ΠΕΡΙ ΥΔΡΟΠΟΣΙΑΣ: OR, A DISCOURSE of WATERS: Their Qualities, and Effects Diaeteticall, pathological, and Pharmacaiticall. By TOBIAS WHITAKER, Doctor in Physic of Norwich. LONDON, Printed for john Grismond, at the sign of the Gun in Ivy-lane. 1634. TO THE READER. Gentle Reader, AT the first view this subject may seem light, simple, and scarce worth the reading; but whenas you have consulted with your second thoughts, you cannot but confess, that our whole being in nature, and the continuance of the same, doth depend upon the right use and application of water, as being so necessary in meats and drinks, as also in medicamental compositions, which cannot but be a matter of very great consequence, since no natural good can be equal to life and health, which is lost or enjoyed by the ill disposition of water and air. Therefore not well knowing how to offer a sacrifice more grateful and acceptable to my Country, and dearest friends, I have endeavoured to wade through springs, pools, moats, moors, as also the sea (which is the womb of them all) And that I may guide both myself and others safely over these Washeses, no less dangerous than the rocks and quicksands of the Ocean, therefore I have borrowed a light from those ancient guides which have steered the course so many hundreds of years without shipwreck. This style and method are answerable to my intention, which is only to inform strangers in our art, without prejudice to the same, considering that I have enabled no man any otherwise, then to defend himself, and preserve his health by the choice of a wholesome situation in respect of water, which is so useful in the whole course of his life, and so dangerous, if proceeding from an unwholesome earth, whether used in medicament or diet: For this cause I have clad my discourse in such robes as are most fashionable for the place and persons, to whom it is chiefly intended: and although Suum cuique pulchrum, be the common proverb, and that every man's own child seems to himself the fairest, howe'er apparelled; yet in judgement (whatsoever otherwise my affection is) I can admire beauty in others more lovely than my own; and will be bold to tax censorious spirits, chiefly in such as never yet were fruitful themselves: not knowing but that their own births may prove as monstrous and deformed as any; and also others, who out of a contentious spirit shall oppose any positive truth, or endeavour to raise their own names by the defaming others more worthy than themselves: for example, who is ignorant of that subtle Argenterius, as also with what malignity and contentious spirit he doth oppose the solid & learned doctrine of Galen; notwithstanding there is a liberty of exception granted to all writers, and hath been practised by all both ancient and modern, as is extant in many volumes, where we plainly see the scholar at foils with the Master, and one equal with another; which were a new labour, and would require another tract to make particular demonstration: therefore to avoid all strife, I have chiefly laboured to shows plainly the ancient opinions, practice, & use of this subject, as it may conduce to the preser vation of health generation of sickness, and recover of the same; and from hence to teacls how dangerous it may be to forsake the beaten road or path, in which the ancient Worthies have safely walked so many ages, losing our selves & dangerously misleading others into unknown ways, which cannot but be doubtful, how ever we escape. If therefore in thus doing I have given offence to any, 'tis beside my intention or desire; if otherwise I have not, than I have the reward of my time and labour, which might have been more negligently spent: yet had I desired to show myself, rather than make good the just requests of my special friends, than I would have chosen another part, which I suppose might have been better acted; but lest the Gates should exceed the City, I take my leave. Tobias Whitaker, Doctor in Physic. ΠΕΡΙ ΥΔΡΟΠΟΣΙΑΣ. HIppocrates a Lib. de aere locis & aquis, sect. 3. Qui artem meadicam recta investigatione consequi volet, is primum quidem anni tempora in considerationem debet adhibere, quid horum quidque possit, neque enim quicquam habent simile sed cum inter se plurimum differunt, tum etiam propter varias quae in eyes contingunt mutationes. advises earnestly those which will apply themselves to Arts, in the first place that they diligently observe the times & seasons of the year, with their alteration and change, as also the faculties of waters b Gal. l. de aere loc. & aq. cap. 1. Neque vero negligentiorem se circa aquarum facultates cognoscendas exhibere convenit; quenadmodum enim gustu differunt et pondere sic quoque virtute aliae ab aliss long dissentire videntur. conducing much to the Diagnosticke, Prognostic, and Curative part of Medicine, as appeareth plainly in the foresaid Book, and in his Book c l. De ulcer. sect. 6. ulceribus plerisquè calidum anni tempus magis quam hyems conducit, praeterquam ijs quaesunt in capite aequinoctium. De Ulcer. Since therefore there is such necessity, as also such power in these to preserve health, and maintain a natural body, as also in generating diseases of ●arious forms, to ●he perdition and ●uine of the best Constitution and Temper, it behooveth a Physician especially specially to study the nature and difference of them and all others to take notice and strictly observe them, so fare as in their nature they are good or bad for common use for by this mean they shall be abl● to prevent a danger, which other wise were inevitable: for commonly all diseases and distempers are conveyed to us in our prinoiples of generation or conservation; to both which do chiefly concur the elements both by way of existence and consistence, and in both respects are Causes either of harmony or dispord in mixed bodies, and are Physically divided into four (that is to say) material, formal, efficient, and final; medically into two, and they are per consensum medicorum divided generally into external and internal. But because external causes are prime & more universal, therefore we will chiefly explicat the nature and condition of them, so fare as they tend to our purpose. External causes are such as come from without, and of these we constitute three orders, divine, celestial, and subluharie: But we pass by the two former, and (to atoyde digression) we will bond ourselves within the limits of the later: and amongst sublunary causes, we will principally discourse of d Hipp. sect. 3. fol. 66. demceps vero de aquis nobis commemorandum est, & quae mor bosae & quae saluberrimae existant. Waters, and consider them not only philosophically, as elementary, but also medically, as they are corrupt or incorrupt; e Plurimum enim momentiad sanitatem consert. as a weighty matter in the government of our health. And of these we will generally observe three differences (that is to say) airy such as distil from the clouds, secondly marine, or such as are contained in the Ocean & parts adjoining, thirdly terrene, or such as arise out of the Earth. Airy waters are divided into rain, or such as come of Snow, Hail, and Frost; terrestrial are such as spring out of the Earth; & they are either nourishing or healing; the nourishing are such as we call sweet, potable, and pleasant to the taste. And of these are diverse species, as of fountains, mores, Standing pools, rivers, & the like. medical Waters are also divers, as from Minerals of gold, silver, brass, Iron, Sulphur, Alum, Bitumen, etc. Lastly, Sea-water is such as is contained in the Ocean, and maritime parts adjoining. And these are their general differences. It behoveth now to discourse of their natures & qualities more particularly, as they are good or bad, healthful, or morbifical. Forasmuch as water that is simple, pure, and without alien mixture, is so necessary for the preservation of life, we will first make a description of those which are set apart for common use and preservation of man; and these are either such as spring out of wholesome earth, and of themselves are simple, pure, and sweet, or such as fall from the clouds, and by transmutation are made water; both which offer themselves to our view. Those therefore which arise out of the earth, and are pure altogether, and void of alien mixture, or such mixture as cannot be discovered by sense (for they can be known to us otherwise then by their consistence, nature, spirits, and qualities, by which we will in order demonstrat them) those are such waters as are most wholesome and fit to be taken into the body, and aught to be such, as are without both sapor and odor. And if any object that passage of Hipp. f li. de aeie loc. & aq. sect. 3. maxim vero commendantur quorum fontes ad solis exortus, praesertim aestivos decurrunt limpidiores enim & boni odoris leves esse necesse est. Gal. cap. 3. maxim vero laddare eas oporter quarum fluxiones ad solisexortus erumpunt & presertim ad aestivos, necesse est enim sptedidiores esse oderatas & leves. and Gal. in their book de aere loc. & aquis, where they say, that sweet and odoriferous waters are to be commended; it is answered, that by sweetness is to be understood pleasantness, and such as are grateful to the taste; add also that insipidnes, is as it were the first degree of sweetness in water, but that which pertaineth to odor, is nothing else but a gentle smooth vapour, with out any roughness, and the water which is without smell, is said to smell best, because it ought to be void both of odor and sapor, as is above said. Secondly, good and healthful water is discovered by g Gal. cap. 3. hae enim dalces & albae sunt. the smoothness, thinness, and clearness of the same: For waters by now much more pure they are, by so much they are more smooth, clear, and thin, and by reason of their h Hipp. l. 5. A ph. 26. aqua quae citò cale fit & citò refrigeratur levissima. tenuity and lightness, are soon made hit by fire, and soon cooled by the impression of the air; and the reason is rendered by Gal. i Gal. comment. 5. Aph. Sed nunc levierem dixit aquam quae ventrem non gravat, & quae cito permeat. not because such water is light in respect of weight, but because it is without any sensible oppression in the ventricle, k Gal. comment. 5. Ap. 26. primum quidem si neque turbidae neque caenosae: deinde sineque in gustu, neque in odoratu, aliquam absurdam qualitatem prae se fert: tum & illud, quod nunc Hippolito: dixit, si cito refrigeratur & cale sit: nam perspicuum existit talem esse bene alterabilem. when as the stomach is not troubled with the receipt of it, as also when it passeth quickly out of the body again by urine. Contrarily we call that water ponderous, which doth not pass through the body speedily, but is troublesome to the stomach, ungrateful to the taste, and smell; & therefore Hipp. would have us under stand, that such water as is soon hot & cold, by reason of levity, tenuity and clearness, is most subject to a sudden and speedy change or alteration, which in meat & drink we call concoctible disposition, such as is easily transmutated or concocted by the ventricle, endowed with a property, and dedicated by nature to such a use. But this description offereth an objection, and peradventure some will urge or allege, that rain water doth possess the same con stitution of limpiditie, tenuity, and levity, and yet is condemned by Gal. l Gal. l. 4. de sanit. tuend. cap: 6. Quan quam potest, qui volet, & ex pluvia aqua id conficere, ipseque si pluviam aquam protarem, id suaderem, verum nec ipsam probo, & nihilo est deterius, siaccessit. as most unwholesome, either in diet or medicine, as appeareth plainly in his discourse of Oximel, and the manner of making the same medicament; affirming the use of rain water not to be approved, and that of itself it is worst of all others, especially if it grow sour & corrupt. To which answer, that neiher our Master, nor any other learned Physician doth mislike or not approve such water, because it is clear, hin, and light, or asia of digestion, but because of an apt disposion, that rain water hath to putrify more speedily than any other water. And in this respect is much different from the former, which is also described by Hipp: m Hip. de aere loc. aq. sect. 3. hae enim dulces sunt & albae modicumque vinum serre queunt, per hyemem calidae, per aestatem frigidae. to be hot in winter and cold summer, which by reason of his incolation, through the profound and deep parts of the earth by antiperistacie is hotter in winter, and in frosty weather doth commonly wreak: For it receiveth alteration, both from the bowels of the earth through which it runneth, and also from the earthy air with which it is mixed. Fourthly, amongst fountains and springs, from rocks or cliffs, those are said to be most health full and wholesome which flow through earth and sand: the reason is, because they are purified in their course, and by collation through such a body of sandy earth, they leave behind them their grossness, and alien qualities, by which they do infect, & are made by this colature much more wholesome. Fiftly, wa●ers which are moved are more ●ure and wholesome, than those ●hat want motion from the air or winds, as well's ●r other enclosed springs; because open streams are purified continually by the wind and air, as is proved by Arist. n Arist. Meteor. l. 3. Finis est facere aeris et aquae commotionem, ne nimia quiete putrescant & ne putredine sua ammantia enecent. in his discourse o● winds, affirming● that the end o● their generation is to cause commotion in the air and waters, lest by quiet they should putrify and destroy the creatures that live in them & of them; Lastly, the purity of the air, fish and vegetals, demonstrate, the wholesomeness of the water, and salubrity for common use external or internal. By this time we have taught what waters are principally to be elected, as also their nature and difference, and how to distinguish them; for although all are esteemed wholesome that we have hitherto spoken of, according to some modern opinions (that is to say) brewed: Yet some are more healthful than others, and stand in need of less caution. Now therefore I suppose it behooveful that we explicate the nature & qualities of morbifical waters, such as offend in smell or taste, or otherwise, and ●re neither reputed wholesome for meat or medicine. Aire and water may affect human bodies three several ways; first as ●hey are elements, ●hey may hurt both by their qualities and substances, and that per se immediately, or ●●mediatly per accidens: Secondly, as aliment, for so by respiration the spiritual substance of the air is said to nourish; water also is said to nourish, insomuch that it serveth for the distribution of aliment into every part of the body, and may also nourish in deed in respect o Avicen. li 1. sen. 2. doct. 2. Non autem dicimus qd. aqua non nutriat quia nutriens est illud quod est in potentia sanguis. of its substance. For the use of water is not only necessary to nutrition, as meat and drink, but also to life, and the continuance of the same; and therefore by some * Ranchinus Patholog. sect. 2. cap. 10. is called vitae potus, salus corporis. Yet Gal. p Gal. li. 4. de usu part. cap. 5. at enim in hac quoquè vena multa adhuc humiditate tenui et aquosa plenus est sanguis: vocat autem ipsam Hypocrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. conceiveth and seemeth to persuade others, that water doth not nourish per se, but instrumentally, so fare as it is a vehiculum of th● blood, and by th● thinness & moistness of the sam● doth convey th● blood into every part, for the nourishing & strengthening of the same Avicen q Avicen. li. 1. fen. 2. doct. 2. cap. 16. aqua unum existit elemeatorum: quae sola inter omnia elementa habet proprium, ut in eo quod comeditur & bibitur ingrediatur, non ideo, ut nutriat, sed quia nutrimentum penetrare facit, & ejus rectificat subst antiam. also is o● the same opinion water (saith he) is the sole element endowed with ● Propertie received either in meat or drink, to mix and incorporate with it, and yet not nourish, but that it may rectify the substance of nutriment & make it penetrable, and in this respect is only said to nourish. Thirdly, if they be considered as medicaments; for by the use of medical waters, as also the mutation of the air, many diseases are begotten, & some are said to be cured: & for this cause the doctrine of air, and water is not only referred to diet, but also to pathology, and the curative part of medicine. In order therefore we will discourse of such waters as tend to the subversion of health, Nevertheless before I explicate their qualities and differences; give me leave to take up a question by the way, which peradventure may seem a small digression, yet not so unnecessary, but that it may be well argued in this place. The question is whether air or water have most power in preserving of health, or generating sickness: They that prefer water first ground upon Arist. r Arist. li. 1. probl. 13. cur mutationem aqua rum gravem esse affirment. where the Philosopher questioneth, why the mutations of the water are more turbulent, than those of the air; & produceth reason to prove it; for (saith he) those things which are able to make a stronger and firmer impression, either by permanency or crassitude, they seem to be more able, either to help or hurt; but water is more thick than air, and makes a longer stay in the body. Contrarily, Hypocrates conceiveth greater inconvenience in the air then in water, and draweth his reason from the necessity; for (saith he) the nocuments of water may be avoided, but the ambient air cannot be shunned, but doth continually affect us, as doth appear in his s li. de aere. lo. et aquis li. de natura humana. li. de natura pueri. elegant gradation, saying; such as is the air, such are the spirits, because they are begotten of blood and air; such as are the spirits, such are the humours, as following the mature of them; such as are the humours, such are the parts of the body, because they are nourished by them, and maintained: To conclude, such as is th● condition of th● part, such is th● state of the whole body. Hence appeareth the necessity of air in ou● conservation and force in generating sickness. But to set aside the decrees, both of Arist. and Hipp. the question is determined thus; that the vital and animal parts of the body are more & sooner affected by the air then by water, and that the natural parts are more hurt by water then the vitals: This being conceived, let us take notice of such waters as do destroy the temper of the body, and are called morbifical, & after what manner they are said to be pernicious to the life of man, some more, some less, either internally or externally applied. morbifical waters are such as are discovered by sense to have a taste or smell; for those that are healthful and wholesome, aught to have neither, as is before said in the description of wholesome water: Secondly, unwholesome waters are such as have an offensive taste and stinking smell, such as are grips, ditches, and channels from salt marshes, or common shores, and these are so unwholesome as I need not urge authority to prove it, yet because I desire to satisfy, take one learned ancient, a● instar omnium. Avicen t Avicen. Tract. 5. fol. 585. Aquae mali odoris coenosae tardam descentionem suam a stomaco, & pen●trationem cibi: & sitis quidem augetur cum aquis huju smodi, & virtus debilitatur, et quia ipsae non sunt purae simplices, in o in hujusmodi aquis est terrecitas plurima quare ex eye genera●ur humour a●● phlegmaticus vitreus, aut melancholicus, et propter illud multiplicant aegritudines splenis in hominibus, qui plurimum bibunt de ipsis, & accident faciunt haemorroidas et hydropisim propter malltiam complectionis hepatis inductam ab eyes, & mictum urinae involuntarium propter malitia● complectionis renum. saith, waters of this nature that are ill savouring, hinder the penetration & descent of meat, and by reason of their impurity, beget viscous phlegm, or melancholy, & multiply Diseases of the spleen, in such manner, that those which drink them often either by coaction or otherwise, are subjected to the haemorroids & dropsy by the imbecility and defect of the liver, obtained by the ill quality of these waters, as also in voluntary mixtion by the ill disposition of the reines; other waters there are of moors, standing pools, and lakes, and these are said to smell, especially in the summer, u Gal. lib. de aere & aq. cap. 3. quaecunque igitur palustres sunt, & stabiles ac lacustres, eas necesse est aestate esse calidas, ac crassas & olentes, cum enim non defluant, sed aqua pluvia semper nova inferatur et sol urat necesse est ipsas decolores esse, & pravas & vitiosas. which doth necessarily come to pass for want of perfluence, for they are not as springs fitted of themselves as they are emptied, but such as are augmented with new showers of rain, & exhaled again by the power of the sun, insomuch, that necessarily they are gross discolored, unpleasant & corrupt; in winter begetting corrupt phlegm, by their congealed disposition, and in summer time vicious and choleric by adustion; in winter they are cold & crude, and soon converted or transmutated into ice, and mixed with mud and snow, are not much unlike the dead sea, or some Stygian lake; but however they are very unwholesome, troublesome to the ventricle, and such as ●●oth vitiate and corrupt the whole ●ody, poison the ●●asse, and destroy ●he best temper; after what man●er Hypocrates x Hip. li. de aere loc. & aq. sect. 3. bibentibus autem lienes semper magnos esse & compressos, ventres vero duros & tenues ac calidos humeros vero & iugula & faciem extenuari, in lienem enim carnes coliquescunt ideoque graciles sunt. showeth: The ●rinkers (saith he) of such waters are always or continually affected with large spleens, hard, thin, and hot bellies, shoulders, throat, & face extenuat, the flesh resolved into spleen, and the whole body wasted & consumed, they are also ravenous, and very thirsty, because of the siccity and dryness, both of the upper and lower ventures: Add also to these dropsies, and for the most part, such as are lethal, besides many difficulties of the bowels and fluxes of the belly, long quartane fevers, which by protraction of time terminate in dropsies, both particular, and universally of the whole body, by which they perish. And these diseases which are generated of such corrupt water happen in the summer: But those of the winter, such as fall upon young bodies, are inflammations of the lungs & madness; to those that are more ancient burning fevers, by reason of the hardness of their bellies: y Hip. mulieribus verò tumores proveniunt, & pituita alba, vix concipiunt, & cum difficultate foetus magnos & tumidos pariunt, quique postea dum educantur contabescunt, & deteriores evadunt, neque bona post partum ●ulieribus purgatio contingit. women shall labour with phlegmatic swellings, it shall be difficult for them to conceive child, and if they prove pregnant, their births shall be large & great, brought forth with difficulty, and in short time perish; neither after childbirth do they purge according to the custom of women: To children that drink these waters chief hap ruptures, and to men warts and ulcers of the ankles, of such a malignant condition, as that they do kill them in short time, and in the mean while do whither them, & make them seem old or aged before their time: Moreover such women seem to themselves to be with child, and when the time of delivery cometh, the tumour vanisheth, and they are altogether deceived, and their expectations frustrated: To conclude, these and such like are the common and ordinary effects of such waters which are of moors, standing pools, and the like, through which we have speedily waded, & find them good for nothing, but the nourishing of venomous creatures, especially raw; & therefore to be shunned according to the caveat of Galen. * Gal. de. sanit. tuend. li. 1. cap. 11. covendae vero sunt, quae ex stagnis hauriuntur et quae turbide, & quae malae olentes, & quae salsae, denique in quibus qualit as aliqua gustu deprehenditur. Now let us examine & pierce the rocks z Hipp. ac hujusmodi aqua ad quidvis paratus esse censeo; secundo loco eas quarum fontes in saxosis locis sunt (quas duras esse necesse est) aut si ubi calidae aquae existunt aut serrum nascitur, aut as, aut argentum, aut aurum, aut sulphur, aut al umen, aut bitumen, aut nitrum haec enim omnia caloris vi proveniunt. & mines, and taste what liquor springs from them useful and safe, or morbifical. These waters that spring from rocks and cliffs, are generally esteemed crude & hard, that is such as pass not easily through the body, but are turbulent to the strongest nature. * Hippolito sect. 3 But those hot waters which spring from minerals of gold, silver, brass, iron, sulphur, alum, bitumen, & the like; all these spring from the violence of heat, insomuch, as some philosophers have thought these to be the showers of fire & brimstone, that destroyed Sodom, and were thrown up by the force of some Earthquake, out of some Aetna. But however they are such as beget strange diseases in humane bodies a Hipp. neque igitur ex hujusmodi terra bonae aquae nascuntur sed durae & aestuosae, quaeque per urinas non facile feruntur & alvi egestioni adversantur. and no good waters can spring from earth of this nature, for they are fervently hot and dry, they pass not easily by urine, and are averse from nature in common egestion. But because we shall have occasion to explicate them more particularly in our following discourse, therefore we will forsake the shore, and launch into the Ocean, where we chief observe the quality of sea water, to be salt, and not to be drunk, but absolutely prohibited b Hippolito sect. 3 salsae vero et indomitae & durae, in totum quidem ut bibantur inprobandae. to be received into the body; for which cause I will hasten out, lest Neptune enraged, should force me to drink whether I will or not, at festina lente, let me before I take my leave, acquaint you with the will of my Master Hypocrates, c Hip. sect. 3 at vero de aquis salsis propter imperitiam falluntur quidam quodque alvum solvere existimentur, cum maxime alvi d●sectioni repugnent, in domitae enim sunt et coquinequeunt; proindeque ah eye venture potius adstri●gitur. who would have it known, that for want of skill in the nature & qualities of salt water many are deceived; For they conceive them to relax the belly, when as they most of all constringe the same; beside they are indomitable, quite out of the government of nature, and not by any natural power to be concocted: Therefore I'll take my leave of them, & return to shore again, and muse a little concerning celestial water, or such as falleth from the clouds in showers, for these are also comprehended in the predicament of morbifical waters, such as principally tend to the generation of diseases, as also such as comes from snow, and ice, or the like. d Gal li. de aere lo. & aq. cap. 4. aquae igitur pluviales levissimae et duteissima & tetenuissimae, & splendidissimae sunr, primum enim sol quod tenuissimum ac levissimum est in aqua educit ac sursum rapit. Rain water in respect of substance, is light and concoctible, limpid and thin in respect of quality, sweet and grateful to the taste, and most proportionable to the best of waters: But because it is an exhalation, although the thinnest part of all other waters extracted by the power of the sun, as is evident; and because of its universal collection and commixture with air and e Gal. eod. cap. quapropter ex omnibus aquis hae citissimae patresount, & odorem malum pluvialis aqua ha' bet, eo quod ex plurimis congregata est ac permixta ut citissime putrescat. clouds, which often times are infected and ill aspected; it is more easily disposed to putresaction, and not thought fit to be used without correction, (that is to say) taken f Gal. verum opus habent ut decoquamtur, ac excolentur, sin minus odorem pravum habent, et raucedines & vocis gravitatem bibentibus inde acce●ere par est. fresh boiled, and strained according to the decree of the ancients, else it soon corrupts and breeds raucitie or whorsnesse in those that drink it. g Hip. sect. 3. pravae verò omnes quae ex nive & glacie fiunt, ubi enim semet con●reverint non am plius ad pristinam naturam redeunt Snow & ice waters are all corrupt, for when they are once congealed, they never return to their former nature again, but the clearness, levity, and sweetness, that is in them doth vanish, leaving behind a terrestrial and ponderous substance, as is proved by this experiment. Take a vessel of water, and keep it till it be frozen, then set it in some hot place till it be dissolved, then measure it again, and you shall find it much less in quantity then before, and will plainly appear, that the lightest & thinnest parts are expired; and for this cause it is said to be morbifical, h Hip. lo. cit. atque de aquis quidem quae ex imbribus nivibus & glacie colliguntur ad hunc se res habet modum at verò calculo maxime tentantur, & renum morbis, ac urinae stillicidia et cex. endicum affectionibus corripiuntur herniaeque ijs suboriuntur cujusque modi aquas bibunt. and most apt to generate the stone in the bladder, strangury, pain of the hips, and ruptures, & these are the effects in general: The same also happen to the drinkers of river waters, which by reason of their mixture, with pools, ditches, & moors they obtain an alien quality, obnoxious and morbifical; and the only cause of such difference is their various participation, and their mutations are answerable to their several mixtures, some qualities more predominant, according to their impressive force, and therefore some are called salt, sulphurous, aluminous, bituminous, and the like; others sweet and clear, others muddy and terrestrial, as appeareth by their settle, but all are causes of affliction to those that drink them; yet some bodies shall be more i Gal. li. de aere loc. & aq. cap. 5. quod autem non omnibus consequentur declarabo, quorum quidem alvus satis fluida est, ac sana, & vesica non arden's, neque stomachus vesica valde coardescit, high facile urinam eijciunt & in vesica nihil ipsis congregatur. able to resist then others, as those that have naturally lax and fluid bellies, and sound bodies, temperate reines and bladders; for such do more easily & speedily pump it out again, leaving little residence in the bladder; Contrarily where the belly is costive, hot, and fiery, the bladder must needs be affected after the same manner, and when it exceedeth a natural temper, than the neck o● the bladder is soon inflamed, by which means the passage of the urine is hindered, or that which passeth, is the purest & thinnest part of the same, the thicker being left behind, of which there is a gradual collection of new matter, which is daily contracted till it groweth large, hard, and stony, and by the course and pressure of the urine in pissing, the stone is forced into the neck of the bladder, which hindereth the passage of urine, and procureth extremity and pain; insomuch, as children when they labour with this disease, do rub, and scratch, and tear the secret parts, as if there were the only stopping of their urine; and it is a manifest sign of such a disposition, when as ordinarily the urine comes forth so limpid & clear, and manifesteth a stay of the gross matter behind, the purer part being strained from it, as it is reported by Bohemian bear — Nil spissius illâ Dum bibitur, nil clarius est dum mingitur, unde Constat quod mult as faeces in corpore linquat. And thus the stone is often begotten by the drinking of water, especially when the bladder is ill disposed; but in k Hip. sect. 3. gignitur autem & pueris ex lacte, si non salubre fuerit sed valde calidum et vitiosum. children it is often begot by the use of milk, if it be not good and sound, but hot and choleric: For by this means it heateth the belly and bladder, exasperates the urine; and in my opinion (saith Hypocrates) small dilute Wine is more wholesome for them, Hipp. in eodem lib. et mea quidem sententia praestat pueris vinum quammaxime dilutum exhihere cum nimirum venas minus adurat & refecit. because it doth not scorch and dry the veins so much. Thus I have showed, according to the method of the ancient fathers of medicine, what waters are wholesome and dietetical; as also those that are unwholesome and morbifical: now we are to consider how they are pharmaceutical, and to be used as medicaments. To the end that we may more fully satisfy, it will not be vain in our progress, to cast our eye back upon the streams that flow from minerals, & more particularly discover the mischieses of them; because they are so highly advanced in the thoughts of some Physicians, and others; upon what ground I know not, but sure I am that they were never so esteemed by any of the ancients in our faculty, either Greeks, or Arabians, or learned moderns, some respect they give them, and chiefly in external use, by the way of baths, lotions, and the like, and yet not ordinarily so to be used, but with a great deal of caution; as will appear hereafter, both in respect of tempers and distempers of the bodies to which they are applied: In so much as Hypocrates or Galen took little notice of them, which doth imply the little regard they had of them or their use in medicine, either for preservation or restauration; for which cause we will travel amongst the Arabians, to the end that we may search out the nature, and use of them more directly, and principally take our view from that learned Avicen of such mineral springs, as are before nominated: And because Chemists constitute sulphur as one of the tria principia in minerals, therefore we will in the first place discover the nocuments of such waters. As for their differences, they are as many as the minerals from whence they spring, and with which they are mixed; but in general all of them are accounted hurtful and dangerous, externally or internally applied, without special indication and preparation, without which they are very obnoxious; after what manner I am now to show. The nocuments of mineral waters, by potation or drinking, and especially springing from sulphur, are these, they m Avicen tract 5 Istae quidem aqua adurunt humores & eos putrefaciunt, quare sequuntur in principio febres chotericae postea in fiae febris melancholicae, propter adastionem sanguinis ex ets factum 〈◊〉 et melancholicus quidem humor qui ex hujus modi aquis generatur, est humor melancholicus malus qui nominatur cholera nigra, etc. scorch and putrify the humours, beget choleric fevers, which altar & are changed into melancholic, by reason of adustion of the blood, & this melancholic humour thus generated is called adust choler, and is the worst of all melancholy: Moreover the effects that come of drinking such waters, are inflammations of the eyes, jaundice, hot rheums, difficulty in pissing, & consumption of the whole body. n Avicen. nocumentum istarum aquarum est stipricare et constringere naturam, & exasperare pectus & vocem & causare difficultatem urinae & stringere vias cibi et causare corporis maciem. Aluminous waters are astringent generally, and they exasperate the breast, cause a difficulty of urine, and wasting of the body. o nocumentum istarum est compositum ex nocumento aquae aluminosae et nocumento aquae sulphureae, &c Vitrial waters are compounded of alum and sulphur, and therefore the effects are answerable to both in respect of stiptication & exasperation, as also in adustion and putrefaction of humours. p nocumentum istius aquae est simite nocumento sulphureae. All springs from silver should seem cordial according to the vain apprehension of the vulgar: Nevertheless by the same authority they make up the number of morbifical causes, and the special nocuments are to ulcerate the bowels, and the general are answerable to those of sulphur: So also are those waters which q nocumentum istius aquae est si mile etiam nocumento aquae sulphureae verum est majoris nocumenti quam illud, etc. spring from green brass, saving that the nocuments are greater than of sulphur, violently opening the orifice of the veins, by which doth happen pissing and spitting of blood, and bloody fluxes, all being exceeding dangerous, and these are the qualities of them, & effects inwardly taken, either as meat or medicine. Now let us consider their nocuments externally applied, as by way of bathing and the like. Bathing in salt waters is somewhat allowed by Avicen, where he affirmeth it to be good to cure the itch and scabs; and r Hip. sect. 3. sunt tamen naturae quaedam et morbi, quibus tales aquae potu sunt commodae. Hypocrates, although in general he protesteth against them, and doth absolutely prohibit their use internally, yet (saith he) the nature of some disease may require such a remedy, by which is to be understood some extraordinary occasion, and after a most special manner to be used: And so also may other compositions of minerals be used; yet Avicen conceiveth it to be somewhat doubtful, and (however) the remedy to be worse than the disease; for (saith he) s Avieen. tract. 4. aqua salsa in balneo confert scabiei et pruritui, verum caresacit cutem postea condensat, et quum non fuerit pruritus, tunc ipsa facit accidere pruritum. although it be profitable for the curing of itch and scabs, so it is apt to generate the same in those that are clear and sound, by reason of condensation and rarification of the skin; besides it withereth the body, hurts the eyes, disturbs the senses, and causeth catarrhs & rheums; so as (if it be well considered) the remedy is more obnoxious than the disease. t aqua aluminosa condensat cutem et constringit ipsam. Bathing in aluminous waters, condenseth & constringeth the skin, causeth ephemeral fevers, cramps and convulsions, especially in clean bodies. u aqua sulphurea & neptica corrumpit complexionem cut is corporis et praeparat ipsam ad putredinem et facit accidere catarrhas, Baths of sulphurous and bituminous waters, spoil the complexion of the body, and dispose it to putrefaction and rheums; and if they continue in such a bath long it doth threaten a dropsy, but a jandice doth more frequently follow. The mineral waters of iron are thought to be least hurtful of all other minerals, and yet of little use amongst the ancients for medicament or otherwise. Thus I have waded, through fountains, pools, motes, moors, rivers, and as fare into the sea as I dare, or as is needful, and have showed both generally and particularly their difference, use, and effects; by which description every man may know how to distinguish for use, those that are wholesome, from those which are unwholesome, and morbifical; as also how and after what manner they hurt, being taken into the body alimentally or medicamentally, without special correction; as also by their outward application; and all this confirmed by the doctrine & decrees of the most learned and ancient doctors, and parents of medicine. Now it remaineth that I acquaint the world with a new mineral spring, unheard of before, and lately practised amongst us in our own County of Norfolk; and although it be yet unknown to sound and learned Physicians, yet it is very adventurously, and most dangerously practised against both reason and all authority. For in my opinion it will appear to be a flat confutation of all, both ancient and modern, as it is used and advised, the manner whereof I intent to set down, and compare it with the former grounds; as also with those which are more recent, by which it will appear, either that mineral waters differ this year from those of old, or else that our practice is either more learned or more rash. The spring itself riseth out of a cleft naked, and unsensed against the sea, and is embraced and often covered by the raging ocean, by which it obtaineth some mixture, both of substance and quality from the same, which is not the least of our observations, since it doth conduce much to the ill or well disposing of the matter for use: the drinkers of the same have been many, and they report some of them that it tasteth harsh and like rust of iron, others taste it like ink, and all think it a miracle, that by the infusion of a nutgaule it doth turnered, & alter the colour: To be short, the manner of practice is thus advised, and appointed by a Physician who is thought to be learned, and he had need to be so, to make good the adventurous, and confident advising such a remedy upon so small acquaintance & trial, which if Hypocrates may be judge w Hip lib. de prisca medicina. quandoquidem naturae cegnitio mini medico esse necessaria videtur isque omni sludio deber contendare (si modo quod recte praeslare volet) ut ir telligat quonam modo quis ad ca quae comeduntur et bibuntur se habent, etc. will appear to be a fault. Moreover this spa (as it is named by the chief Physician thereof) is resolutely determined to be from a mineral, but of what mixture is yet disputable, and therefore the practice ought to be the more doubtful, especially being to be received into the body: For which cause our learned countryman of the bath in his discourse of mineral waters, Doctor Iorden. although his affection to such springs, persuades him of much good use, that may be made of them, and great benefit to man in curing diseases if they were inwardly taken, yet because of his fear of some mixture with other waters which may issue into them, for this cause only he protests he dares not advise the inward use of them; yet this our spa lies more open to such mixture than the bath, and a worse mixture from the sea, yet we will not fear to drink, and advise it to be drunk by pottles at one time and in the morning cold and fasting, as also in the open air, crude and raw from the spring, contrary to the practice of all that ever, were rational; and this course every morning to continue for the space of thirty or forty days, and it is said to cure all distempers, without any other consideration: So that if we examine this spring and the practice of it, we cannot but see a direct opposition to, and confutation of all the ancients. But so it fares with too much confidence, as the Tragedian speaks, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aio, nego, neque ratio mibi constat ulla, cur aiam aut negem. And that this may appear, it is needful that we compare this practice and opinion with the practice of those times, especially in this thing; which indeed if it were but what it is by some thought to be, it were then the compliment of all medicine, which the learnedst Physicians never yet comprehended. For although the vulgar claim power to make every weaver and apothecary a physician, without either study or learning, or authority from any university; and think it a light matter to be a x facile quidem est esse medicum sed bonum medicum esse difficillimum, ne dicam impossibile. Physician; yet those that are so indeed, never found it so easy a matter, Quolibet ex ligno non fit Mercurius. True it is, there are some which can act the carriage of physicians, as Players do the persons of Kings and Lords, and yet are none, according to y Hipp. li.de leg. quemadmodum enim illi quidem formam habitum & person●m bystriones referant. Hypocrates. But to make good our undertake, and to show the difference of our spaw-practise from that of old, or any other that is called learned: Avicen z Avicen. tract. 5. cap. 1. potus plurimae aquae nocet tribus modis, quorum nous est, quod debilitat caliditatem naturalem in nembris, et lebilitat membra principalia, quare accidit eye tuno debilitas virtutum quatuor naturalium, membris autem instrumentalibus accidit debilitas motuum et tremor; secundus modus est quod virtus sequestrative in hepate debilitatur in sequestrando omnem aquositatem a sanguine, quare aut effunditur aquositas ad partes inter mirach et sifach accidit hydropisis aquosa: aut penetrat aquositas cum sanguine ad membra & accidit hydropisis carnoso et virtus sequestrativa inrenibus debilitature, qutaex eomictus urinae irvoluatarlus cum difficultate in ed, et debilitantur renes. affirmeth the drinking of waters in general to debilitate natural heat, enervate the instruments of motion, deject the appetite, and weaken the liver: but this our spa is said to incite appetite, temper natural heat, inliven the members, and rectify the liver. Hypocrates, Hipp. Galen. Avicen li. citat. Galen, Avicen, say all with one consent, that the drinking of waters cold and raw, unboyled, unstrayned, or uncorrected, although otherwise they be not of minerals, yet that such drinking doth enlarge the spleen, and swell and harden the substance of the same: but contrary to this, we say, our spawwater drunk in large quantities, cold & raw from the spring, doth diminish, soften, and cure the swellings of the spleen; and by its mineral quality (if it were well known) is able to perform greater cures than these, to which I shall answer more fully in our following discourse, when I discover the opinions of some modern concerning the drinking of mineral waters cold and raw. a Avicen. loc. citat. Hipp. at vero calculo maxim renian ur er renum morbis ac urinae stilliciaio. Moreover the said authors affirm the drinking of water to generate watery dropsies, the stone and strangury, with other diseases in such as have imperfect and distempered reines: but this our Spa is prescribed as a special remedy against the same difficulty of urine, the stone & dropsy. b Avicen tract. 5. aqua bibita in iejunio debilitat stomachum & facit accidere catarrhas in frigidan do cerebrum propter consensum stomachi cum cerebro, & propter ascensum vaporum aquosorum, nocet enim in frigidando hepar et splenem & preparat ad hydropisim, etc. Matutine or morning drinking of water (saith Avicen) doth debilitate the stomach, breedeth rheums, and refrigerateth the brain overmuch by consent with the ventricle, as also by the ascent of watery vapours, and refrigerating the liver and spleen, disposeth to the foresaid dropsies: but our Spaw-water drunk early in the morning, and cold, cornforts the heart, strengthens the stomach, and so by consent the head, liver, and spleen. They allow the drinking of no waters, either fresh, salt, aluminous, bituminous or sulphureous to be wholesome, c Gal. de sanit. tuen. lib. 6 cap. 9 Si tamen ipsis utendum quae ut●que dulces sunt: quod utile etiam aliqui ex ipsis p oveniat, id vero nen perinde tuto dixeris. and although I incline somewhat to an exact correction, yet Avicen, maketh question whether mineral waters will admit of any or not d Avicen. rectificatio istarum aquarum si possibile est. : but they were ignorant of the virtue of our Spa, for this is to be drunk without any preparation, as if abundans cautela were heretical in this our nimble age. Notwithstanding they were not ignorant of them, as will appear by Galen, e Gal. loc. citato. satius autem sit ejusmodi equas experientia disceraere: quando etiam rarae inventu sunt. when as he renders a reason of his dislike, which is the uncertainty of their mixture, and such (saith he) as cannot not be discovered or found out otherwise then by experience, and experience is dangerous f Hipp. aph. 1. experientia periculosa. (saith Hypocrates) the reason is taken from the dignity of the subject, which is the body of man, upon which such experiments are tried: And for this cause Galen was fearful of their use, although we may grant something to be profitable in them, as there is in every creature, in respect of their qualities, so they be rightly prepared and applied; yet (saith he) g Gal. loc.citato. Id vero non perinde tuto dixeris. let no man say they are safe, or the practice of them; not that the ancients were so ignorant of their qualities, h Gal. loc.citato. Calidarum autem quae sponte ascuntur noxius his usat est: siqui dem quae sulphurosae bituminosaeve sunt ●ae propterca quod 〈◊〉 aciunt inimicissimae calida naturaliter capiti sunt. (as some modern Chemist; pretend) neither do I conceive any great difficulty to prove their nova medicina to be but as a new cape set upon an old cloak, as also that minerals were as substantially discovered and distinguished one from an other, in respect of name, nature and mixture, as also first and second qualities, as they have been by any Chemist; Although I am not ignorant of Paracelsus, Arnoldus, Lullius, Crollius, Agric. & Libavius, which by way of explication, and laborious operation, have made it somewhat more clear in speculation and practice. And yet all is but a dilatation or enlargement of an old foundation of the ancients, and no absolute new edifice of their own, as some of them pretend. But however, because this practice of drinking mineral waters in our country (I suppose) is chiefly encouraged by, and grounded upon our own learned countryman of the Bath, Doxtor lorden. who is not unknown to any Physician; therefore it will not be amiss to transcribe his opinion concerning the use of mineral waters, and whether the drinking of them may be allowed after the manner of our mineral Spa; that is, to be taken into the body cold and raw. For although he were much devoted to the use of them, yet he adviseth the external use only in bathing, when as he saith we find many of these to be venomous and deadly, as proceeding from Arsenic Sandaracha, Cadinia, and the like; therefore we had need be very wary in the inward use of them, & therefore Neptunes well in Taracina was found to be so deadly, as that for this cause it was stopped up; by Montpellier at Perant is a well which kills all the fowls that drink of it, the lake Avernus kills all the fowls that fly over it, so do the vapours arising from Charon's den, between Naples and Puteolum, so there are diverse waters in Savoy and Rhetia which breed swellings in the throat, others proceeding from Gipsum do strangle. But where we find waters to proceed from wholesome minerals, and such as are convenient & proper for our intents, and upon good search, and long experience found to be so, there we may be bold to use th●●● both 〈…〉 do not imagine them to be such absolute remedies, as that they are of themselves able to cure diseases, without either rule for the use of them, or without other help adjoining to them: Moreover the said Doctor doth confess, that although the mixture of the Bath in Somersetshiere, in his own opinion be the most absolute and wholesome of all others, & he conceiveth as wholesome as any to be taken into the body, yet (saith he) the jealousy I have of their alien mixture with other waters adjoining, doth deter me from the counselling their inward use, and the practice of them any other ways, then by bathing. But if any adventure to drink of such mineral streams, he desireth them to be drunk hot by any means, both for the better penetration, and less offence to the stomach, then when they are taken crude & cold producing for proof the ancient custom of the Grecians & Romans, which drank most of their wine and water hot, and not cold & raw from the spring, according to the practice of our Spa in Norfolk: Thus it appears that neither ancient nor modern do much affect the practice of drinking any water, except upon such strict and wary terms and circumstances, as rarely or never will concur. But however the drinking of the water cold is absolutely prohibited, as contrary to reason and antiquity: so that it must appear, that the ground of this our practice, and the use of this our mineral spring is precipitious & dangerous, as hath been plainly proved, both out of the ancients & also many learned moderns; yet such is the vanity of our age, as that i Audax omnia perpeti Gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas. Horat. Nitimur in votitum semper cu pimusque negata. prohibition is the greatest spur to precipitation, and doth hurry us into mischiefs forbidden, as also cause us Narcissus. like to dote upon our own supposed perfection, transcending (if we may be our own judges) our reverend and learned fathers, as if we were not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he vaunts himself in the Poet; k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer. Tydides' melier patie. Horat. upon which confidence in our own strength we are ready to blemish them with dotage, thinking, those learned fathers of medicine too old, and not wise enough to teach us; when wise men know we are too young to sound their depths without their own lines; For when we have done all our best, even than we are compelled to acknowledge the truth of that everlasting sentence of Hypocrates, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that our lives are too short to measure the extent of art; and for this cause I think myself bound to admire that & those which I cannot comprehend, according to his judgement in Plutarch, upon a book of Heraclitus. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And although I had rather be wise alone then err with any, yet in some respects I proclaim with Epiphanius Ferdinandus, Mallem errare cum Galeno & Hippocrate quam cum omnibus alijs sapere, not that I adore any mortal more than by a venerable esteem which is their due; and it were facriledge to rob them of it. But to return to our subject, mineral streams have some toleration in external use, especially for baths; and not so neither without special indication and retification; but for the wanton course of drinking them after such an irrational manner, it was never countenanced by any ancient, or learned modern; For my own part I could wish there were some such Nectar streams, that being used after the manner of our Spa, might not only cure all diseases, but also wash off that curse of mortality, changing age into youth (as Medea is fabled to have done) infirmities into perfection, Aesonidem mutasse velim etc. Ovid. Metam. and weakness into strength; and on this condition, who would not shake hands with Galen and all the rest, and break up schools of physic? for why should students smother themselves in their studies, when they might sit upon a cleft and thence view m Psal. 107 24. Neptunnm procule terrâ spectare fureatem. Horat. the wonders of the deep, and drink immortal health at so cheap a rate? And as I hearty desire to taste of such, so I abhor the use of those that have contrary effects; as to corrupt them that are sound, to weaken those that are strong, to hasten age in those that are young, and in conclusion to strangle and swallow up all in death; And such have been the effects of mineral wells and fountains, as is expressed in our former discourse, especially used without such caution and circumstance, as is laid down by learned and discreet practisers. And they are such also as can hardly or never be reconciled in one object. Therefore both out of my special affection to my friends, and charity to my opposites (if there be any such) but n Patria una omnes omnium charitates complectitur. Cicero. above all in love to my Country, I have endeavoured to acquaint those that are not knowing in these things (although otherwise learned) with the danger of unknown things, both in respect of their mixture and manner of using so rashly: For rashness hath been condemned of old, and caution never known to hurt, o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epicharimu●● nay to be the very sinews of wisdom. However, when I see Galen & others so strict in smaller matters prohibiting the use of rain water (which is little different from the best of waters) I cannot but be zealous in matters of such great consequence, as the inward use of mineral waters without any extraction or correction, or so much as collation, which is the easiest of all other preparations; Moreover if any shall say there is such perfect incolation through the earth, as also such sufficient separation of heterogeneal qualities, that they stand in need of no better it will soon be answered, that they are altogether ignorant, both of their generation, qualities, & use; neither did they ever take notice of the sweats & labours, which many learned Chemists have taken about the preparation of those minerals, from whence the waters of this kind receive their tincture. But however, were they in themselves sweet, light, thin, without either sapor or odor, and pleasant as wine, yet the large drinking of them cold, is most contrary to reason and all sound authority, as is plainly proved. But that I may now avoid prolixity, I will hasten to shore, and to conclude, am bound to advise a serious meditation of this subject, as a most necessary consideration, being a main cause of health or sickness of diverse kinds. Therefore I have plainly shown the nature and difference of waters by reason of their several mixture with wholesome & unwholesome earth, & such as have been always esteemed & used both in diet & medicine for sound and wholesome, all being confirmed by the practice & judgement of the most learned & ancient Physicians; notwithstanding I have left a liberty to every understanding agent, to make use of all as they may be strictly & properly indicated, otherwise upon a mere logical notion, or some nice distinction the practice thereof (forsooth) is to be prohibited. Not that I undervalue the true use of logic, as a handmaid to all arts & sciences, but the excess which is the essence of error. Besides physicians are sensible artificers, and not only refer all to sense, but also are chief taught by sensible precepts, and therefore Ranchinus by the authority of Galen condemns distinctions, definitions and divisions that are too logical as causes of confusion, rather than solid instruction, For which cause I have laboured to be the Echo of those worthies, rather than the parent of my own invention and judgement. FINIS.