31436The Hiſtory of Life and Death.
and haſten the Deſiccation thereof;
and therefore the Excluſion of it is effectual to
length of life.
length of life.
Another effect which followeth the Excluſion of Air is much more ſubtil and pro-
112. found, namely, that the Body cloſed up, and not perſpiring by the pores, detaineth the
Spirits within, and turneth it upon the harder parts of the body, whereby the Spirit
mollifies and intenerates them.
112. found, namely, that the Body cloſed up, and not perſpiring by the pores, detaineth the
Spirits within, and turneth it upon the harder parts of the body, whereby the Spirit
mollifies and intenerates them.
Of this thing the reaſon is explained in the Deſiccation of Inanimate Bodies;
and
223. it is an Axiom almoſt infallible, That the Spirit diſcharged and iſſuing forth, drieth
Bodies; detained, melteth and intenerateth them. And it is further to be aſſumed,
That all Heat doth properly attenuate and moiſten, and contracteth and drieth onely by
Accident.
223. it is an Axiom almoſt infallible, That the Spirit diſcharged and iſſuing forth, drieth
Bodies; detained, melteth and intenerateth them. And it is further to be aſſumed,
That all Heat doth properly attenuate and moiſten, and contracteth and drieth onely by
Accident.
Leading the Life in Dens and caves, where the Air receives not the Sun-beams, may
334. be effectual to long life. For the Air of it ſelf doth not much towards the depreda-
tion of the body, unleſs it be ſtirred up by heat. Certainly, if a man ſhall recal things
paſt to his memory, it will appear that the ſtatures of men have been anciently much
greater than thoſe that ſucceeded, as in Sicily, and ſome other places: but this kind of
men led their lives, for the moſt part, in Caves. Now length of life and largeneſs of
limbs have ſome affinity. The cave alſo of Epimenides walks among the Fables. I
ſuppoſe likewiſe, that the life of Columnar Anchorites was a thing reſembling the life
in Caves, in reſpect the Sun-beams could not much pierce thither, nor the Air receive
any great changes or inequalities. This is certain, both the Simeon Stelita’s, as well
Daniel as Saba, and other Columnar Anchorites, have been exceeding long-liv’d. Like-
wiſe the Anchorites in our dayes, cloſed up and immured either within Walls or Pillars,
are often found to be long-liv’d.
334. be effectual to long life. For the Air of it ſelf doth not much towards the depreda-
tion of the body, unleſs it be ſtirred up by heat. Certainly, if a man ſhall recal things
paſt to his memory, it will appear that the ſtatures of men have been anciently much
greater than thoſe that ſucceeded, as in Sicily, and ſome other places: but this kind of
men led their lives, for the moſt part, in Caves. Now length of life and largeneſs of
limbs have ſome affinity. The cave alſo of Epimenides walks among the Fables. I
ſuppoſe likewiſe, that the life of Columnar Anchorites was a thing reſembling the life
in Caves, in reſpect the Sun-beams could not much pierce thither, nor the Air receive
any great changes or inequalities. This is certain, both the Simeon Stelita’s, as well
Daniel as Saba, and other Columnar Anchorites, have been exceeding long-liv’d. Like-
wiſe the Anchorites in our dayes, cloſed up and immured either within Walls or Pillars,
are often found to be long-liv’d.
Next unto the life in Caves is the life on Mountains:
for as the beams of the
445. Sun do not penetrate into Caves; ſo on the tops of Mountains, being deſtitute of
Reflexion, they are of ſmall force. But this is to be underſtood of Mountains where
the Air is clear and pure; namely, whether by reaſon of the drineſs of the Vallies, Clouds
and Vapours do not aſcend; as it is in the Mountains which encompaſs Barbary, where,
even at this day, they live many times to an hundred and fifty years, as hath been noted
before.
445. Sun do not penetrate into Caves; ſo on the tops of Mountains, being deſtitute of
Reflexion, they are of ſmall force. But this is to be underſtood of Mountains where
the Air is clear and pure; namely, whether by reaſon of the drineſs of the Vallies, Clouds
and Vapours do not aſcend; as it is in the Mountains which encompaſs Barbary, where,
even at this day, they live many times to an hundred and fifty years, as hath been noted
before.
And this kind of Air of Caves and Mountains, of its own proper nature, is little or
556. nothing predatory; but Air, ſuch as ours is, which is predatory through the heat of
the Sun, ought as much as is poſſible, to be excluded from the body.
556. nothing predatory; but Air, ſuch as ours is, which is predatory through the heat of
the Sun, ought as much as is poſſible, to be excluded from the body.
But the Air is prohibited and excluded two ways:
firſt, by cloſing the Pores;
ſe-
667. condly, by filling them up.
667. condly, by filling them up.
To the cloſing of the Pores help coldneſs of the air, going naked, whereby the skin
778. is made hard, waſhing in cold water, Aſtringents applied to the skin, ſuch as are Ma-
ſtick, Myrrbe, Myrtle.
778. is made hard, waſhing in cold water, Aſtringents applied to the skin, ſuch as are Ma-
ſtick, Myrrbe, Myrtle.
But much more may we ſatisfie this Operation by Baths, yet thoſe rarely uſed, (eſpe-
889. cially in Summer) which are made of Aſtringent Mineral Waters, ſuch as may ſafely be
uſed, as Waters participating of Steel and Coperas; for theſe do potently contract the
skin.
889. cially in Summer) which are made of Aſtringent Mineral Waters, ſuch as may ſafely be
uſed, as Waters participating of Steel and Coperas; for theſe do potently contract the
skin.
As for filling up the Pores, Paintings and ſuch like Vnctuous daubings, and (which
9910. may moſt commodiouſly be uſed) Oil and fat things, do no leſs conſerve the ſubſtance
of the body, than Oil-colours and Varniſh do preſerve Wood.
9910. may moſt commodiouſly be uſed) Oil and fat things, do no leſs conſerve the ſubſtance
of the body, than Oil-colours and Varniſh do preſerve Wood.
The ancient Britains painted their bodies with Woad, and were exceeding long liv’d:
101011. the Picts alſo uſed paintings, and are thought by ſome to have derived their name from
thence.
101011. the Picts alſo uſed paintings, and are thought by ſome to have derived their name from
thence.
The Braſilians and Virginians paint themſelves at this day, who are (eſpecially the
111112. former) very long liv’d; inſomuch that five years ago the French Jeſuites had ſpeech
with ſome who remembred the building of Fernambuck, which was done an hundred
and twenty years ſince; and they were then at Man’s eſtate.
111112. former) very long liv’d; inſomuch that five years ago the French Jeſuites had ſpeech
with ſome who remembred the building of Fernambuck, which was done an hundred
and twenty years ſince; and they were then at Man’s eſtate.
Joannes de temporibus, who is reported to have extended his life to three hundred
121213. years, being asked how he preſerved himſelf ſo long, is ſaid to have anſwered, By Oyl
without, and by Honey within.
121213. years, being asked how he preſerved himſelf ſo long, is ſaid to have anſwered, By Oyl
without, and by Honey within.
The Iriſh, eſpecially the Wild-Iriſh, even at this day live very long:
certainly they
131314. report, that within theſe few years the counteſs of Deſmond lived to an hundred and
forty years of age, and bred Teeth three times. Now the Iriſh have a faſhion to chafe,
and, as it were, to baſte themſelves with old Salt-butter againſt the fire.
131314. report, that within theſe few years the counteſs of Deſmond lived to an hundred and
forty years of age, and bred Teeth three times. Now the Iriſh have a faſhion to chafe,
and, as it were, to baſte themſelves with old Salt-butter againſt the fire.