times repeated; the plaister to continue on still, till Experiment solitary touching cure of diseases which the part be well confirmed.

Experiment solitary touching cure by custom.

are contrary to predisposition.

64. Hippocrates's aphorism, "in morbis minus," diseases contrary to the complexion, age, sex, season is a good profound aphorism. It importeth, that of the year, diet, &c. are more dangerous than those that are concurrent. A man would think it should be otherwise; for that, when the accident of sick ness, and the natural disposition, do second the one the other, the disease should be more forcible: and

61. There is a secret way of cure, unpractised, by assuetude of that which in itself hurteth. Poisons have been made, by some, familiar, as hath been said. Ordinary keepers of the sick of the plague are seldom infected. Enduring of tortures, by custom, hath been made more easy: the brooking of enormous quantity of meats, and so of wine or strong drink, hath been, by custom, made to be with-so, no doubt, it is, if you suppose like quantity of out surfeit or drunkenness. And generally, diseases that are chronical, as coughs, phthisics, some kinds of palsies, lunacies, &c. are most dangerous at the first: therefore a wise physician will consider whether a disease be incurable; or whether the just cure of it be not full of peril; and if he find it to be such, let him resort to palliation; and alleviate the symptom, without busying himself too much with the perfect cure and many times, if the patient be indeed patient, that course will exceed all expectation. Likewise the patient himself may strive, by little and little, to overcome the symptom in the exacerbation, and so, by time, turn suffering into

nature.

:

Experiment solitary touching cure by excess.

62. Divers diseases, especially chronical, such as quartan agues, are sometimes cured by surfeit and excesses: as excess of meat, excess of drink, extraordinary fasting, extraordinary stirring or lassitude, and the like. The cause is, for that diseases of continuance get an adventitious strength from custom, besides their material cause from the humours; so that the breaking of the custom doth leave them only to their first cause: which if it be any thing weak will fall off. Besides, such excesses do excite and spur nature, which thereupon rises more forcibly against the disease.

Experiment solitary touching cure by motion of

consent.

63. There is in the body of a man a great consent in the motion of the several parts. We see, it is children's sport, to prove whether they can rub upon their breast with one hand, and pat upon their forehead with another; and straightways they shall sometimes rub with both hands, or pat with both hands. We see, that when the spirits that come to the nostrils expel a bad scent, the stomach is ready to expel by vomit. We find that in consumptions of the lungs, when nature cannot expel by cough, men fall into fluxes of the belly, and then they die. So in pestilent diseases, if they cannot be expelled by sweat, they fall likewise into looseness; and that is commonly mortal. Therefore physicians should ingeniously contrive, how by motions that are in their power, they may excite inward motions that are not in their power, by consent; as by the stench of feathers, or the like, they cure the rising of the mother.

matter. But that which maketh good the aphorism is, because such diseases do show a greater collee tion of matter, by that they are able to overcome those natural inclinations to the contrary. And therefore in diseases of that kind, let the physician apply himself more to purgation than to alteration because the offence is in the quantity; and the qualities are rectified of themselves.

Experiment solitary touching preparations before purging, and settling of the body afterwards. 65. Physicians do wisely prescribe, that there b

preparatives used before just purgations; for certai it is, that purgers do many times great hurt, if th body be not accommodated both before and after th purging. The hurt that they do, for want of pr paration before purging, is by the sticking of th humours, and their not coming fair away; whic causeth in the body great perturbations and ill ace dents during the purging; and also the diminishin and dulling of the working of the medicine itsel that it purgeth not sufficiently: therefore the wor of preparation is double; to make the humours flu and mature, and to make the passages more open for both those help to make the humours pass readily And for the former of these, syrups are most prof. able; and for the latter, apozemes, or preparin broths; clysters also help, lest the medicine stop the guts, and work gripingly. But it is true, th bodies abounding with humours, and fat bodies, an open weather, are preparatives in themselves; b cause they make the humours more fluid. But l a physician beware, how he purge after hard frost weather, and in a lean body, without preparation For the hurt that they may do after purging, it caused by the lodging of some humours in ill place for it is certain, that there be humours, which som where placed in the body, are quiet, and do litt hurt; in other places, especially passages, do muc mischief. Therefore it is good, after purging. use apozemes and broths, not so much opening those used before purging; but abstersive and mu difying clysters also are good to conclude with. draw away the relics of the humours, that may ha descended to the lower region of the body.

been tried, that the testicles being put into sharp | nature presenteth us withal; namely, the expiring vinegar, hath made a sudden recess of the spirits, of cold out of the inward parts of the earth in winter, and stanched blood. Thirdly, by the recess of the when the sun hath no power to overcome it; the blood by sympathy. So it hath been tried, that the earth being, as hath been noted by some, "primum part that bleedeth, being thrust into the body of a frigidum." This hath been asserted, as well by apon or sheep, new ript and bleeding, hath stanched ancient as by modern philosophers: it was the tenet blood; the blood, as it seemeth, sucking and draw- of Parmenides. It was the opinion of the author ng up, by similitude of substance, the blood it of the discourse in Plutarch, for I take it that book Greeteth with, and so itself going back. Fourthly, was not Plutarch's own, "De primo frigido." It by custom and time; so the Prince of Orange, in was the opinion of Telesius, who hath renewed the his first hart by the Spanish boy, could find no philosophy of Parmenides, and is the best of the fans to stanch the blood, either by medicine or novelists. igament; but was fain to have the orifice of the Found stopped by men's thumbs, succeeding one another, for the space at the least of two days; and the last the blood by custom only retired. There fifth way also in use, to let blood in an adverse art, for a revulsion.

Experiment solitary touching change of aliments and medicines.

67. It helpeth, both in medicine and aliment, to change and not to continue the same medicine and aliment still. The cause is, for that nature, by conbnual use of any thing, groweth to a satiety and dul, either of appetite or working. And we see at assuetude of things hurtful doth make them their force to hurt; as poison, which with use me have brought themselves to brook. And thereare it is no marvel though things helpful by custom their force to help: I count intermission almost same thing with change; for that, that hath In intermitted, is after a sort new.

Experiment solitary touching diets.

70. The second cause of cold is the contact of cold bodies; for cold is active and transitive into bodies adjacent, as well as heat: which is seen in those things that are touched with snow or cold water. And therefore, whosoever will be an inquirer into nature, let him resort to a conservatory of snow and ice; such as they use for delicacy to cool wine in summer: which is a poor and contemptible use, in respect of other uses, that may be made of such conservatories.

71. The third cause is the primary nature of all tangible bodies: for it is well to be noted, that all things whatsoever, tangible, are of themselves cold; except they have an accessory heat by fire, life, or motion for even the spirit of wine, or chemical oils, which are so hot in operation, are to the first touch cold; and air itself compressed, and condensed a little by blowing, is cold.

72. The fourth cause is the density of the body; for all dense bodies are colder than most other bodies, as metals, stone, glass; and they are longer in heating than softer bodies. And it is certain, that earth, dense, tangible, hold all of the nature of cold. The cause is, for that all matters tangible being cold, it must needs follow, that where the matter is most congregate, the cold is the greater.

9. It is found by experience, that in diets of g-aiacum, sarza, and the like, especially if they be the patient is more troubled in the beginning *re after continuance; which hath made some of 73. The fifth cause of cold, or rather of increase - more delicate sort of patients give them over in and vehemency of cold, is a quick spirit enclosed in midst supposing that if those diets trouble a cold body: as will appear to any that shall attenhem so much at first, they shall not be able to en- tively consider of nature in many instances. We them to the end. But the cause is, for that all sec nitre, which hath a quick spirit, is cold; more diets do dry up humours, rheums, and the cold to the tongue than a stone; so water is colder and they cannot dry up until they have first than oil, because it hath a quicker spirit; for all oil, ituated; and while the humour is attenuated, it though it hath the tangible parts better digested more fluid than it was before, and troubleth the than water, yet hath it a duller spirit: so snow is lay a great deal more, until it be dried up and colder than water, because it hath more spirit within med. And therefore patients must expect a it; so we see that salt put to ice, as in the protime, and not keck at them at the first. ducing of the artificial ice, increaseth the activity of Vrements in consort touching the production of snakes and silk-worms, are to the touch cold: so cold so some insecta which have spirit of life, as

cold.

69. The producing of cold is a thing very worthy inquisition; both for the use and disclosure of For heat and cold are nature's two hands, rely she chiefly worketh; and heat we have in siness, in respect of the fire; but for cold we at stay till it cometh, or seek it in deep caves, or zh mountains: and when all is done, we cannot Main it in any great degree: for furnaces of fire ⚫fe hotter than a summer's sun; but vaults or are not much colder than a winter's frost. The first means of producing cold, is that which

quicksilver is the coldest of metals, because it is fullest of spirit.

74. The sixth cause of cold is the chasing and driving away of spirits, such as have some degree of heat: for the banishing of the heat must needs leave any body cold. This we see in the operation of opium and stupefactives upon the spirits of living creatures and it were nor amiss to try opium, by laying it upon the top of a weather-glass, to see whether it will contract the air: but I doubt it will not succeed; for besides that the virtue of opium will hardly penetrate through such a body as glass,

I conceive that opium, and the like, make the spirits fly rather by malignity, than by cold.

79. It is reported also credibly, that wool new shorn, being laid casually upon a vessel of verjuice, after some time had drunk up a great part of the verjuice, though the vessel was whole without any flaw, and had not the bung-hole open. In this instance, there is, upon the by, to be noted, the perco

for verjuice of itself would never have passed through the wood: so as, it seemeth, it must be first in a kind of vapour, before it pass.

75. Seventhly, the same effect must follow upon the exhaling or drawing out of the warm spirits, that doth upon the flight of the spirits. There is an opinion that the moon is magnetical of heat, as the sun is of cold and moisture: it were not amiss there-lation or suing of the verjuice through the wood: fore to try it, with warm waters; the one exposed to the beams of the moon, the other with some skreen betwixt the beams of the moon and the water, as we use to the sun for shade; and to see whether the former will cool sooner. And it were also good to inquire, what other means there may be to draw forth the exile heat which is in the air; for that may be a secret of great power to produce cold weather.

Experiments in consort touching the version and

transmutation of air into water.

We have formerly set down the means of turning air into water, in the experiment 27. But because it is magnale naturæ, and tendeth to the subduing of a very great effect, and is also of manifold use, we will add some instances in consort that give light thereunto.

76. It is reported by some of the ancients, that sailors have used, every night, to hang fleeces of wool on the sides of their ships, the wool towards the water; and that they have crushed fresh water out of them, in the morning, for their use. And thus much we have tried, that a quantity of wool tied loose together, being let down into a deep well, and hanging in the middle, some three fathom from the water, for a night, in the winter time, increased in weight, as I now remember, to a fifth part.

80. It is especially to be noted, that the cause tha doth facilitate the version of air into water, when the air is not in gross, but subtilly mingled with tangible bodies, is, as hath been partly touched b fore, for that tangible bodies have an antipathy with air; and if they find any liquid body that is more dense near them, they will draw it: and after they have drawn it, they will condense it more, and in effect incorporate it; for we see that a spunge, o wool, or sugar, or a woollen cloth, being put but in part in water or wine, will draw the liquor higher and beyond the place where the water or win cometh. We see also that wood, lute strings, and the like, do swell in moist seasons; as appeareth by the breaking of the strings, the hard turning of the pegs, and the hard drawing forth of boxes, a opening of wainscot doors: which is a kind of in fusion: and is much like to an infusion of water which will make wood to swell; as we see in th filling of the chops of bowls, by laying them water. But for that part of these experiments which concerneth attraction, we will reserve it to the pro per title of attraction.

81. There is also a version of air into water see in the sweating of marbles and other stones; and 77. It is reported by one of the ancients, that in of wainscot before and in moist weather. Thi Lydia, near Pergamus, there were certain workmen must be, either by some moisture the body yieldeth in time of wars fled into caves; and the mouth of or else by the moist air thickened against the har the caves being stopped by the enemies, they were body. But it is plain, that it is the latter; for tha famished. But long time after the dead bones were we see wood painted with oil colour, will soone found; and some vessels which they had carried gather drops in a moist night, than wood alone with them; and the vessels full of water; and that which is caused by the smoothness and closeness water thicker, and more towards ice, than common which letteth in no part of the vapour, and so turn water which is a notable instance of condensation eth it back, and thickeneth it into dew. We ar and induration by burial under the earth, in caves, also, that breathing upon a glass, or smooth body for a long time; and of version also, as it should giveth a dew; and in frosty mornings, such as w seem, of air into water; if any of those vessels were call rime frosts, you shall find drops of dew upe empty. Try therefore a small bladder hung in the inside of glass windows; and the frost itse snow, and the like in nitre, and the like in quick- upon the ground is but a version or condensation o silver; and if you find the bladders fallen or shrunk, the moist vapours of the night, into a watery sub you may be sure the air is condensed by the cold of | stance: dews likewise, and rain, are but the retur those bodies, as it would be in a cave under earth. of moist vapours condensed; the dew, by the col 78. It is reported of very good credit, that in the only of the sun's departure, which is the gentle East Indies, if you set a tub of water open in a room cold; rains, by the cold of that which they call the where cloves are kept, it will be drawn dry in twenty-middle region of the air; which is the more violen four hours; though it stand at some distance from the cloves. In the country, they use many times, in deceit, when their wool is new shorn, to set some pails of water by in the same room, to increase the weight of the wool. But it may be, that the heat of the wool, remaining from the body of the sheep, or the heat gathered by the lying close of the wool, helpeth to draw the watery vapour: but that is nothing to the version.

cold.

82. It is very probable, as hath been touched that that which will turn water into ice, will like wise turn air some degree nearer unto water. There fore try the experiment of the artificial turnin. water into ice, whereof we shall speak in anothe place, with air in place of water, and the ice abo: it. And although it be a greater alteration to turi air into water, than water into ice; yet there is thi

bage, that by continuing the air longer time, the | cular inquiry made of them. It is certain, that an ret will follow for that artificial conversion of water into ice, is the work of a few hours; and this air may be tried by a month's space or the like. Experiments in consort touching induration of bodies.