AN ENQUIRY INTO THE Causes of Diseases IN GENERAL, AND THE Disturbances of the Humours IN MAN's BODY: Wherein the Nature of the Blood, of the Air, and of a Pestilential Constitution, are briefly considered. Together with some Observations, showing wherein the Venom of Vipers, particularly that of the English ADDER, does consist. By Stanford Wolferstan, M. A.  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  Hypocrates lib. de Flatibus. 
LONDON, Printed for Thomas Basset, at the George in Fleetstreet, 1692.   

To the Right Honourable FRANCIS, L d. Carrington, Baron of Wotton, Viscount Berrisfore, in the KINGDOM of IRELAND.  
My Lord,  
THere are Two things the world may, perhaps, wonder at: First, My Confidence in divulging my own Opinions after so many great Men, in so learned an Age. And Secondly, My Presuming to present them to so Honourable a Person.  
In answer to the First, I must needs say, That the Dissatisfaction I have met withal in Books, (as to most of these things) made me resolve to speak my own Thoughts. And, as to the Second, Your Lordship's great Judgement in these Studies, and Regard for them, lately Honouring the Faculty, with Encouraging so near and worthy a Relation of Your own in these Studies: Together with Your Lordship's condescending Attention, and favourable Regard to my weak Discourses, sometimes on such Subjects. These things, my Lord, have emboldened me to present these Physiological Inquiries; which I offer with a very grateful Acknowledgement of Your Lordship's condescending Favours to,  
My Lord, Your Lordship's most Obedient humble Servant, Stanford Wolferstan.   

THE PREFACE.  
NOtwithstanding the voluminous Authors that we have in Physic, both Greeks, Arabians, and latter Commentators, Physic till of late (since the days of Hypocrates) hath received but small improvement; for if the Circulation of the Blood (on which both the Theory, and Practice of Physic ought to be built) was discovered by Solomon Enigmatically by a Wheel; he was never till of late understood. If Andreas Caesalpinus knew any thing of it, that knowledge till of late was never improved; no Methods of Practice were built on it. The present state of the Art of Physic is just like that of War, both have received considerable Improvements, the one to save, and the other to destroy Mankind. The Practical part of Physic, without the Theory, is like downright fight without the Wisdom and Conduct of General Officers; and we see more Towns taken, and Countries overrun by the prudent Conduct of Commanders, than either by the use of Gun, or Pike. The Practice of Physic without the Theory, being just like a great House, built without Foundation, which, however it may appear fair at first unto the Eye of the beholder, will quickly tumble into ruin, and disorder. For, as I remember an eminent Physician hath lately told us, 
Dr. Walt. Harris.  If the Art of Physic did consist only in telling Medicines, or writing Receipts, the Apothecary will excel the most learned Physician, the prating Shop-Boy his Master, a Nurse or talkative Woman, full of her antiquated Book-Receipts, will carry the Prize, and Glory from them all: Whereas if the true Theory of Diseases were first well known, fewer Medicines would serve turn, and Practice would be much more successful than generally it is. I have here only showed, what gives the first disturbance unto the Humours of our Body; the next Enquiry will be, What Humours are the first disturbed; the manner of their disturbance; the Effects of, and Remedies to each particular disorder: And if the Success be answerable to the Hypothesis, than it will appear, that the Theory of Physic is a most necessary part of that Study.  
I must confess I have laid aside my Books, in these Physiological Inquiries, to speak my own Thoughts; so that if the Reader finds here any Opinions contrary to his own, or his beloved Author, let him not too much blame me for it, there being a Libertas Philosophica, as well as a Licentia Poetica; which Liberty I hope I have no way abused.  
If he reap any Benefit, or Satisfaction from it, he is partly obliged to that great and general Want or Defect, that first occasioned it; for which you may take the word of our learned Professor, Dr. Brady, in his Epistle to Dr. Sydenham: Nemo uspiam Medicorum, adhuc vim aeris & influentiam in humana corpora attente perpendit, nec in vita nostra perennanda quas agit parts eorum quispiam consideravit satis, etc.   

An Enquiry into the Causes of Diseases in general, etc.  

CHAPTER I.  
FOrmer Physicians were wont diligently to inquire, what solid Parts in their sick Patients were illaffected, and to look for the Cause of a Disease, either into the solid Parts they found so ill-disposed; or the four 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, humidi formas, vel species, as Hypocrates calls them: Hae vero sunt, as it follows, Pituita, Sanguis, Bilis, & Aqua: Whereas indeed there is but one of these, humour Corporis, in a true Sense, which is the Blood itself; the other three being only the Recrements of that Blood.  
No wonder then that the Ancients were mistaken in the true Causes, and right Names of Diseases, since they did not well inquire into the Nature of the Blood; and were indeed very ignorant of many Humours in the Body.  
But our Modern Physicians finding this Error, (especially since the Days of Dr. Harvey) have both Chimically anatomised the Blood, and other Humours of our Body, and diligently endeavoured to observe their Nature, Variations, Alienations, and Effects; they more justly seem to find the immediate Cause of many Distempers in the Humours; who in their wand'ring Motions about the Body, do disaffect, and disturb the solid Parts, which else before were very sound, and quiet.  
From hence, in the Writings of the Moderns, we find new Diseases, new Causes, and new Names, according to the various ill Disposition, Alienation, (or supposed ill Fermentation) of those Humours.  
But what gives Disturbance first unto those Humours, is now become the grand Question amongst learned Men.  
Some believe the Cause to be in the Humours themselves; and as the Ancient Physicians very often placed the Cause of a Disease in the solid Parts, so now we have the Morbi Salivae, Morbi Chyli, Succi Pancreatici, Lymphae, etc.  
And yet the several Humours are so fitted for each others Service, and the great Ends they are designed for; they so regularly perform their Offices, and are so well prepared for one another, that we may rather wonder we live not the Age of the Patriarches, than that we are so often disturbed by any Intestine War amongst them; for if the Mouth receive nothing but what is fit as to the nature and quality of the Aliment; if it exceed not in quantity, if it stay there its just time, Mastication is performed regularly, the Saliva will mix with it, and the Stomach will perform its office, in the Maceration, Digestion, and Expulsion of it; the Pancreatic Juice, Lympha, etc. are fitted for their several duties, of Separation, Attenuation, and Dilution of the Chyle, without any preternatural Commotion, to disorder or disturb one another: Nor does the Blood quarrel with the well prepared Chyle, but amicably receives it, from the Ductus Thoracicus into the Subclavian Vein, and as amicably passes with it into the right Ventricle of the Heart; where, though in the Diastole they are more mixed together, yet they stay not to make that bustle some have thought; but by the Systole, or Contraction of the Heart, are soon driven out again, the Chyle accompanying the Blood to the greatest amongst all the Viscera for Sanguification; I mean the Lungs, where they both receive a florid Red, and by the admission of new Particles, are more perfectly assimulated, or united with each other.  
So that even in Fevers, which seem to give the greatest disturbance to the Humours of our Body, the disturbance does not first arise from a quarrel raised amongst the Humours of our Body; for as long as no strange ill Guest comes in to disturb them, they all perform their natural offices in their wont order; but if they are hindered, or disturbed in their Operations by an Enemy, they then fall into tumult and disorder.  
The Blood does not quarrel with its self, nor one part of it with another; for really there is no Fermentation truly and properly so called in it, neither (according to the supposed Fermentation) does one part act upon or against another: For,  
I consider the Blood, not as it is Chemically analyzed into their Principles, but as it is a viscous Humour, whose Particles are not fermented, but combined together, by an Aereal Salt, receiving Heat from its own Motion and Circulation round the Body, whose Recrements are separated from it, by the various and admirable Contexture and Configuration of the Vessels through which they pass, whilst the viscid Humour, or thick part of the Blood, keeps close and entire, and by the Anastomases, which, I suppose, (whether visible or not) of the Veins and Arteries, is brought back to the Heart, a languid Pulse being continued by the extremities of the Arteries to every Vessel, which helps forward the Separation, Secretion, Percolation (or which you shall please to call it) of the thinner Humours.  
I shall not stay here further to show, either the incapacity of the Blood, or unfitness of the Vessels through which it passes, nor the danger of such Heterogeneous fermenting Liquors, especially near the extremity of such small, fine, and thin Vessels through which these Liquors, of such different fermenting Particles, must violently pass; neither shall I show how the Viper, and several other Animals that sleep all Winter, whose Blood is not denied to Circulate all that while, neither void any Excrements all that while; nor is their Bladder of Gall fuller when they first come forth in the Spring, than when in Winter they first took their Beds; to demonstrate that either the Blood does not always Ferment, or that the Gall is not thrown off by such a Fermentation. So that as I cannot believe Diseases, with the Ancients, so often to arise from the solid Parts, nor the Blood to consist of their four Humours; neither can I believe such a bustle kept in our Body, as hath of late been talked of; I neither believe the solid Parts, nor Humours of our Body, to conspire our ruin.   

CHAP. II.  
SO that whatever Commotion, Fermentation, Ebullition, or Disturbance there is raised in the Blood, or Humours, must arise preternaturally, and ab extra; for else neither Blood nor Humours will, of themselves, raise such violent Commontions, or Disturbance in Man's Body.  
It is unquestionably true, That the Air, above all the other Non-naturals, is the great Cause of our Epidemic Fevers; the best way therefore to know the nature of such Fevers (next to the knowledge of the Blood) will be to consider the Nature of the Air we breath in.  
I shall not enlarge here concerning the various Opinions of Philosophers, concerning the Nature of Air; neither shall I determine from whence it does arise, or of what composed, it being two larger discourse for my present purpose; but I shall only suppose the Air to be a very thin and fluid Body, combined most strictly with a Nitrous Salt, and by the pressure of other Particles, together with its own natural fineness and subtlety, pervading every Patulous Poor in Earth and Water.  
I say Patulous, because I deny not, nay, I affirm there are many Pores, especially in the Earth, which the Aereal Particles are not fine enough to enter; and indeed both Earth and Water do resist its penetration, but not with equal force, for the Air cannot enter very far into the more strictly united and combined Particles of Earth; but the grosser parts of the Aereal Salt, are necessitated to stick fast; from whence, with easy trouble, we extract our common Niter.  
Whereas the Particles of Water being more flexile, and not so closely combined together, recede, and give way to its penetration.  
So that this Aereal Salt enters to the bottom of the deepest Waters; without which the very Eels (though bedded in the Mud) cannot live; and Carp have been known to live by Air only two or three days out of Water; both which Experiments are best manifest in extreme cold and frosty times, when the Ice does prevent the ingress of Aereal Particles into the bottom of the Water, and the Cold does condense them for the others preservation.  
In great Frosts I have known, in Ponds quite frozen over, multitude of Fishes, for want of Air, sometimes as it were smothered, sometimes sick, and faintly swimming towards small ventholes, where Air was let in to them, by breaking the Ice to keep them alive.  
But to this I have heard some answer, That they have never broke their Pools at all, add yet their Fish have done well: and it may be so sometimes; for in a great Frost the Water is very apt to sink from the Ice, and leave a hollow in the sides for the Air to enter; and I have been certainly told of Eels that have crept out of the Deep, and their warmer Mud-beds, for want of Air, and have lain dead at the sides, in the extreme cold Winter: Which, had they been so much offended with cold, as some have thought they are, they might easily have kept their former stations, and so have remained ab hac coeli inclementia tuti.  
Or else perhaps such Pools had Quick-springs running into them; unto the heads of which Springs the Eels will commonly swim up for Air, when the body of the Pool is quite froze over. Where, by the buy, let me also make this further Observation, That the greater and more subtle Fish, tho' they swim near the bottom, yet they choose to be directly under those holes; by which it is apparent, that these Aereal Particles are neither reflected, nor refracted, but by the interposition of another body, which they cannot enter, being otherwise pressed directly downward. But to return.   

CHAP. III.  
THe Air having this penetrating force upon Earth and Water, let us next inquire how it does enter human Bodies: And there are four ways by which it is commonly believed the Air may enter them. Either,  
First, By its Mixing its self with what we eat, and so is carried to the Stomach: Or,  
Secondly, It is received by Inspiration into the Lungs, and so is carried to the Heart: Or.  
Thirdly, By the Pores of the Body, and from thence to the Mass of Blood: Or,  
Lastly, In Inspiration to the Ventricles of the Brain.  
The two first of which I think are only true.  
As to the First; I think it is undoubtedly true, That the Air does, or Aereal Particles do, mix themselves with what we eat; for whatever we eat must have numerous Pores, or else we could never chew it with out Teeth, nor digest it in our Stomach, or separate Chyle from it; and I believe the Air may sometimes enter these Pores; however it does enter the Mouth, and is pressed down the Oesophagus, either by the Aliment, or force of the Aereal Atoms naturally descending downward.  
Secondly, It is apparent, both by dissection and inflation of the Lungs, that the Air does enter from the Larnix and Bronchia into the Vesiculary Cells; and there, whether by Adhesion of Dissolution, does deposit at least some part of this Aereal Salt; where, meeting with the occurring Humours, is directly carried to the Heart, and by its pungent Particles, molesting and irritating the straight and obliqne Fibres of the Heart, does stir them up into a Systole, or Contraction; and so by straightening its Ventricles, to drive forth the Blood contained in them into the Arteries: And this I take to be the true Original of all Pulsation, and first Motion of the Heart, and Circulation of the Blood throughout the Body.  
For when I observe the Motion of the Hearts of several Creatures, exempt from their Bodies, and exposed to the open Air, I can never believe either the Influx of Animal Spirits, much less the Ebullition, Accension, or Dilatation of the Heart, to be the Cause of its Motion, but rather the Effect of these pungent Particles, pricking upon the Fibrous Parenchyma of the Heart in their natural descending Motion.  
As to the other two ways of receiving Air, viz. by the Pores of the Body; when I consider the Nature of these Atoms pressing directly downward, when I consider the great Quantity of Effluvia that are continually transpired by the Cuticulary Pores; when I consider the Nature of those Pores, and their action to be continued suitable to the utmost extremity of the Arteries, from whence they originally are derived: I cannot see how the Air can enter without either penetratione Corporum, or an inversion of Nature's constant Course, à centro ad circumferentiam Corporis.  
The Arguments that are brought to prove the Porosity of Animals, by the taking in of Effluvia from without, by the application of Oils and Plasters, (if rightly considered) make nothing to this purpose, to prove the entrance of this Aereal Salt by the Cuticulary Pores; for setting aside a particular enquiry into the Nature of those Plasters, their subtle, active, igneous, violent cooling, drying, irritating, stupifying, obstructing, and preternaturally disposing Particles, the Cuticulary Pores are not placed for the due reception of this Salt; nor have the points of this Salt a force upon them, since they naturally descend perpendicularly downward. Neither when I observe the difference between the Florid, Aereal, Coloured Blood returning from the Lungs, and the Atropurpureal Blood contained in the Veins, can I believe this Aereal Salt does enter by the Pores; or is mixed with the Venal Blood, when I see the Venal Blood both changed in colour and consistence from what I either find in the Lungs or Arteries.  
And, as to the last of these ways, when the Authors acquaint us how the Particles of Air are parted asunder in Inspiration, part of them ascending by the Mammillary Processes ad cerebri Vasa, & Ventriculos, and part descending to the Pulmonary Vessels; when they can, I say, explicate with any great probability, how this is done, for what end, or use, the Air thus impregnated with this Salt should come thither, it will deserve further Consideration. For,  
Although the Mammillary Processes may be affected by the Points of this Salt, and according to the various and different Modification of them, so various and different smells may be conveyed unto the Brain: Nay, although the Particles of this Salt are very different, as to their shape and bigness, size and figure, yet do I not see how, nor for what end or use, by these nervous Processes, they should ever be conveyed; neither can I see how these Nerves, or even the Brain itself, should escape a strong Vellication by them, which, being communicated by the Nerves, might cause a Convulsive Motion in every Member in the Body.   

CHAP. IU.  
NOw as I have owned but only two ways by which this Aereal Salt can be received into human Bodies; so do I very much question, whether any thing else is left, in a healthy Air, to join either with Chyle or Blood, but this Aereal modified Salt only; which of its self is able to produce these great and following Effects:  
First, This Salt as it is variously mixed or modified by the Aliment we take into our Mouths, so different Tastes appear unto us, and either descending or pressed down by other Particles, causes that disturbing Vellication on the inner Membrane of the Nerves, that seem as it were placed there on purpose to communicate that Vellication to the Brain, do occasion that Desire in us which we call Hunger; and from hence the taking the fresh Air does make us hungry, because we then receive this Aereal Salt both into our Lungs and Stomach.  
But 'tis not the Fibres of the upper Orifice alone, but descending to the bottom of the Stomach with the Aliment, or what we eat, it has the same Operation on the other Fibres, and moves them to eject out at the Pylorus, and irritating all along on the Fibres of the Intestines, is a great cause of, and a considerable advantage to their  Motion.  
But though this Salt is so highly useful to the Motion of the Stomach, yet the Stomachical Operations are not performed by it alone; for I have observed, near the Rugae of great Animals, certain Papillae, and a constant Juice lodged in them; which I believed to be an acid Lympha, brought thither by invisible Lymphatic Vessels; which, we have great reason to believe, do moisten the Fibrous Tunicles of the Ventricles, although they are not perceptible to our sight.  
I know I might have traced the generation of Animals, and have shown not only how the prima stamina vitae, the Motion of the punctum saliens; nay, even the birth itself, is owing to this Salt.  
As likewise I might show the Effects of different occurring Salts that meet together in the Duodenum: But, designing brevity, I must hasten next to show what great Effects this Nitrous Salt doth commonly produce upon our Blood: And, First, as to its Colour, it does change the Blood from an Atropurpureal Venal Colour, into a Coccineous Florid Red, which is performed even by common Salt mixed with Blood.  
Secondly, to Combine, which is the proper Nature of all Salt mixed with Blood, as doth appear even from the vulgar, and commonly known, Methods of Lutation, Cementation, etc.  
Thirdly, To hinder the Coagulation of the Blood.  
Fourthly, By its lancinating and irritating Particles (supposed by some of a Comical Figure) to molest and vellicate the Fibres of the Heart, and give occasion to its Motion; from which Motion, round the Body, does depend, its Heat, and all things else will follow in their order.  
The first Effect of this Salt may yet more particularly be observed in the Blood returning from the Pulmonary Vessels, and from the Heart too, even to the Capillaries of the Veins and Arteries: Whereas the Venal Blood is changed both in Colour and Consistence, by the returning sub-acid Lympha, as Acids are used to operate upon it; especially by Coagulation, and changing its Florid Red, into a Venal Atropurpureal Colour.  
The Second Effect is also manifest by the exposing Venal Blood, newly emitted from the Orifice, unto the open Air; for this Aereal Salt it is, that does not only change its Colour, but as far as it does penetrate its Pores, it firmly combines its Particles together.  
Thirdly, To hinder the Coagulation of the Blood; which is another very common Experiment for these Salts, whether taken inwardly, or else outwardly mixed with Blood; which it does Effect by intimately mixing itself with the Blood, and so preventing a Dislocation of the Sanguineous Particles.  
Fourthly, 'Tis this Salt that by its irritating Particles, is the great promoter of Secretion in our Bodies, and yet maintains the Vinculum and due Crasis of the Blood entire; for as it gives a Saltness to most, so does it facilitate the Separation, Secretion, and Expulsion of almost every Humour.  
And now we may see what gives disturbance unto the Humours of our Body; for from the universal necessity of this Salt, we may easily discern what will ensue upon a total or partial Deprivation of it: Or, Secondly, what will follow upon a Depravation, or Contamination, especially in our Blood and Humours.  
Now as to the first of these, upon a total Deprivation of this Aereal Salt, this Vinculum Mistorum, & Naturae, what can ensue, but as total a dissolution of Nature, a returning of all things to their Primitive Chaos and Disorder, an universal Mortality, not only to Mankind, but to all Creatures living? Beasts and Serpents, Fish and Fowl, must all tumble together in one common ruin. So that with a little variation I may use Lucan's Expressions for it:  
— Sic quum compage soluta,  
Secula tot mundi suprema coegerit hora,  
Antiquum repetens iterum Chaos, omnia discors  
Machina divulsi turbabit faedera Mundi.  Lucan. de bello Civ. l. 1. 
Of partial Defects, there are some more and some less destructive unto human Nature: And so Secondly, may Depravation, or Contamination be considered, as the Air is more or less depraved; but as a total Defect of this Salt was never yet known, so the direful Effects of a total Depravation were yet never felt, since a total Depravation; and a total Deprivation would prove alike equally pernicious: So that the Plague its self, and all other Pestilential Fevers, must arise from either a partial Defect, or partial Contamination, or Depravation of this Salt; from a total they can never come, because that such a state there was never yet known, in the which Mankind were all destroyed together.  
For neither the Suffocations of Lightning, nor hot Coals, make such a total Defect; nor the Damps in the Cryptae, and Subterranean Vaults, or Caverns, are such a total Depravation of this Salt; yet, approaching only something near that Nature, generally bring with them very sudden swift destruction; and Death is either more swift, or slow, as this Aereal Salt is more or less deficient or depraved.  
As for those partial Defects of this Salt, that are occasioned by the default of the Organs of our Bodies, some way or other hindered in their Natural Motions or Operations, though they occasion a Defect, yet generally very little, compared with the Defect is made for want of this Salt in the Air we breath in, which Nature cannot otherwise repair. And yet even in these partial Defects, when only one part of one Lobe of the Lungs is ulcerated, yet in how short a time is the Motion, Colour, and Consistency of the Blood changed from what it was?  
There needs not therefore any thing, but a Defect of this Salt, to make those Mutations in the Humours of our Body, from whence these Disturbances which we call Diseases do arise; as I might more particularly show, if I did not design brevity in this discourse: Nay, even the Air its self does more or less suffer, according to the greater or less Defect of this Salt; and I question not, but even that venenate Miasme (as Hypocrates first termed it) owes its Original to this want; and that his careful Description of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, does not so much argue a Corruption, or Putredo, as his Commentators call it, as this Defect which I plead for; from the want of which, the Humours of our Body will not only of themselves corrupt, but if the want be great, there will infallibly ensue, some fatal or Pestilential Constitution.  
Which Pestilential Constitution, giving the greatest Disturbance unto our Blood and Humours, must consequently be the most Destructive to Mankind: For when the Air is most deficient of this Salt, than other Heterogeneous Particles crowd most into it, and do most corrupt; whilst, in the mean time, for want of this Combining Salt, the Particles of our Blood are dislocated, its Crasis made Lax, and prepared very ready to Receive and Combine with this Aereal Depravation.  
Haec ratio quondam Morborum.  Lucretius lib. vi. 
A Plague, thus raised, laid learned Athens waste;  
Through every Street, through all the Town it past;  
Blasting both Man and Beast with poisonous Wind;  
Death fled before, and Ruin stalked behind.  Mr. Creech's Lucretius.  

CHAP. V.  
SInce I have asserted a Pestilential Constitution to be nothing else but a Depravation of the Air, arising from a great Defect of this Aereal Salt; I need not determine on either side, whether this Depravation (arising from this Defect) does consist in Acido, or Volatili Aeri. As for the Body, the Consistency of the Blood being so almost totally altered, Acidity, Coagulation, etc. will naturally ensue, as the Stagnation of the Bile will render it more Acrid.  
Now there is nothing as I have (yet) observed, doth more exactly represent, or express the Nature of the Plague unto us, whether we respect the dreadful Symptoms, or the vulgar Method of Cure, than the first bitings of a strong Viper, whose Venom does not consist of a dull, heavy, sluggish Poison, like unto those Poisons Authors commonly represent, and express the Nature of the Plague by; but in a brisk, active, quick, piercing, subtle, aereal Poison.  
But when it meets with good Blood, whose Particles by this Salt are closely combined together, its Effects appear most by Stagnating the Bile, 
Vide Willis de litero.  (though perhaps not directly so as some great Men have imagined:) So that the Symptoms I must confess differ in both, as well as they do in several other Diseases; which difference of Symptoms in Diseases does often arise, not so much from the different Nature of the Disease, as from the different Nature of the solid Parts or Humours of our Body, as to Strength, or Weakness, Combination, or Relaxation in several different and distinct Constituitions.  
It will not perhaps be thought so generous in me to engage against either of the two late diligent Enquirers into the Nature of this Animal; who, like two expiring Combatants, by mutual Wounds, have ruined one another, having given such demonstrative Experiments against each other, that unless the Vipers of Italy have their Poison in the Yellow Liquor, and those of France theirs in the enraged Spirits, (which I can never believe) neither of their Opinions can possibly be true.  
Letting therefore these two Gentlemen alone to their irreconcilable (thought friendly Debate) it will not perhaps be thought amiss, if I give a short Account of our common Adder, the true English Viper; who, although by some she is thought not so dangerous as those of hotter Countries, yet whoever will but observe the dreadful Symptoms that did ensue upon the poor Man of Warwick, being bitten as Dr. Stubs mentions, whom I have also sent for, and enquired of, will perhaps be quite of another mind: As to the dangerous biting of our Adder, if present Pain, extraordinary Swell, if Benumnedness, Blisters, Blackness, Deadness, Gangreen, cold death Sweats, etc. may be thought so.  
He told me the Story, just as Dr. Stubs relates it, very certainly and confidently affirming, That it was the sucking of the Venom (as he called it) from the bitten place, that made his Speech falter, and his Tongue swell; which the Doctor confesses, and therefore tells us how unsafe that Direction of Celsus, Vessalius, Forrestus, and others is, who advise that a Man should suck the bitten place; and in Amatus Lusitanus you will find (saith he) a relation of one who died by sucking of the place bitten by a Viper: The same is avowed by Matthiolus, as Paraeus recordeth the Story out of him, and instanceth further in a Patient of his own, whose Life was much endangered by sucking upon the bite of an Adder. Nay, Dr. Stubs confesseth, as in the last Page, that there is a Virulency in the Wound, as appears, saith he, by the evil Accidents upon the sucking; and yet notwithstanding he jumps after Charas, and tells us, That it seems to him indubitable, that the Venom of this Animal proceeds from its Indignation: Which Opinion Poterius, Helmont, and Zwelfer proposed before Charas.  
I wish these Gentlemen had better explained their own Opinions, and more plainly declared what they mean by Enraged Spirits, Indignation, Idea, and the like terms; and, but probably (at least) have shown us how these, or any of them are conveyed into the Body, and so conducted in it, as to produce these many various and strange Effects immaterially; for if they confess these Enraged Spirits have a Vehicle, they grant all, and sufficient for me to affirm, that That Vehicle, whatever it is, is of its self able, proper, and fit to produce these strange and dreadful Symptoms.  
I am indeed so far of Signior Redi's mind, as to believe there is some Venom, or Virulent Juice, or Matter, does attend the Teeth of an Adder when she bites; as I have observed a little moisture to attend the sting of a Bee, which will cause strange Swell, though the Sting does not remain behind, the Sting has done its business, and made a passage to put in that little Venom, which I hope they will not call the Enraged Spirits, Indignation, or the Idea of the Bee. Now, what that moisture is? From whence it cometh? Which way it passes, in the Body of the Bee? What Sort of Bees only have it? What Taste it has? What Effects both this, and the Adders clear moisture have when mixed with Acids, or Alkalies? might be material here more strictly to exmine; especially the Effects they have on human Blood, Chyle, Serum, Lympha, etc.  
But to return to our Adder, I will put the Matter to a fair issue, by a few certain Experiments:  
First, By giving the several and distinct Parts of Adders to Dogs, Cats, Crows, etc. I found that no particular Part was hurtful to those Creatures.  
Secondly, By making angry Adders by't on the ends of well polished Sticks, I found a thin (not yellow) but a clear transparent Water left behind, on the place where they had endeavoured to by't.  
Thirdly, I found that the place bitten (in a living Creature) always Swelled, looked Black, and the Blood seemed to Coagulate.  
Now I confess here seemed a great difficulty; for if this thin, transparent Water is the Venom, from whence can it come? since there is nothing Poisonous in the Adder when dead, and taken inwardly by these Creatures; not the least Sickness, or Illness appearing in them, upon taking even the most suspected part of this dangerous Serpent.  
Besides this, the Adder hastily pursuing, catching, and (in a seeming Rage) biting hard upon the Neck of a large Fieldmouse, no more Effect afterwards appeared upon the bitten place, than if her Neck had been pierced by four small Teeth of any other Creature.  
To enquine therefore from whence this Water came, I looked within the Mouth of an Adder, but I saw no show of any such Water; then I took out her Tongue, commonly (though falsely) termed her Sting, which I found divided into two Forks, each about half an Inch long apiece, both of a very black Colour, which continued so after the two Forks were united into the same Stem, or Trunk; which Tongue I found placed exactly under the Larinx, or entrance of the Aspera Arteria; so that under this Larinx, when alive, she could withdraw, and nimbly hid her forked Tongue, leaving a free and open passage from the Larinx to her Teeth and Jaws. Next I carefully observed both Jaws, which to me seemed double; the one Jaw having at least eight or ten very small Teeth; and the other not above two on each side, but very long, in comparison to the other, and placed over against a vacant place in the other Jaw; most of them (especially the great ones) bending inward, much like the Talons of a Hawk, or Kite; and when I viewed them in a Microscope, they seemed more like the forementioned Talons, than the Teeth of other Creatures.  
I looked for the yellow Juice at the Roots of the Teeth, and in the hollow part of the Jaws, which I then found not, I only found there some florid Blood, mixed with a kind of Water, like its Serum, but of both a very small quantity.  
I searched the Ductus Salivares, and their Glandulae for this Water; all which appearing very white, and nothing yellowish at all in them, their whiteness I suppose they received from the pure whiteness of the Saliva contained in them: And thus I was, as I thought, frustrate of finding the clear Liquor ; for from the Nerves, or Lymphatic Vessels, although they were visible enough, yet for many reasons I thought it most improbable for any of them to carry such a Liquor forth unto the Teeth.  
In the next biting of an Adder I observed two things: First, That she held her Chaps, in the very instant of biting, to the place she bitten upon, so exactly close, that nothing either of Breath or Water could pass out that way, her Mouth and Lips seeming naturally fitted for that purpose.  
Secondly, I discerned an apparent Motion of Expiration, at the very instant of biting; which being upon the Throat of a strong Dog, of a thick Skin, I suppose the Teeth entered only the two Skins, and yet a Tumour presently arose, to the bigness of a large Bladder; whereupon I caused that Adder and another to by't the same Dog in another place, always taking care at the time of biting to hinder expiration some way or other, as well as I could; and I always found that either the biting had no Effect, or else the Adder had no mind to by't, though never so much enraged before; nay, though with great force I squeezed the Teeth into the place they were fastened unto, that they might enter very deep, holding his Chaps very hard together between my Finger and Thumb, and pressing both the over and lower Jaw together; yet no considerable Effect would follow, except the Adder had the liberty of his own way of biting, and close shutting of his Lips to the bitten place.  
Whereupon I began for to suspect, that the very dangerous biting of our Adder, was truly caused from her Breath, and the close shutting of her Mouth, and forcing either depraved Breath, or the steams of such Breath into the Body, by those little Orifices, which the very action of biting seemed more fully to declare.  
In which Opinion I was the more confirmed, when inspecting the Windpipe, I found two great Recipients for Air; but the Lungs so conveniently situate in this Animal, as it were to deprive the descending Air, of the greatest part of this Aereal Salt, which they naturally will do, beyond any thing that Art can perform: And therefore, saith a learned Author, Aer è pulmonibus egestus, respirationi, vitaeque sustentandae nequaquam idoneus est. Circa respirationis ergo usum affirmare fas sit, nonnihil, quicquid sit, Aereum ad vitam sustinendam necessarium, in sanguinis massam transire. Hinc Aer è pulmonibus egestus, è quo particulae istae Vitales exhauriuntur, non amplius ad respirationem idoneus est.  
And the Air being thus deprived, we may from what I have said conclude, that it will naturally deprave; for as the Air in Mines, deprived of this Nitrous Salt, and penned close up, is the true Damp; so this Air in our Adder, deprived by the Lungs of its wholesome parts, is the true Venom, or Verulency, as some phrase it. For,  
By the contraction of this long Bladder, and of their neat Anulares, together with the extraordinary length of their Windpipe, and the close shutting of their Mouths to the place bitten; the deprived Air is forced with their Teeth into the wounded or bitten place, and by this Motion through the Windpipe, either, from the Sides or Glandulae bring that clear Lympha along with it.  
And thus having given a considerable instance, to show the true Nature of a Pestilential Constitution, to consist in an Aereal Deprivation, arising from a Defect of this Salt, 'tis as easy to conceive, as in the Adder, how the same Deficiency is made in the Air we breath in, and what Effect that Deficiency will have upon the Humours of our Body.  
I do not by all this deny the Existence of several Subterraneous Steams, or Exhalations, no question but that they are ready to crowd in, upon the least defect of this Aereal Salt; and to render the Air more or less depraved, either as the Air is more or less defective to make room for them; or they in their own Nature are more or less pernicious; For as in Subterraneous Damps, according to the different Nature or Quality of the Mines, so on the Surface of the Earth, (according to the variety of the Soils) on the defect of these Nitro-Aereal Particles, several Heterogeneous Steams do get into their places, and very ill supply the defect of this most useful Salt.   

CHAP. VI  
BUt some may inquire, perhaps, from whence all this Nitro-Aereal Salt should come, with which it is very manifest the Air we breath does so plentifully abound? In answer to which Enquiry, I do confeses, I am inclined to believe, that this Nitro-Aereal Salt, which does so evidently abound in wholesome Air, is Chemically raised and sublimed from the Sea by the Sun's Heat; the more Volatile part carrying with it the grosser part : And this I am still more inclined to believe, when I consider Salt-Petre itself is only Sal Gemma, or Sea Salt, more abounding with Volatile Aereal Spirits; as, indeed, there is great reason for it why it should.  
Others may inquire what it is that does most cause a Defect, and consequently an ill and a depraved Air? To which I answer, Not all those Mutations of the Air observed by Hypocrates, and his followers, nor all those notable Alterations of the Air mentioned more particularly by Silvius de le Boe, and his Scholars, have this Operation or Effect upon the Air, as by diligent Observation I can yet find, but only some of them have; especially an extreme, great, long, or lasting cold Frost: An extreme, great, long and lasting Heat, Dryness, or Moisture, in the like manner; any one of these, accompanied with a long quietness or tranquillity of the Air, may first cause a Defect, etc. As for Example, in the canicular Days, when the overviolent Sun's heat hath too much rarified and sublimed this Salt, that we can scarcely breathe, than Defects, and Depravations, Death, and Ruin are very apt to follow one another, which have much sooner an Effect on some Constitutions than others, according to the various Consistency, or Dislocation, Combination, or Relaxation, Firmness, or Weakness of the Particles of the Blood or Humours.  
And this I take to be the true reason of our so frequent Autumnal Epidemic Fevers, although they are perhaps not suddenly felt at that time, (in the Canicular Days) but stay longer before they appear, they are so much the worse for it, and argue that the former Deprivation has had a longer time to deprave, according (as it falls out) sometimes to deprave both the Air and Humours of our Body; and when the returning Cold, and more plentiful Aereal Salt, does begin to bind up the relaxed Particles of Blood, the depraved Particles of so disagreeing Nature, must needs cause a very dangerous Conjunction, since in their own Nature they are not only very different, but also very destructive to those other Particles of our Blood and Humours, and yet they are got so crowded in, and associated amongst them, that they are very difficult to remove.  
To sum up what I have said in a few words, The Diseases and Disturbances that we find in our Bodies, do not arise from the solid Parts (except it be from some hurt or violence from without) nor from a quarrel or disagreement amongst the Humours or fluid Parts of our Body, but from a Defect of this Aereal Salt, which gives occasion to Heterogeneous Steams to crowd both into the Air and Humours of our Body, and in time to contaminate and deprave one another; from whence generally Diseases, Epidemic and Pestilential Fevers do arise, so destructive and pernicious unto Mankind; so that the want of this Aereal Salt, is causa per accidens privativa; that is, per sui absentiam causa, as the old Philosophers are wont to speak of all the Diseases and Disturbances in Man's Body.  
Now although hitherto I may seem to discourage both Physicians and their Patients, because no Advice or Counsel can secure us always against ill Air; I mean Air deficient or depraved; yet we may by the wise and learned Physician's Advice, be taught how in part either to correct ill Air, or avoid it, or at least how to fortify the Humours of our Body against it; and when nevertheless ill Air is got into our Blood and Humours, and the Particles of our Blood are ill affected by it, then to assist Nature Materiae morbificae exterminatione.  
So that here is nothing to discourage either, but rather to remind them, that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, etc.  
Far be it from me to seem to lessen the overruling Power of God Almighty by all this, I rather show how easy a thing it is for him by a Defect or Depravation, to destroy the World and all Mankind together in a moment, as well as to punish one particular Place or Country.  
According to these Principles I have laid down, I cannot but recommend an open, free, and uninterrupted Air, a sandy Soil, a situation upon the highest Ground, free from Hills, Woods, or any thing else that may intercept this Sweet and Balsamic Air: And I wonder that our Ancestors did so little regard these things, when even some of the Poets took notice of it. As Lucan, describing the Plague in Pompey's Army, tells us, how free Caesar's (though near him) was from it upon the higher Ground, while it raged in Pompey's Army below; 
At liber terrae spatiosis collibus hostis  
Aere non pigro, nec inertibus angitur undis;  which may serve for a good Caution to all Encamping Generals.   
FINIS.   

A Catalogue of some BOOKS printed for, and are to be sold by Tho. Bassett, at the George in Fleetstreet.  

THe London Practice of Physic, or the whole Practical Part of Physic; contained in the Works of Dr. Willis. 8 o.  
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis, or the New London Dispensatory, in Six Books, 8 o. By William Salmon, Professor of Physic and Astrology. 8 o.  
Doron Medicum: Or, a Supplement to the New London Dispensatory. In Three Books, 8 o. By William Salmon, Professor of Physic and Astrology.  
Kitchen Physic; by way of Dialogue: With Rules and Directions how to prevent Sickness, and cure Diseases, by Diet and such things as are daily sold in the Market. 12 o.  
An Essay concerning Humane Understanding: In Four Books. By Mr. John Lock. Fol.  
Remarks in the Grand Tour of France and Italy, lately performed. By a Person of Quality, etc. 8 o.  
An Essay of Transmigration, in defence of Pythagoras; or, a Discourse of Natural Philosophy, 8 o. By Whitelocke Bulstrode, Gent.  
The Great French Dictionary, in two Parts: The First, French and English: The Second, English and French, according to the Ancient and Modern Orthography, etc. sol. By Guy Miege, Gent.  
The Politics of France. By Monsieur P. H. Marquis of C. etc. 8 o.  
Poems on several Occasions: written by Charles Cotton, Esq; 8 o.  
An Exact Journal of the Siege of Coni in Piedmont, etc. 4 o. Sent in a Manuscript from Turin, to a Person of Quality in London.  
Two Letters to a Friend; containing certain Considerations relating to the Pulpit. 4 o.  
A Sermon preached before the House of Commons at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on Thursday the Fifth of November. By William Fleetwood, Chaplain in Ordinary to Their Majesties. 4 o.  
Discourses upon Trade, principally directed to the Cases of the Interest, Coinage, Clipping, and Increase of Money. 4 o.  
The Monarches of England from the Heptarchy, to Their present Majesty's King William and Queen Mary, taken from Medals and Original Paintings; with a Compendious History of their several Reigns. By Guy Miege, Gent.  
The Effigies of the Right Honourable Edward Russell, Esquire, one of Their Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, Admiral of Their Majesty's Fleet, and Treasurer of Their Majesty's Navy, etc. Taken from the Original, and curiously Engraven on Copper. Price 1 s.