whilst it is a burning 2. Because smell proceedeth only from Sulphur whereof such earth which did pass through the sire would be most destitute It were therefore more consonant to reason and truth to say that the pâ—…tide smell of the fountain of which this Author writeth doth proceed from the Sulphur of Bitumen or of any other thing which is recrudescing and evaporating whilst it is a fermenting 4. Seing the Sea is a great body it is more probable that all its salt was concreated with it in the very instant of its creation than that its saltness was by little and little communicated unto it by the salt of the Bitumen which was burned in the caverns of the earth For 1. seing sea-salt which nature coagulateth in many places as at the Rochel in France and in many places of Spain is such an usefull and necessary thing for man it is incredible that God who created so great a variety of creatures for the use of man did not at the beginning creat it with the rest than many of which it is more usefull 2. Seing every pound of Sea-water containeth about a drachin of salt and the Asphaltick ' Bitumen which is found upon the shore of the Lake Asphaltites which is called eminently saltish scarcely containeth any saltness that 's perceptible by the taste it is probable that a mass of Bitumen though calcined and equiponderating the terrestrial Globe could not communicat so great and perceptible saltness to so great a body as the Sea is Moreover the ashes of the Asphaltick Bitumen from which the Sulphur is separated by burning do scarcely contain any saltness for it is a sulphureous body which of it self will hardly take or retain flame unless it be associat to the Sulphur of burning coals 3. Seing it is most probable that the saltness of the Asphaltick lake proceedeth not from the Bitumen which is not dissolved in the water but swimmeth only above upon it and is thereby at length ejected upon the shoreâ— it is more probable that neither the fastness of the Occan is communicated unto it by the Bittimen seing it containeth no such matter 4. Seing 1. the Lâ—kâ— Asphaâ—…es is in the same place where were Sodâ—m Gomorrah and the valley which was full of bitumenous or slymie Genes 14.10 and salt See the English Annotations on Joshua 15.62 pâ—ts 2. Seing then the foresaid Cities and vâ—lley were calcined or incinerat by Fire and Brimstone which we proved to be most faltish which came down from heaven Gon. 19.24,25 3. Seing the ashes of all calcined bodies do contain a fixed salt which naturally attracteth the humide air that so it may be dissolved by diâ—…quation without all doubt the great saltness of that Lake which is called eminently saltish proceedeth only from the ashâ—s of those things which were then calcined whose salt did attract the humidt air which did convert it into a liquor which was afterwards augmented by Rain and the Rivulets which ran that way So that it is probable that that water is 〈◊〉 for no other cause seing there are many great Lakes whose sweet waters do peretrat as far into the bowels of the earth as the waters of the Asphaltick-lake and many bayes of the Sea do Moreover this continual attraction of the air because of the Salino-sulphurcous spirit that is diffused through it produceth in the air a perpetual circulation of suâ—phureous and salâ—nous spirits for the fixed salt of the water attracteth the saline-sulphureous spirit and the more volauâ—e parts whether salinous or sulphureous which are dissolved in the strange humide body do constantly attempt an avolation which rendreth the birds valetu â—inary when they transvolat the Lake and at length killeth them And it is the very-like circulation of spirits which causeth persons who are not accustomed to navigation upon the Sâ—a nauseat or vomit when these salinous and suâ—phureous spirits which are in their circulatory motion do enter the body with the air Now that there is such a salino-sulphureous spirit which is the universal yet subservient to the first cause of generation really existing in nature is sufficiently proven by these four not ordinary arguments 1. The earth which was within the limits of the flux and reâ—…ux of the Sea remaineth barren for a time after that the Sea deserteth it viz. untill that Salino-sulphureous spirit have insinuat it self into it for whensoever this cometh to pass then all sorts of vegetables whose seeds or roots were seminated or planted there or brought thither by the rain from circum-jâ—cent places begin to germinat in it 2 It is the very Salino sulphureous spirit which insinuateth it self into the earth that is almost most barren and maketh it more fertile when it is not manured for two or three years and the penetration of this spirit into the ground is promoved by the relicts of its proper Salt which attracteth it But when earth that hath not been manured for a long time becometh barren which happeneth sometimes as I was informed by one skilfull in Agriculture that ought to be ascribed unto the super-abundance of spirits which doth often impede generation for a woman immediatly before her menstrual flux doth seldom conceive For which look the second Thes that was disputed in medicinal School at Paris Nov. 23. 1656. or to some other disease known perchance to Husband-men 3. It is the very Salino-sulphureous spirit which is diffused through the air that maketh Heathy wilde and almost barren places more fertile when it is attracted by the Lime which they cast upon the ground for the fixed Salt of the â—ials which is united to the earth of the stones by calcination when the Lime is a making promoveth the attraction of the foresaid spirit and so the earth is rendred more apt for the generation of Vegetables which require more Salinous and sulphureous spirits 4. In the Isles of Orkney the attraction of this Salino sulphureous spirit is greatly promoved by the salt of the Sea-ware and ashes of Peats wherewith the inhabitants are accustomed to dung their lands which are also much fatned by the abundant Sulphur of the same vegetable Here I will acquaint you with an observation which by many reiterated experiments I know to be most certain And it is this when Logh-leeches are applied to the inhabitants of Orkney they fall off sooner and suck less blood than when they are applied to such as live in the South-parts of the Kingdom I conceive the reason of this to be the saltness and acrimony of their blood which maketh those Animals constantly to desist longâ—… they be full of blood and this acrimony or saltness doth without all doubt proceed from the salt of the forementioned Sea-ware which causeth the Barley and Oats the only Corus which grow there to be more salt then in other places where the earth is not dunged with the foresaid vegetable and ashes This also with the much eating of salted Fishes by the vulgars there is
the cause why multitudes of them are molested with Vlcers of all sorts Caucers especially I do acknowledge that elsewhere Logh-leeches will sometimes fall off ere they be full But the cause of this is the exuberancy of blood which cometh so impetuously upon them that it is like to choak them for which they desist from sucking as children ordinarily do when the Nurse her milk doth molest them after the same manner For the same reason also the most part of strangers who go to reside in the Isles of Orkney are at first molested with a Diarrhaea or Flux the acrimonious saltness of the bread and drink irritating the expultrix faculty more than ordinary untill it be accustomed with the same This also is the reason why the inhabitants there for the most part do require a far stronger dose of any purgative or vomitive medicine than those who live in the South because their expultrix faculty being accustomed with the acrimony of bread and drink which will prove purgative unto others who are not accustomed unto it requireth a stronger medicinal exciter We thought it not unworthy of our pains to offer unto the consideration of Naturalists and Mathematicians our opinion concerning the flux and reflux of the Sea before that we should have put a close to these things concerning the Sea and it is thus seing the Moon doth by her presence refrigerat all sublunary bodies especially the air and seing fixed salt doth attract the cold air sooner and better than the hot we conceive that the fixed salt which was concreated with the Sea and dissolved in its water doth abundantly attract the air that was cooled or so disposed by some other quality that it might be the more easily attracted by the salt by the presence of theâ— Moon or of the opposit point in its sphere and so the quantity of the water is greatly augmented and the water is again by little and little converted into air when the air loseth its foresaid quality by the departure of the Moon or of its opposit point from the meridian This opinion is sufficiently proven by this argument viz. that Sea-stones which are most saltish do attract the air when it is altered as was said and do become so wet that water droppeth down from them But when the air loseth its foresaid alteration then the water is again converted into air and the stones become dry like others Moreover this humectation of the stones doth as it were observe the set times of the flux and reflux of the Sea It is true that in very moist weather these stones will be constantly wet because of the frigidity of the air but yet they are more wet when the Moon is in the meridiau than at other times so that this doth not in the least render our opinion improbable From what hath been said it may probably be concluded 1. that the Sea-water is not so saltish when the Tide is at the height as when it is a low-Low-water because then its salt is dissolved in a greater quantity of water 2. That sea-Sea-water taken from the Ocean would observe the set times of the increase and decrease of the Sea if it were put into a Weather-glass or a glass of the same fashion hermetically sealed seing it is impregnat with an active principle Salt whereof common water is destitute which nevertheless doth alter according to the mutations of the air by occupying of a larger place at sometimes and a lesser at another Having since the publication of this opinion in Latine more seriously considered it we conceive it needfull now to declare that we do not believe this most real transmutation of air and water to be the adequat and only cause of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea but that it is not one of the least considerable causes of this most admirable effect the full and exact knowledge of whose causes it seemeth the Almighty hath reserved unto himself These things we do freely offer unto all to be censured according to the difference of opinions concerning them Some Spagyrical operations of nature added in stead of a Conclusion THe first is Destillation For vapors being elevated into the second region of the air which is cold as the head of a Still are there condensed and do from thence fall down in drops 2. Sublimation as it were of Snow 3. Chrystallization of Sal-Gemmae Ice and Hail 4. Coagulation of Sea-salt by the heat of the Sun 5. Calcination of Horse-hones and of other animals which die in the fields by the solar rayes 6. Filtration of water through the veins of the earth for it is most limpide which cometh out of fountains 7. Dulcification of sea-Sea-water whilst it passeth through the bowels of the earth for it is the very same being sweetned which springeth in fountains Ecclesiastes 1.7 8. Circulation of Salino-Sulphureous spirits in thesu perfice of the Sea of which before The transmutation of the Elements also is a kind of circulation 9. Salification of Nitre in the concavities of Caves and Vaults 10. Fermentation which doth alwayes preceed generation for there is no corruption without an antecedent fermentation as appeareth from the premisses 11. Solution of Minerals by water which is impregnat with some corrosive salt as was said concerning Antimony in the description of Moffet-Well 12. Conflagration of Thunder 13. Aurification in the veins of the earth which many Spagiricks have in vain essayed to imitat upon its superfice Therefore the Spagyrical Art is a most excellent imitatrix of Nature from whose principles and operations we may collect most probable causes for almost all effects whether natural or artificial THE OYLY-WELL OR A Topographico Spagyricall description of the Oyly-Well at St. Catharines-chappel in the Paroch of Libberton To this is subjoyned MONSTRUM CATHANESIENSE OR A description c. BY MATTHEW MACKAILE Chyrurgo-Medicine Edinburgh Printed for Robert Brown and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Sun on the north-side of the Street over against the Cross 1664. The Epistle to the Reader Courteous Reader I have yet again adventured to lanch forth into the Ocean of the World in this little Vessel which doth not deserve the observation of any where so many others more excellent and stately do appear adorned with the sinest sails of rational discourses supported by the surest experiments and furnished with most irresistible arguments which do conclude only the weightiest of truths for the routing and sinking into silence of those irrational Pirats who do what they can altogether to hinder our arrival at the haven of verity were it not because of the rarity and usefulness of the commodities which she carrieth For surely they will be delectable to some and usefull to all who have had so great a benefit by Nature conferred upon them as is understanding not to abuse that which might prove usefull for them They are such things as have passed through the Refrigeratory of my vulgar Brain and which
unto one place Gen. 1.9 or unto the returning of the waters from off the earth Gen. 8.3 or both which is most probable This third Proposition is also proven by Psal 104.5 Who laid the foundations of the earth that it should not be removed for ever ver 6. Thou covered'st it with the deep as with a garment the waters stood above the mountains ver 7. at thy rebuke they fled at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away ver 8. they go up by the mountains they go down by the valleys uno the place which thou hast founded for them ver 9. Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over that they turn not again to cover the earth ver 10. he sendeth his springs that is permitteth the springs to pass among the hills And Prov. 8.28 When he strengthened the fountains of the deep ver 29. when he gvae to the Sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment Seing it is most evident from these places of Scripture especially from Psal 104.9,10 and Job 28.11 and 38.8.10,11 that the Sea hath a natural and perpetual inclination unto turning again to cover the earth whereby all the parts of its supeefice may be equidistant from the centre of the earth and that by the omnipotency only of God it is detained in that situation wherein now it is we do from them and the foresaid propositions conclude that the waters of all springs even such as do scaturiat upon the tops of the highest mountains which run perpetually do proceed from the Sea through the subterraneal veins For further probation of this opinion consider that if the superfice of the Sea where any of its water doth enter into the veins of the earth by which it is conveyed to the tops of high mountains were not further distant from the centre of the earth than the tops of those mountains it could never ascend unto them no more than the water which issued from the top of an high mountain could move in a natural maner as it doth toward the Sea-shore if the place from whence it proceedeth were not further distant from the centre of the earth than the shore Here we cannot but take notice how Dr. John French in his York-shire Span chap. 2. pag. 10 11 12. denieth that the middle superfice of the Ocean is higher than the shore and that there are such veins in the earth as the water would pass through unto the tops of mountains where springs are because the veins in the bowels of the earth are not wholly and throughout full as of necessity they must be before water will ascend through them for preservation of its continuity and the avaiding of a vacuum as those crooked pipes are by which Wine-coopers use to draw Wine out of our vessel into another For answer in consideration of our former reasons we will as confidently affirm as he doth deny that the middle superfice of the Ocean is not only higher than the shore but also higher than the highest mountain and that these veins of the earth are wholly and throughout full of water because if they were not so the Sea-water could never scaturiat from the tops of high mountains The foresaid Author having as he thinketh sufficiently refuted that opinion which asserteth the ascent of the waters by the subterranea veins which are in the mountains though it be according to the express Word of God Psal 140.8 They go up by the mountains they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them setteth down his own pag. 15.16 which is this the water which proceedeth from the tops of mountains is only the vapors of the waters contained in the caverns of the earth which the subterraneal heat of the burning Bitumen as pag. 22. did elevat unto the heads of the springs where they are condensed into water aâ— water is elevated from the Sea unto the middle region of the air where it is condensed into water Having into our Appendix unto Moffet-Well shewed the improbability if not the impossibility of that his subteraneal fire for refuration of this opinion I shall only make use of the words of his own 2. Arg. pag. 2. whereby he refuteth the opinion of Seneca viz. That springs are generated chiefly of earth changed into water changing only the words air and corrupted and putting vapor and converted for them thus It is to be wondred at that seing ten parts of vapor if not moe serve for the making of one part of water containable in the same space there should be so much space in the earth for containing so much vapor as serveth the making of such a quantity of water as springs daily out of the earth how is it possible that so much vapor can be converted in such a moment Moreover as it is most probable as he there writeth that the whole elementary air being of its own nature most subtile and not being sufficient to make such abundance of water as all the springs of the earth will amount to so it is most like that though there were such a subterraneal fire occasioning the elevation of such vapors yet all these would not be sufficient to yield so much water as doth daily proceed from all the springs that are upon the earth Let us here applaud the most ingenious opinion of the most famous Philosopher Renatus Des Carres princip Philosoph parte 4. Parag. 65. Vt animalium sanguis in eorum venis arteriis sic aqua in terrae venis circulariter fluit Because thereby appeareth one great resemblance which is betwixt the Macrocosme and the choicest of Animals Man called the Microcosme Not that we think that the similitude holdeth in all things but that because of its reality the foresaid Author is much to be admired and respected for his ingenious observation In the next place we shall first give you that description of the Well which we find in J. Monipeny his Memorial of the rare and wonderfull things of Scotland at the end of his Abridgement of the Scotish Chronicles 2. We shall shew in what things this description is faulty 3. Describe the maner of collecting this Oyl and add such things as we have observed in the Well 4. Prove that the fore cited Author his opinion concerning the Oyl is most probable 5. Set down the maner of its separation from the Coals 6. Describe the Virtues which undoubtedly it hath or in probability may be ascribed to it 7. Propose and answer three questions As to to the first viz. I. M. his description of the Well these are his words In Louthian two miles from Edinburgh is a Well-spring called St. Catharines Well flowing perpetually with a kind of black fatness or Oyl above the water preceeding as is thought of the Parret coal bring frequent in these parts This fatness is of a marvellous nature for as the coal whereof it proceeds is judain to conceive fire or flame So
unpleasant smell most like to that of the yoke of a hard boyled Egg and most unlike to the smells of not-inflamed Brimstone and Moffet-Wells which argueth the indigestion of the combustible Sulphur 2. Or slow because the salts c. of the Brimstone and Tartar do within few hours assix themselves to the sides and bottom of the vessel wherein they were boyled and then beginneth the fore-mentioned loathsome smell as was said concerning the fermentation of Vrine Now that the reliques of the combustible Sulphur which are mixed with the water do recrudesce appeareth hence that this putide water doth extinguish fire and its relicts do not take flame as doth the Sulphur which is by the salts detained into the precipitated pouder The same cometh to pass when the double quantity of the pouder of Lime is mixed with Brimstone and both are destilled together for then some few drops only of almost insipide but stinking Phlegme like the fore-mentioned water impregnat with the combustible Sulphur of Brimstone and Salt of Tartar do exstill although you should augment the fire unto the liquefaction oâ— the Glass Retort thus was I cheated in seeking after Schroderus his Oleum Sulphuris rubrum described in his Pharmacop Med. Chym. lib. 〈◊〉 cap. 28. Here you may take notice that it is inpossible to extract out of Brimstone a sulphureors and combustible â—…uor without mixing with it some other body containing a combustible Sulphur because the combustible Sulphur of Brimstone is so united to it's salts and so detained by them that it cannot be separated from them without the actual touch of fire and when it is so touched it becometh presently inflamed and consumeth totally as was asserted We said 1. that Brimstone could not in a natural manner communicat to earth or water any putide smell 2. That by the salts only of Tartar or of Lime the solution in water and indigestion of the combustible Sulphur of Brimstone can be produced because neither Nitre Salt-Amoniack nor Sal-Gemmae which only are true Mineral-salts can produce the solution in water or indigestion of the foresaid Sulphur Neither will the longest infusion or decoction of Brimstone in water produce the solution and indigestion of it's combustible Sulphur because it is most strictly united to it 's proper Salts Seing these things are collected from our own proper experiments only wâ— are of opinion that from them may be concluded that it is most probable that the water of Moffeâ— Wells passeth not through Brimstone seing thâ—â—he solution in water and indigestion of it's comâ—ustible Sulphur cannot be caused by any true mâ—â—eral Salt and the Salts of Tartar and Lime by which only the fore-mentioned effects can be proâ—…ced neither were nor ever can be found is the veins of the earth through which the wateâ—… do run The fore-mentioned Author otherwayes most learned in the beginning of his 9. chap. of hâ—… 4. Book of hot Baths judgeth also amiss in saying that the cause of fervide Fountains is an actual fire in these words Seing the waters do spring abroad very fervide or hot we must of necessity confess that an actual fire above all degrees of heat is beneath them for the very waters themselves do bewray the very substance of fire it self a most hot quality and the operations likewise of fire they burn observe here that the Author useth two words incendunt and urunt by the former of which if he do mean that they do inflame or kindle he is yet further in the wrongâ— for there is no solid body more easily set on fire then Gun-powder is nor is there any liquide body of a more facile inflamation then the rectified spirit of Wine is and yet neither of these could ever be inflamed by any such waters as he mentioneth neither by the most rectified Aqua-fortis which according to his judgement hath as many degrees of hear as any of these waters of which he writeth vesicat destroy sense expilat whatsoever Animals are cast into them then excoriat a little and at length do consume the flesh and enervat to the very bones all which are the effects of fire These things are spoken amiss 1. because the very contrary effects are at some times produced by bodies which are most hot as when the most rectified spirit of Wine and all sulphureous Oyles which are drawn out of Spices as also the Oyl of Lamer do not destroy sense but revivifie it when it is destroyed and as it were dead as in the Palsie 2. There be two bodies viz. Iron which no man did ever call more hot then cold and Aqua-fortis which is composed of Nitre and the Salt of Vitriol which are really cold radically frigide the mixture of which in a Glase Cucurbite covered with it 's Still produceth a great heat ebullition and destillation and that without the external adhibiting of the heat of fire Now this heat ariseth not from actual fire seing the forementioned bodies are not firy nor hot but rather from the motion of the corrosive Aqua-fortis whilst it operateth upon the Iron for dissolving of it for motion produceth heat as when a piece of Lead which is of it self most cold contracteth heat being beaten by an Iron Pestill or Hammor which also are naturally cold That actual fire is in neither of these two bodies and that it produceth not this heat appeareth hence that the most rectified Spirit of Wine which is most easily inflamed when mixed with Aqua-fortis whilst it is dissolving Iron conceiveth not flame but doth debilitat the action and totally prohibite it for a time But we shall easily shew that Aqua-fortis and every acide Spirit as the Spirits of Vitriol Nitre Brimstone c. which do vesicat burn as it were c. are not hot but cold by proving that every Salt especially the fixed is cold seing the fore-mentioned Spirits and water are only Salts converted into Liquors either by the heat of the fire or humide air Arg. 1. And 1. we say that all Physicians both Hermetical and Galenical do acknowledge that Nitre the Spirit of Vitriol which Angelus Sala in his 6. chap. concerning the nature of the spirit of Vitriol asserteth to be borrowed from Brimstone and to have the same virtues and properties with the spirit of Brimstone and which in the 10. chap. he acknowledgeth to be hot in the fourth degree the Spirit of Brimstone c. do refrigerat although they do say that they do it accidentally only and by de-obstruating As for example when some drops of the Spirit of Vitriol which they call hot by de-obstruating the pores of the body do conciliat a more facile entry to the refrigerating water I do acknowledge that it is not admirable that this opinion thus masked with the specious dress of probability and vulgarly believed because established by the authority of Antiquity hath hitherto inclined the reasons of all men to an assent and conformity unto it but yet upon the evidence of hope we dare
statu naturali existentem esse calidum propter spirituum vitalium quos sulphureos esse nemo insiciabitur abundantiam vigorem Cervisiam etiam esse calldam propter spiritus sulphureos 2. Sanguinem Cervisiam novellam a coliditate gradatim debiscere prout ipsorum partes salinae sulphureis praepollere incipiunt viz. cum sluorem adipiscuntur ut ait D. Willis 3. Sanguinis partes salinas frigoris ant rigoris sensum nervis incutere in febre intermittente ut Cervisiae acidae sal sluorem adeptus linguae fancibus tantam frigiaitatem infligit ut deglutitionem ferme prohibit 4. Sal radicaliter natura sua frigidum esse Prius dictum est admiratione dignum esse Medicum asserere Acetum Limonii succum similia refrigerare Aquam fortem autem Vitrioli spiritum c. urere calefacere cum gradualiter differant tan tum in frigiditate uâ— globus ferreus it a tantum calefactus ut manu contrectari possit ipsi frigido calorem communicet in caliditate differt ab alio intensissime ignito qui incendere urere c. potest qui tamen si aquae quantitati proportionatae immittatur ei cacaloris gradum communicabit qui nativum animalis calorem non destruet sea tantum fovebit ut Vitrioli spiritus qui ignis instar vesicas excitat sensum destruit animalia expilat calorem sebrilem praeternaturalem amice repellit cum Julepis refrigerantibus guttatim permiscetur Audent etiam nonnulli impudenter asserere Limoni succum esse calidum quod siâ—ver um sit quodnam quaeso medicamentum dicetur frigidum Ostendamus nunc quomodo differant salsum acidum acre amarum idque latine etiam Quia voces vernaculae congrua non suppetunt Ex. gra fal marinus decrepitatus est simplciter salsus decrepitationem vero antè acidus potius dicendus est ut Nitrum Vitriolum Tartarum instar Aceti Limonii succi similium qua acida sunt propter Sulphur in quantitate exigua admistum quod salsedini dulcedinis quasi gradum unum inaâ—cit ideoque Tartarum acâ—dum cum calcinatur sit salsum Acetum acidum cum Plumbi atomis Sulphur continentibus impraegnatur dulcedinem quasi acquirit Denique idem sal marinus decrepâ—tatus ut Nitrum Vitriolum quodlibet sal fixum cumignis violentia destillandum inter in liquorem resolvitur salsedinem amittit acredinem contrabit Itaque salsedo acredo in hoc tantum differunt quod salsedo sit qualitas corporis salsi densâ—oris minus activi acredo autem rarioris ideoque majoris activitatis quod hinc ulterius patet Salis etenim spiritus praeuictus acris sali novo decrepitato affusus in vase circulatorio cum post debitas circulationes fixatur sali decrepitato unitur acredinem amittit salsedinem contrabit De amarore autem dicimus ipsum causari a mistione forme anatica Sulphuris salis volatilis aut salis alcati nitrosi quod cum Sulphuris quid contineat Olâ—o firmiter aâ—haeret quod id ipsum secum rapit dum in calcinatione deflagrat aut menstruo mediante extrahitur atque Sulphuris haec extractio a sale praedicto promovetur cum etenim in humore aqueo dissolvi incipit Sal secum copiosius trahit Sulphur idcoque Sennae uncia semis in aquae unciis sex cum Tartari drachma una infusa colatura erit magis purgativa quam si Tartarum non adderetur Atque haec de Aloâ— Colocynthide Opio Absinthio Carduo benedicto c. quorum omnium sal pure fixum terrae firmiter adhaeret antequam slucrem adipiscitur in fermentatione aut per lixiviationem è cineribus extrahatur From the premisses scriously considered these consequences do manifestly result 1. that it is necessary to distinguish betwixt hot and corrosive as betwixt hot and cold 2. That the intense heat of waters that boyl in fountains ought not alwayes to be attributed unto fire as said Dr. Andrew Baccius but rather to the action of a corrosive body as of Nitre Vitriol c. being not far distant from the fountain Obj. 1. Some will possibly object 1. If there were any salt Ammoniack mixed with the water of Moffet-Wells without all doubt it would assix it self with the Nitre unto the white and salinous stones from which it might afterwards be separated by sublimation seing it is by nature most volatile but so it is that nothing can be separated from them by sublimation as our own experience did testifie To this we answer 1. that a very little quantity of salt Amoniack produceth the fore-mentioned precipitation as appeareth in every precipitation 2. The salt amoniack is fixed by the fixed salt of the Nitre and stones so that it cannot be separated from them by sublimation and this is most probable if it be considered that salt ammoniack is commonly sixed when it is by stratification calcined with the pouder of Lime For then the sixed salt of the Coals which hath by calcination affixed it self unto the earth and sixed salt of the stones doth six the salt amoniack and rendereth it dissolvable into an Oyl improperly so called because not sulphureous by deliquation 3. Or rather because most probable the volatile salt ammoniack being dissolved in a strange humide and aqueous body viz. the water of the Wells doth evanish with the evaporating Sulphur for in every dâ—stillation which evaporation doth still preceed the volatile salt doth follow the Sulphur and extilleth after it as was already said in the Preface 2. If the water were sufficiently impregnat with Nitre for the dissolving of Antimony the water of the Wells would not be sweet to the taste as they are for a very great quantity of Nitre would scarcely be sufficient for the operation It is answered that the water doth almost totally loss its saltness by its action upon the Antimony and afterwards it deposeth the relicts of its salt upon the stones as appeareth from what hath been said No man will question the truth of this if these two experiments be considered 1. That Aqua-fortis loseth much of its strength by operating upon Iron 2. The Oyls of Tartar and Vitriol which are most salt sharp and corrosive when mixed as in the composition of vitriolated Tartar do produce a liquor altogether insipide for we extracted such an one from them when we were coagulating vitriolated Tartar 3. Others will possibly say that this is a new and unheard-of manner of anatomizing a mineral water for it should have been examined by destillation evaporation calcination c. that thereby the foresaid assertion might have been proven I answer 1. there is here no need of destillation for the water of the Wells is only impregnat with Nitre and the pntide Sulphur of Antimony the former whereof is proven by nature seing the Nitre doth affix it self to the rocks by which the water descendeth and the latter is already shown by an experiment 2.
Seing our Spagyrical art the most excellent imitatrix of nature and nature her self do excellently and evidently prove the assertion operations should not be multiplied without necessity 3. The destilling of the water would prove a finstraneous action 1. because it would require a vast quantity of water for to acquire but a very little of the salt for there is but little of it contained in the water as appeareth by the rocks for there is but very little salt as yet attached unto them 2. Unless the vessels were hermetically sealed the water that would extill would be destitue of all taste and smell because its Sulphur doth constantly evanish so that in a short time it leaveth it quite destitute of smell although it be keeped in a vessel most closly stopped with a cork Concerning the use of the water EXperience having taught that many have gotten much good by the use of this water and that others have reaped more harm and finished their miserable lives soon after their making use of it the difficulty of describing its virtues is beyond controversie as also that it were a most difficult task to shew who should make use of it and at what time because some have been bettered yes cured by it at one time and wronged at another when they have addressed themselves unto it for prevention only of that disease which had once been cured by it Therefore I shall only propose some general rules concerning its internal and external use For no man can prescribe to all sorts of persons particular rules for using it internally unless he had been an eye-witness for two or three years to its different operations upon persons of different constitutions Now the rules are these 1. The water of the Wells of Mosset would be most warily used seing it doth sometimes produce as sad symptoms as Antimony it self doth 2. No man should use this water internally who doth not by vomiting urine or stool evacuat as much as he doth drink especially if he be hydropick 3. It conduceth to the cure of almost all Vlcers and external diseases and pains of the joynts c. when it is only externally applyed 4. It is very duretick and the water of the neather-well more than that of the upper because it is more salinous as was proven 5. In the autumnal months it is enriched with the most and best of its strength and virtues the earth being at that time most dry for in the winter and spring times it is debilitat and vitiat by rain 6. Such as are of a more robust constitution than others would take an antimonial vomitory for lousing of their humors before they make use of the water for then the water will be of a more facile operation though in a lesser dose 7. Since the printing of this little Treatise in Latine it is by many more considently reported than ever that this water hath often made the barren womb fruitfull which we cannot contradict having been greatly convinced of its certainty by the effects which the water hath produced in some persons which have been afflicted with that lamentable infirmity And being rationally induced to believe that such a putide water will prove an excellent hystorick the most part whereof are such for purging out all impurities the most ordinary remâ—ras of generation from the microcosmicall habitation of man 8. Experience hath testified to many that it is good for the Scurvy being used both externally and internally and paralytick persons also have been much bettered by using it after the same manner 9. This water deleteth the spots of cloath when it is washed with it Such as are and ever have been prejudicat against Antimony and its use will no doubt also condemn the using of this antimonial water though composed by God himself the Former of all things and the best Chymist who hath created every thing for the benefit of man Therefore I will mention and answer some expressions of D. A Parisiis Neapolitanus in rationibus suiâ— contra Antimâ—nii cum crudi tum praeparati usum which he subjoyneth to his Consilia medicinalia de conservanda sanitate printed and published by him at Edinburgh anno 1620. He writeth thus cap. 2. Andernacus Antimonium refert inter fossilia quae primordia generationis suae ex Aqua ducunt inter illa ei principalem locum assignat quae sententia nobis etiam placet Plus aqueae natura in stibio reperiri quam terreae convinci potest ex not is boni stibii quas Avicenna lib. canonis sui c. 7. tract 2. refert Cap. 4. Ab Avicenna stimmi frigidum scribitur in primo siccum in secundo gradu Ab â—acobo Graminio in tractatu suo de Antimonio rectius adhuc ad tertium completum frigiditatis ordinem refertur quod ipsum illius vires probant Miscetur cum Minio Câ—russa ad consolidanda ulcuscula a comburente flamma excitata Gulielinus Varignana in secretis suis pulverem ejus Cancro depascenti ac phagedaenico ulceri inspargit Tantum de temperamento facultatibus crudi stibii nunc ad adustum pâ—aeparatumve scrmo pertranseat Collocatur autem a nonnullis doctissimis viris quomodocunque calcinatum in quarto caliditatis siccitatis gradu Ratio est quia ex mente illius aureoli Paracelsi Chymicorum principis docente Arnaldo de Villanova in Rosario suo philosophico quae calcinantur uruntur ad quartum caliditatis gradum perducuntur Actiones etiam sen operationes ejus nobis adstipulantur Quia omnibus putridis gangrenosis ulceribus majorem in modum prodest quod citra insignem ac prevalentem siccitatem caliditatem fieri nequit This Author relateth only the opinions of others and sometime from the second hand as in that of Paracelsus his opinion docente Arnalde c. and then assenteth to what he conceiveth most probable yet without giving any good reason for their asserting or his own assenting It being the most difficult task which a naturalist can take in hand to determine the temperatures of bodâ—es either as to their qualities or their degrees I will only humbly offer my opinion with as much reason as I can in these two assertions 1. Antimony containeth much earth and salt from which it and all other bodies hath its solidity and ponderosity 2. Antimony containeth much inflamable Sulphur from which it and the glass made of it have their colours as is most evident in its calcination either alone or with Nitre From these and what hath been formerly said concerning the natures of Sulphur and Salt let each person infer what they please concerning the temperature of Antimony For my own part I am of opinion that the vomitive and purgative faculties of Antimony do not proceed from its temperament seing there are many other bodies of the same temperature with it according to Authors which have usurped this determining power which yet have none of these faculties of Antimony
shall most wilingly acknowledge an errour in the interim In magnis voluisse sat est That is In things of great excellency Let the endeavour satisfie And upon this account we will plead for pardon for there is no man ΑΠΑÎΤΑ ΣΟΦΟΣ I. E. Omniscient AN APPENDIX Concerning the saltness of the SEA c. THat the truth of what hath been said may shine more clearly we must refull some opinions of D. John French who in the 2. Chapter and 22. page of his Book entituled the Yorkshire Spau asserteth That there can no other reason be given for hâ—t springs than the fire which burns in the very cavities and caverns of them the cavities themselves consisting of or rather being replenished with a Bituminous matter For Bitumen and these things which are made of it being kindled burn in water as Camphire also doth a very long time which could not be unless it were fed by the moisture of the water which it did attract and convert into its own nature And in the 14. Chapter concerning the putidâ— Sulpher-well about the middle of page 107. The stinking odour thereof I suppose is caused from the vaporâ— of the burning Bitumen and adust terreness mixt therewith which lye nor far from the head of the Will And page 106. the â—aliness of the Sea proceedeth from the Salt of the burnt Bitumen which is dissolved in the water that ranÌ„ through these veins of the earth wherein it was which page 106. and 107. he confirmeth by the example of the Lake called Asphaltites And in the beginning of the 108. page he asserteth That it cannot be rationally conceived that the whole Sea received all its salt into its self at one time after a natural way and therefore being such a great body must become sultish by little and little even insensibly The falsehood of these opinions will manifestly appear by considering 1. That it is more like an untruth than a truthâ— that there is a perpetual subterraneal fire of burning Bitumen which doth naturally heat the wawater 1. Because it is not probable that there was ever so much Bitumen in any subterraneal place as would by itâ— flame have heated the waters which do every where spring out of hot fountains 2. Neither is it probable that there is so much air in any cavity of the earth as would necessarily for to avoid the penetration of dimensions give place to so much flame as would hear so much water 3. If the inflamed Bitumen did producâ— the foresaid heat then the fire would change 〈◊〉 place when it followeth its aliment and so the water of the fountains would not be alwaies impregnat with the same degree of heat because the fire which heateth them would not alwaies be equidistant from the fountains In the 25. page of the forementioned Book the Author answereth to this argument saying that flame is nourished two wayes 1. When it followeth its food as in the burning of wood 2. When the food followeth the flame as doth Oyl in a Lamp and thus saith he is the flame of the Bitumen nourished neither is this falsified by the flame of Brimstone which followeth the mater For saith he the Bitumen is melted by the great heat and so it followeth the flame and continueth the flame in the same place But I reply 1. That flame doth alwaies follow its food neither doth Oyl follow the flame in a Lamp but one part of the Oyl being continuous to another doth follow it whilst it is a consuming by the flame That you may the better understand this you would take notice of the reason why some sulphureous bodies as Camphire Turpentine c. do of themselves take and conserve flame when others as Tallow Bees-wax Oyl of Olives c. do neither take nor conserve it but by the help of others as of Linnen cloath Paper Rushes c. The cause of these things we conceive yea affirm to be this that the first sort are bodies which contain much Salt for they are very sapide which doth still detain the Sulphur even when it is converted into flame and the last sort are bodies almost void of Salt because insipide almost which do not take flame because they cannot conserve it unless they be associat to the Sulphur of another body containing much Salt which detaineth its proper Sulphur and so take flame with it From these things it doth appear that flame doth alwaies follow its food especially seing the threeds of the Candle and Lamp do wast and consume by the flame whilst it followeth the Sulphur of the threeds which is its food whose consumption is retarded by the Tallow in the Candle and Oyl in the Lamp which do nourish it 2. It is not probable that all the Bitumen is liquified 1. Because the flame of the kindled Bitumen liquifieth only the parts which are nearest to its self as happeneth in a Candle Brimstone red Wax c. 2. Whosoever will say that the Bitumen followeth the flame because it is melted he must also confess that there is some other sire beneath or above the Bitumen which melteth it and this would infer the absurd progress in infinitum 3. Nor can the flame of the kindled Bitumen by heating the caverns of the earth liquifie the rest of the Bitumen because as was said it is not probable that there is a place in the bowels of the earth which would contain so much flame as would by its heat liquifie all the Bitumen which is within four five or six miles unto it the contrary whereof must of necessity be confessed by him who will assert that the flame of the kind led Bitumen changeth not its place by following its food 2. It is most falâ—… that Bitumen Camphire and such like which burn in water do retain their flame longer than if they were out of the water because they convert it into their own nature by which means it becometh food to the flame but the cause of their longer burning in the water is rather because their external supersices the uppermost only excepted are humected by the water which prohibiteth the flame to seize upon all their external parts as happeneth when they are inflamed out of the water and so they burn longer because a few only of their parts are inflamed No man who will be at the pains to put a little inflamed Camphire into water will question the truth of this For he will see the flame excavat the Camphire and at length extinguished when it penetrateth unto the external parts into which the water hath insinuat it self 3. Although the flame of Bitumen were in the veins of the earth yet its vapors could not communicat any putide smell unto the water 1. Because of the fore-mentioned reasons when we wrote of inflamed Brimstone 2. Because they contain no terrestrial adust matter For 1. no such matter capable to communicat such a smell doth ascend from any body whilst it is a destilling and far less therefore
subterraneal passages of water As to the first of these opinions we cannot embrace it because of these reasons 1. It is most improbable that there are such large caverns in the earth as will contain so great a quantity of vapors and air as being condensed would afford so much water as doth daily scaturiat in springs which are upon high mountains For ten Gallons of air will scarcely afford one Gallon of water as all will acknowledge We will make use of this argument not only in relation to such springs as proceed from the tops of high mountains but also in relation to some which are in lower places and environed with mountains one whereof we will instance which perpetually every moment yieldeth many Scots quarts of water and it is that known Well in Carrick at the Wel-tries near to Maybol unto which Well no man who knoweth the Country betwixt it and the Sea westwards will deny its original to be from thence 2. If the water which doth scaturiat from or near unto the top of an high mountain doth proceed from vapors which have been condensed in the caverns of the same mountains these caverns being of necessity below the caverns from which the water issueth it seemeth impossible that the water can naturally ascend from the lower unto the higher parts of these caverns which are at the tops of the mountains because water doth naturally ascend no further than it did descend We will notwithstanding acknowledge 1. that there may be some springs upon or near unto the tops of some mountains which do not proceed from the Sea immediatly but rather from some Logh whose superfice is more distant from the Centre of the earth than the springs and whose water cometh from the Sea immediatly after that maner of which you shall be informed afterwards 2. When water issueth slowly from the lower part of a mountain as from St. Authonies Well at Arthurs seat it may proceed from vapors and air which have been condensed in the caverns of that same mountain which are above the place out of of which it issueth The second opinion is no less improbable because it is incredible that the Rain-water which doth at sometimes only fall upon mountains and valleys can be the only water which doth perpetually scaturiat in all fountains and that as abundantly from some after a long summers drought as after the greatest abundance of brumal showers We will here likewise admit that there be many springs issuing from mountains which are furnished with no other water than the bottles of the clouds do afford unto some valleys whose superfices are further from the centre of the earth than the foresaid springs whose waters are perpetually increased by Rain and diminished totally sometimes by drought But these are not the springs concerning the original of whose waters we are inquiring and therefore all arguments which are or may be taken from them can conclude nothing against Solomon his forementioned assertion The third opinion which as was said is founded upon Solomon his assertion is also dubitable because it doth necessarily infer this improbable conclusion viz. that the supersice of the Sea is higher that is further distant from the centre of the earth than the orifices of these subterraneal veins from which its water is alledged to issue forth upon or near unto the tops of mountains though never so high and that because of the fore-mentioned Axiom viz. Water doth naturally ascend no further then it did descend as is ordinarily demonstrat by a stroup of white Iron which is bowed at the middle The verity of the opinion and validity of the consequence will evidently appear by proving the conclusion to be a certain truth for the doing of of which take these undeniable Propositions from which we shall manifestly infer that the waters of the most part of springs do come from the Sea through the subterraneal veins because of the altitude of its superfice beyond that of the highest mountains from which water springeth Proposition 1. In the evening of the first day of the worlds creation the four elements did surround one another that is the water did compleatly surround the earth Psal 104.5,6 the air surrounded the water end the earth and the element of fire if there was or is such a thing did contain within its concavity all the three The truth of this is evident from Gen. 1.1,2 For in the first verse it is expresly said that in the beginning that is in the first day of the creation as ver 5. God created the heaven and the earth and in the second verse the earth was without form and void that is the form of the earth did not appear because it was compleatly covered with the waters which upon the third day of the creation God did gather unto one place that the dry land might appear as ver 9. Proposition 2. Before the gathering of the waters unto one place the earth and the waters did constitute one rotund Globe and never since but when God commanded them for drowning of the world to return unto that their first position or â—ituation wherein their superfice was fifteen cubits above the top of the highest mountain Genes 7.19.20 And that 1. through the fountains of the great deep Gen. 7.11 or veins of the earth as Job 38.8 the latter half of which verse doth without controversie relate to the floud of Noah 2. Through the bottles of the clouds unto which they had ascended into vapors and from which they did descend for malaxing of the hard earth that the subterraneal waters might the more easily conciliat a more facile egress unto themselves by new passages through the superfice of the same Proposition 3. From the third day of the worlds creation untill the floud of Noah and since that after the floud the waters returned from off the face of the earth Gen. 8.3 and the dry land appeared ver 5.11,12 the middle of the superfice of the Ocean which we conceive most probably to be beneath the Arctick or North-pole hath been and is further distant from the centre of the earth than the top of the highest mountain This Proposition is undenyable for if when the waters surrounded the whole earth their superfice was fifteen cubits higher than the top of the highest mountain far more is it higher now and hath been ever since they returned from off the earth and that no doubt unto one yea their former place unto which they were at first gathered Gen. 1.9 Moreover its truth is clearly evinced from Job 38.10 I brake up for it my decreed place and set bars and doors ver 11. And said hither to shalt thou come and no farther and here shall thy proud waves be stayed For these verses and the first words of ver 8. of the same Chapter and Job 28. ver 11. He bindeth the flouds from over-slowing c. do no doubt relate unto the third day of the creation whereon God did gather the waters
is this Oyl of a sudain operation to heal all salt-scabs and humors that trouble the outward skin of man commonly the head and hands are quickly healed by the virtue of this Oyl It renders a marvellous sweet smell Dr. Ja. Hart also maketh mention of it to the same purpose in his Dyet of the diseased Book 3 chap. 19. at the end The Author of the forementioned description is mistaken 1. In saying that the Oyl floweth perpetually above the water 2. In asserting that it hath a marvellous sweet smell As to the latter assertion it favoureth of misinformation because the smell of the Oyl is most like unto the smell of the smoke of Coals and their Oyl which are no wayes gratefull or sweet and the first assertion is also of the same nature For the Oyl remaineth in the veins of the earth which are near unto the bottom of the Well and doth never ascend unto the superfice of the water but by drops only and that when the water is commoved because some drops of the Oyl are then separated from the rest which are detained in the veins of the earth through their viscosity by which they are attached unto the earth 3. The manner of collecting the Oyl is this the water of the Well being exhausted by buckets untill the superfice of that which remaineth be as low as the orifices of those veins in which the Oyl is absconded when the superfice of the water is often moved by a convenient vessel from the side of the Well where these orifices are unto the middle the Oyl cometh forth of the veins and floateth upon the water from which it is separated as Cream from Milk Here you would take notice 1. that when the Well is full of water there appeareth sometimes scum upon it which is most delicatly vatiegat with these colours blue red green purple c. and Chamelion-like changeth all these colours according to the variation of its position unto your eyes either by your moving from one place unto another round about the Well or by its moving its place upon the water by motion The reason of this variation of colours we conceive to be the different wayes of reflecting the rayes of light by by the foresaid scum seing it is not altered by any other physical agent 2. The water of the Well is scarcely affected with the taste of the Oyl so that it may be justly esteemed as destitute of its other virtues The reason of this is because its taste and consequently its parts wherein its virtues do confist cannot be communicated unto the water without the mediation of its salt either fixed or volatile But so it is that the fixed-salt of the Coals remaineth inseparable from them before they be calcined and the volatile being nitrous is drawn along with the resinous oyl whereby its solution in the water is prohibited If it shall be demanded what this Scum is We answer that it is nothing else but one or more drops of the fore-mentioned oyl which have been by agitation of the water first separated from tho rest which lurketh in the subterraneal veins at the bottom of the Well and then by a further commotion extended over as much of the waters superfice as it could cover when converted into a thin pellicule or scum The truth of this is easily demonstrat by this experiment take one drop of the fore-mentioned oyl and instill it into a large vessel full of water and then agitat the water with a stick and you shall presently perceive the like scum which will vary its colours as was said The Chymical Oyl of Worm-wood will do so also 4. It is most probable that the foresaid oyl is the oyl of Coals for proving of which consider 1. that this oyl is most like in colour smell and taste unto the oyl which is by the Spagyrical Art extracted out of Coals save only in that it is not so strong because it was not extracted by the violence of fire as this whose strength existeth in its most active spirits which the fire hath separated from the Coals 2. The artificial oyl of Coals is impregnat with the same virtue but in a more eminent degree which the Author ascribeth unto the oyl of the Well as experience hath often testified unto me 3. A drop of the artificial oyl of Coals being instilled into a large vessel full of water by agitation it will be converted into a scum which will vary its colours after the same manner that the scum of the Well doth 4. The adjacent ground south-wards is full of Coal-pits and Lime-stones which we conceive do tend unto the nature of Coals and do differ only from them as Silver differeth from Gold and this difference is easily collected from that Axiom Metallizationis finis est aurificatio Moreover Lime-stones are alwaies found near to Coals as we are credibly informed Having already afferted that this oyl is the oyl of Coals we cannot but also confess that we are of opinion that it is the very oyl of the Parretcoal because this is the most sulphureous Coal whose copious Sulphur is of a most facile separation by the abluent water as it passeth through the veins of the earth in which this sort of Coal is contained 5. Whilst the water of the Well passeth through the veins of the Earth where the Coals are it carrieth along with it as much of the oyl as serveth to make an unctuous scum upon its superfice and when it passeth through other veins of the earth into the Well it encountereth some dryer parts to which it attacheth it self untill it is converted into an oyl by the contraction of its parts and continual accession of more pellicules This is sufficiently proven by the forementioned experiment For if one drop of the oyl be convertible into an unctuous scum as was proven why should any doubt that the unctuous scum may be again converted into oyl by having its parts more strictly united We hope that none will question the separation of this oyl from Coals which are a most sulphureous mineral seing many vegetables less or no more sulphureous do daily sacrimat sulphureous Gums as Turpentine Mastick c. The virtues of the oyl 6. THe only virtues which as yet are ascribunto this oyl are 1. It s singular curing of the Scab by the forementioned Author 2. A power of healing all aching of the Bones by our learned Country-man Dr. Anderson in his Cold-spring of Kinghorn But we conceive that these following virtues may upon a most rational account be attributed unto it and to the artificial oyl of Coals 1. It is very probable that these are excellent Anti-podagrick and Anti-paralytick oyls because of the intense calidity wherewith they are endued 2. They are good Anti-hysterick oyls for internal as well as external use because of the fetide smell wherewith they are impregnat 3. They will prove good Ant-asthmatick oyls because of the aperitive quality wherewith they
of humane fallibility But it is ordinarly in greater abundance extracted out of the hornes feathers c. of living Creatures Likewise there can be but very little Fixed-salt extracted out of these unless they be taken in great quantities and put to a tryal for where the Volatile-salt doth abound there is little of the Fixed-salt and contrarywise 4. The Earth which they call the dead head is as it were the subject of the foresaid Elements and is of no use or virtue when the Elements are separated from it 5. Phlegme is only the carrier of nourishment to the Elements As for example water is only the carrier of that aliment which Vegetables and Minerals do suck out of the Earth for their nutrition and it is the carrier also of that nourishment which living Creatures do extract out of the parts of Vegetables and Minerals as the Phlegme of Wine is only the carrier or chariot of those active Spirits which do exhilerate the heart of man 6. It is not only certain from the Chymical resolution of bodies that the forementioned Elements have a real existence in nature but it is also naturally known to all Cooks for in their dressing of Meats they labour to supply the penury of Sulphur Mercury and Salt by adding Butter Vinegar and Common-salt in making of Sauces 7. In the resolution of any natural Body that is in a natural estate by destilling the Phlegme exstilleth first 2. the Mercury 3. Sulphur 4. Salt-volatile and 5. the Fixed-salt remaineth in the earthly part from which it is to be extracted by calcination solution filtration and coagulation Neither doth this falsifie what hath been said that in the destilling of fermented Wine that is which hath stood one two or moe dayes after i'ts being pressed out of the Grapes the sulphureous Spirit exstilleth before the rest for this cometh to pass because the sulphureous Spirit which is Volatile of it self is separated from the rest of the Elements by fermentation and is in an unnatural estate Neither doth any more of this Spirit exstill then is separated from the Salt c. by fermentation And in the destilling of new Wine the sulphureous Spirit beginneth to exstill before that the Phlegme is altogether separated because of the suddain fermentation of the Wine which causeth the sulphureous and volatile spirit reject that bond and tye under which it was formerly For all bodies when they are in their natural condition are alwaies resolved by art after one and the same manner that is to say their elements are still separated in the same order So that it is probable that in the destilling of not-fermented Wine the Vinegar or mercurial-part which is the true spirit of the Wine For spirit is first and most properly attributed to Mercury and in the next place only to Sulphur would exstill before the sulphureous spirit if the fermentation of Wine could be impeded whil'st it is a destilling You would here take notice of the reason why the simple spirit of Wine doth pass sooner and more facilely through the stomach and occasion less unpleasant eructations from it than when it is impregnat with the sulphureous spirits of Cinnamon or other Spices We conceive that this cometh to pass because the spirit of Wine is a most homogencal body which debateth less with the natural heat and flatulent vapors which are contained in the slomach than when it is associat to the sulphureous spirits of Spices for the more sorts there be of them there is the greater confusion and debate amongst them and betwixt them and the forementioned flatulent vapors when they begin to be altered and concocted by the natural heat and therefore the eructations occasioned by this strife cannot but be more frequent and noysom to the pallat than such as proceed from a less confused and violent debate 8. The Mercury or acide Spirit is the ferment of the forementioned bodies 9. Ferment in general is either natural or artificial and each of these is either simple or composed 1. The natural and simple ferment is the proper mercury of any simple body as of Wine Milk c. which being incited by external heat doth produce a swelling of the body whose it is and a separation of its heterogeneal parts or elements as the mercury or vinegar of Wine causeth it to swell and produceth a separation of the sulphur from itself as also of the salt contained in the tartar which doth attach it self to the sides of the vessel from both 2. The natural and composed ferment is made up of the praper mercuries of several simple bodies as of Cinnamon Opium c. whereof Treacle is composed and produceth a swelling of it and a conjunction of the several elements and qualities of the many different bodies as it were into one new nature and that by fermentation concerning which you shall have more hereafter Here you may observe that a simple body which hath been fermented by its simple and proper mercury may be thus also as it were fermented As well fermented Wine being put into a glass hermetically sealed or well stopped with a Cork and exposed to the Sun his beams in the Canicular-dayes its mercury or fixed spirit will alter the sulphureous and volatile spirit and change it into its proper nature by fixing it and the sulphureous and volatile spirit will in some measure volatilise the fixed spirit for Vinegar thus prepared is the best and strongest And hence it appeareth that the spirit which doth first exstill in the abstraction of such Vinegar from Mettals which have been dissolved by it and which is commonly called the burning spirit of the mettal and by Angelus Sala in his seventh Aphorisme of the first Sect a part of the Vinegar converted into a burning spirit like to the spirit of Wine and the very spirit of Vinegar is not so much the spirit of Vinegar as either a part of the sulphureous and volatile spirit of the Wine which revivifieth as it were by defermentation if we may thus speak for it was fixed by the fixed spirit of Vinegar and is now for saken when it beginneth to operat upon the mettal which it dissolveth or that part of the sulphureous spirit which the mercurial had not fixed compleatly The verity of this is proven by another operation like unto it viz. in the destilling of the Butter of Antimony out of equal parts of Antimony and Corrosive-sublimed-Mercury the salinous spirit of the sublimat which had before corroded and united to themselves the Mercury when they are commoved by a new heat they begin to corrod the Antimony and do forsake the Mercury which they did formerly corrod for when the fire is augmented the revivified Mercury exstilleth towards the end of the destillation Yea the Butter of Antimony is nothing else but the salts of the sublimat by corrosion impregnat with the Reguleal part of Antimony For we did convert the Emetick powder which is made of the Butter of Antimony into
our unto men and then to subjoyn the Spagyricall description of them Six years ago a valetudenary Rustick as I was credibly informed who was accustomed to make an anniversary it neration to the Wells at Bramtton as he was travelling through Annandale he felt a smell like to that of Brampton wells which made him walk contrary to the wind following the smell brought thereby and then upon the top of a little Rock which nature hath scituated north-wards and at the distance of one mile from Moffet which was covered with mire and clay he discovered two little Spring-wells the neather and biggest whereof is distant from the steep Rock by whose side runneth a little Burn into which the Water descendeth about two or three foot and the upper about six or seven When experience had induced him to believe that these Waters were in their qualities and operations most like unto the Waters of Brampton he recommended them to his friends and acquaintance asserting that they were enriched with the like and many other virtues So that within twelve moneths after all sorts of sick persons did begin to resort unto them and that from all places of the Country The manifold commendations which I did every where hear uttered concerning their virtues and effects did beget in me a longing desire after a sight and tryal of them especially seing I could never hear from any of a reason for the vulgar opinion concerning them Two years are not yet expired since the Earl of Hartfield to whose former titles of honour His Majesty since His happy restoration to the Government of this His ancient Kingdom hath added the Title of Annnadale because of his Lordship and his Ancestors their singular Loyalty was pleased to command the dressing of the Wells So that the entry into them is much bettered and their diversity is made more perspicuous by the removal of the clay and the surrounding of them with a wall The stones of the upper Well are white and crystalline and the neather hath blackish stones not much unlike unto the markasite of Antimony Thus you have the Topographicall description Let us proceed unto the Spagyricall The limpide Waters of the Wells of Moffet are impregnat with the putide Sulphur of Antimony Nitre and natural Salt-Amoniack We shall 1. illustrat this assertion 2. Prove it's verity by the strength of reason and experiments 3. We shall manifest the falshood of the common opinion 4. answer some objections and 5 give some rules concerning the use of the Water And first of all we say that water which is impregnat with Nitre doth extract the Sulphur of Antimony whil'st it passeth through an Antimomonial Mine 2. As this water which is impregnat with the Sulphur of Antimony passeth through other veins of the Earth it encountreth some Salt-Amoniack or Salt which by coagulation cometh of the Urines of the almost innumerable Beasts which live in the circum-jacent Moors for the artificial Salt-Amoniack is made of the Urineâ— of Beasts which produceth a precipitation indigestion and putide smell into the Sulphur through it's suddain fermentation I will now prove the verity of the assertion And 1. I say that the assertion is most probable because the water wherewith the Saffran of Mettals Crâ—cus Metallorum which is Antimony calcined with Nitre was washed that is wherein it was for a long time boyled hath the same smell that the Water of Moffet-Wells hath when some drops of Aqua-regia which is made of Aqua-fortis and Salt-amoniack are instilled into it Now the smell of the water of the Wells is most like to the smell of the dross of powder which remaineth in Guns which have been often shot 2. This artificial Water tinctureth Silver as the water of the Wells do 3. In this water precipitateth the putide Sulphur of Antimony which is redish-yellow or rather the Antimonial atoms wherein the foresaid Sulphur doth reside And the stones of the Upper-well are covered with a matter very much resembling the same 4. The stones of the Neather-well are a little coloured like Antimony and some of them do contain a metallick like matter which doth scintillat almost like unto Antimony 5. As the Water of the Neather-well descendeth into the preterlabent rivolet a matter whitish and salinous and without doubt Nitrous wherein the diuretick virtue of the Water resideth doth attach it self unto the rocks 6. There appeareth no such matter upon the rocks by which the water of the Upper-well descendeth because the saltish and scintillating stones of the Well have already detained and separated the same from the Water 7. It is hence probable that the Sulphur of the Upper-well will evaporat sooner then that of the Neather because it 's Water containeth but little salt which should detain the evaporating Sulphur for salt detaineth Sulphur and the smell proceedeth from the evaporating Sulphur as shall afterwards be proven 8. Before the evaporation of the Sulphur the water doth not depose its salt upon the rocks else it would be attached to the very inmost stones of the Neather-well which is false as well as to the outmost 9. The whitish stones of the Upper-well are nitrous and Antimonial for when their double quantity of Nitre is added to them and they afterwards calcined in a Mortar they take flame after the same manner that Antimony calcined with Nitre doth and become like unto Diaphoretick Antimony 10. Whilst this mixture is a calcining it melteth and boileth as Allom cast upon a hot Iron and contracteth great saltness and acrimony 11. When I was calcining one of those white stones gifted by a friend with its anatick quantity of Nitre and when I had caused pulverize the same and mixed it with fountain water there did immediatly arise a smell most like to that of the Wells 12. When a little destilled Vinegar is instilled into the water wherewith the Saffran of Mettals was washed the like smell and precipitation are produced and this mixture doth inquinat Silver with the colour of Copper 13. The putide sulphur of the water of Moffet-Wells doth still evaporat so that within few dayes the most limpide water is left destitute of all smell 14. The putide sulphur of the artificial water doth likewise evaporat yea the simple water without Vinegar wherewith the Saffran of Mettals was washed becometh destitute of all putide sulphur when it is preserved for the space of three or four months because it doth evaporat out of the alien humide body and relinquisheth the antimonial atoms wherein it did reside separable by precipitation upon the copious affusion of fountain water 15. From whence proceedeth the vomitive and purgative virtue of the water if not from Antimony We do therefore reject the common opinion viz. That the fore-mentioned water runneth through mineral sulphur or Brimstone and that it borroweth its putide smell from it But seing Dr. Andrew Baccius a Roman Physician in his fourth Book of hot Baths and sixth Chapter entituled Concerning places or
water that are abominable in either taste or smell saith that there are two general causes of all thâ— stink of terrestrial things whereof the one is pâ—…se as they say by the mixture of a thing naturally putide and the other accidental and by way of rottenness and doth presently subjoyâ—… That almost the whole substance of Sulphur by which me thinks he can understand no other thing than Brimstone consisteth in a rotten smell and that the mixture of it with earth or water is the first and general cause of all abominable smell and taste yea of natural rottenness as he writeth a little after but that the second cause of any stink is putrefaction which is contrary to digestion and concoction as saith Aristotle viz. the corruption and indigestion of the proper and natural temperament caused by external heat In answer to which we reply 1. There is no body naturally putide For that stinking smell which is called putor is the ingrate smell which proceedeth originally from the foresaid rottenness or putrefaction wherein the substance of Brimstone cannot consist seing that putor is only a quality and accident of a body Now nature did never produce any kind of body naturally stained with any such spot as rottenness is But that the loathsome smell called putor doth proceed only from rottenness by the Latines called putrede and that the name putor is only given to its ingrate smell hence appeareth in that the multitude of Authors do call bodies which are naturally indued with an ingrate smell nor putide but fetide as Assa foetida Atriplex foetida c. whose foetor or stink is a good and medicinal quality by nature conferred upon them and not a quality consisting in the corruption and indigestion of their natural and proper temperaments by external heat But they call Vlcers whose ingrate smell proceedeth from the corruption of the natural temperament by putrefaction putidâ— and never fetide as doth Senuertus Tom. 3. lib. 5. pag. 2. chap. 5. at the beginning and through the whole Chapter he calleth these Vlcers which he describeth putride and never fetide And Weckerus Syntax Medic. utriusque lib. 3. pag. 743. concerning the curing of external diseases and in particular of the sordide and putride Vlcer He calleth an Vlcer that putrifieth the member sordide putrified and putride although he saith that from such an Vlcer ariseth a fetide and cadaverous smell which we think improperly called fetide seing it is not natural but hath its original from putrefaction 2. Brimstone that is not inflamed hath scarcely any smell and that smell which it hath is not ingrate Therefore the whole substance almost of Brimstone doth not consist in an natural stink called foetor much less in a preter-natural called putor especially seing it is a natural and terrestrial mixed body and a proper species or kind intended by nature as the same Author confesseth in the beginning of the second Chapter of the same Book 3. We shall hermetically explain the forementioned putrefaction which the Author hath aristotelically described by saying that the putrefaction of any body taketh its rise from the fermentation thereof As for example When the recent Vrine of a man or Flesh which hath never been salted or keeped for the space of one month 〈◊〉 longer whilst they are fermenting they putrifie that is the dâ—gested or concocted Sulphur being by the internal Mercury and the external heat inciting it solved from the rest of the Elements it beginneth to become indigested and to evaporat that is to evanish and then beginneth putrefaction and the putide smell from the action of the Air upon the evaporating and recrudescing Sulphur for where there is almost no combustible or perfectly digested Sulphur as in some Minerals and Mettals there is no fermentation nor putrefaction From what hath been said it may appear that fermentation is twofold 1. When by the strength of the internal Mercury and external heat the confused and naturally mixed elements of a body existing in its natural estate as of recent Vrine and such like are solved and separated from one another For the solved recrudescing and evaporating Sulphur of fermented Vrine and Flesh savoureth unpleasantly And the sulphureous spirit of fermented Wine is separated from the salt contained in the Tartar and the Tartar is separated from the rest when it is attached to the sides of the vessel And fermented Wine savoureth because of the evaporating Sulphur whereas Wine whilst it is in the Grapes savoureth not because it is not fermented neither containeth eveporating Sulphur 2. When many bodies fermented as before are united by an humide body they are by the strength of the internal composed Mercury and of the external heat brought under one dominion and power and all their qualities and properties which are naturally distinct do by a new fermentation unite as it were in one new quality which nevertheless may afterwards be separated by defermentation whilst the body is putrifying as when different meats and drinks are changed into Chyle and when of so many simpleâ— fermented as before sudorifick Treacle is made which in process of time will putrifie For the virtues of the ingredients of recent Treacle are really distinct and each of them attempteth operation after their proper manners before fermentation and then Treacle is exhibited with less success then afterwards when it is sufficiently fermented And this was the reason why Banderâ—n asserteth that within ten years the frigidity of Opium and Hyosciamus is overcome by the calidity of the rest of the medicaments And therefore Philonium Romanum whose composition they enter is of little or no virtue And the Opiat called Aurea Alexandrina should not be made use of until it be six months old because the strength of the Opium doth predomine and the fermentation is not yet ended You will find these things in his Pharmacopoeia But you would observe by the way that putrefaction doth not arise in every fermentation but in that only wherein is 1. much recrudescing Sulphur as in Electuaries both liquid and solide whose compositions Almonds the greater Cold seeds commonly so called but which yet are really though temperatly hot for there is nothing cold wherein Sulphur doth abound And that the truth of this may be unquestionable I shall only add this that the intense heat of Mustard doth mainly if not only exist in its abundant Sulphur or Oyl whereof it containeth so much as will in few dayes wet a sheet of paper as if it were dipped in Oyl wherein its pouder is keeped and the difference betwixt the taste of this Sulphur and that of the forementioned seeds proceedeth only from the different degrees of heat proceeding from the different degrees of concoction and such like do enter for such become soon rancide and do putrifie because they contain almost no Salt for fixing of the Sulphur and prohibiting its recrudescence 2. Or where there is much superfluous humidity which inquinateth the Sulphur as in
the fermentation of fresh Fleshes 3. Or where there is not a free egress given to the superfluous though not abounding humidity as when a green herb or piece of flesh wrapped up in a two or three-fold cloath doth putrifie whereas it would have been fermented and dryed without putrefaction if it had been hung up in the open air 4. All savour or smell whether pleasant or unpleasant proceedeth from the evaporating Sulphur for such things as are most sulphureous are most odoriferous whilst the Sulphur is evaporating as Camphire Turpeutine c. But Stones Mettals c. which are almost destitute of all combustible Sulphur are likewise also destitute of smell And there be many very sulphureous bodies which are void of smell before the Sulphur begin to evaporat as the recent Vrine of a Man and the flesh of new mactat animals which smell most abominably whilst their Sulphur is evaporating in their fermentation And yellow Lamer which is void of all smell containeth a most odoriferus Oyl as appeareth when it is destilled or inflamed 5. Salt detaineth Sulphur and to its power prohibiteth its evaporation And this is the reason why the recent Vrine of a Man smelleth not For whensoever the Salt of the Vrine which also stinketh because of a little Sulphur which it detaineth united to its self beginneth to be separated from it and affixed to the sides of the Matule the Sulphur beginneth to evaporat and the loathsome smell ariseth Likewise fresh fleshes for the same reason have no abominable smell and the future putide and loathsome savour is prevented by the admistion of Salt For the Sulphur of salted fleshes is fixed and detained by the Salt so that it cannot recrudesce nor evaporat abundantly with any abominable savour and the putrefaction is also exiled by the Salt which doth not absume as some do ridiculously affirm but contemperat the supersluous humidity as before 6. Brimstone not inflamed doth scarcely emit any savour because its combustible Sulphur is by its Salts fixed as well as volatile detained from evaporating Now that Brimstone containeth salts fixed and volatile is hence proven that out of its dross after the separation or consumption of its combustible Sulphur the former is extracted by lixiviation and it is the latter which being resolved into smoak and ascending into the vitreous campane is by the humide air resolved into a most sharp spirit or spiritous liquour which falleth down into the other campane which is the receiver and it is called the Oyl or spirit of Brimstone by the Campane or Bell. 7. The quality of the vapors of inflamed Brimstone which affecteth the Nostrils is not so much a smell as a corrosive quality existing in the Volatile-salt resolved into smoak as was said which doth mordicat the tender skin of the Nostrils penetrateth into the brain perturbeth it and deceiveth the sense and sometimes killeth as is demonstrat by its killing of Bees for all smell proceedeth from the evaporating combustible Sulphur as was formerly proven but the combustible Sulphur of Brimstone doth not evaporat when it is inflamed because it is totally converted into flame and consumed and none of it doth evaporat or is converted into smoak with the volatile salt for if from inflamed Brimstone sulphureous smoak doth ascend with the salinous into the vitreous campane why are not the former condensed into a sulphureous as the latter are into a salinous liquor Moreover no sulphureous body which is void of volatile salt emitteth smoak when it is inflamed unless it be blown upon by wind and so a little of the flame be extinguished and converted into smoak as Sheeps-tallow c. But the smoak of Lamer Camphire and such like inflamed bodâ—es is only the volatile salt resolved into smoak which any man will confess when he shall in vain have sought for a sulphureous and combustible liquor amongst the foresaid condensed smoaks which become either a salt only or a spiritous liquor as was said concerning the volatile salt of Brimstone Likewise no sixed salt doth emit any salinous vapors when it is melted by the fire and therefore in the destilling of such salts as of Nitre Sea-salt c. the double quantity of some Earth as of Bole of Armenia calcined Allom Sand c. is usually mixed with them that their fusion may be hindred for the heat of the fire doth sooner convert the atoms of the salt which are separate from one another by being mixed with the atoms of the Earth into a spirit then if they were united into a liquor by fusion for united virtue or strength is stronger for operating or resisting and contrariwise and the atoms of the Earth do impede the union of the salinous which are melted by the heat and converted into a spiritous vapor But some perchance will say if the quality of inflamed Brimstone which affecteth the nostrils were only a corrosive quality existing in the volatile salt then the forementioned spirit of Brimstone which is its volatile salt dissolved into a liquor by the humide air cast upon burning coals would emit a smoak endued with a corrosive quality which would affect the nostrils trouble the brain and deceive the sense as before To this I answer that this cometh not to pass because the volatile salt in which only the corrosive quality doth exist is detained by the fixed salt of the coals which doth prohibit its evaporation with the humide air which was first converted into water and is again resolved into smoak The truth of these things will afterwards better appear in the answers to the first and second Objections 8. From the premisses we conclude that the whole substance almost of Brimstone consisteth not in a rotten smell and that it cannot in a natural manner communicat to any earth or water an unsavoury smell whether natural called foetor or unnatural called putor For only the salts of Tartar and Lime can produce the solution in water and indâ—gestion from whence proceedeth the putide smell which it communicateth to water of the combustible Sulphur of Brimstone as in the composition of Lac sulphuris For when Brimstone is boiled in water with the salt of Tartar the combustible Sulphur with the salts being by boyling associated to the salt of Tartar becometh dissolved in the water which before its fermentation smelleth no otherwise than Brintstone which is not inflamed Now the fermentation of this water thus impregnat is 1. subitaneous when some drops of destilled Vinegar are instilled into it for then the salt of Tartar doth associat it self to its like according to the proverb viz. the salt of Vinegar both which have their original from Wine And after the precipitation of the pouder it relinquisheth some of the combustible Sulphur mixed with the water which incontinent becometh indigested and beginneth to evaporat because it is dissolved in a strange humide body and is associated to a strange salt which cannot hinder its evaporation from whence proceedeth the
promise to our selves that our not understanding how actuall cold and an effectually cooling quality can consist with radical heat will avert from us the odious attribute of presumption and conciliat a favourable construction to this our singularity and non-adherence to Antiquity because that distinction never was nor could be applied to any without controversie hot body not salinous as to the spirit of Wine Oyl of Cloves Cinnamon Mustard c. any of which being mixed with the most cooling liquor will without controversie diminish its frigidity 2. Aqua fortis the spirits of Vitriol and Brimstone the spirit of common Salt the Oyl of Tartar by deliquation which is the Salt of Tartar dissolved into a liquor by the humide air in a cold or subterrancal place the Oyl of common Salt by deliquation c do extinguish the fire as doth the coldest water Therefore they are in their first qualities heterogeneal to fire for such bodies only are and ought to be vulgarly called homogeneal to fire in their first qualities which do contain some matter which becometh nourishment unto fire Salts and Salinous bodies only excepted and that is only Sulphur it from if it be almost insipide as the Sulphur â—r Oyls of sweet Almonds Olives c. before they become rancide then the body which containeth it is not called hot but temperat in heat but if the Sulphur bâ— very sapide and do affect the taste much the body wherein it doth reside is called hot and its degreeâ— of heat are commensurat by the degrees of its sapidity Now every pure Salt is altogether destitute of such matter Moreover the frigidity of bodieâ— which are estimat cold should likewise be measureâ— by their different degrees of sapidity as Cichory is colder than Lettice and the juyce of a Limon is colder than either and the spirit of Vitriol is the coldest of all the four c. Neither is this contrary to the common saying of Phâ—losphers viz. that water is the coldest of all bodies for that is only to be asserted of the pute elementary water which is not to be found amongst us and unto which without all controversie frigidity in the highest degree is as proper as siccity humidity and calidity are unto the Elements of Earth Air and Fire So that it is more then probable that as the refrigerating cold of some springing waters doth hugely surpass the same quality in common fountain water so likewise the frigidity of the elementary water doth surpass that of the spirit of Vitriol and springing water as far as the strength of Aqua fortis doth the strength of the juice of Limons in dissolving of Pearls both which do operat after the same manner only dissolving them into pouder without 〈◊〉 I roying their natural temperaments which five doth when it dissolveth them or any thing 〈◊〉 all which do undeniably evince this that Corrosives are not of a fiery and hot temperament 3. Every Fixed-salt doth naturally attract those things which are cold and humide as Water and Air therefore it is in its first qualities frigidity and humidity homogeneal to them Moreover as the action of the spirit of Wine Aqua-vitae c. upon Oyls whereby they dissolve them and unite them unto themselves doth argue the Oyls viz. of Cinnamon Anise c. and spirits to be homogeneal so likewise we do most probably conceive that the dissolution of Salts by water doth demonstrat the homogeneity of their natures For no natural body which is in its natural estate doth naturally appetize or attract its contrary Nor is it contrary unto this that an animal whose stomach is distempered with calidity and siccity naturally desireth a humide and refrigerating body because that stomach is not in its natural estate neither is it the stomach but the Animal whose the stomach is which desireth the curation of the morbifick distemper by a humide and refrigerating body You would here take notice that the cause of Thirst which is by Aristotle in his second Book of the Soul called a desire after a humide and frigide body is two-fold external and internal each whereof is either hot or corrosive and cold For corrosives are really different from such things as are hot as shall afterwards appear from what hath been and is to be said 1. The internal hot cause of thirst is a hot distemper of the whole body as in a Feaver or of some part of it as of the Stomach Liver c. 2. The external hot cause of thirst is the radical heat of meat or drink existing in their sulphureous parts which produceth a hot distemper in the stomach c. 3. The internal corrosive cause of thirst is a bilious salt and corrosive humor which corrodeth the skin of the stomach and by motion in the solution of continuity conciliateth heat in the corroded part only whereas the heat of meat and drink do sometimes produce a hot distemper in the whole body each of whose parts after the concoctions it permeateth 4. The external corrosive cause of thirst is the corrosive salts of meat and drink which do corrode the stomach as before For the cure of thirst proceeding from a hot cause whether external or internal a body radically and actually cold and humide is necessarily required But for the cure of thirst proceeding from a corrosive cause a humide body radically only though not actually cold is sufficient wherein the Salts may be dissolved which being done in a copious humide body they become so debilitat that they cannot any more corrode the skin of the stomach for disjoyned virtue or strength is weaker Now this solution is more easily effectuat in a humide body which is actually hot than in one which is cold This sort of thirst is curable also by Pearls Coral c. For when such things are put into the stomach the Salt of the corrosive humor doth affix it self to the atoms of the Pearls Coral c. and so the humor is dulcified as is Vinegar when affused to Corals Red-lead c. and loseth its corrosive quality and then the thirst ceaseth Here we cannot but inquire after the cause and cure of that common and troublesome distemper vulgarly called the Heart-scade We conceive that it is caused by acide and corrosive humors which being congested into the stomach do irritat its expultrix faculty so that they are constrained to mount upwards to the throat where the greatest pain and trouble is found because the corrosive humor having excoriat the Oesophage or Wezand it is still most sensible of the mordication of the humor which is most active upon the uppermost part upon which it beateth with violence So this may be called an imperfect vomiting because there is but little or nothing expelled at the mouth the humor descending again into the stomach The cure of this turbulent distemper consisteth 1. either in the evacuation of the peccant humor which is the perfect cure or 2. in the correcting of its
Medicinae pract lib. 6. part 5. cap. 1. de natura veneni who did eat at supper flesh wherewith much Saffran was boiled and immediatly thereafter he had almost died through laughter It were superfluous to ad more to this purpose seing the practice of all Physicians who have any knowledge of Chymistry doth demonstrat that Antimonial medicaments externally or internally used do operat as innocently as any others As to the second which is a most confident assertion destitute of probation and most unbeseeming a Physician who for each of his assertions ought to have in promptu causam I do first deny Lead to be poyson in any other respect than I have conceded Antimony Wine and Sâ—ssran to be such in the fourth answer And secondly I deny the consequence for similitude of external formes can never infer a similitude of internals especially when the effects flowing from both the internal formes are most discrepant as in Antimony and Lead For the third that it emitteth a virulent and venemous smell and exhalation like that of orpament from which as from present poyson Chymists do advise to preserve the nose I answer first that neither of these exhalations are poysonous for I have often breathed the air that was vitiat with both and oftest that of Orpament yea of Arsenick itself when burned yet was never prejudiced 2. Though it were true that the exhalation of Antimony is poysonous doth it argue that Antimony after calcination whereby it is freed from that poysonous exhalation is still venomous It doth certainly demonstrat the contrary as in Antimony Diaphoretick or at least that its venenosity is much diminished as in Crocus Metallorum Moreover is not the flesh of vipers an excellent Alexipharmick or antidot against poyson when the head and gall wherein its venom doth reside according to Schroderus are separated from it To the fourth viz. that it is imperfectly corrected by Borax Treacle c. I answer 1. this Author should have evinced by reason that none of those mentioned Alexipharmicks were capable to correct the venenosity of Antimony and not have given his nudam assertionem for it 2. Although he and his informers could never attain the skill of preparing it so as that it would not produce any of those sad symptoms should others who have attained it be by him or any prohibited to use it when frequent experience hath discovered unto them the innocency and usefulness of its operation As for the fifth the sad and lamentable symptoms which it produceth I answer that I never found the like save once notwithstanding of which I have still made use of it with good success and therefore every one would make use of it as he shall find encouragment from its peaceable behaviour Concerning the sixth viz. that it purgeth not elective as they say any peculiar humor as others do viz. Bile Melancholy c. but promiscuously all both good and bad I answer 1. that it is well asserted but ill proven 2. I will not contradict that opinion so generally received by the learned that some medicaments are Cholagoga other Melanagoga c. but only declare that though I be by experience convinced that some have a natural aptitude to purge Bâ—…e more then any other humor and another sort for purging of Melanchâ—ly c. Yet whensoever a potion composed of either sort is exhibited to any person it doth promiscuously evacuat a part of each of those humors which it encountereth and this is undeniable by my who have been diligent observers of the egesâ—a which in valetudinary persons is as necessary as the noticeing of the ingesta 3. The assertion may be denied for I have known an Antimonial potion evacuat a pound of Bilis porracea which was the only cause of a constant vomiting two or three hours after meat all that the person had taken at the last meal as also another pound of Bilis Vitellina mixed with pituita salsa wherewith the internal wrinckled superfice of the stomach being as it were daubed it and the other humor occasioned an indigestion of the meat and in others produceth either a lienteria when meat is evacuated by stool without being at all altered by the stomach which being slippery cannot retain it as when its wrinckles were not daubed with the humor or Coelica passio wherein meat is excerned after being but a little altered Seventhly he affirmeth that Antimony purgeth not of it self as other purgatives do but accidentally This is all one as if he had said that Antimony purgeth as drink fruits c. which are not purgative of themselves do when a person hath taken a surfet of them whereby nature being oppressed it doth impetuously expell them and other humors both good and bad with them The falsity of this is so palpable that it were folly to set about the refuting of it The eighth is an irrefragable truth The ninth doth not well express the Authors meaning which I conceive was at least should have been this that so long as the natural mistion of the constituent parts of Antimony is not altered by fire the vomitive and purgative faculties of it do not discover themselves but so soon as the Sulphur is freed in some measure from the bonds of salt by which it was formerly fettered it doth communicat it self unto the affused liquor and draweth along with it the nitrous volatile salt in both which resideth the vomitive and purgative virtues of Antimony I shall add for a Colophon the reason why the foresaid water worketh not but when it is taken by pounds viz. because it is impregnat only with the putide Sulphur of Antimony for if it were inriched with the Earth volatile salt and best Sulphur that is such as is not become putide by recrudescing in fermentation of Antimony as is Spanish Wine wherein the Saffran of Mettals hath been infused it would by ounces as this doth commove and purge out the humors and contain such a matter as would be precipitable by some liquor for the earth of Antimony wherein do exist the Sulphur and volatile salt which commove and purge out the humors doth by precipitation separat it self from Spanish Wine when some drops of Aqua-fortis are mixed with it But the water of the Wells containeth no precipitable matter Now that the vomitive and purgative qualities of Antimony existeth in the Sulphur and volatile salt is hence proven that Diaphoretick Antimony which is Antimony that is totally deprived of Sulphur and volatile salt by calcination is neither purgative nor vomitive and the sublimed flowers of Antimony are most purgative and vomitive And hence it appeareth that in Diaphoretick Antimony the virtue of Antimony which attracteth and purgeth humors is not imprisoned but banished by Nitre Courteous Reader these are the things which we learned from the operations of Art and Nature but if any shall from the same or like principles prove that the fore-mentioned water runneth through Brimstone or Vitriol c. we
I offer to be rectified through the Serpens of a wiser that the World may be presented with a Destillatum which may prove magis restaurativum of truth than this will For the world had never more need of such a medicine than in this our age which hath too too well nursed so many Charletans as betake themselves to no other employment than cheating all men with some one medicine or other as Coffe Chocolat or Jacolata c. to each of which they ascribe more virtues than any ten can have and give them to all such as will be so foolish as to hazard the disturbance of the aeconomy of their bodies in the hands of those who are as ignorant of the nature of the instrument wherewith they do it as are the vessels which contain them and far more of the way of restoring the greatly disturbed body to its pristine healthfull condition Such Cheaters are those who fill the publick places of every Town they come to with Programs for the end foresaid or else arrogantly do assume to themselves the skill of curing first some particular diseases infallibly and then all others curable by art at a cheaper rate than any other and to these they add many detracting expressions which may prove derogatory to the reputations of the Physicians of the place though never so learned all which are the most infallible marks of a Cheater Yea their wandring all the world over doth undenyably argue them to be such for when people do perceive that their medicine hath scarcely any one of those virtues which they ascribed unto it and that their skill in curing is only palliative they cease to employ them any more and thereby they are constrained to begin and to set up in another place for getting of a new recruit of money which they would have got to excess in any one considerable Town or Country if they or their medicine could have cured the Gout Chollick Stone c. Such blades are pleased sometimes to erect Stage-playes in the Macrocosme that by their skill in those they may allicite men to permit them to erect the like in their Microcosmes which they often do to the sad lamentation of some I have let fly this Broad-side of exclamations at those of our age who are most guilty of such actions as also at such as have been so foolish as to believe that every far fetcht fowl hath fair and so have been very ingrate to their Maker who hath furnished their native Country with such an abundance of most able and skilfull Physicians and remedies of all sorts purgatives and spices only excepted as might with very little help from our neighbours serve in the greatest necessities as also to those well-deserving Country-men who have spent the most and best of their time and means and in travelling have ventured their lives for the good of their Country I hope the Echo of these exclamations will prove in time coming a warning-piece to all such as have been so wise to bear off and not to go near such Pirats who rob so many not only of their mony but also of their healths and that the most part of those children who have been burned by them will in time-coming dread their fire I shall only add an earnest desire that you would accept this and what followeth with as charitible a mind to me as mine is wel-wishing to you and make such a good use of them as you may in doing of which you shall neither wrong your self nor him who is and will still be Yours as he shall have reason M. M. THE OYLY-WELL OR A Topographico-Spagyrical description of the Oyly-Well at St. Catharines-chappel in the Paroch of Libberton IN the Paroch of Libberton the Church whereof lyeth two miles south-ward from Edinburgh there is a Well at the Chappel of St. Catharine which is distant from the Church about a quarter of a mile and is situat toward the South-west whose profundity equalleth the length of a Pike and is alwaies replet with water and at the bottom of it there remaineth a great quantity of black Oyl in some veins of the earth His Majesty King James the sixth the first Monarch of Great Britain of blessed memory had such a great estimation of this rate Well that when he returned from England to visit this His ancient Kingdom of Scotland in anno 1617. he went in person to see it and ordered that it should be built with stones from the bottom to the top and that a door and a pair of stairs should be made for it that men might have the more easie access unto its bottom for getting of the Oyl This royal command being obeyed the Well was adorned and preserved until the year 1650 when that execrable Regicide and Vsurper Oliver Cromwell with his rebellious and sacrilegious complices did invade this Kingdom and not only deface such rare and antient monuments of Natures hand-work but also the Synagogues of the God of Nature Before that we proceed any further let us inquire from whence the water of all Springs such especially as are most frequently deprehended upon or near unto the tops of high mountains do proceed The opinions of Philosophers concerning this affair are these three which are mentioned by Frambesarius in his natural history and Dr. Andrew Baccius de Thermis lib. 1. cap 2. and by Dr. John French in his York-shire Span chap. 2. The first is Aristotles viz. That these waters are generat of vapors which are contained in the caverns of the earth and of air insinuating it self into them by the conduits it encountreth which are condensed into water by the frididity of the earth The second is that these waters are only Rain-water which having insinuat it self into the veins of the earth maketh way for its own egress by the most convenient passages The third is that these waters come from the Sea through the veins of the earth according to that saying of Solomons Ecclesiastes 1.7 All rivers run into the Sea yet the Sea is not full unto the place from whence the rivers come thither they return again who was the wisest of all meer men who were before or should be after him 1 Kings 3.12 and that not only in spirituals but also in naturals For the Scripture 1 Kings 4.33 saith that he spoke by which you may well understand writing also of Animals and Vegetables He was also no doubt as skilfull in the art of Navigation and knew well the natures of Minerals seing 1 Kings 9.26,27,28 and 10.22 he made Navies of ships which he sent with his servants that had knowledge of the Sea unto Ophir and Tarshish from whence he brought gold and silver in so great abundance that in his dayes silver was nothing accounted of 1 Kings 10.21 He was also no less skilfull in Agriculture as may appear from Ecclesiastes 2.5 And his making of Pools of water ver 6. demonstrateth his dexterous skill in finding out the
seem to be enriched by reason of the acrimony of their taste resembling that of the Balsam of Brimstone which is esteemed one of the best Ant-asthmatick medicines which we have and is best known unto our Aesculapian sons and servants by the name of Dr. Macullochs Balsam because that learned and expert Physician to his Majesty King James the sixth of glorious memory was the inventer of its more terss preparation whereof the antients were ignorant and which he left behind him unto us his Country-men 7. We shall propose and answer three questions one whereof is concerning Coals and the rest are concerning Oyls Quest 1. Why do not Coals yield a sixed salt when exposed to spagyrical resolution seing they are one of the kinds of minerals which do most abound in salt It is answered 1. that because they do not render this kind of salt it is not to be supposed that therefore they contain none of it for the whiteness of their ashes and their intense corrosive quality when converted into Lime by calcination with stones of their own nature as was said do sufficiently demonstrat the contrary ◠They do not yield any fixed-salt because when they are calcined their fixed-salt doth so corrode the metallick earth which they contain that it converteth the same with its self into a magisterial pouder from which as from the magisterial pouders of Pearls Corall Lead c. experience teacheth the impossibility of separating the corrosive salt 3. They afford no fixed-salt because they are of the nature of Lime-stones from which when converted into the most corrosive Lime it is impossible to extract any fixed-salt Teste Zuelfero Chymico expertissimo in Animaadversionibus suis in Appendice in Antidotorum Classem de salibus Theriacalibus Pharmacopoeiae Augustanae ab ipso ingeniosissimè reformatae pag. 276. colum 2. Quest 2. Why do some oyls perpetually descend unto the bottom of the water as some oyls which ar destilled by descension Ans These oyls being more crass than others are also more ponderous and therefore cannot be supported by water which is endued with more tenuity of parts but when these oyls are by reiterated destillations rectified and so deprived of these craster parts the water will support them Quest 3. Why do the most part of if not all oyls descend unto the lowest parts of sulphureous spirits as of Wine Barley c of an aqueous consistence Ans The tenuity of the spirit is the undeniable cause why it cannot support the more crass oyl unless it be in a most exile quantity which is most participant of its nature and properties For if you will mix some crass water with such a spirit it will then support the oyl to which it formerly denied that service Seing the curious Former of all things hath much embellished the superfice of our Scottish ground with so many mineral springs of different natures and richly enambled its bowels with such a variety of metallick markasites as is well known it is much to be regrated that so few have attempted the discovering of their natures or having made some progress in that adventured to expose their conceptions concerning either of them unto Fames fingering I know not if any of our Country-men have published any thing concerning our Mettals and it is to be feared that there will be little or nothing done to this purpose in haste seing it hath pleased the Almighty to put an end unto the dayes of that most learned and ingenious Mineralogist the Lord Hopton who died Dec. 1662. And according to my best knowledge there are only three who have written concerning our Mineral Springs The first is Dr. Moor present Professor of Medicine in the Vniversity of Aberdeen who published a little book concerning the Well of Peterhead in the year 1636. from which it is manifest that then though a student only of Medicine he was privy to many of the most excellent actions of Art and Nature The second is Dr. Anderson who wrote most learnedly upon the Cold-spring of King-horn in anno 1618. and in that his book mentioneth many rare springs wherewith Scotland is replenished and which we will here insert because that book is rare to be found The first is the spring which issueth from the top of Rattray-cave in the Barony of Slains whose water doth in a short time congele into a hard stone as saith our forecited Author also in his memorial of the most rare and wonderfull things of Scotland Our learned and ingenious Country-man Dr. Sylvester Rattray doth also make mention of this water in his book entituled Aditus novus ad occult as sympathiae Antipathiae causas inveniendaes Here you would take cotice of a story which will convince you of the possibility of this A Scottish Gentleman having been in France and there acquainted with another of that Country who it seemeth was curious to know the various and almost miraculous operations of Nature did inform him by writing concerning this Well and its water The French man returned him this answer I am sorry that you should think me such a fool as to believe such a Paradox as this is that water should in a short time be converted into a stone Whereupon our Country-man fearing least the other should think this a meer fiction he took the pains to set a glass under the droping water untill it became full and then he sent the glass unto him the water therein contained being converted into a stone A very ingenious argument for convincing so confident a Gain-sayer Secondly a spring of the same nature which himself did see in one of the vaults which were most curiously hewed out of a solide rock of Roslain-castle Thirdly two Wells in the Castle of Dumbarton distant two or three foots the one from the other the uppermost whereof springing from north to south yieldeth a very salt water the other running from south to north exhibiteth fresh water Fourthly the Mud-earth wells of Menteith Fifthly the Lady-well of Strathearn Sixthly the Lady-well of Ruthven-Seventhly this Oyly-well at St. Catharines Chappel The third is Mr. William Barclay whom Dr. Anderson stileth his very learned friend and old Parisien acquaintance and of whom he writeth that he would have all the effects of the Cold-spring of King-horn to proceed from Tinn c. So it is very probable that that Gentleman hath written something concerning that or some other spring And seing there are very many rare and admirable springs in several places of this Kingdom far distant from one another concerning which none hath as yet put pen to paper such as live near to any one of them would do well to attempt the discovering of their natures and virtues and then publish them for the good of others by the doing of which they would purchase unto themselves further access into natures Cabin where they would find greater discoveries of her manifold and great mysteries with the knowledge of which Providence hath decreed to inrich
purgative when taken internally and is denied to haemoptoical persons because of its opening of veins making orifices upon them as if it were corrosive Quer. 15. Why doth the weather of every Moon exactly correspond to the weather of the Thursday before the change That is if the Thursday before the change of the Moon whether she change upon Wednesday Friday or any other be a fair day such will the weather be all the next Moon If there be rain wind snow hail c in the morning before-noon after-noon or at night such will the weather be at those times of the Moon answering such times of the day This I have often observed never to fail excepting three times in the year viz. 1. at the end of March the three last dayes whereof are commonly called the borrowing dayes and use to be tempestuous 2. In May when there useth to be two or three dayes of bad weather according to the proverb Come it soon come it late in May comes the Cow-quake which are so cold that the Kine do tremble 3. At the beginning of August when there are much rains which cause the Lammess-flood Surely thy skill in Astrology will soon afford a reason for this Quer. 16. Why Autimony being vitrisied not only retaineth its vomitive quality but also enjoyeth it in a superlative degree seing all other things almost do loss their primitive qualities when reduced into Glass by reason of the destruction of their seminal forms Quer. 17. What is it in the yoke of an Egg which is the best if not the only mean by which Turpentine is rendred dissolvable by an aqucous body Quer. 18. Why cannot Quick-silver being once dissolved by the strongest corrosives be detained in that condition when exposed to the heat of fire seing Lead and all other minerals being once so dissolved are inseparable by the greatest violence of Vulcan Quer. 19. From whence proceed Worms which are sound in green Pees for it is improbable that they proceed from the sperm of such like animals deposed upon the husk containing them seing there appeareth no blemish upon it nor passage through it And far less is it probable that they are engendred in the Pees themselves seing it is most certain that omne Ens gignit sibi simile except there be a degeneration because of an aberration of nature as when a more noble creature degenerateth into a less noble of the same kind as when Barley degenerateth into Oats or when Worms c. do breed in the bodies of animals or in their carcases after death secundum Harveum de Generatione animalium Exercitat 1. Quer. 20. Why the feet of a Swan are so black seing all her feathers are most white In answering to this have a care lest reflecting upon your often approved and by experience confirmed Galenical remedies as you wrote in your Ghost and Method of physick to which you made a Key of the softest mettal and exposed it to sale adorned with the roust of Ignorance and Tradition particularly chap. 6. you attribute this blackness to the melancholick humor which nature hath secerned to her feet For I hope that you who was a Translator of Anatomists will not so much injure the Splen which was Galen his receptacle of Melancholy neither ascribe the yellowness of her bill unto Choler lest you offend the Gall. Quer. 21. Why doth the Heron bow its neck when it flieth seing the Swan which hath a greater body and a longer neck doth extend its neck to its full length in flying Surely if you shall alledge that the blackness of the Swans feet proceedeth from melancholy you will be perswaded that the Swan should rather bow its neck for fear of receiving prejudice by extending it For according to Gaelen melancholy causeth fearfulness Quer. 22. Why the Sheep of England have no horns but tails which reach the ground seing the Oxen and Kine have horns of superlative bigness Quer. 23. Why wilde fowls of one kind are all of one colour seing tame fowls are of most different colours Quer. 24. Why a man ganteth when he seeth another man do so yea I heard of one who could not forbear ganting if the lid or cover of a Stoup had been moved once or twice up and down before him Quer. 25. What is it in Oat-bread which being smelled at by one who is taken by the Nose by Mustard easeth the trouble Quer. 26. Why doth the feathers of Doves spoyl the feathers of all other birds with which they are mixed Quer. 27. Why Coneys do repair most frequently out of their holes to feed only whilst the Sea is ebbing Quer. 28. Is this opinion of the vulgars true viz. that the treading of water-fowls out of the water doth not foecundat their Eggs And if it be certain what is the reason of it Quer. 29. Why a Plivers breast which is white in Harvest and Winter becometh black in the Spring and continueth so all the Summer Quer. 30. Why the Ewes in Orkney where the North-pole is elevated about sixty degrees have ordinarily two Lambs frequently three and sometimes four As I was informed by a Gentleman there who had an Ewe which at one time brought forth four Lambs three whereof were lame in the fore-legs and went on their knees Quer. 31. Why the North-wind doth not commove the Sea so greatly as other winds do Quer. 32. Why the West-wind doth still calme at night when the air is not cloudy Quer. 33. Why persons which have had the Terâ—…an-feaver are still distempered before stormy weather and whilst the East-wind bloweth Quer. 34. Why Sea-fowls extend their legs towards their tailes in flying and Land-fowls the Heron and Lap-wing excepted do contract their legs Quer. 35. Why are there no Moles in Ireland or rather why doth the earth of Ireland kill Moles For which reason some of the inhabitants of the South-west parts of Scotland have brought earth from Ireland to put into their Gardens for that end Quer. 36. Why in the Canicular dayes only a man cannot see the vapor which proceedeth from his own or anothers mouth or nostrils in breathing when the Sun shineth upon him Quer. 37. Why persons who die not violent deaths use to expire at the Full-sea or at a low-low-water This I have observed seldom or never to fail and that within four or five minuts of these times Quer. 38. Why the strongest Corrosives will not operat upon common Glass seing Spanish or French Wines do operat upon the Glass of Antimony Quer. 39. Why the bottom of a Pot which containeth a boyling liquor is tractable by a mans hand but becometh untractable when the liquor is poured out Quer. 40. What is the irrefragable reason of the Echo it s once or twice repeating a mans words articulatly Quer. 41. Why in Fairay-Sound betwix the Isles of Fairay and Etha in Orkney the Sea runneth north-east for the space only of three hours in slowing and nine hours south-west in ebbing This is the course of the Tide only in the middle of the Sound which is but one mile broad Quer. 42. Is it true that black Wool will admit of no other colour And if so what is the reason of it Quer. 43. Why the Jaundize is cured by medicines of a yellow colour as Rubarb the juyce and flowers of Celledon Saffron c. Quer. 44. Why the males of birds of Prey are less than the females Quer. 45. Why are not children under two years old sick at Sea If thou shalt give rational answers unto these Querees I am confident thou shalt gain more estimation than by all thy labours under the Sun and an act of indemnity for the many transgressions of thy Pen which was only busied about things the knowledge of which as thou did'st rescribe was so stale in the world before thou came into it thy self that no delicat pallat would have used it when such Clusters of Grapes might have been had out of which a more rational and rare Elixir might have been extracted for refreshing of the stomachs surfeted with such musty and rancide fare as you did alwayes set before them FINIS