388 NATURAL HISTORY. 



the stomach, which is by that less pensile : and we 

 see that in weak stomachs, the laying up of the legs 

 high, and the knees almost to the mouth, helpeth and 

 comforteth. We see also, that galley-slaves, notwith 

 standing their misery otherwise, are commonly fat 

 and fleshy ; and the reason is, because the stomach 

 is supported somewhat in sitting, and is pensile in 

 standing or going, And therefore, for prolongation 

 of life, it is good to choose these exercises where the 

 limbs move more than the stomach and belly ; as in 

 rowing, and in sawing, being set. 



734. Megrims and giddiness are rather when we 

 rise after long sitting, than while we sit. The cause 

 is, for that the vapours, which were gathered by sit 

 ting, by the sudden motion fly more up into the head. 



735. Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, 

 and as we call it asleep. The cause is, for that the 

 compression of the part suffereth not the spirits to 

 have free access ; and therefore when we come out of 

 it, we feel a stinging or pricking, which is the re- 

 entrance of the spirits. 



Experiments solitary touching pestilential years. 



736. It hath been noted, that those years are pes 

 tilential and unwholesome, when there are great 

 numbers of frogs, flies, locusts, &c. The cause is 

 plain; for that those creatures being engendered of 

 putrefaction, when they abound, shew a general dis 

 position of the year, and constitution of the air, to 

 diseases of putrefaction. And the same prognostic, 

 as hath been said before, holdeth, if you find worms 



