Opera omnia medico-chymica

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The text begins with a decorative drop cap E. For one who wishes to proceed successfully in Chymiatric chemical-medical practice, two things must be considered. 1. That he knows the disease well. 2. That he has suitable and more select remedies ready at hand. The first is learned from Pathology; the second from Therapeutics, which in this case is primarily Chemical. In matters of Pathology, the most learned Fernel Jean Fernel (1497–1558) was a highly influential French physician who codified many medical terms. should be consulted. In Therapeutics, which especially regards Pharmacy, chemical matters excel in this place, namely specifics and indeed iatrica medical matters, in which two things the whole chemical method of healing consists. Therefore, before we come to the diseases and symptoms of individual parts, it will not be useless to first present universal medicines reduced into certain classes, from which the universal cures of particular diseases are to be sought. Since, however, the most frequent intention in Medical Practice is Evacuation The removal of waste or "bad humors" from the body.: we rightly judge that the Physician who knows how to administer the same through medicines quickly, safely, and pleasantly original: "cita, tuta & jucunda" understands the principal nerve of Practice. Therefore, being about to treat the cure of the principal diseases, it will be worth the effort to first present those universal evacuants which are to be offered in individual diseases.

Since nature ordinarily expels the source original: "mineram," literally "the ore" or "mineral vein" of disease through four ways: 1. through the upper parts [vomiting], 2. through the lower parts [purging], 3. through the urinary bladder, and 4. through the circumference of the body [sweating], the Physician, as the minister of nature, rightly imitates her in these. Therefore, he establishes four classes of evacuating medicines, namely Vomitives, Purgatives, Diuretics, and Diaphoretics sweat-inducing medicines. These he draws, according to the diversity of the subject and the disease, sometimes from vegetables and sometimes from minerals.

Just as these come into use in individual diseases, so quite often, on account of the weakness of strength or the vehemence of pain, the patient must now be comforted and the pain must now be mitigated. He employs confortantia strengthening remedies and anodynes pain-relievers, which are to be presented before the particular cures.