The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

16 NATURAL HISTORY. CENT. 1.
very little saffron. The more full handling of that the spirits do less spend the nourishment in
aimentation we reserve to the due place. sleep, than when living creatures are awake, and
We have hitherto handled the particulars which because, that which is to the present purpose, it
yield best, and easiest, and plentifullest nourish- helpeth to thrust out the nourishment into the
ment; and now we will speak of the best means parts. Therefore in aged men, and weak bodies,
of conveying and converting the nourishment. and such as abound not with choler, a short sleep
55. The first means is to procure that the nourish- after dinner doth help to nourish; for in such
ment may not be robbed and drawn away; where- bodies there is no fear of an over-hasty digestion,
in that which we have already said is very mate- which is the inconvenience of postmeridian sleeps.
rial; to provide that the reins draw not too strong- Sleep also in the morning, after the taking of somely an over great part of the blood into urine. To what of easy digestion, as milk fromn the cow,
this add that precept of Aristotle, that wine be nourishing broth, or the like, doth further nourishforborne in all consumptions; for that the spirits ment: but this would be done sitting upright,
of the wine do prey upon the roscid juice of the that the milk or broth may pass the more speedily
body, and inter-common with the spirits of the to the bottom of the stomach.
body, and so deceive and rob them of their nourish- 58. The fourth means is, to provide that the
ment. And therefore, if the consumption, grow- parts themselves may draw to them the nourishing from the weakness of the stomach, do force ment strongly. There is an excellent observation
you to use wine, let it always be burnt, that the of Aristotle; that a great reason, why plants,
quicker spirits may evaporate; or, at the least, some of them, are of greater age than living creaquenched with two little wedges'of gold, six or tures, is, for that they yearly put forth new leaves
seven times repeated. Add also this provision, and boughs: whereas living creatures put forth
that there be not too much expense of the nourish- after their period of growth, nothing that is young,.ment, by exhaling and sweating; and therefore if but hair and nails, which are excrements, and no
the patient be apt to sweat, it must be gently re- parts. And it is most certain, that whatsoever is
strained. But chiefly Hippocrates's rule is to be young, doth draw nourishment better than that
followed, who adviseth quite contrary to that which is old; and then, that which is the mystewhich is in use: namely, that the linen or gar- ry of that observation, young boughs, and leaves,
ment next the flesh be, in winter, dry and oft calling the sap up to them, the same nourisheth
changed; and in summer seldom changed, and the body in the passage. And this we see notasmeared over with oil; for certain it is, that any bly proved also, in that the oft cutting, or polling
substance that is fat, doth a little fill the pores of of hedges, trees, and herbs, doth conduce much to
the body, and stay sweat in some degree: but the their lasting. Transfer therefore this observation
more cleanly way is, to have the linen smeared to the helping of nourishment in living creatures:
lightly over with oil of sweet almonds; and not the noblest and principal use whereof is, for the
to forbear shifting as oft as is fit. prolongation of life; restoration of some degree
56. The second means is, to send forth the nou- of youth, and inteneration of the parts; for certain
rishment into the parts more strongly; for which it is, that there are in living creatures parts that
the working must be by strengthening of the nourish and repair easily, and parts that nourish
stomach; and in this, because the stomach is and repair hardly; and you must refresh and renew
chiefly comforted by wine and hot things, which those that are easy to nourish, that the other may
otherwise hurt, it is good to resort to outward ap- be refreshed, and as it were, drink in nourishment
plications to the stomach: Wherein it hath been in the passage. Now we see that draught oxen,
tried,'that the quilts of roses, spices, mastic, worm- put into good pasture, recover the flesh of young
wood, mint, &c. are nothing so helpful, as to take beef; and men after long emaciating diets wax
a cake of new bread, and to bedew it with a little plump and fat, and almost new: so that you may
sack, or Alicant, and to dry it, and after it be dried surely conclude, that the frequent and wise use
a little before the fire, to put it within a clean of those emaciating diets, and of purgings, and
napkin, and to layit to the stomach; for it is cer- perhaps of some kind of bleeding, is a principal
tain, that all flour hath a potent virtue of astric- means of prolongation of life, and restoring some
tion; in so much as it hardeneth a piece of flesh, degree of youth; for as we have often said, death
or a flower, that is laid in it: and therefore a bag cometh upon living creatures like the torment of
quilted with bran is likewise very good; but it Mezentius:
drieth somewhat too much, and therefore it must Mortua quin etiam jungebat corpora vivis
not lie long. Conmponens manibusque manus, atque oribus ora.
57. The third means, which may be a branch En. viii. 485.
of the former, is to send forth the nourishment For the parts in man's body easily reparable, as
the better by sleep. For we see, that bears, and spirits, blood, and flesh, die in the embracement
other creatures that sleep in the winter, wax ex- of the parts hardlyreparable, as bones, nerves, and
ceeding fat: and certain it is, as it is commonly membranes; and likewise some entrails, which
believed, that sleep doth nourish much, both for they reckon amongst the spermatical parts, are