3. This operation, (if perhaps it be within our power), is most likely to be done by baths, unctions, and the like; concerning which, these things that follow are to be observed.

4. We must not be too forward in hoping to accomplish this matter from the examples of those things which we see done in the imbibitions and macerations of inanimates, by which they are intenerated, whereof we introduced some instances before; for this kind of operation is more easy upon inanimates, because they attract and suck in the • liquor; but upon the bodies of living creatures it is harder, because in them the motion rather tendeth outward, and to the circumference.

5. Therefore, the emollient baths which are in use, do little good, but, on the contrary, hurt; because they rather draw forth, than make entrance, and resolve the structure of the body, rather than consolidate it.

6. The baths and unctions which may serve to the present operation, (namely, of intenerating the body truly and really), ought to have three properties.

7. The first and principal is, that they consist of those things which, in their whole substance, are like unto the body and flesh of man, and which have a feeding and nursing virtue from without.

8. The second is, that they be mixed with such things as, through the subtilty of their parts, may make entrance, and so insinuate and convey their nourishing virtue into the body.

9. The third is, that they receive some mixture (though much inferior to the rest), of such things as are astringent; I mean, not sour or tart things, but unctuous and comforting; that while the other two do operate, the exhaling out of the body, which destroyeth the virtue of the things intenerating, may, as much as is possible, be prohibited; and

the

the motion to the inward parts, by the astriction of the skin, and closing of the passages, may be promoted and furthered.

10. That which is most consubstantial to the body of man is warm blood, either of man or of some other living creature; but the device of Ficinus, touching the sucking of blood out of the arm of a wholesome young man, for the restoration of strength in old men, is very frivolous; for that which nourisheth from within, ought no way to be equal or homogeneal to the body nourished, but in some sort inferior and subordinate, that it may be converted; but in things applied outwardly, by how much the substance is liker, by so much the consent is better.

11. It hath been anciently received, that a bath made of the blood of infants will cure the leprosy, and heal the flesh already putrified; insomuch, that this thing hath begot en, vy towards some kings from the common people.

12. It is reported, that Heraclitus, for cure of the dropsy, was put into the warm belly of an ox newly slain.

13. They use the blood of kittens, warm, to cure the disease called St. Anthony's fire, and to restore the flesh and skin.

14. An arm, or other member, newly cut off, or that upon some other occasion will not leave off bleeding, is, with good success, put into the belly of some creature newly ripped up; for it worketh potently to staunch the blood, the blood of the member cut off, by consent, sucking in, and vehemently drawing to itself, the warm blood of the creature slain; whereby itself is stopped, and retireth.

15. It is much used in extreme and desperate diseases, to cut in two young pigeons, yet living, and to apply them to the soles of the feet, and to shift them one after another; whereby, sometimes there followeth a wonderful ease. This is imputed, vulgarly, as if they should draw down the malignity of the disease; but, howsoever, this application goeth to the head, and comforteth the animal spirits.

16. But

16. But these bloody baths and unctions seem to us slut, tish and odious; let us search out some others, which per, haps have less loathsomeness in them, and yet not less benefit.

17. Next unto warm blood, things alike in substance to the body of man, are nutritives: fat fleshes of oxen, swine, deer; oisters, amongst fishes; milk, butter, yolks of eggs; flour of wheat; sweet wine, either sugared, or before it be fined.

18. Such things as we would have mixed, to make impression, are, instead of all, salts, especially bay-salt; also wine, when it is full of spirit, maketh entrance, and is an excellent convoy.

19. Astringents of that kind which we described, namely, unctuous and comfortable things, are, saffron, mastic, myrrh, and myrtle-berries.

20. Of these particulars, in our judgment, may very well be made such a bath as we design: physicians and posterity will find out better things hereafter.

21. But the operation will be much better and more powerful, if such a bath as we have propounded, which we hold to be the principal matter, be attended with a fourfold course and order.

1

22. First, that there go before the bath a frication of the body, and an anointing with oil, with some thickening substance; that the virtue and moistening heat of the bath may pierce the body, and not the watry part of the liquor. Then let the bath follow for the space of some two hours; after the bath, let the body be emplastered with mastick, myrrh, tragacanth, diapalma, and saffron; that the perspiration of the body may, as much as is possible, be inhibited, till the supple matter be by degrees turned into solid; this to be continued for the space of twenty-four hours, or more. Lastly, the emplastering being removed, let there be an anointing with oil mixed with salt and saf

fron.

from. And let this bath, together with the emplastering and unction, (as before), be renewed every fifth day: this malacissation or suppling of the body to be continued for the whole month.

23. Also, during this time of the malacissation, we hold useful, and proper, and according to our intention, that that men nourish their bodies well, and keep out of the cold air, and drink nothing but warm drink.

24. Now this is one of those things, (as we warned in general in the beginning), whereof we have made no trial by experiment, but only set it down out of our aiming and eveling at the end; for, having set up the mark, we deliver the light to others.

25. Neither ought the warmths and cherishings of living bodies to be neglected. Ficinus saith, and that seriously ough, That the laying of the young maid in David's bosom was wholesome for him; but it came too late.' He should also have added, that the young maid, after the manner of the Persian virgins, ought to have been anointed with myrrh, and such like; not for deliciousness, but to increase the virtue of this cherishing by a living body.

26. Barbarossa, in his extreme old age, by the advice of a physician, a Jew, did continually apply young boys to his stomach and belly, for warmth and cherishing: also, some old men lay whelps, (creatures of the hottest kind), close to their stomachs every night.

27. There hath gone a report, almost undoubted, and that under several names; of certain men that had great noses, who, being weary of the derision of people, have cut off the bunches or hillocks of their noses, and then making a wide gash in their arms, have held their noses in the place for a certain time, and so brought forth fair and comely noses; which, if it be true, it shews plainly the consent of flesh unto flesh, especially in live flesh.

28. Touching

ALTEORCE hose hungs which we stal here ser down, lare vel, fir de mis part of bedre; yet, beque dis igenis me ifte principal, we will handle fem pa nare a large

L. It is cerai, dar dragit owen, which have been #11 or FÁ Aricing, being put into fresh and rich pas

, vil gier under and young fesh again; and this ali appear even to the taste and palate; so that the inteneraion of fesh is no hard marter. Now it is likely, that Alis inteneration of the fesh, being often repeated, will in time reach to the inteneration of the bones, and membranes, d like parts of the body,