A KEY TO HELMONT. OR, A SHORT INTRODUCTION To the better understanding of the THEORY and METHOD Of the most Profound Chemical Physicians.  
LONDON: Printed for John Starkey, at the Mitre near Temple-Bar. 1682.   

I Should not afford so short a discourse as this, the solemnity of a Preface, were it not chief designed to apologise for its brevity. For I doubt I shall be blamed for endeavouring to wrap up, or rather hint at so great and useful Truths in so few words, without many Arguments, or much circumlocution, though I produce some here and there, and enough (as I conceive) to convince the considerate and impartial. I confess, I have assiduously avoided running into long controversies, and taken up only what lay in my way, and was necessary for a very short elucidation of my Hypothesis. And this I chose to do for two Reasons: First, That my Reader might in short see Helmont's, and other the ablest and truest Adeptists, chief foundation, main aim and method of curing, without leading him into the confusion, which a Labyrinth of Arguments may do. And Secondly, Sith I intent this only as a preliminary discourse to an Epitome of Helmont, which I design (if God send me life and health) to prepare for the Press in some time; I thought it not fit to anticipate, or rob that noble Author, but let him speak for himself, sigh he abounds with so many, so excellent, and so clear Arguments, as will beyond controversy evince the truth of this Hypothesis, and all its dependencies. Neither would I have you think, that I esteem Helmont to be the only man that was Master of the noblest Arcana's, but that I have the like veneration for a great many other men's Medicines; but I rather choose to call this, a Key to him, because he hath writ more fully of the Chemical Theory and method of curing, than any other I know; the discovery of which to the world, is my chief design. And though I here promise the Reader, that I will render these parts of him which are fundamentally Theorical, as plain, short, and as intelligible as possibly I can; yet expect not, that I will prostrate those Medicines of his (which I understand) to every vulgar capacity, but shall faithfully report them in his own words, sigh I am very sensible, that such prostration, in setting the ignorant, careless and covetous to work, will speedily be the ruin of the noblest Arcana's. And though 'tis said, that Helmont was good in pulling down, and not in setting up; I presume, that what is said in this little discourse, the ground and reason whereof I borrowed from him, being well considered, and duly prosecuted, will convince the partial world, that there was never so true, so sound, so commodious, and so useful a structure built in Physic. I shall only desire thee, Reader, impartially to consider it, and operate accordingly; and I am confident, that thou wilt never want Medicines to satisfy thyself, and all that will see, of the truth of this Doctrine, though perhaps thou mayst not attain to Medicines of the highest Class now known. That it may prosper for the good and relief of miserable mortals, is, and shall ever be my main end and endeavour, whilst I remain,  
WILLIAM BACON. From my House in Winchester-street, London.   


CHAP. I. What are the true Principles of Natural Bodies?  
THE gross Errors of the Schools, concerning Principles, and their useless Philosophy, are so well known and exploded by this inquisitive, and therefore sagacious Age, that it's needless to endeavour to confute them. As for the other opinion of some Chemists, who would have the quinta, or tria prima, to be the Principles of Bodies, sigh it hath had, and perhaps yet hath very learned favourers of this Age, I shall according to my intended brevity only offer this, That if they are Principles, they ought to be unalterable; whereas these are easily altered and turned one into another. So it is certain, that such and such a manner of operation produceth such a product, and such and such a manner produceth another guise; and there are some bodies-that no Art yet known can extract these Principles (erroneously so called) from. Whence I infer, that they obtained such Textures from the fire, and were not pre-existent in the concrete.  
As for that opinion of Tachenius and some others, concerning the principles of things which they would have to be Acid and Alcali, though more intelligible and useful in the practice of Physic than either of the former, yet are not really so, being reducible in Water. It's strange, that Christians (who in matters of Faith wholly rely on the Scripture, and firmly believe all the Historical parts of it, that are either Ecclesiastical, Political, Successive or Professive, should take very little, or no notice of the hints to Natural History that are in in it, especially since Moses doth professedly give us a short account of the beginnings of Natural Bodies, which though short, is abundantly more satisfactory to sense, and consequently reason, than any of the other Opinions: We believe therefore with him and the profound Helmont, that Water is the sole material Principle of Generation, and that the Spirit of God that moved on the Waters, or as the Latin hath it, Spiritus Dei incubabat superficiei Aquae, as a Bird on her Eggs for procreation sake, is the formal cause. Indeed Moses doth not say positively, that that incubation of the Spirit on the Waters was the cause of Creation, but we find the Creation follow in the next words; and considering the brevity of that History, the manner of expression in other places, I presume it's plainly employed, that God by his infinite Power made these the immediate causes of the Creation. Pray think not this too precarious, sigh sense itself doth prove the material Principle of it, especially in Animals, whose mucilaginous seeds do speedily dissolve into Water of themselves: nay, a Child imperfectly born, will in a little time dissolve into Water, and the hard seed of vegetables become like a Jelly at the time of their procreation, whose Gelly-like substance, by an easy digestion is turned into Water also; and the great Philosophers tell us, that by their Liquor Alcahest, they could converr the hardest into liquid substances: and experience telleth us, that many vegetables may be solely nourished from Water, not to mention the several experiments of this nature by many worthy modern Authors. Think it not strange, that from Water such hard Bodies should be produced, sigh it will not only cause Bodies to petrefie, but is petrified itself. As to subterrane Bodies, as Metals, Minerals, etc. we are told, they are fed and augmented by a green and Viscous Water. Now here I understand not, by the Spirit moving on the Waters, an absolute immaterial substance, or the rational soul of man, but the sensitive, common to us and Beasts, and only comparatively immaterial in respect of grosser substances. I conceive it to be such an active, brisk, aetherial substance, as was and is able to rend pliable Water into infinitely different corpuscles, and thereby to mould them into as different forms or textures as we see in the World, and as it formed us, it goeth along with us, and preserveth our textures, and several kinds, as long as possible. But here I foresee that I shall meet with an Objection of some learned and inquisitive Philosophers, whose Opinion is, that the diversity of Natural Operations are the products of different Textures, and those Textures to arise from the Position or Figures of the Constitutive Corpuscles. I readily grant them both, being well assured, that the aptness or unaptness of Textures, make things grateful or ungrateful, hot or cold to us; and so of all other qualities. Yet pardon me if I cannot conceive, that either vegetable or animal things that beget their like, can possibly be produced by the fortuitous coincidence of Corpuscles, without the help of a guiding spirit; nay, I suppose, that dead bodies would (I say not, could) not be generated without the assistance of such a spirit also, which coagulateth or mouldeth such different Textures; for though there be many excellent and luciferous productions of this nature Mechanically obtained, which plainly show that there are such things in nature, yet I hope it will be granted, that they would not be without the art and guidance of the humane soul; and if so, why should we think that the world hath not an Aura vitalis, or guiding spirit in it. Now as spirits, the Governors of the Sensories, that have a distinguishing faculty in them, embracing good, and rejecting offensive things to the utmost of their power, are affected, so it acts for good or evil; otherwise how could it be, that the same Medicine, which is but a dead thing of humane facture, at the same time given in the same quantity and vehicle, should act contraries in several bodies; nay, in the same body at several times; nay, in the same body at the same time, as in women's cases it may happen, the Spirits being assisted, exalted, and thereby enabled to do all things for the best, and to supply Nature in her several indigencies, for the better and longer preservation of the concrete. I could produce you many other Instances, but for brevity sake I pass them by, presuming that this one is enough to convince the considerate, if it be so de facto; ofw which I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter. Now what sort of Water this is, it matters not to my design, sigh it is enough to support my Hypothesis, if it be granted, that all things are made of Spirit and Matter.   

CHAP. II. A Consideration of the Actions of the vital Spirit as tend to our purpose.  
IF the vital Spirit formed us according to the Omnipotent decree, I presume 'twill be easily granted, that the same Spirit preserves us in that form, and is the sole active and sensitive part of the body; for having taken its flight from us, we are no longer capable of Disease or Cure.  
I shall presume to give my sentiments, how that Spirit doth universally act for us and against us, and thereby hope to elucidate that saying of Helmont, that the cause of life is the cause of death. I must first premise, that all creatures in the universe are sustained by nourishment, which I call the conversion of some other parts of the Creation into a symbolising nature to the creature nourished, which is said to be altered by virtue of the ferments; but what nature the Leven of these ferments are, is rather guessed at than known. It hath been endeavoured to be described by manifest qualities, as Heat, Acidity, Acid and Alkali, but the coldness of Fishes, and sweetness of healthy Ventricles, being suddenly and without terror destroyed, overthrew the two former. And if Acid and Alcali be unequally mixed, it would be tasted also, if equally I could never find (out of the body), that it had any power to digest, corrode or putrify, but is e contrà agreat, preserver of bodies from putrefaction. Preternatural Heat and Acidity, are the usual concomitants of Diseases; and we well know that a diseased person cannot digest well according to Hippocrates' Aphorism, Corpora impura quò magis nutrias eò magis laedas, a Rule as little taken notice of by many Physicians as unknown to Nurses, who think they can never do the sick right longer than they are suggesting something to eat, little thinking whatever gross substance they take, that is the object of digestion, is converted by a depraved ferment into filthy matter fit to feed the disease; for 'tis not so much what we eat or drink, as how our Alterative faculty is: The same Joint of meet that nourishes the well, loads the sick; nay, will be converted into Dogs-flesh, Swines-flesh, Fish-flesh and Birds-flesh; in a word, into the several species of all creatures that will eat of it. And we see the poor that feed on the coursest of fare, as vigorous and as strong as those that feed most opiparously. But pardon me this digression. I lament therefore, that so many ingenious and industrious men, have and do still spend so much precious time to find out the causes of vital ferments, thinking it to be so material, as to be discovered by their senses; whereas it seems to me most rational, that that which gave us our formation, should also prepare our aliment, and distribute to us fit Juices for our preservation, and so to unform the aliment (if I may so speak it) to form something for the preservation of its own concrete out of it. If so, we shall never know it a priori, being too subtle for our most assisted senses, but must be contented to guests at it a posteriori, by its effects and parts it inhabits in. However I confess and acknowledge, that these ingenious inquirers have found cut several curious and different parts in the Ventricles, and other parts of things of different species, undoubtedly filthly adapted to work with to alter food of such and such a Texture, to such an end. But I must beg their pardon, that I cannot think them the causes of fermentation, sigh of themselves they are but dead things, longer than they are animated by the vital Spirits; but conceive them as Engines stupendiously fitted for the vital Spirits to operate withal. We see, that creatures of different specist delight in different foods, which no doubt are such that best agree to the Textures of their bodies, and are most fit to be digested by their peculiar ferments. Now sigh it's undeniable, that we being deprived of the sensitive soul, we are uncapable of sickness and health, and all sensation whatsoever, and all ferments, except the putrefactive one cease; though when present and active the smallest prick of a pin, or any other the least injury given to the remotest parts, offend all the whole body, by startling the vital Spirits, whose resentments of injuries, and disturbance thereby, cause them to form morbific Ideas, either through its own passions, or other external accident, or depraved matter. So we say with Helmont, that though there may be millions of irritative material causes, or external accidents, yet the sole formal cause is the vital Spirit, which either being enraged, transported or suppressed, frame diseases accordingly. Patients are altered according to the energy and design of the Agents. Now in all bodies the vital Spirit must be the Agent, (as the Excellent Sir Francis Bacon saith in his Natural History, lib. 1. Exper. 98. being the only active part of the body, the rest being but a dead lump when that is gone, or become unactive, absolutely insensible, and consequently uncapable of Disease or Cure. When this Agent acts vigorously placidly, and without disturbance, he doth all things for the best; but if disturbed, it stirreth up such a hurry and disorder in him, that he mouldeth pretern ural Forms or Textures; and thence we affirm, that the cause of life and health, when in order, is the cause of sickness and death when in disorder. Now the vital Spirit is the occasion of diseases of itself, as it admits of ill Impresses or Ideas, by the senses from without, as we see the same Spirit that is now pleasant and sedate, will on a sudden degenerate into passions of different, nay, contrary effects, according to the nature of the irritative cause from without, or the diseased matter disturbing the free exercise and government of the vital Spirits within variously, according to the quantity, quality, and texture of such morbific matter; But it cannot be said, that they are first or last in point of time, they being as Agent and Patient, and therefore corival and co-existent, though in respect of the irritative cause, we compute them one before another. For the vitals can be no sooner from their duty, but matter will in some measure degenerate for want of its due preserver; and there can be no offensive matter in the body, but must in some degree affect the vitals, though many times it be so little that we cannot discern it. Hence cometh the insensible creeping on of Chronic Diseases.   

CHAP. III. Where and how the Vitals do perform their chief Operation.  
I Conceive the chief and regular Operation of the Vitals, is extended for the preservation of the concrete, which is by assimulating things out of other bodies to the nature of the body it inhabits. Now this great work is done principally in the stomach, where meat is converted into aliment and excrement; and as Hypocrates saith, A good crasis in this first digestion, is seldom, or by accident perverted in the second, but never amended. This is the place in which the Juices of our bodies take the main impress, and are either made good or evil. Pardon me Reader, if for the better understanding the thing, I bring thee this homely comparison. I look on the vital Spirit, to be the Cook and the Stomach, the Cook-room or Kitchen, wherein our Juices are prepared, and according to the crasis of them, to impress our nourishment with a good or evil texture. Now if either the Cook be sluggish, froward or forgetful, or the Kitchen or its Vessels be foul, we can never expect well dressed Victuals; and indeed a bad Cook maketh a bad Kitchen, and a foul Kitchen injures the best Cook. Here I cannot but take notice of the vain humours of some men, who cry out, the blood is foul, purge the blood, purge the blood, and never endeavour to rectify the fountain from whence it cometh, which maketh their endeavours so ineffectual. The wise people of Marah threw salt into the fountain, not into the Rivulets. Is't possible, that a foul and disturbed fountain can afford clear Rivulets? Or is it possible, that the draining of the Rivulets should purge the fountain? If not, away with the common use of Phlebotomy, Issues, Cuppings and Scarifications, unless it be at a pinch, to gain a little time, until so potent a Medicine as may rectify the disorder of the vitals, can be obtained. I say, away with those deluding means, which too often, God knows, by minoration doth so palliate (for it cannot meliorate for the reason abovesaid), that it causeth abundance to rely on them, until they become incurable; and sometimes relieveth them of an acute disease, and leaveth them in a Cronick, as too often we see in Quinancies and Pleurisies, etc. sometimes altering the disease from one shape to another, making good Hypocrates his Opinion in one of his Epistles to King Demetrius, viz. that one disease degenerated into another, which I rather conceive to proceed from the defect of Art than Nature. It's also manifest, that the common cure of mad people is effected by drawing away their Spirits, and so making them sottish and foolish. Now when the office of the stomach is well performed, we need not doubt the other parts (unless depraved through natural deformity, or external accidents), because there is no bad Chyle cometh to offend them; but that being perverted, the offensive Chyle that it sendeth out, doth by degrees pervert all the other ferments, and then we call it, a high Scurvy, until it hath begot daughter or daughters, as Dropsy, Astma, Vertigo, Colic and Iliack passions, etc. and then the lurking Scurvey hath lost its name again, and the daughters give their mother their own denominations. I cannot conceive that any disease can befall a man without passion, or undue digestion, except it be by external accidents. And truly I think a disease occasioned by such accidents, attain their height by disturbing the vitals, and thereby causing a disordered and vicious ferment; so that undue digestion, though hardly perceptible at first, I conceive to be the beginning of all internal diseases.   

CHAP. IU. What is the Object of the digestive faculty.  
THE Object of the digestive faculty, I conceive to be all gummous, viscous and solid bodies, that are digestible, or agreeing to such and such a species. Not spirituous or incorruptible things, which the ferment hath no power to alter. These things, if friendly and pure, are, as it were, snatched away by the vitals: Nay, though impure, yet the vital spirit doth so delight in the spirituous part of them, that it immediately attracts them to himself, as we see in swooning people. Hence I conceive the reason to be (as I have often observed), that Brandy, though very good in its kind, will do a great deal more hurt, and inflame more than duly rectified Spirit of Wine, because the vitals greedily embracing the noble Spirit, draws into its curious recesses upon the wings thereof, foulness and lavid phlegm (wherewith the best Brandy aboundeth), which afterwards doth grate and disturb the vitals. Not that I commend the use of either; for I think even the best Spirit of Wine very hurtful, as it is of itself: I mean, to be taken inwardly, if this be so, what course then shall we take to restore a decayed ferment, sigh whatever is given, that is the Object of digestion, is putrified rather than digested, and becometh fit fuel to augment the disease? for all ferments make aliquod tertium quod non fuit any, either a good or bad tertium, according to the strength and regularity, or weakness and irregularity of the alterer. What then, must the sick Patient have nothing to support him? Yes, Spirituous pure and incorruptible substances, so adapted, as that they join amicably with the vital Spirits, without giving the least disturbance, intoxication or inflammation, though taken in great quantity. And though such things, if volatile, seem as a potential fire, yet they quench thirst, and allay preternatural heat, commonly giving a period to Fevers before the first Crisis, as Helmont saith, Ipse est Medicus non qui expectat, sed facit Crisin. Which I humbly conceive they do effect, as they do comfort easily, and friendly join with the vital Spirits; or at leastwise, the purer parts of the Juices, wherein they inhabit, thereby assisting and corroborating the said vitals, so as to empower them to debellate, and cast off preternatural heat, or rather morbific matter the occasion thereof. As for instance, a Fever I know is generally taken to be an extraordinary and preternatural heat, causing Ebullition, or undue fermentation of the Blood. But I must beg leave to recede from this common Opinion, sigh I am convinced, that the preternatural heat is but a symptom, not the cause of the disease, which I conceive to be a contest between nature and morbific matter, each striving for victory, and thereby causing a great motion in the Juices of the body, which motion produceth so violent heat. The vitals being enforced into that disorderly motion, to make good their post, until they conquer or are conquered I must assure you, that I have ever found, that the hotter a man is in a Fever, the more hopes there is of him, as arguing, that Nature is strong, and maketh a lusty resistance, whereas small external heat in a Fever argues the contrary, and is abundantly a more mortal symptom. We find, that generally Agues and Fevers begin with coldness and shivering of the external parts, which seems to me, as if Nature called in the heat, strength and spirits that used to guard these parts, and concentred them with those internal, the better to withstand the approaching Enemy; and at that time we find a great drought to attend such persons, which argueth a preternatural heat within, occasioned, as I conceive, by the contest, which being over, and the Spirits remitted to their usual charge, they carry away with them their inflamed particles. Now what should we do? should we clog and fetter our Champion, the vitals, with nasty depauparating flegms and gross substances? or should we send proper and true assistance to him? I leave you to judge. I desire any impartial person to observe (in the Country, where many are so poor, as they cannot apply to Physicians) in epidemics, and see how many more die of them, that use the common way of Physic, than of those that use none at all, though the latter commonly want all conveniencies. I could never observe any advantange the poor had of the labouring Yeoman-like sort of people, but that at a pinch, instead of using those cooling slops, they implored some Cordial-water of some charitable Lady of the Neighbourhood; or for want of that, did procure a drachm of Brandy, or other strong-water, to support their declining Spirits.   

CHAP. V An account of the seeming potential fire, before mentioned.  
I Mentioned in the Chapter preceding, a Liquor, that was to sense as a potential fire, yet would quench thirst and allay heat in Fevers: a thing, I doubt, the prepossessed world will hardly credit, until they are evinced of it by experience: Of which, that they may be induced to make trial of for their satisfaction, I shall presume to give the best account I can, and offer my weak Reasons with all humility and submission for the Cause.  
I am entered on an abstruse matter; but being certain, that it's so de facto, rather than it should pass without some notice taken, I am resolved to tender my mean sentiments, if be it but to put more ingenious men on the consideration of it. I confess, I was Master of such Arcana's before I considered the Reason of their so benign Operation in man's body. When calling to mind the words of the Ancients, viz. separate and unite, purify and conjoin, destroy and revive, etc. For 'tis the Hermaphrodite that doth the great matters in Nature. I easily saw, that all the Noble Medicines that would raise Nature to act contraries, whether fixed or volatile, that I knew, were of an Hermophroditical composure; and then I conceived, and still do, that by such an union the parts satiated one another: Of which Opinion I was so fond, that with an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I acquiesced in it a long time, until upon farther consideration, I found I had taken too short a measure to give myself a satisfactory prospect. And though I saw such Textures most agreeable to the vitals, yet it did not satisfy me, why it should be so; and then I called to mind the Doctrine of Des Cartes, which I had read in my youth, concerning the Analogy and disproportion of bodies, wherein he shows, that things of like Texture do easily and friendly join; and things of inconrguous particles, difficultly and disturbantly, and sometimes not at all. At length, happily meeting with the excellent Books of the honourable and incomparable Robert Boil, Esq his Origine of Forms, and Mechanical production of Forms, I was wonderfully enlightened and confirmed in Des Chartes' Doctrine. And then I cast about, to find what Analogy of Texture might be between those Medicines and the vital Spirits. And sigh the vital Spirits are too subtle for the best assisted sense to apprehend, I endeavoured by the same Doctrine, to trace them in the parts where they lived and inhabited; concluding with these Learned Authors, that nothing could delight, lie easy, well, or long continue in a disproportionate mansion; and the blood being allowed to be the vehicle, if not the seat of the vitals, I easily found the products (not principles) of the purer parts thereof to consist of oleaginous, saline and sulphureous particles. I was then convinced, that a volatile, pure and incorruptible body, which should consist of the like particles, must readily and amicably join with the purer and more active parts of the blood, sigh it consisted of parts Analagous to it. Certain it is, that there is no more positive or innate heat, in Spirit of Wine, or saline Spirits, than in common Water: For set them in one place, where let them stand until all accidental or adventitious heat be wasted, and then try them with an accurate Thermoscope, and you shall find them of equal coldness. If so (as no one that hath or shall experience it, but will evidently find), then it's plain, that it's no innate heat in those spirituous bodies that seemeth to inflame us, but as their particles affect our sensories, common Water, whose Atomous parts we conceive to be globular and smooth, passeth smoothly and cooleth. The Spirits, though as cold in themselves, yet by reason of the subtle, penetrating, pungent and sharp Texture of their parts, prick and stimulate our tender parts and sensories, thereby causing heat, inflamamation and intoxication. Now as the Water consisted of too dull particles, to join with, or assist our vitals, so the Spirits of themselves are too pungent and sharp to agree with our Juices as they are, being but several parts of bodies made pure, and consequently cannot have particles of Analogous Texture, with all the pure parts united, as the refinest part of our Juices are. But if these bodies be first separated for purification sake, and then in a due proportion, according to the Analogy of the blood conjoined (which though it be no small Art to perform, yet I'll assure you very feasible to be attained by the industrious), will no longer prick, stimulate or inflame, but on the contrary, will join so amicably with the vitals, as immediately to strengthen, refresh and agitate them, advancing natural heat and vigour, and thereby enabling Nature to debellate all preternatural heat, fermentation, acidity, and what not that is offensive in the body. If you take any pure part of it itself in quantity, it will offend; for sulphureous Spirits will inflame and intoxicate; saline, stimulate, acid corrode; oleaginous nauseate and inflame; whereas a pure body (for so give me leave to call it) hath none of these ill effects in it: It's so far from intoxicating, that it retrieves the intoxicated person even in the very act of drinking, from stimulating, and much more corroding, that it's the speediest healer of wounds, scalds, burn, soreness of mouth, throat or stomach, that ever I saw, from nauseating, as to eradicate it. I have always observed upon drinking Spirit of Wine or Brandy, that it affects the mouth, throat and stomach too, with a burning heat; whereas a pure body doth affect the mouth and upper part of the Gula only, but is never found to give the least offensive heat to the stomach. Away then with declaiming against hot things, sigh they may be so composed as to refresh, quench thirst, and cool. And surely the vital Spirits by no other volatile means can be so truly, speedily and inoffensively assisted, as by such a pure, incorruptible, Balsamic and Analogous body. I'll not presume to say, that this is the volatile Hermophradite of the Ancients, though according to my best constructions or (if you will) conjectures of their aenigmous say, and the effects, I conceive it is. They tell us, that bodies purified and conjoined, produce an Hermaphrodite which is wonderfully assistant to Nature. They only say, there is such a thing, and what effect it hath; but I cannot find the least footstep in them, to lead me to believe, that they ever knew the reason or cause of it's so doing: but if I have hit any thing near the mark, we are beholding to the two forenamed excellent Authors for it.  
Thus have I shot my bolt, earnestly beseeching the most judicious and inquisitive Philosophers to consider it, that so useful a Phaenomena may be improved to the utmost. Correct my errors, so you inform my judgement; for I am as eager to be fully satisfied in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, as I am certain by a world of experience of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.   

CHAP. VI Whether there may be an Universal Medicine, or no.  
I Know that it's held negatively in the Schools; and truly, according to their Principles, it seems impossible: for allowing so many formal causes of diseases as they do, it's not to be supposed, that one and the same thing should be an adequate removal of them all: but according to my Hypothesis, I conceive there may: for if there be but one formal cause of diseases, and that that cause in itself be homogeneal, and an enemy to diseases, and is forced into this disorder through affronts without, or diseasie matter within, and still whilst curable, inclining to return to his regular, wont, and due composure and government, why may not the Spots and Ideas which deprave the same, be (though of different colours) obliterated by one Medicine, which is truly adapted to assist its homogeneity, and natural addiction, and thereby enable it to cast off its enemy, of what Nature soever, as a weapon that defends, and maketh a man victorious, though to be used in several manners, and to several purposes, as the Combatant's exigency shall require, all tending to the main end of self-preservation and victory. I would not be here understood that I mean by a Panacea, a Medicine that infallibly cureth all diseases (for to such I presume there was no sober man ever pretended to, though our adversaries would so construe it, and thereby impose on the ignorant and credulous), but such a one that will cure all diseases curable. We see sometimes diseases of the mildest denominations to be so circumstantiated, as to admit of no remedy; and on the other hand, many of the most feral, that are listed among the incurable, to be conquered. It sometimes, though rarely falls out, that the vital Spirits are so subjugated, that Art cannot raise them again. Now there are Medicines of universal tendency, and of universal potency. By universal tendency, I understand, a Medicine that adjuvates Nature to do in some cases for the best; and, as I formerly said, so strengthen the vitals an particular cases, as to supply the exigencies of the Patient, though by contrary effects, and is universally good, though specifically potent: as for instance, the same Medicine that preventeth miscarriage, even when the wisest Midwives think it impossible, being given in equal Doses and same Vehicle when labour cometh, expediteth it; nay, it empowers Nature to turn the Child in the Womb, and bring it away, even when hopes are almost past, and without a hand, saving half the pains, making the after-pains as nothing, suffering neither Fever, or any other ill accident to happen, invigorating the person, and promoting all things for the best; insomuch, that I never saw the least danger in any Woman lying-in, that used it; and the like contrary effects it will produce in other feminine cases. A Medicine that generally very gently purgeth, yet of itself, without purging, safely cures venereous or cruentous dissenteries. The like I may say, in some cases or other, of all others I prise 'em. Such as these are so necessary, that I wonder how men can practise untouched in conscience, without them. Were it to gain the World, I would not give a Medicine, but is so endowed. But for those of universal potency, I fear there are none now in being; though I doubt not, but that I have seen such a thing, and that within this Twenty years; and therefore I do the rather believe the Ancients assertions, that it's attainable. And truly I have a Medicine of my own, and have seen others of other men's, that will speak fair for Panaceas, and do well deserve the name of Polyaceas. As far as I have experienced mine, which hath been now these Sixteen years, it seldom or never failed in any case where there was a probability of Cure; nay, many times beyond. I could never see any Specific yet, though of universal tendency, as abovesaid, to exceed it: Nay, when I have been called in desperate cases, when the noblest Specific, I knew, would not do it, it hath done, except in case of madness, wherein, though I have found it an excellent Medicine, and very conducible to the Cure, yet I prefer to it a Specific drawn from Venus, of an Hermophroditical texture and effect also; for it raiseth the drooping and dejected, and reclaimeth the transported Spirits. Yet these Polyceas of others and mine, fall mighty short of those of the Ancients: for theirs, it seems, would cure the stubbornest Chronic diseases in One, Two or Three Doses, and those almost incredibly small. Now ours must be taken in large quantities, in respect of theirs, and the Dose very often repeated in such cases. They would give theirs exactly in one Dose for all diseases; we must give ours with some care and modification; for by how much the worse and weaker the Patient is, by so much the more we ought to give. Indeed it would do no hurt if we gave as much to every one. But these Medicines are not easily obtained, and frustra fit perplura, etc. I could here produce many other Arguments, to enfortiate the probability of obtaining Panaceacal Medicines; but for brevity sake, which I assiduously aim at, I shall only add, That if we can produce Medicines, and that not a few of universal tendency, as above asserted, why should we despair of purchasing Medicines by our indefatigated labours, of so noble purity, tecture, and extraction, as to enable Nature to perform all things possible for its preservation, and that in few and small Doses?   

CHAP. VII. A short account of the fixed Hermaphrodite.  
WHat I have hitherto said concerning Medicine, is only to give the best and shortest account I can, concerning the volatile Hermaphrodite. There is also (that I can produce) a fixed Hermaphrodite, which sigh it is composed upon the same reason, means, and end, the volatile is, I shall not trouble my Reader with a needless repetition; only, that as that consisteth of volatile parts made pure, and then united, so this consisteth of fixed parts made pure, and proportionately married. The Ancients tell us of a grand Hermaphrodite, which, if I understand them aright, is produced by the confection concentrating, or in true proportion, uniting the volatile and the fixed, which Art I earnestly labour and pray for, hoping and imploring the Almighty's blessing on my endeavours: And to which I am daily the more and more excited, as I observe the wonderful effects of my Polyacea, which I acknowledge to be but the purer bodies, viz. volatile and fixed, mixed, not united.  
I should now give the Reasons, how this operateth, and produceth such great effects; but shall wave it at present, for Reasons given in my Epistle to the Reader.  
Pluck up your Spirits, you true Sons of Art, and maugre all the oppositions, calumnies, and false assertions of your ignorant, insolent, negligent, slothful and interested Antagonists. Press on to obtain the prize, which I presume (by God's Providence) is nigh at hand.  
Let it comfort, nay, establish you against all these adversities, That God, to whom all glory, etc. hath given you the knowledge to heal your wounded brethren, beyond the pompous pretenders; that you can conquer when they palliate; that you can eradicate, whilst they altar from better to worse; you can purge the blood by invigorating the Spirits, thereby enabling them to cleanse and strengthen its Fountain, and cast off heterogeneous matter, when they only pretend to it, and seek to do it by diminishing them, in draining the Rivulets, or other ineffectual, if not hurtful, means. In a word, you can assist, when they hurt; you can make a Crisis, when they expect one; you can with much confidence enter their incurable list, when they fly the Barriers, crying, Mors in Ollâ, or Consumption in the Pot, their broad back Asylum. Let us therefore return most humble and hearty thanks to the Giver of all good, for his benevolence to us; and in like manner supplicate him for a continuance thereof, valiantly, though modestly, appearing for the defence of Truth, as we value the glory of the Infinite Being, the good of Mankind, and our own Consciences.   

CHAP. VIII. A word or two in defence of Chemical Medicines.  
BEfore I conclude this short Introduction to the true way of curing Chemically, I find myself obliged to offer something in defence of true Spagyric Medicines. I know, that partly through ignorance, partly through prejudice, partly interest, the never-to-be sufficiently encouraged endeavours of conscientious, ingenious and industrious Artists, are condemned, and the cry, Oh Chemical, Chemical Medicines, take care, take care, is bellowed out by the ignorant, and supported by the interessed. But let us see what reason there is for this outcry; and let us examine, what the Spagyric Art is, as it relates to Physic. It's not agreed from what Language the words Chymia or Chemia are deduced; and so men agree not in the meaning of the word. The word Spagyria seems to signify the Art of dissolving and reuniting of bodies, and is understood the same with Chemia, as it tends to Physic. But to leave words, and to the matter. Sure I am, it is an Art of dividing, purifying, and conjoining bodies, to give them their greatest energy in Medicines, as well as to other ends. The division is necessary in order to the purification. The design of purification, is to separate nauseous, venomous, crude, and filthy matter from the more noble and pure parts, so as to render them incapable to be laid hold on, or altered by any ferment, that they may freely pass to assist the drooping Spirits; and then they ought to be conjoined for the Reason's aforesaid. I confess, the vain boasts of ignorant or unworthy Chemists, hath done this necessary Art a world of hurt, who pretend great matters, when many of them cannot perform the two first parts well, very few the latter; yet such are the Chemical Medicines sold in Shops, and prescribed in most Bills; and indeed, which do what is done, but are very unsafe, as the common saying is, Either cure or kill speedily. But what are these in respect of noble Medicines? A true Artist seldom troubleth himself to make them, but buyeth them at the Operators, or the Shops, and beginneth where they end. And truly, did these declaimers know what care, pains, and time after that, must be taken, before they become fit Medicines for the body of man, they must judge, that the Medicines were wonderfully advanced in virtue and safety by it; or those that wrought on them, were not in their right Wits. Now what sort of Chemical Medicines ought to be condemned let the Reader judge; either those that are half dressed, or those that are perfectly ready; or either those that abound with nasty excrements and crudities, or those that are so purified from their feculencies, that they are become incorruptible. See now how the Vulgar are deceived daily, taking such things as they justly condemn, and contemning these noble products to them unknown, which would be of wonderful advantage to them, if they could open their eyes to see it, and disentangle themselves from the idolatrous opinions they have entertained of such or such persons or methods. But now you would object, Why should not there be as good Medicines in the Shops, as in the private Laboratories? I answer, first, because there are no better publicly known and called for; and for the Apothecary to buy what he cannot sell, were imprudence. Again, Many, or most of these Operators, that prepare for the Shops, do nothing else, and know not how to go farther; or if they did, would it be worth their labour. For what they aim at, is to make great quantities to serve many Customers; and such as will sell to the Shops with most profit, is fittest for their purpose; whereas a man that prepares for his own practice, is very tender and careful in his Operations, and always studying to advance them, both in energy and safety, for his Reputation (the ground of his profits) sake. And truly he that hath an ordinary practice, will find enough to do to procure such noble Medicines for it: I mean, diligently to oversee the preparation, though he hath Operators under him; They are things of difficult and tedious acquest. I know something that I could never rightly well obtain under Sixteen or Eighteen months' time. But some will say, What need any Chemistry at all? They may as well say, what need we any Cookery at all? For if the things that God designed for the necessary sustentation of our lives, do require a previous preparation, è fortiori, it will be that there ought to be the like in Physic. None will agree, that Wheat or Barley in its own nature, crude and uncocted, is wholesome; yet we see when it hath passed the Culinary Chemistry, how delicious and nutrimental it becomes, being then fitted for the digestive faculty of our stomaches. How much care ought there then, think you to be, to prepare such pure substances, as, when there is a necessity, may evade the alteration of a foul and depraved stomach, and pass to the vitals in quantity, to bear up, and strengthen the Spirits, until they have obtained power enough to cast off the sordes, and repair the injured and weakened tunicles of the ventricle. And if crude Wheat and Barley be unwholesome, what may we expect from crude Rhubarb and Senna; nay, from Opium, Mercury and Antimony?   

CHAP. IX. A Character of a true Medicine.  
IT hath been oftentimes objected to me, You pretend to good Medicines, and so do all other professors; but how shall we know to distinguish betwixt the good and bad, truth and falsehood, in matters we are not seen in? Wherefore once for all I think fit to present these ingenious Gentlemen with as many hints to distinguish by, as at present occur to my memory.  
First then, Discourse the Physician, and see whether he can give a satisfactory Reason on the foregoing Principles, for what he is about to do; if so, and he be a labourer in the fire for his own practice, and not for common sale; for such men (though they take several methods in their operations) seldom or never fail of good and safe Medicine; but if either of these circumstances be wanting, you have good cause to suspect him: if the former, because if he hath it, it's not of his own acquest; and it's a rare and an unwarrantable thing, for true Artists to impart such secrets to men unacquainted with their Theory and method of curing: if the latter (though it's not impossible, that good Medicines may be put into men's hands that know them not), yet these men have, and can manage them but as Empirics.  
Secondly, Inquire of the ground, or the matter from whence the Medicine was made; if from Narcoticks, see that it be divested from all stupefactive qualities; which you may do, either by the first trial on yourself, or on others experience: If from Emetic or Cathartick drugs, see they be divested of those crude and poisonous qualities, and become only Cordial. But of this you cannot judge on yourselves; for it's possible your bodies may require purging or vomiting; if so, a true Cordial that powerfully assisteth the Vitals, will cause either; so that the same thing in quantity and vehicle, vomiteth one, and purgeth another, doth both with another, sweats one, composes another, and purgeth another by Urine only; in short, hath all the operations of Physic in it on the sick, as the Disease requireth, to each one's greatest benefit; yet to the perfectly well, signifieth no more than a large draught of liberal Wine, which heightneth a man to pleasantness, not transport; if from acids, be sure they be made sweet; if from Volatiles, see they are in due measure fixed; if from fixed, see they are in like measure volatalized.; but if from the dangerous Proteus Mercury, see it be perfectly fixed and unalterable; for if acids or Alcalies will reduce it into Mercury again, it's an unsafe thing.  
Thirdly, See on the experience of others and yourselves, that it will act much differently at least, if not contrarily.  
Fourthly, Let it be such, as the weaker the person is, the greater quantities ought to be administered.  
Fifthly, Let it be such, as though never so often taken, shall not grow so familiar or habitual (as all digestible things do) as not to produce its wont effect.  
Sixthly, That the Patient being recovered, shall not at all desire or long after it.  
Seventhly, Whether it be a volatile or fixed, or both, let them be so truly purified, as to be incorruptible, and consequently indigestible.  
Eightly, Adventure not on that which is given with caution to avoid sleeping, eating, drinking, or the like; taking cold only excepted.  
Ninthly, Avoid such things as cause gripes or convulsions in the working.  
Tenthly, It ought to strengthen the weakest to go through its operation, and give a sensible relief presently after it is ended, if the person be capable of recovery.  
Eleventhly and lastly, It ought to be so safe, as to be given to women with child, or in childbed.   

CHAP. X. A Word of Advice to the Chemists in general.  
THough we have so many enemies, dear Brethren, that one would think it were a madness in us to injure one another, much less that honourable and useful Art we all pretend to; yet such is the pride, avarice, or other depravity of humane nature, that we find Judasses' in our little Family. There are a sort of men which pass generally under our denomination, which may be duly called Mysochymists, which have never read, or are capable to read the Chemical Theory, and do verily believe the portentous promises of Authors, and only can talk of the 3. or 5. Principles, the usual products of their own fire, depending plainly on Recipes which they take out of Authors; and perhaps being more industrious than common Operators, excel the common Medicines that are sold in the Shops; or have got a good Recipe, or more, by Tradition, which if duly and modestly limited, would answer in many cases the expectation of the sick, far beyond the common practice; who are so transported at a few good effects of their Medicine, that they presently post it up for an Universal one; which proving otherwise, begets an ill name and opinion of the Art, and its truest Sons. What these men do, is merely accidental and Emperical, being not able to give the least show of reason for its manner of operation, or cause of its effect.  
There are another sort amongst men of our Character, which well deserve the name of Pseudochymists, that post up Universals also from Recipes only; well knowing that they will not answer the expectation of the Patients, or the Character they give them; and this they do for filthy lucre sake, equally producing bad reflections with the other. I could hearty wish, and it shall be my endeavour, That the judgement of the former may be rightly informed, and the Villainy of the other detected and corrected, and the Art and its Sons distinguished from such Impostors. If any one of these men, or any other, have found so noble a Medicine plainly prescribed, as will assist Nature to do contraries, or act as is commonly said, quo natura vergit, they have had more happiness than I, and many others that I know; and if they have not, I (for the reasons aforesaid) reject all others.  
But here may be objected, That though these Medicines be not of the noblest nature; yet being much better than those of the Shops, why should we not use them? It seems to me but reason indeed, until better be discovered, the best known should be made use of; but then do not give them a better Character than you are certain they deserve; and acquiesce not in them, but seek for greater things. I conceive it cannot consist with the consciences of those that know better, to use worse; the resolution of video meliora proboque deteriora sequor, was never yet approved of. Neither want there faults among very good Artists, who are too apt to prise their best achievements at such a rate, as to keep them Arcana's indeed even from their fraternity, which I presume proceeds from the narrowness of their spirits, for want of taking a due prospect of affairs; for such men doubt, that should they part with their Medicines to others, they should be undermined and abridged in their Practice; whereas the truth is, considering the number and interest of our Opposers, and the people's adherencies to them, we cannot have too many to vindicate and promulgate so useful truths: for though (as 'tis commonly said) Truth will speak for itself; yet it cannot, if through the prepossession of some, and the opposition of others, it be not suffered to speak at all. There are those in every corner bellowing or whispering to the people against such as will not worship their Diana; and lest the offerings of the said Dissenters to a truer Deity should be observed by the deluded Vulgar, they'll not vouchsafe to see them themselves, but confidently condemn what they know not; what need is there then of a vast number to vanquish so numerous an Enemy, to meet them in their ways, detect their actions, and convert the people? It is not want of miserable people, but for want of their being convicted of the truth, that worthy men have not their deserved employment; and how to do so great a work with few hands, I cannot divine. And then how great an improvement of Medicine might be made by a true and plain discovery amongst Artists, I can hardly guests at, much less describe. Sure I am, that all true Artists work to the same end; and though they take many ways, yet they come to one centre, viz. producing Medicines adapted to corroborate the vital spirits. Now were there a communication of their several Meandrous progresses, I think the straightest, nearest, easiest, cheapest, pleasantest and safest path would soon be found out. Do not mistake me, brethren, as if I advise you to impart such your secrets to every one, but only your fellow-workers, who are able to add something to the Corban; or such as are so convinced by Theory and practice, as to become sincere Proselytes to truth. For I'll assure you, how to deliver over my mean acquests to Posterity with safety, hath much perplexed me; and I can find no other way, but by tradition of them into worthy hands. And if so, consider I beseech you, how many ought we to instruct in our time, lest those excellent Medicines have the same fate of those more excellent of the Ancients. Do not we all condole the loss of Paracelsus', Lullye's, Helmont's and Valentine's Arcana's? etc. and shall we be guilty of the same ourselves? God forbidden. As for my part, I shall ever think it great uncharitableness; nay, unparallelled folly, to deny the eager traveller a true direction in his way, especially if his painful Journey be undertaken for the good of my brethren and children: wherefore you that are travelling, and are desirous to find out the right way, come to me, and I'll show you the best I can with alacrity.   

CHAP. XI. A necessary Address to the Learned.  
BE not offended, Worthy Sirs, that I take upon me to revive a Theory, Method and Medicines contrary to yours, sigh my conscience of the vastly different benefit there is to the sick from the one to the other, and my charity to mankind, obligeth me. We know yours and our own: You know your own, but not ours: if you did, there would be no longer a dispute between us. I here therefore with all humility, invite you to come and see, make experience whether the things be so de facto. Harbour not, I beseech you, in your breasts, that I writ this to detract from you, but with an ardent desire to inform you. I call God to witness, I give you here a faithful account what I am, and what my designs are: My Birth was generous, my education liberal, my dependences competent, bred by my Father's command towards the Civil Law, though my natural inclination was towards Physiology; to which I stuck close after I was emancipated by Marriage; but at length, observing what ill success Physicians had, and that double as many recovered in epidemics, of the miserable poor people that had not money to go to a Physician, or conveniency of lodging, warmth, or other necessaries, as of those that did, and had those conveniencies also; my esteem for Medicine decreased more and more, and had absolutely despaired that any good could be done by it, until I called to mind some very good Cures done by the Learned Dr. Edmund Dickenson; I then considering under what appellation he then was, (viz.) a Chemical Dr. I hoped from that Art some good might be found; and then casting about, I met with the assistance of Dr. George Starkey, and after him Dr. George Thomson; by whose assistance, and God's blessing on my endeavours, I am what I am, being not fond of practice, or the lucre of this World, but resolved, if please God, I might see this true and efficacious Art in a prosperous way, to retire to my former solitude. Fear me not Gentlemen, but have a charitable opinion of me, and credit my protestations, until you find cause to the contrary. Unfetter your Reasons, I beseech you; cast behind you all preoccupations and prejudices, and lay aside those poisonous Principles that you sucked in your youth, which you will find the hardest task as well as I; for Quo semel imbuta, etc. Suffer not your noble souls to be any longer enslaved to Authority, or customs of others. Resolve to trust your own senses to inform your Reasons, and do not superstitiously adhere to the Ipse dixit of another.  
When you are thus prepared, come see, and gratefully admire the wonderful Virtue's God hath placed in his Creatures, if duly managed. Then shall you see continued Fevers generally cured in Five or Six days, or within; an Intermittent one in Two or Three Fits, Agues in Two, Three or Four at the most, and that by rational and radical means, without the Peruvian-bark, or danger of reciduation, leaving the Patiented healthy and vegete. You shall likewise see by God's blessing, Pleurisies, Quinances cured, citius, tutius & jucundius, without Phlebotomy, than with, and without danger of Chronic diseases to ensue; the Small Pox generally without danger, or any considerable sickness, within Six hours after the first administration, preserving the beauty in a great measure; and also all pestilential Fevers that I have seen.  
I never saw the Plague, I confess; but I doubt not the efficacy of my Febrifage in that case, Deo juvante. You shall also see Colic and Iliack passions taken off in an hour or Two, and perfectly eradicated in Three or Four Weeks. You shall see a Specific so advanced, as to cure all sorts of Kings Evil that I have yet seen, though I have seen the Joint Evil. And as for the Scurvy, that hath insensibly crept upon us, through undue digestion, and in time grown obstinate; nay, hath begot a daughter or daughters, as Asthma, Vertigo, Dropsies, etc. you shall see so subdued in a Month's time at most, if the parts are found, as that neither you nor the Patient will doubt of a recovery; nay, many of those that are accounted consumptive, restored. But as these diseases have a long time of growth, so they require a long time to be destroyed; for in a radicated Scurvy, the ferments through the whole body are depraved, so that they must have time for a gradual restoring; which being restored to their former vigour and purity, will soon alter the whole Mass of blood; nay, it's done together; insomuch, that persons that have scarce any thing that deserve the name of sanguis in them, will in time have as pure blood as any person whatsoever: Of which I have some instances at hand. I thank God, I never saw any one yet, if the parts were sound, though languishing under an hereditary Scurvey, but have been mightily relieved, if not cured: The Jaundice cured in Two or Three days. You shall also find women's Labours to be no longer dreadful, as I have said before.  
Pray Sirs, have so much virtue, as not to condemn the things you know not. What would it advantage me to assert these things, if I had not found them by long and large experience to be so, sigh I know you want believe me, unless you are convinced by matter of fact? To that therefore I invite you; wherein, should I fall short of what I here assert, understood in a modest sense, I were the veriest fool in Nature. And to give you greater encouragement to inquire into the truth of it, I hereby faithfully promise you, that whosoever will give himself the trouble to be satisfied of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and then will peruse proper Authors, until I am convinced, that he is fully satisfied in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and become a faithful Proselyte to truth, and like to make a conscientious and industrious promoter of it, I will take him by the hand, and lead him into that path, at the end whereof his desires shall be crowned. And if the elder sort of learned and judicious men think it too late, or beneath them to learn, come you of the younger Class, and hearty welcome: For 'tis from you, Worthy and Learned men, that I expect the beautifying and augmentation of this Art. It's by your Assistance that I hope to see the present known Medicines advanced, and the admirable Arcana's of the Ancients retrieved. In a word, the Art of Medicine so meliorated, as nothing but irreparable Old Age, and Death itself, may be insuperable: Which to see, is the humble and hearty prayer, and endeavour of  
Your humble Honourer, and sincere Servant, WILLIAM BACON.