An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. II. The Life of Bodily things consists in Moisture and Heat.

I. Living Bodies stand in need of Heat and Moisture. FOrasmuch as such is the Constitution of Li∣ving Bodies, that they consist of several fibres or small threds, between which lye many large Conduits or Passages, through which the Alimentary Juice is strained, and diffused into all parts; it cannot be question'd, but the Life of Plants and Animals is supported by 2 things, viz. Heat and Moisture, which mutually stand in need of, and assist each other. For Moisture is the food of the Heat: And accordingly Physicians tell us, that Life consists in Moisture, as its Passive; and in Heat, as its Active Quality; and that all Vegetative Bodies do subsist and are preserved by the same.

II. The Fire that is in Living Bodies is Hot only. But to remove all Difficulty that might arise from the word Heat; we are to take notice, that we do not speak here of a perfect Fire, which is both hot and bright, but of that which is hot only; such as is found in Horse-dung, and putrifying Hay: Which is therefore distinguish'd from the Coelestial fire in the Sun, and from the Elementary, which burns upon our Hearths; because it doth not con∣sist as those fires do, of Particles that swim in the first Element, and are tost with a vehement Mo∣tion within themselves; but proceeds from a kind of fermentation, caused by a mixture of Hetero∣geneous little Bodies. Tho' indeed, if we well mind its Operations, we shall find it to differ from the 2 former fires, Solar and Culinary, rather in degrees, than in nature and essence.

III. There is a twofold Tempera∣ment in Living Bodies. The one according to Justice. But forasmuch as Fire is very Active, and cannot long be preserved without food, we find that Moisture is of absolute necessity required for its preservation and support. From hence ariseth the Temperament of Living Bodies, when Heat and Cold, Moisture and Drought, are so temper'd and proportioned, that none of these Qualities hinder each other, but with an agreeing Discord harmo∣nize together. And this kind of Temperament is by Physicians called, a Temperament according to Justice, when these Qualities are so mixed, that the Heat in Living Bodies is qualified by Cold, and the Moisture by Drought, according to the requirings of each particular Nature. Because the same Temperament is not always found in Living things, but is changed according to the variety of Ages, or the several Stages of Life. For in Animals, to every different Age, a different Temperament is appropriated; to Childhood, a hot and moist Temperament; to Youth, hot and dry; to Manly Age, cold and moist; to Old Age, cold and dry Complexion. And these Temperaments are therefore said to be according to Justice, because they of Property and Justice belong to such and such Ages.

IV. The other according to Weight. To this Temperament another is opposed, which is called a Temperament according to Weight, wherein all the Qualities are in an Equal poise; so as Heat doth not exceed Cold, nor Cold, Heat: Moisture doth not exceed Drought, nor Drought, Moisture; but are altogether equal in degrees. But it does not seem probable, that any Body is possest of such a Temperament, neither is there any Cause assignable that might thus temper and poise these Qualities; and therefore this is a Tempera∣ment in Notion only, as GALEN saith, and not Real.

V. The in∣crease of Living things, is from Heat. Forasmuch therefore as Heat and Moisture are required to a due Vegetation of Living Bodies, it happens, that according to the Exuperance of either of these Qualities, a more abundant produ∣ction of Living things is occasioned. Thus in Summer time, when Heat bears sway, abundance of Magots breed in Flesh, Bees in the Carkass of an Heifer, Humming-Bees or Drones in that of an Ass, Hornets in that of a Mule, and Wasps in the Carkass of an Horse: It is in the same Season also, that Dead Flies recover Life. And accord∣ingly it will not be difficult to give a Reason, why Spices grow only in Hot Countries, because they stand in need of a great degree of Heat before they can arrive to that Purity, by a separation of the Hete∣rogeneous particles, that so the Homogeneous may come together, and constitute those Odoriferous Bodies. And therefore, as my Lord VERULAM tells us, Trees planted on a hot-Bank, and exposed to the South and South-East, do bud sooner than others, and bring forth more early fruit. And the same he saith of Trees planted near the Wall of a Chimney, wherein continual fires are kept; and that it is good for the same purpose, to let the Branches of Trees spread into those places where frequent fires are used. Of which we have a preg∣nant Instance in Vines, which according as they are more advantagiously situated, do by a whole Months time, sooner than others, bear Ripe Grapes.

VI. Dung, by its Heat, doth hasten the springing of Plants, and makes the Ground fruitful. It is for this very Reason, that Country-men do Dung their Grounds; not only because the Dung doth fatten the Earth, whereby more plentiful Nourishment is conveigh'd to Plants; but also because by its warmth it comforts and refresheth the Ground, which was weak and languishing by reason of cold. For the Dung of Animals is Salt, and contains an Inward heat. And accordingly we find, that those who desire to hasten the springing and growing of their Plants, do take care very well to Dung their Gardens and Plots of Ground, before they sow their Seed. To this end also they pour stale Urine at the Roots of Vines, to make them more fruitful.

VII. How Moi∣sture is a cause of the increase of Living things. As store of Heat doth conduce to the great increase of Plants and Fruits, so much Moisture also is a great help to the multiplication of them,

when accompanied with convenient heat and warmth. Thus we find, that in Moist places Grass grows thicker, and riseth to a greater height, than in Dry Grounds. In like manner we see, that Herbs will grow in Glass Vials, fill'd only with Water. We find also, that the Hair of Young-men and Children grows much faster and thicker, because Moisture abounds in them: And Trees and Plants, that are much water'd, do thereby thrive the more; for by frequent watring, the Dryness of the Soil is temper'd, and the Roots are softned, and thereby made more fit to suck the Juice out of the Ground, and to send it up to the utmost Branches. So the fittest time for the watering of Plants, is the Evening; because the Cool of the Night following, gives the Moisture leave to sink down to the Roots, and refresh them.

VIII. Mouldiness proceeds from Moi∣sture. How greatly Moisture conduceth to Germina∣tion, may be gather'd from Moss, which delights in moist places, and grows even upon those Rocks and Stones that are continually water'd with Springs. Hence it is also, that Bread that is kept in a moist Cellar grows Mouldy, and many other things that are laid up in moist places.

IX. Heat, when excessive, is hurtful to Living things. As an equal Temperature of Heat and Moisture, is the Cause of the great increase and multiplica∣tion of Living things; so the Excess of either, and more especially of Heat, is hurtful to them, and hinders them from arriving to their due growth. Thus we see that Bodies, wherein the inborn heat predominates, are of a low stature, because it consumes the Moisture too fast, not suffering it to spread and diffuse it self; and so also such Persons, in whom Heat abounds, are com∣monly lean: Whereas on the contrary, those in whom this innate Heat is weaker, and allay'd with Moisture, are apt to grow fat, and spread in bulk; as is evident in Women, who commonly are more Plump and Fat than Men, except Sickness, or any Praeternatural Cause hinder the Effect.