Chap. 24. i^Tretiife ^/BODIES. 281 



And in confirmation of this doftrine, we daily fee that the 

 children of parents who have any of their noble parts much and 

 long diftcmpered, whereby there muft be a great diftemper in 

 the bloud ('which is made and concocted by their afltftance) do 

 feldome fail of having ftrong inclinations to the diftempers and 

 difcafcs that cither of their parents were violently fubjedt unto. 

 Scaice any father or mother dieth of the confumption of the 

 Jungs, but their children inherit that difeafc in fome meafure: 

 the like is of the ftone; the like of the gout; the likeofdjfeafes 

 of the brain, and of fundry others; when they infefted the pa- 

 rents with any notable eminency. For the bloud coming conti- 

 nually to the heart from fo.ch ill-affe<5ted parts, by its circulation 

 through the whole body,muft needs in prccefTeoftimcalter,and 

 change the temper o.'the heart : and then both the heart giveth 

 a tainted impreflion to the bloud that muft be boyled into feed; 

 and the parts thcmfelves do communicate their debilities and di- 

 ftempers unto it: fo that it is no wonder, if the feed do partake 

 of fuch depraved qualities; fince it is a maxime among Phyfici- 

 ans, that fubfequent concoctions can never amend or repair the 

 faults of the precedent ones. 



Having waded thus farre into this matter, and all experience 

 agreeing that the whole animal is not formed at oncerl conceive Ir * 

 there can be no great difficulty in determining what part of it is j s rhe'firft P !rc 

 firft generated: which we have already faid to be the heart: but g c n eratedini 



, A } . . Jiving creature. 



peradventuie the Header may expedt lome more particular and 

 immediate proof of it. It is evident that all the motions and 

 changes which we have obierved in the egge and in the Doe^do 

 proceed from heat: and it is as certain that heat is greateft in the 

 center of it: from whence it difpcrfeth it lelf to letfe and Icfle. It 

 muft then neceffarily follows that the part in which heat docli 

 moft abound, and which is the interiour fountain of it, from 

 whence ( as from a ftocV of their own ) all the other parts de- 

 rive theirs; muft be formed firft and the others fuccelfively after 

 it, according as they partake more or leffe of this heat; which is 

 the Architect that mouldeth and frameth them all. Undoubt- 

 edly this can be none other but the heart: whofe motion and 

 manner of working, evidently appears in the twinckling of the 

 firft red fpot (which is the firft change ) in the egge, and in rhc 



firft 



