The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

100 NATURAL HISTORY. CENT. VIII.
cians it was as usual as eating or sleeping; and that very day when the river first riseth, great
so is it amongst the Turks at this day: whereas plagues in Cairo use suddenly to break up.
with us it remaineth but as a part of physic. I
am of opinion, that the use of it, as it was with Experiments in consort touching sleep.
the Romans, was hurtful to health; for that it 744. Those that are very cold, and especially
made the body soft, and easy to waste. For the in their feet, cannot get to sleep: the cause may
Turks it is more proper, because that their drink- be, for that in sleep is required a free respiration,
ing water and feeding upon rice, and other food which cold doth shut in and hinder; for we see
of small nourishment, maketh their bodies so that in great colds, one can scarce draw his
solid and hard, as you need not fear that bathing breath. Another cause may be, for that cold callshould make them frothy. Besides, the Turks eth the spirits to succour, and therefore they canare great sitters, and seldom walk, whereby they not so well close, and go together in the head,
sweat less, and need bathing more. But yet cer- which is ever requisite to sleep. And for the
tain it is that bathing, and especially anointing, same cause, pain and noise hinder sleep; and
may be so used as it may be a great help to darkness, contrariwise, furthereth sleep.
health, and prolongation of life. But hereof we 745. Some noises, whereof we spake in the
shall speak in due place, when we come to handle hundred and twelfth experiment, help sleep: as
experiments medicinal. the blowing of the wind, the trickling of water,
humming of bees, soft singing, reading, &c. The
Experiment solitary touching chaezblettizg of cause is, for that they move in the spirits a gentle
paper. attention; and whatsoever moveth attention with741. The Turks have a pretty art of chamblet- out too much labour stilleth the natural and disting of paper, which is not with us in use. They cursive motion of the spirits.
take divers oiled colours, and put them severally, 746. Sleep nourisheth, or at least preserveth
in drops, upon water, and stir the water lightly, bodies, a long time, without other nourishment.
and then wet their paper, being of some thick- Beasts that sleep in winter, as it is noted of wild
ness, with it, and the paper will be waved and bears, during their sleep wax very fat, though
veined, like chamblet or marble. they eat nothing. Bats have been found in ovens,
and other hollow close- places, matted one upon
rient soliry tocig cutle-ik. another: and therefore it is likely that they sleep
742. It is somewhat strange, that the blood of in the winter time, and eat nothing. Query,
all birds and beasts and fishes should be of a red whether bees do not sleep all winter, and spare
colour, and only the blood of the cuttle should be their honey? Butterflies, and other flies, do not
as black as inlk. A man would think, that the only sleep, but lie as dead all winter; and yet
cause should be the high concoction of that with a little heat of sun or fire, revive again. A
blood; for we see in ordinary puddings, that the dormouse, both winter and summer, will sleep
boiling turneth the blood to be blackl; and the some days together, and eat nothing.
cuttle is accounted a delicate meat, and much in
request. Experiments in consort touching teeth and hard
substances in the bodies of living creatures.
Experiniment solitary touchiMsg increase of weight in To restore teeth in age, were magnale nature.
earth. It may be thought of. But howsoever, the nature
745. It is reported of credit, that if you take of the teeth deserveth to be inquired of, as well
earth from land adjoining to the river of Nile, and as the other parts of living creatures' bodies.
preserve it in that manner that it neither come to 747. There be five parts in the bodies of living
be wet nor wasted; and weigh it daily, it will creatures, that are of hard substance; the skull,
not alter weight until the seventeenth of June, the teeth, the bones, the horns, and the nails.
which is the day when the river beginneth to rise; The greatest quantity of hard substance continued
and then it will grow more and more ponderous, is towards the head. For there is the skull of
till the river cometh to its height. Which if it be one entire bone; there are the teeth; there are
true, it cannot be caused but by the air, which the maxillary bones; there is the hard bone that
then beginneth to condense; and so turneth with- is the instrument of hearing; and thence issue
in that small mould into a degree of moisture, the horns; so that thebuildingoflivingcreatures'
which produceth weight. So it hath been ob- bodies is like the building of a timber house,
served, that tooacco, cut, and weighed, and then where the walls and other parts have columns
dried by the fire, loseth weight; and after being and beams; but the roof is, in the better sort ot
laid in the open air, recovereth weight again, houses, all tile, or lead, or stone. As for birds.
And it should seem, that as soon as ever the river they have three other hard substances proper to
beginneth to increase, the whole body of the air them; the bill, which is of like matter with the
thereabouts suffereth a change: for, that which teeth: for no birds have teeth: the shell of the's more strange, it is credibly affirmed, that upon egg: and their quills: for as for their spur, it is