164 NATURAL HISTORY. 



tion ; which ever dissolveth the consistence of the 

 body into much inequality, as in flesh, rotten fruits, 

 shining wood, &c. and also in the rust of metals. But 

 if that motion be in a certain order, there followeth 

 vivification and figuration ; as both in living crea 

 tures bred of putrefaction, and in living creatures 

 perfect. But if the spirits issue out of the body, 

 there followeth desiccation, induration, consumption, 

 &c, as in brick, evaporation of bodies liquid, &c. 



329. The means to induce and accelerate putre 

 faction, are, first, by adding some crude or watery 

 moisture ; as in wetting of any flesh, fruit, wood, 

 with water, &c, for contrariwise unctuous and oily 

 substances preserve. 



330. The second is by invitation or excitation : 

 as when a rotten apple lieth close to another apple 

 that is sound ; or when dung, which is a substance 

 already putrified, is added to other bodies. And 

 this is also notably seen in church-yards, where they 

 bury much, where the earth will consume the corpse 

 in far shorter time than other earth will. 



331. The third is by closeness and stopping, 

 which detaineth the spirits in prison more than they 

 would ; and thereby irritateth them to seek issue ; 

 as in corn and clothes which wax musty ; and there 

 fore open air, which they call &quot; aer perflabilis,&quot; doth 

 preserve : and this doth appear more evidently in 

 agues, which come, most of them, of obstructions, 

 and penning the humours which thereupon putrify. 



332. The fourth is by solution of continuity ; as 



