Page:A practical method as used for the cure of the plague in London in 1665.pdf/22

 Kind; which, with a malign Inflamation, putrefies and coagulates the whole Mass of Blood, and thereby destroys the Animal Spirits, mortifies the Parts within and without whereby the Vital Flame being extinguish'd' unexpected Death suddenly ensues.

Helmont will not allow the Plague to have its Seat in the Blood; but says, it is in the Vital Spirits, occasion'd by infectious Air suck'd in, which passing thro' the Pores of the Diaphragma to the Stomach, and not being able to go any further, leaves there its fatal Impression to Death.

Paracelsus is of the Opinion, that this Distemper takes its Original from the malignant Rays of the Stars; and as that Contagion proceeds from the Influence of the Heavens, the secret Virtues of Herbs, Roots, Metals and Minerals, signify nothing; but the Cure is to be perform'd by heavenly Influence, astronomically apply'd. We have, in Authors, frequent Citations of these famous Medicines, as well as those of Helmont; but they contribute little to us, only that they excite us to follow Nature; no general Rule being extant, whereby such Medicines may be obtain'd.

Sylvius will have the Cause to be of this Pestilential Disease, from a too great Fluidity of the Blood, occasion'd by a sharp, Volatil Salt: From which Volatil Salt, he Rh