392 NOVUM ORGANUM. 



transmit them to their heirs as a sort of artificial minerals ; and by 

 similar methods. Moreover, all natural condensations brought about 

 by cold should be investigated, with a view to employing them in the 

 arts when their causes are known. Such may be seen in the exuda 

 tions from marble and stones ; in the dews found on the inside of 

 windows in the morning after a frosty night ; in the formation and 

 collection of vapours into water under the earth, whence fountains 

 often spring up ; and everything of the kind. 



But besides things which are cold to the touch, there are found certain 

 others having the power of cold, which also condense, but which seem 

 to act on the bodies of animals only, and hardly to go any further. 

 Of this sort medicines and plasters present us with many examples, 

 some of which condense the flesh and tangible parts, as astringent 

 and also inspissated drugs ; while others condense the spirits, as is 

 especially seen in the case of soporifics. Now there are two ways in 

 which drugs of a soporific or sleep-producing character condense the 

 spirits : the one by quieting their motions, the other by putting them 

 to flight. For the violet, dried roses, lettuce, and the like beneficent 

 or benignant medicines, by their friendly and gently cooling fumes, 

 invite the spirits to unite with them, and restrain their eager and rest 

 less motion. Again, rose-water, when applied to the nostrils of a per 

 son who has fainted, causes the resolved and too relaxed spirits to 

 recover themselves, and in a manner cherishes them. But opiates 

 and their allies put the spirits entirely to flight, from their malignant 

 and hostile character. And so, if they be applied to an external part, 

 the spirits immediately take flight from that part, and are no longer 

 willing to flow into it ; but if they be taken internally, their vapours, 

 ascending to the head, put to flight on all sides the spirits contained 

 in the ventricles of the brain ; and when the spirits retract themselves, 

 being unable to flee into any other part, they are in consequence 

 brought together and condensed, and sometimes quite extinguished 

 and suffocated ; though, on the other hand, these same opiates, taken 

 in moderation, do, by a secondary accident and quality (viz., that 

 condensation which succeeds upon their coining together), comfort 

 the spirits, make them stronger, and check their useless and inflam 

 matory motions ; whence they come to contribute in no small degree 

 to the cure of diseases, and the prolongation of life. 



Again, we must not neglect the preparing of bodies to receive cold ; 

 for instance, water slightly warmed is more easily frozen than when 

 quite cold ; and the like. 



Besides, since Nature supplies cold so sparingly, we must do as the 

 apothecaries do, who, when a simple is not to be obtained, take its 

 substitute, or quid pro quo, as they call it : as lign aloes for balsam, 

 caffia for cinnamon. In like manner we must look round diligently 

 to see if there be any substitutes for cold, viz., any means by which 

 condensations can be brought about in bodies otherwise than by cold, 

 whose proper office it is to effect them. Now the number of these con 

 densations seems to be limited to four, as far as is yet seen. Of these 

 the first appears to be brought about by simple compression, which 



