CENTURY VIII. 25 



Experiments in consort touching the postures of the body. 1 



733. Lying not erect but hollow, which is in the 

 making of the bed, or with the legs gathered up, 

 which is in the posture of the body, is the more 

 wholesome. The reason is, the better comforting of 

 the stomach, which is by that less pensile : and we 

 see that in weak stomachs, the laying up of the legs 

 high, and the knees almost to the mouth, helpeth and 

 coinforteth. We see also that galley-slaves, iiotwith- 

 standing their misery otherwise, are commonly fat and 

 fleshy ; and the reason is, because the stomach is sup 

 ported somewhat in sitting, and is pensile in standing 

 or going. And therefore, for prolongation of life, it 

 is good to choose those exercises where the limbs move 

 more than the stomach and belly ; as in rowing, and in 

 sawing being set. 



734. Megrims and giddiness are rather when we rise 

 after long sitting, than while we sit. The cause is, for 

 that the vapours, which were gathered by sitting, by 

 the sudden motion fly more up into the head. 



735. Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, 

 and, as we call it, asleep. The cause is, for that the 

 compression of the part suffereth not the spirits to have 

 free access ; and therefore when we come out of it, we 

 feel a stinging or pricking ; which is the re-entrance 

 of tho spirits. 



Experiment solitary touching pestilential years. 



736. It hath been noted that those years are pestilen 

 tial and unwholesome, when there are great numbers 

 of frogs, 2 flies, locusts, &c. The cause is plain ; for 



l Compare Arist. Prob. vi. 3, 4, and 6. 2 Arist. Prob. i. 22. 



