4 02 BACON 



nostrils to the mouth and palate. But, on the other hand, 

 those whose power of smelling is deficient or obstructed, per- 

 ceive what is salt, sweet, pungent, acid, rough, and bitter, and 

 the like, as well as anyone else: so that the taste is clearly 

 something compounded of the internal smelling, and an ex- 

 quisite species of touch which we will not here discuss. 



Again, as another example, let the required nature be the 

 communication of quality, without intermixture of substance. 

 The instance of light will afford or constitute one species of 

 communication, heat and the magnet another. For the com- 

 munication of light is momentary and immediately arrested 

 upon the removal of the original light. But heat, and the mag- 

 netic force, when once transmitted to or excited in another body, 

 remain fixed for a considerable time after the removal of the 

 source. 



In fine, the prerogative of constitutive instances is considera- 

 ble, for they materially assist the definitions (especially in detail) 

 and the divisions or partitions of natures, concerning which 

 Plato has well said, " He who can properly define and divide is 

 to be considered a god." 



27. In the sixth rank of prerogative instances we will place 

 similar or proportionate instances, which we are also wont to 

 call physical parallels, or resemblances. They are such as ex- 

 hibit the resemblances and connection of things, not in minor 

 forms (as the constitutive do), but at once in the concrete. 

 They are therefore, as it were, the first and lowest steps toward 

 the union of nature ; nor do they immediately establish any ax- 

 iom, but merely indicate and observe a certain relation of 

 bodies to each other. But although they be not of much as- 

 sistance in discovering forms, yet they are of great advantage 

 in disclosing the frame of parts of the universe, upon whose 

 members they practise a species of anatomy, and thence occa- 

 sionally lead us gently on to sublime and noble axioms, espe- 

 cially such as relate to the construction of the world, rather than 

 to simple natures and forms. 



As an example, take the following similar instances : a mir- 

 ror and the eye ; the formation of the ear, and places which re- 

 turn an echo. From such similarity, besides observing the re- 

 semblance (which is useful for many purposes), it is easy to 

 collect and form this axiom. That the organs of the senses, 

 and bodies which produce reflections to the senses, are of a 

 similar nature. Again, the understanding once informed of 

 this, rises easily to a higher and nobler axiom ; namely, that 

 the only distinction between sensitive and inanimate bodies, 

 in those points in which they agree and sympathize, is this ; in 

 the former, animal spirit is added to the arrangement of the 

 body, in the latter it is wanting. So that there might be as 



