190 NOVUM OEGANUM 



the sun, and that of corruption to its retreat; while, in fact, 

 each circumstance indifferently and not respectively con 

 tributes both to generation and corruption; for unequal 

 heat tends to generate and corrupt, as equable heat does 

 to preserve. 4. The fourth difference between the heat of 

 the sun and fire is of great consequence; namely, that the 

 sun, gradually, and for a length of time, insinuates its 

 effects, while those of fire (urged by the impatience of 

 man) are brought to a termination in a shorter space of 

 time. But if any one were to pay attention to the temper 

 ing of fire, and reducing it to a more moderate and gentle 

 degree (which may be done in various ways), and then were 

 to sprinkle and mix a degree of humidity with it; and, 

 above all, were to imitate the sun in its inequality; and, 

 lastly, were patiently to suffer some delay (not such, how 

 ever, as is proportioned to the effects of the sun, but more 

 than men usually admit of in those of fire), he would soon 

 banish the notion of any difference, and would attempt, or 

 equal, or perhaps sometimes surpass the effect of the sun, 

 by the heat of fire. A like instance of alliance is that of 

 reviving butterflies, benumbed and nearly dead from cold, 

 by the gentle warmth of fire; so that fire is no less able to 

 revive animals than to ripen vegetables. We may also 

 mention the celebrated invention of Fracastorius, of apply 

 ing a pan considerably heated to the head in desperate cases 

 of apoplexy, which clearly expands the animal spirits, when 

 compressed and almost extinguished by the humors and 

 obstructions of the^ brain, and excites them to action, as the 

 fire would operate on water or air, and in the result pro 

 duces life. Eggs are sometimes hatched by the heat of fire, 

 an exact imitation of animal heat; and there are many in 

 stances of the like nature, so that no one can doubt that the 



