LIFE AND DEATH. 397 



I mean not sour or tart things, but unctuous and comfort 

 ing, that while the other two do operate, the exhaling out 

 of the body, which destroyeth the virtue of the things inte- 

 nerating, may (as much as possible) be prohibited ; and the 

 motion to the inward parts, by the astriction of the skin, 

 and closing of the passages, may be promoted and fur 

 thered. 



10. That which is most consubstantial to the body of 

 man is warm blood, either of man, or of some other living 

 creature. But the device of Ficinus, touching the sucking 

 of blood out of the arm of a wholesome young man, for the 

 restoration of strength, in old men, is very frivolous ; for 

 that which nourisheth from within, ought no way to be 

 equal or homogeneal to the body nourished, but in some 

 sort inferior and subordinate, that it may be converted. 

 But in things applied outwardly, by how much the sub 

 stance is liker, by so much the consent is better. 



11. It hath been anciently received, that a bath made of 

 the blood of infants will cure the leprosy, and heal the flesh 

 already putrefied ; insomuch that this thing hath begot 

 envy towards some kings from the common people. 



12. It is reported that Heraclitus, for cure of the dropsy, 

 was put into the warm belly of an ox newly slain. 



13. They use the blood of kitlings warm to cure the dis 

 ease called St. Anthony s Fire, and to restore the flesh and 

 skin. 



14. An arm, or other member newly cut off, or that 

 upon some other occasion, will not leave bleeding, is with 

 good success put into the belly of some creatures newly 

 ripped up, for it worketh potently to stanch the blood ; the 

 blood of the member cut off, by consent sucking in, and 

 vehemently drawing to itself the warm blood of the crea 

 ture slain, whereby itself is stopped, and retireth. 



15. It is much used in extreme and desperate diseases 

 to cut in two young pigeons yet living, and apply them to 

 the soles of the feet, and to shift them one after another, 

 whereby sometime there followeth a wonderful ease. This 

 is imputed vulgarly, as if they should draw down the ma 

 lignity of the disease: but howsoever, this application 

 goeth to the head, and comforteth the animal spirits. 



16. But these bloody baths and unctions seem to us 

 sluttish and odious : let us search out some others, which 

 perhaps have less loathsomeness in them, and yet no less 

 benefit. 



17. Next unto warm blood, things alike in substance to 



