i8o Hcemajlatks. 
j. Now fo fmall a Comprefliirc can have 
very little Effcft in promoting the Digeftion 
of the Aliments : Which is therefore with 
good Reafon principally attributed to the Con- 
currence of feveral other Caufes ; fuch as 
Maftication and Comminution with the 
Teeth, and Mixture firft with the Saliva 
(which is a Leven full of elaftic Air) and 
afterwards with the Fluid which is in plen- 
ty feparated from the Glands of the Sto- 
mach 5 and the aftive and expanfivc Princi- 
ples of this thus macerated and moiftened 
Mafs, are by the Warmth of the Stomach 
difpofed to fome Degree of Ferment : Its So- 
lution being alfo at the fame time greatly pro- 
moted, not only by the periftaltic mufcular 
A£lion of the Stomach, whereby, as alfo by 
the Help of the prominent Ruga^ or Fold- 
ings of the inner Coat of the Stomach, the 
Mafs is more intimately mixed, and Co better 
difpofed to farther and farther Solution j but 
alfo principally by the inceiTant reciprocal Ac- 
tion and Rea£lion of the Diaphragm and 
Mufclesof the Abdomeriy which are each about 
twelve hundred in an Hour. 
6. And the great Ufe of the thus Knead- 
ing the Contents of the Stomach to and fro, 
in 
