The intestines are not only affected, but the functions of the neighbouring parts are disturb’d, as well from the violence of the compression as from their own diseases; the pancreatic juice grows vapid and stale, the functions of the spleen are vitiated, the repositories of the bile are much disturb’d; by its stagnation it loads the liver, forms obstructions in it, thickens and grows hard itself, and flows slowly to the intestines; whence their disorders, especially those of the jejunum, and vices of the chyle, increase; being scarce able to pass through the narrow neck of the cystic duct, it often concretes into a stone, and occasions those severe colics with which the celebrated IGNATIUS, founder of the Jesuits, was formerly afflicted, and with which the learned are often tormented[28]. If at length by stagnating it putrifies, it then erodes, ulcerates, inflames, and assumes the appearance of all the innumerable disorders of the liver, and produces inconceivable anxieties. These are likewise caus’d, though with less danger, by that cruel disease call’d the hypochondriac; the first species of which, mention’d above, and call’d the nervous, is occasion’d by excessive labour of the mind; the other, I mean the abdominal species, arises from a disturb’d circulation in the abdomen. With both these disorders the learned are afflicted, and therefore seldom or never live free from this evil; and, whilst one of these adds force to another, they are seldom entirely cur’d of them[29]. Considering they occur so frequently, it is hardly necessary to give examples; but if I were to cite examples, the first that would occur to my mind would be that of the illustrious SWAMMERDAM, that sagacious inquirer into nature, who was so full of atrabilary humours, that he scarce vouchsafed to answer those who spoke to him, but look’d upon them with an unalter’d countenance; and, when he took his seat as professor, sat with a face of astonishment, and made no answer to the objections of his opponents. Finally, having, before his death, wasted away with a phrantic melancholy, he burn’d all the manuscripts he had by him in a fit of madness: being reduced in appearance to a skeleton and the mere figure of a man[30], he died at length of a consumption. It has indeed been observ’d, that this species of melancholy in some measure promotes learning, by increasing the penetration; for, whilst melancholy men are intent upon one idea only, the mind contemplates this object alone, and considers it on every side; nor is it distracted by other pursuits. But who ever proceeded to this pitch of madness, as to desire to purchase an increase of discernment at such a price? Of what advantage is science without health? He knows too much, who is render’d unhappy by his knowledge.