Chapter 31 Section 18

Four Nine ① (25) Suggested Instances—Instances of this kind suffice to suggest or point out what is useful to human beings.We know that mere power and mere knowledge enhance human nature, but do not bless it.Therefore we must also collect from all things those things which are most useful to life.But it is more appropriate to discuss these things when I deal with practical applications.Moreover, even in the explanation of each particular object, I must also leave some place for the diagram of the aspect of human life, that is, of the things that human beings should desire.Know that making wise wishes is as much a part of knowledge as asking wise questions. ①The above four items from 45 to 48 are about four kinds of cases in mathematics or measurement.From this article to Article 51 and Article 3, there are three examples of favoritism or benevolence.See the relevant notes under Article 44 of Volume II. - translator

fifty (26) Cases of multiple usefulness or general application ①—this kind of case involves a variety of circumstances and occurs frequently; thus it saves people a lot of labor and re-argumentation.To speak of such items as tools and designs, it is only when I speak of practical applications and modes of experimentation.Some of the tools and designs that have been discovered and used will be described in the specific histories of the respective technologies.Here, I will only outline a few points about them, only as examples of this general applicability. ① Kachin noted that this refers to things that are widely useful and applicable to multi-party investigations, and their role is to shorten the investigation process and make it easier to carry out.A case of this kind cannot be exhaustively examined here, since almost all it concerns has to do with discoveries in physics. - translator

When people apply actions to natural objects, besides simply dividing them or combining them, there are mainly seven ways: one is to exclude all things that can hinder and disturb them; the other is to compress and expand them. , agitation, and similar actions; the third is to apply heat and cold; the fourth is to keep them in a suitable position; the fifth is to check and limit their movements; the sixth is to use special sympathetic effects; These methods, or at least some of them, are used in turn, sequentially and sequentially. Let me talk about the first way first.The air that winds and penetrates here and there, and the rays of the heavenly bodies, are things that cause much disturbance.Hence everything that helps to exclude them is justifiably included among the generally useful things.

For example, the material and thickness of the vessel in which we act upon it, and the complete sealing of the vessel by congealation and what chemists call putty, may be placed under this heading. .It is also very useful to pour liquids on the floating surface of the solid to cover it; for example, when one pours oil on wine or vegetable sap, it spreads on the surface like a cover, and it is excellent. Protect them from the air.There are also powders which are not very bad; although they contain the air mixed into them, they still have the power to repel the surrounding gases;2 We often preserve grapes or other fruits in sand or flour, This is the case.It is also a good way to coat the object with wax, honey, turpentine, or similar viscous substances, so as to cover the object more completely and isolate it from the air and celestial bodies.I have also tried the effect of placing a vessel or some other body in mercury, and found that mercury is the densest of all substances which can be used to impregnate other substances.There are also caves and pits, which are also very useful as a barrier to the heat of the sun and the unshaded air that erodes bodies; they are used by the people of northern Germany as barns.Immersing objects in water has the same effect; I remember hearing that some bottles of wine were lowered into a deep well to cool, and left there for years through accidental negligence, and when they were taken out again, not only did the wine not change. The sourness may become lighter but more mellow; this seems to be due to the finer mixing of its molecules.Besides, if it is necessary to place the object at the bottom of the water, for example, at the bottom of a river or the bottom of the sea, it should neither touch the water nor be enclosed in a tightly closed device, but requires only air around; Bottoms are useful tools for working on sunken ships, allowing people who enter the water to remain underwater for a long period of time, breathing air from time to time.The machine is a hollow bell-shaped body of metal which, when sunk parallel to the surface of the water, carries all the air it contains to the bottom.It is mounted on three legs (like a tripod), and its height is slightly lower than the human body; when people who enter the water feel difficult to breathe, they can put their heads into the hollow part of the clock, take a breath of air, and then continue to work.I have also heard of a machine, or rather a ship, which can carry a man under water for a considerable distance. ③If this is the case, then of course any object can be easily suspended under this machine; it is for this reason that I mention this experiment. ①The original Latin text is lutumspientioe.Kachin explained that this is a component used to tightly seal the pores of the vessel. - translator

②The English translation seems to have omissions here, please refer to the relevant notes in the 48th article of the second volume. - translator ③ According to Beckmann, in modern times the first explicit mention of the diving bell was Fainsius, see the citation by Schott.Finchas relates that some Greeks exhibited a diving bell to Charles the Fifth and his court at Toledo in 1538. The editor of the English translation added: What Bacon mentioned here is more advanced than the diving bell, it is a kind of submarine, such as Drebbel (Drebbel, 1572-1633, British, the first diving bell) the inventor of the boat) exhibited in 1620.Bacon also mentioned this in his book "New Atlantis", which can be found here.

The careful and complete enclosing of objects has another advantage.This not only prevents the outside air from entering (as I have already said), but also prevents the spirit of the object from escaping outward when we act on the inside of the object. We know that whoever is to act upon a natural body must be able to know its mass; that is to say, it must be so that nothing evaporates or flows out.Nature on the one hand prevents the destruction of any molecule, and technology prevents the loss or escape of any molecule, so that, and only then, a profound change is made in the body.On this point there is an erroneous opinion prevailing among men which, if true, brings us almost to despair of conserving without detracting from it.This view means that neither the essence of the object nor the air diluted by high heat can be kept in a tightly sealed vessel, but must escape through far smaller pores.What led people to this opinion were two common experiments: a piece of candle or a piece of paper was lighted in a cup, and it was turned upside down on water, so that the water was sucked up; Just heat it on the fire and buckle it on the muscle, and the muscle will be pulled out as a result.From these two experiments one imagines that the diluted air is gone, and the quantity of air is reduced, so that water or muscle takes its place by joint movement. ① But this is actually a complete misunderstanding.It should be noted that the air is not reduced in quantity, but is contracted in space; and the upward motion of the water does not begin after the flame has been extinguished and the air has cooled; Even better, put a sponge soaked in cool water on top.In this way, there is really no reason for people to worry that the air or essence will easily escape.Moreover, even if it were true that the most solid bodies have holes, air or spirits do not readily follow this finer course of communication, any more than water refuses to flow through a very small opening. ① Kachin pointed out that Bacon's explanation is wrong.The air expands when it is heated, and some of it escapes; then, if the vessel is placed face down on water or fastened to a muscle, and the air inlet is tightly sealed, the air contracts when it cools, and the pressure of the outside air Water or muscle is driven into the vessel, causing it to rise. - translator

As regards the second mode, it must be pointed out in particular that compression and such methods of violence have the most powerful effect on native movements and similar aspects of movement, that is, in machines and in projectiles, and are even sufficient to cause organic And the destruction of all the virtues that reside entirely in the movement.For example, all life, even all fire and combustion, can be destroyed by pressure, just as any machine can be destroyed and disturbed by pressure.Pressure is likewise destructive of virtues which consist in places and in greater distinctions between molecules.This is the case with color; for example, when a whole flower is crushed, its color is different from that of before; it is also like a piece of amber, which is also different when it is whole and when it is crushed.The same is true in terms of taste; for example, a hard pear tastes different from a squeezed pear, which is obviously due to the sweetness of the pear being absorbed through the softening process.But such violent methods are of little use when it comes to effecting more pronounced transformations and changes in bodies of uniform internal structure; such bodies do not thereby acquire a new, normalized and stable state. Freezing, but only a transitional freezing, and always struggling to recover and liberate itself.As for whether the condensation or thinning caused by violent methods can become normalized and fixed and become a property in the objects whose internal structure is only nearly uniform (such as air, water, oil, etc.), , but it is necessary to do some careful experiments to make it clear.This can be tried first by mere duration of time, and then by the addition of assists and inductions.This experiment could have been easily done long before I (as above) used a weight and press to compress the water contained in the iron ball until it seeped out of the ball (as long as it was then I had thought).I should have left the crushed iron ball to itself for a few days and then poured out the water, and then I would have seen whether the water immediately took up again its former volume.If it has not been so, either immediately or after a short time, then we can conclude that the contraction is normalized; .In the same way, experiments of the same kind could have been made long before me in expanding the air in glass eggs.At that time, I could forcefully suck the air out of the glass egg and then snap it tightly; I could leave it for a few days after sealing it tightly; ; it can also be dropped into water to see if it absorbs the same amount of water as another egg that is opened without delay.It is likely that this will turn out to be so, and it is at least worth trying; for this is what the passage of time has to do with bodies whose internal structure is not quite uniform.That is to say, if a wooden stick is bent under pressure, it will not bounce back after a long time.

But this case can never be explained by the loss of the quantity of wood in the lapse of time; for the same would be the case with a steel plate if the time had been increased, and steel is obviously never will evaporate.If this experiment is not successful based on the continuation of time alone, we should never give up hastily, but should use other helpful methods to do it.It will be no small gain, if we should be able, by the use of force, to impart fixed and permanent properties to bodies. For in this way air can be transformed into water by compression, and other effects of the same kind can be produced; and human beings are more able to master powerful sports than other sports. ① Kachin quotes a sentence from the third page of the second part of "Account of the Novum Organum" (Library of useful knowledge) and states: "Biot (M. Biot) was the first to prove that One hypothesis is well-founded, and he succeeded in producing water by compressing hydrogen and oxygen. See Section 358 of Herschel's Tractatus Natural Philosophy.——Translator

A third way involves tools that weigh great both in imposing actions on the natural side as well as on the technical side, and that is to use heat and cold.It should be noted that between the two, human power is clearly lame.For heat we have fire, which is immeasurably more intense than the sun that reaches us, or the body of animals. But of cold we have nothing but that which we get in winter, or in caves, or by ice; The heat of the sun, which is intensified below, is compared with the heat of the sun, for this kind of heat and this kind of cold are equally tolerated by animals for a short time.But none of them can compare with the heat of a raging fire, nor with any comparable coldness.Because of this difference in the conditions of heat and cold, everything between us tends to thin, dry, and wear away; and few things tend to coagulate and soften, except by means of mixtures and some so-called ill-conceived method.That is why all the more painstaking efforts should be made to collect cold cases.Examples of this seem to be found in the following: objects can be placed on the top of a steeple exposed to severe frost; they can be placed in underground cavities; They can also be lowered into wells; they can be buried in mercury and metal; they can also be thrown into water, which fossilizes wood; and they can be buried in the ground. It is said that when the Chinese make ceramics, it is said that they buried the adobe in the ground for 40 to 50 years, and it became a kind of artificial mineral, which was passed on to their descendants; in addition, there are many similar processes.Furthermore, all natural condensations caused by cold should be investigated, in order that their causes may be imitated by technology.For example, we often see sweat on mica and various stones; water droplets can be seen in the glass windows in the morning after being frosted overnight; underground steam condenses into water after cooling, and often bubbles rise upward.Everything of this kind should be collected.

In addition to things that can cause cold sensation in the sense of touch, there are also some things with cold power that can also produce condensation.But such things seem to work only on animal bodies; rarely on other objects.There are many examples of this in medicines and plasters; some of them cause the cohesion of muscles and tangible molecules, such as absorptive and astringent drugs; significantly.There are two ways to condense the essence of hypnotics: one is to calm their movements, and the other is to drive them to run.Violet, lettuce, dried rose-leaves, and similar benevolent potions, by their gentle and soft cool aroma, unite the essence and calm its restless movement.Another example is that when a person faints suddenly, applying rose water to the nostrils will also restore the scattered and overly relaxed essence, as if nourishing them.But like opium and similar medicines, they use their ferocious and hostile nature to drive the essence to run desperately.Therefore, if it is applied to the outside, the essence will immediately escape from there, and it will not be easy to flow in again; if it is inhaled, its fragrance will drive the essence contained in the brain ventricle as soon as it rises to the head. scattered in all directions.And these spirits, having retreated in this way, cannot escape into other parts, so they gather together and coagulate, and sometimes die out due to extreme suffocation. ①But on the other hand, the same opium, if absorbed in a moderate amount, can indeed use its second phase of attachment (this refers to the agglomeration after gathering) to appease the essence and make them become To make them stronger, and to check their useless, angry movements; therefore, its contribution in curing diseases and prolonging life is not small. ①Kachin pointed out that it is extremely bizarre and arbitrary to describe the effect of opium in this way, and it can almost be regarded as one of the Parasias-style proverbs, which Bacon always said with complete contempt.For his views on "Yuan Jing", please refer to Juan 2, 27, 40 and Juan 1, 50. - translator

Nor should we neglect the section on the preparation of various objects for freezing.There are many things that can be said, but I will mention only one: lukewarm water freezes more easily than very cold water. And again, since nature is so stingy with the supply of cold, we must follow the example of the druggists who, when certain ingredients are not available, resort to what they call substitutes, such as agarwood in place of certain substances. Cinnamomum sap is used instead of cinnamon.In the same way, we should look around to see if there is anything that can take the place of cold, that is to say, to see if there is any other power than cold's proper function of causing condensation. A method of condensing objects.From what has been seen so far, there appear to be no more than four methods of such agglomeration. The first is to induce coagulation by simple compression.This does not keep the object in constant tension, since the object bounces back, but it may be useful as an auxiliary method.The second is by the contraction of the finer molecules of the body after the escape of the coarser ones, as in the hardening of bodies by fire, in the repeated quenching of metals, and in similar cases. This phenomenon occurs in other processes.The third method is that some of the most solid homogeneous molecules in the body are originally scattered and mixed with other less solid molecules, and when they are gathered together, agglomeration occurs; for example, the recovery of mercury sublimated in powder. For simple mercury, it condenses and no longer occupies such a large space; and it is like this in all the processes of removing metal dross.The fourth is through sympathetic action, through some hidden power of some plastids to achieve cohesion.Such sympathy or induction is now rare; and this is no wonder, for we can certainly hope to gain little from our investigations of sympathy when we have not yet succeeded in discovering form and structure.It is true that with regard to the animal body, there are indeed many kinds of medicines, whether taken internally or applied externally, which seem to cause coagulation by induction, as mentioned briefly above.But in the case of inanimate plastids such movements are rare.There is a story circulated in some records and in general legend that on one of the islands of Tessilla or the Canares (I can't remember which) a tree was always cracking and dripping, to a considerable degree. Sufficient for the water needs of local residents. ②Also, Barasisas once said that there is a kind of grass called "sun dew", which is full of dew when all other grasses around it are dry under the scorching sun at noon. ③However, these two stories seem to me to be absurd.If it is true, then this kind of example is very useful, and it is also the most worthy of further study.As for the nectar seen on oak leaves in May, such as the so-called divine syrup, I don't think it is condensed by any special nature in oak leaves. It can survive on the well-organized oak leaves, which are not soft and porous like other leaves. ① Kachin noted that the Tercery Islands are now called the Azores. - translator ②This strange tree was described in the book "Dendrographia" written by Jouston (published in Frankfort in 1669), see Chapter 4 of Volume 10.Among the authorities he cites is Cardan (1501-1578, Italian physicist and mathematician, author of "De Rerum Variete" - translator ), from whom Bacon probably drew the story.This tree is said to have been seen on the island of Ferro. ③I couldn't find a single point in Barathisas.However, this seems to be consistent with his dew theory - he believes that dew is something that seeps from the sun and stars, and if it is suppressed, it will form a multiplied star. ④ Kachin pointed out that, like oak trees, linden trees and other trees often have nectar. - translator As to heat, it is true that men have an abundance of reserves and power over it, but in certain details, and the most necessary ones, investigation and inquiry are not enough, as the alchemists say.The effects of strong heat have been sought and observed; but the effects of softer heat, which is the mode most in keeping with nature, have not been explored, and therefore have not been found. Know.Because of this, we see that in the general use of heat, there are always such cases: either the essence of the object is greatly aroused, as is the case with strong water and other chemical oils; Molecules are hardened, and sometimes fixed by the placement of frivolous molecules; at other times, homogeneous molecules are separated, while heterogeneous molecules are combined and blended together in a crude manner; Some joints and more subtle structures in the synthetic object are broken up and messed up. In fact, we should have tested and explored the movements of softer heat.That way, one can follow the example of nature, imitating the working of the sun, to produce subtler mixtures and more normal structures, as I suggested in the quotation about the case of the alliance. ① It should be noted that the progress of natural movements is far different from the fire movements we are currently using. The steps are gradual and the arrangements are much denser and more complicated.Only when we can, by means of artificial heat and other forces of action, express the work of nature in form, complete in character, vary in weight, and, I might add, increase in speed Only then will we see a real increase in human power.For example, the formation of iron rust is slow, but the acidified yellow powder of iron can be made at once; the situation of copper wire and lead carbonate powder is also like this; Can be blown; stone takes a long time to grow, but brick burns out quickly.In view of this (returning to the present subject), we should assiduously collect and investigate all kinds of heat, together with their various effects.That is to say, the heat of all celestial bodies, with the different conditions of whether their rays are direct, reflected, bent, and gathered under the fire mirror or ordinary mirror; Fire and the fiery heat of various fuels; in terms of fiery heat alone, there are differences between closed and open, direct overflow and modified stoves with different structures, and the difference between boasted and excited and unexcited and quiet , there are also differences between distances and intermediate objects; in addition, there are various kinds of damp heat, such as the heat of water covering utensils, ② the heat of feces, the heat of the external and internal body temperature of animals, and the heat of dry grass. ; and also dry heats of various kinds, such as the heat of ashes, of lime, of hot sand, etc.;—in short, all kinds of heat, with their various degrees, are what we should collect. and investigated. ③①Kachin note, refer to Volume 2, Article 35. - translator ②The original Latin text is "Balnei Marioe", which should actually be "Balneum Maris"; For a vessel, the latter is placed on the fire, and the former and its contents gradually become warm. ③ (Latin is "Balnei Marioe". Kachin commented: In distillation, the vessel to be steamed is placed in a tank of water instead of in sand. This practice is called a water bath, and the Latin should be "Balneum Marioe". Press, this heat transfer method does not have to be steamed on a fire, it can be done with a hot fire. - Translator ) But the primary question remains, if we control the application and withdrawal of heat in a gradual, orderly and intermittent manner, with appropriate distance and duration, what will be the effect and function? It should be investigated and discovered first.For this orderly inhomogeneity is indeed the daughter of the heavenly bodies and the mother of becoming; and no great result can be expected from that violent, rapid, sudden and sudden retreat of heat.This is most evident in plants; in the womb of animals, the heat is uneven as the pregnant woman moves, lies down, eats, eats, and desires; finally, in the womb of the earth— I mean where metals and fossils were formed—the unevenness has its place and its power. The clumsiness of some reformist alchemists who imagined their purpose to be attained by the constant warmth of a lamp held evenly, is all the more apparent from the foregoing.As for the action and effect of heat, I will stop here. Before the rules of things and the structure of objects have been further investigated and revealed, it is premature to thoroughly study those hot issues.Only when patterns are recognized can we then seek, use, and even adjust our tools. The fourth way is by continuation, who is likened to nature's steward and reliever. What I mean by duration is to leave the object alone for a considerable period of time, while protecting it from all external forces.For the inner movement is revealed and perfected only after the external, incoming movement has been stopped. Now see, the work of time is much more subtle than the work of fire.For example, if wine is mellowed by fire, it is not as good as by time.Again, the ashes produced by fire are not as fine as the fine dust of various substances dissolved by time.Likewise, those amalgams and mixtures formed suddenly by the pursuit of fire are far inferior to those formed by time. See also, that every modified structure of bodies acquired by continuous action, is like a state of decay, which is again destroyed by fire, or any violent heat.It should also be noted here that when the movement of bodies is very confined, there is something violent about it.That is to say, this confinement hinders the spontaneous movement of objects.For this reason we see that the continuation is best suited for disintegration when done in open vessels; for mixing if done in closed vessels; It is most suitable for spoilage if it is carried out in a container.In short, we should carefully collect from all aspects any examples that are sufficient to show continuous effects and functions. As for the fifth method, namely, the restriction of movement, it is very useful.By restriction of motion, I mean that the contact of one body with another body hinders, retards, or permits or directs the spontaneous motion of that body.Much of this function resides in the shape and position of the equipment.For example, the straight cone in the still can help the condensation of steam; the inverted cone in the container can help to discharge the dross in the sugar.Sometimes a corkscrew is needed, sometimes a wide and narrow one, and sometimes something else. It should be noted that all so-called filtering is to make the contacted object let go of one part of the contacted object and block the other part. It should also be known that filtering or other things that restrict movement are not limited to doing from the outside, but can also be done from one thing into another; for example, throwing a stone into the water to collect the dust molecules of the water; Egg whites can be used to clarify the syrup, and its function is to stick the coarser molecules in it so that they can be removed.But it is rash and ignorant that Teresias ascribes to this restriction of motion also the shape of animals, to the channels and folds of the womb. ①He should really be able to show that the same is formed in the eggshell, and that there are no wrinkles or bumps there.It is true, however, that in the act of casting this restriction of movement has a shaping effect. ① Theresias' theory of embryogenesis is basically the same as that of Galen, that is, first of all there must be a system of arteries, etc., formed in the embryo, which, connected with the corresponding parts on the surface of the uterus, regulate the output and output of the embryo. Various channels of feeding materials: thus indirectly stipulating the development of each limb of the fetus.It seems that he did not admit that the fact that the egg shell is smooth and without creases is enough to refute his theory.In fact, he exemplifies this theory by reference to the phenomena of an egg that is cut open during incubation.See Chapters 4 and 40 of Volume VI of "De Rerum Natura". (Kachin notes, about Teresias, see Article 116 of Volume 1 above. ——Translator ) As for the sixth mode of action, that is, actions by reflexivity or reflexivity, this is often hidden. For so-called secret and idiosyncratic natures, or so-called sympathies and antipathies, are largely philosophical decay. ①And we have little hope of discovering the responsiveness of things until we have discovered their form and simple structure.Because the so-called responsiveness is nothing but the mutual adaptation between the program and the structure. ① Kachin pointed out, how far is Bacon himself from these influences?Didn't he talk about "the rough essence in the saltpeter and its activities, and also talk about the several movements mentioned in the fourth and eighth article of the second volume of Quotations?"——Translator But the broader and more general responsiveness of things is not so obscure.So I'll start with them now.The first and chief difference between them is that some bodies are very different in density and uniform in structure, and others are uniform in density and different in structure.The chemists, in their so-called tripartite primary substances, have pointed out that sulfur and mercury are all over the universe, which is very good. (It is absurd that they add salt, but only to include earthy, dry, and fixed bodies.) From both we can undoubtedly observe the One of the most common sensibilities.Between the sulfur, the oil, and the vapors of the fat, the fire, or the stars, there is an induction.In the same way there is an inductance between mercury, water, and water vapour, air, or the pure ether of the stars.Yet these two quadruples, or families of things (each within its own boundaries), differ greatly in mass and density of matter, and yet agree in structure, and this has been repeated in countless episodes. can be seen.Metals, on the other hand, are fairly uniform in weight and density (especially in comparison with plants, etc.), but very different in structure.Similarly, in the case of plants and animals, the difference in structure between the two is almost impossible to speak of, and the difference in the amount and density of matter is very limited. ① This "three major parts" theory is the basic point of Balasisas's chemical philosophy and medical philosophy, which can be seen everywhere in his works, especially the short essay "De Tribus Primis Essentiis", Collected in the third volume of his complete works of philosophy. ②Kachin noted that the two "groups of four" are as follows: (1) (1) sulfur and (2) oil (3) flame (4) stars; (2) (1) mercury and (2) water (3) Air (4) Ether. - translator The second most common kind of inductance is between the living body and its maintainer, that is, the inductance between the element of the object and its content.We must therefore inquire in what climate, in what soil, and at what depth the various metals were produced; likewise in regard to precious stones we shall inquire whether they are produced on rocks or in mines. We shall also inquire in what soil the various trees, shrubs, and weeds grow best and, so to speak, enjoy the most; , or chalk, or sea sand, or burnt ash, etc., are the most effective and useful, and it is necessary to connect with the difference in soil to explore which of them is the most suitable and effective.In addition, the transplantation and mating of trees and vegetation, as well as the principle of which plants can develop most on which roots, also depend heavily on sympathy.Regarding this item, I heard that some people have recently tried to transplant forest trees (this practice has so far been limited to the scope of fruit trees), and the results have greatly increased the leaves and fruits, and the shade of the trees has become denser. Very gratifying experiment.In the same way, the various contents of animals are to be considered according to general classifications, and to be connected with their opposites.例如肉食类的动物就不能借草以活，所以佛依兰教派的戒律（虽然人类比其他动物较能以意志来控制肉体）在经过尝试之后（他们说），由于实非人性所能忍受，就几近于消灭了。 ②此外发生腐坏的各种不同物质（微小生物即因以产生）亦是我们所应当考察的。 生物体对其附从物的感应性（我在前面所说过的那些都可算作这一类）已是很明显的了。此外还可增加一种，那就是感官对其对象的感应性。这种感应性，由于它最为明显，并且已受到充分注意和经过精细审查，是可能大有助于照见其他隐秘的感应性的。 但是关于物体间内在的感应性和背反性，或者说是内在的友性和敌性（我几乎是厌用交感和反感的字样，因为它们带有若干迷信和虚妄），人们却不是把它们解说错误，或者把它们和无稽故事混在一起，就是因观察不足而根本很少触及。 例如人们因见葡萄与甘蓝种得相近时便都不发旺，就说它们之间存有敌性；③其实这理由是很明显的，那就是因为这两种植物都是多汁而吸拔地力的，于是就相竞而互削下来。又如人们因见玉蜀黍、莠和野罂粟三者都是非在经过犁耕的地上不能生长，就说它们之间存有感应性和友好性；其实倒不如说它们之间恰是存有敌性，因为后二者乃是借玉蜀黍所排遗在地上的汁液才茁生出来，所以播种玉蜀黍于地就为后二者准备下成长的条件。诸如此类的错误解说是很多很多的。至于说到无稽故事，那更应当铲除净尽。 现在实在只有少数若干感应性是为准确可信的实验所证实的，象磁石之与铁，金子之与银，以及类此等等。在对于金属的化学实验当中，亦有一些感应性值得注意考察。而最大量的（假如人们可在这般稀罕之中来称大量的话）感应性还当求之于某些药物之中，它们借其隐秘的（人们这样说）和特有的本性，无论对于肢体，或是对于体液，或是对于疾病，或是有时对于个别的性质，都能有所影响。此外，月亮的运行和变化与月下物体的感受之间亦有某些感应性，④诸如从农业方面、航海方面、医药方面，以及其他科学方面的实验当中经过严格认真的审查而搜到和认定的一些事例，我们亦不可略而不举。 要之，关于比较秘密的感应性的事例愈是稀罕，我们就应当以愈大的辛勤去加以寻求；这须借助于诚信和忠实的传说与叙述，只要这不是出自轻心或轻信，而是出于一种急切的和（姑且说）存疑的信实。⑤最后，还有一种物体间的感应性，在动作方式上或许是非不自然的，但在用途上却是多方有用的，我们亦不可把它略去，而应当予以审慎的查究。这是指物体相互间倾于或惮于借拼合或简单骈置的方式而联在一起的趋向。我们常见有些物体可以很容易地融混和合并起来，而另一些物体就若感为难和似有不甘。例如粉末最善与水混合，灰烬和石灰最善与油混合，余可类推。我们还不应仅仅搜集有关物体在混合这一点上有向有背的事例，他如有关物体分子的骈列的事例，有关它们在混合当中配置和分列情况的事例，最后还有有关它们在混合完成之后孰占优势的事例，亦都是我们所当搜集的。①拉丁本原文为“menstrua”。这是指任何种矿物所由以产生的质体，换言之，即一切矿物所以存在的质料因。参看阿格里考拉（Agricola）所着“De Ortuet CausisFossilium”一书第四第五两卷，其中专论金属和其他矿物的产生。他在那里叙述了亚里斯多德、西奥弗拉斯塔斯（Theophrastus，公元前〔？〕至二八七年，希腊哲学家——译者 ）等人的见解。 ②培根在这里指的无疑是弗依兰（Feuillans）会教规的严峻性。Jeandela Barriere这个人，在以牧师掌管了弗依兰的息斯特教堂（Cistercianabbey）十一年以后，于一五七三年出家避世。就在他掌管教堂的几年中，他引进了一种极其严峻的生活规则。 他的僧徒们在小吃时要跪在地板上，有些人还习惯于用头盖骨盛水来喝。他们戒食蛋、鱼、牛油、油甚至盐，只限于食用清水煮野菜汤和又粗又黑连野兽都不要吃的面包。不久以后，他们把酒也戒掉了。教皇克来门特八世（Clement Ⅷ）允许这个会订定章则以建立管制。这些章则却对生活方式过度严厉的地方作了限制，这是服从教皇，也是弗依兰会一星期中竟有十四名僧徒死亡一事的后果。这些章则于一五九五年获得批准。 （拉丁本原文为“Folietani”。克钦注释说，这是指中世纪的菜食主义者，他们实行毕撒格拉斯（Pythagoras，公元前五八二至五○七年，希腊哲学家）的教条。——译者 ）③克钦指出，这种敌性，古人想得较此尤甚；他们认为服食甘蓝可以解酒。 - translator ④克钦注明，关于月亮的感应性：（一）农业方面——据认为，月满时会带来合乎农时的天气，特别在“收获月”的情况下更是这样。 （二）航海方面——月亮在海上有影响，例如对潮汐的影响。 （三）医药方面——人们设想月亮对某些疾病具有影响力，如癫狂症名为“Lunacy”，犹存此说之遗迹。按：“Lunation”一字，意为太阴月；“Lunacy”这个字，若按字面直译，应为“月疾”，其症状则为精神错乱。 - translator ⑤克钦指出，达句话正表明培根自己治学的精神：一种健全的哲学必自疑始。 - translator 最后要说到第七种动作方式，也即轮替使用前六种方式来进行动作的方式。但是，在我们对于前六种方式还未一一研求到多少更深一些的程度之前，想要就这第七种方式举出什么例子，那是不适时的。现在所要指出的是，这种适应着某些特定结果而把各种方式作一系列或一连串的轮替使用的方式，乃是最难发现同时亦是运用起来最有效用的事。而人们呢，虽说为要做出任何稍有斤量的事功这乃是探入迷宫的线索，①却总是在探究和实践两方面都绝无耐性的。以上是对于多用的事例的例解，讲到这里也就够了。 ①拉丁本原文为“Filum Labyrinthi”。克钦指出，培根有一部较小的着作就名为《探入迷宫的线索》。 - translator