In that consists a faculty of piercing through the whole Body, and of leaving no one thing untouched therein. And by that pervasion, or penetration, the Disease is assaulted in its own place. For it cannot be known certainly and indubitately, whence comes the Seat, or Centre, or Period thereof. Hence we conclude, that a Physician hath only need of such Remedies, as can penetrate the whole Body. This is the Reason, why sordid Humorists heal none, but prostitute all their Doctrine and Profession. Therefore, I positively affirm, that in the Oyl, which those Laborators seek, is no penetrating Spirit. A meer Terrestreity (as I may call it) is by them used, which penetrates not at all, but where it falls there it lies. Wherefore it is greatly to be bewailed, that the true Process is suppressed by that unskilfulness, and a false substituted in its stead. But I am perswaded, the Devil contrived that, to the end the Sick should not be cured, and the Sect of Humorists might thenceforth spread the more.
Let us return to the beginning; how the Spirit of Vitriol was found out. The Humid Spirit of Vitriol was at first distilled from its Colcothar; then it was gradated, by distilling and circulating per se, as the Process teacheth. This way the Water began to be used for many Diseases, both Internal and External, as for the Falling-sickness, &c. and thus a marvellous Sanation was effected. But in the extraction they were wonderful diligent; for they took the Spirit of Vitriol corrected, as above, and distilled it from Colcothar eight or ten times, with a most strong fire; so the dry Spirits were mixed with the Humid Spirits, and the Work so long continued, as until the dry Spirits came forth together with the Humid, by extracting. Afterward, both Spirits put into a Phial were gradated to the highest. This Medicine they found to be of much more powerful Operation against Diseases, and by that Medicament effected so much, as they confounded all Humorists in General. Yet here is no Correction added to it (by Artists) by Spirit of Wine, to render it of greater Penetration. But it was of no greater degree, than as I shewed.
Now I will Communicate to you my Process, which I commend to all Physicians, especially for Cure of the Falling-Evil, the singular Cure of which, consists in Vitriol. For which cause, Charity to our Neighbour binds us to institute a more diligent Cure in this Disease. The Process is thus.
I imbibe the Vitriol with Spirit of Wine, and afterward distil it from the dry and humid Spirits: This being done, I find the following Addition to be very profitable, viz. If Spirit of Tartar, corrected, be mixed to a third part of the Vitriol, and Spirit of Treacle-water Camphorate, be added in a fifth part, with respect of the Vitriolate Spirits. Thus I administer it, before the assault of the Fit, or certain times in a day. This Medicine is famously efficacious against this Disease; yea, so excellent, as a better cannot be desired from Nature.
Therefore, the first Process invented by the Ancients, is to be retained with the said Correction, viz. by imbibing with Spirit of Wine before distillation, and by adding the Spirits of Tartar and Treacle-water after distillation, as is said. For so is attained the Heart of Nature, and every Virtue.
I hope I shall not be blamed, but commended rather by every good Man, that considers the horridness of this Disease, which would even move a stone to Commiseration. Since so great is the vehemency and horridness of this Disease, as almost any Man may lawfully say, Cursed be all Physicians, who passing by such Sick, yield them no relief, but like the Priest and Levite in Jericho, who forsaking the wounded man, left him to be cured by the Samaritan. I pray here give your judgment, what Condemnation were that Priest and Levite worthy of, who passing by the distressed, stopped their Nose, as the Proverb is; surely they were worthy of Hell Fire, from which is no Redemption.
And who can judge any other of all Physicians, none excepted, that look upon this Disease, and yet pass by with their Nose stopt? Who can otherwise say, than that they must render an account of it at the last day? Notwithstanding, all these men are generally so disposed, as they will not wag their hand, or bestow one penny, for acquiring a more certain Foundation for the cure of this Disease. Did they not, as it were, by compact imitate Priests and Levites, but would rather study to imitate the Samaritan, GOD certainly would recompense their fidelity with a manifestation of the Secrets of Nature, with which they might be helpful to the Sick. And if such Virtues were not incited in Nature, the Almighty would undoubtedly create them anew. Therefore I testifie, together with you noble and ignoble men, that all Doctors generally have basely erred and deviated from the Truth. Whatsoever those Seducers, Galen, Avicen, &c. foolishly devised, to that they adhere, and relie upon those Lyes, so far are they possessed with the Devil, that they cannot exercise Charity towards their Neighbours; and in this manner they make themselves the Sons of Damnation; for their only study and drift is to heap up Wealth. The Kingdom of GOD is first of all to be sought, yet not after the fashion of the Priest and Levite, but according to the Samaritan nature. If we be merciful, and follow the example of the Samaritan, GOD is with us, who will presently help us with a Remedy not yet created in Nature. In the mean while, since Physicians deal with the Sick Levitically and Priest-like, the most Wise GOD withholds Medicine, and reserves it to himself. The Sick flie to the Kingdom of GOD, but Physicians to the Infernal Abyss, prepared for Levitical Doctors of the same sort. Therefore open your eyes and look, the way is two-fold, one leads to infernal shades, this the Levites follow; the other way leads to Heaven, unto which the Samaritan directs his Feet.
That Vitriolate Arcanum, and its extraction, is not only excellent in the Falling Evil, but is also conducent in other species like unto it, as in Swounings, Extasies, &c. Also it is after the same manner beneficial in all Oppilations and inward Imposthumes, and is no less efficacious in precipitation and suffocation of the Matrix. Yet in it are many more Virtues acquirable than are here commemorated, if greater diligence in inquiring be bestowed thereabout, and Physicians themselves would be better men. But the Devil, whom they serve, possesseth them, and stirs them up to the hating of Him who loves Verity. Even thus things are acted about the Health of Good Men.
It is further to be known, that the aforesaid Receipts of the preparation of the humid spirit of Vitriol cannot more clearly be described; for to understand that, a sufficient Artist is required; those sordid Decocters cannot understand a thing of so great moment. Therefore you are only to expect all-sufficient Information from true Artists, and Alchymistick Laborators; so also by them you must be fully instructed about the correction of spirit of Wine. For the Doctors of Academies are so very rude, as they can scarcely discern Agarick and Manna. Yet this kind of Asses are created Doctors. You have Treacle-Water contained in my practice, in the Chapter of the Cure of the Falling-Evil; what others there are of this kind, are not here to be recited. By this Chapter you may learn, That the Art and all Virtue of Vitriol, consists in well-extracting the Spirit, and graduating it to the height, and by addition deducing it to Penetration, whereby it may search out the center, root, and seed of the Disease. For ’tis impossible so exquisitely to find the places, as those Doctors babble of Humours. Certainly, the Foundation is not yet known, as what it is that makes a Disease, or where that lies, or what that is, which casts a man into so grievous a Fit. Therefore every Operation is only to be committed to that Arcanum, which Nature hath directed to the Disease; that Arcanum searcheth out his Disease, as the Sun penetrates all the Angles of the World. Briefly, I say, whosoever endeavours to be a true Physician, ought first of all to learn to be a Samaritan, not a Priest or Levite. If he be a Samaritan, all things he hath need of will be given him; nothing will be occult to, or hidden from him. But to him who will first be a Priest or Levite, nothing will be given, unless it be Infidelity, which he also had before. Thus are such men paid in their own Coin.