382 BACON 



and the pores of the substances to which they are applied ; for 

 aqua regia dissolves gold but not silver on the contrary, aqua 

 fortis dissolves silver but not gold ; neither of them dissolves 

 glass, and so of the rest. 



Let spirits of wine be tried on wood, or butter, wax, or pitch, 

 to see if this will melt them at all by their heat ; for the twenty- 

 fourth instance shows that they possess properties resembling 

 those of heat in causing incrustation. Let an experiment also be 

 made with a graduated glass or calendar, concave at the top, by 

 pouring well-rectified spirits of wine into the cavity, and cover- 

 ing it up in order that they may the better retain their heat, 

 then observe whether their heat make the water descend. 



Spices and acrid herbs are sensibly warm to the palate, and 

 still more so when taken internally ; one should see, therefore, 

 on what other substances they exhibit the effects of heat. Now, 

 sailors tell us that when large quantities of spices are suddenly 

 opened, after having been shut up for some time, there is some 

 danger of fever and inflammation to those who stir them or take 

 them out. An experiment might, therefore, be made whether 

 such spices and herbs, when produced, will, like smoke, dry fish 

 and meat hung up over them. 



There is an acrid effect and a degree of penetration in cold 

 liquids, such as vinegar and oil of vitriol, as well as in warm, 

 such as oil of marjoram and the like; they have, therefore, an 

 equal effect in causing animated substances to smart, and sepa- 

 rating and consuming inanimate parts. There is not any nega- 

 tive instance as to this, nor does there exist any animal pain un- 

 accompanied by the sensation of heat. 



There are many effects common to cold and heat, however 

 different in their process ; for snowballs appear to burn boys' 

 hands after a little time, and cold no less than fire preserves 

 bodies from putrefaction besides both heat and cold contract 

 bodies. But it is better to refer these instances and the like to 

 the investigation of cold. 



13. In the third place we must exhibit to the understanding 

 the instances in which that nature, which is the object of our 

 inquiries, is present in a greater or less degree, either by compar- 

 ing its increase and decrease in the same object, or its degree in 

 different objects ; for since the form of a thing is its very es- 

 sence, and the thing only differs from its form as the apparent 

 from the actual object, or the exterior from the interior, or that 

 which is considered with relation to man from that which is 

 considered with relation to the universe ; it necessarily follows 

 that no nature can be considered a real form which does not 

 uniformly diminish and increase with the given nature. We 

 are wont to call this our Table of Degrees, or Comparative In- 

 stances. 



