NOVUM ORGANUM. 359 



autem notare similcm efFormationem in testis ovorum, ubi non 

 sunt rugae aut inaequalitas. At verum est regimen motus ef- 

 formationes perficere in modulis et proplasticis. l 



Operationes vero per consensus aut fugas (qui sextus modus 

 est) latent saepenumero in prof undo.* Istae enim (quas vocant) 

 proprietates occultae, et specifics, et sympathiae, et antipa- 

 thiae, sunt magna ex parte corrupted philosophise. Neque de 

 consensibus rerum inveniendis multum sperandum est, ante 

 inventionem Formarum et schematismorum simplicium. Con- 

 sensus enim nil aliud est quam symmetria Formarum et Sche- 

 matismorum ad invicem. 



Atqui majores et magis catholici rerum consensus non 

 prorsus obscuri sunt. Itaque ab iis ordiendum. Eorum prima 

 et summa diversitas ea est ; ut quaedam corpora copia et rari- 

 tate materiae admodum discrepent, schematismis consentiant : 

 alia contra copia et raritate materiae consentiant, schematismis 

 discrepent. Nam non male notatum est a chymicis, in princi- 

 piorum suorum triade, sulphur et mercurium 2 quasi per uni- 

 versitatem rerum permeare. (Nam de sale inepta ratio est, sed 

 introducta ut possit comprehendere corpora terrea, sicca, et 

 fixa.) At certe in illis duobus videtur consensus quidam na- 

 turae ex maxime catholicis conspici. Etenim consentiunt sul- 

 phur ; oleum, et exhalatio pinguis ; flamma ; et fortasse corpus 

 stellar. Ex altera parte consentiunt mercurius ; aqua et vapores 

 aquei ; aer ; et fortasse aether purus et interstellar is. Attamen 

 istae quaterniones geminae, sive magnae rerum tribus (utraque 

 intra ordines suos) copia materiae atque densitate immensum 

 differunt, sed schematismo valde conveniunt ; ut in plurimis se 

 produnt. At contra metalla diversa copia et densitate mul- 

 tum conveniunt (praesertim respectu vegetabilium, etc.), sed 

 schematismo multifariam differunt ; et similiter vegetabilia et 

 animalia diversa schematismis quasi infinitis variantur, sed 



and that these, by applying themselves to corresponding parts on the surface of the 

 matrix, determine the channels through which nourishment is supplied, and therefore 

 (mediately) the development of the different members of the fuetus. But it does not 

 seem that he would have admitted that the smoothness of the shells of eggs was an 

 objection to his theory. At any rate, he illustrates it by reference to the appearances 

 presented by an egg opened during incubation. De rerum natura, vi. c. 4. and 40. 



1 The proper word for what we call a model is " proplasma," which is used in a 

 Latin form by Pliny. I have not seen any authority for such an adjective as " propla- 

 sticus." What Bacon means is not exactly a model, but a mould for casting. 



8 This triad is the fundamental point of Paracelsus's chemical and medical philo- 

 sophy. See his works throughout, and particularly the tract De tribtis primis essentiis, 

 contained in the third book of his philosophical works. 



A A 4 



