CHAPTER XIII.

_Of Medicines resisting poison._


Such medicines are called _Alexiteria_, and _Alexipharmaca_, which
resist poison.

Some of these resist poison by astral influence, and some physicians
(though but few) can give a reason for it.

These they have sorted into three ranks:

1. Such as strengthen nature, that so it may tame the poison the easier.

2. Such as oppose the poison by a contrary quality.

3. Such as violently thrust it out of doors.

Such as strengthen nature against poison, either do it to the body
universally, or else strengthen some particular part thereof.

For many times one particular part of the body is most afflicted by
the poison, suppose the stomach, liver, brain, or any other part: such
as cherish and strengthen those parts, being weakened, may be said to
resist poison.

Such as strengthen the spirits, strengthen all the body.

Sometimes poisons kill by their quality, and then are they to be
corrected by their contraries.

They which kill by cooling are to be remedied by heating, and the
contrary; they which kill by corroding, are to be cured by lenitives,
such as temper their acrimony.

Those which kill by induration, or coagulation, require cutting
medicines.

Also because all poisons are in motion, neither stay they in one till
they have seized and oppressed the fountain of life, therefore they
have invented another faculty to stay their motion, viz. terrene and
emplastic.

For they judge, if the poison light upon these medicines, they embrace
them round with a viscous quality.

Also they say the ways and passages are stopped by such means, to
hinder their proceeding; take _Terra Lemnia_ for one.

Truly if these reasons be good, which I leave to future time to
determine, it may be done for little cost.

Some are of opinion that the safest way is to expel the poison out of
the body, so soon as may be, and that is done by vomit, or purge, or
sweat.

You need not question the time, but do it as soon as may be; for there
is no parlying with poison.

Let vomiting be the first, purging the next, and sweating the last.
This is general. But,

If thou dost but observe the nature and motion of the venom, that will
be thy best instructor.

In the stomach it requires vomiting, in the blood and spirits,
sweating, if the body be plethoric, bleeding, if full of evil humours,
purging.

Lastly, The cure being ended, strengthen the parts afflicted.