The Temperature of the Lower Region These things in short being premis'd concerning the Upper Region I shall now proceed to the Lower which is Cold the Parts of Water being in a less violent Agitation than our Sensory And that the Lower Region is sensibly cold is not only consonant to Reason but also confirm'd by the Observation of those who have dived a considerable Depth not only in the Northern Seas in Africa and America but it is also further evinc'd by what is commonly practised at Sea viz. to let down Bottles of Wine into the Sea all Night which by being immers'd in the Water will acquire a considerable Degree of Coldness And I am also inform'd by an Observing Traveller that having let down about 400 Fathom of Line with about 30 pound of Lead at it thirty five Degrees North Latitude beyond the Line the Lead when drawn up was as cold as Ice From which Instances it appears that the Air and Water so far agree that the Parts of them being put into Motion by External Causes they acquir'd each a considerable Degree of Warmth but being remov'd and separate from those Causes put on a contrary Quality so that the Air and Water seem chiefly in this respect to differ viz. in their inverted Order But further From what hath been deliver'd it appears That tho' the Submarine Regions be sensibly colder the nearer the Bottom yet their coldest Region does not by any of the aforemention'd Phaenomena appear to be the Summum Frigidum for tho' I have several times frozen salt-Salt-water yet it does not appear that there is the least Ice generated in the Bottom of the Sea since from the Bottom of the great Ocean 35 Degrees South Latitude Gray Sand hath been brought up where the Water was no less than two hundred and twenty Fathom deep But yet there is one Caution to be added which makes this Observation the less to be rely'd on which is That one Reason why no Ice is to be found in the Bottom of the Sea may be the Unaptitude of salt-Salt-Water more than of Fresh to be congeal'd it requiring a much greater degree of Cold to freeze salt-Salt-Water than Fresh CHAP. V. Relations about the Bottom of the Sea The Bottom of the Sea very Rough and Unequal THAT the Bottom of the Sea is usually Salt and Cold is a very common Observation but being desirous to be more nicely inform'd about what occurs in that Region I have been told by several who have in long Voyages fathom'd in several places that the Bottom of the Sea is rough with considerable Inequalities and Precipices so that in a small Space a little Depth of the Sea hath increas'd to a hundred Fathom and decreas'd as suddenly There being likewise found several other Inequalities and Hills observ'd in Places about 30 or 20 Fathom deep where a Line of 16 Fathom would upon the next Cast require 35 or 40 to reach to the Bottom of the Sea and the like Observations I have receiv'd from several Experienc'd Mariners Amongst which I transcrib'd the following Account from some Notes left in England by one who had made a Voyage to the East-Indies The Account was this February 12. After our Observation seeing the Ground under us we heaved the Lead and had but 19 Fathom Rocky Ground then hal'd by N.N. E. the Wind at N.W. and found our Water to shoal from 19 to 10 and 8 Fathom hard Coral Ground then suddenly deepned again from 8 to 20 and 22 Fathom Sandy Ground and then suddenly saw Rocks under us where we had but 7 Fathom and the next Cast 14 Fathom again and so having run N. N. E. from 6 in the Morning till 12 at Noon about 19 Mileswe deepned our Water from 16 to 25 and the next Cast no Ground with 35 Fathom of Line The Gravitation of the Water But besides the Inequalities to be taken Notice of at the Bottom of the Sea there are several other Things to be observ'd amongst which the Gravitation of the Water is remarkable and tho' it be disputed amongst Philosophers whether there be such Gravitation or not yet that there is appears from several Experiments And First If a Glass-Cylinder with one End open be immerg'd in a Glass-Vessel it may be observ'd That as the Cylinder is press'd lower the Air by the Pressure of the Water will be squeez'd higher and higher the water rising gradually below it in the Cylinder And the like hath been observ'd by several Persons who have dived in a Diving-Bell not only in the Northern Sea but upon the Coast of Africa where as the Bell went deeper and deeper the Air became more compress'd and the Water accordingly rose higher and higher in the Bell. And sometimes the Pressure hath been observ'd to be so powerful that I have been inform'd by one who let down a Glass-Vial into the Sea near the Straight's Mouth that having let it sink about 40 Fathom it was burst in pieces by the outward Pressure of the Water to which he added That having let down an Aeolipile of Metal and sunk it about 60 Fathom he observ'd when it was drawn up that the sides were in several places bruis'd and compress'd by the violent Pressure of the Water The Bottom of the Sea not disturbed in Storms Another thing observable in the Bottom of the Sea is That tho' the Violence of Storms may disturb it where it is shallow yet where it is considerably deep the nearer the Bottom the more calm and undisturb'd it is And this hath been confirm'd by the Observations of Divers who have taken Notice That tho' the Waves were six or seven foot high yet at fifteen Fathom deep the Water was very little disturb'd only the Mud was rais'd which made the Water dark and what is very remarkable is that the Person that dived inform'd me that having stay'd a considerable depth for some time he found when he came up again a Tempestuous Storm which had risen when he was in the Water without being taken Notice of by him below And the like hath been observ'd near the shoar of Manar in the East-Indies where they dive for Coral in a Sea that lies betwixt the Island of Ceylon and the Cape of Comori which is usually very much disturb'd inasmuch as it lies near the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Bengala formerly call'd Sinus Gangeticus And it hath elsewhere been observ'd That in considerable Storms the Seas have not been disturb'd over the Depth of 4 Fathom The Water at the Bottom of the Sea almost stagnates And to these Observations I might add had I sufficient Evidence to build upon That having enquir'd whether upon Ebbing and Flowing of Tides the Motion of the Water was continu'd to the Bottom I have been told by some that it does almost stagnate and by others that the Current of the Water above is different from the Tendency of that below But not to rely upon these Relations
I have been inform'd by a Person who made his Observations beyond the Cape of Good Hope in the Southern Sea that having let down his Plummet about an hundred Fathom he found that the Plummet being suspended in the standing Water made the Boat turn to the Tide as if it lay at Anchor And that there is such a Stagnation of Water at the Bottom of the Sea hath been likewise confirm'd to me by Observations made near the Coral Fishery in the East-Indies CHAP. VI. Further Relations about the Bottom of the Sea THAT the Air is not only necessary to the Preservation of Animals but also promotes Vegetation and the Growth of Plants I have elsewhere observ'd but since several Trees and Plants are observ'd to grow under Water I shall further observe what Informations I have receiv'd concerning them Observations relating to Coral And First To what hath elsewhere been deliver'd concerning the Growth of Coral under Water I shall add That I am inform'd by one that saw it near Algiers that Coral when first taken up is not only soft and flexible but very pale yet when the Bark is taken off and it is expos'd to the Air it 's Natural Redness presently appears To which he added That having broke several Pieces he found it much paler within than on the outside and that there were several black Knobs on the extream Parts of the Twigs the place from whence this Coral was taken being about nine or ten Fathom deep And I have been further inform'd by one that sail'd to the East-Indies that upon a certain sort of Coral he hath observ'd certain round Berries of a very pleasant Colour Trees under Water To these Relations I shall add That Divers have not only observ'd Trees to grow under Water near Manar which bore Leaves like those of a Laurel but that not far from the Coast of Mosambique in Africa several Trees are observ'd to grow under Water whose Fruit and Leaves are like those of the Tree in America which bears a Fruit call'd Acayu But an Observation more Valuable is concerning the Maldavian Nut call'd Coco which by experienc'd Divers are found to be the Fruit of a Tree which grows at the Bottom of the Sea which are either gather'd by the Divers or torn off by the violent Agitation of the Water In which Fruit it was observ'd that whilst it was under Water it was very soft but when it had been expos'd a considerable time to the Air it became very hard CHAP. VII Observations and Experiments about the Saltness of the SEA The Invalidity of the Cause assign'd by the Peripateticks THE Saltness of the Sea by several Peripateticks hath been judged to proceed from the Influence of the Beams of the Sun upon the Water but with what little reason may easily appear from those standing Lakes and Ponds whose Water notwithstanding the Influence of the Sun continues fresh And that it neither proceeds from the Influence of the Sun nor any other external Heat may be argued since though some fresh Water be drawn off by Distillation and consequently undergoes as great a Degree of Heat as it can be supposed to do from the Sun Beams it yields not so much Salt as is to be found in some Water never exposed to such Heat which Salt differs very little from Sea Salt only that it is whiter being more clear of it's faeces and free from a Mixture of earthy Parts And though some alledg in favour of Aristotle's Doctrin That Scaliger affirms the Sea Water to be saltest in it's upper Region yet it will appear by comparing the Saltness of the superficial Parts of the Sea with the bottom that the Observation was ill made and does not generally hold neither will it favour his Doctrin should it be alledged that Sea Salt dissolved in Water otherwise than common Salt christalizes at the Top of the evaporated Solution for considering how much Salt Water must be impregnated with and that the Quantity of Salt in Sea Water hath been observed by a Dutch Geographer to be only as One to Forty The proportion of Salt to Water it 's Disposition to crystalize can be no Argument of the swimming of Sea-Salt more on the top of the Water than the other Region But though I differ in this Point from the Peripatetick Philosophers yet I do not believe on the contrary with some that the Gravity of Salt makes them sink the more to the bottom since the intestin Agitation of the Parts of the Water continually shifting Places must consequently carry it along with them which Consideration joyned with another which is that I have not usually observed Metalline Tinctures stronger at the top than bottom might perhaps give a suspicion to some that the present Argument is less cogent notwithstanding the specific Gravity betwixt Metals and their Menstruums does much exceed that betwixt Salt and Water But further in behalf of the Peripatetick Doctrin it is urged out of Linscotten that at Goa in Portugal it is usual for their Slaves to dive and fetch fresh Water from the bottom of the Sea but tho' this Matter of Fact were true yet no general Rules could be drawn thence because Experience tells us that in other Places it is contrary Besides it might be probably guessed that Springs in the Bottom of the Sea were it true that fresh Water might rise by certain Springs covered over with Sea Water as well as that several Springs in other Places should be under Water upon the flowing of the Sea And that there may be such Springs is so far probable that the curious Hungarian Governor de admirandis Hungariae Aquis says That in the River Vagus near the Fortress Galgotium Veins of hot Water rise up in the very bottom of the Water his Words are these Neque in Ripa tantum eruuntur calidae sed etiam intra amnem si fundum ejus pedibus suffodias calent autem immodicè c. And the like hath been observed upon the Neapolitan Coast But not to urge these Relations I shall intimate briefly That an ingenious Acquaintance of mine who lives in that City hath informed me that that fresh Water is not fetch'd so deep as to be suspected to rise from such Springs but that it is rather the fresh Water which runs into the Sea from a River not far off before it is mixed with the Salt Water which Conjecture I the rather believe because near Mouths of Rivers it hath elsewhere been observed that fresh Water hath for some time floated together without being perfectly mixed with the other Stream And as for Scaliger's Opinion it might be urged against it that by a Vessel so artificially contrived that it might be opened at the bottom of the Sea to take in Water the Water drawn up hath been found to be Salt But since it may be urged against this that the Salt Water being heavier than the fresh as it was drawing up might be
concrescit utrumque incisum in Hypocausto siccatum divendatur dilutum quod in vasis cupis non concrevit in cortinam refusum recoquatur sed verra quae in fundo cujusque cortinae resedit ablata in castella unà cum verra denuo aqua urina dilutaur At terra quae in Castellis diluta postquam effluxit superfuit egesta coacervata quotidie rursus magis ac magis fit aluminosa non aliter atque terra ex qua halinitrum fuit confectum suo succo plenior fit quare denuo in Castella conjicitur aquae effusae ea percolantur And I have not only been informed that the Dews in the most Southern parts are more than ordinary Corrosive but that in Basil they are so Esurient that the Portugals are forc'd to keep their great Guns cased up in which Country the same Person told me the very Mony was corroded by the sharpness of the Air and he likewise observed that the Dew left a White Salt upon the Grass which looked like a Hoar Frost And I am likewise inform'd by a Native of the Place that in a Town call'd Fahlure in Sweedland which stands upon the bottom of a Hill which hath a Copper Mine in it The Exhalations are so powerful as to Corrode Iron and Brass and even Money it self tho' lock'd up in Chests of Wood an Inch thick TITLE XII Of Sulphur and Inflammable Particles in the Air and of Lightning and it's Effect Of Sulphur and Inflammable Matter c. A Neopolitan Lord told me that Riding upon Sulphureous Ground the Horses Feet would raise a Dust which would be ready to take Fire and when purposely he had caused several pieces of that Earth to be cut like Turffs and to be laid in a heap in the Night the Steams which plentifully rose from them would sometimes take Flame And the same Lord told me that near Mount Vesuvius He observ'd the Flame so violent than when Measured by a Quardrant it appeared to be near two Miles high above the Top of the Mountain and that great Flakes of Fire were thrown up into the Air as big as the Room we talked in Voila tout ce qu' on peut dire cette Isle qui semple un enfer car on voit la mer du port Voyage de Levant page 203. de la coste toute noire brûlee d'un petit escuel qui paroist depuis environ soixante ans d'ou on vit sortir en ce temps la une grande flamme qui is a laisse une ouverture si profonde que si on y jette une pierre on ne l'entend point tomber Mais ce qui est arrive depuis en ce port n'est pas moins estonnant je le rapperteray icy comme je l'ay appris de diverses personnes en plusieurs endroîts Ily a environ 18 ans que durant la nuit d'un certain Diamanche commenca dans le port de Santorini un tres grand bruit lequel s' entendit jusques à Chio qui en est eloigne deplus de deux cent milles mais de telle sorte qu' on crut a Chio que c ' estoî l'armèe venitienne qui combatroit contre celle des Turcs ce qui fit que des le matin chacum monta aux lieux les plus elevez pour en estre Spectateur me souviens que le Reverend Pere Bernard superieur des Capucins de Chio homme Venerable tres digne de foy me conta qu'il y avoit este trompè comme les autres car il crut aussî bien qu' eux eux entendre pleusieurs coups de canon cependent ils ne virent rien en effect ce fut un feu qui seprit dans la terre du fond du port de Santorini y fit un tel effect que depuis le matin jusqu ' au soir il sortit du fond de la mer quantite de pierres de ponce qui montient en haut avec tant de roideur tant de bruit qu' on eust dit que ce fusset autant de caups de canon cela infecta tellement l'air que dans la dite Islle de Santorini il maurut quantite de personnes plusieurs de la Mesine Isle en perdirent la veue qu' ils recouvrerent pourtans quelque jours apres Cette infection s' estendît ausi loin que le bruit quî l'avoit precede car non seulement dans cette Isle mais mesme a Chio a Smyrne tout l'argent devint rouge soit qu' il fut dans les Coffres ou dans les poches nos Religieux demeurans en ces lieux la me dirent que tous leurs calices en estoient devenus rouges Au bout de quelques jours cette Infection se dissipa l'Argent reprit sa premiere couleur les pierres de ponce qui sortirent de la couvrirent tellement la mer del'Archipel que durant quelque temps quand il Regnoit de certains Vents il y avoit des ports qui en estoient bouchez en façon qu' il n'en pouvoit sortir aucune barque pour petite qu' elle fut que ceux qui estoient dedans ne se fissent le Chemin au travers de ces pierres de ponce avec quelques pieux on en voit encor a present par toute la mer Mediterranée mais en petite Quantite cela s' estant disperse ca et la. Seneque raconte en une de ses Epistres que Santonini est bastte sur des mines de souphre ce sont elles qui fournissent asseurement la matiere pour allumer en cet endroit n'y trouva point de fond Il y a pourtant une petite Isle appellée Firesiá á la pointe de laquelle on peut donner fonds point en aucun autre endroit It is usually observ'd that there is a strong smell of Sulphur near where a Thunder-bolt falls When I was near the Lake of Geneva call'd Lacus Lemanus there was a terrible Storm of Thunder and the next day so strong a smell of Sulphur that a Souldier who stood near the Place where a Thunder-bolt fell into the Water could scarce bear the smell of the Sulphur July 24. 81. A Ship being at Sea about 100 Leagues off Cape Cod in 48 Latitude about 3 P. M. after a violent Storm of Thunder the Bituminous Matter fell upon the Stem of the Ship and burnt there emitting a strong Sulphureous Smell and what was very remarkable was that when Night came they found that the North Point of the Compass was become the South Point and vice versâ And It was observed by a very famous Planter that several Trees remote from one another had very long and remarkable fissures in the Bark upon great Storms of Lightning TITLE XIII Of Electrical
and the like Colour was afforded by it on a Piece of flat glaz'd Earth And some of the same being dropp'd into a Glass of Water of the Figure of an inverted Cone exhibited great-Varietys of Crimson and Purple and when the Litmase was perfectly mix'd with the Water it afforded a glorious Yellow like that of a Topaz when a few Drops of Spirit of Salt were dropp'd into it And if a few Drops of a Solution of Pot-ashes were dropp'd into it they Subsiding into the bottom of it would afford a bright dilute Colour in the bottom of the Glass a Purple above that and a deep Crimson betwixt that and a Yellow which rought to the top of the Glass And if Spirit of Sal Armoniack were pour'd upon that it would turn Part of the Yellow into a Purple or Crimson From which Experiments it appears that as the Particles of a Pigment are nearer or more dispers'd the Colours represented by them Vary EXPERIMENT XLV A Preparation of Steel us'd as a Succedaneum of Spaw-Waters and whose Colour was like that of German Amethist being dropp'd into Rhenish-Wine afforded a lovely Green but Water or Spirit of Wine will not receive that Tincture from it And to satisfie my self that the Effect depended not on any Acidity in the Wine I impregnated Water with Spirit of Salt but notwithstanding it would not receive a green Tincture from the Liquor And to vary the Experiment I dropp'd Alkalizate and urinous Salts into the Green Tincture by which it put on a dirty and a turbid Colour but if this essense of Steel was drop'd into Water impregnated with Spirit of Salt a Solution of Salt of Pot-ashes or of Spirit of Sal Armonick would turn it Yellow the Vitriolate Salt being precipitated by them And Olaus Wormius takes Notice of a rare kind of Turn-sole which would communicate a red Tincture to Water and tho' it would to Wine yet Spirit of Wine would not be at all Ting'd by it so that Tincture both depends on the peculiar Textures of the Body that receives and that which gives the Tincture EXPERIMENT XLVI THe Adventitious Colours of Metals are either such as they acquire by the Action of the Fire upon them or such as result from the Coalition of Metaline Particles with the Mestruum which dissolves them or lastly when they are mix'd together by Fusion And first Tin by the Action of the Fire being calcin'd affords a white Calx and Lead a Red one and Copper calcin'd per se yields a dark blackish Powder and Iron by reverberated Flames may be turn'd into a Crocus and Mercury may be turn'd into a Red Powder And Besides these more obvious Colours there are several intermediate ones whilst by the Action of Fire Metals are a Calcining And not only the Calces but the Glasses of Minerals vitrifi'd per se are of Colours different from the Metal so that I have seen a Glass made of Silver of a dark Colour And not only Metals but Minerals may be brought to yeild Colours by the Action of the Fire different from their own as Antimony affords a whitish Gray Calx and Flowers variously Colour'd and the Calx by being flux'd will yield a Glass of a yellow or reddish Colour And Vitriol Calcin'd passes through several Colours before it comes to be of a dark Purple EXPERIMENT XLVII AS for the Adventitious Colours produc'd by the Union of Metals with their Solvents Gold gives Aqua Regis it 's Yellow Colour but Mercury gives no considerable Colour to Aqua Fortis except a Greenness or Blewness at the first which presently disappears Tin corroded by Aqua Fortis subsided in the form of curdl'd Milk or Eggs. Lead dissolv'd in Spirit of Vinegar affords a clear Solution and if the Menstruum be drawn off appears White Iron dissolv'd by Oyl of Vitriol diluted with Water yields a Green Vitriolum Martis but gives a Saffron Colour to Aqua Fortis or a yellowish Red. Common Silver such as is coin'd gives a Copper Tincture to Aqua fortis but such as is refin'd perfectly gives a blewish Green to Aqua fortis and Spirit of Vinegar and being sublim'd with Sal Armoniac it affords a blewish Sublimate And indeed Copper dissolv'd in several Menstruums will yield a great Variety of Greenish Blew or blewish Green Colours But with Spirit of Sugar and Turpentine it affords a Blew Tincture with a mixture of Green And to shew that the Adventitious Colour may result from the Copper it self as well as the Salts which Corrode it I moistned Dantzick Vitriol with Spittle and then rubbing it upon a Knife it gave it a redish Colour like that of Copper Saccharum Saturni with Spirit of Turpentine will yield a red Balsam and that Stone which Helmont calls Paracelsus his Ludus in a proper Menstruum affords sometimes a yellowish and sometimes a red Solution And before I leave this Experiment I shall add that if Quicksilver be precipitated out of Aqua fortis with Spirit of Sea-salt or Sea-salt dissolv'd in Water it will subside in the form of a white Powder but if it be precipitated with an Alkaly it yields a yellow tawny Powder but if the Menstruum be drawn off without precipitating it the remaining substance will vary it's Colour as it is expos'd to different degrees of Heat so that once I observ'd the white Calx to remain partly in the bottom of the Vial of a deep Yellow and in some part Red the remaining Part being elevated in the form of a reddish and ash-colour'd Sublimate And Vermilion is only a Sublimate of Mercury and Brimstone EXPERIMENT XLVIII TO shew that Metals Associated with other Bodies will afford different Colours I have given an Instance in Silver which gave Glass a lovely golden Colour And I shall now add that I am told that Artificers paint Glass yellow with Calx of Silver And I have obtain'd a Substance of a saphirine Blew from Shel-silver mix'd with Powder of crystal Glass kept in Fusion two or three Hours which I attributed to some Copper latent in the Silver And tho' Copper calcin'd per se yields a dark colour'd Calx yet it tinges Glass Green But being kept in Fusion with 100 times it's Weight in Glass it afforded not a green but a blew Substance which whether it proceeded from the Action of the Mineral or it 's saline Parts only or both I must not stay to enquire But to proceed Putty made of Tin and Lead Calcin'd together being a white Calx gives colliquated Glass the resemblance of white Amel which will receive into it the Colours of divers Minerals which will indure the Fire And I have elsewhere taken Notice that blew and yellow Amel being compounded will afford a Green And it is commonly known that the dark Substance call'd Zaffora will give Glass a blew Tincture And that dark Substance term'd Magnesia from it's similar Colour to that of a Load-stone gives Glass not only Colours different from its own
are to work upon contribute much to their Effects appears from the Effects of Lightning For I have seen two tall drinking Glasses so alter'd in their shape by the influence of Lightning that the one was a little widened near the bottom and the other so far bent that it stood awry the Beams of Lightning being able in the twinkling of an Eye to melt Glass tho' in Glass Furnaces the Fire is sometime before it can produce that Effect And I once saw Lead melted by Lightning which left the Glass unaffected and likewise other combustible stuff that was near it and tho' it left these Things untouched yet it threw down part of a Wall belonging to the House by passing through it And it is a common Observation that Thunder either by giving a determinate Concussion to the Air or transmitting some Effluvia turns Beer sowre but having sealed some up in Glasses Hermetically the Thunder was not able to affect the Liquor contained in them and it is a common practice to prevent Beer from sowring upon Storms of Thunder to place Chafing-Dishes of Coals under the Barrels the sulphureous steams being by that means so alter'd as either not to be able to penetrate the Barrel or not able to alter the Liquor Another Way by which considerable Effects are caused by Effluvia is by exciting such a Motion in the Body they work upon as to make one part of it act upon another Instances of which may be brought from inanimate Bodies as well as living ones since some vigorous Loadstones destroy the attractive Virtues of an Excited Needle in a trice or give it a Virticity quite contrary to the former without touching it and these magnetical Emissions which must needs be very minute since they are subtle enough to penetrate Glass are able to take up a considerable weight of Iron so that I have seen a light one which would take up Eighty times its weight But the chief Instances I shall now insist on are those wrought upon Animals for it is evident that our Organs of smelling are chiefly affected by such minute Particles of Matter as the finest Odours consist of nor do they always affect us as Odours since violent smells whether stinking or sweet are able to cause very troublesome Head-achs And the smell of a very pleasing Perfume may produce in a humane Body which before was well and strong both faintness swoons loss of sensible Respiration Intumescence of the Abdomen seeming Epilepsies Convulsive motions of the Limbs c. And I had a Sal-Armoniack which would in a little time remove Hysterick fits and recover People who by the by-standers were judged to fall down in Epileptical fits which sudden effects seem to depend on the consent of the Genus Nervosum But besides these effects of Odorous Bodies upon Women I know a Man of a strong Body and a sanguine Constitution who will be put into a violent Head-ach by the smell of Musk and another to whom the smell of Roses was as offensive and I know a Lady who would presently swoon at the smell of Roses if they were not speedily removed And as these slight smells have proved offensive so it is not much less considerable that the smell of Sal-Armoniack cures the Head-ach Besides the aforementioned effects of Effluvia it is observed that Women have miscarryed upon the stink of a Candle carelesly extinguished And I not only know a Gentleman who will Vomit upon the smell of Coffee but a Physician who will Vomit and Purge if he does but smell at Electuarium Lenitivum And I know another whom the smell of the grease which is about the wheels of a Hackney-Coach will make sick and cause to Vomit if it does but pass by him And not only smoak is offensive to the Eyes and Lungs but the invisible steams of Sal-Armoniack And besides the aforementioned instances of the effects of Effluvia upon the Genus Nervosum I shall add one of their Effects on the humours for I know an Apothecary who upon the smell of Roses hath such a Colliquation of Humours in his Head that they set him a coughing make him run at the Nose and give him a sore Throat and also by an affluence of humours make his Eyes sore And as Effluvia may be enabled to perform several things on the account of the structure of particular Bodies so they may effect several things by Virtue of the Fabrick and Laws of the Universe for Bodies by Effluvia may be rendered fit to be wrought on by Light Magnets the Atmosphere Gravity or some other Catholick Agent of the Universe And to what instances have already been given of Bodies working upon others placed at a distance I might add the effects of contiguous Bodies as Bloodstones Cornelians Nephritick Sones Lapis Malacensis and some Amulets and other solid Substances externally applyed by Physicians as Cantharides c. CHAP. VI. Of the determinate Nature of Effluviums Of the determinate Nature of Effluviums THO' Aristotle and his followers have only distinguished the Exhalations of this Globe into those which he calls fumes and which rising from the Earth he terms hot and dry and those Vapours which rise from the Water which he calls hot and moist in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet besides these slight differences since the Earth contains several Bodies which have each of them distinct Atmosphere we may probably conceive them to have their distinct and determinate natures and even in fluid Bodies Heterogeneous Parts may swim which notwithstanding their fluidity may retain their determinate Nature since Rock-Allom and Salt-Petre being dissolved together in Water upon a gentle Evaporation will each of them shoot into Crystals of their respective and determinate Natures And that Effluvia retain their determinate natures tho' so small as to swim in the Air or Water appears since upon their Re-union they are of the same Nature with the Body that emitted them as Water raised in Vapours condenses again into drops of Water And Quick-Silver in Distillation if it be raised with a convenient fire will almost all be found in the Receiver in the form of running Mercury And if when Chymists are either making an Amalgama or forcing the Mercury away from it by the fire they hold a piece of Gold in their Mouths it will be white as if it were Silvered over And not only Sulphur but Camphire sublimed in close Vessels unites into a Substance of the same Nature as the other and tho' a Body be compounded of a Metal and another Mineral and two or three Salts yet upon the Purification of the Mixture from its grosser Parts if the remaining and finer Parts be minute enough and finely shaped the wholy Liquor will ascend and yet in the Receiver altogether recover its pristine form of a transparent fluid composed of differing Saline and Mineral Parts which is evident in the Distillation of Butter or Oyl of Antimony very well rectify'd for this Liquor
without making long and tedious Excursions applying it chiefly to Inanimate Bodies And first I shall consider 1. That the signification of the Technical Word Form is indeterminate since it is not agreed what is enough to determine what Forms Bodies are of it being not only disputed whether Water by being froze loses its Form or not But further several Bodies have no particular Forms assign'd to them as Ink Gun-powder Beer Coal c. Nay some Bodies consider'd in different Respects may seem to have more Forms than One as in Vitrum Saturni which is made of Lead it may be doubted whether it hath the Form of a Metal or Glass since it hath a great many of the Qualities of Both as Fusibility Transparency and Brittleness and will contrary to common Glass dissolve in Aqua Fortis yield a sweet Solution and may be reduc'd into a Malleable Lead by Fire so likewise Amel whose Ingredients are calcin'd Tin together with Salt and Sand and some burnt Copper will again yield most of the same distinct Ingredients yet the Compound had not all the Properties belonging to these Bodies But The Nobleness of Forms hard to be distinguish'd II. It is a Matter of Difficulty to determine the Nobleness of Forms This is not only evident from Examples before given but several others as Glass of Antimony is more apt for some uses than Crude Antimony and vice versa Again it hath been formerly a Dispute and may be a Doubt still Whether the Powder resulting from Gold and Silver precipitated be a Nobler Metal than Gold of which were a Spagerical Physician and a Goldsmith to judge the Former would value the Powder as much as the Latter would the Gold Again tho' Silver Soder be the Result of Silver alloy'd with Copper or Brass and of very great use yet it may be question'd whether it is not by that means render'd less valuable And tho' a Plant be petrify'd and for that reason valu'd as a Rarity yet is that New Form in it self less Noble than the former The most Noted Qualities of a Body denominate its Form III. Tho' several Alterations are made in Bodies by a Recess or Access of Qualities yet they retain the same Denomination and are said to have the same Form by reason of some Eminent Quality or Use which is proper to them For which reason Vitrum Antimonii is call'd so because it hath the Fusible and Transparent Qualities of Glass tho' it in other Respects besides its Vomitive and Purgative Properties hath Qualities different from Glass So all Unctuous Bodies as Oyl of Almonds Olives c. are call'd Oyls because Fluid and not apt to be mix'd with Water yet there is a great deal of Difference betwixt them and Empyreumatical Oyl of Guajacum or Box So likewise several Substances of very different Effects are reckon'd amongst Salts because they readily dissolve in Water and are very sapid so that the Word Form seems to be apply'd to Bodies on the account of some Metaphysical Conceptions and in respect of some General Use rather than Physical Forms by which Substances of the same Form are said to be of the same Specifick Nature and Virtue From whence it may be thought that several Substances are generally Class'd together as they are alike States of Matter rather than agreeable Forms As Water and Wine may be turn'd into Ice or Tallow and Mineral Concretes may become of the number of Substances which constitue Flame The Action of several Compounds depends on the Union of their Parts IV. That by Compound Bodies several Effects will be produc'd upon the account of the Union and Joynt-Action of their Ingredients These Operations by the Schools are said to be done Actione Communi as when a Man disputes vivâ voce the Rational Soul concurs with the Vocal Organs to the Forming of Syllogisms Or to use a plainer Instance as a Bullet acts on a Plane by Virtue of its whole Specifick Gravity tho' it touches the Plane but in a Point the other parts acting on it by the Intervention of that Or as in a Pair of Scales the whole Substance of a Man and all that he hath about him presses upon the Scale tho' he touches it but with his Feet But to use an Instance of the Concurrent or Actio Communis of an Organical Body the Effects of a Compound Body are like that of a Watch where if any Part be wanting the Complex Action so much depends on the Common and Joynt-Action of the whole that the Action of the whole is destroy'd Inanimate Bodies have Subordinate Forms V. It is agreeable to Reason to admit of Subordinate Forms in Bodies Inanimate Against this it is objected That one Body cannot have two Forms To this it may in short be answer'd That tho' a Body can have no more than one Adaequate Form yet being a Compound it may have several which are Subordinate to and Parts of that as the Parts of a Watch have each their own Forms which are Subordinate to the Form of the whole A Second Objection is That a Body having a Compleat Form whatever is Concurrent to it makes it Ens per Accidens To this it may be answer'd That according to the Schools the Soul and Body which have each separately distinct Forms being joyn'd make Vnum per se and not per Accidens and the Rational Faculties which are its Accidents are said to make Vnum per se So that thence by Parity of Reason tho' a Congeries of Accidents concur to the Forming of a Body yet the Operation and Property of the whole United being one it may as well be said to be Vnum per se Add to this that the Peripateticks have not scrupled to teach That the Forms of Elements are not destroy'd by being mix'd yet they hold each of the Bodies made up of them to be Vnum per se But it may be further answer'd That tho' a Form be compleat in it self yet the Form resulting from the Union of another with it may be far more Noble and perform things much more curious than before As when Sulphur and Nitre are added to Charcoal or when a Spring is added to the other Parts of a Watch where by the Addition of these Forms the pre-extent are not destroy'd but improv'd the whole in each Composition making one Compound Form A Superadded Form may modify the Actions of Subordinate ones without destâ—â—yâ—ng them VI. Sometimes a Superadded Form is Accidental to a Pre-existent yet it modifies the Operations of it without altering its Nature As a Needle which hath its Form consider'd as Steel besides its Figure as a Needle and by being touch'd with a Load-stone acquires several other Properties as to attract others and instead of its Indifferency to move any way regulates its Motion so as to point North and South of which Properties it is again depriv'd by being drawn upon the Pole of a powerful Load-stone But that we may
Relation I shall add That I have often observ'd a Dulness and Clearness to succeed each other in a Diamond which I now have set in a Ring with the Former which Changes could be attributed to no Manifest Cause And I have observ'd no less suprizing a Change in the several Degrees of Electricity which could not be effected by any Cause that I could think of And I have been inform'd by one who had a certain Hungarian Diamond that it would acquire a much greater Degree of Sprightness by lying some time in Water From all which it appears That Considerable Changes may be effected in Diamonds by Agents which to Sense Operate very gently And if Diamonds are generated in the Earth as I have observ'd other Stones to be it is reasonable to think that the Hardness of their Substance proceeds from the Closeness of their Parts depending on the Intestin Motion of their Insensible Corpuscles by which they are brought to convene closer than ordinary And this I am rather Inclin'd to believe because I have been told by an Eminent Jeweller That the Diamonds of late Years are much more soft than those he formerly us'd to deal in And the truth of this is further confirm'd by what Egrezes a Frenchman writes of Diamonds P. M. 17 18. brought from the Mine call'd Gazerpoli the Sense of the Words is this They are very clear and of a good Water but they cannot be ground by Mutual Attrition except with Stones of the same Mine for if one should employ for that purpose the Stones of another Mine those of Gazerpoli would be broken in pieces They do also easily break upon the Wheel and those that are not vers'd in the Knowledge of Stones may be easily deceiv'd in them And the same Author speaking of another sort of Diamonds says That they sweat a sort of Unctuous Substance which being wip'd off as often renew it's Appearance And to these I shall add an Account of a Ruby which is one of the hardest Diamonds one of which a Lady nearly related to me wore upon her Finger which would often change it's Lustre the Cause of which could not be assign'd tho' these kind of Phaenomena seem to be the Effects of some Internal Motion in their Parts the Parts of Diamonds being capable of having their Parts put into Motion without much difficulty But tho' it be hence Evident That there is such an Intestin Motion of the Parts of Diamonds yet it may be thought strange to find the like in so firm and compact a Body as Glass But that the Parts of Glass are not always at Rest I am induc'd to believe by the following Observations First That several Plates of Venice-Glass have crack'd and broke in pieces when no external Agent could have any Sensible Operation on them which I conceive to proceed from a Redundancy of Saline Parts which striving to fly away break the Glass by their violent Motion which Conjecture I am confirm'd in since it is commonly observ'd The Parts of Glass in Motion That there is a Saline Substance adhering to the Surface of these Glasses in Cold Moist Weather And I have observ'd in a Glass into which too much Salt was put to make it Diaphanous several Cracks and Flaws which it got in the Cold Weather So that it rather appears to be a white than a Glass-Cup at a Distance And I as well as those that deal much amongst Glasses have observ'd several to fly in pieces when there was no outward Agent to be the Cause of such an Effect and I am inform'd by an Ingenious Man who is Master of a Glass-House That near a Third Part of a parcel of Glasses flew in pieces of their own accord after they had been kept for about five Years pack'd up To which I might add several other Instances to prove and illustrate the Doctrin above-deliver'd For these Phaenomena may be and are very Naturally accounted for by the Corpuscular Philosophy for supposing the Particles of Glass to be in a continual Elastick Endeavour to expand themselves and fly away and that several of those Particles are got together it is no wonder that they break and dis-joint those Parts of the United Glass which are least able to resist and keep them from Expansion And to Countenance this Explanation I shall add That several Alkalizate or other small Parts of Matter being inclos'd in the Body of a Glass it is always apter to break especially at that place from whence several Cracks spread themselves as from a Centre But whether the Elasticity of these Parts be promoted by any Subtile Bodies which penetrate the Glass I shall not now stay to examine but shall rather proceed to acquaint You That in a considerable Space of Time the Texture of Glass may be so alter'd as to be more unapt to give a free Passage to Aether it self or any other Subtle Body which could penetrate it before and consequently those Bodies Endeavouring to make their way tho' oppos'd by it's Texture cause a Proportionable Crack or Dissolution of the Substance of the Glass Observations concerning the Intestine Motion of the Parts of Glass And to what we have deliver'd concerning Glass these Observations are not altogether disagreeable viz. First That it is a Substance which by being rubb'd easily becomes Electrical which is an Argument that the Parts of it may without any great difficulty be put into Motion Secondly The Parts of Glass may fly asunder if the Neighbouring Parts be put into Motions disagreeable to each other which is evident if a hot Glass be immediately put into cold Water for the Motion of it's Corpuscles being externally checked those which within remain in a violent Agitation cause a sudden Disruption To which may be added That tho' one would think the Particles of Glass were so fix'd as to become unfit to alter their Figure and Shape yet their Parts continuing in some Degree of Agitation they may by invisible and insensible Agents be so work'd upon as to be forc'd to alter their Shape and Size In confirmation of which it may be observ'd That White and pure Transparent Glass will in a little time become very unfit to be put again into the Moulds they were first cast in But tho' I have mention'd both these Methods by which the Cracking of Glasses may be accounted for to shew that which soever of them we allow they will be Proof of an Intestine Motion in the Parts of Glass yet I will neither examine or determine which of them is rather to be rely'd on but shall only observe That the Motion of their Parts must needs be very slow since it is so long before it shews its Effects And now to conclude tho' from what hath been deliver'd it may be expected that I should draw Consequences to determine whether there be absolute Rest in Bodies or no I shall omit that and only intimate That it is not absurd to doubt nor improbable to
mixed with it by pressing into the Vessel I shall add Instances not lyable to such Objections for it hath been observed not only at the Cape of Comori but elsewhere by Divers that the Water is as Salt at the bottom as at the top and I am informed that Divers have not only under the Torrid Zone observed the Water exceeding Salt but have brought several Lumps of Salt from the bottom with the Sea And the like Saltness of the bottom of the Sea hath been discovered near the Straights of Gibralter's Mouth And further that I might not only be sure that the Sea was thus Salt at the bottom I procured two Quarts of Sea Water the one taken up at the bottom of the Sea and another at the top in which though there was some Difference in Colour yet being Hydrostatically tryed there was no sensible difference in the specifick Gravity of them But to make out what I have before intimated viz. That the Freshness of the Water in the bottom of the Sea near Goa might be produced by the Rise of some Springs under Water though it may be objected that the specifick Gravity of the Salt Water would in some measure obstruct the Rising of fresh Water Yet this Objection will easily be answered if we consider that according to what we have delivered in our Hydrostatical Paradoxes and also what Stevinus hath observed let the Quantity of Water be never so great no more can resist the Rising of such Springs but that Pillar of Water which lyes over them in a perpendicular Line and if the Spring takes it's Rise from some high Place so that the Weight of that Water which lyes in the Vein be heavier than the perpendicular Pillar of Sea Water the Rising of it can by no means be hindered by the Pressure of that incumbent Water But to explain and confirm this Paradox I shall add that having procured a long Glass Syphon part of it being inverted so as to form a short Leg I filled it with Claret stopping the Orifice of the longer Leg with my Thumb which Syphon being immersed in Salt Water contained in a Glass Vessel and the Orifice of the longer Leg being opened the Claret notwithstanding the Pressure of the Salt Water presently rose up in it in the Form of Clouds which lasted till the Liquor in the Pipe was brought to a just Aequilibrium with the incumbent Pillar of Salt Water The Reason of the Saltness of the Sea But to pass on to the Cause of the Saltness of Sea VVater I deny not what Gassendus and other Moderns teach but grant that the Saltness proceeds from a Solution of Salt in the VVater yet I am apt to suspect that that Saltness is not only supplyed by those Salt Rocks which may be contiguous to or near the Water but that the Sea is in a great Measure supply'd by Salt wash'd away and carry'd into it by Springs and Rain-water which float into the Ocean And I am the more confirm'd in this Suspicion because several Chymists have not only found Salt in some Waters but have obtain'd a good Quantity of common Salt upon refining of Salt-Petre which according to Sir Francis Bacon is in most Soils which are not spent in Vegetation or wash'd and consum'd by the Sun and Rain But not to insist too long on these things it is not only probable That the Salts in the Earth may by this Means contribute to the Saltness of the Sea but that from what hath been before deliver'd such Salts may be communicated to it by latent Springs not to be taken notice of or discern'd by us And further That such Salt as abounds in the Earth may supply the Sea with most of the Salt which is perceiv'd to be in it we are to render it further probable to consider That the Sea-Salt and that are agreeable in the main with each other since they have almost the same Shape and Taste c. the former of which will appear by Evaporation and Crystalizing them and as for some small Difference to be perceiv'd betwixt them that may easily arise from those Bituminous and other as well as Nitrous Bodies which flow into the Sea and which may be mixed with them both by the internal Agitation of the Parts of the Water as well as the outward Action of the Sun and Air. And that there is such Salt dissolv'd in Sea-Water might be probable if it were possible so to raise the fresh Water it was dissolv'd in by Distillation as to leave the Saline Parts behind but not now to mention that not only I but the Judicious Sir John Haukins in his Voyage to the East-Indies have by distilling of Salt-Water obtain'd from it a wholesome fresh Water I shall without making a long Digression proceed to answer an Objection which is urg'd against what I have deliver'd viz. That if the Springs acquir'd such a Saltness by running through the Earth it would be discernible before they emptied themselves into the Ocean To this I shall answer That besides those fresh Springs which are visible to us there may be several others which lye too deep for us to take Notice of But here it may be requisite to take Notice That I do not say That the Saltness of the Sea wholly depends on such Supplies but that they contribute to the Saltness of it The Bitterness of Sea Water whence Having said so much of the Saltness of the Sea and its Causes it may be now seasonable to observe from whence proceeds that Bitterness remarkable in some if not most sea-Sea-Water which we conceive may proceed partly from the external Power of some Catholick Agent and partly from those Bituminous Bodies which are carried along with spring-Spring-Water into the Sea which hath been visibly apparent in the Island Barbadoes where that which they call Barbadoes Tarr hath been seen to flow from the Rock into the Sea and to these Causes may concur some Subterraneal Exhalations and Effluvia which I have elsewhere taken notice of to flow from and pervade the Earth And as for those different Tastes which are perceiv'd in the Sea at several Places it is no less probable that they proceed from other adventitious Bodies mix'd and incorporated with the sea-Sea-Water for that the Sea-Salt which is dissolv'd in it is not a simple Salt but a compound I have been induc'd to believe by a Salt which I obtain'd from it And that some Catholick Agents may work Changes in the Saltness of the Sea which it would not otherwise have by a bare Solution of those adventitious Bodies that are mix'd in it I have Reason to believe since I have found That by keeping the Parts of sea-Sea-Water in Agitation by a continued digestive Heat it hath considerably differ'd in Taste from a bare Solution of Sea-Salt in Water And for a further Confirmation That the Saltness of the Sea is vary'd in several Places I shall barely intimate those several Colours different
Qualities and stupendious Multitudes of adventitious Corpuscles which are mix'd with it Agitation requisite to preserve Sea Water from stinking But to proceed amongst the various Observations to be made about Sea-Water it is worth our Notice That if it be kept from Agitation it will in a short time stink which I have not only observ'd by keeping some of it in a Runlet for some time but also I am inform'd by one who in a Voyage was for some days becalmed that the Sea for want of Agitation stunk so much in twelve or fourteen days that the Smell was almost intolerable which continued till the Winds put the Water into Agitation Which agrees with what Sir John Hawkins hath observ'd who relates the following Story Were it not for the Moving of the Sea by the Force of Winds Tides and Currents it would corrupt all the World The Experience of which I saw Anno 1590 lying with a Fleet about the Islands of Azores almost Six Months the greatest Part of the time we were becalmed with which all the Sea became so replenished with several sorts of Gellies and Forms of Serpents Adders and Snakes as seem'd Wonderful some green some black some yellow some white some of divers Colours and many of them had Life and some there were a Yard and a half and some two Yards long which had I not seen I could hardly have believ'd and hereof are Witnesses all the Company of the Ships which were then present so that hardly a Man could draw a Bucket of Water clear of some Corruption In which Voyage toward the End thereof many of every Ship fell sick of this Disease and dy'd apace but that the speedy Passage into our own Country was a Remedy to the Crazed and a Preservative for those that were not touched The Saltness of the Sea differs As for the different Degrees of the Saltness of the Sea I shall deliver what I have been inform'd of as briefly as I can And First It hath been observ'd by one to whom I gave a Glass conveniently shaped to try the specifick Gravity of the Water that it grew heavier and heavier as he came nearer the Line till within about thirty Degrees Latitude from whence to Jamaica he observ'd no Alteration in the specifick Gravity in the least And in Confirmation of this I am likewise inform'd by one who for his own Satisfaction weigh'd the Water both under the Aequinoctial and at Cape of good Hope and found that the Weight of both was the same To which may be added that it is commonly observ'd at Mosambique one of the hottest Places in the World that the Sea is so salt there that it bears up the Ships a considerable Height out of the Water more than in other Places and that the Water may be much salter in one Place than another by having more Salt dissolved in it does not only appear from what hath been said but also from what is frequently observ'd in the different Strength of Brine-Pits But to pass from what I have learnt by Information to what I have observ'd my self concerning the Proportion of Salt to the Water it was dissolv'd in which I have observ'd in sea-Sea-Water betwixt England and France sea- The Proportion of Salt in sea-Sea-Water The first Experiment I made to discover the Quantity of Salt was this that having in a Viol weigh'd an equal Proportion of sea-Sea-Water taken up at the Surface of the Sea with common Water the Weight of the former exceeded the latter of forty fifth Part but these Liquors being more Hydrostatically try'd by weighing Sulphur in them that which in the Sea-Water weigh'd ℥ ss + 10 ½ gr in Sea-Water fetch'd from the bottom ballanced the same Weight but being weigh'd in common Water it weigh'd ℥ ss + 15 ½ gr so that the Sea-Water was a Fifty third Part heavier than the fresh the Difference in which way of trying it from what was observ'd in the former Tryal I could attribute to nothing but some grosser Saline Parts mix'd with the common Water or some evaporated Parts of the Sea-Water Another way we made use of to try the different specifick Gravity of these Liquors was by Distillation ad Siccitatem in a digestive Furnace in which a Pound Averdupoise Weight yeilded ℥ ss 10 gr of Salt so that the Proportion of the Salt to the Water was as 30 and 12 100 to one being near the Thirtieth Part. But suspecting that the Quantity of this Salt was much increas'd by imbibing Moisture from the Air I caus'd it to be dry'd in a Crucible and found it weigh'd ʒiij + ss which is about a Thirty sixth Part. How so much a greater Quantity of Salt should be obtain'd by Distillation is difficult to conjecture yet I am apt to think that it might proceed from some Parts of the Water detain'd from flying away by being enclos'd amongst the cubical Salts and this I am apter to believe First Because I have elsewhere prepar'd a Salt which would coagulate and embody it self with Water and Secondly Because I am told That a Sort of Salt is brought from the Coast of Spain which being here purify'd and dissolv'd will yield a double Quantity The Sea-Water salter sometimes than at others Whether the Sea-Water may at some times be more impregnated with Saline Parts than at others I conceive probable if we consider the Supplies that it receives both from the Earth which are carry'd to it along with Springs and also the sudden Additions it may receive from Subterraneal Exhalations but these Observations being very nice it most commonly requires other Measures than what Hydrostaticks afford for it may be observ'd That several volatile Salts which are of no considerable Weight above common Water may be mix'd with it without being perceiv'd so that one may easily be deceiv'd in judging of the Saltness of the Sea altogether by Hydrostaticks because that which violently affects the Taste may have but a small Influence in the Balance To confirm which I shall add That a Bubble of Glass having Metal in it weigh'd ʒiij ✚ 51 ¼ gr in Spirit of Sal Armoniack and but ʒiij ✚ 45 ¾ in common Water But further I weigh'd in the same Liquor an equal Proportion of Sea-Salt brought from the torrid Zone and Sal Armoniack and found that the Bulk of the former was to an equal Proportion of that Liquor as two and a quarter to one whereas the Sal Armoniack was not above a hundredth Part above one and 7 10 to one which is the more strange because Part of the Composition of Sal Armoniack is Sea-Salt But that I might be satisfi'd what was the greatest Degree of Saltness that Water would be impregnated with I shook a Lump of Salt in Water till it would dissolve no more and found that a Brine might be made so strong that the Salt would be dissolv'd in five times its weight of Water To conclude this Discourse I shall add one
thing which hath not been taken notice of by Hydrostaticians which is the weight of the Sea-Salt to its Bulk of Water which I have found to be almost as two to one and I likewise found that a piece of Sal Gemm which is more pure and weighty than Sea-Salt was to its Bulk of Water about as 2 2 8 to 1. CHAP. VIII Memoirs for the Natural History of Mineral Waters THE Use of Mineral Waters are so Universal and the Methods which some Physicians take to try them so slight that tho' I am satisfied it is difficult without Experience to Ascribe Virtues to them à priori by Reason of the Great Variety of Minerals which may impregnate them with Particles of various and very different Natures I cannot but think but that if we were furnish'd with a sufficient Number of Quaeres and several Methods in order to a Discovery of them more nice Tryals might much Contribute to the clearing up of a Natural History of Mineral Waters since by a competent number of Experiments it might be hoped that the Nature of those Metalline Salts with which Mineral Waters are Impregnated might be discovered Wherefore I have lay'd down such sorts of Experiments that might be most easily try'd viz. chiefly Chimical Ones which may be made at home without the Inconveniencies of attending those Mineral Fountains from whence they spring And because my Design is rather to improve Physick by the following Observations than to entertain Speculative Naturalists I have chiefly made it my Business in the following Papers to consider those Waters call'd Acidulae rather than the other term'd Thermae because the former are of more general Use The danger of an ill use of Mineral Waters But perhaps some may think that the Quares hereafter propounded may be too troublesome and more than requisite since the Use of Mineneral Waters are thought so innocent as to be of no ill Consequence if Unsuccesful To which it may be answer'd that tho' when skilfully given they do a great deal of good yet they are as prejudicial if unskilfully prescrib'd and therefore since there cannot be too much Caution we cannot be too inquisitive to inform our selves of their Virtues for there may be a great many hidden Qualities in them and they may be impregnated with several Metalline Properties which may not be discover'd to the Eye or by common Tryals Besides were such Experiments industriously prosecuted they might help to discover several other Qualities in Mineral Waters which are as yet unknown for from the following Experiments it is evident that the Earth which abounds with Minerals of a Martial Nature may be more apt to impregnate subterraneal Waters than we can otherwise imagine for upon pouring of a Tincture of Galls filtrated through Cap-paper upon filings of Steel The Effects of filings of Steel in a Tincture of Galls the Liquor in half an hour became Opacous and almost as black as Ink The like Phaenomena to which were exhibited by Steel in an Infusion of Brasil or Log-wood made in common Water To which we may add that several Waters have been discover'd under ground of very different Tastes some of which have been found to be corrosive and others as harmless being endow'd with several Medicinal and Useful Qualities and I am inform'd more particularly of one which is a Mine of Coral in Devonshire about 360 foot deep in which was found a Water very thick and red yet cool and Diuretick and not in the least nauseous to the Taste CHAP. IX Titles propos'd for the Natural History of Mineral VVaters consider'd whilst in their proper Channel Quaeries in order to a discovery of the Virtues of Mineral Waters IN order to a natural History of Mineral Waters they ought to be consider's in three different Capacities First as they are found in their natural Receptacles Secondly when drawn up for use and thirdly with Respect to their Effects on Human Bodies To the first of which Heads the following Quaeres may be refer'd 1. Within the Precinct of what Climate or Parallel and in what degree of Latitude the Mineral Waters are to be found 2. To what point these Waters lie open most in their Receptacles 3. Whether the Ground in which they are found be a Plain or how much it differs from a Plain 4. If the Ground be upon an Ascent how far they are from the botttom of that Ascent 5. Whether a Recrementitious Substance adheres to Stones long contiguous to these Waters 6. Whether subterraneal Fires be near such Waters and what Phaenomena such exhibit 7. Whether Brimstone or Sal-Armoniack c. be found about the Vents of such subterraneal Fires 8. Whether instead of subterraneal Fires there are other adjacent Aestuaries and whether such be constant or intermitting and if so whether periodical or irregular 9. Whether Mineral Fumes of particular colours or smells arise from such Aestuaries 10. Of what Temper the neighbouring as well as the Soil they pass through is of 11. Whether and of what Nature those Minerals are of which they pass through 12. Whether the Mineral Waters be originally fresh and derive their Virtues from the Soil they afterwards pass through 13. Whether if it acquir'd its Virtues so there were upon the Impregnation any Effervescence or whether any such Effect succeeded its Mixture with another Liquor 14. Whether there be a Spring of a contrary Nature near it viz. as to Heat and Cold as it is observ'd in France 15. Whether an oyly or bituminous inflammable Substance float in it 16. Whether the Seasons of the Year or Temperature of the Weather alters them and what Qualities they lose or acquire by such For after Rain I have observ'd such Waters incapable of turning a Tincture of Galls black But as to its Medicinal Virtues I have found that Rain after long Droughts hath rather increas'd than diminish'd their Strength by dissolving and diluting those Salts which were fix'd in the Earth for want of a Vehicle but if the Waters be weak and the Rain much those Salts being the more diluted render the Waters less Effectual 17. Whether the Qualities of the Waters may be Chymically and Mechanically discover'd as also of what Colour and Weight and with what Menstruums their Salts may be mix'd and likewise what Substances they will yield when expos'd to different Degrees of Fire and what other Chimical Tryals those as well as the Caput Mortuum may undergo CHAP. X. Containing Titles for the Natural History of Mineral Waters when drawn out of their Receptacles A Continuation of Qeaeries 1. WHether the Mineral Water propos'd be actually Hot or Cold From whence we may judge from what Depth those Waters rose and whether they were impregnated with a Salt-Peter or Sal-Armoniack in their Ascent And the several Degrees of Heat or Cold may be either try'd by immerging a Thermoscope or by trying whether they will Coagulate Oyl of Aniseeds or melt Butter 2. Of the specifick Gravity which being
Parts are checked by Cold. But leaving this plausible tho' not satisfactory Experiment I shall proceed to another which is this Having filled a Glass Bubble capable of containing about three Ounces with near equal Parts of Oyl of Vitriol and Water half a dozen Iron Nails being cast into it we stopp'd the Cylindrical Neck of the Tube with Diapalma so close as to exclude the Air altogether which being done we immers'd the Neck of this Bubble into a Glass Vessel full of the same Liquor and in a little time perceiv'd Bubbles to rise to the Top of it being rais'd by the Heat produced by the Action of the Oyl upon the Nails and this Air was so much increas'd in a little time as to depress the Water quite out of the Bubble into the Cylindrical Neck of it But lest that Pressure should be thought to proceed from the Agitation of those insensible Parts of Matter we observ'd That tho' the Vessels were expos'd to the Air for four days to give the Motion of the Parts time to cease had the Effect proceeded from them we observ'd That the Liquor all that time continued depressed the Space beforementioned being filled with Air. And what was worthy to be noted Upon a small degree of Heat approaching the Bubble the included Air was further dilated And the like Phaenomena succeeded upon a Tryal with Nails corroded in Aqua fortis From which Experiments it might be inferred That if Water be not convertible into Air yet it seems probable that it may be generated anew And that Air and Water are mutually convertible into each other might further be urg'd as nothing but what the Aristotelians teach and allow of But we shall rather urge That if what Democritus Lucippus and Epicurus together with other Naturalists teach be allow'd of viz. That the Qualities of Bodies depend on the different Figures Shapes and Textures of the Parts of Matter they consist of it will be reasonable enough to think That the Texture of the Parts of Water being alter'd they may acquire the several Qualities of Air since it is certain That the Parts of Matter may by a lucky Concourse of Causes become springy So Silver by being beaten with a Hammer acquires Springiness which it loses by being heated in the Fire and becomes flexible EXPERIMENT XXIII The Subject of the former Experiment prosecuted IN Prosecution of what was deliver'd in the foregoing Experiments We filled a Glass call'd a Philosophical Egg with common Water about a Foot and a half high it being large enough to contain about nine Ounces and the Diameter of the Neck being at the Top half an Inch and at the Bottom an Inch this being put into the Receiver and the Pump ply'd when the Air was pretty well exhausted several Bubbles rose to the Top and broke but all of them finding an easy Passage through the Water did not elevate it as when they ascended in a narrower Cylinder but upon an Admission of Air into the Receiver again the Water was sensibly depressed To try whether distilled Water was more subject to expand than common Water I put two Ounces of it into a Glass Bubble which wrought to the Middle of it's Neck but it neither swelled nor yielded Bubbles upon an Exsuction of the Air. But having put distilled Water into two distinct Philosophical Eggs the Neck of the former being straitned with a Glass Tube we plac'd them in the Receiver and found a manifest Difference upon the Exsuction of the Air for in that which was straitned the Air manifestly elevating the Water several Bubbles were gather'd about the bottom of the Glass Tube whereas in the other Egg the Water was not in the least elevated and though the Bubble in the last-mentioned disappear'd upon the Re-ingress of the Air those above the Tube continu'd visible only a little contracted for a considerable time the Surface of the Water which was before elevated being depressed lower than when first put into the Egg. And after a days time having again ply'd the Pump we observ'd That the Bubbles were so much drawn out before that we could scarce discern a Bubble in either but that in which the Cylindrical Tube was plac'd swell'd the Breadth of a Barly Corn tho' the other did not yet in the former upon a Re-ingress of Air it subsided again and whether that Swelling was caus'd by the Rarefaction of the Water or the Spring of some latent airy Parts is not easy to determine EXPERIMENT XXIV The former Experiments prosecuted with other Liquors HAVING put Sallad Oyl into a Glass about the Size of a Turkey's Egg whose Stem was near â…“ of an Inch in Diameter the Liquor reaching up to the Middle of the Stem we plac'd it in the Receiver together with the like Vessel fill'd to the same Height with Water and upon drawing out the Air the Bubbles were not only more copious than those of the Water but rose much sooner as well as longer continuing till the Pumper was quite tired with Pumping and what was very remarkable in this Experiment was that when the Oyl was put into the Receiver before the Receiver could be closed and the Pump put into Action it subsided near half an Inch in the Stem Having put Oyl of Turpentine into a Glass Bubble we observ'd That it afforded a good Quantity of Bubbles which expanded themselves in their Ascent and would sometimes raise the Oyl in the Tube so much as to make it run over But besides the foregoing we try'd the like Experiments with other Liquors amongst which a strong Solution of Salt of Tartar afforded very few Bubbles and those much later than other Liquors Spirit of Vinegar likewise yielded very few Red Wine afforded Bubbles pretty plentifully which chang'd Places by moving in an oblique Ascent and formed a sort of Froth near the Top which presently disappear'd Milk afforded plentiful Bubbles which elevated that Liquor more than common Water We likewise put Eggs into the Receiver to see whether the Substance contain'd in the Shells would break them leaving the Film within it whole as that Substance frozen had done but it succeeded not We put Spirit of Urine into a Glass Egg filling another up to the Middle of the Neck with common Water to which we added as much Spirit of Wine as rais'd it half an Inch higher and into a Glass which differ'd from the former only in having a flat Bottom we pour'd rectify'd Spirit of Wine till it rose to â…” of the Neck And the Edges of these three being mark'd we put them into a Receiver Upon the Exsuction of the Air the Mixture of Water and Spirit of Wine afforded very few Bubbles The Spirit of Urin swell'd near an Inch and a half above the Mark affording Store of Bubbles which formed a Froth upon which several larger Bubbles lay which were plac'd one above another to the Top of the Tube The Spirit of Wine afforded Bubbles till we were weary
Light to proceed from some Refractions from the Glass darkned within by those white Steams Secondly That since the Air abounds with Parts gross enough to appear in the Sun-beams and to reflect the Rays of Light which rise from Bonfires the Reflection might proceed from some gross Airy Parts within the Receiver Thirdly The Whiteness seem'd to proceed from the various Surfaces of the airy Parts reflecting one upon another like Looking-glasses so as to represent each other contiguous so Water or Eggs beaten to Froth lose their Transparency and appear white But further having immers'd the Neck of our Receiver in Water and set the Pump on work the Water being drawn in through a small Hole had its Parts so broken that the Receiver appear'd full of Milk rather than Water And if a Piece of Crystal be thrown very hot into cold Water it will crack and having so many new Surfaces within appears white Which Things being consider'd and weigh'd it may not be an improbable Guess That the aforementioned Phaenomena proceeded from the Parts of the Air displac'd as to their Posture and Situation as whilst in that Motion to disturb their former Continuity and Transparency And this Conjecture may be made probable by observing That the more Air was included the more conspicuous was the Whiteness but more especially by this viz. That having exhausted the Receiver and apply'd a Glass Bubble to the Hole in the Stop-cock so that there might be a Communication betwixt the Cavity of the Receiver and it upon the Exsuction of the Air out of the Receiver the Air in the Bubble was so disorder'd by so sudden a Disilition of it's Parts that it appear'd like Milk but upon a sudden Re-ingress of the Air became transparent again But if it should be objected That the Whiteness in Water turn'd into Bubbles may proceed from the Interposition of so Heterogeneous a Body as Air I should answer That I have in another Place mentioned two volatile Liquors which being mix'd produce a white consistent Body though both the Ingredients were transparent But having convey'd some Smoak into our Receiver and observ'd upon plying of the Pump That the Air remaining in the Pump became opacous we suspected that the Reason why the former mentioned Light sometimes appear'd and sometimes did not might proceed from some Parts of Matter swimming in the Air more at one time than another which was dispos'd more to cause such Reflections of the Rays of Light as to afford the fore-named Phaenomenon which is rendred probable by observing That the Receiver appear'd opaque when the Smoak settl'd about the Sides of it and it may further be illustrated by what we mentioned before of our smoaking Liquor where the Corpuscles of it being put into a new Motion became opacous instead of transparent And if it should be asked How the Air should abound with such various Parts of Matter I must answer That it is not an unusual Observation That the Air undergoes several and very frequent Changes for besides several Instances which might be added the Learned Josephus Acosta observes That in America There are Winds which naturally trouble the Water of the Sea and make it Green and Black others clear as Crystal Besides we observ'd That the Pendula as well as Scales suspended in our Receiver lost a great deal of their Brightness upon drawing out and letting in the Air. And I once made a Tincture of a certain Metalline Substance which would become turbid and clear successively for several times for which strange Phaenomenon no Reason could be given EXPERIMENT XXXVIII Of the freezing of Water and it's Expansion HAVING conveyed a Glass Vessel into our Receiver in the midst of which was contained a Cylinder filled with Water and enclosed with Snow and Salt upon plying of the Pump the Snow began to melt a little faster than we expected and the Receiver being pretty well exhausted the Water in the Cylinder began to freeze so that in a little time the Surface of the Ice was above that of the Water in which the Snow and Salt was dissolved and which swam about it The Superficies of the Water was concave and being held betwixt the Eye and the Light appear'd full of Bubbles And it is not a little strange That there should be so powerful an Expansion in Water froze as not only to burst Bottles in the Winter-time but as I am inform'd to separate the solid Parts of Metals so that Bell-Metal having been expos'd to the Wet and that Wet froze in the Pores of the Metal it would fly in Pieces and Cabeus in lib. 4. Meteor Aristot relates a no less memorable Account of Vessels made of Stone which would fly asunder upon the Expansion of the Moisture lodged in their Pores and froze there Where it is not a little strange That Cold should by freezing Water cause it to swell whereas the Effect it hath upon the Air is manifestly to condense it EXPERIMENT XXXIX A Phaenomenon taken notice of in the exhausted Receiver HAving put the End of a Glass Tube into an Oval Glass so that it almost touched the Bottom we cemented it to the Neck of that Oval and then conveying about six Spoons full of Water into the Egg we blew it so full of Air as to force the Water into the Pipe and to keep it suspended betwixt that Air shut up in the Viol and the external Air this Weather-glass represented by the Fourteenth Figure was plac'd in a small Receiver at the upper End of the Tube which was small being permitted to stand about five Inches above the Cover the middle of which it penetrated Upon pumping out the Air it was to be observ'd That the Water in the Pipe manifestly descended which was an Argument that no Sensible Heat was produced in the Receiver by the Action of the Pump since by barely applying my Hand to the outside of the Receiver that gentle Warmth so far rarify'd the Air in the Egg as to enable it to raise the Water in the Tube much higher than it was depress'd upon the Exsuction of the Air Tho' we will not thence infer that the Cavity of the Receiver was colder after than before the Air was pump'd out since the Pressure of the Air in the Egg together with the Weight of the Incumbent Atmosphere might in some measure cause the sides of the Glass to give way for want of an equal Pressure of the Air on the Convex and external Superficies of it which Guess may seem the more probable not only because the Springiness of Glass might contribute to the bending of it but likewise since upon a Re-ingress of Air the Water was rais'd up to it's former Height again But to return to our Experiment From hence it appears That if there be no Vacuum betwixt the concave sides of the Receiver and the Superficies of the Bubble every Substance fine enough to penetrate the Pores of Glass hath not it's Parts in an Agitation
by a Solution of Sugar in Water Pag. 126. by a Solution of Salt of Tartar Pag. 127. by Lead raised in the Form of Vapours Pag. 128. by droping Oyl of Turpentine upon Spirit of Wine Pag. 139. by opening the Body of Copper with Sal Armoniack and applying it to a Candle Pag. 141. Liquids why sometimes unapt to mix with each other Ibid. A Diaphanous and Opacous Body afforded by a Liquid Pag. 143. The Superficies of Liquors in Vacuo Boyliano Pag. 148. A Liquor may become consistent by the mixture of a Powder Pag. 179. The Effects of a Load-stone upon Filings of Iron Pag. 293. M. Matter defin'd Pag. 2. Motion a Catholick Agent Ibid. Guided by God in the Creation Ibid. Mechanical Affections their result Pag. 7. Mixture and Texture how different Pag. 22. The Effects of Motion various Pag. 23. Modification twofold Pag. 44 45. In what Respects Pag. 47 48. Medicines Chymical laid aside too rashly Pag. 113 114. The Effects of languid and unheeded Motion from Pag. 210 to 238. Motion may be propagated through different Me diums Pag. 223. An Observation concerning Manna Pag. 253. Concerning a Match burning in the Receiver Pag. 325. Why Mercury is not always suspended at the same Height Pag. 334. Marbles disjoyn'd in the exhausted Receiver Pag. 446. Mountains their Height Pag. 468. N. Nature may not be always exact in her Laws Pag. 255. Natural and Preter-natural States of Bodies not rightly stated Pag. 302. The natural Sate of the Air a forc'd State Pag. 304. O. Odours no inherent Quality Pag. 9. Odours what Ibid. Observations about Lignum Vitae Pag. 103. Observations made in Quarries Pag. 104. P. Primary Affections of Matter Pag. 3. Putrefaction what Pag. 16. Corpuscularian Principles very firtile Pag. 21 22. Minuteness of Pores no Arguments of their Non-existence Pag. 125. A Plastick Power inherent in Bodies Pag. 189. Plastick Power what Pag. 190. Petrification how effected Pag. 194 195. Q. Qualities no distinct Entities Pag. 3. Qualities the Result of Modification Pag. 5. Proved Pag. 6. Qualities act how Pag. 11. Complexion of Qualities no real Qualities Pag. 17. Whether Qualities depend on substantial Forms Pag. 18. Qualities of a Compound different from the Ingredients Pag. 19. Some Qualities the Result of mixture Ibid. Qualities how alter'd Pag. 20 182. Different Qualities in Homogeneous Bodies Pag. 26. Exhibited by Venice Turpentine Pag. 27. By putrifi'd Vrine Pag. 27. New Qualities added upon a Dissolution of the Specifick Form Pag. 46. Qualities the Result of Motion c. Pag. 73 74 76 77. Various Qualities produc'd by a Change of Texture in Camphire Pag. 78 79 80. In Copper and Silver Pag. 81 82 83 84 85. In preparing of Luna Cornea Pag. 86 87. In preparing of a Peculiar Salt Pag. 88. By digesting Spirit of Nitre with Sea-Salt Pag. 89 90. By distilling Oyl of Vitriol with Nitre Pag. 91 92. By digesting Spirit of Wine and Oyl of Vitriol together Pag. 102 103. By a Redintegration of Salt Petre Pag. 108 109. R. Redintegrations of Bodies consider'd Pag. 69. Of Amber Pag. 70. Of Roch Allom Ibid. Of Vitriol Pag. 71 72. Of Antimony and Oyl of Vitriol Ibid. Of Salt Petre Pag. 105 106 107. The Signification of the Word Rest limited Pag. 198. Of Respiration Pag. 382. The Aristotelian Rarefaction examined Pag. 404. Rarefaction explained Pag. 416. According to the Doctrin of the Plenists Pag. 417. The Rota Aristotelica explain'd Pag. 419 420. S. Sounds no Inherent Qualities Pag. 9. Sounds what Ibid. Species of Bodies how distinguish'd Pag. 57 58. Salts their Figures how accounted for Pag. 62. Salts obtain'd from an Alkaly Pag. 63. From Oyl of Vitriol and a Solution of Sea-Salt Ibid. From a mixture of Spirit of Wine and Nitre Ib. From a Solution of Copper Pag. 64. From Gold Pag. 65. Venetian Borax Ibid. Spirit of Vrine and Nitre Pag. 66. Soot and Sal Armoniack Ibid. Spirit of Nitre and Pot-Ashes Pag. 68. Salt Petre obtain'd from Pot-Ashes Pag. 107. Aqua Fortis and Salt of Tartar Ibid. Solidity refin'd Pag. 158. What is requisite to Solidity or Firmness Pag. 158 159 160 161 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 176 177 178 179 181 184 185 186 187. A Solid turn'd Fluid Pag. 180. Motion in the Parts of Solids Pag. 200 201. Cosmical Suspitions from Pag. 249 to 256. The Temper of Submarine Regions Pag. 266. Of the uppermost Ibid. Of the lower Pag. 267 268. The Bottom of the Sea unequal Pag. 279. Vndisturb'd in Storms Pag. 271. Almost stagnates Ibid. The Proportion of Salt in the Sea to the Water Pag. 275 282 283 284. Springs in the Bottom of the Sea Ibid. The Reason of the Saltness of the Sea Pag. 278 279. It s Bitterness whence Pag. 280. Concerning the Propagation of Sounds Pag. 353. A Spring bent in the exhausted Receiver Pag. 458. To what Height Water will be rais'd by Suction Pag. 452 454 456. T. Transmutation of Metals not impossible Pag. 94 95. The Texture of their Liquids contributes to their Mixture Pag. 175. The Texture of Bodies enables them to work on each other Pag. 247. Trees under Water Pag. 273. V. Union the Cause of the Effects of Compounds Pag. 44 51. Vitriol Natural and Artificial agree in Qualities Pag. 60 61. Vitriol turn'd into Allom Pag. 68. Vortices beyond the Concave Surface of the Firmament Pag. 256. Of a Vacuum Pag. 331 362 440. Vapours and Fumes why they ascend Pag. 356. W. Water acquires new Qualities by an Alteration of its Form Pag. 76. Water Convertible into Earth Pag. 98 99. How it becomes Solid Powder Pag. 99. An insipid Water drawn from Spirit of Vinegar and Salt of Tartar Pag. 188. Water its Gravitation Pag. 270. Agitation requisite to keep Water from stinking Pag. 281. Memoirs for the Natural History of Mineral Waters Pag. 286. The different Weight of Mineral Waters Pag. 291. Observations requisite in trying them Pag. 295. Whether they have Arsnick in them Pag. 296. What Proportion of Salt they afford Pag. 299. Of the Elater of Water Pag. 337. It depends on the Elater of the Air contain'd in the Pores of it Pag. 339. Water hot its spontaneous Ebullition Pag. 391. The END ADVERTISEMENT THis Volume containing an Epitomy of several of the Author's Works I think it necessary to advertise that to avoid a Repetition of all the Titles prefix'd to the Tracts Printed severally I have digested each of those Books into such a Method as they would have been probably Printed in had they been all writ by our Author at one time each Book being contain'd in Chapters the Titles of which will acquaint the Reader what Tracts they belong to And that the Reader may be more clearly satisfi'd I intend at the End of the next Volume to add such a Table of the Author's Works as shall readily direct what Chapters each Book is abridg'd in by referring to them IMPRIMATUR Liber Cui Titulus THE WORKS Of the HONOURABLE ROBERT BOYLE Esq EPITOMIZED By RICHARD
Mercury so easily the rarified Air would rather penetrate than buoy it up The Reason of Suction To shew in Opposition to Mr. Hobbs how much the Atmospherical Air is concern'd in Suction we took a Glass Bubble whose long Stem was Cylindrical and very slender and having by the help of heat expelled a good quantity of the Air contain'd in it when by immerging it in Water that Rarified Air which remained in it was condens'd the VVater was almost raised to the Top of the Pipe when this was done the Air in the Bubble being Rarified it forced out almost all the Water in the Stem only a few Drops which satisfi'd us that none of the Rarified Air had got out of the Pipe as the Depression of the Water so low assured us on the other side that the included Air was almost as much Expanded as when the Water began to ascend into the Pipe When the Air was thus Rarified we presently removed the Pipe out of the Water into the Stagant Mercury which ascended into it in a short time In which Experiment did the Mercury rise to prevent a Vacuum or did it's Ascent depend on any internal Principle of Motion or on the compression and propagated Pulsion of the Air that was expelled there would be no reason why the Mercury should not rise as high as the Water But from our Hypothesis the Reason is plain for as soon as the Cylinder of Water or Mercury together with the compress'd Air is equiponderant with the Atmosphere incumbent it rises no higer So that tho' the Air is less condens'd when the Tube is immers'd in Mercury yet the greater Weight of Mercury making a greater resistance than Water the external Air is not able to buoy it up any higher to compress the Air enclosed And this Experiment is confirm'd by the following For having expell'd a little Air out of the Bubble by heat so much Quicksilver ascended into it as fill'd a Fourth Part of the Pipe which being carefully removed so that no Mercury could run out we caused the Air in the globous part to be Rarified till almost all the Mercury was expell'd the end of the Pipe being all the while immers'd in Water as soon as the Air included began to cool the Water rose up into the Body of the Ball buoying up the Mercury before it whereit was observ'd that as the Air was more or less Rarifi'd and the Quicksilver exepll'd out of the Stem the Ascent of the Water would proportionably vary So that as the Body to be buoy'd up by the External Air varies in Weight so do the Degrees of it's Ascent Another Observation which shews that there is no Circulation of Wind such as Mr. Hobbs supposes to be the Cause of Suction is that Smoak will ascend without being in the least blown about But since Mr. Hobbs will not allow of a Vacuum but asserts that the Air makes it's Way through the close and solid Bodies I shall add that having expell'd the Air by Rarefaction out of a very thin Aeopile and stopp'd the Orifice up with Wax the External Air made such a violent Pressure on it as to thrust the Sides of it considerably inwards CHAP. VII The Cause of Attraction by Suction Attraction what SUction being look'd upon to be a sort of Attraction before I descend to a more particular Consideration of the former I shall premise something of the latter And tho' Attraction is generally taken to be a kind of Pulsion yet both of them to me seem to be but extrinsical Denominations of the same Local Motion in which if a Body mov'd precede the Movent or tends to acquire a greater Distance from it we call it Pulsion and if upon the Account of Motion the same Body either follows or tends towards the Movent it is term'd Attraction so that the difference is no Physical one but only Accidental in respect of the Line of Motion to the Movent As when a Man draws a Chain after him tho' he goes before it yet he hath some Part of his Body behind one Link which draws the rest after it and so if that Chain draws any thing after it tho' the Cause of the Attraction goes before yet there is a certain Cohesion of Parts that enables it to drag that Body after it so that Attraction evidently appears to be a Species of Pulsion and such an one as is usually term'd Trusion as when a Gardiner drives his Wheelbarrow before him without letting go his Hold. But perhaps it may be said that there are Attractions where it cannot be pretended that the Attrahent comes behind any Part of the Body attracted as in Magnetical and Electrical Attractions or as when Water rises by pumping As for the two first Instances should we allow with Modern Philosophers of screw'd Particles and other Magnetical Emissions we might say that these coming behind either the Body attracted or it 's porous Parts on it's Superficies might cause such an Effect or by procuring some Discussion of the Air that may make it thrust the moveable towards the Attracting Body But were there none of these nor any other subtil Agents that cause this Motion by a real tho' unperceiv'd Pulsion I should to distinguish these from other Attractions term them Attraction by Invisibles But as for the last Instance I suppose it will be easily granted that the ascending Rammer only makes way for the Water to rise as it is buoy'd up by External Air for from the Torrecellian Experiment it is evident that since the Terraqueous Globe is continually press'd upon by the Atmosphere if in any part that Pressure be taken off the Incumbent Atmospherical Pillar will buoy up as much of that Liquor as a Pillar of Air of such a Diameter is able to counterpoise The Truth of which is further confirm'd by observing that if the Air from about a Syringe be exhausted the Sucker may be pull'd up without elevating the Water or drawing it up after it And indeed supposing two Men by thrusting equally on each side a Door to keep it shut one might as well say that he that left off thrusting on one side was the Cause of the Doors opening as that the Water rises by the drawing up the Rammer which only gives way to the Water as buoy'd up by the External Air. Thus much being said of Attraction I shall proceed to consider The Cause of Suction as laid down by others exanun'd that Species of it call'd Suction for which several Philosophers have thought on various Causes As Nature's Abhorrency of a Vacuum which were it true Water by Suction might be rais'd to any Height but we have found by Experience that it will not be rais'd above 33 ½ Foot which Weight the Atmosphere is able to buoy up as appears from the Torrecellian Experiment And further from an Experiment elsewhere laid down where tho' Water may presently be suck'd up to the Top of a Pipe 3 Foot long yet
it becomes very violent Balbini Hist Bohem. l. 1. c. 9. Demontibus de valle Lauezka p. 29. Chanowsky in vestigio Boh. piae C. ult Montes parte eltera aestatem altera hicmem referentes De montibus ad Bavariam stantibus mira est Alberti Chanowii nostri narratio Post Bergreichensteinam oppidum fodinis hodieque nobile esse montes non tam situ alii enim ad septentrionem alii ad meridiem latus obvertunt quam Coelo temporibus adversantes vallibus latissimis montes illos dirimentibus monstri instar est quod se vidisse Anno 1639. in rem praesentem venisse religiosissimus ille Apostolicus vir asserit in altero monte saepius aestatem in altero apposito hiemem dominari it a ille succus aestivat hic altissimis nivibus obsitus à viatore superari non potest ob eamque causam Messes ipsae variant dum in montibus ad nos obversis demessa sunt omnia Id. Ibid. altera Montium parte seges virescit Mirius illud quod in Biessinentibus Czachroviensibus Agris in tractu Plsnensi contiguis quos unus tantum sulcus dirimit ac dividit deprehenditur Czachrovienses adhuc hibernant cum in Biessinensi Coelum ardeat ibi caput attollit humo frumentum cum Czachrovii adolescit in culmum clemento quoque dispari illud riget hoc tepet ferveâ— eâque ex causâ dum Czachrovienses bene pelliti ingrediuntur Biessinenses pellibus onerari se sentiunt villosque deponunt Aliquid tale Anno 1652. mihi quoque accidisse memini nam cum Glacio Zambergam in Bohemia contenderem Glacio ob nives altissimas certum vehiculi genus quod trahas dicimus sumpsissem superatis montibus qui comitatum Glacensem à Bohemia dividunt subitò alia rerum facies apparuit altero enim montium latere viridia omnia reperimus sic ut Trahae nulli jam rei usui essent currum petere cogeremur nisi in luto natare placuisset at accolae montium illorum quotannis id sibi accidere confirmabant ut unum latus montium profundissimae nives contegerent quando alterum latus lectissimos flores proferret cum ibi omnia ventis verti viderentur apud se è floribus suavissimos odores efflari I was told by a Gentleman who several times went down into the Hungarian Gold Mine at Cremonitz that when he was drawn up the Groove which was bout 100 Foot deep as soon as he ascended half the way he perceiv'd the Air sensibly warmer which continu'd several Feet nearer the Day in which Region he observ'd several Veins of Native Vitriol of different Colours which were soft under Ground and being expos'd to the open Air presently hardened Under the Torrid Zone the Mariners I am told hang up their Bottles of Liquor in a Linnen Cloth that the Wind may blow upon it by which means it would be cool'd enough to make it fit for drinking The Heat of the Sun is so violent in some Parts of Moscovy Norway and especially at Mozambique that it often sets the very Houses on fire which I the less wonder at in the latter place because they build their Houses with a Stone that abounds with Sulphur Viv. When the Sun is in the Zenith the sandy Ground is so hot that they can scarce endure to tread on it Vn Gentilhomme de mes amis plein de merit digne de creance me mande entre plusieures choses extraordinaires qu'il a observées proche de Barege aux Pyrenées qu'il y a des ponts de niege d'un rocher à lautre pardessous les quels passent des torrents Il en a vu un qui embrasse deux torrents qui a vint neuf toises de long autant de large par dessus Il y a par dessous ce pont Neuf toises demi entre les Naissances de la voute les ponts sont tellement forts qu' il estime que du Canon y passeroit il a fait rouler de grosses pieces par dessus Le tremblement de Terre que souffrit la Syrie l'an 750. ne fut gueres moins surprenant puisque la Terre s'estant ouverte de toutes parts plusieurs Villis furent abîmèes d'autres renversées quelques unes qui estoient elevées sur des hauteures transportées dans des plaines eloignées de six mille de leur situation On en peut dire autant du froid extreme qui l'an 753. glaça le Pont-Euxin a la longueur de cent mille toute l'estendue de la mer voisine jusq ' à 30 condées de profondeur quoy qu'on ne fût encore qu'au commencement de l'automne Journal de Scavans III. 1685. It is the Custom at Guinea to cool their Water by burying it all Night under Ground And on the contrary in some Places it is so excessive Cold that in the Woods it would freeze our Eye-lids the outside of the Houses would be half cover'd with Snow and Ice-ickles would hang on the Insides the Cloaths on our Beds would be cover'd with a hoar Frost and Water which stood near the fire would have one side hot and the other froze The Sea would be froze up till the beginning of June and the Ground till the beginning of July Capt. James I was told by one who ascended to the Top of the Pic de Medi a Pyrenean Mountain that tho' the North side was covere'd with Snow yet the Heat of the Sun-shine could scarce be endur'd on the South side this Hill is so high that it may be seen from Montauban 27 Leagues distant An Ingenious Physician told me that tho' Jalap at Tangier might be reduced to Powder yet at Morocco it was so melted by the Heat of the Air as to become incapable of being powdered Nel capo di comorino si termina cosi I' esta come I' inverno dalla parte di la dal capo verso Notte dal'altra parte correspond illi â—â—mpo assai contrario è eiverso di maniera che chi va navigando per quella costae nel mese di Ottobre sino ad Aprile naviga nel esta è non puo in tutto questo tempo passare il capo per Esser iui la stagione del inverno il Puere che resiede nelle Chies ch' appartengono al Capo di Comorino ne Alcune la state il che e cosa di gran Meraviglia essendo cio nel medessimo tempo nella distanza sola mente di due o tre miglia An eminent Virtuoso descended into a Mine in Tirol 1800 Foot deep without taking notice of any hot Region by the way and at the Bottom the Air was so temperate that notwithstanding what is said of Antiperistasis no intense Cold was retreated thither to shun the Heat of the superior Air. One that descended into several Mines in England
being boyl'd to a clearness and set in a wide-mouth'd Cristal Glass in a small time puts on the colour of a German Amethist and in three hours time a lovely Green XVI Having gathered by filtration the Precipitate of Sublimate dissolved in water and when it was dry poured Spirit of Salt upon it in a glass Vessel the precipitate at the first will become white and when the ebullition which succeeds the mixture is ended it becomes a transparent Liquor XVII Having dropt Spirit of Salt upon a fourth part of Calcined Copper we found that the mixture produced a Tincture of a muddy Red and a white Powder which being acted on by the fire exhibited several colours XVIII The Solution of Copper just now mention'd being put into a Cylindrical Vial and 2 or 3 Spoonfuls of highly rectify'd Spirit of Wine poured upon it by shaking the mixture we obtained a Liquor of a green Colour like that of Emeralds XIX A few drops of Spirit of Wine being dropt upon a Taffety Ribband chang'd its Green into a Blew Colour and being dropt on a black Ribband alter'd that and made it put on that which is call'd a Fading Leaf XX. If Spirit of Salt be dropt upon Purple Paper it presently turns it Red. XXI Powder of Antimony being boyl'd to a Dissolution in Spirit of Salt in a glass Vessel lost its blackness and the Solution being dropt into Water it in a little time subsided in the Form of a white Precipitate These Experiments being laid down it may be necessary for us to observe how unexpected the Result of most Mixtures are which may be an Argument against the too frequent use of Compound Prescriptions since it often not only is uncertain how those Ingredients may destroy the Vertues of each other but somtimes whether they will duly mix according to Physitians expectation CHAP. IV. An Experimental History of COLOURS begun Containing Part the First THO there are some especially Chymists who think that a considerable Diversity of Colours Diversity of Colour not always an Argument of a variety in Qualities must always imploy a Diversity of Nature yet we see that Taffaties are endued with changable Colours as well as the Feathers of several Birds which have as great an Affinity in Nature as in Place and not only several Feathers vary in Colour from one another but sometimes several parts of the same Feather And there is no less variety of Colour in several Leaves of Flowers tho no difference can be discovered in their Properties A considerable Instance in which we have in Marvail of Peru which tho it produces several Scores of Flowers in its Season yet I have scarce found two coloured alike Yet changes of Colour oft signify Alteration in the Properties of Bodies But tho I believe that a variety of Colours does not always imply a Diversity of Properties yet I question not but that an alteration in point of Colour signifies a Variation in the Disposition of Parts of Bodies which is evident in the Extraction of Tinctures and several other Chymical Operations wherein the Change of Colours is the only Observation by which the Artist regulates his Process So we see that several Degrees of Maturation produces various Colours in Fruit and Steel if it be heated glowing hot in the fire and held over a Basion of Water till it changes its white to a red Colour so far as is then quench'd will be hard'ned and when polish'd at the end will look whitish but if the end of the Steel be held in a Candle so that the polish'd part may not be sully'd that which is almost contiguous to the Candle would change from a bright Yellow to a deep one or a sanguine Blew and from that to a fainter and then to a deeper Blew and in each of these diffetent Appearances its Texture is so much different that if whilst it is yellow it be cooled it is fit for Gravers Drills but when blew it is softer and fit for Springs of Watches and if it be kept long in the flame after this blew appears it will be too soft for Drills till hardned again And it is not a little pleasant to see how these Colours will succeed one another and run along the Steel very fast But because the flame of a Candle usually sullies the Steel we generally make use of a red-hot Iron to heat it with But not to prosecute these Experiments out of their due Place before I descend more Particularly to present you with my Considerations concerning Colours What is meant by Colour I think it requisite to premise That Colour being a Word of a twofold Signification in the following Discourse I shall sometimes use it to signifie only the Sensation of those reflected and modified Rays of Light which cause that Effect on the Sensory and generally in the vulgar Acceptation intimating by it the Disposition in the Object which causes the Rays of Light to be reflected so as to produce on the Sensory this or that Colour What the Perception of Colours depends upon And perhaps it may not be inconvenient to add that it is the Opinion of several Modern Atomists that the Sensation of Colours depends not so much on the inherent Qualities of the Object in the Sense but that such a Motion is given to the Spirits in the Retina that that communicated to the Brain and causing a Local Motion in some part of it we always think we see such a colour when the slender strings of the Retina are put into a like Motion whether the Light concurs to the Production of that Motion or not whence dreaming Men often think they see several things in their sleep and distracted Persons fancy they see several things before them which depends only upon an Internal Local Motion of their Spirits And so upon a violent blow upon the Eye we sometimes fancy we see Lightning and flashes of Fire and even upon a blow on the Head or when internal Humours cause such a Concussion in the extremities of the Optick Nerves as is wont to produce a Sensation of Light And I remember that having my self a violent Cough I fancy'd I saw flashes of Light which presently disappear'd again and a very discreet Lady observ'd that the day before she was seiz'd with some violent Hysterick and Hypochondriacal Fits which for the time gave her a bastard Palsey every thing before her seem'd to be dyed with bright and vivid but unusual colours And I am told by an ingenious Gentleman that several that were seiz'd with the Plague sometime before fancy'd every thing coloured over very beautifully and this Symptom was successfully remov'd as well as the other Symptoms of that Distemper by a Vomit The Vomit which was successfully given in this was made of about 8 or 10 Drachms of Crocus Metallorum and half a Drachm of white Vitriol But further as the Apparition of a Colour may be caus'd by the Motion of the Humors
Macrocephali mention'd by Hypocrates And it hath not only been observ'd that a sort of Hens want Rumps but I have seen a Raven perfectly white To which I shall add that a Lady who was a devout Catholick looking upon the Pebbles at the Bottom of St. Winifred's Well some time after bore a Child whose Skin was cover'd with the Resemblance of Red Pebbles To what hath been said of Negroes I shall add that the Epidermis only is black the Skin under that being as white as that of the Europeans so that a Child who had the Measles or small Pox after those Pimples had broke was cover'd with a multitude of white Spots And it is attested by several that the Negroes when first born are red or white like other Children but in a few days acquire the Colour of their Parents Nevertheless some of them that are born under the Torrid Zone continue white and are presented to the King and always wait on him These are usually as Purchas witnesses brought up in Witchcraft and the People stand in great Awe of them EXPERIMENT XII NOT only common Crab's Eyes and Pearls but Coral and Minium dissolv'd in Spirit of Vinegar may be precipitated by Oyl of Tartar into white Powders And not only Silver and Tin but Lead and Quicksilver dissolv'd in Aqua Fortis will yield a white Precipitate upon an Affusion of salt Water and so will Tin-glass and the Calces will be much better colour'd if they be precipitated with Oyl of Vitriol instead of Oyl of Tartar And black mineral Antimony may by the Salts which concur to the Composition of Sublimate be turn'd into a rectify'd Butter of Antimony which upon an Affusion of fair Water will precipitate the white Powder call'd Mercurius Vitae and the like Powder may be made of Antimony without any Addition at all And the like white Substance will be precipitated by an Affusion of Water upon a Solution of sulphureous Gums in Spirit of Wine And to these I may further add that Water being pour'd upon a red Tincture of Benjamin drawn with Spirit of Wine will turn it white But if such seemingly white Bodies stand for some time unstirred a resinous Substance will of it self subside And if acid Spirits be dropp'd upon a red Solution of Sulphur in Pot-Ashes or some other sharp Lixivium the precipitated Sulphur before it subsides will turn the red Liquor white But tho these several Bodies yield white Precipitates yet all will not since Gold yields a yellow one whether precipitated by Oyl of Tartar or Spirit of Sal Armoniack And Mercury tho when reduc'd to a Sublimate whether precipitated by Spirit of Urine or Hart's-horn it yields a white Precipitate yet with a Solution of Pot-Ashes or other strong Lixiviate Salts it will let fall an Orange Tawny colour'd Powder And so will Crude Antimony upon an Affusion of an acid Liquor To which we may add that any of these fix'd Salts being pour'd upon a Solution of Vitriol it will yield a Sulphur of Vitriol not at all white EXPERIMENT XIII THO it be in some measure true that White is a Colour like the Materia Prima fit to take any Form and that Black is a Colour which is not to be changed for another yet it does not hold universally true for tho' the Ingredients which dye a Body Black by infecting other Ingredients usually hinder it from taking a higher Colour yet we have made it appear that Inks of different kinds might be depriv'd of their Blackness And I have sometimes turn'd black Pieces of Silk yellow with Oyl of Vitriol And as for Whiteness we ought not to believe it so easily destroy'd without Caution and some Restrictions For Lead is by Calcination turn'd into a red Body and Tin is reduc'd into a white Calx and the common Putty sold in the Shops is made up of half Tin and half Lead and yet notwithstanding the Lead the Putty is white without discovering any Mixture of Minium And so if Copper be mix'd by Fusion with half the Quantity of Tin they will yield a Substance in which the white Colour is much more transparent than the reddish Colour of the Copper And on this occasion I shall add that Arsnick being colliquated in Copper blanch'd it but the white Mixture being kept upon the Cupel till the Arsnick flew away the Copper return'd to it's Pristine Colour And to shew how much the white Colour of a Metal may obscure the Colour of those it is mix'd with I shall add that a fourth Part of Gold being mix'd with Silver the yellow Colour of the Gold was not to be discern'd but when it was rubb'd on a Touch-stone Aqua Fortis would take off the Silver and leave the Gold behind it upon the Stone EXPERIMENT XIV A Polish'd Piece of black Horn being scrap'd with a Piece of Glass and laid upon a black Beaver Hat seem'd white enough but being plac'd upon white Paper the Colour of that eclipsed the Whiteness of the Horn and made it appear like dirty Linnen From which Experiment it appears that Colours depend neither on substantial Forms nor the Hypostatical Principles of the Chymists but on a Reflection of the Rays of Light variously modify'd by their new superficial Texture EXPERIMENT XV. IT is Taught by the Chymists that Blackness depends on Sulphur adust But besides what hath been already offer'd as the cause of Blackness I shall add in reference to the Opinion here propos'd that common Sulphur sublim'd is far from black but it is in a great measure yellow and rather more than less white than before and when set on fire to make Oleum Sulph per campanam it yields very little Soot and the Flame yields so little that it will scarce black a white Sheet of Paper and it is observ'd rather to whiten than to black Linnen and makes red Rose Leaves grow pale and not black And I have seen a Piece of fix'd Sulphur which was kept several Weeks in a violent Heat yet it had no other Colour when cool but a pure red And not only Sulphur but that sulphureous Body Camphire may be kept in a violent Heat without acquiring any thing of Blackness Nor will inflammable Spirit of Wine discolour a piece of Paper held over it whilst it consumes And Tin calein'd yields not a black but a white Calx and not only the Charcoal made of Oxy-Cedar is white but the Smoak of Tinby Coals is observ'd rather to blanch Linnen than black it To what hath been said we may add that the Ingredients of our Ink were not hot but cold and Juice of Limons will blacken the Blade of Knife except it be quickly wiped off tho' no actual Heat intervenes to adust the Sulphur And if the Blackness of the Ink depended on adust Sulphur it might be demanded what became of those adust Particles when the Liquor by a few drops of Oyl of Vitriol lost that Colour Besides Soot it self may have it's Texture so far
came through it that they appear'd to the Eye of a greenish Blew and the like succeeded with a Leaf of Silver EXPERIMENT X. I Am told that Lignum Nephriticum is us'd in the Country where it grows as an excellent Medicine against the Stone which Virtues Monardes likewise ascribes to it given in Infusion An Infusion of this Wood if it be not too strong will appear betwixt the Eye and the Light to be of a golden Colour except that upon the Top it will be cover'd with a sky Colour'd Circle but if your Eye be plac'd betwixt the Window and the Vial the Liquor will appear to be of a lovely Blew And this Experiment hath succeeded by Candle Light If the Liquor be held partly before the Eye and a Light and partly betwixt the Eye and an Opacous Body it will half of it seem of a golden Colour and half a Blew but if turning your back on the Window you observe the Liquor as it is poured out it will at the first seem Blew but when it hath fallen lower and the Rays of Light penetrate it more it will seem Particouloured If a little of this Tincture be pour'd into a Basin of Water partly in the Sun Beams and partly shaded it will afford several pleasing Phaenomena If some of it be pour'd upon white Paper the drops about it will appear of different Colours as the Position of the Eye in reference to them varies and when it is pour'd off the Paper will be dyed Yellow and if this be plac'd in a Window in the Sun-shine and a Pen held betwixt the Sun and part of the Paper the Verge of the Shadow next the Body that Causes it will be Golden and the other Blew Which Phenomena proceeded from the most subtile Parts of the Wood Swimming in the Water and in several Positions variously reflecting the Rays of Light Some of this Liquor being carefully Distill'd it yielded a colourless Limpid Water a deep ceruleous Liquor remaining behind Spirit of Wine and Salt of Harts-horn being mixed together I observ'd that it required a certain proportion betwixt the Liquor and the Salt which enabl'd it to vary it's Colour So that tho I was induc'd to believe that our Tincture receiv'd its Colour from a Salt dispers'd through it yet I suspected that this Salt would be either alter'd or incorporated by Acid Salts and accordingly dropping Spirit of Vinegar into some of the Tincture it lost its Blew but not the Golden Colour but upon an Affusion of Oyl of Tartar per deliquium that correcting the Acid Salts it presently regain'd its Blew Colour again the ponderous Tartarous Liquor first altering the Bottom of the Liquor and gradually rising again And since Kercherus Art Mag. lucis umbrae Lib. 1. Part 3. writes something of this Exotick Plant which agrees not with our account of it since he says it will according to the difference of the Medium in respect of Light and its several Positions vary its Colour yet from the Account he gives of it it appears that the Wood he made use of was different from Ours since he calls it a white Mexican Wood whereas ours as Monardes witnesses is brought from Nova Hispania and is not of a White but a darker Colour except on the outside which part is much weaker than the other Besides he tells us that his Tincture was like Spring Water when held betwixt the Light whereas ours is Yellowish or Reddish as the Tincture is weaker or stronger And since he tells us that the Tincture will afford all sorts of Colours and resume a ceruleous Colour in the Dark I could wish to know how he was convinc'd of the Latter and as for the Former I have tryed that it would not at all Answer Tho' this I must needs own that having held a Tincture of Lignum Nephriticum in the Rays of the Sun in a darken'd Room partly in and partly out and also wholly out of the Beams but partly near them it afforded a much greater Variety of Colours than in a lighten'd Room In this Experiment it is not a little to be admir'd that the Blew Colour should be so easily destroy'd whereas the Yellow Colour is so durable and further that Acid Salts should destroy it and Sulphureous one Restore it A Corollary of the Tenth Experiment Acid and Sulphureous Salis adistinguish'd THis Experiment may give us a hint towards a Discovery of some way to distinguish whether Liquors abound with Acid or Sulphureous Salts for if they be Acid they destroy the ceruleous Colour if Sulphureous they restore it And by this Method we have found that tho' it hath been doubted what was the Nature of Quicklime it abounds with Lixiviate rather than Acid Salts But of what use this Tincture may be where neither Acid nor Alkalious Salts are Predominant I leave to be determined by Experience since I found not that Spirit of Wine Spirit of Tartar freed from Acidity or Chymical Oyl of Turpentine would restore the ceruleous Colour of this Tincture when it disappear'd upon a mixture of Oyl of Turpentine EXPERIMENT XI I Have a flat Piece of Glass which held betwixt my Eye and the light appears Yellow but being held so that it reflects fewer Beams upon the Eye it degenerates into to a pale Blew And the same Piece of Glass being held Perpendicular to the Horizon that Part which the Sun shines on will be of a more dilute Yellow than the other which is shaded but if it be held Perpendicular to the Horizon the shaded Part will be of a Golden Colour and the other Blew if the Sun-beams pass through it upon a white Paper they will represent a Yellow yet the Position may be so vary'd as to yield a mix'd Colour more or less inclining to Yellow in some Places and in others to Blew N. 1st In trying of these Experiments the Sun-beams must fall upon the superficial Parts of one side of the Glass on which we must take care to keep our Eye And we have prepar'd a sort of Glass which would answer our expectation by laying a Leaf of Silver on one side and urging it with a stronger Fire than usual And one thing in this Experiment remarkable was that whereas common Artificers colour their Glass by putting a Calx of Silver Calcin'd without corrosive Liquors and temper'd with fair Water on the Plates of Glass when they burn them theirs appears Yellow whatever side is held to the Eye or in whatever Posture but this of ours held betwixt the Eye and the Light appear'd Transparently Yellow but the Eye being placed betwixt the Light and it it appear'd Blew and not in the least Transparent EXPERIMENT XII IT is worth observing that tho Painters can imitate most Colours which are to be met in Nature yet they make use of no more than White Black Red Blew and Yellow to produce all their Compositions Thus Black and White represent several sorts of Grays Blew and Yellow
Concretes out of lixiviate Solvents such as crude Antimony And tho' common Sulphur yields a white Precipitate call'd Lac Sulphuris yet I concluded that Antimony would yield a yellow one as well by being made by Oyl of Vitriol as Length of time Wherefore I put a fresh Solution of Antimony into one Glass and some of the Orange colour'd Mixture into another where by dropping Oyl of Vitriol into the latter it would become transparent whereas the same Oyl would turn the other clear Solution into a deep Yellow But in this Experiment we are to observe that the Solution of Antimony must be fresh otherwise in Winter it will scarce succeed Reflections on the XL Experiment compar'd with the X and XX. Tho' the X and XX Experiments shew how Acids may be distinguish'd from Urinous and Alkalizate Salts yet thence we cannot distinguish Urinous Salts from Alkalous But by the Preceding Experiment I was enabled to distinguish Lixiviates by their precipitating an Orange Tawny from a Solution of Sublimate in Water whereas Urinous Salts would make it either White or Milky So that by this Experiment I could discover that Sal Armoniack drawn from an Alkaly is but a Urinous Salt more refin'd the Alkaly separating and retaining the Sea-Salt mix'd with it for it would not only turn Syrup of Violets green and Verdigrease Azure but would precipitate a White Substance from a Solution of Sublimate And from hence we may not only learn to conclude Affirmatively but Negatively of the Nature of Salts since Spirit of Wine and Essential Oyls have either no Salt in them or it is of a peculiar kind since they will neither turn Syrup of Violets Red nor Green nor a Solution of Sublimate White or Yellow I found that Spirit of Oak tho' it be a Chymical Principle yet it would turn Syrup of Violets Purple and destroy the Blewness of a Tincture of Lignum Nephritium as Acids do and would corrode Coral like Spirit of Vinegar but when the Acid Part of this Spirit was separated from the other it would have no more Effect upon any of those Liquors as Spirit of Wine or Essential Oyls And by this Method we may discover the Nature of most Salts produced either by Art or Nature And by the same Method here laid down I have observ'd several Liquors which tho' run per Deliquium would have no other Effect than Spirit of Wine And I know how to make a strong saline Body which will neither Work upon Syrup of Violets or a Solution of Sublimate And now to what I have said it may be seasonable to add that the Effects of Salts upon a Solution of Sublimate depend on the peculiar Texture not only of the Solution but of the Bodies by which it is precipitated for a Solution of Gold in Aqua Regia will yield a yellow Precipitate whether Oyl of Tartar Spirit of Urine or Sal Armoniack be added to it yet Oyl of Vitriol which precipitates a Solution of Silver in Aqua Fortis will have no such Effect And the Crystals of Silver dissolv'd will yield a White Precipitate whether an Alkaly or an Acid. was dropp'd into the Solution yet Sal Armoniack would not produce the like Effect So that the Superfluous Moisture being evaporated the metalline Corpuseles with the saline ones that had imbib'd them coagulated into Salt as such Solutions usually do when the Metal hath been precipitated EXPERIMENT XLI AN Azure Solution of Copper in Spirit of Urine being shaken with Oyl of Vitriol would become clear as Water And tho' Aqua Fortis usually extracts a Blew greenish Solution from French Verdigrease yet being dropped into a Solution of it in Water it almost render'd it Colourless but upon an Affusion of Oyl of Tartar or Spirit of Urine it will disclose a Colour somewhat different from the Solution of Verdigrease it self EXPERIMENT XLII THE dry'd Calx remaining after an Evaporation of a Solution of Quicksilver in Aq. Fortis gave a yellow Tincture but Quicksilver being put into a Retort with four times it's Weight of Oyl of Vitriol and the saline Menstruum being drawn off in a Sand-heat till a dry Calx remain'd in the Bottom tho' this Calx was of a White Colour it would pass through a Milky Colour to a Yellow upon an Affusion of Water And Beguinus Tyr. Chym. Lib. 2. cap. 13. Prepares Turbith Mineral which he calls Mercurius praecipitatus Optimus by digesting and then two or three times Cohobating one Part of Quicksilver with two of Oyl of Sulphur and by frequent Ablutions in hot distill'd Water c. But tho' this Yellow of ours be a much finer than any in the Painters Shops yet it is too dear for ordinary use were we certain it would agree with oyl'd Colours From whence it appears that a Menstruum which is devoid of Colour may produce a Colour being mix'd with a White Calx EXPERIMENT XLIII TO shew that a Colour may be produc'd by a Liquor that hath neither Colour nor saline Parts we pour'd Water on a gray Calx of Vitriol and tho' at the first the Mixture was of a muddy Colour yet being shut up in a Viol for some days the Calx being partly dissolv'd and shot into Vitriol gave the Water a vitriolate Colour and so it did to fresh Water pour'd on the Calx when the tinged Liquor was decanted EXPERIMENT XLIV BY dropping a few Drops of a Tincture of Cochinele or Brazil into Water it will acquire a Pink Colour from which by successive Additions it will pass from that to a fine Red and from that to a Crimson and after that to an Opace Red and several intermediate Colours may be perceiv'd in it's Passage from one Colour to another But these variations will be more conspicuous if we make use of cylindrical Pipes instead of Viols And I have observ'd that a Tincture of Brazil being put into a Viol that in the Body of it appear'd Blew but that in the Neck which the Rays of Light trajected more plentifully appeared green and I had a Piece of Glass which being held betwixt the Eye and the Light seem'd clear and when the Eye was placed betwixt it and the Light it appear'd slightly discolour'd yet being apply'd to the Glass it was knock'd off it appear'd as green as Grass And I have had Bottles which tho' they were made of the same Materials with the Stopples were nevertheless different in Colour And I have a flat Glass which obverted to the Eye flat appears like ordinary Window Glass but if the Edge of it be obverled to my Eye in a convenient Posture it will appear like an Emerald And I have had a certain Pigment which if it lay thick upon a Piece of Paper would appear to be of a Crimson but being spread thin on the Paper it would seem green And I have likewise observ'd that that blew Substance call'd Litmase being dissolv'd in Water gave it a Tincture betwixt Crimson and Purple yet it stain'd Paper Blew
Spirit of Wine and immersed the Ball and part of the Stem in a Vessel of Water which was half buried in Snow and Salt and when the Water began to freeze at the bottom and about the sides the Liquor was Subsided to 5 2 ◠Divisions each Division being half an Inch and then the Weather-glass being taken out of the Water and applied to the Snow and Salt it Subsided to 1 ½ Division To this we shall add another which shews That the Water tho' froze was warmer than the Spirit of Wine when the Mixture of Snow and Salt was applied to it Jan. 15 the Weather-glass being kept in the Water till it began to freeze descended to 5 ½ but being removed into the Snow and Salt it Subsided first briskly and then more gradually till it sunk to the Bottom of the Stem but being removed into the Water again it ascended to the same height the Water had before depressed it to For a further Tryal how much Liquors may be condensed by Cold we took Oyl of Turpentine rectified in a gentle Heat and having weighed a Glass-ball with a long Stem it being one Ounce one Dram five Grains and a half we poured on it so much of the Turpentine as increased the weight to two Ounces seven Drams and thirty four Grains and a half which reaching a little way into the Stem we marked the Superficies with a Diamond after which we poured a Dram more in and successively more still marking how high each Parcel which was weighed exactly rought in the Stem till the Additional weight increased the former to three Ounces one Dram four Grains and a half and then taking a wide-mouth'd Glass with Water in it we immerged the Weather-glass in the Water as before the Vessel in which it was contain'd being first encompass'd with Snow and Salt When the Water began to freeze we mark'd the Stem of the Glass which contain'd the Oyl at the place to which it subsided and then conveying it into a Mixture of Snow and Salt when it had subsided as low as it could we mark'd the Superficies and then remov'd it into the Air till it rose to it's first station and then we pour'd so much of the Oyl out into another Glass carefully poised in a pair of Scales that the Superficies of the Oyl remain'd at the Mark which it subsided to in the Water and we found that the Oyl poured off weigh'd about 10 Grains And so much more being pour'd off as made it stand at the Mark to which the Snow and Salt depress'd it it weigh'd about as much as the former so that the Oyl was Artificially condensed so far That it subsided as much after it had been condensed by Cold strong enough to freeze Water as it was caused to fall by the force of that And by dividing the whole Proportion of Oyl by the number of Grains whose Bulk it seem'd to lose by subsiding in Water we found that it was condensed by the first degree of Cold to a 94th Part of it's Bulk and by dividing it by the Additional number of the Grains more we found that the Snow and Salt had condensed it a 47th Part of it's Bulk Having circumscrib'd Water moderately Cold with a Mixture of Snow and Salt what it shrunk was if not insensible inconsiderable To measure the differing weight and Density of the same Proportion of Water in the Heat of Summer and when extremely Cold we weighed a Glass-Bubble in it which was Heavier than Water moderately cool and by the Diminution of it's weight in that Medium we found according to the Rules of Hydrostaticks the weight of a Portion of Water of equal Bulk And then weighing it in Water cool'd by a Mixture of Snow and Salt we were inform'd by a new Decrement of it's weight of the weight of an equal Bulk of that Cold Water by which we were enabl'd to make an Estimate of the Gravity and Density acquired by the Action of Gold and by weighing the same Bubble in the same Water in hot Weather we Learnt further how much more dense and heavy Water moderately Cold and extremely Cold is than warm Water It would be of use to try such Experiments as these in Italy where they have the Conveniency of keeping Snow and of freezing warm Water speedily A Glass-Bubble which in the Air weighed 150 Grains being weighed in Water on a Day not frosty it weighed 29 ◠8 and being weighed in Water which was a little froze in a Mixture of Snow and Ice it was not above ⅛ Part of a Grain lighter than before so that the Water by Condensation lost not above a 230th Part of it's former Bulk How far it may be of use at Sea to make such Experiments as these and whether they may thereby learn to know by finding the Density of the Water in several Places what Loads to carry in their ships and what the Water will be able to bear I shall leave others to Judge But if such Experiments be try'd in several Parts our Seal'd Weather-glasses or that which contains the Pendulous drop of Water may be of use since they not being subject to be varied by the Alterations in the Atmosphere's Gravity and since they may be conveniently carried from one Country to another the different degrees of Cold in various Regions may be better Estimated a Register being kept of the degrees the Liquor or Pendulous drop stood at such times as the Tryals were made and where and when exposed to such a degree as was able to freeze To conclude this Title I shall add that in making these Experiments with the Thermometer in which the Pendulous Water is contain'd the Stem may for conveniency be held either Horizontal upwards or Perpendicular TITLE V. Experiments concerning the Tendency of Cold upwards or downwards What way or in what Line Cold acts most vigorously THAT Heat generally acts most powererfully on Bodies above it and that it's Tendency is upwards is self-evident But to discover in what Line Cold acts most vigorously and furthest we made the following Experiments A Glass-Bubble with Water in it having a flat Bottom was suspended within less than half an Inch over a Mixture of Ice and Salt but froze not A Bottle which contain'd a Mixture of Snow and Salt being held under Water it was cased with Ice especially about the Bottom so that the Action of Cold seems chiefly to tend downwards But I rely less upon this Experiment because it is observ'd That when a frigorifick Mixture is exposed in a Vial the Ice on the outside is always opposite to the Mixture not reaching higher or lower than that Mixture above half the Breadth of a Barly-corn and as the Mixture dissolves and that which swims upon the dissolv'd Part grows less and less so Proportionably the circle of Ice grows narrower on the outside till the Mixture is wholly dissolv'd and then the Ice vanishes And from an experiment shortly to be
condensed by Cold the Air breaks in to prevent a Vacuum For that Water is expanded by Cold appears from what I have said besides nothing is more commonly observ'd than that Water being froze in a Vessel whose sides are strong enough to keep it from bursting them the Superficies of the Ice is generally protuberant and convex And that the breaking of Bottles depends not on Nature's abhorrency of a Vacuum appears since should we suppose That the Fluid contain'd in a Bottle would be so far condensed as to possess less space than before it is possible there might be a Vacuum there and the Bottle not burst since Glass-Bubbles much thinner than ordinary Bottles will endure the frost tho' stopped close with Air in them But not only Water expands it self upon freezing but other Aqueous Bodies so Eggs being froze burst their shells asunder And Milk Urine Rhenish Wine and good Spirit of Wine being set to freeze in distinct Glass-Eggs the Wine being froze swell'd an Inch above the first Surface the Milk two Inches and the Urine six or seven And a Solution of Dantzick-Vitriol did not only become Opace but rose considerably higher in a Cylindrical Pipe upon Congelation Whether more stable and consistent Bodies are capable of being expanded by Cold would be worth enquiring since it hath been observ'd That in Nova Zembla the very Clocks have been froze so that they would not goe and the like hath been observ'd by Capt. James in his Voyage at Charlton-Island his Watch being froze as well as his Clocks Whether these Effects depended on any Swelling of the Ropes or whether the Spring of his Watch might be weakned by Cold or whether some Iceicles stuck to the Internal Parts of it I shall leave as bare Conjectures to be further examined into by Experience The Phaenomena of an Experiment about Freezing referrable to the VII Title read before the Royal Society Having filled a Bolt-head which was as big as two Turkey Eggs with Water till it rought a pretty height into the slender Stem being put into a Mixture of Snow and Salt it subsided a little but when it began to freeze it would sensibly swell The Experiment being repeated with a Glass whose Stem was as thin as a Raven's Quill when first the Ball of it was immersed in the frigorifick Mixture the Water presently ascended the height of a Barly-corn and presently subsided again which the Florentine Virtuosi would attribute to a Constriction of the Glass upon the Application of the frigorifick Mixture Secondly And tho' the Florentine Virtuosi relate That they have observ'd the Water after it had subsided a little to rest and then subsided again yet in all the Tryals I made I did not observe it Thirdly When the Water had subsided a little it would be at a stand till the Liquor began to freeze Fourthly The Experiment being try'd with Glasses whose Stems were unequally big upon Glaciation the Ascent of the Water in the large ones would be indiscernible but in a slender one it would ascend several Inches in a Minute till it rose up to the top of the Stem Fifthly Tho' the Forentine Academians say they have observ'd the Water to rise again before Glaciation yet I could never see such a Phaenomenon Sixthly If the Glass was taken out of the Mixture when first it began to freeze as soon as the small Iceicles were melted it would subside again yet if reapply'd to the Mixture a second time it would freeze in half a Minute TITLE VIII Experiments concerning the Contraction of Liquors by Cold. Of the Contraction of Liquors by Cold. 1 THO' the Liquors we have mention'd expand themselves upon an Intense degree of Cold yet we are not thence to couclude that all will since we have found it by experience not only in Spirit of Wine Aqua fortis Oyl of Turpentine and several other Liquors which would not be brought to freeze but also in Oyl congeal'd by the vehemence of the Cold. 2. Amongst the several Experiments made of the Efficacy of Cold to condensed Liquors I shall lay down the following 3. Spirit of Wine being put into a small Glass-Egg with a slender Stem in a Mixture of Snow and Salt subsided ¾ of an Inch. 4. Mercury being freed from Air and placed in a Bold-head in a Mixture of Snow and Salt subsided 2 Inches Common Oyl placed in the same Mixture subsided till it froze but if it were immediately thaw'd near the fire it would expand it self so much as to rise about the Mark. The Experiment succeeded a second time and being try'd a third time the Lumps of the congeal'd Oly would sink in the fluid Oyl Oyl of Aniseeds artificially froze subsided considerably in a small Pipe Empyreumatical Oyl of Gaujacum being exposed to the utmost degree of Cold would not freeze but evidently subsided Particulars referrable to the VIII Title 1. Two seal'd Weather-Glasses the one made of a Tincture of Cochineele in Spirit of Wine and the other of a blew Tincture of Spirit of Man's Blood and Copper in Spirit of Wine were immersed in Water till it began to freeze and then being remov'd into Oyl of Turpentine set in a Mixture of Snow and Salt we observ'd That the Liquor in both Thermometers subsided Oyl of Aniseeds being put into a small Glass with a large Stem and placed in a frigorifick Mixture made by a Solution of Sal-Armoniack subsided 3 Inches the substance of the Oyl being turn'd into a white Concrete which when it was leasurely dissolv'd the fluid Part emitted several Bubbles and it was further observ'd in this Concrete That tho' when thaw'd it swims upon Water yet when congeal'd it will not TITLE IX Experiments concerning the Bubble from which the Levity of Ice is supposed to proceed Of the Levity of Ice and its Cause 1. IT is usually accounted an Argument of the levity of Ice above Water that it swims upon it For tho' the superficies of small Portions of it are not sensibly emergent above the Surface of the Water yet in Greenland where huge Rocks of Ice float in the Sea they are observ'd to be as high above the Water as the Masts of Ships which could we suppose to float in an erect Posture and to be of a prismatical Form that Part immersed would be nine times as much as that above the Water As for the Reason why Ice is born up above the surface of the Water so much in Greenland more than in our Climate besides that the size of those pieces of Ice contributes to the rendring the Observation more remarkable the Water's expansion in that cold Climate may cause it to be further expanded there than here and consequently lighter 2. Pieces of Ice free from Bubbles floated in Spirit of Wine drawn from Brandy and likewise from Quick-lime and tho' if that Spirit were warmed it would presently subside yet as it cooled the Ice would ascend nevertheless some part of it being thaw'd
Marks was about the 15th Part of the whole 10. A large Glass-egg with a proportionable Stem being so far fill'd with Water that it wrought up an Inch into the Stem the next Day the Water was rais'd 15 Inches The whole contain'd in the Cavity of the Egg being froze the frozen Water continuing to swell was rais'd 4 Inches higher a few drops running over the top of it but when the Ice was wholly thaw'd it subsided again 11. Another Egg about the same height being plac'd in beaten Ice and Salt the Water rose an Inch in an Hours time and several Laminae of Ice appear'd at the Jointure of the Ball and the Neck but after an Hour and a quarcer those disappear'd and the Ball seem'd to be fill'd with white Ice the Water in the Neck being rais'd 4 ½ Inches above the first Mark. Several small Bubbles ascended through the Neck till it was wholly thaw'd and the white Ice was full of Bubbles The Experiment being further prosecuted the Water swell'd till some of it ran out at the top of the Tube Upon which the top of it being seal'd up we plac'd it in a warm Room till the Water was quite thaw'd so much Air only-remaining above the Water when froze as in dimensions equall'd a small Pea. When the Ice was wholly thaw'd the Water subsided to its first Mark and then the top of the Stem being broke off under Water so much of it was impell'd by the external Air as when the Pipe was re-inverted again rose 7 Inches above the first Mark and left about an Inch ¼ above it so that the Air which caus'd the Water when froze to swell and which was generated there took up one Inch and ¼ Which being expanded through the Cavity of the Cylinder above the surface of the Water when thaw'd so far appear'd not to be Air that it wanted a Spring to resist the ingress of the Water 12. Another time the tip of a seal'd Stem being broke under Water it receiv'd 10 Inches and above ½ 13. In the same Bolt-head wherein the greatest condensation of Air was try'd the Water being froze was rais'd a Foot above its former station and then being seal'd up and leasurely thaw'd it subsided again to its former Mark And then the Seal being broke off under Water so much of that contain'd in the Basin was forc'd into the Tube as sill'd 11 Inches of it near â…› of an Inch of Air being generated in the former part of the Operation 14. Another time the Water swelling 10 Inches in the same Glass we broke off the Neb under Water and it receiv'd as much of the external Water so that in this no Air was generated 15. The like Experiments being try'd with aqueous Liquors the Neb of one that contain'd Milk being broke off under Water it was manifestly impell'd by the outward Air. And another being likewise open'd under Water which contain'd Urine it receiv'd about five or six Inches of Water 16. Another Glass which contain'd Claret-Wine being open'd under Water the Water was impell'd near an Inch above the Mark which would not have happen'd had the Bubbles been fill'd with true and permament Air. TITLE X. Experiments about the Measure of the Expansion and the Contraction of Liquors The expansion and contraction of Liquors measur'd TO measure the expansion of the Air we took a Bolt-head and pour'd in so much Water that it rose a little way into the Stem which being done and the number of Ounces it contain'd set down to those we successfully added one Ounce after another marking how high each of them wrought Which being done we pour'd out a convenient quantity and froze the remaining Water from the bottom upwards and the Ice that consisted of 82 parts of Water filled the space of 91 and ½ so that the congeal'd Water possess'd a 9th part of space more than it did before In another Experiment 55 Parts of Water being froze were extended to 60 ½ 6 of those remaining unfroze 2. Another way we took to measure the expansion of Water was by marking a Cylindrical Pipe at the superficies of the Water contain'd in it which when it was froze was rais'd a tenth part higher than before Another more exact Cylinder being made use of we found that Water froze expanded to about a ninth Part of the space it possess'd before 3. But perhaps this Method of measuring the expansion of freezing Water may suggest a difficulty to those that are acquainted with Hydrostaticks since Archimedes hath made it appear as well as Stevinus That floating Bodies will so far and but so far sink in the Liquor that supports them till the immersed Part of the Body be equal to a bulk of Water weighing as much as the whole Body 4. For Capt. James hath observ'd Ice to float a great deal above the Water and the Hollanders in their Voyage to Nova Zembla take notice of a Hill of Ice which was 16 Fathom above the Water tho' but 36 below it And Janus Munkius in his Account of Gâ—…enland observ'd That one that was but 4â— Fathom under Water was 20 above it whereas according to our Computation of the expansion of Water the Part under Water ought to be 8 or 9 times as deep as that above it 5. But to clear this difficulty I have these things to represent First That the Ice which we take notice of floats in fresh Water but that observ'd by Navigators being fresh floats in salt Water yet this is to be likewise consider'd That near the Poles the Seas are not so salt as ours or those under the Line and consequently will not be able to bear up the floating Ice so high except the coldness of that Region recompenses the want of Salt 6. But besides these Considerations that which I would chiefly insist upon for the removal of this difficulty is That these huge Piles of Ice are made up of vast Lumps betwixt which are large Vacuities which are only fill'd up with Air so that we are not to judge of their weight by the bulk they appear to be of to the Eye but by the specifick weight incumbent on that part immers'd in the Water For we see in Barges that sometimes they carry Loads which consisting of light Matter may be piled a great height above the Water without depressing the Vessel so much as heavier Bodies of less bulk which are more ponderous in Specie for the greatest part of these floating pieces of Ice as Bartholinus takes notice are compiled of store of Snow frozen together Besides it is observ'd That most of those stupendious Mountains which lay so much above Water below rested on the Ground so that probably they might have sunk much lower had the Water been deep enough for them for Mr. Hudson in his Voyage takes notice in a Bay that bears his Name of a piece of Ice sevenscore Fathom deep 7. Having said thus much of the expansion of Water it perhaps may
and Bay-salt strewed on some Parts of them they promoted the melting of the Ice so much That they buried themselves in it but the Parts thaw'd by this means were so incorporated with and froze to the stool That we could not separate them without knocking them in pieces At another time Salt thrown upon Ice made a crackling Noise and by a Candle-light several Steams were observ'd to rise from them like from some hot Liquors A few drops of Aqua-fortis dropped upon Plates of Ice and Oyl of Vitriol the latter sooner penetrated but the former with more Noise as if the Ice were crack'd 5. Olaus Magnus Gent. Septentr Hist Lib. 1. Cap. 14 says of the strength of Ice Glacies primae mediae byemis adâ—ò fortis tenax est ut spissitudine seu densitate duorum digitorum sufferat hominem ambulantem trium verò digitorum Equestrem Armatum unius palmae dimidiae turmas vel exercitus militares trium vel quatuor palmarum integram Legionem vel myriadem Populorum quemadmodùm inferius de bellis hyemalibus memorandum erit But this account is the less satisfactory because he tells us not how far distant from the shore this weight would be born for the weight of one Man may be much greater at some distance from the shore than of more upon or near the side since the shore hath there a greater strength to support it 6. Purchas Lib. 4. Cap. 13 sayes That the Ice in Russia was as hard as a Rock and it is observ'd by the same Lib. 4. Cap. 13. p. 813 That the Ice which floats in the Sea being taken up and thaw'd yields fresh Water but whether it consists of an accumulation of fresh Particles in the Sea or whether it is a Collection of Ice carried thither from some fresh Water I much Question since the main Ocean is seldom froze and especially since Purchas Lib. 3. Cap. 7. says That the floating Ice near Nova Zembla which closes up the straight of Weigals flows down from the Rivers Oby and Jenesre and several others 7. As for the bigness of some Pieces of Ice they seem almost Incredible the Dutch in their Voyage to Nova Zembla take notice of one 96 foot high and Capt. James hath met with some as deep under Water besides what floated above and some much higher And Purchas Lib. 4. Cap. 18. p. 837. Tells us of a Mountain of Ice which was 140 fathom high As for the Length of these pieces of Ice all that I can meet with is an observation of Capt. James's who measured a peice of Ice which was 1000 paces long 8. As for the bigness of concrete Pieces of Ice Mr. Hall in his Voyage to Greenland takes notice of one 24 Miles long And by another a vast Tract of Ice hath been observ'd which was so long that the Bounds of it could not be discover'd from an indifferent high Hill To which we may add what the French Hydrographer Fournier relates in his Passage to Canada That he met with some Pieces of Ice as big as Mountains others as Ships and one 80 Leagues long in some Places plain and in others unequal with high Mountains And Olaus Magnus Lib. 3. Cap. 2. pag. 384. says Neque minori bellandi impetu Sueci Gothi super aperta Glacie quam in ipsa solidissima Terra confligunt Imò ut prius dictum est ubi antea aestivo tempore acerrima commissa sunt Bella navalia iisdem in locis Glacie concretâ Aciebus militari modo constructis Bombardis ordinatis habentur horrendi conflictus adeò solida Glacies est in Equestribus Turmis sufferendis ampliter vel strictè collocatis And it is known to us all that not long since the King of Sweedland and his whole Army marched over the Sea to Zeeland where Copenhagen the Capital City of Denmark stands And Bartholinus de Nivis usu takes notice That in the Eastern Regions the Sea hath been froze a considerable Depth To which I shall subjoyn that Glycas apud Fournier Lib. 9. Cap. 19. observes That in the Year 775 the Mediterranean was froze for 50 Leagues 30 Cubits thick upon which as much Snow fell as raised it 30 Cubits above the Top of the Water 9. To what Instances we have already recited we shall add that of the Dutch-Men in their Voyage viz. that some pieces of Ice which were 18 Fathom below Water and ten above were very blue the like to which Capt. James takes notice of and Virgil speaking of the Frigid Zone says Caerulea glacie concreta atque imbribus Atris 10. In the Spring the Ice is observ'd by Olaus Magnus to be much less compact than in the Winter and it is attested by the same and also by Mr. James Hall in his Voyages that when these Rocks of Ice break they make a vast Noise and the like hath been observ'd by others And tho' Olaus Magnus attributes the cleaving of these Rocks of Ice to the Effect which warm Exhalations have upon them yet I am told that sometimes they are observ'd to fly in pieces upon excessive Cold. Particulars referrable to the XV Title 1. A Decoction of Sage Rosemary and Parsly being exposed to be froze in distinct Vessels the Superficies of the former was very rough Juice of Lemons froze represented Trees without Leaves 2. Hard Ice beaten and common Salt being mixed together afforded white Fumes like Smoke tho' the Experiment was tryed in a close Room Snow-Water froze in Ice and Salt afforded an Ice very transparent and with minute Bubbles 3. Ice partly powder'd and in part grosly beaten being mixed with Bay-salt when the Mixture was stirred afforded a sensible Smoak which was greater or less as the Mixture was more or less stirred and floating over the Brim of the Vessel rather sunk than rose just as the Fumes do from a Cloth dipped in Aq. fortis and hung up to dry 4. I am told by one who was in the Frigid Zone that he supplyed himself with fresh Water from the Ice by digging Pits in it and the same Person tells me That he hath observ'd Pieces of Ice 50 Fathom deep which were not above a tenth Part above Water He likewise observ'd near the Coast of Greenland the Variation of the Compass to be 22 Degrees and a little time after scarce any thing at all He told me further That sailing in the Main Sea in the Height of 77 Degrees his Ship was surrounded with Ice 'till the 7th of June and the Ice opening he failed through it Part of it passing along towards Hudson's Streights And it is observ'd That these Mountains of Ice much weaken the strength of Winds insomuch that if they be driven near them by a Storm the Wind is so much quashed that they immediately find a Calm TITLE XVI Experiments and Observations concerning the Duration of Ice and Snow and the destroying of them by the Air and several Liquors What Liquors soonest dissolve Ice and
and Superficial Region of the Earth 3. But if against what hath been said it should be alledged That by the Primum Frigidum they only mean some Earth Mixed with the common Parts of the Terrestrial Globe I should be glad to know how we must discover this But tho' I have brought these Arguments against this common received Notion I cannot agree with Gassendus who thinks that the Earth is no more Cold than Hot Since it being naturally a Body whose Parts are inclined to rest it without the assistance of some Extrinsick Agent to put it's Parts in Motion must consequently affect our Sensory with a greater degree of Coldness than Air or Water whose Parts are more Agitated 4. And if those that argue for the Earth's being the Primum Frigidum had only urged that it was the Summum Frigidum Earth the Summum Frigidum I could have more easily agreed with them Since in the Straits of Weigats the Seas are froze but not in the Northern Seas nor that of Tartary for the main Seas never freeze but only near the Land where it is much Colder than in the Ocean Water not the Primum Frigidum 5. It is the Opinion of Aristotle and the Schools That Water is the Primum Frigidum but in all Waters that are Froze by Cold we always see they begin at the top where the Air is Contiguous which argues the Air Colder than the Water since it congeals it Whereas if Water was the Coldest Body it ought always Naturally to be Froze or to begin to freeze rather in the middle than at the top and rather in the main Ocean than in Gulfs Straits and small Rivers For it is observ'd That those vast heaps of Ice that float in the Sea and which we have so often mention'd depend not on the Penetration of Cold to that depth they sometime sink to but vast pieces of Ice being gathered together from the shore and small Rivers and cemented together depress each other by their own weight upon which the falling Snow gradually increases their Bulk 6. But tho' I am far from taking Water to be the Primum Frigidum yet I cannot agree with Gassendus who thinks it indifferent as to Heat and Cold For except where some adventitious cause Concurs the Parts of Water being less Agitated than the Humors about our Sensory by it we must adjudge it Cold. And tho' by the Heat of the Sun the superficial Parts of the Water are a little warmer yet all Divers Unanimously agree That it is Colder at the depth of a few Fathoms Besides it is observ'd in warm Regions to be much warmer at Land than Sea and those Countries that lye near the Sea are generally cooler But as Cold as it is there they don't find That it is able to congeal the Water tho' at the top it is often Froze Air not the Primum Frigidum 7. By the Stoicks and many of the modern Philosophers the Air is looked upon to be the Primum Frigidum Yet considering how great a Part of it lies under the Torrid Zone and that it is for the most Part very Hot and likewise that Water enclosed in a Mixture of Snow and Salt will freeze at the bottom and not where it is contiguous to the Air I say considering these things it will appear That the Air is so far from being the Primum Frigidum That it is not the Summum Frigidum Besides Air condensed to the utmost degree it was possible by the Coldness of the Air and shut up in a convenient Glass hath been condensed further by the Application of other Bodies Whence it appears that the Coldness of the Air depends on the Mixture of some frigorifick Corpuscles with it and not on the Specifick Texture of it's own Parts Besides Water may be Froze when inclosed in Substances not apt to freeze and when the Air is not Contiguous to it Nitre not the Grand Efficient of Cold. 8. The next Opinion I shall consider is That of the learned Gassendus who ascribes the frigorifick Virtue of Bodies to the admixture of Nitre But tho' I allow Nitre to be a substance dispersed through most Bodies yet since Cold is only a Privative Quality and an absence of Heat there are other Agents which by stopping the motion of the Insensible Parts of a Body may deprive it of it's power of Heating Besides it must be a prodigious Quantity of Nitre That would be able to render every Part of the Sea so Cold as it is found to be rot to mention That Nitre is scarce ever found so deep in the Earth as some Seas extend besides the Seas afford us very little Salt-Petre but a great deal of common Salt 9. And tho' Gassendus asserts That Bodies receive the Impressions of Cold from Nitrous Exhalations swimming in the Air yet amongst all the Experiments I have made to resolve Nitre into Vapours I have not found that it was able to effect more in the Production of Cold than other Saline Bodies And Spirit of Nitre is so far from having an actual Coldness greater than other Bodies That it is potentially Hot. And whether the Exhalations of Nitre will congeal Water or not Spirit of Nitre I have observ'd will dissolve Ice as soon almost as Spirit of Wine And tho' Nitre mix'd with Snow or Ice may promote Congelation yet it proves not that the Parts of Nitre are frigorifick since the Experiment will succeed with Spirit of Wine 10. Having said thus much of Gassendus his Opinion we shall in the next place propose some Experiments which will be a further Confirmation of what we have been saying 11. Rock-Petre and Ice being put into a Bottle congeal'd the Vapours on the outside but pieces of Salt-Petre laid upon Plates of Ice dissolv'd it Water being satiated with Salt-Petre and exposed to the Cold in a Bottle broke it several Chrystals of Salt-Petre having shot in the Bottom of it From these Experiments it appears That there are Colder Bodies than Salt-Petre and that it dissolves Ice and it is rather Hot than Cold in respect of Ice 12. On a windy and a cloudy Day having suspended a Weather-Glass in Water satiated with Salt-Petre we observ'd That when it had stood a considerable time and was raised by the string up into the Air the Liquor contained in it was raised about 2 divisions and being again immersed in the solution of Nitre it was presently raised so that the Air was Colder than the solution of Nitre 13. But to conclude this Title tho' I am far from thinking Nitre to be the Summum Frigidum yet I doubt not but that Parts of it rising from the Earth in the form of Vapours may contribute to the refrigeration of the Air. Not but that there are several other Bodies in the Bowels of the Earth whose Effluvia being mix'd with the Air and dispersed through it may cool the Air according to their Proportions as much as
one Bowl in Motion striking against another not in Motion communicates as much of it's Motion as it can to the other and loses it 's own and so the Vapours and steams in a Room in frosty Weather striking against the Glass-Windows are deprived of their Motion and froze which is observ'd to be much thicker upon the Glass in Russia than here in England A Note out of Martinius in his account of China This Author tells us That at Peking tho' the Pole be not elevated above 42 degrees yet for four Months together from the middle of November the Rivers are froze in one Day so that they bear Coaches and Horses A Note taken out of Martinius Cromerus his Polonia The Cold is so violent in these Countries sometimes That the Trees wither at the Roots and Water is froze as it falls through the Air and the Waters are froze up for two Months so that they bear Horses loaden and Coaches And this Author tells us That he passed over the Weisell in Massovia with a Coach and Horses and other Horse-Men And in Prussia the Fishing in the Ice began after the beginning of November and lasted till March was ended Another Note out of the same 1. They catch Fish more commodiously in Winter than Summer for breaking holes in several Places in the Ice a Net being cast into one of them and ropes fastned to it Men with Poles and Horses draw the Net from one Place to another 2. I am told that at Warsaw in twelve Hours the Water was froze 4 Inches downwards One that sailed to make Discoveries beyond the Arctick Circle told me He could eat as much in one Day as in ten here and that after they had sailed over a deep blew Sea they came to one as black as Ink which being sounded it was above 70 Fathom Sack being froze and thawed again presently lost its Vigour 3. In these Parts the Frost penetrates the Ground five Foot and the Ice in Iberia in the River Ob is said to be a Fathom and a half thick there being there but twelve Weeks in the whole Year without Frost The Rivers have breathing places a Mile long out of which Fumes ascend as out of a Cellar when the Door is open'd Death by Cold is not painful if it be intense Cold dries excessively cleaves the Earth and causes Timber to crack TITLE XX. Experiments concerning the Weight of Bodies frozen and unfrozen The Weight of Bodies frozen and unfrozen 1. TO try whether Bodies upon freezing would grow heavier since Epicurus and other Atomists suppose Congelation to depend upon the crowding in of frigorifick Atoms we exposed Eggs to be froze all Night and in the Morning we found they had lost four Grains of their Weight which we suspected to proceed from the Avolition of some Exhalations through the Shell since at other times we observ'd That Eggs counterpoised lost eight Grains of their Weight in some process of Time 2. Water froze and weighed counterpois'd a Grain and a little more than when it was thawed But the Experiment being made in a Glass with a long Stem hermetically seal'd when the Water was froze it was as heavy or heavier after it was thawed and the same Equality of Weight betwixt frozen and unfrozen Water happened in other Experiments 3. Stones being weighed after exposed to the cold Air and also in a warm Air they seemed to discover an Increase of Weight but I suspected it proceeded from Water imbibed into their Pores since Stones are observ'd to increase their Weight in Water And further because one that was well polished and not apt to imbibe Water retain'd barely its own Weight So that the Doctrine of the Epicurean Freezing must be invalid except he supposes the frigorifick Atoms like those of a Load-stone to be without Weight An Appendix to the XX Title The fore-going Experiments may not only satisfie us That the Doctrine of the Epicureans is erroneous but may likewise help us to correct some extravagant Relations on the other Hand For Helmont tells us That Water thawed in a Vessel Hermetically sealed was â…› heavier than before But perhaps this Difference might in part depend on the Access of Vapors on the outside the Glass In opposition to what Manalphus tells us I found That Water froze in a Metalline Porringer in one Experiment lost 50 in another 60 Grains of its Weight which I attributed to an Avolition of some Parts of the Water since when we order'd the Matter so that no Water could steam out there was no considerable Increase or Decrease in the Weight of Water froze or thawed Particulars referrable to the XX Title 1. Quick-silver being weighed in the Air and afterwards counterpoised in Water when by the application of a Mixture of Snow and Salt it began to freeze the Bubble weighed ¾ of a Grain less than before A Globe of Snow rammed into a Mould whose Diameter was an Inch weighed 112 Grains A Globe of Ice of the same Diameter weighed 2 Drams and 5 Grains 2. After a long Frost and Snow the Liquor in the gaged Weather-glass stood below the first Mark but the Mercury in the Baroscope stood at near 2 â— below 29 Inches which perhaps might be attributed to the high Wind. 3. Four Ounces of Snow being counter poised were exposed to the Frost all Night and at 10 or 11 in the Morning had lost near 30 Grains which Parts seemed to have been evaporated the melted Liquor in the Bottom of the Scale amounting to no more than 8 Grains 4. Two Ounces of Snow depressed flat so as to form a large Superficies and counterpoised in a Night's time lost 55 Grains no Water being found in the Scale and two Hours after the Decrement was 63 Grains none of the Snow appearing yet to be melted TITLE XXI Promiscuous Experiments and Observations concerning Cold. Whether Frost hinder odoriferous Effluvia from exerting their Power 1. SEveral Flowers being gathered in December and January and hastily smelâ—ed 〈◊〉 had no sensible effect on the Sensory whicâ— Phaenomenon I attributed to the Frost hindring a sufficient Quantity of spirituous Sap from rising up into them and not that it prevented those spirituous Parts from emitting Effluvia since a vigorous fresh Primrose had an Odour genuine and sweet 2. Rose-water being froze when it was wholly Ice afforded a genuine Scent but something fainter than when it was thawed again but in making these Experiments it is requisite that the Body smelt at should not be held too long near the Nose lest the warmth of one's Face should help to excite those Odoriferous Parts and consequently frustrate the Tryal 3. Stinking Water being exposed to the Cold and froze was altogether inodorous 4. It is reported by several and attested by Olearius That the Russians and Livonians enable themselves to bear Cold extremely by going out of their Store naked immediately into cold Water and even Ice it self 5. Having made use of a good
colour and taste of Wine In thirty eight hours Canary exposed in a spoon was covered with a thin film which grew no thicker in four days But neither Claret or Canary would freeze in Tubes or Bottles Two ounces of Spirit of Wine exposed in a spoon all evaporated in twelve hours but the same quantity of Brandy left about a spoonful of Ice void both of taste and it 's Inflammable Quality but being held betwixt my Eye and a candle it discover'd several bubbles An Ox and a Sheep's Eye were both frozen through in one Night the three Humours being Opacous hard and inseparable The Chrystalline humour was white like Whitings boil'd the waterish and glassy humour seemed to be made of flakes of Ice Sheeps Blood exposed to freeze the Serum was turned to Ice which being separated from the Blood and thawed at the fire congealed a second time into a Membranous substance but the Blood was not in the least froze The Heart and Blood in the Vena Cava of a Dog and Cat exposed dead to the Air were both froze Milk froze into white flakes being soft and with few bubbles in it and retaining the proper taste of Milk The yolks and Whites of Eggs were froze in one Night they thaw best by lying on New-Castle Coals or in a deep Cellar I am told that Eggs tho' they have been froze will produce Chickens-Eggs held near the Surface of the Water when froze will acquire a crust of Ice on the outside the inward Parts of it still remaining froze and if those Eggs whilst froze be poched they will be very tough An Egg and an Apple being suspended two Foot deep in a Cistern and taken up after twenty four hours tho' both of them were full of Ice within yet neither of them had contracted Ice on the outside Horse-Radishes and Onions froze yet Beer in which Horse-Radish and Scurvey-Grass are infused will not freeze so soon as strong Beer without them Oranges and Limons froze have a hard and tough rind and lose their genuine taste and when thawed they soon become rotten Apples Cut in the middle will have a thin Ice on both plains which may be discerned by a knife or the touch The skins of these Apples soon turn brown and they begin to corrupt there Oyl exposed look'd like Butter melted and coagulated again but in Caves and Cellars it would never appear more than Candied White Wine-Vinegar froze in a Tube without apparent bubbles Whatever hath a watry humour in it will coagulate But what will not the next Paragraph contains Spirit of Wine Aq. Mariae Coelestis c and Canary in large Vessels Soap-Boilers Lees Spirit of Salt Vitriol Salt-Petre Aqua fortis Spirit of Sulphur and Spirit of Soot will not freeze but the two last afford a Precipitate the first of the colour and taste of Brimstone but not inflammable the latter a yellowish powder more bitter than the Spirit and inflammable But tho' these Spirits would not freeze yet being mixed with twelve Parts of Water all of them froze except Spirit of Salt Nitre and Aqua fortis I am told that one having dissolv'd Ice in the North Seas found it Salt As for the figures of Liquors froze Allum appear'd in lumps Salt-Petre Tartar Milk Ale Wine and Sal-Armoniack in plates And other Liquors which composed a soft Ice seened to be composed of Globuli adhering to each others Water Kelp and Frits resembled the fibres of an Oaken leaf the interstices being filled up with smoother Ice and the middle Fibres as in Plants appeared larger than the others and made acute Angles at the lesser end of the leaf But as for the figures of frozen Urine those having been accurately describ'd by the curious Mr. Hook I shall pass that part of my task by I took the Salts of Rosemary Rue Scurvey-Grass Mint and Plantan and putting ½ or ¾ of an ounce of each into ½ of a pint of their distilled Waters the Rue and Plantan being sealed up none of them froze resembled the Plants they belong'd to but the Aromatick Waters were much enriched in their scents especially the Rosemary Kelp froze represents the leaves of Alga Marina A Recipient full of Water being froze and the top of the Ice broke there appeared a Cavity within which was thick set with Plates of Ice from which Stiriae appeared on each side like the Teeth of Combs some of which stood at such a distance that I could put my finger betwixt them A flask full of Water being froze it appear'd full of bubbles like tailed hail-shot the sharp points of all of them pointing upwards They had Cavities which would admit a Pin into them and might be discerned in the Ice appearing like black spots And in the middle of the Ice was contained a Cavity filled with Water in which were several of these bubbles imperfectly formed All the Liquors I made Experiments with did sensibly rise above the mark before they froze and more after congelation Vinegar and Urine rose ½ an Inch and Lees made of Salts of Rosemary Kelp and Frits about ½ of an Inch. Solutions of Allum and Copperas less and Saline Liquors in general less than Water which rose a full Inch and small Beer in a narrow Tube four Inches Oyl of Vitriol alone subsides below the mark hot Water subsides till it is cool and then rises again Water being froze in Beer-Glasses rises up and forms solid Triangles but the rising of it is more visible in narrow Glasses Ice in a flask rose four Inches above the Water-mark and hung two Inches out of it but in a Bolt-head it rose five Inches above the Water-mark If Glasses be filled about ⅔ full they seldom break Round Spherical Glasses usually break uniformly A Bolt-head being filled up to the neck with Water the top which was twelve Inches above it was sealed up upon which the Water being froze was raised three Inches into the neck and the Glass breaking in the thinnest Part from that point several Lines ran as from a Pole to the Meridian but none of them went round the Glass nor were they all of the same length In a flask cracked in many places the cracks were irregular Glass Bottles and stone-Jugs kept little order in breaking and Metals none at all but Woods cleave with the Grain Two oval Boxes one of Box and another of Maple containing each two ounces were fill'd full and by the Frost in one Night were cracked from the bottom to the top A Pepper-Box of Latin had its neck broke off and the joints at the bottom loosned Lead-Pipes above ground were broke in many places and some that lay a foot under ground Brass-Locks and Barrels of Pumps usually break with the Frost A Copper-Box of the shape of a Pear was cracked the fourth time it was froze The Cylinder of a silver Ink-horn bore the Frost but a silverball was considerably extended by the Frost Tobacco-Pipes and Earthen Ware were burst with the
that for that reason I called it the Icy Noctiluca But tho' generally it was colourless and transparent yet some small Pieces were Opake and of various Colours compared with each other 2. This Noctiluca is heavier in Specie than Water and tho' consistent yet not so hard as common Ice but it is brittle and may be spread upon a solid Body like the unmelted Tallow of a Candle it may be melted in hot Liquors without waste but in the Air a great Part of it will be consumed As to sense it is Cold but is of such a Texture that it easily becomes hot upon agitation 3. When held in the Air it yields a vivid Light if wet over and when first exposed to the Air it not only shines but emits store of Effluvia as long as it is kept there when it is immersed in Water it ceases to shine and also to smoak but as soon as it is taken out it begins a-fresh and if part be immersed and part above Water the latter will shine vividly tho' the other will not The Qualities of Water in which it had been immersed 4. The Water in which this Noctiluca had been sometime immersed had a strong and penetrant taste like a Mixture of Brine and Spirit of Salt and relished a little of Vitriol Being held in a small Concave Vessel of Silver over lighted Coals and ashes it evaporated very slowly and would not shoot into Crystals nor afford a dry Salt but coagulated into a substance like a Gelly or the whites of Eggs which would be easily melted by Heat When kept on a hot fire it would first boil and then make a crackling Noise and the Explosions would be accompanyed with flashes of fire and light which if they were small were generally blue like flames of Sulphur but more vivid and sometimes bluer but the greater flakes appeared yellow and very Luminous and these Phaenomena appeared likewise for some time after the Vessel was taken off When this matter was almost melted by Heat if it was permitted to cool it acquir'd a rosinous Consistence and tinged the Flame of a Candle blue By the Fire working upon it it acquir'd a Garlick Smell and being left in the Air all Night it turned to a Liquor almost as strong as Spirit of Salt Being put upon the Fire again it would afford the same Phaenomena as before but some of the Matter which before broke out in Flashes sometimes rose only in the form of Smoak of a rank Smell And tho' the quantity of this Matter was small yet it afforded Flashes plentifully for an Hour What Liquors it would be dissolved in and what not It would not dissolve in cold Water tho' the Water would be thereby impregnated so Crocus Metallorum impregnates Wine or Water without having its Bulk diminish'd It fermented not with Spirit of Sal-Armon nor did it lose its luminous Virtue but would shine when exposed to the Air again Oyl of Vitriol when cold would not dissolve it but when hot would melt it and it would lye at the bottom of so heavy a Liquor Aqu. fortis had no visible effect on it nor Oyl of Turpentine when cold but the latter being hot it wholly vanish'd in a Night's time without making any alteration in the Oyl Being put into Oyl of Cloves and melted by a Fire when it was cool and the Vial unstopped it yielded not only a Light that was render'd more acceptable to the Standers-by by its grateful Smell and the like succeeded with Oyl of Cloves in which Liquor when impregnated with the Noctiluca it was observable that the Vial being open'd in a dark place it would yield a flash of Flame very vivid which would last a Minute and sometimes if a Candle were in the Room the shining fluid would appear of a pleasant blueish Colour and another thing observable was that the Light would vanish whilst store of white Fumes remain'd upon the Liquor as if the Light chiefly depended on the finest and purest Part. In Oyl of Mace it did not appear luminous nor in Oyl of Aniseeds This Noctiluca continu'd in Spirit of Wine a considerable time undiminished 6. This Noctiluca being included in rectify'd Spirit of Wine was partly dissolved and left some earthly Parts at the bottom of the Liquor but did not discolour it upon unstopping the Vial no Light appeared but being dropped into cold Water the Drops were kindled by it but those Flashes immediately disappeared the Water not being luminous which Phaenomenon lest it should be thought to be an effect of Antiperistasis I dropped the impregnated Spirit upon hot Water and found that the same Phaenomenon succeeded And this Noctiluca diffuses its Virtue so far that one Grain impregnated a thousand of Spirit of Wine As for the reason why these Flashes so suddenly disappeared it might proceed from a sudden dispersion of the Particles of the Spirit through the Water and the Avolition of the luciferous Matter So Camphire dissolv'd in Spirit of Wine and dropped upon cold Water is left upon the Surface of it the Spirit being immediately dispersed through the Liquor Experiments discovering a strange subtlety of Parts in the Glacial Noctiluca Having dissolv'd a Grain of our Noctiluca in a Drachm of Spirit of Wine and added gradually fifty times its weight of Water the Noctiluca rendred the whole light when shaken in the Dark so that one Grain rendred 100000 times its weight of Liquor luminous and what was more strange was that not only the Steams appeared luminous but the Light seemed in some measure diffused through the whole Water which I am apt to believe proceeded from the Exhalations which shined through that Diaphanous Water tho' when the Glass was shaken the whole Mass appeared luminous And the Experiment being further prosecuted a Grain of the Noctiluca dissolved in Alkohol of Wine and shaken in Water it render'd 400000 times its weight luminous throughout And at another Tryal I found that it impregnated 500000 times its weight which was more than one part of Cochineel could communicate its Colour to the utmost being 125000 parts of Water In which Experiments â…› of the Noctiluca was undissolv'd And had we to the aforemention'd Estimate added the Proportion of the illuminated ambient Air the Expansion of this Noctiluca would have been incomparably greater than the above-mention'd number denotes But to demonstrate further the strange Subtilty of our Noctilucal Matter I shall add that three Grains of our Noctiluca being placed upon a flat-bottom'd Glass that was broader at the Top than the bottom and shallow that the Matter might be more fully exposed to the Air it was placed in a shelving Posture that upon its resolution in the moist Air it might presently run down and not hinder the free Evaporation of the remaining Matter The Vessel being thus placed all the Fragments about ten a Clock at Night began to shine briskly and continu'd to do so 'till reduced to very small Parts so
yard or more in depth as also a Syphon with two Legs F K and K G to which is joined a Pipe E K and to each of the Legs of that Syphon we tyed a Glass Pipe sealed at the bottom and having Water contained in each to the height there delineated Things being thus prepared Oyl of Turpentine must be poured into the Tube A B. C D but that it may not take up too much of the Oyl the bottom of the Vessel to X Y may be filled with Water till it reaches above the top of the Syphon F K G and then by the weight of it the Water in the Pipe will be raised through the Syphon and run into the lower Vessel H. In which Experiment the Water is raised through a Syphon by pressure tho' at the same time there be a free communication of Air through the Pipe E K without danger of a Vacuum In which Experiment if the Reason be asked why the Water does not rather run out of the Bipe H into G than the contrary It may be answered That tho' externally the Oyl is deeper upon the surface of the Water in the Pipe H and consequently presses more upon it yet the Tube G on the other side instead of having that pressure of Oyl hath a Cylinder of Water of an equal length which being heavier than Oyl raises the Water out of that Tube more forcibly than it is raised out of the other And for the like Reason when once the Water is raised in Syphons tho' there be a longer Cylinder of Air upon that end which is immersed in the lower Vessel yet there is a greater weight on the other because besides the incumbent Atmosphere there is a considerable Weight of Water But if the Syphon be above 34 or 35 Foot high the Water will not flow through it the pressure of the external Air being unable to raise Water to such a height And one thing observable in these Experiments is That if when the Water is running through these Syphons a small hole be made upon the top of a Syphon the Air pressing upon the Water within the Pipe as well as without it it will cease to run tho' the hole be no bigger than one made with a Needle which hole if it be stopped with a Needle the pressure of the external Air will by that means be taken off and the Syphon be rendred fit for use PARADOX XI paradox XI That a Solid Body as ponderous as any yet known tho' near the top of the Water it will sink by its own weight yet if it be placed at a greater depth than that of twenty times its own thickness it will not sink if its descent be not assisted by the weight of the incumbent Water To demonstrate what is contained in this Paradox See Plate 4. Fig. 3. we must fill the Glass A B C D see Plate the 4. Fig. the third almost full of Water the length of it being near three Foot in which Water if we suppose the Weight E F to be placed upon the surface G H it will sink by reason of its specifick Gravity the Water incumbent on other parts of that Plain being not equiponderant but if we suppose it to be placed upon the Surface I K the Pillars of Water being above nine times as thick as it they will counterballance it for which Reason were there no Water upon it it would subside no further and were a method contrived to keep the Water from pressing upon it the like would happen supposing it to lean upon the Surface L M. And to shew that were the weight so depressed free from incumbent Water it would not subside I shall add the following Experiment let then the Brass Body E F See Plate 4 Fig. 4 see Plate 4. Fig. 4. be the cover of a Brass valve the valve being fastned with Cement to the Glass Pipe O P the Body E F must by pulling a hair fired to the button of Valve Q close the Orifice of it and then it being convey'd under Water a foot deep the Cement and sides of the Glass O P will keep the Water off the upper part of the Body E F and consequently the imaginary Surface V W will only be pressed upon by the sole weight of the Body E F but the other Parts of that Surface by the incumbent Cylinders of Water so that the Body E F will be bore up without the assistance of any thing else but the Water buoying up against it but if the Tube be raised till the Body E F be above the Surface I K and near X Y the weight of it being greater than the weight of the incumbent Pillars of Water the Body will be no longer supported but if upon the first immersion when the Body E F is let down to the Surface R S a weight L be suspended at it that will not be able to sever the Body from the Valve from whence it appears that there is no need in our Physico-mechanical Experiments to fly to a Fuga Vacui to explain the Reason why two exactly polished Marbles when contiguous are so hard to be separated To what hath been said under this Paradox I shall add that when the weight L is suspended at the button Q the Body E F will be separated before it rises to the Surface I K. APPENDIX I. Objections to evince that the upper Parts of Water press not upon the lower Objections answered answered The first Objection is that if the upper Parts of the Water pressed upon the lower the lower would be condensed but to this it is answered that Water consisting of Parts tho' minute yet very solid it does not therefore follow since in a heap of the powder of Diamonds the lower are no more compressed than the superficial ones besides it hath not been found that Water was capable of being compressed by any force we could use And tho' it be further urged that Plants grow in the Sea without being depressed yet that happens because the Pressure is not only incumbent but Collateral likewise and so contributes to sustain it and the rather because the Collateral Pressure is greater than the incumbent Another Objection is that a Bucket of Water weighs no more when full in Water than the Bucket it self out of it nor so much But the Reason of this is very plain for supposing A B C D to be a Well See Plate the fourth See Plate 4. Fig. 5. Figure the fifth in which the Bucket which is contiguous to the Plain I K is suspended by the string E F the Water in the Bucket G if it be made of Wood which is lighter in Specie than Water and the incumbent Pillar of Water not pressing upon the Surface H equally as the Water on the Surface I K the Water below must buoy it up And tho' the Bucket was made of something heavier than Water yet the whole weight of it will not be perceived
of Vapours will appear from what hath elsewhere been delivered and that Quick-silver will we are assured by the effects of Fumigations in the Lues Venerea and that it may be incorporated with Stones may be observed in some kinds of native Cinnabar And I have found that not only artificial but natural Sal-Armoniack may be raised in the form of Exhalations by the help of fire And that Sal-Armoniack Sulphur and Mercury may be sublimed into a Gold like substance appears from the Preparations of Aurum Musicum and that the Earth abounds with Mineral Exhalations of various kinds appears from what hath been elsewhere delivered as well by us as several other Authors and since the Earth abounds with so great a Number of Minerals there is no question but some of them may be able to penetrate and tinge some indurated Stones and that a small quantity of a Mineral may be sufficient to tinge a great quantity of a Stony substance will appear from several Experiments already delivered But to proceed to the last Argument to be alledged on this occasion I shall add that it appears that opacous Gems receive their Virtues from Mineral Particles since most of them consist of Mineral Bodies petrified And tho' most of these Bodies differ little from artificial ones we are not therefore to deny them Medicinal Virtues since several Medicinal and specifick Virtues are attributed to Chymical Preparations and that artificial Bodies may be endewed with Medicinal Virtues appears from Galen who delivers the ashes of a Cray-Fish as an Antidote against the biting of a mad Dog And even Treacle is esteemed not only as an Alexipharmick but endewed with specifick Virtues upon the account of its manifest as well as occult Qualities And to what I have said I shall add that several Stones of the same kind differ in the goodness of their Medicinal Qualities as Lapis Nephriticus and several of them have Virtues which seem to belong to other kinds when they are impregnated with the like Exhalations so that I have seen a Blood-Stone which would stop Hemorrhagies when made use of without the Persons knowledge yet by its colour it seemed to be of another kind of Stone But to the foregoing Particulars I shall add that subterraneal Exhalations may be so powerful and penetrating as to petrifie both Animal and Vegetable Substances as appears from petrifyed Skulls Bones and pieces of Wood and that Vegetable substances may be hardened into Stones is evident since Lapis Lyncurius a Stone near Naples being rubbed and moistened and then exposed to the Sun in a due season will yield Mushrooms fit to be eaten so that the seminal Principles of Vegetables may be petrifyed without losing a power of exerting themselves when they find an opportunity And these kind of Stones are sometimes found to be of an extraordinary bigness And that other Earths subject to be petrifyed may be endewed with Medicinal Virtues appears since I knew a Clay-Pit in which a Bed of Clay yielded by distillation a Volatile and strong Salt which was a good Cordial and a great opening and Diaphoretick Medicine And that sublimable Salts Sulphurs and Bitumens may be met with in the Bowels of the Earth and in the Bodies of Stones I have found by their Chymical Examens And that Metalline Parts may concur to the Composition of a Medicinal Stone may appear from native Sulphur which is it self a compound Body besides a good proportion of Mineral Earth CHAP. III. Of the Atmospheres of Consistent Solids Of the Atmospheres of consistent Bodies THAT fluid Bodies such as Water Wine Urine c. emit Effluvia is too evident to want proof and that even consistent and solid Bodies emit Effluvia will appear from what follows since not only Leaves of Plants but Ambergrease c. are manifestly odoriferous And not only Volatile Salts are sensibly diminished by being exposed to the Air but Camphire which is a tough tenacious Body And even from the Electrical Qualities of Amber hard Wax c. it appears that they emit corporeal Effluvia which sensibly affect the Nostrils when violently rubbed And as further instances of the Effluvia of consistent Bodies we may add that not only Apples but Eggs lose of their weight in Winter and so does Wood for having caused a Cup to be made of it and Counterpoised it it grew sensibly and gradually lighter so that tho' it wanted two drachms of two ounces yet it lost forty grains of that weight in ten hours And even Ice which weighed two ounces in a frosty Night lost ten grains of its former weight tho' not in the least thawed And it is known to those that deal amongst Lead and Tin that those Bodies emit very hurtful Effluvia and Cold-share Iron hath been observed to smell so rank whilst red hot that the Smith could scarce endure to work it and not only Iron but Brass and Copper when heated smell very unpleasantly And to these instances I shall add that besides Load-Stones black Marble as well as other Stones whilst a Polishing will emit sensible Effluvia which is evident by the smells they emit And amongst other Bodies which convince us that they emit sensible Effluvia by their smell I shall enumerate those Conical Stones called Thunder-Stones which upon attrition emit a Sulphureous smell and so did a Substance which much resembled a Marchasite And I made a Mixture of a Metalline Body and a coagulated Mercury which had considerable effects on the Eyes as well as other Parts near which it was worn as an Appensum And Vitrum Saturni made with a good quantity of Minium is not devoid of Electricity nor is Brass free from an offensive smell when its Parts are put into a violent concussion by turning And amongst Electrical Bodies I have seen some of so close a Texture and so hard that they would strike fire and Aqua Fortis it self would not work upon them as Cornelians Rock-Crystal c. And even so hard Bodies as Diamonds are found to be Electrical And I have observed that Concretions called Cugoli made use of by Glass-men in the East-Indies emits a smell upon attrition and so will a Calculus Humanus and Iron it self if held to a grinding Stone without the use of Water And Marchasites likewise upon an attrition emit a Sulphureous Odour And even so fixed Bodies as Regulus of Antimony and its Glass communicate to Liquors Emetick and Purgative Emanations and Glass it self which is fixed enough to endure the force of the Fire upon Attrition emits offensive Effluvia And the Heat of the Sun and Fire have so great a stroke in exciting the Atmospheres of Bodies exposed to them that Amber being exposed to the former and Glass to the latter they both became Electrical And I question not but that if a great many Bodies not yet tryed were carefully weighed they would appear sensibly to emit Effluvia tho' the waste made by some Bodies is so small as to be
Spirits XIII Of the relation betwixt Spirit of Human Blood and the Air. XIV Of the Hostility of Human Blood with Acids whether in the form of Liquors or Fumes XV. Of the Medicinal Virtues of Spirit of Human Blood externally applyed XVI Of the Medicinal Virtues of Spirit of Human Blood internally given in Pleurisies Head-achs Coughs Fevers Scurvies Cachexies Dropsies Fits of the Mother XVII Paralipomena and promiscuous Experiments and Observations concerning the Spirit of Human Blood TITLE I. Whether Human Blood may be so ordered by Fermentation or Putrefaction as that in Distillation a Spirit either Vrinous or Vinous may ascend before the Phlegm COnsidering that Fevers have been looked upon to proceed from a Fermentation in the Blood and likewise that Human Urine which hath a great Cognation with Human Blood will not whilst fresh afford a Spirit till the Phlegm be first drawn off this Subject of this Title may not appear Groundless But I am not much encouraged to expect a Vinous or ardent Spirit from Human Blood nor am I sure there is any such thing as Fermentation in Human Blood And on this occasion I shall add that having once kept Blood Hermetically sealed up in a Glass for twelve Months when it came to be opened it smelled so offensively that we could not make any tryal upon it and another time having digested in a pretty large Vial Hermetically sealed some Sheeps Blood when it had been a good while in the digestive Furnace it suddenly broke with a considerable noise and blew off the long neck of the Vial. And here to what hath been laid down I shall add That some Ounces of Serum of Blood being added to a fourth Part of Raisins of the Sun stoned and kept in a Glass in a warm Room for several days the event of this tryal was that within in a few Days the Raisins began to emerge and whilst they floated yielded a considerable quantity of springy and permanent Air from whence it appeared that there had been some Degree of Fermentation But when this Serum came to be distilled tho' it did not stink as if it had been putrified yet the Spirit which first ascended tasted not like a-Viscous Spirit nor like a meer Phlegm Whether the Fermentation observed in this Liquor depended on the whole Serum or only on the Aqueous Parts distinct from it I shall leave to Experience to determine To try whether Digestion or Putrefaction would so open the Texture of Blood as to make it part with its Spirit more easily and before the Phlegm I kept a quantity of Serum for that purpose four times as long as was sufficient to make Urine part with its Spirit before its Phlegm but the Liquor which came over by a gentle heat had but little strength either in Smell or Taste nor would it readily turn Syrup of Violets Green yet like a Volatile Alkaly it would soon turn a Solution of Sublimate in fair Water into a White Opacous and almost Milky Liquor TITLE II. Whether Spirit of Human Blood be really any thing but the Volatile Salt and Phlegm well commixed FOR several Reasons I am inclined to believe that the Spirit of Human Blood is totally composed of a Volatile Salt and a Phlegm which is not so pure and Elementary but that some Particles of Oyl and others of Salt may be mixed with it and whether by frequent Rectifications this Phlegm may be rendered Homogeneous I much question since I am not sure but that in frequent Distillations some Particles of the Fire mny be from time to time associated with the Liquor and even in the first Distillation the Fire uniting with the Liquor may form one different from the Ingredients or Principles of the Body and I have found that Woods afford by distillation a Liquor which is not an Oyl nor an Acid or an Alkaly and yet no true Phlegm but an Adiaphorous Liquor And on this occasion to shew That the Composition of a Body may as well be made known by investigating the way of generating or producing it as by that of Analysing or resolving it I shall add that having dissolved as much Volatile Salt of Human Blood in distilled Water as the Liquor would take up and then having distilled it in a conveniently shaped Vessel with a regulated degree of Heat the Distillation afforded us such a Liquor as was desired since by Smell and Taste it appeared to be a good brisk Spirit of Human Blood And this Experiment was again repeated with the like success TITLE III. Of the Species of Saline Bodies to which the Spirit of Human Blood is to be referred THO' it be generally allowed that Saline Spirits are of two sorts yet it may not be amiss to add That some of them are Acid in Taste as Spirit of Nitre Vitriol c. Others are rather like common or lixiviate Salts and their different Effects and Operations are much less alike than their Taste for upon their mixture there ensues a manifest conflict and usually one will precipitate the Bodies the other will dissolve And amongst Salts called Alkalies some are fixed in considerable Degrees of Fire and others who take Acid and Alkalies for the true Principles of mixed Bodies call the one Fixed and the other Volatile Alkalies And tho' I who question this Doctrine often call the Salts made by Combustion simply Alkalies or lixiviate Salts and those that ascend sometimes Vrinous and sometimes Volatile Salts yet since the Names of Fixed Alkalies and Volatile ones are in request now I shall now make use of them in that Sense These Things being premised I shall proceed to observe that notwithstanding that some Physicians and Chymists ascribe Digestion to an Acid Ferment in the Stomach yet the Spirit of Human Blood is referrable to that Classis which many call Volatile Alkalies since it generally performs what Volatile Alkalies are said to do for it will ferment with Acids turn Syrup of Violets Green and precipitate a Solution of Sublimate in common Water Were I sure that the Ferment of the Stomach were Acid I should be apt to believe that the Blood retains something of Acidity in it but yet that would not be an Argument why I should not refer the Spirit of Human Blood to the Class of Alkalies because so few Acid Particles would either be destroyed by the Alkalizate ones that are so abundant in the Spirit or at least they would be so very much predominant as to give us Reason on their account to denominate the Mixture Alkalious As if some drops of Spirit of Vinegar were mixed with stale Urine they would be either depriv'd of their Acidity by some Particles of a contrary Nature or be so overpowered by the Fugitive Salts they abound with that the Mixture might well be referred to the Classis of Volatile Urinous Salts TITLE IV. Whether the Spirit of Human Blood be differing from Spirit of Vrine and other Salts called Volatile Alkalies UPON this Occasion I shall offer
we could readily precipitate with the Spirit of Blood a Substance which looked like a white Earth and such a Substance I obtained in a far greater quantity from that which the Salt-makers call Bittern which usually remains in their Salt Pans when they have taken out about as much Salt as would coagulate in figured grains This Spirit of Human Blood does likewise precipitate a Solution of Dantzik Vitriol in Water but that Solution is not a total one TITLE XII Of the Affinity between Spirit of Human Blood and some Chymical Oyls and Vinous Spirits THAT there is an Affinity betwixt Spirit of Human Blood and Spirit of Wine appears since we have formerly observed that being put together they will concoagulate and continue united a long time and tho' a rectified Spirit of Wine will not draw a Tincture from Blood yet Spirit of Blood will But as for Lixiviate Liquors such as are made of Salt of Tartar fixed Nitre c. we find not that they will strictly associate with it Spirit of Blood readily mixes with that Adiaphorous Spirit formerly mentioned but dephlegmed Spirit of Blood mixed by agitation with its Oyl will presently separate again tho' with Spirit of Wine it will permanently unite tho these two Liquors belong to a different viz. the one to the Animal and the other to the Vegetable Kingdom With the essential Oyls of Aromatick Vegetables the Spirit seems to have a greater Affinity for an equal proportion of this Liquor and of Oyl of Aniseeds drawn in an Alembick per Vesicam being shaken together they made a soft or Semifluid coagulation which continued in that form for a day or two and would probably have longer done so if I had not had occasion to proceed further with it To shew that Spirit of Human Blood may either communicate some of its saline Parts to essential Oyls or work a change in them I digested a while in a Glass with a long neck some recstified Spirit of Human Blood with a convenient quantity of Oyl of Aniseeds drawn in an Alembick and found that the Oyl grew coloured of a high yellow and afterwards attained a high redness which may afford us a hint of the cause of some changes of colour that are produced in the Liquors of the Body To take off the stinking quality of Human Blood and to render it more grateful we mixed with it in a Glass about an equal quantity or half as much Oyl of Aniseeds and having shaken them together in the Glass we placed it in a Furnace with a gentle Heat by which means the slight Texture of the Coagulum being dissolved part of the Oyl appeared floating upon the top whence being separated by a Tunnel the Liquor was whitish and without a stinking smell it smelling and tasteing strong of Aniseeds tho' the saline Particles retained a considerable degree of their brisk and penetrating taste Another way I took to deprive Spirit of Human Blood of its offensive smell was by employing a Medium to unite it with essential Oyls for having dissolved an eighth part of Oyl of Aniseeds in highly rectified Spirit of Wine and added an equal quantity of Spirit of Human Blood and upon a convenient agitation we suffered the Mixture to settle a considerable time after that it appeared that some of the Oyl swam in drops distinct from the other Liquors which consisted of a Mixture of the two Spirits impregnated with a few particles of Oyl which they had detained This Liquor abounded with little Concretions made by the Coagulation of the Sanguineous and Vinous Spirits which by a gentle Heat were sublimed in the form of a Volatile Salt to the upper Part of the Glass and this Salt had not only a much less penetrating Odour than the meer Volatile Salt of Human Blood but had quite lost its stink and yet retained a considerable quickness and something of the scent of Aniseeds and the remaining Liquor was likewise deprived of its ill smell and moderately imbued with that of the Oyl To try whether there would be any Affinity between our Spirit and the highly rectified Oyl of Petroleum I shaked a convenient quantity of them together in a new Vial upon which they presently turned into a white Mixture and tho' after a few hours the greater part of the Oyl swam above the Spirit yet there appeared betwixt the two Liquors a good quantity of whiteish Matter which seemed to be produced by the Union of many Particles of the Spirit and Oyl which were most disposed to combine TITLE XIII Of the Relation betwixt Spirit of Human Blood and the Air. TO try whether the Air will have any considerable effect on the Spirit of Human Blood after Distillation as it evidently hath on the Blood before I spread thinly upon a piece of white Paper some small filings of Copper and wetting them well without covering them quite over with a few drops of Blood by that means they being well exposed to the free Air the Action of the Liquor was so much promoted that within a minute or two it did even in the cold acquire a blueish colour and in fewer minutes than one would have expected that colour was so heightned as to become Ceruleous but another parcel of the same filings being put into a Vial the intercourse of the Air being excluded the Liquor would not in some hours acquire so deep a colour Having in a clear Cylindrical Vial of about an Inch Diameter put more filings of Copper than was requisite to cover the bottom and poured so much Spirit of Blood upon them as rought about a fingers breadth above them it in a few hours acquired a rich colour which after a day or two began to grow more faint and afterwards gradually declined till it was almost lost yet the Liquor was not altogether limpid or colourless as I have often had it with Spirit of Urine or Sal-Armoniack and these remains of blueishness I attributed to the effects of the Air included in the Bottle with so small a quantity of Liquor And tho' I thought it not impossible but that length of time might destroy it's blueishness yet unstopping the Vessel I observed that in two minutes of an hour the Surface of the Liquor where it touched the fresh Air became Ceruleous and in a quarter of an hour the whole Body of the Liquor had attained a deeper colour than that of the sky which colour grew sensibly paler again when the Vial was stopped But one thing I must add is that I have found the Experiment to succeed with some Analogy when another Volatile Spirit hath been made use of in which there was no Volatile Salt of Human Blood but the Experiment being repeated the Air produced a green and not a Ceruleous colour which makes me suspend my Judgment till satisfied by further experience whether the event of the former tryal depended on any Affinity of the Spirit with Blood or not And here I shall add that a parcel of