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. V. Of the Different Degrees of Heat in Li∣ving Bodies.

I. There is a different degree of heat in Li∣ving Bo∣dies. First according to the Di∣versity of Age. THO' Living Bodies may be distinguisht ac∣cording to the External Heat that Acts up∣on them, as they are in Countries or Places nearer or farther from the Sun: yet may they much better be differenced by that Internal Heat, which produ∣ceth divers Effects in them with relation to their Age, Sex and Nature. For as to their Age, it is evident that Heat in Living Bodies is not always in the same state and vigor. For in Infants and Youth the natural Heat is much weakned by the abun∣dance of moisture, that it cannot exert its full strength; which is the reason why Infants are so prone to sleep, and apt to shed tears. But in the Height and Vigour of Age, the Heat is more strong and active; and the moisture being much lessened, the Spirits become more hot and fiery. For which cause those who have attained to Manly strength, are more strongly inflam'd and Amorous, whereas in Old Men, by the decrease of heat, and the increase of cold and driness, their natural fa∣culties are much weakned and decayed.

II. Secondly according to the dif∣ference of Sexes, and what the difference of Sex in Plants is. Difference of Sex also produceth great diversity of Heat; for Females are commonly of a more cold and moist complexion than Males. Which difference is observed in Plants; for those are ac∣counted Female Plants, which are more cold and moist, and have less virtue and strength; so that tho' they bring forth Flowers, yet for want of Heat they don't produce either Fruit or Seed. Whereas the Male Plants are more beautiful, as to their outward appearance, and have both Fruit and Seed. And for this cause it is, that the Female Plant delights in the Company and Proximity of the Male; according to what PLINY relates of the Palm-tree, which by some influence proceed∣ing from the Male, doth conceive and become fruitful, and as soon as the Male, which stood near it, is cut down, dies presently.

III. Amongst Animals the Females are colder than the Males. Amongst Animals also the Females are much colder and moister than the Males. As may be gathered from hence, that Males generally exceed Females in Bulk and Stature, as appears in Men, Pheasants, Peacocks and the like. The Males in Birds are commonly more beautiful and pompous for their Feathers. Amongst fourfooted Beasts the Males and Females are diversly distinguisht; thus He-Goats have Horns, which their Females want; and Rams have greater and more crooked Horns than the Ewes. Cocks are adorned with Combs, and armed with Spurs; whereas Hens have in a manner no Combs at all. And in general all Males have a stronger and deeper Voice than Fe∣males, who generally have but a shrill and weak voice. All which effects cannot be better assign'd to any other cause, than to the greater degree of heat which is in Males, beyond that which is in Females. And the same may likewise be gathered from hence, that Males, in their tender years, whilst their inborn heat is overpowered with too much moisture, do much resemble Females, nei∣ther is any difference in their Temper to be dis∣cern'd between them. So likewise guelded Ani∣mals do more resemble Females, for the same de∣fect of heat.

IV. Why Men in the Win∣ter time are more brisk, and Women in Summer. Another instance of this diversity of Heat in Males and Females is this; that Men, during the Winter Season, are more Brisk, and Women on the contrary, in the Summer and hot weather. The reason whereof is, because the Vital Spirits, which are in continual motion in a hot and dry complexion of Body, such as Mens are in the hot season of the Year are more dissipated; but in a cold season are more condensed, and thereby better preserved. Whereas in cold and moist Bodies, such as those of the Female Sex generally are; the Heat of the Summer cherisheth and excites the Spirits; and the cold of the Winter doth render them dull and sluggish.

V. Of the four degrees of Heat that are in Li∣ving Bo∣dies. There is also a distinction and difference of Heat with relation to the different kinds of Living Things. And accordingly Physicians distin∣guish Heat into 4 degrees: They call that the First Degree of Heat, when that Quality is some∣what predominant above the rest that are in the mixt Body: The Second when the Heat sensibly discovers its predominance in the Body: The Third, when it strongly and powerfully displays it

self: And the Fourth when that Quality is preva∣lent in the highest degree. Thus amongst Plants, Borage, Flowers of Betony, Beets, Sweet Almonds, &c. because they impart some small effect of Heat to a well tempered Body, are said to be Hot in the First Degree. Smallage, Betony, Balm, Rose∣mary, Wormwood, Saffron, Sage, Cinnamon, &c. because they produce a moderate Heat, and that very sensibly, are called Hot in the Second Degree. And because others impart a strong Heat to those that take them, as Origany, Hysop, Celandine, Mints, Radish, Mother of Tyme, &c. they are accounted Hot in the Third Degree: And last of all, because Garlick, Pepper, Mustard, Cresses, Pel∣litory of Spain, &c. communicate a much more vehement degree of Heat, they are called Hot in the Fourth Degree.

VI. Animals are distin∣guisht ac∣cording to their seve∣ral degrees of Heat. This Distinction of Heat is not only observable in Plants, but also in Animals. For we see daily that those Excrements which remain after that the Meat hath been digested by the heat of our Sto∣machs, serve for food to Hogs and Hens after ha∣ving past through a new Fermentation in them; and that the remainders thereof being laid to the Roots of Plants, are consumed again by the Heat of the Sun, leaving only the grosser parts behind them. Which different changes could not be wrought upon those Excrements, if there were not different degrees of Heat in the Bodies of Li∣ving Creatures, forasmuch as that which can no further be wrought upon by the Fermentation of our Stomachs, may yet be further altered and di∣gested by a new Fermentation in the Stomachs of other Animals. Thus a Mass of Dough that hath been fermented by Leaven or Yest, tho' it cannot be made to rise again with the same ferment; yet may it for all that undergo a new Fermentation in our Stomachs: Which Alterations, I say, do prove a distinction of Heat, and a different power of dissolving Bodies to be in Living Creatures.