Now if any shall still affirm, that some truth there is in the assertion, upon the experiment of _Hippocrates_, who killing an Hog after a red potion, found the tincture thereof in the Larinx; if any will urge the same from medical practice, because in affections both of Lungs and weazon, Physitians make use of syrupes, and lambitive medicines; we are not averse to acknowledge, that some may distil and insinuate into the wind-pipe, and medicines may creep down, as well as the rheum before them; yet to conclude from hence, that air and water have both one common passage, were to state the question upon the weaker side of the distinction, and from a partial or guttulous irrigation, to conclude a total descension. CHAPTER IX Of Sneezing. Concerning Sternutation or Sneezing, and the custom of saluting or blessing upon that motion, it is pretended, and generally believed to derive its original from a disease, wherein Sternutation proved mortal, and such as Sneezed, died. And this may seem to be proved from _Carolus Sigonius_, who in his History of _Italy_, makes mention of a Pestilence in the time of _Gregory_ the Great, that proved pernitious and deadly to those that Sneezed. Which notwithstanding will not sufficiently determine the grounds hereof: that custom having an elder _Æra_, then this Chronology affordeth. For although the age of _Gregory_ extend above a thousand, yet is this custom mentioned by _Apuleius_, in the Fable of the Fullers wife, who lived three hundred years before; by _Pliny_ in that Problem of his, _Cur Sternutantes salutantur_; and there are also reports that _Tiberius_ the Emperour, otherwise a very sower Man, would perform this rite most punctually unto others, and expect the same from others, unto himself. _Petronius Arbiter_, who lived before them both, and was Proconsul of _Bythinia_ in the raign of _Nero_, hath mentioned it in these words, _Gyton collectione spiritus plenus, ter continuo ita sternutavit ut grabatum concuteret, ad quem motum Eumolpus conversus, Salvere Gytona jubet._ _Cælius Rhodiginus_ hath an example hereof among the _Greeks_, far antienter than these, that is, in the time of _Cyrus_ the younger; when consulting about their retreat, it chanced that one among them Sneezed; at the noise whereof, the rest of the Souldiers called upon _Jupiter Soter_. There is also in the Greek Anthology [SN: _A Collection of Greek Epigrams_, Titulo εἰς δυσειδεῖς.], a remarkable mention hereof in an Epigram, upon one _Proclus_; the Latin whereof we shall deliver, as we find it often translated.