PReliminary Discourses of the Na­ture of Fevers in general, I must for brevity's sake studiously o­mit, and refer the Reader to such Authors as have made it their business to treat hereof, and particularly to the industrious and worthy Dr. Sidenhams History of Fevers: It's my present task barely, first to relate the History, giving a short account of the most usual symptoms that do accompany this new Fever; next, to propose the true Method of cure confirm'd by matter of Fact, the most evincing Testimony in the world. [Whence may probably elsewhere, as from a better Basis, be raised an Hypo­thesis, different from what has gone be­fore].

As to the rationale, which order or method of proceeding, although by some it may possibly be lookt upon as empirical to propose the cure before erection of the Hypothesis; yet I must necessarily crave leave to tell such, that it has been the only way towards the curing of all diseases, (since diseases began to have a Being, or rather since the juices of our bodies began to be deprav'd and altered into those spe­cifical differences towards mortality, we call diseases) that ever has been known in the world, and that truly, because of our ignorance in the nature of things, a priori, limiting now our Theories or Hypothesis, (which are but a series of notions fil'd to­gether, or methodically rang'd in order to the explicating the nature of things from their supposed causes) to the current of visible phaenomena, attended with most obvious circumstances. And in deed, at this door ( viz. tryal of things) has been admitted all the known cures of dis­eases, whatever the Hypothesis hath been. And for my part, if I might freely speak, I do really think (and that not without good grounds) that diseases would be bet­ter cured, (the great work of Physitians) if all hypotheses were swept off the stage, qeing greater remora to more noble dis­buisitions, and set-fasts to more generous [Page 3]tryals, than we are truly aware of, which duely weighed, let the Reader excuse me, if I take another track then what is vulgar, especially if thereby I come more directly to the proposed end.

First, Then as to the History of this new Fever, it appears under different disguises; the most usual symptoms that are the true emergent effects, and natural results there­of, are pains in the head and back, coldness, chilness, and in some down-right shaking; upon which follows intense burning-heat, thirst, (in some more than in others) vio­lent and profuse sweatings, faintings, and great debilitudes, with a stupor in the head, and general indisposedness, which is followed in many) by a delirium, attend­ed with slumbrings. It most-what emu­lates a Tertian by its paroxysm, especially for three or four, or more of the first as­saults; then afterwards in some appears under the guise of a quitidian; the pulse is high with great disorder: sometimes (but more rarely) it begins with vomitings, and purgings, pains also at the stomack &c.

As to the cure (the main thing aim'd at, and of greatest use for the benefit of pati­ents), The observations I made was, That although sweating, or a moderate Regi­men, be the general and most usual indi­cations for purisying the blood; the one [Page 4]by carrying off that which frequently caus'd a spurious Fermentation therein; the other by reducing the blood to its eucrasia, les­sening its high-pac'd and furious Fermen­tation, rejecting its heterogeneous particles into some common ducts, which by Glisters, Blisters, &c. are carried off, and thereby discharged. By both which Methods, the usual symptoms of former Fevers, (but more by much from the latter than former), have frequently been taken off. Yet here I found, what by my own and others ob­servations, neither would perform the in­tended work, and especially that the for­mer, viz. Sweating, did not (as often as tryal was made) succeed at all; the patients under such sweating Medicines, generally growing worse and worse, found that the profuse Sweatings, patients spon­taneously fell into, were no other than symptomatical, which either carried off much of the spirits in a colliquating fluor, through the pores, (those minute-sluces of the body,) by precipitation, or other man­ner of separation, leaving the fermentative matter behind unsequestred; or the exo­tick acidum, fix'd upon its own caput mortuum, only laid by against another pa­roxysm, ready to be imbib'd to the pro­curing the next Fit; and all this to the great debilitude, faintings, and languishings of patients. [Page 5]Whence I say, by many remarkable obser­vations, I found that sweating Medicines were no adequate remedy at all for the cure; nay further, were indeed wholly noxious, and where us'd, rendered the cure more difficult: whereupon I made bold to pro­hibit (in those patients I was concern'd with) all manner of Sweating, as much as possible, by denying sweating Medicines, (or at least if I did advise any Diaphore­ticks, it was so ordered, as not at all to cause any sensible sweat), and by ordering those heaps of clothes to be taken off, with which they usually loaded themselves, (and that sometimes by the advice of some Phy­sitian), through the blind hopes of advan­tage by sweating, finding hereby no disad­vantage at all to accrue to the patient; although no Medicine should have been prescrib'd, but only a due temperate Regi­men to be observ'd, which doubtless is a much better way, and the patient shall come off with less loss of spirits and strength, by this than by sweating Medicines.

Whereupon that I might the better prose­cute my design, I set upon the preparation of a Chymical Arcanum, which I hop'd would prove generous in the successful cure of Fevers in general, especially and more particularly of this new-minted Fever, re­sulting from the late vicissitude of wea­ther, [Page 6]and interchange of seasons, thereby disposing the blood (in which this dis­ease chiefly lay) to those new sorts of Fer­mentation which give being to this Fever. I wrought day and night till I had brought it on so far, as that upon tryal I found it a very noble and generous Medicine, hit­ing exactly upon this Fever, as peculiarly adapted thereto, answering my expectati­on, yea far transcending it, even to astonish­ment.

The first tryal I had of this noble Arca­num (thus prepared) was upon two Sea­men; the one of which had this Fever in a very intense degree, even to a delirium, with profuse and exhausting sweatings, which I hop'd to take off by the more beaten track of Blisters, Glisters, Spirit of Hartshorne, Milk and Water, and for a while thereby he seemed to recover; (having not then prepared this Medicine) but it happened his Fever came afresh upon him again, with the recurring of the wonted symptoms; and when the Apothecary brought me word what a dangerous con­dition he was in, and delirous, I had then almost finished my propos'd circle of operations upon my Medicine; however, as it was, ventur'd to send him two or three doses, which I ordered the Apothe­cary to give him in Black-Cherry water, at [Page 7]such and such intervals of time. The Apo­thecary at the same time gave me also an account of the other patient I had been sent for to that day, to whom after blood­ing I had prescrib'd a Glister, and Milk and Water for his ordinary drink: the ac­count was that he grew worse and worse, the Fever was growing stronger upon him, and that he also was delirous. Where­upon I ordered him of the same Medicine, thirty drops in three ounces of Black Cherry­water, to be taken at convenient distances of time in the night. Word was brought me next morning, that the Fever in both was so allayed, as they thought it was quite gone; both slept very well, their thirst wonderfully quenched, and their delirium quite taken off. This was surprizing news, but desiring to be further satisfied of the truth thereof, I went my self to see them both, and found indeed the relation I had to be true; one of them had slept very well that night, after taking once or twice of his Medicine, and in the morning call'd for some food, and was when I went fallen a sleep after his repast, and they told me was so well, as had thoughts of going abroad that day; notwithstanding that he had had his Fever upon him for near a week, at tended with violent heat and sweatings, &c. The other I sound was got up, and pretty [Page]cheerful, and I think had taken some food too: and from that time the Fever never return'd, and they without any more ado recovered very well: only this is remark­able, that the former of them, who had been blooded, vomited, and purg'd, and (if I mistake not) some sweating hot Medicines given before I was sent for, and had been a week under such a Regimen, who notwith­standing all this grew worse and worse. I say that which is much to be noted in this patient, (and wherein he differed from the other) was, that I observed that he recover­ed not so fast by far as the other; the reasons whereof ( viz. the great exhaustion of spirits, and debilitude of strength, what by the Fever, and the medicinal Method he was treated with) are obvious to every eye.

Another tryal I had was upon a Trades­mans daughter, of about 10 or 11 years of age, who having labour'd under this Fever for about ten days; they mean while had the advice of a learned Physitian twice, (whose name to prevent reflection I willing­ly conceal) who had put her upon Sweating, and Glisters: notwithstanding all which at­tempts (set on by the Galenical Method) her Fever grew higher and higher at every paroxysm; the symptoms more severe, and she at length delirous: I was sent for, would [Page 9]have consulted with the Physitian first ad­vis'd with; but being at a distance, the Pa­rents were resolv'd solely to adhere to my advice: Whereupon I presently took off the heap of clothes, they had by advice in order to further Sweating laid upon her, (they suspecting malignity in the case) and it was feared (she being so extreamly weak­ened, what with the Fever and pressures to sweat) that the next fit would have carried her away: I ordered the Apothecary to give her three doses in Black Cherry-water, at about three hours interval from each o­ther; being the very day before her ex­pected Fit (which the night following) was to come: she being at ease from the weight of clothes, after the first or second dose fell asleep very sweetly, and in lieu of her ex­pected Fit, she slept very well, and scarce drank any thing all night; and the next morning when I went, found the scene quite altered for the better; the Fever and its attendants had made their exit, she cheerful, very sensible, her stupor being gone, which before she had had (both during the paroxysm and interval) and call'd for food that day, which she eat without being sick at all, but fell to sleep after. I went seve­ral days to see her, she continued recover­ing, but slowly, because of the great lan­guishment she had been brought to before.

The next I gave it to was a man who had languished for about 10 days under this Fever, had violent sweating, spontane­ous, besides what was artificially contracted by Venice-Treacle, or some such heating Medicines: I askt him if he was mindful to be cured (for I was occasionally in his house) if so I would cure him for nothing, (being still desirous of making further tryals of my Arcanum); yes willingly he answer­ed, and thank me too, and should look upon it as a providence towards him: with that I ordered him some of the aforesaid Medicine, three or four doses in Thames-water (he having no distilled Water by him), as also as much the day after in spring­water, being the day before his Fit was to come, took them, and had no Fit then nor after; for I call'd once or twice on purpose to enquire, was gone abroad, and pretty well as his wife told me. This is what is done in the main, only I order at the heel of the Fever a purge to carry off the preci­pitated matter, or other rejected feculencies, to prevent the foundation for future dis­eases which might thence arise.

As to the operation of this Arcanum, which so strangely quieteth the seditious tumult of the blood and spirits, allayeth the feverish heat, and thirst, and as a great anodyne in this Fever, composeth to sleep [Page 11]and quiet rest, and yet hath not one grain of opium in it; add to which it taketh off deliriums, which no opium doth, although prepared after the best manner that I know: as to which operation, I say have not yet in all my tryals met with any thing compara­ble thereto, and yet is but in its minority, in the road to further improvement.

For it neither operates by vomit, purg­ing, or sweat, has no sensible operation at all, save that the symptoms go off, and the Fever disappears.

As to the ingredients of it, I shall speak something, darkly enough (as others in things of the like nature usually do), it's in short, therefore prepar'd with a Mine­ral, by an Animal, and vegetable menstruum brought on by a circuit of operations to its expected height: as to which I confess this is but in limine, to what is intended, and to which it's capable of being brought. Which when compleated by what I have already seen of its operation in its state of Infancy, may ex ungue leonem, easily con­jecture; it will when perfected, and come to its full ripenss and perfection, be one of the best Medicines in the world for the cure of most, if not all sorts of acute diseases, viz. Fevers, Agues, Pleurisies, small Pox, Gripes, and the disease morbus Cholera, and dysente­ries thence emerging, the graduating of which [Page 12] menstruum, that it may the better work upon the aforesaid mineral, and both be brought to their acmè, is the work I am now intent upon, which Arcanum hides in it self a noble, but invisible sulphur of great energy in composing and quieting the tumults of the stomack, and intestines, apparent in the acutest of Fevers, call'd morbus Cholera, as also in Dysenteries, both which it cures almost infallibly. As to the now grassant Epidemick Fever (at­tended with its peculiar, but various symp­toms) a worthy and ingenious Friend of mine (to whom I am in these affairs high­ly obliged) has frequently try'd this Ar­canum, as also in Pleurisies, Morbus Cholera, and Dyfenteries, even with admirable success.

This Medicine succeeds the best, if taken according to a right Method, at the be­ginning, or first days of a Fever, and that especially in Fevers of Children, where it seldom fails: But we do not propose it as Universal in the Cure of all Fevers; for if the Fever have continued long, and that Sweating, or other debilitating Medicines have been given, by which the spirits are exhausted, the Ferments deprav'd, and the whole Mass of blood and other juices brought into an Ataxy, or if the compage of the blood be too much relaxed by an [Page 13]immoderate cooling Regimen, then it has not the expected success; therefore in such and the like cases other Methods must be us'd, or this must be higher graduated by further preparation. What those Me­dicines and right Methods are which may conduce to the Cure of Fevers in general, we shall elsewhere in our Pyretologia, or Essay to an Hypothesis of Fevers, take the liberty to declare.

And as to Tertian and Quartan Agues, those obstinate, and to common Method rebellious diseases, I know two Doctors in Physick (both worthy, learned, and judicious men) who besides my self have a certain and almost infallible Method of Curing them, without either Vomit, Purge, Sweat, or other sensibly operating Medi­cines; so certainly, as scarce one in ten shall either fail or relapse; so quickly, as they shall hear no more of their Ague af­ter the first or second days prescription; and so easily, as it's done without any sen­sibly working Medicine; whereby the three grand indications are answered of Curing, Tutò, citò ac jucundè, the great work of Physicians.

To say nothing here how we know a certain, quick, and pleasant Method for curing Cmvulsions without danger of re­laps, (those to common Method refractory [Page 14]diseases) as for the former. To confirm the truth of which we might, if at leasure, give considerable and remarkable instances by matter of Fact. Nor here further, then to name our effectual and speedy way of curing venereal Diseases: as to all which we are resolv'd (for brevity's sake) not further here to insist thereon, but shall re­fer the discourse thereof to another op­portunity.

These things I the rather name, and but transiently hint, partly thereby to demon­strate by matter of Fact, that somewhat besides, and beyond the wonted Methods, are truly worthy Physicians best Essays; and to put them upon new attempts, and fresh discoveries, in finding out Re­medies suitable and appropriate to every emergent Malady.

And now, if any morose humour'd man (as perhaps such their may be found) shall enviously call me a Quack, I shall answer by querying, whether he that can Cure diseases, or he that cannot, is the Quack? Let them call me so, I value it not; if I can but successfully cure diseases, the great aim (at least should be) of all Physicians: They may upon the like grounds give the same name to Riverius, and to those other worthy, judicious, and learned men after­mentioned.

And lastly, As to such who shall Momus like, enviously carp at any thing, not to be had in their own Vulgar beaten Track, who hereby give a large and clear evi­dence of the ignobleness of their souls, in that they neither are willing themselves to search into the mysteries and wonders of nature, not daring to put their labori­ous hand to draw the curtain nature has vail'd her choicest secrets with: nor (which is yet worse) are they pleas'd with such as really and successfully do, envying those whose labours nature has crown'd by her bountiful denation and liberal discovery of her self; to such (besides the deformed Idea's which may easily rebound from the reflecting glass in their own brest, enough to affright an ingenious and ingenuous soul); I would answer in short, by bid­ing such ignorant and envious spirits, be silent, and cast their eye backward to for­mer Ages, and consider, that besides the ancient Hermetick Arcanum, kept a-foot in all ages of the world, the fam'd Hippocrates had his [...], (ex inguish'd as much as could be by his successor Galen).

To say nothing of the two Pillars of new discoveries in Physick, viz. the fam'd Pa­racelsus and Helmont; nor yet more than to mention the Hybernian Butler, with his Elixir salis, or lapis ignis, by which won­derful [Page 16]cures were perform'd. Had not Po­terius his Arcana, by which he effected wonderful cures, as also Rulandus, Angelus Sala, &c.?

And to look to contemporaries to this very century, had not Riverius his Febri­fugum (a Remedy in effect parallel to ours)? had not the learned Langius his secrets, as his Miscellanea curiosa Medica testifie? Had not Dr. Davison, Physician extraordinary to the French King, famous for his Chymi­cal writings, his Arcanum for curing the Lues venerea, for which the Physicians in Paris gave him 20000 Pistols for disco­vering it to them, and to desist practice (only to the Kings Person)? Was not Dr. Anthony famous for his aurum potabile? Had not the Learned and Industri­ous Silvius, University-professor of Leiden, his Sal volatile oleosum, prepar'd by his own hand? yea, had not our famous Country­man Dr. Willis, his secret preparation of Steel, and other Arcana's he kept to him­self?

And to look now abroad into forreign parts, may not the learned and worthy Borrichius be reckoned amongst this Classis? as also Langelotus, Balduinus, Tackius, Mor­hofus, Kerkringius, Tachenius, Becherus, &c. whose Writings in spight of Envy have made them famous.

But to return home, and there to wrap up, have we not of the very Colledge of Physicians famous men, learned and judici­ous? viz. Dr. Rugeley, Dr. Dickenson, Dr. Goodal, who have their Arcana, which they use in their practice? and for the present, to compleat the number, till another more worthy be added, why may not I as the least of all the aforesaid cast in my mite to this of Natures Treasury? If thereby I ex­cite other ingenious men to the laudable attainments in searching the hidden secrets of Nature for the improvement of the noble Art of Healing; that the desire of filthy lucre being laid aside, we may be more stu­dious really to cure (to answer the great intention of our Employ) and may there­by (if God will) live to see a new Scene of Physick appear, even more certain; and therefore more amiable than ever it hath been since the days of Solomon (who knew the vertue of all things in the three-fold Kingdom of Nature) I shall have what I aim at; of which more elsewhere.

Our Hypothesis for the solution of the usual Phoenomena or symptoms of Fevers, as also for the rendring a more intelligible account of the successful operation of Ar­cana in the cure thereof, we designedly o­mit [Page 18]here, reserving it to another opportu­nity, where we shall give a more ample re­lation of the further successful tryals of on Medicines by matter of fact.

From my House in Chappel-street near New Chappel, Westminster, London.