LIFE AND DEATH. 401 



derstood in what common way they all end, especially in 

 those deaths which are caused by indigence of nature, 

 rather than by violence ; although something of this latter 

 also must be inserted, because of the connexion of things. 



The History. 



1. The living spirit stands in need of three things that it 

 may subsist; convenient motion, temperate refrigeration, 

 and fit aliment. Flame seems to stand in need but of two 

 of these, namely, motion and aliment, because flame is a 

 simple substance, the spirit a compounded, insomuch that 

 if it approach somewhat too near to a flamy nature, it over- 

 throweth itself. 



2. Also flame by a greater and stronger flame is extin 

 guished and slain, as Aristotle well noted, much more the 

 spirit. 



3. Flame, if it be much compressed and straightened, is 

 extinguished ; as we may see in a candle having a glass 

 cast over it, for the air being dilated by the heat doth con- 

 trude and thrust together the flame, and so lesseneth it, and 

 in the end extinguisheth it ; and fires on hearths will not 

 flame, if the fuel be thrust close together, without any 

 space for the flame to break forth. 



4. Also things fired are extinguished with compression ; 

 as if you press a burning coal hard with the tongs, or the 

 foot, it is straight extinguished. 



5. But to come to the spirit ; if blood or phlegm get into 

 the ventricles of the brain, it causeth sudden death, because 

 the spirit hath no room to move itself. 



6. Also a great blow on the head induceth sudden death, 

 the spirits being straightened within the ventricles of the 

 brain. 



7. Opium, and other strong stupefactives, do coagulate 

 the spirit, and deprive it of the motion. 



8. A venemous vapour, totally abhorred by the spirit, 

 causeth sudden death ; as in deadly poisons, which work 

 (as they call it) by a special malignity ; for they strike a 

 loathing into the spirit, that the spirit will no more move 

 itself, nor rise against a thing so much detested. 



9. Also extreme drunkenness, or extreme feeding, some 

 time cause sudden death, seeing the spirit is not only op 

 pressed with over much condensing, or the malignity of the 

 vapour (as in opium and malignant poisons), but also with 

 the abundance of the vapours. 



10. Extreme grief or fear, especially if they be sudden (as it 

 is in a sad and unexpected message), cause sudden death. 



VOL. XIV. D D 



