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
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
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
Speech than profundity of Matters were also long Liv'd As Gorgias Protagoras I socraetes Seneca And certainly as old Men are for the most part Talkative So Talkative Men doe often grow very old For it shewes a Light Contemplation And such as doth not much straine the Spirits 〈◊〉 them But Subtill and Acute and Eager Inquisition shortens Life For it tireth the Spirit and wasteth it And as touching the Motion of the Spirits by the Affections of the Minde thus much Now we will adde certaine other Generall Observations touching the Spirits beside the former Which fall not 〈◊〉 the Precedent Distribution 92 Especiall Care must be taken that the Spirits bee not too often Resolved For 〈◊〉 goeth before Resolution And the Spirit once 〈◊〉 doth not very easily retire or is Condensed Now Resolution is caused by Over-great Labours Over-vehement Affections of the Mind Over-great Sweats Over-great Evacuations Hot Baths And an untemperate and unseasonable use of Venus Also by Over-great Cares and Carpings and Anxious Expectations Lastly by Malignane Diseases and Intolerable Paines and Torments of the Body All which as much as may bee which our Vulga Phyficians also advise must be avoided 93 The Spirits are delighted both with Wonted Things and with New Now it makert wonderfully to the Conservation of the Spirits in 〈◊〉 That wee neither use 〈◊〉 Things to a Satiety and 〈◊〉 Nor New Things before a quick and strong Appetite And therefore both Customes are to be broken off with Judgement and Care before they breed a Fulnesse And the Appetite aster New Things to be restrained for a Time untill it grow more Sharp and jocund And moreover the Life as much as may be so to be ordered That it may have many Renovations And the Spirits by perpetuall Conversing in the same Actions may not wax Dull For though it were no ill 〈◊〉 of Seneca's The Fools doth 〈◊〉 begin to Live Yet this Folly and many more such are good for long Life 94 It is to bee observed 〈◊〉 the Spirits though the Contrary useth to be done That when Men perceive their Spirits to be in a good 〈◊〉 and Healthfull State That which will be seene by the Tranquillitie of their 〈◊〉 and cheerefull 〈◊〉 That they cherish them and not change them But when in a Turbulent and untoward State Which will also appeare by their Sadnesse Lumpishnesse and other Indisposition of their Minde That then they straight overwhelme them and alter them Now the Spirits are contained in the same state By a Restraining of the Affections Temperatenes of Diet Abstinence from 〈◊〉 Moderation in Labour Indifferent Rest and Repose And the Contrary to these do alter and over-whelme the Spirits As Namely Vehe ment Affections Profuse Feastings Immoderate Venus Difficult labours Earnest Studies and prosecutions of Businesse Yet Men are wont when they are Merriest and best disposed then to apply themselves to Feastings 〈◊〉 Labours Endevours Businesses whereas if they have a regard to long Life which may seeme strange they should rather Practise the Contrary For wee ought to 〈◊〉 and preserve good Spirits And for the evill disposed Spirits to discharge and alter them 95 〈◊〉 saith not unwisely That Old Men for the Comforting of their Spirits ought often to remember and 〈◊〉 upon the Acts of their Childhood and Youth Certainly such a Remembrance is a 〈◊〉 of Peculiar 〈◊〉 to every Old Man And therefore it is a Delight to Men to enjoy the Societie of them which have beene brought up together with them And to visit the places of their Education Vespasian did attribute so much to this Matter That when hee was 〈◊〉 hee would by no meanes bee perswaded to leave his Fathers House though but meane Lest bee should lose the wonted Object of his Eyes and the Memory of his child-hood 〈◊〉 besides he would drinke 〈◊〉 Woodden Cup tipped with 〈◊〉 which was his Grandmothers upon Festivall Dayes 96 One Thing above all gratefull to the Spirits 〈◊〉 there be a Continuall Progresse to the more Benigne Therefore wee should lead such Youth and Manhood the our Old Age should find 〈◊〉 Solaces Whereof the 〈◊〉 is Moderate Ease And there fore Old Men in Honourable Places lay violent Hands up on themselves who retire 〈◊〉 to their Ease whereof 〈◊〉 be found an Eminent Example in Cassiodorus who was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reputation amongst the 〈◊〉 Kings of Italy that he 〈◊〉 as the Soule of their 〈◊〉 Afterwards being neare 〈◊〉 yeares of Age he 〈◊〉 himselfe to a 〈◊〉 Where he ended not his 〈◊〉 before he was an 〈◊〉 years old But this Thing 〈◊〉 require two Cautions 〈◊〉 that they drive not off 〈◊〉 their Bodies bee utterly 〈◊〉 out and Diseased For 〈◊〉 such Bodie all Mutation 〈◊〉 to the more Benigne 〈◊〉 Death The other 〈◊〉 they surrender not themselves to a Sluggish Ease But 〈◊〉 they Embrace something which may entertaine their Thoughts and Minde with Contentation In which 〈◊〉 the chiefe Delights are Reading and Contemplation And then the Desires of 〈◊〉 ding and Planting 97 Lastly The same 〈◊〉 Endevour and Labour under taken Cheerefully and with good will doth Refresh 〈◊〉 Spirits But with an 〈◊〉 tion and Vnwillingnesse 〈◊〉 Fret and Deject them 〈◊〉 therefore it conferreth 〈◊〉 long Life Either that a 〈◊〉 hath the Art to institute 〈◊〉 Life so as it may be Free 〈◊〉 Sutable to his owne 〈◊〉 Or else to lay such a Command upon his minde that whatsoever is imposed by Fortune it may rather lead him than drag him 98 Neither is that to be 〈◊〉 ted towards the Government of the Affections That espe ciall care bee taken of 〈◊〉 Mouth of the Stomach Espe cially that it be not too much 〈◊〉 For that part hath a greater Dominion over the Affections Especially the Daily Affections Than either the Heart or Braine Only those Things excepted which are wrought by potent Vapours As in Drunkennesse and Melancholy 99 Touching the Operation upon the Spirits that they may remaine Youthfull and Renew their Vigour thus much Which wee have done the more accurately for that there 〈◊〉 for the most part amongst Physicians and other Authors 〈◊〉 these Operations a deepe silence But especially because the Operation upon the Spirits and their Waxing 〈◊〉 againe is the most Realy and Compendious way to long Life And that for a two-fold Compendiousnesse One because the Spirits work compendiously upon the Body The other because Vpours and the Affections 〈◊〉 compendiously upon the Spirits So as these attaine the end as it were in a right line Other Things rather in lines Circular The Operation upon the Exclusion of the Aire 2. The Historie 1 THe Exclusion of the Aire Ambient tendeth to Length of Life two wayes First for 〈◊〉 the Externall Aire next 〈◊〉 the Native Spirit 〈◊〉 the Aire may be said to 〈◊〉 the Spirit of Man 〈◊〉 conferreth not a little to 〈◊〉 Doth most of all 〈◊〉 upon the Juyces of the 〈◊〉 And hasten the Desiction thereof And 〈◊〉 the Exclusion
of their Heat So that 〈◊〉 seemeth not to have said amisse Nec Casiâ liquidi corrumpitur usus Olivi That Odoriferous Casia 〈◊〉 not supplanted the use of 〈◊〉 Oyle-Olive 20 Annointing with Oyle 〈◊〉 to Health Both in Winter by the Exclusion of the Cold Airc And in Summer by Detaining the spirits within And prohibiting the Resolution of them And keeping off the force of the Aire which is then most predatorie 21 Seeing the Annointing with Oyle is one of the most potent Operations to long Life wee have thought good to adde some Cautions lest the Health should bee endangered They are Foure according to the Foure Inconvience which may follow thereupon 22 The First Inconvenience is That by repressing Sweats it may engender Diseases from those Excrementitious Humours To this a Remeby must be given by Purges and Clysters That Evacuation may bee duely performed This is certaine that Evacuation by Sweats commonly advanceth Health and derogateth from long Life But Gentle Purgers work upon the Humours not upon the Spirits as Sweat doth 23 The Second 〈◊〉 is That it may heat the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in time inflame it For the Spirits shut in and not Breathing forth acquire Heat This Inconvenience may 〈◊〉 prevented If the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nsually 〈◊〉 to the Colder part And that at times some proper Cooling 〈◊〉 bee taken of which wee shall straight speak in the Opertion upon the Bloud 24 The Third is That it may 〈◊〉 the Head For all 〈◊〉 from without strikes back the Vapours and sends them up unto the Head This Inconvenience is remedied by Purgers Especially Clysters And by shutting the Mouth of the Stomach strongly with Stipticks And by Combing and Rubbing the Head and washing it with convenient Lyes that something may exhale And by not omitting competent and good Exercises that something also may perspire by the Skin 25 The Fourth Inconvenience is a more subtile Evill Namely that the Spirit being detained by the Closing up of the Pores is likely to multiply it selfe too much For when little issueth forth and new Spirit is continually engendred the Spirit increaseth too fast and so preyeth upon the Body more plentifully But this is not altogether so For all Spirit closed up is dull For it is Blowne and Excited with Motion as Flame is And therefore it is lesse Active and lesse Generative of it selfe Indeed it is thereby increased in Heat as Flame is but slow in Motion And therefore the Remedy to this Inconvenience must be by Cold Things Being sometimes mixed with Oyle Such as are Reses and Myrtle For wee must altogether disclaime Hot Things As was said of Csia 26 Neither will it bee unprofitable to weare next the Body Garments that have in them some Vnctuosity or Oleositie not Aquositie For they will exhaust the Body lesse 〈◊〉 are those of Woollen rather than those of Linnen 〈◊〉 it is manifest in the Spirits of Odours That if you lay sweet-powders amongst Linnen they will much sooner lose their smell than amongst Wollen And therefore Linnen is to be preferred for Delicacie and Neatnesse But to bee 〈◊〉 for our Operation 27 The Wilde Irish as soone as they fall sick The first Thing they doe is to take the sheets off their Beds and to wrap themselves in the woollen cloathes 28 Some report that they have found great Benefit in the conservation of their Health by weating Scarlet Wast-coats next their skin and under their shirts As well downe to the nether parts as on the upper 29 It is also to be observed That Aire accustomed to the Body doth lesse prey upon it than New Aire and often changed And therefore poore people in small cottages who live alwayes within the smell of the same chimney And change not their seats Are commonly longest-liv'd Notwithstanding to other Operations especially for them whose Spirits are not altogether dull wee judge change of Aire to bee very profitable But a Mean must be used which may satisfie on both sides This may bee done by Removing our Habitation foure times a yeare at constant and set Times unto convenient seats That so the Body may neither be in too much Peregrination nor in too much Station And touching the Operation upon the Exclusion of Aire and Avoiding the predatorie force thereof thus much The Operation upon the Bloud and the Sanguifying Heat 3. The Historie 1 THe two Following Operations answer to the two precedent And are in the Relation of Passives to Actives For the two precedent intend this That the Spirits and Aire in their Actions may bee the lesse Depredatorie And the two latter that the Bloud and Iuyce of the Body may be the lesse Depredable But because the Bloud is an Irrigation or Watering of the Juyces and Members And a 〈◊〉 to them Therefore 〈◊〉 will put the Operation upon the Bloud in the first place Concerning this Operation we will propound certain Counsels Few in number but very powerfull in vertue They are three 2 First there is no doubt but that if the Bloud be brought to a cold Temper it will bee so much the lesse Dissipable But because the Cold Things which are taken by the Mouth agree but ill with many other Intentions Therefore it will be best to finde out some such Things as may be free from these Inconveniences They are two 3 The first is this Let there be brought into use especially in youth Clysters Not Purging at all or Absterging But onely Cooling and some what Opening Those are approved which are made of the juyces of Lettuce Purstaine Liverwort Houseleek and the 〈◊〉 of the Seed of Flea-wort with some temperate opening Decoction And a little Canphire But in the Declining Age let the 〈◊〉 and Purslaine beo left out And the Juyces of Borrage and 〈◊〉 and the like bee put in their Roomes And let these Clysters be retained if it may be for an houre or more 4 The other is this Let there be in use especially in Summer Baths of Fresh water and out Luke-warme Altogether without Emollients As Mallowes Mercurie Milk and the like Rather take new Whey in some good Quantitie And 〈◊〉 5 But that which is the Principall in this Intention and New wee advise That 〈◊〉 the Bathing the Body be 〈◊〉 with Oyle with some Thickeners whereby the Qualitie of the Cooling may bee received and the water excluded yet let not the pores of the Body bee shut too close For when the outward Cold closeth up the Body too strongly It is so farre from Furthering Coolenesse That it rather forbids it and stirs up Heat 6 Like unto this is the use of Blodders with some Decoctions and Cooling Iuyces Applied to the Inferiour Region of the Body Namely from the Ribs to the privie parts For this also is a kinde of Bathing where the Body of the Liquour is for the most part excluded And the Cooling Qualitie admitted 7 The Third Counsell remaineth which belongeth not to the Qualitie of the Bloud but to the Substance
thereof That it may be made more Firme and lesse Dissipable And such as the Heat of the Spirit may have the lesse power over it 8 And as for the use of the Filings of Gold Leafe-Gold Powder of Pearle Precious stones Corall and the like wee have no opinion of them at this day unlesse it be only as they may satisfie this present operation Certainly seeing the Arabians Grecians and 〈◊〉 Physicians have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such vertues to these Things It cannot be altogether Nothing which so great Men have observed of them And therefore omitting all 〈◊〉 Opinions about them we doe verily beleeve That if there could bee some such Thing conveighed into the whole Masse of the Bloud in Minute and fine Portions Over which the Spirits and Heat should have little or no power Absolutely it would not onely resist Putrefaction but Arefaction also And be a most effectuall Meanes to the prolongation of Life Neverthelesse in this Thing severall Cautions are to bee 〈◊〉 First that there be a most 〈◊〉 Comminution Secondly that such Hard and solide Things be void of all Malignant Qualitie Lest while they be dispersed and lurk in the veines they breed some Inconvenience Thirdly that they be never taken together with Meats nor in any such manner as they may stick long Lest they beget dangerous Obstructions about the Mesentery Lastly that they be taken very rarely that they may not congregate and 〈◊〉 together in the veines 9 Therefore let the manner of Taking them be Fasting in White wine A little Oyle of Almonds mingled therewith Excrcise used immediately upon the Taking of them 10 The Simples which may satisfie this Operation are In stead of all Gold Pearles and Corall For all Metals except Gold are not without some Malignant Qualitie in the Dissolutions of them Neither will they bee beaten to that exquisite Finenesse that Leafe-Gold hath As for all Glassie and Transparent 〈◊〉 wee like them not as wee said before for feare of Corrosion 11 But in our judgement the 〈◊〉 and more effectuall way would be by the use of Woods 〈◊〉 Infusions and Decoctions For there is in them sufficient to cause Firmnesse of 〈◊〉 And not the like danger for breeding Obstructions But especially because they may bee taken in Meat and Drink whereby they will finde the more easie Entrance into the veines And not be voided in Excrements 12 The Woods fit for this purpose are Sanders the Oake and Vine As for all Hot Woods or something Rosennie wee reject them Notwithstanding you may adde the Wooddy Stalks of Rose-Marie dried For Rose-Marie is a Shrub and exceedeth in Age many Trees Also the Wooddy Stalks of Ivie But in such quantitie as they may not yeeld an unpleasing taste 13 Let the Woods be taken either boiled in Broathes Or infused in Must or Ale before they leave working But in Broathes as the custome is for Guaiacum and the like they would be infused a good while before the Boyling That the firmer part of the Wood and not that only which lieth loosely may bee drawne forth As for Ash though it be 〈◊〉 for Cups yet wee like it 〈◊〉 And touching the 〈◊〉 upon the Bloud thus much The Operation upon the Juyces of the Body 4. The Historie 1 THere are two kindes of Bodies As was said before in the 〈◊〉 touching Inanimates which are hardly consumed Hard Things and Fat Things As is seene in Metals and Stones and in Oyle and Wax 2 It must be ordered therefore that the Iuyce of the Body be somewhat Hard And that it bee Fattie or Sub-roscide 3 As for Hardnesse It is caused three wayes By Aliment of a firme Nature By Cold condensing the Skin and Flesh And by Exercise Binding and Compacting the Juyces of the Body that they bee not Soft and Frothy 4 As for the Nature of the Aliment it ought to be such as is not easily Dissipable Such as are Beefe Swines-Flesh Deere Goat Kid Swan Goose Ring-Dove Especially if they bee a little powdered Fish likewise Salted and Dried old Cheese And the like 5 As for the Bread Oaten Bread Or Bread with some Mixture of Pease in it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or Barley Bread Are more solide than Wheat 〈◊〉 And in wheat Bread the course Cheat Bread is more solide than the pure 〈◊〉 6 The Inhabitants of the Or cades which live upon Salted Fish And generally all Fish-Eaters are long-liv'd 7 The Monks and Her mites which fed sparingly and upon dry Aliment attained commonly to a great Age. 8 Also Pure Water usually drunk makes the Juyces of the Body lesse Frothy unto which if for the Dulnesse of the Spirit which no doubt in Water is but little Penetrative you shall adde a little Nitre wee conceive it woold be very good And touching the Firmnesse of the Alimens thus much 9 As for the Condensation of the Skin and Flesh by Cold They are longer liv'd for the most part that live abroad in the open Aire than they that live in Houses And the Inhabitants of the Cold Countries than the Inhabitants of the Hot. 10 Great Store of Cloathes either upon the Bed or Back doe resolve the Body 11 Washing the Body in Cold Water is good for length of Life Use of Hot Baths is naught Touching Baths of Astringent Minerall Waters we have spoken before 12 As for Exercise An Idle Life doth manifestly make the Flesh Soft and Dissipable 〈◊〉 Exercise so it be without overmuch Sweating or Wearinesse maketh it Hard and Compact Also Exercise within Cold water as swimming is very good And generally Exercise abroad is better than that within Houses 13 Touching Frications which are a kinde of Exercise because they doe rather call forth the Aliment than Harden the Flesh wee will inquire hereafter in the Due place 14 Having now spoken of Hardning the luyees of the Body we are to come next to the Oleositie or Fattinesse of them Which is a more perfect and potent Intention than Induration Because it hath no Inconvenience nor Evill annexed For all those Things which pertaine to the Hardning of the Iuyces are of that nature that while they prohibite the Absumption of the Aliment they also hinder the Reparation of the same Whereby it happens that the same Things are both propitious and adverse to Length of Life But those Things which pertaine to making the Iuyces Oyly and Roscid help on both sides For they render the Aliment both lesse Dissipable and more Reparable 15 But whereas we say that the Iuyce of thē Body ought to be Roscide and Fat It is to bee noted that we meane it not of a visible Fat But of a Deminesse dispersed or if you will call it Radicall in the very Substance of the Body 16 Neither again let any Man thinke that Oyle or the Fat of Meats or Marrow doe engender the like and satisfie our Intention For those Things which are once perfect are not brought backe againe But the Aliments ought to be such which after Disgestion and
will gather tender and young Flesh againe And this will appeare even to the Taste and Palate So that the Inteneration of Flesh is no hard Matter Now it is likely that this Inteneration of the Flesh being often repeated will in time reach to the Inteneration of the Bones and Membranes and like Parts of the Body 2 It is certaine that Diets which are now much in 〈◊〉 Principally of 〈◊〉 And of 〈◊〉 China and 〈◊〉 If they be continued for any time and according to strict Rules Doe first Attenuate the whole Iuyce of the Body And after Consume it and Drinke it up Which is most manifest because that by these Diets the French Pox when it is growne even to an Hardnesse And hath eaten up and corrupted the very Marrow of the Body may be assuredly cured And further because it is as manifest that Men who by these Diets are brought to be extreme Leane Pale and as it were Ghosts Will soone after become Fat well-coloured and apparantly Young againe Wherefore we are absolutely of opinion 〈◊〉 such kind of Diets in the 〈◊〉 of Age being used every 〈◊〉 yeare would bee very useful to our Intention Like the old Skin or Spoile of Sarpents 3 Wee doe confidently affirme neither let any Man reckon us amongst those Heretikes which were called Cathari That often Purges and made even Familiar to the Body are more availeable to long Life than Exercises and Sweats And this must needs be so if that be held which is already laid for a Ground That Vnctions of the Body And Oppletion of the Passages from without And Exclusion of Aire And Detaining of the Spirit within the Masse of the Body Doe much conduce to long Life For it is most certaine that by Sweats and Outward Perspirations not onely the Humours and excrementitious Vapours are Exhaled and consumed But together with them the Juices also and good Spirits which are not so easily repaired But in 〈◊〉 unlesse they be very Immoderate it is not so Seeing they worke 〈◊〉 upon the Humours But the best Purges for this Intention are those which are taken immediately before 〈◊〉 Because they Dry the Body lesse And therefore they must be of those Purgers which doe least trouble the Belly These Intentions of the Operations which wee have Propounded as we conceive are most true The Remedies Faithfull to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is it credible to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Although not a Few of these Remedies may seeme but 〈◊〉 with what Care and Choice they have beene examined by us That they might be the Intention not at all empeached both Safe and Effectuall Experience no doubt will both verifie and promote these Matters And such in all things are the works of every prudent Counsell That they are Admirable in their Effects Excellent also in their Order but seeming vulgar in the Way and Meanes The Proches of Death WE are now to inquire touching the Porches of Death That is Touching those Things which happen unto Men at the point of Death Both a little before and after That seeing there are many Paths which lead to Death it may be under stood in what Common-way they all end Especially in those Deaths which are caused by Indigence of Nature rather than by violence Although something of this Latter also must be inserted because of the Connexion of Things The Historie 1 THe Living Spirit stands in need of three Things that it may subsist Convenient Motion Temperate Refrigeration And Fit Aliment Plame seemes to stand in need but of two of these Namely Motion and Aliment Because Flame is a simple substance the Spirit a Compounded Insomuch that if it approach somewhat too neare to a Flamie Nature it overthroweth it selfe 2 Also Flame by a greater and stronger Flame is extinguished and slaine As Aristotle well noted Much more the Spirit 3 Flame if it be much compressed and straitned is extinguished As wee may see in a Candle having a Glasse cast over it For the Aire being dilated by the Heat doth contrude and thrust together the Flame And so lesseneth it and in the end extinguisheth it And Fires on Hearths will not Flame if the Fewell bee thrust close together without any space for the Flame to break forth 4 Also Things Fircd are extinguished with Compression As if you presse a Burning Coale hard with the Tongs or the Foot it is straight extinguished 5 But to come to the Spirit If Bloud or Flegme get into the 〈◊〉 of the Braine it causeth sudden Death Because the Spirit hath no Roome to move it selfe 6 Also a great Blow on the Head induceth sudden Death The Spirits being straightened within the Ventrides of the Braine 7 Opium and other strong 〈◊〉 doe coagulate the Spirit And deprive it of the Motion 8 A Venemous Vapour totally abhorred by the Spirit causeth sudden Death As in deadly poisons which worke as they call it by a Specificall Malignity For they strike a Loathing into the Spirit that the Spirit will no more move it selfe nor rise against a Thing so much Detested 9 Also Extreme Drunkennesse or Extreme Feeding sometime cause sudden Death Seeing the Spirit is not only Oppressed with overmuch Condensing or the Malignity of the Vapour As in Opium and Malignant Poysons But also with the Abundance of the Vapours 10 Extreme Griefe or Feare Especially if they be sudden As it is in a sad and unexpected 〈◊〉 cause sudden Death 11 Not only over-much Compression but also over-much Dilatation of the Spirit is Deadly 12 Ioyes excessive and sudden have berest many of their lives 13 In great Evacuations As when they cut Men for the Dropsie the waters flow forth abundantly Much more in great and sudden Fluxes of Bloud oftentimes present Death followeth And this happens by the meere Flight of Vacuum within the Body All the parts moving to fill the Emptie places And amongst the rest the Spirits themselves For as for slow Fluxes of Bloud this Matter pertaines to the Indigence of Nourishment not to the Diffusion of the Spirits And touching the Motion of the Spirit so farre either Compressed of Diffused that it bringeth Death thus much 14 We must come next to the Want of Refrigeration Stopping of the Breath causeth sudden Death As in all Suffocation or Strangling Now it seemes this Matter is not so much to be referred to the Impediment of Motion as to the Impediment of Refrigeration For Aire over-hot though attracted freely doth no lesse Suffocate than if Breathing were hindred As it is in them who have beene sometime suffocated with Burning Coales Or with Char-coale Or with Wals newly plaistered in close chambers where a Fire is made which kind of Death is reported to have beene the end of the Emperour Iovinian The like happeneth from Dry Baths over-heated which was practised in the killing of Fausta wife to Constantine the Great 15 It is a very small Time which Nature taketh to repeat the Breathing And in which she desireth to expell the Foggie Aire drawne
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
For as for the Deadly Hiccough it is a Kinde of 〈◊〉 But the Deadly Labour of the Pulse hath that unusuall Swiftnesse Because the Heart at the point of Death doth so tremble that the Systole and Diastole thereof are almost consounded There is also conjoyned in the Pulse aweaknesse and Lownesse and oftentimes a great Intermission Because the Motion of the Heart faileth And is not able to rise against the Assault stoutly or constantly 30 The Immediate preceding Signes of Death are Great Vnquietnesse and Tossing in the Bed Fumbling with the Hands Catching and Grasping hard Gnashing with the Teeth Speaking hollow Trembling of the Neather Lip Palenesse of the Face The Memory confused Speechlesnesse Cold Sweats The Body shooting in Length Lifting up the White of the Eye Changing of the whole Visage As the Nose sharp Eyes Hollow Cheekes fallen Contraction and Doubling of the Tongue Coldnesse in the Extreme Parts of the Body In some shedding of Bloud or Sperme Shriking Breathing thick and short Falling of the Neather Chap And such like 31 There follow Death A Privation of all Sense and Motion As well of the Heart and Arteries As of the Nerves and Joynts An Inability of the Body to support it selfe uprigh Stifnesse of the Nerves and Parts Extreme Coldnesse of the whole Body After a little while Patrefaction and Stinking 32 Eeles Serpents and the Insecta will move a long time in every part after they are cut asunder Insomuch that Countrey People think that the Parts strive to joyne together againe Also Birds will flutter a great while after their Heads are pulled off And the Hearts of Living Creatures will pant a long time after they are plucked out I remember I have seene the Heart of one that was bowelled As suffering for High Treason That being cast into the Fire leaped at the first at least a Foot and Halfe in Heighth And after by degrees lower and lower For the space as we rememher ber of seven or eight Minutes There is also an ancient and credible Tradition of an Oxe Lowing after the 〈◊〉 were plucked out But there is a more certaine Tradition of a Man who being under the Executioners Hand for High Treason After his Heart was plucked out and in the Executioners Hand Was heard to utter three or foure words of Prayer which therefore we said to be more credible than that of the Oxe in Sacrifice Because the Friends of the partie suffering do usually give a Reward to the Executioner To dispatch his Office with the more speed That they may the sooner bee rid of their Paine But in Sacrifices wee see no Cause why the Priest should bee so speedy in his Office 33 For Reviving those againe which fall into sudden Swownings and Catalepses or Astonishments In which Fits many without present Help would utterly expire These Things are used Putting into their Mouths water distilled of Wine which they call Hot Waters and Cordiall Waters Bending the Body Forwards Stopping the Mouth and Nosthrils hard Bending or Wringing the Fingers Pulling the Haires of the Beard or Head Rubbing of the Parts especially the Face and Legs sudden Casting of Cold Water upon the Face shreeking out aloud and suddenly Putting Rose-water to the Nosthrils with Vinegar in Faintings Burning of Feathers or Cloth in the Suffocation of the Mother But especially a Frying Pan heated red hot is good in Apoplexies Also a Close Embracing of the Body hath helped some There have beene many Examples of Men in shew Dead Either laid out upon the Cold Floare Or carried sorth to 〈◊〉 Nay of some Buried in the Earth which notwithstanding have lived againe which hath beene found in those that were buried The Earth being afterwards opened By the Bruising and Wounding of their Head through the strugling of the Body within the Coffin Whereof the most Recent and Memorable Example was that of Ioannes Scotus Called the Subtile and a Schooleman who being digged up againe by his Servant unfortunately absent at his Buriall And who knew his Masters Manner in such Fits Was found in that State And the like happended in our Dayes in the Person of a Player buried at Cambridge I remember to have heard of a certaine Gentleman That would needs make Triall in Curiositie what men did feele that were hanged So hee fastened the Cord about his Necke raising himselfe upon a Stoole and then letting himselfe fall Thinking it should bee in his power to recover the Stoole at his pleasure which he failed in But was helped by a Friend then present He was asked afterward what he felt He said Hee felt no paine But first he thought he saw before his Eyes a great Fire and Burning Then hee thought he saw all Black and Darke Lastly it turned to a pale Blew or Sea-water-Greene which Colour is also often seene by them which fall into Snownings I have heard also of a Physician yet Living Who recovered a Man to Life which had hanged Himselfe And had hanged halfe an Houre By Frications and Hot Baths And the same Physician did professe that he made no doubt to recover any Man that had hanged so long so his Neck were not broken with the first Swing The Differences of Youth and Old Age. 1 THe Ladder of Mans Bodie is this To be Conceived To be Quickned in the Wombe To bee Borne To Sucke To be Weaned To Feed upon Pap To Put forth Teeth the First time about the Second yeare of Age To Begin to goe To Begin to speake To Put forth Teeth the Second time about seven years of Age To come to Pubertie about twelve or fourteene yeares of Age To be Able for Generation and the Flowing of the Menstrua To have Haires about the Legges and Arme-holes To Put forth a Beard And thus long and sometimes later to Grow in Stature To come to full years of Strength and Agility To grow Gray and Bild The Ceasing of the Menstrua and Ability to Generation To grow Decrepit and a Monster with Three Legs To Die Meane while the Mind also hath certaine Periods But they cannot be described by yeares As to decay in the Memory and the like Of which hereafter 2 The Differences of Youth and Old Age are these As Young Mans Skin is Smooth and Plaine An Old Mans Dry and Wrinkled Especially about the Forchead and Eyes A young Mans Flesh is Tender and Soft An old Mans Hard A young Man hath Strength and Agilitie An old Man feeles Decay in his Strength and is Slow of Motion A young Man hath good Disgestion An old Man Bad A young Mans Bowells are Soft and Succulent An old Mans Sale and Parched A young Mans Body is Erect and Straight An Old Mans Bowing and Crooked A young Mans Limbs are steady An old Mans Weake and Trembling The Humors in a young Man are Cholerick and his Bloud inclined to Heat In an old Man Phlegmatick and Melancholick and his Bloud inclined to Cold nesse A young Man Readie for the Act of
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
Rarity For the more Rare the Bodies be the more doe they suffer Themselves to be thrust into small and narrow Passages For Water will goe into a passage which Dust will not goe into And Aire which Water will not goe into Nay Flame and Spirit which Aire will not goe into Notwithstanding of this Thing there are some Bounds For the Spirit is not so much transported with the Desire of Going forth that it will suffer it selfe to be too much discontinued Or be driven into over-strait pores and passages And therefore if the Spirit bee encompassed with an Hard Body Or else with an Vnctuous and Tenacious which is not easily divided it is plainly Bound and as I may say imprisoned And layeth downe the Appetite of Going out Wherefore wee see that Metals and Stones require a long Time for their Spirit to goe forth Unlesse either the Spirit bee excited by the Fire Or the Grosser Parts bee dissevered with Corroding and Strong waters The like Reason is there of Tenacious Bodies Such as are Gums Save only that they are melted by a more gentle Hear And therefore the 〈◊〉 of the Body hard a Close and Compact skin and the like which are procured by the Drynesse of the Aliment and by Exercise and by the Coldnesse of the Aire Are good for long Life Because they detaine the Spirit in close Prison that it goeth not forth Canon XVI IN Oyly and Fat Things the Spirit is detained willingly though they be not Tenacious The Explication THe Spirit if it be not irritated by the Antipathy of the Body enclosing it Nor fed by the over-much Likenesse of that Body Nor sollicited or invited by the Externall Body It makes no great stir to get out All which are wanting to Oyly Bodies For they are neither so pressing upon the Spirits as Hard Bodies Nor so Neare as Watry Bodies Neither have they any good Agreement with the Aire Ambient Canon XVII THe Speedy flying forth of the Watry Humour conserves the Oyly the longer in his Being The Explication WE said before that the Watry Humours as being Consubstantiall to the Aire flye forth soonest The Oyly later as having small Agreement with the Aire Now whereas these two Humours are in most Bodies it comes to passe that the watry doth in a sort betray the Oyly For that Issuing forth insensibly carrieth this together with it Therefore there is Nothing that more furthereth the Conservation of Bodies than a gentle Drying of them which causeth the Watry Humour to expire and inviteth not the Oyly For then the Oyly enjoyeth the proper Nature And this tendeth not only to the Inhibiting of Putrefaction Though that also followeth but to the Conservation of Greennesse Hence it is that Gentle Frications and Moderate Exercises causing rather Perspiration than Sweating conduce much to long Life Canon XVIII AIre excluded conftrreth to long Life if 〈◊〉 Inconveniences be avoyded The Explication WEe said a little before That the Flying forth of the Spirit is a Redoubled Action From the Appetite of the Spirit and of the Aire And therefore if either of these bee taken out of the way there is not a little galned Notwithstanding divers Inconveniences follow hereupon Which how they may bee prevented wee have shewed in the second of our ten Operations Canon XIX YOuthfull Spirits iuserted into an Old Body might soone 〈◊〉 Natures Course back againe The Explication THe Nature of the Spirits is as the uppermost wheele which turneth about the other wheeles in the Body of Man And therefore in the Intention of Long Life that ought to be first placed Hereunto may bee added That there is an Easier and more Expedite way to alter the Spirits than to other Operations For the Operation upon the Spirits is twofold The one by Aliments which is Slow and as it were about The other and that Twofold which is sudden and goeth directly to the Spirits Namely by Vapours or by the Affections Canon XX. JUyces of the Body Hard and Roscide are good for long Life The Explication THe Reason is plaine Seeing wee shewed before That Hard Things and Oyly or Roscide are hardly dissipated Notwithstanding there is this Difference As wee also noted in the Tenth Operation That Iuyce somewhat Hard is indeed lesse Dissipable but then it is withall lesse Reparable Therefore a Convenience is interlaced with an Inconvenience And for this Cause no wonderfull Matter will be atchieved by this But Roscide Iuyce will admit both Operations Therefore this would be principally 〈◊〉 Canon XXI WHatsoever is of Thin Parts to penetrate And yet hath no Acrimonie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Begetteth Roscide Juyces The Explication THis 〈◊〉 is more Hard to Practise than to understand For it is 〈◊〉 Whatsoever 〈◊〉 well but yet with a sting or 〈◊〉 As doe all Sharp and Soure Things It leaveth behinde 〈◊〉 wheresoever it goeth some Mark or Print of Drynesse 〈◊〉 Cleaving So that it 〈◊〉 the Iuyces and 〈◊〉 the parts Contrarily whatsoever Things penetrate through their Thinnesse meerly as it were by stealth and by way of Insinuation without violence They bedew and water in their passage Of which sort wee have recounted many in the fourth and seventh Operations Canon XXII ASsimilation 〈◊〉 best 〈◊〉 when all Locall Motion is suspended The Explication THis Canon we have sufficiently explained in our Discourse 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canon XXIII ALIMENTATION from without at least some other way than by the Stomach is most profitable for long Life if it can be done The Explication WE see that all Things which are done by Nutrition aske a long time But those which are done by Embracing of the like As it is in Infusions require no long time And therefore Alimentation from without would be of principall use And so much the more because the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 decay in old Age So that if there could be some Auxiliary Natritions By Bathings Vnctions or else by Clysters These Things in Conjunction might doe much which Single are lesse Available Canon XXIIII WHere the Concoction is weake to thrust forth the Aliment There the outward Parts should be strengthened to call forth the Aliment The Explication THat which is propounded in this Canon is not the same Thing with the former For it is one Thing for the Outward Aliment to bee attracted inward Another for the Inward Aliment to bee attracted Outward yet herein they concur that they both help the weaknesse of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though by divers wayes Canon XXV ALL sudden Renovation of the Body is wrought Either by the Spirits Or by Malacissations The Explication THere are two Things in the Body Spirits and Parts To both these the way by Nutrition is long and about But it is a short way to the Spirits by Vapours and by the Affections And to the Parts by Malacissations But this is dillgently to be noted That by no meanes wee 〈◊〉 Alimentation from 〈◊〉 with Malacissation For the Intention of Malacissation is not to nourish the Parts But onely to
make them more fit to bee nourished Canon XXVI MAlacissation is wrought by Consubstantials By Imprinters 3 And by Closers up The Explication THe Reason is manifest For that Consubstantials doe properly supple the Body 〈◊〉 doe carry in Closers up doe retaine and bridle the Perspiration which is a Motion opposite to Malacissation And therefore as we described in the Ninth Operation Malacissation cannot well be done at once But in a Course or Order First by Excluding the Liquour by Thickners For an Outward and grosse Infusion doth not well compact the Body That which entreth must be Subtile and a Kinde of Vapour Secondly by Intenerating by the Consent of Cousubstantials For Bodies upon the touch of those Things which have good agreement with them open themselves and relax their Pores Thirdly Imprinters are Convoyes and insi nuate into the Parts the Consubstantials And the Mixture of Gentle Astringents doth somewhat restraine the Perspiration But then in the 〈◊〉 place followes that 〈◊〉 Astriction and Closure up of the Body by 〈◊〉 And then afterward by 〈◊〉 Untill the Supple be 〈◊〉 into Solide As wee said in the proper place Canon XXVII FRequent Renovation of the Parts Reparable watereth and reneweth the lesse Reparable also The Explication WE said in the Preface to this History That the Way of Death was this That the Parts Reparable died in the Fellowship of the Parts lesse Reparable So that in the Reparation of these same lesse Reparable Parts all our Forces would bee employed And therefore being admonished by Aristotles Observation touching Plants Namely That the putting forth of new Shoots and Branches refresheth the Body of the Tree in the Passage Wee conceive the like Reason might be If the Flesh and bloud in the Body of Man were often renewed That thereby the Bones themselves and Membranes and other Parts which in their owne Nature are Lesse Reparable Partly by the cheerefull Passage of the Iuyees Partly by that new Clouthing of the young Flesh and Bloud Might be Watred and Renewed Canon XXVIII REfrigeration or Cooling of the Body which passeth some other wayes then by the Stomach is usefull for Long Life The Explication THe Reason is at hand For seeing a Refrigeration not Temperate but Powerfull especially of the Bloud is above all Things necessary to long Life This can by no means be effected from within as much as is requisite without the Destruction of the Stomach and Bowels Canon XXIX THat Intermixing or Entangling That as well Consumption as Reparation are the workes of Heat is the greatest Obstacle to long Life The Explication ALmost all great workes are destroyed by the Natures of Things Intermixed when as that which helpeth in one respect hurteth in another Therefore Men must proceed herein by a sound Judgement and a discreet Practice For our Part wee have done so as farre as the matter will beare and our Memory serveth us By Separating Benigne Heats from Hurtfull And the Remedies which tend to both Canon XXX CUring of Diseases is effected by Temporary Medicines But Lengthening of Life requireth Observation of Diets The Explication THose things which come by Accident as soone as the Causes are removed cease againe But the Continued Course of Nature like a Running River requires a continuall Rowing and Sayling against the Streame Therefore we must worke regularly by Diets Now Diets are of two Kindes Set Diets which are to be observed at certaine times And Familiar Diet which is to be admitted into our Daily Repast But the Set Diets are the more potent That is A Course of Medicines for a time For those Things which are of so great Vertue that they are able to turne Nature backe againe Are for the most part more strong and more speedily Altering than those which may without danger be received into a Continual use Now in the Remedies set downe in our Intentions You shall find only three Set Diets The Opiate Diet The Diet Malacissant or Suppling And the Diet Emaciant and Renewing But amongst those which wee Prescribed for Familiar Diet and to be used daily the most efficacious are these that follow Which also come not farre Short of the Vertue of Set Diets Nitre and the Subordinates to Nitre The Regiment of the Affections and Course of our Life 〈◊〉 which passe not by the Stomach Drinkes Roscidating or Eng ndring Oyly Iuyces Besprinkling of the Bloud with some Firmer Matter as Pearles certaine Woods Competent Vnctions to keepe out the Aire and to keepe in the Spirit Heaters from without during the Assimilation after Sleepe Avoiding of Those Things which Enflame the Spirit and put it into an Eager Heat as Wine and Spices Lastly a Moderate and Seasonable use of those Things which endue the Spirits with a Robust Heat As Saffron Cresses Garlick Elecampane and Compound Opiates Canon XXXI THe Living Spirit is instantly extinguished if it be deprived either of Motion or of Refrigeration Or of Aliment The Explication NAmely these are those three which before we called the Porches of Death And they are the Proper and Immediate Passiōs of the Spirit For all the Organs of the principall parts serve hereunto That these three Offices be performed and againe all destruction of the Organs which is Deadly brings the Matter to this point that one or more of these three faile Therefore all other Things are the divers Wayes to Death but they end in these three Now the Whole Fabricke of the Parts is the Organ of the Spirit As the Spirit is the 〈◊〉 of the Reasonable Soule which is Incorporeous and Divine Canon XXXII FLame is a Momentany Substance Aire a Fixed The Living Spirit in Creatures is of a Middle Nature The Explication THis Matter stands in need both of an higher Indagation and of a longer Explication than is pertinent to the present Inquisition Meane while we must know this That Flame is almost every Moment generated and extinguished so that it is continued onely by succession 〈◊〉 Aire is a Fixed Body and is not Dissolved For though Aire begets new Aire out of watry Moisture yet notwithstanding the old Aire still remaines whence commeth that Super-Oneration of the Aire where of we have spoken in the Title De Vent is But Spirit is participant of both Natures both of Flame and Aire Even as the Nourishments thereof are Aswell Oyle which is Homogeneous to Flame As Water which is Homogeneous to Aire For the Spirit is not 〈◊〉 either of Oyly alone or of Watry alone but of both together And though Aire doth not agree well with Flame nor Oyle with Water yet in a mixt Body they agree well enough Also the Spirit hath from the Aire his Easie and Delicate Impressions and yeeldings And from the Flame his Noble and Potent Motions and Activities In like manner the Duration of Spirit is a Mixed Thing Being neither so Momentany as that of Flame Nor so Fixed as that of Aire And so much the rather it followeth not the Condition of Flame For that Flame it selfe is extinguished by Accident Namely by Contraries and Enemies environing it But Spirit is not subject to the like Conditions and Necessities Now the Spirit is repaired from the Lively and Floride Bloud of the small Arteries which are inserted into the Braine But this Reparation is done by a peculiar Manner of which we speake not now FINIS To the I Artic. To the 2 Artic. To the 1. Article To the 4. Artile To the 5 6 7 8 9 and 11. Article To the 10. Article To the 12 13 and 14. Artic. To the 15. Article To the 16. Article