420 HISTORY OF 



nutritions by bathing, unctions, or else by clysters, these 

 things in conjunction might do much, which single are less 

 available. 



CANON xxiv. 



Where the concoction is weak to thrust forth the aliment, 

 there the outward parts should be strengthened to call forth 

 the aliment. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



That which is propounded in this canon, is not the same 

 thing with the former, for it is one thing for the outward 

 aliment to be attracted inward, another for the inward ali 

 ment to be attracted outward ; yet herein they concur, that 

 they both help the weakness of the inward concoctions, 

 though by divers ways. 



CANON XXV. 



All sudden renovation of the body is wrought either by the 

 spirit, or by malacissations. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



There are two things in the body, spirits and parts ; to 

 both these the way by nutrition is long and about ; but it 

 is a short way to the spirits by vapours, and by the affec 

 tions, and to the parts by malacissations. But this is 

 diligently to be noted, that by no means we confound ali 

 mentation from without with malacissation; for the inten 

 tion of malacissation is not to nourish the parts, but only 

 to make them more fit to be nourished. 



CANON XXVI. 



Malacissation is wrought by consubstantials, by imprinters, 

 and by closers up. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



The reason is manifest, for that consubstantials do pro 

 perly supple the body, imprinters do carry in, closers up do 

 retain and bridle the perspiration, which is a motion oppo 

 site to malacissation. And therefore (as we described in 

 the ninth operation) malacissation cannot well be done at 

 once, but in a course or order. First, by excluding the 

 liquor by thickness ; for an outward and gross infusion doth 

 not well compact the body ; that which entereth must be 

 subtile, and a kind of vapour. Secondly, by intenerating 

 by the consent of consubstantials : for bodies upon the touch 

 of those things which have good agreement with them, open 

 themselves, and relax their pores. Thirdly, imprinters are 

 convoys, and insinuate into the parts the consubstantials, 

 and the mixture of gentle astringents doth somewhat re- 



