CENTURY I. 45 



and they cannot dry up until they have first atten 

 uated ; and while the humour is attenuated, it is 

 more fluid than it was before, and troubleth the body 

 a great deal more, until it be dried up and con 

 sumed. And therefore patients must expect a due 

 time, and not kick at them at the first. 



Experiments in consort touclting the production of cold. 



The producing of cold is a thing very worthy the 

 inquisition ; both for use and disclosure of causes. 

 For heat and cold are nature s two hands, whereby 

 she chiefly worketh ; and heat we have in readiness, 

 in respect of the fire ; but for cold we must stay till 

 it cometh, or seek it in deep caves, or high moun 

 tains : and when all is done, we cannot obtain it in 

 any great degree : for furnaces of fire are far hotter 

 than a summer s sun ; but vaults or hills are not 

 much colder than a winter s frost. 



G9. The first means of producing cold, is that 

 which nature presenteth us withal : namely, the 

 expiring of cold out of the inward parts of the earth 

 in winter, when the sun hath no power to overcome 

 it ; the earth being, as hath been noted by some, 

 &quot; primum frigidum.&quot; This hath been asserted, as 

 well by ancient as by modern philosophers : it was 

 the tenet of Parmenides. It was the opinion of the 

 author of the discourse in Plutarch, for I take it that 

 book was not Plutarch s own, &quot;Deprimo frigido.&quot; 

 It was the opinion of Telesius, who hath renewed 

 the philosophy of Parmenides, and is the best of the 

 novelists. 



