The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

"The two great causes, which conspire with each other to shorten life, says lord Verulam, are first -- -- -

"The internal spirit, which, like a gentle flame, wastes the body down to death: -- And secondly, the external air, that parches the body up to ashes: -- which two enemies attacking us on both sides of our bodies together, at length destroy our organs, and render them unfit to carry on the functions of life."