the Processe thereof is finished by three Actions And all these as was said before have their Originall from the Native Spirit of bodies 3 The First Action is the Attenuation of the Moisture into Spirit The Second is the Issuing forth or Flight of the Spirit The third is the Contraction of the Grosser Parts of the Body immediately after the Spirit issued forth And this last is that Desiccation and Induration which we chiefly handle The Former Two consume only 4 Touching Attenuation the matter is manifest For the Spirit which is enclosed in every Tangible Body forgets not his Nature But whatsoever it meets withall in the Body in which it is enclosed that it can disgest and master and turne into it selfe That it plainly alters and subdues and multiplies it selfe upon it and begets new Spirit And this is evicted by one Proofe in stead of many For that those Things which are 〈◊〉 Dryed are Lessened in their Weight And become Hollow Porous and Resounding from within Now it is most certaine that the Inward Spirit of any Thing confers Nothing to the Weight But rather Lightens it And therefore it must needs be that the same Spirit hath turned into it the Moisture and Juyce of the Body which weighed before By which Meanes the Weight is lessened And this is the first Action The Attenuation of the Moisture and Converting it into Spirit 5 The second Action which is the Issuing forth or Flight of the Spirit is as manifest also For that Issuing forth when it is in throngs is apparent even to the Sense In Vapours to the Sight In Odours to the Smelling But if it issueth forth slowly As when a Thing is decayed by Age then it is not apparent to the Sense But the Matter is the same Againe where the Composure of the Body is either so Strait or so Tenacious That the Spirit can finde no Pores or Passages by which to depart Then in the striving to get out it drives before it the grosser Parts of the Body And protrudes them beyond the Superficies or Surface of the Bodit As it is in the Rust of Metals And Mould of all Fat Things And this is the second Action The Issuing forth or Flight of the Spirit 6 The third Action is somewhat more obscure but full as certaine That is The Contraction of the Grosser Parts after the Spirit issued forth And this appeares first in that Bodies after the Spirit issued forth doe manifestly Shrinke and 〈◊〉 a lesse Roome As it is in the Kernels of Nuts which after they are dryed are too little for the Shells And in Beames and Planchers of Houses which at first lay closo together but after they are dryed gape And likewise in Bowles which through Drought grow full of Cranies The Parts of the Bowle contracting themselves together and after Contraction must needs be emptie Spaces Secondly it appeares by the Wrinkles of Bodies Dryed For the Endevour of Contracting it selfe is such That by the Contraction it brings the Parts nearer together and so lifts them up For whatsoever is Contracted on the sides is lifted up in the Midst And this is to be seene in Papers and old Parchments And in the Skins of Living Creatures And in the Coats of Soft Cheeses All which with Age gather wrinkles Thirdly this Contraction shewes 〈◊〉 selfe Most in those Things which by Heat are not only wrinkled but ruffled and plighted and 〈◊〉 it were rowled together As it is in Papers and Parchments and Leaves brought neare the Fire For Contraction by Age which is more Slow commonly causeth wrinkles But Contraction by the Fire which is 〈◊〉 speedie causeth Plighting Now in most Things where it 〈◊〉 not to Wrinkling or Plighting there is simple Contraction and Angustiation 〈◊〉 Straitning and Induration 〈◊〉 Hardning and Desiccation As was shewed in the first place But if the Issuing forth of the Spirit and Absumption or waste of the Moisture bee so great That there is not left Bodie sufficient to unite and contract it selfe Then of Necessitie Contraction must cease And the Bodie 〈◊〉 Putride And nothing else but a little Dust cleaving together which with a light touch is dispersed and falleth asunder As it is in Bodies that are Rotten and in Paper burnt And Linnen made into Tinder And Carkaises Embalmed after many Ages And this is the Third Action The Contraction of the Grosser Parts after the Spirit issued forth 7 It is to be noted That Fire and Heat dry only by Accident For their proper Worke is to attenuate and dilate the Spirit and Moisture And then it followes by Accident that the other Parts should contract themselves Either for the Flying of Vacuum alone Or for some other Motion withall Whereof we now speake not 8 It is certaine that Putrefaction takes his Originall from the Native Spirit no lesse than Arefaction But it goeth on a far different way For in Putrefaction the Spirit is not simply vapoured forth But being detained in Part workes strange Garboises And the Grosser Parts are not so much locally contracted as they congregate themselves to Parts of the same Nature Length and Shortnesse of Life in living Creatures The Historie TOuching the Length and Shortnes of Life in Living Creatures the Information which may bee had is but Slender Observation is Negligent And Tradition Fabulous In Tame Creatures their 〈◊〉 Life corrupteth them In wilde Creatures their Exposing to all weathers often intercepteth them Neither doe those Things which may seeme Concomitants give any Furtherance to this Information The Greatnesse of their Bodies Their Time of Bearing in the Womb The Number of their Young ones The Time of their Growth And the Rest In regard that these Things are Intermixed And sometimes they concur sometimes they sever 1 Mans Age as farre as can be gathered by any certaine Narration doth exceed the Age of all other Living Creatures Except it be of a very few only And the Concomitants in him are very equally disposed His Stature and Proportion large His Bearing in the Wombe nine Moneths His Fruit commonly one at a Birth His Pubertie at the Age of Fourteen yeares His Time of Growing till Twenty 2 The Elephant by undoubted Relation exceeds the Ordinary Race of Mans life But his Bearing in the Wombe the space of ten yeares is fabulous Of two yeares or at least above one is certaine Now his Bulke is great His Time of Growth untill the thirtieth yeare His Teeth exceeding hard Neither hath it beene unobserved That his Bloud is the coldest of all Creatures His Age hath sometimes reached to two hundred yeares 3 Lions are accounted long Livers because many of them have been found Toothlesse A signe not so certaine For that may bee caused by their strong Breath 4 The Beare is a great Sleeper A Dull Beast and given to ease And yet not noted for long Life Nay hee hath this signe of short Life That his Bearing in the Wombe is but short scarce full forty
Spirit of Nitre is not only inferiour to the Spirit of living Creatures but also to the Spirit of Vegetables 49 Cattell which drink of Nitrous water doe manifestly grow Fat which is a Signe of the Cold in Nitre 50 The Manuring of the Soile is chiefly by Nitrous Substances For all Dung is Nitrous And this is a signe of the Spirit in Nitre 51 From hence it appeares that the Spirits of Man may be cooled and condensed by the Spirit of Nitre And bee made more Crude and lesseeager And therefore as strong wines and spices and the like doe burne the Spirits and shorten life So on the contrary side Nitre doth compose and represse them and furthereth to long Life 52 Nitre may be used In Meat mixed with our Salt to the tenth part of the Salt In Broaths taken in the Morning from three Graines to ten Also in Beere But howsoever it be used with Moderation it is of prime Force to long Life 53 As Opium holds the preheminence in Condensing the Spirits by putting them to Flight And hath withall his Subordinates lesse potent but more safe which may bee taken both in greater Quantitie and in more frequent use Of which wee have formerly spoken So also Nitre which condenseth the Spirits by Cold and by a kinde of Frescour as we now adayes speak 〈◊〉 also his Subordinates 54 Subordinates to Nitre are All those Things which yeeld an Odour some what Earthy Like the smell of Earth pure and good newly digged or turned up Of this sort the chiefe are Boragi Buglesse Langue de Boe uf Butnet Strawberrie Leaves and Strawberries Frambois or Raspis Raw Cucumbers Ram Permaines Vine-leaves and Buds Also Violets 55 The next in order are those which have a certaine Freshnesse of smell but somewhat more inclined to Heat yet not altogether void of that vertue of Refreshing by Coolenesse Such as are Balme Greene Citrons Greene Orenges Rose-water distilled Roasted Wardens Also the Dimask Red and Musk Rose 56 This is to bee noted That Subordinates to Nitre doe commonly conferre more to this Intention Raw than having passed the Fire Because that Spirit of Cooling is dissipated by the Fire Therefore they are best taken either infused in some Liquour or Raw. 57 As the Condensation of the Spirits by Subordinates to Opium is in some sort performed by Odours So also that which is by Subordinates to Nitre Therefore the smell of new and pure Earth taken either by following the plough or by Digging or by Weeding excellently 〈◊〉 sheth the Spirits Also the Leaves of Trees in Woods or Hedges falling towa 〈◊〉 the Middle of Autumne 〈◊〉 a good Refreshing to the 〈◊〉 But none so good 〈◊〉 Strawberrie Leaves Dying Likewise the smell of 〈◊〉 or Wall-flowers or 〈◊〉 or Sweet Briar or 〈◊〉 suckles taken as they grow 〈◊〉 passing by them only is of the like Nature 58 Nay and we knew a certain great Lord who lived long that had every Morning inmediately after Sleepe a 〈◊〉 of fresh Earth laid in a 〈◊〉 Napkin under his Nose 〈◊〉 he might take the smell them of 59 There is no doubt but 〈◊〉 Cooling and Tempering 〈◊〉 the Bloud by Coole Thing Such as are Endive Succourie Liver-wort Purslaine and the like Doth also by Consequent coole the Spirits But this is about whereas vapours coole immediately And as touching the Condensing of the Spirits by Cold thus much The Third way of Condensing the Spirits wee 〈◊〉 to be by that which wee call Stroaking the Spirits The fourth by Quieting the Alacritie and Vnrulinesse of them 60 Such Things Stroake the Spirits as are pleasing and friendly to them yet they allure them not to goe abroad but rather prevaile that the Spirits contented as it were in their owne societie doe enjoy themselves And berake themselves into their proper Center 61 For these if you 〈◊〉 those Things which were formerly set down as Subordinates to Opium and Nitre there will need no other Inquisition 62 As for the Quieting of the Vnrulines of the spirits we 〈◊〉 presently speak of that when we inquire touching their Motion Now then seeing we have spoken of that Condensation of the Spirits which pertaineth to their Substance we will come to the Temper of Heat in them 63 The Heat of the Spirits as wee said ought to bee of that kinde that it may be 〈◊〉 not Eager And may delight rather to master the 〈◊〉 and Obstinate than to carrie away the thin and light Humours 64 We must beware of Spices Wine and strong Drinks That our use of them be very Temperate and sometimes discontinued Also of Savorie Wilde-Marjoram Pennie-royall And all such as bite and heat the Tongue For they yeeld unto the Spirits an Heat not Operative but 〈◊〉 65 These yeeld a Robust Heat Especially Elecampane Garlick 〈◊〉 Benedictus Water-Cresses while they are young Cermander Angelica 〈◊〉 Vervin Valerian Myrrhe Pepper-mort 〈◊〉 Garden-Chervile The 〈◊〉 of these things with 〈◊〉 and judgement sometimes in Sallets sometimes in Medicines will satisfie this Operation 66 It fals out well that the Grand Opiates will also serve excellently for this Operation In respect that they yeeld such an Heat by Composition which is wished but not to be found in simples For the 〈◊〉 of those Excessive 〈◊〉 Things Such as are Euphorbium Pellitory of Spain Stavis-acre Dragon-mort 〈◊〉 Castoreum Aristolochian Opoponax Ammoniacum 〈◊〉 and the like which of themselves cannot bee taken inwardly To 〈◊〉 and abate the 〈◊〉 Vertue of the Opium The doe make such a constitutia of a Med cament as we 〈◊〉 require which is excellent seene in this That 〈◊〉 and Mithridate and the rest are not sharp nor bite the Tongue But are onely somewhat bitter and of strong seat And at last manifest their Heat when they come into the stomack and in their subsequent Operations 67 There conduce also to the 〈◊〉 Heat of the Spirits 〈◊〉 often excited rarely performed And no lesse some of the Affections of which shall be spoken hereafter So touching the Heat of the 〈◊〉 Analogicall to the Proongation of Life thus much 68 Touching the Quantitie of he Spirits that they bee not 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 But other Sparing and within a Meane seeing a small flame 〈◊〉 not devoure so much as a great flame the 〈◊〉 will be short 69 It seemes to bee approved by Experience That a 〈◊〉 Diet and almost a 〈◊〉 Such as is either prescri bed by the strict Rules of Monasticall Life or practised by Hermites which have Ne cessitie and Povertie for their Rule Rendreth a Man long liv'd 70 Hitherto appertaine 〈◊〉 king of water A Hard Bed Abstinence from Fire A 〈◊〉 Diet As namely 〈◊〉 Herbs Fruits Flesh and 〈◊〉 rather powdred and 〈◊〉 that Fresh and Hot An 〈◊〉 Shirt frequent Fastings frequent watching few 〈◊〉 pleasures And such like 〈◊〉 all these diminish the Spirit and reduce them to such Quantitie as may be sufficient only for the Functions of life whereby the Depredation is the lesse 71
thereof That it may be made more Firme and lesse Dissipable And such as the Heat of the Spirit may have the lesse power over it 8 And as for the use of the Filings of Gold Leafe-Gold Powder of Pearle Precious stones Corall and the like wee have no opinion of them at this day unlesse it be only as they may satisfie this present operation Certainly seeing the Arabians Grecians and 〈◊〉 Physicians have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such vertues to these Things It cannot be altogether Nothing which so great Men have observed of them And therefore omitting all 〈◊〉 Opinions about them we doe verily beleeve That if there could bee some such Thing conveighed into the whole Masse of the Bloud in Minute and fine Portions Over which the Spirits and Heat should have little or no power Absolutely it would not onely resist Putrefaction but Arefaction also And be a most effectuall Meanes to the prolongation of Life Neverthelesse in this Thing severall Cautions are to bee 〈◊〉 First that there be a most 〈◊〉 Comminution Secondly that such Hard and solide Things be void of all Malignant Qualitie Lest while they be dispersed and lurk in the veines they breed some Inconvenience Thirdly that they be never taken together with Meats nor in any such manner as they may stick long Lest they beget dangerous Obstructions about the Mesentery Lastly that they be taken very rarely that they may not congregate and 〈◊〉 together in the veines 9 Therefore let the manner of Taking them be Fasting in White wine A little Oyle of Almonds mingled therewith Excrcise used immediately upon the Taking of them 10 The Simples which may satisfie this Operation are In stead of all Gold Pearles and Corall For all Metals except Gold are not without some Malignant Qualitie in the Dissolutions of them Neither will they bee beaten to that exquisite Finenesse that Leafe-Gold hath As for all Glassie and Transparent 〈◊〉 wee like them not as wee said before for feare of Corrosion 11 But in our judgement the 〈◊〉 and more effectuall way would be by the use of Woods 〈◊〉 Infusions and Decoctions For there is in them sufficient to cause Firmnesse of 〈◊〉 And not the like danger for breeding Obstructions But especially because they may bee taken in Meat and Drink whereby they will finde the more easie Entrance into the veines And not be voided in Excrements 12 The Woods fit for this purpose are Sanders the Oake and Vine As for all Hot Woods or something Rosennie wee reject them Notwithstanding you may adde the Wooddy Stalks of Rose-Marie dried For Rose-Marie is a Shrub and exceedeth in Age many Trees Also the Wooddy Stalks of Ivie But in such quantitie as they may not yeeld an unpleasing taste 13 Let the Woods be taken either boiled in Broathes Or infused in Must or Ale before they leave working But in Broathes as the custome is for Guaiacum and the like they would be infused a good while before the Boyling That the firmer part of the Wood and not that only which lieth loosely may bee drawne forth As for Ash though it be 〈◊〉 for Cups yet wee like it 〈◊〉 And touching the 〈◊〉 upon the Bloud thus much The Operation upon the Juyces of the Body 4. The Historie 1 THere are two kindes of Bodies As was said before in the 〈◊〉 touching Inanimates which are hardly consumed Hard Things and Fat Things As is seene in Metals and Stones and in Oyle and Wax 2 It must be ordered therefore that the Iuyce of the Body be somewhat Hard And that it bee Fattie or Sub-roscide 3 As for Hardnesse It is caused three wayes By Aliment of a firme Nature By Cold condensing the Skin and Flesh And by Exercise Binding and Compacting the Juyces of the Body that they bee not Soft and Frothy 4 As for the Nature of the Aliment it ought to be such as is not easily Dissipable Such as are Beefe Swines-Flesh Deere Goat Kid Swan Goose Ring-Dove Especially if they bee a little powdered Fish likewise Salted and Dried old Cheese And the like 5 As for the Bread Oaten Bread Or Bread with some Mixture of Pease in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or Barley Bread Are more solide than Wheat 〈◊〉 And in wheat Bread the course Cheat Bread is more solide than the pure 〈◊〉 6 The Inhabitants of the Or cades which live upon Salted Fish And generally all Fish-Eaters are long-liv'd 7 The Monks and Her mites which fed sparingly and upon dry Aliment attained commonly to a great Age. 8 Also Pure Water usually drunk makes the Juyces of the Body lesse Frothy unto which if for the Dulnesse of the Spirit which no doubt in Water is but little Penetrative you shall adde a little Nitre wee conceive it woold be very good And touching the Firmnesse of the Alimens thus much 9 As for the Condensation of the Skin and Flesh by Cold They are longer liv'd for the most part that live abroad in the open Aire than they that live in Houses And the Inhabitants of the Cold Countries than the Inhabitants of the Hot. 10 Great Store of Cloathes either upon the Bed or Back doe resolve the Body 11 Washing the Body in Cold Water is good for length of Life Use of Hot Baths is naught Touching Baths of Astringent Minerall Waters we have spoken before 12 As for Exercise An Idle Life doth manifestly make the Flesh Soft and Dissipable 〈◊〉 Exercise so it be without overmuch Sweating or Wearinesse maketh it Hard and Compact Also Exercise within Cold water as swimming is very good And generally Exercise abroad is better than that within Houses 13 Touching Frications which are a kinde of Exercise because they doe rather call forth the Aliment than Harden the Flesh wee will inquire hereafter in the Due place 14 Having now spoken of Hardning the luyees of the Body we are to come next to the Oleositie or Fattinesse of them Which is a more perfect and potent Intention than Induration Because it hath no Inconvenience nor Evill annexed For all those Things which pertaine to the Hardning of the Iuyces are of that nature that while they prohibite the Absumption of the Aliment they also hinder the Reparation of the same Whereby it happens that the same Things are both propitious and adverse to Length of Life But those Things which pertaine to making the Iuyces Oyly and Roscid help on both sides For they render the Aliment both lesse Dissipable and more Reparable 15 But whereas we say that the Iuyce of thē Body ought to be Roscide and Fat It is to bee noted that we meane it not of a visible Fat But of a Deminesse dispersed or if you will call it Radicall in the very Substance of the Body 16 Neither again let any Man thinke that Oyle or the Fat of Meats or Marrow doe engender the like and satisfie our Intention For those Things which are once perfect are not brought backe againe But the Aliments ought to be such which after Disgestion and
Like unto the Body and Flesh of Man And which have a Feeding and Nursing Vertue from without 8 The Second is That they be mixed with such Things as through the Subtilty of their Parts may Make Entrance And so insinuate and conveigh their Nourishing Vertue into the Body 9 The Third is That they receive some Mixture though much inferiour to the rest of such Things as are Astringent I meane not Sowre or Tart Things But Unctuous and Comforting That while the other two do operate the 〈◊〉 out of the Body which destroyeth the Vertue of the Things Intenerating may as much as is possible be prohibited And the Motion to the Inward Parts by the Astriction of the Skin and Closing of the Passages may be promoted and furthered 10 That which is most Consubstantiall to the Body of Man is Warme Bloud either of Man or of some other living Creature But the Device of Ficinus Touching the Sucking of Bloud out of the Arme of a wholesome young Man For the Restauration of Strength in Old men is very Frivolous For that which nourisheth from within ought no way to be Equall or Homogeneall to the Body nourished But in some sort Inferiour and Subordinate that it may be converted But in Things applyed outwardly by how much the Substance is Liker by so much the Consent is better 11 It hath been anciently received That a Bath made of the Bloud of Infants will cure the Leprosie and heale the Flesh already putrified Insomuch that this Thing hath begot Envie towards some Kings from the Common people 12 It is reported that Heraditus for cure of the Dropsie was put into the Warme Belly of an Oxe newly slaine 13 They use the Bloud of Kitlins warme To cure the Disease called Saint Anthonies Fire And to restore the Flesh and Skin 14 An Arme or other Member newly cut off Or that upon some other Occasion will not leave Bleeding Is with good successe put into the Belly of some Creature Newly ripped up For it worketh potently to Stanch the Bloud The Bloud of the Member cut off by consent sucking in and vehemently drawing to it selfe the Warme Bloud of the Creature Slaine whereby it selfe is Stopped and retireth 15 It is much used in Extreme and Desperate Diseases to cut in two young Pigeons yet Living and to apply them to the Soles of the Feet and to shift them one after another whereby sometime 〈◊〉 followeth a wonderful case This is imputed vulgarly as if they should draw downe the Malignitie of the Disease But howsoever this Application goeth to the Head and comforteth the Animal Spirits 16 But these Bloudy Baths and Vnctions seeme to us Sluttish and Odious Let us search out some others which perhaps have lesse loathsomenesse in them and yet not lesse Benefit 17 Next unto Warme-Bloud Things alike in Substance to the Body of Man are Nutritives Fat Fleshes Of Oxen Swine Deere Oisters amongst Fishes Milke Butter Yolkes 〈◊〉 Egs Floure of Wheat Sweet Wine Either Sugred or 〈◊〉 it be fined 18 Such Things as wee would 〈◊〉 mixed to make 〈◊〉 are In stead of all 〈◊〉 Especially Bay-salt Also Wine when it is full of Spirit maketh Entrance And is an excellent Convoy 19 Astringents of that Kinde which we described Namely Vnctuous and Comfortable Things are Saffron Mastick Myrrhe and Myrtle-Berries 20 Of these Parts in our judgement may very well be made such a Bath as wee designe Physicians and Posteritie will finde out better Things hereafter 21 But the Operation will bee much better more powerfull If such a Bath as we have propounded which we hold to be the Principall Matter beattended with a Foure-fold Course and Crder 22 First that there goe before the Bath a Frication of the Bodie And an Annointing with Oyle with some Thickning Substance That the Vertue and Moistning Heat of the Bath may pierce the Body and not the watry Part of the Liquour Then let the 〈◊〉 follow for the space of some two Houres After the Bath let the Body bee Emplaistrea with Mastick Myrrhe Tragacanth Diapalma and Saffron That the Perspiration of the Body may as much as is possible be inhibited Till the Supple Matter be by degrees turned into Solide This to be continued for the space of twenty foure houres or more Lastly the Emplaistring being removed let there be an Annointing with Oyle 〈◊〉 with Salt and Saffron 〈◊〉 let this Bath together 〈◊〉 the Emplaistring and Vnction as before be renewed every Fifth day This Malacissation or Suppling of the Body to be continued for one whole Moneth 23 Also during the Time of this Malacissation we hold it usefull and proper and according to our Intention That Men nourish their Bodies well and keep out of the Cold Aire And drink nothing but Warme Drinke 24 Now this is one of those Things as wee warned in generall in the beginning whereof wee have made no Triall by Experiment But only set it downe out of our Aiming and Levelling at the End For having Set up the Marke we deliver the Light to others 25 Neither ought the Warmths and Cherishings of Living Bodies to bee neglected Ficinus saith and that seriously enough That the laying of the young Maid in Davids Bosome was wholesome for him but it came too late He should also have added That the Young Maid after the manner of the Persian Virgins ought to have been annointed with Myrrhe and such like Not for Deliciousnesse but to increase the Vertue of this Cherishing by a living Body 26 Barbarossa in his extreme old Age by the advice of a Physician a Iew did continually apply Young Boyes to his Stomach and Belly for Warmth and Cherishing Also some Old Men lay Wholps Creatures of the Hottest Kind close to their Stomachs every Night There hath gone a report almost undoubted And that under several Names Of certaine Men that had great Noses who being weary of the Derision of People have cut off the Bunches or Hillocks of their Noses And then making a wide Gash in their Armes have bold their Noses in the place for a certain time And so brought forth faire and comely Noses Which if it be true it shewes plainly the Consent of Flesh unto Flesh especially in Live Fleshes 28 Touching the Particular Inteneration of the Principall Bowels The Stomach Lungs Liver Heart Braine Marrow of the Backbone Guts Reines Gall Veines Arteries Nerves Cartilages Bones The Inquisition and Direction would bee too long Seeing we now set not forth a Practique But certain Indications to the Practique The Operation upon the Purging away of old Iuyce and Supplying of new Iuyce Or of Renovation by Turnes 10. The Historie ALTHOUGH those Things which wee shall here set downe have been for the most part spoken of before yet because this Operation is one of the Principall wee will handle them over againe more at large 1 It is certaine that Draught Oxen which have been worne out with working being put into Fresh and Rich Pastures
will gather tender and young Flesh againe And this will appeare even to the Taste and Palate So that the Inteneration of Flesh is no hard Matter Now it is likely that this Inteneration of the Flesh being often repeated will in time reach to the Inteneration of the Bones and Membranes and like Parts of the Body 2 It is certaine that Diets which are now much in 〈◊〉 Principally of 〈◊〉 And of 〈◊〉 China and 〈◊〉 If they be continued for any time and according to strict Rules Doe first Attenuate the whole Iuyce of the Body And after Consume it and Drinke it up Which is most manifest because that by these Diets the French Pox when it is growne even to an Hardnesse And hath eaten up and corrupted the very Marrow of the Body may be assuredly cured And further because it is as manifest that Men who by these Diets are brought to be extreme Leane Pale and as it were Ghosts Will soone after become Fat well-coloured and apparantly Young againe Wherefore we are absolutely of opinion 〈◊〉 such kind of Diets in the 〈◊〉 of Age being used every 〈◊〉 yeare would bee very useful to our Intention Like the old Skin or Spoile of Sarpents 3 Wee doe confidently affirme neither let any Man reckon us amongst those Heretikes which were called Cathari That often Purges and made even Familiar to the Body are more availeable to long Life than Exercises and Sweats And this must needs be so if that be held which is already laid for a Ground That Vnctions of the Body And Oppletion of the Passages from without And Exclusion of Aire And Detaining of the Spirit within the Masse of the Body Doe much conduce to long Life For it is most certaine that by Sweats and Outward Perspirations not onely the Humours and excrementitious Vapours are Exhaled and consumed But together with them the Juices also and good Spirits which are not so easily repaired But in 〈◊〉 unlesse they be very Immoderate it is not so Seeing they worke 〈◊〉 upon the Humours But the best Purges for this Intention are those which are taken immediately before 〈◊〉 Because they Dry the Body lesse And therefore they must be of those Purgers which doe least trouble the Belly These Intentions of the Operations which wee have Propounded as we conceive are most true The Remedies Faithfull to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is it credible to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Although not a Few of these Remedies may seeme but 〈◊〉 with what Care and Choice they have beene examined by us That they might be the Intention not at all empeached both Safe and Effectuall Experience no doubt will both verifie and promote these Matters And such in all things are the works of every prudent Counsell That they are Admirable in their Effects Excellent also in their Order but seeming vulgar in the Way and Meanes The Proches of Death WE are now to inquire touching the Porches of Death That is Touching those Things which happen unto Men at the point of Death Both a little before and after That seeing there are many Paths which lead to Death it may be under stood in what Common-way they all end Especially in those Deaths which are caused by Indigence of Nature rather than by violence Although something of this Latter also must be inserted because of the Connexion of Things The Historie 1 THe Living Spirit stands in need of three Things that it may subsist Convenient Motion Temperate Refrigeration And Fit Aliment Plame seemes to stand in need but of two of these Namely Motion and Aliment Because Flame is a simple substance the Spirit a Compounded Insomuch that if it approach somewhat too neare to a Flamie Nature it overthroweth it selfe 2 Also Flame by a greater and stronger Flame is extinguished and slaine As Aristotle well noted Much more the Spirit 3 Flame if it be much compressed and straitned is extinguished As wee may see in a Candle having a Glasse cast over it For the Aire being dilated by the Heat doth contrude and thrust together the Flame And so lesseneth it and in the end extinguisheth it And Fires on Hearths will not Flame if the Fewell bee thrust close together without any space for the Flame to break forth 4 Also Things Fircd are extinguished with Compression As if you presse a Burning Coale hard with the Tongs or the Foot it is straight extinguished 5 But to come to the Spirit If Bloud or Flegme get into the 〈◊〉 of the Braine it causeth sudden Death Because the Spirit hath no Roome to move it selfe 6 Also a great Blow on the Head induceth sudden Death The Spirits being straightened within the Ventrides of the Braine 7 Opium and other strong 〈◊〉 doe coagulate the Spirit And deprive it of the Motion 8 A Venemous Vapour totally abhorred by the Spirit causeth sudden Death As in deadly poisons which worke as they call it by a Specificall Malignity For they strike a Loathing into the Spirit that the Spirit will no more move it selfe nor rise against a Thing so much Detested 9 Also Extreme Drunkennesse or Extreme Feeding sometime cause sudden Death Seeing the Spirit is not only Oppressed with overmuch Condensing or the Malignity of the Vapour As in Opium and Malignant Poysons But also with the Abundance of the Vapours 10 Extreme Griefe or Feare Especially if they be sudden As it is in a sad and unexpected 〈◊〉 cause sudden Death 11 Not only over-much Compression but also over-much Dilatation of the Spirit is Deadly 12 Ioyes excessive and sudden have berest many of their lives 13 In great Evacuations As when they cut Men for the Dropsie the waters flow forth abundantly Much more in great and sudden Fluxes of Bloud oftentimes present Death followeth And this happens by the meere Flight of Vacuum within the Body All the parts moving to fill the Emptie places And amongst the rest the Spirits themselves For as for slow Fluxes of Bloud this Matter pertaines to the Indigence of Nourishment not to the Diffusion of the Spirits And touching the Motion of the Spirit so farre either Compressed of Diffused that it bringeth Death thus much 14 We must come next to the Want of Refrigeration Stopping of the Breath causeth sudden Death As in all Suffocation or Strangling Now it seemes this Matter is not so much to be referred to the Impediment of Motion as to the Impediment of Refrigeration For Aire over-hot though attracted freely doth no lesse Suffocate than if Breathing were hindred As it is in them who have beene sometime suffocated with Burning Coales Or with Char-coale Or with Wals newly plaistered in close chambers where a Fire is made which kind of Death is reported to have beene the end of the Emperour Iovinian The like happeneth from Dry Baths over-heated which was practised in the killing of Fausta wife to Constantine the Great 15 It is a very small Time which Nature taketh to repeat the Breathing And in which she desireth to expell the Foggie Aire drawne
For as for the Deadly Hiccough it is a Kinde of 〈◊〉 But the Deadly Labour of the Pulse hath that unusuall Swiftnesse Because the Heart at the point of Death doth so tremble that the Systole and Diastole thereof are almost consounded There is also conjoyned in the Pulse aweaknesse and Lownesse and oftentimes a great Intermission Because the Motion of the Heart faileth And is not able to rise against the Assault stoutly or constantly 30 The Immediate preceding Signes of Death are Great Vnquietnesse and Tossing in the Bed Fumbling with the Hands Catching and Grasping hard Gnashing with the Teeth Speaking hollow Trembling of the Neather Lip Palenesse of the Face The Memory confused Speechlesnesse Cold Sweats The Body shooting in Length Lifting up the White of the Eye Changing of the whole Visage As the Nose sharp Eyes Hollow Cheekes fallen Contraction and Doubling of the Tongue Coldnesse in the Extreme Parts of the Body In some shedding of Bloud or Sperme Shriking Breathing thick and short Falling of the Neather Chap And such like 31 There follow Death A Privation of all Sense and Motion As well of the Heart and Arteries As of the Nerves and Joynts An Inability of the Body to support it selfe uprigh Stifnesse of the Nerves and Parts Extreme Coldnesse of the whole Body After a little while Patrefaction and Stinking 32 Eeles Serpents and the Insecta will move a long time in every part after they are cut asunder Insomuch that Countrey People think that the Parts strive to joyne together againe Also Birds will flutter a great while after their Heads are pulled off And the Hearts of Living Creatures will pant a long time after they are plucked out I remember I have seene the Heart of one that was bowelled As suffering for High Treason That being cast into the Fire leaped at the first at least a Foot and Halfe in Heighth And after by degrees lower and lower For the space as we rememher ber of seven or eight Minutes There is also an ancient and credible Tradition of an Oxe Lowing after the 〈◊〉 were plucked out But there is a more certaine Tradition of a Man who being under the Executioners Hand for High Treason After his Heart was plucked out and in the Executioners Hand Was heard to utter three or foure words of Prayer which therefore we said to be more credible than that of the Oxe in Sacrifice Because the Friends of the partie suffering do usually give a Reward to the Executioner To dispatch his Office with the more speed That they may the sooner bee rid of their Paine But in Sacrifices wee see no Cause why the Priest should bee so speedy in his Office 33 For Reviving those againe which fall into sudden Swownings and Catalepses or Astonishments In which Fits many without present Help would utterly expire These Things are used Putting into their Mouths water distilled of Wine which they call Hot Waters and Cordiall Waters Bending the Body Forwards Stopping the Mouth and Nosthrils hard Bending or Wringing the Fingers Pulling the Haires of the Beard or Head Rubbing of the Parts especially the Face and Legs sudden Casting of Cold Water upon the Face shreeking out aloud and suddenly Putting Rose-water to the Nosthrils with Vinegar in Faintings Burning of Feathers or Cloth in the Suffocation of the Mother But especially a Frying Pan heated red hot is good in Apoplexies Also a Close Embracing of the Body hath helped some There have beene many Examples of Men in shew Dead Either laid out upon the Cold Floare Or carried sorth to 〈◊〉 Nay of some Buried in the Earth which notwithstanding have lived againe which hath beene found in those that were buried The Earth being afterwards opened By the Bruising and Wounding of their Head through the strugling of the Body within the Coffin Whereof the most Recent and Memorable Example was that of Ioannes Scotus Called the Subtile and a Schooleman who being digged up againe by his Servant unfortunately absent at his Buriall And who knew his Masters Manner in such Fits Was found in that State And the like happended in our Dayes in the Person of a Player buried at Cambridge I remember to have heard of a certaine Gentleman That would needs make Triall in Curiositie what men did feele that were hanged So hee fastened the Cord about his Necke raising himselfe upon a Stoole and then letting himselfe fall Thinking it should bee in his power to recover the Stoole at his pleasure which he failed in But was helped by a Friend then present He was asked afterward what he felt He said Hee felt no paine But first he thought he saw before his Eyes a great Fire and Burning Then hee thought he saw all Black and Darke Lastly it turned to a pale Blew or Sea-water-Greene which Colour is also often seene by them which fall into Snownings I have heard also of a Physician yet Living Who recovered a Man to Life which had hanged Himselfe And had hanged halfe an Houre By Frications and Hot Baths And the same Physician did professe that he made no doubt to recover any Man that had hanged so long so his Neck were not broken with the first Swing The Differences of Youth and Old Age. 1 THe Ladder of Mans Bodie is this To be Conceived To be Quickned in the Wombe To bee Borne To Sucke To be Weaned To Feed upon Pap To Put forth Teeth the First time about the Second yeare of Age To Begin to goe To Begin to speake To Put forth Teeth the Second time about seven years of Age To come to Pubertie about twelve or fourteene yeares of Age To be Able for Generation and the Flowing of the Menstrua To have Haires about the Legges and Arme-holes To Put forth a Beard And thus long and sometimes later to Grow in Stature To come to full years of Strength and Agility To grow Gray and Bild The Ceasing of the Menstrua and Ability to Generation To grow Decrepit and a Monster with Three Legs To Die Meane while the Mind also hath certaine Periods But they cannot be described by yeares As to decay in the Memory and the like Of which hereafter 2 The Differences of Youth and Old Age are these As Young Mans Skin is Smooth and Plaine An Old Mans Dry and Wrinkled Especially about the Forchead and Eyes A young Mans Flesh is Tender and Soft An old Mans Hard A young Man hath Strength and Agilitie An old Man feeles Decay in his Strength and is Slow of Motion A young Man hath good Disgestion An old Man Bad A young Mans Bowells are Soft and Succulent An old Mans Sale and Parched A young Mans Body is Erect and Straight An Old Mans Bowing and Crooked A young Mans Limbs are steady An old Mans Weake and Trembling The Humors in a young Man are Cholerick and his Bloud inclined to Heat In an old Man Phlegmatick and Melancholick and his Bloud inclined to Cold nesse A young Man Readie for the Act of
Venus An old Man Slow unto it In a young Man the Iuyces of his Bodie are more Roscide In an old Man more Crude and watrish The Spirit in a young Man Plentifull and Boyling In an old man Scarce and Iejune A young Mans Spirit is Dense and Vigorous An old Mans Eager and Rare A young Man hath his Sens's Quicke and Entire An old Man Dull and Decayed A young Mans Teeth are Strong and Entire An old Mans Weak worne and Falling out A young Mans Haire is Coloured An old Mans of what Colour soever it were Gray A young Man hath Haire An old Man Baldnesse A young Mans Pulse is Stronger and Quicker An old Mans more Confused and Slower The Diseases of young Men are more Acute and Curable Of old Men Longer and Hard to Cure A young Mans Wounds soone Close An old Mans Later A young Mans Checkes are of a Fresh Colour An old Mans Pale or with a Black Bloud A young Man is lesse troubled with Rbeumes An old Man More Neither do we know in what Things old Men do improve as touching their Body save only sometimes in Fatnesse Whereof the Reason is soone given Because old Mens Bodies doe neither Perspire well nor assimilate well Now Fatnesse is Nothing else but an Exuberance of Nourishment above that which is voyded by Excrement Or which is perfectly Assimilated Also some old Men improve in the Appetite of Feeding by reason of the Acide Humours Though old Men Disgest worse And all these Things which we have said Physicians negligently enough will referre to the Diminution of the Naturall Heat and Ridicall Moisture Which are Things of no worth for use This is certaine Drinesse in the Comming on of yeares doth foregoe Coldnesse And Bodies when they come to the Top and Strength of Heat doe decline to 〈◊〉 And after that followes Coldnesse 3 Now we are to consider the Affections of the Mind I remember when I was a young Man at Poictiers in France I conversed familiarly with a certaine French-man A witty Young Man but something Talkative Who afterwards grew to bee a very eminent Man Hee was wont to inveigh against the Manners of Old Men And would say That if their Mindes could be seene as their Bodies are they would appeare no lesse deformed Besides being in Love with his owne Wit he would maintaine That the Vices of old Mens Minds had some correspondence and were Paralell to the Imperfections of their Bodies For the Drinesse of their Skin hee would bring in Impudence For the Hardnesse of their Bowels Vnmercifulnesse For the Lippitude of their Eyes an Evill Eye and Envie For the Casting downe of their Eyes and Bowing their Body towards the Earth Atheisme For saith he they looke no more up to Heaven as they were wont For the Trembling of their Members Irresolution of their Decrees and Light Inconstancie For the Bending of their Fingers as it were to catch Rapacitie and Covetousnesse For the Backling of their Knees Fearfulnesse For their Wrinkles Craftinesse and Obliquity And other things which I have forgotten But to be serious A young Man is Modest and Shamefast An old Mans Forehead is Hardned A young Man is full of Bounty and Mercie An old Mans Heart is Brawnie A young Man is affected with a Laudable Emuletion An old Man with a Malignant Envie A young man is inclined to Religion and Devotion by reason of his Fervencie and Inexperience of Evill An old Man Coolerb in Piety through the Coldnesse of his Charity and long Conversation in Evill And likewise through the Difficultie of his Beleefe A young Mans Desires are Vehement An old Mans Moderate A young Man is Light and Moveable An old Man more Grave and Constant A young Man is 〈◊〉 to Liberality and Beneficence and Humanitie An old Man to Covetousnesse Wisdome for his owne selfe and Seeking his owne 〈◊〉 A young Man is Confident and Full of Hope An old Man Diffident and Given to suspect most Things A young Man is Gentle and Obsequious An old Man Froward and Disdainfull A young man is Sincere and Open-Hearted An old Man Cautelous and Close A young Man is given to Desire great Things An old Man to Regard Things Necessary A young Man thinkes well of the Present Times An old Man Preferreth Times-past before them A young Man Reverenceth his Superiours An old Man is more Forward to tax them And many other Things which pertaine rather to Manners than to the present Inquisition Notwithstanding old Men as in some things they improve in their Bodies so also in their Mindes Unlesse they be altogether out of Date Namely That as they are lesse apt for Invention so they excell in Iudgement And prefer Safe Things and Sound Things before Specious Also they improve in Garrulity and Ostentation For they seeke the Fruit of Speech while they are lesse able for Action So as it was not absurd that the Poets fained Old Tithon to be turned into a Grashopper Moveable Canons of the Duration of Life and Forme of Death Canon 1. COnsumption is not caused unlesse that which bet departed with by one Body passeth into another The Explication THere is in Nature no Annihilation or Reducing to Nothing Therefore that which is consumed is either resolved into Aire or turned into some Body Adjacent So wee see a Spider or Fly or Ant in Amber Entombed in a more stately Monument than Kings are to be laid up for Eternitie Although they bee but tender Things and soone dissipated But the mattter is this That there is no Aire by into which they should be resolved And the Substance of the Amber is so Heterogeneous that it receives Nothing of them The like we conceive would be if a Stick or Root or some such thing were Buried in Quicksilver Also wax and Honey and 〈◊〉 have the same Operation but In part only Canon II. THere is in every Tangible body a Spirit Covered and encompassed with the Grosser Parts of the Body And from it all Consumption and Dissolution hath the Beginning The Explication NO Body known unto us here in the Vpper Part of the Earth is without a Spirit Either by Attenuation and 〈◊〉 from the Heat of the Heavenly Bodies Or by some other way For the Concavities of Tangible Things receive not Vaccum But either Aire or the proper Spirit of the Thing And this Spirit where of we speak is not some Vertue or Energie or Act or Trifle But plainly a Body Rare and Invisible Notwithstanding Circumscribed by place Quantitative Reall Neither againe is that Spirit Aire no more than Wine is Water But a Body Rarified of kin to Aire though much different from it Now the Grosser Parts of Bodies being Dull Things and not apt for Motion would last a long time But the Spirit is that which troubleth and plucketh and undermineth them And converteth the Moisture of the Body and whatsoever it is able to disgest into new Spirit And then as well the Prae-existing Spirit of
make them more fit to bee nourished Canon XXVI MAlacissation is wrought by Consubstantials By Imprinters 3 And by Closers up The Explication THe Reason is manifest For that Consubstantials doe properly supple the Body 〈◊〉 doe carry in Closers up doe retaine and bridle the Perspiration which is a Motion opposite to Malacissation And therefore as we described in the Ninth Operation Malacissation cannot well be done at once But in a Course or Order First by Excluding the Liquour by Thickners For an Outward and grosse Infusion doth not well compact the Body That which entreth must be Subtile and a Kinde of Vapour Secondly by Intenerating by the Consent of Cousubstantials For Bodies upon the touch of those Things which have good agreement with them open themselves and relax their Pores Thirdly Imprinters are Convoyes and insi nuate into the Parts the Consubstantials And the Mixture of Gentle Astringents doth somewhat restraine the Perspiration But then in the 〈◊〉 place followes that 〈◊〉 Astriction and Closure up of the Body by 〈◊〉 And then afterward by 〈◊〉 Untill the Supple be 〈◊〉 into Solide As wee said in the proper place Canon XXVII FRequent Renovation of the Parts Reparable watereth and reneweth the lesse Reparable also The Explication WE said in the Preface to this History That the Way of Death was this That the Parts Reparable died in the Fellowship of the Parts lesse Reparable So that in the Reparation of these same lesse Reparable Parts all our Forces would bee employed And therefore being admonished by Aristotles Observation touching Plants Namely That the putting forth of new Shoots and Branches refresheth the Body of the Tree in the Passage Wee conceive the like Reason might be If the Flesh and bloud in the Body of Man were often renewed That thereby the Bones themselves and Membranes and other Parts which in their owne Nature are Lesse Reparable Partly by the cheerefull Passage of the Iuyees Partly by that new Clouthing of the young Flesh and Bloud Might be Watred and Renewed Canon XXVIII REfrigeration or Cooling of the Body which passeth some other wayes then by the Stomach is usefull for Long Life The Explication THe Reason is at hand For seeing a Refrigeration not Temperate but Powerfull especially of the Bloud is above all Things necessary to long Life This can by no means be effected from within as much as is requisite without the Destruction of the Stomach and Bowels Canon XXIX THat Intermixing or Entangling That as well Consumption as Reparation are the workes of Heat is the greatest Obstacle to long Life The Explication ALmost all great workes are destroyed by the Natures of Things Intermixed when as that which helpeth in one respect hurteth in another Therefore Men must proceed herein by a sound Judgement and a discreet Practice For our Part wee have done so as farre as the matter will beare and our Memory serveth us By Separating Benigne Heats from Hurtfull And the Remedies which tend to both Canon XXX CUring of Diseases is effected by Temporary Medicines But Lengthening of Life requireth Observation of Diets The Explication THose things which come by Accident as soone as the Causes are removed cease againe But the Continued Course of Nature like a Running River requires a continuall Rowing and Sayling against the Streame Therefore we must worke regularly by Diets Now Diets are of two Kindes Set Diets which are to be observed at certaine times And Familiar Diet which is to be admitted into our Daily Repast But the Set Diets are the more potent That is A Course of Medicines for a time For those Things which are of so great Vertue that they are able to turne Nature backe againe Are for the most part more strong and more speedily Altering than those which may without danger be received into a Continual use Now in the Remedies set downe in our Intentions You shall find only three Set Diets The Opiate Diet The Diet Malacissant or Suppling And the Diet Emaciant and Renewing But amongst those which wee Prescribed for Familiar Diet and to be used daily the most efficacious are these that follow Which also come not farre Short of the Vertue of Set Diets Nitre and the Subordinates to Nitre The Regiment of the Affections and Course of our Life 〈◊〉 which passe not by the Stomach Drinkes Roscidating or Eng ndring Oyly Iuyces Besprinkling of the Bloud with some Firmer Matter as Pearles certaine Woods Competent Vnctions to keepe out the Aire and to keepe in the Spirit Heaters from without during the Assimilation after Sleepe Avoiding of Those Things which Enflame the Spirit and put it into an Eager Heat as Wine and Spices Lastly a Moderate and Seasonable use of those Things which endue the Spirits with a Robust Heat As Saffron Cresses Garlick Elecampane and Compound Opiates Canon XXXI THe Living Spirit is instantly extinguished if it be deprived either of Motion or of Refrigeration Or of Aliment The Explication NAmely these are those three which before we called the Porches of Death And they are the Proper and Immediate Passiōs of the Spirit For all the Organs of the principall parts serve hereunto That these three Offices be performed and againe all destruction of the Organs which is Deadly brings the Matter to this point that one or more of these three faile Therefore all other Things are the divers Wayes to Death but they end in these three Now the Whole Fabricke of the Parts is the Organ of the Spirit As the Spirit is the 〈◊〉 of the Reasonable Soule which is Incorporeous and Divine Canon XXXII FLame is a Momentany Substance Aire a Fixed The Living Spirit in Creatures is of a Middle Nature The Explication THis Matter stands in need both of an higher Indagation and of a longer Explication than is pertinent to the present Inquisition Meane while we must know this That Flame is almost every Moment generated and extinguished so that it is continued onely by succession 〈◊〉 Aire is a Fixed Body and is not Dissolved For though Aire begets new Aire out of watry Moisture yet notwithstanding the old Aire still remaines whence commeth that Super-Oneration of the Aire where of we have spoken in the Title De Vent is But Spirit is participant of both Natures both of Flame and Aire Even as the Nourishments thereof are Aswell Oyle which is Homogeneous to Flame As Water which is Homogeneous to Aire For the Spirit is not 〈◊〉 either of Oyly alone or of Watry alone but of both together And though Aire doth not agree well with Flame nor Oyle with Water yet in a mixt Body they agree well enough Also the Spirit hath from the Aire his Easie and Delicate Impressions and yeeldings And from the Flame his Noble and Potent Motions and Activities In like manner the Duration of Spirit is a Mixed Thing Being neither so Momentany as that of Flame Nor so Fixed as that of Aire And so much the rather it followeth not the Condition of Flame For that Flame it selfe is extinguished by Accident Namely by Contraries and Enemies environing it But Spirit is not subject to the like Conditions and Necessities Now the Spirit is repaired from the Lively and Floride Bloud of the small Arteries which are inserted into the Braine But this Reparation is done by a peculiar Manner of which we speake not now FINIS To the I Artic. To the 2 Artic. To the 1. Article To the 4. Artile To the 5 6 7 8 9 and 11. Article To the 10. Article To the 12 13 and 14. Artic. To the 15. Article To the 16. Article