360 HISTORY OF 



degree of activity, that they should not (as he saith) drink 

 and guzzle the juices of the body, but sip them only. 



5. There are two kinds of flames, the one eager and weak, 

 which consumes slight substances, but hath little power 

 over the harder, as the flame of straw or small sticks : the 

 other strong and constant, which converts hard and obsti 

 nate substances ; as the flame of hard wood, and such like. 



6. The eager flames, and yet less robust do dry bodies, 

 and render them exhaust and sapless; but the stronger 

 flames do intenerate and melt them. 



7. Also in dissipating medicines, some vapour forth the 

 thin part of the tumours or swellings, and these harden the 

 tumour ; others potently discuss, and these soften it. 



8. Also in purging and absterging medicines, some carry 

 away the fluid humours violently, others draw the more 

 obstinate and viscous. 



9. The spirits ought to be invested and armed with such 

 a heat, that they may choose rather to stir and undermine 

 hard and obstinate matters, than to discharge and carry 

 away the thin and prepared : for by that means the body 

 becomes green and solid. 



10. The spirits are so to be wrought and tempered, that 

 they may be in substance dense, not rare ; in heat strong, 

 not eager ; in quantity sufficient for the offices of life, not 

 redundant or turgid ; in motion appeased, not dancing or 

 unequal. 



11. That vapours work powerfully upon the spirits it is 

 manifest by sleep, by drunkenness, by melancholic passions, 

 by letificant medicines, by odours, calling the spirits back 

 again in swoonings and faintings. 



1 2. The spirits are condensed four ways ; either by put 

 ting them to flight, or by refrigerating and cooling them, 

 or by stroking them, or by quieting them. And first of 

 their condensation, by putting them to flight. 



13. Whatsoever putteth to flight on all parts driveth the 

 body into his centre, and so condenseth. 



14. To the condensation of the spirits by flight, the most 

 powerful and effectual is opium, and next opiates, and ge 

 nerally all soporiferous things. 



15. The force of opium to the condensation of the spirits 

 is exceeding strong, when as perhaps three grains thereof 

 will in a short time so coagulate the spirits, that they return 

 no more, but are extinguished, and become immoveable. 



16. Opium, and the like, put not the spirits to flight by 

 their coldness, for they have parts manifestly hot, but on 

 the contrary cool by their putting the spirits to flight. 



