36o NOVUM ORGAXUAf. 



For in every tangible inanimate body the enclosed spirit first multi 

 plies itself, and, as it were, feeds upon those tangible parts which are 

 most adapted and prepared for so doing ; it digests, elaborates, and 

 changes them into spirit, and then they escape together. And this 

 elaboration and multiplication of spirit is brought within reach of the 

 senses by diminution of weight. For in all dessication something is 

 lost in quantity : this is the case not only with the spirit previously 

 existing in the body, but also with the body itself, which before was 

 tangible, and has lately been changed ; for spirit is without weight. 

 Now the egress or emission of the spirit is brought within reach of the 

 senses in the rust of metals and other putrefactions of the kind, which 

 stop before they come to the rudiments of life ; for these belong to the 

 third kind of process. For in the more compact bodies the spirit, not 

 finding any pores and passages by which to escape, is compelled to pro 

 trude and drive before it the tangible parts themselves, so that theygo 

 out with it, and thence comes rust and the like. And the contraction 

 of the tangible parts, after some of the spirit has been sent out (whence 

 follows that dessication which we spoke of), is brought within reach of 

 the senses both by the increased hardness of the body, and still more 

 by the rents, contractions, corrugations, and complications of the 

 bodies which thence follow. For the parts of wood lly apart and are 

 contracted, skins are corrugated, and not only so, but (if there be a 

 sudden emission of the spirit by the heat of fire) the contraction is 

 so rapid as to curl and roll them up. 



But on the other hand, when the spirit is detained, and yet is expanded 

 and excited by heat or something analogous (as is the case in the more 

 solid or tenacious bodies), then the bodies are soft, as iron while hot ; 

 they become fluid, as the metals ; they become liquid, as the gums, 

 wax, and the like. Thus the contrary operations of heat (viz. the 

 hardening by it of some substances, the dissolving of others) are easily 

 reconciled ; inasmuch as in the former the spirit is emitted, in the latter 

 it is agitated and detained : whereof the melting is the peculiar action 

 of the heat and spirit ; the hardening is the action of the tangible parts 

 only, occasioned by the emission of the spirit. 



But when the spirit is neither detained altogether nor emitted 

 altogether, but only makes trial and experiment within its own bounds, 

 and finds the tangible parts obedient and disposed to follow it, so that, 

 whither the spirit goes, thither they follow with it ; then succeeds the 

 formation of an organic body, the production of limbs, and the other 

 vital actions which take place in vegetables as well as animals. And 

 these things are best brought within reach of the senses by diligently 

 remarking the first beginnings and rudiments or attempts of life in 

 animalcukTegenerated from putrefaction ; as in the eggs of ants, worms, 

 flies, frogs after rain, &c. But the production of life demands both 

 mildness in the heat and pliancy in the body, so that the spirit may 

 neither burst forth through over haste, nor be restrained by the 

 obstinacy of the parts, but may rather be able to mould and fashion 

 them after the manner of wax. 



Again, that most noble distinction of spirit, which has so many 



