[CHAP. XXXII. Of Air corrupting Dead Bodies.]
Some are of opinion, That Air is a Corrupter, and so a Dissolver of all dead Creatures, and yet is the Preserver of all living Creatures. If so, Air hath an Infinite Power: but, all the reason I can perceive for this Opinion, is, That Man perceives, that when any Raw (or that we name Dead) Flesh, is kept from the air, it will not stink, or corrupt, so soon as when it is in the air: but yet it is well known, that extream cold air will keep Flesh from corrupting.
Another Reason is, That a Flye entomb'd in Amber, being kept from air, the Flye remains in her Exterior Shape as perfectly as if she were alive.
I answer, The cause of that may be, that the Figurative Motions of Amber, may sympathize with the Exterior consistent Motions of the Fly, which may cause the Exterior Shape of the Flye to continue, although the Innate Nature be altered. But Air is, as all other Creatures are, both Beneficial, and Hurtful to each other; for Nature is poysed with Opposites: for we may perceive, that several Creatures are both Beneficial and Hurtful to each other: as for example, A Bear kills a Man; and, on the other side, a Bear's
Skin will cure a Man of some Disease. Also, a Wild-Boar will kill a Man; and the Boar's Flesh will nourish a Man. Fire will burn a Man, and preserve a Man; and Millions of such Examples may be proposed. The same may be said of Air, which may occasion Good or Evil to other Creatures; as, the Amber may occasion the death of a Fly; and, on the other side, may occasion the Preservation, or Continuation of the Fly's Exterior Figure, or Form: but, Nature being without Vacuum, all her Parts must be be joined; and her Actions being poysed, there must be both Sympathetical, and Antipathetical actions, amongst all Creatures.