The Art of Physick
Section C. Of things Preternatural
2. Causes

D. What is here meant by the word Cause?

C. An affection against Nature, which causes the Diseases; the knowledge of which, is called Aetiology.

D. The Cause of a Disease is generally substantial, as some Humor or Wind, or something else preternatural; as, a Stone; but Affection is a Quality; therefore Affection is not properly the cause of a Disease.

C. The Word Affection is otherwise used by Galen and Aristotle; that is, for everything that is able to destroy the natural Temper and Structure of the Body, and injure its Actions, whether it be Substance or Quality.

D. Of how many sorts are Morbisic Causes?

C. Twofold: Internal and External.

D. Which is the Internal Cause?

C. That which resides within the Body.

D. Of how many sorts is this?

C. Twofold: the preceding and containing.

D. Which is the Antecedent Cause?

C. That which Nourishes the Disease.

D. Of how many kinds?

C. Two: Plethoric and Cacochymic.

D. What is the Plethora?

C. A Redundancy of all the Humors equally augmented; or else a redundancy of the Blood alone.

D. How many kinds are there of Plethora?

C. Two: the one in respect of the Strength; the other in respect of the Vessels.

D. What is a Plethora in respect of the Strength?

C. When the Blood neither in quantity nor quality exceeding due measure, yet oppresses the Strength debilitated by some other Cause.

D. What is a Plethora as to the Vessels?

C. When the Humor exceeds its due measure; which is either light, when it only fills the Cavity of the Veins, and only exceeds proportion by a little, or distensive, when it distends and almost rends the Tunicles of the Veins.

D. How does the Plethora in respect of the Vessels, and that other in respect of the Strength differ?

C. When during the Plethora the Body waxes heavy, yet the Strength of all parts remains equal, only there is a fullness of the Vessels. But if the Body and the Arteries wax heavy, and the motion grows slow, if a drowsy, disturbed and unquiet sleep follow, and the patient complain of being oppressed by some weight, or that he carries some burden, or dream he cannot be removed out of his place, then it is an over-fullness oppressing the Strength.

D. What are the signs of a Plethory?

C. The Antecedent are the Causes breeding plenty of Blood, such as are the just temper of the Body, Age, the Spring-Season, a temperate Climate, good Diet, and the accustomed evacuation of Blood suppressed. But the consequent Causes are Accidents which demonstrated an over-fullness and predominancy of the Blood; as, a red color in the Face, swelling of the Veins, dilation of the Vessels, a spontaneous stretching Lassitude, a bigger Bulk of Body, a fleshy Habit of Body, a merry and jocund disposition, stupidity, drowsiness, a strong Pulse and thick, difficulty of Breathing, and an aptness to Bleed, &c.

D. What is Cacochymy?

C. Cacochymy is the redundancy of Yellow or Black Choler or Phlegm; whence it is said to be threefold, Choleric, Melancholic, and Phlegmatic.

D. By what signs is a Choleric Cacochymy known?

C. First, from the Causes demonstrating exuberancy of Choler, as a hot and dry Constitution, a constant and florid Age, Summer, a dry Season, a hot and dry Climate, a hot and dry Diet; and then by the signs of Yellow Choler abounding in the Body, as a place face, yellowish or blackish, a dry Habit of Body, lean, slender, hairy, acute Senses, swift and expediate, a sharp and diligent Wit, little Sleep, and unquiet, much Waking, Dreams or War, a swift and frequent Pulse, want of Stomach, an unquenchable Thirst, hos Vomits and Stool full of Choler, Urine yellow, or somewhat inclining to Flame color, with little sediment &c.

D. By what signs is a Melancholy Cacochymy understood?

C. First, from the Causes showing the Exhuberance of Melancholy; a natural Temper, cold and dry, weakness of the Spleen, inclining Age, Autumn Season, strong Diet, a melancholy way of living. Then from the several signs of prevailing Melancholy, a Leaden color in the Countenance, a dry habit of Body, and lean, a fixed Aspect, grim and sour, full of fear and sadness, turbulent Sleep, little and slow Pulse &c.

D. By what signs is a Phlegmatic Cacochymy distinguished?

C. First, from the Causes that increase Phlegm; a Temper cold and moist, old Age, Winter Season, a moist constitution of the Air, unseasonable Eating, a sedentary Life, and long Sleep. Then from the Signs demonstrating redundancy of Phlegm; a white livid Complexion, swelled Cheeks, a large fat Body, small Veins, white Hair, slow in his Actions, thick skulled, a profound Sleeper, dreaming much of Water and drowning, a slow soft Pulse, &c.

D. What is the containing Cause?

C. That which most nearly breeds the Disease; by some called the conjoined Cause.

D. Well then, I will prove there is no conjoined Cause. The containing cause is that, which while it is present, the Disease remains; but when it is removed, the Disease ceases. But every cause of a Disease being taken away, the Disease is not removed; therefore there is no containing Cause.

C. I deny the Minor.

D. I prove it; if every cause of Disease being removed, the Disease should be removed, there would be no need of Remedies to cure a Disease; but besides the Remedies which are provided to remove the Morbisic Cause, as for the curing of a bad Temper, which are first prescribed for the evacuation of the Humor, causing the illness of Temper, there are required likewise others to correct the bad Temper, as hot remedies in a cold Distemper; therefore the Cause being taken away, the Disease is not removed.

C. I answer, Where the Cause is conjoined with the Disease, take away the cause, and all those diseases are removed, nor will there want any further cure. But as to those diseases of which there is no other internal cause, but a Plethory or Cacochymy, such as are essential Fevers, tho both those were removed, yet they require proper remedies to perfect the cure.

D. Then I argue thus; If there were any conjoined cause, it would appear more especially in a Phlegmone; for the inherent Humor fixed in the part inflamed, would then be the conjoined cause of the Phlegmone, but the inherent and fixed Humor into the part affected, is not the cause conjoined, therefore there is no conjoined cause of a Disease.

C. I deny the Minor.

D. I prove the Minor. The Disease and the Cause of the Disease differ; but the Humor is the Phlegmone itself, therefore not the conjoined cause of the Phlegmone.

C. I deny the Minor.

D. I prove the Minor. Where the Definition agrees, to that also the thing defined agrees; But the Definitions of a Phlegmone exactly agrees with the Humor fixed in the part inflamed; therefore it is the Phlegmone.

C. I deny the Minor.

D. I prove the Minor. A Phlegmone is a hot distemper inflaming the part where it is fixed, swelling and distending it, so that primarily and of itself it hinders the function of the part; but that Humor which is infixed in the parts, burns, distends, oppresses, and so being the Phlegmone, injuries the Function primarily and by it self, without the aggravation of any other Accident.

C. I answer, That the Humor fixed in the part inflamed, is a substance, that the Phlegmone is an Accident, therefore differs in the whole Genus, so far is the Definition from agreeing to both.

D. Which is the external Cause?

C. That which happens from the without, and alters the Body extremely; called the pre-incipient and evident, vulgarly the Primitive. And it is so much the evident cause of the Disease, by how much it is a thing, not natural: For the Air causes a Disease, when it is intemperate and impure. And the Nourishment, if it exceed, or be defective, or if it be bad, or not taken as it ought to be. Also Motion and Rest, Sleep and Waking, when either are immoderate. Also when such things are retained that ought to be expelled, and such things are expelled that ought to be retained, they breed a Disease; as also the Passions of the Mind, if they be immoderate.

Cause; Etiology




It is interesting the specific mention of 'Wind' which is often not considered in Western writings, but was nonetheless known.





















Plethora, excess of Blood, or of all Humors together (which effectively equals an abundance of Blood).
Redundancy, from the Latin redundant, means a surge or abundance




































Cacochymy is an excess of one of the Humors (apart from Blood)


Choleric Cacochymy, an excess of Bile









Melancholy Cacochymy, an excess of Melancholy







Phlegmatic Cacochymy, an excess of Phlegm

















'Minor' was used to mean 'Logic' at the time.

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The Art Of Physick
Section A.
OF THE 7 NATURALS
(Physiology)
Introduction to the 7 Naturals
1. Elements
2. Temperaments
3. Parts
4. Humors
5. Spirits
6. Faculties
7. Actions
Section B.
OF THE 6 NOT-NATURALS
(Preservation of Health)
Introduction to the 6 Not-Naturals
1. Ambient Air
2. Food and Drink
3. Sleep and Waking
4a. Exercise &
4b. Rest
5. Excrements
6. Emotions (Passions of the Mind)
Section C.
OF THE 3 PRETER-NATURALS
(Pathology)
1. Diseases
2. Causes
3a. Symptoms &
3b. Signs