In answer to the last Article of your Request, I shall now proceed to say something of Sympathy, and the Cures reported to have been done thereby. The Sympathetick Powder, so highly esteem'd about a hundred Years since, by Men of Art in this Kingdom, was first brought into Europe by a Religious Carmelite, who in his Travels thro' India, Persia, and China, had made himself Master of this Secret, and from some of those Eastern Countries, came over into Tuscany, where he perform'd many considerable Cures by this occult Method, to the great Astonishment of the most eminent Physicians and Surgeons in those Parts; insomuch that the Duke of Tuscany himself was very desirous of becoming Master of this surprizing Arcanum, but, the honest Fryar by many handsome Excuses brought himself off, and would not be prevail'd upon to communicate his Nostrum to his Highness.
Some few Months after this, our Famous English Virtuoso, Sir Kenelm Digby, happening in his Travels to be at the Grand Duke's Court, an Opportunity fell accidentally in the Knight's way to do the Fryar a Service, which the good old Man took so kindly at his hands, that he recompenc'd the Curtesy with a Discovery of his Secret; and soon after returning into Persia, left no Man in Europe Master of the same but Sir Kenelm, who was the first Person that brought the Recipe into England, and that here wrought Cures by it himself, and recommended it to the Practice of others; so that, in a little Time, every Mother-Midwife, and Country Fleabeard, became topping Surgeons, especially for the Cure of Green-Wounds; for it is not to be trusted to, in other Cases.
This Sympathetick Powder, by which many Miracles have been perform'd at great Distances, is nothing more than the Simple Powder of Roman Vitriol, either Chymically prepar'd, or imperfectly calcin'd in the Beams of the Sun; from whence, 'tis said, it derives a very balsamick Virtue; a little of this apply'd to any Instrument that has done Mischief, or to a Rag dip'd into, or stain'd with, the Blood of a Wound, never fails of Curing the Patient at the widest Distance, provided the Wound be Curable.
Sir Kenelm Digby, to advance the Credit of this surprising Medicine, speaks very largely in Commendation thereof, in a little Treatise of his, written first in French, upon the same Subject; wherein he boasts of a remarkable Cure perform'd by himself, in a most wonderful manner, with only the use of this astonishing Powder; and, therefore, as in religious Cases, Example goes beyond Precept, so, to convince you of the Miracles perform'd by Sympathy, Instances, perhaps, may prove more effectual than Arguments; for which Reason, I shall proceed to furnish you with a notable Experiment of this Magical Powder, and so conclude.
"Mr. James Howel, a trusty Servant to King James the First, famous in those Days for Compiling a Treatise, entitled Dendrologia, and afterwards for his Legacy to the World, call'd, Epistoliæ Ho-Elianæ, happen'd, when he was a Young Gentleman, to accidently come by, when two of his dearest Friends were fiercely Engag'd in a very dangerous Duel, and to prevent the Mischief very likely to ensue, too rashly catch'd hold, with his naked Hand, of his Sword, whose Passion prompted him to be the most desperate; in which attempt, the Weapon, being drawn through Mr. Howel's Palm, cut the Nerves and Muscles thereof to the very Bone, and, as they were thus Scuffling, holding up the same Hand to defend one of his Friends from a Blow upon his Head, receiv'd another cut upon the back of his Hand, cross all the Veins and Tendons, more terrible than the former, which, his Friends perceiving, put a sudden stop to their inebrious Fury, run both to embrace him and to express their sorrow for the unhappy Accident, lending him their Assistance to bind up his Wounds with one of his own Garters, and so conducted him to his Lodgings, where they sent immediately for a Surgeon, who found the Case desperate, for he bled abundantly.
"Mr. Howel, being a Gentleman much respected by the Quality, the News of his Misfortune soon reach'd the Court; and his Majesty, having, also, a great regard for him, sent one of his own Surgeons to attend him, who found the Case to be so very bad that he seem'd doubtful of a Cure, without cutting off his Hand, which occasion'd Mr. Howel, about five Days after the Hurt receiv'd, to apply himself to his good Friend and Neighbour, Sir Kenelm Digby, who, at that Time was famous for the Sympathetick-Powder, begging his Assistance in that painful Extremity, telling him, that his Surgeons were apprehensive of a Gangrene.
"Sir Kenelm, opening the Wounds, found a terrible Case of it, and a dangerous Inflamation upon the Part, which, Mr. Howel acknowledg'd, gave him such intolerable Pain as was scarce supportable; the Knight, ask'd him, if he had any Bandage with the Blood upon it, Mr. Howel answer'd, Yes; accordingly sent his Servant for the bloody Garter which had first bound up his Wounds, and deliver'd it to Sir Kenelm, who, calling for a Bason of Water, went into his Closet for a handful of his Powder, which he infus'd therein, and then soak'd the Garter in the same Liquor; whilst Mr. Howel was talking with another Gentleman, at the further End of the Room, not knowing in the least what Sir Kenelm was doing, who, after he had bath'd the Garter in the Bason about a Minute, call'd to his Patient and ask'd him how he found himself, who answer'd, So wonderful Easy that the Inflamation seems to be totally Extinguish'd, the Pain quite gone off, and my Hand I find as cool and as much refresh'd, as if it was wrap'd up in a wet Napkin. Then, reply'd the Knight, fling off your Dressings, meddle no more with Plasters, only keep your Wounds clean and from the Air, and I doubt not, but in a few Days Time, I shall effectually Cure you, without putting you to any further Trouble. Much Comforted with this Assurance, Mr. Howel took a thankful Leave of Sir Kenelm, and so departed.
"Mr. Howel, had not been gone above a Quarter of an Hour, but the Knight took the Garter out of the Liquor, to dry it before the Fire, and carelesly hanging it a little too near, the extraordinary Heat, by the Concatination of Effluvia's, had such an Effect upon the Patient, that he made as many wry Faces as a Cook that had burnt his Fingers; dispatching his Servant, with all imaginable Expedition, to let his Doctor know what a Condition he was relaps'd into.
"Sir Kenelm, who presently conjectur'd the Cause of this Disaster, smiling at the Message the Servant had deliver'd, and snatching the Garter from the Fire, told him, that his Master should be very Easy by the Time he could return to him, which the Footman, by the acknowledgment of his Master, found to be true accordingly; Sir Kenelm, doing nothing more to work this change, than cooling the wreaking Garter by a speedy Repetition of his former Application; so that, without any further Accident interposing, the Patient was thoroughly cur'd, in five or six Days Time, by this extraordinary Method, to the inexpressible Admiration of all his Majesty's Surgeons."
SIR,
This is all, at present, I am at Leisure to say in Answer to your Letter, and I doubt you will think it enough too, except more to the purpose: What extraordinary Cures you happen to perform by your new Method, I desire you will communicate to me as soon as you can conveniently, for to hear of your Success, will be no little Satisfaction to,
Sir,
Your assured Friend,
and humble Servant.