IMPROVED. 47 



in order to aflift Digeftion. For this fo very fen- 

 fible Membrane, is touched with a pleafant Titilla- 

 tion after Eating, which determines the Animal Spi- 

 rits, as I have faid, towards the Stomach. But on 

 the other Hand, when the Mind or Cogitative Soul 

 is taken up with the Refolution of dark and proble- 

 matical Queftions, or the like ; I fay, this deter- 

 mines the Animal Spirits towards the Brain ; where- 

 as Nature defigns them, for fome Time after Eat- 

 ing, for the Ufe aforefaid. From hence it may be 

 obferved, how neceiTary it is for Students to unbend 

 the Mind by fome Kind of Mufick, or other Plea- 

 fure of like Kind and Benefit, to forward Digeftion ; 

 otherwife, as I have already hinted, their Vifage 

 will be pale, fallow, and wan. 



It is alfo obfervable, that we digeft better in 

 Winter than Summer ; becaufe in the Winter, to 

 drive away the Senfe of Cold, we are oftener put 

 upon Exercifes and greater Aftivity of Body, than 

 in the Summer Seafon : As likewife, becaufe the 

 Mufcles and folid Parts are more Tenfe and Firm, 

 and confequently ftronger, in their Contractions and 

 A ttra6lions . But as for any Ferment in the Stomach, 

 whether it be Sali^ua or Serum, ovifmg out from the 

 Glands of the Stomach, it cannot contribute any 

 Thing to the Digeftion of the Food, any further 

 than by foftening it, whereby it is capable of being 

 further divided. Neither do any Liquors flow into 

 the Stomach to promote Digeftion ; but Digeftion, 

 that is, the Motions of Swallowing, Chewing, and 

 of the Stomach, are the Caufe why thefe Liquors 

 are prefTed out, and that they drain into the Sto- 

 mach. For that thofe Liquors contribute nothing 

 (further than as I have mentioned) to Digeftion, is 

 manifeft from hence, that if Herbs or Meat be mixed 

 with them in any convenient Place, ( as warm as the 

 Stomach,) but without Motion, they will never be 

 changed into Chyle. So that it is aftoniftiing that 

 any Writer ftiould afcribe to the Serum of the Blood 

 (as it is excerned or leparated by the Glands ) a Fa- 

 culty 



