THough I must look on your request, to have my thoughts of the cause of the greater frequency of Apoplexies these late years, than formerly, as only an instance of your modesty, in giving a deference to the judgment of o­thers, when, I doubt not, your own notions, if you please to draw them forth, can better satisfy both your self, and all men else, then any I can produce; yet that I may not be wanting to the friendship I have so long in reality professed for you, [Page 2] I shall for once venture to present them to you, however unaccurate; which, being addressed to a friend, may expect to be candidly inter­preted, although they bring not the satisfaction you expect.

'Tis true; I have heard the [...] questioned; it being alledged that this distemper might, amongst the vulgar, be ranked under some other classe, in regard 'tis not to be pre­sumed they should know to assigne the right names to diseases; till the fate of a Great Prince, our late most gracious Soveraigne, commonly re­ported to have dyed of it, might give a general notion of the name, as well as imprint apprehensions of the danger. And indeed it may be suggested, that such an accident, happening to so great a person, may make stronger impressions on mens minds, than when it falls on those [Page 3] who make a lesser figure, and thence make them take notice of what they would not otherwise have heeded. Besides that the report must, on that account, be the more diffu­sive; and so being conveighed a­mongst many of all tempers, must meet with some of very apprehen­sive ones, whose fears will easily be propagated to others; it being na­tural to all men to reflect upon what they think carries danger, (especi­ally when 'tis strongly and frequent­ly inculcated) in order to prevent it, if not to have their spirits de­pressed by it, from whence perhaps such may be more disposed to re­ceive the Idea's (to speak in the language of Helmont) of such a disease.

But if we duly consider it, we may find, that it hath been both known by Name, and dreaded by [Page 4] those of all Ages. For besides that all practical Authors (from whom the vulgar must be presumed to have first received it) treat of it ex professo by that Name, the very sur­prize must necessarily excite a no­tion of it in all, it being so very different in its symptoms and fata­lity from all other distempers. So that the many accounts continually brought of great persons, as well as those of a lower rank, that have been snatched away by it, are not to be looked upon as only the true no­tion of it retrived, which was be­fore mistaken, but a real increase of it now; and may too much justi­fy the melancholy apprehensions of the Gentlemen you spoke off, who desire an information concerning it.

To endeavour then to give a sa­tisfactory answer to your question, 'twil be requisite I consider, though [Page 5] briefly, the particular Seat, Nature, and immediate Causes of the distem­per, as also the Disposition of the Part, where 'tis seated, to be affe­cted. And though this disquisition have been so often and learnedly made by many Authors, yet most of them differing from others in some particulars, it may hope your more favourable interpretation, if I do the like from any of them who may perhaps be your favourites, when by their example I shew why I do it: since as the notions of all cannot be reconciled, so no man is obliged to think precisely with any other, be his reputation ever so great.

I propose not to my selfe to de­liver all their opinions (which your own reading supplys you with bet­ter than I can) much less solemnly to refute them. But I must neces­sarily [Page 6] touch on some particulars in a few of them, in order to make out my own thoughts.

To the First, 'Tis agreed by the generality of Physitians that the Brain is the seate of the Apoplexy; only Helmont places it in the Prae­cordia (as most explicitely, De Li­thiasi, Cap. 9. §. 52, & 70.) whose offence against the Schooles, and con­tempt of Anatomy (though other­wise he must be owned to be a man of great parts and learning) might possibly prompt him, in opposition to the Antients and their followers, to take up with some opinion, that presented it self with any colour, that might contradict theirs, rather than agree with them even in the most obvious and convictive ones, though ever so clearly demonstrable too upon dissection. For indeed, besides Anatomical autopsy, which [Page 7] is too clear to be contradicted, all the Symptoms argue it to be seated in the Braine. For even in the most sodain seysure, when the per­sons affected have not time allowed them to declare their perceptions, 'tis evident that the stroke is im­pressed on the animal faculty in ge­neral, by the immediate cessation of its functions, the vital (so called) continuing, for the most part, en­tire for some time; which must ar­gue the cause to reside about the ori­ginal of it, the Brain, since from thence only that faileur can so ge­nerally be effected. But when it begins with less violence, so that there is any interval betwixt its in­vasion, and the total defection of the animal functions, they generally complain of, either a vertigo, or a great oppression and paine in the head; upon which presently follow [Page 8] stupidness, somnolency, dazling of the eyes, a relaxation of all parts of the body, and the like: all which are so evidently deducible from the consideration of the nerves affected at their original, that twere time lost farther to prove it.

But since 'tis not satisfactory e­nough to assert in general, that the Braine (which is an accurately or­ganized part, in which there is a great variety of cels and vessels, and a considerable difformity of parts one from another) is the seate of this distemper, without determining whether the whole, or any parti­cular region, or part, of it be espe­cially affected, Authors have em­ployed themselves in this search.

The most celebrated opinion, and which most have followed till this Age, was that of Galen, who assigned the Ventricles for the particular [Page 9] Seate, and supposed a viscous mat­ter got into them to be the cause of it. This opinion, though it might give some account of the intercep­tion of the animal spirits, which (according to the antient doctrine are to actuate the body by being di­stributed along the nerves, on the account of the compression these must so undergo near their original, which distribution failing, all ani­mal motion, in the parts influenced by the nerves which labour under this compression, must cease; yet (with all deference to the memory of the great Author, as well as to the abbettors of it) I conceive, may rather be presumed to suggest a rea­son of a Palsey, than Apoplexy, and can hardly be made out to be the cause of so sodaine a seisure; since such a congestion must be slow, and so the effect generally must come [Page 10] gradually: whereas from a perfect state of health the Apoplexy on a sodaine (as the name imports) or­dinarily seizes. Besides though the passages of the spinal marrow, and nerves thence arising be thus closed (rather than obstructed; an obstru­ction being generally, I conceive, in the common acception of the word, understood to be from some matter within their tracts, and not pro­perly from it externally compres­sing them) whereby the spirits can­not readily descend into them; yet their motion in the Brain may pos­sibly for some time be free enough; and consequently the Soules exer­cise may be then entire for a while, if not indeed exalted from the con­finement those have to the Brain in that case: and 'tis observed many times that, in a Hydrocephalus, In­tellection, and other animal facul­ties [Page 11] fail only gradually, though the Ventricles have been found upon dissection to have been much filled; which they must have been long time a doing. Withal, what is once got into the Ventricles has no far­ther communication with the ani­mal spirits, being disterminated from the Brain by the interposition of the membranes. But Galen seems not very consistent to himself in this notion, as making the Brain it self (De loc. affectis lib. 3. cap. 10.) to be the seate of it, without there mentioning the Ventricles, whereas before (cap. 7. as well as in other places) he only seated it in these, exclusively to the substance of the Brain.

But that Hypothesis is now an­tiquated, and the substance of the Brain, generally owned to be the seate of it, Anatomical observations [Page 12] having, as I said, made it apparent it must be seated there. And tho several Authors have diversly expli­cated it, yet there are two opinions particularly which are now adayes most celebrated, and perhaps de­serve to be so, both on their own account, as being each of them ve­ry specious, though somwhat diffe­rent from each other, as also of their Authors, the famous Wepfer and Willis. These indeed seem to agree in their notion of the particular seate of it, viz. both of them as­signing the Medullar substance of the Brain and Cerebellum for it. But they differ here in that the for­mer considers the whole compage of them both under that name, in contradistinction only to the Ven­tricles; the now received distinction into Cortical and Medullar (more properly so called) having not been [Page 13] then thought on; and therefore he seems to suppose any part of the substance may be the seate: where­as the latter supposes it to be in the corpus callosum, or true Me­dullar part according to that distin­ction; but withal he asserts that the morbifick matter is transmitted to it through the Ambitus or Cor­tical; the Arteries (which are the conduits for conveighing it, what­soever it be, either immediately, or mediately) passing all through it. But they differ in their explication of the mode of production. For Wepfer supposes that the Brain is either denied a sufficient afflux of bloud, of which he assignes several causes; or if it have that, yet that the distribution of the spirits into the nerves is hindred either by an obstruction of them at their origi­nals, or their compression. But Wil­lis [Page 14] doubts whether the former of these, the want of a supply of bloud, can have place here, since 'tis known there are every where about the Brain (as well as in other parts of the body) mutual Inosculations of the arteries, on the account of which 'tis not to be supposed that all the branches of the Carotides and Vertebral can on a sodain be obstructed, but that if some happen to be so, yet all parts of the Brain must receive the bloud quickly e­nough from those which are free, by means of these Anastomoses, and so the nerves may be readily enough supplyed; or if these arteries chance to be totally obstructed, he thinks the consequent distemper will not be properly an Apoplexy, but a Li­pothymy, or Hysterical affect. From which consideration he deduces, that what makes an Apoplexy must [Page 15] be somthing in the Brain it self, that causes either a solution of con­tinuity in it, or insinuates it self into the Meditullium Cerebri, or original of the nerves, and there ei­ther obstructs the passage of the spi­rits into them, or else on the ac­count of some narcotick, or other disagreeable quality, dissipates or depresses them. Both these notions may with much greater advantage be had from the learned Authors, than a short abstract; for which too, under this head, I should apologize, this relating to the Cause, but that withal it conduces to determine the Seate.

But though Dr. Willis have so spe­ciously urged against that tenent, of the non-admission of bloud to the Brain, to produce an Apoplexy, yet I suppose that (with all deference to his great judgment) his opinion, [Page 16] that the proper Medullar part of it is the only, or at least most frequent, seate of it, is somwhat too contra­cted, not to say precarious; and that on the other side, though an Apoplexy may perhaps somtimes be­gin in the corpus callosum, yet ra­ther and much more frequently, in the Cortical than there, or amongst the nerves at their original. For though 'tis probable the Meditul­lium cerebri is the place where the soule principally acts, and from whence she dispences her influence to the rest of the body, and there­fore she cannot be said to be distur­bed in her actings, and so a distem­per be introduced, till that part be disaffected; yet I conceive that part is properly to be reckoned the Seate of a distemper, where the Cause that influentially occasions the defection of natures due actings, first fixes it [Page 17] self: otherwise I see no reason but that Wepfers denegation of spirits, which Willis oppugnes, might be sufficient both to make, and deno­minate, an Apoplexy. And indeed that the Cortical is most apt to re­ceive the morbisick matter, seems obvious from hence, that in it the arteries are most numerous, and it most lax and yielding; so that when from any occasion the bloud is apt to get out of, or, at least distend, its vessels, or indeed but to exude out of them, 'tis probable this may be done more easily here, than in the corpus callosum. 'Tis true, it must be granted that the arteries are disseminated through all parts of it, even to the inmost; otherwise they could neither receive due heat nor nourishment (if at least nou­rishment come immediately from the bloud to any parts but the roots [Page 18] of the Nerval tree, numerously di­spersed through the cortex) which vessels though penetrating ever so deep, if they chance either to open, be broken, or become relaxed, where­by they may let go some of the substances they carry (after the manner by and by to be alledged) 'tis obvious must soon supply the matter of a considerable inundation (if I may so call it) of the bloud, or those substances of it which are apt to secede, upon these parts of the Brain to which they reach, from the impetuous protrusion from the heart: and the vessels being here tenderest (as all vessels not only are at their extremities, but especially when they runn deepest, and proportionally farthest, because then they are smallest) 'tis no won­der that a congestion should soon be made where this is. But yet if we [Page 19] consider their comparatively small number to those in the Cortical, and how they must be better fenced and supported by their being distributed through a more compact substance as the corpus callosum is, there seems less danger of either a congestion, or extravasation, in this region; the strength of the tone of any part mainly conducing to the ready trans­mission of the perluent liquor. And that this happens most usually in the cortical region, three, of the four instances alledged by Wepfer, seem to evince; in which I conceive it is easy to gather that they were the extime parts of the Brain that were most disaffected, and therefore there seems reason to suppose must be primarily so. But from hence.

Secondly, The Nature of the di­stemper may be deduced. And it seems to me probable, that it con­sists [Page 20] indeed in the defect of that matter, which should be supplyed to the nerves for the exercise of the animal functions, but occasioned from the vitiated organization of the parts and vessels of the Brain, from whence a due secretion (which I have heretofore [Tr. de secre­tione animali] endeavoured to make probable to be here performed by a simple colature in the Cortical glandules) of the nervous liquor out of the bloud cannot be made, but that, either from the foremen­tioned distention of the sanguiferous vessels, the secretory ducts cannot readily admit the matter to be se­parated; the confusion of the masse, emergent upon such a congestion, prohibiting a regular secession; or else the grosser substance of the bloud, not moved as 'twas wont, being brought to the beginnings of [Page 21] the nerves, must needs obstruct them, and so cause an immediate cessation of motion in all parts below, as well as, by disturbing the regular mo­tion of the spirits in the Brain, hin­der the exertion, not only of the Intellectual, but also sensitive fa­culties.

For though Intellection (and pos­sibly Sence) belong only to the Soul as such, which is a substance distinct in it self from the Body; yet the exercises of it, so long as the soul continues united to the body, can­not be had but by its mediation: our bodies being very fitly resem­bled to Hydraulick Engines, whose structure disposes them to exhibit a great number of various phaeno­mena, when filled with a due liquor, and set on work by a mover distinct from them (whether within or without 'tis not material) which, [Page 22] as they, whilst in order, very re­gularly perform all the motions their fabrick directs to, so if they happen to be either accidentally broken or disordered in any part, or else the liquor they carry comes to be so gross as to obstruct them, or corrosive, or otherwise vitiated, as to make its way through them, must either undergo a total loss of their motion, or at least a very great disorder in the several per­formances that the organical design requires. Agreeably to which, the Bloud appears to be the principal liquor for the motion of this curious engine of our body, as being uni­versally and uncessantly carried through all parts of it. (Not to make a comparison betwixt this and the Nervous juice; which though it may be designed for more noble, and perhaps much more extensive [Page 23] proximate uses, than the gross masse of the bloud, yet must be owned, on the account of its small quan­tity, and slow motion, to be not fit for this design, otherwise than to spiritualize, and give an instinct to that and the Heart that impels it, adde that 'tis made out of the bloud.) Now if through the fault of its pipes, the arteries and veines, it make its way out of them, it must of necessity extremely disaffect the parts in which this happens, espe­cially when they are designed for the nobler sort of uses. Indeed Life, as well from arguments of Reason, as the Divine Oracles (which tho' they teach many things above, yet none against, Reason; and I con­ceive ought to be construed literally when the analogy of reason and na­ture countenances it, though many things in them are owned to be spo­ken [Page 24] according to mens common ap­prehensions; holy scripture being designed not to teach, Philo— but Theosophy) seems to consist origi­nally, and therefore principally, in the motion of the Bloud, its first in­dicia being from the punctum sa­liens; for which therefore so ex­quisite pipes are made to distribute it to all parts of the body, and re­turn it back again to its first source for reiterated motions, and those so adapted to the secretory parts, for the separating of substances from it for several uses; that as all vital actions must needs be placidly per­formed whilst they are thus duly disposed, so if any of them happen to be broken or opened (at least in any considerable measure) whereby this vital stream gets forth of its boundaries, that due and regular motion thence ceasing, Life must too. [Page 25] But this must most effectually come to pass, if this disturbance of the motion of the bloud chance to be in the Brain, where the Soul sits (by the consent of almost all) in­throned, and from whence she gives laws to all the Body: so that if this her Royal seate happen to be over­whelmed with such a deluge, and her intercourse with the rest of the body, which her Empire over it re­quires, intercepted, 'tis no wonder she leaves her province and mansion, thus become so unfit for her resi­dence. But I must beg your par­don for these allegorical excursions, which yet the luxuriancy of the subject readily affords.

This fault in the due Organiza­tion of the Brain consists, either in an Obstruction of the passages, or a Solution of the continuity; either of which may easily occasion any of [Page 26] the symptoms. For the former; 'tis impossible but that (since there is a necessity of a due proportion between the cavity of the vessels and the liquors, as well here, as in innumerable instances every where to be met with, to the performing of regular motions) if any obstru­ction happen, the Liquors must ei­ther move more sparingly than is re­quisite, or be congested there, or else the course of them must be di­verted into other channels, and so natures designation (to be discerned by the known effects) must be al­tered: from any of which occasions, as there must happen a defect of spi­rits to actuate the Brain and nerves, and that proportionally to the great­ness of the obstruction; so if this happen sodainly, and be total, 'tis evident that there must follow both a total and sodaine abolition of the [Page 27] animal functions. In the latter, the Bloud, flowing out of its vessels, must, in so tender a part as the Brain, quickly overflow a great part of it, being urged on by the im­pulse from the heart; and then 'tis obvious that all the regular motions and secretions there, necessary to a­nimality, must immediately be in­terrupted; the passages designed for carrying select substances being thus both enlarged and filled with hete­rogeneous and gross ones, which make up the much greatest part of the Bloud. So that hence,

Thirdly, What is called the Con­taining cause is easy to be collected, viz. some matter either discharged out of the sanguiferous vessels upon the substance of the Brain; or else, filling and distending them, and thence compressing the sides of the passages in it. This may either be, [Page 28] 1st, the Bloud in its whole substance, whether good, or impure; since in either constitution it may, if either congested in too great quantity, or too impetuously moved, get out of its vessels, or else so distend them, as to produce the mentioned effect. Or, 2dly, some Viscouse matter, pro­ceeding from the Serum become less spirituous, whose particles there­fore are disposed to lay hold one of another, and so to grow clammy, and consequently unapt to pass a­long the usual tracts, but apt to stick in the laxer interstices between the arteries and veins in the habit of the Brain; to which more, be­ing continually brought by the con­tinual motion of the Bloud, may by a likeness of substance, still as­sociate it self, till it come to a con­gestion great enough to cause such an obstruction, as may at last hin­der [Page 29] the circulation, or at least the separation of such substances from the Bloud, as must actuate the Brain and nerves. From such a cause too Inflammations, which are some of the acutest, as well as the most fre­quent sort of distempers that assaile us, often arise; and 'tis generally to be observed that in pleurisies, an­ginas, &c. the Bloud is exceeding viscous; which quality in it dispo­sing it to obstruct, must therefore, when that happens, cause a conge­stion all about, the Bloud incessant­ly arietating against that place, and thence soon an inflammation. Or, 3dly, a greater collection than usual of the fluid Serum in the Bloud, though not disposed to viscosity, but instead thereof grown too sharp, which thence may be very apt to make its way through the passages in the habit of the Brain, whose na­tural [Page 30] Make might keep out a less thin Serum, such as belongs to the Bloud duly constituted but cannot this, in regard its particles are per­haps become less than the diameter of the pores of the vessels 'tis natu­rally carryed into; or else these pores may come to be so dilated by means of the continual lancinations, that the resistance of their sides may soon come to be overpowered. Or, 4thly, polypous concretions, (those infelicia aegri cordis germina, as Wepfer calls them) which have their construction from the fibrous parts of the Bloud, whose Make be­ing oblong and ramous, numbers of them may happen to associate in the heart too strictly, and being, when once thus associated, unapt to be dissolved, must make carneous concretions there; where being ra­dicated, they may grow to a consi­derable [Page 31] bulk and length, and dif­fuse themselves all along the arte­ries to a great length: the manner of whose production the accurate Malpighius (de polypo cordis) has very curiously described. These Wepfer supposes may make an A­poplexy on a double account, viz. either entire, or broken. The for­mer way, by being propagated from the heart up to the entrance of the Carotides and vertebral arteries in­to the skull, which vessels, being extensive before, let the Bloud pass by these polypi up to the Brain be­fore they reach those perforations of the skull; but when once they doe that, the arteries being confined by the bones, through which they pass, must be totally stopped by them; and so the Bloud being prohibited from coming to the Brain, an Apo­plexy must according to him, follow. [Page 32] Which supposition indeed, if it could be demonstrated, would prove the greatest instance of his assertion, that Apoplexy may proceed from a denegation of Bloud to the Brain. But, besides that 'tis hard to con­ceive all these four arteries should be stopped at once by this cause (which if they be not, the Bloud coming by any one will be diffused by means of the Anastomoses all over the Brain, for the continuance at least of the animal actions, though perhaps in somewhat a lower de­gree) it seems moreover probable, that this should rather be ranked under the class of Cardiacal Syn­cope's, whose symptoms are very like those of an Apoplexy: and so many and large polypi, as must ef­fect this, would in likelyhood kill, by hindring the Circulation through the heart, before they could grow [Page 33] to the length and bigness requisite to cause this obstruction. But the other way by which he supposes an obstruction from them may come, is the breaking of them off being grown fracid; which happening, the course of the Bloud must carry them on into those narrower passages; whereby it might be presumed there would follow such a sodaine obstru­ction as must produce an irremedia­ble Apoplexy, did not his instance of Iames Knoll evince the contrary; who, though the arteries in his Brain were full of them, yet had never any touch of an Apoplexy: unless we should suppose those were not true polypi, which, as I said, are ge­nerally of a carneous nature, and radicated in the heart, but only as­sociations of viscous substances in the degenerated Bloud, formed in those places where he found them. [Page 34] But indeed it seems probable, that if any of these broken polypi get into the narrow passages of the ar­teries in the Brain, they may cause such a stop of the Bloud there, that it not finding its usual way open, may, by the impetuosity of its mo­tion, make it self a new one into the substance of the Brain.

So that from any of these causes the Bloud in its circulation passing (as I have said) irregularly through the Brain, may, if this part happen to be more than usually suscepti­ble of an impression from it, either deflect into the lateral yielding re­cesses in its habit, or by reason of a partial obstruction of the vessels, distend them; since being impelled in the usual quantity, but deficient­ly transmitted, there must quickly follow such a congestion, that ei­ther a stagnation of it in the ves­sels [Page 35] must happen; or an exudation of some parts of it through the widened passages; or else, if the im­pulse prove to be more violent, a laceration of them; from whence comes an Extravasation, which will be continually increased from the continual impulse upon parts thus become unfit to resist the mo­tion.

But of these causes of Apoplexies, especially those which prove most fatal, the Effusion of Bloud, men­tioned, seems to be the most usual (though as I see not but the distem­per may, as I said, proceed from only a Congestion, so possibly this may be that from which most reco­ver that doe at all, however by con­tinuance it may prove as dangerous, as being the beginning of that by effusion, and a stop of the Bloud even in the vessels for any conside­rable [Page 36] time necessarily kils) both from what appears upon dissection; not only Wepfers, before mentioned, but others, observations evincing it, and I my self happened to ob­serve the same in the dissection of a very worthy Lady, the Lady Pa­kington, the relation whereof was published in the Philosophical Tran­sactions, Num. 173. A. D. 1675. as also in regard it seems difficult to make out how, from a slow conge­stion, if viscous matter be the cause, or from an exudation of Serum, the diffusion whereof, though somewhat more speedy than in the supposi­tion of viscosity, is yet compara­tively slow to the sodainness of the invasion, much more from so very slow a congestion as must produce a fleshy substance as the polypus is (unless on the occasion of its dislodg­ing, even now mentioned) all the [Page 37] Animal functions from a perfect exercise of them, as is most usually observable, should so instantaneously be destroyed. Whereas the effusion of the Bloud out of its vessels may rationally yield an account of this defection with as great swiftness as can be imagined; the Bloud as I said before, once got out of its chan­nels being propelled, by means of the impulse from the heart, so as to diffuse it self immediately over the whole substance of the Brain, so farr as the investing membrane will permit. And though only one Lobe of it chance to be disaffected, yet the commerce being broken off be­twixt the spirits in this and the rest (it seeming probable, though, from the disproportion of our organs to discern those extremely small pas­sages, not autoptically demonstra­ble, that there is a constant one by [Page 38] some small Meatus through the whole Brain) the action of the whole must cease; since 'tis obser­vable that, for preforming regularly the actions which are the province of any organ, all the parts of that organ must be duly constituted; and therefore much more ought this to be observed in the Brain, whose action is so much more considera­ble and nice than any of the rest, as influencing the whole Body, as well as its texture is more curious, and substance more tender.

The Fourth thing proposed to be considered was, the Disposition of the part, where the distemper is seated, to be affected; which having endeavoured to make out to be the Brain, we are to reflect that much of the invasion of the distemper (as was before insinuated) is owing to the vitiated organization of it, [Page 39] and not all to the perluent liquors. For if it be firme in its tone, and otherwise rightly constituted, there is reason to suppose it may, caeteris paribus, much resist morbifick im­pressions; whereas if it have been before weakned, 'tis obvious 'twill easily yield to them. We see in Feavers that the Bloud runnes ra­pidly enough through it; and in an Anasarca, and cachectical ha­bits, the Serum makes up much the greatest part of the Bloud, which might therefore be presumed apt to overflow that tender part; so also 'tis observable, that the Bloud many times appears extremely viscous, as in Pleurisies, Rheumatismes, &c. Yet in none of these cases ordina­rily are the persons inclined to A­poplexies: so that though the irre­gularities of the liquors may some­times occasion them without this [Page 40] predisposition oft he Brain, yet when it appears they invade more fre­quently than otherwise they use to doe, there seems considerable rea­son, to suppose, that it deflects some way or other in its Organization from what is natural to it. This defect, I deny not may perhaps sometimes consist in too great a Close­ness of its texture, whereby a par­tial obstruction of its vessels may be made by degrees, from the adhesion of some viscouse matter deposited by little and little by the circula­ting Bloud about the capillary ar­teries, and so the Bloud behind comes indeed only to be retarded here whilst no disturbance happens to it, but takes its course to some other region of the Body; but if it once come to be more than or­dinarily exagitated, it may become so determined in its motion, as at [Page 41] last to flow impetuously hither too, but not being able to get through its usual channels must produce the effects, before suggested, of an ir­ruption into the substance of the Brain: but yet ordinarily, I con­ceive, it depends upon too great Laxity of it; whereby, when any forcible impulse happens, it may too readily yield to it, and so be sodainly overwhelmed. This laxi­ty may be considered to consist, not only in a greater inteneration of its substance than usual, and thence its easiness to yield to the force of the impelled Bloud, to which in its due constitution it bears a proportion; but likewise in the greater openness of its pores than is natural, though the fibres that constitute it have their due degree of firmness, where­by it becomes capable of receiving other, and more bulky particles than [Page 42] usual, as is consequential upon that texture so depraved: which may possibly (as in too serous and acri­monious a dyscrasy of the Bloud) proceed from the abrasion of some of the looser particles that consti­tute the habit of the part, by the perluent juyce supplyed by such Bloud, and I suppose might be the case of the Lady before mentioned, who being endued with an extraor­dinary acumen, a great evidence of an exquisite constitution of the Brain, yet abounded with exceedingly sharp substances in her Bloud or o­ther liquors, as many, of her symp­toms declared. Which pores like­wise may acquire other figures than are proper for them; these concur­ring particularly to determine al­most any of the Secretions, whether simple or mixed, that happen in our Bodies. So that when the Brain [Page 43] happens to have its Organization thus vitiated, and the other causes concurr, an Apoplexy may in pro­bability easily enough be produced.

So that, to recapitulate, I con­ceive the part effected may either be the whole Brain, or any consi­derable part of it, and either the Cortical, or Medullar, but especi­ally (or at least first) the Cortical, from whence the disaffected matter is transmitted to the parts of it which lye deeper, where the animal spirits principally exert themselves; the Nature of the distemper to consist, in the sodaine abolition of the due excrasie, and distribution of them thence; the immediate cause, most usually (when unavoidably fatal) an effusion of Bloud out of its vessels upon the substance of the Brain, though I conceive a bare distention, of the arteries there may occasion [Page 44] it, as also may perhaps a congestion of viscous or serous matter when it comes to a considerable degree, and becomes freshly excited; or else Po­lypous concretions, or (if we can suppose it) any other obstructing matter deposited in it, may at last produce it; and the predisposition of the Brain to it, to consist, usually, in the more than ordinary laxity, or openness of it.

These things premised I consider (to advance a little farther toward the solution of the Probleme) that whatsoever, either 1st. causes a con­gestion of Bloud, or 2dly otherwise so indisposes it, that it cannot rea­dily and duly circulate through its usual vessels in the Brain, or else 3dly disaffects the Brain, whether by weakening its tone, or altering the figures of its passages, or strait­ning them too much, may occasion [Page 45] Apoplexies: and the greater urgen­cy or violence, of such antecedent causes may introduce a greater fre­quency of them than ordinary.

As to the first; Besides common observation, 'tis obvious to any mans reason, that those who in­dulge themselves in full meales, but especially in copious drinking, and use not due exercise, may fall into them, especially if their natural constitution incline them to breed Bloud plentifully; since so it must be heaped up in too great a propor­tion for the vessels, and thence may easily be supposed to make its way out of them, upon, even light oc­casions into the most yielding parts. Besides, persons given to these ex­cesses doe frequently, either volun­tarily, or by the necessity of the irrigation made on the Brain, al­low themselves likewise great liber­ty [Page 46] of sleeping, and so relax the Brain; whereupon the Bloud flowing more plentifully in the usual posture of it, viz. lying along, may be presu­med without great difficulty to get out of its vessels, distended on this occasion, into it. And it seems ra­ther to be wondred at that no more fall into them, than that some doe from this cause; since there are so obvious reasons of their production from the number of those who thus indulge themselves. But this seems no adequate reason of their greater frequency now than formerly, since these excesses have been of a much longer date, than to give occasion hence to justify the temperance of former ages comparatively to ours. Therefore,

Secondly; as to the causes of those dyserafies of the Bloud, from whence the immediate continent cause of [Page 47] Apoplexies flowes, we must seek them from without us, since our Bloud has its supplyes so: and its motions, whether circular or inte­stine, are excited or retarded by abundance of outward, and the most of them inevitable (our shal­low knowledg and foresight in choo­sing what is proper for us, and a­voiding what is prejudicial, and the unmanagable bent of our inclina­tions to what gratifies us, especially considered) occasions. From which external causes likewise.

Thirdly, the disposition of the Brain to fall into these distempers must proceed; these being as well disposed to act on the solid, as fluid, substances of our Bodies, as they find them fit to receive their im­pressions.

The external occasions therefore of our disorders are generally de­duced [Page 48] from some or other of the six Non-naturals, so called, viz. Air, Meates and Drinks, Motion and Rest, Sleep and Waking, sub­stances excreted or retained; and the passions of the mind: any of which, if inordinate, may produce such diseases as the Body, upon some peculiar predisposition, is subject to.

'Tis besides my subject to dilate on them particularly, especially as they contribute to produce the gross of diseases; neither doe I think the five latter so very applicable to my present theme, as to detain me. But the first seeming the most usual and efficacious, as to the production of all, or the greatest part of other di­stempers, since 'tis so generally in­fluential and unavoidable, so of this, I am obliged to take some notice of it. For we may in a great mea­sure [Page 49] correct irregularities in the rest; but not so in this, without which we cannot live many mo­ments; neither is it in our power to correct its disorders, if any thing considerable, since it diffuses it self every where; and must therefore, if vitiated, be the cause of general distempers, and more especially seems to have a very prevailing e­nergy to introduce that under con­sideration.

Its disorders are generally redu­ced to two heads, viz. either ex­cesses in (one at least of) the First qualities, Heat, Cold, Moysture, or Dryness; or else Malignity in it, unaccountable for from them (whatever it satisfactorily be from any other vulgar notions) which may be of very different kinds, and so produce distempers, different as to their symptoms, yet of that ge­neral [Page 50] denomination. These have been so copiously and learnedly trea­ted of by many great Authors, that 'twere very impertinent in it self, as well as unfit for the brevity of a letter, to expatiate on them: but particularly the Doctrine of Malig­nity seems too abstruse to be discour­sed of in few words; only (if it be not a solecism to pretend to judge of things of which we can assigne so little reason) it seems best adju­sted to give an account of diseases that generally invade, and where indeed surprising symptoms, whose reasons cannot be assigned from known hypotheses, happen, as in some Epidemical feavers, the Plague &c. For it seems agreeable to rea­son, that it must be somewhat more than what is deducible from the first qualities, as well as very active, that must so affect multitudes of [Page 51] people of different constitutions, and of whom many have no evident pre­disposition to sickness, with so ex­traordinary indispositions, and that at times when the Air is free from excesses in any of the first qualities, (or indeed any of the rest of the sensible ones:) and 'tis acknowledged by all, how differently soever they explicate the matter, that these e­pidemical miasmes are so.

But to give an account of the pro­duction of the present distemper, we have no need to have recourse to this abstruser cause. For, first, this can hardly be reckoned among E­pidemical distempers, however more frequent than formerly; since at all but few, comparatively to those who are with other distempers, are assaul­ted with this, and those not in one region, but here and there in farr distant places, at all times of the [Page 52] Year, and at all seasons, whether of excessive Heat, Cold, Moysture, or Dryness; (though, as I shall by and by observe, it took its rise from one of them.) Secondly, 'twas ne­ver observed, nor thought, conta­gious, as most Epidemical diseases that depend upon Malignity, are; those subtil steams that occasion them being, as very diffusive, so also determinately fermentative to the production of like substances in the Bodies they enter into; which when emitted, and then received by others which have a predisposition (as most have; a small one being sufficient in so heterogeneous Bodies as ours are, and where the substances that compose them are so lax, and in such an agitation) to be by them acted on, must affect them in the same manner. Thirdly, there seems no­thing in the symptoms but what is [Page 53] constantly observable in almost all assaulted with it, and agreeable to the general history of it; whereas those called epidemical have gene­rally somthing anomalous in the symptoms, when ever they so in­vade, from what has been observed in those of the same denomination at other times. And fourthly it seems accountable enough for, from the consideration of those more ob­vious qualities of the Air. So that I conceive 'tis rather to be reckoned among the Sporadical diseases, so called by Physitians; and to pro­ceed from some, or one of these (modifications of the Air, which we call) first qualities. But from which of them, 'tis requisite we enquire.

To consider first the Passive qua­lities of the Air, Dryness and Moy­sture; it may perhaps seem proba­ble [Page 54] that they may, in order to pro­duce this, as well as some other di­stempers, indispose the Brain; the former by hardning the tone of the sanguiferous vessels in general, and consequently contracting their tubes, and so causing an acceleration of the motion of the Bloud through them (which must, if propelled with the same force at its original, runne more swiftly through vessels when thus straitned, than whilst ha­ving their usual dilatation:) where­by it may be presumed, that when cast forth of the arteries into the interstices between them and the veins at their extremities, it may make its way into the more yield­ing substances it is any where to pass through: and the Brain being confessedly more so, than any other part of the Body, is therefore most likely to be affected on such occa­sion: [Page 55] the latter (which is counte­nanced by the great Hippocrates, Sect. 3. Aph. 16.) by intenerating the Brain so much beyond its usual constitution, that it may thence be­come more than naturally suscepti­ble of the always briskly circula­ting Bloud. Next; as to the most efficacious of the Active ones, Heat; it may perhaps be urged that the Bloud, though otherwise well enough constituted, being much heated and rarifyed by that excess of the Am­bient, might be inclined to make its way out of the vessels, in the Brain especially, on the account of its forementioned tenderness.

But, besides that experience war­rants none of these suppositions, per­haps it can hardly be made out, 1st, That so great a dryness, as must effect this, can be introduced into our Bodies, which are continually [Page 56] irrigated, not only by the circula­ting Bloud, but other secondary li­quors; 2dly, That a great excess of moisture in the Air should produce Apoplexies, unless those more rare ones (as I suppose they are) from the Serum, and that generally after other distempers which have weak­ned the crasis of the Bloud, as well as the tone of the Brain; since such a dyscrasy impressed on the Bloud seems to make it more torpid by clogging the spirits in it, and so less apt to inundations, and besides re­laxes the vessels, as well as the sub­stance, of the Brain, and so favors its ready passage along them; and, 3dly, That the excess of outward heat should cause this eruption; since by it the solid parts may be as well presumed to be invigorated to resist, as the Bloud excited to at­tempt it; besides that the transpira­tion, [Page 57] that is occasioned by this heat, may sufficiently compensate for the accelerated motion of the Bloud, its quantity (which may in that case be principally dangerous) being thence diminished.

It remains then to attribute this frequency of Apoplexies to the Cold­ness of the Air, as the most adequate occasion; which when it happens to be intensly so, may, I conceive, be made out to give a probable reason of it.

That Cold is a great enemy to the Brain, is both the general sense, and confirmed by the authority of Hippocrates, Sect. 5. Aph. 18. and all Physitians since: and therefore we may possibly inferr that the great Architect fenced this part with so strong a wall, scarce more to protect it from other injuries than this, to which 'twould otherwise be expo­sed. [Page 58] But how Cold affects it so in­juriously may require a little ex­plication.

In order to it, give me leave, Sr, to consider (without pretending to discuss it so minutely, as men of more Philosophical heads, and bet­ter accomplished in such specula­tions, might) the nature of Cold, as being requisite to be known in some measure to the understanding its re­lative effects. Which attempt in­deed might appear very presumptu­ous, after that the exquisite Mr. Boyle has not thought fit to deter­mine in the matter, but that you may perhaps find that the short de­ductions I make, however unarti­ficially, are either taken from, or, I conceive, reducible to what he has delivered; and so farr from being positively asserted, that they are on­ly submitted to the censure of your, [Page 59] and others, better judgments. To which purpose three or four gene­ral considerations seem not unfit, so farr as belongs to our present disqui­sition, to be taken notice of, to give an account of its manner of affe­cting us.

In the first place then it may be considered, that though neither Cold nor Heat nor any of the rest of the sensible qualities have any real Be­ing, but only in relation to our per­ception; insomuch that were there no sensitive Beings there could be no such things; yet they must be founded on somthing that does really exist, as all accidents besides are. So that though they cannot be reckon­ed amongst the general affections of matter, as motion (though they depend upon it) or its contrary, Rest, Bulk, Figure, &c. are, which would still be where matter is, tho' [Page 60] there were no sensitive Beings, yet are consequent upon it, but deter­mined by these and associated to somwhat that has perception.

Secondly, That 'tis evident our sensories are affected by Cold, that is, have some impression made on them. Now nothing can affect but by approaching to that which it does so affect, and to approach re­quiring motion it must follow that motion must go to constitute the nature of Cold. Which though it may seem not so evident, since Cold is reckoned contrary to Heat; and this consisting obviously in motion it may be urged, that should in Rest: Yet it may be returned, that tho' it be necessarily to be inferred, there is motion where there is Heat, yet not always that there is Heat where motion: so that 'tis not motion sim­ply, but considered with some ad­junct, [Page 61] viz. motion in such or such a degree, and with relation to sen­sitive Beings that constitutes Heat; and consequently that 'tis not to be inferred that Cold consists in abso­lute Rest, because contrary to Heat, but in a different degree of motion (though other mechanical affections must concurr to determine it) which recedes on one hand from a middle degree of it in our sensory, as that which makes Heat does on the o­ther. Which too may be evinced from hence, that each of them ha­ving a great latitude of degrees must be founded in what admits of de­grees, which motion does, but Rest not.

Thirdly, that motion here being not to be considered abstractedly, but together with the subjects of it, and as occasioned by, and produ­ced in some Bodies; we may take [Page 62] notice, that as 'tis evident the Bo­dies without us, which excite our sensation, are moved, so our organs, which are designed to receive the impressions of these extraneous ob­jects, and transmit them to the Soul, can hardly be presumed to do it (any more indeed than prove a fit man­sion for her) without having their particles (whether consistent or fluid; for both are necessary to their con­struction) in motion: and not only so, but endued with a determinate degree of it. This degree ought not to be violent: for so the constituting particles neither could be brought into such a frame as we find they are, nor persist in it; but they (es­pecially the most subtil, which are the Souls immediate instruments in the organ) would soon undergo new textures, or be dissipated. As on the other hand it must not be very [Page 63] languid, since in that case they be­ing in great numbers, and some touching still in their motion upon others which have a different deter­mination, would soon be intangled in one another, or otherwise stop­ped. But it must be such a mid­dle one, as may keep up a due cra­sis in both the fluid and consistent substances that make up the organ, for the performing the functions appointed.

Fourthly, that these motions (con­sidered as I said in their subject) thus regulated, being congenial to us, seem not properly objects of our perception (at least are not taken notice of) since 'tis by means of them that the Soul receives those impressions that cause a perception of others, but rather instruments of transmission of those others from without, which recede from these [Page 64] degrees, or are otherwise circum­stantiated: tho' indeed even these, when, becoming either too quick or too slow, they deffect from their due proportion, may, by affecting the Soul differently from what they use to do, so excite her, as that she may take notice of them too, as well as those of exterior objects which thus sollicite them.

Fifthly, that therefore these mean motions, being what belong to the organs duly constituted, are the standard from whence wee are to take our measures of all others, so that when any objects from without come against, and so affect, our sen­sories with a greater degree of mo­tion, than what naturally belongs to them, we forme one kind of no­tion of them; when with a lesser degree, a very different one, and give them likewise denominations [Page 65] according to that degree of motion with which they act upon our sen­sory.

From the consideration of these particulars, we may, I conceive, de­duce, that the nature of Cold con­sists in a check (though not a total stop) of that degree of motion, which belongs naturally to the parts of, and fluid substances in, those of our sensories which concern the sense of Touching, duly constituted; as, on the contrary, Heat (without some reflection on which, Cold can hardly be understood) in an acceleration of such their motions. Which diffe­rences being, by means of these or­gans transmitted to the Soul, and so affecting her, she, forming a com­parison between them, denominates one Heat, and the other Cold.

But though motion must have the first consideration in producing [Page 66] this effect upon us, yet 'tis farther to be noted, that the Bulk, and Figures, both of the Bodies that cause this check, and those upon which 'tis impressed, must concurr to it: it being evident, that not only some are themselves more fit and easy to be moved than others, according as they are bigger or less, of this or that figure, but also to ac­celerate, or retard, the motions of others that impinge against them.

As to acceleration, wherein Heat consists, minute Bodies, of almost any figures that are irregular, if they are not apt to cohere, may oc­casion that though some more than others; especially those that are most angular: since with their angles stri­king against those among which they move, they must be presumed to exert a proportionally greater force, than blunt or glabrous ones can, [Page 67] which on that score are easy to be distorted. But as to retardation which makes the nature of Cold (that we may restrain our discourse to that) it may be occasioned on seve­ral accounts. For, first, either the affecting Bodies may, by a corre­spondency of their sides, so apply themselves to those to which they come, that, transferring their sur­plusage of motion to them, they may adhere to them, and with them constitute bigger masses, and acquire other figures than before they had: Or, Secondly, by altering the due contexture of the vessels (which is necessary to regular motions) they may thence occasion a stop of the substances, which used to be carry­ed in them; and so, though they are otherwise disposed to accelerate motion on the account of their fi­gures, as I said before, yet thus ac­cidentally [Page 68] they come to retard it: Or, Thirdly, if they happen to be of such a figure and texture as to be flexible, and thereby to wrap themselves about those they occurr to, they may, by thus inviscating them, hinder their motion: Or, Fourthly, (and which may possibly, in the present case, be the most ef­fectual means of occasioning this check) they may so interpose them­selves between the moved particles in the organ, as to intercept their former motions; whereby also they fill the spaces necessary for continu­ing those motions. This seems most agreeably to be done by Co­nical ones, which by their angle are fitted to enter, but being blunt and bigger at the other extremity, must, when they come into porosi­ties, which are a little straiter than that necessarily fix there; and both [Page 69] the more abate the motion of the forementioned agitated matter, and also be more firmly impacted in the parts unto which they thus arrive, by their contraction, upon the score of the lancination occasioned by the sharp angle of these particles first entring: the solid parts, that are sensile, being all the Body over con­tractile, as being, I suppose, nothing else, but either propagations of nerves or the roots of them. And when it happens that many such conical substances come to act at once up­on the organs, the effect must be the more considerable.

But perhaps, Sr, you may think these speculations too nice and ge­neral; and indeed impertinent to the present consideration, since they are not our senses that are in Apo­plexies primarily affected; those persons that are violently seyzed [Page 70] loosing, immediately upon the stroke, the use of them; but only influentially from the Brain, which it self is thought to be void of sense actually (which supposition yet may perhaps be lyable to some ex­ceptions) though the source of it to all the Body beside: And there­fore when they invade more gra­dually, and those that are affected are conscious of great pain in the head, it may be supposed that the morbifick matter affects the mem­branes of the Brain, as well as the substance, and so causes that sym­ptom. So that if the predisposi­tion to the disease be from Cold affecting a part of our Body not sen­sible, you may ask to what purpose all this notion of our perception is introduced? However give me leave to say, that since Cold would not properly be Cold, as I have urged, [Page 71] without perception; which though it produce all the effects, it does on Bodies not endued with sence, on a purely mechanical account, viz. from schematismes of matter in mo­tion, determined by the fitness of some to act on others, according as they appel to one another; yet as it relates to us, who are endued with sense, and to whom it belongs to de­fine things cannot be well under­stood without reflection on that; it seems not altogether alien to our purpose to state it in that latitude, since without such a reflection we cannot have a notion of it; and therefore not explicate its positive nature, and what produces it. And indeed whether these speculations are altogether superfluous, may be judged from taking, first, some short view of the nature of the Air, so farr as concerns its aptitude to act [Page 72] on Bodies conversant in it, particu­larly ours, it being the Medium to conveigh the influence of exteriour (when not immediately contiguous) objects, or at least necessarily concur­ring to make considerable impres­sions on us who, 'tis knowne, can­not live many minutes without it, especially in relation to it when de­flecting toward Cold: and secondly, its manner of affecting injuriously our Bodies, particularly the Brain, upon the account of the foremen­tioned mechanical affections.

And first, as to the Nature of the Aire; Though, generally speak­ing, we call so all that vast conge­ries of corpuscles wherein we breath, which is made up of all sorts of par­ticles from the earth and water, and steames raised from complex bodies in or upon them, yet more proper­ly (according to the Philosophy of [Page 73] the Age, which acknowledges the Excellent Mr. Boyle its cheif refi­ner) 'tis supposed to consist in the greatest measure of springing parti­cles, viz. oblong, and considerably rigid ones, though very tough, and thence apt enough to be bent by a great pressure, but yet unapt to loose force of restitution toward a direct line (which seems most natural) when that pressure is taken off; and which they, whilst thus bent, are continually (from the action of the materia subtilis according to Des­cartes) endeavouring at: From which tendency to restitution there must be variety of motions impres­sed on all bodies conversant in it, ac­cording as they are disposed to re­ceive its action. But yet among these 'tis supposed there are a consi­derable number of others, called Ni­trous, whose make may possibly be [Page 74] that a little before described, viz. Chnicall or Pyramidall (for I suppose either may solve the Phaenomena, which require only acuminated particles whose other extreme should be bulky) and from the mechanicall effects may very much justify that most ingenious notion of Descartes, who supposes Niter to have Coni­call figures. For on the account of these the particles of it may, like wedges, easily intrude themselves in­to the Interstices of any bodies they happen to be carryed against, and, if these be yielding enough, make themselves more and more way a­mongst them, and therefore may intercept the motion of some as well as very differingly determine that of others of the fluid substances con­tained in them; since none, of what texture soever, can be presumed to elude the action of such kind of bo­dies. [Page 75] Which supposition concern­ing their fabrick appears to me the more probable, because fitted to ex­plicate the matter mechanically, that is, intelligibly. For I conceive all the world of bodies, and their a­ctions, is pure Mechanisme; and therefore 'tis requisite all explica­tions relating to them, designed to informe, and not to puzzle, should be founded on principles of that kind.

And indeed though it be impossi­ble to make so full a discovery of the small constituting particles of this as well as any other concretes, that we may have ground to dogma­tize on them, they being much be­low the perception of our sight, though assisted even by the best Mi­croscopes; yet since few of them act to our perception, singly, but to doe it must be associated into somewhat [Page 76] bulky concretions; which may pos­sibly be allowed to make deductions from the observation of such, when we find them to convene in a fami­liar and natural way. Consequen­tially whereupon we may take notice (for the confirmation of Descar­tes's notion) of what the curious Mr. Leewenhoeck observed with his ex­quisite Microscope, as to the concre­tion of Niter, dissolved in water, up­on evaporation (to be met with, Phi­losoph. Transact. Numb. 173. Iul. 26. 1685.) As, saith he, The water in any place began to be evaporated I found many figures whose basis was square, and rising to a Pyramid. And though there were other figures exhibited, yet it may very easily happen that upon a coalition of a multitude of these extremely small particles, in so confused a manner as must be upon an evaporation (be­sides [Page 77] that many of other kinds may associate with them) variety of fi­gures may well emerge from those so convening, though the principal have the forementioned tendency. And besides, though the figures of minute ones might not be Pyrami­dal, yet it may be such as to fit them, from their congruity to one another, to associate strictly into this; it be­ing by many Chymical instances of the acting of bodies, salts particular­ly, on one another, obvious that these of very different makes doe, upon their collisions, when diluted in a fluid, unite into concretes very strict that have little or no cognati­on in their figures to either of those singly that went primarily to consti­tute them: So that when freed from their diluting moisture, which brought them together, and then pressed upon by the strokes of the [Page 78] Elastical particles of the Air, they may possibly come to cohere so strictly (supposing their sides smooth and flat, as it seems probable they are even from the obvious figure of the concrete; and is deducible from that effect of the Air in the much noted instance of two flat marbles) and be so hardned, as to be fit to act (their acuminated figure consi­dered) almost equally vigorously, as if they had been primitive ones, on Bodies not of the very closest texture. Nay since they are de­signed to act on such which have no very compact texture, for the most part; it seems congruous that theirs should be such likewise, to bear a proportion to them, which perfect solids of those bulkes and figures, that were primitives, would not.

'Tis true, Descartes assignes that figure to the particles of Niter to [Page 79] explicate the manner of its Accen­sion, which produces Heat, when so modified; and that perhaps more violent than any other Bodies doe. But as 'tis sufficiently known that in many instances it much refrige­rates; and there must be a natural reason for one effect as well as the other; I conceive that of both, howe­ver opposite, may genuinely enough be deduced from that fabrick, accor­ding to different modifications; and therefore may be presumed to esta­blish the notion of that kind of fi­gures. For in order to produce the latter they, by entring with their apex, as I just now said, into the porosities of the organs (which they must do, if the point be very sharp, though carryed to them with ever so slow a motion) and still piercing more deeply by degrees, may pla­cidly enough retard the motion of [Page 80] the substances therein agitated. And indeed to effect this a comparatively slow motion seems necessary; such as agrees not only to the foremen­tioned notion of Cold, but also both to the Air in general, which is pla­ced in a boundless expansion, and therefore being not straitned must move calmly enough when not for­cibly impelled; and especially to these Nitrous particles, which be­ing dissociated by others of different kinds one from another, and having ordinarily there no violent impulse, must, on the account of their make, move leisurely when carryed with the whole course of the mass of Air; and the rather, since the resistance, which their concomitant substances make against the thicker extremity of them, must much retard their motion. Withal, if it happen that these pointed particles enter into [Page 81] the passages of those sensible Bodies, they may be presumed so to strike against some of the fibres that con­stitute them, that they must from thence irritate them to contract themselves, and so the motion of the fluid substances in them must be effectually checked. But as for the production of Heat, another mo­dification of them must be assigned, viz. a very brisk agitation from some external occasion; which happening, the apex, being more easily agita­ted than the basis, must necessarily describe a circle about it, which by reason of its greater bulk cannot be so easily moved out of its place, but only gyrate about its proper centre according to the direction of its cone; and by so doing the cone must needs strike very violently a­gainst such Bodies it meets in its way; whence a sence of Heat to [Page 82] sensible Bodies must necessarily pro­ceed, in regard the force of this agi­tation must be supposed to be grea­ter than that of the moved parti­cles in the organ: which too must be raised to a much more conside­rable degree, when great numbers of these particles conspire to the like motion; especially if minute accensible substances of other kinds are interspersed among them, which, both from their own disposition to be so agitated, and their distermina­ting a little these nitrous ones, where­by they may have room to begin their gyration, may promote this accension; as in the too fatally known experiment of Gunpouder. I must indeed acknowledg that the angles at the basis of these corpuscles, if they be Pyramidal, according to Mr. Leewenhoeck's observation, may hinder the gyration, Descartes [Page 83] supposes, in some degree: but 'tis easy enough to conceive, that, as well here, as for the making his globuli aetherei, these angles, by the very brisk motion the corpuscles are put into may presently be ground off, and so they fitted for this gy­ration; and this much more easi­ly than in that instance: because those primitive particles must be supposed to have been exquisitely solid, whereas these two have been coagmentated of some formerly di­vided, and only now cohering from the forementioned correspondency of their sides.

So that the difference seems to consist in this, that to produce Cold 'tis requisite that these nitrous par­ticles should both move singly and placidly, and also insinuate them­selves amongst such substances as may confine them, being once en­ter'd, [Page 84] on every side, and so hinder the above mentioned gyration: Whereas to ingender Heat 'tis ne­cessary that they should be, both in greater numbers, be briskly agitat­ed, and generally move in a suffici­ently yielding medium, and at on­ly such a distance from one another, as that in their gyration they may beat off one another with their points; from whence the motions of others among which they move must needs be considerably increas­ed; and withal they either previ­ously require, or, if the force of the agitation be the greater, make in al­most ever so close a roome a consi­derable space for themselves to move in.

But perhaps an objection may be raised against what I intimated a lit­tle before concerning the ordinary motion of the Nitrous, particles in [Page 85] the Aire, which I suppose to be car­ryed with their Cones forwards: For it may be urged, that, being very confusedly moved, and amongst flu­id substances, sometimes the Basis, and somtimes the sides, may in such an agitation be as well carryed so as the Apex, and then the conse­quences of their insinuation, which I deduce, cannot have place; the assigned figure being that which fits them to produce the effect. To which I returne, first that though some may in their motions, when brisk, so appel to Bodies as is obje­cted; yet there being greater num­bers, than ordinary, in Frosty Sea­sons floating in the Aire, 'tis pro­bable that some, at least, of them will be carried as I suppose. But secondly, it seemes to me probable, that being moved placidly enough (according to the supposition) their [Page 86] natural tendency must be with their points forwards: For in that posture they both find less resistance a­mongst those against which they move, and are supported in their motion by other lateral ones crow­ding upon them; and also those which are moved behind them im­pell them the more easily forward when they impinge against a flat surface (as the Basis is supposed ge­nerally to have, or at least what ap­proaches toward it) than against that of any other figure; and therefore determine them to carry their Apex as I said.

But whatever their make be, 'tis both generally supposed, and seems to me very probable, that without these the Air could hardly be vital. For some substances that are fit to be agitated, but unapt to cohere, seeme requisite to be intermixed a­mongst [Page 87] the various parts of our Bloud, and other liquors, which may, by their vibrations, whether occasioned from without, or from the motion of our spirits, keep them from too close complications, which that many of them are much sub­ject to is very obvious: and these I take to be those usually called Ni­trous.

But though these in the Air, may have a very great, if not the princi­pal, influence, on any Bodies they can enter into to produce many ef­fects, but particularly, on sensile ones, Cold; yet both the Elastical particles and also the steams before mentioned, with which the At­mosphere is considerably stored, must much concurr to any of them; these on the account of their great variety and irregularity, whereby they are apt to be determined to [Page 88] very differing motion, and thence to sollicite the particles of the Bo­dies they act on to the like, for the Nitrous ones to enter; and those by their expansiveness enlarging the passages for them. So that when the Air from any occasion happens to abound more than ordinarily with Niter, the assigned effect of it may be presumed easily to be pro­duced, and especially on our Bodies, which being of a contexture tender and yielding enough, must be in­juriously affected, if either the mo­tions, or other disposition of its par­ticles prove to be disproportionate to the parts of them, or substances contained in them.

Therefore to enquire, Secondly, how our Bodies, but particularly the Brain, come to be thus inju­riously affected from hence, we may take notice that the Air (with the [Page 89] substances it carries in it) exerts it influence partly on the liquors, and partly on the solid parts.

First, for the liquors; we may consider briefly how it comes to be admitted into, and being so, after what manner it acts upon, first the Bloud, and then the nervous juyce (to omit the rest of them, as little conducing to the present specula­tion) and this as well amicably as noxiously.

First, As to the Bloud (which is most considerable as to quantity and supplys the matter to the nervous and the rest of the juyces) we may take notice, that though the Air may even by contact affect it in the surface of our Bodies, as considera­bly pressing on us, and so perhaps arrest or variously determine its motion in some degree, yet it must principally do this by being admit­ted [Page 90] into it. This admission seems obvious; since, 1st, living in it, we cannot take any, either meats or drinks, but some Air will be admix­ed, and so be conveighed into our Bloud with them. Besides, 2dly, it seems not improbable (though it have undergone some contest) that some of the finer parts of it may be admitted, in inspiration, farther than barely the cavities of the bron­chia, since it must be owned there are vessels from the little glandules dispersed throughout them, which transmit from the Bloud there: and whether those vessels may not re­ceive somthing (tho' not so much) into them upon inspiration, as well as cast forth by expiration, may de­serve to be considered, since the Air comes into the Lungs with some violence; and they, being placed in so warm a situation, may (besides [Page 91] the distention upon inspiration) be presumed to be as well lax enough to admit a subtil substance as eject a gross one: and it seems not altoge­ther improbable that nature might design this reciprocation of motion for that end partly. But withal, 3dly, the pores every where in the skin seem well enough adjusted to admit somwhat from the Air, as well as conveigh forth those very gross impurities, which many times, if not very usually, pass forth with­out any trouble. And if it be ob­jected that the transpiration conti­nually proceeding from within must hinder any admission from without by the same vessels (which notion heretofore seemed to me to have great weight, as well in relation to these, as most other vessels, and li­quors in the Body, though, upon farther thoughts, it requires some [Page 92] limitations, which belong not to this place to be laid down) it may be replyed, that this transpiration, though it should be supposed con­tinual, is not in the same tenour still; so that when it proceeds minutely, there may be an admission perhaps from without, between the parti­cles of this gross and slowly moved matters in vessels patulous enough; when we consider both the great pressure of the Almosphere, which may easily enough be presumed on that score to intrude some particles of the Air between them to fill up the spaces left by the exhaling va­pours; and also the cessation in some degree of the extrusive motion, whe­ther proceeding from the expansive­ness of the evaporating matter or the too much contraction of the parts; both which remitting, the resistance is less, and the room more, for the [Page 93] admission of those. Being thus ad­mitted, 'tis obvious to deduce, from what was intimated before, how it ordinarily operates on the Bloud, viz. that partly by the insinuation of its elastical and other irregular parti­cles among the parts of it, partly the interposition as well as lancina­tion of the nitrous, the ramous, and other grosser, being kept in a conti­nual agitation, do both undergo due comminutions, and also are hin­dred from too closely adhering, and thence as well from stagnating in the wider vessels, as obstructing the capillaries and interstices between the arteries and veins. But such an agitation being necessary to it for the keeping up its vital crasis, it may easily be inferred, that if such Air be admitted as shall overmuch check this agitation, the crasis of it must come to be much altered, and those [Page 94] parts which were before dissociated by the briskness of their motion must, being considerably ramous, lay hold on one another, and so ei­ther become grumous, or create a viscosity in it, which, once begun, is not soon, nor easily, corrected; these particles clasping one another too firmly to be quickly unlocked by the permeating spirits; whose activity likewise these viscous sub­stances are apt to elude by their lu­bricity, thence obliging them to slip by them; or else inviscating them.

Secondly, As to the nervous juyce; it being made out of the Bloud, must therefore, in some degree, un­dergo impressions analogous to what are made upon this from substances admixed with it; whether we con­sider it in its due, or depraved, state: since it may be easily imagined that [Page 95] some of the admitted substances of the Air, before mentioned, may be deposited into the nerves at their original, together with the true matter of that juyce: and besides if the Bloud in general be once become viscous (from whatsoever cause) 'tis scarce possible, but that some part of such a matter must in the act of secretion pass into the nerves: so that the Air, in some constitu­tions of it, much disposing to vis­cosity, its influence therefore must be interpreted to be partly on this juyce at such times. But moreo­ver, I see no reason but some par­ticles of it may when more than ordinarily abounding with such sub­stances as are subtil and active, even through the pores be admitted into this liquor; our Bodies being every where permeable to subtil substan­ces; since I conceive, they in a due [Page 96] proportion are necessary even to the due spiritualization of this juyce; and therefore, for its excitation to­wards that may require to be ad­mitted, partly, a nearer way than that round-about one of the chyle.

But, Secondly, The Air's influ­ence must be acknowledged to be very great on the solid parts like­wise; as both immediately touching upon some of them, and also, by reason of their firmness, being lon­ger retained by them, when once admitted into their porosities (which, by the mediation of the Bloud, be­sides the other ways mentioned, which are applicable to these as well as the liquors, 'tis easy to ima­gine its particles may) than in those fluid substances. So that in the fore­mentioned suggestion of its supera­bounding with noxious substances, they must be much disposed to be [Page 97] affected by it. And indeed there seem to be none, even of the most consistent parts of our Bodies, but are pervious enough to, and conse­quently apt to be acted on by, such penetrating substances.

But among them all none seem so liable to receive impressions from them as the Brain, on the account of its tender constitution. For, tho' Nature hath placed so strong fences about it, that perhaps 'twill hardly be admitted that the Coldness of the Ambient can greatly prejudice through them; yet that it may, by the mediation of the Bloud passing through it, is, I suppose easy enough to be allowed from what has been said. But besides, there seem two or three other wayes, by which, in such a constitution of the season, it may be injured; viz. First, By the Air's affecting the mammillary pro­cesses, [Page 98] as it passes briskly by them upon inspiration: which being con­siderably large nerves must (besides the consideration of the impetuosity of the Air's motion in that circum­stance) be acted on by considerable numbers of its particles at once, and so undergo a strong impression, which may easily enough be con­ceived to be propagated to the Brain; partly, by disturbing their regular tonick motion, which must, from their tensity, be continued up to their original; partly, by the in­gress of too many of the lancina­ting particles of it into them; which besides the fixing, or dissipating, the animal spirits (which I conceive to be much of the nature of vola­till salts) may disorder the tone of these nerves first, and then (by the continuance of the impulse of those behind, which have the same ground [Page 99] to attempt an entrance) that of the Brain it self; which, being more tender than the nerves, must there­fore, when the cause of the disaffe­ction reaches it, be proportionally injured. A second way I conceive is at the ears, whose outer cavity going deep seems to be, in part, con­trived for warming the Air, that it may not by its Coldness disaffect those exquisitely sensible auditory nerves and the membranes, upon whose due tone and tensity as the sence of hearing seems mainly to depend, so must it be much im­paired if so unusual impressions are made upon it by intensly Cold Air, and besides those nerves being thence so disaffected must by their contra­ctions conveigh the like motions up to the Brain, and so disturbe and weaken it. And I formerly knew a very Learned person, who had a [Page 100] total and irremediable deafness, that was caused, as he told me, by a journey taken in a very keene frost over the Mountains in Wales: to which I remember not whether any Apoplectick distemper succeeded, but the instance at least evidences the great effect of intense Cold upon the nerves, which had it lasted long, 'tis to me probable that by being propagated up to the Brain it might have produced either that or other nerval distempers. Another way, whereby I conceive the Cold Air may be injurious to the Brain, is at the extremities of the nerves in all parts of the skin, which having (as must be owned I presume) aper­tures there, may possibly admit some such subtil and lancinating substan­ces, as I have supposed to be con­stantly, but in frosty seasons more copiously, carried in the Air; and [Page 101] being once admitted may, on the same ground as I have urged in re­lation to the olfactory Nerves by consecution come to affect the Brain it self: But though their tracts are very long and small, and so there cannot be a proportionable influ­ence, as in those; yet their great numbers, and the consideration that they are on every side pressed upon by the Air, may perhaps be thought to Compensate for that defect.

But this pressure of the Air on the surface of our Bodies (which I di­stinguish from that on the olfactory nerves on this consideration, that in one case 'tis uniform, depending on­ly on the weight of the Atmosphere, or such general motions in it, as make it act uniformly on all parts of the surface of them, which by their make, and private motions, determine it not otherwise; in the [Page 102] other, some part of it is moved with a greater violence, from the dilatation of the parts designed for Respiration; whose cavity therefore being to be filled in proportion to that dilata­tion, it must happen that that portion of Air that does it must have brisker agitation than the rest of its masse, and make impressions accordingly) this pressure, I say, may prove chief­ly injurious to the Brain by its act­ing on the Nerves in the Eares: Be­cause they, being terminated at a cavity which is still kept warmer than the rest, by the steames conti­nually exuding from every side of it and for some time somwhat de­tained, there must therefore be more open, and consequently more liable to injuries if an extraordinary occa­sion happen, such as I am instancing in, to make an impression on them. And this must happen rather to ten­der [Page 103] Bodies, and those who accustom themselves to keep much within doores, than to the more robust, whose employments expose them much to the Air at all seasons, both on the score of the comparative flaccidity of all parts in them, and the defect of a due digestion in their bloud and other liquors through want of due exercise, which must dispose them to be put into confu­sion when violent causes come to ex­cite it; and experience shewes that such persons of all others are most obnoxious to the alterations of the Air.

So that the manner of this action seems to consist in the penetration made by the Nitrous particles (prin­cipally) of the Aire upon the Fibres of the Brain (for that as well as all other solid parts must consist of Fi­bres) which thereby undergo some, [Page 104] however small, solution of conti­nuity; and either the little cavities of those Fibres (for I think the Aeco­nomy of our Bodies can hardly be mechanically made out without sup­posing them all to be Vessels, though our sensories cannot determine it) become straitned, or their sides per­forated; on the account of either of which, they cannot duly either re­ceive, or retain, and consequently not regularly transmit, the substan­ces destined to each part which is to be respectively supplyed by them. In that continuity, due confirmation, & repletion of them, I suppose the Tone of the parts to consist: and there­fore when any thing perverts any of these requisites to it, as in our present case, all the consequences, emergent from the impulse of the bloud or other liquors disturbed in their motion, may be expected.

[Page 105]Now such an Atony happening to be in so very tender a part as the Brain, cannot therefore easily be re­ctifyed, but may continue much longer, than if it happen to other parts whose Fibres being stronger, and functions fewer, must on both scores (caeteris paribus) sooner and more easily return to their natural constitution. And not only the rea­son of the thing, but dayly expe­rience, shews it; that whereas most other parts of our Bodies, having once received any injurious impres­sion, as by falls blows, &c. do after fit remedies used, return to their due tone quickly, the cause once remov­ed; the Brain on the contrary long retaines its weakness if once in­jured, though for the present releiv­ed in some degree: as, for instance those that have had an Apoplectick fit once, doe many times, on what­soever [Page 106] light occasion either find a return of it, or at least undergoe a considerable weakness of their intel­lectual faculties, not to be corrected but by a long and constant regulari­ty, if it be at all: and the like is ob­servable concerning those who have been seized by Vertiginous and Hy­pochondriacal distempers (which I take to be properly Nerval, and to spring from the Brain, or its liquor, disaffected) from which few happen to be perfectly freed: their imagina­tion indeed, being disturbed, dispos­ing them to be too immorigerous.

So that I conceive it may be infer­red, that if the Ambient Air come to have a great degree of Coldness, espe­cially if it continue long, both the forementioned disposition of the Bloud to supply matter for Apo­plexies must be introduced, and also such a debility may be impressed on [Page 107] the tone of the Brain, that they may much more readily invade, if the or­dinary (though at other times in­noxious, for the most part at least) occasions happen to bring these dis­positions to effect.

Now 'tis known that the Winter of the year 1683, (from which I date my Aera of this frequency of Apo­plexies) was so intensly cold, and that cold of so long continuance, that no mans memory living could supply him with a parallel year; and there was no need to repair to the Northern Region to make expe­riments of freezing spirituous li­quors in order to find out the extent of this effect of it: since which time it may be observed that this distem­per has been so rife.

But since 'tis requisite the Asser­tion should be established as much as posible by due observations, it [Page 108] came into my thoughts to examine the London Bills of Mortality; which may be presumed to be a standard for all the Kingdom, as well as all other places where the same constitution of the Air has happen­ed. And though it may be urged, that the accounts of diseases in them are taken by persons who are not Judges of those things; yet many diseases carrying, by their obvious symptoms, such evidences of their nature, that 'tis almost impossible to mistake them, and above all, Apo­plexies, as before was suggested; if the matter of fact (whereof the Searchers are Judges) as to the num­ber of those that dye sodainly (and 'tis great odds those, for much the greatest part, dye of Apoplexies) be cleare, as I suppose 'tis acknowledg­ed by all, I see nothing but it may be brought to establish the Hypo­thesis. [Page 109] Having therefore looked in­to the general Bills for near Twenty years past, I find the account of those that dyed of Apoplexies and sodain death (which are there, and, I conceive, may passably enough be reckoned under the same class) to stand thus.

An. Dom.

Apop. & sud.

1670

79.

1671

63.

1672

65.

1673

84.

1674

101.

1675

86.

1676

84.

1677

66.

1678

83.

1679

103.

1680

95.

1681

94.

1682

100.

1683

108.

1684

152.

1685

112.

1686

129.

1687

110.

From whence I think the proba­bility, at least, of my Aera may be inferred, whatever may be thought [Page 110] of the notions that are brought to give a reason of it. For the great increase of number in the year 1684 must evidence that; and it seems ob­viously deducible, that as some great and general cause from the consti­tution of the season must influence such accidents; so that assigned, from the Coldness, may have that ener­gy here; since both 'twas so remar­kable, and nothing else appeared (either upon my own, or any others observation or notion, so farr as I have yet learnt) fit to stand in com­petition with it. And from com­paring the accounts of the subse­quent years with those which went before, there seems reason enough to suppose, that since the indispo­sition lasted (but in somwhat a lo­wer degree) though the external occasion have ceased, the weakness impressed on the nervosum genus, [Page 111] according to what has been before deduced, is not yet obliterated. And indeed if we take notice of a disease of another denomination in the same papers (which by the dreadfulness of its symptoms is almost as evident as the Apoplexy) viz. the class of Convulsions, we may observe the effect of that impression on the Brain to be so farr from vanishing, that it rather seems to be in the increase tho' the symptoms that declare it are al­tered: that class standing thus.

An. Dom.

Convuls.

1670

1695.

1671

1650.

1672

1965.

1673

1761.

1674

2256.

1675

1961.

1676

2363.

1677

2357.

1678

2525.

1679

2837.

1680

3055.

1681

3270.

1682

3404.

1683

3235.

1684

3772.

1685

3420.

1686

3731.

1687

3967.

[Page 112]So that though the flaceidity, impressed on the Brain from that occasion, may be in good measure by this time abated, and unless the like, or some as forcible causes, hap­pen again may, 'tis to be hoped, quite cease (and I suppose it may be observed that the forementioned frequency of Apoplexies is a late somwhat abated) yet it may howe­ver have been so disordered in its tone, as to make secretions of sub­stances out of the alluent Bloud (which carries matter for those of very many sorts) which may be­come so disagreeable to the nervous liquor, as necessarily to produce those terrible symptoms, which tho' they kill not so immediately, yet many times prove as certainly fa­tal at long running. And the great numbers of vertiginous and other nerval indispositions, which I pre­sume [Page 113] other Physitians as well as my self usually meet with, may very well argue some considerable indis­position impressed on the Brain more of late than formerly which must give a rise to them. And in­deed if we observe it we may find (at least I have) that most Feavers of late years, and even at this time, have been attended with nerval Symptoms, as either Tremors or Convulsive motions in the Tendons, or else Comatous affects, Deliria (for the most part slow) or some others of this original: And the Symptoms mentioned by that most curious ob­server of the changes of diseases, my Learned and Worthy Friend Dr. Sy­denham (in his Schedula monitoria de novae Febris ingressu) to discrimi­nate the Feaver of this new Consti­tution from those foregoing, are ob­viously those of the Brain or Nerves [Page 114] affected as may be easily collected by those that cast their eye on the Hi­story of it he layes down.

So that the notion is not to be re­strained to Apoplexies, but ought to be carryed farther to many, if not most, other nerval indispositions, which I conceive, may be occasion­ed by the same general cause. For if it be determined to act on the Brain to its weakning (as I have en­deavoured to demonstrate intense Cold is) the constitution of it and its appendices, being very much dif­fering in several persons, it must fol­low, that diseases of various kinds and denominations may happen, ac­cording as the organization of either the Brain, or the Systema Nervosum (which may be possibly concluded to be the whole Body, except the liquors and Parenchymata) happens to be different in some from what it [Page 115] is in others: And indeed the Brain in all persons, who have even the most firm constitution of it, being yet of too tender a one to resist all impressions made by so powerful a cause as the forementioned disposi­tion of the Air was; & being so hard to be restored when once injured; & if that be not fully done, easy to be afresh affected even by much less powerful causes of many other kinds, which frequently happen up­on the various mutations of the Air; 'tis no wonder that the Bills should be so filled with Convulsions, aswell as that other nerval indispositions should now adays so much invade.

But in relation to the numerous­ness of Convulsions (mentioned, as I said in the weekly Bills) it being objected that their fatality happens, probably, most to Children; which, having been born since that frosty [Page 116] winter, cannot be presumed to have been influenced by it; I answer, first, that the supposition is precarious, since the Bills make no such distin­ction; so that it may be not altoge­ther improbable that though that mortality may have been most a­mong them, they being the fittest subject of such diseases, yet adult persons may withal have gone to make up the number of the increase: and I see no reason but that since it must be acknowledged some elder persons have before that time dyed of this disease, they must propor­tionably contribute to the number now, unless the contrary can be shewn, or else some more probable cause assigned, than what I am going to give, why more infants must dye of it now than formerly. For, secondly, there seemes reason that parents who have received a morbid [Page 117] impression on a part of that conse­quence, that the Brain is, to the production of seminal matter, and thence the formation of the Foetus, as to the necessary functions of their proper life, may propagate that to the children they beget or bring forth, as well as dispositions to the Gout, Stone, Consumptions, or other con­fessedly Hereditary diseases; which too, are most of them nervall. And this impression on the Foetus must, in probability, happen principally on that part of it, which being chief­ly influential on the rest of the body must have its Stamina laid as soon as any other parts if not before them all: which too from the congruity of substance this has with the analo­gous part in the parents, which has the principal effect in the produ­ction, may be supposed to be princi­pally affected in the Child. And the [Page 118] Brain having been weakned in the Parents, the reason seems more over much stronger for the production of these than any of the owned Heredi­tary distempers, if the Parents have ever formerly had Convulsions (which very many have whilest Children, as is generally observable; and I see not but that this is sufficient to make and denominate the same di­sease, in the Child that springs from such persons, Hereditary) since here is so powerfull an operating cause superadded to a seminal debility and impression.

But 'tis objected by a very inge­nious person against the Aera I as­sume, 1st, That the increase of Apo­plecticks in 1684 being but 44 above the number of those that dyed of that distemper in 1683 is too small an increase to be taken notice of for establishing it; 2ly, That there have [Page 119] been two or three great Frosts with­in the 18 years I mention, without a­ny observable increase of Apoplexies; 3ly, That (against my suggestion of the great increase of Convulsions) 'tis notorious that any one, that has but the least Spasme before death, in the Bills dyes Convulsive, besides those that dye of other distempers, parti­cularly the French Pox, whose cre­dit their Friends are willing to save, and so give them in as dying of Con­vulsions.

To the first of which objections I reply, 1st, that I thinke 'tis not the number of the increase in general, but the proportion to that of for­mer years that ought to be consider­ed in this matter. For though the number in it selfe be but small, yet comparatively to the rarity of the distemper I take it to be so conside­rable, that few diseases flowing from [Page 120] the Anomaly of seasons on account of the first qualities, except Feavers (which somtimes, I conceive, prove epidemical, even without what we call Malignity) exceed it; being not much under a third part more than that of those that dyed the forego­ing year, and by much more than a third exceeding that of several of the years cited, and more than dou­ble the number of those that dyed in some of those years. So that there is to me a great deal of reason to think the Cold season influenced that increase unless some fitter cause can be assigned. 2dly, That those distempers that lye in the nervosum genus, viz. the solid substance of the Body (or even in the root of it, the Brain, whose texture yet is fi­ner and more tender than that of all the rest of it) or in the Liquors that are contained and carried in it, [Page 121] being seated in a matter less Hete­rogeneous and more removed from the briske agitation impressed by the Heart, as they are more diffi­cult to be introduced, so a smaller excess in the number of them a­mounts to a greater proportion com­paratively, than where there are those ready causes of a commotion, as there are in the diseases which are generally called Epidemical (as maligne feavers, pleurisies, angi­na's, &c. from the indisposition of the season.) For these being sea­ted in fluids which are very hetero­geneous and laxe, and agitated not only with a fermentative but brisk circulatory, and thence very confu­sed, motion, are therefore easily put into disturbances from external mor­bifick causes; the matter of which, if active (as there are particles enough amongst those we converse [Page 122] with that are) may easily insinuate into the Bodies of most persons, es­pecially those who are not of a very vigorous constitution, and may thence excite feavers in them so determined in their symptoms, as this matter is disposed to affect; whereas those that are founded in the nervosum genus require, on the score of the mentioned conditions, a long continued action of the mor­bid causes, to induce those impres­sions that must occasion them. From whence,

(To answer the Second objection) it seems to me no wonder that none of the former Frosts, referred to in the objection, should introduce di­stempers (though perhaps of the nature, yet not) of the number of those under consideration. For none of those in my memory; nor, so farr as I can be informed, in that [Page 123] of any man, were either so violent or long lasting as this, and conse­quently the degree of debilitation impressed by them, could not be so great either on the Brain or Bloud. But perhaps, if a due examen were made (which I have not the oppor­tunity now to doe) it might be found that nerval indispositions of other denominations may have suc­ceeded them, answerable to the de­gree of the impression. However this impression (which, I conceive, from the grounds before laid down, must be somwhat) having not been obliterated (which it may not perhaps in many years) when this great one invaded, might facilitate the effects of it, which without such a procatarxis might have been the less influential on our health.

But as to the third objection; I conceive 'tis no more than what [Page 124] may be urged against that symptom in the Bills from their beginning. For I doe not think that either the searchers, or others who give them the account, were more skilful for­merly to distinguish between those distempers we call Convulsions, and Casual Spasmes, than now. And why there should be more of this latter kind now than formerly, I cannot conceive, unless they be the effects of true Convulsions. So that I see nothing but that the assigned compute may hold good; especially since the increase is so very great that nothing but a real fixed cause can introduce it. And as to what is urged of the French Pox, &c. being put in under this Class, the answer is the same, since the same reasons have always been for the concealment; and 'tis known the Pox, and its infamy too, has been con­siderably [Page 125] longer in the world than Weekly Bills, which are not of an Hundred years standing.

From these considerations put to­gether, you see my sence of the question proposed; to which I am sure you expected not so tedious an answer. And I assure you I design­ed not this prolixity: but several de­ductions still falling in which to me seemed requisite to clear the no­tion, I am sure you will not expect apologies for my doing that which your self have occasioned.

But since you farther require the methods of Prevention and Cure of this distemper, which I have either used or think requisite; Though af­ter what so many Authors, and par­ticularly Dr. Willis, have written on this subject, it seems altogether su­perfluous to say any thing; yet, to let you see how ready I am to com­ply [Page 126] with you in this as well as your other desire, I shall venture at least to give you my thoughts in gene­ral concerning them; together with my reasons, such as they are, of the administrations to be propos­ed, to justify my dissent from such, who in any of the particulars think differently from me.

But first, though not pretending to write an exact treatise of Apople­xies, but only to give an answer to your questions, you are not to ex­pect I should congest Prognosticks, according to the custome of Authors when they propose to write solemn­ly concerning any diseases; yet I conceive 'tis requisite I should lay down, or rather recapitulate, one or two that respect the fatality: more indeed to excuse Physitians (who are generally liable to be tax­ed if success attend not their endea­vours) [Page 127] than for any solid and useful information they can bring; since the cause of it cannot be certainly known but upon dissection. And

First, if an Apoplexy proceed from any considerable effusion of bloud in Specie, 'tis, as I intimated before al­together incurable, since the tender­ness of the part is such that it cannot resist the force of the portrusion be­hind. And since even any stop in the Sanguiferous vessels will, if not presently removed by Phlebotomy or other due remedies, so distend them that either an eruption or stag­nation must quickly follow, 'tis not at all to be wondred at that so few escape; since so few are convinced of (what I take to be) the true re­medy where there is a possibility of recovery.

Secondly, that likewise which pro­ceeds from a Polypus must needs [Page 128] prove as fatal, both from the diffi­cultly dissoluble nature of that sub­stance, and the shortness of time medcines (if such there were) that should effect the dissolution, are al­lowed to exert themselves in: the bloud, as I just now said, for want of motion quickly stagnating and growing grumous in any part where 'tis stopped, and so hindring the mo­tion of, and alike affecting, the rest.

To which yet, thirdly, give me leave to subjoyne; that if the Pulse continue any thing strong, the pro­bability of recovery is much the greater, since 'tis an argument the Brain is not wholly overflowed, but that the mass of bloud yet continues in its channels, and produces the distemper only by distention: so that when they shall by due admini­strations be freed from it, there is hope the Brain may return to its [Page 129] pristine condition; at least in some degree. But yet,

Fourthly, that those who have escaped one fit, are in very great danger of a return; since (as I have before alledged) the Brain, having been once injured, is, by reason of its tender make, so difficultly redu­cible, in all respects, to its former Tone; and therefore from any, even slight, occasion be afresh more easily disordered. Therefore it very much concerns those who have once escap­ed that danger, or even that of a great Vertigo, or other Cephalick distempers, to use a good regulation of themselves for the future, and al­so to persist long in the use of such corroborating means as may at last (Deo annuente) perfectly restore it, as well as keep the bloud in a due crasis, and prevent all antecedent causes. Which advice yet very few [Page 130] are apt to follow; two many being apt, when once in some degree re­covered, to imagine (and suggest too) that Physitians urge that more for their owne advantage than theirs.

Which premised, I conceive, first, for Prevention, that these two ge­neral Indications ought to be pro­posed. The removing the Antece­dent cause, and the corroborating the Brain.

The former is to be answered, 1st, by general evacuations of humours, whether Laudable, if they be con­gested in too great a quantity, or Peccant: 2ly, by keeping up, or, if it be depraved, restoring the bloud to its due crasis.

1st. As to evacuations; Phleboto­my seems to deserve the first consi­deration; since, as I have endea­voured to make it out, 'tis either the congestion of the bloud in the san­guiferous [Page 131] vessels of the Brain, or its inundation upon it, that is the most general containing cause of it. So that all persons of a Plethorick habit of Body if fearful of this distemper (Fear, by occasioning the contra­ction of the Brain, the seat of our apprehensions, if not determining the bloud to it, at least causing a check of its motion through it, and so a congestion in, or effusion out of, its vessels) as well as those, whose bloud, from other symptoms, or the emission of some of it, may be col­lected to be viscous, especially if they happen, with distention of the Veines and Lassitudes, to be vertigi­nous, or inclined to pains in the head, ought to take so much away as may, in probability, prevent too great a distention here, and this not only at such times of the year, when the bloud is more apt than usual to [Page 132] rise into a Turgescency, as in the Spring and Summer, but at any time when they occasionally find it to be so disposed. And though many may (& are indeed used, to) urge, that not letting bloud at all they have hither­to escaped this, as well as other di­stempers, when some have been ceas­ed, and dyed too, notwithstanding such their care (which argument too, by the way, may be urged by many of vigorous constitutions a­gainst all precaution, against all di­seases, and for a liberty for all de­baucheries.) Yet since many have fallen into it, who might probably by Phlebotomy have prevented it, as well as that many have by it found present relief when actually ceased 'tis but a secure caution to use the most probable meanes of preven­tion; since though all constitutions are not alike, and some may be sen­sible [Page 133] of weakness for the present (which yet quickly goes off by a lit­tle subsequent care) yet experience shewes there are very few but find, though they loose very large quan­tities of bloud, they quickly regain it, as (to omit the reasons of it, as less proper for this place) beside a­bundance of instances that might be brought of those, who, free from the too general apprehensions of the danger of loosing it, have had it de­signedly taken away in large quan­tities, Spontaneous Haemorrhages, and those from large wounds, might convince persons unbiassed by their own, or others, unaccountable fears. Therefore I should propose that any persons who dread this disease, whose bloud has not been depaupe­rated by preceding ones, especially if their appetites be generally good, and they use not store of exercise [Page 134] (filling their veins by the one, and not taking care proportionally to empty them by the other) should take away bloud at least every Spring; though oftner if occasion require; and much the rather if they accustom themselves to (that fre­quently fatal custome of) much drinking of Strong liquors; so to keep both the sanguiferous vessels from too large a distention, and the bloud more calme. Twenty oun­ces I take to be about a middle proportion for most to loose; which may, I suppose, bear the propor­tion of about a twentieth part to that in most Bodies, and not very much less in most, and I believe can do none (under the foremen­tioned circumstances) any hurt, but much good to most, by securing them from the danger of this, as well as many other distempers.

[Page 135]Besides Phlebolomy, I take mo­derate Purging to be requisite, in order to carry of viscid and other humors that, from the foresaid im­pressions made on the Bloud as well as the Brain, are apt to be conge­sted; especially in the Bodies of se­dentary persons. This may be done usually Spring and fall; provided that it be neither attempted with too violent medcines, nor too long continued, nor too oft repeated (which ill custome yet many Hy­pochondriacal persons, I have met with, will not be dissuaded from) least instead of taking a way the luxuriant humors, these medcines, by too much exagitating and distur­bing the Bloud, introduce the di­stemper they are given to prevent. But if the stomack be oppressed, 'tis requisite it should be discharged up­wards before medcines of the con­trary [Page 136] tendency be given; since ca­tharticks, as they can only carry a way thence a small part of that clogge that causes the symptom (their irritation not being sufficient in comparison with the emeticks, to make it contract it self for a to­tal discharge) so may likewise take a long with them part of that into the Bloud; in regard they them­selves must be carryed into it by the way of the Chyle, to effect the separations of those substances, we find they occasion a discharge of, from it. And indeed the effects of vomiting are very extensive to­wards the preventing these as well as many other, especially nerval, distempers. For besides the freeing the stomack from any oppressing matter which 'tis very apt to con­gest, and which, whilst lying there perverts digestion, by either hin­dring [Page 137] the eruption of, or allaying, or else depraving the liquor de­signed to exude out of the glaudu­lous coate of it into the cavity, which I suppose to be the principal digestive ferment: so that digestion being, by the removal of this mat­ter, rightly performed, from the depravation of which most diseases spring, the cause of them is thus cutt off; I conceive the irritation, and concussion, made by an eme­tick upon the nerves not only be­longing to the stomack, but (by the consent of the whole nervous sy­steme) all the Body over, and upon the Brain it self, must occasion them to contract themselves to the dis­charging of whatsoever fills, or is disagreeable to them.

Evacuations by Urine may be likewise procured by those who are of a gross habit of Body, or whose [Page 138] Bloud is of too close a texture or too viscous; and may be used by such familiarly (premising those forementioned) either by impreg­nating drinks for common use with diureticks, of which practical Au­thors have store, or by taking fixt, volatil, or acid salts (all which are diuretical in relation to some or o­ther constitutions) or other more complex ones, as the particular con­stitution of each person requires, even with our common meats and drinks; they, if fitted to the seve­ral dyscrasies (for all are not pro­per for all indiscriminately; those who abound with acid humors need­ing alcalizate salts, either fixed or volatil to retund them, or others of an analogous effect; as others whose Bloud, by reason of its too highly exalted sulphureous parts, is apt to be overmuch exagitated, as [Page 139] also those in whom even the vola­til salts are too brisk and acrimo­nious, require acids to mortify them) raising generally no commotion in our Bloud, but diverting the course of it from the Brain which 'tis too apt to take. For partly by the con­gruity their particles have to the secretory passages in the Kidneys, in order to enter into and open them more than those in the other secretory parts; partly by the fu­sion they make of the Bloud, and the reducing many parts of it to such bulkes and figures as fit them to enter likewise; partly by their action upon the nerves and their liquor (which I suppose to be the determining ferment in all mixt se­cretions) on the account of their angles, which fit them to vellicate and incide, as also to accelerate the motion of any liquors they come [Page 140] to be mixed with; partly by ab­sterging, from that inciding power, any obstructing matter, that may lye in the habit of the Brain, as well as any other parts, between the extremities (or term of deno­mination if they are but continued vessels) of the arteries and veines; they may very well, I conceive, both make the Bloud more apt to circulate more universally, and also direct the course of it to the Kid­neys, in regard some parts of it being continually, and more copi­ously than usual, thus taken off from it, the rest must take its course, from other parts where 'twas apt to stop, hither: it being known that it flowes most thither, where it finds apertures fit to let it, either in specie, or any of its parts goe forth.

Those evacuations likewise by sweat may perhaps be somtimes at­tempted [Page 141] with due caution; but nei­ther indiscriminately by all persons, not at all times; and require more than most others the judgment of a Physitian to regulate them. For if medecines to procure it be given when the Bloud is of a texture not open enough (which both frequent­ly it is, especially near the begin­nings of most distempers, and which all persons are not judges of) or when too heterogeneous substances abound in it, they dispose it many times more readily to fix upon the Brain and nerves, than to part with its noxious particles at the designed secretory parts; and a brisker mo­tion being thence impressed on it, the confusion of its parts must be increased; and so if not an Apo­plexy, yet other distempers, as cer­tainly, though more slowly, dead­ly (at least very dangerous and hard [Page 142] to be removed) may be introdu­ced. But this ill custome of forcing meats (whether by inward med­cines or outward application) be­ing so common nowadayes; as I am satisfyed that to this regulation are owing many contumacious di­stempers which by calming, instead of exagitating the Bloud a little di­sturbed, would quickly have gone of, so 'tis fitting that those should be admonished of the ill consequen­ces of such a method who, (I will beleive) out of charity (which yet would be more fitly employed otherways) adventure upon it, es­pecially near the beginning of fea­verish indispositions, before the morbifick matter is digested, and fitted to secede; as well as the mul­titude of pretenders to Physick, who without a due knowledg of the grounds of Physick (which those [Page 143] that industriously study it, know are not easy to be attained) make this their sacred anchor when they know not what to doe.

Another sort of evacuations for prevention may be proposed, viz. By Fontanells. But though these look speciously, and many are fond of them, and indeed they may be possibly useful to such who have escaped out of one fit, as a con­stant draine, to divert some hu­mours from the Brain, which, by too much relaxing, or otherwise in­disposing it, might occasion returns; this part requiring thence, as I have deduced, a long time, and diligent regulation, to recover its native tone, and so may need all manner of diversions as well as other assi­stances: Yet to persons, free from o­ther indispositions that require them, I should think them, if not [Page 144] in some degree prejudiciall, by draw­ing away some part of what should be retained, at least superfluous, the humour evacuated at them bear­ing usually but a small proportion to the dayly supplyes brought into the bloud, which therefore may become much depraved for all the assistance these can give; especially in regard the evacuation is not of a peccant humour in general, but made up of any sorts of particles that can get out of the apertures of the divided vessels, and much dif­ferent from what is of natures de­signation in parts fitly by her Or­ganized upon the first construction. (For I cannot conceive it otherwise elective, than as those apertures, which on the score of the Incision, or Erosion of the Vessels must be large, can only discharge some such, sufficiently for the most part com­plex, [Page 145] substances from the bloud as are of a bulk and figure commen­surate to them or less, without any relation to them as disagreeable to the rest of the masse; and so from that largeness of the apertures there must be transmitted a much greater number of useful, than truly excre­mentitious, substances.) To say no­thing of the disturbance which the pain must occasion in a Body other­wise sound. Whereas most of the use­ful evacuating administrations (ex­cept Phlebotomy, which produces its effect mainly by the quantity 'tis used in) make, or presuppose, a laxity, and separation of parts, in the substances from whence the e­vacuation is to be had, as well as effect it at emissaries fitly framed and disposed to let go such or such determinate humours.

Secondly; As to the corrobora­ting [Page 146] the Crasis of the bloud: Though those who are in perfect health need it not, and medecines of that ten­dency may perhaps make it ferment too highly, and so perhaps occa­sionally introduce the distemper which the pretext of giving them is to prevent; yet to valetudinary per­sons, or those whose bloud, upon emission, appears viscous, or is o­therwise depraved, I suppose such administrations are very necessary. And to such I would (universals pre­mised) propose a course of bitter medcines, both at Spring and Fall, if they are of cold and Phlegma­tick constitutions; as I would ad­vise others, whose bloud is too apt on light occasions to be exagitated, the familiar use of appropriate calm­ing medcines. But to all, Chaly­beates (to be diversified, and given with different vehicles, according [Page 147] to the several constitutions of per­sons) may be of most extensive use; and have this to recommend them, that they need no strict regulation, nay their effect is depressed by con­finement; stirring and changing the Air both actuating them, and ex­citing and fermenting the bloud, as also strengthning the tone of the parts. Of these, the Chalybeat wa­ters, as those of Tunbridge, Astrap, and (which, I believe, is second to none) Ilmington in your neighbour­hood, and the like, drank in Sum­mer (and perhaps at other seasons, but that custom has not authorized it here; though Henricus ab Heers, as great a judge of that as any man, in his Spadacrene, Prescribed them with as good success in the midst of Winter as at any time besides) for a month or longer, are, as the most familiar, and confirmed by the pra­ctise [Page 148] of the greatest Physitians of many ages, so perhaps the most ef­ficacious of any preparation of Steel, as being taken up by the water run­ning through the Minera whilst the mettal is yet in solutis principiis, as the Chymists speak, and so most subtil and active; if so be the Brain happen not before to have been too much intenerated: in which case perhaps the water it self, Symboliz­ing with the indisposition (especial­ly the quantity considered) may pre­dominate over the power of the Vi­triol, dissolved in it, to constringe the before weakned part. And the diversion to be used at the Wells may not a little conduce to the ef­fect of rectifying the bloud, by ex­citing the Spirits.

But as to the several Chalybeate preparations, give me leave so much to digress (if you will call it a di­gression) [Page 149] as to say, that I think, if the parts of our body and crasis of the bloud are only to be strengthned, and no store of Acids abound; those of them that have been opened by Acids, and so reduced to a Vitriol, are most useful; since they may easily and immediately be distri­buted, without the trouble given to Nature (which is not always able to actuate a stubborn medecine that needs a strong key to unlock it) far­ther to prepare them to be fit to enter into the recesses of the body. But if Acids abound in us, the ju­dicious D^r. Sydenhams method of giving the brae limature, unaltered (for I believe his Extractum Absyn­thii can have little of the effect of an Acid upon it) must be the most prevalent of all; since both the in­tentions, viz. of absorbing Acids, and then strengthning the crasis of [Page 150] the bloud, and the tone of the parts, are by it answered; the Acids in the Stomack proving perhaps as fit a menstruum for making a Vitriol, for those uses, as those in the Chymists hands; whereas the intention of ab­sorbing, if it have place, can hardly be satisfied, if the medecine have been before satiated. And indeed Acids being apt to be so predomi­nant in us, especially in Hypochon­driacal distempers, which are so ve­ry frequent (as not only very com­mon eructations and vomitings of that kind, but the effect of Urinous Salts, testaceous medecines, the usual antiscorbuticks which are generally found to abound with volatil Salts, and other obsorbers of Acids, e­vince; besides the rationale of such distempers which is speciously dedu­cible from the predominancy of A­cids) that great persons proposal of [Page 151] it in that, though gross, yet fre­quently very effectual, preparation seems to be the most universally so­lid: though, as I said, if Acids a­bound not, the others, I should think, would be the most effectual.

The second general Indication, The Coroborating the Brain, may be answered in a great measure by the last mentioned administrations, viz. the use of Chalybeates; whose effect is generally owned to extend it self to all the consistent parts in the Body, as well as the bloud; nay must more to those, than this: since their action upon this is but tran­sient; but those may be presumed to arrest and detain them, though not all, yet as many as their Pores can conveniently receive. For not on­ly their Vitriolate particles, but al­so the grosser ones, which remain after the abruption of those (as in [Page 152] Crocus Martis Astringens, which is made by the avolation of the Vi­triol, upon a long and intense cal­cination) are confessedly styptical; and therefore being carried in cir­culation (as well as acting on the Nerves in the Stomack) to the re­motest recesses in the Body and a­mongst them those in the Brain, may be presumed by their lanci­nations, as forcing them thereby to gentle contractions, to rectify their tone, when too lax, which I have supposed before to be a main condi­tion toward producing the distem­per under consideration: And this faculty they must most exert upon those parts whose indigencies are greatest; those whose tone is firm not being fitted to receive, or at least be affected by, them. So that when the Brain has been debilitated, they must exert that action principally there.

[Page 153]But beside these, a frequent use of the generally owned Cephalicks, as Rosemary, Sage, Betony, Lilly of the Valley, &c. may possibly much conduce to corroborate the Brain; and may, without trouble or offence, be used in the Form that Tea is; the general custome having deni­zon'd such a use of drinks: and those whose apprehensions are greater, might besides have those Ingredients fermented with their usual drinks.

But amongst all the drinks in com­mon use (if you will not suspect the Character given by one, who loves it so well, as you know I doe; but who withal have dranke it near thirty years, not only innoxiously, but, I seriously affirme, many times to my great advantage, especially when indisposed either at my sto­mack or head) that of Coffee may perhaps contribute as much to a [Page 154] prevention of the distemper as any; and that on a double account. First by helping the stomack to digest, which it may effect, partly by rea­son of a gentle Stypticity the parti­cles which make the Tincture have, from the torrefaction of the berries; partly from the actual heat 'tis usu­ally dranke with; both which (but more effectually when conjoyned) conduce much to corroborate the tone of it; so that digestion being well performed here, and good Bloud thence produced, much of the an­tecedent cause both of Apoplexies and other distempers must be by such administrations prevented: Se­condly, by the action it performes, I conceive, on the Brain it self: for, by means of the moderate tor­refaction, the aqueous parts of the berry are carried away, and the vis­cous are altered in their texture; [Page 155] whereby the sulplureous and saline (I dispute not whether preexistent, or made by the preparation, upon the alteration of texture) asso­ciating with the terrence, come to constitute little irregular masses, which are not immediately dissolu­ble (however those particles may be in a tendency to avolation too, by reason of their not very strict combination) but when diluted in the water, after the known manner of preparing the drinke, may be presumed to be carryed through the mass of Bloud in circulation to the Brain; and there, entring into the pores of it, both keep them open for a free passing of the spirits; and withal (especially if daily but mo­derately, used) keep up the due tone of the Brain by the gentle vellica­tion such particles may make upon it; by which last means it becoms, [Page 156] I conceive principally useful in the present instance. Therefore (for I will not appropriate it to all) it seems to me (agreeably to Dr. Wil­lis's notion, Pharm. rat.) most pro­per for those who have too lax a constitution of the Brain, as whose intellects or memories generally are slow, and who are much given to sleeping, or to have a dull pain in their heads, especially upon free eating and drinking, or such as are apt to vertigoes from to humid a constitution, or to Catarrhs. But 'tis scarce proper (that you may see how little partial I am) for such as are of an overwatchful temper, of very keene apprehensions, with a thin habit of Body (though I have known some of that habit with whom it has very well agreed: and that observation of agreeableness ought, by prudent persons, to be [Page 157] consulted, not only in relation to this, but most other medecines and even meats, since experience shews that, from undiscoverable, or at least from our shallow insight into things undiscovered, causes, very proba­ble administrations ought to be su­perseded, as well as the contrary used) and withal for those that are apt to convulsive symptoms upon light occasions (though, I conceive, where, besides the irritative matter that makes convulsions, there hap­pens too great a laxity of the Brain, Coffee, by fortifying the one, may in great measure prevent the admis­sion of the other.) All which to me shew the nervosum genus to be of a texture, in such persons, con­siderably compact, and comparative­ly dry, with which these particles may too much correspond: and it may be observed that such persons [Page 158] many times contract an unsteadi­ness or numness of their hands and other parts, as well as a general in­disposedness, and uneasiness by its (even, as to others, moderate) use. And from these effects upon the in­considerate use of it (as 'tis common to have any, though the best, reme­dies abused when grown popular) it has amongst many got the im­putation of being a Paralytick drink, and disposing to Apoplexies; such never reflecting what multitudes of others, comparatively to the few it injuries, receive advantage by it.

Perhaps too you will expect my opinion concerning my other favou­rite, Tobacco. Concerning which I must say that though I know ma­ny have an opinion of its being Narcotick, or otherwise injurious to the Brain, and consequently dis­posing to Apoplexies: yet (to say [Page 159] nothing of my having used it, and not sparingly, for many years, with­out finding any such effect of it) the very common custome of taking it for so many scores of years since it began to be in vogue, must have made such a quality, if it had it, evidently taken notice of; and consequently common prudence would have obli­ged people to have left it off long agoe, as deleterious, if experience did not evidence the contrary: for there is no man but, if, laying aside prejudices, he will give himself the trouble to observe, may easily find, that very many live to great years, & in as great a state of health as those who take it not, that have long used it, even immoderately. It must in­deed be owned that it is not agreea­ble to all constitutions: but the same may be said of almost any thing else, whether food or Physick. And I [Page 160] presume no wise man will conclude from a few instances of the disagreea­bleness of any thing to some men, when vast numbers of them on the contrary side may be brought to warrant its use, that it ought uni­versally to be avoided, or branded with a note of infamy. My sense of it is, that in those persons with whom 'tis found to agree, 'tis a very good drainer of humors, and so may supply the place of Fontanels, or at least that fewer of these may be necessary to those who abound with moysture. For, by its irritating and occasionally (from the great afflux of the Saliva) enlarging the secre­tory ducts in the glaudules about the Mouth, as 'tis evident there must be a great discharge, so a great diversion from the Brain (tho' I own the greatest part of the mat­ter comes not immediately from [Page 161] thence but out of the Bloud) in which case 'tis advisable that the persons that take it should drink but moderately; least otherwise they do themselves more hurt by the supply than they can receive benefit by the discharge of moy­sture from this or any other eva­cuations. But there seems another reason why Tobacco may be useful to those who are disposed to Apo­plexies (under the supposition of its agreeableness) viz. that by rea­son of the vellication the smoke of it impresses on the nerves in the Mouth, it makes them contract themselves, and so by consecution the whole Brain comes to be ana­logously affected. So that if the Brain happen to be more lax than ordinary, and thereby disposed to receive an afflux of Bloud or Serum, as I take it to be especially after a [Page 162] person has had and escaped one Fit, as well indeed as in many other ca­ses of preceding nerval indisposi­tions, I see nothing but it may prove a very useful administration, toward restoring the tone of it: and 'tis known to be very advan­tageous to many Hysterical per­sons; of which though perhaps o­ther reasons may be assigned, as the altering the texture of the Fermen­tative particles, by the association of those of the smoke to them as they chance to be admitted, and so those of other figures and bulks may hence emerge; or else the de­termination of the nerves to other motions▪ by the action of this smoke impressed on the mammillary pro­cesses, or other nerves about the Mouth or parts adiacent; yet this seems to me none of the least pro­bable, that by corroborating the tone [Page 163] of the Brain it prevents the ad­mission of those too elastical or otherwise heterogeneous particles into the tubes of the nerves, which are the cause of the sym­ptoms.

Also the frequent use of Volatile Salts may conduce much to a pre­vention, under the limitations al­ledged for the use of Coffee; such as are spirits of Sal Armoniac, Harts­horne, Soot, &c. (which are but such Salts diluted) as being, I con­ceive so congenerous to those called Animal Spirits, that they must needs excite them in us when too torpid, or supply them when want­ing; unless the constitution of the Nerves be too dry or apt to be irri­tated by them. And their effects have, in many instances of nerval di­stempers, found been so remarkable, that they are now adays become [Page 164] of very familiar use, though som­times likewise abused.

But there are two specious ad­ministrations, much cryed up, and used by many, which deserve to be taken notice of, viz. Apoplectick Balsams (whose principal use is to be smelt to) composed of perfumes Aromaticks, and other ingredients, reputed Cephalicks, and Snush. Con­cerning the former of which, give me leave to say, I think them so farr from being useful for preven­tion, that they most ordinarily prove very prejudicial. For by reason of their grateful smell and the great a­ctivity of their odorous particles (but without any troublesom irri­tation) some of them may easily e­nough be presumed to be admitted into the Brain at the extremities of the olfactory nerves with the Air in inspiration; and being once so, [Page 165] are so farr from assisting it to con­tract it self, that, they much re­lax and expand it, and consequent­ly dispose it to admit an afflux of bloud, especially when before fit­ted (as I have said) to be congested in, or make its way forth of, its vessels in the Brain. And their in­fluence seems to me to be very great likewise upon the fluid substances in the Brain, which have all some lentor; and therefore these admit­ted substances, by reason of their activity, may easily exagitate them; whereby the passages must come to be enlarged, and so become capa­ble of an afflux or congestion. I own indeed that, in some cases of Headache, they may be, and have proved a very effectual remedy; as perhaps when the matter that cau­ses it may be acrimonious; but not in the degree or kind to produce con­vulsive [Page 166] symptoms (all sorts of acu­leated particles being not fit to pro­duce one effect:) which the soft particles of these may, by their ad­hesion, so blunt or sheathe, that their lancination must therefore im­mediately be taken off. But as these cases are but rare; so also there ought to be a distinction made be­tween the administration of mede­cines upon an emergency, and their common use when no cause requires it; which last the present caution refers too: for then there is reason to suspect they meeting with no hostile particles, may too much re­lax and open the pores of the Brain, and so give occasion to the sugge­sted inconveniences.

If the experiment of convulsive symptoms (which imply contra­ctions) ordinarily excited by these medicines in those who are dispo­sed [Page 167] to Hysterick fitts, be urged a­gainst this notion, which supposes the distemper under consideration to proceed from a laxity; I answer, first, that it seems probable that these convulsive symptoms proceed from a kind of Explosion, accord­ing to the sense of Dr. Willis, which must first inferr an Expansion of them, and then a contraction when the due requisites to it concurr: for Secondly, the Aromatick par­ticles, though of themselves very soft, and agreeably entring at the pores of the nerves, yet finding, after their admission, heterogeneous and fermentative substances in the Braines of some persons, may be very much inclined from their con­gress first to agitate, and then in return be agitated by them; from whence the Brain, being vellicated, is forced into contractions to expel [Page 168] them: upon which lucta, too, such corpuscles must, in probability be formed, as may prove very vellica­ting on a second score, and so con­tinue these fitts, as being uncapa­ble to be sodainly expelled. Where­as when they happen to be applyed to persons not abounding with such fermentative particles, they may only relax the tone of the Brain, and so dispose to Apoplexies on the forementioned account.

On the same score, I conceive Snush, especially made as 'tis usu­ally, with Aromaticks and Per­fumes, and so mild (either on the account of its ingredients, or from frequent use) as not to cause Ster­nutation, to be prejudicial, instead of being advantageous, to the health of those that immoderately use it, and more perhaps then the Apo­plectick Balsoms: because both the [Page 169] matter of it is more gross, and thence apt to lye longer about the extremity of the Olfactory nerves, and so continually to affect them; and also the custome of many is, as I have often observed, ever and anon to be supplying more, where­by the pores of those nerves are kept continually open. And I must suspect, that should any Pestilen­tial Season invade (which God a­vert) such persons, as much ac­custome themselves to these pou­ders, would, caeteris paribus, be in more danger of receiving infection than others: since from the sym­ptoms delivered by Authors, the pestilence appears to seyze the Brain particularly; and the sodain fate recorded of those that, without any preceding indisposition, have, whilst that raged, fallen down dead in the streets, seems not so easily accoun­table [Page 170] for any other occasion, than that the pestilential Miasmes are admitted at those nerves, since all other ways to the Brain, the source of sense and motion, and indeed of all the actions of life, is the most likely seate of this sodain prostra­tion. 'Tis true, it may be urged, that many which use it receive no apparent injury: and indeed some are of so firm a constitution of the Brain, as well as of the whole Body that comparatively great occasions of sickness will have little or no influence on them, whereas others are affected by very small ones. But I think the objection may as well be urged (as on another score I a little before intimated) by those, who having long indulged them­selves in immoderate drinking have yet lived to a great age, when 'tis obvious that many more much shor­ten [Page 171] their Lives by it. But though not Apoplexies, yet Vertigoes, and other distempers which shew the Brain debilitated, may hence per­haps arise.

Secondly, as to the Cure of an A­poplexy; It consists (according to my notion before alledged of the Cause) chiefly in copious Phleboto­my, since nothing else seems capable of dislodging (at least sodainly: and this distemper of all others requires a Sodain remedy) the morbifick mat­ter, For the distention, both of the Sanguiferous vessels, and habit of the parts, being by a good depletion taken off sodainly, the Fibres which constitute both must be presumed to contract themselves by their To­nick motion, but especially those in the habit; the Elastical pressure of the Ambient, as concurring ordina­rily. So in this case especially when [Page 172] the resistance within is abated. So that when what is nearest the Heart runs into it with some impetuosi­ty, the rest, both finding roome e­nough in the Veines, and being urg­ed on, not only by the arterial bloud behind, rushing into the veins the faster when it has more roome, but also by the Systaltick motion now the distention is taken off, must leave its former recesses, and be re­stored to circulation. Which action is quickly propagated to the Brain, and that put into Analogous contra­ctions. But this may be presumed most effectually to happen whilst the Vessels are only distended before the bloud hath made its way forth into the habit of the Brain; which if it once hath, at least in any con­siderable quantity, the distemper seems scarce at all remediable, either by this or any other administra­tions; [Page 173] both on the account of the forementioned difficulty, if not im­possibility, of its getting out of those recesses into the veines again, and also the yeildingness of the Brain to the Pulsifick protrusion of the bloud behind.

This Phlebotomy, I conceive, ought to be administred to Thirty, Fourty, Fifty, or Sixty, or perhaps more, ounces at a time (some per­sons requiring more to be taken a­way, some less, according as the con­gestion and obstruction happens to be greater or less, and the quantity of bloud to abound in the Body) if the Pulse (which should be tryed during the bleeding) fail not: Other­wise, considering the great quantity we have in our Bodies, 'twill not satisfy the indication. And by such an evacuation, viz. to at least Sixty ounces at once, D. Gibbons of Oxon, [Page 174] (a person whom you, as well as I, know to be, besides his great parts, and general Learning, of that saga­city, and judgment in Physick, that his example must much justify the practise) cured an Apoplexy there some time since, thought deplorable: as, if you question the relation from me, you may be satisfied both from himself, and his Chirurgeon, and al­so several others that were present. And were it proper for me I could alledge Analogous instances of such profuse (if you will call them so) eva­cuations of that kind in my own observation, attempted with great advantage to my Patients. And if the first bleeding secure not the Pa­tient, it ought after a few hours to be repeated, and so, if need be, se­veral times: there being much more danger from the disease, than loss of bloud, which has usually been [Page 175] observed to have been spent (as I a little before noted) upon wounds, or Spontaneous Haemorhages, in much greater quantity without loss of Life; and the consequent weak­ness has soon been corrected by a due regimen of diet, or perhaps some other assistances. Nay even Old Age ought not to supersede this reme­dy, however the assertion be like to be censured for very bold by many, who more consult their own fears, than the reason of the thing. For besides that such antient persons, who are inclined to Apoplexies, ge­nerally abound enough with bloud, theirs is more apt to grow viscous from their decay, in some degree, of spirits, and their inability to a sufficiently brisk action, requisite to spiritualize, and keep it in a due crasis: so that when apt to distend, or get out of its vessels, it ought to [Page 176] be taken away in good quantities, both in regard the decayed strength of the part affected is not, propor­tionally to what it formerly was, sufficient to manage it, and return it into its proper vessels, or its usual circulation in them; and also be­cause, if it be in them once grown viscous, 'tis scarce possible it can be corrected for the forementioned rea­sons; and therefore (according to the sense of the deservedly famous Botallus) ought to be taken away that better, from the supervening nourishment, may be substituted in the roome of it: the sanguifying power, though upon a considerable abatement of the quantity, being in the rest sufficient, even in the eldest persons, to transmute the appelling Chyle, which from its previous pre­parations (we feeding on nothing but vegetable, or animal, substan­ces, [Page 177] which must be highly digest­ed and exalted to be brought to either of those estates; and those far­ther exalted generally, either by E­lixation, assation, or fermentation) wants little of the perfection of Bloud, even before its admission in­to the mass of it; as, if prejudices were laid aside, might be collected from instances, which now and then occurr, of old people, who by wounds or haemorhages loose great quanti­ties of it, and yet recover, nay ma­ny times increase, the vigor they had before these accidents: and I see no reason why, what nature or chance authorize to be innoxious, may not be attempted by art, when great indications occurr, which in­timate how unsafe 'tis to permit them to goe unsatisfyed. And to countenance this opinion, give me leave to subjoyne (though 'twere [Page 178] not hard for me to bring many more instances of this kind) that 'tis near two years since a very worthy Lady, the Lady Yate of Harvington in Worcester-Shire, of the age then of 77 years, was taken Apoplectical, and though the imminent danger of it were taken off before Phle­botomy was administred; yet it left so great a vertigo, and so general a weakness on the Brain, and all the Body (her Ladyship, though before very vigorous, considering her age, and endued with a very great un­derstanding and memory, as all that have the honour to converse with her must testify, being reduced to the condition not to turn her self in her bed, besides a great decay of the intellectual faculties) that to comply with my judgment, and the duty thence resulting to my patients who put their lives under my con­duct, [Page 179] I caused (assoon as leave could be obtained) between twenty and thirty ounces of Bloud to be taken away, with great, and immediate, success: and the like was done a­gain, in the same quantity, within a week after, upon a fresh increase of the symptoms, without any de­bilitation from it; but on the con­trary with remarkable advantage, both in relation to her recovery of memory and understanding, and al­so strength of Body. Since which time her Ladyship, using due mede­cines and regulation, has farther at­tained so great a degree of these powers, as at these years is much above the expectation of any that were witnesses of her indisposition.

I conceive indeed (to endeavour to evince a little the utility of Phle­botomy in ancient people; if you will not call it an excursion) Old [Page 180] Age to consist more in the Indu­ration of the Solid parts, than in the absumption, vappidness, depau­peration, or any other depression of the spirits in the Fluids; or what we call the Humidum radicale: for these fluids are daily repaired, and would be in as high a degree spiri­tuous as ever (considering the pre­vious exaltations just now mentio­ned) were the solid parts equally disposed to impress due motions on them, and the Strainers, and other passages, fitted as formerly for their transmission and Secretions. Where­as those once growing harder can neither undergoe their due contra­ctive motions, as they were wont, nor thence sufficiently effect a di­vision of the particles of these, where­in Spiritualization consists: only the finer and more spirituous (if a­greeable) the substances are that are [Page 181] brought to them by the Chyle, the more they must be a new intenera­ted, and so become more fit to per­form their office toward the adapting these for the functions of life. And as to what concernes the celebrated notion of a Humidum radicale, which begins with our life, and con­tinues individually the same, tho' in quantity diminished, and allayed (which diminution must on the same account, before it arrives at its ut­most periods, cause Old Age;) I can hardly think that, Considering the comparative tenderness of our Bo­dies, the motions both of our Bloud and other fluids within us, and of the Atmosphere, that (in more than one sense) unfathomable men­struum for the dissolution of Bodies, without us, the daily supplies of ali­ments whose particles are sufficiently on the score of their texture agitable, [Page 182] and the openness of the pores every where; any particles that constitu­ted them at first can continue for any number of years, but must be all, one after another, in no long time thrust forth as these causes come to act on them, to make way for fresh ones, that bring with them a suta­bleness to the parts, which they, on those accounts, must have lost. For I cannot apprehend any other diffe­rence (according to the slenderness of my capacity) between the Spiri­tus insiti, Influentes, Humidum na­tivum, if these be corporeal, as I know not 'twas ever doubted, and the Rest of the grosser substance that makes up the Body, than what de­pends upon the Figure, Magnitude, Contexture, and Relations thence resulting: so that the more fine and subtil any of these substances are, I conceive they are so much the more [Page 183] easily dissipable, and therefore far from being so durable as the sup­position of the Humidum radicale requires.

When therefore on any occasion the Bloud; in those who have this induration of the parts, becomes unapt to be duly moved as 'twas wont, it seems very requisite that it should be taken away in some such quantity, as to render the mo­tion of the rest more placid (the distention of the vessels being thus taken off) so to make roome for what is more fine, and apt enough to be quickly spiritualized, and to become a fitter matter for nutri­tion (and, if you please, supplyes of the Humidum radicale) where­by also that degree of rigidness of the parts, by the appulse of this softer Bloud, may be corrected, and so, besides the satisfying many times [Page 184] a present and urgent indication, Life prolonged, if this administra­tion were more frequently, but pru­dently, used, to a considerably lon­ger date, than for the most part it has.

But to returne: If we make but a reflection on the quantity of bloud which very able Physitians have concluded to be naturally in our Bo­dies, viz. from about 16 to 25 pounds according to the bulk and constitutions of persons; which, too, by full feeding, and want of due exercise, may possibly at some times be considerably increased; and withall how that many not only live under great fastings for many days, whether for want of appe­tite or constraint, which (Eva­cuations proceeding notwithstand­ing, at least that of Transpiration, which, according to the observa­tions [Page 185] of the accurate Sanctorius, is much the greatest of them all) must necessarily diminish the quantity of bloud much below the proportion that any Physitian by bleeding dares (though for reasons not so proper for this place, and the brevity of a letter already swelled too much, the advantages thence resulting in many cases equall not those of a free Phle­botomy) and yet afterwards reco­ver to as good a state of health as ever they enjoyed, we ought to lay aside those panick fears of a compa­ratively plentiful evacuation this way; especially when the distemper seems hardly superable without it: and a little delay and oversight in this point, as well as in war, puts the matter past retriving. I know large bleedings (nay even in Pleuri­sies, Peripneumonias, Anginas, &c.) are much dreaded by many, not on­ly [Page 186] of the unconsidering vulgar, but even persons of all degrees, and edu­cation, and even by many Physiti­ans of great name: And 'twere easy to cite great Authors, who have either expressed their fears of it, or so mince the matter, that their ap­prehensions are obvious enough: and he that frequently uses it cannot e­scape aspersions (expertus loquor) be the advantage to the patient ever so remarkable, and must expect, not­withstanding that, alwayes to be dreaded for a Physitian; but must at least be sure to be greatly censured, if, either through the greatness of the distemper, or the (very common unmanagableness of the Patient, either from his own inclination, or others suggestion, success attend it not. But certainly he must have a strict account to give who, taking charge of Lives, will, to their loss [Page 187] or, at least, hazard, be rather swayed by others, or his own, fear than his judgment, but a much stricter, if a prospect of Interest, by complying with peoples inclinations (which I am afraid is too common amongst pretenders to Physick) tempt him to deflect from it. And therfore he ought not be concerned at these Bru­ta Fulmina, but follow the dictates of his reason and conscience. For my own part, though I am farr from thinking Phlebotomy proper for the cure of all diseases, or even to be largly administred in most, but that a solid judgment (which I am sure the greatest number of the censurers of it have not) from substantial grounds in Physick, ought to determine when it is to be advised, and when not; yet I think it might be more frequently, and in many cases much more copiously used, than (at least in [Page 188] the place where I live) it is or will be permitted to be: And I should be obliged to him that should convince me of my mistake in this notion (having hitherto thought I had Rea­son, but I am sure I have had Ex­perience, to confirm me in a good opinion of it) particularly in rela­tion to Apoplexies, as having not been so happy, in my reading, to meet with that satisfaction; Or shall propose such other certain remedies, or methods of cure, as would super­sede its use in this, or other cases, that I think require it. But I must sub­joyne, that I cannot but much won­der that Barbette a Physitian of Con­siderable reputation, and whose Pra­xis is in the hands of all Physitians, should have those ill notions of Phle­botomy, as to reflect upon it, as the cause of the miscarriage of the Apo­plectical patients, he instances in; [Page 189] when both 'tis probable, from what he says, there was but very little bloud taken away, and also 'tis easy to be collected he never durst try the remedy in its due latitude; but, in complyance to his prejudices, would rather let them dye under a (without this) unpromising method, than attempt a cure by it, against which (whatever he could) he does not urge any reason of moment.

As to the place where Phleboto­my ought to be administred: though there being a Circulation of the blould, any part of the Body, where a Veine can be readily come at, may be proper enough; since the Vessels being considerably emptyed any where, the remaining bloud will, 'tis known, come from all others, especially that where 'tis too much congested, to fill them again, and so keep up the proportion every where [Page 190] (and the forementioned Systaltick motion must whem the Plethora is taken off, assist the brisker circula­tion through parts before distended:) Yet the Iugular, if it can be met with, is the most proper Veine for this discharge, since it evacuates im­mediately only from the head; whereas those of the Limbs, doe it but mediately, as requiring a good quantity to be taken away, before what lyes in the Brain can come to be extruded, according to the known laws of Circulation. And this may recommend it self the more to the timorous Assistants; since so 'tis like­ly the relief will be as the more speedy, so with less expence of bloud.

But besides (but especially after) Phlebotomy, I conceive other re­medies ought to be, with all speed, used, as Vesicatories, Cupping glasses, Sternutations or other Errhines, [Page 191] Apophlegmatismes, acrimonious Ca­taplasmes to the feet and wrists, Volatil salts or Assa foetida, or the like, in odour, and any other Ad­ministrations in order to excite, and make the Brain contract it self, to expel the morbid matter, as well as to divert the course of it: as also that inwardly be given spirit of Sal­armoniack or other Volatil salts, Castor, and other brisk Nerval reme­dies, which may so irritate, as to cause a corroboration of its tone; that so the effused, or congested, matter may come to be extruded, and at last resumed by the veines. To this intent likewise, Vomitories, and Pur­gatives (of which, as of the rest, Au­thors have store, as for the due admi­nistration of them the presence and judgment of a Physitian is necessary) ought, as occasion is, to be brought into use. And if the distemper begin [Page 192] once to yeild to the efficacy of these remedies; As I before intimated, so I must again suggest, that corrobo­rating ones should for a long time be insisted on, to restore the Brain and the Nerves to their pristine tone.

After all give me leave to sub­joyne that you may collect a great Specimen of my deference to you from hence, that for the satisfaction (which yet I am afraid they'l think not given) of some of your Friends, as you suggest, to whom the Latin tongue is not so easy, I publish this (against the advice of some great ones of my own, and those great Judges) in our own Language, when most of the speculations had been (perhaps) as easily, but more fitly delivered in that; and withall, give me leave to say, several of them so much out of the way of those, that understand on­ly the English tongue, that few such [Page 193] will, perhaps relish them. And in­deed though nothing here brought, can be pretended at all instructive, either to your self, or other great Phy­sitians of this Age (than which none ever enjoyed numbers of them of greater, if equal, abilities) but must be looked on as very jejune, as being drawn up by one who is so very con­scious of his own inabilities, that it may be construed arrogance to ap­pear at all thus publickly; yet since I must so far dissent from you as to believe, 'tis likely the Discourse may meet with not many Readers but those of the Faculty of Physick; who perhaps out of curiosity may give themselves that trouble; though but to censure the composer; it ought at least to have been written in the Language in which you are most ac­customed to imploy your selves. But I must needs say the argument you [Page 194] urge, from the example of the very great Mr. Boyle, Dr. Henshaw, and several other great, as well Physi­tians, as Philosophers (not to urge that of former Ages) both of our own, and neighbouring Nations, who have thought fit to write in their own Language) particularly the ve­ry learned Dr. Tho. Burnet, who has been pleased to oblige his own Na­tion, by publishing his most curious Theory, and that much improved, in its own, after he had done it first in Latin) has enough in it to plead my excuse to those who advise the contrary.

But indeed there may be one rea­son of moment, I conceive, alledged, why 'tis fitting somthing should be written in the language of each coun­try concerning this, more than any other Disease; viz. because this, of all, requires the speediest relief: and [Page 195] Physitians not being always at hand, Charity obliges that all should have such remedies made known to them as may put a stop to the danger, till farther help can be had. And Phle­botomy being that great, and almost certain, (not to say only) one, when there is any hope of recovery; as 'tis fitting the generality of people should be convinced of it, as well as their danger without it (though indeed it may be suspected, so great are the pre­judices most have, not very many will) and therefore, if any be seyzed, others should have immediate re­course to it for them, without staying for a Physitian; so it may be some farther Apology for my adventuring to gratify you, since no Body else, that I know of, has in English written ex professo of it singly; at least with those convictions, which I have upon me, of the necessity of this Remedy.

[Page 196]However I must herein own your friendship; that since you will have me write, you would have me do it with that advantage to my reputa­tion, not to expose my weakness, by attempting it in the Learned Lan­guage; wherein you must be con­scious, from former instances, how much I am deficient. If any of my notions, here delivered, suit not with yours, I expect, in return, your sense upon them; which, If convincing to my understanding, shall be grateful­ly acknowledged, and subscribed to, by,