Old hath thefe Natures: Greatnels of VVeight, Clofenefs of Parts, 
Fixation, Pliantne(S or SoftneS, Immunity from Rut, Colour-or 
| Tindure of Yellow. Therefore the {ure way ( though moft about ) to 
3 BS _ make Gold, is to know the catifes of thefeveral Natures before rehcarfed, 
and the Axioms concerning the fame. For if a Man can make a Metal 
‘that hath all thefe Propertics ; lec Men difpute; whether it be Gold, 
; orno ? | 
He Eaacine and Accelerating of Putrefaétion, is a (abject of avery 
I Univerfal Enquiry. For Corruption is a Reciprocal ro Generation ; 
and they two areas Natures to Terms or Boundaries; and the Guides to Life. 
and Death, Putrefaétion is the VVork of the Spirits of Bodies, which ever 
| are unquiet to get forth and congregate with the Air, and to enjoy the 
| Sun-Beams. The getting forth, or {preding of the Spirits, (which is a 
a degree of getting forth) have five differing operations. If the Spicitsbe_ 
| detained within the Body, and move more ‘violently, there followeth Colli-. 
‘| quation ; asin Metals, &c. If more mildely, thete followeth Digeftion or 
| Maturation; as in Drinks and Fruits. If the Spirits be not meerly detained; | 
| but Protrude alittle, and chat Motion be confufed; andinordinate, there 
| followeth Purrefa&ion ; which ever diffolveth the Confiftence of theBody | 
}into much inequality; as in Flefh, Rotten Fruits, Shining VVood, &c. 
|} and alfo inthe Ruft of Metals. But if that Motion be in a certain order, 
| here followeth Vivification and Figuration; as both in Living Creatures 
‘| bred of Putrefadtion, and in Living Creatures perfeé&. But if the Spirits 
ig out of the Body, there followeth Deficcation, Induration, Confump.- 
| tion, &c. Asin Brick, evaporation of Bodies Liquid, &c. 
The Means to enduce and accelerate PutrefaGtion, are, Firft, By add- 
_} ing fome crude or watry moifture ; as in VVetting of any Ficfh, Fruit, 
| Wood, with Water, &c. For contrariwi€e, Unéiuous and Oyly Subftances 
| preferve. 
‘ The fecondis, By Invitation or Excitation ; as when aretten Apple 
| lieth clofe to another A pple that is found 5 or when Dung (which js a fub- 
{tance already putrified) is added to other Bodies. And this isalfonotably 
| feen in Church-yards, where they burymuch; where the Earth will con- 
‘| fame the Corps, in far Chorter time than other Earth will. 
‘The third is, By Clofenefs and Stopping, which detaineth the Spirits 
3 |in Prifon, more then they would, and thereby irritareth them to feek iffue ; 
| as in Corn and Cloéaths which wax mufty; and therefore open Air (which 
“| they call Aer perflabils’) doth preferve : And this doth appear more evident- 
|} lyin Agues, which come -(moft of them) ‘of obftruétions and penning the 
| Humors, which thereupon Putrifie. 
y The fourthis, By Solutionof Continuity; as we feean Apple will rot 
i" fooner, if it be cut or pierced, and fo will Wood, &c. And fo the Fleth of 
| Creaturesalive, where they have received any wound, 
Thefifthis, Eitherby the Exhaling, or by the driving back of the prin. 
| cipal Spirits,” which preferve the confiftence of the Body; fo that when their 
‘Governmentis diffolved every partreturneth tohis Nature, or Homogeny. 
| And this appeareth in Urine and Blood,- when they cool and thereby 
| break. It appeareth alfo in the Gangreen ot Mortification of Fleth , 
+ citer by Opiates, or by Intenfe Colds. I conceive alfo, the fame effet 
H is 
Le 
L 2 
—— ae 
42% 
Experiment 
Solitary, 
touching the 
Nature of’ 
Gold, 
| Experiments 
in Confort, 
touching the 
Enducing and 
AXicelerating 
of Putrsfacti- 
on. 
329- 
330% 
351. 
