0.3

Sugar and some gums, as gum-dragon, for instance, when infused in liquids, are melted for they readily relax their parts (like sponges) to receive the liquid. Likewise, paper, thick hair, wool, and porous bodies of similar nature, immersed in liquids or otherwise moistened, so open themselves as to become softer, more easily torn, and as it were rotten. In ancient times sailors used to cover the sides of ships at night with fleeces of wool like coverlets or curtains, but not so as to touch the sea and in the morning they would squeeze out of them fresh water for use on the voyage.