HIppocrates in the second Apho. of his first booke , and the 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9. Aphor. of the fourth booke , maketh mention of two sortes of purging medicines , the one by vomit , the other by siege : Of purging medicines by vomit , Mesue in his first booke , De simplicibus medicamentis Purgantibus , the first Theorem , maketh a thréefold difference , taken from their facultie more or lesse . The first he termeth vehement , which extreamely disturbe nature , as white Hellebor , and Tithimal , &c. The second meane , as Nux vomica and Nitrum . The third mild , as Onion séed and Radish . But of simple medicines which purge by siege , he maketh a fourefold difference . The first , are such as purge by dissolution of the humours , and being dissolued by attraction of them from the vpper parts , or eradication from the lower parts , not that the medicine being receiued into the stomacke , doth penetrate the veines or the solid parts of the bodie to euacuate the humor , but by a certaine attractiue qualitie , doth draw his choyse and familiar humor through the veines and passages of the bodie , into the stomacke and bowels , euen as we see Iet or Amber draw little strawes , or the Loadstone Iron , though they touch them not : of this kind , are Scammonie , Colocinthis and Turbith . The second kind of purging simples , are such as doe not draw , but onely purge by driuing and pressing out , drying and consuming the putrid excrements , and afterward binding the bodie as Mirabolanes , and Tamaryndes . The third sort purge by mollifying the humors within the stomacke and bowels , as Cassia fistula and Manna . The fourth and last , by making them slipperie , as the Muscilage of Psillium and Mallowes : these thrée latter kinds of purgers haue a weake facultie , and therefore scarce perspicuous , euacuating onely those humors within the stomacke and bowels , which there they méete withall , not passing the lyuer or working any thing by attraction . The first kind of purging medicines which worke by attraction , Galen in his booke entitled , Quos purgare oportet , doth pronounce that they are all of a hot qualitie . Omnia medicamenta purgantia facultate sunt calida , which in naturall Phylosophie must néedes be graunted , for there are but two actiue qualities , heate & cold , as Aristotle witnesseth in his fourth booke of his Meteorologickes , the first Chapter .

Now it is manifest , that it is the nature of heate alone to draw , for cold cannot doe it : therefore whatsoeuer purgeth by attraction , must néedes bée of a hot temperature . This being well knowne and considered , let vs see how all these kind of purgers worke , and the reason why , and then come to shew the nature and operation of this Catholicon Aureum . Galen in the fift booke of the facultie of simple medicines , affirmeth , that whatsoeuer purgeth , hath a facultie to worke on his peculiar and proper humour , some on one , some on two , and some on more ; and that which is proper to any one humour , neuer worketh on another , vnlesse the malignitie of the medicine , or the quantitie of the dose do too much excéede , which Galen also witnesseth in his booke , De purgantium Medicamentorum facultate . Hippocrates also confirmeth it in his booke , De natura humana , saying there , That if a medicine be administred to bring forth fleame , it onely bringeth out fleame : if to purge choler , it onely purgeth choler : if to euacuate melancholy , it onely euacuateth that humour : to whome Mesue consenteth in his first booke , De simp. medi. purg . the first Theorem , affirming more plainly , that if a medicine be giuen to purge melancholy , though choler and fleame abound much more in the bodie , yet it leaueth them , and purgeth melancholy , his own peculiar and destinate humor : whence , they haue this strange facultie , the same Authors opinion is , that it proceedeth not from the temperature of the medicine ( meaning the first qualities ) nor from one contrarie working on another , nor from like drawing his like , nor as a light medicine vpward , a heauie downward , stirring the matter to be purged : but Quia talem coelitus est sortitum facultatem : That the facultie of euerie purging medicine , procéedeth from an heauenly qualitie and hidden influence .

Now hauing shewed the nature and differences of purging simples , after what sort they worke , and by what meanes out of their Theoricke , it remaineth after perfect inuestigation both by cause and effect , to set downe the nature and operation of this Catholicon Aureum , or generall purging powder of Gold . Then , whereas I said before in the beginning , that all purges worke either by vomit it or siege , this powder of Gold worketh both vp vomit and siege : yet let not this derogate any thing from the excellencie of it , that it worketh by vomit : for although I must néedes confesse , that euerie action of any part made against the first ordinance of nature , is improsperous and vnfit , and so séeing nature did at first ordaine the Gula for attraction , and the Pilorum for expulsion : therefore by consequent , all vomits made by contrarie motion to nature , are improsperous and hurtfull : although I say , this be simply true and cannot be denied , yet respectiuely & by accident , vomits are not onely not hurtful , but verie commodious , and necessarie as well for the curing of diseases , as for the regiment of health . For when there is aboundance of light Choler , thin water , and fleame swimming on the top of the stomacke , the expulsiue facultie cannot driue them downward , by reason of their lightnesse , neither is nature able to digest them , so they must of necessitie be euacuated by vomit , and so of two euils the lesse must bee chosen , this way of purging being allowed and commended by Galen and Hippocrates , and mightily confirmed by the Academie of Salerne , prescribing for the regiment of health to vomit once a month . To which of the foure differences of purging medicines to referre this powder , is a matter verie difficult , seeing it was neuer yet truely and Philosophically determined by any Paracelsian , whether Mercurie or any minerall purge did worke Attrahendo humores , by drawing the humours together into the stomacke . But my assertion is , that this powder of Gold doth not worke Attrahendo , or Comprimendo , and Exprimendo , but Leniendo , and Lubricando , which I prooue thus .

There is no cold medicine which doeth purge by Attraction ; but the outward qualitie in the superficies of this powder , from whence the purging facultie procéedeth ( as is plainely shewed in the end of the sixt Chapter ) is cold , therefore ꝑ conclude , that it cannot draw any humors into the stomacke . My proposition was proued before by the naturall effectes of heate and cold , and by the authoritie of Galen before cited , in his booke intitled : Quos purgere oportete and in his fift booke , De simp. medi. facul . the sixtéene Chapter . My assumption I proue thus : as is the effect , so is the cause : but the effect which Mercurie worketh is cold , and therefore Mercurie it selfe is cold : My proposition in the Philosophers maxime , the assumption is proued by instance in the disease called the Palsie , and relaxation of the Sinewes , which we see dayly happen to those that deals much with Quicksiluer , as our Gilders with rich Gold , being caused by the sinne of the Quicksiluer . Now that the Palsie is a cold disease , Galen witnesseth in his fourth booke De causis pulsuum . My second instance is taken from another effect of Mercurie , which is this , When any hath taken a great quantitie , as much as will poyson a bodie , during all the time of the working of it , the partie shall neuer thirst , which if it were hot , it would inflame the bloud and vitall spirits , and cause intolerable thirst , as it happeneth after the taking of all hot poysons , for the partie will thirst euen to the death , which is proued by an example cited of Conciliator , in his booke De venenis , of an Apothecarie , who thirsting in the extreame heate of Summer , in the night time tooke a Pitchard of Quicksiluer in stead of some drinke or other , and dranke of it , forthwith it cooled his thirst , congealed the bloud , and destroyed the vitall spirits , and being found dead in his bed in the morning , his body by the aduice of a Phisicion was cut vp , and there was found in his stomack one pound of Quicksiluer , the bloud in his heart being congealed : by which the same Authour concluded , that it was of a cold qualitie .

To these instances may be added , that it is in the forme of water altogether without taste , not bitter , sharpe , sowre , salt , swéete , or hauing any stiplicitie or corrosiuenesse . Besides these probable inductions , the authoritie of diuers of our moderne Authors may be added , who haue diligently both by speculation and proofe inuestigated the nature of it , whatsoeuer Paracelsus through vaine subtilties and trifling arguments , goeth about to perswade the world that it is of a hot qualitie : then since the superficiall purging qualitie of this powder is cold , it manifestly proueth that it doth not purge by attraction . The second reason which proueth that this powder doth not purge by attraction , is taken from a sure demonstration by certaine experience , which is this . The first time that it is administred vnto any bodie , it will worke his effect duely as it ought to doe , euacuating the humours , but if it bee administred againe the next day , it will then verie little worke by siege or vomit , or nothing at all , by reason the first day it did euacuate all the humours within the stomacke and bowels , which it then met withall : now all other purges attractiue being taken againe the second day , will worke afresh , because they still drawe mo humours out of the veines and fleshie parts of the bodie , and if there bee none to draw , they dissolue and melt the flesh it selfe , draw bloud out of the veines , & spirits out of the arteries , and so by consequent life it selfe : which vice would also bee incident to this powder of Gold , if it did worke any whit by attraction , which seeing it doth not , it cannot hold with the naturall possibilitie of this powder , to produce any such fatall euent : and as it worketh not Attrahendo , so neither doth it worke Comprimendo , because it leaueth the bodie after alwayes soluble , sometimes a weeke , a month , yea , a quarter of a yeere : by which may bee noted the excellencie and preheminence that this purge hath aboue all other purging medicines in the world : for this must needes be graunted , which Galen himselfe confesseth in his booke entituled , Quos purgare oportet , That al purging medicines which worke by attraction , are verie offensiue to the stomacke , and noysome to all parts of the bodie , diuers symptomes and great inconueniences following them , by reason when there is such a suddaine violent and vnnaturall pulling , and riuing the humours from bloud wherein life consisteth , nature can hardly endure , this seperation being before so firmely vnited together , without her great detriment and losse of many spirits , the inconueniences and vices whereof , I will shew at large in the sixt Chapter .

Now this purge of Gold , seeing it worketh not by attraction , cannot be scandalized with any of those blots , neither can any such symptomes follow it . But happily some may here obiect , that if it onely purge Leniendo and Lubricando , and not Attrahendo ; how can it remoue and purge stubborne and rebellious humors , out of the veines and solid remote parts of the bodie , and then not being able to remoue them , how can it be good almost for any disease : and to conclude , it were as good to take a glister , or eate a little Cassia , Manna , or stued Pruines , as to take this golden purge . To this I answere , that though it purge not the humours within the veines and fleshie parts by attraction : yet it doth either helpe nature to digest them , or expell them by sweate and Vrine , which is a direct course according to natures owne procéedings : so you see that it doth worke by vomit , siege , sweate , and vrine , according as nature is burdened and ouerladed : for if the stomacke bee oppressed with light choler , water , and flegme , it purgeth them by vomit : if the intestines and lower parts bee ouercharged with choler , water , or flegme , it worketh by siege : if either stomacke or bowels be ouerladen with melancholy , it euacuateth alwaies that humour by siege : if the bloud and the solid parts of the bodie bee oppressed with any of those humours , it dissolueth them and openeth their passage , and purgeth them by sweate and insensible expiration . If the Emulgent veines or reynes of the backe be burdened with choler , flegme , or melancholy , or haue any obstructions , it openeth the passages , dissolueth the humours , and bringeth them out by Vrine ; for it purgeth all the vicious and offensiue humours alike , not hauing any humour destinate to it , but as the body is most ouercharged , on that it worketh first . In the answering this obiection , a greater may arise among the learned , and that is this : Whereas I say that this powder of Gold dooth purge by sweate and Vrine , how can that agrée with naturall Philosophie and experience , that a cold qualitie ( which I affirmed before this powder had ) can open , dissolue , sweate , and expell by Vrine . To this I answere , that though the outward superficiall qualitie of this powder of Gold bee cold , from the Mercurialitie , yet inwardly there is a subtill acrious heate , from the Aureitie , which is stirred vp and animated by the naturall heats of our bodies , and brought in Energian .

Nature being alwayes wise in her working , making seperation of the cold qualitie in the superficies of the medicine , to worke by vomit and siege : and selecting the subtill inward medicinable vertue , drawing it into the veynes to helpe her selfe to worke away all that offendeth her , shée being alwayes prone to her emendation and perfection . And thus I haue shewed in generall the nature and working of this powder of Gold ; but fearing lest I haue excéeded those straite limits I alotted my selfe , I am enforced to omit many things that were expedient to bee spoken of this matter : onely touching these things , as briefe as I could , which are necessarie ; but if there be any that rests not contented with that which here is said , I will by conference fully satisfie him at any occasion .

COmmonly for a sucking child two graines will suffice , for youth thrée graines , for middle age and most sort of people foure graines , for strong folkes and stubborne diseases fiue graines . It may bee taken in a spoonefull of drinke , Aqua-vitae , or spirit of Wine , in the pappe of an Apple , or a Quince , in the pulpe of Raysens or Pruines , in a little broth , in conserue of Roses or Barberies , or in any such like thing : Or if it please the Phisicion in any sirupe , powder , electuarie or potion , proper to that disease , or especiall humour which he doth intend to purge , which I leaue to the learned discretion of euerie Phisicion , who may well determine of euery particular patient , which in generalitie it is impossible for me to doe : but particularly I can direct any that shall require it for what intent so euer , either in Pill , Potion , Lezenge or Electuarie , according as shall best fit the disease , and the Patients content .

SEeing that this powder doth purge all offensiue humours to mans nature , as well simple as mixed : therefore I conclude , that this Catholicon is good for al diseases , when as there néedeth any Purgation of any humour , either vpward , downeward , by sweate , or Vrine ; for the cause remooued , the effect must néedes cease , and in this kind it may haue the preheminence aboue all other purging medicines , which euer Art or inuention till this day found out : and although it may iustly challenge this preheminence both by art and nature , namely by the matter whereof and the meanes whereby it is made , yet are other simples and confections ne're the worse , nor lesse to be regarded , for euen they in their due place and time may bee mixed with this , to make a more peculiar purging medicine , more specificate to any member affected or humor exceeding . Moreouer it farre excelleth them all in these properties , namely in the smalnes of the quantitie , the aptnesse of the receite , the not offensiuenesse in taste ; soone , safe and pleasantly working his effect , and in the wholesomnesse of it to mans body , euen by the testimonie of Mesue himselfe , affirming those to be the wholesomest purges which are swéete or without taste : For this being administred in the quantitie of two , thrée , foure , or fiue graines at the most , may as well be taken as a péece of bread , or spoonefull of drinke , and hauing no taste , neuer offendeth the Patient , as shall be shewed hereafter ; for here with breuitie , I intend to set downe the chiefe diseases for which this powder is specially good , and leaue the rest to the good censtoeration of the Phisician .

In all these diseases it is good to take of this powder , yet imagine not that this of it selfe will cure them perfectly , yet many of them it will , as most sort of Headaches , & weaknes of the stomacke , all sorts of wormes , the thrée Fluxes with an other simple after the body is purged , the Stone in the reynes , womens termes , & all maner of Agues ( the Feuer Hecticke , and Marasmus excepted ) whether the humours bee enflamed within the veynes or without , in al maner of people , sucking children and other , commonly at once taking , but for the Quartan it will aske longer time . Also I presume it wil cure that Pestilence if it be taken in any time , & not past al help .

Finally , for the French Pox ▪ or any simptome therof beginning , it is the most singular medicine that euer was found out , for without hot-houses , lothsome diet drinkes , bathing in Cornelius Tub , any other Purgations , annoyntments , fumes , or Suffumigations with Quicksiluer , making most lothsome Excoriations and painefull Exulcerations , eating the teeth out of the head , and dissoluing the Sinewes , and other simptomes , this onely of it selfe , if it be taken before the desperate symptomes doe appeare , will cure them , and doubtlesse excelleth all other that art or nature can this day afford .

In like maner it may be probably coniectured , by the authoritie of diuers Authors , and reasoning from the materials whereof it is made , that it may cure the Gout , if it be not alreadie grown to a desperate period . Now that I haue shewed for what diseases this powder is good , some may expect that I should set downe the particular experiences that I haue made of it , to wit , the Cures which it hath performed , with the names of the parties , the time when , & the place of their abode , to the intent it might the better perswade the hard beleeuing world , of the good effects of it , & giue greater credit to my words . But for these causes I haue wittingly & willingly omitted them : first , in regard that many of the parties are not willing to haue their names come in print , nor the diseases knowne of which they haue béene cured . Secondly , the rehearsal of these cures performed by my selfe and my friends which haue administred it , would aske a longer discourse then all my treatise besides . Lastly , I might haply be condemned of too much arrogancy & vainglory , séeming to incline for the most part to the emperical sect . To auoid therefore imagined arrogancie , tediousnesse in discourses , and displeasure to my friends , I haue purposely neglected that which might well here haue beene spoken of this large subiect .