of the Emperor's children are attacked with the Small Pox, not only the chamber and bed are covered with red hangings, but all persons who approach the sick prince must be clad in scarlet gowns.

John of Gaddesden also recommends that Small Pox pustules should be opened by gold or silver needles; Economy had probably tempted him thus to enlarge the instructions of Avicenna. And he declared, And he declared, "that the "Small Pox may attack the same person twice, “if the matter has not been totally expelled "the first time, or if he eats figs frequently, "which drives the humour to the skin *.”

But it ought not to be concluded from the above quotations, that the English Rose is equally irrational on other subjects: for the medical, and especially the surgical practice, in many diseases is judicious; though the obstacles surrounding the Small Pox were superior to the mental powers of that age.

*"Aliquando variola bis hominem invadunt: quando prima vice non totaliter expellitur materia, et cum homo "frequenter comedit ficus, quia materiam ad exteriora ex"pellunt." Ros. Anglic.

M 2

CHAP. VI.

FROM THE FIFTEENTH TO THE

MIDDLE OF THE

SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. FIRE, PHILOSOPHY, AND

THE ALEXIPHARMIC TREATMENT.

IN the fifteenth century, literature continued to advance, and theological controversies proportionally augmented. For the sublime visions of Plato, and their adaptation to the benign doctrines of Christ, produced an infinite variety of religious dogmas. Each subtle point was debated by the interminable logic of Aristotle, and war raged among the guardians of the souls of men. Those who undertook the charge of their bodies, were comparatively calm; for medical fanaticism is rare. And although Physicians, like Theologians, are often tenacious of their doctrines, and desirous to gain proselytes; yet when they fail, instead of persecuting the unconverted, they only interchange mutual compassion for their opponents' understandings, and patients.

But their diffidence during the whole of this century was such, that they generally continued to adhere to the ancient theory and practice of the Small Pox.

VALESCUS DE TARENTO, however, gave a hint of an improvement which had begun, with regard to the practice of opening the pustules This proceeded not from the observations of learned physicians, but from the resistance of the illiterate vulgar; who often refused their consent to this operation. And

GUAINERIUS gave many cautions respecting external applications to the pustules. This author also granted an indulgence to wetnurses, which is unusual in England, though perhaps necessary to female constitutions in Italy: and he imposed a very easy restriction to prevent this from injuring the child t.

But few innovations occurred till the beginning of the Sixteenth Century, when Astronomy having begun to unfold more knowledge of the heavenly bodies, produced an exaltation of mind favorable to the tenets of Astrology. This false science was then in great repute, and the physicians of those days consorted too much with Astrologers.

* "Hoc autem documentum est contra opinionem omnium "Laicorum, qui nolunt quod (Variola) perforentur." Lib. vii. cap. 17. Valesc. de Tarent. opera, Lug. 1526.

"Etsi coitu tali nutrici absolutè prohibeatur: si tum "robusta foret et coitui assueta: diuque sine ipso permansisset: ❝ sibi coitus conveniret: sed tunc lactare infantem usque post "horam non debet." Anton. Guainerii Papiens. opera. Venet. 1517.

FRACASTOR, of Verona, appears to have been guilty of this, yet was so disinterested as to practise medicine without receiving fees. He was a true son of Apollo, being both a poet and a physician; but unluckily preserved both characters in all his works. For he descended to adorn a disgusting disease with the graces of poetry; and when searching for the causes of the Small Pox, he soared to the stars. From this height he imagined he perceived that the heavenly bodies in certain positions shed a malignant influence upon earth, which occasioned all contagious diseases, and among the rest the Small Pox and Measles. Falling stars and comets he considered as undoubted signs of putrefaction taking place below. And he declares," that when there is a conjunction "of many stars, under the larger fixed stars, "it may then be predicted that a contagion is "about to spread: and moreover, that the "aspect of the planets, to which Astronomers "attribute these portents, are neither to be altogether neglected nor dreaded *."

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* "Quod si conjunctio syderum illorum sit plurium quidem "sub majoribus earum quæ fixæ dicuntur, tum et prædicere "potes insignem aliquam portendi contagionem. Sunt porro "et aspectus quidam planetarum, quibus astronomi hæc por"tenta tribuunt, qui nec omnino negligendi, nec semper "timendi." De Sympathia et Antipathia, lib. un. De Contagione, &c. Hieron. Fracastor.

It is odd that Fracastorius, though filled with these conceptions, neither abandoned the theory of Isaac, nor the established practice. All, though inconsistent, were made to coalesce by a presumed concatenation of causes.

Many circumstances combined to augment the credulity of this age. Those persons in the church who were held in the highest reverence, frequently attested the performance of miracles by holy men, by an host of departed saints, and even by their relicts. Thus the interruption of the regular course of nature, and the interference of Heaven in human affairs were conceived to be usual occurrences. Under this superabundance of faith Astrology and Alchemy flourished; but philosophy accords better with a portion of Scepticism. Some curious disco, veries were however made at this time in Che mistry; a few substances were partially analysed, and several unexpected combinations were ef fected. These new facts acted so powerfully upon the imagination, that the most astonishing products were looked for. Alchemy became an ardent pursuit; and some enthusiasts spent days and nights in experiments, expecting to behold either the universal solvent, or the elixir of health and longevity distilling in their alembics; or perhaps to find the philosopher's stone calcined in their crucibles. The persons