LIFE AND DEATH. 421 



strain the perspiration. But then, in the fourth place, 

 follows that great astriction and closure up of the body by 

 emplasteration, and then afterwards by inunction, until 

 the supple be turned into solid, as we said in the proper 

 place. 



CANON xxvn. 



Frequent renovation of the parts reparable, watereth and 

 reneweth the less reparable also. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



We said in the preface to this history, that the way of 

 death was this, that the parts reparable died in the fellow 

 ship of the parts less reparable ; so that in the reparation 

 of these same less reparable parts, all our forces would be 

 employed. And, therefore, being admonished by Aristotle s 

 observation touching plants, namely, that the putting forth 

 of new shoots and branches refresheth the body of the tree 

 in the passage; we conceive the like reason might be, if 

 the flesh and blood in the body of man were often renewed, 

 that thereby the bones themselves, and membranes, and 

 other parts, which in their own nature are less reparable, 

 partly by the cheerful passage of the juices, partly by that 

 new clothing of the young flesh and blood, might be 

 watered and renewed. 



CANON XXVIII. 



Refrigeration, or cooling of the body, which passeth some 

 other ways than by the stomach, is useful for long life. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



The reason is at hand ; for seeing a refrigeration not 

 temperate, but powerful (especially of the blood), is above 

 all things necessary to long life ; this can by no means be 

 effected from within as much as is requisite, without the 

 destruction of the stomach and bowels. 



CANON XXIX. 



That intermixing, or intangling, that as well consumption 

 as reparation are the works of heat, is the greatest obstacle 

 to long life. 



THE EXPLICATION. 



Almost all great works are destroyed by the natures of 

 things intermixed, when as that which helpeth in one 

 respect, hurteth in another ; therefore men must proceed 

 herein by a sound judgment, and a discreet practice. For 

 our part, we have done so far as the matter will bear, and 

 our memory serveth us, by separating benign heats from 

 hurtful, and the remedies which tend to both. 



