160 NATURAL HISTORY. 



spirits ; as is seen in flesh kept in a room that is not 

 cool ; whereas in a cool and wet larder it will keep 

 longer. And we see that vivification, whereof pu 

 trefaction is the bastard brother, is effected by such 

 soft heats ; as the hatching of eggs, the heat of the 

 womb, &c. 



336. The eighth is by the releasing of the spirits, 

 which before were close kept by the solidness of their 

 coverture, and thereby their appetite of issuing 

 checked ; as in the artificial rusts induced by strong 

 waters in iron, lead, &c. and therefore wetting 

 hasteneth rust or putrefaction of any thing, because 

 it softeneth the crust for the spirits to come forth. 



337. The ninth is by the interchange of heat and 

 cold, or wet and dry ; as we see in the mouldering of 

 earth in frosts and sun ; and in the more hasty rotting 

 of wood that is sometimes wet, sometimes dry. 



338. The tenth is by time, and the work and 

 procedure of the spirits themselves, which cannot 

 keep their station ; especially if they be left to them 

 selves, and there be not agitation or local motion. 

 As we see in corn not stirred, and men s bodies not 

 exercised. 



339. All moulds are inceptions of putrefaction ; 

 as the moulds of pies and flesh; the moulds of oranges 

 and lemons, which moulds afterwards turn into 

 worms, or more odious putrefactions ; and therefore 

 commonly prove to be of ill odour. And if the body 

 be liquid ,and not apt to putrify totally, it will cast 

 up a mother in the top, as the mothers of distilled 

 waters. 



