Also because all poisons are in motion, neither stay they in one till they have seized and oppressed the fountain of life, therefore they have invented another faculty to stay their motion, viz. terrene and emplastic.

For they judge, if the poison light upon these medicines, they embrace them round with a viscous quality.

Also they say the ways and passages are stopped by such means, to hinder their proceeding; take Terra Lemnia for one.

Truly if these reasons be good, which I leave to future time to determine, it may be done for little cost.

Some are of opinion that the safest way is to expel the poison out of the body, so soon as may be, and that is done by vomit, or purge, or sweat.

You need not question the time, but do it as soon as may be; for there is no parlying with poison.

Let vomiting be the first, purging the next, and sweating the last. This is general. But, if thou dost but observe the nature and motion of the venom, that will be thy best instructor.

In the stomach it requires vomiting, in the blood and spirits, sweating, if the body be plethoric, bleeding, if full of evil humours, purging.

Lastly, The cure being ended, strengthen the parts afflicted.

CHAPTER XIV

Of purging Medicines

Much jarring hath been amongst physicians about purging medicines, namely, whether they draw the humours to them by a hidden quality, which in plain English is, they know not how; or whether they perform their office by manifest quality, viz. by heat, dryness, coldness, or moisture. It is not my present scope to enter the lists of a dispute about the business, neither seem it such an hidden thing to me that every like should draw its like, only to make the

matter as plain as I can, I subdivide this chapter into these following parts.

1. Cautions concerning purging.

2. Of the choice of purging medicines.

3. Of the time of taking them.

4. Of the correcting of them.

5. Of the manner of purging.

Cautions concerning purging

In this, first consider diligently, and be exceeding cautious in it too, what the matter offending is, what part of the body is afflicted by it, and which is the best way to bring it out.

Only here, by the way, first, have a care of giving vomits, for they usually work more violently, and afflict the body more than purges do, therefore are not fit for weak bodies; be sure the matter offending lie in the tunicle of the stomach, else is a vomit given in vain.

Vomits are more dangerous for women than men, especially such as are either with child, or subject to the fits of the mother.