self into the Interstices of the more crass Parts of the Aliment, and whatever is agitated and expanded in those Interstices, requiring a larger space for the Freedom of its Motion, and offering a Violence to every thing that opposes its Tendency, will, like Gun-powder included in a Shell, force its way out, and tear to pieces that Matter, which does endeavour to confine it.
Thus the grosser Parts are broken and divided, until they are at last so far attenuated as to mix more equally with the Fluid, and with them to make one Pulp or Chylous Mass. And although I do not apprehend how the Stomach should by its reciprocal Motions in Inspiration and Expiration, be able to break and attenuate any Matter, that will not be softned and dissolved by Agitation in a Liquid; yet it is certain that these Motions, caused by
the Diaphragm and Abdominal Muscles in Respiration, do make those Parts, which are broken off, as they are dissolv'd, mix intimately with the more Liquid; as the Meat which I digested with Oil of Turpentine, and Oil of Vitriol, did by Agitation mix more equally with the Oils, and became a Pulpament.
As the Juices, which constitute the Saliva , do ferment upon their mixture, so it is probable, that from their Mixture and Fermentation there results such a Tertium quid , as is apt to ferment with the Bile. And therefore, when the Aliment has been under the Fermentation, excited by the Saliva , a sufficient time, it is then thrown into the Duodenum , where it meets with the bilious Juice, which flows into that Intestine from the Liver, from which a new Fermentation seems to begin; and the Commotion of the Parts of the Aliment being still continued, does carry on the Business of Digestion until the Food is perfectly concocted: Though it is probable, that this new Fermentation serves not only for the more perfect Digestion of the Food, but likewise for the Separation of the Chyle from the