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
And therefore what admission we ow unto many conceptions concerning
right and left, requireth circumspection. That is, how far we ought to
rely upon the remedy in _Kiranides_, that is, the left eye of an
_Hedg-hog_ fried in oyl to procure sleep, and the right foot of a _Frog_
in a _Dears_ skin for the _Gout_; or that to dream of the loss of right
or left tooth, presageth the death of male or female kindred, according
to the doctrine of _Artemidorus_. What verity there is in that numeral
conceit in the lateral division of Man by even and odd, ascribing the
odd unto the right side, and even unto the left; and so by parity or
imparity of letters in Mens names to determine misfortunes on either
side of their bodies; by which account in Greek numeration, _Hephæstus_
or _Vulcan_ was lame in the right foot, and _Anibal_ lost his right eye.
And lastly, what substance there is in that Auspicial principle, and
fundamental doctrine of Ariolation, that the left hand is ominous, and
that good things do pass sinistrously upon us, because the left hand of
man respected the right hand of the Gods, which handed their favours
unto us.
CHAPTER VI
Of Swimming and Floating.
That Men swim naturally, if not disturbed by fear; that Men being
drowned and sunk, do float the ninth day when their gall breaketh; that
Women drowned, swim prone, but Men supine, or upon their backs; are
popular affirmations, whereto we cannot assent. And first, that Man
should swim naturally, because we observe it is no lesson unto other
Animals, we are not forward to conclude; for other Animals swim in the
same manner as they go, and need no other way of motion for natation in
the water, then for progression upon the land. And this is true whether
they move _per latera_, that is, two legs of one side together, which is
Tollutation or ambling; or _per diametrum_, lifting one foot before, and
the cross foot behind, which is succussation or trotting; or whether
_per frontem_ or _quadratum_, as _Scaliger_ terms it, upon a square
base, the legs of both sides moving together, as _Frogs_ and salient
Animals, which is properly called leaping. For by these motions they are
able to support and impel themselves in the water, without alteration in
the stroak of their legs, or position of their bodies.
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