The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

506 HISTORY OF LIFE AND DEATH.
other things is bound in by a stronger desire of The history.
rest, and containing themselves from motion. 1. In the fable of restoring Pelias to youth
2. Again, it is certain that the desire of as- again, Medea, when she feigned to do it, prosimilating being bound, as we said, in a gross pounded this way of accomplishing the same;
body, and made ineffectual, is somewhat freed and that the old man's body should be cut into several
stirred up by the heat and neighbouring spirit, so pieces, and then boiled in a caldron with certain
that it is then actuated; which is the only cause medicaments. There may, perhaps, some boiling
why inanimnates assimilate not, and animates as- be required to this matter, but the cutting into
similate. pieces is not needful.
3. This also is certain, that the harder the con- 2. Notwithstanding, this cutting into pieces
sistence of the body is, the more doth that body seems in some sort to be used, not with a knifi,
stand in need of a greater heat to prick forward but with judgment. For, whereas the consistence
the assimilation; which falls out ill for old men, of the bowels and parts is very diverse, it is
because in them the parts are more obstinate, and needful that the inteneration of them both be not
the heat weaker, and therefore either the obstinacy effected the same way, but that there be a cure
of their parts is to be softened or their heat in- designed of each in particular, besides those
creased. And, as touching the malacissation or things which pertain to the inteneration of the
mollifying of the members, we shall speak after- whole mass of the body; of which, notwithward, lhaving also formerly propounded many standing, in the first place.
things which pertain to the prohibiting and pre- 3. This operation (if, perhaps, it be within our
venting of this kind of hardness. For the other, power) is most likely to be done by baths, unctouching the increasing of the heat, we will now tions, and the like, concerning which, these
deliver a single precept, after we have first as- things that follow are to be observed.
sumed this axiom. 4. We must not be too forward in hoping to
4. The act of assimilation (which, as we said, accomplish this matter, from the examples of
is excited by the heat circumfused) is a motion those things which we see done in the imbibiexceeding accurate, subtile, and in little; now, tions and macerations of inanirnates, by which
all such motions do then come to their vigour, they are intenerated, whereof we introduced some
when the local motion wholly ceaseth which dis- instances before: for this kind of operation is
turbeth it. For the motion of separation into more easy upon inanimates, because they attract
homogeneal parts, which is in milk, that the and suck in the liquor; but upon the bodies of
cream should swim above, and the whey sink to living creatures it is harder, because in them the
the bottom, will never work, if the milk be never motion rather tendeth outward, and to the circumso little agitated; neither will any putrefaction ference.
proceed in water or mixed bodies, if the same be 5. Therefore, the emollient baths which are in
in continual local motion. So, then, from this use do little good, but on the contrary hurt,
assumption we will conclude this for the present because they rather draw forth than make eninquisition. trance, and resolve the structure of the body,
5. The act itself of assimilation, is chiefly rather than consolidate it.
accomplished in sleep and rest, especially to- 6. The baths and unctions which may serve to
wards the morning, the distribution being finished. the present operation, (namely, of intenerating
Therefore, we have nothing else to advise but the body truly and really,) ought to have three
that men keep themselves hot in their sleep; and properties.
further, that towards the morning there be used 7. The first and principal is, that they consist
some anointing, or shirt tincted with oil, such as of those things which, in their whole substance,
may gently stir up heat, and after that to fall are like unto the body and flesh of man, and which
asleep again. And, touching the last act of assi- have a feeding and nursing virtue from without.
milation, thus much. 8. The second is, that they be mixed with such
things as, through the subtilty of their parts, may
IX. TIhe Operation up7ton the Inteneration of that Ln
PIX. eOprion to betare e e, or the 31a cf t hat make entrance, and so insinuate and convey their
which begins to be arefled, or the.Malacissation nourishing virtue into the body
of the Body. nourishing virtue into the body.
9. The third is, that they receive some mixture
We have inquired formerly touching the intene- (though much inferior to the rest) of such things
ration from within, which is done by many as are astringent; I mean not sour or tart things,
windings and circuits, as well of alimentation as but unctuous and comforting, that while the other
of detaining the spirit from issuing forth, and, two do operate, the exhaling out of the body,
therefore, is accomplished slowly. Now, we are which destroyeth the virtue of the things inteneto inquire touching that inteneration which is from rating, may, as much as possible, be prohibited;
without, and is affected, as it were, suddenly; or and the motion to the inward parts, by the astrictouching the malacissation and supplying of the tion of the skin, and closing of the passages,
hody. may be promoted and furthered.