The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF LIF E AND DEATH. 497
other columnar anchorites, have been exceeding 15. The same Irish used to wear saffroned linen
long-lived; likewise the anchorites in our days, and shirts, which, though it were at first devised
closed up and immured either within walls or to prevent vermin, yet howsoever I take it to be
pillars, are often found to be long-lived. very useful for lengthening of life; for saffron, of
5. Next unto the life in caves, is the life on all things that I know, is the best thing for the
mountains: for as the beams of the sun do not skin, and the comforting of the flesh, seeing it
penetrate into caves, so on the tops of mountains, is both notably astringent, and hath besides an
being destitute of reflection, they are of small oleosity and subtile heat without any acrimony.
force. But this is to be understood of mountains I remember a certain Englishman who when he
where the air is clear and pure; namely, whether went to sea carried a bag of saffron next his
by reason of the dryness of the valleys, clouds and stomach, that he might conceal it, and so escape
vapours do not ascend, as it is in the mountains custom; and whereas he was wont to be always
which encompass Barbary, where, even at this exceeding seasick, at that time he continued very
day, they live many times to a hundred and fifty well, and felt no provocation to vomit.
years, as hath been noted before. 16. Hippocrates adviseth in winter to wear
6. And this kind of air of caves and mountains, clean linen, and in summer foul linen, and beof its own proper nature, is little or nothing pre- smeared with oil: the reason may seem to he, bedatory; but air, such as ours is, which is preda- cause in summer the spirits exhale most, therefore
tory through the heat of the sun, ought as much the pores of the skin would be filled up.
as is possible to be excluded from the body. 17. Hereupon we are of opinion that the use of
7. But the air is prohibited and excluded two oil, either of olives or sweet almonds, to anoint the
ways: first, by closing the pores; secondly, by skin therewith, would principally conduce to long
filling them up. life. The anointing would be done every morn8. To the closing of the pores, help coldness of ing when we rise out of bed with oil, in which a
the air, going naked, whereby the skin is made little bay-salt and saffron is mixed. But this
hard, washing in cold water, astringents applied anointing must be lightly done with wool, or
to the skin, such as are mastick, myrrhe, myrtle. some soft sponge, not laying it on thick, but
9. But much more may we satisfy this opera- gently touching and wetting the skin.
tion by baths, yet those rarely used, (especially 18. It is certain that liquors, even the oily
in summer,) which are made of astringent mineral themselves, in great quantities draw somewhat
waters, such as may safely be used, as waters par- from the body; but, contrarily, in small quantities
ticipating of steel and copperas, for these do po- are drunk in by the body; therefore the anointing
tently contract the skin. would be but light as we said, or rather the shirt
10. As for filling up the pores, paintings, and itself would be besmeared with oil.
such like unctuous daubings, and (which may 19. It may happily be objected that this anointmost commodiously be used) oil and fat things, ing with oil which we commend (though it were
do no less conserve the substance of the body, never in use with us, and amongst the Italians
than oil colours and varnish do preserve wood. is cast off again) was anciently very familiar
11. The ancient Britons painted their bodies amongst the Grecians and Romans, and a part of
with woad, and were exceeding long-lived; the their diet, and yet men were not longer lived in
Picts also used paintings, and are thought by those days than now. But it may rightly be ansome to have derived their name from thence. swered, oil was in use only after baths, unless it
12. The Brazilians and Virginians paint them- were perhaps amongst champions; now hot baths
selves at this day, who are (especially the former) are as much contrary to our operation as anointvery long-lived; insomuch that five years ago, the ings are congruous, seeing the one opens the
French Jesuites had speech with some who re- passages, the other stops them up; therefore tihe
membered the building of Fernambuck, which bath without the anointing following is utterly
was done a hundred and twenty years since, and bad, the anointing without the bath is best of all.
they were then at man's estate. Besides, the anointing amongst them was used
13. Joannes de Temporibus, who is reported to only for delicacy, or (if you take it at the best)
have extended his life to three hundred years, for health, but by no means in order to long life;
being asked how he preserved himself so long, is and therefore they used them with all precious
said to have answered, By oil without, and by ointments, which were good for deliciousness,
honey within. but hurtful to our intention, in regard of their
14. The Irish, especially the wild Irish, even at heat; so that Virgil seemeth not to have said
this day live very long; certainly they report, amiss,
that within these few years, the Countess of Des- — Nec casit liquidi corrumpitur usus olivi.
mond lived to a hundred and forty years of age, That odoriferous cassia hath not supplanted the use of nea.
and bred teeth three times. Now the Irish have oil olive.
a fashion to chafe, and, as it were, to baste them- 20. Anointing with oil conduceth to health,
selves with old salt butter against the fire. both in winter, by the exclusion of the cold air
VOL. III.-63 2 T