2857The Hiſtory of Life and Death.
The Inteneration or making tender of that which is dried (which is the chief Mat-
1127. ter) affords but a ſmall number of Experiments. And therefore ſome few Experiments
which are found in Living Creatures, and alſo in Man ſhall be joyned together.
1127. ter) affords but a ſmall number of Experiments. And therefore ſome few Experiments
which are found in Living Creatures, and alſo in Man ſhall be joyned together.
Bands of Willow, wherewith they uſe to binde Trees, laid in Water, grow more
2228. flexible; likewiſe they put Boughs of Birch (the ends of them) in Earthen Pots filled
9393[Handwritten note 93] with Water, to keep them from withering; and Bowls cleft with dryneſs, ſteep’d in
Water, cloſe again.
2228. flexible; likewiſe they put Boughs of Birch (the ends of them) in Earthen Pots filled
9393[Handwritten note 93] with Water, to keep them from withering; and Bowls cleft with dryneſs, ſteep’d in
Water, cloſe again.
Boots grown hard and obſtinate with age, by greaſing them before the Fire with
3329. Tallow, wax ſoft, or being onely held before the Fire get ſome ſoftneſs. Bladders and
Parchments hardned alſo become tender with warm Water, mixed with Tallow or any
Fat thing; but much the better, if they be a little chafed.
3329. Tallow, wax ſoft, or being onely held before the Fire get ſome ſoftneſs. Bladders and
Parchments hardned alſo become tender with warm Water, mixed with Tallow or any
Fat thing; but much the better, if they be a little chafed.
Trees grown very old, that have ſtood long without any culture, by digging and
4430. opening the Earth about the Roots of them, ſeem to grow young again, and put forth
young Branches.
4430. opening the Earth about the Roots of them, ſeem to grow young again, and put forth
young Branches.
Old Draught Oxen worn out with labor, being taken from the yoak, and put into
5531. freſh Paſture, will get young and tender fleſh again, inſomuch, that they will eat as freſh
and tender as a Steer.
5531. freſh Paſture, will get young and tender fleſh again, inſomuch, that they will eat as freſh
and tender as a Steer.
A ſtrict Emaciating Diet of Guaiacum, Bisket, and the like, (wherewith they uſe to
6632. cure the French-Pox, Old catarrhs, and ſome kinde of Dropſies) doth firſt bring men to
great poverty and leanneſs, by waſting the Juices and Humors of the Body; which
after they begin to be repaired again, ſeem manifeſtly more vigorous and young. Nay,
and I am of opinion, that Emaciating Diſeaſes afterwards well cured, have advanced
many in the way of long life.
6632. cure the French-Pox, Old catarrhs, and ſome kinde of Dropſies) doth firſt bring men to
great poverty and leanneſs, by waſting the Juices and Humors of the Body; which
after they begin to be repaired again, ſeem manifeſtly more vigorous and young. Nay,
and I am of opinion, that Emaciating Diſeaſes afterwards well cured, have advanced
many in the way of long life.
Obſervations.
MEn ſee clearly, like Owls, in the Night of their own Notions;
but in Experience, as
771. in the Day-light they wink and are but half ſighted. They speak much of the Ele-
mentary quality of Siccity or Drineſs, and of things Deſiccating, and of the Natural Periods
of Bodies, in which they are corrupted and conſumed: But mean while, either in the begin-
nings, or middle paſſages, or laſts acts of Deſiccation and Conſumption, they obſerve no-
thing that is of moment.
771. in the Day-light they wink and are but half ſighted. They speak much of the Ele-
mentary quality of Siccity or Drineſs, and of things Deſiccating, and of the Natural Periods
of Bodies, in which they are corrupted and conſumed: But mean while, either in the begin-
nings, or middle paſſages, or laſts acts of Deſiccation and Conſumption, they obſerve no-
thing that is of moment.
Deſiccation or Conſumption in the proceſs thereof, is finiſhed by three Actions;
and
882. all th@ſe (as was ſaid before) have their original from the Native Spirit of Bodies.
882. all th@ſe (as was ſaid before) have their original from the Native Spirit of Bodies.
The firſt Action is, the Attenuation of the Moiſture into Spirit;
the ſecond is, the
993. 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 Deſic@ation and
Induration which we chiefly bandle; the former two conſume onely.
993. 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 Deſic@ation and
Induration which we chiefly bandle; the former two conſume onely.
Touching Attenuation, the matter is manifeſt.
For the Spirit which is incloſed in every
10104. Tangible Body forgets not its nature, but whatſoever it meets withal in the Body (in which
it is incloſed) that it can digeſt and maſter, and turn into it ſelf, that it plainly alters and
ſubdues, and multiplies it ſelf upon it, and begets new Spirit. And this evicted by one proof,
inſtead of many; for that thoſe things which are throughly dryed are leßened in their weight,
and become hollow, porous, and reſounding from within. Now it is moſt certain, that the in-
ward Spirit of any thing, confers nothing to the weight, but rather lig'tens it; and there-
fore it muſt needs be, that the ſame Spirit hath turned into it the moiſture and juyce of the
Body which weighed before, by which means the weight is leſſened. And this is the firſt
Action, the Attenuation of the Moiſture, and Converting it into Spirit.
10104. Tangible Body forgets not its nature, but whatſoever it meets withal in the Body (in which
it is incloſed) that it can digeſt and maſter, and turn into it ſelf, that it plainly alters and
ſubdues, and multiplies it ſelf upon it, and begets new Spirit. And this evicted by one proof,
inſtead of many; for that thoſe things which are throughly dryed are leßened in their weight,
and become hollow, porous, and reſounding from within. Now it is moſt certain, that the in-
ward Spirit of any thing, confers nothing to the weight, but rather lig'tens it; and there-
fore it muſt needs be, that the ſame Spirit hath turned into it the moiſture and juyce of the
Body which weighed before, by which means the weight is leſſened. And this is the firſt
Action, the Attenuation of the Moiſture, and Converting it into Spirit.
The ſ@cond Action, which is the lſſuing forth or Flight of the Spirit, is as manifeſt
11115. alſo. For that iſſuing forth, when it is in throngs, is apparent even to the ſenſe; in Vapors to
the ſight, in Odors 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. Again, where the
compoſure of the Body is either ſo ſtreight 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 Body; 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.
11115. alſo. For that iſſuing forth, when it is in throngs, is apparent even to the ſenſe; in Vapors to
the ſight, in Odors 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. Again, where the
compoſure of the Body is either ſo ſtreight 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 Body; 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.
The third Action is ſomewhat more obſcure, but full as certain;
that is, the Con-
12126. traction of the groſſer parts after the Spirit iſſued forth. And this appears, firſt, in that
Bodies after the Spirit iſſued forth, do manifeſtly ſhrink, and fill a leſs room; as it is
12126. traction of the groſſer parts after the Spirit iſſued forth. And this appears, firſt, in that
Bodies after the Spirit iſſued forth, do manifeſtly ſhrink, and fill a leſs room; as it is