That the breaking of the gall is not the cause hereof, experience hath informed us. For opening the _abdomen_, and taking out the gall in _Cats_ and _Mice_, they did notwithstanding arise. And because we had read in _Rhodiginus_ of a Tyrant, who to prevent the emergency of murdered bodies, did use to cut off their lungs, and found Mens minds possessed with this reason; we committed some unto the water without lungs, which notwithstanding floated with the others. And to compleat the experiment, although we took out the guts and bladder, and also perforated the Cranium, yet would they arise, though in a longer time. From these observations in other Animals, it may not be unreasonable to conclude the same in Man, who is too noble a subject on whom to make them expressly, and the casual opportunity to rare almost to make any. Now if any should ground this effect from gall or choler, because it is the highest humour and will be above the rest; or being the fiery humour will readiest surmount the water, we must confess in the common putrescence it may promote elevation, which the breaking of the bladder of gall, so small a part in Man, cannot considerably advantage.
Lastly, That Women drowned float prone, that is, with their bellies downward, but Men supine or upward, is an assertion wherein the _hoti_ or point it self is dubious; and were it true, the reason alledged for it, is of no validity. The reason yet currant was first expressed by _Pliny_, _veluti pudori defunctorum parcente naturâ_, nature modestly ordaining this position to conceal the shame of the dead; which hath been taken up by _Solinus_, _Rhodiginus_, and many more. This indeed (as _Scaliger_ termeth it) is _ratio civilis non philosophica_, strong enough for morality of Rhetoricks, not for Philosophy or Physicks. For first, in nature the concealment of secret parts is the same in both sexes, and the shame of their reveal equal: so _Adam_ upon the tast of the fruit was ashamed of his nakedness as well as _Eve_. And so likewise in _America_ and Countries unacquainted with habits, where modesty conceals these parts in one sex, it doth it also in the other; and therefore had this been the intention of nature, not only Women but Men also had swimmed downwards; the posture in reason being common unto both, where the intent is also common.