The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

CENT. IX. NATURAL HISTORY. l19
flame a pretty while. The other is some extreme more in wine than in water. The cause may be
cidd and quenching virtue in the body of that trivial: namely, by the expense of the liquor, in
creature, which choketh the fire. We see that regard some may stick to the sides of the bottles:
milk quencheth wildfire better than water, be- but there may be a cause more subtile; which is,
cause it entereth better. that the liquor in the Vessel is not so much compressed as in the bottle; because in the vessel
Experiment solitary touching the contrary opera- the liquor meeteth with liquor chiefly; but in the
tions of time uponfruits and liquors. bottles a small quantity of liquor meeteth with
861. Time doth change fruit, as apples, pears, the sides of the bottles, which compress it so
pomegranates, &c., from more sour to more sweet: that it doth not open again.
but contrariwise liquors, even those that are of
the juice of fruit, from more sweet to more sour: Experiment solitary touching the working of water
as wort, musted, new verjuice, &c. The cause cupon air contiguous.
is, the congregation of the spirits together: for 865. Water, being contiguous with air, cooleth
in both kinds the spirit is attenuated by time; it, but moisteneth it not, except it vapour. The
but in the first kind it is more diffused, and more cause is, for that heat and cold have a virtual
mastered by the grosser parts, which the spirits transition, without communication of substance;
do but digest: but in drinks the spirits do reign, but moisture not: and to all madefaction there is
and finding less opposition of the parts, become required an imbibition: but where the bodies are
themselves more strong; which causeth also of such several levity and gravity as they mingle
more strength in the liquor; such as if the spirits not, there can follow no imbibition. And therebe of the hotter sort, the liquor becometh apt to fore, oil likewise lieth at the top of the water,
burn: but in time, it causeth likewise, when the without commixture: and a drop of water running
higher spirits are evaporated, more sourness. swiftly over a straw or smooth body, wetteth not.
Experiment solitary touching blows and bruises.
Exjperiment solitary touching the nnature of air.
862. It hath been observed by the ancients,
that plates of metal, and especially of brass, ap- 866. Starlight nights, yea, and bright moonplied presently to a blow, will keep it down from shine nights, are colder than cloudy nights. The
swelling. The cause is repercussion, without cause is, the dryness and. fineness of the air,
humectation or entrance of any body: for the which therebybecometh more piercing and sharp;
elate hath only a virtual cold, which doth not and therefore great continents are colder than
search into the hurt; whereas all plasters and islands: and as for the moon, though itself inointments do enter. Surely, the cause thatblows clineth the air to moisture, yet when it shineth
and bruises induce swellings is, for that the spirits bright, it argueth the air is dry. Also close air is
resorting to succour the part that laboureth, draw warmer than open air; which, it may be, is, for
also the humours with them: for we see, that it that the true cause of cold is an expiration from
is not the repulse and the return of the humour the globe of the earth, which in open places is
in the part strucken that causeth it; for that gouts stronger; and again, air itself, if it be not altered
and toothaches cause swelling, where there is no by that expiration, is not without some secret
percussion at all. degree of heat; as it is not likewise without some
secret degree of light: for otherwise cats and
Experiment solitary touching the orrice root. owls could not see in the night; but that air hath
863. The nature of the orrice root is almost a little light, proportionable to the visual spirits
singular; for there be few odoriferous roots; and of those creatures.
in those that are in any degree sweet, it is but
the. same sweetness with the wood or leaf: but Experiments in consort touching the eyes and sight.
the orrice is not sweet in the leaf; neither is the 867. The eyes do move one and the same way;
flower any thing so sweet as the root. The root for when one eye moveth to the nostril, the other
seemeth to have a tender dainty heat; which moveth from the nostril. The cause is, motion of
when it cometh above ground to the sun and the consent, which in the spirits and parts, spiritual
air, vanisheth: for it. is a great mollifier; and is strong. But yet use will induce the contrary;
hath a smell like a violet. for some can squint when they will: and the
common tradition is, that if children be set upon
E. periment solitary touching the compression of a table with a candle behind them, both eyes will
liquors. move outwards, as affecting to see the light, and
864. It hath been observed by the ancients, so induce squinting.
that a great vessel full, drawn into bottles, and 868. We see more exquisitely with one eye
then the liquor put again into the vessel, will not shut, than with both open. The cause is, for that
fill the vessel again so full as it was, but that it the spirits visual unite themselves more, and so
may take in more liquor: and that this holdeth become stronger. For you may see, by looking