Part 3

Fernel loco citato matheus de Grad. ex Azariuio. C. de Epilepsia.

The strength of this argument is grounded vpon the very foundation of our profession which hath beene layd by Hyppocrates and Gallen long agoe and euer since confirmed by the practise and obseruations of all learned men; that diseases are cured by their contraries. I say contrary both vnto the disease, vnto the cause, and vnto the Symptom. And the more exact the contrarietie is; the more proper is the remedy: as when they are equall in degree or in power. But what equality of contrariety either in degree or in power, can there be betweene a supernaturall suffocating power, and the compression of the belly or throate. They are disperats in Logicke, but not contraries. For contrarietie is betweene such as are comprehended vnder one generall. And where one is opposed vnto one alone, and not indifferently vnto many. Neither doe I thinke, that any man wel aduised, will say that by compression of those parts, he is able to suppresse the power of the diuell. The like may be saide of the application of cupping glasses, of sweete plaisters, of ligatures, &c. beneath, and of euell smelles aboue; by all which we do obserue those kindes of fits to be mitigated: and yet there can bee no such contrary respect in thẽ against a supernatural cause, as is between a remedy and a disease. They are also procured vpon sweete smelles, vpon pleasant meats and drinkes, vpon feare, anger, iealousie, &c. as in the particular causes shall bee farther declared: and yet no such consent can bee shewed in them with any supernaturall affect, as that they may any way cause or encrease it. Wherefore the rule of Hyppocrates must needes be true; that if these Symptoms do yeeld vnto naturall remedies, they must also bee naturall themselues. And thus much in explanation of these two arguments of Hyppocrates against the errour of his time: which notwithstanding hath been continued in the mindes of men vntill this day, and no maruell: vnlesse the same corruption which bred it at the first, had beene remoued out of the world. And therefore diuers of our Authors doe make especiall mention of this case wherein they report the common people to haue beene deceiued by imagining witchcraft or possession, where indeed there was none.

Hippo. de natura humaaa circa medium. Destatibus paulo post principium.

Gal. de Venesectione aduersus Erasistr: cap: 8, in arte medicina li cap: 89. in constitutione artis cap: 13. methodi med: lib. 9. 10. 11. &c.

Valesius meth. med: lib: 1. cap: 4:

Mercatus meth med: pag: 42: 43: Gal. Simplicium lib. 3: cap: 11: Valesius controuers: lib. 1. cap. 4 Luk, 11. vers. 21. 22.

Bruno Seidelius de morbis incurab: pag: 19: Centuria 5, curat: 75.]

Amatus Lusitanus reporteth of one Diua Clara, a maide of 18. years of age, which had euery day two or three such strange fits, as those that were about her, gaue out that she was haunted with an euill spirit.

In those fits euery part of her body was distorted, she felt nothing, nor perceiued any thing: but had all her senses benummed, her hart beating, her teeth close shut together: yet for an houres space or two she would haue such strong motions, that shee would weary the strongest men that came at her. When she had beene three weekes in this case, her left arme began to be resolued with a palsie, &c. He being called vnto her prescribed such remedies as are usuall in this case, and within few dayes recouered her, to the great admiration of the beholders.

Petrus Forrestus maketh mention of another maid of 22. yeares old, which dwelt with a Burgermaster of Delft in Holland, who falling in loue with a yong man, fell also into these fits of the Mother: which held her many houres together with such violent horrible accidents, as hee neuer sawe the like: her whole body being pulled to and fro with convulsiue motions, her belly sometimes lifted vp, and sometimes depressed, a roaring noise heard within her, with crying and howling, a distortion of her armes and handes: insomuch as those about her thought her to be possessed with a diuell, and out of all hope of recouery. He being called vnto her in Ianuarie 1565. applied conuenient remedies as there he setteth downe, and in a short time restored her to her health againe.

Many more such like examples might bee produced both out of authenticall writers in our profession and out of our own experiences, which yet do liue (were it not that late examples would bee offensiue to rehearse:) but these may suffice to show how easily men vnexperienced in those extraordinarie kinds of diseases, may mistake the causes of them: when through admiration of the vnwonted and grieuous accidents they behold, they are caried vnto Magicall and Metaphysicall speculations. But the learned Phisition who hath first beene trained vp in the study of Philosophy, and afterwards confirmed by the practise and experience of all manner of naturall diseases, is best able to discerne what is naturall, what not naturall, what preternaturall, and what supernaturall, the three first being properly subiect to his profession: and therefore they doe wrong vnto the faculty of Phisicke, and vnto them selues, and oftentimes vnto others, who neglecting that light which wee might yeeld them, doe runne headlong and blindefold into many errors and absurdities. For preuention whereof I haue breefly set downe what the doctrine of Phisitions is concerning this disease of the Mother, which of all other is most subiect vnto misconstruction. For that as Forrestus saieth it is a harde matter to discerne in what maner the Mother may occasion such strange and manifold accidents.

Cap. 2.

What this disease is, and by what means it causeth such varietie of Symptoms.

Altomarus cap. 110. Guaynerius cap. de suffo: matricis.]

This disease is called by diuerse names amongst our Authors. Passio Hysterica, Suffocatio, Præfocatio, and Strangulatus vteri, Caducus matricis, &c. In English the Mother, or the Suffocation of the Mother, because most commonly it takes them with choaking in the throat: and it is an affect of the Mother or wombe wherein the principal parts of the bodie by consent do suffer diuersly according to the diuersitie of the causes and diseases wherewith the matrix is offended.

I call it an affect in a large signification to comprehend both morbum and Symptoma. For sometimes it is either of them, and somtimes both. For in regard the actions of expulsion or retention in the Mother are hurt. It may be called a Symptoma in actione læsa: in regard of the humor to be expelled which corrupteth and putrifieth to a venemous malignitie. It is likewise a Symptom in excremento vteri mutato. And in regard of the perfrigeration of the Mother, and so of the whole bodie. It is also a Symptom in qualitate tangibili mutata, not morbus ex intẽperie: because it is suddenly inflicted & suddenly remoued. But in regard of the rising of the Mother wherby it is somtimes drawn vpwards or sidewards aboue his natural seate, compressing the neighbour parts, & so consequently one another. It may be said to be morbus in situ, in respect of the compression it selfe, causing suffocatiõ and difficultie of breathing. It may be causa morbi in forma by causing coarctation of the instruments of breathing. And sometimes these are complicated and together with a venemous vapour, arising from this corrupt humor vnto diuers parts of the bodie, there will be an euill position of the matrix also: either because the ligaments, vaines and arteries beeing obstructed: by those vapours are shortened of their wonted length, and so draw vp the part higher then it should be, or for that the matrix being grieuously anoyed with the malignity of those vapours doth contract it selfe and rise vp by a locall motion towards the midrif.

Albert. Bottonus cap. 39.

Gal. locorum affectorum 3. cap. 7.

Petrus Salius pag. 467.

Altomarus cap. 110.

Horatius Angenius Epist. 6

Gal. de causis morb. cap. 7

Altomarus citato. Rondelesius methodo curand. morb. cap. 69. matheus de grad. in 9 Rhasis. cap. 28

Mercatus lib 2. cap 3.

Matheus de grad. in 9. Rhasis cap. 28. Hor. Angenius sibi offensum fugiens vt et iucundum insequens.

I say of the Mother or wombe because although the wombe many times in this disease doe suffer but secondarily, yet the other parts are not affected in this disease but from the Mother: (Radix suffocationum vterus) which finding it selfe anoyed by some vnkind humor, either within it selfe, or in the vessels adioyning or belonging vnto it, doth by a naturall instinct which is ingrafted in euery part of the body for his owne preseruation, endeuour to expell that which is offensiue: in which conflict if either the passage be obstructed, or the humor inobedient or malignant, or the functions of the wombe any way depraued, the offence is communicated from thence vnto the rest of the body. The principall part of the body are the seates of the three faculties, which do gouerne the whole body. The braine of the animall, the hart of the vitall, the liuer of the naturall; although some other parts are plentifully endewed with some of these faculties, as the stomacke, entrailes, vaines, spleene, &c. with naturall faculties, the instruments of respiration with animall and naturall. These parts are affected in this disease, and do suffer in their functions as they are diminished, depraued, or abolished, according to the nature & plenty of the humor, and the temperament and scituation of the Mother: and that diuersly: For somtimes the instruments of respiration alone doe suffer, sometimes the heart alone, sometimes two or three faculties together, sometimes successiuely one after another, sometimes one part suffereth both a resolution and a conuulsion in the same fit, or when as it suffereth in one part and not in another, as we see oftentimes sense and motion to bee taken away and yet hearing and memorie to remaine, the speech failing and respiration good. Sometimes respiration, sense, and motion do altogether faile, and yet the pulse remaine good: So that the varietie of those fits is exceeding great, wherein the principall parts of the body doe diuersly suffer.

Gal. de difficultate respirãd: lib. 1. cap. 7. Trincauel. li. 4. cap. 12. Felix platerus ca. de respira. defectis. Gal. de sympt. differentiis Cap 2. 3.

Gal. 5. loc. affect. 6 Mercatus pag. 173.