OF BODIES, Chap.XXXII. 339 



cold,or of what kind foever they be, vrhen they are once got in, 

 mult needs mingle chemfelvei with the fpirits they meet with in 

 the nerve:and confequont ly, mult go along wirh them up ro the 

 brainerfbr the channeil of the nerve being fb littlc,that the molt 

 accurate infpe&ours ofnature cannot diltinguiili any Jitlc cavity 

 or hole running along the fiibftance of it : and the /pints which 

 ebbe and flow in thole channells, being fo infinitely fubtill, and 

 in fb (mall a quantity,as luch channells can containe : it is evi- 

 dent,that an atotne of infenfible bignefTe, is fufficicnt to imbue 

 the who!e length and quantity of /pint that is in one nerve : and 

 that atome,by reafon ofthe fubtilty of the liquor it is immerled 

 injsprefcntlyandas it were inftantly, dirf'uied through the 

 wholelubitanceofit : the Iburce therefore of that liquor being 

 in the braine, it cannot be doubted, but that the force of the ex- 

 terne ob/eft muft needes affeft the braine according to the 

 quality ofthe faiciatome : tht is, give amotion^or knock, con- 

 formable to its owne nature. 



As for our tafte, it is asplaine,that the little parts exprefled 

 out ofthe body which affe&eth it , doe mingle themlelves with 

 the liquor,thac being in the tongue, is continuate to the Ipirits : 

 and then^by our former argument it is cvident.,they mult reach 

 uuto the braine. And for our fmelling, there is nothing can 

 hinder odour.? Irom having immediate palTage up to our brain, 

 when by our nofe, they are once gotten into our head. 



In our hearing, there is a little more difficulty : for (bund be- 5. 



ing nothing but a motion ofthe Ayre, which ftriketh our eare ; How found 

 it may leem more then needeth, to fend any corporea'l iub- isconreycd 

 ft ance into the braine : and that^it is fufficient, that the vibrati- 

 ons ofthe outward aire, making" the drumme of the eare, doe 

 give a like motion to the ayre within the eare , that on the in- 

 side toucheth die tympane.'dnd fo this ayre thus moved,maketh 

 and beateth upon the braine. But this, I conceive, will not 

 ierve the turne; for if there were no more, but an aSual motion, 

 in the making of hearing ; I doe net fee, how founds could be 

 conferved in the memory ; fince of neceliity, motion muft al- 

 wayesrefide in fbmc body; which argument, wee /hall prefle 

 aoone^againft Mounfieur des Cartes his opinion for the reft of 

 thefenfes. 



Qut of this difficulty^ the very infpe&ion of che pares vrithin 



C c -f the 



