[c] Here [from the Pustules he observ’d in Monomotapa] were Grounds to admire the Contrivance of our Blood, which on some Occasions, so soon as any Thing destructive to the Constitution of it, comes into it, immediately by an intestine Commotion, endeavoureth to thrust it forth, and is not only freed from the new Guest; but sometimes what likewise may have lain lurking therein——for a great while. And from hence it comes to pass, that most Part of Medicines, when duly administred, are not only sent out of the body themselves; but likewise great Quantities of morbifick Matter: As in Salivation, &c. Dr. Sloane’s Voy. to Jamaica, p. 25.
[d] Valsalva discover’d some Passages into the Region of the Ear-drum, of mighty Use, (among others,) to make Discharges of Bruises, Imposthumes, or any purulent, or morbifick Matter from the Brain, and Parts of the Head. Of which he gives two Examples: One, a Person, who from a Blow on his Head, had dismal Pains therein, grew Speechless, and lay under an absolute Suppression and Decay of his Strength; but found certain Relief, whenever he had a Flux of Blood, or purulent Matter out of his Ear; which after his Death Valsalva discover’d, was through those Passages.
The other was an apoplectical Case, wherein he found a large Quantity of extravasated Blood, making Way from the Ventricles of the Brain, through those same Passages. Valsal. de Aure hum. c. 2. §. 14. and c. 5. §. 8.
[e] Hippocrates Lib. de Alimentis, takes notice of the Sagacity of Nature, in finding out Methods and Passages for the discharging Things offensive to the Body, of which the late learned and ingenious Bishop of Clogher, in Ireland, (Boyle,) gave this remarkable Instance, to my very curious and ingenious Neighbour and Friend, D’Acre Barret, Esq; viz. That in the Plague Year, a Gentleman at the University, had a large Plague Sore gather’d under his Arm, which, when they expected it would have broken, discharg’d it self by a more than ordinary large and fœtid Stool; the Sore having no other Vent for it, and immediately becoming sound and well thereon.
Like to which, is the Story of Jos. Lazonius, of a Soldier of thirty five Years of Age, who had a Swelling in his right Hip, accompany’d with great Pain, &c. By the Use of emollient Medicines, having ripen’d the Sore, the Surgeon intended the next Day to have open’d it; but about Midnight, the Patient having great Provocations to stool, disburthen’d himself three Times; immediately upon which, both the Tumor and Pain ceas’d, and thereby disappointed the Surgeon’s Intentions. Ephem. Germ. Anno 1690. Obs. 49. More such Instances we find of Mr. Tonges in Philos. Transact. Nᵒ. 323. But indeed there are so many Examples of this Nature in our Phil. Trans. in the Ephem. German. Tho. Bartholine, Rhodius, Sennertus, Hildanus, &c. that it would be endless to recount them. Some have swallow’d Knives, Bodkins, Needles and Pins, Bullets, Pebbles, and twenty other such Things as could not find a Passage the ordinary Way, but have met with an Exit through the Bladder, or some other Way of Nature’s own providing. But passing over many Particulars, I shall only give one instance more, because it may be a good Caution to some Persons, that these Papers may probably fall into the Hands of; and that is, The Danger of swallowing Plum-stones, Prune-stones, &c. Sir Francis Butler’s Lady had many Prune-stones that made Way through an Abscess near her Navel. Philos. Trans. Nᵒ. 165. where are other such like Examples. More also may be found in Nᵒ. 282, 304, &c. And at this Day, a young Man, living not far off me, laboureth under very troublesome and dangerous Symptoms, from the Stones of Sloes and Bullace, which he swallow’d eight or ten Years ago.
[f] Grew’s Cosmol. §. 28. 29.
[g] Nor are Diseases themselves useless: For the Blood in a Fever, if well govern’d, like Wine upon the Fret, dischargeth it self of all heterogeneous Mixtures; and Nature, the Disease, and Remedies, clean all the Rooms of the House; whereby that which threatens Death, tends, in Conclusion, to the prolonging of Life. Grew ubi supr. §. 52.
And as Diseases minister sometimes to Health; so to other good Uses in the Body, such as quickning the Senses: Of which take these Instances relating to the Hearing and Sight.
A very ingenious Physician falling into an odd Kind of Fever, had his Sense of Hearing thereby made so very nice and tender, that he very plainly heard soft Whispers, that were made at a considerable Distance off, and which were not in the least perceiv’d by the Bystanders, nor would have been by him before his Sickness.
A Gentleman of eminent Parts and Note, during a Distemper he had in his Eyes, had his Organs of Sight brought to be so tender, that both his Friends, and himself have assur’d me, that when he wak’d in the Night, he could for a while plainly see and distinguish Colours, as well as other Objects, discernible by the Eye, as was more than once try’d. Boyl. deter. nat. of Effluv. ch. 4.