NOVUM ORGANUM. 379 



The binding of the Motion of Lesser Congregation, which is caused 

 by the restraint of a dominant body, is conspicuous in the resolution 

 of blood and urine by cold. For as long as these bodies are filled 

 with the active spirit, which, as if master of the whole, orders and 

 restrains the several parts, of whatsoever kind, so long the homo 

 geneous pails do not meet together on account of the restraint ; but 

 as soon as the spirit has evaporated, or has become choked with cold, 

 then the parts, freed from restraint, meet together according to their 

 natural desire. And thus it happens that all bodies which contain an 

 eager spirit (as salts and the like) remain without being dissolved ; 

 owing to the permanent and durable restraint of a dominant and 

 imperious spirit. 



The binding of the Motion of Lesser Congregation, which is caused 

 by external motion, is most conspicuous in^the shaking of bodies, to 

 prevent putrefaction. For all putrefaction depends on the assembling 

 together of homogeneous parts, whence there gradually takes place a 

 corruption of the old Form (as they call it), and the generation of 

 a new one. For putrefaction, which levels the way for the generation 

 of a new Form, is preceded by the dissolution of the old, which is 

 itself a meeting of homogeneous parts. And that, if not hindered, is 

 simple reduction ; but if it be met by various obstacles, there ensue 

 putrefactions, which are the rudiments of a new generation ; but if 

 (as in the present case) a frequent agitation be kept up by external 

 motion, then, indeed, this mode of uniting (which is delicate and 

 tender, and requires rest from things without) is disturbed and 

 ceases, as we see takes place in numberless cases ; as when the 

 daily stirring or flowing of water keeps off putrefaction ; winds keep 

 off pestilence in the air ; corn turned and shaken in the granary 

 remains pure : all things, in short, when agitated from without do not 

 easily putrefy within. 



It remains for us to notice that meeting of the parts of bodies 

 which is the chief cause of induration and dessication. For when the 

 spirit, or moisture turned to spirit, has escaped from some porous 

 body (as wood, bone, parchment, and the like), then the grosser parts 

 are drawn together, and unite with a greater effect ; which we think 

 arises not so much from the motion of Connection, to prevent a 

 vacuum, as to this motion of friendship and union. 



As for the meeting of bodies from a distance, that is unfrcqucnt 

 and rare ; and yet it exists in more cases than are generally observed. 

 We have examples of this when one bubble dissolves another ; when 

 drugs draw out humours, by similarity of substance ; when the chord 

 of one violin makes the chord of another sound an unison, and the 

 like. We imagine, also, that this motion prevails in the spirits of 

 animals, though it be altogether unperceived. Hut it certainly exists 

 conspicuously in the magnet, and in excited iron. And when we 

 speak of the motions of the magnet we ought carefully to distinguish 

 them. For there are four virtues or operations in the magnet which 

 should not be confounded, but kept apart ; although the admiration 

 and wonder of men have mixed tlvm up together. The first is the 



