Part II. //^ /y6^ Cr E ATioN. 285 



tenfe as to fet them on fire ; to prevent which 

 they (land in need to be frequently anointed or 

 belmear'd with a Mixture of Greafe and Tar, 

 imitating the fore-mention'd natural Compofi- 

 tion of Oil and Mucilage. Nay, Bodies fofter 

 a great deal than Metals contrad: a great Heat 

 by Attrition, as is evident from thofe black cir- 

 cular Lines we fee on Boxes, Diflics, and other 

 turp'd Veflels of Wood, which are the EfFed:s of 

 Ignition, caus'd by the Preffure of an edg'd Stick 

 upon the Veffel turn'd nimbly in the Lathe. And 

 if there had not been a Provifion in the Joints 

 againft fuch a preternatural Incalefcence upon 

 their violent motion, this would have made a 

 flothful World, and confin'd us to leifurely and 

 deliberate Movements, when there were the moft 

 urgent and hafty Occafions to quicken us. 



3. P'or the preventing of Attrition, and wear- 

 ing down the ends of the Bones by their motion 

 and rubbing one againft another, which is fo vio- 

 lent and lafting fometimes, that it is a Wonder 

 any Inundion fhould fuffice to fecure their Heads 

 from wafting and confumption. I have often 

 feen the Tops of the Teeth (which are of a hard- 

 er Subftance than the reft of the Bones) worn off 

 by Maftication, in Perfons who have loft moft of 

 their Grinders, and been compell'd conftantly to 

 make ufe of three or four only in chevvdng,-.fo 

 low^ that at laft the inward Marrow arid Nerve 

 lay bare, and they could no longer for Pain make 

 ufe of them ; (o that bad there not been this Pro- 

 vifion 



