32648The Hiſtory of Life and Death.
The Operation upon the laſt Act of Aſsimilation. 8.
TOuching the laſt A ct of Aſſimilation (unto which the three Operations immediately
preceeding chiefly tend) our advice ſhall be brief and ſingle: and the thing it ſelf ra-
ther needs Explication, than any various Rules.
preceeding chiefly tend) our advice ſhall be brief and ſingle: and the thing it ſelf ra-
ther needs Explication, than any various Rules.
IT is certain, that all bodies are endued with ſome deſire of Aſſimilating thoſe things
111. which are next them. This the rare and pneumatical bodies, as Flame, Spirit, Air,
perform generouſly and with alacrity: on the contrary, thoſe that carry a groſs and
tangible bulk about them, do but weakly, in regard that the deſire of aſſimilating other
things is boundin by a ſtronger deſire of Reſt, and containing themſelves from Motion.
111. which are next them. This the rare and pneumatical bodies, as Flame, Spirit, Air,
perform generouſly and with alacrity: on the contrary, thoſe that carry a groſs and
tangible bulk about them, do but weakly, in regard that the deſire of aſſimilating other
things is boundin by a ſtronger deſire of Reſt, and containing themſelves from Motion.
Again, it is certain that the deſire of aſſimilating being bound, as we ſaid, in a Groſs
222. body, and made uneffectual, is ſome what freed and ſtirred up by the heat and neighbour-
ing ſpirit, ſo that it is then actuated: which is the onely cauſe why Inanimates aſſimi-
late not, and Animates aſſimilate.
222. body, and made uneffectual, is ſome what freed and ſtirred up by the heat and neighbour-
ing ſpirit, ſo that it is then actuated: which is the onely cauſe why Inanimates aſſimi-
late not, and Animates aſſimilate.
This alſo is certain, that the harder the Conſiſtence of the body is, the more doth
333. that body ſtand in need of a greater heat to prick forward the aſſimilation: which falls
out ill for old men, becauſe in them the parts are more obſtinate, and the heat weaker;
and therefore either the obſtinacy of their parts is to be ſoftned, or their heat increaſed.
And as touching the Malaciſſation or mollifying of the members, we ſhall ſpeak after ward,
having alſo formerly propounded many things which pertain to the prohibiting and
preventing of this kind of hardneſs. For the other, touching the increaſing of the
heat, we will now deliver a ſingle precept, after we have firft aſſumed this Axiom.
333. that body ſtand in need of a greater heat to prick forward the aſſimilation: which falls
out ill for old men, becauſe in them the parts are more obſtinate, and the heat weaker;
and therefore either the obſtinacy of their parts is to be ſoftned, or their heat increaſed.
And as touching the Malaciſſation or mollifying of the members, we ſhall ſpeak after ward,
having alſo formerly propounded many things which pertain to the prohibiting and
preventing of this kind of hardneſs. For the other, touching the increaſing of the
heat, we will now deliver a ſingle precept, after we have firft aſſumed this Axiom.
The Act of Aſſimilation (which, as we ſaid, is excited by the heat circumfuſed) is
444. a motion exceeding accurate, ſubtile, and in little; now all ſuch motions do then
come to their vigour, when the local Motion wholly ceaſeth which diſturbeth it. For
the Motion of Separation into homogeneal par ts, which is in Milk, that the Cream ſhould
ſwim above, and the Whey ſink to the bottom, will never work, if the Milk benever
ſo little agitated; neither will any Putrefaction proceed in Water or mixt Bodies, if
the ſame be in continual Local Motion. So then, from this Aſſumption we will conclude
this for the preſent Inquiſition.
444. a motion exceeding accurate, ſubtile, and in little; now all ſuch motions do then
come to their vigour, when the local Motion wholly ceaſeth which diſturbeth it. For
the Motion of Separation into homogeneal par ts, which is in Milk, that the Cream ſhould
ſwim above, and the Whey ſink to the bottom, will never work, if the Milk benever
ſo little agitated; neither will any Putrefaction proceed in Water or mixt Bodies, if
the ſame be in continual Local Motion. So then, from this Aſſumption we will conclude
this for the preſent Inquiſition.
The Act it ſelf of Aſſimilation is chiefly accompliſhed in Sleep and Reſt, eſpecially
555. towards the morning, the diſtribution being finiſhed. Therefore we have nothing
elſe to adviſe, but that men keep themſelves hot in their ſleep; and further, that to wards
the morning there be uſed ſome Anointing, or ſhirt tincted with Oil, ſuch as may gently
ſtir up heat, and after that to fall aſleep again. And touching the laſt Act of Aſſimilation
thus much.
555. towards the morning, the diſtribution being finiſhed. Therefore we have nothing
elſe to adviſe, but that men keep themſelves hot in their ſleep; and further, that to wards
the morning there be uſed ſome Anointing, or ſhirt tincted with Oil, ſuch as may gently
ſtir up heat, and after that to fall aſleep again. And touching the laſt Act of Aſſimilation
thus much.
The Operation upon the Inteneration of that which begins to
be Arefied, or the Malaciſſation of the Body. 9.
be Arefied, or the Malaciſſation of the Body. 9.
VVE have inquired formerly touching the Inteneration from within, which is done by
many windings and Circuits, as well of Alimentation as of Detaining the Spirit
from iſſuing forth, and therefore is accompliſhed ſlowly. Now we are to inquire touching
that Inteneration which is from without, and is effected, as it were, ſuddenly; or touching
the Malaciſſation and Suppling of the Body.
many windings and Circuits, as well of Alimentation as of Detaining the Spirit
from iſſuing forth, and therefore is accompliſhed ſlowly. Now we are to inquire touching
that Inteneration which is from without, and is effected, as it were, ſuddenly; or touching
the Malaciſſation and Suppling of the Body.
The Hiſtory.
IN the Fable of reſtoring Pelias to youth again, Medea, when ſhe feigned to do it
661. propounded this way of accompliſhing the ſame, That the Old man’s body ſhould
be cut into ſeveral pieces, and then boiled in a Cauldron with certain Medicaments.
There may, perhaps, ſome boiling be required to this matter, but the cutting into pieces
is not needful.
661. propounded this way of accompliſhing the ſame, That the Old man’s body ſhould
be cut into ſeveral pieces, and then boiled in a Cauldron with certain Medicaments.
There may, perhaps, ſome boiling be required to this matter, but the cutting into pieces
is not needful.