The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BOOK II. NOVUM ORGANUSM. 379
silver excites a slight heat, and so does copper, palate, and still more so when taken internally
and tin yet more plainly, and most of all, iron and One should see, therefore, on what other sub
steel, which excite not only a powerful heat, but a stances they exhibit the effects of heat. Now,
violent bubbling. The heat, therefore, appears to sailors tell us that when large quantities of spices
be occasioned by the struggle which takes place are suddenly opened, after having been shut up
when these strong dissolvents penetrate, dig into, for some time, there is some danger of fever and
and tear asunder the parts of those substances, inflammation to those who stir them or take them
whilst the substances themselves resist. When, out. An experiment might therefore be made
however, the substances yield more easily, whether such spices and herbs when produced
scarcely any heat is excited. will, like smoke, dry fish and mseat hung up over
them.
Twenty-sixth negative to the twentieth affirmative.
There is no negative instances with regard to Thirty-first neativetotwenty-sixth affirlative.
the heat of animals, except in insects, (as has been There is an acrid effect, and a degree of peneobserved,) owing to their small size. For, in tration in cold liquids, such as vinegar and oil of
fishes, as compared with land animals, a lower vitriol, as well as in warm, such as oil of marjodegree rather than a deprivation of heat is ob- ram and the like. They have, therefore, an equal
servable. In plants and vegetables, both as to effect in causing animated substances to smart,
their exudations and pith when freshly exposed, and separating and consuming inanimate parts.
there is no sensible degree of heat. But in ani- There is not any negative instance as to this, nor
mals there is a great difference in the degree, both does there exist any animal pain unaccompanied
in particular parts, (for the heat varies near the by the sensation of heat.
heart, the brain, and the extremities,) and in the
circumstances in which they are placed, such as Thirty-second negative to twenty-seventh affirmative.
violent exercise and fevers. There are many effects common to cold and
Twenty-seventh negative to twenty-first affirmative. heat, however different in their process. For,
snow balls appear to burn boys' hands after a
Here again there is scarcely a negative instance. little time, and cold no less than fire preserves
I might add that the excrements of animals, even bodies from putrefaction, besides, both heat and
when they are no longer fresh, possess evidently cold contract bodies. But it is better to refer
some effective heat, as is shown by their enrich- these instances and the like to the investigation
ing the soil. of cold.
Twenty-eighth negative to the twenty-second and twenty- 13. In the third place, we must exhibit to theo
third affirmative. understanding the instances in which that nature,
Such liquids (whether oily or watery) as are which is the object of our inquiries, is present in
intensely acrid, exhibit the effects of heat, by the a greater or less degree, either by comparing its
separation and burning of bodies after some little increase and decrease in the same object, or its
action upon them, yet they are not at first warm degree in different objects. For, since the form
to the touch. But they act according to their of a thing is its very essence, and the thing only
affinity and the pores of the substances to which differs from its form as the apparent from the
they are applied. For aqua regia dissolves gold, actual object, or the exterior from the interior, or
but not silver, on the contrary, aqua fortis dis- that which is considered with relation to man
solves silver, but not gold; neither of them dis- from that which is considered with relation to the
solves glass, and so of the rest. universe; it necessarily follows that no nature
can be considered a real form, which does not
Twenty-ninth negative to twenty-fourth affirmative. uniformly diminish and increase with the given
Let spirits of wine be tried on wood, or butter, nature. We are wont to call this our table of
wax, or pitch, to see if this will melt them at all degrees or comparative instances.
by their heat. For the 24th instance shows that
they possess properties resembling those of heat ble of the Degres or omparative Istances of
in causing incrustation. Let an experiment also
be made with a graduated glass or calendar,* con- We will first speak of those bodies which excave at the top, by pouring well rectified spirits hibit no degree of heat sensible to the touch, but
of wine into the cavity, and coverinog it up in order appear rather to possess a potential heat, or disthat they may the better retain their heat, then ob- position and preparation for it. We will then go
serve whether their heat make the water descend. on to others which are actually warm to the
touch, and observe the strength and degree of it.
Thirtieth negative to twenty-fifth affirmative. 1. There is no known solid or tangible body
Spices and acrid herbs are sensibly warm to the which is by its own nature originally warm.
For neither stone, metal, sulphur, fossils, wood.
* See No. 38, in the table of the degrees of heat. water, nor dead animal carcasses, are found warm