341. (4) Influx from hell produces those forms which are evil forms of use in places where there are corresponding elements. The elements that correspond to evil forms of use, that is, to malignant herbage and harmful animals, are those of carrion, putrefaction, excrement and dung, rot, and urine. In places where these elements exist, therefore, such herbage and vermin spring up, and in tropical zones larger creatures of a like character, such as snakes, basilisks,* crocodiles, scorpions, mice and rats, and others. Everyone knows that marshes, swamps, dunghills, and rotting compost heaps are filled with such creatures; also that noxious winged insects fill the atmosphere like clouds, and noxious vermin the earth like armies on the march, consuming its herbage even to the roots. [2] In my garden I once observed that almost all the dust in a three or four foot area turned into tiny winged insects, for when I stirred it with my stick, they rose up like mists. It is apparent simply from experience that carrion and putrefaction accord with such noxious and useless vermin, and that they are of a like character. This can clearly be seen from the cause, which is that the same foul odors and stenches exist in hells where such vermin also are found. These hells are consequently named accordingly, some being called carrion hells, some dung hells, some urine hells, and so on. They are, however, all covered over, to keep these exhalations from being emitted from them. For when they are opened just a little, which happens when newly arrived devils are entering, these hells induce vomiting and inflict headaches, and those which are at the same time poisonous cause fainting. The very dust there is also of the same character, on which account it is called there accursed dust. It is apparent from this that wherever such foul odors exist, such noxious creatures are found, because they correspond. * Legendary serpents or dragons, whose breath and glance were said to be lethal. Formerly identified in English translations of the Latin Vulgate with the cockatrice, and retained as such in the King James Bible.