The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

BooK II. N OVUM ORGANUM. 421
the spirits, by soporifics or provocatives to sleep; for from their investigation, unless the discovery
the one by calming the motion, the other by of forms and conformation be attained. With,
expelling the spirit. The violet, dried roses, let- regard to animal bodies, it is not to be questioned
tuces, and other benign or mild remedies, by their that there are many internal and external medifriendly and gently cooling vapours, invite the cines which condense by harmony, as we have
spirits to unite, and restrain their violent and per- before observed, but this action is rare in inaniturbed motion. Rose-water, for instance, applied mate bodies. Written accounts, as well as reto the nostrils in fainting fits, causes the resolved port, have certainly spoken of a tree in one of the
and relaxed spirits to recover themselves, and, as Tercera or Canary Islands (for I do not exactly
it were, cherishes them. But opiates, and the recollect which) that drips perpetually, so as to
like, banish the spirits by their malignant and supply the inhabitants, in some degree, with
hostile quality. If they be applied, therefore, exter- water; and Paracelsus says, that the herb called
nally, the spirits immediately quit the part, and no ros solis is filled with dew at noon, whilst the sun
longer readily flow into it; but if they be taken gives out its greatest heat, and all other herbs
internally, their vapour, mounting to the head, around it are dry. We treat both these accounts
expels, in all directions, the spirits contained in as fables; they would, however, if true, be of
the ventricles of the brain, and since these spirits the most important service, and most worthy of
retreat, but cannot escape, they consequently examination. As to the honey-dew, resembling
meet and are condensed, and are sometimes com- manna, which is found in May on the leaves of
pletely extinguished and suffocated; although the the oak, we are of opinion that it is not condensed
same opiates, when taken in moderation, by a by any harmony or peculiarity of the oak leaf, but
secondary accident, (the condensation which sue- that whilst it falls equally upon other leaves, it
ceeds their union,) strengthen the spirits, render is retained and continues on those of the oak, bethem more robust, and check their useless and cause their texture is closer, and not so porous as
inflammatory motion, by which means they con- that of most of the other leaves.;
tribute not a little to the cure of diseases, and the With regard to heat, man possesses abundant
prolongation of life. means and power, but his observation and inquiry
The preparations of bodies, also, for the recep- are defective in some respects, and those of the
tion of cold, should not be omitted, such as that greatest importance, notwithstanding the boasting
water a little warmed is more easily frozen than of quacks. For the effects of intense heat are
that which is quite cold, and the like. examined and observed, whilst those of a more
Moreover, since nature supplies cold so sparing- gentle degree of heat, being of the most frequent
ly, we must act like the apothecaries, who, when occurrence in the paths of nature, are, on that very
they cannot obtain any simple ingredient, take account, least known. We see, therefore, the
a succedaneum, or quid pro quo, as they term it, furnaces, which are most esteemed, employed in
such as aloes for xylobalsamumn, cassia for cinna- increasing the spirits of bodies to a great extent,
mon. In the same manner we should look dili- as in the strong acids, and some chymical oils;
gently about us, to ascertain whether there may whilst the tangible parts are hardened, and, when
be any substitutes for cold, that is to say, in what the volatile part has escaped, become sometimes
other manner condensation can be effected, which fixed; the homogeneous parts are separated, and
is the peculiar operation of cold. Such conden- the heterogeneous incorporated and agglomerated
sations appear hitherto to be of four kinds only. in a coarse lump; and (what is chiefly worthy of
1. By simple compression, which is of little avail remark) the junction of compound bodies, and
towards permanent condensation, on account of the more delicate conformations are destroyed and
the elasticity of substances, but may still how- confounded. But the operation of a less violent
ever be of some assistance. 2. By the contrac- heat should be tried and investigated, by which
tion of the coarser, after the escape or departure more delicate mixtures and regular conformations
of the finer parts of a given body; as is exempli- may be produced and elicited, according to the
fled in induration by fire, and the repeated heating example of nature, and in imitation of the effect
and extinguishing of metals, and the like. 3. By of the sun, which we have alluded to in the
the cohesion of the most solid homogeneous parts aphorism on the instances of alliance. For the
of a given body, which were previously separated, works of nature are carried on in much smaller
and mixed with others less solid, as in the return portions, and in more delicate and varied positions
of sublimated. mercury to its simple state, in than those of fire, as we now employ it. But
which it occupies much less space than it did in'man will then appear to have really augmented
powder, and the same may be observed of the his power, when the works of nature can be
cleansing of all metals from their dross. 4. By imitated in specie, perfected in power, and varied
harmony or the application of substances which in quantity; to which should be added the accecondense by some latent power. These harmo- leration in point of time. Rust, for instance, is
nies are as yet but rarely observed, at which we * It may often be observed on the leaves of the lime aud
cannot be surprised, since there is little to hope other trees.
2 N