The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

Now, if you regard the Nature of Man, you shall generally find, that he useth no measure or mediocrity in eating and drinking, but rather puts down so much till his belly will hold no more. Which Vice one man obtrudeth upon another, under the shew of kindness and good-will, from an old custom and enormous abuse, although in this one offends more than another. Therefore while the Appetite is more liberally indulged, than admitteth of a good digestion, the Liver assumeth a Chyle which is scarce half concocted: Whence also a gross blood is generated; and so in process of time the Viscera are filled and obstructed with crass and viscous humours; hence they cannot perform their office as they ought, but rather many and divers Diseases do arise, according as the heap of crudities encompass the Flesh covering the Joints, obstruct the Veins and Nerves, and deprave all the mediums of nourishment; therefore when the Evil cometh to that pass, and grows prevalent, the whole body is sensible of it, but chiefly in that place where it fixeth its seat: And hence necessarily one part suffereth by the hurt of another, till at length all the powers go to decay, and the whole body languisheth, and cannot help it self, and unless succoured by Art, dyeth.

For these causes Physick was invented, that those Diseases arising from intemperate eating and drinking, might be met in the way, the perverse Enemy or primogenial Vice of the body be removed, the viscous and phlegmatick Saburra of the depraved humours dissolved and opened, and the oppressed Members expurged, that so the body may again recover its former healthful estate; the which is wont to be done by divers means, and in various manners, according as the Physician understandeth the Disease to be, so he also affords his help, viz. taking it away by Evacuations upwards or downwards, by Sweat or Urine, or by other means, as the nature of the Disease requireth. But by which way soever the recrements of the malignity be dissipated and expelled, and the inward parts be freed from them, it is well, and the Physician hath performed his Office, also meriteth Thanks and a due Reward. Therefore whosoever well understandeth the nature, rise, and birth of diseases, and also possesseth a good Medicine, or can obtain one, is fitly qualified for a Physician; but he who knoweth not the disease, nor is also furnished with fit and efficacious Medicines, nor knoweth how to obtain them, grievously erreth by trying Experiments so long, till the Evil more and more encreasing, the Sick at length expires; the which is so well known that it needeth no proof; so that many who have contracted diseases from immoderate eating and drinking, are afraid to commit themselves to an unskilful Physician, but chuse rather to cure themselves by abstinence and fasting, which way is indeed safe, although it be tedious and full of delay.

Others again use vulgar and trifling Medicines, and yet recover their health, tho’ late, thinking that this happened by the use of their Medicine, when nevertheless the length of time, and the sparingness of their meat and drink, during their illness, whence the superfluous pravity of humours hath gradually wasted, hath effected this; which also sometimes happens to those who take no Physick; but by how much the greater the pravity of the humours is, by so much the longer it will be before Nature will be able without help to overcome and expel them. The which, if it take 4, 5, or 6 weeks to accomplish, a Physician (by the benefit of good Medicines) might effect it in 2 or 3 days. So great is the difference between a Cure which Nature performeth in a long time, and that which is quickly done by Art.

But here it may be objected, that all diseases take not their beginning so much from an evil and superfluous humidity, as from manifold other causes, one being derived from this, another from another cause. To this I answer, that all those affects of the Body which exist in the skin, and do not proceed from external accidents, as wounds, bruises, falls, &c. whence the bruising of the body, and also Death, at length happens, do draw their original from the intemperance of eating and drinking, which administer occasion, and furnish matter to noxious humours, which hence occupy and infect divers Members; for one part affecteth another, till the whole body abounds, and is imbued with a multitude of viscous humours. When the Stomach is over-gorged, and its tone is spoiled, it contracteth cold crudities, and falls into a dangerous estate, How then should it rightly digest the Food? and, What good can it transmit to the Liver? And seeing the Liver receiveth nothing but what is evil and depraved, What can that procreate of good, and diffuse throughout the whole body? Therefore as I have said, one Member must suffer by another, till the errour become common. Whilst a Tree or an Herb in the ground remains temperate, that it be neither too wet nor too dry, its root draweth from the earth virtue, and imparteth it to the trunk, and the trunk to the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruit, and is able to produce fruit conducible to health, for many years. But if the root be ill placed, the Salt being ill disposed, whatsoever the stock there finds, it associates to it self, and also comnmunicateth the same, and no better to the branches: And if it stand too wet, it brings forth an insalubrious Fruit, which by reason of too much moisture, falleth off before it is ripe, in whose stead fungous protuberances arising from putrefaction, spring up, and such Plants do not endure long.

Again, if the Root stand too dry, it cannot thence have juice sufficient to nourish the Tree, and bring forth Fruit, but will by degrees wither away and die. So also it is with Men, and their Diseases; for according as their Bodies are treated, they are healthful and fruitful, or else diseasie. Now seeing that I have proved Diseases from redundancy or humidity, or from driness, it will be easie to provide preventive Remedies against them; or if any errour or delay should happen in this, it may be amended in the curative part, by which the Evil may be abolished. These are required to be of that nature and property, that they attract the superfluous and pernicious humours from all the Viscera and principal Internal Members of the whole Body, into the Ventricle, conciliate a new concoction or digestion, separate the pure from the impure, adjoin the one to the Liver, and eject the other by Seige: And so the body is not only freed from depraved burthensom humours, but also recovereth its strength, and is cured of all Infirmities. Which manner of Curing, at this day, the more the pity, is known but to few; seeing that it is not to be effected with common Herbs, but somewhat better is required, than what the Philosophy of old Women prescribeth: Nevertheless there is a great efficacy in certain Simples; as may be seen in Hellebore or Helleboraster, by whose benefit the Ancients prolonged their lives, by the daily use of a certain dose of it. Moreover, Tabaco where it cometh to maturity, effecteth things to be admired, being rightly prepared and administred; yea, even that which (being crude) is taken in Pipes, cooleth and refresheth the body, and also in some measure relieves against Hunger and Thirst; which common experience daily witnesseth. But whence this Virtue happens, Tabaco-takers neither know nor care, but acquiesce, in that they either receive pleasure or profit by it: Therefore, if Tabaco, or any other vulgar Plant can perform so many and so great things, being yet crude, without any preparation, What would not an Extract or concentrated Essence of all the Vegetables do, being rightly made? which nevertheless ought to be of that nature, that it may not only dispel every heap of malignant humours, but also strengthen the inward parts, and preserve from all things which may happen in the generating of a Disease.

Such a Medicine is that which I here present to all those who continually use the Seas, and besides the Scurvy, undergo many other Diseases; by which they may not only efficaciously protect themselves against the assaults of Distempers, and hinder their progress when already began, but also under the present want of Meat and Drink, may make sound an infirm body: But how, and from what Ingredients this Euporist may be made and prepared, needs not to be manifested to every one. This is a great Gift of God, which ought to be honoured, and not prostituted to the Unworthy. Let it suffice at this time, that such a Medicament may be obtained at a small price; I will not suffer it to be buried with me, but will leave it to others, who may keep it, and sell it to those who desire it at a reasonable rate.

This is given in form of an Electuary, and may be taken for a Preservative, daily, or every second, third, or fourth day, as occasion requireth, in the quantity of half or a whole Pease, upon an empty stomach, fasting two hours after it, if need be, but if not, Food may be taken presently after it, although it is better to abstain some hours: But when a Disease hath already invaded a man, whether it be Fever, Scurvy, Headach, Catarrh, or any other Disease infesting Seamen, let the Patient forthwith swallow down of this Electuary the magnitude of an ordinary Pease (for it hath no unpleasant taste) and sweat if he can; if not, let him keep however a very moderate Dyet all the day, and in Summer time, as much as he can, avoid the intense heat, and in Winter, the extremity of Cold; the next day let him take the quantity of a Pease or two, and so let him encrease or diminish the dose, according to the state of the Disease. These things being well observed, all Sicknesses will give place.

If a man carry with him but half an ounce of this Medicine to sea, in a long Voyage, he will possess a Panacea, both for the preventing and curing all Diseases incident to his body.

This is of very great use and profit especially for Masters of Ships, to whom I also highly recommend it as such, and not to them only, but also to all the Inhabitants of the Earth, to whom it promiseth no less success. If a Medicine can be invented, (besides that universal one of the Philosophers) accommodated to all diseases, truly this is one, and will perform all, or even more than I have attributed to my Catholicon in the Second Part of my Pharmac. Spagyr. that is a Powder, but this, of which I now discourse, an Electuary prepared of certain good Ingredients and Sugar. I affirm again, That there is no disease, whether internal or external, for the curing of which this Medicine doth not suffice; for it doth not only resist the Fever, Scurvy, and Pox, but even the Gout and Leprosy it self, provided they be not too much fixed and radicated; yea, although they be very inveterate, and cannot be throughly rooted out by this Medicine, nevertheless it gives relief in them, and renders them more tolerable, and hinders the accession of the daily fits, and keeps it under. Certainly where this Medicine can yield no help, Nature must be wholly ruined and tired out. What I have here written, is the Truth, which I am able to prove by experience; however it is free for every one to believe or not believe me, as he pleaseth: Christian Charity to my Neighbour hath compelled me, if it be well taken, it is well, if not, I have done my part, and discharged my Conscience. Nor will I insist any farther on the praise of this Panacea, I have said enough to those who believe, or can understand me.

And thus I have set before the whole World, that Medicament which can preserve from, and cure the most grievous Diseases accompanying Ships and Voyages, and also relieve in the extremity of Hunger.