The ſirſt Means of prohibiting or checking Putrefaction is cold; for ſo
we ſee that Meat and Drink will laſt longer, unputrified, or unſowred, in
Winter, than in Summer: And we ſee that Flowers, and Fruits; put in
conſervatories of Snow, keep freſh. And this worketh by the Detention of
the Spirits, and conſtipation of the Tangible parts.

The ſecond is Aſtriction: For Aſtriction prohibiteth Diſſolution; as We
ſee (generally) in Medicines, whereof ſuch as are Aſtringents do inhibit Putre-
faction: And by the ſame reaſon of Aſtringency, ſome ſmall quantity of Oyl
of Vitriol, will keep fro [?] ſh water long from putrifying. And this Aſtriction
is in aſubſtance that hath a virtual cold, and it worketh (partly) by the ſame
means that cold doth.

The third is, The e [?] xc [?] luding of the Air; and again, the expoſing to the
Air: For theſe contraries, (as it cometh often to paſs) work the ſame
effect, according to the nature of the Subject matter. So we ſee, that
Beer or Wine in Bottles cloſe ſtopped, laſt long; that the Garners under
Ground keep Corn longer, than thoſe above Ground; and that Fruit
cloſed in Wax, keepeth freſh: And likewiſe, Bodies put in Honey, and
Flower, keep more freſh: And Liquors, Drinks, and Juyces, with a little
Oyl caſt on the top, keep ſreſh. Contrari wiſe, we ſee that Cloath and Ap-
parel, not aired, do breed Moaths and Mould; and the Diverſity is, that
in Bodies that need Detention of Spirits, the Excluſion of the Air doth
good; as in Drinks, and Corn: But in Bodies that need Emiſſion of Spirits,
to diſcharge ſome of the ſuperfluous moiſture, it doth hurt, for they require
airing.

The fourth is Motion, and Stirring; for Putrefaction asketh Reſt: For
the ſubtil Motion which Putrefaction requireth, is diſturbed by any Agi-
tation, and all Local Motion keepeth Bodies integral, and their parts
together: As we ſee, that turning over of Corn in a Garner, or Let-
ting it run like an Hour-Glaſs, from an upper Room into a lower, doth
keep it ſweet: And running Waters putrifie not; and in Mens Bodies,
exerciſe hindreth Putrefaction; and contrary wiſe Reſt, and want of Mo-
tion or ſtoppings (whereby the running of Humors, or the Motion of
Perſpiration, is ſtayed) further Putrefaction; as we partly touched a little
before.

The fifth is, The Breathing ſorth of the Adventitious Moiſture in
Bodies, for as wetting doth haſten Putrefaction; ſo convenient drying
(whereby the more Radical Moiſture is onely kept in) putteth back Putre-
foction: So we ſee that Herbs and Flowers, if they be dried in the ſhade, or
dried in the hot Sun, for a ſmall time keep beſt. For the Emiſſion of the
looſe and adventitious Moiſture, doth betray the Radical Moiſture, and car-
ryeth it out for company.

The ſixth is, The ſtrengthning of the Spirits of Bodies; for as a great
heat keepeth Bodies from Putrefaction; but a tepide heat enclineth them to
Putrefaction: So a ſtrong Spirit like wiſe preſerveth, and a weak or faint
Spirit diſpoſeth to corruption. So we finde, that Salt-water corrupteth not
ſo ſoon as freſh; and ſalting of Oyſters, and powdring of Meat, keepeth
them from Putrefaction. It would be tryed alſo, whether Chalk, put in-
to Water, or Drink, doth not preſerve it from Putrifying, or ſpeedy Sour-
ing. So we ſee that Strong-Beer will laſt longer than ſmall, and all things, that
are hot and aromatical, do help to preſerve Liquors, or Powders, & c. which
they do, as well by ſtrengthning the Spirits, as by ſoaking out the looſe
Moiſture.