« back to search

"That is to say, we think there is no Way hitherto laid down for preserving the Vigour of the Body, and thereby securing such a Supply of animal Spirits as may support the Dominion of the Soul in its full Extent and Activity, so feasible as this, which is suggested to be the Source of the Longevity and Healthfulness of Hermippus."

— Campbell, John (1708-75)

Author

Campbell, John (1708-75)

Work Title

Hermippus Redivivus: or, The Sage's Triumph over Old Age and the Grave

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

J. Nourse

Date

1744

Metaphor

"That is to say, we think there is no Way hitherto laid down for preserving the Vigour of the Body, and thereby securing such a Supply of animal Spirits as may support the Dominion of the Soul in its full Extent and Activity, so feasible as this, which is suggested to be the Source of the Longevity and Healthfulness of Hermippus."

Metaphor in Context

There is undoubtedly, as the learned Bacon lays it down, a healthy Sympathy, as well as a morbid Infection (u); and as, in spight of all the Care and Caution we can take, we find it extremely hard to guard against, and to ward off the latter; so, by a Parity of Reason, it should seem, that of all the Methods contributing to Health, the former ought to prove most efficacious: That is to say, we think there is no Way hitherto laid down for preserving the Vigour of the Body, and thereby securing such a Supply of animal Spirits as may support the Dominion of the Soul in its full Extent and Activity, so feasible as this, which is suggested to be the Source of the Longevity and Healthfulness of Hermippus. For if insensible Perspiration be made through the Pores, so that there is a continual Steam transpiring from every Body, then it follows, that where an old Man is constantly attended by many young Women, his Body must be surrounded with an infinite Quantity of the perspirable Matter flowing from them, and if, on the other Hand, he not only perspires through the Pores, but also receives by them as has been already demonstrated, the finest and most spirituous Particles of other Bodies into his own; then it is very evident, that such an old Man must be, as I observed before, in such a Situation, as will enable him to draw the greatest possible Benefit from this most comfortable Medicine.
(pp. 57-8)