay

is

when young,

may

it

prove moft refreihing to them ever

bcft for

deep or

enjo}^

Sleep,

it.

generally reckoned moft refrelliing.

;

but, as

this

moft people are accuftomed

be prefumed that deep, at this feafon, will

Whether the

after.

not, lurely the fore part of the

amufement; and we hardly ever

when taken

Whether

find

day

fore part of the night be

is fitteft

both for bufinefs and

an early-rifer who does not enjoy a good

ftato of health.

more a perfon deeps, the more he is inclined to deep:

the morning we deep an hour beyond our cuftom, the confequence is, that

Experience proves
if in

we

diall be dull

remarkable.

that, the

and heavy
youth

prince to take up a

title

all

the day; and, as to thefe fadts, there are

Germany, of immenfe

in

was fummoned by

wealth,

him of fuch a fcandalous

had him carried

vice,

and remote place, where he dept three days and three nights

into a dark

whenever he awoke, believing

deep again.

it

to be the

The Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences

rendered as immoveable as a ftatue.

and without any

could recover him,

at Paris

Samuel Chilton, a labourer

till,

after a

mention a deep

in

that fullen humour,

it

is

inftantly

in Somerfetdiire,

His inother,

months time, he arofe of himfelf.

cheefe and fmall beer by him, and

for,

profound deep, out of which no means

vifible caufe, into a

fearing he would be ftarved

middle of the nisht, he betook himfelf

of two months, caufed by a catalepfy, a difeafe by which the patient

fell,

his

of nobility; on which occafion he drank to fuch an excefs,

that the prince, in order to cure

to

fome very

as fhe called

was daily fpent.

On

it,

put bread and

the ninth of April,

1696 he was feized with a like deepy fit, which lafted till the feventh of Auguft,
when he awoke, without knowing he had dept above a night. He occafionally
,

ufed the food

fet

jaws feemed to be
opened; and

by him, and had evacuations,

fet,

and

till,

about the tenth week,

his teeth clinched fo clofe that his

mouth could not be

the nouridiment he received, during thefe feven weeks, was about

all

He

three pints of tent infinuated through a cavity in one of his teeth.

water but once, and never had a

his

fit

returned

to the houfe; he

fome impofture

mouth and node

the balls drawn

On

in this

had made

the 17th of Auguft, lft97,

in

order to try whe-

extraordinary phenomenon, went

put his mouth to his ear, and called him feveral times, by his

name, as loud as he could

his

ftool all the time.

and Dr. Oliver, the author of the memoir,

ther there might not be

ped

his

pulled him by the dioulders, pinched his node, ftop-

at the

fame time

up under the brows

lifted

up

he, farther, held

his eye-lids,

a phial of

when he found

fpirit

of

fal

ammoniac

AND THE OCCULT

niac under one noftril

that

half-ounce bottle, and the

as hot as fire

Not

itfelf.

der of white hellebore

make

his

eyes ftiiver a

A few

afieep.

days

and bound up the

he fays, being drawn from quicklime, was almoil

fpirit,

he

crammed

fame

the

pow-

Dr. Oliver

left

to

him, convinced that he was really

an apothecary drew fome ounces of blood from his arm,

without his making the leaft motion

orifice,

noftril with

thefe experiments producing no other effed than

little.

after,

175

producing no effed, he poured up bis nofe near a

fatisfied with this,

all

SCIENCES.

likewife, a gentle-

indifcreetly, ran a pin into his arm, up to the very bone

man, though fomewhat

,

and

of infenfible fteep he continued

in this ftate

during

the nineteenth of

time he ate and evacuated, but never fouled his bed.

all this

inftance of deep

Tranfadions,

till

is

November
The above
;

be seen at large in Joness Abridgement of the Philofophical

to

vol. v.

Of dreams.

SCARCELY
mind

any part of nature

is

lefs

open to our obfervation than the human

The dreamer himfelf cannot

in this ftate.

When

dreams arife or difappear to. him.

well obferve the

Were we

we could not perceive with

aae excited in his mind, or what thoughts pafs through

even though we could afcertain

ftill

remain.

dreams

Do

What

Why

parts of a

thefe phenomena,

human

it,

many

in

to

which
cir-

watch over him

certainty what emotions

during his deep.

But,

other difficulties would

being are adive, what dormant,

when he

Or why dreams he

does he not always dream while adeep ?

any circumftances

in

he awakes, he cannot recoiled the

cumftances of his dreams with fufficient accuracy.

with the moft vigilant attention,

manner

at all

our conftitution, fituation, and peculiar charader, deter-

mine the nature of our dreams

We

may

lay before the reader fuch fads^ as have

been afcertained concerning dreaming, and the moft plaufible conjedures that have

been offered to explain thofe particulars, about w'hich we can only conjedure, or
have at

leaft hitherto

In dreaming,

we

obtained nothing more certain than conjedure.

When

tlioufand circumftances.

remem ber' on fuch

minds,
world.

it

known from a
and we
recoiled our dreams

are not confcious of being adeep.

awake, we often

This

is

well

while thofe dreams were paffing through our

occafions, that,

never occurred to us that we were feparated by deep from the adive

We

ad and

are often obferved to

engaged in the intercourfe of focial

life.

as witneffmg or bearing a part in a fiditious fcene

fituation with the

adors

in

if

we were

we feem not

be

to

in

life.

whom,

All the varieties of thought

minds when awake may alfo occur

bufily

a fimilar

a dramatic performance, or the fpedators before

they exhibit, but engaged in the bufinefs of real

that pafs through our

dreaming as

talk in

In dreaming we do not confider ourfelves

in

dreams

all

the images

which

A KEY to PHYSIC

176
which imagination prefents
all

former ftatefhe

in the

'

alfo able to call

is

up

in the latter

fame emotions may be excited, and we are often a6luated by equal violence
none of the tranfa6lions in which we are capable of engaging while

the

of palTion

awake

is

dreams

impoffible in

equally wide in one ftate as

of any

dillin6lion

in the

in Ihort,

other

our range of aftion and obfervation

we

and, while dreaming,

is

are not fenfible

between our dreams and the events and tranfa6lions

we

in w-hich

are actually concerned in our intercourfe with the world.

Though
in the

in

dreams imagination appears to be

moft wanton

freaks, yet

it is

free

from

all reftraint,

and indulges

generally agreed, that the imaginary tranfa6lions

of the dreamer bear always feme relation to his particular character in the world,
his habits

dreams

of a61ion, and the circumftances

and the mifer of

of his miftrefs,

his

of his

money

The

life.

fearches in deep often with the fame pain and fatigue as w hen awake

an adventure, when numbering on

circumftances of a perfons
nearly the

fame when

his pillo w.

and evenprofits

of

not only do the more general

influence his dreams; his paflious and habits are

life

when awake.

afleep as

dreams plunge

tuous, does not in his

And

compute the

returns to balance his books, and

the merchant, at times,

we know,

lover,

the philofopher renews his re-

into

<A perfon whofe habits

a feries of crimes

of life are

vir-

nor are the vicious

reformed when they pafs into this imaginary world. The choleric man finds himfelf offended by flight provocations as w'ell in his dreams as in his ordinary intercourfe with the world, and a mild temper continues pacific in deep.
ter of

a perfons dreams

influenced

is

by

his

more unaccountable manner. Certain dreams ufually

fon has been in certain fituations.

The

charac-

circumftances when awake in a

Dr. Beattie

arife in the

mind

dill

after a per-

relates, that he once, after riding

thirty miles in a high wind, pafled a part of the fucceeding night in dreams beyond

The

defcription terrible.

vital funftions are carried on,

After too

ra6ter of dreams.

of a perfons health, and the manner in which the

ftate

have a conflderable influence

full

in

determining the cha-

a meal, or after eating of an unufual fort of food,

a perfon has always dreams of a certain nature. In dreaming, the mind

for the moft

part carries on no intercourfe through the fenfes with furrounding obje6ts.

a perfon gently who

by a fmart blow

is

but,

remains infenfible of

when

it.

the ftroke

We

lefs the light

ftill

his

powers of

fliut;

and, even though light fhould

vifion are not

awakened

be fo ftrong as to roufe him from deep.

fweet and difagreeable fmells.

their aftivity,

not fufficiently violent to effeft that, he

is

fpeak foftly befide a perfon afleep without fearing

that he overhears us. His eye-lids are

the eye-ball, yet

Touch

You may awake him

afleep, he feels not the impreftion.

It is

fall

upon

to active exertion, un-

He

is

infenfible

both to

not eafy to try whether his organs of tafte retain

without awakening him

yet from analogy

it

may be prefumed
that

AND THE OCCULT

that tbefc too are ina6tive.
is

With refpe6t

SCIENCES.

177

to the circumftances here eiiiunerated,

it

indifferent whether a perfon be dreaming or buried' in deep.

Yet there

one remarkable fact concerning dreaming which may seem to con-

is

what has been here

tradict

dreams,

afferted. In

w'e are liable

not only to fpeak aloud

in confequence of the fuggeftions of imagination, but even to get up, and w'alk

about, and engage in

we cannot be then

feetirs that

inftance fo aClive,

it

rounding objects.

The

Now,

enterprifes, without awaking.

little

fleep-walker

fence of the objects around him

is

infenfible of the prefence of fur-

but he does not attend to them with

free

fuddenly awaked.

There
It

is

from

This

fear,

is

he isalfo without danger

in

all their cir-

He

he were awake.
;

fuch a

and, in confe-

fituation, unlefs

one of the moft inexplicable phenomena of dreaming.

alfo another faCt not quite confonant with w'hat has been above advanced.

faid, that in fleep a

is

if

on the top of a houfe, or the brink of a precipice

quence of being

are in this

really fenfible, in a certain degree, of the pre-

cumftances, nor do they excite in him the fame emotions as

feels no terror

we

as

perfon

w'ill

continue to hear the noife of a cataraCl in the

neighbourhood, or regular ffrokes with a hammer, or any fimilar found fufficiently

loud,

We
is

and continued uninterruptedly from before the time of

know not whether he awakes on

afferted

on

fufficient

evidence

the fudden ceffation of the noife.

it is

curious.

intent on any piece of ftudy, or clofely occupied

ftriking in the

and

it is

Even when

therefore the

more furprifmg

we

that

fliould

N ot only do a perfons general

Hate of health, influence his dreams

will

This faCl

awake,^ if very deeply

in bufinefs, the

neighbourhood, or the beating of a drum,

founds w'hen afleep.

his falling afleep.

found of a clock

efcape us unnoticed

thus continue fenfible to

character, habits of

life,

and

but thofe concerns in which he has been

moft deeply interefted during the preceding day, and the views which have
arifen moft frequently to his imagination,

dreams.
I

am

When

likely to

Have

very

I look forward w'ith anxious

dream

often afford the fubjeCls of his

expe^ation towards any future event,

either of the difappointment or the gratification of

been engaged through the day, either

have found exceedingly agreeable, or

happy, either my. happinefs or

my

in

away

mifery

is

in bufinefs or
in

which

likely to

my

w'iftieSi

amufements which

have been extremely un-

be renewed in

my

dreams.

Though dreams have been regarded among alinoft all nations through the world,,
at leaft in fome periods of their hiftory, as prophetic of future events, yet it does
not appear that this populat opinion has been eftabliflied on good grounds. Chriftianity,

indeed, teaches us to believe, that the

does, operate on our minds,

and influence

at times the determinations of

without making us fenfible of the reftraint

in the

No.

Supreme Being may, and

our

to which we are thus fubjeCted.

fame manner, no doubt, the fuggeftions which

12.

aClually

z.

arife to us in

rvill,

And,

dreams may be
produced.

KEY TO PHYSIC

17S

The imaginary

produced.

we

tranfadlions in which

fuch as are adiually to occupy us

appearances which are then prefented to the minds eye,

which are to befal ourfelvcs or others.

It

and feemingly incoherent

may

fome events

allude to

by no means impoffible,

therefore,

is,

maybe

are then engaged,

in life; the ftrange

or inconfiftent with the general analogy of nature, that dreams iliould have a refpeH

We

to futurity.

have no reafon

to regard the

dreams which are related

in the

Holy

Scriptures to have been prophetic of future events as not infpired by heaven,

to laugh at the idea of a prophetic

dream

or

as abfurd or ridiculous.

We

know of no other fa6ls that have been fully afcertained concerning dreaming.
But we are by no means fufficiently acquainted with this important phenomenon in
the hiftory of the mind.
We cannot tell by what laws of our conftitution we are
thus liable to be fo frequently engaged in imaginary tranfadtions, nor what are the

means by which the delufion

particular

remarkably

fti

ong.

One

is

The

accompliflied.

delufion

fometimes have a book prefented

will

to

him

in

is

indeed

a dream,

and fancy that he reads, and adlually enter into the nature of the compofition be-

and even remember,

-fore him,

fancied himfelf reading.

purpofes

come

is

it

produced?

When we

Can this be
The mind,

body

ina6live like the

he awakes, what he knows that he only

after

delufion?

or at leaft

is

do not dream, the mind muft

when we dream,

the mind, though

fame manner

yet does not act in the

as

it

or for what

not, in deep,

not always ina6live while

we

be-

are afleep.

either be inadtive, or the connedlion be-

tween the mind and the body muft be confidered as

and,

how

If delufion,

would appear, does

it

in

probably a6ls

when we

fome manner fufpended

in

are awake.

concert with the body,

It

feems to be clouded

or bewildered, in confequence of being deprived for a time of the fervice of the

fenfes.

Imagination becomes more aftive and more capricious

powers, efpecially judgment and memory,

and

all

become difordered and

their operation.

the other

irregular in

'

Various theories have been propofed to explain what appears here moft inexplicable.

man

The

ingenious Mr. Baxter, in his treatife on the Immateriality of the

Hu-

Soul, endeavours to prove that

dreams are produced by the agency of fome

amufe or employ themfelves ferioufly in engaging manthofe imaginary tranfadlions with which they are employed in dreaming.

fpiritual beings^

kind in

all

who

either

This theory, however,

is

far

from being plaufible.

the limits of our knowledge.

unfupported by any analogy.

thofe which

it

It leads

us entirely beyond

It requires us to believe without evidence.

It creates difficulties

has been propofed to remove.

Till

it

It is

more inexplicable than

appear that our dreams can-

ftill

not poffibly be produced without the interference of other fpiritual agents, poffeffing fuch influence over our

minds as

to deceive us with fancied joys,

and involve

AND THE OCCULT

us

in

SCIENCES.

179

imaginary ,afBi6tions, we cannot reafonably refer them to fuch a caufe. Befides,

from the fads which have been dated as well known concerning dreams,
that their nature

how could

mind. But, were they owing to the agency of other fpiritual beings,

Thofe

be influenced by the date of the body?

beings

who depend

mud

be a curious

than to place them in fuch a dependance.

all,

the mind except in confequence of

fome of

the organs of fenfation

thus partly roufe

its

and engage them

in

for the

faculties

from the lethargy

from

all

that

part on the occadon. It

is

is

we

We

are.

pafles

it is

the poet and the mathematician

is

his

are faid alfo to influence, in

fome manner, the nature of

Since then

it

In thofe indances,

their

in that

is

himfelf

when awake,

date by his organs

that even by watching over him, and comparing our obfervations of

his circamdances and emotions,

in his

dreams, with what he recolleCls of them after

awaking, we cannot, except in one or two dngular indances, afcertain this faCt

mind

on many

in-

But fuch

dreams.

appears that the perfon who dreams

whether any new impreffions are communicated to him

that the

in

the founds which they hear

incapable of didinguidiing either during his dreams, or by recollection

many

organs of fenfation take a

employed.

whu:h perfons adeep are faid to hear founds

of fenfation

impoflible

cannot difcover, from any thing that a perfon

part in the imaginary tranfa6tions in which he

indances are fingular.

But what

that

pawers of fenfation perform any

dreaming difplays to the obfervation of others, that

deed, in

deep,

are awake, often wanders from the prefent fcene.

incident to the dudious

times forget what they

in

not neceffary that imagination be always excited by fen-

Fancy, even when

Abfence of mind

his

lading,

manner; and

which they are buried

we do when awake,

dreamer himfelf to didinguidi whether

fation.

in

tacit, fecret,

a feries of confufed and imperfedf exertions.

fo very different

is

arife in

having been

Either the ear or the eye, or the organs of touching,

previoudy excited.

or fmelling, communicate information, fomehow, in a

dreams

Better

him M. Formey, have fuppofed, that dreams never

Wolfius, and after

they

of fpiritual

fet

fuch a manner on the date of our corporeal frame.

in

not to allow them exidence at

in

appears

it

depends both on the date of the human body and on that of the

is

and

not incapable of aCting while the organs of fenfation are at red, and

occafions refufes to liden to the information which they convey

we may,

without hedtation, conclude, that the theory of Wolfius and Formey has been
too.haftily

Other
delirium.

and incautioudy advanced.

phyfiologifts tell us, that the mind,

Sleep, they fay,

is

when we dream,

attended with what

is

is

in a date of

called a collapfe of the brain

during which either the whole or a part of the nerves of which

it

confids, are in a

date in which they cannot carry on the ufual intercourfe between the mind and the

organs of fenfation.

When

the whole of the brain is in this date,

we become entirel\

KEY TO PHYSIC

180

unconfcious of cxiftence, and the mind finks into inaftivity

tirely

of the brain

collapfed, as they term

is

in a fort of delirium

it,

between the two.

we

are then neither afleep nor awake, bu|

This theory,

like the laft-mentioned, fup-

pofos the mind incapable of aViling without the help of fenfation

we know

known

Gontradiftsa

We

mull confider

in

evil

by the loul or

w'ithout

fpirit w'ithin

may we

beft

vifit

different

and obliged

under the

aft

to

which,

politions,

He

fame

from

nightly in their

happened,

lately

and

of

will

and down

one

two

of

faft

hours

him

he repeated,

brew alphabet

the prefence

declared,

he

young

at

with the utmoft eafe and

appeared

he

arms of

bold

and

from

nervous

feemed

May we

not

were

confeffed,

made

in

his

fall

this

intent

and

upon

years

with

fame

of

me.

apartment
his ftudies,

his bed-fide,

at

After this

Virgil.

of the

He-

more compofed

fleep.

whole

the

into a

fifteen

fame room

into the

fome time

Homer
accent,

to

breakfaft I related

ftood

about

the

in

came

remarkably

lleep.

lines

turning,

muft have

authors have

flept

when

of the young gentleman; and

that,

lock and unlock doors,

gentlemen,

fchools,

early; and,

after,

then,

The next morning

This furely

the darkeft nights

in

thofe elevated ideas, and fublime com-

celebrated

other

repeat feveral

with

ftairs,

but which

dreams?

public

the

locked in the

heard

progrefs

that thefe

reftrained to

it is

keeper.

its

who,

roofs of houfes,

fource,

that

chofe to go to bed

though

human

an endeavour to aft-

perfons were awake, would be impoffible.

if the

which Milton and

communicated

about

alfumes

from a prifon, wherein

as

it,

walk up

apartments,

likewife attribute to the

age,

alfo

it

nature or in

rationally fuppofe,

of the body,

ftate

open window's, and crawl over the

It

more

not

explain the fafts attending fleep-w'alkers,

will

in

w hich, being immortal, never fleeps

us,

paffive

or to efcape from

it,

limits,

celerity

phenomena

afcertain the

dreams as confufed images of things around

likewife, therefore, as a bafelefs fabric.

it

our dreams,

during that

certain

fuppofes that

or rather exertions towards real and fenfible actions, are produced

incitements,

rather,

it

of the attendant fpirits watching over our bodies, and inciting us to

Infiead

good or

fa6f,in.reprefenting

combinations of things not exifting together

us, not fanciful

life.

we cannot

the nature of a ftate of which

when only apart

cireumftance to the company, in

all

ftudies.

commend
The young man

began to

great

the

inftantly

however converfant he might be with Virgil and Homer, he

had never heard the Hebrew alphabet repeated, nor did he ever know the

name
foul
till

of any one of

its

charafters.

and body are united, feems

The

to

nature of the conneftion by which the

be almoft beyond our comprehenfion

we can apply experiment and obfervation

in

and,

a better manner to this branch of

phyfiology,

AND THE OCCULT

phyfiology,

it

SCIENCES.
To

muft undoubtedly remain unknown.

ri

fomething myfterious in

the nature of that connedtion, the delulion produced in dreams

is in

pro-

all

'

bability owing.

Amid

with refpe^l to the manner in which our powers of mind

this uncertainty

and body perform

their functions in dreaming,

we can,
we have been

pleafing to find that

it is

however, apply to ufeful purpofes the imperfect knowledge which

Our dreams

able to acquire concerning the feries of phenomena.

the ftate of our health, by the

our general habits of

fey

life,

manner

in

which

w'e

are affedted by

have paffed the preceding day,

by the hopes w'hich we moft fondly indulge, and the

fears which prevail moft over our fortitude when we are awake. From recollecting
our dreams, therefore, we may learn to correCt many improprieties in our conduCl;

to refrain

from bodily exercifes, or from meats and drinks, that have unfavora-

ble effects

on our conftitution; to

upon

and

us

to

concerns, and unfit us for the duties of

may

forebode,

occafioned,

we may, with much

and look back

The deep

owing.

delightful

and

due time

refift in

evil habits

that are ftealing

guard againft hopes and fears which detach us from our proper

to thofe circumftances in

of innocence and health

A diftempered

pleafing.

are haunted in fleep with

Inftead of thinking what our dreams

life.

better reafon, refleCt

frightful,

is

by what they have been

our paft

found and

life to

refrefliing

which they are

;

their

dreams

body, and a polluted or perturbed mind,

impure, and unpleafing, dreams.

Of intemperance.
It

univerfally agreed, that temperance

is

and

eitercife are the tw'o beft phyfi-

would be

cians in the world, and that, if thefe were duly regarded, there

little

oc-

cafion for any other.

Temperance may jujlly be called the parent of health ; yet
numbers of mankind aCt as if they thought difeafes and death too flow in their progrefs, and,

by intemperance and debauch, feem, as

The danger of intemperance appears from

Health depends on the
performance of the

ftate

vital

it

were, to folicit their approach.

the very conftruCtion of the

of the folids and fluids which

functions

fits

human

them

due

we

are

and, while thefe go regularly on,

found and well ; but whatever difturbs them neceffarily impairs health.
perance never

fails to

diforder the whole animal osconomy

it

body.

for the

Intem-

hurts the digeftion,

relaxes the nerves, renders the different fecretions irregular, vitiates the humours,

and occafions numberlefs

The analogy between

difeafes.

the nourifhment of plants and animals affords a ftriking

proof of the danger of intemperance.

getation

become

No.

The
Hence we

yet an over-quantity of either will entirely deftroy

hurtful,
12.

Moifture and manure greatly promote ve-

nay

deftruCtive,

when

carried to Cxcefs.

it.

beft things

learn, that

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

182
A-

the higheft degree of

human wifdom

lions fo as to avoid all extremes.

racter of rational beings.

nature.

The

in regulating our appetites and paf-

confifts

which

It is this chiefly

the abufe of thefe paffions

ficial

and moderation

Men, not contented with

various paffions for the pro-

fatisfying the

confilts in the

Ample

but imaginary wants can never be

Hence

feldom Hop their career,

till

may

gratify

content with

is

is

of Nature, create arti-

calls

Miture

gratified.

Intemperance

proper regulation of

wants, and are perpetually in fearch of fomething that

luxury knows no bounds.

human

(lave of appetite will ever be the difgrace of

The Supreme Being hath endued us with

pagation of the fpecies, the prefervation of the individual, &c.

them.

us to the cha-

entitles

them

little ;

;;

bid

the epicure, the drunkard, and the debauchee,

money, or

their

their conftitution, fails

then, indeed,

when too late.

down fixed rules with regard to diet, on account of the
of mankind.
The mofi; ignorant perfon, however, certainly

they generally fee their error

It

is

impoffible to lay

different conftitutions

knows what
to avoid

it.

moft plain

Man

meant by excefs and

;

it is

in the

power of every man,

if

he choofes,,

The great rule of diet is to ftudy fimplicity. Nature delights in the

and Ample food and every animal, except man, follows her dictates.
;

alone riots at large, and ranfacks the whole creation in queft of luxuries, to

own

his

is

in diet

deftruClion.

For

my

An

partj

elegant writer of the

when

perance

age fpeaks thus of intemperance

I behold a fafliionable table fet out in all its

nificence, I fancy that I fee gouts

innumerable diftempers, lying

lafl

in

and

dropfies, fevers

and

ambufcade among the

in other things lefs deftruClive

than in diet.

lethargies,

difhes.

How

mag-

with other

Nor

is

intem-

quickly does the im-

moderate purfuit of carnal pleafures, or the abufe of intoxicating liquors, ruin the
befl conftitution

we

Indeed thefe vices generally go hand

in

hand.

Hence

it is

that

fo often behold the votaries of Bacchus and Venus, even before they have ar-

rive at the

life, worn out with difeafe, and hafting with fwift pace to an
Did men refleCt on the painful difeafes, and premature deaths,
occafioned by intemperance, it would be fufficient to make them

prime of

untimely grave.

which are daily

fhrink back with horror from the indulgence even of their darling pleafures.

Intemperance does not hurt

direful effeCls of

How

it.

often

its

votaries alone

the innocent too often feel the

do we behold the miferable mother, with her

helplefs infants, .pining in want, while the cruel father

appetites

temperance.
lives

Nothing tends fo much

of children, as

day, and at night

olTspring

is

indulging his infatiate

Families are not only reduced to mifery, but even extirpated, by inr

the intemperance

lies

of

down contented

to prevent propagation,
parents-.

The poor

man

and

to

Jhorten the

\vho labours all

with his humble fare, can bpaft a numeri^us

while his pampered lord, funk in eafe and luxury, often languiffies

without

AND THE OCCULT

without an heir to his ample fortunes.

of inteniperance,

and

Even

SCIENCES.

183

and empires

ftates

feel the influence

Inftead of mentioning the different

rife or fall as it prevails.

kinds of intemperance, and pointing out their influence upon health,

we

onlj,

ffiall

by way of example, make a few obfervations on one particular fpecies of that

viz.

Every

of intoxication puts Nature

aSi

difcharge the poifonous draughts.

to forefee the confequences.

When

That

fdways go off in a day

by an acute

ting liquors,

difeafe,

But

fever,

in order to

repeated almoft every day,

it is

muft be ftrong indeed, which

eafy
able

is

occajioued hy drinking do not

fetters

Though

effeHs.

he feldom efcapes thofe of

when ufed

of a

they frequently end in an infiammation of the hreajt,

and produce fatal

or brain,

liver,

this is

expenfe

the

to

conftitution

long to hold out under a daily fever

fall

vice,

the abufe of intoxicating liquors.

to

cxcefs,

the
a^

drunkard

chronic

weaken the bowels, and

not

ffiould

Intoxica-

kind.

fpoil the digeftion

they deftroy the power of the nerves, and occafion paralytic and convulfive diforders

render

they hkewife heat and inflame the blood, deftroy

it

unfit for circulation,

ftru6lions, atrophies,

common ways

in

and

called,

it is

velfels

who feldom
its effe6ts

be not fo violent,

people of

Many

is

when

people injure their

continual habit of foaking, as

not

When

lefs pernicious.

ftretch,

the

the different digeftions can

Hence moft

nor the humours properly prepared.

with the gout, the gravel, ulcerous fores in

this charadter are aflli6led

the legs, &c.

upon the

Thefe are the

Difeafes of this kind,

exit.

The

get drunk.

are kept conftantly full and

neither be duly performed,

Hence ob-

for the nourilliment of the body.

which drunkards make their

though

balfamic quality,

and confumptions of the lungs.

dropfies,

brought on by hard drinking, feldom admit of a cure.

health by drinking,

its

If thefe diforders do not appear, they are feized with low

fpirits,

hypochondriacal affe6liohs, and other fymptoms of indigeftion.

Confumptions are now fo common, that it

of great towns die of that difeafe.

is

thought one-tenth of the inhabitants

Hard drinking

is

which we muft impute the increafe of confumptions.

malt-liquor drunk by the

blood

fizy

and

unfit for circulation

flammations of the lungs.

nor

is

that to be

nature of ftrong
greater hazard
veffels

wondered
ale.

The

great quantities of vifeid

people of England cannot

;

fail

to render the

from whence proceed obftru6lions and

There are few great ale-drinkers who are not

at,

in-

phthifical;

confidering the glutinous and almoft indigeftible

Thofe who drink ardent

fpirits

or ftrong wines run

ftill

thefe liquors heat and inflame the blood, and tear the tender'

of the lungs in pieces; yet, fo great

try,* that

The

common

no doubt one of the caufes to

one would almoft be induced

is

the confumption of them in this coun-

to think the inhabitants lived

habit of drinking proceeds frequently from misfortunes in

life.

upon them.

The

miferable

A KEY TO PHYSIC

184
ble fly to

it

folace

fhort-lived

is

It affords

for relief.
;

and,

them indeed a temporary

when

it is

ufual tone as they had before been raifed above

becomes neceffary

and every

frefli

debauch

is

gone

Hence

off.

No man
it

is,

and often put an end

fober,

fpleen or

their

to

their

all

firft

fo deje6led as the drunkard

is

own

a facrifice to what at

falls

that thofe

of fpirits while the glafs circulates freely, are of

when

this

Hence a repetition of the dofe

dofe makes way for another, till the unhappy

perhaps was taken only as a medicine.

his

alas

much below

it.

wretch becomes a Have to the bottle, and at length

when

But

eafe.

over, the fpirits fink as

who have

the greateft flow

others the mofl melancholy

miferable exiftence in a

of

fit

humour.

ill

Drunkennefs not only proves dejlru^ive

of the mind.

It

is

ftrange that creatures

to

who

health,

hut likewife to the faculties

value themfelves on account f a

fuperior degree of reafon to that of brutes fhould take pleafure in finking fo far

Were fuch

below them.

to continue ever after in that condition,

though

to a

it

would feem but a juft punifliment; and,

be not the confequence of one a6l of intoxication,

this

to fucceed a courfe of

duced

ufe of reafon

as voluntarily deprive themfelves of the

mere

By a

it.

idiot.

Intoxication

is

young

peculiarly hurtful to

heats their blood, impairs their ftrength, and obftru6ls their growth

frequent ufe of ftrong liquors in the early part of

might

arife

feldom

it

habit of drinking, the greateft genius

from them afterwards.

life

fails

often re-

is

It

perfons.

befides, the

deftroys any benefit that

Thofe who make a praBice of drinking ge-

nerous liquors rchen young, cannot expeB to reap any benefit

from them

as a cor-

of life. Drunkennefs is not only in itfelf a moft. abominable

an inducement to many others. There is hardly any crime fo horrid

dial in the decline

vice, but is

We have known mo-

that the drunkard will not perpetrate for the love of liquor.

thers fell their childrens clothes, the food that they fhould have eaten, and after-

wards even the infants themfelves,

It

is

in order to

amazing that our improvements

purchafe the accurfed draught.

in arts, learning,

and

put the barbarous cuftom of drinking to excefs out of fafhion.

common

in

South Britain than

it

was formerly

the North, where this relic of barbarity

man

is

fuppofed to entertain

Forcing people to drink,

can be guilty

man

is

is

but

it ftill

It is

guefts well,

who does

indeed lefs

prevails very

miftaken for hofpitality.

much

drunk.

certainly the greateft piece of rudenefs that any

it,

at a time

when he might

in

In Ireland, no

make them

not

Bravado, complaifance, or mere good-nature,

to take his glafs, if urged to

The cuftom
it

of.

his

have not

politenefs,

may

man

induce a

as well take poifon.

of drinking to excefs has long been out of fafhion in France; and, as

begins to lofe ground

among

the politer part of the Englifh,

we hope

it

wdll

foon

be banifhed from every part of the united kingdom.

Of

AND THE OCCULT SCIENCE!

185

Of the passions.

THE

paflions have great influence both in the caufe

the mind

the body,

aflTedts

fufficient for

in

will,

us to know, that there

is

the mental and corporeal parts, and

and cure of

How

difeafes.

ever remain a

probability,

all

fecret.

It

is

eftablifhed a reciprocal influence betwixt

that whatever injures the one diforders the

other.

Of Anger.

The

paffion of anger ruffles the mind, diftorts the countenance,

and diforders the whole

hurries on the circulation of the blood,

It often occafions fevers,

fundlions.

fudden death. This paffion

and animal

vital

and fometimes even

difeafes,

weak

peculiarly hurtful to the delicate, and thofe of

I have known fuch perfons frequently lofe their lives by a violent

nerves.

anger,

is

and other acute

and would advife them

utmoft care.

we may

It

is

to

guard againft the excefs of

fit

this paffion vvith

not indeed always in our power to prevent being angry

of

the

but

Refentment preys upon

furely avoid harbouring refentment in our breafl.

the mind, and occafions the moll obftinate chronical diforders, which gradually

wafte the conftitution. Nothing fhows true greatnefs of mind more than to forgive
injuries:

health,

it

and

promotes the peace of

felicity.

Such

fociety,

and greatly conduces

to

our

own

eafe,

as value health fhould avoid violent gufts of anger as

Neither ought they to indulge refentment,

they would the moll deadly poifon.
but endeavour at all times to keep their minds calm and ferene.
Nothing tends

much

fo

body as a conftant tranquillity of

to the health of the

how

it

leaves us,

the indecency of extravagent anger

and fport of
ed

all

about

which

us, of

renders us,

it

when it

blind.

wliilft it

Add

lafts,

ceafes, fenfible

to this,

the fcorn

and alliam-

the inconveniences and irretrievable mifcondudt into which our irrafcibility

has fometimes betrayed us

barraffments in which

the friendfiiips

we have been

on one account or other

it

it

has

involved by

loft

it,

us

the diftreffes and

em-

and the fore repentance which

always cofts us.

Phyficians and naturalifts aftbrd inftances of very extraordinary effedls of this

paffion.

Borrichius cured a

woman

of an inveterate tertian ague, which had baffled

the art of phyfic, by putting the patient in a furious

fit

of anger.

ufe of the fame means, with the like fuccefs, in a quartan ague.

Valeriola

The fame

made

paffion

has been equally falutary to paralytic, gouty, and even dumb, perfons; to which
laft it

has fometimes given the ufe of fpeech.

very Angular cures wrought by anger

up

in the gout,

cured.

12.

among

who, being provoked by

It is true, the

patient does not

No.

remedy

happen

to

is

ufe

Etmuller gives divers inftances of

others, he mentions a perfon laid

his phyfician,

fomewhat dangerous
it

with moderation.

SB

flew

upon him, and was

in the application,

We

when a

meet with feveral

in-

fiances

A KEY TO PHYSIC

186
ftances of princes to
Firft,

whom

has proved mortal; for example, Valentinian the

it

Wenceflas, Matthias Corvinus king of Hungary, and others.

alfo inftances wherein

In

diarrhoea, &c.

it

fa6l,

There are

has produced the epilepfy, jaundice, cholera-morbus,

paffion

this

is

of fuch a nature, that

it

quickly throws

the whole nervous fyftem into preternatural commotions, by a violent ilridlure o^

the nervous and mufcular parts; and furprifingly augments not only the fyftoie of
the heart and of

its

the whole body.

produces

It

contiguous
is

veffels,

but alfo the tone of the fibrous parts in

by the fpafmodic

alfo certain that this paffion,

in the parts, exerts its

ftridlure

power principally on the ftoraach and

which are highly nervous and membranous parts

it

inteflines^

whence the fymptoms are more

dangerous, in proportion to the greater confent of the ftomach and inteftines with

The unhappy

the other nervous parts, and almoft with the whole body.

of anger, iikewife, on the biliary and hepatic dudls,

intenfe conllridlion of thefe, the liver

is

are often generated in the gall-bladder

very furprifing

is

influence

fince,

by an

not only rendered fcirrhous, but ftones alfo

and

biliary

du6ts; thefe accidents have

fcarcely any other origin than an obftrudlion of the free motion and efflux of the

by means of

bile,

From fuch a

this violent ftridlure.

ftridlure of thefe dudls like-

wife proceeds the jaundice, which in procefs of time lays a foundation for calculous
concretions in the gall-bladder.
the fpafms of the fibrous

parts,

Laftly,

by increafing the motion of the

propelled with an impetus to certain parts

much
ed.

whence

it

is

or,
is

happens that they are too

diflended, and the orifices of the veins diftributed there are too
It

fluids,

by means of anger, a larger quantity of blood

much open-

evident from experience, that anger has a great tendency to excite hae-

morrhages, either from the nofe, the aperture of the pulmonary artery, the veins of
the anus

or, in

and difpofed

Of Fear.

to

women, from

The

influence of fear, both in occafioning and aggravating difeafes,

No man

is very great.

ought to be blamed for a decent concern about

too great a defire to preferve

by depreffing the
difeafes fatal

fpirits,

it, is

often the caufe of lofing

it.

Epileptic

Hence

fits,

been rendered miferable, by

human

paflions.

but

Fear and anxiety,

frolics

Sudden

fear has gene-

and other convulfive diforders, are often oc-

the danger of that pradtice,

people, of frightening one another.

the

it.

life;

not only difpofe us to difeafes, but often render thofe

which an undaunted mind would overcome.

rally violent effedls.

cafioned by

the uterus, efpecially in thofe previoufly accuftomed

fuch evacuations.

Many

have

of this kind.

The mind may

eafily

fo

common among young

loft their lives,

It is

and others have

dangerous to tamper with

be thrown into fuch diforder as never

again to a6l with regularity.

But

AND THE OCCULT

But the gradual

effe6ts

it

comes

many

to pafs, that fo

The

of fear prove moft hurtful.

upon the mind,

future evil, by dwelling

SCIENCES,

of thofe

had a

fome accident or

foolifh

is

die in that fituation

long time before

it

often the caufe of

often the cafe w'ith

women

Many

in child-bed.

are impreffed with the notion of their death a

happens; and there

is

reafon to believe, that

The methods taken

it.

itfelf.

die of thofe very difeafes of which they long

This, for example,

who

fome
Hence

conftant dread of

often oecafions the very evil

dread, or which bad been impreffed on their minds by

predidlion.

187

to imprefs the

this impreffion is

minds of women with

the apprehenfions of the great pain and peril of child-birth, are very hurtful.

women

die in labour, though

counted
diately

for.

woman

apprehends

many

lofe their lives after it;

after delivery, finding herfelf

flie is in

Few

which may be thus ac-

weak and exhaufled, imme-

danger; and thfs fear feldom

fails to ofirufft

the ne-

Thus the fex often fall a

when there would be no danger, did they apprehend none. It feldom happens, when two or three women, in a great towp, die in
child-bed, but their death is followed by many others.
Every woman of their acquaintance who is with child dreads the fame fate, and the difeafe becomes epideceffary evacuations
facrifice to their

upon which her recovery depends.

own

imaginations,

mical by the mere force of imagination.

defpifefear, and by all

means

This fliould induce pregnant

to avoid thofe tattling goffips

woman, ought with the

women

to

are continually

Every thing that may

buzzing in their ears the misfortunes of others.

alarm; a patient, or a child-bed

who

in the leafi

greateft care to be guarded

againfl.

In general, the

effedls of terror are

fion of the blood in the large

a contradlion of the fmall velfels and a repul-

and internal ones

perfpiration, a general oppreffion, trembling,

overcharged with blood.

ftupor, madnefs, &c.

agitation into

hence proceed a fuppreffion of

and anguifh of the heart and lungs,

Frights often occafion incurable difeafes, as epilepfy,

In acute difeafes, they have evidently killed many, by the

which they have thrown the

fpirits,

already too

much

We have alfo accounts of perfons abfolutely killed by terrors when

at the time of receiving the fliock

from them: people ordered

to

diforderedi

in perfedt health

be executed, but

with private orders for a reprieve, have expired at the block without a wmund.

Out of many
ing

is

inftances of the fatal effedts of fear recorded in writers, the follow-

felecled .as one of the moft fingular.

who had
the war.

inlifted as

George Grochantzy, a Polander,

a foldier in the fervice of the King of Pruffia, deferted during

fmall party was fent in purfuit of him

they furprifed him finging and dancing

and

at the

and,

when he

among a company of

got together at an inn and were making merry.

forefeen,

fame time fo dreadful

in its

leaft

expedted

peafants,

This event, fo ludden

it,

who were
and un-

confequences, ftruck him in fuch a

manner,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

188
manner,

giving a great cry,

that,

he became at once altogether

They

fenfible, and was feized without the leaft refiftance.

He

as a deferter.

and difpofed of

fulfered himfelf to be led

about him, without uttering a word, or giving the

had happened or would happen

He

to him.

leaft fign

During

him or about him.

nor drank, nor

priefts

to

at the will of thofe

remained immoveable as a flatue

him

but he

that

after

flill

all

was done

that

ail

the time that he was in cuflody, he neither ate,

Some

nor had any evacuation.

flept,

knew what

that he

wherever he was placed, and was wholly paffive with refpedl to

to fee

in-

where he was brought before the council of war, and received fentence

Glocfau.

to

and

him away

ftiipid

carried

of his comrades were fent

he vas vilited by fome officers of his corps and by fome

continued in the fame date, without difcovering the leaft figng

of fenfibility.

Promifes, intreaties, and threatenings, were equally ineffedlual.

The

who were

phyficians

confulted upon his cafe were of opinion, that he was in

a ftate of hopelefs idiotcy.

feigned

It

was

at firft fufpedled, that thofe

but thefe fufpicions neceffarily gave

way when

it

appearances were

was known that he took

no fuftenance, and that the involuntary fundlions of nature were

After fome time they knocked off

fufpended.
to

He received

go whither he would.

had ftiown on other occafions

his fetters,

his liberty with the

he remained

fixed

and

fame

in great

left

him

and immoveable

in this condition,

He

evacuation, and died on the twentieth day.

deep fighs

and once he

great eagernefs, let the

When

a perfon

is

mug from him, and,

mug drop to the ground.

agitation of the patient.

due order,

to

and

legs

difeafes.

To

But

on a

foldier, Avho

had a

left to

mug

of

having drank the liquor with

is

promote perfpiration, and

may be

bed, and the camomile-tea repeated every

gentle opiate.

and the

Being

without eating, or having any

For thefe purpofes he may drink a

as camomile-tea, &c. the feet

warm, and there

eyes

his

affedled with terror, the principal endeavour fliould be to re-

ftore the circulation to its

is

he

had been fometimes heard to fetch

ruflied with great violence

liquor in his hand, forced the

obje6l:,

mufcles of his face were fallen and fixed like thofe of a dead body.

he paffed twenty days

at liberty

infenfibility that

turned wildly here and there without taking cognizance of any

himfelf,

meafure

fix

put into

warm

or eight minutes

a tendency to perfpiration, fleep

frights

little

to allay the

warm

liquor*

water, the legs rub;

and when the

may

fkin

be promoted by a

have been known not only to caufe, but alfo to cure,

Mr. Boyle mentions

agues, gout, and fciatica, cured by this means.

turn from the ferious to the ludicrous effedls of fear, the following inftance

of the latter

fort,

quoted from a French author by Mr. Andrews

of Anecdotes, fhows upon what

flight occafions this paffion

cited in a very high degree, even in perfons

may

in

his

volume

be fometimes ex-

themoft unlikely to entertain fuch a

gueft,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

Charles Guftavus (the fucceffor of Chriftinaof

gueft.

189

Sweden) was

befieging

Prague, when a boor of moft extraordinary vifage defired admittance to his tent

way of amufing the king, to devour a

prefence.
The old general Koningfmark,

and, being allowed entrance^ offered, by

whole hog of one hundred weight in

who

his

flood by the kings fide, and who, foldier as he was,

had not got

rid of the

prejudices of his childhood, hinted to his royal mafter that the peafant ought to be

burnt as a forcerer.

make

jefly will but

Sir, faid

the fellow, irritated at the remark,

fword and

that old gentleman take off his

him immediately, before

if

your ma-

his fpurs, I will eat

General Koningfmark (who had,

begin the hog.

head of a body of Swedes, performed wonders againfl the Auftrians, and

looked upon as one of the bravefl
efpecially as

it

men

at the

who was

of the age) could not Hand this propofal,

was accompanied by a moft hideous and preternatural expanfion of

Without uttering a word, the veteran fuddenly turned

the frightful peafants jaws.

round, ran out of the tent, nor thought himfelf fafe until he had arrived at his

own

quarters, where he remained above twenty-four hours locked

fore he got rid of the panic

Fear

life

a burden.

lead not enflaved to

Yet

ties.

or which
city

The
it,

in

it

our power to prevent,

Infenfibility to

External

danger

is

feeling pain can be called patience

folly,

evil;

and

fear.

He

exempt from

and invigorates

Thofe

when

it

fear, or at

our facul-

all

that arife from ourfelves,

would be madnefs

it

to defpife,

and auda-

which we cannot prevent, or could

evils,

it is

to be

manly and honourable

to bear with for-

not fortitude, any more than the incapacity of

;

and to expofe ourfelves unneceffarily to

IMPOTENCY

evil is

occasioned by FEAR.

has been proved by Dr. Hunter, that impotency

fear.

and very blameable prefumptien.

Of
IT

is

which we ought to

not avoid without a breach of duty,

worfe than

us attentive and cautious

gives dignity to our nature,

there are evils

it is

fecurely, be-

becomes an infupportable tyranny, and ren-

object of fear

not to guard againfl.

titude.

make

fliould not rife higher than to

gains an afcendency in the mind,

ders

up

which had fo feverely affe6led him.

is

frequently the refult of

obferves, that as the parts of generation are not neceffary for the

exiftence or fupport of the individual,

but have a reference to fomething elfe in

which the mind has a principal concern ; fo a complete adlion in thofe parts cannot take place without a perfect harmony of body and of mind that is, there mufl
:

be both a power of body and difpofition of mind

thoufand alarms which

aifefl;

the body, the fpring of which

No.

13.

for the

the a6lions of thefe parts.

is

in the

mind
3

but

it is

mind

is

Copulation

not volition

fubjedl to a
is

an a6l of

and according
to

to the ftate of the mind, fo

body

fliould be

body

the

KEY TO PHYSIC

ipo

elfe;

have no

ftiould

it

health, and

in

mind

the

mind fhould be

the

To

the a6I performed.

is

perform

confident of the powers of

perfedfly

difengaged from every thing

a ftate entirely

in

no

difficulties,

fears,

no apprehenfions, not evn an

anxiety to perform the a6t well; for even this anxiety

from what fhould prevail

may

a ftate of mind different

is

there ftiould not be even a fear that the

find a difficulty at the time the atH ftiould be performed.

of the machine depends fo

much upon

the ftate of the

reafoning faculty have nothing to do with this power

the a6l, fo far as voluntary parts are

they fometimes do,

which

proper

is

performance of the a6I

for the

hope, which are

if

as this.

The

will

and

employed

in

they ever interfere, w'hich

produces a

it

only diffidence and uncertainty, and create

all

itfelf

of mind which deftroys that

ftate
;

mind

mind

Perhaps nofun6tion

they are only

ufe of ; and

produces another

often

it

made

the

a6l well,

this

defire,

the

in

wifti,

mind the

idea of a poffibility of the want of fuccefs, which deftroys the proper ftate of mind,

or neceffary confidence.

more

interefted, or

in

if

ftate

which a man

in

to perform well

pride being engaged in

his

or an a6t in voluntary parts

will,

pable of performing

this

of an impropriety in performing
fliall

away

finding the

but,

The body

away

all

power.

take
all

woman

pound action

it

this, in

many

cafes,

its

it is

firous of doing

it,

produces a

ftate

ftate

of a mans mind refpeCting his After

man

has been

not fo

ftiall

Erom

this

we muft

much

aS is

known

to lofe his

virgin.

the evil.

much a com-

none are fo weak in

compound aCtion of the mind and ftrength of
yet, if we are afraid of ftiedding tears, or are de;

is

kept up through the whole of an affeCling

feelings.

account of the neceffity of having the mind independent refpeCting the

fee that

We muft
;

Shed-

body that they can-

for

it

may

very often happen that the ftate of mind will be fuch

as not to allow the animal to exert his natural

interrupted

powers on

not ftied tears, or at leaft not fo freely as would have

happened from our natural

aCt,

of mind

The

and that anxiety

certainly

fear,

power, yet confcious

he was going to be connected with unexpectedly a

body joined, as the other

we

pro-

confcientious

power.

as the aCt in queftion

filed tears

fcene,

it

not only rendered inca

is

ding tears arifes entirely from the ftate of the mind, although not fo

not

when

a6t by the mind being under the above influence of

but alfo by the mind being, though perfectly confident of

takes

of mind contrary to that ftate on which the perfection of the aCl de-

pends, a failure muft be the confequence.

W'hich

himfelf

feels

within certain bounds, would produce a degree of perfection

an aCt depending upon the

duces a

perhaps no a6l

is

more anxious

is

fome degree, which,

There

alfo fee

from

this ftate

powers

and every

failure increafes

of the cafe, that this aCt muft be often

and, the true caufe of this interruption not being known,

it

will

be
laid

AND tHE OCCULT

As

charge of the body, or want of powers.

laid to the

way

this adl.

So

depending on

woman

them

to diftinguifh

often

trifling

191

thefe cafes do not arife from

be carefully diftinguiflied from fuch as do

real inability, they are to

the only

the

SCIENCES.

is

fear, that the

to

is,

examine

the ftate of

into

the circnmftance which

very defire to pleafe

fliall

mind

produce

have that

lliall

and perhaps

we

kind

this

day

fee every

one of which

of this fubje6t, and alfo of the method of cure.

had
the

following fafts

his virility.

fhowed that

had naturally

tie

had

that he

'

with defire, which are

I fiiall relate as

an illuftration

gentleman told me, that he

all

this

at

unneceffary times

power

fi:rong

and that

and

it

No; fome women

woman

in the

mind a doubt or

fear of the

rely on his

own

to this

and

I told

want of

woman
fuccefs,

well

which

which was

this arofe entirely

him that he might be cured,

powder of Ielf-denial.

that he could

thatj if

from the

When

if

he could perfectly

had explained what

depend upon every a6l of his

meant, he told

I then told

will or refolution.

him

he had a perfect confidence in himfelf in that refpe6t, he was to go to bed

woman, but

with her for

firft

promife to himfelf that he would not have any conne6tion

fix nights, let his inclinations

me

and powers be what they would

he engaged to do, and alfo to

let

he told me, that

had produced fuch a

this refolution

defire, too

About a

know' the refult.

of his mind, that the power foon took place

fear of inability, he

for

into a fmaller

of the mind produced by a particular circumftance, the mind was to be ap-

plied to for the cure

me

women

if all

that produced this inability,

As

the caufe of the inability of performing the a6l.

ftate

was,

it

arofe from a defire to perform the a6t with this

it

produced

ftill

he could have connedtion

This brought the defedt, whatever

appeared there was but one

which

accompanied

the natural powders wanted; but that there was

were alike to him? His anfwer was.

with as well as ever.

made out

erections,

that the erections were

defe6t fomew'here, which I fuppofed to be from the mind. 1 inquired

defire

making

effedl, as in

After above an hours inveftigation of the cafe,

lofi;

inability

the foie objedl to be gratified.

Cafes of

compafs

refpe6i,ing

this

total alteration in the ftate

for, inftead

fo as to

become uneafy

to

him

turned to

its

Impptency

of going to bed with the

which really happened;

he would have been happy to have fhortened the time

fpell,

and,

alfo

mind never

re-

ftate.

happens from a want of proper correfpondence between the

aftion of the tefticles

and penis

for

we

find that

an irregalarity

thefe parts fometimes happens in men, producing impotence;

probably

when he had once

the mind and powers went on together, and his

former

which

went with fears that he fhould be pofleffed with too much

much power,

broke the

fortnight after,

may be one caufe

of baiTennefs in women. In

in the a6i:ions of

and fomething

men the

fimilar

parts fubfervient
to

A KEY TO PHYSIC

195

may be

to generation

divided

tefticles are the effential

from

into

the penis,

be divided

into

without the

firft

nor the

in the

two

The

the effential and the accelTory.

As

&c. the acceffory.

arifes

divifion

this

which exactly correfpond with one another,

their ufes or a^biens in health,

want of exa6tnefs

two

may alfo

correfpondence or fufeeptibility of thofe a6tions

where the a6tions are reverfed, the acceffory taking place

or effential, as in the ere6tions of the penis, where neither the

tefticles are ftimulated to a6tion

and the fecond

where the

is

mind

tefticles per-

form the a6lion of fecretion too readily for the penis, which has not a correfpond-

The

ing eredlion.

firft is

called feminal weaknefs

called

of the a6lions of thefe two parts

eredlions of the penis

the

femen does

for

but

many have

ftate

what ought

is

owing

penis, as in the venereal gonorrhoea,

many

inftances, that

of the mind than the fecretion of

to fears of the

mind

and often from

when

efpecially

rather uneafy than pleafant

nor

to be

on the correfpondence

in

the fecretion, but not the erection

Priapifm oiien arifes fpontaneoufly

is

effedf

would appear

it

depend more on the

the want of eredlion appears to be

fuch eredlions

and the fecond

The mind has confiderable

is

but

in fuch,

irritation of the

vifible

The

violent.

fenfation of

the fenfation of the glands at

more

the time fimilar to that arifing from the erections of defire, but

fenfation of the parts immediately after coition.

only.

Such as

like to the

arife fpontaneoufly are

of more ferious confequence than thofe from inflammation, as they proceed pro-

The

bably from caufes not curable in themfelves or by any known methods.

pifm

arifing

from inflammation of the

parts,

as in a gonorrhoea,

nearly the fame fymptoms; but generally the fenfation

from the inflammation of the parts.

pifm

is

only applicable to

other difeafes, which

is

it

It

when a

may

is

is

itfelf,

attended with

that of pain, proceeding

be obferved, that what

difeafe in

pria-

is

faid of pria-

and not when a fymptora of

frequently the cafe.

Seminal weaknefs, or a fecretion and emiflion of the femen without eredlion,

by much the worft difeafe of the two.

There

is

the reverfe of a priapifm, and

is

great variety in the degrees of this difeafe, there being all the gradations from

is

the exa6l correfpondence of the adlions of all the parts to the tefticles a6i;ing alone;
in every cafe of the difeafe, there is too quick a fecretion

men.

Like to the priapifm,

when mild
fire often

that
this

it is

it

and evacuation of the

does not arife from delires and abilities

attended with both, but not in a due proportion

producing the

The

full effe6l.

Ample thought, or even

toying,

fecretion of the

fliall

make

it

flow.

femen

a very
fliall

fe-

although
flight

de-

be fo quick,

Dreams have produced

evacuation repeatedly in the fame night; and even when the dreams have been

fo flight, that there has been

broken by the aft of emiflion.

no confeioufnefs of them when the

I

have known cafes where the

fleep has been

tefticles

have been
fo

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

produced an emiffion

fo ready to fecrete, that the ieaft fri6lion on the glans has

I have

known

lliort

much

twenty years of age, not fo

lafl-inentioned complaints

He

and

he walked

if

fpace of time.

faff,

could fcarcely have connedtion with a

woman

He

would

the night be

in

fame thing would happen.

Irefore

he emitted, and

the

in

fuppofed ftreng'hening me-

tried every

and fea-bathing, but with no

drops of laudanum on going to bed, he prevented

and

five

young men, had thefe

Three or four times

or rode on horfeback, the

emiffion there was hardly any fpafm.

dicine, as alfo the cold bath

young man, about four or

given to venery as mofl:

upon him.

and that

the fimple adtion of walking or riding produce this effe6l,

repeatedly in a very

emit

193

effeOt,

By

taking twenty

the night-emiffions

and, by

taking the fame quantity in the morning, he could walk or ride without the before-

mentioned inconvenience.

I diredted this practice to

be continued for fome time;

although the difeafe did not return, that the parrs might be accuftomed to this healthy
ftate

of a6lion

and I have reafon to believe the gentleman

is

now

well.

was

It

found neceffary, as the conftitution became more habituated to the opiate, to increafe
the dofe of it.

extremely

The fpafms,

flight,

upon the evacuation of the femen

and a repetition of them foon takes place

preventing a fecond

the conftitution being

all

the time but

the tefticles a6l alone, without the acceffory parts taking

confequent adlion,

no

it is ftill

vifible or fenfible caufe,

the

firft

emiffion not

When

little affected.

the neceffary and natural

a more melancholy difeafe for the fecretion arifes from

:

and does not give any vifibleor fenfible

off fimilar to involuntary ftOols or urine. It has

fluid

up

fuch cafes, are

in

effe6l,

but runs

been obferved that the femen

more

is

than natural in fome of thefe cafes.

There

is

great variety in the difeafed adlion of thefe parts; of which the follow-

may be confidered as an example. A gentleman has had a ftridlure in the

urethra for many years, for which he has frequently ufed a bougie, but of late has
negledted it. He has had no connection with women for a confiderable time, being

ing cafe

He

afraid of the confequences.

generally

awake him

at the

has often in his fleep involuntary emiflions, which

paroxyfm ; but what furprifes him molt

is,

that often

he has fuch without any femen pafling forwards through the penis, which makes

him think

that at thofe

times

it

always the cafe, for at other times the femen paffes forwards.

femen feems

to

This

goes backwards into the bladder.

At

is

not

the time the

pafs into the bladder, he has the ereClion, the dream

and

is

awaked with the fame mode of aClion, the fame fenfation, and the fame pleafure,
as when it paffes through the urethra, whether dreaming or waking.
My opinion
is,

that the

fame

irritation takes place in the

that takes place there

when

bulb of the urethra without the femen,

the femen enters, in confequence of

preparatory fteps, whereby the very fame actions are excited as

No.

13.

all
if it

the natural

came

into

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

194

the paflage; from which one would fuppofe, that either the femen
or, if

it

be, that a retrograde

But,

urince.

if

the

motion takes place

notfeereted,

in the a6lion of the acceleratores

we may

be the cafe, then

firft

is

fuppofe, that in the natural flate

the afilion of thofe mufcles does not arife fimply from the ftimulus of the

femen in

the part, but from their adlion being a termination of a preceding one,

Thus they may depend upon

part of a feries of actions.

on the penis

gination of a friction,

fpafm

in

the tefticles not doing their part, and the

out the emiflion

and

at other times

is

not ftrong,

is

an emiffion

lhall

it

go off with-

happen almoft without an

ihall

In many

but thefe arife not from debility, but affedlions of the mind.

of the preceding cafes,

water,

many

fuch cafes arifing from the fridiion and not from the fecretion. In

of thofe cafes of irregularity, when the ere^ion

ere6tion

making

the fri6tion, or the ima-

wafliing the penis, fcrotum, and

often of fervice; and, to render

of the year,

common

fait

may be added

to

we

colder than

it

it,

perinaeum, with cold

find

it

in

fome feafons

and the parts waihed when the

fait is

almofl diffolved.

Of grief.

GRIEF

is

the

moll dellru6live of

manent, and when

it

finks

ger and fear, being of a

all

the

palTions.

deep into the mind,

more

it

laft

changes into a fixed melancholy, which preys upon the

This paffion ought not to be indulged.

conftitution.

quered at the beginning ; but, when

it

No

are vain.

it

has gained

nefs of mind to bear them with ferenity.

grief; and,
till

is

when misfortunes happen,

the mind,

Many
they

overwhelmed with melancholy,

long ; but grief often

fpirits,

may

It

llrength, all

perfon can prevent misfortunes in

life

perfons

but

and waftes the

generally be con-

attempts to remove

it

Ihows true great-

make a merit

obflinately
finks

An-

generally proves fatal.

feldom

violent nature,

are per-

Its effe6ls

of indulging

refufe all confolation,

under the load.

Such condu6l

not only dellruftive to health, but inconfiftent with reafon, religion, and

common

fenfe.

Change of

ideas

is

as neceffary for health as change of pofture.

mind dwells long upon one

fubje6l,

the whole fundions of the body.

deftroys the appetite

When

efpecially of a difagreeable nature,

Hence

by w hich means the

it

hurts

grief indulged fpoils the digeftion

fpirits

the

and

are depreffed, the nerves relaxed,

want of frefli fupplies of chyle,

has been ruined by a family-mif-

the bowels inflated with wind, and the humours, for

vitiated.

Thus many an

fortune, or

excellent conftitution

any thing that occafions exceflive

grief.

any perfon of a dejeded mind Ihould enjoy health.

It is utterly impoflible, that

Life

may

indeed be dragged

out for a few years: but whoever would live to a good old age muft be good-

humoured

AND THE OCCULT

humoured and

This indeed

cheerful.

is

SCIENCES.

195

not altogether in our

own power;

yet

We

our temper of mind, as well as our a6lions, depend greatly upon ourfelves.

can either affociate with cheerful or melancholy companions, mingle in the amufe-

ments and

offices

Thefe, and

of

or

life,

many fuch

mind generally takes

fit flill

and brood over our calamities, as we choofe.

our power

things, are certainly in

The

its call.

and from thefe the

variety of fcenes which prefent themfelves to

the fenfes, were certainly defigned to prevent our attention from being too long
fixed

upon any one

obje6l.

Nature abounds with variety

and the mind, unlefs

new objects. This at once points

Turn the attention frequently to
new objefts examine them for fome time when the mind begins to recoil, fhift
the fcene by this means a conftant fucceffion of new ideas may be kept up, till the
difagreeable ones entirely difappear. Thus travelling, the ftudy of any art or
fixed

down by

habit, delights in contemplating

out the method of relieving the mind in

diftrefs.
:

fcience,

reading or writing on fuch fubjedts as deeply engage the attention, will

fooner expel grief than the moft fprightly amufements.

It has already been obferved, that the

body cannot be healthy unlefs

When

cifed ; neither can the mind. Indolence nourifhes grief.

thing elfe to think of but calamities,

who

no wonder that

it

purfue bufinefs with attention are hurt by grief.

ing ourfelves from the world or bufinefs,

engage in

it

the

it

be exer-

mind has no-

Few

dwells there.

people

Inftead therefore of abftradl-

when misfortunes happen, we ought

to

with more than ufual attention, to difcharge with double diligence the

functions of our ftation, and to

mix with

friends of a focial

and cheerful temper.

Innocent amufements are by no means to be neglected. Thefe, by leading the mind

infenfibly to the contemplation of agreeable objects, help to difpel the

gloom which

They make time feem lefs tedious, and have many other
Some perfons, when overwhelmed with grief, betake themfelves to

misfortunes caft over it.

happy

effe6ts.

drinking. This

is

making the cure worfe than the

difeafe.

It

feldom

fails to

end

in

the ruin of fortune, character, and conftitution.

Of love.

LOVE is perhaps the

violent,

it is

any of the

ftrongeft of all the paffions

lefs fubje6t to the controul either

the

human

it

but love

was therefore proper that

breaft.

is

when

it

becomes

of the underftanding or will than

Few

neceflary for the continuation of the

this paffion ffiould

^Though love be a ftrong

progrefs as feveral of the others.

We would

at leaft,

Fear, anger, and feveral other paffions, are neceflary for the

reft.

prefervation of the individual

fpecies itfelf:

paffion,

perfons

fall

it

is

be deeply rooted

feldom fo rapid

defperately in love

all at

in

in its

once.

therefore advife every one, before he tampers with this paffion, to confider

A KEY TO PHYSIC

196

probability of his being able to obtain the object of his love.

fider well the

When

that

is

not likely, he fliould avoid every occafion of increafing

ought immediately to

fly

the

company of

attentively to bufinefs or ftudy

all,

to endeavour, if poffible,

and which

tions,

may

it

to

be in his power to obtain.

fhow

their

There

although none

confequence with the

more dangerous.

is

This

fair.

perhaps the

is

What we

of.

piece of cruelty

greateft;

eagerly with

for,

plorable, before they are able to difeoverthat the pretended lover

is

no jelling with

this pallion.

When

admits of no other cure but the poffeflion of

always,

we

eafily credit

if poffible,

to be obtained.

its

love

is

The condu6l

An

wdiile their children often fuffer

tyrdom between

their inclination

and

often very blameable.

The

their duty.

firfl

ought to confult, in difpofingof their children in marriage,

tions.

Were due

it

ought

of parents with regard to the dif-

match

injeft.

got to a certain height,

object, w'hich, in this cafe,

is

the conftant aim of parents

truly de-

is

was only

pofal ot their children in marriage

is

his affec-

no pafllon with

is

the too-credulous fair are often betrayed into a fituation which

But there

mind

love for amufement, others from mere vanity, or on purpofe to

which any one can be guilty

Hence

love,

may engage

object which

find another

to apply his

kind of amufement; and, above

to take every

which people are fo ready to tamper as

Some men make

the beloved obje6t

He

it.

is

advantageous
a real mar-

thing which parents

certainly their inclina-

regard always paid to thefe, there would be fewer unhappy

couples ; and parents would not have fo often caufe to repent the feverity of their
conduct, after a ruined conftitution, a

them

loft character,

or a diftradled mind, has fhown

their miftake.

With regard
be defined,

to love in its ufual

and more appropriate

fignification,

that affe6lion which, being compounded of animal

it

may

defire, efteem,

and benevolence, becomes the bond of attachment and union between individuals
and makes them

of the different fexes ;

feel

in the fociety

of happinefs which they experience no-where elfe.

than a paflion, becaufe

its

it

We

of each other a fpecies

call

involves a defire of the happinefs of

it

an

its

conftituent parts are thofe which have been juft enumerated,

deavour to prove, and then proceed to trace

appe tite

to

Animal

we

rather

and that

fhall firft en-

and progrefs from a

felfifh

agenerous fentiment.
defire

effential part

from

its rife

(tffeElion

object

is

the a6lual energy of the fenfual appetite

of the complex affedion, which

this confideration, that,

is

and that

properly called love,

is

it is

an

apparent

though a man may have fentiments of efteem and bene-

women who are both old and ugly, he never fuppofes himfelf to
any woman towards whom he feels not the fenfual appetite to have

volence towards

be

in love with

a ftronger tendency than to other individuals of her

2

fex.

On

the other hand, that

animal

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

animal defire alone cannot be called the afFedtion of love

who

gratifies fuch a defire without efteeming

is

and

object,

its

197
evident; becaufe he

communi-

vvifliing to

felf.

fame time that he receives enjoyment, loves not the w'oman, but himMere animal defire has nothing in view but the fpecies and the fex of its

objeft

cate at the

and, before

from

different

man

which a

it

itfelf.

make a feledlion, it muft be combined with fentiments very

The firft fentiment with which it is combined, and by

induced to prefer one

is

woman

to another,

feems

to

are delighted with gracefulnefs of perfon, regularity of features, and beauty of

we

complexion.

It is

not indeed to be denied that there

The

female beauty.

when combined with animal

handfome woman; but

which

is

defire,

Savages

called love.

fomething

is

pretend that they do not

will not

moft fevere

diate prepoffefllon in favour of a

the affedtion of love

is

feldom

Even among

To

appetite than of the generofity of efteera.

no doubt be found

of the labouring poor,

but

who

are incapable of Undying

without which neither

In the favage

we fpeak

among

it is

favages

the lower orders in civil fociety

in

it

more of

the felfiffinefs of

many

thefe obfervations

exceptions

of favages in general, and of the great body

mates do not ftudy

in the choice of their

who indeed

that reditude of mind and thofe delicacies of fentiment,

man nor woman can

ftate,

even

of the fenfual appetite, and

feems to be a very grofs paffion, and to have

will

an imme-

does not conftitute the whole of that affedlion

feel the influence

felt.

irrefiftible in

feel

this prepoffeffion,

extremely probable that they have fome ideas of beauty; but

it

be that by which

and even

in the

deferve to be efteemed.

firft

ftages of refinement, the

bond of

union between the fexes feems to confift of nothing more than mere animal defire

and

inftindlive tendernefs for their infant progeny.

unite for the propagation of the fpecies

the children,

That

who

are the fruit of

in fuch unions,

benevolence,
in rude

is

it,

and the

The former

preferves the union

latter

are able to provide for their

whether cafual or permanent, there

impels them to

own

till

fubfiftence.

no mutual efteem and

is

apparent from the ftate of fubjeftion in which

and uncultivated nations, as well as from the manner

in

women

are held

which niarriages

are in fuch nations contra6ted.

Sweetnefs of temper, a capital article with us

itfelf externally in

in the

mild looks and gentle manners, and

female character, difplays

is

the

firft

and perhaps the

moft powerful inducement to love in a cultivated mind. But fuch graces are fcarcely
difcernible in a female favage;

and even

be perceived by a male favage.

Among

only valuable qualities.

in the

moft polifhed

favages, ftrength

woman would

not

and boldnefs are the

In thefe females are commonly deficient; for which

reafon they are contemned by the males as beings of an interior order.

The North-

American

man

No.

13.

tribes glory inidlenefs; the

drudgery of labour degrades a

3E

in their

opinion,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

19S
opinion, and

is

woman

proper for

To

only.

accordingly the bufinefs of the parents

and

it

young perfons in marriage

would be unpardonable meannefs

join

the bridegroom to fhow any fondnefs for the bride.

Caribbee iflands die

in the

Dampier obferves

hufband.

which he was acquainted the

fore,

and carry nothing but

very

general, that

women

their

among

the wild nations with

all

carry the burdens, while the

be-

arms ; and that women even of the higheft rank

treated their wives in every refpe6l like (laves.

Igitely

men walk

men

In Siberia, and even in Ruffia, the capital excepted,

are not better treated.

till

not permitted to eat even in the prefence of her

is

in

in

never

meal attends him with water for wafliing

eats with her husband, but after every

and

woman

In Guiana a

is-

It

might indeed be

women

thought, that animal defire, were there nothing elfe, (hould have raifed

fome degree of eftimation among men but male

decency and refinement, gratify animal defire with as

to

favages, utter ((rangers to

ceremony as they do

little

hunger or third.

Hence

was that

it

in the early ages

of fociety a

one purchafes an ox or a (heep to be food

his wife as

from every nation of which

we

her to his fon Ifaac for a wife.

was

faid,

Philiftines.

The

In the

Abraham bought Rebekah, and gave

to multiply inftances

ging from the favage

(late,

demand

an
the

among

human
it

and

to

any

buy him another

or in the rudeft ftage of fociety

effential a part of the

complex

heart; and

and therefore

may be

it

a(ked.

at the

the laws of Ethelbert,

wife.

But

among

it is

needlefs

nations emer-

and, wherever

it

pre^

a(Fe6lion of love.
it

How

cannot polfibly be
it

by what means we can judge whether

gets poffelTion of
in

any particular

Thefe queftions are of importance, and deferve

though many circumftances confpire to render

them fuch anfwers as

(hall

be perfe6lly fatisfa^ory.

only between individuals of the diiferent fexes.

women

By

price.

adultery with his neighbours wife w'as

favages and the vulgar love be unknown,

to be fully anfvvered

fift

fine,

be real or imaginary?

talk to give to

for her

daughter to Achilles fora wife;

not polTibly have for the fex any of that tender regard and

inftinftive affe6lion

inftance

o(Fers his

the practice has prevailed univerfally

efteem which conftitute fo

if

David, demanding Sauls daughter in marriage,

man who committed

obliged to pay the hulband a

But,

(liall

Jacob, having nothing to give, ferved Laban

Agamemnon

Iliad,

king of England, a

men could

but we

king defireth not any dowry, but an hundred forelkins of the

and fays that he would not

vailed,

To

to be

and valued her only as (he

are acquainted with the early hiftory

content ourfelves with mentioning a few.

fourteen years for two wives.

woman

Inftances innumerable might be collefted

contributed to his fenfual gratification.

it

man purchafed

fame time; and we believe

that a

woman is

man can
ftill

it

no eafy

Love can fubhardly love two

lefs capable of loving

ssi

AND THE OCCULT

more than one man.

at once

men and women

liihed foeiety,

Love, therefore, has a natural tendency to make

other words,

or, in

where alone

it is

this affedlion has

the fource of marriage

young perfons uniting from the impulfe of

portunities of tracing the rife, progrefs,

jeft, not

We

and confequences, of the

without indulging a hope, that they

have

may be

firft

ufeful to the younger part of

inducement which a man can have to prefer one

which

woman

defire,

to another.

i-S'

It

are the qualities which

agility,

is

woman to a particular man. Beauty is

the mofi common of all particular forms to
Let us apply

of beings.

means of

it,

to afcertain

what

is

ferver, however,

there

is

tend to

be met with in the fame fpe-

our own fpecies, and

this definition to

what conftitutes the beauty of the human

we

find

a number almoft

of which forms one only conftitutes beauty, whilfl the

conftitute

firfl;

defined, That particular form

evident, that of countenances

infinite
reft,

not beauty, but deformity or uglinefs.

it is

evident, that of the

not one which includes fo

many

face.

formed

by

It is

of different forms,

however numerous,

To

an attentive ob-

numerous particular forms of

faces as are

try,

uglinefs,

after that particular

which conftitutes beauty. Every particular fpecies of the animal as well as of

may

the vegetable creation

be faid to have a fixed or determinate form, to which,

Or

as to a centre, nature is continually inclining.

lams vibrating

in different dire6tions

over one

the centre, though only one paffes through

that perfed; beauty

oftener produced

is

mean than deformity

To

life.

be added, that elegance of figure, a placid mafculine countenance, with a

attach any

caft

W"e

affection.

combined with animal

faid, that the perfe6tion of beauty,

perfon which indicates llrength and

cies

rarely

and have therefore but few op-

our readers when forming the moft important conne6tion in

may

we

comfortable, that

life

love,

however, throw together fuch refle6tions as have occurred to us on the fub-

fhall,

the

but in po-

any place, fo many things befides mu-

attachment are necelTary to make the married

tual

fee

pair

SCIENCES.

in general,

is

deemed

central form, which

is

may be compared

any other

point, fo

beautiful

human
when it

as of form:

it is

found

feature
is

the line which forms the

ftraight; but this

is

likewife the

oftener found than any one particular degree of concave,

it,

we

As we

are then

more
why

may
we approve and admire falhions of dj efs for no
ufed to them. The fame thing may be faid of colour

accuftomed to beauty than deformity, we

other reafon than that

will be

it

by nature than deformity: we do not

convex, or any other irregular form that lhall be propofed.

we approve and admire

to pendu*-

central point; and, as they all crofs

but than any one kind and degree of deformity.

inftance in a particular part of a

ridge of the nofe

it

conclude that to be the reafon

juft as

are

cuftom alone which determines our preference of the colour of

the Europeans to that of the Ethiopians, and which maiies ttera prefer their own
colour

A KEY TO PHYSIC

200
colour to ours

and cuftom cannot be the caufe of beauty

it.
That we do like it cannot be denied.

fo that, though habit

they are certainly the caufe of our liking

Every one

man

is

woman

or

and,

fenfual appetite,

The

when contemplating beauty

confcious of a pleafing emotion

it is

when

that pleafure

obvious that the

combined with the

is

either in

gratification of the

fum of enjoyment muft be

greatly increafed.

perception of beauty, therefore, neceffarily direds the energy of the fenfual

appetite to a particular objed

which regards
Before

it

but

objed only as the

its

ftill

can deferve the name of love,

combination

this

beft of
it

many

is

a mere

felfifli feeling,

fimiiar inftruments of pleafure.

muft be combined with efteem, which

never beftowed but upon moral charader and internal worth

for, let

woman

is

be

ever fo beautiful, and of courfe ever fo defirable as an inftrument of fenfual gratification, if the

her fex,

be not poffeffed of the virtues and difpofitions which are peculiar to

no man with a generous affedion.

infpire

ftie will

With regard

outlines, indeed, whether of internal difpofition or of external form,

women

but nature, intending them for mates, has given them dif-

are the fame;

though concordant,

which,

pofitions,

for field-exercifes

pations,

woman, more

the

and particularly

Hence

of

is

The man,
delicate

and

Men

women have

ment.

at the

Add

fenfibility

fame time

the

woman, confcious

fit

women

than men, which make

talents.

all their

Women

choice

or to relufe.

have

enjoyments more

communicate enjoy-

the gentle and infinuating

;

and, where-

are indulged with any freedom, they polifii fooner than men.

Thefe are not the only particulars

make a

for

between the

rivalftiip

that they are better qualified to

another capital difference of difpofition

the ultimate end of love,

to

them

make an engaging figure under good

manners of the female fex tend to foften the roughnefs of the other fex
ever

is

requires protec-

have penetration and folid judgment to

underftanding to

which nature has avoided by giving them different

more imagination and

exquifite

bold and vigorous,

timid,

Their intelledual powers correfpond to the

government; a greater proportion would excite dangerous

fexes,

fevere labour,

fedentary occu-

for

fitted

direded by nature to govern

difpofed to obey.

deftination of nature.

governing;

is

fo as to produce

fitted for

man never admires a woman for poffeffing bodily ftrength

and women always defpife men who are deftitute of them.

as a protedor,

inferiority, is

is

that a

it is,

or perfonal courage

The man,

woman,

the

robuft,

delicate,

for nurfing children.

qualified for being a protedor

tion.

are however different,

The man, more

together delicious harmony.

and

to the

men and

it is

that diftinguilh the fexes.

With refped

the privilege of the male, as fuperior and

to

proteftor,

the female, preferred, has no privilege but barely to confent

Whether

this diftin^lion

be the immediate refult of the originally-

different difpofitions of the fexes, or only the effect of affociations inevitably form-

ed,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

201

may be qneftioned but among ail nations it is the practice for men to court,
and for women to be courted and, were the mod beautiful woman on earth to

ed,

invert this pra6lice,

Ihe might

would

flie

however by her external grace

forfeit the efteem,

of the

excite the defire,

man whom

which may be comprehended under the general term

virtues,

lutely neceffary to

make

either

men

or

The

Ihe addreffed.

women

efiimable

great moral

integrity, are all ahfo-

but,

to procure efteem

to the female character, the modejly peculiar to their fex is a very eflential circum-

Nature hath provided them with

ftance.

as a defence againft the artful

it

folici-

tations of the other fex before marriage, and alfo as a fupport of conjugal fidelity,

A woman,
than bold,

whofe difpofitions are

therefore,

who

manners are

is

foft

gentle, delicate,

and modefty, and whufe

pofleffed of a large fliare of fenfibility

and

infinuating,

upon moral

muft,

and rather timid

principles,

efteem and benevolence of every individual of the other fex. who

found underftanding

command

the

is pofftftt

d of

be dieformed, or not fuch as to excite

but, if her perfon

fome degree of animal defire, ftie will attra6l no mans love. In like manner, a
man whofe moral character is good, whofe underftanding is acute, and whofe con^verfation

woman;

is

muft command the efteem of every fenfible and virtuous

inftru6live,

but,

if

flovenly, and,

figure

his

above

all, if

be difagreeable,

are,

in the

manners

unpoliflied,

his habits

personal courage, he will hardly

only when the qualities which command

he be deficient in

excite defire in the female breaft.

efteem

his

It is

fame perfon, united with thofe which excite

defire, that the

individual fo accompliflied can be an objedt of loye to one of the other fex

when

thefe qualities are thus united, each of

gination of the lover.

The beauty

but,

them increafes the other in the ima-

of his miftrefs gives her, in his apprehenfion,

a greater fhare of gentlenefs, modefty, and every thing which adorns the female
chara6ter, thart perhaps

ftie

really poffefles

whilft this perfuafion of her internal

worth makes him, on the other hand, apprehend her beauty

to

be abfolutely un-

rivalled.

The

affe6lion thus generated is

more or

lefs pure,

and

will

manent, according as the one or the other part of which

Where

dominates.

defire of poffeffion prevails over

merits ot the defirable objeft, love lofes

for gratification

it

becomes a

felfifh,

produces no happinefs but

difguft

In that

in the inftnnt

and averfion generally fucceed to

love

is

to its end, regardlefs

no longer a fweet agreeable

pafiion, which, like

hunger and

of fruition; and, when fruition

defire.

On the other

13.

thirft,

is

over,

hand, where efteem,

founded on a virtuous ohara^r and gentle manners, prevails ovr animal

No.

pre-

benevolent chara6ler ; the appetite

ftate,

painful,

lefs per-

compounded

our efteem of the perfon and

becomes ungovernable, and tends violently

of the mifery that muft follow.

affedlion;

its

be more or

it is

defire,.

the


A KEY TO PHYSIC

S02

the lover would not for the world gratify his appetite at the expenfe of a ladys

He

honour or peace of mind.

joyment

is

ment with the

mere fenfual

exquifite than to the

more

gratification of fenfe

ceeded by difguft or averfion,

it

Benevolence

fure.

to

it

him en-

unites fenti-

that, fo far

from being fuc-

woman, whofe

who has

contributed fo

much

to his plea-

an individual, having a general end, admits of a6ls without

feldom

is

fame time

at the

becaufe

lover,

increafes his benevolence to the

charadler and manners he efteems, and

number, and

indeed, for enjoyment; and to

wiflies,

fully

Hence mutual

accomplifhed.

love,

which

is

com-

pofed chiefly of efteem and benevolence, can hardly be of a fhorter duration than
its

Frequent enjoyment endears fuch lovers to each other, and makes

obje6ts.

when the days of fenfual enjoyment are over, efleem and

remain in the mind, making fweet, even in old age, the fociety

conftancy a pleafure

benevolence will
of that pair, in

and,

whom

are colledled the affedlions of hufband, wife, lover, friend

the tendereft affedlions of

From

human

nature.

tween the fexes which deferves the

virtue

and delicacy

man

that a

of gallantry cannot be a faithful or a generous

who has ranged from woman

lover; that in the breaft of him,

mere

we think it appears, that the afteftion bename of love, is infeparably conne6led with

the whole of this inveftigation,

gratification of his fenfual appetite, defire

the female chara6ler; and that,

therefore,

the

to

woman

muft have effaced

maxim

all

for the

efleem for

too generally received,

that a reformed rake makes the befl hufband, has very feldom a chance to be
true.

We

think

it

may

likewife be inferred, that thoufands fancy themfelves in

who know not what love is, or how it is generated in the human breafl and
we beg leave to advife fuch of our readers as may imagine themfelves to
be in that ftate, to examine their own minds, with a view to difcover, whether,

love

therefore

if

the obje6l of their love were old

virtues of their

and ugly, they would

chara6ter, and the propriety of

which deferves

to

their

flill

manners.

efleem them for the

This

is

a queflion

be well weighed by the young and amorous, who, in forming

the matrimonial connection, are too often blindly impelled by mere animal defire,

inflamed by beauty.
defire is gone, (and
fwift pace,)

and more

It
if

may

indeed happen, after the pleafure of gratifying that

not refined by efleem and benevolence, go

mufl with a

new bond of attachment may be formed upon more dignified

Even fuppofing
principles but this is a dangerous experiment.

that a

lafling

good fenfe, good temper, and internal worth of every

upon fuch

it

qualifications,

is

rarely

formed

becaufe

fort, yet
it

a new attachment, even

commonly, or rather always,

happens, that fuch qualifications, the only folid foundation of an indiffoluble conneClion,

if

they did not originally

make efleem predominate over animal

afterwards rendered altogether invifible

by

fatiety of

defire, are

enjoyment creating

difgufl,

which

AND THE OCCULT

which

203

generally the cafe with violent love founded on the defire of enjoyment

is

As

only.

SCIENCES.

the delicate nature of female honour and decorum, and the inexprefiible

grace of a chafte and modeft behaviour, are the fureft and indeed the only means of
kindling at

and ever

firft,

after of

keeping

and of accomplifiiing the excellent ends defigned by

violate the one, or

ton cruelty, to the hatred of her

infamy of both,

is

own

by fraud

to

and unguarded

wan-

objedt, with a

fex and the fcorn of ours, and to the loweft

a condu 61 not only bafe and criminal, but inconfiftent with that
;

and quinteflence of which is deand facred charms of virtue kept untainted, and therefore

and refined enjoyment, the

truly rational

to attempt

it;

under pretence of paflion to fully and corrupt the other, and,

to ex'pofe the too-often credulous

by fo doing,

tender and elegant flame,

alive, this

rived from the bafliful

fpirit

ever alluring to the lovers heart.

The fymptoms produced by

love as a difeafe are as follow

twinkle; the eyes are hollow, and yet appear as

is

if full

The

eye-lids often

with pleafure

the pulfe

not peculiar to the paflion, but the fame with that which attends folicitude and

care.

When

the obje6l of this affe6lion

is

thought

of, particularly if the

fudden, the fpirits are confufed, the pulfe changes, and

variable

fome

in

confcious of his
paflion prevails,

countenance

is

inflances, the perfon

flate,

fighs

he pines away,

dim: cold fweats break out;

and a

lofs of appetite,

lib.

iii.

cap. 7.

The

it is

and red

in others, not being

As

and regardlefs of food.

aifefts

the voice

is

is

force and time are very

the heart and pulfe

fuppreffed;

fleep abfents itfelf; the fecretions

the

the

the eyes grow

become

difturbed,

a he6lic fever, melancholy, or perhaps madnefs, or death,

On this

conftitutes the fad cataftrophe.

on Love, as

is flothful,

grow deeper ; a tremor

alternately pale

its

fad and watchful

is

idea

Oribat. Synop.

lib. viii.

fubje6l the curious

may

confult ^Egineta,

cap. 9. or a treatife profelfedly written

adiftemper, by James'Ferrard, Oxford, 1640.

ancients were

much

addidted to amulets and potions to excite love in the

objedl of their defire, the operation of which was violent and dangerous, and fre-

quently deprived fuch as drank them of their reafon.

Some

able ingredients of which they were compofed were thefe

jynx, infedls bred from putrefadtion, the

the hairs on the tip of a wolfs

tail, his

fifh

of the mofi: remarkthe hippomanes, the

remora, the lizard, brains of a

calf,

fecret parts, the bones of the left fide of a

toad eatea with ants, the blood of doves, bones of fnakes, feathers of fcreech-owls,
twifted cords of wool in which a perfon

had hanged himfelf,

rags, torches, reliques,

a neft of fwallows buried and familhed in the earth, bones fnatched from hungry
bitches, the
to thefe

marrow of a boy

may

famiftied in the midft of plenty, dried

human

be added feveral herbs growing out of putrid fubftances.

liver

Such were

the ingredients that entered into the compofition of that infernal draught a lovepotion.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

204

The

potion.

antidotes againft love were generally agnus caftus, which has the

power of weakening the generative faculty; fprinkling

has rolled herfelf ; tying toads in the hide of a beaft newly flain
lets

mule

the daft in which a

;

applying amu-

of minerals or herbs, which were fuppofed of great efficacy.

Of melancholy.

THE

pathology of melancholy and mania

is

very obfcure; as coming on with-

out any fever, or difturbance in the bloods motion. Often alfo they are hereditary,

depending on the original ftrufture of the body, efpecially of the brain; the fault
of which, however, cannot be detedled by the niceft anatomift.

known,

that various difeafes

brain itfelf or of the cranium prefling

as

fome phyficians

relate, the

And

upon

indeed fo great are

that they often fleep

any injury done to the head, and,

it,

are capable of bringing on this malady.

the, irritations affecting

little

or none for a longtime.

hurt,

or that

body can
a hurt

it is

foretel

for

we know

For, though

difficulties.

irritated,

how

Yet even

may

down and

no-

it,

who have

perceived
until

died in convulfions.
if

they thought

it

a crime to

of religion confifts in certain mortifications,

or denying themfelves the fmalleft indulgence, even of the

is

after lofing a large part of

or of thofe

perfons of a religious tura of mind behave as

be cheerful. They imagine the whole

ments.

into

it,

portion of that vifcus being corrupted,

at length they have fallen fuddenly

Many

by no means free

is

be the nature of the malady from fuch

the brain, have recovered and lived a long time

large

and

this fo defedlive

by a fwelling, or a pointed bone growing

great, or what,

people,

that the brain, or a certain part of

examples are not wanting of people who,

no inconvenience from a

mad

the nervous fyftem in

imperted; knowledge of the difeafes of the brain and nerves,

from

well

it is

hardnefs and drynefs of the brain, and fome peculiar

the nervous fyftem,

irritations affedting

But

of the brain, obftrudlions, tumors, either of the

moft innocent amufe-

perpetual gloom hangs upon their countenances, while the deepeft

melancholy preys upon their minds.

At

length the faireft profpefts vanifli, every

thing puts on a difmal appearance, and thofe very objects which ought to give
delight afford

nothing but difguft.

happy wretch, perfuaded

to his

own

that

no

miferable exiftence.

evil

Life itfelf

becomes a burde

can equal what he

feels,

Nothing can be better calculated than true

fupport the mind of

its

and the un-

often puts an end

It is great pity that ever religion fliould be fo far

perverted as to become the caufe of thofe very evils which

prevent.

-,

it

was defigned to

religion

to

raife

votaries under every afflidtion that can befal them.

teaches them that even the f offerings of this

life

and
It

are preparatory to the happinefs

of

AND THE OCCULT

of the next

complete

and that

all

who

in

SCIENCES.

a courfe of virtue

^65

fhall at lenj2;th arrive at

felicity.

Perfons whofe bufinefs

it is

to

much on gloomy

dwelling too

which true religion

is

recommend

That peace and

fubjedls.

calculated to infpire,

is

favour, than all the terrors that can be uttered.

from outward a6ls of wickednefs

and

real goodnefs

beft

way

in

a more powerful argument in

Terror

may

its

mea

indeed deter

but can never infpire them with that love of God,,

of heart, in v/hich alone true religion

to counteract the violence

fome

mind^

tranquillity of

In

confifts.
,

gaged

beware of

religion to others, iljould

of any pallion,

to

is

Ihort, the

keep the mind clofely

en:-

ufeful purfuit.

Of the PROGNOSTICS

of

DISEASES

with

RULES

for

PRESERVING HEALTH.

PROG NOSTIC
difeafe

Whether

as,

a Judgment of the event either of a llate.of health, or of a

is

it fliall

end

in life or death, be long or fhort, mild or malig-

fymptoms

nant, See. taken from certain

the perfon diall judge what diforder

and
but,

remedy

effectual

is

When, by

the following remarks,

coming upon him, or already prefent, a fafe

is

be found in the Medical Part of the Herbal

will in general

whenever that work

thereof.

not fufficiently

full to

the purpofe, I

fliall

occafional obfervations for prevention and cure as have occurred to

add fuch

me

in

my

late practice.

Hippocrates was the

ner,

and he

is

marked four
tion, its

who

firlt

treated of medicine in a regular

therefore juftly confidered as the father of phyfic.

ftages in diftempers

Rate or height, and

its

The beginning

viz.

confiderable, as

it

cri/is.

By

man-

Hippocrates re-

of the difeafe,

its

augmentafatally,

In the third Rage, therefore, the change

determines the fate of the fick perfon; and this

monly done by means of a

ficknefs,

rational

In fuch difeafes as terminate

declination.

death comes in place of declination.

moR

and

this

is

is

moR com-

word he underRood any fudden change

in

whether for the better or for the worfe, whether health or death fucceed

immediately.

Such a change, he

ving or condemning the patient.

made at that time by nature either abfolHence we may conclude, that Hippocrates imafays,

is

gined difeafes to be only a diRurbance of the animal economy, with which Nature

was perpetually
eaufe.

at variance,

Her manner

and ufing her utmoR endeavours

of aCling on thefe occafions

is

to expel the offending

to reduce to their natural

Rate thofe humours whofe difeord occafions the diRurbance of the whole body,

whether in relation to their quantity, quality, mixture^ motion, or any other way
in

which they become offenRve.

No.

14.

The

principal

means employed by nature for

this

A KEY to PHYSIC

^05
end

is

what Hippocrates

morbific matter lodged in the

pulfion by whatever

brought to

humours

The

crifis

is

matters are

immediately empties

way by which fuch an evacuation

itfelf,

to be

is

or

accom-

takes place either by bleeding, ftool, vomit, fweat, urine, tu-

difcharges not being fufficient to

that nature

When

means nature might think moft proper.

looked upon as the etFe6ls of a true

But thefe evacuations are not

deprefled

weaknefs and continual

be

which, on the contrary, are a fign

crifis;

humours,

and that die

What comes

irritation.

them go

lets

manner

forth in this

is

yet too ftrong; and, while matters remain in this

is

only a bad or imperfect

temper triumphs, or

make a

to

unlefs in confiderable quantity; fmall

crifis,

by the load of

crude, becaufe the diftemper

ftate,

he underftood the bringing the

to fuch a ftate, as to be eafily fitted for ex-

mors or abfceffes, fcabs, pimples, fpots, &c.

,-through

this

this pafs, w'hatever is fuperfluous or hurtful

nature points out to phyficians the

pl idled.

By

calls concoBion.

crifis is to

be expelled.

This diows that the dif-

at leaft is equal in ftrength to nature, w'hich prognofticates

death, or a prolongation of the difeafe. In this laftcafe, however, nature often has an

opportunity of attempting a

made

fredi efforts to

new

crifis

more happy than the former,

advance the conccdlion of the humours.

It

after

mufthere beob-

ferved however, that, according to Hippocrates, concodlion cannot be

in a certain time,

as

every fruit has a limited time to ripen

humours which nature has

for

digefted to fruits

come

for he

made but

compares the

The time

to maturity.

having

required

concodlion depends on the differences among diftempers mentioned above.

thofe which Hippocrates calls very acute, the digeftion or

fourth day; in thofe which are only acute,
or fourteenth, day; which laft

is

it

crifis

happens on the feventh, eleventh,

the longeft period generally allowed by Hippocrates

in diftempers that are truly acute, though in fome places he ftretches

tieth or twenty-firft, nay,

In

happens by the

fometimes to the

fortieth or fixtieth, days.

that exceed this laft term are called chronical.

And

it

to the

twen-

All difeafes

while, in thofe difeafes that ex-

ceed fourteen days, he confiders every fourth day as critical, or at leaft remarkable,

by which we may judge whether the

not ; fo

in

crifis

on the fourth day

will

be favourable or

thofe which run from twenty to forty he reckons only the fevenths, and

in thofe that exceed forty he begins to reckon by twenty.

Beyond the hundred

and twentieth he thinks that the number of days has no power over the

They

are then referred to the general changes of the feafon;

about the equinoxes

others about the folftices

of the ftars of certain conftellations

by months, or even whole years.

their crifes in the feventh

month

or, if

Thus

crifis.

fome terminating

others about the rifing or fetting

numbers have yet any place, he reckons

(he fays) certain difeafes in children have

after their birth,

and others

in their feventh or

even

their fourteenth year.

Though

AND THE OCCULT

Though Hippocrates mentions
diftempers, as' already noticed

The

the twentieth.

SCIENCES.

the twenty-firft as one of the critical days in acute

of his works, he mentions alfo

yet, in other places

reafon he gives for this in one of thofe places of his works

that the days of licknefs were not quite entire.

attached to the odd days

infomuch that

come out upon

fweats that

207

the third,

in

In general, however, he

one of

fifth,

aphorifms he

his

is,

much
The

is

tells us,

feventh, ninth, eleventh, fourteenth,

feventeenth, twenty-firft, twenty-feventh, thirty-firft, or thirty-fourth, days, are

beneficial

but thofe that

brought low, that

He farther fays,

relapfes.

odd day
wife

come out upon other days

his difeafe ftiall

is

fignify that the fick ftiall

be very tedious, and that he

ftiall

that the fever which leaves the fick

upon any but an

ufually apt to relap fe. Sometimes, however, he coiifeffes that

and he gives an inftance of a falutary

happening on the

crifis

be

be fubjedl to

other-

it is

fixth day.

But

thefe are very rare inftances, and therefore cannot, in his opinion, overthrow the

Befides the

general rule.

crifis,

however, or the change which determines the fate

of the patient, Hippocrates often fpeaks of another, which only changes the fpecies

of the diftemper, without reftoring the patient to health; as when a vertigo

turned to

But what
crates,

is

an epilepfy, a tertian fever to a quartan, or to a continual, &c.

was

Hippo-

chiefly contributed to procure the vaft refpedt generally paid to

his

accuracy in prognoftics: thus he not only diftinguiftied one difeafe

from another by the

figns

which properly belonged

each

to

but by comparing

the fame fort of diftemper which happened to feveral perfons, and the accidents

which ufually appeared before and

after,

he could often foretel a difeafe before

came, and afterwards give a right judgment of the event of it. By

nofticating,

he came to be exceedingly admired

height, that

it

after him,

may

juftly

be faid to be

and

his mafter-piece

Hippocrates for

he carried

this

management of

all that

difeafes, yet

to

they knew of figns

and

let

we are obliged to
The firft thing Hip-

us add, that

It

was a good

fign

have a vifage refembling that of a perfon in health, and the fame with

\vhat the fick

much

man had

before he was attacked by the difeafe.

the greater danger

this,

fo

tion

which he gives of the looks

was apprehended.

The

following

When a
of a dying man
:

As

it

is

varied from
the deferip-

patient (fays he) has

nofe ftiarp, his eyes funk, his temples hollow, his ears cold and contradted, the

ftcin

of his forehead tenfeand dry, and the colour of his face tending to a pale-green

or lead-colour, one
thte

prog-^

fuch a

were obliged to the writings of

pocrates confidered, wdien called to a patient, was his looks.

his

to

it

and -Celfus, who lived

Celfus for a true underftanding of the works of Hippocrates.

him

way of

remarks that fucteeding phyficians, though they found out feveral new

things relating to the

jvith

this

may

give out for certain that death is very near at hand

ftrength of the patient has been exhaufted all at

unlefs

once by long watchings, or by a

loofenefs,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

08

This obfervation has been con-

loofenefs, or bcincf a lon time without eating.

who

firmed by thofe of fucceeding phyficians,

The

Hippocratic face.
this

lips

have, from him, denominated

He

author as a confirmation of the foregoing prognoftic.

from the difpofition of the eyes

light

when he fheds tears

the eye

feen, unlefs

is

the

it

hanging relaxed and cold, arelikewdfe looked upon by

When

in particular.

involuntarily

took alfo his figns

a patient cannot bear the

when, in fleeping, fome part of the white of

he ufually deeps after that manner, or has a loofenefs upon

wed as the foregoing ones, prognofticate danger. The eyes

deadened, with a mid before them, or their brightnefs loll, prefages death, or great

him

thefe figns, as

Eyes fparkling,

weaknefs.

and

fierce,

When the

that he foon will be feized with a frenzy.

like fparks

of

denote the patient to be delirious, or

fixed,

and lightning pals before

fire

and

patient fees any thing red,

his eyes,

you may expedl an hasmor-

rage; and this often happens before thofe crifes w'hich are to be attended by a lofs

The

of blood.

you
on

him lying on one

find

which

the podure of a

is

his back, his

weaknefs
the

condition of the patient

in health, it is

arms dretched

out,

and

a good fign

his legs

When

denotes the approach of death.

feet, it

lets

if

to take

will die.

adds

this

little

is

if he- lies

a fign of great

down towards

himfelf fall

moves them up before

or

on

draws, or taking aw^ay fome

a fign that he

is

delirious,

is

his

bed-

his

filth,

or

and that he

the other figns of a prefent or approaching delirium, he alfo

patient

who

naturally fpeaks

ufed to do, or wdien one that talks

oned a

little

flocks of wool; all this

Amongd
When a

it is

If

contradled,

on the cantrary,

away fomething that paffed before them

covering, as if picking or fearching for

drawing out

little

in bed.

a patient in a burning fever

continually feeling about with his hands and fingers, and

face and eyes as

podure

his

hanging down,

and particularly when the patient dides or

by

alfo fliown

body, neck, legs, and arms, a

fide, his

man

is

little

much becomes

begins to talk

filent, this

change

more than he
is

to be reck-

The

fort of delirium, or is a fign that the patient will foon fall into one.

frequent trembling or darting of the tendons of the wrids prefages likewife a deli-

rium.

As

to the

different forts of delirium, Hippocrates is

much more

afraid of

thofe that run upon mournful fubje^ls than fuch as are accompanied with mirth.

When

a patient breathes fad, and

that the parts above the

patient

is

is

oppreffed,

it is

diaphragm are inflamed.

a fign that be

fign in

much on

prognodics

the refpiration in

making

his

feveral places to defcribe the different

and

Breathing long, or when the

a great while in taking his breath, diows him to be delirious

and natural refpirationis always a good

pain,

is in

but eafy

acute difeafes. Hippocrates depended

;

and therefore has taken care

in

manner of a patients breathing. Continual

watching in acute difeafes, are figns of prefent pain, or a delirium near at hand*

Hippocrates alfo drew figns from

all

e.xcrements, whatever they are, that are fepa-

rated

:.;

AND THE OCCULT

His moft remarkable prognoftics, however, were,

The patients urine, in his opinion, is heft when the fediment is

from the urine.

white, foft to the touch,

the time of the

till

This

foon be well.

If

and of equal confiftence.

courfe of the difteniper, and

will

209

body of man.

rated from the

and

SCIENCES.

crifis,

it

continue fo during the

the patient

what Hippocrates called eoncoBed

is

in

is

no danger,

what

urine, or

denotes the concodlion of the humours; and he obferved, that this conco6lion of
the urine feldom appeared thoroughly but on the days of the crifis which happily

We ought

put an end to the diftemper.

with the purulent matter which runs from ulcers.

of the fame quality with the fediment of the urine

that the ulcer

is

As the pus, ivhich is white, and

we are now fpeaking of, is a fign

on the point of doling, fo that which

lour than white, and of an

fore very difficult to

are only thofe which

ill

fmell, is

be cured

may

the urines that are like this

another only in the degrees of more and

;

all

lefs.

the reft are

The

and

firft,

ill,

we have

and

differ

there--

defcribed

from one

never appear but when na-

fign of the conco6lion of humours, with*-

and are a

out which you cannot hope for a certain cure.

as long as the crudity remains,

and of another co-

is clear,

fign that the ulcer is virulent,

be named good;

ture has overcome the difeafe

compare the urine

(faid Hippocrates) to

On

made

the contrary, the laft are

and the humours continue unconcoded.

the urines of this laft fort, the beft are reddilli, with a fediment that

is

Among
and.

foft,

of an equal confiftence; -which denotes, that the difeafe will be fomewhat tedi-

The

ous, but without danger.

worft are thofe which are very red, and at the

time clear and without fediment; or that are

In urine there

is

muddy and

fame

troubled in. the making.

often a fort of cloud hanging in the veffel in wffiieh

it

the higher this rifes, or the farther diftant it is from the bottom, or the

is

received

more

differ-

more there
denotes abundance of

ent from the colour of the laudable fediment above-mentioned, the

crudity.

That which

that which

gether

or

is

black

muddy

little flakes

the

laft.

The

is

is

yellow, or of a fandy colour,

the worft, efpecially

or altogether clear.

if it

has an

ill

That whofe fedimentls

or fcales fpread one

of

bil&

and

is cither alto-

like large

ground wheat^

fmell,

upon another, or bran, prefages

fat or oil that fomeliines

is

ill,

efpeciailly.

fwims upon the top of the urine, and apis a fign of a confumption of the

pears in a form fomething like a fpiders web,

fiefli

and

folid parts.

The making of a

great quantity of urine

and fometimes the quality of it ftiows how the bladder

obferve, that Hippocrates
to fay, wffien the tongue

compared the

ftate

is

is

the fign of a orifis,

affe6led.

of its natural colour.

Thofe

was yellow, and charged

No.

14i

fome

confiftence,

is

with, bile, the urine he kne^v lnu^l^

His prognoftics from the excretions by

that are foft, yellowifti, of

alfo

of the tongue with the urine; that

of courfe be of the fame colour; and, when the tongue was red and

was

We muft

moift,',the

urine

ftool are as follow

and not of an extraordinary

ill

fmell?

A KEY TO PHYSIC

gio
that anfwer to

fmell,

the quantity of what

voided at the ufual hours, are

when

thicker confiftence

the heft of

the diftemper

is

taken inwardly,

They ought

all.

and that

are

alfo to be of a

and it ought to be
;
taken for a good prognoflic, when fome worms, round and long, are evacuated

fame time with them.

at the

The

near the

is

make

is blackilli,

or of a livid hue,

mod

the

is

very

this

ill;

humour, from what part foever

The matter

of the inteftines.

that

is

it

comes, Ihowing the

may

it

Matter

bad.

pure

is

bilious or yellow,

is

obferved,

to be

worfe.

is

it

mixed with

bile

and phlegm

That which

which fmells very

ill

The vomiting of blood

far off.

and,

is

fame time

the

if at

very often mortal.

it

is

The

be

livid,

w here

black, livid,

The fame

green, or the colour of a leek, indicates alarming confequences.

faid of that

mixed

or entirely phlegm, he alfo looks upon to be very

bile,

one of thefe humours only

difpofition

or like the dregs or fcrapings of the guts.

up by vomiting ought

caff

ill

be of dangerous confequence.

Plippocrates places in the fame clafs the matter that

flools that confift of

is

always prognofticates

bile,

of feveral different colours denotes the length

of the diffemper, and, at the fame time, that

wdth blood, or green and black,

bad.

is

That which

pernicious.

pure black, and nothing elfe but a difcharge of black

in

All matter

the patient faint.

of a pale green or red, or frothy and vifcous,

white,

w'atery,

is

be favourable,

ftill

provided the evacuation be not

liquid,

very large quantity and too often, fo as to

that

may

prognofis, however,

though the matter excreted be thin and

That which

crifis

to be

is

death

is

not

The fpittings which give

come up readily and
beginning with much yel-

eafe in difeafes of the lungs and in pleurifies, are thole that

without

difficulty

low but

if

and

frothy, give

fait

no

eafe.

and acrimonious, and caufe violent coughiiigs, they

Whitenefs

but they ought not

may make

they be mixed at the

Spittings purely yellow are

are not good.

tings;

if

they appear of the fame colour, or are red, a great while after the begin-

ning of the diftemper, are

and

good

it is

all

bad

and thofe that are

w'hite, vilcous,

a good fign of conco6lion in regard to fpit-

is

to be vifcous, nor too thick, nor too clear.

We

fame judgment of the excrements of the nofe according to their concoction and crudity. Spittings that are black, green, and red, are of bad confequence.
In inflammations of the lungs, thofe that are mixed with bile and blood prefage well
if

the

they appear at the beginning, but are bad

But the worft

fign in thefe diftempers

the too great quantity of matter that

tling in the bfeaft.

is

is,

if

they arife not about the feventh day.

w hen there

is

no expectoration

ready to be difcharged this

at

all,

way makes a

and
rat-

After fpitting of blood, the difcharge of purulent matter often

follows, which brings on a confumption,

that which arifes on the day of the

bodj, and at the fame time from

crifis,

all

and

and

at laft death.

is

difcharged

parts of the body,

in

kind good fweat

abundance

and thus

all

is

over the

carries off the fever.

;;

AND THE OCCULT

A cold

ver.

fweat

it is

211

alarming, efpecially in acute fevers, for in others

is

iign of long continuance.

neck,

SCIENCES.

When

A gentle

of the head and breaft for inftance, gives no

part,

only a

and

the patient fweats no-where but on the head

a fign that the difeafe will be long and dangerous.

fome particular

it is

relief^

fweat in

but de-

notes the feat of the diflemper, or the weaknefs of the part. This kind of fweat was

The hypochondria,

or the

and even, as well on the right

fide as

called by Hippocrates ephidrojis.

ought always to be
there

foft

any hardnefs or unevennefs

is

the patient cannot bear to have

it

in thofe parts,

touched,

Hippocrates alfo inquired into the

The moft

arteries.

word

phyficians, that Hippocrates touches

any other on which he

as

when he

treats.
is

or heat and fwellings, or

it.

on the

It

is

perfon

at that time very

fubje<5l of the pulfe

more

eafily gathered

fame

in the

p. 106.

fhall

than

from feveral paffages

in his writings

very quick and very great

is

place, of trembling pulfes,

it is

and thofe that

women, when the

a fign of approach-

Coacae Prcenotiones, that he whofe vein, that is

in the

run mad, or elfe that the

beats, is juft going to

much under

not confirmed by experience.

We

flightly

the influence of anger.

Many

other varia-

enumerated by phyficians, but moft of them uncertain, and

tions of the pulfe are

Herbal,

in-

But that our celebrated phyfician underflood fome-

whofe artery of the elbow,

is

an

observed by Galen, and other

pulfe flrikes the finger faintly, and in a languifliing manner,

to fay

when

a fign the inteftines are indifpofed.

beat flowly; when he obferves, that in fome difeafes incident to

He remarks alfo,

When

of the pulfe, or the beating of the

obferves, that in acute fevers the pulfe

and when he makes mention,

ing death.

in general,

left.

uiidei ftood the violent pulfation that is felt in

flamed part, without putting the fingers to

thing even on this fubjedl,

on the

however, and even Hippocrates himfelf,

ancient phyficians,

for a long time, by this

itis

ftate

abdomen

See the Article Pulse, in the Medical Part of the

where the fubjedl

now proceed

to

is

fome

more

fully treated.

farther remarks

on the puognostics of pab-

TICULAll diseases.

The

tertian

ague hath one prognoftic peculiar to

itfelf,

namely, dry fcabby ulcers

breaking out upon the lips; thefe fometimes appear about the third or fourth
paroxyfrn; and then

we may

venture to foretel that the difeafe will go off fponta-

neoufly after the feventh.

The

following are the prognoftics of a nervous fever

and

therefore,

when they

appear, people ftiould take precautions accordingly, by confulting the Medical Part
of the Herbal, p. 128, for a fafe and certain preventative and cure.
firft

grows fomewhat

fluflies

This

is

liftlefs,

and

feels flight chills,

of heat, and a kind of wearinefs

all over, like

and

what

The

patient at

fliudders, with uncertain

is felt

after great fatigue.

always attended with a fort of hea vinefs and dejeftion of fpirits, and more or^
lefs

A KEY TO PHYSIC

21

lefs of a load, pain, or giddinefs

follows, without

of the head;a naufea, ordifrelifh ofevery thing, foort

any confiderable

but infipid phlegm

but frequently with urging to vomit,

thirft,

Though a kind of lucid interval

of feveral hours fometimes intervenes, yet the fymptoms return with aggravation,
efpecially towards night; the head grows more giddy or heavy; the heat greater;
though

little

weak

the pulfe quicker, but

brought up.

is

and coldnefs,

por, or obtufe pain

and oftentimes a heavy pain

with an oppreiTive kind of breathing.

of the head frequently,

atfecls the hinder-part

is felt

on the top

all

great tor-

along the coronary future;

this,

and that of the back part of the head, generally attend nervous fevers, and are
commonly fucceeded by fome degree of delirium. In this condition the patient
often continues for five or fix days, with a heavy, pale, funk,

and yet

ingly not very fick,

ly quite

from being well

far

d;ountenance, feem-

common-

anxious, and

void of deep, though fometipies very drowfy and heavy: but, although he

appears to thofe about him adlually to

The

nies that he doth fo.

fometimes

and fometimes

fluttering,

fleep,

pulfe during

and then, with a fudden

ting,

reftlefs,

tient at firft

With

complains of a dejedlion of

utterly infenfible of

time

it,

and de-

quick, weak, and unequal

is

the face, immediately very quick, and per-

haps foon after furprifingly calm and equal

Prognoftics of a fcarkt fever.

is

few moments flow; nay, even intermit-

for a

flufli in

he

all this

and thus

alternately.

various general
fpirits,

fymptoms of

fever, the pa-

a flight forenefs or rather

ftiflhefs in

the neck, with a fenfe of ftraitnefs in the mufcles of the neck and flioulders, as
if

they were bound with cords.

The fecond day

of the fever this forenefs in the

throat increafes, and the patient finds a difficulty in fwallowing

but the difficulty

feems lefs occafioned by the pain excited in the attempt, er by the ftraitnefs of the
paflage, than by an inability to throw the neceffary mufcles into a6lion.
feels hot

and dry, but not hard; and the patients experience frequent

gent pains, as
ing to the

if

lips,

and

thirft

makes them w iffi

and the exertions neceffary

drink

much

the night.

The

touched with the point of a needle.

in

is

a few hours

this

pun-

hot and burn-

feldom care to

uneafinefs alfo from want of reft during

In the morning of the third day, the

redder than ufual

breath

finall

fldn

but the tendency to ficknefs,

in deglution, are fo unpleafant, that they

They have much

at a time.

to drink

The

face,

neck, and breaft, appear

rednefs becomes univerfal

and increafes

to fuch a degree of intenfity, that the face, body, and limbs, refemble a boiled lob-

Her

in colour,

The figns

and are evidently fwollen.

of an impending phrenitis, or inflammation of the brain, are fully explained

in the

Medical Part of this work,

fatal

fymptoms

p.

In this difeafe, the following are the moft

39.

continual and furious delirium, w ith watching; thin watery

1

urine.

AND THE OCCULT

and

\vhite fasces, the urine

urine,

preffion of thefe excretions

SCIENCES.

913

running off involuntarily, or a total fup-

ftools

a difpofition to become ftupid, or to

faint,

trembling,

rigour, chattering of the teeth, convulfions, hiccough, coldnefs of the extremities,

trembling of the tongue,

The

tranquillity.

out

a fudden ceffation of pain, with apparent

voice,

fhrill

following are favourable

Sweats, apparently critical, breaking

a feeming effort of nature to terminate the difeafe by a diarrhoea

hemorrhage from the nofe ;

fwellings

of the

a large

behind the ears

glands

hfe-

morrhoids.

x>ertigo is

difeafe;

obferved to be both the fymptom and forerunner of fome dangerous

fuch as apoplexy, epilepfy, or hyfteria; haemorrhages from the nofe and

other parts; fuppreffion of the menfes; plethora; fevers, as well as fuch as are

accompanied with

which there

debility as thofe in

blood tow'ards the head.

Though a

comitant of other difeafes, yet

it is

vertigo be for the moft part a fymptoha

and con-

fometimes a primary difeafe, returning at inter-

increafing gradually, and equally impeding

vals,

an increafed impetus of the

is

and deftroyihg the funftions of

the body and mind.

delirium accompanies

removed, and fcarcely

flight, eafily
it is

many

of

fevers

be accounted a bad

to

Sometimes

kinds.

different

it

is

Often, however,,

fign.

very violent, and one of the very worft of figns, requiring the utmofi care and

attention.

delirium

is

either fierce or mild.

The fierce

delirium

is

preceded and

accompanied by a rednefs of the countenance, a pain of the head, a great beating,

of the arteries, and noife in the ears

med,

fierce,

fliining,

and unable

the eyes in the

or deep troubled with horrid dreams

fual peeviflinefs

and

mean time looking

to bear the light; there

either

is

no

red, infla.-

flee p at all,

the wonted manners are changed, an unu-

The

ill-nature prevail.

depravation of judgment

ved between deep and waking, and by the perfons crediting

his,

is firfl

obfer-

imagination, while

the perceptions of fenfe are neglected, and the ideas of memory occur in an irregular

manner. Fury at

lafl

takes place, and fometimes an unufual and incredible degree

of bodily ftrength, fo that feveral people can fcarcely keep a fingle patient

The

mild delirium, on the contrary,,

is

pale collapfed countenance, and a vertigo

he

is

ful.

when

the patient

fits

in

in his bed".

weak

pulfe, a

an eredt pofture

feldorn angry, but often ftupid, and fometimes remarkably grieved

and

The

when

patient
light

often accompanied with a

is

lofs

of judgment, as in the former kinds,

is firfl

half awake; but a temporary recovery enfues

and the converfation of

and attends

little

to the things

friends.

The

around him; at

perceived

the

upon the admifllon of the

patient mutters
lafl,

fear-

much

becoming quite

to himfelf,

fiupid, he nei-

ther feels the fenfation of hunger or third, nor any of the other propenfities of nature,

by which means the urine and excrements are voided involuntarily..

No.

14.

3 I

As

the

diforder.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

214
diforder increafes,

when

this,

The

and death.

fainting,

terminates in

it

fubfultus tendinum, tremors,

other fpecies of delirium alfo frequently terminates in

the fpirits and ftrength of the patient begin to

companying

is

The fymptoms

fail.

ac-

either of thefe kinds of delirium fliow an unufual, inordinate, and une-

qual, motion of the blood through the brain,

which

convulfions,

and a great change

neceffary to the exercife of the mental powers. It

that an inflammation of the brain,

more or

lefs violent

is

in that (late of

it

fufficiently probable,

and general, fometimes takes

This we

place, although the figns of univerfal inflammation are frequently flight.

learn from the diffedtion of dead bodies, which often fliow an univerfal rednefs of
the brain or of

The

fome of its

fometimes an etfufion or fuppuration.

parts, or

prognoftics of the

or ulcerous, fore throat, are very

malignant, putrid,

different in different perfons.

Sometimes a rigour, with

throat and painful ftiffnefs of the neck, are the

Sometimes alternate

chills

and

It feizes others with

toms ; great pain of the head, back, and limbs

and continual

fighing.

ing

much

with

ftate,

their beds.

and

chills

efpecially,

There

is

The

on the

eyes; all

is

it

commonly

begins with

it

ftate

foft

well,

more

and

free,

were w'eeping

the countenance often

and equal

the floughs of the fauces call off

at the

crifis

But

cuticle.

denly difappear or turn

glalfy, the urine pale

if

bottom tolerably clean, and

florid

if the

it

breain the

follows foon, by a continuance of the fweat, and

if

plentiful expeclortion,

and a very large

a rigour comes on, and the exanthemata fud-

livid; if the pulfe

remains hot and parched as

following are

comes on the third or fourth day;

a turbid, fubfiding, farinaceous, urine, a

defquamation of the

The

and fome degree of vigour and quicknefs return

and a falutary

The

gentle eafy fweat

flow, firm,

and appear

to

very fudden weak-

though fometimes heavy and undu-

and bloated, though fometimes pale and funk.

If a

more common

is

fpirits,

from the very beginning.

faintnefs,

eyes heavy, reddifli, and as

in a kindly manner,

more

great dejection of

and

breaft,

quick, fmall, and fluttering

is

pulfe becomes

is

But

frequent vomiting and purging, in children

commonly a very

the prognoftics in the difeafe:

thing

fymp-

at laft they are obliged to take to

till

and fometimes very fevere; though a contrary

fluflied,

if the

feverifli

a vaft oppreflion of the prascordia,

the difeafe attheonfet.

at ftomach,

ficknefs

pulfe in general

full,

giddinefs, drowfinefs, or

much more

heats, load and pain of the head, forenefs of throat, and hoarfenefs

nefs, great heavinefs

lating.

is

of.

perfons go about for whole days in a droopr

uneafinefs and anxiety,

Thus various

fome cough,
the adult.

Some grown

fymptoms complained

firft

fome degree of

heats, with

head-ach, uflier in the diftemper.

and forenefs of the

fulnefs,

grows very fmall and quick, and the fkin

w^ere; the breathing

more

difficult,

the eyes dead and

and limpid; a phrenzy or coma may be expelled

to fucceed,

with

AND THE OCCULT

with a coldifli

clammy fweat on

efpecially if a fingultus

of,

livid, ftools,

At

from a brazen tube.

fpit up,

it is

A hoarfenefs,

is

if

The cough

wdth fome

came

the noife

a fenfe of pain about the larynx,

whizzing found in infpiration, as

w'hich attends

it

is

if

the paffage

commonly dry

and,

if

a matter of a purulent appearance, and fometimes films

With

refembling portions of a membrane.

reftleffnefs,

now bedefpaired

intolerably fetid.

fame time there

the

of the air were flraitened.

cy of pulfe, a

life will

fpeaking and coughing, as

in

difficulty of refpiration, with a

any thing be

155

the throat lliould attend, with

in

croup, or injiammatmi of the glottis.

and ringing found, both

flirillnefs

fome

the face or extremities

and choaking or gulping

fudden, liquid, involuntary,

Symptoms of the

SCIENCES.

all

thefe fyinptoms, there

and an uneafy fenfe of

When

heat.

a frequen-

is

the internal fauces

are viewed, they are fometimes without any appearance of inflammation; but fre-

quently a rednefs, and even fwelling, appears; and fometimes there

ance of matter

like to that rejedled

is

an appear-

by coughing, together with the fymptoms now

defcribed, and particularly a great difficulty of breathing, and a fenfe of ftrangling in the fauces,

by which the patient

fometimes fuddenly taken

is

off.

In a pleurify, the pathognomonic figns are a cough, a difficulty of breathing, a

pain of the

fide,

and a continued fever; the adjundl

figns are the various forts of

When

matter expedorated, which are fometimes bloody, fometimes bilious, &c.

the pa.ins, which at firftaffedted one fide only,

fliall

afterwards fpread into the other;

or when, leaving the fidefirft affedted, they pafs entirely into the other; thefe are

always marks of a dangerous difeafe.

inflammation

medy

is

chiefly to

delirium coming on during a pneumoriic

always a fymptom denoting

be depended on ; and

finds moft convenient

may

much

danger.

as he can bear;

fliould

Bleeding

is

the re-

be done in either arm, as the furgeon

and the quantity taken away ought

Yet the

large as the patients ftrength will allow.

as

much

in general to

be as

patient muft keep out of bed

have plenty of warm diluting drinks, impregna-

ted with vegetable acids, accompanied with nitre or fome other cooling neutral

and the belly alfo ought

Vomiting

medicines.

ced

ftate of the difeafe

toration.

in the

kept open by emollient clyfters or cooling laxative

beginning

is

dangerous

but in a fome what advan-

emetics have been found the bell means of promoting expec-

Fomentations and poultices to the pained part have been found ufeful;

but bliftering
to

to be

fa.lt

be applied

is
till

found to be
at

much more

effedlual.

blifter,

how'ever, ought not

lead one bleeding hath been premifed, as venefedtion

is

defs ef-

when the irritation of a blifter is prefent. If the difeafe be moderate, a blifmay be applied immediately after the firft bleeding but in violent cafes, where
may be prefumed that a fecond bleeding may foon be neceflary after the firft, it

feftual
ter
it

will

A KEY TO PHYSIC

^16
will

be proper to delay the

pofed that the

irritation

and

thorax, for

till

after the

occafioned by the

ing becomes necelfary.

bliftering;

blifter

It

may

blifter will

more

to

bly,

lefs effedl

it

have

diftant parts they

empyema, which

is

little

The keep-

ededl.

perpetual

called a

is

When

than a repeated bliftering.

often ends in an

fup-

always be applied fornevvhere on the

ing the bliftered parts open, and making what

much

may be

it

be over before a third bleed-

frequently be of ufe in this difeafc to repeat the

in that cafe the plafters lliould

when applied

fecond bleeding, when

blifter,

has

this difeafe terminates unfavoura-

occafioned by the effufion of a quantity

of purulent matter into the cavity of the thorax, producing a lingering and painful

The

diforder, very often incurable.

firft

pain in the breaft, which befofe was continual

empyema

an

fign of

this is

a ceffation of the

is

followed by a fenfation of

weight on the diaphragm; and a fiudluation of matter, fometimes making a noife

that

may

be heard by the by-ftanders: the acute fever

is

changed into a

hedlic, with

The

an exacerbation at night: a continual and troublefome dry cough remains.

refpiration

from

matter

is

exceedingly

is

difficult,

effufed, but not

becaufe the lungs are prevented by the matter

The

expanding themfelves.

fully

is

the

lie eafily

on that

fide

where the

on the other, becaufe then the weight of the matter on

the mediaflinum produces unealinefs.

more

patient can

body emaciated, and

its

The more

the hedlic heat

llrength decayed.

is

augmented, the

In fome there

is

danger of

when they ftoop down, which goes off when they alter that pofture of the body
and in fome there is a purulent fpitting. Thefe fymptoms are
accompanied with great anxiety, palpitation of the heart, and faiutings. Very
fuffocation

few recover after an

empyema

paracenteffs be negledled.

bloody

fetid

purulentj

After this operation

pus be difdiarged,

pale, frothy,

has been once formed, efpecially

livid,

if

is

performed,

the fever continue, and

if

if

if

the operation

a great quantity of

the patient fpit

no hope; but, when a fmall quantity of pus, of a white colour, not very
charged

when

up a

or green, matter, with a decay of ffrength, there

is

fetid, is dif-

the fever and thirft prefentiy ceafe, the appetite returns, and fmces

of a good confiftence are difeharged, the ffrength aifo returning in fome degree;
there

is

then hope of a perfedl recovery. If the matter be not dried up

time, the difeafe readily changes to a fiffulous ulcer,

An empyema

affedling both ffdes of the thorax

is

which

is

in

feven weeks

very difficult to cure.

more dan'ierous than

tliat

which

affeds only one.

The injlammalion of the

heart

ed, but in a higher degree;

fymptoms,

fainting,

it is

is

attended with

palpitation of the

irregular pulfe, watery eyes,

all

the fyui})toms before mention-

beffdes Ibmetimcs acconq-anied witlrhydrophobic

heart,

a feeniing madnefs, a

funk and

and a dejedted countenance, with a dry black tongue.

i

The

AND THE
The

OCCtTLT SCIENCES.

Sir

of an inflammation of the Jiomiach are, great heat and pain in the

epigaftric region, extreme anxiety, an aknoft continual and painful hiccough, with
figns

a moft painful vomiting of every thing taken into the ftomach.

This difeafe

is

always very dangerous, and the progncfis doubtful, which alfo muft always be

in

proportion to the feverity of the fymptoms.

alfo,

and

its

particularly by the great debility

it

it

admit of refolution may be known by

moderate
of the

ftate

firft

its

muft be obvious

may be attended with fatal

it may prove fuddenly

produces,

without running through the ufual courfe of inflammations.

fatal,

may

the fenfibility of the

great connection with the reft of the fyftem,

that an inflammation of it, by whatever caufes produced,

confequences

and an abatement

pulfe,

From

of the hiccough, denote a gangrene and fpeedy death.

flomach

about the

ceffation of pain, coldnefs

and intermitting

praecordia, great debility, with a languid

'

tendency to

Its

having arifen from no violent caufe, by the

of the fymptoms, and by a gradual remiflion of thefe in the courfe

or at moft of the fecond

week of the

difeafe.

The tendency

to gangrene

be fufpeCled from the fymptoms continuing with unremitting violence, not-

and a gangrene already begun may be

known by the fymptoms above-mentioned, particularly great debility and fudden
withftanding the ufe of proper remedies

The tendency

may be known by

fymptoms
continuing but in a moderate degree for more than one or two weeks, and by a
confiderable remiffion of the pain, while a fenfe of weight and anxiety ftill remains.

ceffation of pain.

to fuppuration

the

When an abfcefs has been formed, the frequency of the pulfe is firft abated,
after

it

increafes, with frequent cold ftiivering,

noon and evening ;

Thefe

in the after-

followed by night-fweats, and other fymptoms of heClic

at length prove fatal, unlefs the abfcefs

the pus be evacuated by vomiting,

An

and an exacerbation

inflammation of the

open into the cavity of the ftomach,

ftiows itfelf

inteflines

by a fixed pain

The

pain

is

fame caufe

as thofe

abdomen,

in the

often felt in different

parts of the abdomen, but more frequently fpreads over the whole, and

about the navel.

fever.

and the ulcer foon healed.

attended with fever, vomiting, and coftivenefs.

larly violent

but foon

Inflammations of the inteftines

may

from the ftomach; though commonly the former

is

arife
will

particu-

from the

more rea-

from cold applied to the lower extremities, or to the belly itfelf. It is

alfo found fupervening on the fpafmodic cholic, incarcerated hernia, and volvulus.
dily occur

The inflammations

of the inteftines have the fame termination with thofe of the

ftomach ; and the prognofis in both cafes

Inflammation of the

liver is

as to

upon the

make it appear like a

No. U.

much

the fame.

attended with confiderable fever; a frequent, ftrong,

an acute pain in the right hypochondrium,

The pain is very often in fuch a part of the fide

and hard, pulfe; high-coloured urine

increafed by preffmg

is

part.

pleurify

and frequently,
3

like that, is iucreafed

-

on infpiration.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

218

The

ration.

commonly attended with a cough, which is generally

when the pain thus refembles a pleurify, the patient
except upon the fide afFe6led. The pain is frequently extended to

difeafe

is

dry, but fometimes moift

cannot

lie eafily

alfo

and,

the clavicle, and to the top of the fhoulder; and

is

attended fometimes with hic-

cough, and fometimes with vomiting.

The

may end by

gangrene; and the tendency to the one or

refolution, fuppuration, or

to the other of thofe events

intlammation of the

may be known from what

Injiamrnation of the fpleen,

liver, like others,

has been already mentioned.

comes on with a remarkable

Ihivering, fucceeded by a

moft intenfe heat and very great third; a pain and tumour are perceived

hypochondrium, and the paroxyfms

for the

the patients expofe thetnfelves for a

little

grow very

mod

air, their extremities

in general

chiefly the large joints,

rheumatifm from gout

neral be traced to

much

occurs

lefs affedlion

and often feveral of them

earlier period of life than gout;

notobferved

it is

fome obvious exciting caufe,

place

when they

fweat

is

it

but

When

in

affedls

occurs at an

can

it

in ge-

To

the pains are dill ready to

;

when, at the

fome degree of pyrexia, and withTome

fwelling,

to be confidered as partaking

is

But when there

of the nature of the acute rheumatifm.

is

no longer any degree of

the pained joints are without rednefs; w'hen they are cold

when they cannot

diff;

and

are efpecially fevere in the night-time

time, they are attended with

pyrexia remaining

it

particularly to the action of cold.

and efpecially fome rednefs, of the joints; the difeafe

when

domach

of the

fame time:

at the

to be hereditary

didinguilh the chronic rheumatifm from the acute

and

immediately

If an htemorrage happens, the blood flows out of the left noftril.

cold.

rheumatifm there

fame

When

part aifume a quartan form.

to the free

It is often a very difficult matter to didinguilh

fhift their

in the left

made

eafily be

to fweat; or

brought out on the red of the body,

it is

only

when, while a free and

clammy and

warm

cold on the pain-

ed joints; and when, farther, the pains of thefeare increafed by cold, and relieved by
heat, applied to them, the cafe

is

be confidered as that of a purely chronic rheu-

to

matifm; or perhaps more properly the

be termed the date of

irritability,

employed

in the

mod

furrounded

with

is

named

affeft different joints;

is

ifchias or fciatica.

namd lumbago ;

is

The

is the

cafeof the vertebrc

or of the hip-joint,

aflfe6lions,

which at

in the

when

the

fird partake

Such are frequently the lumbago, and other

which feem to be more feated

chronic

efpecially apt to

Violent drains and fpafms, occurring on fudden

and fomewhat violent exertions, bring on rheumatic

of the chronic rheumatifm.

but

may

defcribed

many mufcles,and thofe of which the mufcles are

condant and vigorous exertions. Such

of the loins, the affedlion of w'hich

difeafe

now

and the fecond the date of atony.

rheumatifm, or rather the atonic, may

affe6l thofe which are

fird of the conditions

mufcles than

in the joints.

The

rheumatic pains from thofe referabling them which occur in the

affections

diflinCtion of the

fiphilis

and fcurvy

mud

AND THE OCCULT

to thofe difeafes.

What we call

paroxyfm of the gout

of fome of the joints.

aflfedtion

warning, but

219

from the feat of the pains or from the concomitant fymp-

rnuft be obvious, either

toms peculiar

SCIENCES.

principally conftituted by an inflammatory

is

This fornetimes comes on fuddenly, without any

generally preceded by feveral

is

fymptoms

fuch as the ceafing of

a fweating which the feet had been commonly affected with beforp; an unufual
coidnefs of the feet and legs; a frequent numbnefs,

whole

pricking

along

mufcles

of the legs

the

and an unufual turgefcence of the

fymptoms take place

alternating

in the

with a fenfe of

lower extremities; frequent cramps of the

of the

lower extremities, the body

more

other

The

or lefs difturbed.

fymptoms of

appetite

it,

be diftinguiflied from the gout

the appetite

becomes keener than

thefe, however,

ufual.

Dr. Cullen thinks, are but few;

and that the two difeafes may be for the moft part diftinguifhed with great

certainty,,

pre-difpofition, the antecedent circumftances, the part aftedfed,

the recurrences of the difeafe, and

its

connexion with the fyftem; which circum-

moft part, appear very differently

ftances, for the

or

flatulency,

fome cafes of rheumatifm which are fcarcely

generally fuppofed, that there are

by obferving the

particular

felt.
Thefe fymptoms take place for feveral
week or two, before a paroxyfm comes on; but commonly,,

upon the day immediately preceding

to

and

in

indigeftipn, are

days, fornetimes for a

.It is

diminiflied

is

fome

affedted with

is

degree of torpor and languor, and the fundtions of the ftomach

are

While thefe

veins.

Prognoftics that a perfon

is

in the

affedled with ihe plague

two difeafes.
1.

Great

lofs of ftrength. 2.

Stupor, giddinefs, and confequent ftaggering, which refembles drunkennefs; or the

head-ach and various delirium.

3.

Anxiety, palpitation, fyncope, and efpecially

the weaknefs and irregularity of the pulfe, denoting a confiderable difturbance in the
adlion of the heart.

Naufea and

4.

vomiting,

which fhow an accumulation of vitiated

and from thence derived into the

fiderable fpafm,

and

The fmall-pox

lofs

particularly the vomiting

bile in the gall-bladder

inteftines

and

of

bile,

biliary du6fs,

and ftomach; which alfo denote a con-

of tone in the extreme veftels on the furface of the body,.

begins with a fynocha, or inflammatory fever. It generally comes

on about mid-day, with fome fymptoms of a cold

fiderable languor

and drowfinefs.

hot ftage

is

ftage,

and commonly with a con-

foon formed, and becomes more

confiderable on the fecond and third day. During this eourfe children are liable

tO:

frequent ftartings from their {lumbers; and adults, if they are kept in bed, are dif-

pofed to

much

fweating.

one or two epileptic

appears.

The

the fmall-pox are,

of that veficie

fits;

principal

full

On

the third day, children are fpmetimes affected with

and towards the end of the third day the eruption commonly

marks by which the cMcken-pox may be

L The

diftinguiflied

from

appearance, on the fecond or third day of the eruption,

of ferum upon the top of the pock.

2.

The

cruft,

which covers
the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

220
the pocks on the

fifth

day; at which time thofe of the fmall-pox are not at the height

Foreign medical writers hardly ever mention the

of their fuppuration.

the chicken-pox; and the writers of our

of it than

its

name of
own country fcarcely mention any thing more

name. Morton fpeaks of it as

if

he fuppofed

But thefe two diftempers are furely

fmall-pox.

it

to be a very mild genuine

totally different

from one another>

not only on account of their different appearances above-mentioned, but becaufe

who have had the fmall-pox are capable of being infefted with the chickenwho have once had the chicken-pox arenot capable of havingit again,

thofe

pox; but thofe

though to fuch as have never had

diflemper

this

feems as infe6tious as the fmall-

it

Dr. Heberden wetted a thread in the moft conceded pus-like liquor of the

pox.

chicken-pox which he could find

and, after making a flight incifion,

upon the arm of one who had formerly had

fined

diately,

and fhowed no

two diftempers,

it is

figns

of any infedion.

it;

From

the

little

it

was con-

wound healed up imme-

the great fimilitude between the

probable, that, inftead of the fmall-pox, fome perfons have

been inoculated from the chicken-pox

and that the diflemper which has fuc-

eeeded has been miftaken for the fmall-pox by hafty or inexperienced obfervers.
It

a promifing

is

ful itching in the

When

when

fign, in the palfy,

affeded parts; and,

if a

the patient feels a flight degree of pain-

fever fliould arife,

it

bids fair to cure the

much more room to hope for a

cure than when it is gone, as well as the power of motion. But, when we obferve
the flefh to wafte, and the fkin to appear withered and dry, we may look upon the
palfy.

the fenfe of feeling remains, there

is

difeafe to be incurable. Convulfions fupervening on a palfy are a fatal fign.

When/flf/m^ happens

omen

when

but,

danger

is

it

fomewhat

dent caufe,

it is

in the beginning of

any acute diflemper,

it is

not a good

takes place in the increafe or at the height of the difeafe, the

lefs

but in general, when fainting comes on without any evi-

to be dreaded.

In violent haemorrhages

it is

favourable

as the

bleeding veflels gain time to contrad and recover themfelves, and thus the patient

may

efcape.

When

perfons of a

full habit faint

through excefs of paflion, they

ought to be bled without delay, and fhould drink vinegar or lemon-juice diluted
with

water; and, after the bowels are emptied .by a clyller, take a paregoric

draught, and go to bed.

Prognoftics from convuljions.

are always to be dreaded
life.

Except

but lefs

in

in

fome few

cafes, convulfive diforders

young people than

Thofe which attack girls under the age of puberty

in fuch as are

advanced in

will generally ceafe

on the

appearance of the menfes; and boys have likewife a chance of being relieved as they

advance
is

in life: but in

grown-up people, unlefs the caufe be very evident, a cure

hardly to be expe6led, efpecially after the difeafe has been of long continuance.

The treatment

is

much

the

fame with

that of epilepfy.

The

AND THE OCCULT

The

epUepfy frequently

SCIENCES.

preceded by a pain

is

221

fome

in the head, larftitUde,

diftur-

batice of the fenfes, unquiet fleep, unufual dread, dimnefs of fight, a noife in the
ears, palpitation of the heart, coldnefs of the joints;

and

in

fome there

is

a fenfa-

tion of formication, or a cold-air, &c. afcending from the lower extremities to-

It the epilepfy comes on before the tinae of puberty, there are

ward the head.

fome hopes of

its

But

going off at that time.

and

about the twenty-firft year,

worfe

flill

if

a bad fign when

it is

the

fits

attacks

it

grow more frequent

for

then the animal fundlions are often deftroyed, as well as thofe of the mind, and
the patient becomes ftupid and

Sometimes

foolifli.

will terminate in

it

melan-

choly or madnefs, and fometimes in a mortal apoplexy or palfy. It has fometimes,

however, been obferved that epilepfies have been removed by the appearance of
cutaneous difeafes, as the
appear,

Signs

and

ufual.
gent,

a favourable prognoftic.

white frothy

thirft,

A heat begins

fmall-pox, meafles, &c. therefore, if any of thefe

itch,

may be reckoned
of a diabetes
The

it

diabetes

fpittle,

fhows

by degrees

The

thirft

by a drynefs of the mouth

itfelf

in

fomewhat

to be perceived in the bowels,

and gradually increafes.

the patient

firfl

and the urine

which at

firft is

little

pun-

continues to augment by degrees, and

power of retaining

lofes the

larger quantity than

his urine for

any length of

The moft Angular phenomenon in this difeafe is, that the urine feems to be
entirely or very much divefted of an animal nature, and to be largely impregna-

time.

ted with a faccharine

fugar-cane.

made fome

For

fait,

fcarcely diftinguiftiable from that obtained from the

this difcovery

we

are indebted to Dr.

Dobfon of

Liverpool,

experiments on the urine of a perfon labouring under a diabetes,

who
who

difcharged 28 pints of urine every day, taking during the fame time from 12 to 14

pounds only of

folid

and liquid food.

When

a perfon perceives any of the before-

mentioned fymptoms upon him, (particularly the quantity and

no time in taking the proper precautions

cured unlefs when taken at the very beginning, which

brine,) he ftiould lofe

is

rarely

Briftol water is

Hydrophobia

reckoned a fpecific in
.

This

difeafe

ble time after the bite.

infipidity of the

for the diabetes

is

feldom done.

this diforder.

commonly does not make its attacks till a confiderait has commenced in feven or eight

In fomo few inftances

days from the accident; but generally the patient continues in health for twenty,
thirty,

or

forty, days, or

even

much

The wound,

longer.

if

not prevented, will in

general be healed long before that time, frequently with the greatefteafe

fometimes

it refifts all

nearer the wounded place

,No.

15.

though

kinds of healing applications, and forms a running ulcer,

which difchargcs a quantity of matter

drophobia appear.

is

for

many

days.

It has

been

to the falivary glands, the fooner the

The approach of

the difeafe

is

known by

faid, that the

fymptoms of hy-

the cicatrix of the

wound

A KEY TO PHYSIC

'

228

wound becoming
part

pains llioot from

is

it

towards the throat

and feems

livid or red ftreaks,

there

and elevated, and by a peculiar fenfe of pricking at the

iiard

fometimes

nothing remarkable to be obferved about

choly, loves folitude, and has ficknefs at ftoraach.

tom of

The

it.

though frequently

becomes melan-

patient

Sometimes the peculiar fymp-

comes on

the difeafe, the dread of water,

furrounded with

it is

to be in a ftate of inflammation

all at

We

once.

have an in-

ftance of one who, having taken a vomit of ipecacuanha for the ficknefs he
his ftomach,

was feized with the hydrophobia at the time he was drinking the vvarm

common

water. Sometimes the difeafe begins like a

daily increafing, the hydrophobic

fymptoms

and they have a

they cun fvvallow

tions

a boy fent out to

fliow themfelves like a convulfive

real dread of water or

Dr. James,

or not.

it

fill

fore throat; and, the forenefs

In others, the mind feems to be primarily

fpafm of the mufcles of the fauces.

affe6led,

felt at

any

liquid before they try

in his Treatife

whether

on Canine Madnefs, men-

two bottles with water, who was fo

terrified

by the

noife of the liquid running into them, that he fled into the houfe crying out that

he was bewitched.

He

from a cafk, was

ale

mentions alfo the cafe of a farmer, who, going to draw fome

terrified to

fuch a degree

at its

ran out in great hafte with the fpigot in his hand.

fymptom comes

on,

it is

Nay, the bare

any thing clear or pellucid,

difeafe,

it

will give the

With regard

veffcl, that

But, in whatever

certain that the mofi: painful fenfations

attempt to fvvallow liquids.

patient into convulfions.

running into the

fight of water, of

manner

he

this

accompany every

a looking-glafs, or of

utmoft uneafinefs, and even throw the

to the affection of the

mind

does not appear that the patients arc deprived of reafon.

itfelf in

Some

this

have,

merely by the dint of refolution, conquered the dread of water, though they never
could conquer the convulfive motions which the contaft of liquids oeeafioned
yet even this refolution has been of no avail

for the convulfions

toms, increafing, have almofl always deftroyed the

in this diflemper the

for

fymptoms are

we feldom read two

fuing hydrophobia
difeafe

one was

nay, Dr.

is

a perfon

is bitten,

very uncertain.

Vaughan

it

will

to afcite 9 .

is

in

many

But from the

who

are bit do not

fall into

the

by a mad dog, only

interval betwixt the bite and

relates that, out of thirty bitten

During the

fymptoms by which we can

cer-

appear or not.

Prognoftics of a dropfy of the hreajt

to its caufes,

the prognofis with regard to the en-

All thofe

feized with the hydrophobia.

judge whether

Howeveiv

fo various, that they cannot be enumerated

the time of the difeafe comes on, there are no

tainly

and other fymp-

patients,

cafes of hydrophobia which do not differ very remarka-

When

bly in this refpedt.

unhappy

This

affedlion, particularly with refpe6l

circumftances ffmilar to other kinds of dropfy, particularly

fxtuation of the water,

which

is

here depofited in the cavity

of

AND TH^ OCCULT

SCIENCES.

fi23

it may naturally be fuppofed that fotne peculiar fymptofns will occur.

common fymptoms of dropfy, (palenefs of the countenance, fcarcity of
urine, and the like,) this difeafe is, in fo me in fiances, attended with a fluctuation of
AVater wuthin the breafi; which, vvhen it does occur, may be confidered as a certain

of the thorax,
Befides the

mark of

diftinguifliing

But, befides this,

this affeCtion.

the remarkable affeCliqns of circulation and refpiration Avith which

The breathing
many inftances

is

by

alfo diftinguifhed

it is

attended.

it is

peculiarly difficult, efpecially in a recumbent pofiure; and in

patients cannot breathe Avith tolerable eafe unlefs

when fitting ereCl,

fomewhat
forward.
The
pulfe is very irregutar, and has often
or even ftooping
But the difeafe has been thought to be principally charemarkable intermifiions.
racterized

by a fudden ftartingfrom deep,

uneafy fenfation referred to the breafi,

may probably
thefe

confequence of an almofliinexpreffible

fymptoms are common attendants of

mu ft

palpitatiouj

it

this

difeafe

with which

we

is

and

fore, of this difeafe

ftill

remain

to

be difcovered.

from the affeCtion of the vital functions with which

cure, as far as

it is
it

a dangerous difeafe; and

can be accompli flied,

Benefit

as in other dropfies.

by the application of
difcharge

is

and

thartics

is

they,

but

now ate r

in

that in other infiances, Avhere the difeafe exifis, they are either alto-

gether wanting, or occur only in a very flight degree.

concluded that

That

and

undeniable;,

are yet acquainted

be allowed that they are prefent in fome cafes where there

the breafi

which

from an affeCtion either of circulation or of refpiratiom

arife

are certainly the befi charaCteriftics of

it

in

and attended with ftrong

is

is

in

Certain diagnoftics, there-

When
it is

many

obtained very

hydrothorax

attended,

infiances

it

is

prefent,

may readily be
proves fatal. The
it

much oa the fame

principles

often obtained from an artificial difchargeof water

blifters to the breafi;- but in this, as well as other dropfies,

chiefly effected
diuretics..

In

by the natural

this fpecies

outlets, particularly

from the ufe of ca-

of dropfy,. more perhaps than in any other,

recourfe has been had to the ufe of the dii^j^lis pprpurea, or fox-glove, fo firongly

recommended

as a diuretic

by

D.r.

Withering ;n.his;Treatife refpeCting the ufe of it.

There can be no doubt that thisifthoug^ fometiipes productive of inconvenience,,

and feA^j^jll^^i^^m^it not unfrequently excites,
often o p^r^t^|H^^9HjS||i|^ u ret ic, and produces a

from the

diftreffing ficknefs

even

fmall dofes,

in

complete evacuation of water, a|t^',pi|^^^^^^^^:iave

^

effects

which

mentioned above,..dmwever),te^n|N^^^^HHP^s
it

renders

much

the

floAA^^I|P|8^i^ii^^a^^P^rould be employed with great

caution and in fmall dofes.

for four hours

From

failed.

influence on the pulfe,

in half a pinl;^Qf

of the fine^iekves of the

digitalis,

water, forrhs aH4nfufipn; which

macerated

may

be given

and the ^led^owder of the leaVes ih dofesof one or two grains:

thefe dofes may be gradually increafed, and repeated twice or oftener in the dayj
but
in dofes of an ounce,


A KEY TO PHYSIC

22i
but

this requires

to

be done with great caution,

fevere vomiting or other dif-

left

fymptoms ftiould take place.

The firft indication of the fcorbutic diathefis is generally a change of
colour in the face, from the natural and healthy look to a pale and bloated comtrelling

Scuny

plexion, with a liftleflhefs, and averfion

from every

fort of exercife

foon after become itchy, fwell, and are apt to bleed on the

flighteft

the

touch

breath grows offenfive; and the gums, fwelling daily more and more, turn

and

become extremely fungous and

at length

gums
the

livid,

putrid, as being continually in conta6l

with the external air; which in every cafe favours the putrefa6lion of fubftances
difpofed to run into that

ef a6tual rottennefs.
eafe, are

fomewhat

ftate,

and

is

The fymptoms

indeed abfolutely requifite for the produftion

of the fcurvy, like thofe of every other dif-

different in different fubje6ts, according to the various circum-

ftances of conftitution; and they do not always proceed in the

in

every patient. But what

various and

very remarkable in this difeafe, notwithftanding the

is

immenfe load of

diftrefs

under which the patients labour, there

when

or pain: but, the

becomes

difficult,

lying at

moment

reft,

they

make no complaints, and

they attempt to rife or

ftir

gums, are held as the

into

fall

firft

effential or diftinguifliing

a fyncope.

This catching of the

fliort time,

and generally

and the

into

difeafe.
:

the patient

Thefe fymptoms have continued

to diffufe itfelf over the tunica

nails of the fingers

the urine becomes

with a yellowifh fediment capable of giving a yellow tint to linen

the ftools are whitifh or grey. In forae there

region, which

fymptoms of the

when a yellow colour begins

albuginea, or white part of the eye,

l)igh coloured,

coftive.

and rotten

fpirits,

ftiows itfelf by a liftleflhefs and want of appetite

dull, opprefled,

but a very

feel little diftrefs

themfelves, then the breathing

breath upon motion, with the lofs of ftrength, dejection of

becomes

no

with a kind of ftraitnefs or catching, and great oppreffion, and

fometimes they have been known to

The jaundice

is

and the fenfes remain entire almoft

ficknefs at the ftomach, the appetite keeps up,

to the very laft

fame regular courfc

is

is

a moft violent pain in the epigaftric

confiderably increafed after meals. In fome the difeafe degenerates

an incurable dropfy;

have died of the diopfy

and there have been many inftances of people who

after the ja^fdice itfelf

ing on of a gentle diarrhoea,

had been

totally

attfeiKreclvvrith bilious ftools,

of pain, are figns of the difeafe being cured.

together with the ceflation

We are not,

however, always to con-

clude, becaufe the difeafe is not attended '^s itlxacute pain, that

ble; for frequently the paflage

of a 'Concretion through the

nied only with a fenfation of flight uneafinefs.

removed. The com-

it is

therefore incura-

biliary du6ls

the difeafe goes

is

accompa-

off, its

return

muft he prevented by a courfe of tonic medicines, particularly the Peruvian bark

and

antifepties: but

we can by no means be
7

certain that the jaundice will not return,

,an(?

AND THE OCCULT

and that

any interval

at

may be

for there

fit

of jaundice

with the diftemper,

may

very quickly

and pro-

follow',

and thus fome people have continued to be aftefted

during

at fliort intervals,

Stone in the blackler

225

,
,

a number of concretions in the gall-

bladder, and, though one hath paffed, another

duce a new

SCIENCES.

The

life.

figns of a flone in the bladder are, pain, efpecially

about the fphindler; and bloody urine,

in

confequence of

in a carriage: a fenfe of weight in the perinseum

i;iding

or being joked

an itching of the glans penis

flimy fediment in the urine; and frequent floppages in making water; a tenef-

mus

comes on while the urine is difcharged.

xijion of objects which do not exift.

alfo

Imaginary
the body

is

difeafed,

and then the patient

however, in thefe cafes,

it

does not amount to delirium; but

thing he looks at has black fpots in

fire

which

it,

appear before

his eyes

laft is

feared that

as the
I

fits

fhall

little

And

firft

tlie

perfon imagines

a very dangerous

Some-

fign.

which appearances are not to be

his eyes;

on the other hand,

benefit can be derived from an attention to this prognollic,

commonly follow fo fuddenly.

now proceed to defcribe two

old writer.

Sometimes

or fometimes, that every

difregarded, as they frequently precede apoplexy or epilepfy

it is

when

often takes place

faid to be delirious.

is

he fees gnats or other infects flying before

times alfo fparks of

This

diforders not noted by Culpeper, or any

of the

ANGINA PECTORIS.
Dr. Heberden was the

firft

who defcribed

this difeafe,

dangerous, and, by his account, not very rare.

jedf to

it

when they

to threaten

uneafinefs

immediate
vanilhes.

defti'udlion

lying

who

are fub-

when they walk foon

In

the

refpedts

other

all

but,

moment
the

they ftand

patients

diforder are well, and have no fliortnefs Sf breath

nued fome months, the

and

feizes thofe

It

particularly

extremely

it is

after

with a moft difagreeable and painful fenfation in the breaft, which feems

eating,

this

are walking, and

though

it

will

will

fits

months

together.

to

After

ftill,

the patients are walking, but

rife

up out of

it

has

conti-

it

ftill

when they

their beds every night for

In one or two verv inveterate cafes,

the

all

beginning of

not ceafe Inftantaneoufly on ftanding

come on not only when

down, and oblige them

at the

are

many

has been brought on by the

motion of a horfe or carriage, and even by fwailowing, coughing, going to ftool^

fpeaking, or by any difturbance of mind.

moft

all

No.

of
15.

whom

were above

fifty

The pcrfons

affedted were all men, al-

years of age, and moft of them with a

fliort

neck
andi

A KEY TO PHYSIC

226
and inclining

be

to

Something

fat.

man, who was paralytic

of this fort comes on by walking,

immediately upon flopping.

If

all

in very

it

duration

its

in

whom

which time the patient feemed

to

a different nature.

malady

but

feems as

it

in

in a flight

it

When

it

will lafl

in

many

The

once continued for feveral days

imminent danger of death. Mofl

fuddenly: though

rule w'as not

this

os flerni

ufually pointed to as the feat of this

is

was under the lower part of that bone, and

if it

cafes there

is

joined with

arm, which appears to be feated

The appearance

fit

an hour or

times under the middle or upper part, but always inclining more to the

and

goes off almofl

it

and Dr. Heberden obferved one Avho funk under a lingering

illnefs of
;

it

be

of thofe attacked with the diftemper died

without exceptions

in the night,

one wo-

in

young perfons.

very fhort, as

is

comes on

it

Dr. Heberden met with one

during

however, was obferved

it,

and one or two young men complained of

Other praSdtioners have obferved

degree.

two.

like

it

at other

left fide

a pain about the middle of the

in the biceps

left

mufcle.

of Dr. Heberdeifs paper in the Medical Tranfadlions very foon

raifed the attention of the faculty, and produced other obfervations from phyficians

of eminence; namely, Dr. Fothergill, Dr. Wall of Worcefler, Dr. Haygarth of

Chefler, and Dr. Percival of Manchefler.

write Dr.

Heberden a very

fenfible letter, defcribing his feelings in the mofl natural

manner; which unfortunately,

terminated

epiftie^

induced an unknown fufferer to

It alfo

anonymous

after the date of this

in three w'eeks

a fudden death, as the writer himfelf had apprehended.

in

youngefl fubjedlthat Dr. Fothergill ever faw afflidled with this diforder
thirty years of age;
w'as a courfe

of

and

pills,

to

this

was continued

for

Bath feveral fuccefiive feafons, and acquired

dered to be very fparing

in his diet; to

fome months,

on

in this patient that

if

is

he was walking up

very brifk trot

for

him

which he

he was or-

keep the bowels open; and to ufe moderate

The only fymp-

mentioned, was a flri6lure about the cheft, which came

hill

or a

little fafter

than ordinary, or

if

he was riding a

moderate exercife of any kind did not affed him

eafy fenfation always obliged him to flop, as he

diate death if he

after

his ufual health

exercife on horfeback, but not to take long or fatiguing walks.

tom

was about

that fucceeded

cornpofed of the mafs of gum-pill, foap, and native cinnabar,

with a light chalybeate bitter

went

The method

perfon was cured.

this

The

had continued

to

go forwards.

felt

and

this

un-

himfelf threatened with imme-

It

is

the fliarp conftridive pain

acrofs the cheft, that (according to Dr. Fothergills obfervation) particularly marks
this fingular difeafe;

and which

is

apt to fupervene upon a certain degree of mufcu-

lar motion, or whatever agitates the nervous fyftem. In fuch cafes as fell

under the

infpedion of Dr. Fothergill, he very feldom met with one that was not attended with
an irregular and intermitting pulfe; and

this,

not only during the exacerbations,

but

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

S27

but often when the patient was free from pain and at reft; but Dr. Heberden obferves, that the pulfe

is,

at leaft fometimes, not difturbed

once had an opportunity of being convinced of

little

and mentions

his

having

circumftance, by feeling the

this

But no doubt thefe

pulfe during the paroxyfm.

many

varieties, as well as

other

circumftances, will occur in this difeafe, as they do in every other, on account

of the diverfity of the

human frame

and,

thofe which in general are found to

if

predominate and give the diftinguifhing chara(5ter be prefent, they

thorife us in giving the

name

to the difeafe

thus,

when we

always au-

will

find

the conftric-

tory pain acrofs the cheft, accompanied with a fenfe of ftrangling or fuffocation

and

we

more,

ftill

if this

ftiould not hefitate to

As

pronounce the cafe an angina peftoris.

to the nature of this difeafe,

it

appears to be purely fpafmodic

nion will readily prefent itfelf to any one

coming on and going

wine and
have over

who

the eafe which

and

confiders the fudden

off ; the long intervals of perfe6l eafe

fpirituous cordials
it

pain fliould ftrike acrofs the breaft into one or both arms;

this opi-

manner of its

the relief afforded by

the influence which paffionate affe(5lions of the

comes from varying the pofture of the head and

ders, or, from remaining quite motionlefs

number of years

the

which

for

tinue, without otherwife difordering health; its bearing fo well the

mind
flioul-

will

it

con-

motion of a horfe

or carriage, which circumftance often diftinguifhes fpafmodic pains from thofe

which
and

arife

from ulcers; and

laftly, its

coming on

for the

moft part

in certain patients at night, juft after the firft fleep, at

convulfive aftbma, and other

ills

after a full meal,

which time the incubus,

juftly attributed to the difordered functions of

the nerves, are peculiarly apt to return or to be aggravated.

cumftances taken together, there can be

little

From

doubt that this affe6lion

dic nature: but, though this ftiould be admitted,

it

may not

is

all

thefe cir-

of a fpafmo-

be fo eafy to afcertain the

particular mufcles which are thus affeded. The violent fenfe of ftrangling or choak-

ing which ftiows the circulation through the lungs to be interrupted during the
height of the paroxyfm; and the peculiar conftridlive pain under the fternum,

ways

inclining (according to Dr.

Heberdens obfervation) to the

with that moft, diftrefling and alarming fenfation, which,

tinue,

threatens an immediate extinftion of

life

if it

were

left fide

to increafe or con-

might authorife us to conclude

that the heart itfelf is the mufcle affected: theonly obje6lionto this idea (and,

been conftantly obferved,

it

would be infurmountable)

interrupted during the paroxyfm.

the opinion that the

though

it

The appearances

affe6ls the heart; as in

in

is,

that the pulfe

two of the

one fubje6l the

is

if it

had

not always

diffe6tions favour

left ventricle

(and,

be not mentioned, we may prefume the right one alfo) was found as empty

of blood as
whitifli,

fpafm

al-

together

if it

had been waftied; and

not unlike a ligament

as

it

in another, the

ftiould feem,

fubftance of the heart appeared

in

both cafes, from the force

of

A KEY TO PHYSIC

228

of the fpafm fqueezing the blood out from the veffels and cavities. If this hypothefis

we muft conclude

be allowed,

that the

fpafm can only take place

gree, as long as the patient continues to furvive the

this fort,

and

in this part,

in

an inferior de-

paroxyfm; lince an affe6tion o^

of any confiderable duration or violence, muft inevitably

prove fatal: and accordingly, as far as could be traced, the perfons who have been

known

to labour

under

this difeafe'have in general died fuddenly.

alfo lliow, that, whatever may' be the true feat of the fpafm,

bringing of

it

on, that the heart, or

its

all

found

delcendens w^ere found

ing

the heart, in particular, with

in a natural condition.

the thorax, the

its

veffels

found Hate.

in a

And

its

pericardium,

lungs,

and

heart,

appeared perfe6lly found.

whofe body the only morbid

in

come under

the infpedlion of the anatomift.

a circumflance in two of the fubje6ls that

ly injured

crafis

namely,

So that the

nature might have been, was at too great a diftance, or of too

fubtle a nature, to

fhows that the

valves,

Dr. Haygarths patient, on open-

in

appearance about the heart was a fmall white fpot near the apex.
caufe, whatever

and

In the cafe communicated by Dr. Percival

mention Dr. Fothergills patient (R. M.),

to

public, thefe parts

Edinburgh Medical Commentaries, the heart and aorta

to the publilhers of the

Not

made

mor-

(late.

of his death could be difcovered

w ere

lliould be in a

On opening the body of the gentleman who wrote

Dr Heberden,
upon the moft cartful examination, no manifeft caufe
a found

in

the letter to

diffe6tions

not necetfary for the

immediate appendages,

bid flate; for in three out of the fix that have as yet been

were found

it is

The

is

But there was

wmrthy of remembrance; and w'hich

of the blood, while they were living, muft have been great-

its

not coagulating, but remaining of a cream-like confiftence,

without any feparation into ferum and craffamentum.

From

all

that

we have

feen hitherto publiflied,

derable advances have been

The

made towards

does not appear that any confi-

it

the a6tual cure of this anomalous fpafm.

whom

very Judicious and attentive Dr. Heberden (to

debted for

firfi;

making the diforder known)

confefles,

other evacuations, have not appeared to do any good

bed-time, will fometimes prevent or weaken the

fits

the public are highly in-

that bleeding, vomits,

and

wine and cordials, taken at

but nothing does this'fo effec-

tually as opiates: in fliort, the medicine^ ufually called nervous or cordial,, fuch as
relieve
life,

are

and quiet convulfive motions, and invigorate the languifhing principle of

what he recommends.

or thirteen that he had feen,

who

Dr. "Wall mentions one patient, out of the twelve

applied to him early in the difeafe, and was relieved

confiderably by the ufe of antimonial medicines joined with the fetid gums: he was
ftill

living at the time the dodlor wrote his paper,

with tolerable eafe.

Two

(Nov. 1772 .) and going about

were carried off by other diforders;

all the refl

died fud-

denly. Dr. Fothergills directions are chiefly calculated with the view to prevent the

diforder

AND THE OCCULT

and

diforder from gaining ground,

may

enjoins fuch a kind of diet as

to eat voracioully

lar not

heating

loufly againll paffion, or

be moft likely to prevent irritability

any vehement emotions; and

means of eftablifhing and preferving general health

lity

by anodynes

when

Accordingly he

to alleviate prefent diftrefs.

or pains,

if

to

make ufe of

they quicken the circulation

perhaps, Ample peppermint-water

may

all

to mitigate excelfes
:

theufual

of irritabi-

to difperfe flatulencies,

they diftend the ftomach, by moderate dofesof carminatives;

obefity

in particu-

wines, and all fermented liquors: to guard moll fcrupu-

fpices, fpirits,

229

be ftridly abftemious in refpeft to every thing

to

SCIENCES.

be reckoned one of the

amongft which,

fafeft.

But, fince

juftly confidered as a principal predifpofing caufe, he infills ftrongly

is

by a vegetable

the necellity of preventing an increafe of fat

diet,

other pra6licable method of augmenting the thinner fecretions.

on

and uling every

Thefe were the

only means which occurred to the Englilh phylicians of oppoling this formidable
difeafe.

In my own

known the Solar Tin6lure to fail in remoThe cafes indeed that have occurred to

pra6lice I have never

ving by degrees this dangerous diforder.

me have

been very few

and

my

uniform practice has been to order a wine-glafs of

the Tindlure, diluted with water, to be taken at going to bed

and, in thofe where

the diforder had gained great afcendency, I prefcribed a like quantity to be taken

up

at getting

in the

morning, at

leall

an hour before breakfall.

rendered the attacks lefs violent, and at

lall totally

This has always

removed them.

fpoonfuls of the Tindlure undiluted Ihould be adminillered,

Two

if poflible,

table-

during

the height of the paroxyfm, which will generally give immediate eafe.

Dr. Smyth of Ireland has, we are

told,

difcovered that the angina pe^oris

may

be certainly cured by iflues, of which Dr. Macbride gives the following inllance
A. B. a tall well-made man ; rather large than otherwife of healthy parents,
:

except that there had been a

gout

little

in the family

tive to the bulinefs of his trade, (that of

dentary;

temperate

a watch-maker,) led a

life

being very atten-

uncommonly

fe-

had, from his boyhood upwards, been remarkably fubje6t to alarming

inflammations of his throat, which feized him at leall once in the courfe of the yCar
in all other refpe^ls well.

In 1767, (then forty-eight years of age,) he was taken,

without any evident caufe, with a fudden and very difpiriting throbbing under the
llernum. It foon afterwards inereafed,. and returned upon him every third or fourth

week, accompanied with great anxiety, very laborious breathing, choaking, a fenfation of fulnefs

and dillenlion

in the head, bloated

and watery eyes, and a very irregular and unequal

almoll conllantly while he was fitting after dinner
it

in the

rell

morning, when walking a

on any objeft at hand.

No.

15.

or twice

pulfe.
;

The paroxyfm. invaded him

now and then he was

than ufual

little faller

Once

and flulhed countenance, turgid

it

came on

in

feized with

and was then obliged

bed

toi

but did not oblige

hinx

A KEY TO PHYSIC

230
him

to

fit

up, as

was then attended with no great difficulty in breathing. In the af-

it

ternoon-fits, his greatefteafe was frOm the fupine pofture; ih which he ufed to conti-

nue motionlefs

fome hours^

for

worn out with

quite fpent and

until,

anguilli,

he

dropt into a {lumber. In the intervals between thefe attacks, which at length grew
fo frequent as to return every fourth or

Thus matters continued

health.

were ineffeftually

day, he was, to appearance, in perfect

fifth

more than two

for

In 1769, there fupervened a very fharp con-

tried for his relief.

upper part of the fternum,

ftridlory pain at the

years; and various atitifpafmodic

ftretchiiig

equally on each

fide,

attend-

ed with the former fymptoms of anxiety, dyfpnoea, choaking, &c. and with an excruciating cramp, as he called

that could be covered with a crown-piece, in each

it,

of his arms, between the elbow and the

was quite

teres; the reft of the limb

wTift,

free.

exa^ly

The

fits

at the infertion of the pronator

were fometimes brought on, and

always exafperated, by any agitation of mind or body.

horfeback during the parCxy fm

The

made no

difference of feafon or weather

vals, his health

was perfectly good

were remarkably ftrong and

fight

regular.

In

this fituation,

clear,

irnpreffion

upon him.

fatal to

Still, in

flatulency, of ftomach,

me

Feb. 22, 1770, he applied to

I believe, eight or ten of thefe frightful cafes before.

and

his

his

bowels were

for affiftance. I

Two

illnefs

and that

on,

him.

the inter-

except that his eyes, which before his

were now grown extremely tender

He had no

was much impaired.

He once attempted to ride

but the experiment was near proving

had

feen,

of the patients dropped

They were men between forty and fifty years of age, and of a
make fomewhat flefhy. The fate of the others I was not informed of; or, at leaft, canHaving found the total inefficacy of blifters and the whole clafs
not now recolle6l.
dead fuddenly.

of nervous medicines in the treatment of this anomalous fpafm, I thought

now

to attempt correcting or draining off the irritating fluid in the cafe

To

us.

this purpofe, I

ordered a mixture of lime-water with a

pound juniper- water, and an

wine

from

I put the patient on

all vifcid, flatulent,

two

confiderably

of

light, perfpirable,

but, after he

fome time

proportion

articles.

had

at a ftand.

and reftrained him

purfuing

this courfe,

perfifted regularly in

it

he

for at leaft

I then ordered a large iffue to 'be

his thighs.

and he continued improving gradually,

teen months, he was reftored to perfeCt health

leaft interruption,

before

of the com-

Huxhams antimonial

diet

By

right

Only one was made. However, as foon as it behe amended. The frequency and feverity of the fits abated

opened on each of
gan to difcharge,

a plain,

and acrimonious,

was foon apparently mended

months, he kept for

alterative

little

it

till

until, at the

end of eigh-

which he has enjoyed, without the

now, except when he has been tempted (perhaps once in a

twelvemonth) to tranfgrefs

rules,

by making a large meal on falted meat, or indul-

ging himfelf in ale or rum-punch, each of which never failed to diforder him from

the

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

231

the beginning of his illnefs but on even thefe occafions, he has

felt

flighteft

motion of his former fufferings; infomuch that he would defpifethe attack,

No other caufe

did not appear to be of the fame ftock with his old complain t.

if it

has had the leaft

made

punch,

effect

ill

Though rum was

on him.

He

pall;

DOW

.;

The

is

never took any medicine after

the iffue began to difcharge; and I have dire6led that

as he lives.

conftantly hurtful, yet

with a maceration of black currants in our vulgar corn-fpirit,

liquor that agrees remarkably well with him.

be kept open as long

fhall

it

inflammations of his throat have difappeared for five years

he has recovered the ftrength and cleamefs of his fight

and

feems

his health

to be entirely re-ellablilhed.

Dr. Macbride, in a

letter to

Dr. Duncan, pubiilhed in the Edinburgh Medical

Commentaries, gives the following additional obfervations on

Within thefe few weeks

a very ingenious

times,

four years of age,

give you his

who

man who

keeps an academy in this

as I

of about

city,

thirty-

I fiiall

lall,

me

had them from his own mouth, which appear to

to

an angina pe^ris, and as deplorable as any that I have read

to be

was ftrongly diftinguilhed by the exquifite

It

this difeafe

I have, at the defire of Dr. Smyth, vifited, three or four

applied to the do6tor for his advice in Januaiy

fymptoms

mark his cafe

of.

no more than the

confl:ri61:ory

pain of the fternum,

extending to each of his arms as far as the infertion of the deltoid mufcle, extreme
anxiety, laborious breathing, ftrangling,

and violent palpitation of the

heart, with a

moll irregular pulfe. The paroxyfms were fo frequent, that he fcarcely ever efcaped
a day, for

fix

or feven years, without one.

tation of

mind or body, though

the

The

fits.

in the

They were

He

flight.

ufually excited by any agi-

had clear intervals of health between

diftemper feems hereditary in him, as he fays his father was afiedled

fame manner feme years previous

which never fhowed

itfelf in bis

limbs

He

to his death.

and he has led a

has allrong gouty

life

of uncommon

taint,

fedenta-

rinefs,from intenfe application to mathematical lludies, attention of mind,and paflion,

even from his

boyilli years.

Thefe circumftances may, perhaps, account

having been taken with this difeafe at fo early an age as feventeen.

for his

A large ilfue was

immediately opened on each of his thighs. In a month afterwards he began to mend,

and has gone on improving gradually.

him do no

no complaint, excepting a
he

feels

thinks

is

He

can now run up

later than yeflerday, without hurt;

fometimes

in

flight opprefilon

flairs brilkly, as I

of the breafl, under the fternum, which

a morning, immediately after dreifing himfelf, and which he

brought on by the motion ufed in putting on his clothes

complete week preceding the day on which I faw him

been entirely free from

an interval of eafe

faw

can bear agitation of mind; and has

all uneafinefs,

laft,

he told

though, for a

me

that he

had

and was exulting that he had not had fuch

for thefe laft feven years.

Dr. Smyth alfo fliowed me,

adverfaria, or note-book, the cafe of a gentleman

who had been under

in his

his care

A KEY TO PHYSIC

232
in

1760, which he had forgotten when

reminded of the other day by a

brought on by a fedentary

vifit

my book went

from

to the prefs,

but which he was

was a genuine angina

his patient. It

pedloris,

and great vexation of mind, clearly marked by the

life,

exquifjte pain under the llernum, that extended acutely to the upper extremities,

fymptoms of dyfpncea, anxie-

particularly along the left arm, together wdth the other

ty,

The

palpitation of the heart, &c. recited in the cafe above.

1762, by large fpontaneous difcharges from the

verely in 1765. Iffues in his thighs were then

But, whether

it

was by the perfualion of fome

piles,

but returned upon him fe-

recommended

and

afafoetida.

This he perfifted

in for

about

made.

to him, but not

friend, or of his

into a courfe of Jamess powder, in fmall alterative dofes,

caflor

diforder went off in

own

accord, he went

combined with a

fix w'eeks

in the

mean

little

while,

he had large acrimonious gleetings from the fcrotum, and a plentiful difcharge

From

of ichor from the anus.

and

lefs diftrefiing,

Of

this fiiocking

Encyclopasdia

time he began to find his complaints grow lefs

this

and he has now been

from them for

totally free

diforder died that eminent furgeon,

Londinenfis, vol. x. p.

STRAITNESS

fix

years paft.

Mr. John Hunter.

of the

(ESOPHAGUS.

This diftemper has been treated of only by Dr. Munckley, who reckons
the moft deplorable difeafes of the

human body.

ring which,

lowed

they ufually continue in this ftate for

all liquid foods,

leifurely, are got

and even

folids themfelves

down without much

it

one of

Its beginning is in general fo flight

as to be fcarcely worth notice, the patients perceiving only a fmall

fwallowing of folid food

See

482.

difficulty;

when

impediment

to the

many months

du-

cut fmall and fwal-

by degrees the

evil increafes,

and the paflage through the cefophagus becomes fo narrow, that not the fmalleft
folid

whatever can pafs through

where the obftacle

at the part

is

it

but, after having been detained for

formed,

is

very peculiar kind, and with the appearance of convulfion.

is

fome time

returned again with a hollow noife of a

The feat of this malady

fometimes near the top of the cefophagus, and at other times farther down, nearer

the fuperior orifice of the ftomach. In this laftcafe, the part of the alimentary tube

which
in

it

is

above the obftruftion

is

frequently fo dilated by the food which

as to be capable of containing a large quantity

detained

again returned through the mouth, comes on fooner or later after the at-

which

it is

tempt

to fwallow, in proportion to the nearnefs or

In the

laft ftage

tion of fuch as have died in this manner,

;

and

remotenefs of the part affedted.

of this difeafe, not even liquids themfelves can be fwallowed fo as to

pafs into the ftomach, and the patient dies

thickened

is

and the kind of vomiting, by

in

literally ftarved to death.

the cefophagus

fome fo contradled within

admit the paffing of a

common

is

On

the diflec-

found to be confiderably

at the difeafed part, as fcarcely to

probe; in others, to adhere together in fuch a

manner

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

233

manner as entirely to clofe up the paflkge, and not to be feparated without great difficulty. He comes next to Ihow what he has found to be the moft efficacious method
of treating

which, though not uncomnaon, yet in general has been con-

this difeafe,

fiderpd as incurable.

He

cure, but hopes that

fome

confirmed to him

The only medicine,

cury; and in

claims not the merit of having discovered the method of

fervice

having

may arife from

publiflting

what

his

experience has

received the bint from another eminent phyilcian.

"firfi:

from the ufe of which he has ever fpund any fervice,

then,

cafes which are recent, and where the fymptoms have not

mer-

is

rifen to

any

great height, fmall dofes of mercury given every night, and prevented, by purgative medicines,

from afte^ling the mouth, have accomplithed the cure.

But where

fymptom has come on

ofithe foods

the complaint has been of long (landing, and the

being returned through the mouth, a more powerful method of treatment becomes
neceffary. In this cafe he has never found

any thing of the lead

fymptoms hut mercury, ufed in fueh a manner

fpitting, and this method he has purfued with

the

the happipfl fuccefs.

der his care >n this

(late,

is

not to be defpaired of ; and, of thofe

by much

removing

If this

much ground upon

who have eonae un-

method be commenced before the complaint has gained too

the conftitution, the cafe

avail in

a? to raife a gentle but conftant

the greater part have received confiderable benefit

and pmny ha,Y0 been entirely cured. The complaint itfelf, be obfervesj is
not very uncomnaon ; hut there is no indanpe, to his knowledge, recorded, of fucr
cefs from any other manner of treating it than that he has recommended.
from

it,

OBSERVATIONS
I.

Rules

on the
for the

MEANS

of

PRESERVING HEALTH.

Management of Valetudinarians.

That part of the medical fyftem which lays down rules for the prefervation of health
and prevention of difeafes, termed Hygeine,
refpe6led only thofe people

who

is

not to be

flriftly

enjoy perfe6l health, and

who

underftood as

henfions of difeafe, for fuch feldom either defire or attend to medical advice

(hould rather be confidered as relating to valetudinarians, or to fuch

aifilually fick,

hence

it is

may

as,

yet have fufficient reafon to fear that they will foon

but

though not

become

fo

that the rules muft be applied to corre6l morbific difpofitions, and to ob-

viate the various things that are

eafes.

if it

are under no appre-

From

the

way

in

kuown

to be the remote or poffible caufes of dif-

which the feveral temperaments are ufually mentioned by

fyllematie writer-s; it (hould feem as if they meant that every particular conftitution
muft be referred to one or other of the four; but this is far from being reducible to
practice,

No.

Eneel^ much

15.

the greater

number of people have

3

conliitutions fo indif-

finely

'

A KEY TO PHYSIC

234
tindly marked, that

it

is

hard to fay to which of the temperaments they belong.

When we adlually

meet with particular perfons who have evidently

much

rigidity of fibre,

ftrength

and

and yet loo much

fenfibility

3.

and too much

Too much

fenfibility;

2.

and but

ftrength,

either,

Too

Too

1.

little ftrength,'

little fenfibility

or,

But little fenfibility joined to weaknefs ; we fliould look on fuch perfons as

more or lefs in the valetudinary ftate, who require that thefe morbific difpofitions

4.

be particularly watched,
different

they

left

fall

into thofe difeafes

which are

allied to the

temperaments.

People of the firft-mentioned temperament being

liable to fuffer

from continued

inflammatory fpecies, their fcheme of preferving health

fevers, efpecially of the

fhould confift in temperate living, with refpedl both to diet and exercife; they
ftiould ftudioufly avoid

immoderate drinking, and be remarkably cautious

of the natural difcharges be checked.

efpecially bleeding

People of

this habit

becaufe too

much

any

bear evacuations well,

they ought not, however, to lofe blood but

require to have the quantity leffened

left

when they

really

of this evacuation would

be apt to reduce the conftitution to the fecond-mentioned temperament, wherein

ftrength

is

deficient,

but fenfibility redundant.

Perfons of the fecond temperament aro remarkably prone to fuffer from painful

and fpafmodic

and are

difeafes,

this delicacy of habit are

very

eafily ruffled;

much

and thofe of the fofter fex who have

difpofed to hyfterical complaints.

The fcheme

here fhould be, to ftrengthen the folids by moderate exercife, cold bathing, the Peruvian bark, and chalybeate waters
to the ftate of the digeftive

particular attention fhould conftantly be had

organs, to prevent them from being overloaded with

any fpecies of faburra which might engender

flatus,

or kritate the fenfible

wouW

foon be com-

this conftitution

fhould never

branes of the ftomach and inteftines, from whence the diforder

municated to the whole nervous fyftem.

Perfons of

mem-

take any of the draftic purges, nor ftrong emetics; neither fhould they lofe blood

but in cafes of urgent neceflity. But a principal fhare of management, in thefe extremely-irritable conftitutions, confifts in avoiding all fudden changes of every fort,

efpecially thofe with refpe6l to diet and clothing, and in keeping the
as poflible in a ftate of tranquillity.
this

Hence

mind

as

much

the great advantages which people of

frame derive from the ufe of medicinal waters drunk on the fpot, becaufe of

that freedom from care

and ferious bufinefs of every kind which generally obtains

in all the places laid out for the reception of valetudinarians.

The third-mentioned temperament, where

little

fenfibility,

fpecies of difeafe

there

is

an excefs of ftrength and but

does not feem remarkably prone to any diftreffing or dangerous

;

and therefore

it

can hardly be fuppofed that perfons fo circum-

ftanced will either of themfelves think of any particular fcheme of management,, or

have

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

have recourfe to the faculty for their inlIru6lions

may

obferve, bear

all

235

fuch conftitutious, however,

we

kinds of evacuations well, and fometimes require them to

prevent an over-fulnefs, which might end in an opprelTion of the brain or fo ne

other organ of importance.

But the fourth temperament, where we have weaknefs joined to want of fenfibiexceedingly apt to fall into tedious and dangerous difeafe, arifing from a

lity, is

defe6l of abforbent

power

in the

proper fets of

veflels,

and from remiffnefs of the

whence corpulency, drop fy, jaundice, and

circulation in general;

different degrees

of fcorbutic affe6tion. In order to prevent thefe, or any other fpecies of accumulation

and depravation of the animal

people of

fluids, the

this conftitution fhould ufe

a generous courfe of diet with brifk exercife, and be careful that none of the fecre-

be interrupted, nor any of the natural difcharges fuppreffed. Thefe conftitu-

tions

tions bear purging well,

and often require

it

as alfo the ufe of emetics, which are

frequently found necelfary to fupply the place of exercife, by agitating the abdo-

minal vifcera
tion of

and are of fervice to prevent the ftagnation of

mucous humours, which hinder

digeftion,

and the

free ufe of muftard, horfe-radifh,

bile,

and clog the

like fort

or the accumul^->

firft

The

paflages.

of ftimulating dietetics,

is

fer-

viceable in thefe torpid habits.

When

the general mafs of fluids

is

accumulated beyond what

is

conducive to the

perfection of health, there arifes what the writers term a plethora, which

the fource of different difeafes; and therefore,

when

may prove

this over-fulnefs begins to

pro-

duce languor and opprefiion, care fhould be taken in time to reduce the body

to a

proper ftandard, by abridging the food and incfeafing the natural difcharges, ufing

But

more

exercife,

fluids

have been exhaufted, we are to attempt the prevention of further wafte by

and indulging

lefs in deep.

in oppolite circumftances,

where the

the ufe of ftrengthening flomachics, a nourifhing diet, and indulgence from fatigue of

body or mind.

Vitiated fluids are to be confidered as affeCled either

with the different kinds of general acrimony, or as betraying figns of fome of the
fpecies of morbific matter which give rife to particular difeafes, fuch as gout,

rheumatifm, calculus, fcurvy, &c.

During the

flate of infancy,

which not only fhows

general mafs of fluids.

when we mean

we may fometimes obferve a remarkable

itfelf in the firft paflages,

As

it

to prevent the

takes
ill

its rife,

acidity,

but alfo feems to contaminate the

however, from weak bowels, our views,

confequences, muft be chiefly direCled to ftrength-

en the digeftive organs, as on their foundnefs the preparation of good chyle depends;

and hence fmall dofes of rhubarb and chalybeates (either the natural chalybeate waters

mixed with milk, or the

flores raartiales in dofes of

a few grains, according to

the

KEY TO PHYSIC

!?36

the age of the child) are to be adminiftered; and the diet

to

add

to this acid

on the ftumach,

Where

tendency

belly,

brifk exercife

is

is

to be fo regulated as not

likewife to be enjoined, with fri6lions

and lower extremities.

the fluids tend to the putrefcent ftate, which fhows itfelf by fetid breath,

fponginefs and bleeding of the gums, a bloated look and

diet then fliould be chiefly of frefh vegetables
tion, brifk exercife,

and flrengthening

Where acrimopy fhows

and ripe

fruits,

m modera-

with wine

bitters.

by itching eruptions,

itfelf

countenance, the

livid

uncommon

and

thirft,

Harrow-

ing heats, nothing will anfwer better than fuch fulphureous waters as the

gate and Moffat in Britain, or the

ufing a courfe of diet that

So

Lucan Swadlimbar

in Ireland

flufh-

fame time

at the

be neither acrid nor heating.

fliall

far with refpe6l to thofe kinds of morbific matter

produce a particular fpecies of difeafe

which do not invariably

but there are others of a fpecific natur^

body fpontaneoufly, and feem to arife from

error in diet, or other circumftances of ill management with refpedl to the animal
economy and hence it is fometimes poffible, in fome degree if not altogether, to

fome of which are generated

in

the

prevent the

ill

Thus, there are inftances where returns of the gout

confequences.

have been prevented by adhering

The rheumatifm has

ftri6lly to

alfo been fometimes

a milk

diet.

warded

off

by wearing a

flannel fhirt,

or by ufing the cold bath without interruption.

Calculus
trefs,

may

be retarded

in its progrefs,

and prevented from creating muchdif-

by the internal ufe of foap and lime-water, by foap-lees taken

veal-broth, or by the ufe of aerated alkaline water, w'hich

in

milk or in

may perhaps be

confi-

dered as being both more fafe and more efficacious, and at the fanae time moro
pleafant, than

any of the other practices.

The fcurvy may be prevented by warm

cife,

clothing and perfeverance in brifk exer-

by drinking wine or cider; and eating

freely of fuch vegetable fubflances as

can be had in thofe fituations where this difeafe

In conflitutions where there

is

is

moft apt to fhow

itfelf.

an hereditary difpofitipn to the fcrofula,

if

early

precautions be taken to ftrengthen the folids by cold bathing, a nourifhing courfe

of diet, and moderate ufe of wine, the acrimony which rifes to the difeafe will pro-

bably be prevented from producing any yery bad

The

other kinds of morbific matter, which are of a fpecific nature, are received

into the

The

body by

infe6tion or contagion.

infe^ion of a putrid fever or dyfentery

taking an emetic on the

firft

completely anfwer,

a large

>

effei6ts.

let

is

bell prevented

by immediately

attacks of the ficknefs or fhivering; and,

blifter

if

that do not

be applied betvyeen the fhoplde**?

hy

this

method

AND THE OCCULT

method

and other attendants on the fick

the nurfes

As

been preferved.

SCIENCES.
in the

naval hofpitals have often

we muft

to other infectious morbific matter,

has already been faid when treating of hydrophobia, poifons.

The ill

effeQ;s

by the prudent adminiftration of emetics, and carefully abftain-

inw
O from fuch kinds of food as are

Crude

what

refer to

See.

which may arile from the different fpecies of faburra, are to be ob-

viated, in general,

matters in the

237

firft

known

accumulation of noxious

to caufe the

paffages.

vegetables, milk, butter,

and other

oily fubftances, are to

be avoided by

perfons troubled with a fournefs in the ftomach ; brilk exercife, efpecially riding,
is to

be ufed, and they are

Ihould be pure water

from fermented liquors

to refrain

or water with a very

or brandy. Seltzer and

little

V ahls water are to be drunk medicinally

ters, infufions, or tin6lures, with the acid elixir

will

of

its

with a

into lozenges,

and taken

fail

bitternefs in the

little

the magnefia, as

fugar and mucilage

mouth,

is

common

purging

of the ftomach, and pro-

relief,

magnefia alba, or

may be
form may be

as the chalk,

w'ell

and

in that

an exuberance or fiagnation of bile, and a trouble-

it is

neceffary to keep the bowels always free by ta-

king occafionally fmall doles of pure aloes, oleum

the

and aromatic bit-

occafionally by people afflicted with the acid faburra

In conftitutions where there

fome

fibres

In order to procure immediate

Creta prmparata, will feldom

carried about

drink

contents, thereby preventing the too hafty fermentation of

the alimentary mixture.

made

common

from 10 to 20 drops,

vitriol,

be found ferviceable, in order to ftrengthen the

mote the expulfion of

the

of forae ardent fpirit, fuch as rum

falls,

cream of

ricini,

tartar, forae

of

or the natural purging waters.

When there is a tendency to the empyreumatic and rancid faburra, people Ihould
carefully avoid all the various kinds of thole oily

and high-feafoned things generally

termed made-dijhes, and eat plain meat, without rich fauces or much gravy
in thefe cafes the

moft proper drink

II.

Rules

There can be no doubt

health

for thofe

degree of pain or

I6.

and

w'ater.

enjoy perfe6l

temperance

Health.
is

the true foundation of

we may fee in the rules laid down by

recommend indulgence now and then, and allowed peoas

and drinking

but

it is

fafer to

proceed to excels in

debauch Ihould create any extraordinaiy or diftreffing

and a temporary fever thould enfue, there are two ways

if the

ficknefs,

of fliaking it off, either to

No.

who

phyficians,

ple to exceed both in eating

drink than in meat; and,

pure

that, in general,

and yet the ancient

Celfus, did not fcruple to

is

lie in

bed and encourage perfpiration, or

3

to get

on horfeback,

A KEY TO PHYSIC,

238

back, and by brifk exercife reftore the body to

its

natural

The

ftate.

choice of thefe

two methods muft always be determined by the peculiar circumftancesof the parties
concerned, and from the experience which they may before have had, which
agrees beft with them.

If a perfon fliould commit excefs in eating, efpecially of high-feafoned things,

with rich fauces, a draught of cold water, acidulated with vitriolic acid, will take
off the fenfe of weight at the ftomach,

and

digeftion,

affift

by moderating and keep-

ing within bounds the alimentary fementation, and thus preventing the generation

of too

much

flatus.

The

luxury of ices

may be

here of real ferviceatthe tables of

the great, as producing fimilar effects with the cold water acidulated.
thefe circumftances ought not to lay themfelves

and exercife

until they are fenfible that the

down

ftomach

but fliould keep up

to fleep,
is

Perfons in

unloaded, and that they no

longer feel any oppreffive weight about the prmcordia.

If a

man be

borious work
themfelves

fill

neither

is it

obliged to

faft,

he ought,

ought not at once to gorge and

proper, after being over-filled, to enjoin an abfolute fail

after fuffering fevere hunger, people

nor is

it

fafe to reft totally

immediately after exceffive labour, nor fuddenly fail

hard to w'ork after having been long without motion

be

during that time, to avoid la-

if poffible,

made by gentle degrees ;

that it can bear

for,

a word,

changes Jhould
though the conftitution of the human body be fuch

many alterations and

in

irregularities without

the tranfitions are extremely fudden, they cannot

fail

all

much

danger, yet,

when

of producing fome kind or

degree of diforder.
It

is

alfo the advice

to any fettled rules

gives vigour

and

of Celfus to vary the fcenes of

life,

and not confine ourfelves

but as ina6tion renders the body weak and

ftrength, people fliould never long

ing abrbad in a carriage

liftlefs,

and exercife

omit riding, walking, or go-

fencing, playing at tennis, dancing, or other fimilar en-

gagements, which afford both exercife and amufement, as each

fliall

be found mofl

agreeable or convenient, are to be ufed in their turns, according to the circumftances and tendency to any particular fpecies of difeafe.

age fhall have rendered the body incapable of

flefli-brufh will

be extremely recpifite

ofhumours through the

But,

all thefe,

to preferve health,

fmalleft orders of

veffels,

when the w eaknefs of old

then dry friHions with the

by accelerating the flow

and preventing

the fluids from

ftagnating too long in the cellular interftices of the flefhy parts.

Sleep

is

the great reftorer of ftrength

for,

during this time, the nutritious par-

ticles appear to be chiefly applied to repair the wafte, and replace thofe that have

been abraded and wafhed

indulgence in fleep has
as

it

off by the labour

many

and exercife of the day. But too much

inconveniences, both with refpecfc to body and mind,

blunts the fenfes, and encourages the fluids to ftagnate in the cellular

membrane;

AND THE OCCULT

brane
nefs.

whence corpulency, and

The proper time

naturally bring

fome people

is

on

it

the night feafon,

is

therefore day-fleep, in general,

really diftrefsful,

to give real refrelhment

With regard

and

when darknefs and

is

not fo refrelhing

filence

and

to

an unufual giddinefs and languor,

as creating

Cuftom, however, frequently

efpecially in perfons addifted to literary purfuits.

renders deep in the day neceffary

239

necessary confequences, languor and weak-

its

for lleep

SCIENCES.

where

in thofe conftitutions

is

it

found

ought to be indulged.

it

to the general

regimen of

has always been held as a rule^

diet, it

that the fofter and milder kinds of aliment are molt: proper for children and

younger fubjects

that

grown perfons fhould eat

old people leffen their quantity of folid food,

Of FIXED AIR

THE antifeptic qualities of fixed

air,

diforders,

and various other complaints.

if infpired in a very large quantity,

danger or uneafinefs.

And

it is

it

and

or as

is

more

iricreafe that

it is
it

now more

and

of their drink.

generally called of the

as a medicine in cafes of putrid

Dr. Percivalobferves,

may in

fubftantial

Medicine.

as a

aerial or carbonic acid gas, have introduced

w'hat

that,

though

fatal

fmaller quantities be breathed without

a confirmation of this conclufion, that at Bath,

where the waters copioufly exhale this mineral fpirit, the bathers infpire it with impunity. At Buxton alfo, where the bath is in a clofe vault, the eflfefils of fuch effluvia, if

noxious, muft certainly be perceived.

Encouraged by thefe and fome other confiderations, he adminiftered

in

more than 30

cafes of thephthifispulmonalis,

fixed air

by directing his patients to infpire

the (teams of an effervefcing mixture of chalk and vinegar through the fpout of

The hectic

coffee-pot.

fever has in feveral inftances been confiderably abated,

the matter expefitorated has

more

fuccefsful.

courfe, entirely recovered

was

may be

and

He was not

and better digefted.

;

air

ering was

cafe

lets offenfive

fo fortunate in any one cafe as to effe6t a cure

although the ufe of
was accompanied with proper internal medicines. But Dr. With-

however,
this

become

truly deplorable,

One

phthifical patient

another was rendered

feemed to be kept

proper to obferve, that fixed

air

alive

much

better;

long employed, and

much

and a

by fuch a

third,

whofe

can only be employed with any profpefit of

when a purulent expefiloration:

fuch a remedy proand

vapours have been,
Antifeptic fumigations

After the rupture and difcharge of vomica

mifes to be a powerful palliative.

bis care,

by it more than two montlis. It

fuccefs in the latter ftages of the phthifis pulmonalis,

takes place.

under

extolled, in cafes of this kind.

alfo,

The

following experi-

ment

40
meat was made

KF.Y

TO PHYSIC,

determine whether their efficacy in any degree depends on

reparation of fixed air from their fubftance.

One end

to

of the bent tube was fixed in a phial

in

and

the phial containing the tincture of

moft

myrrh was placed

by the lamp of a

to the boiling point,

of lime-water; the other

full

The junctures were

a bottle of the tinSure of myrrh.

end

tea-kettle.

were feparated, but probably not of the mephitic kind

Ph. Ed. and with fp.

in water,

vinof.

medicinal action therefore

camph. and the

was

refult

no

precipitation en-

of which

air,

Tolutana

tinSl.

entirely the fame.

of the vapours raifed from fuch

afcribed to the extrication of fixed

heated al-

number of air-bubbles

for

carefully luted

This experiment was repeated with the

fued in the lime-water.

tlie

tinfitures

The

cannot be

probable bodies are de-

it is

prived by chemical folution as well as by mixture.

If mephitic air be thus capable of correfiling purulent matter in the lungs,

may

reafonably infer

it

will

be equally uleful when applied externally to foul ulcers

and experience confirms the

Even

conclufion.

carrot-poultice failed, has been fweetened by

digeftion produced.

by the fixed

the fanies of a cancer,

it,

be feared a cure

will

not be effected.

however, in a difeafe fo defperate and loathfome,

nitrous acid

air is

obtained from

as a fweete nor

and

In the ulcerous fore throat,

all

may be
ftill

more

life

palliative

antifeptic,

it

remedy,

confidered as a very
efficacious.

This fpe-

means of the

the metals, except zinc, by

far furpalles fixed air.

much advantage

has been experienced from the

But

vapours of effervefcing mixtures drawn into the fauces.

not fuperfede the

the

But, though the progrefs of the cancer feems to be checked

air, it is to

of factitious

when

the pain mitigated, and a better

valuable acquifition. Perhaps nitrous air might be

cies

we

this

remedy fhould

of other antifeptic applications.

In malignant fevers, wines aboundingwith fixed

air

may be

adminifteredto check

the feptic ferment, and fweeten the putrid colluvies in the primas vim. If the laxative quality of fuch liquors

greater age

may

be thought an objefition to the ufe of them, wines of a

be given, impregnated with aerial acid.

drink might alfo be medicated in the fame way,

curs in the latter ftage of fuch diforders, and

The

patients

it is

a moft alarming and dangerous

fymptom. If the difcharge be flopped by aftringents, a putrid fomes

the body, which aggravates the delirium, and increafes the fever.
if

it

be fuffered to take

its

der thefe circumftances, bids

On

retained in

the contrary,

injection of mephitic air into the inteftines, un-

fair to

be

highly ferviceable.

from a mixture of chalk and

oil

the body by the machine employed for tobacco- clyfters,

is

courfe, the ftrength of the patient muft foon be exhauftedj

and death unavoidably enfue. The

this kind, the gas emitted

common

A putrid diarrhoea frequently oc-

of

And

in

vitriol,

fome

cafes of

conveyed into

quickly reftrained

he

diarrhoea,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

corre6led the heat and fetor of the ftools, and in a

'ev^ty

341
fliort

time removed

fymptom of danger.

As a

folvent of the calculus,

its

virtues have

been already mentioned

experiments made on that fubjeO; do not determine thematter with

but the

fufiicient

accu-

racy.

Of medical ELECTRICITY.

THE application of this fubtile fluid to medicinal purpofes

after the difcovery of the eleftric (hock

medical virtues feem

publiftied the lateft

now

and the befi; treatife

a gentle

and, after various turns of reputation,

be pretty well

to

of giving violent Ihocks, and finds

eleSlrical aura,

it

its

Mr. Cavallo, who has

eftabliflied.

on Medical Ele6lricity,

entirely difapproves

moft efficacious to expofe the patient to the

difcharged from an iron or

air,

was thought of foon

wooden point

or, if ihocks

are given, they ihould be very flight, and not exceed twelve or fourteen at a time.
In this way he recommends it as effefitual in a great number of diforders. The
patient

Ihould

may be ele6lrified from three to ten minutes but, if fparks

not exceed the number of ihocks above mentioned.
:

Rheumatic

diforders,

even of long ftanding, are relieved, and fometimes quite

cured, by only drawing the

elefilric fluid

drawing fparks through flannel.

or five minutes, repeating

The gout,

it

extiaordinary as

with a w^ooden point from the part, or by

The operation ihould be continued

it

well

as not to return again.

the elefitric fluid has been thrown by means of a

Deafnefs, except
ration of the parts,

it is

cafes,

wooden point, although fometimes,

when it is occafioned by obliteration or other improper configuis

either entirely or partly cured by drawing the fparks from the

wooden

point.

Some-

not improper to fend exceedingly-fraall Ihocks (for inftance, of one-thir-

teenth of an inch) from one ear to the other.

whenever the ear

The

In thofe

a metal point only has been ufed.

ear with the glafs-tubedire6lor, or by drawing the fluid with a

times

about four

may appear, has certainly been cured by means of

The pain has been generally mitigated, and fome-

times the difeafe has been removed fo

great,

for

once or twice every day.

ele6tricity, in various inftances.

when the pain was too

are drawn, they

is ele6trified,

It has

the difcharge of the

been conftantly obferved,

wax

is

that,

confiderably promoted.

tooth-ach, occafioned by dbld, rheurnatifm, or inflammation,

is

generally

relieved by drawfing the elefilric fluid with a point, immediately from the part,
alfo externally

zation
-

is

from the

of no ufe

for

face.
it

But,

when the body of

the tooth

is

and

affe6ted, electri-

feldom or never relieves the diforder, e,nd fometimes in-

creafes the pain to a prodigious degree.

No.

16,

Inflammations

InfiammatioriS of every fort are generally relieved by a very gentle ele6lnzaty'

In inflammations of the eyes, the throwing of the electric fluid by means of a wooden point is often attended with great benefit ; the pain being quickly abated, and
the inflammation being generally diffipatedin a few days.

of the patient muft be kept open

point very near

it,

avoided.

It

is

and

fo

on

worfe by

draw the

fufficient to

throw

for in thefe cafes, too great irritation fliould be always

to the patient to reft

many

this

operation for three or four minutes

about half a minute, dfhort

and to wipe his tears, which generally flow

may be continued again for another half-minute,

times every day. The gutta ferena has been fometimes

The

but at the fame time

fuch cafes, in which

However,

attention.

it.

eye

then the operation

cured by eleClrization
effedtual in

Sometimes it is

but, after throwing the fluid for

for four or five

all poffible

not neceflary to continue

w ithout intermiffion
time may be allowed
very copioufly

cafes, the

and care fhoiild be taken not to bring the wooden

for fear of caufingany fpark.

the fluid with a metal point

In thefe

beft

it

it

it

muft be confefTed,

a wooden

has proved in-

was adminiftered for along time and with

has never been

method of adminiftering

eleCtric fluid with

it

known that any body was made

electricity in

point for a fhort time,

fuch cafes,

and then

isfirft

to fend

ta

about

half a dozen of .fhocks of one-twentieth of an inch from the back and lower part of
the head to the forehead, very

little

A remarkable difeafe of the eye

above the eye.

was fome time ago perfectly cured by electrization

it

was an opacity of the vitreous

humour of the eyes. All the cafes of fiftula lacrymalis, which Mr. Cavallo hath
known to have been electrified by perfons of ability for a fufficient time, have been
The method generally praCtifed has been that of drawing the fluid
entirely cured.
The operation
with a wooden point, and to take very fmall fparks from the part.
may be continued for about three or four minutes every day. It is remarkable, that
inthofe cafes, after curing the
it,

fiftula lacrymalis,

no other difeafe was occafioned by

as blindnefs, inflammations, &c. by fuppreffmg that difcharge.

Palfies are feldom perfectly cured

are of long handing

by means of

eleCtricity, efpecially

but they are generally relieved to a certain degree.

thod of electrifying in thofe cafes

is

to

draw the

fluid

with the

wooden

when they
The mepoint,

and

to bring fparks through flannel, or through the ufual coverings of the part if they

are not too thick.

U leers,

The operation may be

and

five

minutes per day.

or open fores of every kind, even of a long handing, are generally difpo-

fed to heal by electrization.

tion,

continued for about

at

firft

The general effeCts are a diminution of

a promotion

o-f

the inflamma-

the difcharge of properly-formed matter, w'hich

difcharge gradually leflens, according as the limits of the fore contraCt,

quite cured.

In thefe cafes the gentleft electrization muft be ufed,

too great an irritation, which

is

generally hurtful.

To draw

in

till it

be

order to avoid

or throw the fluid witli

a wooden

AND THE OCCULT

a wooden or even with a metal

SCIENCES.

243

point, for three or four minutes per day,

is

fully

fufficient.

fuccefsfully treated with electrization

Cutaneous eruptions have been

thefe cafes

it

muft be obferved, that

if

the

wooden point be kept too near

fo as to caufe any confiderable irritation, the eruption will be caufed to fpread

but

if

but in

the

fkin,.

more

fix inches diftance, or farther, if the eleO:rical

the point be kept at about

machine be very powerful, the eruptions will be gradually diminillied, till they are
quite cured. In this kind of difeafe, the immediate and general effe6l Of the wooden
point

is

to occalion

the electrization

is

a warmth about the

electrified part,

which

always a fign that

is

rightly adminiftered.

The application of eleCtricity has perfectly cured various cafes of St. Vituss dance,
or of that difeafe which

is

commonly

called fo

for

it is

the opinion of fome very

learned phyficians, that the real difeafe called St. Vituss dance,

more frequent than

name.

In

it is

at prefent, is different

this difeafe, ftiocks

which formerly was

from that which now^ goes under that

of about one-tenth of an inch may be fent through the

body in various directions, and allb fparks

may be

But,

taken.

if this

treatment

prove very difagreeable to the patient, then the Ihocks muft be lelfened, and even
omitted

inftead of which,

fome other more gentle applications muft be

fubftituted.

Scrophulous tumours, when they are juft beginning, are generally cured by drawing the deClric fluid with a w'ooden or metal point from the part.

Of thofe kinds of difeafes

in

which

tl^e

commonly accompany a

one

is

aCb.on of eleClricity requires particularly

the aid of other medicines in order to effeCt a cure

affections

This

more

eafily

for fcrophulous

great laxity of the habit, and a general cachexy,

which muft be obviated by proper remedies.

In cancers, the pains only are commonly alleviated by drawing the

eleCtric fluid

with a wooden or metal point.

Mr. Cavallo, however, mentions one cafe in whi^^h

a moft confirmed cancer of very long ftanding, on the breaft of a woman, had been
much reduced in fize. It is remarkable, that this patient was fo far relieved by
drawing the

fluid with

hadfuffered for
fluid

a metal point from the part, that the excruciating pains fhe

many years did

almoft entirely difappear; but,

was drawn by means of a wooden

Abfceffes,

when they are

when

the electric

point, the pains rather increafed.

in their beginning,

and

in general

tendency to form matter, are difperfed by electrization.

whenever there

is

any

Lately, in a cafe in w'hich

matter was formed upon the hip, called the lumbar abfcefs, the difeafe was perfectly

cured by means of eleClricity.

The

fciatica has alfo

been often cured by it.

fuch cafes, the eleCiric fluid muft be fent through the part by

In

all

means of two directors

applied to oppofite parts, and in immediate contaCt either with the fkin, or with
tlie

coverings

when

thefe are very thin.

It is

very remarkable, that the mere

paffage

A KEY TO PHYSIC,

^244

pafiage of electric fluid In this

manner

thofe diforders nearly as

much

Sometimes a few

have been

fliocks

them becaufe fometimes,

is

generally

as a fraall iliock
alfo given,

felt

by the

patients afflI6led with

is felt

by a perfon

but

feems more proper tQ omit

it

good health.

in

inftead of difperfing, they rather accelerate the forma-

tion of matter.

In cafes of pulmonary inflammations, w.hen they are in the beginning, eledtrization has

been fometimes beneficial

but in confirmed difeafes of the lungs

not feem to have ever afibrded any unqueftionable benefit ; however,

in fuch cafes the

power of

been but feldom

electricity has

it

it

does

feems that

tried.

Nervous head-achs, even of a longftanding, are generally cured by eledlrization.

For this difeafe, the electric fluid muft be tlirown with a w'ooden and fometimes
even with a metal point,

all

round the head

fmall fliocks have been adminiftered

nerves of perfons fubject to

fparks,

Sometimes exceedingly-

fucceffively.

but thefe can feldom be ufed, becaufe the

this difeafe are fo

and fometimes even the throwing the

very irritable, that the fhocks, the

eledtric fluid with a

wooden point kept

very near the head, throw them into convulfions.

The application of eledlncity has

juft beginning, or rather in the

ufe in advanced dropfies.

in various directions,

often been found beneficial in the dropfy when,

tendency to a dropfy; but

In fuch

it

cafes, the eledlric fluid

by means of two

directors,

is

has never been of any

fent through the part,

and fparks are

alfo

drawn

the flannel or the clothes; keeping the metal rod in contadt with them,
it

continually from place to place.

eledtrization (viz. to infulate the patient,

condudtor whilft the machine

an hour or

tw'O,

is

would be more

acrofs

fliifting

This operation fliould be continued at leaft ten

minutes, and fliould be repeated once or twice a-day.

Ample

and

and

Perhaps

to connedt

in thofe cafes,

him with the prime

in adtion,) continued for a confiderable time,

as

beneficial.

Swellings in general, which do not contain any matter, are frequently cured by

drawing the

eledtric fluid with a wooden point.

for three or four

white
in

minutes every day.

fw'ellings quite

fome meafure

It is

cured by means of

The operation fliould be continued

very remarkable, that, in fome cafes of

eledtricity,

the bones

and

cartilages

were

disfigured.

Agues have not unfrequently been cured by eledtricity, fothat fometimes one electrization or two have been futficient.
The moft effedtual and fure method has been
that of drawing Iparks through flannel, or the clothes, for about ten minutes or a

quarter of an hour.

fliort

The

The patients may be

while before the time in wdiich

fuppreffion of the menfes, which

eaiions the moft difagreeable

eledtrified either at the

it is

is

time of the

fit,

or

expedted.

a difeafe of the female fex that often oc-

and alarming fymptoms,

is

often fucccfsfully and fpee-

'

dily

AND THE OCCULT

dlly cured

after the

of

by means of

eleClricity,

even when the difeafe

moft powerful medicines ufed for

this fort in

SCIENCES.
The

have proved ineffectual.

it

which eledlrization has proved

of long ftandlrig, and

is

ufeleis are fo few,

and the

.ones fo numerous, that the application of eledtricity for this difeafe

confidered as an efficacious and certain remedy.

cafes

fuccefsfui

may be juftly

Great attention and knowledge

is

required, in order to diffinguiffi the arreftof the menfes from a ftate of pregnancy.

In the former, the application of elearicity,

cial;

whereas, in the

latter, it

we obferved

as

may be attended

above,

is

very benefi-

with very difagreeable effeas

it is

therefore a matter of great importance to afcertain the real caufe of the difeafe, before the elearicity be applied in thofe cafes.

fluid

women may be

through other parts of the body diftant from thofe fubfervient

In the
an

Pregnant

real fuppreffion

may be

inch,

elearified

but alwmys ufing very gentle means, and direaing the elearic

for other difeafes,

of the menfes,

fmall fiiocks,

fent through the pelvis

fparks

-from the parts adjacent to the feat of the

i.

e.

to generation.

of about one twentieth of

may be taken through

difeafe,;

and

the clothes

alfo the elearic fluid

may be

tranfraitted by applying the metallic or wooden extremities of two direaors to the

hips, in

contaa with the clothes

part of which

may be removed

in cafe they

be too

Thefe various applications of elearicity fliould be regulated according

thick.

The number offliocks may

The other applications may be continued for two or three minutes

the conftitution of the patient.

teen.

the operation every day.

But either ftrong

fliocks,

than the patient can conveniently bear, fliould be avoided

means

fometiraes

cured.

fufficient difcharge

In cafes of uterine haemorrhages,

electricity

was ever

beneficial.

it is

repeating

or a ftronger application of elec-

tricity

more than a

to

twelve or four-

be about

is

not

for by thofe

occafioned, which

known

Perhaps a very gentle

is

not eafily

that the application of

elefilrization,

fo as to

keep

the patient infulated and connedted with the prime conductor whilft the eledtrical

machine,

In

is

in adtion,

refpefit to

may be

of fome benefit.

unnatural difeharges and fluxes in general,

it

may be

obferved,

that fome difeharges are quite unnatural or adventitious, as the fiftula lacrymaiis,

and fome

fpecies of the venereal difeafe; but others are only increafed natural

difeharges, fuch as the menfes, perfpiration, &c.

in general has
difeharges,

been found more beneficial

which are moftly increafed by

In the venereal

difeafe, ele6trization

for the

Now
firft

the

power of

eledlricity

than for the fecond fort of

it.

has been generally forbidden ; having com-

monly increafed the pains, and other fyraptoms, rather than

diminiffied them.

In-

deed, confidering that any fort of ftimulushas been found hurtful to perfons affliHed

with that diforder,

efpecially in the

No.

16.

it is

no wonder that

manner

it

eledtricity

has produced fome bad

was adminiftered fome time ago,

SR

viz,

effefits,

by giving ftrong
fliocks.

A KEY TO PHYSIC,

246

has been lately obferved, that a Very gentle application of

as drawing the fluid by means of a wooden or metal point, is peculiarly

However,

lliocks.

ele6tricity,

it

even when the difeafe has been of

beneficial in various cafes of this kind,

Having remarked above, that tumors, when

ftanding.

and that unnatural difcharges are gradually

fcd,

elefilrization,

difeafe in

it is

which

fupprefledj

by a judicious

fuperfluous to defcribe particularly thofe ftates of the venereal

may be

elefifricity

operator to avoid any

The

lorfo

juft beginning, are difper-

applied

it is

only neceflary to remind the

confiderable ftimulus in cafes of this fort.

application of elebtricity has been found alfo beneficial in other difeafes

befides thofe mentioned above

afford the deduction of

as the facts are not fufflciently

but,

any general

rules,'

numerous

we have not thought proper

to

to take

any particular notice of them.

W e m.ay

laftly

obferve,

many

in

that,

cafes, the help

prefcribed by the medical praCUtioner wdll be required to

tricity,

zation

w'hich by

may be

itfelf

would perhaps be

often applied to

affift

ufelefs

of other remedies to be
affift

the aCtion of elec-

and, on the other haml, electri-

the aCtion of other remedies, as of fudorifica,

ftrengthening medicines, &c.

Mr. Lichtenberg with a large eleCtrophorus made fome very curious experiments;
in which, the knob of an eleCtrified phial being drawn over the furface of the electric
plate, finely-powdered rofin, afterwards fifted

upon

the place, alTumed the figure of

ftars and other beautiful ramifications, indicating not only an inclination to arrange
itfelf in

the fame regular order with the cry ftals of falts, but to run out into branches

Thefe experiments have been repeated to great advantage

like thofe of vegetables.

by

the Rev.

Mr. Rennet, according

annexed Plate were made.

to

of a

common Leyden

fide

witha varnifh of gum-lac diflblved

phial,

whofe method the figures reprefented

The apparatus
and a

plate of glafs 15 inches fquare covered

in fpirit of wine,

Tw'o ounces of fhell-lac pow^dered and mixed with

fwers very well for this purpofe.

upon

it

The

glafs

fix

and

ounces of

on with common

a metallic ftand with the

pafte.

When

letters

tions

it is

tin-foil fide laid

the knob drawn over the varniflied

made, as reprefented

w ill proceed, longer or

fpirit

muftbe warmed, and the

too thick, otherwife the effeSt will not follow. The other fide
foil laid

of wine an-

varnifli

fide.

is

and from every

may be
3

fpread

lay

it

covered with

to

Thus any kind of figure

is

on

tin-

put upon

be charged, and

may be drawn, or

figure beautiful ramifica-

fliorter a^ccording to the ftrength

fonae occafions, however, the charge

is

to be ufed, the glafs plate

undermoft; the phial

in the plate;

on one

feveral times laid over.

Care muff be taken, however, not to

with a camels-bair pencil.

in the

ufed for making them confifted only

of the charge,

too firong, particularly where

On

we with,
to

^Jx/ijJru^/i.

?^J.

AND THE OCCULT

to reprefent letters,

The round

fo that the

whole

will

SCIENCES.

be blended into one confufed mafs.

formed by placing metallic

and then giving them a fpark from the

figures are

trical plate,

The

fhock through them.

figures

may

247

rings or plates

upon the

elec-

fending a

electrified bottle, or

be rendered permanent by blowing off the

and clapping on a piece of black

loofe chalk,

fized paper upon them ; or, if they are

wanted of another colour, that may eafily be obtained by means of lake, vermilion, rofe-pink, or any of the ordinary colours ground very fine.

Electricity feems alfo to be the caufe of cryftallization

which probably is only

an incipient or imperfect vegetation. Different falts alfume different figures in cryftallization, and are thus moft eafily diftinguilhed from one another.
Each fait is
;

Capable ofalfuming a very different appearance of the cryftalline kind, when only
a fingle drop of the faline folution is made ufe of, and the cryftallization viewed

For our knowledge of this fpecies of cryftallization we

Mr. Henry Baker, who was prefented with a gold medal for the

through a microfeope.
are indebted to

Thefe microfcopical

difeovery, in the year 1744.,

cryftals

he

from

diftinguifties

name of conjiguraiions but this term feems inaccurate,^

may well enough be preferved by calling the large ones the

the large ones by the

and the

diftinction

common, and the fmall ones the miCTofcopical, ci7 ftals of the
of making thefe obfervations he gives in the following words
I

diffolve the fubjecl to

fait.

His method-

be examined in no larger a quantity of rain or river

Ifitis a body eafily dilfolvable,,

I am certain it is fufticient to faturate,
make ufe of cold water; otherwife I make the water warm, hot, or even boiling,,

water than
I

according as
hours,

till,

fettle to the

I find

if

it

necelfary.

After

perfectly diftblved, I let

it is

overcharged, the redundant

bottom, orfhoot into cryftals

by which means

a folution of the fame ftrength at one time as at another

charged with as

much as

it

can hold up, and no more

configurations appear alike,

may be

faline particle^

how often foever tried twhereas,

is,

a folution fully

if the

water be lefts fatu-

falts, little

if

more

be feen than a confufed mafs of cryftals. The folution being thus prepared, I
lip

fiat flip

a drop of it with a goofe-quili cut

in faihion

of a.fcoop, and place

it

on

a.:

of glafs of about three quarters of an inch in width, and between three and
.

four inches long, fpreading

oval figure,

till it

low as to rife very

it

have

be fubje6t to more uncertainty; and,

rated, the proportions at different times will

will

precipitated anti,

thefe precautions the

examined before fuch feparation and precipitation of the redundant

take

fome

reft for

am moft likely to

that

and by

it

it

on the

glafs

with the

quill,

in either a

round or an

appears a quarter of an inch, or more, in diameter, and

little

W hen

above the furface of the glafs.

as level as I can over the clear part of a fire that

is

it is

fo.flral-

fo difpofed, I

hold

not too fierce, or over.the flame

of a candle, at a diftance proportionable to the heat

it

requires (which experienca

A KEY TO

248

PEIYSIC,

only can direb), and watch it very carefully

I difcover the faline particles begin-

till

ning to gather and look white, or of fomeother colour, at the extremities of the edges.
Then ( having adjufted the microfcope before-hand for its reception^ armed with the
fourth glafs, which

and bring

eye,

whole drop,

it

the fitted for moft of thofe experiments) I place

is

exaftly to the focus of the magnifier

I fix

my

attention

on that

where

fide

it

under

my

and, after running over the

obferve any increafe or pufhing

This
forwards of cryftalline matter from the circumference towards the centre.
overheated,
unlefs
drop
has
been
the
motion is extremely flow at the beginning,
but quickens as the water evaporates

and

in

many

kinds, towards the conclufion,

produces configurations with a fwiftnefs inconceivable, compofed of an

which are adjufted to each other with an elegance,

parts,

beyond what the exaeteft pencil

fervation

many

off,

even for

When this adtion

moment, without

for the figures alter every inftant

forts, after all

and order,

is

over

to

Ibme

fraall

quantity of fait

of another kind, w hich the other feparates from, and leaves to act after

done and,
:

in

fome

all

When

the configurations are fully formed,

them are foon deftroyed again by the

their noints and angles lole their fliarp-

become uneven and defaced, and moulder,

few are permanent,

and-,

being inclofed

betw^n

as

it

were, away.

glaffes,

may be

months, or even years, entertaining objeCts for the microfcope.

times that a drop of faline folution can hardly be fpread on the
fon of the glafss
furface
it,

has

none

the water evaporated, moft kinds of

moifture or action of the air upon them

nefs,

itfelf

fubjecls, three or four different forts are obfervable, few or

of them being fimple and homogeneous.

and

and, in

from any

different entirely

arife,

and which probably are owdng

once begins,

fomething worth ob-

lofing

the whole procefs

till

feems at an end, new forms

that appeared before,

of

guided by the ruler and compafles,

in the world,

can ever equal, or moft luxuriant imagination fancy.

the eye cannot be taken

regularity,

infinity

fmoothnefs, but breaks into

wmre greafy

this was

very troublefome,

by rubbing the broken drop with

furface fmeared with

it;

little

my

It
flip

globules, as

till

it

many

happens oftenof glafs, byrea-

would do

if

the

found a way of preventing

finger over the glafs,

on which fmeared

But fome

preferved

fo as to leave the

place, w'hen dry, another

drop of the

may be fpread very eafily in what form one pleafes. It likevvife fometimes
happens, that, when a heated drop is placed properly enough for examination^

folution

the obferver finds he can diftinguifh nothing

that, rifing

from the drop, cover and obfeure the

immediately be wiped awmy with a

loft cloth

light

is

owing

objefit-glafs,

or leather.

the microfcope of faline folutions, even through

employ the

which

made

In

to faline fteams

and therefore muff

all

examinations by

in the day-time, I

of a candle, and advife every obferver to do fo likewife

configurations, being exceedingly tranfparent, are rendered

always
for the

much more diftinguhhable

Qh.n/i/ i^c/

7/4^ wr//?/d

//rw

AND THE OCCULT

by the brounn

ble

day-light

and

may

light

light'

SCIENCES,

249

a candle affords them by the more white and tranfparent

by moving the candle or turning microfcope, fuch

befides, either

be varied or diredted juft as the objedl requires.

manner were produced the beautiful cryftallizations reprefented in the

annexed Plate. They are vaftly different from fuch cryftals of the fame tabs
as are obtained by the common proceffas but Mr. Baker affures us they are
In

this

no

conftant and invariable than they, and that he has repeated the experi-

lefs

ments a great number of times with the fame

Fig.

Ihows

1.

the edges, with very

little

heat, into flattilh figures of various lengths, exceedingly

and with ftraight and

tranfparent,

fuccefs.

of nitre or faltpetre. Thefe Ihoot from

the microfcppical cryftals

They

parallel fides.

are fliown in their different

where a reprefents how they

degrees

of progreffion at the letters a, b,

begin.

After numbers of thefe are formed, they will often diffolve under the eye,

and difappear

entirely; but, if

procefs go on afrelh. Thefe

ftiapes,

and fometimes form

c, d,

you wait a

firft

e;

little,

new

ftioots will

drop reprefents

been too

great, they Ihoot haftily into ramifications very

but very

difficult to

There feems

all

but, if the heat has

numerous and

beautiful,

and which Mr. Baker therefore did not attempt.

a violent agitation

the while

pulh out, and the

figures fometimes enlarge only with altering their

in fuch fort as the

be drawn

firfi:

in the fluid,

and moft commonly,

towards the conclufion, a few ofitaedra (compofed of eight triangular planes, or

two quadrangular pyramids, joined bafe

2.

Blue

the fulphat of copper of the

vitriol,

round the edges, very

fented at the figures

at the beginning, but increafing gradually, as repre-

which denote

1, 2, 3,

grefs of their growth.

reflefit

fliort

make their appearance.

new chemiftry, produces cryftals

to bafe)

Thefe

their difference

cryffalline flioots are folid, regular, tranfparent,

and

As

the

the light very beautifully from their poliihed fides and angles.

watery part evaporates, numbers of long flender bodies

and

there,

fome lying

ftar-like figures

with

fide

by

many

therefore requires patience.

in the middle of the drop,

fide,

radiations (5, 5).

At

like hairs are feen

or crofling each other as at 4

and very

This

fait flioots

prettily

here

others forming

but flowly, and

the true cryttals begin to appear

laft,

5. Dittilled verdigreafe, or green

and

of form, and the pro-

commonly

branched.

oxyd of copper,

diffolved as

above directed,

immediately applied to the microfcope, ftiows abundance of the regular figures,

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

but, if the folution

is

fuffered to ftand for a

few hours, and a

fire on a flip of a glafs, till it begins to concrete

and then examined, fliarp-pointed folid figures, bifefited by a line
cut through the middle, from which they are cut away towards the edges, begin to

drop

-of it is

about the

then heated over the

fides,

appear, and fliooting forwards (1,

Nv>. lb.

1,

1).

3 S

Thefe figures are often

ftriated

very

prettily

A KEY TO PHYSIC,

50

from the middle line to the edges obliquely (2, 2) and frequently they
arife in clufters, and footing from a centre (3, 3). Thefe figures are a long time in
growing; and, whiift they are doing fo, regular cryftals appear forming in feveral

prettily

and

parts of the drop, of the moft lively emerald colour,

and

their fidps
cryftals

angles,

which are moft exaQly difpofed, and

are formed in the middle

they begin to form

Their

common

about

60,

haftily,

till

the water

ters

No

finely polilhed.

nearly evaporated

is

from

and then

for vvhich reafon they muft be carefully attended.

figure refembles too long

yy crolfing

and fhooting branches every way

like four leaves of fern conjoined

each other in an-angle of

each of which again protrudes other

branches from one, and fometimes from both,

pearance

refledling the light

fides

its

by their

making together an apSeparate cluf-

ftalks (5, 5).

of the fame lliarp-pointed figures as thofe at the edges of the drop are alfo

formed

middle of

in the

it.

Sometimes

Very

leaves of dandelion (7),

put on another form, like the

alfo they

beautiful figures are likewife produced

of combination of fliarp-points

and branches

(8, 8).

moft beautiful green colour, but deeper or lighter according

The

production.

deepeft are conftantly produced

Towards

wards,

firft,

the end of the procefs forae

extremely thin, and fo

to the time of their

and the paler ones

after-

circular figures are formed,

with green lines radiating from a centre,

flightly tinged,

as to be almoft colourlefs (9).

by a kind

All the cryftals are of a

When

all

feems in a manner over, bundles of

hair-like bodies appear frequently fcattered here and there throughout the drop,
like thofe of blue vitriol already defcribed.

4.

The

Alum.

microfcopical cryftals of this

cording to the ftrength of the folution

The

the experiment.

in

This fepar ation

it.

for in that time

will often leave the

purpofe but, by holding the vial over or near the

;

has ftood about half an hour,

may

it

glafs,

and properly heated, exhibits commonly

it

fire,

at

firft

fomewhere near the edge, and runs pretty

fait,

many

will

not be

cryftals will

remainder too w'eak for the

the cryftals will again dilTolve.

then be ufed.

After

in motion

prove more or lefs perfedl ac-

folution of alum, how'ever faturated with the

found over-ftrong after ftanding fome days

have. formed

fait

and the degree of heat employed in making

The drop put on

the

a dark cloud which appears

fwiftly

both to the right and

left, until it is either ftopped by the intervention of regular cryftals, or elfe it proceeds both ways at once, till, having furrounded the whole drop, the two ends rufti

together,

and join

into

one

(, a).

it is

Ihot into long

and very flender

each other at right angles.

their internal edges.

and w'hich have

part,

which feems

running round, appears on a ftribt examination to

agitated while

from

This cloudy

all

As

lines,

much

to

be violently
of falts,

confift

crofting

finer than the fmalleft hair,

they go along, rows of folid cryftals are produced

Thefe are compofed of many oblique plain fides

a tendency towards the figures of the regular

3

cryftals to

(b,

be defcribed

AND THE OCCULT

fcrlbedprefently.

But it frequently happens,

minute and circular figures are feen

SCIENCES.

that, in

rifing at

fome

cryftals in the

middle feldom appear

when, on a fudden, many

till

ftraight lines

fome parts of the drop, many

diftances from the edge,

little

which, enlarging themfelves continually, appear at

5i

laft

appear puflring forwards, whofe

edges are jagged, and from which other fimilar ftraight and jagged lines
at right angles with the

firft.

Thefe again have other

Ihooting out likewife from themfelves, and compofe

elegant configuration (D),

and
its

end, appears as "if

it

Each of theTh lines,

from their

fides,

many

final!

all

fides

flioot

or

out

ones of the fame kind

together a moft beautiful

increafing in breadth towards

were fomewhat club-headed

ftead of fending branches

other,

The

of a ftar-hke form.

the fluid feems almoft wholly evaporated

Sometimes, in-

(e, e, e).

of thefe lines

rife parallel to

each

refembling a kind of palifado, and having numberlefs minute tranfverfe

But the moft wonderful part of all, though not

producible without an exadl degree of heat and right management, is the dark
ground-work (G). It confifts of an infinity of parallel lines having others eroding
lines

Tunning between them (F).

and producing a variety fcarcely conceivable from lines ditpofed in no other manner ; the direHion of the lines (w'hich areexquifitely ftraight
and delicate) being fo frequently and differently changed, that one would think
it the refult of long ftudy and contrivance.
During the timh this ground-work
them

at right angles,

commonly on one
Thefe grow continually larger, with radiations from a centre, and become
fide.
Some of them fend out long tails, which
ftar-like figures as before mentioned.
is

framing, certain lucid points prefent themfelves to view moft

give them the appearance of comets

and, at the end of

various direfilions darts frequently through, and occupies

between them, making thereby no

of a dark fky illuminated with

formed
5.

method

ftars

If a drop of folution of borax

is

or moft of the fpaces

when viewed by

The

and comets.

all

a dark lineation in

candle-light;,

regular cryftals are often

fame drop with the others.

in the

Borax.

hardens on the
beft

reprefentation,

ill

all,

flip

is

held too long over the

of glafs in fuch a manner that no

to give

it

cryftals

fire,

The

can appear.

a brilk heat for about a fecond, and then, applying

it

it

to the

microfeope, the cryftals will quickly form themfelves as reprefented in the figure.
6. Sal ammoniac, or muriatof ammoniac, begins with ihooting from the edges great
numbers of lharp, but at the fame time thick and broad, fpiculae from whofe fides
;

are protruded, as they

to

rife,

many

others of the fame fliape, but very ihort, parallel

each other, but perpendicular to their main ftem

directions, but for the

themfelves in

all

they rife, and

many are frequently feen

tinue to pufh forwards,

( I).

Thefe fpiculm arrange

moft part obliquely to the plane from whence

parallel to

one another

(1,

).

As

they con-

which they do without increafing much in breadth, fome

flioot

from

A KEY TO PHYSIC,

252

from them the fmall fpiculse only (2) others divide in a fingular manner by the fpliting of the ftem ; others branch into fmaller ramifications (4). Before the middle of
;

the drop begins to fhoot, feveral exceedingly minute bodies may be difcernable at the

bottom of the

Thefe

fluid.

laft

while

little
is

one that

firft

began

little

rife to

and foon

the top,

diftinguilh

very quick, and for fome time pretty equal

fome branch gets the better of the

other branches enlarge but

in that

Their growth

their Ihape as at (5).

but at

in

reft,

and forms the

figure (6).

after this, all the attrafition feeraing to be

to lengthen

and from

this

lodged

more branches being pro-

truded, and they again protruding others, the whole appears as at (8).

uncommon

not

to fee in the middle of the drop

the ftraight ftems above defcribed, there

is

The

fome

cryftals,

It

is

where, inftead of

formed a kind of zig-zag, with

Ipiculse

like thofe in the other figures (7).

7. Salt

which
is

in

on a

it
fit

flip

of lead, or faccharum faturni,

little

of this

fait diflblved in

hot water,

immediately renders milky, after ftanding a quarter of an hour to fubfide,

condition for an examination by the microfcope.
ofglafs,

and held over the

fire

A drop of

to put the particles in

it

then applied

afition, will

be feen

forming round the edge a pretty even and regular border of a clear and tranfparent
film or gluy fubftance f aaaaj; which, if too bidden and violent a heat be given,
runs over the whole area of the drop, and hardens fo on the glafs as not to be got off

Without great difficulty.

But, if a moderate

muft not be too long continued,

with a kind of radiated figure

this

warmth be made

ufe of, which likewife

border proceeds only a little

way into the drop,

compofed of fine lines, or rather bundles of lines, be-

ginning from the centres to the interior edge of the border, and fpreading out at
nearly equal diftances from each other every way, towards the exterior f bbbb).

From

the fame centres are produced afterward a radiation inwards, compofed of parallel-

ograms of different lengths and breadths

from one and fometimes both the angles

of thefe, are frequently feen fliootings fo exceedingly flender, that they are perhaps
the beft poflible reprefentations of a mathematical line.

The

extremities of the

parallelograms are generally caft off at right angles, but they are fometimes alfo
feen oblique ( cccc ).

Centres with the like radii iffuing from them, and fome of

the glutinous matter for their root, are fometimes formed in the drop, entirely

detached from the edges

condary

radii

to a great
8. Salt

and

in thefe

it is

very frequent to find a kind of fe-

proceeding from fome of the primary ones; and others from them

number of gradations, forming thereby a very pretty figure (D).

of tin produces at the edges of the drop a number of o6laedra, partly

tranfparent, ftanding

on long necks, at fmall

diftances from each other, with an-

the fame time folid andregular opaque cubes

will be feen forming themfelves in other parts of the drop fbbj. In the middle of the

gular fhoots between them ( aa J.

At

fame

AND THE OCCULT

fame drop, and

numbers of

fiat,

thin, tranfparent,

are thicker (e); and a few appear

a point, as

fides arifing to

two high pyramids united

if

Some

at their bafe.

be obferved with doping

whofe angles point

Epfom fait
figures (a). From

folid,

The

in this

and with

fix

doping

[f) is compofed of
kind of form are found trunfigure

Several of the hexagonal bodies

forming a fmooth triangular

rifing plane,

hexagon {g).
(fulphat of magnefia) begins to dioot from the edge in jagged

9-

to three intermediate fides of the

other parts differently-figured cryftals extend themfelves tow ards

the middle, fome of which have

in

fides,

be formed;

hexangular, bodies (ccc): fome

more

cut and polilhed {d).

cated at one of their ends, and others at both.

may

253

in feveral other parts of it, very different figures will alfo

particularly great

among which

SCIENCES,

an oblique direction

proceeding from both fides of amain ftem,

fine lines

thofe on

one

fide

about 60, and thofe omthe other downwards

produce jags from either

fide nearly

upwards

diooting
in the

in

an angle of

fame obliquity (/).

Others

perpendicular to the main ftem, thereby

forming figures that refemble fome fpecies of the polypody (c); but in others the
jags are diorter

Now

(d).

and then one of the main ftems continues diooting to a

confiderable length, without any branchings from the fides: but at laft fends out two

branches from

its

extremity

Sometimes a

(g).

and minute lines radiating from a centre (h).

figure

is

The

laft

produced having many

fine

diootings in the middle of

the drop (h) are not unlike the frame-wdrk for the flooring or roofing of a houfe,

but with the angles oblique: and fometimes a form of another kind prefents
10.

Scarborough

fait

begins to ilioot from the edges:

firft

of

all in

itfelf (i).

portions of

much refembling thofe of common fait; but two of their anare about 100. They fliootin great numbers round the borders

quadrilateral figures,
gles, inftead

of 90,

of the drop, having their fides as nearly parallel,to one another as the figure of the

drop

wilt allow

fome proceed but a

little

way, others farther, before they renew

fome places they appear more pointed and longer (5^; and fometimes, inftead of the diagonal, one of the fides is feen towards the edge, and the
other diooting into the middle (cj. The middle cryftals (d ef) feem to be of the

the dioot f aa). In

vitriolic

kind,

11. Glaubers fait, or fulphat of foda,

produces ramifications from the fide of the

drop, like the growth of minute plants, but extremely tranfparent and elegant ( c).

Some

of them, however, begin to dioot from a centre at

fome

diftance from the

edge, and protrude branches from that centre in a contrary direction (h).

Sometimes

they dioot from one and fometimes from more fides of the central point in different
varieties (d).

drop

(a, /, e);

Other

figures are

but the raoft remarkable and beautiful cryftallization forms

near the middle of the drop. It

No,

17.

produced from different parts of the edge of the

is

laft

of alj

compofed of a number of lines proceeding from

3

on.e

A KEY TO PHYSIC
one another at right angles, with tranfparent fpaces and
them, appearing altogether like
lization begins,

it

12.

like

divifions running

its

beauty

melted

ice,

Salt of Jefuits bark.

is

of very

fliort

duration; in a few

which renders drawing

The few

it

very

it

diffolves

fhootings which this fait produces at the edge

The whole area becomes

fizes,

quickly

filled

with

extremely thin and tranfparent (h J.

of thefe enlarge greatly, and acquire a confiderablethicknefs, forming them-

many

felves into folids of

Near

fides (c c).

the conclufion

fome

are formed {ddj, and likewife a few odd triangular figures

3.

this cryftal-

moments

great numbers of rhombi, of different

between

difficult.

of the drop are of no regular figure (a J.

Some

When

and fquares fgg).

forms with great rapidity, affording the obferver a very agreeable

entertainment: but

and vanifhes

ilreets, alleys,

cryflals of fea-falt

(e).

Salt of liquorice begins fliooting from the edge with a fort of rhombic fpi-

Some four-branched

culse (aj.

figures like thofe of vitriol

commonly appear, but

moulder away

before their ramifications are completed, leaving only their ftamina

behind (bbj.

The middle

parallelograms,

of the drop

fome exceedingly

is

ufually overfpread with great

nal, hexagonal,

and

manner

Some

now and

of the plane figures

regular kind of fliooting which appears very pretty

14. Salt of wormwood, or

as to produce pentago-

Others have much thicknefs, and form paral-

other, figures.

lelopipeds or prifms (c).

mere planes; having fometimes

tranfparent, being

one, fometimes more, of the angles canted in fuch a

numbers of

carbonatof potafli. The

then protrude an

ir-

(d).

firft

edges of the drop appear of a confiderable thicknefs

fliootings of this fait

in

from the

proportion to their length

their fides are deeply and fliarplyjagged or indented, being made u p

ofmany fomewhat-

obtufe angles, and their ends point with angles of the fame kind f a ). But other Ihoots
frequently branch out from thefe original ones, and they again fend forth others,

making

all

different

together a very pretty appearance {bb).

The

cryftals of this fait are very

from each other, confiding of fquares, rhombi, parallelograms, &c. (c).

13. Salt

of tobacco.

If a moderate degree of heat be given to a folutkm of this

fait, its firff fliootings will

be from the edges of the drop, in flender tapering figures,

ending with very

points,

fliarp

but at confiderable diftances from one another.

Along with thefe are formed other

cryftals,

nearly of the fame kind, but entirely

detached, and farther within the drop, having the thicker ends towards the centre
of the drop, and the ftiarp points turned towards

its

edge

(a).

When a little more

heat has been given, other fpiculae are produced from the edge, whofe ends fpread

on

either fide,

and then terminate

angular pointed

drawn through

cryftals,
its

in

a point, and which have

all

along their fides

tri-

placed alternately, fo as to reprefent a zig-zag with a line

middle (&).

The

regular cryftals are produced in the middle of

the drop, and are either hexagons or rhombi (c).

7

When

the moifture

is

nearly exhaled,

AND THE OCCULT

led, there are

fometimes feen

SCIENCES.

253

to flioot from, or rather under, the fpiculae,

plane of the glafs, a reprefentation of leaves, very fmall at their

but gradually increafing (d).

the

firft

violent agitation

may

firft

upon the

appearance,

be difcovered in the fluid by

magnifier during the whole procefs, but efpecially at the beginning, and

extremely minute cryftals arifing from the bottom.

Salt of hartfliorn.

Ifi.

On

the application of a very fmall degree of heat, fait of

hartfliorn ftioots near the edges of the

drop into

fomewhat refembling

folid figures

razors or lancets, where the blade turns into the handle by a clafp

(r/).

The

cryftals

of this fait are produced with great velocity, and are fomewhat opaque, fiiooting

from the edges of the drop, on both fidesof a main ftem, and with a kind of regularity,
rugged branches

like thofe

of thefe branches,

But fometimes,

of fome forts of coral (a a).

fliarp fpiculae,

fome

a confiderable depth on one fide only (b).

inftead

and others jagged, are protruded

plain,

As

to

fome one of the

the fluid exhales,

branching figures generally extends to a great length, producing on one fide fhoots
that are rugged

and

thofe of fome plant

irregular,
(c).

17. Salt of urine ftiOots

nitre (aa).

But

and on the other curious regular branches refembling

from the edges of the drop

in other places, along the fides of the

that feem to be the rudiments of

common fait

drop

Some

(b).

creafe

much

figure,

and become three or four times bigger than the

in fize,

and fpread themfelves

long parallelograms like

in

folid angles are formed,

of the parallelograms in-

in the middle, fo as to
reft

change

their firft

and thefe have a

ding line that runs through their whole length from end to end, whence

iffue other

fhort lines at fmall diftances, oppofite to one another, all pointing with the

degree of obliquity towards the bafe

ftioot

ftill

Among

thefe enlarged figures

fame

fome few

forward and tapering towards a point, but, before they form one, fwell

again, and begin as

figure

(cc).

divi-

it

were anew; and thus they proceed feveral times before their

quite finiflied (aa). The figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, are the regular cryftals of

when it is allowed to diflblve in the air, and no heat at all is giv?en.
Rheum, or the clear liquor which diftils from the noftrils when people catch

is

this fait

18.

cold,

is

ftrongly faturated with fait.

ftallize in

the

drop of

it

on a

flip

a beautiful manner, either with or without heat

warmth of the

of glafs will foon cry-

but

if

heated to about

blood, and then viewed through the microfedpe,

points will be feen rifing and increafing gradually,

till

their

form

is

quadrangular, with two tranfparent diagonals crofting each other (dd).

many

lucid

lliown to be

Thefe

di-

agonals ftioot foon after far beyond the fquare, protruding other lines at right angles

from their

fides

ftals (6&, cc).

and thus they go on to form the moft elegant and beautiful cry-

When

a drop of

rheum

is fet to cryftallize

without any heat, inftead

of branched cryftals over the whole area, fuch are formed only in the middle

but,

about

A KEY TO PHYSIC,

256
about the

edg;es,

plant-like figures are produced, fliooting feveral ftetns from oner

and refembling a kind of mofs (E).

point,

Camphor, though infoluble in water, diffolves very readily in fpirit of wine.

drop of this folution fpread upon a flip of glafs cryftallizes inftantly in the beau19.

tiful

manner reprefented

Manna

20.

object. Its

in the figure.

ealily diflblves in water,

firfl:

radiating lines

fliootings are radiations

and a drop of the folution

from points

a).

a very pretty

edge of the drop

at the very

feem opaque, but are very flender (a a

is

Amongft

thefe arife

the

many

minute tranfparent columns, whofe ends grow wider gradually as they extend
lengtlv and terminate at laft with

fome degree of

obliquity {b).

Some

in

few- figures,

radiating from a centre every way, and circumfcribed by an outline, are produced

But the moft furprifing and elegant configuration

within the drop [d d).

fed of

many

clufters of radiations fliooting

the drop, and making

ANIMAL MAGNETISM
made

to pafs

one from another over great part of

animal magnetism
is

the infenfible perfpiration of the

is

compo-

together a figure not unlike a beautiful fea-plant.

all

Of

via,

is

a fympathy which

exifts

human body, whereby an

and repafs through the pores of the

between the magnet and

cether, or univerfal efflu-

cuticle, in the

fame manner

and by which many cures are performed.

The fyftem originated, in 1774, from a German philofopher named Father Hehl,
who greatly recommended the ufe of the magnet in medicine, M. Mefmer, a phy-

as the eledtrical fluid paflfes through bodies

fician of the

fame country, by adopting

He

founder of the fyftem.

the Influence of the Stars

became the

direft

upon the human Body, which he publicly defended

Vienna.

He

afterwards

made

in

a tour through Ger-

publilhing every-wbere the great cures he performed by means of animal

magnetifm; and arrived

firft

the principles of Hehl,

had already diftinguilhed himfelf by a Dilfertation on

thefis before the univerfity of

m any,

at Paris in the beginning of the year 1778.

Here he was

patronifed by the author of the Diftionnaire des Merveilles de la Nature; in

which work a great number of his cures were publilhed, Mefmer himfelf receiving
likewife an ample teftimony of his candour and folid reafoning. Our phyfician foon
colle6led

fome

whence he in
great

pupils

patients

and

in the

month of April 1778

afliort time returned with

retired to Creteil,

from

them perfe6lly cured. His fuccefs was now

and patients increafed fo rapidly, that the do6lor was foon obliged to take
him in his operatons. Thefe pupils fucceeded equally well as

to affift

Mefmer

named
In 1779 Mefmer publiflied ame-

himfelf ; and fo great was their emolument,

Deflon, realized upwards of 100,0001.

fterling.

that one of them,

mojr

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES,

257

moir on the fubjel of Animal Magnetifm, promifing aferwards a complete work

upon the fame, which

fliould

make

as great a revolution in philofophy as

it

had

already done in medicine.

The new

fyllem gained ground daily; and foon became fo fafhionable, that the

jealoufy of the faculty was thoroughly awakened, and an application concerning

was made

to the

French government. In confequence of

it

a committee was ap-

this,

pointed to inquire into the matter, confifting partly of phyficians and partly of

members of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris, with Dr. Franklin at their
Mefmer himfelf refufed to have any communication with the committee

head.

hut

moft celebrated pupil Dellon was

his

lefs fcrupulous,

and explained the prin

ciples of his art in the following

manner.

Animal magnetifm is
nature, and the medium of

univerfal fluid, conftituting an abfolute

1.

att

all

mutual influence between the

between the earth and animal bodies.

2. It is the

ble of a flux and reflux, and of receiving,

of motion.

3.

The

animal body

moft fubtile

plenum

nature ; capa-

propagating, and continuing,

is fubjedled to the influences of this fluid

of the nerves, which are immediately affedled by

it.

4-.

and

celeftial bodies,

fluid in

in

kinds

all

by means

The human body has

poles

and other properties analogous to the magnet. 5. The adiion and virtue of animal
magnetifm may be communicated from one body to another, whether animate or
inanimate. 6. It operates at a great diftance, without the intervention of any body.
7. It is increafed

creafed, by found

by mirrors; communicated, and propagated, and

and may be accumulated, concentrated, and tranfported.

and
;

refledled

Notwithftanding the univerfality of

fected by

it

fluid,

8.

animal bodies are not equally af-

on the other hand, there are fome, though but fe^ in number, the pre-

fence of which deftroys

this fluid, all

in-

all

the effeCls of animal magnetifm.

9-

By means

nervous diforders are cured immediately, and others mediately; and

fliort,

extend to the univerfal prefervatioh of mankind.

From

this theory,

M. Deflon

l.To prove

engaged,

fuch a thing as animal magnetifm exifted

of difeafes; and to communicate to them

all

2.

To

virtues,

to the commiffioners, that

prove the

that he

its

of this

utility

knew upon

of

it

in the cure

the fubjeCl.

The

commiffionefs accordingly attended in the room where the patients underwent the

magnetical operations.

The apparatus

confifted of a circular platform

made of oak,
were a num-

and raifed about a foot and a half from the ground. At the top of it
ber of holes, in which were iron rods with moveable joints for the purpofe of applying them to any part of the body.

The patients were placed in

a circle round

it,

each

touching an iron rod, which he could apply to any part of the body at pleafure
they were joined to one anothe by a cord pafling round their bodies, the defign being to increafe the effcCl by communication. In one corner of the room was a piano-

No.

17.

forte,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

25S
on which fome

forte,

accompanied with a fong. Each,

airs are played, occafionally

of the patients held in

hand an iron rod ten or twelve

his

of which was to concentrate the magnetifm in

the intention

and thus to render

point,

its

feet long

its ef-

Sound is another condu6tor of this magnetifm and, in order

fects more fenfible.
to communicate the magnetifm to the piano-forte, nothing more is neceffary than to
;

bring the iron rod near

plays

it

and

this

ternal part of the platform

was the

refervoir

Some magnetifm

it.

magnetifm

was fo contrived as

whence the

alfo furniflied

is

by the perfon who

tranfmitted to the patients by the founds.

is

The

to concentrate the magnetifm,

virtue diffufed itfelf

among

the patients.

Befides the different W'ays of receiving the magnetifm already mentioned,

the iron, cord, and piano-forte, the patients alfo had

and a rod which he held

finger,

in his

directly

it

in-

and

from the

viz.

by

dodtors'

hand, and which he carried about .the face,

head, or fuch parts of the patient as w'ere difeafed

obferving always the dire6lion

of the poles. His principal application of magnetifm, however, was by prelfure of

the hands or fingers on the hypochondria, or lower region of the ftomach.

The effe6ts
fpit,

of thefe operations upon Deflens patients were very amazing.

coughed, and fweat, and

Many

felt

had convulfions, which

after this

is

extraordinary heats in different parts of the body.

what

is

called their

crifis,

determined to try the experiments themfelves

&c.The

ultimately curing difeafes, or by

The

its

obfervable

its

was totally

by

exiftence

upon the human body.

England with great fuccefs by the

pra6lice having been fince purfued in

ingenious Dr. Bell, I ihall give the procefs

effe6ts

commiffioners

for the fluid

imperceptible by any of the fenfes, and they could only afcertain

its

Some

and effe^s of

this

difcovery in his

own

words.

There

is

an univerfal

fluid

a certain quantity of eledlric

which

fluid.

fills all

There

Every body

fpace.

exifls

is

endowed with

an attraftion and repulfion, or fym-

pathy and antipathy, between animated bodies. The univerfal currents of the univerfal fluid, are the caufe

rents in a body,

ciprocally

and exiftence of bodies.

and produce

crifis

One may

and fomnambulifm, which

neral and reciprocal gravitafton of

done by a6ling re-

As

their interftices

there exifts a ge-

bodies towards each other, fo there

all celeftial

a particular and reciprocal gravitation of the conftitutive parts of the earth

towards the whole, and of that whole towards each of

The reciprocal a6lion of

all

thefe bodies

perfpiration, or vapour, flowing in

an

is

upon one another, by increafing the currents going acrofs

or pores, in confequence of the abfolute will of the operator.

exifts

accelerate thofe cur-

artificial

and

operated upon by the infenfible

is

out, as

its parts.

you fee

magnet, forming an outfide atmofphere

in
it

a real loadftone or in
alfo produces currents

kk A more or lefs direct manner, according to the analogy of bodies.

That which
can

AND THE OCCULT

can
is

moft effectually on a fickly man,

of a fimilar conftitution

more powerful
gives

it

in

pofition of

movement.

It

is

259

a good flate of health,

parts, of

who

receives

and produce beneficial

we ought

which each

to confider

more than he

effeCts.

not indifferent.

is

each being as a whole

poffeffes a form, or particular tonical

of courfe by that means eafily underftood, that two beings have

over each other the greatefl influence poffible,

when they

are fo placed that their

analogous parts aCt on one another in the moft harmonical manner. It

that the perfon w'ho fubmits to be treated

mind mufl be
feels.

is

is

neceffary

willing, as well as that the operators

is

abfolute, and think of nothing but of the different fenfations he then

Credite

(This

Sf volete.

Therefore,

manner

and

in a good ftateof health will be then

two beings aCting on one another

pofition fliould be,

compounded of different

is in

latters w'eaknefs,

will increafe the circulation,

To judge what that

one who

the power of man

confequence of the

The refpeCtive

is

SCIENCES.

in

is

the fecret.)

may

order that two perfons

aCl on each other in the ftrongeft

they muft be placed oppofite each other; from North to South

poffible,

the beft; you turn your patients facetow'ards the South

directions, according to

your ideas and circumftances.

you may

treat in other

In that oppofite pofition

your atmofpheres are joining ; and you may be confidered as forming but one whole,
acting in an harmonic manner.

towards him

in

When a man

fuffers, all the aCtion

of life

is

directed

order to deftroy the caufe of fuffering; likewife, when two perfons

are aCting on each other, the whole aCtion of that union aCts on the difordered parts

with a force proportioned to the increafe of the mafs.

It

may

therefore be in ge-

neral afferted, that the aCtion of animal eleCtricity and Magnetifm, &c. increafes
in

proportion to the malfes.

It is poffible to direct the aCtion

of Animal EleCtricity and Magnetifm more

particularly on any individual part, by fixing your idea

Our arms may be

the part affeCted.

and ferve

ty between bodies.

pofition of

It follows,

will,

and

eftablifh

a kind of continui-

in order to maintain the

whole, one ought to touch the right part with the

left.

upon

from what has been faid on the moft advantageous

two beings acting on each other

contact w ith the

fluid

confidered as conductors to the animal fluid,

according to our

to attraCt or repel

and directing the

In that pofition you are

left

harmony of the

arm, and the light toot in

in affinity with

your patient, your

human

body^,

be obferved in the loadftone, or

artifi-

magnet.
Paracelfus, as well as many other anatomifts, have admitted poles in man.

Mr.

two atmofpheres are joined

and

is

it

fliows the oppofition of poles in the

nearly the fame as thofe which

may

cial

George Adams,
it

may be

in his Treatife

on Magnetifm, juftly

fays,

In fome future period

difcovered that moft bodies are polfeffed of a polarity, as well as one

direction

A KEY TO PHYSIC

250
direftion

relative to the various affinity of the elements of which they are com*
pounded. The better to conceive the poles of the human body, we ought to confider
man divided into two parts, by a line drawn from the top to the pubis all the
;

joints of the left part

herewith

may be

the fluid paffes out

confidered as poles oppofite to thofe correfponding

more

fenfibly,

and

in a greater

abundance, from the

extremities, as thofe extremities are confidered as poles oppofite to the right,

and

are the befl condudlors of the animal fluid.

You may

give polarity to animate and inanimate bodies

that

is

to fay, to in-

creafe an a6lion to a degree which they had not before, only by a fri6tion very nearly refembling that

except that

man body

will

it

which you give

to a piece of fteel before

bodies, as

alfo change the poles in the hu-

Animal

Ele6tricity

by means of an univerfal

in the univerfe

this

you may

and has been

in

affe6l a

crifis

fluid flow

magnet by addis filled

bodies are immerfed, and

out and pafs in

perfon at a diftance, provided he

before you put the column

felt by the force of founds at a concert.

In order to be in affinity or harmony with your

the hand
to

all

as there

an equilibrium,

You

their crifis.

is

a circulation which forms

it is

itfelf

is

and

in

confequence

of a weak habit of body,

of air into vibration

between the perfon you treat and yourfelf ; that

ifts

or

which

fluid in

artificial

therefore every thing

alfo

beings touch one another in confequence of the continual circulation

all

by which the currents of the magnetic

of

You may

and Magnetifm by animate

you may increafe the a6tion of an

ing more magnets, provided the poles are contrary

therefore

becomes a magnet,

fame as you change thofe of a magnet.

flrengthen or increafe the a6lion of

and inanimate

You may

not be fo palpable.

pretty nearly the

it

which ex-

will aflfedt him, as is feen

patient,

you muft touch him by

between you and him, and tends

generally by that means eafier to take your patients out of

next hold up both your hands parallel to the head, and bring

you may follow the dire6lion of the nerves ;

then fix your hands upon the diaphragm or ftomach, where lies the greateft abundance of nerves; you may put your thumbs upon the plexus, and put the nerves

them gently down

as far as the pubis ;

may alfo fix one hand upon the ftomach, and draw the other towards
you; by that mean yoattradt orrepel at pleafure. There are various ways of ma-

motion; you

nipulation, which the operator makes ufe

of,

according to circumftances.

with to procure fleep foon, change your pofition

patient or left

other behind

in that pofition

and

this

you

get either to the right fide of your

one of your hands before the head, and the

all

your might,

till

you

feel

fome heat

in the

you muft charge the head

by ftiutting your hands as if you were boxing then you open

If the perfon

in different diredtions,

quick,

fix

keep them there with

palm of the hand.

them

you

If

you repeat

is

not inclined to

often

fleep,

the perfon feels then a drowfmefs. You

muft

AND THE OCCULT

muft keep your hands

Which* ftimulates the body and

much

agitated, get oppofite to him,

and bring both your hands downwards from head to

perfon, and, getting backwards,

and place of the

feels pain, as

perly,

illnefs

it is

compofe him.

it will

or you hold the perfon

increafed by treating

a fign he

it is

not in a pei'feft

is

afleep Ibnger without fpeaking to him.

by extending your hah d

pains in the fame part as

of your fingers a heat,

it is

in the

lymphatic

w here

lies.

certain of the feat

if it is

with a

is

attention, withih yOuf-

you may

or

rtumbnefs

if

you

as

which fometiines

you do the head

you have rendered

difeafe,

and aCt

by putting the whole frame

any difeafe proceeding from obftru6tions, &c.

will

like

infofm yon

you foon become

lies

in the

oppofite

touch,

if

you

by that means you

critical

it

the end

feel a dold-nefs,

You may

&fc.

feel at

and many other ways

the ftireft'way,

is

nervous affections,

of nature againft the caufe of the

erifis,

for the feat of the difeafe,

little

affedfed

feel a

difeafe,

till

fona

from hiS body, beginning from head to

But by touching, which

it

to

for the caufe

you muft keep him

either of fhefe cipcomftances

feel

keep up the fymptomatieal pain,

produce a falutary

of fomnambulifm

the perfon

and caufe of the

you were

he does not anfwer your queflions pro-

feel,

you

if

hand, and you afk him wh^re he

You then feek

the caufe of the difeafe, or charge

effort

or as

foot,

^Then you feek

an inflammation or obftru6tion ;

fide to the pain, particularly in

like,

if

may

ve{fels; if bilious,

which different conftilutions

where the difeafe

ftatte

at a little diftance

foot; if your fenfations are good, you

felf,

fluid gets

a6ls alfo upon the nerves,

If you fee the patient too

erifis.

26

beiwe; by thefe meelns the animal

in oppofition as

into the abforbent velfels

produces a

SGIF^NCES.

you fecond

the"

a ftimulus, which Will

in aCtion,

which

will

remove

after the patient finds himfelf com'*

and 'the caufb of the diforder diminifhed. When the patient

afleep^ youafk him if it is time to ta:ke him out of it if he anfwers Yes, draw your hands to*
wards his bead d6wn to the feet, and rbb yOur eyes w'ithyoiir thumbs feveral times,
and wave you'r h and as if you were to
a perfon who is too hot^you getby de*
pofhd,

grees backwards

The
ftru6tion

till

he

is recovered'.'

caufe of mod: part of difeafes

;

is

an

irritability

by the fVownefs or abolition of motion,

it is

or feVer, debility or

ob-'

an obftTu^lion or debili^,

and by its acceleration produces an irritability, inflammation, and fever.

The feat of thofe difeafCs is generally in the vifecra, as theinteftinesi the fpleen,

women,

the ftomaeh, the

Thefe aberrations or obftnidtions are an impediment

in the circulation

the liver, the epiploon, the mefentery, the loins; See. in

womb.

Sec.

of one part, which preffes on the blood or lymphatic

which produce thofe fpafms, on account that 'the

reafon, thofe perfons are the fOoneft affebled;

labouring under thofe maladifes

No.

17.

and put

if thofe-veffels

veffels,

and on the nerves,

fluid circulates flowly.

prefs

into

crifik,

upon the "foot

For that

when they
ofa nCfve,

are

the

motion

A KEY TO PHYSIC

162
motion and

fenfibility of the

There

plexy, pally, &c.

is

correfponding parts are quite fuppreffed, as in an aponot a better condudtor for the animal fluid than the

body

nerves, as they are fpread all over the

they abound more particularly in the

diaphragm, ftomachical and umbilical plexus, where

which extend their branches (as a tree does

its

lies

the root of the nerves,

branches and roots in the earth)

all

over the body.

Many

them
treat

philofophers have thought

fomnambules fee

that the

treat at

them

that the foul lies

dark when their eyes are

much

a perfon, you mull follow as

you may

in

it is

in the

a fmall diftance, and

it is

Ihut.

as poflfible the direftion of the nerves

your hand upon the part

fix

affe6led,

by motion you put the column of air (which exifts between you and your
into vibration, which will caufe an irritation and produce a crifis.

Many

profelfors

make

ufe of condudlors, either glafs, Heel,

good

about eight inches long; they have a

condu6tors, you

changed.

except when
I

is

effedl

When
that

right,

you make ufe of

the poles are

is,

by treating from

fome have gone

if

left to left,

while afleep

into a crifis, others have

human body

which ferves to
there

I repeat

is

harmony

it

him

on folid bodies that

there

North

which

like the equator,

the general remedy

if

the

eftablifli

effeftually.

re-eftabliih the equilibrium

you

is

to the

with-

moft advantageous to be oppofite the

is

but one difeafe, there

ought to be increafed
it is

it

to treat, in order to cure

eilabliihing the difturbed

creafed ; as

as a magnet. If

becomes the South, and the middle

perfon you want

niftied, it

left

a re-a6lion of fluid from one pole to the other, like a magnet; for Dr.

out predominant a6lion.

As

is

is

which

is

Curing

confifts in re-

the application of animal

is loft

but one remedy

in
;

fome part of the

if

too great irritability,

motion

it

this fluid operates, particularly

is

dimi-

ought to be de-

on our

vifeera,

order to rectify them, as they are deftined by Nature to prepare, todiffolve, and

aflimilate

our humours, they fhould be brought to their equilibrium by any means

whatever, by employing either internal or external remedies

very cautious

how we

but

we ought

to

be

adminifter them, except fuch as the patients will order for

themfelves or preferibe for others, which are generally very Ample. There are few

remedies taken internally which are good, becaufe, when received into the ftomach

and the

firft

proceeds

behind; and in the fame manner to any other part of the body, be-

reprefents the

right, the left

in

patient)

If you touch the forehead with your right hand, you muft put your

caufe there

body.

tells us,

and

or gold

filver,

all this

have put a perfon into a deep without a condudlor;

in oppofition

fluid,

fome cafes

mull magnetife from right to right

have repeatedly produced the fame

magnetifed them from right to

awaked.

Mefmer

effedl in

Mr. Mefmer

from the idea of the operator.

through

When you

paffages, they experience the

fame elaboration as our aliments, the parts

of

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

263

of which analogous to our humours are affimilated there by chylification, and the
heterogeneous particles are expelled by the means of excretions. Thofe remedies

which

may

be given

prove to have efFe6ls contrary to the intentions of

will often

the prefcriber, becaufe moft of them are very aqueous,

ftimulate too much, and

fpafms, &c. and produce effedls difcordantto the harmony of

will increafe irritation,

the parts, w-hich ought to be eftablilhed and reftored to their proper equilibrium. If
treating

much
tle

not fufficient to produce vdmiting in the cafe of a perfon

is

putridity, or

emetic

to

is

who

has too

abundance of bile w hich has been too long Handing, then a gen-

be given, or magnefia

if

there

too

is

much

acid

if alkali is

predo-

minant, order a folution of tartar, or of any other acid which you think will agree
with your patient.
je6I.ions are the bell.

In cafe of a violent cholic or coftivenefs, or fore throat, in-

Thefe are the general remedies which ought

am

tered to the patients, as I

we fee in an apothecarys

Mod^n

to be adminif-

fure that all thofe preparations of minerals, &c. which

Ihop, were never intended by

Nature

human

for the

body.

phyficians have, from an interefted view, negle6led the knowledge of the

human body. The diet of

Ihe who didlates what every

vegetable kingdom, more adapted by Providence for the

whatever Nature points out to him

the patient

is

man ought

to follow, becaufe Ihe

it is

feldom deceives us

not what we eat, nor the quantity, w hich does good

by

inftin6l will

our manner of living. It

in

It is

what we

never touch any thing but what Nature has di6tated to them. In this

their inftinft is far fuperior to

our reafon. Spirituous liquors are forbidden, ftrong

green tea without milk, coffee, hot aliments, and the ufeof fnulF, becaufe
the pituitary
ciifpation

membranes

and

is

Animals

digell.

in the throat, the llomach,

The

irritation.

ufual drink

may

and the head, and

be water with a

bit

it

will

irritates

produce

of toaft in

wine and water, or good rich wine, old fmall beer, good porter, lemonade, or

it;

diffe-

thefe may be ordered according to the cafe of the patient. The food
rent fyrups,
may be good broth, either of beef, mutton, or veal, chicken boiled, and roafted
meat Avoid fait or fat meat make ufe of fallads, good ripe fruits, &c. Gentle
exercife in the open air, either riding or walking.
Cold or warm baths are moft
all

excellent ; the drinking of

(though not a phyfician)

fome mineral waters

may

is

good

in fa6l,

cure more people than a

becaufe a do^or never goes without an apothecary

they

of the faculty

go together hand

in

man

all

a good obferver

hand, and do more harm than good.

If you have but one patient,

many

and cannot move him out of bed, gather round him as

healthy perfons as you can ;

make them rub

their

them hold one another, and communicate to the patient

a chain,
if

he

is

by that you communicate

not too

much

debilitated.

to

him the animal

You may

fet

hands well

this is

fluid,

what

which

then make

I calfibrjping

will vivify

him upon an infulated

him

ftool,

as

A KEY TO PHYSIC
electrify a perfon

when you

as

perfon

den

fit

you ma}

upon the fame chair hack

vou may have one

in

him upon

fet

a chair,

You may

to back.

your room, or a

and make a healthy

magnetife a tree

fraall refervoir.

in a^jir-

There are various

ways, wliich depend upon the idea ot the magnetifer.

There are feveral ways

ot treating

and prudence are required.

who labour under any

creatures

and make them walk

\!oce

and curing;

in which,

But a prudent man, willing

in their

infirmities,

incredulous people of the

to

much

do good

other things

in public,

very well to con-

it is

attention

to his fellow-

never treat his patient

will

many

deep, or do

however,

but cannot do good to the patient.

efFefts,

I will

fay alfo, that a jrerfon cannot treat more than two or three patients in a day to dp

them

and thofe w ho do

juftice,

patients

may

treat

more feldom cure by magnetifmg alone; the

fancy they have been cured

but,

they had not been fo treated,,

if

they might alfo have been well; as their treatments are long, Nature .operates, and
is,

a better doctor. There are fume

ple at the diftance of tw o or three

and have put them

patients,

madmen;
ivie,'v

will firmly affure

hundred miles

into crifes.

ofiT,

that eveiy

body had a

they are either fools or

virus in their blood,

and

the patients,

all

applied to him he treated as having a gallicus morbus,; and another

tended to cure every body only by looking at them

I

knew

left their

feveral perfons

houfes

they

fall

who fuppofed

afleep

all

thefe are

thelefs,

fuppofe

who

fome twenty

miles

off,

pre-

fomp degrees of

had been treating them

after I

and they have related

a faft to feveral of their friends, while I never thought of them

this as

without ever having feen the

I will anfw'er tl>em,

their imagination being heated with this idea, they are like vifionaries. I

who thought

infanity.

had

you they have cured peo-

an ingenious pbyfician w'ho faw every body with the yellow jaundice, and

another

who

who

and never-

had been treating them, and they might by chance

fall afleep,

could not with propriety relate the ftory as a

often to hold good.

never

reft

fa6l,

my judgment upon

muft be repeated

becaufe

it

experiment;

fingle

in ex-

perimental philofophy fa6ls are ftubborn, and no one can contradict them when
repeated.

Now

I ftiall

explain the manner of treating and curing effectually, on

reafonable principles, each complaint particularly.

Suppofe your patient has a head-ach.
w.ards the North, or othervvife;

you

with him, as I have obferved before

direction of the nerves

pen

you feek

for the

haps the patient will

tell

fit

You

feat

him

oppofite to him

in

you put yourfelf in

caufe of the pain, which

if

affinity

you draw the general current, following the

you hold your hands the fame as

you,

a chair, the back to-

you cannot

find

it

may

if

lie in

out. If

it is

you were

to hold

different parts

^per-

a hemicrania,iwhicb

owing to the foulnefs of the ftomach, you fix your eyes upon your lef{i hand,,
which you direCl towards the ftomachj with your right hand-you do the famoi

is>

as

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

S05

you repeat feveral times; by that means you ftir

the atmofphere and relax the ftomach, and may make him vomit; you may give a
little warm water to promote your operation; you may alfo treat the head by draw-

as

you were

if

to turn a pancake; this

ing the fluid downwards,

the pain has been of long Handing; you

if

may

order a

vomit or a gentle purge, and treat them every day, and then order bittersto ftrength-

There are

en the ftomach.
is

affedted flightly in

fe6ted

remove the caufe.

To

my

upon the ears

your hands

to clap

You

principles.
;

you then

and you move your right open, and bring

you were

finus,

it

it.

it

into the ear,

will often re-

fault in the ftru6lure of

fix

your

towards the

left

left

hand towards the ear,

hand, and do the fame

by that means you put the

air into vibration,

hand as a condu^or, you apply the palm of the hand

left

you may put your thumb

You may make

which

keep yourfelf within a yard or

and with your

in the ear,

hold a pinch of fnuff, prefs the thumb towards the ear

to

very ne-

proceeds from cold, fever, hard wax, or drynefs, you

it

two, according as you. feel a re-a6lion

as if

is

you may apply your hands up-

no cure. If

magnetife according to

proceeds

treat the head,

If the want of hearing, proceeds from a

and, guided by your

if it

by drawing your hands towards

the

may

both,

move it.
Deafness.
is

af-

put the whole body into motion,

on the temples, and put your thumb upon the frontal

there

is

affe61;ed is called cia-

Treating the part which you think affe6ted

fame with one hand or

you feveral times as before.

.ear,

the whole head

from different caufes

crifes are very falutary, as they

ceffary; you do the

when

is

and a fmall fpot

arife

when the head

as the cephalalgia,

cephaleea

Thefe various head-achs

from obftru6lions,
will

one particular part

fide only is called hemicrania,

one

vis hyftericus.

and

different head-achs

you accelerate the

ufe of a condu6lor, either glafs or

and prefs with two

from the

fingers

magnetife the head, by drawing the

fluid

artificial

all

thefe

you

fluid in-

magnet, and put

towards the ear; you

bafis

towards you

finger, as

may

means you are

to

make ufe of according to your fenfations and judgment fometimes an injedlion

made of Caftile foap warm brandy and w^ater will aflift you in your operation.
;

Of the Tooth-Ach

This

from rheumatifm, obftrufted

you treat according

the head

to

you touch

violent,

though not dangerous, difeafe, proceeds

perfpiratiooi, inflammation,

my rules.

If there

is

&c.

This being the cafe,

inflammation, you draw the fluid from

the temples, the frontal finus, the top of the head, the articu-

and under the chin; you may touch the tooth with your index
but a fure way is to get an artificial magnet, and, as your patients face

lation of the jaws,

and thumb
is

towards the South, apply the South pole upon the tooth, and touch the next teeth,

and afterwards draw the

fluid

downwards, and you

3

will

perform a cure.

Diseaes

;;

A KEY TO PHYSIC

2f)6

Diseases of the Eyes. There is nothing fo difficult to cure as thefe difeafes

and none of our organs is more fubjedt to be affedled than the fight, or from fo

many

When

caufes.

they proceed from obftrudlions in the culiomary evacuations,

my

You

you muft magnetife according

to

fixing your thumbs oppofite

you prefs withithe index the fluid into the eyes, you

move your thumb

oppofite you

water into them with a quill

a

little

lemonade or fyrup

The gutta

to

rules.

treat the caufe, alfo the eyes,

and may rub the eyes gently; you drop magnetifed

this

you do three or four times a*day, and you order

your patient.

ferena, ophthalmia, cataract, fpecks on the eyes, and fiftula lacryma-

are very difficult and almoft incurable. 1 have heard

lis,

made

of the cures they had

many

than

manner of

treating.

You muft know

have made but few.

firft

making ufe of an

diftance of half an inch from

ferena, proceeding

boafting

them

it

afterwards

you

fix

your

but I have had fuccefs in

magnet, by fixing

artificial

way

explain the beft

you rub them often

the next finger at a diftance from the eye

cafes of this kind by

I fliall

the caufe, which you treat

you apply your thumbs gently on the eyes

fome

many rnagnetifers

of thefe difeafes. I have had more pradtice in that

of them; I confefs candidly

thumb with

by

it

at the

has by that means removed fpots and gutta

from the compreflion of the nerves by fuperfluous humours.

have dropped magnetifed water three or four times a-day with fuccefs; a proper
regimen

is

and fome internal and external application.

neceflary,

Of the Epilepsy and Hysteiuc Affections.

Thefe

difeafes are the op-

faculty, with many others, as they cannot be cured by internal mediproceeding from obftrudlions, worms, or affedlion of the mind,
when
except

probrium of the
cines,

In thofe cafes you treat according to the

&c.
top

rules.

by applying your thumb on the root of the

the obftrudtion which

and endeavour

to

may

nofe,

touch the head on the

you endeavour

to diflblve

be the caufe; apply your hand upon the diaphragm,

put the nerves in motion.

but try to produce a

Firft,

Dr. Andry,

crifis.^

You may

treat at a diftance alfo

and Tourit, at Paris, have cured feveral

magnets round the head, or like a horfe-flioe

when they are in a fit, apply a magnet in
applied upon the top of the head
each hand, it will foon recover them. I have brought fome to, by applying a key
epileptics by

applying

artificial

in their

the

hands

they are very good in fpafms, fainting, and cramps

magnet under the

Of

by applying

foot, it ceafes inftantly.

ScROPHULA, called the Kings Evil. This difeafe is a difgrace to

phyfic.
Some perfons have had the gift of curing by touching. I have feen in
London tw'o perfons who had been touched by a man after he was- banged they

the

were relieved
by the dead

but I really believe

man made

it

w'as the force of imagination

fuch a revolution in the blood, that

it

being frightened

removed the obftruction

AND THE OCCULT

Yon may

tion in the glands.

fluvia in

touch your patient in thofe parts, and draw the ef-

order to foften the glands. If there is an ulcer, order the perfon to bathe the

upon the

part with magnetifed water, and keep a bit of rag always

and hemlock -juice, may be

bathing, decodlion of celery,

Soke Th no at. Sore

by drawing

Of the

any inflammation

tlwoat, or

Sea-

part.

tried, befidcs treating.

in the

head,

is

to

be treated

out of the part, either by putting yourfelf in oppofition, or by

tlte fluid

Handing on one

m?

SCIENCES.

fide,

and putting one hand behind the neck and the other before.

Palsy. The

palfy,

feldom cured

when

it

to an old perfon, or has been

happens
happens

to a middling age,

and one

of

long Handing,

is

only

called an hemiplegia, a care will be effedled by being treated foon

is ftruck,

You may

after.

but

if it

you treat the oppofite

may

where liesthe caufe: you

very'eafy, you

have 'fomebody
fal fluid

may

to

fupport

you can put him

You make him

you put a condudtor to

it
;

Have an

is

a large piece of iron

eledlrical machine,

ftretch his

end of

it

fuppofed to be

arm ; then touch

hand

into a crifis,

up

his

North;

hand

tie likewife

whofe furface

is

it

tie

another

firing, at

will cure

to the patient, then

him

the

larger than the magnet.

make him

magnet and the piece of iron together, or one

another, to the extremities of the hands,

after

have cured feveral that

but this does not belong to Animal Magnetifra, fay many.

which

bad arm, or

to attradl the ijiniyer-

affedted tow^ards the

and connedl the chain

the

his

lift

have ftrong compounded magnet, the

parallel to the hand; to the other

end of which there

way

if

expedi to cure him.

to the ceiling, at the

North pole

is

touch with one hand along the back-bone, or within

you may infulate him, and turn the part

firing

filk

which

fide,

along the great intercoftal, by applying your right hand upon the

it,

ftomach; you treat him about two hours;

is

fide

magnetife your patient oppofite, as ufual. After you turn the fide

affedted towards the North,

an inch from

But has not a

magnetifer a right to cure his patients as foon as poflible, and employ every means
his

mind

fuggefts to him.? It

Jecundem artem, according

is

among the

not fo

to art.

general vomit or purge

diet

mufl be good. If the tongue

cial

magnet, fuch as you make ufe of for the

bafis towards the point

tricity

is

faculty; they

teeth,

is

by prefling the

little

them

kill

often neceffary

condudlor upon

affedled, put a

n the tongue fometimes a

mufl cure or

gargarifm

is

it,

the

or an artifi.

fluid

from the

ufeful.

Elec-

and the cold bath are very good.

Rheumatism.

Nothing

is

more common

in this

country than

this difeafe,

on

account of the dampnefs and change of the weather, which will abforb the eledlric

and magnetic
there
It

is

flies

fluid

from flying off certain parts, particularly from the

out a greater abundance of

for that reafon

dogs

will follow

fluid

feet,

whence

than from any other part pf the body.

our trades. There are very obftinate rheuma-

tifms which proceed from different caufes .and are difficult to cure.

The method
of

268

KEY TO PHYSIC

of curing this difeafe

to magnetife the patient in oppofition; try to

is

by putting him into a

fpiration,

promote per-

If the rheumatifm is in a particular part of

the body, you muft treat the part affeded either by touching or rubbing, which
is
crifis.

\ ou may make ufe of an

the heft.

If the rheumatifm

in the head,

is

face and teeth, apply

knee, with the poles up

you apply

on the temples;

it

magnet

artificial

it

in the

form of a horfe-flioe.

upon the top of it ;

if it is in the hip,

if it is

you apply

it

on the

above the

if in the knees, apply k on the tarfus, with the poles up;

on the fhoulders, you place it on the humerus, clavicula, &c. Ele6lricity,
hot and cold bath, earth-bathing, according to Dr. Grahams principles, &c. &c.
;

if it is

Some

internal and e^4telnal applications will affift the operation.

CoNsi,'MPTioy, or Decay.' This difeafe, fo common
in England,

to cure;

nothing

it

proceeds trom want of the animal

therefore

His patient

thy.

fluid in the

is difficult

body, which waftes

it

to

who treats be very ftrong and healpumping his animal juice and he may

necelTary that the perfon

it is

is

like

a child at the break,

it,

like

a child

much

be

fore I

hurt by

would advife you to

who

lleeps with an old or unhealthy perfon; there-

treat as tew as poffible.

among

a feddle, a cow, a bullock, or to be

ftable,

Riding a young horfe without

and communicate a rope from the bed to<the

ductor to the animal

Difeafes

in the

cattle,

which ferves as a con-

fluid.

common

ftomaeb are

that pernicious cuftom of wearing flays

of iron or

very good.;, or to fleep in a

cattle, is

in this

country among, women, owing to

not only

fo,

but they muft have a piece

two or three inches broad, and proportionally

fteel

bulk, which oeeafions fo

many

They

difeafes.

fliould

thick, in

it,

called a

be loofe round the body^

You

treat the ftomaeb by throwing fluid into it.

Crifes are not good for it.
Flatulency, or wind in the ftomach and bowelsj arife from want of tone in thofe

parts.

It

produce a

is

crifts,

downwards,
is

to be treated

in

which

is

upwards, which

alfo to

After the

the beft.

order to fettle

treated upwards

it;

will

make
crifts,

the patient break wind and

you muft

treat the

ftomach

you may order carminatives. Bile on the ftomach

make

the patient vomit, and crifes, are good for

it

glafs of magnetifed water afterwards will fettle the ftomach. In all forts of inflammation

as

of the lungs,

when thofe

quantity of

liver,

&c. you treat towards you, and avoid the

fluid,

and produce

fervice to the patient.

crifis;

In external

bathe with magnetifed water.

Pregnant women, and in labour,
netifed
his

women in
woman

duty; the

crifis as well

In the ftone and gravel you treat

parts are ulcerated.

it

will

throw a

promote evacuation, which may do

fwellings, or

may

ulcers,

draw towards you, and

be treated without a

crifis.

I have

mag,

labour, and putthem afleep while the accoucheur was performing

did not r^colleft

2

it,

and was furprifed afterwards.

I have
put

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

put a man afleep who had an hydrocele; the furgeon performed the operation, but
Relaxation, and the blood flowing
the patient never recolle6ted any thing of it.
from a

may be

cut,

flopped by fixing your thumb and prefling the fore-finger

over the part.

Fevers of every kind

may be

cured by crifes

during that time that na-

it is

ture endeavours to get rid of what difturbs her, either by perfpiration, vomiting,

&c.

Thofe people are the

bell fomnambulifts, as I

explain hereafter.

fliall

It

is

very eafily underltood, by the method I have taken to explain the treating of the
foregoing diforders, that an ingenious magnetifer

may

treat all others, as

it

vvould

require a whole volume to explain them.

Of Nervous Diseases.

is

in thofe

by putting the whole nervous fyftem

forcibly,

fomnambulifm, and
is

It

offers to the attentive

in

difeafes that

motion

eye a vail

it

field

magnetifm a6ls moft

operates crifes as well as

There

of obfervation.

as great a variety in thofe difeafes as there are combinations between all pofiible

numbers.

Different organs

may be

perfons the extenfion of fight

Some of them can

crofcope.

and appearing luminous

the grofs

humours or

they fee fparks of

fire

is

and

affe6led,

fo great, that

it

diftindlly

feems as

fee, in the dark, the

animal

if

coming

out.

they

made ufe

of a mi-

fluid flying in all dire6lions,

others will fee the fkin appear to

perfpiration as big as fmall fhot;

In fome

from others.

them

like

fieve,

and fee

and by rubbing the bands

Mr. Boyle mentions a perfon who, after getting

half-fuddled with claret, (which I fuppofe relaxed the ftomach and his nervous fy ftemj^)

when he waked

could fee to read moderate print. Another

in the night,

in the night diflinguifh colours.

Grimaldi

tells us,

that

fome women

who could

can,

by

their

eyes alone, diflinguifh between eggs laid by black hens and thofe by white

This

fingle effect will lead to

muftnot attribute

to

fedled in the nerves;

whim
it is

man. I knew a gentleipan

a perpetual motion
taiy affedion.

without

from him

you
if,

London, who ihook

his

head and arm every inftant like

a lady, I treated when in his company, had the fame involun-

fuch people are the beft fomnambules.

treat gently, in oppofition,

if

If a perfon

by drawing a certain quantity of

on the contrary, you throw the

treat that part: if

it

a real caufe, as that which determines the moft reafonable

in

with them

into a gentle crifis

the head,

many things which I fliall relate about fomnambules. W^e

the fingularities which we obferve among people af-

all

There are different methods of treating thofe difeafes, either by treating

crifes, or

is irritable,

onei^.

fluid

towards him, you

may

put him

the patient has a trembling of the limbs like the head,

you cannot fucceed by

will ftop it inftantly.

treating,

fluid

you

apply a magnetic bandeau round

For trembling of the hands, you apply magnetic

bracelets.

No.

18.

To

A KEY TO PHYSIC

270

To

magnetife, or treat a perfon at a diftance,

which feveral profeffors make ufe

pretend to have found
it is

plate,
it

The

well known.

and unite

out before Dr. Mefrner

it

We

part.

move

in

know

any

may

it

The

arrives

It

it.

wiflies,

and by

a6l as

the will only,

and affedted

is

all

ble; and by that

give

by

means

fixing

it

it,

in

at a diftance

made

is

in

may

to

rea-

upon

as

it

ftrength,

its

an inftant; the

will,

and

directs the fluid towards the difeafed

it

magnetic

fluid to

willing to unite herfelf,

is

it is

and

of which experience will fhow

of,

to re-

Thefe

the indeftru6tible principle.

is

pofli-

touch and to penetrate to

and the mean made ufe

the poflibility,

it

obftacles can

your imagination, as much as

animal oeconomy, of which Ihe

reflexions ftiow

No

neither the fize of the body,

a great diftance any bodies to which the foul

eftablifh the

any part of

forces

upon merely organical matter

becaufe

will force the

vivifyincf

by a fympathetic power, to any object

itfelf,

them

That

upon fuch

to be diredled

it

This being the cafe, we

its will.

well

way; the union

the caufe of

vifcera,

upon the

a6ts diredlly

upon our body, and

without a mafter of ceremonies

or figure, impede

it

thought, or foul, goes to any diftance.

and unites

contem-

diftant, vifible or invifible.

determines

its will

diredlion, according to

animal bodies.
refift

well demonftrated

is

fluid,

that our foul a6ls

fonably believe that

in

The manner
that art who

but that none of them underftood

any object, prefent or

itfelf to,

and magnetic

not impoffi-ble.

faculty of our foul, thought, or idea, can perceive,

has a6lion upon matter

eledlric

is

There are quacks

of, is different.

to treat a perfon

and an ingenious mind

the reality,

may make many curious experiments: repeated trials will convince us.
To treat a perfon at a diftance, from one houfe to another, is poffible, provided
you have feen the perfon before, and put him in a crifis. The manner you do this,
is to know where the perfon is, and fix the hour by your watch, and have fome
him

friends with the patient to divert

noife, or

any thing

you muft be alone

to diftraX the attention of

paint the perfon in your imagination

you fuppofe affeXed, and you

you reprefent

treat in the

fame manner as

That fympathy of body and mind which

you.

duce a

crifis

and fomnambulifm

alfo from the

fame principles

that

in

exifts

phaBnomenon

treat a perfon in the

room, to avoid any

in a

your mind.

In that pofition you

your idea the part which

if

the perfon were before

between you and him

is

will pro-

You may

very interefting.

fame room, without

his or her

knowledge, by fixing your mind and your eyes upon the part affeXed, or upon
the heart, ftomach, &c. and produce crifes and fomnambulifm.

Dropsy.
are affeXed.
is

There are
I fliall treat

different forts of this difeafe, according to the parts

of the manner of caring the afcite, which

a colleXion of water in the

belly,

is,

which

when there

proceeding from obftruXions, living too low,

and

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

271

and fometimes from drinking fpirits or cold water when the body is hot. You treat
the patient in oppofition; you fix your hands upon the part, either at a diftance,
or by applying the hands on the belly
quickeft way.

You may

is in bed, the

fame on the

you

apply

legs if they are fwelled,

Dropfy of the

ing to the operators fancy.

produce a

try to

crifis,

and various

brain, of the breaft^

which

when the

on the belly

a magnetifed bell-glafs

the

is

patient

acceffaries,

accord-

and of the

legSj are

treated by extra6ling the fluid, and promoting circulation and perfpiration.

Of the Asthma. This difeafe of the lungs is very feldom cured when it proIf it comes from obceeds from a bad formation of the breaft, or is hereditary.
ftru6l;ions, treat the lungs, and put the patient into crifes to promote circulation ; but
if the

afthma proceeds from another caufe, as violent paffions of mind, humorealor

nervous, and the patient fpits a great deal, treat the ftomach upwards to promote

expedoration. If the patient coughs

much

at night, give

This fudden lofs of the fenfes

The caufe

diately, and with proper care.

There are two

humours.

tion of watery

is

a gentle

That being the

forts,

or up:

if

he

is

in bed,

you

get at his right fide,

cafe,

flay at his feet

may be cured by

a fanguine and a ferous apoplexy

lies,

becaufe the blood does not re-

you magnetife the patient either

may

air.

torture during his

a dog, &c.

He

it is

muft

treat

you mull

a fanguine apoplexy, and you fee there

order a bleeding, or put the feet in

You
Night-Mare.

have free

If

him four hours

warm

flannel,

bed

you

one hand

his head,

behind and the other before, and bring your hands downwards

change, you

in

you magnetife the head downward

and magnetife as before ; you touch

the head of the patient high.

applying imme-

an effufion of the blood, or a collec-

generally towards the brain that the caufe

turn from the head.

may

in

very ufeful.

Apoplexy.

it is

glafs of magnetifed

Moderate exercife

water going to bed, and another in the morning.

air is

him a

raife
is

no

Let the patient

a- day.

This difagreeable difeafe puts the patient into the greateft

deep

he

feels often

a weight upon his ftomach, as a fiend,

a,

cat,

endeavours to cry out, and fancies hirnfelf going to be drowned^

weak ftomach, nervous affeftions, &e. I atDuring March and

tended a patient who ufed to be blooded every year in May.
They
but, as foon as he was bled, the pain was over.
April he was always fo

or to be killed.

It proceeds from a

are a kind of fomnambules.

of

fluid,

You may

in order to ftrengthen

magnetifed water, going to bed,

Of Sensations,

it;
is

treat the ftomach,

alfo treat the head

by throwing a quantity

downwards.

Aglafs of

very good.

looked upon as a fixth fenfe. Thera are as

as there are polTible differences between proportions.

In

all

many

fenfations

fenfations

we muft
confider

..

A KEY TO PHYSIC

272
confider three things

the caufe producing the impreffion, the nature and difpofitioii

of the organs receiving

and the fenfations which have preceded

it,

it.

It

is

by the

may be magnified or increafed to fuch a degree, as to become, for every objedl which thev prefent to us,
what telefcopes and microfcopes are to the fight; confequently our fenfations are the
combination of thofe

affinities that

the organs of our fenfes

which objefts make on our organs. Our fenfes can only draw
near to the knowledge of objects and their nature, by a conftant

refult of all the effedls

us more or lefs

ufe and a ferious application, in order to attain to their reality.

We have a great

number of fmall organs proper to receive fenfations but the habit we are in of
making ufe of fome particular organs only, abforbs the reft. Blind people have
;

different fenfations

touch

There

it.

is

from us

no doubt but we are endowed with an internal

in affinity with the univerfe,

thefe means one

It

is

fenfe,

which

is

it is

by

confidered as an extenfion of fight;

the poffibility of finding the difeafe of another

and the phoenomena of fomnambules and

fybils, &c.
manner, as to have the idea of a body at

diftance, in the

fame manner as we

fee the ftars, the impreffion of which

tranfmitted to us in a right line, the fucceffion and continuity of a co-exifting mat-

ter
it

is

poflible to be affeded in fuch a

an immenfe
is

and

may comprehend

forefights, predidions,

of

they will perceive a wall, or other body, before thev

between them and our organs, bounded by the nature of their form; why

we are

not be poflible, by the means of an inward organ, by which

in

ftiould

contad with

the whole univerfe, for us to be affeded by beings, the fucceffive motion of which
is

propagated to us in curve or oblique

lines, in

any diredion ? and why

ftiould

we

not be affeded by the connedion of beings which fucceed one another?

I was acquainted with Monfieur de Botinau, who had a place under government
in the ifland of St. Helena.
fenfe

unknown

miles off ;

During twenty years he made a particular ftudy of a

two or three hundred

to us: he could perceive a fleet or a Angle fliip

laft

war he defcribed M. de

Suffreins fleet, the

thofe which had paffed by and did not touch at the ifland.
fea he could

ments

in the

tell

Channel. In confirmation of

him from the governor and

The famous

fliips,

He could do more

and
;

at

the diftance he was off land, as has been proved by repeated experi-

recommendation to the

number of

this, I

have feen the

certificates

granted

principal people of the ifland, and the petition and

minifter,

who granted him 1800

livres

per annum.

Bleton, called the fourcier, or fpring-finder, whenever he walked

upon ground where there was a vein of water, felt within himfelf a certain fenfation which gave him notice there was water.
Another countryman ftiook whereever there was water ; the elementary,

eled;ric, or

magnetic,

fluid,

paffing through

the .pores of the earth, gave him that fenfation.

1

Of

and the occult

Of

The

Crises.

an

crifes are

sciences.

2T3

of nature again ft the diforder, endea-

effort

vouring to diffipate the obftacles that are in the circulation, and to reftore har-

mony

or equilibrium in

out a

crifis,

forts of

particularly

The

crifes.

the parts of the body.

all

when

Few

difeafes can be cured with-

proceeds from obftrudtions,

it

natural one, which

There are two

See.

attributed to nature alone, gets rid of

is

what offends her by an increafe of movement, producing vomiting, motion, per-

Thefe are the moft falutary, as nature acts

fpiration, &c.

without violence,

filently,

and expels the obftacles that impede circulation, by moving gently the molecules
which form thofe impediments, and go off by perfpiratipn. Sec. The forced one is
fometimes falutary

in obftrudtions, or

duced when nature

her, aCts efficacioufly

if it

on

Some fay there are

are imaginary.
crifis;

luminous

you muft put yourfelf

him, by drawing the

they will
oclock

in.

fall

it is;

they will

till

fluid

fall in.

the perfon

is

then put your hand behind the

afleep. If the perfon

is

in.

Magnetife a harpfichord

your watch, and to fhow what

flower,

as foon as

and give them a fmelL*

you play on

it,

they will go

Put a perfon between you and the patient, and magnetife him you
To magnetife a pond, make the patient ftay on the other fide of
;

him

in.

muft ftand oppofite

you muft touch

make

hind him

it is

Have fomebody behind

the beft conductor of animal fluid.

Magnetife a tree

from one room

No.

make a
18.

lines as

you may
in a

walk

the magnetifed tree, he will

related,

he reads

he

go

him, to prevent his falling into

To make
will

go

a perfon read, be be-

in.

To make

a perfon

you oppofite the looking-glafs, magnetife with a condudor the perfon

in a looking-glafs, that
crifis.

you

it

alfo the water with your magnetifed conduClor; the perfon will

you magnetife the

ftay behind

put

will

the patient hold a flick in his hand to touch the water

into a crifis immediately.

the water

calm

agitated,

downwards from the head if you treat the caufe by

pain if you put your thumb upon the frontal finus,

You may magnetife

You may magnetife a

into a crifis.

they will go

firft in affinity;

will increafe the

it

Some

crifis,

head, and the other before,

touching,

degrees

fix

as there are different conftitutions to treat.

from that new feCt called the Illuminati. All thefe

Suppofeyou have a patient on whom you wmuld wifh to produce a

will alfo call it the

gentle

eafe, particularly

There are various means of producing them,

according to the fubjeCt, and the caufe of his difeafe.

many

ufe of Animal

in conjunction w'ith

and he difeovers benefit and

has produced evacuations, &c.

of crifes; I fay there are as

The

her.

whole body, and,

in adtion the

the patient,

Thefe are pro-

bilious complaints.

what offends

to expel

is infufficient

and Magnetifra puts

Eledlricity

windy and

to another

great

many

fall

fee
;

him ; the re-aClion of

make

the perfon walk

into a crifis.

One may

the fluid will

produce a

as foon as he conies near

put a perfon in a

and, in faCt, an ingenious obferver may, by what

crifis

have

curious experiments, provided he has proper fubjeCls.

Of

KEY TO PHYSTC

274

Of Somnambulism. Somnambulifm
partaking of both; the patient

is

a ftate between fleeping and waking,

is

a fbmnambule when he can do the fame as

Thefe natural fomnambules, who get up

were awake.

at night,

wonderful things, are well demonftrated. They are difeafed, and

if he-

and do many

may

be cured by

The magnetic fomnambules are thofe whom art has found out a mean
of abforbing or fufpending fomeof their external fenfes for a while, and the patient
treating.

and drinks, goes up and down, plays upon the harpfichord, and' does

eats

itiany

things which you defire him, provided he be willing.

Marquis de Puyfegurs,

in the

year 1784; and

country before were irapoftors

this

The firft I faw was at the

thofe who had pretended to it in
we are indebted to Dr. Mefmer.

all

for all this

Whenever any perfon has a real fomnambule, which is very

have a treafure. They are called by us malades mededns,
Thefe beings

fee in the dark,

glow-worm

as a

related

they have befides an internal atmofphere, which they

me what

to

they could perceive.

One muft

cording to their conflitution.

by your

will alone

they will follow

its

they can play upon

than

No

if

dire6lions.

You may make them

refpe6ls ac-

in

any di-

all

faculties,

floor,

play on any inftrument

this

they will do better

become

thefe

ftronger.

They
them.
At a

the difeafe of a perfon better than a real fomnambule.

unknown perfons

when

have had feveral

many

You may make them move

they will read, write, and work;

tell

fail to tell

future time,

differ in

by moving your condu6lor any way upon the

or,

Being deprived of their other

awake.

phyfician can

feldom

invifible.

They

make ufe

not depend always upon what they fay,

on account of their differing fometimes.

re6lion,

or fick phylicians,

and go through an external atmofphere, the fame

of to perceive objefts prefent or diftant, vifible or

who

by care they

eafy,

the

fcience

is

their difeafes,

and prefcribe

better eflablifhed,

for

I fhall publifli a full account

of the theory of fomnambulifm.

Some

will

me

accufe

of having faid too

fonally will never accufe

me

much

but thofe

who know me

per-

of relating any thing which I cannot demonftrate

and thofe who repeat thefe marvellous narrations hurt themfelves and the fcience
in the

eyes of really learned men.

down from
their

full

ftories, like tradition,

which are handed

generation to generation, and become improbable, like antiquity, lofe

former

fliovvn

Thofe

them

luilre.
firft,

and

would advife

my

pupils to try thofe experiments I have

try others afterward.

To make an Electric

or

Magnetical Apparatus.

account of the apparatus of our fociety in Paris. It

which I had

in

London and Dublin,

is

is

I fhall not give

you a

almoft like a grove. Mine,

a large oak tub, eight

feet in diameter, well

pitched in the infide, about an inch thick, infulated upon four glafs-feet bottles

of water

well

corked

you magnetife the

7/

bottles,

and lay them down, the

neck

AND THE OCCULT

neck of one

in the

You may

tre.

ftone,

fill

bottom of the other

around, fo that the

all

up the fpace with broken

or refinous matter,

SCIENCES.

minerals, &c.

bottles, or

fill

it

up

loadftones and artificial magnets in difieront directions

edge with

fine

dry riyer-fand, put the

lid

itfelf in the refervoir.

and place under it a

in a hole

ftrong,

At

all
:

laft

comes

to the cen-

but

fix

it

then cover the whole to the

it,

to attract the univerfal fluid w'hi.ch

the far corner place an arbor vitae in a box,

magnet, the north pole upwards; the fouth pole

grow without

will

feme

inches; put

upon the cover, by that means you increafe the motion of the

becoming, vegetalifed,

brim-

vitrifiable matter,

place in the middle a polilhed

over

iron bar about eight feet high, with fprigs to

concentres

any

275

You make

w^ater.

holes

fixed

is

and,

tree,
all

round,

about eighteen inches diftant; put iron. or brafs conductors behind, fo as to touch
the patient vtho

your

patients,

You may
have had

treat
all

tend them.

comes next

it.

ConneCl a chain of an eleClric machine

and make them hold hands

them

in that

manner; you

it

infulate

them.

will increafe the afiion in

will the

fooner put them into crifes.

my patients round my refervoir in a crifis at a time. I could not atYou may have a tree in a box, upon infulated feet; have a frnall box

with vitrifiable matter, and

filled

to

fill it

with water
:

with water only, and conneCl a chain to

differently, according to the idea.

and have brimftone in

Some

their fleeves,

you may make ufe of a large

it.

All this apparatus

may

bottle-

made

be

take every morning brimftone or lozenges

and rub themfelves wdth

different ingredients ;

but I never made ufe of any, and produced a great many effeCls.
To magnetife a tree, you muft fland facing the north; you muft have a condu6for which you have magnetifed
higheft branches to the roots

you muft then point

it

from the top of the

do the fame from the other branches

if

the tree

is

you cannot fee the branches on the other fide, change your pofition
from fouth to north, and do the fame ; then approach the tree ; clap your hands
round it, and ftay in that pofition five minutes, your tree becomes magnetifed.
fo large that

Any
will

patient

go in a

crifis

will difeover

the

who has been

it

in a crifis, or

as foon as they

among

the

fomnambulifm,

come near

it

will diftinguilh

others, if they are in

Some

it.

fomnambulifm,.

reft.

You may magnetife a myrtle, or any other ftirub; it will appear luminous in
dark.
You may magnetife a flower, by putting your thumbs in the middle,

and eftablifhan equator; then drawing your thumbs

your thumb with the next finger, and you throw the
appear luminous
crifis

in the

dark; by giving

it

to the extremities,
fluid

you prefs

upon the flower ;,

to a perfon to fmell,

who

it

will

has been in a

before, he will go into one again.

To

magnetife a conduCloror a cane, pot your hands in the middle of

your hands to the extremities, your thumbs at the

top,

it

Hide

and rub the extremities with

them

A KEY TO PHYSIC

276

them

by thefe means you

wiil

impregnate

it

luminous in the dark, and as fulphurous as the

To

magnetife a

draw them

to the extremities,

tifed in the

under
it

it

appear as a

will

you what oclock

in

is

it

already in a
the dark

crifis,
if

he

they can

is

magne-

and your index

the two poles

by fhowdng

one again. They can

will fall in

afleep

watch

at the top,

to

middle, and

in the

ball of fire.

an equator, and draw your fingers

who has been

to a perfon

tell

it

feems

fluid, that

eledlric rubbing.

put your thumbs

fame manner, by drawing your two thumbs

eftablifli

or a guinea,

fliilling,

with an ele6lrical

you the fame, by

tell

fhow'ing a watch.

To

magnetife a harpfichord,

them towards the extremities

another, in the

As foon

To

fouth
it

he

magnetife a room, or a bed,

and

eaft,

and bring

impregnate

the fame.

is

alfo to your feet

it

Set

bring
;

in the

fame

patient do the

From

animate body may be

eafily as

by an

with an eledlric
it

fluid.

with his

it

it

to the north, facing the

down towards you

the

room

point

appear

will

all lu~

fame manner, by pointing your condudlor

over the furface of the water, from the cardinal points

of fervice to him.

it

alfo.

pond may be magnetifed

make your

and draw

immediately.

will fall in a crifis

minous, and the bed

wdll

upon the harpfichord, make your patient touch

point your condu6lor up to the ceiling

to the weft

in the middle,

then rub the end you touch the firings wdth one after

fame manner, and thus you

as a perfon plays

hand or finger

your hands fpread

fix

he

will

have a fliock

thefe few experiments

eledlrified or

it is

touch the water with

in falling in,

and

it

it,

and

may

be

eafy to conceive, that any in-

magnetifed by another animal body, juft as

eledlrifying machine, or

by the force of magnets.

ARGUMENTS to PROVE, that ANIMAL MAGNETISM the CAUSE

of SYMPATHY in MAN and other ANIMALS, and in PLANTS, &c.
is

THAT
man

conftant flux and reflux of the vital principles and corporeal

(without which both motion and

life

humours

in

are flopped) produce thofe effe^ls of

fympathy and antipathy which become more natural and

lefs

miraculous

the at-

mofpherical particle to each individual receives from the general fluid the proper
attradlion

In the divers croftings of thofe individual atmofpheres,

and repulfion.

fome emanations are more

fo again,

when one body

body which

is

lefs

will

attractive

poftefles

make an

pathy with the other body.

between two beings, and others more repulfive;

more

fluid

than another,

it

will repel

and that

effort to reftore itfelf into equilibrium or

Robin Abraham Benhannes

fays,

fym-

iron or ferruginous

particles are every- where, not only in the mineral world, but in our blood

and bones;
now,

AND THE OCCULT

now, as the magnet attra6ls ferruginous

magnetifm by the power of

vient to
^

SCIENCES.

277

particles, every thing of courfe is fubfer-

attra<5lion or

fympathy.

could relate a variety of examples to prove that fympathetic aftedlion which

prevails with people of the

fame

them harmonioufly together;

experienced, I

fliall

family, views, fe6b, or

as

but,

is

it

not touch further on

any other caufe that binds

a fubjedt which every one muft have

it.

fome contradlions in other parts of the body,

The
when a mufcle has been wounded, which produces different motions in the organs
Whether they have a fecret affinity or not is a queftion not yet
of the fame body.
magnetic fluid often occafions

determined

many

tonifhed

who

however, I

am

phyficians

inclined to think they have.

who have

refledted

upon

Thefe motions have

has well explained them by a fubtile motion w'hich he calls

which he might as

w'ell

have called animal

eledlricity

af-

this art, particularly Barthe,

c/taZ/Zuic?,

and

and magnetifm.

Of antipathy.

WE

do not

faireft;

rior

refemble the Trojan ffiepherd, who aw^arded the apple to the

all

not always the handfomeft

it is

that wins our affedtions; our inte-

So again, when two atmofpheres are

are the forerunners of love.

that

woman

emotions are involuntary feizures independent of the influence of beauty, and

is

when thofe corpufcular emanations are in affinity wdth each other, it

but, when thofe atmofpheres are croffing each

to fay,

produceth fympathy, or attradfion

other,

it

produceth antipathy, or repulfion.

The difcordance of tempers,

religious difputations, politics, &c.

been the caufe of inveterate hatred

we

averfion
preffions

communicated

antipathy

have frequently

how can we otherwife account for

feel for certain objedls or perfons, if

it

that fudden

be not in the difagreeable im-

to the nerves, and then to the brain, from the emiffion of

thofe perfons or objedts?

By

in equilibrium,

This' can be called

many people

by no other name than antipathy.

find out the difeafes of others

felves, in the oppofite fide, the

they feel within them-

fame pain the other perfons have.

If I put a dif-

eafed perfon in contadl with another perfon in fomnambulifm, they inftantly feel
the

fame pain

called

only, however, during the time they are in contadl.

fympathy

but, as they

properly antipathy.

It is well

fuffer in

known

fome proportion during

there are

It

may be

that time,

many people who

it is

entertain

an

antipathy to different animals, &c.

EFFECTS

of

ANIMALS
from that of

No.

18.

ANTIPATHY

and

SYMPATHY

in general, like ourfelves,

diftrefs

in

move

fome refpedls they are

4B

in

BRUTE ANIMALS.

at the afpedl of pleafure,

fenfible beings that

and

fly

feem to enjoy a
will

A KEY TO PHYSIC

278
will

adequate to determine their different motions, nay, fometimes to be poffeffed of

and experience likewife inclination

their objefts whence proceeds that conftant love

the fentiments, vices, and paffions, of mankind,

and hatred, which feldom vary

in

that fome animals fliow for certain fpecies, whilft they bear the ftrongeft antipathy

and averfion to others.

fpecies

by corpufcular

They

are differently affe6l:ed according to their different

emifllons, but are nearly the

fame when they

flow from the

fame fpecies. Hence the one conftantly becomes the obje6l of the others averfions.
Thus one animal only lives to deftroy and devour; and in his turn contributes, by
his own deftru6lion, to the prefervation of a ftronger animal.
Thus nature is fupported by thefe fucceffive deflru6tions new combinations arife from the compofilike the phoenix, flie only dies to revive, and return
tions operated in her bofom
Without thinking (as the ancients did) that a ftring
brighter out of her own allies.
;

made

out of the bowels of a wolf and another from a llieep cannot agree,

drums made

or, if two

out of their fkins, the found proceeding from that of the w^olf-fkin

would deprive the other of all found, antipathy between certain fpecies
a means allotted them by

is

evidently

prey or avoid their enemy. Thus

inftinft to difcover their

the wolf purfues the lamb, the dove dreads the falcon, the wTen the eagle, the gold'finch the toad, the

hen the

fox, the water-fowl the ffork, the grafshopper the fwal-

low, the blackbird the hawk, the nightingale the butcher-bird,

the frog the eel,

the fnail the partridge, the oyfier the crab, the tench the pike, the

The

and the fpider the fcorpion.

lion diflikes the cock, the

the fpider,

fly

ape the

tortoife, the

horfe the camel, the lizard the ferpent, the boar the fea-calf, the martin the vulture,

the owl the crow, the tunny the dolphin, the conger the lamprey, with an
of others too tedious to be mentioned.

number
away the owl
;

The

deflroys the eggs of the crow, the ffork thofe of the bat

thofe of the hen

the heron and the lark are continually at war,

grafs,

by fucking

itfelf

by darting through

weafel in

its

enemys eggs

her ffrength

is

at laft exhaufted to

the weafel

up the rocks and

the toad and the rattlefnake, under the

magnetic

their pores the

vain endeavours to avoid them

by deffroying each

others young. If the eagle devours the ferpent, the latter climbs

revenges

infinite

fmell of lobfters drives bees

fluid,

fafcinate their prey; the

the leaps from one place to another, and

no purpofe; obliged

to

draw near the enemy,

the iffues a difmal cry, and, being violently attradcd towards the reptiles mouth, precipitates herfelf into

it,

and thereffnds her grave.

to fleep.

revenge

this vidtim, the field-

web fufpended over the toad her influence troubles and at laft lulls
In like manner the flag's breath attracts the ferpent, and occafions in

fpider fpins her

him

To

with fiery eyes and contracted mufcles, darts veno*'mousCorpufcles on the branch of the tree where the nightingale finds an afylum;

him a

Toon

giddinefs.

The

viper,

after, the w'ood-finger lofes his voice, is

thrown into convulfions,

1

falls

down,
and

AND THE OCCULT

^nd

devoured by the viper.

is

It

finds out the game, and purfues

fame fenfation

tliis

forgets

file

owing

is

it

SCIENCES.

279

to the efFeds of emiffion that the

where

to its den,

it

feeks for a refuge.

hound

It is

that the partridge ftops in the middle of a fallow ground,

by

and

has the power of flying.

Animals are as fufceptible of fympathetical as of an antipathetical attachments

according to feme naturalifts, the fox
of that of the toad
peacock, the kite

and doves on

a man

We

partridges and pheafants doat on the flag,

the cuckoo,

prote<51;s

is

are told that a lizard, elephant, and dolphin, are fond of

nothing to the attachment of a dog to

its

and, tliould he happen to lofe fight of him, he

palfed only by the emanation he has

-through the toes,

fond of the ferpents company, and the duck

the bear avoids treading on the ant, the nightingale loves the

teal.

but this

to all places

is

as.

left in his

matter: he follows
tlill

finds out

him

where he

way, (which efcapes more abundantly

being more porous;} and,

if

he meets him, by a thoufand tranf-

ports tetlifies his joy.

Of

ATTRACTION

PLANTS,

like

REPULSION, otherwife called SYMPATHY

ANTIPATHY, in PLANTS.

and

men, have their tranfpiration and emitfion produced by a pref-

fure of a magnetic fluid which penetrates them

that vivifying

fluid,

and

and have alfo

and they carry

in all their fibres

their particular fpheres of attraftion

and repuL

Plence that inclination that fome vegetables feem to have to come nearer to

fion.

each other,

to

grow and

amongft others, and the

The

die together

efforts

hence that hatred that has been obferved

feemingly

made

ufe of to repel each other.

vine feems to improve under the elm, the olive-tree with the aloe-tree, the

plantain with the fig-Uee, the agaric with the cedrus, afparagus with penny-royal,

and the cocoa grows powerfully under the fhade of ebony

vourable to the femla, and the cotyledon and the

By

aconitum and folanum.

ter-lily likes the

by the

onions, bafilicum dries

where

it

dodrine of old

of

appears more

up near

rice,

is

fliining,

fo offenfive

and fmells more perfumed,

the rofe

is

unfavourable to

and cabbages die away near the cyclamen and

The latter brings to our recolledlion the

Robin Abraham Benhannes, who in the l4th century attributed

the colour of wine and

to their

mans hody

fir-tree to the different fpecies

the oak does not like the olive, the vines diflike laurel and hemlock,

and hemlock dies away near the

and

is fa-

ranunculus, and rue likes the water-lily; the lilyfprings delightfully

rofe, near garlic,

the refinous-tree

a like fympathy the poppy adorns the harveft, the wa-

notwithftanding the fmell of the latter

origanum

is

its

vines.

fermentation to the ferruginous particles of the grape,

union by inagnetifm.
the caufe

why

The

effluvia

from the hands or any part of

flowers or herbs droop

when touched

the fenfitive

plant

A KEY TO PHYSIC

280
plant

is

a ftriking inflance of the force of this obfeivation.

mimofa, and

catch-fly,

The mufcicapa, or
annona, dandelion, pimpernel,

oxalis, the flower rnartima,

flower of ciftus, heiianthimum, epine vciicltc, and

remarkable motion by

We

caftus opuntia,

acquire a very

irritability.

could take notice of numberlefs others; in fadl there are none infenfible to

the emanation of furrounding bodies;

and repulfion. The fun, whofe heat

all

move

in

attracts the

a reciprocal fphere of attradlion

magnetic

fluid, dilates

or contradls

plants in general according to the ordinary courfe of nature, the granadille, (which

weather fhows the time of the day,} the tragopogon, or goats beard, heliotro-

in fine

chryfanthemum

pus, the cameliorus, and

of Perfia, and a

few'

(or daify of the field), the tulip, the lily

more, fliow by their motion the courfe of the fun, whofe in-

fluence atlradfs in their difi'erent ramifications the principles that vivify them.

When

the fun darts his ray, the enamelled flowers regtife and acaflia open their

leaves to receive the influence; but,

leaves clafp and their flowers decay,

There

if

he withdraws from the horizon, you fee

till

the all-enlivening

beam again

This clover

fluid.

will

appear

It

is

the abundance of that fluid in

men and

fome

it

looks yellow and

plants which renders

other animals with defire of love

and

morning, of a

whitifli in the

purple colour in the middle of the day, and towards the evening

infpire

them.

a kind of clover put in a6f ion, by the folar heat, according to the different

is

degrees of the efficient

pale.

vivifies

their

it is

them

want of

the

it

fo apt to
in others

that appeafes the. heat of blood, and flops the progrefs of rifing pallion.

CONSIDERATIONS
MAN,

on the

INDISPOSITIONS

and

DISEASES

of

MAN.

with regard to his prefervation, ought to be confidered,

we fuwey

1.

In a State of Sleeping.

2.

In a State of Waking.

3.

In a State of Health.

4.

In a State of Indifpofition.

increafed or

we find in men, animals, plants, &c. but two principles,

The whole of the matter which confiitutes him may be either
flirniniflied.
The diminution ought to be repaired from the general

rnafs by the

means of aliment,

If

all

nature,

matter and motion.

Motion

in like

manner be

as food, drink,

and other

flimuli.

cafioned by motion, as walking or any other bodily exercife,

Man

fuftaining

The

either increafed or diminiflied.

two kinds of

is

Ioffes, it neceffarily foliows that

kinds of reparation in the ftate of fleep.

Man

acts like

diminution oc-

repaired by fleep.
there

mu ft

be two

a machine whofe principles

of motion are applied inwardly, and independently of the organs of fenfe.

The

fleeping

AND THE OCCULT

man

fleeping ftate of

is

when

SCIENCES.

281

the ufe and fundlions of a confiderable part of his in-

dividual faculties are fufpended for a while, during which the quantity of motion

while awake

foil

is

repaired by the general currents in which he

man

are two forts of currents wdth regard to

one pole

to the other; that is to fay,

from head to

certain quantity of the uni verbal current as

if in

foot,

man

receives

man

begins in a ftate of fleep

proportionate to the mafs,

As boon

as his formation

is

is

w'ill

This exiftence

and unfolding of

in the formation

his organs.

completed, he awakes, and makes efforts on his mother

motion being too ftow owing to

and

colle61;s

the degree of motion he receives in that ftate,

employed

powerful enough to bring him into the world.

his

and

a refervoir ; the overplus of motion

(or the overflowing of this refervoir) determines the ftate of waking.

of

There

placed.

is

and the magnetic current from

gravity,

his

If his conftitution

is

debilitated,

weaknefs, he will prefent a wrong pofition,

not come into the world without affiftanee, from not having fufficient

ftrength to turn himfelf the proper way.

Man

in a ftate of health,

is

when

all

the parts of which be

compofed have

is

the power of exercifing the fun6fions they were defigned for with pleafure and eafe.
If there

perfe6t order in all the functions,

is

Illnefs

equilibrium.

line

may be

whole fyftem or confined

tity

to

reprefented by a right line. Illnefs

that deviation

difeafe; the

conftitutes a ftate of

the oppofite ftate, wherein

is

either extended over the

Health

it

is

remedy

more or

lefs ci)nfiderable,

ing modified in the

womb,

man

difturbed,

is

and

is

one part.
is

a deviation from that right

according to the ftrength of the

harmony which was difturbed; the quan-

adjufts the order or

of the univerfal motion that

harmony

harmony or

receives in his origin becomes tonical by be-

arid helps the

unfolding of the vifcera,' and

all

the other

organical parts of his conftitution.

This power of motion

fies

the principle of

is

reCtify,

and aftimulate,

and excretions. The

tions,

obeying the

common

and

recti-

and organical

parts,

principle maintains

Vifcera are the conftituent

the functions of the vifcera.

which prepare,

life; this

all

humours, determine their motion, fecre-

vital principle,

being a part of the univerfal motion, and

law^s of the univerfal fluid,

is

confequently fubjeCled to the

impreflions of the influences of celeftial, earthly, and particular, bodies with which
it is

of

furrounded.

Man, being
them

That

thebe impreflions,

all

faculty or property of
is

conftantly in the univerfal

the motion of the modified

tuent parts becomes tonical

the extreme parts.

No.

18.

man, which renders him fnfceptible

animal magnetifm or animal

From

it

fluid

electricity.

and particular currents,

by the

is

penetrated by

different organizations of its confti-

follows in that ftate the continuity of the body to

thefe extremities of the

body

either flow out or pafs in

currents

A KEY TO PHYSIC

282
currents the univerfal

them
1.

is

whea another body capable of

fluid,

receiving or returning

placed in an oppofite point.

There

is

a circulation formed between the currents pafling in and out. 2. Thefe

currents are ftraitened and almoft re-united ki the fame point

and thefe two caufes

concur together to increafe fucceffively the celerity of motion.

Thefe points of emanation or introduction

poles, bearing analogy to thofe

we

to or

from the tonical current are

fee in loadftones or artificial magnets

confe-

quently there are fome currents coming or iffuing out of the poles which deftroy or
firengthen each other; their communications being the fame,

one for the oppofite to be formed at the fame time.

two poles there

no direction
ted at any

is

is

Upon

it

fufiices to

a centre or point of equilibrium, the aCiing of which

predominant.

determine

a fuppofed line between

is

fuch that

Thefe currents may be propagated and communica-

diftance whatever, either

by

continuities, connection of bodies

as fympathy, or that of a fluid, fuch as air, water, found, See.

It

is

and minds,

a conftant

law',

that in each variety of an intermediate body, the poles are either overturned or

changed.
All bodies whofe form ends in a point or angle ferve to receive the currents, and

become

We may

their conductors.

to convey other currents.

confider the currents as openings or channels

Currents can penetrate ail folid and liquid bodies, prefer-

ving always the direction they have received. Thefe currents

may be communica-

and propagated by any means, whenever there exifts a continuity, either folid
or fluid, in the rays of light, and by a fucceflion of the vibrations of found. Thefe
currents may be reinforced, 1. by caufes of common motion, fuch as the inteftines,

ted

and

local motion, fouhd, noife, wind, &c. the eleClrical friCtion,

body which is a
mate bodies, by

loadftone,
trees,

bodies in which they

is

and

and every other

already endowed with a determinate motion, by aniall

vegetables

may happen

2.

by their communication with hard

to be concentered

and alfembled, as

voir, to be afterwards at pleafure diftributed in every direction

3.

in

a refer-

by the multi-

plication of bodies to which they are communicated, that principle being not a

fubftance; by a modification

its

effeCt increafes like that

of

fire,

in proportion to

and magnetifrn concurs

its

communication. If the current of animal

its

direction with the general magnetic current of the w'orld, the in?reafing of all

thefe currents

is

eleCtricity

the general effeCt which refults from

be reflected by looking-glalfes, after the laws of

it.

in

Thefe currents may again

light.

Of

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

383

Of INDISPOSITION and DISEASE.

IT

has been obferved, that mans

original

its

becomes

nature motion

all

fo, in

is

a quantity of univerfal motion, which in

tonical, applied to matter, deftined to

and afterw'ards

cera,

motion, and ends in

life is

to maintain

The

reft.

and

form the organs and

Mans

reOiify their fundiions.

entire abolition of tonical motion

the fource of every combination, as well as reft

man, the principle of

begins in

life

As

death.

is

is

vif-

in

of matter,

becomes the caufe of death.

life

Every unfolding and formation of an organical body depends on the various and
Pucceflive relations between motion and reft; their equality being determined, the

number of poffible

The

'fnined.

relations betw^een the one

prefenting the duration of

reft.

The
we

life

one of thefe terms

ol*

and revolution of

to be detef-

may be confidered

points

as re-

motion, the other

is

fucceffive progreflion of the various proportions of the

conftitutes the progrefs

reft,

and the other ought alfo

diftance between two terms or given points

one and the other

Proceeding thus from motion to

life.

arrive at the point of their equilibrium

after that point

we begin by de-

grees to die.

That progreftion of

divers modifications between motion and

exa6t proportion, or that proportion

progreflion
health,

may be

and arrives at

term without

his

portions are troubled, difeafe begins.

the progreflion of motion and

folid or fluid bodies. If

of organical bodies by

it

life,

illnefs:

If

man

lives

may have

which

an^

runs through that

in

a good

ftate

of

on the contrary, as foon as the prp-

Illnefs is nothing elfe but a perturbation

may be

iti

confidered as exifling either in

exifts in folids, it difturbs the

diminifliing the one

harmony of the

and increafing the

other.

If

properties
it

exifts in

and internal motion.

fluids, it difturbs their local

The

difturbed.

w ithout the proportion being difturbed, he

reft,

aberration from motion in folids, by altering their properties, difturbs the

funftions of the vifcera

and the various elaborations which ought

to take place.

The

aberration from the inteftine motions of humours produces their degeneration.

The

aberration from local motions produces obftruftion or debility, fever or

irri-

tation.

The

flownefs or abolition of motion produces obftru6lion, or debility

leration of motion produces fever, or irritability.

cera confifts in the harmony of

the fimHions of the vifcera

motion.

To

is

all their

The

the acce-

perfe6lion of folids or vif-

properties and funfitions

and the refult of

the quality of fluids with their inteftine and local

be able tore6lify the general harmony of the body, we muft reftify

the funftions of the vifcera

becaufe, their functions being once re-eftablilhed, they

re^ify every thing that can be fo, and divide every thing that cannot be rectified.

That

A KEY TO PHYSIC

284
That

upon

effort of nature or vifcera

and no difeafe can be cured without a

ftates,

the

humour
In

crifis.

called

is

we

all crifes,

the perturbation, digeftion, and evacuation.

fenfible effeds,

paroxyfm

lefs confiderable,

which are called ji/mpfoms. If thofe

effefts

are produced by the courfe of the difeafe, they ere called fyniptoiiiatic Jenfations
if

on the contrary they are the

are called critical fymptoms.

in pra61ice, to prevent

moment

caufe of

to diftinguifli

they

illnefs,

them well

and flop the one, and favour the other.

from what has been

It follows

more or lefs

efforts of nature againft the

It is of the greatefl

three

diftinguifli

Difeafe being an aberration

from harmony, that aberration or predifpofition may be more or

and produce more or lefs

or

crifis,

caufes of difeafe difturb and alter

faid, that all

the proportion between matter and motion, the proportion of the vifcera,

the proportion between fluids and folids

and confequently they produce by

more or

different applications a remiffion or perturbation

properties of matter.

To remedy

their

lefs confiderable in the

the eiTe6ts of remiffion and their perturbation,

and to deftroy or flop them, the remiffion of' properties muft be provoked; that
to fay, in animal bodies, the irritability or animal ele6tricity

There are two methods of doing

different ftimuli.

2. to increafe the aO;ion

this

l.to lelfen the obftacles

of nature, by a continual, fliaded,

is

muft be increafed by

foft,

and harmonic, ap-

plication of magnetic currents.

body being

in

harmony

and magnetifm, becaufe

is

hardly fenfible to the effe6l of animal eleftricity

that the application of an uniform

and general a6lion can-

not alter any thing in proportions which are both exa6land already confervant with
If on the contrary a body

that harmony.

is

not in harmony, that

in that ftate wherein proportions are difturbed, the habit

diffonance binders

it

from being more

of animal electricity and magnetifm

creafed.

On

thefe principles

their recovery

become gradually

that abfolute infenfibility to

It follows,

it is

from the fame

its

it

to fay, if

it is

experience that

becomes fo by the application

becaufe that difpofition and diffonance are in-

infenfible to animal eleClricity

and magnetifm;

conftitutes the perfeCl cure.

principles, that the application of animal eleCtricity

fations to diminifti or ceafe;

it is

and

is

in to

eafy to conceive that fick perfons drawing near

power

magnetifm muft often increafe the

being increafed,

fenfible,

it is

pain, as

and the

its

and

aClion occafions the fymptomatic fen-

efforts of

nature againft the caufes of difeafe

abfolutely neceffary for the critical

fymptoms

to increafe in

the fame proportion.

It

is

by the exaCt obfervation of their feveral

to difcern the

fymptoms.

The

we

unfolding of the fymptoms

order by which the difeafe was formed, and

which winds

effeCts that

off in the contrary order to

may

which

it

is

are enabled perfectly

made

in the contrary

be compared to a balk of twine

was wound on.

AND THE OCCULT

Of HUMAN

GIN

of

IT was

not

SCIENCES.

IMPREGNATION FORMATION
DISEASES and PRINCIPLES
my

of

intention to go into this Treatife fo

but confidering that the fubje6l

285

FOETUS ORILIFE and DEATH.

of the

much

at large, in

my prefent

of the higheft importance, and that the

work
Medical Part could not be made complete without it, I have refolved to introduce
it here, though I fhall be under the necelhty of extending my Plan to a few more
;

Thefe, I

numbers.

is

not be unacceptable

truft, will

be accompa-

fince they will

nied with a fet of very curious and valuable plates, defigned on purpofe to illuftrate
^his interefting fpeculation.

In contemplating the works of creation and the word of God, unfolded to us by

the light of Revelation and Scripture

anatomy,

Vve are

enabled to trace the

by analogy, reafon, medical experiments, and

human oeconomy farther in

her retirement, and

fome medical men are willing to fuppofe. Impoof living, and driven to the neceflity of multiplying

deeper in her occult retreat, than

veriflied

by a fafhionable

ftyle

potions and fees, their obje6l

The

mity.

confejjed

be

me

It

moments, when diffimulation would be

Far
it is

in the faculty

would with heart and hand

principally with this view, and to

was

aflift

amply difpenfed

prefent purpofe being to

fhall here explain the

that I

more

affifl:

facility

my

good, as,

my

me

in fo laudable a purfuit.

modes of cure and

moments of

felf-preferva-

edition ofCulpepers Englilli Phyfician.

that invaluable family-book

ftill

And my

more complete,

nature of human generation, and the principles of animal

life,

from thence deduce the origin of hereditary difeafes, and point out with

may

furnifli

in

make

and I am perfuaded every good

private families in the

extremity, that I was induced to offer thofe fimple

tion, fo

infir-

and indeed
vain.

in thofe awful

only the medical locufts that I with to eradicate

man

human

not to heal, but nourilh the feeds of

to arraign the profeffional chara6ler in its general capacity ;

by fome,

from

it

is

truth of this remark has been but too often experienced

thofe which are accidental.

And

in this treatife I fhall

endeavour to

readers with fuch obvious dire6lions for efchewing the evil, and choojing the

if

refolutely followed, wdll not

fail to

preferve health and long

life,

and

prove of no fmall benefit to future generations.

When God

Adam, he planted in him the feeds of that Divine Effence,

requifite to propagate the human life and foul. Theologifls may contradi^f me; yet
I will not fo much derogate from the wifdom and omnipotence of the Creator, as
to fuppofe he fhould watch the impregnation of every human female, and, by fo
many feparate and diftindl adls of his power, give life, fpirit, and foul, to the foetus.
The Creator of Man, viewing with unbounded forefight the purpofes before him,
No. 19.
4 D
by
created

A KEY TO PHYSIC

286
by one a6l of

his

omnipotence blended

in

Adam

all

image, he poffelfed the means of propagating from his

himfelf.

the

human and

the faculties of the

nature; and without any doubt, when he was formed one, in Gods expirfs

celeftial

It

here

is

difficult to affociate the

mechanifm of Divine Wifdom

own

effence, bein<y like

imperfe6l ideas of

human

and yet our conception may

in

reafon with

fome degree

unravel the myfteries of nature by caufes and fpeculations, whicli, in proportion as

they captivate our fenfes, and raife our admiration, excite

futurity,

and a grateful

fenfibiiity of the

in us

awe of

a reverential

goodnefs and mercy of him who gave us

being.

From the evidence

of Scripture

it is

indifputably clear, that in the perfon of

Adam

we now' find them

we read, that God

the male and female properties were originally combined; as indeed

many fpecies of the lower

created man inhis own image,
in

In Genefis

clafs of animals.
i.

27,

i.

of perfection; including or containing the prolific

e.

or generating powers, which are diftinguifhed by the expreffion of male and female

and God

hlejfed

them,

i.

Increafe and nmltiply, and

benediction, and this

thefe male and female properties, and faid unto them,

e.

replenijii the earth,

command, were

i.

e.

with beings like

Adam

for this

antecedent to the formation of Eve, as every

one mutt know who reads the Scriptures.

In

this plural capacity, therefore,

faid unto him, Be fruitful

Adam

and multiply, and

received the bleffing of God,

replenijh the earth,

have dominion over thefijh of the fea, and over the fowls of the

now completed

creation were

and on the feventh day

work; and, having formed Adam, and breathed into

he became a living foul.
it,

to

and to drefs

till it

God
it

God commanded

the garden thou mayeft freely eat

evil,
die.

thou

flxall

Gen.

Let

it

ii.

not eat of

it;

relied

fix

from

days

all his

of

and put the man

the man, faying,

Of every

life,,

into

tree of

but of the tree of the knowledge of good and

for in the

day thou

eateft thereof, thou Jhalt furely

27.

here be noted, that

all

had paifed &^or6 Eve was formed,

effences were feparated, and

made

thefe tranfaClions, injunctions, and

or, in other

commands,

words, before the male and female

the effential parts of two diflinCt perfons.

likewife, before the event took place,

things, both

The

and

it ;

his noftrils the breath

alfo planted the garden of Eden,

and

and fubdue

air, 8^c.

God

when he

was appointed Gods viceroy over

all

Adam
earthly

animate and inanimate; the very elements being made fubjeClto him

for he was formed more noble than

the angels,

and crowned with glory and honour;

having the peculiar advantageof multiplying his own race.

He

i.

e.

was, as to his extertial

form, moulded of the celeftial ajther; and therefore, previous to his

fall, his body

emanated rays of brightnefs and fplendour, fimilar to thofe which our ideas furnifti
of Mofes and Elias when they converfed with God. His reafpning faculty, and liv-

ing

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

287

ing foul, were formed of the eternal elfence or tin6lure of the Divinity; being nothing lefs than what

termed the breath of God, that fpark of immortality which

is

generates foul and body, and

the diftinguiihing chara6leriftic between

is

man and

For, although brute animals inherit the five fenfes, and polTefs an inftindt

beaft.

and to impel the propagation of

to dire6t them, in the choice of food,

their fpecies

yet thefe are only fenfes formed from the out-birth, or four elements of nature

and

not from the elfence or tindlure of the Divinity, out of which the foul, the mental
reafon,

intelledl,

For with

pofterity.

and tinderftanding, are

fenfe,
the

all

and transferred to

formed,

powers God has endued man, with

the

fame powers fiall

he

multiply his race..

From

the foregoing palfages

the

fame

nal

fpirit,

we

and

polfelfed of his fpiritual foul,

rational intelle6l, for the

By

to all future generations.

unclouded by the deformity of

him every created

Adam called them,

was

tJiat

quality of all animals

to fee

thing,

the

Adam, however,

in

He

troul.

finj

he knew and perceived the nature and

elements

what he would

But man, thus created

of his creation was to
his mortal foe.

call

them

God

the nature and

ftate,

but,

fill

on the contrary, they were fubjedl to

They fprung out of

they corruptible.

in

and

time,

his

con-

and were

into eternity the divine

from him, muft indifputably return.

honour and immortality, abideth

not.

The purpofe

the place of the rebel angels; and hence Lucifer

became

This fallen Spirit had entered the gate of Eden, and was preparing

Adam, when

the Almighty conftituted the tell of his obedience

multiplying the fame,

it

was but reafonable

ence, and an angelic race.

He

that

forefee the fubfequent event; and

its

fince borne.

was not himfelf under the influence of

ing endowed him with a free-wiU, an innate power of choojing good or

preventing

brought be-

and whatfoever

them thofe names which they have ever

he fprung from the limbus of eternity

offence, or fouls, propagated

to feduce

this intellect,

name thereof He knew and perceived

primeval

his

was immortal

elementated

purpofe of propagating

and, according to their defignation and fubje6lion to the ex-

ternal elements, fo he affigned

celeftial or terreftrial

w-as

the force of this rational intelledl, or eter-

property of every animated being.; and to exercife

fore

man

are w'arrantedto infer, that the original

is

to

exped from him an

for hav-

evil,

and of

implicit obedi-

alone eternal and omnipotent, could not but

it is

his

fupreme goodnefs

word confequences. Forefeeing

to

counterad

evil,

by

that the prolific tindure, or eternal

elfence of fecundation, might be contaminated by the malignant fpirit of Lucifer

infufing itfelf into the
lic race,

there

mind of Adam; who

would generate devils ; and

that,

was no counterpart, no feminine

7/

then, inllead of multiplying an ange-

were

man

to fall in his individual capacity,

principle, through the

medium of which
the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

ms

the Jerpents head could he bruifed, or a Saviour

become incarnate

further furvey, after the works of creation had

and man formed and compounded of the male and female

ii

18 It
.

is

not

rib,

e.

i.

God

faid,

Gen.

help meetfor him;

was taken out of Adam,

a new being called woman.
The emiffion of this

feminine effence or tin6lure threw

that an

the feminine or conceptive effence,

and concentrated or moulded into

washone of his

Therefore on

tin6lures,

good that the manjhould he alone; I will make him an

wherefore the

he knew

been completed, animals named,

Adam

into a deep

deep

yet,

principle had departed from him,

effential

hone, andflejh ofhisflejh, not having

when he awoke,

and that the woman

been created, hut formed out of

himfelf whereby he only retained the animating principle, or a6live power of generation

the

whilft the rudiments or feeds of future beings w'ere configned to the matrix of

woman. Here then

Adam, without the counterand multiply. Thus the two

individual generation ceafed; and

part of himfelf, had no longer the power to increafe

tin6lures, or divine effences,

animating and compounding foul and body, were di-

vided; and by means only of a re-union or contadl of thofe tin6lures, could generation then, or

now, be performed.

It

is

on

this

ground that the male and female

towards each other ; and that the defire of love

affeflions are continually turned

and union fo ftrongly pervades every individual of the human race. Hence alfo the
Tempters reafon for beguiling Eve
determined

Adam to lhare

in all

and hence the feducing power of

love,

which

the horrors of her crime, fo pathetically and

affe6l-

ingly deferibed by Milton.

The fatal confequences of the fall, we moft fenfibly feel, and univerfally deplore.
The earth Ihook from her foundations. The order of nature was quite inverted.
The CEtherial and terreftrial elements, which before were fafiiioned in harmony, and
a6ted in unifon, were now difeordant, intemperate, and furious. Brute preyed upon brute, and bird invaded bird. The delicious fruits and flowers of Paradife
were exchanged for thorns and thiftles. The ferenity of a pellucid and fmiling firmament, was convulfed by the thunders of an incenfed Deity, by forked lightnings,
by contending feafons, by devouring winds, and impetuous ftorms. While man,
ungrateful man, from the privilege of holding thefe elements in fubjedlion,

fubje6led to them

and hence fubjed

to all the perils

and misfortunes of

became

his fallen

nature.

Here, then, began the

confli61:

able as the elements themfelves.

of the

human

Here the

toil

paffions, as violent

and ungovern-

and labour of the man, who fhould

earn his bread by the fweat of his hrow, and the tears and travail of the woman,

who

fhould conceive in pain and forrow, bad each their fource. Here likewife, the dark
catalogue of

human

infirmities,

of difeafe and death, had

its

too early date; yet

to

AND THE OCCULT

to this sera,

SCIENCES.

289

mud we

which gave birth to our manifold misfortunes,

look for that

benign fource of alleviation and cure, which the relenting hand of Providence has

who

gracioufly afforded to thofe

Lord

will feek for

caufed medicine to grow; and he that

is

them

for out oj the ground noth the

wife will not defpife them; for wiihfuch

doth he heal men, and

talceth away their pains.

Eccl. xxxviii. 4, 7.
man became fubje6l to the elemehts, from them he
^

Since, by his

fall,

the conftitution of his body

receives

but his reafoning intelleft, and fpiritual foul, are de-

rived from the pure elfence or tiu6lure of the Deity, originally infufed into the feed

of man.

To

the violence and impurity of the elements,

to the temptations

body;

and allurements of the

devil,

we owe

wejuftly impute the difeafes

of the foul. Yet by due attention to our reafoning faculty,

ferve health, or prolong

life,

powers of the mind, and the

fin,

to the term of
light

its

the diforders of the

it is

no hard

taflc to

pre-

natural diffolution; while, by the

of the gofpel, we

may

avoid the poifon of

dill

and become members of that eternal kingdom, which

the fure reward of the

is

good and virtuous.

The

imperfeftions and difeafes of the body, therefore, beginning with

are in confequence tranfmitted to his poderity; and

and

may

Adam,

be divided into heriditary

Hereditary complaints proceed from a certain 6efe& of the animal

accidental.

powers, or imperfe6f date of the fanguiferous fydem, at the time of copulationi

The

accidental confid of all fuch maladies as are communicated by the difcordant

or putrid date of the elements, not only during the time the child

the

womb, but from

its

birth to the lated hour of

its

is

encompaded

And

exidence.

in

might here

it

be obferved, that the increafe or decreafe of both hereditary and accidental difeafes,

depends almod entirely on the purity or impurity of the blood.

male and female,

healthful.

So

at the time of impregnation, the foetus will be naturally

likewife, if after parturition,

and during

the blood in an uncontaminated and eladic date,

effedls

we

only avoid the

bleffing of health, or

who would wifh

to live a long,

furely ought to weigh perpetually on the minds of thofe,

an

or,

diould they by chance

circumdance

who know how

fliall

hereditary complaints are communicated in the a6lof copulation^

womb

how accidental difeafes grow up and

thefe enemies to the health and happinefs of mankind

In regard to that union of the fexes to which we

this,

which

to value the

and a pleafant,

active,

therefore a fpeculation of that high importance, that I

fodered in the

in the

common

of exceffive cold, heat, and moidure; but likewife that direful train of

attack us, the effect becomes dight and temporary.

is

drong and

care be taken to keep

life,

fhall not

acute difeafes communicated by putridity and infe6tion

This

For, if pure, in both

life.

now fhow how

howincreafed and

follow,

and how both

may be prevented

or overcome.

are indin6fively.impelled, or rather

union of thofe effences or tin6lures peculiar to the generative organs of male and

No.

19.

female,

'

A KF.Y TO PHYSIC

290

female, in the confca61: of which the

moments of human exigence commence,

firft

the moft vvhimfical and abfurd theories have been

No branch

fet up.

of pbyfiology

has been more expofed to cenfure and miftake. While the phsenomena of the heavens, of the earth,

and

vvith all

and even of the human mind

are traced with a fteady hand,

itfelf,

the dignity of philofophy, the funftions of the

well as uiider difeafe, though

appear almoft

human

expounded with a profuhon of

body, in health as

fantaftical erudition,

much doubt and darknefs as in the days of Paracelfus.

to review the mode by which generation is accomplifhed.

in as

Let us then proceed

have, in the former part of this work, already explained the fyftems of Buft'on and

man

of Leeuwenhoek, in their fpeculations on the animalcules found in the feed of

and

thatof brute animals

in

Phyfician, Ihown the

the action

itfelf,

and

have alfo

mode by which

to

its

medical part of Culpepers Englilli

in the

generation

grofs effe6l.

I fliall

is

now

performed, fo far as relates to

confider

in

it

a new

light, as it

concerns the propagation of foul and body, and of family-temper, likenefs, and difeafe

but, as the female

nation,

nious

and

in all its

anonymous

The

is

fo materially concerned in the myfterious a6l of impreg-

confequences, I fhall here take up the reafoning of a lateinge-^

author, whofe opinion exa6tly coincides with

neration.
begins.

Before coition has difturbed

diameter

is

when thrown

its

becomes much

being contrived by

and does accommodate

it is

Ihorter, but

its

proportions,

length.

its

it is

generally about five or

But

as, in coition,

the vagina

capable of great diftention, and

dered of very confiderable capacity.

yet,

texture, materially requifite to ge-

into a circular form, without violent diftention,

about a fixth part of

immediate reeeptacle of the penis,

this canal

its

Immediately within the nymphce, the vagina^ or great canal of the uterus,

inches long; and

fix
its

own.

extremity of the uterine fyftem, without the nymphae, feems not, except from

aperture, and the lafcivious fufceptibility of

its

my

In general, however,

more proportionably increafed

whatever

fize is

the

may be ren-

after frequent contact,

in its diameter

organization for the purpofe of exciting pleafure,

itfelf to

is

it

can

necelfary clofely to embrace the

penis in the a6t of copulation.

At

the upper extremity of this canal, the uterus or

ramidal form, with

its

apex towards the vagina.

not more than two or three inches

ty

muft therefore be very fmall.

paffage fo fmall, that a bodkin or

ty.

and

It

is

ftilet

its

width

womb

is

feated. It

is

fcarcely one

is

fpungy, and they contain

its

is

internal cavi-

cannot be introduced without fome difficul-

womb, the ovaria are feated.

an indefinite number of veficles of a

femi-tranfparent quality, the involucra of which are

^

of a py

connected to the vagina or great canal by a

In the broad or upper extremity of the

fubftance

is

Its greateft length, in virgins,

diftin^I,

and

Their
dufkilh

fimilar to the ge-

neral

AND THE OCCULT

Thefe

neral fubflance of the ovaria.

SCIENCES.

veficles are the

om, or

291

'

which contain

eggs,

the rudiments of the fostus, and which muft abfolutely be inipregnated with the

male feed, before

Now

it

has been, and

place, the
fire

can be poffible for generation to take place.

it

common

the

is,

when venereal embraces take

opinion, that,

whole genital fyftem of the male being thrown into a6lion by libidinous

and violent

fri6lion,'

hemence from the

by

and

penis,

femen

this exertion the

and attra6led by the ovaria;

is

thrown with confiderable ve-

is

either forced through the

mouth of

the

womb,

received by the Fallopian tubes, and con-

or, that it is

veyed by them through a variety of convolutions,

till

by

their fimbriae they are con-

ducted to the ovaria, in the manner I have already fully defcribed in the medical
part of Culpepers Englifh Phyfician

all

which tedious and complicated procefs

is

alleged to take place in the inflant of coition.

Others again fuppofe, that the internal

orifice

of the

womb becomes

open and

pervious during the exertion and enjoyment of copulation, and that the glands of

womb, and

the penis abfolutely pafs into the cavity of the

ately

In refutation of the

and from
part, to

its

firft,

we need only

it

obferve, that the vagina, from

organization in the aCt of venery,

embrace the penis ; and,

although
flight

ejeCt the feed

immedi-

upon the ovaria. To each of thefe theories there appear infuperable objections.

as the glands

its

ftruCture>

difpofed ftrongly, and in every

is

muft thereby be clofely furrounded,

reaches not in every perfon to the furtheft limits of the vagina

and momentary impetus of the femen

will thus

the

be very effectually refifted,

if

not totally fubdued. If the penis be not of magnitude fufiicient to occupy the vagina
to its full extent, the

vacuum be what
the

unoccupied fpace muft be fomehow diftended

it will, its

refiftance

muft be effectual

power or preffure which occafions

the femen.

But fuppofing the

virile

its

collapfe,

member

w.ill

and,

if it is

and, let this

not diftended,

over-balance the impetus of

in all cafes to

be fo exaCtly propor-

tioned as to occupy the whole length of the uterine canal, which however
is

not the cafe

yet from what principle fhall

the penis, and the apex of the

become continuous?

womb,

The femen,

fliall

we

afcertain that the feminal tube of

be made fo exaClly to correfpond as to

in the event of coition, is doubtlefs

by the penis with fome force; though

we know

this force will

thrown out

always depend upon the vigour

of the male organs, and therefore muft vary from the loweft to the higheft degree
of vigour which thefe organs can be fufceptible
penis and apex of the
that the

male feed

is

womb

to fall into

But even allowing the glans

exaCl contaCl upon due penetration ; and
of.

always ejeCted with confiderable force from the penis, and the

vigina to be

no barrier

cavity of the

womb ? The

to the progrefs of

it

yet

how

is it

to force

its

way

into the

aperture which leads from the vagina or great canal into

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

292
the

womb,

vious

but even then

no argument that
this

no aperture

fa6l

in

is

it is

During

all.

rnenftruation, indeed,

per-

it is

only capable of admitting a very fmall probe; and this

and

naturally,

it is

at

How

at other times, pervious.

is

often too has

aperture been entirely blocked up by preternatural obftrudtions, and conception

neverthelefs taken place?

Tnftances of this have often occurred; and the precifion

and authority with which they are recorded by

to evade the argument. Hence

this

objedtionable, but utterly impoflible

flrudlure, or wdth the

different pradlitioners, leave

mode of impregnation appears

no room

not only highly

human

having no correfpondence with the

economy of Nature.

After what has been faid,

it

may appear

idle to profecute

any farther refutation

of the progrefs of the male feed by the Fallopian tubes, or through the mouth of
the w'omb.

But,

authors of the greateft refpedlability have believed in

a-

grefs through the tubes, and

proper to enquire

which the femen

how

us they have even feen

tell

far this

is

faid to pafs, originate,

is

it

The

afcertainable.

there

it

may

its

pro-

not be im-

Fallopian tubes, through

by very minute perforations, through the

fundus of the

womb

when

dilated,

may

ria.

Here, again, they fuddenly contradl, leaving only a very fmall opening

and, increafing rapidly in their diameters, their capacities,

be about the third part of an inch where they approach the ova-

while their main fubftance

is ftill

continued, and

jagged fringe called the fimbriae, which

is

force, to introduce itfelf

the collapfe of the tubes

loft in

a veffel which

of acting

in

it

male femen

the

femen now

has

and we know no

to be

condudled

poffefs

any adlive

this organ,

ovum

is

conveyed into the uterus from

is

any part of the body whofe adtion

veffels in

lodged in the Fallopian tubes.

had feen fnow upon the canal

human

is

double

But we are

in its unaltered

ft

ate,

Thefe fagacious authors might as prudently have

The^ did not know, or did not choofeto

feed,

Hyde-park

in

recolledt, becaufeit

when fubjedfed

of Culpeper, page 17, 89, 97, &c. where

at

made

Midfummer.

againft pre-con-

to heat, efpecially to fuch a

moift and natural heat as thole parts conftantly afford, foon loofes

* See Medical Part

to over-

the acknowledged office of

by fome, that they have adlually feen the male femen

ceived opinion, that the

and

This fyftem therefore favours of great improbability.

affirmed, that they

now

The ftimulating power of the femen muft foon be

not power to diftend and we cannot fuppofe it capable

a diredlion completely oppofite to what

and contrary.
told,

the

I fliall

the tubes. It muft be by irritability that the

the ovaria

is

Can

it,

through the rigid perforations of

come

into that plaited or

contiguous to the ovaria.*

afk by what law in Nature, by what effort of

through this conical and convoluted canal

expanded

is

all

its

fpiffitude

and

the parts, both male and female,

?re anatomically defcribed.

tenacity,

AND THE OCCULT

tenacity,

and becomes very

fubtilly fluid,

SCIENCES,

S93

and ahnoft colourlefs. Eefides,

veiTally acknowledged, that a confiderable part of the

mediately after coition, rejected by the female.

femen

When we

and

facility vvith

uni-

many inwe need not marvel

attend to the

flances of credulity and im|)ofition in the theories of generation,

at the aptitude

it is

almoft always, im-

is

which pretended difcoveries creep into notice, and

the folemnity with which they obtrude themfelves into fyftems.

All the foregoing arguments againft the poffibility of a pervious

communication
between the vagina and the uterus, are alfo conclufive againft the fuggeftion, that
the penis, in the a6l of coition, penetrates into the cavity of the
affertion of thofe

who contend

coition, naturally

opens and

leaft

degree of probability.

womb.

Nor is

the

that this orifice, by the turgidity of the parts

during
dilates itfelf to receive the male feed, marked

with the

How is this

dilatation of the orifice to be effeaed?

the whole uterine fyftem, during the venereal aa, be rendered

Though

and turgid by

ftiff

animal defire and influent blood, yet

it is more probable that this turgidity

would^
rather comprefs than dilate the orifice; and the ftruaure and
texture of the womb

feem exceedingly unfavourable

to

unimpregnated or virgin

the

ftate,

fudden dilatation by any means whatever. In an

womb is fo

fmall that

its fides coalefce or adhere

has no hollow appearance whatever, though, from the
texture
and elafticity of its fabric, it may be thrown into a globular
form, which will
conftitute a cavity.
But in coition, w'ith all its occult and uncommon

together,

and

it

phenomena^

what charm have we

left to

overcome

this coalefcence,

opening or feparating the membranous fides of the

the forcible ejedion of the male femen will effed
turgid ftate of the penis itfelf will force

Though females may

its

way

womb ?
this

and form
Will

purpofe

it

this cavity,

by

here be faid that

or that the ftiflFand

into the fabric fo remote

entertain fanguine ideas of thefe things,

and delicate?
we muft fuppofe the^

vigilant anatornift, toiling through the

unalarming and chilly organs of the dead,

a more rational hypothefis, whence to deduce the
adive principle
and admirable procefs of human impregnation.
ought to

furnifli

Authors have been always eager

toeftablifli the certaiuty of a confiderable afflux

of blood to the female organs, and confequent turgidity during
the voluptuous communication of the fexes; and this has been a'wonderful prop to many
abfurd conjeftures.
This afflux, and confequent: turgidity, they fuppofe originates,
like the
ere6tion of the penis, from the ftrength of libidinous ideas,
and.other
locally-irrita-

ting caufes

and

intended by. nature to induce a tenfionin the female

organs, that
the progrefs of the femen may thereby be-facilitated.
This tenfion, again^ they fup;

is

pofe induces fome kind of conftiiaipn, which

is faid tQ fupport the

different parts of the gqnital, fyftem, but particularly
of the Fallopian

aSion of the

iube& Thefe-

A KEY TO PHYSIC

S54
tubes,

it

into the
eredled,

are remarkably diftended, during coition,

is laid,

numerous
and

which creep between their

veffels

coats,

by the blood rufliing

by which means they are

their fimbriated terminations applied to the ovaria;

and it is gravely
added, that diffe6lions of gravid women, and the comparative anatomy of brutes,

corroborate the opinion. Were it not for the ferious refpedf with which this anatomical obfervation hath for a length of time been favoured, nobody furely would be
at the pains of deteding the abfurdity.
Allowing that this turgidity, with all its

concomitant circumftances, really happens

exift in

in

a carcafe flaccid with death, and, as

/Amg fubjed, how can it poffibly

always the cafe in a human anato-

the
is

mifed body, where death mull have taken place fome confiderable time before?

But

this turgidity,

limited to what
place,

it

though

may happen, and

fometimes

to be the

braces of the male are extremely,

are abfolutely difagreeable

if

become

really does take

adion of the

gratification,

To many women

the

em-

not completely, indifferent; and to fome they

yet even thefe

women

are prolific. There

why

in fuggefting a very fuflicient and natural reafon

to the

it

companion and promoter of libidinous

than a principal and elTential promoter of conception.

redly fubjeded

yet in a degree very

does not always happen; and, when

alleged,

is

feems rather

it

penis,

turgid with influent blood, and

no

difficulty

the parts of the female di-

during the venereal congrefs, fliould

fomdimes be

ihe feems in general unfriendly to exceflive

is

luft,

Nature, though

conftrided.

fometimes permits

are the means fhe feems to have appointed for heightening

it.

it;

Befides,

and thefe
it is

proper

that the animal inftind, which prompts the reproduction of the fpecies, fhould not

be difappointed

ks

in

gratification,

appear to the purified philofopher.

bute to the mutual

however brutal thefe fenfations and ideas may

Thefe means

fenfibility of the fexes, in the

then,

however they may contri-

voluptuous gratification of animal

pleafure, appear to have no real influence on the procefs of generation, after the ve-

nereal congrefs has ceafed

nay,

we have reafon

to believe that their

ence does not extend beyond the limits of the vagina, except
reft

of the genital fyftem, even during that congrefs.

If an

in

adion or

common

influ-

with the

afflux of blood to thefe

parts were always to be attended with thefe effeds, what violence muft the ovaria

be expofed

to

by

reiterated coition,

During the menftrual

afflux,

over the greateft part,

if

and by every return of the menftrual difcharge?

a very confiderable diftenfion muft furely take place

not the whole, of the genital fyftem; and, as this turgidity

adion of the tubes, by what means are the

fimbrias diverted from exercifing thofe fundions which turgidity, though from ano-

is

the principal reafon affigned for the

ther caufe, at another time fo fuccefsfully inftigates? Alfo,

ful

copulation

is

how happensit

thatgrate-

not always produdive, and the contrary; that the fimbriae, in

AND THE OCCULT

do not operate upon the

very venereal

SCIENCES.

ovaria,

295

and thereby produce more

foe-

tufes, or a wafte of the ova? and that the organs themfelves are not incapacitated, or

diminifhed

m their energy, by fuch repeated exertions.^ We

to conclude, that the tenfion

afflux of

the

of confequence, are intended folely to promote

if

and, that they have no diredf influence on the adlual progrefs of

the above-defcribed communications to the ovaria.

femen through

Upon

and conftridlion of the female organs, induced by the

blood during coition,

animal gratification

have every reafon then

the whole,

it is

certainly

no ways equivocal, that the femen cannot,

manner, be applied to the ovaria by means of the fimbriae

that

advance through the convolutions of the Fallopian tubes; that

and traverfe the compreffed uterus; and that

bulwark of the cervix

therigid

feminalis, through the

fame

The

uteri.

paths,

is

it

it

it

in

any

cannot afcend or

cannot divaricate

cannot even operate a paffage through

probability of the progrefs of the aura

deftroyed by the fame arguments; and the

whimfical opinions founded on the prefehce of animalcules in the femen, and on the
organic bodies furniflied by the femen of both fexes, and, uniting in the uterus, as
far as this alleged aperture is concerned,

may feem however

be fo

fliould

eafily

muft ftand or

and

it

may

furnifli, to

by the fame

fate.

It

and fo univerfally believed,

ftrange, that a dodlrine fo ancient,

overthrown

fall

the fpeculative reader, unfa-

He may indeed

vourable ideas of the prefent ftate of medical literature.

wonder,

while every fcience has become rational and refpedfable by the exertions of

that,

their cultivators, medicine alone has

although

years

come

dignified

been able to

refill

the diligence of a thoufand

has been wrefted from the hands of nurfes, and

it

and

lucrative, it

can fcarcely be

its

profeffion be-

faid, at this day, to afford

one un-

quellionable idea. In the volumes of phyfiology, compiled by the moll learned phy-

and drawn from the moll learned fources,

ficians,

find the

But
which

dogmata of medicine

fince the femen, in

is

unconcerned philofopher

confifient with Nature, or with

fome

commoa fenfe?

lliape or other, contains that animating principle

indifpenfably neceffary to generation

produced fomething from whence a

monllrably

will the

and fince the ovaria as indifputably

living creature

clear, that the influence of the

is

to

be evolved,

it

becomes de-

male feed mull be powerfully incorpora-

ted with the female, and diredled to the ovaria, before this effedl can poflibly take
place.

We have

we mull

how this cannot happen; let us now endeavour to

medium by which it may be accomplillied. For this purpofe

already feen

point out a rational

again return to the vagina, or canal of the uterus, as being the principal

organ, on the part of the female, which adlually contributes to propagation

w'ithout the full

therefore

and complete ufe of which, impregnation cannot take place.

demands a very minute and

6

and
It

attentive invelligation.

The

A KEY TO PHYSIC

296

The vagina

is elaftic,

and fomewhat membranous, compofed of mufcular

phae, and, rifing obliquely

is

commences from beneath,

inches, is loft upon the uterus.

and lymphatics.

blood-veffels, nerves,

about

five

It

at the
Its

very different in different fubjedls, and in no very diftant periods of

fame
it is

A very refpe61able anatomift finidies his defcription of

fubjedl.

menibro

virilifecundum

though very uneven,

is

ly fenfible; the outer

dy of the canal
tics.

is

We know

omnes dimenjiones accommoddbilis.

delicately fmooth, and, from

membrane

is

fibres,

nym-

capacity

life in

it

the

by faying,

membi ane,

Its inner

nervous texture, exquifite-

its

more fpongy and mufcular; and, the whole bo-

very plentifully fupplied with blood-veffels, nerves, and lympha-

little

more of the lymphatics of thefe

numerous proportionally than

in

parts, than that they are

Thofe which

any other part of the body.

more
origi-

nate in the exterior parts of the female genital fyftem, traverfe the inguinal glands,

much more

while the deep-feated ones take a

with the la6leals; but of thefe

we

ftiall

diredt courfe to their place of union

be more particular, when we adduce our ob-

fervations in favour of a very powerful abforption fubfifting in the vagina.

The

entrance into the canal of the uterus from without,

nymphre, which form an eminence on each

ranged, that

we muft think

fide,

of the phyfiologift

lightly

only appendages in office to the urethra.

offices

affift

powerfully

male femen, and thereby exjiofing

it

w'e ffiall

valve.

allegation, that thefe ridges

Immediately within

in

w'e fee

much

rea-

preventing the fpeedy efcape of the

longer to the a6lion of the abforbent fyftem.

it

be impaired

will not

by no means conftitute a regular and complete

this barrier,

a ftrudture, on the fame principles as thofe

of the nympha;, but more elegant and powerful, commences

over the furface of the vagina, gradually growing

near the upper

to be

not pretend to limit the fe-

multitude of circumftances corroborate this belief; and

by the

and ar-

who could fuppofe them

which the nymphae may promote; but

fon to believe them created to

guarded by the

Indeed, as Nature frequently operates

more than one end by a particular ftru6ture,

condary or inferior

is

fo peculiarly conftru6led

finer, till

extremity of the canal. This ftrudlure

is

it is

and

it is

loft in

continued

fmoothnefs

the rugae of the vagina, fo

accurately drawn and defcribed by Haller and others; but degraded by fome anatomifts, who mark it only as ufeful in exciting venereal enjoyment, or admitting
It is infmuating a mean and difgraceful
expanfion during coition and parturition.
reflection

rugae,

on the important order and operations of

Isiature to fuppofe, that thefe

which are not cafually arranged, but are regulated with as much precifion

and uniformity as we can trace

nugatory and prefumptuous to

in

any other part of the genital fyftem

affert, that this intricate, extenfive,

and

I fay

it is

beautiful,

arrangement, has been fo minutely laboured for no other purpofe, but merely to
excite.

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

excite a greater titillation during the grofs and libidinous

and a greater extenfion during parturition.

thefe fecondary purpofes; but

commerce of the

ftriclure

may

much nobler

intended for

is

it

This

297

rugoe been conftru6led merely for Ample contra6lion and

fexes,

indeed promote

ends.

dilatation,

Had

thefe

they would

have covered equally the whole furface of the vagina, which certainly does not hap-

pen

had been their principal ufes, would they be fo foon and fo

neither, if thefe

eafily obliterated.

We

believe, then, that the rugae of the vagina are thus contrived

principally to protra6l the

femen

thereby to favour dbforption

in that vifeus after the penis

efpecially as the qualities of the

withdrawn, and

is

femen coincide won-

derfully with thefe intentions.

The femen,

as

it is

fecreted from the blood in the tefticles,

that heterogeneous mixture which

by the

alteration,

into the veficles,

quantity.

its
it is

is

very different from

is

expelled by the urethra in coition

fecundating quality

not improved.

is

When

it is

though,

conveyed

of a thin conllftence, of a pale yellowifh colour, and

In thefe veficles

it is

fomewhat

infpiffated,

and

its

little

in

colour heightened

mixed with the liquor of the proftrate glands, it becomes Hill thicker,
and of a more whitifli colour. This confiftence which the femen acquires in its

and, after

it is

progrefs from the tefticles,

intention of

it

of the vagina

may produce

other flight properties

but the principal

feems to be, tocorrefpond more effedlually with the abforbent power

for thus,

by the increafed tenacity of the femen, the remora of

its

fecundating part muft be protra6led in the vagina, while at the fame time the abforbents are allowed

more time

to attack thofe active fubtile parts intended to be

We may add

carried into the circulating fyftem.

here, in order farther to confirm

the opinion concerning the ufe of the tenacity of the femen, that,

derived from the glands, or

when

when too

of

of a depraved or thin qua-

this

mucilage

lity,

the whole mixture efcapes the machinery of the vagina too rapidly, and hence

coition
to

is

becomes unprodu6tive.

be one of the few caufes of

when

the confent and

This

is

in

fterility

it is

the feminal ferofity, as

it

is called,

And we may add

man.

power of procreation begins

to fail

held

farther, that,

on the part of the woman,

the crenulations of the vagina are then always vifibly decayed, whether affected

by

But what are we

to

the advances of age, or

by imprudently-reiterated venery.

think of a very refpedtable author,

tion,

who

gravely

tells us,

that the femen, by ftagna-

and by the addition of the cream-like liquor of the proftrate glands,

fuited to the projecting effort of the urethra in the event of coition?

not to be denied, that the increafe in quantity of the feminal mixture

the proje6tile

cacy

power of the

urethra, with

but a boy would laugh in

No. 19 .

little

my

its

better

may

tell

it is

enable

aiding mufcles, to a6t with greater

face were I to

is

Indeed,

effi-

him, that by adding to the

weight

>

A KEY TO PHYSIC

S9S

weight and tenacity of water, his fquirt would throw

much farther. To

a6l in con-

with thefe unqueftionable qualities of the femen, the furface of the va-

cert, then,

by means of its

gina,

it

from their elevation and arrangement, muft have a very

heightening the remora we have defcribed.
No doubt, if Narugae,

confiderable effe6l in

ture had only had in view the prevention of the regrefs of the femen, we might have
met with a much Ampler mechanifm but, as to this part very different offices, and
all of them material, were allotted, it has been intricately qualified for them all.
;

Thus, upon the whole, we fee an admirable difpofition

face of the vagina, to facilitate and

Though

in the

femen, and

promote the a6lion of the abforbent

the ahforhent fyftem has not been traced with the

in the furveffels.

fame minutenefs and

fuccefs which have followed the inveftigation of the fanguiferous fyftem,

ever

known

to be very general,

How,

cavity of the pelvis.

in order to lubricate the

otherwife,

is

its

but in

place,

refumed

fides,

whom

and

it is

that effulion which

whole genital fyftem

cence or concretion of

menfes have taken

and very powerful

in the female,

is

and

it is

remarkably fo

how-

in the

conftantly going on,

to prevent the coalef-

In thofe unfortunate females whofe

likewife the expulfion of

them has been

prevented by the unruptured hymen, or by unnatural membranes blocking up the

paffage,

much

of the blood has always been reforbed; and in thofe whofe difeafe

has exifted long, and where the thick parts of the blood have begun to be broken

down, the colluvies has been reforbed, and a

accounted for by the mere turgidity which
tion

and progrefs of

train of

fymptoms induced, not to be

The infec-

this obftruftion occafioned.

fyphilis or confirmed lues, not only eftablifii the certainty of

a very rapid and powerful abforption in the vagina; but alfo exhibit the power and
influence of the irregularities of

its

furface. It

is

furely very evident, that the chief

application of the venereal virus, whether in gonorrhoea or fyphilis, but efpecially

in gonorrhoea,

muft be near the farther extremity of the vagina, though there can

be no doubt but the ulcerated glans may often

affe6l the exterior parts

du6lion; but, in a confirmed lues, the fundus of the vagina

and

it is

its iritro-

rarely the feat of ulcer,

never affected in gonorrhoea. Here, the furface of the vagina being moftly

fmootb, the poifon runs downwards,

Here then

cepted and retarded.

the

is

by

till

falling

the poifon

is

mouths of the lymphatics, through which

affimulating together,

it

upon the

rugae,

it is

carried into the blood

contaminates the whole mafs.

Though

always thus regular, the variations do not

and

their glands, are vigorous

ficiently active, the firft

is

fymptoms of

affe6i the opinion.

and eafy permeable

within the nymphae

where,

the progrefs of the

fyphilitic poifon is not

the application of the venereal virus

there inter-

multiplied, and leifurely applied to

When

the lymphatics,

it is

and,

when

when

it is

fuf-

difeafe arife from general contamination

and,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

and, were this poifon always very mild, and taken up by the abforbents within the

nymph,

there

is

no doubt but the whole mafs would almofl always be difeafed,

without

much chance

ftances

which tend

it is

is

fpeedy abforption of the fyphilitic

to retard the

extremely a6live; and,

induce,

But there are many circum-

of ulcer or preceding bubo.

among

thefe, the inflammation

not perhaps the leaft confiderable

The

of the feminal fluid of the male.

efcape abforption, but

And

it is

may be carried

even when

may, from the

muft

outwards, to exercife

when

laxity

and

immodeft women,) not only

its

energy on the exter-

from thefe reafons partly, that immodeft

difpofed to conception, and that modeft women,

tion, generally

virus,

in general it

but thefe cannot affedf the abforption

fyphilitic virus too,

lubricity of the vagina, (a circumftance very general in

nal parts.

which

women

are fo

little

fubje6led to venereal infec-

experience the more latent and violent fpecies of this difeafe. And,

as a greater furface of abforbents

is

expofed

in the

female to the contaminating in-

fluence of the difeafed male organs, and as the greateft part of the female genital

fyftem has a
glands,

The

much

we meet with

readier intercoiirfe with the blood than through the inguinal

this fpecies of fyphilis

much

oftener in

women

than in men.

cure of fyphilis, too, by fpecific remedies introduced into the vagina, fully de-

monftrates the ftrength and activity of the lymphatics in this canal.

a ready and eftablilhed communication, for difeafe, and for

its

Is there then

remedies, between

the vagina and the general circulating fyftem of the blood, while a mild
poflelfed of activity infinitely

and

beft of purpofes,

is

beyond that of any poifon, and created

yet

fluid,

for the higheft

not permitted to traverfe the fame channels?

Many other

corroborating circumftances, both in fadl and in analogy, might be adduced here,

were not thefe arguments

In a due

ftate

in themfelves conclufive.

of health there

is

blood, occafioning and promoting

general difeafes, and even in

its

what may be called an

many which

heightened, diminifhed, or deranged

orders,

it

muft be remarkably

fo.

inteftine

commixture, as well aa

its

motion

feparation.

in the

In

all

are called local, this inteftine motion

and

in the

exanthematous or eruptive

In fyphilis, though

this difeafe is

is

dif-

not diredly ex-

anthematous, there muft be exceffive difturbance, and certain depravation, prevailing

throughout the whole fyftem, before fuch complete deftrudlion can be brought upon
it.

is

In thefe cafes of difeafe, where vehement

overturning

no impreffion.

all

before

Hence

though the patient

gion, or

it,

infedlion, with all its confequences,

we have always found,

that milder infe6lions could

make

the pra6litioner never helitates to ingraft the fmall-pox,

may have

by prior inoculation

ne; hence flow confumption

already received the difeafe, either by natural conta:

hence a milder difeafe

is

is

often

removed by a feverer

always retarded, and often overcome, by fecundation

A KEY TO PHYSIC

300
tion

and hence fecundation

itfelf,

as the feebler ftimulus,

is

by

often prevented

the anticipating difturbance of fyphilis, or of fimilar difeafes vehemently pre-occu-

pying the circulating fyftem. It

is this

anticipation, this prior poffeffion, Eind

change

in the circulating blood, which reafonably and emphatically accounts for the want

human femen upon the female after impregnation has fully taken
the mother is providing milk.
And we might account for the pro-

of influence in the
place, or while

du6lion of twins,
the

and thofe rare inftances of more numerous progeny, from

triplets,

One, two, or more, ova may indeed be fo ripe as

fame circumftances.

completely the fecundating impulfe of the male femen at one time; and

it is

to

meet

perhaps

more

flrange that the different foetufes fliould be

fame

time, than if a greater period intervened between the expulfion of each

maturated andfixpelled about the

;

and

might not a fecond intercourfe of the fexes be fuccefsful, when the female circulating

mafs was not

fully

and influence of prior

pre-occupied by the influence of the

infe6lion, or

firfl?

But the extent

impregnation of the blood, has been better ob-

Women,

ferved in the venereal than in any other difeafe, or natural occurrence.

whofe general fyftem

is

dation

may

take place

by the

vitiated

ception; or if the vitiation

fyphilitic virus, are

always incapable of con-

not complete, but in a flight degree, an imperfe61: fecun-

is

but

produ6l determines the want of energy, and the

its

unqualified ftate of the mother from whence

it

drew

its

principal arrangement.

Thefe ideas are corroborated by the mode of cure adopted

we have been defer ibing, and by the general effe6ts of it.

Thus we have endeavoured, and we hope with fuccefs,
ftrong

power of abforption

in the genital

to eftablifli the truth of si

fyftem of the female, originating in the

vagina; and a difpofition in the whole mafs of blood, to be

the properties of what

may be

in the circumftances

mingled with

And

it.

as,

from the prefent

mode than

anatomical knowledge, we have no right to fufpedt any other

forption, by

with any

which the unreje6ied and

effe6l,

of the femen can in any

finer parts

be determined towards the ovaria,

afeertained by what we may fuppofe to be the

according to

affiedted

let us fee

effe6t

how

this

ftate

this of
fliape,

of

ab-

and

can be farther

of the abforbed femen, and-the

future appearances of impregnation.

In
time.

human creatures the

From the moment

pulfe from the femen,

the completion of
ried, that

its

till

evolution of
in

the period of puberty

figure

and

our idea of the germ

of the infant again

is loft

all their

parts

is

gradual, and the

work of

which the ovarian nucleus receives the vivifying im-

its

is

powers;

its

from the dawn of its

exiftence,i to

alterations are fo many, and fo va-

not recognifable in that of the infant, and our idea

in that of the

perfect animal.

gelatinous particle,

and
and texture, becomes a ftupendous
ingenuity
elaborate, though at the fame time perfe6l and complete, that human
and
g

w'ithout neceflary form

fabric, fo intricate

AND THE OCCULT

and reafon have

toiled almoft fruitlefsly for

SCIENCES.

thoufands of years in inveftigating the

progrefs. It has indeed been averred by fome, that

animal in

its

complete

ftate are original

unfolded and rendered more evident by

The animal

is

and

the different organs of the

all

This furely

increafe.

its

and perfected as they become

ufeful in the different flages

at firft perfect,

Why

is

flexible?

As we

and the evolution of

life,

or exceffive pre-

why

upon them not perfeCt alfo?

is

the temper of youth capri-

are of opinion then, that the different organs are matured only as they be-

and neceffary, confequently, we believe the evolution of the gene-

requifite

muft be among the

laft efforts

of the increafe and com-

This evolution could not have taken place earlier

pletion of the body.

mind

are only evolved

and why are the temper and paffions of the adult but barely

rative organs in both fexes

the

not the cafe.

and can, from

If the different organs, or rather principles, are

are thofe effeCts which depend

the ftate of infancy a ftate of idiotifm?

and

cious

why

difcernible in the preceding flages

come

of them can be prevented without the deflruCtion of

judice to thofe already evolved.

is

itfelf;

The parts

inorganized parts, produce an organized flru6lure.

many

embryo, and are only

diftin6l in the

endowed with power of completing

certainly

501

had,

if it

muft have been affeCled by thofe impulfes which annourice the maturation

of thefe organs, by which

we know

the mind, body, and foul, are connected.

In

the male, the foundation and powers of maturation, of that flrength, and of thofe

more

rational qualities

which belong to him, are

laid to ripen

communication with the female, before thefe are

proves

inefficient,

and

hence

arranged and fecured;

upon hirii debility both of body and mind. The fame

fame ends are concerned, with refpeCt to the female; and

entails

thing holds, as far as the

we cannot fuppofe

finally

with puberty

Nature could be fo

that

idly eccentric, as to punifli the female

with a difpofition or propenfity to procreate, before the body

was capable of under-

going the various diforders and dangers of pregnancy and parturition. For the fame

commu-

reafons, none of the ordinary organs of fenfe are qualified to receive or

nicate diftinCt impreffions,

till

the brain, the feat of the foul, as the heart

has acquired thofe properties which muft

when

juft, that

though

culty,
;

it

for its

arduous

offices.

the different organs of fenfe have been completely evolved, and

found and

it

fit

it

the

feems

for the extenfion of

power of the mind

efferitially different

common

fenfe,

is

effeCtuated

from Reafon,

and
is

their

It

of
is

ail their

life^

only
parts

eftabliilied.

This fa-

no doubt the

origin of

from memory, or rather from comparifon,

and what may be called the balance of the fenfes, conftitutes what
and Judgment.

is

is

called

While the organs are incomplete, from infancy or from

communication with the underftanding

is

alfo incomplete.

Reafon
difeafe,

Thofe who have

been born blind, or whofe eyes have been deftroyed in infancy before they were

No.

20.

become

A KEY TO PHYSIC

303

have none of thofe ideas which depend upon the eye

fame with the deaf, and in all cafes of ideas depending upon one fenfe

become

may

ufeful,

add, the early caftrated have no comprehenfion

Do not

tification of love.

thefe things

fhow

of,

or propenfity

that the mind acquires

only as the mind

is

body are unfolded, and confirmed

qualified to receive

its

the

and we
the gra-

to,

and a thoufand other circumftances

might be adduced to ftrengthen the proof

as the parts of the

it is

that the

powers only

its

body

is

perfedled

impreffions; and that the parts of the

body are perfedted by one another ?

During infancy and youth, ftridlly, the ovaria are fimple inorganic malTes, partaking of no more life than is barely fufficient to fuftain them, and connedt them
with that energy and progrefs of conftitution which are afterwards to unfold all their

At

properties.

thus denominated from the change which

the period of puberty,

takes place in the genital fyftem at this time of

of the ovaria

is

finiflied

within them, which will

life,

this progrefs

and developement

by Nature; and thofe bodies are generated and completed

exifl;

without impregnation by the male, but which

this

impregnation alone can finally maturate and evolve. That thefe bodies are not generated at an earlier date.

Anatomy

on the foregoing

as well as Reafon, founded

arguments, allure us ; and, that the ova of

all

the foetufes, which the female

this

change

in the ovaria is the

goes a very material change.

moft

The

elfential, the

is

af-

Though

terwards to produce, are generated at that time, feems equally certain.

whole genital fyftem alfo under-

fimple alterations of ftrudlure and dimenfionsin

the different parts of this fyftem, though they are neceffary and fubfervient to gene-

and parturition, yet they are not fo material, either

ration

purpofe, as to require a minute defcription.

refpedl to the menfes.

It is

This, however,

is

fame manner

accumulated

be

fufficient to

determined

is

as the other fluids are determined to other

inconvenient and difgufting. Nature has prepared, as

What may

not the cafe with

provided by Nature; which

would be exceedingly

outlets; but, as the continued drilling off of this extra blood

ception.

is

our

chiefly with a view to the nutrition of the foetus that

the extra-fanguification in the female

to the genital fyftem, in the

in themfelves, or to

it

were, a ciftern for

bring on the haemorrhage, however,

its
is

re-

only

and the general redundancy, induced by the obftrudlion and accu-

mulation, fubfides gradually as the haemorrhage goes on.

This

is

menftruation in the unimpregnated female, and thefe are the reafons

the

manner of

why

it

affumes

a periodical form. In the impregnated female again, the preparation of extra blood
ftill

continues, but

uterus,

it is

confumption becomes very

different.

By the

and by the wafte occafioned by the nourifliment of the

cra, the

as

its

furcharge or extra-preparation of blood

is

extenfion of the

foetus

and

nearly balanced, or

prepared ; and hence the periodical efforts are almoft

loft.

In the

its

is

involu-

taken up

firft

months
of


AND THE OCCULT
of pregnancy, however, the uterine fyftem

is

SCIENCES.

303

not always able to confume the fur-

charge of blood, and thereby take off the periodical effort ; and hence
lofs of the foetus

happens moft generally

months, and at the ufual period

in the early

And

of the menfes, unlefs fome accident has fupervened.

fame reafons

that mifcarriage

fo often to be

is

pregnancy, and that the foetus

the uterus and foetus

it,

become

plethoric

confuming
nor wafle,
ing in

all

foetus is

in the latter

months, for the blood which the mother

arifes that plethora, both in

is

mother and

neither

is

room

conftantly pour-

is

which

child,

is

to infti-

to fupply the extended circulation of the born child.

But, befides the utility of menftruation to the foetus^ there

nedlion between

it

and impregnation.

To

fpeak of

qualifications of the female, is to fay nothing;

conception.

In the human female,

it is

well

its

it

it is

known

no modern and groundlefs obfbrvation

is

a very evident con-

as a proof of the ripened

immediate action
that coition

Who

cefsful immediately after this evacuation has fubfided.

and

capable of

is

which occafions the effufion after parturition, and

gate the effort to parturition,

which

but there

becomes

life

During the middle

in a ftate of rapid growth, and

the blood which the mother can furnifh

and hence

the

a general accumulation

fucceeds; and the periodical efforts of the menfes return.

months of pregnancy the

When

womb.

and when a change of circulation and mode of

uterus can confer,

months of

in the latter

and flrength which the capacity and powers of the

foetus has acquired all that bulk

neceffary to

apprehended

nearly from the

it is

afterwards expelled from the

is

that the

it is

is

elfential to

is

almofi; only fuc-

will reconcile this

confequence which has

to the

been afcribed to turgidity and tenfion, which we have already adverted to? Almoft
every

woman who

has frequently undergone pregnancy, and

who has attended

judicioufly to the phaenomena of that fituation, calculates from the laft ceffation

At

of the menfes.

this time, or

raiher very foon after

it,

the plethoric tumult

of the general fyftem has completely fubfided, and the abforbed femen gets
quiet and unanticipated poffeflion of the circulating blood

the gradually-returning plethora promotes

to the ovaria.

When

cefsful

and,

is

and

it

its

and

this

ception.

its

in the

its

fame time

determination

form of milk, coition

determination to the urine fyftem

things being favourable, copulation

and prevent

and perhaps

at the

admits not of a doubt, that, when the determi-

towards the mammae,

as foon as

that continuing to

action,

and

the menfes are interrupted, or profufe and frequent, impreg-

nation feldom takes place

nation of this blood

its

fucceeds.

We

give fuck after the ufual period

may add
will

determination, in the form of blood,

practice has often

Sometimes there

is

been had recourfe

to,

in

to

is

is

unfuc-

reftored, other

as a

known

fact,

occupy the plethora,

the uterine

fyftem

order to prevent con-

reafon to believe that conception has taken place

6

while

A KEY TO PHYSIC

304

while the pletfipric determination to thebreafts continued. I

believe, th^t in fuch cafes

its

am rather

difpofed to

return to the uterine fyftem had re-commenced

about the fame time the milk generally lofes

for

alimentary qualities, and gradually

its

dwindles away.

But we have faid enough

and fubftantiate thofe parts of the female

to defcribe

We

which puberty has prepared for generation.

male.

It

need not be repeated, that the feminal

and adtive

Its effedls, after

fluid.

flrate its activity

and

influence, far

continually going on

fluid is

What

and

lofes

its

irritable,

it,

becomes ungratefully

the body, and forgetting

tindlly

new

propenfities

harfti

all its

and

to

be

during even indifferent health,

are reforbed and

lefs decent,

or faturated with

The

flefh

itfelf,

it,

and

produces very

from be-

fkin,

firm; the body in general

to take place.

fibre, lofing its

and the mind

it

in its refervoirs, A'hich are not

become coarfe and

and a new exiftence feems

of the tenfion and rigidity of the mufcular

ties,

an exceedingly penetrating

it

curious and remarkable effects over the whole body.

fucculency

on the

actually reforbed about the period of pu-

is

berty, before the fyftem has been habituated to

ing tender, delicate,

its effects

it,

thrown out by venereal exercife, or by other means

mingled with the general mafs.

conlider

beyond the precindls wherein we believe

and thofe colledtions of

now

generated, even upon the male, demon-

is

it

After puberty, the fecretion of

accumulated.
is

lhall

The

voice, a

proof

tendernefs and inequali-

adluated by the progrefs of

former inclinations and attachments, acquires dif-

Thefe changes are not

paflions.

ordiparily-progreflive age and ftrength

neither are they

entirely the effedl of

promoted by intercourfe

with the world; for caftration will anticipate them, and premature venery, or even

gradual familiarity, and early onanifm, will diminifh them.

fqbjedled

tion

never acquire either that ftrength of body or capacity of

caftration

to

mind which

dignifies the

complete male

and the fame cruel and unnatural opera-

muft

it

their bodily ftrength, their courage,^

their temper.

If fuch are the effedls of

erful

performed on brute animals, diminiflies

and the fiercenefs of

Boys who have been

tlje

feminal fluid when reforbed by the male,

be when fuddenly mingled, and moft probably

with the circulating fluids of the attracting female!

tion of the feminal fluid of the

in

Coition, or rather the abforp-

male by the female, even when not fuceeded by im-

The

pregnation, induces an alteration very general over the female fyftem.

influence of which

may

be inferred from the general change which

inducing during complete health; from the relief which

cies of difeafe

it

it is

effeCtuates in

local

capable of

many

fpe-

and from the general vivacity and cheerfulnefs dilFufed over the

w'hole animal frame. It

thefe, opinions

how pow-

greater quantity,

would be prolix

yet, in the

eye of

to

common

go over every difeafe which

will

warrant

obfervation, the fallow and inanimate

feraale,^

;;

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

becomes plump and

female, by coition, often

wmman

while the widow, or married

305

and beautiful and a6live

robuft,

deprived of commerce with her hufband,

gradually returns to the imperfedlions and peculiarities of fingle

ancient virgin,

all

her

deprived of this animating effluvium,

life

with infirmity, ill-temper, or difeafe.

tion at the time of life

It is well

when Nature feems

females; and that the ufe of

it

removes

known,

to require

thefe,

is

generally confumed

want of

too, that the

and even other

coi-

many

diforders in

difeafes.

Chlorofis,

induces

it,

and that the

life;

or the whites, almofl always attack females immediately after puberty; and, even

when

the violence of

fymptoms have not been difcerned

its

When

origin can always be traced back to that time.

pletely evolved, and all

its

the

parts have acquired their full

duced between the circulating and

a later period,

till

human

folid fyftems; though,

It is only

complete

in

her

when

is

com-

is

pro-

from the ideas we have

fuggefted concerning the inenfes, this balance in the female cannot

complete.

fytlem

growth, a balance

its

in perfect health,

and

ftridlly

be called

an impregna-

in

ted ftate; at other times, the catamenia, as preponderating againft the powers of

the folid fyftem, in proportion to the degree of their period, difturb the equilibrium,

and thereby more or

induce a ftate inconfiftent wdth perfedi health. But, when

lefs

the propelling power of growth has ceafed before the folids, either from actual difeafe, or

want of uniformity in either period, or acceffion wdth refpedl

to the progrefs

of the circulating fyftera, have acquired their proper vigour and tone
the catamenia has affumed

its

well as local energy which

requifite to expel

on

the blood lofes

difeafe,

it is

and when

accompanied by the general as

an univerfal want of balance comes

it,

ftimulating influence

its

their turn, a6l feebly

is

deftination before

on the

on the diftempered blood.

and

vitiated folids,

thefe, in

Accordingly, in the cure of this

no matter whether adopted from particular theories or from experience,

medicines are diredted to reftore vigour to the

Nature proceeds

to the circulating mafs.

folids,

in the

and confidence and flimulus

fame manner

and the beneficial

effeds of coition in the cure of this difeafe have been too material to efcape obfervation.

It

may be

alleged, that thefe effe^ls

and that even voluptuous

cbnfequence

in the cure.

We fliall
is

entirely

chiefly

owing to the increafed

to the blood

becaufe

lar explanations
c

No.

20.

all

not.

and

paflion, is of
it

intelline motion,

by the abforbed femen, where-

by the folids themfelves are ultimately reftored; and

by impregnation or

local influence

not fay that thefe things are unavailing; for

and confequent flimulus, communicated

this opinion,

upon

by quieting the turbulence of

gratification,

appears that the relief obtained

depend

we

are the

more confirmed

in

thefe fortunate effebts attend, whether coition be fucceeded

Hyflerics,

and other

difeafes,

would

furnifli us

with fimi

fimilar cures,

4 I

Let

A KEY TO PHYSIC

306
Let ns now advance a
ever manner the femen

little

a6ts

nearer our obje6l. It

upon the female,

ing the geneVal aflertions of

many

this faCt

coition

may

We dare

not iinniediatelydifengaged.

be,

not

nor ever can with the fmalleft probability of

but the diffeCtion of brutes, by the moft eminent anatomifts, with adireCt

view to the elucidation of

this faCt, afcertains

alteration in the uterus

change was perceivable

during the

firft

as far as fuch evidence can be ad-

it

In the diffeClion of fmall animals by

mitted.

what-

from obfervations made on the human fubjeCt, becaufe fuch obfer-

vations never have been attempted,

fuccefs

is

that, in

does not a6l fuddenly, notwithftand-

However productive

authors.

the fecundated produCt of the ovaria

avouch

it

beyond a doubt,

is

De

Graff, he found no difcernible

forty hours after coition,

but a gradual

and what he fuppofed the ripened origin of

in the ovaria;

the future animal, at the end of that time, lofing

tranfparency,

its

become opaque

and ruddy. After that time, the fimbrice were found clofely applied

to the ovaria;

whence the ova imd been exprelfed were difcernible; and about

the cavities from

In large animals, and in thofe

the third day the ova were difcovered in the uterus.

whofe time of uterine

geftation

was longer,

it

was found that the progrefs w'hich we

have been defcribing was proportionably flower. The fame experiments have been

made by

different anatomifls,

they have not always been

of them more or

lefs

and perhaps with very

different views; and,

managed with the fame judgment and

confirm the idea that there

is

dexterity, yet all

a very confiderable lapfe of

time intervening between produclive copulation and theexpulfion of the

the ovaria. But,

which, like
are

fliort,

if this

human

and

their progrefs in equal periods of

it

ovum from

be the cafe with animals which foon arrive at puberty, and

creatures, copulate not perfeClly before puberty,

by parity of reafon,

though

muff happen, thatin

whofe

lives

time morefapid than thofe in man,

women the period betw^een

impregnation

and the txpulfion of the fecundated produCt of the ovaria muff be confiderably
greater than what has been obferved to take place in thefe animals.

true

how are we

lieve

it is

to

fuppofe Nature

to

be employed during

If

this interval

all this
?

We

is

be-

during this period that the whole female confiitution is labouring under the

fecundating influence of the feminal fluid taken into the blood by the ahforbenis

while the ovaria are largely participating, and their product ripening, by means of
the general ftimulating procefs.

And

lends to facilitate

The

its

exclufion.

the

fame procefs which maturates

ovaria, as well as their product,

the

ovum

are at this

time enlarged, and other changes, fubjeft to the examination of our fenfes, induced.

It

is

no proof againft the

reality of this general alteration in the circumftances

of the circulating fyftem, and confequent revolution in the ovaria, that the whole
accompliflied with but

little vifible

is

difturbance, either local or.univerfal. In other

cafes

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES,

307

cafes of material alteration in the mafs of blood, equal quietnefs and obfcurity pre-

In fcrophulous or fcorbutic taints ; in the inoculated finall-pox, or \vhen they

vail.

are produeed by contagion; the poifon filently and flowly diffufes itfelf throughout

the whole mafs, and a highly-morbid ftate

is

poifon intimately mixes itfelf with

a6live and infjnuating

Thus, an

imperceptibly induced.

the containing, per-

all

haps, as well as contained, parts, perverts their natures, and

is

ready to

fall

and deftroy the very powers of life, before one fymptorn of its adtion or of
ence h as been difeerned.

markable

in the

It is the

fame

in a confirmed lues, and

hydrophobia derived from the

of a

bite

it is

mad dog

round of contagious difeafes have the fame unalarming, yet

upon"

its influ-

even more re-

and the whole

progrefs and

certain,

termination.

That the
larly,

and

final influence

of this elaborate procefs fliould be determined particu-

at all times, to the ovaria,

no Avay marvellous.

is

for this, they are fupplied with a congeries of blood-velTels

larger and

more numerous than what

Were

tude.

is

allotted to

To

qualify the ovaria

and nerves,

at

puberty

any other part of fimilar magni-

the ovaria merely a receptacle for the ova, which the venereal orgafm

communicated by the nerves, or by the impulfion of the applied femen, was

to la-

cerate; what ufe would there be for fo intricate and extenfive an arrangement of
blood-veffels and nerves

human

in the

But we may

farther remark, that every difUndl prmtefs

body, either during health ordifeafe, tends to one particular and dif-

The

tin^l purpofe.

kidneys do not fecrete

bile,

nor does the liver

ftrain

off the

ufelefs or hurtful parts of the blood which are deflined to pafs off by the ernulgents

neither do the fall vary and bronchial glands promifeuoufly pour out

mucus

or faliva;

the variolous virus does not produce a morbillous eruption, fyphilitie caries, or

why

fcrophulous ulcer;

mifeuoufly determine

We

bones?

life

lefs degree involve the

it' is

energy to the fkin, the lymphatics, or the fubftance of the

know none of

dinary purpofes of

while

then fliould the fecundated blood unconcernedly and pro-

its

and health, or

for the

all

the

body, deflined for the or-

removal of difeafe, but

machinery of the whole fyflem.

prepared, purified, and applied to

the a6lion of

human

the operations in the

its

in a greater or

A Angle mouthful of food,

ultimate purpofes,

is

fubjedled to

known parts of the body, and without doubt to all thofe parts
we are unacquainted wdth; a draught of cold water fpreads

the properties of which

its

influence almofl inflantaneoufly from one extremity to the other

wound

diflurbs even the remoteft

the moft

unhappy

in torture,

and

all

effefts

parts,

and

followed,

Can we

body

the flighteft

not unfrequently, with

an almoft invifible quantity of poifon

the adlive powers of the

folicit its expulfion.

is

fets the

whole frame

inflin6lively exert themfelves to

diflinguifh thefe things,

and admire them, and then

fuppofe

A KEY TO

3Q

EIIYSIC

fuppofe that the moil material operation of the, human body

fielf

is

to be

accomplihied

nity than a fpittle

ded

we need not

Jt

is

caft

upon the wind? The evident means are

exert our ingenuity to degrade

them

fufficiently degra-

farther.

the ovaria, that likenefs, hereditary difeafes, and the

nicated and acquired.

fuppofed

is

to polTefs over the

upon the ovum,

male and female

form of the

child,

this interval,

It is

male can be communicated

uterus and at the breaft.

It

how

the child

may be urged

during

fluid,

may

this

and,

long after

as the foetus takes

its

nouriflied while

is

againft this early

exclufion from the ovaria

all its

if

be communicated then

and

it is

in the

eflfedtual acquifi-

tion of likenefs, that the foetus does not acquire even the divifion of
till

period only

we admit
we cannot fee how

to the child;

they can be communicated, though thofe of the mother

later period, confidering

with the influence of

according to the influence of the

inftigated a likenefs,

not of this interval and general operation of the feminal

much

commu-

might we not fufpe6t, that the

tin6tures, in the united principles?

that the difeafes of the

or at a

are

like,

Inftead of that influence which the imagination of the mo-

leminal fluid of the male, co-operating, during

the female

bers

it-

a corner, and with infinitely lefs formality and folem-

during this interval, between produdtive coition and the exclufion of the

is

ovum from
ther

in

the renovation of

its

largeft

mem-

but then we are confident, that,

form and other properties from the adlive fubtilty of thefe

we cannot fee any reafon why it fliould not poffefs this hereditary
common with the reft. If likenefs depend upon the imagination of
how happens it that the children of thofe whofe profligate manners ren-

blended tinftures,
faculty,

in

the female,

der the father uncertain, and whofe

aflfedlions

ceafe rvith the inftant of libidinous

gratification, are as frequently diftinguifliable

who have been born under none

ted during this period, and

if

by their likenefs as thofe children

of thefe misfortunes

fingered family, mentioned by Maupertuis, continued

mily married a
family

became

man who had

If the features are not plan-

imagination be not idle or ufelefs,

?

When

how was

the fix-

a female of that fa-

only the ufual number of fingers, the deformity of her

uncertain, or ceafed

and we muft fuppofe her imagination could

not have been inadlive or diminiftied, whether alarmed by the fear of continuing a

deformed
rity.

race,

Were

or inftigated by the vanity of tranfmitting a remarkable peculia-

imagination, in a pregnant

voured to reprefent

it,

woman,

fo powerful as

many have endea-

the mother, profligate at heart, though not adtually wicked,

would always betray the apoftafy of her

affeftions

and even a virtuous woman

might divulge that fhe had looked with as much eagernefs at a handfome ftranger
as

file

had looked

at the aquiline nofe or other prominent featufe

of her hufband.
But,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

30<)

fome kind of influence

But, admitting that the feminal fluid of every male pofleffes

peculiar to that male, and connected with his form, as well as his conftitution

fame or

the

of

in

fome

manner

fimilar

it

preparation, the ftamina of difeafes,

its

than even the features of individuals

in

contains, notwith flan ding the elahoratenefs

fome of which

dormant

often lie longer

that the ova are as peculiarly conftrudfed,

by the conftitution of the female, as any other parts which depend upon gradual

and

folitary evolution

and

upon each other by the interven-

that thefe, operating

tion of the general fyftem of the female,

may, according to the power or prevalence

of either, affedl^the features and figure of the incipient animal, or rather the inorganized mafs from which the features and figure of the animal are afterwards to be

evolved

admitting

all

more extenfive,

thefe things, will national, or even

corroborate the opinion ?

While men continue

fimilitude

'

in the

fame

climate,

and even

in the

fame

form particularity of features and figure prevails among them,

thofe changes which improve or degrade the mind

but,

little

when they

an uni-

diftri6t,

affe6ted by all

migrate, or

they are corrupted by the migration of others, this national diftindlion in time

though in the
continued.

latter

The

cafe

it

beautiful form

and features of the ancient Greeks are

and by forms of government ultimately

who by chance

fcendants of the few

is loft,

feems to be recoverable, unlefs the caufe of change be

at this

by intercourfe with

difcernible in their defcendants, though they are debafed

gers,

when

affedling their conftitutions

day

ftran-

the de-

or defign have been obliged to fettle anriong the

ugly tribes in the extremities of the North, have, by their intercourfe with thefe
tribes,

and by neceffarily accommodating themfelves

fame modes of

to the

life,

be-

abhors to mingle with a different nation, and though his

Jew himfelf, though he

mode of life is nearly the

fame

any one particular climate

fides other circumftances,

become equally ugly; and

the

in all climates, yet the fettlementof his anceftors in

for

fome

As

equally in point, and lefs liable to queftion,

centuries will very fenfibly impair the chara6teriftic features of his people.

lar obfervations.

may, even without

their very pictures

the following fimi-

Scotchman, an Englifliman, a Frenchman, or a Dutchman,

their peculiarities of drefs,

;

we may mention

be almoft always

diftinguiftied in

the fturdy and generous Briton, notwithftanding the ftiortnefs

of the period, and the uninterrupted intercourfe,

is

traced with uncertainty in the

effeminate and cruel Virginian

in

North America, whofe familes

have continued fince the

modes of
lefs

remarkable

20.

and the Negroes

importation of thefe unhappy creatures, and whofe

of their flavery, are not materially changed, are

for the flat nofe, big lips, ugly legs,

tors were, or than thofe

No.

firft

living, exclufive

who

and long

are diredlly imported from the

much

heels, than their ancef-

fame

original nation.

From

A KEY TO PHYSIC

310

From

thefe obfervations

it

feems allowable to

though climate, manners,

infer, that,

occupation, or imitation, cannot materially affect the form or features of the exifting animal, yet thefe circumftances, becoming the lot of a feries of animals, may,

by inducing a change

in the general

mafs both of the male and female, be the remote

caufe of a change in their produ6l.

After what has been premifed,

in coition,

is

feems rational to conclude, that the

prolific fluid,

neither carried through the Fallopian tubes, nor protruded through

the aperture of
veffels,

it

uterus, to the ovaria; but that

the.

it is

taken up by the abforbent

and conveyed into the fanguiferous fyftem, where indeed every ablive prin-

ciple that can poffibly affe6l the

circulating through the blood,

human

it is

by

conftitution

its

is

alfo conveyed.

That, after

natural impulfe, and the additional

mulus acquired from the mother, forced through the correfponding veffels
ovaria; w'here,
tion,

if it

finds one or

more of the ova

conception takes place accordingly

as the maturated flate of the ovaria might

a ffate

in

fit

fli-

into the

or ripe for impregna-

and either one or more are impregnated,

happen

But

to be.

if

none of the ova or

eggs are in a flate fufficiently mature, or chance to be injured by any offending hu-

mours, by
the

fame

debility, or difeafe, in either of thefe cafes

as

happens

to an addled egg, or to a

impregnation

damaged

is

fruflrated,jufl

grain of corn thrown into

the earth.

On

the other hand,

if

the male organ be deficient in vigour, or the

tive in quantity, confiflency, or adfive

fluid,

and

is

power,

it

then

fails

femen be defec-

of flimulating the female

incapable of influencing impregnation. In order therefore that the a6l

of copulation fliould be produdlive, the male muft unqueflionably convey to the

female an elaborate tindlure, which poffeffes the effence of his whole fyftem, as
well mental as corporeal.

In

this a6l,

the utmoft energy and

mind, of the body, and of the foul, are intimately connedled

their particular influence to the feed

powers of the

and

all

of which every father muft be fenfible,

he recollefts the adlion of the heart, the feat of

life

body andyjoul,

ments

their

this

will not I think

it

conveys with

as

it

were,

principles, of

be doubted in thofe

proper weight; and that

when

of the brain, the feat of the

and of the whole powers of the body, concentrated and impelled,

liquor comprehends theadlive
fyftem. That
through the
foul

genital

contribute

it,

who give the foregoing argumore or lefs, the direCi image

of the parent, I take to be confirmed by the evidence of Scripture; where

we are

told

that one abfolute and unequivocal form

of the Deity.

So

that

was given to man, in the exprefs image

man, thus organized and commiffioned, was doubtlefs to

convey to future generations that divine image or fignature which

cioufly

ftamped upon him. For

God had

gra-

this purpofe the feed of man, or efficient principle

of

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AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

of generation, muft be mingled with the vegetative fluid of the female

up by the abforbent

attracted or taken

veffels

and, being

from the uterine canal, paffes

inJUiCdi-

ately into the circulating fyftem, where, affimilating with the peculiar temperature

of the mother, and acquiring

through

dire<5led

it is

its

new energy from

natural channels to the ovaria, impregnating the germ by

ablive quality, and conveying to

*

difeafes, impurities, or taints,

and

is

it

the peculiarities,

it

its

had derived from the conftitu-

tempers, and difpofitions, of the parents, with the feeds of whatever

tions, forms,

brain

the enlivening quality of the blood,

were lurking

in their blood.

For from the blood and

the male feed primarily elaborated, and into the female mafs

alfimilated, before

is thi
thrown
In the courfe of fix

impregnation can poflibly take place.

days, I conclude the united tinctures to have travelled through the whole circulating fyftem
ther,

and

to have participated of the hereditary forms and peculiarities of the mohave propelled the

to

ed fituation

in the

ovum

or egg from

its

feat in the ovaria to a fufpend-

womb, hanging by a minute thread, that afterwards becomes the

umbilical veffel, or aperture through which nourilhment and

the mother to the child.

The

life is

of conception, which refembles the

firft vilible ftate

lucid appearance of a drop of water, tending to coagulation,

the

firft

annexed Plate, precifely

figure of the

the uterus of a female

At

the time the

firft

of which

corre6lly

in

was extra6led from

it

but at the end of about thirty days,

into the

we may

womb,

it is

partly difcover the

though fmall and imperfedl, being then only about the

T wo little veficles appear in an almoft tranfparent jelly; the fmaller

intended to become the head of the foetus, and the larger one

is

fhown

died on the fixth day after contadl with the male.

lineaments of the foetus,

of a houfe-fiy.

in the ftate

is

ovum, or rudiments of the embryo, defgends

indeed very minute

fize

who

conveyed from

for the trunk; but neither the limbs nor extremities are yet to be feen

is

deftined

the umbilical

cord appears only as a minute thread, and the placenta, which only refembles a
cloud above, has no ramifications, or appearances of blood-veflels.
the

embryo

Towards

is

the end of the fecond month, the foetus

and the features of the face begin

minent

line;

This

ftate

of

exprelfed in the fecond figure of the annexed Plate.

and we are able

the feparation of the

lips.

to be evolved.

is

The nofe appears

to difcover another line

Two

upwards of an inch
under

it,

like

which

is

in length,

a fmall prodeftined for

black points appear in the place of eyes, and two

minute holes mark the formation of the

ears.

At

the fides of the trunk, both above

and below, we fee four minute protuberances, w'hich are the rudiments of the arms
and

legs.

The

No. 3 of the

veins of the placenta are alfo

now

partly, vifible

as

may be

feen in

Plate.

In

A KEY TO PHYSIC
In the third month the

human form may be

of the face can be diftinguidied

haunches and the abdomen

The upper

diftinguiflied.

.re elevated,

veins of the placenta are

umbilical tube.

clearly

is

and the hands and

the parts

all

marked out; the

feet are plainly to

be

extremities are obfenisd to increase fafterthan the lower

ones; and the reparation of the fingers

The

decidedly afcertained;

the lhape of the body

now

may

be perceived before that of the toes.

diftended, and are feen to

This ftate of geftation

is

communicate with the

faithfully delineated

in

No. 4 of

the

annexed Engraving.
In the fourth month the foetus feems to be completed in
four inches in magnitude.

The

fingers

and

toes,

which at

feparated from each other, and the intellines appear, in

volutions, like

little

The

threads.

blood, and the umbilical cord

and

is

about

now

coalefced, are

firft

all their

windings and con-

veins of the placenta begin to be filled with

confiderably enlarged

is

all its parts,

as

may

be feen in the

fifth

in all its parts,

and

figure of the fubjoined Plate.

In the

fifth

month, the bodily conformation being perfected

a complete circulation of the blood induced, the mother quickens.

The

foetus

affumes a more upright figure, which correfponds with the fhape of the uterus.

head

is

found more elevated,

draw'n upwards, with

its

its

arms

eight inches in length, and

lower extremities are more diftended,

refting

upon them.

It

of the mother.

by

this

Its

knees are

now meafures from fevento

is defcribed in the firft figure of the

fecond fubjoined Plate.

Towards the end of the fixth month, the foetus begins to vary its
womb, and will frequently be found to incline either to the right or
It will

its

now

pofition in the
to the left fide

time be increafed to nine or ten inches; and

its

ufual

may be feen in the fecond figure of the fecond annexedPlate.

month the child acquires ftrength and folidity as may be demon-

pofture, after quickening,

In the feventh

ftrated by thofe painful throws and twitchings which

its

mother

now increafed to eleven or twelve inches.

In the eighth month it generally meafures from fourteen

time

and

the ninth month, or towards the end of

to

feels

from time to

it is

twenty-two inches, or more

than the other parts,

brings on what

is

is

when

its full

time,

it is

to fixteen inches

and in

increafed from .eighteen

the head, by becoming fpecifically heavier

gradually impelled downwards, and, falling into the birth,

termed the pains of parturition, or natural labour. For the exa6l

pofition of the child in the

womb

during thefe three

laft

months, as well as the

former, fee the correfponding figures in the two annexed Engravings, the whole of

which were corredtly drawn from

ferent

real foetuffes, extracted

from the wombs of

dif-

women.
2

The

fr.\' /'//t'

f/J/'f'rt.r

./////r

'i

AND THE OCCULT

The nourilhment of the
is

uteri.

The remaining part

rion; within which

is

ovum is covered by

of the

another called

time of

till its

is

next the fundus

membrane called fpongy

never

it is

parts

all its

third,

termed

which the foetus

floats

till

fluid, in

become

though
full;

it

womb

dus only: and, though the capacity of the

flretcbed, for the thicknefs

of

ovum

for, in early geftation,

its fides

do not

the

called

it is

name

takes and retains the

vifible, it

enlarges as the

cho-

which includes a

During the progrefs of impregnation, the uterus

birth.

liderable changes; but,

contents,

derived from the placenta,

is

Before the child acquires a diftindl and regular form,

its birth.

embryo; but from the time

oi foetus

t7'ue chorion,

This contains a liquor, or watery

amnios.

its

foetus during all this time

313

formed out of that part of the ovum which

which

originally

SCIENCES.

fuffers con-

increafes, yet, in regard to

thefe are confined to the fun-

increafes, yet

diminifli

there

much

creafe of the quantity of fluids, and therefore pretty

not mechanically

it is

is

the

a proportional in-

fame thicknefs

re-

The gravid uterus, or pregnant womb,- is of differwomen and muff vary according to the bulk of the foetus and

mains as before impregnation.

ent fizes in different

The

involucra.

and the
fundus

-pofition
is

fituation will alfo vary according to the increafe of its contents,

firft

two or three months the cavity of the

triangular, as before impregnation;

dually acquires a

more rounded form.

upwards, but inclines a

little

but, as the uterus ftretches,

In general the uterus never rifes

obliquely, moff;

commonly

fition is

direfilly

to the right fide;

its

po-

increafe of bulk does not feem to arife merely from diften-

its

but to depend on the fame caufe and increafe as the extenfion of the fkin in a

growing

child.

This

is

proved from fome

late inftances of extra-uterine, foetufes,

where the uterus, though there were no contents, was nearly of the fame
the additional quantity of nouriffiment tranfmitted,,as

ed within

its

cavity.

The internal furface, which

cept where the placenta adheres,

which, after

This

gra-

it

never, however, fo oblique as to prove the foie caufe either of preventing or

retarding delivery
fion,

For the

of the body.

is

the

delivery,,, appears

membrana

is

is

if

the

ovum had been

it

as being

Though

lined with a tender efflorefcence of the uterus,

as if torn,

compofed of an

and

is

thrown off with the cleanfings.

infpiffated coagulable

moment

of conception,

which confiderable changes are occafioned,

in the early

fmooth and even, and

months.

its orifice

20.

it is

For the

very
firft

more

fifth

probability, con-

lymph.
is

gradually diftended, by

difficult to

three

judge of pregnancy

months the os

as frnall as in the virgin ftate.

can be perceived about the fourth or

No.

contain-

decidua of Dr. Hunter; which he defcribes as a lamella from

the uterus, from the

from appearances

from

generally pretty fmooth, ex-

the inner furface of the uterus; though Signor Scarpa, with

fiders

fize,

When

tineas feels

any difference

month, from the defeent of the fundus

through

A KEY TO PHYSIC

514

through the pelvis, the tubercle or proje6ling part of the os tincae

will feeui larger,

and more expanded; but, after this period, it diortens, particularly at its
fore-parts and Tides, and its orifice or labia begin to feparate, fo as to have its coniThe cervix, which in the early months is nearly Ihut,
cal appearance deftroyed.
longer,

now

begins to ftretch and to be diftended to the os tincae;

term of utero-geftation, the

mucus, w'hich

lines

of labour. In the

it

laft

rine orifice begins to

mouth of

and the

cervix,

the uterus

and begins

cemented wdth a ropy

to be difcharged

week, when the cervix uteri

form an

ftrongly

is

but during the whole

is

elliptical tube, inftead

appearance of a ring on a large globe; and often at

on the approach

completely diftended, the uteof a

fiflure,

or to afl'ume the

this time, efpecially in

pendu-

lous bellies, difappears entirely, fo as to be out of the reach of the finger in touching.

Hence

the os uteri

not in the direction of the axis of the womb, as has ge-

is

nerally been fuppofed.

About
to rife

the fourth, or between the fourth and

above the pubes, or brim of the

one-third.

In the

fifth

month the

pelvis,

fifth,

and

month, the fundus uteri begins

its

cervix to be diftended nearly

belly fwells like a ball, with the fkin tenfe, the

fundus about half way between the pubes and navel, and the neck one-half diftended. After the fixth

month the

greateft part of the cervix uteri dilates, fo as to

In the feventh month the fundus advances as

aimoft one cavity with the fundus.

far as the umbilicus.

biculus cordis

and

In the eighth

reaches mid-way between the navel and fcro-

tineas,

ftrifture

on that part which

is

dages of the uterus fuffer very

which diminilh

in

is,

neck then being

become the weakeft part of the

at full time the uterus occupies all the umbilical

fliape is aimoft pyriform, that

lata,

it

in the ninth to the fcrobiculus itfelf, the

ly diftended, which, with the os

Thus

make

entire-

uterus.

and hypogaftric regions;

its

more rounded above than below, and having a

furrounded by the brim of the pelvis.

little

The appen-

change during pregnancy, except the ligamenta

breadth as the uterus enlarges, and at

full

time are aimoft

entirely obliterated.

The

various difeafes incident to the uterine fyftem, and other morbid affedtions of

the abdominal vifeera, in

weak and

fickly females, will frequently excite the

toms, and alfume the appearance, of real pregnancy.

Complaints arifing from a

fimple obftruftion are fometimes miftaken for thofe of breeding;

about the region of the uterus

more bulky, the fymptoms

it

is

alfo formed,

fymp-

when a tumor

and gradually becomes more and

occafions are fo ftrongly marked, and the refemblance

to pregnancy fo very ftriking, that the ignorant patient

is

often deceived, and even

the experienced phyfician impofed on.

Scirrhous,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

315

Scirrhous, polypous, or farcomatous, tumours,, in or about the uterus or pelvis;

dropfy or ventofity of the uterus or tubes; fteatoina or dropfy of the ovaria, and

common

ventral conception; are the

of thefe cafes the menfes difappear; naufea, retchings, and other

enfue;

ing,
in

flatus in the

bowels

many

caufes of fuch fallacious appearances. In

will

fymptoms of breed-

be miftaken for the motion of the child

and,

the advanced ftages of the difeafe, the preflfure of the fwelling on the adja-

cent parts. Tumefaction and hardnefs of the breafts fuperyene, and fometimes a
vifcid or ferous fluid diftils

the

woman

at

aft

in

her opinion,

from the nipple; circumflances that ftrongly confirm

till

convince her of her

time, or the dreadful confequences that often enfue,

fatal miftake.

Other kinds of fpurious

gravidity, lefs hazardous in their nature than

any of the

names oifalfe conceptions and moles

preceding, are

commonly kno^vn by

mer of thefe

nothing more than the diflblution of the fostus in the early months; the

placenta
in

is

is

the

afterwards retained in the

confequence of difeafe,

is

mains longer, and comes off

having any cavity

womb,

and, from the addition of coagula, or

excluded in an indurate or enlarged

in the

in the centre, it

form of a

the for-

flefliy

is diftinguiftied

ftate

when

it

re-

or fcirrhous-like mafs, without

by theliame of mole.

Mere coa-

gula of blood, retained in the uterus after delivery, or after immoderate floodings
at

any period of

compaCl form,

and fqueezed, by the preffure of the

life,

uterus, into a fibrous or

conftitute another fpecies of mole, that more frequently occurs than

any of the former.

Thefe, though they

may affume

the appearances of gravidity,

are generally, however, expelled fpontaneoufly, and are feldom followed with dan-

gerous confequences.

But, w'hen two or

more of the ova defcend

into the uterus,

attach themfelves fo near one another as to adhere in whole or in part, fo as to form

only one body, with membranes and water in

fed irregular mafs, which
fective in its organic parts,

from another ovum.

entirely

common,

this

body

will

form a confu-

; and thus a monfter may be either deor be fupplied with a fupernumerary fet of parts derived

is

called a monjier

This proceeds from a defeCt or accident

beyond the power of medicine

in nature,

which

it is

to reCtify or prevent.

would feem, however, from a due contemplation of the foregoing faCts, from
the frame and ftruCture of females, and from the ultimate end and purpofe of their
It

conformation, thatalmoft every malady reful ting from a ftate of pregnancy, except

may be in a great meafure prevented or removed. The natural

temperature of women differs in a very confiderable degree from that of men, inafmuch as their blood and Juices are determined to an oppofite and diftinCl purpofe
the laft-mentioned,

and hence
fice

it is

that obftruCtions of the menfes, their excefs, or privation of the of-

intended them, conftitute thofe peculiar maladies which

w^e

term Difeafes of Women.

316

A KEY TO PHYSIC

men.

The

natural temperature of the male,

is

hot and dry; that of the female, cold

and moi/t. The action of the procreative tin6ture of man

ing and quickening faculty; that of the
tative quality-

man

fo

As

woman

is

is

lunar,

solar,
i.

i,

of the heat-

e.

of a cool and vege-

e.

the fun heats, and gives prolilic energy to the fruits of the earth,

fecundates and gives

life

to the prolific tin<5lure of the

woman.

Thus

the

male, as the microcofrn, or epitome of the celeftial fyftem, poffelfes an inherent

fi-

militude with the fun, which vivifies and quickens; and thus the female, polfeffing

an inherent fimilitude with the moon, vegetates and brings forth the

womb, and

fource likewife
the

womb

her

not only feels the influence and fympathy of that luminary in her month-

difcharges, but in

ly

fruit of

we

all

the travail and vicifTitudes of pregnancy.

and the male foetus

will

for, if the

be generated

overcomes the rnafculine heat

the

and decide the quelHon, Whether the

trace the caufe,

be male or female?

To

male feed be predominant, heat

but, if

fruit

of

abound,

the cooling moifture of the w'oman

male feed, a female

in the

will

fame

is

then produced.

The

old and exploded notion of this caufe depending on the childs falling to the right
or left fide of the mother,

is

too abfurd to weigh a

moment on

the

mind of any

reafonable enquirer.

We
is

difcover likewife that the mule, being conflituted of the folar temperature,

naturally fubje6ted to thofe infirmities of body and mind which refult from the

elements of

fire

and

air;

while thofe of the female are of lunar tendency, arifing

from the elements of rvater and earth.

part

is

Of thefe

four elements our grofs or material

formed, and by their due and proper commixture in the conftitution, or

circulating mafs, are

life

and health

eftabliflied

whilft,

on the contrary, by their

difcordant, defective, or predominant, power, difeafe and death are produced.

the male

abounding

in heat,

diforders incident to
the

woman

man

and the female

in moifture, is the

are alleviated by conta6l with the

reafon

wmman,

are by contaft with the man. In the grand fcale of Nature,

Now

why many
as thofe of

wm

find the

meridian heat and fcorching rays of the fun are qualified and corre6ted by the cooling moifture and mild influence of the midnight

moon

but,

when

either of thefe

are obftru6led in their effedf, by the intervention of accidental caufes, by ftorms,

by tempefts, or unfeafonable

we then endeavour to reprefs by art the evil

Juft fo in the human economy, the grand
enfue.

blafts,

confequences that are likely to

purpofe and defign of medicine

is

to

corre6land modify the difcordant elements

in

the conftitution, and give that vigour and tone to the vital powers, which conftitute
the genuine principles of health and

From what has been

fuggefted

life.

we might fafely

infer, that the conftitution

and tem-

perature of the female require a medicine of an oppofite aftion and tendency to

that

AND THE OCCULT

that adapted to the male,
nial to the intentions of

Nature, calculated to purge the uterus, to purify the femito 'the catamenia;

becomes

dull

which,

and ftagnant, and

whence thofe diforders, peculiarly incident

mafs';

517

and which ought to be compounded of elements conge-

and give ftimulus

nal fluid,

fundlions of nature,

SCIENCES.

if

not put in motion by the

vitiates the

to the

whole circulating

moft amiable, as being the

moft virtuous, of women, are confeffedly derived; and for the cure and prevention
of which, a peculiar and diftindt remedy has long been wanting.

Thefe, and other confiderations, influenced by the known power of fecond

and

caufes,

me

their faculty of adting

upon the mechanifm of the human frame, induced

two fiibtile Tindtures, conftituted of a

to attempt the chemical preparation of

co-mixture of the pureft elements of which our blood

is

compofed, and adapted to

the particular temperature and conftitutions of the oppofite fexes.

for the ufe of

Man

Solar TinctRE,

I call the

That adapted

nal funftions and vital principles of his conftitution.

Lunar Tincture,

call the

getative fluidsj

That intended

as being congenial to the femito

Woman

as being calculated to adirupon the menftrualand ve-

and as being compounded of thofe elements which make up the

The

frame and temperature of her body.

invention of thefe Tindlures hath been

the refult of a long and laborious application to the ftudy of unveiled Nature
the properties of

getable

life,

form the
lating

and

air,

fire,

in the compofition of

Pabulum

of

and water, in the propagation of animal and ve-

earth,

medicine; in which, though thefe elements'

of the univerfe, yet the art of collecting, uniting, and affimi-

them with the

vital fluids,

feems to be unknown among modern chemifls,

The

and has efcaped the obfervation of medical fcience.

power and

tures at once eftabliflies their

efficacy

beyond

fixidity of thefe

all

Tinc-

others; for they

cam

never be affedled by change of weather or climate, nor by heat or cold; nor wilL
they fuffer any diminution of their ftrength or virtue by remaining open, or un-

corked; a circumftance which cannot be affirmed of any other fluid at prefent-

known, throughout the world.

now proceed

I fhall
tulions

and as

this

to fliow the

medicine

is

addon of the

Lunar Tindlure on

only intended to

cularly relate to pregnancy, and the menftrual difcharge, I

other maladies, until I

come

to treat of the

fliall

Solar Tindlure;

that are alike

common

habit, therefore,

all

conftiparti-

omit to notice any

w'hich,

tially diredled to give tune and vigour to the conftitution of the male,

equally efficacioua to the female in removing

Female

remedy fuch complaints as

though effen-

is

neverthelefs

diforders of the blood and lymph,

to valetudinarians of both fexes.

comes under our prefent enquiry,

till

No complaint in the female

at or

near the age of puberty.

down in
for the ma-

Until this important period of the fex arrives, the Rules heretofore laid
the Medical Part of

No. 21,

my new

edition of Culpepers Family Phyfician,

nagementt

A KEY TO PHYSIC

318

nagement and future health of young

in their bodily ftrength

defign,

deferve a very clofe and ferious atten

evident diftin6lion between the male and female in their Urufture and

The

tion.

ladies,

and vigour, and

in the procreative fluids,

demands

the utmoft attention from themfelves, and the tendereft care from the phyfician.

Nor

can we too often or too earneftly caution parents and guardians againft the

evils of that abfurd though fafliionable ftyle of bringing up young ladies, by confin-

ing them almoft entirely to their apartments, keeping them on poor low diet, and

means

ufing artificial

make them

to

fpare and delicate, w'hich contributes more to

their prejudice than all the incidental difeafes to

Thefe refinements
(which

which they are otherwife fubje6t.

female education, befides deflroying their ruddy complexion,

often the defign of

is

weakens

in

their minds,

it,

relaxes their folids, impoverifhes their blood,

and diforders

the functions of their body, whereby they

all

are often rendered incapable of conception, and denied the felicity of becoming

On

mothers.
all that

the contrary,

it

ought to be the ftudy, as

have girls under their care, to indulge them

in every a6tive exercife, that can give

all

freedom

in

and eafy difcharge of the menflrual

and that
is it

it is

the duty, of

to the limbs, or agility to the

fpirits,

to

body;

promote digef-

flux.

univerfally admitted, that this flux

and fupport the

is

blood and juices, and, at the proper age, to bring on a free

tion, to flimulate their

it is

certainly

every innocent diverfion, and

of which have a natural tendency to exhilarate their

Though

it

foetus,

and that without

it

human

is

abfolutely.neceflary to nourifh

generation cannot be carried on;

confequently and obvioufly peculiar to the female uterine fyflem; yet

curious to obferve the various abfurd and con tradidlory opinions fome phyfi-

cians have laboured to eftablifli, merely, one would fuppofe, to bewilder the underftanding,

and fubjeft delicate females

flill

treatment, in which their health, their

more to that erroneous or mifguided

and every earthly bleffing, are too

life,

frequently involved.

Dr. Bohn, and Dr. Freind,

of the

common mafs

infift

that this flux

is

nothing more than a plenitude

of blood, which nature throws off only for relief againfl the

too abundant quantity.

Dr. Freind fuppofes, that

this plenitude arifes

from a coa-

cervation in the blood-veflels of a fuperfluity of aliment, which, bethinks, remains

over and above what

plethora,

is

expended by the ordinary ways; and that women have this

and not men, becaufe

pecially the extremities of them,

more
that

inaftive than that of

women do

parts,

till

force their

more humid, and their velTels, efand their manner of living generally

their bodies are

more

men; and

tender,

that thefe things, concurring, are the occafion

not perfpire fufficiently to carry off the fuperfluous alimentary

they are accumulated in fuch quantities as to diflend the veffels, and

way through thecapillary

arteries of the uterus.

It is

fuppofedto happen

AND THE OCCULT

pen

to

women more

SCIENCES.

S19

than to the females of other fpecies, which have the fame

parts, becaufe of the ere6l pofture of the former,

and the vagina and other canals

being perpendicular to the horizon; fo that the prelTure of the blood

wards

their orifices

preffure

is

whereas

is

in brutes they are parallel to the horizon,

wholly on the fides of thofe

The

veffels.

the veffels; the arteries being very numerous,

and therefore more apt

to retard the

and the

difcharge, he thinks, happens

than in any other, as being more favoured by the

in this part rather

directed to-

ftru(5ture of

and the veins finuous and winding,

impetus of the blood; and confequently, in a

plethoric cafe, to occafion the rupture of the extremities of the veffels, which
laft,

till,

by a

fufficient difcharge, the veffels are

he adds the confideration of the

foft

may

To this

eafed of their overload.

pulpous texture of the uterus, and the vaft

number of veins and arteries with which

Hence

it is filled.

a healthy maid, being

arrived at her growth, begins to prepare

more nutriment than

fupport of the body; which, as there

not to be any farther accretion, muff of

neceffity

fill

and efpecially thofe of the uterus and

the veffels,

Thefe

the leaft compreffed.

will

lateral vafcules evacuating their

filled

Hence a

and extended.

is

humour

into the cavity of the uterus,

pain, heat,

as to emit blood in the cavity of the uterus,

and

will be lefs preffed,

blood, and

let

breafts, they being

be dilated more than the others; whence, the

and heavinefs,

loins, pubes, &c. and the veffels of the uterus, at the

loofened, and blood iffue out.

required for the

is

As

and

mouth

its

the quantity of blood

is

will contra6t themfelves clofer,

pafs the groffer part of the ferum

till

be

will

fame time,
will

felt

will

it

will

be

about the

be fo dilated

be lubricated and

diminillied, the veffels

fo as again to retain the

at length only the ufual

ferum

Again, there are more humours prepared, which are more eafily lodged

paffes.

in veffels

once dilated; and hence the menfes go and return at various periods in

various perfons.

This hypothefis
is

is

judicioufly oppofed by Dr. Drake,

no fuch plenitude, or at

that, if the

menfes were owing

arife gradually,

plethora,

leaft that

felt

is

who

maintains, that there

not neceffary to menftruation; arguing,

fymptoms would
neceffary fymptoms of a

to a plethora fo accumulated, the

and the heavinefs,

would be

it

ftiffnefs,

and

ina6tivity,

long before the periods were completed, and

women would

begin to be heavy and indifpofed foon after evacuation, and the fymptoms would
increafe daily; which

is

contrary to

all

experience,

many

w^omen,

who have them

regularly and eafily, having no warning, nor any other rule to prevent an indecent
fuiprife, than the

meafure of the time;

put to confufion and

would

give.

He

fliifts

no ways

in which,

fome

that have flipped have been

confiftent with the notice a plethoric

adds, that even in thofe

who

body

are difficultly purged this way, the

fymptoms, though very vexatious and tedious, do not make fuch regular approaches

A KEY TO PHYSIC

320

If we confider what vio

proaches as a gradual accumulation neceffarily requires.
lent fyrnptoins come on in an hour, we diall be extremely puzzled to find the-

mighty acceffion of matter, which

great alterations.

than the

firll;

According

lliould,

to the

in

an hour or a days time, make fuch

hypothecs, the

laft

'

hour contributed no more

fliould not be greater in the

and of confequence, the alteration

one

than in the other, fetting afide the bare eruption.

There are others who give

into the dodlrine of fermentation,

and maintain the

evacuation in thcfe parts to be an effedl of an effervefcence or ebullition of the

This opinion has been maintained by Dr. Charleton, and by Bale,

blood.

Graaf, and Drake, the two

which produces

firft

and

this flux,

of

whom

De

fuppofe a ferment peculiar to women,,

aftedls that part only,

or at leaft princip'ally.

Dr.

Graaf, lefs particular in his notion, only fuppofes an effervefcence of the blood,
raifed by

fome ferment, without

affigning

turgefcence of the blood occafioned them

till

how

it

or w hat

a61s,

all to think, that it

The fudden

it is.

arofefrom fomething

then extraneous to the blood; and led them to the parts principally affedled to

feek for an imaginary ferment, which no anatomical enquiry could ever fliow, or
find

any receptacle

nor any reafoning neceffarily

for,

infer.

Again, that heat which

frequently accompanies this turgefcence, led them to think the cafe

was fome extraordinary

plethora, and that there

Dr. Drake contends, that

it is

inteftine

more than a

motion at that time.

not only necelfary there fhould be a ferment, Jbut a

receptacle alfo for this ferment; concluding, from the fuddennefs and violence of
the fymptoms, that a great quantity muft be conveyed into the blood in a ffiort time,

and confequently that it

wdffleit

was lodged,

its

muff;

have been ready gathered

was

adlion

reffrained.

He

in

fome receptacle, w here,

pretends to afeertain the place

both of the one and the other, making the gall-bladder to be the receptacle, and the

The liquor he thinks well adapted to raife a fermentation in the

when difcharged into it in quantity; and, as it is contained in a receptacle

bile the ferment.

blood,

that does not admit of a continual iflue,

it

may be

period of time the bladder becoming turgid and

the incumbent vifcera,

it

atingitfelf into the blood,

of the uterine arteries.

there referved,

full,

till

in a certain

through the compreflion of

emits the gall; which, by the way of the ladfeals inffnu-

may

To

raife that effervefcence

confirm

this,

which occafions the aperture

he alleges, that perfons of a bilious con-

have the rnenfes either more plentifully, or more frequently, than others
and that diffempers manifeffly bilious are attended with fymptoms refemblingthofe
ftitution

of w omen labouring under

ted,

that

difficult

menffruation.

men would have the rnenfes as well

men do not abound in bile fo much

more open, and carrying

off

But,

if this

argument be admit-

To this however he anfwers,

women, the pores of the former being

as w'omen.
as

more of the ferous part of

the blood, which

is

the

vehicle

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

521

vehicle of all the other humours,

charged through them than in

and confequently a greater part of each is difwomen, wherein the fuperfluity muft either continue

to circulate with the blood, or be gathered into proper receptacles, which

cafe in the
brutes

The fame reafon he

bile.

gives

the pores of thefe being manifeftly

why

is

the

menftruation Ihould not be in

more open than thofe of women, as

appears from the quantity of hair which they bear, for the vegetation whereof a
large cavity, and a wider aperture of the glands,

thing

produced

is

among

yet there

&c. though not fo

out dwelling on
to every perfon

is

fome

fome of the

thefe,

latter

is

neceffary, than

difference between the males

where no fuch

and females even

having their menfes, fuch as the orang outang,^

nor in the fame form and quantity, as women.

often,

But with-

thefe abftraft reafonings, the abfurdity of which will be obvious

who

turns to the foregoing fyftem of

human

impregnation,

only remark, that there are two critical periods in every womans
deflroy their hypothefis. Thefe are,

life,

we need

that completely

that at the age of fourteen or

begin to flow; but fubfide at the age of forty or

fifty.

At

fifteen, the menfes

commencement, we

their

generally find the difficulty, and confequent difeafe, arife from their deficiency;

whereas, according to the foregoing do6lrine, they would then alvmys flow with

At

the greatefl freedom.

abundance as

in fuch

frequently deftroys,

the period w'hen they fliould ceafe, they are apt to

to bring

life

were the above arguments

come

on a flooding, which not only endangers, but too

fatal

confequence that could not pofiibly happen,

true.

Of FEMININE, or LUNAR, DISEASES,

THAT the vegetative or procreative faculties of women are univerfally governed

by the lunations of the moon,
given in

my Illustration

the catamenia, if

it

own experience, as well as the demonftrations

Astrology, indifputably prove. The firftfliow of

their

of

be natural, invariably comes with the new or

fometimes, though very feldom, at the commencement of her

and

this effort

lity,

and of complete puberty.

late,

of nature

is

firft

full

moon; or

or laft quarters;

juflly confidered as the fure fign of a procreating abi-

Whenever

this

feafon arrives, whether early or

the conftitution of every female undergoes a confiderable change, and the

greatefl care

and attention are then neceffary,

nefs of every

woman

fince the future health

and happi-

depends, in a great meafure, upon her conduct at this period.

and of thofe who are intruded with the education of

girls, to inflrudl them early in the condudl and management of themfelves at this
critical moment.
Falfe modefty, inattention, and ignorance of what is beneficial
It

is

the duty of mothers,

* See

this curious fubjeft,

concerning the orang.outang, and other animals refembling the

fpecies, treated at large, both hiftorically

tory, vol.

No.

ii.

21.

and philofophically, in

my new

human

Syftem of Natural Hif-

8vo.

4N

Qf

A KEY TO PHYSIC

322

or hurtful at this time, are the fources of many difeafes and misfortunes, which a

very

attention might

little

quent returns of

Nor

is

care lefs neceffary in the fubfe-

Taking improper

this difeharge.

food, violent agitations of the

for ever after incapable of procreation.

In order to efcape the

women

at that period

inadlivity,

The

prevent.

or catching cold, is often fufficient to ruin the health, or to render the fe-

mind,

male

now

chlorofis,

The

proach

eruption

is

let

to exercife in the

them avoid indolence and

open air as much as

poffible.

feldom fo inftantaneous as to furprife them un-

is

fymptoms

generally preceded by

that indicate

its

laffitude,

tenance, and fometimes a flight degree of fever.

When

every thing Ihould be carefully avoided which

means ufed

water, drinking

to

warm

promote

it

may

palenefsof the coun-

fymptoms

thefe

occur,

obflru6t the difeharge, and all

as

warm

as fitting frequently over the fleam of

diluting liquors, &c.

When

the menfes have begun to flow,

great care Ihould be taken to avoid every thing that tends to obflrudlthem
fifli,

ap-

fuch as a fenfs of heat, weight, and dull pain, in the loins; diftention and

hardnefs of the breads, hcad-ach, lofs of appetite,

gentle

young

fimilar difeafes incident to

when the menfes commence,

and accuftom themfelves

difeharge in the beginning

awares.

and other

and all kinds of food that are hard of digeflion, and cold acid

liquors.

fuch

Damps

are likcwife hurtful at this period; as alfo anger, fear, grief, and other affe6lions

of the mind.

From whatever

caufe

this flux

is

obflrudled, except in the date of

pregnancy, proper means diould beindantly ufed to redore it; and if exercife in
a dry, open, and rather cool, air, wholefome diet, generous liquors in a weak and
languid date of the body, cheerful company, and amufernent,

be had

to medicine.

let the patient take

warm

In

all

fuch cafes, blood-letting

from 20

to

fail,

mud be carefully avoided;

30 drops of the Lunar Tindlure,

water, or penny-royal tea, every

mud

recourfe

in

but

a wine-glafs of

morning before breakfad, every day at

noon, and every night before going to bed, until the intention be anfwered, which
will ufually take place in three or four days, without the

medicine whatever.

But

mendrual difeharge, on
confequence of which
petite impaired,

to enfue.

is,

it

fometimes happens in relaxed conditutions, that the

its flrd

appearance,

that the patient

is

and over-abundant; the

vitiated,

becomes weak, the colour pale, the ap-

and the digedion languid, fo that dropfy or confumption

is

likely

Effedlually to prevent thefe, let the patient be kept two or three days

in bed, with her

head low, and obferve a dender

and her drink red-port negu~.

let

afddance of any other

diet,

principally of white meats,

Every night and morning,

for ten or twelve days,

her take one table-fpoonful of the Solar Tindlure, diluted in double the quantity

of deco6lion of nettle-roots, or of the greater comfrey

and

after the flux has

abated.

AND THE OCCULT

abtited,
ful

SCIENCES.

and her health andftrength feem to return,

let

S23

her only take a table-fpoon-

of the Solar Tin6ture every other day at noon, in a glafsof cold fpring-water

which wonderfully contributes

.

reftoreadue confiftency

to

promotes digeftion, and invigorates the

muft difcontinue the Solar Tindlure

turns, fhe

ance of irregularity or obftrudtion,

or three days, from

20

to

let

to the circulating mafs^

Before the cuftomary period re-

fpirits.

and,

if

there be the leaft appear-

her again take night and morning, for two

30 drops of the

Lunar Tincture,

in

a glafs of penny-

royal tea, and fhe wall quickly find a regular habit, and her health amazingly efla-

In obftinate or negledted cafes, Avhere the menfes have feceded, and,

blifhed.

after an irregular appearance,

have turned wholly into the habit, both thefe Tinc-

tures fhould be ufed with a lefs fparing hand, particularly under oircumflancos in

any refpedl

fimilar to the following remarkable

CASE.
Being called

to the affiflance of

formed her menfes had made an

ing

firft

a young lady of

fifteen years

of age, I was in-

irregular appearance about five or fix times,

with the full and then with the

new moon, and afterwards

com-

at the diflance

of two or three months apart, until they totally difappeared, and turned back upon
the habit.

No

was taken,

notice

until the patient

ing at the nofe, attended with fever, and epileptic

of an eminent phyfician for feveral months,

every cuftomary application, to

who

In

After being under the care

fits.

directed venefedtion, and almoft

no kind of purpofe, the diforder fixed

forming a large tumour, the acrimony of which

into ftrong convulfions.

was feized with a violent bleed-

this

fell

upon her

extremity I was fent

for.

lungs,

in her neck>

and threw her

Perceiving the whole

fyftem deranged by fpafmodic affedlions, and a locked jaw almoft finally completed,

my firft

obje6t was to relieve the vital organs, by giving force and elafticity to the

circulating mafs.

With

this view, I

with difficulty forced open the mouth, and ad-

miniftered one table- fpoonful of the Solar Tindture undiluted

an hour, to the aftonifhment of her

convulfive

fymptom

die away,

friends, I

and within half

bad the pleafure of feeing every

and of hearing the

patients voice, of

been totally deprived for upwards of a week before.

Two

hours

which fhe had

after,

another

fpoonful of the Solar Tindlure was taken with additional fuccefs; and the patient
afterwards continued this medicine in the quantity of a table-fpoonful, in a wdneglafs of

warm

water, three times a-da}% for fix days, at the expiration of which time

her appetite and ftrength were furprifingly returned; and fhe was then put under

a regular courfe of the Lunar Tindlure.

royal tea were taken every night

the morning following,

it

Twenty drops

and morning

in a wine- glafs of

for thirteen fuccelfive days,

pennyr

and on

being the full moon, with which her menfes originally came,
fhe

A KEY TO PHYSIC

324

fhe had the confolation to find that every obfti udion was removed, and that the

due courfe

ot nature

was completely

The

r e-e (la bl Hired.

glandular fwellings gra-

dually fubfided, her natural complexion quickly returned, and the

blooming

in

health,

now continues

perfectly regular, fiee from all obftru6lions, and from every

confequent complaint, thankiul tor the bleffings of her recovery, and dcfirous of
communicating the means to any unfortunate female under fimilar atflidion; and
to

whom

reference

may

any time be had, by application to the author.

at

CHLOROSIS, or GREEN-SICKNESS; by fome called the Love-Fkvek.

THIS difeafe ufually attacks virgins a little after the time of puberty, and firtl
tliows itfelf by

tom

is,

fymptoms of

that the appetite

is

dyfpepjia, or

entirely vitiated,

But a diftinguifhing fymp-

and the patient

very greedily; while at the fame time there

afhes, fait, &c.

appetence to proper food, but

it

ginning of the difeafe, the urine

pale,

bad digeftion.

will
is

the eyes are funk, and have

is

pale,

alivid circle

filled;

not only a total in-

it

round them; the

becomes

the

mind

free

flighteft caufes;

and fometimes the patient loves

is

livid or

yellow;

is little fliort

of a fever,

the feet are frequently cold, fwell at night, and

from agitation as well as the body

There

melancholy.

In the be-

lips lofe their fine red co-

the whole body feems covered with a foft fwelling; the breathing
is

chalk,

and afterwards turbid; the face becomes

quick, weak, and low, though the heat

but the veins are fcarcely

is

even excite naufea and vomiting.

and then alfumes a greenifh colour; fometimes

lour; the pulfe

will eat lime,

it

becomes

folitude,

is difficult:

irritated

nor

by the

and becomes fad and

a retention of the menfes throughout the whole courfe of

the diforder; which eventually fixes on the vital organs, and death enfues.

The above complaint

nature at

man fabric.

ftifling

or juvenile fpring of

this vernal feafon,

of God, increafe and

filled

indifputably arifes from

multiply,''''

Every tube and

life,

or fupprefTing the calls of

when the primary command

moft fenfibly impreffed upon the whole hu-

is

veffel appertaining to the genital fyftem,

now

wdth fperrnatic or procreative liquor, excites in the female a powerful, yet per-

haps involuntary,

irritation

of the parts, which ftronglyfolicits themeans of difeharg-

ing their load, that can only be done by venereal embraces.

Thefe, from prudential

reafons, being often neceflarily denied, the prolific tinctures feize

and

being

vifcera,

velfels,

pen back and

whereby the venal,

vitiate the
arterial,

upon the ftornach

catamenia, choke and clog the perfpirative

and nervous,

fluids,

become

ftagnant; and a leu-

cophlegmatia, or w hite flabby dropfical tumour, pervades the whole body, and quickly devotes the

unhappy patient

to the

arms of death.

are thoufands of the moft delicate and lovely

Thus, I

women plunged

am

forry to remark,

into eternity, in the

very

AND THE OCCULT' SCIENCES.

very bloffom of

promifed

fruit

life,

when female

excellence

of parents and guardians,

is

who have daughters

and where no very grofs objedlion can

but budding forth, big with the

How much

of delicioufnefs and joy 1

325

then does

it

become the duty

or wards in fituations like thefe,

arife, to fuffer

them to marry with the men

they love, or otherwife to provide fuitable matches for them; fince this willeffedi
the moft rational and moil natural cure, by removing the caufe of the complaint
altogether.

however, matrimony be not then convenient, nor likely in a

If,

fliort

time to take place, recourfe muft forthwith be had to proper regimen, and medical
aid,

regimen

is

laid

down

in the

medical part of

my

The

bell

method of

edition of Culpeper,

page 217

otherwife delirium or confumption will quickly enfue.

which, if well obferved, in addition to the following courfe, will generally perform

Take leaves of mugwort, briony, and penny-royal, of each a handful; infufe them four days in two quarts of foft water, and then pour off the clear liquor
for ufe. Take a gill-glafs three parts full, with thirty drops of the Lunar Tindture
added to it, three times a-day, viz. morning, noon, and night, till the decodtion be
Then reduce the dofe to twenty drops of the Tindture in a wlne-glafs of
all ufed.
a cure.

cold fpring-water morning and evening, for fifteen days; after which

it

may be

taken only once a-day, or every other day, until the patient find herfelf free from,

every fymptom of the difeafe.

known,;

it

For

this malady,,

it

is

the only fpecific hitherto

unclogs the fpermatic tubes; purges and cools the uterus and vagina;

promotes the menftrual difcharge, cleanfes the urinary palfages,

diffolves vifcid

humours

and invigorates

in the blood, fiiarpens the appetite, ftimulates the nerves,

in all flages of chlovofis are fo apt to

the fpirits, which

diforder

is

not very obftihate, nor far advanced,,

Lunar Tindture,

thirty drops of the

or forty days fucceffively, and

paring the decodlion.

it

be depreffed.

let the patient

When

this

take from twenty to

in a wine-glafs of cold fpring-water, for thirty

will

In this malady,

perform a cure without the trouble of preI

have lately had the happinefs of complet-

ing an elegant cure, which I mention here, merely for the information of fuch unfortunate maids as

The

following

is

may be

literal

languifhing under the fame deplorable circumftances.,.

flatement of the

A young lady,
years.

E,

turned of feventeen, .had been

afflidted

with cUoroJis almofl three

In the early part of the malady, fhe conceived an unconquerable appetite

for wood-cinders, concreted mortar, tobacco-pipes, fealing-wax, &c..

appeared at different intervals of the difeafe, but always

lefs in a vitiated ftate.

totally ceafed; but,

No. 21.

About half a

year,

preceding

my

irregularly,

The courfes
and more or

attendance, this flux had

upon the approach of every new moon, with which hermenfes

originally

A KEY TO PHYSIC
Ihe was affli6led with pains in the back and loins, heavinefs and

originally came,

and other cuflomary fymptoms of the ca-

turgidity about the region of the womb,

tamenia; yet not the fmalleft diow could be brought to appear.

this,

young man

the ladys alfedlions had been placed on a

was by no means on a fcale adapted

but whofe lituation

in life

father and family.

The moment

before

little

in the neighbourhood;
to the views of her

therefore this attachment was difcovered, the

lady was confined to her apartment, and not fuffered to take either exercife or

but when

frefli air,

it

fuited for forne trufty attendant to

accompany her. This con-

finement brought on a fettled melancholy, a green fallow complexion, dejected

fpirits,

The morbid

univerfal laffitude, and wafting of the fiefh.

ftate

having thus undermined her confiitution, without attradling either her

fathers obfervation, the diforder fell

upon the

progrefs, that within twenty-four hours

vital organs,

was

file

of her body

own

and with fo rapid a

feized with an ardent fever, at-

tended with lofs of appetite, delirium, and a total privation of fpeech.

fiiocking ftate,
bility;

fiie

had the alternate advice of three phyficians of the

this

refpedla*

firft

a confultation was had, and the miferable

was conftgned to the grave.

Under

thefe deplorable circumftances,

it

was

my

The addon of the

pulfe had nearly fubftded.

upon a

lotto be called in; and,

clofe examination of the patient, fcarcely any vifible figns of

life

Thd

remained,

heart and lungs could fcarcely be

dift-

The

eyes were funk and fixed; yet retained an uncommon look of exprefand fentiment. At this time fiie had a large blifter round her neck, another on

cerned.
fion

In

but the diforder increafing, and putting on the moft dangerous fymptoms,

after having baffled their utmoft fkill,

patient

or her

the pit of herftomach; a third, very large, between her fiioulders; a fourth on the

head; a

fifth

and

ftxth inftde the ankles

and

legs.

Venefeddon had been fo often

repeated, that fcarcely blood enough remained to fupport the heat and addon of

In

the heart.

this

exhaufted

ftate,

only adminiftered three table-fpoonfuls of

the Solar Tindlure, undiluted, at intervals of

the fpace of four hours

after, I

had the

little

more than an hour

of the blood reftored; pulfation gradually refumed

lated; refpiration

became

free;

and

apart;

heart-felt fatisfaddon of feeing the

its

adlion, the lungs

in

energy

were

di-

and a profufe fweat, which the Tindlure induced,

fortunately opened the perfpiratory veftels; and the patient began to give evident
figns of eafe

quantities

and

and

fenfibility.

Warm

was enabled

to

nourifiiing food

remove the

without pain or torture to the languid patient.

was afterwards taken

blifters,

The

and perform the

Solar Tindlure v-as

in fmall

dreffings,

now admi-

niftered every day for ten days, in the quantity of a table-fpoonful in a wine-glafs

of

warm

barley-water, three times in the day, and once in the night, whenever

watchfulnefs

came on. About the middle of the feventh

day, Ihe began to articulate,

though

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

though not a word had been uttered for upwards of

327

weeks before; and on the

lix

tenth day, her voice and bodily fun6lions were fo far reftored, that I
fafe to give her

an interval of fix days

happinefs to find

without any medicine whatever.

it

had the

expeftations completely anfwered ; for nature, affifted by nou-

my

rilhing food, effected

twenty days

reft,

deemed

more than a profufion of drugs

my patient was

fo that in

able to walk about her room, and

courfe of the Lunar Tin^ure.

by occafional but very

This

flie

little

more than

to put herfelf under a

perfifted in, with nourilliing diet,

feconded

month longer when

gentle airings in the carriage, for near a

on the approach of the enfuing new moon, to the unfpeakable joy

the menftrual flux refumed its natural courfe: the comfort and relief of which
of her friends,

werefovifible to the patient, that

Cn

ftie in

This lady has ever fince continued to improve

end.

furprifing a degree, that looking back on her

or

to the

all

fri^ds of

in health

and

fpirits in fo

miferable and reduced ftate of

l(.te

body, forms a contraft fo great as almoft to exceed

thy parent are at

My fuffermgs are at

ecftacy exclaimed,

belief.

Yet the lady and her w or-

times ready to authenticate the faftto any reputable enquirer,

?iny unfortunate

female labouring under a fimilar

afflidlion.

Or THE FLUOR ALBUS, or WHITES.

THE fluor albus,

cafe of the

womb

female weaknefs, or whites, as

and

its

commonly

called, is adif-

contiguous parts; from which a pale-^coloured greeniftl

Or yellow

fluid is difcharged,

digeftion,

and a wan

difcharge, chiefly

it is

attended with lofs of ftrength, pain in the loins, bad

fickly afpe6l.

The

depend upon the time of

quantity, colour,
its

and

confiftence, of the

duration, the patients habit of body,

and the nature of the caufe by which it was produced. Weakly women of lax folids,
who have had many children, and have long laboured under ill health, are of all the
inoft fubjeft to this difagreeable difeafe; from which they unfortunately fuffer more
fevere penance than others, as the niceft fenfations are often conne<fted with fuch a

delicacy of bodily frame as fubje6ls them to

in a

ing

manner peculiar to the

air

place,

it.

it is

very frequent, and

fituation; the furround-

being fo overcharged with moifture, as to relax the body, ftop perfpiration,

and throw

it

upon the bowels or womb; producing

in the laft the fluor albus or female w'eaknefs.

the

In Holland

from thedampnefs of its

veffels fubfervient to menftruation;

veffels are

in the

firft

The difcharge

a diarrhoea or flux,,
often proceeds from

becaufe in delicate habits, where thofe

weak, and confequently remain too long uncontra6led, the fluor albus

fometimes immediately follows the raenfes, and goes off by degrees as they gradually
clofe.

It alfo

comes from the mucous glands of the womb,

in very young females of eight or ten years old ; in

as

is

particularly evident

whom, though very

rarely,

it

has

A KEY TO PHYSIC

328

has been obferved. and where

muft then neceffarily have efcaped from Ihofe

it

parts, as the uterine vcffels are not fnfficiently enlarged for its paffage at fo early

a period.

Sometimes, as

womb, and

not from the

in

women

womb

with child,

itfelf;

which, during pregnancy,

up, fo that nothing can pafs from thence

of thofe inftruments called

peifaries,

ere alfo apt to bring on this difcharge.

from the pain and

The

prefence of the fluor

albus, which

fence of that .which

is

natural

as

but

is

is

The fluor

ped.

may
may be

be deemed

it

albus

faid,

this

difcharge appears about the

ftridtly natural,

womb

only

afiedted, in

is

firfl;

thence
lief,

is

to

be ftop-

The firfl arifes from a

which may either be general^

enervated and unftrung; or partial, where the

confequence of hard labour, frequent mifcarriages, a

cafe, the difcharge, being generally mild,

the fecond,

like thofe

immoderate quantity of the menfes, or a fprain of the back or

fuppreflTion or

In the

and ought not

two kinds!

fimple weaknefs, or the relaxation of the folids;

is

that the

evident trom the return of the menfes after

diftinguillied into

where the whole bodily fyftem

it

fup-

prevails, the laft are generally

age of thirteen or fourteen, and returns once a-month, with fymptoms

of the menfes, then

to

a preternatural evacuation, occafions the ab-

Indeed, when

the fluor albus has been cured.

been fuppofed

might more properly be

it

application

they occafion,

irritation

fiucr albus has

firft

clofely fealed

is

The

the time of labour.

till

ply the want of the menfes; becaufe, where the

either irregular, or totally wanting:

proceeds from the paffage to the

it

may proceed from

a vitiated

may be

eafily taken

oflT.

In

away.

or impure blood, where the body from

loaded with grofs humours, which nature, for her

thus endeavours to carry

loins.

own

In fuch cafes, the difcharge

fecurity and reis

often of a red-

difh colour, like that from old ulcerous fores; being fometimes fo fharp, as to

excoriate the contiguous parts, and occafion a fmarting, and heat of urine.

deep-feated darting pain, with a forcing down, attending fuch a difcharge,

very dangerous and alarming

of the

womb.

tremely

fign,

and indicates an ulceration or cancerous

This malignant ftate of the difeafe,

difficult

In

fliort,

as this

it

were

attentive to their
tlie

flate

ex-

is

to

own

a malady of the moft difagreeable

is

kind, which by long continuance or neglect

fatal,

of long continuance,

of cure; and difpofes the patient to barrennefs, a bearing down,

dropfy, or confumption.

proves

if

is

becomes

difficult

of cure, and often

be wiflied that women, on fuch occafions, would be more

fafety,

by ufingall

poflible means, in

due time,

to prevent

diforder.

As women
their fafety,

are fometimes connected with thofe

it is

who do not confcientioufly regard

a circumftance of the utinoft confequence to

nereal infection from the fluor _^lbus, or ivhites

for, if

the

diftinguifli

firft

frefli

ve-

be miftaken for the

laft,

AND THE OCCULT

and be

laft,

SCIENCES.

either neglected or improperly treated, the word; confequences

arife.

In addition therefore to what I have flated

Part of

my

is

in

page 219 of the Medical

A frefh

malignant and inflammatory; the fluor albus

infedtion, called

mod commonly

would render the

In

tious matter.

more

laft

violent,

gonor-

arifes

relaxation and bodily w'eaknefs; and therefore the remedies proper in the
order,

may

edition of Culpeper, the following figns will ferve to inform the patient

whether there be occafion for her doubts or not.

rhoea,

329

by locking up and confining the

the gonorrhoea, the difcharge chiefly

from

firft

dif-

infec-

proceeds from the parts

contiguous to the uninary palfage, and continues whilft the menfes flow; but in the
fluor albus

fupplied from the cavity of the

it is

menfes are feldom regular.

womb and

its

paflage,

and then the

itching, inflammation,

In the gonorrhoea, an

and heat

of urine, are the forerunners of the difcharge; the orifice of the urinary paflage
prominent, and the patient

is

affefted with a frequent irritation to

make water.

is

In

the fluor albus, pains in the loins, and lofs of ftrength, attend the difcharge; and,
if

any inflammation or heat of urine follow, they happen

after a long continuance of the difcharge, which,

excoriates the furrounding parts.

is

often produced

long-continued
in quantity,

albus,

it is

by

illnefs.

lefs degree,

and only

becoming fharp and acrimonious,

In the gonorrhoea, the difcharge fuddenly ap-

pear? without any evident caufe; but in the fluor albus

and

in

irregularities of the

it

comes on more

flowly,

menfes, frequent afiortion, fprains, or

In the gonorrhoea, the difcharge

is

greenifti or yellow, lei&

and not attended with the fame fymptoms of weaknefs. In the fluor
alfo often of the fame colour, efpecially in bad habits of body, and

more

after long continuance;

but

The

maids of a weakly conftitution, as well as married

whites often

affli6l

ufually

is

oflenfive,

and redundant

in quantity.

women
who

and widow's; and indeed there are few of the fex, efpecially fuch as are fickly,
have not known
foul, or vifcous,

it

more or

lefs.

and reduces a

ceeded by the whites, which,

For whatever difeafe renders the blood poor,

woman

to a languid condition,

when they come

is

commonly

fuc-

manner, continue to weaken

great danger, without fpeedy remedy, of
in this

more and more, and are in

wearing ^way the patient, and making her a miferable vidim to death. Let no
woman, therefore, negledlthis diforder, when flie finds it on her, but endeavour to
The regimen and general management are pointed out
obtain an immediate cure.
the body

in the

Medical Part of the work Juft referred

.medicines,

make a

decodtion of toimentil-root,

leaves ; take a gill-glafs three parts

Lunar Tindlure, which mull be

then take

No,

it

21.

to, p.

full,

and add

220; and, in

biftort,

to

it

thirty or forty drops of the

perfifted in morning, noon,

morning and evening only

for ten days

4 P

lieu of all other

comfrey, and red-rofe

more ;

and

night, for ten days;

after

which difcoptinue
the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

350

the deco6lion, and take the Tincture every morning for a month, twenty drops in a
wine-glafs of cold fpring- water, the difeafe

upon any fymptoins of a return of

M'ill

be found gradually to abate; and,

take from fifteen to twenty drops of the

it,

Tin6lure in a wine-glafs of cold water every morning for a week, and

they

owe

even

their cure,

go

will

number of patients, who are ready

entirely off; as hath been verified in a great

teflify that

it

in the

to

mofl obftinate cafes, entirely to the

Lunar Tin6lure.

Of barrenness, or INFERTILITY,

BARRENNESS

is

fuch a Rate of a womans body, as indifpofes

ufe of the natural means, to conceive and propagate her fpecies.

from many fources, which may be reduced

indifpofition of the parts to receive the

An

ftreaming from

communicated, fo as

it is

proper

male femen

upon the

two general heads:

foetus.

to

Conception

in the aft of cojiulation, or that

Se-

it,

make

is

An

Firft,

which alone can impregnate the ovaria.

inaptitude in the blood to retain and nourifli the vital principle

vital effluvium

condly,

to thefe

it,

This proceeds

it

grow and expand

parts,

its

till it

after

becomes a

alfo hindered by a heftic, hydropic, or feverifh,

by a deficiency or obftruction of the monthly courfes, which impoverifhes the fluids; by the whites, which, continuing too long, relax the glands of
lickly habit;

womb, and drown,

the

as

it

were, the prolific particles;

and too often by a

which utterly deftroys the tone and vigour of the parts; as

the Medical Part of

my Culpeper,

Preparatory to the cure of

particular

fymptom

fliows

vice

fully exemplified in

p. 221.

infertility, it is

them

is

proper to ufe evacuations, unlefs any

to be dangerous.

Bleeding, lenient purgatives,

fuch as the folutive eleftuary, and a gentle vomit of ipecacuanha, efpecially

if the

perfon be plethoric or cacochymic, cannot but be of great fervice; then proceed

with the following firengthening eleftuary:

Take

roots of fatyrion

and eringo can-

one ounce; powders of cinnamon, fweet fennel feeds, and preferved

ginger, of each half an ounce; mace, roots of contrayerva, and Spanifli angelica,
died, of each

of each one dram; troches of vipers,

tinfture of cantbarides, half a

an eleftuary.
about

five

one ounce; juice of kermes,

dram; fyrup of

fix

Let the quantity of a large nutmeg be taken every morning

it

make
early,

oclock every afternoon, and at night going to bed ; and, immediately

after taking the eleftuary, drink a wine-glafs full of the following infufion,

to

drams;

cloves, a fufficient quantity to

from twenty to thirty drops of the Lunar Tinfture,

viz.

adding

Take cinnamon pow-

dered, one ounce; of fweet fennel-feeds bruifed, and lavender-flowers, of each

half an ounce; Spanilh angelica root, ginger, contrayerva, mace, and coehineal,

of

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

of each one dram and a half; canary wine, two quarts

two or three days, and

ten days fucceffively

infufe according to art for

Continue the electuary for

ftrain off the infufion for ufe.

then omit a week, and continue

351

it

for ten

days more; after

which continue the infufion and Tin6lure only, three times a-day, for ten days

more

then take

adding from

it

only twice a-day for a month, or as long as the cafe requires,

ftitution of the patient

may

barrennefs and debility

which
rits,

drops of the Tin^lure to each

fifteen to thirty

will greatly

This courfe

require.

particularly while

warm and

will

be found moft excellent for

and

juices, increafe the

human machine, and

invigorate and revive the whole

by the Lunar Tindlure;

thus affifted

reftify the blood

age or con-

glafs, as the

animal fpi-

not only raife the appe-

venereal embraces, but remove the ufual impediments to fertility; prepare

tite to

womb

and the ova for impregnation. TheTindure

warms, comforts, and excites, the generative parts to admiration, and feldom fails
the

of curing

lowed

for performing

all

common

its. office,

occafions of barrennefs in a

as a proof of

which

month or

weeks,

fix

if

duly

fol-

beg leave to add the pleafing circumliances of the

following fingular

A YOUNG
marriage
tification

LADY

ftate

E.

of rank and fortune, but of a delicate frame, entered into the

about four years ago.

Inftead of deriving from

which gives the honoured name of Mother,

The whole nervous

pale, and melancholy.

tions of the

body were fufpended

ftie

it

became weak, languid,

fyftem was relaxed

oedematous tumours

that blifsful gra-

the natural func-

obftrudled the farrguife-

rous palfages, whence incurable barrennefs and lingering coufumption were the
fad profpedls

left

of her phyfician, when

of the

In

in view.
all

melancholy

hopes were at an end,

Lunar Tincture;

the obftru6led vefiels

this

ftate
flie

of body and mind, by advice

was put under a regular courfe

which, to the aftonifliment of

all,

gradually deterged

propelled the animal juices through the fyftem

ened and braced the nerves

ftrengtb-

induced a regular habitreftored the fparkling eye

and rofy cheek, and gave new vigour

to the animal functions

the

refult of

which

has been, that before the end of the enfuing year, after her health was thus reco-

became the happy mother of a SON and HEIR, to the inexprefan

joy
of
fible
affedlionate hulband and a fympathifing family 1

vered, the lady

INDIS-

A KEY TO PHYSIC

f3

INDISPOSITIONS ATTENDANT ON PREGNANCY.

THOUGH pregnancy

not a difeafe, but rather a natural alteration of the animal oeconomy, which every female is formed to undergo, yet it is attended with a
is

variety of complaints which require great attention; but for the cure or alleviation

of which, medical aid has proved very deficient.

In thefe complaints, however,

the Lunar Tindure exerts moft extraordinary properties, and excels whatever has
been heretofore offered under a medical form.

It is an univerfal purifier of thofe

heterogeneous particles which produce naufea, and arife from the combining ef-

of the mafculine and feminine tindlures; from whence, according to the

groffnefs of the procreative effences at the time of conception, proceed vomiting,
forts

pains in the head and flomach, fainting, &c. occafioned by the jarring elements
arifing

from the difproportion

in the heat

parts of the male and female feed; which

and adlive principle of the conftituent

is

not only attended with great debility

whole nervous fyftem, but often with hereditary difeafes, and dreadful confequences to the infant offspring.
Indeed fo great

anddepreffion to the mother, in her

has been the conflidt of the male and female procreative tindlures for the maftery
or predominant power, while pafling through the circulating mafs or habit of the

mother, that the moft curious and aftonifihing phenomena have, on

been obferved to refult from

fions,

year 1759, a
lours

girl

it.

In a fmall

was born with the hair on her head of two remarkably

equal parts, was almoft black; but the

difli

yellow.

As

that of her father

ftie
;

left fide,

occa-

village in Somerfetftiire, in the

the right fide, from an exa6t parallel line which divided the

many

from the fame

line,

diftindf co-

flcull

into

grew up, the dark hair became of a jet black, exadlly

whilft the other

became of a

two

was of aredlike

ftrong carrotty red, precifely re-

fembling that of her mother; and, after the age of puberty, the hair on the privities,

and under the arm-

fame manner;

that

pits, as

on the right

black; whilft that on the

left

well as on the arms and legs, was diverfified in the

fide,

was

all

way down from head to foot, being

The young woinan lived till the
red.

the

entirely

S8th year of her age, and was reforted to as a great

curiofity.

Another well-known yet remarkable inftance'of this conflidl of the male and female procreative tindlures at the time of impregnation, was the cafe of a man

who

a few years firicekept a public-houfe in Tooley-ftreet, Southwark.

His

fa-

ther was a white man, belonging to one of the Weft-India packets; and his mother

was a negro-girl, whom he had taken a fancy to, and purchafed on the arrival of
one of the Guinea flave-ihips at the ifland of Jamaica. He brought her with him
to

AND THE OCCULT

to

London, and

whole right

was black

ftreet,

of which was white like the father, but the whole of the

As he grew

mothen

like the

up, this vifible diftin6lion

fpend their mite, in order to be

his

left fide

became more

and, during the time he kept the above public-houfe in Tooley-

he was reforted to by an imrnenfe concourfe of people,

whole of

333

courfe of the enfuing year fhew as delivered of a fon, the

in the

fide

marked

flrongly

SCI^1NCES.

interfe<5i:ed

flocked there to

The

a curiofity really exifted.

fatisfied that fo great

body appeared to be

who

by an exa6l parallel

by which

line,

the efforts of conception feem to have united the male and female tinctures in

them

precife equilibrio, without fuffering

ovum from

nating and expelling the

Hence

uterus.

on the right

were black,

ftill

like the

its

fufpended ftate

body, and

in

the

with the arm, thigh, leg, and

privities,

were white; while the correfponding parts on the

left fide

mother, with half the hair on the privities and head black
of a true negro.

like that

more curious and

female procreative
ftreet,

face, neck,

fide,

and woolly, exa611y

the ovaria, to

the hair on the right fide was long and brown, like that of the

and half the

father;
foot,

to intermix in coagula, or in impreg-

fluids,

flriking
is

Goodmans-fields.

example of this aflonifhing

effort in the

male and

Mr. John Clark, of Prefcot-

verified in the cafe of

His father was a native of Africa, w'ho by dint of good

fum of money, and

fortune had amaffed a confiderable

London.

fettled in

He

who had
daughters, who

married a remarkably healthy white woman, a native of Devonfhire,

been fome time

his

fervant.

By

her he had two fons and three

were mulattos, exeept the eldeft fon, w'ho was the

alluded
fair,

to.

had a

From
fine fkin,

the head to the navel,

handfome round

all

firft

round

born, and the perfon here

his body,

he was remarkably

features, light-brown hair,

and fanguine com-

downwards he was completely

plexion, like his mother; but from the navel

with Ihort black woolly hair on the privities, exadlly like the father.
thirty he
fition.

his wife,

afflidled,

time he attempted to leave them

concealment before going to

;

by wearing

to

her doubts.

It

off.

22.

drawers and ftock-

keep off the rheumatifm, with

fleep, that the curiofity

morning, and her hufband

his life, every

happened, however, from fome negledl of

in

of his wife was ftrongly excit-

other refpedfs,

fall afleep, file

it

being quite day-

eagerly proceeded to fatisfy

Gently turning down the bed-clothes, and removing the other impe-

diments in the way of a complete infpedlion,

No.

to

flljk

even to a degree that endangered

and the opportunity proving favourable

light in the

conceal this deformity of colour

flefli-coloured

which he pretended were lined with flannel

which he had been forely

ed

black,

the age of

married a young lady of good family and fortune, but of a delicate difpo-

For near three months he had the addrefs

from the knowledge of

ings,

At

flie

no fooner difcovered the

real
{late

A KEY TO PHYSIC

334
of things, than

ilate

ilie

away

fhrieked out vehemently, and fainted

band, thus fuddenly awakened, beheld his wife

in a

fit,

own

his

immediately arofe, called up the fervan^s, and procured medical

convenient fpeed

all

but in vain

the fudden furprife,

and terror of mind, had fo powerful an

nearly two months gone with child.

me

throw

way

in the

fpeculation,

and

the

for

the circumftances of this

to

efforts

improvement of medical

in the

life

firfi;

had

but,

place, I
failed,

me

have fuffered

lady, in order to extra6t the fcetus

uncommon conformation
this

fcience, to

to

which, under

of the father, might have enabled

very curious fubje6t of occult enquiry, perhaps

have accounted, more obvioufly, for the jarring

and

confli6ts

jftruggling

of the mafculine and feminine tinclures; to which alone we are to look to

for the formation of

hermaphrodites, the produ6Iion of monfters, &c.

Sympathy and antipathy

early flate of pregnancy,

mofi; certainly operate very powerfully

on females

in the

and might, as was then fuggefted, have had a principal

carrying off the above unhappy patient, while no means were ufed to coun-

fiiare in

on the mafs of blood.

tcra6l their influence

and

to the mortification

lady died in convulfions,

two reafons

could have faved the patients

throw a new light on

fo as to

effe6I, that the

He

negle6l.

affiftance with

would have perfuaded Mr, Clark, from motives of philofophical

womb of this unfortunate

open the

me

added

re-

have often lamented that fortune did not

at this critical jun6lure, for

have the vanity to think

in the fecond, I

huf-

and faw with forrow and

which refulted from

gret the confequences of a difcovery

The

marks on the

all

foetus, are

Sudden

frights,

longing and loathing,

obviously derived from this caufe, and can only be

corrected by giving energy and ftimulus to the circulating fyflem, whereby the functions both of

mind and body are ftrengthened, and

j)rote6fed againfi; the

ted by

fudden impreffion of external obje6ls.

many eminent

the

whilft thofe peculiar to the

more advanced

Thus heart-burn and

diarrhoea, tenfion

and pains of the

naufea and head-ach, defire of unnatural food, tremors, and deje6led

fainting

and hyfteric

from the

firfi

fits,

of thefe caufes; while cofiiveness, firangury, cramp, and cholic, ap-

And, though the celebrated Dr.

and others, have fo much differed as

Stahl,

Dr. Cullen,

to the theory of thefe difeafes, yet they all agree

that gentle opiates, aromatic infufions, firengthening bitters,

lated to give energy to the languid fiate of the circulation,

vifeid

fpirits,

premature menftruation, and confequent abortion, proceed

pear to refult from the other.

and

feems to be admit-

of geftation, are produced by the ffretching and preffure of the uterus on

contiguous vifeera.

breaft,

It

and

pradtitioners, that the difeafes incident to a pregnant date in

the early months, arife from fympathy

fiages

the nervous fluid fortified

and medicines calcu-

and to purify the grofs

elements which opprefs the fiomach and vifeera, are the only proper re-

medies

AND THE OCCULT

medies

and

affift

Now

be adminiftered.

to

aftringent virtues in

the

Lunar Tindture

an admirable degree

Homach and bowels

all

and

is

and, being

women

in

335

poffelTes the aromatic

all vifcid

compounded of the moft

humours from the

fubtle and occult ele-

hence produces the moft falutary

it

and

elegantly adapted to invigorate

the adlive faculties of nature, in expelling

ments, which prefervethe vital principle,

on

SCIENCES,

effedls

a ftate of pregnancy, by ftimulating the procreative faculty to the

formation of the

and purifying the procreative

fineft children; corredting

infedlion or difeafe

preventing moles or

conceptions, removing

falfe

all

fluid

from

loathings,

longings, or vomiting, and effedlively preventing abortion, from any caufe whatever.

For

thefe

reafons,

when a woman

Avould do well to take twenty drops of the

promote conception
tion to the

enters into the ftate of matrimony,

fliould then continue

flie

end of the fourth month

then

flie

Lunar Tindlure every other morning,

it

it

may

to

three times a-week, from concep-

be omitted

till

a fortnight before

her time, when the fhould take twenty drops in a wine-glafs of cold fpring-water

every morning

till

her labour, at which time

it

will wonderfully ftrengthen her, affift

her throw's, facilitate the birth, promote the lochia, and carry off the after-pains.

She might take

occafionally during the month, in any

it

hyfterics, diluted in a wine-glafs of warm barley-water,

Women

fymptoms of cold,

fever, or

about the middle of the day.

who are fubjedl to mifcarriages, fliould never

fail to

from the time they have reafon to believe they are pregnant,

take this medicine,

month

until a full

after

may be taken once, twdce, or thrice, a-day, or every other

day, as the urgency of the cafe may require, from twenty to thirty drops, in a glafs
of forge-water, or in foft fpring-w'ater in which common oak-bark has been fteeped;
they have quickened.

and

flie will

effedlually get over all caufes of abortion.

or bad labours,

carriages,

is

occafion

griping,

may

will

find

wonderful

relief

Women

or defedlive, fliould take

require.

The

it

Nurfes,

all

the fluid fecretions promoted in a

in

manner pro-

In cafes where oedematous

and labia are occafioned by the interruption of the refluent

blood from the preffure of the diftended uterus on the vena cava^

whofe

intention wall quickly be experienced, the milk will

be purified and augmented, and

ings

alfo,

it

once or twice a-day, or as often as

du6tive of found health, both to the mother and child.

fw'ellings of the legs

fudden mif-

after

by taking twenty drops of

of warm barley-water, for a w'eek or ten days.

in a wine-glafs

milk

It

nervous fpafms

in

epileptic

fits,

and

in

in violent flood-

obftinate convulfions,

where

the vis vitcB muft be fupporled by replenifliing the veffels wdth the utmoft fpeed

recourfe

fliould

be had to the Solar Tindlure, which

cafes has been found to give immediate relief; and,

if

in the

moft dangerous

duly perfifted

in,

according

to the bill of diredlions, will fcarcely ever fail to effedl a cure.

STATE

A KEY TO PHYSIC

336

STATE

OF

WOMEN

TURN

at the

of LIFE.

THE moft critical and dangerous time of a womans life is that

fes ceafe to flow,

wherein the men-

The

which ufually happens between forty and fifty years of age.

great change that this produces, by fo copious a drain being returned into the habit,

without previous preparation,

more or

when

ly; for,
larly,

lefs fenfible

when

is

this

the foie caufe of its danger.

Every woman

mufl; be

period arrives, and lliould condu6lherfelf according-

the menfes are about to go

off,

they appear for the moft part irregu-

both in time and quantity; once in a fortnight, three,

fometimes very fparingly, and other times

in

immoderate

five,

or

weeks;

fix,

For want only

quantities.

of neceflary care and attention, during the time that the menfes thus give fymptoms

many and

of their departure,

various are the complaints that enfue; amongft which

are cold chills, fucceeded by violent flufliings of the face, and heats of the extre-mities; reftlefs nights, troublefome dreams, and unequal fpirits; imflammations of

the bowels

fpafmodic affedlions

ftiffnefs in

the limbs, fwelled ankles, fore legs, with

But

pains and inflammation; the piles, and other fymptoms of plenitude.

might

eafily be prevented,

tures as occafion

let

make a

it

pour upon them a gal-

has ftood twenty-four hours, pour off the liquor for

Let her take from twenty

to forty

drops of the Lunar Tindlure in a

of the above decodlion, every night and morning for ten days
tinue

it

then

let

gill-glafs

her con-

every morning for ten days more, and afterwards once every two or three

days, or oftener

if

the terms are of an

ill

colour and fcent, until they are correded

This courfe muft be followed every fpring and

fively,

men-

decodtion, by taking gentian-roots, one

fenna and orange-peel, of each half a pound

lon of hot w'ater, and, after

ufe.

her

to fufpedl her

ounces of blood, as her habit

her, let her lofefour, five, or fix,

of body will admit; then

pound

Whenever a woman has reafon

may require.

about to leave

fes are

all this

by attending to a due regimen, and taking thefe Tinc-

by

all

women who

they entirely ceafe

find their

fall,

menfes come

for

a month or

fix

weeks fuccef-

irregularly, or too fparing, until

after vvhichlet the patient put herfelf under a courfe of the Solar

Tin61ure for a month or

fix

weeks, taking one fpoonful in a wine-glafs of

water every night and morning for a week

cold water, for the refidue of the time

warm

then

let it

be taken only once a-day,

and,

if flie

takes occafionally two table-

in

fpoonfuls of the Solar Tindlure, diluted in a tumbler of w'arrn water, as a beverage

after dinner or fupper, inftead of

of great benefit
vifcid

in eftablifliing

wine or brandy and water,

it

will

be produdlive

a healthful ftate of the blood, and carrying off the

humours generally produced by the menftrual

flux returning into the habit.

Should

AND THE OCCULT

Should

and produce a

dantly,
,

at this time happen,

it

had time

let

337

often does, that the terms flow too abun-

it

flooding, ttie patient thull inlniediabeiy lofe fix or eight ounces

of blood, and be kept as

dicine has

which

SCIENCES,

much

as poflible at

reftj

with her head low, until the me-

to take efle6t; let her diet be fpare, but not too lax;

her apply to the following courfe

Take conferve of red

rofes,

and

marmalade of

quinces, juice of kermes, candied nutmegs, fyrup of quinces, and fyrup of coral,

of each half an ounce; aromaticum rofalbum, and aftringent faffron of

each two drams;

oil

if

the receipt be fent

bf a large nutmeg every day at noon for

urgency of the cafe

may

Lunar Tindure

a wine-glafs of

in

fix, eight,

him ;) and take the quantity

or ten, days, or longer, as the

require, drinking immediately after

warm

it

twenty drops of the

water: the flooding, by this means, will

gradually abate, the feverilh fymptoms will go

off,

the back will be ftrengthened,

the womb-veflels cleanfed, and the patient wonderfully reftored.

day, in moft cafes, the ele6tuary might be difcontinued

be taken every morning for a month, from

fliould then

of

of cinnamon, fix drops: mix into an eledtuary, (which might

be made up by any apothecary,

.

iron,

After the tenth

and the Lunar Tinflure

fifteen to

twenty drops, ac-

cording to the conftitution of the patient ; by which time the parts will be braced,
comforted, and coiled up; fo as to fear no danger of a relapfe.
after, let

About a month

her undergo a courfe of the Solar Tincture, for the purpofe of rectifying

and flimulating the mafs of blood

this

fhould be taken for a month ; a table-

fpoonful night and morning in a wine-glafs of cold fpring-water for the

lirft

ten

days; and then once a-day only for the refidue of the time; the good effeCts of

which

be fenfibly and quickly

will

The

felt.

intention of nature in returning this flux back into the habit,

and preferve

life,

not to deftroy

it.

Until the age of puberty,

it is

the infant after

on, the flux

is

to nourtfii

girls require this

blood for the fuftentation and nourifliment of their bodies; when that
eftablilhed,

is

is

fufficiently

applied to the purpofes of nourifliing the foetus, and of fuckling

it is

born.

When

child-bearing ceafes, and the eve of

returned back, to comfort and preferve

it

therefore, if

life

comes

women were

but careful to obferve a regular courfe before this flux returns upon them, by

adopting the methods I have prefcribed, and by taking the medicine fpring and
fall for

perils

two or three years previous

and dangers attendant on

fettled llate of health,

No. 22

to the time, they

this period,

might not only efcape the

but would lay the foupdation of a

and enjoy a found conftitution of body to

extreirie old age.

Of

A KEY TO PHYSIC

^58

Of masculine, or SOLAR, DISEASES.

SOLAR

difeafes are all fuch as proceed

their origin in the

the fountain of

blood and lymph.

life

and heat

from a hot and dry caufe, and

havfe

beams flowing from the fun are

For, as the

to the great world, or univerfal fyftem of nature, fo

the blood, flowing from the heart,

is

the fountain of

and heat

life

And

or univerfal fyftem of the microcofin, or body of man.

to the little world,

again, as the ftream

of rays from the fun regulates the feafons, and produces the variety of climates,
fo the ftream of blood in mans body, as affedled

the form and figure of the whole race of

fies

by the fun, regulates and

human

As

beings.

mates are fubje6l to the external elements, which are

ftill

diverfi-

feafons and

cli-

governed by the fuperior

influence of the fun, fo they are rendered hither mild, healthful, and produdiive, or

and barren. Juft fo the whole circulating mafs is affedled

by change of climates and feafons, and by all the variations and agitations of the
turbulent, peftilential,

elements; and hence difeafes are induced in the blood, and are either

external

mild, ardent, or acute, in proportion as the fanguiferous fluid becomes diftempered

and impaired by the ahlion of the ambient, or contiguous atmofpbere.

perceive the folar influence on the
difeafe is in the blood
tion,

no longer than

for,

human

Thus

we

frame, and difcover that the origin of

this vital

pure and uncontaminated, can animal

ftream

is

kept in due circula-

be fuftained, or the body pre

life

ferved in health and vigour.

From

the exprefs words of Scripture, Levit. xvii. 11, 14. Deut.

xii.

BLOOD

is

warranted to

infer, that

in the

is

the

LIFE

but the living principle of the blood conftitutes the

nion was the celebrated Hervey, as w ell as
phyficians; and the late

We

of thinking.

many

life

and there

ters,

Were

find the blood unites living parts, in

either of

opi-

to be of the

fame way

fome circumftances, as
it

with that of

be confidered as extraneous or dead mat-

they would a6l as 'ftimuli, and no union w'ould take place in the animal or

vegetable kingdoms.
periment.

This argument Mr. Hunter

Having taken

off the tefticle

Many

the belly of a living hen.

eftabliflied

by the following ex-

from a living cock, he introduced

weeks afterwards, upon inje6ling the

come

the hen, he inje6led in the tefticle of the cock likewife, which had

with the

liver,

and adhered

mate connexion between

we

are

of the ancient philofophers and

certainly as the yet-recent juices of the branch of one tree unite

another.

we

Of this

of the body.

Mr. John Hunter declared himfelf

thefe fluids to

23.

not a doubt

are

more accuftoined

to

life

it.

and a

In the nature of things there

folid

to connect

it

than between

life

is

it

of

in contact

not a more

and a fluid.

into

liver

inti-

For, although

with the one than the other, yet the only real
difference

AND THE OCCULT

fhown between a

difference which can be

among

the one are lefs moveable

fame body

often fee the

become

alfo

SCIENCES.
and a

folid

fluid

339
that the particles of

is,

themfelves than thofe of the other.

one cafe and

fluid in

The blood

will

affirms, that, after

am-

folid in another.

Mr. Hunter

vafcular, like other living parts.

we

Befides,

putations, the coagula in the extremities of arteries form velfels, and

may be

inje6led

and he had a preparation by which he could demon-

by injedling thefe

arteries

flrate velfels rifing

from the centre of what had been only a coagulum of blood, and

moft

intenfe.

fame height

human body can

cold which the

bear,

it

in the

thermometer

to the

a llrong proof of the

is

have the power of

for living bodies alone

raifes the

This

as blood taken in the moll fultry heat.

bloods being alive

arm

If blood be taken from the

opening into a llream of circulating blood.

refilling great

de-

grees both of heat and cold, and of maintaining in almoll every lituation, while in
health, that temperature
is likewife

which we dillinguilh by the name of animal heat.

capable of being

fure, as certainly as the cavities

The more

caufe.

alive, that

it is

the fooner on expofure

and

the

is,

more

the

cafe of violentinflammations, the lefs

its

being expofed, and

blood preferves

it

the animal

more

is it

is

in health, itcoagulates

has loll of its living principle, as in the

it

fenfible to the llimulus

We may likewife

coagulates the later.

When

different parts of the body.

life in

it

enfues.

does not mortify.

What

alone can keep

keeps
it

it

alive

tion than that the life

is

this

firll

phenomenon

cafe of a fra(5lured os humeri.

hofpital for a

Ample

He
;

fome places

it

drawn by Mr.

brought into

Georges

St.

and died about a month

Mr. Hunter

This blood

was very much

coagulated blood becomes vafcular

in the fyftem

as, for

He

fo.

arm

injected the

become

w'as

example,

fuppofed, that, in fuch cafes as that juft

its

is

obvious

of aneurifmal facs.

come from

ment

alive; for the fubftance into which veflels flioot

is

for

it is

tf

it

be

mentioned, the veflels are not formed

in the coagulum, but

that the blood

all

becoming vafcular could anfwer

in the cavities

now

vafcular, or

does not maintain that

and indeed the reafon

often thrown out and coagulated in parts where

no end

arm

is

found that the cavity between the extremities of the bones was

death.

up with blood which had coagulated.

in

A man was

the bones had not united,

after

of veflels

inexplicable on any other fuppoli-

Another argument

fra6lure of the os humeri, or

filled

full

is

contained in the blood.

As

power of motion

cafe? nothing but the living principle which

Hunter from a

after the accident.

all

If the artery be cut, the part dies, and mortification

alive in the

and

produced from

obferve, that the

the nerves going to a

part are tied or cut, the part becomes paralytic, and lofes

but

Blood

upon by a llimulus; for it coagulates from expoof the abdomen and thorax inflame from the fame

a<5led

the neighbouring arteries,

it is

equally an argu-

muft be

fo.

The

A KEY TO PHYSIC

340
'i

yhe very

that fuch

idea,

circulates iq

:t

quantity of dead matter as the whole mafs of blood

a,

living body, is qbfolutely abfurd.

^

,,i,Thofe

who have

venturecjl, to

jyitbjt, conflder the brain and,

oppofe

this do6lrine,

and the evidence of Scripture

nervous fyftem as the fountain of

life;

an^

that, fo

from the blood, the nervous fyftem is capable of inftantaneppfly changing the crafis^of the blood, or any other animal fluid; and, though
the neryous fyftem cannot continue its adion for any length of time if the aftion
of^ tl;te blppd-veflels is fufpended, yet the heart and blood-veffels cannot a<^ for a

far

from receiving

moment

Tingle,

they^

it is

properly

The

its life

witl^out the influence of the nervous fluid.

we muft

plain

tl^e life

They

fupporters of this argument, denied.

bipod muft be aqueous,

and

elaftic,

inelaftic,

and ina6tive

is

volatile in the higheft degree.

and

fluid is full

great neceflity for the

body, notwithftanding the preis,

neceflary to be given to the fibres, in order to

fluid

by the

from the

becaufe fomp degree of

fit

them

for the influx of

this tenfion they receive from the repletion of the blood-

follow this opinion through every argument would prove tedious and un-

.neceffary,

as the following fliort obfervations will decide the matter abfolutdy

againft the patrons of the nervous fyftem.

the

The

is,

fluid fecreted

organ.

which are eyery-where difperfed along with the nerves.

veffels,

To

any

whereas the nervous

fence of the nervous fluid in the fame parts, they fay

the nervous

vital,

by means of the brain,

fay, that

circulation of the blppd through all parts of the

tenfion

this reafon, fay

of the animal, and confequently to be the principal

fecretion of the vital fluid from the blood

of vigour,

For

fuppofe the nervous fyftem, and not the blood, to contain

of the

life

human body

fyftem, the analogical

that the cafe

human body,

is

fo

to

Now

as well as the

firft

place, then, if

have been communicated from a

argument

ftill.

In the

will

we can prove

fluid to the

nervous

be very ftrongly in favour of the fuppofitiou

that the cafe once

body of every other

was

fo,

is

moft evident; for the

living creature, in its

firft

ftate,

have fhown to be a gelatinous mafs, without mufcles, nerves, or blood-veffels.

Neverthelefs this gelatinous matter, even at that time, contained the nervous

Of this there can be no doubt,

power

originally

from

it;

part of the animal which

we can

becaufe the nerves are formed out of

and what
is

firft

is

remarkable, the brain

give no further account, than

whole body appears

Of

formed.

to be formed.

At

it is

their

obferved to be that

this gelatinous or procreative fluid

the nutritious matter from which the

made

Gonfifting of mufcles, nerves, blood-veffels, &c.

caufe of the nervous power

and have

the original formation of man and other ani-

mals, therefore, the nutritious matter was

efficient

is

it,

fluid.

itfelf.

the fubftratum of the whole body,

nay more,

it

was the immediate

Again, in the formation of the embryo.

we

;;

AND THE OCCULT

we

fee a vital principle exifting as

regulator to

its

than to a6t at

own

is

we know,

which

but at the fame time,

fame

that the fluid which in the

no

it is

a nutritious fluid

lefs evident that

which

embryo ani-

nouriflies the bodies of adult

mals,

is

ones

and confequently, as foon as the blood became the only nutritious

fame time the nervous

the body, at that

took up

fluid

the blood diffufed itfelf along the nerves, w'here

model

to the

formed

originally

power, when once

it

in the

embryo.

no addition or fupply, but continues there

we fuppofe
there

and

is

it

human

may be

faid, that the vital

or any other body, requires

fame quantity from

in the

juice" of

refidence there, and from

firft

to laft.

the nervous powder to be immaterial, this will indeed be the cafe,

power than to any other

its

Perhaps

an end of reafoning upon the fubje6l

elaftic fluid, it is plain that there will

mote

its

was regulated exadlly according

it

hath taken polfeflion of the

Now

fluid.

nouriflies the bodies of all

necelfarily equivalent to the blood

a kind of

undoubtedly

is

and of that very nervous

nerves,

womb

itfelf

choofes to refide, rather

it

This habitation, or regulator,

in the fluid.

the immediate origin of thefe

341

were at large, and forming to

it

motions, or a habitation in

random

the nervous fyftem

SCIENCES,

fluid

but, if

we

call this

power a

of the body, as

volatility

its

and

elafticity Avill

own

its

motions in a particular way

but even of this

has a tendency to go from one place to another where

air for inftance, it will

order to facilitate

progrefs.

its

pro-

may perhaps
we have

it

meets with

difficulty,

throw fmall eonduding fubftances before

Alfo, if a

For, if any quantity of this matter

pofitive proof in the cafe of the eledtric fluid.

through the

It

abfurd to fuppofe the blood capable of putting matter in fuch

it is

a form as to dire6l

and

volatile

be more occafion for recruits to fuch a

efcape in great quantities through every pore of the body.

be objected, that

If

number of

fmall and light

it,

in

conducing

fubftances are laid between two metallic bodies, fo as to form a circle, for example

flaock of eledricity will deftroy that circle,

and place the fmall conduding fub-

ftances nearer to a ftraight line between the tw'o metals, as

fliorter paflage,

and refolved

Laftly,

it is

infinite

number of fmall

lary fibres

to take that, if

univerfally allowed, that the brain

and nerves.

and the minute

arteries

mujl come from the

fliould

it

is

if the fluid

knew there was

have occafion to return.

a fecretory organ, made up of an

glands, which have no other excretories than the medul-

As

a confiderable quantity of blood

end in thefe fmall glands,

blood.

Now,

there

is

any other body, but

will difcharge the fluid

fiderable quantity, if

its

excretory

is

carried to the brain,

follows, that the nervous fluid

no gland whatever,
it is

in the

human

the cutting of a nerve, therefore,

the fluid fecreted by the brain ought to be difcharged; but no fuch difcharge
ble.

No.

A fmall quantity of glairy

22.

matter

is

or

appointed to fecrete, in very con-

Upon

cut.

it

is

is vifi-

indeed difcharged from the large nerves

4 S

but

A KEY TO PHYSIC

342
but

can be no other than the nutritious juice neceffaryfor their fupport.

this

makes

even to demonftration, that the

plain,

it

ble in its nature

we know

and, as

the nervous fluid hath

very probable, to ufe no ftronger expreffion, that

it is

This

fluid lecreted in the brain is invifi-

refidence in the brain,

its

the peculiar province of

it is

the brain to fecrete this fluid from the blood, and confequently that the blood origi-

nally contains the vital principle.

This fadl being

ening,

or

mode by which

ufually takes place in the

human

differing the

feldom,

life

communicated

is

difficulty that

can be treated with perfpicuity, and

tempted by former

embryo puts

womb, which

to the child in the

month of pregnancy.

fifth

defcribe the adlion of quick-

Opportunities, however, of

gravid uterus at or near this critical jundlure occurring but

with great

it is

now endeavour to

eftabliflied, I fliall

phyfiologifts.

forth four

this delicate

the principal caufe

is

and abftrufe nature

why

it

has not been at-

have already Ihown, that the rudiments of the

membranes,

and the amnios, which contains the

a fubjedl of

the placenta, the navel-ftring, the chorion,

viz.

fluid

above-mentioned,

which the

in

foetus floats.

Until the period of quickening arrives, the embryo poffeffes only vegetative
lar to that
fluid in

which

it

is

and

its

communicated

growth

is

nouriflied

is

in the following

the

its

mothers blood

organs, are en-

vital

completed through them,

manner.

medium by which

the blood from the heart of the mother

to that of the child; but to

overwhelm the tender

is

check

its

is

too rapid progrefs, which would

veffels of the infant frame, the texture of the

placenta

is

form-

that of a fponge, round like a cake, of confiderable dimenfions,

firnilar to

fimi-

and preferved by the

and

fvvims, until the nerves, veins, arteries,

condudted

The placenta

ed

plant

and the circulation of

tirely formed,

which

common

of a

life,

and

capable of great abforption, being chiefly made up of the ramifications of the umbilical arteries

and

vein,

and partly of the extremities of the uterine

The

veffels.

arteries of the uterus difcharge their contents into the fubftance of this

cake

and

the veins of the placenta, receiving the blood either by a diredl communication of
veffels, or

by abforption,

finus of the vena porta,

by means of
But the

at length

and

the canalis venofus, a communication that

in the latter, the

blood

through the pulmonary artery, and

;

but a dilatation of the lungs

is
is

is

is

is

clofed

up

in the adult.

not conduced in the foetus as

carried from the right auricle of the heart

returned to the

left auricle

by the pulmonary

effential to the paffage of the

the pulmonary veffels, and this dilatation cannot take place

born, and has refpired.

to the

from thence to the vena cava, and heart of the infant,

circulation of the blood through the heart

in the adult

vein

form the umbilical vein, which paffes on

This deficiency

is

till

blood through

after

the child

is

therefore fupplied in the foetus by an

immediate

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

immediate communication between the right and

blood in the foetus

by means of a dudf called canalis

ramen

mother through two

The

to the aorta,

arteriofus, which, like the canalis venofus

ovale, gradually clofes after birth.

foetus to the

pulmonary artery

likewife tranfmitted from the

is

through an oval open-

left auricle,

auricles, called foramen o*vale.

feptum which divides the two

in the

ing,

343

The blood

and

fo-

returned again from the

is

arteries called umbilical arteries,

which arifefrom

the iliacs. Thefe two velfels, taking a winding courfe with the vein, form with that

and the membranes by Avhich they are furrounded, what

chord.

Thefe

arteries, after

called the umbilical

is

ramifying through the fubftance of the placenta, dif-

charge their blood into the veins of the uterus, in the fame manner as the uterine
arteries difcharged their

blood into the branches of the umbilical vein. So

quickening, the blood of the mother

centa,

and out again

is

that, after

conftantly palTing in at one fide of the pla-

at the other, for the nourifliment of the child.

N ow w'hat we call the aBlon of quickening^ is that inftantaneous, yet undefcribable,

motion of the

vital principle,

degree of animal heat, and

tric lliock,

or

flafli

is

which, the inftant the foetus has acquired a fufficient

completely formed in

all its parts, ruflies like

of ligh^iing, condudted by the fanguiferous and nervous fluids,

from the heart and brain of the mother, to the heart and brain of the
this

moment

the circulation begins

and the child becomes a

mences, the child

the mother, that

ftie

powers, which

is

the infant fabric

living foul.

ftarts into life ;

This aU of quickening

vital

As

in the

completely

is

therefore derived from the blood

At

child.

fet in

motion,

foon, therefore, as the circulation

and the inftant the circulation

com-

ceafes, life ceafes alfo.

and

is

by

fo fenfibly felt

often faints, or feels an internal depreftion of her animal

and

may be

But

faid, in

fome meafure,

the a6l of quickening does not take place in all

ways

an elec-

fame woman

at the

to

have departed from her.

women

at the

fame period, nor

fame diftance of time from her conception

governed by any given number of weeks or days

nor

al-

is it

after conception has taken place;

but depends entirely on that inftant of time, when the joint influence of animal
heat,

and an entire completion of the nerves,

veins, arteries,

and other parts and or-

gans, of the foetus, are fitted and ready to receive and fupport a due circulation of
the blood and juices; for this, and this alone,

beginning 6f animal

life.

Strong and healthy

is

the fource of quickening, and the

women

will therefore

quicken fooner

than the weak and delicate, by reafon that their procreative and ftimulating powers are

more

robuft,

and can fooner contribute that portion of animal heat which

neceflary to the entire completion of the foetus in all

pen fooner or

later,

its

parts;

and which

will

is

hap-

according to the health and ftrength of the pregnant woman,

and her fufficiency of menftrual blood

to fupport the

demand.

For

this flux will

A KEY TO PHYSIC

S44

now be wholly taken up by

either renews

its

fuckles the child,

Such

is

the

new

fubjeft, until the

hour of birth

mammae, and

then determined to the

it is

this curious

is

and obfcurity, as to lead the unthinking multitude

in every inftance

religioufly

imputing

it

it

or if die

for the re-pro-

and fuch the nature and event of that myfte-

rious a6lion of quickening, which has hitherto been involved in fo

was

which

converted into milk.

and moft admirable contrivance of nature,

du6lion and propagation of mankind

foetus

after

monthly evacuation, as being redundant in the mother

much

darknefs

to fuppofe, that giving life to the

a new and diftin6t interpofition of the Deity, inftead of

primary exertion of

to that

omnipotence, which, in the

his

original formation of Adam, implanted in his nature the power of re-producing his
like,

to

and of imparting

and foul to

life

be continued down from father

fublunary would.
gift

of imparting

If the feed of
life

and

his fpecies,

Adam

Adam

had not been originajly endued with the

fpirit to his future generations,

to receive the gift of life

power of God,

it

end and confummation of this

to fon, to the final

Were any one

defcendants be fubjefted to original fin?

race of

by a fixed and immutable decree,

how could

the fouls of his

child defcended from the

and foul from a fubfequent exertion

would become a new and

diftin6l

oft he

of creation; and the offspring

a<5l

could not pofiibly be contaminated by the Fall, nor befubje6led to the miferies and
misfortunes refulting from

as having received

it,

being from an independent

its

caufe.

I have, to the beft of

my

endeavoured to

ability,

illuftrate this occult procefs

of

Nature, by means of the annexed copper-plate engraving, taken from the vifcera

and womb of an

afflifited

the foetus itfelf being

now

however, extremely

is,

circumftances.

female,

who

preferved

difficult to

and died

fainted

in fpirits.

women who

In the w'ombs of

ble

more

lefs circular,

that

ftru^lure of the gravid uterus

be fliown, and the more fo under thefe peculiar

of labour, or foon after delivery, fibres running

or

The

at the time of quickening,

die after this period, or at the time

in various directions are

feem to arife from three

diftinCl origins,

obferva-

namely, from

the place where the placenta adheres, and from the aperture and orifice of each of
the tubes; with

all

the veins and veffels communicating to and from the placenta

and the mother, furcharged with blood

but

it is

almoffc impoffible to demonftrate

'regular plans of velfels and fibres, continued any length, without an interruption

which involves us

in doubt,

and deftroys that view of the admirable connexion

which nature has formed between the

vital

organs of the mother and child

in

a ftate

of advanced pregnancy.

From
is

the foregoing obfervations

the univerfal

medium by which

we may

life is

fafely conclude, that the

mafs of blood

propagated, and health preferved, to every

clafs

^y//r

t'/rZ/f'//

/>/</.

;;

AND THE OCCULT

dafs of beings; and

in its

that,

impure or infefted

whence the endlefs number of hereditary

fource from

difeafes derive their origin.

Whatever

taint the tender habit of its

has become an eftablifhed maxim,

it

345

ftate, it is the

fault impairs the parent blood, fails not to

whence

SCIENCES.

young;

as healthy parents naturally

that,

produce healthy children, fo difeafed parents as naturally produce a difeafed

fpring.

Some

at all ages

to a

new

off-

of thefe difeafes appear in the earlieft infancy; others occur equally

whilft others lurk unfufpefled in the habit to

extreme old age, or even

generation, flowly impairing the vital organs, and gradually undermining

the conftitution, before their fource, and fatal tendency, can poflibly be difcovered.

There are fome

though born with

difeafes indeed, which,

when a

derived from the parent, as

foetus receives

us,

cannot be faid to be

fome hurt by an injury done

to the mother, while others, neither born with us nor having

Let

the conftitution, are fucked in with the nurfes milk.

every parent,

who from fome

the ties of nature as to

as far as

fatisfied,

conftitution

local misfortune

is

forefight

in

then be the care of

fo far compelled to depart from

abandon her tender offspring

human

it

any foundation

to the breaft of another, to be

and medical penetration can reach, that the

and blood of the nurfe are

from fcrophula and every

free

other., hS.fe-

ditary impurity.

Accidental difeafes, though not derived from the parents, neverthelefs in general
fpring from the blood

part of the body,

is

which, conftituting or propagating animal

The

produce thefe affedlions

in the

live, will often

ticular climate hath

from

its

more or

blood

itfelf,

from
under

and every par-

a tendency to produce a particular difeafe, either

lefs

alfo

produced

in the

blood by impure

loaded with putrid, marfliy, and other noxious vapours.

wife

climate,

excefs of heat or cold, or from the mutability of the weather.

menfe number of difeafes are

is

through every

neceflarily expofed to every external offending caufe,

w'hich impreffion particular accidental difeafes enfue.

which people

life

air,

The fame

An

im-

orfuch as

thing like-

happens from high-feafoned or corrupted aliment, whether meat or drink

though even the beft and moft nutritious aliment

quantity

ties, that,

will hurt, if taken in too great

not to mention poifons, which are endowed with fuch pernicious quali-

even when taken

in the fmalleft quantity,

ferment in the blood, ending perhaps

accidents and dangers to which
difeafes in the

mad dog; an

mafs of blood

itfelf.

There are likewife other

mankind are expofed, that

ingraft innumerable

fuch as the bite of venomous reptiles, or of a

injudicious inoculation or mis-treatment of the fmall-pox, or meafles

the pfora, or itch

No. 22.

death

with

they produce the moft grievous

the venereal infection

alfo

4T

broken limbs, wounds, and contufions;

A KEY TO PHYSIC

3i6
fions

which, though proceeding from an external caufe at

theTlood, and often terminate

in internal difeafes

firft, fail

not to i[npair

and premature death.

Man, however, is not left without defence againfi; fo many and fuch great danThe human body is poffeffed of a moft wonderful power, by which it
gers.
preferves itfelf from difeafes, keeps off many, and in a very

fliort

time cures fomc

already begun, while others are by the fame means more flowly brought to a

happy conclufidn.
is

brated
all.

This power, called the autrocrateia, ov vis medicatrlr nntura;,

known both

well

to phyficians

for this alone

is

and philofophers, by

many

fufficient for curing

whom

rnoft juftly cele-

it is

and

difeafes,

of fervice

is

in

Nay, even the beft medicines operate only by exciting and properly direct-

ing this expulfive force, by which the excrementitious

humours from the aliments

and blood are expelled, through the proper channels of evacuation, through the
excretory du6ls, chiefly by means of the rnfenjibk perjpiration, by which power
the offending

humours from the blood and juices are perpetually

though phyficians juflly put confidence

difeafes of a flighter kind, yet

tendency are to be

left to

in this

power, and though

flying off.

But

generally cures

it

not to be thought that thofe of a more grievous

it is

Phyficians have there-

the unaffifled efforts of nature.

fore a two-fold error to avoid; namely, either defpifing the powers of the vis mcdicatrii' too

much, which,

if left

alone, would

work a radical and perfe6l cure;

putting too great confidence in thefe exertions of nature, they are

and alone,

till

left

or,

unfeconded

the virulence of infedlion or difeafeundermines the conflitution, and

down all before it.

The grand and perpetual means by which

bears

blood and juices are continually carried

rative pores

and

veffels,

which

it is

off,

the foul and offending

is

humours in the

undoubtedly through the perfpi-

highly compatible with found health to keep

medicaments are principally

When

open, and

for w'hich purpofe

cuation

copious, and grofs enough to be difcerned by the eye, as in fweat, the

is

perfpiration

is

faid to he fenfible

of the fenfes, as
perfpiration.

is

The

but where

it is

veflels

through 'which the perfpiration

is

be covered with a

common

it

it is

eva-

called hifenfible

performed

fcales of the cuticle or fcarf-fkin.

ably fmall; from a calculation of Leeuwenhoek

may

this

fo volatile as to efcape the notice

the cafe in the ordinary flate of the body,

open under the fquamae or

125,000 of tiicm

ufed.

They

lie

obliquely

are inconceiv-

appears, that the mouths of

grain of fund.

The mofl

con-

fiderable of thefe pores are the orifices of the du6ts arifingfrom the miliary glands.

Through

thefe veffels there

is

continually tranfuding a fubtle humour, from every

point of the body, and throughout the whole expanfe of the cuticle.

evacuated

this

way

is

The matter

found by certain experience to be more than equal to

tliat

evacuated

AND THE OCCULT

evacuated

the other ways,

all

by

e.

i.

SCIENCES.
&c.

ftool, urine,

linger the circutnftances of a moderate

347

Sandorious found

middle age, and eafy

diet,

in Italy,

that the

life,

matter infenfibly perfpired was five-eighths of that which was taken in for food
fo that there only

remained three-eighths for nutrition, and for the excrements of

the nofe, ears, inteftines, bladder, &c.

The fame author

one day as by

much

fiiows, that as

iloOl in fourteen

days

is

evacuated by infenfible perfpiratinn

in

particularly that, in the fpace of a night's

time, about fjxteen ounces are ordinarily difcharged by urine, four ounces by ftool,

and above

man

eat

ounces by infenfible perfpiration.

forty

and drink eight pounds

perfpiration

and adds,

a day, five pounds of

in

number of experiments made

much more in youth than

copious, that they void very

life

The

fifth to

the twelfth hour about three pounds;

thirty-three years

M. Dodart, from
fuccelfively, proves that we

In fome perfons the perfpiration

in age.

bqpefits of infenfible perfpiration are fo great,

The

throw

to

it

means of preferving

firfl

grand fyraptoms of a perfe6l

the fame.

On

by motion or exercife as

ufe of venery

perfpired,

increafe

its

(late of health

and the

the contrary, the departing from thefe

far as the firfl

is

air,

&c.

The

light,

fupplying what

it is,

and

fermented, yet folid, food, not fat;

contraries of all thefe, as alfo the increafe of the

it.

Hence we

effedt of this perfpirable matter, its ufe in preferving the

freflj, lively,

velfels,

appearance of fweat; by moderate

other excretions, diminifli, prevent, and deprave,

Hence

The

by fleep of feven or eight hours, the body well covered, yet not

pure, not heavy,

in

animal

matter.

performed, preferved, and increafed, by the vifcera,

is

loaded with bed-clothes: cheerfulnefs

and

it

fure fign of approaching difeafe.

Perfpiration
fibres;

fo

is

the circulation

is

off the offending

great fubtlety, equability, and plenty, of the matter thus

after fleep, &c. eonftitute the

that without

general caufe of perfpiration

and heat of the blood, which enables

the

is

of the coarfer excrements, though they eat hear-

little

could not be preferved.

chief

are fpent in infenfible

to the fixteenth fcarcely half a pound.

perfpire

tily.

it

alfo obferves, that, if a

as to the times, that within five hours after eating there

perfpired about one pound; from the

and from the twelfth

He

and
that

is loft;

but chiefly

in preferving the

and fwoonings

pillary velfels to dry, wither,

to be obftrudled

and

too

vvhilft

perifh.

hence the circulation

is

little,

Hence

Too much

or none at

all,

impreflions.
fo

many

perfpiration

in-

oc-

occafions the ca-

alfo the larger emundlories

difturbed, fliarp

and

nervous papillae moift,

fit to be affedled by objedls, and to tranfmit their

upon a ftoppage of the ufual perfpiration there arife

difpofitions, particularly fevers, agues, rheums, &c.

cafions weaknefs,

fee the caufe

parts foft and flexible,

come

humours letained; and

hence

A KEY TO PHYSIC

348
hence

putridity, crudity, fevers, inflammations,

and impofthumes.

perfpiration, by conftringing the pores of the fkin,

culating in

the cutaneous glands

and thickening the liquors

on the contrary, augments

lieat,

opening the excretory du6ls of the glands, and by increafing the

city of the

To

humours.

Cold prevents

determine the

flate

cir-

it,

both by

fluidity

and velo-

and condition of the perfpiration, fo

neceflary forjudging of thofe of the body, Sandlorious invented a weighing-chair,

whereby he examined the quantity, degree, &c. of perfpiration

flances of the body, under feveral temperatures of the

air,

and

in feveral

circum-

in the feveral inter-

vals of eating, drinking, fleeping, &c.

Some

of the more extraordinary phenomena obferved in this fpeculation, are,

fome time

that, for
fifth

after eating, the perfpiration is leaft of all

and twelfth hour

after

meals perfpiration

is

is

naturally always

much

that

between the

greatell; that riding either on

horfeback, in a coach, or fhip, &c. fwift motion on the

briik fridlion of the fkin,

ice,

&c. but, above

all,

promote prefpiration furprifingly ; and that perfpiration

lefs in

women

than in men.

Perfpiration

is

influenced

Thus anger and joy increafe, and fear and fadnefs

and urine. Anger caufes a ffrong motionjin the mem-

by the paffions of the mind.

letfen,

both perfpiration

branes of the heart, and quickens

its

contradtion and dilatation, and thereby quic-

kens the contradlion and dilatation of the blood-veflels and fecerning dudls, and of

confequence increafes the difcharges of perfpiration and urine

lefs,

in proportion to

thefe difcharges in like

fpiration

and urine are

thofe paffions.

The

and that more or

Joy

the flrength and continuance of the paflion.

manner
leffened,

as anger.

affedls

In the paffions of fear and forrow, per-

by the depreffion of the adlivity of the foul under

proportion of perfpiration to urine

is

increafed by all thofe

and warm the fkin.

We have an account of a perfon who, by paffing many nights in aftronomical fpeculations, had his perfpiration fo obftrudted by the cold and damp of the air in Hol-

exercifes which increafe the motion of the blood,

land, that a hirt he had

worn

for five or fix

weeks was as clean as

if it

had been

The confequence of this was, that he gathered fubcutaneous

but was cured in time.
The garments heft calculated to encourage and

worn but one day.

waters;

promote
to

infenfible pertpiration, to

keep the mouths of the minute

of flannel.

Whence

flannel fhirts

and

veflels open,

and

effedls of cold, are thofe

made

waiftcoats, or a fquare piece of flannel

worn

guard the body from the too fudden and violent

over the breaft or pit of the flomach, particularly in the winter months, are productive of fuch beneficial effedls to weakiy

and debilitated

valuable perfervative to the hale and robuft.

ving, I

have endeavoured to fhow the manner

conflitutions,

and act as a

In the annexed copper-plate engrain

which the infenfible perfpiration

ilfues

'

,b(

'"

'

'

'

'>

-^

'.
,

^
,

:"
_

r/'.j////

7J.

-M

,/,f.

/At-

/,/ ,///>,/,

/ ,Ai /-ASt/'/i.

/Jy..' ..V//^'

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

from the pores of the body, which can only be difcerned by means of a lens

iiTues

being of fo volatile and fubtle a quality, that

the utmoft eafe, particularly

fun6tions are at

felf

garments with

even afcends through the bed-

it

abundance when we are

and the animal

afleep,

reft.

manner Nature, from

this

palTes through our

it

woollen; and

if

clothes like a mill,- in the greateft

In

349

cafual obftru6lions, endeavours to relieve her-

all

and, fo long as difeafes are recent, and of a mild tendency, they are ufually

When, how-

carried off by this means, without requiring any aid from medicine.
ever^ difeafes are of long ftanding,

and vifcous

and the humours

be thrown off by the

to

>ois

medicatrLv

and

yet even in this

adtivity of the blood ftrives to purify itfelf,

mining thefe morbid particles to the

where they form fcabs,

fldn,

foul

whole habit

natui'oe, the

quickly vitiated, and the circulating mafs becomes morbid

fe6ted ftate, the vital heat

become too

in the blood

is

in-

by deter

ulcers, pimples,

fpots, as in the fcrophula, leprofy, fmall-pox, meafles, fyphilis, &c.

and other

elfe the virulent matter

is

dire6ted inwards, where falling

or

upon the lungs and other

Here then we may view the ftiocking confequences

thofe who enter into matrimony under a tainted or infected ftate

vifcera, death quickly enfues.

which refult

to

of the blood.
kings

evil,

Indeed perfons that are

ftiould

afflifted with the leprofy,

never marry until a

venereal

taint, is

cure has been effe6ted, and a

perfe<5l

To

pure and healthful ftate of the blood induced.

fcrophula, or

enter into wedlock under

a moft unwife, a moft cruel, and an ungenerous aft.

only a flight infeftion, by contaft with the

woman,

will himfelf

A man with

perhaps experience

a perfeft cure, in confequcnce of the foul and infeftious matter being drawn from
the parts of the female organs, feconded by the aftion of the rugae and abforbent
veffels

on the furface of the vagina.

diforder;

and,

feftion into the

ihould

flie

But the unhappy female

is

fure to take the

prove with child, the not only carries the poifonous in-

marrow of her own bones, but

brings an infant offspring into the

world, devoted to mifery and difeafs; for whatever foul or infeftious

implanted in the parent blood,

it is

immediately carried by the circulation to the

organs of the child, juft as the flame of one candle

Nor

another.

humour

is

can we be furprifed at thefe things,

Confider only

if externally applied,

if

we

only refleft on what has

aft as a burning cauftic

but, if taken into the ftomach, in-

ftantly overturn the natural courfe of the circulation,

blood into the extremities, but

No.

23.

human

powerful effefts of a few grains of cantharides, which,

thg,

dity, into the private parts

vital

by contaft communicated to

already been adduced, and contemplate the fyftem and oeconomy of the
frame.

is

by forcing the whole mafs of

more particularly, with great vehemence and turgi-

for

which reafon cantharides are taken with intent to

cure

A KEY TO PHYSIC

350

cure the weaknefs and debility of the penis

and an emaciated

conftitution, are fure

but the truth

to follow,

is,

that greater debility,

and not unfrequently

inftant

death.
If,

then, fo powerful

an

can be wrought on the blood by fwallowing a few

efFe6l

irritating particles of a (mall infedl,

may we

the circulating mafs particles congenial to

to

it,

even

we may

in its

itfelf,

moft depraved and inadtive

venture to pronounce, that

all

not juftly infer, that by infufing into

may be

the utmoft relief

ftate

From

afforded

this confideration alone,

diforders originating in the blood might

either be prevented or repelled, could fuch a

medium be

difcovered, by which

we

might infufe immediately into the mafs a combination of fuch elemental principles
as the blood and juices themfelves confift of in their pureft and moft elaftic ftate
;

for this, in fadl,

is

the aim of

all

medicines

but which they mifs, by being admi-

and being obliged

niftered in their grofs form,

to pafs the feveral digeftive

whereby the principal part

tions of the ftomach, before they can reach the blood,

of their occult virtue

to produce very

is loft

among

the food, or fecreted in fuch fmall quantities as

But a medium,

little effedt.

opera-

poffefting thefe congenial principles,

ready digefted, and fo combined as to betaken inftantly, and without diminution,

into the habit,

which,

would not only keep the cruor and the ferum

fo effential to health, but

is

the blood, as

its

would ftimulate,

reduced or difordered

ftate

corredl,

in

due proportion,

purify,

and augment,

might from time to time require. Such

a medium, after infinite labour, and unlimited experience, I pronounce the Solar

Tindture to be; and fuch will be found

ftances

it

may be

adminiftered,

its

operative effedls, under whatever circum-

any climate or feafon

in

the innocent and bal-

famic qualities of which are as grateful to the internal organs of the human frame
as the

folar rays are cheering to the external

fication to affert, that, in offering

it

nor imitate any medicine at prefent known

riments I have
belief ;

and

over by

made

I fliall

others, or

The infinite

with

ftill

and

it

affords

me no

in public or private pradtice.

upon a variety of difeafed wretched

it

continue to adminifter

who have

fmall grati-

to the public, I invade no mans property,

it

The expe-

objedts,

gratis to the poor,

who

are given

not the means of applying for medical affiftance.

variety of complaints an impure or infedled ftate of the

blood in-

and hence the new and deceptive forms a fcrophulous

duces, almoft exceeds belief

or fcorbutic taint puts on,

which often deceive the mo/l eminent of the

and

towards a cure.

baffle the beft intention

invade the nobleft organs of the

his danger.

In the

firft

ftage of

human
its

An impure

fwell,

grow

painful, hot,

and

faculty,

or fcrophulous taint will

frame, before the patient can be aware of

vifible effedls,

a weary pain feizes the joints and

mufcles, attended with a wafting of the legs and loins.

gums

exceed

irritable,

In the fecond

and bleed upon the

ftage, the

flighteft preffure

the

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

561

become bare and loofe, and the breath naufeous. In the

gums grow putrid, the teeth black and rotten, the fublingular veins

the roots of the teeth

third ftage, the

become

and the breath cadaverous;

varicofe,

gums, mouth, nofe, lungs, ftomach,

blood

foetid

liver, fpleen,

diftils

from the

lips,

womb,

kid-

pancreas, inteftines,

neys, See. fcabs and ulcers breakout in all parts of the body; and the joints, bones,

and

vifeera,

fevers,

become morbid.

enfue, which end in an atrophy; or elfe follow diarrhoeas, dyfentery, drop-

confumption, palfy, contradlions, melancholy, and

fy,

train of nervous diforders,

To
of

which

to deferibe

counteraft this inoft virulent of

human

(kill

eradicate

its

would

fill

the long and direful

all

volume.

chronic complaints, the utmoft exertions

all

have been employed. The remedies preferibed

The

are almoft innumerable.

to-

In the fourth ftage, putrid, eruptive, and fpotted,

objedl

is

in its different ftages

to reduce the virulence of theinfe6lion,

feeds from the blood and

lymph

to

which end the mildeftand moft

fimple medicines are recommended. Mineral and tar waters, for their
ftimulating quality
for

and

milk or whey, from their fimilitude to the chyle

bracing the folids and quickening the circulation

warm and

the cold bath,

anlifcorbutic vegetables,

&c. for purging and fweetening the blood, fuch as feurvy-grafs, water-creffes,

wormwood, hemlock,

vervain, water-trefoil, juniper-berries, the'Peru-

centaury,

vian bark, faffatras, guaiacunj, aloes, afla-feetida, camomile, diafeordium, faffron,

fenna, rhubarb, manna, iEchiops mineral,

See.

When

only cure

thefe

mercury, or a mercurial falivation,

fail,

which,

hartftiorn, native cinnabar,

in

fadf, is

but to give the

is

looked upon as the

human frame

fhock, and to fend the wretdied patient in agonies to the grave

The

intention of all thefe remedies

which

pofite to thofe with

it is

to

is

infedted

antimony.

its laft

vehement

impregnate the blood with qualities op-

and

this

muft be done in a fuperior degree

of force and power, before a cure can be completed.

But thefe medicaments are

often adminiftered under fuch naufeous forms, and in fo crude

and unqualified a

ftate, that they not only torture the patient, but mifs entirely their intended aim.

The naufeous

tafte

of medicine

ftead of entering the

drawn
groffer

off

is

nothing but

is,

by chemical procefs

that

it

groffer particles

ftomach, to irritate and opprefs

;

for

part, that perforins the cure.

Tindlure

its

combines the

its

which, in-

organs, ought

the occult virtue of every drug,

it is

to be

not

Novv the peculiar excellence of the Solar

effentiai

and occult virtues of

all

the fcorbutic

vegetables, ready digefted, concodfed, purified, -and refolved into an elegant

famic effence, pleafing

to

its

the tafte and

grateful to

the ftomach.

It flies

bal-

im-

mediately to the heart, whether internally or externally applied, blends and aftimilates with the venal

and

arterial blood,

which

it

generates,

corre<ft:s,

warms, purifies,

A KEY TO PHYSIC

354
dry,

and fometimes

moift, fcabs

and tumours on the

length pervaded the whole fyftem,

reduced him to the

laft ftage

over by the faculty,

till,

turning inwardly,

In

of a confumption.

left totally

Being negledted,

fkin.

it fell

this

upon

long been a ftranger to his eyes.

that with very

little affiftance

he was enabled to put on

little

which had

fleep,

his

own

much

reftored,

clothes; and, after

more than a month, he was able to walk abroad.

And now,

after having continued the Tindlure night

ally ufing

it

as a beverage

undiluted^

After one large bottle had been adminiftered,

of diredtions, at the end of a week he was fo

continuing the medicine for

made

fimilar

recovered his former health andflrength

and morning, and occafion*

to warm brandy and water, he has quite
being, to the furprife of every

body who

beheld him in his late emaciated condition, as robuft and as hearty as

poffible for a

man

given

ftate,

The firft dofe was given

which threw him into a fine perfpiration, and compofed him to

bill

and

his lungs,

deplorable

at

emaciated, and incapable of turning in his bed, he

fortunately had recourfe to the Solar Tindlure.

agreeablb to the

it

well

it is

to be.

DEBILITATED, TAINTED, and ENFEEBLED, CONSTITUTIONS.

MUSCULAR debility
Whether immured

in

was a misfortune but

little

known

to our forefathers.

venereal embraces, or facrificing at the flirine of Bacchus,

moderation and feafonable hours diredied the meafure of their enjoyment.

velry or voluptuoufnefs by chance unftrung
field-fports, or the

more pleafurable

to their proper tone,

lighted

up

afrefti

their nerves, gymnaftic exercifes

delights of the chace, quickly reftored

gave new vigour to the blood, health

But now, how ftrange

the flame, of love.

bituated to effeminacy, and fed with dainties,ftretched

on beds of down

ing wholefome

joyment
office

palls

air,

all

clafped

upon the

in the

fenfes,

no wonder fo many

conftitutions are fairly

day,

If re-

ftiut

up

revelling

in ftews

and

all

to the cheek,

and

the rererfe.

Ha-

is

night with wine, and

brothels, fcarcely breath-

arms of tainted or difeafed females,

until en-

and the mufcular powers abfolutely refufe

men

are found old in every thing but years

worn down, blood

and

them

their

whofe

ftagnant, folids relaxed, fccretions di-

verted from their proper courfe, mufcles debilitated, eyes funk, cheek pallid, and
fpirits

gone.

Thefe are not half the

deftrudlive folly.

of a few, of

It

whom

may

evils refulting

this fafhionable

fource of

not be amifs, however, to defcribe the remarkable cafes

the Solar Tindlure has

portion of health into the mafs of blood

manly courfe of life

from

made

perfedf cures, by infufing a

will fhortly eradicate thefe difgraceful complaints,

to the ladies a genuine race of

new

fincerely hoping, that a more wife and

and

reftore

Englifhmen and Britons.

CASES.

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

CASES.
Tremature DEBiLiTY.-r-A gentleman in the army, under thirty years of
age, complained to me that be had all at once become incapable of enjoying his
Sufpecling the nature of his diforder, I defired him to be open and candid,

mje.

to relate to

me

own

pofe on his

he

frank,

his real fituation,

and

in a

bauch, he had

and not a pretended one, which was only

He

under Handing.

me

thanked

for the rebuke

few words declared, That from exceffive

loft his virility

faid

he would

and continual de-

and, to add to the misfortune, he was on the eve

In other refpedls he

of being married.

lull,

to im-

felt

no diminution in

his health or confti-

tution; and, from external appearances, this was furely the laft imperfedlion that

His complexion was vigorous and

could have been fufpedted.

firm,

and conformation excellent;

yet, notwithftanding this,

own

fuch a degree, that neither the ftrength of his

the female, could affedt the part.

found, yet,

Hate

if

It often happens, that,

nervous and feminal

if the

they cannot then perform

nor the excitations of

though the organs remain

have degenerated from a healthful

fluids

they are impoveriflied by being too

natural courfe

delires,

much

drained, or turned into an un-

by reafon

their office,

manner nature requires

adlion in the

leaft; diredted the

ointment as in

p.

in the adt of copulation.

all

It

for

a more hale and

before.

He

himfelf,

who

me

has fince fent

are

now ready

I therefore

en-^

240 of the Medical Part of this work, with the

After taking

rol)uft ftate

their

attempts of the kind, for three months at

Solar Tindture three times a-day for two months

no longer neceffary.

moving
force and

that their

powers and ftimulus on the blood are become too weqjs^ diredl
joined him, to abftain entirely from

lively, his flelli

he was impotent to

then twice a-day, until he found

fix large, bottles,

he generoully thanked

me

of body than he ever remembered to have enjoyed

feveral patients, in almoft as debilitated a ftate as

to unite with

him

in giving full teftimony to the reno*

vating powers and peculiar efficacy of the Solar Tindlure.

A RELAXED
LITTLE

more than

HABIT.

three months ago, a gentleman, about

lately returned from the Eaft-Indies, applied to

a broken conjlitution.

He

had made very

had undergone a mercurial

falivation,

me

fifty

for the cure of

years of age,

what he termed

free with the fable beauties of

and appeared

to

Bengal

be finking under an uni-

The fphindter of the

came from him by drops, in

verfal languor and debility of the whole mufcular fyftem.

bladder was fo weakened, that the urinary fecretion

fo perpetual and involuntary a manner, as not to be perceived until the moifture

of one fet of cloths
*

became fo

fenfibly afflidling. as

made

it

neceffary to fupply
freffe

A KEY TO PHYSIC

356
frefh ones,

which ufually happened every hour.

The

corporeal fundlions w^ere

diffipated and relaxed, the tone of the ftomach and vifcera was nearly gone, the

tremulous nerves reludlantly performed their

office,

and the circulation was become

ftasnant
and morbid. I advifed an immediate recourfe to the moft nouriffiins
O
O
food, with flrong port-wdne negus for his drink, and the Solar Tindlure to be taken

four times a-day for the

lirft

month

three times a-day for the fecond month, and

once or twice a-day afterwards, as occafion might feem to render neceffary.

fore the expiration of twenty days, the fphinfter mufcle acquired

the pulfe

became ftrong and

abated.

By

to

have taken place, and a

had retrieved the

proper tone,

vifible

accumulation of the blood and

Before the expiration of three months,

circulation.

the gratification to fee this patient completely reftored to

health and

its

w'ere confiderably

the end of the fecond month, a renovation of the whole animal oeco-

nomy feemed
juices

and the nervous tremors

regular,

Be-

fuch a

ftate

had-

of bodily

flrength, as utterly aftonifiied himfelf, after taking only eight large

bottles of the Solar Tindlure.

HYPOCHONDRIACAL DEBILITY, or WEAK NERVES:

A GENTLEMAN in Oxfordihire lately came to town on purpofe to confult
me

appeared to be near

in his complaint,

ftature,

marry;

He had for upw'ards

but of a weakly conflitution.

his addreffes to a lady,

but,

whenever

whom

lie

pened that he attempted

thirty years of age, of

of feven years paft paid

in his

to falute or

mind

to fix the day, or

embrace her, he was

it

w'as the fear

was

defired,

whenever

it

to.-

hap-

feized with an unaccount-

able tremor of the whole body, his fpirits funk, his virility
palpitation of the heart enfued. In fhort, he

he confeifed

much

he had long promifed, and very

propofed

middling

left

him, and a violent

fo dillruftful of his

of not being able to per form the

rites

own powers,

that

of the marriage-bed

that had been the real and the foie caufe of thus protracting his wedding-day..

This
its

is

certainly a moft fingular inftance of the hypochondriacal affedtion, and of

derangement of the nervous fyftem.

The

debility induced by

it,

feems to

arife

from the weaker energy of the brain, the fault of which, however, cannot bedetedted

by the

niceft anatomift.

For

this reafon,

be reftored; but as nature, feemingly

and

arteries,

we muft

we do not we.l knov/ how fuch

for this purpofe, excites the

defedl ftiould

motion of the heart

afcribe the continuance of fuch debility to the too-weak reac-

tion of the fanguiferous fyftem.

The heart wall generally pal{)itate from a.violent exr

when the blood is endowed with, too fmall a fhare

eitement of the nerves, efpecially

of ftimulus.
in
it

women.

Hence palpitation from any affedtion of the mind, and from

Under whatever circumftancesthis hypochondriacal affedlion

debilitates the

whole animal machine, and renders the perfon unable

the proper offices of

life.

The

proftration of fpirits, weaknefs,

to

hyfterics:

happens,-

perform

and languor, are

often

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

357

often furprifinglygreat, though the pulfe feeins tolerably ftrong, as being heightened

by animal

The

defire.

however,

effect,

the blood feeming to adhere, with

heart. I fufpe6l

it is

is

fure to produce a languid circulation,

uncommon

energy, about the region of the

in thefe cafes that cantharides are

patient acknowledged, after

feme

hefitation, that

moft frequently ufed. The

he had tried them

but they only

produced an involuntary though violent ere6tion, by no means adapted

to the

Hence this remedy is not only inadequate,

much exhaufts the vital powers, and is follow-

cure, nor to the purpofe he intended.

but extremely dangerous

ed by a vaft dejection of

for

it

fpirits,

too

tremors, ftartings of the tendons, &c. which bring

on rigours, cold clammy fweats, fyncope, and often premature death.

The means,
debility,

of

and the remedies to be employed are tonics and flimulants.

Of

the flimulants, which in this conflitutional defeat

ployed, port-wine feems to be the mofl eligible.

grateful to the palate
luted,

this fpecies

the

heart and arteries

all

which nature points out for the cure of

therefore,

are dire6led to fupport and increafe the a6lion of the blood through

that

it

and flomach, and of having

can be conveniently given at

ployed with fufficient caution; but

ly. It may be fufpefted

it is

advantageoufly

little

much diand may be em-

fervice unlefs taken pretty large-

opium
ftimulant power only

that wine has an operation analagpus to that of

and on good grounds.

But we can

which renders

in the phrenitic delirium manifeftly hurtful,

its effects

of debility as remarkably ufeful.

diflin6lly

Hence

mark

its

but in cafes

I dire6led the Solar Tin6lure to be taken

arid night, in ftrong dofes,

morning, noon,

em-

ftimulant parts fo

its

times and feafons,

all

of

may be

It has the advantage of being

the

for

firft

month

once a-day, or

oftener, at the difcretion of the patient, until the end of the third

month

drink every day after (|inner, a pint of generous port; and to inform

me

He

the change he might find in his conftitution.

but to

at intervals

took with him a dozen large

bottles of the Solar Tinfture; and before a month elapfed, I had the pleafure of

He

receiving an epiftle of unfeigned thanks.

found himfelf fo much reftored by

the courfe I laid him under, that, before the expiration of the three months, he

married the lady

and

fomewhat more elaborate

to believe

it is

not an

every patient to

fix

I have been

in defcribing the particulars of this cafe,

having reafon

will very fhortly

have

uncommon malady and would therefore wifti to

as much as pofiible a judge of his owm infirmity.
;

enable

become

NOCTURNAL
A YOUNG

iflue.

have no douht

EMISSIONS, or

INCONTINENCE

man, of robuft make, and

years of age, applied to

me

in the

for relief in the

prime of

life,

of the

SEMEN.

being under twenty-

above unfortunate complaint.

It

appeared, that, from the time of puberty, he had found a weaknefs in the part, and

No.

S3.

an

A KEY TO PHYSIC

558

an occafional difcharge of the feed, upon the flighteft irritation. As he grew up

to greater maturity, the malady increafed upon him. Upon every attempt to have
contadl with a female, femen palfed involuntarily from him, before even a
plete eredlion could take place,

This defedl grew upon him,

whereby

until

purpofe was continually defeated.

his

the bare fight or thought of any thing which

tended to excite venereal delires brought away the feed

whatever

to

com-

yet

had no

it

affinity

a gleet, becaufe the emiffion never occurred but either in the attempt

or in the defire of copulation, or under the influence of lafcivious dreams.

In

proportion as this weaknefs grew upon him, his defire of familiarity with the fex

became

the fironger

and, I

am

inclined to think, was the principal reafon of the

increafe of the malady, and of the nodlurnal emiffions, which happened

lefs every time he w^ent to lleep.

meagre

more or

This inceflant difcharge had reduced him to a

vifage, fallow complexion, hollow eyes, depreffion of fpirits,

and

flow' fever j

and a galloping confumption would foon have followed. I diredled the Solar Tincture every morning at fun-rifing,

and at

at mid-day,

in the quantity of a wine-glafs full, with one-third

at going to bed,

negus, had very quickly the defired

calm, and, after the

my

The

firft

jelly,

veal- broth,

and every night

affifted by
and ftrong port-wine

night, he could not recolledl: the return of

veflels

240 of the Medical Part

removed, as not to leave a fingle fymptom of

O N A N

former weaknefs^

his

M.

apparently under age, applied to

me

for the cur# of a diforder,

which, he faid, had deprived him of the power of eredlion, and of

young a

the privities. In fo

any nodlurnal

and within the fpace of only two

were completely braced up, and the diforder fo to-

work, was ufed every other morning

A YOUTH,

His fleep was perfedfly found and

effeft.

ftrengthening ointment, directed in page

months, the feminal

tally

warm water

by the influence of dreams. This courfe,

a ftrengthening regimen of calfs-foot

of

oclock in the afternoon,

twenty drops of liquid laudanum, for the purpofe of making his

fleep too ftrong to be aftedled

emiffion.

fix

fubjedl, I could not fuppofe this

all

fenfation in

want of tone

to arife

from a general debility of the nervous fyftem, particularly as no other fymptoms

warranted the conclufion.

had a ftrong fufpicion it was the

effedl of Onanifm, or

fecret venery, which ufually ends in this fpeciesof abfolute impotency

denied.

He

told

me

its

coming

negletfted to difclofe his misfortune to

brought on.

a Ample

Of the

gleet

but this he

he had fome time ago contradled the foul diftemper, and

through fliame, and the dread of

had

to

the

any perfon,

knowledge of

his friends,

until the prefent

foul diftemper, however, I could find

he

malady was

no other fymptom tham

and, upon putting the neceflary queftions, not a fingle reply corre-

fponded;

AND THE OCCULT

fponded with the ufual

efFe6ts

him

nation, I brought

SCIENCES.

S59

After half an hours clofe exami-

of that diforder.

confefs what I above fufpefted, that he had fo

to

much

addidled himfelf to this lliameful and deftrudtive vice, that the ferninal veffels were

completely relaxed

the eredtories, the nerves,

tirely loft their tone

turgidity of the parts,

an impoveriftied
ledture I gave

mory

glans,

of the penis, had en-

ftate

or

irritation,

had long taken place, and brought on a want of appetite,,

of the blood, and an univerfal laftitade of the body.
The

him upon

and he has

and

an involuntary difcharge of the femen, without

this occafion, will never, I truft,

ftnce faithfully

promifed that it

be effaced from

his

me-

lhall not. I diredted the ftrength-

ening eledtuary and ointment, in page 239 and 240 of the Medical Part of this

Work,

be ufed as therein prefcribed

to

then to

four times a-day, a table-

take,,

fpoonful of the Solar Tindlure in an equal quantity of

warm

water, for a

month

at

leaft; then three times, a-day for the fecond month, and twice a-day, in cold fpring-

water, for the two months following

parts,

gave

elafticity

fympathetic

office

which gradually coiled up the debilitated

to the blood, retrieved the fenfation of the glans,

gave that due tone and energy to the mufcular fyftem, which in

months reftored the patient

to perfedt health

An impure
THIS
venereal
leprofy,

and the

of the eredtories, braced the nerves, ligaments, and tendons, and

malady, fo

or

common among

lefs

than four

and vigour.

TAINTED

HAIbIT.

our diffipated youth, generally arifes from

complaint badly cured.

Indeed the fcrophula, the kings evil, the
and other foul humours, when too long fuffered to prey upon the blood,

will naturally

induce

this

are found to refult from

confequence

yet ninety-nine cafes out of every hundred,,

the improper ufe of mercury,

either

taken too abun-

dantly into the ftomacb, or too often applied externally, in the venereal difeafe.

gentleman

came

in the militia very lately

abfolutely worn

down

to

me

under

relief.

He

was no fooner warm

feated nodturnal pains attacked his arms, thins, and head, which

miftook for rheumatifm.

were fcarcely ever

on the ulna,

tibia,

free

The membranes,

frOm pain

cure,

deep-

of the faculty

mufcles, and ligaments, of the joints,

whilft carious ulcers occationally broke out up-

and bones of the cranium.

Thefe fymptoms had

alfo deceived

feveral of the faculty, who, taking his complaint to be a confirmed lues,

malady, by loading him with freth dofes of mercury.

this diforder

its

in bed, than

many

w'ho had'

this misfortune,

the organs of his ftomach by taking medicines for

without obtaining the fmalleft

to the

ai

The

ftill

truth

added

is,

that

was by no means of a venereal nature, but was rather the confequence

of the remedy than of the difeafe; fince

it

arofe entirely from the long and repeated

dofes of mercury his body had fuftained, and which was grounded in his habit

by

falivation*

;;

A KEY TO PHYSIC

S60

The mercury had infmuated

falivation.

vitiated every fluid fecretion,

s

circumflances I will allow,

upon a

cian,

and tainted the very

it is

very

marrow of

itfelf into the

air

he breathed.

Under fuch

not almofl impoffible, for a phyfi-

difficult, if

whether the original

fuperficial infpedtion, abfolutely to decide,

eafe hath been altogether overcome

bones, had

his

dif-

yet furely he ought attentively to diftinguilh

and then, by comparing them with each

other, a clear judgment may be formed upon the general review. Finding, by this

and confider the feveral

method, the real
exercife,

fymptoms apart

ftate of the patients cafe, I

and an abfolute

ordered him a nourifliing

denial of the fmallefl; intercourfe

with

diet, gentle

women. To

he

this

readily fubmitted, putting himfelf under a regular courfe of the Solar Tin<5lure,

which he took three times a-day,

led

up with warm water,

me

vifit,

when

his

for the

in the
firfl;

company was

quantity of a wine-glafs three parts

month. At the expiration of

time he paid

this

agreeable, becaufe the pleafingo-

infinitely

dour of health had fuperfeded the naufeous

full, fil-

effluvia of his difeafe. I

now

only enjoin-

ed him to follow the fame regimen and abstemious mode of living for a month or two
longer, taking the Tincture diluted in a glafs of cold fpring-wateronce or twice a-day^

as he might find himfelf inclined. This he rigidly attended to

and

have now the

pleafure to declare, that only nine large bottles of the Solar Tindture have reftored
this

gentleman from the^moft dangerous and deplorable

rupted habit, to found health, and a renovated

A TAINTED HABIT
THIS

the moft fhdcking cafe

is

patient was taken in labour,

right arm,

the

ma
my

ftate

STATE

of

ftate

of a tainted and cor-

of the blood and juices.

PREGNANCY.

and in the a6l of parturition, the child prefented

which feparated from the body, while the operator was returning

The

womb.

life

The

pra6tice or experience ever produced.

of the mother being defpaired

infpedlion, I quickly perceived conception

of,

was fent

for

it

its

into

when, on

had taken place under an infedted

ftate

of one of the parents. I performed the refidue of the operation myfelf, and brought

away

the foetus without a further feparation of the joints, but with great difficulty,

fince itwas ulcerated

and half rotten with difeafe.

treatment of the woman,

and

in the

aflifted

fpace of five weeks

ftie

appeared

when, to the aftoniftiment of every one,

fent for

when,

upon

after

By a moft

tender and judicious

by the Lunar Tindture, her

this lingular occafion,

to

life

was preferved

have regained her health and ftrength;

flie fell

thought

it

into a violent falivation.

Being

right to interrogate the hulband

a vaft deal of hefitation and dilfembling, he confefled having had con-

ne61;ion with his wife

under a venereal infeftion

and, with a view to prevent the

confequences, he had prevailed on her to fwallow ftrong dofes of mercury, which I

have reafon to fuppofe lay dormant in the body

'

'

until after her delivery

when

the

efforts

AND THE OCCULT

efforts

SCIENCES.

361

of nature being no longer direfted to the prefervation of the child, fuffered

and

the mercury to attack the falival glands,

produce the

to

I ordered her a fpare but nouriftiing diet

defcribed.

effedt

worked

,*

off the

juft

mercury

in

A table-fpoon-

the cuftomary way, and then began a courfe of the Solar Tindture.
ful,

we have

in an equal quantity of warm water, was taken four times a-day for the

firft

week; then three times a-day until the end of the month; afterwards twice a-day
in cold fpring-water for a month longer ; and then once or twice a-day, or every
other day, as the patient found convenient; by this means

a complete cure

in lefs than three

months, and

now

flie

happily experienced

enjoys a perfedt ftate of health,

defirous of certifying the fadt to any unfortunate female, who, under ftmilar circumftances, wilhes to call

upon me

for that purpofe.

Indeed every woman, who has

the misfortune to fufpedt even the fmalleft taint of a ftmilar nature to be lurking

under a courfe of the Solar Tindture, and

in her blood, fliould put herfelf

in

it

perftft

every night and morning, in the quantity of a table-fpoonful diluted in a wine-

glafs of cold fpring-water, during the

The above

cafe brings to

whole nine months

my recolledtion

ftate of

pregnancy.

a very Angular inftance of an accidental

brought upon a young lady by a foreign fubftance irritating one of the

falivation,

parotid glands

who may happen

the particulars of which I ihall here infert, for the fake of thofe
to

be under ftmilar circumftances.

In

month of April, 1751,

habit, but fubjedt to no

the

a young lady, about the age of ftxteen years, of a delicate

particular complaints, perceived the beginning of a difeafe which afterwards proved

moft obftinate and loathfome,

viz.

an inceffant

The

fpitting.

quantity of this dif-

charge was different at different times, varying from one pint to two pints and a

As

half in twenty-four hours.

to its quality,

By

ordinary fecretion of the falival glands.

her ftrength became extremely impaired

proved

ufelefs.

it

and the moft

and afterwards the

amber, alum, and the Neville-Holt water, had

mean time an exaft regimen had been

conftantly

&c.

and td confine herfelf

ftill

continued unaltered

fw,allow the faliva.

But

all

in fucceffton

prefcribed,

ftie

had afterwards

chew

it

gums, opium,

been given her.

The

tried the tinfiura faturnina ;

the Peruvian bark,

until the

and

after ftie

and

to

had taken

end of September, 1753,

appeared to her pbyftcian. Sir George Baker, unrea-

fonable to expedl relief in fuch a cafe from any internal medicines whatever.
23.

In

to ride

then been interpofed.

thefe attempts had been vain

fome or other of the medicines above-mentioned

namely, above two years,

fetid

had been ordered

ftie

now and

and had, at the fame time, been encouraged to

No.

had

to a mucilaginous diet, fuch as veal, calves feet,

Likevvifs a gently-opening medicine had

difeafe

efficacious medicines

She had taken large quantities of the Peruvian bark, both alone

and combined with preparations of iron

the

feemed to be no other than the

and conftant an evacuation,

fo large

4 Z

Ke
now

A KEY TO PHYSIC

Z63,

now conceived a fufpicion, that fome extraneous body, having

its way into the meatus anditorius, might poflibly be the caufe
nary fecretion, by keeping up a continued
this

accidentally found

of this extraordi-

view he examined her ears, and extracted from them a quantity of

How,

or when,

it

came

thither,

With

irritation in the parotid glandSo

To

no account could be given.

fetid

wool.

this fubftance

he

attributed the beginning of the falivation, notwithftanding that the difeafe did not

immediately abate on the removal of the wool; as

it

appeared to be no improbable

fuppolition that the difcharge might be continued by the force of habit, though

feemed therefore expedient

to introduce

habit, in the place of the increafed fecretion of faliva;

w hich habit

the original caufe no longer remained.

fome other

might afterwards be gradually

left off.

It

With

he prevailed on the

this intention,

chew perpetually a little dry bread, and to fwallow it w ith her fpittle.' In
a few w'eeks, it became neceffary for her to chew the bread only at certain hours in
patient to

the day; and thus, after two months,

guflful

and tedious diforder.

much

lowing of fo

It

is

flie

became

entirely free

worthy of obfervation,

faliva frequently occafioned a naufea;

hours, fhe was obliged to fpit

it

from a moft

that, at

and

firft,

dif-

the fwal-

that then, for a few

out as ufual; and that, during the greateft part

of the time, when die chewed the bread,

lire

had a

two every day more

ftool or

than common.

TABES DORSALIS,
A

YOUNG gentleman,

or

CONSUMPTION

of the

twenty-tw o years of age, applied to

BACK.
me

in the abovft

diforder, which had worn him down to a mere fkeleton. The tabes is feldom diftinguiilied by any remarkable fever, cough, or difficulty of breathing ; but is attend-

ed with want of appetite, a weak

and a morbid

digeftion,

the body grows languid, and wafies by degrees.

fumption

is

brought on by a venereal ulcer

excefiive evacuations of the femen, which

ffate

Sometimes

but

it

mofi:

of the blood, whence

this fpecies

of con-

commonly proceeds from

was the cafe with

this patient.

He had

too early addidled himfelf to an intercourfe with lewd w'omen, wbich eventually

brought on an involuntary fiiedding of the feed, which came from him on the

lead;

exertion, whether pf walking, riding, lifting a weight, or even of pulling off his
clothes."

I ordered him a ftrong nutritious

diet,

with a table-fpoonful of the Solar

Tindlure four times a-day, in the fame quantity of

for a

month.

He

found his flrength was fo

much

warm

water, which he purfued

recovered, that I could fafely

advife moderate exercife both on horfeback and on foot.

The

gleet,

however, was

uncommonly obftinate and the Tindture was continued for the fecond month in
the fame quantity. By this time the parts were confiderably braced ; he could run
;

pr

jump

without perceiving the fmalleft emiffion ; and the healthful colour of his

cheek

AND THE OCCULT

cheek began to return,
for a

month longer;

another month

He now

after

365

perfifted in the Tinfture, only three times a-day,

which the dofe was reduced to night and morning for

he then took

SCIENCES.

twice a-day for two months more, at the end of

it

which period every fymptom of the complaint was removed, he had

his

and ftrength

flefli

beverage,

made

recovered

and now preferves

after the

it by taking the 'Solar Tindture as a

manner of brandy and water. This diforder has in gene-

been deemed incurable.

ral

fully

It

is

even in

true, that

from venereal embraces,

tially neceffary to abftain

will prove altogether ufelefs

its

that,

early attacks,

it is

without

bed remedies

it,

the

fo eflen-

hence the tabes dorfalis fo often proves mortal, be-

eaufe the patient has feldom refolution enough to difpenfe

witli his

amours.

RHEUMATIC UOUT.
THIS

difeafe

is

whereby a humour
accompanied wuth
but

it is

generally brought on by alternate heats

is

in the

Wood,

produced which attacks the joints and mufcles, fometimes

difcol orations

and fwellings, and at other times without either;

Mr. John Brandham, of Bridwhen, after fome time, the fevere pain

always attended with excruciating pain.

Quay, was attacked

lington

and colds

in this

manner

of his joints, falling into his legs and thighs, deprived him of the ufe of his limbs,

and confined him

in his head

He

entirely to his bed.

was foon

and domach, which fo much affe6ted

was expected.

In

this extremity, half

after feized with

his refpiration, that inftant death

a wine-'glafs of the Solar Tindlure was ad-

minidered, undiluted, which removed the danger, and gave his

eafe.

table fpoonful, in the

a violent pain

domach immediate

fame quantity of warm water, was then given every

third hour during the fucceeding day and night, by which the pains were con-

fiderably abated.

He continued the medicine four times a-day for a month long^

at the expiration of which time he experienced a perfedl cure,

found the fmalled return of his complaint

of which he

is

and has never dnce

defirous of fatisfying

any enquirer, who choofes to apply for that purpofe.

AGUES, CONVULSIONS, CHOLIC, BLOODY-FLUX,

SPASMS IN THE STOMACH and BOWELS.

DURING the

fit,

let

and violent

one or two table-fpoonfuls of the Solar Tin6lure, undduled^

be adminidered fuccellively, as the extremity of the cafe may require; and afterwards let the patient continue the medicine, night and morning, in the quantity
of a table-fpoonful in a wine-glafs of
the cafe

may

perienced ; a few indances of which

tranfmitted

warm

water, or oftener, as the obdinacy of

render necelTary, and in a very Ihort time a perfe6t cure will be ex-

me

Ihall add, in the

words of thofe who have

the faO:s,

To

A KEY TO PHYSIC

364

To

SIR, A few

SIBLY, M. D.

E.

wkh a

nights ago, I was attacked in bed

violent pain in

my

ftomach

and bowels, which alternately produced fuch a fucceffion of convulfive fpafins and
Fortunately a bottle of
cold chills, that I really thought I was feized for death.
your Solar Tinfture was

my

me a table-fpoon*ful and a half, unmixed with

my ftomach, I could only compare to electricity

fervant gave

effect

it

had on

ment of

all

my

fon, of

The

water.

for,

which

iuftant

to the aftonifli-

about me, the fpafms inftantly ceafed, a gentle perfpiration came on,

which Rate I
entirely free

and did not awake

afleep,

fell

On

from pain.

an equal quantity of

in

purchafed the day before by

in the houfe,

getting up, I

warm

water

when I found myfelf

more
of the TinCture
took a fpoonful
till

the morning,

and have not

Requefling you will make

return of the diforder.

in

fince experienced the fmallefi:

this

known,

for the benefit

of

others, I remain, with grateful efteem, &c.

No. 25, Philpot-lane, Fcndiurch-Jireet, Feb.

To
SIR,

In

E.

M.

12.

ARMSTRONG.

SIBLY, M. D.
you for that excellent medicine, the
was
fuddenly feized with a violent cholic,
I

gratitude, I cannot but thank

It has faved

Solar TinClure.

my life.

The efforts of the faculty were'

moments of extremity, my exiftence'

which brought on a mortification of the bowels.

tried in vain,

and

was given

In thefe

over.

was preferved by only two fpoonfuls of your medicine, undiluted, which inftantly
After two more dofes, the obftruCtion wa&relieved me from the rack of torture.
removed by natural evacuation, and a few hours
good health.

you

I intreat

reftored

me

to

to publifh this for the public good,

my

ufual ftate of

and

be ever

fliall

gratefully yours,
Clifton,

near

To
SIR,

JOHN POWELL.

Brijlol, Feb. 24,

Actuated by a

principle of gratitude, I cannot omft acquainting

an extraordinary cure performed on

for

fome time been

affliCted

a very weak and languid

of the faculty.

by

two fmall

me by means

of your Solar TinCture,

you of

had

with the dyfentery or bloody-flux, and was reduced to

ftate,

This induced

after taking only

SIBLY, M. D.

E.

without deriving any benefit from the prefcriptions

me

to

bottles, I

make

trial

of your Solar TinCture; when,

found myfelf perfectly recovered

therefore,

publifhing this to the world, you will confer a favour on your grateful, &c.

WILLIAM JACKSON.
No.

8,

IVindmill-Jireet, Tottenham-courtroad,

May

5.

DISEASES

AND THE OCCULT

DISEASES

TAKE

OF THE

'

365

BREAST and LUNGS, ASTHMA, DROPSY,

CONSUMPTION.

or

one fpoonful of the Tin6lure, night and morning, for twenty days fuc-

two fpoonfuls of cold fpring-water

ceffively, diluted in

dofe every other day, which

month;

SCIENCES.

but, if the dropfy or

will in general

then reduce

remove the malady

confumption have been

it

in the

far advanced,

it

fame

to the

courfe of a

will

be necef-

fary to continue the medicine for one, two, or even three, months longer, reducing
the

number of dofes

in proportion as health

the blood fhall have refumed

thefe complaints,

it

will not

water, as a beverage, for

its

and ftrength appear

and as

to return,

proper confiftency, and a brifker circulation.

be amifs to take the Tincture

fome time

in

a tumbler of

after the cure is perfe6ted, as

prevent the blood from returning to

its

watery and impoveriflied

rarefy and expel the vifcid cohefions in the

pulmonary

velfels.

it

In

warm

will infallibly

ftate,

and

will

In thefe diforders,

the Solar Tin6ture-may be fafely admiftered to females even during obflrudlions

of the catamenia, as hath lately been experienced by perfecting an admirable cure

on a lady

in Grafton-Ilreet.

This lady was

affliCted

with obftruCtions of the liver and fpleen, infomuch that

fhe could not walk up one pair of ftairs without

Her menfes were obftruCted

much

pain,

and fhortnefs of breath*

and twice or thrice a-day die was attacked with afth-

matic fpafms, accompanied with febrile fymptoms. This affliction being of a peculiar nature, I

was obliged

and Lunar TinCtures,

in the

manner Whenever the fever came on, die took a dofe of the Solar Tincand every morning and evening, fixty drops of the Lunar TinCture in a gill

following
ture;

to prefcribe both the Solar

of mugwort tea

and

to her ufual colour

in

and

twenty-one days die was perfectly recovered, and reftored

vivacity, to the great joy of her parents

MENTAL DEPRESSION,

or

LOWNESS

and

friends.

of SPIRITS.

THIS may be confidered the primary diforder of the nervous train; and, if redded
in time, may in mod cafes be eafily cured. For this purpofe take a table-fpoonful
of the Solar TinCture, diluted in a wine-glafs of cold fpring-water, every forenoon
at eleven or twelve oclock, for fourteen fucceffive days; then ufe

three days for a

month

will fenfibly feel,

and the complaint

by their alertnefs,

of which the following cafe

may

To
SIR,

From a

come forward
No. fil4.

full

will

aCtivity,

ferve as an

E.

it

in

every two or

be entirely removed, as

all

and unufual flow of natural

example

patients
fpirits;

SIBLY, M. D.

conviction of the efficacy of your Solar TinCture, I cheerfully

to inform you,

that,

having been
5

much

afflicted

with depreffion of
fpirits.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

366

a nervous tremor, and palpitation of the heart, (owing, I believe, to clofe

fpirits,

perfe6l cure,

much

and

application to ftudy,

I have lately experienced a

profeflional duty,)

by taking one large bottle of your medicine.

God and

Impreffed, therefore,

and having a certain knowledge of

many other cures performed by your Tincture, I do hereby requeft this may be

with a fenfe of gratitude to

made

you,

public for the benefit of the aftlided, and

Borough, Southwark, March

am

with efteem.

See.

W. WOOLLEY, M.

10.

A.

BILE ON THE STOMACH.

ALL

Whenever a

dinary manner.

loaded and oppreffed,

warm

removed by the Solar

bilious complaints are

appears to be coming on,

fit

the digeftive organs, and give the patient immediate

THE

It

MAD DOG,

OF A

fatal difeafe

or any

firft

relief.

VENOMOUS
mad

confequent on the bite of a

which circumftance

dread of water

with the ftomach

one large table-fpoonful, taken in the fame quantity of

minutes carry off the offending matter, cleanfe and comfort

w'ater, will in ten

BITE

Tin5lure in a raoft extraor-

dog,

is

REPTILE.
the hydrophobia, or

fuggefted dipping in the fea for cure.

very remarkable that thefe patients have not only a dread of water, but of every

is

Soon

thing bright or tranfparent.

comes impaired
nervous

fluid,

and thence

nefs, mentions a

after this affe6lion takes place,

which fliows that the poifon

to the brain.

boy fent out

to

fill

two

fome

He

was bewitched.

ale

from a cafk,

was

the

mind be-

carried through the blood to the

Dr. James,

in his Treatife

bottles with water,

the noife of the liquid running into them,

that he

is

on Canine

who was

Mad-

fo terrified

by

that he fled into the houfe crying out

mentions alfo the cafe of a fgrmer, who, going to draW"

fuch a degree at its running into the veffel,

terrified to

that he ran out in great hafle with the fpigot in his hand. But, in whatever
this

fymptom comes

on,

certain that the mofl painful fenfations

it is

every attempt to fwallow liquids.

Nay, the bare

manner
accompany

fight of water, of a looking-glafs,

of any thing clear or pellucid, will give the utmoft uneafinefs, or even throw the
In this difeafe there feems to be an extreme fenfibility
patient into convulfions.

and

irritability

of the nervous fyftem.

of any thing white

the

leaf!;

The

eyes cannot bear the light, nor the fight

touch or motion offends them, and they want to bb

Some complain

kept as quiet and in as dark a place as poffible.

the

air,

frequently

have a great defire

all

there

fome

is

when

it is

really

for cold air,

warm.

Others complain of violent heat; and

which yet never

fails to

increafe the fymptoms. In

a great flow of the faliva into the mouth; which

to the patients, as

it

of the coldnefs of

is

exceedingly trouble-

has the fame effebl upon their fauces that other liquids

have.

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

36T.

This therefore they perpetually blow off with violence, which in a patient

have.

of Dr. Fothergills occafioned a noife not unlike the hollow barking of a dog, and
whichlie conje61ures might have given

rife to

They 'have an

ous patients bark

like dogs.

down any

except with the utmoll

drink,

fwallow bread foaked

under the fcrobiculm

in liquids, dices

common
;

though fometimes they can

of orange, or other
;

There

fruits.

is

a pain

and the patients mournfully point

Dr. V aughan

to that place as tho feat of the difeafe.

notion that hydrophobi-.

ii^atiable thirft; but are unable to get

difficulty

as in the tetanus

cordis,

the

is

of opinion that

it is

this pair,

rather than any difficulty in fvvallowing, which diftreffes the patient on every attemipt to drink.

us there

tells

is

The

voice

commonly plaintive and mournful

is

but Dr. Vaughan

a mixture of fiercenefs and timidity in the countenance which he

cannot defcribe, but by which he could know a hydrophobious perfon without

ing any

Some feem

queftions.

to

tion to fpit at or bite the by-ftanders

will

even

fuffisr

while others diow

no fuch

away

In fome male patients there

the femen; and the urine

is

the vifcid faliva which

is

we have

Sept. 26th, 1767,

an involuntary eredlion of the penis, and emiffion of

forced away by the frequent return of the fpafms.
is

dated Warfaw,

the following melancholy account of the cafes of five

:

ly vomiting.

Every member

to the breaft

intermiffion, praying, lamenting, defpairing, curfing, figh-

ing, fpitting a frothy faliva, fcreeching,

is

fometimes belching, and retching, but rare-

convulfed by

and cefophagus.

The

fit

the fauces are not red, nor the tongue dry.

when

S.

who died of the hydrophobia None of them quite loft their fenfes but they

were all talking without

up

but

ready to fuffocate them.

In a letter from Dr. Wolf, of Warfaw,, to Henry Baker, F. R.

vel

inclination,

people to wipe the infide of their mouths with the corner of a hand-

kerchief in order to clear

perfons

aflc-

have at times a furious delirium, and an inclina-

the

fit is

and during the

fits,

but moft violently from the na-

comes on every quarter of an hour;

The pulfe is not at all fever ifli and,

The face grows pale, then brown,
;

over, nearly like a found pulfe.

fit

almoft black; the lips livid

tingling; the urine limpid.

ceafe towards the end

they fweat, and at

laft

the head

At laft they grow weary;

the

is

drowfy, and the ears

fits

are lefs violent, and

the pulfe becomes weak, intermittent, and not very quick

They compofe themfelves

the whole body becomes cold.

quietly as if to get deep, and

fo they expire.

general obfervation was, that the

and dreffings of the wounds, even when dry, were always black, and that when
the pus was very good in colour and appearance. In one. of Dr. Wolfs> patients
who recovered, the blood ftank intolerably as it was drawn from a vein ; and one
lint

of Mr. Vaughans patients complained of an intolerable foetid fmell proceeding

from the wounded

part,

though nobody but himfelf could perceive

the violent convulfions ceafe a ftiort time before death

In general,

it.

and even the hydrophobia

'

goes

;;;

A KEY TO PHYSIC

368

But this does not always happen

the
cafe
of
patient,
in whom, when he had in apmentions
a
Mr. Vaughan

goes
for

off,

fo that the patients can drink freely.

pearance ceafed to breathe, the fpafmus cynicus was obfervable, with an odd con-

vuHive motion

in the

mufcles of the face

and the ftrange contrariety which took

place in the adtion of thefe produced the moft horrid alfemblage of features that

Of

can well be conceived.

hours of his

life

he ceafed to

this patient alfo

it

was remarkable, that

which had been

call for drink,

in the laft

his conftant requeft;

but was perpetually afking for fomething to eat.

The hydrophobia feems to be a fymptom peculiar to the human race; for the
mad animals which communicate the infedtion do not feem to have any drea^d of
water. Notwithftanding this, dipping is the common remedy for the cure of dogs
and men. With regard to the fymptoms of madnefs in dogs, they are very equivocal
and thole particularly enumerated by fome authors, are only fuch
pedted in dogs

much

One fymptom

indeed,

namely, that

away from one

large dogs will not attack one of the fmalleft lize

Upon this

was

mad

really

or not; namely,

along the infide of his mouth, and then offering

a fign the dog was not

ing noife,
is

it is

mad

dogs put into

alfo.

He

kennel.

mad

certain that he was.

infedtious by ftaying in the

fedted, the

going

who

that

is

mad

and even

infedled with this difeafe.

is

fuppofition they point out a method of difcovering whether a dog,

hath been killed,

it, it is

might be ex-

could be depended upon, would determine the matter;

if it

other dogs avoid and run

all

as

heated or agitated by being violently purfued and ftruck.

remedy

Dr. James
;

tell us,

and

for this, he fays,

is

by rubbing a piece of meat

found dog.

that

that, after

If the latter eats

with a kind of howl-

it

among dogs

is,

to

the difeafe

a kennel has been once in-

be for a confiderable time afterwards

keep geefe

for

dogs when going

rejedts as falfe the opinion that

though he owns that there

to a

but, if the other rejedts

fame place

will

it

it

who

in

danger of

fome time

mad

will not

in th

bark

a very confiderable change in their bark, w'hich be-

comes hoarfe and hollow.

With regard

to the

that the hydrophobia

immediate caufeiamong mankind, there

is

not the leaft doubt

mad animal

occafioned by the faliva of the

is

being mixed

with the blood. It does not appear that this can operate through the cuticula; but,

when

that

eafe,

and a

is

rubbed

off,

the fmalleft quantity

flight fcratch

cious as a large wound. It

by the bites of dogs,

when

in

ftate

with the teeth of a

is

is fufficient

mad animal

But

it

dif-

beea communicated

and even cocks and hens,

does not appear that the diftemper

cable from one hydrophobious perfon to another,

other way.

communicate the

certain alfo, that the infedtion has

cats, wolves, foxes, weafels, fwine,

of madnefs.

to

has been found as perni-

by means of the

is

communi-

bite,

or any

AND THE OCCULT

It has

SCIENCES.

been generally allowed by practitioners,

be prevented, yet

The moft

it

means

may

though the hydrophobia

can feldom he cured after the difeafe has made

effential part

the proper

that,

369

its

appearance.

of the treatment therefore depends on an immediate ufe of

For

of prevention.

this

purpofe fome advife the inftant cutting

we could
be fure the poifon had not reached beyond the wound. When, however, we confider the rapidity with which the blood and juices flow, it feems impoffible we can
out the part bitten, which muft certainly be an effedlual mode, provided

ever wholly depend on fuch an operation.

I fliould neverthelefs advife

to be

it

done; after which let the part be well foaked with the Solar Tin6lure; and, to fortify
the bJood,

the patient immediately fwallow a table fpoonful every three hours,

let

undiluted, for the

lowing.

firft

am

or four days; and I

bite

day; and the fame dofe night and morning, for a month

fol-

Let the-part be again foaked with the Tincture four times a-day, for three
fatisfied a fafe

and perfect cure may be

relied on.

For the

of adders, fnakes, &c. bathing the part, and taking the medicine undiluted, will

counteradl the virulence of the poifon, and preferve the patient from further injury.

For

gun-shot WOUNDS, CUTS,

STABS,

&c.

GENTLEMEN in the army and navy, and all perfons liable to gun-fliots,
wounds, &c. Ihould never be without the Solar Tindture.
the blood, in

all

blood;

an

fortifies

it is

degree.

thus renovates the exhaufled fpirits, and preferves

life.

Its efFe6l

and

on a few Ample

in the following cafes.

'

For

flefli

If taken internally, and poured at the fame time into the

quickly propelled through the heart by the veins and arteries

wounds may be feen

SIR,

on

very advanced ftages. It quickly fupplies the greateft lofs of

the heart, cherifhes the vital organs, and heals and unites the

uncommon

wound,

Its falutary effedts

thefe cafes, are really furprifing. It totally prevents, and will even

ftop, mortification, in

in

ftabs,

To

E. Sl.BLY,

M. D.

the fake of thofe liable to accidents,

I think

it

right to inform

you

of a moil remarkable cure performed by your Solar Tin6lure, on a very deep and

dangerous wound made on Mrs. Cook by a cafe-knife, of more than the depth of

my

fore-finger.

bottle of

After trying every means in vain to flop the blood, I fent for a

your Solar Tin6lure; and well bathed the wound therewith.

The blood

and Tindlure readily

aflimilated, and formed a crufl on the orifice of the wound,

which very foon flopped the effufion of blood. But what is mofl remarkable, the
wound was completely healed in lefs than fix days, and is now fo perfectly clpfed,

as to be almofl imperceptible.
will oblige,

You

are

welcome

Seymour-Jlreet, Portland-fquare, April 14.

No.

24,

to publifli this,

and

in fo

doing

&c.

SB

WILLIAM COOK.
To

A KEY TO PHYSIC

57Q

To
SIR,

In

juftice to

E.

SIBLY, M. D.

my own feelings,

formed by your Solar Tin6lure,

in

I cannot but acquaint

a very

you with a cure perI was travelling

uncommon manner. As

Kent, a gentleman, who fat next

in the ftage to

Boxley-Abbey, near Maidftone,

me, putting

head out of the window, received a violent cut acrofs the eye with the

his

in

coachmans whip, which produced an immediate fwelling and inflammation, attended with fo much agony, that he declared the pain was infupportable.
chafed a bottle of your Solar Tinfture while

many furprifmg

cures in

my

anguifli

was greatly afluaged; and

The gentleman

had pur-

In lefs than ten minutes the

in the

courfe of three hours

it

was quite

well.

expreffed the utinoft af onifliment at the celerity of the cure, as did

I wifli this to be

every paffenger in the coach.

benefit of thole

had performed

This I immediately opened, and ap-

neighbourhood.

vvetted with the Tincture.

it,

it

and, after wafhing the eye well withit, I bound a white

plied to the inflamed part;

handkerchief tight over

in

town, knowing

who

are liable to accidents

made

and

am

as public as poflTible, for the

with refpecf, &c.

M. STABLES.
I

fliall

only remark further, with refpedl to wounds, bruifes, &c. that a fhortfime

ago, as a coach

nately beat

was driving

down a

girl

furioufly out of Cavendifli-fquare, the horfes unfortu-

of eight years of age, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth

Larken, of Clipllon-flreet; and, the wheels paffing over her body, fhe was taken up
to all

appearance dead.

hofpital

The

but, the accident

fpe6tators were for carrying her immediately to the

happening very near

my

houfe, I was lent

for.

I avoid-

ed letting blood, but bathed the bruifed parts thoroughly with the Solar Tin6ture,

and introduced half a fpoonful, undiluted, into her llomach. It was now about nine
She was compofed and afleep before ten, being overcome by
oclock at night.

A fpoonful more

the medicine.

of the Tin6lure was given her at different periods

At

of the night, the fudorific power of which brought on a plentiful perfpiration.

ten oclock the next morning

flie

awoke, and got up, and was fo well recovered as

to be able to play about with her companions, in all refpe6ls the

had happened.

The

girl,

fame

as

if

nothing

and her parents, are pleafed with every opportunity of

recounting the circumftances of this event, to any enquirers.

Let

it

not be faid, that, becaufe this medicine appears to be prefcribed for

diforders,

it

can be good for

commended,

none. I

aflSrm, that

Solar Tincture

is

on the blood and juices;

branches; by which peculiar advantage

And, though

every complaint for which

originates in the blood, or in ohJtruHed perfpiration.

there

is

a medicine,

it

it

effedls

ftrikes

many

it is

re-

Theadion of the

at the root,

not at the

a cure when other medicines

fail.

fold in regular praftice at a guinea an ounce,

which

AND THE OCCULT

which

poffeffes

SCIENCES.

371

no one virtue comparable to the Solar Tindlure;^ yet the proprietor,

unwilling to adopt fuch examples, or to withhold from the afflidled in every line of

of

life

the benefits of his difcovery, has determined to render it to the public at only

7s. 6d, the fmall,

in every

many
it

and

duty included, with ample diredtions

13s. the large, bottles,

complaint for which

it

A fingle bottle

ought to be adminiftered.-

will in

cafes perforto a fpeedy cure, when, in the ordinary courfe of medical practice,

would occupy a month, and

cofli

many pounds

for unneceflary attendance,

and

excefs of drugs.

OF THE

PRINCIPLES
OF

LIFE AND DEATH.

LIFE denotes the animated ftate of nature;
an union of the foul and body

lafis.

With

and, in

paration has really taken place; which can no

ing the paroxifm of a

fit,

human

beings, exifts as long as

us, therefore, life continues, until

more be

faid to have

fuch fe-

happened dur-

or of a blow which for a time deprives us of fenfation, or

an unnatural or fudden death, than during the time we are

the want of proper fkill at fuch times that too often occafions death

in the ear^^.period of
afleep.

It

is*

to take place,

when

life

have been prefsrved.

body

in

which fenfe

An animal

abfolutely exifts in the blood, and might with

Death
it

is

ftands oppofed to

life,

which

body, by the actions infeparable from

and receives

its diffolution.

little

care

therefore the adt of feparation of the foul from the

life,

confifts in the

union thereof.

undergoes a continual change,

by degrees. Jts fmalleft fibres become rigid;

its

minuter
veflels

A KEY TO PHYSIC

372
velTels

grow into

folid fibres

no longer pervious

to the fluids

grow hard and narrow; and everything becomes contradfed,

whence the drynefs, immobility, and extenuation, obferved
means

the offices of the minuter velfels are deftroyed; the

and

den,

Thus

at length coalefce with the folids.

body intercepted and

its

clofed,

greater

veflfels

and bound up:

By fuch

in old age.

humours

flagnate, har-

are the fubtileft fluids in

the

the concodlion weakened, and the reparation prevented

loft,

only the blood continues to run flowly through the greater veftels, afliduous to preferve

even after the animal fundlions are deftroyed. At length, in the procefs

life,

of thefe changes, death becomes inevitable, as the neceffary confequences of

But

it is

rare indeed that

life is

thus long protradled, or that death fucceeds merely

from the natural decays and impairment of old age.

negle6l of preferving health, cut the work

The

death the fliade

is

this lubje61:,

we

Accidental difeafes, and our

fliort.

If

figns of death are often very uncertain.

Bruchier have faid on

fliall

fo very undiflinguifhable,

we confult what Winflow or

be convinced, that between

of

The

coldnefs of the body, the

and

colour of the

warmth of the body, and fupplenefs of the joints, are but uncertain
fubfifting; while,

life ftill

life

that even all the powers of art can

fcarcely determine w here the one ends and the other begins.
vifage, the

life,

figns

on the contrary, the palenefs of the complexion, the

of the extremities, the cefTation of all motion, and

ftiffnefs

the total infenfibility of the parts, are but uncertain marks of death begun. In the

fame manner alfo, with regard

kept under,

that

it is

to the pulfe

and breathing; thefe motions arefo often

impoffible to perceive them.

By

bringing a looking-glafs

near to the mouth of the perfon fuppofed to be dead, people often expedt to find

whether he breathes or not.

ftill

alive,

though the glafs

in the ears,

nor pungent

continuance of

them

all,

But

this is a

very uncertain experiment

by the vapour of the dead mans body

frequently fullied

life

is

no way

fpirits

tarniflied.

the glafs

and often the perfon

is
is

In the fame manner, neither noifes

applied to the noftrils, give certain figns of the dif-

and there are many inftances of perfons who have endured

and afterwards ecovered without any external

ment of the

affiftance, to the aftonifli-

fpedlators. This furely ought to be a caution againft hafty burials, ef-

pecially in cafes of fudden death

for

it is

fhocking to

refledt, that

fome hundreds

of valuable members of fociety are annually torn from their difconfolate families by

fome accidental fudden caufe, and hurried thoughtlefsly

principles of

life

were capable of being revived

eftablifhed by the
tions feveral

happy fuecefs of the Humane

w'hom the

Society, from w'hofe laudable exer-

hundred perfons have been reftored

to

life,

who, to

ance, werepcift recover;^. Every age and country affords

having been recovered, even alter lying long for dead

7

to the grave, in

This lamentable truth has been

fome

all vifible

appear-

inftances of perfons

and from the number of

thofe

AND THE OCCULT

thofe preferved by mere lucky accidents,

faved by timely pains and

human machine know,

its

evident

ftill

379

greater

numbers might be

Thofe who have contemplated the

Ikill.

that

it is

SCIENCES.

ftru6ture of the

cannot natw'ally happen but by that gra-

diflblution

dual decay of the whole fyftem above defcribed, when the velTels are become impervious to the fluids, the circulation w-eakened or deftroyed, and the vital organs

longer able to perform their

ed by fome fudden
w'hich refumes

fliock, it

may be

and

its

their fun<5lions are

na

merely fufpend-

likened to the ftate of a watch flopped by a fall,

is

repaired. In the animal ceconomy,

II, 14. Deut.

Levit. xvii.

circulation be fufpended or deflroyed,

re-agitated,

when

motion the inftant that injury

its

BLOOD is the LIFE;

the

But,

office.

death follows.

xii. 25..

But,

therefore, if

its

the blood can be

if

For

circulation refamed, life will of neceffity be rellored.

this

reafon, whenever any accident has happened, by which fudden death appears ta

have taken place, whether by blows,

fuffocation, flrangulation, drowning,

fits, falls,

apoplexy, convulfion-fits, thunder and lightning, affaffination, duelling, or the like,

let

the unfortunate perfon be carried into a

into a

warm bed

duced as early as

let

fifled

wound,

if

juices, particularly in the

refifled

cle of the heart,

naulating

will

by the dephlogiflicated

by a

in,

heart,

warm

and poured

quickly roufe the flagnant blood and

it

will fwell fo as to

motion,

'

The

air

itfelf into the

at refl

oftener than

is

imagined.

upon the lieart at all furprifing ;

and

thus, lli-

right auricle being thus filled,

means being irri-

pulmonary artery ; and, the moit left

and the lungs, being

off ;

contained in the medicine, begin to

provided the organs and juices are in a

that the heart, even

the flaccid right auri-

fill

the ventricle; which, by this

done, the circulation begins again where

the Tinfture

know,

in

fills

and empties

this is

to

and region of the

had become empty and

fliock

put them

filled

much

or put

grand refervoir the heart, where, rarefying, preffing every

ment

undoubtedly are

fire,

flimulating quality of the medicine, af-

fri6lion, will

into contra6lion,

tated, likewife contrails

reflored,

warm

by the valves,

which by the

its fibres,

and flimulated

loins, breafl,

there be any; the

by the external heat and

way, and being

houfe, and laid by the

and rubbed profufely

poffible into the ftomach,

hand, upon the fpine of the back,

into the

warm

two or three table-fpoonfuls of the Solar Tindlure be intro-

fit

adt,

difpofition for ft;

Nor

is this

for every medical

and

life is

which they

ftimulating action of

man knows,

or ought

when taken out of the body, if it be pricked with a

upon it, will beat afrefli, and endeavour to exert its

pin, or hath waim water thrown

functions, though^ for

fome time before

it

had been motionlefs.

fore ought to be confidered dead, until the energy of the txlood

it

can, never again be agitated fo as to

fill

No
is

perfon there-

fo far gone, that

and flimulate into contraction the right

Jinus venqfiLS and auricle of the heart.

No, 24.

Whea

A KEY TO PHYSIC

S74

When the patient

is thus far recovered, he ought to be treated with great care and

warm milk, wine and water, elder-flower-tea, or any nourilhfome
and
tendernefs
ing fpoon-meat, fliould be given to him as foon as he appears capable of takjng
;

In fome cafes

food.

may be

it

nal jugular, or to bleed in the

be difpenfed with, as

neceffary to open the temporal artery and the exter-

arm

certainly

it

but this fliould never be done,

weakens the animal

may

cular occafions

Above

all virtues

me

all, let

Humane Society,

confcientious,

firft

be found of conliderable

will

entreat an anxious perfeverance in this fublimeftof

Humanity calls for it in the

a good heart with more fincere, per-

the attempt to recover perifliing

moft moving accents;

fe6t,

the

require, the rules laid

and recommended by the

advantage.

can fafely

it is

Under different circumftances, and as partidown in p. 196 of the Medical Part of

object of this medicine to ftrengthen.

this w'ork,

if it

principle, which

and w hat can infpire

and commendable,

lives.

fatisfadlion, than a retrofpe6l of fuch

endea-

vours as have been generoufly exerted and fuccefsfully contributed to recover, per-

haps to

reftore, the life

fudden death, with

its

of a fellow-creature from the moft deprecated calamity

alarming retinue of threatening confequences to thofe who

die unprepared ? fince, by thus preferving a finner to a future period, perhaps a foul

may emerge in full maturity to felicity which fliall have no end

To demonffratethe reanimating power of the medicine, experiments may
upon a

be made

by plunging them under water

fowl, lamb, cat, dog, or other animal,

until

they are apparently dead, or piercing them through the head, or any part of the bo-

dy except the heart; by fuffocation, or an

foever
fedls

it

happens, whether by drowning or otherwife,

on the

Upon

eledlrical fliock

vital

organs ; confequently they are

the whole

it is

evident, that

all to

is

for

much

be treated

fudden death, how-

the
in

fame as to

its ef-

a fimilar manner.

by contemplating the oeconomy and harmony

of our ftrudture, both external and internal, we

may

quickly difeern a proper line

of conduft for the confervation of health, and the prolongation of life

and we

fliall

more auguft view of the marvellous works of divine wifdom in the

of the human frame, than w e fliall perhaps again find in the whole com-

alfo perceive a
ftrudlure

pafs of nature.

The

gift

of health was evidently the defign of our benevolent

Creator in the conftruftion of our bodies

interell to preferve this blefling to

w'hich gives the

relifli

our

it is

lateft

rich

no

our duty than our

lefs

moments, as the feafoning and fund

to all our other enjoyments.

abufes of health, which take place from our

life,

therefore

To

enumerate the various

earliell infancy, particularly

and gay, and which are continued through the fucceeding

would

fill

a volume.

Suffice

it

among the

flages of modifli

more particularly
To compare their

to obferve, that they prevail

among people who are the moft highly poliflied and refined.
artificial mode of living vvith that of nature, would afford a very
7

ftriking contraft,

and

AND THE OCCULT

and fupply an obvious reafon why perfons
rally the longeft livers, and enjoy the heft

SCIENCES.

in the

ftate

375

lower orders of fociety are gene-

of health; and hence we are war-

ranted to conclude, that a large proportion of the difeafes to which

we are fubjedled

are produced' by ourfelves.

Notwithftandingthis unaccountable abufe of Our health, yet the want of it unfits

us for rnoft of the
the focial and

and

common

humane

avocations of

alFe6lions, as

it

life,

and

more

is

generally renders the

efpecially an

unhappy

and apt

fullen, difgufted at the allotments of Providence,

free exercife

and ufelefs

and

full

by

It obftrudls the

improvement of our reafon, makes us a burden to our friends,

to fociety.

ftant fource of

to

fufFerer peevifh

to induce fuicide,

gloomy and fufpicious fentiments of the Almighty.

fuggefting

enemy

Whereas the uninterrupted enjoyment of health

good humour, and good humour

is

is

a con-

a great friend to opennefs and

ills and difappointments of

them with more patience; and, in Ihort,

benignity of heart; enables us to encounter the various

world with more

this

conduces much,
exigency of

much

us

life

courage, or to fuftuin

we are otherwife duly qualified, to our acting our part in every

with more firmnefs, confiftency, and dignity. Therefore it imports
if

to preferve

and improve the habit of

other external entertainment

is taftelefs,

To

all

this end,

fortitude,

we ought above

its

enjoyment, without which every

and moft other advantages are of little

things to cultivate prudence, temperance, fobriety,

and equanimity of temper ; for without a prudent care of the body, and

a fteady government of the mind,

to guard the one

from difeafe, and the other

from the feuds of pallion and prejudice, found health

ance we enjoy the real gratifications of

life,

is

unattainable.

By temper-

without fuffering any confequent ineon*

Sobriety enables us to be content with fimple and frugal fare, and pro-

venience.
te6ts us

avail.

from the pain and difgrace of intoxication.

Fortitude enables us to bear

thofe infirmities which prudence and fobriety cannot fliun, and banilhes

imaginary evils from our thoughts.

the happinefs of

life,

all

dread of

Equanimity of temper contributes greatly to

as well as to the prefervation of health,

by keeping the mind

from anxiety and perturbation, and arming us againft the calumnies and animofities
of

human

nature. Violent paffions,

and wear away the

conftitution

and the exceffes they induce, gradually impair

whilft the

calm and placid

ftate

of a temperate

mind, and the healthful exercife of the body, preferve the natural functions
vigour and harmony, and exhilarate the
tion.
this

The

fpirits,

in- full

which are the chief inftruments of ac-

worft confequences that could poflibly refult from a

ftri(5l:

adherence to

regimen, would be that of exterminating a fwarm of locufts, and rendering the

difcovery of

my

medicine of lefs importance to the community.

Or

A KEY TO PHYSIC

376

Of the crisis, or CRITICAL TURN,

THE

of a Difeafe

Crills

which of them

infirmity,

it is

DISEASE.

no other than the ftruggle betwixt nature and the

If nature at the time of the

fhall prevail.

comes the malignity of the

nefs prevails,

is

of a

difeafe,

then a pernicious

it is

a fure fign

crifis,

it

wdll

be cured; but,

and fiiows fudden alterations

Every fudden and vehement motion of the difeafe may be called a

days

decretory, and crifmal, are

critical,

all

more powerful, or

lefs

therefore a crifis

to be calculated

is

And

invaded the patient.

firfi;

prove the truth of what

proved,

that I

We

at thofe times

when

afflidting,

either

the true crifis happens

from that moment of time when the difeafe

this

ground

it

make fome

I fliall

obfervations to

were as eafy for the heaven and the earth

and pleafure

alter

it

Thofe

and chronic.

acute,
is

Of acute

difeafes

very acute; others again are perper-

that are fimply acute are finiflied in eight, ten,

eleven, fourteen, twenty, or twenty-one,

Moon

di-

miraculoufly.

difcriminate two forts of difeafes;

acute, or exceedingly acute.

to return

and infringe that immutable law, unlefs the

fome are fimply acute, others peracute, that

the

therefore

have now to deliver, and of what I have before fo often

immutable a law, that

w'ill

crifis;

cannot but admire the wonderful providence of God, who difpofeth

to their original chaos, as to break

vine

for the worfe.

by number, weight, and meafure, prefcribeth to the whole fyflem of na-

all things

ture fo

on

over-

if the fick-

one and the fame thing, and import

no more than a certain and more fure judgment of the infirmity

vehement,

crifis

They

days.

are terminated in the time

traceth the twelve celeftial figns of the zodiac,

viz.

in

twenty-feven

days and eight hours.

Thofe acute difeafes which fuffer changes are very fickle; for fometimes they increafe, and fometimes they are remitted, according as the Moon meets with the

beams of

either benefic or baneful planets

acute difeafes into chronic

fever, or

an

and fometimes they change out of

and thus a continued fever may change

into an

hedic

and thefe difeafes terminate

intermiltant fever into a continual fever;

in forty days.

Very acute
amongft which

difeafes are fuch as terminate in

is

five,

fix,

feven, or eight, days;

the difeafe called peripneumonia, or inflammation of the lungs.

Exceedingly acute difeafes are fuch as end

tilences, apoplexies,

in three

or four days at fartheft, as pef-

&c.

Chronic difeafes follow the motion of the Sun, and

it is

about ninety days before

begins to appear; for in that time the Sun comes to the proper quar-

the

firfi crifis

tile

of the place he was in at the decumbiture; as appears in hedlic fevers, dropfies,

and the

like.

But,

when he comes

to thofe degrees

from the decumbiture which

are

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

377

may be
man may judge of the

are called indicative, or intercidental, which are both one, or judicial, (as

feen in the

Table,) fome alteration will appear, whereby a

For the patient

come.

crifis to

benign planets; but worfe,

you confider

it

will

be

va

cII,

if

the

Sun be

well configurated with

in afpedt with evil ones; and this rule

if

infallible, if

is

from the nativity throughout the whole courfe of a mans

difcafes are the particular attendants

of the

inequality

of the elements

life

in coery

for

human

being.

Alfo a

crifis

may be

perfe6l, or imperfedl,

'

perfe<51; crifis is

when

the difeafe

appears plain, and perfectly to be judged of; and this is fometimes hopeful, and
fomejtimes defperate. Hopeful, when there is a great probability of health and re-

An

covery ; defperate, when there are palpable figns of death.

when

the difeafe

the difeafe,

That
that

and

crifis

is

changed upon every

in a

light occafion

double-bodied fign

may be deemed

if

iinperfe6t crifis is

Mars be

afpe6ts are,

be variable.

comes without pernicious afpedls; but

doubtful and dangerous which comes with malignant afpe6ts

is

the author of

in this cafe the difeafe will

Avliich

fafe,

as

with the fignificators of every difeafe,

what thefe

and the mode of afeertaining

I have there
them, are already explained in my Illustration f Astrology.
it
is
neceffary
difeafe,
to
of
a
obferve
the
judge
motion
to
of the Sun,
that
fhown,

and lord of the afeendant. With refped to the lord of the afeendant,
obferve, before you give judgment, what application he makes to any planet, either

Moon,

by conjundtion,

quartile, or oppofition;

or,^

fhould he apply to more than one planet,

look to vphich of them he approaches nearefl, and then count

how many

degrees of

longitude are between them and, if the difeafe be acute, then for every degree add
a day; but, if chronic, a wpek, month, or year, according to the fituation of Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, or the Moon, at a perfedl crifis.
;

Now
the

the time called critical

Moon

is

is

always

evil,

becaufe of the contrariety of the fign

then in to the fign the was in at the decumhiture, which induceth the

contrariety of her nature to the oppofite place; therefore at

fueha time there

a controverfy and conteft between the difeafe and nature.

The Moon upholds na-

ture in acute difeafes

if file

be

afflidted

and hence

is

the reafon that a bad

crifis will

arifeth

always happen,

upon a critical day by the bodies or evil beams of Saturn or Mars,

or by the lord of the eighth houfe, or by the lord of the fourth houfe,
levolent, becaufe he fignifies the grave.

But,

if

the

Moon

if

he be a ma-

at the time of the crifis

behold the lord of the afeendant, or be configurated with the benefic planets, health
enfues, and the

malady

will

be vanquifhed and overcome in the

If the difeafe terminates not upon the

configurated on the fecond

crifis,

firft crifis,

not then, as will fometimes happen, view-the third

No. 24.

obferve

and judge by the fame

crifis,

how

rules.

conflidfc.

the

If

Moon
it

will

be

terminates^

and judge by that the fame

way.

A KEY TO PHYSIC

37S

If your judgment, fupported by reafon and the former rules, declare that

vvay.

the difeafe will not terminate one

examine the face of the heavens

in at the decumbiture,

dome minutes

which

way or

at the time the

at the

is

and judge according

benefic or malignant planets

other, neither in health nor death

Moon

end of twenty-feven days, eight hours, and

Moon

as the

diall

be then configurated with

for this of neceffity terminates all

though we may obferve that not one

then

returns to the place die was

in

a hundred holds on

acute difeafes;

fo long, nor one out of

twenty continues half fo long.

If the acute difeafe ends not in a month,

The

and muft be judged of by the Sun.

are fimilar to thofe by which

Sun

it is

rules forjudging chronic difeafes by the

we judge of acute

and calculation of time

for the right diftindlion

then turned into a chronic difeafe

in this way, obferve the following method

to

difeafes by the

Now,

judge of the progrefs of a difeafe

See what degree the

Moon.

Moon

was

in at the

decumbiture, by an Ephemeris, and add twenty-two degrees thirty minutes, which

is

called the indicative time, becaufe

eafe; for

To

it

informs the phyfician the nature of the dif-

upon thefe indicative days the difeafe

is

ufually remitted and mitigated.

time add twenty-two degrees thirty minutes more, and

this indicative

points out the judicial day, viz. juft forty-five degrees from the place of the

when

the patient

Moon

happens

judicial

fell fick,

being the half of a

to be afpedled,

crifis,

thirty

crifis will

minutes more, and

it

enfue.

makes

degrees thirty minutes, which produces the fecond indicative day,

tween the

how

the difeafe will finally ftiow

nutes more, and you

viz.
feft,

From

and judicial day.

crifis

itfelf.

this the phyfician

To

this

Moon

and manifefts, according as the

whether a good or a bad

day add twenty-two degrees

this

To

the

fiixty-feven

as falling be-

may expeft

indications

add twenty-two degrees

thirty

mi-

have the perfedf crifis of the difeafe from the decumbiture,

ninety degrees, or one quarter of the zodiac.

according to the planets that are in afpedl to

fon will have a good or bad

crifis;

At this time nature will manithe Moon, whether the fick per-

and, adding twenty-two degrees thirty minutes

makes the next judicial day, when the Moon approacheth to it; and foon,
through the whole twelve figns of the zodiac, and overit again, if the difeafe terminate not in that time, as will plainly appear by the following Table, which fiiows
more,

it

when

the

or half a

Moon comes
crifis

to

an indicative or to a judicial day, that

and when

called a full crifis

and fo

to a true quartile,
to all

is,

a femiquartile,

and when to an oppofition, which

is

the indicative and judicial days during the fick-

nefs, &c.

EXAMPLE.
Suppofe the true place of the Moon,

at the time a perfon falls fick,

be fixteen

degrees of Gemini, which will be found in the fourth column of the following Ta-

ble,

AND THE OCCULT

fo that fixteen degrees of

blc,

Over

cumbiture.
.the

head thereof I

find

how

it

firft

to the right hand,

when

fo that,

was the

the

Moon came

Moon

you

will find

which fhows

that,

Next, on the right

Leo, Ihe will be in femiquartile to her

a

crifis, at

which time the difeafe

configurations as the

comes

enabled further

lumn you

is

it

to

find 16,

S?..

place

more or

and

had

lician defcry

line or

and over

it

it^,

good or

a better or worfe

column, you

rations of the

before ftated, half

this, is, as

according to fuch

may

which indicates

was a true

crifis,

that,

when

evil planets

crifis, in

for

the

Moon when

In the next co-

Moon came

to the

from hence

progreftive order.

flie

afpeds the

Moon

And thus,

in

phy-

will the patient or

in the continued

comes to thofe places of the zodiac wherein flie makes

and what planet or planets the is then in

critical, days,

evil.

you muft obferve on what day the Moon, or the lord of the afcendant,

the cufp of the fixth, feventh, and eighth, houfes, and

how

the benevolent or malign planets; and obferve whether

is

to the

whereby the difeafe might be more

contact with, and whether in the decumbiture they promife good or

eomiujla, which

is

run round the face of the Heavens, obferving the configu-

the indicative, judicial, and

this,

ftie

In the next column on the right hand, you fee

judge of the increafe or decreafe of the difeafe.

to the

3o of s,

to the firft degree of

lefs ma,nifeft itfelf

inveftigated, and a judgment framed according

that degree

to 8

if

ma-

but, if with a

hand

This points out the indicative day, wherein the phyfician

fixteenth degree of Virgo, there

fully

firft

Moon comes

the

or indicative

found to make with the other planets at the time

degree of Leo.

to the firft

23 30, and over

Moon

will

when

crifis

in configuration with

is

with a benevolent planet, expedl fome remiifnefs in the difeafe

levolent, the contrary effect will follow'.

and over

to eight degrees thirty

ITpon every

itfelf.

day, make fpecial obfervation what planet the

I find 8 30,

wherein the phyfician might

indicative day,

the difeafe would fliow

S79

be the Moons radical place in the de-

will

degrees,

againft 16

minutes of Cancer,
expedl to fee

Gemini

SCIENCES.

tranfits

then afpe6led with

flie is

flie

Befides

be combuft, or in via

from the twentieth degree of Gemini to the

firft

of Cancer, in

the northern part of the zodiac, and in the fouthern from the fixth degree of Sagittarius to the fixteenth of the

fame

degree of Sagittarius to the

degree of Capricorn, or in conjundlion, quartile,

fifth

conftellation

and from the twenty-fourth

or oppofition, of Saturn, or Mars, or of a combuft planet, or of

malignant nature; for in

and fevere

all

thefe cafes an indication

is

fome fixed

ftar

of a

given of death, or of long

number of teftimonies and aftral indications,

my Illustration ofAsTROLOCiY ; but in which

ficknefs, according to the

as exprefled in the rules given in

the following moft valuable Table was omitted.

ALU-

61

2
1

2
1

2
1

0
1

2
1

KEY TO PHYSIC
A I.UNAR TABLE,
A

380

the Degree of the Moon at the Time any Perpoint out at one View the Indicative, Judicial, and
Critical, Day, of the Difeafe.

Which, by entering with

fon

falls fick,

T T

will

25

o 30 23

7 30 30 22 30 15

7 3G

lO 30

0 .30 23 15 30 8
9 I 30 24 16 30 9
17 30 10 2 30 25 17 30 10
18 30 1
3 30 26 18 30 1
12
19 30
4 30 27 19 30 1
8

5 30 28 20 30 13
6 30 29 2 I 30 14
7 30 30 22 30 15

5 30 28 20 30 13
6 30 29 21 30 14

30 22 30 15 7 30 30 22 30 15

30 I 23 30 16 8 30
9 30 2 24 30 17 9 30
8

3 25 30 18 10 30

12 30
13 30
14 30

13 30

30

15 3 ^
16 30

y?

SI

23 30 16
2 24 .30 17
I

4 26
5 27
6 28
7 29

30 28 20 30 ^3
6 30 29 21 30 14

yy

30
9 30

-ru

0 30 23
30 24
30 9 I 30 24
17
2 30 25
30 10 2 30 25
18
26
30
30
3
3 30 26
'^ 1
19
4 30 27
3
4 30 27
I

5 30 28 20 30 13
6 30 29 21 30 14

-ru

SI

0 30 23 15 30

15 30 8
30 24 16 30 9
2 30 25 17 30 10
3 30 26 18 30 1
I

4 30 27 19 30

25

30
30
30
30

3 25 30 18 10 30

19
30 4 26 30 19 1
30
20 12 30 5 27 30 20 12 30
21 13 30 6 28 30 21 ^3 30
22 14 30 7 29 30 22 14 30
1

23 30 16 8 30 I 23 30 16
24 30 17 9 30 2 24 30 17

30 18
4 26 30 19
5 27 30 20
6 28 30 21
7 29 30 22
3 25

10 50
I

14 30

n
I

30 9 2
17 30 10 3
18 30 1
4
19 30 1
5
1

30 23
30 24
30 25
30 26
30 27

0 30 23
9 I 30 24
17 30 10 2 30 25
i8 30 1
3 30 26
19 30 '12 4 30 27
15 30
16 30

16
17
18
19

30

12 30
13 30

30 8 0 30 23 15
30 9 I 30 24 16
30 10 2 30 25 17
30 1
3 30 26 18
30 1
4 30 27 19
1

3 25

30 18

4 26 30 19
5 27 30 20
6 28 30 21
7 29 30 22

8 0 30 23
30
30 9 I 30 24
30 10 2 30 25
30 1
3 30 26
30 12 4 30 27

20 30 13 6 30 28 20 30 13 5 30 28 20 30 13 5 3c 28 20 30 13 5 30 28
30 14 7 30 29 21 30 14 6 30 29 21 30 14 6 30 29 21 30 14 6 30 29
22 30 15 8 30 30 22 30 15 7 30 30 22 30 15 7 30 30 22 30 15 7 30 30
21

25

23 30 16 9 30
24 30 17 10 30

25 30 18
26 30 19
27 30 20
28 30 21
29 30 22

30 3 25 30 18
12 30 4 26 30 19
13 30 5 27 30 20
14 3 ^ 6 28 30 21
15 30 7 29 30 22
1

30 I 23 30 16 8 30 r
9 30 2 24 30 17 9 30 2

23 30 16 8 30 I 23 30 16
2 24 30 17 9 30 2 24 30 17

10 30

3 25 30 18

30 4
12 30 5
13 30 6
1

14 30I 7

26
27
28
29

32
30
30 19
3020 12 30
3021 13 30
30I22 14 30
1

30 18
30 19
5 27 30 20
628 30 21
7I29 30 22

3 25
.4 26

10 30

30 .4
12 30 5
13 30 6
14 30 7
1

With

AND THE OCCULT

.

With

SCIENCES.

381

refpe6t to moderate or flight difeafes, Hippocrates afferted, in the

firft

place, !That contraries, or oppofites, are the remedies for each other ; and

maxim he explains by an aphorifm

diftempers which

So heat

cuation.

he

come from

afferted, that

is

which he

in

and repletion thofe

repletion,,

trenchment of what

is

fuperfluous

is

or driven out of the body, or dried up

explained by

is

in particular cafes

As

much

and that

to

and fometimes

late,

do

the method to be

up, or evacuate, all at once, or too quickly, or too

every thing that runs to an excefs being an

it:

to lock

mours

are voided naturally,

clofed

when

fill

In the fourth place, Hippocrates allow^ed that

nature.

to

to be reftor-

equally dangerous to heat or cool again on a fudden

it is

you ought not

that

retrenchment, he gives this general caution, That you

this addition or

ought to be careful hoW you

ther,

this, viz.

ought to be evacuated,

and fome others which ought

ed to the body, or caufed to be produced there again.

taken for

In the fecond place^

wanting, and a fubtra(5lion or re-

an axiom which

fome juices or humours, which

there are

that are caufed by eva-

deftroyed by cold, and cold by heat, &c.

phyficis an addition of what

this

fays, that evacuations cure thofe

up

or ra-

ought fometimes to

to
di-

open the paffages by which the hu-

to dilate, or

when they

w'e

enemy

are not fufficiently opened, or

when they are

and, on the contrary, to lock up or ftraiten the paffages that are relaxed,

the juices that pafs there ought not to pafs, or

He

quantity.

adds, that

we ought fometimes

when they pafs

to fmootb,

fometimes to harden, and fometimes to foften again

rough

more

fine or

fupple

fometimes to thicken

times to flupify or take away the fenfe

dy, or to the humours.

He

fometimes

all in relation to

in too great

and fometimes
;

to

fometimes to

to roufe up,

and

make
make

at other

the folid parts of the bo-

gives alfo this farther leffon,

That we ought

to

have

regard to the courfe the humours take, from whence they come, and whither they

go

and

in

confequence of that, when they go where they ought not, that we make

them take a turn about, or carry them another way, almoft like the turning the
courfe of a river ; or, upon other occafions, that we endeavour if pofTible to recal,
or make the fame humours return back again drawing upward fuch as have a ten;

dency downward, and drawing downward fuch as tend upward. We ought alfo to
carry off, by convenient ways, that which is neceffary to be carried off; and not
let the

humours once evacuated enter

alfo the following inflru6lion

into the veffels again.

That, when

we do any

though the fuccefs be not anfvverable, we ought not too

ter the

manner of adting,

as long as the reafons for

maxim might fometimes prove

We

deceitful,

it

Hippocrates gives

thing according to reafon,

eafily,

or too haflily, to al-

are yet good.

But, as this

he gives the following as a corrector to

it

ought (fays he) to mind with a great deal of attention what gives eafe, and what

creates pain;

No.

25.

what

is

eafily fupported,

and what cannot be endured.

5

We ought
not

A KEY TO PHYSIC

382
not to do any thing ralhly
thing

by

this

way,

if

but ought often to paufe, or wait, without doing any

you do the patient no good, you

will at leaft

do him no hurt.

Thefearethe principal and moft general maxims of the practice of Hippocrates,

and which proceed upon the fuppofition, that nature cures all flight difeafes.

When, however, they

are acute or fevere, they

demand

fkill

of the phyfician to moderate their violence

tion

may be known by

order to fliow the great

whom

it is

of the preceding

utility

ciding the event of any particular

tions which were

and

then that their termina-

confulting the foregoing Table.

Of the utility

IN

the utmofl: ingenuity and

fit

made, during the

the following horofcopes

and convenience of
of

illnefs, I fliall

indifpofition of

TABLE.

this

Lunar Table,

in de-

here ftate fome real predic-

fome of

my

patients,

and

for

were erected.

CJmrleg

AND THE OCCULT

Charles

SEIZED

SCIENCES.

Thomas,

WITH A

Q, * 2 .
1)22.

TO

SCARLET FEVER,
13M

383

Oct. 3h. P.

M.

40

1792.

I have placed the horofcope of this patients nativity before the figure of hrs decumbiture in order to fhow, by way of analogy, that fuch an indifpofition would
;

certainly take place about this time,

from the pofition of the

fignificators,

and their

particular configucations with the heavenly intelligencers^ at the time of his birth.

For

this reafon, ithe figure of the fick perfoiis nativity

carrbe had, becaufe

where

it

cafes,

whether the- difeafe

common

it

fhould always be infpe<Sed

enables us the, better to judge, in

will terminate with life or

naaladies, itis poffible to

determine

death

many

intricate

for although, in

this queftion pretty accurately,

mofV

by the

help of theipreceding Table, .without the radical figure of birth, yet, where that can
had, our Judgment wilLin general be

'be

rnox'e certain,

and often

In the above figure of the decumbiture of the patient,

lately tranfited the place

place
lile

is

in the .fiery itriplicity, afflidting the

afpedt

trine,

of the Sun,and Jqpiterjn the

at the-fame time that the

from fiery

Jfigns, -at

Moon

Moon

we

infallible.

find the

figure of birth

Moon

hath

and that this

in the radical point with

a quar-

and Mars beholding each other with a

the time of birth, clearly fhows.that the native would

,

fubjedt to fevers of the inflammatory kind.

But

I fhall decline

making any coro-

aoentS'on the temperature of the native, or the defignation of his fignificators at the

time

A KEY TO PHYSIC

384
time of birth

as

it

is

my

not

a nativity, that being already

Astrology,

intention here to explain the

demonftrated

fufificiently

All that -can be neceffary here,

is

of calculatino'

my Illusthationt

in

to give a

mode

decumbitures of different patients, compared with the horofcope of their

in

order to Ihow, by the Table, whether fuch fick perfons would

in

doing

this, it will

be proper for thofe

who

the Table, and wdiat pofitions of the benefic or malefic afpedls

for

from thefe events

patient be abated or increafed

ultimately drawn.

By

this I

fire

flie tranfits,

or

in

comes

malady of each particular

was

add twenty-tw o degrees

now under confideration, we fee

in

that the IMoon,

tw'enty-two degrees forty minutes of Virgo.

thirty

minutes of the zodiac, which brings her to

degrees ten minutes of Libra, and

arrives here, I find,

will the

Moons places

'

at the time of his falling fick,

To

And,

live or die.

and from thefe of courfe muft our judgment be

the decumbiture of the patient

fifteen

nativity,

be convinced of the truth and

wifli to

exiftence of the celeftial influx, to pay the ftricleft attention to the

in configuration with

of

few examples from the

her

is

firft

At the time

indicative place.

by examining the preceding horofcopes, that fhe

orbs of a fextile afpedl of Mars, which indicates a ftrong fever

is

within

though not ex-

tremely ardent, owing to the Moons tranfiting the place of Venus in the figure of
birth.

diac,

now

add, or pafs on

to,

twenty-two degrees thirty minutes more of the zo-

which cuts an angle of forty-five degrees, and brings the Moons place to fe-

ven degrees forty minutes of Scorpio, which gives her judicial time, and
the

means of

follow.

To

dire<5ling
this

our judgment whether a fevere or favourable

end I infpeft the

figures,

and find that the

furniflies

crifis

would

Moon now comes to a

conjun6lion of the two benevolent planets Jupiter and Venus, which alone prognofticates a favourable crifis
fits

and the more

fo, as at this

the place of Saturn in the horofcope of birth

much better,

the fever decreafed, and his pulfe was

judicial place in Scorpio, I

now

time the

accordingly, the patient

more regular.

pofition, in ten

or no alteration in the ftate of the difeafe at this time

file

on that day to be

produced the

laft indicative

in

firft crifis

became

From the Moons

minutes of Sagittarius; where,

finding no particular afpe6l of the principal ftars or luminaries,

Moon

tran-

pafs on twenty-two degrees thirty minutes further,

which Ihows her fecond indicative

advance twenty-two degrees

Moon nearly

thirty

it

portended

and fo it happened.

little

now

minutes more, which fhows the place of the

twenty-two degrees forty minutes of Sagittarius; where

of the diforder.

day to the time of

It

was now obfervable, that from the

this crifis, the patient fiiowed figns

of a delirium,

and rambled much in his talk, concerning riding of horfes ; which exactly cbrrefponds with the nature of the fign where the crifis fell but it was evident he would
recover from this, and be much mended, when the Moon formed her trine with
;

"

Saturn,

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

385

was approaching, in twenty-nine degrees twenty-fix minutes

When this afpe6l was formed, the patient had vifibly recovered,

Saturn, to wliich (he

of Sagittarius.

and the brain was never

after affe6led.

now proceed twenty-two degrees

thirty

minutes morfe on the zodiac, which brings the IVloon to her next indicative day, in
fifteen

Here the two

degrees ten minutes of Capricorn.

celeftial luminaries

which gave the patient a relapfe.

quartile, a difcordant afpe6l,

next twenty-two degrees thirty minutes, I

feven degrees forty minutes of Aquaries.

come to the Moons judicial place, in

Here we find a mundane trine, formed

by Jupiter and Venus with the Moon, and

a zodiacal trine of

Mercury, a plain de-

monftration that the diforder muft abate, and that a favourable

To

form a

Proceeding the

crifis

would enfue.

the feven degrees forty minutes of Aquaries, I add twenty-two degrees thirty

minutes more, which brings the

Moon

to her

Viewing the decumbiture,

nutes of Pifces.

fecond indicative place, in ten mi-

now

Moon

find the

approaches to a

under the benign influence of Jupiter and Venus, which overcomes the

trine afpe6l

quartile of Mars,

by the next

and indicates that the difeafe would be completely conquered

To

crifis.

afcertain the truth

and manner of

this, I

twenty-two degrees thirfy nnnutes more, which brings the

proceed onwards

Moon

to twenty-twO

crifis was to be proupon maturely infpedfing the decumbiture, I find the Mooni at the
patient was feized with his diforder, w^as placed in her north node, and

degrees forty minutes of Aquaries, w'here the fecond grand

Now

duced.

time this

contributed to the evil effedls of the other configurations

grand

crifis, flie is

humours of the body, and

the vitiated

but at the time of this

fortunately pofited in her fouth node, thereby helping to deprefs

to

overcome the

difeafe.

This pofition, con--

tributing to the favourable influence of the other configurations, reftored the patient

from

time the

his

bed of

ficknefs,

Moon formed

and

his ftrength gradually increafed

And

thus

we may

fee, that

by eredting the decumbiture, or figure of the

pofitions of the heavenly bodies, at the time

manner

judicial,

mafs of blood was purified from:

fyrnptoms, and the patient was relfored to his accuftomed health and

all feverifii

this

fo that by the

her conjun6iion with Saturn, as exprelfed on the face of

the heavens in the figure of his decumbiture, the

ftrength.

to afcertain the influence of the

and

critical, days,

we

fiiall,

without

feized,

and proceeding int

evil afpedts

on the indicative,

any patient is

good or

difficulty,

be able to determine whether

the difeafe will prove flight or dangerous, and be dire6led accordingly in our regi-

men and mode

vious to the

of treatment.

young

But

in order to

make

this fpeculation

ftill

praftitioner, as well as to the curious reader, I fhall

more ob-

now pro-

ceed to examine the decumbiture of a patient, whofe difeafe was more malignant,,

and proved

fatal.

386

A KEY TO PHYSIC

AND THE OCCULT

Till

Adams, who being

to,

and an admirer

Sciences, was defirous of feeing the refult of fuch an enquiry,

by thefe means, whether he fhould

In confidering the fidereal

effe6t of the

my good friend

accompanied with dan-

feized with a malignant fever,

gerous fymptoms, and being himfelf a friend

felf,

587

figures I erected while relident in Briftol, at the requefl of

Thefe
Dr.

SCIENCES.

the Occult

of,

and of judging him-

live or die.

preceding figures,

by no means requi-

it is

calculate the genethliacal prognoftications of the feven erratics at the time of

fite to

the natives birth.

fitions in the

It is

however neceffary to notice

their principal afpefts

and po-

horofcope, in order to determine whether the fame pofitions are tranf-

mitted, or fimilar or adverfe afpe6ls formed in the decumbiture, at the time the-pa^

dent

is

taken

ill

we

but no further or more minute fpeculation'is required, fince

are neither confidering the effect of direftions, nor the fate of a nativity; but are

endeavouring to prove,
the patient

taken

is

and whether

it

ill,

that,

would end

in life or death.

is

fituated in the eighth houfe,

of

its

we may

Firft, then,

obferve, the

Moon

termed by the ancients the houfe of death, becaufe

obfcurity and pofition under the earth.

oppofition to Saturn,

at the time

by only obferving the pofition of the heavens

the probable termination of the difeafe might be foretold,

who was her

Befides

this,

we

find the

difpofitor at the time of birth;

Moon

and from

in

this

afpedt the forms an oppofition with Venus, the lady of the do6tors afcendant; and

immediately approaches to an oppofition of the Sun, the fountain of

Thefe

life.

are three evil dire<5dons by pofition, and furnifii a very unfavourable profpe6t of

For the Moon, the giver of radical moilture,

the event of the difeafe.

afflidted

by

the adverfe rays of the. Sun, the author of vital heat, fails not to produce fuch a

putrifaSion of the animal juices, as to bring on a fpeedy difiblution of the body.

Let us then examine the decumbiture by our Table, and fee how and when
fatal

At

event would take place.

the time the patient

nutes of

Leo ;

tive time,

to

which

fell fick,

we

find the

Moon

which add twenty-two degrees

falls in

in ten degrees forty-fix

thirty

minutes for the

Moon, from

own

nature, was Saturnine, as departing

tion with Saturn in the radix, to a quartile with

giver of
this firft

cial day,

Now as

life

and therefore, according

motion of the

Moon

from the

now go forward twenty -two

which places the
the

Moon is

mi-

indica-

this indicative place,

holds the Sun in the radical point with a baneful quartile afpedt

according to her

firft

three degrees fixteen minutes of Virgo; and indicates the

nature of the difeafe to be a fever; for the

evil,

this

Moon

be-

and the Moon,

from a fextile configura-

Venus, lady of the afcendant, and

to the aftral rules of the

radical- point of the

immortal Ptolomy,

decumbiture indicated

degrees thirty minutes more, for the

in twenty-five degrees forty-fix

firft

judi-

minutes of Virgo.

not configurated at this judicial time with either of the planets,

neither

A KEY TO PHYSIC

388

neither by tranfit in the nativity, nor afpofl in the decumbiture; and her judicial

place falling in the twelfth houfe, the houfe of afflidfion;

vourable judgment from thefe circumftances

cribs

is

To

to be expedted.

minutes more, and

it

this judicial time,

Moon

brings the

which

fails in

and

from the
this

is

we

lliall

find the

Moon,

in

fa-

dangerous
thirty

f)luce the

oc-

her fecond indica-

Now,

eighteen degrees fixteen minutes of Libra.

fpedt the foregoing horofeopes,

we add twenty-two degrees

fixty feven degrees

cupied when the patient was feized with tbediforder

tive place,

we cannot draw any

on the contrary,

but,

approaching

if

wein-

to this point,

has juft departed from a baneful oppofition with Jupiter, which, having the diredi
oppoftte effedt of a conjundlion with that benevolent planet, which reprefents the

heart and vital principle, ftiows a contaminated or morbid ftate of the blood and

lymph.

We

likewife perceive the

Moon

is in

fame time the body of Venus, and making

tranfiting at the

ger of a fatally-approaching

To

crifts.

determine

this

minutes of the fign Scorpio, at which point of time the

Now

of this patients difeafe occurred.

this crifis is ufliered in

by fuch

cond caufes under nature,

as

firft

place

dical point;

we

the decumbiture

ftie is

thirdly,

Moon

to ten degrees

crifts,

or critical day,
fiiall

perceive

heavenly bodies,, the fe-

would not only heighten the malady, and put

fhall notice, that the

fecondly,

afpedl the harbin-

by infpedling the figures, we

evil configurations of the

of the power of medicine to fubdue, but would

the

radical place,

proceed twenty-two-

this fadl, I

degrees thirty minutes further in the zodiac, which brings the

forty-ftx

own

quartile to her

Moon

it

out

infallibly terminate in death.

tranfits the place of

Saturn

In

in the ra-

configurated in a malefic quartile afpedl of Saturn

fhe

is

wdthin orbs of a baneful quartile of Venus, lady

of the patients afeendant; and fourthly,

configuration of the Sun, which

is

in.

fiie is

inimical to

rapidly approaching to a quartile

life

and motion, without any one

frieniily afpedl of the henefic planet Jupiter intervening, to leffen or repel the

malefic influence.

Such, therefore, are the teftimonies, that under any kind of ma-

lady and wherever they occur, infallibly portend the death of the patient

and they

accordingly put an end to the exiftence of this much-refpedled man, whofe integrity
in his profeftion

had gained him univerfal efteem, and renewed

in

him the ineftima-

ble charadler of the immortal Culpeper, who, never, with a view to gain, gave two

medicines for the cure of an

afflidled fellow-creature,

But death

levels all diftindlions

and, in

pointed out by the above decumbiture,

ftridl

it

when one was

fufficient.

conformity with the time and manner

conduced

the foul of this excellent

man

from an earthly to an heavenly habitation, on the 20th of February, 1786, at the

time the

Moon

formed her quartile afpedf with the Sun, which was.

from the time he was feized with the

preceding horofeopes ;

fever,

and

fix

days after

it

was

in eight

foretold

from whence, having forefeen the doctors fate, I

days

by the

compofed
an

AND THE OCCULT

an Elegy on

he was yet

his death, while

on the very day he expired

SCIENCES.

389

which I got printed, and publifhed

alive,

thus manifefting to the world, with the patient's earneft

approbation, an incontrovertible inftance of the verity of aftral predidlion.

Having thus
difpofition

far

endeavoured to prove the

utility

of the Lunar Table, by thein-

and recovery of Charles Thomas, a pupil of Mr. Hall, engraver

to

Adams,

in

his rnajefty, in the

one cafe

and by the ficknefs and death of Dr.

Till

the other; I lhall now, for the farther fatisfa6lion of the reader^ prove, that
poffible to judge whether a patient

will live or die,

it

is

from the horofcope of the de-

cumbiture only, without knowing, or recurring to the horofcope of the patients nativity,

or time of birth.

ed: That if we
afflidted

To

find, at the

this end,,

the following axiom muft ever be remember-

time any perfon

by more than one planet

is

feized with illnefs, that the

and that on the next

critical

Moon

is

day fhe forms a

congrefs with the malefic planets Saturn and Mars, either by conjundlion, quartile,
or oppofition, the fick perfon fhall die on the

Moon comes to

the interficient point of the zodiac

We

in his I6th

Aphorifm

through the

critical, judicial,

fareth well with the patient

this

No.

day and hour

in

as the great

muft behold the motion of the

and mortal, days

which the

for, if

the be

Ptolomy declareth

Moon
in

but, if unfortunate, the contrary.

afflidled

as

them

flie

paffeth

fortunate,

it

I fhall exemplify

the following example.

2J.

5G

Being

A KEY TO PHYSIC

390
Being fent
firous to

for to a perfon

know

who

celeftial intelligencers
;

viz. at

were pofited as

The Moon, which

in ail

on the 10th of April, 1791, and being de-

examined the face of the heavens

the event of his difeafe, I

exadl time the patient was feized,

follow

fell fick

at the

when

half pall twelve oclock at noon,

the

above decumbiture, and which are as

in the

decumbitures reprefents the

fick perfon,

is

fituated

within the quartile influence of no lefs than four planets, Saturn, Mars, Mercury,

and the Sun; and, as they are

follows that the difeafe

within orbs of a conjundlion with each other,

all

would bear defignation of their joint pernicious

it

influx,

which, fcientifically confidered, manifefts a fever, with putrefadtion of the animal

For the Suns burn-

juices, as thofe (killed in the aftral fcience will quickly fee.

ing influence, in conjundlion with Mars, a hot and violent planet, and

being controvertible in his nature, unites

and, although Saturn
is

is

in the malefic rays

Mercury

of the Sun and Mars

conftitutionally cold, yet, being alfo dry, his cold quality

over-balanced, inafmuch as drought participates of the qualities of heat, being

Yet the cold

fuel for the fire.

ing that

it

quality of Saturn fpecificates the difeafe,

fprung from a cold caufe, or deathly

chill,

by fliow-

extended over the whole

cir-

culating fyftem, or mafs of blood.

On examining

the patient, he informed

being overcome with heat and

muft have been

Moons

in

thirft,

a highly-inflamed

pofition in a watery fign,

and

me

in

he had drunk a quart of cold water,

a violent perfpiration, whence

and a moveable one,

perceive the fource apd malignity of the difeafe

at the

fame time

fextile configuration of

die,

and finding neither of the benefic

Moon

notwithftanding the

Venus, which ftrengthened

would greatly ftruggle with the malady.

But

in oppofi-

Here, then, we at once

a fingle ray, either by body or afpedl, to the aphetic place,

cluded the patient muft inevitably

blood

This feems eminently prenoted by the

(late.

tion to the four planets above-mentioned, in fiery figns.

ftars caft

his

his nature,

thence con-

was beheld by a

and fliowed that he

as the teftimonies of evil arifing

the joint influence of Saturn, Mars, Mercury, and the Sun, are

from

more and much

greater than the contra-fupport afforded by Venus, I reafonably concluded the patient

would die of the diforder, and that

My

him.

I find the degree the

in the

power of medicine

Moon in Cancer; and,

Moon was in at the

in

the

fifth

With

to fave

this

view I

column from the

time the patient was feized,

finlf

7 30
7 30 of

now, Libra being oppofite to Aries, the malefic planets Saturn and

Mars of

and then, guiding

Libra ;

was not

next endeavour was to determine the hour of death.

look to the Table, p. 380, for the

left,

it

my

eye along

till

come

to the ninth

courfe fend their oppofite malignant beams into that

eighteen minutes, and
cluded, that,

when

Mars

the

column, I

fign,

viz.

Saturn in ten degrees

in thirteen degrees twenty-fix minutes; I therefore con-

Moon came

to feven degrees thirty minutes of Libra in the

zodiac?

'

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Jipmv
:

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Zewzff 7^'^

^7^

JFhafi<rc

^(rrn 'ZA^<7T^JC,id^'l

JP3.

-Zlewid Ca^e^JS,EecuZecA U7JanJ'^^^

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AND THE OCCULT

zodiac, the crifis

SCIENCES.

would take place, as may be feen

the Table; and that

when

Moon came

the

391

at the top of the fifth coluUin in

to ten degrees eighteen miputes, being

would take place

the oppofition of Saturn, a vifible change in the patient

for the

worfe; and that when fhe arrived at the thirteepth degree twenty-fix minutes of
the fame fign, thereby forming the oppofition with Mars, the difeafe would prove
mortal, and terminate in death.

If,

therefore, the duration of the difeafe be reck-

oned by the motion of the Moon, we

fliall find,

without any enquiry from the nurfe

or do6lor, that the patient died about half paft four oclock in the afternoon, on
the 17th of April, 1791, at which precife time the critical afpe6l on which the dif-

eafe turned was formed.

my Lunar

nefs of

Thus was

afforded an inconteftible proof of the corre6f-

Table, and of the force and power of the planetary influx on

fublunary bodies.

NATURAL and VIOLENT DEATH,

the FATE of the late KING and QUEEN of FRANCE.

Of the DIFFERENCE betwixt a

exemplified by

WITH

a view to teach the curious reader

nies portending a violent death

I fhall, by

way of example,

how

to diftinguifh the aflral teftimo-

from thofe which forefhow our natural

invefligate the particular configurations Avhich prenoted

the violent death of the late unfortunate Louis

XV

I.

unhappy

For

this

confort, Marie-Antoinette of Auftria.

a copper-plate engraving of their

leftial intelligencers at their

ever has perufed

king of France, and his

nativities, with figures

purpofe I have annexed

of the pofitions of the ce-

coronation, and on the days of their execution.

my Illustration

predictions, publifhed in the year

empire,'

dilfolution,

of Astrology, will have feen, that

Whoin my

1786, I foretold the revolution in the French

and the dethronement and execution of the French king and queen, fix
it happened ; with all the dreadful confequences appertaining thereto,

years before

exactly as they have fince fallen out ; and whoever lives to fee the uplhot of a few
years, will alfo fee every other part of

my

predi^ions

literally fulfilled.

even now

publilh to the world the fuccefs and termination of

which

men

all

great events,

are anxious to know, though few perhaps w'ould believe, were I at

liberty to difclofe them.

ftate,

many

I could

The

fafety of particular individuals, the well-being of the

the peace of fociety, the profperity of empires, hang

revolving periods; and, though.

the age

we

live in, yet

upon the ilTue of a few

few would brook the

admonitions of a friend, though they fliould lead to a profperity and

glory and renown.

The uncommon

pofitions of the heavenly bodies,

riches^

to

which are

the fecond caufes in the fecret operations of Nature, are at this time well worthy
the attentive confideration of the naturalift and fpeculative philofopher.

mundane

influence

is

Their

by no means confined to the nations of Europe, but threatens

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

392

more widely-extended realms with the

the ruder and

God,
them

in Lis

and

unbounded favour
it

thefc remarks

may

In the

ware

for the

Louis
gittarius

be at liberty to amplify

mean

overthadow and protect

will

Britifli ifles,

may come, when

not impoffible but the day

is

'blication.

to the

effe6t of a convulfive ftroke.

the

humble author of

and develope the fubjedl

time, let Pruffia,

and

the fmaller

all

fome future

in

German

be-

flates,

time will foon come, that Germany Jhall he no more.*

XVI. was

born the ^3d of Auguft, 3h. 50m. P.

M.

The

1754.

fign Sa-

afcended upon the eaftern fineter of the horizon, intercepted by Capricorn

wherelore Jupiter and Saturn are the lords of his afcendant, and, with the

From

the tenth houfe, reprefent his perfon.

cators, we

may deduce

tafte for

in

the nature and quality of thefe fignifi-

the follow ing inferences

That Saturn being

ant gave the native a wavering and irrefolute difpofition; the

Scorpio gave him a

Moon

in the

Moon

afcend-

polited in

luxury; and Jupiter, being co-fignificator in the

eighth houfe, in afpedt with Mercury, rendered him mild and paffive, yetdeclared that
his principal adlions fhall be attended with difappointment,

In the royal hereditary figure of

anxiety, vexation, and infult.

planets occupying the houfe of death; and as the

by one of thofe

The

planets,

it is

precife time of death

is

affiftance they

may

Moon,

birth,

giver of life,

an argument that he would not

is

live to

we

find four

difpofed of

an old age.

only afcertainable by bringing up the feveral diredlions

of the nativity: and, as the method of doing this

Illuftration of Aftrology,

and produce him much

we muft

refer thofe

is

already amply explained in

who choofe

want, to the rules there laid down.

to

work them up,

Suffice

it

my

for

any

here, that

we

point out thofe teftimonies from the face of the nativity, that are always found to

be arguments of a violent death.

fited in

a violent

Secondly, the

fign.

lent fixed ftar Chcelae.

And,

in the eighth houfe.

and Mars, her

fifthly,

giver of

Saturn in the afcendant, polife,

configurated with the vio-

Fourthly, the two lights of the world deprefled

the

Moon

elevated in the dignities of an infor-

by the hand of man.

human

And

fign,

this

plainly

demon-

was unhappily

veri-

on the 21ft day of January, 1793, at twenty-two minutes paft

the morning; at which time thefe malefic diredlions came up, as reprefented

by

ten in

Moon,

difpofitor, having his fall in

ftrate that the native fliould fall

fied

are, Firft,

Thirdly, the lord of the afcendant malevolently conjoined

with the lord of the houfe of death.

tune,

Thefe

his execution,

in the figure of his execution, in the preceding plate.

At that fatal moment w'e

find

the Sun, the light of time, was in his detriment; that Mercury, the fignificatqr of
I prefume that the accompliffiment of this bold predldlion, which the author did not live to fee,
will

be found

in the formation Of the Confederation of the

Rhine,

in the fuppreffion

and annihilation of the Germanic

Wirtemberg, and Weftphalia, inftead of them; but particularly when Francis
Editor.
title of Emperor of Germany, Aug. 6, t,8o6.

ftates

of the fmall

circles, and the erection of the kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony,

II.

renounced the

the

AND THE OCCULT

SCIENCES.

593

the French people, occupied the cufp of the tenth houfe, tranfiting the place of

Saturn, the kings fignificator, at the time of birth

and that the two malefic planets

Saturn and Mars are in reception of each other; and that the Moon, the fignificator of

life,

is

furrounded with violent fixed

ftars, in

oppofition to the benign planet

Jupiter, in angles, and in quartile to Mars, her difpofitor in the horofcope of birth
all

which peculiar configurations are fo

many

ftrong and irrefiftible arguments of

the refolution of the people to proceed to extremities, and of the irrevocable fate

of this unfortunate monarch.

For, although Jupiter, his co-fignificator,

ob-

is

ferved to fend a friendly ray to the aphetic place, yet having no dignities, and being difpofedofby Mars, the fignificator of the convention, this benefic afpedt was
depreffed,

and

its

influence overcome,

by the redundancy of a malefic

This admirably points out the ftruggles of Dumourier,

to preferve the life of the king;

and there

fillanimity

and

and intrepidity

and that Mars

being' able

to be found

by

alfo,

is

who

the rules of

Mars being

the

difpofed of by Saturn, the author of pu-

Thus the afcendant of birth fliows that want of refolution

fear.

which,

in the native,

have turned the daggers of

deeumbiture points to the

if

exerted

in

the favourable

moment, would

enemies tow'ards their own breafts, and have per-

his

manently fecured himfelf and

his

This

clearly prenoted by the circumflance of

is

difpofitor of Jupiter;

man

w>as not a

to fecond his heroic intentions.

the fidereal fcience,

hope of

but his endeavours were quickly borne down by

the violence of the leading fadlion,

had courage enough

in the

influx.

his poflerity

on the throne

and thus the figure of

execution of the guillotine, and proves, that

fatal

although the native fprung from a moft illuftrious houfe, having the two fuperior
planets for his fignificators,

and although he

idolized by his people, yet that he

of fortune, and

The

doomed

Avas a king, at

one time beloved and

was but a man, fubjedl

to the fevereft reverfe

to as ignominious

an end as the

vileft

of his fubjedls

elegant and accompliflied confort of this unfortunate monarch

on the 2d of November, 1755, 7h. 23m, P. M. as expreffed

the figure of her nativity,

we

find the

Moon

is

was born
In

in the plate.

lady of the afcendant, rifing upon

the fign Libra, in the fifth houfe, the houfe of pleafure and fexual enjoyment; of

which,

it is

fufliciently evident, flie

the afcendant, in his

eflfential

and proud; yet predicts that

impatient of controul.

This

was paffionately fond.

dignities,
flie
is

pofited

on

fliows her to have been ftately, auftere,

would be unfortunate

the

Mars being

in her connedlions,

more obvious, becaufe Mars,

and

the fignificator

and influencer of her

to

paffions, is dignified in her afcendant, though approaching

an oppofition of Saturn, lord of the feventh and eighth houfes, who is likewife

-configurated in his eflential dignities, and,

No.

26.

more extraordinary

ftill,

is

pofited in

the

A KEY TO PHYSIC

394
the exaltation of Mars.
tural paffions, with

This gave her an unconquerable

and ftrong na-

fpirit,

an infatiable appetite for intrigue, united to an inconftant and

arbitrary turn of mind.

of four planets in the

This

fifth

is ftill

more

ftrongly demonftrated by the prefenco

houfe, and two of them afpe6led in the fign Scorpio.

That her reputation would be ari-aigned by the voice of the multitude,

fore-

is

Ihown by the Dragons Tail being in the tenth houfe, the houfe of dignity and
honour and the treachery of her confidants is pointed out by Mercury being in
;

the fixth houfe, in his detriment, and in oppofition to the Part of Fortune.
lier
is

That

confort would be involved in misfortunes, and fuffer greatly on her account,

made

IMars

by Saturn, the fignificator of

manifefi;

and the Moon, lady of her afcendant,

fortunes.

tlie

king, being in

oppofition to

in baneful quartile to

Indeed, there never was a nativity yet

made

both the in-

public, wherein the in-

fortunes were fo mifchievoufly configurated, or wherein the general fignificators

fo confpicuoufly denoted individual misfortune and univerfal rage.

But

fiial!

pafs over, for the prefent, any farther remarks on the unfortunate defignation of

them no

the fignificators in this nativity, and notice

farther than as they

Thefe are

out the teftimonies of a violent and premature death.

and Venus, configurated with a violent fixed

afcending to the violent fixed
violent nature.

ing the

Moon

ing the

Moon,

flar

flar, in

Hercules

a violent fign.

and the

point

Sun
Secondly, Mars
:

Firft, the

fign afcending being of a

Thirdly, the lord of the eighth houfe, the houfe of death,

afflift-

Fourthly, the lord of the fixth houfe

afflidt-

in the aphetic place.

the lady of the afcendant, and fignificator of

life,

with a malefic

quartile ray, the harbinger of violence, and the prefage of death.

Thus we may

obferve, that one of the principal luminaries

the infortunes, and the othe

is

afflicled

by both

pofited in a violent fign, denoting aviolent death.

ris

Again, the lord of the eighth houfe, a malevolent planet, afflidfed by the quartile
rays of an infortune by nature,

is

another prefage of untimely death.

lady of the afcendant, in a violent

and the difpofitor of the luminaries

tunes,

of an approaching untimely death.

having her
if

fign,

fall in

we examine

human

fign,

Now,

banefully configurated

a violent

in

the

fign, is

Moon, who

is

Alfo the

w ith the infor-

an irrefragable proof

lady of the afcendant,

man; and,
we fliall find

portends aviolent death by the band of

the face of the heavens at the time of her execution]

her death proceeded from the violence of an ufurped power, occupying the feat of
juftice

for the

Moon,

elevated in her afcendant at the time of birth,

Sun

is

moll re-

and that

markably configurated

in the fall of the

fame

on the cufp of the tenth houfe, the houfe ofjuftice, and the
fall, in conjundliou with Mercury, moft aptly de-

fign culminating

Sun being

at the time of her execution

pofited there in his

fcribes

AND THE OCCULT

fcribes the

manner of the

Venus, lady thereof; and

have
alty

Mars beholding

houfe of dignity and honour;

for a time to be deftroyed in

the horofcope of the coronation.

France; as

And what

Sun, who

and

reception of

in

is

is

all

and the Moon, ladv of

Mars and Venus, who

tend to forefhow that roy-

moft wonderfully prenoted

in

very remarkable, at the lime of

is
among the planets, was pofitown detriment, or in that peculiar point of the heavens which is oppofed
own houfe and at the time of the unfortunate queens execution, the Sun

the French monarchs death, the

ed

the natural fignificator

Jupiter with a quartile ray, pofited

being within orbs of an oppofition of

birth,

their fall in the

was

is

595

in his effential dignities, elevated,

and lord of the afcendant of death

in the twelfth houfe,

afcendant of

Mercury, who

natives death.

of the French people, being

SCIENCES.

king

in his

to his

was

without a fingle dignity tP fupport him, as

in his fall,

by the horofcopes

in the

preceding plate

fo that

we may

is

moft clearly evinced

fay, the

ftarS in their

courfes fought againft this illuftrious pair, as they fought againft Sifera of old

and thua we may perceive, that the moft valiant and the moft courageous are
not proof againft the fhafts of fate ; but that the nobleft, and moft glorioufly clad,

whether in honour,,

glory,,

or renown, are but like the offspring of plants, which

have their fpringing up, their flowering, and their fragrant maturity;
ed by a rude hand, they

wither,, fade,

and

until,

pluck-

die.

DIRECTIONS FOR PLACING THL CUTS.

Front! fpiece
to face the Title
Syftem of the Interior Heaven
page 8
Symbol of the univerfal Spirit of Nature
28

Polypes and Animal Flowers

Animalcules

Electrical Stars
Cryftals formed from Salts

6r
64
246
249

Animal Magnetifm

Progreflive Formation of the Fcetus, PI.

Ditto
The Action of Quickening

The Infenftble

Perfpiration

Nativities of the

King and Queen

p.
I.

Pi. II.

260
3

312
344
349

of France 391

INDEX

INDEX
A IR>
the

as contributing to the health or difeafe

human body,

Anemone,

yfdams, &c. 382, &c. farther explained by adecumbiture only, 389.

Lunar Tindlure, its adlion on female conftitutions,
with cafes annexed in proof of its ef317
332
ficacy, in irregularity of the menfes, 323
green
ficknefs, 324; fluor albus, 327; barrennefs,
331 ; recommended to all married women, 333
and to women at the turn of life, 336
cafe of a
tainted habit in a flate of pregnancy relieved bv

163; various kinds, 168.

57, 58.

Anger, various eftetts of, 183.

Angina pefforis, an uncommon diforder, 227,
Animalcula infuforia, 70.

and even in plants, 276.

Animals can exift without
of,

23

air, 74.
properties, magnitude,

fi-

gure, weight, and motion, of, 24.

Bell-flower animalcule, or plumed polypus, 66.
Brutes, an enquiry into the nature of, 49; curious
inftances of friendfliip among brutes of different
fpecies, 91; Bougeants curious hypothefis, 104.
Cantharides, their effeCls on the body, 349.
Conception, progrefs of, and growth of the fcetus,
illuftrated with curious plates, 31 ; remarkable
conceptions, owing to the conflifi of the isiale
and female procreative tincfures, 332.
Crifis, or critical turn, of a difeafe, 376,
Difeafes, divided into hereditary and accidental,
389 at what time hereditary difeafes are communicated to the foetus, 308 ; difeafes, feminine,
or lunar, 321 ; malculine, or folar, 338
Hippocratess inftrudtions for the cure of flight difeafes,
381.
Eels in pafle, 63.
Eleifricity, medical, 241; curious experiments, 246.
Exercife, as conducive to health, 167.
Fear, extraordinary effedts of, 183; a ludicrous
anecdote, 289.
Firft matter explained, 22.
1

Fixed

air, as a medicirte, 239.

Flower-filh, their remarkable properties, 57.
Feetus, how nouriflied in the womb, 313
its
growth, and the diforders occafloned thereby,
313, 314, &c.
Food, its nature and qualities, 158.
Fox, fagacity of, &c. 117.
France, king and queen of, their nativities examined, 392.
Generation, occult properties of, in plants and
herbs, 39.
Globe-animal, various kinds, 67.
God, his exiftence clearly pointed out, 4.
Grief, a deftruftive paflion, 194.
Hair-like infqdl, 62.
Hare, account of the, 113.
Health, rules for prelervuig, 233 239,
Heaven, enquiries into the nature and (ituation of, 7,
;

Hunter, Mr. curious experiments made by him, 338.

Hydrophobia, 221, 326.
Jackall, vulgarly called the lions provider, 122.

Impotency, fometimes occafloned by

fear,

189;

other caufes of it, 191 ; cure, 194.

Impregnation, the procefs of, 290.
Infedl with net-like arms, 69.
Inftindt diftinguiflied from reafon, 81, 82 ; curious
inftances of in various animals, 82
112; bees,

and wafps, 84
a cat, 85
crows, 85, 91; cuckows, 86; horfes, 91, 97;
ravens, 92; elephants, with fome uncommon
82

caterpillars,

anecdotes, 93

dogs, 99

the land-crab, 109.

Intemperance, deftrudtive effedts of, iSi.

Longevity, remarkable inftances of, 144; caufesof,
147, &c.
Love, its foundation and effedls, 195.
Lunar Table, pointing out the various turns of a
difeafe, 380
explained by the nativities and decumbitures of Charles Thomas and Dr. Till
;

W.

Lewis, Ptiiiwr,

St.

Johns-s^uare,LonJn.

Anirnalcules, various kinds, 62 the caufe of many

difeafes, 76
particularly of bad teeth and offenfive breath, 78.
Animal flowers, 56; cUiftered, 57; the Barbadoes, 59.
Animal magnetifm, 257 Dr. Bells procefs, 258 ;
arguments to prove that animal magnetifm is the
caufe of fympathy in man and other animals,

Atoms, nature

KEY.

TO THE
of

this medicine, 360.

confidered in his various relations, 122 ; varieties of the human fpecies, as eiiumcr ited by

Man

arranged by Dr. Gmelin,

from brutes, 127; natural hiftory of man, 129; confiderations on the
indifpofitions and difeafes of, 280
formed originally perfedt, and capable of propagating from
reparation of the male and
his own effence, 285
female eflences in the formation of Eve, 286
thence became fubjedt to difmans fall, 287
eafe and death, 289.
Melancholy, enquiry into the caufes of, 204.
Mole, or falfe conception, 31J.
Menfters, T27.
Nature, definition of it, 9; its .properties, vifible
and occult, explained, 13.
Nutrition in the animal economy, 155.
CEfophagus, a dangerous aflr'edlion of, 232.
Paflions of the mind, 183
205.
Perfpiration, infenfible, a medium whereby bad huLinnaeus,
126, &c.

126

liow

how

differing

mours

are carried off, 346.

Pipe-animal, 68.
Polypus, 56, 60.

Pregnancy, difeafes attendant on, 332.

Pi ognoftics of difeafes, 205.
Proteus, a curious animalcule, 64.
Puberty, the changes it produces in the

human

fyftem, 302.
Quickening, adlion of, deferibed, 342.
Rabbit, great fecundity of, 115.
Salivation, accidental, a curious cafe, 361.
122.
Scent, 112
Scrophula, its progrefs in undermining the

human

frame, 350.

Sea-anemone, 58.

Sea-carnation, 59.
Sleep, a due regulation of, 172.
Solar and Lunar Tindlure, two medicines invented
by the author, 317.
Solar Tindlure, its adlion on the blood, 350 ; directions for its ufe in the feurvy and kings evil,
a remarkable cafe, 333 cafes of predebility, 355 ; relaxed habit,
ibid,
weak nerves, 356; noclurnal emiflions, or incontinence of the lemen, 337 ; onanifm, 338; tainted
habit, 359 ; tabes dorfalis, or confumption of the

352

with

mature

back, 362; rheumatic gout, 363; fpafms, choand bloody flux, 364; difeafes of the breaft
and lungs, afthma, dropfy, and confumption,
363; mental depreflions, ibid, bile on the ftoinach, 366; bite of a mad dog, &c. 363; gunfliot wounds, cuts, ftabs, &c. 369; cafes of (apparently) fudden death, 371.
Spermatic animals, 69, 72, &c.
Stag, his fagacity in avoiding the hunters, 117.
Sympathy and antipathy in natural bodies, 29, 279;
in brutes, 49, 277 ; operate very powerfully on
females in a date of pregnancy, 334.
Sulphur, extraordinary virtues of, 33,34.
Teeth, how to cleanfe and preferve, 78; other relic,

marks on them,

T urn of

80.

women,

tlie danger attending this

period, and cautions to be oblerved, 336,
Valetudinarians, advice to, 233.
Water-crefles, diforders caufed by, 76
Wheel-animal, or vorticella, 63.
Wolf, natural hiftory of, 118.
Worm, aquatic, 69.

THE END.

life in

APPENDIX
TO

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

H
that are

aving given

a minute defcription of the plants and herbs contained in

Culpepers Britifli Herbal, with their medical properties and efFedls, I

fliall

now

proceed to an inveftigationof fome foreign

in

general ufe amongfl; us.

PERUVIAN ott
CORTEX PERU VI ANUS,
vis

And

firft,

trees,

Cinchona.

quinquina, kinkinna, quina-quina, pul-

called

is

the bark of a tree, growing in the

Weft-Indies, called by the Spaniards palo de calentur as, q.

extraordinary virtue in removing

its

The Indians commonly

agues.

of intoxicating

filhes,

w'ater

where they

Peru,

in the

are.

when

The

call

either its

and herbs,

of the

JESUITS BARK.

patrum, and popularly the Jesuits hark,

fon of

plants,

it \he,

all

fuddling-tree,

wood

d.

fever-wood

by rea-

kinds of intermitting fevers

or bark

is

from the property

and
it

beaten, and fteeped in

tree that yields this noble fpecific, is only

has
the

found

in

province of San Francefco de Quito, or Quinto, near the city of

Loxa though fome fay it is alfo found in that of Potofi and F. Labat in the ifland
The bark, while on the tree, is ftreaked, of a whitifh yellow
of Guadaloupe.
;

without-fide, and a pale tan-colour within.

The Spaniards diftinguifli four

rada, or reddifh bark
whitifh.

forts of this precious bark, viz. the cafcarilla colo-

amarylla, or yellowifh;

The colorada and ama?ylla

No. 26

crefpilla,

or curling; and hlanca, or

are reckoned the befl

the crefpilla

is

the pro-.

duce

APPENDIX TO

fort of tree, only

duce of the fame

lity

of the bark, and renders

and

unfit for medicinal ufe.

much

cies of the tree of a

growing in a colder climate, which impairs the qua-

whitifli

it

As

on the outfide, and cinnamon-coloured within,

to the blanca, as

whitifli

tough, as to require the force of an axe to flice

down

it is

good

effedls

and hard

yearly to

The

what

to

Panama,

is

come

for

dry, fo that the

bad

fort

being withal fo

When

tree.

it

much

grows

is

in great plenty,
little

muqh

is

of the branches

is

very

of the fine bark fent

efleemed, as being fuppofed to be taken from the bran-

is

never gathered

feafon of cutting the bark

After a tree has been barked,

it

is

in

it

manner.

in this

only the bark

is

For the bark

would not compenfate the charge of

grows,

is

cutting.

Auguft, the only fettled dry time in the country.

requires eighteen or twenty years for a good bark to

it

Mr. Arrot, a Scotch furgeon, who had gathered the bark

again.

in the place

of opinion, that the gathering the better fort of bark will foon be

at end, or at leaf; very

much

reduced, partly by reafon of

its

habited place, and the impenetrability of the woods were

the want of Indians to cut
is

in for the fs-

Europe, large quantities of the worfl fort are ufually mixed.

of the younger trees; which, being very thin, curls

where

and

infipid,

and the good

ches of the tree, and therefore more efficacious in the cure of fevers,

grow

cut

amarylla, or fmall bark, w'hich curls up like flicks of cinnamon, and which

England

The

firft

furer and quicker

Europeans only come

which reafon, with a

for

and the

virtue in the cure of inter-

both forts are found to have

w'orfe, the

at

from the

and kept any length of time,

dry,

reality,

when green than when

cond-rate virtues
fcarce,

in

In

for nothing.

on the outfide

it

and has then the fame

as bitter as the befi; fort,

but when

procured from another fpe-

larger trunk, the leaves of alighter green colour,

bark of a very thick fpongious fubftance,

mitting fevers

it is

whole

it,

it

diflancefrom any ingrows, and partly by

race, through the cruelties of the Spaniards,

likely to be totally extindl.

The mofl

we have ever

accurate account

quinquina, or true Peruvian bark,

is

received of the tree which produces the

from M. de

la

Condainine, who,

through fome parts of America, chofe the route of Loxa, where the
thered, and w'here the greatefl

from

M. de

grows

in the plains

Juffieu,
;

The

it is

age, as

trees are never

(ingle

among

trees

is

informed himfelf concerning

found
it.

it

it

(lands by

always carries

its

its

The

eredl growth,

finefl

bark

is

ga-

and, taking inftrudlions

quinquina-tree never

a conflant inhabitant of the mountains, and

from the trees among which

any confiderable

number of the

in travelling

and

its

is

known
when of

eafily

height

head above the reft, and alfo by

itsfize.

found in clumps or clufters together, but always feparate or

other kinds.

It is

very rare, however, to find any large ones at this

time on the mountain where the bark

is

gathered, the great

demand

for

it

having

made

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

made them bark

the trees, and thefe having

all

by

all periflied

it

never recover the barking, though the young ones frequently do.
gathered at

fun

in the

all

When

times, if the weather be dry.

till it

is

perfedlly dry

it

it

was wholly owing

to

its

off in the

it

They

the under fide than the upper.

Thqy

figure, pointed at tlie end,

now

is

off, it is laid

and packing up
and

wrong time of

the

being put into the fkin while too moift.

and

but fomewhat paler on

are perfectly fmooth at the edges, and are of an

and rounded

at that part

are from two and a half to three inches in length,

The middle

half to two inches in breadth.

fide,

The bark
taken

leaves of the quinquina-tree ftand on pedicles of about half an inch long:

they are very fmooth and gloffy, and of a beautiful green

oblong

for the old trees

often to become mouldy, and fpoil

the merchants have attributed this to the taking

The

is

the omitting this circumftance,

the bark while moift, have occafioned

moon, when

the bark

which joins to the

rib of the leaf

is

rounded on the upper

ufually of a reddifh colour, efpecially towards the pedicle

is

whole leaf often becomes

red,

when

wards the top of the tree terminate

ftalk*

and from an inch and a

and the

All the fmall branches to-

perfedlly mature.
in

one or more clufters of flowers, which, be-

fore they are open, referable in lhape

and colour thofe of the common lavender.

When

thefe open, they change their colour

clufters arifes

ftalk

that fuftains one of thefe

from the ala of one of the leaves, and divides into many fmall bran-

ches, each terminated

by a cup divided into

fembling that of the hyacinth. It

long,

each

which at the end

is

five parts,

which fuftains a flower re-

compofed of a pipe of three quarters of an inch

is

divided into

five,

and fometimes into fix, fegments. Thefe

are of a beautiful deep red within, and are ferrated round the edges in a very elegant

manner.

From

the bottom of the tube of the flower there arifes a white piftil, termi-

nated by a long green head

this rifes

above the

and isfurrounded by five ftamina, which

remain hid w

ithin the flowers.

When

of whitilh down.

form of an

olive,

The

tube

the flower

This

of a dirty red, and

which by degrees grows into a

fruit

in

thefe

covered with a for4

fruit

divided into two

rounder than

its

cells,

which in

natural condition.

opens longitudinally into twocapfules, feparated by a membra-

fruit finally

and

is

the cup fwells in the middle into the

naceous feptum, and coated by a thin yellowifh Ikin

lour,

of the fegments of the flower,

fuftain apices ofa pale yellow colour

is

is fallen,

drying becomes fhorter, and the w'hole

level

lhape are

flattilh,

and, as

it

the feeds are

were, foliaceous

ofa

reddifli

co-

they are not more than

the twentieth part of an inch in diameter, and arethickeft in the middle, becoming

The plantula

thinner at each fide.

tween two

pellicles

ferninalis lies in the very centre of the feed, be-

thefe feeds are faftened in the

manner of

fo

many

fcales to a

placenta of an oblong figure, pointed at the two extremities, fo as fomewhat to referable

APPENDIX TO

femble a feed of the

common

convex, and fomewhat rough

defcription

it

was

it

all

Mem. Acad.

over.

This

flatter.

firft

introduced

among

us, called

and

to infufe in water,

their

manner of taking

and drinking the infufion

known

By

this

w'as

it

by pounding the bark,

their hatred to the Spaniards,

;

and

its

known

great value was never generally

till

when

and,

intermitting fever, which would give

Loxa

way

the

a fecret to the
the year l653

the lady of the viceroy of Peru, the Countefsde Chinchon, being long

regidor of

is

to the natives, pro-

made them keep it a long time fecret from them

became known among the inhabitants of Loxa, it fiill remained

reft of the world,

when

joined to

a fpeciesof febeften.

it

their conquerors,

thing

is

but on the other fide

Scienc. Par. 1738.

febrifuge feems to have been very long

bably as early as 1500

it

longer and

appears, that they were very ignorant of the nature and characters of

who, when

The ufe of this

laying

it is

and has on that part a longitudinal furrow

the feptum,

this tree,

but that

oat,

ill

of an

none of the known remedies, the cor-

to

fent to the viceroy a quantity of the quinquina bark, which he af-

fured him would cure the lady, though

all

other

means had

Upon

failed.

the

this

many other
at length took it, and was cured. She imme-

corregidor was fent for to Lima, and, after having given the medicine to

perfons withfafety and fuccefs, the lady

diately on this fent for a large quantity of the bark,

to thofe

difperfed

it

Coimtefs's

powder

the Jefuits

who had

and, they continuing to give

a quantity of
after

it

it

whence

it

to the fiek w

powdered, and herfelf

obtained the

gave

office,

ith the

fame

name
in

it

him the apothecary

to the college

gave

of the

charge to

fuccefs,

powder. Thefe reverend fathers foon found means

Cardinal Lugo, who difperfed

to

it

it

but thislady, being foon tired of the

W'as called the Jefuits

and

occafion for

had

it

to

it

with the fame fuccefs at

it

gratis to the

then

fend

Rome;

poor with the fame

good effects, under the name of the Jefuits, or the Cardinals, powder. Afterwards
the better fort w-eremade to pay
its

importation, while the poor

of France, w'as cured by

When

it

its

ftill

weight infilverfor

had

it

Louis

gratis.

fiderable price

but,

adulterate

it

and, foon after

the great

in

bark was

lings fterling the

many
firft

XIV.

it

had

expenfes of

dauphin

at that time

way

to other medicines.

to Spain,

their

over with him, fold

phyfician,
it

at a

con-

large quantities were fent over by the gal-

this,

like to

quinquina-trees are found at this time on

When

it

demands from Europe caufing

with other barks,

Cajanuma, and

to defray the

of a fever, w'hichhadnot given

the Count and Countefs of Chinchon returned

Jaun de Vaga, who brought a great quantity of

leons:

it,

have

all

Loxa to
praife.
The

the inhabitants of

loft part

of

its

juft

the chain of mountains adjoining to

other parts of America.

introduced,

it is

faid to have been fold for

dofe; which great price, with the

little effeCls

about eight

found from

fiiil-

it,

by

reafon

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

reafon of their ignorance of the manner of preparing and prefcribing

itsbeing difufed,

till

brought

in phytic,

it

about the yeaf 1679, Avhen Mr. Talbot, an Englifh praftitioner

into

vogue again, by the great number of cures wrought about

the court and city of Paris with this powder, prepared after his

whereof was foon

occafioned

it,

made

after

manner

public by the munificence of Louis

ed Talbot for the difcovery with 5000 crowns.

The

the fecret

XIV. who reward-

preparation

is

about two oun-

ces of the cortex in powder, digetled in a fand-heat, with about a quart of red wine
after digeftion, the

winemuft be poured

and two or three ounces given every

off,

three or four hours between the paroxyfms,

The quinquina
raufi;

will

choofe

fold either in bark or in

very dry and compadt

break clofe and fmootb,

is

much

the intention

till

powder

thofe

anfwered.

is

who buy

it

in the bark

fuch as has never been moiftened, and which

friable

between the

powder of a pale cinnamon-colour.

yields a

fo

it

is

teeth, is eafily pulverized,

It has a

and

mufty kind of fmell, and yet

The inferior kinds, when broThe female bark is confl-

of the aromatic as not to be difagreeable.

ken, appear woody, and on chewing feparate into fibres.

derably thicker, whiter on the outfide, redder within, and weaker in fmell and tafte

and much

than the former,

barks, fiiagreened wdthout

may

be trufted

The

the fraud.

it

of a Spanifli fliip

being very eafy to fophifticate

poffeffes

quantity of

ches, or

Whether this is
young trees yielding

fpecies,

is

of Peru

it

the

was introduced

lately difcovered

other,

and

to

buy

are the moft

it

of perfons

difficult to find

out

by the experiments of the

common

much

London, as part of the

cargo,

frigate in

1779, and carried

the bark of the trunk of full-grown trees, the bran-

the pale bark, or whether the trees be of different

not yet accurately determined.

and the

to

it,

fmall fine quilled

tafte,

bark in a

virtues of the

from Lima, taken by an Englifh

into Lifbon.

have been

and care be taken

red bark, lately brought into reputation

ingenious Dr. Saunders,

higher degree.

w'ell fifted,

The

a bitter mufty

reddifli within, of

The powder muft be

efteemed.
that

inferior in medicinal virtue.

and

In the province of Santa-Fe,

two. kinds of cinchona

one of which,

is

there

the red bark

one of the white fpecies.

abforbent, and aftringent, or ftyptic

from its. bitternefs,
The cortex is a
M. Reneaume obferves it becomes fit to foften four acrimonious juices for a four
and a bitter make a fweet. Again, as an abforbent, it blunts the points of acids,,
bitter,

and prevents

their action; and, of confequence, preferves the fluidity of the juices,

which acids would coagulate.

ferofities,

felves

by which the

parts,

As

a ftyptic,

it

muft have earthy parts

to

abforb

before moiftened and relaxed, will contrail them-

and, by this means, the cortex augments the fpring and tenlion of 4ie fibres.

As a bitter,
No. afi.

it

warms

and

it

faciliates perfpiration

by warming and augmenting.

the

APPENDIX TO

the fluidity of the juices. Its primary operation

On

thefe properties

is in

that

it is

fame

dicine of the

that of ftrengthening the folids.

medical ufes are founded.

its

curing of agues, and intermitting fevers

It produces

ages and moil conftitutions.

is

intention, in the ratio of

for

more

thofe indifpofitions,

fuch preparation

365

The

of an ague, or intermitting fever

fevers, is held

continual fever

dangerous

The

by thus preparing the

is

not fubjedt to caufe

cortex muft never be exhibited in

cortex

The

fit.

which happens

intermiffion,

its

given feveral ways,

is

cortex exhibited in con-

and care muft be taken, that the remiffion of a

eledluary, extra6l, bolus, infufion, timfture, &c.

powder

the preparation in very fine

when
the paroxyfm

but given in fuch a quantity, at times, between

be not miftaken for

or ftated times.

all

any other me-

It is ufual to give a gentle

to 1.

fuccefs, but alfo

the paroxyfms, as to prevent a return of the

tinual

applied in

fwelling in the belly, naufeas, &c. which often arife

viz.

neglefted.

is

it is

this effedl better than

emetic of ipecacuanha before the exhibition of the cortex

paifages, the cortex has not only

Its chief operation

which purpofe

is

viz. in

When

at particular

powder,

in

the ftomach will

form of
bear

it,

the moft ufeful and agreeable.

If the bark take downward, Venice treacle, diafcordium, conferveof rofes, terra

Japonica, dofes of laudanum, &c. muft be added to

happens

to

to prevent

it,

it

is

advifeable to add to

way of clyfter and

;

ftiff mafs,

John
book
in

the mouth.
:

affeftions,

The

often ufed for

and

young children

foies of the feet,

a more

fafe,

and no

in his Treatife

he alleges, that the cortex given inwardly

in agues,

by

wrought up in

may

and

notes, that

occafion. Dr.

lefs certain,

ago, wrote a
clyfter-wife

than when

it is

of Sea Difeafes, aflerts the

is

we know how

Sydenham, and

as

fafe^

and much more

to remedy' all the inconafter

him Mr. Reneaume

have prefcribed the cortex, with fuccefs, in melancholic and hyfteric

commonly

called vapours.

virtues of this medicine are at this timefufficiently

dofe in the

common

great difadvantages
as

this is

Dr. Cockburn,

and expeditious

others,

its

is

King of France, above fixty years

upon the fubjed; of curing agues by giving the cortex

veniences the cortex

and

cortex

preparations black hellebore, asthiops

alfo applied to the wrifts,

which he pretends, that

certain

of

The

its

Helvetius, phyfician to the

contrary

When there

with turpentine, Venice treacle, &c. which ufually anfwers the purpofe.

entirely

given by

'

preparations.

be an obftru6iion of the menfes from the exhibition of the cortex, or

mineral, cinnabar, &c.

its

known; but thelargenefs

forms of powder, or infufion in wine or in water, are

and our common methods of giving it in the extradt or

we prepare them, not

certain, nor without inconvenience.

attempted a method of giving the bark

refin,

Mr. Geoffrey has

and in

in all its efficacy, without its ill tafte,

one

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

one third of the ufual dofe, by means of
which,

is

it

it is

afferted, contain the

Hence

powder.

dry extradl

twenty-four grains of

whole efficacy of a dram of the choiceft bark in

appears very evident, that when we take the bark

it

in fiibftance,

we are forced to fwallow that can be of any ufe

all we can expeft in the virtues of any deco6lion

only about a third pare of what

to us

and that the fame portion

or infufion of

Wine,

is

it

Mem. Acad.

it.

w'hich

is

Sci.

Par. 1758.

a liquor partly aqueous, partly faline, and partly fpirituous,

is

properer to extract the virtues of the bark than mere water,

much more

able to dilTolve the juices or fap condenfed and infpiffated in

the bark of the tree; and for this reafon a ftrong infufion of bark in this

remains clear, and keeps the refm fufpended when cold

from the infufion

Thus
bark
the

the

it is

and

in

which

fions

refin of the bark,

which there

it

is

great reafon to believe

from watery infu-

has been faid there can be but very little dependence placed on

clear infufions in this

menftruum

the remaining tafte in thefe infu-

only a faint bitternefs, which arifes from the

is

itfelf.

alone which can fufpend the refin in a watery infufion of the

and as the

cold,

common

the

refpedl: it differs

a vinous one, the fpirituous and inflammable part of the liquor does

fame thing

when

menftruum

water when cooled, as the refin precipitates

in boiling

fire

in

poffeffes all the virtues of that medicine, is wholly precipitated

fions

is

much

a menftruum
as

its

the dried juices of the bark

the whole concrete,

gummofe and

which alone

faline parts of

poffeffes the virtue

of the medicine, being of the nature of thofe bodies properly called gum reJins, which'
are but very imperfedlly foluble in water,

and of which wine is the proper

diffolvent^

It has

been found, that cold water, afting more gradually than boiling water, ex-

trafts

both the

gummy and

refinous principles of bark.

macerating one ounce of bark

powder, in eight or twelve of

of the clear liquor) of two or three ounces. It

bark in fubftance

is

more

infufions
water,,

effe6lual than

is

a common

any preparation of it.

which

it

was ufed,

in

By

and
was cured.
fall.

this

opinion, that

The method

a cafe mentioned in the Philofophical Tranfa6lions, wasy

due preparation by bleeding or purging, to take two ounces of

after

without

LewiSf Mat. Med.

Peruvian bark has been found very effedlual in preventing colds.

in

made by

even twelve) hours, have been fuccefsfully adminiftered

heat, for twenty-four (or

in dofes

in fine

And

it

every fpring

method, an habitual taking of cold, and a confequent fore throat,

Phil. Tranf.

No. 478.

p. 3.

The antifeptic power of the bark has been abundantly evinced, and we have
many accounts of its great effedts in the cure of gangrenes and mortifications. See
Med. Eff. Edinb. vol. iii. art. 5. We have alfo feveral accounts of the good effeSls
of this medicine in ulcers and the fmall-pox, and alfo in fcrophulous complaints.

The

APPENDIX TO

The bark probably

of fubtile vapour, or fixed

ter

and, even

kind throws off by fermentation a quantity

in cafes of this

when

air,

which

is fufficient to faturate the

made

the putrefadlion has

acrimonious mat-

farther advances, larger quantities

of this medicine will difcharge more of the antifeptic vapour, which, reaching the
blood,
edit.

reftore

w'ill

confiftence,

its

and correct

The bark has

p. 140, &c.

3.

its

fiiarpnefs.

alfo been applied,

in

Macbrides Effays,

conjundtion with other

medicines, to the cure of periodical head-acbs, hyfterical, hypochondriacal, ver-

and

tiginous,

And

epileptic, complaints.

a very ufeful medicine in weaknefs

it is

of the ftomach, uterine fluxes, and fundry chronical difeafes proceeding from a

and debility of the

laxity

Many
and

fibres.

by medical writers of the jaundice, dropfy, afthma,

of nervous diforders, brought on in a furprifing fliort time after

inftaaces are recorded

the train

all

among others, the curious may confult

The Peruvian bark is difcovered to be
the Med. Eff. Edinb. vol. iv. art. 24.
effedlual in the cure of mortifications from an internal caufe. The hiftory of this

an injudicious adminiftration of the bark

difcovery

is

In 1713, Mr. Rufliworth, furgeon in Northampton, gave

patient labouring under a mortification

its

good

effedts in this difeafe,

foon tried
confirmed

it

in

this

communicated

fuch cafes, and found

it

his difcovery in 1731.

larly
will

the former thinks

where there
fucceed in

fuccefsful in feven.

Some

Mr. John Douglas

in 1732; and

its

medicine to the Royal Society.

ufe in mortifications from an in-

the fever.

all

cafes of that kind, particu-

Mr. Douglas feems

Mr. Shipton increafed

call the gentian-root the

Linnaeus,

The

is

to think it

He

the dofe of two fcruples, and

propofed to have

it

tried in nomag,

pha-

which, together with

Weft Indies
it

Ixvii.

European quinquina, becaufe

goofl

againft in-

fea-fide beech of Jamaica,

or Cinchona Carribaia of
a fpecies of the Jefuits bark, produced in Jamaica and the Carribee

Wright, who found

Toh

Mr. Amyand

All thefe three gentlemen gave half a dram for

all mortifications.

termitting fevers.

iflands,

herpes, or other chironion ulcers.

gedenas,

which

in

while the fever continued.

it

this

not proper in

it is

no intermiffion

is

adofeevery fourth hour.

gave

to

by the hiftory of a patient of his, which he publiflied

Mr. Shipton foon after related his fuccefs by

Mr. Rufliworth and Mr. Amyand confirmed
ternal caufe

it

and, having afterwards other proofs of

and

it

it

its

virtues, has

been accurately defcribed by Dr.

very efficacious in the dangerous remittent fevers of the

has been lately adminiftered in London in intermittents, in

has effected a cure as completely as the Peruvian bark.

504. Med, Com.

vol. v. p.

398. part

jFhi/.

Tranf.

2.

BREAD-

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL,

BREAD-FRUIT TREE.
THIS

tree is called artocarpus,

(from

Artocarpus.

fTo?,

bread, and

genus of the monandria order, belonging to the monoecia

a cylindric
ers

amentum

the male

and female

the ftylus

is

one,

is

in a different

and the drupa

amentum.

is

and

of plants.

is

is

It has

covered with flow-

In the male, the calyx

In the female, there

wanting.

fruit ;)

x?7roj,

clafs,

or catkin, which thickens gradually, and

valved, and the corolla

two-

is

no calyx nor corolla

many-celled.

is

this tree has been mentioned by many voyagers, particularly by Damby Rumphius, and by Lord Anfon, yet very little notice feems to have been
taken of it till the return of Captain Wallis from the South Seas, and fince that

Though

pier,

who have touched at Otaheite, and fome other

Captain Dampier relates, that in Guam, one of

time by others

countries in the Eaft-

Indies.

the

there

is

The

but the natives take

they fcrape

off,

and

it

green, and bake

eat the infide,

which

hours,

it is harfli.

As this fruit is in

it

Rumphius,
heart,

it

They

it

in

till

is

the rind

to the fize of a childs head.

told us that all the

the

fruit,

a more glutinous nature.

The

this

new-

and the greater

Ladrone

fhaped

fruit is

like

Its furface or rind is thick, green,,

The more flat and fmooth

feeds are contained in the

black

kept above twenty-four

and covered every- where with warts of a quadragonal or hexagonal

diamonds, but without points.

is

like the infide of

any other place.

after defcribing the tree, obferves, that

and increafes

turns yellow, foft, and

feafon eight months in the year, the natives feed

I never heard Of

had plenty of it.

it

and white,

but, if

upon no other fort of bread during that time.

iflands

ripe,

an oven

in

foft

is

baked bread, having neither feed nor ftone

V

round, and grows on the boughs like

fruit is

penny loaf ; when

apples, of the bignefs of a good

:

iflands,

a certain fruit called the bread-fruit, growing on a tree as big as our large

apple-trees, with dark leaves.

fweet

Ladrone

is

figure, like

cut

thefe warts are, the fewer

the quantity of pith, and that of

internal part of the rind, or peel, confifts of a flefliy

fubftance, full of twilled fibres, which have the appearance of fine wool ; thefe ad-

here

to,

and

in

fome meafure form,

towards the middle, where there

is

it.

The

flefliy

part of this fruit becomes fofter

a fmall cavity formed without any nuts or feeds,

except in one fpecies, which has but a fmall number ; and

lefs

it is

baked or prepared fome other way ;

the fibrous

flefli

dried,

The

of cocoa-nuts ; but they prefer

No.

They afterwards
26.

not good, un-

but, if the outward rind be taken

and afterwards boiled with meat, as we do cabbage,

the tafte of artichoke-bottoms.

burnt.

this fort is

cut

it

it

inhabitants of

roafted on coals

Amboyna
till

drefs

it

it

off,

and

has then

in the liquor

the outward part or peel

is

into pieces,

and eat it with the milk of the cocoa-nut.

Some

APPENDIX TO

10

Some people make

dry the internal

of

fritters

or fry

it,

and keep

foft part,

and others, as the Sumatrians,

to ufe inftead of bread with other food.

it

and

affords a great deal of nouriiliment,

hard-working people

in oil

it

is

very fatisfying

and, being of a gentle aftringent quality,

It

therefore proper for

good

is

for perfons

of a laxative habit of body.

It

more nourifhing boiled in our manner, with fat meat, than roafted on
The milky juice which diftils from the trunk, boiled with the cocoa-nut oil,

is

coals.

makes a very flrong

This tree

bird-lime.

Sumatra, and in the Malay language

is

on the eaftern parts of

to be found

called foccus and foccum capas.

is

name of Joccumy
In Anfons voyage we are informed,

grows

Madura; and

likewife about the town of Bantam, in Java, and in Ballega and

known

It

is

there by the

common

in all the

Ladrone

iflands,

that the rima,

or bread-fruit tree,

and fome of the Philippines.

It is

is

fomewhat

larger than our apple-tree, and bears a broad dark-coloured leaf with five inden-

tures on each fide.

The

fruit

hangs on boughs

penny loaf, with a thick tough rind, which

when

quite ripe, and bake

it till

gather
rafp

of

before

it

and there remains a pretty

it,

foft

it is

it is

and fweet as a new-baked

any other kind of bread

made

is

of the

the cruft

pretty black

is

fize

The

full ripe turns yellow.

of a

natives

then they

with a tender yellow cruft, and the crumb

roll

without any feeds or ftones.

it is

This

enjoy for about feven months; during which they never eat

fruit the inhabitants

grows a

loaf,

and

like apples,

little ftale, it

but they are obliged to bake

it

every day;

becomes harfh and hufky, fomewhat

There

in the weft of England.

cutting the loaf into flices

when

it is

is,

it

it

like the potatoe-bread

however, a remedy for

new, and drying

when

for,

in the fun,

which

this;

by which

is

it is

changed into the pleafanteft rufk that can be eaten.

Captain Cook, in
ftitutefor

his voyage, obferves, that this fruit not only ferves as

bread among the inhabitants of Otaheite and the neighbouring

alfo, varioufly dreffed,

tree that

is

about the

compofes the principal part of

fize

of a middling oak;

its

their food.

It

a fub-

iflands,

but

grows on a

leaves are frequently a foot and a

half long, of an oblong lhape, deeply finuated like thofe of the fig-tree, which they

refemble in colour and confiftence, and in the exfuding of a milky juice upon being

The

broken.
furface

is

fruit is

about the

reticulated, not

much

fize

and

unlike a

fliape of a
truffle

new-born

it is

childs

head

and the

covered with a thin fkin, and

The eatable part lies between

fnow, and fomewhat of the confiftence of new

has a core about as big as the handle of a fmall knife.

the fldn and the core;

bread
parts

it

it is

as white as

muft be roafted before

its tafte is infipid,

it is

eaten, being

firft

divided into three or four

with a flight fweetnefs fomewhat refembling that of the

crumb

CULPEPER'S BRITISH HERBAL.

crumb of wheaten bread mixed with a Jerufalem
ed

in

a kind of oven, which renders

the bread-fruit they alfo

the cocoa-nut to

mixing

The

then beating

it,

mahie, which

juft before
:

the core

three diflies,

a boiled potatoe

not

fo than thofe of the middling fort.

Of

by putting

like

either water or the milk of

is

likewife

comes on,

is'

perfectly ripe

it is

in this ftate

made to ferve as fuccedaneum for

thus made The fruit of the bread

is

is

dug

is

five or fix

It

weeks.

meal without

it,

olive generally
in the year;

is

taken out of the hole as

wrapped up

is

though to Europeans the

firft

time

it is

this principal article

to his

after

which he may do

own and

The

fruit itfelf is in

in

but, if a

about an hour, he

man

will as

will

it

keep

of a pickled

feafon eight months

four.

which produces

tree

plants ten of

completely

even,

if,

after he has

in the

them

in his

fulfil his

duty

There are two fpecies of artocarpus,

with entire leaves.

viz.

There

is

fummers heat, as often

procured bread for his prefent houfe-

hold, he ftiould convert a furplus into money, and lay

it

up

for his children.

the incifus, with gaflied leaves

alfo faid to

that which bears fruit with ftones or feeds,

and that

be another
in

and the

diftinftion, into

which the

fruit

has none.

parts of frudtification of that tree which bears the fruit without ftones are de-

fedtive.

The

The

tree.

and reaping

in the cold of winter,

as thefe feafons return

The

dreffed,

future generations as the native of our lefs temperate climate can

do by ploughing

integrifolia,

it is

of their food (the bread-fruit) cofts thefe happy

does not indeed grow fpontaneoufly

lifetime,

then

no change for

and the mahie fupplies the inhabitants during the other

procure

is

undergoes a

it

will fuffer

it

tafte is as difagreeable as that

eaten.

people no trouble or labour except climbing up a

it

the whole

both cold and hot; and the natives feldom make a

It is eaten

the

and

wanted for ufe ; and, being made

it is

and baked

into leaves

in this ftate

fecond fermentation, and becomes four, after which

it is

ftalk,

for that purpofe generally in

the houfes, and neatly lined in the bottom and fides with grafs

into balls,

gathered

is

done by gently pulling out the

thrown into a hole which

covered with leaves, and heavy ftones laid upon them

many months.

tree

clofely covered with

undergoes a fermentation, and becomes difagreeably fweet

it

is

ripe bread-fruit

and, being laid in heaps,

then taken out entire, which

is

the reft of the fruit

To

and afterwards

to a pafte with a ftone peftle,

it

cook-

fruit is alfo

with ripe plantains, bananas, or the four pafte which they call mahie.

it

'before the feafon

leaves

make

more

This

artichoke.

and fomething

it foft,

quite fo farinaceous as a good one, but

11

ftyli,

The amentum,

or catkin, which contains the male parts, never expands.

or female part of the

fruit,

are likewife deficient.

From

w'hich

it

follows

that there can be no ftones or feeds, and therefore that this tree can be propagated

only by fuckers or layers

although

it is

abundantly evident that

it

muft originally
have

APPENDIX TO

12

have proceeded from the feed-bearing bread-fruit

fometimes find

in

European

Inftances of this kind vre

tree.

fuch as the barberry, and the Corinthian grape

fruits;

from Zant, commonly called currants, which can therefore be increafed only by
Dr. Solander was affured by the oldefl; inhabitants of Otaheite

layers and cuttings.

and the adjoining

was formerly plenty of the

but they had been negle6led upon account of the pre-

remember

iflands, that they well

feed-bearing bread-fruit ;

there

ference given to the bread-fruit without feeds, which they propagate by fuckers.

CASHEW-NUT TREE.
ANACARDIUM, the cafhew-nut tree,
belonging to the decandria clafs, of plants

The

under the twelfth order, holoraceae.

a genus of the monogynia order,

is

and

petals, twice the length of the calyx

the

piftil

The

has a roundifii germen

calyx

is

divided

the corolla confifts of five re-

the ftamina confift of ten capillary

filaments fhorter than the calyx, one of them caftrated

and roundilli

method ranking

in the natural

charadlers are:

and deciduous

into five parts, the divifions ovate

fledted

Anacardium.

the antherae are fmall

the ftylus

is

fubulated, infledled,

and the length of the corolla; the ftigma oblique: there is no pericarpium; the receptaculum is very large and flefliy the feed is a large kidney-fliaped nut, placed
:

above the receptaculum.

Of

this

only one fpecies

It grows naturally in the

places of which
eft difficulty.

juice,

which

it is

The
is

Well

a native
fruit

known

as yet

is

and arrives

Indies,

at the height of 20 feet in thofe

but cannot be preferved in Britain without the great

of this tree

is

as large as an orange

To

frequently ufed in making punch.

grows a nut, of the

fize

and

is full

which

is

which

is

fweet and pleafant,

The

fiiell is

of an acid

the apex of this fruit

and lhape of a hares kidney, but much larger

next the fruit than at the other.

is

to the botanifts, viz. the occidentale.

very hard

Between

at the

end

and the kernel^

and the

ftiell

lodged a thick, blackifh, inflammable,^liquor, of fuch a cauftic nature in the

frefii

nuts, that,

if

is

covered with a thin

the lips chance to touch

it,

kernels are eaten raw, roafted, or pickled.

film.

blifters will

The

immediately follow.

cauftic liquor juft

efteemed an excellent cofmetic with the Weft-India young

certainly fuffer a great deal of pain in

males are of a beautiful

flayed alive to obtain one.

face,

it is

When

ned by the fcorching, rays of the

ftiell,

and then rub

its

this

application

ladies,

The

mentioned

is

but they muft

and, as fond as our

Britiffi fe-

highly probable they would never fubmit to be

any of the former fancy tbemfelves too much tan-

fun, they gently fcrape off the thin outfide of the

theirvfaces all over with the ftone,

Their faces immediately

fwell

76

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

and grow

fwell

and the

.black:

Ikin,

being poifoned by the cauftic

tioned, will in the fpace of five or fix days

come

oil

above-men-

entirely off in large flakes, fo that

they cannot appear in public in lefs than a fortnight, by which time the

The

looks as fair as that of a new-born child.

effe6lually of diforders in the

not voluntary
a/id letting

leave

The milky
wafhed

free

This cure, however,

is

deny them any other fuflenance;

by famine, or fullain themfelves with

juice of this tree will flain linen of a good black,

is

eafily railed

rate pot filled with fight

from the nuts, which

this

fruit.

which cannot be

npts are apt to

rot.

fliould

be planted each

in

a fepa-

fandy earth, and plunged into a good hot-bed of tanners

bark; they luuft alfo be kept from moifture

till

be four or

will

come up, otherwife the

come up in about a month

the plants

If the nuts are frefh, the plants will

two months more they

in

of this tree; the

out.

This plant

and

ikin

them loofe to the woods, where the cafliew-nuts grow in great abundance,

in their option to perifli

it

fruit

new

cure them-felves

humours which obftrudled the

and thus removes the complaint.

for their mailers, the Portuguefe,

in Brafil

ftomach by eating of the yellow

juice of which, being acid, cuts the thick tough

circulation of the blood,

negroes

five

inches high, with large leaves

from which quick progrefs many people have been deceived, imagining they would
cpntinue the like quick growth afterwards ; but, with

all

the care that can be taken,

they never exceed the height of two feet and a half, and for the moft part fcarcely

The Indians

half as much.

and fprinkfed with

fait,

tfie

oilis

as a provocative to venery, to which they are found a mop:

The

remarkable ftimulus.

eat the nuts flightly roafted, dipped in water or wine,

juice will flop a diarrhoea, and cure a diabetes

aitp

ufed by paintprs to give their cplours a lafling black, and to preferve wood

from putrefadlion.

CANELLA ALBA,

THE

The

eete.

to

canella

of plants

clafs,

on

WHITE CINNAMON.

is ,a

genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the dodecandria

and

in the natural

qalyx

is

method ranking under the twelfth order,

tbree-lobjed; the petals are five;

an urceolated or.bladder-fl>aped ne6larium

hoilora-

the antherse fixteen, growing

and the

fruit is atricocular berry,

but one, fpecies, the alba; which grows ufually about

twenty feet high, app ejght or ten, inches in thicknefs, in the thick woods of moft
with two feeds.

pf the

Bahama

There

iflands.

js

The leaves

are naiTpyv at the ftalkv growing wider at their

ends, which.are brqad und rounding, having a middle rib only; they are very fmooth,

and pf a
lous,

light fhinjng green.

come

In

Mgy

27.

^flowers,

forth in clupers at the ends qf the branches

grant; and.pre fucceeded by rouqcf

No.

and June fhe

fierries,

of t^e

fize

which are pentapeta-

they are red, and very fra-

pf lai^e peafe, green, apd

when
ripe

APPENDIX TO

14
ripe (which
fide,

two

in February) purple, containing

is

fliining

otherwife not unlike in lhape to a kidney-bean

veloped in a (limy mucilage.

being more ufed in

larly,

The whole

diftilling,

and

plant

is

black feeds,

flat

on one

thefe feeds in the berry are en-

very aromatic, the bark particu-

in greater efteem, in the

more northern

parts

of the world than in Britain.

The bark is

the canella alba of the Ihops. It

is

brought to us rolled up into long

thicker than cinnamon, and both outwardly and inwardly of a whitilli co-

quills,

Infufions of

lour, lightly inclining to yellow.

and fmell of the canella ; but they are rather

it

have the warmth of the bark, but

re6tified fpirit

water

in

bitter

are'

of a yellowifh colour,

than aromatic.

little

of

its

Tinctures

fmell.

in

Proof-fpirit

diffolves the aromatic as well as the bitter matter of the canella, and

is

therefore

the beft menflruum.

The

canella

is

the interior bark freed from an outward thin rough one, and dried

The fhops

in the fliade.

diftinguifh

two

forts of canella, differing in the length

thicknefs of the quills: they are both the bark of the

fame

taken from the trunk, "and the thinner from the branches.

pungent aromatic, though not of the moft agreeable kind

parations of

it

is

often

employed where a warm ftimulant

and as a corrector of other

pofitions

articles.

by the London College

the pulvis aloeticus

It is now^,

of fome

winters bark,

which belongs

rhei,

This bark has

is

little

&c.

It

with a light-brown bark

com-

an ingredient

in the

is

ufeful as covering the

been confounded with that called

Coffea.
upright, and

rifes
is

more

covered

the branches are produced horizontally and oppofite,

grown, are about four or

The

leaves alfo

five inches long,

and

tw'o

is

fully garnifhed

Hand oppofite

and,

broad in the middle,

decreafing toward each end; the borders are w aved, and the furface

The

in

enters being

is

main ftem grows

with them, and they form a fort of pyramid.

green.

necef-

it

croffing each other at every joint; fo that every fide of the tree

fully

is

ufed

it

fuppofed to be a native of Arabia Felix. It feldom

than fixteen or eighteen feet in height; the

when

ftomach

to a very different tree.

COFFEE-TREE.
coffee-tree

to the

however,

but with the Edinburgh College

other articles.

THE

warm

is

nor are any of the pre-

the only officinal formula which

vinum amarum, vinum

tinftura amara,
tafte

This bark

very grateful.

Canella alba
fary,

and

tree; the thicker'being

is

of a lucid

flowers are produced in duffers at the root of the leaves, fitting clofe

to the branches

they are tubulous, and fpread open at the top, where they are

divided into five parts; they are of a pure white, and have a very grateful odour, but
are of fhort duration.

The

fruit,

which

is

the only ufeful part, refembles a cherry.

It

v-r

ti'

'

,,.

M
/

'
'

/.S

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

It

grows

and

in clufters,

is

ranged along the branches under the

of the fame green as the laurel, but fomething longer.

deep red,

of the leaves,

axillte

When

it

comes

be of a

to

gathered for the mill, in order to be manufactured into thofe coffee-

it is

now

beans

15

The

fo generally known.

mill

compofed of two .wooden

is

rollers fur-

nifhed with iron plates eighteen inches long, and ten on twelve in diameter.

moveable

rollers are

Above

the chops.
it falls

made

the rollers

between the

rollers

divided into two parts, as

operation
it

being

flat

approach a third which

to

a hopper, in

is

on the one

fide

of water, where
the w'hole

it

foaks for one night, and

and well

is finiflied,

ing-mill. This

is

wooden

dried,

a thin fkin that detaches

itfelf

parchment being removed,

upon an

which

axle,

its firft

is

it is

and

tkin,

has undergone this

w'ires, w'hile

this

machine

the fruit Hides

then thrown into a velfel full

When

afterwards thoroughly waflied.

upon

its

trendle by a

takes off the parchment, which

in proportion as it

is

mule or

nothing but

grows dry.

The

taken out of this mill to be put into another, which

it is

is

it

it

put into another machine called the peel-

from the berry

This machine

called the winnowing-mill.

fixed

it is

it

grinder, turned vertically

a horfe. In paffing over the coffee

after

and round on the other. From

falls into a brafs fieve, where the fkin drops between the

over them into baflcets placed ready to receive

is

it

call

from whence

coffee,

ftripped of

it is

feen by the forms of

Thefe

and which they

fixed,

which they put the

and the chops, where

may be

is

provided with four pieces of

is

tin

turned by a Have with confiderable force; and the

wind that is made by the motion of thefe plates clears the coffee of all the pellicles
It is afterwards put upon a table, where the broken berthat are mixed with it.
ries, and any filth that may remain among them, are feparated by negroes; after
which the coffee

is fit

The

for fale.

coffee-tree

cultivated in Arabia, Perfia, the

is

Edft-Indies, the Ifle of Bourbon, and feveral parts of America.

in botanic gardens in

produced more

many

coffee than

particularly in hills

parts of Europe.

was

is

alforaifed

Prince Eugenes garden at Vienna

fufficient for his

and mountains, where its root

frequently watered with gentle fhowers. It

It

own confumption.
is

It delights

almoft always dry, and

its

head

prefers a weftern afpebl, and ploughed

ground without any appearance of grafs. The plants Ihould be placed at eight
feet diftance from each other, and in holes twelve or fifteen inches deep. If left to
themfelves, they would rife to the height of fixteen or eighteen feet, as already ob-

ferved

but

tlTey are

generally Hinted to

five, for

the conveniency of gathering their

Thus dwarfed, they extend their branches fo, that they

cover the whole fpot round about them. They begin to yield fruit the third year,
but are not in full bearing till the fifth. With the fame infirmities that moft other
trees are fubjeft to, thefe are likewife in danger of being deftroyed by a worm or by
fruit with the greater eafe.

the fcorching rays of the fun.

6

The

hills

where the

coffee-trees are

found have general

APPENDIX TO

16

In the

nerally a gravelly or chalky bottom.

then dies

which feldom

in the former, its roots,

tain nourifliment,

laft,

and keep the tree

alive

and

fail

fome time and

languifhes for

of ftriking between ftones, ob-

fruitful for thirty years.

The

the period for plants of the coffee-tree.

it

This

not only finds himfelf without trees, but has his land fo reduced, that

any kind of culture

for

of virgin land, to

and, unlefs he

make himfelf amends

coffee-trees, bis lofs

is

Arabia

in

is

which

is

not

fit

up a fpot

totally exhaufled

by the

found fo greatly to excel that raifed in the

Large plantations of

pra6lifed in any of the Britifli colonies.

fome of them

in

it is

fo fituated, that he can break

for that

rican plantations or elfewhere, that the cultivation of the tree

per encouragement

nearly

irreparable.

is

The coffee produced

merly made

is

proprietor, at the end of this period,

and

it

of the duty payable on

all

Ame-

now but feldom

this

kind were for-

was propofed to the parliament to give a pro-

for cultivating this

ers to underfell the importers

is

commodity

from Arabia.

there, fo as to enable the plant-

Accordingly there was an abatement

from our colonies

coffee imported

in

America, which at

that time w'as fuppofed to be fufficient encouragement for this kind of

commerce;

but the inferiority of the American coffee to the Arabian almoft ruined the project.

The

late

Mr. Miller propofed fome improvements

According

They

gathered too foon.

till

in the

the trees are planted in too moift a

to him,

method of

foil,

ought, he fays, to be permitted to

their fkins are flirivelled,

and they

fall

from the trees when fhaken.

indeed greatly diminjfh their weight, but the value of the commodity

be increafed

to raOre

than double of that which

They

the berries.

fall

are,

ie

This will

will

thereby

gathered fooner. In Arabia, they

fpreading cloths Jto receive them, and only

Another caufe may be the method of drying
he obferves, very apt to imbibe moifture, or the flavour of

always fhake the berries off the

take fuch as readily

cultivation.

and the berries are

remain on the trees

trees,

at each time.

any thing placed near them.

A bottle

of

rum placed in a clofet in which

a canifter

of coffee-berries clofely flopped was Handing on a fhelf at a confiderable diflance,

in a

few days fo impregnated the berries as to render them very difagreeable

fame has
coffee

alfo

and

happened by a

tea,

bottle of fpirit of wine Handing in the

both which were

in

a few days fpoiled by

it.

fame

Some

the

clofet with

years ago, a

had a few bags of pepper put on-board, the flavour of which

was imbibed by the coffee, and the whole cargo fpoiled. For thefe reafons, Mr.
coffee-fhip from India

Miller dire6ls that coffee-berries fhould never be brought over in fhips freighted

with rum, nor laid to dry in the houfes where fugars are boiled or

When they are fully

ripe,

rum

diflilled.

they fhould be fhaken off while the trees are perfedlly dry,

and fpread upon cloths in the fun, carrying them every evening under cover, to
prevent the dews or rain from falling on them.
When perfe(5lly dry, they fhould
have

HERBAU

CULPEPERS BRITISH
have their outer

beaten

flcins

17

and then be carefully packed up

off,

in cloths or

bags

three or four times double.

The coffee-tree,
gardens

ance at

we have already obferved,

as

but for this

all

is

fometimes cultivated

requires the affiftance of a ftove.

it

It

makes a

feafons of the year (being an evergreen), but efpecially

and when the berries are

red,

tinue a long time in that Rate.

which

is

generally in the winter,

propagated from the berries

It is

European

in

fine

when

appear-

in flower,

con-

fo that they

but they muft be

when gathered from the tree, for they lofe their vegetative
when they have been fent abroad, they have conRantly

planted immediately

quality in a very fliort time;

have been a fortnight on their journey

failed in thofe that

trees are defired, the

young plants muft be

place where they grow.

The frefti

into a hot-bed of tanners bark.

young plants

appear

will

in

watered

but not

have recovered their health

The

the

fix weeks more will

During fummer, they muft be frequently

otherwife the roots will be apt to rot.

their leaves fweating out

is

infedls, that

fo that,

the trees fliould be removed into

cannot be deftroyed

on the

frefti earth,

firft

and

all

The

a clammy juice
till

the plants

appearance of thefe

infeifts,

poflihle care taken to recover,

diforders incident to them, generally proceed either from their having

been put into large

The

pots.

in too great plenty,

which they are over-run with

them.

be at any diftance from the

planted in fmall pots, and plunged,

If the bed be of a proper temperature,

fign of the plants being difordered

after

if it

fo that, where thefe

a month or five weeks time; and in

be ready for tranfplanting intp feveral

firft

fent,

may be

berries

from the earth about them being too

pots, or

moft, proper foil for

them

is

ftilF or

that of a kitchen-garden, which

and not fubjedlto bind, efpecially

if it

is

over- watered..

naturally loofe,.

has conftantly been well wrought and dunged.

Explanation of the Plate.

a,

reprefents the flower,

cut open to ftiow the fituation of the five filaments,

with their fummits lying upon them.

the flower-cup,

with

embryo
two reflexed fpongy

froin.

h,

feed-veffel

c,

the fruit entire

dy the fruit open,

four fmall indentations,

inclofing the germen,

or

the middle of which arifes the ftyle, terminated by.

the,

its

tops.
;

marked

at the top with a

pun^ure,

confifts of

two feeds

to ftiow that

it

like
;

a navel.

which are furrounded

by the pulp.
e,

the fruit cut horizontally,

to ftiow the feeds as they are placed eredl,

with

their flat fides together.

f, one of the feeds taken out, with the

membrane

or parchment upon

it.

g, the fame, with the parchment torn open, to give/a view of the feed.
Ti,

No.

the feed without the parchment.

27.

The

APPENDIX TO

18

The

common

origin of coffee as a

the prior of a monaftery

drink

not well known.

is

who, being informed by a goat-herd, that

times browzing on the tree would awake and caper

its

virtue

city

accordingly, he

firft

tried

it

on

whom

was learned

it

found that

it

diftipated the

in the

whom

took

paffed to

it

walk

to

From Arabia

it.

Caufou foon

where

firft

its

virtues himfelf,

and

it firft

Their example

every body at

Aden drank

coffee.

the devotees, then the reft of the people,

In 151

and inclined

after took off the prohibition

Kahie Beg prohibited

1,

to things forbidden.

and

coffee

it,

But Sultan

advanced from Egypt to

firft who brought it

named Pafqua, brought into England by Mr.
Turkey merchant, in 1652, to make his coffee, firft fet up the

Thevenot, the traveller, w'as the

and a Greek

Daniel Edw'ards, a

ufe of coffee to the Perfians

the profeffors of -the law for ftudy, artifans to

pafled to Cairo.

it

inebriated,

Syria and Conftantinopie.

into France;

firft

he ufed to fpend the night in prayer.

Felix
it

fome-

monks, to prevent their fleeping at

incommoded by it, recommended

in the night, in fine,

Mecca

from a perfuafion that

to

fumes which oppreffed the head, infpired joy, opened the

brought coffee into vogue at Aden

work, travellers

his cattre

it

15th century by Gemaleddin, mufti of Aden, a

bowels, and prevented deep, without being

to his dervifes, with

afcribe

became curious to prove

all night,

Red Sea; and who, having tried

near the mouth of the

Hence

his

Others, from Sehehabeddin, refer the

matins.

from

-Some

fervant,

profeftion of coffee-man, and introduced the drink into this ifland.

In the year 1714, the magiftrates of Amfteldam, in order to pay a compliment

to Louis

XIV.

king of France, prefented to him an elegant plant of this rare tree,

carefully and judicioufly packed up to go by water, and defended from the weather

by a curious machine covered with glafs. The plant was about five feet high, an
inch in diameter in the ftem, and was in full foliage, with both green and ripe
It was viewed in the river, with great attention and curiofity, by feveral
fruit.

members of

the

Academy of

Sciences,

and was afterwards carried

to the royal

garden at Marly, under the care of Monlieur de Juftieu, the kings profeffor of
botany who had, the year before, written a memoir, printed in the Hiftory of the
;

Academy

of Sciences of Paris,

with an elegant figure of

that year from

it,

defcribing the charadters of this genus,

taken from a fmaller plant,

together

which he had received

Mynheer Pancras, burgomafter of Amfterdam, and

diredtor of the

botanical garden there.

In 1718, the Dutch colony at Surinam began firft to plant coffee; and, in 1723,
Monfieur de la Motte Aigron, governor of Cayenne, having bufinefs at Surinam,
contrived,

by an

artifice,

1725, had produced

to bring

many

away a plant from

thence, which, in the year

thoufiands.

In

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

In 1727,, the French, perceiving that
in their colonies,

conveyed to Martinico fome of the plants

and an a6l paffed

in Jamaica,

laid the foundation of a

ments

in the

The

encourage

and

growth in that

its

all fides.

After

It is then

plate,

ground

proper quantity of water

it

a while to

has juft boiled,

fettle

and

fine,

middle whereof runs a

in

mill, as

dark-brown colour,

it is

bottoms are iron plates

is

under

fire,
it

and, the deco6lion having ftood

its

a femicular hearth, whereon

this is

there the coffee

a fign

it is

and fo

is

it is

and

oil rifes,

and

ftiaken,

it is

be-

grown of a

almoft cold

left till

and,

well done.

we may infer,

this berry.

that coffee

is flightly
is

aftringent,

and

antifeptic

tained by diftillation from one

oil it

contains

pound of coffee,

ounces and half a dram of thick

drams of a caput mortuum.

And

it is

that

it

mo-

powerfully fedative. Its adtion on the ner;

which receives

rendered mildly empyreumatic, by the procefs of roafting.

water,

a large

on the human body. Dr. Percival has made feveral

of which he gives in the following words From thefe ob-

vous fyftem probably depends on the

fix

is

roafts the berry;

have been given of the medicinal qualities of

derates alimentary fermentation, and

is

ordinary method

of holes, through the

full

real effefts

experiments, the refult

and

The

into difties.

'

different accounts

determine

a juft degree of torre-

as ferves the prefent occa-

a tin cylindrical box

is in

it

emptied into two receivers made with large hoops whofe

looks bright and oily,

fervations

fettle-

next boiled, and the ground coffee put into

they pour or decant

fpit

much

by help of a jack the fpit turns fwift,

ing now and then taken up to be fliaken.
When the

To

Thus was

European

has acquired a brownifli hue equally

till it

charcoal-fire:

Very

moft

was cultivated

ifland.

beneficial trade to the

taken from the

it is

of roafting coffee amongft us

if it

it

it

Weft-Indies.

on an earthen or metalline

deep on

it.

to

moft extenfive

from whence

the year 1732,

for, in

preparation of coffee confifts in roafting, or giving

fa6lion,

iion.

might be of great advantage

this acquifition

probably fpread to the neigbouring iflands;

19

five

ounces

fetid oil,

five

its

flavour,

Neumann

ob-

drams and a half of

and four ounces and two

well known, that rye, torrefied with a few

almonds, which furnilh the neceffary proportion of

oil, is

now

frequently employed

as a fubftitute for,thefe berries.

The medicinal

feem to be derived from the grateful fenfation which it produces in the ftomach, and from the fedative powers it exerts on
the
nitce.
Hence it affifts digeftion, and relieves the head-ach ; and is taken
qualities of coffee

in large quantities, with peculiar propriety,

it

by the Turks and Arabians ; becaufe

countera6ls the narcotic effects of opium, to the ufe of which thofe nations are

much

addicted.

APPENDIX TO

20
In delicate habits,

often occafions watchfulnefs, tremors,

it

complaints which are denominated nervous.

ducing

and, from

palfies;

my own

Slare affirms,

without foundation,

It has

and many of thofe

been even fufpedled of pro-

obfervation, I fhould appjrehend not entirely

became

that he

paralytic

by the too liberal

ufe of coffee, and that his diforder was removed by abftinence from that liquor.

The following curious and important obfervation

with which I was honoured by Sir

your fedtion concerning

John

Pringle,

in

of that liquor, confirming what you have faid of

1773

reading

bad obferved

fedative virtues.

its

It

The

abater of the paroxyfm of the periodic aflhma that I have feen.

On

me which

one quality occurred to

coffee,

extradled from a letter

is

April

the beft

is

coffee ought

Mocco, newly burnt, and made very ftrong immediately after

have commonly ordered an ounce for one difli ; which is to be re-

to be of the beft

grinding

peated

it.

the interval of a quarter or half an hour

frefli after

The medicine

be taken without milk or fugar.

grave, in his treatife

De Arthritide anomala ;

kept free from, or at

leaft lived

This difcovery,

coffee.

that difeafe.

it

and which

in general is

but I

firft

I diredt to

mentioned by Mufr

heard of

in this place, wdio, having once pradlifed in Litchfield,

old people of that place, that Sir

it

from a phyfician

had been informed by the

John Floyer, during the

latter years

of his

life,

eafy under, his afthrna, from the ufe of very ftrong

made

feems, he

Since the receipt of that

after the publication of his

book upon

I have frequently diredted coffee

letter,

in.

the afthrna with great fuccefs.

FORBIDDEN-FPtUIT TREE.

THE forbidden-fruit tree,

the

common orange-tree;

geft orange. It has

fomewhat

as the beft orange, in

rifing in this

fome heads,

its

in trunk,

butthefiuit,

leaves,

when

Citrus Medica.

and flowers, very much refembles

ripe, is larger

the tafte of a fhaddock ; but far exceeds that, as well

delicious tafte

country from about

and

They

flavour.

five to ten feet in height;

in this climate are often

tolerable perfedtion.

the only certain

and early

fucceeded by abundance of

forming

Though all

full

and hand-

in plenty

but, for curiofity,

lowing manner:
plenty from rotten

Early

it

from abroad,

may be done by

in the fpring

fruits,

fummer; which even

fometimes arrive at

this

varieties

method

thofe

As

fize.

who

is

is

by budding or

the

young

never prad^ifed

trees,

in this

are fo inclined, in the fol-

procure fome kernels, which may.be had in

or others that are properly ripened.

and put-

the varieties were originally obtained by feed, yet

method of continuing the approved

however, are brought

in

fruit that

inarching them on ftocks raifed from feed to a proper

are elegant ever-greens,

clofely garniflied with beautiful large leaves all the year round,

ting forth a profufion of fweet flowers in fpring

country

and longer than the big7

Sow

the kernels in

March,

^7

-s

.w

..m

~4

?l
i",

1''
;

rs?

ff'
fly.

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

March,

of rich light earth half an inch deep, and plunge them in a hot-bed,

in pots

under frames and

giving

come up;

will

Dung

glafles.

and, in

fix

You muft now

inches or more in height.

till

them more

give

them fmgly

or April plant

planting,

of

e^;otics

The
the

operation for budding

common way

well.

As foon

is

green-houfe

t>he

them remain

and

After

after

they are to

this

a year or two the largeft

in

for budding.

fit

performed

in the

month of Auguft, and

is

done

in

only the buds muft be taken from trees of a good kind that bear

as the operation

is

finifhed, the pots with their plants

in the green-houfe, or in a glafs-cafe

bark-pit, where the heat of the bark

is

therein for

let

the fpring; and in

They muft be watered immediately

and the watering muft be oceafionally repeated.

be treated as w'oody

till

fmall pots, being careful to fhake them out of

in

of thofe defigned for flocks will be

and water; and

air

which

in

Odtober; then move them into the green-houfe, to fland

March

preferable,

is

In two or three weeks, the plants

to the full air,

the feed pots with their roots entire.

'

be ufed, but the latter

or eight weeks more, they will be advanced four or five

about the middle of June harden them

'

may

or tan

and frequent fprinklings of water.

air,

21

two or three weeks.

or,

where there

is

muft be placed

the convenience of a fpare

almoft exhaufted, the pots

In either cafe, however, the

air

may

be plunged

muft be admitted

glaffes ; allowing alfo ^ flight fhade of mats in the midfunfhine

days,
and
fupplying them with water every two or three days
dle of hot

freely

by opening the front

during

this

the flock;
to fwell

may

In three or four weeks the buds

kind of weather.

when

it

will

will

be proper to loofen the bandages, that they

the buds, however, will all remain

alfo be propagated

by inarching, which

dormant

is

done

till

in the

be united with

may have

roona

They

the next fpring.

common way

but the

method of budding is found to produce much handfomer trees, and therefore is to

be preferred. But the moft cheap and expeditious method of procpring a collection of thefe kinds of trees, is

by having recourfe to fueh as are imported from Spain,

Thefe come qver

and Portugal.
having their roots and heads a

Italy,

little

in chefts, without

trimmed

any earth to their roots,

commonly from one

they are

inch to

and
grow freely, forming, as
good trees in two years as could be raifed here by inarching or budding in fifteen or
They are fold in the Italian warehoufes in London. Theip price is from
twenty.
two or three

in diameter in the ftem;

from two

to four or five feet in height

by the afliftance of a bark-bed, they readily take root and

three fhillings to a guinea each, according to their fize

vertifed as foon as they arrive, which

In the choice of thefe

trees, it

is

and they are generally ad-

early in the fpring, and the fooner the better^

muft be obferved, that they are commonly budded at

fuch height in the ftem as to form heads from about two to four or five feet high ;
and, as they are frequently furnilhed with two buds, one on each fide of the ftem,,

No.

27.

thefe

APPENDIX TO

22

as they will form the moft regular

muft be placed for a day or two in tubs
bark and roots; after this they muft be walked and clean-

thefe fliould be ehofen preferably to others;

Preparatory to their planting, they

heads.

of water to plump their

trimmed

ed, their branches

and

parts,

all

light rich earth

four months
it

and plunged

after

full

ground

Where

Then

they are to be planted in pots

where they are to remain

in a tan-bed,

which they are to be trained

longer than from the end of

Sometimes thefe

trees,

May

till

this is intended,

to the

open

air,

it is

as wall-trees

by far the moft

fruit,

eligible

may be

and

method.

in this fituation

and may be trained

fouth wall, in a dry fituation,

againft which

but will not bear

there muft be frames ere^ed for the fupport of glafs and

the trees generally ftioot ftrong, produce large

wall or ftandard trees.

with

inftead of being kept in pots or tubs, are planted in the

other covers, to defend the plants during inclement weather

'

filled

for three or

the middle or end of 06lober.

and, where this can be done,

and the roots freed from difeafed

to half a foot long,

the fmall dried fibres.

is

either as

proper for training them

wooden frame-work hoping,

eredted

fixed or moveable, for the fupport of glafs frames for winter,*

greater protection of the trees in fevere frofts,

there

either

likewife, for the

may be a fire-place with a

To have the trees as

flue or two carried along a low wall in the fronts and ends.

more capacious and

ftandards, a
in the

lofty glafs-cafe fliould

manner of a hot-houfe,

but higher;

in this

be ereCted againft the

one or two rows

w'all,

may

be

them to run up as ftandards, with only fome neceflary pruning

fome places there are lofty moveable glafs-cafes,

planted, fuffering

juft to preferve their regularity. In

fo that two or three rows of trees are planted in a confpicuous part of the plea-

In winter the frame

fure-ground.

The

away.

and July.

They

very thick,

it is

be obferved,
months,

is

put over them, and in fumrner wholly taken

flowering and fruit-fetting feafon of all the forts of citrus

are often greatly loaded with bloffoms

proper to thin them a

that,

when a

little,

and,

when

taking off the fmalleft.

is

in

June

thefe ftand
It is alfo to

as the trees continue blowing and fetting their fruit for three

full

crop of

fruit is fet,

it is

of benefit to the trees and fruit to

gather off the fuperabundant bloffoms as they are produced, though fome permit

them

to remain

on account of

their appearance.

GARCINIA, OR MANGOSTAN.

THE Garcinia is a genus of the monogynia order,

clafs,

The

belonging to the dodecandria

of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 18th order, bicornes.

calyx

is

tetraphyllous inferior; there are four petals; the berries areoClofper-

mous, and crowned with a

Ihield-like ftigma.

The mangoftana, which

is

the principal

CULPEPERS BRItlSH HERBAL.

cipal fpecies,

is

a tree of great elegance, and producing the nioft pleafant fruit of

any yet known.

This tree has been very accurately defcribed by Dr. Garciri, in honour of whom,
as

its

moft accurate defcriber, Linnasus gave

lume of the Philofophical Tranfadtions,

name Oarcinia

the

it

It grows,

fir,

having a regular tuft in

form of an oblong cone, compofed of many branches and

all fides,

without leaving any hollow.

35th vo-

he informs us, feventeen or

eighteen feet high, with a ftraight taper ftem like a

equally on

in the

fpreading out

twigs,

he obferves,

Its leaves,

are

oblong, pointed at both ends, entire, fmooth, of a lliining green on the upper-fide,

and of an olive on the back.

or a little

The

Its flower is

compofed of four

petals, almoft

round,

pointed: their colour refembles that of a rofe, only deeper and lefs lively.

calyx of this flower

of one piece, expanded, and cut into four lobes.

is

The

two upper lobes are fbmething larger than the lower ones they are greenifh on the
the red of the upper ones is more lively than
outfide, and of a fine deep red within
;

that of the lovi^r ones.

This calyx inclofes

ported by a pedicle, which

is

green,

an inch and a half to two inches

one

cavity,

round, of the

little like

Its thicknefs

fuller of juice.

fize

The body

in diameter.

compofed of a thick rind a

and

thicker,

the parts of the flower

is

The infide

is

fkin is

the fruit

ments,

each

of a rofe colour, and

it

contains.

much

The

infide of this fruit

like thofe of

The number

other.

There are often

full

grapes together.

filaments and

a capfule of

its

juice

little

is

grey and dark-green.

purple.

Lafl;

of

of a pomegranate, nor does

is

all, this

flick to

it

a furrowed globe, divided into feg-

fame

there are of thefe fegments, the bigger

fruit

fegments as big again as any of thofe

Thefe fegments are white, a

little

tranfparent,

flefliy,

of juice like cherries or rafpberries, of a tafle of flraw berries and

Each of

almond flripped of its

are covered with

The fewer

in the

that are on the fide of them.

membranous,

this fruit is

an orange, but unequal in fize, which do not adhere to

of thefe fegments is always equal to that of the rays of

the top which covers the fruit.

they are.

tafte, like that

of

of a fmall orange, from

comntonly a quarter of an inch.

dark-brown purple, mixed with a

of the peel

fup-

that of a pomegranate, but fofter;

Its outer colour is of a

of a ftyptic or aftringent

it is

and conftantly comes out of the end of a twig

The fruit is

above the laR pair of leaves.

all

fliell,

two fmall

the fegments inclofes a feed of the figure and fize of an

having a protuberance on on? of

Ikins, the

membranes of which

its fides.

Thefe feeds

outermoft of which ferves for a bafis to the

the pulp

is

compofed.

The

fubftance of thefe

feeds comes very near to that of chefnuts, as to their confiflency, colour, and aflrin-

gent quality.

This

where

tree (according to our author) originally

it is

grows in the Molucca

iflands,

called mangoftan ; but has been tranfplanted from thence to the iflands

of

24

APPENDIX TO

of Java and Malacca, at which

laft

regular, fo equal,

place

and the appearance of

it

thrives very well.

its

is

fo fine, fo

it is

at prefent

Its tuft

leaves fo beautiful, that

looked upon at Batavia as the moft proper for adorning a garden, and affording an
There are few feeds, however, (he obferves,) to be met with in
agreeable fliade.

good

this fruit that are

for planting,

moft part of them being abortive.

He con-

cludes his defcription by mentioning, that one may eat a great deal of this fruit
and that it is the only one which fick people may be
without any inconvenience
;

allowed

to-

eat without any fcruple.

Other writers concur

mangoftan
grows

Rumphius

in their praifes of this fruit.

obferves^ that the

univerfally acknowledged to be the beft and wholefomeft fruit that

is

almoft tranfparent, and of as delicate

in India;, that its flefli is juicy, white,

and

agreeable a flavour as the richeft grapes

that

it is

the tafte and frnell being fo grateful,

fcarcely poflible to be cloyed with eating

it.

He adds,

that,

when

fick

peo-

ple have no reliih for any other food, they generally eat this with great delight; but,
iliould they refufe

it,

their recovery

he) that the mangoftan

is

is

no longer expefted.

is

and an

the ground or

bark for

his

the Garcinia mangoftana of Linnasus

Voyage round
is

peculiar to the Eaft-Indies.

low green

fmall triangles joined in a circle

fix

flefh,

muft be

taken off ;

white kernels, placed in a circular order;

is

the

fruity

On

at the

When

which are remains of the bloffom.

leaves,

the fkin, or rather

veloped

and

as well as the fweet orange,

is

is

allowed in

it is

efteem-

dyers ufe

p. 737,

iii.

It

is

the top of

about

it is

they are to be eaten,

under whicfi are found

fix

or feven

and the pulp with which thefe are

no

lefs

the

bottom Teveral hol-

than which nothing can be more delicious.

mixture of the tart and the fweet, which

dried bark

the firmer.

it

the World, vol.

the fize of the crab-apple, and of a deep red-wine colour.

figure of five or

infufion of

bafts of a black colour, in order to fix

Captain Cook, in

to

The

The Chinefe

ed a good gargle for a fore mouth or ulcers in the throat.

According

remarkable (fays

given with fafety in almoft every diforder.

ufed with fuccefs in the dyfentery and tenefmus

this

It is

It

is

in-

a happy

wholefome than pleafant; and,

any quantity to thofe who are

afflidted.

with a fever either of the putrid or inflammatory kind.

MANCHINEEL-TREE.
THIS is a genus
and

in the natural

an amentum and
trifid

there

Species.
ilia

iflands.

is
1.

of the adelphia order, belonging to the moncecia clafs, of plants

method ranking under the 38th order,

bifid

tricoccoe.

The male

has

perianthium, without any corolla; the female perianthium

no corolla the ftigma is

:

The mancinella

It has

Hippomane..

tripartite;

with oval fawed leaves

a fmooth brownilh bark

is

and the plum or capfule tricoccous.

is

a native of

all

the Weft-In-

the trunk divides upwai:ds into inaiiy

73

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

iS

ny branches, garniflied with oblong leaves about three inches long. The flowers
come out in ihort fpikes at the end of the branches, but make no great appear-

and

ance, and are fucoeeded by fruit of the fame lhape

The

leaves,

fize

of a large oak.

The

S.

with a golden pippin.

bigiandulofa, with oblong bay

a native of South America; and grows to as large a

is

which it
is

grows to the

tree

fize

differs moftly in the lhape of

its

a native of Campeachy, and feldom

common

greatly referable thofe of the

leaves.
rifes

holly,

The

3.

fize as

the

from

firft,

fpinofa, with holly-leaves,

above twenty feet high ; the leaves

and are

fet with lharp prickles at the

end of each indenture. They are of a lucid green, and continue all the year.
Culture. Thefe plants, being natives of very warm climates, cannot be preferved
in this country without a fiove; nor can they by any means be made to rife above
or

five

fix feet

high even with that alfiftance.

They are propagated by

mull: have very little moifture, or they will certainly be killed

Thefe

Properties.

trees

and

firft

throat, pains in the ftomach,

Stiangers -are often

fires

are

tempted to eat the

The wood

fruit

mouth

&c. which are very dangerous, unlefs remedies

is

much

efteemed for making cabinets,

cafes, &c. being very durable, taking a fine polilh,

W'orm-eaten

but

it.

fpecies ; the confequences of which are, an inflammation of the

are fpeedily applied.

have a very poifonous quality, abounding with an acrid

milky juice of a highly cauftic nature.

of the

by

feeds

book-

and not being

liable to become
abound with a milky cauftic juice already mentioned,
trunks to burn out this juice; otherwife thofe who fell

but, as the trees

made round

their

the trees would be in danger of lofing their fight by the juice flying in their eyes.

This juice raifes

it fall

if

blifters

on the Ikin wherever

and makes
after it is fawn out ; for,
the eyes of the workmen, it caufes init falls,

out in holes. It is alfo dangerous to work the

any pf the faw-duft happens to get into

turns linen black,

wood

flammations and the lofs of fight for fome time ; to prevent which, they generally
cover their faces with fine lawn during the time of working the wood.

It is with

the juice of this tree that the Indians ufed to poifon their arrows.

MARSH-MALLdW^
THIS

plant

is

called at

of

SURINAM.

Surinam okkerum, and

is

Althjea.
an elegant fpecies of the

known to botanifts. It grows about fix feet high, and

marfii-mallow,
-bears double flowers, fome of which are yellow and white, and others red.
If
the fruit be cut, a milky liquor drops out, clammy and in the form of threads
which they boil and make a drink of in America, being famous for internal bruifes,
fo well

and

for

moft difeafes of the ftomach and bowels.

Befidesthis, there are three other fpecies of the marfii-mallow, which I

defcribe.

No. 27.

1.

The

officinalis,

or

common

marfii-mallow,

is

fiiall

here

a native of Britain, and

has

APPENDIX TO

26

has a perennial root, and an annual

grow

ftalk,

ere^l to the height of four or five

which are hoary,

which perifhes every autumn. The ftalks

feet.
Thefe are garniflied with leaves,

and placed alternately on the branches.

foft to the touch,

The
come out from under the wings of the leaves, like the mallow, and are of a
purplifh white.
2. The hirfuta, or hairy marfli-mallow, is a native of Spain and

flowers

Portugal.

It

is

low

The

ported by flakes.

come out

whofe branches

trail

on the ground, unlefs they are fup-

leaves and flalks are befet with flrong hairs

of the

like thofe

The

plant,

common

the flowers

but are fmaller, and have purplifh bot-

fort,

Hungary and
Iflria. It has a woody flem, which rifes to the height of four or five feet: and puts
out many fide-branches. The flowers come out in the fame manner as in the others,

toms.

3.

cannabina, or flirubby marfli-mallow,

Though

when tranfplanted

fummer, and produce good

the officinalis

any

into

is

year, unlefs the

autumn when

feeds.

found naturally in

or in any fituation

foil,

larger in a moifl than in a dry foil.

roots in

firfl

but when the plants live through the winter, they will flower

early in the following

Culture.

a native of

This fort feldom flowers the

but are of a deeper red colour.

fummer proves warm

is

It

may

fait marflies,

however,

will thrive

always grow

will

it

it

be propagated either by parting the

the flalks decay, or by flowing the feeds in the fpring.

If

the feeds of the fecond fpecies are flown in April, the plants will flower in July, and

They ought

carry ripe feed in September.

to remain, as the roots flioot

moved

in the

fown where the plants are

all

be flown

The

it.

in the places

foil,

Indeed they feldom continue

where they are

that, unlefs the plants are re-

feeds of the cannabina ought

to remain, for the reafon jufl

fhould have a fheltered fituation and a dry

the winter.

to

ground: fo

they feldom furvive

very young,

alfo to be

deep

now

given.

They

otherwife they will not live through

in this

country above two years, with

the care that can be taken of them.

The

Medicinal Ufes.

officinalis is the

only fpecies ufed in medicine.

whole plant, efpecially the root, abounds with a mild mucilage.

virtues of an emollient medicine

of the juices,
chiefly

and

as,

fage.

inteflines

is

abraded.

It is

fharp defluxions upon the lungs, hoarfenefs, dyfenteries

in

in nephritic

and calculous complaints

that this medicine has any peculiar

but

It has the general

proves ferviceable in a thin acrimonious flate

and where the natural mucus of the

recommended

and likewife

The

power of

not, as

fome have fuppofed,

diffolving or expelling the calculus

and eafy paf-

by lubricating and relaxing the veffels, it procures a more free

The root is fometimes employed externally for foftening and maturing hard

tumours

chew^ed,

it is

Caid to give eafe in difficult dentition of children.

wife an ingredient in

and ointment and was likethe compound powder of gum tragacanth and the od and

plafler of mucilages.

But of

This root gave name to an

officinal fyrup, deco6lion,

all thefe

formulre the fyrup alone

,^

is

now

retained.

MAN-

i^Lj^

Jilftfr

tir/in.

///y ///

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

MANDRAKE.
THE

of this plant has been

fruit

Its frelh root

ftance,

27

Atropa.

much recommended

in cafes of barrennefs.

a violent purge, the dofe being from ten grains to twenty in fub-

is

and from half a dram to a drani in

fervice in hyfteric complaints

will bring

'

infufion.

been found to do

It has

but mufl be ufed with great caution, otherwife

on convuHions, and many other mifchievous fymptoms.

At

narcotic quality.

it

It has alfo

prefent only the frelh leaves are fometimes ufed in anodyne

and emollient cataplafms and fomentations.

;

our pharmacopoeias.

ftill

It

It

ufed to be an ingredient

but both that and the plant itfelf are

the old officinal unguents

however

retains

now

in

one of

reje6ted

a place in the foreign ones, and

from

may

perhaps be confidered as deferving farther attention.

Naturalifts
tue, the

tell

modern

ftrange ftories of this plant

charlatans in fafhioning

annexed

plate,

Mofes informs
happened

field,

had a mind

but, fetting afide

botanifls will fcarcely warrant

figure ordinarily afcribed to

in the

1.

foporiferous vir-

any of them, nor even that human

roots, efpecially fince the difcovery of the artifice

The

to furprife the credulity of the people.

it,

fig.

its

its

however, was taken from a genuine root.

us (Gen. xxx. 14.) that Reuben, the fon of Leah, being in the

to find

to them,

mandrakes, which he brought home to

his

mother. Rachael

and obtained them from Leah, upon condition that ffie fhould

The term

eonfent that Jacob ffiould be Leahs bedfellow the night following.

dudaim, here made ufe of by Mofes,

is

one of thofe words of which the Jews at

this day do not underftand the true fignification.

or jellamine. Junius calls

lilies,

or mufliroom

of

figure given

and Calmet

will

it

Some

tranflate

it

violets, others

agreeable flowers; Codurquus makes

have

it

to be the citron.

Thofe

that

port the tranflation of mandrakes plead, that Rachael being barren,

it truffle,,

would fupand having

it may be prefumed, with a

The ancients have given to mandrakes the name of
Venus the name of Mandragoritis and the Emperor

a great defire to conceive, coveted Leahs mandrakes,

view

to its prolific virtues.

the apples of love,

and

to

Julian, in his epiftle to Calixenes, fays, that he drinks the juice of

excite

amorous

MIMOSA,
in

mandrakes ta

inclinations.

OR

SENSITIVE PLANT,

IS a genus of the polygamia order, belonging to the monoecia clafs, of plants; and
the natural method ranking under the thirty- third order, lomentacem.
The her-

maphrodite cylyx
ftamina, one

is

piftil,

quinquefid; with

quinquedentate; the corolla quinquefid; there are

and a legume: the male calyx

five, ten,

five

or more

quinquedentate; the corolla

or more, ftamina. The name mimofa fignifies mimic;
is

an

APPENDIX TO
and

given to this genus on account of the fenfibility of the leaves, which, by their

is

motion, mimic or imitate, as

nseus joins

warm

of

it

To

were, the motion of animals.

many of the acacias; and it comprifes near 60 different

climates.

Of the

forts cultivated here in

our

ftoves,

this

genus Lin-

fpecies, all natives

&c. fome are of the

thrub and tree kind, and two or three are herbaceous perennials and annuals.

The

fenfitive kinds are exceedingly curious plants in the very lingular circumftance of

their leaves receding rapidly

fome

and

forts the footftalks

from the touch, and running up clofe together

are affedted, fo as inftantly to

all

each wing confifting of many fmall pinhas.

this genus,

including the

Mimofas properly

into feveral fedtions, diftinguillied

leaves

as,

by the

and

downward

They have

faftened by hinges, which laft are called humble fenjitives.

leaves,

fall

all

The

Species, _ with their properties.

as if

winged

In the Syftema Vegetabilium,

fo called, and the Acacias,

figure, fituation,

is

divided

and arrangement, of the

fimple, fimply-pinnated, bigeminous and tergeminous, conjugate

pinnated, doubly pinnated.

in

and

following are the moft remarkable

1.

The

or

JenJitiva,

common

fenfitive

humble

plant, rifes with an under-llirubby prickly ftem, branching fix or eight feet high,

armed with crooked fpines; conjugated pinnated

wings, having the inner ones the

leafl,

each leaf on a long footflalk; and at the fides

and ends of the branches many purple flowers

broad

flat

jointed pods,

fenfitive kind

in radiated cluflers.

the leaves, footftalks and

leaves, with bijugated lobes or

all,

in roundifh heads;

This

is

fucceeded by

fomewhat of the humble

receding from the touch, though not

with fuch facility as in fome of the following forts.

2.

Thepudica, or bafhful humble plant,

prickly ftem, branching two

nated digitated leaves, each leaf being of

their bafe to a long footftalk,

rifes with

an under-flirubby declinated

armed with hairy fpines

pinor more long folioles, attached by

or three feet around,

five

and fpread out above

like the fingers of

a hand; and

at the fides and ends of the branches roundifh heads of greenifh white flowers,

fucceeded by fmall jointed prickly pods.

for

by the

leaft

This

is

truly of the

humble

fenfitive kind;

touch the leaves inftantly recede, contradl, clofe, and together with

the footftalk quickly decline downward, as if afhamed at the approach of the hand.
3.

The pernambucana,

unarmed

ftems, branching

or flothful mimofa,

two or three

four pair of fliort winged foliola

flowers,

and

the lower ones caftrated.

touch, only contradling

its

pinnae a

feet

has under-fhrubby procumbent

round; bipinnated leaves, of three or

at the axillas

This
little

drooping fpikes of pentandrou*

fpecies recedes very flowly from the

when fmartly touched

hence the name

Jlothful mimofa.
4.

The

afperata, or

Panama

fenfitive-plant.

Of this

curious fpecies, which has

been well defcribed by Dr. Browne (but not figured), there

is

a good figure in/the

Reliquiae

# 29

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

Reliqulas Houftonianae, publiilied by Sir Jofeph Banks. It grows in moift places, and

by

the lides ot rivulets, in the pariflies of St.

dom

rifes

above three

feet in height

on the neighbouring bu(hes.

fet on the trunk, branches, and

It

but

its

James and Hanover, Jamaica.

(lender branches extend confiderably

armed with crooked (harp fpines

is

leaves, that there

the plant has a beautiful appearance

is

no touching it with

the flowers are yello-w

It fel-

The pods are

and brown, feed. The

fo thickly

But

fafety.

and globular, growing

and jointed; each

at tlie extremity of the branches.

hairy, brown,

containing a fmall,

leaves are numerous, fmall, and

flat,

winged: next to thofe of the pudica, they are fhe moft

irritable;

the lead touch, and remaining fo for feveral minutes after.

contradliog with

This fpecies would

forma good hedge or fence round a garden; and, by being trimmed now and men,
may be eafily kept from fpreading too mjuch.
5. The
or pun6iated fenfitive mimofa, rifes with a (hrubby upright
taper fpotted unarmed ftem, branching ere611y tive or (ix feet high; biommated
leaves, of four or five pair of long

of pinme
lowifli

and

at the axillas

decandrous flowers, the

feed-pods. This

fort,

winged

folioles,

having each about twenty pair

and termination of the branches, oblong fpikes of ,yel~

inferior

ones caftrated; fucceeded above by oblong

though naturally Ihrubby and perennial

in this country fometimes decays in winter.

It

is

in its native foii

only fenfitive in the

yet

foiiola,

but quick in the motion.

6.

The

viva, lively

and fpreads
cbes, has

mimofa, or

fmallefl: fenfitive

cover large fpots of ground.

itfelf fo as to

winged leaves, with numerous fmall pinnae.

and grows

blueilh colour,

in clufters

from the

axillae

the mimofas, the pudica not excepted.

7.

write his

The

name,, and

it

will

remain

with recurved fpines

ing each

many

pinnas;

8.

moft to two

is

iu-

globular, of a

thefe are followed by

little

the moft fenfible of all

By running a ftick

over the plant, a perfon

vifible for ten minutes.

humble mimofa, has herbaceous

branching and fpreading

all

around, armed

bipinnated leaves of two or three pair of winged lobes, hav-

and

ed by quadrivalvular pods.
footftalks receding

flower

roots,

is

quadrivalvis, perennial or quadrivalve

(lender quadrangular prickly ftems,

many creeping

It rifes at

The

This

(hort hairy pods, containing fmooth ftiining feeds.

may

weed, has

at the axillas globular

This

is

of the

heads of purple flowers, fucceed-

humble

fenfitive kind,

both leaves and

from the touch.

The plena, annual

or doublet-flowered fenfitive mimofa, rifes with an herbace^

ous ere6t round unarmed ftem, clofely branching and fpreading every way, three
or four feet high
pairs of pinnae;

No.

28.

bipinnated leaves of four or five pair of winged lobes, of

and

at the axillas

many

and termination of the branches fpikes of yellow

pentandrous

I.

APPENDIX TO

30

pentandrous flowers, the lower ones double; fucceeded hy Ihort broad pods. This
annual

only fenfitive in the

is

but extremely fenfible of the totich or

Mexican mimofa, commonly

cornigera, or horned

The

9.

foliola,

air.

called great horned

deformed flem, branching irregularly, armed with

acacia, has a flirubby upright

very large horn-like white fpines, by pairs, connated at the bafe; bipinnated leaves
thinlv placed; and flowers growing in fpikes. This fpecies is efteemed a curiofity

refemWing the horns of animals, and which are

often varioufly wreathed, twifted, and contorted.
10. The farnejiana, or fragrant, Acacia, grows in woodlands and wafte lands in

for the oddity of its large fpines,

moft parts of Jamaica;

rifing to twenty-five or thirty feet, with fuitable thicknefs.

The bark

brown and

of the trunk

is

fcaly, the

branches are alternate. It

is

adorned

with bipinnated leaves of a bright-green colour; and yellow globular flowers from
the

axillffi,

The pods

of a fragrant fmell.

are about three inches long, and half an

inch broad: they are of a light-brown colour, ftnooth, comprefled, and contain five
or fix fmooth

flat

in the theriaca

feeds.

Formerly the flowers of this tree were ufed as an ingredient

andromachi of the old difpenfatories. The tree

is

fometimes planted

a hedge or fence round inclofures; and the timber, though fmall,

for

is

ufeful in

economy.

rural
1 1

The arborea,

or wild tamarind-tree,

is

common

in all the

woodlands, and ef-

made in Jamaica. It rifesto a confideraThe timber is excellent, and ferves many

pecially near where fettlements have been

ble height, and

proportionally thick.

is

purpofes in rural economy:

good

polifli.

The

leaves are numerous;

pods are about a foot

open and become

in length,

twifted.

The

hot-houfes; but

open air.

of a fine fcarlet colour ;

and takes a

The

when they are

ripe they

they are oblong, fmooth, of a

the whole, from the leaves, flowers, and pods,

a Angular and beautiful contraft.

it

pretty hard,

the flowers globular and white.

feeds then appear

On

ftuning black, and quite foft.

this tree exhibits

of the colour of cedar,

it is

appears, that with a

little

pains

With
it

us this plant

may be made

to

is

raifed in

grow

in the

A good fizeable tree of this fort grew in the garden of the late Dr. William

Pitcairn, at Iflington.
12.
is

very

The

The latifoUa, ftiag-bark, or

common in Jamaica, and

trunk

is

rough and fcaly

The

and

yellowifli caft.

The

feed-velTels are

vetch, white,

fome

and

flat,

and of a

rifes to

a moderate height and good thicknefs.

the leaves are numerous, of a rhomboidal figure,

flower-fpikes are from the axillae

jointed,

and

twifted.

finely ftreaked with blue.

botanifts call ferpentina.

fmaller,

white wild tamarind. This excellent timber-tree

ftiining

The

The

Of this

their colour

is

yellow.

feeds are of the bignefs of a

tree there

chief difference

is in

is

a variety which

the leaves,

which are

dark green.
13.

The

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

from feeds

in

Jamaica and

Pluckenet, tab. 331.

but

mull be of

it

Time

This

Xhe, leheek, or ebony-tree.

13.

fig.

The

it

be the

feet.

cinerea diwA pinnata, calhew-bu flies.

See the Plate,

Mr. Alexander Anderfon

about Kingflon and Spanifli-Town, Jamaica, and

twenty

we cannot vet fay

ebony we have in ufe here.
grows,

this tree

the few plants in the iflands are reared with great

this, as

care by Dr. Dancer, in Jamaica, and

14, 15.

though not accurately, by

It is figured,

what height

a confiderable thicknefs, if

foon determine

will

To

a native of the Eaft-Indies, but raifed

is

Vincents.

St.

1.

31

in St. Vincents.

common

Tliefe fpecies are

by flender trunks

rife

about

to

2.

fig.

Dr. Roxburgh of Madras, amongft a number of ufeful difcoveries, has found the
lac-in fe6t

on

this fpecies

We have feen the native gum-lac on one of the

of mimofa.

fmall twigs, and a fpecimen of the plant

is

The

of a gentleman.

a variety of the cinerea, and appears rather to be the pinnata, Linn.

hoped, that in a

fliort

time the ufeful infect juft mentioned

plant

It is to

be

may be tranfported from

gum, or rather wax, may be alfo produced.

16. The fcande ns, or climbing mimofa; (Gigalobium fcandens, Brownes Jam.
362. Phafeolus maocimus perennis, Sloanes Jam. 6S. Perim Kaku-valli, Rbeedes

Afia to the Weft-Indies, where

p.

in the colleiSion

Mai.

viii.

t.

This fpecies of mimofa

32, 3, 4.)

leys and woodlands

this

on the north

is

frequent in

fide of Jamaica.

It climbs

and fpreads itfelf in every dire6lion by means of

its cirrhi,

all

the upland val-

up the

talleft trees,

or clafpers, fo as to form

a complete arbour, and to cover the fpace ofan Englifli acre from one
circumftance has a bad effeH; on the trees or buflies fo fliaded.
rain, (fo necelTary for all

plants,) being fliut out, the leaves

gradually rots, and the limbs

The
trunk

feldom thicker than a mans

merous Ihining green

ferves to faften

it

thigh,

leaves, each of

and longeft of any

and fends

The

in

many

length, five inches broad, jointed,

world

aftiore

in the Phil. Traiif.

N"

on the Hebrides and Orkneys.

feeds, or beans, fall into the rivers,

carry them weftward

till

they

fall

p.

The

flower-fpikes are from the axillae

The pod

is

they

perhaps the

being foraetimes eight or nine feet in

and containing ten or

222,

the tree

branches, with nu-

fifteen feeds.

are brown, fliining, flattened, and very hard, and called cacoons.

mentioned

off,

and

a tendril or clafper, that

them fmall and numerous.

in the

drop

ground or herbage.

off

which terminates

to trees or buflies.

are flender, and the florets on

Light, air,

the weight of this parafite.

roots of this plant run fuperficially under the

is

largeft

down by

fall

This

root.

293, by Sir

Hans

Thefe feeds

They are the fame

Sloane, as being thrown

This happens in the following manner:

and are conveyed

into the gulf ftream,

The

to the fea; the trade- winds

which forces them northward

along the coaft of America and Bahama-iflands ; as the winds blow frequent and
ftrong from America, thefo feeds are driven to the eaftward,

till

at length they are

thrown

APPENDIX TO

32
thrown afhore, and
foaked

17.

The

one foot

it

tide,

than as a fort of fnuff-box.

Mr. Ker, grows only

catechu, according to
in

diameter;

the top divides into

as aforefaid.

This bean, after being long

and eaten by fome negroes; but, in general, there feems

in water, is boiled

no other ufe made of

to be

to

by the

left

it is

many

to twelve feet in height,

clofe branches

the leaves are bipinnated,

winged, and arc placed alternately upon the younger branches: the
are nearly two inches long, and are

commonly from

fmall glands iirferted between the pinnte: each wing

forty pair of pinnulte or linear lobes,

recurved, and placed

dite

in pairs at the

and male, and ftand

and are four or

long

partial pinnab

fifteen to thirty pair,

having

ufually furnifiied with about

befet with fhort hairs

the fpines are Ihort,

bafe of each leaf: the flowers are hermaphro-

the calyx

into five oval pointed fegments

fame form

is

or doubly

clofe fpikes, which arife from the axillas of the leaves,

in

five inches

and

covered with a thick rough brown bark, and towards

tubular', hairy,

is

the coi'olla is

as the calyx, but twice

its

length

and divides

monopetalous,

at the

limb

and of the

'^hitifli,

the filaments are numeroits, capillary,

double the length of the corolla, adhering at the bafe of the gerinen, and crowned
with I'oundilh antheras
is

is

germen

oval,

is

and fupports a flender

which

Ifyle,

fruit,

or

lance- fhaped, brown, fmooth, compr^ffed, with an undulated thin margin;

contains

fix

when chewed.

or eight roundilli flattened feeds, which prrrduce a naufeous oriour

From

of Hindooftan, where
in

the

of the length of the filaments, and terminated by a fimple ftigma:'the

pod,
it

this tree,
it

which grows plentifully on the mountainous parts

flow'ers in

June,

is

produced the

officinal

drug long known

Europe by the name of terra japonica.

1

8.

The

Nilotica, or true

Egyptian acacia,

cedingr the bark of the trunk

is

rifes to a greater height than the pre-

fmooth, and of a grey colour; that of the branches

has commonly a purplifli tinge: the leaves are bipinnated, and placed alternately;
the partial pinnae are oppofite, furnifiied with a fmall gland between the outermoft
pair,

and befet with numerous pairs of narrow

or leafits

elliptical pinnulae,

the

fpines are long, white, fpreading, and proceed from each fide of the bafe of the
leaves: the flowers are hermaphrodite and male; they alfume a globular fhape,

and

ftand four or five together upon flender peduncles, which arife from the axiilas of

the leaves: the calyx

is

fmall, bell-fhaped,

nute teeth: the corolla confifts of

five

and fupports a flender

conical,

is

a long pod,

feeds.

It

is

at the

mouth

narrow yellowifh fegments

are numerous, capillary, and furnifhed w'ith

is

and divided

ftyle,

into five mi-

the filaments

roundifli yellow antberas; the germen

crowned with a fimple ftigma

refembling that of the lupin,

and contains many

the fruit

flattifh

brown

a native of Arabia and Egypt, and flowers in J uly.

Although

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

Although the Mimofa Nilotica grows
yet

Africa,

gum

arabic

is

produced

the equatorial regions ; and

we

in great

chiefly

abundance over the

by thofe

are told that in

trees

fufficiently intenfe for this purpofe.

The gum exfudes

tree,

often produced

the air

in a fimilar

upon the cherry-trees, &c.

folar heat

manner

is

never

Rate from the

in a liquid

to the

gum which

and by expofure to

in this country;

In Senegal the

foon acquires folidity and hardnefs.

it

vaft extent of

which are lituated near

Lower Egypt the

bark of the trunk and branches of the

is

33

gum

begins to flow

when the tree firft opens its flowers; and continues during the rainy feafon till the
month of December, when it is colle6ted for the firft time. Another collection of
the gum is made in the month of March, from incifions in the bark, which the extreme drynefs of the

air at that

ufually imported into

time

is

England from Barbary; not packed up

the practice in

Egypt and Arabia, but in

appearance of

this

feem
tion

to

gum

is

well

Gum arabic is now

faid to render neceflary.

known: and

The common

the various figures which

depend upon a variety of accidental circumftances attending

and concretion.

Gum arabic

which was

in fkins,

large calks, or hogftieads.

of a pale yellowifli colour

is

its

it

affumes

tranfuda-

moft efteemed

on

the contrary, thofe pieces which are large, rough, of a roundifli figure, and of a
brownifli or reddilh hue, are found to be lefs pure, and are faid to be produced from

a different fpecies of mimofa, ( M. Sefiegal;

commonly intermixed with

but the Arabian and Egyptian

gum is

pieces of this kind, fimilar to that which comes from the

coaft of Africa near the river Senegal.

Gum arabic does riot admit of folution by fpirit or oil

water

it

in this ftate

anfwers many ufeful purpofes, by rendering

ous, fubftances, mifcible with water.

fions

it

but in twice

its

quantity of

diffolves into a mucilaginous fluid, of the confiftence of a thick fyrup

to

The

oily, refinous,

glutinous quality of

gum

and

and pinguiarabic occa-

be preferred to moft other gums and mucilaginous fubftances, as a demul-

cent in coughs, hoarfeneffes, and other catarrhal

afferilions, in

order to obtund

irri-

It has been
ting acrimonious humours, and to fupply the lofs of abraded mucus.
very generally employed in cafes of ardor urinae and ftrangury; but it is the opinion of Dr. Cullen, that even this mucilage, as an internal demulcent, can be of

no fervice beyond the alimentary canal.

19 The Senegal is a native of Guinea, and was fome time ago introduced into JaDr Wright tells its, he faw both this and the Nilotica, of the fize of a
maica.
.

cherry-tree, growing at Dr. Paterfons, in the parifti of Hanover, Jamaica.

flowers are globular and fragrant.

The pods

The

are brown, and of the fize of a goofe-

The tree, on being wounded, exfudes gum arabic, though in lefs quantity,
quill.
and lefs tranfparent, than that of the ftiops, which is obtained from the Nilotica above
defcribed.

No.

28.

There are above

fixty other fpecies.

On

APPENDIX TO

34

On the
common

annexed Plate, at

fize,

is

delineated a non-defcript fpecies of an un-

mentioned by Mr. Paterfon

in his

Travels

among

Like feveral other Mimofas,

not particularly defcribed.

is

3.

fig.

it

the Hottentots, but

produces gum, which

confidered by the natives as a peculiarly dhlicate fpecies of food

the leaves and

lower points of the branches feem to conftitute the principal aliment of the Camelopardalis; and, from the extent of

its

boughs, and the fmoothnefs of the trunk,

it

affords a fufficient defence to a fpecies of gregarious bird againft the tribe of fer-

pents and other reptiles which would otherwife deftroy

fcribes

two plants which feem referable to

the other ergett

el

krone.

Mimofa fanguinea;

When

pink filaments.

genus

its

the one

Mr, Bruce de-

eggs.

named

ddimmo,
be named

ergett

The former, in our authors opinion, fliould

name in the Abyffinian language fignifying the bloody

and derived, as he fuppofes, from

ergett,

fifts

its

this

being partly compofed of beautiful

its

the blolfoms are fully fpread, the upper part of them coh-

of yellow curled filaments, and the under part of pink filaments of a

In

fhape.

its

colour, and

unripe

ftate,

compofed of tubercles of a larger

which afterwards produce the yellow filaments

fet together

becomes pink

that part which afterwards

fize,
;

and more detached, than thofe

the latter being fmaller, and clofer

The name of the other fpecies, in the Abyffinian language,

that

it is

very

much refembles

attached to the branch

which grows oat

in a cafe

that of the Acacia vera in fize

and fhape, excepting

by'

a ftrong

woody

in

colour.
in the

ftalk

of confiderable length,

at the bottom of the branch bearing the leaves, and

by the lower part of

fingers, flicks to them,

;

tliehomed ergett;

figure of the pods.

it

it.

The branches

is

fheltered as

are all covered with fhort, ftrong,

their points inclined

pods are covered with a prickly kind of hair,

fions

fignifies

on account of the

and fliarp-pointed, thorns, having

The

firnilar

of a green

the leaves are of the double-pinnated kind.

which our author fuppofes to be given

The flower

is

backwards towards the

which

root.

eafily rubs off with the

and gives a very uneafy fenfation. They have thirteen

divi-

each of which are three hard, round, and fhining, feeds, of a dufky brown

Both of thefe fhrubs fhut

wet feafon, and never

fully

their leaves

on the coming on of the violent rains

expand them

till

the dry feafon returns.

MYRISTICA, OR NUTMEG-TREE.
i

THE Myriftica, or nutmeg-tree,

cia,

is

a genus of plants belonging to the clafs dioe-

order triandria, and of the natural order of lauri.

The male

phyllous, ftrong, and parted into three lacinii of an oval fhape

the receptacle rifes a

column of the height of the calyx,

2

to the

calyx
in the

is

mono-

middle of

upper part of which the

antheree

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

antherse are attached

they vary in

female calyx and corolla as

fhape; the ftyle

The

ing.

locular,

fliort,

in the

number from

The

three to twelve or thirteen.

male, on a diftin6t tree; the germen of an oval

with a bifid ftigma, the lacinii of which are oval and fpread-

of that fort called ctrupa;

fruit is

3S

it is

fometimes bivalved, and burfts when ripe

fleihy, roundiih,

fometimes uni-

The feed

at the fide.

is

enveloped

membraneous fubftance, which divides into filaments

fpecies is the mace of the fhops.) The feed, or nntmeg, is round

with a flelhy and fatty

(this in

one of the

or oval fiiaped, unilocular, and contains a fmall kernel, variegated on the furface

by the

fibres

running in the foVm of a fcrew.

There are

Species.

five fpecies

fome of thefe being only

of this genus according to fome authors

varieties, they

may be reduced

but,

to three, viz.

Myriftica fatua, or wild nutmeg: this grows in Tobago, and rifes to the height

1.

of an apple-tree; has oblong, lanceolated, downy, leaves, and hairy

meg

of which

aromatic,

is

but

when given inwardly

is

narcotic,

fruit

the nut-

and occafions

drunkennefs, delirium, and madnefs, for a time.

Myriftica febifera, (Virola feUfera,

2.

frequent in Guiana, rifing to forty or even to fixty feet high

trunk of which, a thick acrid red juice runs out.

megs being aromatic; he only obferves,

Aublet, page 04. tab. 345.)

;

on wounding the

Aublet fays nothing of the

that a yellow fat

tree

nuU

obtained from them,

is

which ferves many oeconomical and medical purpofes, and that the natives make
candles of

it.

The Myriftica mofchata,

3.

numerous branches which

the trunk

is

or nutmeg, attains the height of thirty feet, producing

rife together in ftories,

and covered with bark which of

a reddifh brown, but that of the young branches

is

of a bright green

colour: the leaves are nearly elliptical, pointed, undulated, obliquely nerved, on the

upper

fide of a bright green,

ftalks: the flowers are fmall,

of the leaves

axillffi

Schwartz,

who

feems

little

and hang Upon flender peduncles, proceding from the

this

nut of bands.

it

M.

fpecies, preferved

comacum of Theophraftus, but

opinion ; nor can

from the Arabians; by Avicenna

gave

firft

them amongft the monadelphia.

has been fuppofed to be the

Our

to be the chryfohalanus of Galen.

is

and ftand alternately upon foot-

they are both male and female upon feparate trees.

foundation for

given by him

whitifli,

has carefully examined this as well as the two

in fpirits, places

The nutmeg

on the under

it

Rumphius both

firft

it

with more probability be thought

knowledge of

it

was evidently derived

was cdWe^jiauJihan, ov jaufiband, which

figured and defcribed this

trfee

fignifies

but the figure

fo imperfect, and the defcription fo confufed, that Linnasqs,

the generic

name

Myrijlica, was unable to affign

nerats account of the mujcadier is

ftill

there

its

who

proper characters. Son-

more erroneous ; and

the younger Linnaeus

was

APPENDIX TO

30

this author, placing the myriftica in the clafs

was unfortunately milled by

polyan-

Thunberg, who exa-

dria, and defcribing the corolla as confifting of five petals.

mined the flower of the nutmeg, places it in the clafs mqnoecia; and, according
to his description, the male flower has but one filament, furrounded at the upper
and as the filaments are fhort and Hinder, and the antherae
part by the antherae
;

M. De La Marck

united, this miftake might eafily arife.

informs

ceived feveral branches of the myriftica, both in flower and

fruit,

us,

that he re-

from the

Ifle of

France, where a nutmeg-tree, which was introduced by Monfieur Poivre in 1770,

now very

is

and continually producing flowers and

large,

From

fruit.

thefe

branches, which were fent from Monf. Cere, dire6tor of the kings garden in fhat
ifland,

De La Marck

Monf.

has been enabled to defcribe and figure this and other

fpecies of the myriftica with tolerable accuracy; as will appear from the annexed

which the following

plate, of

Fig. a.

open.

Fig.

the fame.

The

fatty

an explanation

The

h.

Fig.

d.

grown

full

fruit

its

with

its

of the natural

cut lengthways.

The nutmeg enveloped

membrane, or mace, fpread

fame with

The drupe

fprig with fru6lification.

The fame

Fig. g.

is

with

its

removed

external tegument

outer tegument entirely removed.

and burfting

Another fe^lion of

c.

covering, the mace.

The nutmeg

Fig. f.

out.

Fig.

fize,

at

Fig.

i.

of

its

one end.

Fig.

natural
Fig. h.

A tranfverfe

e.

fize.

The

fe6tion of

the nutmeg.

The

feed or kernels, called nutmegs, are well known, as they have been long ufed

both for culinary and medical purpofes.

quantity of elfential

an

infipid

oil,

refembling in flavour the fpice

febaceous matter

fated, gives

is

after the diftillation,

itfelf;

found fwimming on the water ; the deco6lion infpif-

an extra6t of an un6luous, very lightly

bitterifli, tafte,

Rectified fpirit extra6ls the whole virtue of

no aftringency.
and elevates very

little

of

it

they yield a large

Diftilled with water,

in diftillation

and with

little

or

nutmegs by

infufion,

hence the fpirituous extra6l

poflelfes

the flavour of the fpice in an eminent degree.

Nutmegs, when heated,

low

oil,

meet with three

forts of un6tuous fubftances called oil

fed from the nutmeg.

is

yield to the prefs a confiderable quantity of limpid yel-

which on cooling concretes into a febaceous confiftence.

The

beft

is

In the

fliops

we

of mace, though really ex pref.

brought from the Eaft-Indies

in ftone jars

this

of a thick confiftence, of the colour of mace, and has an agreeable fragrant fmell;

the fecond fort, which

Holland

is

paler coloured, and

in folid mafles, generally flat,

the worft of

all,

like,

inferior in quality,

and of a fquare

and ufually called common

of fevum, palm-oil, and the

much

oil

figure

of mace,

flavoured with a

little

is

an

comes from

the third, which

artificial

genuine

oil

is

compofition

of nutmeg.

Method

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

37

Method of gathering and preparing Nutmeg, When the fruit is ripe, the natives
trees, and gather it by pulling the branches to them with long hooks.
Some are employed in opening them immediately, and in taking off the green fhell or

afcend the

rind, w'hich

firft

Asfoon

laid together in

is

a heap in the woods, where in time

called boleti mofchatyni, of a blackilli colour,

When

confider them as delicate eating.

they are carried home, and the mace

mace, which

expofed to

dry

in the

his rays,

afterwards moiften
lofing

and much valued by the

the nuts are ftripped of their

it

it

remains for eight days, that

with fea-water, to prevent

it

nuts,

which

flies

which are

They

a little.

It

is laft

much

of

all

water, left

it

put into fmall

fire till

are for three days ex-

fliell,

when they

they emit a found

off in pieces. Thefe nuts are diftributed into three parcels

largeft

and moft

beautiful,

the

ftiell,

firft

of

which are deftined to be brought to

the fecond contains fuch as are referved for the ufe of the inhabitants

and part of the

commonly

reft is

fmalleft,

employed

fential, tranfparent,

and

have been thus feledled

led with lime-water

by

which has the confiftence

oil,

volatile, oil,

calcined

if

Into this mixture they plunge the nut-

lowing manner:

When

it is

till

they are completely cover-

are afterwards laid in a heap, where they heat, and>

by evaporation.

they are then properly prepared, and

In the Ifland of Banda, the

The nutmegs which

which they dilute with falt-water

megs, contained in fmall balkets, two or three times,

lofe their fuperfluous moifture

afford an ef-

they were not watered, or rather pick-

fliell-filh

attain the confiftence of fluid pap.

They

pound of them
of tallow, and has

diftilled,

of an excellent flavour.

would foon corrupt

ed over with the liquor.

preffure.

Both the nut and mace, when

made from

which are irregular or unripe. Thefe are burnt,

for procuring oil

gives three ounces of

entirely the tafte of nutmeg.

in

may foften

from drying too much, or from

covered with their ligneous

ftill

and the third contains the

till it

rind,

The

they then beat them with fmall fticks in order to remove their

which contains the

Europe

who

clofe.

pofed to the fun, and afterwards dried before a

are ftiaken

it

are careful, however, not to employ too

and fqueezed very

The

firft

carefully taken off with a fmall knife.

fhould become putrid, and be devoured by w'orms.

bags,

natives,

fun for the fpace of a day, and then removed to a place lefs

where

They

its oil.

putrefies,

of a beautiful red, but afterwards affumes a darkifti 6r reddifli co-

is

lour, is laid to

is

it

up a kind of muflirooms,

as the putrefadlion has taken place, there fprings

fruit

fit

When they have fweated fufficiently,

for a fea-voyage.

of the nutmeg-tree

almoft ripe,

is

preferved entire in the fol-

but previous to

its

opening,

it is

They next lay it in water to foak for ten day^

tafte. They then boil it gently in a fyrup of fugar,

water and pierced with a needle.

till it

has loft

to which,

No. 28.

if

its

they

four and fliarp

wiffi it to

be hard, a
,

little

lime

is

added.

This operation

is

repeat-

ed

APPENDIX TO

38

ed for eight days, and each time the fyrup

ferved

put for the

is

ciofely

lall

time into a pretty thick fyrup, and

fruit

when thus

pre-

kept in earthern pots

is

Thefe nuts are iikewife pickled with brine or with vinegar; and, when

lliut.

they intend to eat them, they

them

The

renewed.

is

in

fyrup of fugar, &c.

Ufea.

Nutmegs preferved

them

fteep

firfl

and afterwards

in frelh water,

boil

and the inhabitants of

Some of them ufe nothing but the

entire are prefented as deferts,

India fometimes eat them w'hen they drink

tea.

pulp; others Iikewife chew the mace; but they generally throw away the kernel,

which

is

this frait

Many, who perform fea-voyages

The medicinal qualities of nutmeg

chew

really the nutmeg.

to the north,

every morning.

are fuppofed to be

aromatic, anodyne, ftomachic, and reftringent; and, with a view to the lafl-mention-

ed

has been

effedls, it

much ufed

the aromatic flavour of

not to ufe

it

nutmeg

is

very agreeable

in large 'quantities, as

To many

and dyfenteries.

in diarrhoeas

they however fliould be cautious

apt to affedt the head, and. even to manifeft

it is

an hypnotic power in fuch a degree as to prove extremely dangeraus.

fpeaksof

effe(51;

and hence concludes, that

He

v^ry improper.

of the nutmeg, which

in apopledlic

and

under

fell

felt it

warm

but in about an hour after he had taken

it

in his

from

his chair,

mentioned. Being put to bed, he

drams or a

little

he was feized with a drowfmefs, which

and not long

lying on the floor of his

fell

own obfervamay be

ftomach, without any uneafinefs;

gradually increafed to a complete llupor and infenfibility

fallen

his

paralytic cafes this fpice

obferves, that a perfon by miftake took two

more of pow^dered nutmeg: he

was found

Bontius

a frequent occurrence in India; and Dr. Cullen relates a remarka-

this as

ble inftance of this foporific

tion,

people

afleep; but,

awaking a

chamber

little

after

he

in the ftate

from time to time,

he was quite delirious; and he thus continued alternately fleeping and delirious for

By

feveral hours.

about

fix

Although he

flept naturally

nary health.

nutmeg

and

its

ftill

diminiflied; fo that in

complained of head-ach, and fome drowfinefs, he

and quietly the following

The

night,

officinal preparations of

in fubftance roafled, to render

and next day was quite

nutmeg are a
it

more

fpirit

aftringent.

and

in his ordi-

efiential oil,

Both the fpice

and

itfelf

elfential oil enter feveral compofitions, as the confeftio aromatica, fpiritus

Mace

amonice com. &c.

iefs aftringent,

Remarks on

and
the

Eaftern Oceap.

poffefies qualities fimilar to thofe of the

its oil is

fuppofed

to be

more

volatile

Trade of Nutmegs. Nutmeg-trees grow

The wood-pigeon of

planter of thefe trees, and difieminates

Its

fymptoms

hours from the time of taking the nutmeg he was pretty well recovered

from both.

the

degrees, however, both thefe

comtiierce, thinks

it

the

Moluccas

them

in places

for its intereft that they lliould

is

nutmeg, but

is

and acrid.
in feveral iflands in the

unintentionally a great

where a nation, powerful by

be rooted out and deftroyed.

The

CULPEPEPCs BRITISH HERBAL.

The Dutch, whole unwearied

39

patience can furmount the greateft obftacles, long ap-

propriated to themfelves the crop of nutmegs, as well as that of cloves and cinna-

mon, growing'in the

by paying fubfidies to the

former produce of their

iflanders,

It

trees.

is

who

much more

find thefe

profitable than the

upon

neverthelefs true, that they prevailed

down and

or compelled the inhabitants of the Moluccas to cut

which they preferve only

clove-trees,

by right of conqueft or

iflands of Ternate, Ceylon, &c. either

in the iflands

which are in a great meafure fubjedt to them.

We

know

of

root out all the

Amboyna and

Ternate,

for certain, that the

paid 18,000 rix-dollars yearly to the King of Ternate, by w'ay of tribute or

Dutch
gift,

in

order to recompenfe him for the lofs of his clove-trees in the other Molucca iflands;

and that they were moreover bound by treaty to take, at three-pence three-farthings
a pound, all the cloves brought by the natives of Amboyna to their magazines. They
likewife fucceeded in deftroying the

cinnamon every where except

in the ifland of

was the cafe with white pepper, See. fo that the trade of the

The fame
whole of Europe, and of great part of Afia,
Ceylon.

in this fpecies

of commodity, long

paffed through their hands.

The Dutbh had immenfe and

They had

both in India and Europe.

them the produce of

adtually by

their neighbours with the

and never fupplied

years,

very rich niagazines of thefe precious aromatics,

laft,

crop: in 1760 they fold what was laid up in 1744. It

is

fixteen

but always with the.oldefl

commonly

faid, that,

wLen

Dutch have too great a quantity.of cloves, nutmegs, &c. in their magazines, they
throw them into the fea ; but the fad is, that they get rid of their fuperfluous aromatics by burning them. On the 10th of June, 1760, M. Bomare faw' at Amflerthe

dam, near the admiralty, a

and as much

w'as to

bathed in the elfential

any of
fore,

it,

much lefs

upon a

fire,

the fuel of which was valued at 8,000,000 of livres;

be burned the day following.

The

feet of the

fpedators svere

of thefe fubftances ; but no perfon was allow'ed to gather

oil

to take

any of the fpices which were

fimilar occafion,

and

at the

fame

Some years beman who had taken up

in the fire.

place, a poor

fome nutmegs which had rolled out of the fire, was, as M. Bomare was informed,
feized and condemned to immediate execution.
We will only add, that notwithRanding the jealoufy of the Dutch, and the pains they take

to preferve the fale of

cloves wholly to themfelves, they have never been able to prevent their

own

officers

in feveral parts of India from embezzling and felling confidefable quantities of them.

M. de Jaucourt informs
them

us,

that,

to the veffels of other nations

der with water, that they

confifted.

The

may

quantity fold

ftill

in order to

defraud the company,

which they meet at

fea,

they

fell

and moiften the remain-

have the number of quintals of which their cargo

may amount

to ten quintals in one

hundred before

it

can be perceived by the clerks of the magazines at Batavia, where they are received.

We

APPENDIX TO

40

We

are informed by

M. Rom6

de

that the Englilli

Lifle,

cinnamon, pepper, and cloves, from the iflands of Sumatra.

commodity
pretty good

We

at the fa6tory of Bencoolen.

is

cinnamon raifed

The

ftaple for this

have likewife feen a fpecirnen of

The French,

at Martinico.

draw a great deal of

to prevent the exporta-

and exotic productions, have attempted to introduce the culture of them into fome of their colonies. A great many plants of the
clove and nutmeg-tree have been procured, and planted in the Ifle of France, the
tion of fpecie for thefe aromatic

Ifland of Bourbon,

and alfo

at

Cayenne,

where they have a very promifing

appearance.

FLOWERING PAVONIS.
THIS
The

C^salpinia.

plant grows nine feet in height, and bears moft beautiful yellow flowers.

feed Iteeped in water, and a ftrong decoCtion of

For

greatly facilitates the delivery.

it

this reafon, thofe

woman in labour,
flaves who have con-

given to a

Indian

fidered thernfelves cruelly ufed by their talk-mafters in the plantations, take great

pains to get at this tree, for the purpofe of procuring abortion, which they

never

were the
it,

it

Thofe negroes who are brought from Guinea and Angola

difcovered making ufe of this plant; and while they ate of

fails to effeCl.
firft

know

who were

or drank a docoClion of

On

forth children.

its

leaves or feeds, they neither conceived nor brought

being remonftrated with, they faid they would fooner die than

who, as they grew up, muft undergo the fame yoke,

the cruelties infliCled on their unfortunate parents. Tournefort calls

bring forth children in flavery,

and

fuffer all

this tree

Poinciana Jlore pulcherritno.

found

many

in

parts of America.

PIMENTO,

THE Jamaica
order,

OR

It

grows

in all the

warm

JAMAICA PEPPER TREE.

pepper-tree

and

is

Myrtos.

a fpeciesof the myrtle, a genus of the monogynia

is

belonging to the icofandria clafs,

ranking under the 19th order, hefperide.

there are five petals; the berry

climates,

is

of plants

The

and

calyx

is

in the natural

quinquefid,

difpermous or trifpermous.

method

fuperior;

There are twenty-

eight fpecies, of which the moft remarkable are,

1.

The communis,

or

common

myrtle-tree, rifeth with a Ihrubby, upright, firm,

ftem, branching numeroufly all around into a clofe full head, rifing eight or ten feet
high, very clofely garniflied with oval-lanceolate, entire, moftly oppofite, leaves,

from half an inch to an inch and a half long, and one broad, on Ihort

and numerous,

fmall, pale, flowers

from the

axillas, fingly

foot-ftalks

on each foot-ftalk, having

diphyllous involucrums; each flower fucceeded by a fmall, oval, dark-purple, berry.

The

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

The moR

material varieties are

Broad-leaved Roman

green, leaves, an inch and a half long, and one broad

Gold

floriferous.
tle,

Roman

ftriped broad-leaved

4i

myrtle, trith Oral, Ihimng,

and which

is

remarkably

Broad-leaved Dutch myr-

myrtle.

with fpear-fhaped, fharp- pointed, dark-green, leaves, an inch long, and about

Double-flowered Dutch myrtle.

three quarters of one broad.

Broad -leaved Jews

myrtle, having the leaves placed by threes at each joint; by which particular cir-

cumftance

this fpecies is in univerfal eftimation

among

ceremonies, particularly in decorating their tabernacles

many

gardeners about

people,

who

a fmall branch

and

is

London

cultivate

it

are often obliged to purchafe

:

a curiofity ; but by care in

tion of the curious,

it

and

it

in their religious

for

which purpofe

fell to

the above

at the rate of fixpence or a Ihilling for

exadly by

threes, is very fcarce,

propagation, taking only the perfedlly ternate^

its

may

Jews

with particular care, to

for the true fort, having the leaves

leaved flioots for cuttings,

the

be increafed

fall

and particularly thofe who

enough

and

is

worth the atten-

raife myrtles for the

London mar-

Orange-leaved Spanifh myrtle, with oval fpear-fhaped leaves, an inch and a

kets.

half long Or more, and one broad, in clufters round the branches, and referable the

fhape and colour of orange-tree leaves.

mon

upright Italian myrtle, with

its

Gold-ftriped leaved orange myrtle.

Com-

branches and leaves growing more ere6t ; the

leaves oval, lanceolate-lhaped, acute-pointed, and near an inch long, and half a one

broad.

White-berried upright Italian myr-

Silver-ftriped upright Italian myrtle.

Portugal acute-leaved myrtle, with fpear-fliaped, oval, acute-pointed, leaves,

tle.

about an inch long.

Box-leaved myrtle, with weak branches, fmall, oval, obtufe,

lucid-green, clofely-placed, leaves. Striped box-leaved myrtle.

myrtle, hath eredl branches,

narrow, lanceolate,

fmall,

Rofemary-leaved

acute-pointed,

green, very fragrant, leaves. Silver-ftriped rofemary-leaved myrtle.

myrtle,

with

very

fmall clofely-pfaced

leaves.

Thyme-leaved

Nutmeg-myrtle,

with ere6t

branches and leaves; the leaves oval, acute-pointed, and finely fcented
Broad-leaved nutmeg-myrtle.

raesr.

leaved ditto.

Silver-ftriped

fhining,

like a nut-

Criftated or

cocksrcomb myrtle, frequently called birds-neft myrtle, hath narrow fliarp-pointed

leaves, criftated at intervals.

Thefe are

all

beautiful ever-green fhrubs of ex-

ceeding fragrance ; exotics originally of the fouthern parts of Europe, and of Afia

and Africa, and confequently

winter:

all

in this

of which, though rather of the fmall-leaved kind, have their foliage

clofely placed, remain all the year,

there

is

country require the Ihelter of a green-houfe in

and are very

fummer; and, when

a colle6tion of the different forts, they afford an agreeable fource of variety

with each other.

They

therefore claim univerfal efteem as principal green-houfe

plants, efpecially as they are all fo eafily raift&d

ture, as to

No.

floriferous in

28.

from cuttings, and of fuch eafy cul-

be attainable in every garden where there

is

any fort of green-houfe, or

garden-

APPENDIX TO

42

garden-frames furnifhed with glaffes for protecting them in winter from froft;

but fome of the broad-leaved forts are fo hardy as to fucceed in the full ground,
againft a fouth wall and other warm expofures, all the year, by only allowing them
flielter

of mats occafionally in fevere frofty weather;

may.alfo be
all

exhibited in

warm fituation in

fo that a few of 'thefe forts

the dirubbcry

obfcrving, however, that

the forts are principally to be confidered as grecn-houfe plants, and a due portion

of them muft always remain in pots to

2.

The Myrtus pimenta, Jamaica

and two

in height,

move

to that

department

in winter.

pepper, or all-fpice tree, grows above thirty feet

in circumference;

much

the branches near the top are

divided

and thickly befet with leaves, which by their continual verdure always give the tree
very fmooth externally, and of a grey colour; the

a beautiful appearance; the bark

is

leaves vary in fliape and in

but are commonly about four inches long, veined,

pointed, elliptical,

fize,

of a deepiliining-green colour; theflowers are produced

or panicles, and ftand

minate the branches

upon fubdividing or trichotomous

the calyx

is

bunches

which ufually

ftalks,

cut into four roundifh feguients

and placed oppofite

four, white, fraall, reflex, 6val,

in

ter-

the petals are alfo

to each other between the feg-

ments of the calyx; the filaments are nhmerous, longer than the petals, fpreading, of
a greenifli-white colour, and rife from the calyx and upper part of the germen; the
antherae are roundifli, and of a pale-yellow colour; the flyle
eredt; the ftigma

is

fig. 1.) is

fmooth, Ample, and

obtufe; the^germen becomes a round fucculent berry, contain-

ing two kidney-fhaped

Plate at

is

flattifli

a native of

grows very plentifully; and

f^eds.

This tree (a branch of which

New Spain

in

and the WeftJndia

June, July, and Augufl, puts forth

its

The

with every part of the tree, breathe an aromatic fragrance.

is

fliown on the

In Jamaica

iflands.

it

flowers, which,

berries

when

ripe

are of a dark-purple colour, and full of a fweet pulp, which the birds devour greedily,

and, muting the feeds, afterwards propagate thefe trees in

It is

thought that the feeds,

fermentation, which

from the

fits

them

pafling through

them

in this

all parts

of the woods.

manner, undergo fome

better for vegetating than thofe gathered immediately

tree.

The pimento

is

a mofi: beautiful odoriferous ever-green, and exhibits a fine varie-

ty in the flove at all feafons.

by Mr. Philip Miller

in 1739.

Myrtus communis how er here

the broad-leaved

fome of the

Roman

forts are

It

in

was

firft

With

introduced and cultivated in

refpedl to flowering,

all

this

country

the varieties of the-

July and Auguft, moft of which are very floriferous:

kind in particular

is

often covered with flowers, which in

fucceeded here by berries ripening

in winter.

flowers in the ftove with great beauty -and luxuriance.

The

The

pimento alfo

flowgrs of moft of

the forts are fmall, but numerous; and are all formed each of five oval petals and

many

ftamina.

As

all

thefe plants require protedtion in this country, they muft be

kept

CULPEPEKs BRITISH HERBAL.

43

kept always in pots, for moving to the proper places of Ihelter according to their nature; the

Myrtus communis and

and other delicate kinds

varieties to the

managing the myrtles

larger pots,
as other

woody

tringent quality,

The

and are ufed

water that

diftilled

common

leaves and flowers of

for cleanfing the

is

fibres.

leaves

the

and the Rove- kind

and ufed

As an

flvin,

fixing the teeth

From

the flowers and

oil

internal medicine, thefe berries have

little

is

pommade cle
hiRorical faft. One

called

The

berries have
is

excellent

la comtejfe,

or no merit.

related, wdiich, if true,

is

tends to fiiow the Rrongly -aRringent quality of myrtle.

count of an extraordinary

young tops

external beautifiers of the face

In the DiBio)maire portatif cf Hi/loire JVaturelle, a fa6l

pomatum

when loofened

obtained from them

pomatums and moR other

in

upright myrtle have an af-

applied in fomentations.

is

a binding deterfive quality; and the chemical

the bafe of a

let all

aRr^ngent, cofmetic, and ufed in gargles.

deterfive,

.A decodlion of the flowers and

and Rdn.

Therefore

the year.

as other green-houfe flirubs,

by the fcurvy, and Rrengthening the

for the hair,

all

and, as they advance in growth, fliiftthem into

exotics of the Rove.

Properties, ^c.

drawn a

remain

to the Rove, to

forts be potted in rich light earth;

green-houfe in winter; the pimento

Myrtle

is

likewife

and well known on ac-

of thofe gay youths

who

flutter

about

the toilets of the fair happened one day to be left alone in the Rorehoufe of the
graces.

With eager

curiofity he

perfumed powder, the

and greater pliancy

effences,

to his lips,

examined the perfumes, the fmelling-bottles, the

To give more

and the cofmetics.

and

to

of the vermillion

remove fome difagreeable eruptions, he

lightly

pommade, looks at himfelf in the glafs^

beauty with admiration. The lady enters; he wlflies to fpeak,

fpreads with his indifcreet finger the fatal

and contemplates

his

The

but his lips contracted, and he could only Ramnher.

aRonifliment ; at length cafting her eyes on the

toilet,

flie

lady looked at him with

difcovered by the open

pot the caufe of the miftake, and enjoyed a hearty laugb at the expenfe of her admirer, vvhofe confufion

announced

his indifcretion.

Pimento-berries are chiefly imported into Britain from Jamaica; whence the name

Jamaica pepper.

It is alfo called all-fpice,

to refemble thofe of
ticles

many

different fpices

from

its

mixed

taRe and flavour being fuppofed

together.

It

is

one of the Raple ar-

of Jamaica, where the pimento-walks are upon a large fcale, fome of them

covering feveral acres of ground.

When the

berries arrive at their full growth, but

before they begin to ripen, they are picked from the branches, and expofed to

fun for feveral days,

till

they are fuflicien|iy'dried; 'thisiop.era

with great cari^. obferving that on

to be turned very often,

After this procefs

is

the'-fffR and,

is

the-

to be conducted^

fecond days expofure they require

and always to l^preferved from rain and the evening dews.

completed, which

is

known by

the colour and rattling of the

feeds in the berries, they are put up in bags or hogfheads for the market. This fpice,

whidi.

APPENDIX TO

44
which

<?i8 lat firft

has been long employed in the

more coftly oriental aromatics: it is moderately
fomewhat refembling that of a mixture of cloves,

hroijght over for dietetic ufes,

(hops as a fuccedaneum to the

warm, of an agreeable

flavour,

cinnamon, and nutmegs.

ponderous as to fink
approaching to
fied fpirit

tion

it

yields an elegant effential

imparts by maceration or digeflion the whole of

to this

little

menftruum, nearly

concentrated in the infpiffated extra6l.

medicine;

it

moderately pungent,

it is,

in fmell

virtue

To

re^i-

in diftilla-

matter remaining

this

account

is

not unfre-

requiring fuch a grateful adjun61:.

the Pharmacopoeias direct an aqueous and fpirituous diftillation to be

and the Edinburgh College orders alfo the

thefe berries,

fo

Pimento can fcarcely be confidered as a

however, an agreeable aromatic, and on

quently employed with different drugs,

its

all its aftive

oil,

and flavour

of cloves, of rather a mixture of cloves and nutmegs.

oil

gives over very

it

Diftilled with water

in the water, in tafte

Both

made from

oleiim ejfentiale piperis

Jamaicenjis.

PLANTAIN-TREE.

THE

plantain-tree

hexandria

clafs,

of plants

The

order, fcitamineae.

the corolla

is

a genus

is

dipetalous

and

Musa.

monogynia

of the

in the natural

order,

method ranking under the

calyx of the male hermaphrodite

belonging to the

is

a fpatha, or

the one petal erect and quinquedentate

eightli

flieath

the other nec-

and fhorter; there are fix filaments; five of which are per*
The female hermaphrodite
the germen inferior and abortive.

tariferous, concave,

fe6t;

one

ftyle;

has the calyx, corolla, filaments, and

one filament perfe6t; the berry

remarkable fpeqies

are, the

Japkntum, or banana-tree.

The

is

of the male hermaphrodite, with only

piftil,

oblong,

and three-angled below.

Mvfaparadifaica, or Jamaica plantain;

See the Plate,

The moft
and the Mufa

fig. 2, 3.

aU the iflands of the Weft-Indies, where the fruit

ferves the Indians for bread
and feme of the white people alfo prefer it to moft
things,
yams
efipecially
and caffada-bread. The plant rifes with a foft
other
to the
firft

fort is cultivated in
;

ftalk fifteen or

twenty feet high

the lower part of the ftalk

is

often as large as

mans thigh, diminifliing gradually to the top, where the leaves come out on every
fide

flefliy

thefe are often eight feet long, and from two to three feet broad, with a ftrong
mid-rib, and a great

the borders.

open

air,

The leaves

number of

tranfverfe veins running from the mid-rib to

are thin and tender, fo that, where they are expofed-to the

they are generally torn by the wind

for,

as they are large, the wind has

great power againft them ; thefe leaves

come out from the centre of the ftalk, and

ace rolled up at their firft appearance; but, when they are advanced above the ftalks,
As thefe leaves come up rolled in the manner
they expand and turn backward.
before^naentioned, their advance

upward

is

fo quick, that their growth

may

ahneft
be

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

be difcerned by the naked eye; and,

of the
plant

is

which

grown

is

a fine line be drawn acrofs, level with the top

an hours time the leaf

in

leaf,

if

will

be near an inch above

and nods on one

Each of

the bunches

when

fheath of a fine purple colour, which drops off

part of the fpike

but

the

The

fide.

come

flowers

thofe in the lower part of the fpike being the largeft ; the others

diminifh in their fize upward.

fruit,

When

it.

the fpikes of flowers will appear in the centre,

to its full height,

often near four feet in length,

out in bunches

45

is

made up of male

with their covers.

fall off

is

covered with a fpathe or

the flowers open.

The upper

or barren flowers, which are not fucceeded by

The

or plantain,

fruit,

and an inch and a half or two inches diameter

at

it is

firft

about a foot long,

is

green, but

when

ripe of

The fldn is tough; and within is a foft pulp of alufcious

The fpikes of the fruit are often fo large as to weigh upwards of
The fruit of this fort is generally cut before it is ripe. The green

a pale-yellow colour.
fweet flavour.
forty pounds.
fkin

is

pulled

off,

quently turned

hot fo palatable.

without the

fruit

and the heart

it is

is

roafted in a clear

ble

This tree

Idfs agreeable,

him to do

are

and

lefs able to

his bufinefs or to

employed

keep

The

as dreffings after blifters.

Plantains alfo fatten horfes, cattle,

The

leaves, being

and

fort differs
fpots.

The

and of a more lufcious

water from the foft trunk

The

from the

firll,

having

in

It is

its

ffalks

is

and

in the

Weft-Indies.

in moft other hot countries,

firft

whither,

is

the pulp
ripe,

reliflied

believed, they

it is

They

planting to the ripening of their

ftjckers

come up from the

forthat,

by cutting dow-n the

ftant fucceflion of fruit all the year.

root,

by

is fofter,

it is

all

to the

very

ranks

Weft-

had been brought

are alfo cultivated in Egypt, and

where they grow to

down, feveral
;

when

but,

Both the above plants were carried

produce

fruit

marked with dark pur-

and rounder

never eaten green;

from Guinea, where they grow naturally.

29.

tree

leaves are ufed for napkins

fruit is fhorter, flraighter,

tafte.

Indies from the Canary Iflands

No.

foft,

is aftrin-

Every other part of the

agreeable, either eaten raw or fried in flices as fritters ; and

from their

fmooth and

and are food for hogs.

The fecond

of people

flour or bread itfelf

fupport the laborious negro, fo as to ena-

in health.

ufeful in different parts of rural (economy.

ple ftripes

Even

place.

its

and employed by fome to check diarrhoeas.

table-cloths,

Boiled plantains are

cultivated on a very extenfive fcale in Jamaica;

is

fwine, dogs, fowls, and other domeftic animals.

gent,

a few minutes, and fre-

of which. Dr. Wright fays, the ifland would fcarcely be habitable,

as no fpecies of provifion could fupply

would be

fire for

then fcraped, and lerved up as bread.

pei*fe<5tion in

fruit.

which

When

about ten months,

their ftalks are cut

in fix or eight

months

ftalks at different times, there is

will

aconIn

APPENDIX TO

46

In Europe fome of thefe plants are preferved

who have

gardens of curious perfons

hot-houfes capacious enough for their reception, in

have ripened

their fruit very well

large, they require

more room

but, as they

in the ftove

are propagated by fuckers, which

fruited

in the

grow very

and

tall,

of which they

their leaves are

than moft people care to allow them.

come from

They

the roots of thofe plants which have

and many times the younger plants, when they are

many

ftinted in growth, will

alfo put out fuckers.

The

of the banana-tree

fruit

is

four or five inches long, of the fize and fiiape of a

middling cucumber, and of a high grateful flavour

and a foot broad

the leaves are two yards long,

middle; they join to the top of the body of the

in the

and

tree,

frequently contain in their cavities a great quantity of water, which runs out, upon
a fmall incifion being made into the tree, at the jumSlion of the leaves.
Bananas

grow
tree
its

bunches, that weigh a dozen pounds and upwards.

in great

fo porous as not to merit the

is

and dies down

roots,

When
make

name of wood

fine

in rvater,

When

which

is

and

and the

very eafily done;

The banana is greatly efteemed, and even

Madeira, who term it the forbidden fruit, and reckon

moft inexpiable to cut

it

with a knife

becaufe, after diffedlion,

and

pretend, a fimilitude of our Saviours crucifixion;

our

in their

apprehenfion, to

wound

parents

made themfelves aprons

employed

the leaves

to.

venerated,
it

byr

a crime al-

exhibits, as they

to cut the fruit

for that

The facred

in Paradife.

purpofe fig-leaves

and Milton,

But, befides that the fruit of the banana

thors called a

more proper
fix

leaves,

ren-

both re-

open with

his facred image.

but erroneous defer! ption, affirms the bearded or Bengal

above

it

it

authors have imagined, that the banana-tree was that of the leaves of which

firft

alluded

liquor, thereby

which makes

it,

the

in

ufe of this pafte,

nourifliing.

the natives of

is,

make

they would

has an agreeable acid tafte imparted to

dered thick,

they

them for

wrapped up

after being previoufly

leaves of the Indian flowering-reed.

it

in cafe of need, ferves

purpofe they take ripe bananas; and, having

fieve, form the folid fruit into final) loaves, which-

are dried in the fun or in hot afhes,

they diftblve

which,

for this

fqueezed them through a

Some

of the

only perennial by

the natives of the Weft-Indies (fays Labat) undertake a voyage,

nourifliment and drink:

a knife,

The body

is

ground every autumn.

to the

provifion of a pafte of banana;

frefliing

the tree

fig,

its leaves,

is

by reafon of their great

for a veil or covering than thofe of the

or eight inches long and three broad.

On

text, indeed, calls

in a

fig to

moft beautiful

have been the tree

often by the moft ancient aufize

and

Bengal

folidity,

fig,

were much

which are feldom

the other hand, the banana-

being four or five feet long, and proportionally broad, were very likely

to be pitched upon

in preference to

all

others; efpecially as they might be eaffly

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

fily

47

joined, or fevved together, with the jnumerous thread-like filaments that may^

with the utmoft

Some have fuppofed

for

the Abyffinian

\>\dini

which that province

be a fpecies of Mu fa. It

enfete to

province of Narea, where

to be a native of the

fwamps

be peeled from the body of this tree.

facility,

it

grows

is

faid

in the great marfixes

and

remarkable, owing to the

is

many

originate in that country, and have but a fmall declivity to the ocean.
as well as the coffee- tree,

is

faid to have been

unknown

Galla who inhabit that country. Maitfha

it is

It

them.^.

perfe6lion about Gondar;, but the principal plantations of

Maitlba and Gouth, to the well of the Nile, where

This plant,

in Abyffinia before the arri-

w ho imported them both along wdth

val of the Galla,

rivers which,

it

comes

to great

are in that part of

almoft the foie food of the

almoft entirely on a dead level; fo that

is

Were

the rains ftagnate, and prevent the lowing of grain.

not for the enfete,

it

would have fcarcely any vegetable food., Mr. Bruce thinks that,
the enfete may have been cultivated in fome of the gardens of Egypt about Rofetta,
therefore, the Galla

but that

it

that this plant

is

a fpecies of Mufa, It

fembles that of the enfete*.

which

is

this is

higlily

it

bears

is

figs,

ftrongly controverts the opinion,

true (fays he), the leaf of the banana re-

and has an excrefcence from

its

terminated by a conical figure, chiefly differing from the enfete in

but the

quantity of parts

and

He

was not a native of the country.

the part which

agreeable.

It

is

figs

of the banana are of the

This

eaten.

is

fig is

fize

fig.

and

and figure of a cucumber,

fweet, though mealy, and of a tafte

fuppofed to have no feeds, though in

fmall black feeds belonging to every

trunk,

fize

But the

figs

fa6t,

there are four

of the enfete are not eatable

they are of a foft tender fubftance, watery ; taftelefs, and in colour and confiftence

refembling a rotten apricot: they are of a conical form, crooked a

end; about an inch and

In the

infide of thefe

is

a.

half in length,, and.

an inch

little at

a large ftone half an inch long, of the ftiape of a bean or ca-

Ihew-nut, of a dark-brown colour; and this contains a fmall feed, which

hardened into

fruit,

but confifts only of fkin.

The long

the enfete fprings from the centre of the plant, or rather

the plant

then grows the

top of the ftalk
flower in

Upon

itfelf.

this,

where

it

is

feldom
of

the body or folid part of

begins to bend, are a parcel. of loofe leaves;,

upon the body of the plant without any ftalk

thick fetwith fmall leaves,, in the mid ft of which

the form of an artichoke

is

ftalk that bears the figs

fig
is

the lower

breadth where thickeft.

in

after
it

which the

terminates the

whereas in the banana, the flower in form. of the

artichoke grows at the end of that flioot or ftalk which proceeds from the middle

of the plant, the upper part of w'hich bears the row of

figs.

The

leaves of the en-

a web of longitudinal fibres clofely fet together; and they grow from the
bottom without ftalks whereas the banana is in form like a tree, and has been mif_
fete are

taken for fuch.

One

half of it

is

divided into a ftem, the other

is

a head formed with

leaves;

APPENDIX TO

48

leaves; and, in place of the ftem that grows out of the enfete, a
rolled

round together

number of

leaves,

a truncheon, fhoots out of the heart of the banana, and

like

renews the upper as the under leaves

them

fall

off

but

the leaves of the banana

all

which they do not embrace by a

broad bafe, or involucrum, as the enfete does.
But the greateft differences are flill remaining. The banana has by fome been
miftaken for a tree of the palmaceous kind, for no other reafon but a kind of fimila-'
have a long

this fixes

producing the

rity in

ftem; but

and

ftalk

the

ftill

no part of

it

from

differs

The

of trees whatever.

all forts
it is

woody

woody nor

neither

is

in all thefe refpe6ls

from

on an excrefcence or

fruit

mufa

to the trunk,

the body of

it,

growing from the heart of the

perennial;

the beft of

it is

all

bears the fruit but once;

palmaceous kind, and indeed

on the contrary, has no naked ftem ;

for feveral feet high,

is

efculent

but no part

as the ftalk appears perfect and

leaves, the body of the plant turns hard and fibrous, and

before,

it

trees of the

enfete,

As foon

of the banana-plant can be eaten.

ftalk

is

no longer

fit

full

of

to be eaten

When boiled, it has the tafte of the beft new

When you make ufe of the enfete for eating,

vegetables.

wheat-bread not perfectly baked.

immediately above the fmall detached roots, and perhaps a foot or two
higher, as th^ plant is of age. The green muft be ftripped from the upper part till

you cut

it

it

becomes white ; when

it is

the beft of

Our

author

Egypt,
is

viz.

a turnip well boiled,

foft, like

an hieroglyphic fometimes met with in

between fome branches of the banana-tree, as

a quantity of the banana-tree.

it is

a native of Syria

Arabia Felix; but choofes fome

rate;

and

Upon

is

this

You

it

it

Yet

the

fee likewife the hippopota-

banana

does not even exift

is

merely adventitious

in the

low hot country of

elevation in the mountains where the air

not found in Syria farther to the fouthward than

lat.

is

tempe-

34*.

account Mr. Bruce thinks, that the banana, not being a plant of the

Country, could never have entered into the

fon,

eaten with milk or butter,

to confider

fuppofed, and fome handfuls of ears of wheat.

Egypt

if

wholefome, nouriftiing, and eafily digefted.

now proceeds

the figure of Ifis fitting

mus ravaging
in

all food,

lift

of their hieroglyphics; for this rea-

could not figure any thing regular or permanent in the hiftory of Egypt or

climate.

I therefore

imagine (adds he) that

this

its

hieroglyphic was wholly Ethi-

opian; and that the fuppofed banana, which, as an adventitious plant, fignified nothing in Egypt, was only a reprefentation of the enfete; and that the record in the

hieroglyphic of Ifis and the enfete-tree was fomething that happened between harveft,
w'hich was about Auguft,

was

in

06lober.

and the time that the enfete-tree came

The hippopotamus

is

in ufe,

which

generally thought to reprefent a Nile that

When, therefore, we fee upon obelilks the

banana, we may fuppofe it meant that the extraordi-

has been fo abundant as to be deftru6live.

hippopotamus deftroying the

nary

'

..kC

ii.

.<

^V

X'

8.

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

49

nary inundation had gone fo far as not only to deftroy the wheat, but alfo to retard
or hurt the growth of the enfete, which was to fupply its place.

TURKEY RHUBARB.
RHUBARB

a genus of the clafs enneandria, order trigynia.

is

The

are thefe:

flower has no empalement;

the bafe, and impervious; the brim

nately fmaller

is

length, terminated by oblong fummits,

hath one petal, which

is

narrow at

cut into fix parts, which are obtufe, and alter-

which are obtufe; and a fhort three-cornered

crowned by three-feathered ftigmas, which are

the gerrnen afterwards becomes a large three-cornered feed, with acute

with fcarcely any

gerrnen,
reflexed

it

Its characters

hath nine hair-like ftamina inferted in the petal, and of the fame

it

Rheum.

ftyle,

membranaceous borders. Miller reckons four, and Linnaeus five, fpecies. The
and may probably fucceed fo well
true rhubarb is now fown in many gardens
;

here in time, as that a

may be

drug

fufficient quantity of that valuable

raifed to

fupply our confumption.

with hairy leaves and equal foot- fialks has been generally reckoned

The rhubarb

the true rhubarb plant, having been produced from the feeds

thofe of the true rhubarb, to Juflieu of Paris,

Upfal.

own

It is

gardens,

Rand

feiit

at Chelfea,

and has been raifed

from Ruffia, as

and Linnaeus at

a native of

China and

where

found to grow with vigour in the open ground.

it is

Siberia,

in

fome of our

Some

have derived its name from Rha, the river called by us Wolga, and barbarum; q. d.
the root found by the barbarians on the river Rha. However it is necefiary to
obferve, that Dr.

Hope

received, in 1763, rhubarb^feeds from Ruflia, which Dr.

Mounfey aflured him were the feeds of the true rhubarb; and, having fowm them
open ground

in the

pahnatum

at

Edinburgh, they produced a different fpecies,

up too young, and

that the root of this plant, though taken

viz. in July,

and

agreed perfectly with the

purgative quality.

befi;

at an

the

Rheum

He obferves

improper feafon,

foreign rhubarb in colour, 'fmell, taflc;

See his botanical defcription and drawing of the plant in

Phil. Tranf. vol. Iv. art. 32.

may

viz.

Linmei, with the leaves deeply cut into pointed fegments.

Perhaps, fays Dr. Lewis, the roots of both, fpecies

be of the fame quality, and taken promifcuoufly.

ferent fpecies from either of thefe.

Mr.

The rhaponticum

is

dif-

Bell informs us, in his Travels, that the bell

rhubarb grows in that part of the Eaftern -Tartary called Mongallia, which ferves
as a boundary between Ruffia and China.

fpread

itfelf like

docks, but grows in tufts at uncertain diftances, as

been dropped with defign.

As

the Mongalls do not think

marmots,, which burrow under the fiiade of

on

leaves and roots, contribute to

its

dung

affords

No.

29.

it,

This plant, he fays, does not run and

its

its

it

the feeds

had

worth cultivating, the

fpreading leaves, and probably feed

increafe, partly by the

manure which

and principally by calling up and loofening the

if

their

earth, into which.

the

APPENDIX TO

50

the ripe feeds blown by the wind

and where they immediately take root. Af-^

digging and gathering the rhubarb, the Mongalls cut the large roots into fmall

ter

make them dry more

pieces, in order to

fcoopa

hole, through

nient place

fall,

and by

which a cord

this pra6tice

readily. In the

middle of every piece they

drawn, in order to fufpend them

is

conve-

in a

they deftroy fome of the befl part of the root.

All rhubarb-plants, fays Millar, are propagated by fpeds, which fhould be fown
in

autumn foon

fown

fpring; whereas, if they are

fpring.

The

and then the plants

after they are ripe,

they will

in the fpring,

plants Ihould remain where the feeds are fown; and,

ground thould be hoed

in the fpring, the

to cut

when they appear

up the weeds, and they Ihould be

thinned, like carrots and parfnips, leaving them at the

afuoder,

come up the following

not come up till the next

will

firft

hoeing

or eight inches

fix

and, at the fecond hoeing, at the dillance of at leaft a foot and a half.

After this the plants will require no other culture but to keep them clean from weeds.

In autumn the leaves decay, when the ground Ihould be made clean
alfo be

hoed and cleaned

after they

In the fecond year

when

in the fpring,

come

and

it is

faid,

and w here there

is

Two

years

much

roots will remain

delight in a rich foil, not too dry nor too moifl,

a good depth for their roots to run down

grow

met with

forts of rhubarb-roots are

in

fuch land their

to a great fize.

The

in the fhops.

in roundilh pieces,

Ruflfia,

leaves,

that the old roots of the true rhubarb are

The

flow^er.

leaves will be very large, and their roots will

from Turkey and

new

ftiould

many

They

preferable to the young ones.

the plants put out their

it

up, the ftrongeft will produce flowers and feeds;

and, in the third year, raoft of them will

without decaying

and

firft is

freed from the bark,

imported

with a hole

through the middle of each, externally of a yellow colour, internally variegated

The

with lively reddifti ftreaks.

from the Eaft-lndies in

The

foregoing.

firft fort,

eaten; the fecond

is lefs

trious artifts are faid to

its

its

is

lefs

efteemed, comes immediately

colour

is

and more compact, than the

apt to grow mouldy and

fubje6l tothefe inconveniences.

fill

up the worm-holes with

pieces with

when

cut

its

Some of

worm-

the moreinduf-

certain mixtures, and to colour

powder of the

The marks

fometimes with cheaper materials.

the livelinefs of

which

unlefs kept very dry,

damaged

the outfide of the

other,

longifli pieces, harder, heavier,

finer forts of rhubarb,

and

of the goodnefs of rhubarb are,

being firm and

folid,

but not

flinty

or hard;

being eafily pulverable, and appearing, when powdered, of a fine bright yellow

colour;

its

imparting to the

fpitlle,

proving flimy or mucilaginous

fomewhat

ftyptic

Rhubarb

is

the fmell

onieing chewed, a deep

in the

is

mouth.

faffron tinge,

and not

and

Its tafte is fub-acrid, bitterifti,

lightly aromatic.

a mild cathartic, and commonly confidered as one of the

njoft innocent of the fubftances of this clafs.

Befides

its
'4

fafeft

purgative virtue,

it

and

has a

mild

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

mild aftringent one, difcoverable by the
with chalybeate folutions

and

hence

it is

tafte,

and by

its

51

ftriking

an inky blacknefs

found to ftrengthen the tone of the ftomach

inteftines, to leave the belly coftive,

and

to be

one of the moft ufeful purgatives

in diarrhoeas, dyfenteries, and all diforders proceeding from a debility and laxity of

the fibres

it is

frequently given with a view to this ftomachic and corroborating

virtue, rather than to its.producing

Rhubarb

of a high yellow colour.

preparation of
gentle heat,

it

the dofe

is

friable, its cathartic

aftringency fuppofed to be increafed.

more

perfedtly

of water
it

proves

is

by water than by

almoft

flill

if

The

It tinges the urine

purges more effedlually than any

in fubftance

from a fcruple to a dram.

becomes. eafily

till it

any confiderable evacuations.

power

By
is

roafting

purgative virtue of rhubarb

is

with a

it

diminiflied,

and

extra6ted

the root remaining after the action

re6tified fpirit;

not wholly ina6tive; whereas, after repeated digeftion in

very confiderably purgative

its

when

fpirit,

the rhubarb has given out to fpirit

menftruum can extradt, it ftill imparts a deep colour, as well as a purga^

A dram of the extra6t, formed by infpilfating the
impregnation, to water.

all that this

live

watery infufion,

is

not more efficacious than a fcruple of the root in fubftance; but

half a dram of the extra6t formed from the fpirituous tincture proves moderately
purgative, though fcarcely

more

fo than

an equal quantity of the powder. The

rituous extract diftblves almoft wholly in water;

and hence the

fpirituous infufions of moft other vegetables, does not turn milky

with aqueous liquors

re6tified fpirit,

which does.

Hence

it

is

diflblved

by

more purgative than that

contains
much
more gummy or murhubarb

that does not diffolve proves

appears, that

cilaginous than refinous matter; and

a combination of

on being mixed

of the watery extra6t fcarcely above one fourth

and the part

fpi-

tinfture, like the

gummy and

its

purgative ruality feems to refide chiefly in

faline matter.

Tin6lures of this root are drawn in the lliops with proof-fpirit and with

moun-

tain-wine, in the proportion of an ounce of rhubarb to a pint of the menftruum.

Thefe preparations, ufed

chiefly as mildly-laxative corroborants, in

weaknefs of the

ftomach, indigeftion, diarrhoeas, colicky and other fuch complaints, are

aromatifed with a

and one of

little

cardamom-feeds and

the latter to the

tinBura rhd vinofa

8C

faffron, as

above quantity of the

fpirituofa.

root,

For fome purpofes, a

commonly

two drams of the former

and thus are formed the
tincture,

called tinStura

rhei dulcis, is drawn from the rhubarb and cardamom-feeds with proof-fpirit, and
two ounces of white fugar-candy diffolved in the ftrained liquor. For others, inftead of fweets and aromatics, gentian and fnake-root are joined, in the proportion
of a dram and a half of the former and a dram of the latter, with the addition of

a fcruple of cochineal as a colouring ingredient

this laft tincture, called tinSiura

rJtii

APPENDIX TO

52
amara,

rJiel

is,

in

many

an ufeful

cafes,

Peruvian bark

affiftant to the

in the

cure

of intermittents.

The Turkey rhubarb

latter

is

more

made from

is

generally preferred to the Eaft-India

aftringent, but has fomething lefs of

though the

fort,

an aromatic flavour. Tinctures

both, with equal quantities of re<5lified fpirit. have nearly the fametafte:

on drawing
barb proves

oft'

the menftrua, the extract left by the tincture of the Eaft-India rhu-

They feem

confiderably ftionger than the other.

in tafte

both, fays

Dr. Lewis, to be the produce of the fame climate, and roots of the fame fpecies
of plant, taken up probably at different feafons, or cured

The

yellow colour of rhubarb,

other vegetable yellows.

faffron, turmeric, See.

it is

faid,

make no change

lefs deftrudtible

in that of rhubarb, or at

and incline

Mr. Model

this effedl in a greater degree.

of felenites

much

a different manner.

many

than

Aqua-fortis, and other acids which deftroy the colour of

turbid. Volatile fpirits heighten the colour,

have

is

in

to red.

moll render

it

only

Fixed alkaline

falts

quan-

affirms that a confiderable

In one experiment he obtained fix ounces

of felenites from four pounds of rhubarb; and, in the other, no lefs than an ounce
tity

contained in rhubarb.

is

of felenites from two ounces and five drams of old rhubarb.

The Indian rhubarb fown

a fine and clear gum.

June and July

in

our gardens has

this peculiar property, that

is

perfectly white

and pellucid

This

fo plentiful, that an

is

from one plant of

and

in the

months of

ounce may fometimes be gathered

It exfudates of itfelf

it.

from

all

yields

it

a time

at

parts of the ftalks and ribs of

the leaves, and fometimes from the under part of the leaves themfelves. It ftands
in

fome places

in large drops,

with a thin layer of

The

plant

may always

where the germen makes its way

with any pointed inftrnment through the ftdn; in

is

found to be turned

only

gummy

known herbaceous

within

it,

The

Ihows by

docks, fo

common about our fields,

that

appears on

in

form of
fort of

and thefe may be followed

parts of the plant this juice

ice.

As

this is the

it is

little

It

would be moll proper to look

for

and as nearly related to the rhubarb as we

its tafte,

are of the

fame

genus;,

and the

forrel

particularly allied to the plant; for both are alike of

the dock-kind, and both alike four.

gum

it

wounded by a

gum like that of trees, it would be

fome of our own plants may not have fome tendency

of the fame genus,

the leaves of forrel a

fome

fome have

feeri

and looks like clear

of nature to form a juice of the fame kiud.

can.

be

out,

in

plant that yields a true

worthy obfervation, whether

this in the plants

&c. feem only to be covered

in others the ftalks,

and the under part of the leaves

it;

twifted wires or long icicles.

cauftic in the places

and

before

it

It

would be proper

flowers, to fee whether

about

to look carefully

any thing

like the

fame

it.

There

>lir-

-iK

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

There

53

yet this farther analogy between this rhubarb and our

is

that the hufks pf our forrel, boiled in water, with a

fame

colour, and the hulks of rhubarb do the

common

alum, turn

forrel
fine

red

and both the one and the other

of-

little

it

to

ten turn red in decaying.

The

extra6led by bruifing and fteeping

juice of the roots of this rhubarb,

common

when

water,

the liquor

uninflammable gum, and melts

is

of an infipid tafte; and

plant naturally yields

in fo large a quantity,

of

this

Upon

any part of the plant.

art in

gum, and

its

This gum, as well as that

flame of a candle.

is

made by

in

drained and evaporated, becomes only a clear

in the

of the llalks and leaves,

it

it

it is

yet

obfervable, that, though the

will not flow

from wounds

the confideration of the infipid tafte

we may

folubility in water,

it

find

fome probable conjedlurc

and binding.

in regard to the different virtues of this plant in purging

The woody

fibres

have a ftrong

with the aftringent quality.

der of

it

to bind

fufion takes

up

An

the reafon

all this

is

tafte;

eafily feen

gummy juice, and

confequence of which

part behind, in

and, in

all

infufion of rhubarb

it

on
its

probability, are alone

is

known

to purge,

this confideration.

other juices,

endued

and a pow-

The water

in in-

but leaves the fibrofe

ought to purge wdthout binding;

but, in

cafe of giving the powder, the juices are in great part evaporated in jthe drying, and
the

woody

part

left

almoft alone

it

therefore purges but

little,

and proves power-

fully aftringent.

INDIAN ROCU.

THE rocu is a tree of confiderable ftature,

Mitella.
bearing flowers of a pale red, like the

European apple-bloffoms. When the flowers fall off, a head of feed follows, of an
oblong roundifli form, and prickly, like a ehefnut. This contains that beautiful
red feed, which the Indians break or macerate, and, putting
the bottom, converting the fluid into

fuffer to

in various figures,

This tree

is riie

dry in

little

tincture.

and the fediment which the feeds form

This
at the

cakes, with which they paint their naked bodies

which they efteem a very great ornament.

urucu of Pifo ; and Tournefort, having joined

fpecies of Cortufa Americana, calls

Cortufa Americana, burfts

and therefore he

in water, it finks to

amoft elegant tranfparent red

tincture they pour off at their leifure,

bottom they

it

entitles

it,

it

it

with the two

Mitella; for the fruit of this, as well as the

open and reprefents the lhape of an epifcopal mitre

in his Inftitut,

Rei Herb, the Mitella Americana, maxima

tin^oria.

No.

29.

SPEED-

APPENDIX TO

54

SPEEDWELL.

Veronica.

THE flower of fpeedwell has

a permanent empalement, cut into five acute feg*one

tubulous
ments, and
petal the length of the empalement ; the brim is cut into
four oval plain fegments which fpread open, and two ftamina which are terminated

by oblong fummits
ftyle,

has a compreffed germen, fupporting a flender declining

crowned by a Angle ftigma; the germen becomes a compreffed heart-lhaped
;

it

capfule, with two cells filled with roundifli feeds.

The common male

fpeedwell

is

alfo called Pauls betony

brook-lime

Some authors make thirty-five fpecies.

^reat efteem among the Germans in diforders of the

is

alfo

fpecies of the fpeedwell.

This herb

is

in

catarrhous and ulcerous, and for purifying the blood and humours.

both

breaft,

Infufions of

the leaves, which are not unpalatable, are drunk as tea, and are found to operate
fenfibly

by urine.

It is frequently ufed as

an ingredient

in antifcorbutic

and deob-

ftruent compofitions.

STARRY ANISEED.

Illicium.

WE meet with an account of the ftarry anifeed, together with a figure of

from Clufius,

in

Parkinfons Theatre of Plants,

p.

it,

taken

1569. where he obferves, that

feme branches of it, with the hulks and feeds only, without leaves or bloffoms, were
brought into England by Sir Thomas Cavendilli, in Queen Elizabeths time, from
the Philippine Iflands, where he met with it in his voyage round the world.
Thefe
branches were given to Mr. Morgan, the queens apothecary, and to Mr. James
Garrat, of

whom

Clufius received them.

Monfieur Geoffrey,
lafs, p.

322, calls

it

in his

Anifum

Materia Medica, tranllated

Sinenfe,

highly efteemed in China, and

femen badian,

in

1736 by Dr. G. Doug-

fruElus ftdlatus, and fays

over the eaft; that

it is

ufed to cure any bad

in the. mouth, as a prefervative againft the effe6ls of

bad

air,

and gravel; and that the Indians likewife fteep this

fruit in water,

all

and alfo

it is

talle

for the ftone

and afterwards

ferment the infufion, and thus make a vinous liquor; that the Dutch in the EaliIndies, as well as the natives,

Kaempfer

in his

mix

this fruit

Amoenitates Exotica},

p.

given us a very good figure of a branch of

He

found

it

in

Japan

tree; that they offer

altars

it

880, calls
it,

it

fomo, or Jkimmi; and has

with the leaves, flowers, and

and fays that the Japanefe and Chinefe efteem

to their idols,

this

it

fruit.

a faered

and burn the bark of it, as a perfume, on

and lay the branches upon the graves of the dead, as an

ghofts of their pious departed friends

der of

with their tea and Iherbet.

their

offering to the

and that the public watchmen ufe the pow-

aromatic bark ftrewed in fmall winding grooves or

little

channels, on
forae

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

fome afhesin a box fecured from the weather,

for the following

der, being lighted at one end, burns flowly on

diftances,
this

55

come

and, being

and fo fparkling through the grooves, they

purpofe: This powr

ftrike

and by means of

And

time-keeper proclaim the hours of the night to the public.

marked

to certain

bell,

laftly,

that

it

has the remarkable property of rendering the poifon of the bladder-fifh ( Tetrodon
hifpidus, Linn. Syft.

violent

means

We are

many have

Nat.) more virulent, as

to deftroy themfelves.

indebted for the

firft

difcovery of this curious American tree to a negro

fervant of William Clifton, Efq. chief juftice of

lect

experienced, that have ufed

fpecimens of

all

Florida,

whowasfentto

the rarer plants by his mafter, in April 1765.

the latter end of January,

Floridas, difcovered

Weft

it

1766,

Mr. John Bartram, the

on the banks of the river

from his defcription of it,

St.

After

my fon

found a lovely fweet

John, in Eaft Florida, as appears

it

but

all

the

fome of them grew near twenty

feet

charming bright ever-green aromatic.

This obfervation of Mr. Bartram, relating to

a ufeful hint

its

bearing a fevere

in the cultivation of this tree, efpecially as I

peated accounts of the weather in Weft Florida,

ten fe there,

is

well worth

the feverity of our winters.

to our gardeners,

making with one of them,

Should

leaves afford a moft agreeable

became

to

full

may afford

convinced, from re-

much more

is

in-

Eaft Florida; iothat

to fee

how

far

it

will ftand

our plantations of ever-greens.

worth enquiring

this tree are certainly

bitter.

in

froft,

fucceed, it would be a very great acquifttion

and be highly ornamental

medicinal properties of

the bark foon

it

am

that the froft

from whence thofe plants were brought, than

the experiment

ter,

as follows:

is

with leaves like the fweet bay, which

tree,

feed was died, the fevere froft had not hurt

The

in

and the drawing of a feed-veflel, with fome of the leaves,

fmelled like faffafras, and produced a very ftrange kind of feed-pod;

high, a

this,

kings botanift for the

which he fent to Peter Collinfon, Efq. Mr. Bartrams defcription of it

Near here

col-

A fprig of

it

fet to putrify in

of a clear mucilage.

The young

into.

The

a phial of wa-

bloffoms, put into

water with a fmall quantity of tartar per deliquium, from a dark-reddifli colour be-

came a light-brown;

but,

from the fame proportion of

oil

of vitriol in water, they

This points

turned- to a fine carmine colour, which ftained the paper of a fine red.

out

its

aftringent quality.

Many
one.

perfons think this plant not really a different fpecies from the oriental

The

feed-veffels

from China, however, which are to be feen

in colleiftions

of the Materia Medica, efpecially among foreigners, fmell very difagreeably of

whereas the feed-velfel of the Floridanum is agreeably aromatic, as are
anifeed
:

the leaves and

lowifti

young branches.

white, and looks

The

flower,

according to Kasmpfer,

at a diftance like a narciffus

is

of a yel-

the prefent fpecies has a

flower

x\PPENDIX TO

56

Kasmpfer reckons the number of

flower of a dark-red colour.

the rays or feed-veflels eight; the

number of

petals in ours

petals fixteen,

from twenty-one

is

twenty-feven, and the feed-veifel twelve or thirteen that ripen.

form and growth of the

tree,

to the fize of a cherry-lree;

both ends,

flefliy,

they are

much the fame

oblong oval

their leaves are of an

to

In refpe6l to the

for inflance, they

with few veins, growing alternately, and in

and

fliape,

tufts,

both grow
pointed at

at the

ends of

the fmall branches.

it

Linnaeus, who takes his charafters of the Illicium anijatum from Kaempfer, places
among the dodecandria polygynia. But I am perfuaded, that, from the following

charadlers, this muft be of the polyandria polygynia,

and

fliould ftand next to the

IMagnolia.

CharaHers of the Illicium Floridanum, or Florida Starry Amfeed Tree.

Calyx. The

perianthium, or flower-cup, confifts

branceous and coloured leaves, that foon

oval, form, pointed at the ends.

fometimes

the flower-cup.

fix, in

five little

mem-

they are of a concave, oblong

fall off ;

Sometimes we meet with only four

Kasmpfer obferved four

Corolla. The flower confifts of many

which are lanceolated

commonly of

little

leaves,

in his.

petals (from twenty-one to twenty-feven),

thefe are of three

fizes,

and equal numbers

each

in

circle,

the outward ones are long, (about an inch,) concave, obtufe, and fpreading open.

The next are

little ftiorter

and narrower; and the innermoft are

ftill

fliorter,

much

narrower, aud very fliarp-pointed: but are not nedlaria, as Linnasus fuppofes.

Stamina.

The

filaments are many, (about thirty,) very fliort and

flat,

placed

over one another, furrounding the germina, or embryo feed-veftels. Thefe fupport
as many antheras, or fummits, which are ere6t, oblong, and emarginated, or having

a fmall indenture

at top, with a cell

when they are magnified.

PiSTiLLUM, or female

organ.

on each

fide full of farina, of

The germina,

or

embryo

a globular form

feed-veflels, are twenty

or more in number, placed in a circalar order above the receptacle of the flower

they are comprefled, ere6t, and ending in fo

wards at the

top.

The ftigmata,

many fliarp-pointed,

placed lengthways along the upper part of each

Pericarpium,

ftyles,

bending out-

or openings on the top of the ftyles, are downy, and

ftyle.

or feed-veflfel, confifts of twelve, oftener thirteen,

little

pods, or

Thefe are of a comprelfed oval fliape, and a hard leather-like

fubftance, with two valves to each, and are difpofed edgeways in a circular order,

capfules, that ripen.

many rays of a ftar.

Semina. The feeds are fmooth and

like fo

and appear obliquely cut

fliining,

olf at the bafe.

of an oval fliape, a

There

is

one feed

in

little

comprefled,

each capfule.

SUGAR

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

SUGAR MAPLE TREE.

.57

Acer.

An

Account of the Sugar Maple Tree of the United States, and of the Methods of
obtaining Sugar from it, together with Obfervatious upon the Advantages, both public

and private, of this Sugar:

in

Thomas Jefferfon, Efq. Secretary {afterand one of the Vice- Prefdents of the American

a Letter

to

wards Prejident ) of the United States,

Philofophical Society; by Benjamin Rujh, Profejfor of the
Clinical Medicine in the Univerjity

THE

of Philadelphia.

fubje6tof this excellent paper feeras at

late to the

United States; but

firft

may, and we hope

it

and of

Inftitutes,

fight
will,

more

particularly to re-

very effentially afFe6lthe

general Hate of the world, by increafing the fupply of an article, of which the ufes
are yet, on account of

its

high price, but imperfe6lly known.

If the

monopoly of

the Weft-India iflands, where alone the wafteful culture by (laves, in the abfence of
the owner, can be fupported, (hould be gradually diminidied, and atlaft aboliflied,

by a

produce of fugar froni the maple, humanity would no longer

plentiful

the article would

find its true level,

The Acer faccharinum

fu(Fer,

and every nation would be more or lefs benefited.

of Linnieus, or fugar maple tree, grows in great quantities

in the weftern countries of all the middle Rates of the Ame^rican union.

It

is

as

tall as the oak, and from two to three feet in diameter; puts forth a white bloffom
in the fpring, before any appearance of leaves: its fmall branches afford fuftenance

and

for cattle,

its

are required for

the contrary,

it

Twenty years

a(hes afford a large quantity of excellent pot-afh-

it

Tapping does not

to attain itsTull growth.

affords

more fyrup and of

injure it;

a better quality, the oftener

but,

it is

on

tapped.

fingle tree has not only furvived, but flourifhed, after tapping, for forty years.

Five or

fix

pounds of fugar are ufually afforded by the lap of one

there are inftances of the quantity exceeding twenty pounds.

from the fap

latter

either

method

is

the

by

and pra^lifed without any

From frequent
to that of

tlie

trials

difficulty

It

by

is

is

though

feparated

boiling.

Dr. Rufh defcribes the procefs, which

ufed.

of this fugar,

Wefi-Indies.

nor the pollen of

The fugar

freezing, by fpontaneous evaporation, or

mod

tree

is

The

fimple,

by the farmers.
it

does not appear to be in any refpe6l inferior

prepared at a time of the year when neither infers

plants exift to vitiate

calculations grounded on exifting fadls,

ble of producing one eighth more than

it,

as

it is

its

is

the cafe with

common

afcertained, that America

own confumption;

that

is,

From
now capa-

fpgar.
is

on the whole,

about 135,000,000 pounds, which in the country may be valued at fifteen pounds
Dr. Rufh mentions many other benefits his country may
weight for one dollar.
derive from this invaluable tree;

and concludes

his

paper with an account of fome

of the advantages of fugar to mankind, not merely as commonly confidered to be a

luxury, but as an excellent, wholefome, and nourifhing, article of food.

No.

29.

-P

TEA-f

APPENDIX TO

5S

TEA-TllEE.

THE

tea-tree, thea in botany,

is

the

Thjea.

name

of a genus of the clafs poivan-

monogynia, the charadlers of which are thefe: The cup

dria, order

plane, permanent, perianthium, divided into

or

five

fix roundifii,

is

a very fmall,

obtufe, leaves

the fiower confifts of fix or nine large, roundifii, concave, and equal, petals

numerous

raina are

and

bofe and trigonal ; the ftyle

ma

is

ther;

Ample
it

the fruit

contains three

is

is

the fia-

about two hundred, and are very flender, capillary,

filaments,

than the flower; the antherae are Ample; the germen of the

fiiorter

piftil is

glo-

Tubulated, and of the' length of the ftamina; the ftig-

a capfule, formed of three globular bodies growing toge-

cells,

and opens into three

The

parts- at the top.

feeds are

Angle, globofe, and internally angulated.

From an

original

that the tea-tree, as

drawing taken of the tree when

Mr. Miller

firfi;

in its flowering ftate, it appears,

obferved, belongs to the order of trigynia; and

Linnaeus was led to the miftake of placing

it

in that

of monogynia, by not having

had any opportunity of examining any other than dried fpecimens of this fiirub.
Of this genus Linnaeus enumerates two fpecies viz. the Bohea Tea, having flowers
:

with

Dr. Lettfom,
that there
teas

and the Green Tea, having flowers with nine

fix petals;

is

in his botanical defcription of the tea-plant, thinks

it

moft probable

only one fpecies, and that the difference between the green and bohea

depends on the nature of the

He

leaves.

petals.

adds, that

it

foil,

culture, age,

and the manner of drying the

has even been obferved, that a green-tea tree, planted in

the bohea country, will produce bohea, and

on the contrary

and that on

his ex-

amining feveral hundred flowers, brought both from the bohea and green tea countries, their botanical charadlers have always appeared uniform.

We are

principally indebted to Kaempfer,

Le Compte, and

Du

Halde, for an

authentic hiftory of the culture of this exotic fhrub, and the manner of preparing
or curing

its

leaves.

The

particulars of greateft importance that have been recited

have been jndicioufly colledled, and the fubjedl farther

tional obfervations, by Dr. Lettfom.

The

tea-tree thrives beftin valleys at the foot of mountains,

of rivers,

where

it

enjoys a fouthern expofure to the fun

derable variations of heat and cold, as

as well as about

Canton

fevere in winter as in

grows

illuflrated with addi-

in a mild

and

it is

it

and upon the banks

though

it

endures confi-

flourifhes in the northern clime of Pekin,

obferved that the degree of cold at Pekin

fome of the northern

parts of Europe.

is

as

However, the befttea

temperate climate, the country about Nankin producing better tea

than either Pekin or Canton, betwixt which places

it is

fituated.

The

V
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if

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If

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k>'

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CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

The
point,

root refembles that of the peach-tree; the leaves are green, longilh at the

and pretty narrow, an inch and a half

much

is

S9

like that of the wild

rofe,

and jagged

long,

The

but fmaller.

all

fruit is

round.

The

flower

of different forms,

fometimes round, fometimes long, fometimes triangular, and of the ordinary

fize

of

a bean, containing two or three feeds, of a moufe-colour, including each a kernel.

Thefe are the feeds by which the plant propagated

or fifteen being promifcuoufly put into one hole,

more

to

fit

In about feven years the fhrub

and grows flowly,

freffi flioots

till

rifes to

down

cut

it is

fields,

time to gather the leaves of

in

then bears few

fome, indeed, defer cutting them

is

cultivated round the

but, as the

Chinefe export con-

In Japan, the tea-tree

without regard to the

and the different periods

it

to the ftem, which occafions an exuberance

foil;

fiderable quantities of tea, they plant whole fields with

The bed

a mans height; and, as

and leaves the fucceeding fummer

they are of ten years growth.

borders of the

juicy

at cer-

though

remove the weeds and manure the land. The leaves

be plucked before the third years growth, at which

period they are plentiful, and in their prime.

leaves,

care,

twelve

induftrious annually

which fucceed are not

of

fix to

four or five inches deep,

from each other. The feeds vegetate without any other

tain diftances

the

a number from

tea, is

it.

while they are yetfmali, young, and

which they are gathered are particularly defcrib-

ed by Kaempfer. They are plucked carefully one by one; and, notwithftanding the

feeming tedioufnefs of
ten or fifteen

leaves

this operation, the labourers are able to gather

pounds each

grow on the deep

in

one day.

The

declivities of hills,

from four to

tea-trees that yield often the fined

where

it is

dangerou.s, and in

fome

The Chinefe are faid to vanquifli this difficulty

large monkeys which inhabit thefe cliffs are irri-

cafes impra6ficable, to colledl them.

by a

fingular contrivance

and

tated,

the

break off the branches, and throw them down, fo that

in revenge they

the leaves are thus obtained.

The

buildings, or drying-houfes, that are erefted for curing tea, contain from five

to ten or

twenty fmall furnaces,

large

iron pan.

flat

leaves are laid,

There

is

about three feet high, each having at the top a

alfo a long low table covered w ith mats, on which the

and rolled by workmen, who

to a certain degree

by a

little fire

made

fit

round

of the frefli-gathered leaves are put upon the pan

when they touch the

pan, and

it is

as poflible with his bare hands,

this inftant

them

in the

palms of

their

The

iron

pan being heated

underneath, a few pounds

the frelh and juicy leaves crack

the bufinefs of the operator to Ihift them as quick

till

they

become too hot

he takes off the leaves with a kind of

them on the mats before the

it.

in the furnace

rollers,

fiiovel

to be eafily endurecf

At

r^fembling a fan, and poors

who, taking fmall quantities at a time,

roil

hands in one diredfion, while others are fanning them,

that

APPENDIX TO

60
that they
cefs
in

is

may

more

cool the

fpeedily,

their curl the longer.

repeated two or three times, or oftener, before the tea

order that

the moifture of the leaves

all

more completely preferved.

curl

and retain

and depofited

different kinds,

The Chinefe know nothing

The

cautioufly.

in the ftore for

ftores,

be thoroughly diffipated, and then

On every repetition the pan

more flowly and

operation performed

may

This prO'

put into the

is

tea

is

is

lefs heated,

and the

then feparated into the

domeftic ufe or exportation.

of imperial tea, flower of tea, and

many

other names,

Europe ferve to diftinguifh the goodnefs and the price of this fafhionable
commodity but, befides the common tea, they diffinguifli two other kinds, viz. the
vom and foumlo, which are referved for people of the firft quality, and thofe who
which

in

We have

are fick.

Green

which

tea,

Img-tea, and fays

and a

little

much

twilled.

Bohea
this

two principal kinds of tea

is

it is

it

is

March, while

in the

the

ticular province

much

the tea, as

bud
it

viz.

tea of the Chinefe, &c.

of the Chinefe.

is

calls

it

held very digeftive

and

its

F. le

leaves are

Compte makes

being gathered a month before

its

and hence the fmallnefs of the

Compte

F. le

It

is,

vovi-'tea, bou~tc?ia,

only differ from the green tea by

depth of the tindlure

gives a paliffi-green tindlure to water,

The fecond
which

Europe

gathered from the plant in April.

aftringent;

tea,

common

the

in

gives to the water. Others take

the foil being found to

make an

as the feafon of gathering

It

it.

it

it,

viz.

in

leaves, as w^ell as the

for the tea of

fome

par-

alteration in the properties of

is all

bought

at

Nankin, and

thence brought into Europe.

As

to the differences

in

colour and flavour peculiar to thefs two kinds, and to

their varieties.

Dr. Lettfom thinks that there

fome meafure,

adventitious, or produced

ligent perfons, who

affords very
in

little

by

is

reafon to fufpedl that they are, in

He

art.

has been informed by intel-

have refided fome time at Canton, that the tea about that

fmell while growing.

The fame

is

obferved of the tea-plants

England, and alfo of the dried fpeciroens from China.

as be obferves, to conclude

the fmell peculiar to each kind

or no fmell

As

till

made

from the plates of copper on which

is

no foundation

teas,

it is

when cured,
have

an efflorefcence acquired

fuppofed to be cured or dried, he fhows

for this fufpicion.

The

infufions of the fineft imperial

affufion of a volatile alkali, whicli

deleft the minuteft portion of copper contained in them, by turning the liquoi
fine

green colour of thefe teas, with as

green copperas

little

into hay.

and bloom teas undergo no change on the

The

now

however,

are not,

for our vegetable graffes, for inllance,

they are dried and

to the opinion that the green teaowes its verdure to

that there

We

from hence, that art alone conveys to

city

as this metallic fait would,

little

would
s

blue.

reafon, hath been attributed to

on its being diffolved

in water,

immediately

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

and convert the

ately a6l on the aftringent matter of the leaves,

when a chalybeate water has been employed

as happens

On

the whole Dr. Lettfom thinks

pared from vegetable fubftances,

And Neumann

green teas.

bohea

employed

is

in the

infufion into ink,

making of

tea.

not improbable, that forae green dye, prein the colouring of the leaves of the

fufpe6ts, that the

by art.

forts are introduced

it

6l

brown colour and

the flavour of the

Both the green and bohea teas have an agree-

able fmell, and a flightly-bitterifli fubaftringent tafte; withfolution of chalybeate

vitriol,

They give out

they llrike an inky blacknefs.

their fmell

and

tafte

both to

watery and fpirituous menftrua; to water, the green forts communicate their own
green tinQ;ure, and the bohea their brown ; but to a rectified

fine

The

deep green.

extracts, obtained

off the

the filtered tin5tures, are very confiderably afEringent, and not a

but the fpirituous moft

it is

in

tea,

and which

tinges the water of a pale red,

means hereof

menftrua from

little

ungrateful

fo.

Savary alfo fpeaks of a fort of red

tafte is earthy,

they both impart

fpirit

by gently drawing

or Tartar tea, called honan icha, which

is

faid to be extremely digeftive;

that the Tartars are faid to be able to feed on

and much the

leaft

agreeable of them

all

but

raw

flelh.

this is fcarcely

by
Its

known

England.

Tea

is

to

be chofen of the brilkeft fmell, and as whole as poffible ; and the

greateft care

is

to

be taken that

it

have not been expofed to the

air to

pall

and

evaporate.

The

drink, tea,

after the

is

made

fame manner as

and throughout the greateft part of the eaft,

Europe ; viz. by infufing the' leaves in boiling water,

in China,
in

and drinking the infufion hot. Indeed, among us, it is ufual to temper its bitternefs with fugar, but the Orientals ufe it without the addition of fugar or milk.

However, the Japanefe are

faid to prepare their liquor

a fomewhat different way,

by pulverizing the leaves, ftirring the powder in hot water, and drinking it as
we do coffee. From the account given by Du Halde, this method is not peculiar
to the Japanefe, but is alfo ufed in fome provinces of China.

viz.

The common people, who have a coarfer tea, boil it for fome time in water, and
make ufe of the liquor for common drink. Early in the morning, the kettle, filled
with water,

is

regularly

hung over the

into the kettle enclofed in a bag, or

the bottom of the

The

veffel, that

Bantsjaa tea only

is

there

ufed in

this

fire for this

purpofe, and the tea

by means of a balket of proper

may be no hindrance
manner, whofe

is

either put

fize preffed to

drawing off the water.

being more fixed, would

in

virtues,

not be fo fully extra6led by infufion.

The Chinefe are always taking tea, efpecially at meals

The moft moderate take
with they regale their friends.
:

No.

30.

0.

it is
it

the chief treat where-

at leaft thrice a-day

others

APPENDIX TO
more

others ten times, or

the Engliih and

With regard

Dutch

and yet

it is

computed the confumption of tea among

commercial hiftory of

to the

among the Orientals,

we may obferve that it was

as great in proportion as

is

tea,

firft

introduced into Europe by the Dutch Eaft-India company, very early in the
century, and that a quantity of

it

and Lord OlTory about the year Ibbb,

lington

Ihillings

But

a-pound.

it

laft

was brought over from Holland by Lord Arwhich time

at

was fold

it

for fixty

appears, that before this time, drinking of tea, even in

uncommon; for, in
made and fold in all

public coffee-houfes in this country, was not

16'b0,

fourpence per gallon was laid on the liquor

coffee-houfes.

The

prefent confumption of

it is

In 1785

immenfe.

it

a duty of

was computed that the

whole quantity of tea imported into Europe was about nineteen millions of pounds,
of which
its

conje6lured that twelve millions were confumed in Great Britain and.

it is

dependencies.

Sir

George Staunton informs

us, that the

annual public fales

of teas, by our Eaft-India Company, did not, in the beginning of the eighteenth'

much exceed

century,

fifty

thoufand pounds weight, independently of what

The companys annual

might be then perhaps clandeflinely imported.

approach to
lefs

thirty millions of

pounds

being an increafe of

fix

fales

little

now

hundred fold

in

than one hundred years, and anfwers to the rate of more than a pound each,

in the courfe of the year, for the individuals of all ranks, fexes,

effeft in

September 1784, the im-

portation of teas was 17,662,1151b. and, taking an average of the

of years from 1784 inclufive,

now about

40, 000,0001b. of

Afi to the properties of

are at leaf! as

Europeans

but

The

as here.

much

it

amounted

which

tea,

to

ages, through-

Taking an average of feven

out the Britifh dominions in Europe and America.

years before the commutation-a6l, which took

and

fame number

The importation

30,69 l,9711b.

is

ten millions are exported.

they are ftrangely controverted

the eaftern nations

poffelTed with an idea of their extraordinary virtues as the

it is,

reafon

perhaps, becaufe imagination bears as great a fway there

why

the gout and ftone are

unknown

in China, is afcribed

to the ufe of this plant.

Tea
it

is

extolled as the greateft of all medicines.

a6ls as a gentle aftringent

bowels, and
diuretic

is

good

againft naufeas, indigeftions,

and diaphoretic.

judicial to

and corroborative

The immoderate

Moderately and properly taken,

it

ufe of

many, who have been thereby thrown

ftrengthens the ftomach and

and diarrhoeas.
it,

It adts alfo as a

however, has been very pre-

into the diabetes.

And

thus the

infufions of tea-leaves have been extravagantly condemned by fome, and commended by others. From the contradi6lory opinions even of medical writers on
this fubjebi, the natural inference

feems to

be, that they polfels neither

nor beneficial powers in any very confiderable degree.

noxious

They feem, when

moderately

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

6S

moderately ufed, to be for the moft part innocent ; in feme cafes they feem to be

feme they are apparently

falutary; in

quench

more

thii ft

effedlually,

refrefli the fpirits in

heavinefs and fleepinefs, and

to countera6l the operation of inebriating liquors.

From
up the
and

their manifeft aftringency they

folids;

but

dropfies,

and

debilities of the

;,

in diforders

as in cold indolent habits, cachexies, chlorofis,

nervous fyftem.

Dr. Lettfom has particularly enquired into the nnedical

fome fmall pieces of beef immerfed

an antifeptic power, when applied

to the

qualities

boheaand green

tea; and, having obferved thatinfufions of

ferve fweet

it is

wherein corroborants are moft ferviceable that the immoderate

peculiarly hurtful

is

have been fuppofed to ftrengthen and brace

experience does not countenance, as

this effedt

in conftitutions

ufe of tea

in

and

effedls

tea contribute to pre-

dead animal fibre; and from their

and

cular conftitution,

He

it

that, if the

ufe of

it

its

ftrik-

From

ing a purple colour with fait of iron he deduces their aftringent quality.

volatile parts

of

them, he infers that they polTefs

other experiments he concludesj that the a^ivity of tea chiefly refides in

and

and

dilute thick juices,

and pafs off by the natural emundlories more freely,

than more watery fluids; they

feem

They

pfejudicial.

fragrant

be beneficial or injurious to any parti-

becomes fo principally by means of

this-

odorous fragrant prin-

ia the fafeft courfe to ufe the infufion of the

more

ordinary kinds of this plant, which abound lefs with this fragrant principle.

Or

ciple.

the tea

apprehends that

may

it

be boiled a few minutes in order to diftipate this volatile part, which

ftands charged as the caufe of thofe nervous affedlions that are faid to be produced,

By this

or aggravated, by the ufe of this liquor.

procefs

may likewife be

extradled

more copioufly the more fixed, bitter, and ftomachic, parts of this vegetable. Dr.
Lettfom, who feems to be thoroughly perfuaded of the occafionally-noxious effedts
of this volatile principle, in the finer teas efpecially, recommends this laft-mentioned

mode

of making tea, or the fubftitution of the extradt inftead of the leaves;

by the ufe of which, the nervous relaxing

in the ufual

manner, would be

in great

effedls,

which follow the drinking of tea

meafure avoided.

This extradi has been

imported hither from China, in the form of fmall cakes, not exceeding a quarter
of an ounce each in weight, ten grains of which might fuffice one perfon for breakfaft

but

it

might

eafiiy

be made here by fimple decodlion and evaporation, by

thofe w ho experience the noxious qualities of the volatile principles of this plant.
It

may

be farther obferved, that the effedt of drinking large quantities of any

vrarm aqueous liquor would be to enter fpeedily into the courfe of circulation, and
pafs off as fpeedily by urine or perfpiration, or the increafe of fome of the fecretions.

Its effedis

thereby enfeebling.

on the

folid parts of the conftitution

If this

warm aqueous

fluid

would be

were taken

relaxing,

and

in confiderable quantities,

1;

APPENDIX TO

64
titie?, its effects

would be proportionable

The

inftead of nutriment.
It

and

greater, if

ftill

not only poffeffed of a fedative quality, but alfo of a confiderable aftringency

is

which the relaxing power, afcribed to a mere aqueous

Isy

were fubftituted

it

has thefe two peculiarities.

infufion of tea, however,

fure corrected on this account.

It

is,

fluid,

is

perhaps, lefs injurious than

in

fome mea-

many

other in-

fufions of herbs, which, befides a very flight aromatic flavour, have very

if

little,

any, ftypticity, to prevent their relaxing debilitating effefts.

So

far, therefore, tea, if

not too

into confideration, likewife,

to

be owing to

Tea may be
fician

not drunk too hot, nor in too great quan-

perhaps ])referable to any other known vegetable infufion.

tities, is

appear

fine, if

its

known

And

if

we

enlivening energy, our attachment to

take

it

will

fuperiority in tafte and effefts to moft other vegetables.

its

confidered as a very powerful aphrodifiac

of confiderable eminence in his

and accordingly a phy-

imputes the amazing population

profeflTion,

of China, amongft other caufes, to the general ufe of

it.

Various ABs of Parliament on the SuhjeB of Tea

No tea is allowed to be imported, except from the place of its growth, on pain of forfeiture, 1 1 Geo. cap. 30.
.

and by 24 Geo. III. cap. 38. all the duties upon tea imported, fold, or ufed, in
this kingdom fhall ceafe from September 15, 1784, at which period the Eaft-India

company is difcharged from the payment of

afterwards there
grofs prices, for
lhall

all

be paid a duty of

tea delivered by the

be drawn back on exportation

lowed.

The company

quantity as
lb.

fliall

fliall

is

make

is

already al-

four fales in the year, and to

fell

fuch

7d. per

lb. for

per

lb. for finglo tea 3s. 3d.

Congo tea
lb.

and

2s. 5d.

for

be put up; and, at the four

fliall

fales after paffing the a6t, thefe prices fliall not

Is.

purchafers, which duty

to the

be fufficient to fupply the demand, provided an advance of Id. per

be bid upon the prices at which the teas

bohea tea

warehoufes; and

per cent, computed upon the

121. 10s.

company

in their

any place where the drawback

to

required to

on tea

duties

exceed the following

per

hyfon tea

the whole price at which the teas are put up

fliall

lb. for

4s.

foucbong tea
per

Id,

lb.

firfl;

rates, viz. for

Ss. 3d.

per

and afterwards

not exceed the prime

with

coll,

the freight and charges of importation, lawful intereft from the time of the arrival

of fuch tea in Great Britain, and the

common premium

of infurance.

In lieu of

the duties on tea, this adl fubftitutes an additional duty on windows.

No drawback fliall be allowed on tea exported,

duty on importation

fliall

Every perfon having

ler;

and

Geo. cap. 30. 15 Geo.

be allowed. 18 Gep. II. cap. 26. 17 Geo. III. cap. 27.

in his cuftody

felling without

except to Ireland, when the whole

more than

fix

pounds weight of tea

a licence, to be had for 12d.

II. cap.

1 1.

fliall forfeit 51.

Every perfon dealing

tobe painted or written over the doorof his

fliop, the words,

in tea,

is

a dea-

a month.

&c.

fliall

caufe

Dealer in Coffee, Tea,

Cocoa-

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

19 Geo. III. cap. 69.

Cocoa-nuts, or Chocolate, on pain of 2001.

ler,

buying of any perfon who has not

and any other perfon

By 20

lOl.

65

this infcription, incurs

And

any dea-

a forfeiture of

Geo. III. cap. 35. no perfon

001.

trade in

fliall

without a licenfe, at the price of 5s. under penalty or

coffee, tea, or chocolate,

More than fix pounds of tea cannot be removed without a permit. 10 Geo.
10.
The adulteration of tea is fubje6t to a penalty of lOOl. befides the for-

201.

cap.

feiture of the fame,

and

for every

pound of dyed leaves of tea,

51.

Geo. cap.

1 1

17 Geo. III. cap. 29-

30.

VERVAIN. Verbena.
THIS

herb

is

defcribed, with a plate, in the Herbal, p. 381; but, as

it

has

come into great repute in the cure of the fcrophula or kings evil, I cannot
make this Appendix complete without giving fome account of its ufe in that
lately

dreadful diforder.

Take a
long,

common

piece of frefh

and about

the fize

purple vervain-root, about three or four inches

of the patients

little finger, if

man

or

woman

to

young

children and infants, as large as their thumb, and fo in proportion, but not lefs;

becaufe

it

Ihrinks much, and contains but

off fmooth,

and as

little

All the fibres are to be cut

little virtue.

of the rind as poffible: to be worn always at the pit of the

ftomach, tied with a yard of white fatin ribbon, half an inch wide, round the neck

of

men and wmmen

of an ordinary ftature:

an

if taller,

children in proportion; but no other coloured ribbon

in

fome colours may be

The

prejudicial.

is

ell will

be wanting; and

proper; becaufe the dye

root mull never be wetted, not

frelh gathered, but wiped clean with a dry cloth.

It

covered with any thing, but always worn naked at the pit of the ftomach.
after wearing, the

muft be
it

ends of the fibres

will ftirink,

When

firft.

by the heat of the ftomach

frelh

necelfary to have a frelh one every fpring and

The

fores Ihould be walhed, night

be ufed

has been worn a few days

diftilled

fafter.

and green, when applied; and

fall.

and morning, with a

gar one-third, red port one-third, and

diftilled

it

then the ribbon muft be tied

Obferve the root be not decayed or rotten, but

it is

lotion

compofed of vine-

vervain-water one-third.

If the

vervain-water cannot be fo eafily procured, the infufion of the leaves

;

that

is,

boiling water poured

be ufed, when cold, in

its

Head.

The

If,

out and hurt and prick the ftomach, they

ftick

cut off with a ftiarp knife as at

when

muft not be fown up, or

upon

the herb, like tea,

may

and covered, may

fores, after walhing, Ihould

be dreffed with

an ointment made of green vervain-leaves mixed with a fourth part of houfeleekleaves, boiled in

No.

30,

pork lard

till

of a good confiftence, and the watery part wafted.

Jt

WURZEL.

APPENDIX TO
WURZEL MANGEL, or ROOT of SCARCITY.

66

THIS

root in

when fodder

and,

prefents, both in

dear,

is

Beta.

of fcarcity affords to mankind a falutary and agreeable food;

tinnre

cheap nourilhment for

cattle

which

fummer and

winter, a copious

and

in all feafons as well as in all lands, has

abundant and certain produce; and of which the culture

fimple, the harveft

is

an

and

prefervation eafy.

among turnips or carrots and, although in

it refembles beets, it is much fuperior to thefe plants in every
and feems to be a diftin6t genus, though commonly fet down as a variety

This root
its

is

not to be claffed either

exterior and feed

refpect,

of the Beta cycla, or white garden-beet.

numerous, fupplying

as

Its culture is fo eafy, its

does the want of other food, that I think

it

only to be adopted every-w'here, but to be preferred to

cattle are fed,

even

and clayey

ftiff

and grows

foil,

it

is

mer.

It

pares

it

it

its fibres,

would inwardly were

and

it
it

open and fallow

light lands.

If in

ftretches horizontally,

not obftrudled by the

not fenfible of the viciflltude of the feafons

the all-fpoiling vine-fretter does not bite

mildew' never affe6ts

cannot deepen

deferves not

foil.

This precious root

enemy

it

in moift

it

other roots with which

all

It is planted in

and efpecially

w'ell in all,

where

outwardly as

as large

compa^tnefs of the

ftru6tive

moft plentiful years.

in the

ground; and fucceeds

advantages fo

it

nor

is its

does not impoverifh the

foil

it;

it has no deno other infe6l hurts

:

vegetation ever impeded by the drieft fum-

which nouriflies

it;

on the contrary,

it

pre-

for receiving feeds of every other kind afterw'ards.

In the months of March and April, the land being well prepared, manured, and
made light, the largeft and foundeft fcarcity-root feeds muff be chofen, fteeped in
water for tw'enty-four hours, and then dried a

Lay

the line

upon the

teen inches, on each fide

which put one grain

days,

it

will fhoot,

As foon

ther.

field, as if

you were

make with your

little,

will

may

be handled.

to plant roots, at the diftance of nine-

finger holes one inch deep, in each of

which cover immediately with

onl}',

and every grain

have four,

five,

earth.

or

fix,

After ten or twelve

roots growing toge-

as thefe fmall roots ffiow their fourth leaf, the feebleft of

be carefully plucked

and the

off,

fineft

and moft vigorous root only

time the growth of the roots thus fele6led

little

fo that they

w'ill

them muff

left.

you avoid the tranfplanting

weeks fooner the roots grow finer and

After this manner, equally fimple and eafy,

fail.

of the roots, and obtain leaves four or

larger,

As

and deepen better

the roots naturally

five

and, in a light land,

grow a

little

much

labour

is

faved.

above the ground, you muft notice thofe

which do not fo appear, and bare them by removing the earth from around

Sow

In a

be aftoniffiing; not one will

the remains of your feed at random, that you

may

their top.

tranfplant the roots where

you

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

fame place, they mu ft be thinned and

but this is very troublefome, and the roots planted thus never grov/

you pleafe. If you choofe

dug round early

At

Experience has proved

fet.

the latter end of June, or in the beginning of July,

at

when

this difference.

the outer leaves are

gathering of them

is to be made, by breaking them

For that purpofe you lean your thumb on the infide,
You muft take care not to leave a ftump, and
the very bottom of the leaf.

about one foot long, the

round and clofe

and

to leave thefe in the

whofe feed has been

fo large as thofe

67

firft

to the root.

to gather only the leaves

which

incline to the ground, always fparing thofe of the

heart of the plant; they then are re-produced, and grow fafter.

Immediately

after the firft gathering, the

ground round the root

is

to

be again

dug with a mattock in which operation the furface of the ground muft be removed from the top of the roots with a wooden fpatula, fo that every root may be
;

uncovered about two inches, which then feems to be planted

A child may eafily do this.

or ten inches in diameter.

grub the weeds, and ufe well the fpatula.

tion, there is

moment

light lands

it

nothing more to be done, but to ufe the leaves at pleafure.

the roots begin to ftretch and

grow wonderfully.

weeds, which partake of their nutrition

the open

air,

when they may be

foil

fuffices to

Be

From

this

careful to deftroy

and give them the advantage of

own inconceivable vegetation.

may be gathered every twelfth or fifteenth

left to their

the leaves of thefe roots

day.

I have often remarked, that the leaves

and a

half,

and

bafon nine

After this fecond very important opera-

all grofs

In a good

In

in a kind of

to the breadth of

grow

to the length of nearly

one inch and a

half,

two inches

within twenty-four hours

and, at the fecond gathering, they are twenty-eight and thirty inches long, and

twenty or twenty-two broad.

rience prove the truth of

Oxen, other

cattle,

This account

may appear

field

till

flieep,

are fond of thefe leaves, with which they are eafily

them whole,

as they are brought

but for poultry they muft be minced and mixed with bran.

are alfo very good nouriftiment for horfes during the

fummer ;

th^y need only be minced with that kind of knife which I

an^ mixed with cut

expe-

it.

and

fed and fattened to the greateft advantage, eating

from the

exaggerated

ftraw.

Swine alfo eat them very

fiiall

They

for this purpofe

hereafter defcribe,

heartily.

The leaves of fcarcity-root afford alfo a wholefome and pleafant food for man.
The ftalks of them are eaten like thofe of beets, but have not the fame earthy tafte.
They may be prepared in different manners: when dreffed like fpinage, many prefer
them

to

it.

By

the continual fucceffion of their produdlion, from fpring to the

month of November, they are very ufeful to farmers, and all others who maintain
a great number of fervants. In winter-time the roots are eaten, dreffed alfo different
ways they are wholefome, of an agreeable tafte, much fuperior to the red-beet, and
;

APPENDIX TO
The

at leaft equal to the turnip.

leaves produced by the roots

when preferved

in

a cellar, during the winter, are very foft and delicate.

The approach

of fevere frofts fhows the time for getting-in the roots.

cious harveft muft be made in

fine weather,

though

it

be a few days fooner than

otherwife neceflfary, as the prefervation of the roots depends very

The

being houfed dry.

pofed to the

air

and fun

much on

roots muft be plucked early in the morning,

may

and

their

left

ex-

who plucks them, and

children go behind the perfon

cut the leaves to fthe heart; an operation which

This pre-

as well be performed one or

In the evening the roots muft be colledled together,

more days before

the harveft.

and,

dried, lodged in a place well fecured againft fevere frofts. If there

is

if fufficiently

nothing to be apprehended from

may be

ing

expofed
ikin

is

the

left in

field,

rain, thofe

which have been plucked in the even-

and carried home next day.

It

two or three days, when the weather

to the air for

very thin, they muft be handled foftly,

is

beft to leave

As

wdll permit.

and great care taken not

them
their

to bruife

them, which would be prejudicial to their prefervation.

The

harveft-time

is

precifely that wherein the roots proper for bearing feed fhould

be fixed upon; and thofe are the beft for the purpofe which have attained only to a

middle

fize,

are fmooth and even, rofy on the outfide, and white or marbled white-

Such

and-red within.
for cultivation.

is

the defcription of the roots which ought to be preferved

Thofe which are

entirely red or entirely white, are either roots

degenerated, or the real red-beets, whole feeds have not been carefully diftinguiftied

and

by the fower.

froft,

It

is

neceftary to feparate, and llielter from

the roots which are defigned for feed.

In the beginning of April, thofe roots which have been

be planted

grow

in the

open

field,

five or fix feet high,

a foot and a half

kind of

moifture

all

trellis,

to

in the

fet apart for feed

As

three feet diftant from each other.

muft

their Items

they muft be kept up with props feven feet long, placed

ground, with fmall rods between them, in order to form a

which the Items are

tied, as

they grow up, to prevent their being

broken by the wind.

The

feed ordinarily ripens towards the latter end of Odtober

thered immediately after the

firft

hoar-frofts.

The

againft a wall or palifade, if the weather permits

bundles, and hung

feed

is

up

in

a Iheltered airy place,

till

it

muft be ga-

Items are then cut, and placed

if not,

they are tied in fmall

At

they are quite dry.

laft the

taken and preferved in bags, like others of the kitchen-garden.

The feed

of the fcarcity-root degenerates, like

every year, or every two years.

Care muft be taken,

that feed which has been

grown

wluch has been grown

a ftrong and compadl

in

all others, if the foil is

in

therefore, to

a light or fandy
foil.

foil

and

fow

not changed
in

ftiff foil

in light foil, that

Thus thofe who

cultivate

fuch

CULPEPER^s BRITISH HERBAL.

may

fuch or fueh lands

be of great fervice to one another by making annual ex-

This feed preferves

changes.

69

all its qualities for

three or four years.

If the quantity of the roots you intend to preferve

is

too great to be lodged in

the houfe, fome days before they are pulled pits fhould be dug in the

other place that

fiieltered

is

thefe pits has been

left to

from water during the winter.

field, or. any

After the infide of

dry for eight or ten days, their bottom and fides mull be

covered with a fmall quantity of ftraw, and the roots afterwards be placed regularly

one by one, taking care not tobruifethemy and to clean them well from the particles
of their natural

foil.

be covered three

feet

Then let

the upper roots be over-laid with ftraw, which

deep with the earth dug from the

and

pit;

hard beaten, and difpofed in a floping manner, that the water

The dimenfions
ground, or to

its

this earth

may

is

to

rnuftbe

eafily flow off.

of the pits ought to be proportioned either to the rifing of the

They may be from two

declivity.

Their

to three feet deep.

length depends on the quantity of roots which are to be placed in them, but their

breadth

is

commonly

Thefe roots

three feet and a half.

pofleffing the valuable quality of being capable of prefervation

till

month of June without the leaft alteration, it will not be amifs to multiply the
pits, and to make one for each month, beginning in March, when the winter-pro-

the

vifion

The

ordinarily over.

is

reafon for this advice to multiply the pits

caufe, if the roots, after having been deprived of the a6lion of the
to

it

The

anew, they do not preferve their freftmefs long.

air,

is,

be-

are expofed

multiplying of the pits

will prevent this inconvenience.

Every
roots

pit abfolutely requires

may

an air-hole, through which the fermentation of the

evaporate; for without this precaution

ferve under the earth will rot.

ner

Before any thing

is

The

air-hole

put into the

pit,

the roots you intend to pre-

all

muft be made

a pole

inches in diameter, muft be planted in the middle of

roots,

and difpofe them

in

a floping dire^lion.

in the following

it;

When the

then place therein the

pit is

fulli,

are half a foot above the level of the ground in the middle part,

hay about an inch thick round the

that

is

When

pole, taking care not to bind

done, throw on the earth, and

the pit

is

difpofe and beat

quite covered, take out the pole

it

it

and the roots

tvvift

cattle of every kind

may

as before-mentioned.

on

iron,,

eat the roots, they

one foot long and two inches broad, bent

No, 30.

will pafs.

the approach

flat ftone.

muft be cut or minced, after

they have been waflied and cleaned; which. is done with a kind of knife,

of

After

the hay will remain in the hole,

After fome days, the hole muft be covered with a pan-tile, and,

That

a rope of

too hard.

through which the exhalation arifing from the fermentation of the roots

of fevere cold, Ihut quite clofe with a

mantwe

or feven feet long, and

fix

like

an

S, to the

i.

e.

a blade

middle of which
IS

APPENDIX TO

TO
is

foldered a focket about fix inches long.

about three feet

dle,

fix

In

With

inches long.

wooden han-

this focket is fixed a

this

knife,

which

at

ft

fii

intended for printing the letter S, the roots are minced as equally as
operation

man

in

performed

is

one hour

is

It will be beft to

The

roots, being

prepared as above, may, without being mixed with any other

and efpecially

but, if

it is

v.

method during the three or four

meant

are

Dry

to be fattened.

It

is

much

with fo

may be mixed
cattle,

that ufed in

fort with

much

which

Thofe

&c. are bed for this ufe.

fuccefs and advantage, will fave

with

even proper to obferve

weeks, with refpedt to lean

firft

trefoil, faintfoin,

ho have a hay-knife for cutting dry fodder, of the fame

Germany

which are to be

to thofe

neceffary to be fparing of the roots, they

one-fourth part or more of hay and minced ftraw.

that

fingle

mince them as fmall as a walnut.

food, be given to horned cattle and flieep,

fattened

able to mince a quantity of roots fufficient to feed twelve oxen

Before the roots are put into the trough, they mufl be cut in large

a whole day.
pieces.

This

eafily.

a bucket or trough ufed for that purpofe only.

in

feems

fight

time,

and confume

Icfs of their provifion.

ilorfes

may be

during the winter, with the fcarcity-roots, by adding to them

fed,

one half of hay and draw minced together, which

vigorous.

But

in

mud, from time

many

make them

healthy,

fat,

and

the feafon of hard and conftant labour, a fmall quantity of oats

to time,

be added.

This

w'here the fcarcity-roots ferve

horfes are well

will

is

the pradtice in thofe provinces of Ger-

almod indead of meadows, and

of which the

knowm and edeemed.

Swine eat thefe roots very

well,

raw, minced, and mixed in their greafy or milky

They become as fat as thofe which are fed with potatoes, which require to
be boiled. By the ufe of this root, the expenfe of wood and coals, as w'ell as the

drink.

trouble of boiling, &c.

is

faved.

Befides the advantages which have been already enumerated, the fcarcity-roots

amongd which, in particular, is the certainty

barved, whatever may be the intemperature of the feafons.
many

afford

others;

If the culture of this root

of the natural or

which

will, therefore,

ty of hay to

faved

artificial

be fold,

And, as

is

adopted,

it

will

meadows be

How

fer

it

all

great, then, will be the quanti-

during the winter, more than tw'o-thirds of

it

w ill be

the roots facilitate the feeding cattle in the dables for the w'hole

year, the quantity of dung, fo neceffary to agriculture,

this root lhall

to let the grafs

eaten by cattle during the fummer;

be converted into hay.

fince,

no more be neceffary

of an abundant

be well known to the farmers, there

is

will

be increafed.

no doubt but they

When

will pre-

to all other fodder of the like kind.

TABLES

1 1

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

71

TABLES and INSTRUCTIONS for GATHERING HERBS and PLANTS

in the

PLANETARY HOUR.
TABLE

To

Beginning and

find the

End

No.

I.

of the Planetary

Hour by Day

for ever.
Place

Place

Hours from

of the

Sun-rife to

Hours from

Noon.

N oon to

of the

Sun-fet.

'

10
1
12
I
2
6
8
4
7
9
3
5
H. M. SignD
SignD H. M, H. M. H.
H. M. H. M. H. M. H. H. M. H. M. H. M. H. M. H.
0 1^30
06
02
o6 0 7 08 09
03
0 10 0 1 1
0 12 I
04 05
6
I
I
2
2
27
4
5
3 5 54 ^ 55 7.56 8 57 9 58 10 59
3
1
2
6
6
24
13
51
56
47
58
4
47
54
9
0
16
21
41
6
10
19
13
51
44
47
54
9
57
21
18
12
8
48
13
17
25
56
52
43
35
4
39

28

33

22

28

39
35

16
10

23

31

38

j
0 4 57
n
51
J

13

27
22

18

14

58
52
48

10

35
32
29
26
23
20

15
18
21

24
27

45

40
34

12

15
18

28

21

18
12

24
27
0

23

3 3 59
6
55
51

42 6 59
55
39
52
35
^
48
3
27
45
42
23
19

16

13
10

9
12

48

15
18

45
43

21

41

24
27
30

40

3
%

39
38

44
'

41

17
14
12
9
6

4
2

39
37 7 58
56
34
32
54
30
53
52
29
27
27
25

49
47
45
43

55
54
53
52

41

51

10

19

39

50
49
48
47
46
45

12

23
25
27
29
31
32

44
43
42
41
41

40
39
39
38
38

5
6
7
8

13
13
14
15
16

17
18

19

20
20
21

22
22

50

37
37
37

5 ^^

3^

23
23
23
23
24

49

36

24

13
15
17

34
36
37
39
40
42
43
44
45
46
46
47
47
47

16

21

27

31

^9

25
29

32
37
42

38

22
25
29
32

35
38

40
43
46 5
49

'

54
56

12

5
6
8

10
10
I
1

5^
33
48
38
57
42
53 7 3
46
58
9
50 6 4
15
20
53
7
12
26
57

51

59

44

15
12

15
18

21

23
26
28

30
33
32
33
34
35

17
21

27
24
21

iS

31

15
12

37

25
30

33
38
4^
44
48
50

41

48
52
57
8

5
9

12
15

9
6
n
SI

27
24
21
18
15
12

53
54
56

17
19

57

20

9
6

5^

58

22 25 0

TABLE

6
1

APPENDIX TO

72

TABLE
To

find the

Place
of the

No.

II.

Beginning and End of the Planetary Hour by Day

for ever.
Place

Hours from Sun-rife

Hours from Noon

Noon.

to

of the

to Sun-fet.

SignD H.
O6

13
19
25

12
15
18
21

24
27
07
3

H.

20
26

10

21

17
21

13

25

^9

13

5
6

29
33
38
42
46
50
53
57

22

15

24

53
58
3

17

19
21

51

10

35
38

23

25

12

27
29

13

14

50
49
48
47
46

3^

15

45

32
34

16

44
44
43

25
29
32

21

21

25

51

24
27

48
52

30
33

57

38

15
18

54
56
59

41

21 10

44

23
26
28
30

18

0
8
6

12
15
18

5
9
12

21

17
19

24

20

27

21

3c

22

48
50
53
54
56
57
58
58

36

17
18

37
39
40

20
20

41

21

42
44
45
45
46

22
22
23
23
23
23
23

6
8

31

33
33

10

34
3

*''

H.M.

53
52

17 9

12

12
M. H. M. H.M. H. M. SignD
0 3
0 )^ 3
I
02
05
04
0 6
27
0 59 I 58 2 57 3 56 4 55 5 54
24
51
58 ' 56
49
54
47
^
21
41
^
54
44
5
47
57
'^
18
5*6
48
35
43
39
5
28
15
44
33
49
55
39
21
12
28
41
54
47
35

10
1
1

47
47
47

19

24

7
8

32
37
42

I f

40
43
46
49

12

13

48

15 8

57

0 10 0

30
37
42

09
4

5
1

32
38
44
50
3

6
H.
0 12

4
5
M. H. M. H.M. H.M. H. M.

0 7
6

o.

ni

H.

I
I

M.

10

16

18

10

39
37
35

29
26

27
23
18
14

51

23

10 3 58

45

33

20

53

40

31

'7

48

29
28
26

14 2 59
12
55

43

34
28
22

35
31

23

21

40

20

39
39
38
38

18
17
16
15

14
14
I

23

38

41
41

37
37
37
37
36

45
43
41

9
6

H.

24

13
13

13

57
56

54
53
51
5

50
50
49

52
48
45
42
39
36

34
32
30
28
27

13

3
8 4 57 :

39
35

30
27
23

'

27
24
21
18
15
I

18

9
6

L3
8
3

/VW

19 3 59

27

15

24

13

55
51

10

48

18

45

15

43

41

(,

40

27
26

25

2I

21

<

39
38 yy 0

TABLE

61

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

TABLE
To

find the Planetary

Hours

No.

III.

Day

for every

rs

in the

Week, beginning

at

Sun-riling.

Sunday.

Monday, Tuefday, Wednefd. Thurfday.

H Planets L

Planets

Planets

Friday.

L Planets H Planets

Planets

Saturday.

Planets

7i

(3

9
5
D

c?

3)

4
5

3>

7
8

7^

7
8

3)

7
8

7
8

9
10

3)

c?

JO

10

3)

7i

9
5

1 1

12

3)

(3

9
5

3)

7
8

9
?

9
10

3)

X
6

10

9
10
1

10

12

12

3)

12

12

12

13

A3

13

13

3)

^3

C?

13

14

9
5

14

14

14

3)

15

3)

15

c?

15

14
15

9
5

7i

15

15

13
14
15

9
5

16

16

16

3)

16

16

7^

16

17
18

17

17

18,

'7
18

c?

7i

17
18

3)

17
18

18

iS

20

17

19

19

3)

19

19

9
5

20

20

20

0.

20

3)

21

21

21

21

22

3)

22

9
5

23
24

22
23
24

3)

No. 30

b
7^

22
23
24

<S

0
9

9
9

^9
20

7^

19

C?

20

9
5

21

21

3)

c?

9
5

22

23

23
24

7i

24

22
23
24

3)

12

19

21

22
23
24

To

APPENDIX TO

74

To find what Planet rules any Hour of

LET
both

in

Day

the

be obferved, aftrological hours are regulated by the motion of the fun

it

fummer and

winter

and the fpace of time which

So alfo the fpace of time from;

hours before noon, the reft the hours after noon.

fun-rife

till

is

contained from fun-

is

twelve equal parts, whereof the one half contains the

rife to fun-fet is divided into

fun-fet

by the Table No. III.

divided into twelve parts; thefe hours are unequal, conftft-

ing of more or lefs than fixty minutes, as the fun recedes from
be feen by example by the foregoing Table.

The

or

as will

:,

feven planets are attributed by the ancients to preftde over the feven days

of the week, and each of them rules over the

The

by the Table.

and fo on

the

and the fame

The

y'

firft

is

firft

planetary hour of

to be

hour of each day, as

firft

planetary hour of Sunday

Monday

is

Moon,

the

is

may

the Sun, the fecond

the fecond

be

feeii;

is

Venus,

is

Saturn;

obferved of the other days.

ufe of thefe Tables will appear by bare infpeclion, as they require no fort

of calculation, but a perfon of the meaneft capacity will be able to underftand

The

them.

reafon of their being placed in this manner, in the form of Tables,

becaufe no Herbals which fpeak of the force and power of planetary

influx,

is,,

and

the neceffity of gathering herbs for medical ufe under the planet which principally

down any

governs them, have laid

rule

whereby any herbarift may know when

thofs planetary hours are, and confequently could not

know

the

This deficiency has not only occafioned much uneafinefs

them.

many medical gentlemen, but

has

much

deemed incurable from not making ufe of

abfolutely neceffary for the perfedlion of fome cures.
Thefe Tables are fo calculated,

when man, who

times,

is

as

time to gather

in the

minds of

prevented the progrefs of cures, and

diforders have been

is

fit

by bare infpedlion

endowed with a

the precifion which

to point out thofe beautiful

rational foul derived

from the centre,

is

the circumference of this outward nature, fo to hit

able,

by expanding

upon

the hour, not only in gathering of herbs, roots, &c. but to adminifter

itfelf into

many

them

in

a time correfponding thereunto, and thereby force from the patient the offending

matter that robs him of the moft invaluable bleffing of health.

not this as a treatife, but as a fmall part of the
pafs over
things,

all

obfervatious on the ebb and flow of

and only

fay,

that

by

truth needs not

demonftrate

itfelf

will

prove to the

affii6led patient, or to the

TRUTH

and

trial

all

to Phyfic, I

ftiall

fublunary virtues

many words

fo thefe Tables,

will

offspring of

Key

But, as I intend

and the

to
reft

therefore
in terrene

recommend
of this

it,

little

but

Key,

compaffionate phyfician, the legitimate

EXPERIENCE.

EXAM-

CULPEPERS BRITISH HERBAL.

EXAMPLE
To
and

find

I.

hour on Sunday, the 22d of April, 17P2,

find the planetary

oclock in the morning.

75

examine

on that day at noon he

degree I enter the Table

No.

I.

in the

is in

Ephemeris what degree the Sun

three degrees of the fign Taurus

and feek three degrees of 0

would

if

I look

at forty nine

finifli

to the former column,

and

nutes paft nine oclock

and

it

hour.

on the top of the Table, that the

minutes pafl ten oclock

find the fifth planetary

To know what
down

proved

it

firft

49m.

planetary hour

fifth

Now

morning.

I refer

Oh.
it

30m.

in the

be the

to

fifth

No.

morning,
planetary
III. and,

column under the word Sunday, find the fifth

if it had been on a Monday, the fifth

planetary hour on that day to be Saturn

planetary hour would have been the Sun; on a Tuefday,

Moon; on

I find lOh.

planet ruled this hour, I enter the Table

the planets in the

column,

hour began at tbirty-feven mi-

and, as the time I entered was

being between 9h. 37m. and lOh, 49m.

counting

in the

is in,

with this

in the firft

and, by running even in the columns, in the feventh column

which fiiows me,

at half-paft ten

it

would have been the

a Wednefday, Mars; and fo on; by which rule

may

be found the

planetary hour for any day of the week.

EXAMPLE
We

will

II.

fuppofe that we want to find the hour of Venus on Saturday, the 19th

of Januarj^, 1795.

I look

into the Ephemeris,

and find the Sun

at

noon on that

Table marked No. III. and, in the column of the

planetary hours under Saturday, I find the fifth hour is under Venus; now, as the
Sun is in 0 deg. of Aquaries, I enter the Table No. II. in the right-hand column
day

is

in deg.

with 0 ^, and

Venus

0 ^.

I enter the

in the ninth

column on the

hand

left

began twenty minutes paft eleven oclock,

find the planetary

and continued

till

hour of

noon on that

day.

Such was the mode of pra6lice, when nature only was confulted, and
tion really to

make

theinten'*.

a cure, without a view to gain: then difeafe was but

little

known, and people lived to a good old age.

CONTENTS:

76

CONTENTS
OEruvian

or Jefuits

Bark

9
12

..

Canella Alba

*3

H
20

CofFee-T ree
Citrus, or Forbidden-Fruit

Tree

Marfh-Mallow of Surinam
Mandrake
=*

Senfitive Plant

Myriftica, or Nutmeg-Tree
Flowering Pavonis

Pimento, or Jamaica Pepper Tree

Plantain-Tree

True Turkey Rhubarb

Indian Rocu

Tea-T ree
Vervain

Wurzel Mangel,

or

Root of Scarcity

Tables and Directions for gathering Herbs 7

and Plants in the Planetary Hour
Explanation of the Tables

40

GENERAL DIRECTIONS
LET

Speedwell
Starry Anifeed
Sugar Maple Tree

22
24
25
27
27
34

Garcinia

Manchineel-Tree

Mimofa, or

Cafhew-Nut Tree

APPENDIX.

OF the

page

Bread-Fruit Tree

to the

40
44
49
53

54
54
57
5*
65
66
7*T
y

74

BINDER.

APPENDIX

the Plates belonging to the

be placed as nearly oppofite to the defcription of
each plant as circumllances will allow; obferving never to place two cuts together, but to turn
over the next leaf, fo as to have one leaf of letter-prefs between them.

DIRECTIONS
Let the
will

APPENDIX

complete the

add the

KEY

to

firfl-

KEY and CULPEPER

FOR binding the

be placed

at the

Volume; and

PHYSIC,

whole Subjedl complete.

&c. which

To be

End of CULPEPERs BRITISH

End of the MEDICAL PART

at the

together.

HERBAL, which
of CULPEPER,

them into two uniform Volumes, and make the

Dr. SIBLYs
PHYSICIAN.

will divide

lettered,

FAMILY

DIRECTIONS for binding Dr. Siblys Works in FOUR VOLUMES.

LET the Sixty Numbers of the Astrology be divided into two Volumes; and the above two
volumes added to them, making four in the whole; to be double-lettered, in the following Order,
The WORKS of Dr. SIBLY, to be the general Title of each Volume; then under
viz.
to be added, DOCTRINE of the STARS.
Under Vol.
CALCULATION of
Vol. I.
II.

is

NATIVITIES. Under Vol. III. BRITISH HERBAL.

Under Vol. IV.

FAMILY PHY-

SICIAN.
Let the Portrait of Dr. Siblybe placed at the beginning of the firfl: Vol. The Frontifpiece of
And the
the Occult Sciences to front the fecond Vol. The Portrait of Culpeper the third Vol.
Frontifpiece of the Key, the fourth Vol.
general Title for each Volume of Dr. Siblys Works, to be placed before the Frontifpieces,

may

be had

by applying

gratis

by

thofe

who have taken the whole

in

Numbers, and want to bind them uniform,

at the publifhers.

END

W.

OF THE

Lewis, Printer,

St.

APPENDIX.

johns-s^uare, Londen.

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