NOVUM ORGANUM 135 



might, therefore, be made whether such spices and herbs, 

 when produced, will, like smoke, dry fish and meat hung 

 up over them. 



There is an acrid effect and a degree of penetration in 

 cold liquids, such as vinegar and oil of vitriol, as well as 

 in warm, such as oil of marjoram and the like; they have, 

 therefore, an equal effect in causing animated substances to 

 smart, and separating and consuming inanimate parts. 

 There is not any negative instance as to this, nor does there 

 exist any animal pain unaccompanied by the sensation of 

 heat. 



There are many effects common to cold and heat, how 

 ever different in their process; for snowballs appear to burn 

 boys hands after a little time, and cold no less than fire 

 preserves bodies from putrefaction besides both heat and 

 cold contract bodies. But it is better to refer these instances 

 and the like to the investigation of cold. 



XIII. In the third place we must exhibit to the under 

 standing the instances in which that nature, which is the 

 object of our inquiries, is present in a greater or less degree, 

 either by comparing its increase and decrease in the same 

 object, or its degree in different objects; for since the form 

 of a thing is its very essence, and the thing only differs 

 from its form as the apparent from the actual object, or the 

 exterior from the interior, or that which is considered with 

 relation to man from that which is considered with relation 

 to the universe; it necessarily follows that no nature can be 

 considered a real form which does not uniformly diminish 

 and increase with the given nature. We are wont to call 

 this our Table of Degrees, or Comparative Instances. 



