The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
But these at last, and how in the Cicatricula or little pale circle
formation first beginneth, how the Grando or tredle, are but the poles
and establishing particles of the tender membrans, firmly conserving the
floating parts, in their proper places, with many other observables,
that ocular Philosopher, and singular discloser of truth, Dr. _Harvey_
hath discovered, in that excellent discourse of Generation; So strongly
erected upon the two great pillars of truth, experience and solid
reason.
That the sex is discernable from the figure of Eggs, or that Cocks or
Hens proceed from long or round ones, as many contend, experiment will
easily frustrate.
The _Ægyptians_ observed a better way to hatch their Eggs in Ovens, then
the _Babylonians_ to roast them at the bottom of a sling, by swinging
them round about, till heat from motion had concocted them; for that
confuseth all parts without any such effect.
Though slight distinction be made between boiled and roasted Eggs, yet
is there no slender difference, for the one is much drier then the
other: the Egg expiring less in the elixation or boiling; whereas in the
assation or roasting, it will sometimes abate a dragm; that is,
threescore grains in weight. So a new laid Egg will not so easily be
boiled hard, because it contains a greater stock of humid parts; which
must be evaporated, before the heat can bring the inexhalable parts into
consistence.
Why the Hen hatcheth not the Egg in her belly, or maketh not at least
some rudiment thereof within her self, by the natural heat of inward
parts, since the same is performed by incubation from an outward warmth
after? Why the Egg is thinner at one extream? Why there is some cavity
or emptiness at the blunter end? Why we open them at that part? Why the
greater end is first excluded? Why some Eggs are all red, as the
Kestrils; some only red at one end, as those of Kites and Buzzards? why
some Eggs are not Oval but Round, as those of fishes? etc. are problems,
whose decisions would too much enlarge this discourse.
[Sidenote: _Of Snakes, etc._]
That Snakes and Vipers do sting or transmit their mischief by the tail,
is a common expression not easily to be justified; and a determination
of their venoms unto a part, wherein we could never find it; the poison
lying about the teeth, and communicated by bite, in such are
destructive. And therefore when biting Serpents are mentioned in the
Scripture, they are not differentially set down from such as mischief
by stings; nor can conclusions be made conformable to this opinion,
because when the Rod of _Moses_ was turned into a Serpent, God
determinately commanded him to take up the same by the tail.
Nor are all Snakes of such empoisoning qualities, as common opinion
presumeth; as is confirmable from the ordinary green Snake with us, from
several histories of domestick Snakes, from Ophiophagous nations, and
such as feed upon Serpents.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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