LIFE AND DEATH. 381 



3. As for hardness, it is caused three ways : by aliment 

 of a firm nature, by cold condensing the skin and flesh, 

 and by exercise, binding and compacting the juices of the 

 body, that they be not soft and frothy. 



4. As for the nature of the aliment, it ought to be such 

 as is not easily dissipable, such as are beef, swine s flesh, 

 deer, goat, kid, swan, goose, ringdove, especially if they 

 be a little powdered ; fish likewise salted and dried, old 

 cheese and the like. 



5. As for the bread, oaten bread or bread with some 

 mixture of pease in it, or rye bread, or barley bread, are 

 more solid than wheat bread, and in wheat bread, the 

 coarse wheat bread is more solid than the pure manchet. 



6. The inhabitants of the Orcades, which live upon 

 salted fish, and generally all fish eaters, are long lived. 



7. The monks and hermits which fed sparingly, and 

 upon dry aliment, attained commonly to a great age. 



8. Also pure water usually drunk, makes the juices of 

 the body less frothy ; unto which if, for the dulness of the 

 spirits (which no doubt in water are but a little penetrative), 

 you shall add a little nitre, we conceive it would be very 

 good. And touching the firmness of the aliment, thus 

 much. 



9. As for the condensation of the skin and flesh by cold : 

 they are longer lived for the most part that live abroad in 

 the open air, than they that live in houses ; and the inha 

 bitants of the cold countries, than the inhabitants of the 

 hot. 



10. Great store of clothes, either upon the bed or back, 

 do resolve the body. 



11. Washing the body in cold water is good for length 

 of life; use of hot baths is nought, touching baths of 

 astringent mineral waters, we have spoken before. 



12. As for exercise, an idle life doth manifestly make 

 the flesh soft and dissipable : robust exercise (so it be 

 without overmuch sweating or weariness) maketh it hard 

 and compact. Also exercise within cold water, as swim 

 ming, is very good ; and generally exercise abroad is 

 better than that within houses. 



13. Touching frications (which are a kind of exercise), 

 because they do rather call forth the aliment that harden 

 the flesh, we will inquire hereafter in the due place. 



14. Having now spoken of hardening the juices of the 

 body, we are to come next to the oleosity and fatness of 

 them, which is a more perfect and potent intention than 

 induration, because it hath no inconvenience or evil 



