Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural PhilosophyNewcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Philosophy
Philosophical Letters: or, modest Reflections upon some Opinions in Natural Philosophy
Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of
Newcastle, William Cavendish, Duke of, 1592-1676; Philosophy
In your _Authors_ Treatise of Fevers, I find one Chapter[1] whose
Inscription is, _A Perfect Curing of all Fevers_, wherein he declares
the secrets of the Cures of Fevers, consisting all in Chymical
Medicines. But considering, that if all Fevers could be cured by such
Medicines, then all Physicians would strive to obtain them; I can
hardly believe (by your _Authors_ favour) that any such perfect curing
of all Fevers can be effected, but that your _Authors_ prescriptions,
if they should come to the tryal, might fail as well as any other.
Likewise he mentions a Medicine of _Paracelsus_, Named _Diaceltesson_,
or the _Coraline Secret_; which, he says, cures radically the Gout no
less then Fevers: Which if so, I wonder why so many Great, Noble and
Rich Persons, groan so much under the pains of the Gout; certainly
it is not for want of cost to have them prepared, nor for want of an
ingenious and experienced Chymist; for this age doth not want skilful
workmen in that Art, nor worthy and wise Physicians, which if they knew
such soveraign medicines, would soon apply them to their Patients;
but I suppose that they finding their effects to be less then the
cost and labour bestowed upon them, forbear to use them. Moreover, he
mentions[2] another remedy for most diseases, by him call'd _Driff_,
prepared also by the Art of Chymistry; but I believe all those remedies
will not so often cure, as fail of cure, like as the Sympathetical
Powder; for if there were such soveraign medicines that did never fail
of a successful effect, certainly men being curious, inquisitive,
and searching, would never leave till they had found them out. Also
amongst Vegetables, the herb _Chameleon_ and _Arsmart_ are in great
request with your _Author_; For, says he, _they by their touching
alone, do presently take away cruel diseases, or at leastwise ease
them._ Which if so, I wonder that there is not more use made of them,
and they held in greater esteem then they are; Also that your _Author_
doth not declare the vertue of them, and the manner and way how, and
in what diseases to use them, for the benefit of his neighbour, to
which end, he says, all his labours and actions are directed? But
again, your _Author_ confirms, as an Eye-witness, _That the bone of
the arm of a Toad presently has taken away the Tooth-ach at the first
co-touching._ Which remedy, if it was constant, few, in my opinion,
would suffer such cruel pains, and cause their teeth to be drawn out,
especially if sound. Likewise of the mineral _Electrum or Amber_ of
_Paracelsus_, he affirms[3] to have seen, that _hung about the neck, it
has freed those that were persecuted by unclean spirits_, and that many
simples have done the like effects; but surely, _Madam_, I cannot be
perswaded that the Devil should be put away so easily; for he being a
Spirit, will not be chased by corporeal means, but by spiritual, which
is Faith, and Prayer; and the cure of dispossessing the Devil belongs
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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