Of HUMOURS. 219 



but when once perverted, irregularly 

 carried on, or fuppreffed, they then be- 

 come noxious, and are produ6live of 

 many and various diforders. Thus from 

 an obfcrudlion of the bile, the yellows, Howtliey 

 St. Anthony's fire, eryfipelatous fevers become 

 and fweilings may be occafioned \ the con- noxious, 

 fequence of fo acrimonious a fluid mixing 

 unduly with the blood : by colds, or a 

 fud^en checking of fweats, or perfpira- 

 tion, that matter which fhould freely flow 

 oflf through the pores, is fuddenly thrown 

 back on the blood, which increafes its 

 quantity, and vitiates its quality; from 

 hence the ferum of the blood may be- 

 come acrid and (harp ; the mafs of fluids 

 in general may thus be tainted, and by 

 thickening, form obfl:ru61:ions in the 

 glands, or fine vefl^els : the other juices, 

 or humours, may aifo be perverted by 

 various caufes, as foul feeding, impro- 

 per diet, i^c, and produce variety of dif- 

 eafes, by rendering the blood too thick, 

 thin, or acrimonious. Thus much we 

 have thought neceflTary to obferve in re- 

 lation to humours \ wherein may be ob- 

 ferved, how much the term is mifunder- 

 llood and abufed ; as in their natural 

 ftate, they are not only amicable, but 

 neceflTary : yet when obfl:ructed oY per- 

 verted, they are the caufe of almofl: all 



difeafes ; 



