- ( 7 ) 
1 3» During putrefaftioD,the herbs became exceedingly hof, 
cfpecially thofe that were clofely comprefled and had ftoreof 
moifture in them ; fo that I could as well detain my band in the 
flame of an ordinary fire,as in the midft of them. 
14. Fatcy,moift,and infipid herbs/erment much fooner^and 
with greater hear,as Grafs, Dock«,Garden Scurvy-grafs, Celon- 
dine.&c; Drier and much more fapid plants, more leifurely, 
and with lefs heat.as Winter- favory,Rofemary,Sage,Rue, Mm. 
The Stalks of no herbs ferment fo foon,as the Leaves freed from 
them.This is moft evident in Docks^whofe tender parts are pap- 
py and mucilaginousjwhen the ftalks are entire. 
15. Herbs feem by this putrefaftion to be deprived of all 
their fpecifical or peculiar properties; Celondin loofes its 
tinging quality 5 Spurge, its milk, veficating and poifonoiis na- 
ture,&c. 
16. Herbs, which i'^r^ putrefaftion were extreamly fetid, 
as Atriplex olida,&cc, became afterwards either inodorous^ornot 
illfcented: And, on the contrary, Monks-Rhubarb, Garden- 
Scurvy-grafs, with many other inodorous vegetables, durwg 
putrefaftion became abominably and almofl: infupportably fe- 
tid,likethe worft of Excrements ; all which yet they loft im- 
mediately upon diftillation. 
1 7. None of thofe Flowers,! have hitberto ufed.do ftlnk in 
fermentation. 
18. Many of the herbSjthus putrified or fermented, fwarm 
with Maggots argument of theclofeand ftedfaft contexture 
of the Seminal principles in Plants,) efpecially at the bottom , 
and in the middle,whither Flies and otherlnfeds can have no ac- 
cefs to depofit tiieir eggs , and where the heat is fo violent ^ 
that they could not poffibly fubfift. 
19. Yet the Volatil fpirit and fait is not afforded by thefe 
Infefls ; For, having diftilled feparatlya great quantity pf 
them,they yielded no volatil fait or fpirit,but a liquor of a very 
different nature. 
20. Herbs fermented in a great Glafs with a narrow neck, the 
mouth left open,in a few weeks became, for the greater part, a 
mucilage, and diftilled a year after they had ftood foopen, 
yielded a little Urinous fpirit,but not a drop of Oy L 
2 i,Vegetables,if the external Air be excluded from them,wil! 
not putrify or ferment. 22, Some 
