The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

504 HISTORY OF LIFE AND DEATH.
safely and conveniently be transferred into diets or the like, but of plain meat and drink; yet that
and regiment of life; for variety of medicines is very light, and in moderate quantity.
the daughter of ignorance; and it is not more 7. Exercises used for the irrigation of the
true, that many dishes have caused many diseases, members, ought to be equal to all the members;
as the proverb is, than this is true, that many not (as Socrates said) that the legs should move,
medicines have caused few cures. And touching and the arms should rest, or on the contrary; but
the operation upon the principal bowels for their that all the parts may participate of the motion.
extrusion of aliment, thus much. And it is altogether requisite to long life, that the
body should never abide long in one posture, but
VI. The pera.tion ucpon the Otiwazrd Parts for that every half hour, at least, it change the postheir attraction of Jiliment. ture, saving only in sleep.
8. Those things which are used to mortification, may be transferred to vivification; for both
1. Although a good concoction performed by hair-shirts, and scourgings, and all vexations of
the inward parts be the principal towards a per- the outward parts, do fortify the attractive force
fect alilnentation, yet the actions of the outward of them.
parts ought also to concur; that like as the 9. Cardan commends nettling, even to let out
inward faculty sendeth forth and extrudeth the melancholy; but of this we have no experience.
aliment, so the faculty of the outward parts may And, besides, we have no good opinion of it,
call forth, and attract the same; and the more lest, through the venomous quality of the nettle,
weak the faculty of concoction shall be, the more it may with often use breed itches, and other disneed is there of a concurring help of the attractive eases of the skin. And touching the operation
faculty. - upon the outward parts for their attraction of
2. A strong attraction of the outward parts is aliment, thus much.
chiefly caused by the motion of the body, by
which the parts being heated and comforted, do.n~~ >.,,- VII. The Oeratoz uon the.llment itself, for
more cheerfully call forth and attract the aliment t t t
unto themselves.n thereof.
3. But this is most of all to be foreseen and The history.
avoided, that the same motion and heat which 1. The vulgar reproof touching many dishes,
calls the new juice to the members, doth not again doth rather become a severe reformer, than a phydespoil the member of that juice wherewith it sician; or, howsoever it may be good for preserhad been before refreshed. vation of health, yet it is hurtful to length of life,
4. Frications used in the morning serve espe- by reason that a various mixture of aliments, and
cially to this intention; but this must evermore somewhat heterogeneous, finds a passage into the
accompany them, that after the frication, the part veins and juices of the body more lively and
being lightly anointed with oil, lest the attrition cheerfully, than a simple and homogeneous diet
of the outward parts make them by perspiration doth; besides, it is more forcible to stir up appedry and juiceless. tite, which is the spur of digestion. Therefore
5. The next is exercise, (by which the parts we allow both a full table, and a continual changconfricate and chafe themselves,) so it be mode- ing of dishes, according to the seasons of thie
rate, and which (as was noted before) is not year, or upon other occasions.
swift, nor to the utmost strength, nor unto weari- 2. Also that opinion of the simplicity of meats
ness. But in exercise and frication there is the without sauces, is but a simplicity of judgment;
same reason and caution, that the body may not for good and well chosen sauces are the most
perspire, or exhale too much. Therefore exercise wholesome preparation of meats, and conduce
is better in the open air than in the house, and both to health and to long life.
better in winter than in summer. And, again, 3. It must be ordered, that with meats hard of
exercise is not only to be concluded with unction, digestion be conjoined strong liquors, and sauces
as frication is, but in vehement exercises unction that may penetrate and make way; but with
is to be used both in the beginning and in the end, meats more easy of digestion, smaller liquors, and
as it was anciently to champions. fat sauces.
6. That exercise may resolve either the spirits 4. Whereas we advised before, that the first
or the juices as little as may be, it is necessary draught at supper should be taken warm; now wr
that it be used when the stomach is not altogether add, that for the preparation of the stomach, a
empty; and, therefore, that it may not be used good draught of that liquor (to which every man
upon a fiull stomach, (which doth much concern is most accustomed) be taken warm half an hour
health,) nor yet upon an empty stomach, (which before meat also, but a little spiced, to please the
doth no less concern long life,) it is best to take a taste.
breakfast in the morning, not of any physical 5. The preparation of meats, and bread, and
drugs, or of any liquors, or of raisins, or of figs, drinks, that they may be rightly handled, and in