A Briefe Discovrse of a Disease called the Suffocation of the Mother

by Edward Jorden

Contents
[Preface]
[Cap.1.]	That this disease doth oftentimes giue occasion vnto simple and vnlearned people, to suspect possession, witchcraft, or some such like supernaturall cause.
[Cap.2.]	What this disease is, and by what means it causeth such varietie of Symptoms.
[Cap.3.]	Of the kinds of this disease, and first of that wherein the vitall facultie is offended.
[Cap.4.]	Of that kind of this disease wherein the animall facultie is offended.
[Cap.5.]	Of that kind wherein the naturall facultie is offended.
[Cap.6.]	Of the causes of this disease.
[Cap.7.]	Of the cure of this disease, so much as belongeth to the friends and attendants to performe.

TO THE RIGHT WOR
shipfull the President and Fellowes of the
Colledge of Phisitions in
London.

As I am desirous to satisfie all indifferent men concerning the occasion and intent of this my discourse: so I thought good to direct the same especially vnto this societie, whereof I am a member; to testifie both how iustly or rather necessarily I haue beene drawn to the vndertaking and publishing hereof: as also how willing I am to submit my selfe to your learned censure; the argument of my writing being such as none can better iudge of then your selues.

And first I protest vpon that credit which I desire to haue among you, that I haue not vndertaken this businesse of mine owne accord, as if I esteemed of mine owne knowledge and obseruation in this case aboue other mens. For (if it had beene thought good to haue imposed it vppon others) I do acknowledge that there are many among vs better able then my selfe to haue written in this kind, vnto whome I would willingly haue put ouer my taske. Neither did I euer find my selfe prouoked hereunto upon any peeuish humor to contradict or to disgrace any who doe iudge otherwise of some pointes contained herein, then my selfe doe: many of them being such as I do loue and affect well. Neither vpon any fawning humor to please or flatter any person whatsoeuer; which I doe esteeme more base then begging. But disclayming both hony and gall, I haue plainely set downe the true doctrine of Phisicke concerning that disease which giues to great occasion of distraction among many good men: especially such as haue not learning sufficient to resolue them of this point, or not that moderation and humilitie of spirit to acknowledge their insufficiencie, and to hearken vnto others whom in all reason they might thinke able to direct them better in such a case.

For if it be true that one man cannot be perfect in euery arte and profession, and therefore in cases out of our owne callings, we do depend vpon those which haue beene trayned up in other particular subiects, beleeuing men in their owne professions: Why should we not prefer the iudgements of Phisitions in a question concerning the actions and passions of mans bodie (the proper subiect of that profession) before our owne conceites; as we do the opinions of Diuines, Lawyers, Artificers, &c. in their proper Elements. Neither haue I done this as taking vpon me to reforme the mindes of men which are not vnder my charge (for I could willingly haue permitted euery man to enioy his owne opinion:) But being a Phisition, and iudging in my conscience that these matters haue been mistaken by the commõ people; I thought good to make knowne the doctrine of this disease, so farre forth, as may be in a vulgar tongue conueniently disclosed, to the end that the vnlearned and rash conceits of diuers, might be thereby brought to better vnderstanding and moderation; who are apt to make euery thing a supernaturall work which they do not vnderstand, proportioning the bounds of nature vnto their own capacities: which might proue an occasion of abusing the name of God, and make vs to vse holy prayer as vngroundedly as the Papists do their prophane trickes; who are readie to drawe forth their wooden dagger, if they do but see a maid or woman suffering one of these fits of the Mother, coniuring and exorcising them as if they were possessed with euil spirits. And for want of worke, will oftentimes suborne others that are in health, to counterfait strange motions and behauiours: as I once saw in the Santo in Padua fiue or sixe at one sermon interrupting and reuiling the Preacher, vntill he had put them to silence by the signe of the Crosse, and certaine powerlesse spelles.

Wherefore it behoueth vs as to be zealous in the truth, so to be wise in discerning truth from counterfaiting and naturall causes from supernaturall power. I doe not deny but that God doth in these dayes worke extraordinarily, for the deliuerance of his children, and for other endes best knowne vnto himselfe; and that among other, there may be both possessions by the Diuell, and obsessions and witchcraft, &c. and dispossession also through the Prayers and supplications of his seruants, which is the onely meanes left vnto vs for our reliefe in that case. But such examples being verie rare now adayes, I would in the feare of God aduise men to be very circumspect in pronouncing of a possession: both because the impostures be many, and the effects of naturall diseases be strange to such as haue not looked throughly into them.

But let vs consider a little the signes which some doe shew of a supernaturall power in these examples. For if they say there neede no such signes appeare, because the Diuill by witchcraft may inflict a naturall disease: then I ask them what they haue to doe with the Diuell, or with dispossessing of him, when he is not their present, but hath beene onely an externall cause of a disease, by kindling or corrupting the humours of our bodies; which disease as well as other will submit it selfe to physicall indications: as is shewed, cap. 1. Wherefore they must needes make him to be an internall cause, and to possesse the members and faculties of the bodie, and holde them to his vse: or else they vnderstand not what they say, when they doe peremptorily disclaime naturall meanes, and auouch that they speake certaine wordes, and performe certaine voluntarie motions vpon his incitation, and are hindred by him from speaking other wordes which they would faine vtter. And therefore to this end diuerse signes and Symptoms are alledged by them, as arguments of a supernaturall and extraordinarie power inhærent in the body.

One of their signes is Insensibilitie, when they doe not feele, being pricked with a pin, or burnt with fire, &c. Is this so strange a spectacle, when in the Palsie, the falling sicknesse, Apoplexis, and diuerse other diseases, it is dayly obserued? And in these fits of the Mother it is so ordinarie as I neuer read any Authour writing of this disease who doth not make mention thereof. This poynt you shall finde proued both by authorities and examples in the 4. Chapter.