Intentions Such as are true and proper as wee are wholly perswaded And which are the very paths to Mortall Life For in this part Nothing that is of worth hath 〈◊〉 beene inquired But the Contemplations of Men have beene but simple and non-proficients For when we heare Meren the one side speak of Comforting Naturail Heat and the Radicall Moisture And of Meats which breed good Bloud Such as may neither be Burnt nor Phlegmatick And of the Cheering and Recreating of the Spirits Wee sappose them to be no bad Men which speak these Things But none of these 〈◊〉 effectually towards the end But when on the other side wee heare severall Discourses touching Medicines made of Gold because Gold is not subject to Corruption And touching Precious Stones to refresh the Spirits by their Hidden Properties and Lustre And that if they could be taken and retained in Vessels the Balsames and Quint-essences of Living Creatures would make Men conceive a proud hope of Immortalitie And that the Flesh of Serpents and Harts by a certaine consent are powerfull to the Renovation of Life Because the one casteth his Skin the other by Hornes They should also have added the Flesh of Eagles because the Eagle changeth 〈◊〉 Bill And that a certaine Man when he had found an Ointment hidden under the Ground And had annointed himselfe there with from Head to Foot excepting only the Soles of his Feet Did by this Annointing live three hundred yeares without any Disease save onely some Tumours in the Soles of his fect And of Artefius who when bee found his Spirit ready to depart drew into his Body the Spirit of a certaine young Man And thereby made him Breathlesse But Himselfe lived many yeares by another Mans Spirit And of Fortunate Houres according to the Figures of Heaven in which Medicines are to bee gathered and compounded for the prolongation of Life And of the Seales of Planets by which Vertues may be drawne and fetched downe from Heaven to prolong Life And such like fabulous and superstitious Vanities Wee wonder exceedingly that men should so much dote as to suffer themselves to bee deluded with these Things And againe wee doe pittie Mankinde that they should have the Hard Fortune to bee besieged with such frivolous and senselesse Apprehensions But our Intentions doe both come home to the Matter And are far from vaine and credulous Imaginations Being also such as wee conceive posteritie may adde much to the Matters which satisfie those Intentions But to the Intentions themselves but a little Notwithstanding there are a few Things and those of very great Moment of which we would have Men to bee fore-warned First wee are of that Opinion that wee esteeme the Offices of Life to bee more worthy than Life it selfe Therefore if there be any Thing of that kinde that may indeed exactly answer our Intentions yet so that the Offices and Duties of Life bee thereby hindred whatsoever it be of this kind wee reject it Perhaps wee may make some light Mention of such Things but wee 〈◊〉 not upon them For wee make no serieus nor diligent Discourse Either of hading the life in Caves where the Sunne-Beames and severall changes of the Aire pierce not Like 〈◊〉 his Cave Or of perpe tuall Baths made of Liquour prepared Or of Shirts and Seare-cloathes so applied that the Body should bee alwayes as it were in a Box Or of thick Paintings of the Body after the manner of some Barbarous Nations Or of an exact Ordering of our Life and Diet which aimeth onlyat this and mindeth nothing else but that a Man live As was that of Herodicus amongst the Ancients And of Cornarus the Venetian in our Dayes but with greater Moderation Or of any such prodigie Tediousnesse or Inconvenience But wee propound such Remedies and 〈◊〉 by which the Offices of Life may neither be deserted nor receive any great Interruptions or Mo'estations Secondly on the other side wee denounce unto Men that they would give over 〈◊〉 And not imagine that so great a Works as the Stopping and Turning back the powerfull Course of Nature can bee brought to passe by some Morning Draught or the Taking of some precious Drug But that they would bee assured that it must needs be that this is a work of labour And consisteth of many Remedies and a fit Connexion of them amongst themselves For no Man can bee so stupid as to imagine that what was never yet done can bee done but by such wayes as were never yet attempted Thirdly we ingenuously professe That some of those Things which we shall propound have not been tried by us by way of Experiment For our Course of life doth not permit that But are derived as wee suppose upon good Reason out of our Principles and Grounds of which some we set downe others we reserve in our Minde And are as it were cut and digged out of the Rocke and Mine of Nature Her selfe Neverthelesse wee have been carefull and that with all Providence and Circumspection Seeing the Scripture saith of the Body of Man That it is more worth than Raiment To propound such Remedies as may at least be safe if peradventure they be not Fruitfull Fourthly we would have Men rightly to observe and distinguish That those Things which are good for an Healthful Life are not alwayes good for a Long Life For there are some Things which doe further the Alacrity of the Spirits and the Strength and Vigour of the Functions which notwithstanding do cut off from the summe of Life And 〈◊〉 other Things which are 〈◊〉 ble to Prolongation of Life 〈◊〉 are not without some Perill 〈◊〉 Health unlesse this Matter 〈◊〉 salved by fit Remedies Of 〈◊〉 not withstanding as occasien shal bee offered wee will not omit 〈◊〉 give some Cautions and 〈◊〉 Lastly we have thought good to propound sundry 〈◊〉 according to the severall Intentions But the choice of those Remedies and the Order of them to leave to Discretion For to so downe exactly which of them agreeth best with which Constitution of Body which with the severall Courses of Life which with each Mans particular Age And how they are to be taken out after another And how the whole Practicque of these Things be administred and governed would both be too long Neither it fit to be published In the Topicks we 〈◊〉 three Intentions The 〈◊〉 of Consumption The Perfecting of Reparation And the Renewing of Oldnesse But seeing those Things which 〈◊〉 be said are Nothing lesse 〈◊〉 words Wee will deduce 〈◊〉 three Intentions to Ten Operations 1 The First is the Operation upon the Spirits that they may 〈◊〉 their Vigour 2 The Second Operation is upon be Exclusion of Aire 3 The Third Operation is upon the Bloud and the Sanguifying Heat 4 The Fourth Operation is upon the Juyces of the Body 5 The Fifth Operation is 〈◊〉 the Bowels for their 〈◊〉 on of Aliment 6 The Sixth Operation is upon the Outward Parts for 〈◊〉 Attraction of Aliment 7
dayes 5 The Fox seemes to bee well disposed in many Things for long life He is well skinned feeds on Flesh lives in Dens And yet hee is noted not to have that propertie Certainly hee is a kinde of Dog And that kinde is but short liv'd 6 The Camell is a long Liver A lean Creature and Sinewy So that he doth ordinarily attaine to Fifty And some times to an hundred yeares 7 The Horse lives but to a moderate Age searce to fortie yeares His ordinarie Period is Twentie yeares But perhaps he is beholding for this shortnesse of his Life to Man For we have now no Horses of the Sunne That live freely and at pleasure in good pastures Notwithstanding the Horse growes till hee bee six yeares old And is able for Generation in his Old Age. Besides the Mare goeth longer with her young one than a Woman And brings forth two at a Burthen more rarely The Asse lives commonly to the Horses Age But the Mule out-lives them both 8 The Hart is famous amongst Men for long Life yet not upon any Relation that is undoubted They tell of a certaine Hart that was found with a Coller about his Neck and that Coller hidden with Fat The long Life of the Hart is the lesse credible because hee comes to his perfection at the Fifth yeare And not long after his Hornes which hee sheds and renewes yearely grow more Narrow at the Root and lesse Branched 9 The Dag is but a short Liver He exceeds not the Age of Twentie yeares And for the most part lives not to fourteen yeares A Creature of the hottest Temper and living in extremes for he is commonly either in vehement Motion or Sleeping Besides the Bitch bringeth forth many at a Burthen and goeth nine weekes 10 The Oxe likewise for the Greatnesse of his Body and Strength is but a short Liver About some sixteen yeares And the Males live longer than the Females Notwithstanding they beare usually but one at a Burthen and goe nine Moneths A Creature dull and fleshy and soone fatted and living onely upon Herby substances without Graine 11 The Sheep seldome lives to ten yeares Though hee bee a Creature of a moderate size and excellently clad And that which may seeme a wonder being a Creature with so little Gall yet hee hath the most curled coat of any other For the Haire of no Creature is so much curled as Wooll is The Rams generate not before the third yeare And continue able for Generation untill the eighth The Ewes beare young as long as they live The Sheep is a diseased Creature And rarely lives to his full Age. 12 The Goat lives to the same Age with the Sheepe And is not much unlike in other Things Though hee bee a Creature more Nimble and of somewhat a firmer Flesh And so should bee longer liv'd But then hee is much more lascivious And that shortens his Life 13 The Sow lives to fifteen yeares sometimes to twentie And though it be a Creature of the Moistest Flesh yet that seemes to make nothing to Length of Life Of the Wilde Boare or Sow we have nothing certaine 14 The Cats Age is betwixt six and ten yeares A Creature nimble and full of spirit whose seed As Aelian repotteth burneth the Female Whereupon it is said That the Cat conceives with paine and brings forth with ease A creature ravenous in eating Rather swallowing downe his Meat whole than Feeding 15 Hares and Conies attaine scarce to seven yeares Being both Creatures Generative and with young ones of severall conceptions in their bellies In this they are unlike that the Coney lives under Ground and the Hare above Ground And againe that the Hare is of a more duskish Flesh. 16 Birds for the size of their Bodies are much lesser than Beasts for an Eagle or Swan is but a small Thing in comparison of an Oxe or Horse And so is an Estrich to an Elephant 17 Birds are excellently well clad For Feathers for warmth and close sitting to the Body exceed wooll and Haires 18 Birds though they hatch many young ones together yet they beare them not all in their Bodies at once Butlay their Egges by turnes whereby their Fruit hath the more plentifull nourishment 〈◊〉 it is in their bodies 19 Birds chew little or nothing but their Meat is found whole in their crops Notwithstanding they will breake the shels of Fruits and pick out the Kernels They are thought to bee of a very hot and strong concoction 20 The Motion of Birds in their Flying is a mixt Motion Consisting of a moving of the Lims and of a kinde of Carriage which is a most wholesome kinde of Exercise 21 Aristotle noted well touching the Generation of Birds But hee transferred it ill to other living Creatures That the seed of the Male confers lesse to Generation than the Female But that it rather affords Activity than Matter so that Fruitfull Egges and unfruitfull Egges are hardly distinguished 22 Birds almost all of them come to their full Growth the first yeare or a little after It is true that their Feathers in some kindes and their Bils in others shew their yeares But for the Growth of their Bodies it is not so 23 The Eagle is accounted a long Liver yet his yeares are not set downe And it is alledged as a signe of his long life That he casts his Bill whereby hee growes young againe From whence comes that Proverb The Old Age of an Eagle Notwithstanding perchance the matter may be thus That the Renewing of the Eagle doth not cast his Bill But the casting of his Bill is the Renewing of the Eagle For after that his Bill is growne to a great crookednesse the Eagle feeds with much difficultie 24 Vultures also are affirmed to bee long Livers Insomuch that they extend their Life well-neare to an hundred yeares Kites likewise and so all Birds that feed upon Flesh and Birds of prey live long As for Hawkes because they lead a degenerate and servile life for the Delight of Men The Terme of their Naturall Life is not certainly knowne Notwithstanding amongst Mewed Hawkes some have beene found so have lived thirty yeares And amongst wilde Hawkes forty yeares 25 The Raven likewise is reported to live long Sometimes to an hundred yeares Hee feeds on Carrion And flies not often but rather is a se dentarie and Melancholy Bird And hath very black flesh But the Crow like unto him in most Things Except in Greatnesse and voice lives not altogether so long And yet is reckoned amongst the long Livers 26 The Swan is certainly found to bee a long Liver And exceeds not unfrequently an hundred yeares He is a Bird excellently plumed A Feeder upon Fish And is alwayes carried And that in Running Waters 27 The Goose also may passe amongst the Long-livers Though his food bee commonly Grasse and such kinde of Nourishment Especially the Wilde-Goose whereupon this Proverb grew amongst the Germans Magis senex quam Anser Nivalis Older
rightly bee referred to the Condensation of the Spirits For it is a kinde of Henbane And manifestly troubles the Head as Opiates doe 28 There are sometimes Humours engendred in the Bodie which are as it were Opiate themselves As it is in some kinde of Melancholies With which if a Man be affected it is a signe of very Long Life 29 The Simple Opiates which are also called Stupefactives are these Opium it self which is the Juyce of Poppy Both the Poppies as well in the Herb as in the Seed Henbane Mandrake Hemlock Tobacco Night-shade 30 The Compound 〈◊〉 are Treacle Mitbridate Trifera Ladanum Paracelsi Diacodium Diascordium Philonium Pills of Hounds-Tongue 31 From this which hath been said certaine Designations or Councels may be deduced for the Prolongation of Life according to the present Intention Namely of 〈◊〉 the Spirits by Opiates 32 Let there be therfore every yeare from Adult yeares of Youth an Opiate Diet Let it bee taken about the end of May Because the Spirits in Summer are more Loose and Attenuated And there is lesse Danger from Cold Humours Let it bee some Magistrall Opiate weaker than those that are commonly in use both in rtspect of a smaller Quantity of Opium and of a more sparing mixture of extreme Hot Things Let it be taken in the Morning betwixt sleeps The Fare for that time would bee more simple and sparing than or linary without Wine or Spices or Vaporous Things This Medicine to be taken onely each Other Day And to bee continued for a Fortnight This Designation in our Judgement comes home to the Intention 33 Opiates also may bee taken not onely by the Mouth but also by Fumes But the Fumes must bee such as may not move the Expulsive Facultie too strongly nor force downe Humours But only taken in a Weft may worke upon the Spirits within the Braine And therefore a Suffumigation of Tobacco Lignum Alce Rose-Mary Leaves dr ed and a little Myrrhe snuffed up in the Morning at the Mouth and Nosthrils would bee very good 34 In Grand Opiaces Such as are Treacle Mithridate and the rest It would not bee amisse especially in Youth to take rather the Distilled Waters of Them than themselves in their Bodies For the Vapour in Distilling doth rise But the Heat of the Medicine commonly 〈◊〉 Now Distilled Waters are good in those vertues which are conveyed by Vapours In other Things but weake 35 There are Medicines which have a certaine weak and hidden Degree And therefore safe Toan Opiate Vertue These send froth a Slow 〈◊〉 Copious Vapour but not 〈◊〉 as Opiates doe Therefore they put not the Spirits to 〈◊〉 Notwithstanding they congregate them and somewhat thicken them 36 Medicines in Order to Opiates ate Principally Saffron Next Folium Indum Amber-Grise Coriander-Seed prepared Amomum and 〈◊〉 Lignum-Rhodium Orenge-Flower Water And much more the infusion of the same Flowers new gathered in Oyle of Almonds Nutmegs pricked full of Holes and macerated in Rose water 37 As Opiates are to be taken very sparingly and at certaine times as was said So these Secundaries may be taken familiarly and in our daily Diet And they will be very effectuall to prolongation of life Certainly an Apothecarie of Calecute by the use of Amber is said to have lived 〈◊〉 hundred and sixtie yeares And the Noble Men of Barbarie through the use thereof are certified to be very long liv'd whereas the meane people are but of short life And our Ancestours who were longer liv'd than wee did use Saffron much In their Cakes Broathes and the like And touching the first way of Condensing the Spirits by Opiates and the Subordinates thereto thus much 38 Now we will inquire of the second way of Condensing the Spirits by Cold. For the proper worke of Cold is Condensation And it is done without my Malignitie or adverse Qualitie And therefore it is a fafer Operation than by Opiates Though somewhat lesse powerfull if it bee done by Turnes only as Opiates are But then againe because it may bee used familiarly and in our daily Diet with Moderation It is much more powerfull for the Prolongation of Life than by Opiates 39 The Refrigeration of the Spirits is effected three wayes Either by Respiration or by 〈◊〉 or by Aliment The first is the best but in a sort out of our power The second is potent but yet ready and at hand The third is weake and somewhat about 40 Aire cleare and pure And which hath no Fogginesse in it before it bee received into the Lungs And which is least exposed to the Sun-beames Condenseth the Spirits best Such is found either on 〈◊〉 Tops of Drie Mountaines or in 〈◊〉 open to the windes and yet not without some shade 41 As 〈◊〉 Refrigeration and 〈◊〉 of the Spirits by Vapours The Root of this Operation wee place in Nitre As a Creature purposely made and chosen for this end Being thereunto lead and perswaded by these Arguments 42 Nitre is a kinde of Coole Spice This is apparent to the sense it selfe For it bites the Tongue and Palate with Cold as Spices doe with Heat And it is the onely Thing as 〈◊〉 as wee know that hath this propertie 43 Almost all cold Things which are cold properly and not by Accident as Opium is are poore and jejune of Spirit Contrarily Things full of Spirit are almost all Hot Only Nitre is found amongst Vegetables which 〈◊〉 with Spirit and yet is Cold. As for Camphire which is full of Spirit and yet performeth the Actions of Cold it cooleth by Accident onely As namely for that by the Thinnesse thereof without Acrimonie it helpeth Perspiration in In flammations 44 In Congealing and Freezing of Liquours which is latel growne into use By Laying Snow and Ice on the Outside of the Vessell Nitre is also added And no doubt it exciteth and 〈◊〉 the Congelation It is 〈◊〉 that they use also for this worke ordnarie Bay-salt which doth rather give Activitie to the Coldnesse of the Snow than coo'e by it selfe But as I have 〈◊〉 in the Hotter Regions where snow fals not the Congealing is wrought by Nitre alone But this I can not certainly affirme 45 It is affirmed that 〈◊〉 which consisteth principally of Nitre being taken in drink doth conduce to Valour And that it is used oftentimes by Mariners and Souldiers before they begin their Battels as the Turks doe Opium 46 Nitre is given with good successe in Burning Agues and Pestilentiall Fevers to mitigate and Bridle their per. nicious Heats 47 It is most manifest that 〈◊〉 in Gunpowder doth mightily abhorre Flame From whence is caused that Horrible Crack and Puffing 48 Nitre is found to bee as it were the Spirit of the Earth For this is most certaine That any Earth though pure and unmixt with Nitrous Matter if it bee so laid up and covered that it be free from the Sun-beames and putteth forth no Vegetable will gather Nitre even in good Abundance By which it is clear That the
The Seventh Operation upon the Aliment it selfe 〈◊〉 the Insinuation thereof 8 The Eighth Operation is 〈◊〉 on the last Act of Assimilatioc 9 The Ninth Operation is up on the Inteneration of the Part after they begin to be Dried 10 The Tenth Operation is on the Purging away of 〈◊〉 Juyce and Supplying of 〈◊〉 Juyce Of these Operations the 〈◊〉 first belong to the First Intention The foure next to the 〈◊〉 Intention And the two last the Third Intention But because this Part touching the Intentions doth tend to Practice under the Name of Historie we will not onely comprise Experiments and Observations But also Councels Remedies Explications of Causes Assumptions and whatsoever hath Reference hereunto The Operation upon the Spirits that they may remaine youthfull and renue their Vigour The Historie 1 THe Spirits are the Master-workmen of all Effects in the Bodie This is manifest by Consent And by Infinite Instances 2 If any Man could procure that a young Mans Spirit could be conveyed into 〈◊〉 Mans Body It is not unlikely but this great Wheele of the Spirits might turne 〈◊〉 the lesser wheele of the 〈◊〉 And so the Course of 〈◊〉 become Retrograde 3 In every Consumption whether it be by Fire or by Age the more the Spirit of the Body or the Heat preyeth upon the Moisture 〈◊〉 lesser is the Duration of the Thing This occurres every where and is manifest 4 The Spirits are to be 〈◊〉 such a Temperament and Degree of Activitie 〈◊〉 they should not as He 〈◊〉 Drinke or Guzzle the 〈◊〉 of the Body But Sippe them onely 5 There are two Kinds of Flames The one Eager and weak which consumes slight Substances but hath little power over the Harder As the Flame of Straw or small Sticks The other strong and constant which converts Hard and obstinate substances As the Flame of Hard wood and such like 6 The eager Flames and yet lesse Robust doe drie Bodies and render them exhaust and Baplesse But the stronger Flames doe 〈◊〉 and melt them 7 Also in 〈◊〉 Mediines some vapour forth the 〈◊〉 part of the Tumours or Swellings and these 〈◊〉 the Tumour Others potently discusse and these Soften it 8 Also in Purging and Absterging Medicines some carry away the Fluide Humours violently others draw the more Obstinate and viscous 9 The Spirits ought to be invested and armed with such a Heat That they may choose rather to stirre and 〈◊〉 Hard and obstinate Matters Than to discharge and carry away the thin and prepared For by that meanes the Body becomes Greene and Solide 10 The Spirits are so to be wrought and tempered That they may be In Substance Dense 〈◊〉 Rare In Heat Strong 〈◊〉 Eager In Quantity Sufficient for the Offices of Life 〈◊〉 Redundant or TurgideIn Motion Appeased 〈◊〉 Dancing or Unequall 11 That Vapours worke powerfully upon the Spirits it is manifest By Sleepe by Drunkennesse by Melancholy Passions By Laetificant Medicines By Odours calling the Spirits back againe in Swounings and Faintings 12 The Spirits are condensed foure wayes Either by Putting them to Flight Or by Refrigerating and Cooling them Or by Stroaking them Or by Quieting them And first of their Condensation by putting them to Flight 13 Whatsoever putteth to Flight on all parts driveth the Body into his Center And so condenseth 14 To the Condenfution of the Spirits by Flight the most Powerfull and Effectuall is Opium And next Opiates And generally all 〈◊〉 Things 15 The force of Opium to the Condensation of the Spirits 〈◊〉 exceeding strong When as perhaps three graines thereof will in a short time so Coagulate the Spirits that they returne no more but are extinguished and become Im moveable 16 Opium and the like put not the Spirits to Flight by their Coldnesse For they have Parts manifestly Hot But 〈◊〉 the contrary coole by their putting the Spirits to Flight 17 The Flight of the Spirits by Opium and Opiate Medicines 〈◊〉 best seene by applying 〈◊〉 same outwardly For the 〈◊〉 straight withdraw themselves And will returne 〈◊〉 more But the Part is Mortified And turnes to a Gangrene 18 Opiates in Grievous Pains as in the Stone or the Cutting off of a Lunme mitigate paines Most of all by putting the Spirits to Flight 19 Opiates obtaine a good Effect from a bad Cause For the Flight of the Spirits is Evill But the Condensation of them through their Flight is Good 20 The Grecians attributed much both for Health and for Prolongation of Life to Opiates But the Arabians much more In so much that their Grand Medicines which they called the Gods Hands Had Opium for their Basis principall Ingredient other Things being mixed to abate and correct the Noxious Qualities thereof Such were Treacle Mithridate and the rest 21 Whatsoever is given with good successe in the curing of pestilentiall and Malignant Diseases To stop and Bridle the Spirits lest they grow Turbulent and Tumultuate May very happily be transferred to Prolongation of Life For one Thing is effectuall unto both Namely the Condensation of the Spirits Now there is nothing better for that than Opiates 22 The Turkes finde Opium even in a reasonable good quantitie Harmelesse and Comfortable In so much that they take it before their Battell to excite Courage But to us unlesse it be in a very small Quantity and with good Correctives it is Mortall 23 Opium and Opiates are maaifestly found to excite Venus Which shewes them to have force to corroborate the Spirits 24 Distilled mater of wilde Poppie is given with good successe in Sursets Agues and divers Diseases Which no doubt is a Temperate kinde of Opiate Neither let any man wonder at the various use of it For that is Familiar to Opiates In regard that the Spirits corroborated and Condensed will rise up against any Disease 25 The Turkes use a kinde of Herb which they call Caphe which they dry and powder And then drinke it in warme water Which they say doth not a little sharpen them both in their Courage and in their Wits Notwithstanding if it be taken in a large Quantity it affects and disturbs the Minde Whereby it is manifost that it is of the same Nature with Opiates 26 There is a Root much renowmed in al the Easternparts which they call Betel Which the Indians and others use to carry in their Mouths and to champ it And by that champing they are wonderfully enabled both to endure Labours and to overcome Sicknesses and to the Act of carnall Copulation It seemes to be a kinde of Stupefactive because it exceedingly blacks the Teeth 27 Tobacco in our Age is immoderately growne into use And it affects Men with a secret kinde of Delight In so much that they who have once inured themselves to it can hardly afterwards leave it And no doubt it hath power to lighten the Body and to shake off wearinesse Now the vertue of it is commonly thought to be because it opens the Passages and void Humours But it may more
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
into the Lungs and to take in new Scarce the third part of a Minute 16 Againe the Beating of the Pulse And the Motion of the Systole and Diastole of the Heart are three times quicker than that of Breathing Insomuch that if it were possible that that Motion of the Heart could be stopped without stopping the Breath Death would follow more speedily thereupon than by Strangling 17 Notwithstanding Vse and Custome prevaile much in this Naturall Action of Breathing As it is in the Delian Divers and Fishers for Pearle who by long use can hold their Breaths at least ten times longer than other Men can doe 18 Amongst Living Creatures even of those that have Lungs there are some that are able to hold their Breaths a long time and others that cannot hold them so long According as they need more or lesse Refrigeration 19 Fishes need lesse Refrigeration than Terrestriall Creatures yet some they need and take it by their Gils And as Terrestriall Creatures cannot beare the Aire that is too Hot or too Close So Fishes are suffocated in waters if they be totally and long Frozen 20 If the Spirit be assaulted by another Heat greater than it selfe it is dissipated and destroyed For if it cannot beare the proper Heat without Refrigeration much lesse can it beare another Heat which is farre stronger This is to bee seene in Burning Fevers where the Heat of the Putrified Humours doth exceed the Native Heat Even to Extinction or Dissipation 21 The Want also and Use of Sleepe is referred to Refrigeration For Motion doth attenuate and 〈◊〉 the Spirit And doth sharpen and increase the Heat thereof Contrarily Sleepe settleth and restraineth the Motion and Gadding of the same 〈◊〉 though Sleepe doth strengthen and advance the Actions 〈◊〉 the Parts and of the livelesse Spirits and all that Motion which is to the Circumference of the Body yet it doth in great part quiet and still the proper Motion of the Living Spirit Now Sleepe regularly is due unto Humane Nature once within Foure and Twentie Houres And that for Six or Five Houres at the least Though there are even in this kinde sometimes Miracles of Nature As it is recorded of Mecaenas that he slept not for a long time before his Death And as touching the Want of Refrigeration for Conserving of the Spirit thus much 22 As concerning the third Indigence Namely of Aliment It seemes to pertaine rather to the Parts than to the Living Spirit For a Man may easily beleeve that the Living Spirit 〈◊〉 in Identitie Not by succestion or Renovation And as for the 〈◊〉 Soule in Man it is above all question That it is no engendred of the Soule of the Parents Nor is repaired Nor can dye They speake of the Naturall Spirit of living Creatutes And also of Vegetables which differs from that other Soule essentially and formally For out of the Confusion of these that same Transmigration of Soules and Innumerable other Devices of Heathens and Hereticks have proceeded 23 The Body of Man doth regularly require Renovation by Aliment every day And Body in Health can scarce endure Fasting three dayes together Notwithstanding Use and Custome will doe much even in this Case But in Sicknesse Fasting is lesse grievous to the Body Also Sleepe doth supply somewhat to Nourishment And on the other side Exercise doth require it more abundantly Likewise there have some beene found who have susteined themselves almost to a Miracle in Nature a very long time without Meat or Drink 24 Dead Bodies if they bee not intercepted by Putrefaction will subsist a long time without any Notable Absumption But Living Bodies not above three dayes as wee said unlesse they be repaired by Nourishment rishment which sheweth that quick Absumption to bee the work of the Living Spirit which either repaires it selfe or puts the Parts into a Necessitie of being repaired Or both This is testified by that also which was noted a little before Namely that Living Creatures may subsist somewhat the longer without Aliment if they Sleepe Now Sleepe is Nothing else but a Reception and Retirement of the Living Spirit into it selfe 25 An abundant and continuall Effluxion of Bloud which sometimes happeneth in the Hemorrhoides sometimes in Vomiting of Bloud the Inward Veines being unlocked broken sometimes by Wounds Causeth sudden Death In regard that the Bloud of the Veines ministreth to the Arteries And the Bloud of the Arteries to the Spirit 26 The Quantitie of Meat and Drink which a Man eating two Meales a day receiveth into his Body is not small Much more than he voideth againe either by Stoole or by Urine or by Sweating You will say No marvell Seeing the Remainder goeth into the Juyces and Substance of the Body It is true But consider then that this Addition is made twice a day and yet the Body aboundeth not much In like manner though the Spirit be repaired yet it growes not Excessively in the Quantitie 27 It doth no good to have the Aliment ready in a Degree removed But to have it of that Kinde And so prepared and supplied that the Spirit may work upon it For the Staff of a Torch alone will not maintaine the Flame unlesse it be fed with wax Neither can Men live upon Herbs alone And from thence comes the Inconcoction of old Age That though there bee Flesh and Bloud yet the Spirit is become so Penurious and Thin And the Juyces and Bloud so Heartlesse and Obstinate that they hold no proportion to Alimentation 28 Let us now cast up the Accounts of the Needs and Indigences according to the Ordinarie and Usuall Course of Nature The Spirit hath need of Opening and Moving it selfe in the Ventricles of the Braine and Nerves even continually Of the Motion of the Heart every Third part of a Moment Of Breathing every Moment Of Sleepe and Nourishment once within three Dayes Of the Power of Nourishing commonly till Eighty yeares bee past And if any of these Indigences bee neglected Death ensueth So there are plainly three Porches of Death Destitution of the Spirit In the Motion In the Refrigeration In the Aliment It is an Errour to think that the Living Spirit is perpetually generated and extinguished as Flame is And abideth not any notable time For even Flame it selfe is not thus out of his owne proper Nature But because it liveth amongst Enemies For Flame within Flame endureth Now the Living Spirit liveth amongst Friends and all due Obsequiousnesse So then as Flame is a Momentany Substance Aire a Fixed Substance The Living Spirit is betwixt both Touching the Extinguishing of the Spirit by the Destruction of the Organs which is caused by Diseases and Violence 〈◊〉 inquire not now As wee foretold in the Beginning Although that also endeth in the same three Porches And touching the Forme of Death it selfe thus much 29 There are two great Forerunners of Death The one sent from the Head the other from the Heart 〈◊〉 and the Extreme Labour of the Pulse
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
the Bodie as that newly made flye away together by Degrees This is best seene by the Dimination of the Weight in Bodies dryed through Perspiration For neither all that which is issued forth was Spirit when the Body was Ponderous Neither was it Not Spirit when it issued forth Canon III. THe Spirit Issuing forth Dryeth Detained and working within either Melteth or Putrifieth or Vivifieth The Explication THere are Foure Processes of the Spirit To Arefaction To Colliquation To Putrefaction To Generation of Bodies Arefaction is not the proper Worke of the Spirit but of the Grosser Parts after the Spirit issued forth For then they contract themselves partly by their Flight of Vacuum partly by the Vnion of Homogeneals As appeares in all Things which are Arified by Age And in the Drier Sort of Bodies which have passed the Fire As 〈◊〉 Charocoales Bread Colliquation is the meere Work of the Spirits Neither is it done but when they are excited by Heat For then the Spirits dilating themselves yet not getting forth Do insinuate and disperse themselves amongst the Grosser Parts And so make them Soft and apt to Run As it is in Metals and Wax For Metals and all Tenacious Things are apt to inhibite the Spirit that being excited it iffueth not forth 〈◊〉 is a Mixed work of the Spirits and of the Grosser Parts For the Spirit which before restrained and bridled the Parts of the Thing being partly issued forth and partly Enfeebled All things in the Body doe Dissolve andreturne to their Homogeneities Or if you will to their Elements That which was Spirit in it is congregated to it selfe whereby things Patrified begin to have an ill Savour The Oyly Parts to Themselves Whereby Things Putrified have that Slipperinesse and Vnctuositie The Wairyparts also to themselves The Dregs to Themselves Whence followeth that Confusion in Bodies putrified But Generation or Vivification is a Worke also mixed of the Spirit and Grosser parts but in a far different Manner For the Spirit is totally detained but it swelleth and moveth locally And the Grosser Parts are not dissolved But follow the Motion of the Spirit and are as it were blowne out by it and extruded into divers figures From whence commeth that Generation and Organization And therefore Vivification is alwayes done in a Matter Tenacious and Clammie And againe Yeelding and Soft That there may bee both a Detention of the Spirit And also a gentle Cession of the Parts according as the Spirit formes them And this is seene in the Matter as well of all Vegetables as of Living Creatures whether they be engendred of Putrefaction or of Sperme For in all these Things there is manifestly seene a Matter hard to breake thorow easie to yeeld Canon IV. IN all Living Creatures there are two Kindes of Spirits Livelesse Spirits such as are in Bodies Inanimate And a Vitall Spirit superadded The Explication IT was said before That to procure long Life the Body of Man must be considered First as Inanimate and not Repaired by Nourishment Secondly as Animate and Repaired by Nourishment For the Former Consideration gives Lawes touching Consumption The latter touching Reparation Therefore we must know That there are in Humane Flesh Bones Membranes Organs Finally in all the parts such Spirits diffused in the substance of them while they are alive As there are in the same Things Flesh Bones Membranes and the Rest Separated and Dead Such as also remaine in a Carkase But the Vitall Spirit although it tuleth them and hath some Consent with them yet it is farre differing from them Being integrall and subsisting by it selfe Now there are two especiall Differences betwixt the Livelesse Spirits and the Vitall Spirits The one that the Livelesse Spirits are not continued to Themselves But are as it were cut off And encompassed with a Grosse Body which intercepts them As Aire is mixt in Snow or Froth But the Vitall Spirit is all continued to it selfe by certaine Conduit Pipes through which it passeth and is not totally intercepted And this Spirit is twofold also The one Branched onely passing through small Pipes and as it were Strings The other hath a Cell also So as it is not onely continued to it selfe but also Congregared in an Hollow Space in reasonable good Quantity according to the Analogie of the Body And in that Cell is the Fountaine of the Rivulers which branch from thence That Cell is chiefly in the Ventricles of the Braine Which in the Ignobler sort of Creatures are but Narrow Insomuch that the Spirits in them seeme scattered over their whole Body rather than Celled As may be seene in Serpents Eels and Flies whereof every of their parts move long after they are cut asunder Birds also leape a good while after their Heads are pulled off Because they have little Heads and little Cels But the Nobler sort of Creatures have those Ventricles larger And Man the largest of all The other Difference betwixt the Spirits is That the Vitall Spirit hath a Kinde of Enkindling And is like a Winde or Breath compouuded of Flame and Aire As the Juyces of Living Creatures have both Oyle and Water And this Enkindling ministreth peculiar Motions and Faculties For the Smoke which is inflammable even before the Flame conceived is Hot Thin and Moveable And yet it is quite another Thing after it is become Flame But the Enkindling of the Vitall Spirits is by many Degrees gentler than the softest Flame As of Spirit of Wine or otherwise And besides it is in great part mixed with an Aeriall Substance That it should be a Mystery or Miracle both of a Flammcous and Aereous Nature Canon V. THe Naturall Actions are proper to the Severall Parts But it is the Vitall Spirit that excites and sharpens them The Explication THe Actions or Functions which are in the severall Members follow the Nature of the Members Themselves Attraction Retention Disgestion Assimilation Separation Excretion Perspiration Even Sense it selfe According to the Proprietie of the severall Organs The Stomach Liver Heart Spleene Gall Braine Eye Eare and the rest Yet none of these Actions would ever have beene actuated but by the Vigour and Presence of the Vitall Spirit and 〈◊〉 thereof As one Iron would not have drawne another Iron unlesse it had beene excited by the Load-stone Nor an Egge would ever have brought forth a Bird unlesse the Substance of the Hen had beene actuated by the Treading of the Cock. Canon VI. THe Livelesse Spirits are next Consubstantiall to Aire The Vitall Spirits approach more to the Subsiance of Flame The Explication THe Explication of the precedent Fourth Canon is also a Declaration of this present Canon But yet further from hence it is That all Fat and Oyly Things continue long in their Being For neither doth the 〈◊〉 much pluck them Neither doe they much desire to 〈◊〉 Themselves with Aire As for that Conceit it is altogether vaine That Flame should bee Aire set on Fire Seeing Flame and Aire are no lesse Heterogeneall