The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

492 HISTORY OF LIFE AND DEATH.
in a weft, may work upon the spirits within the the tops of dry mountains, or in champaigns open
brain. And, therefore, a suffumigation of tobacco, to the wind, and yet not without some shade.
lignum aloes, rosemary leaves dried, and a little 41. As for the refrigeration and condensation
myrrh snuffed up in the morning at the mouth and of the spirits by vapours, the root of this operanostrils, would be very good. tion we place in nitre, as a creature purposely
34. In grand opiates, such as are treacle, made and chosen for this end, being thereunto led
mithridate, and the rest, it would not be amiss and persuaded by these arguments.
(especially in youth) to take rather the distilled 42. Nitre is a kind of cool spice; this is appawaters of them, than themselves in their bodies; rent to the sense itself, for it bites the tongue and
for the vapour in distilling doth rise, but the heat palate with cold, as spices do with heat, and it is
of the medicine commonly settleth, Now, dis- the only thing, as far as we know, that hath this
tilled waters are good in those virtues which are property.
conveyed by vapours, in other things but weak. 43. Almost all cold things (which are cold pro35. There are medicines which have a certain perly and not by accident, as opium is) are poor
weak and hidden degree, and therefore safe to an and jejune of spirit; contrarily, things full of spiopiate virtue; these send forth a slow and copious rit are almost all hot, only nitre is found amongst
vapour, but not malignant as opiates do; there- vegetables, which aboundeth with spirit and yet
fore they put not the spirits to flight, notwithstand- is cold. As for camphire, which is full of spirit,
ing they congregate them, and somewhat thicken and yet performeth the actions of cold, it cooleth
them. by accident only, as namely, for that by the thin36. 5Medicines, in order to opiates, are princi- ness thereof, without acrimony, it helpeth perspipally saffron, next folium indurnm, ambergris, ration and inflammations.
coriander seed prepared, amomum, pseuda mo- 44. In congealing and freezing of liquors
mum, lignhum rhodium, orange-flower water, and (which is lately grown into use) by laying snow
much more the infusion of the same flowers new and ice on the outside of the vessel, nitre is also
gathered in the oil of almonds, nutmegs pricked added, and no doubt it exciteth and fortifieth the
full of holes and macerated in rosewater. congelation. It is true, that they use also for this
37. As opiates are to be taken very sparingly, work ordinary bay-salt, which doth rather give
and at certain times, as was said, so these second- activity to the coldness of the snow, than cool by
aries may be taken familiarly, and in our daily itself; but, as I have heard, in the hotter regions,
diet, and they will be very effectual to prolonga- where snow falls not, the congealing is wrought
tion of life. Certainly an apothecary of Calecute, by nitre alone; but this I cannot certainly affirm.
by the use of amber, is said to have lived a hun- 45. It is affirmed that gunpowder, which condred and sixty years, and the noblemen of Bar.- sisteth principally of nitre, being taken in drink
bary through the use thereof are certified to be doth conduce to valour, and that it is used oftenvery long-lived, whereas the mean people are but times by mariners and soldiers before they begin
of short life. And our ancestors, who were their battles, as the Turks do opium.
longer lived than we, did use saffron much in 46. Nitre is given with good success in burntheir cakes, broths, and the like. And touching ing agues, and pestilential fevers, to mitigate and
the first.way of condensing the spirits of opiates, bridle their pernicious heats.
and the subordinates thereto, thus much. 47. It is manifest, that nitre in gunpowder doth
38. Now we will inquire of the second way of mightily abhor the flame, from whence is caused
condensing the spirits by cold, for the proper that horrible crack and puffing.
wrork of cold is condensation, and it is done with- 48. Nitre is found to be, as it were, the spirit
out any malignity, or adverse quality; and there- of the earth; for this is most certain, that any
fore it is a safer operation than by opiates, though earth, though pure and unmixed with nitrous mat.
somewhat less powerful, if it be done by turns. ter, if it be so laid up and covered, that it be free
only as opiates are. But then again, because it from the sunbeams, and putteth forth no vegetable,
may be used familiarly, and in our daily diet will gather nitre, even in good abundance. By
with moderation, it is much more powerful for which it is clear, that the spirit of nitre is not only
the prolongation of life than by opiates. inferior to the spirit of living creatures, but also to
39. The refrigeration of the spirits is effected the spirit of vegetables.
three ways, either by respiration, or by vapours., 49. Cattle, which drink of nitrous water, do
or by aliment. The first is the best, but, in a manifestly grow fat, which is a sign of the cold in
sort, out of our power; the second is potent, but nitre.
vet ready and at hand; the third is weak and 50. The manuring of the soil is chiefly by
somewhat about. nitrous substances; for all dung is nitrous, and
40. Air clear and pure, and which hath no fog- this is a sign of the spirit in nitre.,inress in it before it be received into the lungs, 51. From hence it appears, that the spirits of
and which is least exposed to the sunbeams, con- man may be cooled and condensed by the spirit
lenseth the spirits best. Such is found either on of nitre, and be made more crude and less eager