But the simple medicine, which restores and strengthens the native heat, when wasted and weakened, is that which is likened to the complexion of a healthy young man. Whence, in conclusion, it is made manifest, that mirth, singing, looking on human beauty and comeliness, spices, electuaries, warm water bathings, some things lying in the bowels of the earth, others lying hid among the waves of the sea, some living in the air, others taken from the noble animal, well tempered and prepared, and many more such things, are remedies whereby the accidents of age in young men, the infirmities of old age in old men, the weaknesses and diseases of decrepit age in very old age, may be restrained, retarded, and driven away. Besides the above work, Friar Bacon is said to have written the following treatises, connected with the same inquiries; namely, De Prolongatione Vitæ, lib. 1. De universali Regimine Senum. lib. 1. De Somno et Vigilia.-But they are not considered to be of equal value with the tract above printed, which gives a sufficient idea of the notions entertained by this intelligent Friar, on the subjects of health and longevity. • See chap. XII, NUMBER II. NUMBER II. LORD BACON. THIS great Author, who, for splendor of genius can hardly find an equal in any age or country, among his other important inquiries, fortunately paid particular attention to the subjects of health and longevity, and, besides a variety of occasional hints, and even a short essay on the Regiment "of Health", wrote a treatise of considerable length, expressly regarding them, entitled, in English, "The History, na* rural and experimental, of Life and Death; or, Of the Prolongation of Life.” This valuable work was originally written in Latin. A translation of it was printed by an anonymous author; but it was so defective in many respects, that Lord Bacon's friend, Dr. Rawley, who wrote an account of his life, rescived to have it translated anew by a more diligent and more able pen. As this improved translation is hardly now to be met with, I consider it to be a fortunate circumstance, that it has been in my power to rescue it, perhaps, from oblivion; at least, to give it a better chance of being preserved. For though the original work in Latin might easily be procared, yet Lord Bacon was so abstruse and peculiar in his expressions, that they were not always intelligible to the generality of readers, even though they had a competent knowledge of the Latin. Doctor Rawley, however, knew his meaning perfectly, and the translation of that work into English, executed under his direction, and with his as‐ sistance, must be a valuable addition to the library of the philosopher and the physician. This valuable Work had the following singular Dedica tion prefixed to it. TO THE PRESENT AGE, AND POSTERITY, GREETING. ALTHOUGH we had ranked the history of life and death, as the last amongst our six monthly designations, yet we have thought fit, in respect of the prime use thereof, (in which the least loss of time ought to be esteemed precious), to invert that order, and to send it forth in the second place. For we have hope, and wish, that it may conduce to a common good, and that the nobler sort of physicians will advance their thoughts, and not employ their time wholly in the sordidness of cures, neither be honoured for necessity only; but that they will become co-adjutors and instruments of the Divine Omnipotence and Clemency, in prolonging and renewing the life of man; especially, seeing we prescribe it to be done by safe, and convenient, and civil ways, though hitherto unassayed. For though we Christians do continually aspire and pant after the Land of Promise; yet it will be a token of God's favour towards us, in our journeyings through this world's wilderness, to have our shoes and garments, (I mean, those of our frail bodies), little worn or impaired. FR. ST. ALBAN, THE THE HISTORY OF LIFE AND DEATH. The Preface. IT is an ancient saying and complaint, That life is short, and art long. Wherefore it behoveth us, who make it our chiefest aim to perfect arts, to take upon us the consideration of prolonging man's life, God, the Author of all truth and life, prospering our endeavours. For though the life of man be nothing else but a masse and accumulation of sins and sorrows, and they that look for an eternal life set but light by a temporary one; yet the continuation of works of charity ought not to be contemned, even by us Christians. Besides, the beloved disciple of our Lord survived the other disciples, and many of the fathers of the church, especially of the holy monks and hermits, were long lived; which shews, that this blessing of long life, so often promised in the old law, had less abatement after our Saviour's days than other earthly blessings had. But to esteem this, as the chiefest good, we are but too prone. Only the inquiry is difficult, how to attain the same; and so much the rather, because it is corrupted with false opinions and vain reports. For both those things which the vulgar physicians talk of, radical moisture and natural heat, are but mere fictions; and the immoderate praises of chemical medicines first puff up with vain hopes, and then fail their admirers. And as for that death which is caused by suffocation, putrefaction, and several diseases, we speak not now; for VOL. IV. G that that pertains to an history of physic; but only of that death which comes by a total decay of the body, and the inconcoction of old age. Nevertheless, the last act of death, and the very extinguishing of life itself, which may so many ways be wrought, outwardly and inwardly, which notwithstanding have, as it were, one common porch, before it comes to the point of death, will be pertinent to be inquired of in this treatise: but we reserve that for the last place. That which may be repaired by degrees, without a total waste of the first stock, is potentially eternal, as the Vestal fire. Therefore, when physicians and philosophers saw that living creatures were nourished, and their bodies repaired; but that this did last only for a time; and afterward came old age, and in the end dissolution; they sought death in somewhat which could not properly be repaired; —supposing a radical moisture, incapable of solid reparation, and which, from the first infancy, received a spurious addition, but no true reparation; whereby it grew daily worse and worse, and, in the end, brought the bad to none at all. This conceit of theirs was both ignorant and vain; for all things in living creatures are in their youth repaired entirely; nay, they are, for a time, increased in quantity, bettered in quality; so that the matter of reparation might be eternal, if the manner of reparation did not fail. But this is the truth of it :-There is, in the declining of age, an unequal reparation; some parts are repaired easily, others with difficulty, and to their loss; so as, from that time, the bodies of men begin to endure the torment of Mezentius; that the living die in the embraces of the dead; and the parts easily reparable, through their conjunction with the parts hardly reparable, do decay. For the spirits, blood, flesh, and fat, are, even after the decline of years, easily repaired; but the drier and more porous parts, (as the membranes, all the tunicles, the sinews, arteries, |