Tbe< Hiflory of Life and Death. 



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Nitre is given with good fuccefle, in burning Agues, and peltilential Fevers, to mi- 

 tigate and bridle their pernicious Heats. 



It is manif'eft,that Nitre mGun-powder doth mightily abhor the Flame,from whence 

 is caul'cd chat horrible Crack and puffing, 



Nitre is found to be, as it were, the Spirit of the Earth : For this is moft certain,That 

 any Earth, though pure and unmixt with Nitrous matter , if it be fo laid up, and cove- 

 red that it be free from the Sun-beams, and putteth forth no Vegetable, will ga- 

 ther Nitre , even in good abundance. By which it is clear , that the Spirit of Nitre 

 is not onely inferiour to the Spirit of living Creatures , but alfo to the Spirit of Vege- 

 tables. 



Cattel, mhich drink of Nitrom water, do manifeftly grow fat ; which is a figne of the 

 cold in N'tre. 



The manuring of theibile is chiefly by Nitrous fubfiances ; for all dung is Nitrons, 

 and this is a figne of fhc Spirit in Nitre, „ 



From hence it appears , that the Spirits of Man , may be cooled and condenfed 

 by the Spirit oi Nitre , and be made more Crude, and leffe eager. And therefore, 

 as ftrong Wines , and Spices , and the like , do burn the Spirits , and fhorten life : 

 So on the contrary fide , Nitre doth compote and reprefle them, and furthereth to 

 fife. 



Nitre may be ufed with meat, mixed with our Salt, to the tenxh part of the Salt ; In 

 broths, taken in the rooming, from three grains to ten ; alfo in Beer ~ but howfoever it 

 be»ufed, with moderation, it is of prime force to long life. 



As Optumholds the preheminence in condenfing the Spirits , by putting them to 

 Flight ; and hath withal his Subordinates, leffe potent, but more lafe , which may be 

 taken both in greater quantity , and ia more frequent uie j of which we have formerly 

 fpoken : So alio Nitre which condenletblthe Spirits by cold, and by a kinde of Frefcour, 

 (as we now-a-days fpeak) hath alfo his Subordinates. 



Subordinates to Nitre are, AH thole things which yeeld an Odour , fome-what Ear- 

 thy ; like the fmeU of Earth, pure and good , newly digged or turned up ; Of this fort 

 the chief are, Borage, Buglojfe, Langue de.Boeuf, Burnet, Straw-bery-leaves , and 

 Straw-beries,Frambois,ox Rafpts^Raw CucnmberSyKaxf fearmains, Vine-leaves, and 

 Buds ; alfo Violets. ... 



The next in order, are thofe which have a certain frefhneffe of fmell, but fome-what 

 more inclined to Heat ; yet not altogether void of thatvei tue of Refrefhing, by cool- 

 neffe : fuch as are, Balme, Green Citrons, Green Orenges,Rofe-water dtfitlled , Roafted 

 Wardens • alfo the Damask, Red, and Musk^Rofes. 



This is to be noted, That Subordinates to Nitre, do commonly conferre more to 

 this Intention , Raw , tVurv having palled the Fire ; becaufe that Spirit of Cooling 

 is dillipated by the Fire : Therefore they are belt taken , either infuled in i'ome liquor, 

 or Raw. 1. 5 



As the condenfation of the Spirits by fubordinates to Opium, is, in feme fort, per- 

 formed by Odmrs s So alio that, which is by fubordinates to Nitre : Therefore the fmel 

 of new and pure Earth, taken either by following the Plough, or by digging, or by 

 weeding, excellently refrefheth the Spirits. Alfo the leaves of Trees in Woods, or 

 Hedges, falling towards the middle of Autumn, yeeld a good refrefhing to the Spirits j. 

 but uone.fo good as Strarv-bery-leaves dying. Likewife the fmeU of Kiolets^ or WalU 

 Flowers, or Bean-F lowers, or Sweet-briar, or Honj-fnckjes,uken, as they grow, in 

 paffing by them onely, is of the fame nature. 



Nay, and we know a certain great Lord, who lived long, that had every morning 

 immediately after deep, a pod of frefh Earth, laid in a fane Napkin , under his Nofe, 

 that he might take the fmell thereof. 



There is no doubt, but the cooling ancr tempering of the blood by cool things, fuch 

 as arc, Endive, Succoury, Liver-wort, Turjlain, and the like, do alfo by consequent, 

 cool the Spirits :But this is about ; whereas vapours cool immediately. 



And as touching the condenfing of the Spirits by Cold, thus much : The third way of 

 condenfing the Spirits, wefaid'tobe,by that which we call firoakjng ike Spirits : The 

 fourth, by quieting the' Alacrity and Vnrulineffe of them. 



Such th'm°s ftroake the Sprits, as arepleafing ajid friendly to them , yet they al- 

 lure them aot to goe abroad ; but rather prevail, thaC the Spirits contented , as it were, 



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