356 NATURAL HISTORY. 



moisture, although it doth not pass through bodies, 

 without communication of some substance, as heat 

 and cold do, yet it worketh manifest effects ; not by 

 entrance of the body, but by qualifying of the heat 

 and cold ; as we see in this instance : and we see, 

 likewise, that the water of things distilled in water, 

 which they call the bath, differeth not much from the 

 water of things distilled by fire. We see also, that 

 pewter dishes with water in them will not melt easily, 

 but without it they will ; nay we see more, that but 

 ter, or oil, which in themselves are inflammable, yet 

 by virtue of their moisture will do the like. 



Experiment solitary touching yawning. 



685. It hath been noted by the ancients, that it is 

 dangerous to pick one s ear whilst he yawneth. The 

 cause is, for that in yawning the inner parchment of 

 the ear is extended, by the drawing in of the spirit and 

 breath ; for in yawning, and sighing both, the spirit 

 is first strongly drawn in, and then strongly expelled . 



Experiment solitary touching the hiccough. 



686. It hath been observed by the ancients, that 

 sneezing doth cease the hiccough. The cause is, for 

 that the motion of the hiccough is a lifting up of the 

 stomach, which sneezing doth somewhat depress, 

 and divert the motion another way. For first we see 

 that the hiccough cometh of fulness of meat, espe 

 cially in children, which causeth an extension of the 

 stomach : we see also it is caused by acid meats, or 

 drinks, which is by the pricking of the stomach ; and 



