LIFE AND DEATH. 405 



neglected death ensueth. So there are plainly three porches 

 of death ; destitution of the spirit in the motion, in the 

 refrigeration, in the aliment. 



It is an error to think that the living spirit is perpetually 

 generated and extinguished as flame is, and abideth not 

 any notable time ; for even flame itself is not thus out of 

 its own proper nature, but because it liveth amongst ene 

 mies ; for flame within flame endureth. Now the living 

 spirit liveth amongst friends, and all due obsequiousness. So 

 then, as flame is a momentary substance, air is a fixed sub 

 stance, the living spirit is betwixt both. 



Touching the extinguishing of the spirit by the destruc 

 tion of the organs (which is caused by diseases and vio 

 lence), we inquire not now, as we foretold in the beginning, 

 although that also endeth in the same three porches. And 

 touching the form of death itself, thus much. 



29. There are two great forerunners of death, the one 

 sent from the head, the other from the heart ; convulsion, 

 and the extreme labour of the pulse : for as for the deadly 

 hiccough, it is a kind of convulsion. But the deadly labour 

 of the pulse hath that unusual swiftness, because the heart 

 at the point of death doth so tremble, that the systole and 

 diastole thereof are almost confounded. There is also 

 conjoined in the pulse a weakness and lowness, and often 

 times a great intermission, because the motion of the heart 

 faileth, and is not able to rise against the assault stoutly 

 or constantly. 



30. The immediate preceding signs of death are, great 

 unquietness and tossing in the bed, fumbling with the 

 hands, catching and grasping hard, gnashing with the 

 teeth, speaking hollow, trembling of the nether lip, paleness 

 of the face, the memory confused, speechless, cold sweats, 

 the body shooting in length, lifting up the white of the eye, 

 changing of the whole visage (as the nose sharp, eyes hol 

 low, cheeks fallen), contraction and doubling of the coldness 

 in the extreme parts of the body, in some, shedding of blood, 

 or sperm, shrieking, breathing thick and short, falling of 

 the nether chap, and such like. 



31. There follow death a privation of all sense and motion, 

 as well of the heart and arteries as of the nerves and joints, 

 an inability of the body to support itself upright, stiffness 

 of the nerves and parts, extreme coldness of the whole body, 

 after a little while putrefaction and stinking. 



32. Eels, serpents, and the insecta, will move a long time 

 in every part after they are cut asunder, insomuch that 



