2868The Hiſtory of Life and Death.
the Kernels of Nuts, which after they are dried, are too little for the Shells;
and in Beams
and Planchers of Houſes, which at firſt lay cloſetogether, but after they are dried, give; and
likewiſe in Bowls, which through drought, grow full of cranies, the parts of the Bowl con-
tracting themſelves together, and after contraction muſt needs be empty spaces. Secondly,
It appears by the wrinkles of Bodies dryed: For the endeavor of contracting it ſelf is ſuch,
that by the contraction it brings the parts nearer together, and ſo lifts them up; for what-
ſoever is contracted on the ſides, is lifted up in the midſt: And this is to be ſeen in Papers
and old Parchments, and in the Skins of Living Creatures, and in the Coats of ſoft Cheeſes,
all which, with age, gatber wrinkles. Thirdly, This Contraction ſhews it ſelf moſt in thoſe
things, which by heat are not onely wrinkled, but ruffled, and plighted, and, as it were, rouled
together; as it is in Papers, and Parchments, and Leaves, brought near the fire: For Con-
traction by Age, which is more ſlow, commonly cauſeth wrinkles; but Contraction by the
Fire, which is more ſpeedy, cauſeth plighting. Now in moſt things where it comes not to
wrinkling or plighting, there is ſimple Contraction, and anguſtiation or ſtreightning,
and induration or hardning, and deſiccation, as was ſisewed in the firſt place. But if the
iſſuing forth of the Spirit, and abſumption or waſte of the Moiſture be ſo great, that
there is not left body ſufficient to unite and contract it ſelſ, then of neceſſity Contraction
muſt ceaſe, and the Body becomeputrid, and nothing elſe but a little duſt cleaving together,
which with æ 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 Carkaſes embalmed after
many ages. And this is the third Action, the Contraction of the groſſer parts after the
Spirit iſſueth forth.
and Planchers of Houſes, which at firſt lay cloſetogether, but after they are dried, give; and
likewiſe in Bowls, which through drought, grow full of cranies, the parts of the Bowl con-
tracting themſelves together, and after contraction muſt needs be empty spaces. Secondly,
It appears by the wrinkles of Bodies dryed: For the endeavor of contracting it ſelf is ſuch,
that by the contraction it brings the parts nearer together, and ſo lifts them up; for what-
ſoever is contracted on the ſides, is lifted up in the midſt: And this is to be ſeen in Papers
and old Parchments, and in the Skins of Living Creatures, and in the Coats of ſoft Cheeſes,
all which, with age, gatber wrinkles. Thirdly, This Contraction ſhews it ſelf moſt in thoſe
things, which by heat are not onely wrinkled, but ruffled, and plighted, and, as it were, rouled
together; as it is in Papers, and Parchments, and Leaves, brought near the fire: For Con-
traction by Age, which is more ſlow, commonly cauſeth wrinkles; but Contraction by the
Fire, which is more ſpeedy, cauſeth plighting. Now in moſt things where it comes not to
wrinkling or plighting, there is ſimple Contraction, and anguſtiation or ſtreightning,
and induration or hardning, and deſiccation, as was ſisewed in the firſt place. But if the
iſſuing forth of the Spirit, and abſumption or waſte of the Moiſture be ſo great, that
there is not left body ſufficient to unite and contract it ſelſ, then of neceſſity Contraction
muſt ceaſe, and the Body becomeputrid, and nothing elſe but a little duſt cleaving together,
which with æ 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 Carkaſes embalmed after
many ages. And this is the third Action, the Contraction of the groſſer parts after the
Spirit iſſueth forth.
It is to be noted, that Fire and Heat dry onely by accident;
for their proper work is to
117. attenuate and dilate the Spirit and Moiſture; and then it follows by accident, that the other
parts ſhould contract themſelves, either for the flying of Vacuum alone, or for ſome other
motion withal, whereof we now speak not.
117. attenuate and dilate the Spirit and Moiſture; and then it follows by accident, that the other
parts ſhould contract themſelves, either for the flying of Vacuum alone, or for ſome other
motion withal, whereof we now speak not.
It is certain, that Putrefaction taketh its original from the Native Spirit, no leſs then
228. Arefaction; but it goeth on afar different way: For in Putrefaction, the Spirit is not ſimply
vapored forth, but being detained in part, works ſtrange garboils; and the groſſer parts are
not ſo much locally contracted, as they congregate themſelves to parts of the ſame nature.
228. Arefaction; but it goeth on afar different way: For in Putrefaction, the Spirit is not ſimply
vapored forth, but being detained in part, works ſtrange garboils; and the groſſer parts are
not ſo much locally contracted, as they congregate themſelves to parts of the ſame nature.
Length and Shortneß of Life in Living Creatures.
The Hiſtory.
TOuching the Length and Shortneſs of Life in Living Creatures, the Information
33To the firſt
Article. which may be had, is but ſlender, Obſervation is negligent, and Tradition fabu-
lous. In Tame Creatures, their degenerate life corrupteth them; in Wilde Crea-
tures, their expoſing to all weathers, often inter cepteth them Neither do thoſe things
which may ſeem concomitants, give any furtherance to this Information, (the greatneſs of
their Bodies, their time of Bearing in the Womb, the number of their young ones, the
time of their growth, and the reſt) inregard that theſe things are intermixed, and ſometimes
they concur, ſometimes they ſever.
33To the firſt
Article. which may be had, is but ſlender, Obſervation is negligent, and Tradition fabu-
lous. In Tame Creatures, their degenerate life corrupteth them; in Wilde Crea-
tures, their expoſing to all weathers, often inter cepteth them Neither do thoſe things
which may ſeem concomitants, give any furtherance to this Information, (the greatneſs of
their Bodies, their time of Bearing in the Womb, the number of their young ones, the
time of their growth, and the reſt) inregard that theſe things are intermixed, and ſometimes
they concur, ſometimes they ſever.
Mans age (as far as can be gathered by any certain Narration) doth exceed the age
441. of all other Living Creatures, except it be of a very few onely; and the Concomitants in
him are very equally diſpoſed, his ſtature and proportion large, his bearing in the womb
nine moneths, his fruit commonly one at a birth, his puberty at the age of fourteen years,
his time of growing till twenty.
441. of all other Living Creatures, except it be of a very few onely; and the Concomitants in
him are very equally diſpoſed, his ſtature and proportion large, his bearing in the womb
nine moneths, his fruit commonly one at a birth, his puberty at the age of fourteen years,
his time of growing till twenty.
The Elephant by undoubted relation, exceeds the ordinary race of Mans life;
552. but his bearing in the Womb the ſpace of Ten years, is fabulous; of two years, or at
leaſt above one, is certain. Now his bulk is great, his time of growth until the thirti-
eth year, his teeth exceeding hard; neither hath it been obſerved, that his blood is the
coldeſt of all Creatures: His age hath ſometimes reached to Two hundred years.
552. but his bearing in the Womb the ſpace of Ten years, is fabulous; of two years, or at
leaſt above one, is certain. Now his bulk is great, his time of growth until the thirti-
eth year, his teeth exceeding hard; neither hath it been obſerved, that his blood is the
coldeſt of all Creatures: His age hath ſometimes reached to Two hundred years.
Lions are accounted long livers, becauſe many of them have been found Toothleſs,
663. a ſign not ſo certain, for that may be cauſed by their ſtrong breath.
663. a ſign not ſo certain, for that may be cauſed by their ſtrong breath.
The Bear is a great ſleeper, a dull beaſt, and given to eaſe;
and yet not noted
774.
774.