That is the First matter out of which all bodies are composed and into which by an Universal Division they may be reduced the Second is nothing else but Bodies made of the first and upon which the efficient Causes do exercise their activities Therefore it is apparent That there is nothing in the World but what is a Compound and that there is no Compound without matter It is also certain That there is nothing made without an Efficient Cause which acts upon Compounds and destroys them that of them others may be made because the matter of the first serves for the composition of the second the Matter which goes to the composition of the first and second is the first Matter or Material Cause of the Compound and that Matter which serves the Efficient Cause for a Subject and Patient is called the Second Matter Both of them may be an efficient cause for Compounds do act upon one another as the Elements which drive one another backwards and forwards that which drives another is called the Agent as that which is driven is called the Patient and if there be any thing which resists it and drives back another this regress of the motion is called a reaction so one and the same thing may be the Subject and cause of Motion and that to give and receive being the Principle of Agent and Patient may Be at the same time but in divers respects CHAP. XVIII Of the first Matter ALL Philosophers do unanimously agree That there is a first Matter in the World which was produced from the beginning and tho' it can never be altered by any Change yet it is to be seen in all the Generations and Corruptions which are in Nature this doth suppose that the first Matter did exist before the Generation of the Compound wherein it is found and that it still remains and survives the Corruption of it as fire is made of Chips the Matter of the Fire was in the Chips and it is found partly in the Fire partly in the Smoak and partly also in the Ashes It is agreed by all Men That nothing is made out of nothing and that there is nothing in Nature which can be reduced into nothing so that the first remains one and the same in all the Revolutions which do happen Therefore in respect of Matter we may justly say that there is nothing new in the World since the Creation of it and that this Matter in its Nature is incorruptible so that to explain the Essence of this first Matter is all and the one only difficulty If we hearken to Aristotle he makes It the Subject of all Forms and that It is nothing but a passive Power or a meer Capacity of producing and receiving them in its Bosom He says in another place that Matter in it self hath neither quality nor quantity nor any Essence beside that which it received from that Form which perfected it But this explication gives us no Idea of Matter neither doth it teach us any thing of the nature of it on the other hand according to this Doctrine we may say that Matter is something and we may say at the same time that it is nothing and that it gives that Being to Form and receives the same from it and lastly that it hath distinct parts without any quantity which seems to be impossible They were more in the right who said That the first Matter was nothing else but the first Elements into which Compounds by a total dissolution are reduced also these Elements ought to be simple and indivisible for otherwise the first Elements are not such as we suppose them to be It follows from this Doctrine that neither Water nor Air nor Earth nor Fire are the first Elements of things because they are Compounds Therefore we must look out for other Elements which are simple and indivisible those things which the Chymists would fain establish that is Salt Sulphur and Mercury cannot be taken for the First Elements of Bodies since they are but Compounds of many other Bodies I am of the same Opinion concerning Descartes his three Elements which he would have to be the principles of things which is impossible because they are divisible Therefore we must acknowledge that only simple and indivisible Atoms are the first Matter and first Principles and Elements whereof Bodies are composed Out of these Atoms are Corpuscles made out of these Corpuscles small Masses out of Masses greater parts then of these parts greater Bodies whereof the Universe doth consist In the same manner going backward in an analytical method the World is divided into great Bodies those into parts parts into small Masses Masses into Corpuscles and lastly these Corpuscles are divided into Atoms CHAP. XIX Of Atoms and their Nature THat we may solidly evince the existency of Atoms we must suppose that every compound may be divided into so many parts as there are which make the compound Therefore division ought necessarily to cease when there is a failure of parts to be divided on the other side there is no end of it as long as there are Particles to be divided one of the two we must allow that is either that a body cannot be so exactly divided but that there always remain divisible parts in infinitum or that there are parts after a certain number of Divisions which will not admit any further division Aristotle stands for the former but Gassendus and the Ancient Philosophers do defend the latter and according to this last Doctrine after all the Divisions are made nothing can remain besides Atoms that is indivisible Beings which are the first Elements of Natural Bodies I confess it is hard to imagin a corporeal thing to be indivisible because we see nothing in this World which is not divisible but this makes nothing against Atoms which are Corporeal because they compose Bodies and are Indivisible because they are the first and most simple Elements of Bodies Hence arises another difficulty because it cannot be easily explained after what manner a thing that is divisible is composed of parts which are indivisible Impartial minds do not find so much difficulty in conceiving this matter as those do who follow the prejudices which they have received First these Men who are thus so prepossessed do not consider that there are many things which escape our Senses and yet are most real Secondly they do not consider that that which composes a Body is not a compound as we see that Unity makes number tho' it self be not a number Letters whereof Nouns and words are framed yet are neither the one nor the other The drops of Water whereof Rivers do consist are not Rivers so Atoms though they are invisible and indivisible yet they compose Bodies which are visible and divisible Aristotle and his Followers do teach us That a small body as for Example a Millet Seed is divisible in infinitum and that it contains an infinite number of Parts which being supposed
Meteors is the shooting off of a Gun for the Thunder-Bolt is represented by the Bullet the Fire coming out of the Muzzle represents Lightning and the Report from thence holds the place of Thunder Another thing which gives us a lively and more just Idea of them is Aurum Fulminans which like the Thunder-Bolt carries its stroak downwards three Grains of which though never so little made hot takes Fire and gives a greater Report than two Ounces of Gunpowder I will shew you its preparation in the following Chapter and give you an account of it and I will endeavour to Explain how it comes to Thunder and how the Thunder-Bolt falls Epicurus attributes the falling of the Thunder-Bolt to the apertures which the Winds produce in the Clouds but the Lightning he thinks arises when the Thunder-Bolt by reason of its violent motion in the Air takes Fire or saith this Philosopher the Flame of the Lightning is excited by the mutual meeting of Clouds which are Bodies made hard by vehement Cold or else that it is excited by the blowing of Winds or by the heat of the Stars which sets on Fire the Nitrous and Sulphurous Matter collected in the Cavity of the Clouds The sound of Thunder may be divers ways First by the revolution of a strange Body contained in the thickness of the Clouds and rolled through it as we see a solid Body shut up in a Pot excites a sound and murmuring noise if the Pot be moved The same noise may likewise proceed from the breaking or bursting of the Clouds as well as it does from the bursting of a blown-Bladder or Paper suddenly and forcibly extended or the Sail of a Ship torn by the violence of the Winds In like manner this sound may be caused from the mutual meeting together of hardned Clouds like that we hear when pieces or flakes of Ice dash one against another either in the River or on the Bank after the same manner also Woods indeed stirred by the Winds the flowings of the Sea interrupted Linnen and Paper suspended in the Air by their violent motions excite sounds like the sound of Thunder We may say besides that the Thunder-Bolt being throughly lighted and falling upon a moist Cloud excites a great noise such as we hear when red hot Iron is thrown into Water or melted Mettals into Oyle Urine Honey or the Lees of Wine where we also find a certain kind of murmur and at last we percieve so great a noise or sound that it threatens the breaking of the Vessel But this mighty noise may be ascribed to the vehement separation of the Salt Nitre and Sulphur which being mixt together are included in the Thunder-Bolt and the Cloud as Gun-powder is in Guns and Mines For the violent and sudden separation of Nitre and Sulphur forcibly seperates all Bodies near them which cannot be done without a mighty sound Therefore that we may the better comprehend the Nature and wonderful effects of this Meteor I will make the following digression concerning Aurum Fulminans CHAP. XV. Of Aurum Fulminans or Gold imitating Thunder EXperience shews us upon Earth a much more Natural Image or Representation of Thunder than that which is seen in the effects of Gun-powder and the noise and disturbance which this Gold when set on fire produceth doth so properly imitate the horrid noise of Thunder that for this Reason it is called Aurum-Fulminans I will here give you its preparation and I shall endeavour to give the Reasons of its wonderful effects and apply them to the production of Thunder and Lightning Take therefore for Example one Ounce of calcined Gold or leaf Gold or else Gold dust and put it into a Bolt head and pour to it three Ounces of Aqua Regis which being done place it upon hot ashes and the Gold will dissolve and be reduced into Water to which pour on a sufficient quantity of fair Water and after that a few drops of Oyle of Tartar for then that will cause an ebullition or boyling which being over the Gold will fall to the bottom in the form of Dust then afterwards pour off the Water that swims a top by gently stooping the Vessel and dry the powder in the Air so have you Aurum-Fulminans for it produceth all the Effects we told you of The Reason why it so soon takes Fire is taken from the Atoms or Corpuscles of Nitre which are in Aqua-Regis as also of the Sulphur Vitriol and Sal Armoniack of which it is made these Sulphurous and Acid and Volatile Salts are united together and the precipitated particles of Gold for as much as the particles of the Salt of Tartar possess their place dissolve their Union and force them to give way and be separated so that nothing remains in the Water but a dissolved Salt part of which adhering to the Atoms of Gold falls to the bottom with them as the increased weight of the Powder evinces These same Particles therefore which remain in the Powder stick to the Gold so that Heat penetrating this and dilateing this Matter produces a sudden and violent separation hence it is that the Spirits of the Volatile Salts being made hot rarified subtilised and set on fire the Gold which before was fix'd being accompanied with these Spirits flyes away with a Thundring noise by reason of the contrariety that is between the alcalous Salt of Tartar and the acid Salts as it happens in Gun-powder where the Alkali that is in the Charcoal produces the same Effect as is seen in this Thundring Gold excepting that the stroak of the Gold and its explosion is made downwards by reason of its fixity and weight We see the same in the Thunder-Bolt for the stroak is made downwards the Flash is seen and the noise is heard Besides the Thunder-Bolt produces wonderful Effects such as are consuming of Wine in the Vessel melting of the Sword in the Scabbard the Scabbard and the Vessel being both untouched Therefore I conclude that the stroak of Thunder moves downwards as well as Aurum-Fulminans because these terrestrial Particles predominating they fix the Volatile Spirits of the Salts and precipitate them downwards The Flash arises only from the rarefaction and emancipation of the solar and Coelestial Particles therein contained but the noise in Aurum-Fulminans as well as in Thunder is produced by the violent separation of the more solid and more fixedly-adhering Particles or Atoms But Thunder consumes Wine in the Vessel the Vessel being unhurt because it consists of emancipated Atoms which are therefore so subtile that they penetrate the Vessel subtilise and rarefie the Wine and convert it into Atoms which pass through the Vessel and flye away into the Air but in Aurum-Fulminans the strength of the Volatile Spirits not being sufficient to raise the Gold on high it is carried downwards The Principle of this wonderful Effect relies upon this Truth to wit that subtile Bodies are more subtilised Volatile Bodies more Volatile and fix'd Bodies
from whence it is brought into Spain out of it is extracted the best and purest Gold whose Corpuscles were wrapt up in the Particles of a crude and unprofitable Earth The same may be said of Lapis Lazulus or the Azure-colour'd Stone Litharge and Tutty are not properly Minerals because they are not digged out of Mines For the first is only the grosser part of Gold Silver or Lead But Tutty is the purer part of Copper the Atoms of which being set at liberty ascend and stick to the Arch of the Furnace wherein Copper is melted The fourth Mineral is Vitriol containing in it self Saline Sulphurous and Mercurial Corpuscles all of a different figure The Spirit which is distilled from it consists of Atoms so acute as that they cut thick humours and hinder vapours from ascending to the Brain It penetrates likewise into imperfect Mettals Arsenick is a white and Chrystalline Mineral there is a yellow one also called Orpiment and a third which is red called Sandover all these three are very violent Poisons for the reasons above alledged Sulphur also is a Mineral easily taking Fire as being of a Fiery Nature it disolves and melts Iron just as a burning Coal does Wax There is extracted from it a Spirit an Oyle or Balsom performing wonders in Diseases of the Breast There is also another Sulphur in perfect Mettals which is incombustible CHAP. XIII Of Salts SALT is the Principle of Savours because the Saline Atoms have Figures fit to affect and vellicate the Organ of Taste that is the Tongue and Pallat Sea or common Salt is made out of Sea-water by the help of evaporation this very same Salt is dissolved in Water a certain quantity of whose spaces it fills all which being filled the Salt falls to the bottom unless something else be put into it as Nitre or the like which the water carries with it over and above from whence it appears that the vacuities of water are not all equal and that there are some of them which the Atoms of Nitre can enter into but not the Atoms of common cubical Salt. Common Salt Vitriol Nitre and the like have Atoms not only sharp or pointed but also like little hooks adhering to Glass it self though endued with few and very small Pores and what is wonderful Sea-Salt or Vitriol or Nitre or all of them together dissolved in water and the water evaporated by degrees the Salt or Salts we see ascend according to the heighth of the Glass to the very brims of it whither when it is come it descends on the other side to the very bottom of the Glass so that it is quite covered with Salt. From this Experiment three things are manifest First that there are little cavities in Glass Secondly that Salt like Ivy is endowed with little hooks And Thirdly that Salt grows and creeps up according to the heighth of the Glass just as the Sap of Trees and nourishing humour ascends from the Roots to the Trunk and from thence afterwards to the higher Branches as shall be said elsewhere Husbandmen experience this to be true when they burn their Stubble that so the Rains falling upon the ashes may carry along with them the Salt which is to penetrate into the Earth from which afterwards Seed and the fruitfulness of the Earth ariseth Salt does also preserve Bodies from Corruption by creeping into their Pores and by that means hindring the Air from entring in which would divide and dissolve their parts or cause a fermentation in them There are a great many kinds of Salts to wit sowre and sweet and acid and bitter and as many others as there are Tastes Which ariseth only from a different disposition of their Atoms As Salt is found in all things so from them it may be extracted and they who extract Salt out of the Earth for the making of Nitre do afterwards expose that Earth to the Air where it is impregnated again with Salt either from the Air or Rain Salts have as various motions as they have Figures which appears in the evaporation of four Salts dissolved together in Water for they do not only after the water is evaporated remain at the bottom but also each of them chuseth to it self a proper place and fastens it self to it without mixing at all with the others by reason of the irregularity of their Figures From the Salt of Urine is extracted a Spirit which mixt with Spirit of Wine composeth a Body hard enough because those Spirits by filling each others Vacuities are hardned for nothing becomes hard but in as much as its vacuities are either filled or made less From Tartar a Salt is extracted which is the Salt of Wine out of which calcined and dissolved in a cold place is made an Oyle which being mixed with Oyle of Vitriol a great boyling ariseth and that being over a white powder falls to the bottom called Tartar Vitriolate for all the moisture of the Tartar enters into the vacuities of the Spirit of Vitriol and the Salt of Tartar recovers its first state that is of a white Powder But the strife betwixt them proceeds from the disagreeableness of their Atoms by reason of which they very much justle one another That Salt which is called Sal Polychrestum is not of less usefulness because it drives out peccant Humours extreamly well It is compounded that is to say of Nitre and Sulphur D. Seignette adds to it moreover another Salt and indeed I must say that that has succeeded better than all others and that his Sal Polychrestum is a very innocent and a most excellent Remedy CHAP. XIV Of Subterraneous Fires and Earth-Quakes THere is no Man can doubt but that there are Subterraneous Fires the Mountains of Hecla in Island Aetna in Sicily and Vesuvius in the Kingdom of Naples are invincible arguments of them as there are the Fires of the Stars above us so there are Fires below us called Subterranean lighted beneath the Earth from the beginning of the World or at least Bituminous and Sulphurous Matters were never wanting beneath the Earth no more than Coals or Bituminous Stones which easily take Fire and Flame Therefore the setting them on fire was not at all difficult for there needed only one little spark arising from the striking together of two Flints or from a Lamp or Candle which Miners carry along with them into the Pits that so they may the better work there The same also might happen by Lightning or lastly Fire might be kindled of its own accord by a fat and unctuous humidity after the same manner as wet Hay and such like Bodies heat and take Fire From these Subterranean Fires the heat of Mineral Waters ariseth nor is there any fear that these should extinguish these Fires for Bitumen burns in water as the Experiment of Camphire teaches us Earth-quakes are produced by winds that is by a troop of emancipated Atoms which shake the Earth places most obnoctious to these are the Sea-Coasts by
reason of Winds and Tempests creeping into the Bowels of the Earth through the holes made hollow by the Water But these Earth-quakes arise when the Earth recedes never so little from the Centre of its gravity or is interrupted in its motion about the Centre of the Universe that is about the Sun or else when it is driven to and fro by the Solar Vortex and this is a fourth motion of it by means of which it is sometimes nearer the Sun in a streight and perpendicular Line from whence sometimes happen intolerable Summer heats or mild Winters or on the contrary as we may have experienced CHAP. XV. Of Waters and their differences THere are many kinds of Waters seen which I here propose to speak a little of The first of them is that which is called the common Elementary Water whose Atoms are round and vacuities plenty and triangular This may be rarified and condensed as the Corpuscles of Fire entring into its Vacuities either dilate them and remove the parts of Water from one another or the particles of cold compress them and shut them up by their gravity or else expel from thence the particles of Air which had insinuated therein Sometimes water is so closely shut up by Cold that it is congealed and brought into cones of Ice from whose lightness appears the quantity of Air that has got into the Pores and from its hardness is manifested that the vacuities of this Air are very much compressed Another Species of Water is that which is called destilled Water and which by the help of Alembicks is extracted out of all kinds of Simples which is thus done the Particles of Water which are in Plants do free themselves and are driven upwards in the form of Vapours which striking against the Head of the Vessel are incrassated crushed together and condensed into little drops of Water which fall down through the beack of the Alembick After this manner Rains arise and fall upon the Earth and from hence we may learn that Vapours are nothing else but Water rarified and that in Nature there is a continual Circulation whilst Water ascends and descends it ascends in the form of Vapours and makes the Clouds and it falls down again in Rains and Dew A Third sort of Water is called Aqua-Fortis extracted out of Mettalline Salts so that to speak properly it is not Water but Spirits that is the most subtile and most acute Particles that are in the Salts and by force are freed from them and which forsaking their terrestrial parts carry only the watery parts along with them with which they compose a sensible and fluid Body This Water dissolves Mettals and brings them into a corrosive Liquor So we may see what Saline Corpuscles are able to do when they are freed from their Earthy part nor shall we any more wonder at the effects which proceed from serosities and salt Phlegm in humane Bodies We may from hence also learn from whence the intolerable pains of the Gout Gripes and the Cholick do arise for these are corrosive Spirits freed from their Earthy part which become so sharp and penetrating that they pierce through the parts on which they fall pulling and tearing them asunder The following Species of Water is that which is called Aqua-Vitae which is nothing but the more subtile Corpuscles of Wine which are of a Fiery and Sulphurous Nature and do very easily burn and take Fire by the means of fermentation An Aqua-Vitae is extracted out of all kinds of Grain Pulse and Plants It is a wonderful thing truly that we see a Linnen Cloth dipped in Aqua-Vitae and set on fire and yet nevertheless it is not burnt nay not so much as scorched Which proceeds from this That in Aqua-Vitae there is a kind of Salt whose Corpuscles sticking to the Linnen defend it from the burning heat of the Flame which applies it self to the Sulphur only not being able to touch the Salt or the Subject to which it adheres Under the fifth Species of Water are comprehended Mineral Waters so called because they contain in them a great many Mineral Spirits as various as the places through which they pass and as various as the Mettals and Minerals which they meet with in their passage Amongst them some are hot and boyling because they run through places in which Sulphur and â—itumen are heated Of these there are a great many in France but the most Natural and sweetest of them are the Waters of Bourbon which conduce very much to the Breast and Stomach and to the whole Body by opening their Pores and vents taking away by transpiration Head-achs Rheumatisms and Palsâ—es and they might deservedly be called an Universal Medicine because besides the Vertues above described they possess wonderful ones also in the Stone of the Kidneys and curing Fits of the Mother unless that they too much irritate Ulcers and inward Apostems as also they discover them if they lie hid I have Chymically extracted out of these Waters a Salt as white as Snow and altogether like to Sal Polychrestum and I can affirm that Nitre also and Sulphur are contained in them For this Reason their sharp Particles enrage inward Ulcers and for the same Cause sharp-pointed Dock-Leaves being ca 〈…〉 into the Wells of Bourbon the Salt hinders them from withering After the same manner as the Salt of the Aqua-Vitae keeps the lighted Handkerchief without being hurt as we observed before There are also other hot Waters which instead of Nitre are impregnated with Vitriol whereupon they purge by Stool much more than the others but they are not altogether so safe Of these there are many kinds but all the Bourbon Waters are alike except the Waters of Jonas which are not to be reckon'd amongst the best Moreover the Waters of Bourbon-Lancius in Bâ—â—gundy are the hottest and have some parts of Nitre and Sulphur but the greatest part of Bittumen wherefore they serve for Bathing indeed but not at all for Drinking because they purge only by transpiration and plentiful Sweats There are also a great many cold Mineral Waters in France and amongst the rest those of Passy les Paris which besides that they as well as other spurge by Stool and Urine they have this peculiar quality that they cure Agues and cool in Burning Feavers they open inward and inveterate Apostems they open Obstructions of the Liver Spleen and Bowels by the help of the Spirits or Corpuscles of Iron which they carry along with them out of the Mines through which they pass Some of these are stronger some sweeter and lastly some decayed CHAP. XVI Of the Sea its Ebbing and Flowing as also of the Saltness of Sea-Water THe Sea goes about the Earth like a Circle or Girdle and the Earth is like an Island in the midst of it But if by the Author of Nature cavities had not been digged in it in which the Sea might be placed it would overflow the whole Earth The first thing in the
A NEW TREATISE OF Natural Philosophy Free'd from the INTRICACIES OF THE SCHOOLS Adorned with many Curious Experiments both Medicinal and Chymical AS ALSO With Several Observations useful for the Health of the Body LONDON Printed by R. E. for J. Hindmarsh at the Golden-Ball over against the Royal. Exchange in Cornhill 1687. LICENSED October 28. 1686. ROBERT MIDGLEY INDEX THe First Part of Physick wherein is treated of the Causes and Principles of Nature CHAP. I. Of the Efficient Cause and of its Essence and Differences CHAP. II. Of the First Cause CHAP. III. The Perfections of the First Cause CHAP. IV. Of Second Causes and their Actions CHAP. V. Of Accidental Causes CHAP. VI. Of Sympathy Antipathy and the Effects depending thereupon CHAP. VII Experiments about Iron and the Loadstone CHAP. VIII An Explication of many other Effects which are commonly attributed to Sympathy CHAP. IX Of Portative Remedies commonly called Amulets of Quick-Silver Gold Silver and Copper CHAP. X. Of Natural Phoenomenas which are attributed to Antipathy CHAP. XI Of Emeticks Sudorificks and Specificks CHAP. XII Of Poysons and Toxicks CHAP. XIII Of Sublimate Arsenick and other kinds of Poysons and their deadly Effects CHAP. XIV Of Antidotes CHAP. XV. Of the true Causes of our Diseases CHAP. XVI Of the Causes of our Health CHAP. XVII Of Formal Exemplary and Material Causes CHAP. XVIII Of the First Matter CHAP. XIX Of Atoms and their Nature CHAP. XX. The Properties Magnitude Figure Weight and Motion of Atoms CHAP. XXI The Difficulties arising from the Doctrine of Atoms CHAP. XXII Of a Disseminate Congregate and Separate Vacuum according to Gassendus CHAP. XXIII Of a Congregate Vacuum against Aristotle and Cartesius The Second Part of Physick wherein is treated of the Coelestial World and of those things which are above Man. CHAP. I. Of the immense Spaces which are without the Heavens CHAP. II. Of the Heavens and their Nature CHAP. III. Of Stars and their Substance CHAP. IV. Of the Figures and Magnitude of Stars CHAP. V. Of the Motion of the Stars CHAP. VI. The System of the World according to Ptolomy Examined CHAP. VII The System of the World according to Copernicus Examined CHAP. VIII Of the Motion of the Earth CHAP. IX Of the Sun the true Centre and Heart of the World. CHAP. X. Of the Moon and its Changes CHAP. XI Of Planets Comets and the Fixed Stars CHAP. XII Of Meteors in the Air. CHAP. XIII Of Winds Tempests and Whirl-winds CHAP. XIV Of Thunder Lightning and the Thunderbolt CHAP. XV. Of Aurum-Fulminans which imitates Thunder CHAP. XVI Of Hail Snow Frost c. CHAP. XVII Of the Rainbow Halones and Parrhelis CHAP. XVIII Of the Air its Substance and Qualities The Third Part of Physick of those things which are beneath Man viz. of the Earth and Terrestrial Things which are called Inanimate CHAP. I. Of the Earth and Water in General CHAP. II. Of Terrestrial Inanimate Bodies in General CHAP. III. Of the various Qualities observed in Compound Bodies CHAP. IV. Of Special Qualities which arise from the Composition of Bodies CHAP. V. Of the Quantity Weight and Figure of Compound Bodies CHAP. VI. The Difference betwixt Natural Artificial and Compound Bodies CHAP. VII Of Mettals and their Formation CHAP. VIII Of Gold the King of Mettals CHAP. IX Of Silver Copper and other imperfect Mettals CHAP. X. Of Lead Tin and Iron CHAP. XI Of Quick-Silver Arbor Diana or the Silver Tree CHAP. XII Of Minerals CHAP. XIII Of Salts CHAP. XIV Of Subterranean Fires aend Earthquakes CHAP. XV. Of Waters and their Differences CHAP. XVI Of the Sea its Ebbing and Flowing and of the Saltness of the Sea-Water CHAP. XVII Of Springs and Rivers The Fourth Part of Physick Of those things which are in Man and of Man himself as he is a Compound Physical and Animate Body CHAP. I. Of Life in General CHAP. II. Of the difference of Lives CHAP. III. Of the Vegetative Life common to Man and Plants CHAP. IV. Of the Nature of Seeds and their Propagation CHAP. V. Of Nutrition which is common to Plants and Brutes as well as Man. CHAP. VI. How and with what Food an Embryo is nourished in the Womb 'till the time of its Nativity CHAP. VII How a Man is nourished after he is Born. CHAP. VIII The Sensitive Life of Man and other Animals CHAP. IX Of Seeing its Organ and Object viz. Light. CHAP. X. How illustrated Objects are visible CHAP. XI Of Hearing its Organ and Object CHAP. XII Particular Questions about Hearing CHAP. XIII Smelling its Organ and Object CHAP. XIV Of Tast and its Object CHAP. XV. Of Feeling CHAP. XVI Of Speech the Pulse and Breathing of Man. CHAP. XVII Of the Motion of the Heart CHAP. XVIII Of the irregular motion of the Heart in Animals and in Feavers CHAP. XIX Of the Circulation of the Blood. CHAP. XX. Of the inward Senses and the inferiour Appetite CHAP. XXI Of Sleep want of Rest and Death CHAP. XXII Of the Death of Brutes Plants and Mettals CHAP. XXIII Of the Rational Soul and its Powers NATURAL PHILOSOPHY OR Natural Science FREED FROM The Intricacies of the Schools THE desire of Knowledge is natural to Man Curiosity is inseparable from his Spirit neither is he ever at rest until he hath attained to the perfect knowledge of things that is until he becomes a Wise Man. Science is the Knowledge of things by their Causes therefore there is no Man Wise who is ignorant of the Original Principles and Causes of all things occurring to him and since it is impossible for any Man in this Life to attain to a clear distinct and an undubitable knowledge of all things therefore there is no Man that is absolutely Wise Those who have the Reputation of being Wise and Excellent Philosophers have obtained that preheminence in regard they are less ignorant than others Sciences differ according to the diversity of Mens Conditions and Professions The Noble Man is conversant and wise in the Art of War the Physitian in the Precepts of Medicine and the Advocate in matters of Law and Right but all these Sciences nay Theology it self cannot subsist without Philosophy especially without that part of it which we call Physick or natural Science The First Part of Physick wherein is Treated of the Causes and Principles of Nature BY Nature is understood the Universe composed of Heaven and Earth and all that is found between both this is the Object of Physick this every natural Philosopher ought to know and because this Knowledge cannot be obtained without knowing the principles and causes of things hence it is evident that a Natural Philosopher ought to use his utmost endeavour to enquire into the principles and causes of Nature and of all things which happen in this World. I shall not examine here whether there be any difference betwixt a Cause and a Principle for every principle after its manner I conceive to be a cause of that thing whereof it is the principle and no Man
it may be concluded that there are as many parts in the Millet Seed as there are in the whole Terrestrial Globe Also according to this Opinion we must grant that a Body cannot be divided into as many parts as really it may and that neither the hither or further end of a staff can be found nor that there is a Circle or perfect Piramid nor that the parts of a Body can be immediately divided All which consequences as they are absolutely necessary so they are all equally absurd Descartes did endeavour to free himself from this difficulty by saying that the number of the parts of the Millet-Seed was neither finite nor infinite but only that they were indefinite But the evasion is ridiculous and these two Philosophers are forced to confess that every part of the Millet-seed hath its extension and if their Number be either infinite or indefinite then their extensions also will be either infinite or indefinite at the least which is absurd to affirm I add no more to avoid Scholastic Intricacies and distinctions CHAP. XX. The Properties Magnitude Figure Weight and Motion of Atoms AN Atom is a corporeal Being simple invisible and indivisible Solidity constitutes its Essence or essential property which distinguishes it from Spirits and Vacuity which have no power of resisting Atoms do necessarily avoid all our Senses because these are composed of many distinct and gross parts whose Object ought to be composed e're it can be perceived by the external Organ which nevertheless doth not destroy the truth and reality of Atoms because small Corpuscles do escape our Senses as we observe in Dust which sticks to our Cloaths and also in the Corpuscles of a Ring which is wasted and diminished by time and use in the Corpuscles of a Stone which is made hollow by the drops of Water which fall upon it in divers occult parts in a Mite which cannot be seen without the help of a Microscope and lastly in small Corpuscles which are seen to move in a Chamber by the help of the Sun-beams that we may omit many others which are smaller which without doubt we could see if our sight was sharper as I shall mention in my Animadversions about Experiments of Miscroscopes Though Atoms are most subtle and inperceptible yet they have their particular extension magnitude and figure from whence their differences do arise for the figure of some of them is round as the Atoms of Water Oyl and Quick-Silver others have cubicular figures such are the Atoms of sea-Sea-Water and others are Pyramidal as those whereof Nitre doth consist there are some which have sharp points like needles ' as Fire whence we are to suppose that there are others variously figured This difference is necessary to distinguish Compounds And as these Atoms as to their solidity or invisibility and indivisibility which are their inseparable Properties are alike so also if they did not differ in their figure and thickness all bodies would be of the same likeness Weight is the Principle of the said Natural Motion insomuch as it doth resist a violent motion That I mention here that we may know whether motion of Atoms hath an internal or an external Principle or whether Weight be determined only to one Motion or that it be indifferently inclined to many And whether the motion of Atoms do tend to some Center And whether it be continuant or interrupted And lastly whether it be perpendicular or horizontal Parallel or declined right or parabolical or circular In order to resolve well this difficulty I suppose that Atoms may be considered in a double State The First State of them is before the Composition of the bodies which are made of them which may be called the State of Liberty The other is that which they have in the bodies which do consist of them which may be termed the State of obligation or servitude If Attoms be considered in their First State their motion is perpetual So that an Atom that is loose and freed from any composition is essentially in motion which ought not in the least to be wondred at for Motion in respect of a free Atom is the same that Understanding is in respect of an Angelâ— which is never without knowing unless his Intellect is bound and clouded From this Principle it is evident That Atoms are in continual motion unless they are hindred or that there is some obstruction in the way or that there are other Atoms resisting and repelling of them or that they find such as will stick unto them or that they insinuate themselves into the Atoms of certain bodies or or that they enter into some composition whereby their motion is stopped Nevertheless Atoms in Compounds are not altogether void of motion because they are not so straitly imbodied together but that they have some motion like Vibrations and Palpitations according to the liberty which is granted them by the disseminated Vacuities nay some of them sometimes do attempt their escape especially in porous bodies which therefore are sooner corrupted and perish than other Bodies which are more solid and more close It is yet more evident in living bodies out of which the animal Spirits which are but the bodies of Atoms and most subtile Corpuscles are dissipated by transpiration whence aliments are necessarily requisite for to supply the Spirits of the whole body which are dissipated by motion and agitation This motion of Atoms or the least Corpuscles in living bodies may be deservedly accounted the Image of their first liberty and tho' they do but seldom enjoy their full liberty yet they are apt to raise the greatest commotions in order to be freed and to gain their liberty this is the origine of many distempers as in Acute Fevers the Atoms or Corpuscles of the boiling blood or obstructed choller are carried and driven into the Brain where they produce watchfulness Deliriums and Phrensies According to this Principle that which we said before may be concluded That many Distempers do arise from minute Corpuscles and emancipated Atoms For These being driven forwards by other Atoms and forced back do run into the membranes Periostiam Meninges or intestines and cause Pains which they call the Collick Headach Gouts and Rheumatisms So that this solution of Corpuscles and emancipation of Atoms in our Bodies are much to be feared and to prevent this danger all motions of the body which are too violent must be avoided for these are the external cause of the confusion of the Spirits and the emancipation of the Atoms The emancipation of Atoms and also of the small Corpuscles which are composed of those Atoms are to be feared no less in the great than little World for the Winds are nothing else but emancipated Atoms which by their impetuosity being driven backwards and forwards do force all bodies which they meet with in their way It is these Atoms which agitate the Air and the Sea and cause Earth-quakes and also over-turn all things which resist their motion
as the Air in the Vial is condensed and gives way From this Experiment I conclude two things in defence of a Vacuum Whereof the first is That the air is before rarified in the Vial and that the parts of it are more dilated But this rarefaction of the air cannot be done but by the help of the great and more copious Vacuums The other is That the Water could not ascend in the Vial unless the air did give way and was condensed But air cannot be condensed unless the parts of it close nearer together and that they could not do without a Vacuum therefore we must conclude that air is condensed by the help of Vacuums which are partly taken away and lessened as well in Quality as in Number as it happens in a Bushel full of Corn or Salt when it is moved by which motion it is not a little condensed and the Atoms of Fire beget a dilating Motion to the air in the Glass but Cold produces a condensing Motion and as it is condensed and becomes more gross the aiery Atoms do also draw the Water as it were with small hooks or the external air lying upon the Water makes it ascend by Reason of the Vacuum which gives place or at least does not resist the weight of the Air. But perhaps they will say that there is no Vacuum in the air but that many Particles of subtile matter do go out from the Vial and give place to the ascending Water But this answer gives no manner of satisfaction because there is no body to force this subtile Matter neither is there any way through which it may pass as also there is no Cause assigned why the Water is forced upwards As to this we must have recourse to the small empty spaces which are found in all Bodies which Bodies are more or less fluid or solid as they have more or less of Matter or Renitency as there is the greater or lesser number of those Vacuums whereof we speak dispersed through them CHAP. XXIII Of a Congregate Vacuum against Aristotle and Cartesius GASSENDUS is not only against these two Philosophers concerning a Dispersed Vacuum but also about a Congregate one which is very remarkable and is to be found about divers Compound Bodies Aristotle who fights for Quality or Accidents distinct from Substance rejects a Vacuum as a thing which Nature can no ways endure But Cartesius speaks yet more hardly of it for he affirms that the Production of it in the World does not only exceed the power of Second Causes but even of the First Cause it self Aristotle endeavours to prove his Doctrine after this manner to wit That in his Opinion a Vacuum would interrupt and hinder the Motion and Action of Natural Causes For if indeed Light and Heat be Accidents the Sun could not produce either of them in a Vacuum or through it though there was never so little of it in the Air equal to the least imaginable point for according to this Opinion they are Accidents and have need of a Subject which a Vacuum does not afford them Descartes Builds upon another Foundation for he acknowledges no difference between Extention and Matter extended and therefore he affirms that there is no distance between two Walls betwixt which there is no air nor Matter but that they would fall close together Which how ridiculous it is we shall see by what follows I affirm therefore That Nature doth not abhor a Vacuum nor that it is impossible that there should be a Vacuum in Nature for indeed there is no ground for this imaginary fear and the Experiment which I bring will most solidly demonstrate the Existence of a Vacuum This Experiment was made at Clermont by the late Mr. Paschall a Man well esteemed by all that knew him he took a Glass Tube four Foot long divided into Inches and Lines open at one end only through which being filled with Quick-Silver and then put into an Earthen Vessel full of Water and Quick-Silver immediately the Quick-Silver that was in the Tube did descend and stuck at the height of Twenty five Inches and Five Lines and a half and remained visibly in that State for the space of Five Hours This Experiment was afterwards made in several places two or three times I and several persons of Quality and Learning being present and indeed every time it did more or less sink down according to the highness or lowness of the place where the Experiment was made without any visible alteration in one and the same place I conclude that the space which remains above the Quick-silver is a Vacuum and that nothing but Light is contained within it we must therefore say either that Light is not an accident but a body which fills the space or else that this space is a Vacuum and that Light is in it without its subject It may be said that the Glass being porous the Air or some other Body more subtile might enter into the Tube and replenish the space left by the descending Quick-silver but that cannot be because the Quick-silver descends on a sudden and the Air could not so suddenly enter in without breaking of the Glass But if it did enter why does not the Quick-silver descend to the very bottom but remain suspended at a Certain height From this Experiment it appears That a Vacuum according to the conception which Aristotle hath left us of it is not impossible to be in Nature Secondly that the external Air by its weight presses upon the Water and Quick-silver in the Earthen Vessel for otherwise all the Quick-silver contained in the Tube would fall down to the very bottom Thirdly that the same Air hath a greater pressure in Vallies than in Mountains especially upon those that are very high because here it is more subtile and rare and more dilated by disseminated Vacuums whereby its weight is lessened together with its strength and resistency The Opinion of Cartesius is yet more ridiculous who affirms That a Vacuum is impossible even in respect of the Divine Power which Opinion is no less impious than it is rash for no Man can deny but that God is able to reduce into nothing the Air that is contained in the Vial and also to hinder any other body from coming into its place Descartes says that this Hypothesis is impossible and that if this Air was annihilated the sides of the Viol would immediately touch one another because says he things betwixt which nothing interposes do touch one another That is true that when nothing was there nothing could be there or when things come together to be joined But we suppose here that the parts of the Vial remain in their first State as indeed they do if they are not any ways moved which they do not God Almighty hindring and whosoever denys that God Almighty is able to hinder this Motion and this Contiguity in so supposing is ridiculous and rash prescribing Limits to God Almighty's Power There is
this motion of the Earth by more Natural Reasons I say therefore and suppose that the Sun is immoveable in the Centre of the World and yet notwithstanding that like a Wheel it turns round about its proper Centre and this is that motion which is called Circum-Rotation and by this motion it disperses on all sides on every part these Corpuscles which produce Light and Heat These Corpuscles compose that great Vortex which is about the Sun and which with it is carried round and moves the Earth which is plac'd in the same Vortex with it like as a Stone is moved by the motion of a rapid Stream and this same Vortex carries other Planets along with it accordingly as they are more or less immerged in it According to this explication one may fancy the Sun to be like the wheel of a Clock which moves that which is next to it another way for when one Wheel is moved towards the right the other which it carries with it must of necessity be moved towards the left So whilst the Sun by its Circum-Rotation is moved from East to West the Earth must likewise be moved from West to East The other motion of the Earth is that which is called Annual or half-yearly and which arises from the Libration of the Solar Body and of the Vortex which drives the Earth from the part of the Pole and makes it daily go a degree farther and so the Annual as the Diurnal motion each day declines one degree onely from a Parallel from whence arise the vicissitudes of days and Seasons But if the Earth returns by the same steps as I may so say it happens because the Sun by its daily Libration drives it on from one part and then after six Months assuming an opposite Libration it draws it back for Three Months and for the other three Months which makes up Six it drives it forwards so that the Rotation and the Libration of the Sun makes a double or a triple motion of the Earth without the former's changing either its place or its Centre All that we have hitherto said according to the mind of these Authors doth not as yet satisfie a Spirit curious to know the truth So here are other difficulties remaining which must be taken away by more sensible and more Natural Reasons First Though we affirm the Sun to be immoveable and the Earth to be wheeled round about it or though we affirm the contrary there remains nevertheless that we give an account not only of each of these motions but also of the motions of the other Planets It is demanded what is the internal or external Cause of the Earths motion If it be answered that the Sun by its Libration is the Cause of it as we have said and as our Opinion is it remains that we demonstrate the Cause whether internal or external that gives the Sun this motion By means of which being librated from one side for Six Months it is also librated for as many from the other side and by this so regular motion it sometimes draws the Earth towards it and sometimes drives it from it as we shall see in the following Chapter what can be said about this Matter CHAP. IX Of the Sun the true Centre and Heart of the World. THe Sun being placed in the Centre of the World is like the Heart inspiring Life into all things and presiding over all the Works of Nature whatsoever even as the Heart in an humane Body is the Principle of its Life and all its motions this is that admirable Machine which without being moved out of its place moves the Spirits Humours and all the parts of our Bodies in like manner the immoveable Sun by his double motion shakes and moves the Earth as well as the rest of the Planets One only difficulty remains in explaining the motion of the Heart in the Microcosme and of the Sun in the Macrocosme But being about to treat else-where of the Earths motion we will here only speak of the Suns motion which I call a wheeling of it round about the Earth and afterwards we will speak of its Libration Elsewhere we have said the Sun to be not only of the same Nature with Gold but to be Gold indeed melted in the Centre of the World and Cupellated by the Fire of the fix'd Stars which are every where about it No wonder therefore that it is wheeled round like melted Gold in a Crusible and there sparkling and purified That this Hypothesis which will bring no little light to many things may be better comprehended I will bring an Experiment to confirm this Doctrine which seems new indeed but nevertheless it cannot be denied to be built upon the foundation of indubitable Experience I say therefore that if you take Gold and put it into a great Crusible with Lead Copper or other Mettals and make a Fire every where round it these Mettals will be melted together and compose a sparkling smoaking Bath this Bath or melted Matter is in perpetual motion and so soon as the matter is made hot it wheels round its Centre without intermission It would be much more conspicuous if this melted Matter in the Centre of the World were equally distant from all the points of its circumference for this being supposed no man will deny this melted Matter fixed in the Centre of the World and Fire being put to it every where and on all sides to remain in fashion as in a Crusible and to have the same motion of Circum-rotation and Libration which we attribute to the Sun. All the Obstacle we meet with at first sight consists in this to wit how this solar melted Matter can remain suspended not falling down on any part Secondly By means of what Fire it remains always melted Thirdly How it comes to pass that since Gold so soon as it is cupellated or refined remains in the Crusible in a fix'd Mass yet the Sun which is like to this Gold is neither fixed nor stands it still immediately but being wheeled perpetually round its Centre it continues in motion and is Librated in the Cupel without any intermission To the first of these difficulties I answer that we ought not to stand upon it because they who place the Earth in the Centre of the World do teach us that if a great hole were made through the Earth even as far as our Antipodes and if a Mill-Stone were thrown into it it would stop in the middle which is affirmed to be the Centre of the World and there remain suspended for to move forwards either way would be to ascend The same thing may be said likewife of Water or other Liquids which would remain suspended If therefore the Sun be in the Centre of the World why should it seem a wonder that it should remain there so suspended since that may serve him instead of a Cupel As to the other difficulty which belongs to the Fire I answer that there is no want of that because
and the three others much greater although according to their Opinion the Diameter of the Earth is three thousand five hundred Miles but its circumference seven thousand Miles including the water which together with the Earth make up one Globe Comets according to Aristotle are Planets or Stars produced De Novo from Exhalations By which saying this Philosopher is compelled to place all Comets under the Moon which is found to be an Error by the experience of a great many Comets which have appeared above the Moon and the Sun too whither Exhalations from the Earth can never reach All the time of their continuance they have a regular motion for the explication of which Aristotle could never assign them an Intelligence to guide them Seneca the Antients and Copernicus teach that Comets have been produced from the beginning of the World and the reason why we do not see them so often as we do the Planets is because they are elevated too high above us and since they have an excentrick motion according to this Opinion they sometimes and for some continnuance of time appear that is to say then when they descend into the Heaven of the Planets But all these Opinions are very uncertain This is my Opinion that if the Sun is Gold melted in the Cupel as I really believe and that from thence Fumes and Vapours arise it is no hard matter to conceive that in the Solar Vortex and in the Corpuscles exhaling from the Sun a great part of them are very gross thick and inflammable which taking Fire make these Comets we speak of whose motion is regularly directed by the Vortex of the Sun yet nevertheless this does not hinder but that some Comets may be generated nearer us from Terrestrial Exhalation The fixed Stars are fastned to the Firmament as so many little Suns they are as immoveable as the Heaven in which they are included nevertheless like the Sun they move about their Centres although this motion be neither useful profitable nor necessary And so nothing compels us to say that they are actually moved They are all said to be bigger than the Earth and to be in number 1022 the Heaven in which they are is said to be solid clear and transparent like Ice and this is that Heaven which was made in the midst of the Waters and which any one may represent to himself like a great Circle of Water congealed in the form of Chrystal But according to my foregoing Hypotehsis I had rather say that the fix'd Stars are like so many round holes or Rings furnished with so many large Diamonds or Carbuncles which serve as a Medium or Vehicle to the light and heat of the Empyrial Heaven as we have said already CHAP. XII Of Meteors in the Air. ARISTOTLE hath constituted two sorts of Bodies to wit Simple and Mixt he placeth Meteors under these latter but he calls them imperfect mixt Bodies because he did believe them not to have a substantial form as perfect Bodies have nor to be produced by the ordinary way of Generation This Doctrine is contrary to our Principles for we say that those Meteors which we see in the Air are in their kind and condition perfect Bodies not differing from others neither in respect of Matter which is one and the same to them all nor in respect of substantial form produced in the formation of them for we acknowledge no such forms but as unprofitable and Chimerical All the difference which we take notice of betwixt them ought to be taken upon the account of their formation and different conditions under which one and the same Matter that is to say Atoms do meet together by a disposition of their parts by an addition of strange Bodies by an introduction of Vacuities and by a conversion of their Figures After this manner are formed Clouds which are the Meteors of the middle Region of the Air and which have Water Air and Earth for their Matter for from the Vapours of Water and the subtile particles of Earth together with the Air with which they are carried up Clouds are formed which are sometimes so thick that they rob us of the Suns Light which happens when more of Earth than of Air or Water goes into their composition On the other hand sometimes they are so subtile that they can hardly or not at all be seen by us which happens when air obtains the chief place in their composition for in a word Clouds are nothing else but a congregation and mixture of Corpuscles or little Bodies of Earth Water and Air which are the proximate Matter of them the Vortex of the Sun the Motion of the Earth and the Winds are the three concurring Causes of their mixtion and elevation into the upper Region of the Air. Other sorts of Meteors are Rains descending from the middle Region of the Air and generated from the solution of Clouds that is to say when Water which hath the greatest share in their formation freeing it self from the particles of Earth and parts of Air thence forward distill as it were by an Alembick which happens because its particles being incrassated by the coldness of the Air the water is separated from the Air and falls down again to the place from whence it came in the form of little drops From this Rain proceeds the Earths Fruitfulness for it never descends but it brings some portion of the little seminal Bodies flowing along with it In Rains therefore is contained Salt and the Balsom of the Stars which Basilius Valentinus speaks of and from hence all Vegetables bud and increase The Curious enquirers into Nature may try whether I speak truth or no and whether they may not find a Salt as white as Sugar if they take away by Distillation the unprofitable parts with which it is involved Dew is almost of the same nature with Rain only it is more pure more subtile and more fruitful by reason of the Seasons of the Year which chiefly enjoy it viz. at the time of the Aequinoxes when the Sun and the Earth are nearest to each other which happens when the Earth passes the Aequator wherefore at that time it receives and carries along with it a greater number of solar Corpuscles depurated by his motion than Rain or Dew it self that falls at other times Dew falls down in round drops because its Corpuscles are round and its Atoms are of the same Figure with the Sun whether whole or in parts Dew penetrates the Earth and moistens those places where there are seldom Rains But the Sun's shining Beams presently carry it away along with them into the Vortex in the mean time part of this Salt or Balsom of the Stars contained in the Dew remains upon the Herbs and Flowers where we observe a kind of Viscousness like Sugar or Honey thus Bees gathering this Dew lade themselves with it and make Honey of it This Dew in the Hot Countries of Palestine Aegypt Arabia and Calabria is condensed into
rendredmore fix'd For this Reason the Powder of projection so called being cast into melted Mettal that is not fixed penetrates it and sixeth it by its own fixity But this Experience is not yet found but is still to be found out so that no Experience can be taken from a thing that is not equally as certain and as common as Aurum-Fulminans and Gun-powder which if there be such a Powder and it be such as they report it it is a Miracle both of Art and Nature CHAP. XVI Of Hail Snow Frost c. HAIL descending from the Clouds and falling down with violence is composed of Drops of Water hardned by Cold and it falls down with violence because it is expelled the Clouds by a strong expression almost after the same manner as your smallest Shot are discharged out of a Musquet Snow is Water congealed in the form of Froth the slakes of it in its falling are puft up and filled with Air which makes it very porous and light it contains also many terrestrial particles as appears in dissolving it it is white but may be made black by a sole inversion of its Atoms There are also in it many fiery particles which warm the hands of those that long handle it There is another kind of Hail also which falls in the Spring time it is like your smallest Shot or your Seeds of Coriander This only differs from Snow in the purity of its parts or in as much as it hath more Vacuities in it than there are in Snow and on the contrary Snow has more of Air and Fire in it than this kind of Hail but both of them are by the help of Heat disolving their parts reduced into Water Hoary Frost is Air incrassated by Cold and congealed upon the boughs of Trees upon the Hair of Travellers and upon the Herbs of the Field and it is called white Ice In this Chrystalline whiteness a bloody redness is included which may be extracted out of this Hoary Frost and which if it be well prepared conduceth very much to Health CHAP. XVII Of the Rain-Bow Halo and Pareliae THe Rain-Bow is the most beautiful of all Meteors and the Miracle of Nature it is seen when the Sun either rising or setting darts his Rays upon a Cloud full of little globular suspended drops of Water which by diversly breaking and reflecting the light produce that diversity of Colours which we observe in it which ceases either by a different position of the Cloud or by the absence of the Sun. This Meteor appears like a Beautiful Arch adorned with all manner of Colours which happens for as much as the Sun looks only upon its superficies and then when it is rising or setting and the Clouds are either in the North or in the South Some will have these Colours of the Rainbow to be only appearances and by no means real but this is an Error for there is nothing hinders but that these may be equally as real as all other though they are not so lasting An Halo is the appearance of a Circle about the Moon which ariseth from a gross and thick Cloud upon which the Lunar rays fall directly so that its middle is made pervious to them and broke through by them though the circumference be not which is therefore the appearing Circle and which is not as it is vulgarly imagined nigh to the Moon but it is in the expansion of the Air and far remote from the Moon Parheliae are counterfeit Suns formed in the Clouds either by the reflection or refraction of his Beams just as we see them in Water where sometimes many Suns are seen though there was never more than one We may say likewise that the Clouds in respect of us are like those prospective Looking-glasses which represent many Images of one thing placed upon a Table which one thing is only real and all the rest imaginary Yet this does not hinder but that these Parheliae may be true Lights and Suns Painted without Artifice CHAP. XVIII Of Air its Substance and Quality AIR is that Element out of which the Meteors are formed which we speak of Its substance is most subtile and most fluid by reason of the Vacuities dispersed through it It is nevertheless thicker and heavier in the lowest Region by reason of the mixture of Corpuscles coming out of the Earth and Water Some think it only a mixture of the little Bodies or particles of Earth and Water whereupon the quality of the Air we breathe in depends upon the Climate which we inhabit So that Air is not every where alike wholsome but very unwholesome in Moorish and Fenny Grounds from whence ordinarily gross and malignant Vapours thick and putrid Clouds arise which we take in when we draw our breaths The very same Air we breathe in and which when we take our breath preserves our Lives by its wholsome gales is able to bring Death to us when it comes laden with sharp particles which in their passage vellicate the Lungs and cause most vehement coughings Oftentimes also emancipated pointed and penetrating Atoms flow in the Air which entring in at the Pores of the Body disturb its whole Oeconomy or frame Others ascending by the Nostrils to the Brain stick to its membranes and produce Pains and Convulsions and are the Causes of violent Head-achs Vertigoes and Apoplexies And there are some also which penetrating the Organs of hearing cause hummings and noises there which continue for some time because their particles are of a figure fit for adhesion The Air most malignant and most to be feared is that which is pestilent by reason of the Atoms which come out from putrid and corrupt Bodies as we have said elsewhere The fluidness of the Air does not arise from its not being compounded of solid and material Atoms but from its being rare or loose and it is rare because its parts are far distant from one another This distance necessarily is space this space is again either full or empty if empty we have rightly concluded that there are desseminate Vacuities if full it must be material Let there be therefore material Atoms all which mutually touch one another and all things will be solid and there will be nothing fluid in all Nature unless we acknowledge dispersed Vacuities from whence the rareness and fluidness of Bodies arises as shall be more fully discoursed of The End of the Second Part of Physick The Third Part of Physick Of those Things which are under a Man viz. of Earth and things Terrestrial which are called Inanimate HAving discoursed of those Things which are and happen above us it is time now that we speak of those Things also which are under or beneath us as also of all Things worth taking notice of in the Earth and Water which constitute one Globe which we call Terrestrial But in this Part we will consider Terrestrial Things only as they are inanimate according to the common Opinion CHAP. I. Of Earth and Water
and it is certain that the Twenty four Letters serve to the composition of all Syllables Words Sayings Discourses nay of all the Books which are Composed in the World. And even as words Sayings Syllables Discourses and Books themselves are changed the Letters being still the same unvaried so also the greater and lesser compound Bodies are changed and corrupted the Atoms being unchanged and remaining the same nothing new happens to them unless it be that they are no more the parts of one compound but may be of a second third and others successively to the end of the World. When all Generations Corruptions and Motions in things of Nature shall cease Letters are the true Image of Atoms in respect of the compositon or division of Things And as the substance essence and quality of Words depend upon Syllables and Syllables upon Letters and their disposition So after the same manner the substance essence and quality of Bodies arises from Corpuscles or smaller Bodies and the diversity of These from Atoms and their various dispositions From these principles may be taken away a question no less agitated than unprofitable in the Schools viz. whether in the corruption of Bodies a reduction or resolution of the compound may be made even unto the very first Matter To this it may be answered that this reduction is continually made in respect of some emancipated Atoms but not in respect of all Atoms for the division is not always so general as that all the Atoms should be entirely separated and the small number of those which flye away is scarce able to be taken notice of besides that they almost all mutually adhere together or it is seldom but they meet with others to which they remain affixed or with Bodies into which they enter or on which they are stayed CHAP. IV. Of the special Qualities depending upon the Composition of Bodies OUR Doctrine rests upon two general Principles that is to say the Doctrine of Atoms and of a Vacuum Atoms are the first Elements of Bodies because forsooth in their universal and radical division and solution they are reduced into them and the division can proceed no farther And a Vacuum is necessary to the explaining the motion of Bodies and to the giving a reason of the diverse and particular qualities of every one compound Body For there are Bodies thin and thick transparent and diaphanous as Air and Glass thick and dark as the Earth and lastly dry and moist hard and soft solid and fluid We will begin with thickness and thinness the Parents of so great difficulties to the Followers of Cartesius and Aristotle and I determine one Body to be more thin than another when it is endowed either with greater Vacuities or with a greater number of them so Air is thinner than Water and on the other hand Water is thicker than Air because Air has more and greater Vacuities than Water and this is thicker than Air because this has fewer and lesser They that reject a Vacuum and set up a Plenitude find themselves very much intricated when they are compelled to say wherein the thinness and thickness of Bodies consist for if they say that either of them is a quality or accidental form brought out of Matter in power or out of the power of Matter they conceive not what they say nor can they assign the Nature of these imaginary forms But if with Cartesius they say that there is much more of the Materia Subtilis or subtile Matter in thin Bodies than there is in thick and condensed Bodies I would ask them why this Matter is more subtile and delicate than all other Matter for as much as all Matter is equally gross and solid But then they will say that this Matter is highly rarified Yet nevertheless the same difficulty remains still viz how it comes to be more rarified They will say that it arises from this that its parts are not so much compressed therefore they will be at a greater distance from one another For that Cause there are Vacuities and Intervals For unless they be granted the parts are alike compressed in That as well as in condensed Matter If they are alike compressed than they are not more remote from one another and lastly if they be not more remote from one another they are no more rarified and so this subtile Matter will be no less gross than any other We therefore explain the thickness and thinness of Bodies in a more easie Method than these Philosophers and the reason which we give of them is more clear and more Natural than theirs It is the same thing concerning clear bright and dark Bodies and we say a Body is more or less pellucid or transparent as it possesses a greater or lesser number of Vacuities or as they are placed in a right or oblique Line so Air for Example is pellucid at a certain distance by reason of the great number of its great Vacuities and Glass is transparent by reason of the Vacuities dispersed through it which are placed in a right Line and are very long as they are observed to be by the help of a new Microscope The moisture and dryness of Bodies arises from a Mixtion of Atoms or Particles either of Air or Water predominating For if the Aqueous Particles predominate the Composition is moist if on the contrary the Earth is more eminent it will be dry and it may be justly said that moisture is nothing else but moist Bodies which are Air and Water as they insinuate themselves into Compounds which are therefore moist by reason of their presence and dry when they are evaporated After the same manner as it happens to Wood which hath a long time lain in the Water and becomes dry by the evaporation of that Water which it was full of A Linnen cloth dipped in Water and taken out from thence is more heavy because its pores are filled with Water and it remains moist and equally heavy until the Corpuscles of Water are exhaled and evaporated which suffices to make it afterwards dry and light without the addition of two Physical Accidents distinct from Matter Water therefore to speak properly is not moist but the moisture it self that moistens all things From the same Fountain the hardness and softness of Bodies arises for a Body is soft when it yields to the hand that touches and the less it resists the softer it is but if it hath no sensible resistance it is fluid like Air but if it hath a little more than that then it is Liquid as Water in which if with your hand you thrust a Stick it enters and goes even to the bottom It is otherwise in a soft Body as Wax and Flesh into which indeed one may thrust ones Finger but it finds some kind of resistance and there are always found some compressed Particles that strongly resist All which arises from the disposition of the little Bodies Atoms and dispersed Vacuities for an Atom being in its own
Sea that offers it self of Note is the Saltness of its Waters Originally produced from saline massy Bodies produced at the beginning in the Earth and melted by the help of the Waters which from thence as now they are were impregnated with Saltness The heat of the Sun does not a little contribute to thâ—â— saltness consuming its humidity and Phlegm as do also the Salt which Rivers and Floods wash out of the Earth in their passage thither From whence it appears that it may be truly said that all the Salt which is contained in the Earth is carried into the Sea and drawn out of the Earth by the help of Rivers and Waters derived from them and running through the Earth whilst they are filtred to constitute Fountains of fresh Water Now if we could filter Sea-Water after this manner there would never be any scarcity of fresh-water in Ships and long Voyages Another thing that I observe in the Sea is the Ebbing and Flowing of its Waters in some places so very remarkable and regular in their turns every six hours There are some who have thought that Rivers entring into the Sea on one part are the Cause of its flowing but falling into it from another part are the Causes of its Ebbing Others have attributed this effect to winds but the greatest part to the motion of the Moon and to the condensation and rarefaction of the Lunar Air. This is the Opinion of Antonius à Reita extant in his Book entituled Oculus Enoch Eliae where he supposes that rarified Air presses the Sea and lifts it up on both sides like Mountains from whence there ariseth its Flowing Which Air being afterwards condensed the Sea begins to subside and the Waters to return to their first State that is they Ebb. He endeavours to build this Opinion by this Argument to wit that this motion is most observable at the Full of the Moon at which time the Air is very much rarified and at the new of the Moon when it is very much condensed For my part I would rather say that the Ebbing and flowing of the Sea ariseth from the Earths motion from one Tropick to the other For it cannot possibly in its diurnal motion move a degree forwards daily as it doth without driving the Waters from one part and attracting them from the other According to this Opinion a reason may be given why its ebbing and flowing is only from South to North and from North to South and that they are lesser between the Tropicks Besides there is nothing contained in this Opinion which is not very probable But if there are some irregularities observed in ebbing and flowing they arise from Islands Rocks Straights or Promo 〈…〉 tories which very much hasten retard or lessen this motion and partly upon this account that is to say by reason of the Straights of Gibralter there is no notable ebbing and flowing in the Mediterranean Sea besides it is seated between the two Tropicks and is neither too much Northerly nor too much Southerly CHAP. XVII Of Springs and Rivers THere are two kinds of Springs viz. those that sometimes run and those that run always the first proceed from Rains but these arise from the Sea But to speak properly the Sea is the source of all Springs and Fountains for Rains arise from Vapours raised out of the Sea by the help of the Sun and then falling down by drops out of which arise the first sort of Springs which are not perpetual But perpetual Springs are derived from it more immediately by the help of some subterraneous Watery Store-Houses which are filled by aqueducts proceeding from the Sea. It is commonly asked why Sea-water is salt and yet Spring-water which comes from it is sweet To which difficulty it is answered the aqueducts rising out of the Sea run through subterraneous Sands by which the Water in its passage 〈◊〉 filtred and deposits its Salt or else the Salt is precipitated and falls to the bottom of these subterraneous Watery store-Houses as we see in Salt-Pits or after the mixing of Oyl of Tartar and Spirits of Vitriol or that the Atoms pass through imperceptible aqueducts through which the saline Atoms cannot pass by reason of their square Figures So water is made fresh by the help of straining Or lastly by the means of distillation So water being raised up in Vapours and then condensed distils into other receptacles which recieve it and send it to others till it comes to the place where the Spring breaks out It seems a Wonder that Springs arising out of the Sea should be able to ascend to the tops of Mountains To which difficulty it may be answered that the Water of the Sea is equally as high as the highest Mountain because the Earth and Water make but one Globe and the Mountains of the Earth do appear to us to be high and lofty only in regard of the Plains and Vallies in which we are placed and from whence we look upon them But the Sea is higher than the Plains and Vallies if you conceive it all Universally because it makes a perfect Circle And if a Line should be drawn encompassing the whole terraqueous Globe it would be found a perfect circle without any irregularity From this supposed principle it is evident that Sea-water does not ascend that it may find an exit out of the tops of Mountains but that going out of them it descends and produces Rivers in the middle of Plains and bottom of Vallies And this They ought to mind who have said that Water ascends out of the Sea to our Mountains three ways by which it is wont to be raised to wit by the means of Pumps Pipes or woollen Cloth so they say Sea-water may be drawn up to the heighth of Mountains by help of the Beams of the Sun and Stars or by Channels or Pores unknown to us and made in the shape of Pipes and disposed of after the manner as we see all the Wine in the Vessel taken out from thence by the help of a Pipe or lastly Sea water may insinuate it self into a spongy and light Earth which imbibes it and causeth it to ascend and flow after the same manner as we see all the Water contained in a Bason to ascend to the brims of it and by degrees to go beyond by the help of Cotten or a little Woollen Cloth As pleasant and as subtile soever as this fancy may be I think my Opinion is better grounded and more agreeable to truth By what hath been said it is apparent hitherto that Sea-water supplies Matter to Springs and Fountains these do supply Matter to Rivulets and Rivulets to Streams and Rivers which empty themselves into the Sea from whence they come out to moisten the Earth and that as I said before by a continual fluid circulation It may be lastly asked what may be the Cause of this circulation and from whence proceeds that force with which we see Floods and Rivers to
without the pretended Qualities of Aristotle or Corpuscles of Gassendus except those of the Air which are in motion For they being wanting or stirred up by an opposite motion little or very little is observed of it The motion therefore of Bodies is the Object of Sounds but there is a necessity for a fluid Body to be present that it may be violently moved to and fro which happens in irregular Sounds or with Method and Measure as in Musick and the use of Instruments This Fluid Body is sometimes intercepted by two Solid Bodies and is forced to go back with violent motion CHAP. XII Particular Questions concerning Hearing THe first Question is concerning the Penetration of Sounds and it is asked How it comes to pass that a Sound constant in Motion can more easily penetrate through a thick Wall than through Glass or Water I answer that the thickest Walls have great Cavities into which the Air insinuates it self or lies shut up in them whilst they are Building After which manner without doubt it is shut up in Guns made of melted Brass which is the cause that when they are tryed they sometimes burst asunder which hapned about two Months ago at Niverina in a Field near St. Germans Air therefore is more easily shut up within Walls whilst they are Building than in Guns whilst they are casting And this included Air receives its motion from the external Air and communicates the same with that which is found in the Breech or adverse part of the Gun. Which thing does not happen in Glasses which have but very small pores into which the External Air cannot enter only Light and the most subtile Air enjoying this priviledge From hence it follows that Bodies which have none or but very small Vacuities and contain no Air or but very little are more surd and less resounding as Gold and Lead however Lead is more surd than Gold although it hath more frequent vacuities but they are less regular for since it is endowed with more Pores than Gold it ought to give a greater sound than Gold. For to the making a sound it is not sufficient that the Body contains Air but that the Air be so bound up that it cannot sind a way out and as to the sound of Bells that depends upon the Air intercepted between the Clapper and the Bell and wandring round the compass of the Bell before it can get out and drive on other Air yet so as that it presupposes Air shut up in the Pores of the Mettal The second Question regards the propagation of Sound or the sound of Bells and Guns are heard a great way off But the reason of this is not difficult to be given for the Air violently driven on because it is easily moved gives a sound according to its motion greater or lesser and because the motion of Air is not momentaneous so the sound likewise is not in a moment brought to the Ears Certainly the Air that is impelled drives on other Air on every side until that circular motion ceaseth as we see when a stone is thrown into a Pool the water is moved in circles This motion in respect of Sight is not in the Air we see the stroak ere we perceive the sound for Light is determined in a moment nor does a contrary wind hinder Light as it doth sound for Light does not depend upon the motion of the Air and the Light of the Air is fixed in the same manner as the Centre of the World from whence it draws its Origine to which it is firmly and immoveably annexed at least that it be not condensed and grow thick The third Question regards the repetition of Sound and is called Eccho and it is nothing else than a repercussed and reflected motion of the Air by hard Bodies or retained and renewed by other Air shut up in the Cavities of Bodies and if there are many Cavities in a streight Line there are made many reflections and the Eccho is multiplied and that more or less distinctly as the reflections are more or less perfect and the Ear more or less distant from the angle of reflection which is always formed right forwards and is streight unless there be some hindrance and hath always a certain and determined Distance Fourthly it is asked how it comes to pass that the strings of two Harps Tuned alike although they be distant two or three paces from one another the one being struck the other will give a sound I answer that the air of one being struck into motion does by its motion excite the motion of the other which is constituted in the same state or tuned alike For here to alledge Sympathy would be nothing else but to flye to the Sanctuary of Ignorance Fifthly It is asked Why some sounds are sweet and very pleasant and others on the other hand harsh and displeasing It is answered that this proceeds from a diverse motion and from the ruggedness and smoothness of Bodies as also from the smiteing of the Air that is driven to and fro Sixthly it may be enquired from whence the noise in the Ears proceed and it is answered that this inconvenience proceeds from a motion of the interior Air against Nature which sometimes happens from the breaking in of foreign Corpuscles or from the solution and emancipation of some Atoms or from the Pulse of the Arteries or motion of Vapours which striking against the Drum of the Ear make that humming noise of the Ears Lastly it is asked why some People hear better than others and we may answer that this proceeds from the impurity of the interior Air For not to say any thing of those that are born deaf or have their Organs ill formed or have no interior or included Air or of Old Men in whom this Air is dissipated or of those whom a kind of thick humor falling upon the Organ after a long Disease makes Deaf or who are wounded or have an Imposthume in their Ears I say that those who have most of this interior and purer Air have their Ears more accurate and their Hearing more distinct if withal the Auditory Nerve be well Composed CHAP. XIII Of Smelling its Organ and Object SMELLING is an action by which we perceive and distinguish Smells the external Organ is the Nostrils the internal are some glandulous and spongy parts like Teats which descend from the Brain to the Nostrils or the Olfactory Nerve or Odours which affect the Spirits contained in the Nerve and move them and these Spirits being moved and stirred up carry the sense of the Odor to the common sense The Object of Smell are Odours in quality not distinct from Bodies but are rather Atoms or sulphurous Particles going out of Bodies their Figure is hooked and adhering from whence it comes to pass that they adhere like Oyle or fatness and are preserved a long time in Chests among Cloaths especially Woollen ones And therefore contagious Particles lye hid for many Years
clammyness humidity and viscousness do stupifie the Animal Spirits and Sleep is sweet or restless according as those Vapours are sweet or abound with Corpuscles or are stirred up from Choler or other things of an irregular Figure or where some emancipated Atoms make the disturbance The mixture of these Atoms is often the Cause of Light-headedness Madness and Hypochondriac Melancholly and they likewise produce watchfulness by an inversion and confusion of the Ideas in the imagination from whence it happens that we see that which we never see directly and sometimes Monsters and horrible things This motion of the Images or Ideas is sometimes so very violent and there is so great a Troop of these emancipated Atoms in the Brain that those that are asleep do sometimes rise out of Bed Talk climbe up Walls Bathe themselves and then go to Bed again without ever waking all the while Death is commonly called a perpetual Sleep and in Animals excepting Man it is nothing else than a total dissipation of the Vital Atoms or a cessation of motion in which their Life consists In Man these things are not after the same manner although however all these things cease in a dying Man either immediately as in a violent Death or by degrees as in a Natural Death we must confess nevertheless that in that respect something else is to be accomplished to wit the separation of the Soul which God gave him and which returns unto him that gave it Before we go any further and that we may make an end of this Chapter and be as good as our Word I am forced a little more specially to discourse concerning the Death of those things which have Life For whatsoever is Created and Compounded of many Parts and Liveth is subject to Death Man who is Compounded of a material and Organical Body like other Beings dyes at last but because he hath an immortal Soul Created after the Image of God he only dyes that he may live Eternally with God if he be Faithful and his Death is no more than Sleep and a passing into Eternity What a Christian Philosopher ought to think of this Soul I shall declare in the last Chapter of this Book Here I will say something of his Body as also of its Corruption and Dissolution The Rational Soul never goes out of this Mortal Body before the motion of the Heart is stopped this motion which is not voluntary ceasing Life can no longer continue since it consists in this motion If the Rational Soul was only in the Brain as Duncan and some others will have it it would be hard to tell why it should depart upon the cessation of the Hearts motion whilst the rest of the Parts are in good order As for my part I consider it in its Spiritual Nature believing that he must have too mean an Idea of this Spiritual Substance who confines it to the Brain and to the smallest part of it That Opinion which affirms it to be present every where in the whole Body although it operates more particularly in the Brain and Heart seems to me to be more Reasonable and for this Reason the Soul acting in the Heart the Organ ceasing it departs in the same Moment It may seem a wonder to not a few that the Rational Soul should so depend upon the material Body but since it so seemed good to the Author of Nature we ought to rest satisfied The Body is endued with Organs for the sake of the Soul and the Soul is created for the sake of the Body and one is made for the other and the Conjunction of these two make a compleat Man. One part onely does not make a Man nor does a separate Body make up the Essence of a Man and indeed a dead Man is not what he was 'till he Rises again The Soul therefore is annexed to the Body by such a sort of Tye that it cannot act but by Organs So that he sees nothing when his Eyes are out he hears nothing when his Ears are stopt and the chief Organ being deficient the Soul departs because it can do nothing This Chief Organ to wit the Heart is deficient many ways it may be stopped and suffocated for want of Air and respiration for the Atoms of Light implanted in the Heart at the time of a Man's Conception the commerce of the Solar Spirits being intercepted for want of Air do sometimes suddenly stand still they flye away finding a passage through a solution of the continuum or through Pores made fit by a burning Feaver in the Heart all the Water of the Pericardium being dryed up Thick and viscous Blood does sometimes stop the motion of these Vital Atoms Poyson also does by its acute Particles pierce through the Heart and give an exit to these Spirits of Light which are tyed to those which the Sun bestows upon us and are attracted by them returning thither from whence they came Let us see now what the Body does in the Grave it putrifies there that is it is dissolved some Corpuscles or Atoms withdraw themselves some part of the Body is changed into Worms some of the Vital Spirits resisting It is a folly here to imagine any substantial form of the Dead Carcasse or to acknowledge partial forms of the Bones Flesh Veins Arteries and such like things Subjects to the form of the dead Carcasse or alone without this Form. These are Illusions and Chimera's Matter is the same and all the change that happens consists in this That when the Rational Soul is absent there remains nothing besides matter the Organs by little and little lose their Figure and having lost their Composition they lose their action that which was compounded is dissolved and the greater part goes into Dust and Ashes the Luminous Spirits recede and follow the motion of the Spirits of their kind some Parts or Corpuscles joyned to the putrifying Body purtifie in the place where they are Experience favours this Doctrine A certain Servant to a Noble-Man whose Nose had been by great misfortune newly cut off freely parts with his own Nose to serve his Master This Nose being put in the place of that which was newly cut off took Root and grew together after such a manner with a Cartaliginous Flesh that it seemed to be Natural About twenty years afterwards the Servant dyes in a far Countrey and was Buried and as by degrees he putrified so after the same manner this end of a Nose began to putrifie to be corrupted and to fall off parting from that part to which it had so long stuck without withering whilst the Servant lived the part following the condition of the whole I say moreover that the least parts or Corpuscles which proceed from a Body the Body being Dead and Corrupted they also are Corrupted and joyned in commerce with Atoms of the same Nature which they do by inviting them to joyn and come together And here 's an Experiment which every one can understand It is