128 NATURAL HISTORY. 



that poison birds (as is said) which fly over them or 

 men that stay too long about them. 



919. The vapour of charcoal, or sea-coal, in a close 

 room, hath killed many ; and it is the more dangerous, 

 because it cometh without any ill smell, but stealeth 

 on by little and little, inducing only a faintness, -with 

 out any manifest strangling. When the Dutchmen 

 wintered at Nova Zembla, and that they could gather 

 no more sticks, they fell to make fire of some sea- 

 coal they had, wherewith (at first) they were much 

 refreshed ; but a little after they had sat * about the 

 fire, there grew a general silence and lothness to 

 speak amongst them ; and immediately after, one of 

 the weakest of the company fell down in a swoon ; 

 whereupon they doubting what it was, opened their 

 door to let in air, and so saved themselves. The effect 

 (no doubt) is wrought by the inspissation of the air ; 

 and so of the breath and spirits. The like ensueth in 

 rooms newly plastered, if a fire be made in them ; 

 whereof no less man than the Emperor Jovinianus 

 died. 2 



920. Vide the experiment 803.. touching the infec 

 tious nature of the air, upon the first showers after 

 long drought. 



921. It hath come to pass that some apothecaries, 

 upon stamping of coloquintida, have been put into a 

 great scouring by the vapour only. 



922. It hath been a practice to burn a pepper they 



1 Sit in the original. J. S. 



2 Ammianus Marcellinus mentions three causes which had been assigned 

 for the death of Jovianus, whom Bacon calls Jovinianus, one being a tu 

 mour in the head arising from exposure to a large fire. It does not seem 

 therefore that he was suffocated. (Ammianus Marcel, xxv. sub fin.) I 

 may remark that there appears to be no good foundation for the common 

 anecdote that Philip the Third of Spain died from a similar cause. 



