46 NATURAL HISTORY. 



70. The second cause of cold is the contact of 

 cold bodies ; for cold is active and transitive into 

 bodies adjacent, as well as heat : which is seen in 

 those things that are touched with snow or cold 

 water. And therefore, whosoever will be an inquirer 

 into nature, let him resort to a conservatory of snow 

 and ice, such as they use for delicacy to cool wine 

 in summer : which is a poor and contemptible use, 

 in respect of other uses, that may be made of such 

 conservatories. 



71. The third cause is the primary nature of all 

 tangible bodies : for it is well to be noted, that all 

 things whatsoever, tangible, are of themselves cold ; 

 except they have an accessory heat by fire, life, or 

 motion : for even the spirit of wine, or chemical oils, 

 which are so hot in operation, are to the first touch 

 cold ; and air itself compressed, and condensed a 

 little by blowing, is cold. 



72. The fourth cause is the density of the body ; 

 for all dense bodies are colder than most other 

 bodies, as metals, stone, glass, and they are longer 

 in heating than softer bodies. And it is certain, that 

 earth, dense, tangible, hold all of the nature of cold. 

 The cause is, for that all matters tangible being 

 cold, it must needs follow, that where the matter is 

 most congregate, the cold is the greater. 



73. The fifth cause of cold, or rather of increase 

 and vehemency of cold, is a quick spirit inclosed 

 in a cold body : as will appear to any that shall 

 attentively consider of nature in many instances. We 

 see nitre, which hath a quick spirit, is cold ; more 



