A
LETTER
TO A
GENTLEMAN
CONCERNING
Alkali and Acid.
Being an ANSWER to a late Piece,
Intituled, A Letter to a Physician concerning
ACID and ALKALI.

To which is added
A Specimen of a new Hypothesis, for
the sake of the Lovers of Medicine.

By THOMAS EMES,
Author of the Dialogue between Alkali and Acid.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
Bonis nocet 〈◊…〉 malis.
LONDON▪
Printed for Tho. Speed, over •••…inst Jonath••'s
Coffee-House in Exchange-Ally in Cornhill,
Price 6 d.

At which Place the Dialogue is told, 8vo. Price 1 s.


Page 3
A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN CONCERNING ALKALI and ACID.
SIR,

WE have a small Champion lately come
forth for the Acid Cause; he conceals
his Name, but he saith he is a Gentle∣man,
hoping, I suppose, to find the better Quar∣ter:
But he professeth his Aversion to such an Un∣dertaking,
but that he is at length, and at last over∣come
by Zeal for the Service of his Acid Physician.
And he saith that at his first reading my Dialogue, he
discover'd so much unbecoming Language, that had not
Requests, as forcible as Commands, chang'd his Reso∣lution,
he had never been condemn'd to a second read∣ing,
much less to the Task of writing Remarks upon it.

Well, the Gentleman is to be excus'd, because he
did it unwillingly; and I readily confess, there is
indeed much unbecoming Language even with∣in
Page 4

in the first eighteen Pages; and truly had it not
been too nauseous, the Reader might have had a
great deal more on't; but what he has, was but just
enough to shew a Specimen of the immodest Self-applause,
shameful Contempt, and abuse of all Phy∣sicians,
wherewith the Pretender to a new Acid Hy∣pothesis
abounds, and what sort of Answer such
Language deserveth. At which the Gentleman was
so uneasie, that he leap'd over two Pages more
where there is none; but the ground of Mr. Acid's
Hypothesis examin'd.

He tells us, pag. 4. That undecent personal Refle∣ctions
are no marks of Probity and Virtue, but are be∣low
the cognizance of a generous Mind; and tells us
in Greek too, that it is Blasphemy.

I answer, if it be Blasphemy to reflect upon the
Follies and Confidence of a raw Empirick, boasting
himself the only Doctor in the World; I think
it is but just to be such a Blasphemer. And since
there is nothing so foolishly said by such men, but
catches Patients now-a-days, when so few under∣stand
Nature or good Sense, and they are so often
caught to the damage of their Lives and Healths;
I think it is not only the part of a good and gene∣rous
Mind, and a Virtue, but a Duty to expose
them, and that sometimes in the way Solomon advi∣ses,
Pro. 26. 5. But I think no body hath expos'd
Mr. Colebatch so much as he has expos'd himself, to
the thinking part of those that read him.

The Gent. is amaz'd, he says, to see the ingenious
Author of the Hypothesis of Acids treated with the utmost
Contempt and Scorn. But I am as much amaz'd to
see any Gentleman admire the Wit in his Writings,
or Physician take him for the Author of any thing
but the abuse of Acids; and that his Friend should
say, that not one Author has examin'd his Hypothesis by
Page 5

Reason and Experience,〈◊◊…〉th read my Dia∣logue
more than once, and confesses it becomes Men
of Letters, Gentlemen and Philosophers, (as Physicians
are) to weigh and consider the force of every Man's
reasoning. I think it will be confess'd by those that
are Judges, I have weigh'd Mr. Colebatch's Reason∣ing,
and found it very light; and I am now re∣solv'd
to put that of the Gentleman, his Champion,
also into the Scale, and see how much it comes to.
I am glad the Gent. acknowledges Physicians to be
Gentlemen and Philosophers; but I begin to doubt
whether he be a Philosopher and a Physician; be∣cause
he altogether blames Jesting, when it is well
known to such Men, that some Diseases are cured
thereby, and that Satyr is often prescrib'd against
some Maladies endangering the Life and Health of
Men, that have their root in the Mind; such as
Pride, Ignorance, Confidence, Covetousness, &c. in
a Practioner, which the Dialogue was compos'd as
a Medicine to cure Mr. Acid of, if not incurable.

The Gent. says farther, that Poetry is a very pret∣ty
thing; but agrees with his Doctor, that the Chara∣cter
of a Satyrist and a Physician are vastly different.
I am of the same Mind; but I find the Gent. does
not love a Satyr, the Panegyrick to the unknown Do∣ctor
Colebatch would relish well enough with him;
but he is not a thorough Proselyte to Acids yet; for a
Sarcastical Couplet is too sharp for his Stomach, and
he thinks it should not be press'd against its will to af∣front
a Professor of Physick. And I think it was not,
in the case he means, but came only against a Pro∣fessor
and Abuser of Acids. But Sarcasms I'le
maintain are Acids, or they are not Sarcasms;
and Acid with Acid methinks should well agree:
But perhaps these are Acids out of his Practice. But
I'll say one thing more for them, they need not be
Page 6

press'd, but are apt enough to come Volunteers,
and muster freely upon any proper Occasion.

But the Gentlemen that value themselves upon their
Wit, he esteems the more genteel Mountebanks. 'Tis
well they are the more genteel sort; and I should
chuse, I confess, if we must all be Mountebanks, to
be of that number. He allows they shew more Wit
and fine Language, in their sarcastical Bills distribu∣ted
by the Booksellers, than what breaks forth from be∣neath
merry Andrew's Charcoal Whiskers, or wraps
up John Saffold's Pills and Powder; but the Nature,
Design, and Effect of the Farce is the same. He's a
Conjurer! he can tell they all aim at Money with
common success, and so does Mr. Colebatch. But
he that is bubbled on't, I think, had as good be
bubbled by a witty Conceit as a foolish one; and
if he has nothing else, have some Wit for his Mo∣ney.

But the Gent, says, he will never trust his Life in
the hands of a Physician, who takes so much pains to
convince the World he is a rare Poet. I confess a Man
may be a rare Poet and not a Physician, and a Phy∣sician
and not a Poet: But I think a Man that has
Wit enough to be a Poet, may have enough to be
a Physician, if he apply himself to that Study: But
he that has not enough, I think is never the rather
to be trusted with ones Life, till by a Demonstration
he proves, that tho' a correct Canto will not cure a Dis∣ease,
as the Gent. says, yet

A dull Assertion that he can do more,
Than all the Doctors that have gone before,
will do the business. But for my part, I'll never trust my Life in a Man's hands that hath nothing sharp but Medicines.
Page 7

But what has Poetry to do with the pretended
new Hypothesis of Acids, or the Dialogue between
Alkali and Acid? What unlucky Wag has thrown
a Distich at Mr. Colebatch, and hit a Gentleman al∣so?
And why must I answer for it?

But the Gent. comes to talk of Experiments,
pag. 5. He follows Mr. Acid's method, first he plays
a little, and then he comes to work. And he says,
I have not given one Experiment, or laid down the
process of any one Medicine I would recommend to the
World for the good of Mankind, or that might over∣throw
the Hypothesis of Acids. I answer, as for Ex∣periments
to overthrow the Hypothesis of Acids,
I leave it to the Judgment of the intelligent Reader,
whether there are not enough to do it in my Dia∣logue;
tho' some of them I find the Hypothetick
knows not how to make, which is a shame, whilst
he professes himself a Philosopher and a Chymist:
But he may have more before we have done. But
as for commending my Medicines or self to the
World, in the manner some do, I count it but
Quacking, and like it not, nor have any necessity so
to do.

The People are fond of Recipe's, and the Doctor
knows 'tis not against his Interest to let them have
some, his Books will sell the better; and if he does
not tell them they are to be had at reasonable rates
of the Author, and prescribe the making them a
more chargeable way than he himself makes them,
the indiscreet administration some Dablers make of
them, does but breed business for the Doctor; but
the rich and cautious will have Advice, and who
so sit to advise with, as that honest Gentleman who
is so kind as to let them know with what Instru∣ments
he does their business. I do not esteem it
impolitick in Physicians to publish some Medicines
Page 8

to the World, or to permit Horse-Doctors, or li∣cence
other ignorant Fellows, since they so fre∣quently
make work for one another. And I believe
Mr Colebatch did not offer his unreasonable method of
pr•••〈◊〉 point of Honour, that the Learned might
〈◊…〉 observe it, with any hopes they would do
so, but that he might get Money (of the ignorant,)
which he has profess'd is the only thing he cares for.
Neither do I think the Learned will spend their time
in his trivial Books; nor should I, had not Philan∣thropy,
and my Duty to Mankind (not command∣ing
Requests) engag'd me to oppose what I saw was
likely to be dangerous to those who should have so
little Judgment as to admire it.

The Gent. says, pag. 5. He hath confirm'd his
Arguments for Mr. Colebatch's Doctrine with variety
of Experiments, but he reserves a far greater number
for his Service, if I, or any for me, think fit to answer.
'Tis well he has a Reserve, for his variety is
small, and not much to his purpose, as we shall see
by and by. But let us have them that are ready,
and I'll promise him I'll never request any Gentle∣man
to answer for me, being old enough to speak
for my self.

Well, but the Gent. comes first, pag. 6. to con∣sider
my Arguments, whereby, he says, I endeavour to
defend Alkali as not being the Cause of Diseases, for th•…
other Causes that are not Alkalies may be assign'd. But
I must tell the Gent. there is no such Argument in
my Dialogue; and had there been such, I should
have been asham'd of it, as he ought to be of saying
so. It would be but a poor Argument, that Alka∣li
cannot be the cause of Diseases, because other
Causes may be assign'd: But that Alkali cannot be
the cause of all Diseases, when other Causes must be
assign'd, is that which I think I have demonstrated.

Page 9

The Gent. says, my Definition of the〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
tho' granted, no way militates against the Hypothesis of
Acids. For when we speak of the Cause of a Disease,
which Physicians are said to discover and remove, we
always suppose the proximate Cause, which the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
can never be. But the Gent. almost perswades me
here that he is more like to be a Gentleman than a
Physician, because he says, we always suppose the proxi∣mate
Cause; that is, we Gentlemen, when as Phy∣sicians
know well that the Proximate Cause is not
the only Cause to be discover'd and remov'd: Of
which I need not give many instances. The vari∣ous
Aporrhea of the Body, of themselves innoxious
by undue retention, are often alter'd and become
hostile, which ill qualities are the Proximate Cau∣ses
of divers Diseases; the alterations of which ill
Qualities are far from being the only things to be
done, nor is it enough for a Physician to endeavour e∣ven
the Ejection of the peccant Matter, but the faults
of the Instruments of Secretion are to be amended,
as the prime Causes of the Diseases; so that if Al∣kali
it self unduly retain'd or abounding, were sup∣pos'd
the Proximate Cause of some Disease, yet
there would be the Cause of that Retention or A∣bounding,
as the chief Cause to be known and taken
away by the Physician. But I fancy the Gent. if
not a Physician, is so much a Friend to the Practice,
he would willingly have the proximate Causes only
meddled with; have the Pump plyed, rather than
the Leak stop'd, lest the Crew should want Em∣ployment.
The Gent. lets the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 rest here,
so that if we will see what he has farther to say that
it can't be the Proximate Cause of a Disease, and so
dispatch the Subject all together, we must go to
the 10th. page, where he falls on him again for con∣tending
to have a share with Alkali in the Cause of
Page 10

Diseases. He says, I should have told them what
these exorbitant Desires of the Will of Man were, whe∣ther
Desire of Money, Women, Revenge, or popular
Applause: If I mean these, Tyburn gives proofs that
by them the Blood comes to be retarded, as well as the
subtile Liquors disorder'd. And I am of the opinion,
that if the Desire of these would produce or retain
such malign Particles, as he believes Alkalies to be,
Mr. Acid had been mortally sick of them e're now▪
and if simple Man-slaying were Death by the Law,
some Acid Practitioners might e're now have been
unable to secrete their own mortal Alkali, by rea∣son
of the astringency of their Collars, notwith∣standing
the sourness of the Crab-tree.

But the Gent. says, pag. 11. he will not affirm the
production of Alkali by the Operation of the Mind; but
a disappointment of the Mind he knows will of a sudden
cause a Relaxation of the whole Systema Nervosum,
whereby Perspiration and all Secretions are obstructed,
&c. which often happens to Women: And by such Re∣laxation
of the Nerves, and Constipation of the Pores,
there are frequently induced Convulsions, &c. and the
Disappointment is but an antecedent Cause, which Medi∣cine
meddles not with; but the Materia ex qua is Al∣kali's
malign Particles, whose Secretion is thereby pre∣vented,
which retain'd is sufficient to produce the most
dismal Symptoms.

Here the Gent. is profound! But I would know
of him, whether a Relaxation of the whole Systema
Nervosum, which he says is caus'd by a sudden
Passion, be not a Disease. But that a Relaxation
of the Nerves should cause such universal Obstructi∣ons,
yea Constipations and Convulsions, must be
found out by some new light in Philosophy, that
can demonstrate, that loosing is binding and pluck∣ing
together: But if he had consider'd that some
Page 11

sudden Passions of the Mind have not only let go in∣to
the Breeches that which should have been depo∣sited
in some more convenient Receptacle, but pro∣duced
universal Sweats, he would hardly have been
of that Opinion.

But the Gent. defies me to prove that Nature ever
secretes any thing in a state of Health, that will come un∣der
the denomination of an Acid. A Morbid Body,
says he, when the Nerves are relax'd, will sometimes
eject the most benign Juices, &c. as in Scrophulous,
Cancerous, Venereal, and Cachectical Bodies. Here
the Gent. has caught himself, as I will prove by Ar∣gumentum
ad hominem. Nature secretes common
Salt in the Urine plentifully, and Saliva in a state of
Health, both which he has asserted to be Acids e∣ver
since he has been a Proselyte to the Doctrine;
therefore Nature in a state of Health, according to
his own Opinion, secretes things that will come un∣der
the denomination of Acids. What's become of
his Defiance? But if he recants, and says these things
are not Acids, then he loses as much another way,
and I'll ask him what he thinks of the Succus Pan∣creaticus,
which is secreted into the same place the
wicked Bile is unloaden. But he stumbles as bad in
what follows. The Relaxation of the Nerves be∣fore
caus'd Obstructions, and retain'd the malign
Alkali; but now it ejects the most benign Juices,
and that in Scrophulous, Cancerous, Venereal, and
Cachectical Bodies, whose Recrements, according
to the Gentleman, are the most benign Juices: But
I believe these Patients, and such as have been too
familiar with some of them, sometimes have not
found them so friendly. But the Gent. takes no notice
that the too rapid motion of the Blood was assign'd
as another morbous effect of sudden Passion of the
Mind.

Page 12

Now we must go back to the 7th. Page, where
the Gent. gives his Opinion, That the undue Confor∣mation
of the solid parts is no Disease; but to make
his Opinion good, he will suppose that they retain
their due Texture, and duly perform their Offices; he's
a cunning Man! he instances the Organs of Hearing,
Seeing, Smelling, and Tasting, being disproportionate
as to size and shape, are not call'd Diseases. But if
he had consider'd a little, or askt some Physician,
methinks he might have understood, or been in∣form'd,
that an Eye, for instance, being unduely
form'd, too flat or too protuberant, the Humours
too much or too little, too thick or too thin, are
the Causes of divers Defects of Sight, a great Tongue
a hindrance to the Speech, &c. He enquires whether a
cartilaginous Aorta, which, he says, is what Physiti∣ans
call the Bone of a Stag's Heart, did ever cause a
Distemper? He might as well have askt Physicians,
whether ever they heard the Stag complain of it.
But he is ill inform'd by those that tell him that a
gristly Artery is a bone in the Heart. And now I
am speaking of the great Artery, it brings into my
Mind an Observation I have read, of divers Persons
that died with very odd Symptoms, whose Disease
could not be found out or remedied, 'till by dissect∣ing
one, there was sound a large Worm in the
great Artery near the Heart; which I think was
very unlikely to be produc'd by Alkali or Acid ei∣ther.
This case was very uncommon, but Worms
in some parts of the Body are very frequent, pro∣ducing
bad Effects, and very unlikely to be caus'd
by Acid or Alkali, both of which given are very
effectual to destroy them. He says, I cannot assert
that ever any Man was diseased, or died, because of
narrow Veins or small Lungs. I answer, narrow
Veins must needs contain less Blood, and if dispro∣portionate
Page 13

to the Body, (otherwise I don't call them
narrow) little Blood must needs give little Heat
and Vigour, and small Lungs must needs receive but
little Air, and drive on the Circulation of the Blood
more slowly, which enclines to divers Diseases.

The Gent. says farther, he hath often observed in
dissecting Bodies who have had one Kidney obstructed by
Stones, Gravels, &c. that the sound Kidney hath been
enlarg'd considerably, and hath perform'd the Office pe∣culiar
to both; and to prove the distemper'd Kidney
caus'd by an Alkali in such cases, he would have the
Stones, Gravel, &c. examin'd, which will give the
Phoenomena of the most fixt Alkali. Here the Gent.
asserts himself an Anatomist, and to have often made
Dissections, where one of the Kidneys hath been
useless; whereby he would seem something besides
a Gentleman. 'Tis no very common thing to find
one Kidney useless: not one Dissection perhaps in
a hundred gives such a Case, yet he has often ob∣serv'd
it: I confess I never dissected such a Body
but once, and the other Kidney was no larger than
ordinary, but that affected was nothing but a Bag
of Stones, and Matter, of which Stones would have
been generated, which was white and soft like a
Pap or thin Mortar, full of Stones and Grit, not
Alkali Salt. But how one Kidney should perform
the Office peculiar to both, I don't understand; or
how an Alkali should be the Cause of a Kidney: I
rather guess it peculiar to the Gentleman to talk so.
I am sure the examination of the Stones will no more
prove an Alkali the Efficient either of the Kidney,
or Stones in it, than the Pyrotechnical Analysis
of Bones will demonstrate that any one of the Pro∣ducts
made them. The Calculus will not give the
Phoenomena of the most sixt Alkalies, as he says,
but yielding a volatile Salt and Oyl, leaves a Caput
Page 14

Mort. insipid, having no signs of a fix'd saline Body
in it. Nor have we such a thing as a sixt Alkali in
Animal or Vegetable Substances, but it is produced
by burning those things that contain the Mate∣rials
of it, nor are Alkalies coagulable into Stones,
without meeting with larger quantities of other
Matter, which with more reason may be said to be
the Cause of the unhappy Concrete.

Our Gent. tells us, pag. 8. That a large Liver is
no more a Disease than a large Nose, but of excellent
use to secrete the Bile, that most pernicious Excrement
of the Body; and the larger the Liver, the more Bile it
will secrete, and so much the more we are benefitted.
But a large morbid Liver he would have granted to be
caus'd by a superabundance of Gall. The Gent. is
resolved the Gall shall be an Excrement, and the
most pernicious one, forgetting Alkali it self, while
the Gall is but a compound. But methinks, who∣ever
considers the place into which it is discharged,
must be of another Opinion, or believe the Ani∣mal
Oeconomy very ill contriv'd. If this Liquor
had no use, but were to be rejected as a mere and
pernicious Excrement, one would have thought it
in vain separated out of the Blood, to be poured in∣to
the nutritious Juice before it enters the lacteal
Veins; and the more on't the better would be very
strange. One would have thought a Gentleman's
Nose might have been large enough to smell out
some use for the Bile, better than to make a large
Liver; and for a large Liver, better than to make a
great deal of Bile.

But pag. 9. he shews admirable Sense, for he tells
us, It is from Particles of Matter admitted into the
Blood, that is both the Cause of the Disease, and of the
thickness or thinness of the Blood; and the reason he
gives is, If there were not a retention of some Particles
Page 15

which ought to be carried off, or admission of others that
should be prevented, the Blood would be neither too thick
nor too thin, but always the same. The thickness and
thinness of the Blood then are both from Particles
admitted into it, because it would be neither too
thick nor too thin, were there not a Retention of
some that should be carried off, or an Admission of
some that should be prevented. But what's this to
prove Alkali the Cause of all Diseases, any more
than to good sense? But what comes after is pro∣found,
that in Physick it may pass for a Demonstrati∣on,
that if you find the Blood of one that has the Rheu∣matism,
Scurvey, or Gout, to abound with Alkali, and
be viscous, and when he is cur'd by the use of Acids, you
find it yield less Alkali, and be florid, and of a good
Consistence, it is to him a Demonstration, the Diseases
came not from Acids but from Alkalies. That is, if
the Blood have indeed too much Alkali, and thence
be viscous, and the Person be cured by Acids driv∣ing
out and diminishing the Alkali, and reducing
the Blood to its due Consistence, the Disease was
caus'd by Alkali, and cur'd by Acids. That is,
If the Disease was caus'd by Alkalies and cur'd by
Acids, it was caus'd by Alkalies and cur'd by Acids;
a Wit! But there's an If in the case, which makes
the Argument worth nothing: For if this cannot be
found (as I am sure it has not yet by any certain
Experiments the Acidists have given us) we are ne∣ver
the better for the Supposition. But he says, it
will appear that this is matter of Fact to any that will
make the Experiments. And he dares affirm, that I
can't produce one instance of a Person cured of those
Distempers by Alkalies. But I say he should not be
so confident that it will appear so to any Man, unless
it had appear'd to some one that hath try'd it. And
Page 16

as for his daring Affirmation, I dare affirm the con∣trary.

The Gent. says again, pag. 12. That I suppose
there should be 10 or 20 parts of Alkali to one of Acid,
and from either of these exceeding their Proportion, the
Acid or the Alkali may be said to abound, but while they
keep to that Standard, neither can be suppos'd the Cause
of a Disease. I say still, that whatever the Propor∣tions
are, either may exceed and cause a Disease,
the one as well as the other, if there be any such
thing as their exceeding; but when in due propor∣tion,
neither can be thought so to do while duely
mix'd, but if separated and lodged apart in some
place, tho' there is no more than there was in the
whole Body, yet the Part where the separated Acid
or Alkali is lodged, may soon suffer their bad Ef∣fects.
But if there may be suppos'd 20 parts of
Alkali to one of Acid in a Man in a state of Health,
(tho' I believe there is a greater difference) yet it
may well be thought that the Proportion differs in
divers Persons, though all in Health, yea in
the same Person at divers times, though he be well;
wherefore his Inferences that these Proportions are
constantly to be found is not natural, nor does he
imagine how hard it will prove to find them, if he
should attempt it. But he says, he has been in Health
for some Years, and so his Blood must, on this Supposi∣tion,
have abounded with such like Proportions of Acid
and Alkali. That is, suppose in a state of Health a
Man's Blood should have 20 parts of Alkali to one
of Acid, the Gentleman being in a state of Health
must have his Blood abound with Acid and Alkali;
he abounds in Acid Discourse! and supposes they
are in due proportion, yet he says it follows they
abound, yea and both at the same time. He ought,
he says, therefore to have a care that what he eats and
Page 17

drinks should have but one part of Acid, to 10 or 20
of Alkali, but he has taken other Measures, for he has
drank within this Year one quart of Crab Verjuice in
24 hours, which was sufficient to impregnate his Blood
with six times the quantity. He's a crabbed Gentle∣man,
I believe; but I suppose he would not be
thought to drink a quart every Day for this twelve
Months, but in some one Day within the time;
however we don't know, but that he may have a
very large Liver, from whence he may abound
with the pernicious Alkalous Excrement Gall, and
that must meet with his Verjuice before it get
into the Blood, unless it has discover'd a way
through the undiscover'd passages at the bottom of the
Stomach; or his Blood may abound with Alkali, and
so he may bear more sharp Doses than some Folks
can. Besides, if he will believe what Dr. John his
Master hath taught him, viz. That the Blood can't
ever abound with Acids, either in a morbid or healthy
State; for the Stomach will reject whatever is too
much, but is often defective in conveying in enough,
and that there is never any Acid in the Blood but in
a state of perfect Health. I say, if he believes this as
he ought to do, all the store at the Verjuice Coffee-House
will neither hurt him, nor help him. But on
the contrary to what he asserts, I my self, and
many others are as healthy as he, as vegete and
sprightly, and yet eat mostly things abounding with
Alkalies, as fresh Meat, Fowls, Fish, Milk, &c. And
neither love nor want sour Sauces to help the Ap∣petite,
and find nothing so hurtful as Acids. But the
Gentleman I am perswaded commends Acids ra∣ther
for the Wealth they bring the Doctor, than
the Health they bring the Patient; for the Doctor
seldom takes Physick. But he says, he could give a
multitude of Instances, where Gentlemen have com∣plain'd
of their Diseases being exasperated by taking
Page 18

Medicines, Phisicians call Alkalies, but soon wonder∣fully
reliev'd by Acids, the truth of which a multi∣tude
of Apothecaries in this City will inform you.

The Gentleman I find is a fellow Citizen with
his Physician, and needs not much Epistolary con∣versation
with him. And we cannot but think he
would now be thought some man of great Pra∣ctice,
though he was shy at first, and call'd him∣self
a Gentleman, when a multitude of Gentle∣men
make their complaints to him. But he would,
I suppose, have Gentlemen-Patients, to whom
there is little odds whether he speak sense or no;
if he be but confident, and so professes himself a
Gentleman. But those Medicines, he says, they
complain of, tho' Physicians call them Alkalies,
possibly Gentlemen may call Acids, and some∣times
do Cures with them, and relieve the Pati∣ents:
For I believe, I shall find the Gentleman
but an ill judge before I have done. But we are
to be inform'd of the truth of the Gentleman's
Assertion, by a multitude of Apothecaries. I
confess, I never thought it worth while to en∣quire,
but I never heard any one such story re∣lated
by an Apothecary, or his Boy, tho' I have
been in Town ever since the wonders of Acids have
been talk'd of; but I have been told of divers mor∣tal
Cures soon done by the Acid method, even in
Diseases that seldom use to kill, and in such Pati∣ents
as have often been recover'd by Alkalies.

The Gent. says, pag. 13. That I assert there may
be Acid enough in the Blood to cause a Disease, tho'
it will not turn the Syrup of Violets green, but have
not proved it. No truly, I have not proved it,
nor ever was such a Fool as to assert that Acid
would turn the Syrup of Violets green. But if he
will try, I'll warrant him he may inject Acid e∣nough
into the Blood to cause a Disease, and kill,
Page 19

and yet he shall not find the Serum of the diseased
Blood turn Syrup of Violets red.

The Gent. saith, pag. 14. That from the 24 page
of my Dialogue to the 29, there's nothing but scur∣rility,
and quotations out of Etmuller, Hossman,
Helmont and Hypocrates, so that the strength of my
Arguments depend altogether upon an ipse dixit. As
for what he calls Scurrility, I shall not excuse it,
the recitation of John's panegyrical abuse of the
College, and dull praise of his own admired self,
must needs bring some ill Language into the pages;
nor did I, without the advise of the wisest Man, an∣swer
a Fool according to his folly, lest he be
wise in his own Eyes. But the Gent. seeing some∣thing
he did not like, or care any more to stir in,
makes too much hast over the 5 pages, or else he
might have seen some notable Quotations out of
Colbatch de Assheadis, viz. That the Blood has never
any Acid in it, but in a state of perfect Health. That
all Persons have some degree of Sickness. That over∣much
fatness, if it may be call'd a Disease, is caus'd by
Acids. Yet that Acids (tho' never in the Blood, but
in perfect Health) mortifie and expel the Luxuriant
Alkalous Particles, make the thick Blood thin, and
the thin Blood thick: But that he that can shew how
this is done, must be as wise as the wisest Man that
ever was, or shall be; but yet he tells us how Acids do
these things, by being differently specified with other
things. Therefore the Gentleman has not done
genteely by me, in saying, there was nothing in
the 5 pages but scurrility, and quotations out of
Helmont, Hoffman, Hypocrates, and Etmuller,
whose ipse dixit's I hope are yet as good Argu∣ments
with the Physical World, as Colbatch's, or
any small Author's of greater Confidence, and lit∣tle
time, and Practice. He says also that I have
Page 20

falaciously taught a wrong way of experimenting, whether
Acids will thicken and coagulate the Blood; for he un∣derstands
that I made my Experiments on Blood that
had stood, when the grumous part was coagulated, which
is a very irrational way. I answer, his understand∣ing
is too short, I did not make a few Experiments
on Blood, or a few ways; I have not only tryed
Blood when cold, or in a Porringer, but let it run
out of the Vein unto Acid, and other Liquors, and
that diluted, and with warm Water. If the A∣cid
be much it will make a great alteration; if lit∣tle,
proportionally; but tho' it be so little as to
make no alteration sensible to the Eye, yet the
Acid particles may pin together some of the Glo∣bules
of the Blood, so as to make a Figure, and
size, that will not pass some small Vessel or other,
and that stop more, and that stagnated Blood may
corrupt, and get a peregrine ferment, and either
produce some topical Maladie, or excite some dis∣orderly
fermentation in the Blood that presses
upon it. But as to the Gentleman's question, whe∣ther
Acids diluted and taken inwardly will coagulate
the Blood when its warm, fluid, and perpetually cir∣culating
through it's Channels, and a due commixture
made of all its parts with whatever is ingested? I
answer, This Question amounts to this, whether
the Blood will be coagulated by Acids while it
retains its due Motion and Consistence; that is, in
short, whether the Blood will be coagulated while
it is uncoagulated? A wise Question!

But he tells us, to convince us, that Acids will not
coagulate the Blood when judiciously used, (judiciously,
that is I suppose by the prescription of an Acid,
Dr. or else they may.) We may take 4 or 5 drops of
Oyl of Vitriol, or Sp. of Niter in 3 or 4 spoonfuls of
Water; &c. Such a proportion of Acid is as much, or
Page 21

more than can be admitted into the Blood at any time,
when taken inwardly. But how does the Gentleman
know that no more can be admitted? Why he says
so, and he'd have us believe him. Well we will for
once; but then say I, I doubt Acids will do no
wonders in casting out the Devil Alkali: For
suppose a Man should have 12 Ounces of Alkali in
him (which is a small quantity to what may well be
supposed,) but by some error in Diet, or by some
other means he has 13 or 14 Ounces; 4 or 5
drops of Oyl of Vitriol, or Sp. of Niter will do
very little towards expelling, or mortifying an
Ounce or 2 of Alkali, as any one may see by mix∣ing
such Quantities; nor can the Gentleman en∣sure
that small Cargo of Acid to arrive safe into the
designed port, but ten to one some part of it may
be lost by the way, splitting on some Alkalous
Rock in the Stomach, or be pyrated by the Gall,
and so carried another way out of the body. But
tho' there is great doubt what may become of it
if given inwardly, yet it is certain it may be mixt
in what quantity one pleases in a Porringer; but
then whether the Porringer would not borrow a
little of it, or lend it some Matter to make Sacch.
Saturni of, I suppose the Gent. never enquired,
or whether the Goose Quill he stirs it with, and
the Water does not do more to hinder its Coagu∣lation,
than the Acids did to hinder or promote it.
But we come to the Gentleman's Experiments.

He tells us, the way to make Experiments on
Blood is, having open'd a Vein, begin to drop your A∣cid
mixture into the Porringer, and agitate it with a
Goose Quill till the Blood is cold. And by this method,
be says, he has with Oyl of Vitriol, and Sp. of Niter, &c.
preserved Blood fluid, and also free from Putrefaction,
the last of which, is what neither Volatil, nor sixt
Page 22

Alkalies will do, as may be seen by the following Ex∣periments.

EXPERIMENT 1.
He mix'd with 5 or 6 Ounces of Blood, 6 Drops of
{oil} of {vitriol} diluted in 2 Ounces of Water, and it preserved
the Blood fluid, gave it a better colour and consistency
than some of the same he mix'd nothing with, he kept it
in a Viol 18 Days, and it was equally free from any
smell, or signs of Putrefaction, as when it stream'd
from the Vein.

In Answer to which I say, he is not sure that the
2 Ounces of Water would not do more towards
keeping the Blood fluid, thin, and of a bright co∣lour,
than the 6 Drops of {oil} of {vitriol} could do one way
or other.

But to do the Gent. all right, and to Answer
fairly to his Experiments, I try'd them more nicely
than he did: For I took the same Proportion of {oil}
of {vitriol} and Water that he did, and having made it just
blood-warm in the Viol, I let the Blood of a healthy
young Man run from the Vein into it, till I had
that just quantity by weight in proportion to the
{oil} of {vitriol} and Water, and shaking them well together,
and stoping the Viol with a Cork, I set it by: It
soon look'd of a muddy black Colour, and being
open'd at 14 Days it began to stink.

EXPERIMENT 2.
The like proportion of Blood, he says, he mix'd with
30 Drops of Oyl of Tartar, in 2 Ounces of Water, it
seem'd to remain fluid in the Porringer; but having let
it stand close stop'd in a Viol 3 or 4 days, the grumous
part was precipitated, and it stunk most intollerably,
and the smell was like that proceeding from a dead
Body, whose Lungs or other Vicera have been Ʋlce∣rated.

Page 23

The Gentleman has 〈◊◊◊…〉
in this Experiment, 〈◊◊◊…〉
Blood was like that of 〈◊◊◊…〉
have been exulce•••…〈◊◊◊…〉
doubtless, that can dis•••…〈◊◊…〉
parts from that of all 〈◊〉 flesh corrup••…〈◊…〉
wonder if he don't conclude the exulceration of
the Lungs proceeds from Oyl of Tartar!

But I try'd this Experiment also, after the same
manner I did the former; I open'd it at 4 Days,
and it had no more ill smell than when it came
from the Vein; at 8 Days I open'd it again, it was
likewise free from any ill smell; so again at 12
Days, at 14, and at 18, and at 23, and at 28 Days,
it look'd well, and had no ill smell, when some
Blood that had nothing but the proportion of
Water stunk in half the time.

EXPERIMENT 3.
He mix'd, he says, with the like quantity of Blood,
20 Drops of Sp. of {vitriol}, dulc. in 2 Ounces of Water, and
it preserv'd the Blood fluid, gave it a better colour,
hindering its parts from subsiding, nor did it stink in
the least while he kept it, which was 20 or 30 Days.

In this Experiment the 20 drops of Sp. of {vitriol} dulc.
must have at least 10 of Sp. of Wine, which we know
will preserve Blood. But I tryed this also as I did the
foregoing, and having kept it 14 Days it stunk
much, and look'd no better than that in which
was nothing but Water. But in his

4 EXPERIMENT
He says he mixed 30 Drops of Sp of {vitriol}, with 4 Oun∣ces
of Blood, and it preserv'd it fluid; but after 7 or
8 Days he open'd the Viol, and it sent forth a very
offensive Stink.

I also try'd this Experiment, as I did the others,
and open'd the Viol at 8 Days, at 12 Days, at 16
Page 24

Days, and at 20 Days, and it had no ill smell at all,
lastly at 28 Days was thin, and of better colour and
consistence than the Blood in any of the other Ex∣periments,
and had no ill smell; but that with the
{oil} of {vitriol} look'd worst of all.

The Gent. adds, If these four Experiments are
not enough to convince the Dr. of the falsehood of my
Assertion, he has variety of others at his Service. I
answer, he whose commanding Requests oblig'd the
Gentleman to write, needs no more to convince
him. But I think if they will serve him no bet∣ter
than these have done, he will do better to
keep his service to himself.

The Gent. says, pag. 17. that whereas I argue
a juvantibus & ledentibus, and say that Acids are
seen often to hurt in Hypochondriack, Hysterick and
Scor•utical Cases, and in Ʋlcers, Issues, &c. which
on the contrary are relieved by Alkalies, but he has 〈◊〉
my bare word for it. I say my Word is as good as
anothers; but I could give Observations not only
of my own, but of divers famous Physicians: But
no Authorities, but those of Acid Doctors, are
any thing to the Acid Gentleman; who farther
says, should he undertake effectually to prove that Acids
are the only Medicines which cure those Diseases I
have named, it must be by enumerating observations
of Cures perform'd by them, which would make his E∣pistle
too long. Here the Gentleman speaks well;
for if he should prove that Acids, are the only
Medicines that cure these Diseases, he must not
only enumerate all the Acid Doctors Cures, (who
I am well inform'd often Cure sine recidiva) but
he must enumerate all the Cures that have been
done in the World of these Diseases, and ascertain
us that all of them were done by Acids, which
would indeed be too long for a Letter to a Man of
Page 25

business. But I believe he would in his own Practice
hardly be able to give us many instances of Ulcers
cur'd with nothing but Acids, or be willing to be
dress'd with nothing else himself. But to save the
vast labour, he gives us a Catalogue of some of the
most celebrated Medicines used in curing those di∣stempers,
as steel in its best Preparations, all the Acid
Spirits and Elixirs, Crem. Tart. Tart. Vitriolat.
Sal. Succini, &c. and refers to Dr. Colbatch his
Authority. But I must tell the Gentleman, Dr. Col∣batch
his Authority, and his reasoning, are no bet∣ter
one than the other. Steel, Acid Spirits, &c.
he says are the most celebrated Medicines in use,
in the cure of the foremention'd Diseases. Ergo,
those Diseases are cur'd by nothing else: And would
that be good Logick, yet the Medicines enumera∣ted
are not all Acids, or cure as such, as we may
have occasion to shew before we have done.

But our Gent. says, pag. 18. He won't believe me
that an Acid can be got from Blood or Ʋrine, of either
healthy, or diseased Persons, because I have not told
him the process. Answer, I thought I had told it
plain enough to any one that understands a little
Chymistry: And I can make him believe it very ea∣sily,
but that I don't write to teach Gentlemen
Chymistry, but to shew them the Ignorance,
and groundless Confidence and danger of Acid
Quacks. But he complains farther, that I will not
teach him the Legerdemain of mixing Alk. and Acid,
so that no Acid, but an Alka•ous Liquor shall be distill'd
from it. An Alk. and Acid; so that neither Alk. nor
Acid, shall be obtain'd, but a Salsum. Again an
Alk. and Acid, so that neither Alk. Acid, nor Sal∣sum
shall be obtain'd, but an Oleum. I must confess,
these tricks are Legerdemain, and till he understands
a little Chymical Legerdemain, he will never
Page 26

comprehend them, and I beg his excuse for not
teaching them, there is something more than
ordinary in them, and they must not be profaned.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

But I will demonstrate the truth of any of these
Operations, when ever I shall have a sufficient
Reason for so doing.

The Gentleman also says, The natural or artifici∣al
Conjunction of an Acid and an Alkali, which I say
will make a Salsum, he calls an Acid, because the
Acid is most predominant, and does operate as such; for
Tartar Vitriolat. which I call a Salsum, dissolved
in Water, will work upon Steel as manifestly as Sp. of {vitriol},
which is allow'd to be an Acid. I answer, he may
call it an Ass-head, if he will; but I say, where the
Ass-head is predominant, there is not the true Salt
savour; and Tartar Vitriolat. if it be a Salsum as
it should, be has neither the Ac. nor Al. predo∣minate;
nor does its working on Steel prove it to
be an Acid, or to Operate as such; as the Gentle∣man
himself, being better inform'd, and forgetting
what he had said, asserts, pag. 43. Iron, says he,
will be dissolv'd by Acid, Alkali, or Sal nutrum, and
instances in Sp. of Ʋrin, Sp of {vitriol}, Crem. Tartar,
Tartar Vitriolat. and Com. Salt.

The Gent. asserts farther, pag. 19. That com∣mon
Salt, by often dissolving and crystalizing, will be
so deprived of its Bittern, as to act as an Acid by
dissolving Steel, &c. But if you would do it at once,
you must put an Ounce of Sp of {vitriol} into 2 Quarts of so∣lution
of Salt, and then evaporate, &c. and you will
have the Salt much more wholesome, and useful in all
Cases; and pag. 20. having thus proved Sea Salt to
be an Acid, he cannot imagine how it should be the
cause of the Scurvy, when there's scarce a better Me∣dicine
Page 27

known for its Cure than Sp. of {vitriol}. I answer, the
Gentleman having quitted his Opinion, (as be∣fore
said) pag. 43. that the solution of Steel is an
Argument of the dissolvents being an Acid, I hope
he will alter his Opinion in other things where he
is mistaken, or at least see he hath contradicted
himself, as his Master Acid used to do. But if he
adds Sp. of {vitriol} to his Com. {vitriol}, I confess that may
work as an Acid in it, and do what the Salt would
not do, but it will not be more wholesome or
better in all Cases; for Bittern it self is good for
something, tho' the Gentleman's Master Colbatch
hath Damn'd it.

So if Sp. of Salt were a Medicine, good for the
Scurvy, it does not follow that common Salt too
much eaten may not cause it. And as to the Gen∣tleman's
Assertion, that there's scarce a better Me∣dicine
known for the Scurvy than Sp. of Salt, I say
he talks as old Wives use to do; whatever they
have heard commended, they will say is the best
thing in the World. But let it be good; yet, if I
thought he would not be angry, because I don't tell
what, I would affirm, I know 2 or 3 better Medi∣cines
for the Scurvy. But he adds, The Scurvy be∣ing
the Symptom of a Putrefaction of the Juices of our
Bodies, it will still look more like a Paradox, that Salt
which is the known preservative of dead Flesh, should
be the cause of Putrefaction in that which is alive. I
answer, a Putrefaction in the Juices of living Bo∣dies,
except in Sores and Ulcers, has not I think
been shewn: But it is certain, that which will pre∣serve
dead Bodies, would kill living ones; as drying▪
for instance: and I believe even an Acid Doctor,
if he were Sous'd, or hang'd up in a Chimney a
little while with Bacon, (tho' he were very well
salted first) would soon be of this Opinion. So
Page 28

Sp. of Wine, tho' it preserves Flesh, being drunk
in too large a quantity will make corrupt Work, in
the vital oeconomy; yea, I don't question but {oil} of {vitriol}
Crab Verjuice, or Lemons, and Oranges them∣selves,
may be taken in quantities large enough to
kill a Man, as I believe some Persons have experi∣mented.
Nor is the Gentleman's reasoning more
sharp, in saying, Nor will the want of the spiritual
Parts of Flesh, and Fish, appear to be the cause of any
Disease, when Physicians prescribe to venerial Pati∣ents,
Flesh roasted or boyled to driness, and such other
food as yields the least of spirituous, and volatile Al∣kalous
Parts; as Water-gruel, Bisket, &c. Physi∣cians
(whether they do wisely or no 'tis no mat∣ter)
prescribe things that yield the least volatile
alkalous, and spiritual Parts in the Pox, Ergo the
want of spirituous and volatile parts in our Meat,
can't be the cause of any Disease. But I believe
the Gentleman's Physician never prescrib'd him
Flesh boyl'd to dryness. But he rejoyns as sharply,
that if he did not design brevity, he could bring instan∣ces
to prove that Acids are not the cause of the Scur∣vy,
but the only salubrious Medicines in use against
that Distemper. I answer, it is good to be brief;
but I don't know that I ever said Acids are the
cause of the Scurvy, and therefore he says nothing
against me. But to prove they are the only salubri∣ous
Medicines in use for this Disease, he must know
all the Medicines that are in use, and their success.
But instead of this, he gives us only a Story that a∣nother
worthy Gentleman told him, that having been
long troubl'd with the Scurvy, by reading Doctor Col∣batch's
Tracts, he was prevail'd upon to eat Lemons
stoutly, by which method he recover'd, after the ineffe∣ctual
use of the Prescripts of the Physicians of the best
repute.

Page 29

This is what the Gent. has to say, to perswade
us that Acids are not the Cause, but the only Me∣dicines
in the Cure of the Scurvy. One Gentle∣man
told another; but were Gentlemen infalli∣ble
in connecting Causes, and Effects (as Physicians
are not) yet the single matter of Fact comes to us
but upon the word of an unknown Gentleman,
who 'tis said was so lucky as to meet with Mr.
Colbatch his Tracts, whereby (not to omit the best
of the Story) he became such a prodigious Lemon
Eater, as that he soon arriv'd to the perfection of
eating 30 in a Day, this was a perfection the Qua∣ker
never attain'd, 'tis pity he conceals his Name,
I believe he might make himself as famous as Will.
Joy, or the great Cock-eater.

The Gent. shews, pag. 21. that he has misap∣prehended
me, for I never said as he would make
me; That we lose more in weight, sitting still in a
frosty Morning, than if we were in the Bagnio, or
that the coldness and moisture of the Air opens the
Pores to promote Perspiration. But I say still, there
is certainly more matter carried off by insensible
Perspiration, than by sweating, taking one time
with another; and that a fresh air promotes Perspi∣ration,
is not only proved by Seamens eating more,
and voiding less other Excrements than those at
Land, but is reasonably concluded from the consi∣deration
of the dissolving Power of the Air, where∣by
any tenacious Matter in the surface of the Body
stopping the Pores is removed; and perhaps this
is a chief Reason that a clear Air is so beneficial to
divers sick Persons; and tho' the Air at Sea may be
suppos'd more moist than the Air at Land, yet the
Sea certainly sends up fewer clammy Effluvia than
the Land, that abounds with so many sulphurous
Matters.

Page 30

Again he says, pag. 22. That I confess I can't
see how an Acid can be separated from Sea Salt when
in the Blood, and yet I affirm in the next page, that
Acids are found separated in farther recesses than the
Stomach and Guts. I answer, I did not then only
confess, but do profess still, I don't see how an A∣cid
can be distill'd from Sea Salt in the Blood, &c.
Yet I affirm that Acids have been found in farther
recesses than the Stomach and Guts; as the Gent.
also does, pag. 33. instancing the Pancreatick Juice.
But I did not say from Sea Salt; for there are di∣vers
other things eaten and drank, that are indeed
Acid, or capable of being made so, without the
help of a strong Fire. And I affirm (as all Physicians
that consider will acknowledge) contrary to the
inconsiderate Assertion of the Gentleman, that
there are other separations to be made of our Food,
(tho' not of Sea Salt, which is ejected as it went in)
requisite besides a dissolution of their Texture, or
else the various Juices of our Bodies could not be
maintained and repaired.

The Gentleman, pag. 23. talks of the relation
I gave of Mr. Smith's Death, by tasting an Acid
Liquor in a Cistus of a cancerous Breast, more like
a Gentleman than a Physician. For he saith, a Man
that is poisoned is commonly delirious on his death-bed,
and 'tis not unusual to hear such accuse the most
proper Medicine as the cause of their Death. If he
had been a little inform'd of the nature of Poison,
he would have learnt that Poison is a general name
common to many different and opposite things,
that kill in small quantity with various and oppo∣site
Symptoms, and does not always make Men
delirious, neither can he suppose this Cancerous
Liquor was given Mr. Smith as a Medicine. But
supposing Mr. Smith was poison'd, (adds he) it will
Page 31

follow according to my Assertion, it was not done by an
Acid, because I could not see how an Acid Spirit can
be separated from any thing while in the Blood. I an∣swer,
I don't know where I said an Acid could
not be separated from any thing in the Blood, but
that Sp. of Salt could not be distill'd there; but
had I said so, it will not follow that Mr. Smith was
not poison'd by that Liquor, or that it was not an
Acid; for that Liquor doubtless was produced in
the part by a preternatural Fermentation, after
whatever was the matter of it was separated from
the Blood. But he adds, granting it a strong Acid,
how will you account for its not making way throw the
Breast before amputation? I answer, very easily; no
dissolvent tho' ever so strong acts in an instant,
but must have time; that had not time enough to
do it. I will hold Aq. Fortis, or a stronger Liquor
in my Hand without dissolving it. But he says
farther, if it had been an Acid it could not fail of
raising an Escar on Mr. Smith's Tongue, and that
would have fill'd his Mouth with a stink, far surpassing
that of any Acid Liquor. Here the Gent. forgets
himself, and contradicts what he endeavour'd be∣fore
to prove, viz. That Acids preserve from
Corruption and Stink; but he shews himself but a
Small Surgeon, and little acquainted with Chy∣mical
Liquors. For an Escar does not stink so
soon, tho' made with Acids, nor do the strong∣est
Acids make them so hastily: I will taste Aq.
Fortis, or any common Acid at any time without
hurting my Tongue, but I can shew him an Acid
Liquor that stinks, worse than any mortified Flesh
he ever saw. But he presumes that the Physician
who told me this Story had the care of Mr. Smith,
and fail'd not in giving the most celebrated Alkalies,
which, it appears did him no Service, wherefore he be∣lieves
Page 32

the Liquor be tasted did not kill him, without
other help. But to shew that all this is indeed pre∣sumption,
I will bring the Gentleman to the Phy∣sician,
if he pleases, before whom I am perswaded
he will not so presume.

But the Gent. says, pag. 24. That my suppositi∣on,
that if the Blood in the small Pox, Scurvy, and
Gout, yields more Alkali, it is hence that the Acid is
precipitated and fix'd in the extremities by meeting
Alkalies, is overthrown by analyzing the Chalkey sub∣stance
in the Gout, which exhibits the Phenomena of
Alkalies. I rejoyn, I hope the Gent. will not any
more urge that the Chalkey substance in the Gout,
yielding the Phenomena of Alkalies, overthrows
what I said in the small Pox, and Scurvy; nor
does it, say I, necessarily disprove my Assertion
even in the Gout; for I have told him that an A∣cid
and an Alkali joyn'd, will sometimes yield no
Acid in distillation, but an Alkali, as I can demon∣strate
at any time, tho' I have not yet thought sit
to teach proud Empyricks, or all sorts of Gentle∣men
the Art of Chymical Legerdemain, whereby I
can demonstrate that all the Experiments the Gen∣tleman
builds upon are fallacious. He says also that
he knows 'tis difficult to give judgment to a grain in
the distillation of Blood, yet the difference is so manifest
between morbid and sound Blood, that 60 or more
grains may be allow'd for Perspiration, deficiency of
fire, or waste in large Glasses, &c. But I tell him,
neither he nor his Doctor have made Experiments
enough, or nice enough, to find a certain Difference.
But if we should suppose that the Blood does in
some Diseases yield by distillation more Alkali
than in Health, it will not follow that the Disease
was caus'd by Alkali, but the Alkali may rather
be suppos'd the effect of the Disease; for it is well
Page 33

known, that even Bodies that will yield large quantities
of Acid in Distillation and no Alkali, will by a fermen∣tative
Heat be so alter'd, as to yield a great deal of Al∣kali
and no Acid; and in like manner the preternatural
Ferment in some Diseases may so alter the Liquors of
our Bodies, as that they may yield more Alkali, and
less or no Acid.

But the Gentleman says, pap. 25. My Experiment
of the Saliva's turning the Syrup of Violets green, does
not prove that it is not impregnated with a manifest A∣cid,
which is what Dr. Colebatch asserts; for there are
a multitude of other Bodies which will turn the Syrup
green, yet have in them a manifest Acid, as Oyls and
vinous Spirits, which tho' they have a manifest Acid,
yet its so sheath'd in the other parts of the fluid, that it
cannot be unlock'd or set at liberty, to exert it self by so
dammy a Body as Syr. of Violets, yet they operate on other
Bodies by vertue of their Acid, as Oyl of Turpentine will
dissolve Copper, the Acid in Sulphur, Turpentine, Spit∣tle
makes Quicksilver easily embody with them; and be∣cause
I say, its from the Turpentine's consisting of ramous
and flexible parts, he thinks it is the same with saying,
they consist of nothing at all; for 'till I shew him those
ramous and flexible parts, he must belive it is from the
Acid that they embody with Mercury.

What the Gentleman says now is much to the pur∣pose,
I hope he will help to bring the Acidists to sense.
For if the Saliva's turning the Syrup green, does not
prove that it is not impregnated with, and does not act
as a manifest Acid, then the Serum of Blood's turning
Syrup of Violets green, does not prove that to abound
with an Alkali, and not to be an Acid; and so what
Mr. Colebatch asserts is a Mistake, and his Criterion
fallible, and so the ground of his Hypothesis is gone,
and the Gentleman must take his Doctrine merely upon
his Word. And if there are a multitude of other Bo∣dies
Page 34

which turn Syr. of Violets green, that are to be deno∣minated
Acids from their quality, of which if they were
divested, they would fail of their Intension which they
perform with it, as he says, pag. 26. Then Gentle∣men
can be no more Judges of his Master Colebatch's
Hypothesis. But how the Gentleman should assert that
vinous Spirits and Oyl of Turpentine, &c. have ma∣nifest
Acids, I can't tell, unless the constant use of Crab
Verjuce makes all things relish so with him, for I am
sure he never made it manifest to any that was not an
Acidist; and that Oyl of Turpentine's Acid can't be
unlockt by the clammy Body of Syr. of Violets, and
yet that it works upon the much more tough body of
Copper, is very strange if true; but it's stranger that
things consisting of ramous parts should be consisting of
nothing, or that whatever is not done by Particles a
Gentleman can see must be done by Acid; but the
Gentleman must believe it, and who can help it? But
he professes he will not believe me, that insipid Calxes
will kill Quicsiklver, till I tell him more of it, for he
knows none that will hold it so long as Saline or Acid
Bodies. Well, because he is now a Gentleman, I will
tell him more of it than I did before. I did not say
that Calxes indifferently will hold Quicksilver so long
as any saline or Acid Bodies, what the Calxes of Gold
and Silver may do, I will leave to them that have made
all the enquiry into the nature of Metals Human Industry
is capable of. I know it will amalgam with Metals
that destroy Acids, but if you take almost any Calx,
or Earth not too dry, you may rub Mercury in it so as
to lose sight of it, and so as you shall not be able to se∣parate
it but by Fire: Yea Mercury is so ready to be
concern'd with things that are no Acids, that it will
become invisibly embodied with common Water, and
the Parts and Humours of a Man's Body, notwithstand∣ing
all his Alkalies in Sickness and in Health.

Page 35

The Gentleman says, the Trials I made on Saliva
being of that taken from sound Persons often eating and
drinking Acids, he understands Acids did not impair
their Health. I answer, he does understand no such
thing, for Acid did often so much towards impairing,
that had they not used alkalous things to over balance
them, they would not have been sound long. And
tho' in the distillation, as he minds me, I found a Sal∣sum
in the Cap. Mort. from which an Acid might be
got, yet that Salsum I take to be nothing but Sea Salt,
which would not be turned into an Acid otherwise than
by a strong Fire.

Our Gentleman remarks also, that I say, Saliva
when evaporated yielded a grateful Smell: But his Dr.
knows that Nutmegs, Cinnamon, &c. and all odorife∣rous
Vegetables abound with Acid and Sulphur, from
whence proceed their grateful Smells; It is not then rea∣sonable
to conclude, that that pleasant Smell in the Saliva
came from Acid and Sulphur? I reply, the Dr. knows
no such thing, he never saw Sulphur in, or got from
aromatick or odoriferous Plants, nor does their Smell
proceed from Sulphur and Acid, but from pure Oyls;
the smell of Sulphur every body knows is not pleasant,
but mixed with Oyls both become abominable Stinkers.
But he gives a reason, such as it is, for all animal Sub∣stances
when tending to Corruption, emitting a noxious
Smell, and from them in that state he cannot find a Sal∣sum
as I did from Saliva. But I say, That from A∣nimal
Substances in a state of Corruption I can find a
Salsum, as from Blood, Urine, &c. tho' he can't.

The Gentleman in Answer to what I said of the Sto∣mach,
that there's no need of an Acid there, and that
my Stomach is best when there's not so much as to cur∣dle
Milk; replies, that there may be an Acid in the Sto∣mach,
tho' not so much as to curdle Milk; for a small
quantity of Wine, nay Vinegar diluted in Water, pour'd
Page 36

slowly into Milk will not curdle it, and Wines have in
them a manifest Acid; and Vegetables, in whom Acid
abounds, decocted in Milk will not coagulate it. I an∣swer,
A small quantity of Acid, tho' not enough to
coagulate Milk pour'd into it slowly, will yet do it if
digested in a heat like that of the Stomach; but Wines
are not manifestly Acid, unless they taste four; and
the Vegetables he talks of are nameless.

He says farther, pag. 27. to convince me that the
Saliva acts as an Acid, he will enquire what Juices
are brought into the Stomach to cause Hunger, and he
can find none but the Saliva; therefore he concludes
Hunger is caus'd by the Juice strain'd from the salival
glands, and in Fevers, when that Moisture is defici∣ent,
there is no desire of Food; and also that Lemons and
Oranges cause Hunger; and if Hunger is caus'd only by
Acids, he would have me prove what Juice is brought
into the Stomach from any other Part that yields more
Acid. The Gentleman is so profound at Reasoning,
one must sometimes have a long Line to fish for his
Arguments. Come on then, let us try to catch this.
The Saliva acts as an Acid; and why? because he can
find no other Juice brought into the Stomach to cause
Hunger; and if Hunger is caus'd only by Acids, I must
prove some other Juice brought in from some other
Part that yields more. Well, but if Hunger is not
caus•d by Acids, or by Juices, and he has prov'd nei∣ther,
then the Argument is gone. Yes, but Lemons
and Oranges cause Hunger; then, I say, the Saliva
may be excus'd from that Office, since Acid Doctors
are so ready to convey them in. I wish they don't
breed a Famine. But in Fevers, when the Saliva is
wanting, there's no Appetite. But 'tis no matter,
since Lemons and Oranges are more sharp than the Sa∣liva
it self, for the very thoughts of them, will put a
Man's Mouth in disorder. But if one may speak freely
Page 37

to a Gentle man, I must tell him, a Clown would have
given a better Reason of Hunger, that it is caus'd most
commonly by want of Victuals, and not by swallow∣ing
ones Spittle, or eating Lemons and Oranges; for
if one do neither, yet Fasting will bring that sense;
and if one can get neither Lemons nor Oranges, the
want of a Breakfast or two, will make one have a Sto∣mach
to ones Dinner.

But the Gentleman comes to prove Mr. Colebatch's
Opinion, that there are some Vessels passing from the
bottom of the Stomach to the Kidneys; and he confesses
he could never find them in all the Bodies he hath disse∣cted.
I believe so. Gentlemen don't use to dissect Bo∣dies
very oft; but yet to prove these undiscover'd Ca∣nula's,
he gives us the Authority of several Stories; one
of a Man that voided by Urine great quantities of
Herbs, and two Pills. Of another that voided a leaden
Bullet the same way. And of a third, that pissed the
Stones of Raisins. Of others that piss'd Needles, Alke∣kengi,
and Melon-Seeds, &c. besides he has observed the
Urine has been perfum'd in 10 or 12 Minutes, by eating
Asparagus, or taking Oyl of Turpentine. Now, say I,
if we admit these Stories to be true as to matter of fact,
it does not prove these undiscover'd Passages, unless the
Gentleman could prove that these things could pass no
other way; but as for those things that may be sup∣pos'd
to pass through very small Passages, there are
such discover'd, thro' which they are more like to pass,
than thro' these that are so very small, if any, that no
Body could ever see them. But perhaps there is some
Law in Nature, that those Passengers that are permit∣ted
to go the short way to the Kidneys, must shut the
Door after them.

The Gent. is not pleas'd, pag 30, and 31. that I
assign a considerable use to the Gall; but he has either
not considerately read, or mis-represented what I said
Page 38

of it. He says, that the Dung affording a fixt Salt
(as I told him) like that obtain'd from the Bile, and
the Chyle not appearing ting'd with Greenness, nor Milk
yielding any such fixt Salt, are indications that the Gall is
carried down with the rest of the Excrements, but not
mix'd with the Chyle; neither, thinks he, will the nar∣rowness
of the Venae Lacteae admit so thick a Liquor as
the Gall. I answer, I did not say that the Gall was
carried into the Venae Lecteae, and mix'd with the
Chyle there, tho' it must be thought to receive its sup∣ply
that way; as all the rest of Juices of the Body do.
But any one will confess (except he that thinks himself
bound to say any thing to defend a senseless Error) that
the Gall cannot issue forth into the Duodenum, without
being mixed with the Chyle, where it may very pro∣fitably
seize the inimical Acid, and carry it out at the
Back-door of the Body.

But the Gent. goes on to defame this notable Part
in the vital Machine, and if what he says of it were
true, one might think the Body might have been con∣triv'd
better, than that such an Enemy should be pla∣ced
in so inward a Recess, at liberty to disgorge its Ve∣nom
into the nutritious Juice. And he possitively af∣firms,
that the Gall•s presence in the Guts can be of no
use, but to be in a way of being ejected by Stool. If it
can be of no use we can•t help it. But the Gent. hath
not proved it usless. But he says, If it be detain'd in
the Guts, the consequences are dismal, yet if any quanti∣ties
pass downwards, a▪ Diarrhea ensues, &c. 'Tis dis∣mal
indeed, that whether it stay or go its morbous ef∣fects
are inevitable. I thought he said 'twas all to be
ejected by Stool, yet if it go that way we must have a
Flux. When the Bile is brought into the Stomach, I
agree with the Gentleman, it causes Disorders; but
Viscera, as he calls it, I think is a new name for the
Stomach. But he says, it may be known that the Co∣lick,
Page 39

Iliaca Passio, Diarrhea, are Symptoms produced
from that Juice by the Excrements being ting'd there∣with.
But I say that is not a sufficient Argument, but
these Symptoms may be caus'd by too much Acid,
wherewith it is loaded, and he should have used ano∣ther
Sense beside Seeing, to know whether the Gall
were too much in the mixture; I believe he would
hardly taste it bitter.

But the Gentleman goes on to accuse the wickedness
of the Gall, pag. 32. in two instances, One of a Gen∣tleman
he help'd to dissect, having many defects in him,
but particularly that the Gall-Bladder was empty. A∣nother
of a Child, who had the same Defects. But there
is nothing in the Relations, if true, that will prove that
those Defects found in the Bodies were caus'd by too
much Gall, rather than that they were occasion'd by
too little; so I shall pass it, only taking notice of two
things remarkable. 1. That Gentlemen may dissect
one another. 2. That if it be true as he says, that
those Bodies stink soonest, in whom the Gall Bladder is
found empty, then the Gall must needs be allow'd to be
at least a preservative against Corruption.

But he comes to Arguments, to convince us that A∣cids
are admitted into the Blood; and that he does, by
putting us in mind of the Pancreatick Juice, which,
he says, is manifestly acid to the tast. And the Chyle
taken from the Venae Lactae of a Dog he tasted mani∣festly
Acid, when it has been kept some time; and from
Milk's turning sour. But he had no need to prove that
against me, for I never said the Gall kept out all the
Acid, but only hindred that so much, as otherwise
would, goes not in. But as for discerning the acidity of
the Pancreatick Juice, or of the Dog's Chyle, that, as
he says, had stood, (and turned sour) by his Taste;
it is no good evidence, because he takes so many Acid
Draughts in a day, that his Mouth, I doubt, can hardly
Page 40

ever be free from a sour relish; and if we had not bet∣ter
reason than his Evidence, we should doubt of the
Pancreatick Juices Acidity.

The Gent. has a farther attempt, pag. 35. to take
off what I said, as to Acids coagulating and corrupting
Blood, Flesh, Skin, Tendons, &c. and he tells us a∣gain,
my Experiments were tryed a fallacious way, for
the Oyl of Vitriol alone will coagulate Blood when it's
cold, and a separation made of its grumous Parts from
the Serum, yet if it be diluted in a proper quantity of an
aqueous Vehicle, which is the method of giving such A∣cids,
it will preserve the Blood fluid, and free from Pu∣trefaction.
I answer, the Oyl of Vitriol will coagulate
the Blood, and alter its due Texture, before there is a
separation made of the Serum, yea, while in the Veins,
if injected; and in all reason that which will coagulate
much in such or such a quantity, will do it a little in a
small quantity. But Water will certainly dilute and
make thin the Blood; and perhaps two ounces of Wa∣ter
will do more to thin the Blood, than two or three
drops of oyl of Vitriol to thicken it, if they always ac∣company
one another; and I do not think it possible
to give so much Oyl of Vitriol in at the Mouth as is
enough to coagulate the mass of Blood in the Veins,
without killing by something it will do before it comes
there; but Oyl of Vitriol, and such like things, being
not subject to the ferments of our Bodies, and not so
easily carried off by our Heat as Water, if they come
into the Blood, must have their Being some where or
other, and if they six and adhere to any particular Part,
may cause a small Coagulation there, or by thickning
the Blood retard its motion, or by retarding its motion
thicken it, and so give occasion to some stoppage in
some small Veins; and wherever the Blood stagnates
it will be coagulated and corrupted, tho' the thing that
caus'd the Stagnation were not the immediate cause of
Page 41

the Coagulation and Corruption. But if Oyl of Vi∣triol
and such Acids be so excellent to thin the Blood,
and consequently accellerate its Motions, I would
know what Gentlemen give it for in Feavers, and
such like Distempers, rather than Sp. of Sal. Armon.
which will do so; if it cools, I should think it is by
retarding the rapid Motion of the Blood, and if the
Blood run slow it is more apt to Coagulate. But per∣haps
Gentlemen Acidists give it not, because it re∣tards,
or accelerates the Blood, thickens it, or thins it,
cools it or heats it, but merely because it is an Acid,
and will do every thing, and that because Mr. Cole∣batch
says, Acids are the only Medicines that cure all
Diseases, he is sure of it, (tho' he does no more Cures,
except deadly ones, than others) and his little Satelites
must say so, tho' neither he nor they can tell how it
Operates, or why they give it.

But the Gent. urges farther, that 2 Ounces of Sp. of
Niter in a convenient quantity of Water, (what that is
he wont tell us) preserved an Embrio. And 'tis the
Acid of Salt preserves Flesh and Fish from Putrefacti∣on:
For if you divest the Salt of its Acid, what remains
will never do the business. Vinegar and Salt preserve
Cucumbers, Capers, &c. I answer, 2 Ounces of Sp.
of Sal. Armon or of a •ixivium, yea or Bittern,
that wicked thing, in a convenient quantity of Water,
will do as much, or more; but why? Not because
they are call'd Acid or Alkali, but because they are
saline Bodies, which in such quantities hinder Fermen∣tation.
So Sea Salt, not because it is call'd an Acid,
or an Alkali, or a S••sum, but because it hinders
that inward motion of the particles of Flesh, &c. that
would bring it to Corruption. But whether what re∣mains,
will do the like, when Sea Salt is divested of
its Acid, Mr. Acid, nor his Gentleman ever tryed:
For I must tell them what I find they are ignorant of,
Page 42

that Sea Salt will be distill'd all into Spirit, and be re∣duced
all into Sea Salt again, it is so homogeneous a
Body. But perhaps he means the Earth, with which
it is distill'd, will not do. It is from the same reason
that Salt and Vinegar preserve Cucumbers, &c. But
yet I believe, if the Gentleman or his Physician either,
were kept a little while in such pickle, he would find
it not very friendly to the vital Frame, tho' it might
keep them from stinking.

Our Gentleman, pag. 36. tells us, that I said, that
Animals that yield half their weight of Acid Liquor,
will putrefie sooner than others, that abound with more
Alkali. But he can't conceive what Animals these
should be. No wonder a Gentlemen is unacquainted
with the Materia Medica, that can't recite what I
said: For I did not say sooner than others, but as soon,
or sooner than some others; not that abound with
more Alkali, but that abound with Alkali; for those
Animals don't abound with Alkali, but with Acid.
But tho' he grants what I said, it won't follow says he,
That their Putrefaction is caus'd by the great quantity
of Acids; true, I never argued so, for Acid is their
proper Nature; but notwithstanding they are such
sour Fellows, they will corrupt, contrary to Mr. Cole∣batch
his Assertion, that it were impossible that Bodies
full of Acid shuld putrifie. But he thinks the Ani∣mals
putrified, because of the deprivation of their Acid,
it going off in Effluvia. But he is mistaken, for they
were crose stopp'd in a Glass, and perspire much more
when alive.

The Gentleman goes on to make the same mistakes,
asserting that I said Vegetabl•s that yield most Acid, and
Oyl, will rot sooner than others; when I said as soon, or
sooner than some others; and that Crabs, Oranges and
Lemons will rot sooner than Apples, that are not so sour;
when I said sooner than some Apples that are not
Page 43

sour▪ But he says, Experience informs us how false
this Assertion is; for Lemons are preserved longer than
Apples, and will not putrifie but when bruised; and Le∣mon-pill
will be preserved many Years by drying. I
answer, Lemons are preserved longer than some Ap∣ples,
but not than others; and thanks to their Peel,
which according to the Acid Doctors should rot first,
being less Acid. He adds, that he hath kept a Vege∣table
2 Years in Water, acidulated with Sp. of Salt,
sound and entire. I believe it may be true, if try'd
on some sort of Vegetables. But he concludes, with
a defiance to shew him an Alkali, Volatile or fixt, that
will preserve Animals, or Vegetables from Putrefaction,
tho' I gave him 2 or 3 in the same Leaf, and I would
give him another, if I thought he would still believe
Bittern, that wicked thing, to be an Alkali.

But he comes, pag. 37. at length to Alum, and he
is not contented, that I said Alum is not an Acid, nor
has the effects of an Acid, because it turns Syr. of Vio∣lets
green, and that Alum is us'd in making Leather,
on the account of its astringency. But the Gentleman
is of another Opinion, for he finds 'tis the Chalky sub∣stance
in Alum turns the Syr. green: But his reason
is no better than this, that the Acid Sp. will turn the
Syr. red; very good; but I spake of the whole com∣pound,
that it was not an Acid, because it turns the
Syr. green, and the Gentleman says it is, because one
part of the product turns it red. But I have Master Cole∣batch
on my side, who says, those things that turn the
Syr. green are manifest Alkalies, or abound with Al∣kalies.
But as for the Leather-dressing, he says, 'tis
the Acid part in Alum, makes the Skins compact, be∣cause
if the Acid be separated, the remaining part will
be of no such use. I answer, if these parts be separated,
neither will be of use, the Caput Mort. will do no∣thing,
and the Acid will spoil the Skins. I'll appeal to
Page 44

our Country-man, Mr. Yardly, the Philosophical Glover
whether ever he dress'd Leather with Spirit of Alum.

He says, he can easily answer for the rotting of Cof∣fins,
when the Bones that abound with Alkali remain
firm; the rottenness is produced by the Alkalous Flesh, and
Juices of the Cadaver, entring the Pores of the Wood,
but the hardness of the Cortex of the Bones, having
smaller Pores than Wood, will not so readily admit the
Alkalous Essluvia. But I answer, if Bones had any
thing call'd a Cortex, and that were so compact, and
there were not very large and numerous Pores in the
Bones, yet one would think the Alkali already in their
most intmate recesses, and wherein they are digested
from without, should rot them sooner than the Cof∣fins
that have it on one side only, and are guarded
within and without, with the mighty preserver Acid.

The Gentleman replies to what I asserted, that A∣cids
are not the only things that will quench thirst in
Diseases, for Niter will sooner do it. That he knows
by Experience if you take from Niter what is Acid, the
remaining substance will not quench Thirst. I answer,
'tis true, the Earth with which Niter is distill•d will
not quench Thirst. If you take from Niter, what will
by distillation be made an Acid, you take all away;
for it will all come over in Spirit, but Niter given in
a proper Vehicle will quench Thirst much better
than the Spirit.

Pag. 39. The Gentleman has done ungenteelly by
me, as well as in several other places, for he says, that
I say, Oyl of Vitriol is a noble Medicine in Feavers,
and he agrees with me; when as I said to Mr. Cole∣batch,
that I would grant that Oyl of Vitriol might
be, the best Medicine in continual Feavers he knew;
but I knew a better, and that an Alkali.

He makes me agree with him, and then says
he agrees with me, Oyl of Vitriol is far from
Page 45

a noble Medicine, so is Com. Oyl of Vitriol,
from what may be made of Vitriol. But he will be∣lieve
that the Medicine, I say I have that is better, is
an Acid; unless I will produce it. But truly I can't
help it if he will believe so; for I suppose good Me∣dicine,
and Acid are Synonymous with him: and
whatever is proved to be good, is to him sufficiently
proved to be an Acid. But my Medicine is already
produced, and if he or any other civil Gentleman will
come to me, he shall taste it. The Gentleman says, in
the same Page, That the use of Acids in the small Pox
is now so generally believed and practis'd, that he need-not
trouble us with Arguments from that Topick. I an∣swer,
that it is a very poor Topick to prove the good∣ness
of a thing, that it is generally used, (but I sup∣pose
he means by the Acid Doctors) and he might
have told us Whores are now generally used for the
great Pox, and have added, that it is seldom cured
without them. His story which he subjoyns of the suc∣cess
of Acids in the small Pox, I shall believe to be as he
calls it, a Storys not questioning the veracity of his Au∣thor,
or his skill, who never imagin'd that Acids
would cure a Disease.

In answer to my Assertion, That Alkalies, when in
Solution, are not coagulated alone, but by meeting
with Acids; and so that the Chalky Matter in the Gout
will not prove the Disease caus'd by Alkali, rather
than Acid; he replys, pag. 81. That alkalous Salts,
when insolution are coagulated with what I call Alka∣lies;
for Volatile Alkalies will embody with Copper,
and make what is call'd Salt of Vitriol, if suffered to
stand in the cold for a Month. I answer, This instance
is not a thing whereof he informs us, only I was used
to think Copper dissolved was not Salt of Vitriol, but
if he has found Copper enough in gouty Persons to
coagulate the Alkali in their Blood; we will acknow∣ledge
Page 46

he hath discover'd a Mine; but I am apt to
think he can find nothing in the Body of Man that is
an Alkali, that will coagulate the Spirit of his Blood.
But he says farther, That Sp. of Sal. Armon. being an
Alkali in solution, will in distillation so unite it self with
Lime a fixt Alkali, that he shall never be able to se∣parate
any Volatile Alkali Salt from it again. Indeed
it may have the smell of a Volatile Alkali, but no Salt
is to be got from it, as may be seen; for if it be 3 or 4
times distill'd from Lime, it shall be so far from what
we call an Alkali, that it shall make no ebullition with
a manifest Acid. I answer the Gentleman, that the
Volatile Alkali does not unite it self with Lime; if it
did, it would either become a fixt, or the Lime a Vo∣latile;
neither of which is done, but the Vol.
Alkali is so alter'd by the Lime, that it is better uni∣ted
with its Phlegm that holds it, so that both rise
together. But I will teach the Gentleman how to se∣parate
a dry Salt from them again, when ever he is
willing to practise Chymistry, and thinks it will do
him a kindness. But he gives an odd reason of this his
Opinion, that if 3 or 4. times distill'd from Lime, it
shall be so far from what we call an Alkali, as not to
make an ebullition with Acids. But I say, tho' it be
so far from what Acid Gentlemen, who don't believe
their Senses call Alkali, yet others will call it Alkali,
who know that ebullition with Acids is not the only
thing that shews an Alkali, for that very Sp. will de∣stroy
his Acids, and be destroy'd so far as to make a
Nuter, but will not be irrecoverably lost.

He says, pag. 42. that I grosly mistake what Offa
alba is, because I said it is a precipitation of the
urinous Salt, not a Coagulation of the urinous
Spirit, whereas it is as much in a Coagulum at
the top, as at the bottom. I answer, the Gentleman, I
believe, takes the notion of Precipitation only from
the sound of the Word. But a thing is said to be in∣solution
Page 47

when the Particles are invisible in the Dissol∣vent,
but precipitated when they coalesce so as to be
seen, tho' being light they may not presently fall to
the bottom. But a Coagulum of a vinous Sp. and uri∣nous
Salt into one Body he never saw, or any such U∣nion
but what is separable.

But however, this Offa alba can't be made in the
Veins, to coagulate into Chalk in gouty Persons, as
his Master teaches him. He asks what I'll think of
some he has seen drink high rectified Sp. of Wine? I'll
tell him, they are no strange Fellows, nor more gouty
than others; I have often done it, and never had
the Gout. The Blood is not an Alkalous Spirit to co∣agulate
it, nor can it be carried in through the Sto∣mach,
without being weakned too much to do the feat,
if there were such a Spirit within.

But he tells us a great Secret in Chymistry, viz.
That if the Alkalous Sp. be distill'd from testaceous
Pouders, it will be destroy'd. But I tell him he is mi∣staken,
he never saw the Alkalous Salt destroy'd in his
Life. But then he tells us, it will fix it self; but I tell
him, if it be fixt it is not destroy'd; if destroy'd, it is
not fix'd; but I tell him he is mistaken in both, and
never saw a volatil Alkali fixt, any more than a fixt one
volatilized.

But the Gentleman comes, pag. 42. to something
more weighty, a very grand point, and that is to do
what his Master Colebatch could never do, and yet it
must be done, or the Acidists must knock under board,
viz. to prove Iron an Acid. Iron they professedly use,
and nothing can be a good Medicine but an Acid they
say, therefore they are cast by their own Verdict, un∣less
Iron can be made an Acid; help Neighbours! a
Gentleman had need of commanding Requests to put
him on this difficulty. Well let's see what Efforts he
makes. Iron, says he, making an Effervescence with
Page 48

an Acid, is no more an argument that it is an Alkali,
than that Butter of Antimony (which is allow'd to be
a strong Acid) is an Alkali, because it makes an Effer∣vescence
with Sp. of Nitre or Vitriol, which are Acids.
I fancy the Gentleman has learnt Logick of Mr. Cole∣batch,
(altho' he would be thought to converse with him
only in an epistolary way) he argues so like him. Let
us feel the strength of this Argument. Butter of Anti∣mony
an allow'd Acid, making an Effervescence with
Sp. of Niter an Acid, don't prove it an Alkali, there∣fore
Iron making an Effervescence with an Acid, don't
prove it an Alkali. But I say it don't follow, but the
Gentleman is to prove Iron an Acid, and its not being
an Alkali, if it were not, don't prove it an Acid, un∣less
there were nothing but Alkali and Acid; and if its
Effervescence don't prove it an Alkali, much less does it
prove it an Acid; but I tell him Butter of Antimony
does not effervesce with an Acid, because of its Acidity,
but because of the Antimony in it not wholly dissolved;
the Butter is nothing but Sp. of Salt, and the body of
the more metalline part of Antimony, mixed by an im∣perfect
Dissolution; but when the Sp. of Nitre comes
and dissolves it wholy, it makes an Effervescence in dis∣solving
it, but with Sp. of Salt alone it will not do so.

2. Iron, says he, is not properly an absorber of Acids,
but of Salts in general, for it will be dissolved by Acid,
Alkali, or Sal nutrum. But I answer, this don't prove
it an Acid, if it be so. But he says, if you put upon
Filings of Iron a volatil Alkali, there will a gentle E∣bullition
ensue. I say, it must be very gentle certainly,
for I could never see it, tho' I try'd it on purpose; but
perhaps 'twas an Ebullition caus'd by the Fire, upon
which Acid, Alkali, vinous, oleous, or watery Li∣quors,
yea or metalline, will boyl. But to go a little
farther, in the matter, says he, and do something to∣wards
proving that Steel abounds with Acid and Sul∣phureous
Page 49

Particles, which, he says, I deny, and not with
alkalous, and so consequently ought to be call'd an Acid.
The Gentleman here confesses he hath done nothing to
it yet, but now he is resolved to prove Iron abounds with
Acid, and sulphureous Particles; but, I say, the conse∣quence
will not be that it is an Acid if it do, unless those
Acid Particles are more than the rest. Well, but first
he will shew that Iron is very much impregnated with
Sulphur; and then prove, contrary to my Assertion, that
there is a burning Brimstome to be obtain'd from it. Well
this is a secret in Chymistry, I long to be at it; how is
it done? Why Filings of Steel flung through the Flame of
a Candle will take fire sooner than Gunpowder, and as
soon as common Sulphur, and the violent motion of a Flint
and Steel will do the same. I answer, the Gentleman
has shewn his Ignorance sufficiently here; these Phaeno∣mena
are not the firing of any thing combustible in the
Steel, but only the heating small particles of the Mettal
red hot; the first by the flame of the Candle, the second
by the rapid stroke of the Flint, striking off a particle of
the Metal red hot, and sometimes melted, as it may be
seen, if caught on a piece of white Paper, and viewed in
a Microscope; but the Metal will be found unaltered;
which, if it were burnt, would be otherwise. But if the
Steel be softned it will not do, the blow not meeting
with so much resistance, the Flint will strike off too
much to take the heat.

But again he is pleas'd to say, that when the filings of
Iron are in dissolution in Sp. of Salt, the Fumes that a∣rise
will take fire; and if done in a convenient Glass, and
a lighted Paper held to the Fumes, it will fulminate as
loud as a Musquet; and he hopes I am satisfied by this
time, that there is such a thing as common Brimstone in
Iron. Truly Sir, I am not yet satisfied; I could never
see the Fumes of Sp. of Salt take fire, and if they did,
it could be nothing of the Iron, which won't rise in
Fumes, as any one may see by distilling the matter. An
Explosion, I know, may be, if the Mouth of the Glass
Page 50

be too small, or stopt; and so there may be of any rari∣fiable
Liquor. But if this won't do, he is so kind as to
give us a process to make Brimstone out of ron. Now
he comes to something like a Tansie, and I must write
it down▪ Recip. Sal Martis, dissolve it in common Wa∣ter,
add Oyl of Tartar more than will precipitate the Iron,
evaporate all to dryness, flux it with Carcoal, and you
will have a sulphureous Salt, dissolve in Water, and fil∣ter,
and with distill'd Vinegar, or Sp. of Salt, you may
precipitate a Sulphur that will burn and stink like common
Sulphur. I thank the Gentleman, but I must tell him,
this Sulphur comes not at all from the Iron. For first,
if his Sal Martis be that made with Spirit of Wine and
Oyl of Vitriol, they will yield Sulphur enough without
the Iron; the Oyl of Vitriol will coagulate the inflama∣ble
part of the Sp. of Wine into Brimstone. If it comes
not hence, the Oyl of Tartar has a Sulphur in it, as all
fixt Alkalies have more or less. If this won't do, the Char∣choal
has enough; and if he uses Vinegar to precipitate
it, that can spare a little. But let him take Iron, and
work on it how he will without any thing that can sup∣ply
a combustible Body, I defy him, or a Horse with a
bigger Head, to get me a grain of Sulphur. So in his
process of Tartar Vitriolat. and filings of Iron, if true,
the Sulphur comes from the other things, not the Iron.
But he says, he has not mentioned the proportions of his
Ingredients, because he is talking to a Chymist. It seems
he takes the Physician he writes to for a Chymist, but he
talks not like one; for proportions of things necessary in
order to divers resulting Products in Chymistry, that a
Man has not tried and observed, are not hit easily by
any Rules in Chymistry, and in many Operations much
depends on proportion. But if these Experiments won't
prove a Sulphur in Iron, he says, he may chance to pro∣duce
20 more, but these, he supposes, will satisfie the rea∣sonable.
I answer, I suppose these were not his worst,
and if he produces no better, 40 won't do to satisfie the
skilful, whatever the reasonable may think. But he says,
Page 51
he must conclude Steel to be rather an Acid than an Alka∣li.
That's his Misery, that he must conclude it an Acid,
tho' none ever got an Acid from it. But if he can get a
Sulphur from it, he hopes none will doubt but he may al∣so
get an Acid in quantity. I answer, to conclude this
mighty point, if the Sulphur he supposes he gets from it,
were indeed from it, tis so little, that it would not deno∣minate
Steel a Sulphur, and that Acid in the Sulphur
is much less, and would much less give Iron the title of
an Acid. But let an honest Country man (Mr. Yardly
if you please) taste filings of Steel, not knowing what it
is, or any thing indeed produced from it, and if he says
it tastes sour, I'll be an Assheadist.

I thought I had done with Steel for this bout, because
something else comes next, but I find there's another
touch upon Steel afterwards, so I'll go to that, that we
may dispatch all the martial Man's business together.

The Gentleman tells us, pag. 46. I say the Doctor's
Preparation of Steel with Sal Armon▪ is not made with
an Acid, and he thinks it is; and to prove it, says he,
if you make it in a Retort and a strong Fire, nothing but
an Alkali will rise, and the Acid will remain with the
Steel; for if you take the Cap. Mort. and distill, you
shall have nothing come over but a pure Acid, of great
use in Physick.

I am at a little loss to know who he means by the Do∣ctor,
it must be some body sure that is a Doctor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,
as Aristotle was known formerly by the name of
the Philosopher; but the Gentleman being one that loves
Verjuice well, I guess he means Mr. Colebatch; but I'd
faign know what made him a Doctor, whether Igno∣rance,
Confidence, or a Licence to kill, or all together.
But now I think on't, Doctor is a Teacher, and he
teaches the abuse of Crabs, Oranges, and Lemons,
therefore he is a Doctor. But the Doctor's Preparation
of Steel must be with an Acid. If it be, I say, 'tis be∣cause
the Doctor is an Acid; for Sal Armon is not, be∣ing
a compound of com. Salt and Vol Salt of Urin,
Page 52

neither of which is an Acid; and tho com. Salt may be
distill'd into an Acid, yet 'tis not an Acid before Distil∣lat
on, any more than Lead, for instance, is Glass, be∣cause
it may be turn'd into Glass. But when Salt is
turn'd into an Acid Liquor, it then ceases to be a Sal∣sum,
tho' it may be brought back again very easily into
its old and natural Form; as the Glass of Lead may
likewise soon be reduced into Lead again. And the Do∣ctor's
Preparation is made with it before distill'd. But
the Gentleman adds, if we dissolve Filings of Steel in Sp.
of Salt, and distill as before, we shall find the Cap. Mort.
the same as that made with Sal Armon. And farther,
says he, 'tis not the com. Salt, but the Acid Spirit of it,
that is one part of the compound of Sal Armon. and Vol.
Alkali the other; for a mixture of Sp. of Salt and Vol.
Alkali will produce good Sal Armon. Right, but these
Alkalous Bodies change the acidity of the Sp. of Salt in∣to
a body not Acid, but a Salsum, its natural old Form;
and in that form it works, not in that it has not when so
changed.

But not to let go what the Gentleman says, pag. 46.
without a Remark; he there tells us, he is sure a Disease
caus'd by Acids may be cured by Acids. But here he
unwittingly gives away the Cause, by confessing a Di∣sease
may be caus'd by Acids, which is the very thing I
would prove; and there are divers kinds of Acids ha∣ving
different Effects, therefore Acids may cause divers
Diseases. But still he holds fast to one part of the Do∣ctrine,
that all Diseases, even those caus'd by Acids, may
be cured (he should have said must) by Acids. And
how proves he this? Why Acids operate upon, or alter
the texture of one another; and if the texture be alter'd
its qualities must be alter'd; and it must act differently
from what it did. I answer, whatever change Acids
make on one another, they do not change one another
from being Acids; and the Disease being caus'd by the
Acid, as Acid, the change of the Acid will but change
the Disease, not cure it; that must be done, by taking away
Page 53

its Acidity, or expelling the Acid; and if Acid could be
supposed to expel Acid, 'twould be but one Devil entring
to cast out the other, this being as troublesome a Guest as
that disposs'd; and the Experiment the Gentleman brings
to confirm his Opinion, is nothing pertaining to Medicine
or Man's Body: For Sp. of Nitre, or Aq. fort. says he, dissolves
Silver, but Sp. of Salt mixed with them, makes it it
shall never dissolve Silver as it did. But our Bowels are
not Silver, to be dissolved in Sp. of Nitre, that Sp.
of Salt should be a Medicine to render ineffectual.

The Gentleman▪ says, pag 47. that I am very angry
with Doctor Colebath for saying Cinnabar is an Acid,
but have not proved, or said it is an Alkali. To which
I tell him, I was never angry with Doctor Colebatch in
my Life, nor with his Gentleman, but I think I said e∣nough
to prove that Cinnabar is not an Acid, much less
running Mercury 13 sixteenths of it. But the Gentle∣man
refers to all the World, whether running Mercury
will act as Cinnabar does; if not, then Cinnabar does all
by vertue of the Sulphur embodied with it. But I'll re∣fer
it even to the Acidists, by the same Argument, whe∣ther
common Sulphur will act as Cinnabar does; if not,
then Cinnabar does all by vertue of the Mercury embo∣died
with it; and if the Argument be good, it is 13 to
3 on my side. But I tell the Gentleman, to leave these
Logical Depths for Experience, Cinnabar acts as Cin∣nabar,
and not as Mercury, or as Sulphur, otherwise
we need not be at the trouble to compound them. And
the Gentleman goes on with his Argument, Sulphur is
an Acid; why? Because I allow it to be compounded of
an Acid and an Oyl, but not of an Acid and an Alkali.
The Argument runs thus in the whole latitude of it. Sul∣pur
is an Acid, because it is compounded of a little Acid
and an Oyl; and Cinnabar is an Acid, because it has a
little of that that has a little Acid in it. By the same
Logick I may prove the Gentleman is a Calf, because he
dined upon Veal, and has a little of a Calf in him.
But the Gentleman talks on, shewing more Ignorance,
Page 54

saying, he believes Mercury an absorber of all kind of Salts,
Alkalies or Acids, rather than of Acids. But I must tell
him, it is not an Absorber of Alkalies, for they revive
it, and disengage it from Acids which it hath absorb'd.
But he says, it will dissolve Mettals, which is an Argu∣ment
I often use to prove the Acidity of a Body. I an∣swer,
it will not truly dissolve Metals, it only pulve∣rises
them. But he continues to abuse me, so as a Gentle∣man
can't be thought to do; for I never, that I know
of, much less often, made it an Argument to prove the
Acidity of a Body, that it will dissolve a Mettal; tho'
he would be contented it should be took for one. I sup∣pose,
that if he should be convinc'd that Sp. of Sal Ar∣mon.
is a good Medicine, he would prove it an Acid by
its dissolving Copper. But he says, Mercury will fer∣ment
with Gold if well managed, and make a heat not
to be endured by the Hand. But this is no Argument
that Mercury is an Acid; and tho this story he has heard
be true, he knows not what the well managing of the
Mercury is, or the cause of the Heat. He says, he has
often met with two Acids that will ferment with one a∣nother;
but he has given no instance, but what he is
mistaken in.

But the Gentleman, pag 48. wishes I had told them
how to make the Quintessence of Wine an Alkali, (which I
said I would oppose to all the Acids in the World) that it
might be us'd, and judged whether it be so noble an Al∣kali
or not. I answer, this Alkali has been us'd, and is
us'd, and judg'd, and found to be a noble Alkali; and
I have cured considerable Diseases with one small Dose
of it; and have had a Patient sick in bed, and fear of
Death one day, and up, and pretty well on the mor∣row,
by the use of this Alkali. But I did not say, I
would oppose it to all the Acids in the World, but to
Mr. Colebatch's Acids; for there are better Acids than he
is aware of, useful in some, tho not in all Cases. But
if the Gentleman has a mind to see the effects of this
Medicine, I say still, let there be a number of Patients, sick
Page 55

of such Diseases wherein I think it useful, divided be∣tween
Mr. Colebath and I, or any other Acidist, and I
will use the Quintescence, and he shall use what Acid he
pleases, and if I don't recover more than he, I'll be an
Acidist.

But the Gentleman can guess what this Quintescence
of Wine is; and he supposes it is the finest rectified Sp. of
Wine, talk•d of by some, that is so subtile a Drop will not
fall to the Ground. Such an Essence of Wine he has seen,
and can make at any time; but he affirms it will come
under the denomination of an Acid. I answer, I confess
such an Essence of Wine will come under the denomina∣tion
of an Acid, if Mr. Colebatch says 'tis an Acid, (as
he must do if he should use it) or if it be found in the
ingenious Mr. Stringer's Catalogue of Acids; but there
is no better Argement for its Acidity. But to satisfie
the Gentleman, I tell him this Alkali is as much an Al∣kali,
as any thing he ever saw; and 'tis not his supposed
Essence of Wine, or any other Essence, but a Quintes∣sence,
if he knows what that means. But yet to satisfie
him sufficiently, (if he be a Philosopher as well as a Gen∣tleman,
as, he says, Physicians are) I'll tell him why this
is call'd a Quintescence, and what it is. The Quintes∣sence
is the fifth state or being of Wine. The first is in
the Must or Juice of Grapes. The second, in the
Wine when fermented and brought to its perfection, as
an inflamable Spirit; (and in this state the Gentleman's
Essence is found.) The third, when this second inflam∣able
Spirit is turn'd into an incombustible Salt The
fourth, when this Salt is mortified and seemingly destroy'd.
The fifth is its change and resurrection into a noble Al∣kalous
and green Spirit.

The Gent says, pag. 49. Sp. of Salt diluted in a con∣venient
quantity of an aqueous Vehicle, is better to pre∣serve
Flesh than com Salt; and com Salt, by an addi∣tion
of a proper quantity of Sp. of Salt, will be more use∣ful
in all respects. I answer, if he had told us his conve∣nient
and proper quantities, the Tryal of the matter
Page 56

might soon have been made. But if you take a piece of
Meat season'd as the Gentleman prescribes, and another
after the ordinary way, I'll engage, on Tryal, the last
shall eat best; and Mr. Colebatch himself would say so,
if he knew nothing of their seasoning.

The Gentleman adds, that in Opposition to Mr. Cole∣batch,
I affirm that Bittern is not an Alkali but an Acid,
because Sp. of Salt is to be obtain'd from it in Distillation;
but I have not told in what quantity, for I knew the pro∣portion
is inconsiderale to what remains after Distillation,
there being at least four parts of Alkali in Bittern to one of
Acid, which turns Syr. Viol. green, and answers the in∣tentions
of a strong Alkali; and he has known Soap made
of it, which is not done without a great quantity of Alkali:
And tho' Sp. of Salt may be obtain'd from Bittern, yet
this will not prove it an Acid, or that the Sp. is any part of
the Bittern, for it is but some remains of the Acid part
of the Salt; for the Bittern, after Distillation, will cause
Thirst more than it did before, and the Spirit will allay
Thirst if judiciously used.

I answer, the Gentleman has so often, unbecoming
a Gentleman, made me say what I never said, that I
now can hardly believe he is indeed a Gentleman, but
rather some little Medicaster, or very small Surgeon.
I never said Bittern was an Acid, because Spirit of Salt
may be distill'd from it, but I said Bittern in its natu∣ral
form is but a Salsum; and by skill in Chymistry
Mr. Colbatch his damn'd •ixt Alkali (as he call'd it) be∣comes
a blessed Volatil Acid. But the Gentleman can∣not
conceive the Chymical Metamorphosis of Bodies,
his Pyrotechny is only separatory. I told the Gentle∣man's
Physician also, that Bittern would rise in the Fire,
and come over (I did not say yeild) good Spirit of Salt.
And the Gent. is much mistaken in supposing the Spirit is
inconsiderable to what remains, or that Bittern has 4 parts
of Alkali to one of Acid. For, as I said, it leaves no∣thing
behind but an insipid white Earth, and that is in∣considerable
to what comes over, if it be skilfully distill'd;
Page 57

nor will that Earth cause thirst so much, as Sait in which
there is no Bittern. I do not believe he ever saw Soap
made of Bittern, as he says, but I know Soap may
be made with a very little Alkali.

But the Gent. concludes, he is of the Opinion that I
cannot produce a Catalogue of Medicines equaly efficacious
in the Cure of Diseases with Mercur. dule. Turpeth. Min.
Red precip. Cinnabar. Sal Succini. Sal Martis En. Veneris.
Oyl of Vitriol, Sp. of Nitre, Oyl of Sulphur, and Dr. Cole∣batch's
Elixir Vitrioli; all which operate by vertue of their
Acids: for if they be divested of their Acid Particles they
will never produce those effects. And if the use of Alkalies
cannot be thus demonstrated, he shall remain a Proselyte to
the Doctrine of Acids. And thus, says he, he has given his
Thoughts in answer to those Objections that seem most ma∣terial
in the Dialogue, but has omitted to take notice of what
has not a relation to Acids and Alkalies, being the Cause or
Cure of Diseases, and in so doing, hopes he has answer'd the
Doctor's Request. I answer, I can produce the same Ca∣talogue,
and a better. But the Medicines named are not the
invention of any Acid Doctor, but were common to all
Physicians, before any such sharp Fancy had turn'd the
Brains of any Pretenders to Physick; nor are they all A∣cids,
nor do any of them, except the Spirits, operate by ver∣tue
of their Acids. But I might say, if I could allow my self
to reason as the Gentleman does, by vertue of their Alka∣lies;
for if you take away ☿, ♀, and ♂, the Acids now join∣ed
with them, will never produce the Effects alone. But I
know better, they operate by vertue of their Texture re∣sulting
from their Conjuction; even as Gun-powder does
not operate by vertue of Sulphur, or either of its Ingredi∣ents,
but by Nitre, Sulphur, and Charcoal all together. And
if the use of Acids (or Alkalies either) cannot be better de∣monstrated
than the Gentleman, or his Master Colebatch,
have demonstrated their pretended Hypothesis of Acids,
I shall not be a Proselyte to either,

The Gentleman has at last answer'd his Doctors re∣quest,
and pick'd out here, and there an expression in
Page 58

my Dialogue, which he thought he could say some
thing to, but how well he has answered what was in∣deed
Material, and how much he has Omitted, I must
yet leave to the judicious Reader of my Dialogue,
wherein I think stands unanswer'd enough to shew the
groundlessness and danger of the pretended new Hypothesis
of Acid and Alkali; as well as the immodest self ap∣plause,
shameful contempt, and abuse of all Physicians,
gross mistakes, and great ignorance of the Pretender:
Which want of Learning and Vertue the Gentleman in
his Letter, has not so much as excus'd; wherefore I hope
his Master is also Conscious thereof, and will amend. And
the Gentleman perhaps in a little time may see, that he
is a Proselyte to so very sensless, and mean a Sect, he
may be asham'd on't, or he may be blown with some
less biting or dangerous Maggot, or become fond of
some newer Fancy; since Gentlemen are inclinable it
seems, to be as well pleas'd with their Physicians for
imposing new Fashion'd sufferings upon them, as with
their Taylors for putting them into new fashion'd
Cloaths: And for such Gentlemens sakes I have a good
mind, before I Conclude, to start a yet newer Hypothe∣sis
that may serve them, when that of Acids is out of
Fashion, which when it shall be strongly asserted by
some Man of Confidence, I don't question but it will
take, please as well, be more effectual, and le•s dange∣rous
than the practice of Acids.

I have been inform'd by a Person of Credit, that a
certain Doctor in France, who was fam•d for his Cures,
gave nothing to his Patients but Brick-dust. And I
have heard of another of considerable repute in another
Place, who, as a Panacea, gave all that came to him con∣venient
quantities of common Water. These Doctors
wanting a more generous Principle, both disguised their
Medicines; they seem to have acted contrary, but which
appear'd to have the better success, I was not well in∣form'd;
but some of the Patients of both no doubt re∣cover'd,
and some of them died, those that lived would
Page 59

swear the Doctor heald them, but those that pack'd off
were left out of the Catalogue of his Cures. But let it
be how it will, the hint gives me ground enough to
build a new Hypothesis upon, now that of Acids grows
old. Brick-dust and Water then shall be two Principals,
into which bodies may be resolved. Distillation and
Transmutation reduces all into them. Whatever is
Liquid comes over either in the form of Water, the one
principle required, or in the form of Oyl, or of a sa∣line
Spirit. The Oyl's Unctuosity and Inflamableness
may soon be changed, and the sapor of the Salts be
destroyed; the Vita Media of both may be soon took
away, and the Liquor reduced into common insipid
Water. But whatever is solid may be by the Fire re∣duced
either to a Liquid, to be wrought on as before said,
or by burning will be reduced to a Caput Mort. which
expos'd to the action of the Air, will be rotted and
turn'd into common Earth, which then by art may be
made into Brick, and then easily pulverised (if you will
follow the French Man) fine enough for the Stoma•h of
a Lady. How these two Principles are concern'd in
the Life and Death of all things in the Macrocosm, I
could readily teach, if an exact Physiology were thought
necessary to a Doctor.

Now let these two Principles be taken, instead of Acid
and Alkali, for the Life and Death of things, and for
the Cause and Cure of Diseases, (it shall be all one to
me, which is the Killer, and which is the Curer) and I will
make out the Aitiologie of all Deseases, and their Cures
from them. But forasmuch as Gentlemen now-a-days are
generally great lovers of the Bottle, and will rather
cause a dose from the Glass, than from the Trowel, and
a Physicians business is to humour them, Brick-dust shall
be the cause, and Water the cure of all Diseases. But
because we will recommend our selves by talking learn∣edly
as Physicians ought, that is so as our Grand-mo∣thers
may not readily understand us, we will call them
Arid, and Humid, and say Arid is the Cause, and Hu∣mid
the Cure of all Diseases.

Page 60

Let us begin at the Mouth, as Physicians commonly
do, at which death is so often let in, in this our luxu∣rious
and Pharmacutick Age. It is apparent that no
Food, if it abound with Arid, can agree well with us;
therefore nature has placed certain Cataracts under the
Tongue pouring out their Humid Saliva, which tem∣pers
the Arid and carries it along; without which even
deglutition cannot be performed, without soon termi∣nating
our Life by choaking. This Humid accompa∣nying
our Food down into the Stomach, there digests
our Food, and that not by its Acid, or Alkali, bitterness
or sweetness, or any other affected relish, but by vertue
of its self, as Humid. The truth of which any Man
may be satisfied with, if he but considers how Water is
necessary for the macerating of all things fermentable,
in order to a separation of their parts, the Humid from
the Arid, the profitable from the unprofitable. Now
when a due quantity of Humid is administer'd by the
Salivia, which carries our Food down, mixes and fer∣ments
it, and Drink being added in a convenient quan∣tity,
(the more watry the better) farther to dilute it,
and to supply Matter for more Saliva, the mixture pas∣ses
the Pylorus, and in the small Guts is farther altered;
whence the Humid Chyle, with a little fine Arid to in∣crease
or supply the defects of the solid parts, is separa∣by
the Lacteals; but most of the Arid inviscated by the
Gall and Pancreatick Juice, (which make a tough slimy
Matter,) is carried down as noxious through the Guts,
and turn'd out at the back Door. Now if for want of
a sufficient quantity of Humid in the Stomach, there is
not a due natural Fermentation, so as that the Particles
in the compound have not liberty to move without
breaking their Figures against one another, or that they
ad-here and combine, and remain not enough separa∣ted,
they are not only unfit to supply the defect of the
Vital Juices, but lying heavy in the Ventricle they don't
work up, and pass out of the Pylorus as they ought;
whence proceed lothings, pains in the Stomach, and
Page 61

Spontaneous Vomitings, &c. To remedy which, some
large draughts of Humid being given, the indigested mat∣ter
is easily ejected, the Stomach washed clean, and ren∣der'd
fit for its office again, till it be again over-charg'd
with Arid, or defrauded of its due quantity of Humid.
But if the abounding Arid, be not so much as totally to
hinder the fermentation in the Stomach, but yet the
Humid be not such as is sufficient for the due perfor∣mance
thereof, then a gross Chyle, wherein Arid does
abound, is retain'd, inseparable from it in the Duode∣num:
The grosser part of which being not able to enter
the Lacteals, is carried downwards; which being too
tough and clammy adheres to the sides of the Colon,
and lies too long in its Cells, causing the Cholick, dry
Gripes, and divers mischiefs of that nature, till by the
Irritation and Excoriation of the Latera of the Guts, na∣ture
pours forth the Lymphatick Juice, and so there are
produced Fluxes, more or less, according to the greater
or less disorder and irritation of the rough Arid Parti∣cles.
But that part, which being not so gross, is carried
into the Lacteal Veins, sometimes adheres there, in the
small ramifications of those Vessels, causing Obstructions;
whence the nutricious Juice being not plentifully carried
into the Blood, a Tabes or Aridura must needs follow.
But by the due and timely administration of Humid,
these Arid Particles are washed out into the Blood, and
separated thence by Urine, and the Chyle again freely
distributed to the recovery and health of the Body.

But if these Arid particles are too abundant in the
Blood, and not duely separated by Urine, they do not
only render the Blood too thick, and so retar'd its due
Motion, but after sticking in the capillary Arteries and
Veins, hinder its Motion in divers particular Places,
whence the Blood stagnating there, a preternatual Fer∣ment
is excited, and the Blood put into an intestine
Motion, and thence come Feavers of all sorts, differing
according to the different Circumstances of places ob∣structed,
and of more or less Arid Matter. But by a
proper adhibition of the friendly Humid, these rough
Page 62

Arid particles are made flow, and carried off by Urine or
Sweat, and the heat alay'd, and so the Patient recovers.

But sometimes when those abounding Arid particles,
are not carried off by a sufficient quantity of the Humid,
either by Urine or insensible Perspiration, then they
fix in the Limbs and outward parts from whence there
follow Gouts, Rhumatisms, &c. which by a large
administration of Humid, (if the Disease be not too
stubbornly fixt) are carried off, or their rough Acrimo∣ny
attemper'd, and so the Patient enjoys Ease and
Health. And I challenge all the Acid Doctors in Eng∣land,
even Alkins himself, could we have him again from
the lower World, with all the Lemons and Oranges in
Spain, or Oyl of Vitriol, in Europe, to cure half the
Patients I will cure of the Gout, by a regular course of
pure Humid. But if I should go from the Blood to the
succus Nervosus, I could abundantly shew what dismal ef∣fects
the abounding pernicious Arid does, in thickning and
in stoping the animal Spirits, and so causing Apoplexies,
Palseys, Megrims, Deliriums, &c. Yea I could shew
you how these rough Arid particles fixing in the mem∣branes,
and other parts that are tense, cause Pains;
but that this specimen would swell into a large Book:
and I could give so rational an account of the matter
that most Gentleman that love new Discoveries might
readily believe it the very truth, and be fond on't, un∣less
some one or other that should chance to have a
Dropsie, should object against my new Doctrine, and
say, what, will this fellow pretend his Aridum is the
cause of that, where it is Water which apparently a∣bounds?
I answer, let the Gent. have a little Patience,
if I make out this Point, I hope he will believe I am
able to account for all the rest that may be explain'd on
the same Hypothesis, and I need not proceed any far∣ther
in this Specimen. The Dropsie it self, say I, is
caus'd by the Pernicious abounding Arid, and cured by
the due administration of the friendly Humid. For
the demonstration of which let it be consider'd, that e∣ven
the Humid's unequal and undue distribution and stag∣nation
Page 63

is a Disease; even as in the Body politick the
setling or stagnation of the Vital-blood-mony in any of
the members, and chiefly in the Head, is not without ve∣ry
many bad effects. So when the Humid stagnates in
the Legs, Head, Cods, Abdomen, or habit of the Body,
it gives names to divers sorts of Dropsies; for I will not
say of the blessedest Humid, as Mr. Colebatch does of
his Acid, there can never be to much of it. But never∣theless
Arid, with his rough and harsh particles, I affirm
is the cause of the Humids abounding, wherever it is un∣duely
distributed; for if a Man Perspire well, and Piss
well, he will never have a Dropsie. But when the Arid
particles abound, and obstruct the natural Course of the
Humid, which is ordain'd to dilute, separate, and waft
them off, the Humid it self by its pressure breaks some
Vessels, or passes through outlets corroded by the Arid,
and so falls into the cavity of the Abdomen, or is extra∣vasated
into some other part of the Body, which effect
we call a Dropsy. But now for the Cure of it, by Hu∣mid
you'll say it is impossible, this is not adding Oyl
to the Fire, but as bad, Water to a deluge. Have a
little patience Gent. and I'll warrant you I'll demon∣strate
it, better than Mr. Colebatch did the cure of
four Stomachs by Oyl of Vitriol.

Let it therefore be consider'd. That the extravasated
Humid cannot be discharg'd the way it came, not only
because the passages it should have went are stop't for
want of its due Course in the Vessels, but because it
has lost its Motion, and so lying long soaking the
more fleshy parts, dissolves somewhat of them, and so
becomes clammy: Now the obstructing Arid must be
carried off, which cannot be done but by a Humid,
thinning the blood which is in Motion, and tho the
stagnated Humid may be somewhat increas'd by the
addition of more Humid, yet it will be render'd more
thin, and apt to flow when the obstructing and
corroding, Arid is washed away, and there will be no∣thing
to hinder Nature: but by the Motion of the Parts,
the Humid is press'd out into the Vessels, and carried off
Page 64

again And now I think I have sufficiently shewn how the
hardest part of this new Doctrine may be accounted for;
but yet I must needs, as a Friend to the Faculty, insinu∣ate
something of the necessity, or at least, conveniency
of the direction of a Physician to order proper Times,
Quantities, Diet, Wine, Exercise, &c. in this easie
Course of Physick; for tho' I don't question, but by a
little discretion a Man may cure or prevent most Di∣seases
by this new method, chiefly by washing the Pot,
viz the Stomach clean when ever it is foul; yet I
must warn my Readers (which let be a caution to
Drunkards, who may think they can't hurt themselves
at all with humid) that some humids, as sophisticated
Wines, and unripe Mault Drinks, have a gross and
noxious Arid swimming in them, which is very apt to
Precipitate, and cause divers ill effects in the Body:
And that any Man may do himself a mischief, even
by the most wholsome and innocent things indiscreetly
used, as well as the Physician by slighting his advice,
which he is always ready to give on advantagious Con∣ditions.
I could also confirm this Hypothesis by a large
account of Cases in Practice, but I shall forbear at
present, only offering one Consideration, viz. That
all the real benefit received by Drinking the Waters,
comes merely by the large quantities of Water taken,
washing the Bowels and diluting the Blood and other
humours of the Body, and not by the nasty Minerals
they are impregnated with, which Nature abhorring
rejects with disturbance; and I would advise Persons
hereafter to repair to some pure Spring, and there
Drink as at the usually frequented places, and if they
don't receive more than usual benefit, I will recant
and turn an Aridist, and be as ready to assist John, or
any other Hypothetick in the Doctine of Arid, as I am
now farther to demonstrate that of Humid, as that
which I think will be the most safe, and likely to do
my Friends a kindness, now the dangerous Doctrine of
Acids begins to go out of Fashion.

FINIS.