HAving been often invited to Town by some Business, I am now the rather Perswaded thereto, by an earnest desire I have had to discourse with you about your Wri­tings and Pills, which you have Placed among us in the Countrey, as well as in this City.

What hath directed your Curiosity to me alone: since from this Town, the Country is abundantly furnished with many sorts of Pills, Powders, Drinks, Spirits, &c. Which promise you wonders far above what I have given you to expect from my Pills, which notwithstanding may not be inferiour to any Medicine this day Extant.

Sir, It is not from any mis-apprehension I have of your Pills, for I am well satisfied of their Vertues, having known many in our Parts, who have taken them with great success and satisfaction, none complaining of any Violence, Griping or any other ill Effects, which are commonly found in most Purging Medicines. But that which hath brought me to you, is a desire to be better satisfied in the Nature and Differences of some Diseases which are frequent amongst us, which though you in your Writings have de­scribed very fully and authentically, yet not without some Obscurity and Termes of Art, which (though they might rather recommend you to the more Learned) to me, and others of my meaner capacity, would be much more ac­ceptable and profitable, were they made more plain and familiar.

I should willingly comply with your desires herein, but then I perceive that I must treat you rather as a Pupil then a Patient, in that you seem to require of me a History of Diseases, which would ask larger Discourses, and more time then this opportunity will afford. But in re­gard that you have applied your self to my advice, before that of others, I shall take care that you go not from me unsatisfied in what so neerly con­cerns you. And therefore shall lay you down a Method, whereby you or any other Person may apprehend and understand the Original of Diseases in General, and be able to reduce them practically to every ones particu­lar Case, as occasion offers. And these shall be drawn from some easie no­tions in Anatomy, by which I shall give you a Prospect (though drawn in little) of the principal parts of the Body, which are design'd (by Nature) for the nourishment and support thereof, and their subserviency each to other in order thereunto. And then shew you how from an accidental de­ficiency in their Functions, all diseases are caused: And afterward inform you of the differencing signs of those, in which you are at a loss.

Sir, This will more fully Answer my desires, and moreover ob­lige me and many others, who wanting means to apply themselves to a Phy­sician [Page 2] know not how to beware the approaches of sickness, nor how to behave themselves in it.

You are to consider, that the substance of our Bodies suf­fering a daily decay and wasting, as well by our own innate, or inbred heat, perspiration of the purer parts of the Humours through the pores of the Skin, the impressions of the Ambient Air, as by the common Evacuations of Nature, so there is required a daily supply of Nourishment, to repair and make good, whatsoever is spent of that store, which is provided to support and preserve it in its perfection. To this end our All-wise Creator hath prepared and fitted the Members and Organs of the Body, in their several places and offices, to be assistant to each other in order to the effecting this admirable work. The Stomach is the first principal Agent of these, which as it were a Kitchen, serves to dress & prepare all Meats and Drinks, though of different substance) which are brought into it, and by its concocting faculty, reduceth them into a white Milky substance which is called Chyle. Which passing through the lowerPy [...]oru [...] Orifice of the Stomach into the Intrail (where having but a slow passage by reason of the many turnings and windings by which they are united to the Mesentery, and receiving there another kind of concoction) it is again altered, and the purer part thereof by the Mi­seraick Veins (call'd, The Hands of the Liver) through the Vein (call'd vena porta from that Office) carried into the hollow part of the Liver, where, by a higher and more Eleborate Concoction it is turned into that admirable Balsamick liquor call'd Blood. Which from thence passeth into the hollow Vein, whose trunck divides it self into two great Branches, the one tend­ing downwards to carry Blood to the lower parts,Vena Ca [...] the other upwards, and mounteth even to the Throat, dividing again by the way into other Branches, one of which asteneth it self to the right ventricle of the heart, by which the Blood is brought thither from the Liver, where being yet higher Ela­borate and Enriched, it is transmitted or conveyed over to the left vintricle, where the Arteries take their Original, which contain the Vital Blood and Spirits, which do enliven, and exercise the faculties of the Body, by other Branches it ariseth into the Brain where the Animal Spirits are made, which also is the Seat of the Reason, Memory, Judgment and Phansie, as also of all sense and motion, here these faculties of the soul by the said Spirit are exercised; in the Brain also are all the Nerves, or Sinews implanted and derived into all the parts, which cause a voluntary motion of the Body, by which it walks, stands up, lies down, or causeth any other exercise ac­cording to the dictate of the will; which could not be done without the Nerves.

Having now shewed you how the meat is turned into Chyle, the Chyle is turned into Blood, how that it is from the Liver as from a Fountain, sent through the Veins, like Channels or Pipes to the principal parts, and from thence by infinite smaller Veins into every part of the Body, and by their [Page 3]several faculties assimilated or made like to their own form, as into Flesh; Nerves, Bones, Membrans, &c. In order to the making up and preserv­ing the whole Frame of the Body; it remains now, that I shew you what use I design to make of this discourse to your profit. And that is, to make it appear to you that as the Actions of the Body are design'd and con­trived by Nature, for the support of the whole Fabrick thereof, so from these Actions being hurt or hindred, is the Original of all Diseases. And therefore a disease is defin'd by Galen to be, [...] 5. l. 1. [...] Turn. An Affect contrary to Na­ture, by which the Action of the Body be hurt.

The Actions are hurt when the parts are disabled to perform their se­veral Offices and Functions, as when the stomach cannot concoct the Food, when the Liver can no longer turn the Chyle into blood, nor the parts attract and assimilate it. Now this hurt is done for the most part by what is taken into the body, that is, our Meat and Drink [...]; which if ei­ther it be unwholesom, or taken in too great quantity, it both ways offend; the body, for unwholesom Meats and Drinks give an unwholesom nou­rishment all sorts thereof giving nourishment consentaneous to their qua­lities; if the error be in quantity the consequence is still worse, for Ex­cess in eating and drinking lays the foundation of all diseases; [...] 1. [...] de morb. for neither the Air, Season of the year, troubles of Mind, nor immoderate exercise or the like Causes can have their effects upon us, to beget diseases, unless the body be predisposed by ill humors. Now this predisposition and preparation of ill humors, is only the result of Indigestion, and caused from the Faculty of the Stomach abused and perverted. For when the Stomach is overcharged, it cannot rightly concoct and turn the food into Chyle, nor being able to contain it long, thrusteth it crude a [...] it is into the Entralls, which also being oppressed, cannot so speedily convey through them the indigested load, but it receiveth there an imperfect al­teration, and so is by the craving veins of the Mesentery, drawn a way and carried into the Liver, which also being indisposed by receiving this crude and unprepared matter, is unable to convert the unequal Mass in­to good blood, but throws it into the larger veins mixed and infected with evil humors and from thence to the Heart the Seat of Life, which (like a Lamp almost drown'd with Oyl) is even stifled and overcom; thus also it is carried to the Brain, the Fountain of Sense and Motion; which b [...]ing clouded with vapours, and filled with superfluous humors, its faculties are interrupted. From the larger, Vessels it is through infinite small ones carried all over the body, every part taking its share, which by reason of its want of d [...]e concoction in the principal parts, is much less prepared to give nourishment to the parts remote, by these means often repeated, the body is made a Magazine or Storehouse of corrupt humors, with which the most destructive and deadly diseases are apt and ready upon all occa­sions to invade the body; If any thing herein seem difficult to your un­derstanding, I will explain it by an Example, to wit, of the Scurvey, a [Page 4]disease which is the general Complaint of the Nation; it is a malignant and infectious habit of the parts ordain'd for nourishment, impressed up­on them by the frequent impulse of vitious humors, which being ferment­ed and diffused all over the body, deprave the faculties and functions of the parts. This is caused for the most part by gross, season'd, salted or dried Meats, or others, of heavy and hard digestion, and these generally taken to excess, as also disagreeable or unwholesom drinks, an errour chargeable upon most persons, (I speak not here of Gluttony and Drunkenness, Natura pa [...] con [...] but) that only which exceeds the Request of Nature, which is content with a little, but too often betrayed and debauched by Appetite) I say, these Meats and Drinks so liberally taken, and not well concocted by the Sto­mach pass into the Entralls, with many raw and excrementitious hu­mors, which from thence are carried into the Liver and Spleen; and by that gradual proceeding before men [...]ioned into all the several parts of the Body; and this work being not duely performed, they are filled and oppressed with thick gross humors unapt for Nourishment, which being put upon fermentation, (which is a working up like Beer in a Barrel,) they are thereby made thin, and contract a fumous, piercing sharpness, which separates, and throws it self all over the Body, the thinner part fastning upon the Gums, causeth them to swell, makes them loose, change colour, subject to bleed, and by degrees putrifie, give an ill savour to the Mouth and breath, and at last waste and consume. Other parts of the humour seize the Membranes, Nerves and Tendons, which makes the Body sluggish listless, heavy, stiff and universally indisposed; further, they diffuse themselves upon the habit or outside of the body, from whence arise red, purple or blewish spots upon the skin, which change colour, fade and vanish, but the disease continuing others succeed them. These are the true signes of the Scurvey; it hath many other Symptoms, but they are common with other diseases, and very often this joyns it self to other diseases, which were it not for the aforesaid Sign; were not to be distinguished from it; Such are Giddiness, Dulness and Pain in the Head, unquiet sleeps and starting, streight and difficult breathing, Melan­choly, Sighing, Pain in the Stomach, Windiness, Belching, want of Appetite, weak and slow digestion, Pain in the Back and Sides, with heaviness, and stretching out, especially of the left side; sometimes Costiveness, other-whiles sudden Loosness of the belly, the Ʋrine is thick and gross, sharp Pains and Aches in the Limbs, and often in the Joints, and may not unaptly be call'd A Scorbutick Gout, when the morbous Ferment is heightned, the Blood more tainted, and humours putrified, the Symptoms are exasperated, and the dis­ease exerciseth greater cruelties upon the body, and throws its malignity into all parts thereof, so that it swells all over, becomes pale and wan, weak and the flesh loose, and often turns to a Dropsey; the Pains are more sharp, and with the spots arise Pustules and virulent Ʋlcers, which corrode the Flesh even to the bones; In a word, as the Disease grows stronger, and the humors [Page 5]more corrupt, so the Symptomes are proportionably aggravated, and happy is that Person, who is so prudent to put a timely stop to the growth of this Fatal Disease.

Thus also is the Dropsy caused, by the hurt and depravation of the Acti­ons and Faculties of the Liver, Spleen, and Mesentery. For the Liver sending out a thin watery Blood, causeth all the Flesh to swell, as if it were par-boiled, and this is call'd the Dropsy Anasarca: Then by default in the Stomach, Liver and Spleen, there is a continual gathering of Serous, or a watery Matter in the Belly, which swells up to a vast Bulk; and this is the Dropsy Ascites, and [...]rom the like cause the Tympany.

From the same also are caused a Cachexie. Di­ [...] [...]. or ill habit of Body, and this mostly affl [...]cts women: who are deprived of their Monthly Sickness, in Vir­gins it is call'd the Green sickness, wherein the Legsswell, the Spleen is ob­structed, windiness and crudities abound, and the complexion decayes, and a multitude of evil Symptoms afflict that Sex.

Hence also proceeds the Gout, Rhewmatismes, Sciatica, all afflictions of the Joynts, and indeed there is no disease that afflicts humane Bodies, but may be ascribed to the default and violation of the faculties of the princi­pal Parts appointed for Nourishment: [...] And though I should discourse to you all the Causes, Signs and Symptoms of every particular disease, (which would but toil your Memory) it would at last resolve into those Principles.

Sir, you have given me great satisfaction, and prevented me in a Query, I was about to make concerning the difference of the Scurvey from other diseases, which it so much resembles in some of its Symptoms; but being resolved of that, I desire you to resolve me also how the Venerial disease is bred and propagated in the body.

The POX is a disease, which indeed comes not immediately from the causes before treated of, but from an Infection taken by unclean Copulation, upon which the venomous Contagion swiftly penetrates, and enters both the solid and fluid parts of the Body, seizing the Flesh, Nerves, Membranes, Ligaments and Tendons, and even the Bones and Marrow, giving its poisonous taint to the Noble Parts before-mentioned, vitiates all their faculties, and by that means are the blood and humors infected, and the whole body miserably diseased, and according to their predispo­si [...]ion it makes various appearances, as Running in the Reins, Sharpnesse of Ʋrine, Carnosuies, Nodes on the Scull, Armes and Shin-bones, sharp Pains in the Limbs, which invade the sick still at night in bed, and hinder his rest; Also Gums or hard knots in the flesh; Likewise Shankers, and Warts in the Privities; Fiery Pustules, and sanious malignant Ʋlcers hard to be Cured, and spread Scabs and Itch upon the Skin, eating Ʋlcers in the Mouth and Throat, which eat through the Palate and Nose; These and many other symptomes attend this loathsom disease; but all these are not at once in all bodies, but are more or less, according to the difference of constituti­ons [Page 6]and preparation of humors, so that you see that this disease comes not im­mediately from these causes, but after Infection is by them propagated and carried on to these extreams.

Sir, there is one thing yet remains, and I shall give you no further trouble at this time, and that is how to apply my self to a Remedy in these Cases, when occasion offers.

As I have given you general Grounds and Rules for the right understanding and tracing these Affects and Effects, to their Causes and Ori­ginal; so I have taken care to provide a general Antidote and sufficient Medi­cine, which is judiciously contrived, and exquisitely prepared, as well to pre­vent the growth of diseases, as to Cure and perfectly expel them, when the Bo­dy labours under any of them; if you or any one takes the like care to take it in time, whilst the disease is yet Curable; and that is, this Noble and most powerful Extract, Call'd, PANARETON, from that universal Vertue, and Efficacy it hath in the Cure of diseases; for first of all, it cleanseth the Sto­mach, and takes away those tough, clammy humors which cleave unto it, and hinder its faculty of concoction; it restores the enfeebled Appetite, and migh­tily strengthens digestion; Passing thence into the Entrails, it draws out from the veins all superabundant corrupt matter, which is apt to intermix it self with the nourishment; it strengthens the Liver, and opens the obstructions of it and the Spleen, and sets them free from all viscous, thick humors, which may any way hinder the proper and just distribution of nourishment to all the parts, and carries them all off by stools, and plentiful Urine, and performs this with so much ease and pleasure to the Patient, th [...]t whereas some strong violent Me­dicines subdue the Powers and vigour of the body, by forcing away more hu­mour then is prepared; this on the contrary, only attends the spontaneous endeavors of Nature, and is (as all Physick ought to be) its Friend and Hand­maid, strengthens and promotes its expu [...]sive faculty, refresheth and enlivens the whole body, and renders it universally able and ready, in the right and due performance of all its functions. Besides, it hath a peculiar property in the Cure of the Scurvey and Dropsey, expelling all those acid, sour, salt humors, which do so sharply assault and oppress the sensible parts, and draws from the remoter parts such as stick fast to the Muscles, Membrans, and Nerves, and takes away all dulness, stiffness and indisposition, and other symptoms which proceed from thence; it carries away by Urine and stools, that serous watery matter which causeth the Dropsey, strengthning the Liver and other parts, so as to prevent its return for the future, which is equally necessary: Moreover, it contains in it the true Antidote for the Venerial Disease, expels its venom and infectious quality, draws it away from all the remotest parts of the body, and perfectly discharges it. In a word, this one Medicine (if timely used) answers all the Requests and Exigencies of oppressed Nature, and disposeth the Body to a lasting state of Health.

This Extract for the better convenience of the Patient is made up into Pills, of which you or any one may take four, five or six, more or less, according to the [Page 7]strength of the Patient; Take them at night going to bed, and they will be­gin to work the next Morring; but they who are easie to be wrong [...], and may be surprised in the Night, may take them after their first sleep, and sleep after them, but when they begin to work: 'Tis more profitable to forbear sleep­ing, but rather wise and walk, for then Motion conduceth more to their be­neficial Operation; if they work five or six times a day it is enough, and the Patient may proportion their Dose accordingly; they are safely used at any time of the year, if need require, and their Vertues are Equal at all times, the Composition being so exact, that they keep entire for many years; They are also taken with great Profit by Sea-faring People, who by eating salted Meats are subject to the Scurvey; And also those who live near the Sea, and in A­guish Places, for they are a great Preservative against both Ague and Scur­vey, and will Cure both: In Agues they are to be taken an hour before the Fit, and in three or four times they seldom fail.

☜ Furthermore, take this Observation to your great benefit; That if you take two or three days, every Fortnight, before the Full and Change of the Moon, they Preserve the Body free from Customary Diseases; for the Moon hath a great Domination or Rule over moist Bodies, and then the Humors are stirring, and most subject to take the Impression of Diseases, especially those of the Head, the Brain being the most moist part, is subject to very ma­ny Distempers, and to the [...]laence of the Moon particularly; And there­fore these Pills are a great Treasure for any Family or Person, being a present Refuge to such as are suddenly taken with any Illness: They are put up in Tin Boxes two dozen in every Box, which is to be sold for 2 sh. 6 d. Seal'd with the Crest of my Coat at Arms, being an Eagles Head Er [...]s [...]d.

Sir, I thank you for this trouble you have taken, and the satis­saction you have given me in every particular, and I shall take Care to observe your Rules and Directions; And as there are many, who, besides my self, have reason to pray for you, so I doubt not that many thousands will have the like cause to do the same.